Allison Township

Lawrence Co

.LISON TOWNSHIP was first organized under the name of Thompson, but subsequently received its present name, derived from the prairie of whicli its surface is almost entirely composed. It is bounded on the north by Russell township, on the east by Indiana, and on the south by Dennison township, which with Lawrence forms its western boundary. The surface is that of a level prairie, largely subject to overflow when not properly protected by levees. The soil consists of sand, with an admixture of black loam. Timber is not abundant, and is confined to the southern part and to a narrow belt along the Wabash.

The first settlement in the township was opposite the city of Vincennes, on the west bank of the Wabash river. It never attained to much prominence, and is mainly of interest on account of its antiquity. It lacked the essential feature of an advantageous locality for husbandry, and was largely an incident of the ferry that accommodated travel along the Cahokia and Kaskaskia traces. The ferry was established as early as the beginning of the present century. At that time, it was operated by Joseph La Motte, a Frenchman and Indian trader, whose round log cabin, that stood at the entrance of the ferry, was probably the first house built by a white man, in the territory of Lawrenoe county. He had several adventures with the natives, an account of which will be found in the pioneer chapter. At their hands he met his death, on the banks of the creek that bears his name, in Crawford county, some time prior to 1812. After his death, his widow conducted the ferry, till 1812, when it passed under the management of her son-in-law, James Gibson, who was its proprietor for some time. It was also, at one time, operated by John Small. Just across the way from La Motte's, lived a family named White. In this vicinity also dwelt the illfated Buntons, something about whom will be found in the pioneer chapter. One Senette, a Frenchman, lived about a mile below the ferry, at the "ford." Charles Bonaute was also an early settler, west of the Wabash, south of Vincennes. The most conspicuous early settlement was that of the Dubois family, about a mile north of the present railroad bridge, on the bluff known as Dubois' hill. Here was planted the first orchard, set out in the township. The Dubois brothers, Toussaint, Lawrence and Killgore, especially, the first, acted an important part in the business and civil affairs of the county. His residence occupied the hill, and was a center of note and influence in its time. Something additional concerning the Dubois family may be found by consulting the chapter on Lawrence township. An early resident on Dubois hill was "Billy o' the Bow," a colored man, who, with his wife Seeley, had their apartments in a hollow sycamore tree. Here they dwelt together in conjugal bliss, till the latter was cruelly shot by an Indian. At the north foot of the hill, was the home of Archibald George, who, with a family of four or five children, settled there about 1820. Near this date, John Richardson, of Butler county, Ohio, came and settled opposite Vincennes, on the bluff. His family consisted of his wife and four children, Luciuda, Jane, John and Harriet.

The most important early settlements were formed into a neighborhood, iu the vicinity of Centerville, by a number of families, mainly from Tennessee. The neighborhood was called the " Christian settlement," from the circumstance that most of its members were Christians, and was formed in 1815. In this year Scott Riggs settled on the N. W. quarter of section 26, T. 4 j E. 11. He brought to the settlement a family of four ! children, viz : Sally, Polly, Cynthia, and Harriet. He j was a blacksmith by trade, and a minister of the gospel '- He subsequently moved to Scott county, where he died Henry Palmer, also a minister, settled on section 23 William Howard was a native of North Carolina. He moved to Tennessee, and thence to Kentucky, and from that state to Illinois, in 1814 or 15, with five children, John, Eli, Abigail, Prudence Jane and Martha, and settled in section 23, T. 4, R. 11 W. He had a natural gift of mechanical skill, and manufactured his own agricultural implements. He planted the first orchard, and laid out the first graveyard in the settlement. His j death took place, about 1832. His son, John, became a minister and moved to Kansas in 1881. His son-in-law, William Childress, came from North Carolina, about the same time, and after his marriage to Prudence, also settled on section 23. After a residence of short duration here, he moved to section 5, T. 4, R. 11, and there, after improving a good farm, died, in 1838. W. B. Childress of Lawrenceville, is his son. Three other children are yet living. Daniel Travis from Tennessee, in 1815, settled on the N. E. quarter of the N. W. quarter of section 23. He moved to the western part of the state prior to 1828. Henry Johnson, who came with a family, in 1815, settled on the N. W. quarter of section 23, where he remained till some time prior to 1828, when he moved to Vermillion county. Samuel Leneve, with four children, Obadiah, John, Sarah, and Nancy) settled on the N. W quarter of section 25, where he died at an advanced age. Moses, Ezekiel, Robert, and Alexander Turner came to the settlement from Tennessee, in 1815 or '16. They all had families and were all members of the Christian church. After a residence of some years they moved away. Thomas Anderson, with a family, in 1815, settled on the N. W. quarter of section 26. His son Richard located near him. They moved to Morgan county about 1825. Richard B. McCorcle, who came from Tennessee with a family in 1815, moved to Bloomington, Indiana, about 1825. John and Joseph Berry, brothers, and brothers-in-law of Mrs. Scott Riggs, alsu from Tennessee, in 1815 likewise moved to Bloomington, Indiana. John had settled on the N. E. quarter of section 27. John R. Adams came from Tennessee with a family in 1815, and«settled on the N. E. quarter of section 27, where he resided permanently and reared a family of twelve children, though sickness, originating from purgatory swamps, had driven many from the settlement. Mr. Adams was a colonel of the militia and frequently mustered them for drill. John Dunlap settled on the N. E. quarter of section 22, where was his permanent home and where, at an early day, he planted an orchard, the last trees of which were recently (1883) cut down. On the S. E. quarter of this section, settled John Ashbrook, who came from Kentucky, with a family of four children, John, Levi, Thomas, and Margaret, in 1815. Levi and Thomas married and settled in the vicinity of Centerville. John having married Ellen Robinson, located a mile and a half south of Russellville. All became permanent residents. David Ruby came to the settlement in 1816, and located permanently on the N. W. quarter of section 27. In this year a family of Clevingers, from Tennessee, settled in the Christian neighborhood.

William Huston, a Kentuckiau, in 1816, settled on the S. E. i of sec. 36. His children were Chambers, William and Desmal. Samuel Lemon, with four children, George, Thomas, Polly and Susan, came from North Carolina, about 1818, and settled on the N. E. i of sec. 26. He was a farmer and shoemaker, and resided permanently where he first settled. The family were members of the Christian Church. Charles Thompson was an immigrant from Ross county, Ohio. In 1820, he settled on the N. W. i of section 25, where he lived till his death. Three children, James, Matthew and William, accompanied him to the county. James and William settled in the vicinity of Centerville ; the latter (having married Jane Richardson), located on the S. W. t of sec 26, where he still resides at the age of eighty years. Enoch Organ, a Virginian, came to the county, about 1820, from Tennessee, where he had for some time sojourned, and settled on sec. 36. Chaney, John, Enos, Cornelius, Daniel, Jesse and Betsey Organ were his children. He was a blacksmith by trade, and soon after his coming, constructed the first cotton gin in the county, and operated it on his farm for a number of years. He died in 1845, of a disease called the Black Tongue, an epidemic, of which many died on the prairie. The family married, most of them prior to 1830, and settled down. The widow of Cornelius lives on the S. E. i of section 23, where she has resided since her marriage, in 1828, and where her husband died, in 1847, at the age of forty-one years. Her place was first improved by Nathaniel Jones. Lewis Goings made his permanent home in the township, in 1820. He reared a considerable family of children. David Phelps, in 1821 or '22, settled on the S. E. i of section 25, where he resided permanently, and died. About forty years ago he planted a walnut grove which yields quite abundantly-

In the vicinity of section 27, T. 4, R 10, a neighborhood of permanent settlers was formed in 1820. In this neighborhood settled Jesse Slawsou, who came from Canada with a family of four children, viz., William, Polly, Eliza, and Abner, who afterward married and settled in i he county. James Tims, a Virginian, with one son, Littleton, settled on land adjoining Slawson's, and lived there permanently. David Wilbur settled about a mile from the river, in the same vicinity. At a little later date, about 1828, Benjamin Caughran came into the neighborhood, from Indiana, with a family of six children. Also, about this time, arrived Joseph Tims, with a family, from the same state. Families named Kimsey,

Long and Cunningham also settled in this vicinity. George Cunningham lived in section 28, and William, in section 33, T. 4, R. 10. John Long was the most active business man in his part of the county. As early as 1825, he did an extensive flat-boating trade on the Wabash. Thomas Eads, the brothers, John and Silas Andrews, and Jesse Perdu were also early settlers. W. J. Crews, one of the oldest living settlers, came to Lawrence from Crawford county, Illinois, with his father, in 1829. The latter purchased some land of Samuel Harris in the vicinity of Center school-house, and settled upon it. Mr. Crews is a lawyer by profession, having been admitted to practice in the Supreme Court, in 1846, but his principal occupation has been that of farming, in which he has been very successful. In 1869, he was elected judge of the county court, but resigned in 1872, to take the place to which he had been elected in the State Senate.

Some account of Small's mill is contained in the pioneer chapter, where it may be found by the reader. In the vicinity of where afterward stood this early object of interest, occurred the capture of Col. Francis Vigo by the Indians, in 1778. Vigo, with his servant, as the messenger of Gen. Clark was proceeding on his way from Kaskaskia to Vincennes, when he was seized, stripped of everything he possessed and carried a captive before

Centerville is a little hamlet at the adjoining corners of sections 23, 24, 25 and 26, T. 4, R. 11. Allison postoffice was established here, about ten years ago. A half mile west of the village is the site of the old Center school-house described in the pioneer chapter. The voting place of the township is at Westport opposite Vin- the north by Richland county, on the east by Wabash, on the south by Mt. Carmel, and on the west by Lick prairie and Lancaster. Its boundary line is described as follows : Beginning at the northeast corner of the east half of section 32, twp. 2 north, range 12 W., and extending west along the section line to the northwest corner of the east half of section 35, range 13 W.; thence south along the half-section line to the southwest corner of the east half of section 11, twp. 1 north/range 13 west; thence west to the northwest corner of section 15, same town and range; thence south along the section line to the southwest corner of section 34, same town and range ; thence west to the southeast corner of section 32 ; thence north to the place of beginning.

The surface is generally level, and is diversified by prairie and timber. Near the center is the beautiful and fertile area of Barney's prairie, about three miles long from north to south, and two miles wide. Like [ the sirens that sang by the seashore, its smiling, sun-lit j surface and its song-filled borders lulled to forgetfulness of home and fireside the sturdy pioneer of three-quarters of a century ago. A portion of Decker's prairie lies in the north, and Bald Hill in the west. The balance - especially the more elevated portions - was originally quite heavily timbered ; and parts that were at first treeless, are now covered with forests. On the old Van Wike place, the northwest quarter of section 13, where there was once a corn-field, there is a wood, with trees from eighteen to twenty inches in diameter. There is quite an area of waste land called Crawfish prairie - it is a sloughy area lying in the eastern part of the precinct, about three miles long northwest and southeast, and three-fourths of a mile wide. With its outlet, Crawfish creek, it is the principal source of drainage. The first settlers found game very abundant. Elk and buffalo had roamed in large numbers over the prairies, and left their bones as witnesses of their former existence. " Licks " were quite numerous. On the McNair place, three-fourths of a mile northeast of Friendsville, there was a buffalo lick comprising an area of about one and a-half acres. Occasionally, a buffalo might be seen passing through the settlement, but the elk had entirely disappeared. Bears and wolves were a source of much annoyance to farmers. Not infrequently the unmusical voice of a pig would break the stillness of the midnight i hour, as in the arms of bruin he was carried with apparent fondness and care towards the neighboring wood. One night, in Barney's prairie, a wolf stole quietly up behind Jere Wood, and, leaping upon him, caught him by the coat, near the shoulders, tearing it and nearly pulling him down. He turned suddenly and struck the animal with his gun, which was so injured by the act that it missed fire. The negro Dennis was also attacked by one, but succeeded in frightening it off. His cries were heard by a number of settlers. In the year 1836, the wolves assembled in large flocks and left the settlement. Their preparation and departure were heralded by a great ado, and what might seem sad lamentation at the fate to which civilization had brought them. The last black wolf in the county was killed by William Higgius, a half-mile west of Friendsville, in 1839. Hezekiah Clark killed the last panther, some three miles north of the town, about 1838 ; it was supposed to have been one that had straggled beyond its latitude. It seems at first thought singular that rabbits were less numerous prior to 1840 than they are to-day. The fact is due to the ravages made upon rabbit-life by the foxes. An interesting locality called "Indian Arrow Point," is to be found two and a half miles east of Friendsville, on Crawfish creek. " Arrow-heads of jasper," and great quantities of chips and pieces of flint, seem to show that at this place the Indians made and repaired their arrows.

The honor of making the first permanent settlement in what is now Friendsville precinct belongs to John Wood, who iii the spring of 1809 came from Barren county, Kentucky, and put up a small hickory roundlog cabin on the northeast quarter of section 36, township 1 north, range 13 west. His cabin completed, he returned to Kentucky, and in the fall brought his family, consisting of his wife and seven children : Alexander, Jeremiah, Eli, John, Mary, Betsey and Martha. This same fall he planted an apple orchard, having brought the young trees with him. From it originated the «' Wood" apple, a choice variety. In the year 1810 he and his neighbors constructed Fort Wood, as a protection against the Indians. It was the first thing of its kind in that vicinity, and was occupied by the Barneys, Higgins, Ingrams and others. It consisted of an iuclosure about eight or ten feet high, formed by setting halves of small hickory logs side by side in the ground. The specific inducement to the building of this as well as of Forts Barney and Higgins, was the Herriman massacre in Lawrence county about the year 1809. None of these defenses were ever attacked, the inmates sleeping securely while two of their number stood guard by night. On one occasion the sentries, Jeremiah Wood and William Barney, deserted their posts, and took the dogs that had been put out to watch, and went coonhunting. John Wood, the only survivor of the pioneer family, lives on a part of the old place where his father, John Wood, sr , settled. Joseph Wood, a grown son of the latter, preceded his father to the county, but settled a little later on the southwest quarter of section 30, twp. 1 north, range 13 west, and there, after raising a family of children, died.

In the spring of 1808 William Barney, who lived in western New York, on the banks of the Genesee, sold his small possessions for live stock, which he drove to the Alleghany river and exchanged for a raft of lumber, upon which he and his family floated down to the mouth of the Wabash. He there disposed of the raft, purchased a keel boat and pushed up the stream to Ramsey's rapids, afterward the site of Bedell's mill The male members of the family struck through the heavy forest to explore and select a spot for erecting a cabin. They reached a beautiful stretch of land, covered with grass, ten feet high, and afterward known as Barney's prairie. The Barney cabin was built shortly after the Woods, near where the Friendsville academy now stands. The family consisted of the father and mother and nine children, viz. : George, William, Richard, James, Betsey, Jane, Sarah, Clara and Ann. With Mr. Barney, or shortly after his arrival, came his three sons in-law, Ransom Higgins, Philo Ingram and Wilbour Aldridge. In the spring of 1811 it was thought necessary to build Fort Barney. It was a large inclosure, protected by trees split and set in the ground, with the bark out, the pointed tops being about twelve feet high. It stretched from a point north of the seminary to a considerable distance south of it, and was sufficient to accommodate several hundred inmates. In one corner of the inclosure was a log house, eight feet higher than the palisades, with port-holes ; a well now marks its site. In 1812 the fort was felt to be insufficient, and all parties removed to Indiana and passed the winter in a block-heuse in the " Neck." In the spring of 1813 they returned, and although the Shawnees, who claimed nearly the whole of the Wabash valley, and had their towns and camps all along the river, were yet hostile, the settlers of Barney's prairie and vicinity were unharassed. William Barney was a representative man and did much by his influence and example to develop that portion of the county in which he settled. His permanent home was in the S. W. quarter of section 23, a little southwest of Friendsville, where he died. Ransom Higgius also built a fort, which bore his name. He was a man of large stature and much physical courage : he figured quite conspicuously as a miller in early times, and built a water-mill on what is popularly known as Barney's prairie creek, about the year 1813. His oldest child, Willis, was shot by one of the rangers stationed at Barney's fort, while practicing rifle-shooting. The ranger put spurs to his horse and sped away to Vincennes for a physician, but though the horse was killed by the ride, medical aid came too late. The boy was buried about the year 1813 or 1814, in what is NOW the Friendsville graveyard, the oldest iu the precinct. Joseph Preston, who died in Barney's fort, was the second person buried in this yard. The Preston homestead was on the W. half of the N. E. quarter of section 23. Philo Ingram on his arrival had two sons, William and Daniel. He settled on the N. E. quarter of section 20, where he lived till 1840, when he moved to Clay county, I'linois. He was a plain, industrious farmer and good citizen. Wilbour Aid ridge had one or two children, and settled on the N. W. quarter of sec. 24. Nathaniel Claypole, in 1814, settled on the W. half of section 32. He was a prominent citizen, and in 1815 was acting as clerk of Edwards county. In the same year came Thomas Pulliam ; he settled on the N. W. quarter of section 32, tp. 2 N., range 12 W. This was his permanent home. Near Pulliam lived John and Moses Decker, who settled here about 1814. Decker's prairie bears their name. William Higgius, an early justice of the peace, and his brothers E. and A. Higgius, came from Pennsylvania in 1815 ; he settled on the S. E. quarter of section 24, where he lived a few years and then moved about two miles south of Friendsville, and there died. E. and A. settled on the S. E. quarter of section 18, but did not remain long in the country. Jarvis Dale came in 1815, and settled on the S. W. quarter of section 20. He married Patience Chaffee, whose family were early settlers. Dale was a farmer and mechanic, and had a fondness for horse trading. Henry McGregor, 1815, settled on the W. half of the S. W. quarter of section 31, tp. 1 N. ; he was a plain farmer and died on the old place. A number of his descendants live in the precinct. John Smith, Jr., from Ohio, in 1815, settled on the N. E. quarter of section 31, tp. 2 N. He was familiarly known as " Tinner " Smith, from the trade he exercised. He was somewhat dissipated, and something of a joker ; he used to say, that when he went home intoxicated, he would throw his hat in at the door, and if his wife did not kick it, he could safely venture in. One day she told him to go and get some wood ; he took his hat, went out, and at the end of two years appeared with a small armful of wood, which he laid down upon the floor and said, " There, Beck's your wood." William and James Pool, brothers, were from Hamilton county, Ohio. They settled on the S. E. quarter of section 14, in 1815. The former had been to the country before, and had entered land in 1814. He remained only five or six years, and returned to Ohio. James settled permanently. He was one of the earliest ministers in the county, and the first in the precinct. Josiah Higgins, in 1815, settled on the S. W. quarter of section 13. Ephraim Keed, 1815, settled on the W. half of the S. W. quarter of section 13. The Knapps were from the state of New York. James Knapp was county surveyor for a number of years. John Shadle, a German, from Pennsylvania, in 1815, settled on the N. W. quarter of section 31, tp. 1 N. ,He brought two children, Henry and John ; he was a carpenter, a good farmer, and was sai I to be the only man who could raise wheat. The brothers Charles and John McNair came from New York about 1815. The latter did not remain long. Charles was a prosperous farmer, and also followed the tanning and currying business for a number of years. The McNair family is one of the most prominent in the precinct. Gervase Hazelton, about 1815, settled on the S. E. quarter of section 32, tp. 2 N. He was a large land-owner and prominent man in his day. His possessions were not confined to Wabash county, but extended to the present site of Hazelton, Indiana. He was a member of the legislature and an auctioneer, and as early as 1816 a justice of the peace; he also operated a horse-mill on liis place. On the county records at Albion appears the marriage of Gervais Hamilton to Eliza Osgood, by -Squire G. W. Smith, in 1816. The Osgood family were prominent among the early settlers.

Willis Higgins came from Alleghany county, N. Y. in 1816, and settled on the S. half of N. E. quarter of section 14. He was fond of the chase, and not only repaired his own gun, but those of his neighbors also, at his shop. He taught school about 1821 or 1822 in an old cabin on his own farm. Coles Besley was a large and powerful man, and with a family of children, - James, William, Catharine and Susan, - settled on theN. VV. quarter of section 18. George Letherland came in 1816, bringing with him three children, William, Matthew and Mary. He settled on tiie §. E. quarter of section 24, and was a good farmer. William Brown, from New York, in 1816, settled on the N. E. quarter of section 11, where he made" his permanent home, and reared a family of children. He was a powerful man physically, and he had been blind some years before his death. John White, also from New York, in 1816, settled on the N. W. quarter of section 12. Here, having been three times married, he reared a large family of children, some of whom he brought to the country with him. The S. W- quarter of this section was settled by Reuben Blackford, in 1815. Benjamin Taylor, from Ohio, in 1816, settled on the E. half of the S. W. quarter of section 13. He brought to the precinct a son, Theoron, and one or two daughters. He possessed some knowledge and skill in medicine, which to some extent he put in practice in the settlement; he was also the proprietor of a cotton gin, which he had in operation. Edward Brines, Lemuel Haskins and Henry Utter came in company with seven or eight other families, from Alleghany county, New York, in 1816. They all settled in the vicinity of Bald Hill, and became prosperous and useful citizens. Their descendants, who are quite numerous in the county, are following in the footsteps of their illustrious ancestors. Utter was an influential man and a member of the legislature. He was one of the leaders in the movement that resulted in the separation of Wabash from Edwards county, and was a member of the first court. Z. Warner came from New York, in 1816, and with a family, settled on the W. half of section 20. David Daily settled on the W. half of the N. W. quarter of section 20, about the year 1816. Henry Chrisman, from Indiana, settled on the S. W. quarter of section 20. He was a carpenter and millwright, and helped build the Bedfell mill, on the Wabash ; he had great physical strength, and was pronounced the stoutest man present at the raising of that building. William Courter, a Christian minister and the progenitor of the Courter family in the county, came from Indiana, and settled about two miles east of Friendsville. Joseph E. Thompson, son of a Tennesseean, came to the county in 1830, settled some distance north of Friendsville. His children were Polly, Henry, Carrol, Francis M. and Louisa J. James Thompson, who was a deputy county , surveyor and a justice of the peace for a number of j years, was an early settler who lived on the W. half of section 32, tp. 2 N., range 12 W. William H. Ridgely was an early settler in the precinct and raised a goodsized family. J. Fordice came from Indiana, and settled on the N. VV. quarter of section 34. It appears from the records at Albion that James Fordice was married to Susan Gard, by Rev. Jere. Ballard, June 28, 1815.

Colonel Simmonds, with a family 'of four children, Stephen, Medad, and two daughters, settled on the W. * of the N. W. k of section 1, and then about 1820 laid off the old town, Mt. Pleasant. The locality is now known as darks' corners. Here Simmonds built a horse-mill of some importance. Dr. Dake located here shortly after the year 1820, and a man named Hunt kept a store. The town also contained u blacksmith shop, but was short-lived and went to decay. One Tuttle, a hatter, came from Conn., in 1817, with a family of five children. Horace, who was blind, John, Betsey, Sarah Ann, and Nancy, and settled on the E. J of section 1. Betsey married Capt. Clark, who settled near his father-inlaw, on the edge of old Mt. Pleasant. He died over fifty years ago. His body was exhumed and subjected to an autopsy, which showed that death had resulted from poison. A family of Melsons, about 1816 or '17 settled on the S. i of section 8. One Fields, also an early settler, lived on the N. J of this section.

Robert Bell, a revolutionary soldier, came from Rockbridge, Va., in 1818, with a family of three children, George, Hiram, and Jane, and settled on the S. E. I of N. W. k of section 22, where he died in 1837. Hiram became the first recorder, circuit clerk, and first county clerk, and county surveyor of the county of Wabash, and retained the first office till 1860, and the second till 1853. Under the old militia law he was Brigadier- General of the Second Brigade and Second Division of the Illinois militia. He died in Mt. Carrael, in 1867. Samuel Putman, came from Knox county, Indiana, and lived first in the " Timber Settlement," and then moved j to the S. E. i of section 19. John Harmon, a teache^ j was among the early citizens of the precinct. Asa Smith, in 1818, settled on the W. i of the S. W. t of section 5. George Omen, came from New York, in 1818, with a family of nine children, John, George, Mary, Priscilla, Anna, Minerva, Jacob, Eliza and Henry, and settled on the N. W. t of section 18, where he died about 1840. Henry shot and killed Ezra Wanser, as was supposed from motives of jealousy. The Wanser family came from New York, about 1817. Asa Hammond, in 1818, settled on the E. } of the S. E. t of section 7, where he lived a number of years, and then moved away. Jeremiah Wilson settled on the E. J of the N. E. t of section 7, in 1818. He was a boat builder and carpenter. Cyrus Danforth, with his family in 1818, came from N. Y. in a keel boat. His destination was Terre Haute, but being unable to pass farther up the Wabash he landed at the Grand Rapids, intending to pursue his way as soon as a rise in the river would permit. Fearing sickness on the river he brought his family out into Barney's prairie, and, pleased with the appearance, there made his home. About 1818, Adam Corrie, Jr., came from England and purchased a large tract of land in Decker's Prairie, Wabash county. In 1822, the Corries, five brothers and several sisters, and the Milli. gans, came from Scotland and settled upon it. Samuel and William Schrader married into the Corrie family, and also settled upon this tract. Dr. Ezra Baker, Jr , came from Philadelphia, with a family of two children, Edwin and Dorsey, about 1820, and located on a farm near Gird's Point. He was wealthy, of fine appearance, sociable and pleasing in his manners and address. He was the leading spirit of old Centerville, the founder of Rochester, that at one time surpassed Mt. Caruiel in business importance, and the proprietor of Bennington in Edwards county. His life may serve as an example and a warning to the young of Wabash county : First, prosperity, and over-reaching in business speculations, then domestic infelicity, and finally the cup to excess, and poverty and pauperism in Philadelphia. Harry Ingram, from N. Y., about 1820, settled on the W. * of the N. W. J of section 19. Edward Mundy, came from N. Y., in 1820, bringing a wife and one son, Phiueas. He was an attorney, and practiced his profession a number of years, and then went to Michigan where he became circuit judge and lieutenant governor of the state. John Pension, came from N. J., in 1823, and settled first in Mt. Carmel, remained there about two years, and then moved to the precinct. His family consisted of Risley, Rebecca, Daniel, Richard, step-children named Tilton and Diana, Elizabeth and Sarah. Guy Smith about 1823 or '24, moved to the farm one mile south of Friendsville, for which he had traded his store-house in old Palmyra. The frame of this building is in Ira Keen's dwelling in Friendsville. Dr. Norton, who had practiced in Palmyra, moved to Barney's prairie, and there died about the year 1822. Nicholas Hazelton, came from New York, in 1830. He had a family of nine children, Sally, Samuel, William, Joseph, Anna, Abbie, Lois, Arena,,and Mary. He settled in the W. I of the N. W. i of section 6, township 1, range 12.

miah Wood about 1817 or '18. It stood on Crawfish creek, about three-fourths of a mile above the wagon road leading from Friendsville to Fatten. The Osburn horse-mill and distillery were built about 1825 by Joseph Otburn, who came from Ohio. They stood about three miles north of Fiiendsville, The first school was taught in a log cabin near Barney's Fort in 1815 or '16. The first teachers were John Griffith and Betsey Osgood. About 1820 a school was taught a quarter of a mile east of Friendsville, in a building put up for school purposes. The Black Hawk soldiers of Friendsville precinct were Ira Keen, James Besley, both living, William Besley, William Ridgeley, George Danforth, William and John Gaddy, Matthew Litherland and Hiram Couch. The following are the land entries for the year 1814: May 10, Philo Ingram, the N. E. t of section 26; May 14, William Pool, the S W. t of section 19 ; May 16, Seth Card, the N. E. t of section 22, and Peter Keen, the N. E. \ of section 34 ; June 22, Ransom Higgins, the N. E. }- of section 14; September 2, John Hart, the S. E. } of section 35 ; September 9, Thomas Pulliam, the N. W. 1 of section 32, T. 2 N. The following entries were made in 1815 : May 23? William and Thomas Pool, theS. } of section 14; June 10, Ephraim Reed, the W. J of the S. W. 1 of section 13; June 29, William Barney, the S. W. 1 of section 24; July 29, John Shadle, the N. W. J of section 31 ; July 31, Henry McGregor, the W. J of the S. W. i of the same section ; July 25, Reuben Blackford, the S. W. \ of section 12 ; August 29, William Higgins, the S. W. i of section 24.

The first house that occupied the present site of the town was the log dwelling of Job Pixley, built about 1818- He came from the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife and two sons, William and Asa, and a daughter, Abigail. The latter married James Andrews, who built the second house. Robert Parkinson, of the firm Wood and Parkinson, sold the first goods in a part of John F. Youngken's house about 1835. In 1838, Parkinson built the first store, a one-story frame build ing, on the corner of Main and Cyrus streets. The first drug store was established by William R. Wilkinson, on the S. E. corner of Main and Cyrus streets. The postoffice was established in 1839, and Robert Parkinson -was the first post-master. The town derived its name from Friendsville, Susquehanna county, Pa. It was laid out on the S. E. J of section 23, T. 1 N. R. 13 W., and surveyed and platted by Robert Buchanan in 1854. The original proprietors were William R. Wilkinson, John F. Youngken and Cyrus Danforth. In 1816 the town was re-surveyed and platted by Buchanan, and the plat filed for record in the office of the circuit clerk April 10th of that year. The Presbyterian church, a brick structure, was built in 1849 at a cost of $1200. The Wyoming Flouring Mills, so named, from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania, were built by William R. Wilkinson in 1860-'61 at a cost of $1100. The building is a four story frame, with a foundation 40x60 feet. It has two run of burrs, and is equipped with elevators, screens, cleaners, etc. Its capacity is one hundred barrels of flour a day. It is now under the management of R. F. and George Wilkinson. The school-house, a frame building, 49x30 feet, was put up about 1866 The Academy, a frame building, 40x60 feet, surmounted by a tower and bell, was erected for high school purposes in 1866. Prior to this a high school had been taught in the church by Rev. Samuel Baldridge. The Friendsville Library Association was established by charter in 1840. During the twenty years of its active existence it collected a library of over three hundred volumes of books. Among the charter members of this association it is fitting to mention the name of Dr. David R. Allison, from Pennsylvania, who settled in section 15 in 1834. He was a gentleman of education and of scholarly tastes and habits, which had been developed and improved by several years travel in different European countries.

Present Business

Orio, formerly called Corrieville, is a pleasant little hamlet on the W. I of section 32, T. 2 N. The name of the post-office is Lynn. The tile factory of W. P. Beasley does quite a large business in its line. There are two general stores kept respectively by Schrader & Beasley and Henry Thompson. The post-office was established in 1879, and is kept by W. P. Beasley. Albert Shepard has a broom factory, and Germane Shepard a molasses factory. There is also a wagon and a blacksmith shop kept respectively by S. J. Underwood and Martin Pheil. Dr. McMurray is the village physician. The church belongs to the Presbyterian denomination, and was built about 1839. The locality of Orio was the scene of the labors of Rev. Stephen Bliss, a sketch of whom appears in the chapter on the churches. He preached and taught in a log schoolhouse that stood near the site of Henry Thompson's well in his door-yard. Adams Shepard, from New England, settled at this point about 1830. He was an educated man, and a classmate of Daniel Webster.

Adams' Corners, so named after Daniel Adams, is situated in the southeast corner of section 18. It contains two churches, a Christian and a United Brethren, a frame school-house, a store kept by Franklin Seiberts, and eight or nine dwellings.

Friendship precinct had the first " Free Soil " organisation in southern Illinois. It was established in 1848 with six members, Cyrus Danforth, William R. Wilkinson, Charles W. McNair, James and David Ballard and John F. Youngken. These six cast six, and the only votes in Wabash county for Martin Van Buren. The youngest soldier in the Union array of the late war, in Illinois, and with one exception, in the United States, was furnished by Frieudsville precinct, in the person of George W. Shoaff, at the age of about eleven and a half years. It has supplied one member of the constitutional convention of 1818; two judges of the probate court; one judge of the county court; two clerks of said court ; one county surveyor, and three members of the General Assembly.

THE native country of the Wilkinson family is Yorkshire, England, town of Sedgeborough. The family have generally followed the peaceful avocation of farmers. The family farm was HolexHouse, Howgill. The record of the Wilkinson family in the old Episcopal church, to which they all belonged for many generations, is as follows: Robert Wilkinson, the grandfather, was born at Hole House. He spent most of his time fishing for trout and salmon, when not occupied by his duties on the farm. He married Miss Mary Wilson, who was of a Quaker family, and was a most modest and admirable Christian woman, wife and mother whose memory was revered and cherished by her offspring. Robert Wilkinson's politics were "Free Trade," "Bread for All." Lord Brown, the standard-bearer for the West Riding of Yorkshire ; his three sons, Thomas, Anthony and William, were of the same political cast.

The second son, Anthony, became very rich in the East Indies. He left England in 1788, and remained abroad twenty-two years, and bought several estates. He married Miss Jane Sedgwick, daughter of an Episcopalian minister. They had ten sons and daughters. He died at Hole House in 1842, at the age of about seventy years. Their ancestors, being large people, combined with healthy climate and good constitutions, gave to those three brothers (Thomas, Anthony and William) more than ordinary size and stature. Thomas was five feet eleven inches high, and weighed 294 Ibs. Anthony was six feet in height, and weighed 322 Ibs. William was six feet two inches, and weighed 266 Ibs. William, the youngest, entered the service of his country under Sir Arthur Wellesley, who was afterwards elevated to Viscount Wellington. After leaving the service of his country, he came to America, and entered a school at Baltimore, Md., preparatory to going to his brother Anthony, who resided at East End of Water Lane, Kingston, Jamaica, a British island. The latter 's plantation was some sixty miles from Kingston. The labor on the plantation was all accomplished by slaves. Anthony, finding himself failing in health, the result of a too energetic character and tropical climate, left the island for his home in England, and never returned except for a short time. William remained on the island until 1815, when he returned home and died at Sedgeborough in 1837, at the age of sixty-two years. In England he was a farmer. The main products of the farm were oats, grass, potatoes, barley and turnips, - sheep and cattle the principal stock. Thomas Wilkinson's father married Miss Mary Wilson, about the year 1790. They had one son, Robert, who went to Jamaica in 1820 and died there ; and two girls, An n and Mary. The latter married James Mattison, aud had four children. Ann, the eldest daughter, died without issue. Thomas Wilkinson, sr.'s second marriage way with Miss Ann Rah, a Scotchwoman. She was born in 1784, - was a woman of wonderful energy and perseverance, and possessed those marked characteristics of the hardy Scotch people. She was a member of the Episcopal church, a model woman and farmer's wife, with strong attachments for her children, and kind and benevolent to all, especially to those in distress. She would say : " Poor things, they are somebody's bairns " (children). She had by her marriage with Thomas Wilkinson fifteen children - all lived to maturity except the youngest, who died in infancy. The names of the children were : Anthony, Margaret, Betty, Nanny, Rose, Jane, Sophia, Hannah, William -R., Isabella, Ellen, Sarah, Thomas and John F. Anthony emigrated in 1828, and Mr. Wilkinson, wife, and nine children came to America in 1830. They left home in May, and were eight weeks on sea. They reached Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, where they first settled in | July of the same year. Arriving at Mrs. Metcalf 's, an ! old acquaintance in England who had preceded them [ here, the family remained there until money was saved sufficient to bring them west. They left Wyoming Valley, Penn., in May, 1837, going by canal to the Allegheny mountains, over the inclined railway, and then to Pittsburg by canal, and from there down the river to Shawneetown on steamboat. Teams hauled them to Edwards county. Mr. Wilkinson bought forty acres of laud in White county, Ills., where he lived the balance of his life. Some of his children settled near him, and others in Edwards county - all buying land and making homes as fast as circumstances would admit. Most of the land still remains in the family. Subsequently, the family became separated ; some went up north to Friendsville, Wabash county, where the subject of this sketch and several others reside.

Thomas Wilkinson, sr., was born Nov. 30, 1768, and died Aug. 15, 1840, and, at his own request, was buried on his land. His wife then removed to Friendsville, and there died in 1852. After the death of his mother, Thomas Wilkinson, the subject of this sketch, went to school at what was known as the Ridge school-house, which was erected in 1841 or 1842, on section 14, twp. 3, 5, in Edwards county. The house was erected by the neighbors, who contributed their work. Mr. John Spencerand Mr. Wilkinson built the chimney, which was of stone. It was, in fact, a pioneer school house, with split logs for benches, plauk floors, and everything cheap to suit the circumstances. That house was also used as a place of divine worship for a number of years. From that school-house Mr. Wilkinson graduated under Mr. John Correy, a Scotchman, who took a great interest in him, and towards whom Mr. Wilkinson has always entertained the greatest respect and esteem.

The forty acres lying south of the school-house was entered by Robert Willis, and donated for church and cemetery purposes, and named Bethsaida. In 1844, Mr. Wilkinson was united in marriage to Mrs. Eliza Chapman, daughter of Rev. John Scott. She had one son by her former marriage, whose name was Thomas S. Chapman. Her parents were natives of Leeds, England, and came to America in 1841, and settled and bought land in Edwards county, where Mr. Scott died October 9lh, 1845. His wife, Sarah, died November 29th, 1851, and their daughter Elizabeth died December 10th, 1847. After Mr. Wilkinson's marriage, both he and his wife set industriously to work to make a home, determining not to fall behind others who were starting about the same time. They plodded along, making and adding to their store, little by little. Money was scarce and hard to get. The country was new, and had not recovered from the effects of the financial troubles of a few years before. Two children were born to Mr. Wilkinson ,-*- John and Sarah. Both died young. His wife died Dec. 20th, 1851, and was buried in the Bethsaida burying ground. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Scott family residence in the new world was brief - all died except one grand-daughter, Sarah Ann, wife of Thomas St. Leger.

Thomas S. Chapman enlisted in the late war in Co. A of the llth Mo. Infantry, and died in the service. His remains lie by the side of his mother. In the winter of 1847 Mr. Wilkinson went toPinhook, in Edwards county, and packed pork for Messrs. Parkinson and Wilkinson. In the summer of 1 848 he assisted in erecting a carding machine and building, and learned to card wool under the instructions of Major David Ingraham, the oldest carder in Edwards county. Daring the winter he, in connection with his brother William, bought and packed pork, and also corn, oats and produce. In 1850 Mr. Wilkinson and his brother entered regularly into partnership. They sold goods, bought produce, built boats, loaded them, run them out on the Bonpas to the Wabash and Mississippi rivers. They established a branch store at Timberville, on the Wabash, which proved unsuccessful to Mr. Wilkinson. He moved to and settled in Friendsville, Dec. 15, 1857. In 1862 he formed a partnership with James Foster, which was disastrous. During that time Mr. Wilkinson was postmaster of Friendsville. On the 21st of November, 1852, he married Rebecca, widow of H. B. Roney, and daughter of Ira and Eleanor Keen. She was born one mile east of Friendsville, Wabash county, Ills. There have been nine children, the result of that marriage. Their names in the order of their birth are : Mary Ellen, born Oct. 17, 1853 ; died Oct. 24, '54. Sarah Jane, born Dec.,10, '55 ; Alice, born Feb. 12, '58, died Oct.4, '59 ; Ira A., born Mar. 15, '60 ; died July 11, '61. Sam'l B Elsworth,born Oct. 5, 1862; died July 13, 1876. Thomas Lincoln, born Feb. 9, 1865. William Finley, born Dec. 20; died Sepf 26, 1867. Jordan Keen, born Feb. 13, 1876. Elizabeth, the oldest living daughter, married Captain James E. Kelsey, March 26th, 1868, and gave birth to four sons, whose names are : William Thomas, Harry Albert, George and James Garfield. They live in Lawrence county. Sarah Isabella is the wife of George S. Taylor ; married April 29, 1880 ; have one child (Carrie), born May 3, 1881. Mr. Ira Keen and wife, parents of Mrs. W., came to Wabash county, - father in 1816, and the mother iu 1803. Mrs. Keen's maiden name is Jourdan, related by blood to the Comptons, who were originally from Virginia, thence to Kentucky, and finally to Wabash county, Illinois, in 1801. They are credited with being the first settlers in this section of the country.

Mr. Wilkinson, politically, was an old line Whig. His first vote was cast for W. H. Harrison in 1840. He remained a Whig until 1856, when he voted for John C. Fremont, and for all subsequent Republican candidates.

A. Wilkinson married Ruth Edgerton, who had fivesons and three daughters, and fourteen grandchildren. Wm. R. married Sarah Williams and had two sons and four daughters. Thomas Wilkinson married Eliza Chapman, had one son, two daughters and four grandsons. Subsequently Mr. W. married Rebecca Rouey ; had six sons, three daughters and two grand-daughters. John F. W. married Mary E. Albetz; had two sons, three daughters and five grandchildren. John F. subsequently married Maria Albetz, and had one son.

land. He is the son of Thomas and Nancy Rah) Wilkinson, and the ninth in a family of fourteen children. His father had been twice married, and was the father of nineteen children. The family emigrated to America in 1830, and settled in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1837 he came west to Illinois, and settled five miles west of Grayville, in White county, where he bought forty acres of land, and there lived until his death in 1840. His wife then came to Friendsville, and | made her home with the subject of this sketch until 1858, when she died. After the family came to America, William R. worked for William Wood of Wilkesbarre, and received iu pay four dollars per month. He remained with him four years. Then his father rented a piece of land, and William returned and assisted him for several years. In April, 1837, he engaged with Judge Geo. W. Woodward, of Wilkesbarre, and went to school, doing the chores of the house in pay for his board. The following fall he came west to White county, where his father had moved. He remained with him, and helped to cl.ear up ten acres of ground, and fenced it in. In June, 1838, he came to Mt. Carmel, and worked at the tanning business. In Feb., 1889, at the solicitation of William Wood, he went to Friendsville and clerked for him in the store, and in 1841 formed a partnership with Mr. Wood. This partnership continued for seven years, after which he continued the business, and is still at the old stand. In 1855 he and his brother Thomas engaged in mercantile business in Pinhook, in Edwards county, Illinois, and at old Timberville on the Wabash river.

In 1850 he put up a warehouse, and shipped a large amount of produce down the river. In 1859 he built the flouring mill iu Friendsville. In 1841 he was appointed postmaster of Friendsville, and still holds that position. He is without doubt the oldest post-master in | the State. Mr. Wilkinson was for many years the leading merchant of his town and a prominent man in the j county. On the 6th of September, 1849, he was com- , missioned by Gov. French a justice of the peace. Aug. 18, 1856, he was commissioned by Joel A. Mattison notary public ; and on the 30th of November 1£57, was commissioned county judge of Wabash county. In 1876 he was elected to represent his senatorial district in the General Assembly of the State. He was appointed on the commission to examine the overflowed lands along the rivers, where the State had built dams or locks. Originally, Judge Wilkinson was a Whig. In 1848 he was one of six who formed the Free Soil party in Wabash county. He joined the Young Republican party 1856, and voted for John C. Fremont, and in all subsequent elections has uniformly voted that ticket.

On the 9th of December, 1841, he married Sarah Williams, who was born in Ireland. Her father came to America when she was but a year old. She was reared in New Brunswick. There have been eight children, the offspring of that union, five of whom are living. Their names are : Alice A., who is the wife of W. H. Besley ; Mary, wife of John H. Allison ; Robert T. ; Sarah, wife of Thomas H. Penn, and George.

Robert T. Wilkinson, the eldest son, was born in Friendsville, Feb. 23, 1850. He received his education in the public schools and in the seminary of his native town. He read law in the office of Green & Bell, and was admitted to the bar at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, at the July term of the Supreme Court, 1879. The same fall he removed to Mt. Carmel, and engaged in mercantile business in connection with W. H. Besley, which continued for two and a-half years, when he formed a partnership with J. Fred. Stein, which still continues. On the 6th of February, 1882, he was appointed postmaster of Mt. Carmel, and re-appointed April 3d, 1873.

On the 22d of Oct., 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Julia E., daughter of Dr. James and Ellen (Lavellette) Harvey. By that union there are three children, whose names are Mabel, Robert Clyde, and James W. Wilkinson. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church.