Mount Pulaski Township

Mount Pulaski Township

AYRES JOHN B. farmer; bom in Miami Co. Ohio, in 1831; moved from there to this county in 185a; was married to Eliza Shupe in 1S71; has one child, Lena A. bom in 1873; rep.

BEIDLEB SAMUEL LINN, postmaster and druggist, Mt. Pulaski; was bora in Lancaster Co. Pa. June 23, 1837; lived in Trenton, N. J. in 1852-3; went from there to Ross Co. Ohio; remained during the years 1854-5-6; came to this county in 1857, and to this village the following fall; was appointed postmaster by James Buchanan immediately after he arrived here, and has held the office ever since, with the exception of about a year during Andrew Johnson's administration; was director of the G. C. & S. R.R. from its organization in 1870 till 1876; married Miss Piudence Ann Capps, Feb. 8, i860; she was born in Mt. Pulaski, Dec 18, 1841; have had eight children, viz : Helen, bom Nov. 3, i860, deceased; Monitor Clarence, bom Jan.- 12, 1862; Frank X. bom Feb. 16, 1864; John^ Linndemuth, bom Dec. 27, 1865; Snow Flake, bom Dea 13, 1867; Imogene A. bom Oct. 5, 1872; Bell Capps, bom Feb. 7, 1874; George Hoke, born Dec. ao, 1876; owns twenty lots and fourteen houses in Mt Pulaski, valued at $18,000; also, section of land in Kansas, valued at $10 per acre; persoi^al^prpp^rtx $10,000; black rep; Universalist .

BlOaS JOSSU^H, M^, Pulaski, saloon; rep; bora in Jennings Co. Ind. 1S37; came to Mt Pulaski in 1876; married Artelissa Corcoran, of Jajcksonville, Morgan Co. 111. in 1858; has three children : Wm. H., Frank and Aggie

Pulaski; dem; Luth; bom Illinois Brown Robert fann hand; dem. 6row|i G. Riley, fanner. Sec. 5; P.O. Mt Pulaski; dem; liberal; from South Carolina Buchanan George, farmer. Sec 4; P.O. Mt.

to Cincinnati. Mr. Capps remained, hefe engaged. in various emploTyments two ypars, . when he went to Louisville^ Remaining there but a short time, he walkedto St. Louis, as steamboats were seldom seen on the westem waters, and on their approach were always the signal for the gathering of the populace. In i8ao, Mr. Capps crossed. the Father of ; Waters into the new State of Illinois, the wealth of whose prairies he had often heard described by traders, and entered what was then known as the St. Gamey country settling at Calhoun, now Springfield. His occupation here was teaching school, first at Clark's old mill on the south fork of Sangamon River, where he held the pioneer school of Sangamon Co. His second school was in Sprinfield, it being the first school in that place. Not liking this occupation for a life work, he engaged in the manufacture of shoes and boots, and opened soon after one of the first stores in the present state capital. In 1839, he was married to Miss Prady Ann Stafford. By this marriage he became the father of four children: Thomas, Charles, Ebenezer and Oliver, all of whom are liv - ing, save Thomas, who died while young. Mr. Capps purchased a log house of Stephen Stillman, the first postmaster in Springfield, and in that kept an assortment of the various articles needed by the pioneers. Not meeting with the success he anticipated, and. finding it very difficult, if not impossible to collect fvom all his customers, many of whom lived in what is now Logan Co. Mr. Capps determined to sell* and. seek a new location. He had for a while met with good success^ and^bad established a branch store at Vandalia. Bqt circumstances idrea(ly mentioned, Jackson's^ bank veto, and cpnsequent hard times in the west, induced him to take this s(ep. M.eanwhil^ Dr. Shields, his brotherin-la^, then a practitioner in Springfield, had been m^ing professional ' calh at Nicolas Mpore*s in' th^ settlements on.^t Cree)&,and the Lake f^ork, and, returning from one of these trips, described; to ' Mr. Capps a bea3itifuMoca!tion for a town on the prairie hefiyeen Salt Creek and Lake I^rk.' Dr. Barton Robinson, who was in an adjoining room« h^rdth^ description and b^me interested. gSoon afler, a doni- pany was fonned, consisting of Jabez Capps, G. W. Turley, and Dr. Robinson, and in August, 1836, these persons, witl) Thomas Skinner as surveyor, came to the present site of Mt. Pulaski and laid out the village. Early in the spring preceding, Mrs. Capps had died, and Mr. Capps knowing the need of a helpmeet in his new home, in September married Miss Elizabeth Baker, and the next morning after the wedding set out for his prairie home. He had rented a small cabin of Jerry Burks, who lived near the timber, and having removed it to the summit of the mound, placed his £unily therein on his arrival. This was a small one-story cabin. He im. mediately had erected a story and a half frame, the lower story of which he used for a store, the upper for a dwelling. In the log and frame structure he kept a characteristic frontier store several years. This becoming too small, he erected a. frame quitt a commodious house for those days This was used similarly as the log structure, which had occupied the site of the present post-office building. By his second marriage Mr. Capps became the father of ten children: John H., Prudende, wife of S. Linn Beidler, who for many years ^as been post m^ister here; Maiy, wife of Michael McNattin; William, Benjamin D., Jabez Jr., Edward, Frank - who died in early youth - Harry and Maud. Mr. Capps lived about two years in his frontier home before another family joined him on the Mount. For several items concerning the early settlement of Mt. Pulaski, the reader is referred to the history elsewhere in this book, where some interesting details may be found. In a few years Mr. Capps had established a prosperous trade and commanded custom for many miles in all directions. This business he pursued succdsfully until 1858 when he retired from the mercantile business, and with his son Charles, entered largely into the horticultural business. He has always had a fondness - for this pursuit, and even now in his old age, he loves to work in his beautiful nursery in the north part of the town. Mr. Capps' life has been varied. He has seen many great changes in our nation. He has seen the infant State of Illinois grow to the fourth state in the Union,. and the prairies which wild 'when he, a young man, first saw them, to be covered with farms, and prosperous- - industries. Although Mr. Capps is 81 years of age, his hearing and vision ate good, ti^d his strength seems hardly abated,

CASS FRANK J>. M.D. physician and surgeon, Mt. Pulaski; rep; MedL-Epis; bora, in 1832, in what was dien Sangamon Co. now Logan; graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1863, and from the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1876; married Sarah 6. Landis, of this county, in 1858; has one iiad five children: John, Mary S. (married ' Wniiam Burr), Maggie A. (married Thomas Anderson), Lucy C. (married Thomas Clark), and Dahlia, deceased

OONSJiilN PEABL J. proprietor Mt, Pulaski Citizen (Conklin Bros, editors), Mt. Pulaski; rep; bom in Dayton, Ohio, Jan. a, 1854; came to this county in 1876. Mr. Conklin commenced the publication of the CitiMen Nov. 29, 1876, and has since that time been its proprietor. The Cititen is the only paper published in the city, has a good circulation and increasing rapidly. He was married to Laura, daughser of E. S. Capps, of Mt. Pulaski, on the 28th of Nov. 1877.

CONNOIiliEY GEORGE W. barkeeper for S. A. Lacock; was bom in Logan Co. 111. Nov. 28, 1852; followed the business of farming four years; came to the village of Mt. Pulaski at the age of seven years, and has been here ever since; married Miss Katie Klotz, in this place, April 8, 1875; she was bora in Mt. Pulaski, Sept 27, 1857; have one child, Willie £. bora Jan. 13, 1876; dem; Luth.

CONRAI> IjEWIS, merchant (firm of Conrad & Seyfer). Sec 2; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; was bom July 26, 1842, in Fairfield Co. Ohio; came to this state and county in Oct. i860, and engaged in farming; entered the amiy on Aug. 19, 1862, and served three years; was honorably discharged May 30, 1865, at Memphis, Tenn.; started in the mercantile business in July, 1873; ^^ married to Miss Delilah Shoup, Aug. 16, 1866; she was bora in Logan Co. 111. Oct. 2, 1842; they have four children, all living, viz: Frank G. bora June 22, 1867; Lina R. bora Feb. 15, 1869; Willie S. bom Dec.

Pulaski; dem. Copeland Samuel >M. famier. Sec. 15; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; dem; liberal; bom in Illinois Copeland William A. farmer, Sec 14; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; dem; liberal; bom In Illinois Copeland William Franklin, farmer. Sec. 15; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; dem; Chris; bom in Illinois Corwin Henry, farmer; dem. Crouch Jonathan, farmer. Sec. 5; P.O. Mt.

DANNEB ANDREW, farmer. Sec 23; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; dem; Luth; bom in Germany. Nov. 23, 1808; came to Hagerstown, Md. in 1832; moved from there to Springfield, 111. and there worked at blacksmithing; moved to the county in 1836; was married to Magdalina Mergenthaler in 1844, who died in 1855; was again married, in 1856, to Margaret Loetterl; has had nine children - five by his first, and four by his second wife: Christena B.,. Anna M., Anna Margaret, Christena H.,. Kathrine and John,and three now deceased; has*i6o acres of land

DANTKER ANDREW P. constable and deputy sheriff; was bora in Mt. Pulaski, June 29, 1 84 1, being the first white child of German descent bora in the village of Mt. Pulaski; has followed various occupations up to April I, 1862; enlisted in the 35th I.V.I. Co. G, as private; was propromoted to second sergeant; served three years and over; was honorably discharged. May 28, 1865, at Greenville, East Tennessee; was appointed village constable in May, 1875; was appointed deputy sheriff in Dec. 1875; married Miss Lizzie Kessel^

DANNEB CHBISTIAlf, farmer. Sec. 18; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; dem; Luth; born in Germany; came to this country in 1836. and Logan Co. in 1840; married EfFe D. Smith, in Pittsburgh, Pa. 1836; of that marriage there are four children alive ^Andrew F., Henry, John and Kate; Mrs. Danner died in 1854. Re-married to Dorathy Burkhardt, in Logan Co. in 1856, and of his second marriage has five children - Mary, Christena, Christian, George and Gotleib. When Mr. Danner came to Mt. Pulaski, there were only two houses in the town

DANNER E« A. merchant tailor and dealer in clothing, Mt. Pulaski; Luth; was bora in Germany in 1834, and came to this -country Jan. i, 1861, and located at this town; .the first three years of his residence here, he was employed by his uncle, and then he engaged in business for himself; was married in 1864 to Catharine Ophard, who was bora 1848; has had six children: Eraest F., Christian H., Louis and Amelia, now living, and Louis and Frank, now deceased

DEMENT GEORGE G. clerk; was bora March 9, 1843, in Logan Co. Ill; entered the service Aug. i, 1863, as private, in Company D io6th I.V.I; was promoted to Sergeant-Major of the regiment; served three years; was honorably discharged Aug. 1, 1865; married Miss LemiraSams, Oct. 26, 1865, who was born Feb. 2, 1843, in Lc^an Co. Ill; have had two children (twins), one living, William A. bora Nov. 5, 1867; owns 68 acres in the township, value $5,000; also two lots and house in Mt. Pulaski, valued at $1,600; rep; Meth.

DEMENT JOHN^ H. constable; was bora in Logan Co. 111. Oct. 15, 1840; entered the army Aug. I, 1862, and served three years, in Company D, io6th I. V. I. Capt. D. Vanhise commanding; was honorably discharged Aug. i, 1865; married Rebecca Ayres, March 13, 1862, who was born March 5, 1840, in Pickaway Co. Ohio; have two children: Flora E. born 19th Dec. 1869, and Rosaltha, bora 27th June, 1874; owns two lots and house in Mt Pulaski, valued $900; rep; Meth.

DERBY WUililAM H. teacher; was bora in Ridgefield, Huron Co. Ohio, Feb. 35 1 1839; remained there until the year 1858, then went to Lincoln, 111: arrived there April 15 of the same year; commenced teaching in this county in the fall of 1861, and has been so engaged ever since; has been principal of the Mt. Pulaski school four years; married Miss Adda C. Simms, Sept. 3, 1873; she was born in Mt Pulaski, Dec. 2, 1853; has one child, Clarence E. bora July 9, 1874; Mr. Derby was elected superintendent of sdiools for Logan Co. Nov. 6, 1877; rep; UnL

I>OTEN SOREIjIj, farmer, Sec. 2;?.- O. Mt. Palaski; was bom in Barnard, Vermont, in 1821; moved to Huron Co. Ohio, in 1843, and was there married to Eliza, beth J. Nelson, in April, 1846; have had nine children : Mary F., Harry J., Agnes L., Elizabeth and Gertrude, now living, and Rosella, Clara, Henry and Charles deceased; moved from Huron Co. Ohio, to this county in 1858; owns 245 acres, valued at $17,150; rep; Univ.

I>OTY DANIEL M. surgeon-dentist, Mt. Pulaski; dem; Christian and minister of that church; bomi;i Clark Co. Ill, Sept. 23, 1835; settled in Mt. Pulaski in 1871; married Miss E. P. Ferris, of DeWitt Co Nov. 6, 1856; no children; raised an adopted -daughter from infancy, Nannie J. who married Lucien S. Edwards, of Lincoln, Logan Co. Dec. 28, 1876

DUBOCE MABCEIi A. photographer, Mt. Pulaski; was bom in France, Oct. 5, 1865; came to this country in i860; went to Springfield, 111. in 1861; enlisted in the 3d 111. Light Art. Company A, commanded by Capt. Vaughan, Aug. 7, 1862, and served three years; came to Mt. Pulaski in June, 1874; married Miss Augusta Swinke, Sept. 15* 1873, who was bom in Prussia, Aug. 10, 1853; have two children: Flora E. bora 13th July, 1874, and Hamilbn A. bom loth Sept. 1876; rep. in politics; liberal in religion

EWIXa JOSEPH W. lumber merchant, Mt. Pulaski; bom in 1838, in Scott Co. Kentucky; came to Logan Co. in Dec 1856; married Cathrine E. Steenbergen, of this county. May 10, 1871; no family; dem.

GILBERT JOHN, livery stable, Mt. Pulaski, bora in Centre Ca Pennsylvania, in 1833; married Hattie Rieley, of Springfield, 111. March 18, 1877; settled in Logan Co. 1872; republican; Presbyterian

GORDON J. B. livery, sale and feed stabler; was bom in Green Co. Pennsylvania, Sept. 15, 1845; came to this county in 1856, and engaged in the cattle trade; 1872, engaged in the livery business; married in 1872 to Dorothea Sheppard; have two children, Harry E. and Dolly; rep.

Harden William Henry

HARDEN WILLIAM HENRY, farmer. Sec. 5; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; rep; religion liberal; bom in Menard Co. 111. Aug. 2, 1846; married April 21, 1875, to Miss E. Caroline Hays, bom in Logan Co. Oct. 9, 1853; have two children, Allie Anderson and Flora Irene; came to Logan Ca. 1858; has been farming and trading; been out west as far as Colorado, taking out freight teams, getting $75 a month; bought the first land of 10 acres in 1867; now owns q2|^ acres, which ^he got by raising hogs and cattle, and successful trading, value $5,000

SOECKER JOSEPH, boot and shoe manufacturer, Mt. Pulaski; was bom in Ladwigshafen, on the Rhine, Germany, May 22, 1843; came to the United Statesi Oct. 4, 1868, and to this county Nov. 7, 1875; married Miss Anna Kuhn, Sept. 3, 1871 ; she was born in Maykammer, Pfalzi Germany, June 8, 1850; have had four children, three living: Barbara Emma, bom Dec. 23. 1873; Clara, born Sept. 23. 1874; Anna Maria, bom Nov. 7, 1876; owns two lots and a house, valued at $1,000; rep; Cath.

Huck Charles George

HUCK CHARLES GEORGE, merchant, Mt. Pulaski; was bom in Dorf Mietersheim, Baden, Germany, April 23, 1840, came to this country Feb. 27, 1854, and went direct to St. Louis; remained there about two years, then went to Lincoln, Ills; stayed there one year and a half; moved to Mt. Pulaski, Sept. 13, 1858, and started in the bakery business; went into

Pulaski; was married to Miss Paulina Schafer May 6, i860, who was bom in Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec. 31, 1843; have had five children: George A., Anna Cathrine Paulina, Maria Elizabeth, Elizabeth Doretha (deceased), and Emma Doretha; dem; Luth.

JONES ALBERT G. attorneyat-law; rep; liberal; born in Bond Co. Ills; came to this county in 1863; married Mary F. Cunningham, of Cass Co. III. in 1876

ELOTZ DAVID, clerk with Frank Schick; was bom in .Wurtemberg, Germany, May 9, 1833; came to this country and landed in Boston, Aug. 11, 1853; went from there to Pittsburgh, Pa and stayed there one year and a half, then came to ML Pulaski, Dec. 31, 1854; has been engaged in the tailoring business and clerking ever since; married Mrs. Mary Lutz, June 3, 1861; she was bom in Wurtembcrg, Germany, Feb. 6, 1838; have had seven children: Charles Henry, bora Feb. 5, 1862; John David, bom April 17, 1864; Louisa Magdelena (deceased), bom June 10, 1866; Anna Mary, bom April 25, 1868; Catharine Eliza, bom Aug. 18, 1870; Wilhelmina Emilie, bom April 27, 1873; Mathilde, bom Nov. I, 1875; enlisted as a private in Co. B, io6th I. V. I.; served ten months; was discharged on account of disability; dem; Luth.

KBrEO JOHN, merchant, Mt. Pulaski; was bom in Dorf Ilm, Schwarzburg, Rudolstadt, Germany, March 8, 1833; arrived in this country and came directly to Mt. Pulaski June 19, 1850, and engaged in the tailoring business; been in general merchandising since 1863; married Anna Beierlein in Nov. 1856, and had two children by this marriage, William and Mathilda; was married again to Barbara Meister, who was bora March 25, 1842, in Bavaria, Germany; they have had six children, five living: Louisa, Lena, Anna (deceased), Elizabeth, George, and Emielie; dem; Luth. .

liACOCK SAMXJBL A. saloon, billiard hall, and bowling alley, west side of public square, Mt. Pulaski; was born in Northumberland Co. Pa. Sept. 15, 1835; came to this county on Nov. 8, 1856; taught . school at the CopeUnd school-house, on Lake Fork in the winter of 1856-7 ; then ^ught at Shoup's school-house on Salt Creek the winter of 1858; went to Colorado the same year ; returned to Mt. Pulaski, Aug. 23, 1871, and engaged in trading ; started in the saloon business in liAUGHLIN ROBERT H. farmer. Sec. 9; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; dem; Meth; bom in Ohio July 20, 1835; his father, John C. came to Logan Co. Oct. 14, 1835,. and he was raised in this county; married March 5, 1857, to Susannah Jackson, bom Ohio, March 5, 1833; had eight children, lost one: Emily, John Wesley, Albert B., Lucejla Ann, Leonard Jefferson, Phoebe Mary, Chloe, and Eliza; was the first man that enlisted in this township, April 14^ 1861, Co. H, 7th I. V. three months' service; enlisted again Aug. 1862, Co. D,. lo6th L v.; served three years, discharged Aug. I, 1865; has been elected two terms constable, from 1866 to 1870; helped to sink coal shaft at Lincoln lilNCOIiN JOHK, farmer, Sec i; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; from Pickaway Co. Ohio; rep; wa s bQm Nov. 9, 1834; came to this county April 17, 1857; was married March 19^ 1857 to Malinda Morris, who was bom in Pickaway Co. Ohio, Sept. 25, 1837; ^^^^ five chUdren: Mary S., Charles W., Maud, Edward M. and Abraham, now deceased; has 160 acres of land, valued at $8,000

LINCOLN SOLOMON B. farmer. Sec. 9; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; rep; Methodist; born in Union County, Pennsylvania, Nov. 17, 1820; married Jan. 6, 1843. ^o Mi^ Melinda Morris, bom in Pickaway County, Ohio, June 6, 1820; have four children: William, John, Rachael Ellen, now Mrs.. Alex. Fleming, and Samuel; owns i6a acres, value $10,000; came to Logan County Oct. 14, 1855; has been farming all his life with exception of two years; from. 1872 to '74, he was deputy sheriff of the county

LIPP tTOHNy bakery, restaurant and saloon on Washington st. Mt. Pulaski; was bom in Koenigstadten, Germany, Sept.. 28, 1837; came to this country May 1st,. 1859, and went directly to Evansville, Indiana; remained there about two years; went to Lincoln, Illinois, April 27, 1865; stayed there eleven years; moved to Mt. Pulaski, March 12, 1876; married Miss. Amelia Heier in Jeffersonville, Indiana^ April 25, 1865; she was bom in that place, June 15, 1842; have had three children, viz: August Henry, bom in Lincoln, March 25, 1866; Louisa, bom in Jefferson ville, Indiana, April 5, 1870; Anna Marie, bom in Lincoln, May 13, 1875; owns house and lot in Lincoln, valued $1,000; dem; Luth.

Pulaski; dem; Cath; from Germany Maus Peter, farmer. Sec. 13; P.O. Mt Pulaski; dem; Cath; from Germany May George, Sec. i; works for J. J. D.

HATER GEORGE Sr., retired merchant, Mt Pulaski; was bom in Kirchberg, Germany, May 15, 1820; came to this country in May 1838, and went to Springfield, Illinois; married there to Miss Caroline Dingle, who was bom in Baden, Germany; she died in 1845; had two children by this marriage, both dead; married again to Miss Ann Work, in this County, Feb. 29^ 1848; she was bom in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1814; have had three children, viz: George, bom Feb. 17, 185 1 (deceased); Franklin Pierce, bom April 5, 1853; Susan E. bora June 24, 1856 (deceased); was township school treasurer from 1 861 to 1875; is tax collector ofMt. Pulaski township for year 1877; owns storeroom and lot valued $6,000, also dwelling and lots valued $2,000; dem; Luth.

MEISTEB GEORGE, farmer ^d brick.maker, Sec. 23; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; was bom in Bavaria, Germany, July 5, 1815; came to this country in 1844; landed in Baltimore; went from there to Cincinnati in Not. 3, 1844; ^^^^ there and went to St. Louis; came to Mt. Pulaski, May 2, 1845; engaged in the above business May 4, 1849; married Miss Katharina Klotz in Germany, Dec. 25, 1839; she was bom in Bavaria, Germany, Dec. 10, 1 810; have had seven children, five living, viz: John, bom March 2, 1839; Barbara, bora March 25, 1842; Elizabeth, bora May 27, 1846; Henry, bom May 12, 1849; Solomon, bom Sept. 9, 185 1; dem; Luth.

BfEISTEB JOHN, saloon, cor. Washington and Main st. Mt. Pulaski; was bom in Bavaria, Germany, March 2, 1839; came to this country on 1844, and settled in Mt. Pulaski on May 2, 1845; has been in the above business for the past fourteen years; he married Mary Ann Lang, Oct. 17, 1 86 1, who was born in Saxony, Germany, Feb. 21, 1844; they have four children, all living, viz: John, George, Frederick and Catharine; Lnthem in religion

MOORE JOHN J. farmer. Sec. 29, P.O. Mt. Pulaski, bom in Germany in 1826; came to this country in 1850, and settled in Sangamon County, and then moved to this county in 1857; was married to Soplua Carter in 1852, who died in 1868; had four children by Sophia; Mary E. John A. Thomas W. living, and Flora, now deceased; was again married in 1869 to Maiy A. Shocky; was a member of Co. I, 106 IIL VoL Infantry, who was engaged in the siege of Vicksburg among other battles; have 320 acres valued $14,400 Moore Thomas W. farmer, Sec 29. P.O. Ml Pulaski

MORAN MICHAEL farmer, Sec 3: P.O. Mt. Pulaski; dem; religion liberal; bom in Ireland Dec. 26. 1840; married Nov. 29, 1866, to Miss Melissa Fletcher, bora Ills. March i, 1842; have six children: Maiy Ellen, Jacob, Clarence, Oscar, Minnie, Ann Ida; owns fifty-five acres, value $4fOOO; came to America when twelve years old, and to Logan County in 1857; enlisted in 1862 in the io6th Ills. Co. D; discharged in 1865; was at the siege of Vicksburg

1^ lEDERGESAESS WM. laborer, Mt -'-^ Wlaski; dem; Luth; from Hesse Darmstadt NICHOLSON FBANKIilN V. city marshal, Mt. Pulaski; was bom in Cass Co. Michigan, Oct i84i;came to this county April 17, 1856, and engaged in the business of farming; enlisted in the 145th IIL Vol. Infantry, Company K, as private; served five months, at which time the regiment was discharged; then came back home and engaged in farming three years; came to Mt. Pulaski in the winter of 1868, and was elected constable the following spring; served in that capacity eight years; was elected marshal in the spring of 1876; married Miss Mary F. Doten January 15, 1874, who was bom in Huron Co. Ohio, March 16, 1851; have one child, Fred S. bom Febraary 6, 1875; rep; UnL

PHINNEY MARCEIiliUS P. physician and surgeon, Mt. Pulaski; was bom in Worcester Co. Mass. July i, 1838; moved to this state in April, 1858; went to Mason Co. in April, 1859; came to this county in Nov. 25, 1871; married Miss .Lucy T. Andrews in Mason City, 111. March 15, i860; she was bom in Ohio, March 7, 1839; they have three children, viz: Ora Lizzie, bom April 10, 1862; Oscar Henry, born September 27. 1866; Ola May, bom March 23, 1871; rep; Pres.

PUMPELLY JONATHAN N. physician and surgeon, Mt Pulaski; was bom in Oxford Co. Maine, August 19, 1832; he moved with his parents to Mason Co. Kentucky, in the fall of 1838; remained there eighteen years; came to this state in

December, 1856, and to this county in April, 1862; has engaged in the practice of medicine twenty-two years; married in Mt. Pulaski to Miss Amanda C. Parke, December 23, 1858; she was bom in Coburg, Canada, June 30. 1837; have had six children, viz: Mary A. bom Dec. 29, 1859 (deceased); Amy, bom Oct. 3, 1862; Nora, bom April 25, 1865 (deceased); Frances Pearl, bom Oct. 30, 1867, Vergilia Parke and Virgil Parke (twins) bom Oct. 28, 1870. Mr. P. has been justice of the peace and supervisor; is a member of the city council; rep; Chris.

REINDERS JOHN, farmer. Sec. 10; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; born in Germany, Nov. 28, 1831; came to this country 1852, to Cass Co. Ill; moved from there to this county in 1854; was married April 23, 1868, to Anna M. Danner; have had four children: Peter A, Anna M. John C. and Andrew F. Mr. Reinders is now supervisor of this township, and has been road commissioner for eight years; has 120 acres of land; dem; Evang.

Logan 0Ox7Nty Dibbctoby

BOTH JOHN, butcher, and dealer in hides, tallow, etc. Mt. Pulaski; was bom in Wurtemberg, Germany, July 14, 1844; left there and went to Canada in December, 1866; came to this country in March, 1867, and settled in Lincoln; stayed there four months, and then went to St Loub; remained there one year and a half, and then came to Mt. Pulaski in June, 1S68, and has been engaged here in the above business ever since; married Miss Marie Barbara Danner in Nov. 1875, who was bom in Mt. Pulaski Township, Nov. 13, 1856; owns 10 acres, valued at $800; also, three lots in Mt. Pulaski, valued at $2,000; dem; Luth.

SAMSON LEOPOIiD, merchant, Mt. Pulaski; was bom in Bavaria, Germany, Dec. 25, 1842; came to this country Aug. I, 1858. and to this county Jan. i, 1877, and started in business in Mt. Pulaski; Jan. 15, 1877; married in Chicago, Dec. 25, 1873 to Miss Lina Reinheimer; she was bom in Bavaria, Germany, June 17, 1853; have one child, Milton, born in. Salt Lake City, Oct. 12, 1874; Mr. S. has traveled all over the United States; since 1872 he has

SAWYER GEO. S. merchant. Ml Pulaski; bom in Chester, Windsor Co. Vt. Sept. II, 1843; went to Waukesha, Wis. at the age of 10 years, where his parents still reside; enlisted at the age of 18 (Aug. 13, 1862.) in the 28th Wb. Vol. Inf. as Sergeant in Co. A, and served three years; was honorably discharged at Brownsville, Texas; Aug. 23, 1865; went to Chicago and engaged in business there until Aug. i, 1870; then went to Mt. Pulaski; married Miss Phebe C. Hubbard. Oct. 7, 1873, who was bom in Canada, Feb. 14, 1851; one son, Frank Percy, bom Sept. 5, 1875; Mr. S. is a republican, and a liberal in religious views

SCHAFER WM. A. blacksmith and plow manufacturer, Mt. Pulaski; was bom in Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 23. 1837; came to this country in 1853, and to this county Jan. 18, 1854; was elected sheriff of Logan Co. in the fall of 1872, and served two years; has served four terms as a member of the city council of Mt. Pulaski, being first elected in 1865; was married to Miss Catharine Seyfer, April 6, 1858, who was bom in Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec. 28. 1 841; have had six children, all living but one (John A.); those living are : Willie G. bom Oct. 25. 1863; Geoige F. bora Oct. I7» 1865; Caroline J. bom Jan. 20, 1S69; John A. bom June 12, 1871; Anna M. bom April 19, 1873; Fred A. bom March 3. 1875; owns 160 acres in Sangamon Co. valued at $8,000; also, house, lots, storeroom and shop, valued at $10,000; rep; Luth.

SCROGGIN A. C. farmer, Sec. 4. Town 17; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; dem; owns 195 acres, valued at $14,600; was bom in this county, May 14, 1842; moved to Champaign Co. September, 1867, and engaged at farming; returned to this county in 1873; was married Nov. 2. 1865, to Mary F. Philippe; have had two children, Nettie A. and Orin O. Mr. Scroggin makes a specialty of raising stock

SCROGGIN JOHN, farmer, Sec. 29; J*.0. Mt. Pulaski; dem; Chris; was born July 7, 1809, in Warren Co. Ky; moved with his father to Gallatin Co. Ill in 18 12, and moved from there to this county in 1828; was married in 1835 to Emily Turley, who died March 10, 1873; have had seven children : James K. P. and Lucy M. now living; and Sarah A. Permelia, Nancy £. and three infants, now deceased; Mr, Scroggin was engaged in the Black Hawk war under Capt. John Dawson; owns 160 acres, valued at $6,400

SCROGGIN LEONARD K. farmer. Sec. 27, and. banker at Mt. Pulaski; was born in Gallatin Co. 111. Jan. 25, 1819; came to this county in 1827; was married in 1 841 to Lavinia Buckles, who died in 1863; was again married in 1864 to Rhoda

' A. Pickering. Mr. Scroggin has had thirteen children - ten by his first and three by his second wife, one of which is now deceased; is a dem. and Chris; has about 3,000 acres of land, valued at $150,000 county on Oct. 10, 1853; was married to Miss Katie Paranteau, March 23, 1871, who was bom in this county January 2, 1853; two children, viz : Robert, aged five years, and Medora, aged two and a half years. Mr. S. is a rep. and Univ.

SEYFER JOHN W- druggist and assistant postmaster, Mt Pulaski; was bom at Kirchburg, Germany, July 17, 1845; came to this, country and county Oct. 10, 1853; married Miss Jane E. Connelley, July 8, 1869; she was born in this county April 12, 1850; have two children, Katie C. and Clara Maud. Mr. S. has been assistant postmaster for the past ten years; is a member of the city council of Mt. Pulaski, and is now serving his second term; rep. in politics and Luth. in religion

SHRIYER HENRY, better known by the name of " Dad," auctioneer; was bom Feb. 12, 1804, in Nelson Co. Va; moved from there with his father to Ross Co. Ohio in 18 16; was married Aug. 10, 1824, to Sarah Cummings, who was bom Aug. 10, 1799; ^^ ^^^ ^^^ children: Henrietta Jacob, Henry, Kate, Andrew and Sarah^ now living, and Joseph, Geoi^e W., Michael and one infant now deceased. Mr. Shriver moved from Ohio to this Co. in March 1856, ai^d is now Uving with his son Andrew, Sec. I, Town 17, who was born in Ross Co. Ohio, March 7, 1836, and was married to Mary J. Nicholson, Jan. 18, 1859, ^^o was born Aug. 27, 1835, in Elkhart Co. Ind; has had five children: Libby F., George E., Sarah L., Henry A.

SNYDER W. C. farmer, Sec. 15; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; bom in Schuylkill Co. Pa. Sept. 10, 182 1; moved to Ross Co. Ohio, 1832, and worked in the shop with his father at cabinet-msdcing; moved from there to Sangamon Co. 111. 1845, and ^^cn moved to this county in 1840; was married to Eliza M. Park 1848, and has had seven children: Charles E., William H., Harriet H., John E. and Grace, and Alice and Catherine now deceased; has 200 acres. Mr. Snyder was one of the first mechanics that came to this county; he built the first hotel that was erected in Lincoln, and his knowledge of the wheelwright business made him a valuable citizen in the early days of this county

TOOIiE JOHN H. farmer, was bom in Fairfield Co. Ohio, April 21, 1822; came to this county Sept. 24, 1866, and went to farming in this township; moved into the village of Mt. Pulaski in March, 1871; married Miss Mary E. Ring in Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 2, 1845, ^ho '^'^^^ bom in Lancaster, Ohio, Aug. 6, 1829; have one child, John G. R., bom Sept. 10, 1862. Mrs. Tool^ owns 200 acres of land in this township valued at $13,000. Mr. Toole owns house and lot in Mt. Pulaski, valued at $1,000; rep; Bap.

TURIiEY HAMILTON, retired; Mt Pulaski; born Montgomery Co. Kentucky in 1 8 16; removed to Logan Co. in 1839; has been a member of the Chris. Church since 1839; married Mary A. Baker. ( f Claik Co. Ky. in 1843'. Mr. Turley was pro-- prietor of the Mt. Pulaski House from 1865 to 1875. Mrs. Turley's niece, Mollie £. Smithson, resided with them seven years, and married Marshall Green, of Naples, Scott Co. III. where she now resides; has one daughter, Minnie, aged 18 months

WAIiELfiR JOHN T. farmer. Sec 4; P.O. Mt Pulaski; rep; liberal; bom Pickaway Co. Ohio, Sept. 6, 1829; married Dec. 13, 1849, ^o Sarah Jane Jackson, bom in Ohio July 25, 1S48; had nine children, lost five; living: Sarah Ellen, now Mrs. V. F. Scott, Mary A. now Mrs. Levi S. Musgrove, William F. and Martha S.; came to Logan Co. in 1841; enlisted Aug. 19, in the io6th Illinois, Co. D; was at the sie*;e of Vicksburg, and skirmish of Pine Bluff, where he was mustered out of service; owns 81 acres, value $5,000

WECKEIi JOHN, Jr. farmer. Sec. 25; P.O. Mt. Pulaski; was bom. in thb county, June 9, 1850; he lives on his father's land; was married March 16, 1875 ,to Mary Stull, who was born in Germany; has one child, Anna, who was bom March 18, 1876

WEIiLS WILIilAM F. farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Mt Pulaski; rep; religion liberal; bom West Virginia, July 25, 1849; married Aug. 21, 1872, to Miss Helena N. Williams, bora Illinois, Sept. 12, 1853; had three children, lost two, living: Mary Jane, bom July 13, 1873; his parents moved to Ohio when he was two years old; stayed there till he was six years, and then they moved to northera part of Illinois; he came to Logan Co. in 1877; rents 120 acres of land; in 1 871 he started with a party of eight for Kansas, and while there hunted buffalo for two weeks; he killed several

WEMPIiE MINDRET, police magistrate, Mt. Pulaski; was bora in Monroe Co. New York, Sept. 15, 1829; left there in 1850; went to Carroll Co. Kentucky; left there in 1855; landed in this county on Nov. i, 1855; commenced the practice of medicine in Mt. Pulaski in September, 1856; left here and went into the late war in August, 1861, as Captain of Co. H, 4th I. V. C; was promoted to the rank of Major in August, 1862, for gallant conduct at Pittsbui^h Landing; was mustered out with the regiment in Nov. 3, 1864; recommenced the practice of medicine on his return to Mt. Pulaski, and quit same in March, 1871; was appointed police magistrate by the Board of Trastees in May, 1876; then elected to the same office in April, 1877, which he now holds; has voted the republican ticket ever since 1864

Whitaker Nathaniel

WHITAKER NATHANIEL M. deceased; was born in Hamilton Co. Ohio, Feb. 8, 1808; was married to Matilda Whi taker, Oct. i. 1829, who was bom in Shelby Co. Kentucky, Nov. 13, 1804; was connected with the Commissary Departf ment in the Black Hawk war for twelve months; in 1836 he moved to Jacksonville, 111. and there engaged in the tailor business; moved from there to this county in 1838, and worked at his business of tailoring; was elected justice of the peace, and held that position 16 years; he moved to this town in 1842, and commenced the practice of law, and continued in that profession until he died, Feb. 11, 1865; had seven children: DeWitt C, Mary A., Harriet J., DeWitt C. the second, Caroline F., Levi F. and Amanda; the two children DeWitt C. were killed by accident, and Amanda and Levi F. died a natural death; the manner of M. Whitaker's death is somewhat obscured, but was supposed to have been killed for his money; he left his widow 29 acres of land, located in the city limits, with a fine orchard of 500 trees

YAGER JACOB, justice of the peace and notary public, Mt. Pulaski; was bom in Bavaria, Germany, Dec 29, 1826; emigrated to this county in Nov. 1846, and landed in New Orleans; went to St. Louis in the spring of 1847; remained there until the great fire which took place in May, 1849; then went to Springfield, 111; stayed there about five years; then moved to Mt. Pulaski in March, 1854, and engaged in harness-making and clerking; was elected justice of the peace in November, 1861, and has served as such ever since; married in Springfield, Illinois, to Miss Christina Brooker, May 27, 1852, she was bom in Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 4, 1834; have had three children, viz: Emma, bom Dec 28, 1868; Henry, bom Dec. 18, 1870; Catharine, bom Dec. 10, 1874; dem; Luth.

Mount Pulaski Business Directory

GAPPS B, D« teas, coffees, sugars, s]rrups* canned goods, choice family flour, confectioneries, tobaccos, cigars, notions, etc. at prices that will be found as low as you can buy in Central Illinois. West side public square

Jabez Capps & Son. . This nursery has been established 40 years, and has a firstclass reputation for furnishing the best of stock' tme to name; the assortment of varieties is as good as that of any nurseiy in the state. Catalogues free on application

DANNER E. A. dealer in ready-made clothing, cloths, cassimeres, jeans, hats, caps and gents' furnishing goods generally; makes a specialty of merchant tailoring; suits made in the latest styles, and fit guaranteed

DUBOCE M. A. photographic artist; all new styles of pictures taken in the best manner, from card to life size; special instrument for groups and children; stereoscopic views and large views' taken to order; Mount Pulaski, Illinois

OORDON J. B. livery, sale and feed stables; keeps constantly on hand double and single rigs at reasonable rates; horses bought and sold on commission, and boarded and properly cared for at lowest rates

LAYCOCK S. A. saloon and billiard hall; good billiard and pool tables; choice wines, liquors, beer, ale, tobaccos and cigars; west side of public square; in charge of George ConnoUey

LIPP JOHN, bakery, saloon and restaurant; fresh bread, cakes, etc. constantly on hand; choice cakes made for parties to order; also fancy groceries, choice tobaccos and cigars, wines, liquors, beer, ale, etc. Washington street

ROTH JOHN, meat market; the best fresh meats constantly on hand, sold at the Ipwest living prices; I pay the highest cash price for hides, pelts, tallow, and first-class stock; west side of public square

SCHAFER W. A. blacksmith, and proprietor of the Union Plow Works, manufacturer of all kinds of agricultural implements, also special attention paid to repairing; Mt. Pulaski, Illinois

SCROGGIN & SAWYER (Leonard K. Scroggin, Walter P. Sawyer), bankers; a general banking business; collections receive prompt attention; Mt. Pulaski, lU.

Source changes here: from History of Logan County Illinois, by Lawrence B. Stringer, published 1911; 5,501 words in this source stream.

Mount Pulaski Township

Early Settlers ; "Georgetown ;" Jabez Capps; Laying Out of Town; First Proprietors ; First Buildings ; Lot Sales ; County Seat; Emma Abbott; Coming of the Railroad; Civic Improvement ; Schools and Churches ; Early Fires; Business Blocks ; Coal Shaft; Fire Department; Water Works ; City Hall; Post Office; Officials......... SAG a sisherenneaie ae 587

The beginning of Mt. Pulaski can be said to be enveloped in the mists of pre-historic times when the polar world was a desolation of icy wastes. From these dreary realms of enduring frosts, vast glaciers, moving southward with irresistable power, grooved and planed down the rocks, gathering up and carrying with them the abraded material and later melting in the warmer latitudes, distributing this detrital matter upon the bottom of an inland sea. The track of these ice-formed navies have been indelibly stamped upon the surface of Central Illinois even to this day, are scientifically known as moraines and the terminus of one of these ancient moraines was Mt. Pulaski hill, now towering gracefully above the surrounding plains, an eminence of beauty surrounded by fields as fertile as the valley of the Nile and as productive as Eden's magnificent bowers. For three-quarters of a century Mt. Pulaski, first settlement, then village, then municipality, has occupied this beautiful summit, as a "'city set upon a hill, whose light cannot be hid."

The first government patent to land in what is now Mt. Pulaski township was made to James Turley, in 1824, this being the first year of the establishment of the land office at Springfield, and the land so patented was about four miles southwest of Mt. Pulaski hill. About the same time, Jeremiah Birks and Robert Buckles received patents to land a short distance to the southeast. By 1836, land entries had been made in present Mt. Pulaski township by the following settlers of early days: William Everly, John Vandeventer, John R. Burns, John Lucas, Robert Cast, Thomas R. Skinner, Isaac L. Skinner, Lewis Barney, Luther Barney, Michael Mann, George Girtman, Robert Downey, John Williams, George W. Turley, Charles Barney, Abraham Lucas, Carter Scroggin, Peter Buckles, Charles Brady, Champney Pendleton, Rial Birk, John Voshall, John Turner, William Copeland, Larkin Johnson, Barnabas M. Blue, Solomon Blue, Roland Birks, John D. Copeland, James Morrow, James Wade, John Shoup, Isaac Constant, Abraham L. Mann, David Birks, Benjamin Constant, J. W. Carrico, Charles Morgan, Cornelius Dunham, Thomas J. Scroggin, Landon Key, Berry Constant, John Mann, Lucien Barney, James Powers, John Johnson, Stephen Lloyd,

Bailey F. Bell, Leonard K. Scroggin, Abraham L. Copeland, Hiram H. Hedrick, Samuel Myers, Riley Barber, Hiram Starr, Adam Starr, Moses Patterson, Edmund Sams, Ninian R. Cast, J. C. Morgan, William Buckles, Robert C. Lawrence, Isaac Copeland, John Sinclair, Nathan V. Skinner, Elvanah Glover, Isom Birks, Abraham Myers, John Skinner, H. B. Truett, William Mason, Granville Patterson, Samuel Martin, David Winter, Thomas Shoup, John Capps, W. S. Bradstreet, Andrew Hughes, A. G. Burnett, George R. Spottswood, Squire Foster and William Armstrong. James Turley, above mentioned, was born in Virginia, migrated to Kentucky about ten years after the close of the Revolutionary War and came to what is now Logan County (then Sangamon), at an early date, among the very first settlers. He brought with him fourteen children, one of the eldest of whom was George W. Turley, who also entered land in 1829 about four miles west of the present site of Mt. Pulaski. Here he subsequently laid out an embryo town to which he gave the name of "Georgetown."

The real history of Mt. Pulaski, however, begins with the departure of Jabez Capps from the land of his birth in 1817. He was born in London, England, Sept. 9, 1796, and embarked for the United States in the year before mentioned, landing in Boston, Oct. 7, 1817. Remaining a few weeks in Boston, he walked to New York. In New York, he remained a short time and then walked to Philadelphia. After a short stay there, he walked westward over the Alleghany mountains to Pittsburg, where he arrived in January of 1818. Here he remained until the Ohio river opened in the spring of the year, when he worked his passage on a flat-boat to Cincinnati. After about a year's stay in Cincinnati, where he was employed in pottery making, he was joined by his brother, Ebenezer Capps, who had subsequently come from England. Together they left Cincinnati and walked to St. Louis. Having heard a great deal about the "Sangamo country" in Illinois, they started, in the spring of 1820, to visit it. They first stopped at Clark's old mill on the south fork of the Sangamon river and here Jabez Capps taught the first school ever taught in Sangamon County. In 1822, a town had been laid out in Sangamon County by the name of Calhoun. Early in 1824, Springfield was laid out adjacent to Calhoun, with streets corresponding to those of Calhoun, and a few months later Calhoun became part of the new town of Springfield. In 1823, Jabez and Ebeneezer Capps moved to Calhoun, where the former taught the first school in Springfield. In 1824, he abandoned school teaching and purchased a log house of Stephen Stillman, the first postmaster of Springfield, and opened up one of the first stores in Springfield, in which he kept an assortment of the various articles needed by the pioneers. In 1828, he married Prudence A. Stafford, daughter of

Oliver Stafford, who had located in Sangamon County in 1825. She died May 13, 1836, three children surviving her, namely, Charles S., born in 1830; Ebeneezer S., born in 1834, and Oliver T., born in 1834.

In 1828, Nicholas Moore had entered land north of the present site of Mt. Pulaski, in what is now Chester township, near what was known as Hurricane Point, later as Yankeetown, on the present Lincoln-Mt. Pulaski road. Some time in the early part of 1836, some of the members of Mr. Moore's family were in need of a physician's services and Mr. Moore rode to Springfield and brought back'with him Dr. Alexander Shields on a professional call. Dr. Shields boarded with Jabez Capps at Springfield. He afterwards married a sister of Jabez Capps. On Dr. Shields' return to Springfield he spoke to Mr. Capps in the most glowing . terms of the country he had passed through and referred especially to a beautiful hill or mound between Lake Fork and Salt Creek, in the midst of the prairie, which in his judgment was an ideal spot for a town site.' In another part of the primitive home lived Dr. Barton Robinson. Dr. Robinson had come from England about 1830, with his brother, James T. Robinson, and had first located at Buffalo Hart Grove. In 1832, he went to Springfield, where he married Mahala Barber. Dr. Robinson overheard the conversation between Mr. Capps and Dr. Shields and became interested. Mr. Capps was not well satisfied with his location in Springfield and the idea of founding a new town on the site proposed met his hearty approval. He proposed to Dr. Robinson that they make a visit to the "mound" and if found satisfactory lay out the town site. Dr. Robinson agreed and in a few days they made the trip, first stopping with George W. Turley at his place east of the "mound." Mr. Turley accompanied them to the proposed location and all were highly pleased with the prospect. Mr. Turley agreed to join the enterprise and abandon the "Georgetown" venture.

Laying Out Of The Town

Returning to Springfield, Dr. Robinson and Mr. Capps organized a company to boom the new town. The company consisted of Barton Robinson, Jabez Capps, George W. Turley, George McDaniel, James Scott, J. F. Davis, Wm. L. Hatch and W. A. Knight. Ringrose D. Watson and Ebeneezer Capps were also interested. On July 5, 1836, Barton Robinson, on behalf of himself and the company, entered 480 acres of land in what is now Mt. Pulaski township and on July 20, 1836, he brought with him to the "mound" Thomas R. Skinner, afterwards County Surveyor and later County Judge, who surveyed 140 acres of said land into blocks and lots. As an evidence of the loyalty of the new proprietors to the land of their adoption, they named the new town "Pulaski," in honor of the Polish nobleman who came to America during the Revolutionary War and offered his services as a private soldier to General

Washington, afterwards rose to be general in the Colonial army and was killed in battle, Oct. 11, 1779. Later in December of 1836, the word "Mount" was prefixed to the name, making it Mt. Pulaski, although in official documents and otherwise the name Pulaski was used until in the forties. The time of the change of name is indicated by the fact that in dividing up the town lots among the members of the company, Barton Robinson deeded to George McDaniel, on Dec. 10, 1836, certain blocks in the "town of Pulaski;" to George W. Turley, on Dec. 17, 1836, certain blocks in the "town of Mt. Pulaski," and subsequently to James Scott, W. L. Hatch, J.-F. Davis and W. A. Knight blocks in the "town of Mt. Pulaski."

First Settlement

After completing the survey, Mr. Capps rented a small log cabin of Jeremiah Birks, who resided on the Lake F ork, and arranged with Mr. Birks to have the cabin removed to the south side of the public square as laid out on the plat of the town, this being the same as the present public square. Reference has already been made to the death of Mr. Capps' first wife. Upon his return to Springfield after the survey, he was remarried to Elizabeth Baker, of Rochester, Ill, Preparatory to his removal to his new home, he secured a retailer's license to sell goods and conduct a tavern in the new town, from the Commissioner's of Sangamon County, of which Logan County was then a part, as the following, taken from the records of the County Commissioners of Sangamon County, will show: "Sept. 5, 1836; Jabez Capps came into court this day and applied for a license to retail goods, wares and merchandise in the town of Pulaski, in Sangamon County, and_states the amount of his stock in trade; it is therefore ordered by the court he have license therefor, by paying to the treasurer the sum of five dollars for one year from date and it is further ordered that the said Jabez Capps have license to keep a tavern in the town of Pulaski for the term of one year, upon his producing to the clerk the treasurer's receipt for five dollars and entering into bond as required by law."

Soon after, Mr. and Mrs. Capps and three sons left Springfield for "Pulaski." Mr. Capps loaded into his wagon the necessary furniture, some provisions and a few goods and started out on the road leading to the Lake Fork settlement. From this settlement to the "mound" was only a trail, which instead of leading to the summit of the hill passed around the base and on to Salt Creek. Arriving at the "mound" the family moved into the log cabin, the first white settlers in Mt. Pulaski. In the meantime, Mr. Turley had erected a temporary log store room for Mr. Capps on the west side of the square, the location of the same having previously been a wolves' den burrowed in the sand. Into this store room Mr. Capps unloaded what goods he had brought and then returned to Springfield for more supplies. Soon after, he purchased a story and a half frame building, which had been built for Bealer Webster to be erected on a proposed town to be laid out on the present farm of R. H. Templeman. This latter town was abandoned and Mr. Capps erected © this building on lot ten, block fourteen, on the west side of the square. In 1838, this building was enlarged and made full two stories, Mr. Capps and family moving into the upper story and the store being conducted in the lower story. The stone for the foundation came from Rocky Ford, 16 miles away. The building was 30 feet square, with attic and cellar. For many years it was known as "Capps' Headquarters." It was torn down in 1867 to make room for a more pretentious structure.

Mr. Capps' stock contained a miscellaneous assortment of merchandise suitable for a pioneer store. Trade developed rapidly. Settlers from the present sites of Clinton, Decatur and neighboring territory came to Mr. Capps' store to purchase their goods, many coming a distance of forty miles. Those who could not pay in money brought peltry of various kinds which Mr. Capps took to Springfield and exchanged for goods. He made most of his purchases, however, in St. Louis, his goods being shipped up the Mississsippi and Llinois to Pekin, where he received them and hauled them through Postville to Mt. Pulaski in a wagon. During the first two years of his life at the "mound," he and the adjacent settlers often drove their hogs to Pekin, where they were slaughtered and the pork shipped to St. Louis by the rivers. Occasionally, he would exchange goods for dressed pork. Mr. Capps continued in the mercantile business in Mt. Pulaski until 1858, when he retired and established the Mt. Pulaski nursery in conection with his son, Charles C. Capps. On the organization of Logan County, in 1839, he was elected Recorder of the county, which position he held for eight years. He was appointed postmaster of Mt. Pulaski, March 2, 1838, and served until Jan. 7, 1854. In addition to his three children by his first wife, he had ten children as a result of the second marriage. He died in Mt. Pulaski in 1896, lacking three months of being a century old. It might also be stated in this connection that his compatriot in the founding of Mt. Pulaski, Dr. Barton Robinson, also located in Mt. Pulaski in 1836 and practiced medicine there from that time until 1858, when he moved to Kansas, where he died. George W. Turley, another one of the proprietors, built a large residence at the northwest corner of the square and lived in Mt. Pulaski until his death, Feb. 28, 1865. He was continuously a justice of the peace from 1835 to his death and tried several law suits in which Abraham Lincoln was a contesting attorney.

Referring to life in Mt. Pulaski in 1836, Charles S. Capps in a letter to the Old Settlers' Association in 1878 said: 'In 1836, father removed with his family to Mt. Pulaski, where he was the first, and in fact for several months, the only settler. He had located a log cabin on the site of the present post office building and put ina small stock of goods. The cabin when I first saw it, was not chinked or daubed and as he lacked clapboards enough to cover the roof, there was a space about a yard square left open. My uncle, John Stafford, and I were left in charge of the store. Prairie grass was cut in front of the store and placed in a heap on the floor and this with some blankets constituted our bed. There came up a storm one night which wet us thoroughly. Our cooking, until mother came, was done in a sand hole, over which some lumber was put to season; this sand hole had formerly been a wolf's den. Our nearest neighbor lived two and a half miles north on Salt Creek. My father had a sugar hogshead which he used as a smoke house. One night a pack of wolves, smelling the meat, gathered around the smoke house and howled for hours. I remember seeing mother, sweeping the floor one day, stoop hastily to pick up what she thought was a calico apron, but which on closer inspection proved to be a large rattlesnake coiled. She dispatched it speedily with the broom handle. One night while father was away from home, a prairie fire ran over the hill and set fire to our cabin. Mother had considerable difficulty in saving the 'city,' the fire department not having yet been organized and there being no water nearer than the spring, a quarter of a mile away. The fire consumed our hay stack, which was on a platform on forks, six or seven feet high."

Further Settlement

In 1838, Mr. Capps was joined by two carpenters, Horace Bowe and a Mr. Miles, who boarded with Mr. Capps and worked at their trade. They found plenty of work for the surrounding settlers. They were joined in 1839 by Willis Rowe, who afterward lost his life by the fall of a beam in a building on which he was working. In the fall of 1839, Andrew Danner came from Pittsburg to Springfield and then to Mt. Pulaski. In Springfield, he purchased a set of blacksmith tools and opened up the first blacksmith shop at the "mound." The next year he was joined by his brother, Christian Danner, who went into the blacksmith business with him. Christian Danner built the second building in the town, the same being a frame dwelling house, which he erected on the south side of the square. The Danners were the only blacksmiths between Clinton and Springfield. There were no roads or bridges in the county and price for labor was low. In the fall, farmers would take their pork to Mr. Capps, who paid them $1.50 per hundred pounds for it, deducting the amount of their blacksmith bill, from which Mr. Capps would deduct what the Danners owed him for iron and then pay them the balance. The Danners made the first iron plows in Mt. Pulaski, buying the pattern in St. Louis and doing the work themselves. Prior to iron plows, the plows were wooden mold boards and attached to the plow-point was an iron shoe, in which a socket was made for the insertion of the wooden plow-point.

The second store in the town was built by Benjamin Davis near the corner of the square, on the ground upon which the Scroggin Hotel was later erected, west of the present bank building of Scroggin & Son. About this same time Jefferson Scroggin also built a house, in which he accommodated travelers. About 1837, Frank Schick located in the town and opened a boot and shoe shop, he being the first shoemaker at the "mound." In 1842, he opened a general store. The only tannery in the vicinity was at Carter Scroggin's, south of the town. It was what was called a "trough" tannery. Later Mr. Schick started a tannery in the town. The Mt. Pulaski Hotel, the first brick structure in the village, was built on the northwest corner of the square by Alexander Morgan in 1843, and he conducted the same until 1848, when a D. B. Wright became landlord. Mr. Wright was succeeded as landlord by Ninian R. Cass about 1850. In 1852, Col. N. M. Whitaker bought the hotel of Mr. Morgan and conducted it until 1859, when he sold it to Martin Spitly, who disposed of it to Henry Shriver, Mr. Spitly moving to Lincoln. About 1841, Dr. John Clark located in the village and built a residence.

In 1844, the first school house was built, a small frame building, and until the court house was erected in 1848, it was the public hall of the town, religious services being conducted therein by the early church societies. In 1846, the third store in the town was built by Thomas Lushbaugh. The first brick store building was erected by Dr. Barton Robin- ' son for rental purposes. Among those who purchased lots in Mt. Pulaski up to 1848 were Jacob Jackson, Champney Pendleton, George R. Spottswood, Frank Schick, Henry Vonderleith, Adam Schick, Alexander W. Morgan, Leonard Albert, Michael Finfrock, T. J. Scroggin, C. Harper, Horace B. Rowe, Samuel Dement, Timothy Leeds, James J. Snyder, B. F. Dickinson, John H. Horn, I. R. Braucher, Samuel C. Beam, Richard S. Spencer, Thomas P. Burnett, John Rohrer, Alexander Rigdon, John M. Handsbey, Charles Capps, John M. Downing, Christopher Mason, John A. Harry, James G. Cox, Christian Danner, Andrew Danner, Henry Krieg, D. B. Wright, J. M. and R. D. Tomlinson, J. O. Turley, William Frederick, John T. Clark, George and John Mayers, Wm. Stallings, N. M. Whitaker, Mathias Lohr, Christian Schick, Gotlieb Schafer, Dorothea Buiter, David S. Clark, R. V. Paranteau, C. Crockett, John Capps, George Meister, Gotlieb Seyfer, Wm. C. Snyder, Wm. Gibbs, John Huston, A. J. Turley, John W. Gibson, Adam Bierlein, Luther Hill, George Snyder, J. M. McIntosh, Emery C. Ross, Cyrus Tinkham, A. Alexander, L. D. Briggs, Ezekiel Bowman, John R. Thomas, Wm. Mitchell, Isaac Tomlinson, John Martin, W. M. Marshall, Dietrich Suedmier, George W. Smith, Frederick Spitzenmyer and others.

County Seat

Mt. Pulaski. Mt. Pulaski at this time had over 300 inhabitants. Michael W. Swing, representative in the General Assembly, was prevailed upon to introduce a bill in that body providing for the submission to vote in Logan County of the proposition to remove the county seat from Postville (then called Camden) to Mt. Pulaski. This bill passed Feb. 23, 1847, and provided for an election on the first Monday in April. The removal was conditioned on the citizens of Mt. Pulaski erecting a court house building. At the election a majority favored the proposition of removal. The following year the court house was erected in the center of the public square, where it still stands today in complete preservation, the lower story being utilized for the postoffice and the upper story for the library. Particulars with reference to this court house and the history of the county, during the period the county seat of justice was at Mt. Pulaski, have been given in the chapter on "County Government." The court house building cost $3,000, all but $300 having been contributed by the citizens of Mt. Pulaski. Mt. Pulaski continued to be the county seat until 1855 and during that period the town experienced a substantial growth. During court terms it was an exceedingly lively place, Lincoln, Douglas, Swett, Trumbull, Stuart and other great legal luminaries of former days being frequently in attendance. During the county seat period, many business buildings were erected around the square and in Mt. Pulaski as well as many private residences. In 1849, George Meister established a brick yard in the town and in the same year George and John Mayer opened up a store. In 1851, Samuel C. Beam built a saw mill and six years later erected a flouring mill in connection with the same. The first churches erected in the town were the Methodist and the First Lutheran Zion's church, both erected in 1852. New edifices have since been erected. By special act of March 4, 1854, the boundaries of the town were extended to include the additions platted and laid out subsequent to the original survey.

The removal of the county seat from Mt. Pulaski to the new town of Lincoln, by virtue of a vote on the proposition submitted at the general election in 1853, has already been noted at length in the chapters on "County Government" and the "City of Lincoln," and need not be recounted here. It was, of course, a great disappointment to the citizens of Mt. Pulaski, but still did not daunt their civic pride and courage, and in a few years, the "mound" had substantially recovered from the shock.

By act of the Legislature in 1857, the old court house was turned over to Henry Vonderleith, Jabez Capps and George W. Turley as trustees for two years, to be by them turned over to the Board of Education and soon thereafter, the building was utilized as a school building. In 1861, the Evangelical Association erected what was the third church building in the town. In 1865, the First Lutheran society sold their

Public Square, Mount Pulaski Emma Abbott

An incident connected with the history of Mt. Pulaski, worthy of note, is the fact that the world's great singer, Emma Abbot, made her professional debut at Mt. Pulaski in the summer of 1863. She was then to fame unknown and in rather straitened financial circumstances. A troupe was organized at Mt. Pulaski with Miss Abbott as the star, she being assisted by a Miss Frazier of Peoria. O. T. Capps, of Mt. Pulaski, was the advance agent. The troupe made dates at "Yankeetown" in Chester township and at Lincoln, but failed to draw at either place. It is stated that at ""Yankeetown"' the troupe was pelted with mud. Twelve years later, Emma Abbott's reputation as a cantatrice was international in scope, the musical world ranking her with Patti and Neilson. She appeared at Springfield in 1878 and over 200 Logan County people who had refused to hear her at their own homes in her earlier days, paid their fare to Springfield and paid exorbitant prices for seats. Among these were a number of the "mud-pelters," although they vociferously denied the charge.

Coming Of The Railroads

Up to the year 1871, Mt. Pulaski was entirely an inland town, a stage line connecting it with Lincoln. The first railroad came in 1871, connecting Peoria with Decatur, passing through Mt. Pulaski and being known as the Peoria, Lincoln and Decatur railroad. Mt. Pulaski citizens gave this enterprise hearty encouragement from the start, one of its citizens, 5. C. Beam being one of the first directors. Work began on the road at Pekin in 1869, was completed to Mt. Pulaski in August of 1871 and to Decatur in October of the latter year. The road is now a part of the Illinois Central system. (See chapter "Transportational.'') A second railroad, known as the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield railroad, was also built through Mt. Pulaski in 1871. The road was so far completed on Oct. 12, 1871, that an excursion was run to Chicago that passengers might view the ruins of the great fire. The road is now part of the main Chicago to Springfield line of the Illinois Central system. The coming of the railroad ushered in a new era to Mt. Pulaski and for a number of years thereafter it experienced a substantial growth.

Further Improvements

In 1870, the Christian church building was erected and in July of the same year, the first Mt. Pulaski newspaper, the Sentinel, was established. In 1872, the Scroggin & Sawyer bank was established, being the first banking institution, and several additions to the town were laid out.

Many business buildings were erected in 1873, the improvements of that year amounting to over $35,000. The St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church building was also erected in 1873. The Mt. Pulaski Music Hall Association was incorporated May 22, 1874, and the first hall erected in the town as a result of the organization. The Schick brick structure was erected in 1875, in addition to other building operations in the same year. The Scroggin hotel, opera house and bank building were erected by Leonard K. Scroggin in 1878 at the southwest corner of the square. In the spring of 1877, the school system was reorganized and a commodious brick school building was erected that year in the eastern portion of town at a cost of $16,000. (See chapter on "City Schools.") The Masonic Hall association was organized in 1876. On Dec. 16, 1880, the first large fire occurred in the town, the McFarlin & Woods elevator being consumed. It was rebuilt in 1882 as the Junction elevator. In 1881, the Mt. Pulaski mill and elevator were erected, with a capacity of over 200 barrels of flour per day. This made three elevators in operation in the town in 1882. The Mt. Pulaski mill and elevator was destroyed by fire Jan. 17, 1885, together with 6,000 bushels of wheat; loss, $40,000. The first telephone exchange was installed in the town in 1881, being connected with the Lincoln plant. In 1881( C. E. Snyder established a saw mill and a barrel and lath fence factory in connection with the same. The Meister block was erected in 1882 and the Jenner building, including the present Jenner hotel property, was built in 1884. In the latter year a new Methodist church was erected on the old site and in 1886 a new Catholic church edifice was built. Boring for coal was begun in 1883 and an excellent vein of the mineral discovered. An account of this industry has been noted in the chapter on "Commercial and Industrial."

Fire Department

The citizens of Mt. Pulaski take special pride in their fire department, it being the first regular permanent- organization of that kind in the county. It was organized as the Phoenix fire department March 1 3, 1885, with eighteen charter members: J. F. Schick, F. E. Danner, J. G. Jenner, Andrew Bertrang, H. W. Stafford, D. J. O'Brien, George Wynd, Philip Schweigckhardt, B. F. Peltz, J. M. Hopkins, George Schafer, John Klotz, H. F. Gordon, Edward Meads, J. H. Newton and Otto G. Bekemeyer. The department is the possessor of a gold medal, which they hold as the champion hose team in the State Firemen's Association. The following members of the department have served as chief: W. H. Stafford, March to July, 1885; J. M. Hopkins, 1885-93; J. G. Jenner, January to April, 1893; M. J. Myers, 1893-95; John Zah, 1895-96; M.

Water Works And City Hall

On Sept. 15, 1886, Mt. Pulaski celebrated its semi-centennial with a magnificent demonstration, the estimated attendance being 15,000. In 1890, the electric light plant was established. The present water supply system was established in 1895, at a cost of $30,000. The source of supply is four wells which are spring-fed and inexhaustible. At the apex of the hill is a steel tank reservoir holding 60,000 gallons. The tank furnishes gravity pressure. There are five miles of water mains and a7 fire hydrants. The pump has a capacity of 500,000 gallons per day. The water works system is under the management of W. H. Stafford. The city hall and fire engine room was built on the east side of the square in 1899. It is a two-story brick with Bedford stone front, has slate roof and a bell tower. The lower story contains the engine house and the city jail, the upper story being council room and fire department headquarters. The building cost $3,500. In 1902, a new Catholic church was erected at a cost of $4,000, in 1904 St. Agnes Episcopal chapel was erected, in 1906 the Christian society built a new edifice at a cost of $9,000. A new Methodist structure was also built'in 1907. A new Odd Fellows' Hall is in the process of erection. The Obermiller pasture southeast of town was the scene of the descent and subsequent flight of the first airship to pass over Logan County soil. This event occurred Sept. 29, 1910, the aviator being Walter Brookins, who on that date made a flight from Chicago to Springfield and who lighted near Mt. Pulaski to obtain needed supplies for his machine.

Since the original laying out of the town in 1836, the following additions have been made from time to time: Shields' and Capps' addition, April 22, 1837, 16 blocks; S. C. Beam's addition, April 10, 1872, 4 blocks; C. C. Mason's addition, Nov. 6, 1871, 6 blocks; R. E. Turley's first, second, third and fourth additions, from 1877 to 1883; Turley's and Beard's addition, Nov. 27, 1883; Clark's addition, May 22, 1900; Girtman's addition, April 28, 1899. The city has a population of about 1,750.

Jabez Capps was the first postmaster of Mt. Pulaski, receiving his appointment March 2, 1839. The government records, however, show a postoffice by the name of "Scroggin," prior to that date, with Thomas J. Scroggin as postmaster, but it is likely that this was located at the town of "Georgetown," referred to before. Mr. Capps was postmaster until

List Of Officials

The records of the early incorporation of the town of Mt. Pulaski have been completely lost and unfortunately no data of same has been preserved. In 1876, the town was organized as a village under the general law and the boundaries of the town were for the first time correctly stated in the petition for organization. An election for town officers was held April 26, 1876, at which the following trustees were elected: Uriah Snider, William A. Schafer, John W. Seyfer, Alexander Fisher, John Krieg and Charles S. Capps. The board met April 28 and elected Charles S. Capps as president of the board. From that date until 1893, when Mt. Pulaski was reorganized as a city, the following were town officers in the respective years:

On Jan. 3, 1893, an election was held to ascertain the wish of the voters as to reorganization under city government. There were 198 favorable votes cast and 34 negative votes and the town of Mt. Pulaski became the city of Mt. Pulaski. The following is a list of city officials: