Otego Township

Otego Township

HIS township previous to 1860, went by the name of Cumberland, but in that year the county went under township organization, and the names of some of the townships were changed; among them Cumberland, which was called Otego. It embraces the Congressional Township of 6, Range 2 £., and is bounded on the north by Sefton Township, on the east by Wheatland, on the south by Wilberton, and on the west by Vandalia Township.

The streams are Hickory Creek, which runs through the southern part of the township; Overcup, in the center; and the three branches of Sand Creek, which are in the north-west part of the township; all of those streams flow in a south-eastern course, emptying into Hickory Creek or the Kaskaskia River.

The soil in the timber land is a red-colored clay, but in the prairie is a light grey-colored loam. About one-third of the township is prairie, part of which lays in the north-east around Brownstown, and the " four mile " which lays in the center of the township.

The first settler was John A. Wakefield, who came in 1824, settled iu Section 17, and built a log house which he afterwards weather-boarded. This was the first house erected in Otego Township.

The first tavern was kept by John A. Wakefield, who used his residence as a public stopping-place from the time he built it* To this tavern came the bandfc of Indians who used to visit this country periodically to hunt for game, where they would indulge freely in that curse of their people, " fire¬ water." They would, while returning from the tavern, make night hideous with their wild yells, causing the children in the neighborhood through which they passed to tremble with dread for their safety. On arriving at their camping ground which was generally on Hickory Creek, they would wind up the day with the war dance. Those Indians were very friendly towards the settlers, and seldom committed depredations of any kind.

The pioneers of the township were Henry Scroggins, Thomas Crickman, Win. Crickman, Mr. Riall, Mr. Clemens, and Mr. Stanfield, who came in 1828. In 1829, came Jacob Tinker. Thomas Osbrook, Winslow Pilcher, Thomas R. Gatewood, Edward Healey, Hardy Healey, Thos. A. Gatewood, Cole Norris, Mr. Robeson, and Wm. D. Brown. In 1830, came Ezra Grif¬ fith, Rutherford Shelton, Wm. H. Mabury, James Beal, Sr., James Pilcher, and John Springer. In 1831, Isaiah Melton. In 1832, Mr. Roe and Henry Brown. In 1833, Hezekiah Brown, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Taylor, and H. B. Thompson. In 1834, Jordan Smith, William Nichols, Wm. H. Martin, and Joseph Hackett. In 1835, '36 and '37, Harvey Lee, Asa Lee, Abraham Stearns, John Mahon, Isaac Washburn, Wm. Rhody, David Blake, Samuel Blake, and David Washburn. In 1838, came Richard Campbell, Simeon Bishop, and Moses D. Morey. Many of those old settlers had large families when they came to the county, some of which are now among its foremost citizens.

The first death was a Mr. Clemens, who died about 1828 or 1829, and was buried on Section 16. Malissa Crickman, Rebecca Crickman, and a child of Thos. Osbrook's died shortly afterwards, and were buried on the farm on which they had resided in Section 17, now owned by Wm. Stearns. Those graves are yet discernible, having been fenced up by the present owners of the farm.

The first grave-yard was in Section 16, but it has not been used for thirty years, the principal burying-ground being in Section 15, close to the home of Averilla Pilcher.

The first marriage was Jordan Smith and Mary Tinker, daughter of Jacob Tinker. This occurred in 1830, Smith being then a resident of Vandalia Township.

The first school-house was built in Section 17. It was a log building, and was erected in 1833. A man named Mr. Johnson taught first in this build¬ ing, and was the first teacher in the township. A Mr. Taylor taught next, in the same building.

The first flour and saw-mill was built by Ezra Griffith in Section 26, on Hickory Creek, in 1834 ; it was run by water-power. He also built the first frame house in the township, located in Section 9 ; this was also in 1834.

The first store was in the residence of Ezra Griffith, and was kept by Harpin Blakely, in 1834. August Dieckman kept it in 1851, and David B. Waterman, in 1854.

Joseph Hockett was the first blacksmith in the township. He had a shop in Section 18, in 1834. A man named Mr. Rogers kept a shop in Section 17, about the same time.

The first Post-master was Ezra Griffith, who had an office in his residence in Section 9, as early as 1835, which office existed until about 1861. It was called Cumberland, and was kept by Mr. Griffith's sons for the last few years of its existence, he having died before it was abolished.

Berkshire Hogs were brought into the township by a man from the north¬ ern part of the State, named Kirkman. He sold the first of those hogs to Abraham Stearns and Thos. A. Gatewood. This was in 1838. Winslow Pilcher brought a Durham Bull in 1836. It is doubtful if any of this stock was full-blooded.

The first Justice of the Peace was John A. Wakefield, followed by Ezra Griffith, Dudley H. Mabury, Moses D. Morey, Robert Mitchell, J. J. Tinker, E. M. Williams, James Beal, Joseph Styres, E. D. Martin, Andrew Craw¬ ford, J. J. Tinker and Francis Blakemore, the last two being the present Justices.

Isaac Washburn was the first resident physician; he lived in Section 23, and practiced first in 1837. Then came Simeon Bishop, who lived in Section 17, and practiced in 1838; then John F. Morey, who resided in Section 22, and who was the most prominent physician who had lived in the township. L. A. Morey, son of John F. Morey, is now practicing in Otego, and is living in Section 14. Dr. Noll and Dr. Sethman lived and practiced a short time in the township. Dr. Darnell and Dr. Stringer are the present resident physicians of Brownstown.

The Regular Baptist was the first church organized in the township, and held their first meeting at the house of Winslow Piloher, Sr., the Rev. Thomas Whitely preaching the sermon. This was in 1830. The first mem¬ bers were Winslow James Pilcher, Rutherford Shelton, Thos. R. Gatewood, Wm. D. Brown, Peyton J. Pilcher, John Stringer and Cole Norris.

The Methodist Church was organized about 1843. Francis Brown was the first preacher who held services in the township, he having preached at house of John A. Wakefield in 1825. Jesse Doolan, Alfred Evans and James Ray were also pioneer preachers in Otego.

the township, he having held service at the house of Ezra Griffith in 1846. The church was organized in 1847 at a log school-house in Section 16, generally called " the Morey School-house," the Rev. Joseph Gordon and Rev. Mr. Chamberlain being the ministers in attendance. Among the first members were Leonard Washburn, Alfred Irvine, Abner Griffith and An. drew Baumgartner.

The Presbyterians erected a good church building in 1871 in Brownstown. ; They had no edifice before that time, holding their meetings principally at school-houses.

United Brethren . - This church was organized in Otego in 1849, at the house of Isaac Deal, in Section 12, the sermon being preached by the Rev. j Mr. Sparks. This sect built a church in Section 11 in 1873 , Rev. Mr. Kagee being the present preacher. The first members of this denomination were I John Fogler, John Rush, Isaac Deal and Jacob Kepner. I

The Christian Church was organized in the township about 1843, at the Central School-house, Four-Mile Prairie, by William Chaflin and Mr. Schooley. \ Among the first members were Moses D. Morey, M. W. Hickerson, J V. Morey, Jacob Tinker. Abner Griffith, Mrs. Griffith, Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. j Tinker and Mrs. Smith. This denomination have a church in Brownstown, erected in 1871. The Rev. Mr. Bridges was the last officiating minister, ! there being no regular preacher attending there at present. j

Those in the township who are living and can be called old settlers are as I follows: Wm. Nichols, Wm. B. Nichols, Jackson Oglesby,Geo. W. Oglesby, i Wesley Mahon, John Mahon, William Pilcher, Winslow Pilcher, Thomas Pilcher, Richard Pilcher, Charles Pilcher, Leroy King, Wm. Devore, L. D. I Morey, David Washburn, John H. Smith, J. J. Tinker, J. M. Tinker, M.

fith, Alfred Griffith, Wm. Griffith, Leroy Washburn, Josiah Williams, C. 8. Williams, Thos. Bancy, Christopher Schwarm, Harvy Washburn, Thos. A. Gatewood, Jonathan Pilcher, Wm. Rhody, L. A. Morey and Barney Hines. The following women are those that are living whose husbands are long sinoe dead, and who were the wives of early settlers: Mrs. Abigail Griffiths, Mrs. Averilla Pilcher, Mrs. Annie Stearns, Mrs. Rebecca Campbell and Mrs. La¬ boytaux.

Brownstown is located in Section 2, Township 6, Range 2 E., and is on the St. Louis, Yandalia and Indianapolis Railroad. It was laid out by John Brown, May 13th, 1870, and surveyed by A. H. Wing, County Surveyor. It is a live town of about 100 inhabitants, and contains two grocery and dry goods stores, one drug, and hardware store, two blacksmith shops, two boarding houses, one carpenter shop, two physicians, one shipper and dealer in eggs, and one hay press, owned and operated by John Brown, who bales his hay and ships it to St. Louis, which is quite a source of revenue to the town. The Presbyterian and Christian denominations have each a church building, which are a credit to the town. The post-office was established in 1870, John Brown, Postmaster.

The Public School

Is a good sized frame building with every modern convenience. The teacher, W. S. Baits, is a young man, but is considered a good educator. The number of scholars enrolled are 28. Average attendance, 23. Branches taught are Reading, Spelling, Writing, Arithmetic, Grammar, Geography, United States History, Music, and Book-keeping. This school is yet in its infancy, this being its first session, having been before a part of the School Districts of 1 and 2 in 6 Range 2 E. and 4 in Township 7 Range 2 E., and is called district No. 8. The schools throughout the township are good, the people being anxious to give their children a good education. Everywhere can be seen the small white school building, which is very suggestive of increasing inteL ligence among the citizens of Otego.

Biographical Sketches

Wilson Campbell was born July 17th, 1827, and is the second child of a family of eight children, five of whom are living. He is the son of Richard Campbell and Barbara (Robeson) Campbell. Richard Campbell was a native of the "old Dominion," and moved to Knox Co., Ohio, when about twenty-one yean of age, where he met Miss Robeson, a native of Knox Co., Ohio, whom he afterwards married, and where the subject of this sketch was i born. Richard Campbell and family emigrated to Fayette Co., III., in 1838. j They stopped at Howard's Point (now a part of St. Elmo), and in the spring of 1839 he purchased 480 acres of land in sec. 20 and 29, township 6, range 2 east, on which he settled. He died Sept. 19th, 1839, leaving his wife and eight children, the oldest being but fourteen years of age. The subject of this sketch has resided oh this farm ever since, with his mother, who is yet living. In 1856 he was elected couuty assessor and treasurer, filling that position two terms. In 1862 he volunteered. He with James F. Han and James M. Irvine, raised a company, which was organized as Company I, into the 97th Ill. Regiment, at Camp Butler near Springfield, Ill. He was elected 2d Lieutenant of his company, receiving his commission from Richard Yates, Governor of the state, Sept. 8th, 1862. Oct. 3rd, 1862, his regiment started for the front and was mustered into the 13th Army Corps at Memphis, Tennessee. He participated in the following battles: Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, the Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hill, Cane River, Yellow Bayou, and Blakely, Ala. He served on Brigade Staff during the four last named battles. At Vicksburg and Sabine Cross Roads his horse was shot from under him, but he escaped unscathed throughout the war. He was appointed 1st Lieutenant July 1st, 1863, and became Captain Aug. 1st, 1865. He was discharged at Galveston, Texas, and returned at once to his farm, where he has since lived. Nov. 17th, 1865, he was elected County Clerk by the Republican party, of which he has always been a con¬ sistent member. He was appointed Supervisor in 1876, to fill the vacancy of Geo. D. Day, and was again elected to that position in April, 1877. Capt. Campbell received as his share of his father's estate, 80 acres of land, but by industry and perseverance, he has added to this until he is now the owner of about 1500 acres. All of this large estate he has made himself, and is considered one of the largest and most successful farmers and stock dealers in Fayette Co.

Was born in Erie County, Pa., January 30, 1822, and is the son of M. D. Morey and Sally (Aubery) Morey. He was one of twins in a family of eight children, four of whom survive. His parents were natives of Vermont, but had moved to Erie County, P*., where they were married. In 1838 they

The Farm Residence of L.D.Morey SEai 6 .T 6 .RE e.QtegoTp.FayjuxeGo.Ills. Farm Residence of W.R Wright, sec.s t. 3. r 4 Laclede Tp. Fayette Co. Ills.

emigrated to Illinois, coming by water to Evansville, Ind., and from there by wagon to Fayette County, where they resided until their death. His mother died September, 1865, and his father December, 1872.

The subject of Ibis sketch on arriving at manhood, having reoeived a firstclass common-school education, commenced teaching school, from which he realized enough money to purchase eighty acres of land in Otego Township, on which he yet resides. December 10,1846, he was married to Miss P. B. Lee, daughter of R. N. and Polly Lee, who were natives of New York State, and came to Illinois in 1818, where Mrs. Morey was born October 7,1827. By this marriage he has three children, viz.: Chester D., Levi L, and Charlie L. Morey, all of whom are living. In 1849 he was one of a com¬ pany who crossed the plains to California, to dig for gold. He remained thereuntil 1851, when he took passage at San Francisco for home. He had taken siok before the boat started, and while ou the Pacific Ocean his life was despaired of for some time. He landed at a town on the coast of Central America. Crossing that continent to the Carribbean Sea, he took passage for New Orleans, and from their home, where he arrived in safety after a perilous trip of five months.

Politically, Mr. Morey is identified with the Republican party, but has never aspired to office. He has now a farm of 120 acres well improved, a view of which will be found on another page of this work. The Morey family is one well known in the county, which for business, integrity, and honest success stands in the front rank of the citizens of "Old Fayette."

The first land entered was by Martin Jones; 80 acres, in Sec¬ tion 6, November 19th, 1816; John Whitley, 160 acres, in Sec¬ tion 7, April 19th, 1816; Thomas Tinley, 240 acres, in Section 18, October 20th, 1816.

Among the first settlers were William Farmer, who settled in the eastern part of the township, and Henry and Milton Jackson. Urias, son of William and Lucy Ann Farmer, was the first child born in the settlement; and the marriage of a sister of Mr. Farmer to Joseph Gilmore, the first marriage.

The first house was built by William Farmer, who cut the logs, and hauled them in a contrivance called a lizard, which was, simply a pole, split nearly its whole length and spread apart at one end, and held so by a crosspiece. One end was hitched to the horse, or oxen, and the other dragged upon the ground. Mr. Farmer also cleared six acres of ground, which he fenced, hauling the rails in the same manner.

In 1860 was built the first Church edifice in the township. Religious ser¬ vices, however, had been held for many years prior to that time, principally at the residence of William Farmer.

The first School-house was built in Section 25. John Pratt, Bennett Biggs and William Farmer formed the first school districts, called at that time North, East, South and West

Few children of to-day probably ever heard of the manner in which their ancestors, only fifty years since, made meal, as flour was almost unknown. A large tree was selected, usually white-oak, because of its greater durability, and cut down as evenly as possible. A fire was then built on the top, and fanned to keep burning. Water was constantly poured around the edges.

By these means a round hole was gradually made, sufficiently large to hold a quart of shelled corn. An upright pole, with a forked end, was then set in the ground, some fifteen or twenty fret from the stump. Into this was fastened, after the manner of an old-fashioned well-sweep, another long pole, with the small end towards the stump; to this end was attached a pestle, which was a block of wood, - though sometimes the settlers were fortunate enough to possess an iron wedge, which was used. The corn was then poured into the hole in the stump, and pounded, the sweep assisting in the operation. It was then winnowed with the wind, and sometimes sifted through a horse¬ hair sieve.

In 1843 the only murder that ever occurred in the township was com¬ mitted by George Ogles. Ogles had been living with a woman named Ellen Clemmens, and though not legally married, were commonly understood to be man and wife. Ogles accused the woman of being faithless, and in a fit of jealous rage killed her, and concealed her body in Big Lake. He was captured, and confessed,, and brought to Vandalia, for trial.

The Kaskaskia River intersects the township from north-east to south¬ west. The land along its banks is a rich black soil, heavily timbered. North Fork Creek, a tributary of the Kaskaskia, runs in a westerly course through the township.

Big Lake, the scene of the murder, is a fine sheet of water, about one mile long and a quarter of a mile wide, in the south-west corner of the town ship.

A Cemetery, and the first of which anything definite is known, was laid out in Section 25, by Newton Jackson, William Benjamin and Absalom Farmer.

The principal products are wheat, corn, rye, oats and timothy. The land is also well adapted to grazing. Few townships in the county are better situated or more productive.

Wm. Farmer

Judge Farmer is one of the few survivors who have lived to see the pri¬ mitive and sparsely settled territory of Illinois, develop into a grand and prosperous commonwealth. He is a native of Christian County, Kentucky, where he was born March 3rd, 1808. His parents Absalom and Ailsy (Heyatt) Farmer, were natives of North Carolina, and emigrated to Kentucky shortly after their marriage. Absalom Farmer was one of those adventurous frontiersmen, always in the vanguard of the victorious army of civilization Consequently his son William enjoyed none of the advantages of early educa¬ tion. In 1829 he removed to Illinois, then a comparative wilderness. He married on the 28th of September, 1828, Miss Lucy Ann Jackson, by whom he had nine children, of whom only one is now living, Eliza Ann, who married A. T. Davidson, and now residing in Pope Township, near her father. Mrs. Farmer died March 3rd, 1848. Mr. Farmer subsequently married Margaret Phelps, a native of his adopted state, and of which her parents were among the early pioneers, they having emigrated from Tennessee. By this union they had three children, all of whom are now (1877) living. John A. the eldest, was born January 28th,

1851, and married to John O. Kidder, now residing in Texas, William M., born June 5th, 1853, now a resident of Vandalia, and member of the law firm of Henry, Farmer and Chapin. Mrs. Farmer, after a long and severe illness, which she endured with true Christian fortitude and patience, died at the homestead Nov. 6th, 1855. In her death her family sustained a loss incalculable. On the 10th of Nov., 1867, Mr. Farmer married Elizabeth Linton Brown. They had one child, Hiram W., now a promising lad of nine summers. On his arrival in this state, Mr. Farmer located about two miles from where he now resides, near the line of Marion County. In 1836 he moved to his present home, in section 26, town 4, range 1 west He brought with him to the state nothing in the way of pecuniary capital, but he had those sterling qualities of mind and heart that are sure to bring their happy possessor a comfortable competency and unbounded honor and respect. After making his selection for his future home he immediately entered land, and industriously and vigorously set to work clearing and cultivating it, in order that he might provide a comfortable home for himself and family. In 1832 he enlisted under Capt Robbins' command in the Blade Hawk war, and engaged in the battle of Carlogue's Grove, where they were surprised by the Indians, and suffered severs loss. He remained with the army until the conclusion of peace, when he returned to his home and old pursuits, in politics he has always been a Democrat of the Douglass School. During the late war he was an earnest friend and supporter of the union cause, and did much in his neighborhood, to allay sectional animosities. His sou, Asbury L., enlisted in the union army, and while at Commerce, Missouri, where his command was stationed, he contracted disease which resulted in his death. In a financial way Mr. Farmer has accomplished much, and deserves credit for his manful oourse in life. His sucoeas as a public officer is sufficiently attested by the fact of his having been repeatedly elected to positions of public trust In 1832 while absent in the Indian war, he was elected constable, and has continuously been in office up to the present time. In May 1877 he declined re-election as Justioe of the Peace, a position he held repeatedly. In 1856 he was one of the associate Justices of the county, and is now township treasurer, which he has been for the past twenty years. He is a member of the Methodist Episoopal Church, and has for the past twentyfive years, been actively engaged in furthering its doctrines and work. He has devoted considerable time to the study of medicine, cheerfully giving his time and whatever skill he possessed to suffering humanity, and is now in his seventieth year beginning to bow to the tyrant "Time," bnt has the con¬ sciousness and satisfaction of having obeyed the divine injunction, of employ¬ ing his talents to the benefit of his fellows and the glory of his God.

MONG the first settlers in this township we find the name of Thoe. Honeycut, who was an old Tennessee hunter, and came to the county at a very early day. He settled in the north-western part of the township, in the timber where game was plenty. It is uncertain, however, whether he came to the township sooner than George and Wiley Howard, who settled at Howard's Point (after whom it was named), near St. Elmo, in 1834 or 1835.

Howard's Point afterwards became quite a prosperous little village, sup¬ porting one or two stores, a tavern, a stage line, blacksmith shop, wagon shop, post-office, Ac. Now it is merged into a suburb of St Elmo. Other old settlers who deserve mention were Tarey Miller, Aaron Gibson, H. P. Logue, Alfred Watson, John Dearborn, Phillip Shull, John Logue, Paul Baughman, Wm. Guy, Henry Waterman, Joseph Cameron, Andrew Vance, and Dr. Rigdon.

The first families who settled in the township were from Tennessee, and located in the western part, near Sugar Creek, about the year 1830. The next settlement was made at Howard's Point, about 1834, by some Ohio families. We find it impossible to tell who built the first house, as all the oldest settlers are dead. The first school taught in the township was probably at Howard's Point, in an old dwelling-house, in 1840, although Wm. Smith may have taught sooner, as he was an old teacher in this township.

Nicholas Helms built the first saw-mill in the township, in 1838, on Sugar Creek. The timbers were all hewn on the ground, and the lumber sawed, with a whip-saw, for its erection. Townsend and Yawlton, a few years after, built the first steam saw. and grist mill on the same stream. There are now two fine steam flouring mills in the township, one at St, Elmo, the other at Avena, and two saw mills doing a fine business. The first church in the township was built by the Methodists at Shiloh, on the Shelbyville Road, in the northern part of the township. About 1850 the Rev. Mr. Nall was its first pastor, although there had been preaching in schools and private houses for many years before. The Rev. Mr. Allen probably preached the first ser¬ mon in a log cabin, to a rough, thoroughly honest, and earnest audience. The second church was built by the Catholics in the northern part of the township, near C. Seibert's residence, in 1855. It has since burned down.

The first school district, embracing the north half of the township, was formed in 1840, by Messrs. Cameron, Cochrane, Logue, Bovard, Welker, Smith and others, who at once went to work building a school-house out of rough logs, with hewn slab or puncheon floor and stick chimney, with an oldfashioned fire-place taking up one entire end of the building.

The first store in the township was opened in 1834 or '35, by a Mr. 8imosa at Howard's Point, for the accommodation of the workmen on the National Road, which was being built at that time. He also sold goods to the settlers. Henry Waterman built and kept the first tavern about this time, and soon after established several lines of stages carrying the United States Mail. He was also the first Postmaster in the township at Howard's Point, about 1837. There were several bridges built in the township, on the old National Road, in 1834 and 1835. Most of them are still standing in a good state of preserva¬ tion, having been in constant use over forty years.

Wm. Gay, of Howard's Point, and one of the old settlers of the township, deserves the credit of introducing the first imported stock into this part of the county. He purchased some Durham cattle for breeding purposes, much improving his own stock, as well as that of his neighbors in the adjoining townships, which operations were continued until he died, in 1865.

Dr. George Hal brook was the first practicing physician in the township, frequently having to ride twenty and twenty-five miles to visit a patient, as was customary in early times, and then taking his pay in coon-skins, when he received any remuneration for his services.

The northwestern portion of the township is heavily timbered, and conse¬ quently but thinly settled, there being but few inhabitants except along the streams and edges of the timber, although eventually it will become one of the best wheat growing portions of the township, the soil being peculiarly adapted to the growing of that cereal, and the surfece sufficiently undulating to drain it thoroughly. The timber in this part of the township gives em¬ ployment to a great many men, cutting and making railroad ties, sawing lumber, Ac. The central and south-eastern part is mostly level prairie land f with a very rich black soil, well adapted to corn-growing and pasturage. The farmers, however, raise a fair proportion of wheat and other crops, in com¬ parison with other parts of the county. This township is well watered by several small streams flowing through it, all tributaries of the Kaskaskia; the largest, Sugar Creek, running through the northern part, and several smaller through the central and southern portions. The population is about equally divided between the Americans and Germans, both parties doing their utmost to develop the resources of the township.

The town of St. Elmo, a flourishing village situated on the line of the St. Louis, Vandalia and Terre Haute Railroad, in Section 27, was incorpo, rated in 1871, and has a population of about 400. It has two general stores.

two grocery stores, one hardware and stove store, oue drug store, one hotel and saloon, one fine steam mill, a livery stable, lumber yard, and, in fact, all the different kinds of business are fully represented. The present town offi¬ cers are: Dr. H. T. Hollis, Chairman of the Board; J. H. Johnson, P. M. Johnson, Joseph Pinckley, and Peter Heckert, Aldermen, and J. C. Shera, Clerk. The Methodists have a fine church, with a large and appreciative congregation, at this plaoe.

" St. Elmo was the scene of great excitement on Monday. A Mr. Scoles, whose family was absent, on getting near his house about 9 A. M., saw a man leave it and go into the brush. Uohitchiog'a horse, he followed and inter, cepted the man a short distance away, when he was shot from his horse by the miscreant, who approached and shot him twice more.

" The alarm was given, and the murderer was driven into a corn-field, where, being approached by three men, Wireman, Long, and Barnes, whose shots missed him, he turned and shot both Wireman and Barnes, and Long's hone. The field was surrounded and guarded all Monday and Monday night. He was seen last about 5 o'clock Monday afternoon. Scoles and Barnes were killed; Wireman is not likely to recover - all were shot in the head with a large navy revolver. The murderer is supposed to be a tramp. Sheriff Taylor and Deputy Cox went over with posies on Monday, but nothing, so far as we have learned, has been effected. The murderer has probably escaped."

The town of Avena, on Section 31 of Avena Township, was settled in 1871. It is on the St. Louis, Vandalia and Terre Haute Eailroad, about ten miles east of Vandalia, in the midst of a flue farming country, and is a flourishing little town of about 100 inhabitants. Among its business enterprises may be found a steam flouring mill with two run of burrs, one general store, black¬ smith and wagon shop, and other trading facilities sufficient to meet the wants of the people.

Benjamin Mahon

Or " Ben " Mahon, as he is called by every man, woman and child in the couf»*y, was born November 6th, 1822, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. His parents, Doctor and Polly Mahon, were natives of that State, and emigrated to Illinois in *1833, moving in ox-wagons, and taking fifty-two days to make their journey. On arriving in Illinois they settled in what is now Wilberton Township, on Section 10, buying a squatter'^ claiiu and a dog from Anderson Helms, for the sum of nineteen (19) dollars.

" Ben," the subject of our sketch, was the sixth child of a family of eight children, and lived at home until he was twenty-six years of age, when he was married to Elizabeth Thompson, August 31st, 1848. She is a daughter of B. Ward Thompson, one of the oldest living settlers of the county, and was born February 18th, 1830, in the City of Vandalia. They have had born to them a family of nine children. Those living are as follows: Agnes A., the wife of Thoe. W. Brandon, born November 7th, 1852: Laura I., March 21st, 1857; Winnie L., March 20th, 1866; Fannie F., June 24th, 1869, and Ollie E., July 30th, 1872. The record of those who are dead is as follows:

Mr. Mahon is a member and preacher of the Old School Baptist Church. He was baptized August 5th, 1849, by Sam (Tel H. Pullen, and commenced preaching in December of the same year. He has probably preached in more houses than any man in the county, often making his appointments a year ahead, and always filling them. He now, at the age of sixty years, travels from four to five thousand miles, and preaches from one hundred to one hundred and fifty sermons per annum. At present he is living on a farm in Avena Township, on which he makes a good living. He never re¬ ceived a salary for preaching in hi g life , devoting his time and his talents to the good of his fellow-men, and not for the purpose of making money.