Penn Township (part 1 of 3)

Penn Township

The first election of school trustees of which I find any record, was in 184G at the house of Lemuel S. Dorrance. Henry Breese, Ne - hemiah Merritt and John Todd were elected. Twenty-two votes cast.

The first report from Penn of the number of children in that township on record was in 1847, when 114 were reported under 21 years of age. In 1847 there were 387 children and 9 school districts.

111 18-j3, S. G. Wright reported that the Eclectic series of Readers was in use in most of the schools. Colburn's Intellectual and Adams' Written Arithmetics, Butler's Grammar, Mitchell's Geography. Clark's Grammar had of late been recommended.

September 24, 1847, H. D. Palmer made a donation to the county of eighty dollars ' to be divided between the different townships ' and loaned as part of the township school funds.

Report of Rev. S. G. AVright, School Commissioner, of the condition of common schools for Stark county for the years 1851 and 18o2, to David L. Gregg, Secretary of State and ex-ofhcio Superintendent of Common Schools.

In 1845, five townships reported. Goshen reported 278 pei'sons Tinder twenty-one years of age; Toulon, 209; Essex, 282; Elmira, 178 ; West Jersey, 106 ; making a total in the county in 1845, of 1053.

And Its Pioneers

lieports to the county superintendent for the year ending Septenil)er ;}i)th, 187-'), sho-w the number of persons under twenty-one years of age, residing in the county, to be Gl!)i^.

In continuation of this topic, it is liut just to add to the inforanation derived from these official statements, that at the present time our sclioi^ls enjoy the services of a very efficient corps of teachers. The standard of scholarship having been generally advanced as educational interests have prospered. Of those holding state certificates, who are or have been ^-ery recently employed in our schools, are Mr. B. (1. Hall, late county superintendent ; Mr. Frank IMathews, princijial of tlie Toulon high school ; S. S. Wood and W. R. Sandham, principals of the north and south AVyoming schools ; I\Ir. Livingston of Lafayette and INIr. .James W. Smith of the T^iombard School. And there may l)e others of equal standing, of whose qualifications we have not been informed. But we have at least five graded schools, and four first-class school houses in Stark. The house at Lafayette is past its best and will probably soon give place to a new one.

But while remembering our i)resent educators and our i)r(^sent advantages, Ave would not forget those who served us A\ell in the days gone by. Twenty years ago Mr. and 3Irs. .Vtkins taught a school for advanced pupils in the " old seminary " at Toulon, and many men and women now h.olding good positions in social and business circles throughout our county, owe them much for the culture so carefully bestowed. Tliis couple although worthy, could not be called fortunate in life, and they both died while comparatively young. Mrs. Atkins in Xew England, 3Ir. Atkins at Toulon ; and we are glad to know that there is a move-

And Its Pioxeers

But there are few who still remember that l^efore the seminary was built, and before the Atkins came to our county, that Miss Booth, Miss Boyce and Miss Cloodel, taus'ht larj^-e and poj)u!ar schools at Toulon, i)erhaps embracino- in the curriculum of study a wider range tlian is admitted in any of our <^raded schools at the present date. These were eastern ladies. " Yankee school marms" some called them in derision, but no ])rejudice could obscure merits so consi)icuous, or defeat effort so earnest and well directed. They did tiieir work, and "made their mark," which can be distinctly traced through a quarter of a century.

And in recalling our past educational history, the names of S. G. Wright and R. C J)unn must ever come to mind. The former from his first residence here in bS41, always interested himself in procuring competent teachers, and boarded many of them in his own family at rates to suit the pitial^ly small salaries their lalxjr commanded in those days. He was elected school commissioner in LS.jO, and held the office for five years. During this term he convened the first "teachers' institute" ever convened in our county, and introduced a regular system of visiting and reporting .schools, with good result.

INIr. Wright leaving the county in 1850, Mr. Dunn was chosen as his successor in office, and took up the work with his customary energy - perfecting the plan of our institutes, often presiding at their sessions, taking i>art in their exercises, and drawing to them whatever talent he could invite from adjoining counties.

When a meml)er of the house of representatives, in 18G4, he found opportunity to advance his favorite educational projects. We clip from an old file of " iStark County News " the following :

The ^tlEMr'.KR fjiom Stark. - Mr. Bateman, state superintendent of public instruction has an excellent article in the 'Teacher' for March, on the subject of common schools and the amended school law, in which we find one of our townsmen mentioned in no equivocal or uncertain terms of praise. He says : ' Both committees on education were wisely constituted. That of the house of representatives was presided over with signal ability and tact by Hon. Richard C. Dunn, of Stark county, to whose liberal views, practical knowledge, and unceasing industry and vigilance we are largely indeljted for the success in the house, not only of the amendatory school act, but of other important measures.' This well deserved compliment is from a high source, and the

But when taking into consideration the present status of our principal schools, as given somewhat in detail in connection with the history of our towns, we have perhaps devoted space enough to the general view of this interest, all important as it is. And if county has done well in thj past, may we not hope that with increasing wealth and facilities it may do better in the future, and by a wise and enlightened policy, not only place a good education within reach of every child \vithin our bounds, ))ut by em)»loying teachers of superior attainments win for our county a proud lame in tlie educational annals of our state.

Benevolent Enterprises

To the cries of the unfortunate, whether near or far, the people of Stark have always lent sympathizing ears, and held forth for their relief generous hands.

So in the winter of ISGO-Gl, when ap])eals from the Kansas sufferers reached us, every neighborhood was alert to aid according to their means, those whom adverse circumstances had so sadly smitten. We cannot go into the particulars of gathering grain and vegetables, money and clothes, but that all these were sent, is a matter of history.

Jonathan Hodgeson, one of our first county commissioners, then a resident of Kansas, came on to ask aid, doubtless, feeling sure he should receive it among the people he had known here - and he did not go away empty b.anded. We will give one extract from the "Stark County News " of that date, relative to the effort : -

Kansas Iiklief

Many persons in this county wiio donated money to the Kansas Relief Committees, were apprehensive that it would not reach its destination, or would be appropriated for other iises. To quiet such apin-ehensions we give place to the following letter acknowledging the receipt of m«)ney sent from this covuity : payino; freig-ht on relief ji:()0(ls, your opportune draft of iii^lLLGi), for wliich we have reason to express the sincere and heartfelt thanks and g-ratitude of the many thousands dependent uv)on us for food, clothing- and seed. We liave this day loaded about l.">0 teams, mostly for southern Kansas, with suppliiAS, Sincerely g'ratefui for your kindness and sympatliy, I have t!ie hon.or to remain. Yours truly,

And the great Chicago fire of ISTl is still fresh in the nnnds of ourcitizf'ns. no\v,as the sickening record ftfcfcrc.s'c/'^rrf.s/c^/'^^c?/;/ the heart of a populous c'ttij, tlashed over the telegraphic wires, and news of thousands upon thousands rendered homeless and penniless by the disaster, was l)()rne in upon the miiid, the people flocked to the depots and stations, loading cars with everything the needy coulf' re([uire so far as they would go ; food and clothing, beds and bedding, necessaries and delicacies freely given, a spontaneous out}>ouring of an almost universal sympathy.

And during the cruel years of the war, the local papers were crammed with notices of " Soldiers' Aid Societies," "Sanitary Fairs," and " Festivals for the benefit (jf soldiers' widows and orphans."

By these means large sums of moupy were raised to supply the sick and wounded with such comforts and delicacies as their situation demanded, and to relieve in some degree the bereaved and stricken ones from the pressure of immediate want.

Here again our women found a field of usefulness peculiarly suited to their powers, and nobly did they exert themselves in behalf r)f the sufferers on tiie field or in the hospital.

Scarcely an issue of our county paper during these trying times but contained thank oflf'erings from soldiers to friends at home for some unexpected but welcome remembrance. Ijint and l)andages, choice wines and nourishing food, cooling fruits and cheering flowers, found their way to the front and to the cots of the soldiers, with surprising rapidity.

And later, wdien the people in the more western states hav(^ suffered ses'erely froni grasshopi)er swarms, and " hot winds" anniliilating their crops, and crippling all their business energies, not a season passes but large quantities of grain and seeds, and young fruit trees, not to mention supplies of food and clothes for immediate use, are shipped from this county to these less favored regions. This is by no means always the result of public

Then, the children of the poor freedmen are not entirely overlooked. Benevolent ladies in various localities, collect lar^'e boxes of conifortaljle clothing', and in the tall wlien the weather renders such particularly desirable, send them to points where they know they can be distributed advantageously t(^ the suffering- blacks.

We speak of these things, although some may pronounce them unworthy of mention, because we consider them creditable to our humanity ; in fact, these are the kind of missionary enterprises we enjoy rather tlian spending- money to send theologians to dispute the teachings of Conuicius or tlie ]>rahmins.

The first county })Oor house was located a little north-east of Toulon, on what was long familiarly known as " Adam l*erry's l)lace;" indeed, the house was but the old residence enlarged, and adapted in various ways to its new duties. But this being deemed insutiicient to meet the demands liable to be made l)y the increase of paupers as the county grew in years and numbers, it was decided in ISdS to l>uy a larger farm, farther from town, and to erect upon it a good, substantial and commodious poor house. Accordingly a tract of land described as the north-east quarter of section 12, in township 12 north, range o east, in Stark county, was purchased from 3Ir. Davis Lowman, at a cost of about §s,ui)0, and early in the following year preparations i'or l)uilding began - the committee in charge being C. M. 8. Lyons, J. li. Quinn, and H. Shi v vers.

The old buildings were sold, the old farm ])hitted and sold in small lots, and the cc^ntract for the new building let to William Caverly for the sum of §1G,()00.

This was considered ])y some an unnecessary expense, considering the small number of our paupers, and the project met with .some opposition and a good deal of ritlicule.

At one meeting of the supervisors in 18(39, it was ordered that a " landscape gardener be employed to beautify the grounds of this establishment," which was understood to l)e a lami)oon for a certain gentleman who had coniiiiented severely through the press upon what he conceived to be a too lavish expenditure of the public funds.

the inanagement of this institution has heon o-encrally satisfactory - all concurring' in giving' special commendation to the matron thereof. But when we read that in ]S7G our paupers, l)abies and all, only number ten, we conclude they could be provided for suital)ly in a smaller, cheaper luiilding, and the surplus money turned to l)etter uses.

Military

Going back into the shades of the past to tind the origin of our military spirit, we shall reproduce for the amusement of our readers, jMr. C'liftbrd's account of the first war like preparations among the Spoon river men :

"The 'B:a-k Hawk War,' as the little hostile flourish with a few disaffected Indians on Rock River, is called, naturally awakened a military si)irit in the neighborhood of the disturbances, and before this ' grim visaged ' creature ' had smoothed his wrinkled front ' and northern Illinois had subsided into a ' weak piping time of peace,' what is now known as Stark c(nmty, was put upon a war footing. A military company Avas organized in Spoon river precinct. As nigh as we can ascertain at this remote period of time, this company numbered in ' rank and file,' twenty to twenty-five members, mostly ofiieers. Their arms (shootingirons) consisted of rifles, blunderbusses, muskets, sliot guns, ttc, of all makes, styles, finish, and conditions - some of them without lock, cock, stock or barrel. Their uniform was not such as is now required in the regular army of the United States service, but the ordinary dress of frontiersmen, colors variegated by the patches only. As our information, which is rather vague upon this point tells us, James McC'lennahan was captain ; Peter IMiner, lieutenant. As we understand, tliis comjoany was enrolled, and consisted of all able Ixxlied men, liable to njilitary duty in the Spoon river district. In ls;>o, or spring of 1834, (our researches do not carry us back of that time) the company was called out for drill (training) near Wyoming. Some twelve or fifteen persons responded to the roll call. Nothing of interest occurred at this training as we can learn ; our informant who was present says it was-a 'dry affair,' by which we understand him to mean that there was so little interest taken in military tactics, it was considered a 'bore.' There was the following summer a l)attalion muster at Boyd's Gi-ove, at Miuch time there was an inspection. Part of the Spoon river company, moved by a love of adventure or the fear of court iiiartials and fines, attended. The commanding officer formed his battalion in line for inspection, and dismounting Ills ' war horse,' commenced his inspection at the head of a column; his orderly sergeant, clerk, or whatever he was, attended him with pencil and paper to take minutes for such subsequent proceedings as might be required by law against those who were not ' armed and eciuijiped as the law directs.' The question generally asked a soldier who was not armed was, ' have you any gun at home, sir ?' AVhere he answered in the affirmative, he was then asked 'why didn't you bring it?' If no good reason was given, the clerk was told t(» ' mark him down anfl have him lined.' In due })rogress of inspection they came to 'Weezner' Leek, who talked through his nose. Officer. - ' Have you a gam at home?' Weezner^ (through his nose.) - 'Yes, got a kind of one.' Officer. - 'How far will it kill an Indian?' Meezuer. - 'Don't know, never tried it.' Officer. - 'What kind of a gun is it?' M'eezner, (by way of his nasal conduit) - 'Stock's broke - hain't no ramrod - half the lock is lost.' Officer - ' Is that the best you've got?' M'eeziier. - ' Yes, that's all the gun I've got.' Officer. - ' Haven't some of your folks a gun ; couldn't you have borrowed one?' Weezuer. - 'Yes, 'spose I could if I'd tried.' Officer. - ' AVell, I guess I'll have to fine you.' Ueezner, ^through his nose) - ' Fine an' be d - d.'

" The next movement of troops was a general muster at Hennepin. The Spoon river company ' mustered the following officers and privates: - John Dodge, Captain ; Peter Miner, first lieutenant, and Sylvanus Moore, private ; three all told. Colonel Strawn was in command of the regiment. When the Spoon river company was called, Captain Dodge and his lieutenant. Miner, formed private Moore in a line - one deep. Colonel Strawn seeing so small a representation of the Sijoon river militia present, requested Captain Dodge to fall into the ranks of the other companies with his two men. Dodge had no idea of being degraded from the rank of captain of the valorous and formidal)le Spcjon river conqjany to a simple private in the rag-tag and bob-tail of any other company upon the grounds ; not he. Fresh laurels and victorious wreaths were not to be so ruthlessly and ignobly torn from his brow; he was Captain of the Spoon river company of the Illinois militia, and as such he gave Colonel Stra^^'n to understand at the start, that he. Captain Dodge, would be d - d if he would do anything of the kind, requested by him. Colonel Strawn ; he'd see him in h - 11 first. He would command his own conqjany. Colonel Strawn had to yield. Cajitain Dodge then formed his company in the streets of Hennepin, IJeut. Miner assisting-, and private 3Io()re was formed in a long- line. Tlie orders, eves riglit ! (h-ess ! attention ! were executed by the Spoon river company, (Sylvanus INIoore) in a style worthy of that crack company, C'ai)tain Dodge now addressed his command in a lengthy speech. He complimented them (Miner and Moore) for their fine and soldierlike appearance, for mustering so strong ; (two); he spoke of the merciless savages, Black Hawk in particular ; how easily they had been ' wiped out' if the Spoon river company had only been detailed for that service ; how that distinguished chief had subsided at the very apprehension that the Spoon river men would soon be on his trail. He defied the roar of the British lion ; the paw of the Russian bear; all the old world; just one 'screech ' of the American Eagle through the Spoon river company would put the whole caboodle of 'em to flight. Sj)oon river was patriotic, Spoon river was In-ave, Spoon river was the 'strong arm ' of g-overmnent, and so long as the Spoon river company was in the field, our country was safe and its institutions secure; it would go forth conquering and to conquer. Captain Dodge's speech was a si)ontaneous effort ; it was inspired and inspiriting ; he had brought the inspiration from Moulton, on Spoon river, in a jug. There w^as no reporter present, so the aV)ove speech is but traditionary. We regret that it has not been preserved in its original purity, as no language at our command can do it justice. He spoke very loud, so that his voice could be heard distinctly along the whole line of his company. After this address, of which w'e have given a very brief synopsis, he had his company go through some of the most startling and brilliant military evolutions. The Zouave tactics were not then known, Init they had a style of their own, a Spoon river style, that would astonish even the Zouaves themselves. During the whole muster, this valiant company marched in order, and as a distinct and distinguished company. After the general muster was over at the parade grounds, C'ai)tain Dodge marched his men to the edge of the city of Hennepin and halted. He then made them another speech ; he rallied them on their courage ; he told them what he was about to do ; he going to take the city of Plennepin by a grand coup de guerre, (we have put his words into nnlitary language, as we design our hih* tory to I)e somewhat classical,) his words were : ' We are strong enough to surround and take Hennepin, and I'll l>e d - d if we don't do it.' He said he would divide his company into four i)latoons; one of wluch shoidd enter the city from the ncn-th, another from the south, the third from the east, and the fourth from the west. lie was not g'oing- to destroy it, hut was going to tal^e it home for a plaything for his ehildren. The next that is seen of his men they had formed a juni-tion at a grocery where they iml^ihed freely of patriotism, drawn out of a barrel labelled 'wliiskey,' whence they returned to 8poon river, i)erforming some of the movements that the 'wide awakes' incorporated into tlieir drill last summer, (ISOO) called the ' rail-fence movement.'

" Some time after this, Captain Dodge was on his way to Henne - l)in, when he met a constable on his way to Spoon river to collect military tines incurred by tho^e who had failed to attend the muster at Hennepin. Captain Dodge asked his business, and upon being informed of the nature of his constabulary visit, the caj)- tain told him he had better put right back home and never show his head on Spoon river; that the .Spoon river men were a desperate set of fellows Avhen aroused, and that if they once got their hands on biini it would be the last of him ; they would certainly kill him. The constable turned his horse's head towards home, took a straight shoot for Hennepin, impressed with the idea that liy his prompt retreat he had saved his valuable life. Neither he nor any other person ever ventvu*ed to collect those military tines." Kow% ailliough we suspect there is more humor than history in the foregoing extract. It has facts for its outline, and as a whole furnishes a characteristic picture of the rough side of frontier life. The men mentioned were all bona ftde settlers in this region at the date implied, and "Captain Dodge," was wont to conduct himself very mueh as he is represented to have done at Hennel>in.

He was one of the few really " hard cases " Avho made their home here in those days. He was an inveterate Aorse race-/- and a liard drinker, determined to carry his points at all risks. If he could not win the stakes by fiiir means, he would b)/ foul, and many are the tales told of his recklessness, which culminated at last in murder, at the city of Rock Island.

A horse race for heavy stakes was advertised to come off near that placf^, and Dodge had a swift mare which he was trainingfor the occasion. He went, sure of his custon'iary success, but despite the most frantic efforts to defeat his competitors, he was foiled - a rawboned Iventuckian pocketed the purse of gold.

Next morning, as the stranger was standing on the porch of a hotel, Dodge came up leading his mare, and assailing him with abusive epithets freely mingled with oaths, demanded that the race should be renewed, swearing that the decision and awards were unfair, saying, " look at my mare ; you know she is a better animal than yours," ttc, &c. ; " any horsoman v/ill say so. Xom', I ask oiu-e more will you consent to try this over to-day?" The Kentuekian turned on his heel with a muttered ne<i,'ative on his lips, which was never uttered, for instantly a rejjort from a pistol ^\'as heard through the house, and the winner of yesterday's race was a corpse. Dod.ne si)raiif>' upon the hack of his vaunted mare and tried her speed as lie had never tried it on the race course. Before the people around the dead man realized the position of affairs, he was swimmin,2f the ]Mississipj)i, and was soon dashingacross the state of Iowa, distancing- all ]>ursuers. Years afterwards, his wife's family learned that he was living amidst the wilds of Texas still unwhipp(^d of justice; but, not caring after so long a time to ro-open wounds, that liad partly healed at least, they paid no heed to the intelligence. Such was the sad career of " Captain Dodge," whether yet closed, or how, is not ours to record ; his end is wrapped in t)I)scurity, or left to imagination.

But the time came wlieu "levying contributions of war" was no joke in the Spoon river country ; and the raising of volimteer companies became a business so serious, that even its memory throws a shadow of sadness or(>r most Stark county homes today. W(> refer of course to the outbreak of ou.r civil war in ISdl, when tliecannon turned on Fcn'tSumpter jan-ed every hearthstone in our land, and wlien tlie President's calls for 7r),(ifiO, .")0(),00r) oOOjOOO men," in (luick succession reverl)erated across the continent, making tlie stoutest hearts almost hush their tlirobbings, and demanding in resj)onse partings and heart 1)reakings, such as we liope never to v.itness again. Nobly did "Molly Stark" stand the shock, and sent off her bravest and dearest to defend the old flag : and how best to preserve a record of those days, that shall show to our descendants what she did and what she suffered, has been the subject of much jinxious con.sideration.

We append to this work as complete a list as we could obtain, of Stark county soldiers, with a brief official record. But this is insufficient to give any idea of the spirit that animated all classes of society and the efforts that were put forth, and the sacrifices made, ere these men " went fortli to do, or die." i

It is true there were at first i)ainful differences of opinion, and a few determined si»irits, here and there, who opposed the " vigorous prosecution of the war ;" and this only added to the difficulties of the situation. People felt there was danger of collisions here at home, that would result in bloodshed - such as we read of in many parts of the country. And, although the union sentiment was overwhelming, as the military record and popular vote abuiulaiitly prove, yet there was a feeling- of gloom and insecurity in the minds of many; and when the news of reverses to our arms at the battle of Bull run, and at Harper's Ferry reached us, some anxiously incpiired, " what shall the end of these things be?" The best that can be written now, seems tc.me in comparison with the real history of this great struggle as it \\as recorded l)y the actors and suflTerers, in the form of letters, or communications to contemporary papers, as the years of the M-ar unfolded theuiselves. As tiles of thts3 papers then current, havt.' l)een kindly placed at our disposal by their pul)lishers, we shall draw from them at some length articles jjertaining to the getting uj) of Stark county companies, and letters, showing the conduct of our men on the march and in the Held ; l)elieving we can in this way best serve the interests of our readers, and preserve much that is valuable in our local annals.

The first e?ctract relative to the "Elmira Rifles," organized in the spring of ISGl, sen-es to show not only how this com})any was called into existence, but to illustrate the spirit that prevailed throughout' the county and led to the rapid formation of the " Lafayette Bifles," and other companies and " squads " from time to time, the [>articu]ars of which can now hardly be gathered; at least many of them have eluded our diligence.

Eljniira Eiflk

The (JUU-evH of Lite Company - The 2Len - lliatoi'i/ of (he O/r/auizatlon of the Company - The Call - The licsponse - The Departure - In camp - Per.soiud Skefrhc.^, it-e.

C.i])tain Charles Siiiari, n )t SleArart, as generally sjjelled, is I'rom th.e Green Mountains of A^'rmont, a pre-eminently fit ])lace for breeding nulitary commanders. The climate healtliy, l)racing iind vigorous ; the landscaju' bold, rough, mountainous and sublime, maive the best cradle for incipient heroes ; besides the moral tone of the people gives tliem strengtli and force of cliaracter quite as necessary as hardy constitutions iji the field. Men got in sickly swamps of ague shaking i)arents, nursed on malarious effluvia, i\nd reared in moral and mental ignorance, may mope tlirough the world half asleep, and may have l)ile enough to be venomous enemies, but never to be great military commanders. Nature always in.iparts to animal l)eings and vegetable life its local character. Bold, rugged, dashing, shl)linie scenery favors the growth bold, dasliing, sublime men, and cice rer,'<a. Men whose boyliood and youth have been i)assed in mountain scenery, come upon the field of life with strong, hardy constitutions and invigorated intellects - sound mind in sound bodies. Vermont is famous for good horses and stalwart men. Though Stuart is not one of the Vermont " six footers," yet the material for such a man is compressed and refined into his organization of five feet six.

Captain Stuart is not the birth of the present war excitement ; he long ago showed a talent for military command, a strong yx'^ic/'i((/d for a soldier's life, even in the inost piping times of peace. Everything pertaining to the camp or field in history, or in the commotions of the old world was always seized upon by hiui as the choicest reading- or news. Over a ye ir ago he had so infused his military ardor into the quiet, orderly and unexcitable Scotch settlement of Elmira as to set on foot the organization of a rifle company, and in May, 1<%(), the company was organized under the old militia law. Stuart was elected captain by unanimous vote of the company. Stephen W. Hill at the same time was elected 1st. Lieutenant, and Alexander 3[urchison, jr., 2d liieutenant. He found in the settlement just the material for his company ; the Scotch in their characters are not dissimilar to the Vermont mountaineers. The company advanced as far as tliey could, but were unable to obtain arms from the state, probably for the very good reason that tlie state hadn't any.

So matters remained until tlie bombardment of Sumpter. No sooner had the news reached Elmira, than Stuart set al)Out tilling up his company to tender them as volunteers. AVith his otiicers and part of the old company as a nucleus, he drummed for recruits in different parts of the county ; he found no difiiculty, only that most wanted to enlist as officers if he and his felloAvs would throw up tlieir old connnissions. His company was filled and tendered to the government, but was not acceijted, though he spared no effort to get them in, and the company was disbanded and tiie brave volunteers reluctantly gave up all hope of getting into service.

Afterwards a special town meeting was called which was attended by the people. The tax payers of Elmira to^^'nship turned out generally ; imlike the board of supervisors they didn't stop to find out impediments in the way of ))eing patriotic, but with unanimity- and hearty zeal they voted a tax upon themselves of $700, for the purpose of uniforming volunteers ; and responsible individuals on the spot subscribed over $19S0 for the sui)port of families of volunteers in service - near twice the amount appropriated by the whole of Stark county for the same purpose. Individuals, sound and prompt, subscribed as high as $200 each. A new company was reorganized under the amended militia laws. Captain Stuart and the commissioned officers of the old llifles joined it, and unsolicited, threw up their commissions, but upon a new election they were all re-elected to their former rank, and the company reported to headciuarters. The members were scattered over considerable territory, and could not well be got together for drill oftener than once a week. Seeing no immediate prospect of being called into service they went about their ordinary pursuits, i:)utting in crops, making brick or whatever else they would have done if the country was at peace. What followed is best related by a correspondent of the Chicago Tribune of the 18th, M'hich we copy :

"The Chicago Tribune of the 8th inst., announced the fact that the Ehnira Rifle'^, Captain Stuart's company, had I)een accepted, and were required tf) be in Springfield on Thursday the i;Uh inst. Of course such intelligence created no small stir in our midst, and not only the company, ])ut the wh(jle community were thrown into some degree of consternation.

"And what seemed to add to the ditficulties in the way of beingsnatched otf so suddenly, ^\'as the fact that Captain Stuart, who is a minute man, always so active, energetic and indomitable, was at the time in the east, and no one here knew very well where. In removing this ditticulty, the other ottivers deserve much praise for the promptitude with which they acted. Lieutenant Hill took the lead, as was fitting he should, and Lieutenant ^Nlurchison worked u}) to all just expectations, and all seemed determined to let no obstructions prevent them from coming up and responding to the demand. On Monday, the lOth, a very large meeting, consisting of the volunteers and citizens of the townships of Elmira and Osceola, was held to make some arrangements for the departure of the volunteers. At this meeting ditliculties seemed to increase by a dispatch arriving from tlie Adjutant General from Springfield, stating that none w<juld be rece'.-ed enlisting for a shorter term than three years. At that time the company's roll contained 59 names, and in. tvro days after this, i)et\veen 80 and 90 started en route for the service of their country. At the meeting on Monday, a committee was appointed to canvass the adjoiningcounty, which committee reported at an adjourned meeting held on Tuesday evening, that between 100 and 200 men had pledged their sacred honor and their every means for the support of the families of volunteers during their absence. At this meeting, also arrangements were made for the departure of the soldiers on Wednesday, at 12 m. The ladies, who are always so ready to work, were busily employed, and prepared and set a most excellent and sumptuf»us dinner before the volunteers, and some 1200 citizens. In the village of Osceola, the volunteers were met by two military companies - a horse company, commanded by Captain Palmer Blanchaixl, and a foot company by (-aptain Merrill. Three martial bands were in attendance - Dalrymple's l)and with our volunteers, and the other companies each had a band. The whole multitude assend.)led on the west side of the church, and after prayer, we had a spirited, pat- riotie stirriiiii' farewell addl-e^^^ from Geo rye Clifford, E^q., of Toulon. The de})arting' volunteers and other military companies present, were then marched into the chun-li, where four tables, the whole length of the building, were groaning under the burden of good things which they supported ; l)Ut though these were so temptingly displayed, prei)ared with so uuich care by the willing hands of the kind hearted ladies, yet the soldiers seemed to have little desire to jnirtake of the food ; their hearts seemed to be so enlarged that the stomach had no room left in which to perform its functions. It is a good thing to know that soldiers have hearts. After partaking of the dinner inside of the church, and the great uiultitude outside, the order was issued to fall into profession and march to Kewanee, the place of embarl^iug on the cars for Chicago. The whole was under the direction of the marshal of the day. Captain 31ark Blanchard, of Osceola, assisted 1 >y George Gray, Estp The procession consisted of between one and two hundred conveyances^ of various kinds. A number of fourhorse vehicles were loaded to their utmost capacity. Arriving at Kewanee, and l»eing kindly received by the citizens of that place, the volunteers marched up in front of the Kewanee House, Avhere a few parting words ^^-ere addressed to them by Rev. .1. 31. Graham of EUnhw, an 1 R^v. Mr. R. C. Dann of T.nilon. Captain P. Blanchard of Bureau county, proposed that a collection l)e taken up for a little pocket money to bestow upon the volunteers. This being- done, it amounted to something short of .$101). It is proper here to say that every mark of kindness and respect were shown by the citizens of Kewanee to the company about to leave, and to their many friends who attended them to this point. Supper was furnished to the company, and all others so far as was known by the writer, were pressed by various persons to take tea at different places. The multitude whicli -assembled in front of the Kewanee House at tlie time the words of farewell were being addressed to the soldiers, has been variously estimated at from 2,O0i) to 4,ni)ii. All we know al)Out it is, that it was an immense crowd ; and all seemed to enter into the spirit of the occasion, and feel that it was an occasion of im})ortance, sucli as never before was witnessed by most of those present.

'- We read here with a degree of mortification that the Elmira Rifles, citizens of our county, bound to us l)y every tie of citizenship, going fortli from ' Molly tStark ' to fight oiu' battles, tearing them- .selves from houi? and friends, many probably never to return to us, were como?llecl to accept an es^^ort from strangers from a for- eign foiuity. As niufli ])aiiifiil feeling exists upon tlie [lart of our Klniira and Osceola friends because the Home Guards from Toulon did not do this duty, we have this apology to offer for tlicin : First, tliat tlie sudden dei)art:ure of tlie Elmira Uities was not generally known to them, as it was expected they were not to leave before Friday, the Chicago Tribune announcing they were to report themselves at 8i>ringtield on the ir)th, and not the l;]th as stated in the above corresixmdence. Second, and princii)ally, because the treatment received by them at the hands of tlie board of sui>ervisors was such as to dishearten and discourage tlie Guards to such a degree that it was impossible to rally them for any purpose. The just blame should rest on those who produced that state of feeling, and not ui)on tlie community here, except that portion of them v/ho would gladly break up all volunteer companies and freeze out the life blood of patriotism in our county ; men who discourage the formation of volunteer companies. We can assure our Elmira and Osceola friends that in spite of officials we shall do our tluty hereafter, llight here we have an anecdote which ought to be saved to history. On the second day of the meeting of the board of supervisors when 'our member' of the board had moved a reconsideration of the vote appropriating six dollars to each volunteer for uniforming purposes, and the matter vv'as engaging discussion before the boanl, one said he thought the vohmteers could drill without uniforms, and was opposed to giving them the first cent before called into service, and another had drilled many years in Ohio at his own cost. A pious, devout meml»er of the Ehnira Ivifies, was in town bidding adieu to his friends. He is a pronnnent member or Mr. Dumi's ehurcli, and a very (piiet unexcitable man - .J. B. are his initials. ]Ie was at dinner with the family of the orderly of the Home Guards. Now said sergeant can, good naturediy, and we tliink not very wickedly, do a good business at swearing ; in fact he is rather voluble in the emission of some naughty words which church goers call swearing. J. B. saying to him that the board of supervisors had reconsidered their vote and iie,was afraid tliey were going to defeat the volunteers, he clinched his indignation against tlie board as follows : ' 3Ir. W., you know I can't swear ; 1 wish you would go down and attend to those supervisors.' W. replied, ' I don't believe I can do the subject justice, but I'll go down town

" To return to the Kifles. Captain Stuart has a \\'ife and two children. Pie is a farmer and well respected in the community where he lives. He is in stature of niedium size and put together for action rather than I'ulk. He is quick of perception, being of quick temperament, and will at a g-lance decide tlie l)est po.-^ition for liis command, and will as quick execute his movements. A man of quick perceptions is as necessary upon the l)attle field as a man of courag'e, providing' lie does not lose self-control liy too great an d'xcitaliility. He is a man of warm heart, and will endear his company to him. We predict a brilliant career for Captain Stuart. The of a commander is great ; the wives, fannlies, friends and people of Stark county have committed to Captain Stuart the gravest responsibility, the lives, the honor of their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons, and the good fame of tlie county itself, and we shall hold him to a faithful account of his Stuart (Steward) ship.

" First Lieutenant, Stephen M. Hill, is not unlike Stuart in his make and 'git up.' H? leaves at hom? a family - a wife, and we believe eight children. He is higidy esteemed at home, and we have no doubt he will fill his post with honor and credit to him- }self, his company and county. He is a native of the state of New York as we are infornied.

" Second Lieutenant, Alexander Murchison, jr., is a young, unmarried man ; by birth a Seotclimin, but in America one of the warmest friends of the constitution, the union, and the free institutions of our country.

"First Orderly Sergeant, .Jolm S. Pasliley, evidently put up for the very jnirpose of 1)eing an orderly sergeant of just such a company as the Elmira Rifles. He is a young man, married however, of the highest order of natural qualificati<Mis for an otticia! jiosition in the arm3\ He will come out rais'il in rank. His manners are agreeable and he is bound to have warm friends.

" Fourth Orderly Sergeant, Jas. G. Boardman is a young man, brother to Dr. Boardman, so well and favoraljly known in Stark county. He has been a medical student and just come home from his second course of lectures. He is said to be every way worthy, and will make an excellent officer.

He's pluck to the liaok Ijoiie ; lie's game to the last. If you don't l)elieve it, ask that volunteer who stayed in ( "hicag'O drunk and didn't g'o down to the camp to be sworn in. .Jim met him in the street and just took him out of his shirt and brought the shirt back to camp.

" Third Corporal, Charles H. Ijrace is a young- man, son of 3Iyrtle G. Brace, Esq., of Elmira. ' Charlie ' will give a good account of himself.

"Had we space and time it would atford us pleasure to speak more at length of all the officers and privates. We do say that the officers seem to be exactly (pialitied for their resj^ective posts, and that they have been placed in their positions with a single view to their qualifications. The privates include some of the best men of our county, and we are not surprised to notice that the company ranks the best in the service of the state, best in orderly, sol)er materials for a company. Chicago papers and people so regard them, and justly, too.

" AVe have l)een permitted to peruse a large number of letters received from our volunteers in camp. Some of them we would like to publish at length, as they contain matters of interest and are written in a style of epistolary elegance and simplicity that Avould do credit to the best of letter writers, We give below extracts from letters written by one of the privates to his wife in Elmira, and not designed for publication. We give the dates as a kind of journal of the camp.

".June loth. - * " We are praised greatly for the extra fine appearance of our men. We are told repeatedly by Chicago men that our company is worth more than the entire Zouave reigment for hard work or effective service. * * We feel like loving every man of them we have seen yet, for they are as kind as they can be. * * * How long we will be here is of course a mystery. Some say we will not stay here more than two weeks, but we do not know anything about it. * Captain Stuart's fani y are here, and will stay while the company remain in Chicago.

June l(;t!i. - " * * To-day for the first time, I took my rations in eamp. I earn? d;>\vn this morning-; my furlough having expired, I was obliged to report. I have been on furlough since the company came into camj). * . * Our company was sworn in yesterday, but as I was not here, I did not get sworn in ; but should I not take tlie oath at all I am bound by all that is sacred to my duty, and by the help of your prayers and my own I hope to be able to do my duty with honor to myself, my dearly beloved wife and child, and all dear friends and relations left behind. We are the model for the regiment, and all strive to do their l)est to merit the esteem of everybody in the v/orld, and Elmira in particular. Everybody speaks highly of us, and say our boys do their duty 'tiptop.' Yesterday, when our boys were sworn in, John Sherry, his brother, and a man from Kewanee, refused to take the oath. They were dealt with as follows : Our boys A\ere not at liberty to catch them, but the Zouave boys caught John and held him until our boys were at liberty, when they concluded to part with him in good style, and rather than see the poor devil walk so far they proposed to provide him with a conveyance. A rail was found, whereupon they invited the gentleman to mount, and mount lie did, with their assistance, and they gave him a huge ride, which privilege they enjoyed hugely, and after strijDping the uniform from him and pulling him around awhile, let liim go. His brother deserted in tlie city, or rather got drunk and we left him lying in an alley. We sav^d his shirt, however ; James Montooth met him In the street and stripped it off him. * -:j ^^-g expect hourly to be ordered to Quincy.

"June IGth. - We had a fine supper and well cooked. Our young friend Lamper does our cooking, and we do liis guard duty. AVe had meat, dried apples, coffee, bread and cake. Our meat so far has been fi'esh, and the cake was some that 3Ir. Blanchard brought from home. Since the order was issued to allow no one to leave the camp, one guard allowed a captain to cross and was arrested immediately and placed under guard. '- * * .Since I began this we assembled for prayers. Lieutenant Hill read a chapter and made an excellent prayer ; every man in the company on their knees with head uncovered. It was a solemn sight to see the feeling manifested by our men, brave, good, and true. God bless them.

" June ITtli. - Tell tie Elniira folks that every mwn in canij) did really sutler ironi cold last night. It was awful cold. Order of the day : A. 3[., reveille; T)^,, roll call; G, !)reakfast ; s.], turn out guard; i), guard mount ; 1)'. toll, eonipany drill ; 12, dinner; (J, supper ; 5»l, tattoo to ([uarters ; Id, taps, lights out and all quiet. Here we have a great deal of excitement and enjoy ourselves hugely. The boys of our mess, exee[)t T)r. Lamper, my good friend, and myself, are out playing round the camp, but we feeling it our duty to devote our leisure moments to our dear wives, are in our tents writing to you.

".Tune 17ta, - You must excuse me if I do not write long letters, as our duties are very arduous at } r 'sent while getting ready to march. We will more than likely move on Tiiursday or Friday of this week ; where, God only knows, and 1 would not care if I had my watch and some money."

This (organization, which became after they were mustered into service, com[)any B, 19th regiment. United .States volunteers, v/as the first to leave our county for tiie defence of the union ; and the next we think was the "Lafayette niifies," known after enlistment as company B, 87th regiment United States volunteers.

"Tiie Lafayette Rifles " were commanded V)y Captain Charles Dickinson, a man who would i)erhaps bear "lionizing" as well as Captain Stuart of the Elmira company, but penned in the cooler atmosphere of ISKi such gushing tributes v/ould appear overwrought. So, we leave Captain Dickinson to be praised by his honorable record, and that of his company. They rendezvoused near Chicago, at a place named Camp Webb, in honor of their Colonel.

They wei*e at Vicksburg from the 11th of .June, IS(>'2, till the surrender, .July 4th, 18(58. Then went to Yazoo City, had a skirmish there, then to New Orleans, and Brownville, in at tlie capture of the latter. This about concluded their lirst term of service, and they were permitted to come home on " veteran furlough " and to vote for President Lincoln, but with ranks sadly thinned by the risks of Ijattle and the diseases incident to camp life. During the summer of ISGo they were on garrison duty nearly all the time, along the Mississippi river, were present at the surrender of Mobile, and helped storm the works at P'ort Blakely. Y'et Captain Dickinson says their regiment was more famous formarchingthan fighting, louring the first two years of their service they marched over 7")00 miles after Price and other rebel leaders. As an amusing' incident in the midst of many painful ones, he recalls, how as they were approaching Brownville witli all possible circumspection, expecting- to have a hard fight and perhaps to capture a large amount of cotton, they were met by a Mexican general and staff, v\-ell mounted, and richly caparisoned, wlio congratulated them upon their arrival, and bade them welcun.ie to the town, which they afterwards found emptied of men and c(»tton to their great disappointment and chagrin.

Three companies of the 112th, one to the 47th regiment, and squads to mAuy others were early in the service, until in 18()4, when Mr. Fuller was sent to Springfield to examine the records, ;',nd found us represented in no less than thirty regiments, including infantry, cavalrv and artillery service.

Of the " three months men," included mostly in the i;3S)th regiment, we can give but liitle account. For one reason, although more than a full company as to mnnbers, was raised in Stark, they did not unite as such, but squads \\'ent to Henry and Bureau county regiments.

Mr. Ivaysbier and Rev. A. .J. Wright labored hard to recruit . and unite these men that they might serve under their own officers, but were only partially successful.

The hSnth did garrison duty for a time at Cairo, and saw something of more active service in ^Missouri, guarding bridges and cutting off supplies designed for the enemy, thus letting veterans go to the front. Not having had a surfeit of such scenes, our "hundred days men" probably count the period passed in the employ of " Uncle Sam," as furnishing as many pleasant and amusing reminiscences as any three months of their past life. They were mostly enlisted in May, 1864, sworn into the service the month following and lay in camp at Peoria till after the 4th of July, and ihen nuistered out ()ctol)er 2SSth. So their term of service was through the warm autunm months, wlien'out door life, of itself, was no hardshij).

Yet after all these men had left, making a grand total of over eight liuhdred volunteers from our small county, it was claimed that there was still a deficit in our quota of something over one hundred and fifty. And as by 1804 and 18G5 all the hori'ors of the battle field, the jjrison pens and hosi^itals were fully understood, it was almost impossible to induce further volunteering ; and then the dreaded " (Zrr(// " must swoo]i down upon us, carrying men off", wiiether they A\'ould or no.

cy who argued it was u necessary measure, let it come! and, if tlie lot fell on them they Avere ready to go ; and some we know who thus did go, willingly, yet drained.

But tliis temper was not common. Compulsory ol)edience is so repugnant to the American mind, that submission to military rule was never very heartfelt or graceful - especially among western men. They were willing to be soldiers usually, but they wanted to 1)0 volunteers - there was an odium attached to the idea of being drafted. Therefore, the most strenuous exertions were made to avoid the necessity of a draft. Funds were raised in all or nearly all the townships of our county, by self-imposed taxes, in order to hire recruits and pay bounties to volunteers. Yet a few were, after all, caught by the " drafting machine," as the boys called it, and had to pay as high as a thousand dollars apiece for " substitutes." In order to know how many men were justly subject to draft from this county, Mr. Miles Fuller was dispatched to Springfield to examine the muster rolls in the office of the Adjutant General, in the fall of 1S<J4, and on his return made the following report to the board of supervisors :

The undersigned, having at the solicitation of persons interested therein, visited Springfield for the purpose of ascertaining the quota of Stark County in the coming draft, and also to ascertain whether any mistakes have been made in the credits for men from this county who have volunteered into the military service of the United States, would ni^ike the tbllowing report :

The undersigned would further report the credits allowed up to October 1st, 18G3, are distributed among the different regiments of this state, as follows, to-wit :

Credits allowed from October 1st, 18G3, to July 1st, 18G4, one hundred and twenty-one men. I was unable in my brief stay to ascertain in what regiments these last named liave enlisted.

About one hundred men, (estimated) residents of this county, have enlisted in different regiments and have been credited to other counties. This has resulted from several causes : Sometimes from carelessness on the part of the men enlisting in not giving their residence, and perhaps on the part of recruiting offtcers, who were desirous to obtain credits for their own counties, and sometimes from misrepresentation on the i)art of the men enlisting in order to obtain the local liounties offered by other counties.

I was informed by Adjutant General Fuller that in every case the men were credited to the counties where they actually resided at the time of their enlistment whenever that could be ascertained ; and from such examinations as I was able to make while there, lam satisfied that his statement is correct, and that no pains have been spared by him to do justice to' every county.

For instance, I was acquainted with several men in the 72d and 0.")th regiments in which we have no credits, and on an examination of the muster rolls of said regiments I found Robert Holmes, Hcepter Harding, Darsie Heath, Jacob Galley and Jasper Morris reported from Chicago, and Miles Avery from Cook county, and Lester Coggswell, Joseph C. Hiner and George W. Eckley from Bushneil, ]McI)onough county, and George Witter, without any residence gis'en. So of other regiments. Our men have enlisted and are credited to other counties in consequence of the eri-ors of the muster roll.

My thanks are due to General Fuller, and to Hon. Xewton Bateman of the Provost Marshal's office, who extended to me every courtesy and gave me all the assistance in their power.

And Ith Pioneers. , 101

ant Generars office sliall be past, that an agent be sent to examine the records and g-et the names of all persons who have enlisted from this county, the date of their enlistment, their company and regiment, etc. And that the same may l)e made a matter of record in this county. Let the brave men who liave gone to the rescue of our country l)e rememl)ered. IjCt a roll of honor 1)6 kept. All of which is respectfully su1)mitted.

This report of INIr. Fuller besides showing the exact ]>osition of the county with regard to the quota of troops, shows another fact we wish to impress upon the reader's mind, viz : the difficulty of making a full and correct list of all Stark county soldiers.

On Sunday last, 23 men went down to Peoria from this (Toulon) township to enlist, twenty of whom we learn were accepted and mustered in. They received $500 apiece local bounty, which is about the top of the market, from present appearances.

In this matter of raising boxnities, cnir monied men and some who are not noted for wealth, have done nobly. They have paid in some cases as high as .floO, and some who have subscribed tlms liljerally have worked with unceasing vigilance in an enterprise which at first we considered as visionary and hopeless as a voyage to the moon. Thus the township is doubtless out of the draft with a large feather in lier cap.

West Jersey has voted a bounty tax, and we believe will let the matter rest at that ; then when the draft comes on issue bonds to the drafted men.

Penn made a contract with some iirm to furnish her twelve men at $390 apiece and supposed the whole thing was settled, but the agents have returned the money, we are told, being unable to l)rocure them.

Later. - Mr. Blair who has just returned from Peoria, informs us that an agent is there from Penn, who has succeeded in procuring men for that township. West Jersey had better use her money to procure recruits, as su!)stitutes can hardly be obtained at any price after the draft. But it is "their own funeral."

We shall next introduce several very interestin^c letters reg'ardin<v the history of the lli2th reii'Iment. We ret^fret we have so little to offer coueerninji- the 47tli, in whii-li Stark was well represented, but, it is not our proviuce to make history and none relative to this command has been furnished us, so we must content ourselves witli the report of the Adjutant General.

" The tele.yraph has already brouji-ht the news that the <;allant 112th was in the terrific battle of tlie 14th and l-')th of May, at Resaca, Georgia, and tliat Colonel Henderson is among- the wounded. We are hai)py, however, at being able to inform our readers that his M'ouiid, though i)ainlul, is not dangerous. We are permitted to extract the following from a letter from the Cnlonel to his brother, James A. Hentlerson, of this place, dated on the field, May loth :

"I was wounded in the fight of yi'sterday - shot through the rij^ht thigh witli a iiiinnie ball ; fortunately no bones were broken, as I thiuk; but the surgeons have, as yet, made no examination of the wound, and therefore the wound cannot, in my opinion, be regarded as dangerous. The ball made, however, an ugly hole through my thigii, and I am suffering much pain from it. This morning my leg is so very sore 1 cannot move it without intense pain.

" The fighting yesterday was very severe ; the positi(^n we occupied at the time I was wounded, was a fearful one. We charged the enemy, drove him from his first line of rille pits, pursued until we readied the crest of a bold hill previously cleared by the rebels, and within about fifty yards in front of a second line of fortifications, when the enemy o})ened upon us with grape and canister, with schrapne^ and musketry, and the air was hissinghot with deadly missiles.

"So far as 1 am now informed, o-arloss was eight killed and thirty-five wounded. Captain Wright had his arm ])roken just below the shoulder, and it was anqtutated last night. Levi Silliman was wounded in right arm slightly. John lUiodes was wounded In right wrist and the ball grazed liis left arm. Henry G. Hall had his left shoulder and arm taken off' by a shell. George Stone was shot in the moutli, severely. William T. Essex was wounded by a ball passing through his left big toe. Thomas Shore,

"The hattle is still on to-day, and wlnle I am wriliu*;-, the steady roar of artillery is heard all aroinid me. How indifferent men become to scenes of bloofl and danj^cr. I am sm-rounded with wounded and dyinj? - can hardly see a man but has the blood of battle njton him, and yet, in my own coiulition, bloody and wounded myself, lyinj;' hvw) in this dense woods, with a blanket and a little straw upon the <j'round for a bed, a shelter (dog tent) for a coverinj;', how calmly I look upon it all."

Since writing' the above, IMr. Henderson received a <lis])atch from the Colonel and Cajitain, stating' that their wounds are doin<;- weH, and that tln-y will be home soon. N()thin<4' was said in this of any further casualties.

We have also b(>en permitted to read a letter from Levi Silliman, of tiie same date, v/ritten as he said, by proxy, to his lather, lie o'ives nothiuiJi- additional to the above. 11(> re^^ards IL C. Hall's wound as dauf^crous. Mr. Hall is the last recruit w(^ sent down while actinj^; as recruitin;^' a<>'cnt for this (;ounty. Jle lived at Osceola."

Thinkinijf that some of your patrons would Iik(» to hear from the 112th Illinois, and having a few leisun' moments, I thought that I would write these few lines. W(! have seen some of the' confederacy.

Up to the first of February, ISf;r,, we had traveh'd over six thousand miles, through the following states: Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, (Jeorgia and \'^irginia, touching Maryland. J have not JJiy memorandum at hand to show the exact number of miles in each state, or the number nnirched on foot, bul it is a little over .'],().')(). We have been in twenty-six general en- gag-einentr^, and one luimlrcd and ten skirmishes with the enemy, and witli one or two exceptions wo have been victorious. On tlie first of Fel)ruary we were at Alexandria, ^'irg-inia ; on t!ie fourtji we left that place and arrived at Fort Fisher, North Carolina, on the following- Wednesday ; since that time we have been on the march most of the time. Our first skirmish ^\as in approaching Fort Anderson. The brigades of Flenderson and INIoore, of the 23d army corps, were in the advance. After skirmishing all day, Ave (that is the skirmishers of the 112th) lay within four hundred yards of the fort. Before daylight the next morning, we commenced creeping towards the fort, and soon found that it was nearly evacuated, when we went forward with a yell of delight. Captain Colcord, of the 112th Illinois, was the first officer in the fort, and the skirmishers of our regiment were the first men in it. There were about fifty rebels that had not got out that were captured. But no rest here. We pushed on and came uj) with the rebels at night on Town creek, a small creek near the field of the revolutionary battle of Old Town, which I think was fought between Greene and Cornwallis. Marks are still there - the old fort, and also one gun, a piece of artillery about three feet long, and w^eighing about one hundred and fifty pounds. After fighting the rebels pretty iiard nearly all day, they were compelled to fall back, with a loss of over three hundred prisoners, besides the killed and wounded, and two pieces of artillery. We did not come ui) with them again until we got to Wilmington, North Carolina. Here they did not stop, but gave up the place, leaving a large number of our prisoners that were not al)le to move. Here we remained uiitil the Gth of. March, when we started for this place.

W^e luive had on'' of the liardest marches that we have ever traveled, it being about one hundred miles, through swamps and wading creeks. All of the way we have marched from twelve to twenty miles per day ; but we have come through all right. We are now in the third brigadier, third division, and twenty-third corps, commanded by Brigade General T. J. Henderson, fonnerly of the 112th Illinois - an officer in whom the men put the utmost confidence. He has been abused at home by the Tribune and some of its friends, but not by any who have seen him in the field. There is where a man has to show just what he is.

"Editor New.s: - Ujjon j^'oing over to tJio " Xatlonal " the oilier (1-ay to pick my teetii after dinner (-"> o'clock p. ni., AVashina'ton dinner honr) who should I discover in the crowd of army officers, who tiicre " niost do congreg'ate," l)ut th(> p,-allant Colonel Henderson, Acting- Brigadier General of the 8d Brigade, 3d Division, 2od Army ('ori)s, and it was not long before I was surrounded by a cordon of officers of the old 11:2th Illinois. 80 unexpected, unheralded as its arrival in the department was, for the once it seemed like a vision in a dream, and 1 was carried back to little JNIolJy Stark, to the fall of is(i2, when Toulon had a little touch of military fever and ex])erience, as the 1)oys were quartered there for drill and awaiting orders. As soon as I could jlisengage the Colonel from (Governor Yates, I found out what it all meant. Schotield's brave corps was here or hereabouts. (If this Is contraband news I offend ignorantly, and I shan't give the enemy any kind of information as to its prospective inovements, because if for no other reason, I hav'nt the slightest idea myself.) The 1 li^th was at Alexandria, on the " sacred soil "of N^irginia, and Colonel Henderson had ])een ordered to join his brigade here, and had conie on for that })ur])0se. I observi^l that he received a very warm welcome l)ack to his command, all of whom, officers and men, yeemed very much attached to him. .Vll sj)eak in high terms of him, both as a gentleman and an officer. Colonel Henderson has the strongest kind of rei'ommendatif)ns for his promotion to a. Brigadiershii), a position he has long been tilUng, l)ut I ai)i)rehend his modesty alone will prevent it, as such promotions seem to depend ui)()n assurance and dogged j^erserverance, a kind of brazen audacity, which the colonel is wanting in. The officers and men us far as I could learn, w.'re anxious for his promotion.

"Here comes Eldridge with a mail bag under his arm - you would not mistake him ; the service does not seem to have used him u[) ' muchly.' He is brigade post master, and did you ever reflect what valuable loads of love and friendship he daily comes laden with to cam}), and what records of heart tlirol)S and ho})es, iind fears and anxieties and loves he daily takes to the post office, which at the end reaches the dear ones at home? Ah, here is Cai)tain Armstrong of Com])any F., tough and hardy, and good natured. There was always something good in the captain's countenance, an expression of honesty and sincerity and truthful- ne^-J, and hi^^ army exp?riene.^:s hiive only served to bring out and clearly define that expressioii. I see Bnshrod ahead of nie - I ean't mistake his gait, but still there is a peculiar agility in his motion now. I am told he has just received his commission as 1st lieutenant of company F, and that probably accounts for his unusual sprightliness. The fact is, Tai)p feels well, and he deserves to. I am glad of his promotion ; he is a good soldier I am told. He looks in the best of health and vigor. But I am getting a little ahead of my story, and mixing up Washington and Alexandria.

" We, Fuller, Farrar and myself, were honored with an invitation to visit the regiment, wliich we did not hesitate a bit to accept. Kaving satisfied the i)rovost marshal of Washington that we were not s})ies or bounty Jumpers, or disloyal subjects, and having subscribed an oath of allegiance which his clerk said wo might take when we got out of doors, we obtained a pass to go to Alexandria and return, ' on business ' the pass said. Alexandria is not right across the river from Washington, as many suppose, but it is down and across about eight miles, more or less. We talked of skating down, Init it being Sunday and having no skates, and my companions being no skaters, we thought best to take the cars, which w'e did. For thirty cents each we had the {irivilege of standing up to Alexandria. Of course, our passes were vised by a fierce looking- fellow with a sharp bayonet. We were soon in the city where tiie immortal Fllsworth fell at the beginning of the war, as he was descending with a rebel flag from the Mansion House. The tragedy is fresh in all our minds. We get track of the 112th boys, and are told it was that quiet, well behaved regiment down liy the river. The citizens speak thus of it as in contrast with many others that had been (luartered tliere during the war. The truth is, tluit those men who went voluntarily into the service from motives of patriotism, differ widely from substiti,ites, l)ounty junipers and unwilling conscripts. The western regiments raised in tlie days of ])atriotic love of country and hatred of rebels, are the true soldiers of the republic, and none are truer than the 112th boys. We meet the colonel, acting brigadier, and staff* officers on their way to brigade head«iuarters, and were warmly greeted by them. Thomas 31ilchrist, adjutant, or something of that kind, I don't know wliat now, went back with us to sli<)w us the way to the quarters. Aha ! there comes a familiar countenance, on an officer's horse - 'assure as shootin,' it is Charley ]McC'omsey, the hardiest, heartiest looking fellow yet, a hearty shake of the hand, and on we go to the 112th. And here we find the boys of company F and E, snugly stowed away and piled up in the second story of the barracks, and in the loft, not a sickly looking soldier among them, A general hand-shaking ensued. Some had got so fat that I could hardly recognize them. William Ely was on hand, the most changed of all, but still witli his inevitable ' watch to trade.' William has improved amazingly in all outward appearance. Here we find captain Otman, also looking well, and yet I thought I could discern a shndow of sorrow upon his countenance for the great bei'eavement he has sustained in the loss of his wife, one of the noblest of her sex. I thought of bygone days when the captain held the scales of justice in his han(.ls in ' Old Stark, while now he was wielding the sword of justice in the service of his country. The captain is evidently loved by all his men, and I believe he well deserves it.

" Here is Henry Perry, the very identical Ilenry. I believe he is orderly sergeant of company F. Ah ! here is B. F. Thompson of company B, tlie oracle of the regiment, and one of the writingmediums of it from .Stark. I forget just what he is, but he is an otficer of some kind, and a ' bully ' good fellow. Captain Armstrong and Lieutenant Tapp, seem as happy as mortals can be, and more so than I would suppose men would feel with such teirible reminiscences as they must have of the past, and such scenes as they have before them yet. But they are true philosophers. Our stay at the barracks was but a moment. I must go and see company B, who are aristocratically quartered in a building by themselves. ' Brad ' leads the way. We see here many fanuliar faces fr(^)m and about Bradford, and some we don't see. There were many good felloA\'s at Camp Lyon, Peoria, that we did not find here. Many whose lives Avere ecpially promising and as full of hope as those who remain. They no longer answer at rcjll call - God bless them - their memory is cherished by many mourningfriends. Here a roll call of the casualties of company B,' was shown me, kept neatly in a diary of one of the Bradford boys. I could see an unmistakable look of sadness when he showed this record of casualties. I took out my pencil and copied their names in short hand, which may account for some of its inaccuracies. A thought here struck me that nothing which your paper could contain, would be more interesting to your readers than a view of the Stark county companies with their casualties. To read over these names will recall to your readers many interestingreminiscences, and will be good for reflection.

from their ])ooks and otherwise, and whieli I send you as a part <>f this hasty sketch. I tliink many inaccuracies will he found in them, though I endeavored to cojjy them as well as I could for the hurry I was in.

" To give your readers some idea of the service done by tlie 112th, I would say that they have been in twenty-five general engagements, one hundred and ten skirmishes ; have traveled l")(j') miles on foot, 2-")ni) miles on horse back, loGl miles on the cars, and 774 miles on steaml;)oat, making a total of six tliousand four hundred and three miles. ^

Our Regiment

" The 112th Illinois, in which more of tlie hopes and fears of the people of Stark county have been centered than in any other single regiment, has been mustered out at last, and the men have returned home, except such as will return no more. The regiinent has seen more service, done more hard marching and hard fighting, than almost any other of which we have any knowledge. The history of this regiment, written out in detail, by a competent hand, would l)e a very readable bcxjk for the friends of the regiment in Stark and Henry counties. Wlio will undertake the enterprise?" - Stark Count u Xews.

In this centennial year, 1876, Stark county has but one organized military comjjany, that known as "The Elmira Zouaves," a few men, principally those who had seen service in the 19th regiment Illinois volunteer infantry, have rendezvoused for drill and parade on special occasions ever since the close of the late war. Wearing the gay uniform of the Zouaves, and j^racticing their somewhat unirpie exercises, they liave always attracted a good deal of attention, and have finally organized under the state militia law ; and reporting themselves at head quarters, the state has sujjplied them arms, and they now meet regularly for drill at the county seat.

They are a sort of public pet at present, being the only candidates for, or recipients of military honors in the county. The citizens of Elmira and Toulon townships have recently presented them with a fine banner, and other tokens of approval.

Busixe8.S Enterprises

Of all the biisines.s interests or enterprises of Stark county, ayriculture - farming - in sopie of its branches, and stock raising, must be considered (»f the first importance. But to give anything beyond a general idea of their progress and magnitude is out of our power in a work of this kind.

A history in detail of the farming and fruit growing operations of the last thirty or forty j'ears, together with their results, and an account of the implements and appliances used by our first farmers, compared with those eni})loyed now, would form a small volume, and contain niuch amusing as well as useful matter for farmers.

It would seem our agricultural society might develop something of this kind, which would I)e valualjle for future reference ; we ought to i)rotit by the mistakes as well as the successes of the past. ^

But those of our readers ^^-ho are curious al)out statistics and exact statements we must refer to our brief table of agricultural reports. We can only say here in general terms that the various branches of tillage, fruit and wool gathering, stock raising, Arc, all receive a large share of attention and j^rosper accordingly.

Fruit is cultivated with varying success, the trees being of rapid growth but subject to many diseases, - insects being their most dangerous enemies. Some years, however, the fruit crop is enormous. Grapes seldom fail, except when injured l)y a very severe winter.

Small grains do not make so full a requital for the labor bestowed as in some other localities, consequently our farmers are depending more and more on the " hog and corn crop," and seldom are they disapi)ointed. The fattening of beeves for market is considered a paying investment, also sheep raising, and the breeding of fine varieties of blooded stock and horses. , most coiispicnons. He having' dealt extensively in the " iShortlioriis," importing at one time direet from .Scotland, for his own farms a herd of unquestionable pedigree. Tiring however of the labor and responsibility this business imposes, he sold out at the great cattle sales in (.lAlesburg, April, 1S7G, his entire herd, consisting of sixty-seven choice animals, many of which bnnight their owner over a thousand dollars apiece, all going up pretty well into the hundreds - making a total of $20,824. It is said Mr. W. Seott of Wyoming who bought several of Mr. Lowman's famous herd, is going into this business on a large scale, and among the prominent exhibitors at our agricultural tairs of fine blooded animals may be uamed Mr. Thomas Dugan, jNIr. Joseph Cox, and Mr. .John Hepperly.

The TurnbuU and Oliver families in Elmira township, can never quite forsake their hereditary occupation of shepherds, and have done much to keep up an interest in wool-growing, although some of them, at least, have of late been more widely known as stock dealers. And Mr. Isaac NeM'man of West Jersey township, has gone very extensively into raising of sheep, both for wool and mutton.

Agricultural Society

There has been such a general interest felt in this enterpi*ise, and so'many, not only of our farm?rs but business men of every grade connected with it, that it is no ^asy matter to decide to whom it is mainly indebted for its present prosperity. The old records state " That at a meeting held in Toulon on the 20th day of October, A, D. 1853, for the purpose of forming an agricultural society, the house was called to order by appointing David Mc- Cance secretary, and Hugh Rhodes chairman, and the utility of such a society was set forth in a neat little speech by Captain Butler."

"On motion, it was resolved that each individual, in order to become a' member of this society, shall pay the sum of one dollar, whereupon the following gentlemen came forward, gave

Henry Butler, senior, .John B. Atherton, ^MUiam W. Wright, senior, Hugh Rhodes, Benjamin Turner, Thomas .1. Henderson, Jacob Jamison, B. F. Boughn, S. M. Curtis, Bushrod Tapp, Joseph W'ox and William Chamberlain. General Thomas was appointed President ; Captain Butler, Wm. \V. Wright, Jacob Jamison and David McCance were appointed a committee to draft a

Tlie tirst officers elected under the constitution were H. Rhodes President ; ]Martin Slaallenberoer and Jacob Jamison, Vice Presidents; David ]\[cCance recording, Captain Butier correspondingsecretaries, and John P. Atherton, treasurer. Tlie flrsi annual report of finances sliows a total of $120. :20 received, $10'). To paid out by the treasurer, leaving a balance in his hands of 1-)A^), cheating himself to the amount of .$1, contrary to present practice. The first annual fair was to be holden in September, 18.")4, at Toulon.

Some still rememl)er that first fair in l.s.")4, when the stock was quartered in Mr. Whitaker's yard, and exhibited on the puljlic square, while the products of the dairy, kitchen, and loom, were disposed of within the old court house, the tal)le containing a few fancy articles which a gentleman lifted up, one l)y one, that they might be seen by the assemblage. Such will involuntarily draw a contrast between those small beginnings and the present exhiliitions of the society with its fine grounds, ample accommodations and abundant resources. But in one respect, at least, this little fair of ISol was a prototype of all its successors, viz : disappointed competitors for premiums felt at liberty to vent their chagrin on or at the judges of the various departments, whom they though had l^een instrumental in wounding their vanity.

The writer recalls that she was unfortunately a judge of dairy I)roducts on this occasion, and being concerned in awarding the first premium ever awarded in Stark county for butter, to jNIrs. Ann Hartley, was soundly berated before leaving the house l>y another competitor, who informed the judges one and all, " that they couldn't know good butter when thej- saw it ;" but they still think they did.

This society has continued to hold fairs annually since its organization, with the t'xce])tion of the year 1S(;2, when owing to the disturl>ed state of the country, and the great pressure both for men and money brought upon the county 1\v the war, it w-as deemed best to suspend all proceedings of the society until calk'd together by the President. After eight months suspension, the society was convened again in April, 186:5, and the ninth annual fair was holden in September of that year.

Stark county people have had great reason to l)e proud of the continued success of this society. Other counties larger and richer than our own, have sustained agricultural fairs for a few years with great spirit, but through recklessness or mismanage- iiient of some kin:l, numy societies have become Ijankrupt and sunken into obscurity. ('re;lit is due to tliose who have husbandef^ tiie finances of ours to hivAi go:)l purpose, and to those wlio liave firmly resisted the pressure brought to bear upon them to allow our fairs to deg-enerate into horse races. Such proceeding's being- against the moral sense of the better class of the community, always end in embarrassment and ruin, however tliey may swell the receipts for a time.

Among the earlier presidents of the society we notice, after Genera! Thomas, Hugh Rhodes, Jacob Jamison, Isaac Spencer, Charles ]Myers, AVilliian W. Wriglit and James Ilolgate. Secretaries. - "D. kcC'ance, (i. A. Clitlbrd, Oliver Whitaker, W. H. Butler. Its treasurers were for many years 3Ir. A\"hitaker and Mr. Davis L!_)wman. Among its early friends and supporters are many whose names do not api)ear on the official board, although they were always at work on committees or elsewhere. Amongthese are Liberty Stone, .John Lackey, lienjamin liouglm Jedathan Hopkins, B. 31. Jackson, Mark Blanchard, Hopkins Shivvers, James M. Rogers, Edward Trickle, ^\'ashington Trickle, Nathan Snare, Peter Fast, E. L. Emery, A\'illiam Collins, and others etpially deserving of mention. Of the later doings of the society we have no records at command, but know that it has been guided along a career of singular usefulness and prosperity, and now is able to offer its thousands in the way of premiums to encourage the usetul arts and industries of our people. AVe find for the fair of 187-'), the amount divided among the various classes as follows : Horses, 871l' ; cattle, 8(i(J7 ; farm and dairy, $271 ; fancy department, $2.jo : machinery, 233.50; sheep, 190.50; hogs, $1':4 ; poultry, $99.50.

In a county. like this, agriculture in some of its branches must always be the chief pursuit of the people. The favoral)le conditions' of tlie atmosphere, and the inexhaustible resources of the soil combining to make it the surest if not the shortest road to wealth. In the terse and homely phrase " hog and hominy," we find the staples of our trade ; out of these our luxuries must spring, if they spring at all. Manufactories are remunerative only where large water power is available or where a surplus population greatly cheapens human labor, neither of which conditions are met here. Common saw and grist mills were tried by many at an early day, but with indifferent success, although before the era of railroads the settlers were dependent upon them to a great extent. Leek's mill was propably the pioneer, built on Spoon river, not far from the bridge on the road from Toulon to Wyom- inti", tlio same site IMr. Ciidbrd rofcrs to, as afterwards owiiod by ]Mr. ]Miii()tt Sillinian. Sylvamis r^Ioro tried one hiylu'r up tlu> river. Dorranee one below the east and west forks Mu)w I'uller's mill. ) (Jen. Tliouias and I^nocli Cox experimented in this line on S[)oon river. Andrew Dray tried Invdian Creek, Parker and Bradford, Jaek Creek, wliile Anisey Newman liad a lathe turned by water i)ower on Cooper's Defeat, near by Asher Smith's, and tlie hitter ii-ent!enia!i had a tamiery not tar from this place. All these experiments were ma<le as early as 1^4") or earlier, perhai)s a fev,- as early as bs;}.'). Amsey Newnian eontinued to make sale of a ,<;\)()d many split bottoju chairs and spiimingwheels to the new comers, but the mill owners found om- water courses but i>oorly suited to their purposes; they would amuse themselves at one season of the year, by rising so rapidly as to siiddc-nly carry dams and other essentials to the rej^-ions of the unknown, and at another time the diminished current barely served to keep the slug-ji'ish wheel in motion, while the impatient farmers camped around, waitin.u' for a gnist, till the days g-rew to weeks, and wife and children at home living- on baked potatoes or whatever other sultstitute for bread their scanty larders furnished. So no wonder th;;t water mills in Stark county came to be re- ,i;;'arded as failures. As early as lS8(i a battery was established by the J)unbars at Latayette, and sustained for some time with commendable determination, but it finally succumbed to " hard times." And a few years later, at the same place a joint stock comi>any was formed for the purpose of erecting a carding and woolen mill. The latte^- was a complete failure, never even getting into operation, if vre are correctly informed. The former was soon abandoned as un remunerative. Old settlers, will recall the weather beaten skeleton of this building as it stood for years by the road side, a monument of disappointed endeavor. Another l)ioneer carding mill was owned at one time by Washington Trickle and Charles Yocum. This was located on Walnut creek in West Jersey township, then generally knoNvn as " Massillon Precinct."

It must have driven quite a thriving trade at an early day when the women of our county spun and wove most of the clothing the men wore, as well as their own.

We remember, when not only large loads of " rolls " from this establishment used to pass through Toulon ; but occasionally a runaway slave, picked up i)robably at "Nigger Point" and snugly stowed away among the packages of wool, was carried on his way toward Canada and freedom, via Osceola and Providence.

But tliuo.s Iiave chaug-ed with us since I81(j. The carding mill has gone to decay, the people no longer wear home-spun, and not a slave sighs beneath the stars and stripes.

The most extensive and Ijest directed investment in the direction of a manufactory in Stark county, was made by Mr. John Culbertson in I8G0, v.hen he erected the Toulon flouring and Avoolen mills. And probably had Mr. Culbertson lived to supi)ort this enterprise by his large capital and uncommon business abilities, he would have succeeded in wringing success from the grasj) of adverse circumstances, and we in Toulon should have reaped the benefits of a flourishing manufacturing establishment giving employment to many hands, quickening the pulses of business life generally. But unfortunately for public as well as private interests, a sudden death cut short his career, and closed his enterprises in 18(i9 ; since which time his heirs and executors have found this large and substantial structure, filled with complicated j\nd expensive machinery, but as an "elephant on their hands," -and have this year, 18V(3, sold the mills with good house and lands ndjoining to jNIessrs. Stauffer and Headley for a small fraction of the original cost. These gentlemen have an extensive if not an expensive experiment to try, and pul)lic spirited men will watch it with interest and wish them an abundant success.

Cheese factories would seem to be such natural outgrowths of agricultural and stock raising communities, that one might conclude at once they would take root and prove " perpetuals " here. But the laws of trade are capricious, or at least seem so to the iminitiated ; and we apprehend the stockholders of the Toulon cheese factory are too well informed, to count on golden harvests for a year or t wo^they may come and they may not. But the directors have bnilt a plain and suitable structure, and furnished it with i\ll the appliances modern science demands for the making and keeping of got)d cheese, employed a skilled overseer, and now to fight it out on that line" till it does pay.

We are told it has so far more than met their expectations, disposing of -!,1)(l(» pounds of milk per day during the first year of its existence, and one or more other tanks are already to be added in order to accommodate its new patrons. The cheese is of fine quality, competing favorably in the home market with the ])est brands ever imported here, and is winning a name in the trade - known as " Molly Stark."

This surely is an enterprise our farmers cannot afford to let droop, making as it does a ready market for milk, otherwise of but little value during the \varm weather, as the manufacture and

Spoox River Coal, And Its Mixing

AYe shall introduce here an extract from an otfieial report of Professor Willnir, an eminent geologii^i^ on the extent and value of Spoon river coal, much of ^\ hich lies within our county lines, as the report conveys more full and pointed information upon this subject than we have been able to find in as small space elsewhere. He says : "We have applied the name of .Spoon river to the coal and also to the fiekl or basin containing- it, liecause the river, with its tributaries, is co-extensive with it, and in its lower portions cuts through the middle member of the coal series.

" The upper layer or branch is a very compact, black, brittle and brilliant coal, eighteen to twenty-two inches in thickness. This is uniform, and free from all impurities, and u))on this portion depends the reputation of what is called the ' Wyoming coal.' It is highly bituminous, yielding a large per cent, of gas, for which it would take precedence in any western market. It would yield eighty gallons of crude oil per ton of coal. So rich in hydrocarbon or bitumen is it, that a local deposit of fine slate overlaying it, at Princeville, has becoine cannel coal, and has been profitably distilled into oil.

" This layer alone, contains more oil than the combined products of all the oil wells and springs of the United States and Canada, and will probably be resorted to for supplies, when these sources have failed. The fortunate position of the Spoon river coal field gives us occasion to make a few remarks as regards its future value. It is situated near the Mississippi river, whose coal trade in l)arges northward will soon ('(jual its luml)er trade southward ; distributing these mining products at the depots of 15,000 miles of shore, on either side. It is bounded on the north by the Silliman district, which occupies 17,000 square miles of northern Illinois, all of AVisconsin and Minnesota, and nortliern Iowa. This vast erea is entirely void of coal, depending solely upon transportation from the nearest coal deposits.

" The limit of workable coal may be safely put at 80 miles north-west and south-east, 30 miles north-east and south-west, giving an area of 2,400 scpiare miles ; and there are two veins of coal, having a combined thickufs.s of nine feet. To meaKUve the anioinit in ton.s, we must talve one cubic yard, for every ton as a measuring- unit.

"A stratum of coal three feet t}iick,M'ouhI therefore give a cul)ic yard or ton for every square yard of surface. Hence an acre of tliree foot coal would contain 4,8i(» tons ; but we have a combined thickness of nine feet ; an acre therefore, in this coal field must contain M,')2ii tons."

" Tiie aggregate of tons contained in the coal field whose limit we liave assumed as eighty by tiiirty miles is, 22,oOi2,720,(t<)(> tons! ! Now if we distribute l,n(iti tons per day, ii: will require 75,01)!) years to exhaust the supply, allowing oO() working days per year."

If these c<.)nclusious be correct, and we see no reason to tpiestion them, the subject of fuel for the Spoon river country, need not be a matter of anxiety. Yet it \\as, to the first settlers, Avho few, if any of them dreamed of the wealth that slumbered beneath the "rough lands" they viewed with such indifi'erence, they burned wood exclusively for years, and much was thus consumed that might have been used for better purposes.

Probably the very first coal in Stark county, was dug about IS."),") ; this was along Jack creek and Jug run ; also on section 23, Toulon township, by William and David Howard. About the same time or soon after, there was some mining done on section 2-"), by John Robinson and Richard Howarth, the latter best known among his neighbors by the sobriquet of "Shanty Diclc."

"And coal was found ' cropping out ' on the old Bcckworth property on Spoon river, and also in the timber then belonging to Mr. Culbertson near Indian creek ; but the letter is the small or two feet vein, classed as number seven, by the state geologists."