Roodhouse Township (part 5 of 6)

The State banks issued floods of paper, prices rose enormously and specubition was rife. Men of foresight kept out of debt, but soon, when the collapse came, those who had invested heavily in corner lots were ruined and in their fall carried down many a Avorthy man's earthly all.

In 1888 the county received a great accession to its treasury. The legislature of the State, in 1837, passed an act to inaugurate the most gigantic system of internal improvement that the most visionary enthusiast could conceive of. By that act, entitled " An act to estal)lish and maintain a general system of internal improvement," in force February 27, 1837, before the population of the State amounted to one million inhabitants, there was appropriated $10,300,000 to improve rivers and build railroads. $100,000 was to improve the Great Wabash River; $100,000 the Illinois River; $100,000 the Rock River; $50,000 the Kaskaskia River, and $50,000 the Little Wabash River. There was appropriated to improve the great mail route between St. Louis and Vincennes, $250,000. To build a railroad from Cairo to the terminus of the Michigan Canal, $3,800,000. For a railroad from Alton to Mt. Carmel and to Equality, in GaUatin County, $1,600,000. To the Northern Cross Railroad from Quincv to the Indiana State line, $1,800,000. For a railroad from Peoria to Warsaw, $700,000. For a branch of the Central Railroad, $600,000. For a railroad from Alton to the Central Railroad, $600,000. For a railroad from Belleville to Mt. Carmel, $150,000, and for a railroad from Bloomington, McLean County, to Mackinaw, $350,000. All that large amount was borrowed on the credit of the State. It was doubtless supposed that the representatives in the legislature from those sections of the State in which the vastamount of money wasto be appropriated, would, of course, not oppose the measure ; but from those counties lying outside of the line of the contemplated railroads it was feared that there might be sufficient opposition to defeat the scheme. Hence it was proposed, no doubt with a view of quieting opposition, to donate a certain amount of money in cash to those counties. In other words, to bribe the members to support it. Accordingly the act in one of its sections made this provision : " There shall be appropriated the sum of $200,000 of the first money that shall be obtained under the provisions of this act to be drawn by the several counties in a ratable proportion as to the last census made, through which there is no railroad or canal to be made at the expense or cost of the State of Illinois, which said money shall be expended in the improvement of roads, constructing bridges and other works." The representatives from Greene County were Franklin Witt, Cyrus A. Davis and Revelle W. English. The bribe could not seduce them from the path of duty. They voted against the bill, as did the senators, Gen. James Turney and John Allen. The sum of $30,250 was Greene County's portion of the ^200, 000. The Commissjoners' Court, through agents appointed for that purpose, loaned the money out in violation of the law. With a portion of it, however, the bridges spanning Apple and Macoupin Creeks were built. Another portion was appropriated towards improving the roads from Carrollton and White Hall to the mouth of Apple Creek, by throwing up embankments through the river bottom and bridging lakes, scarcely a vestige of which work is now to be seen. A portion in less amounts was appropriated to build small bridges, another portion went in the shape of agents' commissions, and still another portion was never collected. The Macoupin and Apple Creek bridges, which are still in use, were about the only permanent benefit the county received from the fund.

It was another manifestation of the same spirit that originated the movement which brought about the division of the county. Jerseyville was a new town, and those interested in her prosperity thought that nothing would do more to give an upward impulse to the price of lots than the location of a court house in that village. If a new county were formed from the southern half of Greene County, Jerseyville would become the county seat, and hence rapidly grow. It is also said that some points north of Carrollton favored the movement in the hope that the county seat of Greene County might thereby be moved. To these arguments was added the more substantial and cogent reason that the county was too large for convenience or effective organization. An effort was made to divide the county in 1836, but although the bill passed the General Assembly, it was rejected by the people. In 1838 it was again brought up, and an act dividing the county was passed by the legislature and submitted to the people. The northern and southern portions of the county voted for the division, but the central district was opposed to the measure. The vote taken August 5, 1839, stood as follows :

During the year 1837, Nathaniel Graves, a prominent citizen of Pike County, committed a deliberate murder. He was arrested and brought before the Circuit Court in that county. The case was brought by change of venue from- that county to Greene County, where the trial took place" before Judge Jesse B. Thomas, in June, 1838. The case was one of the most important that had engaged the attention of the court for many years, and Stephen A. Douglas, Thomas H. Benton, and other distinguished advocates Avere employed upon it. Every device known to law was employed to clear the prisoner, but without avail, and he was sentenced to be hanged on Wednesday, October 3, 1838. The prisoner was remanded to jail, and to all appearances devoted himself to making preparations for death. The jail then in use by tlie county was the plain structure now used by the city of Carrollton for a city prison, and it was cont^idered quite secure. The time wore on until the Sunday before the dav appointed for the execution. Graves was visited by his brother and other friends, and appeared resigned to death. At night he divided what money he had among the guards, saying he would have no more use for it. The next morning Graves and a young man named Thurston, who had been serving out a jail sentence, were gone; a small hole had been dug through the floor under the wall and so out. But it was very small, and many\vho saw it felt confident that no man ever crawled through it. It was quite generally suspected that money was used with some one to assist him to escape. Graves was never recaptured, and so effected a most remarkable escape from the gallows. Thurston afterward returned, and related the adventures of himself and Graves in making their escape from the county ; but he would never tell by wliat means they made their exit from the jail. Graves was afterward heard of in Mississippi, where he is believed to have died but a few years ago.

In 1837, or 1838, Amos H. Squires was appointed treasurer of the county. He had occupied positions of trust before, and was regarded by every one as one of the most upright and substantial men of the county. Two or three years after his appointment, having about $3,000 in his hands, he absconded, and for a year or more could not be found. At last he was apprehended for trial, and in the April term, 1844, the county brought an action for debt against him and his bondsmen. Alfred Hinton, John W. Scott, Wyiie Wilder, William Rainey, and Young \yood. The suit was successful, and the county obtained a verdict of .$3,038.48. A new trial was granted, and the case was taken to Jersey County. The final result was that by means of some technicality, Squiies escaped punishment, and the county pocketed the loss.

The Mexican War

When the Mexican War broke out in 1846, Greene County promptly answered the call for volunteers. Monday, June 22, the Carrollton Guards, composed of eighty-one men, set out for Alton, in wagons furnished by the citizens of the county. They bore with them a handsome flag presented by the ladies of Carrollton, William Sharon making the presentation speech and S. S. Chester responding in behalf of the company. Tlie men went into camp at Alton, where they were joined by a company from Morgan County, under Gen. John J. Hardin, and by other companies from other directions. While at Alton both of these commands became part of the 1st Illinois Regiment. Gen. John^J. Hardin was chosen Colonel. Of the Carrollton Guards, Col. Jacob Fry was elected Captain, iNIaj. W. C. Rainey, First Lieutenant, Col. J. C. Winters, Second Lieutenant, and S. S. Chester, Third Lieutenant. On Sunday, the 19th of July, the regiment embarked for Mempliis, and thence went on to Montezuma. Tlie company went through the war in Mexico and rendered valiant service in the battle of Buena Vista, in which the gallant General Hardin was killed. His death was very deeply regretted wherever he was known.

At the April term of the Circuit Court of Greene County, resolutions were passed expressing the regret of the bar at the loss of Col, Hardin, and their appreciation of his abilities and admirable qualities. The attorneys present at this term of court were D. M. Woodson, D. A. Smith, C. H, Goodrich, Wm. P. Chesnut, Richard Yates, H. Dusenbury, A. W. Cavarly, Wm. Sharon, W. K. Titcomb, T. Barlow, Wm. Thomas, J. A. Chesnut, C. D. Hodges, R. L. Doyle, Wm. Bosbyshill, Giles H. Turner, John H. Burruss and J. M. Tillett. When it became knovvn that more troops were needed, Greene County promptly resjDonded, and in July, 1847, a second company, commanded by Capt. John Bristow, uncle of an ex-Secretary of the Treasury' of the United States of the same family name, started for the seat of war. The members of this company came mostly from the northern part of the county. Capt. Bristow was soon obliged to return on account of ill health, but both the Greene County companies did good service during the war. For a number of years the survivors of these commands have been in the habit of meeting annually for the purpose of reviving old memories and perpetuating old fellowships. The last meeting of the Mexican Veterans' Association was held at White Hall, September 25, 1878. Col. J. C. Winters acted as president and E. A. Giller as secretary. There were present sixteen survivors of the Mexican war and also three survivors of the Black Hawk war. Speeches were made bv Messrs. W. B. Ferguson, Jesse Sims, J. L. Stoddard, C. C. Eaton, W". B. Harper, Col. J. C. Winters and E. A. Giller, of the Mexican veterans, and by R. D. Gill and C. J. Whitesides, veterans of the Black Hawk war. The death of Arcliibald Overby, a Mexican veteran who had passed away during the year, was mentioned, and appropriate resolutions Avere passed in view of that event. The meeting then adjourned for a year.

As illustrating the unyielding patriotism of the great mass of the citizens of the county at that time, the following, which appeared in the first number of the Carrollton Gazette^ June 26, 1846, is reprinted :

" Whereas^ David Hartwell did, a few days since, make certain remarks relative to the Mexican war, the purport of which was that he desired the success of the Mexicans over the Americans ; Now these are to certify that the citizens of Carrollton will not permit the said David Hartwell to live among them unless he will, publicly, retract all offensive language used in the premises, ask the pardon of the community, and promise hereafter to demean himself in a more orderly and gentlemanly manner. " Many Citizens.

" Gentlemen : I will humbly comply with the above requirements of yours, stated in the article above, to which your names are attached, and will freely and gladly retract all the wrong that has proceeded from me. I ask the pardon of each and every person or citizen, whose feelings have been hurt by me, and I will promise, in future, to live in a manner as orderly and gentlemanly as my humble knowledge of good breeding will enable me to do. David Hartwell."

Mason was its publisher and John Russell, of Blufftlale, its editor. In this paper appeared many of the verses and essaj^s which have given Mr. Russell such a reputation as a writer. After the organization of Jerse}' County The Backwoodsman was removed to Jerseyville, where it was published by A. S. Tilden, afterward by Fletcher & Parenteau. During the management of the latter gentlemen the office burned down, and Edward F. Fletcher removed to Carrollton, where he commenced the publication of the first paper in the present limits of Greene County. This was the People s Advocate. It was printed in a brick building on the south side of the Square, now the property of George Wright, Esq. Tlie Carrollton Gazette, the next venture of the sort, was established in June, 1846, by G. B. Price, by which gentleman and his sons its publication has ever since been continued.

In 1847 occurred the Constitutional Convention which gave to the State the '' constitution of '47." To this convention Greene County sent as delegates, D. M. Woodson, Franklin Witt and L. E. Worcester. Messrs. Witt and Worcester are still living. Judge Woodson was gathered to his fathers in 1877. While attending the convention at Springfield Judge Woodson kept the people of the county informed as to the important transactions of the body b}-- frequent letters, whicli were published in the Carrollton Gazette.

About this time the county was very much excited by the rapid rise and growth of the " Sons of Temperance," and " Cadets of Temperance," 'secret societies composed largely of young persons. This is the first temperance revival of which we have any record in the county, and although it promised much and did accomplish some good, it was short lived.

The first fair ever held in Greene County occurred in the Fall of 1839. The place selected was the pasture now owned by George Wright, Esq., just north of his residence in Carrollton. Here a small collection of huge vegetables, some specimens of grain and fruits, and a very respectable show of stock was gathered and enclosed in a ring of rope. There was no entrance fee and one day was sufficient for awarding all the premiums. Those who were present who felt able to do so were expected to contribute one dollar each toward the expenses of the occasion. At the same time a ladies' department was arranged in the grand jury room of the court house. Here bedquilts and the niceties of cookery and needle craft were displayed, admired and criticised. The only facts we have been able to learn as to the premium list are that Mrs. Brace (mother of J. E. Brace, Esq.,) was awarded the first premium for best specimen of home made flannel, and that George L. Burru.ss, Esq. took the first and J. B. Eldred, Esq., the second premium for boar pigs. Steplien Spencer was one of the committee on fine wool sheep and John W. Huitt one of the judges on horses. The next year a similar display was made and a large attendance secured, but after that no fairs were held in the county until the organization of the Association in 1854.

The charter of the Jacksonville & Carrollton Railroad was granted in 1851, but the first effort to raise money for its construction was during the next year. At a meeting~of the commissioners of the road, held in Jacksonville Monday, September 13, 1852, Hon. D. M. Woodson in the chair, it was " resolved that books for the subscription of the capital stock be opened from and after the fifteenth da}^ of September, 1852, at Carrollton, under the control and direction of A. W. Cavarly, C. D. Hodges, and F. P. Vedder, at such time as they may deem proper. At White Hall under the control and direction of L. E. Worcester, Asbury Davis, and Emanuel Metcalf, at such time as they may deem proper. At Kane under the control and direction of Z. H. Adams and N. M. Perry, at such time as they may deem proper. At Jerseyville under the control and direction of A. B. Morean, C. H. Knapp, and J. Ploughman, at such time as they may deem proper. At Alton under the control and direction of George T. Brown, Edward Keating, and Levi Davis, at such time as they may deem proper. At Manchester under the control and direction of Jas. Clinton, W. S. Andrews, and A. Hicks, at such time as they may deem proper. At Jacksonville under the control and direction of D. A. Smith, J. J. Cassell, and W. B. Warren, at such time as they may deem proper."

The corporators of the road were D. M. Woodson, Philip Coffman, D. A. Smith, A. W. Cavarly, Alex. B. Morean, Wm. B. Warren, A. C. Dixon, S. M. Prosser, Murray McConnell, W. S. Hurst, Joe Dunlap, and Edward Keating. In December, 1853, they announced that, as the provision of the charter, requiring the subscription of $100,000, had been complied with, a meeting of the stockholders would be held at Carrollton on the 2Tth of that montli, for the purpose of organization. At this time the following directors were chosen: James Berdan, Simeon Ross, D. M. Woodson, A. B. Morean, George T. Brown. Hon. D. M. Woodson was elected President. At this time there was a great deal of enthusiasm for the road, and one paper announced its belief that cars would be running from Carrollton to Alton in eighteen months. It was nearer eighteen years before the prediction was realized. Meetings were held in the various towns, and a surveyor, Josiah T. Hunt, was at once set at work on the route, and finished his survey by June, 1854. Some difficulty soon ensued as to the terminus of the road. Alton City subscribed |100,000, on condition that the terminus should be in that city. Afterward the company saw the value of an outlet to St. Louis, and decided to extend the line to that city. The rivalry between St. Louis and Alton was then bitter, and the latter city at once withdrew its subscription. For several years the struggle to raise money enough to warrant the directors in contracting the road continued. Appeals through the press, personal solicitations, public meetings, and every means was tried, but still the work dragged. Year after year passed by, until the patience of the people was nearly exhaused. When the collection of the amounts subscribed was begun there was more delay and difficulty. Work was finally commenced at Jacksonville, in 1858, and in 1860 cars were running as far south as Manchester. Two years more were occupied in building it to White Hall, and by this time the war so engrossed the attention and energy of the county that the connection with the main line, at Godfrey, was not made until 1865. Meantime the name of the road had been changed to the St. Louis, Jacksonville & Chicago Railroad, and it was shortly leased by the Chicago & Alton road, which thereby obtained its much coveted direct communication with St. Louis.

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, began as early as 1858. The eastern part of the county was thoroughly aroused on the subject, and money was freely subscribed. The iniluence of the points interested was sufficiently great to secure the voting of $50,000 to tiie road by the countv, and this with amounts otherwise raised secured the road. White Hall contributed $10,000 and obtained the crpssing; Greenfield paid $15,000, and other parts of the county lesser sums. A portion of the road was at once built, but soon the lack of funds caused a halt. In 18G8 a new charter was obtained, and from this time the work of construction was pushed vigorously forward, until in 1871 it was completed. This road has contributed very considerably to the prosperity of White Hall, has greatly aided Greenfield, and may be said to have created Wrightsville and Rockbridge. A cross road from Greenfield to Carrollton and thence to the Illinois River is now greatly needed. Such a line could be very cheaply constructed and its completion only a question of time.

In March, 1855, it is recorded that the county was out of debt, but it did not remain in this condition for any great length of time. Within a very few years Greene County had voluntarily placed upon its shoulders a debt of $200,000. The first quarter of this was a subscription of $50,000 in aid of the Jacksonville, Alton & St. Louis Railroad ; the second $50,000 was voted to the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis road, and during the rebellion $100,000 was expended in hiring substitutes for such of the citizens of the county as might be drafted for service in the army. The first was paid in March, 1875, the third in four installments, of which the last was paid in 1870, and the second is still due, and payable in 1880.

From 1850 to 1855 or 1856 Abraham Lincoln, Richard Yates, and Stephen A. Douglas, as well as many other men who afterward occupied very prominent positions in the nation's history, were frequent visitors to this county. They often appeared, in their pi'ofessional capacit}^ during the sessions of the Circuit Court, and in time of political excitement made many open air speeches, at various points in the county. Many of our old citizens were intimately acquainted with these statesmen.

In May, 1855, some skillful burglars entered the office of the county clerk, and, by the use of powder, succeeded in forcing open the safe. They escaped with $11,300 and were never apprehended. During this year the county became heir to a singular propertv. Dr. Titus Cornwell, at one time a resident of the county, had remoyed to New York, and there died. When his will was opened it was found that the doctor had devised four fifths of all his property in Illinois - estimated at from seven to ten thousand dollars - to Greene County, Illinois, to be used in this way : The property was to form a fund to be invested, the interest of which the testator directed should be used in the purchase of physiological and hygienic books, to be freely distributed among the public schools of the county. The other fifth of his Illinois property he divided between two medical institutions. I can not find that the Greene County schools ever received any benefit from this fund, although Dr. Cornwell especially directed that the income of the fund should l)e devoted to the specified use "for one hundred years at least." The population of the county during this year is given as about 14,000.

In 1862, when President Lincoln called for additional troops to aid in suppressing the rebellion in the South, Greene County answered with her usual promptness. Col. Jacob Fry's experiences and skill as a leader was again called into use and he was commissioned a Colonel, and authorized to raise a regiment to rendezvous at Carrollton. Three companies offered themselves and were accepted ; the first, Company A, was commanded by Captain Annon P. Ohr, who had been editing the Carrollton Press; the second, Company B, was headed by Captain Martin Mann, and the third, Company G, was led by Captain (afterwards Colonel) Jerome B. Milton. The remainder of the regiment came from other counties. The regiment was mustered into service in 1862, and for some months remained in camp at the Fair Grounds, just east of Carrollton. Soon, however, the orders came to march to the front, where the Greene County boys did noble service for the old flag. Conpany A, out of respect for the Hon. D. M. Woodson, called themselves the " Woodson Guards," in recognition of which honor Judge Woodson presented them with a handsome flag, which they bore through the war. The whole number of soldiers in the Sixty-First Regiment Illinois Volunteers, from Greene County, at its organization, was three hundred and sixty-six, of whom eighty died while in service or were slain in 'battle. The whole number of men who served in the Union Army, from Greene County, was 1,371. Of these 87 were in the 12th Illinois Cavalry, 84 in the 14th Illinois Infantry, 99 in the 32d, 352 in the 91st, 72 in the 122d, 74 in the 133d, 47 in the 144th, 108 in the 59th, and 84 in the 1st Missouri Cavalry. Of these 17 per cent., or 195, died from disease or were killed during the war. For farther particulars see war record, farther on.

Statistics

The census reports indicate that the number of inhabitants in the county increased more rapidly between the years 1830 and 1840 than between either of the other periods. When the census of 1830 was taken, which amounted to 7,674, Jersey County was still attached to Greene; but in 1840, with Jersey detached, the population of the county amounted to 11,951, Jersey at the same time having 4,515 inhabitants. The population of Greene, between the years 1830 and 1840, must have increased at least 115 per cent. In 1850 the population of the county was 12,429, being an increase from 1840 of 20 per cent. In 1860 it amounted to 16,093, being an increase from 1850 of 30 per cent., and in 1870 it was 20,270, an increase from 1860 of 26 per cent.

In 1876 the county contained 3,850 taxpayers. The comparative slowness of the increase of late years is attributable, perhaps, to two causes. In the first place, when, the county was first settled, Illinois was on the western frontier, and very few emigrants pushed farther on toward the setting sun. Now, not only emigrants from the East pass by the comparatively old regions of Illinois, for the new lands beyond, but many of the residents of Greene County every year follow the_ tide of emigration and the star of empire westward. Still farther, it is to be considered that Greene County was very largely settled by persons of wealth, who purchased large tracts of land, These still remain in the family of the original purchaser, and tiie county contains comparatively few small farms. But this state of affairs is rapidly changing. Death and other fortuitous circumstances are causing tiie division of many large estates, and there will then be room for many more small farmers. There are very few counties in the State of more wealth in proportion to the number of inhabitants it contains. According to the census report of 1870, the value of all farm productions in the county amounted to S2.")07,o50, of course a very low estimate. Tiie value of the farms in in the county was then stated to be 811,007,884. The same report gives the following figures: Acres of improved land, 175,408, woodland, 93,242, other unTm proved land, 26,653. Of winter wheat there were raised 577,400 bushels, of rye, 415 bushels, of Indian corn, 1,051,318 bushels, oats, 64,029.

The following figures taken from the Assessor's books for 1878, show approximately the present worth of the county, although such estimates are alwavs very largelv below the truth :

Office

" Treasurer, . Surveyor, . . Supt. of Schools, . Sheriff, .... Coroner, .... County Treasurer, Surveyor, .... Circuit Clerk, . Sheriff, .... State's Attorney, . Supt. of Schools, . County Judge,

Date Of Commission. Office. Names Various Institutions, Organizations, Etc

The following very clear historical sketch of the Baptists of Greene Countv. was written especially for this work by Rev. B. B. Hamilton, of White'^ Hall, whose studies and abilities eminently fit him for such a task :

The Baptists of Greene County have always stood in the front rank of religious organizations. They were among the earliest settlers, and were g'enerallyfollowed by ministers of their own body, who gathered the scattered members, and organized churches as interest or convenience seemed to require.

The first church was organized in Carrollton, by Elder William Jones, of Madison Countv, very soon after the location of the county seat at that place (in 1821). Of this body the late Governor Carlin was at one time a member ; and their first meeting house was a log cabin which stood not very far from the residence of Dr. J. F. Simpson. In the round of vears this body migrated eastward, and is now known as the Providence Church. It'^was originally one of the hyper-Calvinistic anti- Mission Churches. With this church Sears Crane united when he came to Illinois in 1822, and by it he was at a later period ordained as a gospel minister.

The first ordained Baptist minister to settle in Greene County, so far as I can learn, was Aaron Smith, who made his home a little northwest of the present site of White Hall, and gathered a church known as the Apple Creek Church. The date of that organization is not known, but it must have been in 1822, or very early 1823. For as early as April, 1823, Aaron Smith appeared as a messenger from the Apple Creek Church at the organization of the Diamond Grove Church, in Morgan County. A meeting house was built not far from where William Carr's shop now stands, in'White Hall. This was a frame building, and Judge Hinton tells that when it was raised, and Col. Gregory, Benjamin Smith, Judge

Cyrus Tolman and himself had mounted the coiners, the bottle was passed around, and Judge Tolman christened the new house " Aaron's Delight." Whether the name was ominous of evil or not, the church, through the misconduct of Charles Kitchens, one of its ministers, and the removal of Aaron Smith to Texas, was divided and destroyed. The meeting house became the property of Dr. Hudson, and is now the residence of William A. Porter.

Before the breaking up of this church an " Arm," as it was called, had been gathered west of Roodhouse, and this " Arm " ultimately became {I church, connected at first with the Apple Creek Association, afterward with the Concord, and by a recent removal of its meeting house, is now located at Barrow Station, near the northern line of Greene County. John Record and Allen Murray have been for the last thirty years the principal ministers. Record died near Winchester several years since.

The next church in the order of time was constituted at the house of Jehu Brown, in what is now Jersey County. It was composed of seven members, among whom were Mrs. Brown, Major and Amy Dodson. This body was known as the Macoupin Church, and belonged to the Friends to Huynanity. Elder John Clark was, for nearly ten years, its principal minister. Major Dodson, and his sons Elijah, Fletcher and Ezekiel, were at various times connected with this church and officiated as ministers. In 1834, Elder Moses Lemen came from Monroe County and settled near Kane, and held the pastorship of this church for more than ten years. In 1838 a meeting house was begun at Homer (old Kane) and completed in the following year. In 1843 Joel Terry removed from St. Clair County to Kane, and was the minister of this church, with occasional intervals of rest, for nearly twenty years, or up to the time of his death. During this time there had been ordained Thomas A. Morton, Ezekiel Dodson, a7id Henry W. Manning. At a later period a new house was built at the station, which is now occupied by the Kane Church. This is the oldest missionary church in the bounds of Greene County, having been organized in November, 1823. It has not as large a membership as it had forty years ago.

For some two or three years I can not find that any addition was made to the numl)er of churches. But in October, 1826, David R. Chance gathered the Henderson's Creek Church with seven members, and Aaron Hicks and Chauncey Lee were the first baptized into its membership. This is now known as the While Hall Church. Its present meeting house was erected in 1838, and is now the oldest meeting house in use as such in the county. Its ministers have been Elijah Dodson, Alvin Bailey, Calvin Greenleaf, William Kinner, Joel Sweet, W. H. Briggs, H. T. Chilton and B. B. Hamilton, beside others who have officiated as occasional and stated supplies. It was on this ground that the North District, afterward Carrollton Association, was organized in 1827, the change of name occurring in 1854.

Here, too, in 1834, the Illinois Baptist Convention, since changed to the General Association, was organizecl. Before the constitution of the present Carrollton Baptist Church, Sears Crane and his wife, Anna, were members of this church. Although it lias occupied a very prominent place among the churches of the county, it has never had a very large or permanent prosperity. Its membership has been small and has never at any time been in proportion to the population by which it was siirronnded.

On the 25th of February, 1827, at the house of Judge John G. Lofton, was constituted the Salem Baptist Church, with sixteen members. But as this was wholly in what is now Jersey County, I shall not trace its history or its fortunes.

In April, 1827, was constituted the Carrollton Church, by Elijah Dodson, John Clark and the Lemen Brothers. The particulars ol this meeting are given by Dr. J. M. Peck, in his life of Father Clark, as he w^as familiarly called,' by the pioneers in this part of Illinois. The ministers of this"^ church have Ijeen Sears Crane, who was one of its first members, Elijah Dodson, Alvin Bailey, J. N. Tolman, W. F. Boyakin, J. Buckley, D. D.. Xiles Kinne, W. D. Clark, R. F. Parshall, J. C. Bonham and John E. Roberts, besides occasional and stated supplies. It has always occupied a very prominent position among the Baptist churches of Greene county, and has been on the whole a prosperous body, reaching at one time a membership of over three hundred, and securing the services of some of the ablest ministers in this section of the State.

Next to Carrollton stands the Hickory Grove, having the largest membership of any church in the county ; but the date of its organization is not now at hand. It has made fewer changes in its pastorate, in the last thirty years than any church in this county. Two ministers have broken the bread of life in that time - Harrison Witt, who died twentyfive years ago, and Samuel B. Culp, who has been its pastor ever since. Of course other ministers have preached here, but those named were the pastors during all that time, and their success has been without a parallel among the surrounding churches.

In 1832 Jacob Bower gathered a church near where Woodville now is. Of this church Mashek Browning was clerk, and afterward became a preacher and was ordained ; but in consequence of some misunderstanding in regard to this matter, and also in regard to membership in the Blue River Association, the Mt. Gilead Church was divided, the party working with Browning going to the Apple Creek Association, and the party adhering to Jacob Bower remaining in the Blue River Association. These churches still remain in the same neighborhood, and both retain the same name. At some periods they have both been nearly extinct and at other times have flourished exceedingly. Several attempts have been made to bring them together, and although the original parties have nearly^ all died or moved away, the survivors can not be reconciled. At this time the two churches do not number one hundred members.

It was with the Woodville body that the meeting of the Apple Creek Association occurred in which Harrison Witt, M. Browning, and J. V. Rhoads took the side of missionary effort, and John Record and Stephen Coonrod took the Antinomian side of the controversy, and this led to the formation of the Concord Association ; while the Apple Creek body began to approximate more nearly to the Missionary, a point not reached however for several years.

The Sangamon "Association was formed in 1823 - the Apple Creek was formed in 1830 from the Sangamon, and both bodies were Anti- Mission. The latter covered the territory embraced in the Coimties of

Greene, Macoupin, Madison. Bond and St. Clair. The Concord Association had three churches in Greene County, Hopewell on the west side of Apple Creek, now extinct; Union, now located at Barrow, and one near Greenfield, over which Stephen Coonrod presided for many years. At "Wilrainrrton was a church connected with the Apple Creek Association, and to this came Jordan Whitesides, and became its pastor. Under his preaching the church grew strong, but in later years the pastor become a Universalist, the church was somewhat weakened, other ministers were brought in, and ultimately a division ensued. The stronger party followed the lead of Henry L. Johnson into the Sandy Creek Association, while the minority adhered to the Api)le Creek Association, but ultimately disbanded and reorganized at Barrow Station, leaving the other party in possession of the meeting house and territory.

The date of the organization of the church at Bluffdale is not remembered, probably about 1832. To this church belonged John Russell, LL.D., celebrated in literature as the author of the " Worm of the Still," and several enjoy aljle volumes, David Woolley, and J. C. Harvey - the latter an ordained minister. This church was always small, and in progress of time by deaths and removals, became extinct. Mrs. John Russell is at this time the only survivor of the original body.

The Martins Prairie Church was organized in the Summer of 1842 by Joel Sweet, Thomas Tajdor, Jacob Bower. Its meeting house was built in 1859, is situated five miles east of Roodhouse. Here Elijah

Marsh and others have preached. With possibh-- a single exception, they have never had the services of a resident minister. Rev. J. B. Van preached in that church and resided in that neighborhood for a few months. This church numbers about eight}-, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. George Robertson, who was ordained b}" that church in the Summer of 1878.

The Richwoods Church is situated directly east of the last - is a strong body - as it was when I first met its people, was then belonging to the Macoupin Association, but of late years has been the largest church in the Western Association. Here resides Elder F. W. Hicks, who has been for many years a member of this body - a prosperous preacher, and a thoroughly good man. The year in which this church was organized is not known to the writer hereof.

And the same remark is true of the church at Athensville, where C. A. Worley preached acceptably for so many years, and where the "banner " is now held up by John Johnson. This church numbers about sixty. Like the two preceding, it is in the midst of a farming community, depends very largeh' on the " once-a-raonth " method of supply. The same remark might be made of nearly all the Baptist Churches away from the towns and business centers in this county. Their zeal has a good deal of the spasmodic element in it, and is followed by seasons of coldness and spiritual death until the next revival season is enjoyed.

South of this is a church on Bean Creek which has been in existence twenty years, organized by the Johnson Brothers, and has always been connected with the Sandy Creek Association. This too, is a country church, and keeps up its visibility by " once-a-month '' preaching, by which it has been al)le to exercise a wholesome influence on the minds and morals of the community.

It may be desirable to remark that no o:ie thing has done so much to improve the graces and working power of these churches as the Sunday school. Of course, with many of them, the Sunday school is only a Summer institution, but as the years go by it is found to be a necessity to continue these schools through the entire year, thus making, without speciall}^ designing it, a necessity for holding weekly meeetings. To tlieir credit be it said, that nearly all the churches sustain a Sunday school, excepting of course the small churches of the Concord Association, and they will most likely disappear in a few years, owing to the progress of events, and the increasing light of the times.

South of this comes Greenfield with a meeting house belonging to a small church of the Concord Association now almost extinct. Since the death of Stephen Conrood this body has had very irregular meetings, and their house has been occupied for the last few 3'ears by a church organized here, connected with the Sandy Creek Association, by Wm. M. Rhoads and John Bush. This latter body, though recently organized, has attained a fair degree of prosperity.

There was another church here, organized in 1851 by H. T. Chilton and others, connected with the Carrollton Association. This church united with the Cumberland Presbyterians in building a meeting house, which for some time was occupied jointly, but gradually both bodies failed, and the building was sold to the Town and occupied as a Town Hall. Here the Carrollton Association met in 1853. The membership of this church was always small, and death and removals scattered the few who remained.

East of this, at Fayette, is a small church connected with the Macoupin Association, with a very comfortable frame meeting house, built very largely through the aid given by C. A. Worle}', who was for several years pastor of this body. The church is not in a very flourishing condition. We do not know who is the present pastor. Situated in a decaying town, where the business life has been drawn toward the railroad stations, it could not be expected to prosper or enjoy a large share of attention, drav.-n from the surrounding world.

Southwest of Fayette is a small church in the Cannedy settlement belonging to the Sandy Creek Association. This is a recent organization, comparatively, and being situated nearly midway between Greenfield and Rockbridge, can not, in the nature of things, ever become a large church.

At Rockbridge, under the leadership of Wm. M. Rhoads and John Bush, has been gathered a liighly prosperous church. A good meeting house has been built, and every effort is well sustained, and the spiritual interest is constantly increasing.

West of this w\is a church known in early days as Taylor's Creek - afterward as New Hope - having sometimes nearly a hundred members, and then disappearing for a season. It is to be found in the minutes of the Apple Creek Association in 1874, and is not to be found in 1878 - probably its surviving members have gone into the Rockbridge and Providence Churches of the Sandy Creek Association.

West of Providence and south of Carrollton is the New Bethel Church with eighty-nine members. This church was; originally gathered by Elder Elliott, but during the late war it died, and was revived again in 1873 in a series of meetings held bv John Costley, who reorganized the church and has been its pastor ever since.

Southwest of this across the Macoupin is the New Douglas Church, numbering probably more than twenty members. Elder Crawford is the ordained minister. South and west of Woodville is the Rough Edge Church, belonging to the Western Association, and north of this last a church called Nebo, while north of Woodville is the Pacific Union - a church belonging to Macoupin Association, and this completes the circle of Baptist Churches in Greene County.

If to these churches we add three churches of the Western and two of the Concord Associations, we shall have an aggregate of thirtyone churches, and a membership exceeding two thousand.

These churches have nineteen houses of worship, with sittings for four thousand people, one sixth of the population of Greene County, allowincr that to be at this time 24,000, and this is doubtless a very low estimate.

Nearly all the meeting houses are plain frame buildings, made for use rather than ornament, situated in the midst of farming communities, many of them supplied by farmer preachers - men of sterling worth - who'not only preach, but practice what they preach, making themselves "examples to the flock." Among these ministers are quite a number who have received but little culture from the schools, yet are strong in their common sense grasp of the doctrines of the gospel, and who are quite as apt in their application of those truths to the consciences of men as they are at wringing from the soil the support they fail to receive from the churches. Still, with all these drawbacks, there has been an advance all "along the line" in the last ten years.

This should be apparent when it is considered that in proportion to the population, no county in the State will present so strong a showing of Baptists, while on the"^ other hand, no two thousand Baptists can be found in the State who do so little for home and foreign missions, or indeed for any other benevolent work, and yet are so thoroughly active in working in their own localities. Time will work some radical changes among the Baptists of Greene County, compelling them to unite their scattered forces, by consolidating churches now occupying the same territory. Take for example Barrow, with three churches in a village of perhaps not more than one hundred souls. If these three churches were united it would be possible to support a pastor all the time, and secure a degree of spiritual growth absolutely impossible in the present condition of things. There are four churches in the vicinity of Woodville that would be much more efficient if they were all happily blended in one church. And this would secure greater economy and efficiency at the same time. What is true in regard to these points is equally tvue in regard to others which we have not time to bring before the readers of this sketch.

Imperfect as this sketch is, it is submitted to our friends in the liope that it may lead to a more careful preservation of such material as may be required by those who shall write the history of the denomination in the future.

"Old Settlers' Meeting. - As the matter has been so often spoken of in the papers, and by a large number of the old settlers of Greene County, and it would seem appropriate that such a meeting should be held on my farm, a cordial invitation is hereby extended to all citizens who were residents of the county before the 'deep snow,' to assemble in the grove one quarter of a mile south of my residence (it being on the south end of the first eighty acres of land settled in this county), on Saturday, October 21, 1871,^ at ten o'clock A. M. The object of the meeting will be to organize an - Old Settlers' Association ' for Greene County, and to listen to addresses appropriate for the occasion.. Should the weather prove unfavorable for an out-door meeting at the time, I am requested to say that the meeting will be held at the court house, in Carrollton, instead of the grove on my premises. As this matter has now been so generally agreed upon by our old citizens, it is expected that a large and interesting meeting will be held, and that all will give special heed to this first meeting of the old settlers. Respectfully,

The 21st of October was a bright, pleasant day, and about one hundred and fifty old settlers, together with a large concourse of younger persons, assembled in the beautiful Thomas Grove, southwest of Carrollton. This wood is located on the south end of the first eighty acres of land entered by Mr. Thomas in 1818, and selected as a squatter's claim some time previous. At about eleven o'clock the Carrollton Cornet Band played an old time selection, and the company was called to order by David Pierson, Esq. Col. Jacob Bowman was chosen chairman, and on taking the chair, invited Rev. C. J. Gardiner to offer prayer. " This venerable and reverend gentleman kneeled upon the grass and leaves in front of the speaker's stand, and, while the many aged heads were bowed, a solemnity was manifested befitting the occasion, and words appropriately impressive were uttered, invoking the blessing of God upon those whose lives had been so long spared in his mercy, and beseeching a continuance of divine favor. The chair then suggested that the appointment of a committee on permanent organization would be in order. Whereupon Messrs. David 'Pierson, Thomas Black, C. J. Gardiner, Jordan Howard, and T. J. Short were chosen. On motion, Hon. D. M. Woodson, Judge A. Hinton, Peter Hobson, Isham Linder, and Martin Bowman were selected as a committee on resolutions. At this point, the chairman, than whom there is none more skilled in the management of a dinner party, remarked that the committees would need some little time in which to prepare their reports - that the good wives and daughters were present with bountifully ladened baskets - that the hour had arrived and the tables would be spread upon the green, and, while the band struck up another good old tune, the meeting adjourned for dinner.'' The dinner was bonntiful in quantity, dainty in preparation, and the best in quality, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. After an intermission of an hour, the band rendered another selection, whereupon Col. Bowman called the meeting to order, and asked for the report of the committee on permanent organization. David Pierson, Esq., chairman, presented the following:

3. That the following persons be chosen as such officers : President, Capt. Richard Robley, of Hiuffdale ; Vice Presidents, Samuel Thomas, Judge Alfred Hinton, Gen. Jacob Fry, Maj. J. C. C. Parks. Anthony Potts, Peter Hobson, Martin Bowman, Rev. C. J. Gardiner, judge Thomas J. Short, David Pierson; Secretary, II. L. Clay; Treasurer, Col. Jacob Bowman.

Remarks, consisting, in the main, of interesting personal reminiscences, by Samuel Thomas, Judge Alfred Hinton, ]\Iaj. J. C. C. Parks, Gen. Jacob Fry, Hon. D. M. Woodson, and others, followed, and occupied the time until quite late. In the course of some general remarks, by Judge Isham Linder, Judge Hinton. Thomas Black, Jonas Ward, David Pierson, and others, it was ascertained that Mr. Marvel Morris and Judge Linder had been residents of the State longer than any one else present, the former for sixty-two and the latter for sixty-one years. Capt Richard Robley was the oldest man present, he having been born in 1790.

On the eleventh of November, at a meeting held in the court house at Carrollton, as per the resolution passed at the first meeting, Messrs. D. M. Woodson, Isham Linder, Dr. J. B. Samuel, Alfred Hinton, and T. W. Vigus were appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws for the organization. The meeting then adjourned to meet to hear the report of this committee January 8, 1872, at which time the following constitution was adopted :

"The subscribers, pioneers and early residents of Illinois, acknowledging their obligations to Almighty God for his long-continued good in the preservation of their lives, and for the numberless blessings bestowed upon this county and its inhabitants, and being desirous for the promotion of social intercourse, by meeting together at convenient periods, to compare notes and preserve and perpetuate the remembrance of interesting facts in the early history and settlement of our State, and of Greene County particularly, have formed themselves into a society, to be known and designated as the ' Greene County Old Settlers' Association,' and for the purpose of furthering the object's of such association, do adopt and subscribe the following :

"'First - Of all persons, who, at any time prior to the year 1830, were residents of Illinois, and such persons, upon signing the constitution, shall be designated as Senior members.

" Second - All persons, residents of Illinois, who shall have resided in the County of Greene since 1815. Such persons, upon signing the consti- tiition, shall be designated as Junior members. The rights, privileges, and immunities of the Senior and Junior classes shall be held in common, without distinction or preference.

"Art. it. - The ofBcers of the association shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, and Treasurer, to be chosen annually, and whose duties are indicated by their titles. Also one Vice-President in each precinct in the county, whose duty it shall be to aid the other officers of the association in obtaining historical incidents, biographical sketches, and statistical information of our pioneer history, and also to ascertain, and report to the Secretary from time to time,_ all the deaths or removals from the county of members of the association, that may occur in their several precincts during the year.

" Art. III. - This association shall hold its annual meeting at some convenient place in the county, to be selected by the President of the association, on the last Wednesday of August in each year. The President ard Secretary shall have power to call special meetings of the association.

"Art. IV. - Every member of the association, on signing the constitution, shall furnish the Secretary, either orally or in writing, a statement, giving the time and place of his birth, the year in which he became a resident of Illinois and of Greene County, and shall pay to the Treasurer the sum of fifty cents, and annually thereafter the sum of fifty cents, which shall constitute membership for himself and wife. The money thus paid shall be used to defray the contingent expenses of the association, and for no other purpose.

"Art. V. - The Treasurer shall report, at each annual meeting, a statement of all receipts and expenditures, and no moneys shall be paid out by him, except bv vote of the association, or by the unanimous consent of the President, Vice-President, and Secretary, who are hereby constituted the executive committee of the association.

" Art. VI. - The association, by a vote of a majority present at a regular meeting, may expel any member for habitual intoxication or grossly immoral conduct.

"Art. VII. - It shall be the duty of each member of the association, as far as may be, to furnish, in a form suitable for preservation, such facts and incidents of his early life, and in relation to the first settlement of the county, as he may deem of sufficient interest to be preserved ; and the Secretary shall preserve them in such form as he may deem proper.

" Art. VIII. - The Secretary shall keep a book, to be called the ' Old Settlers' Record,' in which he shall enter this constitution, and the proceedings of each meeting of the association ; he shall also keep a register of the names of the'different members, the place of their birth, the year they became residents of Illinois, as far as he can ascertain the same, and at each annual meeting he shall read the names of those who have died, or who have removed from the county during the year.

"Art. IX. - This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the association. A vote of two thirds of the members present at such meeting shall be required in favor of the amendment."

The second regular meeting of the association was held on the Fair Grounds, and was addressed by Hon. D. M. Woodson, Mr. Dennis Davis, of Missouri, Judge Cyrus Tolman, and others. In 1873 addresses were made by Rev. H. A. Guild, Col. J. C. Winters, Everett Griswold, and others.

The meeting in 1874 was one of the most interesting in the history of the association. The gathering was the largest of the kind ever held in the county. Dr. S. H. Culver, of White Hall, Dr. B. C. Wood, of Carrollton, Hon. Newton Cloud, of Morgan County, and Hon. D. M. Woodson, of Carrollton, made addresses. Music was furnished by a volunteer choir. The death of Samuel Thomas, Heman Goodrich, Titus Vigus. Jesse C. C. Parks, and Everett Griswold was spoken of and appropriate resolutions passed. In 1875 about 3,500 persons attended the annual meeting at the Fair Grounds. Hon. W. C. Flagg, of Madison County, Rev. B. B. Hamilton, of White Hall, and Hon. Joseph Morton, of Morgan County, were the speakers of the day. The death of Dr. J.

B. Samuel was reported. We make the following extract from the minutes of the Secretary: "The special committee appointed for the purpose reported the names of the following persons present who Avere seventy years of age and over:

and over. - Capt. Wm. B. Pegram, 79; Amos McPheron, 79; John Wagoner, 79; Dr. B. C. Wood, 78; Mrs. Capt. W. B. Pegram, 77 ; Anthony P. Potts, 76 ; Mrs. Julia Brace, 76 ; Andrew Kelly, 76 ; Jonas Ward, 75; Capt. E. L. Cooper, 75; Joseph Morton, 75 ; Alfred Hinton, 75; Gen. Jacob Fry, 75; Nathaniel Miner, 74; Wm. Kennedy, 74; R. R. Nichols, 74; Christopher Dodgson, 73; Isham Linder, 73; Abraham Bowman, 73; J. H. Weisner, 72; ^lartin Bowman, 71; William Thomason, 71; John V. Dee, 71; Philip Gore, 70; Newton Cloud, 70; David Pierson, 70; Mrs. Matilda Robley, L. D. Morris, Mrs. Gen. Fry, Daniel Nail, J. E. Cooper, Enos Grandy, Wm. Parker, Wm. B. Pankey, Archibald Lee, Dr. G. B. Mason, John Benear, Rev. G. W. Reynolds, George Liles, Edward Prather, Maria Prather, Andrew Pinkerton, Eliza Nutting, Naomi Edwards, Benj. Smith, and Mrs. E. M. Smith. * * * Edward Flatt, 96, was the oldest man present and is probably the oldest man in Greene County. Mrs. Scates, of Carrollton, is reported at 114 years of age, and is likely the oldest person in the State."

of White Hall. On this occasion a handsome bouquet was presented to the venerable John W. Huitt, on behalf of a lady present, in honor of the fact that he was the first man to settle in Greene County now living. Rev. Mr. Hamilton also favored the association with an address on the occasion of its sixth annual reunion, in 1877. On this occasion the death of the following old settlers was noticed: Anthony Potts, aged 78 years ; Edward Flatt, 89; David M. Woodson, 71 ; Wm. C. Rainey, 79; William Webb, 85; Mrs. David W^ooley, 81; Mrs. Mary Ann Waltrip, 52; Mrs. Elizabeth Pinckard, 80, and James Hall.

Major N. M. Knapp, of Winchester, addressed the society in 1878. The obituary record for the year included the names of Mrs. Eliza Vosseller, aged 69; Mrs. Sarah Gregory, 45; J. W. Gregory, 49; Joseph Cox, 77; Mrs. Sarah Crist, 56 ; Sarah Waltrip, 72; Wm. Griffin, 73.

Since the death of Samuel Thomas, Judge Alfred Hinton has held the office of President of the association. Dr. C. Armstrong, H. L. Clay, and Ed. Miner have been the only Secretaries. The Old Settlers' meetings are, to a large portion of the better class of citizens of the county, one of the most interesting occasions of the year. Next to the fair, nothing draws together a larger number of the substantial people of the county, and the exercises do much to remind the rising generation of the hardships their parents suffered and of the gratitude and honor due the aged.

The following list of those who came to this county very early is not offered as being complete or nearly so. Neither do the dates profess absolute accuracy. They are simply some of the names I have come across with the dates I have found attached to them.

Names. Year

The Greene County Agricultural and Mechanical Association was instituted April 15, 18o4. Its first officers were Luman Curtius, President ; J. C. Winters, Vice-President; A. W. Bridges, Treasurer, and F. P. Vedder, Secretary.

The following were chosen members of the General Committee: From Carrollton Precinct, Samuel Thomas and Jacob Bowman ; White Hall Precinct, L. E. Worcester, B. Baldwin ; Northwestern Precinct, L. J. Patterson, A. J. Whiteside; Walkerville Precinct, A. Sweeten, Michael Kinser ; Bluffdale Precinct, William Halbert, J. W. Calvin ; Woodville, T. W. Vigus, W. L. Greene ; Kane Precinct, Samuel Longstreet, David Thompson ; Eastern Precinct, J. H. Van Arsdale, Geo. L. Burruss ; Greenfield Precinct, W. H. Ellis, I, R. Ostrom ; Fayette Precinct, John Rives, ^Martin Thorpe; Athensville Precinct, Thomas J. Short, Benjamin King ; Mineral Spring Precinct, Perry McConathy, James D. Martin. For the County, Elon Eldred and Wm. Black.

The first fair was held October 12, 18")4, on the farm of J. E. Brace, Esq., just northwest of the town of Carrollton. This fair seems to have been in every way a brilliant success, and some said, as has been remarked more recently of other displays, that the show of fast and fine horses was superior to that at the State fair. The following complete list of premiums will prove very interesting, as nearly all the names of the successful competitors will be recognized as belonging to prominent citizens of the present day : and diploma. Anthony Potts, 2d best bull, 4 years old, 2d premium, silver cup. Eri Edwards, best l)ull, 2 3^ears old, 1st premium, silver cup and diploma. James J. Eldred, 2d l)est bull, 2 years old, 2d [jremium, silver cup. Silas Eldred, best bull, 1 year old, 1st premium, $4 and diploma. Henry Tunison, 2d best bull, 1 year old, 2d premium, $4. Jonas Ward, best cow, 6 years old, 1st premium, silver cup and diploma. Jeremiah Turpin, 2d best cow, 4 years old, 2d premium, silver cup. James W. Gregory, best heifer, 2 years old, 1st premium, silver cup and diploma. Wm. Crane, 2d best stallion, 7 years old, 2d premium, silver cup. J. H. Waller, best brood mare, 9 years old, diploma. Michael Kinser, best staUion, 3 years old, 1st premium, silver cup and diploma. Wm. O. Greaves, 2d best stallion, 2 years old, 2d premium, $3. Anthony Potts, best stallion, 1 year old, 1st premium, |4. A. Minsterman, 2d best stallion, 1 year old, 2d premium, $2. J. P. Henderson, best filly, 3 years old, 1st premium, silver cup and diploma. Jeremiah Turpin, 2d best filly, 3 years old, 2d premium, $4. Daniel Morfoot, best filly, 2 years old, 1st premium, silver cup. Peter M. Brown, 2d best filly, 2 years old, 2d premium, $3. Milton Williams, best filly, 1 year old, 1st premium, |4. Lemuel Jackson, 2d best filly, 1 year old, 2d premium, $2. Benj. Roodhouse, best draught horse, 5 years old, premium $4. Same, best gelding, 7 years old, premium $4. J. E. Brace, best single mare, 4 years old, premium $4. A. S. Seely, best matched horses, 6 years old, premium $4. Felix Morris, best saddle horse, gaited, 5 years old, premium $4. Peter Roodhouse, best single horse in harness, 4 years old, premium $4. Henry Spencer, best sucking colt, 1st premium, silver cup. William Black, 2d best sucking colt, 2d premium, $4. E. B. Eldred, 3d best sucking colt, 3d premium, $3. L. H. Thomas, best jack, 3 years old, premium silver cup and diploma. Geo. L. Burruss, best jack, 2 years old, premium $4. Same, best jack, 1 year old, diploma. Hiram Keach, best jennett, 3 years old, diploma. Same, best jennett, 2 years old, diploma. L. H. Thomas, best jennett, 1 year old, diploma. Wm. Cannedy, best pair mules, 2 years old, $4. E. W. Johnson, best single mule, 12.

Jas. J. Eldred, best cheese, premium $3 and diploma. David Black, best lot butter, made in June, premium $2 and diploma. Alfred Hubbard, best lot butter, made any time, premium $2 and diploma. Jas. B. Samuel, 2d best lot butter, made any time, 2d premium, f2. David Black, 3d best lot butter, made any time, 3d premium, -$1.

Samuel Longstreet, best sample pure white corn, diploma. Jesse Ridings, best lot yellow corn, premium $1. Samuel Longstreet, best haif-barrel yellow corn, diploma. David Black, best bushel Timothy seed, premium $\ Samuel Thomas, best bushel clover seed, premium $1. David Black, best sample white wheat, diploma. Same, best sample red wheat, $1. Price Lovelace, best sample flour corn, $1.

Samuel Longstreet, best winter apples, 1st premium, $1.25. Jas. D. Martin, 2d best winter apples, 2d premium, 75 cents. Jacob Bowman, best fall apples, premium diploma.

diploma. Mrs. Benj. Baldwin, 2d best double carpet coverlet, 2d premium, -fil. Mrs. J. Thomas, best single carpet coverlet, premium 50 cents. Mrs. E. Morfoot, best pair woolen knit stockings, 1st premium, $1 and

Our Agricultural Society now numbers over two hundred and thirty members, and is rapidly increasing in numbers and interest. We shall largely extend our list of premiums for the next year, especially for the ladies.

N. B. All the above premiums will be paid in silverware, or agricultural books, on the first Monday- of December next, at the annual meeting of the Society, to be holden at the Court House in Carrollton, at which time officers are to be elected for the ensuing year, and transact such other business as shall be considered necessary. A general attendance is most earnestly solicited. Luman Curtius, Presiderit^

Since the organization of the Association the various Presidents have been David M. Woodson, George L. Burruss, Joseph Ballinger, who held the position from 1858 to 1865 inclusive, Jacob Bowman, who presided for five years, B. F. Baldwin, E. M. Husted, L. S. Eldred. Benjamin Roodhouse, who was president for two years, and George W. Davis, who is now (1879) serving his second term. The Secretaries have been F. P. Vedder, L. S. Norton, Dr. C. Armstrong, L. F. Wheeler, Henry Bonfoy, George W. Davis, Isaac Powell, W. W. Beaty, N. J. Andrews. George W. Davis held the offices ten years, W. W. Beaty three years, and Dr. Armstrong, Henry Bonfoy and N. J. Andrews, each two years. A. W. Bridges, Jordan Howard, J. E. Brace, W. L. Greene, Robert Pierson, N. J. Andrews, D. D. Pierson, each have held the office of Treasurer^ J. E. Brace for ten years, and several of the others for more than one year.

The second fair was held on the grounds which the one hundred and sixty stockholders had purchased, south of the village of Carrollton, near the present site of the public school building. This was securely fenced and supplied with stalls and other conveniences, and served the purposes for which it was designed, until becoming too small, in 1860, the present large and beautiful park owned by the Association was bought, and the improvements moved thither. The first financial statement of the condition of the Association on the records is found in the year 1856. It is

During the early fairs the premiums consisted almost entirely of silverware, and we frequently find in the Treasurer's report a list of silverware left on hand after the premiums had all been paid, and in one instance a valued officer is voted a five dollar cup as a mark of appreciation of his faithfulness. During successive years tlie receipts were as follows: 1857, $1,338.15; 1858, $1,615.34; 18.59, $1,882.85; I860, $2,025.82; and so on, the expenses increasing in the same or a greater ratio. In 1866, the present commodious amphitheater was built. In 1872, the name of the Association was changed to " Greene County Agricultural Board." During the war, and for some time after, the fairs did not pay expenses, and the result was that in 1874, tlie Board found itself saddled with a debt of over $6,000. In order that this might be paid off and the prosperity of the fairs insured, in the Autumn of that year a resolution was passed to form a new corporation, and D. M. Woodson, J. W. Gregory, G. L. Burruss, J. H. Rives, S. F. Greene, L. F. Wheeler, and John Kaser, were appointed incorporators. License was issued February 27, 1875» authorizing G. W. Davis, J. F. Ballinger. L. S. Eldred, G. L. Burruss, N. J. Andrews, J. H. Rives, and George W. Witt, as commissioners to open books of subscription to the capital stock of the Greene County Agricultural and Mechanical Association. The following persons at once subscribed for the number of shares set opposite their names, at fifty dollars per share, and a charter was issued by the Secretary of State, bearing date March 26, 1875 :

Names. Shares

These subscriptions readily raised the six thousand dollars required, and the old indebtedness was paid off. The capital stock was afterward increased 82,000, bringing it to $8,000, the greater part of which was soon subscribed. The new society took possession of the property of the old, and a more prosperous era began. The recent fairs of the Association have been in an eminent degree successful, and a very bright future seems to be before the Association.

The history of Roodhouse is brief but brilliant. In 1819 or 1820, J. Henderson, who was the pioneer in the northern part of the county, is supposed to have been one of the first to explore the vicinity of Roodhouse. The first settlements in the township were made some years previous to 1830. In 1832 White Hall was laid out, and this town was for many years the trading point for the dwellers in the region where Roodhouse is now situated. The vicinity was one of the most fertile in the county, the surface of the prairie was rolling and healthful, and the inhabitants were intelligent, industrious, and energetic, and contributed very largely to the growth of the town of White Hall. When the Jacksonville branch of the Chicago & Alton Railroad was extended as far as White Hall, in 1862, a small depot was built, around which Roodhouse afterward grew up. John T. Rawlings, who took a prominent part in building up the town, thought there should be a depot near its present location, and, after some trouble, succeeded in obtaining the permission of the railroad company to erect a building on its land. George Wildebon was the carpenter. In this, the first de})ot, James Armstrong served as agent and telegraph operator, furnishing his own instruments. The trains stopped only when flagged. Mr. Armstrong also conducted a small trade in lumber, tinware, and family supplies. Subsequently, citizens of the place being in danger of losing the telegraph office, built a depot, which was afterward' used as a school house, and now serves as a dwelling house. One of the first residences erected in the town was put up by Adam Shearer, who was also the first blacksmith of the town. He sold liquors at his residence for some time. Soon after James Thompson obtained a barrel or two of sugar and some coffee, with which he opened a grocery store, in an old log hut. He afterward sold out and butchered a few beeves. The laying out of a town was already talked of, and some surveys made, but nothing definite was as yet done. A meeting was held about this time, in Rawlings' warehouse, to consider the propriety of building a church or lecture room. A small school house, or public building, was erected in consequence. A Sunday school was at once organized, the teachers and superintendent coming from White Hall.

Among those who settled in the village daring its infancy, the following may be mentioned: Charles Adler, now deceased, built a small edifice in which he kept a boot and shoe shop. Simmons & Thompson erected a storehouse and transacted a general merchandising business. Each member of this firm built a comfortable residence. Adam Shearer built an addition to his house, in which he sold groceries. Mr. Shearer was also the postmaster for some time. John and William Sitton also arrived and built residences. They were both contractors and carpenters and put up a number of buildings. John B. Mcintosh was the first tailor in the town. He purchased the school house and moved his family into it. When the Peter Thompson property was burned down, Norman Lange bought the site and built upon it. John T. Rawlings was the second postmaster, and was at the same time proprietor of a prosperous general business.

In April, 1866, John Roodhouse, the original owner of the land upon which the greater part of the little settlement was built, laid out the town named for him. The original plat contained forty lots 66x130 feet, and 75x150 feet. Additions have since been made to the town as follows: John Roodhouse, three ; William Cobb, three ; Cobb & Mitchell, one ; J. C. Cobb, two ; P. J. Sharp, one ; L. E. Worcester, two. Its growth for a number of years was very slow. White Hall was but four miles distant on the south, and Manchester equally near on the north, and being much older towns had every advantage. Still, new comers continued to be attracted to the young village. Dr. D. B. Moore opened the first drug store. Harmon Wales kept the first hotel, in a building which now constitutes a part of the Metropolitan Hotel, Wm. Smith, proprietor. The Kirkland House was put up soon after, just opposite the depot, by David Kirkland. This building was burned in 1877, whereupon Mr. Kirkland at once erected the commodious and substantial brick structure which now occupies the site.

Beside those mentioned Humphrey Armstrong, Frank Armstrong, Charles Savage, William Lorton, John Cole, Mrs. Martha Walla'ce, L. E. Cobb, William H. Barrow, Adam Chapman, Thomas McMahon, James Long, Hoff Bridges, and Dr. Beach were early settlers.

SO furnish an outlet to the far west, was approaching completion, and the question where a connection should be made with the Jacksonville branch must be settled. A strong influence with the officers of the road was brought to bear in favor of Jacksonville as the place for tlie junction. Whife Hall, however, was nearer the natural point, and since she had secured the crossing of the Chicago & Alton with the Rock Island road, now began to consider herself foreordained for a railroad center. Meanwhile some of the more enterprising spirits at Roodhouse conceived the idea that it would be a ver^' nice tiling if the junction could be secured for that town. The leading men of White Hall laughed at their presumption, and ridiculed the idea of an effort to build up a town out on the prairie. They considered it a foregone conclusion that White Hall ~was to swallow up all the surrounding villages, and laughed at the idea of little Roodhouse overcoming the wealth and influence of White Hall. But at a point then known as Dutch Mills, a few miles west of White Hall, the work came to a stand still until the location of the junction should be decided. The matter was earnestly discussed by leading men of the new town, and finally a letter was sent to T. B. Blackstone, president of the road, asking what would be required to secure the junction at Roodhouse, and signed by John Roodhouse, John T. Rawlings, J. M. Armstrong, and Simmons & Thompson. The following reply in substance was received : survey to be made of the route which you have mentioned, and if found as favorable as you seem to think. I will then give what information you desire. Respectfully yours, T. B. Blackstone."

As soon as the survey commenced White Hall became alarmed, and sent a delegation to Chicago to turn the current in her favor. Meantime a meeting was held in Mr. Rawlings' store at Roodhouse, and a committee consisting of John Roodhouse, John T. Rawlings, and E. M. Husted, was appointed to go to Chicago to see President Blackstone.^ In order to hasten their arrival they took a hand-car as far as Jacksonville, that they might catch an early train from that city. Here they were met by the assurance that White Hall had secured the prize, but determined nevertheless to hasten on to Chicago in the hope it was not too late. An interview with President Blackstone developed the cheering fact that if the citizens of Roodhouse would secure for the road the right of way from the Illinois River to that town and deed to the company ten acres for depot grounds, within a week the junction would be made at that point. On the return of these gentlemen a subscription paper to secure funds for purchasing the right of way was at once drawn up. Messrs. Roodhouse, Cobb, and J. T. Rawlings, each subscribed $1,000. Messrs. Simmons, Husted, Armstrong, and P. A. Rawlings each $500, G. W. Thompson, $250, and others like sums. Many persons of very small property gave liberally, and the result was that the road was secured. E. M. Husted was President and Treasurer of the committee to secure the right of way, and conducted this part of the enterprise with great skill.

As soon as the connection between the two branches of the road was made the town improved very rapidly. The railroad company built a large and handsome depot, and in many ways contributed to the growth of the place. Very soon Roodhouse was made the terminus of the Missouri division, and the round-house and repair shop located here. These have brought a large amount of business and population to the town, so that its growth has been very rapid.

" There are all told, including repair tracks, about twenty-five switches within the corporate limits of the village, all of which are necessary to operate and facilitate the movements of trains. There is scarcely a silent moment, night or day, as the average number of trains (including freight and stock trains, all of which are made up at this point), is about twenty-five every twenty-four hours. This immense amount of train business is under the superintendence of Mr. T. R. Saltar, the station agent, who is also yard-master, with Lew McClure and Barney Greene as assistants, under whose able and efficient management this seemingly complicated business works with the regularity of clock-work, without a hitch or jar, and trains are always dispatched to their destination promptly on time. Engine No. 124, called the 'Pony,' is constantly on duty, day and night, as switch engine. Her fires have hardly been extinguished for nearly two years. She is under the control of Charlie McCabe during the day, and Wilson Jones at night, and is never idle to exceed an hour at a time. Mr. Sloe am has control of the round-house and motive power. He recently succeeded Mr. C. A. Swan, Sr., and comes highly recommended as a polite and affable gentleman as well as a skillful mechanic. Every engine before it leaves the round-house is subjected to a rigid scrutiny by him and his assistants, and if the smallest defect exists, it is detected and remedied at once.

" The repair shops, situated near the round-house, where all defective cars passing through are repaired, are under the control of Mr. Frank Shield, an experienced mechanic. He also has charge of the wreckingcar, with which he responds promptly day or night when a wreck occurs on his division of the road. He is assisted in his duties by Benj. Rushworth, John Harney, and James Graham.

" While on the subject of the railroad, before closing we will add that Roodhouse contains the only round-house and repair shops between Rloomington and Louisiana, Mo., that its location at the junction of the Louisiana branch makes all the appliances that the company has at this place a necessity, and that when the Louisiana branch is extended to Kansas City, Roodhouse will then necessarily become a much more important point to the company than it now is. It occupies a position exactly central between Chicago and Kansas City, the two termini of the road, and will of course become the end of runs, and will occupy a similar relation to the western branch that Bloomington on the main line does to the Jacksonville branch, which there forms a junction with the main line running from St. Louis to Chicago. The St. Louis branch of the C. B. & Q. passes one mile west of Roodhouse, crossing the Jacksonville branch of the C. & A. a short distance north of White Hall. There is a switch and shute on the C. B. & Q. one mile west of Roodhouse, thus securing to stock shippers, lumber dealers and merchants competing rates at all times to both Chicago and St. Louis."

town was incorporated under the State law. The first trustees were John Roodhouse, John T. Rawlings, Dr. D. B. Moore, and David Kirkland. Mr. Roodhouse was elected President and Mr. Rawlings Clerk. In February, 1870, the town organization was repealed and a viHage organization substituted. The officers of the board, during 1875, were A. M?Dill, President, John Dacy, Clerk. In 1876, the first year of village organization, the officers were as follows:

President, E. H. Sawyer. Trustees, John A. Taylor, A. M. Dill, Matt. Sterritt, Fred Hudson, John A. Towner. Cleric, James F. Walker. Magistrate, George W. Thompson. Street Commissioner, James N. Sawyer. Constable, Thomas Jones. Attorney, D. C. Mclver. The present village officers are President, D. T. Foster. Trustees, Ellis Briggs, John A. Ta3'lor, Matt. Sterritt, Peter Dunbar, Fred Hudson. Magistrate, G. W. Thompson. Clerk, Thomas R. Saltar. Constables, William T. Sitton, Thomas James.

Among those who have occupied prominent positions in the business of the town, since the completion of the Louisiana branch of the railroad, may be mentioned the following : B. Nathan erected a store building in 1874, in which he sold notions, stationery, etc., for several years. N. H. Clark built a restaurant, which he has operated for some time. Messrs. Freeto & Bullard were at the head of an active tinware and stove business for several years. Sawyer & Drennan were for several years in the first rank as merchants. They sold dry goods in one building and groceries in another. In 1871 Armstrong & George formed a partnership and dealt in hardware, groceries, and lumber. In 1874 the firm gave place to Armstrong & Sharp, which added a stock of dry goods to the already large establishment, and a little later opened the first bank the village ever contained. In 1876 this firm dissolved, and divided the business between the partners. James Armstrong took the lumber and building material, selling also wagons, etc. In Feb., 1879, he sold out to Bundy & Worcester. George Armstrong became proprietor of the grocery, queensware, and hardware department, and P. J. Sharp assumed control of the stock of dry goods.

Gillham & Brother built a good business house in 1875, occupied it for a short time, and sold out to Haggard & Lowder. Subsequently Haggard sold out to Bradshaw, and the'firm became Bradshaw & Lowder, and as such sold groceries until a recent date. In 1874, Mr. Watt, of Winchester, opened a furniture store, but he sold out to Ed. Sawyer, who still transacts a grocery business. In 1875, Briggs & Titus erected a fine flouring mill, with elevator attached, and for some time did a very large business. November 29, 1877, the building and its contents were entirely consumed by fire, inflicting a very severe loss upon its owners and upon the town. The loss was 820,000; insurance, $2,000. In 1878, Mr. Briggs, of this firm, erected a building to be used as an elevator, and connected it by means of an electric telephone with his warehouse in White Hall, four miles away. He now handles large quantities of grain. (See White Hall.)

James Walker owned the first brick kiln, which is now operated by W. T. Lowry. Wm. Cutler was the first to establish a foundry in the town, which he still owns.

Roodhouse has had a number of newspapers, but only one strictly home paper remains. The first venture of this kind was an edition of the White Hall Register, called, the Roodhouse Signal, which was printed at White Hall. A similar edition of the Carrollton Gazette soon followed, called the Roodhouse Headlight. Its publication was discontinued about two years ago. Not long after, W. T. Lakin began the publication of the Roodhouse Independent in the town. This venture was not well sustained, and the paper was soon removed to White Hall, where it became the Greene County Democrat, and, in other hands, prospered for a time. In October, 1877, D. C. Mclver and his son began, in a very small way, the publication of the Roodhouse Review. Since that time the paper has grown until now it is, with one exception, as large as any paper in the county, and seems to enjoy the confidence of the community. In December, 1877, J. S. Harper brought a new newspaper outfit to the town, and established Harper s WeeUy Herald, a temperance paper, which throve for a short time, but in about six months died. The office was taken to Jerseyville, where it is used in the publication of the Jerseyville Examiner.

In 1876, the railroad company decided to stop all trains at Roodhouse^ for meals or lunch. Accordingly, they built, adjoining the depot, a large and convenient eating house, which was leased by Captain D. T. Foster, of Bloomington. Captain Foster gives the table and the comfort of his guests his personal attention, and his eating house is equal to the best on any railroad.

The Roodhouse Bank was organized in October, 1877, and the company at once erected the handsome brick building which they now occupy. The officers of the bank are E. M. Husted, President; George W. Armstrong and W. H. Barrow, Directors ; T. L. Smith, Cashier. The bank does a safe business, and has the confidence of the entire community.

The first school house in Roodhouse was the building first used as a depot. The first building erected especially for school purposes is now occupied as a residence by Wm. Jones, baggage master. The present brick school house was built in 1877. It is one of the finest edifices for the purpose in this section of country. The ground plan is 42^ by 43^ feet, basement story 8 feet, first story 11 feet, second story 12 feet, mansard story about 10 feet. There are two rooms besides halls and waiting rooms on each floor. The roof is covered with tin except the sides of the mansard, which are covered with slate. The whole is surmounted with an attractive tower in which the bell is hung. The workmanship is good, and the material, consisting principally of stone and brick, first class. The site is a beautiful one, in the northwest part of town, and consists of about two acres of ground, which slopes gradually from the building in every direction, except toward the east. The sewage is admirably arranged, the accumulation of water around the building being fully guarded against. The board of directors, composed of E. M. Husted, W. H. Barrow, and W. Lorton, chose Mr. Husted to superintend the work, and he succeeded in erecting a building of which Roodhouse may well be proud. There are three entrances with wide doors. The furnaces used were made by the Ruttan Heating and Ventilating Company. The partition between the rooms on the second floor consists of wide doors, which by means of weights can be raised, thus making but one room of both, a matter which will be very convenient, when public examinations are held. The building cost $5,180. The total expenditures, including grounds, was .'fO,000. J. F. Walker was the contractor, Fred Hosted did the mason and brick work and plastering, Sam. Stone the painting, and Freeto & Bullard the tin work. The plans were drawn by S. Pfiefenberger, of Alton.

L3-dia Swallow was the first teacher. N. M. McCullough was the first principal after the school was graded. The present teachers are H. M. Anderson, Principal, assisted by Misses Ann;i Lemon, Hale and Beene Rushworth. Total enrollment 254. Average attendance, February, 1879, 222.

Roodhouse Union Sunday school was organized in 1867, by J. C. Tunison, Superintendent. The first Summer the sessions were held in a private school room, with scholars from around the country, as there was no town at this time. The school room changed hands, and the school was moved to J. T. Rawling's hall, during the Fall of 1868. After two years in the hall, on the completion of a new school house, the Sunday school was continued through the first Winter session by such workers as Mrc. Wm. Thaxton, Mrs. John Roodhouse, Mrs. E. M. Husted, and others as teachers, and J. J. Short as Assistant Superintendent, as Mr. Tunison was away much of the time. Finally the school was re-organized. J. M. Armstrong was elected Superintendent and J. J. Short, Assistant. For four 3'ears no special changes were made, except the school increased in numbers, and a church organization began to form in connection with the school. Mrs. J. P. Drennan moved from Alton, in the meantime, and took an active interest. With J. T. Rawlings, John Roodhouse, E. M. Husted, James Vangiesen, and J. M. Armstrong to move in the matter, the Union church was built, which was the first in the place. A new organ and a map were bought, and the school increased to 150 scholars. The library consists of 400 volumes, and $100 is annually expended in increasing it. At the election of officers, in 1873, C. L. Savage was chosen Superintendent, J. M. Armstrong, Assistant, W. W. Buckmaster, Secretary, and W. W. Jones, Librarian. These officers held their positions for two years. In 1875, Mr. Savage resigned, and J. M. Armstrong was chosen in his stead, and continues to occupy the position. During this year the Congregational church was built, dividing the school and church, taking away forty scholars. J. P. Drennan was elected Superintendent, and W. Buckmaster, Secretary of the new school. It is now in a very flourishing condition, with C. I). Strang, Superintendent, and Perry Sitton, Secretary.

road to Kansas City, is just about to be opened, and a large increase of business over the road is confidently expected. The railroad company have prospected for water here, and, finding an abundance, it is confidently expected that the stock yards will soon be located here. It is also believed that Roodhouse will be made the end of passenger runs, and these advantages can not fail to build up a thriving town. No place in the county has brighter prospects.

simple. An energetic man, he worked during ihe pioneer days of Sangamon Co. as a rail splitter at forty cents per hundred. He became a prominent farmer of this county, and died in iS6o. His wife was Miss Sarah Follis. The marriage took place in Kentucky. Of eleven children born of this marriage, the subject of this sketch was the tenth. He received a liberal education, and at an early day became apprenticed to the trade of a tinner ; becoming a skillful workman. In 1878 he was united in marriage to Miss Josie Dugger, of Macoupin County, Hlinois

/^AREY LAWRENXE, Roodhouse ^-^ Carmine Nelson, laborer, Roodhouse Casey James, engineer, Roodhouse Casey John, telegraph operator, Roodhouse Champion G. W. laborer. Roodhouse CHAP3IAX ADAM, retired farmer, Roodhouse, Illinois. The above named gentleman was the youngest son of Luke and Grace Chapman, natives of Yorkshire, England, who crossed the Atlantic about the year 1820. The family then consisted of Sarah, Benjamin and William. A settlement was made in Virginia, where Luke, Hannah and Adam were born. Adam, born in 1S33, was but six years of age when his mother moved to Illinois ; his father having died during his third year. On arrival in Illinois the little party of emigrants first settled in Scott County, remaining one year, and then moving to Greene County. Adam lived with his mother during her life. He became a resident of Pittsfiekl, Pike County, two year.';. A hard working farmer, owning a good property, he became truly successful. Moving to l\oodhouse on ac. count of impaired healih. he invested in valuable town properly. Mr. Chapman was married to Laura B. Pea, a daughter of Ezekiel and E. M. Pea ; one child, Edward, born in Greene County. Christian Whitman, butcher, Roodhouse Clark Nicholas H. restaurant, Roodhouse Clarke H. A. physician, Roodhouse Clary J. M. night police C. & A. R.R. Roodhou-^e COBB L. E. retired farmer. L. E. Cobb was born in Burke Co., N. C, Feb. 24,

1810. At the youthful age of nineteen, he set out for the State o< Indiana, on foot. The distance, 500 miles was made on foot not over a broad level prairie, like many who settled in the West in an early day, but on his way, which comprised considerable of the distance, he crossed the range of mountains known as the Blue Ridge, in North Carolina, and Clinch and Cumberland. This long distance was traversed in twelve days, giving the reader some idea of the strength of character and indomitable will of the hardy pioneers, who will soon be known only in history. Arriving in Indiana, Mr. Cobb sef'ured employment in a tannery, also worke 1 as farm hand ; first entered Illinois in 1832; worked for a blacksmith two weeks, receiving five dollars therefor ; his bed at night, a puncheon floor; his covering, deer skins; a life made up of variety surely. Becoming proprietor of a small tannery, he earned his first $100, and purchised eighty acres in Macoupin Co. In Morgan County, he married Miss Mary Crum, daughter of Mathais Crum, a native of Virginia. In 1852, he disposed of his property there and came to Greene Co., where he bought a valuable tract of land, part of which now lies in the corporation of Roodhouse. There are seven children : Joseph, William, John, James, Mary, Margaret and Fanny. On closing this sketch, it is due Mr. Cobb, to state that he has won his way to a leading position through merit Cobbs Willis, laborer, Roodhouse Cochran John, fireman C.& A.R.R. Roodhouse Coke S. R. carpenter, Roodhouse Cole John, painter, Roodhouse Coles John, flour and feed, Roodhouse Cone G. W. eng. C.& A.R.R. Roodliouse Cooksy James, teamster, Roodhouse Corrington M. R. Roodhouse Cradock T. employee C.& .A.R.R. Roodhouse Currier Edward, laborer, Roodhouse Cutler William, founder, Roodhouse

DRENXAN J. P. ex-merchant, and prominent among the citizens of Roodhouse; was born at Kenton, Ohio, on the 15th of Sept., 1S15. Mr. D. grew to manhood in Ohio, and there received a liberal education. When the war broke out, he was living at Mansfield, Ohio, and enlisted in Co. F., 82d Ohio. Was Captain, Assistant Quartermaster in field until 1S64, and took charge of clothing, camp and general equipage until 1865. Since his location at Roodhouse, Mr. Drennan has proved himself not only a capable business man but one whose integrity is unquestioned. He has always taken a deep interest in church matters and the advancement of education