Walshville Township (part 1 of 2)

Walshville Township

About I Si; (here came to the neighborhood of Walshville Nicholas Voiles, Melcher Fogleman. William Stevens, Elias Baker and his son .lame-. Two or three years later James Jordan. Austin Grisham ami others settlei near. In l^ii J. W. Harrison. Thomas Evans. John Evans and Joseph Evans and in 182S Robert GZirkland made settlement in the same neighborhood. These men were in character and spirit similar to those I hat we have described in the history of other townships. The} were just as true just as brave as then' contemporaries and in the sections where the} located Ibeir influence has been as marked for good as the influence of pioneers who settled in other parts of the county. It has been claimed by some writers on the earlier history of Montgomery county that .lames Jordan who settled near Walshville, preached the lirst sermon ever delivered within the present boundaries of Montgomery county. We know, however, thai conflicting evidence exists to show honor and there is also tradition that one Henry Sears, of Hurricane settlement, deserves that credit. We leave the matter, however, to some more exact and precise historian. We are perfectly willing to leave these questions of minor importance to be ferreted out by someone more interested in minutia than the writer. Ahout the year 1840 John Simpson and John Ming made improvement of the lands upon which the present village of Walshville now stands. These two pioneers have lefl several descendants in this part of the county. The lirst marriage that ever took place in Walshville township was that of James Jordan to Elizabeth Grisham. This occurred in the year L825. h is related that Peter Cartwright organized a Methodist .lass at the residence of Elias Baker in the year 1824. Probably this was the first Methodist Episcopal class in Montgomery county. Rev. .Tames Jordan had organized a Baptist church at the residence of William Cline, which was later reorganized by the Rev. William Burge in 1836. No church edifice was erected until ten years later. This was a log structure and served the congregation until about 1862 when the organization decide,! to build a new place of worship and located it in the village of Walshville. This building was destroyed by fire in 1866 and in L869 they rebuilt their church, since which time the organization has passed through the varying experiences of prosperous conditions and depressions. In 1850 E. D. Smith opened a country store at what is now the village of Walshville. Some years later he sold his business to a Mr. Bowers. Bowers in turn sold to Chapman and Kennedy and they to Michael Walsh. In l<s:>-"' Mr. Walsh laid out the village and named it in honor of himself. The township, however, takes its name from the village. John King built his residence aboui this time and Seymour and Cline built a brick store room and put in a general stock in 1856.

Shortly alter Cline sold his interest to Eli Deshane, who afterward became sole owner of the stock. Mr. Deshane did quite an extensive business at Walshville and accumulated a very creditable estate by attention to business and the practice of habits of economy. William Kingston tor many years conducted a general merchandise business in the village, and several oilier- whose names are familiar to the people of this section may hi- named. Sanders & Hodges, Blevins & Denny. Hodges & Boyd. Thomas Barlow, Boone Copeland and A. T. Strange, the last named more recently engaged in business. A. T. Strange for the last quarter of a century has been very closelj identified with the affairs of Walshville township. As an administrator of large estates and as trustee for panic- left in trust he has had as much and possibly more experience than any other citizen of the township. He was for many years engaged in the profession of teaching; later, however, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, lie has been identified with organizations that have had for their purpose a union of the agricultural classes. He was an active organizer of the Grange and the Farmers Mutual Benefit Association. No man residing in that section of the county enjoys the confidence and esteem of the public more than Alex T. Strange. Among the physicians that deserve mention in these pages are the following: Ambrose Barcroft, John T. Koeu and M. S. Davenport. This trio of very worthy professional characters, each of whom has left his influence for good upon the locality, has moved on to the silent halls of the dead, and while their voices are hushed and while they are no longer able to practice their skill that others may live, yet what they have done is not silent ami the example of their lives is ever living. T. T. Smith, who lives just south of the village, is another id' the deserving citizens of the township ami he has been identified with much that has been done in the moral and social uplift of the community. William Neiman. who lives near the west line of the township, is a German-American who at different time- has represented his township on the board of supervisors, and along with him may be nai I Harm Reiser, who for a longer period of years served th.it township on the board than any of which we have record. Following Mr. Eeiser comes II. II. Monke, also of German parentage. This township is largely settled along the western and southern pari by thrifty German population and we are glad tn note that no part of Montgomery count} has a tunic enterprising people than VValshville tnu nship.

neighbor] I of the old town of Vanburensburg. It was made by John Hill in the autumn of ISKI. ami here the succeeding spring others came and made settlemeni near him. These early settlers came from Kentucky, and the year previous to their settlement near the lung they had spent in some other part of the statu. Among this little band were 1 Ian-is Revis, Henry Hill. Levi Casey, Aaron Casey, John Lee, Joseph Wright, Henry Piatt. It is related that these parties built their cabins in a group about a Large spring in that neighborhood. It must be remembered that not a few Indians were to be found near this place, and it is well known that the average BZentuckian of that day had no particular love for the red man. Somewhat later this little community was broken up by each of the parties locating mi different claims. Harris Revis made his claim near the southeast corner of the township, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1840. Several of his descendants live in the neighborhood of where this old Revolutionary soldier made hi^ settlement. Adjoining the Revis farm Henry Hill entered a claim, and his grandson and his granddaughters own the larger part of the old homestead. John Hill, the first pioneer, entered a farm in the same locality, and it is also in possession of his descendants. Levi Casey settled on what to-day is known as the Briggs farm, but in 1831 he sold his homestead and moved to Shelby county, where he afterward died. Aaron Casey, a son-in-law of Revis, settled on a farm near Samuel Hill, and John Lee entered a tract of land adjoining Revis. Aaron Case} afterward sold his farm to Samuel Hill. Joseph Wright, who was one of the fix the county seat, made settlement in this community, and Henry Piatt built a home near that of Joseph Wright. The farm settled by Joseph Wright passed to his son. Jarrett Wright, and is yet in the family Among the most prominent pioneers of Fillmore township was Newton Coffey, father of Cleveland Coffey and grandfather of Newton Coffey, who now lives on the old homestead. Newton Coffey. Si'., is the same who entered the tract of land where Mills] ion i now stands and afterward donated twenty acres to the county to be used for public purposes. Mr. Coffey came to Illinois in the fall of 1811 and settled west of the Hurricane about five miles. His nearest neighbors wen' those who were living over near the "burg," but in the spring of 1819 several settlers made their way to the neighbor] 1 of Mr. Coffey. Among these were

Easton Whitten, Colbert Blair, John Beck and Stephen White. All these were from Kentucky and originally from Virginia. Easton Whitten the next year made his settlement over on Dry Fork, and Beck settled just north of Mr. Coffey, and Stephen 'White and Colbert Blair just west of Mr. Coffey, near Shoal creek. The first mill erected in Fillmore township was in 1825 by John Beck, one of the commissioners appointed to relocate the county scat, and who selected Hillsboro instead of Hamilton, where the first commissioners had attempted to locate it. John Beck made his settlement not far south of the Yanilalia road, and the old mill, which was a treadmill operated by a yoke of oxen, stood on the George Blackburn place. Benjamin Rose built the next mill operated in the town-hip in 1S38. This was afterward sold to a man by the name of Austin, who did a very flourishing business for several years. The next mill was run by steam and operated by John Hill. It bad but one lnilir and the demands of the trade kept it going almost constantly. Harris Wright and James Kirk bought this mill and operated it until 1846. The sawmill first erected was run In hand. It consisted of what was called a whipsaw, and one man stood below and the other above, and in this way the log was ripped into boards. John Fuller in 1840 built a mill in the grove near where lie lives at the present time. (Deceased but a few days ago.) He operated it but for a year or two, when i( was sold and removed from the township. The first school ever taught in Fillmore township was in 1825 by Mr. Hatchett in a little log house that had been used by Aaron Casey as a residence. The succeeding year Benjamin li'obbins followed Mr. Hatchett, and thus from these humble beginnings the excellent school system which we enjoy to-day lias come. The first flame schoolhouse ever built in the township was in 1845 near the little village of Vanburensburg, and it was known as the Easley schoolhouse. In 1821 a burial ground was staked off on Dry fork on an old battlefield, where at one time, many years before, an encounter took place between United Stales troops and a band of hostile Indians The first interment in this cemetery was that of Stephen White, who died in the summer of 1821, and the first birth in the township was in 1819, which happy event occurred in the Famih of John Reck, and the first wedding was between John Revis and Patsey Coffey. The ceremony was performed by 'Squire Levi Case} and took place in 1822. The village of Vanburenshurg was laid out by Joshua White in 1S4"?, but prior to this time there had been a postoffice in the neighborhood, and as early as 1837 it is recorded that Benjamin Roberts kept the postoffice at Hurricane. This was the name which this settlement bore through all the earlier years, and the name attached to (he postoffice until it was abandoned by the rural route which was established from Fillmore through the Hurricane neighborhood about two years ago. Robert White kept store at tlie "burg" through the same period that Joel C. Traylor kept one ten miles further west. The "burg" had the reputation, during the Civil war and the period immediately preceding it, of being a tough place, and there is little doubt that the reputation which it held was justly earned. It must not be thought, however, thai many good people did not live in this vicinity. The years that have passed since then have borne away in their stream the unsavor} characters that made Vanburensburg a place feared by some of the more timid of our people forty years ago. Emery Wright is carrying on quite a prosperous business in merchandising at tins place. While there is no railroad within several miles of the place, this country store is patronized very widely, and Mr. Wright enjoys an excellent business. Jocie Lynn settled in this neighborhood some time later and acquired quite an estate, which at his death fell to bis sens and daughters, who at present live in Fillmore township. Dr. B. Haynes, a veteran physician, removed from East Fork township to Fillmore some thirty years ago. Besides being very successful in his practice, he has life of the community. He is still living on his farm and actively engaged in the practice of bis profession, though seventy-six years have left their marks upon him. Prominent among the settlers who came tn the township somewhat later than those mentioned in the earlier history of ihe township are Fred Snyder. John Fuller. Ed Hurd, Joseph Easley, Tom llai'\c\ and the Blackburn brothers. Most of these canic from Ohio, but were originally from Virginia. Moses Fuller, father of John Fuller, died but a few years ago. after having rounded out a century. Richard Blackburn, the eldest of the brothers, was the first to make Ids home in this section. He bought the property known as the old Bradley tavern and settled in that community about 1838. William Blackburn, George Blackburn. Charles Blackburn and Robert Blackburn came about two years later. They settled near one another and Eor many years this was known as the Blackburn settlement. All these brothers succeeded in building for themselves good homesteads. Their descendants own much of the lands formerly entered by their father-. Since the death of Fncle Robert Blackburn, which occurred about one year atro. Harrison Black- burn, oldest son of George Blackbura, is the oldest member of the Blackburn family now living, ilc resides on a farm in East Fork township. Imt. also owns the Tom Earvey farm in Fillmore township. Earrison Blackburn properly belongs to tin- sketch of East Fork township, imt his identity is Linked with the history of Fillmore township more closely. Lafayette Blackburn, only son of Robert Blackburn, lives on the homestead of his father. For many year,- Lafayette Blackburn was engaged in merchandising at Billsboro, and immediately following his removal from Eillsboro to Oregon he was engaged in real estate ventures in that western country. His son ami daughter have been engaged in educational and mining enterprises in the west. Stewart is at. present in Colorado, and Miss Blanche during the past, year has been making her home with her father at the old homestead. There are several members of the Blackburn family living in the neighborhood of Coffeen.

who lives somewhere in the west, and besides H. H. Blackburn, George Blackburn, Sr., has a -on. Ezra, living in St. Louis. Richard Blackbura also has a son. George, living somewhere in Kansas. A daughter of Richard Blackburn was the wile of Rev. T. W. McDavid, whose family we have noticed in the chapter on Fast Fork, .lames Kirk came to Fillmore anil settled in the north part of the township near Bost Hill. Flo afterward changed his location to the farm where he lived until a lew years before his death. Mr. Kirk was a very peculiar man. quiet and inoffensive, vet exerting a wide influence, lie was very successful in acquiring a large estate, and at the time of his death was one of the largest landowners in the township. Another family prominent in the settlement of Fillmore township and closely identified with the ('less family were the Bosts - John Bost, Henry Bost and Martin Bost, sons of Jacob Bost. who came from North Carolina in 1838 and settled on a farm about one mile south of the present village of Fillmore. His brother Aaron, who accompanied him from the old north state, -ell led -. mie w! ia t later on the farm now owned by .John I. Bost. at wdiat is known as Host Hill. Henry Bust, who died some years ago. left surviving him several sons and daughters, among whom is Rufus Bost. who lives at present in Oklahoma: Durley, who lives iu Christian county, and Victor, who is engaged in agriculture and stock-raising un a farm smith of Fillmore. Victor Host has been very successful in a financial way and has earned the reputation of being among that class of our citizens who reflect high credit upon the community by the moral standards which they have adopted. Mr. Bost war- for several years the president of the County Sabhath School Assoeiat ion. and by his interest he has contributed very largely to the success that has come from this union of effort. John Bost for many years lived on his father's years retired to the village of Fillmore and has given the control of the farm over to his son, John Q. Bost. who lives upon the ancestral estate. Martin Bost, who has been dead for many years, left surviving him a widow and ten children, among whom are Cyrus, Byron, George and Herbert, all citizens of Fillmore township. Among the daughters of Martin Bost are Dorcas, wife of Dr. John T. Eendrix, of Colleen. Dr. Hendrix until recently was engaged in the practice of his profession in the neighborhood of Fillmore. For several years the doctor enjoyed a wide and successful practice in the neighborhood of the village of Fillmore. However, in 1902 the doctor saw fit to change his location, and since that tunc has been residing in Coffeen. About the ti that the Bosts ca from North Carolina there came from New Hampshire and settled in his neighborhood Joseph Knowles, Alfred Bliss, the Lanes, the Richmonds and a man by the name of Fairbanks. Alfred Bliss settled on the mound near where George Richmond now lives. Like all the earlier settlers, he built for himself a loe house, in which he lived -nine years and raised quite a largo family of children, several of whom are to-day honored citizen- of the county. Some time as an itinerant minister and for several years "rode the circuit." No character in this section was more widely known than that of Uncle Alfred Bliss. He was among the few and thrift, in securing a small fortune. Mr. Bliss was a very successful business man. and no one had a keener perception of what constituted a good bargaiD than Uncle Alfred. For the last few years of his life he lived with his daughter, Mrs. White, over near Effingham. In the division of his estate he gave to his children and grandchildren, by will, an equal inheritance in all his property - that is, the child and the grandchild were made to share alike. At the age of more than fourscore years this aged patriarch closed his earthly career. By an active life, tilled with many valuable experiences, lie had earned the well-spent life is a legacy more enduring, more valuable to his children and grandchildren than any other which he could have given them. Charlie Bliss, sun id' Alfred Bliss, editor of the Montgomery News, will he aoticed in the article given the Montgomery county press. George Bliss, another son, lives at Nokomis and is a retired farmer of considerable means. George Bliss and wife have no children, hut the disposition of Mr. Bliss is such that all the children in his neighborhood call him uncle. They have, however, an adopted daughter in whom they are very much interested. Among the daughters of Alfred Bliss are Mrs. -Tames Moody. Mrs. L. ('. Allen (now deceased). Mrs. Devore (also deceased) and Mrs. While, who lives in Effingham county. Mrs. Moody lives with her son Charles at a ver\ interesting family, consisting of the son. (diaries, and several daughters. L. C. Allen, who married another of the 1'diss girls, has been identified with nearly all the progressive movements in his town and township for many years. He is at present conducting a private hank at Fillmore, and it is considered among the soundest financial institutions in the county. Mr. Allen built the first brick structure In the village and has been one of the factors in building up the wade of that town. His son Xed is conducting a hardware store, furniture store, undertaking, and at the same time (anil's a large line of vehicles and agricultural implements. Xed Allen and Anna, his wife, are much interested in the social life of the town. The Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Allen is a valued member, owes much to her efforts in building up a Sabbath-school, league work and the financial assistance which she gives to the different benevolences of the church. Xed Allen has inherited from his father energy, push and economy and to-day, although under forty years of age, he is one of the financially strong men of Fillmore. Ned is courteous in all his dealings and the trade which he has established is evidence of his honesty and fair dealings in business, frank Herron married Jessie Allen, only daughter of L. < '. Allen. At present Frank is cashier in the Allen Bank. Carl Allen is professor in the Southern Illinois Normal at Carbondale. lie is a rising young man and doubtless will occupy high place in the educational world. Joseph Kuowdes. who settled in Fillmore township in ls:!S. was the father of John Knowles. William Knowles, Joseph Knowles. dr.. and George Knowles. He had three daughters who were married to Alfred Bliss. Gideon Richmond and Martin Bost. Of these William Knowles. John Knowles. Harriet Richmond and Hannah Bust are vet living, hut much advanced in years. (1904.) George Richmond is the oldest son of the late Gideon Richmond and at present he is living on the old homestead. Ernest Richmond, a second son. died some years ago. The late J. B. Kane was for many years one of the most prominent figures in Montgomery county. He was associate judge at the time when the present courthouse was built. For many years he kept a stock of general merchandise in the north part of the township, lie had quite an extensive trade from the surrounding country and his store was a great meeting place for the north Fillmore people. .1. Bowers Lane had much to do in having the village of Fillmore located at its present site and his influence did much in having the contest between Chapman and Fillmore decided in favor of the latter. Ee was an excellent more road on the west side of Shoal creek, business man and lefl to his family < [ n i t < - an He raised a large family of children, who are estate. "Tim" Lane, his eldest son, is among among the honored citizens of this county, the popular business men of Fillmore and con- John and Richard Alexander are among those duels a general store at bis father's old stand, who formed the settlement on Dry fork im- "Torny" Lane lives in Litchfield and is en- mediately south of the present village of Fillgaged in genera] merchandise. Ora Lane, the more. John Alexander was the father of Mrs. youngest sun. died recently. He had several Thomas Sears who, by the way, was the daughters who are married and are living in mother in turn of Mrs. Isaac Hill, mother el' tlie i lei "hi id i'Iii K id el' Fd I n a i re ; I lis eldest daugh- our 1 1 resent states attorney, L. V. 1 1 ill. Richard ter, however, is the wife of A. A. Cress, of Alexander was among the prominent citizens Ilillslmrii. Muses Cress, father of Pan Cress, id' liis section of the county in his day. His came from North Carolina and settled on a sons Joseph and Samuel were well known and farm near the western boundary of the town- at one time were prominent in Montgomery ship where -"Little Dan" now resides, and it is county politics, dames Alexander, son of Richon this farm that I remarked in another chap- aid Alexander by a second wife, is the present ter than many of the old time agricultural circuit clerk of Fayette county. Peter Aleximplements may he seen. Dan Cress has been ander is a son of John Alexander and is well much interested in the growing of Norman and favorably known in Fillmore township, horses and line breeds of cattle, lie has one Mark Mason, father of Henry Mason, settled of the best stock farms in Montgomery county in this neighborhood at about the same time and mi it may he seen some of the best horses with the Alexanders. Henry Mason lives on and cattle. His son Frank is associated with the old Mason home and is among the few old him in the care and management of his estate, settlers, the first native horn of the county. Frank is a young man whose inclinations lead Mark Mason, Jr., is engaged in general merhim to adopt the vocation of farmer and stock ehandising in the village of Fillmore. He man in preference to that of a profession. maintains the excellent reputation borne by his The writer well remembers Frank Cress as a ancestors and those who patronize his place pertained to agriculture. Peter Cress who set- fairly. Mr. Mason married Miss Flora Blacktied in the north part of Fillmore township burn, daughter of Harrison Blackburn, of Cofcaiue from North Carolina during the '20s and ','1'11- William Snyder and Samuel, his brother, made settlement near Host Hill. The records were sons of Frederick Snyder of pioneer times. show that Peter Cress was a private in I'ouii- Neither of these lived to he old men, but tile tree's company during the Black Hawk war. influence of their lives has been felt in the It is a matter somewhat difficult to discover the community in which they lived. William relationship that existed between Peter Cress, Snyder left several sons, among whom arc Moso> Cress ami Jacob Cress, who were all John W. of Morrisonville, Fred and Ora, who came to the county at a much later date Dan- are married and live in this community. Sarnie] Cress and his brother Eli. Daniel, fro- nel Snyder also lefl quite a family of children, quently called "Big Dan." settled on a farm among whom are John II. ami Lafayette. near Shoal creek that had previously belonged These hoys, now in the meridian of life, are to Henry Hill. Sr. It was one of the first among the solid ami substantial citizens of settlements in the western part of Fillmore Fillmore township. The several daughters of township. "Big Dan" married lor a second Samuel Snyder are married and reside near the wife a daughter of , lames Kirk, who has been "Id home. John I. ander- i- another of the noticed in this article. \t the present time Mr. Fillmore farmers that deserves a place in this Cress lives on the old .Inn Kirk homestead. narrative. While he came to the township at a Fli C- ISS settled on the Hillshoro and Fill- later date than mam others, vet be has been very prominently connected with tin1 political and social life of its people. Ee married a .Miss Hill, sister of Sam Hill and a daughter of Henry Hill, the pioneer. By this marriage Mr. Landers lias several children, among whom are his son Samuel, now city superintendent of the Dallas (Oregon) public school. He is a young man of much promise and will be heard from in his country's history. Edward Landers ami John are fanners, living in Fillmore township. The daughters are all married to some of the best citizens in the community. Uncle John lives on the old home and is happy and contented as he passes down the evening of life. Harris Wright and Elijah belong to the pioneer Wright family. They are both men now in the decline of life, having Eought a good Sght, and they are waiting the call to join the ureal host of relatives and friends that have gone on. Jefferson Wright, son of Elijah Wright, is a prominent business man of Ramsey, [llinois. Stephen White, who died in ls'.'i. left surviving him two sons. Ambrose and James. Ambrose White settled near the west line of Fillmore i<>u nship not Ear from « here New Boston is situated, lie left two sons. William and Stephen. William White, the elder sen died a good many years ago and left surviving him ha J. White, Ambrose White and Stephen II. White, ha J., the oldest son of William White, is among the eldest school teachers of Montgomery county ami is actively engaged in the work of his profession to-day. Ambrose and Stephen II. are both engaged in farming ami live in the vicinity of Coffeen. Stephen White, second sun of Ambrose White and grandson of Stephen White, the pioneer, lives en a farm south of Coffeen at the advanced age of eighty-three years and may he reckoned one among the oldest Dative horn in the county. Stephen White has several sons who live on the old ancestral homestead. Docia White, daughter of Ambrose White, was the wife of John Boyd. She left surviving her several children, among whom are William. Stephen, Robert. Curtis and James. These sons live in the neighborhood whore they were raised. Among those who came to Montgomery county about the year 1840 was Henry Sellers. George Ohmert and Jo Sherman.

These settled north of the Vandalia road on what was afterward known as the Hoffman estate. The farm at present is owned by Byron Host. Henry Sellers left surviving him several >ons. among whom are Samuel. Daniel and John. Samuel Seller- lives in the west part of Fillmore township on the top of the hill on the east side of Shoal creek as you go from Coffeen to Fillmore by way of tin1 Sellers bridge. Uncle Sam is a unique character and enjoys telling a story as well as any man in the township. He is growing old. however, vet for one of liis age he is blessed with sood health. Sam has raised a large family id' children, all of whom arc grown ami have gone out into the world to build for themselves a fortune and a name. George M. Ohmert afterward removed to East Fork township. Among. the children left by George M. ohmert was Jacob Ohmert of Logan county, now dead, and Small, afterward the wife of Joel C. Traylor. She is living at the advanced age of seventysix vears ami has recent!} removed from the old Traylor homestead to the village of Coffeen. Harriet Allen was also a daughter of George Ohmert. Shi' was the mother of Dr. Allen and George Allen, who have been noticed in the chapter of Fast Fork township. McCager Wright, son of Joseph Wright, the pioneer, improved a homestead in the neighborhood of bis father. He died some lew years ago and left surviving him four sons: James. John. Charles and Cook. James and John live in the vicinftj of the old home, while Cook and Oharles live in other sections of the country. George W. Miller lor many years lived on the farm now owned by Tim Livingstone. lie was a very enterprising and energetic citizen and much interested iii the organization of the farming class into societies that would enable them to act in harmony and for their best interests, lb' was organizer for the Grange movement that swept over the west about thirty years ago. George Miller left surviving him George W. Miller, who lives on a farm in the western part of Fillmore township; David Miller, a carpenter, who resides in the village of Fillmore: William Miller, also of Fillmore and engaged in the same line of work as hi- brother David: Jack Miller, whose whereabouts are un- known to the writer, and several daughters, among whom are Mrs. I'. J. Hill, of Hillsboro, Henry Hill, the pioneer, Left among other children Henry and Levi, who settled in the neighborhood near where ilic present village of Chapman is located. Levi Hill died some years ago and left several sons who live on and near the old homestead. Henrj Hill. Jr., is at present living with his son-in-law, "Ted" Hicks, on the farm which he improved many years ago. Uncle Henry is nearly eighty yearsold and getting quite feeble; however, we see him occasionally en the streets of Coffeen. He has one son living a1 Hillsboro and another on a farm near the village of Coffeen. Peter Hill, the oldest son of Henry Hill, is engaged in coal-mining ami Jefferson, the second son. in farming and stock-raising. Another character thai we shall notice in our narrative of Fillmore is Jude Smith, who settled several years ago amidst of Shoal creek and immediately south of Bost Hill. Mr. Smith by years of toil succeeded in clearing away the forest and making for himself a comfortable home. He has. however, recently removed to the village of Fillmore that he may have a lew years of rest, to which he is entitled by reason of labor faithfulh performed. Mr. Smith has succeeded in rearing a family of interesting children, among whom are Delia and Bertha, teachers in the public schools of Montgomery county: and Walter and Milton, both of whom have left the profession of teaching for other lines of service. An older daughter is the wife of Archie Sellers, who is related to the Sellers family already noticed in this narrative. About the year 1827 Wooten Harris, accompanied h\ his sons Benjamin and William, emigrated from Hickman county, Tennessee, to Montgomery county, Illinois. The ancestors of Wooten Harris originally came from Wales and settled in Virginia. An older son of Wooten Harris, named Starling, remained in North Carolina on the removal of his father from that state to Tennessee. It will he noticed that Wooten Harris originally came from Virginia to North Carolina, thence to Tennessee ami thence to Illinois. Wooten Ilarri-. pioneer, had a brother Zachariah, who came from Humphreys county, Tennessee, to

Illinois in 1829. lie hail seven son-: Aneil, Benjamin, Zachariah. Pendleton. Jacob, Wooten and Henry. Wooten Hani-, the elder, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and for several years drew a pension from the government for services rendered during that great struggle. Benjamin, son of Wooten, settled on a farm since known as the Scribbner homestead. It lies southwest of the village of Fillmore about one mile ami a half. The sons of Benjamin were Wooten, Joel, Benjamin, Jr., William and John. He had four daughters; Elizabeth, Sarah, Prances ami Mary. Elizabeth was married to Henry Bost; Sarah to J. Bowers Lane; and Mary to Isaiah Toberman. Wooten Harris, sou of Benjamin, married Evelyn ('. Woolard in 1853. She was a daughter of the Rev. James Woolard, a pioneer Methodisl preacher; well and favorably known to all the earlier settlers throughout this section of the state. Wooten Harris. the xiii of Benjamin, was for many years an influential and esteemed citizen of Hillsboro. He was one id' the founders of the Haskill- Harris Hank ami when that institution failed it brought ruin to Uncle Wooten. yet no one who |.i,-i in thai institution ever blamed Wooten Harris for the failure. Wooten Harris left surviving him two sons. Henry and Bert, the latter, however, died some years ago. The former is nol living in this state nor is his whereabouts known to the writer. John Harris, a son of Benjamin, married Sarah ('. Toberman in 1857 ami by her he had two sons, Jasper ami Homer, ami also several daughters. Jasper and Homer are living on farms in this community. William B., son of Wooten Harris, the pioneer and who came with his father to Illinois in 1827, died in L875. lie had four sons. Thomas D., William M., Benjamin and Woolen: the latter died without issue. He had also seven daughters: Prances, who married Li \i Sears; Sarah, wife id' Whitfield Halford; Polly, wife of George Turnbo^ ; Betsey, wife of Prank Scribbner; Kate, wife of Robin Rhodes; and Mahala, the wife of Willis Casey. William M.. son of William B. and grandson of Wooten. the pioneer, lives at Bingham, Illinois, ami is at present in a fair state of health For one of his age. He was seventy-sis years

"I.I in March last. He is the lather of E. Harris of Goffeen, Illinois, and also of Nilla, wife of Willis Donaldson, station agent at Fillmore, Illinois. He has other children who live in Oklahoma ami Texas. Isaiah Toberman, who married Mary Harris, daughter of Benjamin, is (ho present owner of the old Harris estate, s< jtimes called the Seribbner homestead. Isaiah Tobennan has I'm- main' years been an active husinoss man in the village of carried on a grain and hay business in Fillmore, Chapman and Coffeen. Although a gentleman of considerable years, he remains active in the business cares of the large trade which he ami his sons have built up. Mr. Toberman for many years was engaged in farming and stockraising ami during the threshing season he operated a threshing machine for quite a nutnber of years. 1 have heard it stated that Isaiah Toberman is the only man in this section who ever made any money out id' running a threshing machine. He tells me. however, that by this means he largely built up his present estate. He is regarded as one of the very substantial citizens of the township. His soil Marion assists him in looking after the Fillmore part of the business and Benjamin until recently had charge of the work' al Chapman, while Walter was in control of the elevator and hay business at Colleen. Ben has recently moved to Coffeen and Walter has removed to St. Louis to look after their large interests in the city trade. Elijah Donaldson, who is at present living in the village of Fillmore, was formerly a resident if Witt township ami served as supervisor for that township several terms. lie also represented this senatorial district in the stale legislature as a Democrat. He was

Palmer for the Hnited States senate. 1 think, however, that when Palmer deserted the Democratic party in L896 thai Elijah refused to wear his lot badge and relegated it to a place among the antiquities which he expects tn bequeath to his children. Mr. Donaldson is an active Inisiness man and has been unusually successful in all his ventures. He is engaged in the real estate business and in looking after his landed property north of the village of Fill- came fr Tennessee tn Illinois a few years liefore the Civil war and settled a few miles north of the present village of Bingham. Among his sons were Elijah, above mentioned, Presley and James. His daughter Sarah married Daniel Griggs, who is at present in business in Fillmore. Aaron Butler, ex-sheriff of Montgomery county, is another of the prominent characters of Fillmore township. He was married to Miss Jane Casey and settled north of the present village of Fillmore about the close of the Civil war. Here by industry and frugality he added much to the estate which his wife held from her father, John Casey. Mr. Butler has retired from the farm to a beautiful home in the village of Fillmore. Here he and his wife, after the struggle of raising a family is over, feel that they are entitled to the pleasures that a substantial income may furnish. Mr. Butler is a pillar in the Methodist church at Fillmore and has done much to build up the society at that place. Dr. Short and Dr. Hoyt. his son-in-law. are the only physicians resident in the village. Dr. Short has practiced his profession in that community for many years and has not only built up and maintained a widi practice, but at the same time has gathered a fair competency for his declining years, and be it said to his credit that no man in Montgomery county has given better opportunities to his children to secure collegiate education than lie. His sons William and Sheridan are both practicing physicians, while Walter, after completing a course at the University of Illinois, received an appointment in the United States Army. Bird, bis younger son, we understand, is also preparing himself for a physician at Marion-Sims Medical College. He has two daughters. Lutie and Stella. Lutie is the wife of Dr. Jesse Hoyt, of Fillmore, and Stella is the wife of Walter Toberman. of St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Hoyt, of Fillmore, is among the leading physicians of this section of the county, and his wife acts as his assistant in the postoffiee. Horatio Prater, son of Asa Prater, lives on his father's old homestead near the center of tlte township. He has held various township offices and is regarded in every way as an exemplary man. His mother was time was slier iff of Montgomery county, and a sister of J. C. Brown, who lives near Coffeen. The long roll of reputable and deserving characters who have contributed to the history and many who are to-day adding to the materia] progress of Fillmore township we are compelled by lack of space to omit from this narrative.

A long time ago, in the year 1820, William McDavid came from Tennessee and settled in East Fork township near the famous Fox Indian spring and here for forty-six years he made his home. Children grew up about him and in turn made homes of their own. Mr. McDavid was an eccentric character, a man possessed of far more native ability than the average. It is related that after he had made settlement that occasional visits were made by individual members of the Fox tribe to the vicinity of their former home near the Big spring down as late as the year 1835. T. W. McDavid. the youngest son of Uncle Billy, lives on the old homestead, where he was horn more than seventy years ago. When Mr. McDavid came from Tennessee he was accompanied by Jesse Johnson, his father-in-law, who settled in Grisham township, near where the village of Donnellson now stands. Alter Mr. McDavid, James Card made settlement in East Fork township in 1821 and located on the farm now owned by Daniel Cress. Mr. Card lived for one war at this place when his wife having died, he returned to Ids former home in Kentucky. He came back, however, in is-.':; and settled in the north part of Fast Fork township near the Irving line. He remained here for two years and then removed to Fillmore township. It is remarked of Mr. Card that he was a remarkable man in many respects, daring, intrepid and intensely religious. AD. Card made the first overland trip from this section of the county to St. Louis. He had no means to direct his course but a small pockel compass and of necessity he was compelled to cut his roads through the woodland and to make a fording place across the stream. It required many days' traveling with his slow ox team, but his return trip was fully as difficuH because of being heavih loaded with supplies, which he had purchased in St. Louis. Many of Mr. Card's descendants yet reside in this county. A settlement was formed in the south part of the township in the years between 182] and L826 and among those whose names appear we find as follows: .Joseph Williams, John Kirkpatrick, E. Quinn, Henry Rowe and David Bradford. Williams settled on the farm which was afterward know n as the Riley Hampton Mound. It is now the home of Rev. Alexander Hampton, a grandson of Joseph Williams. Kirkpatrick located over near where the village of Donnellson stands. The exact location of these other earl) settlers is not known. In 1826 Benjamin Rhodes came from Indiana and settled on section 8, in the north part of East Fork township. His was the only cabin in this part of tlie township for some years. William P. Linxwiler, a step-son. afterward owned the Rhodes property and later sold it to Joel K. McDavid. In 1824 Jordan Williford came from Tennessee and located on a piece of land near Uncle Billy McDavid's. He lived on this place about three years and then sold out to "Mr. McDavid and moved over on Shoal creek. where he remained until 1856, when he removed to Arkansas. Jordan Williford had a large family of children, among whom was Andrew .1. Williford, a minister of the primitive Baptist church and well known throughoul this section for a period of many years Oncle Jackie Williford, as he was called, preached at Bethel, just north of where Coffeen now stands, for a period of nearly half a century. Air. Williford has left several sons, who reside in Montgomery county. Grandsons of the elder Jordan Williford, the pioneer, ami tin' son- of A. J. Williford. the preacher, are James Williford, of Litchfield; Thomas Williford. who lives in Payette county; Hiram Williford, the SCl I teacher, also living in Payette county: and A. J. Williford. Jr.. the efficient cashier of the Nokomis National Bank. These men are well known and respected in the neighborhood in which thev were reared, as well presents an article in tins work under tin.' head of the banks and banking. It? perusal will be of interesl to all who have not studied the Win-kings of thi' national hanking system. Mr. Williford. the cashier, has an elegan! home and most interesting family in the city of Nokomis. Here ho has lived for several years and during this period he has established a reputation in connection with the hank that makes his services of great value to that institution. His success proves that a young man of energj ami industry, coupled with economy. may within a few years provide for himself the things necessary for the comfort and happiness of those dependent upon him. Mr. A. J. Williford. Jr.. was married to Mary Johnson, a daughter of the late Ben E. Johnson, of Hillsboro. Their union has been blessed with a family of several hoys and mil-. Hiram Williford. the teacher, has hut one son. who has received an appointment as a eadet jn the military academy at West Point. This young man. Forest Williford. has the making of character that some day will command the resped and esteem of his fellows. We base this assertion or assumption on the fact that the elements of the pioneer and the preacher have cume down through the generations to find expression in the efforts and achievements of this scion of one of the pioneer families. Two brothers by the name of Mann came to settle in the northern part of East Fork township about the year 1830. One of these was the father of Robert Mann, who for many years was a prominent citizen of Hillsboro. Samuel Ilaller made a settlement some two miles north of where Coffeen is now located. Mr. Ilaller raised a large family of children, man] of whom have been promineni in county and local affairs. Henr] Ealler for many years lived -,r Eillsboro and was engaged in different lines of business at that place, lie died some two or three years ago. Jacob Ilaller. of Nokomis, I, ne ef (he must successful farmers and stock men of the county, is a sun of Henry Haller. Dr. T. P>. Haller, recently deceased, was also a son of this pioneeT settler. Dr. Haller for many years was engaged in the practice of his profession at Vandalia and it was here that he built up a large and Lucrative business. Caleb Traylor built the first mill in the township at the place now known as New Boston. This was in the year 1836. lie ami his father. James Traylor. had come frmn Kentucky the year previous. The elder James Traylor was one of the first school teachers within the county and some few of the older citizens remember having attended his school. Caleb Traylor was most unfortunate in the operation of his mill. On one occasion his hand and arm were crushed in some of the machinery and later he fell from some part of the upper story upon some timbers below and broke his neck. This was unfortunate for the family of Mr. Traylor n more ways than simply the loss of his services as bread winner for his Eamily for having a large family of boys, the advice and council which a father alone can give was [osi lo them at a period when they needed it so much. The second mill built in Fast Fork township was operated l>\ D. M. Williams. It was in the neighborhood of Traylor's store hut built before .loci C. Traylor established his store in that part of the town-hip. This mill was operated for a period of twenty years or more ami was finally sold to Alfred Bliss, of Fillmore, by Joel C. Traylor, who had come into possession of it. The writer has faint remembrance of this "Id mill. For as a child he played with others about the yard at hide and seek among the logs. Fort] years have gone by since the removal of the old mill, yet a o » of the old logs are to he seen lying about in their decay, marking the place of one of the earlier enterprises of the township. The water still Hows from the old spring, vet little trace of the pond that collected it.- waters for the use of the mill is to he found. The burstones that ground the corn into meal were reserved when the mill was -old ami these -tones are to he seen in the yard at the old Traylor homestead. Thefirst store doing a general merchandise business was opened by duel t '. Traylor in the south part of the township in 1844. For many years Mr. Traylor gathered the produce from the surrounding country and hauled it overland to St. Louis, bringing back in return such merchandise as the people at that time re- quired. I'ntil the building of the 1. & St. L. Railroad it was the custom of Mr. Traylor to send down a wagonload of produce every week in the year. To do this it became necessary to have two wagons and while one was on the trip tn tin' city, the other was engaged in gathering its load for the succeeding week. Many of the old citizen- of the south pari of the county will remember these weekly visits of his produce wagon. In this way Joel C. Traylor, who having been a cripple from birth and requiring the assistance of crutches by which to walk, was possessed of that same spiril as the other pioneer settlers and the thought of asking assistance because of his condition would have stung his pride and he would have resented as an insult the charge that he was unable to make his way as other men in the world. Traylor's stove was a ureal meeting place for the country for miles around on election days, at conventions ami the annual horse show which took place here in the early spring of each year. Here were brought together some of the I. reeds of horses that would sound familiar by name to our readers of that generation. Jim Kirk usually would have at the show his Copper Bottom and Stump-a-deler and Tom Whitton with his Diomede (Old Tom Benton) and Uncle Clem Aydelott with Eed Lion, Uncle John Trice with Old Archie. These are a few who would congregate and take much pride in showing the good points of their stock. These were horses of endurance and I doubt that Montgomery county can show a grade of horses superior to those that were bred in the county just prior m the Civil war. While the introduction of our large, beefy Norman and Clydesdale horses have added a spirit of docility, they have at the same time so reduced the endurance that the horse found on the farm to-day is not the equal to those which our fathers bred forty years ago. Among those living in the Traylor settlement were the Roper-, the Wardens, the Neals, Laws. Thackers. Hawkins. Aliens. McCaslins, Harrisons, Jones and the Woods. The Ropers removed from this section to Missouri some thirty-five pears ago. Nathan Warden, a carpenter, settled near the old mill about the year 1845. He came from Kentucky and was regarded as a most quiet and inoffensive citizen. Together with his good wife. Aunt Polly, he lived in this vicinity until about twenty years ago, when he removed to the neighborhood of Walshville. He died here some ten of twelve years ago. Quite a family of boys and girls were raised by Mr. Warden and several of these reside in Montgomery county. His second son, Alfred M. Warden, studied law with Judge E. Lane, of Hillsboro. This young man left the ancestral h ami settled at Washhurn. Wisconsin. We understand thai "All"' has become quite a prominent citizen in his adopted home Having been elected to positions of honor and trust in his county, we are glad to note that a fellow schoolmate is succeeding so well in the world. He is at present judge of the city court of Washburn, Wisconsin. Hugh McCaslin and his brother Graj settled near the line between Bond and Montgomery counties early in the '30s. Hugh's home was over in Montgomery and Gray's just across the line in Bond. Hugh McCaslin lived to the good old age of ninety-three. He left several sons who have been prominently connected with the affairs of the neighborhood and county. Wiley F. Mc- Caslin, the wagonmaker, recently died at the age of eighty-three and Mark McCaslin. his brother, wbo lived in the vicinity of Nokomis, has been dead for several years. Wiley Mc- Caslin leaves a son. William S. McCaslin. who is a business man of Coffeen, and one maiden daughter, Miss Ella, a school teacher, who lives on the old homestead in the Traylor neighborhood. William Neal came to this county at the same time that his father-in-laf Uncle Douglas Young made a settlement on Bear creek. William Neal was regarded among his neighbors as a strictly religious and moral character. He was identified with the church work of the neighborhood I'm' many years and assisted in building the Methodist Episcopal church at Edwards Chapel and the Free Methodist church at Walnut Grove. X" man in the neighborhood enjoyed the confidence <>f ever} one more than did William Xcal. I I' lie ever had a difference with any of his neighbors, there i- no tradition that relates it and in the memory of the writer he stands out in hold relief as the exemplar}' Christian, father and neighbor. William Neal and his wife, Sarah, have passed on to that country from which no traveler returns. They Lefl several children and grandchildren, among whom are Allie. who lives in Eillsboro, and Burton, a minister, who resides in St. Paul. .Minnesota. Their oldesl daughter, Ellen, who married Cyrus Bost, died early in life leaving one daughter, Zella. who is our present stenographer. Dona and Frances live at Greenville, Illinois, the latter the wife of Albert Eayden. William Laws, who is ye1 Living at the advanced age of eighty years, made settlement near Walnut Grove some sixty years ago. Mr. Laws married a daughter of Gray McCaslin and by her has raised several children, among whom are Thomas G. Laws, the presenl postmaster at Coffeen; C. L. Law-, township treasurer: and Wilson Laws, a merchant of Donnellson; several other children whose whereabouts are unknown to the writer. Dr. B. Haynes also lived in this community for a number of years and was one of the leading characters in the community. The doetoT had the largesl family of any one in the neighborhood and it was a great pleasureto the boys and girlswhen thetimecame for a party down at the doctor's, for we well knew that it meant a good time, as the doctor never tailed to provide for the entertainment of i he young folks. George Wilson, who settled on the old Davenport place, was another to eontribute to the upbuilding of the schools and churches of the neighborhood. Uncle George and Aunt Jane never failed to attend Hie prayer meeting and the Sabbath-school unless by sickness or some unavoidable cause they were prevented. Uncle George is living at Donnellson, enjoying the evening of life as well as ,.ne of his advanced years could expect. Aunt Jane has gone to her reward and if ever it might he said "I know that my Redeemer liveth," none could have left behind an evidence of a trust more abiding and assuring than she. John S. Stevens, who had spent his earlier life upon the high sea> and who had visited almost everj quarter of the globe, by chance drifted into Montgomery county. It was here that he met a young widow by tin1 name of Betse] Brown, a daughter, however, of William Cannon, of whom we have before spoken at length. The hardy sailor succumbed to the charms of the young widow and in due time they were married and after a few years' residence on Hear creek they came to live in the settlement at Walnut Grove. Here they have raised a large family and here they have acquired quite an estate for themselves ami for their children. The elder son. Thomas, died hut a short while ago and left surviving him three sons, who are earnest and industrious young men. John Stevens. Jr.. live- on the farm and has acquired quite a reputation as public auctioneer. Mary is the wife of I. J. Brooks and Eliza is the wife of H. H. Brooks, while Permelia is the widow of Henry Root. Commodore is living on the old homestead and i- regarded as a shrewd business man. Robert Milner settled just west of the Hampton Mound about 1850. Quite a colony came from the eastern part of the state in Edgar county ami made settlement at the same time with Mr. Milner. Among these were the Hawkins, the Gordon, the Tennison and the De-art families. Robert Milner was a very excellent citizen. He had but two children: Isaac and Jennie. Isaac Milner was married to Emma Frame and together they commenced the building of an estate. Isaac was unusually fortunate in his investments and being a Earsighted business man, he promised to become a man of much means, but early in life he was seized with consumption and died almost at the beginning of the race in which so much had been expected. He left a son, Alva, who has since grown to manhood and occupies the homestead of his father. Alva is an energetic fanner and stock man and will accomplish good in the world. Thomas Wood came into this part of the township in the latter part oi the '20s and settled near Sugar Camp branch. He wa- the earliest settler in his immediate neighborh 1. Captain Peter C. Wood is a son of

Thomas Wood and is the oldest living person born in East Fork township. Captain Wood is rather a remarkable man in many respects. During his early manhood he spent much of his time in study, preparing for professional life, and has during all the years since been a very wide reader of scientific and literary hooks. Few men in the township have so wide a knowl- edge 01 so practical an education as Captain Wood and his reminiscence of men and earlier times is very interesting to any one who desires a knowledge of the earlier settlement of the country. Captain Wood served as a volunteer through the Civil war and was captain of a company during a greater portion of that time. John W. Young, a son of William Young, who settled near Donnellson in 1830, pushed eastward across the prairie and settled near the homestead where his widow now resides. John \\ . Young was the must successful stockman in the south part of Bast Fork township. He was Eor several years an extensive buyer of hogs and cattle and shipped by way of Donnellson to St. Louis and Buffalo markets. He was a man whose integrity could not be impeached and who established a reputation for scrupulous honesty in all his dealings with his fellow men. It lias been said of him that a widow or an inexperienced hoy would be treated with the same fairness that he would show to the experienced trader. Mr. Young by his industry and eeonnini acquired a large body of land in the neighborhood of Donnellson. By exposure, which the character of his business necessitated. lie contracted pneumonia and lived hut a few days thereafter. Mr. Young will long lie remembered by those who knew him, for he was a faithful friend, a kindly father and a just man. dames W. Johnson, sun of Thomas Johnson and grandson of Jesse Johnson, the pioneer who settled near Donnellson. improved the farm now owned by Shelby Young, .lames Johnson, during the years of his productive manhood, acquired quite a competency, bu1 in an evil moment he was persuaded by designing men to invest very extensively in Chicago real estate. This was in 1892-93, just prior to the Columbian Exposition, a time when real estate sharks spread over the country their nets to catch the unwary. Unfortunately, Mr. Johnson in company with other- fell into the scheme that afterward proved his financial ruin. In 1903 Mr. Johnson removed to Portland, Oregon, there in tin' evening of life to begin over again life's struggle. No picture more sad than this, when through the years of our productiveness by thrift we have gained a competencv for old age to lind that in a moment of weakness we have been shorn of all and left exposed to the humiliations of an unsympathetic world. It is true that our friends may pity. ye\ even this to the sensitive soul is gall ami bitterness. Cozba Hawkins, with his sons. Aaron. Henry ami Matt, came to East Fork township with the Milners ami others. They were very successful as farmer- and acquired for themselves elegant homes in the south part of the township. The old gentleman and his son Aaron are dead. Matt has removed to Kansas and Henry is a citizen of Donnellson. Henderson Hawkins, a son of Aaron, lives at the country seat of his uncle Henry, which, by the

Caslin at least seventy-five years ago. Allen Edwards may he styled the pioneer of tin.' prairies, for he was the lirsl among the hardy spirits who pushed out into the midst of the prairie to establish a home. It required the effort of many years to improve and fence a large body of prairie lands. This is what Mr. Edwards did ami died before he was fifty years old. He left an estate of several hundred acres of land, which is the nucleus of the beautiful farms which his several sons now own as homes. The older of these is William T. Edwards, the present supervisor of East Fork township, while the second. John W., is an extensive land owner living west of Coffeen some three or four miles. Frank Edwards lives in Coffeen and is engaged in the banking business. He lias been very successful in his financial adventures and is regarded as one of the solid men of the community. Samuel Edward- is a farmer and stock-raiser. He is also engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock from Coffeen. The two younger sons, Amos and Allen, Jr., are very successful and are rated among the substantial citizens of the township. R. S. Allen came to Illinois from North Carolina in an early day ami was employed by Joel C. Travlor as helper in his store and in the huckstering which he carried on between the people of his neighborhood and St. Louis. Mr. Allen proved himself an efficient a - i.-tant to Mr. Traylor in his work, and while he was winning the respect and confidence of Ins employer he also won the regard of Harriet Ohmert, the sister-in-law of Mr. Travlor. lie was married to Miss Ohmert and settled within a few rods of the Tfaylor homestead. Here be lived for several years and here were reared his sons, Dr. W. A. Allen, of Donnellson, and (ieorge N. Allen, who lives on a farm some three or four miles west of Coffeen. Robert Allen died some ten years ago, hut his influence in the community in which he lived and with those with whom he had associated will ever remain until those who knew him have followed him into the great beyond. Mr. Allen was of a devout character and the religious bent of his mind influenced others to a consideration of these great subjects. Harriet Allen, the mother and wife, has also laid aside the cares and burdens of life, for she. too. has followed her husband Robert S. Allen into that far country from which they will return no more. Dr. W. A. Allen has practiced his profession in the neighborhood of Donnellson for the last quarter of a century. He has arisen by attention to business tn be recognized as one of the leading phvsicians in this section of the state, and while he has succeeded professionally he has also acquired an extensive estate of some twelve hundred acres of choice land in the neighborhood of Donnellson. George N. Allen, the younger of the two brothers, while never a robust man of health, has succeeded in a financial way and has an elegant farm of four hundred acres, the larger part of which is rich black soil and for which he has refused quite a little sum of money. Mr. Allen is a director in the Hillsboro National Bank and has interests in Arkansas timber lands. Recently he has purchased an elegant residence in the village of Donnellson, to which he will remove in the near future. His suns Orin and Cullen will take charge of the farm and conduct it along the same lines in which their father has been so successful. Tobias Thacker settled near William Laws, having married a daughter of Gray McCaslin and a sister to Mrs. William Laws. Tobias Thacker was a sou of Allen Thacker, who lived in the north part of Bond county and who reached the extreme age id' one hundred years. Mr. Tobias Thacker, however, died at the age nf about seventy years. Uncle Tiihe. as we used to call him, was a man noted for the firmness of his character. Indeed, it has been said of him thai in some instances his firmness amounted to stubbornness, hut withal Mr. Thacker was so sure of being right that hi' was persuaded that the position which he took on any question was necessarily right and needed no defense whatever. Uncle Tobe was a lirm believer in the Presbyterian confession of faith and for many years he was the chief supporter and mainstay of the Presbyterian church in his neighborhood. There is no doubt in the minds of those who knew him hut that Uncle Tobe earned the plaudit of "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Quite a number of sons and three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thacker. The oldest of these. Robert Thacker, is a man of exceptional mental power. For several years he was engaged in the profession of school teaching. Imt has since operated a telephone system in the south part of the state and a line of dairies along the Aandalia Railroad. Preston Thacker, a school man. has been engaged in his profession as superintendent of the city schools of Raymond during the past three years. He was a very formidable candidate on the Republican ticket for county superintendent of schools in L902. Although Montgomery county at the time gave to some of the Democratic nominees six or seven hundred majority, yet Mr. Thacker was defeated bythe small minority of sixty-one votes, and it is to his credit that this township, which is his home, although Democratic at the previous election by one hundred and fifty majority, reversed itself and gave to Mr. Thacker a majority of one hundred and twenty-four votes. Preston Thacker is a rising young man and if I might forecast his future I would give to him a prominent place among educators of our state. Gordon Nichols, a very worthy character, came and settled in that part of East Fork township known as Lazy Neck about the year 1850 and by perseverance and economy be was able to build up quite an estate which he enjoyed until some two years ago. when by an accident he was thrown from a loaded wagon and received injuries from which he shortly afterward died. Mr. Nichols has left several children in the vicinity of Coffeen. among whom are W. C. Nichols, an only son. Mrs. Frank Edwards,

Mrs. Sam White and Mrs. Newton Lyles. In the earlier settlement of the township a I'.nmh of Jones came to East Pork from Smith Carolina and among these were William. Martin P. and Hardin. Ea.eh of these three representatives of the Jones family have descendants in the neighborhood of Coffeen. Quite a good manv years ago Martin P. Jones was about the only counselor at law in the township and in the absence of James Davis, who was the only lawyer in the county, the word of Martin P. was sufficient in the courts of justice in this section of the county, and much of the law that we bear on the corners of the street in Coffeen to-day has comedown from some of the legal expressions of Uncle Mart. Hardy Jones was not the same type of man as Unele "Mart, for while Martin was hospitable to a fault and would share his last dollar witli a friend. Uncle Hard was as close in a financial sense as the hark on a blackjack. Unele Hani enjoyed his liquor quite as much as did any of the early pioneer-, but sir. "I buy my own liquor for my own use" is a remark attributed to Uncle Hard. While this spirit was not often met with at that early day. we do not find it infrequent in our own time and I believe that when it comes to a matter of drinking, if the social feature could he eliminated entirely, much less harm would he done. "Ki" Thacker and "Fee" were also early settlers in the western part of Lazy Neck and here they raised to manhood anil womanhood large families of children. These two old men yet remain and frequently may he seen on the streets of Coffeen. Both are intensely religious in their professions and the example of their lives is felt in the community in which they live. The most prominent family in the settlement of East Fork township was thai of William Mc- David. Flis son "Carroll," W. C. McDavid, who for nearly half a century was a justice of tin' peace, was the first child born in Fast Fork township of white parents, and although Uncle Carroll lived to he over eighty years old, he made hi- home within a short distance of where he was horn. It is said id' Uncle Carroll that during the long period that he was justice of the peace that no case decided by him was ever reversed in the circuit court. In religion he was a Cumberland Presbyterian, a man verj firm in his opinions. This feature of his character made him respected of all men and especially fitted him for the office which he held so long and which he so efficiently tilled. In early life \Y. ( '. McDavid was married to a Miss Hunter and to them was horn one son. James S. McDavid, the honored president of our village hoard. His second wife was Lydia Wilson and she bore to him Joshua. Emily and Logan. The first named lives in Hillsboro and i> deputy county clerk. Emily, married to David Xeisler. is living in Colorado and Logan lives mi the family homestead and is engaged in agricultural pursuits. Logan is a graduate of the Missouri Medical College ami stood high in his classes, lie preferred, however, the occupation of the farmer and -lock man rather than that of his profession, lie is by reason of his education and scholarly accomplishments an interesting gentleman. James S. McDavid is identified with the village of ( 'oH'oen in various wavs since its organization. James S. Mc- David has done much to further the best interests of the community. Like many other-, he became interested in the .-inking of a coal she I at this place and as a result he suffered financial reverses that swept away much of the property which by industry and economy he had been man\ years in accumulating. lie among those that have contributed to almost ever enterprise that has made Coffeen what it is to-day, and though he has lost much in property he lias not lost that genial spirit which makes and holds to him that class of friends who can appreciate his true worth. Thai he has faults is perfectly natural, for who of us have none? Put we have been able to discover few men among our associate- w were faultless, and it has been m\ observation that force of character and men of large individuality have some very grievous shortcomings, hut the wise friend will not condemn because of these peculiar kink- of nature. Mr. McDavid was for several years clerk" at tic shaft, city superintendent of schools and first assistant in the high school, member oi village hoard and president of the same, so that these evidences of the appreciation of hi- good qualities have not been lost upon the munity. T. W. McDavid, the younger sou of William McDavid, the pioneer, Lives on his father's old homestead. Ee is a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and has served his people as a faithful and efficient steward through many years. Ho lias raised quite a large family of sons and daughters. His eldest son, Frank, is state senator from the Springfield district in Missouri; his second son. Emmett, is cashier of the National Bank at Raymond; his son, Cook McDavid. has not bei n at home for several years and his whereabouts are unknown to the writer. Lester Mc- David was for several years a teacher in our public schools, but lias lately engaged in farming. Horace McDavid is a student at the Mi liken University. Horace is an exceptionally bright young fellow and doubtless will reflect credit upon his family ami the community in which he spent his youth. Several daughters in the family arc married. The oldest is the wife of M. B. Traylor, Denver, Colorado; the second is married to Lawrence File, of Irving, Illinois : Ella married Eolla Carr and is living in California: while Anna, who had spent some years in teaching, married George Beck and lives on the old Beck homestead. Minnie and Lena, two unmarried daughters, remain at home with their father. James B. McDavid. one among the most noted characters of East Fork, served his township and the county in official capacity at different periods of his life. Uncle Jim. unfortunately for himself and for his friends, in the closing years of his life allowed himself to he drawn into speculation, which caused him much worry and the loss of his large estate. Uncle Jim was a man of kindly disposition, hut at the same time very desirous of accomplishing his purposes, and having entered the vortex of speculation he was not satisfied to withdraw so long as he felt confident that he hail a chance of winning. Tn this case again we are able to point a moral, that it is dangerous to change horses while crossing the si ream, and so we find that there is an eleuieiii of danger always attending any change thai is made late in life from an occupation or profession in which we have achieved success In one of which we arc entirely ignorant.

.lames B. McDavid died hut a few years ago ami his vast estate was swallowed up in the settlement of claims that had been made to further his financial ventures into which he had been led in his old nge. Another character that we desire to notice at this time, who for many years was one of the most prominent in this seel ion of the state, is Joshua H. Wilson, lie was one of tile most extensive stockraisers, buyers and shippers to he found in southern Illinois, lie belonged to a class that existed in this country about thirty or forty years ago. Barney Hunter, of Bond county, and Jacob Strong, of "Morgan county, were his contemporaries and belonged to the same class as Mr. Wilson. At the time of his death, which occurred some thirty years ago. he owned nearly three thousand acres of land, hundreds of cattle, mules and horses, and the sale of his personal effects is remembered to this day as the largest public sale ever held in Montgomery county. .Tosh Wilson was one of nature's noblemen, ami like all men of large enterprises he was generous, sympathetic and kind. It is related of him that he furnished teams to those who might want to engage in farming hut had not the means to buy. He supplied poor families throughout the section with milch cows, only stipulating that they should he careful not to kill the calf with the churn stick, and if it were a question as to whom more acts of charity might lie credited, I doubt not that the name of Josh Wilson would lead lhal of any other in all this section. Mr. Wilson left surviving him two sons and one daughter. The elder son. William H. Wilson, is living on his father'- old homestead. Thomas H. Wilson, the second son. died some few years ago ami leli behind him three children, a wife and a good name. The daughter. Mattie Wilson, is now the wife of James B. Barringer of Hillsboro, who, by the way, is a grandson of William McDavid of pioneer fame. Harrison Brown, another of the early settlers and a neighbor of Josh Wilson, was at one time sheriff of Montgomery county. On the old Brown homestead lives J. C. Brown, familiarly known as Jack Brown. Jack is an excellent farmer and has succeeded in farming ami stockraising. For several years he has been engaged in breeding shun horn cattle and one of the besl herds is to be found on his farm. Daniel Sellers and Boone [saacs were also earlj settlers alnng the Vandalia road in East Fork township. Both of these old settlers have passed away but have lef 1 many children sur- \ i\ i ng them who are residents of di fferent parts of the county. Jus1 before the In-raking oui of the late Civil war, Leonard Fath, a German who had settled in Missouri and engaged in blacksmithing and farming, removed to Illinois and bought an extensive tract of land in the north part of the township. Be had several -mis who grew to manhood and became prominent in the political and social Life of the county. His son. Leonard Fath. Jr., was elected and re-elected to the office of sheriff and his son, John Fath, served the county as circuit clerk through a term of four years. John Fath has purchased property in CofEeen and will soon become a resideni of the village.

years ago might be mentioned Joel Holmes, Ruben Lewey, Dave Lewey, John Lewey and Wesle] Edwards. These formed part of a seti lenient near Allen Edwards' estate. Long pears age one Fountain Whitledge settled the farm on which the present village of Coffeeu is located. For some reason unknown he committed suicide and left his wife and children in possession of quite an estate. His son John, who lives in Hillsboro and is identified with much of the county's history, not caring to conduet agricultural enterprises, sold his father's estate to G. F. Coffeen and here comes into the history of East Fork one of the most unique and forceful men who has ever resided in this section. When the 1. & St. L. road was building, G. F. < toffeen. then a young man, had contracts for building certain parts of the mail. After the completion of the road, Mr. ( loffeen drifted into Montgi ry county. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising and no man though! more of a good horse than did Gus Coffeen. Mr. Coffeen represented his district in the state legislature in 1860. Tn 1880, when the location of the Toledo. Si. Louis & Kansas City Railroad was being fixed through this section. Mr. Coffeen was successful in having it located across his farm, and hv his influence he secured the location of the depot and siding at this place. It was also due to his energy and influence that the coal mine which has been everything to the town was located at tins place. Yet, Mr. CofEeen was more fortunate than the other stockholders in the Coffeen Coal and Copper Company, lie sold out his interests in thai concern for five thousand dollars and was the onl\ one of the original stockholders who made anything out of the venture while several of them lost not only what they put in hut thousands of dollars in addition. < ; ust ;i \ us Coffeen, in whose honor the village is named, in general appearance was a magnificent specimen of manhood, about -i\ fret in height, broad shouldered and weighing two hundred and twenty-five pounds. The intelligent expression of his face and bis physical hearing would attraej attention in any group of men. He was naturally a leader among his fellows. A partisan Demoi i ; 1 1 In stood for many years as a leader of that party in the community. An incident which he enjoyed relating occurred while he was serving on the claims committee in the state legislature. The famous W'anhvell gun claim was before the committee. That at Leas! one-half of the claim was "padded" was evident to all the members of the committee. The claimant- had secured just one-half the commune favorable to the allowance of the claim and it required an additional vote to report it out favorably from the committee. The agent for the Wardwells offered Mr. Coffeen twenty thousand dollars to make a favorable report, which, he it said to his credit, he indignantly refused. He states, however, that the claim was allowed at the succeeding session of the legislature. It is evident that in this case some one was found in the next legislature willing to take tin' bribe, ami it is further evident that the people were not protected against bribe givers forty years ago. nor are they protected against (hat favor-seeking class to-day, and only the adoption of a constitutional amendment providing for "The Initiative and Referendum" will prevent this whole-ale jobbing in special privileges by our state legislatures. W. S'. Barry, son of John Barry, of Hillsboro township, was for many years a prominent farmer and stock man. but unfortunately he eeame interested in the Cofieen Coal and Copper Company and was circled the lirst president iif that concern. Like many others that had to do with the Coffeen Coal Company, his experience cost him very heavily. Mr. Barry has always borne the reputation of being an upright and honorable man and the misfortunes which came upon him in his old age are much to he regretted, hut being of an ambitious spirit, it is to be hoped that out of the tangles of the company's business .Mr. Barry will be able to come off with a sufficiency to provide for his declining wars. Donald McLean, a Scotchman, settled in East Fork township about 1840 and secured for himself and his children several hundred acres of the best land in the township. Among those sons are John. Duncan. Xeil and Thomas. All of these men live on farms and are engaged in agriculture and stock raising. John and Duncan McLean both lost heavilv in the collapse of the Coffeen Coal and Copper Company, but with the accustomed spirit and energy of the Scotch blood, they have -one to work with will and will soon recover rom the losses which thej sustained. Henry Ludewick. who lives on the mound, is another early settler of the township. In his declining cars he enjoys the comforts of an elegant home and all that a competency may firing. His wife, however, has been an invalid for several years. Wood, an only son, is a very suei ssfu] stock raiser and £ ler. Calvin Paisley, who lives m the north part of the township, inner-: and the Funks, who live west of Mr. Paisley, are a German family who have acquired , uiie an estate by energy, thrift and economy. i Itto Funk, the oldesl son, is a musician of more than local reputation. After completing his -Indies in this country, he was for several years a -indent in Germany. We predict for him a brilliant future. Mr. Robert Funk, another -en. is among the successful business men of Irvine. Early in the settlement of the wide i mi re thai -i retches eastward from Hillshoro there came two brothers, John and Abner Short, and they succeeded in changing much of the wild prairie into beautiful farms. Both of these pioneers have passed away, but their sons are honored citizens of the county. John C.

Short, son of Abner Short, is one of the influential citizens of the township. He has a very interesting family, and it has been a matter of interest with .Mr. Short to give his children an education as thorough as our schools would provide and in this way his home has become a center of refinement. James Short, son of John Short, is living at Paisley, Illinois, and is engaged in the gram and hay trade. Mr. James Short is among the prominent citizens of his section and personally we esteem him among our especial friends. William Frame, an early settler of the county, was also a pioneer of the prairies and like most of those who left the skirts of timber and pushed out into the "blue stem" wilderness, has been richly rewarded for the privations which they for several years endured. Uncle Billy Frame has several children, who are at present among our best citizens. Amos and George live on farms in this township and Mary, his daughter, is the wife of Samuel Edwards, of Coffeen. Howard Young and Jacob Young are sons of William Young, the pioneer and brothers of John W. Young, whom we have mentioned in this connection. These men are among the substantial and solid citizens of the township. They enjoy the reputation for integrity and uprightness bequeathed to them as a legacy from their father. Howard Cress is another of our young men. who is establishing for himself a reputation among his fellow men that is without flaw or blemish. He is a nephew of Joseph P. Price and lives on an adjoining farm. Mr. Cress is related to the Fillmore branch of the Cress family. Joseph P. Price, who lives in the extreme northeastern part of the township, is a man of more than ordinary ability. He has served his township in various official capacities and lias also been a member of the state legislature from this senatorial district. Mr. Price lias a beautiful farm well stocked and well kept and though In- friends have tried to persuade him to move from the farm to the town, he has ver\ wisely refused to accede to their wishes. He is a Democratic partisan ami at present is committee-man for his township. Mr. Price is a gentleman of great force of character and he is an acquisition that any community might feel proud to have. Another character living in the rural section of the south part, of East Fork we must not fail to mention is Jacob Boohcr, living on the farm where bis Eathei settled early in the '20s, and is among the oldesl native born of the township. He has succeeded financially, socially, and otherwise in his neighborhood, He has served the township as supervisor and in other minor capacities. His older In-other, Thomas Booher, lives near him at the advanced age of eighty-two and is possibly the oldest native born except John Fogleman and John T. McDavid, in the county. In passing, we desire to notice a few of the more prominent business men of Coffeen as it presents a record today. We have Dr. Cook, the veteran physician of the community, still active in the practice of bis profession after torn years of service, and J)r. Entrekin, who also enjoys a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Entrekin has lived in Coffeen about fifteen years and is highly esteemed as a physician and public citizen. We have also Dr. Turney, who has lately located

Morse. Sam Walker. Oliver Edwards, Fiken & Company and Earry Hickman include those doing a general merchandise and grocery business. ('. A. Traylor carries on the only hardware establishmenl in town and Roberl McGuire and Al Mathews do a restaurant business and Robert [sley at the brick and John Barringer at the Morgan Eouse provide good things bo eal Eor all who may come this way. Charles Lewey provides us with the besl pork and steak and Clem Laws sells to the farmer harness, saddles and bridles and vehicles of all kinds. Jo Myers, the optician and jeweler, will sell yon a watch, will fix your eye,, or do anything else for yon in his line. Taylor Phipps, the barber, and Bud Jones, in the same line, are here to cut your hair and give you an easy shave. Ella Daly and Nellie Barkley each keep an eleganl line of millinery. We have two banks which will receive notice in the chapter on bank.- and banking. Our real estate men are the Edwards Brothers. Homer Roberts and L. R. Traylor. These will sell you anything from a town lot to a ranch in Texas. E. Harris, our furniture dealer and undertaker, does an extensive business. He is a licensed embalmer and in his preparation of tin. dead for burial has no superior in tin- section of the state. We are well provided with three livery men, who furnish the best turn-outs for little money. Mr. ( 'undiff, Mr. Fleming ami Mr. Bunton are all courteous gentlemen and supply Coffeen with everything needed in the livery line. The Toberman Brothers operate the grain elevator and buy hay. timothy and clover seed ami all oilier products that, come in their line. Jake Sherer and Jo Chumley each do a good business at blacksmithing. John Elam owns and operates the dairy at. this place, lie pays out several thousand dollar- to the farmers of this section annually for milk. We have four churches in the village. Possibly the Methodist Episcopal people have the largest following. The Five Methodists have a prosperous society here and the Cumberland Presbyterian church is in fair condition, although they have no regular pastor at present. Rev. Charles Koehler is the present Methodist Episcopal pastor and Rev. J. C. Sills officiates in the same capacity for the Free Methodist people. The Catholic society, which has I n established as an organization for several year.-, has not as vet built themselves a house of worship, but hold their services in the hall of the Howell Building. They have no resident pastor, hut are supplied by the priest at New Douglas.

This is the smallest civil township in the county, consisting of but one half of a congressional township. Formerly Harvel township comprised both Pitman and Harvel in its territory, but in 1878 on petition the township was divided and its present boundaries fixed. This township is possibly the only one in the county that reports no waste land. No settlements were made in tins section until 1854 when Herman Pogenpohl, a German^ made a genpohl. This gentleman, however, was a Frenchman and after living some ten years in the neighborhood, sold his farm to Joseph Vincent. We learn that Mr. Courcier removed from Illinois tn Texas and that he has accumulated quite a fortune in the Lone Star state. Nicholas Eankinson is another who made his settlement in 1854 north of Mr. Pogenpohl. Descendants of Mr. Hankinson still live near the village of Harvel. In is:,:, William F. Jordan, A. C. Jordan and ('. EL .Ionian made settlements in this prairie country. Jea& Baptiste Millett, a Frenchman, also made a settlement in Harvel at about this time. Be sold out soon thereafter to William Bockewitz. John Munsterman in the summer of is:,:, settled the farm in the northern part of the township, which he afterward sold to Conrad Weller. B. Tulpin, a Frenchman, is another of the early pioneers of Harvel township. Mr. 'rnl], in afterward engaged id ousmess ventures in the village of Harvel. The village of Harvel sprang up soon after the completion of the Wabash road and derived its name from John Harvel who made the location of the village. William Vansandt kept the lirst general assortment of merchandise and lie was followed shortly afterward by B. Tulpin previously mentioned. The Harvel postoffice was established in 1870 with George Vansandi as postmaster. In 1873 Ira Nelson ami 0. 0. Settlemeyer built the first elevator. - ami in 1876 Henry Xiehaus built a much larger one. This passed into other hands a few j-ears later and several changes have been made in tin' ownership since they were first erected. limn Bennett was the lirst physician to locate in Harvel. William Adams has been for many years in the elevator and milling business at this place and W. W. Whitlow also was engaged for several years in shipping grain and hay from thai point. J. -I. Care} lor several terms supervisor of Harvel township, is another of the business men who have succ led in their enterprises in that village.