History of Madison County, Illinois ... With biographical sketches .. online

LIBRARY OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN



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HISTORY ^



Madison County,



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PUBLISHED BY

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EDWARDSVILLE ILL.



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PREFACE,



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HE picblishcrs desire to rcticni their
sincere thanks to all who have
aided in tnaking (his work thorough
and complete. For some of the inci-
dents relative to the early settlement
of the county we a7'e indebted to a
feT-o of the older inhabitants.

In localizing events, and cor-
recting dates, we acknowledge our
obligations to the writings of ex- Governor
Reynolds, Rev. fohn M. Peck, Henry Tanner,
yudge Hall, Gov. Ford, Washbuni s Life of Gov.
Coles, the Atnerican State papers, and the zvrit-
ings of the fesuit Fathers. Many old and
valuable manuscripts, both in the French atid En-
glish languages, have been examined. These
rare papers have -made ititelligible some of the
earliest incidents pertaining to this region of
the State. For other facts we are indebted to a
class of intelligent men and women, who, amid
the ordinary pursuits of life have taken pains
. to inform themselves as to the passing events of the
county. Among those who have specially contri-
buted to the completeness of this history are, Joseph
Gillespie, Abraham Breath, E. M. West, I. B.
Randall, John A. Prickett, J. R. Newman, Jesse
Renfro, Thomas 0. Springer, Amos Atkins, Lu-
ther W. Lyon, Don Alonzo Spaulding, B. F.
Long, Hon. Wm. F. De Wolf, of Chicago, aitd offi-
cers of the Chicago Historical Society, G. C
Lusk, Nelson Montgomery, Wm. A. Lantermaji,
M. G Dale, Abrahatn Preuitt, Wm. E. Wheeler,
E K. Preuitt, Wm. W. Pearce, J. A. Bruner,
lA. J . Parkinson, John W. Coventry, Henry C.
[Gerke, V. P. Richmond, Alajor Franklin Moore,



Susan Paddock, Mrs. John Mason, Mrs. fane
R. Holliday, Mrs. Nancy Eberhardt, D. B. Gill-
ham, Joseph Cliapman, Samuel Squires, Wm. C.
McAlilly, Mrs. Nancy S. Barnsback, Mrs. Nan-
j cy J. Barnsback, Bennet Posey, Dr. T. J. Irish,
Alonzo Foster, George Howard, and many others.
I We were also permitted by Mrs. Flagg, to ex-
I amine the writings and manuscripts of the late
Hon. Willard C. Flagg. And particularly are
we indebted to W. T. Norton, editor of the Altoft
Telegraph,for the opportunity of examining many
of the old files of that paper. We also de-
sire to return our thanks to the county officials for
the many cotcrtesies extended. The editors of the
several newspapers have also rendered assistance
in that prompt and cheerful manner so character-
istic of the journalistic profession.

To the Clergymen of the various denominations,
whose articles appear in this work, we express our
thanks for information fwnished relative to the
history of their churches. Among the chapters
most fruitful in interest to a gredt number of our
readers, will be found those which treat of the early
history of the churches.

We have endeavored, with all diligence and care-
fulness, to make the best use of the material at our
command. We have confined ourselves, as nearly
as possible, to the original data furnished. The
subject matter has been carefully classified, and
will be a great help to the public as a book of ref-
erence concerning the past of the county. We ex-
pect criticism. All we ask is that it be fnade in
the spirit of charity. We hope our patrons will
take into account all the difficulties to be overcome,
the car'e Jiecessary in harmonizinsr various mem-



41815



PBEFA CE.



ories, and of reconciling diverse dates, and localiz-
ing evetits. The fads are gathered from a him-
dred different sources, and depend largely, not on
exact zvritten records, but on the recollections of in-
dividuals. We have tried to preserve the inci-
dents of pioneer histoiy, to accurately present the
natural features and material resources of the
cotinty, and to gather the facts likely to be of most
interest to our present readers, and of greatest im-



portance to coming generations. If our ?
xvill take into consideration the difficulties of the
task, luefeel sure of a favorable verdict on our un-
dertaking.

We present the work to the public, trusting that
they will approve our labors, attd give the volume
a generous reception.

The Publishers.







TABLE OF CONTENTS,



COUNTY HISTORY.

PAGE.

CHAPTER I.
A Brief Sketch of the Nokth-West
Territoey.
Geographical Position— Early Explora-
tions — Discovery of the Ohio — Eng-
lish Explorations and Settlements —
American Settlements — Division of
the North-West Territory — Present
Condition of the North-West. . . .9 25



CHAPTER II.
Brief Histokical Sketch of Illinois.
French Possessions— The first Settlements in
Illinois — Founding of Kaskaskia — As
a part of Louisiana — Fort Chartres —
Under French rule — Character of the
Early French Settlers— A Possession
of Great Britain — Conquest by Clark
—The " Compact of 1787 "—Land
Tenures — Physical Features of the
State — Progress of Development —
Material Resources of the State — An-
nual Products— The War Record —
Civil Government — Territorial and
State Officers — Miscellaneous Informa-
tion 25-43



page.
St. Louis, Vandalia and Terre Haute ;
Toledo, Cincinnati and St. Louis ; St.
Louis Bridge 44-54



CHAPTER IV.
Geology.
Loess, Drift, Carboniferous, Chester Lime-
stone, St. Louis Limestone, Artesian
Wells, etc ' 54-57



CHAPTER V.

ANTIQ.UITIES.

Cahokia, or Monk's Mound, the Mounds of
the American Bottom, The Mound
Builders ; The Indians ; Antique Pot-
tery ; Images, Copper Implements, etc.,
and Description of Plates, represent-
ing them, etc 58-64



CHAPTER VI.
Flora.
List of Native Woody Plants, Grasses,



etc., etc.



64



CHAPTER III.

Geography, Agricultural Besoubces and
Railroad Facilities.

Geography — Pojuilation — Topography —
Timber — Hydrography — Mounds —
Soil — Agriculture — Census — Trans-
portation — Railroads, Chicago and
Alton ; Wabash, St. Louis and Pa-
cific ; Indianapolis and St. Louie ;
Bock Island Division of C. B. and Q. ,



Fauna.
Rodentia, or Gnawers, Reptiles, Class of
Birds ; Raptores, Scansores, Rasores,
Grallatores, Natatores, Insessores, etc. . 65



C'lLVrTER VII.
Pioneers .vnd Early Settlements.
Early French Settlers — Old Land Claims —
Pioneer Americans — Capture of the
Gillham Children by the Indians —
Monks of the La Trappe— Settlers
During the War of 1812-14 — Indian
Troubles — Wood River Mas.'sacre —



PAGE.

Citizens of the County in 1815 — Subse-
quent Settlements — The McMahan
family massacre — Early Marriages —
Marriage Certificates — Character of
the Early Settlers — Pioneer Customs
and Modes of life — Early Financial
Condition of the County — Articles of
Household Use — Prairie fires— Pioneer
Schools and Churches — Early Mills —
Early Agriculture — The first Orchards
— Birds and Animals — Prairie Flies —
Indian Treaty at Edwardsville — Items
Concerning Slavery — Remarkable sea-
sons and changes of Weather — Earth-
quake of ISU — Navigation of the
Mississippi, etc., etc 67-103



CHAPTER VIII.
European Immigration.
Early French Families — German Settlers
— The Bohemians, The Irish, Swiss,
English, Scotch, etc 103-113.



CHAPTER IX.
Civil History.
Territorial Times 1812 to 1819— Slaves
and Indentured Blacks— Slaves in
the County — First Efforts of County
Government — First will on Record
— The Circuit Courts in Territorial
Times — The County at the close of
1818 — Letter by a Citizen of Ridge
Prairie — George Churchill and Mica-
jah Cox' Addresses — County Boards
from 1813 to 1849 - Statistics, Official
Accounts, Tables, etc. — The Courts
from 1819 to 1849— Trial and Execu-
tion of Eliphalet Green— 1824,March
3



TABLE OF CONTENTS.



PAGE.

Term — Justices of the Peace from 1827
to 1849 — Probate Courts — Retrospec-
tion 1849 to 1882— Sketch of Edwards-
ville, by H. C. Gerke (1831-'32)—
Government of the County — County
Courts from 1849 — Board of County
Commissioners, January 24, 1847 to
April 1876 — Addenda— Circuit Court
Notes, 1849 to 1855—1855 to 1857—
1861 to 1873— Circuit Court, May
Term, 1865—1873 to 1879— Probate
Court, 1S49 to 1882— Conclusion. 113-181



CHAPTER X.
The Besch and Bak.
First Lawyers, Judges, and Early Courts
—The Bench— The Bar— Non-Resi-
dent Lawyers — Former Resident Law-
yers— Present Members of the Bar. 181-197



CHAPTER XL
The Peess.
The Discovery and Invention of the Art of
Printing — Early History of the Press
— First Newspaper in Illinois and in
Madison County — The Slavery Ques-
tion, etc — The Alton Riots and Mur-
der of Elijah Parrish Lovejoy — A
brief History of all the Newspapers
published in the county 197-216



CHAPTER XII.
Patkiotism.
War of 1812- The Black Hawk War 1831-
1832— War with Mexico— The War of
the Rebellion. A Roster of the Men
who Participated in each of the Wars,
with a short sketch of the Regiments
to which they belonged 217-265



CHAPTER XIII.
The Common Schools.
Early Schools iu the County — The Schools

by Townships, etc 26^-272

Shurtleff College 272

Monticello Ladies' Seminary 275

Wyman Institute 276



PAGE.

Baptist Church 301

Christian Church 323

Church of the Redeemer 328

Cumberland Presbyterian Church 324

French Congregation in Helvetia 331

German M. E. Church 291

Lutheran Church 329

Methodist Episcopal Church 277

Presbyterian Church 294

Protestant Episcopal Church 321

Roman Catholic Church 319

United Denomination 324



CHAPTER XIV.
Ecclesiastical Histokv.

A. M. E. Church 293

Allgemeine Christliche Kirche, Highland. 331



BIOGRAPHIES.

Ambrosius, Conrad A 463

Anderson, John 462

Randle, Josias 359

Barnsback, Thos. J 449

Bartlett, Jesse 451

Becker, John 463

Boals, M. H 411

Boeschenstein, Jr. Charles 436

Bosom worth, Robert 359

Brown, James R 371

Brown, Ansel L 365

Bruuer, Capt. Jno. A 403

Brunner, Rudolph 499

Eulkley, Justus 406

Castagnetta, John 515

Chipron, C. P 436

Cole, HermonC 412

Coles, Gov. Edwai-d 350

Cotter, W. H 367

Grossman, S. V 355

Daech, William „372

Dale, Judge M. G 360

Estabrook, John 482

Fahnestock, Capt. Jno. T 368

Faires, William H 469

Fangenroth, Charles W 366

Forman, Wm. C 492

Gillespie, Judge Joseph 351

Gillespie, Judge David 358

Gillespie, Judge Matthew 362

Gonterman, Caleb B 450

Gruaz, Timothy â–  436

Hardy, Dr. I. E 404

Hauskins, Elias 452

Herb, C. A 408

Hite, B. R 461

Hill, William E. 526

Hoerner, John S 437

Hotz, George 548



Ingham, Roland J

Irish, T. J

Jeffress, A. W

Joesting, F. W

Judd, M. D., Henry L

Judy, Thomas

Kleinwort, Hermann

Lanterman, Wm. A 4S;_i

Lindley, William 520

Mason, John 516

May, William 452

Mclnerney, J. J 412

McPike, Henry G 412

Merriman, Charles 517

Miller, Capt. John A 424

Mills, B. H 422

Mitchell, James 518

Montgomery, Nelson 364

Moore, Maj. Franklin 425

Nelson, Abra 405

Newsham, Maj.Thos. J 373

Newman, Zadock 486

Newman, J. R 4.S7

Norton, Wilbur T 411

Pearce, W. W 554

Perrin, Thomas H 411

Prickett, John A 353

Pyle, Abner 470

Searcy, George W 468

Semple, Gen. James 401

Smart, Alsey S 452

Smith, John H 450

Smith, W. A 488

Spies, Jacob 498

Springer, Thos. 0. ' 484

Springer, Wm. M. T 370

Squire, James 519

Tonsor, John M 410

Tontz, Jones 549

West, Hon. E. M 356

Worden, John C 542



CITY & TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.

Alhambra 55^^

Alton 374

Chouteau 471

CoUinsville 453

Edwardsville 333

Fort Russell 475

Fosterburg 526

Godfrey 505

Hamel 531

Helvetia 42bb



TABLE OF CONTENTS.



PAGE.

Jarvis 438

Leef 536

Marine 493

Moro 490

Nameoki 500

New Douglas 529

North Alton 400

Olive 523

Omph-Ghent 538

Pin Oak 444

Saline 545

St. Jacobs 463

Upper Alton 396

Venice 520

Wood River 414



ILLUSTRATIONS.

Brown, C. C, Facing 528

Brown, Z. Facing 512

Brunner, Rudolph Facing 496

Buescher, William Facing 552

Cahokia Mounds, Facing 60

Castagnetta, J., Facing 412

Clark, James W., Facing 424

County Map Facing 9

Gulp, J. C Facing 424

Custom and Merchant Mills, . . . Facing 424

Ewan, J. T. Facing 424

Flick, C. H. Facing 416

Forman, William 0. Facing 420

Gait, William Facing 480

Gay, Hon. Newton S Facing 492

Graaz, Timothy, Facing 436

Harmist and Cook's Drug Store, . . Facing 348

Harris, T. N. Facing 520

Hickin, Edward Facing 524

Jeffress, A. W., Facing 509

Kaufmann, Gustav, Facing 552

Kellermann, Simon Facing 348

Klinke, Fritz Facing 524

Laengle, Henry, Facing 436



PAGE.

Marsh, William W Facing 472

May, William Facing 452

Monk's Mound 58

Moore, Maj. Frank Facing 388

Mound Antiquities Facing 62

Neisler & Randall Facing 412

Old Log School House 267

Places of Public Interest, Edwardsville, Fac.344
Alton, . . Facing 396

Prange, Charles W Facing 464

President Park Mills, Between . . . 420-421

Public Buildings, Facing 179

Puncheon Bench 268

Ramsey, William Facing 428

Smart, Alsey S., Facing 495

Smith, W. A. Facing 488

Smith, John IL, Facing 448

Starner, G. J., Facing 482

Stenzel, Frank Facing 372

The Building where Lovejoy was murdered 388

Walter, Louis Facing 512

Watson, Henry Facing 472

Wiedmer, John Facing 424

Wood River Fort, 1812-1814 415

Worden, John C. Facing 542

Wyman Institute 276



PORTRAITS.

Anderson, John 462

Barnsback, Thos. J. self and wife .... 449

Bartlett, Jesse 451

Brown, James R 371

Bruner, Capt. Jno. A 403

Bulkley, Justus 406

Cotter. W. H 3G7

Grossman, S. V 355

Daech, William 372

Dale, JudgpM. G 360

Estabrook, John, self and wife 482

Fahnestock, Capt. Jno. T 368

Faires, Wm. H 469



Fangenroth, Charles W. .
Gillespie, Judge Joseph .
Gillespie, Judge David. . .
Gillespie, Judge Matthew

Hardy, Dr. I. E

Herb, C. A •. .

Hite, B. B



I'AQE.

.366
. 351
. 358
. 362
. 404
. 408
, .461



Hotz, George 548

Irish, T. J 504

Joesting, F. W 409

Judy, Thomas, self and wife 5.35

Kinder, Mrs. Isabella 364

Lanterman, Wm. A 489

Mason, John, self and wife 516

Merriman, Charles 517

Mills, B. H 422

Mitchell, James 51S

Montgomery, Nelson, self and wife . . . .364

Moore, Maj. Franklin 425

Nelson, Arba 405

Newman, J. R. self and wife 487

Pearce, W. W 554

Preuitt, Solomon Facing 480

Prickett, John A 353

Pyle, Abner 470

Semple, Gen. Tames 101

Smith, W. A. self and wife 4SS

Springer, Wm. M. T 370

Spies, Jacob 498

Springer, Thos. 484

Squire, James 519

Tonsor, John M 410

Tontz, Jones 405

West. Hon. E. M 356

Worden, John C Facing 542



AmendraontB to the Constitution of the Uni-
ted States 602

Constitution of Illinois 5S6

Constitution of United States 599

Declaration of Independence 59S

Partial List of Patrons 555







JERSEY CO




CLINTON H CO



INTRODUCTION".




I HERE are few stiulies more interesting and
profitable to mankind than that of
the past experiences, deeds, thoughts
and trials of the human race.
The civilized man and the untutored sav-
age alike desire to know the deeds and lives
of their ancestors, and strive to perpetuate
their story. National patriotism and liter-
ary pride have prompted many, in all times,
to write and preserve the annals of particular
peoples. But narrow prejudice and selfish
interests too often have availed to suppress
the truth or to distort facts.
It is the aim of this work to coUe-taad preserve, in enduring
and popular form, .some of the facts of the early settlement, and
sub-sequent growth of a great county of a grand State. The fam-
ilies whose ancestors were early on the ground, and whose mem-
bers have made the county what it is, are worthy of remem-
brance ; and their difficulties and sorrows, customs, labors and
patriotism, should not be allowed to fall into oblivion. By a
knowledge of these the present generation will be instructed, and
the future will be guided.

All history, if projjerly written, is interesting ; and there is
not a town, city or hamlet, — nay, we might say, not a family or
an individual on the globe, — whose history might not be more
or less valuable to posterity.

From the ancient days, away back in the dim aud shadowy
past, when the human race first arrived at a state of intelligence
sufficient to enable them to transmit a traditionary or written
account of themselves, all along down the teeming ages, cue pro-
genitors have left in various ways, and by different means, infor-
m ition, more or less mythical, of the age and generation in which
they played their ephemeral part on the world's ever-changing
theatre of action. It is graven in bronze on tha wjnierful wjrks
of the central nations of Africa, around those " dim fountains of
the Nile ;" the gray old pyramids in the valley of " tweiiti/ thou-
sand cities " are coverei with the hieroglyphical language of the
" shadowy past." The vast and mighty " palaces and piles stu-
pendous," hoary with the dust of unknown centuries, that be-
wilder the traveler 'mid Egypt's drifting sands, upon the plains
of the E.iphrates, and hidden away in the tiger-hunted jungles
of the " farthest Ind ;" the gigantic ruins of Southern and Cen-



tral America, under the snow-capped Cordilleras and among the
wondrous forests of Yucatan ; the seamed and wrinkled pyramids
of the Aztecs, in Mexico and California, and the ten thousand
crumbling evidences of a powerful civilization scattered through-
out the great valley of the Mississippi, all bear testimony of
countless attempts to transmit knowledge to posterity.

The written historj' of the American Continent dates back
scarcely four centuries, yet within that comparatively short pe-
riod its pages have garnered from her hills and mountains, from
her grand rivers and mighty inland seas, valuable additions to
the world's stock of knowledge.

Like the Eastern Continent, our own has its historic points,
— its nuclei around which cluster the memories of heroic deeds,
the story of martyrs, and the legends of a barbarous past. St.
Augustine, Jamestown, Plymouth Rock, Quebec, Montreal, Bos-
ton, New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis and
Kaskaskia are localities about which gather volumes of history.

The advance of civilization on the North American Conti-
nent has been more rapid than in any other portion of the globe ;
and, within the memory of living men, the fairest and richest
portions have been wrested from the dominion of the wilderness
and the savage, and changed into a highly-cultivated region,
filled with a race of industrious and thriving people. Prominent
among the localities rich in historic lore is the region of the
Mississippi river. It early claimed the attention of two of the
most powerful nations of Europe, whose pioneers and avant cour-
iers were boldly pushing into the then unknown countries lying
towards the " Great South Sea," eagerly looking for gold and
precious stones, for fabled Eldorados, and fertile lands.

Dim traditions, fragmentary legends, stories of bloody war-
fare, of disaster and defeat ; essays, letters, and public documents,
all bearing, more or less, upon the history of the county, have
been carefully examined.

To collect and arrange in one volume these various frag-
ments, this abundant material, and to give the cream of all the
best authors who have treated the subject, together with all addi-
tional information it was possible to obtain, and present it in
readable form, has been the object of the publishers of the pres-
ent work.

We know, full well, the task was not a light one ; the con-
templated work was by no means a holiday frolic. Hard, steady
application aud untiring energy were necessary to accomplisli it.



IXTRODUCTION.



The utmost pains have been taken to read thoroughly and
compare carefully the various writers, and to sift out and recon-
cile discrepancies, for historians not unfrequently disagree upon
minor points. The work of reading and comparing was no ordi-
nary one, and the difficulty has not been so much in collecting
as in nuiking a judicious and truthful use of the abundant ma-
terial at hand.

The traditions of the Indians, as given by Heckewelder and
others, have been quoted, as an important factor in the sum
total of knowledge concerning this region ; and the early discov-
eries of Marquette, La Salle, Hennepin, and other French adven-
turers in the valley of the Mississippi and the basin of the great
lakes of the Northwest, with a brief sketch of the title to the fee
of the millions of acres of prolific soil within its splendid domain
have also demanded a large share of attention, as preliminary to
tiie troubles which grew out of the conflicting claims of the
French and English crowns, resulting in a contest for supremacy,
md in which not only all the contiguous region, but the entire
French and English possessions in America, a large share of Eu-
rope, and immense regions in Asia and the islands of the sea,
ivere interested and involved.

Another object to be gained by this work, is to bring to the
.ijtice of the people, the immense resources which a bountiful
Providence has bestowed upon them, and which it becomes, not
merely a privilege to use, but a duty to improve. How little is
now known of these treasures, and how greatly profitable such
information may be, needs only a thought to comprehend. Our
fortile soils, our noble timber trees, our genial climate, our inex-
iaustible mineral treasures, and our easy facilities for commerce,
iro, in a great degree, unknown even to our own population.
This volume seeks to develop an appreciation of them, and to
itimulate a desire to improve and extend them.

Tlien, local customs, old family traits and anecdotes are so
•icli in interest and so full of instruction to the young, that they
)Ught never to be forgotten. These, sa many as time and dili-
;t'n(!e could gather, are hare recorded and will be found to form
I ) unimportant or uninstructive portion of this volume.

Amoug ihe most influential agencies in building a nation,



and in establishing a character for its people, are the efforts of
its citizens to educate their children and to provide for social re-
ligious worship. These two interests will, therefore, show most
accurately the tastes, the habits and aspirations of a community.
Hence they have been made prominent in the ensuing nar-
rative, and it is confidently hoped that they will not only interea
our readers, but will be studied and appreciated.

The work will be found embellished with views of public
and private property, in various parts of the county, and with
portraits and biographies of many of the prominent men of the
past and present.

The chapters on the North- West Territory, and on the early
history of the State, will be found interesting and instructive.

The Constitution of the United States and of this State, and
a roster of the soldiers of the War of 1812, Black-Hawk, Mexican
War, and of the late Rebellion, have been inserted with a view to
make the work more creditable, alike to the publishers and people
of the county.

The work may be incomplete in some particulars. Nor in-
deed is it possible for it to be otherwise ; but we hope, so far as
it goes, it is truthful and accurate.

We trust, however, that it will be the means of preserving
from the empire of decay a host of incidents, recollections, and
anecdotes, relating to the hardy pioneers and first settlers of the
county, which, in the estimation of the historian and student of
history, are of priceless value, but which otherwise would soon
fade from the memories of the living.

Whether this has been well done, is not for us to say. A
generous and intelligent public must decide. It is not permitted
any man to attain perfection. Its regions lie beyond our reach.
We feel, however, in submitting this work to the inspection of
the patrons, whose public spirit made possible its preparation,
that satisfaction which results from a consciousness of faithful
endeavor and an earnest desire to fulfil the expectations of all.

Our work is accomplished, and its result is submitted, with
tranquility, to your inspection.



HISTORY



MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS



CHAPTER r.



A BRIEF SKETCH GF THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORY.




GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.

,N 1784 the North Western Territory was
ceded to the United States by Virginia.
It embraced only the territory lying be-
tween the Ohio and Mississipjii rivers;