=,^ ^> A ^'^ '^^ ■A <*< -0 " " ■•" - % ■^^^ . .A<^^ - ^o-n^ ^J^ S' vN*^ ^J^^ v-^. <". ''^s /% '-^^m- /\ '"^^ .^ -7 -^^0^ ^^i»/ .^^ •; o^ . ^■■■ 0^ .*•• .HO, '0^. "^'^1^* ^^^^. u .^^ :^ .^ . V %^: '>> '<^ !£'. V.<^* /^i^--, V>^ M^ii;'. Xj^':^^^ A HISTORY KouND Prairie PLYMOUTH. 1831-1875 Chicago : Geo. J. Titus, Book and Job Printer, NO. Ilg LAKE STREET. 1876. 7,\i Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by E. HORTON YOUNG, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. TO THE READER. "We might say of this book with some degree of truthfulness that, instead of being made — like Topsy of Uncle Tom's Cabin, ■"itgrowed." In other words, when we first began to collect facts and reminiscences of the early history of this locality, it was •done merely for the purpose of gratifying our personal desire to know more of the history of our adopted home. With the study of the subject, it grew upon us, until it has .developed into a book which we think will be of permanent interest and value to both present and future citizens of the place^ ^s well as to many of their friends abroad. No doubt mistakes will be found in it, it would be strange ■should it be otherwise, as the facts have been obtained largely ifrom the personal recollections of various individuals, and " to «rr is human." For the earlier facts of the history we are largely indebted to ■" Uncle Allen" Melton — i\iQ oldest inhabitant — the only living resi- 'dent citizen who has been here through the whole period of our history. For the later facts we are under obligations to almost every ■citizen of the place, as there are but few who have not con- itributed something to its contents. THE AUTHOR. Plymouth, III., April, 1876. CONTENTS Chapter I. — Early settlers, but few of them left. Our obliga- tions to them. Difficulties of the historian. Philosophy of history, general principles. Our work. . . Page 9 'Chapter II. — French explorers two hundred years, ago. What might have been. Crooked Creek, why so named. Funny Frenchmen. Lamine River, meaning of name — a hit on the Monks. Lamoin township. Bronson's creek. The sublime and the ridiculous. Flour Creek. Confiscated flour and flour afloat, a twice-named creek. Round Prairie, native beauty, flowers, framework, fires. Indian settlements at Birmingham, Lamoin and Cedar Bluff. City of the dead. United States .•■urvey. Mormon trail. ..... Page 13 Chapter III. — Discovery of (the) Plymouth (to be) in 1831. Three-quarters of the corporation "claimed." First improve- ments. Birmingham's first permanent occupation. A land flowing with honey. Honey in a sack on horseback — a demoralized package. Additional settlers in 1832-3. Page 20 Chapter IV. — Snake stories. Ezekiel Boman and the Cedar Bluff snake den, reinforcements, siege. Sapp and Manlove at the Birmingham snake den. Great slaughter. Subject for a picture — a broken rail — Mr. Sapp rolls down the bluff among the snakes. A coincidence, an Indian luxury. Subject dropped with a reflection. .... Page 25 Chapter V. — First organized religious efforts. Methodists at the front. First preaching by Rev. Henry Somers in 1833. Class formed — Edward Wade leader. First Sunday School work, in 1835, by Samuel King, at his own house, afterwards at Burton's grove. Going to Sunday School under difficulties — the Colonel's strategy — an incident with a sequel. Land sales. Changes. A New England colony. Congregational Church, original members, survivors. .... Page 29 \l. CONTENTS. Chai'Ter VI. — Broken threads picked up. The bread and but- ter, or " Hog and Hominy" question. Game and honey. Nearest supplies of bread-stuft and store goods at Rushville, Beardstown and Quincy. A corn-cracker at Brooklyn in 1832. Hand Mills. Burrs and Bolt in Brooklyn mill in 1S34. Bir- mingham mill built in 1835-6. Hardships of short rations. Wants in the way of store goods simplified by distance. Post Office in Augusta in 1834. First school. . . Page 35 Chapter VII. — 1836. Plymouth— first year's history. Hotel, dwellings, stores, shops, Post Office, school building, teachers, Presbyterian Church. ..... Page 40 •Chapter VIII. — 1837. Plymouth continued. H. P. Griswold M. D., and W. M. King, Esq. Fourth of July Barbecue — one beef, two hogs and two sheep for dinner, five hundred guests, Sidney A. Little, orator ; ball and refreshments at night. Yankee town — why it was, and why it is not. Congregational house of worship, old house and new, still side by side. Min- isters. (Sampson Onions). Congregational and Presbyterian meetings, jointly and otherwise, from 1837 to 1850. Sunday Scliool Mission work. A " mighty hunter." Meetings in Burton's barn and at Byrd Smith's. . . . Page 45 Chapter IX. — Panic of 1S37 — effect on Plymouth. Mormon- ism. Mormon Bible. Moral principles. Chartered rights. Military power. Danites. Population in Plymouth and in county. Asserting their rights. Gentile perversity. Saving bacon with a trap-gun, &c. Mormon vs. Mormon, stolen hogs. Tricks of the (Mormon) trade. Political trouble. •Press destroyed. Smiths killed. A big scare, Carthagenians ■flee. Panic spreads. Jim's story. Disgusted guards. Mor- mons frightened. Blue stocking war. The Prophet's widow and son. ..... ... Page 56 Chapter X. — Business record of Plymouth, 1839-1S55. Baxter. Mormon hotel. Cole and Ewing. M. C. Johnson. Philip Meizger. King and Percival. J. W. Bell. H. P. Griswold, M. D. John A. Hamilton. The Wilson House burned. Dr. Montgomery. Thos. L. Gannon. Thos. Garvin. David Higby. John J. Hippie. J.M.Randolph. The Buzan Build- ing and its occupants. Lewis Graham. Esta Bidwell. Henry Tuck. Sayler and Elliott. D. P. Palmer. John Hayden. >J. H. Grafion. James Riggin. Reuben Cecil. John W. £oman. Samuel Tibbetts. Reuben Munday. . Page 89 CONTENTS. Vll. Chapter XI. — Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Rail Road. Additions to town plat. How to fill vacant lots. Bell, Rook. and Johnson's addition. Wilson's addition. Cook's addition. Madison's addition. Randolph's addition. Improvements on each. Flouring Mill. School buildings. North school house. The "Round Top." The East school house. Plymouth school buildings Nos. 2 and 3. Academy Association. Post Office. Postmasters and Mail routes. Newspaper, "The Locomotive." The Park. The Cemetery. Public and pri- vate burying grounds. ..... Page 105. Chapter XII. — Business record, 1855-1875. Wm. M. King. P. Metzgar. Metzgar and Miller. J. A. Hamilton. J. M, Randolph. C. M. Currens. Thomas Rockey. JohnC. Bagby. Jacob Elliott. J. W. Whittington. C. Elliott. Jay Davis. G. Michaelis. W. H. Vandorn. The Farmer's Club. The banking business. David Currens. J, T. Klepper. H. A. Jones. D. B. Rankin. W. H. Marsh. John Marsh. J. Wintermeyer. E. Marsh. G. W. Ross. Mrs. Gregory. Miss Grafton. J. H. Lawton. Bybee and Terry. F. M. Kinsey.. T, C. Fitzgerald. E. D. Haggard. Ross, father and sons. James Wade. M. Mesick. Edward Madison. A. J. Massen- gill. A. Walty. W. W. Pond. J. Hendrickson. Bidwell,. Bro. &Co. D. W. Huddleston. A. S. and N. F. Newman. W. E. Odell. Machenheimer and Lawrence. J. A. Currens.. J. G. Follin, M. D. M. D. Gillis. R. H. Ellis. Mrs. Wright. Belknap premises and occupants. Sam'l Ralston. James Stone. H. A. Markley. Mrs. E. S. Haines. S. K. Gaylord.. Mrs. Taylor. Widup and Bro. J. W. Shaffer. J. S. Carroll. Wade and Bro. John McGrew, M. D. Newell Sapp, M. D.. Various lumber dealers. T. J. Farley. C. H. Dodd. J. H. Graham. J. W. Johnson. T. W. Monk. R. Morrison. Business summary. Rail Road and other business. Page 128 Chapter XIII. — Temperance Crusade, Barbecue, Moral suasion.. Physical suasion. Wing vs. the Irish woman. Citizens vs. Claiborn Wilson. The Ladies vs. Tom Braanan. Legal suasion — Cuyler vs. Bell. Sons of Temperance. Good Tem- plars. Masons. Eastern Star. Population of Plymouth. Biographical sketches. Mathew Melton. John Trammel.. Allen Melton. Brummel Sapp. David Manlove. J. W. Crockett. Col. Clark. L. A. Cook. Benj, Terrell. A good place in which to grow old. .... Page 15S Chapter XIV. — Church history. M. E. Church. Congrega- tional Church. Presbyterian Church. Church of the Dis- ciples. Baptist Church. United Brethren. Sunday Schools. Statistics of churches and Sunday schools. . Page 193. Vlll. CONTENTS. Chapter XV. — Patriotism of Round Prairie. Survivors of the- war of 1812-15. Francis Kington. Edward Wade. R. T. Madison. Black Hawk and Texan wars — Major J. F. Garrett. Mormon war. Mexican war. The Rebellion. — List of soldiers from this vicinity in the Twelfth, Fourteenth, Sixteenth,. Twenty-Eighth, Thirty-Fourth, Forty-Seventh, Fifty-Seventh, Fifty-Eighth, Sixty-Second, Seventy-First, Seventy-Second, Seventy-eighth, Eighty-Eighth, One Hundred and Eighteenth,^ One Hundred and Nineteenth, One Hundred and Twenty- Fourth, One Hundred and Forty-Eighth, and One Hundred and Fifty-First regiments of HI. Vol., Second HI. Artillery Co. H. Seventh Mo. Cavalry. Tenth Mo. Infantry. A list of those whose regiments are not designated. A list of present residents enlisted elsewhere. Recruiting extraordinary — an episode Page 2I2- Chapter XVI. — Birmingham. Location. Town Plat. Mill enterprise. First house. First school. An incident. Sunday school. Methodist church. Revival of 1874. Presbyterian church. Business record. Professional. The notorious A.- D. Regions beyond. Gin Ridge. Nubbin Ridge. Maple sugar. Bridges. Accidents. Future prospects. Railroads. . . . Page 233; Chapter XVII. — Underground Rail Road. Lovejoy and Thompson. Through by daylight. Ginger's story. A col- lision, train robbing. A fortunate blunder. Lost. Stepping down and out. Going to market. Discovery — a narrow escape. Big haul — worthless negro captured. True manhood, A lively load and lively time. A pair of photographs. A grand rally and hunt. An interesting side scene. — The sequel . Page 24&' ^ HISTORY Round Prairie and Plymouth. CHAPTER I. Only about forty-five years have passed since the first settlements are known to have been made within the bounds of Round Prairie. This brief period, however, exceeds the average lifetime of a genera- tion ; and as we inquire for this and that one of the first settlers, the answer comes back that they have gone to that other country from which there is no return. Having little time for literary pursuits amid the struggles for the necessaries and comforts of life, the few whose tastes and training may have fitted them for it, have left us no record of their experience in lay- ing the foundations of the physical and social structure we now enjoy. But few of the first settlers remain ; and of these, all who were then old enough to take an active lo A History of part in the work of subduing nature and building up society, are now on the down- hill of life — many of them so far down towards the end of their journey, that their white locks and feeble limbs admonish us to write soon, if we would do it from their lips, the story they have to tell of what they have done and endured for us and our children. To this little band of pioneers who began to make Round Prairie the fruitful field we now see, and who laid the foundations of the business enterprises, schools, churches, etc., that are established in our midst, we owe a lasting debt of gratitude. The least we can do in discharging this debt, is to cherish their memory, make a record of their deeds, engrave this record in the enduring mate- rial of the printer's art, and hand it down to children's children. We may do this with the firm assurance that the value of the record will greatly increase as succeeding generations come upon the stage. The historian who attempts to write of passing- events, or close upon the time of past events, has peculiar difficulties to encoun- ter. Like the soldier on the battle-field, he is so enveloped in the dust and smoke of the strife as to be poorly fitted to judge Round Prairie and Plymouth. 1 1 of the progress of the battle, or of its influ- ence upon the cause for which the battle is fought. Faithful history is not merely a record of passing events, however important these may be. Such events serve rather as a frame-work or skeleton upon which history is elaborated. If you would find the sources of life and power in true history, look into the motives that led to the act, then to the results growing out of it. These are the moulding influences that impress them- selves upon future generations. There is a philosophy in history, and its principles are the same, whether applied to the birth and growth of a great nation like the United States, or to a little community like Round Prairie. The principles and motives that led our Pilgrim Fathers to Plymouth Rock 250 years ago have impressed this nation no less surely than the principles and motives that led our pioneers to this Prairie 45 years ago have impressed themselves upon this community. By an inexorable law of nature the character of the parent is stamped upon the child. This is true of the community as well as of the family. As previously intimated, we are not yet in 12 A History of a position to apply these g^eneral principles to the work before us; this part of the work must be left for those who can trace the results of the acts we record in the clearer light of the future. We state briefly, for the benefit of young philosophers, certain results that may be expected from certain conditions in the formation of character, either in the family or community. If parents are wise, and united in coun- sels and training, the child may be expected to grow up a useful member of society; if otherwise, evils greater or less, may be ex- pected. In mixed communities, made up of people from various sections, and trained under different influences, conflicting cur- rents will be found, that to some extent neutralize each other, lowering the tone and diminishing the power of the whole. The result is seen in a comparatively low standard of public improvement in almost everything which affects the physical, social, mental and moral welfare of the commun- ity- Find a homogeneous community and you will find the currents of influence broad, strong and deep, whatever may be the char- acter of those currents. Round Prairie and Plymouth. 1 3 With these remarks on its philosophy, we turn to the consideration of the facts of his- tory as furnished by the subject in hand. C H A P 1' E R II. It would be interesting and profitable, also, to take a rapid glance into the brief records left by such men as Marquette, Jo- liet, La Salle, Hennepin and others, who were amoncr the first white men who are known to have explored the region of which our locality and state forms a part ; but the story would be too long — nor does it belong here. Our work is local, not general his- tory. Some of these old French explorers might have paddled their canoes up Crook- ed Creek from Beardstown to Birmingham and Lamoine, at some seasons of the year, just as easily, and a great deal quicker than to La Salle and Joliet, and immortalized their names just as effectually by leaving them within the boundaries of our beautiful Round Prairie, as upon the banks of the Illinois. Crooked Creek, with its margin of timber, 14 A History of forms the eastern and most of the northern boundary of Round Prairie. Of the origin of the name of this creek we have obtained no certain knowledge. Our oldest settlers found it so named when they came, by other older settlers at other points upon its banks. We might guess — - near the mark, undoubtedly — that some one named it upon the bible principle of applying a name significant of the thing. The fitness of the name, I think, has never been questioned — nor is it likely to be until Crooked Creek straiohtens itself out. The funny fellows who did Uncle Sam's surveying hereabouts — Frenchmen, per- haps — possibly descendants of old Mar- quette himself (though, on second thought, that seems improbable, as Marquette was a Catholic priest, and they cannot marry, or could not in those times, and consequently do not have descendants) — well, no matter who they were, they determined to dignify Crooked Creek as a river, and called it Lamine, or Lamoin — a French word mean- ing The Monk. If they intended to insinu- ate by this name, that the ways of the monks are as devious and crooked as the stream to which they applied the name^ Round Prairie and Plyinoitth. 1 5 they were pretty hard on this well-abused Catholic order. In the original field notes of the United States survey for McDonnough County, Crooked Creek appears as Lamine River ; the name, however, would not stick — it was too large, or the stream too small ; it got loose, became detached from the stream, and finally fastened upon township 4 N. 4 W., leaving Crooked Creek to flow quietly down its tortuous channel through Lamoin township, driving Lamoin Mill on its way to the Illinois river. A considerable tributary of Crooked Creek, known as Bronsons Creek, com- pletes the northern boundary of Round Prairie ; a small tributary of this, with its margin of timber, bounds it upon the west. Bronson's Creek has taken its name from that of the first white settler upon its banks, Thomas Bronson. The creek upon our south, with its flowery banks, woody slopes, quarries of rock^ pre- cipitous bluffs, and probable deposits of coal, has much about it both of beauty and of utility. Romantic young people delight often to ramble upon the banks of beauti- ful streams with beautiful names, gathering 1 6 A History of the pretty, colored pebbles, or wild spring flowers ; and said creek, no doubt, is a good place for the prosecution of such laudable enterprises. While thus engaged, a knowl- edge of the origin of its name may remind romantic people of the important fact that romance and reality may be quite as near to each other as the sublime and ridiculous are said to be. In the summer of 1832 Mr. Edward Wade " made a crop " on the north edge of the Augusta prairie near the creek, on an " im- provement " then held by one Dr. Allen. On leaving the cabin he occupied tempora- rily there, for the purpose of putting up a ■cabin upon his own claim on the neck of prairie toward Birmingham, the safety of his stock of supplies of bacon, flour, etc., during liis absence became a matter of consultation between himself and the said Dr. Allen. The Doctor thought it unsafe to leave them in the cabin, and advised him to bring them to his house, which was done ; but on Mr. Wade's return, much to his surprise, he found the storage arranoement had bene fited the Doctor much more than himself, as the Doctor had appropriated largely of the flour to supply his own wants. This incident concerning Mr. Wade's flo2Lr, the Round Prairie and Plymonth. i 7 neiofhbors determined to commemorate in the name of the creek — so it came to be F-l-o-u-r Creek. Although the name bid fair to stick with- out re-pasting, some time later (in the spring of 1834), Mr. Pruit and Mr. Box, of St. Ma- ry's, were returning from the Brooklyn Mill, with their grists, one Sunday evening, when the "creek was up," crossing at the ford south of Plymouth, with their ox team, a large and well-filled sack oi flonr was swept out of their wagon by the deep and rapid stream, and supposed to be lost ; but on the Wednesday following, it was fished out, well preserved and in good order, except a thin crust next the sack, — ^so saith the "oldest inhabitant," Mr. Allen Melton. Thus hap- pened the second christening of Flour Creek. Between the creeks of which we have spoken, lies Round Prairie, its general form corresponding quite nearly to its name — ((leaving off the narrow neck jutting out to- wards Birmingham.) The average diameter of the prairie will not vary much from three miles. Of the wild, native beauty of this locality, we may gather some idea by remembering that its gently undulating surface was swept 1 8 A History of clean by the annual prairie fires, only to be reclothed with a rich carpet of grass pro- fusely ornamented with the greatest variety and abundance of prairie flowers. The pic- ture presented by this scene is spoken of by early settlers as one of surpassing beauty. The frame-work of this picture — the mar- Qfin of timber surrounding it — ^was not a tangled mat of undergrowth amid the trees, inaccessible, almost, to man or beast, as we now fmd it in many places — but a clear^ open growth of timber, through which one might travel unobstructed in any direction. This freedom from undergrowth was due to the same agency that renovated the surface of the prairie — the prairie tires. If the Indian tribes who preceded the whites in the occupation of this region did not appreciate the beauty of the locality^ they appreciated its utility in furnishing an abundance of game to supply their wants. The Indians had left before any permanent white settlement had been made in Round Prairie ; but the first settlers found three recently vacated Indian camps- — the num- ber of wigwams indicating a considerable colony in each. One of these was near Bir- mingham, another at Lamoin Mill, and the third at Cedar Bluffs, north of Plymouth, Round Prairie and Plymouth. 19 The wigwams did not remain long, the prai- rie fires soon swept away every vestige of these cities of the living, Birmingham has furnished a more enduring monument of Indian occupation in her city of their dead. Remains of an Indian burying ground, be- yond Birmingham — near the road leading to Brooklyn — are thought to be visible still. In 1847-8, two medical students, Drs. Sapp and Patterson, in searching some of these mounds for bones to illustrate their anatomical studies, found such quantities of them as to suggest the possibility that that locality may have been the bloody battle- ground of hostile Indian tribes. But we tread here upon uncertain historical ground — let us look for more definite records. In 18 19 the United States surveyors struck their temporary camps, leaving their "stakes and mounds" in the prairie, and their " witness trees " in the timber, as the only evidences that were to be perpetuated of the civilized occupation of Round Prairie until its permanent settlement in 1831-2. We get an introduction to our notorious fellow citizens of the Mormon persuasion about the time Round Prairie was settled. We shall make their acquaintance more fully about a dozen years later in our rec- 20 A History -of ord. We have only to say of them now, that the emigration of the Mormon commu- nity from Ohio to Missouri passed through the lower part of Round Prairie, leaving a well-marked and beaten road, traveled by hundreds of teams, and that continued to be used for years afterwards. This high- way — the first made on Round Prairie — was known as the Mormon Trail. It crossed the Illinois river near the mouth of Spoon river. Crooked Creek just above Birmingham, and Flour Creek south of Mr. Fielding's present residence, thence along the north side of the Augusta prairie, cross- ing the Mississippi river at Ouincy. CHAPTER III. Following the county line, as marked by the United States surveyors, from the pres- ent site of Pulaski, where they had been put •on track of it, Mr. Matthew Melton, his son Allen, and son-in-law John Trammel, reached the corner between Schuyler, and McDon- nough counties, at the S. E. of Sec. 36, on which Plymouth now stands, in August, 1 83 1, and proceeded at once to the rise of Round Prairie a7id Plymouth. 2 r ground on which Plymouth is built, and staked their claims as follows : Matthew Melton the S. W., John Trammel the N. W., and Allen Melton the N. E. quarter of the section. They then returned to Morgan County, 111. (their home at that time), and in September returned with a team, tools, etc., and built a cabin on Matthew Melton's claim, south of town, just north of the town- ship line, near where Mr. Cooper now lives, A little patch of ground was plowed near the cabin and planted with shellotts — a species of onion — and with peach seeds;, thus was opened up the first "improvement" on Round Prairie:'^" this, however, was not permanently occupied until a year later. It was intended by the parties, to move their families at once to the cabin they had just built, but after returning to Morgan county for this purpose, rains set in, raising the creeks so that the journey became im- practicable. When this party came up in September,. 1 83 1, to make their improvement, Mr. Mat- thew Melton brought his daughter Marissa, * Christopher E. Yates claims to have come to Round Prai- rie in 1829 with a view to locating here, and to have digged a well and commenced the building of a cabin on what is now Mrs. Holton's place ; but finding that he was upon " Patent " land, instead of that open to pre-emption, he abandoned the location and settled near the place now occupied by the town of Augusta. 2 2 A History of — who was soon afterwards married to Mr. Ezekiel Boman — as cook and company for the party — the first zvhitc woman known to have visited Round Prairie with a view to settlement here. The winter following, Mr. Brommel Sapp and Mr. David Manlove came into Birming- ham township, made claims and commenced improving them. Mr. Sapp built upon the place occupied by himself until his death, and now occupied by his son S. Riley Sapp. Mr. Manlove built upon the place now known as the Hippie farm. In April, 1832, Mr. Sapp moved his family from Rushville, where they had wintered, to their new home, the first fiamily permanently located within the boundaries of Round Prairie. They were followed, within about two weeks, by the family of Mr. Manlove. The MeltoTt party, who made the first improvements in the fall of '31, were origin- ally from Tennessee, Morgan county having been their home for about two years previ- ous to their settlement here. The Sapp and Manlove party were from North Carolina. These pioneers found this a land fiowijig with ho7iey, ready at hand on their arrival. The Melton party, while hunting for a "board tree," on Flour Creek, near where Round Prai7'ie and PlymoiitJi. 23 the railroad now crosses, found half-a-dozen dee-trees near together, whose sweet stores were speedily " confiscated," and a barrel of the spoils carried back with them to Mor- gan county. The Sapp and Manlove party found similar stores awaiting them. On one of their occasional visits to their fami- lies in Rushville, during the winter they were building their cabins, Mr. Sapp deter- mined to treat his family with some of the sweet supplies his chosen home afforded, and for want of better facilities, some of the choicest honey-comb was carefully stowed into a sack and laid across his horse ; and althouofh as much care was o-iven to its safe transportation as modern express companies are wont to bestow upon frail goods, the package became sadly demoralized, and a considerable portion of the contents spread upon the sides of the horse and pantaloons of the rider : the effort, however, proved a partial success, as a portion was carried safely through to its destination. In the spring of 1832, another little party of Tennesseeans arrived. Mr. William Ed- wards, finding the Melton cabin unoccupied, took temporary possession of It with his family, and then made a claim and began to improve the present Swicegood place, build- 24 A History of ing near the timber, south of the present residence. Mr, Edward Wade, as we have already stated in connection with the history of Flour Creek, located temporarily on the Augusta Prairie, and in the fall permanently upon his claim near James G. King's present residence. In company with these two, Mr, Samuel Haggard and his son-in-law George Saddler came as far as the old Fonda place, east of Augusta, where they remained per- haps two or three years, and then removed,, the former to the place occupied by him until his death, and now owned by his son- in-law, Barney Eidson — the latter. Saddler, to the Lawrence place. During the season, two other families set- tled in Round Prairie, east of the " Round Top " school house. Wm. Emerick on the Bodenhamer Manlove place, and Thomas Ratliffe on the Griffith place. In October, '32, the Melton party returned to occupy their claims, and with them Mr. Ezekiel Bo- man, who had married Miss Marissa Melton since her visit to Round Prairie the year previous. As soon as practicable, cabins were put up on the Trammel claim, now the Madison place, and on Boman's, occupied by him until his death, and now by Elias Wade, Round Prairie and PlyntotUh. 25 In 1833, material additions were made to the population of Round Prairie. The fol- lowing list is supposed to be nearly, if not quite, full and correct, of the families who came that year, and of their location at that time ; but the order of their arrival, as to time, cannot be given : Mr. Manlove Wheeler located on what is now N. F. Burton's place. Henry Wheeler where Mr. Whipple now is. Paris Wheeler where James G. King now is. Wm. Pickett on the David Smith place. Jonathan Tharp on the Fielding place. James Edwards where B. F. Edwards now is. Isaac Pidgeon where the Hall brothers now are. Solomon Stanley on the L. A. Cook place. James Clark on the Thomas Talbot place. Jesse Buzan on the William Edwards place. Dr. Blackburn on the east half of the same quarter. John Poole where Dr. King now is. Able Friend where Mr. Klepper now is, and Orville Sherrill where L. G. Reid now is. CHAPTER IV. Following nearly the chronological order of events, with important or interesting inci- dents, as well as with historical items, this 3 26 A History of may be as suitable a place as any in which ito introduce some big snake stories. One bright spring day in 1833, Mr. Eze- ikiel Boman, who but a short time before had become the happy father of his first- born child — now Mrs. Walty — started out with his infant in his arms, for a walk. Led, perhaps, by that intuitive love for nature in her wilder forms, so common in the human breast, he found himself presently at Cedar Bluff. Here his wandering steps were sud- denly arrested by an ominous rattle and coiled form, that man never meets unex- pectedly without being startled. Unarmed for fight, his first impulse was to seek a place of temporary safety for his precious luggage, and then a weapon, of stick or stone, for the attack, but as he turned, another met his gaze, and then an- other, and another. In fact, he could see snakes all around him, without the aid now required, of numerous glasses — of st7ych- nine zvhisky. Picking his way cautiously out of the enemy's encampment, the attack was deferred until reinforcements could be brought up. Returning with two of his brothers-in-law, Allen and Henry Melton, the slaughter began. The enemy proved Round Prairie and Plymouth. 27 to be strongly intrenched within the rocky ledge ; their " den " was inaccessible ; but by frequent raids during that season and part ■of the next, surprising and killing them as they ventured out of the den, over 600 rat- tlesnakes were killed by these parties at that locality. Near the same time, Mr. Bromel Sapp and Mr. David Manlove, while out one af- ternoon, came upon a similar den in a ravine north of Manlove's place — now the Hippie farm — and in a single attack, 350 of the reptiles were slaughtered. These and other parties repeated the at- tacks upon that stronghold at various times, until, as the " oldest inhabitant " (A. Mel- ton) affirms, over 1,100 snakes had been killed. During one of these attacks, an incident occurred that would have furnished a fine subject for Nast's pencil, if he had been on the field at that time. In removing: some of the rocks under which the snakes were concealed, a rail was used as a lever. Upon the end of this, projecting to the edge of the steep bluff, was perched the long, lank form of Mr. Bromel Sapp. Swaying upon the rail with all his force, in order to raise the 28 A History of rock, he underestimated his own weight, or overestimated the strength of the rail — it broke, and down he went, headlong, over and over, to the bottom of the bluff, among the hundreds of lifeless bodies of his slaugh- tered foes. And that was how the snakes ofot him. A coincidence is worth noticing here that may throw some light upon the subject of Indian customs. We have spoken of one of the Indian settlements in our vicinity being at Birmingham. To be more exact in its location — -instead of being on the site of the village, it was a little above, at the point where the ravine enters Crooked Creek, and near the location of the great snake den just mentioned. Another of the Indian villages, it will be remembered, was located at the Cedar Bluff snake den. The only remarks we venture upon this coinci- dence are, that " somebody" says that rattle- snake meat is a choice luxury to the palate of the Indian epicure — and further, that, if this be true (we do not vouch for it), these villages were located with a nice discrimina- tion as to convenience to a good supply of one of the luxuries of Indian life. We drop the farther consideration of these incidents- with pleasure — glad to escape the thought Round Prairie and PlymontJi. 29 of what might have been, had those I'/oo rattlesnakes been allowed to live and propa- gate, through all these forty years, in such a limited territory as Round Prairie. CHAPTER V. It might not be expedient to turn the thread of our historical narrative too ab- ruptly into another channel ; and as we have noticed a successful onslaught upon the beastly representatives of satan's power, we turn now to notice the first organized attack, within our bounds, upon his spiritual kingdom in the hearts of men. This battle, as yet, seems less decisive, but its successful result is fully assured. Here, as almost everywhere, our Method- ist brethren were found at the front — their picket line clos« upon the footsteps of the first settlers. The first preaching service known to have been held on Round Prairie, was at the house of Mr. Wm, Edwards, on the farm now owned by Frank Swicegood — the buildinof then standino- in the eda-e of the timber, nearly south of the present resi- dence. The preacher was Rev. Henry Somers, of the Rushville Circuit, whose 30 A History of nearest appointments, at that time, were at Mr. C. Oliver's, at Pulaski, and at Mr. Archer's, at Middletown. This was near the close of the conference year, in the fall of 1833. Soon after, a class, was formed at the same place, consisting of Mr. Wm. Edwards and his wife, Mr, Edward! Wade and his wife, and a Mr. Phillips and wife. During the conference year of '33 and '34, this class was supplied with preaching every two weeks by Rev. Peter Boring. Mr. Edward Wade was appointed class-leader. It is thought that no record exists of the earlier additions to this class. Mr, Wade and his wife still live — active members of the M. E. Church in Plymouth. While there was occasional preaching within the bounds of the prairie, by the Baptists, and perhaps some others, no regu- lar preaching was maintained by other de- nominations until the fall of 1835. In the spring of 1835 the Sunday school work in Round Prairie commenced in the house, and by the family, of Mr. Samuel King, at the place now occupied by his son James G. King. Soon after the opening of this school, its working force was strengthened by the addition of the family of Mr. Robert Hall. Later in the season this school was. Roimd Prairie and Plymouth. 3 1 moved from Mr, King's house to a black- smith's shop on the place of Mr. Manlove Wheeler, now owned by Mr. N. F. Burton — the shop standing in the grove near the present residence. The school continued at that place during the summer and early fall. Whatever this primitive Sunday school may have lacked in modern appli- ances and model methods, a single incident may be introduced here to show that it did not suffer, as do so many of our moderrti ones, from lack of zeal and earnestness ia attendance upon its sessions. Those who are familiar with the ground about Mr. Burton's grove know that a con- siderable ravine runs upon the south and southeast sides, and also one upon the north and northeast sides, and that after heavy rains streams of sufficient size are found in^ them to have proved a serious obstacle to foot travelers at a time when bridges had not yet been built. Under just such cir- cumstances as we have stated, our friend James G. King, in company with his sisters, and other lady friends, approached the place of meeting, one day, only to find the ravine utterly impracticable for the ladies to cross. But the " Colonel " had set out to escort his company to Sunday school and was not to 32 A History of be foiled ; his strategy was equal to the emergency. Throwing off his boots, and rolling up his pantaloons, he took the ladies in his arms, one by one, and carried them safely over the stream. Forty years of ser- vice, since that day, in the Sunday school work, has but little, if any, abated his zeal in the cause. We may add, as a sequel to to the above incident, that one of the ladies the " Col." carried over the stream, clings to him still, as they journey on, helping each •other over the hard places, and enjoying to- gether the smoother ones across the chang- ingr stream of time. We pause here a moment, in this account (32) have died, and three (3) have been- suspended. Total dismissals, etc., two hun- dred and three (203). Present resident membership, seventy-seven ij']). The Presbyterian Chtirch, after a seven- years stay in its place of birth, Plymouth, without a home of its own, and a ten-years residence abroad with its sister, the Congre- gational Church of Round Prairie, deter- mined to return to its native place and set up house-keeping for itself. The first step taken towards securing a home in Plymouth, was made January loth, 1854, in the election of a board of trustees, who proceeded at once to secure a site and make arrangrements for buildinof. The site includes lots i and 2, block 17, corner of West Main and Lexington streets. The building, a substantial frame, 34 by 54 feet, with belfry, was put up in 1854, but not so far completed as to be fit for use until 1857,- when it was opened for worship, but in an unfinished state. In 1869 the outside ap- pearance of the building, which at that time would compare favorably with churches generally in small country towns, was sacri- ficed for the purpose of securing greater internal convenience. The belfry was taken Round Prairie and Plymouth. 203 down and an addition of twenty feet made at the east end of the building, and the en- trance changed to the south side, at the in- tersection of the addition with the old part of the building-. This addition furnishes convenient infant class and library rooms on the ground floor, which are so arranged as to be readily thrown open to the main audience room — adding about two-fifths to the capacity of the building when necessary to accommodate increased numbers. Above these two rooms is a convenient lecture room, arranged to accommodate about seventy-five persons. The audience room,, as now seated, will accommodate about two hundred and forty persons. The building is still incomplete, the plan contemplating the erection of a tower and belfry on the north side, directly opposite the present entrance. Through this tower would be an additional entrance, greatly facilitatinof egress from the buildincj in an emergency. During the years 1854 and 1855 the church was supplied with preaching by the Rev. George D. Young, of Augusta, services being held on Sabbath afternoons at the Methodist house of worship, the Presbyte- rian house being then unfinished. In the CJ04 ^ History of spring of 1857 Rev. William A. Hendrick- •son was employed as stated supply, and continued his labors here until the fall of 1359, During the year 1863 the church was supplied once in three weeks by Rev. J. L.Jones, Presbyterial missionary. In 1864, under the ministerial labors of Rev. William A. Chamberlin, union services were held with the Conoreo^ational Church alternateh' from one house of worship to the other on alternate Sabbaths, each society maintaining its own Sabbath school in the mean time. In 1865 Rev. Isaac T. Whittemore was em- 'ployed as stated supply, and remained with the church until the spring of 1869. Im- mediately succeeding his labors a joint arrangement was again made with the Con- gregational Church, under Rev. H. B. Swift •services being held for six months at each house alternately, and the Sabbath schools united under one management. Rev. Mr. Swift remained one year, and was succeeded by Rev. A. E. Arnold, under whose ministry the joint arrangement was continued until March, 1871. In the fall of this year Rev. A. S. Powell supplied the church, remaining until the next spring. In October, 1872, Rev. W\ F. Cellar, the present incumbent, commenced his labors with the church. Round Pi^airie and Plynionth. 205 The growth of the Presbyterian Church In numbers has not been such as would have been expected if it had been able to secure resfular ministerial services. There have been connected with it, since its organ- ization in November, 1836, up to July ist,, 1875, ^" ^1^' ^^^ hundred and forty-five (245)? persons. Of these eighty-nine (89) have been regularly dismissed by letter, forty-two (42) have removed without letters of dismis- sion, eighteen (18) are dead, and four (4)) have been subjects of trial and suspension. Total dismissals, etc., one hundred and fifty- three (153), making the present membership., July, 1875, ninety-two (92). The Congregation of Disciples, or Chris- tians, in Plymouth, was organized February 18, 1855, the services being held in the house of the M. E. Church, and conducted by Elder J. R. Ross. The original members of the congrega- tion were as follows : viz., David Palmer, Susan Palmer, John Ritchey, Zerelda Ritch- ey, Jonas Myers, Margaret Myers, J. W.. Bell, A. B. Moore, John Madison, Rebecca. Madison, John Hendrickson, David Wade,. Nancy Wade, Edward Wade, Ann Hooton,. Wm, H. Hooton, Isapena Buyher, Thomp- son Burdett, Malinda Burdett, John Ades, 2o6 A History of Elizabeth Ades, Phebe Ades, John Stark, Uphema Myers, Nancy Browning, Sarah Moore, Frances Ritchey, Mary Ritchey, Total, twenty-eight (28). Of these twelve (12) are still resident members. Nine have died, four have re- moved, two have been dismissed by letter, and one excluded. The membership of this society has varied at different periods, in numbers, from the above original number up to about one hundred and twenty (120) persons. The number of resident members is now one hundred and three (103). The house of zuorship belonging to this society was built in 1866. It is located on the east part of lot i, block 15, at the corner of East Main and Virginia streets, fronting on Virginia. It is a neat, substantial frame building, 30 by 40 feet, and will seat two hundred and ten (210) persons. The regular ministers have been as fol- lows : viz., James R. Ross, H. Young, E. Browning, E. J. Lampton, George Brewster, James Stark, and Carroll Stark — the latter being now the preacher. The Baptist Chiireh of Plymouth was organized January 3d, 1857, adopting what is commonly called the New Hampshire Ro2iiid Prairie and PlymoiitJi. 207 Confession of Faith, embracing- all the doc- trines peculiar to Missionary Baptists. This 'thurch was organized with eight members : tIz., Jacob Elliott, Sarah J, Elliott, Thomas Rockey, Celia Rockey, Caleb Bickford, Eliz- abeth Bickford, Emily Walton, Margaret Cook. These are all living (August, 1875). Four of them have removed — Mr. and Mrs. Elliott to Canton, Illinois ; Mr. and Mrs. Rockey are now in Bushnell. Two of them, Mr. and Mrs. l^ickford, have changed their church relations, still residing here, and two of the original members, Mrs. Walton and Mrs. Cook, still remain in connection with the church. Thomas Rockey was the first deacon chosen, and Jacob Elliott the first church clerk. There have been added to this church ■since its organization, up to the present time, two hundred and thirty-five (235) per- sons. Of these seventy-two (72) have been 'dismissed by letter, twenty-four (24) have died, and thirty-five ('35) have been excluded. Total dismissals, etc., one hundred and thir- ty-one (131) ; leaving the number now upon the record one hundred and four (104). Of these twenty-five (25) are now non-residents. The number of actual resident members, therefore, at this time, is seventy-nine (79). 2o8 A History of Rev. Joseph Botts, of St. Mary's, was the first pastor of this church, commencing his labors in May, 1857. He was succeeded in October of the same year by Rev. Caleb Uavison. He in turn was succeeded in De- cember, 1858, by Rev. D. W. Litchfield. Rev. R. L. Colwell commenced his labors in June, i860, and in November, 1865 the pres- ent incumbent. Rev. L. Osborn, took charge of the church. His pastorate extending now over nearly ten years, is longer than that of any other minister who has served any of the various churches in Plymouth during its entire past history. The house of worship of the Baptist Church was built in 1857. It is a plain brick building, 26 by 40 feet, located on lot 7, block 14, upon Summer street, between Virginia and Union streets. It has seating room for one hundred and fifty persons. The United Brethren in Christ. This society was organized in March, 1857, by Rev. G. K. Jackson, pastor, and was desig- nated at that time as PlyinoiitJi Mission.. The following were the original menibers :. viz., Josiah Morris, Martha Morris, B. \V. W'hittington, Thomas l\vidwell, Thomas Kenned)', M. A. Kennedy, Reuben Cecily Round Prairie and Plynwuth. 209- Frances Cecil, A. K. Twidwell, M. A. Tw id- well, Mary Twidwell, Mary Dorothy. Of these twelve four still remain in con- nection with the society : viz., Thomas Twid- well, M. A. Kennedy, Reuben Cecil, Frances Cecil. There have been in connection with this society since its organization seventy-one (71) persons. Of these six (6) have been dismissed by letter, seventeen (17) have re- moved, fifteen (15) have been dropped from^ the roll of membership, and eight (8) have died. Total dismissions, etc., forty-six (46).. Present membership, twenty-five (25). Lamoin Chapel, as the house of worship for this society is called, was built in 1872. It is a frame building, 28 by 36 feet, and is located on the southeast corner of the south- west quarter of section twenty-one, Lamoin township, three miles east and a mile and a half north from Plymouth. The Siinday School History of this com- munity has been traced up to 1850. The following year a Sunday school was organ- ized and continued through the summer and. early fall at the North School House, then^ one of the regular preaching stations of the M. E. Church. This was continued two- 2IO A History of seasons ; the first, in charge of E, H. Young, superintendent ; the second, in charge of Ezra Adkins, superintendent. Then for some years the effort to maintain a Sunda)' school at that point was abandoned. There has since been a Sunday school at that place for a few years, under the superintendence of Thomas Brakefield and A. W. King. These persons, upon whom the maintain- ance of a school there must depend if it were kept up, are actively engaged in their church schools in town, and not only find their time limited for such service, but be- lieve that the interests of those who have attended at the North School House would be better served by their attendance upon some of the various church schools in town. For a number of years following the Mcr- mon occupation of Plymouth there was no Sunday school in town. After the building of the school house in 1851, some of the citizens interested themselves in having one organized. This was done in the spring of 1852. From this point dates the permanent and continuous establishment of the Sunday school work in Plymouth, For two years this school was continued in the school house, and then, on the completion of the Round Prairie and Plymonth. 2 1 1 j\I. E. Church, it was transferred to that house, and continued for a time as a union school — the basis on which it was organized. E. H, Young was superintendent of the school from its organization until the field began to widen out by the establishment of church schools. Of these we think it unnec- essary to give a detailed history, as the his- tory of the various churches already'given, furnishes data sufficiently accurate for our purpose. We may state that the building of each church in the place has been follow- ed by the establishment of a Sunday school in connection with it, A few general facts showing the present status of these various schools may not be out of place. We give, in round numbers, what may be considered a general average of the attendance upon the various Sunday schools, say for the past five years : TEACHERS AND OFFICERS. ITPlt.S. TOTAL. M. E. Sunday School, g 56 65 Congregational Sunday School, 12 63 75 Presbyterian Sunday School, . . 12 73 85 Baptist Sunday School, 6 34 40 Disciples Sunday School, 6 5g 65 Total, 45 285 330 We also subjoin a summary of the accom- modations provided for church goers, and the number of resident church members, in 2 12 A History of each of the churches in town, as follows viz. — ACCOMMODATIONS. MEMBERSHIP, M. E. Cburch 175 109 Congregational 270 77 Presbyterian 240 92 Baptist 1 50 79 Disciples 210 103 Total, 1045 460- CHAPTER XV. The record of the patriotism of Round: Prairie is well worthy of being perpetuated in the pages of history. It has other endur- ing: monuments as well : thev are written deeply in the hearts of many that occupy the desolated homes that dot here and there our fair prairie and town. We have in our midst a few of the Survi- vors of the War of 1812-1^, Of these there is one whose case may be fairly put in a way to present a singular double par- adox. The first paradoxical proposition concerning him is, that, while the official records of the war department recognize his services as a soldier, yet he never was in the army. The second is, that, while he is now an actual li\ing resident of our town, and has been a resident of our community Round Prairie and Plymouth. 2 1 3 for more than forty years past, the same authentic documents of the war department prove that he has been dead for more than sixty years. The man of whom we thus write is Francis Kington, who was born in the State of Virginia, July 4th, 1788. On the breaking out of the war of 18 12 he was a member of a volunteer military company that was called into active service. At this time Mr. Kington was encumbered with the cares of a family consisting- then of a wife and two children. A younger brother, James Kington, volunteered to go in his place, and ■entered the service as a substitute for, and answered to the name of Francis Kington while in the service. In 18 14 James King- ton died In the service, known to the depart- ment only as Francis Kington. [This explanation of a seeming mystery illustrates. It seems to us, very clearly, an Important doctrine of the Christian religion that many find it hard to accept : viz.. That through the service of suffering and death, rendered by Christ, his people live. He is their substitute. He stands ready to render this service to all who will accept it. Reader, have you accepted him as your substitute?] It will be seen by the date of Mr. King- ton's birth, that he Is now in his 88th year — 2 14 ^ History of the oldest person in our community. Until within the last year he has been seen almost daily upon our streets, but is now too feeble to walk beyond the limits of the yard sur- rounding his home. Edward Wade was born in Halifax Coun- ty, Virginia, October 7th, 1792. He enlisted in the regular army at Clarksville, Tennes- see, in 181 2, for five years. He served with General Jackson during the war of 181 2- 15, beinor enoraofed in the short but decisive campaign about New Orleans, the final bat- tle of which virtually closed the war. In the Indian difficulties at the South^ after the close of the war of 181 2-1 5, Jack- son's forces were volunteers, and Mr. Wade beinor a " resfular," was enoraored with his comrades in the more peaceful avocation of building' a so-called national road from Nashville, Tennessee, to Muscle Shoals, Ala- bama. At this date — October, 1875 — Mr. Wade has just passed his 83d birth-day, and still manifests a good degree of physical vigor. From the previous notice of Mr. Wade's settlement on Round Prairie it will be seen that he has been a resident here for more than forty years. Rolcind T. Jlladison was born near the Round Prairie and PlynioutJi. 2 1 5 present city of Bowling Green, Kentucky,. February 24th, 1 794. In the war of 181 2-1 5 he entered the ser- vice as a volunteer in Colonel Richard H.. Johnson's cavalry regiment — three months men. He was discharged on account of sickness, and sent home before the expira- tion of his term of service, but re-enlisted for six months in Captain Peter Dudley's company, Boswell's regiment ; was in the battle of Fort Meigs, near Toledo, Ohio,, then a wilderness ; afterwards with General Harrison in his campaign in Canada. On his return he was appointed an ensign in the 28th United States infantry, under Colonel T. D. Owen, and at the close of the war was promoted to first lieutenant in the same command. Mr. Madison settled in Ohio in 1827^ moved to Illinois in 1836, stopping in Schuy- ler County until 1840, when he bought and settled upon the place where he now lives, at Plymouth. The title of " Captainl' so generally be- stowed upon Mr. Madison by his neighbors, is " within one " of being correct in a military point of view, but it originated from his com- mand of a flat-boat upon the Ohio and Mis- sissippi rivers. 2 1 6 A History of THE BLACK HAWK AND TEXAN WARS. Major JosepJi F. Garrett was born in Ca- bell County, Virginia, November i8th, i8o8, and emigrated to Springfield, Illinois, in 1828. In the spring of 1832, he volunteered in the Black Hawk war, under Captain Daw- son, he and Abraham Lincoln entering the same company as privates. Though not in any battle in this cam- paign, he was so near the scene of Stillman's •defeat, east of Dixon, that he was in the de- tail that buried the dead the followino- da\'. This expedition being made up of thirt)'- day troops, when the term of service expired, Major Garrett re-enlisted, and was in till the •close of the war. In t838 Major Garrett emigrated to Texas, where he engaged in teaching school for some time. In September, 1839, ^^ ^^^~ unteered in an expedition against the In- dians, under Colonel James C. Neill. Here he obtained a commission as purchasing and subsisting commissary, with rank and pay as major. This expedition was engaged in two battles with marauding bands of Indians, in which Major Garrett left his position with the supplies in other hands and went into the fight, like Pat, for "a bit of soort." In Round P}'a2rie and Plynwiith. 2 1 7 the first of these battles, on the Brasos river, without loss on their part, they killed and captured about sixty Indians, In the second battle, on the southwest fork of Trinity river, although their loss was slight, it included two valuable officers : one of them Major Wepler, a German, who had been a captain in Bonaparte's army, a-nd had fought with Wellington's forces at Waterloo, In March, 1840, the troops of this expedi- tion were discharged. In June following. Major Garrett again volunteered in another similar expedition — this time as a substitute for J. R, Baker, who was the first county clerk of McDonnough County, Illinois. Here he was again commissioned to the same office and rank as in the previous ex- pedition. This campaign lasted but one month, at the expiration of which Major Garrett resumed his occupation as school teacher. He returned to Illinois something over twenty-five years ago, where he has since resided, most of the time in Plymouth, On the breaking out of the rebellion, the Major's war spirit was again aroused ; and although over fifty years old at that time, he had his gray hair colored so black that his nearest neigrhbor failed to recognize him, and presented himself for exajnination. The 15 2i8 A History of inexorable old army surgeon told him " it was a pity to repress such pluck, but with such dilapidated teeth as he had, he would starve to death on hard-tack, and therefore it would not do to pass him." THE MORMON WAR. As numerous as were the heroes of the times embraced in the period of the Mor- mon war, we must decline the task of recording their brilliant exploits, mainly for the following reasons: ist. We have already given as much space to the sub- ject of Mormonism as our limits will jus- tify. 2d. The subject needs for its proper elucidation numerous illustrations which we cannot afford in this work. The necessity for pictorial illustration we think will be ap- parent by reference to Jim's story, in which three horsemen captured a town, and the blue-stocking war, in our chapter on Mor- monism. 3d. The subject requires a volume in itself, as those wh© went from Round Prairie, not having any regular military or- ganization, would each require a personal history of service in various campaigns in which each enlisted when he felt like it, staid until he got military glory enough, and then gave himself an honorable discharge. Rotmd Prairie and PlymoiUh. 219 THE MEXICAN WAR. Round Prairie had but two representa- tives in this war: These were Richard Landsden and James M. Garden, both of Birmingham, and both now deceased. THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. In making up the record of those from this vicinity engaged in the war, we extend our territorial Hmits somewhat so as to inchide neighborhoods immediately adjoining Round Prairie, and of which Plymouth is the busi- ness center. The men from these neigh- borhoods and ours, shared together all the vicissitudes of the war, and their names should appear together in any records that may be made of their services. The time of enlistments from this vicinity extended through nearly the whole period of the war, and some of those latest in the service will be found in regiments that were among those earliest formed, being recruited to fill up ranks broken by the war. Our community was represented in about twenty-five different regiments, as follows :. viz. — Twelfth Illinois Infantry. Organized as a Three Years Regiment at Cairo, August ist, 1861, Substitute Recruits mustered in, October, 1864. Augustus Gar- rett, Andrew J. Hattery, J. Marshall Ralston, Silas J. James. The I2th was at Donelson, Corinth, and with Sherman on his- 2 20 A History of march to the sea, Our recruits were sent from Camp Butler, via. Nashville and Baltimore, and joined the regiment under Sherman at Raleigh, North Carolina. The regiment was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, and received final discharge and pay at Camp Butler, Illinois, July, 1S65. Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. Organized May, iSbi, ai yacksonville, Illinois. Alonzo Bickford, Company E, mustered in, 1S61. Tiie regiment was re-organized at Goldsboro, North Carolina, in April, 1865, and the following recruits sent from here : Cornelius Decker, Albert Palmer; Samuel H. Ridgeway, ab- sent, sick at muster out ; Matthew Trammel, mustered out as Corp.; Samuel Wade, mustered out as corp. The 14th was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and received final pay and discharge at Springfield, Illinois, Septem- ber 22d, 1S65. Sixteenth Illinois Infantry. Organized at Quiftcy, May 24th, 1861. James H. Ralston, transferred to 6otli Illinois January, 1864 ; John N. Smith, transferred to 60th Illinois, January, 1864 ; John W. Johnson ; Joseph Shannon, wagoner, re-enlisted as veteran ; S. C. Gilbert, discharged, disability, re-enlisted, ist Colorado cavalry ; A. J. Duncan ; Benjamin F. Hendricks, died at Bird's Point, 1S62 ; William Markley, John Scott ; Johnson, of Lamoin ; Johnson, of Lamoin. The i6th was sent first into Missouri, was at Corinth, and af- terward at Nashville. Their later service was mainly guard and garrison duty. Mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky ; discharged at Camp Butler, Illinois. Eighteenth Illinois Infantry. Organized, May, 1S61. Re-organized. John Bodenhamer, mustered in, March gth, 1B65. Mustered out as Corp., December i6th, 1865 ; Isham Sell. This regiment was at Donelson and Shiloh, and afterwards in Arkansas. Mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas ; discharged at Camp Butler, Illinois. Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry. Organized at Camp Butler, August, 1861, by Lieutenajit Colonel L. //. Waters. Simeon E. Botts, died at home ; .Sidney W. Botts, discharged December, 1862 — disability; Richard A. Dawson, discharged June, 1862 — disability; Nathan Graham, died at Fort Holt, Round Prairie a7id PlymoiUh. 221 Kentucky, December ist, 1861 ; Robert Huddleston, wounded, sent to hospital ^since missing; Edward Livermore, term ex- pired August 26th, 1S64 ; Haley F. Sell, died at Fort Holt, Ken- tucky, January i6th, 1862. Regiment consolidated in 1S64. The following substitute re- cruits were sent to the regiment October, 1864 : James C. Howell, corp., killed at Spanish Fort, Alabama, March 16, 1S65 : Elbridge M. Cox, William L. Hendrickson, Chalmers Hall ; Hiram L. Michael, died at Brownsville, Texas, September 20th, 1865 ; J. Hardin Smith. The 2Sth regiment was at Corinth, Vicksburg, Jackson, and at various points in Alabama, Louisiana and Texas — saw hard service ; came near shipwreck on the Gulf of Mexico in their Transfer from New Orleans to the siege of Spanish Fort — threw 130 mules overboard in order to save the vessel. Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry. Organized September, 1S61. Unassigned Substitute Recruits. Joseph D. Garrett, recruited March 8th, 1865, mustered out May 14th, 1865. Service of the regiment, in Kentucky and Tennessee. Mus- tered out at Louisville, and discharged at Chicago, July i6th, 1865. Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry. Ccnsolidated. Substitute Recruits. William H. Hisel, recruited October 25th, 1864; Tliomas Kennedy, recruited March Qth, 1865, died at Camp Butler, March 2Sth, 1865 ; Reuben Cecil, recruited March gth, 1S65 ; William Lung, recruited March gth, 1865 ; Joseph Pestil, recruited March 25th, 1865. The three latter joined the regiment at Spanish Fort, but were not in the fight ; saw no severe service. Mustered out, January 21st, 1S66, at Selma, Alabama, and sent to Springfield for pay and discharge. Fifty-seventh Illinois Infantry. Organized at Chicago, Dec, 1861. William S. Hendricks, promoted from i6th Illinois, 2d lieuten- ant, resigned February 13th, 1863 ; Edward D. Haggard, ser- geant, promoted 2d lieutenant February, 1863, 1st lieutenant July, 1864, captain July, 1865 — not mustered — mustered out as 1st lieutenant ; James W. Madison, corp., discharged June, 1S62; George Madison, musician, promoted principal musician 56th Illinois Infantry, August, 1862; Mattliias M. Hendrickson, killed at Shiloh April 6th, 1862; John W. Hamilton, re-enlisted as veteran, out as sergeant ; Austin B. Lynch, re-enlisted as veteran ; David Moore ; Henry H. Ross, discharged April, 1862; 2 22 A Histor-y of Robert H. Stark, captured in South Carolina February 22d, 1865, killed; Henry Smith, John F.Thomas; Francis M. Way, dis- charged February, 1S64 — disability. Recruits. Edward F. Kington, October. 1S62 ; William Brown, James Patterson, Henry Mikesell, A. J. Polite ; Philip Long. January, 1862, discharged April, 1862 ; Dallas Cox, Janu- ary, 1862 ; Elijah Clair, January, 1862 ; Lewis Gillenwater, Janu- ary, 1862; George Boman, February, 1864; Isaac Boman, Feb- ruary, 1864 ; James C. Bickford, February, 1864 ; Edwin L. Garvin, February, 1864 ; Bartoe Patterson, March, 1864; Will- iam T. Lawrence, March, 1864, died at Athens, Alabama, April 3d, 1864. This regiment was in the battle at Fort Donelson, February 13th, 14th, 15th, 1S62; at Pittsburg Landing, April 6th. 7th; siege of Corinth, May, 1862 ; battle of Corinth, October 3d 4th, 1862. Mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, and discharged at ■Chicago, July gth, 1S65. FiFTV-EIGHTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY. Consolidaied yatiuary 2jd, iS6j. Wesley Ralston, recruited March 21st, 1865 ; Paris Smith, recruited March 21st, 1865. Mustered out at Montgomery, Alabama, April 1st, 1866; dis- charged at Springfield, Illinois. Sl.XTY-SECOND ILLINOIS INFANTRY. Re-organizcd at Little Rock, Arkansas, April 24th, iS6j. Nicholas S. Comberlidge, recruited as veteran; Aaron Downie, ■died at Frederick, Illinois, January 27th, 1863 ; John Freaks, discharged September 8th, 1S62 — disability; David Stoneking, discharged April 23d, 1SC3 — disability; Samuel Stoneking, transferred to invalid corps. All the above enlisted in the original organization of the 62d, April loth, 1862. As re-organized, were on duty at Pine Bluff and at Fort Gibson. Mustered out at Little Rock, March 6th, lS66 ; discharged at Springfield, Illinois. Seventy-first Illinois Infantry. Three Months Men. Organized at Chicago. Ralph W.Clark, Joseph H. Fortner, Benjamin E. Orr, Joseph W. Tillson, Alfred B. Talbot, Benjamin Bickford, Mainly on guard duty in Kentucky. Round Prairie and Plynumth. 223 Seventy-second Illinois Infantry. ■Organized at Chicago, August 2jd, 1862, as the ist Board of Trade Regiment. James A. Bingham, 2d lieutenant, promoted ist lieutenant January 23th, 1863, killed at Vicksburg May 22d, 1863 ; Edward H. Burton, Discharged May 28th, 1864, for promotion in 52d Col. Infantry ; Andrew Cook, discharged July I2th, 1864, for promotion in sSth Col. Infantry; George W. Capron, Henry A. Cecil, Joshua Hedgecock ; Garrett J. D. Jarvis, discharged April Sth, 1S64, for promotion 50th Col. Infantry ; John J. Myers, died in Yazoo Pass, March i6th, 1863 ; George W. McDaniel, An- drew J. Massengill, William H. McDaniel ; Peter Morehead, mustered out as corporal ; Henry G. Miller ; John W. Royce, died ^t Columbus, Kentucky, October 21st, 1862 ; Lewis J. Spurlock, Marcena Smith ; George W. Milton, corporal, mustered out as private ; Harmon F. Morris, died at Paducah, Kentucky, Octo- ber gth, 1862; Richard Lansden, died at St. Louis, July 22d, 1863; John L. Madison, discharged February 13th, 1S63 — dis- ability; Peter Peters, died at Selma, Alabama, July 26th, 1865 ; George W. Loop, recruit, transferred to 33d Infantry ; John Pennock, recruit. The 72d was with Grant at Vicksburg, at the battle of Nash- ville, and others in Tennessee, at Spanish Fort, Alabama, etc.; iwas in seven battles and eleven skirmishes ; traveled 9,280 miles in the service, and under fire one hundred and forty-five days. Mustered out at Vicksburg, August 6th, 1S65. Seventy-eighth Illinois Infantry. Organized at Quincy, Sept. ist, 1S62. Company A. William S. Hendricks, sergeant-major, March ^8tli, 1864 — discharged January 17, 1865 — wounds; Henry C. Bodenhamer ; James E. Belote, killed at Chickamauga, Septem- ber 20th, 1863 ; Darwin Belote, died at Franklin, Tennessee, March 5th, 1863 ; Robert Driver, died at Franklin, Tennessee, February 19th, 1863 ; Benjamin Davis, died at Chattanooga, Oc- loljer 7th, 1863 — wounds; John Davis, died at Nashville, March i8th, 1863 ; Shepard Graham, died at Franklin. March 28th, 1S63 ; James M. Groves, John Howell, George Harrison ; Will- iam H. Landsden, died at Andersonville, October 6lh, 1864 ; Theodore C. Noel ; David M. Sapp, mustered out as corporal ; "William Wier, mustered out as corporal ; William T. Walker, Rev., died at Nashville, February 28th, 1865 ; Henry H. Wyles, transferred to veteran reserve corps ; Amos Scott, promoted ist lieutenant. Kecriiits. Thomas R. Alway, November, 1S63, transferred to 34th Illinois; Isaac H. Bodenhamer, November, 1863, trans- ferrtd to 34th Illinois; Chris. G. Bodenhamer, November, 1863; John W. Sapp, November, 1S63, died at Nashville, November 224 ^^ History of 23d, 1S64; William II. Wier, November, 1S63 ; Howard Wilds,. November, 1S63 ; Samuel J. JameS, January, 1864; William K, Ruggles, January, 1564 ; Edward H. Wheeler, January, 1S64;. Harvey F. Hendricks, March, 1864 ; Hiram Scott, died at Nash- ville, March 27, 1863 ; John Steen, died at Vining, Georgia, July 22, 1S64 — wounds. Company D. Sidney Bott.s. mustered out as corporal ; Joseph O. Botts, discharged June, 1863 — disability; John L. Bell, died at Louisville, Kentucky, February 3d, 1S63 ; Luther C. Burton^ died at Louisville, June 26th, 1864 — wounds ; Samuel S. Davis, killed at Jonesboro, Georgia, September 1st, 1864; Williara Earle, discharged September, 1S63 — disability; Egbert New- man, mustered out June 7th, 1865 — prisoner, died in hospital at Richmond ; Solomon Fry ; David G. Hawkins, died at Louis- ville, May I2th, 1S63 ; William K.Long; William E. Milion, mustered out as corporal ; Thomas B. Smith, transferred to vet- eran reserve corps, July 25th, 1S64; Charles M. Bennett, musi- cian ; Richard H. Scott, killed at Jonesboro, September 2d, 1S64; Samuel Fugate, corporal, killed at Rasaca, Georgia, May 15th, 1S64; Martin Fugate, killed at Chickamauga, September 20th, 1863 ; Solomon Toulon, killed at Chickamauga, September 20th, 1S63 ; William Toulon, discharged, joined 148th regiment ;, John Mullin, recruit ; Silas Bayles. The service of the 7Sth regiment is indicated to a good degree by its list of dead. It saw a good deal of hard service. It will be seen by the list, that this regiment contained by far the most numerous representation of soldiers from this vicinity of any regiment in the service. It received its final pay and discharge at Chicago, June 12th, 1865. Eighty-eighth Illinois Inf.vntry was mustered into the United States service at Chicago, Sep- tember 4th, 1S62, as tiie 2d Board of Trade Regiment. The following men from Plymouth were enlisted {ox this- regiment, August 27th, 1S62. Charles Wiiichell. coiiioral, mustered out as private ; Isaac: S. Cunningham, Robert Jones ; Jacob Wright, died at Nash- ville, January 15, 1S64. This regiment was in the battles of I'erryville, Stone River,. Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and Atlarjta. From thence back to Chattanooga, Franklin and Nashville. Mustered out at Nashville, and discharged at Chicago, June 22d, 1865. One HlTNDKED AND EIGHTEENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY. Organized at Camp Biitlcr, Aj a man and his wife, with two children, and a young man, all under the leadership of a negro called Charley, who had been over the line half a dozen times or more. He had become well known to the regular agents of the route. His various trips to and from Missouri had been made for the purpose of getting his wife away ; failing in which, he would gather up such friends as he could and pilot them to freedom. Mr. Y — detailed himself for the service of taking the party to Macom.b, to start next morning, making a day trip. The party of six were stowed as well as possible at full length on the bottom of the wagon and cov- ered closely with sacks of straw. These were so light that they showed a decided tendency to jolt out of place, and thus per- haps to make unwelcome revelations on the road. To remedy this a rope was drawn down tightly over the sacks and fastened at the ends of the wagon. This kept things to place, and all went well until near the end of the journey. Here Mr. Y became doubtful as to the proper road to take, took the wrong one, and passed three young men getting out logs in a piece of woods through which his way led him. He did not dare to stop and inquire the way of them, for fear 284 A History of they might pry into the nature of his load too closely. As he drove on he thought there was a striking family likeness in the young men, to the man he was looking for. He went on, however, until he came to a cabin a little off the road, where he thought it safer to inquire. As he went in he confronted a man that he recognized only too well as one he cared little to meet on such a mission. But it was a cold, snowy day, and his face was so concealed by his wrappings that he was not recognized by the occupant of the cabin, who gave him the information sought. Mr. Y — found that he had gone too far, had to retrace his way to the woods and there turn off. Here again he came upon the young men who had been delayed with their load by getting " stalled " in a deep rut. Better satisfied now as to their identity, he inquired the way of them. Guessing his mission readily, they made free inquiries about his load, which were answer- ed as freely. Finding " Charley " was in the company, one of the young men determined to frighten him, or at least have a joke at his expense. Calling his name in stern tones, he told him that he knew he had passed over the line several times in safety ; " but," said he, " I have caught you at last ; Round Prairie and Plymojith. 285 you are now my prisoner." Charley, still in concealment with the others under the sacks, recognized the voice of an old acquaintance, did not turn white with fear, but enjoyed the pleasantry. Soon all were safely housed at Mr. 's, After supper " all hands " gathered in the parlor, where for a time there was a free in- termingling of story, song and mirth ; after which an old violin was produced and " op- erated " upon by some one of the company, while the negroes " let themselves out " into a regular old-fashioned plantation " hoe down," which lasted until all were ready to retire with aching sides from excess of fun. This evening's entertainment is noted as a particularly bright spot in U. G. R. R. expe- rience — brightened wit /i genuine 7iegro pol- ish. A PAIR OF PHOTOGRAPHS. We ought not to forget what slavery was, nor what it did. To refresh our memory let us look at a photograph or two. One day a genteel looking young man of somewhat dark complexion came to Mr. Y — 's and conversed with him some time before he was suspected of being a fugitive. When asked if this was his position, he frankly admitted it. 2 86 A Histo7'y of On his way over he had met Mrs. Y and another lady, and inquired of them the way. From his appearance and genteel ad- dress they had no suspicion of his being a runaway slave. While stopping here Mr. Y — took him, one clay, to the house of a friend. They staid for dinner, and during the meal the subject of caste came up, in the discussion of which Mr. Y — remarked to the host, that he was then entertaining a negro slave at his table. The host was greatly surprised, and could be scarcely convinced of the fact. It was deemed en- tirely safe, by the U. G. agents, for this fugi- tive to travel openly by daylight, and he had done so from Ouincy, and continued his journey from here in the same way, stopping with friends on the route (as occasion re- quired), to whom he was directed from place to place. This young man was his master s so?i by a slave mother. He grew up active, intelli- gent and trusty. He had for some time been in sole charge of his father-master's business, a position of considerable trust and responsibility, in which he proved him- self trustworthy and fully competent. He had a " lesritimate " brother, the two bearinof a strong family resemblance, about the only Roiuid Prairie and Plyino2Lth. 287 ■difference being a very slight tinge in the color of the slave brother's skin. The legitimate brother was a profligate, a spendthrift, and a tyrant ; a constant source of vexation and trouble to his father, and who was yet allowed by him to tyran- nize over and abuse his slave brother until life was almost a burden. This abuse was suffered patiently for a long time ; but finally, in his estimation, " forbearance ceased to be a virtue," and relief was sought in a success- ful flight. No moralizing in this case is necessary. Let us look now for a moment on photo- graph No. 2, An old man, from fifty to sixty years of age, had made his way, somehow, from forty miles below New Orleans to Ouincy. He had had a fearful experience of the rigors of slave life in the far south, and was now making his escape therefrom. At Quincy he providentially stumbled into a sawmill on the river bank, to sleep. This, he found out in some way, belonged to the very man, of all others in Quincy, that he wanted to see — the principal U. G. agent there. He was soon put upon the line and sent forward, arriving safely upon Round Prairie, and was placed in care of Mr. Y — . Here, out in a clump of underbrush, he 288 A History of stripped off his shirt to exhibit to his host a rare specimen of workmanship done in hu- man flesh, by such cunning malignity as could only be born of slavery, aided by the prince of darkness. A cat — not the sailor's instrument of tor- ture, known as the " cat-o'-nine-tails," a sort of whip — but a living cat with its four sharp sets of fearful claws, had been taken by the cruel overseer, by its tail and neck, and dragged backwards down the man's back ; resenting such treatment as only a cat could^ by setting its claws as firmly as possible into the quivering flesh. This operation was continued until no space was left upon his back for its further application. These wounds had festered, leaving a series of deep, close furrows, plainly legible in lines of living flesh covering the whole back. Across these were an irregular series of heavy welts raised by the overseer's lash. We have no taste, dear reader, for the exhibition of such pictures; but historic truth demands that we present them as hav- ing been exhibited already, in this nineteenth century, on Round Prairie, in the free State of Illinois. Round Prairie and PlymoiUh. 289 A GRAND RALLY AND HUNT. Perhaps the most exciting incident that has ever occurred in the history of the U, G. R. R. in Round Prairie, and at the same- time the most dramatic in its details, occur- red in the fall of 1857. A professional wri- ter of sensational stories might easily work up the material furnished by this incident into a novel of respectable size. Our aim in giving its details, shall be, as it has been in all the incidents found in this book, to give an exact and faithful narrative of facts as obtained from the best sources of informa- tion open to us. 'We may say further here,, once for all, that the facts of every anecdote found upon these pages, unless otherwise specified, have been furnished us by parties who were active participants in the scenes described, or who were otherwise thoroughly conversant with the facts stated. We deem this statement due to the facts, many of which " are stranger than fiction." Late one Saturday night, or, rather, per- haps early Sunday morning, a covered wag- on stopped at the house of Mr. X — , located at a point on Round Prairie that we shall not designate. The driver aroused Mr. X — and called him out to inform him that he .290 A History of had a consignment of negroes that he wish- ed to place in his care. Under ordinary ■circumstances the charge would have been readily accepted ; but at this time Mr. X — had in his employ an Irishman who could have found no greater pleasure than to get scent of a trail that might lead to the cap- ture of a runaway " nager." For this reason it was thought imprudent for Mr. X — to re- -ceive the freight. The driver was informed of the peculiar situation and advised to take his cargo to the house of Mr. Y — . In the mean time the Irishman, awakened by the ■slight disturbance below, looked out, saw the wagon, and was sharp enough to take in the situation at a s^lance. In his eagerness he rushed out, without stopping to consider the propriety of his appearance in company in his very limited night apparel. He ap- proached the driver in a very familiar way, .and tried to convince him that, beino- him- self a sound " abolitionist," there would be no harm in admitting him to confidence, and allowinof him to share in the manacle- ment of the case. The driver, duly fore- warned, paid no attention to his blarney and drove off, hoping thus to get rid of his too familiar attentions. But the Irishman determined to track the Roitnd Pi'airie and PlymoiLih. 291 •game to its hiding place, and then arrange for its capture. Not daring to lose the time necessary to add to his wearing apparel, he tfoUowed as he was, keeping far enough from the wagon to escape observation, yet near enouofh to be sure of its destination. The distance to Y — 's house was not great, and the Irishman was rejoiced to see the wagon •stop there, and the living cargo unload and .approach the house. So well satisfied was he now, that the game was safe, that he has- tened home to add somewhat to his dress, and then notify some of the nearest neigh- bors, v/ho were as eager for such game as ;himself, and secure their assistance in its capture. No attempt to pass the negroes on, or to change their quarters, was expected until the coming night ; and being the Sabbath, no legal steps could be taken at once for their arrest. A quiet outlook may have been kept over the premises during the day to guard against any flank movement by Mr. Y — against surprise and the capture of the o^ame. The Sabbath hours furnished abundant time for the Irishman to consult with his friends, make the necessary plans, and se- cure all the assistance he mieht need. It 292 A History of was deemed prudent to place a strong guard around the premises at night to prevent the possibiHty of an escapade. At an early- hour on Sunday evening armed men arrived in sufficient numbers to carry out the plan. As night drew on, the crowd increased. A neighbor on his way to prayer meeting, pur- posed passing Mr. Y — s house that evening, as it was nearer than by the road, and when near the place, was ordered to halt by a little cluster of men not far from the point at which it appeared he was attempting to pass the picket line of the guard. Failing to comprehend the situation, or not recog- nizing their authority, he passed on. The order was repeated in more emphatic tones, but not regarded. The sharp report of a gun close upon the order, demanded consid- eration. The neighbor halted, turned his course, abandoned his peaceful mission to the house of prayer, and returned home for his gun, remarking to a friend that, " if shoot- ing was the game, it had at least two sides to it." On his way back he notified other neighbors of the situation, some of whom proceeded with him to Mr. Y — 's. Here things began to look serious ; some of the family were alarmed and frightened at the supposed, or, possibly, real danger. Round Prairie and Plymouth. 293 With the hope of getting rid of the an- noyance more speedily, Mr. Y — approached some of the leaders, and offered them the privilege of making their contemplated search at once, without legal warrant. But they were in no mood to take advice from Mr. Y — or his friends. Having a sure thing of it, they were going about its execution in their own way. Changing front, Y — then told them they were trespassing upon his premises without authority of law, disturbing his family, breaking the peace — in brief, that they were rioters, and that unless they promptly dispersed and left his premises, he should take speedy measures to have them arrested as such. Scorning his threat, as they had his previous advice, they told him that he was their prisoner, and would not be allowed to leave the premises. With the aid of a friend, however, who led his horse out of the lines at one point, while he passed out at another, Mr. Y — was soon on his way to the office of a justice of the peace in a distant part of the township. The friend who had aided Y — in getting out of the lines, did not add greatly to the good nature of the crowd, by pointing to the receding form of the horseman, and taunting them with their inefficiency as a guard, as they 294 ^ History of had allowed their " prisoner " to escape^ This was of small consequence to them^ however, as compared with the game still in. " the bush." The hours of the Sabbath finally passed away, and the curtain of midnight fell upon the scene, to rise again with the early dawn upon another exciting act in the passing: drama. The wild Irish leader had gone, at the first opportunity after the Sabbath had passed, to the office of a justice of the peace near at hand, for a warrant to search the house, and arrest the negroes. This docu- ment is worthy of record here, as showing the legal stahis of nie7i with a black skin, at that time ; also as defining a crime now ob- solete in this country, and as containing a classification of " property " that already seems strange, and will seem more so as the years go by. The substance of the warrant is reproduced here from memory, by one who copied it from the docket soon after it was issued, and who preserved it for years as a memento of the occasion, and is thought to be substantially, if not really, verbatim. It reads as follows, except names and dates : viz., " M — W — comes, and on his oath de- clares that a larceny has been committed at Round Pj'airie and Plymouth. 295 the County __ of Schuyler, State of Illinois,, and that the goods stolen, to wit : three ne- groes are supposed to be concealed in the house of J. B, Y — . " To all constables, etc., greeting: " You are hereby commanded to search in the daytime, the house of said J. B. Y — , and if any of the said goods be found, the same are to be seized and brought before me. " (Signed), A. B— , J. P." Armed with this document, the Irishman returned to the field of action, to await with his comrades the coming of the morning, and of the officer who had been secured to execute the warrant. During this interim, an interesting little episode occurred that, deserves notice. Questioning the fact, that the Irishman? had a search warrant, the friends of Mr. Y — demanded to see and read it for their own satisfaction. This was refused on the plea that they wanted possession of the paper for the purpose of destroying it. Protesting against this charge, and claiming good in- tentions, and to be acting in good faith, the demand was renewed, but again refused. The demand was then made that the Irish- man, or some of his friends, should read it aloud, as they certainly had a right to be 296 A History of satisfied as to the fact of his having the authority claimed. This proposition was assented to, a Hght procured, and some one selected to do the reading. The one chosen, however, proved a failure in this scholastic arc. With all the legal clearness and pre- cision of the document, the reader failed to make anything intelligible out of it. After further parley, it was agreed that, the Irish- man holding the document, a friend of Y — 's might approach, take hold of one corner of the paper, and looking over at the Irishman's side, read it. When nearly through, sus- picions of foul play came into the Irishman's head again, and jerking away the paper, he blew out the light, brought down his gun, and ordered the party to stand back. Sharp words ensued upon this abrupt termination of the affair, but nobody was hurt, and the episode had helped to pass away the tedious hours of night. Morning came, and with it the officer, to whom was committed the responsibility of maintaining, by his personal service or sac- rifice, if need be, the majesty of the law. The constable, accompanied by the Irish- man, armed with revolvers and huge knives, proceeded to search the house. They were afforded the fullest opportunity to make Round Prairie and Plymouth. 297 thorough work of it. With extreme caution they went over the Louse, in constant dread of having their heads broken by the clubs of the burly negroes whom they expected would suddenly spring upon them from their concealment. Thus the search went on, from cellar to garret ; every room, closet, nook or cranny, that was supposed to afford space for the ■concealment of a human being, was thor- oughly explored, but not a curly head could be found. The case began to look hopeless. The mystery was beyond comprehension. That the negroes had been fairly tracked to the place designated, there was no more doubt than there was of the existence of the Irish- man who saw them there with his own eyes. That there had been time enough to spirit them away during his brief absence from the place, or that any attempt to move them on to another point that night, would be made, were deemed too improbable for considera- tion. So the mystery deepened. The negro hunters were foiled, bitterly disappointed and chop-fallen at the miserable failure of their search. To add to their chagrin, the friends of Mr. Y — now began to ridicule them for 20 298 A History of their inefficiency as hunters. Old logs and boards were turned over about the premises, exposing rat holes that they were urged to look into. All sorts of suggestions were made to tantalize them, and urge their search into various improbable places of concealment. This storm of ridicule they were now in no mood to meet or resent. To make their discomfiture complete, as they were about to abandon the search and leave the field, a new actor appeared on the stage, in the person of an officer armed with a warrant for the arrest of the Irishman and several of his most prominent followers, on a charge of riot. To the execution of this writ all submitted quietly but one young man, who swore he "wouldn't go." The officer ordered a posse to seize the rebel- lious young man, tie him, and load him into the wagon with the other prisoners. Two stout men sprang forward to execute the mandate, when the young man "came down" with such grace as he could command, and climbed into the wagon. All were taken before a Justice of the Peace some miles dis- tant, examined, and bound over for their appearance at court. The final result of the case was, that after various dilatory proceed- ings, delaying it from term to term, it was Rotmd Prairie and Plymouth. 299 thrown out of court in consequence of an error that had crept into the date of an im- portant paper, placing the event a year from the time of its actual occurrence. How this error happened, is one of the legal mysteries of the case, supposed to be understood only by the profession. Its explanation we do not attempt. An interesting side scene occurred that Sunday night, while the great drama was on the boards, that has a place in our story, and is of permanent interest to a considerable circle of friends. A near friend of Mr. Y — was seen making hurried movements about the neighborhood, in the darkness, under cover of night, sug- gestive of active preparation for some press- ing emergency. Any such action on the part of Mr. Y — 's friends at this stage of af- fairs, was thought to be decidedly suspicious, and as indicating some shrewd, bold flank movement for the escape of the negroes from the snare so surely closing in upon them. A close watch was kept upon this man's movements, with the earnest expecta- tion that a clue might thus be obtained to important revelations. Nor was this expect- ation disappointed, except in the nature of the revelation. 300 -A History of No runaway negroes were found, no "lar- ceny" discovered, nor "stolen goods" un- earthed ; but a certain promising young man, who is sometimes seen upon our streets^ dates his birthday (?) back to that eventful Sunday night: viz., November 8th, 1857. TJie sequel to this story furnishes an im- portant act in the drama ; and the events we now relate will probably furnish many of the actors in the scene their first knowledge of the reasons why they failed in their search for the negroes. Mr. Y — knew that he was a " marked man," and that his premises were sometimes watched, and peculiarly liable to search if any suspicious circumstances should point that way. Extreme caution was therefore necessary on his part. The three negroes were received by Mr, Y — precisely as the Irishman had stated^ but were not taken into the house, nor con- cealed on the premises, but led around in rear of the house and down to lower ground, a short distance away, that would hide the party from observation in the opposite direc- tion, and then taken to the house of Mr. Z — , a near neighbor who at that time was not so much under the ban of suspicion as Mr. Y — ► This movement was executed with so much y BD-232 Ro7ind Prairie and Plymotith, 301 celerity that Mr. Y — was safely at home aofain before the Irishman's counter move- ment was carried out. Mr. Z — received the negroes, put them in his garret, supplied them with food for the day, and as the time approached, went about the usual preparations for going to» church. There was at this time a lady vis- itor in his family, who would have objected strongly to being an original party to any such "underground" proceedings as now surrounded her. Knowing, as he did, that her views were directly opposite his own upon this subject, Z — did not hesitate to explain the situation to her, so far as- necessary ; and relying safely on her honor as a lady, and her obligations as a guest, left her alone in charge of the house, and virtu- ally on guard over the negroes, while he and his family went to church as usual. Apprehensive that a failure of the search at Y — s might lead to the search of other premises near by, it was deemed prudent ta get the negroes further from the scene on Sunday night, before the search should be made at Y — s. Accordingly Mr. X and Mr. Z — went with them after night across- lots, to a place in the neighborhood about two miles away, where it was thought they. 302 A History of Round Prairie.. would be safe. After getting there, upon? consultation it was thought best to take them out of the neighborhood altogether^ In accordance with this decision, X. — and Z — took the negroes on horseback, struck off upon a side track directly away from the main line, placed them in safe quarters ten. miles away, near Huntsville, and were back upon the scene of the excitement in the- early morning, to join in the sport made at the expense of the discomfited negro- hunters. Many additional incidents might be given) — in fact, this subject alone would furnish abundant material for a book of several hundred pages ; but we think enough have been given to illustrate fairly the modus operandi of the Underground Railroad sys^- tem. THE END. .,i5;;/7 o " o <> 'V^^^!i?^^^- ' c 0" -l-.^' > V^ ^ - o V ^ . ^ 0^ .0- ^^-^^^ '. > .0°-". ^°r^ .0' '0- ■^ .0^ ^^•^^. V DOBBS BROS. LiallARV BINDING v' ST. AUGUSTINE "'^°' X^v^ 32084 ^^0^ O^^ 'o . . - ^ <- .