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HKNRY S. METZ'S 
 
 HISTORY AND REMINISCENCES 
 
 OF 
 
 Schuyler County, Illinois, 
 
 AND- 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 ;?ead and Delivered at the Centennial Celebration, July 4, 1876, 
 
 -IN- 
 
 J^XTSP-I^V^ILXjE, ILXjUsTOIS. 
 
 ! listory means wluit is a matter of rcvnrd ; 
 
 a account oC facts, particularly of facts 
 >l»;cUnii; Nations or States; a nurralion 
 
 f even Is in tlic onler in wliich the^' hap- 
 1 ened, with their causes and eil'ects. Ilis- 
 
 )ry diil'ers from annals. Annals relate 
 
 imply facts and events, and events in 
 
 acli yciir in strict chronological order 
 itliout any observations of the writer. 
 
 listory regards less strictly the arrange- 
 ments of events under each j'ear and ad- 
 
 lils the observations of the writer. There- 
 fore, in preparing ihis hist(n"y of Scliuyler 
 county we shall only refer to facts as we 
 can collate Ihem from, as wc suppose, 
 anilu'ntic sources. 
 
 Schuyler county wasfiDnied in Januaiy, 
 1S2."), out of tlie counties of Pike and Fiil- 
 I'lii. The act (Mvcling the county was 
 pa,s-ed Jannarv Kitli, 18'j-j, and rc-uls as 
 foll.ws: 
 
 •■i5i' it ciiacti-il. Jic, Th:it ali Ihni iraci nl' coun- 
 try within tlie I'Dllowini; l)OinHirius, to wit: I5o- 
 Lrinniu'.' at tlie plafc where' tlic township lill(^ h(!- 
 Twccn two aiul ihi-i'i' s.iuth. touches tho Illinois 
 
 river, thence west on said line to the range line 
 liotween ranges, lour anil I'lve west; Ihence north 
 on said range line to the northwest corner of 
 township three north range lour west; Ihence east 
 on said township line t« the meridian; tlience 
 down the meridian line to the southeast corner of 
 township three north range one west; thence east 
 (■n said township line to the Illinois river; thence 
 down the said river to the place of beginning, 
 shall constitntc a county to be called the county 
 of Schuyler." 
 
 Tlie boundries embrace what now com- 
 l)oses llTe counties of Schuyler and IJrown. 
 But in February, 1830, the county of 
 Jjiovvn was cut ofl of Schuyler county, the 
 trouble of reiiehing llushvillc (county seat), 
 on account of the high waters of Crooked 
 creek, being the main cause for the divis- 
 ion of the county. There was much talk 
 before the division of establishing the seat 
 of justice at Ripley. 
 
 Tiie act of erecting Schuyler county ap- 
 pointed John i\dams, Stephen Olmstead 
 and Ji'.mes Dunwoodee, of Morgan countj', 
 comntissioners to locate the seat of justice, 
 and wiio bu ated it at or near where Pleas- 
 
 .ti 
 
autview uow slauds, uml called it Boards- 
 lown. Bui atlerwards Jjcven Green, Thos. 
 Blair and Benjamin Chadsey were ap- 
 pointed I)}' the General Assembly to select 
 a new location, and on the 20th day of 
 February, 182(i, a little over iifty years aujo, 
 they selected the i)resent site of liushville 
 as the seat of justice, anil called it llusluon 
 (after an eminent physician in Philadel- 
 phia), which is the southwest quarter of 
 section 80 in township Ia\m iiortli range 
 one west, and on April 24th, 182(», the 
 C'ounty Commissioners ordered tlie nau'.e 
 .of the county seat changed from Kushion 
 to Rusliville. , 
 
 Thomas Blair, Samuel Mclvcc and 
 Samuel Horney were the tirsi (Vmnty 
 Commissioners. 
 
 The first town lots in llu^hvilh' were 
 sold July 4tli, 182(>, and it was ordered 
 that the notice of the same be pahlished 
 in the EdicnrdsoiHe Spectator. J. D. ]\[an- 
 love was the first Surveyor of the county, 
 Orris McCartnej^ tlie first Slieriff, J. !>. 
 Terry the first Recorder and Circuit Clerk, 
 Willis O'Neil the first Treasurer, and 
 Majoi' Hart Fellows afterward held almost 
 all the otficcs witliin the gift of the people 
 at the same lime. 
 
 The first court of record h.eld in the 
 county vyas presided over by Judge John 
 York Sawyer, and Wiis held in a little 
 caliin belonging to Samuel Turiici', ai 
 about where Pleasant view now stands. 
 
 iiight here we will j'efer to some of the 
 noted itersonages who have lived, and some 
 who still reside in Scliuyler couiUy. 
 Judge T. Lyle Dickey-, one of the Supreme 
 Judges of tiie State, resided in this county 
 in 1833-4. The lamented Senator W. A. 
 Kichardson was a resident of liushville 
 from about t8o5 until 1849, when he re- 
 moved to Quiney. Hon. Robert Blackwell, 
 author of "Blackwell on Tax-Titles," also 
 resided in Rusliville until about the year 
 1850. The Hon. Wm. A. Minshall, who 
 was second to none in tlie State as a jurist, 
 was also a resident of and died in this 
 county in the year 1851. And last, but not 
 least, we still Jiave in our midst Hon. 
 Pinkney H. Walker, who has for over 
 eighteen years graced the Supreme Bench, 
 and for the inrseut term was elected with- 
 out opposiiion. 
 
 Schuyler count}^ embraces a sui)erficial 
 
 . area of a little over eleven townships, or 
 
 about four hundretl and fourteen scfiiare 
 
 miles, and is bounded on the north by 
 
 McDonough and Fulton counties, on the 
 
 east by P\ilton county and the Hlinois 
 river; on the souih by Bn)wn county, and 
 on the west b}^ the counties of Adams and 
 Hancock. When the couniy was ei'ectcii 
 all the territory lying north of it, ;u\ii 
 Hancock county, and west of the founii 
 principal meridian, was added to Schuylci- 
 for c<mnly purposes. Tlierelor-' Scluiyl r 
 counlj- virtually extended to nnd includeil 
 all the lerritorv norlh as far as lii.vk 
 Island. 
 
 Its surface is con.-iderably divcisiiicd 
 N< ith It ills and valleys, pi'airies and heavily 
 limbered, woodlands, the propoiti in (■ 
 prairie and timbei' lands being about one 
 of the former to tlm e of the latter. Almi' 
 the blulls of Crooked creek and ib.e 111.- 
 nois river the surface is (pnle liroken and 
 hilly, but even these broken lands possess 
 a rich an;i productive soil, and are vain 
 ;d)le for agricultural purp;ises wlicii'vi r 
 they !U-e sufficienily level for cultivaiiun. 
 The p,ai!'ies are mostly small and aie v 
 snicted lo tlie norllierii and western po; 
 lions of tiu' (■ouniy. Tlu^ connty isweii 
 watered, mainly by Crocked creek mid ii - 
 artiuents, which traverses its sonthei-n ,inil 
 weslern portion, and h^' Sugar creek and 
 the Illlnoi-; river, the former interseclin;' 
 the e:iste;'n porJ.m of ihe c-junt}' and the 
 latler forming in part its eastern b umdary 
 
 Crooketi creek furnished c in^ider;iM' 
 water p^iwcr, and in llie early settlement < I 
 the county the iniiabitants of this and sev 
 eral adjoining counties were depende,!! 
 upon the water mills upon this siream !■! 
 nearly all their milling facilities. AIoi. 
 recently, however, steam power lias lo :- 
 gr<?at extent superceded the old water mill, 
 and most of the mills on this slreani liavr 
 a steam engine attached to enable them to 
 run throughout Ihe year. 
 
 On the ridges adjacent to the small 
 streams the timber is mostly black oak and 
 hickory, liut on the more level jiortions of 
 the timbered regions, as well as on the 
 blufl's of the Illinois river, we find, in ;id 
 dilion to them, Elm, Linden, Sugar Maple, 
 Wild ('lierry and Honey Locust, mi 
 arboreal growth which indicates a soil ol' 
 the best quality, fully eipral to the besi 
 prairie soils. 
 
 Much of tire uplands, where this growl n 
 of timber prevails, is underlaid liy the 
 marlj' sands and clays of I lie loess and 
 rank among ilie veiy best lands in the 
 Stale. Fine blue grass pastures are easil\ 
 made upon these lands, and the soil i. 
 
 f5'H7 
 
 u >A 
 
 I 
 
well iidapleil to the growth of IVnit, espe- 
 cialiy llu! gniiK'. 
 
 On the eastern border <■[' Uie county 
 Miereis a belt of alluvial bottoms, skirting 
 llie Illinois river from ii mile to about 
 (bur miles in width. Some portions of this 
 land is above the high water level of the 
 river, and these lands are very productive, 
 while other portions are subject to annual 
 overllows from llie river Hoods and are of 
 liiile value for agricultural purposes. A 
 C(insideral)le portion of tliis is bottom 
 prairie, but there is usually a bell of heavy 
 limlxn- skiiting the river, and also the 
 small streams, by M'hich the bottoms are 
 iuttrsecied. The timber on these low 
 lands comprise Cottonwood, Sycamore, 
 Soft :>Iaple, Elm, Ash, Hickory, Pecan, 
 Spanisir Oak, Swamp White Oak, Pin 
 Oak, iJlack ^Valnut, Hackberiy, Buckeye, 
 Honey i.ocnsi. Pawpaw, Willow, &c. 
 
 There are also belts of bottom lands up- 
 on some of the larger creeks of ibis ((nmty, 
 as on Ow.jked and Sugar cre-.'ks, l)Ut these 
 s;'ld im exceeil a half mile in width, and 
 are covered willi a heavy growth of timber. 
 The first settlement in the county was 
 mid.' by C!alvin Jlobart, on section six- 
 li'Cii, liUsliviile townshi]), on the lOtii of 
 Frt)iiii!ry, 182:5. W. H. Tayior, then a 
 siiiule man, afierwai'ds (piile a noteil 
 preacher, accompanied Mr. l[ol)ait. ITt; 
 :uid jMiss Klizabeth Spoonamore had the 
 honor of beiiig tiie first couple married in 
 llie county, llev. Leven (4reen, tlu; first 
 i'roieslant pi'cacher in the county, perform 
 ing the marriage ceremony. The first 
 wiiite child biu'u in the county was Wm. 
 I*lgglestou ; the second was Ann Fellows, 
 now Mrs. j\Iaro Farwell, of Fretlerick. 
 
 On .Inly od, 18:54, the cholera, in its most 
 malignant and destructive form, visited 
 the community of Rushville and swept 
 like an angle of destruction among its in- 
 iiabitants. The old and young alike fell 
 victims to the dread destroyer, and general 
 mourning succeeded. 
 
 The villages in the county consist of the 
 f )llowing: 
 
 Camden was laid off January 2S1h, 18:58, 
 by Joseph N. Ward and Ivobert 'l>rown. 
 Samuel McHatton was Surveyor. Camden 
 is situaied on a high rolling prairie and is 
 surrounded ])y a fine, rich firming coun- 
 try. It has two churches, school building, 
 a saw and grist mill, fourstores, two wagon 
 shops, a chair shoi), and a good hotel. 
 
 P.rooklyu was laid ofi" Octol)er 25th, 
 18:{(i, l)v \Villiam C. Reno. Allen Persinsr- 
 
 er was the Surveyor. It is situated on 
 Crooked creek, and does quite a thriving 
 trade. From the flaming advertisements 
 in regard to the sale of its town lots in 
 1837, wh.icli ajipearcd in Philadelphia, 
 New York and Pittsburg papers, a person 
 would be led to believe that Brooklyn at 
 that lime bid fair to become the largest city 
 in the i^lilitary Tract. ' 
 
 Frederieksville, on the Illinois river, 
 vv-as laid off by Frederick Johnte, May 
 loth, 18:30. This town for many years was 
 the river landing for llushville, Macomb, 
 and in fact for all the country for thirty or 
 forty miles northwest of llusliville, and 
 was the town in the county next in im- 
 ])0i-lance to llushville. Within the past 
 few years the Kockford, Hock Island and 
 St. Louis Railroad has been built through 
 the place, which has materially damaged 
 the town as a shipping point. 
 
 Littleton, Iluntsviile, Birmingham, Pleas- 
 antview. Browning, BlntV City, liutlers- 
 vllle, Csceola, Erwin, Hay Station, New- 
 i)erry and Doddsville are thriving little 
 towns .in the county, J)ut of which space 
 will not peimit us to speak at length. 
 
 Tlie war records of Schuyler county 
 show that her people were patriotic to the 
 utmost degree. In the yi'ars ls:i() and 18:51 
 two comp;tnies raised in t^ie county went 
 forth to tlie Blacik Hawk war. The first 
 v.as comnnuKled liy Maj. Hart Fellows and 
 the second by Major Jomithan Randall. 
 Tiie troops rendezvoused at Beardslown 
 r.nd w^ere under the command of Governor 
 Reynolds. The fir.st encampment made 
 after leaving Beardstown was on the Berry 
 farm, just" beyond Jonathan Patteson's 
 farm, about two miles east of Rushville 
 
 In the year 184-1 the Mormon war broke 
 out and a company of volunteers left Rusli- 
 ville for the seat of wur. They marched 
 as far as Augusta, Illinois, when, deeming 
 the danger ()ver, thej' returned. 
 
 In tlie year 184G the United States be 
 came involved in a war with Mexico and 
 two companies of volunteers were raised 
 in Schuyler, and otTered their services to 
 the General Government, which were ac- 
 cepted. One company left in 1840, under 
 Wm. A. Richardson as Captain, ;nid llie 
 other in 1847, under Captain Adams 
 Dunlap. 
 
 During the late civil war Schuyler 
 county did as much towards furnishing 
 her qiioto of men for suppressing the re- 
 bellion as any other county in the State in 
 proportion to her population. Eleven full 
 
companies were raised in the county and 
 toolv tlic lield, to wit : Company G, 16th 
 Illinois Infantry Volunteers, under Capt. 
 Wm. I-I. McAllister; Co. G, 28tli Ills. Inf'y 
 Vols., under Capt. B. C.Gillam ; Co. G, 7:^(1 
 111. Inf'y Vols., under Capt. John Sutlon ; 
 Co. A, "TSth 111. Inf'y Vols., under Capt. 
 Robert Blackburn; companies B, C, and 
 F, 119th 111. Inf'y Vols., under Captains 
 Geo. Parker, R. L. Greer and Josiah Slack, 
 respectively; Co. I, ()2d 111. Vol's Iiifty, 
 under Capt. Joseph McLean; Co. D, 115th 
 111. Vol's Infty, Capt. Stephen M. Ilnck- 
 slep; En,i;ineer Regiment of tlu; West, 
 Capt. VVm. Hill ; one company in the lOth 
 Missouri Cavalry, under Capt. Leojiidas 
 Home}', and Co. K, ("hundied dazers") 
 under Capt. R. A. Williams; two companies 
 of cavalry, one under Captain Bredet, 
 wdiich was raised in Mie Northwestein yor 
 tion of the county and the other under 
 Capt. Rutledge, which was recruited in 
 Browning township. 
 
 The first School J)istrict was formed in 
 the 3'ear 182."), and to-day tiiere are over 
 ninety school districts in the county, most 
 of which are supplied with neat and com- 
 modious school houses, and in the'city of 
 Rushvillc (which comprises an Union 
 School District) they have erected a large 
 and liandsome edifice at a cost of over 
 $50,000. In the county there are also over 
 thirty church buildings, which show thai 
 the county, during the lifty years of its ex- 
 istence, whilst making adVancemeut in 
 population has also advanced in equal 
 ratio in the matter of education, morals 
 and religion. 
 
 In 1825 Schuyler county comprised an 
 area of 864 square mile,s, and a population 
 of 4,240 inhabitants. To-day, with an area 
 of only 414 square miles, the population 
 amounts to nearly 20,000; over 100,000 
 acres of improved land of the value of 
 about |G,000,000, which shows that what 
 was a timbered wililerness in the year 1825 
 has, by tlie induslr}- and energy of its 
 inhabitants, Ijeen caused to bloom and 
 blossom as the rose. 
 
 Much niore could be said in i-egard to 
 the history ot Schuyler county, but as I 
 deem tliis sutHcienlly lengthy, will desist, 
 tendering my sincere thanks to the gentle- 
 men of tlie committee (Hon. VV. H. Ray, 
 John Putman and .John C. Scripps) wlio 
 appointed me hi.'^torian, being aware, how- 
 over, that my al)ility has been inadetiuate 
 in the task assio-n.-'d. 
 
 I will close b}' appending a sliort rem- 
 iniscence of the early settlement of the*^'' 
 count}', -which v.-ould form no paft of the 
 hlstoiy proper. 
 
 Reminiscence is defined to be that facul- 
 ty of the mind by which ideas lormerly 
 received into, but forgotten, are recalled 
 or revived in the memory; in other words,! 
 recollection; or, recollection expressed. 
 And in the preparation of this paiier, 
 narrating a lew facts and incidents con- 
 nected with the early settlement of Schuy- 
 ler county, we do not presume that ihey 
 have been forgotten by the older citizens 
 ol the county, but consider it simply a 
 comparison of notes between some of the 
 early settlers, recounting their hardships ' 
 and trials, pleasures, sociabilities and con- 
 tentment. 
 
 In the next place when the President 
 requested each county to have its historj' 
 written up and a copy furnished the libra- 
 ,rian ot Congress, ii was intended th.a 
 said history should be but a part going to 
 make up a whole of a history ot ihe . 
 United Slates which is hereafter to be 
 compiled ; and, as reminiscence is not his- 
 tory, the following incidents would not 
 properly belong to it. Therefore, with 
 the aid of the earliest records of the conn- * 
 ty, and the assistance ot I^lessrs. IJenjamin 
 Chadsey, J. D. Manlove, William Wilson 
 and a tew others of Schuyler's pioneers, I 
 have prepared the following, thinking it .- 
 may be ot interest to some: 
 
 The first settlement in tiie county was 
 made on section 16, Rushville to^vnship, 
 on the farm now owned by T. W. Scott, ^ 
 by Calvin Hobart, in the year 1823, and 
 his wife, Sallie, was the first white woman 
 who ever crossed the river into S huyler 
 county. Wm. II. Taylor, then a single 
 man, accomuanied them, and he and Miss ^' 
 Elizabeth Spohnamore had the honor of 
 being the first couple married in the 
 county, which marriage was celebrated 
 Nov. 25, 1825, by Leven Green, the first j, 
 Metliodist or Protestant preacher in the 
 county. The second marriage, James 
 Lammers and Delila Keller. 
 
 The family of Spolmamores came to 
 the county in the year 1825, and ot said 
 family there are still living Mrs. Nancy 
 Marlow, Susnn Wilson (wife ot 'Unch; 
 Billy" "Wilson) and Mr. Samuel Spohna- 
 
In coni|)<miig the records with the his- 
 tory, as wriiten in the map of Schuyler 
 county, I tind many discrepencios which 
 these reminiscences will set at rights. 
 
 Tlie pathway into the wikiei-ness hav- 
 ing been blazed by tlie Hobaris in 1823, 
 there came in the year 1824-5, Benjamin 
 Chadsey ; ■lonatiian D. iManlovti, who was 
 afterwards llie first surveyor; Samuel 
 lloruey, Thomas Blair and Thontas Mc- 
 Kee, aherwards ilie first county commis 
 sioners ; J. B. Terry, first recorder and 
 county clerli ; Orris i\IcCartney, atter- 
 wards the first sherifl'; Willis O'Neill, 
 ulterwards the first treasurer; j\raj. Hart 
 Fellows, who afterwards held the offices 
 of recorder, poblmuster, justice of peace, 
 and every other ottice almost within the 
 gilt of the people of the county; and a 
 host of oihers wliose names we have noi 
 space lo mention. 
 
 The first election Indd in the county, 
 alter its erection, was on July 4ih, 1825, ai 
 Beardstown, near Pleasantview. Corne- 
 lius Vandeventer, xVbram Oarlock, judges; 
 If art Fellows and J. D. iManlove clerlis. 
 
 In the year 182(i one Jesse Bartlcll a.s 
 scssed the value of all the property in the 
 counly. subiect to t„i.\alion and for liis 
 •srrviccs received the grand sum of si.\ 
 dollars, and, to day, ai'tei' a lapse of fifty 
 years, and with a county half the size it 
 was then, we have thirteen) assessors witli 
 an average cost of $150 each 
 
 Tlie first court in the county was pre 
 sided over by Judge John York Sawyer, 
 and was held in a little cabin just west of 
 Pl(!asantview, where the county seat 
 (called Beardst()wn) was located. The 
 land is now owned and farmed by Geo. M. 
 Greer, esq. The house or cabin was at 
 the lime owned by Samuel Turner, and, I 
 find, on page 11 of the early records, an 
 order of two dollars for the use ol his 
 cabin three days for court purposes. 
 
 Slavery also seems to have been in 
 vogue in Schuyler i:ounly filty years ago, 
 as I find on page 43 of the records tlie fol- 
 lowing: "Ordered, Tliat a county tax of 
 one-half per cent, he levied on the follow 
 ing described i)roperty, to wit: Slaves, 
 indentured or registered negro or mulatto 
 servants, on all vvheel carriages, stills and 
 distilleries, horses, mules, stocks in trade, 
 etc., etc." The revenue (or 1826 amounted 
 to $118.90. 
 
 The first licensed Icui-y across the Illi- 
 nois livi'i' was eslaltlished June 5th, IS.Xi; 
 
 application for same having been made by 
 Thomas Beard, the same was granted 
 upon his paying tlie sum of si.x dollars 
 l")er annum into the county treasury. The 
 ferry was across the river where Beards- 
 town now stands, and the rates of ferriage 
 affixed by the board nearly the same as 
 lhe\' now are. 
 
 The first tavern license was granted to 
 Orris iVIcCartney, Nov. 3, 1825, upon pay- 
 ing the sum of three dollars into the 
 treasury and one dollar to thi' clerk. The 
 following were the rates ho was allowed 
 to receive : 
 
 For tliet per meal 18}^ 
 
 For liorse Iteeping- over night 25 
 
 For horse feed 1254 
 
 For lodg-ing- 6J4 
 
 Wliisliy per half-pint 1254 
 
 AVhislcy per g-ill 6J4 
 
 Forcig-n spirits per half-pint 25 
 
 Foreig'n spirits per gill 13i4 
 
 Cirter, nietheglin and beer per quart ]2!4 
 
 The first bridge built across Crooked 
 creek was erected by Benjamin Chadsey. 
 The contract was awarded him June 4lii, 
 1827. The bridge was erected wh('i(! the 
 State road from Uushville to Qnincy 
 crossed said creek, near where tlie Kipley 
 bridge now stands, and upon its comple- 
 tion th(! county paid Mr. Ciiadsey the sum 
 ot $400, the contract price. To day there 
 are five bridges spanning that stream, 
 costing about $4,000 each, which shows 
 how much labor and material liave ad- 
 vanced since 1827. Tlie Bridge built bv 
 IMr. Chadsey was carried away by the 
 waters caused by the melting of the deep 
 snow in 1831, which lell to tlie depth of 
 Ihiee teel on a level, and which it is said 
 occasioned the destruction of much wild 
 gjiine. 
 
 The first school district erected in the 
 county was ,fuly 22d, 1825, and was bound- 
 ed as' folio A's: Beginning at northeast 
 corner of section No. 4, Rushville town- 
 ship (northeast corner .')f Geo. Simjison's 
 present farm), thence; west to n(;rthwest 
 corner of section 1, in Buenavista town- 
 ship (the northwest corner of the section 
 upon which Simon Doyle now lives), 
 thence south to the township line (south 
 line of John McCreery's farm), thence 
 east to the southeast corner of section 33 
 (near White Oak school house), thence 
 north to place of beginning. It contained 
 twenty (our square miles and was desig- 
 nated as district No. 1. It is supposed 
 that Jonathan H. Manlovc and his wife 
 
were the first teachers in this school dis- 
 trict. 
 
 Isaac Naught, George Naught, Thomas 
 McKee Cornelius Vaudeventer, Peter 
 Jonte and others were among tiie earliest 
 settlers in the southern part of the county. 
 An amusing but aggravating incident is 
 related by Peter Jonte : He, being a 
 Frenchman, and fond oi' wine, ordered a 
 barrel of it to be shipped him from La 
 belle France. It came, as per order, via 
 New Orleans, and ui) the .Mississippi and 
 Illinois rivers to Beard's terry, a distance 
 of about 5,000 miles. He went thither 
 with a team and wagon to bring it home, 
 and, when coming up the blufi" hill and 
 almost in sight of his house, the barrel 
 rolled out the hind end of the wagon, 
 down the hill several rods and was finally 
 dashed to pieces against a tree. If he 
 did n't swear, it is evidence throuah vviiat 
 troubles and trials cluistian fortitude will 
 bear a person. 
 
 I will now give a few i)articulars 
 concerning the early settlement of Rush- 
 ville. As you have learned from the 
 history, the seat of justice of Schuyler 
 county was located March 6, 1826, by the 
 commissioners appointed for that purposes, 
 on the southwest quarter of s(;ction 30, 
 3 north 1 west, and was called Rushton, 
 after the name of Dr. Rush, an eminent 
 physician of Philadelphia. But, on April 
 24, 1826, it was ordered to l)e changed 
 from Rushton to Rushvillc. The com- 
 missioners appointed David I31air t > go to 
 Springfield and procure the patent for 
 said southwcs. of 30, and for which serv 
 ice the records show that he received the 
 sum of $2.50. 
 
 After having procured the patent the 
 county commissioners sold the east half 
 of the quarter to Jacob White tor the sum 
 of $150, which east half is all that part of 
 the present town from a line drawn north 
 and south, eighty feet east of the public 
 square, to a line drawn north and south 
 along the west line of Dr. 11. M. Worth- 
 ington's premises. 
 
 The first white child born in Rushville 
 was Ann Fellows, now Mrs. Maro Far- 
 well. 
 
 The first court house erected in Rush- 
 ville was a building I8.x;22, and one and 
 one-half stories high, and, as the records 
 say, was to have a good and snfflcient 
 chimncj'. It stood on the north side of 
 the public square, al about the same place 
 
 where Griffith's store now slands It w;is 
 erected in the fall of 1826. In the year- 
 1827 (he clerk's ofl3ce was built much after 
 the same style, on the east side of the 
 square, wnere J. R. Neill's store, or Ry 
 an's houses now stand. It was built i>v 
 Alex, llollingsworth and plasteivd l>y 
 JfUiies Powers. 
 
 Tlie first scho 1 hon^^e was biiiiion lot 1 
 block 1, where I he Gliristian churcli now 
 ^tiinds. The house was bnill in a hazlc 
 thicket, as numy men in this audience, who 
 attended school to Mr. Davis and received 
 fiagellations at his hands, perhajts can 
 attest. 
 
 On July 24lh. 1829, a contniet was 
 entered into between the comnu.ssioner.s 
 of the count}' and Wm. McCreery and 
 Benjamin Cliadsey for the buildiuL; of tiu^ 
 court house wiiich now adorns I lie I'.ublie 
 square in Rushville. The contract toi tlie 
 foundation walls was awarded to Wm. 
 McCreery tor the sum of $375, and the 
 superstructure to IJenjaniin Chadsc;}' at the 
 sum ot $2,050. Both jobs were pertornu'd 
 Mccording to the terms of the contrail, 
 and the court lion.se in Rushvillc is the 
 cheapest house ever built in tin,', town. 
 Today tiie stiaiaye or shiinkasi' woul.l 
 amount to more than the cost of the build 
 ing at that time. H.U't Fellows superin 
 tended the building. 
 
 The first jail was built on the same lot 
 where the present jail now stands, but n 
 little southwest of I lie present edifice It 
 was built of logs, one and one-half stnries 
 high, and the prisoners were let down into 
 it by or through a trap-door or hatch wa\ 
 cut through the upper floor. Joel Tuliis 
 made the trap doors according to specifi- 
 cations published, and received therefor 
 the sum of $43. 
 
 Benjamin Chadsey made the first ballot 
 box used, and for which, the county com- 
 missioners allowed him the sum of $1.75. 
 
 Elizabeth Sprigg was the first ward in 
 the county who had a guardian a[)pointcd 
 for her; Rev Leven Green being appoint 
 ed. The first ward to choose a guardian 
 under the law was Reuben Lock, who 
 now resides just beyond Riidey on the 
 road to Mt. Sierliuir. To-day mir respect- 
 ed member ot Congress, Hon. J. C. Baglty, 
 is alone guaidian of over eighty miiiorp. 
 
 On December 23, 1859, the county court 
 ordered that John Rilchey be authorized 
 to purchase of Abram Louderback, one or 
 two acres of land in some suitable and 
 
lonvcnieiu place sis ii cemetery, near 
 liuishville. fic did so by pnrcliasing two 
 acres of ffround where the old sand stones 
 now stand in the beautiful cemetery in the 
 suburbs ol Riislivillc. 
 
 In the year 18o-i (July ij), the cholera 
 made its appearance in the thriving settle 
 meiit ot Kushville and swept liue a 
 iji'som of destruction over Hie couuiy. 
 Tlic >lr(ui,u man of mature years, the aged 
 and tiie young alike succumbed to the 
 aiiack (if ihc dread destroyer Keliriiig 
 at ui-Tlil in good heallii, many slept thai 
 sleej) that knows no waking. William 
 McCreery was the first who succumbed to 
 the disease and Mr. Putman, father of 
 John and Brovver Putman, the secniul. 
 Many others whose name^ I can not ascer 
 lain, fell victims to the epidemic. 
 
 The nuly executions for murder in 
 Schuyler cniaty were, Thomas Morgan, 
 tor t'be murder of Frank Everts, which 
 was committed on the top of Coal Creek 
 hill, on the lower road Id Frederick. He 
 was executed in 1884, on tlie Crane-Creek 
 hill, at Gallows loiil, near where Perry 
 Neill now lives The next execulion.s 
 were the .McFaddens, lather and son, who 
 were executed in June, 1885. fm- the mur- 
 der of one Thomas Wil.son, in the c )Uiity 
 ol McDonough, and their trial was movecl 
 here oif a change of venue. Hon. \V A. 
 Richardson, iirosecutiu'^^ attorney, prose 
 cuted, and Cyrus Wallier and \Vm. A. 
 Minslnill, Schuyler's most brilliant law- 
 yers, delended. After a fair and impartial 
 trial, the parties were convicted and sen 
 lenced to be hung. Uncle Ranslaer Wells 
 was foreman on the jury which convicted 
 them. Mr. Joseph Dennis, I understand, 
 has tiie boards which composed the scat- 
 told, in his barn, three miles north of 
 town. They were hung at Gallows ford, 
 just below Mrs. Neill's, on Crane creek. 
 
 I could multiply incidents indelinitely, 
 but considering this sketch sufficiently 
 long, I will close by reading a letter I re- 
 ceived from Mr. J. D. Manlovc : 
 
 FoET Scott, Kansas, Juug 11, 1876. 
 
 Henry S. Mktz, Esq.: Yours of the 
 1st inst. just received and ctmsidered. 
 Will endeavor to com]ily with your request 
 by giving such information as I have; that 
 is not of record. 
 
 Wlicn I first came to Schuyler, which 
 was in September, 1824, there was only a 
 hldzed pathway from where Beardstowii is 
 to Section 16 in Rushvillc township. 
 Thomas Beard had a small ferry-boat that 
 
 would cross a wagon and two horses, hy 
 unhitching the horses and crowding in ; 
 but Mr. Beard was not there, and the boat 
 was on the west side of the river. At the 
 blulTs east of Beardstown Mr. Samuel 
 Homey and I met with Mr. Thomas Mc- 
 Kee, who then lived where Esq. Lawlcr 
 died. I being the younger swam mj- horse 
 over the river, it being low, antl brought 
 the boat over. There was a vcr^' small log 
 cabin built about where H. Foster's store 
 was, and it was built over a snake-den, 
 where all kinds of snakes came in the fall 
 and took up their winter quarters. 
 
 In February, 1825, I removed to Schuy- 
 ler and became a citizen of the county. 
 There were living then on the Kith section, 
 2 N. 1 W., Calvin Hobart, Orris McCartney, 
 Nathan Eels, Wm. H. Taylor, Sanund 
 Goodie and Grandsire Hobart, tlie fixther 
 of Calvin Hobart, a very old man and a 
 revolulionary soldier. D. E. Blair was 
 living on the old Phillips place, near Geo. 
 M. Greer's ; Thomas Blair on the old Tyson 
 place; Thomas McKee on the Lawler 
 place; Joel Pennington on the McCartnej^ 
 place; Riggs Pennington on the place 1 
 sold to George Little ; Levin Green on the 
 old Spaiks place ; George Stewart on the 
 Vail place; Willis O'Neil on section 16, 
 1 N. 1 W. ; Samuel Horney and I im- 
 proved where George Manlove lives; Cor- 
 nelius and Isaac Vandevcnter lived at the 
 l>luff, northwest of Meredosia, then in 
 Schuyler. 
 
 I noticed some errors in the atlas map 
 of Schuyler. Calvin Hobert did not settle 
 on sccticm 17 first, but on 16; Jcmathan 
 Reno did not settle in the county in 1828, but 
 in 1825 ; Wm. Robeson was the first settler 
 in Browning township; E. Eggleston did 
 not settle in Camden township in 1824, but 
 Robert and John Brown were the first set- 
 tlers ; Henry and John Green were the first 
 settlers in Buenavista townships, and other 
 errors of minor importance. 
 
 At the first and second court held in the 
 county the lawyers were Jas. Turney (Attor- 
 ney General), John Turney, Jonathan H. 
 Piigh, A. W. Cavarly and David Prickett; 
 John York Sawyer was the Judge. I piloted 
 them to Quincy, there being no road to 
 that place, and David Sacket packed their 
 beef, corn bread and whisky. We camped 
 the first night near where Camden now 
 stands. At McKee's creek, near Columbus, 
 we diftered about the way to Quincy. 
 Judge Sawyer, Cavarly and Prickett took 
 an Indian trail and went some twenty miles 
 into Pike county. The Judge was very 
 
sick iiud they tiki not get to Quincj^ until 
 sundown next day. The Turne\,s, Pugli 
 and 1 leaclied tlieiv two hours" liy sun 
 same evening. 
 
 About 1823 McCarlncy and lieard 
 brought a laige drove of hogs (pointers) lo 
 the county, expecting to raise corn and 
 keep them tame, Ijut the large amount of 
 mast so.in made them inckspeudenl and 
 wild, and they soon overrun the country 
 as far as McDonough county. The Indiaii 
 dogs ran them as other gair.e, and any per- 
 son killing them were alh)\ved h;df tor so 
 doing. As there were at that time no 
 others they were of some little henefit to 
 settlers. But dissatisfaction with the In 
 dians and their dogs was universal, and in 
 March, I think, 1836, nineteen nun (all 
 there were that could go) calk-d on them 
 at a trading house just I)eh)vv Crooked 
 creek, on the river, killed some of tlieii' 
 dogs and gave them ten days to leave. Tlie 
 traders were also notitied to leave, or their 
 effects (ammunition and wiiisky) would be 
 thrown into the river. Tliat was the las! 
 of the Indians, as th(?y immediately left. 
 
 In tlie summer of 1826 I taught' school 
 in my own cabin, on the Little place, and 
 my wife laugiit on section 16, near the 
 Minshall place (both single then). 1 was 
 the lirst County Sui'vej^or and Joiin B. 
 Terry first Recorder; Levin Green and 
 James Vance first Magistrates. Le\in 
 Green was tlie first preacher (Methodiblj 
 and a Mv. Sweet (Baptist) was I lie next. 
 Mr. S. only preached twice, perhaps. ;Mr. 
 Green c«.uld preach faster, say more sharp 
 biick-woods tilings, and make stronger and 
 better illustrations than any illiterate man 
 I have ever heard. Cyrus L. Watson 
 (Pi'esljytei'ian) was the second settled 
 preaciier. 
 
 Mr. C). Ilobart had the first mill (band 
 mill), and Thomas jNIcKee, Geoige Nott (or 
 Naught) and Ciu'nelius Vandevcnter liad 
 hand mills. Though we were depiived of 
 many comforts we were friendly, social 
 and happ}-; made use of common sense 
 and were content, hoping for bettei' times 
 in the future. 
 
 ^[yself and pc^rliaps Orris McCartney, 
 of Casyville, Wisconsin (if he is still alive), 
 are the only persons living who were adults 
 when I came lo Schuyler county. The 
 judge and lawyers alluded in a previous 
 paragraph are all dead except Mr. A. W. 
 Cavalry, who resides at Ottawa, 111. 
 
 Mr. Solomon Slandberry, who wa."* stop- 
 
 ping wiihJolin Uitelicy, who lived on the 
 lilace now owned by Isaac Garrison, was 
 the first to die in the countj^. He died of 
 typhoid fever. I went to Jacksonville for 
 Dr. Taylor, who said he wouM he deal on 
 my rol'urn, which proved to Ije true. 
 
 I have taken lime and believe what I 
 have given is correct, but have nit sail] 
 aiiytiiing aliont what is of i-eC'>rd except 
 in relation to tlie Recorder, Surveyor and 
 Magisir.'iles. They are not noticed' in llie 
 map of the county. You have the facts 
 and can arrange them as you think proper, 
 liespeelfullv \ours, 
 
 J. D. MvNi.ovi:. 
 
 ADDRESS OF PROF. H. A. SMITH. 
 
 [Not being able to obtain a copy of l^rof. 
 Smilii's oral ion, the merest outline is 
 given.] 
 
 To-day with a poptilati )n of forty mil 
 lion tree men, we are not ashamed di tin 
 Republic and its supporters. Tlioiigh 
 naloinal sins have lieen comniiited, yet if 
 the heroes of 1770 could look upon us 
 now, they would be proud ot the people 
 for wliO'^e lilierty they solemnly ami mn 
 tually pledged their lives, iheir fortunes 
 and their sacied honor. 
 
 We hold these*! rut lis to be self (n-jdent, 
 that all men are creat(Hl equal, that they 
 are endowed by their Creator with ceitain 
 inalienable rights, that among these are 
 life, liberty and the pursuit ol' happiness. 
 Tiie emancipation proclamation gave the 
 negroes an erpial right to life, liberty and 
 the pur-suit of happiness, hence all are 
 equal before the law. It cost the blood of 
 patriot sons and millions of treasun; to 
 preserve and perjietuate the L^nion. And 
 her founders upon the menioi'at)le 4th of 
 July, 1776, gave to us ihe title deed of our 
 liberties. 
 
 The great intestine strife vidiich prostra 
 ted tliis country, is without parallel. Amer- 
 ica is second lo none in the progress of 
 arts, science and industry. Her fertile 
 lands are blossoming with peade an:l plenty 
 the reward of skillful lalKU' whicli aims to 
 secure tor all the greatest good. 
 
 Our government is tlie proudest and 
 best, because it gives the humblest a chance 
 for wealth, honor and distinction. 
 
 Tlie ballot box is all powerful in purify- 
 
9 
 
 iiiii '.he bddy politic, and should be guard- 
 ed as lh« hope of the Ilepublic. We 
 imist elect noble and worth}- men to till 
 positions ol' tnis-t. Private and public 
 duties shuuiU go hand in hand. Our mag- 
 nificent rivers, broad valK'y* and moun- 
 tains ot mineral wealth produce all the 
 necessities and most of the Inxniies ot'lile. 
 We have numerous and superior seats of 
 learinni;-, which yearly send out cultivated 
 men and woniiMi, and it is intellect that 
 has reared up the magniticent structure of 
 the temple of our national glory. 
 
 ADDRESS OF HON. P. H. WALKER. 
 
 In responding to the toast, "The Legal 
 Profe.ssion," I may be permitted to refer 
 to the past rather than the present. It is 
 there tiiat we must look to find the char- 
 acter id I he professicm, unobscured by 
 piejudice, and thus to form a more correct 
 appreciation of its jMesent standing. 
 When we look to England, whence we 
 have drawn our laws, our morals, and our 
 civilization, we find areat names in the 
 profession who struggled 1 ard for the lib 
 eriy of the |)eo|ile and were not nnsuc- 
 re.-i.stul in resisting the encroachments ')f 
 power. Or, if we turn to onr own coun- 
 try, we find the legal profession have 
 l)een as active, lieroic and devoted as any 
 oiher class to the princi|)les of lilxri}', 
 ami struggled as manfully for the achieve- 
 ment of our independence, in the framing 
 ol our government and in maintaining 
 our institutions. They may not, as a rule, 
 have gone into the tented field, tliey may 
 not have endured the vicissitudes of war, 
 but they sustained the cause by wise coun- 
 sel, and providing the means, and lending 
 uKwnl force, and encouraging the waver- 
 ing, and sni)porting measures indispens 
 able to success. 
 
 Educated, trained and thoroughly drilled 
 in the eternal principles of justice and 
 ri:^ht, the lawyer is dally and constantly 
 contendinj;' tor their assertion and applica- 
 tjiui in the ordinary aflairs of life. By 
 liiese principl<!s and their constant appli- 
 cation, the lawyer, of all others, should 
 grow in the knowledge of truth, justice 
 and right, and the great lawyer can only 
 violate these principles knowingly and pre 
 
 meditatedly. Of all men they should be 
 the most moral, just and upright. 
 
 And we find in the complex organiza- 
 izatiou of society, government and our 
 civilization, the lawyer, like the divine, 
 the physician, the editor, the politician, 
 Uie agriculturist, the tradesman, the 
 artisan and the laborer, has his part to per- 
 form in the world's great drama. It is 
 his duty to sec; that the strong and affluent 
 shall not oppress the weak and. helpless. 
 It IS his province to resist aggressions of 
 government on the rights and liberty of 
 the people on the one hand and to sustain 
 the government in the exercise of all of 
 its legitimate rights on the other. The 
 study of tiie profession fits them for the 
 performance of these and many other 
 highly important duties to the individual 
 and to the public. 
 
 English and American history abounds 
 in brilliant examples ol heroic efforts by 
 members of the profession in behalf of 
 liberty. They, as a class, have been con- 
 servative in its better sense. They iiave 
 advanced steadily, but cautiously, in the 
 attainment of higlier and broader princi- 
 ple, in the administra'ion of justice, and 
 m securing men in their just rights. 
 Whilst government and law in their ad- 
 ministration, like all things human, 
 must be imperfect, still the profession 
 labors for the coirection of all wrongs. 
 
 What I have here said, of course, applies 
 to the thorough and learned lawyer, and 
 not to those who have never maaleretl the 
 principles of the science. 
 
 The profession, from their study and 
 their constant efforts in the administra 
 tiiui ot justice, learn practically the imper- 
 feclion of the laws, and the necessities of 
 the people. Tliey thereby become well 
 qualified, for the p-.sition of legislators 
 ind executive officers. Hence, we find 
 many of tlu^ most profound and brilliant 
 statesmen, of this and the mother conntr}', 
 have been equally great as lawyers. 
 Whilst Mansfield, ILdt, Coke, Hardwick 
 and a host of others have, by their judi- 
 cial eminence, shed glory in British his- 
 tory, Mtrshall. Kent, Tany, Storey, Par- 
 sons and many others, have cast imper- 
 ishable brilliancy on our own country. 
 
 And, when we turn to the bar, the 
 spiu\te and the halls of congress we find 
 the names of Hamilton, Webster, Henry, 
 Martin, Wirt, Pinkney, Clay, Calhoun and 
 a long' array of other names, of whom we 
 
10 
 
 may be justly proud. It' we turn to our 
 legislative bodies, we there find they have 
 been no less conspicuous. The profession 
 has been well represented in those bodies, 
 and have there developed many of our 
 profoundest statesmen, who have aided in 
 maintaining our institutions, in promot 
 ing our interests, and developing our 
 civilization. 
 
 If we turn to our great struggle for 
 national independence, we there find that 
 the profession took an aclivu, it not a 
 leading, part in its achievment. They 
 were generally on the side of the people 
 and opposed to the encroachments of-ihe 
 crown. Their burning eloquence an)used 
 the people to resistance, and nerved them 
 to uattle for their rights. And we may 
 justly claim for them some of the credit 
 in achieving our liberty, and in esttibiish 
 ing ana maintaining a government, formed 
 in unsurpassed wisdom, estal)lished on the 
 great principle ol equal and exact riglu 
 and justice to all And if it shall be wisely 
 and purely administered, it is capable ol 
 affording greater and more uniform pro 
 lection to all than any other evfr founded. 
 
 If we turn to the executive department 
 we there find the profession has heen well 
 represented [Ot the fifteen presidents 
 elected by the penple, and the three who 
 became presidents by succession,] it is 
 claimed [that fourteen at least were law 
 yers, and under the administration of tliese 
 lawyer presidents, the country has 
 marched on in an unprecedented course of 
 glory, prosperity and power.] And we 
 find that they have been governors of 
 States, and have filled with himor cal>inet 
 offices. In fact they have filled every po 
 sition of trust under the government with 
 credit to the public service and honor to 
 themselves. Nor should we be surprised 
 to find it so, inasmuch as the training of 
 the profession qualifies them for the ad- 
 ministration of the affairs of government 
 better than that of any other profession or 
 calling. Other professions have to add 
 the study of the science of government to 
 that of their profession, whilst with the 
 lawyer, he can not become eminent in his 
 profession without also understanding 
 well tlie principles ot government. 
 
 We may then conclude that, during the 
 century just closed, the legal profession 
 have done their part and discharged their 
 duty t ) the government, and to society, 
 quite as well as other professions and 
 
 callings. They have been quite as active ^ 
 as others in producing the condilioii of 
 things existing at present, of wliich wo 
 are so justly proud And it is to be hoped 
 tiial the protession may remain uncor- 
 rupted, and evei' take a lively interest antl ' 
 pride in defending the right and in oppo.s- 
 ing wrong, oppression and injustice, come 
 whence it may. It is my most fervent 
 wisli that tile profession may remain tor > 
 another century as al)lc, as pure and uvefnl 
 as it has been in the past hnndred years. 
 If it should, an appreciative people will 
 confer deserved honors upon its members , 
 and repay them witji uistinction. I iiope 
 it may ever be as worthy of trust and 
 honor in the future as it lias in tlie past. 
 
 ADDRBSS OF JUDQi: E. J. FEMBERTON 
 
 THE UNION .\SOUK FATHERS M VI>E IT. 
 
 FelloiD citizens, ladies and gentlemen: 
 
 Only one hundred years ago today, 
 only a good long life time for a person > 
 this g(»vernment of ours first sprang 
 into existence — was born And con- / 
 templating her rapid progress and 
 wonderlul development in education, 
 science, wealtli. inventions and produc ' 
 lions, already spoken of in part, springing 
 at a l)ounil from weakness to strength and 
 numbers, scattering her products into 
 every part of the known world, furnish ^ 
 ing a home and shelter to the oppressed of 
 all nations, and still maintaining thfl vir- 
 tue ot its citizens, so that she now num- 
 bers her millions of patriots, all qualified 
 alike for the bailie field and the harvest 
 field, for the use ot the sword and the 
 scythe, and a whole nation of women 
 fitted to all domestic duties; contemplat- ■ 
 ing, i say, her progress and development, 
 pushed on until foremost among the 
 nations of the earth, and all acconiplislied 
 within a lite time, leads us to liken llie 
 circumstance to the fabled story of 
 Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, wIkj, in 
 her birth sprang lull-grown at a l)oiind 
 from the brain of Jove. 
 
 This progress and development, this 
 position among the nations of the earth, 
 this national glory, wrought out in so 
 short a lime, is diietty in consequence of 
 the institutions and government left to us 
 
11 
 
 by our fathers. I reter lo the system of 
 tlie Union of the States under tlie consti 
 tntion — the wise parceling and distribu- 
 lion of t!ie powers of government by 
 granting lo liie general government only 
 such powers and funclious as ar3 essen- 
 tially national in their cliaracter and 
 needs, and reserving to the Slales formed, 
 and to the i)eople, all other powers, func- 
 tions and privileges whatever, to be ma- 
 niprdated only hy those immediately con- 
 cerned, and leaving no man or men to 
 participa'e in the exercise of any function 
 or powei' who is not himself, together with 
 others, directly interested therein. 
 
 fo this wise distribution of the powers 
 ot government. I say, we are indebted for 
 almost all we are lo day, for almost all ot 
 our national progress and development; 
 lor, by it all national burthens, of inter- 
 conise with olhei nations, looking to the 
 pi-ace, order and Interests of tlie States 
 collectively, executing and enforcing the 
 constitution of the United Slates iii all 
 its departments, furnishing of revenue and 
 every thing pertaining to nationality and 
 nece-sary for i s maintenance are removed 
 forever trom the Slates and granted to 
 and retpiired to be performed by the gen- 
 eral government, and the States respect 
 ively left to loi.k to and further al' l(»cal 
 interests and developments, so that no 
 progress, no improvements, no develop 
 ment, no advancement receives any check 
 or obstruction from the government, but 
 are all protected and lurthered by appro 
 niiale co-extensive legislation. This is 
 wherein our government sits lightly upon 
 our shoulders 
 
 Under this governmental policy she has 
 moved with rapid strides from the original 
 family of thirteen States to three times 
 that number at present. This policy 
 allows no dependent territory governed 
 from without, but erects all into States 
 and leaves all local matters with them; 
 and no sooner is any portion of her terri- 
 tory weaned from territorial childhood, 
 than such portion springs .at once into 
 womanhood and greatness, and helps to 
 make up and adorn that grand galaxy of 
 equal States, all sisters and symboled by 
 the stars upon the field of her banner, and 
 all moving on in mutual interest and affec- 
 tion under that glorious motto ot ''State 
 sovereignty joined with National Union." 
 
 This union of the States is the secret of 
 our pro.sperity in the past, our only hope 
 
 for the future, the anchor of our future 
 existence and security, our political Gi- 
 braltar which our enemies do and ever 
 will seek to carry first. I would write the 
 sentiment on every banner, let it float to 
 every breeze, hand it down to all coming 
 posterity, hold it in common with the 
 recognition of Jehovah and the duties 
 owing to him, and instill it into the poli- 
 tics of every man and child, not permitting 
 even a thought or imagination of what we 
 should do in case of centralization or dis- 
 memberment, but hold it as a sacred sen- 
 timent that this government must forever 
 continue a government of the States unit- 
 ed under the constitution, and her banner 
 never be sullied bj' the obliteration or 
 dimming of a single star, nor the prosper- 
 ity or peace of the nation blighted, nor 
 the individual rights of any of its citizens 
 engulfed in either consolidation or disin 
 tegration 
 
 In all my toastings I would toast this 
 Union of the States, the Union under the 
 constitution, the Union as our fathers 
 made it; and I would fill the bumper full. 
 
 A long time ago a famous Grecian law- 
 giver gave to his countrymen his code of 
 laws, and left his country on a journey to 
 die away from home. And, knowing the 
 simplicity and worth of the code of laws 
 he was giving them, and the high esteem 
 in which they held him, he, in the hope 
 of perpetuating those laws among them, 
 enjoined on them to keep and maintain 
 those laws until he should return. 
 
 Now, while we in our rapid progress 
 and change of interests can not keep and 
 maintain all minor laws adopted, yet 
 our lawgivers of unparalleld wisdom — 
 our fathers who passed through affliction 
 and oppression — who knew both peace 
 and war — who came up out of great tribu- 
 lation, washed, as it were, in sad experi- 
 ence and unselfish virtue. These fathers, 
 these law-givers gave to us this model of 
 government, the Union of the States under 
 the constitution for an inheritance, and 
 have gone on a long journey. Let us then, 
 in keeping with the injunction of the 
 Grecian law-giver, show our esteem and 
 regard for our lawgivers, and the system 
 they gave, by keeping, preserving and 
 maintaining this model of government 
 until they return. 
 
12 
 
 ADDRESS OP R. H. GRIFFITH. 
 
 "THE STATE OF lliLlNOXS." 
 
 I am extremely fortunate in speaking 
 after the noble utterances of Judge Pern- 
 bcrton I am sure every heart iu the as- 
 sembly responds to his noble sentiments, 
 and I am glad that, as a member of the 
 opposite political party from Judge Pern- 
 berton, I can stand here to day and tully 
 endorse the words yon have just lieard. 
 There has been in some parts of our 
 country a bogus doctrine of State sove- 
 reignty, a doctrine now forever banished 
 to the chimeras of the pa.t by the lesuU 
 of the late civil war. Bui the true doc 
 triuL- of State sovereignty is tliat which 
 has just been set before you, " State sove- 
 reignty under the constitution <it the 
 Union." Here is where we stand in lUi 
 nois. For this we have spent our blood 
 and our treasure. 
 
 But while we love our land and nation, 
 we love our State, and are proud of it and 
 its history. The Illinoisan wlio lias not, 
 next to wife and children, a warm, loviu!,^ 
 place in his heart of hearts for his noble 
 State, is not fit to breathe this air, nor 
 roam over these prairies. And, what 
 reason we have to be proud of our Sta'e! 
 The motto on the coat of arms of our 
 neighboring State of Michigan is, "Si 
 quaeris peninsttlam amoenam circumapice" 
 ("If you seek a beautiful peninsula, look 
 around you."). And so, I say, if you 
 would see the glory of our State, look 
 around you. See her vast net- work of 
 railroads, see her towns and cities that 
 have sprung up like magic upon her prai- 
 ries, see her vast coal fields, and her ter 
 tile prairies, look at her manufactories of 
 woolen, of iron, of watches, of almost 
 everything used in our homes! 
 
 But it is of her men that Illinois is 
 chiefly proud. When the Almighty would 
 teach mankind to reap the golden harvests 
 b5'a more rapid mean.'! than the cradle and 
 the scythe. He raised up a McCormick and 
 his compeers, who gave us the reaping 
 machine. When He would teach us to 
 plant corn by means of horse power, Ho 
 took a mechanic from one of our -vork 
 shops to give us the corn planter. To 
 day the plows of Illinois an* in use from 
 Virginia to California, and are assisting 
 
 the farmers of Europe to ciiltivaie their 
 soil 
 
 When I came to Illinois, nearly iweniy- 
 tive years ago, Stepiien A. Douglas, Die 
 "little giant of riie Northwest," was in. 
 tlie zenith of l»is himc, and not only in 
 Illinois, but through lliis land Irom Morth 
 to South, he went, with liis ciaiiou voici-, 
 speakiu:; noble words for the Union au'i 
 constilution And, when our God would 
 raise up a man to guitle this naiiou 
 througli a long and bloody war, lie came 
 here to Illiuoif, and out of the ranks oi the 
 legal pro'ession, of which Judge Walker 
 has just so ably spoken, he took a Liiu'oln 
 to guide the nation to peace and liberty. 
 And, when a general was necussary to 
 lead our armies through this war, he was 
 found here in tlie tannery of Galena, a 
 man whom we can not judge iinparlially 
 now, l)ut who will stand fortli hereafter 
 on ihe page of history, as one ot the great 
 est captains of this or any other age. 
 
 But, gentlemen, 1 am proud of this 
 county in which we live. When 1 canu' 
 to Schuyler county, it used to be ilu- 
 fjishion of £ome to decry our county as 
 beiuL"^ very insignificant, and of Utile ac 
 count any way. But, my fellow citizens, 
 we have no cause to blush lor our coiuity . 
 It is one of the smnllest in teriib)iial ex- 
 tent, and in popuhilion, l)ui \\ noliiiiiu' 
 else is il inferi(?i- Inwealih, in mincial 
 resources, iu agricultural wealth, in man 
 ufactories, in (iverj' thing that goes to 
 make a State, it is comparatively in no 
 whit behind her sisters. In tin; adniirabk- 
 history of this county, which has been 
 read in your hearing, you heard of Hart 
 Fellows, who, at one time, held almost all 
 the offices in the gift of the people. When 
 he went to California he was immediately 
 elected by the people there to a responsi- 
 ble position, and has been occupying it 
 ever since Our sons are today occupy 
 ing positions of honor, of usefulness, ami 
 responsibility in Kansas, Nebraska, lovv.-i, 
 and everywhere in the Wes'. And her.' 
 is the Hon. Pinkney H. Walker, who lias 
 graced the supreme bench of our Siiite for 
 so many years. And here on this p'aiforin 
 sits one of the heroes of Schuyler county, 
 Benjiunin Cliadsey, the man who imili 
 this court house so honestly and cheaply 
 Here too sits, to day, Capl. Adams Dun 
 lap, the man who led a company (nn 
 army, I was going to say), of Schuyler 
 cimnty heroes to win part oi Mexico to 
 
13 
 
 beconio part oi' our ualini:, hctoio miiny 
 of this tiLidicnce was born. But, gentle- 
 uu'ii, these are men of an a,i(e passing 
 away. The present is not beliiiid liieni. 
 
 \Vlien tills counly was altanhed to oMieis 
 in one conuressioiial (Hstiiel, so tliat tliere 
 was a ell inre tor ns t > elect a Kepublican 
 member of C'ongrcss, u(! nilered the con- 
 vention a man, our clioicc, wliom they 
 were wi.sc enouiih to make their candidate. 
 And, wjicn tlie Democrats, two years ago, 
 tlionglit tliey .-iaw their cli(ncc. tliey came 
 to Sciiuykir, took their candidate and 
 elected him. We have never been ashamed 
 of eitlier of tliem, and are goinji' to gel 
 one ot tiiem back again this lall, if we 
 can. 
 
 Now, my fellow citizens, T will not de- 
 tain yon longer, bnt in closing, give yoii 
 this senlimeiit, " iSchnyler county, one ol 
 the smallest, hut in ever}' respect the peer 
 ol her sisters. 
 
 ADDRESS OF REV. J. B. WOLFE. 
 
 •' OUK PIIFCE SCHOOLS." 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen : 
 
 Every advanced form ol' government re- 
 quires, lor its prosperity and |)ei'petuity, 
 a grneial dill'nsion of knowliMige!' What- 
 ever resources of wealth a nation may 
 liave are more eflectually utilized hy the 
 touch ol inlelligenl labor. Improved in- 
 telligence must lavoradly afTect tiie moral 
 conscience of the people. 
 
 Such is the construction of society 
 everywliere that knowledge can not be 
 generally ditiused except by public insti- 
 tutions of learning nuiintained by legisla- 
 tion. Let these be propositions for dem- 
 onstration and let us see their relation 
 uarticularly to our Republic. 
 
 Let us see the influence ol knowledge as 
 difTused through the public school .sy.steni: 
 
 1. It greatly promotes the material pros- 
 perity of a nation. Intellectual culture, as 
 imparted by it, touches into greater effi- 
 ciency and activity our commerce on 
 land and sea, moves upon mechaiiicial in- 
 dustry, and develoi)s and husbands our 
 agricultural and mineral productiveness. 
 Pauperism is reduced by the education of 
 the. masses. Statistics fully demonstrate; 
 that as education increases, pauperism 
 
 diminishes, In 1870 this country support- 
 ed one hundred and sixteen thousand 
 paui)ers, at the cost of eleVen million dol- 
 lars. More than nine tenths of these pau- 
 pers are illiterate. Adopting a system of 
 free scliools, affecting the culture of each 
 child to the present standard, would save 
 about eleven million dollars, restore a bun 
 drcdjthousand persons to the number ofia- 
 dustrious producers, and almost double the 
 productive pmver of the laborer, ft in- 
 creases the skill, gives a higher ap;irecia- 
 tion of civil rights, and lh(;reby augments 
 the military force of a nation. In the 
 late Franco-Prussian war every indication 
 seemed, to the casual observer, to favor 
 the triumph of France. But two genera 
 tions had passed since France had Prussia 
 subordinated, and entertained a taunting 
 spirit of superiority over her; while the 
 latter barely endured it for the time, gath- 
 «ring strength by the education of her 
 children. When the time of the conflict 
 came, the French army confidently crossed 
 the Prussian lines only to be astonished, 
 humiliated, and defeated by the superior 
 intellectual Ibrce of the Germans The 
 defeat .vas so sudden and complete that 
 the imperial lillies scarcely liad time to 
 halt in their disgraceful retreat. General 
 education intensified the heroism that 
 gave triumpli to German arms. Sucli are 
 our resources of wealth and the relation 
 we sustain to other governments, that no 
 nation needs such general culture more 
 than ours. 
 
 2. It is a powerful means of quickening 
 the ni'iral conscience of the nation. A. 
 nati(m can nfil be prosperous very long 
 without moral conscience. "Righteous- 
 ness e.xalteth a nation, but sin is a re- 
 l>roach to any peojile," is the Divine phi- 
 h)sophy of a nation's exaltaliou. It is 
 needed especially in this radical nation, 
 the inslitutions of which make almost 
 every man a politician. All true culture 
 tends upward. Because the Creator's pur 
 pose was clearly that men's faculties 
 should he developed, it follows tha' a neg- 
 lect of the law of development would 
 work disaster. The carefulness that char 
 acterized the conduct of the two great 
 political parties in this country in their 
 recent nomination of candidates for the 
 chief offices of government was in respect 
 to the meral conscience of the people and 
 that greatl}' indebted to the God favored 
 institution of free schools. 
 
14 
 
 3. There is uuoUicr aecounl nf the up 
 ward influence of e<U)C!ii ion in a coimtiy 
 like ours. Moral and christian influence 
 compasses society like a pure atmospliere. 
 Faculties, opened by education, uucon 
 sciously absorb it in suflicient amount to 
 be at least outwardly improved. iVs the 
 tree putting forth its leaves through them 
 opens millions of mouths which diink in 
 the nourishment supplied by the air, so is a 
 mind whose thouelit power Spens out in a 
 christian land. l)t the ;iG,000 criminals 
 prosecuted and imprisoned, ninety per 
 cent are Irom tlie illiterate class. I'auper- 
 ism and crime cost more than the wliole 
 annual expense of common schools How 
 is this illiteracy to be destroyed ? Through 
 our free nchools furnishing an oppoitunity 
 to all for intellectual culture. 
 
 4. The extent among the people and tlie 
 degree of intellectual culture necessaiy 
 for the safety and perpetuity of a govern 
 ment, is in proportion as it approaches a 
 Republic. If we go into the despotic re- 
 gions of the East, we will find but little 
 culture and as little required for Hie mis 
 erablerule. In despotic Asia and Africa, 
 but little intellectual training is necessary 
 to carry on their idea of government. In 
 England, where a limited form exists, 
 there is much need tor the diff"usion ol 
 knowledge. In Republican America, 
 where there is uo royalty except in rela- 
 tion to the King of kings, no official in- 
 heritance, but the design of the election ot 
 personal merit and adaption, how much 
 greater need for general and thorough dif- 
 fusion of knowledge. National ignorance 
 18 the source of national ingratitude, mor- 
 al degradation and wretchedness. 
 
 There is great danger in oir country to- 
 day by the elective franchise being exten- 
 ded to thousands of Ignorant citizens, 
 placed in this relation by the almost in- 
 evitable results of the war. 
 
 By inslinct the lide ot immigialion is 
 set toward our shores, and must always be 
 thus. In 1870 when our population wa» 
 only a liltl-i more than 38,000,000, there 
 were 5,000,000 wlio were born in foreign 
 lands, and 10,000,000 more whose parents 
 were boin in hueign lands, giving us al 
 most one halt the nation practically 
 l.neign. Many of these come wiiii cnnle 
 ideas of our inslitntiims, unless I buy can 
 be Anieiicanized, the exercise of ciiizen 
 ship here nui.st peril our liberties. Ldno 
 one suppose that we lack triendship tin 
 the foreigner. He is always welcome 
 
 We remember thai opposite and antag- 
 onistic civilization can not co-exist under 
 one torm ol government. The old Roman 
 Empire finally embraced so many diverse 
 elements that ii lell to pieces There was 
 uo unityii.g torce. If ruin resulied Irom 
 such causes in an empire, liow much more 
 swiftly it must eoine to a Republic Ti> 
 harmonize and unity these elements, our 
 tree schools are indispensable. While they 
 nquip all the coming men ami women for 
 citizenship, by giving them intelligence, 
 it gives a peculiar other fitness to the 
 mind of the foreigner, a thousand times 
 better security to the country tlian the 
 oath ot allegiance. 
 
 Let us, then, cherish tmr tree scho(d 
 system. Let us look to it as llie means ot 
 the elimination of iunorani-e trom the ua 
 tion, the preparation of ihe mind for the 
 better reception of moral truth which, 
 coupled together, shall increase the pro- 
 ductiveness of our material wealth, purity 
 the conscience of the nation, adjust our 
 civil polity to more i>erleclly accord with 
 the moral code, and transmit to future 
 generations a government in health and 
 
 wisdom. 
 [The above is set up from the rough 
 
 draft of the original, without revision by 
 
 the author.] 
 
 Errata: The last line of the second column on page three should read fourteen 
 instead of "eleven." 
 
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