547 ■\3 C3 apy 1 3e £g ' fc?.>?gs'£'*gjJ5 ' *^yg»>«:a:^?£gi>Q LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. [ Chap F 5 4 -7 She! if 'li UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ^.c HISTORICAL SKETCH -0F-- Hardin Count p, !^iale of Illinois s From the Earliest Settlement to the present Time. JULY 4. A. D. 1876. ^m HISTORICAL RECORD- Hardin County from its Earli^ est Settlement to the Present Time. laOS to 1876 Qim H\TNPPEP YEARS MiQ. We purpose in the following lines a brief sketch (/f the history of Har- din Couiitj' from the earliest tiroes to the present day, comroencino; at a period of time when the territory of what 13 now Hardin County, was in common with all the tract of country known as the Nortiiwest territory; one vast wilderness tilled with game and wild beasts that roamed the vast uncniti vated prairies onmolested by night or day, save by tlie wandering red man who de. pended largely upon their flesh for ibod and their skins for clothing. Civilisation was an utter stranger to onr hills and plains, and with the possible exception of a few roving and adventurous Spaniards or Frenchmen, no white man had ever seen the interior of what is now the great State of Illinois. A hundred years ago no legislative assembly had ever sat in council in this State *'or the purpose of enacting laws or making appropriations; the clamors of a political convention had never echoed along our shores, nor had the wild buffalo of the prairie ever caught the shrill whistle of the lo- comotive; no school houses, church houses, seats of justice or govern . ment had reared their lofty fronts to j Heaven, nor were there any cities or j towns to roar the wild chaotic grand- I eur of the forest and the plain, but I universal savageness in all its prim- ; itive perfection and sombre aionot- I ony reigned supreme througliout the I length and breadth of what is now our peerless State. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. Prior to the 3'ear 1805 some eet- ilements had been made in different portions of what is now the State of Illinois, but it was not until this period that settlements began along the bank of the Ohio. EARLY SETTLERS. The early settlers vi-ero a bold hardy race of people long remember- ed for their simplicity, hospitality and endurance. Their pioneer hearths were the scenes of genuine conviviality and good humor, and many were the tales they told and the songs they sung of the wild ad. venturesof their day and generation; of their journeys through trackless forests, their encounters with savage foes and their legends of our glori- ous revolution, then fresh in the minds of all. SETTLEMEIfTQF HARDIN COUNTY. As we have said, settlements be- gan in what is now Hardin County, along the bank of the Ohio in 1805, extending from what was theu :r. L- F^Hl .H^v /> ->- (2) known as tlic Stiirtevant farm where Alfred Wood now resides, down the river to Parkinsons Landing. Most of these settlers were from North Carolina ; prominent ainono; them were Samuel Omelvany and Alex- ander Blair and their families. Omelvany was the first Justice ot the Peace in the new settlement and Blair was the lirst (Jonstahle. Mr Omelvany represented the district in the territorial legislature and was a member of that body when the first Constitution of the State was formed and adopted. The settle- ment was considerably augmented in theyearsbetwcin 1810 and 1S20, by emigrants from South Carolina, NewYorlvand the New Kngland States ; prominent among the new comers were James Steele, Thomas Cowsert, Alexander Parkinson, Jedutluim Dimick and Zebulon Halleek ; the latter a relative of the j ,<;elebrated American Poet of that name — Filz Greene lialieck. The early settlers were almost univer- sally euguLjed in agriculture; the farms were necessarily small, — being cleared up in winter to be plowed in summer. The imple- ments of the farmer were rude and scanty ; plows were iiiade with •wooden mole boards and pitchforks of small forked saplings cut, peeled and dressed for the p\irposc. The grain was cut with reaping hooks, or sickles; the ritie, the Hshing net and the trap were the necessary and common property of the farmers, for the forest abounded in game, and the streams were filled with fish; the country was heavily timbered with oak, pi>plar, walnut, ash and niaple; sugar made from the latter soon be- came an articleof use and commerce. PRLMITIVE MILL.S. Id 1814 Aaron Neal erected a water grist mill on big creek on the place now owned and occupied by Richard Hetheriugton. In 1819 this mill was bought by Moses Twitcliell, by whom it was enlarged by the addition of a saw mill and distillery. It long continued to be the only mill in the surrounding country. EARLY SETTLERS OF MONROE PRECINCT. That part of the County now em- braced in Monroe precinct, was set- tled about or perhaps a little later than that embraced in Rose Clare precinct, of which we have written. As late as 1812 the county was in- fested by savages, and during that year a. luan by the name cf James Jourdan, was wounded by them in defense of a block house situated near the north boundary of the county. The early settlers in that portion of the county were mairdy trom Tennessee, Kentucky and Vir- ginia ; among them were Daniel Vinyard, Henry Rose, Ezekiel Mc- Coy and Islyers Singleton. SETTLEMENT OF THE CURTAIL That portion of the county know.ji as the curtail began to be settled in 1811. Hugh McConnell came f»'ouj Ireland to America and settled on the Ohio river. About this time came also John Brown from Penn- sylvania, and settled in the saiiic neighborhood. FLYNN'S FERRY. In 1816, Flyn's ferry on the Ohio river was established, and a road from thence to Kaskaskia was tha earliest state road in Illinois. Johi» I Shearer was also an early settler in j these parts, and taught the first school ever taught in that portion of the country. SETTLEMENT OF McFARLAN PRE- CINCT IN THE YEAR 1810. Settlements were made in Mc- Farlan precinct as early as the year ISIO, and prominent among the early settlers were the McFarlans, the Scotts, the Pankeys and the Jacksons ; the descendants of some of these have held divers official po- sitions in the county trom its earliest orginizatiou, and many of them arc still living. EiVRLY FERRY AT EUZABETHTOWN A Ferry was early established near where Elizabcthtown now stands, which was for many years in constant use, and of great promi- nence as a Grossing point lor travel- ers ; and the salt works at Equality having began operations as early as 1812, the salt was hauled thence in w.igons by this ferry, and sent thither on wagons to various points in Kentucky and Tennessee. EARLY CHURCHES AND mNISTERS Among the early churches erect- ed by settlers was a Methodist church at the McMurphy place and a Baptist church at Peters cave spring, near where Isaac Martin now lives. The regular Baptist or- ganized a church as early as 180G; Richard Lee was its founder. A- niong the early preachers of the gospel were Rondo Stilley and Bar- ker. Philo Averille a Methodist: preacher was the founder of the first Methodist church in the neve settle- ments, and rode the entire circuit on foot. V ■i) EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. At the |)eilo(l of whicii we now write the t;icilities tor education as well as ail other auxiliaries of'civil- iaatioij were very poor and the only schools were an oi'casional subscript Jioti school, undertaken by soaie traveler or new comer in the newly gettieil district, for the space usually of three ui(>ntlis. The old and the young tVenuently attended school together and there devoted their en- ergies to the doubtful task of solv- ing the obscure problems of the old United States spellino; book. KKI.IOIOUS EMTEEPIIISL, Notwiistiindirii^ the few cpportu nitif.s afforded, a large proportion of tJ»e inhabitants were religiously in- clined, and olten gathered them- selves together in a hoiise built of Kound logs and there seated upon benches made of split logs, listened allenlively to pioneer sermons, more remarkable for the gravity and ear- nestness with which they were deliv- ered than for their elegance or ac- curacy. VVe are informed that for many years the venerable Stephen Stilly was the first andoidy preacli- er of the gospel in that portion of the county now known as ilose Clare precinct. TKAWNJl FAClLlTIKr;. I'rior to the erection of the mill on big creek by Aaron Meal, a s.iii- gle rickety horse mill was the sole tlependence lor bread foi- the earl}' settlers, with the exception, of now 9..nd then a jwiniitive hand mill. The pJ>ople had nj stores; novv and then an adventurous trading bo;it passed down the liver and supplied the waiits ofsno-h of the settlers as were able to purchase, until a few yoar.'^ later !i man by the name of James Anderson, opened a dry goods store, and by his liberality and fair dealing long etijoyed the patronage and confidence of the settlers. t >RGANIZAJTON OF POPE COUNTY. All of Pope and Hardin counties oiiginally belonged to Gallatin and Jolin3on counties. Pope county was organized Jan., 10th ISKi, with Robert Lacey, Benoiii Lee and ThornaB Fugcrson associate justices (ji the first County Court, Joshua Scott wai the County Clerk and Samuel Oraelvany was the Treaa- >irei. On the the"28th day of May 1816, the County Court of Pope County ordered the building of a coart house of hewed logs 2ix2fJ feet, with a shingle roof, together with other public buildings. Sarahs- ville was the Gountj seat ; the name was changed to Golcouda on the- 2ith day of June 18] 9. TUWXSIIIP OFFICERS. On theTth day of December 1>5U>, Ezekiel McCoy and Samuel t>niel- vaney were appointed overseers oT the poor in Monroe township, which : included all that part of Hardin County taken from Pope. In 1S2<>, Amos Chipps was appointed a con- ; stable, and in IS'di Moses Twitchell, j James Mott and Walter Watson, ! were appointed trustees of Township. 1 12, Range 8, East. 1 FIKST STlUlE AND FEURY LICENSE.. 1 In 18;i2 Moses Twitchell received a license to keep a stove at Twitch- ell's mill, and on the same date William Palmer, James McFarlan and Alexander Blair, obtained ferry license to operate ferrys as follows.- one at Cave-in-Kock, one near Elizabethtown and One near the ; present site of Mineral CiJy. They each paid $1.50 per year for their franchise. ESTABHSHJIENT O-F UAUDIN CO. j On the 2nd day of March ISSU, the County of Hardin was estab- lished by an act ot the legislature,. j which act was subsequently, on the ! Sih day of January IS-IO amended^ Tiie acts provided for the calling of , an election by the oldest Justice ob' the Peace, for the location of a seat ' of Justice, and for the election of County Commissioners and other elective officers. The election was held by Thomas Cowseit oa the lltii day of April 1S40. and McFar- lan 's feii-y on the Oliio river was chosen as the county seat, Y. L. C. Palmer was elected Clerk of the- County Commisioner*' Court and James Steele sen., James A. Whitesides and Thomas Cowsert, were elected County Commissioners; thereupon the officers were sworn in, and went into session as a Coun- ty Court on the same day; the Court adjourned on the 13th day of April ISlU, to meet in special ses- sion on the ITth day of the same month. Thus after the period of oij years from the earliest settle- mentB Hardin County wiis estab- lished. ITS SUBSEQUENT ADVANCEMENT. During the transition period from the earliest times to oiginizalion of the county in 18^0- there had been a gradual and continuous improve- nsent and advancement in all the material interests of the conntrj. Chuitbes had baen huilt, sehoole maintained and mines opened. Th^ forest had been cleared ; the pea- cock plow had been substituted for /■■, %^ J carey ; the blacksmith's pitchfork of j iron was superceding the wooden one of I lie farmer;, scythes and era. dies took the place of reap hool;s and sickles ; government had been instituted, the establishment of jus- tice ordained ; the first greut step towaril civilization had be^n taken and the gales of prospe.iiy had fairly set in ;. the hopeful eye uiiiiht well anticipate the blessiugs of the titlure. STATISTICAL StiO.WINU IN 1840. The statistical and business inter- ests of the county for iheyc"- 1.840,. e.xibits the lollovxing showing : One Iron furnace \v:'s ii> opera- tion with a capital of $lti,O0U. employing sixty men per ye.ir. The county cootaincd the fol-- I'lwing ntinibers of live stock and the following amount of prodiic lions : Horses . . . .... . ., . .. .. ., . , ■-. : ■ : : • 5;34 Neat Cattle -XCO.^ Slieej) 1,554 Swine 3,933 Value of PoultfViaU ki.nds„$88.C.C0 Bushels of wrhpat... .......... 3^58^!. Bushels of oats ............ 10i555 Bushels of rye. . , ..._. ........... .42 Bushels of hu.ck\\:heat ........... 3 IJusiiels of eovn ■ -. • • • 62,006 Pounds of woof 7,300 Pounds of cotton ........... ..GtO f'ords of wood, sold. ....... .2,984 Value of dairy lU'udActs. .|!4p,5.'^'0 N'alue of ovchard products . . 85,5.00 (iallons of M'ine •, • 3, Yal fd' hoine-niade goodSi^.5,319.00 Yalue of garden products. . . .82.00 Number of retail stores - • • -.4 CapitaUn vested, |H,6(i6.00 Value of Unjibcr. . .......... .UOO.OO Number of tlom' and grist mills, 6 Value of fm'nitu;'o man'tV\, ^50.00 (Japital in all, fiXher manufactu^'es ijotinclud^^. .. $31,000.00 Total population of county, 1,390 its:mixeral rksoirces. I^ead ore \vas (\iscavered i,u, the county long prior to its organization in the region about Lead, Hill. I». 1 b4 3 similar d,!scoyeiies were made about Rose Clare. B)Ht Utile was done toward t'ae d,evelo,pn\ent of th.e mines till about :je year 18.45, when a Company from, Alton, Ill.i com.- menced operating the miu.es, and, car- ried on the work for some eighteen months when they oecamL! d^scoiy- aged, and sold out to other partif .•i who carried on the work till 1849 when the California gold,-fever a.eain caused a sivspeusion of tne woik. ^T) 1864 the mines wereagain worked for a short time by a New York Company, and later, in 1869, Messrs. Colby, Kinney & Hale resumed the work with vigor. Since that time large suing of money have been ej^- pended for the p'arpose of enlarging the Y.^-vrk,.— and the Rose Clare Cead, opuhi- tion of about seven hundred inliab- itants. HOSE CLARE. Rose Clare is the next town of im- portance. It was incorjwjrated in the year 1872, and has a ix)pulatioi> of about four hundred. The mining companies heretofore mentioned are Ipcated here. CAVE-IN-ROCK'. Cave.-in-Rock, situated on the Ohio, river is the most central town of thc- Qounty. It has a fine trade and a good landing, and is tho center ot tJie potato growing rogion, large quantities of which are shipped fron>, tJiere annually. It has a populatiou qf about aM inhabitants. PARKINSON AND MINERAL CITY. Pai'kinson's Landing and Mineral; City are flourishing trading points pn the river below Rose Clare. The potato trade of the former is neai'ly (jqual to that of Cave-in-Itock, POPULATION IN THE YEAR 1S70. The population of the county by precincts in 1870 was as fallows : ' Cave-in-Rock 869. McFarJan 827 Monroe 1,468 Rock CreeK 856 Rose Clare 5.33 Sellars, (now Battery PvOCk). ..569 Total population in 187o 5,lia THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The county has now within its ter- ritory thirt)'-one school houses^ and some of them are decidedly respect- able buildings. Schools are reglar- ly maintained from five to nino months in each j'ear, and the cause of education, fostered as it is by our admirable free school system, has ta- Ken high vantage ground as a power for good in the land. Public senti- ment demands teachers of a high or- d,er and will have none others. RELIGIOUS ENTERPRISE. Churches also, are numerous. There are now as many as twelve in the county, of various denominations, aod the different memberships are (Somposed of men and wonjen of in- feUigence and enterprise, ]VI;iy the j good effects of their labor.s long b* seen and remembered in our ;.uid3t. COMMERCIAL INTERESTS The commercial and busmesa in- terests are equally gratifying. Sev- eral good steam flouring mills are iii, operation in the county, i(*sides saw mills and water mills, — M of whiclu, are doing well. Blacksmitii shop.-, w.igon shojis, cooper shops and fur- niture establishments are located in, different parts of the county. Dry ^oods stores, family grocery and, drug stores &c., to the number of twenty-five or thirty are in constant operation. In short, our business interests are in a flourishing condi- tion, and property, both in amounts and values, has rapidly increased diu'ing the last few years, so much so indeed, that upon a fair and prop, er assessment of the county the ta\- able property would now probably, reach two millions of dollars. CONCLUSION. Thus we have briefly sketched: the progress of the county from th« earliest settlements to the present time and have iniended to give :i faiihfid outline of some of the most ! important facts connected with univ history. That we have fallen sliort .tin many instances, the committee is quite sensible. The short time al- I lowed for the completion of the work j and the scanty assistance afforded I by some of the different localities ,will account for any omission that i may occur prejudicial to any partii- lular locality in the county; otiier I ta£;t6 have been omitted, because their insertion here would have made the sketch so disjointed as scarcely to have been readable. AU such facts however as are wor- thy may be preserved in the ar- chives ot the county. In conclusion I he eommitteo begd the indulgence of the public to. observe that in this short review abundant causes for congratnlationti. may be found. Our prosperity, though not so great assoiue sectiouM of our common country, is the result of our admirable system of free gov ernmcnt, achieved sword in hand for us by our fore-fathers a hundred years ago when this part of onr country was a wilderness. Let ua on this Centennial day be thankful to Almighty Edwaeo Sheajieb I mjttee^ V LIBRftR"* OF CONGRtSS liilMi'll ' 014 752 599 «