mE$>tQ)mMmm NEW SALEM STATE PARK NEAR PETERSBURG ILLINOIST 1932-19331 THE LIBRARY OF THE 0F ilUNOIS ! DIVISION OF ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING ICHERRICIC HAMMOND -SUPERVISING-ARCHITECTl ILLiyOlB SISTOBICAL SUBTMT ?,Vk> (32108) RECORD OF THE RESTORATION OF NEW SALEM THE LIBRARY OF THE UNiyERSiTr OF ILLINOIS NEW SALEM General view looking east, showing left to right, the two-story home of Samuel Hill, the Hill- McNamar store, the Berry-Lincoln store and the home and shop of Peter Lukins and Alex. Ferguson RECORD of the Restoration of New Salem New Salem State Park Near Petersburg, Illinois 1932—1933 '^ 'J iOv^'l- Second Edition 41VERS1TY OF ILLINOIS Supervised hy the DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND BUILDINGS STATE OF ILLINOIS Henry Hornek, Governor Robert Kingery, Director AND the Division of Architecture and Engineering C. Herrick Hammond, F. A. I. A., Supervising Arcliitect. BY Joseph F. Booton, Chief Draftsman. [Printed by aiitlioiity of tlic State of Illinois.] COPYRIGHT 1934 STATK OF ILLINOIS DEPARTIMKNT OP" PUBLIC WORKS AND lUILDIXOS I MEM S^lcMM 18^9-1839 SHOWina PB.EStWT R.OHSS ONO P«».K_ BUILOINaS PREFACE The first edition of the "Eecord" was printed in mimeograph form ^ and foi-ty copies were made and distributed to those who contributed to - the work, to libraries and others deeply interested in the restoration. Its primary purpose was to record the "available facts and explain the deductions. The subseipient interest in the book has been sufficient to wari'ant this second edition in printed form. As the work develops, future editions will be printed, in which the history of the restoration will be brought to date. The restoration work was started during the administration of Governor Louis L. Emmersbn and carried on to completion after the inauguration of Governor Henry Horner. Both have taken active parts in the work of restoring this famous little village. H. H. Cleveland, former Director of Public Works and Buildings and Henry H. Kohn, former Director of the Department of Purchases and Construction, deserve mention for their intense interest in this project. It is gratifying to note that the spirit established bv those in charge at the outset has not been lost or changed but carried forward with even greater intensity. Governor Horner "and Robert Kingerv, Director of Pu])lic AVorks and Buildings, have taken up the work where their pi-edecessors left off and supervised the A\ork to its present state of pai-tial completion. This task is a never ending one. Even after the entire town has been fully restored and the facilities devoted to the public completed, the problems of maintenance and policies of public control will always present themselves to those in charge. The restoration wod- should ahrni/s fake precedence over the public features, and while the latter ai'e important to the comfort and convenience of the visitors and employees, under no circumstances should they be allowed to encroach upon the town itself. At all times this shrine should be encouraged to return to its former condition and appearance. In walking through the village one should feel that the clock has been turned back one hun- dred years. Let us hope that this policy will never be changed 1h rough the vear^ to come and tiial the spirit already established will iiev^er (limim'sh oi' change. J. F. B. July 17th, 1934. 37323 I "\ CONTENTS PAGE Scope and Purpose 1~> l-Je-8urvey of the Town Lots 16 Locating the Cahins 18 Cabin Planning 20 Cabin Construction 23 Dr. John Allen's Kesidence 27 The Berry-Lincoln 8tore 30 Clary's Grocery 35 Samuel Hill's Kesidence 37 ^rhe Hill-McNamar Store 39 Kobert Johnson's Kesidence 42 Peter Lukins' Residence 41: 'I'he Miller and Kelso J^esidence 46 Denton Offut's Store 49 Henry Onstot's Kesidence o2 Dr. Francis Kegnier's Ofhce 55 Martin Waddell's KesidenOe 5.S The Rutledge Tavern (iO Appendix (I^ FOREWORD The restoration of Xew Salem, Abraham Lincohi's home from 1831 to 1837, has been under consideration for the past thirty years. The first active step was taken in 1906 when the citizens of Petersburg engaged the interest of William Randolph Hearst, who was lecturing at the Old Salem Chautauqua in Petersburg. Mr. Hearst at that time purchased the site and conveyed it in trust to the Chautauqua associa- tion. Later in 1917 The Old Salem Lincoln League was formed at Petersburg, to carry on research work and keep alive the interest al- ready aroused. The Chautauqua association, with Mr. Hearst's con- sent, conveyed the site to the State of Illinois to be used as a State , Park, and in 1918 the League, with funds raised by popular subscrip- tion, erected several cabins on original sites, built a road, marked other cabin sites and in celebration of the occasion, gave a pageant de- picting scenes of pioneer days. During the following years the public interest in the Park increas- ed, .and visitors from all parts of the United States came annually to * visit the old town site. Finally, the movement to restore the town gained such momentum that in 1931 the 57th General Assembly passed a bill appropriating $50,000 to the Department of Public Works and Buildings, H. H. Cleaveland, Director, for "Permanent Improvements" at New Salem State Park.^ In anticipation of the Bill, this Division had already begun the research work and during the two years follow- ing its passage every known source throwing light on the project was examined and investigated. The Bill was approved by Governor Em- merson July 2, 1931, and the following year, July 16, the Requisition was signed by the Governor. During the months to follow, the informa- tion was assembled, checked and analyzed, plans and specifications were drawn and advertisements for proposals were published October 21, 1932. The general contract for the construction of twelve cabins was awarded to English Brothers, general contractors of Champaign, Illi- nois, November 4, 1932 ; a few days later ground was broken and on November 17, the corner stone, located in the foundation of the Berry- Lincoln Store, was laid by Governor Louis Lincoln Emnu'rson. At the present writing, (193-1) the construction work of the twelve cabins has l)een comi)lotod, and it is hoped that in the near future the State will find it [jossiljle fo finish the fask and restore the balance of the town. As stated previously, every known source was examined and the purpose of this RECORD is to sliow where the material was found and how it was used. 'Governor Louis L. Emnierson is.sued a proclamation December 20, 1932, in which the name of the Park was changed to "New Salem State Park". Previous to this (late the Park had been known as Old Salem State Park. We arc indobtod to Paid M. Angle, Librarian of the Illinois State Historical Library, and Secretary of the Illinois State Historical So- ciety for his sound advice, lielj) in locating sources of information, and constructive criticism. We also wish to acknowledge the help received from Mr. Thomas P. Keep, Author of ''Lincoln at New Salem"\ so often (juoted on the following pages. He was consulted constantly as this work progressed, and has given his approval to the restoration work accomjjlished at this time. We are also indebted to the Board of State Park Advisors, especially to l^obert Kingery, Secretary, now Director of the Department of Public Works and Buildings, for valuable sugges- tions, assistance and cooi)eration ; to Miss Ida Bale of Petersburg, 111., for data pertaining to the Rutledge Tavern and Bale Home, the old roads, and information which helped us to locate the map drawn by Mrs. Samuel Hill ; to Mrs. Josephine Craven Chandler, of Havana, Illinois, for her advice and criticism; to Mrs. Ella R. B. Craig for in- formation pertaining to her grandfather. Dr. Francis Eegnier; to J. Colby Beekman for information concerning the Hill-McNamar Store ; to Mr. Charles Holz of Springfield, 111., for information concerning the restoration of Clary's grocery and to the many others, too numerous to mention individually, who were consulted and spent considerable time and effort to help solve the many perplexing problems and to make the completion of this project possible. Tlie work thus far accomplished is only a portion of the completed project. It is hoped that in the near future it will be possible to go on with the work, and restore the first Grist and Saw Mill, Eow^an Hern- don house, Onstot's first house and Cooper Shop, and John Camron's house in the eastern portion of the town. At present the central por- tion does not include the walls and roof of the Eutledge Tavern, Hern- don Brothers store : and Hill's Carding Machine and wool house. There is yet to be built in the western portion the houses of Isaac Burner, Philemon Morris. Isaac Gollamer and the Trent Brothers. It is also hoped that tlie old roads may be restored and properly marked. When the smoke houses, sheds, fences and other minor struc- tures are built and the cabins are surrounded by appropriate planting, the old town will really seem to live again. ^ Record of the investigations of the Old Salem Liincoln League. 14 SCOPE AND PURPOSE The history of the restoration will be divided into two main divi- sions. The first will include general information pertaining to all cabins, such as the re-survey of the town lot lines, locating the cabin sites, types of cabin plans and cabin construction. The second will in- clude a description of each cabin, the information discovered and as- sembled, and how the restoration was make. Material for the restoration was assembled from the following sources: (a) excavating the old sites, (b) books, letters and other data written by those wlio liad actually lived or visited the town of New Sa- lem, (c) same material as written by decendents and friends of those who had lived in New Salem, (d) biographies of Abraham Lincoln and other material dealing with Lincoln and his life and career at New Sa- lem, (e) results of the investigations in 1918 by "The Old Salem Lin- coIh League", admirably recorded by Thomas P. Keep in his book "Lin- coln at New Salem", (f) books and articles describing the pioneer life in this and other sections of Illinois. After reading this history of the restoration, one should be able to know where the definite information, as gleaned from sources as out- lined above was used, and where we used our own judgment and imagi- nation, and worked out details as we thought they might have been. Along with the technical data dealing with the construction of the cab- ins, descriptions of the families who occupied them are inserted to pro- vide the atmosphere and background surrounding each structure. It should be understood that this work deals primarily with the restoration and its research, and does not intend to cover thoroughly the history of the village or its inhabitants. It is hoped that the ref- erences quoted will create a desire on the part of the reader to study the sources and learn more of the history of the town and its interesting people. 15 RE-SURVEY OF THE TOWN LOTS The liill was surveyed into lots and streets during the snmmor of 1829 by Eeuben S. Harrison. The survey was filed and recorded Octo- ber 23, 1829^. The recorded drawing is very brief and gives only a general idea of how the lot corners were originally laid out. The lot nmnbors are noted, the width of Main Street is given as sixty (GO) feet, the lot sizes were determined at 115^ square, the compass direc- tions of Main Street are established, but the width of the cross streets were not given, nor the distance between the first and second survey-. The two surveys were never accurately tied up with section lines and the task of re-locating the lot corners proved to be a difficult one. There are deeds and records of land transactions just north of and adjacent to the town. The description of these transactions tied in with the town lots, and it was thought at the beginning that this, would solve the problem, but when an attempt was made to re-survey these parcels of land, the surveyors found that the descriptions w^ere inaccurate and impossible to survey. The compass variations were not given, the acre- age noted as being enclosed by the lines proved to be incorrect, and many other inaccuracies in the descriptions made it impossible to work them out. The surveyors were forced to correct the original descrip- tions as they thought they should have been recorded, and after several attempts, finally arrived at a possible solution. The results obtained were not entirely satisfactory, but they did establish the nortli and soutli lines of the first survey. The east and west lines of the first sur- vey lots were determined by the existing foundations. The residences of Dr. Allen and Samuel Hill were located by the excavations and, since the two buildings came within a lot width (115J4 feet) with eight feet to spare, the lot lines as established cannot vary with the original more than three or four feet. The cross streets running north and south were established at forty (40) feet, because it seemed to be a logical width, also because the bluff at the east edge of town established the over-all dimension in which the lots w'ere contained. The second survey was re-established in the same manner, and tlie east and west lines were located so that all excavations came within lot boundaries. In this direction they cannot vary more than four or five I'eet. The north and south lines of the second survey were established more or less parallel with the cabin basements, each side of Main Street > County Records. - The crest of the hill curves toward the south as it runs west so the lots were divided into two groups, the first and second surveys. Tlic space between the two surveys has been called by some autnorities the "public square", but this space is too small for a "square", and since a cabin occurred there it does not seem pos- sible it was intended to serve that purpose. 16 which was located approximately midway between them, and when the compass direclion of the street teas checked, it iras found that the varia- tion hetireen Main Street of the first surveij and Main Street of the second survey was the same as recorded, taking into account the yearly variation of the magnetic bearing with the true north, and applying it to the Ulo years which has elapsed since the original survey was made hy Harrison. Several iiiterestinir conditions were discovered. Olfut's store did not occur on lot 14. north of ]\Iain Street, of the first survey, j)urchased by him. Tie evidently bought this lot for speculative i)urposes. A basement was found to lie in the s])ace between the first ami second sur- veys. This is believed to be the site of the Herndon Brothers Store^. Onstot's house was found to lie west of the town lot limits as recorded in IIarrison^s survey, so extra lots were added, with the assumption that they were sold but never recorded. On the other hand, Onstot may have purchased a small parcel of land west of town, never having it recorded. tSince the records are not complete regarding this portion of the town, no one knows whether extra lots were sold or not. Refer to appendix for complete description of the re-survey pre- pared by Ray V. Tilly, of Wood, Walraven and Tilly, Surveyors. Springfield, Illinois. ' Later this stoie became the first "Bero'-Lincoln Store" and was the store building' which housed this famous enterprise before it moved across the street to the sheathed structure known to us now as the Berry-Lincoln store. It is thought that the builders of the Herndon Bi'others' store meant to locate it on the west half of lot 1 South of Main Street, first suiA^ey. Evidently a mistake was made, for now its site lies just west of this lot and in the open space between the two surveys. 1? LOCATING THE CABINS DOCTOR ALLEN'S KESIDEXCE site was identified by Mrs. Louisa Clarv in 1918, lor the Old Salem Lincoln League. (See descriptions of Dr. Allen's house and Kutledge Tavern, p. 27 to 29 and 60 to 66 inch) Since the records show Dr. Allen purchased the lot which contained the basement, it is certain that this cabin is located correctly. PETER LUKINS' RESIDENCE, according to some maps, was erected just west of Dr. Allen's residence. Other maps show Alexander Fergu- son as having lived in the first cabin west of Dr. Allen. Since Lukins left New Salem early, it is logical to assume they both lived in the same house. The fact that both were shoemakers seems to make the assump- tion more logical. So the first basement west of Dr. Allen's residence was assumed to be that of Peter Lukins' cabin. There are no deeds or transactions whieli sliow that Lukins or Ferguson bought the property. THE BERRY-LIXCOLX STORE, HILL-McXAMAR STORE AXD THE HILL RESIDEXCE lie in the order named, from east to west, on the north side of Main Street, first survey. These cabins are noted in this order on all maps, and their sites were identified in 1918 by Mrs. Clary and others for the Old Salem Lincoln League. Since Samuel Hill owned the lot which contained both his house and store, we are cert^iin that these two are correctly located. The Berry-Lincoln store lies on lot 1, which at one time, according to records, belonged to William G. Green, who rented the store to Berry & Lincoln. This site was identified by many authorities for the Old Salem Lincoln League. DR. FRAXCIS REGXIER bought the west portion of lot 1 north of Main Street, first survey, from Henry Sinco.* Sinco evidently sold the house and lot to the doctor. The old basement on this portion of lot 1 marked the site of the house owned and occupied by Henry Sinco and Doctor Regnier. CLARY'S GROCERY AND DENTON OFFUT'S STORE were identi- fied by old settlers and the sites were known many years prior to 1918. when the Old Salem Lincoln League made its investigations. They occur in the eastern portion of town, are isolated and are close together. All agree that they have been located correctly. ROBERT JOHNSON'S RESIDENCE AND MARTIN^ WADDELL'S RESIDEXCE were established by remains of old basements which occurred where the maps indicated they were. All maps agree as to their location with reference to other cabins, so it is very probable they have been located correctlv. * County records. 18 llEXJiY ONSTOT'S COOPEIJ SliUP was located in 11)18 by the Old Salem Lincoln League when the shop was purchased and moved from Petersburg to Xew Salem. Just west of the Cooper shop as it is now located, were remains of an old basement, wliich probably was the site of Onstot's house. Plans of the house were drawn according to informa- tion furnished by the excavation and the supposed dimensions of the house \\Q\e com])ared with the remains of the original house now in Petersburg."' The comparison showed that the two compared favorably and that undoul)t(HlIy the Cooper's house was correctly located. MILLEIJ AXl) KELSO'S DOUIU.E KESIDEXCE was located on the lot Miller bought'". A search was made for remains of a basement or foundation, but nothing was found. Maps show their houses in this end of town, and since Miller bought property there, it is logical to assume their houses were on one of his lots. ^ See desci'iption of Henry Onstot's Residence — Pa^c 53. •Records show he bought lots 9 and 10, and a small tract of land adjacent to tlie nortli — noitli of .Main Street, second suivey. See l'ap:es 68 and 70. CABIN PLANNING It is (litlicult to uiidiTstaiiil how the pioneers wore able to carry on thoir nunierons family activities within their limited quarters. Their cabins were small and crowded. 'I'heir mode of liviiiij: was simple and in proportion to their wealth and tastes. Poorer families pnt up with the bare necessities of life, while the ambitions who became well-to-do, built surprisingly splendid bomes, considering the obstacles encountered. It seems that the pioneers who settled in New Salem, were ex- ceedingly energetic and made an attempt to build according to the best standards. Research has proven that the details of cabin construction in this town as well as in this section of Illinois, were more workman- like, and carried to a greater degree of refinement than in southern Illinois, southern Indiana and Kentucky. This may be due to the fact that, having built other earlier cabins on former homesteads, the pio- neers in central Illinois had become more proficient in cabin building. Experience was a good teacher. Most cabins in central Illinois, es- pecially those in Xew Salem, were neat and tidy, well built and were more than just a> shelter from the elements. As a rule, the wall logs were adzed both sides, and both inside and outside surfaces were clean and smooth. After the spaces between the logs were "chinked" with split pieces of wood, wedged in place and "plastered" with clay or lime the cabins were extremely weatherproof and trim. The log corners were fitted together by means of neatly chopped or sawn notches and the logs were cut off at the corners, leaving no ugly j^rotruding ends. New Salem builders made use of the Eutledge and Camron saw- mill, and those who could afford it, used sawn material in the construc- tion of their cabins. One structure was completely sheathed with sawn siding'. or course, the early cabins of New Salem were simple in construc- tion aiid found their parallel in those erected elsewhere, on newly cleared land. But as the town grew, and the citizens acquired wealth, ex- pert help was hired. Standards rose and cabins erected just prior to the exodus to Petersburg, were fine examples of pioneer architecture. Nails gradually replaced wood pegs; the latch string was replaced by the wrought iron handle, and the saw-mill saved many hours of labor with the axe. Contact with St. Louis and Springfield, during trading visits, made it |)ossil)l',^ for them to ])ui'chase window glass, nails and other refinements not within the reach of the early settler who located far from settlements. Stone was found in great abundance near by and was us(>d for foundations and fireplaces. Excellent clay and shale were also close at ' Berry-Lincoln Store, built in 1830 by George Warburton. 20 hand, and hand moulded bricks were used extensively for fireplace man- tels and hearlhs"". The surrounding" country was wooded and furnished the logs for walls, tloors, rafters and "'clapboards" (shingles). lied and white oak and black walnut were principally used. Construction details will be completely described on the following pages. The cabins of Xew Salem, as well as those erected elsewhere on homesteads, consisted usually of one room, measuring about fourteen to sixteen feet in width, and eighteen to twenty feet in length, containing one fireplace, and covered by a hipi)ed-roof. Extra rooms were often added. Sometimes these extra rooms were frame "lean-to" additions with a shed roof. Larger families found it necessary to erect two-room cabins. These were larger and constructed with a log dividing parti- tion. This type was usually built eighteen to twenty feet wide and thirty to forty feet long. The liii)ped roof ran across both rooms, and a fireplace was built at each end of the structure. A "lean-to" was often added to this type also, mostly on a side wall, and rarely on the end walls unless the fireplace was built of stone''. Another type commonly built especially in the "'country" was the "two room and open porch type". It might be described as being two one-room cabins, bviilt ten to fifteen feet apart. Their roofs were joined together, covering the open space between. The floor also was con- tinuous and the covered space between served as a dining room and a sleeping and sitting porch during the hot weather. As the needs of the family grew, lean-to additions were also added to this type.^" There was another crude type of shelter commonly built by the pioneer. Even though no record exists of one having been erected in Xew Salem, a short description of it might be inserted here. This "three-faced camp", as the name implies, was a temporary structure and served as a shelter until they moved on again, or when on their homestead, until their permanent cabin was completed. It consisted of three log walls, roughly fitted together, un])ierced by doors or win- dows, and a roof of poles and clapboards. The fourth side was. open and served the combined purpose of dour, window, fireplace and chim- ney. The fire was built in the center of the "open wall", and the smoke either blew out in the open or back into the ""camp", depending upon the direction of the wind. The floor was of grass, if they were fortu- nate enough to find such a spot, otherwise it was oi' dirt covered with newly cut grass, to avoid the formation of mud in stormy weather. As a general rule, in the erection of their permanent cabins, the fireplace was placed toward the north or west, and this determined the ends of the cabin, as the fireplaces were always built at the ends of the cabin and rarely on the sides, for the reason that the gable end helped to support the chimney.^ ^ The north and west exposures were the cold- " Brick for the restored cabins have been moulded with clay taken from a pit just southeajJt. and within a stone's throw of the hill. Good brick was found in all old basements, and measure adzed, notched aiul nuule ready for erection, when the neighbors turned out to helj). The "log raising" was a gala occasion, and comparable to "threshing day". The ramilies gatlu'red for the oecasioii. the men I'nis- " At New Salom this depth was about 2 to 3 feet. " If close to tlie sloping' sides, the piei's were extended down to the basement floor level, which was five or six feet below prade. Sometimes the piers were built entirely outside the ba.sement. and other times they were erected at the side of the basement and partially exposed from the inside. 23 iiig tlie lo>rs in place, and the women preparinir the meals.'^ One day usually sufficed to erect tiie largest cabin, and it was a day, not only of work, but of fun and merriment. Sach log was supported at the end notches only, and spanned from end to end. At the end of the day, aftei' the log-raising, the cabin ap])eared much like a corn crib, with the setting sun shining through the logs and roof polos. The next operation was to cut the window, door and fireplace oi)en- iiigs. Wood blot'ks to support the logs were placed between them, on each side of the opening to be cut, and portions of the logs were then cut away to form the openings. Adzed or sawn jamb pieces of the proper length were placed vertically against the cut log ends, then a hole was bored through the jamb and into each log, and an oak pin about one inch in diameter was driven into the hole. The blocks be- tween the logs were removed after the log ends were securely held in place by the jamb pieces and ])in>. KOOF The roof was formed next and two methods were employed. One was to continue the logs up at the cabin ends, each log shorter than the the one below. In this fashion, the triangular '"gable" was formed at each end. From gable to gable, long straight saplings were laid, about two feet center to center, across which the "clapboard" shingles were placed. The other method was to place sapling rafters at right angles to the side log walls, following the slope of the roof. They were "halv- ed" at the ridge and joined together with a pin. About halfway be- tween the ridge and eave, cross ties Avere placed horizontally, each side of the rafters, and secured to them with wood pins, forming a crude wood truss. These trusses were spaced five or six feet center to center, with one over each end wall forming the gable ends. Koof poles running the length of the cabin, were placed across the trusses about two feet center to center, to carry the clapboards. The gable ends were closed with sawn boards or planks placed vertically, or sawn sheating run hori- zontally, secured to vertical hewn studs. The trussed rafter method was employed on long cabins and on the finer ones, erected after the mill was in o])ei'ation. SHINGLES Shingles or "clapboards" were made next. Logs about fifteen or eighteen inches in diameter, were sawn into thirty inch lengths^''. A thirty inch unit was then split lengthways in two or four equal parts, and each half or quarter was fui'ther split into clapboards, each piece radiating from the center. At this stage, each clapboard was. thirty inches long and seven and one-half to nine inches wide, five eights to three (piarters inch thick on the outer side and the opposite long side was a feather edge (being the center of the log). This leather edge of heart wood, was trimmed down al)out three inches, with a draw knife until this >* This custom applied to towns such as New Salem, and to areas well settled. The lonely pioneer was forced to raise the walls with the aid of his family. " In some cases they were much longer, depending: upon the determined length of the clapboard. 24 side of tlie ,<]iinglc was about one quarter or three eights incli thick and the widtli of tlie shingle was about four and one haff to six inches. Larger logs produced wider shingles, but as a rule, the widest shingle never ex- ceeded seven or eight inches, while the narrowest was never less than four inches. In laying "clapboards" they were started at the bottom and each row was two layers with the joints staggered. Each row lapped the other about six inches, exposing twenty-four inches to the weather. The top row on the north or west side, Mas carried up past the ridge line about six or eight inches, to form a ridge protection. There was no guttor at the eave, exce])t, perhaps, in some cases a crude affair made by nailing two boards together, pitched to a rain barrel, to pro- cure the "soft water", for washing purposes. Shingles were usually laid loose and held in |ilaee by log weights. Tn Xew Salenu nails were available, hence most inl)ins were roofed with shingles nailed in place. FLO 01? Now that the cabin was j'ool'ed over, the floor came next. Many pioneer cabin floors were of dirt, but most were floored with wood. There were two types, the "puncheon" floor and sawn planks. The former was constructed by splitting logs and adzing smooth the split face. These smooth faced "puncheons" were trimmed along the edges and laid together face up. They were secured to cross beams below with wood pegs cut oft' and smoothed down. The sawn plank floor Avas either pegged or nailed down, and since it was the smoothest and truest, the finest floors -were constructed by this method. \\'hen no outside cellar entrance was constructed, a trap door was framed in the floor, usually in the center of the room. Here it was usually under the table and out of the way. CTTIXKTXG Next came the "chinking". Split wood sticks about three (|uartei-s of an inch thick and two inches wide, were placed diagonally between the logs and forced into place by hitting them with a hanmuT. Thi'V were placed leaving small spaces between each chiid^, to form a "plaster key". Mud or lime mortar mixed with cattU's hair oi' some other tie, was forced between the chinks, brought out to the wall line, and smoothed down. When the mud or mortar dried and the log walls seasoned and shrunk, cracks appeared, hut the hair helped to hohl tlie pieces to- gether. Both the inside and outside >urraces were chinked as described. FIKLPLACE The fireplace was constructed next, and the simplest type was built of wood and fireproofed with clay. The lower logs were heavy and notched into the cabin wall, each side of the opening. The chimney was carried up outside the gable wall and was a sepaiNite unit. The opening in the end of the cabin for the lirephuc was cut just large enough to contain the mantel. ^lost chiniueys wcic built of small sticks, notched and laid to lorm a rectangle or sqiiai'e. and chiide\v Salem about the year oi' ISoO, and engaged in the practice of medicine .... On tiie IStli day of August, 1831, he purciuised lots three and four, soutli of Main Street, (Note: first survey) in the town of Xew Salem, from -lames I'antier, and later in 1835 he bought the east half of lot one, adjoining lot four on the west." "He was married to Mary E. Moore on March 27, 1834, and lived in the three room dwelling house Avhich he had previously erected on lot four, above mentioned."'* This would establish this house as being erected sometime during 1833 or in the early months of 1834. The former date seems the most logical because the winter months were not usually spent in erecting log cabins. "He continued to live in New Salem until about tlie year 1838, when he moved to Petersburg, where he lived the rest of his life, and it is said, he was a non-active partner of McXamar in his store at Xew Salem and also at Petersburg."'* After the doctor moved out. the house was occupied by a tenant whose name is now unknown, for iibout one year, 1839 to 1840, and later Henry Traylor lived there from 1840 to 1842. Mrs. (Mary, daugh- ter of Traylor, told Mr. Reep that as a girl she remembered moving to New Salem and that the doctor's house at the time was occupied. Her family lived at the House by the Well, across the street to the east, for three days, waiting for the house to be vacated''-'. No record exists of the house being moved and no doubt it was wrecked, the basement filled in, and soon after 1843 Bale's crops were growing over its site. This house then, served three families tor a total period of nine years — 1833 to 1842. The doctor was an interesting person and his character iiad much to do with the general character of his house. "At this house he established the first, and possibly the only Sun- day School, and organized the Temperance Society ; and here the Kev. William Berry, father of that proliigate son who was to become the business partner of Lincoln, frequently raised his voice in exhortation . . . . A touch of gracious, if plain living and high thinking w(>re here, iio doubt. For the silk hat and well-made saddle bags of Dr. Allen. still ill evidence, attest the gentility of his way of life."-" ■'With all his religious fervor Dr. Allen was a slnewd business nuin and a good c-ollector. If his ])atients were short nf money (most of '" Keep. Lincoln At New Salem. P. 1 08-9. "At this time Jacob Bale and hi.s family occupied the Huu.se by the Well. =° Chandler, New Salem: Early Chapter in Linculn'.s L.ile — Journal of the Illi- nois State Historical Society, P. .523-4. 27 tlu'iii usually wiTi'). ji'mI had |)r(»(hR-e of any sort, lie wduM take his pay ill such produce."-' ■".... across the street (Note: from t!ic IJutledj^e Tavern) that er in this section; with all the ills that youth and age are heir to, but particularly to those demanding pains of birth and death. To the cure of bodies. he sought to add the cure of souls. His Presbyterian t'aitli hiid its un- yielding diseijiline over all who came beneath his care."-'" Onstot sums up by saying: "'He came to Salem in an early day and soon had the leading practice in the country, lie was a Christian gentleman of the highest type and belonged to the Presbyterian Church. He was very aggressive in all his views. He soon had a Sunday School going. There being no school, he would open his house. "-- It seems then, that the house erected by the methodical, i)recise and business-like Dr. Allen, would be well constructed and of the better class of cabins in this village. His manner and mode of living points to his desire to possess the finer things of life and his house would be one of the best. As previously stated by Mr. Eeep, the house possessed three rooms and the excavations proved this statement. A basement existed under the large room and the excavations established the basement to have been sixteen feet east and west, and fourteen feet north and south, measuring from the outside surfaces of the stone piers which supported the flloor and log walls above. Six piers were discovered, three on the north wall and three on the south wall. The basement floor was about five feet below the grade level, and between the piers the arth sides of the basement probably sloped inward toward the center at the bottom. Th(> old basement iloor level has been maintained. In reconstructing these foundations to last for many years to come, we were afraid that the restored sloping sides would not remain in place very long (the original sides were cut away in 1918 for the first restoration) so the pier founda- tions were changed to a continuous wall with thicker portions at the points where the old piers existed. These ticker portions and the old piers are the same size and to the ol)server will recall the former stone piers. This continuous wall A\as placed around the basement only, with isolated piers supporting the balance of the cabin. No trace of an out- side cellar door to this basement was discovered. To the west of this basement for a distance of nine feet, the virgin soil was found to be deeper by two feet than the general level of the virgin soil surrounding the cabin. This led us to believe that a second room was constructed over this portion. On the south side of the cabin and to tlie east, a 12' x 12' room must have been built because the virgin soil here was also found to be l)elow the surrounding level of the untouched clay. This accounts for the three rooms. The main ])ortion of the house must have existed over the two rooms on the north side, with the gaitle running east and =" Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 109. =' T. G. Onstot, Lancoln and Salem, P. 1,52. 28 west and tlie third vooiu was added on the sontli in the form of a lean- to. At tlie time of the oriizinal exeavations, fifteen years ago, quantities of brick and stone were discovered, but no definite location of the fire- place was determined. However, it was logical to locate the fireplace be- tween the two northern rooms, th(> larger of which we l)elieve was the living room, and the back of the chimney would heat the western room which might have been used a> a work room or ofi^ice. The southern room must have been used as a bcdjoom, and derived heat from the nuiin room through the large opening between the two rooms. The house faced north on Main Street, and it is quite logical to suppose that the main door to the house was located near the center of the living room on the north wall. We have placed a small window just west of the Main door and another on the east wall, both occurring in the living room. The two other windows are located on the south walls where the exposure was the mildest — one in the bedroom and the other in the office. In a cabin of this size, and tenanted by a family of Dr. Allen's tastes and mode of living, it is likely that a rear door existed on the south, for larger and finer cabins had two doors ; this door has been shown leading from the living room to the rear yard. This cabin, we iiuagine, due to reasons heretofore explained was built in the best manner: hence, we have used the flush notched corners and the floors are of sawn plank l)oards. The cut in' fireplace and chimney has been shown of stonr. fur two r<'as()iis: lirst, because it existed between the two looms and x\\v (ire hazani would he lessened by this material, and second, because it is the more expi'iisive, and wo know Dr. Allen could have afforded this type of fire])lace and chimney. This cabin at times served as the church and Sunday school of the town, and since the living room was not large enough to contain many people, it is (piite probable that the opening between the living room and bedroom on the south was very Avide with portieres hung at the top, which could be closed to provide the necessary privacy of the bedroom. During these meetings the portieres ])robably were opened, which would allow people to sit in the bedroom and be able to see and hear the speaker in the living room. It will be noticed that the south caxe of the main )iortioii is higher Ijian the north eave. This was done so that the roof of the lean-to to the south could be built high enough to ])rovide sufficient head room. If the south eave had been madi- tin' same height as the north eave, the lean-to roof would have been so low that it would have been almost unusable. We fiiul precedent for doing this in a photograph appearing in the .Mc( 'lure's Magaziiu' of Deceinbci'. IS'.),'). This ])hotograj)h a]i- peared in connection with an article by Ida Tarbell on "The Early Life of Lincoln". The original was a water color by Miss Etta Acker- man, of a cabin built in 1824 in Clary's (frove, not far from New Sa- lem, belon appeared on the north wall of the main room, which would ])lace it between the two rooms and undoubtedly the fireplac(> opening occurred in the main rooni with the back of the fire- ])lace showing in the little room. This would give considerable heat and keep the little room quite comfortable. We think this is perhaps the interpretation of the quotation above, by Burner, regarding the fireplace. Mr. Eutledge, ne])hew of James Kutledge, the tavern keeper, tells of the stock they carried. — 'T have been in Berry and Lincoln's store many a time. The building was a frame — one of the few frame build- ings in New Salem. There were two rooms, and in the small back room they kept their whiskey. They had pretty much everything, except dry goods — sugar, coffee, some crockery, a few pairs of shoes (not many), some farming implements, and the like."-^ "The Berry and Ijincoln store boasted no such luxury as a porch, but a great oak tree sjjread its limbs before its door making a friendly place for rest and talk. And here, in the quiet of the long summer days, when the fanners were in their fields and trade was restricted to the occasional sale of a few yards of calico or a gallon of molasses, Lincoln sat, or lay at length, lost in the pages of a book."^" It will be remem- bered that McNamar is thought to have been the last owner of the Berry-Lincoln Store, and Mr. Eeep suggests a possible ending to the eventful history of this little store — "McNamar bought a lot in Peters- burg in February, 1837, for $25.00, which indicated it was vacant, and sold it a year later for $500.00, which indicated that he erected a house — a store building — maybe he moved this store down and added to it. im- mediately following the purchase of the Petersburg lot or as soon as weather and road conditions would permit." At the time of the first excavation in 1918, as mentioned before, it was discovered that the basement was 20 feet square, measuring to the outsides of the foundation walls. They also found that the foundation walls were continuous and built of stone. There was no indication of an outside entrance or cellar door to the basement. Goods were prol)al)ly raised and lowei'ed from the l)ase- ment by an inside trap door. In 1918 the location of the fireplace was discovered ". . . . at the north end just east of the center of the building. T note on Page 127 of my book (Tjincoln at New Salem) that I say the fire])lace was on the -'Statement by Daniel Green Burner, appearing in "Abraham I^incoln" by Ida M. Tarbell. McClure's Magazine, Feb., 1896 — P. 227. -' Statement by Mr. Kutledge, occui-ring in Tda M. Tarbell's "Abraham Lin- coln" in McClure's Magazine, February, 1S96 — P. 228. '"Chandler, N»>w S;Uom : Karly Chapter in Lincoln's Life, — Journal of the Illi- nois State Historical Society, P. 534. 32 west side near the center. Oleson (Note: Mr. Chas. Oloson, who had charge of the original excavation) says I misunderstood him about the location of the fireplace, that he found it at the north end originally. I suppose the lean-to could be built around the chimney, and probably this would help keep the room warm."^^ It will be noted above that it was thought the fireplace was just east of the center line on the north side. From the writers ol)sorvations of various other excavations, it was noted that indications of a fireplace consisted of bits of brick, broken stone and mortar buried in filled earth. It is very unlikely that the original fireplace was off the center line but highly probable that it occurred on the center line, and the stone and brick may have fallen to the east at the time tlic building was dismantled. Having located the fire])lace at the north side, the ridge line would be determined because invariably the fire])lace was located at the gable end because this portion of the cabin helped to support the chimney. It is (juite likely that this chimney and fireplace were built of stone be- cause of the fact that the lean-to at the rear would create an inside fire- ])lace and chimney and the fire hazard would have been too great if the chimney was built of plastered sticks and logs. George Warburton, who originally built this store, was (juite wealthy and was noted for doing things in a very creditable manner. This is another reason for supposing that the fireplace and chimney Avere of stone. Brick was found in this excavation in 1918, and we are led to believe that the brick was used for the hearth. It has been pretty well established that a room existed to the north of the twenty- foot by twenty foot main room. Mr. Keep, in his "Lin- coln at New Salem", on page 58, says that Young Eoss inquired as to the whereabouts of Lincoln and learned that he was gone, "but that Bill IJerry had come back about daylight that morning from a dance he attended the night before, and was asleep in a little room adjoining the Post Office on the north/' The extra room was a store room and used for surplus goods, and being attached to a square building, it is (piite possible it was a lean-to with a shed roof. ^Ir. Keep, in his "Lincoln at New Salem", stated that "all the store buildings had porches in front of them". This seems (|uite logical to suppose because the stores were very small, and at the sanu' time served as meeting places for the exchange of news and other information, and no doubt the porches served to provide the extra space necessary. How- ever, in view of the fact that a tree grew in front of this store (accord- ing to Mrs. Chandler) the porch on this building has been omitted. The front door, no doubt, was located in the center of the south wall. There probably was only one exterior door in the entire cabin to provide greater safety, for there would have been only one door to be kept locked. The north and west walls having the greatest exposure to the elements in the winter, were usually left blank; hence, we have located two small windows in the east wall — one lighting the front room and the other the rear room; and one window on the south wall east of the door. " Quotation taken from letter from Mr. Thomas 1'. Keep to Dr. C. M. Service, Dept. of Public Works and Buildings, Springfield, Illinois, dated August 27, 1932. 33 It is known that this building was built of hewn studs and siding. The inside was probably sheathed, as well as the outside, to provide greater protection in the winter sei\son. To complete the picture, probably a hitching rail existed to the west of this building, for a nia]) drawn by Mrs. Samuel Hill shows the Springfield Koad just west of the Kutledge Tavern continuing on north past Main Street for a short distance. Perhaps this continuation was created by the use of this hitching rail. Since this l)uilding was built after the erection of the mill, it is quite likely that llu' floors, siding and doors, etc., were built of sawn ])lanks. 34 CLARY'S GROCERY Clary's Grocery was located in the northeastern jiorlion of the town and was outside the limits of the ])ortion surveyed into lots. Oflfut's Store was just south of the "p-ocery". In referring]: to Offut's Store. Mrs. Chandler says "That portion of the hluff had, hitherto, heen dom- inated ])y but one building — Clary's Grocery. Its i)ro])rietor was of that i'oi.=:tering group that hailed from a point a few miles farther west known as Clary's Grove and his store was patronized by them — with gusto". "The 'grocery' was, as may be guessed, in the local terminology, a saloon and to be distinguished from a 'store' which contained food stuffs, drvgoods and sometimes furniture, in addition to the ubiquitous barrel of" whiskey." "Clary's enjoyed the advantage of isolation, being located on the north end of the T-shaped bluff, and well off the main street. Just as the bar of Clary's constituted the forum for debate, so the open, level space without, on the south, provided an arena where tests of skill and strength and games of sorts were indulged in".^- ]\rr. Keep sums up by saying "\Yilliam Clary, a bi'other of the John Clary, who gave his name to the Grove where he settled in 1819 (being the first settler in what is now Menard County) bought a small tract of land North of Lot 14, on the north side of Main Street in the first survey, built a log store building and established a grocery. "Clary's (irocery" dispensed liquor as its ])rincipal stock in trade. After two or three years Clary's 'heels began to itch' and he migrated to Texas". ^'^ Clary's Grocery appears to have been built when Offut erected his store in August, 1831, so it probably was built about 1830 and served its purpose for two or three years until al)out 1S33. No record exists of what happened to it after that date. Tt may have continued to v«erve as the town saloon for some time after Clary left, if so, we have been al)le to find no evidence to prove it. It may have stood vacant for a time and later moved to Petersburg and re-erected to serve as a residence. All available evidence (and there, is little) seems to indicate that this was one of the early ty])es, crudely built. It existed in that section of town avoided by the better element and we are of the opinion that this cabin was erected to serve its purpose and nothing more. The plan ])robably consisted of one room. There was no "Stock of goods" for which to ])rovide storage room, and the one room would amply serve its purjiose. Barrels of liquor were probably stored in the basen'.ent and access was provided by an outside entrance ])rotected by a hinged door. This made it easv to bi-iuLr the hai-i'cls to and Iimiii tlie basement. A '^ Chandlci-, Xew Salem: I'^arly Chapter in I^.incoln'.'^ I>ife. Joui'nal of the lUi- nois State Historical Society. I>. .TOy-lO. '^ Reep, L.incoln at New Salem. P. 12. 35 jjorch may liavo boon oroctod to ituiko irioro room tor the loafors. How- ever, this was omitted in the restoration for two reasons — first, wo be- lieve, orifjinally, it would have been extra woik and probably considered unnecevssary to draw patronage; second, the site is so near the present road, it was impossible to find room for a porch on the west side where we think the entrance was. This site was uncovered for the first time on Aufrust 22, 1932. From the color of the newly spaded sides of the trenches, the virgin soil could be separated from the filled in earth and it was evident that the foundation walls had been constructed measuring Ifi feet north and south and 18 feet east and west. No stones were found which might in- dicate a fonner stone foundation. However, the bottom of the founda- tion walls seemed to have been about six feet below the surrounding contours and the continuous trench seemed to indicate that the wall was continuous. In 1932 the center of the excavated portion was in the center of a bowl-shaped depression Avhich would lead one to believe that originally the floor of the cabin had been about five feet above the ])resent road level, and that in the meantime the earth had been removed from around the old foundation walls w^hen the stone foundation walls were probably salvaged and removed, perhaps to Petersburg for building pur- poses there. This would give a basement with a clear head room of about five feet six inches. The contour of the ground at the south edge of the bowl-shaped basin mentioned above, seemed to indicate that an outside cellar door to the basement existed there. The long dimension of the cabin runs east and west and no doubt the roof ridge also ran in the same direction. This would place the fireplace either on the w'est or east gable ends. It is thought that the entrance door was on the west, facing the road and this would place the fireplace on the east end. In keeping with the rest of the cabin, which is quite crude, the fire- place is constructed of logs and plastered sticks with a wood mantel on the interior. One window^ has been located in the south wall. The north wall with the greatest winter exposure has been left windowless. The log corners, floors, wdndows, doors, and other details have been designed using the cruder methods for the reasons stated before in this ex])lanation. Many roofs of the pioneer cabins were covered with "clap- boards or shakes" (shingles) held in place by log weights. The clap- boards were not nailed in place. This method of shingling has l)een used here. 30 SAMUEL HILL'S RESIDENCE "SaiiiUfl Hill was Ijoni in New Jersey in the year (if isoo. At the age ot 20 years he migrated to Cincinnati, Ohio. From tlu'i-e lie went to Illinois in 1829 and settled at New Salem, wlim' he entered the mercantile business, as a partner of John McXamar."-^* He built and operated a store here in New Salom until 1839 when he moved to I'etersburg. In the meantime he married Parthena Nance (July 28. 1835). "She was horn August 13, 1816, in Green County, Kentucky, coming to Clary's Grove (Note: Not Clary's Grove, but Farmers Point, a settlement south of New Salem) when quite young, and was a great admirer and confidant of Lincoln. She died at Petersburg. July 1. 1898."^-' ''He built a two stor}'^ liouse just west of his store building. It was the most pretentious and the only two story house in the village, which was in keeping with his financial standing and importance. Hill moved from New Salem to Petersburg in 1839, taking his store building, but leaving his residence, which was turned into a hotel, and called Hill's Tavern. It is said that Hill, in his courtly, gallant way was paying court to Ann Putledge when the announcement was nuide of her engagement to John (McNeil) McNamar . . ."'* It is known that he bought back from George Spears, Jr., that ])art of lot 4 north of Main Street (First Survey) on which his house later was built in September 1834 and he no doubt built his new residence in the Spring of the next year, and had it finished before his marriage in July of the same year. As stated before, he and Mrs. Hill moved to Petersburg in 1839 and the residence was known as Hill's Ta\ern in 1840; we have been unable to find any record which mentions the own- er of the tavern. After 1840 its fate is unknown, and like many others it probably was moved down to Petersburg. The authorities vary as to tiie number of rooms contained in this house. Some say four and others as high as eight, but we assume from the size of the foundations that four rooms would be most logical. All agree that the house contained a full second story. Kee])ing in mind, Samuel Hill was one of the wealthiest men in New Salem and known to have had the most pretentious home, we have used the finer methods of construction and used other details known to have been used only on the best cabins. The excavations disclosed that the main portion of the original cabin was supported on six stone ])iers, three under each of the east and west walls. The i)ortion of the house su])ported by these piers measured 14' in an east and we.«t direction and Ki' in a north and south direction. It was also discovered that shallow footings existed " Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 104. ^Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, r. 96. 37 eight feet to the north. This establishes the diiiieusiuns ol' the house at 14' (east and west) by 24' (north and south). The first tloor tiien, contained two rooms, one H'.xlG' and tlie other to the north 8' x 14'. The larger naturally was the living room and dining room, and the other a storeroom or general utility room. It was too small to be used for anything else and having no fireplace it seems certain that no cooking was done here. Due to the simple methods of construction the dividing partition was continued on up through the second floor. The two rooms upstairs were used as bedrooms. The second story known to have been a full story would cause the gable to run the full iengtli of 24 feet. A small front poix-h has been added at the front door, ft might be mentioned that this is the only cabin used solely a> a residence that we thought would possess the luxury of a front porch, deferring to the stone footings again, it is though that the sides of the original basement between the footings sloped inward at the bottom. We were afraid that these sloping sides would in time cave in and not stand in place permanently, so a continuous wall was u.sed with ])ilasters on the inteiior to mark the size and location of the old piers. (!See also Dr. John Allen's residence.) This site was first uncovered in 1918 and now no one can rememljer whether or not evidences of an outside entrance to the basement were discovered. AVe have shown one because we think a house of this character would have had onej To establish the fact that they did have ontside cellar doors, there is a story that William Green, returning from Jacksonville, where he was attending college, to New Salem, brought Yates, who later became Governor of Illinois, and at the time was also attending the school at Jacksonville, and looking for Lincoln, to whom he wished to introduce his friend, found him reading a book, reclining on the cellar door of S(juire Bowling Green's house. The excavations disclosed a number of brick, burned coals and small stones and quantities of mortar occurring in an area about 6' x 3' ' on the north wall of the basement and between the west wall and the center line. It is almost certain that there was a fireplace in this loca- tion. It might be added here that this is one of the tew instances where the location of the fireplace is positive. It is rather nnnsual for a fire- place to be off center the way this one was, however, it was probably lo- cated to one side in order to make room for the door to the rear room. The doors and windows have been arranged keeping in mind the fact the north and west walls are the coldest and in general cabin con- struction, rarely contained openings. The front door and porch were placed toward the street on the south. The rear door was placed on the east wall and from the rear room. The cellar door was located adjacent to this rear door. The living room has a sliding window which was used only in the pretentious homes. Hardware has been detailed using iron, the oiigiiial of which was jjcrliaps foiged bv Joshua Miller, the Blacksmith. ' 88 THE HILL-McNAMAR STORE "Sjinuiel Hill and a man who at that tmie went by the name of John McNeil, seeing a chance for profit, joined forces, and, in the autumn of 18:^9. erected the first store building at New Salem. They sold tea, coffee, sugar, salt, and whiskey in the grocery line, and blue calico, broom muslin, home made jeans and gloves, cotton chain, and straw liats. with a few ladies' hats, and other ornamental feminine ap])arel in their dry goods department." "A post office was established on Christmas day, 1829, and Samuel Hill was made postmaster. This was the first post office established in what is now Menard County, and New Salera was the first town platted and laid out . . . McNeil sold his interest to Hill who continued to operate the store until 1839, at which iime he moved to Petersburg, taking his store building with him and operated a store there until he sold out and purchased a half interest in the Bale Woolen Mills.^^ The office of postmaster passed from Hill and later returned to him again. However he ". . . . took more interest in selling whiskey and his other, goods than he did in handing people out their mail and many were the women who were required to wait while Hill supplied some customer A\ith liquor. This habit of Hill's aroused the ire of the female patrons of the office and, through their influence, a petition was circulated and signed asking for the appointment of Abe Lincoln as postnuister . . . ."^^ Lincoln accepted the appointment and carried on the duties of the office in this store. i Hill is known to have sought the hand of Ann Kutledge and accord- ing to Hee]) when Lincoln arrived at New Salem (1831) ". . . . he found Ann Rutledge being courted by John McNeil (Note — Whose real name was McNamar) the partner of Hill. It also would appear that McNeil had opposition; that he had his partner. Hill for a rival. "38 The following (piotations are of general interest and also establish facts regarding his financial status and methods of doing business. All of whicli has an effect on the general character of his residence and store. "Across the street from the Tavern stood the Hill-McNeil (McNamar) store. It was the principal i)lace of general merchandise in the town when Lincoln arrived there and seems to have remained so to the end. During much of the time the })0>t office was located there. Samuel Hill served for the two terms as ))ostmaster. It was used again for that pui'pose for a time when Ijincolu served in that capacity. It ™ Keep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 11. '' Reep, Liincoln at New Salem, P. 57. *" Keep, Liincoln at New Salem, P. 49. had for its projji-iotois probably tho two most abk; business nioii in New Salein and it airried n very considemble stock of goods:'"-'-'* "That Samuel Hill was a thorou<:;hgoing business man was proved by tlie success of every enterj)ris(> into which he entered, not only in New Salem, but later in Petersburg, where he established and operated the woolen mills, but neither his build nor temperament fitted him for the heroic role in that pioneer town. His temper was a somewhat testy and unpleasant one, and such characteristics recjuired a certain protec- tion in that day of rou.ii;h justice. There is a tradition to the effect that the strong- arm of the great Scotchman. John Ferguson, was once employed for that purpose, the protagonist being no other than the redoubtable Jack Armstrong, and the recompense a set of blue china dishes. He had been the unsuccessful suitor of Ann Kutledge, the fair hand of that maiden being given instead to his partner, John McNeil (McNamar), but, nothing daunted, he had wooed and won that excellent young woman, Parthenia Nance, and had built for lu-r a home beside the store on Main Street. If the rivalry over Ann ever troubled the harmony of the business afhliations of the two partners history has not recorded it."^° "But the man whose hopitality afforded him a })lace of audience, how^ever, there on the porch df the Hill-ilcNcU (McNamar) store is treated to no such kindly neglect by Cartwright It is said that he repaid the dislike w'hich he had, by some chance, awakened in Samuel HiJl by amused contempt, taking actual ])leasure in annoying him and sometimes making him for hours the helpless victim of his wit. Once, according to Onstot, he discussed his spiritual welfare for the benefit of a delighted audience : 'He said he had some doubts v/hether Hill had a soul, until one day he put a quarter of a dollar on his lips, when his soul came struggling up to get the piece of silver.' "*^ T. G. Onstot sums up with "■. . . . This is the place (Hill- McNamars Store) where all persons congregated. Hill came at an early day and was an important personage as long as Salem lasted. He 'made a trip to St. Louis in the spring and fall. First going to Beards- town; he would then take a steamboat to St. Louis and would stay a week or so. A stock of goods in those days would be a curiosity now. His standard goods were blue calico, brown nnislin. and cotton chain for the weaver. No luxuries were indulged in. There was no canned fruit then, no dried fruit, as the farmers brought in dried apples and peaches. Hill's store was headquarters for all political discussions. The farmers would congregate there and discuss the questions of the day. Peter Cartright, who was a politician then as well as a })reacher. would s|)end hours on the porch, and by his wit and sallies keep the audience in an u})roar of laughter, and the man who undertook to badger- Uncle Peter always came out second best. Cartright was a frecpient visitor at Salem and had not then risen to the zenith of his fame as a preacher. '"Chandler, New Salem: Early Chapter in I^incoln's Life, Journal, Illinois State Historical Society, P. 525. ^» Chandler, New Salem: Early Chapter in Lincoln's Life, Journal, Illinois State Historical Society, 1'. 525. ^' Chandler, New Salem : Early Chaptei- in Lincoln's Life, Journal, Illinois State Historical Society, P. 527-528. "T. (I. Onstot, Lincoln and Salem, P. 152. 40 Samuel Hill imrcliascd tiic cabin in Clary's Grove, moved it to New Salem, re-erected it. and used it as a store. The follo\vinp locked. 41 ROBERT JOHNSON'S RESIDENCE "Robert Johnson, the furniture maker and wheelwright, lived in the west part of New Salem, south of Main Street. He made looms, spinning wheels, tables, chairs and other furniture. Theirs was a Christian family. They were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and regular attendants at the Rock Creek Camp Meetings. His children were Nannie, Armanda and Robert. Mrs. Johnson during Camp Meeting would usually have the "shakes".*' Onstot adds that, "Mrs. Johnson was very religious and was subject to the "jerks", which was worse than the shaking ague. After a severe spell she would be sick for several days."** It is not definitely known just when Robert Johnson arrived at New Salem, or when he left. However, he probably arrived sonu^time during 1831 and left probably during 1838 or 1839. (Onstot knew him quite well. Since Onstot was a boy when he left New Salem. Johnson would probably have remained in Nevv^ Salem until the dates referred to above.) It appears he did not go to Petersburg to live. The excavations disclose that this residence had a basement or cold cellar, about nine feet north and south, and ten feet east and west. There were no indications of walls surrounding this cellar and it is quite probable that this excavated ])ortion occurred in the center of the cabin. The cabin walls were evidently supported on stone piers, traces of wJiicli have long since disappeared. We have determined the size of this cabin to be sixteen feet by twenty feet, which is of average size. The house faced north, and beiuij on the south side of the street, the door undoubtedly was on the north side. Tlie fii'e])lac(\ no doubt, v.-as located on the west side boeauso of the westei'n exposure during the winter season. Small brick were found in the excavated cellar and we believe these were originally used in the construction of the fireplace. For this reason, we believe the hearth, lining and numtel were of brick, but the chimney and exterior lower portion was probably of logs with the chinks plastered. It was the usual practice to locate the windows close to the fireplace to light the portion of the room which had the greatest use during th(> day, leaving the wall spaces at the other end of the cabin clear for the location of beds and other furniture. In kee])ing with this general plan we have located a small w indow on I lie north wall between the front dooi- and the northwest coi'ner of the cabm. If the main portion of the cabin was built before the lean-lo on the south was added, there probably was another window in the south wall opposite the north window. .-Xftcu- the lean-to was added. Ibis window opening probal)ly was extended to ■" Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 118. ** T. G. Onstot, Lincoln & Salem, P. 154. 42 the iloor, making it a door. If, liowpver, the lean-to was huilt at the same time the main portion of the cabin was erected, no doubt this was a door to begin with. In view of tlie fact tlial the hvi^ wore ))hiced in the corners on the cast wall, which has a mild exposure, we believe a small window might liave been located in that wall in the center between the beds. In locating the fireplace on the west, this would naturally determine the ridge and the long direction of the cabin both running east and west. liobert Johnson w'as a wheel right, and undoubtedly had a room win"ch served as his shop. The logical location would be on the south, hence we have added a lean-to on that side of the cabin. There were no traces of an outside cellar door and access to the cellar was provided by a trap-door in the floor. The Iloor of the main room was ])rol)al)ly of puncheons, while the iloor of the work room was just natural earth. There is very little known regarding this cabin, and the size and construction details have been determined by the known facts regarding the Johnson family. The simple details of construction, such as doors, windows, roof and floor, were chosen because Johnson never attained the prominence and position in New Salem achieved by Dr. Allen or Samuel Hill. l.i PETER LUKINS RESIDENCE It is rallier certain lliat this liouse was originally built by Peter Lukins sometime in 1831, and later ])iirchased or rented by Alexander Ferguson. The bird's eye view which was made under the direction of K. J. Onstot, shows the first cabin to the west of Dr. Allen's residence to be that of Peter Lukins, while other maps show this same cabin to l)e occupied by Alexander Ferguson. Peter Lukins left New Salem in 1832 at a time before New Salem had reached its zenith, and it seems logical to presume that Alexander Ferguson, being also a shoemaker, might have moved into Lukins' house and taken over his trade. "Peter Lukins, the shoemaker, left New Salem in 1832 and went to Petersburg, where he resided until his death. He entered the quarter section on which the town of Petersburg was laid out January 20. of that year. He operated the first Tnn' or tavern, in the south part of town, and also followed his trade of shoemaker. He was uneducated, but possessed of considerable natural shrewdness. However, like War- burton, he was a slave to strong drink and one morning, after a drunken debauch, was found dead in bed.""*^ Mrs. Chandler adds that he ". . . . had a sliop in his house where he accomplished the complete manufacture of his wares, making, some- times, from a bundle of hides, shoes for the entire family, which he delivered direct to the consumer, happily obviating the middle man. "'*''' In view of the fact that Ferguson, the shoemaker, also lived here, a description of him might be interesting. Eeep describes him as ". . . . a man of little education and a typical frontiersman. He made up in quantity for his lack of skill and finish as a cobbler, and the shoes he made were not objects of beauty nor noted for their neatness of fit. Ale.x was proud of the physical prowess of his brother John, and had he lived in these later days, Avhen fighting has been put upon a com- mercial basis, he no doubt would have been his brother's manager."*" Onstot adds to the description — "If he had an occupation, it was as a shoemaker. In the fall, fanners who had taken their hides to the tan yard the year before, would bring them to Ferguson with the measures of the whole family. I have seen William Sampson come after his shoes with a two bushel sack and take a dozen pair home. They were very rough and would not be worn now. Alex Ferguson had a brother that was a great fighter. He would fight any man just to show how ffood a man he v\as."*^ •"Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 117. "Chandler, New Salem: P^arlv Cliapter in Lincoln's Life. Journal, Illinois State Historical Society, P. .532-3. ■" Reep, Lincoln at Now Salem. P. 117. •"Onstot, Lincoln and Salem, P. 153. 44 The cabin was probably built in 1831 and, since Ferguson did not purchase land elsewhere until 1840, it is probable he remained here until after that date. The old basement was excavated and found to be approximately 13' 0" east and west and 14' 0" north and south (measured at the tflp) and there were no indications of walls or piers sujjporting the cabin, because the sides of the basement sloped inward toward the center at the bottom. No doubt the cabin walls rested on shallow stone piers outside the basement. Allowing proper distance from the sides of the basement for these piers, the size of the cabin would be 1?' east and west and 18' north and south. Quantities of brick and ashes were found in the north end of the excavation which would tend to locate the fireplace in this porticm of the house. This seems logical also because the fire- place as a rule was located"on the north and west sides of the cabins. In our restoration of this cabin, the stone foundation piers were extended down below the frost line in order to insure the settlement would be reduced to a minimum, thereby extending the life of the build- ing. In this manner, the old sides of the basement A\'ill be preserved. General research has proven that most tradesmen had additional rooms to carry on their work, and no doubt the shoemakers who lived here had a separate shop also. The main door was located on the east wall because of the mild exposure, and towards the north because the house is on the south side of the street facing north. The sho]) was added on the east, because of the mild exposure and its proximity to the front door. A se])arate outside door to the shop was not installed, because the one main door would be ample, and an extra door would have been additional work and provided additional exposure. A small window has been added in the west wall of the large room, lighting the north end, where most of the day time activities were car- ried on. A small south window was added in this room, located between the beds to light up the southern portion of the room. Another south window was installed in the shop. This location would give the most light with the least exposure. Not much is known of Peter Lukins and his family, and financially it is doubtful whether he ecjualled Dr. Allen and Samuel Hill. There- fore, we have shown his residence to be constructed along modest lines with nofr-hed (timers, puncheon floors, and wood mantel w ilh chimney of loffs. 45 THE MILLER AND KELSO RESIDENCE "Joshua Miller, a blacksmith and wagoii maker, accompanied by his brother-in-law, John (Jack) H. Kelso, came during the summer of 1832, and Miller bought lots nine and ten, and a tract fourteen rods and six feet north and six rods west, lying north of the west six rods of lot ten, all north of Main IStreet in the second survey. They built a double residence tor their two families, and Miller set up a blacksmith shop/"'^ "Joshua Miller, the village blacksmith, was a short, heavy-set man, and well skilled at his trade. He was a member of the Primitive Baptist (Hardshell) Church, and his home was headquarters for all the preachers of this denomination who came to the neighborhood. Being ythe only real blacksmith within a large territory surrounding New Salem, pe was kept very busy. Wagon making was one of his sidelines, and ne usually hired two or three made each year and had them ready to iron whenever he had any slack time. He had a boy named Caleb and a girl named Ljouise. He left New Salem with Kelso and nothing more is known of him."^" Miller and Kelso married sisters, lived under the same roof and seemingly got along with each other splendidly in spite of the fact that they were opposites in temperament. Miller was a busy man, working hard at his trade. His shop "■. . . . was the busiest place on the entire street. Its ringing anvil made music on the drowsy air all through the summer days and its forge glowed far into the evening hours."^^ Kelso on the other hand was a dreamer, fisherman, hunter, and philosopher. ". . . . He had no children and was a jolly, contented pspeeiman of humanity. He had no trade and was ready to do a day's ' work if wanted. In summer he depended on his fish hook. He was an expert. He could catch fish when others couldn't get a bite. In winter his trusty rifle always kept him in meat. In the fall he would find enough bee trees to furnish him with honey. His wafe was a sister to Millers wife. He always lived well and was a happy man. In the other end of the house lived Joshua Miller, the village blacksmith. "^- Lincoln's first accpiaintance with some of the classics of literature came about through Kelso. During their stay in New Salem they grew to be intimate friends. "From him Lincoln learned to appreciate and understand the finer sentiments and shades of poetical expression and so grew in wisdom and understanding."^^ Keep, in describing the period when Lincoln and Berry ran their store, tells of Lincoln spending ". . . . his leisure from the duties of <»Reep, L.incoln at New Salem, P. 13. "• Reep, Liincoln at New Salem, 1'. 118. '' Chandler, New Salem : Early Chapter in Lincoln's Life — Journal of Illinois State Historical Society, P. 533. " Onstot, Lincoln and Salem, P. 155. '' Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 54. 46 keeping store in perfecting his education and in the study of Shakes- peare, Burns, and the current fiction of the day, and he loved to go fishing with Jack Kelso, one of those peculiar, impractical geniuses — well educated, a lover of nature, with the soul of a poet and all of a poet's impracticability, and who could 'recite Shakes})eare and Burns by the hour.- ''•''•' Nature had left Kalso ciiiidless ". . . . and thus without incentive to accumulate property to leave to his loved ones. His wife was a good housekeeper and ambitious to get ahead. She took in all the transient and regular boarders she could get. Nature had endowed Jack with those peculiar (lualities which enabled him to study and understand the habits of fish and wild aninuils and he used this knowledge in fishing and hunting. He could catch fish where others could not get a nibble, and always in the fall of the year he salted down enough venison for his own use, and some additional to sell. He knew where the wild plums grew largest and the wild grapes thickest, and was an adept at coursing the honey bee and robbing a bee tree of its honey ; and his wife, using honey for sweetening, made jellies and put up the difi'erent wild fruits in season. Kelso was a 'jack of all trades', and would work steadily at none, but he earned all the money he needed, doing odd jobs. No one at New Salem lived better than he, nor was any family more forehanded. He led a happy and contented life."''^ He and Miller remained until most of the other families had moved away. The country became too thickly settled for Kelso, his wild game became scarcer and one can imagine the scholarly argument Kelso pre- sented to the practical Miller to convince him that New Salem was no longer the place for them. Since T. G. Onstot knew them, one con- cludes they remained until 1838 or 18o9. However, where they went or what became of them, no one seems to know. This house, then, was six or seven years old when vacated and its fate, like most of the others, is unknown. In fact, there is little known about the house itself, except that it was a double house and Kelso lived in one "end" and Millei- in the other, 'i'his leads us to believe it had a plan of rci-tangular shape. A thorough search on lots nine, twelve and thirteen (Note: North of Main Street, Second Survey) was nuide for traces of this residence, but nothing was found. The records show that Joshua Miller bought lots nine and ten, and a small tract adjacent to lot ten on the north, and for this reason we located tlv residence on lot nine, back from the street about the same distance the other cabins were located from the street line. Evidently this house had no basement or cold cellars. They may have had a cave built into the side of the ravine just to the rear of their house. If so, all traces of it have long since disappeared. It was not unconunon for the early pioneers to erect log houses on their newly cleared land, consisting of two rooms with an open space between, with a continuous floor and roof, 'i'his type of cabin, as described below, seems to be a logical solution of the ])roblem which con- fronted Miller and Kelso. Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 117. 47 "After selecting an elevated spot as a site for huildiiif]; a cabin or log-house — which is somewhat of an inij)rovenient upon the first — is erected in the following manner. A sufhcient number of straight trees, of a size convenient for removing, are felled, slightly hewn upon the opposite sides, and the extremities notched or mortised with the axe. They are then })iled upon each other so that the extremities lock together; and a single or double edifice is constructed, agreeable to the taste or ability of the builder. Ordinarily the cabin consists of two (juadrangular apartments, separated by a broad area between, connected ])y a common floor, and covered by a conmion roof, presenting a parallelogram trij)le the length of its width. The better of these apartments is usually ap])ro- priated to the entertainment of the casual guest, and is furnished with several beds and some articles of rude furniture, to correspond. The open area constitutes the ordinary sitting and eating apartment of the family in fine weather; and, from its coolness, affords a delightful retreat."-"'" This seems to have been a common type of plan and is also described in detail in "Two Years Residence in the Settlement on the English Prairie in the Illinois Country" by John Woods, published in 1822. Tt is known that Kelso lived in the west end, and Miller in the east, and the lilacksmith shop probably was located in a separate build- ing, to the east of this double log house, adjacent to Miller's quarters. The width of this log house has been established at fourteen feet, which seems to be one of the common widths of the cabins at Xew Salem, and according to the description above, the length Avas made three times the width, or forty-two feet. The open portion between the two main rooms was made 10 feet. Kelso and his wife, having no children, probably found the one room sufficient. However, Miller no doubt had a lean-to built to the north, to accommodate his larger family. It was either built at the time the original house was built or at a later time. We have assumed the latter, and our details of this lean-to portion have been determined on this basis. The logical locations of the fireplaces would have been on the west and east ends because of the ridge running the long direction of the building. The main doors lead to the common covered porch, and a door opening has been shown between Miller's two rooms. One fixed window has been shown on the south wall of Kelso's room, and another fixed window has been shown in the east wall of the lean-to, and a slid- ing window has been shown in the south wall of Miller's main room. This type of window is rather ingenious, but similar ones are known to have been used, and has been placed in this room because of the fact that Miller, being a blacksmith with a mechanical turn of mind, would have been able to work out a ^\•indow of this nature. Very little is known about tlie original Miller and Kelso cabin. and our restoration is based entirely on what we know of Miller and Kelso and their families, and what we know of the other residences at New Salem, and ty])ical cabins erected in this section of the country at that time. « "The Far West" by Kdmund T. Flagrg. 48 DENTON OFFUT'S STORE In the summer of 1831 Denton Ollut, Abraham iiiiicoln, Dennis Jlanks and John D. Johnson piloted a tiat boat from Sangamon Town. just north of Springlield, to iSew Orleans. The famous passage of the Hat boat over the dam of the New Salem Mill occurred on this trip. Their duties at New Orleans having been completed they boarded an up- bound packet. "Arriving at St. Louis about the first of July, Lincoln and Johnson found letters awaiting them from which they learned of the new loca- tion of the family, and innnediately set out therefor. During this trip Offut had decided to establish a store at New Salem and employed Lincoln to operate it. After buying the stock of goods for this store at St. Louis, Offut took a boat going up the Illinois Kiver and landing at Beardstown. From there he went to Springfield by stage coach and on the 8th day of July, 1831, secured from the County Commissioners Court of Sangamon County a license to retail merchandise at New Salem, Illinois.'"^^ "It was then necessary for Ofiut to secure a site and erect a store building. He purchased from William Batterton for $10.00 Lot 14 north of Main Street in the first survey, and erected a log store building thei-eon at the east brow of the bluff overlooking the Sangamon River, immediately northeast of the point where the road forked, one branch of which ran in an easterly direction down the face of the bluff to the mill and the other ran along the west side of the store building, north."'"* (Note — After the lots of the old town were staked out, it wa^; discovered that Off'ut's store did not occur on lot 14, but north of the town limits. Either he thought he was erecting his store on lot 14 and made a mis- take in its location, or he bought the lot for purposes of sj)eculation). "From its location it is (]uite evident that Olfut, at the time, had in mind the patronage of those bringing their grist to the mill from both sides of the river as well as the convenience in loading in flat boats the products he would take in exchange for goods S(>ld. . . .''^** "The OfFut store was o^jcned for business about the first of Sep- tember, 1831. A little later Olfut rented the mill from Iiutledge and Camron, and operated it in connection with his store."'''' "Ofliut spent his time between Springfield and New Salem. He was a man of strong social tendencies, and during his visits to New Salem spent considerable time at William Clary's 'Grocery' where the boys from Clary's (Jrove and the 'Hivcn- Timber' boys were ])rone to " Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, 1'. I'J. ** Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 19 and 20. '• Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 23. 49 confjref^ato. He was a ^roat talker and liked to brag about what he had seen on his various travels" . . . .^° ". . . . No more picturesciue — one had almost said, pieares(|ue — character than that of Denton Offut is afforded by the short and simple annals of New Salem. His origin, as his end, is lost in mystery, but his colorful presence about the streets, for that one short year of residence, may not be forgotten .... Swaggering, po.sturing, humbugging with benevolent chicaneiw ; investing incident with an importance nmgnified to absurd jjroportions ; thinking in terms of millions; living in terms of mastery ; drowning in frecjuent and innumerable "deep potations'' the insolence of those moments of clear vision that are the nemesis of every man of dreams, Denton Offut was the Barnum of New Salem .... His store was in the part of the village that was held in least esteem by the better element. That portion of the bluff had, hitherto, been domin- ated by but one building — Clary's grocery." . . . ."^ ". . . . It became apparent to Lincoln that Oflfut was nearing the end of his career as a merchant. He a))pears to have had other interests at other places, a sort of "Captain of Finance," and spread his resources so thinly that he failed, and, gathering together such funds as he could lay his hands on, tied the country, leaving his creditors to make what they could from the stock left."®- This little store which has become so famous served for the short period of eight months — from September 1. 18;51. to April, 1832. Its ultimate fate is not known. The excavations show that the nuiin portion of the building was built on stone piers and was 14' north and south and 16' east and west. ''I'wo corner piers and a center pier existed on the north side of the building and the south side of the building was supported by similar piers. The foundation of the restoration is a continuous wall however, for the same reasons as outlined in the explanation of Dr. John Allen's residence. On the north wall between the center and the east corner post many brick were uncovered. It is (|uite evident that these bricks were used in the constniction of the hearth of the fireplace and that the fireplace was located on the north wall. Some thought that the fireplace was over the spot where the brick were found. However, this would throw the chim- ney oif center of the building, which is highly improbable. No doubt the brick fell to the east when the building collapsed or was de- molished. Having located the fireplace on the north, this would run the ridge north and south because the chimneys were always constructed at the gable ends. This is the short dimension of the portion over the basement, and it is (piit^ certain that an extra room was built to the north and the roof ridge continued in the same line on the other side of the fireplace to the north. This would give a rectangular building with the ridge running north and south in the long direction of the building and the fireplace would be located in the proper relation to the ridge. "" Rcep, l^incoln at New Salem, P. 24 and 2.5. ••Chandler, New Salem: Early Chapter in Lincoln's Life, Journal, 111. State Historical Society, P. .509. •"Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 33. SO Another reason for supposing an extra room existed to the north is that Offut was known to have carried a stock of considerable size, and a room 14' x 16' wouhl have been entirely inadecjuate for the sale and storage of his goods. There were no indications at the time of the first excavation in 1918 that an outside cellar door to the basement was originally built. Goods were I'aised and lowered fi'om the basement through an inside trap door. The front door probably faced the south and led to a porch. It is (piite likely to suppose that the porch and door were on the soutli be- cause the road leading to the mill down the bluff ran past the south side of this store. For the same reason as outlined in the description of the Lincoln-Berry Store, it is (juite likely that this fireplace and chimney were also built of stone. Due to the fact that the north and west walls had the greatest exposure, the windows were probably located on the east wall, and one is placed to light the front main I'oom and another to give light to the rear store room. HENRY ONSTOT'S RESIDENCE "Henry Onstott was a native of Kentucky where lie married Susan Smick. Al)out IS'^G he came to Illinois, settling at Sugar (Jrove in the east part of what is now ]\Ienard County. He was a cooper by trade. In 1830 he moved from Sugar Grove to New Salem, and built a log cabin on lot 11 south of Main Street, in which he lived until the spring of 1833. He also built on this lot a small cooper shop. In 1833 he moved into the Eutledge Inn, just vacated by James Rutledge who had moved to a farm on Sand Eidge. He operated the Inn for two years, during which time he built a larger and more commodius shop and a larger residence, in the west part of New Salem on lot 9 south of ]\Iain Street.""^ There is no record of Onstot purchasing lot 9 (south of Main Street. second survey) and according to our recent survey, lot 9 is some distance east. Possibly Onstot purchased a small piece of gr6und west of the town limits, as then surveyed and never had the transaction recorded. "The cooper shop was completed and used by Onstott a year or more before his new dwelling, and it was in this building that Isaac Onstott, his oldest son, fed the shavings to the fire to make the light for Lincoln to read by when he studied sun'eying. It was from Henry Onstott that Lincoln borrowed the auger to bore the hole in the bottom of the flat boat to empty out the water when it was hung u]i on the Salem dam.'"'^ He moved out of the Tavern and into his new house in the s])ring of 1835 and lived there until 1840. "Lincoln boarded with Onstott during most of the two years he operated the hotel, and they became very good friends. Henry Onstott, who was a Whig in politics, was one of Lincoln's strongest su])porters. He was a man of strong religious convictions, and of prono\inced views against the use of liquor as a beverage and affiliated with the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church. He was a regular attendant at the camp meetings held by this church at Berry's Grove, on Rock Creek, and con- tributed, ])robably more than his share, considering his financial cir- cumstances, toward the establishment of the school of this denomination at Lincoln. Illinois.""* Onstot was a busy man. Demands for his barrels were great. He cut the timber which was close at hand and ". . . . The wood was al- lowed to season for a year in advance of its use and yielded a pleasant odor on the evening air. He supplied not only the home trade of farmers, bringing their corn and wheat to the mill. l)ut manufactured a surplus to be shipped to Springfield and Beardstown.'"''^ His son, T. G. Onstot relates that ". . . . Coopering was a great trade then and the best of white oak timber was close at hand. He *' Reep, Ijincoln at New Salem, P. 111. •" Reop, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 111. °° Chandler, New Salem : Early Chapter in Lincoln's Life, — Journal of Illinois State Historical Society, P. 533. 52 would cut a dozen trees in the .spring and have the staves seasoned a year ahead. Bale's mill used a great many flour barrels and there was a good demand for country trade. Tlie surplu.s was sent to Beardstown and Springfield.""'^ In 1840 ". . . . He bought lots G and T in block 'M in the town of Petersburg, and moved his buildings there. A branch ran through the lots and he erected his dwelling on the south side and his shop on the north. The cooper shop had been weatherboarded, an addition built onto it and .same used for many years as a dwelling. In 1022 the Old Salem Lincoln League purcha.'^ed the lot at partition sale, stripped the shop part of the protecting weatherboards and removed and replaced it on its original site at New Salem."**' The following statement by T. G. Onstot indicated a clue in tracing the location of the old house in Petersburg: ''Next we made a visit to our old home. Sacrilegious hands had so nearly obliterated the original design that we hardly knew it. The old house had been moved back and a new front had been built. Mrs. Gibbs kindly showed us the old part, which still stands, but the 'old home ain't what it used to be.' ""** In tracing this hou-se it was found to be the residence of Mr. Cleon Dallman, 516 South Main Street, Petersburg. Of course, this was no new discovery because the cooper shop had been erected just to the north. However, the old basements at New Salem had been uncovered and it was desired to obtain the dimensions of the original log portion and check it with our assumptions. The house from the out.side appears to be a frame house with the logs forming a portion of the south wall. The east and west walls are now interior partitions and the present owner has, at different times, cut through them in Iniilding new doors. The north wall was evidently cut away at one time because now the present wall is thin and could not possibly contain logs between the exterior clapboards and interior pla.ster. It is the author's opinion that after the cabin was brought from New Salem to Petersburg, it probablv rested on shallow stone ])iers. until someiime later when it was decided to modei-nize it by adding additional rooms, sheathing it on the out.tfide, and ])lastering it on the inside. At that time it was rai.r. entering the l)asement on the north side. Due to the fact that it is necessary to construct this cabin on sub- stantial foundations which will withstand the elements, the piers must go down below the frost line. For the same reason it is also necessary to add extra piers in locations where we are ((uite certain original piers did not exist. Quantities of brick and stone were found in the filled in earth and most of it was concenti'ated in the west portion of the west basement. However, there were some brick found in the east basement also. Knowing the north and south direction of the cellar to be 14' and the width of the old Onstot Eesidence now in Petersburg to be 19', we have centered the cabin over the basements which would leave ^1/2' each side from the edge of the basement to the outside of the cabin wall. Allowing the same distance from the edge of the basement to the outside of the end walls, would establish the total length of the residence to be 30'(j" long. If this is correct, during the alteration of the original house in Petersburg, the log house was shortened four feet. The fireplaces were located in the east and west walls and doors were located on the north and south walls opening into the east room which we have designated the living quarters. This room was made a little larger than the room to the west because the daytime activities would have been carried on in this room which was on the warmer side of the house. T. G. Onstot refers to a map and says ". . . . No. 15 was my father's house after 1835. It was a large log house with a frame room on the west end. The house was used for preaching. Rev. J. M. Berry preached here for a number of years."*^^ A search was made on all sides of the west wall for traces of this addition, but none were found. No doubt the frame addition rested on corner stones, ti'aces of which have disappeared. We have placed the frame addition on the south side of the west room where it would have the mildest exposure. This cabin was built in early 1835, by the jirosperous cooper along about the time when New Salem was at its height, hence we feel that this cabin was built employing the better methods. Therefore, the fire- places, chimneys and mantels were nuide of stone with brick hearth?, and the floors are of sawn boards. T. G. Onstot, Lincoln and Salem, P. 154. 54 DR. FRANCIS REGNIER'S OFFICE "Henry Sinco bought a lot on the north side of Main Street near the west end of the first survey, and erected a residence just south of the wool house in the fall of 1831. About a year later he sold out to Dr. Francis Regnier who lived in the house for a short time and engaged in the practice of his jjrofession, later removing to Clary's Grove."'" Because of recorded transactions it is known Sinco and Hutledgc pos- sessed a stock of goods which was later sold. It is (juite possible th.it Sinco used this building as a store. In 1832 Dr. Regnier bought the cabin and probably lived here until 1834, when he married and settled in Clary's Grove three or four miles southwest of New Salem. He probably continued to use the cabin as a New Salem office until the town was deserted in 1839 or 1840, wiien he moved his family and office to Petersburg. Dr. Francis Regnier, son of a French physician. Dr. John Bajjtiste Regnier, a loyalist who came to America after being forced to flee from Paris during the French Revolution, was born in Marietta, Ohio, Decem- ber 9. 180?, where in May 1827 he was graduated and licensed to prac- tice medicine and surgery. Later, he and his brother. Dr. Felix Regnier, came to Beardstown. after traveling tlie entire distance from Ohio by water, using in turn the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers. After a short stay in Beards- town, the two brothers were called to Jacksonville where, with Dr. Roberts of Harrisburg, Pa., they valiantly fought the epidemic of Asiatic Cholera. Having finished their work they separated in 1832. Francis coming to New Salem and Feli.x settling in Monmouth, Doctor Francis Regnici- lived at New Salem until August 28. 1834, wjien he married So|)hi;i -\iiu (Goldsmith, sister-in-law of Dr. Roberts. The young coujile settled in Clary's Grove, becoming members of the household of George Spears and their first three children were ))orn to them there. Later, when Petersburg wa> laid out nnd the town began to grow, the doctor and his family settled there and soon he began the construc- tion of a two story frame house in the block southeast of the public square, where three daughters and a son were born. In the same block later on, he built the eight room brick home now used as the Petersburg City Hall, and a frame office building in the corner of his yard. All three buildings still stand and are in use today. "In person. Dr. Regnier was tall, with a stout athletic frame, features well formed, full gray eyes, hair very dark brown in youth. As n man, he was characterized by his ready wit, his indomitable Quergy "• Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, r. 11. 5o and perseverance, and as a physician, cool, firm and ready for any emergency. He had an extensive practice and was active in the civic affairs of Petershurj,^ At the time of his death he was President of the Illinois Central Medical Associalion In which office ho had hocn twice elected."'^ 'I'he doctor was a jrood story teller, and was fond of tellin<2: them to the children who gathered ahout him on his shady lawn. Iiitending to take a nap, he was often bothered by his little friends who would insist that the nap could follow the story. "There is no record of his contact with Lincoln in New Salem, but it is highly iniprobable that such a man should fail to be attracted by, and to, the story telling Lincoln. That they were acciuainted at this time may be inferred however, from the fact that later Mr. Lincoln tried a lawsuit for Dr. Eegnier."("^A) Tlie doctor died when 53 vears old, at Petersburg, Illinois, Septem- ber 14, 1859. We are indebted to the generosity of Mrs. Craig for the loan of the original metal sign which was nailed to the front door. This sign has been du})licated and the replica is now secured to the exterior of the restored cabin. Mrs. Craig has presented the original sign to the State of Illinois, along with two original wot)den benches used in the old cabin by the doctor. A basement was discovered on the lot known to be purchased by Sinco and undoul)tedly this is the site of the Sinco-Regnier residence. This basement measured 18' north and south and 14' east and west. The sides of the basement sloped in toward the bottom so that the clear floor space of the basement measured about 16' north and south and 12' east and west. No signs of stone walls or piers were found, and un- doubtedly the walls were built outside the basement and rested on shallow stone posts, traces of which have long since disappeared. As described in other explanations stone footings, extending down below the frost line, support the floor and walls of the restored cabin. I>rick and ashes were found in the excavation on the north side and undoubtedly the fireplace was located on this side of the cabin. This wall being the wall with the gi'eatest exposure is another reason why it is logical to locate the fireplace there. A search was made on all sides of the basement for traces of addi- tional rooms but none were found. Allowing the proper distance out- side the sides of the basement for the location of the log walls, the cabin would be 18' x 23'. In the southeast corner an outside base- ment entrance was uncovered showing the old steps. The treads and risers slojjed and measured about 10" for the former and 8" for the latter. The outside measurements for this feature were about 4' wide and 8' long. Little is known of the plan of thi-s cabin, hence, the conventional arrangement of doors and windows has been established, the main door is on the south wall leading to Main Street. Two windows have been located close to the fireplace, one on the west, and another on the east "This quotation and the facts regarding the life of Dr. Regnier were taken from "Dr. Regnier", a manuscript prepared speciaUy for this work by his grand- daughter, Ella Regnier Branson Craig, of Petersbuig. ("A) Craig, "Dr. Regnier" manuscript referred to in footnote 71. 56 wall, and a third window has been added on the south wall close to the door. The north wall has been left windowless. The hearth of the fireplace has been restored using brick because of the brick found in the cellar, otherwise, the fireplace and chimney are of the early type of wood with plaster covering. This being an early cabin, and knowing little of Sinco's tastes and financial status, we have used a puncheon type floor. Wood hinges and lock have been used be- cause the cabin was erected before the arrival of Miller, the blacksmith. Sash are small and are fixed and sealed with glass. MARTIN WADDELL'S RESIDENCE "Martin Waddell, the hatter, lived across the street north of Eobert Johnson. At this time hats, other than those made of straw, were not sold at tlie stores and Waddell had a monopoly on this trade at New- Sal em. His prices ranged from fifty cents for a hat of rabbit fur to two dollars for one made of coon skin. He also made hats out of wool. The large iron kettle, used by him to boil his wool, was sold to the Bales family and is now on ('.\iiil)ition at the iiuistnun at New Salem State Park."" T. G. Onstot relates that Waddell ". . . . had one son and several daughters. There were Jan(> and Polly Waddlle and the boy's name I have forgotten. I think Waddell had all the work he could do. though the hats he made would be a curiosity now."'^ The house was built in 1832 and since T. G. Onstot knew him well, it is safe to say he remained in New Salem until 183T or 1838. The excavations disclosed a basement which was 13' wide east and west, and 16' long north and south. The sides of the basement sloped in towards the bottom so that the inside bottom dimensions were about 10' east and west and 12' north and south. There was no evidence of stone piers or walls, and it is very probable that the basement was merely a cold cellar located under the main room of the house. The log walls of this room were located outside the basement. Waddell's residence was located on the north side of Main Street and the basement measures 25' north of the north line of Main Street. All other cabins are much closer than this to Main Street, and it is quite likely that an additional room was added to the south of this main room, which would bring the south wall of the residence closer to the street line. There is no evidence of a room existing to the north of the base- ment and probably if there were any original footings and other indica- tions o'f an additional room they have long since been washed away be- cause a ravine has been formed running through the location of this residence. It is almost certain that the first floor level of this cabin was approximately on a level with the street; otherwise, storm water would have washed down the slope and into the house, so that considerable fill was necessary in this location to bring the cabin floor up to the required height. To support this fill, continuous foundation walls have been built. Waddell's family was ([uite large and the sleeping accommodations in the main room would not have been adeiiuate, and no doubt an extra "Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 118. " T. G. Onstot, Lincoln and Salem, P. 154. 58 bed was placed in the soutli room. I'liis room probably was also used as Waddell's shop, and may have contained a bench lor his work. The firej)lace would have been inadecjuate I'or the boiling of the wool, for which he used his large kettle, and no doubt this kettle was placed just outside the cabin and the wool was boiled there. This being a year-round occupation, it is quite likely to suppose that he had a porch on the east, sheltering him from the cold west winds and snow and rain, under which he Ijoiled his wool or piled his wood with the fire just east of the porch. The fireplace has been shown on the south side of the basement because bricks, mortar and similar nuiterials were found at this point during the excavation. This would heat the main room and. the back of the stone fireplace, being warm, would heat the south room. Because of its location between the two rooms, the chimney and main body of the fireplace has been shown of stone. Because of the brick found in the basement, the hearth has been made of brick. Martin Waddell was not one of the richest men in town and prob- ably could not afford the luxury of a plank lioor so the puncheon type floor has been used for this residence. The door probably had wood hinges and wood lock, and the sash was probably fixed in place, sealed with glass. There were no indications of an outside entrance to the cellar; hence, a trap door to the basement has been provided. Two small windows have been shown in the living room in the west and east walls close to the fireplace. The door from the living room has been shown on the east wall about the center of the room. This leaves the north portion of the room available for beds and other furniture. A door has been provided leading from the south room to the porch to allow the hatter to leave his bench and take care of the fire under the kettle without going the longway around through the living room. A bed was probably located in the southwest corner of the small south room, and a window has been located in the south wall toward the east, under which the bench was ])robably built. This arrangement of doors and windows leaves the north ^\•all, with the greatest exi)osure, windowless; and the west wall, which also has considerable exposure to. the severe winter weather, with only one snuiU o])ening A\hicli is pro- tected by a hinged battened shutter. 59 THE RUTLEDGE TAVERN Janios Rutledge and his nephew, John Camron, entered the tract of hind upon which New .Salem was subsecpiently located, July 29, 1828. J Previously these two nnllwriy;hts had })lanned to erect a mill about seven miles north on Concord Ci'eek, but the water supply there was not what they had anticipated and the plan was abandoned. Searching for an- other site they finally found a spot to their liking seven miles soutli of their first location and on the Sangamon Kiver. They entered this land, including the hill to the west of the millsite and applied to the State Legislature for permission to build the dam and mill. Feeling certain this permission would be granted they lost no time and during the late sunnner of 1828 they moved over from Concord Creek and began the erection of their homes upon the hill. Undoubtedly they had visualized the founding of a town and Kutledge foresaw the need of a tavern, and chose a site for his combined home and tavern at the Ix-nd in the '"Springfield Road" where it turned to the east after com- ing up the hill from the south. Camron chose a spot southeast of the "Tavern" site and erected his home near the south slope of the hill. No doubt they were nicely settled for the winter when news came that on January 22, 1829 the Legislature had granted them permission to pro- ceed with the dam. The following spring and summer was spent in erecting the dam and mill, and surveying the town. Reuben S. Har- rison recorded his survey October 23, 1829 and we find that he states the new town was to be called New Salem, When the new grist and sawmill began to operate, settlers came from miles around to patronize it and very soon many lots were sold and New Salem became a busy little settlement with a few stores, many cabin homes and a Tavern. The Tavern as originally erected was a two room log structure about 20' X 40' in size, and included a well to the south and a cold cellar to the east. As the town grew the Rutledge Tavern grew with it, and later it was found necessary to add two extra frame rooms on the south side of the log structure. We are not absolutely sure that these rooms were added by Rutledge, because in late 1832 or early 1833, Rutledge moved to a farm in Sandridge, seven miles north and sold the tavern to Nelson Alley, and it is possible (but not probable) that he may have erected one or both of them.'^ Alley, however, did not occupy the tavern himself until later, but rented it to Henry Onstot, the cooper, who lived there and ran the tavern as well, until the spring of 1835 when he built a new home in the western portion of town and moved out. Nelson Alley then moved in and operated the Tavern for a year or so, and later Michael Keltner is known to ha\'e been its keeper. " See Page 64, last paragiaph. GO Nelson Alley sold the cabin and land to .lacoh Bale in 1837 and from this time on it ceased to be the Tavern, at least no record exists of Jacob Bale's Tavern license, or that he operated a hotel. The Bale family removed the two south rooms and continued to live there for many years, and long after the rest of the town had disappeared, this old house stood alone and was known to those who knew little of the early history of New Salem as the "Bale House". It finally fell to the fj^round about 1880. and only the well nuirked the site of the old Tavern. "James Kutledinooln at New Salem, P. 98-99. "TarbeU. I>ife of Ivincoln. "Reep. I^incoln at New Salem, P. 4.'). "'The historical sketch as outlined above has been questioned by many. It is claimed that the "Bale House", the last house to remain, was leally built by Jacob Bale and nut by James Rutledpe. They claim the Tavern was built to the north and sliphtly to the west and that it was demolished along with the balance of the town, when it moved to Petersburp in 1839 and 1840. For a complete discussion of this subject refer to the Appendix. 01 The following (luotations regarding Ihc plan and arrangement of the C'a])in are given to show how many descriptions there are, and to explain how the ])lan of the restored structure was established. Thomas P. Beep: "Originally, the building had three rooms below and one large room upstairs. It was made of logs and covered by clapboards and was a story and one-half high. Its long way extended east and west with a fireplace at each end. Later Bale built a partition, making two rooms upstairs and five rooms in the house." (l^eep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 125.) Miss Luella Clarh: Miss Luella Clark, in a written eonnnunication by her in 1918. said: "In 1833, Charles .1. F. Clark of North Wood, New Hamp- shire, came west as far as Illinois, sto])ping at New Salem. Here he boarded at the boarding house and Jjincoln was a boarder there at that time. He said the men were all lodged upstairs, which was all one large room, and Lincoln would keep them awake until midnight telling them stories." She said she had heard her father make the above statement a great many times, (l^oep. Lincoln at New Salem, P. 125.) Herndon and Weik: "Rowan Herndon, with whom he had been living, having removed to the country, he (Lincoln) l)ccnnie for the first time a sojourner at the Tavern, as it was then called — a public-house kept ])y Kutledge, Onstot, and Alley in succession." "It was a small log house'", he explained to me in later years, "covered with clapboards, and contained four rooms. It was second only in importance to the store, for there he had the opportunity of meeting passing strangers, lawyers and others from the county seat, whom he fre- quently impressed with his knowledge as well as wit." (The above is taken from Herndon and Weik's "Abraham Lincoln", pages 100-101.) The following (juotation is added to show that Herndon knew the Tavern first-hand: "I knew him (Rutledge) as early as 1833 and have often shared the hospitality of his home. My father was a politician and an extensive stock dealer in that early day, and he and Mr. Rut- ledge were great friends." (Herndon and Weik. Abraham Lincoln, P. 120.) (Herndon must be mistaken about the date for in late 1832 or early 1833 Rutledge moved away from New Salem.) T. G. Onstot: "It was built in 1830 by James Rutledge. and ke])t by him until 1833. When Henry Onstot, my father, became landlord for two years. It was the sto])pini:: ]ilace for travel from the east through Havana and the western part of the State. It was 16' x 30', with an ell 16' x 20' and was two stories high.'^" (T. G. Onstot. Lincoln and Salem. V. 150.) J. McCan Daris: '"^i'he only Tavern in New Sah-m in 18.33 was that kept 1)y James Rutledge — a two-stiu'y log structure of five rooms, standing just across *" Onstot, on page 22 of liis "Lincoln and Salem", tlescribed the Tavern and it is a word for word description taken from Harvey Ij. Ross. (See Ross" descrip- tion.) G2 the street from Berry and Lincoln's store. Here Lincoln boarded. (Note prepared by J. McCan Davis for Ida M. Tarbell's "Lincoln"'. Mc- Clure's Magazine— February, 1896, P. 220.) Harvey L. Ross: ". . . . Mr. Lincoln boarded at the Rntledge Tavern, at which I also put u}), as often as I went to New Salem. It was a hewed log house, two stories high, with four rooms above and four below. It had two chimneys with large fireplaces, and not a stove in the house. The proprietor was James Kutlcdgc. a man of more than ovdiunry ability, and, with his wife, remarkably kind and hos])itable." Ross also criticises Herndon's description as follows : ''He says the Rutledge Tavern, where Lincoln boarded, was a one-story house with four rooms, when in fact it was a two-story, eight-room house. I only make these statements to show that he knew nothing of what he was writing; that it was all guess work, and very poor guess work at that.'"*' Mrs. Bachel Clarke (ividnir of Judge C. J. F. Chirl-c): "It was builded of logs — the lower floor contained four (4) rooms; two on the front facing north, with an ell on the south, and a small room built in the angle on the east. The 'one large room upstairs' was a half-story over the two ground floor front rooms, and the house had a platfonn on the front north."*- "Mrs. Clark had been in the village when a young woman and after her marriage to Judge Clarke lived the rest of her long life a little more than three miles from Old Salem. She was more interested in old places and things than any other person that I ever knew."*^ Misfi Ida Bale: "The last house of the town of New Salem left standing on the hill was 20' x 40' and built of white oak logs, with clapboard roofing and windows and door facings of walnut. It consisted of two rooms facing the north, and the east room was the larger. There were two large brick fireplace chimneys with rock hearths, one in each room, built on the east and west of the house. The house had two doors and two windows on the front (north), a door and window in each room, and the win- dows were set near the ends of the house, as was the custom when build- ing cabins, so as to give light near the fireplace. The doors were not far from the windows (leaving room for bedsteads against the ))artiti()n) with the two doors on the south side opposite." " It is interesting to note that Ross, himself, made many mistakes. In liis "The Eai-ly Pioneers and Pioneer Events of the State of Illinois", papre 98. he says: "It was twenty miles northwest of Sprinpficld (Note: speakins of New Salem), had some fifty houses about one-third fi-ame and the balance lofr ; there were four stores, post office, log tavern, a blacksmith and wagon shop, a carding machine and a water mill on the Sangamon Iliver". Ross evidently had an exaggerated idea in after years of the old town. I'netter from Miss Ida Bale — August 19. 1931. 63 ''On the south side of the lofj rooms there were no windows as the house had formerly had two rooms built of l)oards at the hack. Tiut the })lan of these hoard rooms is unknown as they had been removed a num- ber of years before it was last occui)ied. And this log house stood with the door of the west room ahnost on a straight line with the well, and was far north of it. (The replica in the park is too far west and north.)" '*At the east end of the house was an outside collai- or cave 'with just enough room for a ])ath between the cellar door and the house'".'** The foregoing statements and descriptions arc sunmiarizcd as follows : Aulhorifi/ (r round Floor Upper Floor iliss Luella Clarke One large room (A) W. H. Herndon Three rooms (B) One room (B) T. G. Onstot Four rooms Four rooms J. McC'an Davis Four rooms (C) One room (C) Harvey Ross Four rooms Four rooms Mrs. Kachel Clarke Four rooms One large room Ida Bale Four rooms Footnote (D) Ida Tarbell P'our rooms One room (A) This one-room attic is verified by a statement by Win Bale to Mr. Reep. He said a partition was erected by Jacob Bale, creating- two rooms. This was done to separate the boys and girls. Perhaps Jacob Bale removed the two south gi'ound floor rooms, added the partition and used the attic space as bedrooms. The south rooms may have been constructed in an unsubstantial manner. Rather than repair them he decided to eliminate them altogether. (B) Hemdon says the house consisted of four rooms. On the basis of one room upstairs, this would establish the number of gi-ound floor rooms at thiee. Perhaps the fourth was added later or he forgot to mention the loft room. (C) Davis says the house consisted of five rooms. On the basis of one room upstairs, the lower floor would contain four rooms. (D) Ida Bale is desciibing the "last house to remain" or the "Bale House". Her description does not mention an upper flooi'. Perhaps her information was i-e- ceived from those who knew the house when it contained only ground floor space. A clo.se examination of the drawing of this house in the Atlas reveals that the old roof probably was replaced by ai(>s. We have constructed these south room additions as though the west room was built first and later the east ''sunnner-kitchen" was added. The sjjacing of doors, windows and fireplaces, was determined by Ida Bale's description along with the Atlas drawing. The construction of the entire Tavern has been designed keeping in mind the high character of the Rutledge family. Their home, according to all who knew it. was neat, well kept, well built and a true reflection of this energetic ])ioneer familv. All traces of the original footings have long since disappeared. All possible locations of the Tavern were excavated and not a trace of old footings nor evidences of an old basement wei-e discovered. Mr. Charles Olsen. who had charge of the excavations in 1!)18 for the "Old Salem Lincoln League", infonned the author that no traces were dis- covered at that time either. The cabin site was located with reference to tlu' cdld cellar. ''" which was excavated during the fall and winter of Id'.VZ. The cold cellar excavations disclosed two separate units each *' This corner construction is shown on the drawing in the Atlas. '"' .See Pago 80, of Appendix, — P'ontnote 98. 65 about 8'5" X 9'10" so that the over all dimensious of the two were about 9'10" north and south and 16'10" ea.>t and west. The east sec- tion was built first and evidently later on was found to be too small and a new section was added to the west toward the Tavern. The north and south walls were 41A" thick and the east and west walls were 8V2" thick. The ceiling was a brick circular vault 4" thick and was covered with earth. The earth floor was about 4'10" below grade and the outside of the top of the vaulted ceiling was about 2'G" above the grade. The brick of both sections was handmade and similar to the brick found in the basements of the other cabins.*" The well, about 34 feet deep, was cleaned out in 1918. The inside diameter of the well measures .24 inches and the walls is of stone 12" thick. The well head has been restored with information gleaned from the old turned wood windlass, bucket hoops and stave now on display in the Museum at the Park. " The brick of the second or west section had been burned longer, consequently each brick was harder and slightly smaller. 66 APPENDIX Report on Resurvey of New Salem During the period from August 29, 1933 to September 10, 1932, Hay V. Tilly, member of the firm Wood, Walraven and Tilly, Civil Engineers, of Springfield, Illinois, with the assistance of Edward Mc- Kinnon and Irving Mausendick, employees of Wood, Walraven & Tilly, replatted New Salem, a village situated in the southwest quarter of Section Twenty-Five, Township Eighteen North, Kange Seven West of the Third Principal Meridian in Menard County, Illinois, originally suiTeved and platted bv Eeuben Harrison, Survevor during the vear 1829.' In order that those interested in the replatting and rebuilding of New Salem may understand the authenticity of the locations of the several lot corners and streets as reestablished by this resurvey, the writer shall endeavor to outline in detail the various steps taken and the reason for each decision made. Before beginning actual work on the gi'ound the writer spent sev- eral days examining the abstract of title to New Salem State Park and going through the records of Sangamon County and Menard County in order that he might have at hand copies of all instruments of record which might help him to accurately and scientifically reestablish the village of New Salem. He interviewed INIr. Thos. Keep. Historian of Petersburg, Illinois, and Mr. Paul M. Angle, State Historical Librarian of Springfield, Illinois, concerning the identification and geographical locations of the several old building sites so that he might at all times have this information at hand while performing tlic duties which lav before him. The following instruments of record wliich have a hearing ujion the village of New Salem were found. 1. A plat of the village of New Salem, filed by Keuben Harrison, Surveyor, on October 23, 1829, with the Pecorder of ])eeds of Sangamon County, Illinois, a reproduction of which is contaiued herein on p. t)8. 2. A deed from John M. ('anieron to Sanmel Hill on September T), 1832, of part of the S.W. Quarter of Section 25, Township 18 North, Range 7 West of the Third Principal Meridian, bounded and described as follows, to-wit: Beginning at the N.W. Corner of the S.W. Quarter of said Sec. 25 and running thence 81°-30' E. 109 poles to a stake, thence S. 8°-25' E. 58 poles to a stake, thence 81°-30' W. 5G poles to a stake, thence south with the west line of Lot 1 on the north side of Main Street, 9 poles to the southwest corner of said lot, thence west with said street 7 poles to a stake, thence north 7 ])oles to a stake, thence S. 81°-30' 14 ))oles to a slake which is the southeast corner of 67 J-., ■f/ ON '^ fi on II "N Zl ON 01 ov b "N ■Zi o/^ II "N b "N 01 "M c-is: "^^ :2o5. C -',V ■0 <^,V 5 on 5" "V b' "/V Z O/V 5" 0|V 5 o/V ■5^5^ *■*;;??? S-25 5 U K 0/ o f o^ ■-<' "/V •? "/V / °\ ■t ON £ofj 1 °N Z "fj o 68 Morrises lot, thence north with said line 1(5 poles to the northeast corner of said lot. thence west with said lot 32 poles to the west line of said (piarter section, thence with said line 49 poles to the place of beginning, containing 36 acres, more or less. 3. A deed from Samnel Hill to Jacob Bale and Hardin Bale on December 18, 1837, of part of the Southwest Quarter of Section 25, Township 18 North. Kange 7 AVest of the Third P. M., bounded and described as follows, to-wit: Beginning at the northeast corner of Morrises lot and running thence east 62 poles to a stake, thence south 8 poles to a stake, thence west 52 poles to a stake, thence south 9 poles to a stake, thence 7 ])oles on Main Street west to a stake, thence 7 poles north to a stake, thence 14 poles west to a stake, thence 13 poles to the l)lace of beginning, to contain 5 acres, more or less. 4. A deed from Samuel Hill to Alexander Ferguson on May 9, 1840 of part of the southwest Quarter of Section 25, Township 18 North, Eange 7 "West of the Third P. M., bounded and described as follows, to-wit : Beginning at the northwest corner of the southwest Quarter of said Sec. 25 and running thence east 109 poles to a stake, thence south 32 poles to a stake, thence west 109 poles to a stake, thence north 32 poles to the place of beginning supposed to contain 30 acres, more or less. The writer tl)eu proceeded to collect all existing data (m the ground and to prepare a suitable study map. showing the location and names of all old building sites of evidence insofar as old building sites could be identified as such, giving to each old site the name previously agreed upon by The Old Salem Lincoln League. A careful study of this map I'cvealed that neither the Onstot Cooper Shop nor Oifut's Store could j)ossibly lie within the platted limits of the old village unless all other old sites were improperly named, in which case either Onstots Cooper Shop or Offut's Store would be the only old site left identified. A study of the map also revealed that the old site supposed by historians to be the Herndon Brothers Store must fall within the Public S(|uare unless the Lincoln-Berry Store and all other old sites situated in the main part of the old village were im])roi)erly identified. It also appeared evident from a study of the ma]) and to])ographic conditions that the old plat of the village was improperly recorded, the relation of llie Second Survey with respect to the First Survey as recorded being not only im- ])robable but unreasonable. The writer attempted by actual survey and by computation to re- establish the old village from the Instrmnents of Record here listed but found that several errors of serious nuignitude existed in each. He also found that Main Street, First Survey bears N. 84°-31' W. with the north line of said quarter section taken as east and west and that Main Street. Second Survey bears S. 82°-29' W. as the directions of said streets are defined by old building sites. The difference between the bearing of Main Street. First Survey, and Main Street, Second Survey was found to be 13 degrees as recorded but the bearing of each was found to be 7°-31' in a clockwiso direction from that given on the recorded plat which would indicate ipiite definitelv that magnetic bear- ings were used in the original sui'vey ol' (he village since the writer 69 O 5 I— ot! » -- - * •; >. «i ■ i ; ? 2 i =! ° v-^ ■^ » 2 ? o ^ » 4 '"■' m w i J V ■O »■ IS O , :; ID ;: ; - * ■ r 70 found liis variation to be 4°-3o' in hk rcsurvey which would correspond to about 7°-30' in 1832, there having been api)roxiniately 3° change of variation in a counter clockwise direction during the i)ast hundred years. He therefore set about to analyze the deed^ here listed as fol- lows: Of the 36 acre (more or less)" tract purchased from John M. Cameron, Samuel Hill sold off to Jacob Bale and Hardin Bale on December 18, 1837 a tract of land containing 5 acres, more or less which mav be interpreted to mean all that part of the southwest Quarter of Section 25, Township 18 North, Kange 7 West of the 4'hird Principal Meridian heretofore conveyed by John M. Cameron to Samuel Hill on September 5, 1832, lying south of a line drawn east from the north- east corner of Morrises lot. There occurs in this deed three or more errors in distance, two of which are of serious magnitude, namely, the first and third courses. The writer concluded by analysis that the course W. 52 poles is correct aiid incorporated W. 52 poles in the deed from Cameron to Hill in place of the course 81°-30' W. 56 poles. On May 9, 1840, Sanuiel Hill sold to Alexander Ferguson a tract of land 32 ""poles north and south by 109 poles east and west containing 30 acres more or less. A tract of these dimensions would actually contain but 21.8 acres. The writer therefore concluded that the north and south dimensions were in error and the intention was to convey the follow- ing tract of land: All that part of the southwest Quarter of Section 25, Township 18 North, Range 7 West of the Third Principal Meridian heretofore conveyed by John M. Cameron to Samuel Hill on September 5, 1832, excepting a 'tract of land conveyed by Samuel Hill to Jacob Bale and Hardin Bale on December 18, 1837, containing 30 acres, more or less. This would leave but one acre in question. Now it will be noted that the deed to Alexander Ferguson very definitely gives the direction of the courses as north, south, east and west and the writer came to the conclusion that it was upon this basis that the land was purchased from John M. Cameron, the courses in the Cameron to Hill survey being intended as nuignetic and not true l)earings. Alter extensive computations and analyses, the writer proceeded to formulate his conception of the conveyance from John M. Cameron to Samuel Hill as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of the southwest Quarter of Section 25, Township IS North, Eange 7 West of the Third Principal Meridian and running thence east along the north line of said quarter section 109 poles; thence south 58 poles; thence west 52 poles to the west line of Lot 2, north of Main Street, First Survey; thence S. 5°-29' W. 9 poles to the southwest corner of Lot 1, north of Main Street, First Survey; thence S. 82°-29' W. along Main Street 7 poles; thence N. 7°-31' \\. 7 poles; thence west 14 poles to the southeast corner of Morrises Lot; thence N. 7°-31' W. along the east line of said lot 16 poles to the northeast corner of said lot; thence S. 82°-29' W. 32 poles to the west line of said (juartcr section; thence north 49 poles to the place of beginning, containing 36 acres, more or less. The above descri{)tion was then reti'aced and the circuit was found to close within reasonable limits. The several streets and lots of the old 71 e^9 1 — <= O village could not be relocated in exact accordance with the lines of thi.- retracement and it was found that arbitrary adjustments were necessary in order to niake lot lines fit existing evidence, the results of which are clearly shown on a plat heroin contained. However, it is the opinion of the writer that the corner of Morrises lot, believed by Mr. Thos. Reep. Historian, to be the southeast corner of Lot 6 north of Main Street, Second Survey, was not definitely located on September 5, 1832, and that probably the corner of an old rail fence was taken. In view of the fact that the southeast corner of Lot 6 falls on a steep hillside it is highly probable that fences were built two or three rods from the true lines due to greater ease of construction and maintenance. In order that Onstot's Cooper Shop be kept within the ])latt('(l limits of the village the writer arbitrarily added Lots 11, 12, 13 and 1-4 north of Main Street, Second Survey and Lots 11, 12, 13 and 14 .south of Main Street, Second Survey in his resiirvey of the old village. A copy of the completed plat is herein contained. The writer does not contend that he has reestablished with a high degree of precision the village of New Salem but feels confident that the location of the several street and lot lines are correct, within reason- able limits, and that all old l)uilding sites lie within the boundaries of their respective lots. (Signed) Ray V. Tilly, Member of Wood, Walraven & Tilly. Civil P^ngineers. COPY 73 "THE HOUSE BY THE WELL" Was it erected by James Rutledge or Jacob Bale? Up to the present time it has been generally assumed tliat the "House by the Well'' labeled the "Kutledge Tavern'' was originally built by James Eutledge and later purchased and oceu])ied by Jacob Bale. However, some believe tliat this house never was the Rutledge Tavern at any time; that the tavern was farther north and s|,ightly to the west, more or less across the street from Dr. John Allen's residence. A creditable case can be presented for each tlieory. with the exception that each argument has some questionable points, [t seems that at this time no direct proof can be established for either side, so it resolves itself into choosing the one which contains the fewest flaws. The known or cer- tain facts will be presented first ; then, each case will be presented as deducted from these facts and finally a smnmary. explaining our deci- sion. The known facts are as follows: 1 — John Camron entered the tract of land upon wliich Xew Salem was located— July 29, 1828.'^^ 2 — John Camron and James Rutledge were granted permission to erect their dam across the Sangamon River January 22, 1829.®^ 3 — The town was surveyed into lots l)y Reuben S. Harrison and the plat of survey was recorded October 23, 1829.*^ (Harrison un- doubtedly did his field work during the late summer months of 1829.) 4— The west 66 feet of lots 5 and 6, south of Main Street, first sur- vey, was sold to Nelson Alley, November 26, 1832. for $200.00.^'^ (This indicates that one of the lots was improved with a cabin. Which lot was improved is not definitely known.) 5— The west 65 feet of lots 5 and 6 (first survey south of Main Street) was mortgaged by Nelson Alley to Bell and Tinslev for a consideration of $453.85, May 6, 1833."^ 6— Nelson Alley sold the east half of lot 6, south of Main Street, first survey, "to Jacob Bale. January 18. 1837.^" (Nelson Alley's ]nirchase of this half lot was not recorded.) 7 — It is certain that the Bales lived in tliis "house by the well", that it was the last house to remain, and its occupants. l)efore it was al)andoned. were the Bales. 8 — The exact location of the cold cellar of this "house by the well" is known. (The ground west of this cellar was excavated for ^ County Records. "» State Records. *" County Records. " County Records. The deed of the same property establishes the east and west direction as 66 feet. There was a 40-acre farm included with these lots and hou.se as collateral. This explains why the consideration is $253.85 more than paid for the property. See "known facts" No. 4. 74 signs of the old house foundations, to accurately determine its size and location, but no traces were visible. 9 — Most of the house lies on tlic wx'st Imlf of lot 6. Since the e.xact location and size of house is not definitel}' known, it is impossible to fix how much of the house occurs ou the west half lot. The proportion varies from 67% to 58%. depending on the possible variation of the lot lines. With the lot lines as established, 67% of the house occurs on the west half of lot (i. (See diagrams 1 and 2.) Argument No. 1 that the "house by the well" was erected by James Rutledge In brief, this argument is based on the following facts and assumptions : (a) The road crossed the hillto]) Ijefore the town was surveyed. (b) The road crossed lot 5 (the supposed location of the 'J'avcrn ac- cording to the opposing argument). (c) Rutledge and Camron had confidence that the Legislature would grant them permission to build the dam, and built their homes during the summer and fall of 1828. (The town was surveyed during the summer of 1829.) (d) Rutledge did not locate his house within lot lines, but determined the site by making the best use of the prevailing natural condi- tions, and located the house with reference to the road. (e) Alley bought the Tavern and enough lot frontage on Main Street, to contain it, which was assumed at BG feet. (See No. 4 of "known facts. ''^) (f) Two. nuips show both a "Tavern" and ''Bale House" and this is inter])reted as showing the first "Bale House" or where Jacob Bale lived before he moved into the Tavern. The above facts and assumptions will now be discussed in detail. (a) It is quite certain that the old Springfield-Havana road crossed this hill before the town was surveyed. This seems probable be- cause there was traflfic between Springfield and Havana, and it doesn't seem logical to suppose that the founding of the little town of New Salem was important enough to create a road south from there to Springfield, and another north from there to Havana and Chandlerville. il also seems jirobable that the location of the Sj)ringfield road enteiMug the town from the south, determined the sizes of lots and number of lots and widths of the cross streets, contained within the distance from the road to the bluff at the east edge of town. (b) Old roads followed the line of least resistance and aimed to be the shortest distance between two ])()ints, and usually were, provided no obstructions forced them to change their natural course. After this "S])ringfield road" from the south reached the hill top its object was to reach the ravine, (at that time it was shallow) to run east and west and thence north. It was natural for it to change its course from north to east in an easy curve. ImMoic tliis west end of the ravine was filled in a l\'w years ago, to nuike a \)vd for the ])resent road, there were two branch ravines at the western portion of it. One branch ran east and 75 HOUSt By IHl IVILI lOCATIOM : Wfii HULf Of lor #«=• C7Vt lUiT Mitlf or ICTiKi- 33'A. tVfST or ee. Fcn Line- ImT Of 6°» The fault with the assumption that Alley or Bale built the cellar is — what did the Rutle^ wx\^^^^ 88 -.■;i . !«ilil!t!! .:'?»' UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 917 7355IL6R1934 C001 RECORD OF THE RESTORATION OF NEW SALEM 2 3 011 2 025341279