This township is situated in the
extreme northern part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Morgan
county, on the east by North Otter, on the south by South Palmyra, and on the
west by Scottville township. It is geographically known as township 12, range 8,
west, and contains 23,040 acres. It was surveyed about the year 1824. It has
belts of timber varying from a quarter to one mile in width on the north-west,
south-west, and south-east. The remaining portion of the township is a fertile
prairie, under a high state of cultivation. Apple creek drains the township on
the north; on the east side it is drained by Massey creek; the center and
southern portions are drained by Solomon's creek, and on the western side by
Joe’s creek.
The banks of the creeks are covered with timber, and in an
early day wolves, deer, panthers, and bears found a home beneath the branches
unmolested, except by the Indians; but civilization, with its progress, has
caused them to disappear; however, the prairie wolf is occasionally met with.
The first settlement was made by John Cummings and family August, 1824;
Jonas Thompson and family in 1824; Mrs. Woodring and family in 1825, and Elijah
Wills and family in the fall of 1826. Then came Judge Lewis Solomon, Sr., who
settled here on the 27th of March, 1827, with his family, on what was afterward
known as Eagle’s Point, on section 20, situated at the head of the timber on the
north branch of Solomon’s creek. That creek was named in honor of Judge Solomon,
Sr. Mr. Solomon had previously lived in Morgan county.
The circumstance
by which Eagle’s Point received its name is about as follows. When Judge Solomon
came to this county to select a location, he burned off several patches of
prairie, and as the fire neared the timber, a large number of spotted eagles
came flying around. No doubt they were attracted by the mice and other small
animals that were endeavoring to escape the fire. That species of eagles are
only found in new and unsettled countries. Here Judge Solomon erected his cabin,
assisted by his sons James and Lewis. It was a very rude dwelling, without
windows; the only light was from the door and chimney. Judge Solomon was a
native of Muhlenburgh county, Kentucky. He was prominently connected with the
earliest official history of this county, further mention of which is made in
the chapter on Civil History.
In the fall of 1828 William Norvill and
family moved here from their home in Sumner county, Tennessee, and settled on
section 23.
The first settlers were in limited circumstances. They
settled in the edge of the timber; built rude cabins, in which they lived, and
made some clearings in the timber, as they were unable to break the tough sod of
the prairie with their primitive implements; and it may well be said of them, as
of most all early settlers, that they were very enterprising, honest,
industrious, liberal, and hospitable.
The first entry of land made in
this township was by Jonathan Thompson, February 17th, 1827; it was the east
eighty of the south-east quarter of section 4. The second entry was made by
Ezekiel Springer, November 12th, 1827, on the north-west quarter of section 3.
The third entry was made by E. C. Yancil, January 19th, 1828, it being 80 acres
of the south-east quarter of section 4.
Settlers now began to come in
quite rapidly, among whom we find John Nivens, Sr., of Madison county of this
state, but formerly of Kentucky; he came to this county in 1827, and bought the
improvements of Elijah Wills. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. During the
same year John Nivens, Jr., and John Scott, with their families, came and
settled on section 7; they were also Kentuckians. Shortly after them, William
Nivens, the father of John and father-in-law of Mr. Scott, came and settled on
the same section; he was also a soldier in the war of 1812. Jacob Nifong (father
of James F. Nifong) and family came in the fall of 1828, and bought the
improvements of John Nivens, Jr., on section 7; he came from Missouri, but was
formerly from Virginia. James Howard came in 1828; he had previously lived in
Morgan county, Illinois, where he married the daughter of Judge Solomon, Sr.; he
was the first school-teacher in the township. Alexander Carsop, of Muhlenburgh
county, Kentucky, came and settled where Jasper Rice lives, on section 28, in
the spring of 1828. During the same fall Wm. Norvill settled on section 23; he
had a family, and was from Tennessee. E. C. Vancil came up from Union county,
Illinois, and settled where he resides, on section 4, in the year 1828; he is a
Kentuckian by birth, and is hale and hearty at the advanced age of eighty years.
He is the father of I. B. Vancil, a prominent farmer of the township. The same
year Spencer Norvill came from Tennessee, and settled on section 23.
The
next settlement was made by Larkin Richardson, a son-in-law of John Cummings,
about 1829; he was from Gallatin county, Illinois. The same year, but about two
months later, Aaron Turner settled on section 7; he had a family, and was from
Alabama. John Cherry came about 1830, and settled on section 18; he was from
Tennessee. In 1830 the township received four families all at one time, namely,
Russell, William, Henry, and John Taber. The three former were brothers. They
all settled a little north of where the town of Palmyra now stands. They were
from Tennessee. In the progress of civilization they moved to Missouri, and
subsequently moved and settled along the White river, in Arkansas. They appeared
to be rovers, and could not bear the influence of civilization.
Robert
Ross and family came in 1829 or '30, from the Cross Roads, in Sumner county,
Tennessee, and settled on section 27; the farm is now owned by S. J. Thompson.
He subsequently moved to South Palmyra township. Joseph King and family settled
on section 28, at the point of timber north of where the town of Palmyra now
stands, in the year 1829; his brother David came and joined him in 1835. They
were Kentuckians. The place now owned by the widow Pinkerton, a little west of
Palmyra, was settled by James Pocklington and family. He was an Englishman, and
came in August, 1830. Isham Gibson, the father of J. W. Gibson, came in an early
day. James Young and family, Newton Berry, Stephen Jones and Stephen Robertson,
came about 1831. Robertson bought out Russell Taber’s improvement, on section
33. Henry Davidson came about the same year. George Sims and family came in
1829, and he is still living at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His
brother, William Sims, came in 1831 and settled on section 7. He also had a
family. William Rice came in 1830 from Kentucky and settled with his family on
section 33. The farm is now owned by the late S. J. Steidley. The same year
William Hodges settled on section 34. John B. Clevenger came to the county with
his father in 1830. He now lives on section 35. Daniel Chapman, son of John
Chapman of North Otter, was in the county in 1831, and now resides on section 24
in North Palmyra. Garrett Davis came in 1830. James Bryant and family settled on
section 2, about 1830. They were Kentuckians. Claibourne Gooch, who had a large
family, came from Kentucky and settled on section 29, in 1833. Jasper Rice, also
from Kentucky, settled on section 28, in 1832. Jonathan Landreth a Virginian,
came here in 1833; his son, A. P. Landreth, now a farmer on section 20, came
with his parents. John Coots, from Kentucky, settled on section 22, in 1835; he
married a Miss Wise after he came to the township. Thomas Steward came the same
year. D. A. Pulliam, formerly from Morgan county but a native of Kentucky, came
here in 1835. He had a family. The same year Jesse Berry settled on section 34.
Lewis O’Neal came in 1836. Joseph Liston, Sr., and family came in 1836. They
were Kentuckians.
The first sermon was preached by Auston Sims at the
house of Lewis Solomon, Sr., in the year 1827. He was a Baptist minister. The
first preachers were Lewis Solomon, Sr., and William Hodges, both Baptist. They
were afterward followed by Jacob Nifong, who belonged to the Christian church.
The first church edifice was built by the Methodists, about the year
1840. It was named Bethel, and was situated about one and a half miles
north of the village of Palmyra. It was built of hewed logs, roughly put
together. It was subsequently used as a school-house. At present it is used for
a wood house by school district number one. The present school-house is a good
building in modern style, and is frequently used by the Methodists as a house of
worship. There are two churches now in the township, a Christian and Dunkard.
The first school-house was situated in the north-west part of the
township, on section 18, a short distance south-west of where J. F. Nifong now
resides. The house was built of round poles with the bark peeled off; it was
covered with boards riven out with a frow; the floor was of rough puncheons; a
log was cut out on one side, and the opening served as a window; the writing
desk was made by boring slanting holes into the side of the house and driving
wooden pins into the holes and laying puncheons on the pins. When it rained the
children had to move to the side opposite that from which the wind blew in order
to keep dry. It was a three months’ subscription school, the parents agreeing to
pay one dollar and fifty cents for each scholar. The building was erected in
1829, and school taught by James Howard, as mentioned above.
The first
marriage was Andrew Thompson to Sarah Woodring, by Lewis Solomon, Sr.
The
first child born was a son of Elijah and Drusilla Wills, in the summer of 1827.
He died while yet an infant.
HABITS AND CUSTOMS
The settlers
raised cotton, picked, spun, and wove it into cloth, and cut it in a rude
manner to make clothing for the ladies.
The men frequently wore dressed
deer skin pants and coon skin caps. The coats were made so as to resemble a
hunting shirt. The men occupied a portion of their time in hunting and trapping.
The nearest mill was Stephen Hardcastle’s or Tegard’s mill, situated at
a place now known as Rock-bridge. The manner of going to mill was in carts,
sleds or truck wagons. The cart and wagon wheels were sawed from logs, usually
sycamore, and were from four to six inches broad and about two feet high, with
holes bored in the center for the hub. Horses were scarce, and ox teams
invariably were used for hauling. These carts and wagons were used for hauling
wood and rails, going to mill, and sometimes even to take the family to church.
About the first of June, in the early times, the green headed flies were
very troublesome on the prairie. Plowing was done with ox teams, very early in
the morning, or late in the evening, in order to avoid the flies, and the crops
worked with a single horse. The plows were what is known as the bar-share plow;
they had wooden mould-boards. The harness consisted of a shuck collar, and trace
chains fastened to a crooked stick for harness, and a rude leather back-band.
Some of the settlers dispensed with the harness, and used the shaft-plow. The
method of driving when two horses were used, was to ride one and lead the other.
When only one horse was driven, they used a single line. The horses were taught
to turn at the words “Gee” and “Haw;" check lines were unknown. This method of
driving is still followed by the farmers of Kentucky. The food consisted of wild
game, pork and corn-meal; wheat-bread was very seldom seen.
The deep snow
was during the winter of 1830 and ’31. About the twentieth of December it
commenced raining and sleeting, but it soon changed to snow, and continued at
intervals, until in January. The snow was three feet deep on the level; it was
drifted to the top of the fences; the ravines were full, and almost level with
the surrounding land. The snow continued on the ground until about the first of
March, cutting off communication between the settlers, and making it impossible
for people to get to mill; they had to pound corn to get meal for bread, and
this with hominy, was about all they could get to subsist on. After the snow
disappeared there was a friendly greeting between the settlers.
The game
consisted of bears, panthers, wolves, wildcats, deer, turkey, beaver, mink,
raccoon, opossum, prairie chickens and quail, and continued abundant up to the
time of the big snow, after which but few survived, except the wolves and deer,
which continued in great number until about 1849 or '50. The bear and panther did
but little damage to the settler, but the wolves were very destructive. Sheep
and pigs had to be closely guarded. They killed in day time, pigs that would
weigh thirty or forty pounds, and in one instance they took pigs at night out of
the pen adjoining the house of Lewis Solomon.
Visited by Indians. — A
hunting party of Indians came in the summer of 1827; they camped on the north
side of the timber in the south-east part of the township. One of them visited
Elijah Wills’ cabin; he was a large man about six feet high; he was dressed in
buckskin, and rode an Indian pony with a deer skin hung to his saddle. He was
armed with a short rifle, and had some silver money with which he bought some
meal. He was very friendly and belonged to the Sioux tribe.
The first
mill was built by E. C. Vancil, who resides at present in the north part of the
township. It was run by horse-power. There was a large cog-wheel which ran above
the horses’ heads; it ran in what was called a trundle-head, with an iron
spindle, to which the burrs were attached. The mill ground slowly, but surely,
as the team went round.
The facilities for milling in the township
progressed but slowly, and at present there is not a mill within its limits. The
mills patronized by the farmers are at the village of Palmyra, and Waverly in
Morgan county.
The first Physician was Dr. George Sims, who came in
1829. E. C. Vancil practiced to some extent. They were Thompsonians in their
mode of treatment. Dr. Palmer arrived at a later period. He was an Allopath. The
diseases were mostly chills and bilious fever. At present we have three doctors,
and all belong to the allopathic school of medicine.
The first Justice
of the Peace was Lewis Solomon, Sr. He was elected when Macoupin formed a part
of Greene county. After that county was organized, he was elected for this
county, and certified the poll book for the first election held in the county in
1829.
Blooded-stock, first introduced by Judge Solomon, Jr. They were
By field-breed of hogs. The first cattle fed in the township, was by Judge
Solomon. The short-horn Durham were introduced about 1850.
First
Blacksmith shop was managed by a Mr. Stratton, about the year 1829. It was on
the property of Lewis Solomon, Sr.
Post-offices. — One in the town of
Palmyra, T. W. Chiles, post-master; the other at Vancil’s Point, at the
residence of Judge Solomon. He has been post-master for twenty years. It was
established about 1859. Fifty years have made a wonderful change in this
township; it then was thinly settled, but now it is highly improved. We copy
the following from the assessor’s report of 1879:
Number of acres of
improved lands 20,691, value $120,265; acres unimproved lands 2,140, value
$4,377; total value of lands $124,642. Horses 673, value $9,371; cattle 1,386,
value $10,726; mules 90, value $1,529; sheep 936, value $814 ; hogs 1,581, value
$1,353; carriages and wagons 210, value $1,965; 178 watches and clocks, 90
sewing machines, 3 pianos, 21 organs. Total value of personal property, $43,899.
Below we give the names of those who held offices since the township
organization.
Supervisors* — J. B. Vancil, elected in 1871, and by
re-election, served until 1878; George W. Bullock, elected 1878; James Nevins,
elected 1879.
Town Clerks — J. F. Nifong, elected in 1871; W. C. Martin,
elected in 1872, and re-elected in 1873 and 1874; R. Bramley, elected in 1875,
and by re-election, held the office up to 1879.
Assessors — H. Witt,
elected in 1871; H. Hart, elected in 1872; J. D. Shane, elected in 1873, and
re-elected in 1874; C. G. Simonds, elected in 1875, and re-elected in 1876 and
1877; J. D. Shane, elected in 1878; G. W. Stewart, elected in 1879.
Collectors — J. D. Shane, elected in 1871, and re-elected in 1872; H. Hart,
elected in 1873, and re-elected in 1874 and 1875; J. D. Shane,
* Not
represented in 1874.
Contributed 2022 May 14 by Norma Hass, extracted from the History of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1879, pages 215-216.
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