Bond County IL Archives History..... History of Bond & Montgomery Counties, Part I
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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties Illinois 1882 - Part I, 
pages 129-172, Chapters XIII - XXI, Bond County, IL.

[Page 129] Chapter XIII - Ripley Precinct 
...

[Page 130] somewhat involved in obscurity, but prominent among those of whom anything
is known was Anderson HILL, who came from South Carolina, in the time of the Indians, 
and settled upon the farm now owned by John DAVIS. His son, Anderson, HILL, Jr., then 
but a child, came with his father and afterward settled upon the farm now owned by 
William BROWN, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1853. Moses FILE was 
also among the early settlers, coming from North Carolina and settling about seven 
miles west of Greenville in 1818. His son, John N. FILE, now owns the old home farm. 
The WHEELOCK Brothers came from the East, in 1812, and founded the town known as "Old
Ripley", which in early times was quite a trading post, people coming from within a 
radius of fifty miles to do their trading. The town was founded upon a farm belonging 
to a Mr. LUST, of Edwardsville, now owned by William BROWN, and numerous signs are 
still visible, though the buildings have long since been torn down or moved away, 
the ruins of old blacksmith shops and several old wells alone remaining to mark the 
site of this once prosperous village. Dr. BAKER came about this time, and occupied 
the house now owned by the Widow JANDT. He was the first person buried in the old 
Brown Graveyard, where many weary mortals are now resting. Numerous descendants of 
the above-named early settlers still live in this precinct, and the farms of their
forefathers, which were then a wilderness, have indeed been made to “blossom as the 
rose.” Other families continued to move into the community just described, until the 
war of 1812 put a slight check on immigration for a time, but after its close it 
commenced again with renewed vigor. Glowing accounts were carried back to the older
settlements of the richness and fertility of this new country, which brought many of 
the sturdy backwoodsman of Virginia and North Carolina, accustomed from their earliest
childhood to lives of self-dependence, and in whom had been generated a contempt of 
danger and a love for the wild excitement of an adventurous life. ...

In early times, the procuring of bread was a source of great anxiety to the settlers, 
and when the first white people came to this country they found none of the conveniences
of today. An enterprising settler named LEE was the first to erect a mill. It was built 
on Shoal Creek, where Brown’s Mill now stands, over sixty years ago, and for many years
supplied the settlers of Ripley Precinct with corn meal and a scanty supply of flour. 
All signs of this mill have entirely succumbed to the lapse of time, and where it once 
was there now stands a thriving grist-mill, which was erected in the year 1840, by
Benjamin and Henry BROSN. When this mill was first built, it was used only for sawing
lumber, but in 1847 William BROWN purchased the interest of Henry BROWN (his cousin), 
and he and Benjamin BROWN put in machinery for grinding grain, and for thirty-five 
years this vicinity has been filled with the merry din of the wheels of “Brown’s Mill.” 
A few years later a saw and grist mill was built on Shoal Creek, about three and 
one-half miles below Brown's Mill, by William HUNTER, which was afterward purchased 
by Wesley BILYEW who ran it for several years. No traces of this mill at present 
remain. At an early date a tannery was built on the farm now owned by William BROWN,
though the builder's name 

[Page 131] 
could not be ascertained, and only an old vat, or two remain to mark the place where 
it once stool. A distillery, supposed to have been built by the WHEELOCKS about 1813, 
once stood near where Brown’s Mill now stands, though one looking at the place today 
would scarcely imagine it ever to have been the scene of an active industry.

One particular ...

The first bridge ...

For many years, an old tradition has been going the rounds in this vicinity to the 
effect that the Spanish, who lived here at a very early date, had buried three barrels 
of silver dollars in that portion of Ripley Precinct know an "Shoal Creek bottom", on 
land now owned by Thomas B. FILE. So much credit has been placed in this tale that the
tree barrels of Spanish dollars have been often sought for, and numerous places give
evidence of having been dug up, in the vigorous search for this mythical fortune.  An 
old gentleman named BATES living near New Berlin, claims to know where this "hoard" 
is located, but the thinking portion of the inhabitants place no credit in it. It is 
also stated that the Indians who inhabited this region in an early day have been heard 
to say that "if the people of Shoal Creek bottom knew what they did, they could shoe 
their horses with silver".

The precinct of Ripley cannot boast of many churches. The first one erected was “Mount
Nebo,” built by the Baptists, in 1835. The church was organized on the 9th of February,
1832, at the residence of John COYLE, on Round Prairie, by Rev. Peter LONG, assisted 
by Thomas SMITH, of Madison County, and with twenty-three members, several of whom 
were subsequently turned out for unfaithfulness. At a meeting in March of the same 
year, Rev. Peter LONG was chosen pastor, in which capacity he served for over forty 
years, and in 1874, in his seventieth year of age, on account of his enfeebled 
condition, he resigned his pastorate, though he is still a member of the same church.
Since its organization, the membership has run up as high as 130, and during this time 
two other churches have been organized out of it. Since the resignation of Rev. Peter
LONG, the pastors have been: Rev. W. C. HARVEY, A. J. SITTON, John H. JONES, who 
filled the pulpit for about three years, and J. B. WHITE, who is the present pastor, 
with a membership of about sixty. Their first church building was constructed of hewn
logs, and was an enormous affair, said to have been the largest log building ever built 
in the county. About 1850, it was replaced by a frame house, which was destroyed by 
fire in 1852, by ashes being put in a keg and igniting. Late the same year, the frame
edifice, which at present occupies the site, was erected. No other churches have been
built in Ripley Precinct, until the present year (1882), when the Presbyterians, led 
by Rev. Thomas HYNES, erected a beautiful little church of brick in the village of New
Berlin. This

[Page 132]
Organization is as yet quite small, but supports a very good Sunday school, and is in 
a flourishing condition. Quite recently, also, the Regular Baptists have built a frame
church on the “Vandalia road,” about two miles east of New Berlin. Their membership 
only numbers about twenty souls, and their church is presided over by no regular 
pastor. For nearly twenty years the African Baptists, numbering about twenty members, 
have been worshiping in a little log church on “Shoal Creek Hill,” near New Berlin, 
but have never had a regular pastor.

The subject of education and the building of schoolhouses were paid very little 
attention to by the early settlers in Ripley Precinct. For many years school was had 
in a small way around at the houses of the settlers. The first schoolhouse erected in 
this precinct was built on the old "Lee WAIT farm", in 1830. For some time, it was 
taught by Thomas ARMSTRONG, and afterward, the tutorship was assumed by Peter Long. 
At present, nothing remains to show where this old pioneer schoolhouse was located. 
The instruction given the pupils at this time was of the most primitive character,
embracing only the most common of the school branches, such as reading, writing, 
spelling and a knowledge of the rudimentary principles of mathematics. There are 
at present six schoolhouses in Ripley Precinct, namely Round Prairie Schoolhouse, 
present teacher, F. W. FRITZ; Ray's Schoolhouse, present teacher Henry DIXON; the 
Baker Schoolhouse, presided over by Miss BUNN; the Ripley Schoolhouse, teacher, 
George H. DONNELL; the Mount Vernon Schoolhouse, teacher, R. O. WHITE, and the 
Terrapin Ridge Schoolhouse, presided over by Millard DIXON. Of late years, the 
subject of education has received much more attention than it did in an earlier 
day; efficient teachers are employed at reasonable salaries and many of the higher
branches are taught.

New Berlin, the post office name of which is Old Ripley, is the only village in 
this precinct. It was founded in September, 1850, by Charles PLOG and Mathias BROWN, 
and is located on a part of the south half of Section No. 8, Town 5 north, of Range 
4 west, of the Third Principal meridian, near the old “Vandalia road.” The original 
plat contained twenty-four lots, 50x120 feet in dimensions, and, in June, 1866, 
H. G. JANDT made an addition of sixteen lots, of the same dimensions as those in 
the original plat. Mr. JANDT was among the first residents in New Berlin, and for 
probably twenty years kept a general merchandise store. I. V. LONG also was engaged 
in the general merchandising business about this time. William LYTLE built and ran 
the first tavern, and kept in connection with it a small stock of groceries, and 
retailed liquors. The monotonous quiet, which always exists about a small village, 
was relieved in New Berlin by the merry clanging of the hammer of Ferdinand GAUZER, 
the first village blacksmith, and every Sunday divine service was held in his shop, 
led by the Rev. Thomas HYNES. H. G. JANDT kept the first post office in the rear end 
of his store. The present Postmaster is R. O. WHITE, who is also engaged in teaching 
the “young idea how to shoot” at the Mount Vernon Schoolhouse. At present, New Berlin 
is a thriving little hamlet of about one hundred and fifty inhabitants, mostly 
Germans, and is considerable of a trading-point, the business enterprises consisting 
of two general merchandise stores, one brick drug store, two blacksmith shops, two
wagon-makers’ shops, two shoe shops, two saloons, a steam grist and saw mill, owned 
by Mrs. Mary ARNOLD. No secret societies exist in New Berlin as yet, though a number 
of the inhabitants are members of organizations in the neighboring towns.

[Page 133] Chapter XIV – Mulberry Grove Precinct

Mulberry Grove Precinct is rather diminutive in size, and its citizens, as has been 
said of those of the State of Rhode Island, when they want to communicate with each 
other, do not write letters or send messages, but go out in the yard and call to 
them. ...

The first settlement or improvement made in what is now known as Mulberry Grove 
Precinct was made about the year 1826 by Zopher FOSTER, on the place now occupied 
by Rev. James B. WOOLARD. The next settlers after FOSTER were John BILYEW and 
Duncan JOHNSON, who came in about 1829-30, and were from Tennessee. Rev. James B. 
WOOLARD, from North Carolina, was the next permanent settler. He came to the 
country in 1831, and purchased the improvements of Zopher FOSTER, where he has 
resided ever since - a period of more than fifty years.

Mr. WOOLARD has lived an active life, and been closely identified with Bond County
throughout a long period of time. From a published sketch of his life, we extract 
a few facts and incidents that will probably interest the reader, and without which 
a history of Bond County would scarcely be complete. He was born in North Carolina, 
but brought up principally in Tennessee, and, as we have said, came to Bond County 
in 1831, locating upon the place where he still lives. In the spring of 1832, the 
next year after he came here, upon the call of Gov. REYNOLDS for volunteers for the 
Black Hawk war, he enlisted as one of the fifty men comprising the quota of Bond 
County. For the money received for his services in the

[Page 134]
Campaign, he entered his first forty acres of land, being that upon which he lives, 
and to which, in a few years, by industry and economy, he was enabled to add, until 
he was the owner of 600 acres in a body. He was one of the Judges of the first 
election held in his part of the county, and when a post office as established in 
1834-35, he was appointed Postmaster.

Of his religious life, much might be said which space will not permit. In the summer 
of 1823, he made a profession of religion, joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
served as class leader and licensed exhorter. In the fall of 1829, was licensed a 
local preacher; his first license was signed by Rev. Peter CARTWRIGHT, Presiding 
Elder. In 1834, was ordained Deacon by Bishop R. R. ROBERTS. ...

Other early settlers in Mulberry Grove Precinct were Richard MOODY, James DUNAWAY, 
James SPRADLING, Mark DUNAWAY, Joseph ARMSTRONG, Bennett SEAGRAVES, Arthur SHERARD, 
Drury PETTY, DURHAM, Henry INMAN, John PERKINS and others. DURHAM settled on Section 
12, and was from Tennessee. He has a son and a daughter living in Fayette County. 
INMAN settled on Section 1, about the year 1830; PERKINS, about the same year, settled 
on Section 10, and has several sons living in the county. MOODY settled on Owl Creek, 
and was from the southern part of the State; the DUNAWAYs settled east of MOODY; also,
PETTY. The latter sold out to SPRADLING about 1830. ARMSTRONG was a Tennessean, and 
bought out Mark DUNAWAY. SHERARD was also from Tennessee, and settled on Section 36, 
in 1833. In illustration of the healthfulness of the neighborhood, Mr. WOOLARD says 
that the first fifteen years he lived there, he did not pay $15 in doctors' bills, 
and although more than twenty different families have lived on the farm at different
times, there has never been but one death on it since it was settled.

This comprises the sum and substance of

[Page 135 - Portrait of William CHAPMAN]
[Page 136 - Blank page]

[Page 137]
what we have obtained of the early settlement of this portion of Bond County. The 
story of the early trials of the pioneers may be found in other chapters of this 
work. What applies to them in one section of Southern Illinois is common in all parts 
of the State. Their life for years was hard, and beset with dangers and difficulties, 
but patience and perseverance, coupled with an indomitable will, carried them over 
safe, and wafted them on to wealth and prosperity.

John BILYEW, who is mentioned as one of the first settlers of the precinct, and who 
built his cabin near where the village of Mulberry Grove now stands, erected a horse 
mill at a very early day, upon or near the site of the present Methodist Church, which 
he operated for a good many years. It was a great benefit to the neighborhood, and
continued to do good service until enfeebled by age, and it had become so frail and
rickety that the customers had to with in the cogs with hickory withes so that they 
could grind their corn. But it finally went “the way of all the earth,” and a good 
steam mill now occupies its place in the business of the community.

Everything must have a beginning, and in Mulberry Grove Precinct, the increase of
population began by the birth of a daughter to the wife of Zopher FOSTER, the first
settler, and was the first birth in the precinct. The first marriage was a daughter 
of Arthur SHERARD. She was married by Duncan JOHNSON, who was the first Justice of 
the Peace, but who she married we did not learn.  The first election was held in the
neighborhood under a tree, near the dwelling of Bennett SEAGRAVES, about 1833-34. 
Rev. J. B. WOOLARD and Drury PETTY were the Judges of this election, and John RUSSELL 
and William HUNTER were candidates for the Legislature. The first sermon preaches was 
by Rev. E. R. AMES, afterward Bishop AMES. The first post office was established about 
the year 1834-35, and J. B. WOOLARD was appointed Postmaster. From the great number 
of mulberry trees standing around his cabin in which the post office was held, he gave 
it the name of Mulberry Grove, a name it still bears and which has been given both to 
the village and precinct.

As soon as a sufficient number of people had settled in the neighborhood, a schoolhouse
was built and a school established. This schoolhouse was of the regular pioneer type,
being of the rudest architecture, and having the usual puncheon floor, stick chimney, 
and great, wide fireplace. The school was taught on the subscription plan, as was the
custom then, but the name of the first teacher was not obtained. On Sunday, the 
building was used as a temple of worship, where the pioneers gathered to hear the 
word. Near this house a cemetery was laid out, and the first person who died in the
precinct (Mrs. Margaret RILEY) was buried in it. Since then, many of the pioneers 
have been buried there. Arthur SHERARD was one of the early school teachers, but we 
do not know if he was the first one. There are now three schoolhouses in the precinct,
besides that in the village of Mulberry Grove. Education has advanced considerably 
since the building of the rude schoolhouse described above, as the present handsome 
and comfortable houses now in use, and the excellent schools taught annually in them
truthfully attest. ...

Bethlehem Baptist Church was originally organized July 10, 1830, on Hurricane Creek, 
in Fayette County. Among the first members were D. E. DEANE, James STREET, Willis 
DODSON, Larkin CRAGG and Henry SEARS. In a few years, a great many others united and 
it became strong in numbers. Elder DODSON preached the first sermon; the first Clerks 
were Joseph WILLIAMS and James FERRELL. The first meetings were held at the houses of 
the brethren alternately. The church was "dissolved" in Fayette County, June 11, 1835, 
and in 1837 the first meeting of the congregation was held

[Page 138]
in Bond County, the church to be called Bethlehem. The church house was built in the 
fall of the same year. Elder John CROUCH was the first minister; the present, Elder 
John LAWLER, and the present Clerk, J. H. TAYLOR; meetings, the second Saturday of 
each month.

The village of Mulberry Grove was surveyed and laid out April 28, 1841, by Asabel 
ENLOE, for Francis GILL, the proprietor of the land upon which it stands. It is the 
second largest town in the county, and from the records seems to have been first 
called Houston, but afterward changed to Mulberry Grove. It is situated on the 
Vandalia Railroad, about eight and a half miles from Greenville. Contiguous to it 
on the east (in Fayette County), and lying on Hurricane Creek, is a fine body of 
timber, while north, west and south is a thickly settled country, in a fine state 
of cultivation, rendering this an excellent shipping point for grain, stock and 
other products of the farmers.

The first house in Mulberry Grove was built by David HUBBARD< several years prior to 
the laying-out of the town. In this house, he and a man named DEWELLY kept a store, 
the first in this part of the county. HUBBARD also built a steam mill in the fall of 
1837, which succeeded BILYEW’s old horse-mill, already described. It was a custom 
mill, and did a good business. A saw-mill was added, and the two were carried on 
until about 1850. IN April, 1869, the present mill was built. It was first started 
as a saw-mill by E. W. and C. E. DEE, brothers. The saw-mill was sold in 1872, and 
moved to Fairview, flour-mill machinery having been put in by the DEEs in 1870. 
C. E. DEE is the present proprietor, having bought the remaining half-interest in 
1873. The mill is operated by a twenty-five horse-power engine, has two run of buhrs, 
and makes “straight grade” flour only. The first blacksmith was David ELAM, just 
across the line. He did all the work for this neighborhood, as well as a large 
portion of Fayette County. The first school was taught by Arthur SHERARD, and the 
first church society was that of the Methodists. The town at present shows the 
following business: Three or four general stores, grocery stores and drug stores,
blacksmith, wagon, carpenter and shoe shops, flour and saw-mill, several physicians, 
two churches, and an excellent school. The population is about 500 souls.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Mulberry Grove was organized by Rev. J. B. WOOLARD,
about the year 1830, with a membership of six, besides himself and wife; the others 
were Duncan JOHNSON and wife, John BILYEW and wife and Zopher FOSTER and wife; Duncan
JOHNSON was the first class-leader, and Revs. William CHAMBERS and Wilson PITMAN the 
first ministers. This church has since grown to a large congregation from which 
several other churches have been formed. The old log schoolhouse, already mentioned, 
was the first place of worship, and served as a church for several years. The first 
church building was erected in 1841, on the site of the present church, and occupied 
by the congregation until 1866, when the present brick church was built at a cost of 
about $3,000. The present pastor is Rev. J. W. McGRIFF, and John RILEY, class-leader. 
The first Sunday school was organized by Duncan JOHNSON in 1834, and has been kept 
up pretty nearly ever since; the present superintendent is John RILEY, the school is 
well attended, and both it and the church are prosperous and healthy. This church 
was included in the first circuit ever traveled by Rev. E. R. AMES, afterward Bishop 
AMES, of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Christian Church, or "Church of Christ", as it is called, was organized in the 
year 1865, by Elder John A. WILLIAMS of Salem, Ill. The only two members living here 
at the time of the formation of the church were A. J. LEIGH and Elizabeth HENSLEY, 
but this did not deter them from organizing a society, on the
Bible principle perhaps, that "where two or three

[Page 139]
are gathered together in my name", etc. Elder WILLIAMS preached for the church about 
seven years after it was formed, and is now preaching for it. The membership is about
eighty, with a good attendance. A large and flourishing Sunday school is maintained, 
of which J. B. RODECKER is Superintendent.

Charity Lodge, No. 1,733, Knights of Honor, was organized in August, 1879, and has been 
in operation ever since. The meetings are held in Prather’s Hall on the first and third
Saturdays of each month. The present officers are: C. ORMSWORTHY, Dictator; C. A. 
RAGLAND, Past Dictator; W. B. HUTCHISON, Financial Reporter; S. G. GILLIAN, Guide; 
C. C. SIMMONS, Vice Dictator; have about twenty-six members.

Mulberry Grove village is provided with excellent schools. The school has been graded 
for the past eight years. There are two school buildings – one brick and the other a
modern frame, two stories high, costing about $2,600. Three teachers are employed, and 
the average general attendance is about one hundred and fifty children.

[Page 140] Chapter XV – Pocahontas Precinct
...

Prominent among the pioneers who first located in this precinct was William BURGESS, 
who came in shortly after the war of 1812, and settled just south of where Millersburg 
now is, on Sections 22 and 27. He was a volunteer in this war, and has no descendants
living here at present. Joseph CRITCHFIELD, another very early settler, came in about 
the same time, and located on Section 25. His wife was for some time an inmate of the 
old fort (in Beaver Creek Precinct, and referred to elsewhere). He has still one
descendant, Mrs. PRICHETT, living in the county. Joseph BILYEW, another early pioneer,
came to this State prior to the war of 1812, and settled in Madison County. In 1817, 
he moved to this precinct and settled on Section 10. He has several great-grandchildren,
at present residing in this county. A family named COLES settled east of where 
Millersburg now is, about 1820. John BILYEW came in as early as 1822, and settled on 
the land where Frank MEYERS now lives (near Pocahontas). He afterwards sold this farm 
to William MILLS. James NANCE settled on Section 27, in 1820. Samuel LEE came in prior 
to NANCWE, and located in the same neighborhood. William REAMS came in 1830, and 
settled in Section 28. A man named ROLTEN settled southwest of where Millersburg now 
is, about 1822, but on account of ill health he soon after moved away. John POWERS 
settled on Section 25 in 1820, but at present has no descendants living here.

About this time three brothers, Andrew, George and James GREEN, located on Shoal Creek, 
a little above POWERS. David WHITE, after whom White's Fort received its name, settled
near them late in the same year. Isaac

[Page 141]
REED settled a little farther up the creek on Section 10 in 1820. The JOHNSONs and
Williamson PLANT settled near where Pocahontas now is during the same year.

About 1833, Benjamin JOHNSON, accompanied by five brothers, Duncan, Charles, James P.,
Hugh and John P., came in and located near where the town of Pocahontas now stands.
Benjamin was a large land owner, and at one time was a member of the Legislature from 
this district. He lived here until his death, which occurred in 1861. There are a 
number of the descendants of the JOHNSONs living here at present. About this time, 
came the SUGG family and the GILLESPIE family, from Tennessee, and the RIDGEWAYs 
from Ohio. Two men, named WEISE and STOCKLEY, settled in the southwest part of the
precinct in 1833. Josiah FILE came in 1837, and was followed, in 1840, by Edward 
ELLIS, who is now the largest land owner in the precinct.

The early industries in Pocahontas Precinct were of the most primitive pattern. Among 
the first was a mill, built on Shoal Creek by Thomas STOUT about the year 1831. It was 
a saw-mill, run by water-power, but a small attachment for grinding purposes was 
afterward put in, which did not prove much of a success. The mill ceased operations 
in 1870, and has done nothing since.  William BURGESS ran a small copper still on a 
spring branch on Section 26, but is ceased to live in 1828. About the time the town 
of Pocahontas was laid out, Duncan JOHNSON built a mill on Shoal Creek, but it has 
long since ceased to exist.

In early times, a great excitement was created on account of a belief that gold and 
silver was to be found in Bond County. To add to this excitement, Robert GILLESPIE, 
a settler who lived on Shoal Creek, a few miles above where the town of Pocahontas 
now stands, found some shining particles in a spring near his house and gathering 
them carefully together, he took them to St. Louis, and showed them to a fellow 
who pronounced them gold. For some time after this the fever ran high, but as time
gradually elapsed and no more was found, the search was finally abandoned.

The Methodist Episcopal denomination organized a church at the house of Charles 
JOHNSON about the year 1820. Among the early members were Charles JOHNSON, the PLANT
family, the WILLIAMS family, Harley VALENTINE and wife, and a part of the BILYEW 
family. Among the first class leaders was Henry WILLIAMS. The first church was built 
south of where the town of Pocahontas is now located, near where the depot now stands,
sometime during the year 1826. It was a log building of the most primitive structure.
About 1835, this organization erected a new frame church three and one-quarter miles 
west of the old log church. The next church was built in the village, in 1854. It was 
a frame building, 50 feet long and 34 feet in width, and cost about $1,500. The ground 
was donated by Benjamin JOHNSON, with the proviso that it should be open to all
denominations, except Catholics and Mormons.

The town of Pocahontas was surveyed on the 21st day of March, 1838, by T. S. HUBBARD, 
for Benjamin JOHNSON, the proprietor. It is located in Section 3, Township 4 north, 
Range 4 west, nine miles southwest of Greenville, on the Vandalia Railroad. The town 
was first called Amity, and the post-office name was Hickory Grove. When this town was
laid out Mr. JOHNSON (the founder) made provision that no lots were to be sold to any 
one unless they would agree not to handle liquors of any kind in any way.  It is a
well-known fact, that the Germans like their beer, and as most of the settlers were
Germans, instead of locating in Pocahontas, they went to Highland, a neighboring 
village, and settled there. The plan proved to be a bad one, and after a few years 
it was abandoned.

Benjamin JOHNSON was the first Postmaster, and the first hotel was run by P. W. LAMPKINS

[Page 142]
in 1837. Benjamin JOHNSON owned the first blacksmith shop, and it was run by a smith 
named HERRON. The first store was a general merchandise establishment  owned by 
Benjamin JOHNSON and Dr. FITCH, in 1836. Dr. GRIFFITH was the first physician, about 
1843, and the first church building was erected in 1852 by the Methodist denomination.

At present Pocahontas is a flourishing village of a little over four hundred 
inhabitants. It contains three churches, a flouring mill, owned by W. S. WAIT, 
one furniture store, one agricultural implement store, the Union Hotel, kept by 
William JUSTI, and the Western Hotel, kept by Henry IDLER, three blacksmith shops, 
two wagon-maker's shops, one harness shop run by Frank SENN, two millinery 
establishments, one barber shop. Leopold KNOBEL and Joseph LEIBLER buy grain, and
John SNYDER and John MEYERS deal in stock. There are also two dry goods stores and 
one grocery store. A. A. SIMMS is the Justice of the Peace, and Drs. John GORDON and 
J. R. CLINTON represent the medical fraternity. The present Postmaster is H. C. 
CHALLIS.

But little need be said concerning the schools of Pocahontas. The land on which the 
first school building was erected was donated by Benjamin JOHNSON for the purpose of
building an academy thereon. At its completion, in 1854, it was put in the charge of 
Prof. CAVANAUGH (a minister), of Lebanon.

The first Trustees were Benjamin JOHNSON, N. LEAVERTON, W. MILLS, B. KAVANAUGH, P.
LAMPKINS, D. JOHNSON and L. D. PLANT, who gave it the name of Amity Academy. The 
academy was run according to the original plan for some time, but on account of its 
being so far in advance of the times, it was not sufficiently patronized to warrant 
the management in continuing it as an academy, and finally the project was given up. 
At present the building is used as the public school in District No. 4, and is the 
only school in the village of Pocahontas.

The "Gordon Lodge", of A., F. & A. M., was organized at Millersburg October 3, 1866, 
by Grand Master BROMWELL, but in 1867 was moved to Pocahontas. The first officers 
were: James GORDON, W. M.; Edward TETER, S. W.; Robert ELEGOOD, J. W.; R. J. COLLIN,
Treasurer, and A. J. GULLICK, Secretary. The charter members were: Sidney and Harvey 
COLE, William CASEY, Robert ELEGOOD, Bellfield FEATHERSTON, James GORDON, A. J. 
GULLICK, Edward TETER, John C. GORDON, Isaac HOWELL, Jacob LINDLEY, J. M. LUCAS, 
James PIGG, Franklin PRESSGROVE and P. C. REED. The present officers are: S. H. 
CHALLIS, W. M.; Joseph DEVER, S. W.; J. M. MINOR, J. W.; George POWELL, Secretary; 
John GORDON, Treasurer; Morris MARGOOD, S. D.; and Joseph HUNTER, J. D.. The lodge 
at present has a membership of about twenty, is in a flourishing, prosperous condition,
and has about $800 in the Treasury. For some time after the removal of the lodge from
Millersburg to Pocahontas, they held their meeting in the schoolhouse, but since 1873 
they have occupied a large, convenient lodge room of their own.

Lodge No. 177, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized on the 12th day 
of October, 1855, by James STARR, the Grand Master of the State. The charter members 
were: R. K. DEWEY, George H. DEWEY, A. W. GREENWOOD, R. T. SPRAGUE and J. F. SUGG. 
The first officers were: R. K. DEWEY, N. G.; R. C. SPRAGUE, V. G.; A. W. GREENWOOD,
Secretary; and J. F. SUGG, Treasurer. The lodge held their meetings in the schoolhouse,
until in the fall of 1873, when they moved into the hall they now occupy. The lodge is 
at present in good condition, having about twenty-two members, and $700 in the hands 
of their Treasurer. They built their hall in 1873, at a cost of about $3,000, but the
building has since been purchased by S. H. CHALLIS. The present officers are: H. E. 
REED, N. G.; Joseph NEATHAMMER, V. G.; John ROBINSON, Treasurer, and W. S. WAIT,
Secretary.

[Page 143]
The A. O. of U. W. was organized by C. W. SEWELL, District Deputy, in June, 1880. 
The charter members were: W. M. HAYS, F. E. JANDT, William JUSTI, Frank MEYER, James
CHISWELL, J. M. MINOR, Joseph Lawrence and John NEATHAMMER, L. B. LONG, William BOLT,
Jacob SEGAR, Harmon TREADBAR, Hartman GRUNER, Perry REED, Fred FILE, Philip LEIBLER, 
Frank HOCHDAFER, H. E. REED, W. E. SMITH, D. C. HESTON and J. A. HAMPTON. The officers 
who have filled the places since the organization of the lodge are: W. M. HAYS, M. W.; 
F. E. JANDT, Recorder; J. M. MINOR, Financier; H. E. REED, Receiver; W. E. SMITH, 
P. M. W.; Fred FILE, Overseer, and William JUSTI, Foreman. At present, the lodge is 
in a thriving condition, and is growing steadily in popularity and members. They 
hold their meetings in the Odd Fellows hall, and have a regular attendance of about
twenty-two members. 

The Good Templar Lodge was organized February 9, 1881, with ninety charter members. 
The first officers were Z. T. HENDRICKS, Worthy Chief; Miss Laura STEVENS, Vice 
Worthy Chief; E. BALCH, P. W.; H. HATCHET, Secretary; Miss Jennie HARNED, Assistant; 
C. PHELPS, Financial Secretary; Joseph DEVER, Chaplain; E. ALDERMAN, Marshal; Fannie
SAVAGE, assistant; John SAVAGE, Outside Guard, and Miss Hannah CHALLIS, Inside Guard. 
The lodge has at present a membership of about forty-five, and meetings are held 
regularly every Thursday evening in Remick's Hall. John JETT is the present Worthy 
Chief; E. ALDERMAN acts as Secretary, and Mrs. BRIDGEWATER is Treasurer.

The Catholic Church was organized in the spring of 1869, by Father Peter PETERS. Among 
the first members were: John M. GILMORE and wife, Louis LOUX and wife, Mr. SCHWEDENMAN 
and wife, George HOCHDEFER and wife, George ARNOLD and wife, George HANSILMAN and wife,
father and two sons; Charles KUEBEL and wife, Tom RYAN and wife, Charles ROVOLT and 
Frank RUDOLPH and wife. The society worshiped in a private house, which they purchased 
and used as a place of worship until the erection of their present church building in
1872. It is a frame building fifty feet long and twenty-six feet in width, and cost 
about $2,400. It was dedicated by Bishop BATTLES. For some time after the organization 
of this church, it was under the care of the Franciscan priests of Teutopolis, Ill., 
but of late years it has been under the pastorate of regular priests. The first 
Trustees were Leo EISENPRIS and John SENN. The present Trustees are Baptist EISENPRIS,
Timothy COFFEE, Frank SENN and Fred EISENPRIS. The Treasurer is Frank SENN, and the 
priest now in charge is Rev. A. KERSTING. About forty families now belong to the 
church.

The United Baptist Church was organized on the 10th day of January, 1873, by Peter 
LONG. The church was formed from members of the old Mount Nebo Church in Ripley 
Precinct. The first members were Albert RAY and wife, S. N. JETT, Agnes E. JETT, 
Mildred WAIT, Mary BRIDGEWATER, Catharine HARVEY and W. C. HARVEY. Albert RAY and 
S. N. JETT were the first Deacons, and W. C. HARVEY was the first clerk. The society
worshiped at the houses of the members until in the spring of 1874; a church fifty 
feet long and thirty feet wide was erected at a cost of about $1,400. The first 
Trustees were Lee WAIT, J. G. SCOTT and S. N. JETT. The present Trustees are N.
BRIDGEWATER and Louisa C. GILMORE. The church at present is under the pastorate of 
Rev. J. H. JONES, has about twenty-five members, and is in good running order. It 
belongs to the Apple Creek Association, over which Peter LONG is Moderator. A 
flourishing Sunday-school is conducted in connection with the church, under the
superintendency of Lawrence STEVENS. An interesting Bible school of about fifty 
scholars is also taught regularly every Sunday.

Millersburg is a small village situated in the southern part of the precinct. It was 
laid off by William BURGESS from Kentucky, and

[Page 144]
received its name from a man named Charles MILLER, who built the first mill. The 
first store was run by David C. BALDRIDGE, who built the first house erected in the
village. Fritz HACKICK was the first blacksmith. At present it is a flourishing 
little hamlet of between one and two hundred inhabitants. It contains one store run 
by Peter MINGES, three blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, run by John DISHOUSER; one 
schoolhouse and one saloon. The post office name is "Baden Baden", and Clem WILLIAMS 
is the present Postmaster. Only three mails are received each week.  The mill is run 
at present by Peter STRIFE, and is doing only a moderate business. There are no 
churches in the town. Recently, for the convenience of citizens living in the southern
part of the precinct, a sub-voting place has been established at Millersburg. This
sub-voting precinct includes a part of the southern portion of Pocahontas Precinct, 
and a couple of tiers of sections off the western side of Beaver Creek Precinct, but 
as yet no lines have been made on our maps to indicate it, and it was doubtless made 
more for convenience than anything else. 

Pierron, a small village of about one hundred inhabitants, is situated near the midway 
of the western boundary line of the county, a part of it lying in Bond County and a 
part in Madison County, though most of the business portion lies in this county. It 
was laid off in 1868, by J. PIERRON, who built and ran the first store. August PIERRON 
was the first Postmaster. At present the town is in a prosperous condition, and 
contains one store run by Suppiger & Utiger; two blacksmith shops, one on each side 
of the county line; two wagon shops; one elevator owned by Kuebel & Co.; three hotels,
only one of which is in this county, namely, the “Oak Dale House.” A. A. PIERRON and 
Louis SCHNERT handle agricultural implements, and A. A. SUPPIGER is the present
Postmaster.

[Page 145] Chapter XVI – Beaver Creek Precinct

The precinct of Beaver Creek, to which this chapter is devoted, lies in the southern 
part of Bond County, directly south of Greenville, and comprises Township 4 north, 
Rang 3 west, together with a tier of fractional sections along Shoal Creek on the 
western side of the precinct;  ...

Settlements were made very early in the present precinct of Beaver Creek. The first 
white man of whom we have any account of making a settlement here was James BLIZZARD, 
in the winter of 1817-18, unless we except “Old Kenson,” as he was called, and COX, 
who was murdered by the Indians near the present town of Dudleyville. Of Old Kenson 
there is nothing but a vague tradition. It is said that he lived in a hollow sycamore 
tree in Shoal Creek bottom, near where the Vandalia Railroad now crosses (whether the
“hollow sycamore” stood in this precinct or not we are unable to say), and that he 
was there during the war of 1812. When the few people then living in Bond County fled 
to the forts for safety from the Indians, “Old Kenson” remained in is “den,” looking 
after his hogs, and hunting. When the war closed, and the people returned to their 
cabins, “Old Kenson,” like the Arab, pulled up his hollow sycamore, or his tent – 
“And as silently stole away,” leaving no trace behind. What became of him or whither 
he went no one ever knew. He utterly refused to go into the fort with the other 
whites, alleging there was no real danger, and that the Indians would not molest him.

Mr. BLIZZARD made the first permanent set-

[Page 146]
tlement, as we have said, in the winter of 1817-18. He settled on the northwest part 
of Section 7, near where the schoolhouse now stands. He has two sons living here, 
J. J. and William M. BLIZZARD; a daughter, Mrs. Harriet A. GOWER, lives in Missouri. 
A Mr. JAMES settled on Section 3, about 1825, and a man named HARLAN settled near
Dudleyville, on a place since owned by his son. A Mr. HOFFMAN, John HENRY and A. G. 
MILLS also settled near. Wilson BROWN came in soon after BLIZZARD and settled on 
Section 6. Abraham McCURLEY and family settled on Section 3, in 1830. Richard BRIGGS 
came in with Wilson BROWN and settled in the same neighborhood. McCURLEY has a 
daughter still living in Bond County – Mrs. Mary WOLLARD, wife of Rev. J. B. WOOLARD, 
of Mulberry Grove. Wilson BROWN has two sons, Charles and Marion, living in the county.
Andrew GREEN settled on Section 18, and was a blacksmith – the first perhaps in the
precinct. James KIRKPATRICK and Samuel G. MORSE settled a little south of HARLAN, 
and William BURGESS settled on the west side of Beaver Creek, near the county line. As 
early as 1826, the CRUTCHFIELD brothers, Joseph and Jacob, settled on Section 30; 
they have descendants still living here. The DRAKE family, who were from Tennessee,
settled on the same section. DURHAM and PHIPPS came in about 1826; PHIPPS has a 
daughter, Mrs. GOODSON, and DURHAM a son, Gideon DURHAM, living in the neighborhood. 
John HENRY was an early settler, and the first Postmaster in the precinct. The “old 
fort,” mentioned so extensively in preceding chapters of this work, stood on Section 
7, the land now owned by the BYRNES heirs.

About the year 1826 or 1827, the McCASLANDs, James McCASLAND, and his sons, John and 
Hugh, came into the precinct. They were from Kentucky, and John settled on Section 
11; Hugh settled on Section 23, but afterward moved on to Section 11. He finally moved 
to Montgomery County, where he now lives. A Mr. HARLAN settled on Section 15 in 1825 
and 1826. Andrew MILLS and family, from Tennessee, settled on Section 14. Joseph MILLS, 
a descendant, still lives in the precinct. A family of BROWNs came in early and settled 
on the same section with MILLS. Balaam METCALF, from Tennessee, settled on Section 
14 about the year 1828. He has a son, Henry METCALF, still living in the precinct. 
William DOWNING settled on Section 24, and afterward sold out to ALLEN. Joseph MEYERS
settled on Section 22. This comprises a list of the early settlers so far as we have 
been able to learn anything concerning them. 

... A man named COX, who had built a cabin, near or a little below where the village 
of Dudleyville now stands, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the people, refused 
to take refuge in the forts during the war of 1812, but remained at his cabin several
miles distant. He was a brave man, a celebrated Indian fighter (considering himself 
a match at any time for half a dozen “red skins”), and a thorough frontiersman. One 
day, during his absence, a party of Indians attacked his cabin, and, among other
depredations, carried off his daughter a captive. She was rescued,

[Page 147]
However, a few hours later, without injury other than a severe fright. After this, he
deemed it prudent to remove his family to the fort, but he persisted in visiting his 
cabin every day “to look after things,” until the Indians finally looked after him. 
Going to his cabin one day as usual, accompanied by his little son, they were fired 
upon by a party of Indians, who had concealed themselves in the house, and were both
killed. Their fate was a sad one, but was nothing more than had been anticipated 
and predicted by his friends. The incident, with its attending circumstances, is 
more particularly noticed in a preceding chapter.

The first settlers in this section had to go to Edwardsville to mill, an undertaking 
that sometimes occupied several days or weeks. The first mill in this precinct, of 
which we have any account, was a horse-mill built by William DOWNING, and was one of 
the early institutions of the community. For a number of years, it did good service, 
and was a great accommodation to the people. A carding-mill, or carding-machine, as 
they were more commonly called, was built by Milton MILLS on Section 13, about 1823 
and 1824, and was the first, not only in this precinct, but the first in the county.
Before it was put in operation, the people carded their wool themselves on hand cards, 
or took it to Edwardsville. This mill was shipped here from Kentucky, and was 
successfully operated for a great many years. Other pioneer industries were confined 
to blacksmith shops, stores, and such other business as the wants of the time 
demanded. ...

In 1869, a circumstance occurred near the little village of Dudleyville, which cast 
a gloom over the entire community. We allude to the brutal murder of Mrs. Louisa 
McADAMS, in July of that year, by John MOORE, a near neighbor. He went to her residence 
in the absence of her husband, grossly insulted her, and when she attempted to escape 
from him, he pursued her and cruelly murdered her by cutting her throat from ear to 
ear. For this crime, he was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to be hanged 
by Judge GILLESPIE. He made a full confession of his guilt, which was afterward 
published, and, on the 23d of October, 1869, he expiated his crime upon the gallows, 
under the sentence of the court - the only execution that has ever taken place in Bond
County.

There are two villages in Beaver Creek Precinct, viz.: Dudleyville and Wisetown. The
former was surveyed and laid out by R. K. DEWEY, for John DUDLEY, the proprietor of 
the land, March 14, 1857. It is situated on Section 3 of Township 4, Range 3, and is 
five miles from Greenville on the Carlyle road, surrounded by an excellent farming 
region. It bears the name of Dudleyville, for its founder and proprietor, and, for a 
small place, does considerable business. Mr. DUDLEY inherited the land upon which the 
town stands, through his marriage with Fanny BLIZZARD, daughter of one of the early
settlers of the precinct. He kept the first store opened in Dudleyville. Fred KAHN was 
the first blacksmith; H. C. DUNHAM was probably the first physician of the place, and 
F. THRANER was the first Postmaster. THRANER was among the very first settlers in
Dudleyville, and built the best storehouse in the place, and which is still in use by 
W. D. ROCKWELL, the present merchant. About this time, a number of German families 
settled in the village, and opened shops of different kinds. F. GERIES

[Page 148]
built a cooper shop, and John SCHLUP, a wagon shop. R. W. CHAPMAN and brother came in 
soon after KAHN, and remained several years. There are now two blacksmith shops kept 
by Albert KEAGY and A. W. REED. The town now has about twelve families, comprising 
some fifty inhabitants.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Dudleyville was organized so long ago (about 1820 it 
is believed) that no one now can give the names of the original members, except James
BLIZZARD and several members of his family. The church was originally organized at 
his house by (it is believed) Rev. Simeon WALKER.  Services were held at the house of 
Mr. BLIZZARD for several years, then at Rebecca HOFFMAN's, his daughter, and 
subsequently at schoolhouses. The church building was erected about 1856 - 57, and 
was a frame 26 x 40 feet. It cost $900, and was built upon land donated by John DUDLEY 
for the purpose. There were about fifty members when the church was built at Dudleyville,
and the Rev. Daniel OGLESBY was the minister, and J. J. BLIZZARD the class-leader. The
membership is still about fifty; the Trustees, J. J. BLIZZARD, Thomas HARLAN, Jesse
McADAMS and H. W. BLIZZARD; and the pastor, Rev. J. H. McGRIFF. A Sunday school 
continues the year round, of which J. J. BLIZZARD is Superintendent, and which has 
a regular attendance of about sixty persons.

The Free Methodist Church of Dudleyville was organized in the fall of 1880 by Rev. 
F. M. ASHCRAFT, and was originally composed of eight members as follows: P. M. ROGERS 
and wife, Wilford HOCKETT, Ellen UPCHURCH, Charles MAYFIELD and wife, John UPCHURCH 
and James GARRETT. The church edifice was built in the summer of 1881, is a frame 
28x40 feet in size, and cost about $800. The first class-leader was Wilford HOCKETT;
Trustees, P. M. ROGERS, Wilford HOCKETT and James GARRETT. The church has a membership 
at present of about twenty-five, under the pastorate of Rev. C. C. BRUNER. Sunday 
school organized when the church was built; the first Superintendent was James GARRETT;
the present one, P. M. ROGERS; attendance good.

The village of Wisetown, or Beaver Creek, as it is sometimes called, was surveyed and 
laid out March 14, 1860, by R. K. DEWEY, for David W. WISE, the proprietor and founder. 
It is located on Section 26, about ten miles nearly south from Greenville, and five 
miles from Dudleyville. Although christened Wisetown for its founder, the post office 
is called Beaver Creek, after the name of the precinct, and first one name and then 
the other is applied to the village. It is quite a business little place, and is
surrounded by a class of enterprising farmers. No saloon has ever been opened, which
speaks well for its morals. There were a few houses here long before it was laid out 
as a town. A post office was early established, with John HENRY as Postmaster; Samuel 
AVIS was the first blacksmith, Peter BOSTOCK the first wagon-maker, and ___ DELKHAUS 
the first shoemaker. Dr. O. E. HORNEDY was the first physician of the village, and 
the first drug store was opened by Dr. Powell GORDON. The next physician of the place 
was Dr. D. A. BAILEY, then came Dr. J. A. WARREN, still here in practice. The place 
now has one store, kept by N. B. HARNES & Company; two blacksmith shops, A. J. SAPP 
and T. J. SAPP, each running a separate establishment; W. A. MCNEIL, undertaker, and 
also wagon-maker; drug store, kept by J. M. HARLAN, and an excellent schoolhouse. 
The place consists of some twenty-five houses, and has about one hundred and fifty
inhabitants.

Union Church, in the village of Wisetown, is composed of the following denominations,
viz.: Methodist, Cumberland Presbyterian and Missionary Baptist, members of which had
belonged to no organized body until the formation of this church, except the 
Methodists, who worshiped at a schoolhouse. The church building was erected in the 
summer of 1878, and is

[Page 149]
32 x 48 feet. The ground upon which it stands was donated and deeded by Dr. J. A. 
WARREN, on the following conditions: That the Methodists have it the first and third
Sundays of each month, commencing at 6 o'clock P. M., preceding, and ending at 6 
o'clock P.M. on Friday following these Sundays; the Baptist to have the same 
privilege, including the second Sunday, and the Presbyterians the fourth. The four 
extra Sundays in each year are divided up on the same principle. This plan was adopted 
by the donor of the land that no discord might arise as to the ownership of the church.
The building cost $1,200; the Trustees are N. B. HARNES, D. C. BALDRIDGE, J. M. MYERS, 
A. J. MILLER, E. B. WISE, J. A. WARREN and Jesse BURCH. A good Sunday school is kept 
up all the year round.

The precinct paid early attention to matters of education, and schools were established 
as soon as the country was sufficiently settled to justify the expense of paying 
teachers. The first schoolhouse of which we have any account was built on the present 
site of the town of Dudleyville, just in the rear of the old Methodist Church. It was 
a log building of the pioneer pattern, with puncheon floor, and the first school taught 
in it was by a man named BABCOCK. Another of the early schoolhouses was built on 
Section 26, a little south of the spring of the old camp-ground. The first school in 
it was taught by a man named P. G. VAWTER. A school was taught about three miles west 
of Wisetown, in 1835, by a man named TOBEY. There are now seven schoolhouses in the
precinct, all of which are comfortable and commodious buildings, well-furnished and
ventilated, and in which good schools are taught for the usual term each year by 
competent teachers.

The people of Beaver Creek Precinct are a religious people, if one may judge from 
its number of handsome churches, of which there are several in the precinct, outside 
of the villages of Dudleyville and Wisetown.

The first house in the precinct built exclusively for church purposes, and used also 
for a schoolhouse, was built at the old camp-ground on Section 26. The Baptists 
organized a church society here very early, and their church for some time had no 
floor except the ground; the pulpit was 6x8 feet in size, raised (the platform) about 
a foot above the ground, and the whole thing boarded up about to the preacher’s 
shoulders, so that while speaking, only his head and arms could be seen. The people
attended this church for miles and miles away. Camp-meetings were held here, when the
worshipers came and camped upon the grounds until the meetings closed. Among the first
ministers at this church were Revs. ARNOT, Joseph TAYLOR, SEMONS, Jesse FORD, etc. The
congregation worshiped here for many years, and then moved into a schoolhouse. Several
denominations worshiped here also, but about 1866, religious services were discontinued,
and the house was removed to Wisetown, where it is yet standing, being used for a
dwelling. The members went elsewhere to worship, and joined themselves to other churches.

The German Methodist Church was built in 1865, and cost about $1,400. The society was
first organized in 1850, and consisted of the following original members, viz.: George
ULMER and wife, John HILDE and wife, Elizabeth DOLLANBACH, Charles DOLLANB ACH, 
Elizabeth TISHRUSE, Mary DOLLANBACH, John DANLER and wife, Mathias HUFFMAN, Elizabeth
BARNRIDHER and Conrad PETERS. The first Trustees of the church were John THOMAN, 
Henry GARKE, Frederick SCHUBERT, George BARNRIDHER and Christian DOLLANBACH. The 
first minister was Rev. W. FIEGENBAUM, who organized the church; the membership is 
now about twenty-eight. A Sunday school was organized in 1870, of which George ULMER 
was the first Superintendent. It continues the year round, and is at present under 
the superintendence of Henry GARKE and Mr. THOMAN.

[Page 150]

Mount Carmel Methodist Episcopal Church stands on the southwest quarter of Section 20, 
and was organized in the early part of 1862, by J. J. BLIZZARD. The first regular 
minister was the Rev. Simeon WALKER. Among the first members were J. J. BLIZZARD, 
Samuel J. GILLELAND (class-leader), and others, amounting in all to about fifteen. 
The church edifice was erected in the fall of 1866, and was built of brick, costing 
about $960, and is a handsome little church building.

The Camp Ground Cumberland Presbyterian Church was quite early in the field - believed 
by some to have had a society here about 1826. Among the first members were the 
McADAMSes, GOODSONs, John HARRIS, William HARLAND, etc. Early ministers were William
FINLEY, Joel KNIGHT, John BARBER and Joseph BARLOW. The society first worshiped in a 
log cabin, purchased of one of the first settlers named DURHAM. This house was used 
for several years, when the present house was built, probably about 1835, and is 24 
x 30 feet in size. The organization is still kept up. The church property is deeded 
to the Board of County Commissioners for the benefit of the Cumberland Presbyterians. 
The present minister is Rev. Allison HUNTER; the Sabbath school is kept up all the year.

[Page 151] Chapter XVII - Fairview Precinct
...

[Page 152]
...

The settlement by white people of Fairview Precinct extends so far back into the past 
that it is somewhat difficult to obtain reliable data in regard to the original 
pioneers. Among the first white men to locate here , probably, was Isam REAVES, who 
came here from Maryland with his family prior to the war of 1812.  Some time after 
this the REAVES family removed to Kentucky, near Bowling Green, and, after remaining 
there for awhile, again moved to this State and settled in Madison County, near
Collinsville.  In 1832, Isam REAVES again moved to this county and settled in what is 
now Fairview Precinct. He died on the old REAVES farm, which he entered at a cost of 
50 cents per acre. He participated in the war of 1812, on the Beaver Creek side. In 
one of the battles, two of his comrades named PREWITT and GRATTS were killed by the
Indians, and Joseph GRATTS' father, Thomas HIGGINS and William BURGESS were wounded. 
Gen. WHITESIDES was also wounded at the same time. This occurred about the close of 
the war. Hiram REAVES, the son of Isam REAVES, was born in this county, four miles 
south of Greenville, and within on mile of the old fort on Shoal Creek, on the 10th 
of June, 1816, and is probably the oldest resident now living in the county who was 
born in it.  He resides in the southeast corner of Fairview Precinct, and is totally
blind. Some time after the advent of Isam REAVES, in 1829, came William HARPER, 
Thomas L. HARPER, Elisha MATHEWS and John REAVES, all from Tennessee. John REAVES 
settled on Section 14, on the farm now owned by Mrs. BOOKER. William HARPER settled 
on the northeast quarter of Section 22, where J. M. HARPER now resides. John REAVES 
and William HARPER both died in this township, and both have descendants now living 
here. REAVES has two sons and two daughters at present residing in this county. Among 
the early settlers were also Jerry STUBBLEFIELD, Henry BROWN and three brothers named
Jordan, Morgan and William MURRAY.  About this time came the LONG family. There were 
three brothers of them, namely, Abner, Joseph and John, who settled on the northeast
quarter of Section 22. They afterward separated, Joseph settling on Section 15, on 
land now owned by J. M. HARPER, and John settling on the land now owned by D. CABLE. 
Abner being a “potter” and a maker of earthenware, floated about from place to place,
plying his trade, until 1840, when they all “pulled up stakes” and moved to Missouri,
leaving no descendants in this county.

Isaac SNODGRASS came in with the LONGs and located on Section 15, on land now owned 
by Charles BOWMAN. He was a Justice of the Peace, and was probably the first Justice 
in this section of the county, but he has no descendants living here now. In the spring 
of 1832, the BATES family, headed by Anson, came and settled on Section 22. He had a
brother Samuel, who came shortly after him, and settled on the same section. John 
CROUCH, a Baptist minister, also came at an early day and settled on the northeast 
quarter of Section 23, on the land now owned by E. PERKINS. He was followed soon 
afterward by James CLARK and Maj. William DAVIS, who settled on Section 22, and John 
H. TAYLOR, who settled on the east half of Section 13. In the spring of 1830, two 
men named FISHER and McKEE came in and settled on Section 22. Ben JEWETT entered 
Section 27, and Andy and John WILLIAMS settled on Sections 36 and 25, respectively. 
In 1820, Isaac JONES and John WILLIAMS came with their families from Virginia, the 
former settling near the Fayette County line,

[Page 153 - Portrait of Jacob GREY]
[Page 154 - Blank page]

[Page 155]
on the east half of Section 24, and the latter settled on Section 13. They have no
descendants in this county now, except one nephew named Winslow TAYLOR. Then, in 
1827, John LOCKHART came from Maury County, Tenn., and settled on Section 11, on the 
farm where L. J. SEGRAVES now lies, where he resided until 1841, when he removed to
Arkansas. He has one daughter, Nancy, the wife of L. J. SELLERS, residing at Mulberry
Grove, this county. Then came Bennett SEGRAVES, from Georgia, in the spring of 1829, 
and located in the northeast corner of Section 11, where he remained until his death,
which occurred in 1868. His son, Lockhart J. SEGRAVES, succeeded him, and now lives 
on the old home farm.

The first election ever held in Township 5, Range 2, was held in the brush, near the
cabin of Bennett SEGRAVES, in August of 1835. The people cast their votes in the
old-fashioned manner, by calling out the name of the candidate whom they desired to 
vote for, and their own name, a register of the same being kept by a clerk, appointed 
for that purpose.

It is not known at this day who taught the first school in Fairview Precinct, but the 
one said to have been the first, was taught by Joseph WILLIAMS, the schoolhouse built
about 1831, on the northwest quarter of Section 13. It was a log building, the 
crevices between the logs being plastered up with mud, and the pupils were 
accommodated with seats upon a slab, the ends of which were stuck into chinks 
between the logs on either side of the building. The school was taught on the
subscription plan, the teacher receiving a small remuneration (usually from $1 to 
$1.50 per term of tree months) for each pupil placed in his charge.

The first minister, of whom anything authentic can be learned, was a Methodist 
Episcopal minister named Rev. James B. WOOLARD, who came to Fairview Precinct about 
the year 1830, perhaps sooner. Usually divine services were held at the house of 
John REAVES, on Section 14, and it was his custom to gather up his congregation on 
his road to the meeting, as they were generally to be found in the woods engaged 
in hunting or fishing.

Another church which figured quite prominently in the early church history of 
Fairview Precinct, is the one known as "Hurricane Church". It is of the German 
Baptist order, and the present organization was established in 1858. For a number 
of years after the organization of this church, meetings were held in schoolhouses, 
in barns, and at the residences of the members, and the first minister was the Rev. 
D. B. STURGES, who was assisted in his ministerial duties by George BEANBLOSSOM.  
Rev. STURGIS was some time after this made a bishop, and the Rev. John HECKMAN 
succeeded him as pastor of Hurricane Church, and he was, in turn, succeeded by 
Rev. William ELAM. After this, the church was taken charge of by Elder John METZSGER,
after whom Elder John WISE assumed the pastorate. The first Deacons of this church 
were William and Edward ELAM and Jacob CRIPE. In 1874, this organization built a 
neat frame church building, at a cost of about $1,500, on land donated for that 
purpose by Henry JONES, who is the present minister. The present Deacons are Jacob 
ROOT, Daniel NOFFSINGER and Cornelius KESSLER. The church has at present a membership 
of about seventy, is in a highly prosperous condition, and regular meetings are held
every first and third Sunday in each month.

In 1833, a number of the old, original “Hard-Shell” Baptist denomination organized 
a congregation, and built a log church on Section 12, and Rev. CROUCH was installed 
as pastor. This building still remains standing, and at present is occasionally used 
as a place for holding divine service. Among the first members of this organization 
were John CROUCH and wife, Mrs. Mary RUSHTON, Polly RUSHTON and her daughter Susie,
Elisha MATHEWS, John TAYLOR, etc.

[Page 156]

Another church of the German Baptist denomination, and probably the first church of 
this kind in Fairview Precinct, was organized by Joseph RENCH and George BEANBLOSSOM,
prior to the establishment of "Hurricane Church", in 1858, and the teachings of the 
Bible were explained by Rev. Isam GIBSON. Its early membership was, of course, very
small, but among those who were the first to join were: George BEANBLOSSOM and wife,
William RENCH and wife, John RENCH and wife, Aaron RENCH and wife, Joseph RENCH and 
his daughter, Mrs. Rhoda SUTTON, Hiram REAVES and wife, Jacob CRIPE and wife, Charles
EDWARDS and wife, etc. This church gradually drifted out of existence, and most of 
its old members, now living, have united themselves with "Hurricane Church".

About 1848, a Pennsylvanian named Dr. Daniel B. STURGIS, laid off a town near the 
section line, between Sections 23 and 24, and gave to it the name of Hamburg, his 
idea being that the name would induce German emigrants to come there and locate. 
It, however, being located on low ground, those came who did not take to it readily, 
and pointed to the hill near by, significant of its superiority as a place of 
settlement. The first store and dwelling house in this village was erected by the 
PERKINS Brothers, in 1854. They also ran a blacksmith-shop. This little hamlet had 
only about five families in it, and all the dwellings, excepting one, were rudely
constructed of logs.

In 1856, the PERKINS Brothers accepting an offer of four lots to build upon if they 
would come, removed to what is now the village of Fairview, and Hamburg virtually met 
its death, most of the inhabitants removing to Fairview.

The town of "Fairview" lies eight miles nearly east of Greenville, in Section 23,
Township 5, Range 2. It was surveyed by R. K. DEWEY for the proprietors, E. P. 
MATHEWS and John REAVES, on the 28th day of January, 1857. It is situated on a high
ridge, affording a magnificent view in every direction, and surrounded by the best 
and most beautiful portion of Bond County. (Hence its name.) In 1857, the PERKINS 
Bros. traded their store to J. F. MATTHEWS, for land on Section 28. He continued 
the business for one year, when he died, and his brother J. J. MATHEWS, succeeded 
him, and run the store for about two years, when he sold out to Elisha MATTHEWS 
and Ephraim PERKINS, who were seceded by W. C. PERKINS and J. H. PERKINS (brothers).
These gentlemen finally sold out to Owen WALLS, who soon afterward sold out to H. H.
PAHLMAN. He ran the store some time, when he was bought out by J. S. GORLINE, who
continued the business about one year, when Elisha MATHEWS again purchased it, and 
after running it some time it was repurchased by J. H. PAHLMAN, who is the present
incumbent. The first blacksmith shop was owned by the PERKINS Bros., and was run by 
a German named Fred KAHN. Emmet ROBERTS was the first wagon maker. The first mill 
was run by Stephen D. BOURNER and Daniel FAULKNER. It was a wind-mill it was run 
about one year, when steam power was put in. It has made several changes of ownership,
and at present is run by Hammond & Tompkins, who have attached a saw-mill to the grist
or grinding part, but as it is behind in the way of improvements, it is doing only a
moderate business.

There were at one time two stores in the village, but in 1879, the second one, run 
by Willington BOURNER, was closed out, and since that time no goods have been kept 
there. The first shoemaker was William RENCH. Allen CAYLOR ran the first drug store 
in 1876, and the present drug store is run by S. D. BOURNER. The first Postmaster 
was Reuben COBURN, in 1862, and the present Postmaster is J. H. PAHLMAN. There are 
two churches in Fairview, the United Baptists and the Cumberland Presbyterians.

[Page 157]
The latter-named church was founded about 1840, and their first minister was Rev. 
BARBER. Meetings were held around at the houses of the members, until in 1849, a
schoolhouse was built on Section 23, on land owned by John REAVES, and meetings were 
held in it from that time forward, under the spiritual guidance of Rev. William
HUTCHINSON. The church was re-organized in April of 1866, and a frame building was
erected at a cost of about $1,300, and Rev. William TURNER was installed as minister. 
The first regular minister, however, was the Rev. William B. POLAND. The first Elders
were George F. BERRY, John H. MINOR and William DAVIS, Jr. The first Trustees were 
John H. MINOR, D. H. McADOO and Thomas L. REAVES. At the time of its re-organization 
in 1866, the membership of the church numbered about thirty, and they have had 
preaching regularly ever since until within the past year (1881). At present there 
is a Sunday school conducted in the church, under the superintendency of G. S. DUFF. 
It is a recent affair, having been organized in April of this year (1882), and as 
yet they have no library.

The United Baptist Church was first organized December 30, 1869.  The first members 
were E. P. MATHEWS, Mary J. MATHEWS, W. C. PERKINS, John H. PERKINS, Martha A. 
PERKINS, Amanda PERKINS, Amanda STUBBLEFIELD, Anna PERKINS, and Catharine SHIPBY. 
Their first minister was Rev. R. B. REAVES and the first Clerk was W. C. PERKINS. 
The Deacons in February of 1870 were E. P. MATHEWS and John PERKINS. At the time 
they worshiped in the building of the Presbyterian Church, and afterward in an 
old dwelling-house belonging to J. H. PERKINS, where they continued to worship until 
the erection of their own church building in 1877.

[Page 158] Chapter XVIII - LaGrange Precinct
....

Settlements were not made in what is now La Grange Precinct as early as in some 
other portions of Bond County. Among the pioneers of the precinct may be mentioned 
John BERNEATHY, Jonathan TEASLEY, John A. LAWS and Fielding LAWS, Abner and Allen
THACKER, Richard SAVAGE, Elizabeth MALLARD, John and George DENNY, T. G. McCASLAND, 
James WHITE, Thomas WAFER, C. D. McLEAN, Charles WOOD, a Mr. PARR, Humphrey JETT 
and others. Who of these are entitled to the honor of being the first settler we do 
not know; most of them settled prior to 1830. BERNEATHY, TEASLEY, the LAWS, THACKERs,
SAVAGE and Elizabeth MALLARD were from Kentucky, and some of them still have 
descendants in the county. The DENNYs came from North Carolina and settled on Section 
33; McCASLAND settled on the northeast quarter of Section 29; WOOD settled also on 
the same section in the fall of 1828; WAFER and McLEAN settled on Section 30, and 
PARR on Section 35. Settlers were now coming in too rapidly to keep track of them. 
And after this long lapse of time, it is not strange if names have been overlooked 
that are entitled to mention in the list of early settlers.

...
[Page 159]
...
[Page 160]
... The first teacher in this cabin was McCASLAND, and he taught at $1 and $1.25 per
scholar for three months. ...

Another of the early schools of this precinct was taught by Rev. John BARBER on Jett
Prairie. It was also taught in a small log house, which has disappeared with other
pioneer landmarks. ...

On the land of Thomas BOOKER in this precinct is a mound, supposed to have been made 
by the pre-historic races. Bones, it is said, have been dug up, which show their 
owners to have been of extraordinary large size. This corresponds with many writers 
upon the Mound-Builders, who are represented as a race large in stature.

If the citizens of La Grange Precinct are not a God-fearing people, it is certainly 
their own fault, and not for any lack of church facilities. There seem to be almost 
as many churches in the precinct as schoolhouses. Nothing speaks more loudly for the
civilization of a community than its churches and schoolhouses.  Where plenty of 
these evidences of enlightenment exist, the people cannot be very bad or very 
ignorant. One of the first churches organized in the north part of Bond County was 
by the Old School Presbyterians in this precinct in 1825. Among the principal members 
of this pioneer organization were George DONNELL, Newton and Joseph LAUGHLIN, Robert
STEWART and John DENNY. These were from Ohio. DENNY was a prominent member of the 
church from its organization, and Elder, and an upright and zealous Christian. 
Robert STEWART's remains lie buried in the cemetery adjacent. He was the first 
person buried there, about 1826; one of the LAUGHLINs is also buried there. This 
was an old log building, and stood upon the site of the present Union Grove Church. 
It was heated by a charcoal fire in the center of the building and the floor and 
"loft" were laid with broad puncheons.  A Sunday school was organized about the time 
the church was, which was kept up for a number of years. Services were finally
discontinued at the church about 1831, when the building, grounds, etc., were 
vacated until the organization of Union Grove Church.

The church originally known as "Union Grove Church" was organized January 12, 1855, 
under the superintending care of the Vandalia Presbytery of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. The minister at this time was Rev. William T. HUTCHINSON; the 
Elders were Thomas CLINE, S. N. JETT and Thomas M. DAVIS. The members were William 
T. and M. C. HUTCHINSON, Thomas N. and Jane DAVIS, Thomas and Sarah CLINE, S. N. 
and Agnes E. JETT, John M. and Sarah JOHNSON, Thomas and Elizabeth SCOTT, Henry C.,
Elizabeth and Patty HUTCHINSON, James HUNTER, Isaac and Minerva KERSHNER, Caroline
CROCKER, Newton BARR, J. L. and Martha MATHERSON, Mary ENLOE, Maria BALCH, and 
William and Lucy DAVIS. The society occupied the house known as the Union Grove 
Church and grounds, which had been deeded by William T. HUTCHINSON to four de-

[Page 161]
nominations, viz.: The Old School Presbyterians, United Baptists, Cumberland
Presbyterians and the Methodists. This organization continued until the formation 
of Maple Grove Church, since which time the other three denominations have occupied 
Union Grove until recently. It is now occupied by the Free Methodists. The church is 
a frame structure, about 20x30 feet, and was built in 1854-55 by voluntary labor of 
the people.

Maple Grove Church alluded to in the above sketch, was organized by Rev. William T.
HUTCHINSON, and worshiped at Union Grove until their church here was built in 1868. 
It is a frame building, 30 x 40 feet, and cost about $800. The present officers are 
N. A. HUGHEY, Wm. SMITH, D. D. JONES and J. M. JETT, Elders; Madison JETT, D. D. 
JONES and W. H. VAUGHN, Trustees. Rev. Thomas McDAVID is the present minister, who
preaches twice a month, and has a membership of about sixty-five. A Sunday school 
was organized at the same time of the church, and it is still maintained.

Hopewell Christian Church was organized in 1869, of scattering members - some from 
Walnut Grove Church and some from other points. Among the original members were 
Jacob YOUNG and wife, James BAKER and wife, Charles BAKER and wife, John DAVIS and 
wife, Mrs. RAHM, William T. GWINN and wife, Mrs. Caroline JETT, William CLOUSE and 
wife, Miss Mary OAKS, Mrs. Eliza HARRIS, Miss Caroline LAUGHLIN, Miss Jennie EAST, 
Mrs. Sarah A. SHARP, Mrs. Nancy J. WHITE and John HALEY. The society first worshiped 
in the brick schoolhouse at Elm Point, then at the schoolhouse on Section 33, where 
they remained until they built their church in 1870. The first minister was Elder O.
HULEN, J. G. BAKER and W. T. GWINN, Elders; present Elders, Ezra WOOD, Hiram CROCKER 
and William VAUGHN. The Sunday school was organized since the church was built, and 
is flourishing at present.

The Mount Carmel congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was first 
organized by the Rev. Joel KNIGHT, in Montgomery County, Ill., February 24, 1868, 
and after one or two changes in reference to name and place of worship, said 
congregation having erected a house of worship in Pleasant Prairie, Bond County, 
they therefore petitioned Vandalia Presbytery at the regular session at Blue Mound 
(in Bond County) in the fall of 1868, to change the name of the congregation, so 
that it should be known as the Pleasant Prairie Congregation of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.

After leaving Mount Carmel, the church worshiped at Willow Spring Schoolhouse until 
the erection of their house of worship. The trustees of the Pleasant Prairie Church 
are Jas. E. RANKIN, James F. NICHOLSON and Imbert H. DENNY. The church is in a good
condition.

Mount Tabor Baptist Church was organized about the year 1857 by Richardson GRIGG. 
J. D. DAVIS, Gabriel JETT and Kinley HITTLE were the first Deacons, Robert HORTON, 
Clerk. Among the original members were J. G. DAVIS and wife, Gabriel JETT and wife 
and daughters, Kinley HITTLE and two sisters, Richard SAVAGE and wife, Parmela and 
Mary TEASLEY and others. The church was built by the voluntary labor of the neighbors,
and was 30 x 40 feet in size. It has prospered since organization, and at present has
some sixty-five members, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. DUFF.  The present Trustees 
are Thomas JETT, James T. DAVIS and George SHARP; Deacons, John G. DAVIS and Martin
NELSON, and Robert SAVAGE, Clerk. A Sunday school has been in existence for a number 
of years, the first Superintendent was Elijah THACKER; the present Superintendent is
Jesse DENNY, and the school is in  a flourishing state. This church was built by 
three denominations, viz.: Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian; but is now only used 
by the Baptists.

Thus we see from the foregoing that the people of La Grange Precinct have no lack of
religious facilities, and if they are not good Christians it can certainly be the 
fault of none but themselves. 

[Page 162] Chapter XIX – Zion Precinct
...

At one time this precinct was known as “Dry Fork” Precinct, but it 1857 or 1858 the
voting place was changed from Sutton HASTING’s, were elections had previously been 
held, to what is now Newport, and at the same time the name of the precinct was 
changed to “Zion,” in honor of the old Zion Church and camp-ground.

The early settlement of Zion Precinct is very interesting, it being one of the
first-settled precincts in Bond County. Sutton HASTINGS came in from North Carolina 
early in the year 1818, the same year that Illinois was admitted into the Union as 
a State.  Two years later (in 1820), Daniel MOORE and family, also from North 
Carolina, came and settled in Section 19. His father, Philip MOORE, came at the 
same time. He raised a large family of boys, all of whom are either dead or have 
left the precinct. In 1817, Horatio DURLEY came from Kentucky, and in 1819 he 
entered about one thousand acres of land, a part of which is the farm now owned 
by James H. MOSS. Mr. DURLEY was considered a very wealthy man. He ran the first
horse-mill in the precinct, about 1820. It

[Page 163]
was a grist-mill, but at that time was used mostly for grinding corn; it was located 
near where the old ENLOE place now is. A family named STUBBLEFIELD came in 1818, and 
in August of 1819 John STUBBLEFIELD entered the farm now owned by John GRIGGS.  
Daniel GRIGGS came from North Carolina in 1825, and settled in Section 31. He was
accompanied by his brothers Samuel and Richardson, both Baptist ministers, and 
Bolin GRIGGS, another brother, who at present resides in Section 4, and is the 
oldest man in the precinct (ninety-two years old). There was a large family of 
GRIGGS, and numerous descendants at present reside in Bond County. Prior to the war 
of 1812, a man named TRUITT came from Kentucky, and settled on what is now known as 
the "Old Kline place", but about the time of the war the Indians became so bad that 
he was compelled to leave, and he returned to Kentucky. He afterwards returned to
Illinois, and lived until his death near Edwardsville in Madison County, where he 
became quite a prominent man, and accumulated considerable wealth.

The DIAMOND family came from South Carolina in 1820, about the time the WATSONs came. 
The father, John DIAMOND, was a very old man, and deserves special mention, from the 
fact of his having been a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He died soon after 
removing to this precinct, and was buried in the "Old Diamond Graveyard", near Zion
Spring, in the northwest corner of Section 29. His son Robert lived in the precinct 
until his death, which occurred in 1850. He was a very old man, and has three brothers
still living in Arkansas. William W. MOSS came in 1835, and located in Section 21. 
His son, James H. MOSS came with his father, and also settled in same section. He at
present resides in Section 30, and is considered one of the best, most industrious 
and responsible citizens in Zion Precinct.

On the “Old KLINE place” there is an immense spring, known as “Zion Spring,” and when 
the earliest settlers came to this region, a widow, named “Clarey,” and her sons,
occupied a cabin near this spring. She is said to have come from Kentucky, though 
nothing definite concerning her can be learned. She must have been a courageous 
woman, however, to brave alone the dangers and perils of the wilderness. Alex GLENN 
came from North Carolina about 1828, and located in Section 17. He was, for many 
years, a Justice of the Peace, appointed by common consent, to settle the grievances 
of the settlers of this region. Thomas KLINE came with GLENN, and settled in Section 
30. His widow at present resides in the village of Newport. William HUNTER settled 
near the Cross Roads, in 1820, from North Carolina, and entered the land on which 
the village of Newport now stands. His son Wilson, who died last summer, was about 
the first merchant in that town. Daniel MOORE came from North Carolina in 1825, and
settled in Section 31. His widow, Jennie MOORE,  who is now more than eighty years 
of age, at present resides with her daughter, Mrs. Henry HILL, about four miles west 
of the town of Greenville. It was at her residence and at the residence of Sutton
HASTINGS that the first Methodist preaching in Zion Precinct was held. Asa OLIVER 
came from Tennessee about the year 1830, and settled on Section 29. John GRIGGS came 
from North Carolina in 1829, and located on Section 30. Lemuel SCROGGINS came from 
the same State in 1833, and settled in Section 17. Three or four miles north of the
village of Mulberry Grove, a Frenchman, named ST. JOHN, kept a trading post, which 
was established prior to the year 1816. Some of the first white settlers used to 
haul furs and skins from that place to Cahokia. Another Frenchman, named LACROIX, 
lived near ST. JOHN, and also dealt in furs. When
 
[Page 164]
horses belonging to any of the settlers strayed away, they were sometimes taken up 
by the Indians. In such cases the settlers would employ these Frenchmen to recover 
them, by giving such rewards as they could afford. A few years subsequent to this 
time, settlers came in so fast that it is difficult to keep trace of them. 

The first church built in this precinct was the "Old Zion Church", reference to which 
is made elsewhere. It was built on Section 19, about the year 1828; ... In 1833, the 
camp ground was cleared off, and regular camp meetings were held there until late 
years. About 1840, the old log building was torn down and a neat frame church, ... 
In 1861, the society, which was of the Methodist denomination, removed to Newport, 
the Zion Church was torn down, and a new edifice erected in that village, which they 
now occupy. Among the original members of this church were Robert STEWART and wife,
Philip MOORE and wife, Rev. William HUNTER and wife, Arthur SHERRAD, Asa OLIVER, 
Jane McCRACKEN, Eli McCRACKEN, Ephraim McCRACKEN, and Daniel and Jane MOORE.

In 1881, the Free Methodists built a church on the camp-ground, on the site of the 
“Old Zion” Church. It is a frame building, forty-two feet in length and twenty-eight 
feet in width. On the site of the Zion Camp Ground, there is at present a cemetery, 
where repose the last remains of many of those who, in an early day, attended meeting 
on that same spot.

Schools were taught ...

The village of Woburn was first called Newport, but on account of there being 
another post office of the same name in the State, the name was changed to Woburn. 
In this section, it is more generally known as the Cross Roads, the name it bore 
in early days. It was laid out by John HUGHES, of Virginia, who owned the land, 
about the year 1856. The first store was built and run by William HARPER. The first
Postmaster was A. W. WATSON. His father, Hugh WATSON, ran the first blacksmith shop. 
John HUGHES was the first miller, and Abraham JARRED was the first wagon-maker. Dr.
HARNADY first administered to the ailments of the settlers in this precinct. The 
first mill of any importance in the precinct, was erected here in 1866. It was a
saw-mill, but was afterward purchased by the MOSS Brothers, who took out the saw-mill 
and put in two run of buhrs for grinding purposes. These brothers run the mill for
several years and finally sold out to Porter McKAY, who, after running it about one 
year, sold out to J. W. DANIELS and William DAVIDSON. These gentlemen, after 
continuing the business for some time, sold the mill to its present owner, George 
FORCE, and at present it is doing a fair business. Melton PHILLIPS was the first
shoemaker. At present there are about 150 inhabitants in the village; two stores, 
one run by Joseph ISLEY and the other by Eugene ENLOE, who is also the present
Postmaster; three blacksmith shops, doing a good business, though Thomas WHITE has 
the best

[Page 165]
trade. Dr. POINDEXTER is the present doctor and has the best practice of any physician
who ever did business here.

The Protestant Methodist Episcopal Church was organized here about the time of the 
laying out of the village, through the influence of Samuel GLENN, of North Carolina. 
He and his wife had been members of this church in North Carolina. His family formed 
the nucleus around which this organization formed. Their first minister was Rev. 
William H. COLLINS. Among the first members were Samuel GLENN, wife and two 
daughters; Thomas KLINE, wife and two daughters; Mrs. Thomas ENLOE and Mrs. Joseph
WASHBURN. The society at first had no church, and for several years worshiped at 
the houses of the members, and afterward in the schoolhouse. In 1871, a church 
building, forty feet in length and twenty-eight feet in width, was erected, at a 
cost of about $1,400. At present, the membership, which has been as high as forty,
numbers but nineteen. The present minister is Rev. Edward BACHE, and services are 
held semi-monthly. A flourishing Sunday school is at present held in the church 
under the Superintendency of Saburn MIDDLETON.

The United Baptist Church, commonly called "Liberty Church", was established about 
1856. the first minister was Richard KEEL.  Among the first members were Richardson,
Samuel and Bolin GRIGGS, James ELAM, Gabriel JETT and wife, and Charles MESSENGER 
and wife. At that time there were only eight members, all told.  Samuel GRIGGS and 
James ELAM were the first Deacons. Their first meeting was held at the house of 
Gabriel JETT, and afterward at the residences of the several members, until in 1859, 
when they erected their present church, which is   frame building thirty-six feet 
long and twenty-six feet in width, and cost about $600. In this building, Richardson
GRIGGS preached the first sermon, and was succeeded by Samuel GRIGGS, who is the 
present minister.  The Deacons are R. S. D. ROBERTS, Joseph BIGHAM and Anderson 
ELAM, and the Clerk is R. B. GRIGGS. The membership is at present 215. Regular 
services are held every third and fourth Sabbath, and prayer meetings on the first 
and second Sabbaths in each month. The first Sunday school was established in 1860, 
with John FISHER as Superintendent, and at present a large and flourishing Sunday 
school is conducted here.

The Church of God in Christ, or Christian Church, was organized at Newport in 1859. 
They experienced considerable difficulty in establishing a church, but through the
exertions of Jonathan SKATES, who located here in the spring of 1858, they finally
succeeded. Among the early members were Jonathan SKATES and wife, Miranda LEMERT, 
Henry ALLEN, Daniel TABOR, James ADAMS, John CURLEE< etc. In August, 1860, by 
vigorous efforts, they succeeded in erecting a church, and Brothers ADAMS, SKATES 
and TABOR were chosen Deacons. At present the church is in a very prosperous and 
thrifty condition, having a good membership, regular services, and maintaining a 
good Sunday school. 

From the foregoing church history, it will be seen that Zion Precinct is well 
supplied with religious instruction, That it is not only well supplied at present, 
but ever since the settlement of the country it has had no lack of church facilities. 
If the people are not moral and religious, it is certainly nobody’s fault but their 
own, and nobody but themselves, perhaps, will be held to account for their 
shortcomings. With this finale on the moral influence of this favored section, we 
close our chapter on Zion Precinct.

[Page 166] Chapter XX – Cottonwood Grove Precinct
...

The early settlement of what is now Cottonwood Grove Precinct cannot be given with
perfect correctness. The precise date of the building of the first cabin by a white 
man within its limits is obscured in the shadows of half a century, and we are left 
to conjecture to a certain extent as to the commencement of its settlement by white
people. Alexander ROBINSON, from Tennessee, settled here about the year 1816, and 
still has descendants living in the precinct. He was accompanied by Robert and 
Daniel McCORD from Virginia. These men came together from Tennessee to Bond County 
and made a settlement in Cottonwood Grove Precinct, in the spring of 1816. They 
made their first camping ground where the cemetery now is, and kneeling upon the 
ground dedicated the land to the service of the Lord, and called the place “Bethel.” 
In later years, about 1825, a church as built here, which still remains. It was a 
log structure, with no fire-place or stove. The only warmth was afforded by means 
of a raised place of dirt in the center of the room on which charcoal, which the 
members were required to furnish, was burned, the only escape for the smoke being 
a hole in the roof immediately above the mound. Robert McCORD settled on the 
northwest quarter of Section 11. He has one daughter, Mrs. Mary MEARS, living

[Page 167]
in Greenville, and a son, Blackburn, living in Iowa. David McCORD settled on the 
east half of Section 11, where J. T. McCRAKEN now lives, in 1820. James WAFER was 
an early pioneer in this section. He located northwest of Bethel in 1817. James 
DENNY settled on Pleasant Prairie, about 1819. During the same year, George DONNELL
settled near the mouth of Indian Creek.  George and John DENNY, sons of James DENNY,
settled on the east side of Shoal Creek, in the north part of the precinct, in 1820 
or 1821, and about the same time the JETTs, VAUGHNs AND THACKERs settled in the 
same neighborhood, on both sides of the creek. William and Lawrence STEWART settled 
on the west side of Shoal Creek about 1821. Jesse MARGRAVES and others also located 
along the west side of Shoal Creek about this same time. In 1819, Newton COFFEE came 
in and settled on JETT's Prairie.

In February of 1880, a church was organized in this precinct by the Free Methodist
denomination. The first minister chosen by them was the Rev. J. B. COLT. Among the 
first members were James ROBB, J. F. NICHOLSON, John PARMALEE, John McCRACKEN, Daniel 
F. JUSTICE, John F. HUMPHREY and Winnie SINGLETON. James ROBB was chosen Class-Leader,
and John PARMALEE was chosen Steward. Early in the spring of the present year (1882), 
a neat frame church, thirty-six feet long and twenty-eight wide, was erected on 
Section 31, at a cost of about $700, and John PAMRALEE, James ROBB and J. F. NICHOLSON,
were appointed as Trustees. This organization has grown in strength from the beginning,
and at present has a membership of about thirty-five, and maintains a good Sunday 
school

In noticing the early churches of Cottonwood Grove Precinct, one church stands out
prominently, and seems to be to a great extent the “mother” of all the Presbyterian
Churches in this section. We refer to the “Old Shoal Creek Church.” The original 
church was organized by Rev. Solomon GIDINGS, of St. Louis, Mo., on the 10th of 
March, 1819, and is more particularly referred to in a preceding chapter. 

The “Pleasant Prairie Presbyterian Church” in Township 7, Range 4, was formed from 
the Mt. Carmel society of the same denomination, then existing in Montgomery County, 
on the 24th day of February, 1828. Through the exertions of Rev. Joel KNIGHT, Andrew
FINLEY and Joseph BARLOW were chosen Elders, at its organization, and C. G. KEOWN 
was their first regular pastor. The first Clerk was Andrew J. FINLEY. Among the 
first members were William, Elizabeth, Andrew and Rebecca FINLEY; Joseph and Harriet
BARLOW; Elizabeth, Sarah, Emily and Polly BARLOW; Sarah KEOWN; William and Polly 
PITMAN; William and Jane KLINE; Nelly BREANCE; Catharine, Polly and Joseph BUCK; 
Michael, Elanor, Sinah, Catharine, Polly and Palsey FINLEY; Andrew KEOWN, James E.
RANKIN, Eli COWDON and James DRISCOL. They have at present a good frame church 
building sixty feet long by forty feet wide, which was erected at a cost of about 
$2,200, and the present membership is about thirty in all. James E. RANKAN, the 
first Superintendent, organized a good Sunday school, which has been conducted here 
for many years. 

In an early day, some of the pioneers of this section built a “sod fence” for some
purpose, out of which sprouted a beautiful grove of cottonwood trees. It is from 
this grove that the village of “Bethel, or Cottonwood Grove,” obtained its name. It 
was originally called “Augusta,” but the name was afterward changed to “Cottonwood 
Grove, or Bethel.” It was surveyed on the 9th day of June, 1836, by Asahel ENLOE, 
for John MITCHELL & Co., the proprietors, and is located in Section 11, Township 6 
north, Range 4 west, about eight miles northwest of the county seat (Greenville). It 
is a flourishing little village, and is surrounded by an intelligent and industrious
community.

[Page 168]

The Bethel Presbyterian Church was established here on the 15th day of September, 
1826, several years prior to the laying-out of the town. It was the outgrowth of 
the church already alluded to, as the first church in the county, called Shoal 
Creek Church. The original church was in 1825 divided into three churches – Shoal 
Creek Church, Bethel Church and Greenville Church. Of these three, the two last 
named still exist. The Bethel Church was organized with sixty-two members, and 
their first house of worship was a log building 20x26 feet. It was heated in a 
novel manner. A space about six feet in diameter in the middle of the house was 
left without flooring, thus securing an earthen hearth. A bushel of charcoal was 
laid there and then set on fire, rendering the house quite comfortable. Among the
ministers in Bethel Church for the past fifty years are the following: Thomas A.
SPILLMAN, Albert HALE, E. L. HUNTINGTON, Thomas LIPPINCOTT, Samuel FOSTER, Charles 
L. ADAMS, Charles BARTON, E. B. OLMSTEAD, N. A. HUNT, Robert STEWART, William RANKIN,
William H. BIRD, J. S. DAVIS, Charles BARTON (a second term), James H. SPILLMAN, etc.
Some years later, when the church had become strong in numbers and wealth, a new
church was built a few rods from the old one. It was a frame building well adapted 
to the wants of the church and the times. A large volume might be written of this 
pioneer church, but our space is limited and only this brief sketch can be given. A 
large and interesting Sunday school of both young and old has always been maintained 
in old Bethel Church.

In 1838, the town of Harrisonville was surveyed by T. S. HUBBARD, for Andrew FINLEY,
proprietor. It was situated on Section 32, Township 7 north, Range 4 west, on Pleasant
Prairie, about twelve miles northwest of Greenville. For some time this village gave
considerable promise, but it gradually died out until nothing now remains of it except
the records of the platt.

On the 17th of May, 1856, the town of Elm Point was laid out by Anthony HILL, for 
William P. LIBBY. It is located on Section 31, Town 7, Range 3, about nine miles in 
a northwesterly direction from the town of Greenville. It is on the prairie, and is
surrounded by a well cultivated country, but has never made much improvement, and at
present there is scarcely what might be called a town remaining.

[Page 169] Chapter XXI - Okaw Precinct
...

[Page 170]
dear.” Among the first settlers who located in Okaw Precinct was Josiah AUSTIN, who 
came in 1833, and located in the southern part, on Section 32. Two men, one named 
BATEMAN and the other named MARTIN, settled near him about the same time.

John BUTLER came in prior to the coming of Josiah AUSTIN, and located in the 
southern part of the precinct. Alexander MYATT came in an early day, and settled 
in the west half of Section 33, and about the same time a man, named FIX, settled 
in the southeast part of the precinct. Among the earliest settlers in this section 
was Mathew HENRY, who first settled in Greenville Precinct, about four miles west 
of the county seat, and after remaining there some time, located in this precinct, 
where, at present, a number of his descendants reside. On his way to Bond County, 
Mr. HENRY came through St. Louis, and it is said that, while there, he was offered 
five lots where the Southern Hotel now stands for a little pony mare, which he 
refused. Mr. HENRY also was the possessor of one of the first “cook stoves” in 
this county.

But little can be said of the early schools in Okaw Precinct, and for many years 
after its settlement but little attention was given to the subject of education, but 
of late years a great improvement has been made in this direction, and at present 
there are several schoolhouses in the precinct, in which school is taught by 
efficient instructors for the usual term each year.

At present there are two churches in this precinct, the Methodist Episcopal and 
the Evangelical Lutheran. The former was established early in the year 1842. For 
some time after the organization of this church, meetings were held at the residence 
of Alexander MYATT. Among the first members were Alexander MYATT and wife, Joshua 
SHARP and wife, Micajah BOWEN, Mr. ZIMMERMAN, Mrs. RAINEY, Mrs. GILLESPIE, Robert 
TUCKER, wife and mother, and the SKELTON family. About the first minister was the 
Rev. Joshua BARNES. Their present church building was erected about the year 1856, 
on the southwest quarter of Section 33. It is a frame building forty-four feet long 
and thirty-four feet wide, and was built at a cost of about $1,000. The first
minister, who assumed the pastorate, after the building of this new church, was the 
Rev. J. W. LOW. The Trustees were A. L. COLE, William HOPPOCK, B. F. TAYLOR and 
A. J. COLE, and the first Class-Leader was A. L. COLE. Alexander MYATT was chosen 
the first Steward. The church is now in a highly, prosperous and flourishing 
condition, and the present Class-Leader is J. B. BLACKWELL, and J. B. MYATT and 
D. L. REYNOLDS are acting as Stewards. A good Sunday school is and has been 
maintained ever since the organization of this church.

The last named, the Evangelical Lutheran, or St. Peter’s Church, was built in the 
fall of 1874, on the southeast quarter of Section 33. Among the men who were 
instrumental in getting the church built were, Frederick MEYER, J. H. PAHMAN, 
Julius MEYER, Conrad KROMER, Henry SHUMAKER, Henry BBRAUCHMILLER, etc. Their first
minister was Rev. KORNBEAUN. Prior to the erection of their church building, the 
society worshiped at the private residences of its members, and continued thus 
until their present church was built. It is a frame building, thirty feet long 
and twenty-four feet wide, and was built at a cost of about $600.

No regular meetings were held here until in 1880, but before this time, Rev. H. 
WOLFMAN, who had dedicated the church, preached at intervals. Since November, 1880, 
they have been having meetings every Sunday, and Rev. H. BAKER, the present minister, 
is employed at a yearly salary of $300, which, it may be said to their credit, is 
always promptly paid. At present the church is in a prosperous, thriving condition, 
and maintains a large and very interesting Sunday school. The Trustees at present 
are Julius T. BRAUCHMILLER and John TURENCK.

[Page 171 - Portrait of Solomon HARKEY]
[Page 172 - Blank page]


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