Clark County IL Archives History - Books .....Chapter X 1883
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Book Title: HISTORY OF CRAWFORD AND CLARK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

CHAPTER X.*

YORK TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHICAL-UNION PRAIRIE-THE PIONEER SETTLEMENT OF CLARK

COUNTY-EARLY LIFE ON THE WABASH-BOATING-YORK VILLAGE-ITS GROWTH AND

DEVELOPMENT-THE RISE OF CHURCH AND SCHOOL, ETC., ETC.



*By J. H. Battle.



" It is not now as it hath been of yore."

-Wordsworth.



THE early flow of emigration coming up the Wabash reached the territory of what

is now Clark County, in the present township of York. Very many of the early

members of the community that gathered here were persons of culture and wealth,

and a society grew up in this vicinity that for years dominated the county. The

general settlement of this part of the State, and the incidental changes

wrought, effected great modifications of these characteristics, and the seat of

county influence has long since moved to the interior. The early precinct

included a large portion of the eastern part of the county, but subsequent

changes have shorn York of much of its early territory, and under the township

organization it was left an area something less than the regular Congressional

town, and given the name of York in deference to the nativity of the early

influential settlers. Its western and northern boundary lines are regular, but

on the east, the Wabash River, flowing in an irregular southwesterly course,

cuts off nearly two sections from the northern corner and nearly three from the

southern corner, leaving the central range, however, nearly complete. The

southern line is about two miles and a half long in a direct line, but the

regular outline is broken by the addition of the section on which the village of

York is situated.



  The general surface of the township is level, with a slight inclination in the

central part toward the southeast. This marks the line of drainage through Mill

Creek, which, entering the northwest corner, passes diagonally to the Wabash a

mile above York village. The creek has of late years formed a new channel, which

separates from the old bed about three and a half miles from its mouth, and

takes a more southerly course and empties in the Wabash River near the limits of

the village. Several ponds emphasize the general level state of the land, Walsh

pond in the northeastern part, drained by Snyder Creek, being the more important

one. Receding from the Wabash River, the land rises by "benches" from the

"bottoms" to the prairie, and then to the highlands of the interior. The river

bank, nowhere in the township exceeds a height of twenty feet above the ordinary

surface of the water, and from this the bottom land extends from one to three

quarters of a mile, where a gentle rise brings one to the level expanse of Union

Prairie. This prairie extended from this point to Mill Creek on the east, arid

on the north to a narrow strip of timber, near the northern boundary, which

divides Union from Walnut Prairie. East of Mill Creek was principally the heavy

timber land incident to this region. The early settlers found the "bottoms " of

this precinct well wooded, sycamore and walnut being the principal growth. These

trees frequently attained an enormous size, the latter proving a source of

considerable revenue in later days. The sycamore, though less valuable, were

more remarkable for size. One of these was found blown down, in the hollow of

which a man rode his horse and found room to turn him about to ride out.



  The soil of the bottom lands is a rich alluvial deposit annually enriched by

the overflow of the river. Fields have been cultivated for forty consecutive

years and the last crop shows no diminution in the yield. The soil of the

prairie is a sandy loam, which is only second to the bottoms in its

productiveness. This land has been farmed upon much the same plan as the

bottoms, but not with the same impunity. Farm lands thus over-cropped are

beginning to show signs of exhaustion, and farmers are forced to consider how

this loss of vitality of the soil may be repaired. Clover can not be

successfully grown, and it seems probable that resort must eventually be had to

artificial fertilizers. The soil of the woodlands is the usual yellow clay of

this region, which is a strong, productive soil for grass and corn. The latter

is the principal crop of the whole township, though on the prairie land

considerable attention, of late years, has been paid to wheat growing. The early

interest in the raising of fine stock has long since died out, and no attention

is paid to this branch of farm industry save the raising of a few barnyard animals.



  At the close of the war of 1812, the favorite site for immigration was the

Wabash valley, and settlers from all parts of the country excited by the

descriptions of chose whom military duty had brought here, came flocking to this

region even before the pacification of the Indians had been accomplished. The

first to reach the present territory of York was Thomas Handy and his family.

They were natives of New York, and came by the Alleghany, Ohio and Wabash rivers

to Vincennes, Indiana. This long tedious journey was made in a keel boat, and

much of the way not only in danger of perils by water but on land as well. After

a short stay at Vincennes, they selected what is now York Township for their

future home and late in the spring of 1814, landed on the site of York Village.

They at once made their way to the wood-land east of Mill Creek and fixed upon a

site on section eighteen. A temporary shelter was constructed over a log with

brush-wood covered with bark, and under this the family found sleeping

apartments, the cooking being done in open air. A permanent cabin was at once

put under way, the father and one son standing guard against the approach of

Indians, while the others put up the house. A little later in the year, a son,

John Handy, put up a cabin a little further north. The improvements made here

were only temporary, as the land had not been brought into the market and there

was no assurance that the land could be held against the speculators. Two years

later they entered land on section 16, which still remains in the family. The

next settler to come to York was William Hogue. He was a native of Virginia and

made the journey from his native State by river, pushing his boat up the Wabash,

arriving at York in the early part of 1815. Hogue prepared the frontier and

though a man of good intelligence kept as far from the settlement as possible.

He cleared  a small patch of ground from which he got enough with the abundant

supply of game to support his family, but made no permanent improvement, and

subsequently went to Terre Haute. He was followed to York by a brother, David

Hogue, in 1816.



  In this year came the Richardson and Fitch families and settled on the site of

York Village. John and Joseph Richardson were brothers, natives of New York and

had been prominent and wealthy men of business, About this time, however, the

failure of some large speculations had brought about such financial

embarrassment as to force the sacrifice of the larger part of their property.

They came by way of the river and landed on the site of the village of York.

John F. Richardson, the son of John Richardson entered, subsequently, a large

amount of land, a considerable portion of it being for his father and uncle who

did not care to own property in their own name lest their creditors should levy

on it. He was a bachelor and was prominent as a business man. His brother George

F. Richardson afterward went to Texas and succeeded in amassing a large fortune.

Chester Fitch was related to the Richardsons and had suffered with them in a

business way, and owned considerable land in young Richardson's name. Another

arrival of this year was Jonathan Lindley. He was a native of North Carolina,

and moved from there in wagons in company with several other families, three of

his brothers being in the company, who settled in Crawford County. Lindley

settled on the northwest quarter of section 3. John Welsh came from Kentucky by

wagon in this year, and settled on section 12; he was a prominent citizen and

the second sheriff of the county.



  About the same time with the Richardsons came James C. Hillebert and family

from New York, by river, and landed on the site of York Village. Their first

introduction to this new land was characteristic. It was some days before the

family were landed and in the meanwhile they lived on the boat as they had done

on their journey. A single plank led to the shore, and in an unguarded moment

Mrs. Hillebert slipped from this to the river. Her outcry attracted the

attention of Welsh who sprang to her rescue. In her fright she grasped him by

the neck, and it was only by dint of vigorous blows that her clasp was shaken

off and both were not drowned. Welsh finally succeeded in grasping her hair and

bringing her to the surface, when both were helped out of the water. Hillebert

was a man of some wealth, very careful in husbanding his gains and a hard

worker. He settled just north of the village of York, where he put up a

blacksmith's shop, primarily for his own use, but occasionally did work for his

neighbors. A little later in the year 1816, Joseph Shaw came from Kentucky by

wagon. He had been a soldier in the old Indian wars; was with St. Clair in his

defeat and at the Battle of Tippecanoe. He is remembered as an austere,

aristocratic man of fine business qualities and successful in amassing a large

property. There were some exceptions to this class, however, in the immigration

of 1816, and among these were Isaac Moore and John Chenoweth. The former was a

native of Virginia and brought beside his family, little more than his household

goods and his energetic disposition. He was three weeks making his way to this

country, cutting his own roads most of the way, guarding his camp each night

from attacks of wolves and Indians. He had been a sailor and ship-carpenter and

soon engaged in rafting produce, etc., down the river. In the spring of 1835, he

went to New Orleans with a raft and reached Natchez on his return, where he

died. Chenoweth came here almost penniless, started a ferry, and by enterprise

and energy became possessed of a large property, but he afterward became

involved and moved to Coles County in 1855.



  George Catron was a prominent settler of 1817. He was a member of a leading

Tennessee family, his brother being an associate justice of the United States

Supreme Court. Possessed of fine tastes and good education, he did not possess

the faculty of easily identifying himself with a pioneer community and was wont

to resent the familiarity indulged in in a new country. Samuel Prevo came in the

same year from North Caro1ina, and made the tedious journey of several weeks in

wagons. Mr. Prevo settled one mile west of York Village, and early took a front

position in the community. He "ran for the Legislature" but was defeated. He was

popularly known as Judge Prevo, and his characteristic pertinacity in the

pursuit of an object gave rise to the popular saying of "headstrong as Prevo."

Enoch Davis was another addition to the community here in this year. He made no

permanent improvements and supported his family by trading, and, it was

popularly believed, by counterfeiting. He was a mechanical genius, given to

gambling, and traveled up and down the river plying his trade at all points from

York to New Orleans. At Natchez he got in difficulty on account of some

counterfeit money and narrowly escaped hanging by establishing his innocence in

this case at least. After a short stay he left for a more congenial community.

Newell Leonard, a native of New York, settled on section 28 in this year. He was

an industrious and intelligent man, and improved a fine farm.



  In 1818, there were several notable accessions. Of these, John Parker came

from New York but was subsequently drowned while crossing Raccoon Creek. The

creek was at fall banks, but, trusting to his team to swim across, he plunged

in. The wagon box unfortunately floated off and then sank with its occupant, who

was immediately drowned. William Ketchum also came this year with his family

from New York. The journey was made by boats and three long months were consumed

on the way. He settled at first on Grand Prairie in what is now Crawford County,

but he came soon afterward to the vicinity of York Village cultivating a farm

just south of the town. He was a carpenter by trade and soon found plenty of

work in the thriving town just then growing up. Reuben Crow, a native of North

Carolina, in the same year settled northwest of the village, and John Salmon, of

Kentucky, in the village. Ambrose Pease came from Sackett's Harbor where he had

lost his property during the war of 1812. By sleigh he came to the Alleghany

River and from thence took a family boat down the Ohio to Evansville and in the

spring of 1818 came to York in a keel boat, which proved a difficult undertaking

as the Wabash was high and the current strong. They moved into the Crocker cabin

and rented land of J. B. Richardson and subsequently engaged in trade on the river.



  In this year Zachariah Archer and his family moved into York. Charles Archer

had come the year before and on his representations and through the influence of

W. B. Archer, the family came to the Wabash country. Old Mr. Archer was a native

of the County Down, Ireland, emigrated to New York, thence to Kentucky and later

to Warren County, Ohio, where he had at this time a good farm. When the subject

of again changing their home came up, it was thought that the price of the Ohio

farm could be profitably invested in Illinois, and the change was decided upon.

The farm was sold, the household goods placed on wagons, and the mother and two

boys started over land driving with them a number of, cattle. The father with

his son and his daughter, now Mrs. Hogue, came by a keel boat, down the Ohio and

up the Wabash. The river journey was accomplished only after the most trying

difficulties were overcome. The river was very low and time and again the men

were obliged to drag the boat over the bars and through shallow places in the

river. On reaching Vincennes, however, the river began to rise rapidly and the

difficulty was, then, to make any headway against the current. The part of the

family that came by land reached their destination some weeks in advance of the

river party. After making the family comfortable in a cabin which had been

erected in the northern part of what is now York Township, they began to get

alarmed at the protracted delay of the other members. Fears were entertained

that the rise in the river had shipwrecked them, and the community was aroused

to hunt for some trace of them. They soon put in their appearance, however, and

were enabled by the high stage of water to float their boat over the land almost

to their cabin. There is but little to be said of this family's influence in the

settlement. Through William B. Archer, their influence is felt in all the

history of the county. They were public spirited in the highest degree and while

prospering financially by their industry, they gave to the interest of the

county at large more than they received.



  In 1820, Jesse Miller came from New York and settled on the prairie just north

of the village. He was here but a short time, and is remembered chiefly as the

object of considerable excitement in the early community. His wife was an

invalid, and in the dearth of professional men he prescribed for her himself,

with such effect, however, as to cause her death. It was thought that he

administered poison because of his admiration of a young woman who was a member

of his family. The people took summary measures to rid the community of him and

he fled, though not in company with the object of his admiration. She remained

in the settlement and was probably innocent of any previous knowledge of

Miller's crime. Reese Pritchard, a native of Virginia, came here in 1824, from

Ohio, where he had immigrated a few years before. James McGath had come to York

the year before, and his description of the country had given the Wabash fever

to Pritchard. At that time Cincinnati was but a straggling little village, and

eight lots on a principal street were offered to him for a cheap "bull's eye"

watch he carried, and promptly refused. He came by boat to Charleston, Ind.,

from whence he came by wagon to the farm now owned by Reason Bell. He

subsequently rented the Hogue farm, on which he raised 6,000 bushels of corn in

one season, and sold it, delivered, for eight cents per bushel.



  It is impossible to note all who formed a part of the early settlement in this

township. Enough have been mentioned to show the character and notoriety of a

community which for years had no equal in this part of the State for culture,

vigor and prosperity. There was but little opportunity for the display of fine

taste, or the exercise of the prerogative of the "gentleman;" and there were but

few who attempted by their demeanor to draw any line of distinction between an

honest, well-disposed man and the man of gentility. Where this was done it was

promptly resented by those who came from the commoner walks of life, and in a

pioneer community they were masters of the situation. For a year or two this

settlement was on the frontier. The Indians who had enlisted in the British

cause, in the contest of 1812, had not yet learned that the war was over; and

though they made no organized raids on the white settlements, lost no occasion

to requite isolated Americans for their defeat in the national struggle. The

early community of York. was therefore in a constant state of insecurity, and

many an anxious night was spent, expecting at any moment to hear the signal that

the Indian hostilities had broken out with renewed vigor. William Hogue, who

came here in 1815, had practical evidence that this apprehension was not

unfounded. He was a great hunter and had had previous experience with the

savages, and was not daunted by a fair hand-to-hand fight with them. Soon after

coming to York, while out in quest of game, he became aware that an Indian, on

the east side of the Wabash, was trying to "get the drop" on him. He had no

thought of retreat, but taking to a tree, prepared to argue the question with

him. The Indian caught sight of him and sent a bullet in close proximity to him,

knocking the bark off the tree. Hogue was at once on the alert to catch the

savage, should he expose himself while reloading his gun. His opportunity

presented itself. The Indian making a false step, exposed his back for an

instant, and in that instant was struck by Hogue's bullet and killed. On another

occasion, while out hunting for deer with his son, he came into fatal contact

with another Indian. He had shot a deer and placed it with his son on a horse to

be taken home. He followed after his son a short distance to see that he got on

with the burden successfully, when he caught sight of an Indina skulking in the

woods, evidently following the boy. To see was to act, and in another moment the

Indian was stretched out lifeless. In explaining the matter afterward, Hogue

said he ordered his victim to "lay low," and he did so. Hogue carried the gun

and trappings obtained from this Indian for years afterward. Fortunately for the

families located here, these summary inflictions of the death penalty were not

known or not heeded. Hogue had numerous adventures of this nature, but the

general pacification of the tribes soon followed; and having no better game to

pursue than the animals of the forest, he became dissipated and finally went to

Terre Haute, where he died many years ago.



  Indians, principally of the Kickapoo tribe, were here a little later in

considerable numbers. They came regularly to hunt and make sugar, but were

always on the friendliest terms with the whites. York Village was a favorite

resort of these nomads for trading purposes, and considerable traffic sprang up

in exchanging furs and skins for ammunition, metal trinkets, dry-goods, etc. In

1830 or '31 these Indians ceased their visits and were not seen in that vicinity

afterward. It was supposed that the emissaries of Black Hawk had induced them to

join his standard of revolt. The ensuing trouble of 1832 greatly alarmed the

people living here. Many believed that these Indians, once incited to bloodshed,

would return to York for the double purpose of plunder and revenge for any

fancied slight they might have received. The wiser ones, however, believed the

seat of war was too far removed to excite any reasonable fear of attack there,

but they were not less willing and anxious to lend their assistance in

restraining the fiery spirits enlisted under that savage chieftain. A company

was enlisted in the settlement, a part of which went forward to join the

military forces raised to drive back the Indians, but they did not see any

fighting. The captain of the company was John F. Richardson; John Dolson,

lieutenant; and among the privates are remembered the names of Thomas White,

Sam'l Dolson, Christian Jeffers, T. F. Cooper, John Hollenbeck, Woodford

Dulaney, George Wilson and John Wilson.



  Up to the year 1817 the nearest point at which goods, groceries or mail could

be obtained was at Fort Harrison, on the Wabash River, a few miles above the

present site of Terre Haute-a journey of twenty-five miles. Vincennes was the

nearest point south, which then contained some three or four frontier stores.

The only means of communication with either of these points, was by the river,

or over blazed trails easily traveled only on horseback. The necessities of the

situation therefore compelled the majority of the settlers to depend upon their

own resources, even when they could command the money for such pioneer luxuries.

"Blood Mills," as they were called, served an excellent purpose for some. These

were pieces of old tin, punched full of holes and fastened to a board, like the

modern grater, and on these the corn was worked up fine enough to make coarse "

dodgers," or mush, thouhg the grating was done at considerable risk of bruises,

which gave this contrivance the sanguinary name it bore. Improvised mortars were

in general use, made either from a section of a log or the top of a stump,

hollowed out by fire and some edge tool that the farmer happened to have. In

this, with a heavy wooden pestle, the corn was reduced to a condition that could

be used for food. The finest was made into dodgers, while the coarser made very

good hominy. About 1817 Jacob Blaize put up a horse-mill on the line of the

county west of York Village. Here the farmers brought their corn, and attaching

their own team, did the grinding and paid a liberal toll for the use of the

machinery. It is said on one occasion the Archer family lived for six weeks on

lye hominy, unable to get to Blaize's mill for some meal. It was mid winter when

they went, the snow was deep, and the thermometer- probably their ears-marked

ten degrees below zero. At the mill the father took charge of the horses and the

grinding, and bade Stephen, who accompanied him, to go into the cabin and warm.

Before he got into the house, however, he was set upon by a pack of hounds led

on by a bulldog, and was pretty well used up before the animals could be beaten

off. This mill subsequently passed into the hands of Benjamin Evans, a native of

North Carolina, who came here in 1810. He ran it in partnership with Samuel

Prevo, and after running it about two years, they built an improved mill, which

was propelled by oxen on a tread wheel. This was a saw and grist mill combined,

and attracted patronage for thirty miles around. At best, it ground very slowly

and patrons were obliged to wait for days to take their turn, in the meanwhile

"camping out." This mill, though running night and day, failed to answer the

demands of the community, and in 1819 John Parker erected the first water mill

in the county, on Mill Creek. The stones were made from bowlders found near by,

and the whole structure was little more than a temporary shed. It did good

service, however, when the supply of water was sufficient, and was a great

relief to the settlers who were wearied with waiting for the ox mill alone. A

third mill was built some years later by John Hollenbeck. He was a native of New

York, and settled on section 11 in 1816. He was an enterprising man of business,

and at first engaged extensively in the river trade, but observing that there

was still a demand for an improved mill, put up a combined saw and grist mill on

Mill Creek. This was fitted to grind wheat, and was the first of its kind in

this region of country. People brought their wheat from a distance of forty

miles, and it was no unusual thing to see two or three four-horse teams waiting

three or four days for their flour. The mill was in use many years, and later

was moved down the creek and furnished with a boiler. This mill continued to

serve the public until destroyed by fire some ten years ago.



  Most of the early members of this community came with an intelligent

conception of what pioneer life meant, and brought with them such stock and

supplies as were needed to make a life in the woods tolerable. But it was

impossible to bring over the long distance to be traveled, and by the laborious

means employed, any great amount of furniture. A few dishes and cooking

utensils, personal apparel (of which there was no great surplus), the smaller

tools indispensable to a farmer, and bed clothing, was the limit of the load.

Oxen, cows, and some sheep and horses were brought in at the same time. A cabin

hastily but substantially put up, the next care was to provide the necessary

chairs, table and beds. These were generally crude affairs, constructed out of

soft, easy working timber, and finished with the ax and draw-shave. Beds were

made of skins and furs of animals, until the first crop furnished husks, not so

warm, perhaps, but less merchantable than the skins. Most of the cabins were

built in the edge of the timber on the prairie, and the first season was

principally devoted to learning how to manage the huge wooden mold-board plow

and "breaking prairie." Corn was the first crop planted, and what the squirrels

and blackbirds left, matured and yielded a fair return for the labor, and

furnished the family the supply of food for the year. Stock generally lived

during the winter without shelter, and with very little more than the prairie

hay provided, and in the summer thrived on the prairie grass. Hogs were easily

obtained and maintained on the nuts that grew in rich abundance on the timber

lands. The wolves, however, proved a source of great loss and annoyance to the

settlement. Young pigs, calves and sheep, though carefully folded at night, were

the easy prey of these ravenous animals; and it was only when the last wolf was

driven from the country that sheep, at least, increased in numbers here, the

stock only being kept up by fresh importations. Stock raising in later years

became an important feature of farm industry in this township, Geo. W. Catron

being prominently engaged in this enterprise.



  Game was an important feature in frontier life and in this community was for

years one of the chief sources of the settlers' support. Deer, prairie chickens,

and the small game that found a shelter in the timber were to be found in large

numbers. Indeed, deer were shot in self-defense. Fences were no obstacle to them

and farmers were greatly annoyed by them as late as 1845. They would go through

a field, bite off the end of the growing ears, and startled by some alarm would

trample and break down more than they ate, and this was of such common

occurrence that farmers arranged to guard their fields at night. One night a

farmer was on guard when he heard a tramping through the corn, and firing in the

direction shot and killed a neighbor who was out on the same business.



  In such a country there were certain to be a class who made hunting a

prominent feature in their daily avocation. Among these were John Handy. He kept

a number of hounds and his adventures with wolves were the boast of the

settlement. William Hogue and James Parker were others who were noted for their

devotion to and success in hunting. Of the latter it is said, that he was

especially successful as a bee-hunter. Bee trees were numerous along the river

and their stores formed a favorite delicacy of the homely fare of the cabin and

when properly prepared supplied a powerful intoxicant called Methiglin. Parker

made the discovery of these trees a specialty and was one of the few who could

trace these rapid winged insects successfully. On one occasion, it is said he

found a tree with an unusual amount of honey stored in it. He filled the pails

he carried, but there was still a large quantity which he disliked very much to

leave. He wore buckskin breeches, and taking them off he tied the ends of the

legs securely and went home bare-legged carrying his pails and breeches full of

honey.

  Leather breeches were not uncommon in York at that early day. Buckskin was the

general wear of the men and moccasins much more common than shoes. The distance

to any carding mill, made the wool less available though hand carding was known

to some extent here. Considerable flax was grown from which jeans were made and

linsey-woolsey by the addition of wool. The latter formed the greater part of

women's outer wear, and jeans "foxed" on the knees and seat with buckskin was

the holiday clothing of the men. In 1818, Reuben Crow came from North Carolina

and settled northwest of the village. He brought with him some cotton seed, and

being familiar with its cultivation planted some with such success as to

introduce it quite extensively among the settlers. He afterward erected a

cotton-gin on his place which was worked by horse power. So extensively was this

staple grown that he worked up a considerable business, taking toll for the use

of his machine. Ketchum afterward constructed a gin which worked by hand. A good

deal of use was made of this cotton by the women of this settlement and largely

took the place of flax; samples of the fabric made is still shown. The climate

proved too variable for the crop, however, and its cultivation in this country

long since ceased.



  With all the earnestness of pioneer life there was probably much more time

given by all classes to recreation than is devoted to-day to that purpose.

Inside the cabin there was more necessity for the economical expenditure of

time, and the women united play with much of their work. After deer skins could

be dispensed with for bed covering, quiltings brought the women of the

neighborhood together during the day, the men joining them in the evening.

Sugar-making was another occasion when work and play went hand in hand.

Sometimes several families would join together and camp through the season where

the largest number of best sugar maples could be found. The men tapped the trees

and gathered the sap while the women cared for the kettles and camp. There was

always time in the evening for a gathering of the young folks and a merry dance.

Dancing was the great in-door amusement of the community, and a walk of several

miles after a hard day's work only added zest to the entertainment. Wm. Buck,

Whalley and Larvill were noted knights of the bow and were in constant demand

for miles around. Necessity was the mother of invention with them, and to save

their moccasins and shoes, both sexes danced barefooted, not, however, without

some minor casualties. The floors were rough and not devoid of splinters, and a

spirited romp was not infrequently interrupted to give time for the removal of a

troublesome splinter. Out-door sports were such as are common to pioneer

settlements, but here was added to the usual hunting, shooting and athletic

matches, a passion for horse-racing and gambling. The latter was undoubtedly

encouraged by the river traffic which brought many in contact with this vice

which prevailed to such an alarming extent upon the Mississippi River and in the

towns along its banks. It was thus transferred to York, and practiced to a very

serious extent. Horse racing and horse trading also took on the more vicious

type here. The Richardsons were noted as horsemen but had the reputation of

being too honest to make money out of the business, but there were others, not a

few, that were more successful if not less honest. The outcome here, as well as

elsewhere, was an unpleasant number of brawls which too often ended in homicide

or murderous assaults. As a natural concomitant the use of whisky was

unrestrained. This free use of liquor was not peculiar to this locality but at

this period the whole nation used it as a common beverage. The natural habit was

here further stimulated by a peculiar combination of circumstances. Corn was

sold for eight cents per bushel and must be delivered at one of the river towns

to get that. It was of no avail at the stores in exchange for goods and was

almost a drug in the market. Whisky, on the contrary, was always available,

either at the stores in barter or for shipment down the river, and this at

eighteen to thirty cents per gallon, was a better investment than the corn. This

stimulated the construction of stills in various parts of the country, one of

the earliest being erected at York Village. The consequence was that large

quantities of this liquor were manufactured. Farmers carried their corn to the

still and brought back their whisky, as farmers of to-day get cider, and where

every one had it a large amount was drank. The conservative force in the society

of York seems, through this lapse of years, to have been inadequate to curb or

correct the evil, and when, in most communities, the people were becoming aware

of the nature of this evil and shaking it off, the settlement of York, had

hardly reached its climax. All elements of society united in the practice, and

the history of many of the early influential men is clouded to its close by

unfortunate dissipation.



  The Wabash River proved, in this respect, as in many others, an important

factor in forming the character of this settlement. It required at that time no

particular acquaintance with nautical science to navigate its waters, and many

citizens of the settlement traded more or less on the river. The lower river men

were often found here in the prosecution of their business, and this repeated

contact seems to have been especially effective in its evil influence upon the

plastic community. The influence of the river was scarcely less marked in the

advantages it brought. It offered an untrammeled communication with a profitable

market, and the enterprising men of the early settlement were not slow to take

advantage of it. The country produced an abundance of corn, pork, whisky, hay

and hoop-poles, all of which were in good demand in New Orleans, and a way was

soon devised to convey these commodities to market. A rude flat-boat of varying

dimensions was made, supplied with the usual steering apparatus and shelter for

the crew and cargo. It was then freighted with hay, or poles, or a variety of

the country's products, and cast off in the stream with a force of three to six

men to manage it. Before the date of steamboats the main object was to avoid

obstructions in the river and to float in the strongest current to the journey's

end. On reaching the Ohio it was a common thing to lash several smaller boats

together, which gave a greater momentum and a quicker voyage. Arrived at New

Orleans and the cargo disposed of, the timber of the boats was sold and the

boatmen made their way home as they felt disposed. Thomas Handy, on one

occasion, after he was sixty years old, walked back, and this was not an

uncommon occurrence at the inception of the business. Others bought a horse and

rode home, and both methods were in vogue until the steamboat offered a more

satisfactory mode than either. The adventures of these river men, if all told,

would fill a volume. Assailed by roughs, gamblers and footpads, the return trip

was by far the more difficult one to make, and many a wreck is reported where

the whole proceeds of a cargo would be expended upon the gilded vices of the

southern city. But the more experienced traders, among whom are remembered John

F. Richardson, Ambrose Pease, John Hollenbeck, and Isaac Moore, found means to

avoid these dangers, and to make the business a source of profit.



  Until 1829 there were no regularly established roads through the township. Its

official relations attracted travel to the southward, Palestine then being the

county seat. Business activity found its outlet by the river, and the York

settlement was practically isolated from the interior. Clark County was formed

in 1819, and the new seat of justice established on the river, so that the

irregular trails sufficed general purposes until the growth of settlements to

the north and west demanded something better. With the establishment of the

National Road and the subsequent line of stages, a more expeditious and direct

line of travel was inaugurated, and York began to find itself cut off from the

principal thoroughfare. The "middle lane road" was first established, running

north and south, west of the Vincennes and Chicago State road, and was

extensively traveled. In the following year the State road was laid out, and

through the exertion of J. C. Hillebert, who was interested in property near the

site of Auburn, another road was laid out by the county from York Village to the

former point. The latter village began to attract some attention as a business

point about this time. In 1825 the town had been platted by Chester Fitch as

attorney for John F. Richardson, though probably the real owner himself. As laid

out, York comprised thirteen blocks of eight lots each, located on the west

fraction of section 4, town 8 north, range 11 west. The base line was run

parallel with the river, which at this point runs a southwest course. A broad

street was laid out on the bank of the river, called Water, and parallel with

this, in regular order, followed Union, Market and Cherry. At right angles to

Water street, Broadway, 99 feet wide, extended through the middle of the plat,

while south and parallel with it ran Green and Fish streets, and north of it

Mechanic and Liberty streets. The town had been irregularly laid out before

this, sufficient to accommodate the business that began very early to center

here, but in just what manner is not definitely remembered.



  The first structure erected on the site of this village, was a log house

erected in 1815, by Israel Harris. The cabin occupied a prominent point close to

the river brink, near the end of Broadway, but the bank has since been so washed

away, that only the well remains to identify the spot. On Richardson's coming in

the following year, the cabin, which had not been occupied, was purchased and

occupied by them, with the Fitch family until cabins could be erected elsewhere.

Joseph Richardson and his family, including John B., his son, retained the

Harris cabin; John Richardson built another near by and Fitch took up his abode

on his land west of the village. The latter Richardson was a man of marked

ability, and had served in the New York Legislature. He was an ardent Federalist

and very severe in his strictures upon Aaron Burr, with whom he had on one

occasion in the Legislature, a vigorous debate. His son, John F., early engaged

in the river trade and was one of the most active in it.



  In 1817, Elisha Crocker came with his sister from New York, and built a log

cabin on Water street, near where the remains of the old warehouse now stands.

Here he opened up a little stock of goods, but four years later went to New

Orleans. He was succeeded by James C. Hillebert, who left his farm and forge and

engaged in mercantile pursuits. About 1820, French & Wise began business in

York, kept a general stock, manufactured saddlery and harness, and bought grain

for shipment down the river. They continued only about two years when they

closed out. In the year following the beginning of their business, Benjamin

Olney opened up a small stock but closed out in 1823. Succeeding them, John B.

Richardson began business in a log building on the river bank in the upper part

of town where he continued for a long time. In 1829, a man by the name of Snyder

put up a frame building nearly opposite Hillebert's store for the purpose of

engaging in trade, but sold it to Hillebert before he purchased a stock of

goods. The building stood on the bank of the river with a stone store room

below. On purchasing it, Hillebert moved his goods into it, and built a frame

extension out to the river's brink. This was the main warehouse in the village,

and a place of considerable business until the building of the railroad robbed

the town of its early importance. The extension has disappeared, though the

original structure, preserved by its solid foundation, still remains. For years

the steamboats discharged the most of their freight for the village here, and

took on a large share of the grain exported from this point.



  In 1830, James McGath erected a brick building on Broadway near Water street,

and opened a store in it. He came to York in 1821, from Virginia, but

subsequently tried business in the village. Two years later he was succeeded by

Woodford Dulaney, who continued business here until 1839, when he removed his

stock to Marshall. The building still stands, the second brick building erected

in the village. The first brick was erected on the river bank just below

Hillebert's warehouse in 1829. This was erected for a pork packing

establishment, but after serving this purpose for two seasons the business was

abandoned, and Eli Curtis opened it as a hotel and entertained the public in it

for some twenty years. In its time it was considered one of the finest edifices

on the river. The first building which served as an inn, was a log cabin on

Broadway, built by Elisha Fitch. He did not pretend to keep hotel, but just

allowed people to "stop over night and get a bite." The wife of Ambrose Pease

being left a widow soon after coming to York, opened hotel in a little log house

that stood on the river bank at the north end of the site subsequently occupied

by the pork house. She conducted the business for five years, acting as

landlady, cook and chambermaid. At one time she boarded twelve men and did the

cooking entirely at an old-fashioned fire-place, receiving one dollar and a

quarter apiece per week. A third hotel was kept in a hewed log house near the

central part of the village by Amos Murphy.



  The manufacture of whisky was an important industry all over the country. At

the time of which these pages are written, the river trade in which corn in the

form of whisky could be more profitably handled, led to the early establishment

of stills, John B. Richardson established the first one, erecting for it a

substantial brick building north of the village, near the present steam mill. A

large business was built up here, and large quantities of the liquor were

shipped down the river. The business was continued some fifteen years, when the

building was destroyed by fire and not rebuilt. About 1833 a log building was

erected near the south end of town, and a distilling apparatus put in it by a

man by the name of Warner, It had a capacity of about three barrels per day and

was carried on about six years and abandoned. The building was subsequently

burned down. Another distillery was established about 1840, in a log building in

the southwest part of town, by John Fitch. It was run about six years and then

abandoned, the old cabin rattling down at last.



  Among the early mechanics of York is mentioned the name of Martin Sparks, who

came here with Parker and Ketchum. He first settled on Grand Prairie and

afterward moved to the village where he followed his trade of carpenter. John

Salmon was another tradesman; came from Kentucky in 1818, did a cooper business,

making pails, tubs, etc. Thomas Rod and Samuel Doughty were early blacksmiths.

The only professional men were doctors. The season of 1818 was especially noted

for the sickness that generally prevailed in the settlement. At times there were

not enough well persons to attend upon the sick. An extensive overflow had left

considerable debris to decay in the summer sun, giving rise to miasmatic

poisons, that prostrated the whole community. This was of almost annual

occurrence, though its effect was not always so disastrous. It was the practice,

however, to prepare for an attack of malaria, as it was known at such times,

that it was idle to expect aid from neighbors. Among the physicians who lived in

York, Dr. Tutt was perhaps the earliest. He was a native of Kentucky and

practiced here for some fifteen years, when he removed to Marshall. Dr. Seaborn

also practiced here for three or four years, when he, too, succumbed to the

prevalent disease and died. Dr. Oglesby, who was something of a preacher as well

as physician, came here from Indiana and practiced a few years, and is said to

have received as fee from one man for one year's services, 6,000 bushels of

corn, two yoke of oxen and a fine horse.



  In the meanwhile the village had been increasing in the number of its

inhabitants and area. Before the erection of Clark County it had been a strong

rival with Palestine for the honor of the county seat, and through the numerical

superiority of its friends and actuated by its jealous fears, the latter town

secured a boundary line which would include York in the new county. This did not

check the prosperity of the latter place. Its business increased rapidly and its

reputation spread abroad so that it was considered a good point to make in the

description of Marshall, in 1835, to state its nearness to York. The growth of

Darwin, however, brought a new rival in the field, and at the date mentioned,

was rather bearing away the laurels. The completion of the railroad in 1870,

however, added the crowning disaster to the town's waning fortune. It is now a

pleasantly situated village of some 250 inhabitants, standing on a moderately

elevated plateau, on the outside of a curve in the river. The channel of the

Wabash near the village is deep, and runs near the shore, affording excellent

opportunities for loading and unloading boats. The old business houses have many

of them passed away, and not being replaced, the business has shrunk within its

modern limits without leaving vacant buildings to mar the appearance of the

village or to tell the story of its decline.



  In the early time there was not that division of labor that is found so

effective in later days. The demand for labor in all the avenues of human

activity was considerably in excess of the supply of laborers, and all the

capabilities of men and women found ample exercise. It thus happened that the

doctor was often the preacher as well, and the preacher sometimes did not

scruple to excel as a hunter and trader, and in one case at least, showed his

mechanical skill in counterfeiting. The latter combination of gifts was said to

exist in John Parker, who came here from Kentucky in 1818. He at first squatted

on Mill Creek, where he afterward purchased land. He subsequently built a mill

as noted above, and was noted as a successful hunter. His preaching was somewhat

hindered in its effect by the general belief that it was but using the "livery

of the Lord to serve the devil." His sons, Joseph, James and Benjamin all

followed in the same path, preaching, hunting and counterfeiting. The whole

family afterward went to Texas, where it is said they met a violent death at the

hands of the Indians. The community happily was not compelled to depend upon

such broken reeds. The needs of the hour raised up men who preached the gospel

without money and without price until the people became able to do their part in

 sustaining religious worship. James McCord was an early self-constituted

missionary. He was an earnest but illiterate man, possessed a rude fluency of

language, was a ready singer and gained considerable influence along the line of

the Wabash River. He was one of that class of preachers, popularly known as

"Bible pounders," but seemed especially adapted to the time and place. He

successfully carried on several extensive revivals, and on one occasion in York

was encouraged by the conversion of some twenty or thirty persons. On being

congratulated upon his large draught of fishes, he replied in his characteristic

way, "Yes, we caught a great many fish if they don't all turn out tad-poles."

Lorenzo Dow, the celebrated Methodist preacher of New York, held a large meeting

near Hollenbeck's mill at an early day, and Richard Newport, an early evangelist

of the old school Baptist church preached here.



  The outgrowth of these efforts, but more especially of McCord's, was the

organization of a Methodist class at the McGath school-house, among the early

members of which were the Pritchards, McGath, and Woods families. This

organization maintained a precarious existence until 1837, when the York

Protestant Methodist Church was founded and the two organizations united. The

original members, thirteen in number, were Charlotte Hillebert, Susan Moore, Amy

Baker, Harriet Dolson, Jackson Barker, Lewis McClure, Elizabeth McClure, Mr. and

Mrs. James McCabe, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Earle, and Mr. and Mrs. Erastus Collins.

This church was organized at the York school-house by the Revs. McCabe and

Witherspoon, who served it some time as preachers. Two years later conference

held its first session at York, and attached the church here to the Mill Creek

circuit. After holding services in the school-house for some three years, the

church bought ground of J. F. Richardson, and two years later erected a frame

building at a cost of about one thousand dollars. This place of worship, with

occasional repairs, has continued to serve the church until the present. There

are fifteen members at present, but the condition of the organization is not the

most prosperous. Services are held at irregular intervals, there being no

regular supply. Among the names of former pastors are those of Revs. Doyle,

Witherspoon, Richard Wright, Crawford, Green, Hamilton, and Burkett, the latter

serving in 1881.



  Rock Hill Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about 1868, by Rev. Mr.

May, at the Union school-house. It began with about twenty-four members, and a

place of worship was erected at once on ground donated by Jonathan Hogue at a

cost of $1,200. The church still maintains regular services, though the

membership is much reduced.



  The York Presbyterian Church was, perhaps, the first religious organization in

the township. This society was founded about 1825 by Rev. Samuel Scott, a

missionary of this denomination, whose field of labor extended along the course

of the Wabash River. He served without pay, supporting himself by the

cultivation of a farm he owned near Vincennes, and carrying a supply of food

with him on his trips, in a pair of capacious saddle-bags. The church at York

was organized in the school-house with but few members, and was served for some

years by Mr. Scott. The church subsequently erected a frame building, which was

burned about 1862. Three years later the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions

gave the church generous assistance to build another. This is a frame building,

40 by 60 feet, and cost about $1,200. The church subsequently died out, but in

1869 was reorganized by Rev. Thomas Spencer, and has since maintained regular

services until 1882. There are about thirty members at present.



  An Old School Baptist organization existed here for a few years, about 1835,

holding services in the village school-house. Elder Canady served as pastor and

leader, but the organization failed to mature, and has been out of existence

some twenty-five years.



  The schools date from 1818. In this year an old log cabin on the Fitch farm,

which had been used as a dwelling, was fitted up for school purposes. The

windows were covered with paper saturated with coon's oil, the desk and benches

made of smoothed puncheon, and the floor made of split logs. Here Peleg Sanford

bore the rule and proved a good teacher. Among his scholars were Samuel,

William, Ira, Reuben and Polly Prevo, William Berkley, John Moore, ____

Richardson, Lewis Pease, Loyal Towsley, Lucy and Anna Moore. In 1821, another

school was taught in the shed part of the Crocker house, by J. Niles. Another

school was taught near the Handy settlement, in the deserted cabin of a

squatter, by James Jewell. It was the custom of the scholars to occasionally

lock out the teacher to make him "treat." Jewell, however, was proof against all

minor devices, and the older attendants of the school determined to use more

persuasive means. They seized him and carried him bound to the river, and were

breaking the ice to "duck" him, when he yielded and promised to treat the whole

school on a certain day. It was, of course, known throughout the neighborhood,

and on the appointed day not only the whole school but the whole grown

population of the neighborhood gathered and partook of the whisky and maple

sugar provided, some of the older ones finding it difficult to walk steadily on

their return home. Morrison was the name of an early teacher, who also conducted

occasional singing schools. Robert F. Taylor was among the earliest teachers of

this township. He came to the county in 1818, and was a man of fine education.

He first worked by the month for John Handy, and afterward taught school on

Union Prairie as early as 1825. He taught, in 1829, the first public school, in

a frame building on the McGath farm in section 28, where the building still

stands. Taylor was rather severe in his discipline, and believed in saving the

child so far as a liberal use of the rod was concerned. Soon after 1830, a brick

school house was erected in the village of York This was the first of its kind

in the county.



  York Lodge, No. 313, Free and Accepted Masons, finds its home in the village.

Its charter was granted October 5, 1859, to Chas. Johnston, J. S. Cox, W. H. C.

Coleman, Samuel Doughty, Chas. Gorham, L. D. McClure, Enoch Meeker, J. A.

Parker, R. Falley and John Ketchum, as charter members. The lodge has had a

prosperous experience; erected a hall in 1867 at a cost of $2,200, and now

numbers thirty-two members.



  York Star Lodge, No. 419, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was chartered in

October, 1870, to William Evans, W. J. Martin, J. H. Daniels, H. S. Lee, and

John W. Harris, as charter members. In 1879 the lodge bought a hall of Elisha

Jackson in the Lindley Building. They have a membership of twenty.



  The Grand Army of the Republic have a post here. It started with eleven

members, which has since increased. Its meetings are held in the Odd Fellows'
hall.



Additional Comments:
Extracted From:



HISTORY OF CRAWFORD AND CLARK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

EDITED BY WILLIAM HENRY PERRIN.



ILLUSTRATED



CHICAGO: O. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS,

LAKESIDE BUILDING.

1883.



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