Edgar County IL Archives History - Books .....History Of Edgar Township 1879 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 3, 2006, 2:38 pm Book Title: History Of Edgar County, Illinois EDGAR TOWNSHIP. What would have been appropriate in the introduction to the general history of Edgar County becomes doubly so in introducing to our readers the history of Edgar Township, containing, as it does, a village by the same name— a history of its name. Gen. John Edgar was a native of Ireland, and, in 1776, at the beginning the American Revolution, was in the service of the British Government as an officer of a naval force on one of the American lakes. During the year named, he brought his wife to this country, and though he still continued in the service of the King, he nevertheless sympathized with the American cause, and many acts of kindness to the enemies of the English are recorded as having their origin in this noble-hearted man. Though he sustained himself until near the close of the war, as a British officer, he was yet suspected of being disloyal. Finally, the British cause became so distasteful to him that he could no longer endure it, and he resigned his office. Soon after his resignation, he removed to Illinois and located at the town of Kaskaskia. He was very wealthy and expended much of his means in building up the place. He built here the finest mansion in the Northwest Territory. Gen. Edgar was a true Irish gentleman, and as such, his fine mansion was always open to rich and poor alike, and while he entertained his wealthy and refined friends in a manner befitting their position, no beggar was ever sent from his door without receiving more than he had reason to expect. He thus endeared himself to all who came to know him, and his reputation for benevolence and hospitality was known far and wide. He brought to Kaskaskia a large stock of goods, and opened up a store for merchandise. He also built there a fine flour-mill, with which he supplied a large share of the New Orleans market. He invested, too, very largely in lands in the southern part of the State. For a number of years, he was the wealthiest man and paid the largest taxes in all of the Northwest. He was a man of liberal education, and, though not learned in the law, was elected Judge, and discharged the duties of the office in a most satisfactory manner. He was also chosen a member of the Legislature of the Northwest Territory when the Assembly met at Chillicothe, Ohio. The United States Government, in a fitting manner, acknowledged his worth and loyalty to the United States, by subsequently appointing him General of the Militia of Illinois, a position which he filled with the utmost dignity, and in which he seemed to take the greatest pride. Gen. Edgar died in 1832, after over a half-century's residence in the State, greatly regretted by all. An incident is related, which, if true, may explain how the General's resignation of his British commission may have been hastened. While Mr. Edgar was deeply in sympathy with the patriots in their efforts to gain their freedom, his wife was intense in her hatred of the British, and as intensely solicitous of the welfare of the American soldiers. Among the many kind offices performed in their behalf, we cannot forego the following: Three American soldiers had been captured and were held prisoners by the British. These men Mrs. Edgar had arranged to liberate, with instructions to appear at her house on a certain day, when she would furnish them with uniforms and arms, so that they might rejoin the American army. Mistaking the day, however, they appeared when Mrs. Edgar was absent, and the General was at home. The soldiers, not being aware that the General was a British officer, unfolded, without delay, their object. Mr. Edgar's duty to his Government he knew was to return the fugitives to prison, but he being so much in sympathy with the poor fellows, easily convinced himself that he need not interfere with his wife's affairs, and so, instead of remanding them to the tender mercies of a British prison, he procured the necessary outfits and sent them on their way, rejoicing. Unfortunately, the men were recaptured, and upon being pressed for an explanation of their escape and equipment, they divulged the names of their benefactors. This brought fully to light the standing of Gen. Edgar, and he, hearing that this additional proof of his disloyalty to King George was in the hands of his superior officers, at once removed to the West, where he rightly guessed he would be out of the reach of his new enemies, should they attempt his arrest. His patriotic lady remained behind two years, settling up his affairs, and then came on and joined her husband at Kaskaskia. Surely, no more worthy name than that of John Edgar could be bestowed on a county, township or village, and as there are all of these embraced in the one county, we deem it not amiss to suggest that the patriotic Mrs. Edgar share in the honors. In 1823, when Edgar County was formed, the territory now called by the name of Edgar Township was included in the three townships of Fairfield, Wayne and Carroll, a small portion of the south being within the limits of Fairfield, and the balance being nearly equally divided north and south between Carroll and Wayne, the old State road passing through Bloomfield being the line between the two. At this time, there was not more than one family in what is now Edgar Township. Joshua Martin had then lived for about a year on what has since been known as the Stage Farm. Mr. Martin kept the post office at his place until Bloomfield was founded, when it was transferred to that place. William Drake settled very soon after Martin, if not quite as early. These two names will scarcely be recognized by the more recent inhabitants, as they both died many years ago, and, we believe, none of the family now reside here. The Lowry family, in the early days of the county, was one of the most important, not only on account of the numbers, but because of respectability and intelligence. William Lowry, who settled in the township in 1823, was Clerk of the Circuit Court of this county at one time. He was often called "Judge Lowry;" but whether he obtained the title of Judge from actual service as such officer, or whether it was bestowed upon him by general consent, we are not informed. Mr. Lowry was Foreman of the first grand jury ever convened in the county. Reuben Lowry, a son of the above, was reputed in his time with being the swiftest runner in the Wabash Valley. With the Indians, this exercise was a great favorite; and, among the tribe of four or five hundred Kickapoos who came to this neighborhood yearly to hunt, there were some very fleet ones, but it is said Reuben was more than a match for any of them. While making their annual hunting visit to this place, the Indians frequently sent for Reuben to come out and try his speed against some new-found runner who had, doubtless, been in training for some time to match the white boy. But Lowry always came out victorious. The Indians were famous on betting, and would wager something, even if their judgment told them they would lose. On these occasions, they would usually put up a venison ham against a pint of salt; but unless Lowry chose to let his opponent win the race, which he sometimes did to keep his red friends good-natured, they invariably lost the meat. The Lowrys were from Kentucky. We believe they are all gone from here now, having either died or removed to other parts. During the five years following the advent of the Lowry family, principal among the pioneers of the township were Harrison and Hubbel Sprague, William and Jacob Wyatt, James Marrs and Wells Morgan. The Spragues were from Vermont. They came with their father, then an elderly man, who died here many years ago. Hubbel Sprague is still a resident of the county. The Wyatts were an important family in pioneer times, and the name continues to hold a respectable place in this county. William Wyatt was one of the early County Commissioners, which at that time was equivalent to the office of County Judge. He was also a Lieutenant in one of the companies that went from this vicinity to suppress the Indian outrages in Northwestern Illinois in 1832. Seueral [sic] of the Wyatt family still reside in the county. Wells Morgan was amongst the very early settlers of the township. He was a man well liked by all who knew him. Some of the members of this family reside in the city of Paris. James Marrs had a reputation that extended quite over this and the adjoining counties. He was the proprietor of the old Steam Point Distillery, which though now, with its proprietor, molders in the dust, is well remembered by the early settlers of this region. The distillery, in the olden time, was the most popular institution in the country, not excepting the church. Indeed, we may well believe the one could scarcely be popular without the other. It is said that Marrs did make good whisky, and the denizens of the neighborhood appreciated it to the fullest extent. Politicians, farmers, lawyers and divines all believed in Mars—not in the red god of war Mars, but the superior dignitary who presided over the mill at Steam Point, that could transform rotten corn into a liquid fit not only for human beings, but for the god of war himself. Was he not a greater than the fabled warrior, who simply stirred up men's passions to fight each other, while the Marrs of Steam Point caused nothing but good feeling and jollity. To say that all the men drank in those days, we are informed on the most reliable authority, is not to overdraw the picture. A man who had no appetite for the product of Marrs' machine, would have been looked on, to say the least, as quite peculiar, if not a fanatic. Very much in the same light would he who would have refrained from washing down his food with a glass of whisky have been regarded, as a man in this age who should neglect to perform his daily ablutions on the outer man. A man who would have been found sneaking around trying to convince the people against the injunction of the Bible itself—"take a little suthin' for the stomach's sake"— that it was a sin to drink Marrs' drops, would have been mobbed. However, they talked temperance, somewhat, even in those days, but there were advocates of temperance, who thought a pint a day would be about the right standard. In nothing has there been such a wonderful change of sentiment, not only in this community, but all over the county: and as we write we can hardly realize that we are telling the truth, but for the fact that we now see and from the best authority have heard. A good old Deacon in the Bloomfield Baptist Church, as late as 1837, had a nephew who was just starting in the footsteps of pious ancestors and other relatives to preach the Gospel. Of this young minister the Deacon was extremely solicitous that he should fully sustain the splendid reputation of his predecessors in the divine calling. Shortly after embarking in the holy profession, the young minister began to explain some of the scriptural passages which had formerly been supposed not only to give license in the matter of drinking, but to encourage the same as meaning just the opposite. About this time the Washingtonians began to counsel a little moderation, and a society was formed by Abraham Lincoln, at Bloomfield, and the Rev. G. W. Riley, then the young minister to whom we have been alluding, was elected President. This coming to the ears of the good Deacon, the minister's uncle, he called on him, without delay to counsel with him, and to endeavor to show him the error into which he was about to fall. Mr. Riley, however, had taken a new departure and could not be moved, though argued and pleaded with for a long time. At length, after all scriptural arguments were exhausted, policy and political arguments were brought out. He showed him conclusively that he would certainly injure himself in the estimation of church people, and ended with this assertion: "Why, Garrard, I tell you this thing is designed by the enemies of the Government to overthrow it." Mr. James Gordon, one of the early pioneers, says that it was considered a very proper thing indeed for a candidate to use liquor for electioneering purposes, and the prospective officer who would not use it freely was sure to remain only prospective. He was elected three times Sheriff of the County, and in each election his success was largely owing to the superior article and quantity distributed. Be it recorded, however, to the credit of Marrs and his numerous patrons. that beastly drunkenness was not common. Mr. Marrs was an honest distiller, and made whisky out of corn, without the introduction of modern decoctions. Is not the adulteration of the liquors as practiced by distillers of later times about to work the destruction of the traffic? In forty years, from a universal drinking community has grown an almost universal total abstinence county. In the whole county of Edgar is not an open drinking-shop to-day, and the man who openly advocates the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage is looked upon as almost lost to decency. The old Steam Point Distillery did a thriving business for a few years, but finally cheaper whisky, and a modified view of the liquor question began to lessen the profits of the establishment, and the machinery was removed to Big Creek, in Clark County, in 1832, and ran there for a time. Marrs removed to the West, and died some years ago. The frame of the old gin-mill stood many years after its usefulness (?) had been outlived. In 1829, a number of families came out from Ohio and Kentucky, and set-tied in the neighborhood of Bloomfield, and some of the parties soon after founded the town. This was in reality a colony, and their location here proved to be one of the most important events in the history of the township. They were people of much more than ordinary character and intelligence, and their influence on the social and moral interests of this part of the county has been felt to this day. Among those who settled here at that time were James and William Gordon, John and James Riley, Joseph Odey, Samuel McClain, John McKee and Abram Conroy. Of these, the Riley family has proved to be one of the most important in the county. Of this family of Baptist preachers, the work of preaching the Gospel peculiar to that denomination dates back to the time of Rev. Garrard Riley, grandfather of the already elderly G. W. Riley, now of Paris. The mantle has successively fallen on the sons since his time, and in the third generation, four of the name, sons of Rev. John W. Riley, are proclaiming the same doctrine. Perhaps but few remember the Rev. Garrard Riley, as he lived here but six months when his death occurred. He was a man of ability and of great love of the cause he advocated, and withal one of the best of men. His loss to the little colony for whom he had preached a few times, and to whom, in the short period, he had greatly endeared himself, was greatly deplored. He died at the age of sixty-two, and was buried at Bloomfield. Rev. John W. Riley is well remembered as a man of a great deal of power and worth as a preacher. He was the first Pastor of the Baptist Church, organized at Bloomfield in 1830. He died at the age of seventy-five. The country tannery, like the ancient carding machine, is an old-time institution. Not only are skins not tanned at home, but even the animals are sent to the cities to be slaughtered, and the business of preparing leather from the animals' hides is now all transferred to those who carry it on in a very different manner and on a much larger scale. In the early times, almost "every well-regulated community" had its tannery. Farmers killed their own cattle and sheep, took the skins to the tan-yard and had them made into leather, which, after several months, they had returned to them, paying the tanner for his work. Then the farmer, if he was not himself a shoemaker, took his own leather to the shoemaker, who made it up into foot-wear, receiving pay simply for the making of the articles. The gathering of the tan-bark from the newly-cut oak-trees, the grinding of the bark in the mill turned by the old blind horse, the vats and the red mound of worn-out bark, which used to interest us so much, have all gone, being monopolized by the wealthy company or the corporation. The Gordon Brothers were tanners, and upon their location here, found a good opening for their business. They started the tannery at the village of Bloomfield in 1830, and run it quite successfully for eight years. Then they concluded to quit the business, and no one being desirous of continuing, they sold out the leather on hand, and the tannery ceased to be. James Gordon afterward moved to Paris and kept hotel for awhile. He is still a resident of that city. William, after the closing of the tannery, turned his attention to merchandising. John McKee was one of the most favorably known citizens of the county. He resided here for almost a half-century, dying here only a year or so ago. He accumulated a large property and died wealthy. Probably no name appears on the county records, as administrator of estates, as often as does that of John McKee. He was a man in whom every one had confidence, and the manner in which he managed affairs intrusted to him, gave satisfaction to all. Samuel. James and John McKee, still residents of this part of the county, are sons of this pioneer. On many of the old and some of the newer maps, may be seen near the middle of the south line of the township, a figure named "Wolf Mound." The name is suggestive of a plentiful pest that formerly preyed upon the pigs and chickens of the pioneers in these parts, and we are informed this mound, now the site of William Mosses' residence, was a favorite burrow for these animals in the early times before the wolf-scalp law was enacted. Wolf-hunting was not only a favorite sport for pioneers, but on account of the annoyance, they created an absolute necessity, and after the scalp law was passed, it became to some quite a profitable business. A man frequently captured enough of wolf-scalps in a day to pay him for several days' work on the farm. And then there were the grand wolf-hunts, in which all of the neighbors on a certain day, by appointment, would join, and dividing into two opposing companies, would hunt on a wager of a barrel or two of Marrs' essence of corn, for two or three days at a time. A favorite method of hunting these pests, as well as other game, was by what was called the "'circular hunt." The territory having been selected where the hunt was to take place, as much of it was surrounded by the hunters as their numbers would indicate, they began riding or walking toward a common center, hallooing and scaring up the animals in front and at their sides, thus heading them toward the point at which the hunt was expected to culminate. After scaring them from their hiding-places, the circle began to close up and diminish in extent until at length wolves, rabbits, foxes, and sometimes deer, were literally penned up together, so that by shouting and racing around, it was an easy matter, while they were thus confused, to destroy great numbers of them. At this point, the excitement among the hunters was very great, and the skill displayed was not inconsiderable in the capture of such of the animals as attempted to break through the lines. Rev. G. W. Riley, now of Paris, remembers taking part in one of these general campaigns against the wolves. He says they were about to thus close up on a number of the animals when a large, old cunning fellow dodged between the feet of the horses and attempted to make good his escape; but the Elder, mounted on a good active horse, well trained to follow the dodgings and turnings of the wolf, was as equally determined to "let no guilty wolf escape," left the ranks of the hunters and swiftly galloped after the retreating canine. He gained on the object of his pursuit, and was in a pretty fair way to make short work of him, and for the purpose was just leveling his gun, when the wolf made a sudden stop in his flight. The horse, becoming a little disconcerted at the sudden action of the wolf, also stopped as suddenly. But the rider had no idea of a halt, and, indeed, the momentum lie had acquired in his hasty pursuit would not permit him to stop; so, the next instant, he realized that he was occupying the unclerical position of standing on his head on the back of a wild wolf—a feat that no circus-rider had ever before attempted, and, to our knowledge has never since accomplished. The Elder, however, did not maintain this inverted position but for a moment: the wolf was off again like a shot, and Mr. Riley as soon as possible assumed a proper standing posture. After hastily looking around to see if his comrades had enjoyed the feat which he had involuntarily performed, he mounted his horse and was again soon in the midst of the general crusade. The short, sharp bark of the wolf is rare now in this part of the country, and a specimen captured now and then is sold as a curiosity. During the years 1830 to 1833, Ensign Mitchell, Solomon Bond and William Barr came to the township. The first named of these three is still a resident of the township, and is verging on toward a hundred years. Mrs. Mildred Barr, widow of William Barr, still resides in the township. Mr. Barr died twenty-five years ago. Napoleon B. Stage, Daniel Triplet, now near Cherry Point, and Elisha Holt were also very early settlers. Mr. Holt, it is said, had an idea that a bushel of corn was always worth just 25 cents, and no difference if the demand was great or small, lie never asked more or less. In the early times, there was no market of any consequence, except to such as were either moving into or through the country: and if an emigrant stopped at Mr. Holt's door for the purpose of buying a bushel of corn for his horses, though Mr. Holt's neighbors all sold corn at 50 cents, his price was half that; and did his neighbors sell for 10 cents, the crop being large and the demand light, he, nevertheless, replied, "I reckon a bushel of corn is worth about 25 cents, and never let it go for less." Mr. Stage was one of the most prominent citizens of the township. He lived here until a few years ago, at the time of his death. RELIGIOUS. The first church organized in the township was by the Baptists, at Bloomfield, in 1830. The organization was effected by Rev. J. W. Riley, who afterward preached for the congregation for six years, lie then removed to Ohio, leaving the Church in charge of his son. G. W., who was then just entering the ministry. Under the pastorate of the Rev. G. W. Riley, the Church prospered well for twelve years. It continued its existence at Bloomfield under various ministers until 1872, when the organization was removed to Chrisman. In the history of that township it receives further notice. This Church, says Rev. G. W. Riley, organized the first Baptist Sunday school in the Wabash Valley, in 1840." A year after the organization of the Church alluded to, the Anti-Mission Baptists established themselves here by organizing a little church, consisting of a dozen members. This Church, though it has never increased materially in membership, is yet extant; and when the other Baptist organization removed to Chrisman, bought the building formerly occupied there. Of the Anti-Mission Church, Rev. Mr. Payne, Editor of the Chrisman Progress, is present Pastor. In about the year 1833, the Methodists of Bloomfield organized a society of that denomination, and built a house of worship in 1850. This organization is also transferred to Chrisman, and the building is unoccupied, but it is designed to remove it to Edgar Station. In 1874, a Baptist Church was established at the village of Horace. This is an offshoot of the old Church of Bloomfield, and was organized in 1874, by Rev. J. W, Riley. They have since built a very neat and convenient church edifice, by far the best in the township, and one of the handsomest in the county. Its cost was $3,000. The society has a membership of about one hundred. Rev. C. B. Seales is the Pastor. EDUCATIONAL. The first schoolhouse erected in Edgar Township was a little log building at Steam Point; at least this is the only one remembered in the township in 1830. Rev. G. W. Riley thinks it had not been used before the date mentioned. At that time he taught a few children there. In 1831, a schoolhouse and Baptist Church combined was erected at Bloomfield. In this building John McKee taught the first term. Dr. Jesse Payne taught here, and also in other parts of the township in private houses. Dr. Payne was an excellent teacher; and in respect to the first instructors in Edgar Township, it was more than ordinarily fortunate. This township stands high in an educational point. We are credibly informed that in style of schoolhouses, in ability of teachers employed, and in general interest manifested in education by the citizens, this township is not behind any in the county. Edgar Township was organized April 7, 1857, by the election of N. B. Stage as Supervisor; George O. Dinsmore, Town Clerk: James Adams, Assessor; Philip Williams, Collector; Allen McClain and David Naylor, Justices of the Peace; James S. Clark and J. R. Cowrey, Commissioners of Highways; Thomas Wynn, Overseer of the Poor, and George Titus, Constable. At first, the township was named Bloomfield, but at the second session of the Board of Supervisors it was changed to what we now find it. The present officers are: R. K. Collins, Supervisor; John F. Stephenson, Town Clerk; George R. Marrs, Collector: Stephen Julian, Assessor; C. W. Clark. Ezekiel Morris and Lawson Seybold, Commissioners of Highways, and A. C. Hawkins, Constable. The largest number of votes has been nearly four hundred. VILLAGE OF BLOOMFIELD. This once thriving little place, but now almost "deserted village," was laid out by Rev. John W. Riley, March 17, 1831. It will be remembered that Riley, Gordon and others had come to this vicinity and located a year and a half before. Quite a number of families had been attracted to the neighborhood, and at that time, there being no railroads, this was considered an eligible site for a prosperous town. It did seem so. It was near the fine little stream of Brouillett Creek and on the main traveled highway between Paris and Chicago, and how could it help but amount to something? The country was settling up around it, and merchandise of various kinds and trades were in demand. Even before the town was laid out, some improvements had been made here. Mr. Riley had established a little store and sold some goods, and the Gordon Brothers had established their tannery. A blacksmith-shop was also in operation in the neighborhood. James D. Miller built the first cabin. James Gordon erected the first hewed-log house, and kept it as a hotel. John W. Riley moved a house from outside, and a few other cabins erected began to •give the place quite a village look. Dr. Noel was a young man, just studying medicine, and came out here from Southern Indiana to experiment on some of the Suckers. He had no horse, but adopted a city style of visiting his patients on foot. He did not accumulate enough while here—about two years—to buy, and returned to Indiana. On his way back he was drowned in the Ohio River. A Masonic lodge was established here in 1853, but was afterward removed, with many other of the institutions of Bloomfield, to Chrisman. So it will be seen that, with its three churches, its school, its lodge, several stores, shops and other business, with its one hundred and fifty or more inhabitants, Bloom-field must have been a place of no ordinary importance. But the relentless-railroad came along, and soon it became apparent that its prospective greatness was about to vanish in thin air. Edgar, Horace and Chrisman have all been built on its ruins. VILLAGE OF EDGAR. Edgar Station was laid out in 18T2, for Napoleon B. Stage, by George W. Foreman, County Surveyor. The railroad had just been located through here, and this was the occasion for the enterprise. The pioneer of this town was Gideon Minor, who had been keeping store at Bloomfield. He built the first house, a dwelling, and then brought out from Bloomfield, on trucks, his store-building. He also brought over the post office, having been appointed Postmaster, with authority to remove the institution to the new town. The same fall, Charles Earhart moved a dwelling from Bloomfield and built a blacksmith-shop. Then, N. B. Stage, the proprietor of the town, brought two dwelling-houses from his farm, and the next year, built a wagon-shop. In the fall of 1872, Hunter & Burns built a dwelling and barn and commenced pressing hay. They did a good business for a couple of years, when their barn was blown down, and since then it has not been operated. The same fall, William Porter put up the store-building now occupied by Edward Kirby, with a stock of drugs and began selling groceries. In 1873, Alexander Somerville moved two dwellings from Bloomfield, and other buildings were erected by other parties. The town now contains three stores, several shops and other business in proportion. No schoolhouse has been erected yet. The school is kept a half-mile south of town. No church-building has yet been provided by any denomination, though it is in contemplation to bring out the old Methodist building from Bloomfield, this year. Sunday school is held in the schoolhouse, south of the village. Of this, T. M. Sidenstricker is Superintendent. VILLAGE OF HORACE. This place was laid out only two and a half years ago. Horace is another offspring of the Paris & Danville Railroad. It was laid out for A. Tucker, by H. Guthrie, County Surveyor, June 6, 1876. A store had been kept at this place for some years before the town was laid out, by Horace Johnson and Osborn Tucker. The Tuckers were some of the oldest settlers of this part of the county, and lived here before the road was built. They continued the store until about two years ago. F. M. Ranney built the first dwelling, in 1875. He also put up a blacksmith-shop the same year. The Baptist Church had been erected the year before. A very convenient and substantial school-building was erected in 1878. Wilson McCarty built a storehouse two years ago, which he sold to the Tuckers, they renting the same to C. C. Cook, who bought out Tucker's goods and commenced merchandising. WETZEL STATION. At this Station, a store is kept by Jacob Wetzel, who also buys grain and acts as agent of the Railroad Company. No post office or other business is found here. DESCRIPTION. Edgar Township is bounded on the north by Ross and Prairie, on the east, by Brouillett and Hunter, on the south by Paris, and on the west by Buck and Shiloh. Most of the eastern part of the township is, or was formerly, covered by timber, which borders on the little streams of water which pass through that part. The west part is nearly all prairie, and here is found the richest land. The east part was the first to settle, it being covered by timber and supplied with water, both of which the early settlers considered essential to a good farming country. The Paris & Danville Railroad, finished through here in 1872, passes almost from north to south through the middle portion. On the east side of the township, and forming part of the line, will be seen, on the map. a straight line, bearing toward the northeast, and terminating in Vermilion County by meeting another line coming from the southeast, thus forming a kind of wedge-shaped piece of land. These lines have an interesting history. They, with another line connecting their southern terminations, embrace what is known as Harrison's Purchase. The Indians did not understand the use of the compass, and, having many times before been swindled by the whites, would have nothing to do with the "Devil's box," as they called it. They had, however, a method of surveying that they understood, and their method must be adopted, or none. Their plan was to run a line from a certain point toward the sun at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, and another, from the same place of beginning, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. These lines were to extend to certain points designated, and then be connected by a straight line. It is said that even, as proposed by the overwise chiefs, the whites, after all, beat them out of a few thousand acres of the best land in the Wabash Valley. Additional Comments: Extracted from: THE HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY, ILLINOIS, CONTAINING A History of the County—its Cities, Towns, &c.; Directory of its Tax-Payers; War Record of its Volunteers in the late Rebellion ; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; General and Local Statistics; Map of Edgar County; History of Illinois, Illustrated; History of the Northwest, Illustrated; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c, &c. ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO: WM. LE BARON, JR., & CO., 186 DEARBORN STREET. 1879. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/edgar/history/1879/historyo/historyo18gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 33.6 Kb