Jasper County, IL - Early History

This file is a part of the complete text transcription of "Counties of 
Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois.", published in 1884 by F. A. 
Battey & Co. of Chicago. Pages  367 - 394

Scanning and OCR by Joy Fisher


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PART III.

HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.

BY J. H. BATTLE.

ORGANIZATION AND CONDITION.

ACT OF CREATION.

	CRAWFORD COUNTY, one of the six counties organized in 1816, originally 
comprised the territory included between the Wabash and Kaskaskia rivers, and 
from the line of its present southern boundaries to the northern limit of the 
United States. In 1819, Clark County was formed, its limits extending along the 
whole line of the northern bounds of Crawford, curtailing its northern limit to 
its present line. Until 1821, the people of the vast territory thus described, 
transacted legal business at Palestine. In this year, Fayette County was formed, 
taking the territory west of the present boundary of Effingham, and in 1831, 
FtRngham and Jasper counties were formed. There seems to have been no special 
effort put forth on the part of the residents of this section of Crawford County 
for an independent organization, but this followed naturally in the evolution of 
the Legislative plan. Palestine, then the county-seat of Crawford County, was 
the center of trade as well as of legal business, and the inconvenience of the 
distant location of the county-seat was not so seriously felt as when a 
community have a nearer trading point than the seat of justice. So far as the 
records of the parent county show, there was no agitation either pro or con in 
relation to a new county, though the act of the Legislature forming the county 
was undoubtedly received with satisfaction as furnishing the citizens greater 
opportunity of political distinction and a new impulse to the development of 
this section.

	It was in the session of 1830-31, that the Legislature passed the 
following act, which was approved February 15, 1831:

	"SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois represented 
in the General Assembly: that tract of country lying within the following 
boundaries, to wit: Beginning at the southeast corner of Section No. 22, of 
Township 5 north, in Range No. 14 west, of the second principal meridian, thence 
north with the sectional line to the northeast corner of Section No. 3, of 
Township No. 8 north, in Range No. 4 west; thence west with the line dividing 
Townships 8 and 9 north, to the northwest corner of Section No. 6, in Range No. 
8 east; thence south with the line dividing Ranges Nos. 7 and 8 east, to the 
.sduthwest corner of Section No. 19, in Township No. 5 north; thence east with 
the section line to the place of beginning, shall constitute a county hereafter 
to be organized on petition of a majority of the legal voters therein, which 
shall be called the county of Jasper; and the county-seat thereof, when selected 
and located, shall be called Newton.

	"SEC. 2. (This relates to the boundaries and county-seat of Effingham 
County).

	"SEC. 3. Nathan Moss, William Magill and Asahel Heath, are hereby 
appointed Commissioners to locate the seat of justice for the county of Jasper, 
and John Haley, James Galloway and John Hall, are hereby appointed Commissioners 
to locate the seat of justice for the county of Effingham. The said 
Commissioners, or a majority of them, are hereby required to proceed to examine 
the said counties respectively, at any time they may agree upon, previous to the 
first day of November next, and with an eye to the best interest of said 
counties, shall select a suitable place for the seat of justice for each of said 
counties. The Commissioners respectively are hereby empowered to receive from 
the owner of such lands as they may select for the purpose aforesaid, a donation 
of not less than twenty acres, or they may receive donations in money, which 
shall be applied t& the purchase of lands for such purpose; and in either case 
they shall take good and sufficient deeds therefor, granting the land in fee 
simple for the use and benefit of said counties, as the case may be. The 
Commissioners if they shall select lands belonging to government, shall purchase 
a half quarter section in each of said counties, for the use and benefit of such 
county, provided they shall receive donations in money sufficient to make such 
purchase or purchases. When the Commissioners shall have made the selection of 
laud for the permanent seat of justice for the respective counties, those for 
the county . of Jasper shall report their proceedings to the Recorder of 
Crawford County, and those for the county of Effingham shall report their 
proceedings to the Recorder of Fayette Comity, who shall receive an3 keep the 
same in their respective offices until the said counties shall be organized, 
when they shall transmit the same to the clerks of the aforesaid new counties 
respectively." The balance of the act provides that those locating shall receive 
for their services $3 per day, to be paid out of the first monies arising from 
the sale of lots.

	The Commissioners appointed for Jasper County made their report, it is 
probable, in due form, but it failed to find a record, or is so lost in the mass 
of early business as not now to be traced in the Crawford County archives. 
However, the Legislature became cognizant of their action, and in December, 
1834, passed "An act to Organize the County of Jasper," as follows:

	"SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois represented 
in the General Assembly, That on the fourth Monday in January next, between the 
hours of eight o'clock in the morning and seven o'clock in the evening, an 
election shall be hold in the town of Newton, in the county of Jasper, for three 
County Commissioners, one Sheriff and one Coroner for said County, who shall 
continue in office until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.

	"SEC. 2. David Phillips, W. M. Richards and William Price, or any two of 
them, shall be judges of election, and shall be authorized to appoint two 
clerks, and shall be qualified in the same manner as judges and clerks of 
elections are now required by law, and said election shall, in every respect, be 
conducted in conformity with the election laws of this State.

	"SEC. 3. The location of the seat of justice made by Commissioners 
appointed by the act creating said county of Jasper, and all their acts properly 
appertaining to their duties as such, are hereby ratified and confirmed.

	"SEC. 4. Said county of Jasper shall be attached to the Fourth Judicial 
Circuit, and shall vote with the county of Crawford in the election of 
Representatives to the State Legislature, and with the counties of Crawford and 
Lawrence in Senatorial elections." This act was approved December 19, 1834, and 
in accordance with its provisions an election was held at Newton, in the 
following month, which resulted in the election of W. M. Richards, George 
Mattingley and F. W. H. Claycomb, as Commissioners; Lewis W. Jourdan, Sheriff, 
and Richard Watson, Coroner.

ORIGIN OF NAME.

	In the origin of the name of the county and seat of justice, the 
preference of the people does not seem to have been consulted. The whole nation 
seems to have been absorbed in the contemplation of the history and memoirs of 
the Revolution heroes, and the publication which immortalized the fame of 
Marion's men, then being new, naturally furnished the names of Jasper and 
Newton. Weem's book was the early text book in the schools and the classic of 
its day. The name of Jasper is a tribute to that heroic devotion which Americans 
are glad to honor in the subordinate as well as in the chieftain. Among the 
garrison of Fort Moultrie, in Charleston, S. C., harbor, on the 28th of June, 
1776, was a Sergeant by the name of Jasper. It was on this day that the British 
fleet, which had occupied the harbor, opened the attack upon the fort with such 
a heavy and well-directed fire, as to cause the observing patriots on the shore 
to tremble for the outcome of the conflict. Once during the day, as the smoke 
from a terrific cannonading cleared away, the flag of the fort was nowhere to be 
seen. The shot of the fleet had carried it away, and the anxious spectators, 
with sinking hearts, feared the fort had struck its flag to the foe. But the 
ensign had not fallen willingly nor unnoticed. In face of the storm of shot and 
shell that fell upon the garrison, Sergeant Jasper rescued the Hag, and in a 
perfect hail storm of bullets, nailed it to the broken staff. At night the fleet 
quietly left the harbor with the fort unsubdued. Jasper was made the hero of the 
occasion, the delighted citizens of Charleston uniting to do him honor. The 
ladies presented him with a beautiful flag, which he pledged himself to defend 
with his life, and true to his word he was found later in the war dead upon the 
field of battle, clinging to his and his country's flag. Such is the hero which 
this county honors.

	The county-seat is evidently indebted to the same source for its name. 
Sergeant Newton was a compatriot of Jasper, and the two were often united in 
deeds of daring. One of these occasions is represented as follows:

	"Like many families of that time, Jasper's was divided on the great 
question. His older brother took the side of the English, and served in their 
army. Out of affection to his brother, and a wish to examine into the strength 
and condition of the enemy, he resolved, with another patriot soldier, Sergeant 
Xewton, to pay the British a visit. His brother's position enabled him to 
receive his two friends without any suspicion of their being spies, and they 
were entertained for two or three days with great hospitality. While they were 
thus engaged, a small party of Americans were brought in prisoners, and, as they 
had deserted from the British, and enlisted in the American ranks, their doom 
would have been death. This, the brother of Jasper assured him was to be their 
fate. With them were the wife and child of one of the prisoners. Her distress at 
her husband's approaching fate touched the heart of Jasper. Confiding his 
purpose to his friend Newton, they bade adieu to Jasper's brother, and took 
their leave. They had no sooner got out of sight of the camp, than they made a 
detour, and stretched across the country so as to elude all suspicion should 
they meet with any British soldiers. It was the custom of the English then to 
send all the prisoners taken in that quarter to Savannah for trial. At a little 
spring, two miles from Savannah, Jasper and Newton secreted themselves, awaiting 
the arrival of the British escort and their prisoners. It had occurred to Jasper 
that, as they must pass this spot, it was very probable they might rest here for 
a short time to refresh themselves, and the woody nature of the spot would favor 
a rescue. After some hours' anxious suspense, they saw the escort, with their 
prisoners, approach. The guard was ten in number, and armed. The corporal, with 
four men, conducted their captives to the water, and told them to rest 
themselves for an hour, at the same time giving them provisions. The guards then 
stacked their arms and seated themselves. The prisoners threw themselves upon 
the earth in hopeless despair. Near to the wretched man sat his wife and child. 
Two of the guards alone kept their arms as sentries. As the rest of the men were 
tilling their canteens with water, Jasper and Newton came stealthily from their 
ambush, seized two of the muskets that were stacked, shot the two sentries, and, 
rushing upon the others, stunned them with the butt of their weapons. Deprived 
of their weapons, the others abandoned the conflict and fled."

	It was such deeds as these that made each man in Marion's band a hero, and 
the names of Sergeants Jasper and Newton may be given a perpetual place in 
history as the names of the town and county that form the subject of these 
pages.

TOPOGRAPHY.

	The county of Jasper, thus organized, lies in the northeast corner of what 
is arbitrarily called southern Illinois, and is bounded on the east by Crawford, 
on the north by Cumberland, on the west by Effingham and Clay, and on the south 
by Clay and Richland counties. It is almost square in shape, being twenty-two 
miles long from north to south, and twenty-one and three-fourths from east to 
west, and contains about 484 square miles. About one-third of the county was 
originally timbered land, and the remainder prairie, the latter occupying the 
broad areas of upland between the valleys of the streams, and elevated from 
sixty to eighty feet above the water courses. From Robinson to Liberty, the 
country is rather low and comparatively level, seldom rising more than twenty or 
thirty feet above the beds of the small streams. The changes wrought by the 
habits and cultivation of the whites have somewhat altered the proportion of 
timbered land, so that timber land and prairie are about equal in extent, a 
strip of each in varying widths alternating through the county. The general 
trend of the water courses is southward. The Embarrass, the French pronunciation 
having degenerated into the local name of Ambrau, traverses the whole extent of 
the county from northwest to southeast. This stream rises three or four miles 
northeast of Tolouo, in Champaign County, and enters Jasper about two and a half 
miles west of the center of the northern line. From this point, it bears a 
little east, until it reaches Newton, where with a short turn nearly due east, 
it again follows its general course and passes into Richland County, about two 
and a half miles west of the southeast corner of the county. The Embarrass 
drains nearly the whole surface of the county, except the southwest corner, 
which is drained by Muddy Creek, a tributary of the Little Wabash. The valley 
through which this river courses is a low, flat bottom, from three to five miles 
in width, with some swampy areas, though generally dry enough to admit of 
cultivation, but subject to overflow from the high water of the river. Other 
streams of some importance are: East Fork, heading in the southwest corner of 
Edgar County, entering Jasper near the northeast corner, extending south 
parallel with the east line of the county, varying only a mile or two from the 
east county line at any point, and emptying into the Embarrass River in Section 
32, in Saint Marie Township; Crooked Creek, taking its source in Cumberland and 
Clark counties, near the northern line of Jasper, meandering southward near the 
line of Wade and Willow Hill townships, until it reaches a point nearly due east 
of Newton, where, bearing east, it finds the Embarrass River, in Section 2 of 
Willow Hill Township; Law's Creek, which heads in the prairie, about five miles 
northwest of Newton, and runs southward and a little west, and runs into Clay 
County, where it joins the Muddy Creek; Sandy Creek, a mile or two west of 
Law's, follows a parallel course with the last named, and finds the same 
destination; and Big Muddy, which heads in the edge of Effingham County, near 
the northwest corner of Jasper, and follows along the west line of the county, 
until it passes into Clay County and finds an outlet into the Little Wabash. 
Small prairie runs are noted on the map of the county, such as the Wet Weather, 
a name that indicates its origin, in Smallwood Township; Fox Creek, which gave 
rise to the name of the township in which it is found; Grove Creek, Turkey, 
Slate and Mint creeks, are also named, but are of no significance, save the 
latter in the origin of its name, which it acquired from the haunts of early 
counterfeiters along its banks.

GEOLOGY. (Compiled from State Report)

	Rock exposures are but rarely to be met with in the county, owing, in 
part, to the soft and yielding character of the sandstones and shales that form 
the bed rock over the greater portion of the county, and in part to the wide 
valleys in which the streams have their courses, seldom impinging upon the 
bluffs sufficiently to expose the stratified rocks. The superficial deposits of 
this county consist mostly of brown, gravelly clays, and a bluish-gray hard-pan, 
the whole aggregating from twenty to forty feet in thickness. These beds thicken 
to the westward, and are considerably heavier in the western part of the county 
than in the eastern. Small boulders of metamorphic rock arc frequently met with 
in the creek beds or on the hill-sides, weathered out of these deposits, 
associated with those derived from the sandstones and limestones of the coal 
measures. From the limited exposures, and the widely separated points where the 
bed rock can be seen in this county, it has been found impossible to construct a 
general section of the strata, but enough can be seen to indicate their general 
character, and to determine very nearly their relative position in the coal 
measures.

	The lowest beds in the county are probably the shales and shaly sandstones 
outcropping on the lower courses of the North Fork and on the Embarrass, in the 
vicinity of Saint Marie, which probably belong to the heavy shale deposit passed 
in the boring at Greenup, and belong between coals Nos. 14 and 16 of the general 
section. The highest outcrops will be found in the northwest corner of the 
county, where the Fusulina limestone that outcrops at Churchill's place, near 
the county line in Cumberland County, may be seen.

	At the crossing of North Fork, on the old Palestine and Vandalia road, a 
blue, sandy shale has been penetrated by a shaft to the depth of about thirty 
feet, in search of coal, but without success. The upper part of this shale bed 
outcrops in the bank of the stream at an old mill just below the bridge. About a 
mile further down the creek, a bed of brown, calcareous sandstone is found from 
eighteen to twenty inches thick. In the bank of the Embarrass, at Saint Marie, a 
thin bedded micaceous sandstone is quarried at low water, but it splits into 
thin layers on exposure, and is of little value as a building stone. A well was 
sunk here at the steam-mill, to the depth of ninety feet, through sandy shales 
and sandstones, without finding either coal or limestone.

	Newton, the county-seat, is located on the bluff of the Embarrass, and the 
outcropping beds that form the lower portion of the bluff consists of twenty-
five to thirty feet of soft micaceous shales and sandstones, extending below the 
river bed. About two miles southeast of town, on Brush Creek, a sandstone is 
found that furnishes most of the building stone used in this vicinity. The 
quarry rock is from eight to ten feet thick, in layers varying from six to 
twelve or more in thickness. The stone is rather soft when first quarried, but 
becomes harder on exposure, and makes a very durable rock for ordinary use. 
Locally it has a coarsely, concretionary structure, the concretions being harder 
than the surrounding rock, a character frequently observed in the heavy bedded 
sandstones of the coal measures. Below the sandstone there is a variable 
thickness of shale that becomes bituminous toward the bottom, and forms the roof 
of a coal seam that has been opened, and worked to some extent at this locality. 
The seam was covered up by the falling in of the roof at the time of the State 
survey, so that neither the quality of the coal, nor its exact thickness could 
be ascertained, but it is said to be from two and a half to three feet thick, 
and has a shale parting like the seam at the old Eaton Mines northwest of 
Robinson. This is probably coal No. 14 or 15 of the general section. This coal 
probably underlays the town of Newton, at a depth of eight to ten feet below the 
bed of the Embarrass River, and might be easily mined anywhere along the blutf, 
by driving an inclined tunnel into the base of the hill above high water mark, 
down to the level of the coal.

	Three miles east of Newton, on the road to New Liberty, the same sandstone 
is met with on the east side of the Embarrass Valley, outcropping in the base of 
the low hills bordering the valley, and continuing in occasional outcrops to the 
coal bank, one mile west of New Liberty. This coal is probably the same as that 
on Brush Creek, a mile and a half southeast of Newton. The seam is divided by a 
bituminous shale, varying from six to eighteen inches in thickness, and only the 
lower division of the seam is mined here, the upper part being too soft and 
shaly to be of much value. A section of the beds Above this coal, as seen 
between Newton and this point, would be as follows:

                                                            Feet.      Inches. 

Micaceous sandstone, thin bedded at the top and more
massive below                                            20 to 30
Sandy shale, with local layers of thin sandstone          5 to 10
Bituminous shale.                                         1 to  3
Coal, rather soft and poor                                1 to  1          6
Shale, parting                                          1/2 to  1          6
Coal, good                                                      1          6

	No fossils were found in the shale overlaying this coal on Brush Greek, 
but west of New Liberty imperfect examples of one or two carbonarius plants were 
found.

	South of Newton, a prairie ridge extends for several miles in a southerly 
direction, along which sandstone is said to be found, and this ridge probably 
marks the trend of the sandstone formation in this county. On Limestone Creek, 
in the southwest corner of the county, there is an outcrop of light-gray 
limestone, that is quarried for building stone and for the manufacture of lime. 
In the northwest corner of the county, on Island Creek, an outcrop of heavy 
bedded sandstone and flagstone commences on Section 16, Township 8, Range 8, and 
may be traced northward to the county line. The sandstone is of brownish color 
and makes a fair building stone. On Mint Creek, Section 1, Township 7, Range 8, 
the following section was found:

                                                           Feet.  Inches. 
Silicious shale                                            20
Gray pyritiferous shale, passing into limestone             2
Jet black bituminous shale, with fish scales and spines             6
Coal, breaking into small cakes                                     6
Fire clay                                                           3
Gray silicious shale and Aagstone                           3       8

	This thin coal was sometimes found split by hard bituminous shale, leaving 
only about an inch of coal in each division.

	The section of the Embarrass River, southwest quarter of Section 31, 
Township 7, Range 10, is as follows:

                                                       Feet.   Inches.
1. Covered slope                                        10
2. Bluish-brown argillaceous shale                      10
3. Brown and black bituminous shale                      3
4. Fire clay                                                        3
5. Gray fossiliferous limestone                                    10
6. Blue argillaceous shale                                          4
7. Brownish-black impure limestone                       3
8. Blueshale                                             3
9. Bluish shaly sandstones                              10

	Two miles north of Saint Marie, on the west half of Section 7, Township 6, 
Range 11, a shaft was sunk twenty feet to the river level and some fragments of 
impure limestone were thrown out. About a hundred yards up the river this 
limestone is just at the water's edge. It is eight or ten inches thick, and is 
probably the equivalent of the limestone near Newton.

	The second bluff or terrace is about forty feet above low water. About 
thirty feet above low water, in the face of the bluff, there are remains of an 
old furnace. It is about three feet in diameter, of a circular form and walled 
with rock. Around it are pieces of burnt limestone, charcoal and cinders. On the 
top of the bluff there are a number of Indian mounds, arranged in the form of an 
oblong square, inclosing a court. The peculiar arrangement of the mounds, and 
the presence of mica in the sandstone, and also in the drift bowlders found 
here, led to the belief that silver existed in the rocks and could be extracted 
from them, and the existence of the mounds and the furnace led to the sinking of 
the shaft in pursuit of the same precious metal.

	On Crooked Creek, a half mile west of Brockville, the following section 
was found:

                                                    Feet.     Inches.
Buff-colored limestone without fossils               4
Blue argillaceous shale                              3
Rotten limestone with fossils                                     6
Black bituminous shale                               4
Blue argillaceous shale                              2

	One mile and a half southwest of Harrisburg, on Lick Creek,
the following beds were found:

                                                      Feet.   Inches. 
Bluish argillaceous shale                              10
Blackbituminous shale                                   4
Impure limestone with fragmentary fossils                         6
Bluish argillaceous shale                                2

	The water of the creek is slightly saline, and some prospecting for brine 
has been done in this vicinity.

	All these outcrops belong to the Upper Coal Measures, and range about the 
horizon of coals No. 14 and 15 of the general section. From the general trend of 
the strata it may be inferred that the lowest beds that outcrop in the county 
are those along its eastern border, and the highest, those upon the western. 

MATERIAL RESOURCES.

	A limited supply of coal may be obtained from the beds outcropping near 
Newton and New Liberty, but neither the average thickness of the seams, nor the 
quality of coal they afford, would justify an attempt to work them save in a 
limited way. The main coals are here from five to six hundred feet, or more, 
below the surface, and to reach the bottom of the coal measures, would require a 
shaft more than a thousand feet in depth. It will probably be many years before 
the demand for coal in this county will be such as to warrant the opening of 
mines at this depth.

	Building stone, of good quality, is not abundant; the main supply being 
from the sandstone overlaying the coal at Newton and in this vicinity. At some 
points this bed affords a brown sandstone of fair quality; and at others it 
passes into silicious shales or shaly sandstones too soft and thin bedded to be 
used for building purposes. On Limestone Creek, in the southwestern portion of 
the county, there is a bed of compact, gray limestone, in layers of a foot to 
eighteen inches in thickness, that is quarried for foundation walls, etc., for 
the supply of the adjacent region. The only limestone found in the county, that 
seemed to be at all adapted for use in the lime kiln, was that on Limestone 
Greek, in the southwest corner of the county, and a fair quality of lime may be 
made there for the supply of such portions of the adjacent region as are remote 
from railroad transportation.

	Sand and clay are abundant, and good brick and tile may be made at almost 
any point on the uplands, where they may be required. Sand for mortar and 
cement, occurs at many places along the bluffs of the Embarrass, and may be 
found in beds of most of the small streams, and in nearly every portion of the 
county.

	The chief resource, however, of the county is its soil. The bottom lands 
of the Embarrass have a rich alluvial soil, and when cleared and brought under 
cultivation, produce large crops of corn, to which they seem best adapted. The 
soil of the prairie region is a chocolate-colored, clay loam, similar to that of 
the adjoining counties, and produces fair crops of corn, wheat, oats and grass. 
On the timbered uplands, the soil is somewhat variable. When the surface is 
broken the soil is thin, but on the more level portions, where the growth is 
composed in part of black walnut, sugar tree, hackberry, etc., the soil is very 
productive and yields large crops of all the cereals grown in this latitude. The 
varieties of timber found here are the common species of oak and hickory, black 
and white walnut, white and sugar maple, slippery and red elm, honey locust, 
hackberry, ash, etc.

SWAMP LANDS.

	Originally, a large part of the territory of this county came under this 
classification. By a general act, dated September 28,1850, congress ceded to the 
several States of the Union, alt the wet and overflowed lands within their 
borders, not otherwise disposed of, for drainage purposes. The legislature of 
this State accepted and ratified this act of congress, by complying with the 
special requirements and subsequently, in furtherance of the objects as 
aforesaid, granted to the counties the lands lying within their boundaries. 
Between the years 1850 and 1856, much of this land was entered of the general 
government, through the United States Land Office at Palestine, at $1.25 per 
acre, with "swamp land scrip," "land warrants," and cash, the commissioner of 
the general land office issuing patents therefor. Under the act of congress, 
where land was selected and paid for with "scrip" or "warrants," the State was 
entitled to receive an equal quantity of United States land, subject, however, 
to the approval of the department of the interior, The secretary of the interior 
in construing this act of congress has decided that the land intended to be 
given in lieu of which was entered with " scrip" or "warrants," must be United 
States land, unoccupied, and lying within the State claiming the same, and 
cannot be located elsewhere. The United States lands in Illinois have long since 
been entered, hence the county will only receive indemnity for such swamp land 
as has been entered since 1850 with cash.

	The county has made several efforts to secure its rights under this 
provision, and of late has entered into contract with an attorney to collect the 
indemnity due from the general government. Some 10,000 acres have been claimed 
and the requisite proof filed. The county has sold a considerable amount of 
these lands originally selected, at such prices as they would bring, much of 
which has been reclaimed and is now under cultivation.

AGRICULTURE.

	Jasper County is strictly an agricultural county, though possessed of good 
water-power and timber, and situated within the region of the coal measures, 
manufacturing interests, beyond such mills as the local necessity demanded, have 
found scanty encouragement. It is probably too early to judge of the future of 
manufacturing interests here, as the lack of railroad facilities, before 1876, 
prevented any successful attempts at manufacturing. Since the building of the 
Mattoon & Grayville Railroad, and the construction of other lines, several 
rigorous manufacturing establishments have found place here, and with the 
construction of other roads which are promised at this date, the character of 
Jasper County's industries may be entirely revolutionized in the coming decades.

	The prevailing system of agriculture practiced here may properly be termed 
mixed husbandry. Specialties find little favor with the farmers. The practice is 
to cultivate the various kinds of grain and grasses, and to raise, keep and 
latten stock; the latter business rapidly growing in favor with a majority of 
the wealthier farmers. Though organized in 1834, the development of the county 
was slow, and until 1860 the larger part of the county was not entirely in the 
hands of actual settlers. The farmer, therefore, has not yet felt able to 
indulge in any scientific theories of cultivation. So far, the main object has 
been to gain a subsistence and make sufficient returns to pay for the land, and 
but little more than this has been accomplished. Of late, there is more 
improvement noted, and, while the farming community may be said to be in limited 
financial circumstances, the character of later improvements are of the best 
kind. Houses and barns of improved architecture and the higher order of comfort 
and ornament, are going up everywhere, and a new era of prosperity is marked. 
The need of studying the principles of such branches of learning as relate to 
agriculture, will be felt, and a consequent improvement in the system of farming 
will naturally follow.

	Wheat has been considered a reasonably sure and remunerative crop, and is 
cultivated to a large extent. Some failures in this crop, however, have 
admonished the farmers that this is not to be depended upon solely, and other 
grains are dividing the attention of the farming community. Oats and corn are 
prominent products, and the failure of any one crop is not counted a fatal 
calamity. In 1881, a drouth occurred, no rain falling between the latter part of 
June and the last of August, a period of sixty-eight days. The wheat and corn 
crops were almost entirely destroyed, and business was almost at a stand-still. 
Such experiences are, however, very rare, the general complaint being too much 
rain. Most of the land in the county is low, and very much in need of drainage. 
This subject is now attracting considerable attention, and two extensive tile 
factories have this year been put in operation, with the prospect of ample 
patronage.

	Fruit culture may safely be said to be in its infancy in Jasper County. 
The first settlers, deprived for a time of its use, and realizing the great 
demand in every family for this important article of food, early set about 
planting orchards. But little care was exercised, in a majority of cases, in the 
selection of varieties, or in the care of orchards after once well set, and, 
taking into consideration the value of good fruit as a substantial element of 
food, as a valuable agent in preserving and promoting health, and as a luxury 
which all classes may enjoy, this subject has not received the attention which 
its importance merits at the hands of the agriculturist. The orchard culture of 
apples has only of late years begun to command the serious attention of farmers. 
The product is barely enough to supply home demands, but each year marks an 
increase in the acreage devoted to this fruit. Peaches rank next to apples in 
the number of acres devoted to their culture. The region is ordinarily favorable 
to their culture, and a good yield is generally had here. Pears, plums and 
cherries are found occasionally about the house enclosure, but are not 
cultivated to any great extent. There are one or two pear orchards recently set 
out. Small fruits are not yet grown to any great extent, save for private use. 
There is a growing market for all these products, right at home, and there will 
be an improvement in this direction as soon as this demand is recognized. There 
are no nurseries in the county, and dependence is had chiefly upon traveling 
agents, who find this a profitable field.

	In the matter of stock, the interest of farmers is being generally 
attracted toward the profit of stock-raising. Grass never fails, save in such an 
exceptional year as 1881. The moist nature of the ground renders the crop a sure 
and luxuriant growth. For the cultivation of grain, it requires a large 
expenditure of time and labor, and the question is being seriously discussed 
whether a larger proportion of stock-raising would not yield greater returns. 
Cattle and hogs are already an important source of income to the farmers, and a 
considerable number are improving the grade of their stock by the use of 
thorough-bred animals. Short-horns, Jersey and Devon cattle are 'made a 
specialty by some half a dozen stockmen in the county, and their influence on 
the grade of stock to be found here is quite, marked. In hogs, the Poland-China 
and Berkshire are represented by several stock-breeders. Sheep, though not so 
generally kept by farmers as the other mentioned stock, are still found in 
considerable aggregate numbers, though most of the flocks are small. Among the 
breeders, the Cotswold is the favorite, though the Southdown and Merino breeds 
are represented. On the subject of horses, there is considerable interest 
manifested. Oxen have been superseded here for some years, but the average farm-
horse has not been greatly improved over the original stock. Just now, this 
class of farm property has felt the impulse manifested in every county interest, 
and a number of fine horses are in use for breeding purposes. These are 
principally of the Norman and Clydesdale blood. Some interest is manifested in 
roadsters and speed animals, but the financial status of the farmers, the 
demands of the farm, and the condition of the roads, inclines the general favor 
towards such a cross with the heavy draft horses as will produce a substantial 
animal for all purposes. Mules are bred and used to a large extent, and they 
seem to be growing into greater favor rapidly. Besides the argument used in 
favor of their economical keeping and hardy characteristics, they are found to 
be more salable at good prices than horses. Horses are found to be subject, 
also, to some fatal disorder which causes serious losses. This subject has not 
been fully investigated, but the sudden unexplained death of a good horse is 
frequently reported. It is believed by many that the latitude is not favorable, 
and such losses are generally supplied by mules. Another reason for the 
increased attention to stock-raising is the fact that the average farm is quite 
large, perhaps 200 acres. This, it is found, is too large for successful 
cultivation in grains, and some stock is found necessary to utilize all the 
acreage. Then the question arises, whether it is not more profitable to feed the 
grain grown, and thus retain the offal to enrich the soil. The question is more 
and more being decided in the affirmative, and there are those who confidently 
predict that the future will find this a stock-growing rather than a grain-
producing county. Dairying has not been attempted here, though there is some 
discussion as to the subject. With increased shipping facilities and a 
reasonably close market, there seems to be no reason why it should not be as 
profitable a source of revenue here as elsewhere in the State.

FAIR   ASSOCIATIONS.

	An effort to organize a Fair association was made about 1855. Improvement 
in stock had reached an advanced stage, and some of the more prominent stockmen 
and others, among whom were John Brooks, James Wagle, A. G. Colwell, Sr., and T. 
J. Martin, formed an association. Only two or three exhibitions were held, the 
O'Kean grounds being leased and enclosed for the purpose. After this, the 
interest failed and nothing more was done in the way of fairs until 1870. In 
this year, the County Agricultural Board formed an Association and held annual 
exhibitions until 1880. The plan of organization was not such as to give the 
highest financial results. The State report for 1877, the only one to be 
obtained, speaks of the exhibition of that year as in every way a success. "Our 
premiums were large and hotly contested for in every department. The show of 
stock in the different departments was larger and finer than ever before, while 
Floral Hall was filled to overflowing with the choicest productions of needle-
work, fine arts and staple productions of the soil- * * * The display of 
agricultural implements was complete, and was within itself an exhibition which 
could be pointed to with pride by the exhibitors. Our system of financial 
returns in proportion to individual tickets, but under the depressed financial 
condition of affairs, gives better satisfaction.

	"By economy in expenditures, we were enabled to pay twenty-five cents on 
the dollar awarded in premiums (which is twenty-five per cent, more than the 
society has ever paid). Our current expenses for the year also discharged a 
large part of our mortgaged indebtedness." The value of the grounds and 
improvements was put at $2,000. It was found, notwithstanding the favorable 
character of the above report, that the association could not make a financial 
success, and on April 5, 1880, the "Jasper County Agricultural Joint Stock 
Company " was incorporated. The leading men in this movement were: Wm. E. 
Barrett, Jas. C. Ireland, Daniel O'Donnell and Wm. L. Heath. A large number of 
the citizens of the county took stock, which aggregated $3,000, in shares of $10 
each. This organization has made a complete success of the fairs, and now own a 
finely improved ground west of Newton, valued at some $6,000. In 1881, owing to 
the severe drouth, no exhibition was held. In 1882, the "Twelfth Annual Fair of 
the Jasper County Agricultural Board " was held under the auspices of this 
company, at which premiums were offered to the extent of some $1,500, which were 
all paid in full.

THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.

	The immigration to which this part of the State is indebted for its early 
settlement came principally from the Southern States by way of Palestine. The 
"Wabash country" began to attract settlers as early as 1811, a few families 
finding their way to the west side of the Wabash River, in the territory now 
covered by Crawford, Clark and Edgar counties. The war with Great Britain and 
the consequent unfriendly disposition of the Indians retarded the further 
increase of the settlements until the close of the war in 1815. A number of 
families, however, who had started for this region gathered about Palestine, 
where the general government stationed a company of troops and built a palisade 
fort. On the pacification of the savages, the cooped-up whites rapidly spread 
over the country contiguous with the river, where many had made claims and built 
cabins before it was thought safe to remove their families from the fort. The 
country in this region offered every desired characteristic for pioneer 
settlements, and for some years absorbed the tide of incoming population, so 
that the outlying portions of Crawford, which are now Jasper, were little known 
save to the hunter and that class of persons who preferred a terra incognita. 
The result was that the first inhabitants of Jasper County territory were 
principally squatters; men who found it safer to leave the more settled parts of 
the older States and seek a refuge where the arm of the law could not reach. The 
"Dark Bend," a copse-like bottom of the Embarrass, in the southeast corner of 
Jasper County extending into Crawford County, was the principal spot occupied by 
these characters, though at an early date it was popularly supposed that "the 
woods was full of them." In the nature of the case, but little can be learned of 
these people. The earliest permanent settlers occasionally came in contact with 
them, and, in one way or another, learned something of their history. Soon after 
the settlement was formed at Saint Marie the families of that community were 
visited by half a dozen or so of the ladies of the "Dark Bend," whose attire and 
general appearance confirmed the colonists in all the worst opinions they had 
formed of the people in that benighted region. Mr. Joseph Picquet relates that 
soon after his settlement at Saint Marie, he learned of a destitute family 
living in this region, and, moved by his sympathy, three or four of them made a 
visit to the place. The man had murdered his brother and fled to this region to 
escape the just penalty of his deed. Here he was found, surrounded by several 
dirty, ill-kempt women and a dozen or more squalid, scrofulous looking children, 
living in a long, low shanty, like so many hogs. The man was well advanced in 
years, and all so ignorant and degraded as to exhibit no distaste for their 
surroundings, nor desire for any change to something better. The party from 
Saint Marie went armed, as they did not like the character of the neighborhood, 
and at first created considerable commotion in the conscience stricken 
household. This was the end of the association, however, and the family moved 
away sometime later unheeded. Counterfeiters and horse-thieves made this section 
their abode for many years later, and were a constant source of annoyance to 
this whole region. Counterfeit money was one of the early trials of the pioneers 
of Jasper and vicinity. At home much of this coin passed undetected, but it 
often occurred that when a farmer went to purchase a season's supplies he would 
find his available funds greatly reduced by the counterfeit money he held. 
Martin Grove relates an incident, the memory of which is perpetuated by the name 
given to one of the streams of the county-Mint Creek.

	Cornelius Taylor kept a ferry in Lawrence County, and was, or had been 
considered an honest man. He had for sometime been in the habit of loading his 
wagon with meat and other provisions, and starting off with the ostensible 
purpose of going to Saint Louis to market. After a time Mr. Taylor was suspected 
of being a little crooked, and after watching a little, his neighbors became 
convinced of the fact. It was observed that Taylor made some trips in a 
remarkably short time, and at other times he would be gone for several months, 
and that on his return from these trips a quantity of counterfeit silver and 
paper money would get into circulation in the county. These indications, with 
other circumstances, led to his being suspected of complicity with some gang of 
counterfeiters, and some of the best citizens secretly agreed to watch him. On 
his next trip to Saint Louis, his neighbors found that Taylor suspected their 
intentions, and so loaded up his wagon after night-fall. In that way his absence 
was not noticed until he had been gone several days; but they being determined 
not to be cheated in that manner, gathered up a crowd and followed the wagon 
tracks (it will be remembered that wagons were very scarce in those days), which 
soon left the Saint Louis road and struck out northwest. They followed the track 
then, with more zeal than ever, knowing there must be something wrong, until 
they came to a thicket or thick woods, almost impenetrable, about seven miles 
north, and a little west of where Newton now stands, near the mouth of a little 
creek that empties into the Embarrass River, known since that day by the name of 
"Mint" Creek, where they found, not the wagon, but a little cabin under the 
brush, in which they found a man by the name of Acre Williams, who, after being 
hung up by the neck two or three times until nearly dead, agreed to tell all he 
knew. He, after a few more threats from his tormentors, delivered up a lot of 
molds, dies and other materials for making counterfeit silver and paper money. 
The dies, etc., were taken to Lawrenceville and destroyed in the court house. He 
(Williams) claimed that he was only hired by the counterfeiters to keep house, 
hunt and cook for them. He said the principal man of the counterfeiters was 
named Hornback. He gave other names also, but the principals all got away; but 
the men getting their tools and implements, it broke up their business at that 
place, but we have yet the creek (that took the name from the Mint that had been 
run there) to remember the circumstance by. This was about 1822 to 1824. 

	The earliest permanent settler in Jasper County, probably was Benjamin 
Shocks. But little is known of him. It is said that he was among those who 
occupied the fort at Palestine, and came immediately after the cessation of 
hostilities to this region. He built his cabin in 1816, on the North Fork, where 
Samuel Atkinson now has his farm. The exact location is not pointed out, but it 
was in the "bottoms" northeast of Yale and west of Bellaire, and here he lived 
and died a few years later. From Mr. Johnson's historical sketch, which is found 
to be unusually accurate, it is learned that,

	"About the year 1820 or 1822, a doctor by the name of Sultzer, a son, and 
son-in-law by the name of Jack McCann, settled near where the county line now 
divides this county and Lawrence County, but they were suspected of belonging to 
the mint business, and they left the country very suddenly on that account.

	"James Jordan (the father of Andrew, Joseph and William Jordan, who all 
live near Newton) settled on the farm now known as the Boos farm, early in the 
spring of 1826, started a farm, sold out there, moved up and commenced the farm 
now owned by Joseph Cardot, and a few years after sold it, entered the land and 
made the farm now owned by his son Joseph, and Joseph tells us, that his father 
and mother have told him, that when they raised their house it took all the men 
in the county to raise it, and Joseph is living in the same house yet, with 
additions that he has built thereto. Mr. Jordan raised a large family, and he 
and his wife lived and died on the same farm. William Price settled about the 
same time, where Saint Marie now stands. He lived there for several years, and 
sold out to Mr. Joseph Picquet; Price Precinct was named for Mr. Price.

	"William Lewis settled on the Evermond Mound, in Willow Hill Township, in 
the same year (1826), made some improvements, and sold it to William Evermond, 
who entered the land, since which time the mound has been known by his name.

	"Job Catt (the father of Uncle John, Charles and Michael Catt, and Mrs. 
Fithian, the mother of our present State's Attorney, who all live yet, in Willow 
Hill Township) settled about two miles north of Saint Marie in 1827, and the 
family have lived in the county ever since, except as they die at a good old 
age. About the same time, Lewis W. Jordan and Benjamin Reynolds (with their 
families) settled where Newton now stands. Mr. Jordan (who was no connection of 
James Jordan) built a cabin on the site known as the O'Kean property. Lewis W. 
Jordan left long since with his family; he was the first and only Sheriff of the 
county for some time after its organization, but had to run off for violations 
of the law. Of Mr. Reynolds' family, but two or three yet remain. Old Aunt 
Elizabeth Burford (daughter of Mr. Reynolds) lived in the county until the death 
of her last husband, a few years ago, when she moved to Coles County, to live 
with her daughter. Richard Eaton settled on the East Fork, in Willow Hill 
Township, in 1837, and two years after, built a mill on the creek to saw, and 
grind corn; the mill passed through many hands, but has gone down at last. Mr. 
Eaton went to Texas on horse-back, a few years after, and never came back. By 
this time, other settlers began to come in, notwithstanding there were at least 
three different tribes of Indians camping or living within the limits of the 
county. Uncle John Catt tells us of a little circumstance that occurred about 
this, time, that he remembers well, and is worth repeating. A report came that a 
lot of Indians that were camping out on Big Muddy, near the county line, were 
dancing around their camp-fires with their war-paint on (which meant destruction 
to the pale faces). The settlers called a council of their wise and brave men, 
and appointed Lewis W. Jordan, Job Catt and two or three others, to slip out to 
the Indian camp and see if the reports were true; but before starting out, Mr. 
Catt had his family bury all their cooking utensils, kettles and all heavy 
valuables, and be prepared to flee the country on their return. But only think 
of their surprise, when they arrived in sight of the Indian camping ground, and 
peeping through the brush, to find that the Indians had pulled up stakes and 
"moved out West." After this scare was over, the county began to settle up very 
fast, and in ten years there was a little town in the brush, called Newton, 
where Newton now stands, and it was noted far and near as being a terrible hard 
place."

	Among the earliest settlers of Jasper County was Michael Grove, who has 
left some life-like pictures of the early times that are well worth a place 
here. He writes to the editor of the Press, in 1876, as follows: "My father 
settled, January 14, 1817, in the north edge of Edwards County, two miles and a 
half southwest of where Lawrenceville now stands. There were but three families 
living west of the Embarrass River in that section of the country at that time. 
Well, there we were in the woods in mid-winter, without any roads to any place, 
more than Indian traces; no mills nearer than fourteen miles, and a horse-mill 
at that. Our nearest trading place Was Vincennes, but we did not visit that 
place often, as there was no such thing as going to the stores then to buy 
clothing. You could see a spinning-wheel in every cabin in the community, and a 
pair of cotton-cards. As soon as the farms were sufficiently ahead, you would 
see a flax-pack and a cotton-pack. Common domestic goods and prints were worth 
from thirty-seven and one-half to forty cents per yard. Coffee was seventy-five 
cents per pound, and other things in proportion. There was no such thing as 
young ladies wearing calico dresses to meeting in those days; they went dressed 
in spun cotton. Boys were not dressed in woolen drawers in winter, but were 
dressed in buckskin-got out of warm beds in a cold morning, and went to work in 
their cold breeches; and that is what made the boys of those days of such good 
constitution.    But enough of this.

	"In 1818, Illinois became a State, and was admitted to the Union, and, in 
1820, there was a call for a new county, and Lawrence was formed out of a part 
of Edwards and a part of Crawford. The county-seat was donated by the heirs of 
Dubois, and called Lawrenceville. Land at that time was entered under the old 
two-dollar law, in 160 acre lots. The land-office was at Vincennes. If a man 
paid $80, it would hold his land for five years; if no more was paid, it then 
went back to the government, and if one payment of $80 was made, in four years 
from the first payment, a purchaser then obtained a patent. There were some who 
entered several quarter-sections, with a view to speculation, but times were so 
hard they were unable to pay for what they had entered, and a great many were 
about to lose all they had, but congress about this time passed a law called the 
Relinquishing Act, which gave them a chance to withdraw a part or all if they 
wished, and get a certificate for the amount. Those certificates would go in 
payment on other land. Those who entered only one lot, and could not pay out, 
relinquished and sold the certificates to others who were trying to pay out. 
About the same time, congress reduced the price of public lands to $1.25 per 
acre, and subdivided the quarters into forty acre lots. Then if a man could 
raise $50, he could have a home, but that was very hard to get. After Jackson 
vetoed the United States Bank in 1832, nothing but silver and gold would be 
received at the Land-Office, and that was not to be had here. A number one cow, 
with a young calf by her side, would bring but $10; common cows brought from $6 
to $7; a good pair of work cattle was worth from $30 to $40; a number one horse 
would sometimes bring $50. I have seen pork sell in Lawrenceville, after the 
head and feet were cut off, at $1.37 per hundred pounds, to pay a store bill. 
Those were times to try men's souls. Then, to make matters worse, there were 
scattered throughout the country counterfeiters and horse thieves, who were so 
well posted that the civil law could not reach them. If two or three good men 
came as evidence against them, they would have ten or a dozen persons to prove 
an alibi. They carried this on to such an extent that the citizens of 
Lawrenceville held a meeting and formed a company of regulators of eighty men, 
elected their officers, and then went with Lynch law, and notified them to leave 
the place in so many days or they would have to abide the consequences. Some 
left, and some took the black hickory before starting.

	"We will now turn our attention to the first settling of Jasper County. At 
that time, it was called Crawford County, and there was a man by the name of 
Lewis, who settled on what is now known as the Evermoud Mound. The next settler 
was a man by the name of Sulzer, who settled on what is now called Mattingly 
Point, below Saint Marie. Soon after, others, some in Dark Bend-the Eulows, 
Crabtrees, Wilkenses, Bayards, Jobs, Jordans, Garwoods, Lambs, Richards, and the 
Wades, were among the first settlers.

	"In February of 1836, I came to Jasper County, and settled six miles north 
of Newton, on the Embarrass River. At that time, the county was very thinly 
settled; I don't think there were ten pieces of deeded land in the county. On 
the east side of the river, there were but three families living between Newton 
and Greenup. We had no roads, and for our groceries we had to go to 
Lawrenceville. There was a mill at Greenup, and another on North Fork, but no 
road to either. In the spring, it was so muddy that it was a hard task to get to 
either of the mills; in the summer, if we went, the trip had to be made in the 
night, on account of the horse-flies, and in the fall a good per cent, of us 
were shaking with the ague. So you may conclude that hand-mills, hominy-mortars 
and tin graters were very common. The first settlers of the county were mostly 
horse-men, and there was no place in the county where a man could work for a few 
dollars to buy groceries. His groceries had to come from the woods. Beeswax, 
venison hams, deer, coon and other hides would supply the wants, so the most 
skillful and industrious hunter fared the best in that respect. When the Greenup 
road was first laid off in the direction of Greenup, to the county line, I was 
appointed supervisor to open the road. My district was the county line north to 
what is called the Narrows, two miles east of Newton, and I had seven hands in 
my district-so you will perceive the place was thinly settled.

	"Of the first two or three courts which were held in Jasper, it took every 
man in the county to form the court. There were not men enough to change jurors, 
so they had to be reversed. Those who were grand jurors one term had to serve as 
traverse jurors the next term; thus it was the same men trying the same case 
each term. Although we were few and lived far apart, yet we were willing to help 
each other a great deal more than we do now. Men thought it no hardship to go 
seven or eight miles to a house-raising or logrolling. All met friendly and 
parted the same way. On public days, some would drink too much whisky; then we 
would have two or three whisky fights, but soon all would be right again.

	"When first I came to this county, game was quite plentiful. Bear, deer, 
wild turkey and wild bees were easily obtained, while the river and ponds were 
well filled with beavers and otters. Panthers, wolves and wild-cats roamed at 
large. The hogs we raised for Sale were driven to the Wabash, and they were not 
worth much when we got them there. I drove thirty-seven head to Vincennes, and 
the best I could do then was to sell on ninety days time, at $1.50 per hundred 
pounds, and did not get land-office money at that. Those who think they could 
have gotten rich if they had been here in the beginning, could not have 
supported a small family. Those who were not good hunters did leave. If a man 
brought gold and silver with him, he could get all the land he wanted, but if he 
thought to make it here, he missed the mark, for it was not to be had here.

	"A little anecdote will illustrate the feelings of hunters in general, and 
the good-natured pranks that were played by all in the early times. Old Hiram 
Wade, two of his brothers and one brother-in-law, were out on a coon hunt, and 
by hunting the scratched trees they caught a good-sized coon. Old Hiram having 
grown somewhat tired, and getting off one side, thought of a plan to get some 
rest. He found a large water-oak tree with a large hole in the top. He took his 
knife and sharpened a hard stick so as to answer his purpose, and went to work 
making bear scratches on each side of the tree as high up as he could reach. He 
then got a forked pole, set it up against the tree, got upon it and continued 
scratching the tree as high up as he could reach. He then got down, cleared away 
all signs, and then raised a yell for the boys. They came with a rush.  "I have 
found a coon tree; worse than a coon-a bear tree," said the old man. "Is it 
possible?" inquired the party almost out of breath. "Yes, he is up there, sure, 
and a large one at that," replied Hiram, hardly able to refrain from laughter. 
The boys were highly elated, and went to work with a will on the big tree. Hiram 
told them to look well to their guns and see that they were all right; that he 
would take the dogs out of harm's way until the tree fell, and then he would set 
them on. This he did. When the tree fell, all hands rushed up with cocked rifles 
ready for slaughter, but behold there was no coon there, and what had become of 
the bear? He must have climbed the tree and then jumped off, as there were no 
downward scratches on the tree. Old Hiram had to keep the secret for some time, 
but finally told the boys all about it.

	"This will do well to illustrate the good spirits of the people. They were 
generally frank, free-hearted, whole-souled fellows, and had a hard time of it 
generally. The early settlers would hunt all day hard, and when night came on 
would find a place where there was water, build a fire by a log, roast meat, eat 
it, take mother earth for a bed, go to sleep with the heavens above them as a 
covering, and wild wolves howling around them and about them."

	Another old settler of Jasper County gives his experience with wolves as 
follows: "In the first settling of Jasper County, wolves and wild cats were very 
plentiful, and there were new comers from old-settled places, that had a great 
dread of them. For my part I had always been used to them, and often wished that 
they would attack me in the woods so that I might have some fun. In my hunting 
days I had a comrade that hunted and camped out a great deal with me. At those 
times, all the old hunters had 'nicknames.' They call me 'Uncle Mike' now, then 
it was 'Lidyer.' My comrade's name was 'Sock.' One day 'Sock' had been in the 
woods riding his Indian pony. I think it was in the month of September, 1820, 
when he came to my cabin with his bristles up. He told me that he had seen more 
wolf signs that day than he had ever seen before in his life, and that his pony 
had got scared at the scent of them so that he could hardly be controlled. The 
next morning I girded on my weapons, which included a rifle, butcher-knife and 
tomahawk, and struck out for 'Sock's' wolf signs. I got in range of them, and 
saw one playing with a bush. I fired at it and knocked it over, and instantly 
another one came up. Everything being ready and in order, I soon knocked the 
second one over. Shooting in such a hurry I only hurt it. By the time I was 
ready for the third shot, it was on in its feet, and I shot it again. All of the 
three shots were supposed to be within one minute by those that heard them. The 
first wolf I shot got up and walked a short distance. So I went home, got my 
dog, followed it up, and got it. The scalps were $2 apiece, in the payment of 
State tax, and while I was skinning them the old ones attacked my dog, and I 
shot and killed one of them.

	"In the late fall of the same year, I started out one evening for a deer 
hunt. There was some snow on the ground, and I had not got more than a mile from 
home, when I saw two wolves coming towards me. When near enough for a shot, I 
raised my gun to my shoulder, but it missed fire and they ran off. I had not 
walked ten steps, however, when I saw two more, and I took a snap at them, and 
they too ran off, having a bad flint in my gun-lock that day. I had not walked 
more than a quarter of a mile, when I saw the last two, as I supposed, coming 
down the prairie some 200 yards from me. I concluded I would shoot at them 
anyhow, not expecting to hit one at that distance. So I drew high and cut away. 
At the crack of the gun I saw one of the wolves fall. I broke to run, and as I 
was coming up to it, I drew my tomahawk and struck it two or three licks. I 
thought I would not mash the head too bad as I wanted the scalp. Its mate had 
halted on the prairie, so I sat down, re-loaded my gun, laid my knife and 
tomahawk on the body of the one I had shot, and proceeded to'howl' the other 
nearer. I failed, and the other left when I turned to scalp the one at hand. I 
observed at once that the animal was still alive, and so seizing my tomahawk 
gave the wolf a blow to finish it. This did not seem to accomplish the purpose, 
and taking my ax I proposed to sink the blade in a vital part. The wolf dodged 
the blade and was on its feet, and in an instant was running off. My gun failed 
me again, and I followed that 'dead' wolf from ten o'clock in the morning until 
four in the afternoon, and I never did get his scalp.

	"Hunting was largely a matter of necessity with the early settlers, some 
of the men making it a special business during the season. One man has been 
known to kill and market as many as a hundred deer in one season. But there were 
a few who had time to indulge in hunting purely as a sport. A hunting club was 
organized by Joseph Picquet, Benjamin Harris and others, and wolves were hunted 
very much as the English follow the fox. Each hunter was mounted, some of them 
on horses of good Kentucky blood, and the company drawn out in single line would 
advance through the prairie. The fleetest horses were placed on either wing, and 
on the discovery of a wolf, it was the duty of the huntsman leading the nearest 
wing, to lead off and attempt to enclose the wolf, driving him toward the centre 
where the dogs were held in leash. The members of the club owned several 
greyhounds, among which was an Irish thoroughbred. When the wolf was near enough 
the dogs were set off, and the whole field rushed after the game. No firearms 
were allowed, and the stirrup only was used to finish the victim. This sport was 
indulged in to a considerable extent, and as many as thirty were killed in one 
year. Wolf scalps were quite a source of income, but the fur-bearing animals 
afforded a surer and larger revenue. Agents of the American Fur Company came to 
the settlers throughout this region, and paid good prices for all the settlers 
had to sell. Coon skins brought as much as seventy-five cents at times, and the 
successful trapper was able in this way, not only to pay his taxes, but also to 
provide his home with the limited supply of store goods needed. Without this 
adjunct of backwoods life, it is difficult to understand how the new country 
could have been so early settled. As it was, most of the pioneers brought to 
this country a love for, and skill in the sport, and thus united business and 
pleasure, and found an easy way to lessen the rigor of frontier privations."

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.

	No trace of the early organization is to be found in the county records. 
The large tract of country comprised in the area between the western bounds of 
the present county of Crawford and the Kaskaskia River, originally, did all 
county business at Palestine. Gradually the line of settlements following up the 
river, reached this territory, and Fayette County was formed. Subsequently, 
Effingham and Jasper were organized. Until about 1820, the territory between the 
line of Fayette and Crawford seems to have had no settled population, the tide 
of emigration flowing into this region along the lines of the two rivers, and 
gradually extending inland from these points, east and west. There was probably 
some sort of precinct organization, which included all this unorganized 
territory, but it is not until 1834, that any hint of the modern organization is 
found. In June of this year, the Commissioners of Crawford County, on the 
petition of "sundry inhabitants," established the precinct of Newton, with the 
voting place at Newton. This was done in June, 1834, and W. M. Richards, David 
Phillips, and Benjamin Lamb, appointed judges of election. The first vote at 
this point was taken in January, 1834. This was under the administration of 
Crawford County. In January, 1835, the election was held here to elect the first 
officers for the new county, in pursuance of the organizing act of the 
legislature, as noted before.

	County-seat.-In the absence of the report of the Legislative 
Commissioners, tradition must be relied upon for the facts concerning the 
location of the county-seat. There was no competition. L. W. Jordan, either from 
shrewd foresight, or because of the natural attractions of the locality, 
entered, in 1831, the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 1, Township 
6 north, Range 9 east, and the northwest quarter of the same section. This entry 
covered the geographical center of the new county, or the only available spot 
for a town, near that center. On the formation of the county, Jordan offered the 
twenty acres required by law, as a site for the new county-seat. This was 
accepted without delay, as the Commissioners were only two days in settling the 
question. But two of them were present, and each one was paid some months later 
six dollars for his services. At this time there were but one or two houses near 
the site of the village, Benjamin Lamb having entered land on the same section 
in 1832.