Pope County Notes

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Pope County Notes

John W. Allen

Museum of Natural and Social Sciences Southern Illinois University L I B R.AFLY OF THE UNIVERSITY or ILLI NOIS

IlllNOlS HISTORICAI WnB

Pope County Notes

John W. Allen Acting Director Museum of Natural and Social Sciences Southern Illinois University

Introduction Chester F. Lay Former President Southern Illinois University

Illustrated Map Loraine Waters

The thix'd in a series of County Histories prepared by the author, Randolph County Notes and Jackson County Notes preceding the present publication.

Contribution No. 22, Museum of Natural and Social Sciences Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois

Approved by the Publications Committee

(Printed by authority of the State of Illinois)

ADLAI E. STEVENSON, Governor

State of Illinois 1949

I (Pref,ace

No history of Pope County has heretofore been published.

This booklet does not pretend to tell the county's story fully. How- ever, it does attempt to assemble materials that may aid in kindling an interest in local history.

The author wishes to acknowledge the countless courtesies and kindnesses extended to him by many persons on his numerous trips to the region. County officials and others whose work has made them acquainted with parts of the county's story have been especially helpful. Older persons have contributed from their memories of earlier days. All have expressed interest in having even a brief i-ec- ord, such as this, publish e^d.

JOHN W. ALLEN April 1948

n :

With the Ridges and Valleys of Pope County in His Face

As a high school boy in Golconda, I was thrilled when my father, who was County Clerk of Pope County at the time, showed me, with care ap- proaching reverence, the old records referring back to the days when Pope, like the rest of Southern Illinois, was a part of Virginia. Not only did the pioneer move westward to settle Illinois, but also he moved from the south ever northward. Judged by its civilized population at that stage, Illinois and Southern Illinois were synonymous. The author of this brief history of my home County has ably shown the place of Pope County in this westward and northward march of the pioneers.

The world's greatest earth scientists agree with the schoolroom teacher that anv real understanding of geography must begin in the school boy's foot tracks. ' In the same way, any real feeling and appreciation of the truths of history must begin with an understanding and appreciation of the school boy's home people and home places. For these reasons, we at Southern are pleased to present, for the use of teachers and all those interested in the area served by this University, a series of regional histories, of which this is the third.

This southern area in a northern State has successively based its eco- nomy upon the frontiersmen's hunting, fishing, and sustenance farming; selling the fine hardwood timber down the rivers; wheat and corn farming; livestock growing after the Kentucky pattern; mining; fruit growing; and mod- erate beginnings in manufacturing. With a higher birthrate than that further north, and with an exceptionally high percentage of the people with Anglo- Saxon background, it is gradually being realized that the richest remaining resources of Southern Illinois are the young men and women who constitute this area's greatest export crop. "Pope County Notes," we hope, will make some contribution toward the growth in knowledge and appreciation of their own people by the school children of Pope and its neighboring counties. I am entirely confident that the manv who have made their way to places of respect and even promin- ence in near or far places will read this first history of their home county with both homesickness and pride. Once while I was a professor in the troub- of led Near East my thoughts kept returning to the rugged people and hills remmiscences Pope and I was struck by the aptness of Omar Khayyam's when philosophizing "Mvself when young did eagerly frequent Doctor and Saint, and heard great argument About it and about; but evermore Came out by the same door wherein I went."

Or, as mv father says, in the language of our hills, "You can take of the boy." the boy out of Pope County, but you can't take Pope County out to know that this simple For all such "boys and girls," we would be proud record "pleasures ye."

Chester F. Lay February 11. 1948 President CFL:mmp Southern Illinois University

Pope County Notes

BACKGROUND pioneer possessed. The fact that they wrought intelligently and well Even to a casual observer many will become very evident. localities in Southern Illinois yield evidence of the pioneer era. For In some ways, pioneer Southern those who observe carefully, a Illinois was kind, but altogether it wealth of artifacts connected with was an exacting and difficult task the early years of the region's his- that faced the first settlers. That tory awaits an opportunity to tell its they did their work well and laid a stories. Many log houses that have solid foundation for the things we lived from the early years of settle- have today, clearly indicate a high ment still stand. Sunken roadways, degree of intelligence, industry, and often desex'ted and overgrown with capability. forest trees, mark the early immigrant trails. Old fords indicate the Pope County may well be consid- places where these roadways crossed ered typical of a vast area of South- the streams before bridges were ern Illinois hill land. Its relative built. Numerous abandoned ceme- convenience to the Ohio River at a teries, with shapeless and unlettered time when good roads were practi- grave markers, reveal the spots cally unknown was an advantage. where the now forgotten pioneer The highways to and from numerous was buried. Homely devices and ferries, across both the Ohio and the Mississippi strange tools of the first settlers are Rivers, led through its forests. yet to be found in attics and lofts Its virgin soil, now badly eroded where they have lain for a lifetime. and otherwise depleted, pro- These and many other evidences duced excellent crops. Its spring- fed await the one who would study the streams assured a bountiful supply of good humble life of those who laid the water. These streams also furnished foundation of our state's greatness. power for the grist- mills of the pioneers. Its forests A knowledge and appreciation of yielded a practically unlimited sup- the contributions which the pioneers ply of building materials. In its hill made help much toward a better un- lands, malaria was not so prevalent derstanding of our life today. At as in the lower and swampier lands the same time, it will increase re- found at many other places along spect for the skill, the sturdiness, and the river. This county was an at- the all-round capabilities that the tractive area for settlers. One cannot be positive as to the Pope County, once traversed by many very first ones that came into the thousands of immigrants, was defi- county. At the time of their com- nitely out of the lines of major tra- ing, the land had not been surveyed. vel. No systematic records were kept. pioneer environment of Pope Into the unsurveyed wilderness the The thus left to be influenced settlers quietly came. Sometimes County was less immigration. they built homes, cleared a spot in less and by new crafts prac- the vast forests, and remained as Many of the skills and remained in residents of the new land. At other ticed by the pioneers times they paused for a year or so use here after their disappearance and passed hopefully onward. Oth- in more accessible regions. Until ers did not halt as they journeyed the coming of improved state high- within comparatively recent along the lonely woodland trails ways rural toward points north and west. years, the residents of the areas of the county clung to much of the pioneer culture. Evidences of Relatively few people returned this culture are fast disappear- along the roads that led many to now ing. the westward. For most persons the trails led to new homes and to a This booklet is written in the hope measure of happiness. Others per- that it may help toward a better un- ished on the journey and were buried derstanding and greater apprecia- beside the trail. Some very old per- tion of the significance of that all- sons yet recall the sites of these lone- but-vanished era. It may thus not ly and generally unmarked graves. be out of place to include in this di- Most of these burial places are for- vision certain general information gotten, as are the names of count- that may serve as a background less thousands that hopefully plod- against which the homely informa- ded toward the ever-beckoning west. tion given may be viewed. Even though only a few names remain, it is not difficult to pause be- To the middle-aged person who side a worn and deserted roadway grew up in an isolated community of that once was an important immi- Southern Illinois, much of the infor- grant trail, and in imagination, see mation concerning pioneer life may the unending stream of people silent- seem commonplace. Even so, it is ly trooping past. With the passing hoped that such references may years, the number of people moving arouse memories of other days, mem- along these old roadways grew less. ories from which passing years have Some were going by steamboat, and removed all the sting. others, over the better highways farther north. The pioneers found no houses into which they might move. It was As the number of immigrants cros- necessary that such be built. Since sing the county grew steadily less, the forest was all about them, this what might be called isolation came. new house would, almost without exception, be built of logs. Often it the dishes were also made from would consist of only one room and wood. sometimes have only the earth for The first crop planted by practi- a floor. The usual tools the pioneer cally every settler was a patch of had available for use in building his corn. From the corn he grew, the home and furniture were a chopping pioneer secured feed for his live- ax, a broadax, a drawing knife, a stock and grain for making his corn- frow, and perhaps an auger. Trees meal. Corn whiskey, in common use were felled and shaped to their in- among the pioneers, also came from tended use with the ax and the this same source. was not broadax. With the frow, boards were Wheat generally grown until some years aft- rived from some suitable oak nearer a settler had established his farm. by. With drawing knife, timbers Much of the meat eaten by pioneer were smoothed, where the ax and families came from the wild game of broadax were not suited to the pur- the forest. Clothing was coarse but pose. And with an auger, not so es- durable. That of the men was often sential as the other tools named, made from deer skins. For the wom- were bored holes into which pegs en and children it was generally might be fitted to fasten timbers to- homespun cloth, known as linsey- gether, or to form legs for the home- woolsey. flax were built furniture. When or cotton not available, the cloth was "all Since nails were scarce and often wool." difficult to secure, a gimlet was fre- Shoes were of rugged construction. quently used to bore holes, into They were often made by the house- which small whittled wooden pegs holder. At other times a shoemaker were fitted. The clapboards for the would come with his rolls of home- roof were held in place by weight tanned leather, small bags of wooden poles laid on each course and fast- pegs, some waxed linen thread, a ened down with pegs or withes. small assortment of tools peculiar to Household furniture was also fa- his trade, and a few lasts over which shioned from the forest trees. A the shoes might be fashioned. Shoe- large slab, smoothed with the broad- making was essentially a local indus- ax and supported on wooden pegs try. During the summer season, for legs, made a table. Chairs and many persons went barefoot. benches were made from short sections of logs, or from slabs with legs As soon as a few people had set- made from pegs smoothed by the ax tled in any vicinity, the practice of and drawing knife. A single post "swapping work" began. A man set on the floor or in the gi'ound, wishing to build a new barn or with rails extending to the walls, pro- house would invite the men from vided a platform upon which a bed some distance about. Enough help could be made. Meals were pre- was often assembled practically to pared at the fireplace which also complete the building in one day. served to heat the house. Many of Failure to receive an invitation to such occasions was considered an af- them. With the coming of land front. The occasions were not with- transportation, the smaller streams out certain social values, since the were crossed at fords. Ferries were women and children generally came established across those streams that along. The children thus met and could not be readily forded. With played with other children. The the increase of overland transporta- women prepared such a noonday tion, bridges came to replace many meal as would be most satisfying to of the fords. The first roadways men who were engaged at hard man- were along winding trails that were ual labor. The men rolled logs, en- marked by the blazing of trees. For gaged in feats of strength, talked of land transportation, wagons and the subjects interesting to pioneer carts were commonly used. In some men, often drank more than was ex- cases, the wheels of these vehicles actly good for them, and occasional- were made from short cuts of logs. ly had a few fist fights. Sleds, lizards, and mudboats were also frequently seen. Money was very scarce, and trade was usually by barter. Paper money The sports and amusements of the was of questionable value. The com- early day were those in which the dol- mon coin in use was the "rix" strength or skill of the individual lar. In order to make change, this counted most. There were practi- coin could be broken into eight cally no organized games, such as pieces or "bits" along the lines al- those known today. Among the ready marked on it. From this prac- amusements for men, the shooting tice the terms "two bits," "four bits," match was perhaps most common. English and "six bits" were derived. In these matches, the shooting might money was sometimes used. be done at a mark or at a goose or turkey that had been tethered to a Cattle, hogs, and horses were al- stake. At most of these gatherings, lowed to run at large. In order that fights were common, but these could each one might know his own ani- hardly be termed sporting events, mals, these were branded by the use since gouging and kicking were gen- of a hot iron, or were marked by allowable. Dances, husking cropping and cutting the ears in a erally bees, and apple parings offered op- certain pattern. The ease with which portunity for boys and girls to meet. livestock could be grown is indicated by the fact that beef or pork often Soap-making was an activity that sold for three cents or even less per occurred at least once each year. pound. A first-rate cow and calf Wood ashes were saved from the could be bought for ten dollars. The fireplace and stored in an ashhop- hide from a cow or steer was worth per. Meat scraps were also careful- as much as the meat. ly saved. When soap-making time Since waterways were ready-made came, usually in the spring of the routes for transportation of goods, year, lye was leached from the ashes settlements naturally began near in the hopper, and the meat scrap was placed in an iron kettle with creased settlement, stores were estab- this lye and cooked over an open lished and tradesmen appeared. fire until a very potent soap resulted. Many of the tools that had hereto- This was about the only soap known fore been made by the local black- to the pioneer. smith were to be found for sale in these new stores, but the blacksmith compared with the present- When continued to be an essential crafts- day methods of giving out punish- man in each settlement. ment to law violators, those of the pioneer seem rather severe. Whip- In ail early county records much ping was common. At one time in space is given to roadways. In or- Pope County, a person convicted of der to secure a new road, the settlers burglary or perjury could be sent- desiring it would sign a petition to enced to receive up to thii-ty-nine be presented to the county authori- stripes. For the first offense of ties. If the petition was granted, horse stealing, the punishment was and it usually was, "road viewers" not less than fifty nor more than two were appointed to locate the new hundred stripes. For a second con- road. This was done by selecting the the viction, the penalty was death. For best available course through woodland "blazing" the trees hog stealing, one would receive twen- and to indicate the location of the route ty five stripes; for altering or de- chosen. Little attention was paid to facing brands, forty stripes; and for land lines; hence old roadways of- bigamy, from one hundred to three ten appear to wander from place to hundred stripes. Children or ser- place. Streams were generally vants, convicted of disobedience be- crossed at fords; ferries and bridges fore a justice of the peace, could be came into common use with increased sent to jail or to a house of correc- settlement. tion. Should a child or servant as- In the early days of Pope County, sault or strike his parents or master, slaves were owned by a number of court of two justices could sentence a people. An extended account of this the offender to receive ten stripes. practice will be found under that In all cases, where whipping was or- title in the later text. dered, the stripes were to be "well lot of servants and childi'en laid on." The bound out was often little better than The pioneer era did not know nor that of the slaves. Children or require the many kinds of skilled younger persons who had no parents workmen of the present day. Per- or others able and willing to care haps the most essential craftsman in for them might be "bound out." The any early settlement was the black- term of such service ended at the age smith. It was he who fashioned the of eighteen for girls and twenty-one tools used by the settlers. The more for boys. A girl thus bound out was skilled of these men became the gun- occasionally given a small sum of smiths who made and repaired the money, a Bible, and almost always firearms of the settlers. With in- "two dresses suitable to her station difficulties of tra- in life." Boys were generally taught Because of the only a trade and sent to school until they vel, large crowds were common learned to read, write, and "cipher three times each year, when such na- to the double rule of three." The gatherings took on a county-wide bound boy sometimes received a Bi- ture. These were election days, ble and generally a suit of clothes court days, and muster days. Elec- "suitable to his station in life." In tion and court days correspond some- addition to the above, he occasional- what with the same events today, ly received a small amount of money, but muster day was an institution as well as a horse, saddle, and bridle. that has disappeared. It came from Being bound out did not prove any the rule that each able-bodied man great handicap in after life. There was required to serve in the militia are numerous instances of children and to meet at designated places and who were bound out in their youth at stated intervals for military drill. and who later attained reasonable Those days saw a motley crowd in distinction. the county seat. Members of the militia, each with his own rifle and Where white children were "bound equipment, came to muster. The of- out" or apprenticed, they always ficers, often wearing uniforms and seem to have received some money swords, came for their brief day of or other consideration of value at glory. By the close of the day, many the end of their apprenticeship. In men had drunk themselves groggy, the case of Negro children, no men- the officers had bawled themselves tion is found concerning any payment hoarse, and there had most likely or reward given at the end of the been a number of fights. Alto- period for which they were bound. gether, the day was a demoralizing The only consideration indicated in one. When Andrew Jackson came such cases was that the child thus to the presidency, the practice of apprenticed was to be "trained as a muster day was abolished. It was servant." revived for a short time during the Mexican War. The lot of the poor was not in any- way a happy one. In the county rec- The foregoing affords a few glimp- ords one often finds such references ses of an era that has passed. In its history. Pope County has been ruled as" , a pauper, was sold out to the lowest by the Indians, French, English, Vir- bidder to be boarded, clothed, and ginians, and Americans. It was a cared for" at the expense of the part of the Northwest Territory, and county. The rate for the care of later of the Indiana Territory, be- these unfortunate persons varied fore being known as part of Illinois. from one dollar to three dollars per Across the county and along its bor- week. This practice was followed ders, significant military expeditions for many years before the county have moved. Its citizens have parti- farm or "pauper farm", as it was cipated in the nation's wars. Men generally referred to, was estab- who have exerted more than passing lished. influence on the affairs of the state and nation have had their homes The native animal life as a source of here. Several industries have risen, food was almost as important to the flourished, and vanished. Flatboats pioneer as it had long been to the and steamboats have plied the Indian. streams. Pirates, in the early days stated, the Indian ate of river traffic, sought refuge in this As has been region. practically any animal he killed. The pioneer was more particular. His Pope County has an interesting his- lood animals were the buffalo, deer, tory, and if this booklet and its ac- elk, bear, raccoon, opossum, rabbit, companying map serve to increase squirrel, and perhaps a few others. interest in that history, they Vi'ill He did not include animals that are have served their purpose. generally looked upon as purely beasts of prey. The wolves, panthers, bobcats, minks, foxes, and some ANIMALS other such animals were not attrac- The animal life native to Southern tive food items for the white man. Illinois v/a& all important to the peo- He liked geese and certain ducks ple vi'ho lived here prior to the com- among the waterfowls. He parti- ing of the white men. To the In- cularly liked wild turkeys. The dians it was, with maize or Indian white man sought and killed for food corn, the major portion of food. The the animals he most desired. This Indian does not seem to have been process also operated to lessen the bothered much concerning the par- natural food supply of such beasts ticular animals eaten. At their old of prey as the country had. With camp-sites and in the shelter of rock the diminishing supply of their na- ledges where their food was pre- tural prey, wolves, panthers, and pared and eaten, one finds bones of foxes turned more to the domestic practically all the mammals large animals of the settlers. The settlers enough to furnish even a few bites then became interested in an effort of food. Turtles, terrapins, fish, eels, to destroy the animals they consid- and mussels were common articles of ered harmful. Old county records diet. With the abundant animal life indicate many bounties paid for wolf of Southern Illinois and their ever scalps. In some counties the rule of dependable Indian corn, beans, mel- the county board concerning the pay- ons, pumpkins, and assorted roots, ment of a bounty for wolf scalps has the Indians of this area ate about as never been repealed. well as those of any region in the Many stories are told of the set- United States. tlers' clashes with wolves and panth- When the white men came, they ers in particular. The howling of found the same plentiful animal life the wolf pack or the cry of the that nurtured the Indian. They bor- panther aroused fear and dread in rowed his food crops and added oth- the most stouthearted. Tradition re- ers of their own. This situation made cords stories of the killing of lone

it an attractive area for settlement. settlers by such animals. Reverend John Crawford writes of quite a bat- hope that they may be protected and tle waged by his father, another once more be seen. The wild tur- brother, and himself, against a key disappeared a generation or so panther that was attempting to steal ago. Fresh stock has been brought their pigs. Their dogs held the ani- in and released. It is hoped that the mal at bay, and the father finally woodlands may again be the home killed it with stones. It was several of these attractive birds. Beaver have been returned, and their dams that the years after the settlers came can be seen at several places. The several panthers disappeared, and disappearance of some of these na- wolves ceased to more before the tive animals is to be regretted. Un- alarm people and to be particularly der proper protection and care, some panth- destructive of livestock. The may return, but doubtless others will to the pio- er was often referred by not. neer as a "painter" or "painther." It was the same animal now occasion- One of the tragedies of the wild ally found in the Rocky Mountains life that once flourished in Pope and known as the mountain lion. County is that of the passenger pigeon. Though larger, these pigeons The fur bearing animals of the closely resembled the mourning otter, mar- region were the beaver, doves, now relatively plentiful. Very ten, raccoon, muskrat, mink, and old people yet recall seeing them in per- some others less valuable and immense flocks that literally dark- haps not so common. These animals ened the sky for some minutes at pioneer, were also of value to the a time. They often clustered so for since their pelts could be sold thickly at roosting time that large needed money or exchanged for limbs of the trees were broken by products that were brought from their weight. Older people of Pope more distant regions. The animal County may refer to one of these life of the area was altogether a localities as "the pigeon roost." They early helpful factor in promoting were so plentiful that farmers settlement. clubbed them to death at their Many of the native animals have roosts and fed their carcasses to the entirely disappeared. The buffalo hogs. They began to appear in was perhaps the first to go. Bear, smaller numbers and in a few yeai's the elk, and deer followed later. Otter, vanished. So far as is known, beaver, and marten vanished early. last specimen of these birds died in The wolf and panther were de- the zoological gardens at Cincinnati, stroyed. Bobcats became, and yet Ohio, in February, 1914. are, scarce. Foxes became somewhat less common, but are now on INDIANS the increase. In recent years, wolves have been seen in several localities Pope County, with its varied topo- and have been killed or captured in graphy, provided an excellent region a number of places. Deer have been for animal life. This abundance of brought back and released in the wild animals that served as food for the Indians made it an attractive tention from the earliest times. Many hunting ground lor them. Numerous of the smaller mounds were much remains indicate that extensive na- defaced by plowing and by amateur tive villages existed in this region. archeologists who often did not un- Space will allow the discussion of derstand the significance of the ob- only a few of the remains to be jects discovered. In recent years, found in the county. After that, the the University of Chicago has con- firsthand account of one who came ducted extensive excavation and into intimate contact with the Indi- gathered much significant material. ans of the immediate vicinity will be These mounds receive their name given. from T. J. Kincaid, an earlier owner of the ground on which they are Kincaid Mounds situated. Kincaid lived across the is a group of Kincaid Mounds line in Massac County. mounds located in the very southern part of Pope County and in the War Bluff adjoining portion of Massac County, War Bluff, several miles almost di- most of them being in Massac Coun- rectly north of Golconda, has sheer ty. These mounds were erected by sides on the east, west, and north. a people living in this region before It is connected with the hill lands the coming of white men. Excava- to the south by a naiTow isthmus tions and study reveal that they about 75 feet wide. The area of the served various purposes. Some bluff is about two acres. The rem- mounds were burial places and, when nants of the wall found there today excavated, are found to contain hu- are parts of the original wall. This man bones and assorted objects wall is perhaps the least disturbed buried with the dead. In other cases of any similar structure in Southern the objects found indicate that the Illinois. The purpose of this enclos- mounds served as dwelling sites, pla- ure is not definitely known. It may ces of worship, work shops, or for have served as a place of defense by the location of some other activity the Indians or as a compound into that entered into the life of the peo- which game was driven. On the ex- ple who built them. Despite all that treme north end of War Bluff is a has been learned, there yet remains place known as Lover's Leap, the enough of the mysterious to interest story connected with it being the almost any who stops to view. usual one. From these mounds many of the tools and implements and much of Old Indian Fort the equipment used by a primitive Old Indian Fort is shown on the people have been recovered and Illinois Atlas of 1876. It is also known parts of their way of life re- some as Indian Kitchen and is located yet remains to be vealed. Much about a half mile above Rose Ford, learned. on the Raum highway, on the west There are several of these mounds, bank of Lusk Creek. This fort re- and they have attracted much at- sembles very much the one in Giant City Park, the one at Stonefort in there had been a great slaughter in Saline County, the one at War Bluff, that valley, each hill presenting a north of Golconda, and the one at large burying-ground, marked by the Pounds in Gallatin County. In large flag-stones in long rows set up each case a high bluff or headland in their crude state, and over- is connected to the main land by a shadowed by large oak trees. narrow isthmus that once had a wall "The Indian towns at that time, or fortification built across it. were said to be principally on the A Boy's Account Oca, (Okaw) Illinois, and Tippecanue Only one account concerning the Rivers, but we were surrounded by actual relations between the early large hunting parties during every fall settlers and the Indians in Pope season up to the war of 1812. These County has been found. This was parties appeared to be very friendly, written by the Reverend John Craw- often taking possession of our fire- ford, who came with his parents side on chilly and rainy days, which when they settled near the mouth of was surrendered to them, through fear, Grand Pierre Creek, in 1808. The together with whatever provi- portion of his account concerning the sions that were on hand which they might require. I often Indians is given as he set it down. trembled with cold and fear and felt the oppression "In the spring of 1808 we left the of hunger, because of these intru- Kentucky shore, and landed on the sions to which we were circumstan- Illinois side of the river at the mouth tially compelled to submit. of Grand Pier Creek, some five miles occasion above the present site of Golconda. "On one when father had gone to Kentucky to mill, mother and "This had evidently been an In- the children being alone, a very dian town; a battle of some magni- large Indian came in with a silver tude had been fought here. ring in his nose as large as the bot- "When this valley was brought into tom of a tin cup and demanded his cultivation, its soil was found to be dinner. Mother of course spread be- literally filled with musket balls and fore him all the provisions on hand Indian darts. of which he partook freely. He then approached the fireside, taking a "I have in my possession a five- large scalping knife from his belt, pound cannon ball which father looking intensely at us children, drew found in the center of a large oak it three times across his throat then tree. This is preserved as a relic stretched himself full length before of early times, having the priority of the fire for a sleep with his knife in all others, as it must have been de- his bosom. We understood this as posited there during a battle between a warning not to disturb him. We the French and Indians before any all took position in the rear of the American had seen the Ohio at that cabin and endured the cold till he point. concluded his sleep, and at his de- On the tops of the surrounding parture there was great joy in that hills was demonstrative evidence that house.

10 "Another scene of horror to us came "The supposed reason why we were during the occurrence of highwiads not massacred was that a family was when some Pennsylvania flatboats in plain view on the Kentucky shore were diuven into harbor at father s who would have beheld the deed and landing. Knowing the Indian's great given notice to a settlement of whites love for whisky and our defenseless at the mouth of Cumberland River, situation, father presented our case who could have intercepted them. to the boats' officers and obtained This was the only settlement of much a promise not to furnish whisky to strength between Shawneetown and the Indians, but these boat officers Kaskaskia at that time. Since then proved faithless and when the In- there have been no Indians in South- dians brought their peltry furs and ern Illinois, only as passing through dried hams to exchange for whisky, under government arrangement." they were furnished in abundance. The encampment numbered over EARLY SETTLERS twenty and was in full view of our Pope, along with some other coun- cabin about four hundred yards off. ties in Southern Illinois, had relative- A scene of drunkenness and a great ly few very early settlers. It is known war dance ensued. They fought pro- that some settlers had come into the fusely among themselves and made area before 1800, but no land is in- frequent dashes toward the cabin to dicated as having been settled for attack us, but at every onset they some years after that. This lack of were repulsed by the sober ones who record is due to the fact that the pushed them back often at full United States land offices did not length and knocked them down with open for sale of land in Illinois until whatever came to hand. Father and 1814. Those who came before that the boys prepared to make the best time held no titles to their land un-

defense possible, but fortunately for less it was through a grant given to both parties they were repulsed be- someone who had settled and made fore they reached the cabin. improvements before 1790, or to others who were given land because of "At the declaration of the War of their having rendered military service. 1812, these hunting parties were called in by runners before the Available records show only two whites knew of the declaration of claims made for the grant of govern- war, as there were no mail facilities ment lands for military services, and in that region in those days. On none are shown based on improve- leaving, they painted themselves and ments made in Pope County prior to assumed hostile a attitude, walked 1790. One of these military claims with a great air of dignity past the was in Section 19, Township 13S, cabin, direct to our small boats at Range 7E, and is included within the the shore, our only means of com- present limits of the city of Golcon- munication with our few neighbors in da. This tract is designated as Sur- Kentucky. These they confiscated, vey No. Claim No. 582. The and with their supplies of game, 690, descended the Ohio and ascended the claim was filed by Robert Kidd, who Mississippi. transferred his rights to Robert Mor-

11 rison by deed made at Kaskaskia, on Beginning the record in the north- April, 18, 1805. This deed, witnessed west corner of the county around by William Wilson and Henry Jones, McCormick, the first settler to enter is recorded in Deed Record K at land was Gideon Alexander, who on Chester, Illinois. The land commis- May 31, 1836, purchased parts of sioners, Michael Jones and E. Back- Section 1 and 12, just south of the us, allowed the claim at Kaskaskia place where the village of Colorado on December 31, 1809. After what was later to be located. On Decem- appears as somewhat involved trad- ber 5, 1843, slightly more than seven ing, the title was secured by Thomas years after the Alexander homestead Ferguson who operated the ferry was established, D. Beal, D. B. Grace, long known as Lusk's Ferry. It was and George W. Jones purchased land for one-hundred acres "affirmed to in Section 6 of this same township. include the improvements and ferry Each bought his land on the same of said Ferguson, called Lusk's day, and it may reasonably be in- Ferry, to conform to sectional lines." ferred that they had previously Kidd's claim to land was based on planned to live as neighbors. Beal's his having been a "militiaman en- Hollow, which opens into the valley rolled and doing duty in Illinois, on where Bell Smith's Spring is found, the I'st day of August 1790." was named for the Beal family mentioned above. Other settlers follow- one-hundred A second claim for ed in the 1840's, but it was during acres located on the Ohio river just the 1850's that land settlements in north of where Bay City now stands this region reached the highest peak.

is shown on the government plat In the next section south of Mc- book in the Circuit Clerk's office at Cormick, just northwest of present- Golconda. The American State Pa- day Glendale, John Witt made a pers show that this tract was origi- purchase of land in Section 20, on nally claimed by a man named April 24, 1817. It appears that he Thomas Winn, and that he assigned did not complete payment, as this his claim to Pierre Menard who, in same land later became the proper-

turn, assigned it to Isaac Fitmore, to ty of G. W. Waters. Also, William whom it was confirmed on December Penny entered land in Section 10 31, 1809. This tract is recorded as on February 26, 1818, but there is Survey No. 696, Claim No. 297. a possibility that he may not have completed the purchase, as a note The initial settlers who procured on the land book says, "relinquished land in Pope County made their pur- I think." Robert Penny bought land chases at the Shawneetown land of- in Section 23, about three miles east fice. Inasmuch as it may be easier and one mile north of Glendale, on to follow locations if given in groups April 23, 1818. Others who pur- rather than in order of time, some chased land in this area were Right of the earlier entries will be located Modglin, who entered land in Sec- according to the section of the coun- tion 20, about a mile north of Glen- ty where they were situated. dale on January 25, 1819; and James

12 miles Whiteside, who made an entry on land in Section 3, about two Hill. November 24, 1818, for land in Sec- north and west of Temple tion about a mile west of the Rou- 24, Despite the fact that the region ert Penny property. Also, William lying around Oak, Delwood and Modglin located in Section 17, just Blanchard was served by two north of the Right Modglin claim, branches of the Shawneetown-Jones- on September 1, 1818. Almost twenty boro Road, land entries within this years elapsed before other claims area were not made until the year were filed in this region. Lugar 1837. The initial entry was made by Wright came in 1837, Samuel Hazel Moses Davis, on June 22, 1837, in and George Walters in 1838, and Section 36, about two miles south- George Laughlin and Alexander east of Blanchard. The succeeding Murphy in 1839. A few others came entries were made by John and during the 1840's, and within the James Williams, on June 5, 1838. next decade this section was rather John located in Section 13, a mile or fully settled. so southeast of the present post of- The settlements within the region fice of Oak; and James in Section 24, about two miles northeast of Blan- south of Glendale and around Dixon chard. Jonathan and Joseph Dior- Springs were generally located near man entered land in Sections 7 and the early roadway leading from 17, a short distance southwest of Del- and Jones- Lusk's Ferry to Vienna wood, on December 10, 1838. John this boro. The first land entry in S. W. Morse entered land in Section area was made by Justin Wilson on 17, near them, on December 18 of June 27, 1817, in Section 4, about the same year. two miles north of Dixon Springs. In the Eddyville-Raum area, S. Isaac Bozarth bought land in Sec- Penny and E. Penny entered tion 3 about a mile east of Wilson's land in Section 18, about one tract one week after Wilson had and one-half miles south of Ed- made his entry. In 1818, Samuel dyville, on February 16, 1818. Per- Alexander settled in Section 3, near haps these men did not complete the Bozarth, and William Wilson bought purchase, as a note on the land book land a mile or so northwest of the seems to indicate that the land springs. passed to F. Beanard before full pay- Within the present-day Temple ment was made. The next entry in Ful- Hill vicinity, James Richey entered this region was made by Richard Section about two miles land in Section 1, about two miles kerson, in 25, 1818. northeast of Temple Hill, on Novem- southeast of Raum, on July 13, land in this ber 23, 1815. Some three years lat- No other person bought Gilbert located er, Charles Shelby came to live in vicinity until James just northeast of Eddy- Section 1, near Richey. The next in Section 3, During person to enter land in this locality ville, on February 8, 1836. was Robert Hayes, who filed a claim the year 1836, John Lauderdale set- four miles on November 21, 1822. Later, on tled in Section 30, almost Joseph Hall, in May 20, 1825, James Green entered south of Eddyville;

13 Section 13, a mile or so northeast of 1817, and William Croncher in Sec- Raum; and Joseph Vaughn, in Sec- tion 9, just south of Homberg, on tion 3, near James Gilbert. May 11, 1818.

The next section centers around Within the portion of Jefferson Golconda and Waltersburg, Here, on Township lying south and west of November 3, 1815, James Allcorn Bay City, John D. Hickman entered filed claim to land in Section 19, a land in Section 9, on November 9, mile or so southwest of Brownfield. 1818. The next entry was made by

The next entry was made in Section William Griffith in Section 1, near 23, some two miles west of Golconda, Bay City, on March 20, 1822. No on April 25, 1817, by a man whose other entry was made in this section name appears to have been Francis until John Kincaid bought land in

Glup. William Rambeau and John Section 3, on July 5, 1836. Colver entered land in Section 26 The Hartsville-Herod area dis- and 28, on May 6, 1817. In Janu- ary, 1818, James King settled in Sec- closes an initial entry as early as tion 13, a mile or so north of Gol- September 13, 1815, when Jesse conda. John Crawford located in Story settled in Section 15, about two miles Section 31, near Brownfield, in May southeast of Herod. After more of the same year. In July 1818, than twenty years, Elbert Rose en- James Cogswell purchased land in tered land in Section 10, east of Section 24 near Golconda, and in Oc- Herod, on July 6, 1836. On July 11 of the tober of the same year, James Pit- same year, Joseph Lambert talo (sometimes recorded as Pittulo) entered land in Section 5, northwest of Herod; in entered land in Section 17, near Wal- and the following Au- tersburg. Isaac Shufflebarger came gust, Alfred Rose purchased land in Section 3, northeast to Section 2, about four miles north- of Herod. west of Golconda, in March 1822. The eastern section, around Lusk, In the Rosebud, Homberg, Bay shows the first land entry to have City section, George Lusk made the been made by Thomas Rose, in Sec- first land entry in Section 24, on tion 34, near the Ohio River, on Jan- May 6, 1816. According to present- uary 4, 1836. On June 6 of the same day maps, this location was washed year, Randal Towns entered land in away by the Ohio River. William Section 19, about two miles south- Dyer entered land in Section 15, be- west of Lusk. The next day after tween Bay City and Homberg, on Towns had made his entry, Francis June 3, 1817. Later, on October 13, Hoff entered land in Section 17, just 1817, William Cowan entered land southeast of Lusk; Thomas Fulker- in Section 10, about a mile southwest son entered land in Section 18, south- of Homberg, and Robert Scott, in west of Lusk, on July 5, 1836; and Section 15, a mile or so south of that on October 11, 1836, James Rose lo- entered by Cowan. Samuel Tanner cated in Section 34, near where and William T. Shepherd entered Thomas Rose had settled in January land in Section 2, about two miles of the same year. On November 9, east of Homberg, on November 10, 1836, Reeas Shelby purchased land

14 in Section 22, about three miles of Bay City. The next entry occurs southeast of Lusk. However, it is twenty years later, when John H. assumed that he did not complete Smith settled in Section 7, near the payment, as the land passed to John Wood's tract. "Field and Clark." On October 14, 1814, John Cald- Along the Ohio River, and near well entered land where the village present day Golconda, Thomas Fer- of Hamletsburg now stands. In No- guson entered land on July 12, 1814. vember of the same year, Hamlet This entry in Section 19 appears to Ferguson settled land in Section 3, be the first made in the limits of the just north of Hamletsburg, Also, present-day Pope County. The sec- John Warwick made an entry in ond sale in this region was on March Section 20, southwest of New Liber- 18, 1815, to Daniel Fields, who ty, on February 9, 1815. The next bought a tract of land located in entry was by J. Hunter and others Section 7, about three miles north in Section 9, just southwest of Ham- of Golconda. On April 24, 1818. letsburg, on August 18, 1820, fol- William Belford entered land in Sec- lowed eleven days later by that of tion 6, about a mile north of Fields. Benjamin Thompson in Section 6, Fourteen years later another entry about three miles west of the vil- was made by George W. Waters in lage. James McCawley settled in Section 4, about four miles northeast Sections 28 and 29, southwest of New of Golconda, where a rock quarry Liberty, on February 13, 1822; and has long operated. In June 1836, Lindsey Wright in Section 4, just M. M. Rawlings located in Section 5, northwest of Hamletsburg, on Au- west of Waters. Joel Crosby set- gust 30, 1836. tled in Section 6, just west of Rawl- The entries given are offered as ings, on the tenth of the same month. indication of the earlier settlements By June of 1837 Benjamin Melton, of the county. It may be repeated Richard Melton, ami William Mod- that the early land entries were glin had settled nearby. made slowly until about 1850. At In the area lying between Bay that time the settlement rate in- City and the southern end of the creased so rapidly that ten years County, Reuben Glover entered land later little government land remained in Section 30, about five miles south unsold. However, a very few such of Bay City, on October 5, 1816. On tracts remained until about 1890. October 10 of the same year, John The sale of these last tracts marked Wood entered land in Section 7, the end of the public domain in Pope about one and one-half miles south County.

15 HOW POPE BECAME linois, none of which were in Pope COUNTY County. Though the French did A relatively little toward actual settle- The territory included in present- ment and development of the vast been claimed day Pope County has tei-ritories included in the Mississippi territor- by different countries and and Ohio valleys, they were recog- of several ies, and has been a part nized as having the most valid claim Spanish laid other counties. The and were in possession. They occu- Valley, claim to all the Mississippi pied the territory until the close of DeSoto's dis- basing it largely upon the French and Indian War in 1763, 1542. By rea- covery of the river, in at which time they ceded their claim of Joliet and son of the exploration to the British. By this treaty the Mississippi Valley, Marquette, in the lands included in Pope County ceased territory. The the French claimed the to be a part of the French Colonial and English held it after the French Empire and became British territory. Indian War. It is thus seen that Pope County has been claimed by The next change in possession three foreign nations. When the came through the capture of the colony of Virginia was granted a British posts in this section by George charter in 1606, amended in 1609 Rogers Clark, in 1778 and 1779. By and 1612, its north and south boun- the treaty between the American daries were to be "West and north- colonies and the British at the close col- west." The men promoting the of the Revolutionary War, the colony of Virginia naturally interpreted onies came into recognized posses- line this to mean that the northern sion of the area. Virginia's early was to extend in a northwesterly di- claim had been much strengthened rection and that the southern line by her conquest of the territory, and glance at a extended due west. A it was governed by men appointed will show map of the United States by that colony. It remained a part Virginia that by this interpretation, of Virginia until that state ceded her our would include a great part of claim to the newly formed National present day nation, including all of Government, before Maryland would the state of Illinois. The colonies ratify the Articles of Confederation. of Massachusetts and Connecticut The Ordinance of 1787, passed by were granted charters that included the Continental Congress, set up a portions of Illinois, but neither of form of government for the North- these claims included Pope County. west Territory, including all the State coun- For more than a century, the col- of Illinois. In the division of ties, as established in 1790 for the onies of Virginia, Massachusetts, and government, Pope, Connecticut made no effort to settle purposes of local with almost all of Eastern Il- the territory. The Spanish were busy along linois and much of the present State in other sections of the Americas and Indiana, was included in Knox gave this region scant attention. of coun- France gave some effort to the de- County. This arrangement of it affects Pope, is velopment of the territory and made ties so far as 1790. a few settlements in present day Il- shown by the map of

16 In 1809, Indiana was admitted as a state, and the present state of Il- linois became a part of the region included in a new division known as Illinois Territory. Numerous changes

in county boundaries continued to be made, but none affected the region of Pope until Ninian Edwards, Gov- ernor of Illinois Territory, issued a proclamation, on September 14, 1812, establishing some new counties. Two of the new counties thus established Counties of Illinois in 1790 were Gallatin and Johnson, each of which included a part of present-day Though other changes in county boundaries were made between 1790 Pope County. The counties of Illi- and 1801, present-day Pope still re- nois Territory as established by the mained a part of Knox County. On Governor's proclamation are shown of February 3, 1801 the Govei-nor on the Illinois map of 1812. Indiana Territory which had recently been established, issued a proclamation that changed the boundaries of the counties of St. Clair and Knox and established the new County of Randolph. This new County of Ran- dolph included present-day Pope, as well as much other territory of Southern Illinois. The county seat was located at Kaskaskia. This new arrangement of counties is indicated by the map of 1801.

CovNTies OF Illinois in 1612

Other changes in county boundar-

ies followed, and new counties were established. These changes did not alter the situation so far as Pope County was concerned until the territorial legislature, by act of Janu- Counties of Illinois 1801

17 ary 10, 1816, established some additional counties. The portion of the law of 1816 that is of most interest here is as follows: "Beginning on the Ohio River where the meridian leaves it that divides ranges number three and four east of the third principal meridian; thence north to the township line dividing townships ten ea»> Lint and eleven south ; thence east eighteen miles; thence to that point on W tint the Ohio where the line dividing ranges eight and nine leaves it; thence down the same to the point constitute a sepa- of beginning shall CouHTics OF Illinois in 1816 rate county, to be called and known by the name of Pope." The new With its boundaries as established county was named for Nathaniel by the territorial legislature on De- Pope who had served as secretary cember 26, 1816, Pope County had acquainted before for Illinois Territory. Pope County, little time to get another change came. On January as it was then established, is shown by the map of 1816. 2, 1818, Union County was formed from the western part of Johnson County, and Johnson was given a In less than one year the boundar- strip six miles wide along the west- ies of the new county of Pope were ern side of Pope. Pope County then changed when the territorial legisla- appeared as shown by the map of ture, on December 26, 1816, passed January, 1818. an act stating that "Beginning at the Rock and Cave (Cave-in-Rock) on the Ohio River; thence a straight s line to the corner of townships number ten and eleven south, and ranges number seven and eight east of the third principal meridian," should be the new boundary on the northeast side of the county. This was only a minor change in the county, since the remainder of its boundaries were not altered. The eastern boundar-

ies, as fixed on January 10, 1816, and on December 26, 1816, are both shown by broken lines on the map of 1816. tion of Pope County lying east of of Virginia, a part of the Northwest Big Grand Pierre Creek was de- Territory, a part of Indiana Terri- tached and designated as Hardin tory, and a part of Illinois Territory. County. Pope then appeared as It was, in turn, included in Knox in shown by the map of 1839. County, Northwest Territory ; and Randolph, Johnson and Gallatin Counties, Illinois Territory. It was not until January 10, 1816, that a separate county was established and named Pope, as related in an earlier paragraph of this section.

The first meeting of the men designated by the Territorial Gover- nor as officials of the new county was held on April 1, 1816, at the residence of Thomas Ferguson, near the present courthouse square in Gol- conda, then called Sarahville. Ben- CouMTies or Illinois in 1839 oni Lee, who had been especially em- On January 8, 1840, the legislature powered to do so, administered the returned to Pope County a small por- oath of office to himself, Robert Lacy, tion of Hardin County lying east of and Thomas Ferguson, as judges of Big Grand Pierre Creek. The east- the county court; to Hamlet Fergu- ern boundary of Pope was thus es- son as Sheriff; to Samuel O'Melvany tablished as it is today, but the as Justice of Peace, Assessor, and Southern part of the county was County Treasurer; and to Thomas changed by legislation enacted on Browning as Prosecuting Attorney. February 8, 1843. At that time the The next actions of the County county of Massac was established Commissioners' Court were indicative from portions of Johnson and Pope. of the type of work which occupied On March 3, 1843, part of the ter- much of the court's attention for the ritory separated from Pope and giv- next fifty years. The court first pro- en to Massac less than a month pre- vided that a road be opened from viously was returned to Pope. This Sarahville to Colonel Hamlet Fer- was the last change in the boundar- guson's ferry, and another toward ies of the county. In the one hun- Gallatin County. It next appointed dred five years since that time, the ovei'seers of the poor for each town- boundaries of Pope County have re- ship that had been established. Later mained as they appear on the his- it licensed taverns and fixed the torical map at the end of this book- rates the taverns were allowed to let. charge. Next it licensed ferries and Thus, present-day Pope County has established ferry rates. It built a in succession been a claim of Spain, courthouse, "of good hewn logs and a portion of the French and British shingle roof," twenty-four by twen- colonial empires, a part of the colony ty-six feet, with "more detailed spec-

19 at St. Vin- ifications to be given later." With Given under my hand seventh day of May Anno this courthouse it also authorized the cennes the construction of a substantial jail and Domino one thousand eight hundred of estray pen. Pope County was defin- and four, and of the Independence America, the itely in operation. the United States of twenty-eighth. William Henry Harrison FERRIES (Seal) By the Governor On the border of Pope County, one Jno. Gibson, Secretary." of the first ferries of which there is established by Major any record was On Api-il 2, 1805, Sarah Lusk mar- procured a license James Lusk, who ried Thomas Ferguson, and shortly authorities in from the Kentucky thereafter the ferry became known year, 1798, Lusk built 1797. The next as Ferguson's Ferry. a house on the Illinois side and moved Ferry competed with to it. He continued to operate the Ferguson's ferry until his death in 1803. His several other ferries across the Ohio wife, Sarah Lusk, operated the ferry River. Perhaps the first of these was after Major Lusk's death and was Ford's Fen-y, about three miles above given a license by William Henry Cave-in-Rock. A second one was es- Harrison, Governor of Indiana Ter- tablished at present-day Elizabeth- ritory. This license was issued on town. This ferry was kept by James Samuel O'Mulvaney had May 7, 1804, and is as follows: McFarland. one at the upper end of Stewart's Is- "Indiana Territory land. The fourth ferry was operated by Colonel Hamlet Ferguson in William Henry Harrison, Esqr,, the vicinity of Cumberland Island. Governor and Commander in Chief This ferry was made in two stages: Indiana Territory of the one being from the Kentucky shore to Cumberland Island, and the other License is hereby granted to Sarah from Cumberland to the Illinois Lusk to keep a ferry across the Ohio shore. Ebneezer Simpson kept still River in Randolph County, opposite another ferry at New Liberty. to the one formerly kept by James Lusk. She, the said Sarah Lusk, en- Several of the men operating fer- gaging to keep at the said ferry good ries went to some expense and spent and sufficient boats for the passage considerable effort in clearing out of travelers, with their horses, carts, roads leading to their places. This wagons, carriages, cattle, &c., &c., was particularly true concerning In and for which she is to receive such Lusk's Ferry and Ford's Ferry. toll as may be established for said the case of Lusk's Ferry, a road was ferry by the Court of Quarter Ses- laid out from that point to Green's sions for said County. And the said Ferry on the Mississippi. The ferry Sarah Lusk is also to enter into bond of Samuel O'Melvaney was located as the law directs for the proper opposite Miles' old ferry and was the keeping of said ferry. beginning point for Miles' Trace

20 —

which constituted an early county ber would thus be cut. The one boundary line. O'Melvaney's ferry clearing land would clear away and was established on March 5, 1810. It burn the smaller growth and the later became known as Carr's Ferry. limbs and brush of the larger trees A later ferry across the Ohio River he had cut. This left the larger logs was Clark's Ferry that operated from yet to be disposed of. A log rolling the south side of Bayou Creek on the would take care of that part of the Kentucky shore to a point about work. Men living within a reason- three-fourths of a mile south of Bay able distance would be invited to City. These ferries sometimes come to this event. Their wives and changed names and ownership children would also come. While and were often short-lived. The the men rolled logs, the women pre- most widely known ferry in pared the noonday meal and visited Pope County, without a doubt, was together. The children became ac- Lusk's, later Ferguson's ferry. quainted and played such games as were common at the time. Log rol- ferries were In some cases these ling was a "swap work" affair. Men propelled by large sweeps operated did not expect pay for the work, but by men. Later, some of the larger did expect the ones they helped to ferries made use of horsepower. In return the favor when invited. The generally such cases the horse general practice of this "swapping the deck walked in a tread mill on work" also came into use in house a of the ferry, and thus operated and barn raisings, and occasionally paddle wheel. in other undertakings where an individual could not accomplish the Some of these early day ferries task alone. are still in operation, though under different names and ownerships. A On newly cleared ground, the ferry franchise is even yet consider- trees that had been deadened by ed valuable. girdling often stood as dead trees for many years. Their fallen limbs and the trees themselves as they fell AGRICULTURE occasioned considerable work for In most of Southern Illinois the some years after the ground had first settlers located in the forest. been put into cultivation. "Picking After they had provided absolutely up chunks" was an annual spring necessary buildings, their next work chore. It was on the cleared and was to clear and fence a plot of fenced ground that the settler grew ground for cultivation. Farm land his field crops and much of his food. was often considered as "cleared" Livestock was turned out to range when the smaller trees—that is, those in the woodlands. It was invariably fifteen inches and less in diameter the crops that had fences built had been cut away and the larger around them; the cattle, hogs, and ones deadened by girdling. horses ran free. In order to be able

In the initial clearing of the wood- to identify his stock, the settler land for cultivation, much of the tim- branded them with a hot iron or

21 marked them by cutting their ears to lars or even less, and pork could be a pound. A a particular pattern. These brands bought for three cents for wool to and marlcs were registered in the of- few sheep were grown needs. Wolves, fre- fice of the County Clerk, and the use supply local 1860's, made of a particular mark was reserved to quently found until the hazardous ven- the one first registering it. Brands the raising of sheep a were generally made up of the ini- ture. tials of the owner. Marks were made The first crop generally planted up of various combinations of pat- was corn. It provided fodder for terns to which the ears of the animal livestock, grain for corn meal, feed were cut. Some of the ear marks for farm animals and fowls, and in common use were the crop, under- mash for the "essential" whiskey. It overbit, hole, and swallowfork. bit, could be planted, cultivated, and har- Since these marks could be used in vested with fair success on newly either the right or the left ear, or cleared ground and among stumps, both, the possible combinations were and thus was adaptable to the exist- almost limitless. Though a pig may ing conditions. put up a vigorous squeal while having his ear trimmed, the operation in- Newly cleared ground was gener- conveniences him very little. ally plowed with a particular type of new-ground plow. This plow had present day stan- When judged by little or no bar on the side opposite dards, most of the livestock of that the moldboard. The plow was most- day would be termed as scrub. Hogs ly of wood, the metal parts being were "razor backs", which term pret- the moldboard, the coulter (cutter), rods. ty well describes their condition. and a few necessary bolts and They roamed the woods, and often The moldboard was sometimes of coul- lived upon the plants, roots, acorns, wood with only iron strips. The and nuts that they found there, until ter was designed to cut smaller roots rounded up and slaughtered. Cattle and to allow the plow to "ride over" needed were raised in like manner. At times larger ones. The plowman pre- of acute shortages of range, the own- to be wide-awake and agile to loose er called his stock home to feed it. vent being struck by roots torn This practice was sometimes used to at one end by the plow, or to pre- supplement the range and to provide vent being struck by the plow han- a better finished product. This prac- dles when the point hitched, as it ob- tice also kept stock from becoming frequently did, on some unseen too wild. For this same reason the struction. Perhaps the experience owner would regularly salt his cat- gained in plowing with a new-ground properly described tle. Many a pioneer farmer was plow can never be rightfully proud of the lusty calls he to those who have not engaged in could make, calls that could often be that task. Likewise, the memories readily distinguished a mile or so gathered by those who did such work away. The value of livestock may be will not soon leave them. It is per- judged from the fact that a cow with haps enough to say that it was try- calf at side often sold for fifteen dol- ing both to the physical strength and

22 to the patience of the performer. If occur. At these times the neighbors, the new-ground plow was exceeded mainly the younger people, met for in its tendency to do the unexpected, an evening of jollity. Captains were that distinction perhaps should go to selected, sides were chosen, the corn the double-shovel plow used in the was divided into two approximately later cultivation of the crop. The equal piles, and all set to work with hand hoe was much used in cultiva- a will. The side finishing its portion of the corn crop. tion first was declared winner. Per- haps one incentive to greater effort Practically every farmer thought was the custom of allowing any corn should be "chopped out" and the young man finding a red ear to kiss stumps "grubbed around" at least the girl of his choice. It might be once each season. This task was car- of interest to know that in the mixed ried out in late July or in August, varieties of corn then common, red when the corn was tall and the days ears were not so scarce as they are were hot. Corn was "cut up" when today. After husking was finished, it had sufficiently ripened, and ar- a dance invariably followed. ranged in shocks. Fodder would be "shucked out" later, generally dur- Potatoes were an early and staple ing a period of damp weather in the crop. The soil of Pope County was winter. General use was made of found to be excellent for their pro- large baskets of oak splits, for cai'ry- duction. One of the early agricul- ing corn about to feed livestock. A tural products shipped from the familiar figure on almost any farm- county was potatoes. These were stead at that time was that of the often shipped by flatboats to the farmer, going across the barnlot with market at New Orleans. one of these baskets, often holding was not generally grown as much as a bushel, or carrying an Wheat until settlers had become more estab- immense bundle of shock fodder on lished. This may be explained par- his shoulder. tially by the difficulty of harvesting. Pumpkins were planted in almost The hand sickle was in universal use all cornfields. These were used to until 1830 or later. By this method, feed livestock, were cooked for table the grain stalks were gathered in use, and were cut into strips and one hand and cut by the sickle held dried, to be cooked later in the win- in the other. These handfuls were ter. They were also made into pump- piled together until there were kin butter. Melons were also grown enough to make a bundle. These in the fields of corn, along with many ,vere then tied together with a wisp beans for which the corn stalks proof straw. vided support. About 1830, the grain cradle was When time came to gather corn, introduced and slowly came into it was sometimes "jerked" or "snap- general use. With the cradle a ped" and brought to the barn or to strong and active man could cut some the crib of fence rails, with husks two acres of wheat in a long day.

still on it. Husking bees might then Though this was a slow method, it

23 was many times more ei'l'icient than could be bought in Golconda. All the hand sickle method. The work this indicates that the more primitive of a second helper was necessary to methods had not entirely passed. Old bind this wheat into bundles. The sickles, grain cradles, and an occa- grain was sometimes threshed by sional flail are found even today flailing. At other times it was where some pioneer farmer left them tramped out by horses or cattle driv- in his barn or attic. Youngsters are their queer appear- en over it. By use of a pitchfork, often puzzled by perhaps made from a forked limb, ance and know little or nothing con- the straw was removed. The grain cerning the manner in which they and chaff remained on the threshing were used. floor. These were then separated by Oats, rye, and barley came into winnowing, that is, by pouring the use as field crops some years later mixed grain and chaff from pans or than wheat. Small amounts of buck- baskets at some place where there wheat were grown in the 1860's and was sufficient breeze to blow the later. In the same issue of the Gol- chaff away. If a sufficient natural conda paper that tells of drilled breeze were not available, a large wheat's being best, there is another fan made of a sheet or blanket would item stating that bugs could be kept be used to fan the grain as it was from the vines of melons and cu- poured from containers. All of this cumbers by planting a few seeds of meant much labor and may, in part buckwheat in the patch. at least, explain the reason for the somewhat slow introduction of wheat At earlier times, a considerable into general use as a farm crop. amount of cotton was grown for the market. As late as 1876, a large generation or so later, one finds A cotton gin was in operation near the reapers and crude threshers coming Pope-Massac line. into use. Though these did much small plats to lighten the labor of harvesting On many farms were turnips, cabbage, tobacco, wheat, it was many years before of flax, hand methods that had been in use broomcorn, hops, castor beans and for centuries disappeared. other crops.

The earlier farmer sowed his Orchards were planted by numer- small grains by broadcasting; that ous early settlers. They were not beset with insect pests so much as is, he walked back and forth across the field and scattered the seed by they are today. The early orchards hand. By the 1860's drills for plant- contained apples, pears, cherries, and ing grain were in use. In 1869, the peaches. The latter two were not Golconda paper carried an item stat- nearly so numerous as the apples and ing that wheat sowed by a drill was pears. Not many plums were grown, the wild va- best. It was more evenly distributed since an abundance of over the ground and was not so like- rieties could be had for the gather- ly to freeze out. This same paper, ing. Fruit varieties then widely and the published in 1887, carried an adver- favorably known are now only tisement stating that grain cradles memories of older persons. The

24 names of Northern Spy, Ben Davis, river through the present town of Fall Pippin, Fall Wine, Pearman, Golconda and left the county about Rambo, and American Golden Rus- the northeast corner of S34, T12S, sett, now seldom heard, will stir the R3E. This was the main highway memories of older persons. leading from Fort Massac to Rock and Cave. There are many who insist that the apples of that day, though they were Another impoi'tant road was the not so lai'ge nor so attractive in ap- one leaving the Fort Massac-Rock pearance, were even better flavored and Cave road about two miles north than present day ones. That may be of Golconda and going west. It true or it may be that the memories passed a short distance north of Dix- are tinged with a long-vanished, boy- on Springs and continued toward Vi- ish appetite. enna and Jonesboro. A third road left the Ohio river at about the same place, proceeded in a northwesterly ROADWAYS direction, passed the present village of Eddyville, and left the county The first roads in the Pope-County near the northwest corner. This territory were those leading from the road led from Golconda, or Lusk's early ferries on the Ohio toward im- Ferry, to Frankfort and on to Kas- portant points to the north and west. kaskia. A fourth main highway en- They were often kept in repair by tered the county about two miles the owners of the ferries, in order to north of the present village of Robbs attract travellers to their places of and proceeded in a northeasterly di- business. It is recorded that some of rection to S24 in TllS, R5E. At this the roads leading from Lusk's Ferry point the road forked; one branch, were laid out and opened by Major continuing in the same genei'al di- Lusk to secure business for his ferry rection, passed about a mile south at Golconda. of present Delwood and a mile north The first authentic map yet found of Oak, and left the county near the that shows roadways of present-day northwest corner of SI, TllS, R6E. Pope County is the postal map issued The south branch of this road passed in 1841. This rnap was made by Da- about one-half mile south of Oak, vid H. Burr, geographer of the House crossed Gibbon's creek a short dis- of Representatives. Although it was tance north of Herod, and left the issued in 1841, the information on county about a half mile south of which it was based evidently was the northeast corner. Both branches gathered two or three years prior of this road led to Shawneetown and to that time. This map shows a main appear to have offered a choice of highway entering the county south- roads, depending upon the weather west of present day Bay City and or season. There were doubtless proceeding in a northeasterly direc- many other roads in the county at tion to a place near the Ohio River, the time, but these were the roads about two miles north of the village. over which the mail was transported. The road then followed along the It was over these roads that the ear-

25 ly-day stage coaches were driven. A number of the fords established Some very old persons recall the last at an early day are still in use. They of these coaches and knew the men soon became landmarks and were who drove them. Judged by present often used as points from which oth- day standards, they were uncomfor- er places were located. One of the table and slow. Despite this, they well-known fords of the county is served their purpose well, and the Maynor's Ford, named for Calvin tradition of them even yet adds gla- Maynor who lived nearby. This ford mour to the age they served. is across Hayes Creek, about one and a half mile southeast of Eddyville. The tendency in laying out these Another one, across Lusk Creek, earlier roads was to follow as direct about three miles east and slightly routes as conditions warranted. Since south of the village of Lu.sk, is known there were very few fenced farms, as Rose Ford. It takes its name from land lines were generally ignored, one of the men who lived in the vi- high hills and swamps avoided, and cinity. streams crossed at points where they could be most easily forded. With At the point where the very early the establishment of farms and the roadway crossed Bay Creek, about building of fences, many old road- four miles west of Eddyville, one ways were changed to follow land finds another old ford named for lines. In many places in the coun- David Watkins who lived there. John to the ford ty, one may yet see the deeply worn Anderson gave his name trails of old roadways, some of which aci-oss Lusk Creek north of Walters- were deserted a century ago. burg. Porter's Ford was on Lusk Creek about three miles north of Since bridges were practically un- Waltersburg. Hanson's Ford across known, larger streams were crossed Lusk Creek is another ford that has years. It was by ferries and smaller ones by fords. been used for many named for George Manson, who lived A ford was necessarily located at near it. Carvel Ford on the old road- some shallow point on the stream, way from Eddyville to Clendale was sloping permitted wa- where banks named for Smith Carvel, who had gons to enter the stream and be a blacksmith and wagon shop at that pulled up on the other shore. In place. This was an important shop, some places where a solid bottom and many wagons were made there. could not found, floors of logs and be The.se are only a few of the fords poles were laid in the bed of the that were used by the citizens of stream. These were often held in Pope County. As bridges were built place by cross poles that were fast- and the location of roadways ened down by forked posts. This changed, some of the old fords were same method of crosslaying with logs no longer used and have been for- and poles was used in swampy and gotten. As one wanders along some miry spots. It was called corduroy. stream, he occasionally sees a deep- Though it was a serviceable road, it ly worn but abandoned and over- was a rough one. grown roadway leading to a likely

26 crossing place. On the other bank erend Nathan B. Darrow. A copy of of the stream, he sees the same evi- the record of this organization serv- dences of an old roadway's leaving- ice is given in the next paragraph. the stream. When carefully sought, the interesting story of these old This day a number of persons con- fords can be uncovered. vened at the Courthouse in Golcon- da, for examination preparatory to the planting of a church in this place. CHURCHES Sixteen persons, whose names are hereafter recorded, gave in their Ministers and missionaries doubt- names for members in a Presbyter- less visited prior to Pope County ian church in this place, and after 1811, but the first known record of inquiry respecting their belief and a minister's working there was made practice, it was resolved to be plan- in that year. This man had come ted in a church state tomorrow. Ac- from eastern Kentucky, from the vi- cordingly, on Lord's Day, the 24th cinity of Cumberland Gap, by way of this month, after a discourse from of the "Wilderness Road." It is said Rom. 4th chapter, the church was that he arrived at Lusk's Tavern, planted by the persons aforesaid then called Fiddler's Green, on the making the following Confes.sion and same day that the first steamer, the Covenant. (These are omitted at New Orleans, stopped there on its this place from the record consul- way down the Ohio River. This man, ted.)**** They are, therefore, here- James MacGready, was of Presby- by declared a regular member of terian faith, traveling, as he stated, the church of Jesus Christ, and as "for observation and opportunity." such recommended to the fellowship The people of the settlement later of sister churches and to the atten- known as Sarahville urged the Rev- tion of the Ambassadors of Jesus. erend MacGready to stay in town By me, and preach for them. This he con- N'n B. Darrow, V. C. M., sented to do, but it is not known how "Missionary for Connecticut." long he stayed. Records, later than those of the coming of Reverend The orginial members of this MacGready, made occasional allu- church were as follows: James E. sions to other preachers. Willis, Eliza Willis, Joshua Scott, Scott, David B. Glass, Francis The work of Reverend MacGready, Jane who later established Sharon Church Glass, Agnes Glass, George Hodge, near Enfield, Illinois, or that of some John Hanna, Margaret H a n n a, other Presbyterian minister who George H. Hanna, William P. Han- came to Golconda, shortly bore fruit na. Jane Hanna, James H. Hanna, in the establishment there, in 1819, Benjamin Spilman, and Nancy R. of the present Presbyterian church, Spilman. Benjamin Spilman became now the oldest organized church of a rather prominent churchman in that faith in the state of Illinois. This later years and was a teacher in the church, of sixteen members, was or- academy or college established at ganized on October 24, 1819, by Rev- Equality.

27 —

Bramlet, Mary Bramlet, Gil- In the early years of this church, Nathan Penell, Matthew Bracewell, Ir- the congregation had two places of bert and Matilda Brace- worship, one being in the village of ene Bracewell, Golconda and the other in the coun- well. on the Vienna road. In earlier try The beliefs of this group — and years, the meetings in Golconda were these seem to be typical of the gen- in the court house or school held eral church beliefs of the period or in a Union church. This house are rather clearly shown by the con- of meeting seems to have been plan fession of faith adopted. These arti- carried on until 1869, when the pres- cles of confession are, briefly, as fol- building was erected. ent lows: place of the congre- The meeting 1. The new testament is the only in the home gation in the country was safe rule of conduct. of Francis Glass, where meetings 2. There is only one true God. were held until about 1832. They 3. All people are fallen and de- were next held at the house of Da- praved. vid B. Glass, some four miles west 4. A 1 1 salvation, regeneration, of Golconda, until about 1840. At sanctification, resurrection, as- that time. Bethel church was built. cension, and intercession come Though never entirely finished, it from the death, resurrection, was used until about 1858 when it ascension, and intercession of was sold and the proceeds used in Christ. building a church called Bethany. 5. One who endures to the end is The title to this church was with the Cumberlands, but the building was saved. used also by the Presbyterians until 6. Punishment of the wicked is about 1877. During the next year, eternal. the Presbyterians built a church 7. Communion is only with those called Prospect. It was located near baptised by immersion. of the middle of the N. W. quarter 8. The sanctity of Sunday, the S33, T13S, R5E. Another church first day of the week, is affirm- named Grove had been erected in ed. of 1871, about three miles southeast 9. There is to be a resurrection of Prospect church. It was soon aban- the body. doned, and the members re-united 10. All should be tender and af- with the Golconda church. fectionate, one toward another.

The history of another early In order that the business should transacted in an orderly fashion, church, which may be considered as be the following "Rules of Decorum" typical of the first churches of the were adopted by the church: county, is that of Olive General Bap- tist Church. This church was foun- 1. All meetings will be opened and ded near present day McCormick by closed by prayer. Elder William Hurt, in 1855. The 2. Only one person may speak at six members uniting to form it were a time.

28 3. One must not interrupt the to be that used by the minister to speaker. allow him to read the scriptures. The thus sat in semi-dark- 4. The speaker must adhere to the congregation subject. ness.

5. one may speak more than No The teacher's desk often served as three times on any one subject. the pulpit. In some instances, a 6. There must be no whispering special stand was built. When heat and laughing. was required, it was supplied by a 7. Members sliall be addressed as fire place or, at later times, by a '"brother" or "brethren." (It stove. In cold weather this healing seems strange that "sister" or was uneven, and it was not unusual "sisters" were not included.) to see members of the congregation

8. No one may absent himself quietly moving back and from the without the permission of the fire or edging up to it. moderator. There were generally three serv- These articles of faith and rules of ices on the week-end, but these serv- decorum were signed by Wm. Hurt ices v/ere often held only once each as moderator and Matthew Bracewell month. The Saturday afternoon as clerk. The church formed at that service, usually at about two o'clock, time is still in existence and appears was looked upon as the business to be a reasonably prosperous coun- meeting of the church. At that time try church. such business as should come before the church was transacted. Members In many of the communities, the were disciplined, letters granted, services were held in the church members received, plans for future building used for school pur- same church programs formed, or other poses. The description of an early- business matters attended to. The therefore, day church building is, Sunday morning and Sunday evening the same as that of an early- about services were those in which the ma- school. The buildings were day jor sermon efforts were made. The the benches, of most likely of logs; sermons were generally of the revival logs, were supported on slabs or half type and placed much more emphasis that served as legs. As wooden pegs on the fate awaiting the unsaved soul the congregation grew and became than do those of the present day. It prosperous, benches somewhat more was not unusual for the sermon to or were built. Some of these pews last for an hour or more. hand-made seats are yet to be seen in country churches. Such church As was stated earlier, the preach- services as were held at night were ers were often men of only average generally announced for "early can- learning. They spoke the language dlelight." The light for these serv- of the common man in the commun- ices was supplied by a grease lamp, ity, frequently making very liberal or candles, and in season, was helped use of 'ah,' 'and-ah,' and other su- by the light of the fire place. It was perfluous words. There was con- not unusual for the only illumination siderable prejudice against an edu-

29 cated minister. Peter Cartwright, practice of lining the hymn became one of the most noted frontier unnecessary. Even then, few of the preachers, in his sermons and writ- song books carried the music. Since ings often expresses disapproval of no instruments were in common use book learning. It must be admitted in the earlier church, it was not un- that many of the ministers of that usual to find that the one leading period were earnest and consecrated the singing used a tuning fork, from men and often weielded great influ- which he secured the proper pitch ence. They were usually poorly paid, and relayed that pitch to the con- receiving only a free-will offering. gregation. Some time later, song

If it had not been that on week days books with shaped notes came into they were farmers, merchants, doc- use. With the help of singing tors, or tradesmen of some kind, the schools, the method of singing was work of the ministry could hardly somewhat changed. Prayers called have been carried on. forth more than ordinary vehemence, and numerous instances are on rec- The social aspects of the church ond where the prayers could be at that time were greater than those heard a mile or so away. of today. The crowd would gather long before church services were to When Sunday came, the people begin. They used this interval in invariably put on their clean or Sun- visiting and talking. The actual day clothes. Men often took their church services generally began by weekly shave. Shoes or boots were the singing of a song. At that time shined, children were carefully scrub- most of those present would troop bed, the boys had their hair into the church, find themselves "roached," the girls and women put seats, and settle down to await the on their prettiest dresses, and all sermon. After church there would went to church. Many ministers de- be more visiting, but since appetites nounced an occasional tendency of had generally become acute, this vis- some woman to dress in what might iting would not be unduly prolonged. then be considered as too striking a manner. There are numerous in- The songs used in the services stances of such disapproval in the were more solemn and sedate than sermons and writings of Peter Cart- the congregational songs of today. wright, mentioned earlier. In most

Song books were not so common as early churches it was the practice for they now are. It was not unusual men and women to sit on opposite to have the preacher or some song sides of the house. In the corner leader announce the hymn and line next to the minister, on the side oc-

it; that is, sing a line of the hymn, cupied by the men, one might expect allow the congregation to repeat the to see the "pillars of the church." line, and continue the process, until This was known as the "amen" cor- a "verse" had been completed. The ner, doubtless from the fact that at portion of the song thus rehearsed times during the sermon some one would be repeated in its entirety. As seated there frequently approved the books became more common, this utterance of the preacher by fer-

30 vently saying "amen." In the cor- This called forth some laughs and responding corner on the opposite perhaps deterred the boy in his so- side, one might see the elderly and cial progress. more important women of the con- people, generally young gregation, but one seldom heard Some men, to go to church for no "amens" coming from that corner. seemed other purpose than the social con- When people lived beyond reason- that they might make. It was able walking distance of the church, tacts not unusual to see a group of these they might be seen coming on horse- young men standing, throughout the back or in wagons that were often services, just outside the church win- drawn by oxen, and later in buggies dows or doors. or carts: some also used mud boats, and sleds. Basket dinners and all- With each year came the church day services were frequent. In the revival or portracted meeting. At wagons were liberal paddings of hay such times, if interest were aroused, on which a number of people could there would be large crowds and a be seated. During the services, the considerable amount of enthusiasm. horses or oxen were unhitched and The successful minister generally tied to the wagons. When this was "sprinkled" a liberal amount of done, the hay padding for the return brimstone and told a number of trip was often thinned considerably. deathbed stories. As the interest Such expressions as "Come and go and enthusiasm mounted, shoutings home with us for dinner" were often were frequent. More of the shout- heard, and it was not unusual for ing came from women than from about half the people going to church men, but the shouting of men was not to go home with the other half. Such unusual. In some instances, the great visits were repaid, perhaps, on the excitement of the meetings induced next meeting day. A bucket of wa- epidemics of "jerks." In such cases ter and a drinking gourd were avail- the victim was seized with convul- able for the thirsty, and a pitcher sive jerkings of the body that were and glass were often to be found rather alarming to observers, and convenient to the minister. often rendered the person incapable of controlled movements. When church was out and people started to leave for home, it was not In some instances, the places of at all unusual to see a sizeable group meetings were under sheds erected of boys line up beside the doorway, for the purpose. At the present time particularly at the evening service. such buildings are termed taber- They were waiting to "see the girls nacles, but they were then generally home." The aspiring boy would designed as sheds. Services might leave his group and surprise the girl even be held under a brush arbor, of his choice with a rather common that is, under a rude shelter made by expression, "May I see you home?" piling leafy branches on an elevated

If it was agreeable, the girl would platform. This arbor sometimes ex- reply, "Yes;" if not, she would say, tended over the entire congregation; "No," and the boy was "sacked." at other times, only over the pulpit

31 and the seats nearby. Seats were can be determined that the district generally rude benches made of described was some five or si.x miles planks or puncheons laid across square, or about the size of an ordi- today. logs. In some cases these camps nary rural voting precinct of would be set up in a rather military At this same meeting a second pe- fashion, with guards, assembly calls, tition was evidently allowed, but it and other characteristics common to does not seem to have been recorded. a military post. Sunday School did The next district which was estab- not become common until about the lished and which had boundaries giv- time of the Civil War. Even then, en is designated as the third school some sects did not receive it very en- district in the county. The boundar- thusiastically. ies of this third school district were as follow: SCHOOLS "Beginning at the mouth of Big The first official record found Creek, thence up the same to half a concerning schools in Pope County mile above the Salt Petre cave thence is that in the minutes recorded for westward to include Mr. Asa Da- the meeting of the Board of County vises' thence southerly to the Ohio Commissioners, held at Golconda, on River to include Mr. Alexander Park- June 14, 1825. At that meeting were inson and Alex Blair, thence up the presented a number of petitions, same to place of beginning to be signed by residents of different vi- styled and called the 'Monroe School cinities, and asking for the establish- District.' " The boundaries of another ment of school districts. The first school district are given, the fourth one recorded was a petition to estab- one in Pope County. This district lish a school district with boundaries lay east of Big (Grandpierre) Creek. as follow: At that time this territory was a part of Pope County but was placed, a "Beginning at Golconda, thence up few years later, in a newly created the Ohio River so as to include Sam- county of Hardin. Since only a small uel Alexander thence with the Shaw- part of the district is in present-day neetown road to the Saline road Pope County, a detailed account of thence with Stucken path to Church's this district will appear in the Hardin Ford on Lusk Creek, thence on a di- County Notes. rect line so as to include William Rondeau thence to the Ohio River on It will be seen that all of these Lack's (or Jack's) Landing includ- districts were extremely large when ing Smith's Mill, thence up said river compared with present-day ones. It to place of beginning. Therefore or- was not then unusual for a school dered by said court that the afore- district to extend three miles or more said boundaries constitute the first in practically all directions from the school district of Pope County." school. This large area was neces- Although some of the landmarks sary in order to secure sufficient rev- mentioned in the above description enue to pay school expenses. Even can not now be definitely located, it then, expenses of early schools were

32 not large if measured by present- where there were only two. This day standards, since many of the teacher received most of his salaiy teachers were paid $20.00 or less in skins and pelts which he conver- per month. Several early-day con- ted into money by selling them to tracts for teaching in Southern Illi- fur dealers who came to the town nois have been found, providing a once or twice a year. He also added salary of only $16.00 per month. to his income by selling vegetables to keel boat men. The pay of the teacher was often The schools of the early day dif- made in produce of the community fered greatly from those of the pres- and in a small amount of money. The ent day. They were generally log things mentioned as acceptable for houses. Sometimes the house would payment of the teacher's salary were be a settler's deserted cabin. One coi'n, wheat, venison, deer skins, ba- such school standing until recently con, cattle, and hogs. These were and typical of the schools at that generally to be taken "at current time may well be described in order market price." In communities where that the reader may visualize others. such could be done, teachers often loaded this produce on a flat boat This house was built in 1838 of and took it to New Orleans. In some logs that had been smoothed on two cases it was sold to local dealers. In sides. In size it was about 16 by addition to the small income from 20 feet. It was chinked with short taxes to support the earlier schools, pieces split from blocks, and daubed parents paid an additional fee, ac- with a mixture of clay and lime. The cording to the number of pupils at- finished walls, both inside and out- tending from their home. The above- side, were the logs with their chink- described schools should be thought ing and daubing. The floor was of as the first regularly organized made of puncheons, that is, slabs districts and not necessarily as the split from a large log. These slabs first schools existing in the county. were smoothed on one side by the

It is recorded that an old sailor use of a broad ax or adz and the named Pittulo was teaching in the edges straightened. Such floors were vicinity of Golconda in 1800, and somewhat rough and open, but they that he taught some years thereafter were substantial. In some early in the same vicinity. It was this school houses no floor was made, the teacher that gave the name of Fid- earth being used instead. The roof dler's Green to the tavern built at was made of clapboards that had the site of Golconda, in 1798, by been rived from some convenient oak Major James Lusk. This man tree. Because of the scarcity of

"boarded around;" that is, he went nails, it was not unusual to have a from home to home for various roof of this kind held on by weight lengths of time, staying at each place poles; that is, a course of boards was somewhat according to the number laid and held in place by a pole. of pupils attending from there. He These poles were fastened with hic- thus stayed twice as long at a place kory withes or perhaps pegged in where there were four pupils as at place.

33 In some instances these school side, and pegs of suitable length to houses had no ceilings. Wherever a provide seats for pupils of different legs. ceiling was found, it often consisted sizes were inserted to serve as of long clapboards, perhaps four or There were no backs to these seats six feet long, laid on log joists. It and no desks on which the books was not unusual for one to look up- might be placed or writing done. The ward in one of these school houses writing desk was generally a smooth and see through both the ceiling and slab placed on large wooden pins the roof. set in the wall. Pupils who wished to write went to this desk. Some- Such buildings were heated by times two writing desks of different fire places, built in the side or in the heights were provided for the larger end of the house. These fire places and the smaller pupils. At other were built of stone or more often of times, the shorter pupils had to stand logs lined with stone and clay, and on a block or some other object to had a stick-and-clay chimney. These bring them up to the level of the stick-and-clay chimneys were simple desk. Fools cap paper was in com- pens of double walls extending to mon use and derived its name from about the roof level. They were the fact that teachers sometimes fa- plastered inside and out with clay shioned a pointed cap from it and in order that the chimney would not placed it on the head of some pupil burn down. It was not unusual to who did not learn his lesson in a sa- see places where the clay had crum- tisfactory manner. bled away from the sticks and a hole near the doorway one had been burned. These fire places On a shelf were no puny affairs and often ac- found the water bucket. This wood- commodated logs four feet or more en bucket and the ever-present in length. It was occasionally a part handled gourd for use as a dipper of the teacher's task to provide the were standard equipment. "Going necessary fire wood. This was not after a bucket of water" was almost bad as it sounds, perhaps, since so always a welcome escape from regu- the forest nearby provided a source lar schoolroom work. These trips of timber. to the well or spring, often as far as nev- In the old building mentioned in a quarter of a mile away, were teacher de- a previous paragraph, there were two er more hurried than the windows, one in each end, about two manded that they be. feet wide and four feet high. These If any writing was done in the seat windows and the light from the fire- where the pupil sat, he used a slate. place provided the illumination. On By to-day's standards, these slates dark days it must have been a dimly were rather unsanitary, for after a lighted school room. child had written on a slate, it had Seats for the school room were to be erased. He accomplished this the made from logs that were split in by spitting rather liberally on of his hand half. The split surface was smooth- slate and using the palm In order to ed, holes were bored in the rounded to remove the writing.

34 dry any surplus moisture, the sleeve These switchings were often severe, of the forearm was sometimes used. and the contestants left the game For pens and ink, the source of sup- considerably striped. Should one of ply was local. Ink was made of oak the contestants decide that he had galls and copperas. Pens were made been "bested", he indicated the same from the wing feathers of geese. It by a pre-arranged call, like "enough" was not unusual for the teacher's or "calf rope." A simple cry of "oh" ability to make pens from these was also regarded as a surrender. A feathers to be considered one of his simple description of the games then major qualifications for the job. played but now practically forgotten Writing paper was more expensive would take half the space of a book and was not so freely used as at the of this size. present time. On some of the Friday nights there The games the pupils played were were spelling matches or meetings usually those in which the skill or of a literary society. In the spelling the strength of the individual coun- matches, two captains chose sides, ted most. They were not the orga- naturally beginning with the best nized games known today. They in- spellers available, and dividing all cluded bull pen, wolf the ridge, on contestants into two numerically hat ball, old sow, shinny, cat, sling equal groups. It was not long until dutch, up, jacket, leap move lap frog, the poorer spellers were eliminated, one-and-over, stink base, and whip- since a contestant must "set down" cracker. Most of these games were when he missed a word. As the num- much too vigorous and for the rough ber of spellers yet in the contest girls, who were sometimes admitted grew less, the interest mounted, to such games as cat or wolf-on-the- reaching its climax when only two ridge. Generally, however, the girls were left. The one who could "spell played ante over — often called down the school" enjoyed quite a andy over—London Bridge, drop the reputation, being much admired by handkerchief, rope skipping, or some some and perhaps cordially despised form of singing game. Some of the by others. At times, instead of two games played by the boys were rath- captains choosing the team, a speller, er trying to those who engaged in usually a poor one, was designated them. illustration An of such a game to start the contest. He naturally the was one known as lap jacket. chose an opponent that he thought In this game, of pair each one the he could outspell. The survivor in engaging secured a switch, often a turn chose another opponent. This handful of the buckberry shrub that was continued until only two were grew along the fence rows. They left. The results arrived at in each then clasped left hands and pro- case were the same. ceeded to switch each other thor- oughly. Though the game was known In the case of the literary socie- as lap jacket, the rules generally re- ties, one could expect a paper some- quired that the switching be done what like a newspaper in its com- above the knees and below the waist. ments upon local events and persons.

85 This was generally meant to be hu- Another school, similar to the sing- morous. By some of the comments ing school already mentioned, was on local incidents and persons, ill the writing school. This, like the feelings were aroused. There were singing school, was a subscription af- always recitations or declamations, fair, open to all those who would pay a few songs, perhaps a dialogue or a fee for the privilege of attending. two, and often a paper—by the stan- The penmanship taught was com- dard then used, a learned one. After monly referred to as Spencerian and this, there was generally a debate in had many a flourish and scroll. Old which teams were pitted against each copy books from that period are yet other and before judges chosen from to be found in trunks and attics. the group assembled. Questions for They are admired for the excellent debate were "Resolved that pursuit figures, flourishes, and fancy letter-

is more pleasant than possession;" ing they exhibit. "Resolved that water is more useful In the matter of text books there than fire;" "Resolved that Lincoln The one book was greater than Washington;" "Re- was little uniformity. solved that the American Indian has that was deemed an essential for been mistreated;" or some other such every pupil was a spelling book. Al- subject. In these debates many a most without exception this was Web- received a training that young man ster's Blue Back Speller. A little afterwards helped him as a minister, later, with the advent of McGuffey's as a lawyer, or as some other servant Readers, more uniformity in the mat- in public life. ter of readers came. In the earlier for the Another type of meeting held in schools it was not uncommon the school houses was the singing pupil to bring whatever reading ma- school. In these schools the singing terial the home afforded. This might master often came into the communi- be a Bible, Rollin's Ancient History, ty as an itinerant and remained to a newspaper, or almost any other teach a school. His equipment for book in circulation in that section. this work consisted of nothing more There were few arithmetic texts; than a tuning fork, an ability to sing, hence these books were generally a few song books, and a chart on made by the teacher or pupil. Num- which some bars of music were writ- erous home made texts are yet to be ten. In these schools the young peo- found in attics and old trunks. One ple of the community learned to sing was thought to be a good mathema- and to enjoy the social aspects of tician when he could "cipher to the their lives, for, naturally, after the double rule of three"—that is, com- school, the girls were "seen safely pound proportions. For the more home." These singing schools were advanced pupils, grammar became an continued until recent years. Uncle important subject. From it, they not Burton Holloway, of Eddyville, now only learned the fundamental struc- past eighty years old, is one of the tures of the language but also de- men remaining who taught many veloped an ability to reason and to such singing schools. argue.

36 Art, as it exists in public schools Most of the teachers of the early to-day, was banned. The little bit day were men. They were often itin- of such work done was that which erants, teaching a term or two in a the pupil did while the teacher was place and moving on. In addition not looking. At times he even used to a rudimentary knowledge of the the teacher as the subject for his common subjects, one of the qualifi- not-too-complimentary sketches. Some cations deemed essential at that time decorative penmanship in which was the ability to inflict corporal birds were prominent was expected punishment. The idea of "no lick- at almost any school. Work of this ing, no larning" was generally ac- type was done by the more skillful cepted. On a peg behind his desk of the students in the writing clas- the teacher kept the switches neces- ses mentioned earlier. sary to apply the corporal punishment in the approved manner. The Physiology and hygiene were then pupil did not receive an occa- practically unknown. Geography was who often very sketchy, and sometimes sional flogging was looked upon as the book used was a small one with unusual. Many a pupil thought the

an accompanying book of maps. The day had been lost if he did not re- text in geography was unvarying in ceive a reasonable switching. Wom- its methods of treatment of different en teachers were an exception, but countries. History was rather brief- an occasional one with more daring, ly dealt with and seemed to empha- tact, and ingenuity than the average, size war more than anything else. became well known for her success- Except for those who were to be- ful work. It is a far cry from those come lawyers, doctors, ministers or schools to the ones of this day. Their teachers, a rudimentary knowledge defects and limitations were glaring; of the Three R's—"reading, riting, yet they are not to be laughed to and rithmetic"—was about all that scorn. They produced the men and was considered essential. women who made America great. In many of the earlier schools, the Perhaps their stern regime was not pupils were encouraged to study so badly fitted to the world in which aloud, and the hum of the school they existed. No thinking person could be heard for a great distance. would wish to call them back, but It was thought to be the best way that same person will look upon them for a pupil to learn. It also enabled as the rather solid foundation upon the teacher to tell whether the pupil which the schools of today are built. was actively at work. A teacher soon became like a trained choir leader, A careful study of the early re- rather capable of selecting and list- ports of the schools in Pope County ening to almost any voice he chose. reveals much interesting information Since all were studying aloud, the concerning early schools, but the noise did not bother anyone partic- space available here limits the ularly. amount of such information.

37 GRIST MILLS ded end that fitted rather snugly within the hollow of the section first One of the first tradesmen to op- mentioned, was then used in place erate in any regular way in the fron- of the stone pestle of the Indian Mill. tier settlement was the miller. The Since this pestle was too heavy to be handled by one person, it was sus- citizens required bread ; and to sup- pended from the limb of a tree or ply that universal need, grist mills end of a limber pole. By this meth- soon appeared. Before the arrival od the pestle could be forcibly miller, each family was forced of a brought down upon the grain in the to contrive in some manner for the hollow of the mortar The spring- preparation of its breadstuff. Dif- iness of the limb would then hoist ferent methods were employed. In the pestle for the next stroke. These general use the Midwest, corn was in m'ills were in common use by isolated for breadstuff before wheat came settlers. into use. One of the very earliest methods of preparing cornmeal was Another device used by the pio- the use of the stone mortar and pes- neers was a grater. For a grater, a tle, the Indian mill. Into the smooth sheet of metal, often from a can or hollow of the mortar, a small quan- bucket, was perforated by a hammer tity of corn was placed. This corn and a sharpened nail. The metal was crushed by pounding and grind- sheet was then bent into an approxi- ing with a smooth ended stone. Meal mate half oval, the rough side out, produced in this manner was not so and attached to a board. The lower fine or so smooth in texture as corn- end of this board was placed in a meal of today. It contained more pan or upon some smooth surface small particles of stone and more like a table top. Held in this posi- bran than the meal of to-day. Nev- tion the ear of corn was rubbed ertheless, it was a simple way to pro- across the roughened metal. This ac- duce breadstuff. tion produced meal, but somewhat slowly. The grater was most com- Another early method of making monly used in the fall of the year an adaption from the stone meal was with corn not fully hardened. Some this adaption, mortar and pestle. In people looked forward with pleasur- section of a log or the top of a a able anticipation to the first bread stump was hollowed out by burning to be made each fall from "gritted" with chisel or a or by gouging a meal. sharp stone. If it were a section of a log that had been hollowed out. The next step in the development this section would be placed upright of the mill was the hand mill. These in the ground with the hollowed end mills included two small but other- up, and at a convenient height. The wise regular millstones. Into the log might be eighteen inches or more top of the upper stone, a shallow in diameter. The hole that had been hole was drilled near the edge, and hollowed out sometimes held a peck the end of a staff set into it. The or more of shelled corn A rather upper end of this staff was then at- heavy section of a log, with a roun- tached to the limb of a tree or to

38 some overhead timber in the house. The mills described heretofore While one person might operate such were generally smaller ones. What a mill, two generally worked at it. may be thought of as the next step Both helped in turning the crank. in the development of the grist mill One of the operators poured corn was the machines operated by water into the center hole in the upper power. These were located upon stone. As the corn worked its way streams where sufficient fall and to the edges of these stones, it was volume of water furnished necessary ground into meal and fell upon the power. table or stump. Though this mill In the operation of these mills, was not so good nor so productive as three types of wheels were used. The the mills operated by horse or water most picturesque one and the one power, it was an advance over the with the appearance of which most mortar and pestle, or the Indian type people are familiar, was the overshot of mill. wheel. In this one, the water passed over the top of the wheel, and its Another type of mill that came weight for the entire fall over the into early use was the band mill. This wheel was used. A second type was mill operated by horse or ox was the breast or undershot wheel. In power. An upright shaft was set this one, the water flowed against up, perhaps fifteen or twenty feet the wheel at or below the center of from the mill stones. Cross arms its height and passed thence beneath were attached to this shaft, and a the wheel. This wheel did not require So great a fall of water as did wheel closely set with upright pegs the overshot but did require more built upon them. Around these pegs water to secure the same amount of and around a wheel on a shaft ris- power. The breast or undershot ing from the upper millstone, a twis- wheel was also picturesque in ap- ted rawhide belt was passed. As the pearance but hardly so picturesque horse or ox walked around, the main as was the overshot. The turbine shaft was turned. By means of the was the least picturesque of the three wheels but was perhaps the most ef- rawhide belt, the shaft moving the ficient one. This type was enclosed millstones was turned. By the use in a circular box into which water of a smaller wheel on the mill stone was admitted at the top, and from shaft and a larger one on the main which it escaped only by the move- or drive shaft, the turning of the ment of the vanes of the wheel into stones could be speeded up. Some the open space in the lower part of mills were operated by means of the box. It operated in the same gears made by setting pegs in wheels manner as the meter which measures attached to shafts. This allowed the amount of water used by a house- various arrangements to be made for holder in any city. connecting the powered shaft to the shaft moving the millstone. It also Because suitable sites for water- made the use of the treadmill for mills were not plentiful and, when horses or oxen more practicable. found, were often remote from set-

39 tlements, they were forced to give gristmill and so was usually located person way to steam powered mills when near one. Often the same op- such became available, but the steam erated both the mill and the distil- that the mills can never replace the legend lery. Thus it can be seen place of the watermill. gristmill was more than a mere to grind corn into meal. It was the "Going to mill' was a somewhat center around which numerous acti- significant event. The sacks of vities gathered. These early mills shelled corn were loaded into an ox were sometimes combined grist and wagon or placed across the back saw mills. of a horse, and the trip began. Since Pope County had its quota of early it was often necessary to go several mills. The springs and creeks in miles, the start was generally made the more hilly sections provided some before daybreak. Upon arrival at excellent sites. These first mills are the mill, one found others already often difficult to locate with reason- there. He then "waited his turn." able exactness, however; neither is This often required an all-day wait it easy, definitely, to fix the years —and sometimes longer. they were in operation. The Rev- This waiting was not always un- erend John Crawford, then a boy pleasant. It afforded an opportunity who moved with his father to a place to meet and get acquainted with oth- on Grand Pierre Creek near its er settlers, to learn of the happen- mouth, in 1808, tells in his writings ings for many miles around, or even that they were forced for some years to glean news of national events. to cross the Ohio and travel about When boys were sent to mill, they twenty miles into the State of Ken- often used the waiting time to play tucky to a horse mill, to have corn with other boys there on similar mis- ground into meal. This indicates that sions. They sometimes swam, or no such mills were accessible in that fished in the millpond, or roamed region. over the surrounding countryside or One of the earlier mills mentioned in the woodland. In this manner, in the county records is that of Ran- the tedium of waiting was lessened. som Peters, in June, 1817. This mill These mills sometimes provided a is mentioned again on August 22, meeting place for the militia when 1818, when a jury was appointed to all able-bodied men of military age view a mill seat for Peters on a "fork were required to meet for regular of Lusk Creek." At the same time, mill drill and be ready to defend the a jury was appointed to view a settlement against the Indians or seat for William Cowan on Lusk other sources of danger. Sometimes Creek. In 1821, a similar jury was elections were also held at these appointed to view a mill seat on Big mills. Pioneer merchants found such Creek in Section 22 Tils, R8E, for a places desirable spots for the location man named Spyars Singleton. On of their stores. Other tradesmen July 4, 1821, a man named Smith had sometimes located nearby. The pio- a mill on Big Creek, "near where Si- neer distillery was served by the mon Armstrong now lives." A man

40 named Chipps operated a mill on Another mill was operated by Grand Pierre in 1825, but its loca- Joseph Broadway on Hayes Creek, tion is not indicated by the county southwest of Eddyville. This mill records. At this same time mention was one of the largest watermills in is made of Twitchell's Mill, then in Pope County, grinding as much as Pope County, but later in Hardin. one hundred twenty-five bushels of This mill was of more than ordinary grain in a day. It was in operation significance and operated for a num- from about 1875 to 1876, perhaps ber of years. Another watermill was longer. According to local tradition, located near Porter's Ford across it ground only corn. Lusk Creek, about three miles north Another early mill was located on of Waltersburg. It served the people over a considerable area and became Lusk Creek about one and one half the a somewhat important business cen- miles west of Raum, where old roadway from Lusk's Ferry to Frank- ter. Robert M. Hamilton, seventy- fort the stream. Still another six years old, told in 1945 of having crossed located about miles north- played about this mill as a boy. He was two it is not jokingly said that a hungry boy could west of Brownfield, but eat the meal as rapidly as the mill known by what power it was operated. According to tradition, this mill ground it—at least, until he starved to death. was at one time operated by a man named Bagly and was both a saw- A few years later a German im- mill and a gristmill. The name of migrant named Wolrab established Bagly is also associated with a mill a mill in what is present-day Hardin that stood near Glendale. Accord- County. This mill operated success- ing to local reports, this mill was op- fully for many years. It was one of erated by steam power. The mill the last watermills to exist in South- was once owned by a man named ern Illinois. Its story will be told George Kimbell—or Kimmel—and more fully in the Hardin County began operation about 1869. Notes. Still another watermill, a mile or Other mills followed, some being so southwest of Lusk, was established watermills and some, steam. A man by Columbus Wilson. This mill was William Drumm operated named sold to Riley Barker and later passed vicinity of present-day mills in the into the possession of Nelson Conley. mill, with undershot Herod. His an After he sold the mill to Barker, Wil- located Pierre wheel, was on Grand son went to Eddyville and there op- end of the mill- Creek, at the lower erated a grist and sawmill and later or lake that is still to be seen. pond a wool mill. This wool mill was still of the timbers of this mill are Some later moved to a pond about a half earth at yet found embedded in the mile west of the village. the millsite. Later, Drumm moved his mill to Gibbon's Creek, south of The first mill to operate in the vi- Herod. In addition to having been cinity of present day Eddyville was a miller, he is recalled by older per- a horse mill that was located on sons as an excellent old time fiddler. Frieze Hill. This mill was operated

41 by Eddie Fulgham. It is said that cerning negro slaves and servants. it was a small affair, some twelve A pait of the information gathered or fourteen feet square, and that the from these books is presented here shaft to which the horse was hitched in the belief that it will prove help- was fifty feet or so from the build- ful to those interested in the history ing. The power was transmitted by of slavery in Southern Illinois, for a belt. The next mill at Eddyville the Pope County records are typical was operated by James Mason, at of those in other older counties of the lower pond on the east side of this part of the state. These records the present roadway. This was a reveal that the practices relating to steam mill which ground both meal slavery in Southern Illinois, did not and flour and had sieves for bolt- conform to the statutes enacted for ing. Tom Cullom later secured it its regulation. They also indicate and moved it into Eddyville. With the that public officials were aware of improvements made by Cullom, it the inconsistencies, even participating became an excellent mill. Numer- in them. ous other small mills were in operation at various times and places in It may be well here to view brief- the county. ly the general history of slavery in Illinois. With such knowledge in These, in brief, are some of the mind, the information regarding in- highlights of the story of milling in consistencies may be better under- Pope County. They do not include accounts of the many sawmills that stood. have operated in countless places It appears that the first negro since the task of clearing away the slaves of present-day Illinois were forests began. those brought from San Domingo, by Phillippe Francois Renault. These slaves, numbering several hundred, SLAVERY AND NEGRO reached Illinois about 1720, perhaps in the latter part of 1719. Some of SERVITUDE them were used in Renault's mining A great deal of interesting infor- ventures in northwestern Illinois and mation lies unnoted in the county in Missouri. Others were used in records of Southern Illinois. In farming operations about the now- searching these records for data con- vanished village of St. Phillippe, in cerning the history of various coun- Monroe County. In addition to these ties, the author has found numerous imported slaves, a number of Indi- references to slavery and to other ans were also held in bondage. How- forms of negro servitude in this sec- ever, the total number of slaves held tion of the state. The most valuable in the territory seems to have shown information is, of course, to be found little increase after 1720. According in the records of the older counties. to the Jesuit Relations, records kept For example, a careful inspection of by the Jesuit priests, there were only the first four deed books of Pope 300 negroes and 60 Indians held as County reveals many recordings con- slaves in 1750.

42 When this territory was ceded to regulations were adopted by Illinois England in 1763, the English did not Territory upon its separation from interfere with the practice of slav- Indiana, in 1816. ery. Hence, when Virginia came into possession of the territory now in- The Illinois Constitution of 1818 cluded in Illinois, at the end of the forbade slavery, but it did not regu- Revolutionary War, nothing was done late specifically against the slavery to restrict the existing practice. already established. To evade this When Virginia ceded the territory to provision of the new constitution, the the newly-formed federal govern- practice of indenturing was contin- ment, she stipulated that the French, ued, but it was legal to indenture the Canadians, and other inhabitants a servant for only one year. In some of Kaskaskia and of other villages instances the constitutional provision in the territory should be allowed to against slavery was simply ignored. retain their properties and "ancient Children born to indentured negro privileges." The Ordinance of 1787 servants could be indentured, the provided that there should be no slav- boys until they were twenty one ery nor involuntary servitude "other- years old and the girls until they wise than in the punishment of crime, were eighteen. Few paid heed to whereof the party shall have been this limit of time. Indentures al- duly convicted." However, both ready in force were not interfered Governor St. Clair, of the Northwest with in any way. Territory and Governor Harrison, of The legislature of the new state in the Indiana Territory, held that this March, did not affect slaves held in the ter- 1819, re-enacted the princi- ritory prior to 1787, but both agreed ples of the earlier territorial laws. that additional slaves could not be These laws passed by the first Gen- brought in. The law barring intro- eral Assembly became known as the duction of more slaves was evaded Black Laws. Under the provision of by the practice of indentui'ing neg- this act, a negro could not become a roes brought in after the ban had resident of the state unless been placed. he had a certificate of freedom from a court Indiana Territory, of which Illinois of record. Without such a certifi- was then a part, legalized this prac- cate, the negro could be sold for one tice by action of the Governing Coun- year. Should he have the required cil and by action of the territorial certifiaate and be admitted to the state, he still could not bring legislature, in 1803, 1805, and 1807. suit, testify in court when a white person By these acts it was legally permis- wa.s concerned, or vote ; nor was he sible to indenture negro men up to allowed to travel, except in very re- the age of thirty-five and negro wom- stricted areas. The whole plan seems en up to that of thirty-two years, to have been intended to drive free though indentures were generally for negroes into voluntary indentures. longer terms, on some occasions for The colored person's plight was in- as long as ninety-nine years. These deed a sorry one.

43 Travelers crossing Illinois with tified the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and their slaves and other property often Fifteenth Amendments to the United expressed a desire to settle, but States Constitution and repealed the some hesitated to do so because of "Black Laws" of 1819 and similar the ban on slavery. This situation laws added in 1853. led those citizens of Illinois who fa- The forgoing brief outline of the vored slavery to demand a conven- general history of slavery and the tion to amend the State Constitution treatment of negroes in the State and make slavery legal. Such a of Illinois, furnishes a background convention was voted by the Legisla- for a more detailed study of negro ture in 1824. In the general election servitude in Pope County. The first that followed, August 2, 1824, there entry concerning a negro servant in were 4,972 votes for slavery and the records at Golconda is a docu- 6,640 against it. Pope County cast ment filed on June 25, 1816, about 273 votes for and 124 against. six months after the formation of the county. this indenture, Silvey, This election did not end slavery By a negro woman about twenty-four in Illinois. In some counties, princi- age, had, on June 22, 1815, pally in the southern part of the years of bound herself to sei've John Morris state, indentured servants and slaves of Gallatin County, then including were held after 1824. This is shown term forty by numerous certificates of freedom portions of Pope, "for a of received executed after that date. Though years next ensuing." Silvey "$400.00 in hand paid, receipt of the insitution of slavery was definite- which is hereby acknowledged." She ly disappearing, the genera! attitude and suf- toward the negro could hardly be was also to receive "good and termed favorable. ficient meat, drink, lodging, ap- parel, together with all other need- In 1862, the people of Illinois ful conveniences fit for such a ser- voted, by a majority of 100,000, to vant." Silvey pledged herself "faith- refuse admission to negroes. At the fully to serve, obey, not absent her- same time they voted, by a majority self from her work and not to em- of 176,000, to prohibit negroes from bezzle or waste or lend her master's voting or holding office. In 1862, a propei'ty." With this indenture, a negro in Hancock County was arres- bond was filed and signed by John ted for being in the state ten days Morris, and one surety, guaranteeing and intending to remain permanent- that Silvey would not become a pub- ly. He was found guilty and fined. lic charge of Pope County. Except for Interested citizens appealed his case length of service pledged, this inden- to the State Supreme Court, which in ture complied with the law of Illinois 1864 upheld the verdict of the lower Territory at that time. In its form court. it is typical of such contracts.

Such incidents as these reveal more In the majoi'ity of indentures re- clearly, perhaps, the general feeling corded, an entry similar to the one towards negroes than does the fact where Silvey acknowledges the re- that the legislative acts of 1865 ra- ceipt of a certain sum of money, "in

44 — —

hand, paid, the receipt of which is years. It will be noted that this in- hereby acknowledged" will be found. denture exceeds the legal limit by It is seriously to be doubted whether forty-seven years. the negro actually received the money. The next entry indicates a method approximating outright slave trade The second entry noted on the rec- in the Illinois Territory, since the ords of the county was a "Bill of consent of the servant is not indi- Bargain and Sale" that states, cated as having been secured. In this "Know ye all men by these presents case, Louis LaChapelle of Randolph that I, Jessie Jones, of the State of County had Isaac, a negro man about Kentucky and county of Galdwell, twenty-three years of age, bound to have this day bargained and sold him for a period of forty years for and delivered unto Fergu- Thomas an indicated consideration of $500. son of Illinois Territory and County This indenture was acknowledged be- of Johnson, a certain negro man fore Wm. Greenup, County Clerk of named Jeffery about 30 years of Randolph County, Illinois, on Febru- age, and for consideration of the sum ary 3, 1815. La Chapelle then made of five-hundred and twenty-five dol- a notation on the indenture as fol- lars." lows

This bill of sale was filed in the "For value receive (sic) I assign office of Joshua Scott, recorder of over all my write (sic) to the within Pope County, on November 28, 1816. indenter (sic) unto Thomas Fergu- Since this document is an outright son and hath (sic) this day delivered bill of sale, it did not conform to the the above indentere (sic) servant as legal requirements of Illinois Terri- the above indenters (sic) calls for tory. A later paragraph will indi- as witness and seal this 7th day of cate the manner in which this ap- June, 1815. L. Chapelle." parent failure was rectified. Another record indicates the out- The next entry noted concerning right purchase of a slave by Thomas a servant in the records of the coun- Ferguson, a citizen of Pope County. ty is an indenture acknowledged be- This slave, Toney, had been pur- fore Wm. Greenup, County Clerk of chased by Richard Thomas Porter Randolph County, and dated Decem- of Edgecomb County, in North Caro- ber 17, 1810. It was not recorded lina, for "200 pounds of in Pope County, until November 28, currency 1816. By this indenture, similar in North Carolina." Porter was "to form to the one between John Mor- have and hold forever." Then on ris of Gallatin County and the negro April 26, 1809, the following trans- woman named Silvey, George, a neg- action was recorded; "For value re- ro man about twenty-one years of ceived, I, Richard Thomas Porter age, for a consideration of "Five hun- do assign over all my writ (sic) — dred dollars, lawful money of the to Thomas Ferguson."—Porter also United States" bound himself to serve "will warrant and defend title." This David J. Black for the term of sixty transaction evidently took place in

45 Pope County, since it was acknow- of sale whereby John Ditterline, on ledged before Joshua Scott, who was December 18, 1816, transferred his then serving as county clerk. rights to Mary, "A slave for life," to Ferguson, for a consideration of David Black then appeared with $500.00. This transaction took place a "slave" named George, whom he in Pope County, as evidenced by its had purchased from Thomas Dunder- acknowledgment before Joshua Scott, son of Christian County, Kentucky, County Clerk for Pope County. on November 19, 1810, for $400.00. This slave was sold to Thomas Fer- In April 1817, Anthony, Lettie, guson on April 2, 1811. In the next Jeffery, and George agreed to go to recorded transaction, Wiley Davis of Missouri Territory with Ferguson. If Eddyville, Kentucky, assigned his in- this trip was made as indicated, it terest in Letty, a "slave" about twen- would appear that Lettie and Jef- ty years old, and son about one year fery were later safely returned to ten months old, to Ferguson. In the Illinois, since lots 166 and 167 were following entry, Ferguson bound a transferred to them on December 1, negro named Anthony for thirty 1821, but no later mention of either years in return for "a certain lot Anthony or George is found on the numbered 163 in Sarahville"—now records. Golconda. Anthony was to have immediate possession and "enjoy the Other indentures followed. Betty, rents and profits" during his term of a negro woman about twenty-two servitude. The value of these lots years of age, bound herself to Sam- must have been negligible, since lots uel Langdon for a period of sixty 161 and 168, fully as well located, years, for a consideration of $400.00. sold within a year from the time of This indenture was acknowledged Anthony's indenture for $3.00 each. before Robert Lacey, Judge of the On July 17, 1816, Jeffery, mentioned County Court, on February 8, 1817. in the second entry on the county Nancy Williams, a negro woman records and previously referred to from Missouri Territory, bound her- as having been "bought" from Jesse self to Jacob Robinson for a term of Jones by Thomas Ferguson, volun- twenty years for a consideration of tarily bound himself to Ferguson for $500.00. This indenture was execu- a period of thirty years for lot num- ted before Joshua Scott, County bered 167. This lot was not trans- Clerk of Pope County. In April, ferred to Jeffery until December 1, 1817, Daniel and Vina bound them- 1821, more than five years after he selves to Joshua Scott, county re- had signed the indenture. On July 27, corder, for forty years. The consid- 1816, Lettie or Lettice, a negro wom- eration named in each case was an about twenty-eight years old, was $400.00. These indentures for Dan- bound to Thomas Ferguson for a pe- iel and "Vina were acknowledged be- riod of thirty years for lot numbered fore Joshua Scott, county clerk, to 166 in Sarahville. The lot mentioned whom they were also bound. Both was not transferred to Lettie until indentures were witnessed by Pru- December 1, 1821. Next is a bill dence M. Rose and Polly Pankey.

46 On August 20, 1817, Anny bound 1829. In his will, Kesterson provi- herself to Isom Clay for sixteen ded "that his said executor shall sell years for a consideration of $400.00. his two negro men, Macklin, and One week later, David Turner and Frank, together." This provision of Millie, both "late out of Jefferson the will was carried out by Robert County, Virginia," bound themselves Kesterson, father of the deceased to David Covi^an for fifty years. A and executor of his will, when the consideration of $400.00 is named in negroes were sold in November 1829 each case. On January 6, 1818, Ju- for $325.00. It should also be noted dith, about seventeen years old, "last that Macklin and Frank were not (sic) of the territory of Missouri," previously recorded in the circuit bound herself to William Wilson of clerk's records as slaves. Pope County, Illinois Territory, for a period of ninety-nine years. For These instances of unrecorded this term of service she is supposed slaves held by Kesterson, as well as to have received $400.00. On Feb- the case of Anthony, cited in the ruary 13, 1818, Linda, a Negro wom- preceding paragraph, coupled with an about nineteen years old, "last unverified traditions, would seem to (sic) out of Missouri Territory" like- indicate that there were numerous wise bound herself to William Wil- other slaves owned in Pope County. son for a period of ninety-nine years Negro indentures were not found on for a named consideration of $400.00. the deed records of the Circuit These indentures would have expired Clerk's office after this date, though on February 13, 1917. they are referred to in other county records. A negro boy named Anthony, about eighteen years old, was sold A new turn of affairs is indicated on December 14, 1820, John by in an entry dated August 19, 1823. Henry of Pope County to Elizabeth At that time, William Beam emanci- Henry of Logan County, Kentucky, pated and issued certificates of free- for the of $612.00. This bill of sum dom to twelve slaves as listed be- sale was certified by Craven P. Hes- low: ter, a Justice of the Peace for Pope County. This definitely indicates Abraham—about sixteen years old. that the sale Illinois. took place in Martin—nine years old. It should be noted that Anthony had Gilbert—about twenty-one years not previously appeared in the rec- old. ords of the county as a slave. Cunningham—about eight years According to tradition, and occa- old. sionally by written implication, other Sam—about twelve years old. outright sales of slaves occurred in Thomas—nine years old. Pope County after the admission of Hetty—six years old. Illinois to statehood. One instance Lotty about seventeen years old. that indicates an outright sale was — the settlement of the estate of Lar- Nelly—about forty years old. kin Kesterson, who died on May 25, Rody—about thirteen years old.

47 Luckey—about twenty-two years about three years, and Henrietta old. about one year old. Nancy about sixteen years old. — David A. Smith, on March 22, 1817, secured the approval of an These are the first emancipations Alabama Court and freed his slaves found recorded in Pope County. The William, William's wife, Isabel, and certificates are signed by Beam, with their six children. his mark, and are witnessed by Ed- mund Richmond. These certificates of freedom were filed for record in Pope County on The next recorded emancipations November 22, 1838. were made on February 13, 1830, when Wiley Jones granted freedom Other certificates of freedom for to "Chaney, a woman of color, about former slaves appear on later Pope twenty-six years old, of low stature" County records. Thus, on May 10, and to her children, Anne, Judah, 1845, "Moses, a man of color", after James, and Alfred. All this was "for extended and complicated legal pro- and in consideration of faithful serv- cedures, established the fact that ice." The emancipations made by he had purchased his freedom, along Beam and Jones were evidently to with that of his wife and son, from slaves or servants held in Pope Coun- their Tennessee owner for $1,450.00. ty- In these proceedings, Moses was rep- resented by "next friend" John Step- records of Fannie Mac, "A The henson. These certificates were filed woman of color" and of her son "A in Pope County and indicate that color" are somewhat singu- man of these Negroes became residents lar. Fannie Mac purchased her son, there. Caesar, a slave, from Stephen Smel- ser of Calway County, Kentucky, for On the same date. May 10, 1845, the sum of $550.00. A short time "Jerry, a colored man," filed his cer- afterwards, that is, on January 29, tificate of freedom in Pope County 1836, she, "for love and affection," after he had failed to secure passage emancipated Caesar. During the in- to Liberia, from Hardeman County, tervening period, Fannie Mac thus Tennessee. On May 27 of the same held her own son as a slave. year, Winnie, who had, after involved court procedures in Missouri A slightly different case was that and in Kentucky, won her freedom, of a slave named Lewis, brought from filed the certificate in the office of Arkansas to Pope County for the ex- the recorder in Pope County. The press purpose of emancipation, on records in this case cover some ten March 15, 1838. The next year a pages and indicate that Winnie had somewhat similar case is found in been held illegally in slavery for which Eli Roden of Pope County, some years. formerly of Arkansas, emancipated "Mary Ann, a woman of color, a Slaves were evidently held in Pope slave" and her children, Melvina County until a comparatively late about four years old, Margaretta date. This is Indicated by the fact

48 that Lucinda, and her eight children, was fulfilled. In other instances no indicated as "slaves", were freed by record of a bond occurs. It was in the will of Wm. R. Adams, on De- compliance with this demand that cember 28, 1846. William Beam, on August 19, 1823, filed bond for $13,000.00 with the One of the most interesting certifi- County Court. cates filed during this period is the one by Matthew Scott, on Septem- The foregoing instances are cited ber 22, 1846. In this certificate, the as being indicative of the course of freedom of Scott and his family, con- slavery in a typical Southern Illinois sisting of a wife and nine children, county. Other uncited records of is established along with the fact slaves and indentured servants are that Scott had received a military to be found in various Pope County discharge from the "company of I'ecords. A rather careful search Captain William McCalley in the fails to reveal the later disposition General Jackson War." of those bound to a term of service. The records do not show that these On July 31, 1850, Patsey, who had servants and slaves were freed when been born free in Vii'ginia, estab- the periods for which they were lished the fact in Pope County by bound expired. Tradition likewise registering her certificate in the re- fails to provide an answer. corder's office. On the same day, Theodore Mundle, through an affi- davit filed by Robert T. Leeper, established the fact that he was a free FLATHEADS AND Negro and had lived with his mother in the county for the past five years. REGULATORS

In the inspection made, no latter The pioneer was often a venture- records of certificates of freedom some and independent individual. were found on the records for Pope This was natural, too, since the wild County. and unsettled sections appealed most strongly to such persons. Because In all cases concerning the freeing these early settlers were as they of slaves, a somewhat detailed de- were, and lived in an area where or- scription is given. This procedure ganized local government and law was used so that the one emancipa- enforcement facilities had not come ted could be readily identified. In to function too well, it is not strange the case of slaves or servants brought that the more law abiding settlers into the state and indentured, it was became impatient with the law required that bonds be furnished, breakers whose actions were injur- guaranteeing that such Negroes ious or disturbing. This often led to would not become a public charge independent, or extra-legal groups, of the county. Laws of the period organized to enforce their conception also required that similar bonds be of law. The history of the entire filed for Negroes being emancipated. West is replete with examples of In some instances this requirement these groups.

49 When such groups were organized One of the first incidents that in- and began to function in any area, dicated the alignment of the groups was it was not unusual to find the more that were later to wage what lawless elements strengthening their almost a civil war, was that having own organizations. There would to do with a group led by a man thus be two opposing but equally de- named Sturdevant, and centering termined groups. These conditions about a blockhouse he had erected in led to a state that resembled a local what was then a part of Pope but this civil war in this county. The law en- now of Hardin County. Around forcement groups sometimes began place a group of counterfeiters are the use of what might easily be said to have operated. The exact termed extra-legal methods, and location of Sturdevant's fort is not passed beyond the control of the known, but on October 17, 1820, a more conservative element that had man named Roswell Sturdevant dee- promoted their organization. Some ded a part of Sec. 2, T12S, R8E to then began to use the group to pro- Samuel O'Melvaney. This deed was mote their own purposes, or to visit witnessed by James Steel and Mer- punishment upon those they disliked. rick Sturdevant. This description applies to land about where Rosiclare made for two Such practices now stands. According to tradition, equally law- groups that were almost this roughly corresponds to the site and objectives. less in their methods of the fort. In the earlier stages of enforcement group Instead of a law the venture, Sturdevant seems to gang, there and a definitely lawless have done the counterfeiting of bank about equally law- were two gangs notes and to have given them to con- methods. Pope County less in their federates to pass outside the state. this affords a typical example of For these counterfeit notes the con- course of events. federates are said to have paid Stur- Though the operations of the devant at the rate of $16.00 in legal groups, known as Flatheads and money for each $100.00 of the coun- Regulators, covered more than Pope terfeit currency. The operations of to have County, it appears that their begin- this band do not seem the ning in Southern Illinois was in the aroused active opposition until local- county of Pope as it was then con- practice of passing the money stituted. It also appears that, in the ly was begun. When those accused beginning, the Flatheads were re- of passing the counterfeit money lo- cruited mostly from the more lawless cally were arrested, the resulting part of the population, and that the trials seemed almost always to have Regulators came from those who resulted in a hung jury, a mistrial, or wished to see a more efficient en- some such action that many persons forcement of the law. The condi- looked upon as a miscarriage of jus- tions leading to the organization of tice. the Regulators may be attributed to the inability or lack of desire of the In an effort to strengthen the law regularly constituted authorities to enforcement program, a committee perform their duties. composed of -Joseph Pryor, Dr. Wil-

50 liam Sims, Rev. William Rondeau, ing a drink of whiskey given to him Hugh McNuelty, Major John Raum, by a man suspected of being engaged and perhaps of others, was formed. in the same illegal practice. This committee seems to have been In 1846 a man named Sides, who an advisory and controlling body, had received some money from an and was formed to direct the activi- estate that he was administering, was ties of others. At about this time, beaten, along with his wife, and left and doubtless upon the advice of this presumably to burn in his home that committee, a band of men was was set on fire. A heavy rain put the formed and proceeded to attack the fire out. The victims were revived band of counterfeiters at Sturde- and told their story. This incident vant's blockhouse. Spies had inform- seems to have been the decisive one ed the counterfeiters that an armed in the open and somewhat public group was coming to attack them. functioning of the Regulators. Hun- In the battle that followed, accord- dreds of men joined the organiza- ing to tradition, three members of tion, ostensibly to carry out the or- Sturdevant's band were killed. A ders of the governing council. The small cannon in the possession of the sheriff was to be "advised" concei'n- counterfeiters was brought into ef- ing the release, on bond, of any ac- fective use, and the law enforcement cused men. Some men suspected in group was held at bay. Messengers the Sides incident were arrested. No were dispatched to bring reinforce- bonds were allowed, and they were ments. While the attacking party kept under close guard by the Regu- was awaiting the additional help, lators. When time came for the night came on, and the counterfeiters trial, a change of venue took it to made their escape. Johnson County. According to some reports, the Flatheads intended to For a short time following this use force to free the accused as they event, conditions remained quiet. The were being transferred to Vienna. next epidemic of lawlessness began Because of the heavy guard under with considerable horse stealing, with which they were moved, such could which the earlier practice of counter- not be done. In the Vienna trial, six feiting was soon included. To these men were convicted and given prison practices of horse stealiag and coun- terms. Four of them died in the penitentiary. terfeiting, that of kidnapping free Negroes and of selling them to slave Like most extra-legal groups dealers was shortly added. Anyone formed to take the law into their informing the authorities concerning own hands, the Regulators soon got the men supposedly guilty of the out of control of the calmer element crimes mentioned might expect his that directed their formation and property to be burned or his very early work. They became tyrannical life to be in jeopardy. One person and fanatical, often adminstering accused of the kidnapping of free beatings and torture to those they Negroes confessed and implicated suspected, or toward whom they had others. He died quickly after tak- formed a dislike. They forced the

.H^"* .^<.^^'*- >j^'^^ .^0^^ *>>^ — —

resignation of Circuit Judge Scate, tution to permit slavery in Illinois intimidated and coerced law enforce- was to be voted upon, there was a ment officers, rescued fellow Regu- sharp division of sentiment in the lators who had run afoul of the law, county. The majority was favorable and appointed justices before whom toward slavery. accused persons were tried. They Again, the mounting political feel- whipped, as well as tarred and ings throughout the nation in the pe- feathered people whom they ad- riod immediately preceding the Civil judged as deserving punishment. In War were clearly reflected. In the short, they became as lawless as the senatorial campaign of Lincoln and element they had organized to regu- Douglas in 1858, the division was late. sharp and somewhat bitter, but defi- A plea was sent to Govei-nor Ford, nitely favorable to Douglas. That asking for the State Militia to be feelings were freely, though slight- sent into the county. Militia from ly unmetrically, expressed is indica- adjoining counties refused to serve. ted by one of the campaign songs Dr. William Gibbs of Johnson Coun- published in the Herald, on Septem- ty was sent by the governor to try ber 23, 1858. A copy of the song to compose the difference. The State is given here. Legislature gave the problem much attention. A new and special dis- A DITTY FOR THE TIMES trict court was established to try by Hackberry such cases. It aroused considerable — Weasel." opposition, and its legal validity was AIR "Pop Goes the challenged. Though this court met Poltitics is now a theme at Benton, in 1847, and several men For all to talk and think on. were held to appear before it, there While out upon the changing scene seems to be no record of its final ac- Pop ! goes Aby Lincoln. tion. After many years of strife and considerable loss of life and property, He to fight the "Giant" tries, cooler heads came to prevail, and by While Danites he relies on 1850, peace and quiet reigned. Mob Trumbull "crams our throats with law had been a failure. People in lies" large numbers came to settle in Pop ! they're worse than poison. Pope County, and its progress during As he rants and raves away, the next ten years was marked. Some exclaim, "O, fie! man;" Others simply smile and say, POLITICS "Pop! what a lie-man!" Lincoln says the darkies are Records indicate that the citizens Our equals by creation of Pope County have at all times tak- O'er our eyes to pull the har, en politics rather seriously. The mea- Pop—the Declaration! ger records indicate that in the election of August 1824, when the prop- On his platform he can't stand. osition of amending the state consti- And when the people hoot him.

52 — — —

While in their eyes he's throwing coln received only nineteen votes. sand There could be some mistake in these Pop! goes a plank to suit 'em. figures, since published returns for the presidential election that year Lovejoy the first Lieutenant is, show many more Lincoln voters. Of all his thimble-riggers Even at its best, however, the Lincoln While underground that road of his vote was, relatively, very small. Pop—away the niggers!

Though for a preacher he was raised, The following is a list of these He's bound, with expedition. voters as published in the Golcon- If he doesn't mend his ways. da paper in 1929: John M. Boi- Pop! into peridition. court, J. Hillis Hall, Joshua Craig, Jonathan C. Williams, Thomas Mc- The Danites hate the "Giant" brave, Gowan, J. W. Y. Hanna, W. S. Hodge, And niggerism wink on; Dr. John P. Hodge, Thomas Bell, Finding "Dug" has dug their grave, A. D. Pierce, E. E. Trovillion, Ed Pop! They're out for Lincoln! Palmer, Glen Wright, F. M. Clana- Office-holder brave and true han, George D. Waters, Wesley Booz- Who don't support the "Ranger" man, Shanz Golightly, William R. Dougherty and all his crew Whiteside, and Mathew Bracewell.

Pop ! his head's in danger. With the list of names as pub- When the Lincoln-Douglas debate lished, a brief record of the part occured at Jonesboro, several people played by some of these men after from Pope County attended. The the 1860 campaign was given. J. only known name of anyone going is M. Boicourt entered the service and that of E. E. Trovillion, who made became Captain of Company G. 6th the journey in a wagon, going by Illinois Cavalry. He was a member way of Columbus, Old Grantsburg, of General John B. Grierson's com- Vienna, and on to Jonesboro. It is mand that made one of the most cele- reported that he took several others brated cavalry raids of history when with him. That Pope County was it ravaged the territory from La- definitely favorable toward slavery Grange, Tennessee, to Baton Rouge, as shown by the election is not sur- Louisiana. Boicourt had been post- prising. It is explained by the fact master but resigned the position to that numerous Negroes were at one enter the army. Upon his return to time held as slaves or bond servants Golconda, he was re-appointed post- in the county. master and served until his death.

The presidential election of 1860 J. Hillis Hall was for a long time was an animated one, and numerous a leading citizen in Golconda and

stories concerning it are still to be succeeded in accumulating a sizable heard. In February, 1929, a list of fortune for that day. Joshua Craig the men who voted for Lincoln in was editor of the Herald Enterprise. 1860 was published in the Golconda Jonathan C. Willis later became paper. According to this list, Lin- sheriff of the county. After this, he

53 moved to Metropolis. He served as William, was a volunteer in the Civil Revenue Collector for the 13th dis- War. Thomas Bell left no later rec- trict. During the Civil War he was ords. on General Grant's staff. Thomas The first issue of the Golconda McGovi'an was for a number of years Herald—that is. Volume 1 Number one of the prominent business men of 1, issued in 1857—frankly and forci- Golconda. For many years, J. E. Y. bly set forth its political beliefs. An- Hanna was a teacher, civic leader, other paper, the Pope County Tran- and county surveyor. script, established by J. M. Boicourt, Captain W. S. Hodge was at one in late 1862 or early 1863, was rabid- time sheriff of the county. His son, ly union and stoutly suppoi'ted Presi- John H. Hodge, later became Coun- dent Lincoln and his party. This pap- ty Superintendent of Schools. Dr. er evidently did not continue many John P. Hodge was a leading physic- years, for there is record that an- ian and prominent citizen of the other paper. The Enterprise, began area. Major A. D. Pierce became publication in 1886 and announced sheriff and one of the leading mer- itself as definitely Republican. This chants of the town. E. E. Trovillion definite commitment of the papers was a successful business man. Ed of that day to an active part in poli- Palmer was a prominent farmer liv- tics need not be interpreted as in- ing near Glendale. Glen Wright was dicating more than the usual prac- also a prominent farmer and the tice. Practically all papers at that father of Captain Robert M. Wright, time were avowedly political and U. S. Army. F. M. Clanahan became did nothing to conceal the fact. widely known as "Fox Clanahan" be- It should be noted, however, that cause of his love for fox chasing. when the Civil War did come. Pope George W. Waters became a prom- County definitely and consistently de- inent farmer and leading citizen of fended the cause of national union. the county. Its military contributions to the union any The records do not indicate cause certainly need no apologies. later fame attained by Leslie Booz- more beyond the fact that he lived The general interest in elections near Dixon Springs and that his wife did not always require a Democrat- was a writer of some note. Shanz Republican issue. That of temper- Golightly operated a mill for wheat ance and prohibition has furnished and corn at Bay City. William R. material for some animated cam- Whiteside, farmer of Glendale, was paigns. The writer was unable to the father of Attorney J. Ado White- secure the exact dates when these side. Matthew Bracewell lived in the campaigns were waged, but it must northwestern corner of the county. have been in the first decade of the He told of being personally assaulted 1900's, since one of the authors has at the polls when he cast his vote. been absent from Golconda since Bracewell lived to a ripe old age and about that time. To indicate the vowed that he never for one moment general pattern of such campaigns, regretted the way he voted. His son. two of the songs used are given here.

54 —

THE TEETOTALERS ARE COMING BLESSINGS OF TEMPERANCE

Tune—"The Campbells are Coming." By Isaac McCoy, A. M. By A. H. Buel What blissful sounds have broken, Along the distant main. The teetotalers are comin O Ho O The tidings. Hear them spoken The teeotalers are comin O Ho O There's joy in every strain; The teetotalers are comin O'er every sea and ocean. Old Alchy to rout O'er every land, behold. The teetotalers are comin O Ho O. Health, peace, and true devotion. The Temperance theme have told. We have entered the field with our armours bright, Long night had rapt creation To fight the old demon with all our In darkness shades of woe; might And tears and lamentation. By the help of God, Oh here we come From countless hearts did flow. To save you from the tyrant Rum But hark! What note of gladness The Patriot's bosom thrills? Chorus (First Verse) Tis Temperance, cheering sadness soothing sorrow's ills. King Alcohol disputes our ground And And says that he will wear the Then Hope from Heav'n descending. crown Her beams on nature flung; Give him the crown. Oh! That won't Her thousand anthems, blending, do With Freedom's muse she sung. To have you lost in Brandy stew. Columbia woke to glory. Her Temperance banner waved. Know in our midst the enemy is sta- Her millions learn'd the story; tioned And Heav'n and Virtue saved. To fill our country with black dis-

sipation. Whatever the issues at stake, it To put you in chains and stone you seems that the voters of Pope Coun- with crime ty have acted with directness and And throw you to waller along with have not been hesitant in voicing the swine. their convictions, nor in acting upon them. The ladies already have entered the field The cause of temperance they never will yield. BLACKSMITHS With pledge in hand they nobly wait. One of the first and very neces- To save you from the Drunkard's sary craftsmen was the blacksmith. fate. This local workman's shop was the The ladys are coming O Ho O source of practically all iron work The ladys are comin O Ho O required in the making of farm tools. The ladys are comin He layered axes and sometimes even Old Alchy to rout made the entire ax. Hoes, frows, The ladys are coming O Ho O. log hooks, plows, butcher knives.

55 door hinges, latches, andirons, WHITESIDE'S TANNERY wedges, hammers, chisels, and many other tools and devices came from Whiteside's tannery is shown on his shop. an atlas published in 1876. It took its name from George Whiteside The more skilled smiths often who operated it for a number of or turned their hands to the making of years. There were twelve more pits, each about four feet wide, about rifles. Even today one may find the same in depth, and of varj'ing in an attic or somewhere about an lengths. The pits were lined with rifle that was made old homstead, a heavy oak planking and were tight by such a gunsmith. These firearms enough to hold water. should not be looked upon solely as a means of recreation. They were Some of the pits contained a mixture of wood ashes and water, or useful to the pioneer in the defense lime and water. Into these the hides of his livestock against wild animals were placed and allowed to soak for and, upon occasions, in the defense the necessary time. Upon removal of his home. A considerable propor- from this solution they were carefully tion of his meat supply was secured scraped, so that all hair was remov- from the game he killed. These men, ed. They were washed, to remove the gunsmiths and blacksmiths, were the lye or lime, then were placed in another pit with alternate layers of skilled craftsmen and useful citizens. tan bark that had been somewhat finely ground. Water was poured Some of the early blacksmiths and over these layers of hides and tan- wagon shops operating in Pope Coun- bark, until all was covered. Here the ty were those of Willie Story, John hides were allowed to soak until they Daniel Willis, John H. Baugher, and had been fully tanned. Sanders, who operated shops in Gol- conda. Harris Leonard also operated After they were removed from the a carriage shop there. Jess Reynolds pits, the hides were drawn back and forth across the sharp edge of a had a shop at Bay City, and J. B. plank, or whipped about a beating Russel had one at Glendale. Num- post until they had become as lim- erous other shops were scattered over ber as desired for their intended pur- Pope County at a very early date. A pose. Some leather, like that to be considerable amount of wagon repair used for shoe soles or some parts of work is even yet done at Eddyville. harness, was not so treated. After drying, the leather was ready for One of the very few gunsmiths, sale. Mr. Walters, still using the methods and tools of the pioneer craftsman, After it was tanned, leather was occasionally plies his trade at Wal- dyed to desired color. This was tersburg, on the Vienna-Golconda sometimes done by use of dubbin, a highway. mixture of oils and animal fats com-

56 bined with lampblack or other color- MINES AND MINERALS ing matter. At other times, oxgall was used for dyeing. The mining industry of Pope Coun- ty has extended over quite a long The bark for tanning came from period of time and been somewhat varied, but never extensive. On some oaks. Trees were sometimes cut only of the early maps of the county, for the bark they afforded. Gener- "Iron Ore" is indicated. Some of ally the tanbark was secured from these places where coal or iron was trees cut for barrel staves or for found, and perhaps mined to a very lumber. Since a number of stave limited extent, are indicated on the factories operated in communities accompanying map. These iron de- nearby, much tanbark was obtained posits were not impoi^tant and have never been mined, as they were in from them. If cut in the early spring Hardin county around the Illinois months after the sap had begun to Furnace of Martha Furnace. Coal flow, bark could easily peeled. be findings have been of little impor- This bark was collected and hauled tance. In a few places, out-croppings to the tanner. There it was laid on were found and some mines opened. a circular track having a stone floor. Apparently there have been no tip- ple mines. Most of the operators Around this track a heavy stone, sold the coal to those who came for fastened to a horsepowered sweep, it in wagons. Some of these mines was rolled. Bark was kept on the are located on the map, but none of in the of the track and path wheel them seem to be still in operation. until it was ground finely enough to be used in the tanning pits. An in- Deposits of kaolin and other clays dividual wishing to tan only a few used in industry have been found in hides might pound his tanbark with Pope County. One of the largest of a stone maul. these kaolin mines was located beside the Eddyville-Golconda road

Local shoemakers and harness mak- where it crosses Lusk creek. This ers used some of the leather. Some mine had been operated for several of it went upon the market and was purposes. At one time it was desig- aften transported to New Orleans nated as "lead diggings", and a or other points by flatboat. Cattle quantity of lead was mined. As the were generally cheap, and a tanned supply of lead diminished, the mine hide was often worth more than the was turned to production of red iron remainder of the animal. oxide. It then turned to clay mining. A considerable village was located Carl Maynor operated a black- there, and Alonzo Frieze operated smith and wagon shop at the same a hotel and store. At one time the location as Whiteside's Tannery. Both mine employed a number of foreign- these ventures seem to have pros- ers. There were several major acci- pered. dents at this mine. Some men were

57 crushed to death by falls of clay, and In earlier days many people grew others by an explosion. Operations small patches of cotton to be used in ceased many years ago. home weaving. This cotton was sometimes picked from the seeds by hand. Some early spar mines were opened in Pope County. The one designated In other cases a rude gin was made as Empire Spar Mine was opened and used in the home. The main part before 1876 and worked for several of these homemade gins consisted of years. As its products grew poor, it two wooden rollers, similar to those was discontinued and later revived of a clothes wringer but much small- with the discovery of a better vein. er, being only about one-half inch in It was deserted a second time and diameter. These rollers allowed the once more revived. It is still operating. cotton fibers to enter and be drawn through but did not allow the seeds The Grand Pierre Lead Mine was to enter. Two persons worked at one operating in 1876. Perhaps the most of these small gins. While one op- extensive coal mine of the county was erator turned the crank at the end of one operated by Frank Durfee, near Blanchard. This mine supplied some one roller and held the unginned cot- householders, along with schools and ton against the rollers, the other churches. The coal came from an turned a crank at the opposite end outcropping on a hillside. Durfee's of the other roller and helped by supplied coal to the mine also some pulling the ginned cotton from the company engaged in construction of rollers as it came through. By use the new railway known as the Edge- of this simple machine, cotton fibers wood Cut-Off. So far as can be learned, no coal mines were operat- were removed from the seeds much of ing in the county in 1946. more rapidly than by hand. Parts one of these primitive hand gins were secured from Rev. Wesley Jackson COTTON at McCormick, along with a detailed description that enabled the author According to Mr. T. B. Holloway, to complete working drawings for the living near Eddyville in 1946, a large reproduction of such a device. cotton gin was operated by Josh Tay- lor at a place about four miles south Cotton from the small plots grown and two miles west of Bay City, in by the householders was used for the 1870's, and for some years there- home weaving. It was carded and after. Mr. Holloway remembers go- spun into thread to be used as warp ing with his father. Josh Holloway, in making of the cloth known as lin- who then lived about one mile north sey-woolsey. The term linsey-wool- of Rock, to take cotton to Taylor's seey was derived from the fact that place. This was a journey of some such cloth was originally made of eighteen miles, but it was the most linen warp and wool woof. The term convenient place at which one could soon came to be applied also to a have cotton ginned. cotton warp and wool woof cloth. 58 ;

TAVERNS store connected with them; they were, therefore, convenient gathering One of the duties of the early- places for travelers and politicians. County Commissioner was to fix tav- The tavern keeper was a man of con- ern rates. Since all taverns were li- siderable influence. censed by the county board and the rates that they might charge their customers were fixed by the same board, such records do much to indi- SUGAR CAMP cate the location of different settle- Sugar camps were located at vari- ments and lines of travel. ous places in Pope County, one being The following are typical of the about a mile northwest of Raum, in rates charged in April, 1816, at tav- a region where maple trees were erns in Pope County. Breakfast, din- plentiful. It was in full operation ner or supper 25c ; lodging, each per- until at least the middle 1880's. T. son, I2V2C; whiskey and peach bran- B. Holloway remembers distinctly dy one-half pint, 37V2c; horse kept when this camp was operated. An- and fed corn or oats and hay or fod- other such camp was the one near der, 37V2C; a single feeding for horse Bethesda church, about three miles 1214. The licenses charged for the southeast of Raum, on Little Grand privilege of operating a tavern in Pierre Creek. In the Golconda paper 1816 varied from $4.00 to $8.00, evi- of February 14, 1887, an advertise- dently depending upon the size of ment appeared, stating that Tom the tavern. Abbot wished to buy all maple sugar

Tavern rates in 1812 were as fol- made in the county. lows: Breakfast or supper 25c; lodg- one considers that ing 12Vo; horse to hay at night 25c; When loaf sug- for feed and corn I2V2C; French ar—that is, sugar closely resembling the brandy, 50c one-half pint; whisky dark brown variety sometimes found on sale today one-half pint, 1214c; taffia or rum —cost about 50 cents a pound, it can readily per one-half pint, 37i/4c; peach bran- be understood dy, 37V2C; and cherry bounce, 25c why maple sugar was made. For the one-half pint. Comparison of these making of maple sugar, a section of containing prices with those of 1816 shows sub- woodland many sugar stantially the same charges. Hov/- maple trees was selected. This was generally in ever, taffia and cherry bounce had some fertile valley. If the grove selected was not easily disappeared from the list of liquors accessible from the of the one available. One wonders just what home they were. making the sugar, a cabin and other camp necessities were built. Fire- It should be remembered that tav- wood was gathered; the necessary erns were often important as gather- kettles, buckets, sleds, carrying-yokes, ing places. They were stopping troughs and barrels were assembled places for stages; they often held the and other preliminary preparations postoffice; they frequently had a completed.

59 In early spring, the householder were important factors in the coun- watched closely to see when the sap ty's development. With the decline began to rise in the maples. This of river traffic, it became less impor- was generally in late P'ebruary or tant but remained the main source early March. As soon as conditions of commercial transportation with warranted, work began. Trees were outside territory for a long time. This "tapped" by having holes bored into is indicated by the fact that the Gol- them. These holes sloped down, conda paper on September 11, 1887, slightly. Into them, spiles or tubes, carried advertisements of the Mem- generally made of sections of alder phis-Cincinnati Packet Company, in from which the pith had been re- which the company advertised that moved, were closely fitted. These four of its boats would stop regularly tubes were allowed to project six or at Golconda, the downriver stops be- eight inches from the tree trunk. Un- ing made on Monday and Friday der the end of each spile, a wooden nights, and the up-river stops on trough or bucket was set. By use of Thursdays and Sundays. large buckets and a carrying-yoke, floating saw mill was owned and or by use of barrels and a sled, the A operated Leo Bauer in the Gol- sap was collected as often as was by conda vicinity, about 1865. Another necessary. It was carried to the place Bauer, Ottoman, of Golconda, bought where kettles had been arranged for steamboat and named it the "Monie boiling the sap. Here, boiling and a Bauer" for his daughter. With old- skimming began. If syrup was deer people, the echoes of steamboat sired, the boiling was discontinued at arouse memories of the the time when a proper consistency whistles still days when Golconda was a busy river had been reached. If it was planned port. to make sugar, the cooking was continued until a soft brown sugar resulted when the thickened syrup was DISTILLERY cooled. Several early-day distilleries oper- maple syrup This work of making ated in Pope County. One stood near and sugar was carried forward vig- the present Old Home Church in the orously for the two weeks or so that Eddyville vicinity, and was operated as the sap flowed freely. Coming by a man named Gus Henry. "Uncle" winter, the it did at the end of the Burton Holloway tells of seeing the making of maple sugar took on some log trough, holding perhaps 100 gal- of the aspects of a holiday. lons, in which mash was allowed to ferment before distillation. Most of the whiskey was made from corn. STEAMBOATS Since whiskey was quite generally Since the Ohio River flows along used and found a ready sale, the corn much of the border of Pope County could be marketed much more con- and no railroads came through the veniently in this manner. Made into County until a comparatively late whiskey, it could be transported in date, steamboats and river traffic much less space. Local potteries pro-

60 duced the jugs required. With the just above the spring. The wall planting of orchards, the manufac- where the name was carved is thickly ture of brandy became common and covered with moss, and now it is only helped considerably in providing a by careful searching that the name market for the surplus fruit. Since can be found. practically no insect pests then Another widely known spring is plagued the owner of an orchard, one located some two miles north of fruit growing was not beset with so Golconda, on a farm now owned by many difficulties as it is today. Thus Ray GuUett. Quite an interesting the distilling of brandy was a com- story is connected this mon industry. with spring. According to the story, a band of pioneer distiller The paid a very men had robbed a bank in Kentucky small tax on his product. It was and secured a large amount of mon- priced accordingly, and whiskey ey. A man named Hudson, who was could be had for one dollar, or less, a pilot on an Ohio River steamboat, per gallon. owned the place. His brother had These early distilleries were often a hand in the robbery and buried the located near a grist mill where corn money on the farm. The robber told could be ground for the mash. This his pilot brother of the treasure and arrangement allowed the miller to promised that he would some day turn his surplus product to a nice indicate the hiding place. Before this profit. Owners of larger orchards was done, the robber brother died might also turn distillers, in order to with yellow fever, however; so the dispose of their surplus fiuiit. treasure is still buried near the spring. STREAMS AND LAKES The present owner, Ray Gullett, often has visitors who wish to dig for Springs the treasure. In response to their re- There are some widely known quests, Mr. Gullet anwers calmly, springs in Pope County. One of these "Now boys, I am interested in that is Bell Smith Springs, about four treasure; I know just about where it miles west and slightly north of is, and some day when I am not too Eddyville. The region about Bell busy, I am going to dig it up"—and Smith Spring has long been noted for continues to sit on his porch. its beautiful scenery, and for several According to another story, one of generations, people have gone there many in that locality, a local citizen to picnic. It is still a popular picnic was told by some .strangers that if he ground. would place his gold in a leather belt, This spring was named for a man allow them to "bless" it, and then named Bell Smith who lived nearby wear the belt during the night, he and who at one time owned the land would dream of the location of the on which the spring is located. For above-mentioned treasure. He took' many years, his name was visible his gold, put it in the belt, allowed where he had carved it in the rock the strangers to say some mystic

61 area. words over it, and buckled it about Negroes have resided in that himself. As morning neared and no It was once a swampy region with dreams had come, this gentleman be- much dark water moss. This fact is gan to be somewhat worried and de- advanced, also as an explanation for cided to take a peek at the gold that the name of the area. It, too, was he had. The peek revealed the fact occasionally referred to as the "Nig- that the belt was filled with leaden ger Wool Swamps." Today practi- washers. The strangers and his gold cally all of it has been drained, and were gone. it constitutes an excellent farming region, except for periodical overflows. There are numerous other stories This is the most fertile soil of the of buried treasure to be heard along county. Old men tell of the time the river regions of the county. when these swamps were first drained and excellent corn crops Round Pond were gathered from broadcast seed- because of Round Pond, so named ing. its general shape, is indicated as a on the Illinois map of 1876. On pond Clear Lake some later maps and on the geologi- Clear Lake was located and named cal survey it is indicated only as a on the map of Pope County, in 1876. marsh. This is the result, perhaps, By some, it is explained that it was of its having been partially drained. named because of the clear water. fishing place. A Big Pond It was an excellent later drainage system practically This pond or lake is shown on the eliminated this lake. 1876 map. It is indicated as being about one-fourth mile wide and five Creeks or six miles long. On later maps it is indicated as a marsh. Early set- Alcorn Creek empties into the Ohio tlers called this and much of the ter- River about two miles north of Ham- ritory lying about it the "Nigger letsburg and opposite Dog Island. Wool Swamps." It was an excellent Tradition has it that it was named fishing place in early days. for a man named Alcorn, who had settled near it. Allen's Branch flows Black Bottom north from the vicinity of McCormick On many of the early maps of and empties into Little Saline River Pope County, one finds a portion of near the northern boundary of the the southern part designated as County. Through a considerable por- "Black Bottom." Different explanation of its length, its valley is narrow tions are offered for this name. Some and rather picturesque. This creek one of the ear- say that it was given because a num- takes its name from ber of Negroes settled in that region. lier residents of the area. Burden Others claim that it was so named Creek, once known as Halfway because of the black soil. The lat- Branch, rises east of McCormick and ter explanation seems to be the better flows north into Little Saline River. one, even though several families of It takes its name from Wm. Burden.

62 who lived near the Eddyville-Stone- so noisy. According to another story, fort road. The Burden house was an old couple who lived near the still standing in 1946. place where the gravel road crosses the creek quarreled almost continual- Copperous Branch flows into Lusk ly, and from that situation came the Creek a short distance downstream name. from the point where the Eddyville- Golconda road crosses it. This stream Sugar Camp Creek takes its name gets its name from the fact that its from the fact that a camp for the waters taste rather strongly of cop- making of maple sugar was once lo- peras. In earlier days, when Lusk cated there. Such a camp was op- Creek was forded just below the erated by a Mr. Shufflebarger, about point where Copperous Branch en- two miles east and south of McCor- ters it, the horses and oxen refused mick. The name of Sugar Creek is to drink the distasteful water. Travel- one that often occurs and seems al- ers would drive up the bed of Lusk ways to indicate an area where ma- to a place above the point where the ple sugar was made. branch entered and allow their ani- These illustrations explain the ori- mals to drink. Some people felt that gin of of the the water of this spring possessed some names. Others easily medicinal properties. suggest the sources of their names, but still others remain ob- Gibbon's Creek has carried several scure. No satisfactory explanation names. It was once known as Drumm is found for Big Bay or Grand Pierre, Creek because of the fact that Phil though a tradition exists that Grand Drumm had a grist mill on the Pierre came from an early French- stream. It was also called Drumm's man of the region, a part of his name Branch of Sugar Creek at another being Pierre. In some old records time. The present of Gibbon's name this name is spelled "Grandpear" or Creek is for a man of that name, an "Grampear." early resident of the area. When Randolph County was or- Hunting Branch flows into Bay ganized as pai-t of the Northwest Creek near Bell Smith Spring. Its Territory, one of the townships of name comes from the fact that it the county was Grand Pierre. This was along this branch that an excel- would tend to indicate an early, lent early hunting ground lay. somewhat concentrated settlement in Quarrel is an unusual name to as- the area. sign to a creek and easily arouses curiosity as to why it is so named. Dams Two explanations are offered by Ohio River dams are rather recent older residents in the area. Accord- structures. Only one such dam oc- ing to one of the stories, the rocky curs on the border of Pope County. bed of the creek and the several This is designed as Dam Number 51 falls that occur in it, make it a very and is located just below Golconda. noisy stream after any heavy rain. It regulates the depth of water where Its name thus comes from its being the rapids once occurred at lower

63 river stages. By means of gates and said to have been born there. May- locks, boats are passed over the shal- nor Cave is located about one mile low stretch of river at all times of south of Eddyville. This cave is re- the year. ported to be a dry one and is said, even yet, to be only partially ex- ingenious forcing of the water An plored. Freeze Cave is located near through a controlled device to flow Freeze School. Very early county the known as the "bear trap" in dam records refer to Salt Peter Cave on the locks operate makes the gates of Big Creek but do not definitely fix properly, and the boats pass through. its location. Though they are large structures and are designed for the passage of the Sheridan Cave largest river boats and barges, these On the west side of War Bluff locks will also operate for the indi- and well toward the bottom, is a vidual who chances to come that way cave, or over-hanging ledge. This in a rowboat. They are a great aid cave is perhaps 25 feet long and 8 in the promotion of river traffic. feet high, and extends 10 or 12 feet When watermills were established beneath the bluff. Earliest tradition on several streams of Pope County, indicates that a wall was found across it was often necessary to build a dam the open side of this cave. It was across the stream in order to have a in this cave that Tom Sheridan, who sufficient head of water. Permission later became county superintendent to build such dams was granted by of schools and "a practicing attorney the county officials to mill owners in Vienna, was born. In addition to upon proof that such a dam would the other incidents related concerning not damage property belonging to this cave, there is also the buried- others. treasure story, and many men have gone to dig in various places about SURFACE FEATURES the cave and along the bluff for treasure they are sure is buried there.

Caves No one has reported finding it. There are many places designated as caves in Pope County. Very often Hills and Hollows true caves but are only they are not The hills and hollows of Pope ledges. One such overhanging rock County have taken their names in the discussion cave was alluded to in many cases from settlers who lived Another of Money Cave Hollow. nearby, or from activities carried on in Springs Hol- cave is located Gum in the vicinity. low. It is said that this cave once had weird drawings on its walls. Near the north end of the County Another cave, known as Murray's, is is Bear Track Hollow. According to about two miles south of Olive local explanations, this hollow is so church. A third cave, known as Mc- named from the fact that the last New Cave, is in Jackson Hollow. A bear tracks to be seen in Pope Coun- family named McNew once lived in ty were found there. At one time it this cave, and a son named Jake is was known as Sugar Camp Hollow.

64 This name came from the fact that, ily who lived near the east end of

at one time, a sugar camp had been it. Later it was called Carter Hill,

located at the mouth of it. for Jack Carter. Then afterwards, it was owned by Hence Gibbs and was Near Bear Track Hollow is Guip designated Hence Mountain. It is Williams Hollow. It was named for now a part of the Shawnee National a man called Guip Williams, who Forest. This is the highest elevation lived near the head of it. Both of in southern Illinois, being about thir- these hollows are rocky and present ty feet higher than Bald Knob in a wild appearance. Each is infested Jackson County. with rattlesnakes, and for that reason, most people stay away from Kate Reid Hollow them during the summer months. Kate Reid Hollow is in the north end of the County and takes its name Cedar Bluff from a woman who lived in the vi- The name "Cedar Bluff" appears cinity. This name was also applied first on a map made in 1876. Pres- to the branch that flows through the ent-day maps do not carry the name. valley. The bluff is covered with cedar trees that present a most attractive ap- Massac Bluff pearance during the winter months. Massac Bluff is shown and named It is still referred to by many peo- on the Illinois Atlas of 1876. It is ple as Cedar Bluff, three-fourths of a mile south of Rock, The church at the foot of this bluff Dog Hollow was once known as Pine Hollow and

This hollow is shown and named is said to have taken that name from large, on the geological maps but is not a lone pine that stood in the shown on other maps. It is a short hollow. distance north of Oak church. Ac- Millstone Knob cording to the story current in that Millstone Knob is shown on the region, this hollow received its name 1876 map of Pope County. It is from the following incident. Two said to have taken its name from the young men had seen their girls safe- fact that millers once got mill stones ly home from a church service. They from a quarry there. A number of were returning at a late hour through the early mills in Pope County are the hollow. By their story they were said to have been equipped with mill- pursued by a headless dog. Thus stones from this source. According the hollow received its name and has to another explanation, it was so ever since been called Dog Hollow. named because of the resemblance it bears to millstone, viewed Harper's Knob a when from a distance. The name of Hence Mountain appears first on a map published in Money Cave Hollow 1876. This hill has had several dif- Money Cave Hollow is shown on ferent names. At one time it was the Illinois Atlas map of 1876, This called Williams Mountain for a fam- place takes its name from the fact

65 that a man who once lived there en- soft sandstone exposed on its slopes. gaged in counterfeiting. According This sandstone washes away easily, sand be to the story current, this man went to and after rains, much may Grantsburg and bought a suit of found drifted at the foot of the hill. of this hill clothes, paying for it with counter- The view from the crest here feit money. The merchant detected is a magnificent one. It was the spurious money and had the cul- that Matthew Bracewell home- prit arrested. In fact, he had been steaded land and built his house. arrested sevei-al times previously but had managed to escape, being assis- Thacker's Gap ted by friends who smuggled him Thacker's Gap is one of the most saws hidden in the soles of their convenient passages through the hills shoes. On this occasion he failed to extending across northern Pope escape and was sent to prison for County. It received its name from his crime. Ben Thacker who lived in a hewed log house about one-fourth mile off Pittulo Bluff the present highway, on the old road Bluff is shown on the map Pittulo that led toward Hart's store. Thac- takes its name from a of 1876. It ker chose this location because there homesteaded nearby. On man who was a large spring nearby. Through records the name is given "Pit- some this gap passed one of the early im- talo." migrant trails leading toward the St. Louis area. Potato Hill There are two stories explaining Islands the name of Potato Hill. According several islands on the to one story, it looked very much There are the border of Pope like the old-fashioned potato hills or Ohio River along mounds used by farmers for storing County. One of these, Golconda Isl- map. potatoes during the winter. and, is indicated on the 1876 On earlier maps it is shown as a dis- According to another story, it was tinct island. On later maps and on named because many potatoes were the geological maps, it is indicated grown in the vicinity. It is not a as attached to Kentucky. This island very large hill. Either of these ex- is known locally as Rondeau Island, plausible, for it is planations sounds which name appears as older than recorded fact that James Wallace a Golconda Island. The name. Ron- vicinity and grew many lived in that deau, was the name of an early set- potatoes. tler of the region.

Sand Hill Cumberland Island is located near River, Sand Hill is shown and named on the mouth of the Cumbei'land the Geological Survey maps of this from which it takes its name. An region. According to local explan- early ferry used this island as an ations, this hill received its name be- intermediate stop in crossing the cause of the fact that there is much Ohio.

66 Stewart Island marks the location the stone in question be sold and a of an early-day ferry, operated by a division of the proceeds made. man named O'Melvaney. This ferry Breedlove, insisting that he had an passed from Bayou Creek (Smith- equity in the stone, brought suit land, Kentucky) across the river but against Susan Boos, Maggie Meyer, did not stop at the island. Will C. Gullett, Charles Gullett, and

Three Sisters Island is shown on John Gullett. In this suit, Breedlove the 1876 map as separate islands. At stated that this Madstone was the present time it is shown as one brought to Illinois from the state of island though it still bears the name Tennessee by his paternal grandfath- of "Three Sisters." er, Matthew Trovillion, "more than 40 years ago." He also contended Price Island, or Pryor Island, is that this stone had been awarded, located about two miles below Gol- by a court decision issued about 1892, conda. This island is said to take to two families in turn. He further its name from a man named Pryor stated that proceeds from the appli- who lived on the Illinois shore near cation of the stone amounted to more there. father He was the of Rev- than $300.00 yearly, and that it had erend Dan Pryor, a Baptist minister, proved effective in all except one and Reverend R. M. Pryor, a Presby- of the hundreds of applications. In terian minister. this case, a man named Lentzen, who had been badly bitten about the face, died on his way to an Evansville MADSTONES hospital. Mr. Breedlove's suit did not secui'e him an equity in the stone The "madstone" is an interesting nor in the possession of it. This stone object in Pope County and indicates for many years has attracted persons a fairly firm belief of many people. bitten by dog thought to be rabid, Such a stone is now in the possession or by poisonous snakes and insects. of John Bushman, who lives north of Golconda. This stone is very black, According to information given by fibrous in appearance, and somewhat Mr. Bushman, present possessor of like a piece of cannel coal. It is ir- the stone, the wound to which it is regular in shape, about one half inch applied must be an open one. The in length, and slightly less in width stone is applied to the wound and and thickness. According to tradi- allowed to remain an hour, unless tion, this stone has been widely it drops off sooner. It is then placed known for a century or so in the re- in clear water and allowed to remain gion of Golconda and of much of there until it starts to give off bub- Southern Illinois. It is said to have bles. Then it is again applied to the been found originally in a mine in wound. This process is repeated un- Italy. In Pope County it has figured til the stone no longer adheres. An in several law suits. In one such old issue of the Golconda paper re- suit, in the March term of 1911, a counts a trip made by Mr. W. V. man named John Breedlove asked Nelson, of Hamletsburg, to the mad- that a receiver be appointed and that stone. On this trip the horse that

67 Mr. Nelson borrowed to take his wife TOWNS AND to the stone died in Golconda. This POST OFFICES story appears in the Golconda Her- Allard ald, for April 18, 1887. In this case, the stone is reported to have ad- The post office of Allard was hered eight times. established on January 12, 1900, and David N. Allard was appointed post- With the introduction of the Pas- master. The records do not show teur treatment for rabies prevention, that another postmaster was ap- the stone has been used less and pointed at a later date. An order less, until today it is seldom in use. was issued on October 9, 1907, clos- Other madstones have been re- ing the post office and directing that ported for this vicinity, but none of the mail be sent to Flatwood. This them seem to enjoy such wide pres- post office of Flatwood was doubt- tige as this one. less in Johnson County. The order for the forwarding of mail was to take effect on October 31. NEWSPAPERS

The first newspaper of which Allen Springs there is record in Pope County was A post office, known as Allen the Herald. The date of its estab- Springs, was located about one mile lishment may be fixed with reason- south and a half mile east of Dixon sonable accura<5y as November 1857, Springs. Various old maps show dif- from the fact that its issue of Feb- ferent locations, doubtless indicat- ruary 7, 1889, is marked as Volume ing the movement of the office to 32, number 14. At this time it was the residences or stores of those serv- consolidated with the Enterprise, ing as postmaster. On some maps which was marked Volume 2, number and in some records it is indicated 41. The Enterprise was established as "Allen Springs"; on others it is as a Republican paper and adver- set down as "Allen's Spring." The tised that it had new and complete post office was first established on equipment. Another old paper of August 5, 1857, with George M. Al- the county was the Pope County len as postmaster. The postmasters Transcript. This was published by who served there are indicated by J. M. Boicourt and Volume 1, number the following list, which also gives 13, is dated March 18, 1863. Mr. the date of each appointment, Boicourt's paper, The Transcript, was George M. Allen—August 5, 1857. very partisan to the union cause dur- James R. Anderson November 4, ing the Civil War. — 1857. One of the interesting issues of a R. H. Modglin—August 10, 1858. Southern Illinois newspaper is the James P. Anderson—November 1, Herald Enterprise of February 4, 1859. 1937. On that date, the Ohio River Leigh June 15, 1864. flood had closed the printing shop, W. J. — and the paper was mimeographed. T. S. Barton—August 16, 1864.

68 Discontinued—April 17, 1865. R. served about two months only and Re-established—October 16, 1865. was succeeded by Nathaniel L. Go- lightly, who became postmaster on James S. Anderson—October 16, 1865. July 26, 1901 and served until De- cember 29, 1905, when Eli P. Hodge Discontinued—January 16, 1866. became postmaster. The post office Re-established—February 7, 1876. was discontinued by an order issued William J. Baker February — 7, on April 2, 1910., and mail was or- 1876. dered sent to New Liberty. Pinckney L. Baker—March 10, 1880. Bay William J. Baker, March 23, 1880. Another early post office of Pope William I. Cox—November 18. 1883. County was established on June 4, 1846, and Alexander Jenkins was John T. Farmer—October 19, 1886. appointed postmaster. Jenkins served Soloman Dilaplain—November 24, 1886. until the post office was discontinued, on March James A. Whiteside—April 14, 2, 1857. The author has 1889. not been able to secure definite information concerning the location of William I. Cox—November 8, 1893. this post office. Tradition vaguely locates it near the Ohio River, in the William A. Henley—August 2, vicinity of Bay City. 1897. Brovi'nlow Cox—January 19, 1898. Big Bay William I. Cox—March 17, 1908. One of the early post offices estab- Discontinued—February 7, 1928. lished in Pope County was that of Big Bay, located near the present site Azotus of Dixon Springs. This post office Azotus appears on Geological Sur- was established on May 7, 1835, and vey maps, but does not appear on a King Hazle was appointed postmas- map made in 1876. The strangeness ter, for which position he was re- of the name, Azotus, elicits many quired to furnish a bond for $300. inquiries concerning its origin. This The post office was discontinued on post office took its name from a November 2, 1835. This office and church, still in existence. The church, another at Golconda are the only in its turn, was named for the Bibli- ones appearing on a map published cal city, Azotus, that stood near the in 1841 and showing the post offices Mediterranean Sea and almost di- and postroads of Pope County. Its rectly west of Jerusalem. The post appearance on the official postal office named Azotus was established map based on data gathered about on August 17, 1895, and Luther 1838, seems to indicate its existence Hodge was appointed postmaster. Lu- at that date; yet the postal records ther Hodge was succeeded by John in the national archives indicate R. Hodge, on May 23, 1901. John that it was closed in 1835.

69 This name of Big Bay has also A post office was established there been used to designate a creek that on December 22, 1893, and William flows a short distance south and west D. Smith was appointed postmaster. of the place where the early post The succeeding postmasters with the office was located. It was used to dates of their appointments are given designate the stream as early as below. 1809, since a land claim for military John L. Ragan—September 4, service was confirmed to Isaac Fits- 1895. worth on December 31 of that year, James P. Williams—July 22, 1897. with the statement—"affirmed at the 1898. mouth of Big Bay on the Ohio." Ezra Harl^March 5, Richard S. Hart—March 5, 1898, In some very early census reports Joel F. Stone—October 19, 1915. for southern Illinois, Big Bay is men- John B. Owen—October 11, 1918. tioned, but no definite location is R. Wasson Appointed on given. James — December 15, 1921, but declined the office. Blanchard Discontinued on March 31, 1922. The village of Blanchard grew up near the residence of J. B. Blanchard. Breckenridge A store and post office were once lo- On October 14, 1857, the post of- cated there, and a rather dense rural fice of Breckenridge was established population lived in the vicinity. J. B. at a point on the Ohio River about miles above Bay City, and John Blanchard, the man from whom the two D. Rose was appointed postmaster. village took its name, was a rather On August 27, 1860, Rose was suc- character. He was a farmer, unique ceeded by James M. McCormick. an a country doctor, a preacher, and This post office was discontinued on enthusiastic fox-hunter. The tradi- February 6, 1864, and mail was or- tion of the powerful and deep voice dered sent to Bay City. An examina- sometimes leading a church hymn, tion of county records has not re- ever plat- at other times urging a pack of vealed that a village was hounds in the chase, linger, still. The ted at Breckenridge. school at Blanchard once had as many as sixty or seventy pupils. Broad Oak When the Shawnee National Forest Broad Oak post office was estab- was established, nearly all of the lished on June 13, 1849, and George people sold their land to the Federal W. Walters became the first post- Government and moved away. In the master. He was succeeded by James winter of 1944-45 there was no M. Gulp, on February 14, 1854. Gulp school, since there were no pupils of served until October 21, 1856, when school age in the district. The first the post office was discontinued. The frame church in Pope County is said demand for a post office at this place to have been located at this place. led to the re-establishment of an of- It later burned. fice on December 23. 1856, slightly

70 over two months after it had been were injured. The young men closed; and Philip Adar was appoin- "started something." ted postmaster. He served until April 23, 1859, when Adam W. Hill Colorado assumed the office. On November Colorado was located in Pope 12, 1860, Thomas Stone became post- County a short distance south of the master and served until February 19, Saline County Line, in Section 1, 1861, when Clyde Glendale was ap- Township IIS and Range 5E. It has pointed. The date of the closing of never been more than a country post this office is not known, but it ap- office and grocery store. The first pears that Glendale was the last man office was established on April 19, to serve as postmaster. No informa- 1880, and John A. Stalions was tion has been found that will defi- named postmaster. John T. Stalions nitely locate this office. succeeded him on October 14, 1901. Another Stalions, William R., suc- Carrsville ceeded John T. on October 7, 1904, Though no place named Carrsville but John T. once more became postmaster on November 14, 1907, and has been located in Pope County, a served until September 30, 1910. At story appearing in the Golconda pa- that time, Samuel S. Stalions suc- pers in late December of 1887 seems ceeded him. The Stalion succession to indicate that such a place existed. was broken when Mason B. Morse This story, although it may refer to became postmaster, on May 6, 1911. the town of that name in Kentucky, He served until April 30, 1917, when is a good one and is included here. the office was discontinued and the The incident alluded to occurred on mail was sent to Stonefort. Christmas Eve, 1887. On that afternoon two young men, wishing to have County Line some excitement and "start something," planned to meet in the most A post office known as County public place in the village and ap- Line was established on June 20, Daniel L. pear to have a quarrel. This they 1858, and Mattice was appointed postmaster. Mattice served did. When they met, a few sharp words were exchanged. Each drew until June 8, 1859, when the office his revolver, previously loaded with was discontinued. This office was located or blanks, and began to fire at the oth- somewhere in the western northern er. The results were more than they part of the county. expected. Friends, seeing what they thought was a battle in progress, Delwood promptly joined in the fray. More Delwood is now only a country revolvers appeared, and increased store and filling station. A post of- firing began. Others rushed home to fice was once located there, having secure their firearms. Some seized been established on February 3, 1896, rocks and began to hurl them. The with William R. Stalions as postmas- result was a general melee. Hap- ter. William R. was succeeded by pily no one was killed, though some Samuel S. Stalions, on January 7,

71 1904, but returned to the office on ings. The scenery about the springs December 2, 1907, to serve until No- is delightful. This site has recently vember 30, 1923, at which time been acquired by the State of Illinois Clarence S. Barger took over the of- and will be developed as a state fice. Mrs. Allie Randolph became park. postmistress on February 15, 1930, and apparently served until the of- One of the unique sights at Dixon fice was closed, some years later. Springs is that of three churches that stand almost side by side. All are

It may be interesting to note that still functioning. Across the nar- William R. and Samuel S. Stalions row valley, north of these three are also listed as postmasters at Col- churches, is the rather well-preserved orado, another post office of Pope log building that once housed one of County. the church organizations. There are thus four rural church buildings in Dixon Springs a distance of less than a quarter of mile. Dixon Springs takes it name from a William Dixon who once owned the land there. It has long been used Eddyville place for reunions, picnics, and as a The first post office established outings. some of these reunions, To at Eddyville was known as Book. It former residents of the area many is reported that when men met to old friends. regularly return, to meet consider the establishment of this post office in this vicinity has The post office, no name had been selec- several names. It was first borne ted. In the home where they met as Big Bay, on May 7, established there was a considerable collection of post office was short- 1835. This books. Some one suggested that the lived and discontinued on No- was name Book be given the post office. next post of- vember 2, 1835. The This was done, and Sylvester Ful- this place was known fice at or near gham was appointed postmaster, as Resort. This office was estab- June 26, 1861. He was succeeded February 1, 1896, with lished on by the following men. Walter Clements as postmaster. He was succeeded by James A. White- John Jenkins, October 16, 1861. side, on July 22, 1897. The name David Bozarth, October 13, 1865. again was changed to Dixon Springs Rufus Hall, September 20, 1866. on February 11, 1905 but Mr. White- The post office of Book was dis- side continued to serve as postmaster continued on August 24, 1869, to be until October 3, 1913, when James re-established on October 18 of the A. Graves took charge. Graves was same year, under the name Eddy- succeeded by Isaac N. Clements, on ville. This name was for Edward March 3, 1919. The post office is Fulghum, who owned the land where still in operation. Dixon Springs now the office was located. A list of has a country store, a hotel or club- later postmasters is shown below. house, and a swimming pool. It is a popular place for picnics and out- John D. Rose—October 18, 1869.

72 Jasper N. Maynor—March 28, 1900. The mill, which used horse 1870. power, was first operated by Colum- R. G. Metlton—October 21, 1869. bus Wilson. The first church, Meth- odist, was organized B. Holla- David Shufflebarger — July 20, by W. 1877. way under a shed, about 40 by 80 feet. The first church building was David S. Barger—August 17, 1877. erected about 1872. The upper floor Elizah B. F. Ginshaw July 26, — of this first church was occupied by 1878. a Masonic Lodge. The old building George W. Whiteside—January 7, has long since disappeared. A Bap- 1881. tist church was established at Ed- John W. Robinson—February 2, dyville about 1890. Knox Trovillion 1881. and Bert Baker were two of the early William B. L. Biggs—November 2, pastors. An interesting story is told 1881. concerning the ringing of the bell in John Whiteside—November 25, the present Baptist church. Accord- 1881. ing to this story, the bell has been rung each New Year's Eve for more Jasper N. Maynor—September 22, 1882. than fifty years by "Uncle" Bill Cross, who comes to the church each George S. Borger—September 4, New Year's Eve and at the hour of 1883. midnight begins to ring the bell and George Shufflebarger — Septem- thus welcomes in the new year. ber 27, 1883.

Elizah B. F. Ginshaw—January 2, A grist mill once stood on the top 1886. of Frieze Hill. It was owned by Ed- J. Green Whiteside November 19, — die Fulgham. This first mill was op- 1889. erated by horse power. The horse William D. Beames—October 14, walked in a circle, turning a sweep 1893. that transmitted power to the shaft Richard M. Fulkerson—February which turned the mill stones by 16, 1895. means of a large pulley and leather Mitchell T. Chancey—October 27, 1895. belt. The mill house was small, be- only feet It Albert N. Lauderdale—August 10, ing about twelve square. 1914. ground both corn and wheat but did Mrs. Orilla C. Hollaway—Decem- not bolt the ground wheat. The next ber 18, 1922. mill was operated by James Mason, Jesse T. Ragan—October 7, 1929. at the lower pond on the east side Jesse T. Ragan—October 23, 1929. of the road. This one was operated Erastus Barger—March 11, 1930. by steam power and had sieves. Tom Culloms later came into possession of A wool mill was established at Ed- the Mason Mill and moved it into dyville about 1880 and operated for Eddyville where it was improved and some twenty years, closing about operated for a number of years.

73 Eddyville was at one time an im- Benjamin M. Palmer—May 7, portant tobacco market. Much to- 1884. bacco was bought, placed in hogs- Edwin M. Palmer, Jr.—May 20, heads, and taken to the Ohio River 1889. According to some for shipment. Sarah C. Palmer—February 17, traditional accounts, these hogsheads 1890. had axles arranged and were rolled Zachariah C. Simpson—October by mule or ox power to the shipping 30, 1893. point on the river, where they were Milo Palmer—December 9, 1898. loaded on steamboats. Mattie E. Palmer—March 8, 1901. Mattie E. Haynes—September 11, Glendale 1901. Glendale was sur- The village of Sarah C. Palmer—March 30, 1905. veyed on January 8, 1861, by J. E. Edward C. Walter—March 5, 1907. Y. Hannah for George W. Waters. Lewis Austin—September 8, 1909. The plat was filed on February 1 of James Walter Chisler November the same year. One of the earliest — 5, 1920. industries located in Glendale was a grist mill. This mill stood about seventy yards below the present-day Golconda bridge and was operated by George The first recorded residents on the Kimball. site of the present city of Golconda A post office was established in were Major James Lusk and his fam- Glendale on February 19, 1861, and ily. Lusk, who had been given the Thomas Stone was appointed post- title of Major for his services at the master. The postmasters who suc- Battle of Cowpens, came from Ken- ceeded him, with the dates of their tucky in 1796 and located near the appointments, are listed below: Ohio River, just across from the mouth of Lusk Creek. His property George Waters — September 4, in Kentucky fronted on the river, so 1861. it was natural that he began to ferry R. Kerrell November 25, John — travelers across. He received a ferry 1862. license from Kentucky, in 1797. Morris Dinkelspell — August 2, Major Lusk wished to move across 1867. the river into present-day Illinois but Charles H. Sheldon—February 10, was somewhat discouraged by Gen- 1869. eral William H. Harrison, governor J. R. Kurrell—August 28, 1871. of the territory. It was Harrison's John B. Russell—April 11, 1876. wish to offer the Indians living in the region no offense until they could F. M. Croy—July 10, 1877. be removed by treaty. William A. Mangum—November 19, 1877. Lusk grew impatient at the waiting John R. Kerrell—May 6, 1878. and crossed the river into Illinois, Willis Story—June 26, 1882. then a part of Indiana Territory, in

74 1789. With materials secured most- as owner of practically all the town ly from keel boats, he built a com- lots and land surrounding the town. fortable and somewhat commodious The town was designated as Sarah- two-story house, near the bank of the ville, named for Ferguson's wife, the river and east of the present city. former Sarah Lusk. This became known as Lusk's Tavern. It was also referred to as Fiddlers' The name of Sarahville did not Green, a name given by a man named endure for long. In the minutes of Pittulo, who had been teaching in June 24, 1817, is the following en- the vicinity since about 1800. A num- try: "Ordered that town at the seat ber of other people who had come of Justice of Pope County be called with Lusk from the Waxhaw settle- Corinth in the room of Sarahville at ment in the Carolinas also crossed the the request of the proprietors." This Ohio and took up residence in the entry occurs on page 78, of a book immediate vicinity. Several mem- which was evidently used to record bei's of the group, led by Lusk, later notes at the actual session of the became prominent in the early af- court, and from which the permanent fairs of Pope County. Among others records were written. In the official were Robert Lacey, Benoni Lee, and continuous records of the court Shadrack Waters, Thomas Ferguson, proceedings is the following entry his brother, Hamlet Ferguson, and under the same date—June 24, 1817: Hector Pittulo. "Ordered that the town now called Sarahville, the present seat of Jus- Major Lusk continued to operate tice of Pope County, hereafter be the ferry across the Ohio and to give called Golconda at the request of much attention to the opening of the proprietors." roadways to the west and north. While at his work in opening a road- There is no other entry concerning way toward Green's Ferry on the the change in name from Sarahville Mississippi, he became sick and died and no explanation of the manner in at Golconda, in 1803. Upon the which Corinth was dropped and Gol- death of Lusk, his wife, Sarah, con- conda substituted. The word, Gol- tinued to operate the ferry, securing conda, appears to have been written a license to do so from Governor Wil- liam Henry Harrison, in 1804. On by another person than the one regu- April 2, 1805, Mrs. Lusk became the larly recording the proceedings. It is wife of Thomas Ferguson, who had also in a much bolder and more

come to the country with the Lusk prominent style and is underlined. party. However the change was affected, Sarahville evidently became Corinth Ferguson was a man of consider- before it was called Golconda. Since able influence and property. He secured possession of the land where only one of the county judges, Be- the ferry landing was located, on the moni Lee, ever signed the minutes of Illinois shore. When a town was the meeting of June 24, 1817, and platted in 1816, Ferguson appeared since it was the practice for at least

75 two of the three judges to sign, the Lewis McCoy—January 3, 1894. manner of the change becomes even John C. Baker—January 10, 1898. more puzzling. Francis Baker—March 17, 1911. Wm. S. Jenkins June 15, 1911. Postal records in the National — Archieves show that a post office I. M. Runsey—July 31, 1913. called Ferguson's Ferry was estab- Francis Baker — April 1, 1922; lished in 1812 or 1814, and that April 20, 1922. Thomas Ferguson was appointed Although the record of its begin- postmaster. Ferguson served until nings is somewhat fragmentary, Gol- July 18, 1817, when Joshua Scott, conda slowly emerged. First it was then also serving as county recorder, known as Lusk's Tavern, and often became postmaster. On June 15, commonly referred to as Fiddlers' 1820, he was succeeded by Amassa Green. few years later, and for Davis. Davis apparently served un- A only a brief time, it was designated til the name of Ferguson's Ferry was as Sarahville. Then came, for at dropped, in 1825. least a very brief day, the name of The name of Golconda as a post- Corinth, which quickly yielded to office first appears on September 7, Golconda. 1825, when Charles Dunn became postmaster. The following list in- In 1807, the settlement consisted of dicates the others who served during three small stores, one tavern, one the first century of the Golconda of- grocery or saloon, and about twenty not fice, and the dates of their appoint- dwellings. The town was then ment. platted, and the houses were not built in any ordered arrangement. In September James Rankin — 27, 1816 the plat of Sarahville was re- 1834. corded. In 1817 it was replatted and John Raum—November 26, 1834. changed somewhat from the first Edward Dobbins—September 5, platting. Though there have been 1836. some additions to the city, this sec- Samuel Roper — September 25, ond platting is the one now used, 1837. and the stone from which the town is laid out may still be seen at the James Finney—October 6, 1838. southeast corner of the square. Wesley Sloan—June 24, 1840. John Raum—May 30, 1850. When Pope became a county, the Joseph A. Hall—July 6, 1853. first meetings of the officials were John Raum—March 20, 1854. held at the residence of Thomas Fer- September 4, a Theodore Steyer—June 10, 1854. guson. On 1816, contract was made for the erection William L. South—April 2, 1855. of a courthouse, 24 feet by 26 feet, John M. Boicourt—April 26, 1856. to be built of logs. This house was Mosov G. Bird June 3, 1885. — to be two stories high, the bottom John M. Boicourt—April 24, 1889. story of ten feet and the upper one, Reappointed—January 16, 1892. six feet, with two doors and five win-

76 dows. Three of the windows were ued on August 25, 1903, and mail to be upstairs and large enough to was sent to Golconda. It is inter- have nine lights each. This coui't- esting to note the various spellings house was to be chinked with stone of Goin, Gowin, and Gowanville as and daubed with clay and lime, half they occur in different records. and half.

By 1832, this courthouse was con- Halltown sidered outmoded, and a two-story Halltown is located about one mile brick one was built. The present north of Golconda, near the old fair courthouse was built in 1871. ground. It was surveyed by J. E. Golconda has seen the rise and Y. Hannah on August 12, 1868, and decline of river traffic. It was a the plat was filed for record ten days stopping place for flatboats and keel- later. At the present time, a few boats. The first steamboat to ply houses and a filling station mark the the Ohio stopped there in the winter site. No records of a post office at of 1811. For more than a century this place have been found. steamboats stopped regularly. The river showboat came, had its day of glory, and passed. Many thousands Hamletsburg of emigrants crossed by its ferry, The town of Hamletsburg, which plodding their way to a beckoning takes its name from Hamlet Fergu- West. The Cherokee Indians, on their son who once operated a ferry there, sad trek from their homes in Georgia was surveyed by J. E. Y. Hannah for to the Indian Territory, crossed there. Robert Ferguson as proprietor, on The legend of Sarah Lusk clusters September 8, 1859. The plat was about this point. Stories of buried recorded in the Circuit Clerk's office treasures abound. Practically the on the same day. Charley Wool- entire roster of pioneer crafts and ridge and Charley McGee had Han- industries came, prospered for a nah make a plat of an addition to while, and passed from existence. Its the town on April 9 and 10, 1884. sons have gone forth to write their This plat was filed for record in May names prominently on the pages of of .the same year. On September 2, history. Golconda has many a story 1824, a second plat was filed. to tell to a willing listener. The first post office, spelled Ham- letsburgh, was established on Feb- Gowanville ruary 2, 1885, and Fred L. Ashwill This village once stood north of was appointed postmaster. The suc- Golconda and about one-half mile ceeding postmasters are listed below, off the paved highway leading to with the dates of their appointments. Elizabethtown. It was named for James L. House—March 17, 1888. the Goin family. A post office was John F. Fisher April 3, 1889. established there on April 7, 1900, — and Samuel Goin was appointed post- Philip B. Clark—August 5, 1896. master. The office was discontin- Samuel W. Neely—July 22, 1897.

77 Samuel W. Neely—May 23, 1906. John S. Johnson—March 16, 1910. George McCawley—May 5, 1931. This office was discontinued on January 15, 1915. The spelling of the post office name was changed from Hamlets- Hartsville was once an important burgh to Hamletsburg on August 5, trading center, and Hart's Store was 1893. widely known. An important early blacksmith shop, where many wagons were made, operated here. The first Hartsville store building used by Hart is yet standing, in 1947, as is also the large Hartsville is now a small collection farm implements were of houses on the old Herod-Golcon- shed where da road, about four miles southwest sold. of Herod. A post office and two country stores were once located Herod here. This was the division point for the mail between Harrisburg and The town of Herod, located in the Golconda. This mail was carried opening through the hills and known for some time by "Uncle Alf Unsell." as Thacker's Gap, has been a trading At times, Mr. Unsell carried the mail post since about 1880, when George on mule-back, going from Hartsville Smith established a small store there. to Golconda and returning on one Before the establishment of a store day, and from Hartsville to Harris- at this point, Phil Drumm had opera- burg and returning on the second ted a water mill in the vicinity. An day. The post office was established early Baptist church was also es- on April 17, 1882, and Marion M. tablished there. House was appointed postmaster. The first post office, known as He- The other men who served as post- rod Springs, was established on April masters at Hartsville and the dates 19, 1888, and David W. Herod, Sr., of their appointments are given be- was appointed postmaster. On May low: 8, 1888, he was succeeded by Daniel William B. L. Biggs—February 25, W. Herod, Jr., and he in turn, by 1884. John A. L. Herod, on March 13, office William Moser—March 2, 1887. 1890. The name of the post was changed from Herod Springs to John S. Johnson—December 5, Herod, on July 26, 1895, and Charles 1889. Oatman was appointed postmaster. Lilly Robertson—November 20, The postmasters that later served at 1893. Herod are listed, with their dates of Johnson December 1, John S. — appointment: 1897. Val Wasson—December 3, 1904. Charles Sauty—December 1, 1899. Monroe W. Dixon—September 11, William Partain — January 24, 1905. 1920. Gertie Reins—June 16, 1906. Jesse A. Crabb—January 6, 1903.

78 Byron E. Hart—April 2, 1909. fice was changed to Paul on Octo- ber 1, 1906. P. Williams Ethel H. Randolph—March 1, James be- 1913. came postmaster on March 16, 1910, and Ada I. Marberry succeeded him John R. Hart—August 15, 1919. on August 15, 1912. The office was Shuma E. Schrall—January 15, ordered discontinued on November 1921. 15, 1917, and mail was sent to Gol- The post office was discontinued conda. on September 15, 1922, and it was ordered that the mail be sent to Monolith, the location of which the Homberg author has been unable to establish. The town of Homberg, sometimes This office of Monolith must have spelled "Hombirg" and at other times been in Saline County, since no men- "Homburg" takes its name from tion of it has been found in the pos- Fritz Homburg, an immigrant from tal records of Pope. Germany. The village was surveyed on November 8, 1902, by H. J. Tay- The post office was re-established lor, for John R. Homburg and Sarah on May 17, 1930, when Mrs. Auda J. Homburg. The plat was filed for P. Ferrell was appointed postmis- record on the same day it was sur- tress. On April 29, 1931, she was veyed. So far as the records indi- succeeded by Mrs. Eunice H. Joiner. cate, there was no post office at this place that carried the name of the Hodgville village. The post office of Hodgville was located in Section 33, about one mile Jones south of Brownfield. It was established on January 19, 1899, and John The post office of Jones was estab- W. Hodge was appointed postmaster. lished on April 24, 1900, with Ger- Others who served later and the tie Jones as postmaster. An order to dates when they were appointed are discontinue this post office was is- given below. sued on September 11, 1901, and mail was to be sent to Ozark. It will Delia Hodge—March 13, 1900. thus be seen that this post office ex- Charles E. Baker July 31, 1900. — isted for less than a year and a half. Jesse I. Baker—March 24, 1903. It was located in the vicinity east of The office was discontinued on MeCormick. October 28, 1903. Louis Holmes A post office was established at On November 14, 1905, a post of- Louis, on October 27, 1884, with Wil- fice was established in the vicinity liam R. Stalions as postmaster. It of Homberg and named Holmes. was discontinued on January 22, Joseph M. Baker was appointed post- 1886, and mail was ordered sent to master. The name of this post of- Stonefort.

79 According to tradition, this office George W. Diorman—November was located between Ozark and Del- 14, 1887. wood, but was nearer the latter. It Martha J. Diorman—November 26, may be of interest to note that Wil- 1888. liam R. Stalions, named as the first William Hedrick—November 7, served in that postmaster here, also 1891. position at Colorado and at Delwood. Green Story—April 25, 1894. With him, being postmaster was al- James M. Buchanan August 14, most a habit. — 1894. James R. King—May, 1898. Lusk James Pankey—October 29, 1906. The village of Lusk is shown on James H. Buchanan—April 17, the 1876 of Illinois and on later map 1908. ones. It was at one time a rather prosperous village and had a large The post office was again discon- blacksmith shop that built wagons. tinued on October 31, 1913, and the At present it has a small stone and mail ordered sent to Golconda. blacksmith shop where an old gentleman does repair work on farm McCormick implements. The first store in Lusk McCormick is a small village that was kept by J. R. King who was later followed by Pankey, by William Hed- was established by "Uncle Mack" real rick, and by the present James Buc- McCormick, whose name was hanan. The early blacksmith shop Christian L. McCormick. It is re- was operated by David King and by lated that McCormick came to this a man named Upchurch. Dutton Cha- locality as a wagon peddler. After his establishment of McCormick's pel Church is nearby. Floyd Cemetery store there, man named Dunn is a short distance north. The post a Lem office was established at Lusk on set up a grist mill and a hoop mill. poles, in the vicinity, November 14, 1860, and James Floyd Many hoop cut split on the site was appointed postmaster. The list were and shaved of postmasters who served there and where Mr. Jackson's barn now the dates of appointment are given stands. A stave mill was also loca- below: ted a short distance from McCor- mick, on the road toward Glendale. James B. Floyd—March 2, 1874. The first post office was estab- Dr. George B. Rawlings—Novem- lished at McCormick on September ber 23, 1874. 16, 1889, with Christian L. McCor- William W. Diorman—October 16, mick as postmaster. The other post- 1879. masters at McCormick are indicated on the following list with the dates Joel A. Hart—November 1, 1886. of their appointments: John G. Cullum—August 26, 1887. Discontinued—September 14, 1887. Peter Morris—November 4, 1908. Re-established — November 14, Burt Bynum—November 24, 1914. 1887. William H. Bryan—May 3, 1915.

80 John I. Baker—October 29, 1918. served there and the dates of their Dewey McCormick—August 13, appointments are indicated in the 1919. following table: Arthur McCormick—May 17, 1923. James J. Shemwell—November, 30, The office was discontinued on 1848. August 31, 1926, and mail was sent George W. Neely—June 28, 1854. to Stonefort. Joshiah Dayhuff—December 2, 1854. Mealer John F. Stewart—June 2, 1858. J. A. Sheerer September 4, 1866. The post office named Mealer, — somewhere between Eddyville and Ebeneezer Simpson—October 28, Delwood, was established on July 1869. 27, 1900, with Meredith Mealer as James B. Angely—January 25, postmaster. It did not operate long 1871. and was discontinued on October 1, John W. Ashwill—January 2, 1900. According to local stories, 1872. this place was also referred to as Milo Velvey—September 3, 1875. Slapout. This name came from an John W. Ashwill—November 9, oft-repeated remark of the merchant 1876. who kept a small store there. When Ephrain B. Shearer—November 17, asked for any article not in stock, 1879. his usual reply was, "I am slap out of that!" John W. Ashwill—August 10, 1881. Fred L. Ashwill—April 26, 1883. New Liberty Discontinued—September 7, 1885. The Village of New Liberty is lo- Re-established—June 17, 1889. cated in Section 16, Township 16 Elisha South, Range 17 East. While a post Baugh—June 17, 1889. office had existed in that vicinity Warren P. Rankin—December 26, for some time, it was not until March 1889. 6, 1860, that J. E. Y. Hannah, Coun- Robert F. Owen—October 28, ty Surveyor, made a plat for the 1893. village. This plat was recorded on John W. Adamson—May 2, 1896. the day it was made. of the One Sarah E. Lewis—July 15, 1898. residents of New Liberty, in 1876 Lorenz O. Harris—March 4, 1915. was J. H. Jacobs, proprietor and Bedford E. Henley—July 6, 1920. captain of a steamboat operating on the Ohio River. Newport Several years before the village appeared, a post office had been es- A post office known as Newport tablished, on September 11, 1848, was established on April 1, 1837, and Samuel F. Simpson appointed and Williston F. Read was appointed postmaster. Other postmasters who postmaster. This post office opera-

81 :

ted until October 2, 1838, when it Elijah McAnnally—December 17, was discontinued. The exact loca- 1886. tion of the office is not known, but Elbert J. Hancock—February 21, it is thought to have been on the 1890. Ohio, in the vicinity of Bay City. Sidney B. Hancock—March 24, 1892. Jasper N. Hart—August 15, 1895. Oak Richard Hawkins—December 13, Oak is shown on the Illinois Atlas, 1901. issued in 1876. At that time it was Joshua Hart—December 2, 1902. one mile south of the present post George G. Harl^-May 5, 1919. office. The first office was estab- Mrs. Julia Fulkerson January 24, lished at Oak, on October 30, 1860, — 1924. with James Dixon as postmaster. The list of those serving there later and the dates of their appointments are Ora listed below: The post office named Ora, near Norman Finney August 4, 1863. — the northeast corner of the county, George W. Owen—September 7, was established on August 21, 1901, 1865. and Daniel N. Cox was appointed William J. Wilson—February 5, postmaster. Other postmasters at 1867. Ora are shown on the following list Thomas D. Gossage—February 24, James P. Williams October 31, 1868. — 1904. Jeremiah Williams—October 3, William W. Williams—July 7, 1871. 1906. T. Gowen—March 5, 1874. Fannie Estes—October 4, 1907. George W. Gapage—April 6, 1874. Discontinued—May 22, 1876. On April 29, 1908, this office was Re-established — November 27, ordered closed and mail sent to 1876. Hicks. Robert W. Albert—November 27, 1876. Orville James B. Floy—December 17, 1877. Orville was located about three miles north of Golconda, near where George W. Waddell—January 3, present highway bends to the 1881. the northwest. The post office was es- Aden C. Alexander—January 3, tablished on April 26, 1869, with 1881. Richard Fulkerson as post master. William Parks — November 23, 1882. It was discontinued on April 12, Carroll F. Baker—October 11, 1871, and re-established on June 14, 1886. 1876, with William R. Storey as post-

82 master. Alexander N. Couley became postmaster when the office was es- postmaster on October 8, 1877. tablished, March 18, 1883. William H. Carr, the second postmaster, was Though this post office was dis- appointed on July 21, 1899. The continued, the exact date of discon- office was ordered discontinued on tinuance could not be found on the January 23, 1904, and re-established postal records. on June 14, 1904, with James Buc- hanan as postmaster. It was again Poco discontinued on March 8, 1905, only to be re-established on June 8, 1905, Poco was located about four miles with Frank A. King as postmaster. west and two miles north of Ham- He was succeeded by Richard R, letsburg, near the site of the old cot- Taylor on August 5, 1912. The of- ton gin. The post office was estab- fice was again discontinued on De- lished on May 2, 1884, and Philip cember 15, 1920. It was later re- G. Reynolds was appointed postmas- established for the third time. ter. He was succeeded by J. Clabe Reynolds, on January 6, 1906. The office was discontinued on March 30, 1906, and mail sent to New Lib- Renshaw erty. Renshaw was a flag station on the branch line of the Illinois Central, Ragan about three miles east of Reevesville. It was named for the Reverend El- A post office named Ragan was mer E. Renshaw. A post office was established on February 19, 1898, established there on December 27, but according to postal records, this 1902, and Renshaw was the first post office was never placed in op- postmaster. Upon the death of Rev- eration in Pope County and was dis- erend Renshaw, his widow, Rachel continued on June 1898. Its lo- 23, C. Renshaw, became postmistress, on cation is not definitely fixed, but March 1, 1905. Beginning February tradition has it located near the 4, 1907, she also served as Rachel Pope-Johnson County line, in the vi- C. Walker, after her marriage to a cinity of Ozark. There is some claim man named Walker. Ray Ball be- that it was located in Johnson Coun- came postmaster on October 8, 1913. ty. Since it is listed on the postal The post office was later discontin- records among the post offices of ued. Pope County, it may be safely in- ferred that it was on the Pope Coun- ty side the line. of Rising Sun

A post office was established at Raum Rising Sun, located about two miles The town of Raum, named for Cap- north of Waltersburg, on the old tain John Raum of Golconda, secured roadway, on November 22, 1895, and its name through the efforts of John George G. Hertter became postmas- G. Anderson, who was appointed ter. This post office was diseontin-

83 ued by an order dated November 28, Milo Austin—November 20, 1893. 1906, and mail was sent to Golcon- James O. Grisham—July 26, 1897. da. Andrew J. Caldwell—December 29, 1900. Robbs Flavius M. Palmer—April 6, 1909. Andrew J. Caldwell May 4, 1911. Robbs was named for Albert L. — Milo Austin 9, 1913. Robbs on whose land it is located. —May Indeed, Mr. Robbs practically owns Fae Caldwell—July 31, 1914. the town. Once a farmer, he became John W. Ellis—June 29, 1916. interested in selling washing ma- This office was discontinued and chines and clothes wringer. The wash- mail sent to Golconda, on November ing machines were of the plunger 15, 1917. type, made of a funnel shaped piece of metal on the end of a broomstick. Robbs proved an excellent business Rock Quarry man, and through the sale of these Rock Quarry was located in Pope washers and wringer, through the es- County, down the river a short dis- tablishment of agencies for their sale, tance from Shetlerville. and through numerous other business ventures, he accumulated consider- A post office was established there able wealth. This town, practically on September 12, 1850, and John all owned by one individual, is in Diorman was appointed postmaster. that way a rather unique one. It was discontinued on December 17, 1852, and re-established on Septem- ber 19, 1853, with Richard Ferguson Rock as postmaster. The post office was Rock has never been much more again discontinued on October 16, than a few houses. It is said to have 1855, to be re-established on Septem- been given its name because of a ber 22, 1858, with John Maloney as large cluster of rocks near the site postmaster. He was succeeded by of the village, that, according to tra- James Belford on June 22, 1859. The dition, was first known as Birdseye. post office was again and, finally, The post office was established there discontinued on November 10 of that on September 9, 1853, and John El- year. This place takes its name lis was appointed postmaster. Suc- from the fact that in early days a ceeding postmasters and their dates stone quarry was located there. of appointment are given below:

John W. Parmley—August 18, Rosebud 1879. Rose Bud began its existence with James T. Grisham May 7, 1884. — a name of two words. It was estab- John W. Parmley—November 8, lished on August 10, 1869, with A. 1887. G. Cheney as the first postmaster. Reuben H. Chrisman—December He was succeeded by William King, 24, 1889. on May 23, 1870. The name was

84 changed to one word, Rosebud, on Discontinued and mail sent to Rose- June 13, 1894, and Hallie L. Bird bud—February 29, 1896. was appointed postmaster. On Sep- tember 21, 1897, John L. King be- Re-established and Thomas F. came postmaster; he was followed Cromeenes appointed postmaster, De- by William King, November 28, cember 11, 1897. 1904; and he, in turn, by Thomas A. This office was again ordered dis- King, September 23, 1915. continued on December 2, 1906, and the mail sent to Golconda. The order Shandsville to discontinue, however, was rescin- Shandsville was located about five ded on December 14, 1906, before miles west and three miles north of the date set had arrived for the of- present day Hamletsburg, near the fice to cease service. On December Massac-Pope County Line. The first post office was established there on 24, 1906, Syrus T. Cromeenes became June 15, 1870, and J. N. Shemwell postmaster. The office was finally was appointed postmaster. He was discontinued and mail ordered sent succeeded by Augustus Helcher on to Golconda, on July 31, 1907. June 6, 1873. The post office was discontinued on November 16, 1875. Temple Hill

Stouts Temple Hill is shown as a church Stouts was established as a post and a lodge hall as early as 1876. The post office office in Pope County on September was established on January 12, 1888, with Thomas S. 3, 1872. The office was discontin- Holifield as postmaster. Other per- ued on August 8, 1874. No record sons who were in charge of this of- of its location has been found. fice are indicated in the list below:

Tansill Eugene S. Welton—August 23, This village was located about one 1890. and one-half miles southeast of Hom- William C. Holmes—August 18, berg, on the north side of Bear 1894. Creek. At the present time, a store Eugene S. Welton—February 4, is about all that marks the place. The 1897. first post office was established on William C. Holmes—July 31, 1907. July 7, 1884, with John Barnett as Mark C. Welton—December 5, postmaster. Other men who served 1912. as postmasters there, with the dates William C. Holmes—August 17, of their appointments, are listed be- 1914. low: Mrs. Madge King—December 1, Newton Gilbert—November 20, 1927. 1889. This office was discontinued on De- John R. Scott—December 24, 1890. cember 13, 1927.

85 Underwood notice indicating its discontinuance, The post office of Underwood was on November 30, 1917. The mail located in the northwest portion of was ordered sent to Golconda. It the county. It was established on should be noted from this record that May 1, 1902, and the name of the Adolph W. Walters was postmaster postmaster was given as Pierce A. for more than thirty-nine years. Underwood. Underwood's first name must have been in error, for the name Wool of the postmaster appeared as Prince A. Underwood on May 19, 1902. The Brownfield, Old Brownfield, Co- post office was discontinued on June lumbus, and Wool are all names used 24, 1903, and mail ordered sent to indicate the same place. The name to Ozark. of Wool was given to the post office located at or near Columbus. In later years this place became known as Walnut Shade Brownfield. With the founding of Walnut Shade post office was es- the village on the railroad, the older tablished in the Eddyville area on place became known as "old" Brown- June 19, 1854, with Burton W. Holl- field. It was named for John Brown, oway as postmaster. The office was a local merchant, who operated a ho- discontinued on a May 1, sometime tel and kept a dry goods store. The during the 1860's, the last figure on town of Brownfield was platted by the date not being legible on the John H. Sharp, a civil engineer, and postal records. Thomas F. Dunn and N. B. Bland became proprietors. This plat was prepared April 8, 1902, and filed Waltersburg for record in the County Clerk's of- The village of Waltersburg was fice, April 22, 1902. The village is named for a family that settled in located in the SE14 of the NE14 of that vicinity. It soon became a pros- 836, T13S, R5E. New Brownfield perous trading center. At one time was platted by T. D. Waters on May much tobacco was grown in his vi- 25, 1903, and filed for record on cinity, and Waltersburg became an April 20, 1908. This town of New important market for this crop. Much Brownfield is located on the rail- tobacco was packed in hogsheads road. here and taken to Golconda for ship-

ment by river. The village of Columbus is shown on the 1876 atlas with the name of On June 12, 1878, the first post office was established and called the post office as Wool. It is loca- Wallersburg, with Andrew J. Walker ted about the center of Section 30. as postmaster. The name of the The village of Columbus was sur- post office was changed on July 1, veyed by J. E. Y, Hannah, and the 1878, to Waltersburg, and Adolph plat was filed on January 18, 1871. W. Walter appointed postmaster. This post office of Wool is said to The next mention of this post office, have been named for a General found in the postal records, was a Wool.

86 Green's old mill was located near Elish W. Green—December 6, Brownfield. It was on Big Bay Creek 1902. in the NE14 of S36, and on June 13, 1820, that Green was given permis- The office was discontinued on sion to build a dam 7 feet 6 inches July 9, 1906, and mail sent to Gol- high. conda. This office was evidently re- e.stablished, however, since W. C. The post office. Wool, was estab- Wierville was appointed postmaster lished August 5, 1857, with Joshua on July 10, 1911. M. Ragsdale as postmaster. The other persons who served as postmasters at Another post office known as New Wool are given below, with their Brownfield was established a short dates of appointment: distance from the old town, Janu- ary 10, 1903, and Thomas F. Dunn John T. Hielerman—May 16, 1863. was appointed postmaster. He was John R. Brown—April 30, 1872. succeeded on January 24, 1907, by John T. Baldwin—December 15, Wesley W. Wierville. The post of- 1884. fice was discontinued on July 10, Maggie Brown January — 2, 1885. 1911, and the mail sent to Brown- field. It was discontinued and mail sent to Brownfield on August 27, 1892. A new post office, Brownfield, which ZIon Hill took the place of Wool, was established on the same day. While it bore Zion Hill post office, which may the name Brownfield, the following be somewhat indefintely located persons served as postmasters: about six miles west of Eddyville and near the Johnson-Pope County line, Maggie Brown—August 27, 1892. was established on June 15, 1857, William J. Parmley—March 16, 1894. and William Wooten appointed postoffice was discontinued Maggie B. Reeves—February 9, master. The 1898. on December 19, 1862.

These notes have been written with the full realization that many included subjects deserve a more thorough treatment. Also there are numerous

other items that merited inclusion if the allotted space had permitted. If these fragments of Pope County's story and the map included in the booklet help to increase interest in local history, they will have served their purpose. The story of the county deserves a more nearly-complete treatment.

87 REFERENCES

Alvord Clarence W. (Editor-in Hand, John P. "Negro Slavery in Chief). Centennial History of Illi- Illinois." Transactions of the State

nois. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Historical Society. Springfield, Il- Centennial Commission, 1920. linois, 1910.

American State Papers, Public Lands. Harris, N. D. The History of Negro Washington, D. C; Duff Green, Servitude in Illinois. Chicago: A. 1834. A complete set of these pa- C. McClurg, 1904. pers are available at the Southern Herald-Enterprise. Illinois University Museum. Office of the Herald-Enterprise Publishing Com- pany. Atlas of the State of Illinois. Chica- Golconda, Illinois. go: Union Atlas Company, 1879. Illinois in 1837; A Sketch Descrip- tive of the Situation, Boundaries, Blue Book of the State of Illinois. Face of the Country. Philadelphia: Compiled by James A. Rose, Sec- Augustus Mitchell and Gugg and retary of State (Printed by au- Elliot, 1837. thority of the State of Illinois), 1905. Journal of the Illinois State Histori- cal Society. Illinois State Histori- Chapman, Mrs. P. T. A History of cal Library Publication. Spring- Johnson County, Illinois. Herrin, field, Illinois. Illinois: Herrin News Press, 1925. Minutes of the Olive General Bap- Crawford, Rev. John. "Early His- tist Church. Church Clerk, Mc- tory-Frontier Life." Six-page man- Cormick, Illinois. uscript. Southern Illinois Museum, Carbondale, Illinois. McCoy, Theodore, "Notes on Pope County." Unpublished papers. A Davidson, Alexander and Stuve, part of these notes are in the Bernard. A Complete History of Southern Illinois University Mu- Illinois from 1673 to 1873. Spring- seum and part of them are re- field, Illinois: Journal Company, tained by Theodore McCoy, Gol- 1874. conda, Illinois.

Golconda Weekly Herald (Continued Norton, A. T. History of the Pres- as the Herald Enterprise). Office byterian Church in the State of of the Herald-Enterprise Publish- Illinois. St. Louis: W. S. Bryan, ing Company, Golconda, Illinois. 1897.

88 Page, O. J. History of Massac Coun- Record of the Court of Quarter Ses- ty, with Life Sketches and Por- sions. Office of Circuit Clerk, traits. Metropolis, Illinois, 1900. Courthouse, Randolph County Chester, Illinois. Public Records of Pope County, Il- linois (1816-1865). Including Register of Slaves. Office of County Deed Records, Land Entry Book, Clerk, Courthouse, Randolph Government Surveyor's Plat Book, County, Chester, Illinois. Circuit Court Records, and Mis- cellaneous Records. Office of Cir- Smith, George Washington. A His- cuit Clerk, Courthouse, Golconda, tory of Southern Illinois. Chicago: Illinois. The Lewis Publishing Company, 1912. Public Records of Pope County, Il- linois (1816-1865). Including The The Biographical Encyclopaedia of Proceedings of the County Com- Illinois of the Nineteenth Century. missioners Court, The County Philadelphia: Galaxy Publishing Court, the Probate Court, Report Company, 1875. of the School Commissioner, and

Miscellaneous Records. Office of Transactions of the Illinois State His- the County Clerk, Courthouse, torical Society. Illinois State His- Golconda, Illinois. torical Library Publication, Spring- field, Illinois. Public Records of Gallatin County (1812-1865). Similar to Pope U. S. Postal Guides (Prior to 1873). County records listed above. Revised and Published Quarterly Courthouse, Shawneetown, Illinois. by Authority of the Post Office Department, Library of Post Of- Public Records of Johnson County fice Department, Washington, D. (1812-1865). Similar to Pope C. County records listed above. Courthouse, Vienna, Illinois. U. S. Postal Records. Industrial Rec- Public Records of Randolph County ords Office, National Archives, (1790-1865). Similar to Pope Washington, D. C. County records listed above. Courthouse, Chester, Illinois. The author has also interviewed numerous older settlers in the area. Records of the Court of Common Pleas. Office of Circuit Clerk, Wherever such information has been Courthouse, Randolph County, used, it has been carefully checked Chester, Illinois. and verified.

INDEX

Numbers and letters in parantheses refer to illustrated map at end of book.

Agriculture 21 "Boarding Around" 33

Alcorn Creek (C-5) 62 Book (Post Office) 72

Allard 68 Boundaries of County 18

Allen Branch (A-1) 62 Brands and Marks of Cattle _ .21

Allen Springs (A-3) 68 Breadstuff 38

Amusements - 4 Breckenridge 70

Anderson's Ford (B-2) -.- 26 Broadcasting Seeds 24

Animals 7 Broad Oak - 70

Azotus (B-5) 69 Broadway's Mill (A-2) 41

Bagly's Mill 41 Brownfield (A-3) 86

Band Mill 39 Brush Arbors 31

Barker's Mill 41 Burden Creek (A-1) .62

Baskets 23 Buried Treasure (C-3) (C-5) 61, 64 Bay 69 Carr's Ferry 21

Bay City (B-4) 69 Carrsville 71

Bear Track Hollow (C-1) 64 Carvel's Ford (A-2) 26

Bell Smith Spring (A-1) 61 Caves - 64

Big Bay (A-3) 69 Cedar Bluff (A-1) __... 65

Big Bay Creek 69 Cherokee Indians 77

Big Pond (A-4) 62 Chipp's Mill 41

"Binding Out" 6 Chopping Out Corn 23

Black Bottom (A-3) 62 Churches 27

Blacksmiths 5, 55 Clapboards 3

Blanchard (B-1) 70 Clear Lake (C-6) 62

91 Clearing Ground 21 Drumm's Mill (C-1) 41

Clothing 3 Durfee's Mine (A-1) .—. 58

Coal (A-1) (B-1) (B-2) -57 Early Settlers 11 Colorado (A-1) -- 71 Eddyville (B-2) —72

Columbus — 86 Empire Mine (C-1) ..- : 58 20 Conley's Mill 41 Ferries Ferry -20 Copperous Branch (B-2) 63 Hamlet Ferguson's (C-6) Ferguson's Ferry (C-3) .—20 Corduroy Roads 26 James Feuds 49 Corinth 75 Fiddler's Green 75 Cutting Up Corn 23 Flatheads and Regulators 49 Cotton 24, 58 Food of Indians 7 Cotton Gin (B-5) 58 Food of Pioneers 7 Counterfeiting 65 Ford's Ferry 20 County Officials' First Meeting .19 French 16 County Line 71 Fruits — —-24 Courthouse 76 Fulgham's Mill (B-2) _ ..— 41 Cowan's Mill 40 Furniture 3 Creeks 62 Games _- —35 Crowds 6 George Rogers Clark 16 42 Cullom's Mill Gibbon's Creek (C-1) 63

Cumberland Island (C-6) 66 Glendale (A-2) ^ 74

Dams 63 Golconda (C-3) 74 21 Deadening Trees Golconda Island -. 66

Debating Societies 35 Gowanville (C-2) 77

Delwood (B-1) 71 Grain Cradles 23

Distilleries (B-2) .-. 60 Grand Pierre — 63

Dixon Springs (A-3) 72 Grand Pierre Mine (B-2) 58 Dog Hollow (B-1) 65 Grater 38

Dress 3 Green's Mill 87

Drinking Gourds ^-_.34 Grist Mills 38

Drumm's Creek (C-1) 63 Gulp Williams Hollow (C-1) 65

92 1

Gullet's Spring (C-3) 61 Lead (B-2) 58

Gunsmiths - 56 Lights 29

Halfway Branch , 62 Lincoln 53

Halltown 77 Literary Societies 35

Hamletsburg (C-6) 77 Little Saline River (A-1) 62

Hand Mills .— ...38 Livestock -22

Harper's Knob (C-2) 65 Logrolling 21

Harrison, William Henry 20, 75 Louis . 79

Hartsville (C-1) 78 Lusk (C-2) 80

Harvesting 23 Lusk Creek 63

Hence Mountain (C-1) 65 Lusk, Major James 74 Herod (C-1) 78 Lusk, Sarah 20, 75 Hills and Hollows 64 Lusk's Ferry (B-3) 20 HodgvilLe 79 Madstones - 67 Holmes 79 Manson's Ford 26 Homberg 79 Maple Sugar 59 Horse Mill 39 Marking Stock 21 House Raising 2 Massac Bluff (A-3) ..„ 65 How Pope Became a County 16 Maynor's Ford (A-2) 26 Hunting Branch 63 McCormick (A-1) ...80 Husking Bees 23 McFarland's Ferry 20

Indian Mill 38 Mealer 8

Indian Forts 9 Miles' Ferry 20

Indian Kitchen (B-1) 9 Miles' Trace 20

Iron (A-1) (B-3) 57 Military Claims 11

Islands 66 Militia 6

Jones 79 Millstone Knob (A-2) 65 Kaolin (A-1) 57 Mines and Minerals 57

Kate Reed Hollow (A-1) 65 Money 4

Kincaid Mounds (C-6) 9 Money Cave Hollow (B-3) 65

Land Claims 11 Negroes 42

93 1

New Liberty (C-6) -- 81 Quarrel Creek —63 Newport 8 Ragan _ 8 3 Newspapers 68 Raum (B-2) 83 Nigger Wool Swamp (A-3) 62 Renshaw (A-3) 83

Oak (B-1) 82 Resort 72 Old Brownfield (B-3) 86 Revival Meetings 31

Olive General Baptist Church Rising Sun 83

( A-1 ) 28 Roadways — 5, 25 Ferry (C-5) 20 O'Mulvaney's Robbs (A-2) 84 Ora 82 Rock (A-3) 84 Orchards 24 Rock Quarry (C-3) 84 Ordinance of 1787 16 Rondeau Island 66 Orville 82 Rosebud (B-4) 84 Panthers 7 Rose Ford (B-2) 26 Passenger Pigeons 8 Round Pond (C-6) 62 Peter's Creek Mill 40

"Picking up chunks" 21 Sand Hill 66

Pittulo Bluff (B-3) 66 Sarahville 75 Plowing New Ground 22 Sawmills 42 Plows 22 Settlers, early 11 Shandsville 85 Poco ^ 83

Politics 52 Sheridan's Cave 64 Poor Persons 6 Shoemaker 3

Porter's Ford 26 Sickle . ^-24

Porter's Ford Mill (B-3) 41 Singing Schools . 36

Post Offices 68 Singleton's Mill 40

Potatoes 23 Slavery and Negro Servitude 42

Potato Hill (C-1) 66 Slaves, Kidnapping 51

Price Island 67 Smith's Hill 40

Prior Island 67 Soapmaking . 4 Punishments, Legal 6 Spanish 16

Punishments, School 37 Spar 58

94 Spelling Matches 35 Treadmills 39

Steamboats 60 Transportation 4

Stewart Island (C-5) 66 Twitchell's Mill 41 Stock Marks 21 Underwood 86

Stouts 85 Virginia 16

Stump Mills 38 Visiting 31

Sturdevant's Fort 50 Wagon Makers 56, 57 Sugar Camps (B-2) 59 Walnut Shade ^_86

Sugar Camp Creek ..^ 63 Waltersburg (B-3) 86

Sugar Camp Hollow 64 War Bluff (B-2) 9 Sugar, Maple 59 Watermills 39

Swapping Work 3 Watkins' Ford 26 Tanbark 56 Wheat 23

Tanneries . 56 Wild Animals 7

Tansill (B-4) 85 Williams' Mountain (C-1) 65

Taverns 59 Wilson's Mill 41

Temperance 54 Wolrab's Mill 41

Temple Hill (A-4) _ 85 Wolves 7

Thacker's Gap (C-1) 78 Wool (Postoffice) 86

Three Sisters' Island 67 Wool Mill (C-2) _-73

Threshing 23 Writing School 36

Tobacco -74, 86 Zion Hill 87

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOISURBANfl 977 3991AL5P com POPE COUNTY NOTES CARBONDALE

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