Chapter VII

PIONEERS AND EARLY SETTLERS.

INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES

FIRST SETTLEMENT AND EARLY SETTLERS, SHELBY COUNTY

FIRST MARRIAGES

CAMP MEETINGS IN EARLY TIMES

THE FIRST GERMAN FAMILY IN SHELBY COUNTY

INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES

THE OLD PIONEERS are fast sinking to rest after the toils and privations of the border, whither they came, buoyed up with hope and nerved with vigor, to build for themselves and their loved ones homes amid this beautiful scenery, while yet the whoo p of the Indian and the howl of the wolf resounded on every side, and war's alarms came not infrequently, with imperious demands for blood and treasure. Here and there a white-haired veteran, bowed with the weight of years and the unremitting toil of pio neer life, remains an interesting relic of fast-fading times. Before all of these old, hardy pioneers, whose impress was the germ of the present, and whose endowment was lofty examples of courage and unabated energy, and who have durably stamped their ch aracteristics upon worthy successors -- before these have passed away, we seek to place upon the historic page the record of whom they were, and what they did to make their country what it is. The ties of home have, ere now, thrown around sterile coasts, frozen plains, and mountain cliffs the halo of the love of a patriotic people.

Is it surprising then that the undulating, flowery prairies and open vistas of park-like lawns, which, for extent and natural beauty, far excel the baronial manors of European aristocracy, and watered with running streams and quiet lakes -- which beautifu l landscape is embraced within the limits of these counties -- should charm the eyes of the first settlers as they emerged from the dark, dense forests of the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, the Old Do-

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minion, and Ohio, and beget in their hearts a love for the surroundings of nature that clings to them in their old age, and falls but little short of reverence when they speak of the old county which witnessed their first struggles for life and competency ? These associations have made it a sacred and hallowed spot.

FIRST SETTLEMENT AND EARLY SETTLERS.
SHELBY COUNTY.

The first permanent settlement made in the county now comprised within the limits of Shelby county, was by the Wakefield family. Charles Wakefield, Sr., wife and family, came into and settled in what is now Cold Spring township in March, 1818; the same y ear in which Illinois was admitted into the Union. Mr. Wakefield had quite a large family; his three married sons, Simeon, John, and Enoch, and their families, and Ormsby Vanwinckle, his son-in-law, and family accompanied him, as did also his youngest so n, Charles Wakefield, Jr ; the latter was unmarried at that time. They came from St. Clair county, Ill., and were genuine frontiersmen, and were thoroughly conversant with the habits and peculiarities of the Indians, with whom they were very friendly. T he Indians were numerous in this locality at that time. They were a remnant of the Kickapoo tribe; however, most of them left after the Black-Hawk war, and only returned occasionally in the autumn for a short period of hunting. They were always kindly t reated by the settlers, and they did many little acts of kindness in return. The Wakefields -- father and sons -- were all noted hunters, and most of their living was gained by the rifle and other implements of the chase. In the spring of the year they would plant a small patch of corn, and the balance of the time was mostly occupied in hunting, fishing, and the sports of the chase. Charles Wakefield, Sr., settled and built his cabin about three-quarters of a mile south-east from the Cold Spring, near the present site of Williamsburg. It was the first house erected in Shelby county; it was built of rough, unhewn logs, and mud and stick chimney. By some it has been considered that Simeon Wakefield was the first settler in Shelby county, but that is un doubtedly a mistake; however, very little time elapsed between the coming of the father and his sons. The Wakefields settled at the Cold Spring because there they had an abundance of good, pure water, good soil and plenty of timber, and the surrounding f orests abounded with all kinds of game. Simeon Wakefield settled at the Cold Spring, and John erected his cabin about three-quarters of a mile south-west of Simeon's improvement, and Enoch improved a place and built a cabin about one mile due west of Col d Spring. Ormsby Vanwinckle, the son-in-law of Wakefield, located with his family north-west of the Cold Spring, on a piece of land now known as the Horsman place. Lemuel Hawkins and family, Arthur Crocker and family, and the widow Petties and family al l settled in close proximity to the Wakefields, or Cold Spring settlement, in the year 1818. These families were the first settlers of the county, and all came up from St. Clair county, Illinois. Further mention of them is made in the township history of Cold Spring.

Another early settler was Thomas Pugh, a native of North Carolina, who when quite young moved with his parents to the state of Kentucky, where he grew up, and married and raised a family. In the spring of 1819 he moved with his family to and located near the Cold Spring settlement, not far from the residence of Simeon Wakefield. The place is now known as the Milligan farm. Mr. Pugh was a man of considerable force of character, and enterprising to a high degree. At the time of his arrival here he had a family of three children, a daughter and two sons. The daughter is now deceased; the sons, John and Robert Pugh, are at present both residents of Tower Hill township. In 1830 Thomas Pugh purchased a farm one mile north of Shelbyville, and began the imp rovement of the same, and lived there until his death, which occurred in 1858 or 1859. It is related by Robert Pugh that, for many years after his father came to the county, they could find the horns of the elk and buffalo lying in many places on the pra iries. Game at this period was found in abundance, there being plenty of bear, wolves, panthers, wild cats, deer, wild turkeys, and numerous small game. Thomas Pugh was quite celebrated as a hunter, and was the most successful Nimrod of the settlement. The nearest mill for the pioneers was at Greenville, in Bond county. It was a horse-mill, and occasionally when Mr. Pugh went to mill he would bring home with him powder and lead, salt and such other things as the Indians needed, which he would exchange for bees' wax, dressed hides, and other trinkets. Pugh was on very friendly terms with the red men, and was much loved and respected by them for his honesty. Robert Pugh says that in the early times bears were very plentiful, and one could hardly walk i nto the forests without encountering bear signs. The bears and wolves destroyed much stock for the pioneer. The hunter would frequently come across deer that had been partly eaten by panthers, wild cats, and catamounts; the latter were very numerous. Mr . Robert Pugh says that he killed twelve catamounts one winter; and that often large, fat hogs would come up with several pounds of flesh eaten out of their backs, the result of attacks by bears. These hogs were in a semi-wild state and were very vicious , and when in droves would frequently drive off the bears and other wild animals.

It may be interesting in this connection to mention a little trade made by Thomas Pugh soon after he came to the settlement. He gave a cow and calf for a log-cabin, and it was used in common by the whole neighborhood for miles around; to use Mr. Robert P ugh's language, the chain was "kept hot." Implements of all kinds were very scarce among the early settlers, especially those made of iron.

Another pioneer of Shelby county was Asa Ledbetter, who came here with his family about the year 1822; he had formerly lived in the southern part of the state. He was a man of considerable enterprise, and built a water-mill on the Okaw river above Shelby ville, at a place since known as the Francisco Mill site. Ledbetter's mill only stood a short time ; it was washed away by the high water of 1828, and, sad to relate, Ledbetter lost his life at the same time. He was desirous of saving his mill by weight ing it down with rock which he brought across the river in a canoe, and in making the last passage, the boat sank. Ledbetter was a poor swimmer; he however succeeded in getting on a drift-log, but the weather was very cold, and before he received assista nce he became so chilled that he fell into the water; the body was, however, soon recovered, but life was extinct. Ledbetter left a wife and family.

Jonathan C. Corley, a Virginian by birth, emigrated with his parents to Kentucky in 1808, where he lived until 1823, in which year he came to Shelby county, and settled on Robinson's creek; he continued to reside in this county until his death, which occu rred in 1860. He was by trade a blacksmith, and is said to have been the first blacksmith in the county; he was also a farmer. Mr. Corley raised a family of thirteen children. He was also for many years a justice of the peace, and figured quite promine ntly in the early annals of the county.

Levi Casey settled on Robinson's creek in March, 1824. He was a native of South Carolina. When he settled here, he had family of six children; three of the six now live in Shelbyville -- John Casey and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Tolly; Nancy, now Mrs. Howse. Mr. Casey improved a farm on which he first settled where he lived until his death in 1855. He was twice married,

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and had four children born in Shelby county. Mr. Casey was one of the early county commissioners and a man of good judgment and integrity.

In the fall of 1825, Samuel Little, a native of Illinois, born on the frontier in the southern part of the state, built a cabin in the west part of Ash Grove township. In the spring following, his brother John and his brother-in-law, Robert Duncan, came and built cabins nearby. They were regular frontier-men, and delighted to hunt and have sport with the neighboring Indians. When the Indians left the state, the Littles moved to Texas. Duncan remained in this state, and died in Bond county, where he acc umulated considerable property.

David Elliott was perhaps the first settler on Richland creek. He located in what is now Richland township in the spring of 1825. In early days he had a horse mill and still-house, which he carried on quite profitably for several years. His brother, Jaco b Elliott, moved into the settlement in the fall of 1826. He subsequently moved into what is now Holland township. He has lived in the county for fifty-four years, and is a hale and hearty old man, full of life and vigor.

Another early settler was William Weeger, who made a settlement on Richland Creek in the spring of 1826. He was one of the early county commissioners. His eldest son, John Weeger, settled here at the same time. His wife Anna bore him twins July 4th, 18 26. Their names were Julia Ann and Jane. The neighboring Indians made for them a double papoose cradle, which is still retained in the family, and is regarded as a unique and curious article of furniture.

Other pioneers in the neighborhood of Big Springs were Samuel Weatherspoon, Bazel Daniel, William Daniel, and B. Fancher, with their families, who settled there in 1826. In the fall of 1826 John Cochran, with his three sons-in-law, John, Daniel, and Will iam Price, settled in what is now called Cochran's Grove. Mr. Cochran raised a family of five children. His youngest son James, who was thirteen years of age when they came to this county, is the only member of the family now living, and one of the olde st citizens now residing in the county. Other pioneers of Ash Grove township were John Frazer, Robert Templeton, Joseph Dixon, Robert Rankin, Daniel Green, John Bolin and John Storm.

In this connection we must not fail to mention the Renshaw family. John and James Renshaw were both enterprising men. They settled on Richland creek in 1826. However, the year before, in 1825, they came up to Shelby county with a drove of hogs, which t hey had driven up from White Co., Ill., where they were then residing; they were so pleased with the country, that on their return home, they sold out their possessions, and the following year settled in the county as above stated. James Renshaw afterwar d lived for a time in Shelbyville, and subsequently moved to Decatur. John still lives near where he first settled, and is one among the few pioneers left in the county. They are both men of integrity and enterprise.

Among the old settlers of Shelby county was Barnett Bone. He was a native of Tennessee, and came to Illinois in the year 1825. He settled on the banks of the Okaw, about two miles south of where the city of Shelbyville now stands. Here he built a subst antial log-house, where he lived for several years. He was a public-spirited man, and took a lively interest in county matters and the development of the country. The first county commissioner's court was held at his house above mentioned. He was a con sistent and prominent member of the Methodist Church, and was known far and wide for his hospitality and kindness to his fellow man. He was twice married, and lived to a ripe old age. He died in this county, respected by all who knew him for his many go od qualities.

Elias Miller, one of the pioneers of this county, was a native Virginia, and came to Shelby county before it was organized. He lived for some time with another old settler, Barnett Bone. He was a widower when he came to the county, and for some years was engaged in teaching school. At that time he was considered one of the first in his calling. He afterward married again, and lived for several years in Shelbyville. His decease is the sad portion in this biography. It was some time in the year 1837 he concluded he would go down to Dry Point township to visit his friends. The day was fearfully cold, he lost his way in the timber, and was compelled to lie out all night, and death resulted from exposure to the cold. Two of his children are still living: Mrs. Crock in Christian county, and R. B. Miller, of Stewardson, Shelby county.

FIRST MARRIAGES

solemnized in Shelby county, 1827, after the county was organized on May 2d, John Cochran to Sally Bateman; Oct. 4th, John Hall to Eliza Cawly; Oct. 4th, Jeremiah Provott to Lidy Willborn; Nov. 7th, Thomas Duty to Sally Rian; Nov. 8th, Henry Smith to Sall y Willbern; Dec. 2d, John May to Rachel Rooks; Dec. 19th, Thomas Cole to Louis Hawks; Dec. 19th, Andrew Cronk to Judy Bone; Dec. 22d, Thomas Ward to Elizabeth Wedick.

There were many other marriages that took place in the county prior to the above; and they receive mention in the pioneer chapter and the several township histories; but believing that it will be of interest to our readers to know the names of the parties who were married and received license the first year after the county was organized, we therefore make the list a part of this chapter.

Probably no name is so familiar to the early residents of Shelby county as that of Joseph Oliver, who was a native of the Old Dominion, and was born on Christmas day, December 25,1794. He is descended from a long line of English ancestry, and his forefath ers were among the earliest to brave the perils and hardships incident to the early settlements of the colony of Virginia. His father, William Oliver, was a captain of a company of volunteers in the Revolutionary war, and participated in many of the campa igns and battles of that eventful struggle. The war over, he returned to the bosom of his family. He was the father of twelve children, three of whom were soldiers in the war of 1812: John, Richard, and Joseph. John and Richard, being the eldest, were the first to enlist, and Joseph, in making a trip to Norfolk, Virginia, with a drove of cattle, there met his two brothers, who persuaded him to enlist (although not of age, his father had given him permission to enlist if he wished to do so). He enliste d in the cavalry arm of the service, and furnished his own horse, saddle, bridle and blanket. The government furnished him the other implements of warfare. Captain Sanford was the commander of the company of which young Oliver was a member. He remained the service until peace was declared, and soon after started on his pilgrimage for the then western wilds. Arriving at Kaskaskia, he began the life of a peddler, and with a horse and wagon traveled over much of southern Illinois. He purchased his goods at Kaskaskia, and would make frequent trips to the surrounding counties, and generally with considerable profit to himself. He continued in this business until the summer after the capital was changed to Vandalia. He then settled in Fayette county, and was elected the first Sheriff of that county, an office he held until the county of Shelby was organized. He then resigned his position in Fayette county to accept the clerkship of Shelby county. It was in the spring of 1827 that he came to this county , and he was soon after

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qualified to fill the offices of county and circuit clerk, recorder and judge of probate. Mr. Oliver bought a "squatter's" improvement of Josiah Daniel, near the Shelbyville spring, which consisted of a small cabin and a few acres of cleared land. He bu ilt an addition of one room, and here opened up county business. The offices were kept here until the county erected their first courthouse, a log structure. His office fees at that time were not sufficient to support himself and family. He therefore o pened a subscription school, which he taught, using the courthouse for a schoolroom, and at the same time attending to his duties as a county official. Mr. Oliver was also the first postmaster in Shelby county. The post-office was also kept in the court- house; but as the mail was limited to letters only, he often carried the letters in his hat, and would hand them to whom addressed on meeting them in the little village. By the present generation that would be regarded as rather a primitive style of dist ributing the mails. Mr. Oliver also was the first merchant in the county in the early days, deriving his principal trade from the Indians, of whom he would buy skins, bees-wax, etc., and give them powder, lead, tobacco, groceries, goods, and other things , in exchange. In his domestic relations Mr. Oliver was happily situated. While a young man, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Barthrick, a Virginian by birth, and daughter of Daniel Barthrick, an early settler in Fayette county, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver had three children born to them: Benjamin, Mary Jane and Eliza. Mary Jane Oliver was the first white child born in the present limits or Shelbyville. Her birth occurred Feb. 3d, 1828. Mrs. Oliver died April 13th, 1834, and on the 31st of Decemb er, 1835, Mr. Oliver married Miss Sally Fearman, a native of Kentucky. They had three children, William, Margery A., and Joseph. Mrs. Oliver, at this writing, has been dead about six years. Uncle Joseph Oliver is still a resident of Shelbyville, and a t the advanced age of eighty-six years is quite feeble in health, but still able to walk out. Wonderful indeed have been the changes which he has witnessed in the last half century, having been a resident of Shelby county for fifty-four years. Her growt h and development he has watched with the greatest interest. But a few years of earth is left for this venerable gray-haired veteran, before he shall be numbered among those of the past. It is pleasing and gratifying to his friends to know that he has l ived a most honorable and upright life -- a life which has shed honors upon himself and the generation in which he lived. And now in his green old age he is loved and respected by all for his integrity and purity of life.

One of the oldest pioneers of Shelby county, as well as of the State of Illinois, is Uncle Johnny Rose. He was born in Livingston county, Kentucky, in the year 1806. His father, with his family, moved to Pope county, Illinois, the September following hi s birth. Here he grew to manhood, and in the year 1827 he came north and located on Sand Creek, Windsor township, Shelby county. His brother William came with him, and together they located a farm and built a small log cabin upon it. Through his indomi table industry he has amassed a competency in his old age. In 1867 he moved to Sullivan, where he now resides. He was married to Miss Matilda McDaniel, October 21, 1829. By this union there were five sons and four daughters. In 1862 Mrs. Rose died, an d was buried in the Grider cemetery, Shelby county. His second wife was Mrs. Mary Jane Lilly, who is still living. No children have been born from this union. Uncle Johnny is not only one of the oldest, but one of the best citizens. He has raised an e xcellent family, all of whom stand high in the estimation of their fellowman.

Prominent among the pioneers to this county from North Carolina was Benjamin Walden. He was a native of the above State, and soon after his marriage emigrated to the State of Tennessee, where he continued to live until part of his family were grown. He th en sold out his possessions, and gathered together his worldly wealth, and with his wife and children came to Illinois, and settled in the southern part of the State, where he lived several years, and in 1827 he came to Shelby county, soon after its organ ization, and located on a tract of land now comprised within Richland township. His eldest son, Hugh Walden, was a man of family at that time, and came and settled near his father the same year. Benjamin Walden raised a family of ten children who grew t o manhood and womanhood. Only three are now living. Their names are as follows: -- Benjamin, John, and Mrs. W. F. Hilsabeck.

Benjamin Moberly, another well-known "old settler," was born in Madison county, Kentucky in the year 1799. His father, Isaac Moberly, moved to the southern part of Illinois in 1812, where they lived a number of years in a Fort in what is now Franklin cou nty. He was quite a noted Indian hunter, and was also an adept in procuring all kinds of game. It is said that with his rifle he could strike the eye of a deer at the distance of a hundred and fifty yards. He was one of the best rifle shots in all that section of country, and was a man noted for his bravery and agility. In the early part of the year 1827 Benjamin Moberly moved north and made a settlement on Sand Creek, in Shelby county, where he afterwards improved a large farm. He now lives in Windso r, and is a hale and hearty old gentleman, and delights to talk about the early times.

Jacob Cutler and son, John C., came to Shelbyville in the fall of 1827. They opened a small store, and brought the second stock of goods to the county. Jacob Cutler sold goods here until 1833, when he moved to Fort Madison, Iowa, and was one of the firs t merchants in that place. He resided there until his death. John Cutler is still a resident of Shelbyville.

John Frazer, who was for many years a prominent man in the eastern part of the county, settled in what is now Ash Grove township in 1828. He was a native of North Carolina, but moved to Kentucky with his parents when a youth, and came here from the latte r State at the time indicated above. Mr. Frazer and wife raised a family of eight children, and he continued to reside in this township until his death, which took place in the spring of 1855.

CAMP MEETINGS IN EARLY TIMES.

The first camp meeting held in Shelby county was near the cabin of Thomas Robinson, on Robinson's Creek, in 1828 or '29. This meeting was held by the Methodist denomination during the month of August, and the weather was very warm and sultry. Jonathan H oward's wife was at the altar (which was a round pole laid on two logs). Howard thought the place too warm for her, and he made an attempt to take her out and away from the altar, so she could "cool off," as he expressed it, when the preachers (four in n umber) objected, saying they would attend to her bodily welfare as well as her spiritual. This Howard could not stand, and he became boisterous, divested himself of part of his clothing, walked into the surging and sweating crowd, took his wife by the ha nd and "led her out." Coats flew off in an instant; loud talking and angry imprecations were indulged in, and for a few minutes it looked as though a fight was imminent. Robinson took Howard's part. Men seized hold of clubs, and the preachers of that ea rly day could handle a club with a great deal of grace, and they were not easily scared. The meeting soon became one of confusion, and very near a riot, in consequence of. which the meeting was broken

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up, as the preachers had their friends, as well as Howard and his crowd, and both seemed willing to show the power of muscle. We simply mention the above circumstance of the pioneer era in order to exhibit the customs and peculiarities of that period. T he above incident was narrated to the writer by a participant of that to him pleasing occasion.

One of the early settlers of Shelby county was John Tackett, a native of Virginia. He emigrated to Kentucky, where he lived several years. In the fall of 1829 be moved with his family, which consisted of a wife and two children to Shelby county, Illinoi s. Here one child was born to them. Mrs. Tackett died soon afterward. Some time after a second marriage was consummated, and from this union two children were born. Soon after the arrival of Mr. Tackett in Shelbyville, he bought the hotel built by Tho mas Lee. He continued in the hotel business for seven or eight years, when he embarked in the mercantile business with Dr. Headen, which occupation he followed for several years. Becoming tired of this pursuit, he again fell back to his old business, th at of a landlord. He died in Shelbyville in 1850. Three of the family are still living in the above city, namely, William J., John A., and Mrs. Edward Hopkins.

Bushrod Washington Henry was born in Culpepper county, Virginia, February 4, 1805. In the full of 1830 he came to Shelby from Rutherford county, Tennessee, where he had lived about three years. He was one of the pioneer preachers of the county, and from the consistency of his daily walk as compared with his creed and faith, he became one of the most popular advocates of Christianity in this region of country. He was an untiring worker, and in 1832 had succeeded in establishing a church with a large num bership in Shelbyville. It was denominated the First Baptist Church of Christ of Shelbyville. He was three times married, and at his death his descendants numbered fifty persons -- children, grandchildren, and great-grand-children. He died the 20th day of August, 1879, and will ever be remembered by the people of Shelby county as one whose virtues and walk in life would benefit the world were they imitated.

The subject of this sketch, Gen. William F. Thornton, was not only one of the prominent men of Shelby county, but of the State of Illinois. Although not one of the pioneers of the State, he became an early settler, and figures largely in the rise and pro gress of the State. He was for years a member of the Legislature, and was also a man of education and broad culture. As an advocate and public speaker he ranked among the first in the State. His patriotism is beyond question, as the records at Washingt on will show that he commanded a company of soldiers in the war of 1812. His broad mind and excellent business capacity brought him in contact with the first talent of the State. He was one of the three commissioners appointed by Gov. Duncan, in 1836, f or the purpose of constructing the Illinois and Michigan canal. Subsequently he proved an important auxiliary in the negotiating of bonds in the European market for the above object. In 1840 he was deputed to go to London with the bonds, where he effect ed the sale of $1,000,000 at 85 cents on the dollar, which was ten per cent better than his instructions. Later in life he became a prominent banker in Shelbyville, and was one of the moneyed kings of central Illinois. He died a few years since with a n ame placed alongside of the prominent and active men of the West.

THE FIRST GERMAN FAMILY IN SHELBY COUNTY.

John P. Freyburger was a native of Bavaria, Germany. He emigrated to America with his family in 1831. On his way from New York to Ohio he was taken with the cholera, and on his arrival at Aetna, Ohio, he died. The family lived in the State until 1835, when they moved to Shelby county, Illinois. With a family of four children in a new country, and among strangers, it took all a mother's tact to bring up her little family and make them useful members of Society. They settled in Okaw township, where her son, Michael Freyburger, now lives. The mother died in 1870, at the age of 78. Three of her children yet reside in Shelby county, and one in the State of Arkansas. It was the mother's intention, when she moved to Illinois, to settle at Peoria, but when near Shelbyville one of their horses gave out, and hence they were detained a few days in this vicinity. In the meantime they found warm friends among the settlers, and were persuaded to remain in their midst, where they yet reside honored and respected citizens.*

"THE DEEP SNOW."

One of the important epochs in the early history of this part of Illinois was what is familiarly known as the "deep snow," which occurred in the winter of 1830-31. Indeed, it prevailed throughout the western states and territories. On account of the mea ger preparation for so severe a visitation, the early settlers suffered many hardships. It is difficult for those of today to comprehend the sufferings of cold and hunger that those sturdy pioneers underwent. The snow commenced falling as early as the f irst of December, and continued almost without abatement throughout the winter. The measurement in the timber was from four to five feet deep. The stumps standing, where trees had been cut for fire-wood, after the snow had passed away, had the appearanc e of having been felled by giants, as some of them measured from six to seven feet in height. The roads were completely blockaded, the fences were wholly under the snow, so that the people passed with their teams over them from one settlement to another. For weeks the settlers were virtually buried in their cabins, and only went forth, as food and fuel demanded, from dire necessity. A large portion of the stock perished from cold and starvation. The wild game, such as deer, prairie chickens, quail, et c., was found in immense numbers, frozen in their tracks.

THE "SUDDEN FREEZE."

This occurred in January, 1836. It was one of those sudden changes, a regular "Manitoba Wave," that only occurs once several decades. Up to noon, of the day of this phenomenon, it was rather warm than otherwise; in fact, it had been raining some. Soon after mid-day the storm broke forth, when every puff of wind seemed to be borne from the point of an icicle. Boiling water cast into the air came to the ground a sheet of ice. Ponds and streams were almost immediately locked in ice. Some old settlers s ay that the frogs had not time to pull their heads below. One tells us, that in passing over a pond, a day or so afterwards, be kicked off, by actual measurement, the heads of a bushel and a half of frogs. This, however, we cannot vouch for; it seems a little overdrawn.

Thus we close the history of the long-to-be-remembered, sturdy pioneers of Shelby county, and turn to open the pages of her prosperous offspring of Moultrie.

* There are many other old settlers who are spoken of in the histories of the respective townships, where they located, and hence are not mentioned in this chapter.

MOULTRIE COUNTY.

The county of Moultrie, as stated elsewhere, is an offspring of Macon and Shelby counties.

It was not until eight years had elapsed from the time when Illinois was admitted into the Union as a state, that the first white

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man erected his cabin of rough, unhewn logs within the present boundaries of Moultrie county. Owing to this fact, there is but little genuine pioneer history. However, we seek to place upon the historic page the names of the first settlers, and what they did to make their county the just pride of the great Prairie State of the American Union. Those early settlers were of one origin, language, religion, with political and patriotic sentiments identical with a common history and the same traditions. They were of the intelligent working class, having community of purpose, which they pursued by the same methods and in the same field, with results not widely dissimilar. The journey, arrival, fortune, and career of almost any one of these resolute, vigorous , thrifty families was the counterpart of the history of all the others. Hence to avoid repetition in this chapter, we will simply follow up the arrivals as nearly as possible, of the early families who settled here, knowing that the privations and hards hips, incidents and anecdotes related in the foregoing, are about the same as experienced by the first settlers in this county.

SETTLEMENTS.

The honor of first settling in the territory comprising Moultrie county, belongs to John Whitley. He with his wife and sons John, Sharp, Mills, Randall, William, Josiah, his son-in-law Samuel Linley, and two or three daughters, settled in Section 12, T. 12, R. 6, at the point of timber which has ever since been known as Whitley's Point, in the fall of 1826. This farm is now owned by J. M. Edmonds. Here he erected the first cabin and broke the first prairie in what is now Moultrie county. All his sons but Josiah were married, and some had children, when they came and settled in the same vicinity, as did also the son-in-law, Samuel Linley. William Price, a single man, came a short time after their arrival and married one of Whitley's daughters, and loc ated near the old gentleman. The senior Whitley was a native of Maryland, and it is thought came from Kentucky here. He and all his sons were very fond of sport, great horsemen, and always kept a number of fine thoroughbred Kentucky race horses. They w ould frequently ride some distance to settlements and race for money; in fact, gambling in general seemed to be their chief occupation. The sons were all large, athletic men, and inclined to fight at the slightest provocation. It is said that they and s ome of the Waggoner's had an interesting combat at one time. Mills and Sharp Whitley and Samuel Linley emigrated to Texas about 1836 or '37, and John, Randall, and William died several years ago in Missouri, whence they had moved. Josiah, the last known o f, was living in Bond county, this state. The elder Whitley moved up the Okaw river, in Coles County, about 1838, where he died a few years later, and his wife soon followed him in death. Although none of their descendants live in the county, the name of Whitley, united as it is to township and stream, resists decay. Hal McDaniel, a native of Tennessee, who either came with the Whitley's or about the same time, squatted a mile west of them on Whitley creek. He had a wife and four or five children, but rem ained here only a short time.

The next settlement was made on the place now owned by Caleb Evans, in Section 1, T. 12 R. 5, in the extreme southern part of the county, by two brothers, Samuel and Jonathan Anderson. They left here about 1831. The next arrival was of a different class. They were permanent settlers, and today their descendants are as numerous in this locality as any family that ever settled here. We will mention the Waggoners'. They settled in the Whitley settlement late in the month of March, 1828. Grandfather Isaac Wag goner was a native of South Carolina, where he grew to manhood, and where he enlisted in the Revolutionary war, and after serving three years returned to his native state, and married Emsey Holeyfield, by whom he had a family of thirteen children, all bor n and reared in the Carolinas. Mr. Waggoner moved into North Carolina a few years after his marriage, where he lived until he emigrated to Illinois. There came with him his wife, four sons -- George, Amos, Elisha, Gilbert and Emsey, the youngest daughte r, Mary and her husband, Noah Webb, and one child. George also brought with him his wife and four children, viz.: Alvin, Robert, Celia, and Sally. Amos, Elisha, and Gilbert each brought wives but had no children when they came. They left Rutherford cou nty, North Carolina, their home, in the latter part of November, 1827, in two covered wagons; one drawn with four horses and the other with a two-horse team, and came as far as Tennessee, where they stopped a few weeks for rest, and then continued their j ourney through Kentucky, and up into Illinois, reaching Section 7, of what is now Whitley township, in the latter part of March, 1828, where they immediately constructed cabins of the usual pioneer description, and made preparations for a crop of corn the coming season. The prairie was broken for them with ox teams by Samuel Linley. This was on the place now occupied by T. Leggett, near the Whitefield Church. In the fall of the same year (1828), John, his oldest son, Isaac, Jr., the next oldest, and, H armon Smith came with. their families. John had a wife and nine children, and settled on Section 12 on the place where David Pierce now resides. Of his children only two are now living: Sally, the widow of David Harrison, and Nancy, the wife of A.H. Edw ards. . John Waggoner died about 1844, and his widow survived until 1849. His sons who have left descendants here are William and Edward. William married Nancy Walker, and several of their children are living here. Elder John G. I. Waggoner, a Christia n minister residing at Shelbyville, is a son of Edward and grandson of Isaac Waggoner. Isaac Waggoner, Jr. had a large family, some of whom have died, others moved away, and at present none are living in this state. He died in the fall of 1853, and was buried in the Linn creek grave-yard.

George, the third son of Grandfather Isaac Waggoner, married in North Carolina, Bethany Haney, and raised a family of twelve children, all living, and all but one -- Isaiah -- are residing in this county. The others are: Alvin, the oldest son, married, M ary Armantrout, and is residing on Section 11 in Whitley township. He has a family of six children, all married, and have families. Alvin served several term in the county court. Robert, William, Isaac, Hezekiah, and Ira also have families, and live in t he same neighborhood. Five daughters, Elizabeth, the wife of John Dougherty, and Hannah, the wife of Thomas Dougherty, residing in the northern part of the county, and Sally, Celia, and Narcissa, maiden ladies, are living on the old homestead in Section 11.

Amos, the fifth son, married Narcissa Jay, in North Carolina, by whom he had a large family, five of whom are living, viz.: the widow Scott, residing in Sullivan; Dr. E. E., at Shelbyville; Joseph H., ex-Circuit Clerk of Moultrie county (served sixteen co nsecutive years); Mary Ann, the wife of Charles Carter, residing in Decatur, and Francis M., a farmer in Sullivan township. Amos died about 1854 or '55, and his widow still survives (Dec. 10, 1880), at the age of seventy-six years.

Elisha Waggoner died about 1858, and his widow and family moved to Missouri. Gilbert is the only survivor of the old stock. He and his wife Patsey Bailey are both living on their farm in Whitley, he at the age of seventy-three and she in her seventieth year. Their children living are Emsey, Elizabeth, John, Andrew J., Martin V., and George, all having families.

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There were large quantities of game here, for a number of years after the first settlements were made. Uncle Gilbert Waggoner, in his younger days was quite a noted hunter, and very fond of the chase. It was not uncommon to see herds of deer, numbering from thirty to fifty, and so tame that they could frequently be shot from the cabin door. Harmon Smith, a native of North Carolina, settled on the Whitley Creek in 1828. He had a large family, and some are still living here.

In November of the same year, 1828, Andrew Bone and Elias Kennedy made the first settlements in the eastern part of the county. They and their families came from Tennessee together. Andrew Bane was a native of North Carolina. He settled on the farm now owned by W. F. Vaughan, where he built the first cabin and made the first improvements in this part of the county. He had a family of seven children, only three of whom are now living, viz.: Joseph M. a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, now residing in K ansas; Narcissa J., the widow of J.S. Freeland, living in Bethany; Mary, the wife of James A. Vaughan, in Section 11 of Marrowbone township. Those dead are Thomas, whose wife still survives, John C., James M., and Leander. All the members of the family were married and had families, many of whose descendants are living in this county. Andrew Bone, died a few years after settling here. Elias Kennedy was a Tennessean, born in the year 1800. He married Isabelle Dobbins, by whom he had eleven children, f our of whom are now living -- Alexander, James C., David F., Finis E.; the latter living in Kansas. He settled and built his first cabin in the edge of timber on Section 35 of that township. Kennedy made several moves, however not out of the county, unt il 1865, when he went to Kansas, where he died in 1871.

Jacob McCune, was a native of New York, born in 1794. He was one of the patriots in the war of 1812, and in an engagement in Canada between the British and Gen. Harrison's army, he received a severe wound in the thigh; he was also at the siege of Fort Me igs. He lived in Ohio for several years where he married his first wife, Miss Smith, and from this union seven children were born. He afterwards moved with his family to Indiana, and thence to Illinois in 1827. He first settled at Jimtown, now Riverton , a few miles east of Springfield. In the fall of 1828, he, in company with his two oldest sons, Samuel and Abraham, and their families moved to this county. Their first halting-place was at what is known as the Big Elm, on Marrowbone Creek. Here they built a camp-fire in a fallen tree-top, turned their team out to graze, and Mr. McCune started south in search of a settlement. He had only crossed Wilborn Creek when he discovered signs of domestic swine; and on looking a little to his right, he saw at a short distance, on a slight prominence, a small cabin. Upon approaching it, what was his surprise to see a large black dog, which he recognized as belonging to John Wilborn, having lived near the Wilborns in Indiana. He was, of course, received very cordially by his old friend, and after a short consideration he concluded to stop at that point, but he only remained there for a short time, when he moved into what is now Sullivan township. Mr. McCune was a man well-known by all the early settlers, and admired for his humanity to man. He lived to a good old age, and his remains rest in the Camfield Cemetery. His last wife survives him, and lives with her son-in-law, Finley Jeffries.

As early as 1829 a lone cabin might have been seen standing in the edge of the timber of the West Okaw, in Lovington township. The occupant was John Davidson, one of the first settlers. This virtually founded the settlement now known as String Town. In the same year, William Martin and James Cunningham also settled in the same neighborhood. Several of their descendants still live there.

One of the first settlers of Whitley Creek township was Mr. Wright Little. He located there in 1829, near Isaac Waggoner's, and lived there until his death. The only survivors of this pioneer are William H. Waggoner's wife, and Robert Little. The latte r is now a resident of Shelby county.

Jerre Provolt, a son-in law of John Wilborn, built the first cabin and made the first settlement on Jonathan Creek as early as 1829. John Gordon also settled the same year a little east of Provolt, on the place now owned by James Bolin. They remained th ere only a few months, when Provolt sold his claim to Benjamin Dabney, and Gordon sold out to Charles Huffman, Dabney's brother-in-law. Robert Holmes, Evan Waller, Archibald Standerfer, John Drew, Robert and Hamilton Bonham, William Lilly, John Hendricks, John and Jacob Seass, Thomas Fulton, the Underwood's, Frank Taylor, Andrew Mark and the Fleming's were also early settlers on Jonathan Creek.

Early in 1830, Joel and Peter Freeman came with their families. They were brothers, and located in the eastern part of the county, on what is now known as Coons Creek. They were natives of North Carolina. Joel Freeman brought with him quite a family. H is son, Calvin, married a daughter of Mr. Selby, an old settler of Moultrie county, and is now a resident of Lovington township; another son, Benjamin, wedded PollyAnn Bonham; the daughter, Catherine, is the wife of Thomas Dunn. Thomas, William and Joel, Jr., his sons, are all deceased, but some of their descendants are yet living in the county. Joel Freeman, Sr., died several years ago. Peter only remained here about two years and removed to Missouri. The Purvis family are well known early settlers of this county. James and John Purvis, brothers, located in what is now East Nelson, April 1st, 1830, and erected a small cabin on Section 7, where George Purvis still resides They broke the first prairie in that township. In the month following, their fa ther, John Purvis, his wife and Malinda, their daughter, came from Sangamon county, Illinois, and moved into the cabin with his sons, where they all lived together for a year; soon after which the elder Purvis moved to the Mill seat, at the bend of the Ok aw river, and made his home with his sons, James and John G. John Purvis the elder, was a soldier in the war of 1812: he died in this county in 1833. Sarah, his wife, survived him several years. James Purvis married Mahala Jones. By that union were bor n two children. James died about the year 1836. His widow subsequently married and moved to California. George Purvis married Cassa Waller, by whom he had four children, three of whom are residents of this county. His wife died, and he afterwards marr ied Mahala Poor. He has held several township offices, and is still living on the place where he settled in 1830. Thomas, a brother of George Purvis, is dead; but some of his children are yet living in the county. Isaac Purvis with his family, settled here in 1831; he and his wife are both deceased; William lives on the same place where he first settled in 1837. He has raised a large family of children, and has held many offices of trust, and was always an active and enterprising citizen of the county . John G. moved to Missouri; Elizabeth married John Bracken who came here in 1832, and died making an over-land trip to California. Mahala Purvis married Jeremiah Standerfer, and is now living in Jonathan Creek township.

Richard Thomason was a native of Virginia, and was born Aug. 17, 1770. When a mere boy, his parents emigrated to North Carolina, where, in after years, he married his first wife, Ellen Lee. A large family was the result of this union. He subsequently m oved to Stuart county, Tennessee, where his first wife died. He

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again married a lady by the name of Elizabeth Howell and in 1814 came to Illinois, settling in Clinton county; but afterwards moved to Fayette, and subsequently to Shelby county. In March, 1830, he moved over into what is now Moultrie, settling in the no rthern part of Sullivan township. His descendants figure prominently in the history of this county. Judge Arnold Thomason is still living on his farm near the village of Lovington. He has represented the county in the State Legislature, and filled many important county offices from its infancy to the present time. Uncle Joe Thomason has also figured largely in the politics of the county, and has always been one of the most willing and obliging officials. Not a more hospitable and humane man ever live d than Uncle Joe. He is now residing in Sullivan. Asa H., William, John C. and George are now deceased. Milbra, wife of Robert H. Sharp, is still living a few miles northwest of Sullivan.

One of the prominent settlers of Moultrie county, was John Cook, Sr. He was a native of Rhode Island, and afterwards emigrated to Indiana. In 1830, he moved to Illinois, and settled on the southeast corner of Section 3, Marrowbone township. He built a s mall water-mill on the West Okaw, where it proved a great convenience to the early settlers. His widow is still living.

Thomas D. Lansden located on a place west of Bethany, known as the Evans' farm. He was a native of North Carolina, and moved to Tennessee when he was quite a young man, where he married Peggie McClin. In the year 1830, he moved with his family to what is now Moultrie county, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1838. He was a blacksmith by trade, and built the first blacksmith shop in that part of the country. He was one of the patriots of 1812, and was with Jackson behind the cotton bal es at New Orleans.

In October, 1830, John Warren, a native of Tennessee, came to Moultrie, and settled on what is now the western border of the county. In his early manhood be married Miss Sarah Jennings. They had a large family of boys and one daughter, several of whom are still living. Daniel P. and Jesse A. are still residing near the old homestead. Samuel and Elisha are living in the State of Kansas, and John in Sangamon county, Illinois.

Jesse A. Walker was a native of North Carolina, and in later years moved to Kentucky. He came to Illinois in the fall of 1830, and settled on Brush Creek. He had a family of eight children, two of whom are still living in the county.

One of the sturdy settlers of 1830 was James Fruit. He was a native of Kentucky, and settled in Marrowbone township, in the year above written. A large family grew up around him, several of whom are yet living. Mr. Fruit was a well read man, and at one time practiced medicine in his neighborhood. He was twice married, and died near Bethany in 1845.

William Ward, one of the pioneers, came to this county in 1830, and settled near Wilborn Creek. He raised a large family of children that are now somewhat scattered. James O., A. L. and Frank are still living in Moultrie county, well-known and good citi zens. The father died in 1838.

Larkin Beck, a native of Kentucky, settled on Section 28, Marrowbone township. He built a cabin, and began the improvement of the farm now owned by E.A. Walker.

William Walker, an old-timer, came to Whitley township in 1830. He was a son-in-law of Isaac Waggoner, and settled on what is now the J.H. McCormic farm. His son, Isaac Walker, had the honor of being elected the first sheriff of Moultrie county.

Uncle Jimmy Camfield was a native of Kentucky, came to this county in 1830, and located about three miles south-west of Sullivan. He raised quite a large family, and proved one of the solid men of the country. Everybody in the county knows Jimmy Camfiel d. He died only a few years since, leaving quite a fortune to his descendants.

Two brothers, natives of Kentucky, John W. and Gideon Edwards, in company with two other Kentuckians, Isham and Jeduthun Hardy, settled in Whitley township in 1830, and, historically, stand prominent among the early settlers. John W. Edwards, especially a mong the above mentioned, raised a large family, several of whom, and their descendants, are still living in the county.

The Smyser family emigrated to this county in the fall of 1831. Samuel Smyser was a native of Kentucky, and was one of the first to aid in developing the county. He had a family of six children, viz.: Alfred N., William, Martha, Elizabeth, John J. and H ugh F. He died in 1866, and left a good property to his children, which had been acquired by his energy and frugality. Several members of his family have figured so prominently in the history of the county, that this volume would be incomplete without a brief mention. Alfred N. Smyser, the eldest son of the family, married Miss Isyphena, daughter of John W. Edwards. From this marriage there were five children; Henry, (now of the Champaign Times), Ollie, Samuel E., Katie, now deceased, and Josephine. Ca pt Smyser, from early manhood until his death, occupied a very prominent position in the county; he served as county clerk for eight years, and was a captain in the Union Army, where he served with distinction. He died in 1879, lamented by many warm frien ds. William Smyser resides on the old homestead in Whitley township. He has a family of five children, viz.: Lucettia, Samuel M., David, Isyphena and Rebecca.

Martha, the widow of John Brown, resides in Whitley. Elizabeth is the wife of D. R. Munson. John J. died while a young man. Hugh F. lives at Windsor, has a small family, and is a prosperous business man.

David Strain was born January 25th 1788, in North Carolina, where he married Margaret, the daughter of John Mitchell, April 26th, 1810. They had a family of eleven children, only two of whom are living, John A., in Marrowbone, and Lydia, the wife of Robe rt Livesay, residing in Kansas. Mr. Strain came with his family, and settled in Marrowbone, October 12th, 1831, where he continued to live until his death, September 9th, 1854, aged 66 years, 7 months, and 15 days. His first wife died August 4th, 1842, a nd he was married the second time, in 1843, to Susannah Ball.

Andrew Gammill, a Tennessean, settled in Whitley in 1831. S.T. Gammill, a merchant, at Summit, and the wives of S. G. Frost and Thomas Kinkade are all of his family that are living. Europe, Wm. and John, brother of Joseph Hendricks, and natives of Kentu cky, came together in the same year, 1831, and settled in Whitley. Europe is the only survivor, and is in his seventy-third year. His wife died about a year ago, and all but one of his children are dead -- Mary Ann, the wife of D. P. Warren.

The Snyders were among the first settlers of Lovington township. Henry Snyder was born in Virginia, where he grew to manhood and married Mary Eddens; and eleven children were born to them, six of them now living.. His first wife died, and he married a s econd time -- Mrs. Edna Carr, by whom two children were born to him. Mr. Snyder lived in Kentucky for twenty years prior to his coming to this State, and emigrated from there, arriving here in October, 1831. He bad made a trip here the year before, and entered nine hundred and sixty acres around where he settled. In 1836 he moved to Decatur, where, in 1863, he died, at the age of eighty years. Joseph H., who is the only son living in this county, was twice married, and has five children living.

Another old veteran of the war of 1812 -- Nathan Stephens -- and

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a Kentuckian by birth, settled in, Sec. 3, T. 14, R. 5, in the same year. He built a distillery here in an early day, and made corn whiskey for a number of years. He married in Kentucky Rebecca Netherton, and two sons were the fruits of this union -- Wi lliam and James H. The latter was sheriff of the county for one term. In 1844 Mr Stephens was struck by lightning in the doorway of Dr. William Kellar's residence. Daniel Pea also arrived here during the same year.

The Year 1832 witnesses the arrival of several prominent families. Abraham and Jeremiah Souther, brothers, and natives of Virginia, came in early autumn. Abraham was married in Kentucky, to Catharine Hardin, by whom he had eight children. He died April 27th, 1858. Jeremiah since moved to Shelby county, where he still lives.

Elder, Joseph, and Solomon Hostetler located in Lovington township in the spring of 1832. They were natives of Kentucky. Joseph was born Feb. 27th, 1797, and was twice married. Frank L. and Dr. C. M. L. Hostetler, residing in Lovington, are the only sur vivors in this county, Elder Hostetler was a Christian minister of some notoriety in this vicinity, and also practiced medicine here. He died Aug. 27th, 1870. Solomon Hostetler has no descendants living here.

One of the most prominent men among the old settlers was Abraham H. Kellar. He was a native of Virginia, and born in the year 1788. He was married at the age of twenty-one to Nancy J. Hitt. There were eight children born to them, to wit, Joel H., Wm., Jas. H., Elizabeth H., John H., Paulina, Henry Y., and Abram L. In 1832 he moved to this county; although the fall prior to this date he had come and raised a crop, but afterwards returned and brought the family. They settled on section 34, in which is now Lovington township.

This pioneer was one of the first to aid and counsel in bringing about the new county, Moultrie. He served in many responsible and onerous positions in the county until his death, which occurred July 23d, 1855, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. Seve ral of the family are still living, prominent among them are H. Y. and A. L., both excellent and prominent citizens of the county.

George Mitchell, a native of North Carolina, settled in Marrowbone December 4th, 1832. He had a large family of children, seven now living. Mr. Mitchell was one of the first county commissioners; was a good and true man, much loved by all who knew him. He died in 1854, aged seventy-four years, eleven months, and twenty days. Those of his children living are David, Samuel, John B., William B., who are all elderly men with families. Martha Jane, the widow Bone; Rachel A., the widow West; and Susan E., th e wife of David Crowder.

Major James Poor, a patriot of the war of 1812, also settled near George Purvis, in 1832. During the following year, 1833, there was a great deal of sickness, and almost every family was attacked, and many deaths occurred.

In the spring of 1832 Grandfather James Patterson and his sons -- David and Joshua, with their families, and Jonathan, a single man -- settled in Sullivan township. Hugh and Levi, also sons of James Patterson, came about 1837.

Grandfather Patterson was a native of Scotland, and came to this country with General La Fayette, in April 1777, and served as a soldier in the revolutionary war, and also in the war of 1812. He was twice married, the last time without issue. He had nin e sons and two daughters. David and Jonathan were twins. David Patterson married in Kentucky Polly Harbaugh, in 1826, and had a family of eight children, viz.: Jonathan, Amanda J., Nancy, Levi, Absalom, Wm. D., America, and one child that died without a name. Those living are Jonathan (Dock), Absalom, Amanda J., and America, all married, and have families. David held several county offices, and died October 9th, 1867; and his widow August 11th, 1869.

Levi died in this county over thirty years ago. William, Jonathan (Douty), Polethann, Jane, and Francis M., are all of his family that came to this county, and are all living but Francis M. The descendants of David and Levi are all of the Patterson famil y living in this county.

Prominent among the arrivals of 1833, was Colonel Allen Clore and his family. He was born in Kentucky in 1810 and settled in the northern part of the county. James Carter, a Virginian, Samuel Finley, and David Howell came in 1833. Howell was a Kentuckia n, and had a large family. Charles, residing in this county, and Elizabeth, in Champaign county, are the only ones living. The Wood family, Samsons, John Poor, Tobias Rhodes, Alexander Porter, William and Henry Bailey, F. W. Maddux, Rolands, Newlands, W eltons, Knights, Huffmans, Hiram Luster, Joseph Hartman, Edward Keedy, the Deeds, Jacob Rea, Selby's, and Zenith Prather were early settlers.

James Elder came from Tennessee, and located in the eastern part of the county in 1834. He had a family of six children, three of whom are living in Sullivan, viz., William, a prominent banker, Mary Ann, the wife of W. P. Corbin, and Cordelia, the wife o f Dr. T. Y. Lewis.

Mr. Elder was one of the influential men of the county, and held several important offices. He died in January 1870, and his widow still survives.

In the year following there were numerous arrivals, and among them Reuben B. Ewing figured conspicuously in the county's history. He was born in Tennessee in 1801. Of his family of ten children seven are still living. Ewing was an early justice of the peace, and one of the first county commissioners, and an associate judge for several years, and represented this district in the State legislature. He moved to Logan county in 1853, and was subsequently made judge of that county, which office he filled f or fourteen years. About 1876 he returned to Sullivan, where he died in 1877. Ebenezer Noyes, a native of Massachusetts, who became a large land-owner in this county, settled the same year.

The Freelands came in 1836. James Freeland was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and was born in Orange County, North Carolina, in November, 1794, where he married Jane Strain, daughter of Alexander Strain. On the sixteenth day of February, 1836, he and his wif e and children -- David J., Sarah Ann, James S., Miriam C., Mary Elizabeth, Joseph C., William T., Nancy E., Salina A., and Samuel D. -- left their native state for Tennessee, where, in Maury county, they stopped for one season, and raised a crop. In the last of September of the same year they again packed up and came north, heading for Marrowbone creek, then in Macon county, Ill., reaching that point, where they settled in the latter part of Oct., 1836.

Mr. Freeland lived here until his death, Feb.19th, 1871. John A. Freeland, his oldest son, was born in Orange county, North Carolina, February 22d, 1818. At the age of twelve he was attacked with inflammation of the joints, and was confined to his bed fo r nine months, from which he arose a cripple for life. He went with his parents to Tennessee, and when they left for Illinois, he was so afflicted with malarial fever that he was unable to accompany them; but on the second of June, 1837, he left Columbia by stage for Nashville, thence to Paducah by steamer, intending to follow the river to St. Louis, but it was so obstructed with floating ice that the steamer could proceed no farther, and he hired two men to paddle

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him across the river in a skiff, which was done with considerable difficulty. Arriving on the Illinois side, he started in the direction of his journey, traveling through Pope county; Mt. Vernon, Salem, and Vandalia, where he stopped, as he says, and "t ook a look at the last session of the legislature held in that place "; on to Shelbyville, thence to Marrowbone, reaching his father's place on the 23rd day of the same month, having traveled all the distance on crutches.

Uncle Johnny, as he is better known, was an early school teacher, and was elected the first clerk and recorder of Moultrie county, which offices he held for fifteen consecutive years. He was one of the two republican representatives that was ever sent fr om this district to the State legislature. His life has been an active one, notwithstanding his physical disabilities. Even in his declining years his mind is active, and his wise and conservative counsel is sought after by all parties and creeds; and w hen his time shall come to shuffle off this mortal coil, he will be lamented by all as one who has done his part in the age in which he lived. Wm. Martin and Esquire Alexander Edwards settled in Whitley in 1836. Esquire Edwards has been a justice of the peace for several years, and he and his family are among the best citizens of the county.

John Lee, a North Carolinian, settled in the western part of the county in 1837. He only remained here one year, and returned to Tennessee. His sons -- Wm. R. and Captain A.B.-- who came with him, remained here. William R. Lee died in Sullivan in 1859. Captain A. B. served one year in the Mexican war, and four years in the late rebellion, and received three captain's commissions; was the first coroner in Moultrie county, and has held other offices of trust. He is now practicing law in Sullivan.

The Crowder family settled in Marrowbone township in 1837, and are among the best citizens in the county.

Other early settlers, who do not appear in this chapter, will be mentioned in the township histories.

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