BIGGSVILLE TOWNSHIP
For ages had the waters of South Henderson rolled on to join the great Mississippi, quiet and undisturbed save by the monotonous plash of the oars of the Indian as he guided his frail canoe over its bright and yielding surface. Early explorers had perhaps passed by the little stream scarcely deigning to give it notice. But the actual settler, desiring to utilize the forces of nature that would give the quickest and surest return, looked to the stream first of all for the means of livelihood. So John Hopper and David Robinson, who came to Henderson county in the spring of 1839, at once conceived the idea of building a mill on South Henderson creek at a point where it passes through the S. W. of Sec. 16, T. 10, R 4.
That summer they built a dam across the stream, erected the mill, and in the winter of 1810 announced themselves as ready to do custom work for the public. This was the first flour mill in this part of the country and filled a longfelt need. Mr. Hopper, who was a native of the State of New York, and an active and energetic man, sold his interest in the mill in 1840, and removed to Olena, where he soon after died. He was a brother of Lambert Hopper, of Hopper's mills, near Warren. Mr. Jerry Meachem, who bought out Hopper, soon sold to Mr. John Birdsall, who, with Mr. Robinson, carried on the business with fair success till the spring of 1843, when they sold to one John Biggs, an Englishman of no little engineering skill. After parting with his mill property here Mr. Robinson removed to Wisconsin, where he turned his attention to sawmilling. He was residing there in 1882. Mr. Birdsall, his partner in the mill here, after selling out removed back to his farm on Ellison, where he afterward died. Mr. Biggs. after purchasing the mill, actively engaged in making new improvements, and being a man Of some considerable means be bought lumber and obtained the services of Abel Jackson and Henry Canton to build a comfortable and substantial frame dwelling house to take the place of the board shanty in which lived the former proprietors. He also the same year raised the dam three feet higher and built a levee along the southwest bank of the stream, evidently expecting to hold at will the turbulent waters of this treacherous little stream.
Through the seasons of 1843–4 they ran well, and its proprietor flourished, and those who had made long trips to mill at Quincy and other distant points with ox teams, occupying days and even weeks of time, were greatly pleased. But imagine the surprise and consternation of not only Mr. Biggs, but all others living within a radius of many miles, when, during the unprecedented high water of June, 1844, the little South Henderson got up in all its fury and, being apparently confined by dam and levee, succeeded in undermining the mill itself by washing away the foundation. All this was secretly going on and invisible to the eye till the mischief was complete. The mill toppled and fell, with all its store and contents, which were carried away by the torrent in its mad rush to join the already overflowed and raging Mississippi.
Taking into consideration the new and sparsely settled condition of the country and the great need of bread by the pioneers, this loss was most disastrous, not only to the owner of the once prosperous but now defunct institution, but to all who had depended on it for the staff of life ; for at the time of its destruction the mill had stored within it about fifty barrels of flour and over four hundred bushels of wheat, which, with all its machinery and fixtures, were nearly a total loss.
This catastrophe demonstrated the fact that building a mill on the sand or in the face of the waters on the prairie streams was decidedly uncertain, and gave birth to the idea of selecting a location for a mill more protected from sudden rises of water. Hence Mr. Biggs built a strong and substantial one on what has since been laid out and platted as lot 11, block 1, in Rigby's addition to Biggsville. This mill in 1882, stands a monument to his memory, and judging from its strong, sub stantial appearance, and the completeness of its machinery, it will remain to do service for many years to come.
To obtain water-power for this mill it was necessary to drift or tunnel through the bank and under Main street and build a dam across the creek, above the old one, which had entirely disappeared. To do this men were employed on the dam, and the work on the race was let by contract to and was done by Elton Catlin, and proved a success. Some years later steam-power was added, obviating the necessity of delay during a long term of dry weather and consequent low water. After the completion of his new mill Mr. Biggs did a good business up till the time of his death, when the mill passed into the hands of Mr. Robert Moir. Mr. Biggs was one of those men whose deeds live after them, as it is universally said of him that he was strictly honest and exact to a cent. He was a native of England, and had come to America when quite young; had been extensively engaged in business in a manufacturing line in the east and also in Mexico. He had come here with some means and spent it lavishly for the success of his pet enterprise. For a fuller sketch of him reference may be had to the history of Oquawka.
As before stated, after Mr. Biggs' death the mill became the property of Robert Moir, and subsequently passed into the possession of Smith, George Rigby, Samuel McDonald, Eli Beaver and Fort & Kemp. respectively. Mr. Kemp died in July, 1882, since which time Mr. Fort is the principal owner, while the mill is in care of Mr. Zach Staley. A little incident might here be related : At the time of the freshet of June, 1844, the family of Paul D. Birdsall who was then at work for Mr Biggs getting out timber over on Ellison creek, was living in a small house near the mill and on the bank of the creek. Before his wife was aware of the fact the water had surrounded the house. After remaining there till the water was two feet deep (and still rising) she secured a passing boat and with her family escaped to the main land, leaving most of her house hold goods behind. The same day Mr. Birdsall returned home and was appalled to see the state of affairs and the narrow escape of his family. Mr Birdsall is still living, and resides in Warren county. He related with considerable enthusiasm all the facts in relation to the rise and fall of the first mill at Biggsville and the incidents connected therewith.
DESCRIPTION EARLY SETTLERS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
History of Mercer and Henderson Counties.
© Wini Caudell and Contributors
All Rights Reserved
Illinois Ancestors