THE SCHOOLS OF GREENFIELD AND GREENBUSH IN THE EARLY DAYS.

0, were you ne‘er a school-boy,

And did you never train,

And feel that swelling of the heart

You ne ‘er will feel again?”

In the early days in the township there were three schoolhouses. These houses were made of logs and did not differ much from a common log-cabin. They had a big fireplace in one end, one door and one or two small windows. The children sat on benches made by splitting logs and facing up the pieces with an ax. Holes were then bored in them in which the legs were fastened. For writing-desks, holes were bored in the wall in which were driven wooden pins or pegs on which a board was laid.

Foolscap paper was used for copy-books. The teachers would write the copy for the pupils. Some of these copies would read like this:

“Many men of many minds;” “Command you may your mind from play;”

“The pen is mightier than the sword.”

Goose quills were used to make the pens, and the teacher was expected to make them and keep them in repair. The ink was often made from indigo, oak bark or poke-berries. Webster‘s Spelling-Book was the main book in the school and was often used as a reader. Afterwards came McGuffey’s Readers; Ray’s Arithmetics; Smith’s, Kirkham‘s, Murray’s, and Clark’s Grammars; Parley’s, Olney‘s and Mitchell’s Geographies.

The school trustees in the township in 1840 were Thomas Moulton, Lauren Rose, John Sargent, John Plymate, and Abel Chase.

At that time John C. Bond was treasurer. Gustavus Hills, James F. Chambers, and E. B. Stephens were the school-teachers.

At that time there were only three school districts in the township. The north half of the west half of the township was called Greenfield district. The south half of the west half of the township was called Van Buren district. The balance of the township was in one district and was called Stringtown district.

At a meeting held July 13, 1840, it was ordered that the school-house in Van Buren district be no longer used during school-hours for public worship; also that Lauren Rose and Dr. Abel Chase should have the power to employ a teacher for the school in Greenfleld on such terms as they might think proper.

The school-teachers in 1841 were Isaac Bell, Gustavus Hills, Charles Tinker, Charles A. Williams, and Sarah Woods. The directors elected in Van Buren district were Wm. B. Bond and Harvey J. Hewett. In Greenfield district, Henson C. Martin and J. E. Heath were elected directors. Thomas Teeters, John Plymate, and Charles Plymate were elected directors in Stringtown district. Greenfield had one hundred and three persons under the age of twenty, Stringtown eighty-nine, and Van Buren ninety-five.

At a meeting held January 10, 1842, it was ordered to pay the treasurer four dollars and fifty cents for his services for the last two years. At that time all school money was loaned at twelve per cent. John Sargent was appointed school treasurer. In 1846 an election was held to determine whether the rate of interest on school money should be eight or twelve per cent. Every vote cast except two was for twelve per cent.

In 1848 the township was divided into districts by numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and fractional 4 and 5. John Wingate was then chosen treasurer.

This entry is made in the treasurer’s book:

Coon Section, January 27, 1849. A very bad spell of weather, good deal of rain. Very icy and slippery, creek higher than it has been for two years. No business done by the trustees. John Wingate, Treasurer.

THE GREENBUSH ACADEMY

In the year 1851 the citizens of Greenbush and vicinity began to talk about erecting a building for a high school or academy, but there was nothing definite done until early in January, 1852, when notices were posted calling for a meeting.

The minutes of that meeting are here given:

Pursuant to notice, the citizens of Greenbush and vicinity met at the schoolhouse in Greenbush, Tuesday evening, January 27, 1852, to take measures for building a house for a high school or academy in Greenbush. On motion of J. C. Bond, Alfred Osborn was appointed chairman and F. H. Merrill secretary. When, by the request of the chairman, J. C. Bond stated the object of the meeting, enforcing its laudableness in a brief and interesting address. When Dr. N. B. McKay offered the following, viz:

Proposition for a building in Greenbush for a high school, to be from 26 to 30 feet by 40 to 48 feet or more, two story, one room, to be used by different denominations for religious meetings, when the school in not in session, subject to the same rules as observed in cases of district houses. The whole to be under the control of trustees elected by the stockholders, each share having a vote in the election. Shares to be ten dollars each. In consideration of the above we, the undersigned, agree to pay to the said trustees the sums set opposite our respective names in installments, as follows: One quarter of each share by the first day of April next, and as much at the expiration of every three months from that time, till all is paid to be offered for subscription.

Wm. B. Bond moved that the following words be erased from the above proposition, viz: ‘‘subject to the same rules as observed in cases of district schoolhouses,’’ which, after an interesting discussion, was carried, when the above proposition was adopted and submitted for subscribers.

Elijah Lieurance advocated the building of a house worth $1,500. Stephen Lieurance motioned that we organize when $1,000 of stock should be subscribed, but not to commence building until $1,500 shall have been subscribed. J. C. Bond offered as an amendment that we commence building when $1,000 of stock is subscribed, which was carried and the original motion lost. On motion of Stephen Lieurance, the chairman appointed the following persons to solicit stock, viz: John C. Bond, John M. Hoisington, N. B. McKay, A. W. Simmons, and Stephen Lieurance.

On motion of J. M. Hoisington, the chairman appointed the following persons to draft a constitution and by-laws to present for adoption at the next meeting of the stockholders: J. C. Bond, John Butler, and N. B. McKay. Adjourned to meet next Tuesday evening at the schoolhouse at early candle light.

At a meeting of the stockholders held February 3, 1852 a subscription of $1,042.50 was reported, and the constitution and by-laws were adopted and the following-named persons were elected by ballot for trustees: John M. Hoisington, Eliphalet C. Lewis, and Alfred Osborn for the term of three years; Dr. N. B. McKay, Julius Lathrop, and Andrew W. Simmons for the term of two years; Hanson H. Hewett, John C. Bond, and Stephen Lieurance for the term of one year; Squire J. Buzan, treasurer; Frederic H. Merrill, secretary.

The academy building was erected in 1853. The contract was let to Levi Lincoln. He was assisted in the work by his brothers Clinton and Oscar. The building committee were N. B. McKay, J. T. Lathrop, and Alfred Osborn; John M. Hoisington was afterwards added to this committee.

Very heavy timbers were used in the construction of the building, and on the day of raising many persons gathered to assist in raising the timbers. Levi Lincoln first began to give orders but his voice was not strong enough; so David Armstrong took his place and gave orders both loud and strong. After the building was finished, it was decided to dedicate it with a grand supper. So everybody was invited and nearly everbody came, and they came prepared, many of them bringing baked chickens. After the tables were all set, David Young was appointed carver. Clinton Lincoln, who was present on the occasion, says David dispatched his work swiftly and dextrously.

During the year of 1853, the legislature granted a charter to the school under the name of The Greenbush Academy.

The first teacher employed as principal in the Academy was W. W. Happy of Jacksonville, Illinois. He was assisted by Miss Margaret Gaines. They received the tuition fees for their services.

In January, 1854, Mr. Happy reported to the trustees that there were only about twenty students and that he wished to resign at the expiration of the term, but the school gained in attendance and was for a long time in a prosperous condition. At one time, when Daniel Negley was principal, there were nearly one hundred students attending.

In 1854. the Academy bad a belfry but no bell. The women of Greenbush and vicinity took an active part in procuring one. Miss Jane Mather, Mrs. Alfreda Crissey, Mrs. Mary Buzan and. others were engaged in soliciting subscription. They found it a difficult business as the people had been often called on for subscriptions in the building of the Academy. But the women were persistent and the bell was procured. Year after year it was heard by the people, sometimes at a distance of three or four miles, as it rang for school, literary society, Sunday school, and entertainments of different kinds. Different religious denominations used this bell to call the people together, where the minister exhorted them to a better life. Often as the years went by, it toiled the years of departed ones in tones that were received in sadness and sorrow. In 1855, Alexander Campbell, the founder of the Christian church, preached in the Academy. It was here that Luccoc and Westfall held their debate on endless punishment.

The school has been abandoned for many years, and the building is going to decay.

CHOLERA IN GREENBUSH

It was in June, 1851, that the cholera made its appearance in Greenbush and vicinity. There were about twelve deaths from this disease at that time. Lawson Walker was the first one. He died June 15, 1851. Abner Walker and his daughter Abigail died on the same day, June 24, 1851, making three deaths in the same family. Abner Walker lived on the north side of the square in the village and was engaged in keeping hotel. The following-named persons also died: Juliett, wife of Dr. Thomas M. Luster, June 26, 1851; Joseph Sisson, June 23, 1851; Abijah Roberts, June 23, 1851; Sullivan, son of Alfred Osborn; Lafayette Ratekin, George Tally, Jacob Perkins, and A. J. Willey.

Several families left the village and did not return until after the disease disappeared. Porter J. Jack and John C. McCall took an active part in doing everything they could for the sick and dying. Philip Karns was also very helpful in removing the dead to the cemeteries and burying them.

ELDER R. M. SIMMONS TELLS OF HIS TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS.

On the 20th day of March, 1843, I started with F. G. Snapp from Greenbush, Illinois. He had fat cattle that he wanted to market at New Orleans. On that day we drove the cattle six miles to Moses T. Hand’s. Here we put up for the night and here a hard blizzard and snow storm struck us, but we braved through and made our drive all the same.

We arrived at St. Louis, March 30, and left there on Friday, April 7; arrived at New Orleans, April 13, with 51 head of cattle. We sold the cattle for $1,605.00

We left Orleans for home, April 18, 1843. Snapp engaged passage on a new steamer, “The Harry of the West.” She was a fine boat and was to make her first trip from New Orleans to St. Louis. The captain swore he would make the quickest trip ever made on that river or blow the boat up. “The Alex Scott” had made the trip in four days and six hours.

We went aboard “The Harry of the West,” and when I saw the cords of pitch-pine and piles of bacon for fuel, I refused to take passage. I told Snapp the captain would be as good as his word, and if the machinery was able to stand the pressure he might get to St. Louis; but if not, we should be in great danger of a wreck. This boat started on a full head of steam, full of passengers and a good cargo. Just above Vicksburg and near Memphis, she blew out her boilers and killed two passengers and had to be towed to St. Louis. We took passage on the “Charlotte,” a fine steamer, and was ten days on the trip to St. Louis with a drunken pilot. The first evening he ran the boat on a raft of logs in a fog. The pilot gave the bell to go ahead instead of back, and he ran her on the raft good. The next morning we loosed from the raft. One night afterwards he ran into a cornfield - said they wanted wood. After we passed Cairo we scraped the rocks on what is known as the “Devil’s Chain,” where many steamboats have been wrecked. Our boat rocked heavily, but we came out safely. The morning we reached St. Louis, the pilot ran our boat under some projecting tree branches and broke down both smokestacks. The captain paid him off and hired another.

Snapp and I parted at St. Louis. The boat ran up to Peoria and La Salle. Snapp stopped at Copperas creek landing. He said the boat was a fine runner. I went out to Troy, Madison county, Illinois, and got a horse for father on the farm he sold; from there to Green county, where we had left Snapp's horse as we went down.

When I came to Beardstown the river was from Beardstown to Frederick. They crossed me over and let me out in water up to the horses’ knees, and some times up to their breast; then took me on a “flat” to the next wading, and so on until I reached the bluff.

I arrived at Mr. Standard’s on the night of May 13. That night there came up a heavy storm of wind, thunder, lightning and rain. This was at Pennington’s Point, thirty miles from Greenbush. The storm having passed over, I told Standard I would make F. G. Snapp ‘s by 12 o’clock noon. When I arrived they had just sat down at the table for dinner.

THE ARCHIE FISHER AFFAIR

SHOWING THE DANGER OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

Archie Fisher, a native of Scotland, came to Warren county, Illinois, about the year 1836. He was a brother of Mrs. Lachlan McGowan, and an uncle of James McGowan, and Mrs. Oliver Crissey and Mrs. D. C. Woods, who now reside at Avon, Illinois.

Mr. Fisher was a carpenter by trade and built the first barn in Greenbush township. This barn was built for Wm. Trailor on the farm, a little west of the village of Greenbush, known as the Amos Seigler place. Mr. Fisher also built a barn for Col. John Butler on his farm near Greenbush.

In May, 1841, Archie Fisher, in company with Wm. Trailor, started in a buggy to Springfield, Illinois. Wm. Trailor then resided on his farm west of the village of Greenfield, now Greenbush. On the way to Springfield they were joined by Henry Trailor, a brother of William. They then went to Archibald Trailor‘s, who resided in Springfield and was also a brother of William.

Shortly after their arrival, Fisher was missing and was reported murdered. The Trailors were arrested, and at their preliminary trial Lamborn appeared for the prosecution and Logan Baker and Lincoln defended.

Ward H. Lamon, in his “Life of Abraham Lincoln,” says: “In the summer of 1841, Mr. Lincoln was engaged in a curious case. The circumstances impressed him very deeply with the insufficiency and danger of circumstantial evidence. So much so that he not only wrote the following account of it to Speed, but another more extended one which was printed in a newspaper published at Quincy, Illinois. His mind was full of it; he could think of nothing else. It is apparent that in his letter to Speed he made no pause to choose his words; there is nothing constrained and nothing studied or deliberate about it, but its simplicity, perspicuity, and artless grace make it a model of English composition.

What Goldsmith once said of Locke may better be said of this letter: ‘He never says more nor less than he ought and never makes use of a word that he could have changed for a better.’

Springfield, June 19, 1841.

‘Dear Speed:

We have had the highest state of excitement here for a week past that our community has ever witnessed; and although the public feeling is somewhat allayed, the curious affair which aroused it is very far from being over, yet cleared of mystery. It would take a quire of paper to give you anything like a full account of it, and I therefore only propose a brief outline. The chief personages in the drama are Archibald Fisher, supposed to be murdered; and Archibald Trailor, Henry Trailor, and William Trailor, supposed to have murdered him. The three Trailors are brothers: the first, Arch, as you know, lives in town; the second, Henry, in Clary‘s Grove; and the third, William, in Warren county; and Fisher, the supposed murdered, being without a family, had made his home with William.

On Saturday evening, being the 29th of May, Fisher and William came to Henry’s in a one-horse dearborn and there staid over Sunday, and on Monday all three came to Springfield (Henry on horseback) and joined Archibald at Myres,’ the Dutch carpenter. That evening at supper Fisher was missing, and so next morning some ineffectual search was made for him; and on Tuesday at 1 o’clock p.m., William and Henry started home without him. In a day or two Henry and one or two of his Clary Grove neighbors came back for him again, and advertised his disappearance in the papers.

The knowledge of the matter thus far had not been general, and here it dropped entirely till about the 10th inst., when Keys received a letter from the postmaster in Warren county that William had arrived at home and was telling a very mysterious and improbable story about the disappearance of Fisher, which induced the community there to suppose he had been disposed of unfairly. Keys made this letter public, which immediately set the whole town and adjoining country agog. And so it has continued until yesterday. The mass of the people commenced a systematic search for the dead body, while Wickersham was dispatched to arrest Henry Trailor at the Grove and Jim Maxcy to Warren county, to arrest William.

On Monday last, Henry was brought in and showed an evident inclination to insinuate that he knew Fisher to be dead and that Arch and William had killed him. He said he guessed the body could be found in Spring creek between the Beardstown road and Hickox ‘s mill. Away the people swept like a herd of buffalo and cut down Hickox's ‘s mill-dam nolens volens to draw the water out of the pond, and then went up and down and down and up the creek fishing and raking and raking and ducking and diving for two days, and after all no dead body found. In the meantime a sort of scuffling ground bad been found in the brush, in the angle or point where the road leading into the woods past the brewery and the one leading in past the brick grove meets. From the scuffle ground was the sign of something about the size of a man having been dragged to the edge of the thicket where it joined the track of some small wheel carriage drawn by one horse, as shown by the road tracks. The carriage track led off toward Spring creek. Near this drag trail, Dr. Merryman found two hairs which, after a long scientific examination, he pronounced to be triangular human hair, which term he says includes within it the whiskers, the hair growing under the arms and on other parts of the body; and he judged that these two were of the whiskers, because the ends were cut, showing that they had flourished in the neighborhood of the razor’s operations.

On Thursday last, Jim Maxcy brought in William Trailor from Warren. On the same day Arch was arrested and put in jail. Yesterday (Friday) William was put upon his examining trial before May and Lavely. Archibald and Henry were both present. Lamborn prosecuted, and Logan and Baker and your humble servant defended.

A great many witnesses were introduced and examined, but I shall only mention those whose testimony seems most important. The first of these was Capt.. Ransdell.He swore that when William and Henry left Springfield for home, on Tuesday before mentioned, they did not take the direct route which you know leads by the butcher shop, but that they followed the street north until they got opposite or nearly opposite May’s new house, after which he could not see them from where he stood; and it was afterwards proved that in about an hour after they started, they came into the street by the butcher shop from towards the brickyard. Dr. Merryman and others swore to what is stated about the scuffle ground, drag trail, whiskers, and carriage tracks.

Henry was then introduced by the prosecution. He swore that when they started for home, they went out north, as Ransdell stated, and turned down west by the brickyard into the woods and then met Archibald; that they proceeded a small distance farther, when he was placed as a sentinel to watch for and announce the approach of any one that might happen that way; that William and Arch took the dearborn out of the road a small distance to the edge of the thicket, where they stopped and he saw them lift the body of a man into it; that they then moved off with the carriage in the direction of Hickox’s mill, and he loitered about for something like an hour, when William returned with the carriage but without Arch, and said they had put him in a safe place; that they went, somehow, he did not know exactly how, into the road close to the brewery and proceeded on to Clary’s Grove.

He also stated that some time during the day William told him that he and Arch had killed Fisher the evening before; that the way they did it was by him (William) knocking him down with a club and Arch then choking him to death.

An old man from Warren called Dr. Gillmore was then introduced on the part of the defence. He swore that he had known Fisher for several years; that Fisher had resided at his house a long time at each of two different spells once while he built a barn for him, and once while he was doctored for some chronic disease; that two or three years ago Fisher had a serious hurt in his head by the bursting of a gun, since which he had been subject to continued bad health and occasional aberration of mind. He also stated that on last Tuesday, being the same day that Maxey arrested William Trailor, he (the doctor) was from home in the early part of the day and on his return, about 11 o’clock, found Fisher at his house in bed and apparently very unwell; that he asked him how he had come from Springfield; that Fisher said he had come by Peoria and also told of several other places he had been at, more in the direction of Peoria, which showed that he at the time of speaking did not know where he had been wandering about in a state of derangement.

He further stated that in about two hours he received a note from one of Trailor‘s friends advising him of his arrest and requesting him to go on to Springfield as a witness to testify as to the state of Fisher’s health in former times; that he immediately set off, calling up two of his neighbors as company, and riding all evening and all night overtook Maxey and William at Lewiston, in Fulton county; that Maxcy refusing to discharge Trailor upon his statement, his two neighbors returned and he came on to Springfield.

Some question being made as to whether the doctor’s story was not a fabrication, several acquaintances of his (among whom was the same postmaster who wrote to Keys as before mentioned) were introduced as sort of compurgators, who swore that they knew the doctor to be of good character for truth and veracity and generally of good character in every way. Here the testimony ended and the Trailors were discharged, Arch and William expressing, both in word and manner their entire confidence that Fisher would be found alive at the doctor’s by Calloway, Mallory, and Myres, who a day before had been dispatched for that purpose; while Henry still protested that no power on earth could ever show Fisher alive.

Thus stands this curious affair. When the doctor's story was first made public, it was amusing to scan and contemplate the countenances and hear the remarks of those who had been actively engaged in the search for the dead body. Some looked quizzical, some melancholy, and some furiously angry. Porter, who had been very active, swore he always knew the man was not dead and that he had not stirred an inch to hunt for him. Langford, who had taken the lead in cutting down Hickox’s mill-dam and wanted to hang Hickox for objecting, looked most awfully woebegone; he seemed the ‘‘wictem of hunrequited affection,’’ as represented in the comic almanacs we used to laugh over. And Hart, the little drayman that hauled Molly home once, said it was too damned bad to have so much trouble and no hanging after all.

I commenced this letter on yesterday, since which I received yours of the 13th. I stick to my promise to come to Louisville. Nothing new here except what I have written. I have not seen - - - - since my last trip and I am going out there as soon as I mail this letter. Yours forever,-

Joshua Fry Speed, to whom the foregoing letter was addressed, was an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln. He died at Louisville, Ky., May 29, 1882.

The postmaster mentioned in the letter was Charles Stice who kept the office in Greenfield (now Greenbush) at that time.

Archie Fisher had a large wooden chest which he kept at Wm. Trailor’s during the time he resided there. It was supposed by some that it contained considerable money; it was also alleged that it had a secret drawer in which the money was deposited. After leaving Dr. Gilmore ‘s, Mr. Fisher went to Col. John Butler’s, where he resided until his death which occurred August 9, 1845.

His property went to his sister, Mrs. Lachlan McGowan. The chest, about which so much has been said, became the property of Col. John Butler. After his death, it was given to his son Vincent W. Butler; after the death of Vincent, his son Manley took the chest. Abyram Roberts says that he had heard so much about the Archie Fisher chest that he became anxious to see it. So he called at the residence of Manley Butler, where it was shown to him. After examining it closely, he found where a hole had been bored in a portion of the inside of the chest and the hole had been plugged with a wooden pin. His curiosity was so aroused that he was determined to extract the wood pin and see what was in there. He finally procured a brace and bit and bored the pin out, and found a small roll of paper which, upon examination, proved to be a receipt given to Archie Fisher for money paid to some person in New York.

PATRICK LYNCH CRATED

Patrick Lynch lived near Greenbush in the latter part of the ‘30s and early ‘40s. He was an Irishman and spent considerable time riding about the country swapping horses. He traded a horse for lots eight and nine on section sixteen, afterwards known as the Henry Beam place.

During the presidential campaign of 1840, when Martin Van Buren was running against Wm. Henry Harrison, Patrick rode into the village of Greenfield on a horse possessed of high mettle, of which Patrick was very proud. Some four or five men stood on the corner near a store, talking. Patrick took occasion to ride by them shouting for Van Buren. This did not please Harvey Darneille, who was one of the men in the group, as he was a staunch Harrison man. He told Lynch to shut up and go away from there. Patrick rode around the second time, shouting for Van Buren. Harvey again told him to go away, saying: ‘‘If you come around here again, I will fix you.’’

In a short time Lynch made another circle, riding up nearer the group and making the same exclamations for Van Buren. As he went to pass them, Harvey stooped down and picked up an old queensware crate that happened to be there. This he swiftly threw over the head of Patrick. The crate being lengthy, when one end was over Patrick’s head, the other end dropped over his horse’s hips after the style of a breeching.

The horse immediately became wild and frantic. Patrick in trying to hold him had no time to lift, the crate off his head. Every man in town did his best to separate the crate from Patrick and his horse, but it was not an easy thing to do. But the horse was finally caught and the crate removed. No bad results followed, although Patrick was somewhat tired and said nothing more about Van Buren.

WM. PATTERSON KILLED.

On the tenth day of January, 1862, William Patterson and Elza Magers went to the steam saw-mill of William G. Bond, which was then located near the residence of Major John C. Bond. Patterson and Magers had a log there for sled crooks. When they arrived at the mill, they concluded the log was too long. So Magers went up to the residence of John C. Bond to get a cross-cut saw to use in sawing off one end. It was noontime and all the hands had gone to dinner, except Leander Bond, who was then engineer; he was at the engine which was attached to the boiler, and William Patterson was standing in front of the furnace warming himself.

A loud report was heard by those who were near the mill; and upon going there, it was found that the boiler had burst and William Patterson was found dead. The explosion had thrown him about 60 feet from the boiler. He was badly burned and mangled.

Patterson was a son of John Patterson who was deaf and dumb, and was a brother of Thomas and John Patterson. He left a wife and three children. His wife’s maiden name was Sarah Magers. She was a sister of Elza Magers. Wm. Patterson was buried in the McMahill graveyard in Greenbush township.

THE MURDER OF HARVEY J. HEWETT.

The murder of Harvey J. Hewett, in 1850, caused great excitement all over the country. Everybody talked about it and everybody was anxious that the murderers should be brought to justice. Mr. Hewett was an honest, upright citizen, well known in Warren county and highly esteemed by all who knew him.

In 1850, one Mr. Hurd of Fondulac, Wis., bought some cattle of Harvey J. Hewett; he also bought some cattle of Franklin G. Snapp and some of John A. Butler. Mr. Hurd told these men they would have to go to Peoria for their money, as he had a deposit in a bank there. It was finally agreed that Hewett should go to Peoria and get the money. Snapp told Hewett he ought to be armed. Hewett took a toothpick from his pocket and jokingly replied, “This is all the arms I need.’’

Mr. Hewett arrived in Peoria late in the evening, driving a small bay mare to a buggy. He put up at a hotel. During the evening he inquired of the landlord about what time the bank would open in the morning. It is supposed that some of the robbers heard this talk and commenced to set up their job for procuring the money. The next morning Hewett went to the bank to draw his money. Three men were around the bank waiting and watching for him: Thomas Gitte, whose real name is not known, and who was the leader in the matter; Thomas Brown, and George Williams. They watched Hewett draw the money and then followed him. Hewett. left the bank, got in his buggy, and drove to the foot of Kickapoo bill. Here he got out of his buggy and started to walk up the hill, driving his mare. Brown and Williams were close to him and Gitte was a short distance behind. When Hewett had got about half-way up the hill, Brown and Williams attacked him. In the scuffle Hewett came very near being too much for them until one of them hit him on the head with a stone, fracturing the skull. They then took the money and fled.

It has been said that Brown and Williams helped Hewett into his buggy. At any rate Hewett was again in his buggy and the bay mare, being very gentle, proceeded on the journey. After going some six or seven miles on the road, the mare went up to a house and stopped. Here it was found that Hewett was badly injured. He was taken in and cared for. He lived about a week and died October 18, 1850, at the age of 54 years.

As soon as it was found out that Mr. Hewett was robbed, the alarm was given. The people turned out and finally tracked Brown and Williams to Springfield, Illinois, where they were found in bed at a hotel. They were brought back to Peoria, tried, convicted and sentenced to be hung. The day for their execution was set in December, 1850, but Governor Ford issued a stay for fifteen days in order to get Tom Gitte from New Orleans to Peoria so that Brown and Williams might identify him as being connected with the murder of Hewett. On the day set in December for the hanging, many people had assembled in Peoria to witness the sight; and when they found the hanging had been put off, there was much dissatisfaction. Finally a mob was raised who proceeded to set up the gallows which was then framed and near the jail. This they had ready about 3 o’clock in the ‘afternoon.

The mob then got long heavy timbers and battered in the front door of the jail; they then went into the jail hall. Brown and Williams were in opposite cells, one on the north, the other on the south. They worked hard until 4 o’clock. At that time they had only succeeded in getting Williams, but somehow failed to get Brown out of his cell. They finally put Williams back in his cell, gave up the job and disbanded. Again the people assembled in large numbers in January, 1851, to witness the hanging of Brown and Williams. The stage had arrived that morning, bringing Tom Gitte, who was identified by Brown and Williams as their leader. The hanging occurred in the south part of Peoria. then an open prairie. Under the bluff the platform was suspended by a rope. Brown was very anxious that the rope used in hanging him should be so adjusted that the fall would be sure to break his neck. After the arrangements were all made, Brown from some cause turned his head around, the drop fell, and Brown struggled a long time, the rope having turned under his chin. Williams seemed to die easy.

Brown and Williams made a confession which was published in pamphlet form in Peoria and met with a ready sale. Gitte was convicted and sent to the penitentiary, where he died about a year afterwards.

After Mr. Hewett’s death, his body was brought to his home in Greenbush township, where his funeral was preached by Benjamin Applebee, a minister of the Methodist church. One of the hymns sung at the funeral was,

‘‘Plant ye a tree That may bloom over me, When I am gone, I am gone.’’ His remains were laid to rest in the McMahill graveyard.

Mr. Hewett was born in Waldo county, Maine. He moved with his family in 1831 to Licking county, Ohio; came to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois, in August, 1837, and located on section 29, where he resided up to the time of his death.

H. H. HEWETT’S LETTER.

The following letter from Hanson H. Hewett was received in answer for information concerning the early days in Greenbush.

Hopkins, Mo., May 11, 1902.

Wm. L. Snapp-Dear Sir:

Yours of April 28 received. Have been rather busy or should have answered sooner. Your letter dated at Greenbush is the first one I recollect receiving from the old township since leaving in 1880.

Now first in regard to my father’s death. Brother Oscar and myself were in California at the time. We returned the next spring (1851). I enclose you a newspaper slip a Mr. Bates sent to Mrs. Hewett by an old acquaintance of hers, a Mr. Barnes, a lawyer now living at La Harpe, which will give you some information in regard to the affair. He has one or two mistakes - one the Christian name and the amount of money.

My father was born in Waldo county, Maine; also myself and brother Oscar. The date of his birth I do not recollect. We left Maine in 1831; moved to Licking county, Ohio, and left there in the spring of 1837; arrived at our old location in the early days of August; spent the winter in a little fourteen by fifteen foot cabin on the Livingston place; built and moved into the old residence the next summer. I was twelve years of age in September, 1837.

I recollect those early days of nearly sixty-five years ago nearly as though it was yesterday. Of the early settlers of my recollection on our side of the timber when we came there were the Ratekins and Sisson families at the head of the timber some five miles west; Moses T, Hand, Wm. McMahill, John Foster, John Sargent, P. A. Vaughn, Abraham Johnson, Jacob Bear, I think Aaron Jennings, John P. Wood, and the Bond family-father and six sons - John C., Benjamin who died in ‘39 or ‘40, Joel, Barnet, Walter, and Nathan; all men of families except Walter who died about 1847, and Nathan who moved to Oregon, about 1851 or ‘2, and died there. Walter was the first constable that I can recollect. There was your grandfather, Alexander Willard, and son William, married with one or two children; and ‘Squire Thomas Moulton who was the first justice that I can recollect and held the office as long as he would have it. The first family to the east was the Goram family, 10 miles away. On the north side of the timber, the Snapps and James and Roley Simmons families. If there were any others I do not recollect them. The Jones and Pierces may possibly have been. Peter Cox, some six miles east of Greenbush, was the banker of the vicinity. If one wanted five or ten dollars, Peter was the man to apply to. I may have forgotten some that lived in the vicinity of Greenbush, but I think I did not know of any others.

My father and Joseph Sisson were the only Yankees of all the number, as I recollect; the balance were all southerners; the most of them had moved from Sangamon and Morgan counties. Of all the full grown persons that I knew in 1837, only two are now living-John Simmons and my old neighbor, P. A. Vaughn. Each must be over ninety years old.

Greenfield was then located, afterwards changed to Greenbush. The first postmaster that I recollect was Charles Stice. He also kept hotel and saloon, with John Wingate behind the bar. Dr. Isabell was the first physician, or possibly Dr. Sovereign. Drs. Ragon and Saunders were among the early physicians. A doctor of Berwick (have forgotten his name) was the first one that I ever knew to practice in Illinois.

I recollect your father very well; recollect the day of his funeral; also he, Mr. Doty, and myself covering corn together with the hoe. Your mother, as well as the brothers and sisters, were schoolmates of mine. Your uncle William Willard and Barnet Bond were two of the first men that I worked with in Illinois. The work was cutting slough grass with the scythe. We would burn our oat and wheat straw at night as soon as threshed and work hard cutting prairie grass, when the straw was nearly or quite as good feed as the prairie hay; and we kept it up for years.

Of the Snapp family, I will say something a little farther. Your father was a stalwart, stout man, stood some six feet two or three inches in height and rather fine looking. Your Uncle Robert had the most tenacious memory I think I ever knew. He used to say that he could tell the ages of all his brothers and sisters and their children. Perhaps not one man in a thousand could do it. Your uncle Franklin I used to think one of the shrewdest business men we had. I recollect the first drove of cattle I ever saw going to market was one he shipped to New Orleans. He drove them, I think, to St. Louis and shipped them from there, about the year 1843. R. M. Simmons went with him.

While I have my hand in I cannot help referring to Major John C. Bond. There was one of the best men I ever knew - always had a good word and in fine spirits, well read and one of the best if not the finest conversationalist I ever knew. My father used to say that if he bad been educated and turned his attention to law he would have made a brilliant lawyer. His daughter, Ruby, I always considered one of the brightest intellectual women of my acquaintance.

In the early days we had wolves and deer by the hundreds and prairie chickens by the thousands. Round Grove (first one south of us) used to be a good place for our hunters for game for many years.

Well. I will say something of our own family. My mother died some eleven years ago at Des Moines, Iowa. My sister Miriam, Dr. T. J. Shreve’s wife, lives at Des Moines, Iowa. The doctor has a very fair practice. The youngest sister, Mrs. Blood, lives at Sioux City, Iowa. Brother Oscar died some three years ago in Colorado. Leander is farming in northern Nebraska. Of my own family, four boys and one girl, Alvin, the oldest, is living near here farming and in the dairy business; Lawrence and Ney and daughter are unmarried and living at home. Edgar, the youngest, is married and lives in New Mexico, at Las Vegas. He is president of the State Normal university; salary $2,500 per year: has contract for five years - now on his third year. For one of his age he is probably one of time best educators in the West. My health is tolerably good; my weight is one hundred and seventy-five pounds. Will be seventy-seven years old next September. This would sound somewhat as if I was along in ‘‘the sear and yellow leaf.”

I have not answered you fully in regard to my father’s death. The two men, Brown and Williams, accosted him as he was walking up the hill by his horse and demanded his money. On his refusal, they clinched and they claimed that he was too much for them, and one of them seized a stone and struck him on the head, fracturing the skull. They then took his money, some seventeen hundred dollars, and helped him into his buggy; and the bay mare, being gentle, went some seven miles and then stopped at a house. The people took him in and he died there after some seven days. From what I could learn no murder that ever took place in Illinois created the excitement that this one did. The other man that was the instigator of the two doing the deed, was sent to the penitentiary for life, and died in about one year. The money was all recovered except about two hundred dollars. Respectfully yours,

H. H. HEWETT.

THE CALF MARKET IN 1840.

About the year 1840, John A. Butler, being thirteen years old, concluded he would like to work out for wages. So he hired to F. G. Snapp for the sum of twelve and a half cents a day, and worked for him up to harvest. He then went to binding wheat for David Bay at thirty-seven and a half cents a day. He afterwards worked in harvest at the same price for Elder Peter Downey.

At this time John A. was the owner of two calves, having purchased one of them from his uncle Harry Butler, paying him one dollar and twenty-five cents for it; the other he got of J. E. Heath, giving Mr. Heath an old ax and one dollar and twenty-five cents for it.

About this time Charles Vandiver, who was a Baptist preacher living west of Greenfield, took a notion to sell a black yearling steer calf he had. So he told his son Absalom to take the calf to St. Augustine and sell him to Mattingley. Abs. placed a chain around the calf’s horns and started with him. When he arrived at Greenfield, he stopped on the street to rest. John A. Butler saw him, went to him and questioned him about the calf, and finally asked Abs. what he would take for him. Abs. replied, “Father told me to take him to Mattingley and sell him for three dollars.’’ John A. said, ‘‘I will tell you what I will do. I will just give you two dollars and a half for the calf and it is all he is worth.” Abs. was not satisfied to take it, and told John A. he would take the three dollars or take the calf to Mattingley.

About this time Andrew Stice, Henson Martin, and Aaron Holeman came up and said, “Trade, boys, trade.” Stice and Martin then proposed that they split the difference. John A. consented to this, but Abs. held off for some time.

The price was finally agreed on at two dollars and seventy-five cents. Abs. told John A. that the chain did not go with the calf. John A. said he must have the chain. So the matter was left to the by-standers who decided that the chain went with the calf.

THE KILLING OF SHEFFIELD.

In 1836 or ‘7, in the village of Greenfield, Jerry Moles and his brother engaged in a quarrel and fight with Richard Ore and Roley Simmons. This Roley Simmons was a son of William Simmons, who was better known as “Old Billy” Simmons. Richard Ore was a son-in-law of Wm. Simmons. After the fight they separated, but the Moles brothers were not satisfied. About this time John Sheffield had come to town and was in the store, trading. As he went to pass out at the store door, one of the Moles brothers hit him on the head with a

stone. Moles was mistaken in his man; he thought it was Richard Ore.

Mr. Sheffield was taken to his home; he then resided in a cabin a short distance south of ‘‘Nigger’’ creek on lot 10, section 16. John C. Bond and Thomas Moulton with their wives waded through deep snow from Moulton’s house to Sheffield’s cabin. They found that Sheffield was badly injured. They washed the blood from his head and did what they could for him. In the meantime a doctor was called. Sheffield died a few days afterwards. It is alleged that he was buried in what is called the lost graveyard across the creek a short distance west of the Greenbush graveyard.

Jerry Moles was arrested on a warrant issued by Moses T. Hand, justice of the peace. At his preliminary trial, Cyrus Walker appeared for the prosecution. He was bound over and sent to Monmouth jail. The Moles brothers looked very much alike and it was difficult for the witnesses to tell which one threw the stone that killed Sheffield. Moles was finally acquitted.

THREE FATAL ACCIDENTS.

About three miles west of Avon on section 22 in Greenbush township, Warren county, Illinois, on the public highway there is a covered bridge across a small stream. Up the bill, a short distance east of this bridge, William Lloyd was killed, January 21, 1862.

On that day, James Marshall, who had been engaged in making a sleigh for himself, was going to Israel Spurgeon‘s to return some tools he had borrowed, and had put his shotgun in the sleigh thinking he would find some prairie chickens before he returned. He met his uncle, William Lloyd, on the hill east of the bridge, and stopped to talk with him. Lloyd, thinking he would play a joke on James, reached for the shotgun; and as he took hold of it, the horses started and the gun was discharged, killing Mr. Lloyd, the whole charge striking his head and fracturing the skull.

At the place where the covered bridge now stands, in October 1885, Thomas Crabb was engaged in building a bridge. He had in his employ Stephen Balderson, who then lived west of Avon in the edge of Warren county. They were placing the stringers or girders across the stream, and Balderson had placed a prop under one end of a long heavy stick of timber; this prop slipped out and the timber fell on Balderson, injuring him so badly that he died the same day, in the evening.

In the fall of 1888, Charles West was running a steam threshing-machine in Greenbush township. He had finished a job of threshing at Simon Sailor’s, and on the eleventh day of September, 1888, he started from Sailor’s to Wm. Smith’s to thresh for him. George Stuckey rode on the engine with West and Harvey Gordon; Edward Long and Joseph Balderson rode on the separator. When they came to the bridge across the stream where the covered bridge now stands, West got off the engine and examined the bridge. Stuckey and Gordon also got off and crossed over the bridge. West said the bridge was dangerous and told Long and Balderson to get off. He then mounted his engine alone and started across. When the engine reached the center of the bridge, bridge and engine went down with a crash, breaking steam pipes and other portions of the engine. West was caught between the engine and the tank wagon. He was immediately enveloped in steam, so that the men could scarcely see him. They found that one of West’s hands was clinched on the throttle and the other on the steering-wheel. After removing him from the engine, they placed him on bed quilts and carried him east, up the hill, to the residence of B. C. Welsh. Drs. Clayberg and Weaver were called who attended to his injuries. It was found that one leg was broken and his jaw was also broken; he had a bad scalp wound, and also injured by inhaling hot steam. This accident occurred about noon, and West died that night about eight or nine o’clock.

It is said of Charles West that he had been a good railroad engineer, and was the man that placed the locomotive vane on top of the passenger depot of the C., B. & Q. R. R., at Galesburg, Illinois.

INTERESTING STORY RECALLING THE DAYS WHEN COAL OIL WAS MANUFACTURED NEAR AVON.

This reliable scrap of history, by W. H. Rose, is taken from The Avon Sentinel:

Before the discovery of oil wells in Pennsylvania kerosene, or coal oil, as it was more commonly called, was manufactured from cannel coal in several different places in the United States, and was a very profitable business, as the product sold at a fancy price, never less than $1.00 per gallon and sometimes as high as $1.50. On account of the high price, the oil was but little used and its sale was principally confined to the larger cities. Veins of cannel coal were considered very valuable and were much sought after. In 1857 a large vein of this coal was discovered along the creek north of town by some miners from Pennsylvania who were working in the neighborhood. It had been seen by many persons before, but they supposed it to be slate stone, which it munch resembles. The news of the discovery spread rapidly, and attracted the notice of George R. Clark of Chicago, who formed a company of New York and Chicago capitalists, for the manufacture of oil, called the Avon Coal Oil Company. The capital stock was $50,000, which was afterwards increased. Mr. Clark, who was made superintendent of the company, came here and secured mining privileges and options on a large tract of land along the creek where the coal was discovered. In the spring of 1858, a mine was opened under the direction of James Timmons as superintendent, and the company proceeded at once to erect works for the manufacture of oil. The site occupied by the works was near the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 13, in Greenbush township, now known as the Saunders farm. The entry to the mine started on the east side of the road and extended under the hill on which the Saunders house now stands. The entry was made large enough for mules to go in and haul out the cars of coal and extended under ground a distance of nearly 40 rods.

The apparatus employed for the manufacture of oil consisted of fifteen large cast-iron retorts, each with its cover weighing more than four tons. These retorts were set in a straight line on fire brick arches with furnaces under each and connected together by a large cast-iron pipe. Each retort held about three tons of coal, the oil being extracted by baking the coal until it became red hot, by which time the oil had passed off in smoke and gases, which were condensed by being passed through cold water, the oil running off in crude form. At first only crude oil was made, which was shipped in casks to a refinery in St. Louis. A ton of coal would make about 15 or 20 gallons of crude oil and it required about two days to work off a batch of coal. There was a certain amount of gas that could not be condensed and was allowed to escape through an iron pipe, and was kept constantly burning. At night the flames. would light up the surrounding country. Many small dwellings had been erected near the works for the accommodation of the miners and other workmen; and at night the little village, brilliantly illuminated, presented a beautiful picture. The coal or coke, after being taken from the retorts, was used for firing the furnaces, a small amount of bituminous coal being mixed with it.

The second year, a refinery was built near the other works. This was a large building, constructed of stone procured from quarries near by. After its completion the company did its own refining. The burning oil was much the same as the kerosene of the present day. In refining the crude oil many different products were obtained; namely, benzene, gasoline, kerosene, lubricating oil, paraffin, coal tar, and asphaltum.

When the works were in full operation, they furnished employment for nearly 100 men.

The works, however, did not prove to be a financial success, for about this time oil wells were discovered in Pennsylvania, which reduced the price of oil to a figure much less than that for which it could be manufactured from coal. When it was found by the company that the works could no longer be carried on successfully, they were abandoned and a large number of debts contracted by the company were left unpaid. The works were finally sold at sheriff’s sale for the benefit of creditors. They fell into the hands of the Frost Manufacturing Company of Galesburg; and the outfit, comprising many carloads of old iron and machinery, was shipped to that city. The refinery building was used for a time by David Morse for a barn, but was finally torn down by Dr. Saunders and the stone used for different purposes. Some of them may be seen at the present time in a wall along the road in front of the Saunders house.

At the same time the Avon works were put in operation, similar works were constructed in Peoria county, and with like results.

The work of mining the vein of cannel coal necessitated the removal of large quantities of fire clay underlying the coal. After the oil works had been in operation about a year, a large dump of clay had accumulated; and a company, composed of James McDougal, A. Horrocks, and George R. Clark, was formed for the purpose of manufacturing it into fire brick.The company erected quite extensive works on the land now owned by the James Mings estate, consisting of kilns, drying sheds, etc., and also installed the machinery necessary for grinding the clay. They manufactured a variety of wares, consisting of locomotive fire backs, cupola brick, flue tops and many different shapes of fire brick, nearly all of the product being shipped to Chicago.

But their venture, like the oil works, did not prove a success financially. The works finally passed into the hands of Jerome Goodspeed, then a prominent merchant in Avon. It proved a profitable investment for him. He ground the clay and shipped it to Chicago by the carload, where it found a ready sale. He continued the business until the dump was exhausted.

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