Chapter V
In the light of modern taxation, the amounts paid upon personal property and real estate prior to the year 1862, are somewhat amusing. Either there was very little personal property to tax, and realty was rather below par, or the ratio was extremely low. One farmer is recorded to have paid $1.89 on personal property and $7.40 on his land, and this was a quarter section farm. In the year 1862, when the historian was collector for the town of Salem, a memorandum of the taxes paid by each farmer was made according to these entries they had little or no reason to complain of burdensome taxation. The total amount collected was a little over $1,000. But notwithstanding this meagre sum to be expended in State, County and municipal improvements, the business seems to have gone forward smoothly and without the handicap of modern graft. Under date of March 11th, 1862, is the following entry:
"Settled with Owen P. Miles for State, County and Volunteer tax; paid him $1088.02. Settled with John MacKay for School tax, paid him in full, $365.10. Paid Becker $50., town tax."
This was the total tax paid by the residents of Salem on the assessment of 1861. There is a memorandum showing delinquent tax amounting to $39., but this was collected later in the year.
During the first five years of the decade of '60-'70, prices of farm produce varied greatly, likely in consequence of the Civil War. But in the first two or three years of this decade the farmer seems to have had the wrong end of the stick, for the wares of the merchant seemed to remain almost stationary, and were always extremely high. In February, 1862, oats were 17cents a bushel at Savanna and corn 18 cents at Lnnark. In July of the same year flour was bought from "Natty" for $1.50 per hundred. Dressed hogs at the depot brought $2.50 per hundred. Ten shoats, 1175 pounds, sold to Beardsley brought $27.37. In October of this year 12 pigs sold to Eisenbise for $12., and four to D. Cameron for $3.4 7. Two cows were sold to Mellinger for $15 each. Potatoes were 40 cents per bushel and apples 50 cents. Eggs were 6 cents per dozen and butter 12 1-2 cents per pound. Curiously euough, wheat at this time was relatively high, being 90 cents per bushel at Lanark. This in all liklihood was owing to its scarcity. It will be remembered that about this time, during a period of three or four years, the chinch bug practically destroyed the wheat fields of Illinois and Iowa, and this recollection may explain an entry showing Dr. Shimer to have been, on a certain date, at the Oakville school house to lecture on Bugs.
Dr. Shimer had on previous occasions lectured in the Oakville school house upon sanitary and other subjects. Always solicitous for the welfare of the toiling farmer, the misfortunes following the chinch bug scourge must have awakened his ready sympathy. He came out to tell the farmers not to be cast down; that the reign of the chinch bug was over, adding that in the coming season, farmers, jubilant over abundant harvests, would be going about offering a dollar for a specimen of the chinch bug, dead or alive. Farmers believed in the doctor's rugged honesty and wide knowledge of the smaller objects of God's handiwork, and tried again. The prophecy came true. Abundant crops were harvested. The chinch bug was only a memory!
On the other hand the wares of the merchant were comparatively high. August 27, 1862, 200 pounds of fence wire cost $15 at Polo. This was the old fashioned smooth wire, just then introduced into the country. This price seems extremely high,: when its lasting usefulness and the price of the effective barb wire of today is considered. The Singer sewing machine cost $95, and traveling agents therefor, swarmed over the country and accumulated fortunes. Nails were 7c per pound at retail, and 3!6.50 per keg, while pine shingles were worth $6.00 per thousand at Lanark, Leather was very high, and following a memorandum of a quantity bought at Lanark, is this item:
"Bought punch 30c." When the elaborator struck this latter entry, he received a shock and surprise; but it developed later that the purchase noted was an implement for cutting holes in leather.
Tea was $1.60 per pound; molasses $1.15 per gallon and kerosene remained stationary four or five years at 60c per gallon. There was no coffee, its place being taken by various condiments made from chickory, wheat and other cereals ground in black molasses. Boots wore out rapidly and climbed from $5 to $8 and $9 a pair, while calico was almost impossible at 40c per yard.
But about this time, products of the farm began to advance in price, and in 1855-6 reached encouraging and speculative figures. Wheat at one time went up to $2.50 per bushel and oats to 60c; corn $1.04 and hogs as high as $12.50 per hundred, while the wares of the merchant remained about the same. There was no noticeable rise in these during this period, perhaps because the conscience of the vendor, or revolutionary attitude of the consumer remained a bar.
War news traveled slowly in those days. If like events were taking place at the present time the marvelous utilities for transmitting tidings, would keep the people posted as events occurred, and all might watch the battle from afar. Victory or defeat would be known a thousand miles away 'ere the smoke of battle cleared or the cannons thunder ceased re-echoing from the hills. But in that day, first came rumors of a battle, then more definite news of victory or defeat, and last of all the names of wounded, killed, or missing were known in the stricken homes. Here is an entry that will give some idea of how the people must have waited in heart-rending anxiety for definite news of rumored battle.
"Thursday, May 28, 1863, News of Vicksburg being taken last Monday."
If the prophecy had been made that the time would come, within the lives of many of those taking part therein, when the news of such a battle in all its details might be known in every corner of the land, before the wind had brushed the smoke a way, or the guns had time to cool, the prophet making such prediction would have been "laughed to scorn," and remained for forty years without honor in other countries as well as in his own.
A curious instance of the effect of belated news is given by an eminent English historian, at that time in public life in Great Britain. There was no Atlantic cable then, and vessels didn't make the speed they do now. This writer was in sympathy with the north, while a large minority of his fellows favored the southern cause. In describing the close of the civil war, he says that mass meetings in sympathy with the Confederacy were held in London, Manchester, and other places three weeks after the fall of Richmond, and surrender of Lee, and while President Davis was in jail, the participants therein still enthusiastic that the South would win. What must have been their feelings when at last they heard the shouting from Union housetops, and realized that the "brave defense" was all over!
During the latter part of the year 1862, and the following year, although there are mem oranda of military movements elsewhere. the historian seems only to have tried to keep track of the Army of the Cumberland. This was but natural, as most of the boys who enlisted from Northern Illinois, as well as those from his own immediate neighborhood, were in that department. Individually and collectively these boys became objects of watchful interest, and the vast army a barometer of exultation or despair. Sometimes the records of battle and victory were made in doubt, to be confirmed or disproved later on. Couriers and the mails were slow. A record of letters received from different boys in the army investing Northern Georgia and Tennessee, shows the date of posting as well as of receipt.
Letters posted at Franklin, Tenn., and LaFayette, Georgia, took eight and nine days to reach Mt. Carroll. One letter, found in a file bears this unique legend upon its wrapper: .
"Mr. Postmaster! Push this letter through; postage stamps are scarce in the Army of the Cumberland, and the home folks have had no news for a long time."
It required eleven days to push it through from Atlanta to Mt. Carroll, but it came through without a stamp.
The 92nd Regiment left Rockford for the front on October 10, 1862, and just a month later, November 10, is this entry:
"Reported capture of the 92nd."
The home 'folks rnust have been crest-fallen at hearing such tidings: that their host of hardy boys were "easy" after all. But a few days later they were on deck again, and engaged in wiping up the ground with the "Johnnies" instead of getting lost. It would be wearisome to go over a story that has been so often told. The 92nd made its own inspiring history in those days of anxiety and gloom. And the grizzled warriors who still survive, may well scan the record with proud heart-beat and kindling eye.
Here are a few entries abbreviated and given some of them to show that news of battle, victory or defeat, was sometime doubted and sometimes doubtful, others merely touching on the closing events of the war.
"January 4th, 1863. Battle of Murfreesboro closed after five days fighting."
April 10, 1863. Fight with VanDorn at Franklin, Tenn. Van defeated." I
"Sept. 22, 1863. News of Rosencrans and Bragg fighting at Chicamauga-Rosencrans and Bragg fighting at LaFayette, Ga. Rosy defeated at Chicamauga, not sure. Battles around Fredericksburg. Hooker and Lee. Both sides claim victory. Probably a draw. (May2-3-4,1863.)
For a concluding description of the exploits of the Army of the Cumberland, the reader is referred to a piece of history long ago set to lively music, and entitled "Marching Through Georgia."
"Monday, April 3rd. 1865. Richmond taken"
Sunday, April 9th. 1865 reported surrender of Lee and Army."
April 10th, Lee's surrender confirmed."
"April 15th. Abraham Lincoln assassinated last night. Died this morning."
"Sunday, April 23rd. In town attending funeral services of Abraham Lincoln at the Court House."
"Thursday, May 18th. Funeral services of A. Lincoln, by Mr. McCorkle. Text Isa. 45:13: I have raised him up in righteousness and I wi1l direct his ways; he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price or reward, sayth the Lord of Hosts.'''
"May 16, 1865. Letter from Don R, Jacksonville, Fla. First news since last October. "
"July 10, 92nd home."
"Sunday, July 23, 1865: Don arrived this morning having enlisted August 9, 1862. Left for Rockford August 25, and his regiment, the 92nd, left Rockford on October 10, '62. Taken prisoner at Atlanta October 19, '64. Released at Jacksonville April 30, 1865."
And so the long, bitter and sometimes doubtful conflict ended, and the nation was cleansed of its darkest stain. There was waving of flags and shouting upon loyal housetops as "Johnnie came marching home," while tears fell in public and in secret places, for the boys who did not return.
The boys who went from Oakville and its immediate neighborhood were as follows: Sam Hall, Dan Mackay, Egbert Becker, Rob Gunn, Charlie Reynolds, Edward English, Waite Downs, Wm. Beattie, Henry Weber, John Weber, Balser Appel. George Finlayson, Don Fraser, Will Reynolds, Mike Higgins, Wm. Graham. John Hildt, Fred Schreiner, John S. Hall, Jim Beder, John Zud:, John W. Puterbaugh, John Coin, Jacob Acker, Lyman Gray, Hugh Galhagher, James Siddels, George Robins, John Schreiner, and there may be others unintentionally omitted from this list.
Turning to the archives of earlier years, a certificate of survey, dated February 8, 1862, is found, describing the Graham, Mackay and Fraser farms. This instrument is by Elijah Funk. surveyor for Carroll county, with Conrad Hildt and Edward Bonnyman as sworn chairmen.
Two receipts, dated respectively Feb. 25, 1857 and March 13, 1858, show that Nathaniel Halderman was county treasurer and W. Fraser collector for the town of Salem in those year's. The receipt also shows that "Natty" was an excellent penman and well versed in careful business methods.
A receipt dated Jan. 23, 1858, signed D. B. Emmert, by 1. V. Hollinger, shows that there was a newspaper called the Carroll County Republican published in Mt. Carroll at that time. It also shows that it had been there for five years and intended to remain on deck. The receipt reads in part as follows:
"From No. 48, voL 5, to No. 48. vol. 6."
The Mirror receipts from 1860, forward ten years or more are signed Hollinger & Windle, except that of 1864 which is by Bolm & Howlett.
A receipt dated January 4, 1858 shows that there was a law firm under the name of Miller & Smith, doing business in Mt. Carroll, and that their retaining fee was $2.50. Another in the same year shows that S. G. Metcalf was a Mt. Carroll financier.
Another receipt, yellow with age, may here speak for itself and whatever else it implies: .
"Mt. Carroll, IlL, March 30, 1861: Received of Wm. Fraser, 46c in full of postage account. G. W. Harris, P. M., per W. H. Harris, Ass't.
On the reverse side of this receipt appears the official stamp of the Mt. Carroll postoffice and a "statement of account." There are similar papers by R. J. Tomkins, who succeeded Mr. Harris as postmaster at Mt. Carroll, that imply an "easy" system of transmitting mails in those days. Letters were often mailed, carried and delivered without being stamped, and the postmaster, like the merchant, had to keep individual accounts of his patrons. . When an unstamped letter for a known "customer" arrived, it was placed in the box or general delivery receptacle and the postage was booked. Publishers of newspapers in Chicago and other cities had no postage to pay upon their wares. The snbscriber at the other end of the line attended to this detail when he settled his account at the close of the year for postage charges. Local newspapers were carried to the surrounding country in various old fashioned ways and distributed from a corner grocery or some prominent or central neighbor's house. Nearby subscribers called at the place of publication for their paper or went without. Other receipts of '61 and thereabouts, show that Gearhart & Fisher did business in Mt. Carroll, that. Nelson & Bohn were on deck, and E. O. Meacham was an employee of Lichty's drug store, that David Mumma sold patent rights for curing furs and Tim Hurley sharpened plows, that Volney Armour was deputy collector of internal revenue and that farmers as well as merchants and salaried employees paid "income tax," and' that E.M. Rosenblatt sold hoop skirts at $4.50 per pair. This must have been in the day when women went spinning around like inverted tops, putting dancing out of fashion, and when sidewalks were scarcely wide enough for single file.
Behind these and many more are slowly fading records of transactions at "Natty's mill." This grand and ancient pile of boyhood's wondrous and wondering world, was built in 1840 and stood for years one of the chief land marks in that wide and wild region, lying between Rock Ishand and Galena, its murmuring wheels revolving day and night that the scattered pioneers might have bread. It must have been a sturdy structure then, for it is a sturdy structure still, surviving mans allotted span of life. Its wheels now turn by modern force and the grateful splash of water at its throbbing side is heard no more. But its shadow still falls upon the slope where truant schoolboys of ye olden time foregathered to adjust their fishing tackle and their quarrels. An inviting shadow still where this grizzled school boy might lie and meditate upon the story that his ardent friend might tell.
The brook still running to the river, the river flowing to the sea Their murmuring unchanged since we were boys; What is there in their music that is aught to thee and me? Their mystic cadence telling of ever vanished joys? Here let us lie in the shadows deep And list to the catbird's trill Here where wont we were lulled to sleep By the drone of Wonderland mill.
Here while the sunlight is rippling down, And Fancy is blending at will The chastened noise of the busy town With the song of Halderman's mill.
The brook still babbling to the river, the river laughing to the sea Their harmony unchanged since manhood's dawn. What is there in their gladness that is aught to thee or me, In all that made their language sweet to us is gone!
Long silent voices of boyhood's day A wake on the distant hill And joeund shout of lusty play Gladdens the song of the mill.
Let the stately school house on yonder slope Be the Mecca for Henry and Will, While for us the shrine of youthful hope Is the shadow of Halderman's mill.
The brook now sighing to the riycr, the river, moaning to the sea The melody unchanged by virile years What is there in their sadness that is aught to thee or me? When retrospective laughter ends in retrospective tears?
But halloo! and hello is borne on the breeze, From the voices of Geordie and Phil, And the grizzled young dreamers under the trees Are awake and respond with a will.
The sunlight's abroad in the blue vault above And cloud-shadows race o'er the hill And drowned are the voices of cat-bird and dove In the roar of Halderman's mill
There are no records to imply a mischievous trend in any of the Oakville boys. But several mysterious abbreviations recall some fireside stories of nocturnal pranks that were not all play. Today some grizzled heads, recalling such, will wonder if they really did such things. But realizing still that the spice of youthful life is fun, there will be no remorse. Perhaps 'twas some one else who did such things; but the proverbial originality of the average Oakviile boy is against the thought. And now for a few of the old traditions:
A farmer coming to his barn to do the early morning chores was very much astounded to find a steer in harness, dragging a corn sheller about the yard.
Another, after a long search, found his stable furniture and harness piled in a heap on the green, at the Red School House.
Another coming from Lanark late at night, upon a spirited horse, was nearly thrown from his saddle when he came suddenly upon two ghostly figures dancing in the moonlight, twenty feet above Moore's lane. This latter gentleman had just been through the war and was not easily scared. Turning back a short distance to tie his now terrified and trembling mount, he came forward and found a wire fastened to a post on each side of the lane, the ghostly figures made frorn withered corn stalks, astride thereof and raised high on poles to dance in the fitful wind.
A German farmer getting up in the night to look for burglars, found a very frightened yearling in his cellar.
Another found his reputed savage watch dog in a barrel on the porch, with feet tied fore and aft.
A plow dressed in effigy was found in the school house trying to look dignified in the teacher's chair, and preserve order with a wicked looking club.
A wheelbarrow upon a chimney; a rooster under an inverted milk can in a dairy, a cat caged in a discarded joint of stove pipe, and pushed in at an open parlor window; a dog fastened' to a churn, and, other strange phenoniena attributable to nothing short of spooks.
These are some of the things that did happen. There was one at least that did not materialize, at least as one of the participants expected. Let this exception be called "Jack," for Jack is a common appelation and may mean almost anything or anybody, at least when followed by a double s.
Jack was attending the Oakville school at the time and had behind him an interesting and honorable record in the Civil War, but felt that his glory would not be complete until he had participated in some nocturnal prank, similar to those reported from time to time. He made known his wish in this behalf-and got it. On a certain dark night seven or eight young men cautiously and silently descended on a neighbor's barn-yard, Jack in the lead, and just as they were about to execute some novel enterprise in mischief, a gruff voice from a dark corner demanded to know what thay were doing there. His companions scattered and Jack broke for the grubs, followed by a Nemesis with a roaring voice, and revolver streaming fire, each leadless crack accelerating Jack's speed. He made a wide detour and an hour later unshod himself at his mother's door and slipped quietly to bed, thankful once more that he could sleep the sleep of the unscarred and innocent.
The subject of the plot indicated now resides in Mt. Carroll, as well as one of the conspirators. Whether Jack ever knew that the whole thing was a prearranged affair is not known, but if Jack never knew, he knows it now, and should these two neighbors ever come together, this scribe, unlike Sheridan at Winchester, will not gallop down until the war is over.
On a certain wet day in June when thcre was little doing at the various Oakville farms, a mare and colt that were quietly grazing in the upper pasture on the Gunn farm, suddenly became terrified by a strange and uncouth animal loping out of the nearby woods. The mare, followed by her colt, raced madly down the slope, jumped two or three fences, and brought up at the door of the farm house, with a terrified snort. The young men of the family, togerher with two or three visiting neighbors, at once rushed out to find the cause of such commotion. They saw an animal whose species could not be determined otherwise than by dubious conjecture, frisking about near the edge of the woods. They watched the surprising antics for a short time, until presentJy it jumped the fence, came farther afield, and commenced sporting about upon the grass. Hurriedly securing a shot-gun and an old flint-lock pistol that had been wrested from a good Indian in the Blackhawk war, two of the most venturesome slipped rapidly down a long winding ravine, in order to cut off a retreat to the woods. But the animal, whose range of vision must have been keen, even for a member of tbe Simiade tribe, seemed to understand the move and stole quietly back into the woods. A few hours thereafter the whole countryside was on fire with the news and for days the incident remained the dominant theme for gossip and speculation while the unknown and untrapable animal commenced ranging over the whole timber dotted region between Rock Island and the Wisconsin line, a terror to town as well as country districts. Whatever other characteristics this terror may have had he was surely fleet of foot.
It was seen or heard at three or four different points about the same time. On a certain clark night its terrifying yell was heard in the woods near Hanover and the same night, about the same time, it tried to steal a squealing pig from a farmer in Fairhaven. If a horse, in broad day, with a fly in his ear, lnadly raced ncross the pasture, it was the scent of the bug-a-boo that started the stampede. If a hungry or quarrelsome pig voiced his protest at night the beast was there. In fact the presence of this monster was accountable for every unusual night sound from forest, glen or hill.
On an early morning he was seen loping across Mackay's pasture and a half hour later chased a man out of the timber at Cherry Grove. It became a terror to the belated lover and children going to schoo, while frenzied local naturalists were trying to determine its species. Some thought it a chimpanzee escaped from Dan Rice's traveling circus. Some that it was a baboon from a menagerie in St. Louis, then recently destroyed by fire. One adult student who had been poring over his childrens book on natural history, thought it was an "orange," pronouncingthe name of a fruit so spelled. But a sly and thoughtful local naturalist pronounced it to be nothing more dangerous than a "Scarioo."
The whole scheme had been planned and carried. out by shy, diffident, but handsome Oakville boy. He had exploited his weird raiment and astounding antics only on three occasions, and that in broad day when a chance rabbit hunter or ambushed shot gun might have spoiled his clothes. But the story bolongs to a later date than any yet touched and will be told in the clue order of its occurrence. It will be a correct version from an authentic source.
It would require a clever and unwearying pen together with long and tireless application, to write the history of the Oakville school as it might be written. No such necessary qualifications are claimed, but time that waits for no man (only women) must be considered here.
The history of the Oukville school is about the same as the history of other district schools in many respects. In addition to this it is the pioneer school of Salem township. Many pupils attending it during the earlier years were obliged to travel long distances - some of them three miles and more, from the east across the prairie and from the west through pathless woods, the Germans from the western portion of the township a considerable portion of the attendance. Some of the older records show an attendance of over sixty pupils, all under one teacher. The Schreiners, Daggarts, and Appels from the west; the Hildts, Kleins, Ruppels and others, from the south; and the Englishes, Halls, Sterns, Mortons, Howells, Beckers, Smiths, Zucks, Swaggerts and others from the east and north, are recorded as having attended at one time. These though living at a distance of two miles and more from the schoolhouse, usunlly mnde up a fair proportion of the regular attendance.
In 1846 John Mackay started the project of building a school house and, with one or two others. went into the woods with an axe and broad-axe and chopped and hewed the timbers which went to make up the frame. Other material was hauled by ox-team from West Point, northwest of Mt. Carroll. When the building was finished Daniel G. Shottenkirk was employed as teacher. being paid by subscription. He taught several terms, then took that gold fever, and with W. A. J. Pierce and others went to California.
Following him as teachers were: Miss S. Nourse, James A. Hughes, Wm. Fraser, E. Clamin, Miss Jeffries, (Mrs. Ferrin), Miss Hawley (Mrs. Chase), Miss Van Alstine (Mrs. Swaggert.) These all teaching in the old school house on the east side of the lane at the edge of the woods, directly in line with the present building, which is the third building used as a school house on that spot of ground.
In 1855 a new brick school house was built from materinl from the Hallet brick yards in Mt. Carroll, the woodwork of the building being done by C. S. Dennis, one of the pioneer carpenters of the county. Then, even as before, the influence of this excellent institution was felt to be the leading factor in the uplift of this wide community.
The best teachers from, abroad were employed and the results of their practical methods of instruction were deep and lasting. The names of the teachers, up to the year 1870 are here given as nearly as possible, in the order of their service, possibly some are omitted. Many of them are dead and the whereabouts of othern is unknown. For these reasons full information is not attempted in case errors might be made: Daniel Shottenkirk. Miss Hawley, Wm, Fraser, James Hughes, Miss Nouise, James Clamin. Miss Jeffries, Miss Pomeroy, John G. Gill, Amanda Van Alstine, Wm. H. Gill. Hattie O'Neal, David B. Colehour, Nan Gallup, John M. Graham, Ada F. Black, Louise Chaddock, Miss E. T. Lenfest, Eliza Fraser, A. J. Forbes, Lena Ormsby, Robert Finlayson. Will J. Lihberton, F. G. Yeoman, Jennie Mackay, W. K. Larish, George Franks, E. Hodgeson, and W. H. Kridler.
And these were no kinkergarten teachers either. They believed that instruction to be lasting should make its impress on the brain, instead of upon paper, as in the present day. If those good old methods are scorned today, let the scorner stand before one of these teachers, still living, and without the aid of pencil, slate or paper, try to solve the test problem found in the old "Stoddard's Mental Arithmetic," about the bear and wolf eating a sheep, which ran something in this wise:
If a wolf can eat a sheep in 7-8 of an hour, and a bear can eat it in 3-4 of an hour, how long would it take them together to eat what remained of a sheep after the wolf had been eating 1-2 an hour, provided the bear didn't eat the wolf?"
Of the pupils who attended the Oakville school up to the year 1870, nearly forty of them afterwards became school teachers, three families supplying twentyone of these. Some of these did not remain for full equipment at the Oakville school, going to the Seminary or Union at Mt. Carroll, the high school at Morrison, Champaign college, and other places for the finishing touches." But quite a number never attended any other school. A few attended but a term or two and two or three attended while in bibs or Imickerbockers, moving elsewhere as their families did.
An effort has been made to determine the address or whereabouts of all and whether living or dead, but the list still remains largely imperfect in this respect and somewhat doubtful with respect to some of the names, which are as follows:
Alex M. Fraser, Nova Scotia; Mary Gunn (Ashby) deceased; Hugh Gunn, Alberta, ,Canada; Jane Cameron (Gunn) Wyoming; Mary Cameron (Sanborn) Wyoming; Kate Cameron (Paul) Quincy, Ill.; Robert Graham, Mt. Carroll; Thomas Greenan, Coon Rapids, Iowa; George Finlayson, Kansas; Rob Finlayson, Grundy Center, Iowa; D. W. Finlayson, Des Moines, Iowa; Calvin Finlayson, Armstrong, Iowa; Jennie Finlayson, Mt. Carroll; John Finlayson, deceased; Mary Finlayson (Dunshee) Mt. Carroll; Lena Mackay (Jack) Oakville; Jennie J. Mackay (Van Patten) Los Angeles, Calif; D. S. Beattie, Colorado; Jennie J. Mackay, Mt. Carroll; Ed O. Lee, Salt Lake, Utah; Will A. Mackay, Madison, S. D.; Dan S. Mackay, Oakville; Henry Mackay, Mt. Carroll; Divina MacKay, deceased; Helen Mackay (Weston) Nebraska; Jennie B. Mackay, deceased; John L. Maclmy, unknown; Belle Smith (McGoun) Los Angeles; Eliza Smith (Mills) Los Angeles; Don Fraser. Wewolm, Okla.; Eliza Fraser (Boyd) Morrison, Ill.; Tena Fraser (Waller) Morrison, Ill.; Kate Fraser, deceased; 'Ella Fmser (Weller) Los Angeles; Herd Fmser, Peoria; Martin McKeil, Oakville; Egbert Becker, deceased; Emma Becker (Zuck) Mt. Carroll; Lyman C. Gray, Fort Dodge, Iowa.
In the early 80's the pupils of this school, past and present. who still resided at .Oakville, Mt. Carroll and nearby points, organized a reunion association and held bi-ennial gatherings ror some years to which the old pupils and teachers fore-gathered from all parts of the country. The exercises at these meetings were reported as they occurred and were published at the time. These reports have been preserved in scrap book form and a few notes are here culled therefrom.
At one of these gatherings (1886) a game of shirley by "the boys" took place, and is thus described:
"Then the boys of twenty years ago chose sides for a game of shirley and with clubs and ball, the contestants were soon hard at work; Crack! crack! roll and tumble, farmers, mechanics, lawyers, teachers, merchants, editors, artists and all were surging over the school yard for mastery. Twenty-five years vanished in an instant and the game was as hotly contested as of yore: but years and sedentary employment told on the "boys" and three times and out was enough for them."
At another time reflections upon "calling the roll" are thus given:
There were the names of many of the earlier pupils whose whereabouts are unknown to the present generation, who have long been swallowed up in the world; there were the names of those who closed their eyes upon the earth, in peace and quiet at home among friends; there were the names or those who fell in the full tide of battle in defense of the old flag, dead in their boyhood under Southern skies. Among the names of the living appeared those well known in all branches of business. There were ministers, lawyers, and doctors: the Chamber of Commerce of Chicago had its representative; the field of art sent up an answer; the mechanic and artisan were there; the farmers bronzed face and stalwart form loomed up among the rest; literature had its representative, and the business interests of the county answered from the assembly. They were all there in memory; in person many were absent.
"Then the voice of the president was heard calling the assembly to listen to letters from absent teachers and pupils, from the mountains in the west and from the shores of the Atlantic; from the great cities and little hamlets dotting hill and wide valley, had come many missives of cheer and happy recollections. Some of these found their way into print and have so been preserved. About them is an air of pathos, but they carry lots of fun in recalling incidents of the old days, but all expressing sincere regret at being unable to answer the roll call. One written in a foreign country by this scribe, after dilating at length upon pranks of the old times, closes his letter thus:
"God bless old Oakville and its people; those smiling in life's morning and those rejoicing in the strength of noon; and those gray haired ones whose precept and example 'twere well to follow, that our evening, too, may be as glorious as the morning. May their steps be led in pleasant places as the sun declines, and joy abide as the shadows darken on the land!"
And with such a sentiment still touching memory's sounding strings this chapter closes
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