CARROLL COUNTY ILLINOIS GENEALOGY

OLD

SETTLERS

ASSOCIATION
Transcribed by Christine Walters
History of Carroll County by Ketts Pge 298
Photo contributed by Alice Horner

It is not strange that among the pioneer settlers of any new country a deep-seated and since friendship should spring up. that would grow and strengthen with their years. The incidents peculiar to life in a new country —the trials and hardships, privations and destitutions — are well calculated to test not only the physical powers of endurance, but the moral, kindly, generous attributes of manhood and womanhood. They are times that try men's sonls. and bring to the surface all that there may be in them of either good or bad. As a rule, there is an equality of conditions that recoginizes no distinctions. All occupy a common level, and, as a natural conse- quence, a brotherly and sisterly feeling grows up that is as lasting as time, for "a fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind." With such a community there is a hospitality, a kindness, a benevolence and a charity unknown and unpracticed among the older, richer and more densely populated commonwealths. The very nature of their surroundings teacfies them "to feel each other's woe, to share each other's joy. An injury or a wrong may be ignored, bnt a kindly, generous, charitable act is never forgotten. The memory of old associations and kindly deeds is always fresh. Raven locks may bleach and whiten; fall, round cheeks sink and hollow; the fire of intelligence vanish from tke organs of vision; the brow become wrinkled with care and age, and the erect form bowed with accumulating years, but the true friends of the "long ago *' will be remembered as long as life and reason endure.
The surroundings of pioneer life are well calculated to test the u true inwardness" of the human heart. As a rule, the men and women who first occupy a new country—who go in advance to spy out the land and prepare it for the coming of a future people—are bold, fearless, self-reliant and industrious. In these respects, no matter from what remote section or country they may come, there is a similarity of character. In birth, education, religion and language there may be a vast difference, but. imbued with a common purpose—the founding and building of homes—these differences are soon lost by association, and thus they become one people, united by a common interest, and. no matter what changes may come in after years, the associations thus formed are never buried out of memorv.
In pioneer life there are always incidents of peculiar interest, not only to the pioneers themselves, but which, if properly preserved, would be of interest to posterity, and it is a matter to be regretted that the formation of " Old Settlers' Associations " has been neglected in so many parts of the country. The presence of such associations in all the counties of our common country, with well kept records of the more important events, such as dates of arrivals, births, marriages, deaths, removals, nativity, etc., as any one can readily see, would be the direct means of preserving to the literature of the country the history of every community, that, to future generations, would be invaluable as a record of references and a ready method of settling important questions of controversy. As important as these associations are admitted to be, their formation has not yet become general, and there are many counties in the Western country whose early history is entirely lost because of such neglect and indifference. Such organizations would possess facts and figures that could not be had from any other source. Aside from their historic importance, they would serve as a means*of keeping alive and further cementing old friendships and renewing among the members associations that were necessarily interrupted by the innovations of increasing population, cultivating social intercourse, creating a charitable fund for the benefit of such of their members as might became victims of misfortune or adversity.
Actuated by such motives as those above outlined, and in pursuance of a call published in the Carroll County newspapers in June, 1S74, a large number of the old settlers met under the tent on the Carroll County Agricultural Fair Grounds, on the 2d day of September following, for the purpose of organizing an Old Settlers' Association. D. W. Dame stated the object of the meeting. Luther H. Bowen was made temporary chairman, and John Irvine was chosen temporary secretary. The secretary read the names of over two hundred old settlers then living in the county, which he had collected from the best sources of information. The meeting then proceeded to the election of permanent officers, resulting as follows:
President—Luther H. Bowen, of Savanna, by acclamation.
Secretary—Samuel Preston, of Mount Carroll, also by acclamation.
On motion of Dr. E. Woodruff, of Savanna, it was agreed that all persons who were residents of the county previous to 1S50, should be recognized as old settlers and entitled to membership of the association. [This proposition was subsequently amended, and in the adoption of the constitution and by-laws, section two declared any one entitled to membership who had been a resident of the county twenty-one years.]
On motion of Mr. Monroe Bailey, it was Resolved, That in order lo make the association a progressive institution, that a residence of twenty-five years shall be held to constitute an Old Settler, and a member of this association.
The following gentlemen—one from each township—were then elected vice presidents of the association.
Washington—S. S. Hodges.
Hock Creek—C. Hegennan.
Wysox—Byron Fletcher.
Freedom—David Teeter.
Elkhom—Harry Smith.
Cherry Grove— J. G. Garner.
Salem—Duncan McKay.
York—N. D. French.
Fair Haven—C. McMullen.
Lima—A. Cheesman.
Nelson Fletcher, Monroe Bailey and Elias Woodruff were elected as an Executive Committee, and John Irvine. Fletcher and D. W. Dame were chosen to draft a constitution and by-laws for the government of the association.
The meeting then adjourned to meet again on the Fair Grounds on Thursday, October 8, 1874.
The meeting of Thursday, October 8, 1874, was a very large and pleasant one—the Old Settlers and their friends to the number of five hundred being present. The exercises of the day were commenced by a quartette of the Mount Carroll Glee Club singing a song composed for the occasion by Dr. George R. Moore, and set to music by Air. James Irvine.
When the log heap grew
To a cabin new;
And that cabiu all our own.
While the dimpling smile of a bright-eyed wife.
Smoothed down allthe cares and sorrows of lite.
And we made it a happy home—
With its rough puncheon floor.
And its low I ate li less door.
And the mud chimneys roar;
In the homes we had built, .
In a land where all was new.
Oh, the puncheon floor, and the welcome door, and the chimney's roar.
In the homes we had built.
And wiih happiness filled.
In a land where all was new.
Sadly sing of the days when all was new.
When He bid us pass under the rod;
When our loved and lost lay dead to view—
Their souls on the bosom of God.
When the angel of death.
With his parching breath.
Strode in silence round our homes;
Took the father's pride with his sunlit hair;
Bewedded the bride to her own despair;
Filled our ears with a mother's moans,
As we whispered low,
Of the pale-faced toe.
And the terrible blow,
To the homes we had built.
In a land where all was new.
Let us whisper low, of the dreaded foe, and the fearful blow,
To the homes we had built,
That a shadow had chilled.
In a land where all was new.
Proudly sin^ of the days when all was new.
When our trials and troubles had flown;
When the shadowy angel fled from view,
And the blessings of God rained down;
When tue seeded mould
Brought a thousand fold,
Ot" the richest golden grain.
And the harvest song in a gushing thrill.
Was a Pean to God—to man good will;
Rolling on over hill and plain.
Then our eyes caught sight,
By a Heavenly light,
0f a future so bright,
For the homes we had built,
In a laud where all was new.
Oh! the happy sight, by prophetic light of a future bright.
For the homes we had built,
That the future would gild,
In a land where all was new.
The acting president, Norman D. French, followed in some very appropriate remarks, although he said he was no speaker, from the fact of his opportunities for obtaining an education being very limited, and that he would rather undertake to make a new farm than to make a speech. None of the people had come there, he continued, to make long speeches, but to brighten up old memories. In the early days of Carroll County, settlers who lived within twenty miles of each other were called neighbors. In 1832, when he came to the northern part of the state from Vermont, he crossed Rock River at Dixon's Ferry, kept by Mr. Dixon. Proceeding northwardly, he found a few settlers at Elkhorn Grove, and two or three at Cherry Grove. In 1833, he hired out as a farm hand. In the Fall of that year, and in 1834, he helped to survey the county into townships. At one time in 1S33 he became lost in a fog, and after two days' wanderings he found himself iu Savanna. He made the claim on which he then lived in 1835; broke up a part of the land in 1836; built a cabin in 1837, but raised no crop until 1838, and had raised a crop every year since. Mr. French gave this as the origin of the term "Suckers" as applied to Illinoisans.*
" In those days it was customary for people living in the south part of the state to take their teams and some milch cows, in the Spring of the year, and go up to the lead mines near Galena, work at mining during the Summer, sell out their stock and trapping in the Fall, and return home by following down the rivers. The sucker fish of the Mississippi and its tributaries go up stream in the Spring to deposit their spawn, but always return down stream on the approach of the Fall and Winter months. Hence the name of' Sucker' State."
Mr. Preston being called upon said, he would not attempt to make a speech, but would read a poem he had prepared for the occasion, entitled :
AN OLD SETTLER'S HOMILY
The second of September
In this proud "Sucker" State;
Let all of us remember,
That we convened to make
A gath'ring of " Old Settlers,"
From city, towns, and plains;
From hills, and valleys fertile,
That Carroll County claims.

To form a social festive.
As each successive year.
Shall draw from those can best give
Bounteous stores to cheer.
And now at this first meeting,
(We'll not detain you long;)
We offer yc u this greeting,
A new and simple song.

Ho! pioneers of freedom.
Who broke the prairie sod;
With who! haw Bright! gee Tom!—
Strange sounds, to those who trod
In stealth, their pathway seeking
For game; or warriors blood
From some poor scalp a reeking;—
The former was their food.

But pardon this digression;
We thought it would not harm,
To mingle savage custom,
With how we made a farm,
But all those days arc ended,
The whoop! and words profane;
With crack of whip, both blended.
The sluggish ox to pain.
* Another version is given thus: In very early times, when emigrants from Virginia and Kentucky, to Missouri, were crossing the lower end of the state—going through "Egypt"—water was sometimes scarce, and the only means of obtaining it in certain localities was by sucking it up from craw.flsh holes through hollow weeds or reeds. Whether this be true, the writer sayeth not

With some it was a query—
(Had they the spurious leaven)—
To drive an ox, and carry
Their souls up into heaven.—
Now to " Old Settlers " cabin,
We give a passing word j
For since we've got to blabbing;
The truth it must be heard.
The style wasn't counted much on;
Just so there was a door
To get upon the puncheon,
Which oft composed the floor.
A fire-place was important.
And put at the end;
The chimmey oft reluctant,
To hold the flery fiend.
To guard against combustion,
Of all our meagre stores;
We followed Southern custom,
And built Iheni out of donrs.
Those crackling fires were cheerful;—
Me-thinks I hear them yet;
Though oft the flames looked fearful,
But comfortable;—" You bet!"
And mother Garner's hoe cake,
To eat we did not tire;
("Twas on a board so well baked.
Set up before the tire)
When finished off with pastry,—
The pies, when made of miuce,
T'make " tillers," apply tasty, The cost of children's schooling,
Was burdened on the sire;
For such was then the ruling
Of legislation; dire!
The school house was some hovel,
Forsaken by its lord;
teacher ruled with ferrule,
And went around to board.
Boast not, ye modern critics,
That you've a better dawn;
Without you learned cosmetics,
Our Presidents have grown.
And now, my song is ending.
Let all this gathered throng,
In turn, their voices blending;
To roll this ball along

In the afternoon, Mr. Fletcher, chairman of the committee on constitution and by-laws, presented the committee's report, which, after an amendment to section two, making the annual fee twenty-five cents, instead of fifty cents, was adopted.
Constitution.—We, the undersigned citizens of Carroll County and State of Illinois, feeling and knowing that many of our early settlers have passed away, and with them much valuable information has been lost ; and now wishing to preserve as much as possible the early incidents attending the first settlement of Carroll County, by gathering together her pioneer fathers, forming them into an association, cemeuting and renewing old friendships, bringing to light and recording old, and in many cases almost forgotten, reminiscences, thereby perpetuating and giving to our children and the world a true and leliable history of the first settlement of Carroll County, in the great State of Illinois, therefore, resolved: Section 1. That we, the old settlers of Carroll County, do. this day, form ourselves into a permanent organization, under the name and style of the Old Settlers' Association of Carroll County, to exist as long as any of its members shall be permitted to exist.
Sec. 2 provides that any one who has been a resident of the county twenty-one years prior to October 8, 1874, can become a member upon the payment of twenty-five cents.
Sec. 3 provides that the association shall meet annually.
Sec. 4 and 5 relates to the elections of officers.
Sec. 6 defines the duties of the president and vice president, and
Section 7 of the secretary; section S of the treasurer, and section 9 of the executive committee.
Alter the adoption of the constitution and by-laws, the following old settlers appended their names, and the year of their settlement in the county.
1829—Mason C. Taylor. [Mr. Taylor, at this writing, Dec. 28, 1877, is the oldest surviving pioneer settler.]
1833—Norman D. French.
1835— William Carroll, L. H. Bowen. D. L. Bowen.
1836— George Holmes, Harry G. Smith, Samuel Preston, John Orr.
1837— William Dysen. David Musters. Elias Woodruff, John Painter, John A. Robinson, Peter Bashaw, Lydia E. Bashaw.
1838— C. W. Tomlinson, Miiiiroe Bailey, Snmner Downing, J. C. Christian, M. Z. Landon, William Bashaw, Uriah Green.
1839.—Nelson Fletcher, J. H. Deeds, C. C. Shoemaker, L. F. Easter- brooks, Byron Fletcher, Elijah Bailey, Mrs. P. French, Ansel Bailey, B. S. Dav, A. T. Esterbrooks, John O'Neal, Felix O'Neal, A. Spencer, O. D. O'Neal, John Kinney, A. G. Easterbrooks, J. B. Johnson, Henry Hunter, John Fish.
1840.—John H. Ilawes, Charles Pulford, Amos Shoemaker, Fisher Allison, J. F. Allison, Stephen Kneale, T. Johnson, Duncan McKay, A. H. Healy, Heman Edgerly.
1841— G. W. Dwinnell, W. A. J. Pierce, J. S. O'Neal, Jesse Van Buskirk. EInathan Jacobs.
1842— M. R. Davis.
1843— George Cole, David Becker, William Finlayson, Joseph Graham, John A. Mellendy, E. H. Phillip, D. F. Holmes, William Petty, E. T. E. Becker, L. E. Galnsha, P. R. Kenyon, James Petty, Mrs. M. Kenyon, Jos. Welty, Thomas Lambert, Alexis Bristol, Thomas C. Pyle.
1844.—John Irvine, H. L. Atherton, Ithiel Goodell, W. C. Jacobs, Lucius Douglass, M. Patterson, E. C. Lamb, H. L. Downing, W. F. Ather- ton, Justus Bailey, Marcus Atherton. Morgan Price, Alonzo Taylor.
1845—.John L. Hostetter, Samuel Mitchell, Henry Teachut, Philander Seymour, Daniel Teeter, Seymour Downs, Samuel Puffenbarger, T. T. Jacobs, Charles Atherton, John Grove, Peter Shrader.
1846— William H. Hawk, Thomas Moffett, R. M. A. Hawk, William B. Rav, J. Sheldon, Frank Trail, Nicholas Hart, Hugh Howell, Nancy Howell, W. A. Shoemaker.
1947— Cornelius Hegeman, John Hegeman, James Hallett, R. J. Tomkins, John A. Smith.
1848—James H. Idcn, J. A. Smith, Peter Shrader, H. M. Ferrin, J. A. Garr.
1849— W. O. Phillips, John Cole, M. F. Mellendy, Michael Markley, James Beatie, George Hays, Robert Graham, Emmanuel Hepler, W. O. Phillips.
1880— X. S. French, A. M. French, John Lambert, Willard Wicks, I. J. Pettit, John N. Keech, John Campbell.
1881— A. H. Lichty, Henry Routh, G. P. Sutton. Samuel Stake- miller, Andrew Hershev, John C. Rinedollar, Daniel R. Frazer.
1852— Nicholas Stabler, Josenh Deitrich.
1853— Volney Armour. Charles Atherton, R. G. Bailey, William H. Long, Henry Ashway, Joseph Oushman, B. Cnshman, B. L. Patch, Francis Craig, Emanuel Stover. Henry H. Gordon.
1854— J. C. Durham, D. W. Dame, Mrs. D. W. Dame, Luther DeWolf, William F. Loup, Thomas McGee, Charles W. Dame.
1855—Miles L. Smith, George W. Howland, Allen McClure, William Sprecker.
1856— E. C. Sinclair, L. L. Stewart.
1857— E. O. Eymer, Richard Dame, G. M. Eacker.
1867—Simon Greenleaf.
The second annual meeting of the association was held on the fair grounds. Thursday, September 23, 1875, and was very largely attended. The meeting was called to order by Mr. L. H. Bowen, the president, in a few very appropriate remarks, among which he referred to the arrival of himself and wife at Savanna, in an ox-wagon, his horses having "gave out" about two miles before he reached the site of his future home and business operations. The forenoon of the day was mostly passed in greeting, handshakings, renewing old acquaintances, and reviving old memories.
The leading feature of the afternoon's exercises was the reading of a poem entitled "The Pioneers," by Andrew Downing, Esq., editor of the Boone County (Iowa) Republican, who was the tirst male child born in Mount Carroll Township, and the son of Heman Downing and wife, who were amon» the early settlers of the county, locating here in 1S37. This poem is so descriptive of the scenes and incidents of pioneer life, that we transmit it to these pages for preservation to the people who will come in the by-and-by to occupy the homes that pioneer hanas fashioned out of forests and prairie plains:
THE PIONEERS
BY ANDREW DOWNING.
Westward, over the emerald plains
In early Autumn, before ihe rains
Of the Equinox had swollen the rills
Till they feiss'd tlie feet of the neighboring hills.
Onward they journeyed, side by side—
Sturdy husband, and loving bricle.
Ever Before iheni the narrow road
Only its dark, snj outlines showed.
There in the tall, rank grass it lay,
Wending ever its tortuous way.
Over the prairie lands, level and wide,
Down by the shimmering lakelet's side,
Up the long hillside, rocky and steep,
Down through the valleys, broad and deep.
Under the forest-trees* shady arch—
This is the track of their toilsome march;

List of the names of the old settlers who died in Carroll County during the year, beginning Sept. 1, 1897, and ending Aug. 25, 1898, as taken from the official records at Mt. Carroll. The list was read by Capt. E. T. E. Becker, at the old settlers picnic in Lanark, Thursday, Aug. 25, 1898.
Contributed by Karen Fyock - (Undated Scrapbook Clipping)

Wysox Chester E. Olmsted Age 70 In Illinois 46 years Mrs. Emeline Olmsted Age 76 In Illinois 46 years John Q. Russell Age 69 In Illinois 42 years Mrs. Eliza Millard Age 93 Mrs. Janett Williams Age 62 In Illinois 60 years Thomas H. Walters Age 75 In Illinois 34 years Rock Creek Wm. Bean_ Age 61 In Illinois 34 years Henry A. Plock Age 71 In Illinois 29 years John J. Wood Age 79 In Illinois 42 years Mathias Tallman Age 64 In Illinois 32 years Nancy Henkell Age 64 In Illinois 32 years Reuben Waters Age 79 In Illinois 54 years Elkhorn Grove Orrinda Steffens Age 78 In Illinois 58 years Egbert Pulver Age 76 In Illinois 40 years Peter Keckler Age 82 In Illinois 30 years Rosina R. Miller Age 76 Mrs. Rosanna Hunt Age 76 In Illinois 47 years Elmer Chaffee Age 41 In Illinois 41 years

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