Bond County IL Archives History..... History of Bond & Montgomery Counties, Part I
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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties Illinois 1882 - Part I,
pages 01-66, Chapter I - VII, History of Bond County, IL.

[Page 01] ... [Page 02] ... [Page 03] ... [Page 04] ...
[Page 05] ... [Page 06] ... [Page 07] ... [Page 08] ...
[Page 09] ... [Page 10] ... [Page 11] ... [Page 12] ...

[Page 13]. . . The first settlement made within the present limits of Bond County was at Hill’s Station, 

[Page 14] or fort – (called also White’s Fort) – about the year 1812. This fort was situated about eight
miles, in a southwesterly direction, from where the town of Greenville now stands. On mile and a half
south of this was another station, one called Jones’ Fort, built near the same time. These buildings were
erected by the white inhabitants, as shelters not only to protect them from the inclemencies of the
weather, but from the incursions of the Indians, with whom the county was infested, it being considered
unsafe for one family to reside at a distance from others. These settlements were all made within a year
or two of the same time, and during the last war with England.
...
Most of the first settlers were from Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina, where all the land is
timbered, and the prairies, they viewed as uninhabitable deserts. 
...
In the autumn of 1816, a few families of emigrants were crossing the prairie east of Beaver Creek, in the
southern part of this county. The grass had nearly all been burnt off, affording a fine opportunity for
viewing the soil and situation of the country. An old gentleman belonging to the party was walking along
behind the wagons, in company with a few others, who, like himself, had become fatigued with riding and
got out to walk. The old man gazed with wonder and delight on the boundless expanse of prairie spread out
before him in all its original beauty. Taking up handfuls of the rich, black soil, he would examine it
minutely, then toss it aside with the exclamation, “Ah me, how rich it is; what a pity there’s no timber
to fence it.” 
...

[Page 15] ... [Page 16] ... [Page 17] ... [Page 18] ... 
[Page 19] Chapter II ...

[Page 20] ...

While the war of 1812 was in progress, but few emigrants came to the county, and these settled in the
vicinity of the forts, or stations, on account of the hostile incursions of the savages. Occasionally a 
settler erected his cabin, and made a “clearing” at quite a distance from the station, remaining there with 
his family as long as there were no signs of Indians about, but as soon as they made their appearance in the 
neighborhood, e would remove, with all his responsibilities and household goods, into the fort for safety, 
returning home when the danger had passed. Families thus situated moved to and from the forts, perhaps, 
several times in a year, and, while living at their homes, were in constant danger of being attacked by 
Indians; yet they appeared contented, and in the enjoyment of more happiness than seems possible, under the 
circumstances.

There was a man named COX, who, in spite of the warnings and entreaties of others, persisted in staying at 
home instead of coming with his family, into Hill’s Station, the savages being then encamped on Indian Creek,
four miles nearly west from Greenville. His house was near Beaver Creek, a little below where Dudleyville is 
now situated, and several miles from the station, but he insisted there was no danger. As a result, however, 
of his imprudence, the Indians attacked his house one day during his absence, stole several articles of value, 
captured his daughter, Sally COX, and carried her off with them. Intelligence of this melancholy event reached 
the station in a few hours. A party of men was instantly raised, the savages pursued, overtaken, and the girl 
rescued and brought back safe to her parents, all within the space of twenty-four hours from the time of her 
capture. After this occurrence, COX was willing to remove his family to the fort, especially in times of imminent 
danger, but, notwithstanding the remonstrances of others, he would go out to his house once or twice a week, “to 
see how things were getting along.” On one of these occasions he was accompanied by his son, a small boy, both 
being on horseback.

When they came within a short distance of his residence, he sent the boy to water their horses at the creek, 
while he proceeded on foot to the house. As he approached he noticed Indian tracks, which aroused his suspicions, 
but being a brave man he went on, almost fearing to enter. The savages were concealed in the house, standing on 
both sides of the door with rifles cocked and presented, ready to shoot him the moment he entered. He came up to 
the door, and on opening it, was shot by an Indian and instantly killed. They then ran down to the creek where 
the boy was, and gave him to understand they would not hurt him, that they only wanted the horses. Being greatly
frightened he endeavored to ride toward them, or hold the horses so that they could come near enough to take hold 
of the bridles, but the poor animals were so alarmed at the Indians he could not manage them. Hence, quite a 
struggle ensued; the Indians trying to get to the horses and they struggling away from them, while the boy was 
using every exertion to hold them, no doubt thinking his life depended on his efforts to do so. In this manner 
they gradually got farther from the creek, when, suddenly emerging into the prairie, the boy thought to escape, 
and started off at a rapid pace. The Indians perceiving this, one of them leveled his gun

[Page 21] and shot the little fellow off his horse as he ran. The house in which his tragedy occurred was standing 
but a few years since.

The particulars of the murder of COX and his son were related by the Indians themselves, at the treaty made near 
the close of the war. He was a large, powerful man, an experienced Indian fighter, and had sent many a “brave” to 
the “happy hunting grounds.” Had he certainly known they were concealed in the house, it would have cost them many 
lives to have taken his, for he was considered a match for two or three Indians at any time. Most of them knew him, 
and acknowledged that, as they watched through a small crevice in the house, and perceived, from his looks and 
actions, that he had discovered their tracks, and yet was boldly approaching the door, they felt afraid of him, 
although ten to one in numbers.

An incident occurred at Jones’ Fort, about the time COX was killed, which is of interest in this connection. At a 
little distance from it stood a large elm tree, which at the height of several feet separated into three prongs, 
all branching out at the same distance from the ground. Each of these being very large afforded sufficient shelter 
to conceal a man standing in the space thus formed. An Indian, observing this, conceived the idea of climbing up 
into the ambuscade thus furnished and shooting at persons inside the fort. From this elevated position, he could 
see over the wall and fire on the people, which was impossible from the ground. One evening, near sunset, he 
ascended the tree and took his station; soon the report of a rifle was heard and one of the men in the fort fell 
dead. This was so sudden and unexpected that no one could tell from whence the firing proceeded, though all were
satisfied it came from an Indian concealed somewhere outside the inclosure. This was repeated on several evenings 
until four or five white men had been shot down without any one being able to find out the whereabouts of the 
murderer. He was finally discovered, however, in his hiding place, and shot by a man watching for him.

Another attack by Indians took place at Hill’s Station in the latter part of August, 1814. As there have been 
several versions of this fight already published it is but proper to mention that the following statement is in 
no particular derived from any of them, as they are not entirely correct. It coincides with them, however, in many 
of its details. It is obtained direct from persons now living who had the scene described to them by those residing 
in the station at the time of its occurrence, besides from the statement of the hero of the conflict himself, and 
may be considered reliable.

A few rangers, under the command of Maj. JOURNEY, were stationed at the station in order to afford the settlers 
better protection against the savages. Benjamin HENSON, a resident in the station, while out hunting one day, saw 
an Indian, which circumstance he related on his return in the evening, adding that he believed they were in danger 
of an attack. This story was discredited by many, both officers and men, who believed he had manufactured the whole 
thing merely to get up an excitement and alarm. On the evening of the day in question some of the women found grains 
of parched corn scattered about the spring, situated a little distance form the station, and as none of the white 
people had been using any at that time, this was conclusive evidence that the “red skins” were about.

Strange as it may seem, however, some of the rangers still refused to believe that there was any danger. One Lieut.
BOUCHER, on hearing HENSON’s statement, called him a liar to his face, and treated with contempt every suggestion 
of danger.

After disputing and quarreling awhile over the matter, they decided to send out a squad of men on the following day 
to look for Indians

[Page 22] Next morning Maj. JOURNEY started out, taking all the men with him, thus leaving the fort in a defenseless
condition, the gates all wide open and the women milking the cows, apparently unconscious of danger. The party of 
rangers proceeded along a narrow path leading down a narrow ravine, when they were suddenly fired upon by a large 
party of Indians, concealed behind trees and in the grass on both sides of the path. Maj. JOURNEY, Capt. GROTZ and 
two of the privates, - Lynne and William PRUITT, were instantly killed. The fifth man, - Thomas HIGGINS, was shot 
in the thigh and fell from his horse, which ran off. The others, seeing danger ahead, left the path immediately,
scattering in different directions and taking positions at some distance from each other, managed to engage the 
enemy as best they could. Having seen HIGGINS fall from his horse with the other four, they supposed him killed also 
and took no further notice of him at that time. There was a small field of corn close to the fort, on the north side, 
in which several Indians had concealed themselves, for when the firing commenced the women saw three or four run out 
of this field and pass round to the scene of conflict. They had doubtless been watching the whites, intending to 
commit some depredation as soon as the men all left. Immediately after HIGGINS fell from his horse he was attacked 
by three Indians armed only with spears, evidently believing him entirely within their power. His wound had disabled 
him so that it was with difficulty he could stand without support, but the knowledge that his life was at stake seemed 
to give him super-human strength. Cocking his rifle, he presented it whenever one approached nearer than the others, 
as if intending to shoot, determined, however, not to do so until he could make sure of his game. The Indians, being 
uncertain whether his gun was loaded or not, were afraid to rush on him. Thus he held them at bay for a short time; 
but they kept circling round trying to get on both sides of him, each time coming a little closer and closer, 
whirling about in various ways or falling down flat in the grass and weeds whenever he seemed likely to fire. 
Occasionally one gave him a thrust with his spear, when they would all laugh to see him dodge and writhe with the 
pain, but were afraid to advance near enough to take hold of him. He still reserved his fire knowing that his only 
chance for life was to kill one “dead” at the first and only shot he would get. He said that one of them was the 
“biggest Injun” he ever saw, and he thought if he could only hill him first his chance for life would be much better. 
At length feeling himself growing weaker, and receiving a severe wound in the mouth and jaw from the spear of the 
largest Indian, who also was the boldest, HIGGINS leveled his rifle at him as he pulled the spear from the wound 
and fired, killing him dead on the spot.

The other two, knowing that his gun was discharged, now advanced on him without fear. His success in killing the 
most formidable one inspired him with fresh courage, and not having time to reload his rifle, he seized it by the 
muzzle, and as they rushed upon him with loud and triumphant yells, struck the foremost one with all his power over 
the head, knocking out his brains and killing him immediately. The force of the blow broke the gun off at the breach 
and the barrel flew out of his hands to some distance in the thick grass.

He now fell exhausted, and being unable to rise to his feet, commenced crawling toward the gun-barrel, his only means 
of defense, in order to obtain it before the remaining Indian, who had also started to search for it. The savage
succeeded in getting it first, and with a tremendous yell, came slowly up in front of him, brandishing the weapon in 
his hands, as if to give him all the anguish possible, before striking the final blow. Having reached a small tree, 
he raised himself by means of it to a 

[Page 23] standing position, leaning back against it for support, feeling that his time had come when, to his great 
joy, he beheld two white men – William PURSLEY and David WHITE – on horseback, coming to his rescue. They were coming 
up behind the Indian, who was too much elated with the idea of capturing his victim to observe them. As soon as 
HIGGINS saw them he exclaimed, “Pursley, for God’s sake, don’t let him kill me.”

The Indian still believing no one near, and that this was a cry of despair, laughed tauntingly in his face, and
mimickingly repeated his cry in bad English. The words had scarcely passed his lips when the men were upon him with
rifles leveled. Instantaneously he commenced a series of the most vigorous and ludicrous gymnastic exercises, but 
they finally succeeded in killing him.

A portion of this fight was witnessed by the women in the fort, and one of them – Mrs. WHITE – when she saw HIGGINS
likely to be overpowered, seized a gun, mounted a horse, and started to his assistance. She had not proceeded far,
however, when, perceiving PURSLEY and her husband hastening to his relief, she returned to the fort. HIGGINS was 
taken to the station, where his wounds were dressed and cared for until his recovery. He died, a few years since, 
in Fayette County, having been a perfect specimen of a frontier man in his day. He was once assistant door-keeper 
of the House of Representatives of Illinois.

...

Emigrants came to the country but slowly, so that by the year 1816, Bond County numbered not over twenty-five
dwelling-houses, if their pole cabins could be called dwelling-houses. ...

[Page 24] ...

[Page 25] Chapter III

... Illinois was taken from the British in 1778, by conquest of Gen. George Rogers Clark, and became a county of
Virginia. It then embraced what is now the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, with the 
seat of government at Kaskaskia. In 1784, Virginia ceded it to the United States Government, and by the ordinance 
of 1787 it became the Northwestern Territory, with its capital first at Marietta, and then at Cincinnati, Ohio. 
This continued until 1800, when it was made a part of the Indiana Territory, with the seat of government at 
Vincennes, Ind., and embraced the present States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. In 1809, that portion 
now forming the States of Illinois and Wisconsin, became the Territory of Illinois, and in 1818, Illinois became a 
State of the Federal Union, with her capital at the ancient town of Kaskaskia. The Southern part of the State was 
settled long before the central and northern part, and there the first counties were formed, even before the State 
was admitted into the Union. The country within the boundaries of the present State of Illinois extending northward 
to the mouth of the Little Mackinaw Creek, was organized into a county in February, 17790, and named for His 
Excellency, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Northwestern Territory. Other counties were formed, as population
increased. In 1795, Randolph was created, and Madison in 1812. Bond County, comprising a large extent of territory, 
and from which several counties have since been formed, was organized in 1817. The following is the act of the
Legislature, or that part of it pertaining to the subject, which gave it a legal existence.

An act forming a new county out of the county of Madison, approved January 4, 1817: 
Be it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of Illinois Territory, and it is hereby enacted 
by authority of the same, that all tract of country within the following boundaries, to wit: 
Beginning at the southwest corner of Township 3 north, Range 4 west; thence east to the southeast corner of Township 
3 north, Range 1 east, to the third meridian line; thence north to the boundary line of the Territory; thence west 
with said boundary line so far that a south line will pass between Ranges 4 and 5 west; thence south with said line 
to the beginning. The same shall constitute a separate county to be called Bond, and the seat of justice for said 
county shall be at Hill's Fort until it shall be permanently established in the following manner, that is to say, 
there shall be five persons appointed, to wit: William ROBERTS, John POWERS, Robert GILLESPIE, John WHITLEY, Sr., 
and John

[Page 26] LAUGHLIN, or a majority of them being duly sworn before some Judge or Justice of the Peace of this 
Territory to faithfully take into view the situation of the settlements, the geography of the county, the 
convenience of the people and the eligibility of the place, shall meet on the first Monday in March, next, at 
Hill’s Fort, on Shoal Creek, and proceed to examine and determine on the place for the permanent seat of justice 
and designate the same.  ...

[Page 27 - Portrait of William S. WAIT] 
[Page 28 - Blank page]

[Page 29]...

As Bond County was organized in 1817, when Illinois was yet a Territory, it was one of the fifteen counties 
represented in the Constitutional Convention of 1818. Thomas KIRKPATRICK and Samuel G. MORESE represented this 
county in the Convention that formed the first State Constitution. Of the dimensions of Bond at the time of its
formation, Rev. Thomas W. HYNES, in his address, July 4, 1876, says:

[Page 30]...

... The first Circuit Court was held at Hill's Station, on Monday, May 30, 1817. The State being under a 
Territorial Government, all the offices were filled by appointment, and were as follows: The Hon. Jesse B. THOMAS, 
Judge; Daniel CONVERSE, Clerk; Samuel G. MORSE, Sheriff; and Charles R. MATHENY, State's Attorney. The following 
persons served as grand jurors: John WHITLEY, Sr., Foreman, Soloman REAVIS, Fields PRUITT, Coonrod HOOSONG, Samuel
DAVIDSON, Paul BECK, William ROBINSON, John HOPTON, Robert GILLESPIE, Benjamin JAMES, Charles REAVIS, Charles 
STEEL, Andrew MOODY, Absalom MATHEWS, William McLANE, John WHITLEY, Jr., Peter HUBBARD, David WHITE, Francis 
KIRKPATRICK, William BURGESS, John SAMPLES, Elijah POWERS, Thomas WHITE.

The list of petit jurors cannot be given, for it does not appear in any of the old records of the county, and, so 
far as can be ascertained, John B. WHITE, residing a short distance west of Greenville, is the4 only man now living 
who served on either jury at that court. The petit jury, on retiring to make up their verdict, instead of being shut 
up in a close room, went out and sat on a large log.

There was only one bill of indictment found, and but one case tried. Judge THOMAS, alluding to this circumstance 
when dismissing the grand jury, remarked, “It speaks much for the morals of your community; long may such a state 
of things continue.” In the foregoing list of grand jurors, quite a number of our citizens will recognize the names 
of ancestors and others with whom they have been familiar in former years. 

Two or three terms of the Circuit Court were held at Hill’s Station, after which it was held at Perryville, the 
first county seat, situated near the mouth of Hurricane Creek, in the southwestern part of what is now Fayette 
County. The following report of the Commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice for Bond County, shows
something of the extent of territory then under its jurisdiction, and also, the ideas entertained by the people 
in relation to the navigation of the small rivers and large creeks in this country: 

Shoal Creek, April 15, 1817.
Illinois Territory, Bond County.

We, the Commissioners to fix the seat of justice for the county of Bond, being duly sworn, after reviewing 
different parts of said county for that purpose; we do nominate and appoint for that purpose; the bluff lying west 
of the Hurricane Fork of Okaw, being the southwest quarter of Section No. 5, Range No. 1 west, of Township No. 4 
north, now the property of Martin JONES, taking into view the geographical center, the navigation, the eligibility, 
and the common good of the people, as directed by law. Given under our hands and seals, the day and year first 
above written. John POWERS, Robert GILLESPIE, John WHITLEY.

This town was laid out in the spring of 1818, and the plat recorded May 17 of the same year. Illinois having been 
in the meantime admitted into the Union, Bond County was regularly organized the following autumn, and named for 
Shadrach BOND, the first Governor of the State,

[Page 31] who was elected in October, 1818, and filled a term of four years. The county then included a large 
scope of territory, extending to the north, east and south, which is now embodied in adjoining counties. The 
first Justices' or County Commissioners' Court held in the county, met at Perryville in the month of October, 
1818. The Justices were Thomas KIRKPATRICK, Martin JONES, and Isaac PRICE. Daniel CONVERSE was Clerk, and Samuel 
G. MORSE, Sheriff, CONVERSE being Clerk of both Circuit and County Courts. The principal business of this first 
court at Perryville seems to have been rewarding persons for killing wolves, $2 being the amount paid for each 
scalp produces. There were thirty-five orders passed allowing pay for wolf-scalps, and it appears that fifty-one 
wolves had been killed. The whole amount of money expended by the county for the year previous, as stated by the 
Sheriff, was $97.75, which was probably mostly for wolf-scalps. 

Among the orders passed at this term of the court was one for the erection of a jail at Perryville, giving plan 
and specifications of the building. It appears to be the only order of any importance passed after remunerating 
the wolf-killers; a jail, whether needed or not, being evidently considered as a mark of civilization, or, at 
least, tending in that direction. After perusing this order, the reader can form his own conclusions as to the 
condition of the literature and architecture of Bond County at that time, and picture to himself the imposing 
appearance such a building would now present if located in the public square of Greenville. The following is 
the order, given word for word and letter for letter:

Ordered that Martin JONES be appointed and Empowered to let a Gail to the lowest Bidder to bee built of timber 
hewn square 12 Inches, the log with a partition of the same kind of Timber, the partition to be 6 feet from one 
end, the corners to be dove-tailed together and also the partition walls, - the outside door to be double, of 
two Inch plank, and sufficiently mailed with Strong nails and barred with two Iron barrs, half an inch thick and 
three inches wide, to answer for the hinges, to be hinged with steeples 8/4 of an Inch in Diameter drove through 
the Logs and Clinched, and also steeples through the logs in the same manner on the other side of the door, with 
holes through the bolts to Lock the door with Pad Locks to each.

This jail was built, but not strictly in accordance with the above order, for if it had, it would have been 
without roof or floor. It is likely the architect supplied with his inventive powers what was omitted in the
specification. The first many ever imprisoned in Bond County was incarcerated in this building during the first 
Circuit Court held at Perryville. E came into court not only a little “tight,” but very drunk, swearing and 
making quite a disturbance. The Judge ordered him to jail until he became sober, which order was promptly 
executed by the Sheriff. That worthy official, however, found it impossible to lock the door, for the reason 
that there had been no padlock provided, as stipulated in the building contract, but as the door opened to the 
outside, he closed it and placed fence-rails and poles against it, making everything, as he thought, secure. 
This was late in the afternoon, near sunset. The prisoner lay down and soon fell asleep. About midnight he 
awoke, duly sober, and finding himself in such a place, was at first much surprised, but after a little 
reflection, recollected his condition the day before, and imagined that somebody had put him in there for 
mischief. After groping around the walls awhile, he found the door, and by pushing, kicking, swearing and 
yelling till almost daylight, succeeded in getting out. The next day he was going about trying to find the 
perpetrators of the outrage, swearing he could whip any man that helped to put him in there, never for a 
moment supposing that an order of court had anything to do with it.

Some idea of the sparseness of the settle- 

[Page 32] ments at that time may be obtained form the fact that a party of three or four lawyers, on there way 
to the above-named court, got lost in crossing the prairie between Shoal Creek and the Okaw. After wandering 
about for several hours, vainly endeavoring to discover some signs of a human habitation, night overtook them, 
and they were compelled to pass it in the tall grass near a pond, where, bitten by mosquitoes and gnats, and 
serenaded by hundreds of wolves and myriads of frogs, their meditations were anything but pleasant. They arrived 
at their destination the next forenoon, hungry and sleepy, where their acquaintances accused them of having been 
on a spree the night previous, judging from the reddened appearance of their countenances.

... At one of the Justices’ Courts, held at Perryville, an order was passed at a subsequent session, when a 
license was granted authorizing one JONES “to establish and keep in operation a ferry over the Okaw River at 
Vandalia.” . . . Notwithstanding the rough state of society then existing, and that the county contained some 
pretty “hard cases,” yet the laws were, with few exceptions, strictly and promptly executed, without any 
serious resistance or attempts at lynching. The only case of the latter was that of a man named BAKER, arrested 
on Big Shoal Creek for horse-stealing, where he was tied to a tree, whipped, and then driven from the county. He 
went to Vandalia, stole another horse, and started east, but was pursued, overtaken and shot near the Indiana 
line. The precise date of this occurrence is not known, but was probably about the years 1820.

...

[Page 33] Chapter IV ... 
[Page 34] ... 
[Page 35] ... 
[Page 36] ... 
[Page 37] ... 

In the year 1817, the first mill ever in Bond County was built by Paul BECK, on quite a primitive plan. It 
stood in the southwestern part of Greenville, near the cemetery, and is more particularly noticed in the 
history of Greenville. The fine spring near this mill was called “Beck’s Spring.” In a few years, other mills 
were built, some of which ground wheat, being supplied with a bolt turned by hand. The first water-mill in the 
county was put up on Shoal Creek, at Old Ripley, by Samuel LEE, about 1819 or 1820. E. R. WHEELOCK and Wyatt 
STUBBLEFIELD erected mills on the East

[Page 38] Fork of Shoal Creek shortly after. Both of these mills, together with their owners, have long since 
passed away.

... 

Other manufactories were few in number and on a par with mills in quality and importance. The first settlers 
being mostly from the Southern States turned their attention early to cotton-growing, and hence establishments 
must necessarily be erected for its manufacture. So, in the year 1820, Thomas LONG put up a cotton-gin not far 
from Stubblefield. A year or two afterward Samuel WHITE and Moses HINTON put in operation a spinning-machine 
in Greenville. Neither of these establishments had a very extensive run, however, for their owners had built 
them with the expectation of obtaining supplies form the products of the surrounding country. But it was found 
impossible to supply them with material, as it was soon demonstrated that cotton would not grow to do any good 
upon the soil of Illinois. A tannery was started by Samuel WHITE in 1820, at the spring west of Greenville, the 
first in the county. In 1822, James B. RUTHERFORD commenced the manufacture of hats in Greenville, which he 
carried on for several years. Other establishments of the kind were started up from time to time. Somewhere 
about 1823-24, Milton MILLS started a wool-carding machine in the county near Wisetown. Many other small 
manufacturing establishments were started, most of which, however, had but a brief existence. …

[Page 39] Chapter V ...

In the early history of Bond County, whisky was considered as almost one of the necessaries of life, or at 
least “good in its place.” This “place” was nearly everywhere, embracing all occasions and applying to nearly 
every condition of life. Of course, no one presumed to uphold or advocate drunkenness, but a temperate use of 
spirituous liquors, was not only considered harmless, but in many cases absolutely beneficial. Hence, 
distilleries were erected, and the manufacture of whisky begun soon after settlements were made in the 
country.

The first distillery in what is now Bond County, was put in operation, in 1819, by George DONNELL, at a spring 
about two miles north of Greenville. Within a few years succeeding the erection of this one, several others 
were built in portions of the county, one of which was at Beck's Spring, near the graveyard (a very appropriate 
place for a distillery). The manufacture of whisky at these distilleries was not carried on to a great extent, 
nor for any considerable length of time. And to the honor of Bond County be it recorded, that there is not now 
an establishment within its limits for the manufacture of ardent spirits. At the time these distilleries were 
in operation, for several years after, intemperance prevailed to an almost alarming extent. It is not 
exaggerating to say, that whisky was in use, either moderately or otherwise, by more than one-half of the 
people in the county. On public occasions, drunken men were so common, that sober men seemed to be the 
exception. At any time between the years of 1830 and 1845, it was nothing unusual to see twenty or thirty men 
at one time, on election or muster day, in Greenville, drunk, swearing and yelling like Indians, the majority 
of them with coats off and sleeves rolled up, wanting to resent an insult which they fancied they had received 
from some one whom they were trying to find. Sometimes a fellow staggered against a tree, or post, or came in 
collision with another individual, and feeling the concussion, imagined that somebody had struck him. In an 
instant he would shed his coat and hat, and go rushing through the crowd, endeavoring to find his supposed 
enemy, and swearing that he was "a hoss", and could "whip his weight in wild cats". And woe be unto the 
luckless individual who was mistaken for the aggressor. Many an inoffensive, respectable citizen received 
rough treatment under such circumstances, and astonished his better-half by returning home from an election, 
or muster, with a smashed hat, black eye, or bloody nose, to satisfactorily account for which, required, in 
some instances, no ordinary amount of explanation.

At the time of which we are writing, all the voting at a general election was done in

[Page 40] Greenville. ... 

[Page 41] ...

A great excitement was created here many years ago from a belief in the existence of the precious metals in 
Bond County. Both silver and gold were believed to be deposited at various points in the middle, western and 
southwestern parts. Tales were related by some of the old settlers, giving accounts of fabulous quantities of 
silver ore being obtained here by the French and Indians, more than a hundred years before. The people credited 
these stories and dreamed of future wealth and luxury.

Robert GILLESPIE, living on Shoal Creek, a few miles above Pocahontas, found shining particles in the sand of 
a spring near his house, and washing out a quantity, showed it to some fellow in St. Louis, who pronounced it 
pure gold. This was enough; the demand for GILLESPIE's "dust" was such, that small quantities of it were in 
the possession of various persons, in order to compare it with such as might be found on their own premises. 
About this time, a man by the name of GAYLOR, who was supposed to know something about minerals, being a

[Page 42] "water witch", astonished the neighborhood by announcing that he had discovered an inexhaustible mine 
of silver on the land of Samuel HUNTER, near Indian Creek, about four miles from Greenville.

A furnace was erected at the expense of Mr. HUNTER, and GAYLOR went to work manufacturing silver. The business 
was carried on for some weeks, producing but little silver, however, in proportion to the amount of ore smelted.
Specimens of the metal had been tested by competent judges, and found to be silver, and men became almost insane 
with excitement, as they beheld the treasure issued form GaAYLOR’s crucible. Some individuals actually neglected 
their business, spending days in wandering up and down creeks, branches and ravines, and returning at night with 
their pockets crammed full of little pieces of the substance known as “horn-blende,” the shining particles of 
which they believed to be gold and silver.

Several of HUNTER’s neighbors, believing the whole thing to be a deception, went, one afternoon, to the furnace,
where GAYLOR was at work, expressing a desire to see him smelt some ore taken form the mine in question. He did 
so, producting a small quantity of metal which was pronounced silver by all present. But while stirring the mass 
of pulverized ore, one of the men saw him drop a piece of silver coin into the crucible, which fact he 
communicated to the others. They then filled the crucible themselves with precisely the same kind of ore, and 
placing it in the furnace, told him that, after being thoroughly searched, he should smelt it, with his coat 
off and sleeves rolled up. He refused to do so, when they took him into custody and proceeded to melt it 
themselves. After heating and stirring the precious mass as he had done, they poured it out, but on silver was 
found.

GAYLOR was taken to Greenville and lodged in jail on a charge of swindling, but was soon after released. He left 
the country, and thus ended the gold and silver excitement in Bond County.

Strange as it may appear to the reader, slavery existed in Bond County in the early period of its history. A man 
named HOUSTON, from Kentucky, emigrated to this county and purchased a farm three miles west of Greenville, the 
place first settled and owned by Dr. PERRINE. He brought with him a number of slaves, among whom were a woman 
named Fanny and her two children, a boy and girl, Stephen and Charity. His family soon became dissatisfied, and 
he returned to Kentucky, taking all his negroes with him except Fanny and her children - she not being able at 
the time to travel. They were left at the residence of Thomas WHITE, two miles west of town, until her recovery, 
when she went to Greenville and hired to work.

According to the laws of Illinois then in force, she and her children were free, having been in the State longer 
than the time specified, sixty days. About this time, one MAGOON came to Greenville and stated that he had 
purchased those negroes from HOUSTON. He was informed that they were free and could not be removed without a 
violation of law. He then formed a conspiracy with two citizens of Bond County to kidnap them, which they carried 
into effect one Sunday while the people were at church. They were pursued and captured at PEARCE’s, on Silver 
Creek, in Madison County. After being all brought back, the negroes were released and the kidnappers placed under 
bonds for trial, but it appears were never brought into court.

MAGOON left the country, and remained away until the excitement subsided a little, when he returned and arranged 
with one of the BATEMANS, living on the Okaw, to steal the boy, Stephen, from a place north of Greenville, where 
he had gone to live. BATEMAN succeeded in kidnapping him, and carried him down into the neighborhood where he 
lived. He was kept

[Page 43] concealed in the Okaw bottom until MAGOON found an opportunity to escape with him.

The excitement was intense, and a crowd of resolute men soon started in pursuit. They followed on to the 
neighborhood of the BATEMANs, and spent several days searching in the woods. Failing, however, to find the boy, 
the pursuit was abandoned and the party returned home.

MAGOON succeeded in escaping south with the boy, where he sold him into slavery, in which condition he remained 
until liberated by the late war between the States. He was never heard from until near the close of the rebellion, 
when he was found in the southern part of Georgia, by a Bond County soldier, to whom he related the particulars 
of his capture and abduction. BATEMAN was one of the Okaw desperadoes and drunkards, who were wont to assemble 
in Greenville in the early history of Bond County, on public days, to drink and fight. He died not many years 
since, in a state of intoxication, uttering with his last breath the most horrible blasphemies.

Old Fanny’s husband, Stephen HUDLEY, was a slave in Missouri, and she, after years of toil, saved money enough 
cooking, washing and selling ginger cakes, to purchase his freedom, and thus had the proud satisfaction of 
re-uniting those sacred ties which had been sundered by the curse of slavery. At attempt, as we have seen, had 
been made to kidnap her and her little children, not by slaveholders, from whom nothing better could have been 
expected, but by citizens of a free state - the last men it would be supposed, who would commit such a dastardly 
act. But who can account for human depravity?

The health of the people of Bond County is much better now than in former years. This is attributable to the 
fact that there is less rain, less decaying vegetation, fewer marshes and stagnant pools, and a consequent 
diminution of the vapors thus generated, which have proved, in so many cases, fatal to the human family. In 
addition to all this, we live in more comfortable houses, are better clothed, and expose ourselves less to 
the inclemencies of the weather. 

The first physicians who located here were Drs. William PERRINE and J. B. DRAKE, from New Jersey. Before this, 
when people became sick, they had to send to Edwardsville for a doctor. Both Dr. PERRINE and Dr. DRAKE were 
young men of talent and education, and well versed in their profession. They soon got a good practice, and became 
noted physicians.

Dr. PERRINE married a Miss TOWNSEND - the daughter of a Presbyterian preacher, residing in the northwestern part 
of the county, and a few years later removed with his family to Florida. During the Seminole war, he was murdered 
by Indians at his own house. Dr. DRAKE removed to Greenville, where he continued the practice of medicine for 
many years. He then engaged in the mercantile business, and, still later, married, residing in Greenville until 
his death.

As the county became more populous, other physicians of eminence located here and acquired considerable note as 
medical practitioners. During some of the sickly seasons, there were not enough well persons to take care of the 
sick. This state of affairs was not confined to Bond County alone, but extended over the southern part of the 
State. The year 1844 was, perhaps, the most unhealthy one ever experienced in this part of Illinois. Then, all 
the physicians of this county resided in Greenville, and, of course, their practice extended many miles. They 
were kept going night and day during the sickliest portion, not only of 1844, but of several years preceding, 
and after that time. 

There was much sickness then of a serious and fatal character, yet there were some persons who would send for a 
physician for every trifling illness. When an individual mounted

[Page 44] a horse to go for a doctor, he generally “put him through,” no matter what the distance, nor what the 
disease, whether a sprained ankle, or congestion of the brain; the speed was about the same. A man living ten or 
twelve miles from Greenville was seen one day riding at a fearful rate toward town, his horse in a foam of sweat, 
and evidently going for a doctor in a desperate case. He was hailed on the way, when the following dialogue 
ensued: “Who’s sick?” “My brother.” “What’s the matter with him?” “He’s bleeding.” By this time he had got so far 
off as to render further questions impracticable. It was afterwards ascertained that his brother had only taken 
a spell of bleeding at the nose, from which he soon recovered.

[Page 45 - Portrait of A. G. HENRY]
[Page 46 - Blank page]
[Page 47] Chapter VI ...

There is no better evidence of moral advancement and Christian civilization in a newly-settled community than 
the establishment of churches. The history of Christianity in Bond County may be termed coeval with its settlement 
by white people. The first preacher of whom there is any authentic account made his appearance in the county in 
the year 1816, and was of the Methodist denomination, among which were found those pioneer soldiers of the cross, 
who preceded or followed close in the wake of civilization in the West. Rev. Jesse HALE, the pioneer minister of 
Bond County preached his first sermon at the house of Robert GILLESPIE, who lived two miles southwest of Greenville, 
in the year mentioned (1816), and where he continued preaching at intervals, during that and part of the ensuing 
year. A church, the first established in the county, was organized in that neighborhood during the two years of 
his ministration. What State he was form, or where he went after this, cannot now be ascertained.

The next preacher was Salmon P. GIDDINGS of St. Louis, a Presbyterian, who preached occasionally at private houses, 
and in 1818 or 1819, organized a church at “Moody’s Spring,” about a mile southwest of Greenville. This spring was 
so named for Andrew MOODY, who lived there several years, though the place was first settled by Thomas KIRKPATRICK. 
Here the first church in Bond County was erected during the year 1817, by the Methodist denomination. It was built 
of hewed logs, and thirty feet long by twenty-five feet in width. We have not been able to ascertain the precise 
dates when the first ministers belonging to each of the denominations now in the county came here, but those of 
the Baptists and Cumberland Presbyterians arrived soon after the two already mentioned, and those of the others 
at a still later day.

...

[Page 48] ... 
[Page 49] ... 

The first Sunday school in the county was organized in the year 1818, at the residence of William ROBINSON, about 
one and a half miles northwest of Greenville. It was under the supervision of the Presbyterian Church, which we 
have already mentioned. It was composed of grown people and children, and was termed a Bible class or society. 
This school has been kept up by that denomination ever since, but meets now in Greenville, at the Old Presbyterian
Church, and is very justly entitled the pioneer Sunday school of Bond County. ...

Among the ministers of the Gospel who labored here at an early day, may be mentioned Bishop AMES, Peter CARTWRIGHT 
and James B. WOOLLARD, of the Methodist; Peter LONG, of the Baptist, and Joel Knight, of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church. These, with the exception of Peter CARTWRIGHT, have preached in nearly all parts of the county. J. B. 
WOOLLARD and Peter LONG have doubtless performed more marriage ceremonies and preached more funerals than any other 
two ministers in this portion of the State. Of the early preachers of this county long since dead, were Revs. John 
DEW, John M. PECK, William K. STEWART, and many others of the various denomination, whom the old settlers can call 
to mind. ...

[Page 50] ...

The first school in the county was taught, in the year 1819, by Thomas WHITE, in a little log cabin, on the hill 
west of Greenville, between the residence of Mrs. BLACK and where Samuel WHITE's tanyard was situated. This school 
was small, as the inhabitants were few, some of whom had no education themselves, and did not care whether their 
children ever received any or not. But as the population increased, schools sprang up in various parts of the 
county, whenever a neighborhood became strong enough to sustain one. In some instances, where but tow of three 
families lived near each other, they sent off several miles to those similarly situated, took in children and 
boarded them free, in order to have a school that would justify the paying of a teacher.

... 

[Page 51] ... [Page 52] ...

The citizens of Bond County have not been behind those in any other portion of the State in asserting their 
opinions, demanding their right, or responding to the calls of patriotism. As an instance of their readiness to 
make a public declaration of opinion, they were the first in the county to oppose what was called the "internal
improvement bill", passed many years ago by the legislature, the following notice of which appears in Ford's 
History of Illinois, page 291: 
"The people of Bond County, as soon as the internal improvement system passed, had declared in a public meeting 
that the system must lead to taxation and utter ruin; that the people were not bound to pay any of the debt to 
be contracted for it; and that Bond County would never assist in paying a cent of it. Accordingly, they refused 
to pay taxes for several years."
The citizens of the county were correct in their conclusions, for in a few years the system went down, and left 
the State in the almost bankrupt condition they had foretold, with a debt of $14,000,000 hanging over it. When 
the subject of paying this debt by increased taxation came up in 1844, William S. WAIT addressed a very able 
letter to Thomas FORD, Governor of the State, in opposition to the plan.

In patriotism the county has been equally prompt in maintaining her position. When the State of Illinois was 
called upon for four regiments of volunteers for the Mexican war, in 1846, Bond County furnished one company 
of ninety-three men. This company had the following officers: Benjamin E. SELLERS, Captain; J. M. HUBBARD, 
First Lieutenant; S. G. McADAMS, Second Lieutenant, and I. N. REDFEARN, Third Lieutenant. Of this number only 
about forty men returned at the close of the

[Page 53]

campaign, the remainder having died or been discharged on account of sickness. But few of them are now living 
in the county.

During the late rebellion, the county, small as it is, furnished five companies of cavalry, besides several 
companies of infantry.

Notwithstanding so many companies went from this county into the late war, many of the citizens strongly opposed 
it. In consequence of their opposition, much excitement prevailed during a portion of the time, resulting, however, 
in no very serious trouble, except in a few instances. Many occurrences, both ludicrous and otherwise, might be 
related, but lest they stir up and keep alive old prejudices and differences, they will be passed over in silence.
Suffice it to say, in conclusion of the county’s war record, that those who went forth to battle for their 
country’s honor acquitted themselves as became American soldiers, and their history in the long and dreadful four 
years’ struggle was that of all the soldiers from Illinois – noble and honorable. Those who met a soldier’s death 
fell in a high and holy cause; those who survived the struggle and returned home enjoy the proud consciousness 
that the Union was preserved – the government unshaken.

[Page 54] Chapter VII 

... The remarks upon this road, as well as the old internal improvement system, are but prefatory to the subjoined 
sketch of the Mississippi & Atlantic Railroad, now so extensively and favorably know everywhere as the “Vandalia 
Line.” The history of this famous railroad thoroughfare is written by Mr. Williamson PLANT, who has been connected 
with it from the very inception of the enterprise, and is perfectly familiar with its career from the original 
survey to the present time. He has written it up fully, and the article will be found interesting to all the 
friends of the road. It is as follows: 

The first railroad that gave any assurance to the people of being built through Bond County was the Mississippi 
& Atlantic Railroad from St. Louis through Greenville, Vandalia, Terre Haute, connecting with lines to New York.
 
One of the most earnest workers for that road was the Hon. William S. WAIT, who was one of Bond County's oldest 
and most respected citizens. His letter written in June, 1863, to ex-Gov. B. Gratz BROWN, of St. Louis, will 
fully explain the difficulties that surrounded, and finally overcame that road:

"The railroad projected so early as 1835 to

[Page 55] run from St. Louis to Terre Haute, was intended as the commencement of a direct line of railway to the 
Atlantic cities, and its first survey (of which a copy is enclosed) was taken over the exact line of the great
"Cumberland" road. We applied to the Illinois Legislature for a charter in 1846, but were opposed by rival 
interests, that finally succeeded in establishing two lines of railroad connecting St. Louis with the Wabash - 
one by a line running north, and the other by a line running south of our survey, thus demonstrating by the 
unfailing test of physical geography that our line is the central and true one. The two rival lines alluded to, 
viz., Terre Haute & Alton and Ohio & Mississippi. We organized our company with the name of the 'Mississippi & 
Atlantic Railroad', in 1850, by virtue of a General Railroad Law passed the year previous, and immediately 
accomplished a survey. An adverse decision of our Supreme Court led us to accept the offer of Eastern capitalists 
to help us through, who immediately took nine-tenths of the stock, and gave us John BROUGH for President. Our 
right to construct was finally confirmed in February, 1854; the road put under contract, and the work commenced. 
The shock given to all railroad enterprise by the "Schuyler fraud" suspended operations, and before confidence 
was restored, the controlling power, which was enthroned in Wall street, had arrived at the conclusion, as we 
afterward discovered, to proceed no further in the construction of the Mississippi & Atlantic Railroad. For 
purposes best understood by themselves, the Easter managers amused us for several years with the hope that they 
were still determined to prosecute the work. When we were finally convinced of the intentional deception, we 
abandoned the old charter and instituted a new company under the name of the 'Highland & St. Louis Railroad 
Company' with power to build and complete by sections the entire road from St. Louis to Terre Haute. The charter 
was obtained in February, 1859, with the determination on the part of the Highland corporators to make no delay 
in constructing the section connecting them with St. Louis, but were prevented at the outset by difficulties, 
since overcome, and afterward by the existing rebellion."

The foregoing letter portrays truthfully some of the prominent difficulties with which Bond and other counties 
on the central line had to contend. State policy was openly urged by many of the leading men north and south 
of the "Brough road", as it was generally called. Hon. Sidney BREEZE, a long resident of Carlisle, on the line 
of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, publicly declared for that doctrine, "that it was to the interest of the 
State to encourage the policy that would build the most roads through the State; that the north and south roads 
(alluded to in Mr. WAIT's letter) should first be allowed to get into successful operation, when the central 
line should then be chartered, as the merits of that line would insure the building the raid on that line at 
once, giving to Middle Illinois three roads instead of one, as the chartering of the central line first would 
be a death blow to the other two, at least for many long years to come." Mr. WAIT replied immediately, saying 
it was the first instance he had ever known where the merits of a railroad line had been urged as a reason why 
it should not meet with merited encouragement, and after more than $100,000 was expended on the "Brough" road, 
further work on it was, of the necessity before referred to, suspended.

In February, 1865, the rebellion nearing its close, the people along the "Central Line", or "Brough" survey, 
again renewed their petition to the Illinois Legislature for a negotiation of their right to build their 
railroad on their long-cherished route.

On the 10th of February, 1865, a liberal charter was granted for building the pres-

[Page 56] ent St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre Haute Railroad. The line was designated in the charter as "commencing 
on the left bank of the Mississippi River, opposite St. Louis, running thence eastwardly through Greenville, the 
county seat of Bond County, and through Vandalia, by the most eligible route, to a point on the River Wabash." 
The persons named therein as incorporators were Henry WING, T. W. LITTLE, John S. DEWY, Andrew MILLS, Solomon 
KOEPILI, Garritt CROWNOVER, Curtis BLAKEMAN, William S. SMITH, Charles HOILES, William S. WAIT, John B. HUNTER,
Williamson PLANT, Andrew G. HENRY, Jediah F. ALEXANDER, Nathaniel M. McCURDY, August H. DIECKMANN, Ebenezer 
CAPPS, Frederick REMANN, Mathias FEHREN, Michael LYNCH, Thomas L. VEST. J. F. WASCHFORT, Samuel W. QUINN, Chauncey 
ROSE and Joseph H. MORGAN. The citizens of Bond County led in the enterprise of building the road, not only by 
words, but by liberal individual and county subscriptions. The county, small in territory, made the liberal 
subscription of $100,000, payable in fifteen annual installments, with 10 per cent annual interest, all of which 
has been met promptly, and at this date only $16,000 remain due, all of which will be paid this year, the tax 
being already collected for that purpose, and Bond County will be free from debt, but the advantages in the use 
of the road to the people, and the yearly tax paid by the railroad company will continue as long as taxes are 
levied and collected. The railroad tax paid in Bond County for 1881 amounted to $4,374.29. The individual 
subscriptions in Bond County were some $46,000 at Greenville and $24,000 at Pocahontas, were not only promptly 
paid as called for, but some half dozen citizens of Greenville, viz., W. W. SMITH, J. F. ALEXANDER, Williamson 
PLANT, Andrew G. HENRY and others, gave to the Highland subscribers their individual guaranty to refund their 
$65,000 subscribed by them and being then paid out on call as the work progressed, if the road was not finished 
to Highland by July 1, 1868, as per condition in their subscriptions.

... 

The first meeting of the Board of Corporators was held at Vandalia, Ill., on the 14th day of November, 1865, for 
the purpose of organizing and electing a Board of nine Directors, with following result: John SCHOLFIELD, and 
Charles DUNCAN, Clark County, Ill.; Samuel QUINN, Cumberland County, Ill.; J. P. M. HOWARD and L. W. LITTLE, 
Effingham County, Ill.; C. Floyd JONES and F. REMANN, Fayette County, Ill.; William S. SMITH and Williamson PLANT, 
Bond County, Ill.

[Page 57] At the first meeting of the Board of Directors held at Effingham on the 22d day of November, 1865, for 
the purpose of electing the first officers of the company, H. P. M. HOWARD was elected President, and Williamson 
PLANT, Secretary.

Through the influence of E. C. RICE, who was chief engineer of the “Brough” survey, and had made estimates for the 
work under the same, Gen. E. F. WINSLOW, a gentleman of great energy and considerable railroad experience, after 
various propositions being made to build part of the line, or parts of the road, contracted, August 22, 1866, to 
build the entire line from the “west bank of the Wabash, to the east end of the dyke at Illinoistown.” The contract 
was finally ratified at a meeting of the Board of Directors held at Vandalia November 14, 1866. An additional 
agreement was entered into November 28, 1866, and made part of the original.

The first shock received by the Railroad Company in the outset, was the lamented death of its earnest leader and
judicious friend, Hon. William S. WAIT, July 17, 1865, thereby depriving them of his mature judgment and wise 
counsel in making and carrying out the contract about to be entered into for the building of the road under the 
charter so recently obtained from the Legislature.

In 1867, first mortgage bonds were put on the “property, rights, franchises, leases and estate,” etc., of the 
company to amount of $1,900,000. ... 

By mutual understanding between the contractor and the company, E. C. RICE was engaged as Chief Engineer of the 
company January 18, 1867, and he commenced the first survey on the west end of the line in March, and the grading 
was begun as soon as the line was fixed at the west end, in April following. At the same meeting a code of by-laws 
was adopted, and Greenville was designated as the general office of the company.

At the annual election held in January, 1867, J. P. M. HOWARD was re-elected President, Williamson PLANT, Secretary, 
and W. S. SMITH, Treasurer. April 3, 1867, Mr. HOWARD gave up the position, on request, and J. F. ALEXANDER was 
chosen President of the Company in his place. ... 

At the annual election in January, 1868, five Directors from Bond County were chosen out of the nine, viz.: J. F. 
ALEXANDER, W. S. SMITH, Andrew G. HENRY, William S. WAIT, Jr., and Francis DRESSOR. The same officers, J. F. 
ALEXANDER, President, Williamson PLANT, Secretary, and William S. SMITH, all from Bond County, were re-elected, 
giving Bond County again all the officers and a majority of the Directors. ... 

[Page 58] ... 

By the consent of the railroad, company Gen. WINSLOW as contractor was paid $120,000 for labor expended on the 
line to the 10th day of February, 1868, and at his request was released from his contracts. The same was ratified 
and accepted by the company at their meeting March 13, 1868. The railroad company entered into a contract February 
10, 1868, with Thomas L. JEWETT and B. E. SMITH, of Ohio; George B. ROBERTS, of Philadelphia, and W. R. McKEEN, of 
Terre Haute, in the firm name of McKEEN, SMITH & Co., to complete the road at an early day. At the same time and 
place an agreement was entered into, leasing the St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre Haute Railroad to the Terre Haute 
& Indianapolis Railroad Company. In the report of the President of the Vandalia Company made to the stockholders 
at their annual meeting held at Greenville, Ill., January 6, 1872, he says:
...

[Page 59] ... Vandalia Railroad  ...

Presidents – J. P. M. HOWARD, Effingham, Ill., November 22, 1865, to April 3, 1867; J. F. ALEXANDER, Greenville, 
Ill., April 3, 1867, to February 15, 1871; George B. ROBERTS, Philadelphia, February 15, 1871, to January 11, 
1876; Thomas D. MESSLER, Pittsburgh, January 11, 1876, to present time.

Treasurers - William S. SMITH, Greenville, Ill., January 18,1867, to April 14, 1869; Williamson PLANT, Greenville, 
Ill., April 14, 1869, to February 15, 1871; Albert HEWSON, Philadelphia, February 15, 1871, to June 26, 1871; 
William P. SHINN, Pittsburgh, June 26, 1871, to January 11, 1876; W. H. BARNES, Pittsburgh, January 11, 1876, to 
present time.

Secretary, Williamson PLANT, Greenville, Ill., November 22, 1865, to present time.

Superintendents and General Managers – R. B. LEWIS, first Superintendent in 1868; J. W. CONLOGUE, second 
Superintendent, 1869 and 1870; Charles R. PEDDLE, third Superintendent, 1869, 1870 and 1871; Maj. John E. 
SIMPSON, General Superintendent, from 1870 to 1876, and General Manager from 1876 to the time of his death 
in August, 1880; Joshua STAPLES, Superintendent, 1877 to 1880; D. W. CALDWELL, General Manager, after the 
death of Maj. SIMPSON, August, 1880, to May 1, 1882; Joseph HILL< General Superintendent, from January 1, 1881, 
to the present time, and since the resignation of Mr. CALDWELL, May 1, 1882, has the entire management of the 
Vandalia line from St. Louis to Indianapolis. 

H. W. HIBBARD has very acceptably filled the responsible position of General Freight Agent of the Vandalia line 
to Indianapolis for the past ten years or more. C. R. PEDDLE has been Master Machinist and Superintendent of 
Machinery, etc., since 1870 to present time; and held the same position with the Terre Haute & Indianapolis 
Railroad, for fourteen years continuously before 1870. H. W. BILLINGS was the first General Solicitor of the 
company. John SCHOLFIELD was General Solicitor for the company from May 1, 1870, until he resigned to accept 
the Supreme Judgeship to which he had been elected in the latter part of 1873. R. W. THOMPSON, of Terre Haute, 
was appointed January 13, 1874. Mr. THOMPSON held that position until he was selected by President HAYES, in 
1877, as one of his Cabinet (Secretary of the Navy). John G. WILLIAMS, the present General

[Page 60] Solicitor of the company, was appointed in 1877.

... F. M. COLBUN, General Ticket Agent, St. Louis; W. S. RONEY, Auditor; N. K. ELLIOTT, Master of Transportation, 
and many others will be readily recalled.

The intelligent traveler will soon make the acquaintance of the many gentlemanly conductors on this line, who 
view with each other to make the passengers feel at home whilst riding in the "Vandalia" cars. In his memory he 
will carry the names of John WISE, John McMAHON, John TRINDLE, Samuel TRINDLE, L. D. HIBBARD, Joseph HASELTON, 
Richard CORNELL, D. T. CONWAY, Curtis PADDOCK, John T. ELLIOTT and A. E. ROBBINS. The station agents at Greenville 
have been: First, S. B. HYNES; second, J. E. HUNT; third, M. W. Van VALKENBURG, and fourth, our present efficient 
and affable agent, W. S. OGDEN. Pocahontas has had, among others, P. POWELL, Mr. RECORD and W. H. SPRADLING, 
present incumbent. Mulberry Grove, among others, Pitts POWELL; M. J. ROBINSON, present incumbent. W. D. HYNES, 
mail agent since the road started from Greenville, having held his place until the present, is worthy of mention, 
a period of nearly fourteen years.

The general management of the St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre Haute Railroad is in the hands of W. R. McKEEN, 
President of the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad Company, as lessee, who has, by his judicious management, 
and the management of those acting under and in harmony with him, made it one of the most popular lines in the 
United States.

Col. J. HILL, a gentleman of large railroad experience, has been General Superintendent since January 1, 1881, 
and has had full control of the line as General Superintendent since the resignation of General Manager D. W. 
CALDWELL, May 1, 1882.  ... 

[Page 61] and should be honestly supported by all enterprising and wide-awake people. The press of Bond County 
merits an extended notice in this work, and the following sketch of the Greenville Advocate is compiled from an 
article published in its columns, January 19, 1882:

With this issue the Advocate goes to its many readers as No. 1 of Vol. XXV. In other words, it enters upon its
twenty-fifth year, or quarter of a century of service. As with individuals and nations, so with newspaper 
proprietors, there is a pleasure in looking back over the past history on special occasions. Inasmuch as readers 
have as much, though not exactly the same, interest in their paper that its editor has, it is quite appropriate 
that this historical review should not be confined to the editor’s easy chair, but given to the public through 
the columns which all read – especially since about all the day-dreaming an editor finds time to indulge in must 
flow from the nib of his pen. Though the Advocate proper, and by that name, is scarcely yet twenty-five years 
old, it is really a continuation of previous journalism, which only the oldest settlers will remember. It seems 
that in this review a brief notice of that and cotemporaneous journalism will not be out of place, and that it 
should come in the order of the respective papers

Of The Barn-Burner, nothing is preserved, and the memory of the men of that time has been resorted to in order 
to get even a trace of its existence. Since then, however, everything has been preserved, and all the back numbers 
that could be obtained have been securely bound, and are kept in a convenient place for reference. The first that 
is accessible of the above is No. 30 of Volume I of the Protestant Monitor. This was the first paper ever issued 
in Bond County. As its name indicates, it was a religious paper. By counting the numbers backward from the number 
just mentioned, which bears the date of Wednesday, January 6, 1846, it will appear that the first number was 
issued about the 16th of June, 1845, or more than thirty-six years ago – over a third of a century ago. It was 
owned and published by Mr. E. M. LATHRAP.  ...

On Friday, September 13, 1850, the Greenville Journal issued No. 37, Vol. 3. This was a four-page paper about the 
size of the first Monitor. J. F. ALEXANDER appears as its editor at this time, though in the absence of other 
back files we are obliged to rely on the recollection of O. BUCHANAN, that it was first owned by John WAITE. 
According to Messrs. O. BUCHANAN and J. Harvey ALEXANDER, J. F. ALEXANDER was in partnership with Mr. WAITE for 
a short time, when he bought out his interest, but subsequently re-sold the entire concern back again to Mr. 
WAITE. Mr. WAITE again sold out, this time, to ALEXANDER Brothers, Harvey and Cal., who had been working in the 
office. These two sold to another brother, D. W. ALEXANDER, and he in turn to Dr. SMITH, whose widow, Mrs. Mary 
SMITH, Greenville citizens remember as a resident of this city only a few years since. Mr. John HARPER also 
owned the paper, but wheth-

[Page 62] er he sold out to J. F. ALEXANDER, the records do not show.

It should be noticed that while Mr. WAITE had the Journal, J. F. ALEXANDER started and conducted for about one 
year the "Barn-Burner", as an organ of the extreme, or as we would now say, Stalwart Free-Soilers, who in New 
York had acquired the name of "barn burners" and who were for Martin VanBUREN. This was the first journalistic 
venture of Mr. ALEXANDER, and died out soon after the election. It was printed in the Journal office. A copy of 
the first issue was sent to Martin VanBUREN, who soon acknowledged the receipt of it in a letter of thanks to 
the editor, enclosing also a five-dollar bill. Mr. Charles HOILES remembers having the bill shown to him and 
further says that it was considered a big thing in those times. This change was without material difference in 
the paper or its management, except that J. F. ALEXANDER was left to give his time to editing the paper by D. 
W. ALEXANDER’s entering the office as publisher. The Journal, as has since been the record of the paper, 
supported what are now distinctive Republican principles either settled or undergoing that process. Beneath 
the picture of a hand holding a pen, are the Fremont and Dayton tickets, followed by the State ticket.

Next we find the American Courier, of which No. 47, of Vol. I, bears the date of May 21, 1857. Othniel BUCHANAN 
was editor and proprietor. The entire outfit for this paper was purchased new at St. Louis, by Thomas RUSSELL 
and Othniel BUCHANAN. Mr. RUSSELL, however, retired in about a year, leaving Mr. BUCHANAN alone. This outfit was 
the nucleus from which the present Advocate equipment has been developed. That identical hand press is still in 
this office. This outfit, press and all, cost $800 in St. Louis, whence it was ordered shipped to Carlyle. About 
the time it was expected at Carlyle, a wagon was driven over after it. Failing to find it at Carlyle, it was 
thought that the shipment had been made to Hillsboro. At the latter place some one told the “office-seeker” that 
he had seen a printing press traveling toward Vandalia, where the searchers were fortunate enough to find it. So 
the Courier continued a very readable paper of the dimensions of the present Advocate, only that it was a single 
instead of a double sheet. It should be stated that O. BUCANAN purchased of J. F. ALEXANDER the Journal office, 
and subsequently sold both the Journal and the Courier to Alexander & Bro., consisting of J. F. and J. H. 
ALEXANDER, who, after a while, disposed of the Journal outfit to a Scotchman named Parson PERCY, who took it to 
Stanton, Macoupin Co. Thus it will be seen that none of the Monitor or Journal material is now in Greenville.

...

It might be well enough to state here, that John H. HAWLEY, who is now, and has been for three years, one of the 
Advocate force, worked on the Greenville Advocate in 1860-61, commencing the 14th day of November, 1860. J. F. 
ALEXANDER was editor, and Thomas RUSSELL foreman. The paper at that time being less than half its present size, 
about one good man, and a country boy like Mr. HAWLEY, was then all that was necessary to do the work. The only 
machinery about the office was the old hand-press, now in use. On the editorial page an

[Page 63 - Portrait of Williamson PLANT] 
[Page 64] - Blank page

[Page 65] “Educational Department” was conducted by Thomas W. HYNES, who still continues a warm friend and 
occasional contributor to the Advocate. An article from his pen on “Our Early Local History” urged the formation 
of an old settlers’ society, that the early incidents might not be forgotten, and that memories of the past might 
be preserved.

During the late rebellion, J. F. ALEXANDER was succeeded as publisher and proprietor of the Advocate by his brother, 
E. J. C. ALEXANDER, who continued the paper until August, 1865, when his interest was transferred to S. C. MACE, 
who managed the paper alone until April of 1866, when he associated with him T. O. SHENICK, as publisher, who 
combined his energy with Mr. MACE, giving the public the only local reading in the county, till March, 1869, when 
Mr. MACE was again left alone. In November, 1871, Mr. MACE sold out to Samuel B. HYNES, under whose proprietorship, 
his father, Rev. Thomas W. HYNES, had the editorial and general management of the Advocate, which, with the 
beginning of the year 1872, they had changed from a four page with eight columns to an eight-page paper of six 
columns each, considerably smaller than its present size. This form was retained for two years, when the former
dimensions were again adopted. From Mr. HYNES the Advocate was purchased by George M. TATHAM, the present proprietor 
and editor. This was October 1, 1873. Since that time the Advocate has steadily increased in size, never decreasing, 
and often requiring large supplements, so that readers might not be stinted by the pressure of advertisements. From 
a subscription list of about five hundred, many for wood and produce, which often never came, the present editor
acknowledges the appreciation of the reading community to the extent of over twelve hundred subscriptions, all 
settled for, and an influence extending over the entire county, and not unnoticed in neighboring counties, States 
and cities.

... 

The Sun, published by William BOLL and Fordyce C. CLARK, at Greenville, is the successor of the Bond County 
Democrat, which was started by J. B. ANDERSON, June 2, 1876. On the 25th of January, 1877, Boll & Clark bought 
the paper, and changed its name form Bond County Democrat to the Sun. They worked up the circulation from 400
pay-as-you-please subscribers in 1877, to an edition of 1,280, on the cash-in-advance rule, reaching that 
circulation during the campaign of 1880.

...

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