| HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY. |
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ASHMORE TOWNSHIP. This town is pretty well divided between prairie and woodland, the latter, perhaps, predominating to some extent. Its timber is principally oak, hickory, sugar-maple, and a light scattering of walnut. The township is watered by the main branch of the Embarrass River flowing along its western boundary, together with several smaller streams which have their source in its territory, the most important of which is Pole Cat Creek. The sweet-scented name of this stream was derived, it is said, from the fact that a newcomer first learned upon its classic banks the power and alacrity of that species of feline to defend itself against its enemies. Ashmore is bounded on the north by Oakland Township; on the west by the Embarrass River on the south and east by Hutton Township and Edgar County, and is much larger than a regular Congressional township. It is a fine agricultural region, and contains many excellent farms. The Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad passes nearly through its center from east to west, and has been of incalculable benefit to the town. The village of Ashmore, which will be again alluded to in this chapter, is a thriving place, and the ship- ping point for a large scope of country. FIRST SETTLEMENT. The first white men who made claims in the territory now embraced in Ashmore were the Dudleys. James Dudley entered land here in 1826. He was originally from New Hampshire, but had been for several years a resident of Edgar County before coming to this section. When he entered land here he put his brother, Guilford Dudley, on it, and Laban Burr, a son of Laban Burr, one of the early settlers of Edgar County, and he remained for several years afterward in that county before coming to his new possessions. Guilford Dudley and Laban Burr were both single men, and kept “bachelor’s hall ” for several years. Coles County, at the time of which we write, was a part of Clark, and the first frame barn erected in what now comprises both counties, was put up on the Dudley farm about 1830. It was a frame structure, as we have said, of the New England pattern, and after the frame had been “raised,” a man of the name of McCracken climbed to the top of it to christen it by name, as he said was the custom down in New England. With all due solemnity, and “in the name of the good people present,” he pronounced the name of “Bachelor’s Delight and the Pride of the Fair,” and then threw away the bottle, though, as our informant expressed it, bottles then were rather scarce. What use they had for a bottle in such a ceremony we are unable to conjecture. The romantic name under which the barn was christened appears a little contradictory, and the latter clause a misnomer, as the household at that time was said to have been a bachelor one. The “raising” of the edifice was quite an event, and men came from the “Big Creek” settlement (in Edgar County) to assist in the enterprise. Guilford Dudley, after taking to himself a wife, entered land a short distance from his brother’s place, on which he remained until his death several years after. His youngest son, Elbridge Dudley, now occupies the place. Laban Burr eventually married Miss Melissa Sutherland, of Grand View Township (Edgar County), and entered land south of Dudley’s, in what is now Hutton Township. James Dudley, mentioned above as the first to enter land in this section, after living a bachelor until the mid-day of life, married a widow lady named Brown. He sold his farm to a man of the name of Olmstead about 1837, and returned to the East. Adam Cox is supposed to have been from Kentucky, and settled in this township in 1826-27. He located near Dudley’s, and, after remaining there a number of years, sold out and removed to Jasper County, and finally to Missouri, where he died. He settled in the “Big Creek” neighborhood before coming to this county. Job W. Brown was born in the old Nutmeg State, but his parents removed to Kentucky when he was ten years old, where they resided several years then; came to Lawrence County, Ill., and, in January, 1825, removed to Walnut Grove, at that time considered the very outskirts of civilization. In 1838, he, with his father, Jonathan W. Brown, took a contract to build two sections of the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad, which they completed in 1840. and, the same year, he settled in Ashmore Township, on a farm he still owns, and upon which he resided until 1877, when he retired from active labor, and removed into the village of Ashmore, where he at present lives, enjoying a competency won by honest toil. Mr. Brown tells the following story of his “sparking” days: There was living in the neighborhood a family with a grown-up daughter of whom he was rather fond. After a time, the family moved away some distance to the northwest, and he would mount his horse semi-occasionally and ride out to see her. As the country palaces in those times usually consisted of one room, which served as parlor, dining-room, bedchamber, kitchen, etc., “it required a good deal of courage,” he said, “ to corner his girl under such circumstances,” but he “at length got used to it.” Upon an observation from us, that, had we lived in those primeval days, we would have done our sparking in the summer time, when, with the fair one of our choice, we might have wandered in the “ darkling wood, amidst the cool and silence,” or lingered beside the “purling brook, as it meandered over its pebbly bottom,” etc., etc., he quietly remarked that “where there was a will there was a way,” and that “people in a backwoods country could get used to almost anything.” The severest punishment, he said, that he ever received at school, was given him by his father when going to school to him. The boys and girls were allowed to “sit around the room promiscuously,” and “all mixed up together.” He was quite a large boy, and one day a pretty little French girl chanced to be sitting next him, when, upon the spur of the moment, he put his arm around her, drew her to him and kissed her—“for her mother.” His father did not see the performance, but the titter that ran round the room “gave him away.” The old gentleman forced some timid little fellow to tell the cause of the laugh, when he walked him and the little girl out in the middle of the room and compelled him to repeat the operation. He braced himself for the ordeal and went through it like a little man, but he observed that his “heart was not in it as it was the first time.” John Carter, Pearson and John Wiley, John Wright, Thomas Reed, James Wells, John K. Spears, William H. Galbraith, C. L. Duncan, William Woods, Joseph Epperson, Charles’D. Phelps and Fountain Turner were from the old Blue-Grass State. Carter was from the Crab Orchard country, and came to Illinois in 1830, arriving in this township on the 13th of April, and settled a short distance east of the present village of Ashmore. He has two sons living — Shelton Carter, in Ashmore Township, and Joseph Carter, in Morgan Township; both are honorable, upright citizens. A daughter married John Austin, and lives on the place where Mr. Carter built his first cabin. Mrs. Joseph Reed is also a daughter, and Mrs. Catharine Young, living in Washington Territory. Mr. Carter died in July, 1841. The Wileys came in 1829, and settled some two or three miles from the village of Ashmore. Pearson moved to Parker Prairie, and John to Douglas County, where he died. Wright settled near the Wileys, and came about a year afterward. They had all first settled on Big Creek, before coming to this settlement, but had not remained long in that locality. Reed came in 1829, and settled about one and a half miles northeast of the village of Ashmore, and has been dead a number of years. He died on his origi- nal settlement, and where his son Caleb Reed now lives. Mrs. Walton, a daughter, lives in the town, and Mrs. Galbraith, another daughter, lives in Hickory Township. James Wells settled about three miles south of the village of Ashmore. His father was a native of Maryland, and removed to Bracken County, Ky., at an early day; was one of the very earliest settlers in that part of the State. James Wells, alluded to above, came here in 1830, and still owns the original place on which he settled, but for a year or two past has been living with his son-in-law, Mr. O’Brien, in the village of Ashmore. John K. Spears was from Jefferson County, near the city of Louisville, and came to this township in 1834, settling near Hitesville, He died in 1888; a son. Dr. A. K. Spears, is living in Charleston. Woods came to Coles County in 1834, and located in the east part of Ashmore Township, and died in 1878. He has but one son living, Thomas Woods, residing on the old homestead. Joseph Epperson settled in the township the same year as Woods, and came from the same county (Madison) in Kentucky. He died in 1850, leaving several children in this part of the country to perpetuate his name. Phelps came in 1830, and settled in Ashmore Township. He had a large family of children, most of whom still live in Coles County. Mr. Phelps died in 1856. Turner settled in the township in 1834, where he still resides, one of the solid men of the county. He and his wife have been living together for more than sixty years, and are hale and hearty for their age. Galbraith came to Coles County in 1830. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, but removed to Kentucky in an early day. He was a soldier and an officer of the Revolutionary war, and served seven years under Washington; was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, and one of the guard of that noted prisoner for some time. He removed from Kentucky to Indiana in 1816, and the son above mentioned to Coles County, as noted, in 1830, where he still lives. Coleman L. Duncan, though but a few years in Coles County, has lived just over the line in Clark since 1830, and can give as vivid accounts of the privations of the early settlers as any man now living. He resides with his son-in-law. Dr. Steele, of Ash- more. Hezekiah Ashmore came from Middle Tennessee, in 1830, and settled in what is now Oakland Township, and, in 1836, removed to this town. It, together with the village of Ashmore, was named for him. Mr. Ashmore landed here with 37 J cents in his pocket, but, realizing that fortune smiles on those who help themselves, he went to work, and, as fast as he accumulated a little money, invested it in land, so that, at the time of his death, he owned 1,600 acres. He was one of the early Justices of the Peace, and one of the County Commissioners for a number of years. He died in 1872, leaving a numerous progeny in the county. William Austin was also from Tennessee, and came to Illinois in 1829. He settled where the village now stands, and, the ground occupied by this thriving little burg was the first land which he culti- vated after settling in the neighborhood. His original log cabin is still standing, though its identity is nearly lost in the modern improvements made to it, since it first served to shelter a pioneer family from the inclemencies of the weather. It has been weather-boarded and otherwise improved, and is occupied by Mr. O’Brien. Mr. Austin has been dead a number of years, but has numerous descendants still residing in the county, to perpetuate an honored name. Christopher Sousely is another of the early settlers, and came to this township in 1828. He is still living, but has grown feeble as well as aged, and is waiting in patience for the summons to come. Joseph Henry and his son, Dr. A. M. Henry, Isaac Hill and a Mr. Forrest, were also early settlers, but of them not much could be learned. William Birch came from England, in 1833, and stopped in Pennsylvania, where he spent three years. He occupied an old house near Philadelphia, once the residence of William Penn. In 1836, he came to Illinois, and settled near Hitesville, in this township, and died in April, 1864. He has a son living near Charleston. Enos Barnes came from North Carolina, and settled two miles north of the village of Ashmore. He was a soldier of 1812, and was with Old Hickory, at the battle of New Orleans. He emigrated to Kentucky, where he remained until 1830, when he came to Illinois, as above. His original cabin stood until 1877. He died in 1872 ; his wife died in 1855, but one or two sons still live in the township. William H. Brown and Thomas W. Hallock were from New York; the latter settled in 1837, and Brown in 1839. Both are still living and are successful farmers. John Mitchell was a native of the Palmetto State, but had lived successively in Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana, before immigrating to Illinois. He settled in Coles County, in 1828, in the edge of the Embarrass timber, in Ashmore Township, where he died some fifteen years afterward, and his wife a year later, leaving a family of eight children, only two of whom are now living, William B. Mitchell, in the State of Kansas, and Mrs. Galbraith, wife of James Galbraith, in this township. The condition of the country at the time Mr. Mitchell settled here, is illustrated in the fact that one of his sons, Robert Mitchell, went to Darwin, on the Wabash River, a distance of forty miles, for a marriage license. Rev. S. J. Bovell is a son of one of the pioneer preachers of Illinois. He was born in Washington County, East Tennessee, and came to this county with his mother’s family, in 1835. His father was a native of the Old Dominion, and a graduate of Washington College, and, in 1825, received a call to the Presbyterian Church at Paris, Ill., but died in three months after taking charge. His widow removed to Coles, as above noted, and located southwest of Charleston. Mr. Bovell remained on the farm with his mother until he was twenty years of age, when, after completing his education, he taught in various States, and, in 1861, was licensed to preach, and, at present, is Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in the village of Ashmore. Elder Peter K. Honn came from Kentucky in 1835, and stopped for a short time in Edgar County, and from there went to Sangamon County, where he remained about six months, working at his trade (blacksmith), after which he came to Coles County and located at Hitesville, in this township, and opened a blacksmith-shop, which he continued for several years. In the mean time he purchased a quarter-section of land, which he improved in connection with his trade of a blacksmith. He eventually abandoned his shop and devoted his attention to his farm, until 1875, when, having accumulated a sufficiency of this world’s goods, he retired from active labor, and removed to the village of Ashmore, where he at present lives in the enjoyment of a well-earned competence. Some five years after coming to the county, he was ordained a minister of the Christian Church, and his experience as a pioneer preacher is vast and varied, sometimes bordering on the extremely ludicrous, as is but natural in a backwoods country. With no intentional disrespect to the Gospel (for of it we entertain the profoundest veneration), but as an illustration of the state of the country at that time, and by way of embellishment of dry historical facts, we give some of the experiences of the old soldier of the Cross, as related to us by himself. Upon a certain occasion, when this country was the very center of the backwoods, he and another preacher, whom he denominated Brother E., made a missionary or preaching tour, at the latter’s special request, through Clark, Crawford, Jasper and Cumberland Counties, and through the southern part of Coles, to their homes. The stipulation was, that wherever they stopped they should preach alternately. After swinging around the circle into Jasper County, Brother E. informed him that they would stop at Brother So-and-So’s to dinner, the leading man of the neighborhood, a pillar of the church in that section, and where, it seems, Brother E. had been before. He told Mr. Honn that they were good people, but not as tidy and neat as they might be, and he would have to harden up a little. Upon their arrival, Mr. Honn found that this nabob lived in a mansion composed of one room, which served all purposes a residence is usually subjected to, and very soon dinner was begun “for the preachers” by a grown-up daughter, while the lady of the mansion sat on one side of the fire-place smoking a cob-pipe, and the lord and master on the other side indulging in a like luxury, the preachers occupying seats in front of the fire, looking on, Mr, Honn admits, with some interest. After a while the girl lifted a pot off the fire, and opened it apparently to see the state of its contents, while the odor was quite strange to him, and he nudged Brother E. and asked him what it was, who replied that it was stewed coon. He at once thought of the hardening-up process, and being a little particular as to his food, was somewhat doubtful as to whether he should enjoy a very hearty dinner or not. He discovered eventually, however, that his stomach was not quite so sensitive as Brother E.’s. After the coon was cooked to her satisfaction, she brought forth some side pork, very fat, placed it in a skillet and fried the grease all out of it, leaving a pint or so of lard in the skillet. Next she produced a “crock” full of buckwheat batter, which she poured into the skillet (not all at once), and he had noticed that a portion of the hem of some of her undergarments had been torn from its native place and was dangling within an inch or two of the floor, and as she would move about the fire, it would now and then draggle in the fry- ing batter. Brother E. looked at him and he looked at Brother E., and he noticed that the latter had grown rather pale, so that when dinner was announced a little later, he could eat but a few mouthfuls. He kept his eye on Brother E. and, shortly after dinner was over, noticed that he appeared quite uneasy and looked very pale. Finally he rose rather hastily and left the room, and upon following him out, found him behind the house “calling New York” lustily. That evening he had to preach for Brother E.* * As it happened it was Brother E.’s time to preach, but his dinner had so upset him that he could not come to time. He was once called upon to perform a marriage ceremony at the house of one of the well-to-do pioneers. When he arrived at the cabin, he found the bride in waiting, dressed in all the glory of backwoods beauty and fashion, and the groom ditto. Among the “assembled guests” were two very large and ungainly curs, walking about the room with as much liberty as (to use a slang expression) blind dogs in a meat-house. After the marriage, all were invited to a sumptuous dinner, the dogs included; or, if the latter were not invited, they cheeked it, and went in on their own responsibility. When the repast was well under way, some one dropped a bone, or threw it down to the dogs for the purpose of creating a little excitement. If for the latter purpose, they succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations. They clinched in battle (the dogs) with savage ferocity, rolled under the table growling, biting and chawing each other generally. Said Mr. Honn? “And what did the fair bride, faint? Not much. But sprang on to a chair, and in a high state of excitement, clapping her delicate (?) hands, she yelled at the top of her voice, ‘sick ’em! sick ‘em! sick ’em!’ ” After the guests succeeded in separating the dogs, dinner was finished in peace and quiet. One other episode from Mr. Honn’s pioneer experience, and we will pass on. A young man of the neighborhood, who was addicted to sowing wild oats with a profuse hand, finally concluded to marry and settle down, and to this end, succeeded in persuading a girl living some miles away, to unite her fortunes with his. The mother of the bridegroom elect, who was a highly respectable lady, thinking or at least hoping, that marriage would work a reformation in her wayward son, had exerted herself to bring about the union, and had prepared a wedding feast for the occasion. He had brought the girl to his mother’s, where the marriage was to take place, and all things being in readiness, he posted off to Charleston for the documents that were to bind together “ Two souls with but a single thought,
But at Charleston the devil tempted him, or perhaps he met with some of his
old chums, got drunk, and finally got in jail, where he was detained two or
three days in “durance vile.” When set at liberty, he struck out for home,
came by Mr. Honn’s, and asked him to go to his mother’s with him as he was
going to be married, and wanted him to tie the nuptial knot. Thinking the
fellow was jesting, he demurred, as it was then getting dusk, but he stoutly
asserted that he was in earnest, so Mr. Honn said, “Well, you show me the
marriage license and give me a dollar, and I will submit to being fooled, and
will go with you.” To this he assented, paying over the last dollar he had,
and Mr. Honn mounted his horse and away they went. Upon arriving, the
house was dark, and everybody apparently abed. Mr. Honn told him that did
not look much like a wedding, but he said it was all right. When they went
in they found all abed, sure enough. A married daughter was living with the
old lady, and into the room where she was in bed, he was conducted by the
young man, handed a chair and asked to take a seat. The expectant bridegroom inquired of his sister where the girl was, calling her by name, and was
informed that she was sleeping in the next room. “I’ll bring her out,” said
he, Mr. Honn sitting by all this time, taking in the ludicrous position in
which he was placed. The young man went in where the girl was in bed, and
for a long time he heard them in earnest conversation, he begging her to get
up and be married, and she refusing. She told him he had “gone back on
her,” that she had sent her clothes home and had nothing to wear (unwittingly
quoting Flora McFlimsey) but an old, dirty calico dress. But as it usually
turns out, the stronger prevailed over the weaker vessel, and she agreed to
“get up and get married.” provided his sister would loan her a dress. This
modest request being granted, she arose, arrayed herself in her sister-in-law’s
(as was soon to be) “good clothes,” the knot was tied. The pair was spliced,
and the officiating minister returned to his home, with a consciousness that, if
he had earned his dollar, he had at least enjoyed the earning of it.Two hearts that beat as one.” THE NOBLE RED MAN. In common with other portions of the country, this section was at one time in possession of the Indians, and these forests the hunting-grounds of “ye noble red men.” They were plenty here long after the whites began settlements in the country. We have heard of no outrages committed by them in this immediate vicinity on the white people, but elsewhere in this history, is told how “war’s fierce conflict raged,” and battles are described that were fought on the “sacred soil” of Coles County, between the savages and their pale-faced enemies. But these events belong not to this chapter. Mr. J. W. Brown, mentioned among the early settlers of this township, gives us the following Indian experience: An Indian settlement, adjacent to his father’s, was under the administration of a chief named Ka-Nee-Kuck, a fine-looking specimen of the “noble red man,” somewhat intelligent and very religious. He sometimes tried to preach, would go into a trance and see visions, which he would detail to his people. In his tribe was a warrior whose mind had lost its balance, and he was at times dangerously crazy. On one occasion he was shown some pictures of Bible scenes, among them a serpent representing the devil. Upon looking at the frightful picture, a shudder appeared to thrill his entire frame, and, seizing a rifle, he shot an Indian named Black Beaver dead in his tracks before he could be restrained, or before any one seemed to realize his intention. The chief, Ka-Nee-Kuck, with a deputation, came to Mr. Brown’s father, Jonathan W. Brown, for his opinion as to what ought to be done with a man under such circumstances. Mr. Brown explained to them that the man was not responsible for the deed, as he was insane and ignorant of the great crime he had committed, and they should properly secure him to prevent a repetition of the deed. They took him to a grove of timber and tied him to a tree, but with the inordinate cunning, common to crazy people, he succeeded in making his escape. Black Beaver, the man killed, was buried in Mr. Brown’s pasture, but, in that early day, as well as in the present age of refinement, the graves of the dead were not always left in undisturbed repose, and the body of Black Beaver was resurrected (it was supposed by a medical student named Smith) to promote the cause of science. These Indian scenes are all long past, and the very existence of Indians in this country is almost forgotten. Very few are living who remember them from personal knowledge. They have faded away in the mists of the past, just as the pioneer’s hut, with its yawning fire-place extending across one end, its puncheon floor, and its cracks chinked and daubed with mud, have passed away. These old relics of the by-gone days, and the ox-teams, the old barshare and Gary plows, the scythe and cradle, and the reap- hook will soon be nothing more than fire-side tales. As we view the flying railroad train, the patent reapers and mowers, the plows now in use, the magnificent residences dotting the plain, and the beautiful villages scattered here and there, we are forced to acknowledge that the strides of invention and improvement of the past fifty years have far exceeded the wildest stretch of human calculation, and we turn from contemplating the world’s progress, to muse on what the next half a century may produce. SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, STORES, ETC. The first schoolhouse in the township was built on the hill near “Pole Cat Bridge,” about 1832-33, and was the usual type of the backwoods schoolhouse, viz., built of round logs, covered with clapboards, chinked and daubed with mud the fire-place taking up one end of the building, a puncheon floor—sometimes mother earth furnished the floor. This was the ordinary temple of learning in those days, and the school commonly consisted of a dozen or so dirty urchins, presided over by an old-fogy schoolmaster, as represented in the following lines: “ Old Master Brown brought his ferule down, And his face looked angry and red. ’ Go, seat you there, now, Anthony Blair, Along with the girls,’ he said. “ Then Anthony Blair, with mortified air, With his head down on his breast. Took his penitent seat, by the maiden sweet, That he loved, of all, the best. “And Anthony Blair seemed whimpering there. But the rogue only made believe; For he peeped at the girls with the beautiful curls. And ogled them over his sleeve.“ * * For a truthful application of these lines, the reader is referred to “Uncle Jobey” Brown, who can give a some-what similar experience. The first school taught in Ashmore Township was by a man named Foster, before building the schoolhouse above named. Who first taught in the house mentioned, our informant had forgotten. The educational facilities have increased, however, since the days of these old-time schools, in proportion to the increase and improvement in everything else. The town is advantageously laid out in school districts, elegant and comfortable houses erected, competent teachers employed and the cause of education liberally supported. Rev. Isaac Hill is supposed to have preached the first sermon in Ashmore Township, He and his son, I. B. Hill, were among the early settlers of the county, and the elder Hill was a local preacher. Rev. John Steele was another of the early preachers, and is further alluded to in the history of Hitesville. Elder P. K. Honn is also one of the pioneer preachers of the town. The only church edifice in the township outside of the villages and hamlets, is Enon Missionary Baptist Church, in the southern part. It is quite an elegant brick edifice, and cost between $2,000 and $2,500, and was erected in 1875. It was dedicated by Rev. Mr. Riley (now of Paris) soon after its completion. The first Pastor was Rev. Mr. Thornton; the present one is Rev. A. Jones, and the society numbers about fifty members. Its numbers have been considerably lessened by death and removals. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained during the summer, but is usually disbanded at the beginning of the winter season. Other church history is more fully given in that of the villages. The first stores in the town will be mentioned in the history of the villages and hamlets, as will many other points generally occurring in the township histories. The first regular blacksmith in the town of Ashmore was Peter K. Honn, one of the early settlers, and who opened a shop at Hitesville soon after coming to the settlement. John Carter was a blacksmith, but did not follow it as a regular business, and when Honn opened a shop, quit it altogether. The first death in the settlement it is supposed was a child of Adam Cox’s, and occurred about 1831. It was buried in the grave-yard laid out near Mr. Wells’, and was the first occupant of that little city of the dead. The first marriage and the first birth are alike forgotten, but that “such have been,” the present population stands as incontrovertible evidence. VILLAGE OF ASHMORE. Ashmore is situated on the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, about seven miles east of Charleston. It was surveyed and laid out February 14, 1855, by H. J. Ashmore and James D. Austin, and for the former of whom it was named. The entire village stands on the original Austin farm; Ashmore had bought out some of the Austin heirs, and hence owned a part of the land when the village was laid out. The first store was opened by John Hogue, on the laying out of the place. McAllister & Ashmore, who had a store on the road, half a mile southwest of the town “before it was,” moved their store to the new village, and became the second house of the kind in Ashmore. Van Dyke & Hogue put up the first dwelling in the little village. The first blacksmith-shop was kept by William English. The Waters boys started a wagon-shop about the same time. The first mill in the village was built by J. A. Brown in 1856, and was burned some three or four years afterward. A brother of Brown’s was the first railroad agent at Ashmore. The present mill was built by Clement & Fish, about 1866. It stands near the railroad track, just east of the station, is a frame building, with two runs of buhrs and does a good business. It is owned at present by Chris Miller, an efficient man, who thoroughly understands the milling business. The first tavern was kept by H. J, Ashmore, is still standing and kept at present by A. B. McDavid. The village boasts of another hotel, the Franklin House, kept by John Franklin. The first post office was established on the laying out of the village, with Thomas O’Brien as Postmaster. Elias Monroe represents Uncle Sam in the post office department here at present. The first schoolhouse was built in 1857-58, and was a kind of partnership affair with the religious people. It was finally purchased for school purposes, and so used until the building of the present edifice. Washington Boyer and Charles P. Scott were the first teachers in the village, but which one has the honor of teaching the first school cannot be ascertained. Prof B. H. Chase is Principal of the school at present, and Miss Roma Carter, assistant teacher. The present fine brick schoolhouse was built in 1871, is two-stories high and cost about $3,000. A summary of the business of Ashmore presents the following showing: four general stores—Zimmerman & Monroe, F. M. Waters, Waters Brothers & Davis and J. R. Snyder; three grocery stores—Joshua Rickets, Peter Shleppy and George O’Brien; two drug stores—A. F. Robertson and W. R. Comstock; five physicians—Drs. Van Dyke, Steele, Robertson, Hobart and Honn; one hardware store—Austin, Brown & Kimball, who handle lumber, also furniture and agricultural implements; stoves and tinware, J. A. Brown; shoe-shop, J. H. Poulson; harness-shop, James C. Coulson; marble-shop, Charles E. Cox four blacksmith-shops—Charles W. Waters (both wood and iron), P. B. Parcell, John Mell and Woodworth & Ault; two wood-shops—Thomas Kincade and 0. D. Stoddert. It is a flourishing little village, with a set of wide-awake, energetic business men. In addition to the above business directory, there is a grain warehouse, which does quite a business. Considerable grain is shipped from this point, mostly however, by the merchants of the place, who buy in a small way. A good deal of stock, cattle and hogs, is also shipped from this station. The village of Ashmore boasts of three very stylish church edifices, viz., Methodist Episcopal, Cumberland Presbyterian and Old-School Presbyterian. The first religious society organized in the village, or now located in the village, was the Methodist. It was originally organized in the neighborhood in 1831, by Rev. Joseph Henry, a local preacher, with the following members: Dr. West and wife, C. Sousely and wife, Joseph McIntire and wife, Robert Modrell and wife, J. H. Modrell and wife, Matthew McLain and wife, James Hubanks and wife, William Austin. Sr., and his daughters, Frances and Mahala, Samuel P. Burr, George Modrell, Margery Modrell, Sarah Hubanks, Ruth Clark, Jennie Clark and Elizabeth Clark, and perhaps some others. The name of the first preacher, or circuit-rider, was Rev. Mr. Rhimon. The first church was built in 1869, in the village, and cost about $2,500. About 1838, in conjunction with the Presbyterians, they built a log church some two miles west of the village, which they used for a number of years. This log church, schoolhouses and settlers’ cabins were their places of worship, until the building of their church in Ashmore, and the organization has been kept up ever since first established in 1831. The present membership is thirty-five, and J. A. Burke, Pastor. The first Sabbath school was organized in 1831, by Methodists and Presbyterians, William Austin and James Hite, Superintendents, and has been run as a union school ever since, until last summer, when the Methodists organized a separate school. It numbers about eighty or ninety scholars, with L. C. Fell, Superintendent. Hebron Church, of the Old-School Presbyterians, was organized on the 19th June, 1841, by a committee appointed by Palestine Presbytery, consisting of Revs. Isaac Bennett and James Reasoner, and Ruling Elders J. Balch and William Collom. The original members who went into the organization were Robert Brooks, Mary Brooks, James H. Bovell, Jane M. Bovell, Alfred J. L. Brooks, Mary Brooks, Robert A. Brooks, Samuel Hogue, Letitia Hogue, Sarah Moffett, James Moffett, Thomas C. Mitchell, Isabella A. Mitchell, Margaret J. Mitchell and Cynthia Moffett. The first Ruling Elders were Thomas C. Mitchell and Robert Brooks. Rev. Isaac Bennett preached occasionally for the Church for one year. He was succeeded by Rev. John McDowell, who preached twice a month for two years, beginning in May. 1842. Rev. John Steele was stated supply for the Church from 1844 to 1849, giving it one-half of his time. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph A. Jams in February, 1849, who supplied the pulpit for two years. From 1851 to 1855, Rev. James Cameron, who lived in Charleston, preached occasionally. For the next ten years, from 1855 to 1865, various ministers were connected with the church as stated supplies, giving it a part of their time from their other charges in the following order: Revs. John McDole, A. J. Cameron, R. A. Mitchell, James A. Allison, H. I. Venable and Nathaniel Williams. In October, 1865, Rev. S. J. Bovell was called to the charge as stated supply, and has without any interruption continued to hold this relation up to the present time. Since its organization, 160 persons have been received into membership, about 60 now constituting the membership, the depletion being caused by death and removals. Only three of the original members are now living, viz., A. J. L. Brooks, James Moffett and Letitia Hogue. I. S. Wright, I. M. Moffett, T. J. Bull and A. J. L. Brooks are the Ruling Elders. The first church-building was located two miles west of the village of Ashmore, near the former residence of James Galbraith, and was a log structure, and built in connection with the Methodists. In 1867, a neat and commodious church-building was erected in the village, at a cost of $3,300, but the organization still retained the name of Hebron, and was known as Hebron Church, under the care of Mattoon Presbytery. The church was dedicated on the 20th of October, 1867. The history of the Sabbath school is similar to that of the Methodist Church above given, and was a union school with that church until the past summer, when the school was divided. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in 1858, under the ministerial charge of Rev. James Ashmore, who was the first regular Pastor. The church was commenced in 1866 and completed the following year. It is an elegant brick edifice and cost about $7,500, and is under the pastoral charge of Rev. A. B. McDavid, with a membership of about one hundred and twenty-five. H. J. Ashmore, one of the benevolent citizens of Ashmore, contributed to the building of this church edifice $3,500. While it was in process of erection, the agent of the Cumberland Presbyterian College at Lincoln, Ill., came to the village, and hearing of Mr. Ashmore’s liberality, called on him to know how much interest he wanted in the Lincoln College. “Two hundred dollars,” replied Mr. Ashmore, and paid over the money. A Sunday school was organized by this church in 1860, and has an average attendance of 120, under the superintendence of 0. F. Ashmore. Ashmore Lodge, No. 390, was organized in the fall of 1863, with the following charter members, viz.: A. N. Graham, W. P. Ferris, Caleb Reed, Hamilton Bennett, J. A. Brown, M. W. Barnes, John Campbell, 0. D. Hawkins, W. S. Vanmeter, W. N. Young and Robert Boyd, of whom the following were the first set of officers: W. S. Vanmeter, Worshipful Master; A. N. Graham, Senior Warden; Caleb Reed, Junior Warden; John Campbell, Treasurer M.; W. Barnes, Secretary; W. P. Ferris, Senior Deacon; W. N. Young, Junior Deacon; and Robert Boyd, Tiler. The present roll of officers are: P. B. Parcell, Worshipful Master; W. R. Comstock, Senior Warden; John Woodworth, Junior Warden; P. M. Shleppy, Treasurer; L. C. Fell, Secretary ; W. E. Franklin, Senior Deacon; Christian Miller, Junior Deacon, and I. N. Moon, Tiler, with the names of twenty-nine members on the records. The village of Ashmore was incorporated April 19, 1867, and the following Trustees elected to look after its welfare: Jacob A. Brown, Thomas O’Brien, William Bass, William P. Ferris and A. F. Robertson. The Board organized by electing Jacob A. Brown and A. F. Robertson, Clerk. The present Board is as follows, viz.: Adam Coon, President, and Thomas O’Brien, William T. March, William L. Cox, Thomas Austin and John G. Parker. J. 0. Brown is Clerk, A. F. Robertson, Police Magistrate, and Thomas W. Hogue, Town Marshal. VILLAGE OF HITESVILLE. Hitesville is an old village, or would be, if still in existence, but it has passed away, “among the things that were.” It was laid out April 15, 1835, by James Hite, for whom it was named, and who appears to have been an enterprising citizen. At one time, it was quite a village, with stores, shops, and every appearance of becoming a town. But, railroads passing near, new villages have sprung into being, which have literally swallowed up Hitesville, leaving scarce a trace to tell where it stood. At an early day, a Presbyterian Church was organized at Hitesville, by Rev. John Steele. The church was built almost entirely by Mr. Hite, the neighbors contributing but a small amount of the means toward its erection. Hite finally moved away, sold the church, which was converted into a dwelling, and used as such for awhile, and then torn down. Prior to its discontinuance as a church, however, the Christian denomination organized a church, and erected a building at this place, about 1840. It soon became too small for the increasing membership; was sold, and a larger one built during the late war, at a cost of $2,500, and is a handsome frame building. Its present membership is something over 100, and has, since its organization, numbered 200 members, but has been thinned out by death and removals. The present Pastor is Elder James Steele, but Elder P. K. Honn has been the minister in charge of it almost from its organization, until age compelled him to retire from active labors. This is about all there is left to tell where Hitesville once stood. St. Omer was never laid out as a village, but at one time was a collection of perhaps half a dozen houses, a store, post office, blacksmith-shop, etc. The Ashmores opened a store at the place many years ago, and a man named Hogue kept one on the road, about half a mile from St Omer, at the same time. But, like Hitesville, and from a similar cause, St. Omer has disappeared. A church and two or three dwellings are all that is left. The church belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterians, and is one of the pioneer church organizations of Coles County. The society was originally organized in a schoolhouse near the present village of Ashmore, with thirty-seven members, on the 30th of May, 1842. John Mitchell, William Austin, Sr., and Alexander Montgomery were the first elders. Though originally organized near Ashmore, its membership was largely of St. Omer, and the church-building was erected at the latter place, about 1857, at a cost of $1,200, not including the lot on which it stands. It is a frame building. 30x40 feet, with a membership at present of about one hundred, under the pastoral charge of Rev. A. B. McDavid. Its aggregate membership since organization is about three hundred and seventy. The present Elders are John Dollar, Josiah Bitner, J. Keran, Daniel Wicker and Milton W. Barnes; the latter is the Clerk of the Board. The deacons are Joseph W. Bitner and John F. Childress. POLITICS AND WAR. Ashmore village and township, taken together, are Republican in politics. The war record of the town is good. In all of our little “scrimmages,” Ashmore has participated, to a greater or less extent. The war of 1812, the Black Hawk War of 1832, the Mexican war, and our last unpleasantness, all had representatives from this section, and even one or two soldiers in the Revolutionary struggle afterward wandered to this region. In our last war, the great rebellion, many of the citizens shouldered their muskets and offered themselves to their country. The following are among the enlistments from this township so far as we have been able to gather them: Dr. A. F. Steele, Company C, Sixty-second Illinois Infantry; Nathaniel Davis, Company H, Third Missouri Cavalry, as Sergeant; William T. Moore, Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-third Indiana (100 days); Elias Moore, Company H, Fifty-ninth Illinois Volunteers; F. M. Waters, One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Volunteers, as Chief Musician; Joshua Rickets entered J. W. Bissell’s Engineer Regiment of the West, as private, and was promoted to Second and then First Lieutenant, served twenty months, and resigned; William C. Kimball, Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Volunteers Sidney Epperson,; Company H, Fifty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, promoted to Quartermaster; Rhodes Epperson, Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Volunteers; Martin Turner, Company—, One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Volunteers, killed in battle of Perryville; Thomas J. Bull, Company C, Iowa Cavalry; Adon Wiley, Company E, Seventy-ninth Illinois Volunteers. There were, perhaps, many others from the township, but we have been unable to learn their names. |