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Of
what benefit was the rich, fertile soil if one could not get the
crops it would produce to a market? There were no railroads;
the Sangamon was not a navigable stream.
This lack of transportation
facilities was the greatest handicap to early settlers of Macon
county. Had this region not been so remote and inaccessible,
it doubtless would have been populated much earlier.
Soon after Illinois was admitted
to the Union, the general assembly began establishing roads.
The earliest to cross Macon county was the Springfield-Paris road1.
It was several miles south of the future site of Decatur. In
1831 this road was changed, being routed through Decatur2.
In 1833 the Decatur-Springfield road, which corresponds largely to
West Main street and Route 10 of today, was laid out.
Sometimes the settlers established
a road themselves, without survey. The very first road to
Shelbyville was made in that way3. It intersected the
Springfield-Paris road at Mt. Gilead.
While the number of roads soon
increased, little work was done on them, and often they were
impassable in wet weather. Streams had to be forded, as there
were no bridges.
Often roads were changed to avoid
swamps and quagmires. This accounts for their crookedness.
The roads were of great benefit to
the settlers, but still they pinned their hopes on making the
Sangamon river a navigable stream, and it was the subject of much
discussion. It will be remembered that some of the earliest
speeches made by Abraham Lincoln dealt with the navigability of the
Sangamon.
FIRST HOUSE
The first house built by white men
within the present limits of Macon county was erected about 1816 by
the Lorton brothers of St. Joe, Mich. They were Indian traders
and built the house as a trading post. It stood in Section 18,
Township 17 north, Range 4 East. This is about eleven miles
northeast of Decatur, in Whitmore township. The cabin was not
very far from the junction of Friend's Creek and the Sangamon river4.
The cabin was stoutly built of
logs, and it stood for many years. In 1834 it came into use as
a polling place for Draper's district, and was used as such
for many years.
For about ten years the Lortons
did a thriving business there. trading with the Indians, and getting
furs in exchange for blankets, ammunition, calico, rum, and other
articles which the Indians wanted. Often the ceiling of the
log cabin was covered with pelts of mink, raccoon, possum, wolf and
other animals. When the Indians left Macon County, there was
no more business for the Lortons and they returned to
Michigan.
The first permanent home in the
county was built in 1820 by William Downing, who came from
Vandalia. His cabin stood on the south side of the Sangamon
river, near the present location of the Mueller Lodge. Little
is know about him except that he was a bee hunter and trapper.
He stayed in this neighborhood only for a few years and then sold
his cabin to John Ward and left, going to Bond county.
His departure, it was said, was caused by his family's fear of
Indians.
The Ward home there was the
nucleus of the Ward settlement.
FIRST SETTLER
Leonard Stevens is called the
first real settler of Macon county, for he came to stay, brining
part of his family with him. He had come to Illinois about
1818 from New York, settling first in Randolph county. The
exact date of his arrival in Macon county is not known, but it is
thought to have been either in 1821 or 1822. The Stevens
family settled three miles northwest of Decatur on the stream which
was named for them, Stevens Creek5. The Stevens
home was the voting place for District No. 2 of Shelby county before
Macon county was laid out.
WHERE LEONARD STEVENS BUILT
The site was a hill (since cut down) near Stevens Creek on the West
Grand avenue road. The picture is of today.
One of the sons of Leonard Stevens
who came to Macon county with him was Buel Stevens.
Buel Stevens' eldest son, called Leonard Stevens, Jr.,
was the first white child born in the county, according to Smith's
History6.
Another son of Leonard Stevens, Sr.,
was Joseph Stevens, who lived in the county until his death.
He was the last surviving member of the family in the county.
Joseph Stevens was county treasurer from 1835 to 1837.
Dorus, Luther and James Stevens were
other sons who came with their father to Macon county.
After Leonard Stevens had
settled on Stevens creek, other pioneers came and stopped in the
same neighborhood, and the cluster of cabins became known as the
Stevens settlement. One of the early arrivals there was John
Hanks, known especially through his connection with the
Lincolns.
The first comers to the new country
settled in clusters for the sake of having neighbors and also a more
effective means of defense against Indians.
[INSERT PICTURE HERE]
(Photo by J. E. Bering)
STEVENS CREEK SCENE
Such a view as Stevens had from his home.
THE WARDS
South of the Sangamon another
settlement sprang up, with the coming of the Ward family, and
it was known as the Ward settlement. The Wards,
including Mrs. John Ward, Sr., a widow, and her children, had
come to Illinois in 1819 from Logan county, Ky., settling first near
Vandalia. In 1824 they moved to Macon county. Among the
families that became part of the Ward settlement were the Smiths,
Warnicks and Austins.
Relations between the Stevens and the
Wards settlements were not always friendly. They were of
different stock. Accessions to the Ward colony were mostly
from the southern states, and to the Stevens group from northern
states. In a way the two settlements were rivals. Often
blows were resorted to in settling disputes. But both
settlements grew.
John W. Smith, who wrote and
published the first history of Macon county, in 1876, descended from
a family of the Ward settlement.
It was Lewis B. Ward who
entered from the government the first piece of land in Macon county.
It was the west half of the northeast quarter of section 31 in
Township 16 North, Range 2 East, of the 3rd Principal Meridian, and
it was entered Nov. 9, 1827. This land, which lies about eight
miles southwest of Decatur, was owned by Mr. Ward until 1876,
when he sold it to Bartley G. Henry.
FIRST HOUSES
According to statement made by Lewis
Ward, the first houses erected in the vicinity of Decatur
were as follows:
First, William Downing's south of the river.
Second, Leonard Stevens's, on Stevens creek.
Third, Abraham Sprague's, south of fair grounds (now Fairview
park)
Fourth, Hubble Sprague's, inside the fair ground.
Fifth, William King, in 1826. It afterwards became
Renshaw's mill.
The first house in the limits of the
original Decatur, according to Mr. Ward, was built by Reuben
Miller, who sold it to James Renshaw. It was the
house in which the first store was kept.
WILLIAM WARD'S GUN
While chasing the foxy Indians out of
Macon county William Ward used a rifle which had been brought
from North Carolina by his father, John Ward, Sr., when he
emigrated to Tennessee and later to Kentucky. John Ward,
Sr., died in Kentucky and the family brought the gun with them when
they came to Illinois in 1819. Members of the Ward family used
this gun in skirmishes with Indians in three states, Kentucky,
Tennessee and Illinois, and it was also their trusty aid in bringing
down game for their food in the pioneer days.
WILLIAM WARD'S GUN
EARLY ARRIVALS
One of the busiest of the first
settlers was Benjamin R. Austin, born in Virginia in 1802,who
came to Macon county in 1825. He was a surveyor and laid out
the original town plat of Decatur. He was the first county
treasurer, served as justice of the peace, and otherwise was active
in the early years of the county. His brother, William A.
Austin, helped him lay out Decatur. William Austin
was a justice of the peace for many years.
Captain David L. Allen, born in
Loudoun county, Va., in 1806, came to Macon county in 1828, and was
a leading figure for many years.
Philip D. Williams came in
1825 from Virginia. He served on the county board of
commissioners, was a justice of the peace and held other offices.
He built the second house n Decatur. It was at the corner of
East Main and Water streets. Mr. Williams kept a place
"for the entertainment of beasts."
Thomas Cowan came with Leonard
Stevens family in 1821 or 1822. In 1822 also came George W.
Friend of Ohio, who settled in Friend's Creek township.
Besides the Wards, several
other settlers came in the year 1824. Abraham and Hubble
Sprague came from New York. Charles Nelson and
Nathan Burrill, Kentuckians, arrived that year and located in
Friend's Creek township7.
Among the arrivals in 1825 were
John Draper, who came from Virginia; James Howell,
native of Ohio, who settled in Oakley, and was followed a little
later by his son, William Howell; David Florey, native of
Virginia; William W. McDaniel; William Warnich, first
sheriff, who came from Tennessee; and Joseph Strickland, who settled
in Niantic township. The Widick brothers, John,
Samuel, Jacob, George and Joseph, from Virginia, came either in 1825
or 1826.
The year 1826 saw the arrival of a
number of newcomers. Edmund McDaniel came from Vandalia
that year; John McMennamy came from Tennessee; Emanuel
Widick came from Tennessee; William King arrived that
year; Elisha Freeman and Hiram Robinson came and
settled in South Wheatland township.
Quite a few additions were made
the following year, in 1827. Among them were James Edwards,
born near Raleigh, N.C., who was a member of the party that drove
the Indians out of the county; Jones Edwards, native of North
Carolina, but who came here from Tennessee; Eldridge H. McDaniel;
Thomas Nelms, who came fro Logan county, Ky., and was killed
by a falling tree, after coming here; Dempsey Pope of North
Carolina, who came from Tennessee; Benjamin Wilson of
Tennessee, who assisted in the organization of the county; James
Finley, a Kentuckian; Michael Myers came either in 1827
or 1828.
In 1828 the population was
increased by the addition of William A. Austin of Virginia;
William Hanks of Kentucky, who settled in Harristown
township; Samuel Braden, native of Ireland, who came to Macon
county from Tennessee; William D. Baker, who settled in Long
Creek township; David Davis, born in North Carolina, but who
came here from Tennessee and settled in Long Creek; Robert Smith,
Sr., native of North Carolina, who came from Sangamon county;
William C. Smith from Sangamon county; Andre Smith,
his brother, also from Sangamon county; William Wheeler, Sr.,
native of Virginia; James Myers, Kentuckian, who settled i
Long Creek township; William Dickey, who settled in Friend's
Creek township; Valentine Claywell, nabive of Kentucky, who
came to Pleaseant View township; Ephraim Cox came either in
1828 or 1829.
A large number of homeseekers came
during the year 1829, among them being: Alfred Laymons,
native to Kentucky; Rev. Alonzo Lapham, born in New
Hampshire, but a resident of Edgar county before coming here;
Christopher Miller of Kentucky; James Miller of
Kentucky; David Miller; James Myers, Kentuckian, who
settled in Long Creek township; Edmund Turpin of Kentucky;
Isaac C. Pugh of Shelby county; James Sanders, who
came from Tennessee; Henry Traughber; Allen, Thomas and Finis
Travis, who came from Wayne county; Josiah Abrams,
native of Ohio, who came from Sangamon county; Alexander W. Bell,
native of Tennessee, who located in Mt. Zion township; James D.
Campbell; Andrew and John Davidson; John Y. Braden;
David, Alexander C. and John Dickey, of Kentucky; John
Scott, Sr. and son, Francis D., Parmenius Smallwood, and
John Smith of Tennessee.
It will be seen that many families
were established in the county by the end of 1829. Most of
them were from Kentucky and Tennessee. Somebody must have been
doing some publicity work for Macon county in those states!
Before the end of 1829, said one writer, Decatur had seven cabins,
two stores and a court hosue. Most of the settlers, however,
lived outside of the tract laid off for the town.
The next few years brought many
more homeseekers, too numberous to mention here. More land was
taken up. More homes were built.
The history of Macon county had
begun.
---------------------------
1 When the act concerning this road was approved Dec. 29,
1824, by the legislature, Thomas Constant, William Lowry
and Amos Williams were named to "view, survey and locate it".
They were to take into consideration the "local situation of the
country, points of timber, public convenience, placing it on the
most advantageous ground for a permanent road." It seems as if
the first two men named failed to show up for work, and the task
fell on Amos Williams. His report to the general
assembly was approved in April, 1826. The route of this road
was practically the same as the present day state road through Mt.
Zion, Lovington and Arcola.
2 The act to change that road was approved by the general
assembly Jan. 27, 1831. The act was approved read:
"That Jesse A. Pickrell and John Churchill of Sangamon
county and Buel Stephens and David Owens of
Macon county be and are hereby appointed commissioners to view,
mark, survey and locate a road from the east fork of Clear creek,
where the present road now crosses said creek, by the way of Sowell
Cox's and George Churchill's from thence to a long
point, and from thence on the nearest and best ground to Decatur;
and from thence across the north fork of the Sangamon river, at the
most suitable place for a bridge or ferry, and from thence in the
most direct course toward Paris, until said road strikes present
location. All that part of said road between the termination
and place of beginning is hereby vacated." The "long point"
mentioned in the act is south of Niantic.
3 On Jan. 20, 1829, John Ward, Thomas Robinson
and William A. Hodge were appointed by the General Assembly
to "mark, view and lay out a road from Shelbyville through Ward's
settlement, thence through Tazewell county to the mouth of the Big
Vermillion on the Illinois river". The Macon county
commissioners paid Mr. Ward $7.50 for his part of this work.
4 When John Draper moved from Hickory Point to
Whitmore township in 1828, he occupied the Lorton trading
ouse for a time. Oliver Stuart said that when he cast
his first presidential vote in 1845 he voted in teh old Lorton
cabin, in Draper's district.
5 Among the newcomers to Illinois in the year 1822 were
Abraham Henline, wife and four sons, who settled at Fancy
Prairie, near Springfield.
In the spring of 1824 the family moved to what is now Piatt county.
On their trip from Springfield to Monticello they saw only three
houses. The first was at Mechanicsburg. The second was
the Steven's home on Steven's creek, and the third was the
trading house in Friend's creek township. On reaching what is
now Monticello they saw the Hayworth home, which was the
fourth house they had beheld since leaving Springfield.
6 Descendants of Philip D. Williams say that his
son, Philip A. Williams, was the first child born here.
He was born Aug. 24, 1825. There is no record of the date of
birth of the Stevens child, but the family lived in the
county several years before the Williams family came.
7In the original Macon county there were also early settlements in
the sections which later became parts of other counties.
The first settler in what afterwards became Piatt county was George
Hayworth, a Quaker from Tennessee, who located in 1823 on
land now in the city limits of Monticello. There he built his
cabin. The same year came a Mr. Daggett, and other
settlers arrived the following year. In 1828 James A. Piatt
bought Hayworth's claim and moved to it the following
year.
The first settlers in what is now Dewitt county were Zion Shugart,
Edom Shugart, their mother, Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Butler
and John Coppenbarger, who settled in Tunbridge township in
October, 1824. That winter Nathan Vestal came and
settled nearby. Others came the next year. One report of
early history says a settler named J. Clion lived as early as
1820 on mile west of what is now the city of Clinton.
Moultrie county's earliest settler was John Whitley, native
of Maryland, who came in 1826 and settled at the point of timber
which afterwards was known as Whitley's Point. With him were
his wife, six sons, John, Sharp, Mills, Randall, William and Josiah,
his son-in-law, Samuel Linley, and two or three daughters.
Whitley afterwards moved to Coles county, and his children
scattered, some going to Texas and Missouri.
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