1879 History of Greene
Carrollton City
[Pages 328-374] Help is needed for additional extractions.
Carrollton [Page 328]
Carrollton, the county seat of Greene County, is one of the wealthiest and most flourishing towns in Central Illinois. The circumstances attending its origin have been already stated. Probably the first settler within what are now the corporation limits was Governor Thomas Carlin, who camped under a large tree near the present residence of Mrs. William Carlin, and chose the prairie on which he then stood as his home. This was in 1818, and during the latter part of that year, or early the next, Mr. Carlin, with his mother and step-father, came north of the Macoupin and built a cabin in the southern part of the present town. There were then but a very few cabins north of the creek, probably not over half a dozen or a dozen. Samuel Thomas had made an improvement in a beautiful grove near the site of the present Thomas homestead. Michael Headrick, Abram Sells, and one or two others, had built cabins near the present residence of David Wright, Esq., and there were a few log huts a short distance east. Very early in 1821, occurred the land sale at Edwardsville, when this territory came into the possession of the settlers. Immediately thereafter the county was organized, the seat of justice established on the land of Mr. Carlin, and the name of Carrollton given to it. Settlers at once came in very rapidly. General Jacob Fry built a cabin near the former site of the St. James Hotel. Thomas Rattan erected a log structure on the lot now occupied by Marmon's building, on the northeast corner of the Square, where for a long time he kept a tavern. A more modern building succeeded this, also used as an inn, and for a long time known as the "Jack Traveler." Samuel Lee, the first County Clerk, built a temporary clerk's office on the west side of the Square, and this was soon followed by the first Court House. The early county buildings have been described in the history of the county. The first frame building in the town was probably a dwelling house on the east side of the Square, built by Cyrus Tolman and Charles Gregory, both afterward very prominent men in the county. The first brick edifice in the town was also said to have been erected on the east side, near the present location of Charles Weimer's tobacco store. For a year or two the little town grew steadily. The county was then a large one, and the transaction of county business made quite a number of buildings and people a necessity at the county seat. William A. Tunnell writes as follows of the town when it was only a year or two old: ''The land upon which Carrollton is situated belonged to the Hon. Thomas Carlin. Concerning the beauty of the spot before the hand of man had changed its appearance I am not prepared to speak, but freely express the opinion that it would have suffered in a comparison with Mount Pleasant. When I first saw the place it contained a few small houses, the first of which was probably built by the Hon. Thomas Rattan for a tavern. It stood north of the east side of the Square, and was erected not far from the year 1821. How long this building occupied that spot, or whether it was the same that was afterward called the 'Old Jack Traveler,' or 'Jack Tavern,' I am not prepared to decide, but since the days of the 'Old Jack Traveler' another building has occupied the spot and passed away, to make room for one which will probably continue there for many years. A little farther west, perhaps half way along the north side of the Square, stood a neat little frame with a porch or portico in front, which was, at an early day, the residence and office of Samuel Lee, Esq., Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts, County Recorder, Justice of the Peace, etc., etc., a man very much esteemed. He died some thirty-five years ago (in 1825), and was the first, or about the first, person interred in the Carrollton burying ground. On the west side of the Square, very near the residence of Dr. Hardtner, stood the Court House, a long two-story building, with one end to the Square. There was nothing very attractive about its appearance. It was simply a plain wooden building, rather dingy in appearance. West of the Court House, occupying the ground now used for the same purpose, stood the little hewed log jail, in which prisoners were kept by the aid of a guard or suffered to escape, as seemed most conducive to the general welfare. On the south side of the Square was the residence and store of John Evans, Jr. Further east, across the next street, stood a small frame, which was used for some kind of traffic, the exact nature of which I have forgotten; and just east of it was the residence of Jacob Fry, Esq., well and favorably known in the annals of Greene County, as an efficient, intelligent and faithful officer and good citizen. On the east side of the Square, at the north end, was the store of John Skidmore, an active, restless little man, who was everywhere, knew everybody, and kept himself not only busy, but always in a hurry. His storehouse was a small frame building, that occupied the spot for several years. Skidmore, or 'Skid,' as he was familiarly called, kept a small stock of inferior goods, such as all merchants kept at that day, and such as the necessities of the people compelled them to buy, including an assortment of pure liquors, to render the stock complete.
"I think it was at 'Skid's' store where the inimitable Willis Cheek was said to have treated his friends and himself through the long hours of one whole night, paying for the liquor with a raccoon skin, which, as often as 'Skid' threw it behind the door and went to draw the whisky from a barrel, would mysteriously resume its place in Willis' pouch, where it remained snugly until another drink was wanted. Just across the street from Skidmore's, about where the public well is situated, was the whipping-post, where those covetous individuals who took clandestine possession of other people's property, received from the hands of the Sheriff the panacea applied in those days for the healing of such moral distempers. The patient's hands were confined to the top and his feet to the bottom of the post with ropes, the shoulders denuded and a 'determination to the surface' — as the doctors express it — induced by an application of rawhide or hickory. To witness such an operation is revolting to the finer feelings of humanity. Imagine a man thus pinioned hand and foot, striving to bury his face between his extended arms, his shoulders laid bare to the lash. The Sheriff coolly takes up a long 'cowhide,' as hard as a ribbed and twisted iron wire, raises it above his head and brings it down upon the poor fellow's bare shoulders, as an assistant standing by, deliberately calls out 'one!' The operation is repeated in the coolest, most formal manner, at intervals of about one second — the assistant continuing to call at each blow, 'two,' 'three,' etc., up to fifteen or twenty, according to the sentence of the court. All this time a circle of eager men and boys are crowding as near as possible, pulling each other back, to see him writhe and endeavor to free himself from the torture."
It is also related of the Willis Cheek spoken of in this extract that he once went to Mr. Skidmore and asked to be trusted for a small quantity of powder and shot which he wished to purchase. This accommodation the merchant refused, and Willis went away quite angry. As he passed out, however, he managed to purloin a coon skin lying behind the door. After several hours he returned and asked Mr. Skidmore if he would buy a coon skin. An affirmative answer was quickly given, and the impecunious hunter received his ammunition. As he made his exit he turned and tauntingly shouted at the merchant, "Refuse to trust me again, will you? I just got that skin from behind your door."
The residence of Samuel Lee spoken of by Mr. Tunnell, became in after years a very famous house. It was used for dwelling, drug store, harness shop, and for other purposes, and was altered and repaired times without number. In 1877, it was torn down to make room for the Russell building, on which occasion the Carrollton Patriot contained the following in relation to it:
"The old building, which this week has been demolished to make room for the erection of the Sol. Russell block, was one of the most ancient in the city, and was in many respects historical. It, or portions of it, have been standing considerably over half a century. John Dee, Esq., came to this country in 1821. He spent the first winter under the bluffs, and in 1822 came to this place. Isham Linder, Sr., and John Huitt were also here at that time. When Mr. Dee arrived here, to the best of his recollection, part of the old building was up, and occupied by John W. Skidmore. Skidmore was the first merchant who ever sold goods in Carrollton. His store was a little building on Sharon's corner. With Skidmore was boarding Samuel Lee, who afterward married Skidmore's sister-in-law, and occupied the same house. Mr. Lee built an addition to the house, which is probably the main part of that destroyed this week; this was built in 1825, or 1826. 'Squire Lee, as he was called, was a very important personage. He was the first Recorder, Circuit Clerk, and County Clerk the county ever had. He filled these offices, and perhaps others, at one and the same time. He began the building of the structure which is now Judge Hodges' elegant mansion. He died in 1829. Soon after the house was occupied by Climpson (or possibly Clements). He had the contract for carrying the mail from St. Louis to this place, and ran a stage coach. His wife died in 1832, of cholera. She was the first victim, in this region, of that scourge, which ravaged with dreadful effect the next Summer. Some time after this, the house was occupied by Wm. E. Ryan, who kept a boarding house. The building for a long time had a very sinister reputation, and was known as the haunted house. Mysterious voices, unearthly quakings and portentous appearances, seemed to the citizens of that day to make it certain beyond a doubt that unhappy spirits reigned supreme within its walls. Family after family moved bravely into the house, only to depart very suddenly, and not at all bravely, soon after. At one time Hiram Keach, Ike Warmoth (father of the ex-Governor of Louisiana), and Josephus Huitt, three of the pluckiest young men in the settlement, undertook to defy the ghostly visitants. They entered the building, and boldly called upon the spirits to show themselves, but were soon ignominously put to flight by the supernatural rumblings and quakings which followed. The fact that a large tree whose branches rested on the roof, grew beside the house, is believed to explain the phenomena." The following relation from Dr. John Headrick, of Winfield, Kansas, will be read with a great deal of interest. Dr. Headrick is very familiar with the early history of this city:
The Haunted House
"Cities, once proud and populous, have now disappeared, and with them
the haunted house, which was, in many respects, historical. J. W. Skidmore
was the first merchant who ever sold goods in Carrollton. His store was a
little building on Sharon's corner. With Skidmore was boarding Samuel Lee,
who afterward married Miss Faust, Skidmore's sister-in-law. She, after Lee's
death, married General Edward Baker, who was killed at the battle of Ball's
Bluff during the rebellion. Skidmore built the haunted house on the north
side of the Square. Lee afterward lived in it, and built an addition to it.
The original building contained two rooms — one occupied by the family, and
the other used as a kitchen. Lee's addition was built in 1825, or 1826. It
was placed in front of the old part, and contained a parlor and bedroom,
with a door leading from the bedroom through the middle room into the
kitchen.
"Lee was an important personage. He was the first Recorder, Circuit Clerk,
County Clerk, and Justice of the Peace the county ever had. He began the
building of the structure which is now the residence of Judge Hodges; Moses
Stevens was the architect who finished it in 1830 or 1832. Mr. Clements was
the first occupant of the haunted house, after Mrs. Lee removed to her new
home. His wife died of cholera in the Fall of 1832, and was the first victim
of the scourge that ravaged the county the next Summer. The house was never
occupied by Ryan for a boarding-house. General James Turney lived in the
house for some time, and he and his brave family withstood the mysterious
voices and unearthly quakings without finding out whence they came. Mrs.
Clorinda Rattan, the daughter of Thomas Rattan, was one of the watchers for
the night at the death of the General's child. The corpse was laid in the
bedroom. During the night the watchers heard a noise. Fearing a cat, they
hastened to the corpse, and were astonished to see the apparition of a child
flit across the room and apparently escape through a pane of glass. Standing
in the door of the bedroom, the supernatural rumblings could be heard, first
in the distance, but always settling down and terminating in the northeast
corner of the bedroom. It is very difficult to describe a noise with pen or
pencil. The following will, however, give some idea of these mysterious
sounds: sit yourself on a chair upon a carpeted floor; take off your boot;
raise your foot and let it fall lightly, your heel striking the floor.
Repeat, making a little more noise, and again, with still more violence.
Wait five or ten seconds, and repeat again. Three knocks, or thumps (using
the phrase of Dr. Cowden), constituted the noise universally heard when
standing in the door of the bedroom. The first appearance ever witnessed was
a small child, which was seen to make its exit through an auger hole in the
kitchen door. Dr. Cowden was a horse trader. He was a brave man; he feared
neither ghosts, man, nor that which passed into the swine which ran down the
mountain. While he occupied the house, his wife one night awakened him and
said she could not sleep for the noise. He cried out, 'Let the d — d thing
thump!' Instantly a light as bright as the noonday sun shone out over them,
and illumined a square of the ceiling as large as the bed. The room beyond
was black as night. He never cursed it again. The fact that many and large
trees, whose branches rested on the house, stood near, does not explain the
phenomena. General James Turney, Captain Noah Fry, Lindsay H. English, with
others, cut away all the branches near the house, removed the hog pen, and
nailed fast all the loose boards; but without effect on the noises. Hiram
Keach, Ike Warmoth, Joseph Huitt and many others, who were noted men in
their day, watched for years to find a cause. There are but few men who now
live that know the cause to which these strange phenomena were attributed.
Perhaps none except myself. If so, it will never be known. That unhappy
spirits reigned within the walls of the haunted house is beyond a doubt.” J.
HEADRICK.
"We give the above from the pen of a gentleman well known in this County, on
the authority of its writer. It is an interesting narrative."
Military [Page 370]
In September, 1877, a company was organized in Carrollton
under the State militia law, which is known as The Carrollton
Guards, Company B, Fifteenth Battalion, I. N. G. The following
is a roster of its officers and men at the organization:
Roster: Captain, George L. Williams, age 42.
Lieutenants: John Scruby, 1st Lieutenant, age 33; James L.
Fasnacht, 2d Lieutenant, age 30.
Sergeants: William Sinclair, 1st Sergeant, age 40; Montford F.
Tully, age 34; Walter B. Kelly, age 41; Robert Lyman, age 39;
Joseph A. Binker, age 48.
Corporals: John L. Postlewait, age 34; Samuel Garrett, age 34;
John Simpson, age 42; Calvin S. Bayless, age 31; Henry Teason,
age 29; Alexander H. Johns, age 27; Henry Barnett age 21;
Charles Burton, age 38.
Musicians: William Bailey, age 19; Frank Warren, age 34.
Privates: Wm. H. Brown, age 18; Henry B Bull, age 19; Charles W.
Boggess, age 20; Jacob M. Bowman, age 21; Edward Buchanan, age
20; Charles Ballow, age 29; A. Leslie Burruss age 21; George W.
Bandy, age 24 Thomas Chandler, age 45; George W. Cook, age 28;
George W. Dacus, age 23; M. Eugene Drum, age 22; Wm. H. Dulaney,
age 32; Robert A. Erisman, age 18; Oscar B Edwards, age 41;
Orren Fuller, age 27; John B. Feaster, age 21; John F. Foust,
age 38; Hugh B. Green, age 19; George F. Graham, age 27 Thomas
Hazle, age 24; Robert Hobson, Jr., age 19; William C. Kelly age
19; Charles W. Kelly, age 19; John Killarney, age 20; Richard J
Lovett, age 21; Isaac Landiss, age 22; Michael E. McMahon, age
22 Francis M. Maupin, age 20; Alonzo R. Nichols, age 22; Howard
B Nelson, age 23; Frank Prant, age 23; Lafe F. Robbins, age 22;
Henry T. Scott, age 22; George W. Scott, age 19; Alonzo Stone,
age 19 Sebastian Smith, age 22; John Stout, Jr., age 19; Charles
Scruby, age 22; Thomas Taylor, age 23; George Taylor, age 18;
Robert D. Underwood, age 19; William Vigus, age 29; John A.
Walker, age 24; John Walker, age 21; Elmer Williams, age 19.
Extracted from History of Greene County, Illinois: Its Past and Present published in 1879, pages 328-374.
