FOUR MILE TOWNSHIP---INTRODUCTION---BOUNDARIES---SURFACE---WATER-COURSES---PRODUCTIONS---BEANS---FROG ISLAND---EARLY SETTLERS AND SKETCHES---THE WILD MAN---POPULATION---WAYNE CITY---MIDDLETON---KEENS---SCHOOLS CHURCHES---POLITICS---OFFICERS, ETC., ETC., ETC.
DEPLORABLE indeed it is that more preciseness in regard to the dates of the interesting occurrences in which the history of the township revels, could not be secured. It again illustrates the invaluable importance of the present work, the importance of gathering and preserving all that can be obtained now, lest even this also be lost in the dark confines of oblivion, from which there are no means to recover it. The youth of the present generation have but a faint idea, if any, of the dangers and hardships through which their forefathers were compelled to pass, of the trials and sufferings they had to endure, and of the formidable obstacles they had to surmount in order that this beautiful land of ours might be wrested from its wild and barbarous possessors and turned over to intelligence and civilization, under whose benign influence it has since bloomed and prospered. The story, then , of our early pioneers is not only interesting but instructive, and worthy of thoughtful study. To study their habits and characteristics, their manner of gaining a subsistence, their romantic experiences, and the noble impulses which led them to strive and labor for the benefit of those to follow them, more so than for their own, affords not only delightful recreation, but it is a theme which offers rich returns to an earnest contemplation thereof. But we have in other chapters devoted considerable space to this subject, and we will not repeat.
Four Mile Township, o the immediate history of which this chapter is allotted, is the largest in the State of Illinois. It embraces within its present limits eighty-six sections of land, although several of these do not possess the requisite number of acres. Its territory is made up of parts of four Congressional townships---Sections 7 to 36, inclusive, of Town 2 south, Range 5 east; 17 to 36 inclusive, of Town 2 south, Range 6 east; 1 to 13 inclusive, of Town 3 south, Range 5 east; and 1 to 13 inclusive of Town 3 south, Range 6 east. The boundaries are as follows: North, by Hickory Hill and Arrington Townships; east, by Arrington and Big Mound Townships; south, by Hamilton County, and west, by Jefferson County. The original precinct or rather the territory embraced in Four Mile Precinct, previous to township organization, had the following boundaries: Commencing with the intersection of Horse Creek and the Jefferson County line, following the course of the former to its confluence with Skillet Fork, and the latter to its point of crossing the line of Hamilton County; west on this line to that of Jefferson County, and north again to Horse Creek. The territory comprised within these described limits was, although of different shape, about the same size as the present township. The precinct took its name from Four Mile Creek, and the township did not choose to change it, but who named the creek could not be ascertained. The origin of the name is equally obscure, and there appears to be nothing even as a suggestion for it.
The surface of this township is greatly varied. Something like one-half of it is swamp land, which includes the immense flats and bottoms along Skillet Fork. Large tracts of these low lands are nearly continually overflowed, and the whole of them are not at present subject to profitable tillage. The improved systems of drainage would undoubtedly render hundreds of acres capable of successful cultivation, and it is probable that they will be applied before many years. The township includes, however, several large prairies, known as Six Mile, Long, Brush and Elk, and upon these are many beautiful farms. The soil is sandy and loamy in some parts, but it is more inclined to be clayish than in some parts of the county. It is generally rich, and gives good returns for the labor of the intelligent farmer. The principal water-courses are the Skillet Fork and Four Mile Creek, each of which have numerous small tributaries. The former enters the township in Section 14, Town 2 south, Range 5 east, and flowing southeast leaves it in Section 36, Town 2 south, Range 6 east. Four Mile comes in at Section 30, Town 2 south, Range 5 east, and, flowing east, empties its muddy waters into Skillet Fork in Section 28, Town 2 south, Range 6 east. Along the Skillet Fork, in former days, the finest and most luxuriant growths of white oak timber grew there in great abundance. The principal timber at the present day, consisting chiefly of the many varieties of oak, hickory and gum, are found in the bottoms along the water-courses, but there are also a few high ridges on which good timber is found in considerable quantities. The water of this portion of the county is unusually good, and is struck at an average depth of twenty feet, but in some parts borings have been made for upward of 100 feet in depth, without success.
The main productions of the township are the usual cereals, red-top grain seed and apples. The considerable boom which the latter have taken during the past few years has resulted in the setting out of many hundreds of young trees, mostly of the Ben Davis and Rome Beauty varieties, and this boom is far from being a spasmodic one, for the incomparable adaptability of this section of the State to fruit culture has already been clearly established. Several years back, the attention of the farmers of Four Mile was directed almost wholly to the raising of castor beans, and quite a reputation was gained on account of the large quantities raised and shipped, but somehow they seem to have got enough of the oily article, and the cultivation of them is now not very extensive.
What is now, and has for a long time been known as "Frog Island," is a portion of land situated in the southeast part of the township, and extending into Hamilton County. During periods of high water, it is entirely surrounded, although several small streams, gulches and swamps materially assist in making it an island proper. The " island " contains some rich farming lands, and although not having as large a population as New York, it is, nevertheless, a very important " deestrict," and one that is heard from pretty loudly sometimes on election days. It is some seven or eight miles long, east and west, by four or five north and south.
To particularize each early settlement in a township, or to give the exact date and details of the arrival of each old settler, is a task not easy of accomplishment. John R. Smith was the first man to settle in what is now Four Mile Township, about whom much is known. He came from Kentucky, but in what year we could not learn. He was the biggest man in the county, weighing upward of 300 pounds, and was fond of performing a variety of feats requiring great strength and nerve. He always claimed to be very illiterate, but was brimful of jokes, and was marvelously well posted on points of Scripture. He could not only quote profusely from any writer in the Book of books, but was able, if some passage was read to him, to immediately toll the verse, chapter and author with remarkable precision. He raised a large family here, and died here himself at a good old age. Two sons, William H. and Daniel, and adaughter, Betsey, are yet living, the latter the wife of William Collins, a resident of Hamilton County.
A remarkable character came into Four Mile about the same time as Smith. It was William Hetherly, but more commonly known as the " Wild Man." He came from Tennessee, and after living here a few years, went---nobody knows where. He received the name of the "Wild Man " from his insatiate delight in hunting and tramping the wilderness from one end to the other. Frequently has he been seen to start out with his own " big self," his boy and his dog ---all upon the same old bob-tailed filly. The boy would keep an eye out for bee-trees, while the old man would cast suspicious glances at every thicket for a deer, and the dog---the dog---yes, he probably had his hands full watching the old man, and was brought into service when the deer came out. The old hunter fed his family on wild meat and honey, and clothed them with the proceeds arising from the disposal of the hides. John, Henry, Martin, Jacob, Abram, Polly and Sally Myers, all brothers and sisters, were early settlers in Four Mile Township. They came from Kentucky, and many of their descendants are yet living here and in the surrounding country. Polly Myers married John R. Smith, of whom we have already spoken, and Sally married Martin Sewell, an old settler here. After his death, she married Axel Cross, who came here froth Tennessee at an early day. The only one of the old Myers yet living is Winnie, the widow of Henry. She is a daughter of Bart Atchison, who was an old settler in Moore's Prairie, Jefferson County. Previous to her marrying Myers, she was the wife of a man by the name of Farnsworth.
David Garrison and Charles Trotter came into the township at an early day, and located on Frog Island, and many of their descendants yet reside in that neighborhood.
Solomon Boyd located in Six Mile Prairie early, after having been in Hamilton County for a few years: His family consisted of five sons—Henry, Lyle, John, William and Milton, and three daughters—Catharine, Lizzie and Mary. Mr. Boyd had the reputation of being the greatest rail maker in the country. Andrew Davis came from Tennessee here about 1836, and is yet living in Four Mile. From the same State came James P. Boswell, and his children, as follows: Joseph, James, John, Washington, Timothy, Sally, Phoebe and Cynthia. Upon certain occasions, the old man would style himself "Jimmie Pepper," and many will remember him better by that name. Joseph is now living in Mount Vernon, Ill., and William, Timothy and Sally in this township, the latter the widow of Richard Jenkins, who came here among the first. and whose chief characteristic was that of whistling, of which recreation he was never tired. Among other early settlers are mentioned Solomon and Richard Mandrill, Calvin Shell, the latter of whom came in 1838 from Tennessee; Ennis Malden and his son-in-law, George Mabery, and the Austins; John Mateer, his wife Peggy, his four sons---Robert, John, Anthony and Montgomery, and his daughter, Rosanna, wife of Knight Reed, came from Pennsylvania about 1840.
The township since 1850 has settled up gradually but steadily, and has a present population of about 2,000 souls.
The little village of Wayne City is situated on the Air Line Railroad, in Section 13, Township 2 south, Range 5 east, and 18, Township 2 south, Range 6 east. It was laid out in 1881, by Hilliard, County Surveyor, and incorporated the following year. But a few years ago there was nothing here but two or three little log cabins, a blacksmith shop and an old saw mill. But in the short time since elapsed, it has taken a considerable boom, and grown to very promising proportions. It has general stores by J. B. Scudamore, who was her first merchant, and is the Postmaster; John Chandler, Augustus Smith and Reid Bros.; John Tyler, hardware; Charles Jacobson, drugs; harness and furniture, L. Knowles; City Hotel; and Drs. Garrison, Bristow and Branson. The village supports were excellent graded schools, with able teachers in the Misses Branson and Staton. A fine merchant flouring mill was erected here in 1882, by Robert Ellis, and does a thriving business. Wayne City Lodge I. O. O. F. was organized in 1875, and was moved to the village in 1881. It has a membership of about thirty. The following are the first and present village officers: Board of Trustees, J. B. Scudamore, President, C. R. Ellis, J. R. Chandler, J. M. McRill, E. B. Reid and L. Merritt; Police Magistrate, A. R. Robinson; Village Clerk, Dr. B. E. Garrison; Marshal, A.C. Boswell; Street Commissioner, George Hollinger.
Middleton, a small town, situated on Section 5, Township 3 south, Range 5 east, was laid off in 1854 by William Whitacre, County Surveyor. It has not grown much in size since the first, as it has never had the advantages of any railroad facilities. The post office at this point is called Long Prairie post office, and mails come by way of Keen Station on the Air Line. Middleton had a Masonic Lodge organized there before the late war, but it was afterward moved to Bell Rive, Jefferson Co., Ill. Asbury Lodge, No. 248, I. O. O. F., was organized about 1854, and is in a prosperous condition. In 1861, the Methodists built a church at this place, but it was subsequently torn down and a more substantial one erected, at a cost of $1,300. It is situated on Section 9, near the Farnsworth Graveyard, one mile southeast of the town. The first doctor to locate in Middleton, was Daniel Wingate, and he represented this district under the " Five Horse Act."
Keen Station is a small town situated on the Air Line three miles west of Wayne City, and consists of two general stores, and one grocery. It has a good school, and a substantial church building is being erected by the Missionary Baptists. A grist mill was put up there in 1881, and there are also two saw mills at this place.
The first mill of any description in Four Mile Township was put up by John R. Smith, and was situated on Section 35 or 36. It was the old stump arrangement, with horse-power, and it ground meal for all the surrounding country for many years. After this, a water mill was put up on Skillet Fork, by Ennis Malden and George Mabery. It was a grist and saw mill both. There is now no trace of it left. William Boswell had a stump mill also, and after that Martin Myers built a horse mill on Frog Island. The people of this section would also go to the Leech Mill on the Little Wabash River in Leech Township.
The vast benefits to be derived from schools were not overlooked by the old settlers of Four Mile Township. Schools claimed their attention next to that of their families and their immediate wants. There were many little log cabins put up here and there over the township very early, but the exact location and the names of their first teachers could not be ascertained. An early school was kept on Frog Island by Thomas Gibbs, but we could learn no further details regarding it. Another one was situated in Long Prairie, on the land of Richard Jenkins, and this was used for religious purposes also. The following items represent approximately the status of the schools of Four Mile at the present writing: Number of pupils enrolled, 750; number of school buildings, 11; number of teachers employed, 21; average pay of same, males, $30 per month; females, $25. Estimated value of school property, $10,000.
The church history of Four Mile is brief, although by this we do not mean to say that she is behind in her religious duties. All the preaching that the early pioneers enjoyed was done by traveling ministers of the Gospel, whose large circuits would not permit of visits more frequent, generally, than once or twice a year. Charles Koker and Thomas Cottonham, both Methodist preachers from McLeansboro, Ill., visited the people here in an early day, and they organized the first Methodist Church, and preached at the house of Ennis Malden, which was located on a spot now included within the limits of Wayne City. William Finn, a man by the name of Fox, John Gillum and John Gill were all early preachers, and of the Methodist denomination. The Regular Baptist preachers came in later, and preached first at a schoolhouse in Long Prairie, and built a church building near there, which was subsequently replaced by another one on the same place.
We will here insert a few items worthy of record. The political parties in Four Mile are about equally divided, and many of the election contests in the township have been more a fight for politics than for men. They have had what they called the " Convention Ticket," the "People's Ticket," the" Bolter's Ticket" and all other kinds of tickets, but in later years the right man wins, as he should, be his politics what they may.
The last bear killed in the county was tilled in 1877 in this township. A man by the name of Jones was the slayer, and the bear, which was a black one, weighed after being dressed, 450 pounds, including the hide. The bear had probably taken a notion to tramp. and had wandered up here from the South.
The following is a list of some of the officers of Four Mile since 1865:
Supervisors---C. C. Myers, 1865-66; Daniel Wingate, 1867-71; J. B. Scudamore, 1872-75; John Robinson, 1876-77; William Mabery, 1878-79; J. W. Jenkins, 1880; Samuel Keen, 1881; O. P. Nesmith, 1882-83.
Town Clerks---W. H. Clendenin, 1865-66; S. Farnsworth, 1867-68; A. J. Slaton, 1869; J. R. Boswell, 1870-71; S. A. Long, 1872-78; J. W. Roark, 1874; J. B. Brooks, 1875; S Farnsworth, 1876; George Draper, 1877; B. M. Garner, 1878; W. H. Clendenin, 1879; W. W. Coffee, 1880; J. W. Ellis, 1881; V. Hagarty, 1882; Daniel Ballard, 1883.
Assessors---C. C. Hopkins, 1865; J. F. S. Hopkins, 1866; W. J. Myers, 1867; N. M. Williams, 1868; Joseph Boswell, 1869; N. M. Williams, 1870; J. D. Sewis, 1871-72; N. M. Williams, 1873; A. M. Bruce, 1874; H. M. White, 1875-76; Thomas Burgan, 1877; W. T. Faulkner, 1878; S. Boswell, 1879; John Robinson, 1880; G. W. Draper, 1881; William Gray, 1882; P. Buffington, 1883.
Collectors---Knight Reed, 1865; E. H. Chase, 1866-77; Thomas Scudamore, 1868; James Maulding, 1869; John Robinson, 1870-75; J. S. Austin, 1876; W. T. Faulkner, 1877; S. Boswell, 1878; S. L. Austin, 1879; Samuel Wood, 1880; S. L. Austin, 1881; P. Buffington, 1882; J. K. Wright, 1883.
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