History of Clark County, IL

Excerpts from

The Historical Encyclopedia Of Clark County

contributed by Marvin McComb [marv3@redrivernet.com]

pg. 652
WABASH, the next township to be settled, had as first arrivals, the Black family, which came in 1816. They came from Indiana, thought originally from Kentucky. Mr Black had five sons, John, William, James, Joseph and Thomas, and all were men of energy and influence. Richard Armstrong came with the Black's. In 1816 came also the Perry's, Kuykendall's and the Cowens. The Perry's were from Ohio, the Kuykendall's from Kentucky, though they came here from Vincennes.

Pg 656
Among the early settlers of Douglas Township may be mentioned the Ashmore, Forsythe, Davis, Galbraith and Lykins families. In 1853 occurred the murder of Robert Ashmore by William Forsythe. Both men were Kentuckyians and the best of friends until Forsythe lost a valuable calf and accused Ashmore of stealing it. Ashmore sued Forsythe for slander, whereupon Forsythe swore vengeance and declared he would kill him if he did not withdraw the suit. Ashmore refused to do this, but went on with his preparation for the trial. On the morning court was to convene, Ashmore, while in the act of saddling his horse was shot from ambush and instantly killed. Forsythe was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to hang, but the Governor commuted his sentence to a life term in the Penitentiary. He became afflicted with a terrible cancer of the face while in the Penitentiary and after serving eight years was released and came home to die the same year.