From Clay County Plat Book
Flora Record Publishing Company
unknown date
That
part of this county now embraced in
The surface of the township presents a
flat appearance in
the main ; however, it is rolling to some extent in the immediate
vicinity of the
village, and from that extending south along the western edge of the
township,
it presents a rather broken appearance. Originally the timber covered
from a
half to two thirds of the township. The forests extended along the
entire
eastern edge, and over the north half of the township, on the
southwestern part
of the township, is part of the prairie that extends up from the
eastern portion
of
The main stream of the township is the
Probably
as early
as 1825, Mr. John McCawley received a grant from the county to build a
bridge
across the Little Wabash, and another across the Big Muddy, both on the
old
State road. The bridges were built, and on each of them Mr. McCawley
collected
toll until about 1842. The travel in those
days, was very large, and the amount of
toll collected in one day footed up as high as $20. These
two bridges were probably the first ever
built in the township, or at least they are the first of which any
record has
ever been kept.
The first white man that ever settled in what is now Clay City
Township, or for that matter in Clay County, was John McCawley, who
built a cabin on the banks of the Little Wabash as early as 1810, and
thus formed the first settlement in this part of the State. We do not
think that a brief sketch of this man is at all out of place in this
connection, and so the following short biography of this pioneer is
inserted: John McCawley was born in Jefferson County, Ky., December 24,
1782, and was a son of James and Sarah (Gilmore) McCawley. The father
was born in Scotland, and when a young man removed to the North of
Ireland, where he married. Soon after the wedding the twain
emigrated to this country, and came immediately to Jefferson County,
Ky., where they settled.
John McCawley was one of seven children,
all of whom are now dead. But three of them ever came to this State. Of
these, Daniel died in Southern Illinois, opposite Smithland, Ky. ; the
other, Mrs. Anna Beverly, died in this township some years ago, while
visiting her daughter. Mrs. Cassandra Evans. Mr. McCawley remained in
Kentucky until 1810, and then came West. Reaching Vincennes,
he started West on the old Indian trace, which extended from Vincennes
through to St. Louis. His objective point was the latter place, but
hardly had he crossed the Little Wabash when one of his horses died.
Camping there, he sent one of his companions back for another, and
waited until the man returned.
Looking around him, he decided to locate
where he was camping. He accordingly built a cabin, and lived for a
year in the solitude. His time was spent in hunting and trapping. In
the early part of the year 1811, he returned to Kentucky, and on
February 14, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Lacy. This lady
was born in Jefferson County, Ky., on February 4, 1791, and was of
Danish descent.
After a short time spent in Kentucky,
Mr. McCawley again started for his cabin on the Wabash, and
lived there until the early part of 1812. War having been declared
before by the English against the colonies, Tecumseh, the famous Indian
chief, espoused the cause of the English, and issued a mandate
commanding that all the whites in that part of the State should be
killed on a certain day. McCawley, during his residence here,
however, had made good friends with the Indians in this neighborhood,
and accordingly some of them came to him and informed him of the
approaching slaughter, but told him that as he had always been good to
them they would be friends to him. They advised him to start
immediately to Vincennes, and offered to escort him to the fort. The
next morning, he started on his journey. His trip was uneventful, and
he saw neither friend nor foe, until just as he was entering the fort
at Vincennes he heard a shout behind him. Turning around, he
saw the same Indians who the night before had warned him to flee come
out from the timber, wave their hands at him, and then disappear. From
there he made his way to his family in Kentucky, unmolested.
He remained in that State until 1816,
when, peace having been restored, he again started for his home in this
county, bringing with him his wife and family, which consisted at this
time of three children. He settled in his former cabin, and at this
time entered 100 acres of land. This he kept on increasing, until at
one time he owned about 1,500 acres. He also put up a store on his
farm, and in an early day traded with the Indians, but later on with
his white friends also. As we have already remarked, he built the first
bridges in the county, and made quite a good deal in collecting
toll.
In 1825, the first County Court was held
at the residence of Mr. McCawley, and he afterward endeavored to have
the county seat located on his farm. In 1826, he and Mr. May had quite
a spirited quarrel over the merits of the two locations, May wanting it
at old Maysville. When it was finally decided in favor of old
Maysville, McCawley cheerfully acquiesced, and afterward became County
Judge, which position he held for a number of years. His death occurred
on May 25, 1854, and he was sincerely mourned by all the people of the
county. At present but two of his descendants are living, Daniel L. and
J. I, both in this township.
Among the other early pioneers of the
township was Seth Evans. He came with McCawley in 1810, and worked on
tho latter's farm for a year or two. He finally married an Indiana
girl, and made an improvement about a mile east of Clay City, where he
died in 1816. One of the daughters married Walter Gill, and lived for a
number of years in the southern part of the township, where she finally
died. Another daughter is now living in Stanford Township, the widow of
Jeremiah Devore.
Philip Devore was another one that came
in an early day. He settled in the southern part of the township, where
his death occurred in 1845. Jeremiah Devore was one of his children.
His only descendant now living is a daughter now in Iowa.
Robert Toler also came here in an early
day, and made an improvement in the eastern part of the township. He
served as Sheriff of the county for a number of years, and was a very
prominent citizen. A son of his, Robert Toler, Jr., was a resident of
this township until the breaking-out of the war. He then
enlisted in the Fifth Illinois Cav airy. He served his country
faithfully all through the war, and came home bearing the bars of a
First Lieutenant. Soon after his arrival here, he, however, started
West to seek his fortune, and was almost immediately lost sight of. It
was supposed that he was killed by the Indians when he was crossing the
Western plains.
George Faris, a brother-in-law of
McCawley, was also an early settler. He located about a mile
east of Clay City, where he died in 1855. A son of his, A. J. Faris, is
now living near Olney, Richland County.
A hunter by the name of John McDaniel
was another pioneer in this township. He finally settled in
the western part of the township about 1817, where he reared a large
family. Only one child, a Mrs. Creek, now a widow, is living in
Stanford Township.
Isaac Creek was another early settler,
who about 1818 settled on the banks of Elm Creek, on land that was then
included in old Maysville Precinct, but now part of Stanford Township.
Pioneer Incidents
Clustering around the rugged pioneers of this township are many
incidents that form an interesting background for the hard struggles
and many privations of those early settlers. The people here were early
led to give their attention to agriculture, and to assume the ways of
their more thrifty neighbors in the East. In many of the early township
histories, we find a period where the wild man seems to pause for a
time before he develops into the sturdy yeomen. In this township, the
settlers did not pay much attention to hunting, trapping, etc.; but
almost immediately preempted land, and commenced tilling the soil. So
that the many stirring incidents of wild man and wild beasts, of
hunters, and hunted men, that form interesting details in many
histories, are unrecorded here.
The location of the county seat in this
township, however, brought many an adventurous spirit to this point. It
was the custom for the people to gather in old Maysville every
Saturday, where the pugilistic settlers would have many a fistic
encounter. Stories are told of the prowess of the old pioneers. Every
man was a guard unto himself, and the slightest dispute terminated in a
knock-down.
The most interesting stories are told,
however, of the early courts. The hangers-on at those early tribunals
were of the uncouth sort, and many mistakes of the most ridiculous
nature were made. Two or three tales concerning the early court at
Maysville have been told to us, and we insert them here.
Probably among the very first Judges
here, if not the very first, was old Judge Wilson, who held court at
this point for a number of years. One of the first men who
served under him as Sheriff was a man by the name of Riley.
He was a true backwoodsman ; tall and rawboned, but very strong. He was
considered a good fighter, and added to his many accomplishments was a
great desire for his " dailybitters. " Among the frequenters
of the court was a man by the name of Bashford. He was about the same
size as Riley, and the two were well matched in strength. He was a
greater drinker, however, than Riley, and one day he entered the court
in a very intoxicated state. He made a great deal of noise, and, being
decidedly obstreperous, the Judge ordered Riley to remove him. Nothing
loath, the Sheriff undertook to carry out the command, and immediately
seized Bashford, and after considerable trouble Riley managed to force
the latter from the room, and Wilson went on with the court.
Riley and Bashford however, were not willing to quit, and continued
scuffling until Riley tripped the other and the two fell right under
the window, where Wilson was sitting, with Riley on top. The
Judge, turning around, saw the two indistinctly on the grass, and then
remarked sotto voce, to some one inside, " There
must be a jail built for these rowdies." Riley, hearing the
remark, jumped up and said, " I'll be d__ d if I am going to hold the
prisoner here until the jail is built." Bashford, being freed, also
sprang to his feet, and remarked that " I'll be d__ d if I will lay
there until the jail is built either."
Another good story is told on this same
Riley. One day when he was pretty full, Judge Wilson ordered
him to summon " Jim Tate" at the door, and, as Riley started to obey,
Judge Wilson noticed that Bill Tate had also been summoned, and said,
"and Bill, too." Riley, however, commenced—"Jim Tate and Bill, too,"
"Jim Tate and Bill, too "—as if the whole expression was one name.
Judge Wilson, seeing the mistake, "Call one at a time, Mr. Sheriff."
Riley was, however, too drunk to comprehend, and began, " One at a
time! " "One at a time!! " " One at a time!!!" It is needless to say
that neither of the witnesses called responded.
Still another good story is told of
early justice in this county under the administration of the same Judge
Wilson. The incident happened some little time after, and was when the
jail was an old stable near the court house. A man by the name of Henry
Phillips was serving at this time as Sheriff. A genus homo by the name
of Bill Colwell was a frequenter of the bar of justice. He was a
fearful object to look at, a dog having bitten his nose off close to
his face when he was a child. He was a hard drinker, and oftentimes
went on a spree. It was while on one of these tears that he came into
court, and commenced asserting that he "was a hoss." After he had
disturbed the court a good deal, Judge Wilson said, '' Mr. Sheriff,
please take the horse out, and put him in the stable," and as Phillips
was leading Colwell out he remarked, "and please give the horse its
supper."
The first road in the township was the old State road, that runs at
present through the southern part of Clay City in an almost due east
and west direction. As early as 1810, when Mr. McCawley first came to
the county, there was an old Indian trace extending through the county
from Vincennes west to St. Louis and Kaskaskia. About 1820, the State
ordered it surveyed, and made it a legally established road. The next
road was one from old Maysville to Albion, and thence to Mount Carmel.
It was surveyed under the supervision of the State about 1825, and was
the last road that the State ran through this part of the
State. The road from old Maysville to Mount Erie was
established in 1840 by the county, and the road from Maysville to
Fairfield was laid out about the same time. The road from Maysville to
Ingraham was surveyed about 1850.
Some early families had a teacher employed probably in an early day,
but they have been lost sight of. The first teacher that there is any
knowledge of was William L. Gash, who taught in old Maysville about
1830. He was a resident of Wayne County, and was finally elected Clerk
of that county. He taught in private houses in the old town, and was
considered one of the best disciplinarians of the
day. About 1831, a man by the name of Dogan taught
for a short time in an old tenement house about a mile east of
Maysville.
In 1835, the first schoolhouse was built
in the township. It was on Government land, and was erected
by John McCawley. James Rusk taught the first school here. This man was
an early settler, and was well thought of in his day. His
death finally occurred in Louisville. This schoolhouse was
not used very long, and gave way to one erected about a mile east of
Maysville, on land owned by Mr. McCawley. It was built about
1838, and stood until about 1841. James Rusk was also a teacher there,
and a man by the name of Stores also taught there. Some subscription
schools were also taught in private houses. Among the teachers were
Mrs. Ridgeway and Mrs. Pitner.
At present the schools of the township
out side of Clay City present the following showing:
Teachers—District 2, W. B. Martindale;
District 3, H. A. Gilkinson; Districts, ;
District 5, A. G. Brown; District 6, John Leavitt.
Trustees—H. J. Daggitt, E. Nagle, John Creech.
Directors—District 2, J. Brissenden, P. Lormer, J. Travis; District 3, J. H. Nelson, John Martin, John Pride;
District 4, Thomas T. Taylor, Allen Williams, John Fitzgerrell;
District 5, L. Williams, S. I rank, L. Metcalf; District 6, J. Hance, F. Glascow, L. Cokeley.
_______________
Firsts
The first child born in the township was probably Mary Ann McCawley, a daughter of John McCawley, the child being born September 5, 1813, and the first person that died here was an infant son of the same man named Daniel, who died some time in 1820.
Township
Organization and List of Officers
At the spring meeting of the County Board of Supervisors in 1862, it
was decided to adopt the township organization, and set off as Clay
City Township all of Congressional Township 2 north, and half of
Township 3 north, of Range 8 east, lying west of Big Muddy Creek and
Little Wabash River.
The first annual town meeting in the
township accordingly was held in the schoolhouse in Clay City on April
1, 1862. The meeting being called to order, Joseph Dawes was chosen
Moderator, and S. B. Munger, Clerk, and both being qualified, the polls
were opened for the election of the first officers in the township,
with the following results: T. P. Vaudever, Supervisor; R. E.
Dull', Town Clerk; I. M. Farr, Assessor; F. R. Pitner,
William Brissenden, Overseers of Poor; Joseph Teatrick, C. C.
McCallister and Charles Peshall, Commissioners of Highways; Joseph
Teatrick and N. H. Duff, Justices of the Peace; W. B. Shepherd and Eli
Thomas, Constables; and Morris Brissenden, J. D. Perkey and S. M.
Tilley, Poundmasters.
On the 10th, the Commissioners of
Highways met and drew lots as the law then directed to see which would
serve one year, which two, and which three, with the following result:
Joseph Teatrick, three years, Charles Peshall, two, and C. C.
McCallister, one. They then proceeded to appoint Charles
Peshall Treasurer of the board. The board subsequently divided the
township into two districts, and appointed Dennis Handley, Overseer for
the First District, and R. J. Carter
for the Second District. It was also decided by the board that a tax be
levied for highways on each male inhabitant in the township. Said tax
to consist of two days highway labor. The following statement shows the
officers elected at the subsequent town meetings:
1863—Supervisor, N. H. Duff; Town Clerk, R. E. Duff; Assessor, D. L.
McCawley; Collector, F. R. Pitner; Commissioners of Highways, J.
Dowles, J. D. Perkey; Overseers of Highways, D. Curtis, D.
Handley. 1864—Supervisor, M. Brissenden; Town Clerk, E. W.
Boyles; Assessor, D. L. McCawley;
Collector, F. R. Pitner; Commissioner of Highways, J. Manker; Overseer
of Highways, J. Myers.
1865—Supervisor, M. Brissenden; Town Clerk, E. W. Boyles; Assesssor, D.
L. Mc-Cawley; Collector, F. R. Pitner; Commissioners of Highways, J.
Dawes, C. McCallister;
Overseer of Highways, W. B. Shepherd.
1866—Supervisor, R. Marley; Town Clerk, S. Holman; Assessor, J. B.
Finnell; Collector, Thomas Bouls; Commissioners of Highways, J. B.
Figg; Overseer of Highways, J. C. Johnson.
1867—Supervisor, D. L. McCawley; Town Clerk, J. E. West; Assessor, O.
D. Schooley;
Collector, M. Brissenden; Commissioners of Highways, J. Manker, I.
Lytton; Overseers of Highways, W. Hopkins, R.
Roberts.
1868—Supervisor, D. L. McCawley; Town Clerk, W. H. Morrow; Assessor, F.
Bisniski;
Collector, S. M. Tilley; Commissioners of Highways, D. Curtis, I.
Lytton; Overseers of Highways, L. J. Travis, F. R.
Pitner.
1869—Supervisor, D. L. McCawley; Town Clerk, P. C. Kuykendall;
Assessor, W. H. Hance; Collector, E. W. Boyles; Commissioner
of Highways, A. Welty ; Overseers of Highways, J. T. Wells, John
Berry.
1870—Supervisor, D. L. McCawley; Town Clerk, J. W. Manker; Assessor, S.
M. Tilley;
Collector, E. W. Boyles; Commissioner of Highways, W. W. Apperson;
Overseers of Highways, A. Elliott, J. Dunn. 1871—Supervisor,
C. McCallister; Town Clerk, C. Peshall (resigned), E. McJilton;
Assessor, S. M. Tilley; Collector, W. L. Sperry; Commissioner
of Highways, William Holman; Overseers of Highways, W. Kerr, G. D.
Thomas.
1872—Supervisor, C. McCallister; Town Clerk, C. Buser; Assessor, S. M.
Tilley; Collector, P. Kuykendall; Commissioner of Highways, A. Welty;
Overseers of Highways, P. Larimore, J. Holman.
1873—Supervisor, C. McCallister; Town Clerk, S. Holman; Assessor, S. M.
Tilley;
Collector, I. Mills; Commissioner of Highways, J. Nogle.
1874—Supervisor, C. McCallister; Town Clerk, J. Ansbrook; Assessor, M.
Brissenden;
Collector, J. Manker; Commissioner of Highways, W. Holman; Overseers of
Highways, W. C. Prather, W. Rubens, A. Elliott.
1875—Supervisor, C. McCallister; Town Clerk, J. Ausbrook; Assessor, M.
Brissenden;
Collector, J. Manker.
1876—Supervisor, R. E. Duff; Town
Clerk, R. O. Harris; Assessor, J. M. Ausbrook;
Collector, Isaac Creek; Commissioner of Highways, J. D. Mosley;
Overseers of Highways, John Creek, William Rubens, G. Scrughan.
1877—Supervisor, C. McCallister; Town Clerk, R. O. Harris; Assessor, W.
W. Apperson; Collector, Isaac Creek; Commissioner of Highways, W.
Holman; Overseers of Highways, C. Prather, W. Rubens, L. Wells, D.
Barnes.
1878—Supervisor, L. Wells; Town Clerk, E. McGilton; Assessor, D. L.
McCawley; Collector, J. Quertermous; Commissioner of Highways, A.
Hunley.
1879—Supervisor, I. Mills; Town Clerk. R. T. Fry; Assessor,
D. L. McCawley; Collector, J. Quertermous; Commissioner of Highways, E.
Nagle.
1880—Supervisor, C. D Duff; Town Clerk, R. T. Fry; Assessor, D. L.
McCawley; Collector, H. C. Bothwell; Commissioner of Highways, J.
Holinan; Overseers of Highways, J. Creech, W. Rubens.
1881—Supervisor, I. Mills; Town Clerk, T. Doherty; Assessor, P.
Larimare; Collector, O. D. Schooley; Commissioner of Highway, A.
Hunley; Overseers of Highways, J. Creech, J. Travis, J.
Sunday.
1882—Supervisor, J. L. McQuown; Town Clerk, T. Doherty; Assessor, H.
Larimare;
Collector, J. Quertermous; Commissioner of Highways, J. E.McIlvain;
Overseers of Highway, J. Creech, William Rubens, O.
Sharp.
1883— Supervisor, R. F. Duff; Town Clerk, S. S. Doherty; Assessor,
George Rubens;
Collector, E. W. Boyles; Commissioner of Highways, W. H. Loy; Overseers
of Highways, J. S. Gilliland, J. Travis, M. Marshall.
Maysville
The original plat of the town of Maysville was laid out by Daniel May
about 1818, and consisted originally of forty acres, and contained 164
lots. The town extended along the old State road originally, and did
not go any farther north than Morris Brissenden's house. The only other
addition to the town was made in 1850 by R. A. Mead. It
consisted of only about ten acres.
As early as 1816, some one or two
families had formed a little settlement, and to it gave the name of
Hubbardsville. In 1818, Daniel May came, and, as we have already
intimated, bought land and finally laid out the town, which he named
after himself. He kept an inn, and carried on quite a business. A year
or two after he had secured the location of the county seat at this
point, he became disheartened with the prospects, and finally went
West.
Another early settler was Dr. Peter
Green. He came about the same time that May did, and was one of the
foremost citizens in the place. Besides practicing his profession, he
also ran a hotel, and finally opened a general store. When the county
seat was moved to Louisville, he went there, and subsequently
represented the county for a number of years in the Legislature. He
finally died in that town in 1870.
T. P. Henson was another old
settler. He came here about the time the county seat was first located.
He was more of a politician than anything else, and was considered a
very public-spirited man.
Among the first merchants in the town
was David Duff, who came about 1820. For a number of years, he was one
of the leading citizens of the place. He finally died in Clay City
about 1867. Another early merchant in the town was John L. Ridgeway,
and still another was a man by the name of Ellston.
As we have remarked before, the location
of the county seat at this point was secured in 1826, through the
instrumentality of Daniel May. The first sessions of the court were
held in the old hotel, and it was not until 1830 that the court house
was built. Soon after the court house was built, May went
West, and the tavern was run by T. P. Henson. Afterward, Dr.
Green built a hotel, and finally sold to a man by the name of Treat.
Henson also sold his hotel to Caleb Ridgeway, who ran it for a long
time.
About the time the court house was
built, James M. Hoag opened a store at this point. Dr.Green,
who had been running a hotel, opened a store also, and G. Harris also
ran a store there. In 18-42, the county seat was moved
to Louisville, but the town still managed to hold its own. At
this time, it contained about 200 inhabitants, and although a number of
the citizens followed the court to Louisville, others came, so that the
town continued to have about as many people in
its confines.
About 1842, Thomas J. Bagwell came to
this place and bought one of the hotels. Here he kept an excellent
hostelry until the town of Clay City sprang into existence.
About this time, John Brissenden also moved to this point and
opened
a store, which he ran for a number of years. He finally took in J. K.
Bothwell as partner, who in time assumed entire control of the store,
and sold goods there until 1862, when he finally moved to Clay
City.
In 1845, Bagwell put up a horse mill. It
was on the Fairfield road, and was run for a number of years. He also
served as Postmaster from 1842 to 1851. In 1853; J. I.
McCawley opened a saloon in the village, which he finally ran into a
general store, and about the same time D. L. McCawley also opened a
store there.
No charter was ever granted the people
of Maysville, and the town was always under the old precinct
government. The town's death knell was sounded in the projection of the
Ohio & Mississippi road. It had been the intention of the
contractors at first to run the road through the town. But having some
trouble in securing the right of way, the town finally lost the road,
and it was at last surveyed to the north some distance, where the town
of Clay City was laid out. And the running of the first train of cars
on this road closed the door of prosperity against Maysville, and one
by one the merchants in that town came to the new place. The
last store was finally closed in 1862, and its proprietor came to the
more fortunate burg of Clay City.
The newly elected board of Directors met on the 22d day of September for the purpose of hiring a suitable school teacher, and it was ordered that Joseph C. Godd be hired to teach in said district for a term of three months, at the rate of $20 a month and board. This term of school was not taught in any schoolhouse, for we find that on the 8th day of October the Directors met and decided to build a school house in the district. In order to defray expenses, it was also decided that a tax of $1on every hundred dollars of taxable property be levied.
On the 22d day of January, 1856, F. B. Pitner was elected to the board, in place of J. K. Duff, deceased. On this date, two lots (Nos. 94 and 95), were purchased from Brissenden and Bothwell. The price paid was $25, and the contract for building the house was let to Dennis Hanley, for the sum of $529.48. The building was a frame, and was completed on May 22, 1856.
The following statement shows the Directors and teachers for the years following:
1856 — Directors, J. Bagwell, Joseph Crockle, F. K. Pitner (resigned), N. H. Duff. Teachers, Miss Eliza A. Batherton, Miss A.A. Farnsworth, T. J. Gaskell
1857—Teacher, Miss Phoebe Dunn.
1859—Directors, B. Harris, J. K. Bothwell, R. E. Duff. Teacher, J. S. Gray.
1860—Director, S. B Munger. Teacher, Miss Mary Crundwell.
1861—Director, J. I. McCawley. Teacher, Mrs. Mary A. Covert.
On April the 2d, 1861, an election was held in the schoolhouse in old Maysville, for the purpose of deciding upon the removal of the building to the new town of Clay City. There were forty-four votes cast, and of these thirty were for removal, and fourteen against. In October of that year, the building was accordingly removed to Lots 2 and 3, of Block No. 11, in Wilson & Cochran's Addition to Clay City. With this removal, the history of the schools of Maysville closed and that of Clay City began.
In the early days of Maysville, a circuit preacher came once in awhile and preached in a grove that used to stand on part of the farm now owned by Mr. Brown. The grove was composed of locust trees, and was the property of Caleb Ridgeway. Old David Stanford was living in this neighborhood at the time; he would hold services in the grove on pleasant Sundays. David Duff finally built a warehouse, and there preaching was held for some time.
There was in an early day a man by the name of Schooley held services there. He was a minister of the Christian Church, and was the first pastor of that denomination who ever held services in this county. J. K. Bothwoll built a packing house about 1815. and that was used for a church by the Methodists for some time. In 1854, the Methodist Church of Maysville was built on ground formerly owned by Mr. Misenheimer After the building of the church a society was organized. Among the early members were D. Stanford, Dr. Pitner and wife. Thomas J. Bagwell and wifo, Thompson Bothwell and wife, and a family of Chanoys.
Among the ministers that preached there at different times were Revs. Stanford, Lambert, Thatcher, Roberts and Westman. The latter gentleman was pastor of the congregation when it was finally decided to move the church to Clay City, from which time the history of this church is found in that of the Methodist Episcopal Church of that place. About the time of the building of this church, the first Sunday school in the county was organized under the supervision of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and it was continued in operation until the removal of the church to Clay City. Among the Superintendents were Thomas J. Bagwell and Dr. Pitner, and, later on, Jenkins Manker.
As already has been stated, it was the original intention of the
projectors of theOhio& Mississippi Railroadtorun the railroad
through the old town of Maysvillo. If that had been done, it is
probable that the town of Clay City would have never existed even on
paper. But the proprietors of the land through which the company wanted
the right of way put their price too high, and as a consequence the
contractors were compelled to seek another route, and in the end the
present line was surveyed. This was in 1852, and on July 4, 1855, the
first train was run over the road.
The first man to foresee the present
town of Clay City was Mr. J.D. Perkey, who at that time was a resident
of
Maysville. In the latter part of 1855, he purchased part of the farm of
Francis Apperson, lying immediately north of the railroad, and laid out
a plat of thirty acres to which he gave the name of Clay City, naming
it after the county. A short account of the founder of this
village we think will prove acceptable at this point: Mr. J.
D. Perkey was born in New Harmony, Ind., and there grew to
manhood. At the time of the discovery of gold, he went to California,
and in the fever of speculation that followed he lost and made two or
three fortunes. Finally, in 1853, having amassed some means, he came
East, and reaching this point on the old Government road, he decided to
locate here. He purchased the old Joe Beard farm, near the village of
Maysville, but only made one crop, and then came into the town and
started a grocery store, which stood where Morris Brissenden's house
stands now. He did business there for a short time, but being of an
unsettled nature, finally again turned his attention to farming, and
purchased land in Hoosier Prairie.
In the latter part of 1855, as stated
above, he bought land and laid out a town to which he gave the name of
Clay City. Wishing to insure success to his new venture, he immediately
erected a hotel. This building was the first in the present
village and is still standing as part of the Mound House. After running
the hotel for a short time, he purchased an interest in the store
adjoining the hotel, and in connection with Robert Duff ran a grocery
store. After doing business for some time, Perkey again becoming
dissatisfied, sold out his interests to Duff, and again went to
farming. The farm he purchased first was north of town, but selling
that out after a year or two, he bought another southeast of Clay City,
and ran that for two years. Still unsettled, he next came to this
village and opened a harness shop. He carried on this for a number of
years, as it had been his trade in an earlier day. But fate seemed to
be against him, and he was finally burned out. Becoming disheartened
here, he next moved to Robinson, Ill., where he died in 1877. He was
twice married, but only one child is now living in the person of Homer
Perkey, who is now living on a farm in the south part of the township.
The first addition to the original plat
was that of Wilson & Cochran's Addition. It was a tract of
fifty acres, and lay immediately south of the railroad. Next, D.
D. Duff laid out an addition of ten acres to the ! west of
the original plat and on the same side of the railroad. Next, C. H.
Sperry laid out a ten-acre addition to the south of Wilson &
Cockran's Addition, and J. I. McCawley an addition comprising twenty
acres to the east of Sperry's Addition. The last of the additions to
the town was that of T. P. Vandever. It was small, and
extended east and north of the original plat. In 1869. the limits of
the town was finally extended so as to take in the old town of
Maysville.
Perkey's hotel was the first building
erected in the village. The next building was a saloon, put up on the
south side of the railroad, by Andrew Moore and George Gill.
This building is still standing, and is now used as a meat market.
Robert E. Duff moved over from Maysville and erected a small building
where the Feldweg brick now stands. This he used as a residence, and he
also built a frame next the hotel, where he opened a store,
which he ran for some time. J. I. McCawley having been appointed
station agent at this point, put up a small frame, where Figg &
Wills' livery stable now stands, and also in partnership with R.E.
Duff next.
The next building was put up by Daniel
McCawley, on a part of the ground now occupied by his residence
property. He brought his stock from Maysville over with him,
and sold goods there for some time. Harrison Vandever, now a resident
of Flora, came here next from Wayne County, and putting up a small
frame to the east of McCawley's store, also opened a general store. He
sold out in 1863 to J. K. Bothwell (who up to this time had been doing
business in old Maysville), and finally went to Flora. The latter sold
goods at that store for a short time, and then moved the building to
the south side of the railroad, and it now forms a part of his present
store.
Thomas J. Bagwell, who had been running
a hotel in old Maysville for so many years, came to the place next, and
put up a frame where the present building of J. T. Evans & Co.
now stands. He associated with himself his son-in-law, Dr J. T. Evans,
and afterward Israel Mills. The business was continued under the name
of Bagwell, Evans & Co. until 1877, when Mr. Bagwell
died. This gentleman, from his arrival in this county in 1842 to his
death in 1877, was one of the controlling factors of the place. In an
early day, his hotel was known far and wide, and his income from that
alone was considerable. In endeavoring to have a mill located
in old Maysville. he spent considerable money, and as has already been
stated, he had finally to take hold of it himself.
The educational interest of an early day
found in him an earnest and most zealous supporter, and it was through
his endeavors that the first church of the township was built. Coming
to Clay City, he soon became one of the foremost business men of the
place, and had a large share of the patronage of the township; and in
His death the township lost one of its best citizens. His wife is still
living, at the age of seventy-four, in this city, as well as his four
daughters, Mrs. Brissenden, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Mills and Mrs.
MczIlvain.
About the next person to come to this
town was C. H. Sperry. He built a small store on the ground now
occupied by the Odd Fellows Hall. He only sold goods there a short
time, and afterward taught the first school in Clay City in connection
with his wife. From this time the town commenced to improve
quite rapidly, and now contains about 800 inhabitants. Shannon
& Williams were the first to embark in the blacksmith business;
John M. Armstrong ran the first carpenter shop, and Dr. Boyles was the
first practicing physician that located here. The first mill in Clay
City was put up in 1864 by D. L. McCawley. It was a saw mill, and to it
was added a grist mill. The mill has been in constant use ever since,
and was in 1882 sold to Messrs. Holman & Markle. by whom it is
run at present.
Homer Perkey, a son of R. D. Perkey, was
the first child born in Clay City, and David D. Duff, Jr., the
second. Ever since the laying-out of the village it has
steadily improved, and today is quite a business point. The following
persons are doing business here:
General stores, J. K. Bothwell & Son. J.
T. Evans & Co., Holman & Coggan, J. N.
Duff & Co., Allender & Duff, L. Blessing.
Culter & Doherty, drugs.
D L. McCawley, C. L. Feldweg, hardware.
G. C. Miller, furniture.
George Reuben, Martin Armstrong, meat market.
Harness-makers, William Dransfield, David A. Soules.
Jewelry store, A. R. Kiser.
Millinery, Kiser & Armstrong, Mrs. R. A.
Blessing.
Shoe maker, Henry Knowdell.
Hotels, Mound House, Central House.
Physicians, E. W. Boyles, T. N. Lownsdale, J. Quertermous.
E. McGilton, lawyer.
Stock dealers, Israel Mills, M. Brissenden, A. L. Oder.
Commission merchants, J. T. Evans & Co., J. N. Duff &
Co., and J. K. Bothwell & Son.
Blacksmiths, V. M. Ohaffey, August Holbough and Cyrus Einmens.
Livery stable, Figg & Mills.
Its main business rooms are located on
Main street, running south from the railroad, and are nearly all
substantial buildings. There are also a number of fine
residences, and the general appearance of the town indicates
prosperity. The village contains two brick and one frame church and two
school buildings, which receive proper notice in another
place. The village boasts also of a
Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodge. Both of these organizations have halls
of their own, and the history of their respective organization is given
in another place. There is also a post of the Grand Army of the
Republic at this point.
Although the town of Clay City is
located in the extreme eastern edge of the county, still to it is
brought an extensive business. Especially has it developed in the last
few years into a stock and produce point. The stock shipments from here
reached this last season 147 carloads. The commission merchants also do
well at this point, the shipments this last season being about 150,000
bushels of grain. There was also shipped from this point about 3,500
barrels of apples.
The trade in produce, too, has been
quite extensive, but the exact amount shipped is not obtainable. One of
the interesting features of this little town is its library. The
history of this institution dates back to 1870, when the Clay City
Library and Literary Association was formed. Prior to this
time, a society composed of young folks and known as the "Alpha Society
" was in existence, and already possessed some books, which they turned
over to the new association. Other books were added until quite a
library was formed. The association rented Duff's Hall, and there the
books were kept. Here also the society held meetings of a literary
nature, once a week, from October to April. These meetings were kept up
from year to year until 1883, when the Masonic fraternity taking
possession of the hall the meetings had to be discontinued.
At present, the library, now numbering about 800 volumes, is kept in
Dr. Boyles' office. The affairs of the library are managed by
a board of six directors. Its present members are E. W. Boyles,
President; R. T. Fry, Secretary; and Dr. T. N. Lownsdale, J.
T. Evans, Israel Mills and Henry C. Bothwell.
Schools --As we remarked in closing the history
of the schools of Maysville, by a vote of the district the schoolhouse
was moved from that village to this town and located on Lots 2 and 3,
in Block No. 11, of Wilson & Cochran's Addition. The removal
was made about the last of October, 1861, and was conducted by W. H.
Hance, who, the record shows, was paid $125 for said removal.
C. H. Sperry commenced teaching there on
November 1, and taught five months. About the first business that we
find that the new board transacted was to order the building painted
and a fence built around the lots. This frame was used as a school
until 1865, when, on the 4th day of March, there was an election held,
on which it was decided to build a new building and sell the old, and
the record shows that there were thirty votes cast on each
question. There were two sites proposed for the new building,
one a lot in Sperry's Addition on Illinois street, the other on part of
McCawley's pasture.
There were twenty-nine votes cast in
favor of the first site, and one in favor of the second. At
the first meeting of the directors after the election, it was decided
to borrow $2,060 from the Township Trustees for the purpose of erecting
the new building, , and on May 27 the contract was let to F. M. Potter,
for the sum of $3,930. On November 27 of the same year, the building
was received, and upon settling with Potter it was found that it had
cost $330 more than the original contract price. The building when
completed was of brick, two stories high, and contains two
rooms.
It is the same that is now in use. The
frame building and lot was suld to Thomas J. Bagwell, and is now the
property of Henry C. Evans. It is used by him as a residence.
In March, 1868, the directors sold the old school lot in Maysville. The
number of scholars in the district kept on increasing until in May
1869, the directors decided to purchase the old M. E. Church in
Maysville, and accompanying lot. But owing to some reason or other the
building was not removed to the lot in this city and used for a school
until 1872. At. present, the enrollment and attendance is as follows:
Average number of children enrolled—males, 93; females, 85; average
attendance, 149.
The following statement shows the different directors and teachers in
this district from 1861 to the present time.
1861—J. 1. McCawley, J. K. Bothwell, R.
E. Duff, Directors; C. H. Sperry, teacher.
1862—.Miss Mary Crnndwell, C. H. Sperry, teachers.
1863—M. Armstrong, Director; I. N.Gwinn. teacher.
1864—E. W. Boyles, Director; Miss Sarah Hulm, teacher.
1865—J. K. Bothwell, Director; William Rutget, Assistant.
1866—O. D. Schooley, Director.
1867—Jenkins Manker, Director; J. W. Spriggs, J. M [Boyles, teacher.
1 80S—J. K. Bothwell, Director; John Eagle, teacher.
1869—J. H. Thompson, teacher.
1870—O. D. Schooley (two years), E. W.Boyles (three years). Directors;
M. L.
Wooden, J. H. Thompson, teachers.
1871—J. K. Bothwell, Director; record does not show teacher.
1872—O. D. Schooley, Director; record does not show teacher.
1873—E. W. Boyles, Director; record does not show teacher.
1874—J. K. Bothwell. Director; R. L.
Morrow, Maggie Page, Alice Livings, teachers.
1875—M. L. Armstrong, Director; T. B.Burley, J. Massey, Cornelia C.
Boyles, teachers.
1876—J. Quertermous (two years), J.W. Culter (three years), Directors;
T. W.Austin, Emma Massey, Jenny Mills, teachers.
1877—George C. Miller, Director; G. H.Page, Emma Brown. Jenny Mills,
teachers.
1878—C. M. Pitner, George H. Page Amy Boyles, teachers.
1879—H. C. Bothwell. Director; G. H. Page, R. T. Fry, S. G. Alexander,
teachers.
1880—J. W. Culter, Director; G. H. Page, Mrs. H. L. Burbank, teachers.
1881—E. W. Boyles, Director; R. T. Fry, Tony S. Doherty, Miss Ella R.
Kerr. Miss Lou M. Peak, teachers.
1882—James Quertermous, Director; R. T. Fry, T. S. Doherty,
Miss Lou M. Peak, Miss Emma Armstrong, teachers. 1883—E. W.
Boyles, Director; R. T. Fry, J. A.Barnes, Miss Lou M. Peak, Miss Emma
Armstrong, teachers.
Churches--
M.E. Church--As
we have already stated, what was known as the Maysville appointment of
the Methodist Church, was transferred in 1866 to Clay City. And the
firs! services ever held at this point, were held at the
residence of Jenkins Manker, who, .it that time, was running the Mound
House.
Among the members of the church at that
time were Dr. F. R. Pitner and family, Thomas J. Bagwell and family, M.
L. Armstrong and family, and Jenkins Manker and family. Meetings
continued to be held at the residence of Mr. Manker for nearly a year.
Soon after the change of the appointment to this point, steps were
taken to build a church. And about the last of December, 1866, the
present brick church was finished at a cost of about $2,500. Services
were held about January 1, 1867, the pastor in charge being Hugh
Carrington. Among the other ministers who officiated here were
Revs. Baird, Lathrop, Oooksey, Brown, Barkley and Hooker. The
present pastor is Rev. Frank Loy, who preaches here every
Sunday.
At present the membership is about
100. With the removal of the church from Maysville to this
point came the Methodist Sunday School. The Superintendent at that time
was Jenkins Manker, who continued in charge for some time. At present,
the attendance is about eighty-five, and the school is presided over by
the following officers: Superintendent, M. L. Armstrong; Secretary,
Willie Manker; Organist, Mrs. Callie Manker:
Treasurer, James Osbrooks; teachers,
Jenkins Manker, Mrs. Callie Manker, Emma Armstrong and Richard Duff.
Christian
Church. — The society of the Christian Church of Clay City
was organized on March 10, 1871, with ten members, viz.:
William Schooley and wife, Greenberry Owen and wife, J. T.
Evans, G. W. Bailey and wife, O. D. Schooley and Mrs.
Driscoll. The first services of this denomination were held
in the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church, by the evangelist, G. P.
Slade.
In the latter part of the same year, the
present brick chapel on Third street was erected, at a cost of about
$4,000, and G. P. Slade assumed the duties of the first pastor. The
first Elders of the church were Greenberry Owen, John Alcorn and J. T.
Evans. Since its first organization, the church has continued to
prosper until now it contains about 100 members.
Among the
ministers who have watched over the flock have been John A. Williams,
J. W. Spriggs, E. Lathrop, E. B. Black, W. F. Black, M. W.
Reed and J. T. Baker. The present pastor is John A. Mavity,
who has but recently entered upon his duties. The present
officers are .1. T. Evans and O.D. Schooley, Elders; and John Hardy, H.
J.Daggitt, William Davis, J. E. Mcllvain, S.S. Doherty and J. G. Brown,
Deacons; S. H. Doherty, Secretary, and J. T. Mcllvain,
Treasurer. The Sunday school in connection with this organization was
organized on February 25, 1872, with a membership of about one hundred.
The first Superintendent was J. T. Evans.
The present membership is about the same
as at the start. The present officers are Superintendent, J. T. Evans;
Assistant Superintendent, William Davis; Treasurer, J. E. McIlvain;
Secretary, A. Doherty; Organist, Mrs. McIlvain.
Organizations
The Masonic Fraternity.—Clay City Lodge, No. 488, A. F.
& A. M.. was organized on April 16, 1868. The charter members
numbered ten. Among them were Thomas J. Bagwell. W. C. Cassell, J.
C. "Williams, James McKinley, Hamilton Baldwin, J. T. Evans,
Henry Archibalds, F. J. Musser and C. Cole. The first officers were:
Thomas J. Bagwell. Worshipful Master: Charles Turner. Senior "Warden;
C. Cole, Junior Warden; J. T.Evans, Secretary; and Robert Duff,
Treasurer.
The first meeting of the lodge was held
in the second story of an old store room that stood on the north side
of the railroad. Afterward the lodge fitted up a hall in Bagwell, Evans
& Co.'s building, which they used for many years. In February,
1883, the fraternity purchased the hall in J. I. McCawley's brick
building, and havo since fitted it up in fine style, at a cost of about
$1,350, and at present it is one of the finest halls in Southern
Illinois. Its membership is now about forty, and its present corps of
officers is: J. T. Evans, W. M. ; C. L. Feldweg, S. W. ; J.
C. Miller, J. W. ; J.
N. Duff, Treas.; J. E. Mcllvain, Sec; H. C. Bothwell, S. D. ;
D. G. Tilley, J. D. ; and William Dransfield, Tiler.
The Odd Fellows Lodge.—Clay
City Lodge, No. 384, I, O. O. F. , was organized on March 20, 1869. The
first charter members were Morris Brissenden, John Taggart, C.Cole, C.
L. Feldweg and Henry Brissenden, and its first officers were: Noble
Grand, John Taggart; Vice Grand, Morris Brissenden; Secretary, Albert
Rolsavas; and Treasurer, G. C. Miller.
The first meetings were held in
C. L. Feldweg's Hall, and this hall continued to be used
until December, 1S82, when the lodge purchased the Hardesty property on
Main street, at a cost of about $600, and put about as much money in
improvements on the hall, which is now fitted up very
tastefully. The building is 24x58 feet, two stories high, and
there is a large store room underneath the hall.
At present the membership of the lodge
is about thirty -three. The present officers of the lodge
are: Noble Grand, E. McGilton; Vice Grand, Sylvester Foster: C. L.
Feldweg, Secretary; and John Weiler, Treasurer. The trustees are E.
Mc-Jilton, H. J. Daggitt, Morris Brissenden, Henry Brissenden and Henry
C. Bothwell. The lodge meets on every Saturday night.
On the 10th of June, 1865, the town was re-organized, and the following
persons were elected Trustees: E. W. Boyles, Justus Beach. D.
L. McCawley, Jacob Myers and R. E Duff. D. L. McCawley was chosen Presi
dent, and R. E. Duff, Clerk; F. A. Black Constable; R. E. Duff,
Treasurer; D. L McCawley, Assessor; and F. A. Black , Collector, and
Superintendent of Streets.
On September 14, the board ordered the
first sidewalk of the city, to be laid from the post office, and
running west to the corner of D. L. McCawley's lot, where a crossing
was also ordered; and thence from McCawley & Duff's store to
the railroad platform. From that time, each year the people
of the village elected the Trustees, and the board in turn chose the
other officers. The following statement shows the officers of the
different years:
1866—D. L. McCawley, R. E. Duff, J. G. McSch&olter,
Justus Beach, William Brissenden, members of the board; R. E. Duff,
Clerk; R. E. Duff, Treasurer.
1867— William Brissenden, D. L. McCawley, R. E. Duff, J. I. McCawley,
C. L. Feldweg, members of the board; R. E. Duff, Clerk; R. E:
Duff, Treasurer.
1868—D. L. McCawley, C. L. Feldweg, R. E. Duff, J. I. McCawley, Charles
Peshall, members of the boa-d; R. E. Duff, Clerk; R. E. Duff. Treasurer.
On the 27th day of March, 1869, the
Legislature passed an act incorporating the village of Clay City, and
granted a special charter for its government. An election was held
under this charter in June, 1869, when D. L. McCawley, R. E. Duff and
J. I. Mc-Cawley were elected Trustees. Richard E. Duff was
chosen Treasurer; William Blacklidge, Superintendent of Streets; and
William B. Shepherd, Constable.
The following statement shows the village officers appointed and
elected subsequently:
1870—D. L. McCawley, J. I. McCawley, R. E. Duff, Trustees; R. E. Duff,
Clerk: Johnson Martin, Superintendent of Streets.
1871—M. Brissenden, C. L. Feldweg, I. Creek, T. A. Martin,
Trustees; Chris Buser, Treasurer; R. S. Riney, A. J. Gordon,
Constables; David Lewis, Superintendent of Streets.
1872—Thomas Martin, John Ansbrook, Israel Mills, Trustees; Chris Buser
(resigned), S. Holman, Town Clerk; Chris Buser (resigned), S. Holman,
Treasurer: J. Anderson, Constable; David Lewis, Superintendent of
Streets.
1873—T. A. Martin, J. M. Ausbrook, John Taylor, C. I. Pennybacker,
Trustees ; S. Holman, Clerk; S. Holman, Treasurer; Johnson Martin,
Superintendent of Streets. The town was re-organized in 1871
under the general State laws, and the following are the list of
officers:
1874—Trustees, J. K. Bothwell, C. Cole, F. R. Pitner, I. Creek, H. J.
Daggett, Thomas Mills; Town Clerk, J. G. Hance; Treasurer, J. K.
Bothwell; Constable, David Barnett; Commissioner Streets, Joseph
Barnes. 1875—Trustees, D. L. McCawley, Jabez Coggan, J. M.
Ausbrook, Silas Alexander, D. N. Soules, A. Hunley; Town Clerk,
J. Quertermous; Treasurer, R. E. Duff; Constable, D. M.
Barnett; Commissioner Streets, W. Blacklidge (resigned), A.
Hunley. 1876—Trustees, H. C. Bofhwell, J. W.
Manker, C. L. Feldweg, J. M. Billings, Israel Mills, David Railey; Town
Clerk, Silas Alexander; Treasurer, Samuel Holman ; Constable, D. M.
Barnett; Commissioner Streets, Nathan Martin.
1877—Trustees, C. Feldweg, M. Brissenden, David Railey, S. M. Tilley,
John Taylor, V. M. Chaffey; Town Clerk, W. L. Harris; Treasurer, D. L.
McCawley; Constables, J. Blacklidge (resigned), H. Bare (resigned), D.
M. Barnett; Commissioner Streets, Ira Cook.
1878—Trustees, M. Brissenden, David Tilley, A. J. Simmons, H. C.
Bothwell. W. Brissenden, G. C. Miller; Town Clerk, E.
McGilton; Treasurer, D. L. McCawley; Constable, J. Brummett;
Commissioner Streets, James G .?
1879—Trustees. M. Brissenden, J. D. Allender, J. T. Evans, D. G.
Tilley, O. D. Schooley, F. M. Schooley; Town Clerk,
E. McGilton; Treasurer, Charles Duff; Constable, J. Brummett;
Commissioner Streets, S. Alexander.
1880—Trustees, D. G. Tilley, W. Brissenden, J. Mcllvain, J.
Quortermous, O. D. Schooley, J. D. Allender; Town Clerk,
E. McGilton; Treasurer, Charles Duff; Constable, J.
JBrumniett ; Couitnissioner Streets, H.
N. Wilsey.
1881 -Trustees, M. Brissenden, H.J. Daggitt.A. C. McFadden; Town Clerk,
E. McGilton; Treasurer, C. D. Duff; Constable, R. S. Riney;
Commissioner Streets, H. N. Wilsey.
1882—Trustees, O. D. Schooley, D. G. Tilley, H. Brissenden; Town Clerk,
E. L. Dickson; Treasurer, C. D. Duff; Constable, R. S. Riney;
Commissioner Streets, A. G. Brown.
1883—Trustees, H. L. Daggitt, M. L. Armstrong, A. R. Keyser; Town
Clerk, E. McGilton;
Treasurer, C. D. Duff; Constable, R. S. Riney; Street
Commissioner, John Gregory, (resigned), H. N. Wilsey.
Excerpt from "History of Wayne and Clay Counties, Illinois 1884 "
Source: "History of Wayne and Clay Counties, 1884"