Mr. Burroughs is memorialized on a window at the Presbyterian, now Faith Bible Church.

 

String Prairie is separated from the Rubicon by a narrow strip of wooded land, and stretches thence for miles away to the north and west. The first recorded settlers in this region, were Isaac Wood, Alfred Wood, David Miller, Wm. Finley, and Thomas Finley. Their nearest neighbors were then at Kinkaid's Point. The next year Jeremiah Hand came among them, but for some time afterward few accessions to their number arrived.
The timber along the stream was not heavy, and on this account many thought that the region could never support more than a very sparse population. In 1829, however, several new inhabitants arrived, among whom may be mentioned Jacob Young, Ichabod Valentine, Howard Finley, and James Cannedy. The last mentioned made his home northeast of where Greenfield now stands, the others settled southeast of the Rubicon. On the opposite side of the stream, near its mouth, during the same year, James W. Weisner, Wiley Wylder, Joel Grizzle and Herod Grizzle made improvements. In 1830, the settlement was still further increased in number by the arrival of William Askins at the head of the Rubicon, and between that stream and Taylor's Creek, William Handling and Elisha Shelton. At the same time John Cannedy, Stephen Coonrod, Thomas Coonrod, Lewis Shearman and two Starlins, came on to String Prairie. Eri, David, and Joel
Edwards settled in the same neighborhood about the same time. The descendants of these men still live in this vicinity, and are among the most substantial citizens of the county.

From this time the settlement of that portion of the county was very rapid. Two or three years later Greenfield was laid out by George W. Allen, Esq., and, surrounded as it was by some of the finest farming lands in the State, it had a healthy and rapid growth.
 
The people at and arouhd this point hitherto experienced no little inconvenience in not having any connection with the outside world by means of a stated mail. Such connection was a desideratum. How to secure it, was a question of no small moment to these isolated, mailless new settlers. Their nearest post-office, at this time, was Carrollton, whither they were obliged to send weekly some one, in order to reach such mail matter as the post-office there might furnish them. To remedy this inconvenience it was suggested that a town be laid out and a post- office established here, if possible ; for, it should be borne in mind, that, at this time, nothing in the shape of a town had any existence here as the few settlements already made being those merely of people in the open country.
 
The suggestion for a town and post-office, therefore, was no sooner made than acted upon and carried into practical operation by one of the most enterprising residents at this point, Geo. Washington Allen, Esq., who, during this year, 1835, laid out a plat of fifty-four lots, to be remodeled in 1836 and the number of lots increased to 208, when it was formally christened Greenfield by that early apostle of the Methodist faith here, the Rev. James B. Carrington, living then, as a local preacher, on a farm northeast of town, better known now as the Cole place. From this period, then, dates our separate existence as a town.
 
The lots thus laid off, were offered for sale at low figures ; but, like many other paper towns that had a temporary existence at that day, there were few applicants, and still fewer purchasers who paid any thing but
pledges, never to be redeemed. The consequence was, a very slow advance of the future (to those then living here) city. Yet the great end of securing increased mail facilities was early realized.
 
Through the persistent efforts of Mr. Allen in getting up numerously signed petitions to the Post Office Department at Washington, though vigorously opposed by other rival claimants, he succeeded in getting the
first mail route through this point from Jacksonville to Alton, and a post office located here as himself being appointed the first incumbent, which he continued to be for seventeen years as and a Mr. Conley, or, as claimed by others, a Mr. Twitchell, the first mail carrier.

Thus was our infant town brought into early and uninterrupted contact with the outlying world, to be operated upon by such influences, for good or evil, as such connection is wont to generate to an advantage, however, far more highly appreciated, by our early friends than by us who are almost surfeited with both mail, railroad and telegraphic communication.
 
Not long after the above route was established, another was laid out, thereby furnishing a cross mail from Carrollton to Carlinville as “ Uncle David Miller" doing the honors of the first mail carrier.
 
The Winter of 1835-6, brought to our little hamlet some three or four, who have figured somewhat conspicuously in its subsequent history; for which reason, therefore, a brief notice of these, in this connection, may not be inappropriate.
 
Benjamin King, Esq., then a young man, stands first on the list of those arriving here in the Fall of 1835, from " Old Kentuck." Fortunately for Esq. Allen, he came just in season to fill a vacancy in his store as clerk. Though not possessing a large share of what the Latin boys term suaviter in modo, he came well furnished with that sterling integrity which never fails to inspire confidence, and commands the respect of all customers. It is no marvel, then, that Mr. Allen retained him in his employ till summoned to go the way of all mankind as a term of two years, when Mr. and Mrs, King retired to the farm they now occupy as he, to discharge the manifold duties, in church and state, which a confiding public imposed upon him ; and she, to meet the responsibilities appropriate to her sex, with no disposition to press '' woman's rights " beyond that circle.
 
Up to this period, though other points had enough and to spare, Greenfield and vicinity had no resident physician in their own right, and were under the necessity, therefore, when one was needed, of sending to Carrollton as Dr. Throcmorton, resident there, being their nearest. It was therefore, a matter of no little interest when, at this time, the late Dr. Martin A. Cooper, then a young unmarried man, arrived here from Tennessee and proposed to make this his future home, provided there should be sufficient encouragement given him to do so. This he promptly received ; and amongst other encouragements furnished, the people here generally took hold and aided him in erecting a small cabin, 12x14, on the site now occupied by Mr. E. Boulton's residence, to be succeeded by a more commodious structure two years after, now known as the “Pursley house," occupied at present by Mr. Joseph Dalby. The cabin completed, the doctor returns to Tennessee, but soon makes his appearance here with a bird for his cage. Installed now in his new home, with some one to preside over and superintend his domestic affairs, the doctor himself "swings around no mean circle," embracing as it did, Rockbridge, Witt's Mill, Hickory Grove, Athensville, Scottville, Barr's Store, Fayette and Rivesville. With such a territory to look after, the doctor seems to have been fully equal to the situation ; as for many years no competitor thought it worth while to disturb him in the quiet occupancy of his little principality ; and when at length Drs. Metcalf, Mayfield and Rice, each made an attempt in this direction, it was only to retire from the field successively and leave him an undisturbed occupant of it. Nor was it till the arrival of Drs. Ledbrook and Finch in 1850 and 1852, that he divided, permanently, the medical practice with any one.
 
With such opportunities most of his profession would have amassed a princely fortune ; but though regarded as well read in his profession, he was equally thought a miserable financier — doing a large amount of practice gratuitously, not to be charged, and a still larger amount to be charged and never collected. Kind in his disposition and sympathizing in feelings, he made many friends and but a single formidable enemy through his long career.
 
Another notable personage, who, during a sojourn here of seventeen years failed not to leave his impress upon persons and. things, was Richard Marshall Booker, the A. T. Stewart of our little New York. Arriving here indirectly from Kentucky, with his family in the Fall of 1805 (should be 1835?), like most who can find nothing else to do, he played the pedagogue for three months, in the first house ever built here for that purpose, situated upon the rising ground between Valentine Caswell's and the Rives' place.
 
This, however, satisfied all his aspirations in that direction. Indeed, like most who instruct, he seems to have designed it as a stepping stone to something that would pay; for he belonged to that family the first article
in whose creed is that any thing worthy of their attention must pay. Accordingly, in the Spring of the following year, having only the proceeds of his Winter's work in the school room in ready cash, he borrowed $300
from a near relative ; and this, supplemented by the endorsement of his early friend, George W. Allen, to the amount of $1000, abundantly sufficed to install him in a new store, built for that purpose by the late Robt.
H. Maxfield on the site of the Star Clothing House of our time, filled with all that was needed to meet the moderate demands of the surrounding communities of that day. Prosperous in business, he soon became a formidable rival of his endorsing friend, and maintained a fierce and successful war in trade, not only with him but with all who dared to come in competition with him in his line of business.
 
Aiming to become the millionaire of this meridian, he left no means untried to accomplish his purpose ; and so successful was he in this, that, after prosecuting his business for some seventeen years with that iron in-
domitable energy which knows no failure, after a brief illness of one week, he passed from our midst on the 24th of February, 1853, leaving his family the snug little fortune of $60,000, to be mostly spent however in less than half the time he was acquiring it thus furnishing an instructive lesson of what a well-directed energy, when coupled with an intelligent economy, will accomplish; and an equal instructive one, of the supreme folly of him, who pursues wealth as the great purpose of his life.
 
Not so scrupulous as many in his business transactions, his energy, enterprise and public spirit did much toward directing the trade of this portion of the county to this point, and also of furnishing it with educa-
tional facilities not enjoyed by our neighboring towns. Though somewhat unique in his mental structure, he had many of those properties which enter into the composition of a good and useful citizen.
 
The late Fielding L. Stubblefield, who first located on what is now known as the Than Hall farm, where he remained for a few years, secured, through Mr. Allen, the farm where his widow now resides and took possession of it in 1835, or, according to other authorities, in 1838, where he continued to reside till his decease in 1875.
 
Iseph Atterberry in '37 or '38, built a small cabin where the Greenfield Hotel, alias Bart's Hotel, now is ; and, after a year or so, transferred it to Geo. W. Allen, through whom William Brown obtained it, only to occupy it for a short term, when he, in turn, sold out to the late William A. Secor, who, moving back the cabin for an ell, put up a larger structure in front, in wliich he continued to live for many years, when, in '57-8, he employed Messrs. Drake & Stock, at an expense of 13,000, to transform it into the central structure of the present hotel. This was further improved in '75, and transferred by the Secor heirs to B. B. Bartholomew. By the addition of a large ell and various other improvements, it has been rendered abundantly adequate to meet all our present necessities in this direction, and thus supplied a desideratum long felt in our community.
 
June of 1838 has been rendered memorable for the most terrible and destructive hail storm ever witnessed in the entire history of this region, both for the violence with which it came and tlie size of the stones pre-
cipitated. As indubitable proof of this, it is related that the most substantial barn hereabouts, on what is known as the French farm, then owned by Michael Buchanan Esq., had its roof entirely broken in, cattle were greatly injured, swine, sheep and hens without number were killed, and many other injuries done by the sudden descent of these aerial missiles ; six of which weighed the next day seven pounds two ounces; while others were found by N. Dickerman and D. Edwards to be seventeen and eighteen inches in circumference the whole closing up by rendering all the windows in our then little 'burg, in the direction in which the storm came, entirely lightless. It is now generally conceded that no storm of any form has ever made its appearance here, which for the time being, was so terrific and appalling as the Great Hail Storm of 1838.

 

In February following this avalanche from the heavens, Joseph Hartsook, our first carpenter and cabinet-maker, originally from Virginia, makes his appearance here, with his family, and occupies for a season, a small residence on the northwest corner of the public square. To him are we indebted as the architect of many of the first structures in our slowly rising town, though aided in this work by Capt. George Berthlet, who operated with him successively as apprentice and journeyman. To furnish himself with lumber he constructs the first whip-saw machine ever run in this place, locating it on the site of Phillip Bauer's shoe shop, which did good service in this direction for a considerable time. About the first dwelling Mr. H. erected was one for Dr. M. A. Cooper, the next year after his arrival here, 1840, now known as the " Pursley house."
 
Having thus started off the town in the way of improvement, he yields the sceptre of his profession to Messrs. Woolley, Speaks and Heaton, who were his immediate successors in this vocation, and, for the future, devotes his energies, practically at least, to law and politics, in both of which he seems to have attained a considerable celebrity. Though having many of the peculiarities common to his race, he possesses many of the virtues wliich characterize the good neighbor and useful citizen.
 
The next year, 1841, is noted in our annals as the one which furnished our town its first house of public worship. Hitherto our early friends had experienced no little inconvenience in this particular, having no fixed place in which to conduct this service, but alternating between the private residences of George H. Cowden, George W. Allen and Joel Edwards, and the first log school house in the north part of town. During this year, however, this was remedied by the erection of what is now known as " The Old Methodist Church," upon a lot of ground donated for this purpose by George W. Allen, where it still stands as " God's first temple" here a monument of the interest of our early fathers in this holy service. Limited in means at that early day, and having few of the facilities for such a purpose which we now have, all contributed, " as God had prospered them," of what each had some giving lumber, some brick, some hardware, a few money, but more the labor of their hands. Thus, under the supervision of Ichabod Valentine, as master workman, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Guthrie Secor, this modest structure went speedily up, and was opened for divine service during the winter of this year, when the venerable Dr. B. C. Wood, of Carrollton, preached the first sermon in it as a funeral discourse of Samuel Capps, who died upon his farm near Palmyra at that time, and was brought for interment to the burial ground at Rubicon.

Furnished with a church building, our Methodist friends concentrated their scattered forces at this point, when the " Society " here had a membership rising of fifty. Here they domiciled till this, their early home, no longer met their increased necessities, when, in 1856, it gave place to their present brick edifice, to be noticed more at large in its proper connection.  

In 1842, Capt. Josiah Caswell, originally a Green Mountaineer, located on the farm now occupied by Thomas Ford, north of James Allen's a farm first entered by Mr. Charles Stout, the father of Mrs. Ephraim Barnett, in 1835, who transferred it to the Rev. Henry Stubble- field, from whom Capt. C. obtained it, to be transferred in turn after an interval of about eight years, to the Rev. William Nelson, in 1850. Leaving this, he resided some five or six years on a place southeast of town, where, having improved the Sulphur Spring property, he remained there till his decease on September 24, 1872, in the eighty-first year of his age, leaving behind him the priceless record of a good citizen, a devoted patriot and an humble Christian.
 
The next accession to our population was in 1844, when Norman C. Woolley, James Hall and Isaac R. Ostrom arrived here, the last locating upon land half a mile west of town, known as the John Pickett place, and owned at present by James Allen. But not confining his attention to farming exclusively, he soon erected the first circular saw-mill ever run here, where the garden of the Rives' place now is  a valuable accession to the machinery then in operation at this point, furnishing as it did, a sufficiency of all the lumber that could be manufactured here, to meet the existing necessities in this direction.
 
Superadded to this, Messrs. Joseph Hartsook and Edwin Johnson put in operation during this same year, 1845, a turning lathe, and the first one too a machine for the manufacture of bedsteads, etc., etc. Under the operation of these increased facilities for manufacture, our rather sluggish village wore the appearance of greater vitality. But the latter firm did not run their machine long; for, within this same year they transferred their interest in it to Messrs. William Speaks and N. C. Woolley, who, as remarked above, succeeded Mr. Hartsook as carpenters and cabinet-makers, and who turned it to great practical utility in the prosecution of their business in these directions. As evidence of this, it may here be stated, that, besides doing a great variety of other work, the new firm built, or aided in building, most of the structures that went up here from 1846 to 1852 notably among which were Sheffield's first residence, the early palace of the town, Booker's house, F. J. Stock's, Wilhite's frame store, as also Edwin Woolley's old home, the Temperance Hall, the Methodist second parsonage, now occupied by Mr. Eckman, Mr. Wahl's residence, the old Seminary, S. P. Cameron's and D. S. Wilson's residences, the Union Church alias the Town Hall, and Professor Wilder's dwelling most of these being erected in the interval above referred to. After continuing a few years, this firm dissolved, each going in the direction of his inclination and interests. As we have seen above, each had in 1848, provided himself a house : Speaks, the D. S. Wilson house, and Woolley, the one where Mr. Fisher now lives. As yet, Mr. W. had remained in the condition of " single blessedness ; " but Sarah had been vibrating between "Father Speaks'," on Apple Creek, and her brother William's here for some three or four years ; and he is not the man to allow so favorable an opportunity to pass unimproved ; more especially as always " having an eye to the main chance," he observed in her a fixed determination to see where " the shortening " was to come from. So in January of this year, we find the happy pair snugly in stalled in their own cabin of two rooms ; one 14x14, and only three sides to it, with a puncheon floor ; the other 16x16, serving the varied purposes of sitting-room, dining-room, sleeping-room and parlor as all to be improved and enlarged, however, as circumstances should permit, until,
in about 1850, it assumed the convenient and commodious form it now presents. The turning lathe of the firm falling into his possession, he transferred it from near Ostrom's corner, to what has long been known as   "The Curiosity Shop and Headquarters " establishment, south of his dwelling a structure he there erected for its reception, for a cabinet and carpenter's shop, a furniture store, a hardware house, and for every other imaginable business. Here, too, could be found every namable article of human industry. Indeed, after all creation itself had been ransacked in vain for any given article, it has long since passed into a maxim : " You
will find it at Norman's."
 
Here he plied his varied vocations through many a long and wearisome year, with that tireless industry and such marked success as, in 1872, became tangible in the shape of that commodious and well constructed brick on the south side of the Public Square, where he now conducts his hardware trade, well filled with every thing usually found in that department of business ; and in 1872, in the form of our second palatial residence on College Street, where his family now dwells, having improved and made very passable for this purpose about the most ineligible lot within the limits of the corporation, for which, it is thought, he is richly entitled to a vote of thanks by the Common Council of the city.
 
Here we leave our neighbor with the single remark, that his career forcibly illustrates what well-directed industry will achieve, and more especially when practiced by one of the most inveterate Yankees.
 
Robert McKnight was, confessedly, the first here who " worked in coals and fashioned with hammers," followed by Messrs. Renshaw, Wilkinson and others ; yet Mr. Henry Cress seems to have been the first to deal
effective blows in the service of His Vulcanic Majesty, and to have been most successful in this department of honorable and useful industry. Arriving here in August, 1846, he plies his vocation in connection with G. H. Kinkaid, who had come the preceding January in a shop upon the site of Scott Jones' paint shop, on the northwest corner of the South Public Square, till January, 1847, when they removed to their new shop, erected
during this interval, now owned and carried on by our fellow citizen J. B. Broadmarkle to be succeeded, at the old stand, by Messrs. Holliday and G. W. Drake. Continuing in company some two years, Mr. Kinkaid,
thought he saw more money and less dirt behind the counter, retired to the dry goods business, between which and the anvil he alternated for many years, realizing, however, only the latter portion of his dream.
  (page 382, History of Greene County)
As compensating for this disappointment, however, he had married Miss Martha Pursley and had settled down in a dwelling built by himself and now owned and occupied by Mr. Smith, southwest of the Methodist
Church, where he continued to enjoy the sweets of domestic bliss for a
considerable time.
 
Mr. Cress, on the contrary, with more penetration, it is thought, and with that practical sagacity for which he is still justly distinguished, perceiving the dollars to be near the anvil, continued the business at the old
stand, taking in as partner Ephriam Barnett, who had served out his apprenticeship under the old firm. For ten long years they continued to do a successful business, in their own chosen calling, when the company was dissolved by the death of Mr. Barnett. Continuing the business till the condition of his eyes necessitated a change, Mr. C. exchanged the labors of the shop for those of the husbandman ; in which he, bringing the same perseverance to bear, seems to have been equally successful, though laboring under some disadvantages not necessarily connected with the vocation of farmer.
 
On retiring from the shop, Mr. Cress left the premises in the hands of John B. Broadmarkle, who has shown by its successful management for many years, the evident impress of his master, and who has also coupled with it a good assortment of general hardware goods whereby he can now accommodate the community in whatever they need in both these departments of useful industry.
 
Michael Buchanan, Esq., was cotemporaneous with Mr. Cress here, having made his first appearance here in 1846, residing for a year or two in our "first hotel." This property, which was located on the site of the present Masonic Hall, he bought for $400, and sold to the Rev. William Saxton. Here our clerical friend did the honors of landlord for some years, keeping a generous table, with a good supply of old fashioned Methodist good cheer for all guests who patronized " The Saxton House." But finding, at length, that hotel life was neither so profitable nor pleasant as had been supposed, he retired to a farm some two miles east of town, leaving his town residence vacant, or occupied, with interruption, for some time, when, at length, it was burned to ashes, leaving the entire corner it occupied bare for the erection of the brick block built thereupon in the years 1867-68, known as the Odd Fellows and Masonic Hall, with commodious business rooms in the basement story.
 
Having disposed of his town property as above. Esquire B. returned to his farm, where he remained a year or two, when he sold it out to Mr. John French, and returned to town in 1851, during which year, he built for himself what is now known as the second Methodist parsonage, and occupied at present by the Rev. J. W. Eckman. Having lived here for a few years he exchanged it for the " old parsonage," receiving the differ-
ence, with which he built the residence now owned and occupied by Benjamin Drake, on the north border of town. Here he continued to reside till he passed from our midst, a worthy citizen, an honest man, and, better than all, an humble Christain.
 
Passing over the years 1847-48, as furnishing nothing of special interest, we are brought to 1849, when Thomas Ford settled in the open prairie northwest of town, where he now resides. Limited in means and
force, at first, his advance was not rapid ; but, as these both increased, he has now for a quarter of a century been showing our community what a genuine English farmer can accomplish, even under untoward circum-
stances, viz: buy and pay for a good-sized farm every year, and have pocket change enough left for spending money at Cliristmas.
 
In 1850, David Liles, Esq., made his advent here ; and, beside discharging the duties of magistrate, he has followed a goodly variety of vocations in the general and local, and general politics in particular, dispensing the gospel of Democracy at his headquarters to all the faithful without charge.
 
The Rev. Dimlap arrived here in 1849 or 1850, and purchased what is now known as the " Hardin land," including the lot on which Bauer's shoe-shop stands, most of which lies east and northeast of town. This,
however, was soon sold to M. Buchanan, Avho, in turn, transferred it to the Hardin family soon after for a merely nominal sum, it being considered then of little value. But, as illustrating the rise of such unsightly
land in our midst since that time, it may here be stated that this same tract has recently changed hands, at figures varying from $100 to $200 per acre. It mav also be noted here that, in 1851, Messrs. Speaks & Hall
bought 84 acres immediately east of town for $2.50 per acre, which now is selling for upwards of $100.
 
The house now owned and occupied by Ed. Boulton, was built at this time by H. Cress, as a residence for himself.
 
During the same year Lemuel Stubl)lefield purchased of Geo. H. Cowder the farm at present owned by Milton and Harvey, sen., and located thereupon at once.
 
In this and the following year, 1852, the first Institute of Instruction, better known as "The Old Seminary," was erected upon the site it now occupies, through the energy and public spirit of the friends of education in our midst, prominent among whom were Richard M. Booker, N. C. Wooley, Geo. W. Allen, Wm. A. Secor, Geo. T. W. Sheffield, and others. This was built by voluntary subscription throughout the community at a cost of near $2,500, though the contract witli Messrs. Speaks & Kinkaid was only $2,200, the contractors losing by the operation. This institute was opened for students in the Fall of 1852, by the writer of this sketch, and continued under his supervision till the introduction of the public school system of Illinois, a term of five years, as a private institution, when it was taken possession of by the district school directors, and run in their interest till it was substantially run down. A very questionable use, it is thought, of an institution built by private funds, and destined to have no connection with the public school system of the State.
 
Contemporaneously with the erection of the institute of instruction, was the building of what has, till recently, been known as " The Union Church," but now called " The Town Hall." This was built by the community at large, and deeded jointly to a small Baptist church organized about two years before, and a Cumberland Presbyterian church, which came into being soon after the completion of this church edifice. Occupying it as circumstances seemed to favor, both for the worship of God and a great variety of other purposes for which it was never designed, for near twenty years, the house became very much dilapidated ; these organizations ceased to be, as living churches, and the building passed through their hands to those of a stock company for the meagre sum of $500 having cost about $2000. Mr. Lawrie, the contractor, losing heavily in his contract of construction for $1,200  its whole history furnishing an instructive illustration of the folly of building company
churches, and the greater folly of making them a gratuity to any church organization.
 
During the year 1853-54, it became increasingly evident that the first church built here in 1841 (Methodist), would no longer meet the necessities of those for whom it was erected, being neither sufficiently convenient nor commodious to meet the altered condition of the community here. Accordingly early in 1855, a plan was put on foot to build one which would both, better represent the advanced condition of our community in this direction, and, at the same time, meet the existing and prospective wants of those immediately interested. A structure costing $3,000 was supposed sufficient to "fill the bill '' for this purpose. This amount was readily  raised by subscription through the entire community, with all classes contributing to aid in the good work. But the work was far from being completed when a small error of $3,000 was discovered in what the structure would actually cost before completion ! ! ! This necessitated another subscription, which, however, was far from being as successful as the first thus leaving a heavy balance for the trustees to shoulder, a load they continued to carry till they finally threw off, themselves, the self-imposed burden. But though thus relieved from debt, and costing double the first estimate, it has failed to answer the expectations it had raised, for it has always seemed to be afflicted with some chronic ailment, which has only yielded to treatment by expending $3,000 more, to bring it to the sound, and, it is hoped, healthy condition which it gives every external indication at present of having at last reached. Our friends worshiping there, are to be congratulated, therefore, after such long and unpleasant experiences, that they now have it " all right."
 
Greenfield had hitherto experienced the manifold evils of isolation, the potent cause of its tardy growth and want of general prosperity. Whilst compelled to witness the inspiring influence of the railroad upon the advance and rapid increase of neighboring towns, she was equally forced to see herself languish from want of connection with the outside world by means of this arterial communication with the centers of activity ; and such she saw was destined to be her condition until such connection should be established.
 
It may well, therefore, be conceived with what interest a proposition for the construction of a railroad from St. Louis, through this place to Rock Island, would be received by the community generally. This interest soon took shape in such action as rolled up a subscription of $100,000 in this part of the county in a very short period. Witii such a subscription, the road was speedily put under contract in many of its parts. The ground was first broken in 1857. At first it made comparatively slow advance ; but during this and the following year, a goodly portion of it was graded and ready for the ties. Here, however, it was arrested. Owing to the great stringency in financial affairs through the country generally, and especially this being coupled, soon after, with
the advent of the great Rebellion in 1861, it remained in undisturbed slumber till the year 1869, when it woke from its long repose greatly invigorated. From this period it went forward with great rapidity to an early completion. To this point it was so far finished that, in February of the following year, the first train greeted our hearing with its hoarse, but, to us, delightful music. We hailed its approach somewhat as we should an express coach from another planet. We were married to the outlying world by an indissoluble tie. By this we were placed upon the platform of progress enjoyed by others but denied to us.
 
From tliis period, therefore, dates the advance of our modest little home, until, under the inspiring influence of this mighty engine of power and progress, it presents the fair proportions, inviting comeliness, and healthful vigor we behold at this hour, giving cheerful promise that, in the maturity of its manhood, it is destined to become one of the most eligible suburbs of her who sits as Queen upon "The Father of Waters."
 
Our road has since been purchased by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Co., who " run " it in connection with theirs, thus furnishing us with a direct route to the Mistress of the Lakes, a desideratum long felt here.
 

In 1859 the first Presbyterian Church was organized here by the Rev. George C. Wood, of Jacksonville, who, for a brief period, was its stated supply, Hiram B. Ellis, Esq. and R. E. Wilder being its first ruling elders; the former continuing such till his death, the latter holding the same position to the present time.

Passing on, therefore, to the year 1868, we record the erection of what is now known as the Greenfield Academy, now in its 36th session, a strictly private institution, moderately patronized till quite recently.

Our first banking house was established here Dec. 16, 1870 by Skilling, Sheffield & Co., being operated under the Odd Fellows' Hall till the construction of its present brick quarters, on the northeast corner of the public square. Within the last two years, the firm first conducting it has been changed, since which period it has been engineered and owned by Sheffield & Co. It is regarded as doing a fair, safe, and reliable business, with accommodating officers, and meeting all the business requirements of our community.

From the organization of the Presbyterian Church, in 1859, it had no place of worship of its own, and was obliged to make use of other buildings as circumstances should allow, especially the Academy, where it continued to worship for some two or three years. But in 1872, being generously aided by the community at large, it erected a very commodious and convenient brick edifice in the center of town, having a basement
room above ground, for all the purposes of social worship. Sabbath schools, etc., and a very pleasant audience room in the second story for Sabbath service, both of which are now finished off in modern style, and furnish facilities for all church purposes, not inferior to those enjoyed by any communion in this, or any of the surrounding towns.
 
 The Methodist.
We shall speak first of the Methodists, as those who were the early pioneers of the Church at this point, a remark that will apply to them with peculiar force in respect to most of the first settlements of our entire country, thus manifesting to advantage their aggressive tendency, their self-denial, and their conformity to the Great Commission of their Master.
 
The first forms of worship here were those of this Communion. Conspicuous among these were Geo. W. Allen, Geo. A. Cowden, and Joel Edwards, at whose residences public worship on the Sabbath was conducted by the early Apostles of this faith, both local and those appointed by Conference.
 
Some four years before regular circuit preaching was enjoyed here, or even local, in 1828, the Illinois District and Apple Creek Circuit embraced this point, with Peter Cartwright as presiding elder, and Isaac Scarrett and I. T. Johnson as " circuit riders." The next year L. Bogart and I. French were on the circuit ; but the next year, 1830, the district being changed to Sangamon, James Bankston appears to have been the first regular preacher here, though others, both circuit and local, paid occasional visits to this point for some time before this. In 1831 Wm. D. Trotter and Wm. Haskins rode this circuit; but in 1832 John Vancleve and Levi Springer succeeded them. During these four years Peter Cartwright continued presiding elder ; but the district and circuit being
changed to Carrollton, Simon Peter succeeded him in this capacity in 1833, with JohnVancleve and William Petney as circuit riders. In 1834 A. E. Phelps and C. B. N. McCabe, were placed on the circuit ; and in 1835, Jessie Hale alone. In 1836, the district being again changed to Lebanon, M. S. Taylor succeeded Simon Peter as presiding elder, with D. Cory and N. Allen on the circuit. Chas. Holliday in 1837 followed Elder Taylor as presiding elder. Elijah Corrington being on the circuit this
year, with A. Bird with him a portion of the year. The district being changed to Alton and the circuit to Apple Creek in 1838, Wm. Chambers rode the circuit this year; but the circuit being changed back to Carrollton next year, 1839, J. B. Corrington was again placed on the circuit. In 1810 (? 1840), the Alton gave place to the Illinois District, when Peter Cartwright became again elder, with Wm. Wilson on the circuit during this and the following year.
 
Hitherto they had continued to worship, not like the Jews, in tabernacles, but wherever temporary accommodations were furnished them ; but about this time, they built "an house of God," as before intimated. They now took a more distinctive form, introducing that peculiar system of church machinery which had been employed elsewhere with such successful results, and which constitutes the grand secret of their
whole past history.
 
Being almost the exclusive occupants of the territory, here and for a large circuit around this point, they propagated, without let or hindrance, that form of religious faith known amongst theologians as Arminian. Hence its prevalence at this day. They organized and built churches at various points in a circle embracing a large extent of country around us, upon which conference was wont to place one or two of the traveling brotherhood who should dispense the Word of Life as often as their limited opportunities should allow. Thus has it continued, with slight modifications, to the present time ; and, though other forms of religious doctrine have since intervened, which always attends the advance and march of higher grades of civilization and intelligence, this denomination is still largely in the ascendant, with encouraging prospects of a bright future.
 
As connected with the foregoing, it may not he out of place here to state that, along with the regular '' circuit riders," we have always been favored with what is known among Methodists as " local preachers." Among the earlier of these were the Revs. J. B. Corrington, Wm. H. Askins, Amos Prentice, Henry Davidson, and others ; among the latter, Revs. Dr. Ledbrook, Wm. Saxton, Wm. Ratty, and the Rev. James Rives.
As this latter was a permanent resident here for many years, and filled a somewhat conspicuous place both in his church relations and in community, a brief notice of him, in this connection, may not be inappropriate. A native of North Carolina, he removed from that State to Southern Kentucky in 1820, coming the whole distance in a one-horse cart with his wife and one child, our present Judge Rives. Here he labored on the plantations of Bros. Taylor, who were wealthy planters, for some seven years, during which time, by economy and persevering industry, he made enough, though paying more quarterage than either of his opulent employers with their fifty servants each, to purchase one hundred and sixty acres of land at Rivesville, to which he removed with his family in 1834. Not confining himself exclusively to the cultivation of his farm, he very soon embarked into merchandising, a calling to which he was an entire stranger. But, with an aptitude peculiar to himself, he readily accommodated himself to his new vocation, as shown in the fact that, although at first he had to obtain credit of the Pegrams of Carrollton, he very soon had means and credit to purchase all he needed for his locality, at other points. Continuing upon his farm and in the merchandise business till the Spring of 1851, when he lost his wife, he sold out to his eldest son, and in the Autumn of that year, moved to town, purchasing the residence
now owned by Uncle Jesse Keeley. Here he resumed his former mercantile business, forming partnerships successively with Wm. Tunnell, Abraham Miller, and James B. Carter.
 
But he lost no time in relieving the tedium of single life by marrying in 1852, Mrs. Julia Boyd, of Adams County, Il., a lady who came as near meeting the description of a virtuous woman, given by Solomon in xxxi. of Proverbs, as the best of her sisters.
 
He did not, however, confine himself exclusively to mercantile pursuits ; for soon after coming to town, he purchased of Thomas Lofton (Lorton?) the farm immediately north of town, comprising ninety acres, a farm originally entered by Rev. Wesley Meldrum, giving fifteen dollars per acre, on which he erected, in the Fall and Winter of 1852, the residence he continued to occupy till his death. Some years before this, however, he had retired from all connection with mercantile pursuits, devoting his whole energies
to farming on a large scale, believing this a far more lucrative vocation than selling tapes and ribbons. In this belief he was not mistaken; for, prosecuting it with an indomitable energy, he became the brawn of our county, adding farm after farm, till, at last they numbered some half dozen. All these he superintended in person, at the same time meeting his appointments almost every Sabbath, as had been his wont for years, while discharging multiplied other duties growing out of his various relations in life. But this was too much, even for his robust constitution.  

  The tension of both mind and body was more than they could endure, and, suddenly, one Sabbath morning, July 8, 1866, the silver cord of life was loosed and the golden bowl broken, and James Rives passed from our midst, leaving an example worthy of imitation of a man of tireless energy in all the activities of life, at the same time that he kept steadily in view the great interests that lie beyond. His widow survived him till
March, 1875, when she too, of whom the world was not worthy, "was not, for God took her."

The Baptists.
This denomination appears next in the order of time. As a communion, they do not seem to have figured largely under this meridian nor in our immediate neighborhood. The late Rev. Stephen Coonrod who died in Dec, 1872, at his home north of town, appears among the first clergymen of this denomination, though there were others at points somewhat distant from this. Among these were Rev. Charles Kitchens, Rev. Thos. Lee and Rev. M. Browning who ministered, for a longer or shorter period, to the Hickory Grove Church, as also have Revs. H. H. Witt and S. B. Culp. Upon moving from this place to his farm in 1829, Mr. Coonrod became pastor of the little Baptist Church here, and continued to sustain that relation till his death a long pastorate of 48 years. During half of this time, he had also, at the same time, charge of a church on Taylor's Prairie, and one near Athensville. At these and other points, he ministered through his entire ministerial life at the same time carrying on his farm for the maintainance of a numerous family. At first, for some four or five years, like the Methodists, he held public service in private dwellings, his own, Thomas Finley's and others; but, as has been stated before, a small log church, erected in 1834 on the southwest corner of the present graveyard north of town, served as a place of public worship for about thirty years, when it gave place to a more imposing structure, built in the north part of town in 1855.
 
For many years Mr. C. belonged to what is known as the Regular Baptists and Apple Creek Association ; but his theology being tinctured too highly with Calvinism, for many of his brethren, a separation took place,  the seceders being termed Wittites, but retaining the old family name ; while he and his followers were known as United Baptists, who formed a new Association called Concord. These are understood to represent the Hyper-Calvinistic School while the former are regarded as representing a more liberal phase of theology.
 
Another family of this denomination came into existence here in about the year 1850, known as " The Missionary Baptists." For their benefit the community had built and deeded to them in 1852 one half of what has been known as the Union Church when Rev. H. T. Chilton became their first pastor, succeeded by others at different intervals. But, after maintaining a sickly existence for some twenty years, it " went the way of all the earth," selling out its claim to the building for the trifle of $250.
 
 This denomination in none of its branches, though long in existence here, it seems to have attained much of the strength and prestige it has at other points ; the philosophy of which is left to others to explain.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
A few of this branch of the church were organized here in, or about the year 1852. To them, as before stated, was deeded one half of what has been known since, as " The Union Church."  Here they commenced their first operations, with the Rev. Wm. Bell as their stated preacher, and Wm. A. Secor and Maj. Geo. Shackelford, as their first elders the former acting in that capacity till his decease in 1863 as a faithful church official, a worthy citizen and of unquestioned piety ; as the latter, only till his removal to Girard, where he died some years after.
 
The church, however, continued its operations for many years, having different individuals to conduct their service. Among these may be mentioned the Revs. Daniel Bell, Lorance, Viney, etc.; but, keeping up public service only portion of the time, it did not seem to prosper as to make much progress ; and from this and a variety of other causes, like its Baptist comrade, after a straggling existence of some twenty years, it
virtually ceased to be.

The Presbyterian Church.   
Little, in addition to what has already been said in regard to this communion, need be stated in this place. Suffice it to say, that it had no corporate existence here, till the year 1859, when its first organization took place. Since this period, its progress has been moderate, there having been few located here of that denominational family, and those few not having had the facilities requisite, till quite recently, to enable them to prosecute the appropriate work of a church organization. Now, however, with a new and commodious house of worship centrally situated, with a wide field for cultivation here, and with a favoring Providence to second their judicious efforts, it may be reasonable to suppose that they may yet attain to such prosperity as to be a power for good in their chosen field of labor. Hitherto they have had, as their clerical force, only what are termed stated supplies, the venerable Rev. Joseph I. Gray, now of this place, being the only permanently settled Presbyterian clergymen in this entire section of country. When working, devoted and efficient pastorates are enjoyed, better results may
be reasonably anticipated.
 
Other Denominations.
This community, like most others, have always had some belonging to other divisions of the Christian household, than those spoken of above ; and such continues to be the case : Southern Methodists, Episcopalians, Unitarians, Universalists, Reformers,
Catholics etc., etc.; but, few in number, and lacking in that interest so essential to success in this, as in all other enterprises, they have never attained to any tangible existence here, but have lost, to a great extent, their individuality among those who have ; or have relapsed into that larger class generally spoken of as " The World."
 
Temperance.
 In the earlier history of our community, there seems to have been no organized effort to resist the incroachments of the monster Intemperance. Our first settlers, however, do not appear to have been much annoyed by his presence in their midst. Frequently, as in most early settlements, an Irish wake or spree was indulged in occasionally, by those
few whose appetites ran in that direction, only to be rebuked, however, by the greater number who were always found in the ranks of the temperance army.
 
With the advance of time and the increase of numbers, however, it became necessary to adopt some systematic plan to hold in check the insidious approaches of this prolific parent of all evils, Intemperance. Accordingly, as early as the year 1848, July 5th, a Division (109) of the Sons of Temperance was organized here, with twenty-six charter
members. Two years after in 1850, such was its prosperity, that it was enabled to erect what has long been known as " The Temperance Hall " on the northwest corner of the public square, a two story structure, at a cost of nearly $1,000. It prosecuted after this, its appropriate work for some five years, having numbered on its roll during this period about 200 members. Then, however, in 1855, the order of Good Templars being
organized here, its prosperity began to wane and continued to do so, till 1857, when its members numbered only eleven. Whereupon, it was decided to suspend all operations and go into liquidation ; as its indebtedness had so increased as to make it quite burdensome for so small a number; and as the new organization contemplated laboring in the same field and that, too, with better prospects of success. This was speedily done and its effects distributed, the Odd Fellows obtaining their Bible, and the Good Templars, the regalia, wardrobe, &c.
 
This latter organization, though prosperous for a time, and useful as furnishing a visible protest in the community against the indulgence and traffic in ardent spirits, seems, for some reason, to have been short lived and to have left few items of importance requiring notice in this connection. After its disappearance, as a living organization it has had no lineal descendent in the same good work here ; and the people at large have
been contented with resolving themselves into " a committee of the whole " to resist the inroads of the hosts of Bacchus. In this they have been so far successful, as to have kept alive a healthy public sentiment upon this subject. The iniquitous practice of drinking is frowned upon by the better class of the community ; the traffic is quite effectively checkmated by bringing the civil law to bear upon the guilty head of him, who, in open defiance of a decided public sentiment, would still prosecute his infernal business under the shades of night and the darkness of the pit.
 
With a sleepless vigilance over the ballot-box the friends of temperance have hitherto kept this emissary of Tophet at bay ; and, though not entirely free from this curse of curses, can challenge a comparison with any other point in the State in regard to their temperance record.


Education.

 
Our early friends were not unmindful of this important factor as a
prime element in every well ordered community. As substantial evidence
of this, we find them building a log college, even before erecting altars
to the God they worshiped. This they did in about 1854 immediately
north of Valentine Caswell's residence upon the rising ground between
this and the Rives farm. George A. Cowden prefers a valid claim to the
honor of first wielding the scepter of the pedagogue within our Corpora-
tion. Mrs. Jonathan Spencer, (nee Eliza Wilson) now of Rock Island, Il., had also an opportunity of exercising " woman's rights " in the same
direction. But Miss Matilda Worden, who presided here for three suc-
cessive sessions, seems to have had more reputation than any other
incumbent. This was owing to a great extent on account of her belief
in, and practice of Solomon's doctrine in the management of the stubborn urchin : " Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul
spare for his crying." Should any one be inclined to dispute her claim
in this direction, however, our neighbor Frank Miller, may be called to
the witness stand, and he will give solid testimony that this " Yankee
School marm " was a firm believer in the virtue of hickory. This model
structure continued, for a number of years, to meet the requirements of
this community for all school purposes. At length, however, being left open
and unoccupied, as such buildings are wont to be, an irresponsible mover
took possession of it for one night, during which it was fired and burnt to
ashes, leaving the family houseless, and the people here destitute of any
place wherein "to teach the young idea how to shoot."
 
This calamity, however, did not befall it until it had done excellent
and varied service in other and closely allied directions ; for in it the first
lyceum was inaugurated where, we may suppose. Dr. Cooper, Geo. W.
Allen, Esq., Revs. Saml. Culp and Wesley Meldrum and the redoubtable
Booker displayed fervid and, perhaps, Ciceronian eloquence in the discussion of the stirring themes of that day. Here, too, was organized our first
Sabbath School, that right arm of the church, engineered by Geo. W.
Allen, ever found in the front of every enterprise promising good to his
fellows ; who could be seen, after the performance of his duties at
school, returning home with the sura total of his Sabbath school library
inclosed in his pocket handkerchief.
 
Here, likewise, for want of more commodious quarters, the minister
at the altar proclaimed the grand truths of Inspiration to attentive
auditors as a noble supplement to the purpose for which the structure
was at first erected.
 
To remedy the misfortune which had thus happened to them, our
friends pressed into service other buildings: as among which may be
noticed the storeroom now occupied by John Dryden. Here a Mr.
Dickerman, a nephew of Nelson, and Ira B. Pickett, Esq., instructed
many of our present resident citizens, among whom may be mentioned,
Jefferson Coonrod, L. O. Edwards, Wm. Cannedy, Esq., G. T. W. Shef-
field and others. Thus a "subscription school" was kept up in some
form here and there as circumstances favored, till 1844, when quite a
comfortable house was erected on the tract of land now occupied by the
palatial Fifth Avenue residence of our neighbor, J. H. Gray. Here schools
were taught by different individuals as the necessities of the community
required, for some half dozen years, when the increased necessities and
advancing public spirit on the subject of education required enlarged
accommodations for this purpose. An appeal to the public was made in
1851, with this end in view, and a prompt response, in the shape of
$2,000 or more, was the result. With this amount somewhat increased,
what is now known as "The Old Seminary " was erected in this and the
following year, and opened for the reception of students in the Fall of the
latter. This proved a success and placed us on a vantage ground on the
subject of education not enjoyed by our neighbors. For five years this
continued to be a private Institution, when, on the introduction of the
Public School System of this State, it was submerged in that, and virtu-
ally taken for public purposes as being converted into a district school.
Thus it was used for some seventeen years (and pretty well used up too,)
when it was neither suitable, nor would meet the wants of a largely in-
creased population.
 
 
 
392 HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
 
At present one of the most attractive features in Greenfield society-
is her educational facilities. To say that Greenfield public schools can
compare most favorably with .those of other cities and towns, is stating a
fact well authenticated. The buildings are situated on a high hill in the
eastern part of the town, long bridges span the deep ravines and make
the approach easy, and the yards are never muddy. On the east, one
overlooks the lowlands of the Rubicon; on the north, the public highway
trailing up the valley below ; on the west and south, the town in general
as all tending to make the scene beautiful in Summer and picturesque in
Winter. The buildings are two in number, each of brick. One of them,
two stories high, was of sufficient capacity until the year 1874, when
more room was demanded. In that year a new building was erected, con-
sisting of two stories and basement, and fully equipped with the neces-
sary school furniture, an elegant organ, paintings for the walls, etc., etc.
The rooms are all commodious, ventilated by the most perfect system and
warmed by furnaces, which have stood the test when outside the mercury
stood 15° below zero. The building cost about $10,000. The school
consists of six departments ; first and second primary, first and second
intermediate, grammar and high school. The enrollment has constantly
increased, that of last year (1878) being 373, 38 of whom were non-residents.
The present superintendent, H. H. Montgomery, has filled that
station for four years, and is making earnest effort to add a new depart-
ment, in which drawing, penmanship and book-keeping will be made a
specialty. This measure bids fair to succeed and will be the third depart-
ment added under his administration.
 
The High School as The high school was inaugurated in the Fall of
1875, in response to the call of many who preferred that the full prepar-
atory course of college be completed at home. The course arranged
includes, in mathematics, trigonometry (plane and spherical) completed ;
in languages, reading of Virgil ; in sciences, astronomy, chemistry and
such others as are usually called for in examination for State certificates.
Each year the course is completed by a class of about ten, to whom the
board and superintendent give a diploma. The board consists of direc-
tors chosen as required by law. They maintain a nine months school
each year, pay their superintendent $125 per month, the other teachers
$30, $4O, $40 $40 and $40 respectively. The present board consists of J.
B. Broadmarkle, Dr. W. 0. Day and S. P. Cameron, energetic men and
vigilant in the interests of the school. The tuition of non-resident
pupils, for high school, is $21 a year. Last year $360 were realized thus,
and this year it will amount to about $400.
 
From the foregoing statements, it will readily be seen that both
those who early planted themselves here, and those who have succeeded
them, have ever evinced considerable interest upon this most important
subject as all of which furnishes cheerful promise that it will continue to
be emphasized by their descendants, who thereby shall be trained to an
intelligent discharge of their duties as citizens of this Great Republic,
especially that growing out of their relation to the ballot-box.
 
Learned Professions.
 
Although all the professions have been represented here from an
early day, except that of law, yet not in great numbers, nor by many who
have been especially distinguished in theology, medicine, law, or literature.
 
 
 
HISTORY OP GREENE COUNTY. 393
 
Ministers. The first churches were ministered to by such men as the
exigencies of the times could furnish : plain practical expounders of
God's truths having none of the advantages of those times within college
walls and theological seminaries, but not wanting in those higher adorn-
ments acquired only in the school of their Divine Master. Hence, though
comparatively unlettered, they did effectual service in His spiritual vine-
yard.
 
Among those of greater celebrity than others may be mentioned the
Rev. Peter Cartwright, who, both as preacher and Presiding Elder, had
not only a sectional, but a national reputation. Of great eccentricity of
character and not polished in his rhetoric, yet, in his better days, he was
a son of thunder in the desk, moving the crowd that hung upon his lips
by his sturdy logic and thrilling pathos.
 
Others, more or less representative men in the denominations they
represented, might be noticed, did space permit. Suffice it to say that
most of them have been useful in their spheres of labor.
 
Physicians: At first medicine was not represented here at all as em-
bracing a period of ten or more years ; but, in the Winter of 1835-6
Tennessee sent us a surplus one in the person of the late Dr. M. A.
Cooper. For a considerable time he was the sole representative of his
profession here. As the population increased and necessities required,
however, others followed ; among whom may be noticed, Drs. Metcalf,
Maxfield, Holliday, Rice, Finch and Ledbrook, all of whom had located
here by 1850 : since which latter period Messrs. Jayne, Dunn, Cash, J. S.
Cooper, Hill, Culver, Chapman, Day, Jarvis, Mongomery and Stout, have
filled or are filling the post of physician for a longer or shorter term. Dr.
Finch has, at this writing, been a practitioner something like a quarter of a century. Whether he
has restored as many to health and life as the god he represents, or not
certain it is, that Jupiter's thunderbolts have not as yet reached him ;
but he bids fair to do a good deal of heavy work yet in the service of the
Master he has so faithfully and so long served.
 
Lawyers. Whether the brotherhood of this profession have had fears
that the " woe " pronounced against them with so much emphasis, would
be experienced in the event of any attempt to locate in our midst, we
will not attempt to say ; but certain it is, that the whole fraternity have
been wont " to shy around " us and fix their location elsewhere. The
only exception to this is in the case of Messrs. Ward and Johnson, who
have been rather timidly approaching us in that direction for some time ;
and from the extreme modesty of their advent here, it is at least among
the possibilities of the future that they may yet succeed in effecting a
permanent lodgment, and thus become the first of the sons of Solon and
Lycurgus to instruct the present generation in the intricacies of our State
and national jurisprudence. Success to them.
 
Teachers. For some years the vocation of the public instructor of
the young, has been justly regarded as constituting the fourth of the
learned professions though not recognized here to any considerable
extent, owing probably, among other causes, to the fact, that most of
those who have acted in that capacity here, have been rather a nomadic
brotherhood, making their calling rather a kind of stepping stone to
something else, than a profession to be followed through life ; and to the
 
additional fact that not sufficient inducement, in the way of compensation, has been offered to justify permanent engagement in this direction.
When these obstacles shall be removed, it is to be hoped that our schools
of all grades will become more efficient; and certain it is, that the profession of the devoted teachers will thereby be greatly ennobled.
 
Newspapers.
 
The first newspaper ever started in Greenfield was the Greenfield
Independent, by Morton & Pickett, in the Spring of 1869. These gentle-
men had apparently sufficient encouragement, and the business ran along
smoothly when Morton collected the greater part of the outstanding
debts, borrowed considerable sums on the good name of the Independent,
and left for parts unknown. He has not been heard from since. W. T.
Pickett, his partner, he left with the press and office and the company's
indebtedness to settle. At this the Independent ceased. Mr. Pickett
still continued in the office and published semi-spasmodically a very spicy
sheet called the Comet ; this only lasted a few months. In the Spring of
1870 the outfit was sold to one A. G. Meacham, a gentleman of
literary tastes and some knowledge of journalism, who almost immedi-
ately took into partnership with himself a most excellent practical printer,
named Milton, and the Locomotive was started under the firm name of
Meacham & Milton. The paper was conducted very acceptable by these
gentlemen until they dissolved, and Meacham left. Milton started a
branch paper at Brighton and another at Winchester. Afterward W. T.
Pickett became a partner of Mr. Milton in the Locomotive, and the paper
was for a time issued twice a week. Later the subscription list and good
will was sold to Mr. C. H. Johnson, at that time the publisher of the
White Hall Register: This transfer occurred in the year 1874. At the
time of the starting of the Brighton and Winchester papers the press was
moved to Brighton, and no newspaper was printed in Greenfield until
Walker brought a press and general outfit from Carlinville, in the Spring
of 1875, and began the publication of the Greenfield News. This was
decidedly a spicy, independent sheet, but like the others was of short
life. The office was left in the hands of his sureties, and remained idle
some months, when, Byron Orr and another, John Walker, leased the office
and began the publication of the Greenfield Dispatch. Walker was only
identified with the Dispatch a few days, when he turned over his interest
to Orr. The latter continued its publication a few months and sold out
to W. T. Pickett, one of the original owners of the Independent. Mr.
Pickett continued the publication of the Dispatch until May 12, 1877, with
not very encouraging prospects ahead, and finally sold his interest to Mr.
Farris, who at that time was publishing the Greene County Democrat, at
White Hall, Ills. After this the office remained idle until July 7, 1877,
when Mr. R. D. Suddeth leased it and started the paper known as the
Greene County Republican, and continued its publication until March
23, 1878, when the Greenfield Printing Company purchased and took
possession of the entire outfit and began the publication of the Greenfield
Weekly Argus, with W. W. Haven as editor and manager, which, considering the numerous changes and failures in Greenfield journalism during
the past ten years, is an eminent success. On the 1st of January, 1879,
the Argus claimed over 500 bona fide subscribers.


Patriotic Record.
That our citizens have always been wont to listen to and obey the
call of their country in the hour of her peril will clearly appear from the
fact, that we have been represented in all the wars in which she has engaged since she commenced her existence as an independent nation.
 
Beginning with the war of 1812, the names of the late Capt. Josiah
Caswell Sr. and Jr., and Isaac Barton, Sr., appear as prominent among
those who participated in that struggle.
 
In the war with Mexico in 1848 ; Harvey Middleton, Richard D. Gill
and Milton G. Smith took part under Gen. Scott in his heroic march
from Vera Cruz to the City of the Montezumas.
 
But it was in the war of the Rebellion that our patriotism appears to
the best advantage. When a call was made for volunteers . in the very
beginning of the war, our citizens responded with an alacrity truly com-
mendable. All classes vied with each other in making up a full com-
pany, and the priest at the altar, the Rev. T. J. Bryant, laying aside his
sacred calling, went forth as its commanding officer, early to return, how-
ever, with honorable scars in the service of his country.
 
This was followed, at different intervals by the other companies
made up of volunteers in and around this point commanded by Capt.
Jackson Drennan, Capt. Geo. H. English and Rev. Benj. Newman respec-
tively. These did valiant service on the field of battle, as the number
that fell and the scars received eloquently testify. The case of Wm. H.
Davidson the younger son of " Aunt Margaret," may be mentioned as of
peculiar interest: as Enlisting in May 1861, he returned home sick in
October of the same year, to be nursed by mother and sister through the
following Winter. No sooner had he fully recovered, than he returned
to the army and was in the battle of Shiloh ; he performed his duty in
that terrible engagement in helping to drive the enemy from the field,
when a fatal bail sped its way to his heart, causing him to expire in a
few moments.
 
Many others sacrificed their lives upon the altar of their country's
good, among whom may be mentioned, J. L. Abbot, Lieut. J. M. Mat-
lock, N. B. and Thos. Kemper, brothers of Mrs. Wm. Haven, etc., etc.
Of the many who lived to return home, may be noticed W. G. Secor,
Abram Belknap, John Roach and his two sons Wm. and David, Alexander Hall, Josiah Caswell, Jr., John D. Caswell, A. G. Kinkead, Jas. Boring and Isaac Barton, Jr., the two last of whom learned something of
the terrible horrors of Andersonville, that plague-spot upon modern
civilization, which should and doubtless will consign its originators to imperishable infamy.
 
Although it can not be said that all of the four companions belonged
to this point, yet the patriotism that inspired the movement of sending them to the field of operations, had its home here ; and therefore we
are justly entitled to a very large share of the credit of so doing. Such
being the case, it may well be questioned whether another place in the
Union, of the same magnitude, can be found so fully represented as Green-
field, Il., or whose patriotism was more conspicuously displayed in the
dark hours of its country's extremity. Thus may it ever be; and if,
in coming years, Rebellion shall show its hideous head again, may it be  
found that others, in still greater numbers, prompted by the example
thus famished, will go forth to the field of conflict and drive the fiendish
monster " to his own place.”
 
SOCIETIES.
The following are the present officers of the various secret societies of the place :
Knights of the Red Cross of Borne and Constantine. J. W. Hutchin-
son, Sovereign ; E. A. Belknap, Viceroy ; W. H. Ellis, Sen. General ; W.
C. Day, Jun. General: W. P. Burroughs, Treasurer: W. P. Ennis,
Recorder; W. A. Saylor, Prefect; Saml. Dixon, Herald; J. H. Gray,
Hioh Prelate ; F. M. Hatler, Standard Bearer ; W. L. Kincaid, Sentinel.
J. W. Hutchinson, W. M. ; E. A. Belknap, S. W. ;   E. B. Short, J. W. ; W. P. Burroughs, Treas. ; E. Woolley, Sec. ; W. A. Saylor, Sen. Deacon ; J. T. Hallaway, Jun. Deacon ; H. H. Montgomery, Sen. Steward;
F. M. Hatler, Jun. Steward; H. C. Myers, Tyler;  D. H. Weisner, Chaplain.  Henry Cress, N. G. ;
W. L. Finley, V. G. ; J. A. Drake, R. S. ; John Wahl, Sr., Treasurer. 
 
Knights of Honor. W. M. Ward, Dictator; J. M. Cooper, Past Dictator ; J. W. Piper, Vice Dictator ;
Milus Drum, Assistant Dictator ;
H. F. Martin, Reporter ; P. G. Mook, Financial Reporter; O. R. Southworth, Treasurer ; Thos. Doyle, Guide ; John Heiner, Guardian ; S. M. Wilhite, Sentinel; B. F. Piper, Chaplain.
 
THE GREENFIELD CORNET BAND
 
Was organized February 9, 1815 1915. Its members are: E. M. Middleton, Eb Cornet ;
Ed. N. McPherson, E6 Cornet ; David Clark, Eb Cornet ;
Elmer Middleton, B& Cornet ; Charles King, Bb Cornet ; E. P. Metcalf, Eb Alto ; M. D. Powell, Eb Alto ; Ebert Metcalf, Bb Tenor ; Elmer Rives, B 5 Tenor; William Kincaid, Baritone; A. J. Dixon, E6 Bass;
Robert Storer, Drum and Cymbals.
From the time of organization the band has been under instruction of E. M. Middleton, rendering classical
music of difficult grade.