What a wonderful look at life in the mid-west in the 1800’s.  This Historical CD contains stories of the local townships of Cass County, Illinois and its people.

This is a scanned copy on CD of the original Book published in 1882.

History

of

Cass County,

Illinois

Edited by:  William Henry Perrin

ILLUSTRATED

Chicago:

O.L. Baskin & Co.  Historical Publishers, Lakeside Building

1882

350 pages on 1 CD

An essential resource for Genealogists

Actual images of every page, in Adobe Acrobat Reader .PDF format. Works with any computer, and is easy to use and read. Some scans are imperfect.

This book on CD is SEARCHABLE * 

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

Cass County—Early Notes on Illinois—The French Travelers and Explorers—The Indians- Wars of the Iroquois and Kickapoos—Legend of Monsoela — Different Owners of Illinois—Beardstown Mound—Purchase of the Country from the Indians—Miscellaneous, etc

CHAPTER II.

Settlements of the Country Not Included in Cass County—Some of the Pioneers and Where They Settled—The Sangamo Country—Its Fertility —Prairie, Schooners—First Land Entry—Beard's Ferry—Beard & Marsh's Entry of Land—First Settlers of Beardstown—Deed of Defeasance—Going to Egypt for Corn—Arrival of Other Settlers—The Entry of

Land, etc

CHAPTER III.

Increase of Population—The Deep Snow of 1830—The Black Hawk War—Rendezvous of Soldiers at Beardstown—Cause of Dr. Chandler's Settlement—Meeting Between Him and Abraham Lincoln —Business of Beardstown in 1834—The Early Log Cabins—Yankees and Yankee Tricks—Corn Bread, Etc

CHAPTER IV.

Organization of Cass County—The Convention at Rushville—Legislative Act Creating the County—Other Acts—First Election for Officers —The Number of Voters—An Incident of a Wolf—The Cold Day of 1837—Location of the County Seat- Scarcity of Money—The County Machinery Put in Motion-The Courts—Trouble from Horse Thieves Eugene Honorius—The Census, etc

CHAPTER V.

Fertile Lands of Cass—Its Geological Formations— Coal Measures—Different Deposits—Coal —Building Stone—Legislative Representatives from Cass County—Principal County Officers Since formation—Illinois River Items, etc

CHAPTER VI.

Agriculture of Cass County—Farming in the Primitive Times—Improved Farm Implements —Agricultural Fairs and Associations—Lists of Officers— Cass County Park Association-Its Organization, etc.—Fine Stock of the County—Short Horn Herds, etc.—The Railroads, etc

CHAPTER VII.

Virginia Precinct—Description, Boundaries and Topography—Western Pioneer Life—Settlement of the Precinct by White People—Character of the Pioneers—Their Trials, Troubles and Hardships— Early Improvements and Industries—Roads, Bridges, etc.—Schools—The First school-houses— Early Teachers—Present Educational Facilities- Churches and Preachers—Old Shiloh Church—Miscellaneous, etc

CHAPTER VIII.

City of Virginia—Its Birth, Location and Growth—Sale of Lots, and Additions to the Town—Dr. Hall, Founder of Virginia—First House and Store—

CHAPTER IX.

Virginia—Its Growth and Development as a City—The Era of Railroads—Project of Building the Illinois River Railroad—The Ohio and Mississippi, etc.-Newspapers of Virginia-First Paper Established in the Town—The Present City Press—Court Houses and the County Seat Question —The Jail—Miscellaneous, etc

CHAPTER X.

Virginia — Religious History — First Churches and Preachers—The Different Denominations and Their Temples of Worship — Sunday Schools, etc.—Educational—The Early Schools of Virginia—Pioneer Teachers—The Public Schools— C. P. College—War History—Secret and Benevolent Institutions, etc

CHAPTER XI.

Beardstown—City and Precinct— Laying Out of the Town— Its Location—Organization—First Officers—The County Seat Question—Churches — Schools—The Press—Railroads—The Professions- Early Settlers—Business Interests—War Record,

etc

CHAPTER XII.

Chandlerville Precinct—Topographical Features— Pioneer Times—Early Families Educational—Societies—Mills—Village of Chandlerville

CHAPTER XIII.

Ashland Precinct—Physical Features —Early Settlers — Pioneer Times — Schools and Churches—The Village of Ashland

CHAPTER XIV.

Arenzville Precinct—Its Early History —The Three Mile Territory—Early Residence of the Settlers—Emigrants from Germany—School-houses and Churches in the School Districts—The Village of Arenzville—First Lots Surveyed—Business of the Town—Churches and School-houses in the Villages —Some of the Prominent Men of the Time—Francis Arenz, John L Cire, Dr. George Engelbach, and Others—Miscellaneous, etc

CHAPTER XV.

Princeton Precinct—General Description— Boundaries. Topography and Surface Features—The Early Settlement Pioneer Hardships- First Mill, and other Improvements—Walnut Grove School-house— Present Schools— Churches— Old Princeton, and its Business Enterprise—Little Indian Village

CHAPTER XVI.

Richmond Precinct—Physical Features —Indians—Pioneer Times—Early Settlers—Schools, Churches and Stores

CHAPTER XVII.

Philadelphia Precinct Descriptive—Topography and Physical Features—Organization as a Precinct—The Settlement of the Whites—Their Life on the Frontier—Pioneer Improvements —Churches, Schools, etc.—Philadelphia and Lancaster—A Lost City, etc

CHAPTER XVIII.

Monroe Precinct — Description —Physical Features—Settlement and Pioneer Times Growth and Improvement—Churches, Schools, etc

CHAPTER XIX.

Oregon Precinct-Description and Settlement—Pioneer Life—Indiana—Churches and Schools

CHAPTER XX.

Hickory Precinct—Physical Features— First Settlement and Subsequent Growth—Progress of Industries and Improvements—Churches and Schools

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Virginia—City and Precinct

Beardstown—City and Precinct

Chandlerville Precinct

Ashland Precinct

Arenzville Precinct

Indian Creek Precinct

Princeton Precinct

Richmond Precinct

Philadelphia Precinct

Monroe Precinct

Oregon Precinct

Hickory Precinct