Randolph County ILGenWeb

EARLY SETTLERS of Randolph COUNTY, IL
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Levi TEALE and James CURRY were hunting, when night overtook them, they stopped at a house, newly built by David PAGAN.  During that night, they were attacked by Indians.  TEALE wished to surrender, but CURRY  chose to fight.  The Indians helped to decide the matter when TEALE went to the barred door for the purpose of opening it or inspecting the fastenings.  A savage, seeing TEALE's foot exposed through an opening known as the "cat hole," drove a spear through the foot and into the floor.  Reaching down to remove this spear, TEALE's hand was pinioned by another one.  Thus he was definitely removed from the combat.  In the meantime CURRY, was coolly shooting at the Indians from the loft where he had taken refuge.  After a few casualties, the Indians took refuge close against the wall where they were not within the range of CURRY's rifle.  This didn't help them any, for CURRY began dumping the weight poles from the roof upon their unsuspecting heads.  Being prudent warriors, they retired.  CURRY then released TEALE and finally reached Kaskaskia vicinity with him.  TEALE recovered.  CURRY and Joseph ANDERSON, with whom he was hunting some years later, failed to return from the hunting trip.  Indians, known to have been lurking in the vicinity, doubtlessly supplied an explanation for the disappearance of CURRY and ANDERSON.

Seth ALLEN was an early resident on the site of the present city of Chester.  We find him there in 1829, when he began operating a cooperage shop.  Flourmills and slaughterhouses required the services of coopers, since most of their products were shipped in barrels.  When the growth of castor beans became common in this area, still more barrels were needed.  Since there was a ready sale for the barrels made in his shop, ALLEN prospered and was a prominent citizen Chester.  He served in various public offices and as a Justice of the Peace, performed the first marriage ceremony in the new town.

Cornhill BALLARD,--Cornhill sounds odd for a man's given name.  By the work in which he engaged, partly lived up to his given name.(What Cornhill and blacksmith have in common, is unknown)  He became one of the early blacksmiths in the Sparta region where he opened a shop in 1829, making and repairing plows, hoes and other farm tools.  One writer gives his first name as Thornhill, but the land entry is by W. C. BALLARD.  Probably Cornhill was his name.

Andrew BARBEAU--was the son of an early French settler, grew up in Prairie du Rocher.  He became a prosperous citizen and as one of his ventures, built a mill on the creek south of the village in 1824.  BARBEAU's mill was widely known, and the hollow leading into the hills near the place of his residence, carries his name.

Alexander BARBER came from Ohio to Randolph County in 1805.  He was a capable and energetic man with a particular skill in building mills.  For many years, his services were sought after, by those wishing to establish an industry of this type.  After construction of several mills for other people, he built and operated one of his own on Mill Creek, about five miles north of Rockwood.  In another way, Alexander enjoyed a rather unique distinction, serving more than forty continuous years as a Justice of the Peace.

William BARNETT had engaged in the Indian campaigns of 1811-1813.  When they ended, William was on his way to his father's home, within two mile of his destination, he drowned in Plum Creek.

Hugh McKELVY (b. 1762 in North Ireland, d. March 13, 1835 and is buried in Old Bethel Cemetery.) was a private in the South Carolina militia during the reduction of Charleston.  This is acceptable as Revolutionary War Service.  Hugh came to Randolph County in 1818, with his brother Alexander and John McDILL, Sr. Purchased 480 acres in Twp 4S5W on September 19, 1818.  Hugh and family are listed in the "Prairie Pioneers of Illinois, Vol.!".   Hugh left his brother, Alexander and his family in charge of the land.  On his way back to SC, they stopped in Tennessee with William EDGAR, Samuel NESBIT and Samuel LITTLE, to visit his brother, William H. McKELVY, and tell him of their projects in Illinois.  Mr. McDILL settled in November 1819, but Hugh was unable to return until about June of 1820.

Christian BEARE did not do anything in particular to attract attention to himself.  He might easily have passed on and received no mention had he not been the first native of Switzerland to take up residence in Randolph County--1832.

Shadrach BOND There were two Shadrach BOND's prominent in local history.  The elder one was among the earlier Americans to settle in and to give the name American Bottoms to a territory lying along the river north of Chester.  A second Shadrach BOND, nephew of the first, came to Kaskaskia in 1797.  He became a leading citizen and served as first governor of the State.  At his grave in the Chester Evergreen Cemetery, to which his body was removed from the Kaskaskia Cemetery, will be found the marker erected by the State of Illinois.

Submitted by David McKelvey

Last Updated: July 30, 2000