Chapter I: Front Matter

Pioneer Life in Illinois

BY F. M. PERRYMAN

KERR’S PRINTING HOUSE,
PANA, ILLINOIS.
1907.

_Copyrighted
1907, by
F. M. Perryman._

_All rights reserved._

Preface.

IN presenting this little book to the public, the author would not dare to claim perfection, for to err is human, but we have sought to give the conditions as they existed in this country in early days, and we have not sought to display style or learning, but we have sought to give the little book the same tone and as near in the same language that we used in early days as prudence will allow, and we will leave the reader to judge of the merits of the little book for himself; and we hope the good people will pardon any errors they may find. We hope you will be interested in the reading of it, and if some thoughts are presented which will prepare the readers the better for the battles of life and for usefulness to others, then we are well repaid for all our trouble.

THE AUTHOR.

Introduction.

WE believe as the Author of this book is so well known through this part of the country it would hardly be necessary to write much of an introduction; but by being solicited by friends who had learned that we were born and raised here in Illinois, we consented to do so; Mr. Chalfant first spoke of it then many others.

You will find the little book entirely original, nothing borrowed, and what you find herein that is good or bad, is our own production. The book does not take sides in party politics or church denominations, but the Author has given some of his own thoughts on different questions.

Table of Contents

Transcriber's Note: This table of contents has been created
by the transcriber to aid the reader.

Page
Preface 11
Introduction 12
Cares 13
Occupations 14
Eighty Years Ago 15
Sixty Years Ago 17
Traveling in Illinois 20
Names of the Early Settlers 21
Going Back 22
The Drill 24
No Divorce 26
Billy and the Wolves 28
Disadvantages 29
The Bear Chase 31
The Wolf Chase 33
The Coon 36
The Beauties of Nature 38
Men’s or Women’s Work 40
Pioneers Making Lumber 41
Hunting Day 42
Peter Huffman 44
Deer Driving 46
Pioneer Boy 47
The Third Boy 48
Where Pana Stands 49
The Snake 50
The Wild Cats 51
The Winters 52
How the Pioneers Made Meal 53
Our Native State 54
Pioneer Work 55
Morals 57
The Changes 58
The School in the Cabin 60
Shelbyville in Early Days 62
Wild Animals 63
The Muley Steer 64
Chimney Construction 66
Where Things Grow 67
Hospitality 68
Religion 69
Making Hay 70
The Deer on the Ice 71
Ben Overton 73
The Spelling Match 74
The Prices 76
The Eggs 77
Good Friends 78
Love 79
When I and Betsey Married 80
Discontent 82
Three Powers 84
The Effect of Influence 86
Jesus Cares for Me 88
Greed for Wealth 89
Christ will Wipe 91
The Family Altar 93
Self Sacrifice 94
Party Prejudice 96
Intemperance 98
A Sad Sight 101
The Bright Side 103
Good-Bye 104

Cares.

IN early days we had a great deal of hard work to clear the land and then to make and keep up the rail fences; and it took four times the work to raise a corn crop as it does now; and it took four times the work to cut the firewood as it does now; and it took so much work to prepare the material and make the clothing. So the pioneers had to keep pretty busy; and when the corn was in roasting-ear we had to watch it pretty closely for the squirrels in the day-time, and the coons in the night would destroy a great deal of it, and later on if it was not gathered early the deer and the turkeys and prairie-chickens would eat it up.

Occupations.

IN pioneer days after the corn was laid by, as we called it, then we had a while that we did not work much. There was not much harvesting to do, as our hay harvest was in the prairie grass, and that was done late in August or September, and during this idle spell the men would hunt and fish, and those that did not have plenty of bees would hunt “bee trees”, and get honey to do them for the year.

The boys would go into the woods and dig Ginseng; and when we would dry it we got twenty-five cents per pound, and when we sold it green we got ten cents per pound, and a boy could make good wages for them times.

Eighty Years Ago.

IT was Eighty Years Ago, in the wild woods, on Mitchell’s Creek, near a good spring, JACOB PERRYMAN, the father of the author of this little book, pitched his cabin. He was of Scotch descent, and my MOTHER was of German descent; they raised a large family, of which we was the sixth.

The writer was born April 26th, 1836, and raised there when it was almost impossible for a boy to get an education; but he was supposed to risk his chances with the wolf and the rattlesnake, and all the dangers seen and unseen of that early day. So you see the writer has lived in Illinois more than three score and ten years, and if, in speaking of my native State, we spread the “paint” on pretty thick, you will pardon us. Maybe we have enjoyed life more than the most of people have, and if the reader of this book finds that the tone of it shows too much of a disposition for mirth, remember it is our nature and we cannot help it, and we attribute it to our raising. The man who lives in Illinois and don’t enjoy life is a man who does not know a good thing when he has it. The man who lives in Illinois and does not see beauties on every hand to make him glad, is mentally cross-eyed.

Sixty Years Ago.