Everingham Family History Public Record Reprint NOTE: this document is about 9 pages in length (if you wish to print it out) The Story of My Life As told by Captain George Baxter Everingham to Rev. I.C. Tedford in January 1931 My father, John Everingham, was born in New Jersey and when a young man entered a harness and saddle shop in Cincinnati, Ohio, to learn the Saddler's trade. After learning the trade in this shop he removed to Palestine, Ill., where he established a saddler's shop of his own. While working at Palestine he was married to Sarah Elizabeth Newlin, daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah Elder Newlin. Nathaniel Newlin and his wife were born in North Carolina. In 1810 Nathaniel Newlin came to Crawford county, Ill., and entered 160 acres of land, where the poor farm is now located. After securing this land he returned to North Carolina and In 1812 he returned to Crawford county, Ill., accompanied by his wife --- they making the trip on horseback. There were ten children in my grandfather Newlin's family. The older children of this family, among them my mother, received all their schooling in a log school building, which had a dirt floor, split log seats, large fireplace and greased paper windows. All the nails in this school building were to be found in the door and these nails had been made by a blacksmith. Steel pens were unknown. Goose-quill pens were used in writing. The ink was procured from pokeberry and maple bark. My grandfather Newlin established the first apple orchard in his community. He secured these trees by planting apple seeds. When these trees began bearing, he hauled the apples to Chicago and traded them for salt, etc. In my father's family there were fourteen children: Joseph Sylvester, Edward Clark, George Baxter, John Elder, Mary Jane, Sarah Elizabeth, Martha Ellen, Julia Catherine, Tryphena Ann, Charles Allen, Nelson William, Lee, Dee and Nancy. All or these have departed this life except Dee and Nancy, who are still here to bear me company. After plying his trade in Palestine for a few years, My father settled in a cabin where the village of Trimble is now located. It was in this cabin on the 2nd day or March, l843 that I was born. My early days were spent at this cabin and some different locations on Lamotte Prairie. At the age of eight years I did my first plowing, this was for my grand father Newlin. For this work I used a plow with a wooden mould board and was compelled to carry a paddle which was frequently used in scraping the soil from the mould board of the plow. For this work as well as for my labor for about three or four years afterwards I received twenty-five to Fifty cents a day. As was the usual condition of those days my father was in very limited financial circumstances, hence it was necessary for the children to labor at an early age to help support a growing family. The first farming I did on my father's land was on a piece of ground which my sisters, Jane and Lizzie and I cleared. I did the chopping and my sisters piled and burned the brush. I plowed this ground with an ox team, and because there was a branch of water by the field, during the heat of the day my sisters were compelled to walk by the side or the oxen, with a goad, to keep them from going to the water each round. My schooling was very limited in deed. The first school I attended was located near the present site of the Oak Grove church on Lamotte prairie. It is very interesting to me now to look back over those days. it was at this school I learned my A.B.C.'s and it was there I first saw a threshing machine. This machine was pulled into a field near the schoolhouse and the teacher, Miss Nancy Grimm, dismissed the pupils' so that we might watch the machine. This machine was called a "ground hog" and moved from shock to shock scattering the straw over the field. Four years after this time, occurred a disastrous drought. Little corn or wheat was raised that summer. John Shepherd living on the farm now owned by John Weller, raised a small stack of wheat. Being unable to get a machine to thresh it that fall, in the spring of 1855 he piled it on the ground and rode a horse tramping it out. The year 1854 was known as the "Pigeon" year. They came in great droves darkening the sky. Their roosts were visited at night and great numbers of them were killed. It was this year that my uncle, Hol Newlin, bought a large drove of hogs, paying one dollar a head. I helped herd these hogs on the mast. When they were fattened my uncle drove them to Vincennes, Ind., which was the market of that day, receiving three cents per pound for them. I also remember that the prevailing price for fattened three year old steers was thirty dollars. After the school on Lamotte prairie, I attended school in Palestine. This school was held in the old courthouse of that place. I also attended school at Mt. Zion, Science Hall and Trimble. The summing up of all my schooling was some knowledge of McGuffy's Readers, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. While I was in school at Trimble, Port Sumter was fired upon, war was declared and there came the call for volunteers. In my 19th year I left the school at Trimble, enlisting in the army on the 15th day of December, 1861. I was assigned to Co. F, 62 Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf. The 62nd regiment was organized at Anna, Ill. and then moved to Cairo, Ill. The causes and reasons for my enlisting in the army are as follows: when a mere lad a man came afoot to our home. He said that he was very weary and wanted some conveyance to Merom(sp?). On taking the matter to my mother she said that I might take him on a horse. So with his help I saddled a horse and with him set out for that village. When we reached the town he gave me a book which proved to be the Life of George Washington. My mother read this book to me, and as I listened to the story of the patriotism and heroism of that great man and the hardships and sacrifices he endured to plant the flag and make it float over a free nation, my boyish heart was stirred with emotion which has never left me. The story of George Washington and the flag made me ready and willing to offer myself in the defense of our country's emblem, when Fort sumter was fired upon. I was not thinking of the question of slavery at that time for I did not know much about it, but I did know about the flag and I did know that the firing on Fort Sumter meant the trampling upon our flag and was a direct attempt to dissolve the Union. It was after I was in the South that I learned the great wrong of slavery. My mother hesitated in giving her consent to my joining the army. In my eagerness to enlist I could not understand why she thus hesitated: but afterwards I knew, -- she was my mother. At ten o'clock Sunday morning, the 10th day of April, 1862, I took the oath of service in the army at Anna, Ill. The thing that impressed me the greatest in this oath was my promise to obey my superior officers. Throughout my term of service in the army, I kept this constantly in mind and endeavored at all times to render to my officers complete obedience. From Anna our regiment was moved to Cairo, Ill. where we were mustered into the service. I was mustered in as a Corporal. When we were mustered in we received our army clothes and were told to burn or send home the garments we were wearing. I wore a good suit of blue jeans which I did not want to burn as the children at home needed clothing. I wrapped my suit with two others which soldier boys gave me and sent the package to my mother. At Cairo, Ill -, was the first death in our regiment. Here Charles Eddy died, and was buried with military honors. From Cairo, our regiment was taken to Tennessee, where we were made guards of the railroad. Our headquarters was at Holly Springs, Miss. During the siege of Vicksburg our regiment was sent to Jackson, Miss., to re-enforce a body of men who were being attacked at that place. We were ordered out on short notice and with 24 hours rations we boarded the train. When within five miles of Jackson, the engineer saw smoke ahead on the track. So near were we to a burned-out bridge that when the engine stopped it was within two feet of destruction. Here we were unloaded and marched to Jackson. We reached Jackson in the evening and found the rebel forces firing upon the town. They kept this firing up all night but in the morning they started a retreat. We followed them 8 days and nights, marching 22 out of 24 hours. They reached a river and crossed, pulling the pontoon bridge over behind them. The opposite bank of the river was a high bluff like the Merum Bluff. Upon this the rebels placed their artillery and as we had no way to cross his river, our officers used discretion and ordered a retreat. We were then marched to La Grange, Tenn. This march was a very hard one as it rained some time every day and we were compelled to find our rations on the way. We were allowed a pint of meat, a small slice of bacon and coffee each day. The officers procured meat from the grist mills on the line of march. It was on this march that the soldiers confiscated a yoke of oxen. While we were stopped in a certain village, a man drove in a team or oxen, which they killed and boiled in iron kettles. The soldier boys were so hungry that it was necessary to place a guard about the kettles until the meat and soup were ready to be eaten. I am glad to state that afterwards the man received pay for his oxen. After this ox feast we marched On to La Grange reaching there some time in June, a tired, worn and discouraged set of men. Our soldiers were heartened when word came to LaGrange that Pemberton had surrendered Vicksburg, July 4th,. 1865. I was in no condition to rejoice with the soldiers at this time, for I had been stricken with typhoid fever and for six weeks was a helpless invalid. The fourth of July the year before was far different to me. On that Fourth of July (1862) our big dinner was blackberry dumplings cooked in a black kettle; our dip was the water the dumplings were cooked in. I will confess the dumplings were black and the dip a peculiar color but we ate and drank it all anyway. In spite of the doctor declaring that I could not pull through this fever, I began to recover. When I was able to be in a chair, my regiment was ordered to Little Rock, Ark. It was in such a weakened condition that I started to Little Rock. With John Miller on one side and Asa shepherd on the other supporting me, I made my way to the depot reaching there about the middle of the afternoon. Here I lay in the sun until evening, when a train came, upon which we were loaded and taken to a hospital at Memphis Tenn., where I was detained for 30 days. General Grant visited this hospital which I was there and cheered the soldier boys with a hearty handclasp and cheering words. When I had recovered sufficiently to travel I was given a 30 day furlough to visit my home. After the thirty days at home I rejoined my regiment at Little Rock. The only march I failed to make with my regiment was the march from LeGrange, Miss. to Little Rock, Ark. My regiment, when at Little Rock, was camped across the river from the penitentiary. While at Little Rock, the greater part of my time was spent in scouting for rebels. I remember one scouting expedition of which I had charge. I was ordered to cover certain territories and certain roads. On the way I saw a negro who told me that a band of rebels, far outnumbering my detail was stationed near. I sent a spy ahead who found this to be true. So I used discretion and changed my course. On returning to camp I related my experience to my superior officer. He said, "you did right, always use your judgment." On another scouting expedition my men found themselves out of rations. We became very hungry. In our extremity we came to a farmstead where there was a flock or sheep. I confiscated a lamb, which my men dressed and cooked and with a large corndodger which the owner of the lamb furnished, we were refreshed and reached our camp. The owner of the lamb afterwards received pay for it. The fall of '63 was the darkest time to the soldiers during the Civil War. The time of enlistment of the soldiers was expiring. Copperhead papers from the North were being smuggled into our ranks causing unrest and desertions. On the 28th day of December, before the cold New Years day of 1864 as John Miller and I were returning to camp, dragging in firewood, we were wet by a recruiting officer, who asked me if I would re-enlist. I told him I would. Miller said that he would re-enlist if Everingham would. From that start the greater part of Company F and adjoining Companies re-enlisted for a term of three years. So, on March 30th 1864, I was again mustered into the military service of the U. S. At this time I was still a Sergeant. In July 1864 I was appointed 2nd Lieutenant but before I was mustered into that office my commission was cancelled and I was appointed to Lieutenant. When I was appointed Lieutenant a grave question arose. In this office I was compelled to furnish my own uniform. As I had no funds the dilemma became acute. Guy Alexander and James True came to my aid furnishing the necessary money, which I later repaid. The fourth day after I became Lieutenant I was appointed on the board of Court-martial. I did not know the meaning of the term "Court-martial." I went to Col. True about the matter who told me to go ahead and use my common sense I procured a dictionary and a copy of Army Rules and Regulations and after studying all night I took my place on the board the next morning. Some time after this we were given a furlough, that we might go to our homes and vote in the presidential election of 1864. We were ordered to Mattoon, Ill., where we made our separate ways home. It was at Mattoon, on our way back from the above-mentioned furlough that I was informed of my appointment as First Lieutenant. One morning I found my comrades lined up in front of a hotel. When I approached them they said, "Everingham. The treat is on you, you are now First Lieutenant." Of course I took the comrades into the hotel where there was a bar. The bartender asked which we would have a small glass or a large glass. The small glass was whisky and the large glass was lemonade. It might be of interest to my grand children and great grand-children to state that I took a large glass of lemonade. In fact I never took a drink of whisky or played a game of cards while I was in the army. From Mattoon, I rejoined the regiment at Pine Bluff, Ark. At this place the regiment was reorganized, at the expiration or the three-year enlistment. The companies were consolidated and made into seven full companies. The regiment thus became a battalion. Company F was retained and absorbed Co D. It was at this time, May 22, 1865, that I received my commission as Captain of Co. F, 62nd Ill.Vol. In May, 1865 Gen. Clayton ordered Col. True to send a Company to Benton, Ark. to protect the citizens from guerrilla warfare, which was raging at that place. Co. F, of which I was captain, was ordered on this expedition. When starting with my company Gen Clayton ordered me to protect the citizens of Benton and in so doing to use my judgment. After the guerrilla warfare at Benton was crushed we returned to Pine Bluff reaching there in July. When we reached the outskirts of Pine Bluff we were met by an Orderly who bore a message, ordering my Company to the river, where we boarded a boat. None of us knew where we ware going until the boat landed us at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, where went in camp. We then learned that we had been sent to the Indian Territory to protect the officers in reconstruction. The spirit of the rebellion was prevalent in the Indian Territory, especially among the Indians. The third day after arriving at Fort Gibson the Colonel appointed me Provost Marshal. Here again I felt my inability but the rules of war meant that I must obey. Again a diligent study of army rules and regulations took me through. I served in this capacity for three months. In November the Government sent an officer to Fort Gibson, who demanded an escort to the Osage Indian tribe. These tribes were distant from Gibson 150 miles. I was placed in command of this escort. I had been sick and was so weak it was necessary to lift me on a horse when we started. The colonel gave orders that we were to travel according to my strength. Is took three weeks' time to make the trip. A guide led us all the way, as there were no roads on the line of march. Johnny Jumper, who was Chief of the Osage tribe, was a man of great importance among the Indians. He had been colonel of a regiment in the rebel army. It was with this "Johnny Jumper", that tine Government officer had to deal. While in the Osage territory the coyotes would surround our camp at night with their continuous howling. Fortunately the officer was able to conclude his work with the Indians within three days and we returned to Fort Gibson. In November 1865, Col. True was ordered to Fort Smith to serve on a commission and I was put in charge of the regiment, It was my duty to put the regiment through dress parade each day. The first day I took the regiment out for dress parade, just as I was ready to begin the commands, I heard a clatter of hooves; glancing back I saw it was Col. True, who had not yet left, accompanied by an officer from Washington. My heart, at once, was doing triple duty. Fortunately the commands came to me clearly one after the other and when I turned the regiment over to the Adjutant, Col. True leaped from his horse and grasping my hand said, "Boy! For you are but a boy, you are an inspiration to me. The other officer cheered me with a hand clapping; then they were gone. ( Made the boy feel pretty good. ) In March 1866, our Company was ordered to Little Rock, Ark. to be mustered out of the service. On being mustered out March 6th, we were ordered to Springfield, Illinois, where on delivering our flag, which is still in the State House and on delivering our armaments, we received our discharges and returned to civilian life. I reached Hutsonville by boat from Terre Haute. When the boat landed my father stood on the side of the gang plank and Jack Hurst on the other with hands outstretched to welcome me. I was at home and the war was over. I would like at this time to say some words concerning my lack of education and the hardship that this imposed upon me during my war service. I was both young and uneducated. In fact I was the youngest commissioned officer in the 62nd regiment. When I entered the service I was not able to write a letter. I must speak of my gratitude to Col. True who patiently taught we until I could write. It took hard and diligent study and close observation on my part to fit me to perform the duties of my several offices and I think that mastering each task as it came to me, prepared me for further responsibility. I would at this time also speak to the great worth of my religious experience while in the army service. When a mere lad at Palestine, Illinois, I was made to feel the worth and power of the religion of Jesus Christ. Throughout my entire army experience this Divine power was with me, holding me steady and true and giving me faith and courage in the darkest hours. In the dark time of '63 when the cause seemed to be failing and men were deserting and the government was begging for volunteers, I gathered a company of boys and going to a cabin, we held a solemn prayer service, praying to the God of nations for wisdom and guidance. When that prayer meeting was over we were ready to re-enlist, offering our lives for the preservation of the Union, which we believed the God of nations was saving for a great purpose. The two years following the war, I spent working in my father's saddle shop, running a livery stable and raising a crop or wheat. On the 2nd day of February 1868 I was united in marriage to Anna Maria Musgrave, Whose parents were William and Elisa Ann (Cox) Musgrave. The Musgrave's and Cox's came to Illinois from North Carolina. In this family there were nine children: John T., Silas O., Sally Ann, William H., Jonathan Kidwell, Anna Maria, Eliza Katherine, George Albert, and Harriet Telitha. All of these children were born in Crawford county, Illinois and in the same house, which was located on the farm where George Musgrave now lives. At our marriage we began housekeeping on thirty acres of land located two miles south of Hutsonville. In 1871 I traded the above piece of land for the farm where I now live, trading acre for acre and giving $25 an acre for the difference in acreage. This of course placed a debt and with my most efficient helpmate, I proceeded, by toil and strictest economy, to clear the farm of this debt. This we were enabled to do and by such manner of life add several hundred acres to the farm. When we moved to the farm where we now live, we entered a small house on the south end of the farm, afterwards selling that house and moving into an old house near the center of the farm. In 1880 we built a house on the site where we now live. This house was burned in Sept. 1922. We at once built the house in which we now reside on the same foundation. Our home has been happily blessed by the coming or our children. These children are Nora, Ellen, Ida, Arthur C., Esther and Edna Grace. Nora married William A. Rains and is the mother of five children:-Alice, Wilbur, Bessie, Henry and George. Wilbur married Lillie Tohill and is the father of three children:-Vaughn, Clotile and Jean. Bessie married Arthur Winters and is the mother of three children -Virginia and her twin, who died at two days of age, and Robert. Henry married Accie Henderson and is the father of two children: John William and Elizabeth Ann. Geoege married Dora Johnson and is the father of four children -Virginia, Sidney, Charlene and Gerald. Ellen married I.C. Tedford and is the mother of one child;-Anna.Anna married P.E. Huffman and is the mother of three children -Margaret Anne, Katherine and Robert. Ida married Ed S. Baker and is the mother of nine children: Dorothy, Bertram, Andrew, George Allen, Clarence, Helen, Robert and Mary (twins), and James. Bertram married Roxy Southard and is the father of two children:- Phillip and Vincent. George Allen married Elizabeth Cummings. Clarance married Celia Frick. Arthur C. married Inez Ryker and reared his wife's niece, Elizabeth Branham, who is to us as a grandchild. Esther married William Wesner and is the mother of five children -Charles, Harold, Ray, Lawrence and Lois. Edna married Roy Heber and is the mother of four children: George, Alice, Miles and Richard. Our family now numbers 56 and are all living except an Infant daughter of Bessie Winters. Standing on the threshold of the year 1931 and looking back over the years that are past, I find much for which I am truly thankful. I am grateful for the number of years given me; now eighteen years beyond the allotted three score and ten. Those years have taught me many lessons. I am now thankful that I was cast upon my own resources at an early age, then I learned the lessons or self-reliance, industry and economy. I would that my descendants should never see the horrors of war; but in the defense of my country I was taught many lessons, which were of practical benefit to me in meeting and solving the problems of life. I am thankful for the woman whom the Lord gave me to be my wife-Mother Everingham. A woman who never shunned the hardships of life nor shirked life's burdens; a woman who bravely stood at my side in times of hardships and disappointments, of sickness and trouble, as well as in times of joy and prosperity. She has looked well to her household, guarding it with purity and righteousness. She hath honored the name of her husband and his heart has safely trusted in her, She has given herself unreservedly to her children and well may they arise and call her blessed. She was the joy of my young manhood, the pride of my mature year. and the solace of my old age. I am thankful for the toils, labors and struggles in rearing and providing for my family; these were toils and labors of love and they were not in vain. I am grateful for the children the Lord hath given me, even to the third generation; they have all been spared to me save one who was called home in infancy; I am thankful for their love and tenderness and would bless them with my paternal blessing. I am thankful that the Lord, early in my life, led me into a fellowship with himself. I have tried to live for him and serve him, that others might know the joy of his Salvation. Together Mother and I have trod life's pathway for 63 years. Oar pathway has led us through sunshine and shadow; through health and sickness; over steep, rough ways that were hard to travel and along the sweet cool shades of the deepest joys and happiness; but the Lord hath led us thus far. With a deep assurance gleaned from the passing years, we face the future with a great confidence, an unfaltering faith and a sweet fellowship with the Son of God, our Savior. As the shadows of our declining years gather about us, through the shadows, we lift the hands of faith to Him who has been our Wisdom, our Guide and our God for these many years and together we say, "Lead Thou me on; so long Thy power has blest us, sure it still will lead us on." On the first day of January, 1938, George B. Everingham passed away at the home of Rev. and Mrs. I.C. Tedford at the age of 94 years, 1 months and 29 days. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife, Anna Musgrave Everingham, five children (one daughter, Nora Rains, having preceded him in death), twenty-four grandchildren, twenty-two great grandchildren, two great great granchildren, one brother and one sister. Mr. and Mrs. Everingham lived at the Everingham homestead until October 2, 1937, when they went to the Tedford home. The funeral service was held at the First Baptist Church In Hutsonville Monday afternoon, January 3rd, conducted by Rev. Lee Guyer and Rev. E M. Minor. At the graveside a military service was held with the Pittman-Laughrey post of the American Legion in charge. Thus a useful and eventful life came to its close. (c)1999-2000 Everingham Family History Archives