, 1921-04-28
Mc0LW &RE1HRY GOCERY ~LETTy
NOS<Nym &ZzrzXA11R @2R@

was good, and Samuel Hill and John Mcneil pres
emily erected a store building of logs. They sold
tea, coffee, sugar. salt and whisky in the grocery
line. and blue calico, brown muslin, cotton chain
and straw hats, with a few ladies' hats and other
ornamental feminine apparel in their dry goods
department.
John McNeill's right name was John McNamer.
He quickly made a fortune of about $4,000 and
wooed and won Ann Rutledge. Then he left to
bring his mother and sisters from New York. A
long delay broke Off the engagement and Lincoln
then won Ann. McNamer returned to find Ann
dead OF fever.
Town Gets a Postoffice.
ION Christmas day In 1929" the historian goes
on TO say, "a post Office was established in New
Salem and Samuel Hill was made postmaster.
George Warburton then built a store building ana
put In a stock of goods, but soon sold out to the
Chrisman Brothers, one of whom, Isaac F., be-
came postmaster on November pa, 1881. William
Clary, the brother of John. who gave his name to
the grove where he settled in 1919. erected and
became proprietor of Clary's grocery. Then came
Doctor Allen, who erected n dwelling across the
street south from the Hill & Mcneil store.
in addition TO his professional duties Doctor
Allen conducted a Sunday school. He was an
ardent temperance man and formed the first tenn
perance society in the community. The place Of
meeting was in his residence or in the log school
house erected shortly before this time on the hill
side south of New Salem. Doctor Allen was both
cred as to whether IT was right or wrong to en-
gnge IN the Dractlce OF MS procession on sundays
and compromised the matter by relieving the sick
but giving his earnings on that day wholly to the
work of the Lord.
"Then. during the summer of 1880. Henry On
stott moved from Sugar Grove. erected a dwelling
and established a cooper's shop, supplying the
kegs and barrels for the -four and meal made at
the mill, and the containers for the cured pork
shipped by fatboat to the markets of the South.
generally from Beardstown. to which place IL was
hauled in wagons.
Denton offut Arrives.
During the summer of 1881, Denton onut. on
his return from a hatboat excursion to New Or.
leans, contracted for lot II north OF Main stree,
and erected a store building. the deed thereto he.
ing dated September 2 OF that year. Then came
IA rush Of other ettlers-Philemon Morris. n tan.
ner. erected a dwelling and established n ton
yard Joshua Miller, a blacksmith and wagon
maker, built n residence and established a shop:
Alexander Furgeson and Peter Lukins, the shoe.
makers; Robert Johnson, the wheelwright, who
made looms. spinning wheels and furniture Mar
tin Waddell, the halter. who mnde hats out of
rabbit fur, wool and the fur of other animals: the
Bale family, headed by Jacob Bale, who bought
and operated Hil's cardlng machine and store
house for wool the Herndon Brothers, shopkeep-
ers, who established a store west OF the james
Rutledge residence and inn, and In a part of the
house of Joshua Miller. which was double, lived
his brotherin-law. Jack Kelso. whose wife kept
boarders occasionally and who himself was the
champion hunter and fisherman Of the village.
Henry Since came in the fall OF 1881 and sold out
at the end of n year TO Doctor lsegnier. Also
came Doctor Duncan, David Wherry, Isaac Bur,
ner, Edmond Greer, Isaac Goilamer, Robert and
William McNeely. Caleb Carmen moved there
from Rock Center after Trent left and made
shoes.
Thus the town soon became self-supporting.
and had 1t not been for the fact that 1t was almost
inaccessible except from the west, there is no rea-