Friday evening, we called on Mrs. Millie Seaman Rodgers, who
resides on First South Street near the C. & A. depot. This venerable woman is
now 85 years of age and though unable to leave her bed on account of an
accidental fall over two years ago, she is in perfect health and does not look
any older than many people at 65. Mrs. Rodgers is of a very happy disposition
and takes her infirmities philosophically and looks on the bright side of life.
We learn from this noble woman that she was present when Abraham Lincoln
delivered his speech on what is now the Methodist church grounds in Carlinville.
At that time her mother, Mrs. Nancy McWain, conducted a hotel across the street,
opposite from Gustav Heinz' residence. As a little girl, she went up to listen
to Lincoln a few minutes and then went back to the hotel as they had to keep a
watch on the place to take care of any traveling men that might come in. She
says there was a large crowd present to hear Mr. Lincoln. A high platform had
been built among the trees and brush as all the ground was laying out at that
time. Louis McWain conducted a grocery store south of the Dubois bank at that
early period, and the county had a jail constructed of logs, located just south
of the Weiss hardware store.
Mrs. Rodgers was present when Stephen A.
Douglas spoke in the Welton grove, west of town. The Little Giant, as he was
known at that day, made one of his great speeches, but according to Mrs.
Rodgers, an incident happened that cut the program. She says that in a fight a
man by the name of John Duff had his eye knocked out. The trouble arose over
politics. It will be remembered that within two years before the war broke out,
sentiment among the people was approaching a fever heat.
There are five
generations in the Rodgers family, and her father was in both the Mexican and
Civil Wars. She can tell about how all the merchandise for Carlinville was
brought here with ox teams in the days before the railroad was completed to
Carlinville. She remembers well when the first train, consisting of an engine
and caboose, came over the new railroad to our city. She says her grandfather
Louis McWain, gave $1,500 to secure the railroad. She also talks about going to
school in the first school building in Carlinville which was afterwards moved
and is now a part of Patrick McDonald's residence. Her teacher in that ancient
school building was Don Cameron, another one of the pioneers of Macoupin County.
Her mother, Nancy McWain Seaman, was baptized by Rev. Stith Otwell and she
attended church in what is now a part of the place known as the Keeler residence
on First North Street. In those days, Mrs. Rodgers says there were no
entertainments. The people all went to church and after services, returned to
their homes and would not be present at any other kind of gatherings until they
go to church the next Sunday. Her father (Sylvanus Seaman), in those early days,
was a stage driver between St. Louis and Springfield.
Among Mrs. Rodgers'
relics is the printed confession of Aaron TODD, who was the first man executed
in Macoupin County, which was on the 2nd day of June, 1840 for the murder of
Larkin Scott Jr. The pamphlet was printed in 1840 by Walters & Webber, printers,
of Springfield, Ill. On the title page of the pamphlet is a cut of a coffin. The
confession was read and subscribed in the presence of Dr. W. A. Robertson, Rev.
Jacob Bower, Andrew J Wallace, Rev Loren S. Williams, James B. Wallace, and
Stith M. Otwell, and the subscribing witnesses to Todd's signature were Stith M.
Otwell, Loring S. William, and William A. Robertson.
One of the last
paragraphs says,"I can never express my thanks to the kind praying friends of
Carlinville and especially to David McDaniel, the jailer, who has treated me
more like a brother than a stranger, and who has so kindly waited on the
ministers of this place, Messrs. Chamberlain, Williams and J. B. Woolard and
others who have instructed me in the way of salvation."
Typed and
contributed by M Trover
Note: This article was found in the Macoupin County Enquirer newspaper.
It was printed on page 8, on August 7, 1929. Mildred E. "Millie" SEAMAN was the
daughter of Sylvanus and Nancy MCWAIN SEAMAN. She was born March 1, 1844,
in Carlinville, Macoupin County, Illinois. She married
William M. Rodgers, and they resided in Carlinville. Mrs. Rodgers passed away on
October 17, 1930, and is buried in Carlinville City Cemetery.
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