USA > Illinois > Knox County > Annals of Knox County : commemorating centennial of admission of Illinois as a state of the Union in 1818 > Part 10
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Galesburg Made the County Seat
In the year 1873 the County Seat was removed from Knox- ville to Galesburg. This action followed a long controversy during which rival claims for the honor of being the executive center of the county were vigorously supported by opposing factions representing Knoxville and Galesburg. Up to that date the County seat had been located in Knoxville, which, be- cause of its beautiful situation and its honorable record as a community, was eminently worthy of the distinction. But it suffered the disadvantage of remoteness from the more popu- lous sections of the county and from the superior railroad facil- ities. which Galesburg enjoyed because of being an important division station on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy road. Moreover Galesburg was more accessible as a distributing cen- ter for the products of the rich agricultural areas of the county. All things considered it was in every respect better situated to be the seat of government, and the better judgment of the citi- zens of the county finally prevailed, the majority voting in favor of the transfer. This decision was of course in every way advantageous to Galesburg, while at the same time it is a matter of regret that the civic prosperity of Knoxville suffered in consequence. The change of location necessitated the build- ing of a new court house, and this was accomplished in the years 1884-86.
A stately, handsome, and well equipped building was erected in the east half of the city park which was donated by the city for that purpose. The business of the county has al- ready outgrown the capacity of this large structure, and plans are maturing for its enlargement and improvement.
Industrial Development
The manufacturing industries of Galesburg had their be-
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ginning in the little machine and repair shop of J. P. Frost, one of the colonists of the spring of 1837. His small venture has increased and developed throughout the years and is now known as the Frost Manufacturing Company, which ships the output of its great machine and boiler shops to all parts of the United States and to many foreign lands. Around this have sprung up factories and shops of various kinds suited to com- mercial and household needs till there are now about 50 manu- facturing establishments in our city. The number includes machine, boiler and repair shops, planing mills, flour mills, gar- ment factories, automobile factories, welding works, Coulter Disc works, rug factories, candy and ice cream factories, both wholesale and retail, bottling works, etc., etc.
Galesburg As A Music Center
Galesburg has always been at the fore-front as a musical center. At a very early date in its history it commenced its musical career under the instruction and leadership of Samuel Bacon.
This Prince of Music Masters, sweet singer and skillful violinist, came at regular intervals to give instruction to large classes, or "schools" as they were then called and to give con- certs and lead choruses to the delight of enthusiastic pupils and an appreciative community. He was the predecessor of men of no mean reputation in the field of musical leadership. One by one they have had their day and passed on, using their own methods, winning their own honors, and leaving each his own impress upon a large and enthusiastic following.
Knox Conservatory of Music
Last, but by no means least among them is our own Prof. Wm. F. Bentley, who for thirty-three years has been the popu- lar director of the Knox Conservatory of Music and the sup- porter, promoter and director of the musical activities of Gales- burg. Under Dr. Bentley's efficient management the Knox Conservatory of Music has become one of the leading musical institutions of the state and its graduates have become prom- inent as musical educators and artists all over the United States.
Other Schools of Music
There have recently been established two other schools of music in Galesburg, one in connection with the "School of Three Arts" at Lombard College under the direction of Madame Anna Groff Bryant, and the other "The Maude Alma Main School of Fine Arts," founded and conducted by Miss Main. The success and reputation of all these schools have been greatly enhanceed by the able co-operatin of an efficient corps of teachers in each department of the different schools.
Especially is this true in the Knox Conservatory of Music,
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where John Winter Thompson, Mus. D., head of the Organ and Theory Department, and Miss Blanche M. Boult, Professor of Pianoforte, have been for a quarter of a century or more Dr. Bentley's loyal colleagues.
And so through the medium of these annals we have brought our favored city adown the "long, long trail" which has been blazed for us by a succession of historic events from the beginning to the present time. It would have been pleasant sometimes to take the more devious route, to discover the hid- den trails, to linger by the way-side gathering souvenirs of the past and to revel among the fascinating romances which "half concealed and half revealed" have beckoned to us here and there as alluring possibilities in the pioneer experiences of our colonists and their descendants. But these are forbidden indul- gences. The journey has been a pleasant one although the enjoyment has been tinged with regret that many persons places, objects and events which were worthy of remembrance have been passed without mention because of lack of space; and we regretfully leave them to the chroniclers of the future.
With congratulations to all who have in any way contri- buted to that which has already been achieved, and with a chal- lenge to our city to see to it that the future shall witness still better and greater achievements, we leave her to the enjoyment of her many privileges and unusual opportunities, her churches and colleges, her schools and happy homes, her exceptional musical advantages, her literary and social prestige, her com- mercial and industrial advancement, her superior facilities for travel and transportation; and all things else that have con- tributed to the development of Galesburg into a city fitted to be the seat of the legislative and executive activities of our rich and prosperous counuty of Knox of the great state of Illinois in this her centennial anniversary of A. D. 1918.
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HAW CREEK By Wm. Scott.
In attempting to write the annals of Haw Creek Township, Knox County, Illinois, the writer of this short sketch will be somewhat handicapped as to the early history of the same.
After having served two terms of enlistment in the War of the Rebellion in Ohio organizations, and after having been discharged from said service in June, 1865, came to Illinois in October, same year, and located in Haw Creek Township. En- tering school in Hedding College, Abingdon, Illinois, the winter term of 1865, remained in same school (excepting vacations) until the late fall of 1866, when he began District school teach- ing and continued in that Profession until the ending of the school year, 1878, embarking in the Mercantile business in Gilson, Ill., March 1878; ran a general merchandise business for over forty years.
In order to obtain anything like an accurate knowledge of Haw Creek's early history the writer will have to glean his knowledge from various sources. He will in some instances have to refer to a former history written in 1899 by C. W. Mckown, of Gilson, (now deceased) .
In attempting to answer the questions of the committee who have this matter under consideration will say that very little is known of the first inhabitants of this Township. I now refer to the Redmen or Indians of the forest and prairies of Illinois. There are evidences in Haw Creek Township that the Redmen at one time roamed over our prairies hunting the game that was plenteous and fishing in our principal river, (the Spoon), which at that time abounded with vast numbers of fine fish.
The population at the present time consists almost wholly of native born inhabitants of Haw Creek. Most of the early settlers came from Ohio. We note from the former history referred to, that the first White settler in Haw Creek was Mrs. Elizabeth Owens, accompanied by her son Parnach Owens, the settlement was made in 1829 on Section 18. In 1834, other settlers came from Ohio and settled in this township. Among those families were John Scott, Zephaniah Scott and Jacob Harshbarger. About the same time also came the following families and located in Haw Creek, these were James Nevitt, Samuel Slocum, David Teel and David Enochs. They were soon followed by Woodford Pierce, David Housh, Joshua Burnett and Lineas Richmond, William Dickerson and others, so that in 1835 there was quite a settlement in Haw Creek, all coming from Southern Ohio, Highland and Jackson counties.
The first white child born in Haw Creek was a son to
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James Nevitt and wife, soon after locating in their new home. The first death in the township was that of Eleanor Jarnigan, 1834. First sermon preached by the noted Rev. Peter Cart- right, 1831.
After the settlement of Haw Creek there were no Churches but services were held in the homes of the farmers. The Rev. Peter Cartright, Richard Haney (Uncle Dick) and William Clarke officiated at the services held in the farm houses. The first denomination in the field was the Methodist Episcopal, afterwards followed by the United Brethren in Christ. After the erection of school houses the religious services were held in them. The first regular church built in Haw Creek was Clark's Chapel, Section 17, built in 1864, since discontinued. There are at present three churches in the township, the Meth- odist in Gilson, built in 1865; the Gilson United Brethren, built in 1866. The value of each church when built was not over $1,200, but now $2,500 would not replace them and their furn- ishings. The other church referred to is a United Brethren lo- cated in Section 3, known as Union or Wolfs Chapel, at a value of $1,500. They are all of them well kept up and in good con- dition. The present ministers are: Methodist, Rev. E. B. Mor- ton; United Brethren, Rev. Jay A. Smith, each of them live wires.
As to the first school house built in the township, I am not able to say, but I presume it was the log structure erected on the Northwest Quarter of Section 15. The first school in the township was taught by Miss Susan Dempsey in 1836, who afterward became the wife of Booker Pickrel. The school sys- tem of Haw Creek is up to that of average of other townships in the county. We have nine districts with that of Gilson, which is a graded school, besides we have the Haw Creek Town- ship High School with three teachers. Classes in this school are regularly graduated after a four years prescribed course by the efficient School Board. None but good and efficient teachers are employed in any of the schools of the Township.
The methods of travel are varied at the present time. But the early methods were principally by wagon and carriage. Before the days of the railroad the farm produce was hauled by wagon to Peoria and Chicago; principally to Peoria, wagons loaded back with groceries and merchandise of various kinds.
The first store in the township was conducted by Edmond Smith at Mechanicsburg, southwest of Gilson three-fourths miles on Section 18. This store was of a general stock. The C. B. & Q. railroad was surveyed and built in 1856. In 1857 the Village of Gilson was surveyed and regularly established on the southeast one-fourth section 7 by Lineas Richmond and James Gilson, after whom the village was named. Ever since
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Gilson was established it has been a good trading point for the sale of farm produce, such as all kinds of grains and stock. Gilson at present has a population of 200. Three general stores in the town, all seem to do a good business, one elevator and one lumber yard, one blacksmith shop and one general repair shop, post office and one rural delivery.
The only mill of an early date was a large grist mill on Section 34 on Spoon River, known in 1865 as the Burnett Mill. It did a very fine business when first built but was abandoned about twenty years ago on account of a lack of power for only about six months in the year. There was also a saw mill erected on Haw Creek 2 miles southwest of Gilson which did a very good business for several years.
The organization of the township was effected on April 5, 1853. This organization took place at the Nevitt school house, southwest of Gilson two and one-half miles. The following officers were elected: William M. Clarke, Supervisor, Wood- ford Pierce, Clerk ; Isaac Lott, Assessor; Joseph Harshbarger, Collector ; Jacob Wolf, Overseer of the Poor; John S. Linn and Enoc Godfrey, Justices of the Peace; Geo. Pickrel and William Lewis, Constables; Milton Lotts, Allen T. Rambo and Benoni Simpkins, Commissioners of Highways. The present officers follow: C. H. Upp, Supervisor; Clark H. Snow, Assessor; C. L. Dossett, Overseer of Poor; C. H. Upp (by virtue of office) Justice of Peace; Earl Snell, Constable; John Housh and H. L. Connor, Commissioner of Highways, Ben Taylor. With my limited knowledge, prior to 1865, I am unable to give the loca- tion of the first farm and how cultivated, but I should judge that the method of cultivation was principally by the one and two-horse cultivators, as a great many of these settlers were from Ohio and there they had to use the one and two horse cultivators, on account of the stumps and roots in the ground. Much improvement has been made in this part of the country in the farming line in the manner of preparing the seed bed be- fore planting or sowing the seed. The farm tractor is just now coming into use in Haw Creek. It may eventually take the place of horses in the extra heavy, hard and hot work.
The homes of the farmers and laboring class are much better furnished of late years than formerly, and I attribute that to the younger generation. The better educated, the more up-to-date they wish to become and when that is uppermost in the mind of the younger class, something is going to happen and that something is to have a home better equipped.
Early pastimes and amusements were as follows: Celebra- tions, which usually occurred on Holidays; Spelling Schools, Singing schools, Corn huskings, Log rollings and Quilting Bees.
The township at the present time is in a very good and
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prosperous condition owing to the extra good crops and the ex- tremely high prices obtained for all kinds of farm commodities. The population of the township, as near as we can estimate it, is 1,080.
The first good farm house built in the township was that of James Nevitt in 1835. First brick house built by Woodford Pierce in 1836 on Section 7, Northeast Quarter. First post of- fice established May 7, 1852, and named by the Government, Haw Creek. The post office was in the general store at Me- chanicsburg, run by Edmond Smith. The first postmaster was Joseph Harshbarger and was succeeded by Allen T. Rambo, Sept. 16, 1852. The latter was succeeded by Woodford Pierce in March 17, 1855. On March 5, 1857, the office was removed to Gilson which then was a railroad station. Mechanicsburg then going out of existence as a village.
I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to the former his- torian of the township, Mr. C. W. Mckown, for my knowledge of the organization of the township, also the first officers of the same and also for the first post office and first postmaster of the township.
I also wish to relate a couple of instances relating to the Rev. William M. Clarke and Rev. Richard Haney, the founders of Methodism in Haw Creek. In the early settlement of Knox County and Haw Creek the Rev. William M. Clarke was ap- pointed by the Conference to the Knoxville Circuit, which con- sisted at that time of three or more appointments. At that time he was living on his farm, just east of the old Gilson Camp Grounds, where the Methodist church held their Camp Meetings for so many years. After he had taken charge of the Knoxville Circuit he called the official Board together and con- tracted with them for his year's salary, which was not an overly large one. The Board agreed to pay his salary regu- larly as he had a large family to support and the salary would be needed to support them. He had preached for them a part of the year and the good brothers had failed on their part of the contract. He called the Board together and stated to them that he was in need of the money for the support of his family. They made him a good promise, but failed to carry it out, so Uncle Billy, as he was familiarly called, called the offi- cial Board together again. He said to them: "Brethren, you have not treated me right in the matter of filling your obliga- tion to me in the matter of salary. I have endeavored to do my best for you in the matter of Pastorial work, but you have utterly failed to keep your part of the contract, so, I am going to tell you something which is not very pleasant for me, 'You can all go to the devil and I will go back to the farm;' " and he went.
I now wish to relate an incident in which Uncle Dick Haney
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was interested. He was preaching at a farm house in the early settlement of Haw Creek and in those days window glass was a very scarce article. In the absence of glass a white greased paper was tacked to a frame and used as a sash in the window frame. Uncle Dick said at this farm house he was delivering his sermon in his best possible manner, he had taken his posi- tion close to the windows supplied with the greased paper. When he was at his best in the discourse he heard a commo- tion on the outside of the house, which proved to be a fracas between the cat and dog belonging to the premises. He said he was doing his best in the way of the delivery of his discourse, when the noise increased all at once, pussy to escape the dog sprung directly through the greased paper in the window alighting directly in front of Uncle Dick. Afterwards in speak- ing about the incident he said it was always a question in his mind what he should call it; whether a Dogmatical or a Cate- gorical problem.
At another time of his preaching at a farm house, and the good sister of the house had no place to keep her well filled milk crocks, only on a bench placed at one end of the room, in which the services were being held. Uncle Dick said he took his position close to the milk bench, he stated when he warmed up in his sermon and using all the oratory he could com- mand, making all the gestures that was possible for him to make and giving it all the force and power he could, at this point he noticed a peculiar sensation in one of his lower limbs. When he cast his eyes in that direction, he discovered that his coat tail had completely skimmed one of the good sister's crocks of milk and the cream was running down the calves of his legs and filling his shoes.
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HENDERSON TOWNSHIP By Susan McMurtry
It is meet and seemly that some permanent record be placed in the archives of the Centennial History of Illinois of the citizens of Henderson, who have been identified with the early history of Knox county and been prominent in the up- holding of the commonwealth that those who came after them may know to whom they are indebted for the benefits they now enjoy. We are all debtors to the honored and useful lives of those brave pioneers, who blazed and prepared the way for coming generations.
The distinct personality of this locality in the history of our state and county arouses in us a feeling of pride in our past, because our earliest settlers exercised a great influence that has been a great value to humanity. The future of Knox county and Henderson in no small part lay in the hands of those early pioneers. A future full of hardships but also full of hope.
In writing the early history of this particular locality, one is obliged to ignore much that must naturally come in other parts of this history. We find we have to tell the history of the state or the history of the county, not the history of Hen- derson township. Take the important figures in the history of this region during the earlier period and you will find they do not belong particularly to Henderson, but to the greater areas of which this place is but a small part.
The question naturally arises, whence came. the first settlers ? What conditions drove them to face the hardships and privations of the frontier to make new homes.
It has been said that before the railroads emigration moved on parallels of latitude. This was never more clearly illustrated than in the early settlement of Knox county. It is safe to say that the majority of the early settlers were either natives or descendants of natives of Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee. Many of them had ancestors who were also pioneers in these same states. Some came from the eastern states. They were extraordinary people, courageous, hardy, intelligent, honest, industrious, honorable, patriotic and God-fearing. A more self-reliant set of men and women never trod the earth. The immigrants who were to settle Henderson crossed the Ohio river in their covered wagons (prairie schoon- ers), with a jerk line in one hand and a rifle in the other, a few coming by horseback or by foot. Conditions in Kentucky and other southern states drove the small farmer to emigrate.
To us of the later generations who view these fertile fields of grain in all directions and know of the great wealth above
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and below the ground, it seems strange there was not a rush of settlers into this region in spite of the natural inference that the land that could not produce trees must be worthless as farm land, which has proved in the end to be the richest pos- session of our "Prairie State."
When we consider that Daniel Robertson and his brother, Alexander, the first settlers in Henderson township, did not come until 1828, when Illinois had been a state ten years, one naturally asks why it was that a locality full of possibilities was not settled at an earlier date? There were many influ- ences to retard immigration ; the actual opening of land offices, the promised land sales, the extinguishing of Indian titles, the limited means of travel, the Indians themselves, and others no less important.
The early settlers of Henderson invariably located in the timber or along its border. This is not so strange when we consider that these pioneers mostly had been brought up in the shelter of the woods. This nearness to the timber was an ad- vantage in many ways. It furnished material for their log houses, fuel for their fireplaces, meat for their food, and shel- ter from the fierce cold winds in winter, which often caused a great deal of suffering. The first settlers were very fond of hunting and many interesting stories are told of them in quest of wild turkey, prairie chicken and deer.
First Settled
Henderson was the first township in Knox county to be settled by white men. It is well watered by the branches which make up the head waters of Henderson river. Along these branches originally stood one of the finest groves of timber to be found anywhere in Illinois. Here was a favorite place for Indians, who had extensive fields of corn on Sections 23 and 26, south of the village of Henderson. These Indians were friendly and remained till the breaking out of the Black Hawk War, when they left without doing any serious harm.
Alexander and Daniel Robertson, two Scotch brothers, left their father's home in Morgan county, Illinois, and came to Schuyler county, where they remained one year. In February, 1828, they set out, each riding an old mare and carrying a gun and ax, came to Henderson township and settled first on Sec- tion 15. Daniel 22, and Alexander 20 years of age and single. Here they built their first log house together. This house stood east of the creek at the top of the hill, a short distance south of the wagon road and was about midway between where is now the Rio Branch of the C., B. & Q. railroad and the State Aid road. The Robertsons lived here several years together, till their land was claimed by a speculator named Baker. During the discussion over the possession of the land Baker
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shot at Daniel but missed him. The later went to the cabin for his gun, but was persuaded by his wife to make no further trouble. The Robertsons gave up this land and settled on the southwest corner of Section 11. Here they built their second log house, which stood across the road and northeast of the first, where Daniel lived most of his life. About 1836, Alexan- der settled and built a log house on Section 2, where he lived till his death in 1853.
During the next spring and summer others came, among them, Jacob Gum, a Baptist minister, who preached the first sermon in 1829, at the residence of his son, John B. Gum, on Section 32. This two-roomed log house was the first county court house. Here the first circuit court was held October 1, 1830. The judge presiding was the Hon. Richard M. Young, afterward United States Senator. Here also the first county election was held, Mr. Gum being elected the first county treasurer.
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