USA > Illinois > Knox County > Annals of Knox County : commemorating centennial of admission of Illinois as a state of the Union in 1818 > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
In the early fifties Robson Bros. establish a cash corn market of large proportions. It gave an outlet for more corn and made it easier for the settlers to pay for land. During the years when Rio had no railroad facilities this cash market contributed greatly to the community's prosperity.
Before the Township Organization Act, citizens of Rio and Ontario voted in Ontario. Later Rio Settlement was a part of the political unit of Ontario. Squire Mosher of Ontario was territorial judge while the two were one unit. Reuben Heflin, Samuel Brown, John Robson, Samuel May, John Wycoff, Ro- bert Deatherage and James Deatherage have all voted in the territory of Ontario.
ยท The first Civil War Veteran was Abner Titus.
In 1870 the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad came to the east township of Mercer county on the way to Rock Island with no charter to enter Knox county. Pope Creek is a deep stream and tributaries run northwest in east Mercer county. Rio township had a better crossing. In Knox county, it was then lawful to vote aids to railroads. The convention to frame a new state constitution was in session. The railroad wanted aid to build a right-of-way without condemnation. It
167
was expected the new constitution would forbid voting aid to railroads. The town was nearly evenly divided before voting aid but the affirmative gained during the canvassing and Rio bought its share of the improvements. This resulted in locat- ing the road from Monmouth to Rio and on to Rock Island, and later the connecting line from Galesburg to Rio was built, giv- ing the township plenty of transportation. In getting the right-of-way near Pope Creek the full value of the land for the entire farm was paid to the owner and only one hundred feet wide was taken.
Some of the more or less prominent men about this time include the following: S. W. May, who invented and defended his invention in court of the May windmill, now owned and manufactured by his niece, Miss Duwaine Phymister, of Chi- cago, at her factory in Galesburg ; Robson Bros., William, John and Robert, who handled most of the fat cattle raised just be- fore and during the Civil War from Rio and New Boston ; Chas. Bryant, kinsman of the noted poet by that name, and himself a writer of poetry; F. A. Landon, Sr., adept in verbal squibs; David B. Woodman, the largest man in Knox county, who ran fifty yards in record time, beating a sprinting stranger who bantered him.
No less interested in the progress of the community and active in all forward-looking enterprises was Heber Gillis, who, with his brother, Theodore, came to Rio township on Christ- mas, 1856. Their father, Dr. Geo. Gillis, followed them in the fall of 1859.
Hall, Heflin, and Edw. Crain, together with the elder Deatherage, sawed the lumber for the first frame house.
Benjamin Harvey was a pioneer thresher, going as far as Rock Island in a fall and winter run. The grain was torn from the straw. Men pitched it away and later separated the grain from the chaff and cockle burrs with fanning mills. Some boys left home for California after turning the mill one season.
Samuel Brown, Harrison Shannon, Reuben Heflin and Thomas Jones were among the early officers of the township, both as supervisors and as justices of the peace. Robert Deatherage, Gilbert Wetmore, Benjamin Harvey, James Mans- field and F. M. Epperson have been justices of the peace for long terms. B. E. Frankenberger now occupies that position also.
The Black Hawk War, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish War, and now the most uncalled for slaughter of men ever known-all have called for many of our best men and women, in some cases whole families responding.
The original prairie was called wet. The subsoil held water
168
often too long during wet seasons. The ground often baked before it could be cultivated. Tile drains are now used freely and little trouble is experienced from the extremes of wet and dry. Large sums of money are buried out of sight in tile, but they are permanent improvements, being just as good as when laid forty years ago. Progressive farmers still think that a larger outlet would prevent a cold, slow growth of corn as in 1917. Hog disease has been conquered largely. Tuberculosis cattle are being weeded out. Horses are larger and better for farming. Roads are better. The man power is much greater than fifty years ago. Many plows have passed the experi- mental stage. One man handles twice as many horses as then. Planters approach perfection ; binders work like clocks. Grain separators are wonders as compared with those of years ago. Much money has been spent in improving stock and grain, and the results are plain to be seen.
Rio township is the home of some fine thoroughbred stock, especially cattle. That one herd of Shorthorns was selected with intelligent care is revealed by the fact that they are des- cendants of tribes originated and bred by such famed Aber- deenshire breeders as Cuickshank, Duthie, Campbell and Lord Lovat and the present generation is the product of sires and dams of America's best. Four are daughters of the great sire Lord Avondale, a bull which sold for five thousand dollars at auction in 1916 and is now conceded to be one of the most suc- cessful of the breed. Others are by Sultan Goods of the "Sul- tan" tribe, Challenge Victor, the Dutchman, a grandson of the St. Louis World's Fair champion, Choice Goods, White Gloster by Fair Acres Sultan, Baron Kerr II, Lucky Pride II, a grand- grandson of The Lad for Me, Glen View, Dale III, by the fam- ous sire, Avondale. Revealing as this does unusual strength of blood through the sires, many of the dams too are equally attractive and have a record as producers that stands high ; for instance, the cow Lucky Clari produced a bull that was purchased by Francisco Maissa for shipment to the Argentine and a calf from Verbena Lass has found a home in the herd owned by Dr. Rabey, Gatesville, Texas. Two well bred bulls, Bud Avondale, by Lord Avondale; and Challenge Victor, by Challenge Mysie, are samples of the high-bred stock to be found in Rio township. Illinois is richer because of this select collection of the breed for the reason that permanent agricul- ture and soil improvement go hand in hand with live stock pro- duction.
The schools of Rio township are of the district grade. There are two churches in the community, the Methodist and Congregational, Rev. Glen A. Rowles being the resident pastor of the latter.
169
Rio has a railroad junction with unusually good train service, a fine bank building, and other improvements. In 1917 the road tax amounted to $19,000. Three hundred and eighty-two autos assist transportation. The township as a whole is prosperous and progressive in every way.
170
SALEM TOWNSHIP From Sketch by L. A. Lawrence
Salem lies in the southeast corner of Knox County and is bounded on the east by Peoria County and on the south by Ful- ton county. There are only a few townships that have as fine physical features or as marked beauty of outline as this. Com- mencing at a point known as Kent's Mound, on Section 12, which rises forty or fifty feet above the common level, a some- what irregular ridge, sometimes called "divide," runs through the entire township, from east to west, taking the name of Pease Hill in its center and terminating at Uniontown, on Sec- tion 13, at its extreme western edge.
Salem was organized under the general law relating to townships on April 5, 1853, by an election held in a log school house near Michael Egan's home, on Section 20. S. S. Buffum was chosen Supervisor ; William Gray, Clerk ; J. E. Knable, As- sessor; D. Waldo, Collector; T. A. Croy, G. W. Euke and J. Jordan, Justices ; M. B. Mason, A. Kent and J. E. Duel, High- way Commissioners ; J. Taylor and D. Waldo, Constables, and G. Christman, Overseer of the Poor.
John Sloan has been the supervisor most frequently re- elected, having served eight terms of one year each, at different periods, and others of from one year to three years.
The first settlement was made by Alexander Taylor, on the northeast quarter of Section 6, in October, 1834. He was soon followed by Felix and John Thurman, Henry and Avery Dalton, Solomon Sherwood, Benoni Hawkins, William Kent, John Darnell, John Haskins and Sala Blakesbee, most of whom brought their families with them.
The first birth recorded was that of little Laura, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. John Haskins, in 1835, and the first to be joined in wedlock were Avery and Delilah Dalton, cousins, who were married in 1855, by Squire Mark Thurman. The same year occurred the first death, that of Andrew Corbin.
The early settlers brought their religious faith and prac- tice with them and held prayer meetings from time to time at convenient places. Their pious devotion attracted the atten- tion of Rev. Henry Somers, who visited the settlement in No- vember, 1835 or 36, and preached the first sermon at the home of William Kent, on Section 13.
The first saw mill was built by James Mason on Kickapoo Creek, in Section 13, in 1835 or '36; another, a little later, by Anderson Corbin, on the same stream, on Section 14.
The people of Salem have shown an enlightened public spirit in the matter of good highways, and have provided a
171
system of good, substantial, iron bridges, set upon firm stone abutments, over all the principal streams with stone culverts over most of the smaller ones. The question of constructing, grading and repairing the highways, was many years ago, by vote, left solely to the discretion of the highway commis- sioners. The result has been a uniform system of grading, which with thoroughly underdraining, affords the best roads obtainable on prairie soil without resort to the Macadam pro- cess.
Salem has an abundant supply of bituminous coal, which has been mined for local use from an early date along the banks of the streams skirting the north and south sides of the township. The most productive mines are found along the Kickapoo and Littler's Creeks. The first mining of which any record had been preserved was successfully undertaken by Pittman and Barlow, blacksmiths, of Farmington, Fulton county, who, in 1832, took coal from the soil of Section 25, for use in their own forges. Avery Dalton was the first to mine to any appreciable extent for commercial purposes. He began operations on the same section three years later. Sev- eral drillings at Yates City have developed extensive and valu- able veins, at depths varying from one hundred and twenty- five feet upward.
Not the least important among the industries which have helped to elevate Salem Township to its present position among the foremost in the county is that of stock-growing. Many of the most progressive farmers make the breeding of improved varieties a special feature of their farm work. Among the prominent stock raisers may be named: N. G. Daughmer and Son, D. Corey and Son, J. M. Corey, H. A. and James Sloan, E. H. Ware, Frank Runyon, A. D. Moore and R. J. McKeighan. The efforts of these men and others who might be mentioned have resulted in elevating the standard established for fine stock to as high a point in Salem as will be found in the best farming sections of the State.
There are ten school districts in Salem, numbered in order to the ninth, the tenth being called Center. The last named is located on School Section 16. Of the ten school buildings, two, in Districts 3 and 4 are of brick, the others are frame. The first school house was located on Section 13, in 1838, in what is now District No. 1, and the first school was taught by Abiel Drew. The second school was erected in either the same or the succeeding year, on the southwest quarter of Section 6. It was of logs, and had been originally put up by James Hogue for a dwelling. Section 6 now forms a part of District No. 2. Of the ten schools, only the one in Yates City is graded.
Every school in Salem has the benefit of a library of
172
greater or lesser size and value, which owe their origin to W. L. Steele and the history of their establishment may be told in a few words. In September, 1878, Mr. Steele, then Principal of a graded school in Yates City, proposed to the School Board, composed of Dr. J. D. Holt, J. M. Taylor and L. A. Lawrence, the orgnization of a school and public library, to be under the control of the board, and open at all times to pupils of the schools, and to the pupils upon payment of a membership fee. The scheme also contemplated the solicitation of donations of books and money. The plan was adopted. The movement com- manded public support from the first, and the library has now grown to large dimensions and is one of the best in the State for a community of that size.
In the Civil War 182 served from this township. One hun- dred and fifty-one served in various regiments of infantry, numbered from the Seventh to the One Hundred and Thirty- second. Forty-five were attached to the Eighty-third, and Twenty-eight in the Seventy-seventh . Twenty-nine are cred- ited as having served in the Seventh, Eleventh, Twelfth and Fourteenth Cava !lry, and two in the Second Illinois Artillery. In addition, several are known to have enlisted in regiments from other states, notably in the Eighth Missouri Infantry, viz .; William S. Kleckner, Frank Murphy, Frank and Fred Hamilton, Henry Ledgerman, James Dundas, Chester Vickery, George Frost, William Hull, William Taylor and William Reed, besides, probably others, many of whom have never been cred- ited, either to Knox County or to Salem Township. James H. Walton was probably the first enlisted man from Salem, having joined the Seventh Infantry from Yates City, which was the first regiment organized in 1861. A draft was ordered to com- plete Salem's quota under the last call for men in 1864, and four names were drawn.
Salem's record in the war with Spain, 1898, is an extra- ordinary one, the township having furnished fourteen men out of a possible one hundred and fifty for the whole county, the most of whom served in Company C, of the Sixth Infantry. The Mexican War of 1846 had one representative here, in the person of R. B. Corbin, who served in the Third United States Dragoons.
In 1837 a postoffice was established, called Middle Grove, near what was later Uniontown, Henry Merrell being placed in charge. It is said that Thomas Morse offered a whole day's labor to secure a letter on which the postage had not been paid, money being then very scarce, but his offer was refused.
Sala Blakesbee is credited with erecting the first frame building for a barn, in 1837, on Section 19, but it was destroyed by fire the same year.
173
The scales of justice were first held by William Davis in 1836.
The underground railroad had a well defined "route" through Salem in ante-bellum days, and many a poor slave, fleeing for life and liberty had occasion to thank the "officers" thereof for their active vigilance in his behalf.
The moral and religious advancement of the people has kept even pace with their material development, as is shown by their work in the early churches and in kindred societies. In early days, preaching services were held in School houses, and all convenient places.
In Salem township are Uniontown, Douglas and Yates City, and it is in the last named that the famous Harvest Home festival, first held in 1886, is annually celebrated.
The township also made a notable record in the late World War.
174
SPARTA TOWNSHIP From Sketch by E. H. Goldsmith
This township was organized April 5, 1853, at the home of Thomas H. Taylor, on Section 14, and the following town offi- cers were elected: T. H. Taylor, Supervisor; Asaph DeLong Clerk ; Stephen Smith, Assessor; Charles R. Rhodes, Collector; D. Reed, Stephen Russell and Peter Davis, Highway Commis- sioners; Moran Baker and Hugh Ferguson, Justices of the Peace, and Marshall P. Delong, Constable. Mr. DeLong after- wards served the town as Justice of the Peace for twenty-five years. S. . G Dean served eight years, and John J. Sutor for a number of years. William Robson served long continuously as supervisor.
While Hezekiah Buford has the credit of being the first settler by building on Section 23, in 1834, the Wilmots have a record for longest continuous residence on the same land, for Amos Wilmot built a log cabin in June, 1836, on Section 6, in which he lived for fifteen years. He then built a house, where he lived until his death in 1878. Very soon after his arrival came Reuben, Cyrus and Edward Robbins, brothers, and Levi Roberts, a cousin. The first of these was about the last of the early settlers. To him we are indebted for some of the inform- ation given in this sketch. From the fact that Levi Robbins having raised a large orchard and other trees "Robbins' Grove" was for many years a noted land-mark and people came long distances for apples, as well as to hold picnics. In 1836, Asaph DeLong (who built the first house between Knoxville and Heath timber), Luman Field and William Heath settled on Section 31. The latter was married at Knoxville to Lucinda Field in 1837, and "hung up" housekeeping in their log cabin, a picture of which is still preserved. In a northeast direction they had but one neighbor nearer than Victoria. Mrs. Heath was a member of the society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, she being a granddaughter of Elisha Field, Jr., and a great granddaughter of Elisha Field, Sr., both of whom fought in the Revolutionary war. She possessed papers show- ing the entire war history of her illustrious ancestors. Her grandchildren presented her with the badge of the society, which is an old-fashioned spinning wheel with beautiful sur- roundings and inscriptions.
James Neely settled on Section 30 in 1838, and Abram Neely on Section 5 a few years later. Other early settlers were: B. Ely, Thomas and George W. Faulkner, Booker Pick- rel and C. C. West. Among those who came subsequently and who, with those already mentioned, as well as those who will be noticed hereafter, have been influential in the political and
175
religious prosperity of the township, are Solomon Lyon, J. V. R. Carley, Schuyler Goldsmith, A. F. Adams, William E. Morse, Henry Rommel, L. W. Olson, Oliver Stream, Joseph Masters, J. H. Merrill, James Paddock, Edmund Kennedy, James Barry, William S. Patterson, William A. Lee, Jr., D. W. Nisley, R. W. Hulse, Vickrey Nation, Ransom Babcock, F. Z. Wikoff, G. S. Hawkins and John Taylor. The latter was assessor for over 30 years.
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy passes through Sparta in a diagonal line from near the northeast to the southwest corner. In November 1894, the Galesburg, Etherely and Great Eastern Railroad was opened, running twelve miles east, to strike a great coal belt of some eighty-two sections, the center of which is Etherely, where the company placed a shaft cost- ing $30,000. This company suspended railroad operations on September 7, 1895, but resumed December 7, 1897, under the name of the Galesburg and Great Eastern, with Edward J. Harms as manager.
Prairie fires in early days were beautiful to witness and oftentimes to be dreaded. At one time a fire which is said to have started at Red Oak in Henry county, threatened to de- vastate the farms of the new settlers, but warning was given those in the southwest part of the township by Maria, daugh- ter of Luman Field, in time to avert the approaching catastro- phe.
Sparta, both before and during the Civil War, contained quite a number of abolitionists, among them was Abram Neely, a conductor on the underground railroad. Some of the old citizens still remember his hiding fugitive slaves at his home and taking them a night's ride to the next station.
The population of Sparta township has been: 1840, 113; 1870, 1,950; 1800, 1,682; 1890, 1,293. For later figures see elsewhere.
Wataga
Wataga was platted in the Spring of 1854 by J. M. Holy- oke, Silas Willard and Clark M. Carr, and was incorporated by a special act in 1863. The first village election was held Sep- tember 19, 1863. In 1874 it was re-incorporated, under the general law, with Section 16 as the village territory. J. M. Holyoke was the first resident and postmaster, and also built the first store in conjunction with A. P. Cassel. This was operated by Willard and Babcock. The first bank in the place was started in 1863 by H. P. Wood. The depot was built in 1856, and in the same year the Wataga House was erected and operated by Garrett Post for one year, when Loren Smith bought and conducted it for one year, and for years it was the
1.76
property of C. H. Norton. The Wataga mill was built by Wil- liam Armstrong in 1856, and soon afterwards was damaged by an explosion in which John Armstrong was seriously injured. George F. and David P. Niles, now extensive farmers and fine stock-raisers, bought the mill in May, 1867, and ran it very successfully for eight years, patrons coming long distances with their own wheat and receiving entire satisfaction. Among those who have since owned the mill are: William and M. O. Williamson, who introduced expensive modern machinery and Frank Darst, who also put in improvements and did excellent work.
The First Congregational Church was organized June 10, 1855, and the church society October 27, 1856. The church organization was led by the Rev. S. G. Wright. The first meet- ing was held in the depot, where the first sermon was preached. Subsequent services were held in the newly completed school house until 1860, when a substantial church, costing over $3,000, was erected, to which in 1876, a parsonage was added at a cost of $2,000. The original members were: A. P. Bab- cock, William S. Farnham, Mrs. Maria S. Farnham, Mrs. C. F. Farnsworth, Benjamin Gardner, Mrs. Abigail Gardner, Miss Sarah Gardner, Mrs. Minerva Holyoke, Charles W. Rhodes and Mrs. Jane Rhodes. Wm. S. Farnham served as deacon for 30 years. James Hastie also served as deacon until his demise in 1879 and was succeeded by Amos S. Fitch, the latter holding the office until his death in 1882. Among the secretaries of the society have been Hon. John Gray, of Jefferson Iowa; the late J. M. Holyoke and E. H. Goldsmith, the latter of whom held that office twenty-four years and was church clerk for thirty years. This church has had many pastors. Among those who have faithfully served in that capacity may be men- tioned the Revs. Azariah Hyde, William W. Wetmore, Hiram P. Roberts, Prof. Willis J. Beecher, of Auburn (New York) Theological Seminary, and William R. Butcher, the last named serving six years. The Sunday school records show that on December 26, 1869, the membership was two hundred and the average attendance one hundred and forty-eight. John Hastie was the secretary and E. H. Goldsmith the superintend- ent, the latter holding that office for twenty-five years. The late George P. Holyoke and William M. Driggs, with their wives rendered valuable assistance in former years.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1856 by the Rev. William M. Clark, whose circuit consisted of Oneida, Wesley Chapel and Wataga. He made his journeys on foot. Mr. Clark gave the site of Gilson camp ground to this dis- trict. Among the early members were S. F. Spaulding, John Gaddis, B. W. Foster, Lucius Vail and S. G. Dean, with their wives. Mr. Dean was the first Sunday school superintendent,
177
serving four years, and he was succeeded by S. F. Spaulding who, for nineteen years, gave his best services to the school. Among the pastors were: G. W. Brown, N. T. Allen, William Watson, D. Ayers, N. G. Clark, G. P. Snedaker and C. F. W. Smith. The church was completed and dedicated in 1867 under the pastorate of J. W. Coe, the presiding elder being W. H. Hunter.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1856, the first pastor being the Rev. T. N. Hasselquist. In 1860 the society commenced building a church, having former- ly worshipped in private houses and school buildings. This church was struck by lightning and burned in 1875, but in the same year the present tasteful edifice was erected. The Rev. N. Nordgren, served this people many years.
The Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1857 with the Rev. V. Witting as the pastor. The keeping up of regular services and of the Sunday School was largely due to the untiring efforts of Oliver Stream.
The Wataga Christian church, costing $2,000, was erected in 1875, but was torn down in 1896 and the church organiz- ation no longer exists.
The Wataga Catholic Church was erected in 1877 at a cost of $2,000. The. Rev. P. McGair was its first pastor.
Wataga Iodge, No. 291, A. F. and A. M., was instituted August 17, 1858.
The Order of the Eastern Star was organized February 22, 1888, and being the first chapter in the county it had many members from the surrounding towns, there being at one time seventy-four names on the roll. Other chapters were organ- ized in every town from which this drew its followers.
Wataga Lodge, No. 509, I. O. O. F., was organized Janu- ary 10, 1876, by A. W. Berggren. Its first officers were: W. N. Thomas, N. G .; J. E. Thomas, V. G .; L. C. Whitcomb, Secre- tary ; P. A. Smith, Treasurer. Other charter members were P. A. Smith and John McConchie.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.