USA > Illinois > Knox County > Annals of Knox County : commemorating centennial of admission of Illinois as a state of the Union in 1818 > Part 22
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Practically all this whole prairie was broken up with oxen. Burgess Elliott, Lars Ostrom, Martin England and Adolphus Anderson did much of this work. For this work they used a 28 or 32 inch breaking plow drawn by from four to six yoke of oxen. Some of the back furrows can still be see on the Martin England farm where Mr. England now lives.
At first the ground was very wet but within a few years a ditching machine which pressed a round hole about three feet under the ground and about the size of a six inch tile was used. This took the place of tile which came later and did very well in an early day, but the hole was gradually enlarged by the water until the top caved in and started large ditches. Well does the writer remember when his folks moved south of
220
the school house, of crawling, as a boy, for rods in these blind ditches as they were called. As people in the present day go to tractor demonstrations, so in those days would the people come long distances to see new and improved machinery.
The sickle and scythe were not much used here to cut grain, but the cradle was although it was soon succeeded by the McCormick reaper on which one man sat and drove and another stood and raked the grain off in sheaves for the bind- ers to gather up and bind. The first self-raking reaper used here was owned by Adolphus Anderson and his nephew, Frank Anderson, tells of its first use. It was used a quarter of a mile north of where the church now is about 1857 to cut wheat. They used oxen on the tongue and horses in the lead. Frank says he rode the horses. Among the men binding were J. K. Robinson and Manford Mosher. Frank says they had molasses, ginger and water in a pail and a long black bottle. Charles Clark and many others came to see the new reaper work. Robinson says Frank carried the water and bottle and took toll for carrying it to the others. Thus does the historian find himself in a maze of uncertainty as to the true facts.
In those early days all the corn ground had to be marked out both ways and planted by hand. The tools they used to tend it with were the hoe, single shovel, double shovel and bar share plow. It would look funny nowadays to see one plowing corn with oxen as Ben Nelson did about 1860 on the place where Fred Holstrum now lives.
Old Conveyances
Your historian has had much pleasure looking over the old conveyances of the Patty place, the Arnold, the Stuart, the Peter Anderson, Louis Osstrum, Eli Johnson and others. He has seen more patents by the government to land in the last week than in his whole life time before. Cliff Gibbs has the original patent to Tom Stuart from the government signed with the president's name. That is what is known as a sheep- skin. Besides a patent which is in effect a government deed, there were issued to the soldiers of 1776 and 1812 land war- rants. This was a privilege to locate a quarter-section of land in this military district, enter the land at the land office, sur- render the warrant and get a deed in the form of a patent. Eric Ostrom has such a patent issued in 1817 to Cornelius Riorden, sergeant in Nelson's company of infantry of the U. S. after he had deposited a land warrant in the land office that was issued on the soldier's bounty land of the territory of Illi- nois in 1817. On the same day Riorden deeded the land to Alexander Cooper and the deed is written on the back of the patent. It is sure a curious document. In those days land titles were not so carefully recorded and there was more or
221
less counterfeiting of land transfers and the country was in- fested with swindlers known as land sharps. It is said that Pete Skoglund paid for his land two or three times rather than go to law about the title.
But we must not think that all the life of these ancestors of ours was bereft of enjoyment. They lived in a land of milk and honey and had much to be thankful for. One of these was a famous peach orchard owned by Tom Stuart. They were real peaches, says Jonas Olson, and I can readily believe him for you can always trust a boy to know where there's a water- melon patch or a real peach orchard. With an ancestry such as this it behooves us, their descendants, to follow the advice of the poet who says :
"Let us then be up and doing, With a heart for any fate, Still achieving and pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait."
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TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP OF KNOX COUNTY
This map of Knox County shows the stream and water- shed system of the county; its valleys; the elevation of prin- cipal points above the sea level; and the number and location of the coal veins. These veins are numbered from the bottom up, the lowest vein in the county being No. 1, and highest No. 6. The forested areas are as a rule contiguous to the streams.
Matureful
815 Oneida
Watnul
6
6
835
Cour
2
4
2
4
Galesburg
Jack 756
midd
north check.
on
3
2
ill
778
K
Court and How
女
3
2
2
2
2
2
12
6850
2
abingdon 3
Bauf
630
ma
-
-
532
2
Sklan 689
788
3
1 78
ali
16
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MAP OF KNOX COUNTY
The following map shows the townships and railroads and the older municipalities of the county, along with several neighborhood centers. Williamsfield in Truro township, and East Galesburg in Knox township are later towns on the Sante Fe. Hermon in Chestnut township is on the Fulton county branch of the Burlington, formerly the Narrow Gauge. Sum- mit on the Peoria Branch is better known as Douglas.
MERCER.
Po
CHECK.
+
WALNUT
LYNNY
ONTARIO!
+
+
Cintario
GROVE
+
Oneideras
121+
HENDERSON
SPARTA
+COPLEY
Victoria
Handerscry
+ Walayg
3
VICTORIA
+
+
1+
+
TAURO
GALESBURG
KNOX
PERSIFER
+
Truro
Ghles spe
S.F.
+
1+
THE "SANTA FE"
C. S.F.
+
1
+
+
0
4
Livingston
WHITson
HAW
ELBA
CEDAR
CREEK
+
FRENCH
Abingdon
121
Maquina
Summit
+
10
INDIAN
CHESTNUT
SP MAQUON
Hates City
POINT
+
+
SALLE,NA+
HiSt Augustine.
London
FULTON.
FITEM-ENG.
FORIA
WARREN
+
ORANGE ..
+
$3.
CEWY
+
+
Euqchey
ELMORE
+
STARK
HENRY.
+
*
224
MUNICIPAL NOTES Yates City
In Salem township are Yates City, Douglas and Union- town. The last was surveyed and platted in 1839. It was in the earlier days a point of much importance. Luther Carey opened the first store there and Jacob Booth and Moses Shinn a blacksmith shop, and they made plows and wagons. Thomas Griggsby began brick burning in 1845. The first school opened in 1843. The building of the railroad elsewhere killed its prospects.
Douglas, sometimes called Summit, was laid out October 17, 1856, and it developed from the building of the Peoria line of the Burlington. It has been a lively trading point and has maintained a number of stores, and had excellent facili- ties for handling grain. It maintains a good school.
Yates City is the principal municipality of the southeast part of the county, and is at one of the Burlington junctions. It was laid out in 1837 by William and A. C. Babcock, Thomas Maple, Rufus H. Bishop, Bostwick Kent and James Burson. James Burson erected the first business house; John Donne- maker opened the first hotel, and Isaac West erected the first dwelling. Buffum and Knable established a grain warehouse. A good flouring mill was built in 1868. Brick and tile were formerly manufactured in large quantity.
The Harvest Home Association, which has made Yates City famous for its annual celebrations, was established in 1886, largely through the efforts of Editor McKeighan of the Ban- ner.
The saloon which from 1857 had fastened itself on the city was wiped out in 1875 and with the exception of 1888 and 1895 was kept out. Good banks have for years furnished ex- cellent financial facilities. The city has a first class line of business houses.
The first postoffice was opened in February, 1859, with J. M. Corey as postmaster.
Yates City was chartered on March 4, 1869.
For many years Yates City has maintained a high stand- ard of schools. Among those who were its principals were the late W. L. Steele, so long superintendent of the city schools of Galesburg, and W. F. Boyes, present county superintendent of schools.
Of the Yates City churches, the First Presbyterian was organized November 16, 1866, and the Methodists completed an edifice in 1868.
225
Also fraternally Yates City is strong and it has witnessed the organization of Masonic, Odd Fellow and Modern Wood- men lodges, and a Grand Army Post.
Yates City has for many years maintained a strong poli- tical influence in the county, and one of its best known young men, Frank L. Adams, has for years served efficiently as county clerk.
Maquon
The village of Maquon is situated on or near the site of the old Indian village at the north line of the township and was surveyed by Parnach Owen in 1836, who assisted by sev- eral others laid out the village. For several years it had neither religious or educational institutions, but was the site of a distillery and race track, according to Gale's history of the county. Both these long since disappeared and years ago Maquon took its place as one of the model communities of Knox. The village was incorporated March 4, 1857, and its population by 1880 had reached 548. The first building in the village was Cox's tavern, built by Benjamin Cox, and for twenty years used as barracks, kept by Nathan Barbero. John Hipple conducted the first store in a building erected by Mat- thew Maddox in 1839. For forty years there has been no sa- loon in Maquon. The business interests are well represented by well conducted stores and banks.
The business portion of Maquon has experienced six dis- astrous fires all of them of doubtful origin.
Prior to 1848 Maquon schools were held in rooms furnished by Nathan and Calister Barbero, but in that year a substan- tial brick building was erected. The initial attendance was 175 pupils. The Maquon school for many years has been con- sidered one of the best in the county.
Maquon has responded nobly to all patriotic demands. In the Civil War a full quota of 250 came from the village and township.
The village is well supplied with fraternal organizations, which provide a congenial social life.
Rapatee, also in Maquon township, was founded in 1883, with the building of the Iowa Central in 1883. It was laid out by Benjamin Adams and A. B. Stewart was its first mer- chant.
Rio
Rio, in Rio township, was platted in 1871 by William Rob- inson, and was first called Coburg. The pioneer store was built by Messrs. Schroeder and Owens. Nelson Coe was the first postmaster. Rio has always had enterprising merchants, and has been a good trading center. Since its founding, there
226
have been organized there Masonic, Odd Fellow, Modern Woodmen, Eastern Star and Home Forum lodges. The place also maintains religious worship.
An Early Inventor
Some mention has been made elsewhere of the inventors of the county who contributed to its agricultural development. Mention should be made of Riley Root, who seemed to be the inventive genius of the colonists. Among other things he pro- duced the rotary snow plow, a device for clarifying cane or corn syrups, and a surveyor's level.
Ambassador to China
A Galesburg and Knox County boy, Edwin Hurd Conger, rose to high distinction after graduating from Lombard col- lege in 1862 and serving through the war, where he was brev- eted as major for gallant service. In 1880 he was elected State treasurer of Iowa. In 1886 he was elected to Congress and was twice re-elected. President Harrison appointed him minister to Brazil serving until 1893. In 1897 he was reappointed to the Brazil post but in 1898 was transferred to China, where he served with distinction for a number of years and where during the Boxer uprising he was a conspicuous international figure.
227
ILLINOIS By W. F. Boyes
Such gratitude as is due the pioneers of Knox County is likewise due those who had made Illinois a commonwealth of the Union before this county was settled. One of the bit- terest and most significant political contests ever waged made Illinois a free state in 1824, and before our county history be- gins the boundaries had been established and forces set at work that were to make this state a most important factor in the preservation of the Union.
The territory, now Illinois, was claimed by the French from the days of Marquette to the Treaty of Paris in 1763. From 1763 to the conquest of George Rogers Clark it was British territory. The Treaty of 1783 confirmed Clark's con- quest and gave Illinois to the United States. But one of the great difficulties of the early government of the nation was the territorial claims of the different states. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Virginia all claimed territory lying within the present State of Illinois. The cession of Virginia was made in 1783.
Kaskaskia, just below the mouth of the Kaskaskia river, and Cahokia, a few miles below East St. Louis, were the earl- iest permanent settlements. This state was settled by people from the north, east and south. Each of these directions brought its own peculiar characteristics and customs. Two groups of families directly from England settled in Edwards county in 1816 and 1817. It is said that no other district created such wide-spread interest in Europe as the Illinois country.
Upon the British occupation of the territory, many of the French emigrated. Development in Illinois was at a stand for years. The white population within the present state was probably not more than 1,000 in 1800. The most marked development of the country began upon the organiza- tion of Illinois as a separate territory. In 1818 the popula- tion was about 40,000.
Slavery was introduced into the territory by the French in 1721. Nothing was said in the treaty of cession to Great Britain about slavery, but such chattels were held in Illinois as British territory, just as when it was French. The United States in turn agreed to guarantee to the people security in person and effects. So, notwithstanding the ordinance of 1787, slavery was for years a fact. Under the early state gov- ernment, what was called the Black code recognized the insti- tution and then came the great campaign of 1824, under Gov-
228
ernor Coles which made it clear that Illinois was to be a free state.
The Indians within the state caused much trouble at dif- ferent times. The Ft. Dearborn and Wood River massacres were the most serious. But many lives were taken by Indians during the War of 1812 and later.
At first there were two counties in the present Illinois territory-St. Clair on the west, where most of the inhabitants were, and Knox on the east. Later Randolph was organized from the south part of St. Clair. Then came Clark, Edwards, White, Monroe, Crawford and Jackson. There were fifteen counties when the state was admitted in 1818.
The population of the new state was exceedingly mixed, there were few towns of any importance, the roads were paths through the woods, there were practically no schools and al- most nothing in the way of public worship. But the climate, the soil, the natural resources, the great waterways, were here. The progress of the people has been commensurate with the development of the state, and it is to commemorate Knox County's part in this wonderful progress of a hundred years that this book is published. The committee of Knox County Board of Supervisors in charge of the publication is: C. H. Pulver, chairman; Milton Deatherage, and Clarence R. Lacy.
INDEX
In this work, the townships are alphabetically arranged. The following index refers to the more important points of the work, the numbers indi- cating the pages on which reference to each item may be found:
-A-
Abingdon-48-60, 118. Abingdon College-48.
Agricultural Development-22, 23,
98, 156, 167, 168, 171, 219, 220.
Altona-201-202.
Ambassadors-20, 226.
Amusements-160, 166.
Appleton-154.
-B-
Banking-21.
Bee Hunting-200.
Births, Early-64, 100, 107, 122, 132, 142, 149, 170, 185, 198.
Black Hawk War-10, 42, 43. 107, 108, 124, 132, 141. Bridges, First-133. Brimfield-67.
-C-
Cedar Township-34-61.
Center Prairie- -212-221. Cemeteries-62, 149. 219.
Cherry Grove Seminary-46.
Chestnut Township-61.
Child lost-70.
Churches, Early-50, 63, 68, 89, 90, 101.
Circuit Bench-21. Coal-68, 146, 171.
Company C, I. N. G .- 93-96.
Congressmen-17.
Conveyances-220.
Copley Township-64.
County Business, Growth of-9.
County Home-9.
Court Houses-9, 107, 131. County Seat Contest-8, 9, 97.
-D-
Dahinda-154. Deaths, First-107, 149. De Long-144. Douglas-67.
-E-
Early Settlements, Knox County- 27, 33. Elba Township-66. Elmwood-67. Emigration-57. Etherly-65. Eugene-67.
-F-
Farm Bureau-22, 23.
-
Farming-69. Farmington-67.
Farm Products and l'rices-67, 77, 114, 199.
Fires-117, 175, 180, 181, 202, 205, 214, 217, 218.
Flood-205. Forts-85, 109.
-G-
Galesburg-Academy, 86; Annals, 73; Colony, 109; Knox College. SG: Lombard College, 87; Plan of founders, 73, 77; Schools, 81. Game-147. 201.
Gilson-102.
Glenwood-67.
Golden Circle-153.
Government-Commission, 6; Judges, 6; Supervisors, 7.
-H-
Harrisonville and Hermon-63.
Harvest Home-173.
Haw Creek Township-100, 104.
Hedding College-4S. Henderson Township-105-112.
Henderson Village-111. Hermon-63.
Historical Association, Centennial- 3, 4.
Hospitals-91.
Houses, First-62. 66, 80. 103. 106, 109, 123, 142. 159, 160, 167, 172, 197, 198.
-I-
Illinois-227.
Indians-42. 66, 64, 100, 113, 122, 127, 131, 140, 148, 184, 197, article on 207-211.
Indian Trail map-208.
Indian Point Township-113 120. Industries-54. 141, 143, 178, 200. Inventor, Early-226.
-K-
Knox College-86-87.
Knox County Annals-5-27; Agricul- tural Development, 22-23; Agri- cultural Board, 123; Banking, 21; Growth of Knox County Home 9; Court House Erection, 9; County Officers, 23; County Seat Contest, 8-9; Government, 6; by Judges, G-7; Township organization, 7; Growth
INDEX
-K- (Continued )
of Population, 10-12; Municipali- ties, 11; Political History, in Con- gress, 17; in Legislature, 18-21; Railroads, 14-15; Religious growth, 13-14; School Development, 14-15; Statistics of Population, 13; Town- ship officers, 24-27.
Knoxville-33, 67-124.
Knox Township-121, 126.
-L-
Land Prices-33, 38.
Legislature-18, 21.
Library-170, 203.
Liberty Loan-18, 60.
Lincoln-43.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate-92.
Log Cabins and Furnishings-43, 44. 71, 78, 110, 124, 125, 215, 218. Log City-78. Lombard College-87, 88, 89.
Lynn Township-127-130.
-M-
Maquon-225.
Maquon Township-131-132.
Markets-44, 130, 144, 199.
Marriages, First-36, 61, 66, 83, 109, 123, 132, 142, 149, 186, 198. Medical Aid-45.
Middle Grove-172.
Mills-62 64. 68. 80, 102 108, 111, 117, 141, 145, 150, 152, 154, 170, 186, 200. Mormons-197-198.
Municipalities-11.
-N-
Newburg-67. Newspapers-118. 170.
-0-
Old Settlers' Association-123. Ontario Township-134, 140. Orange Township-140-144.
-P-
Pastimes-102. Persifer Township-145-163.
Pioneers-35, 85. Pioneer Schools-32.
Population-10, 12, 13.
Postal Facilities-63, 68. 103, 109, 111, 123. 150. 193, 199, 200. Prairie State Oil Co .- 155.
-R-
Railroads-16. 65, 92, 111, 114, 166, 175. 201. Rapatee-225.
Religious Growth: First Churches -13-14, 81, 89, 90, 91, 107, 115, 130, 137, 138, 139, 142, 143, 155, 176, 177, 178, 179, 192, 193, 203, 217, 218. Rio-225.
Rio Township-163-169.
Roads, First-109, 191, 192.
-S-
Salem Township-170-173.
Saloons-118, 224, 225.
Sparta Township-174-177.
Schools-14, 15. 45.
Schools, First-62, 64, 66, 81, 101. 109, 115. 129, 132, 136. 142, 150, 171, 182, 185, 189. 198, 215.
Settlers, First-64, 66. 106, 111, 113. 131, 140, 163, 164, 170, 174, 178, 184, 197.
Settlers. Where From-34, 37, 64, 73, 100, 105, 114, 127, 128, 131, 134, 140, 141, 142, 147, 163, 164, 179, 212. 214.
St. Augustine-117.
State Commissions-21.
Stores, First-67, 85, 101.
Storms-35, 70, 120, 158, 216.
Stoves-44.
Sunday Schools-39, 116. Supreme Bench-21.
-T-
Taverns-63. 123, 129, 145. 161, 174, 186, 202.
Teachers, Early-81.
Township Officers-24-27.
Township Organization-7. 63, 6 68, 102, 143. 170. 174. 178, 194. Travel, Methods of-67, 84, 101, 128, 150. Trenton-152.
Truro Township-178-181.
-U-
Underground Railroad-30, 173, 175. Uniontown-172.
Victoria, Village-186, 187. Victoria Township-184-196.
-W-
Walnut Grove-197.
War-16. 17. 63, 124, 132, 144. 165, 172. 181, 217.
War Record-58. 72, 92.
Wataga-175. West, Mary Allen-32. Williamsfield-67, 179.
-1-
Yates City-224.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.349AN7 C001 ANNALS OF KNOX COUNTY COMMEMORATING CENT
3 0112 025392017
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