Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical, Part 20

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 860

USA > Illinois > Cumberland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 20
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 20
USA > Illinois > Jasper County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 20

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The Clerk then posted up notices of election for the election of five trustees of said town, and upon the 23d day of July, 1863, an

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

election was held, and the following persons chosen trustees, viz .: R. Bloomfield. M. B. Ross. Joel Smith. J. HI. Yanaway. and L. L. Logan. Upon the first meeting of the Board, which took place on the 28th day of July. 1866, it was found that L. L. Logan was in- eligible to serve as trustee on account of not having resided in the town long enough. and that R. Bloomfield was also ineligible on ac- count of being Probate Judge of the County; whereupon a new election was ordered to take place on the 8th day of August, 1866. for a new Board. which resulted in the election of JJoel Smith. M. B. Ross. D. B. Green, James E. Mumford and A. G. Caldwell, as trus- tees of said town. who were duly sworn in as such, and on the 21st day of August the Board met. organized and elected D. B. Green. President. A. G. Caldwell. Clerk. and M. B. Ross. Treasurer, and ap- pointed C. S. Mumford. street commissioner, and Thomas White. town constable.

The village has been considerably embarrassed to secure a name that would harmonize all interests. The original name of the town. Prairie ('ity. was found to conflict at the post-office department with another village in the State, and in establishing an office here hit upon the name of Majority Point as its designation. This, of course. Became to the outside world the name of the village, but to the citizens there was a distinction which legal forms required to be maintained. In the early part of 1874. a meeting of the citizens was had to remedy this defeet. There was a wide difference in the choice of names, but the issue was finally narrowed down to a choice ho- t ween Toledo and Majority Point. the final vote being thirty-nine in favor of the former and seventeen in favor of the latter. A few weeks later the postoffice of the village was named in harmony with the new name adopted. Subsequently when the railroad was put in operation. by some grave carelessness the material for this station was printed Majority Point. and now the three names of Prairie City. Toledo, and Majority Point vex the citizen and contise the stranger.

In reporting this change of name. the Democrat takes pains to give the significance of the new name as follows: " The word . Toledo ' is of Hebrew origin, and in the original language, is pronounced . To-le-doth. the interpretation of meaning of which is . genera- tions" . families. . races." The Latin pronunciation of the word is . To-le-dum. the Spanish pronunciation of the word is . To-lu-do. the English pronunciation of the word is To-LE-po, and means that the generation of men now inhabiting this town and vicinity have

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changed the uncouth and inappropriate name of our town and post-office. to one of historical note, that is easily spelled. easily pro- noured. and will be easily adopted.

" The Spanish City of TOLEDO is noted for its superior swords. and its famous . TOLEDO BLADES' have a world-wide reputation. The Spanish Republic recently presented President Grant with one of these elegant swords, through its former patriotic President, Senor Castelar. So we have a name for our town not only of ancient and significant origin, but one of historical interest." The editor seems to have overlooked the special appropriateness of the name. if another legend which is asserted with a good deal of assurance be true. It is said that when the " oldest inhabitant " arrived at this spot, he said to himself, as he gazed upon the heaving mass of green. emerald-gemmed. as it were. with frogs: "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, since I have seen this great country. flowing with mud and frogs." Suddenly addressing himself to the little frogs, who had been sitting on their hunkers, gazing at him in unaf- feeted astonishment, unable to speak a word, he said : " My children. what do you call this land ?" And as he turned, each little frog flipped its hinder-parts into the air and chippered gleefully. " T" leedo ! " T" leedo " And over afterward the name of that place was called Toledo.

The village is now showing evidences of rapid improvement. The business houses are disposed about the courthouse square. Thus far, frame buildings have satisfied the merchants, some of which are of a somewhat antiquated pattern. but the coming year will see con- siderable improvement in this direction. One or two fine brick blocks are projected, and material now being placed preparatory to building. The grist-mill is to be replaced by a fine brick one. near the railroad, with all the modern improvements. A fine iron fence about the public square will soon add to its attraction, and with the impetus given by a new courthouse and jail, urgently needed and certainly soon to be built, the county-seat will not only be the capi- tal, but clearly the metropolis of the county. In the matter of inter- · nal improvements, but little has been attempted. Sidewalks have been built. and are in fair repair: the streets have been " piked " and drained by open ditches: stock is allowed the liberty of the city. and hogs are especially numerous and annoying. There is now :1 movement to abate the latter nuisance, and when effected there will be at least more inducement to ornament enclosures and keep the margin of the walks in neat appearance.

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

Neoga .- This village is pleasantly situated on the Illinois Con- tral Railroad. upon the western confines of the county, and boasts of being the largest town in population in the county. as well as one of its principal commercial centers. Situated. as it is, in the midst of one of the finest agricultural regions in the State, with an energetic. go ahead, intelligent farming population to back it. it has all the material advantages abundantly supplied to contribute to its com- mercial and social prosperity. The village was platted in 1856. on land owned by the Hlinois Central Railroad. and Bacon & JJennings, speculators, who had purchased the land. The name is of Indian origin, and signifies " a deer." The station bore this name before the town was thought of. but is quite appropriate to the region where deer were once so mummerons. The first train of cars ran through the place August 1. 18544, and killed a bull belonging to S. Parks. It appears that the bull was of a belligerent disposition, and had learned to lock horns with everything that crossed its pathway. But this was an untried experiment, and he found himself worsted and sent to the pastures of his fathers to graze in pieces. The first dwelling-house erected in the village was built by Dr. G. W. Albin. The first business house was built by Win. House, who also opened the first store; the first hotel was built and kept by C. D. Green, Sr .: the first postmaster was G. W. Albin; the first Justice of the Peace was Philip Welcheimer. the first sermon ever preached in the place was delivered by Rev. Joseph Wilson, of the Presbyterian Church; the first station agent was Capt. Heutig; the first church was built by the Presbyterians in 1854 : and the first saloon ever kept in the village was owned by T. Patterson. In 1868, the Methodist denomi- nation erected a fine place of worship, and the Baptist in 1872. The following interesting sketch of the Presbyterian Church is written by. Rev. Mr. Wilson, and is given place, as follows: " The Presby- terian Church of Neoga originated in two parts. The first part was organized April 5. 1851, by the Rev. John HI. Russ, of Alton Pres- bytery, at the house of John G. Morrison, at Long Point, about four miles sontheast of Neoga. The spot was central to the population. and had begun to be a center of business. The original ten members of the church were. Jno. G. Morrison and Eliza N. Morrison. his wife: James HI. Morrison and Sarah C. Morrison, his wife; Nathan Gould and Martha R. Gould, his wife: Sarah Morrison, Margaret Morrison, Tirzah Morrison and Mary Ann Parkerson. Nathan Gould and John G. Morrison were chosen elders. The church voted to he called . The Presbyterian Church of Long Point.' and to apply to

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

the Wabash Presbytery to be taken under its care. Rev. John H. Russ supplied the church for two years. one-fourth of the time; Rev. Joseph Wilson was supply for one-half of the time, from the Spring of 1854 till October, 1866, with the exception of a few months between September, 1857, and April. 1858, during which Rev. Sam- uel Ward was supply for the whole time. During the ministry of Mr. Wilson, a church building was erceted at Neoga. in size fifty-five feet by thirty-six. at a cost of nearly $3.000. It was dedicated AApril 29. 1860, during a session of Wabash Presbytery with that church. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. W. R. Palmer. of Danville. The Presbytery changed the name of the church to ' The First Presbyterian Church of Neoga." The change was made because Neoga had been established as a station of the Central Railroad, and was the more promising church center, as well as business center. October 1, 1865, Rev. James B. Brandt became supply pastor.

" The other part of the Neoga church was organized September 30, 1857, by Rev. James MeDonald and Elders 1. J. Monfort and David Dryden, committee of Palestine Presbytery, with these thir- teen members, viz: James Wilson. Ann Wilson, Jonathan B. Dry- den, Nancy F. Dryden. Hannah M. Dryden. Andrew HI. Gray, Mary Gray, Joseph Gibson, Maria JJ. Gibson, John H. MeQuown. Robert M. Hunter, Sarah Hunter, Sarah C. Greene. James Wilson. John H. MeQuown and JJoseph Gibson were chosen elders. Rev. R. K. Lilly, of Champaign, supplied the church one-half the time during the first year; Rev. John Elliott, of Pleasant Prairie. one-half' the time for about three years. Rev. Nathaniel Williams, of Mattoon. was supply when this church united with the First Church.

" Up to June 9, 1866, fifteen years, the First Church of Neoga. N. S., had received 110 members, and the Church of Neoga. O. S .. had received forty-eight members. At that date the two churches became one, anticipating the re-union of the two branches of the Presbyterian Church by about four years. According to previous arrangements, the elders of both churches resigned: the united church voted to connect with Wabash Presbytery. Soven elders were chosen. four from the N. S. part of the church and three from the O. S. part. They were: John G. Morrison, Edie Stewart. Alexan- der B. Ewing, William Clark. Joseph Gibson, John R. Mitchell and ' James Ewing. Rev. JJohn B. Brandt was chosen minister. He remained until October. 1867. Rov. Win. B. Faris succeeded him in December. 1868. and remained until his death, November 4, 1871. December 28. 1871, Rev. N. S. Dickey was engaged for one year.

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

December 31, 1872. Rev. J. M. Johnson became pastor, and still remains. The rotary system of oldership was adopted by the church. The present number of members is 142."

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Neoga is contributed as fol- lows: " The first class was formed in the village schoolhouse, about the year 1856, by Joseph Bishop, a local preacher from the Long Point neighborhood, four miles southeast of the village, and who died in 1862, and J. Wesley Turner, an exhorter from the same neighborhood, who is now a physician in Fairmount, III. The class was quite small at the beginning, but soon increased in numbers. Among the first members were: J. T. Waller. now an engineer on the Louisville & Nashville Railway: Fletcher Clem, Miss Maria Waller, Mrs. Wm. Boll, Miss Sarah E. Bell, Miss Hannah Bell, Mrs. Lucretia Davis and Wm. Higgins. S. T. Alling, a physician, came to Neoga about this time, and became station agent for the Ilinois C'entral Railroad, which position he continued to hold for about twenty years, Mr. and Mrs. Alling were members of the Methodist Church, and may truly be said to have been the mainstay of the Church in Neoga for many years.

.. Rev. O'Neil was the first preacher in charge, and preached in the village schoolhouse every two weeks. After the Presbyterian brethren erected their house of worship, it was allowed to be used by the Methodists for some years, but afterwards, for some reason, its use was denied them. They then used the schoolhouse, the hall and the Illinois Central Railway depot until the building of their present house of worship in 1868. The following ministers, among others, have served the Neoga Methodist Church: Rev. Win. Mitch- ell, two years; Amos Woeden, one year; J. Muirhead, one year; J. T. Orr, one year: Charles Vantreese, one year: Isaiah Villars, two years; Rev. Morgan. one year : J. F. McCann, one year: R. C. St. Clair, one year: Salem Hedges. two years: Peter Slagle, one year: J. W. Anderson, two years; Uriah Warrington, one year; Frank Poorman, one year: J. O. Collins, two years. H. C. Turner is the present pastor, who is just closing up his second year. The Methodist Sabbath-school was begun in 1868, with Dr. S. T. Alling, now of Champaign, III., as superintendent, which position he contin- ued to fill very efficiently for about ten years. C. D. Greene was his successor, and he in turn was succeeded by Hamline Jones, the pres- ent superintendent. The school is in a flourishing condition.

" During the pastorate of the Rev. Isaiah Villars, 1867-1869. the present house of worship was begun and completed. It is a

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substantial brick structure, situated on the west side of the village: dimensions, thirty-six feet by sixty feet, and cost $5,000.

" The society numbers at the present time about seventy-five members, and is in a prosperous condition. It is only just to record the fact that in the erection of the church building. Dr. Alling, Henry Reynolds, uncle "Jacky' Young and others bore a leading part in bearing the financial burdens incurred in the enterprise. The present Board of Trustees consists of the following gentlemen : Joseph M. Young, C. D. Greene, Win. H. Singer, Hamline JJones and Wesley Hickernell."

Neoga takes the lead among the villages of the county in neat - ness, in the moral tone of its community, and in business thrift. The men who first pitched their tents here, and were principally instru- mental in forming the carly character of the community, were men of culture, and the popular taste leads to the support of schools and churches, of public improvements, and to oppose those institutions that lead to a contrary result. Stock is closed out of the streets, the sidewalks are in good repair, and the village has a thrifty appear- ance. Among the earliest citizens of the village are named: P. Welchimer, G. W. Albin, S. D. Parks. Wm. Bell, John Young, C. D. Green. H. G. M. Reynolds, Thomas Templeton. James Hart. Simson Kingery, James Ewing. J. G. Morrison, Win. Higgins, S. T. Alling, J. R. Rogers. N. C. Greene, S. D. Taylor. Samuel Dryden, Thomas Lacy, etc.

Situated upon the earliest line of railroad constructed through the territory of the county, the village had unrivaled advantages to grow. and considering that its origin was more of a speculation than a demand of the situation, it has made the most of its advantages. In 1875, the business of the village was summed up as follows: " 2 drug stores, 3 dry goods stores. 1 hardware store. 2 confectionery stores. 2 millinery stores, 1 furniture store, 1 banking house. 2 grain establishments, 1 tailor shop. 2 shoe shops. + blacksmith shops, 1 silversmith, 1 mantuamaker, 2 wagon shops. 2 steam flour mills, 2 hotels. 1 livery stable, 1 printing office, 3 sewing machine offices. 1 jail house, (not very often used), 3 lawyers, 4 ministers.

" Neoga can boast of two as good grist-mills as there are in the country. The Neoga mill, owned by Singer, Waller & Co., is a fine establishment, and has a capacity of fifty barrels of flour, and 100 barrels of meal, per day of twelve hours run. It is supplied with a steam dryer for corn meal. a flour packer, and other modern improve- ments. The Neoga City Mills, owned by D. W. Ragsdale. is also a

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

very fine mill, and is noted for its good work." There are now twelve business houses, and a grist-mill with a capacity of sixty barrels of four, and 120 bushels of meal per day. It is provided with the roller process. The village was incorporated April 17, 1869, by an act of the legislature.

Rainsburg .- This was located near Shiloh Church, in Sumpter Township. in 1854, by Henry Williams. It consisted of eighty lots, and was projected as a competitor for the county-seat in the election of 1855, but it failed of this notoriety and lapsed into its original rural simplicity.

Centerville was another of the competitors for the suffrage of the people in the county-seat contest of 1855, and was platted on the northeast quarter of Section 26, in Township 10 north, Range S cast. in 1854. The ambitious village had its site in Sumpter Township, near the .. Muddy Bridge," and is often referred to as ". Bildad," though Ichabod is written over its history.

Hazel Dell .-- Following the chronological order mixes the living with the dead : those whose existence was only in the records, and others that remain to this day. Of the latter class is the village mentioned. It was platted in 1866, on the D., O. & O. R. Railroad. in Crooked Creek Township. It consisted of some sixty lots origi- nally, and has in the meanwhile grown beyond the original limits somewhat, and is a thriving village with its complement of stores, shops, churches and grist-mill.

Janesville is a village on the county-line. in Cotton wood Town- ship. It was laid out in 1879, by John Furray. on the line of the railroad-P., D. & E.,-on land belonging to him, in Coles County. At the same time, S. P. Reed laid out an addition in Cumberland County.

Dione, is another village grown up on the county-line in Union Township. It has never been platted, but it is one of those sponta- neous growths that arise in response to the demand of an agricultu- ral community for a rallying point. A post-office and store, with a cluster of houses, mark the spot.

Bradbury is the name of a post-office in the central part of C'ot- tonwood Township. A store, two dwellings and a blacksmith shop, mark the spot.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CITY OF TOLEDO AND SUMPTER TOWNSHIP.

JOHN F. ASHWILL, farmer and deputy sheriff of Cumber- land County, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, January 11. 1855: son of Robert and Mary JJ. ( White) Ashwill, is the oldest in a tam- ily of nine children, and is of English-German origin. The parent- of Mr. Ashwill came to Cumberland County from Ohio in 1866. remained one year, and then removed to Wilson County, Kansas. They still reside there. When the subject of this notice was eleyen years of age he came to Cumberland County with his parents; he went to Kansas with them and remained until 1873, when he l'e- turned to Cumberland County, Illinois, and here he has since resided. The life of Mr. Ashwill in Kansas was that of a farmer. He was married September 25, 1882. to Miss Viola Decius, daughter of Judge HI. B. Decius and Harriet Decins. Mrs. Ashwill was born in Toledo, Illinois. Her parents were among the most prominent citizens of Cumberland County. To this union has been born one child, viz .: Orren. The same is deceased: died July 30, 1883. Politically, Mr. Ashwill is ja Republican: cast his first Presidential vote for Hayes. In January, 1878. Mr. Ashwill wasappointed deputy sheriff of.Cum- berland County. This position he still retains; is a member of the I. O. O. F., Toledo Lodge, No. 355. Mr. Ashwill owns 330 acres of good land in close proximity to Toledo: he is of an industrious. enterprising spirit, in good circumstances, and one of the most in- fluential young men of Cumberland County.

J. B. ATCHISON, attorney-at-law. is a nativeof Ireland. From the most reliable information that can be obtained is drawn the con- «Insion, that the subject of our notice was born in 1853. Ilis carly life is not well known and seems to him as legendary. When very young he left his native country in company with his parents for America. During the voyage his father died, and was followed in death by his mother soon after reaching New York City. After the death of his mother he was placed in the Children's Home in the Me- tropolis. In the fall of 1859, he was sent as one of a large number

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CITY OF TOLEDO AND SUMPTER TOWNSHIP.

of friendless children from New York City to Danville, Illinois, and was given a temporary home in the family of Rev. Kingsberry. a Presbyterian divine. This clergyman was then preaching at Neoga, Cumberland County, Ill., and soon succeeded in securing a home for the subject of this mention in the family of a man who lived about five miles from Neoga by the name of JJohnson, and with whom he lived only a short time when he went to live with Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Gould, and in whose family he stayed until he was eight- een years of age, when he began the scenes of life for himself; worked on a farm in the summer and attended school in the log school- house during the cold months. During the winter of 1872-73, he taught his first school. The same was at Brown's schoolhouse in Cottonwood Township. For a number of years he taught school. In 1875, he began the study of the law at Toledo, Cumberland County, in the office of Logan & Scranton: was admitted to the Bar in September, 1876. He is now a partner in the law business with Judge L. L. Logan, and is enjoying an extensive practice. He was married July 2, 1875. to Miss Minnie M. Myler. To the marriage has been born four children, viz .: Dora B., Arthur .A., Lulu C. and Jen- nie I. The subject of our sketch is a thorough Republican and one of the most prominent young lawyers of his judicial district.

HON. THOMAS BREWER, is a native of Wayne County. Indiana, was the fourth in a family of nine children, and was born November 15. 1819, son of William and Jane ( MeKnight ) Brewer. and is of Scotch-English extraction. The parents of Mr. Brower were of North Carolina birth. In 1838, they emigrated to Coles (now Cumberland) County, Illinois, and settled five miles north of Greenup. In this county the parents of Mr. Brewer died, mother in 1845, and father in 1874. The father of the subject of our notice was one of the prominent men and pioneers of Cumberland County. When the nineteenth birthday of Mr. Brewer came around it found him hard at work, and carning his own way through life and work- ing for himself. The first year he worked by the month on a farm. The marriage of Mr. Brewer was solemnized September 9, 1844, to Miss Mary Hutton. To this union was born nine children, viz .: George, William, Levi N., Sarah E., John W., Mary L., Harriet J .. Melvin and Thomas. Mrs. Brewer died in November, 1865. Two years later Mr. Brewer was married to Mrs. Sarah E. Kirkling, who was a sister of his first wife. Four years from this time Mrs. Brewer died. In January, 1873, he was married to his present wife. a Mrs. Mary Smith, whose maiden name was Bloxom. They have had four

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BIOGRAPHICAL, SKETCHES-CUMBERLAND COUNTY:

children, viz: an infant. that died unnamed. Bell. Lucretia B. and Walter. The subject of our notice is a thorough Democrat. In 1816. he was elected Justice of the Peace. In 1848. he was County Coroner. and elected Associate Judge in 1849. In 1853. he was elected Sheriff of the county. In 1855. he began practicing law at Greenup. in partnership with E. H. Stark weather. In 1867 he came to Toledo. and has been in active practice since. save two years. In 1857. he represented the counties of Cumberland and Shelby in the Lower House of the State General Assembly. In 1872, he was elected to the State Senate from Cumberland, Shelby and Effingham counties. For thirty years he has been in active polities. and was nominated for congress in 1868. Mr. Brewer has long been known as one of the prominent men of eastern Illinois: was a warm personal friend of Stephen A. Douglas. He is one of the pioneers of this county. Has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty-five years. History is incomplete without a notice of this noble and charitable man. His works do follow him.

LEVI N. BREWER. attorney-at-law, was born in Cumberland County. Hlinois, JJanuary 28. 1850, is the son of Hon. Thomas and Mary (Hutton ) Brewer, is the third in a family of nine children, and of Scotch-English descent. Mr. Brewer began the labors of life for himself when he was twenty years of age, carrying on farming for a number of years. In 1873. he began the study of the law in the office of Judge H. B. Decius: wasadmitted to practice at the Cumberland County Bar in 1876, and at once formed a partnership with JJudge Decins. The partnership lasted until 1878, when he formed a part- nership with his father, which existed until 1881. since which time Mr. Brewer has been alone in the practice. He was married in March, 1870, to Miss Eliza A. Vandyke, daughter of John and Mar- garet Vandyke. Mrs. Brewer is also a native of Cumberland County. Illinois. They have six children. three boys and three girls, viz .: Nellie, Mollie. Carrie. John, Thomas, and Golden. Mr. Brewer is a Democrat. He has more than an ordinary education: is of an enter- prising spirit, one of the first lawyers in Cumberland County. and one of Toledo's most prominent citizens. The prospects of Mr. Brewer as a lawyer and a politician are most brilliant.

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Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical, Part 20

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 860

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 860