Documents and biography pertaining to the settlement and progress of Stark County, Illinois : containing an authentic summary of records, documents, historical works and newspapers, Part 36

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.)
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : M.A. Leeson
Number of Pages: 710


USA > Illinois > Stark County > Documents and biography pertaining to the settlement and progress of Stark County, Illinois : containing an authentic summary of records, documents, historical works and newspapers > Part 36


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).


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On April 8. 1883, an auxiliary Women's Foreign Missionary soci- ety was organized at Wyoming with the following named members : W. Adams, I. Thomas, Anna Sharp, Sarah Wall, P. O. Hall, M. Pierce, M. A. Colburn, M. A. Ward, Robinson, E. O. Swift, I. Smith. Robert- son, Drummond. E. M. Edwards, A. L. Morse, R. Miller, Alice Miller, E. King, W. King: Misses Alva King, Kittie Thomas, J. Conover, Grace Jones, O. Harwood, A. L. Morse and B. G. Hall.


Wyoming camp-meeting association is modern in organization but old in practice. In 1840 the first meeting was held, almost on the pres- ent camp grounds, with N. G. Berryman, Enos Thomson, and Wilson Pitner, leaders. Two years later a similar meeting was held near La- fayette, and during Mr. Morey's time as presiding elder, a third meet- ing was held there. Every year since Mr. Morey's time a camp meet- ing or local revival meeting has been held snecessfully ; but in later years the camp at Wyoming has robbed the ordinary church revival of so much romance and religion, that it became a permanent institution. James M. Rogers. B. G. Hall and E. J. Edwards. a committee on building for the Wyoming camp meeting association in 1883, ordered the old boarding-house to be removed and a new building erected. No tobacco is sold upon the ground. Swearing is discouraged. The crowd is composed of the average sort of church-going people. inter- spersed with a company of pleasure seekers of more worldly stripe but of some social position. Upon these " worklly " folk, who stay- long enough for the Methodist brethren to " place," every redeeming power


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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.


is brought to bear. A large ont-door auditorium is used whenever the weather permits, and there are chapels for stormy days, rooms for boarders, always a good dinner, and permission for all visitors to pitch their tents. eook, eat, pray and sleep. The lectures and religious dis- courses are practical appeals.


A lodge of Modern Woodmen of America, a new benevolent and benefit society, was organized July 29. 1886, with about a score of charter members. The following were elected and installed as officers for the insuing half-year: E. A. Trimmer, V. C .; A. W. King, W. A .; J. E. Decker. E. B .: J. M. Thomas, jr., Clerk ; W. E. Nixon, Escort ; D. S. Burroughs, Sentry ; J. H. Garside, Watchman : C. D. Castle. A. W. Hotchkiss. and D. S. Burroughs, Managers : Dr. HI. N. Fox, M. E.


The circulating library located at E. D. Hewitt's, which opened September 25, 1886, is established upon the most counnendable plan, and the reading people of Wyoming are fortunate in securing so large a collection of books by standard anthors. This library was opened with 80 members at $1.50 each membership, and every two new sub- seribers or members at the membership price $1.50 will buy three books; that is each subscriber's membership price buys a book and a. half. There are now some 120 volumes in the library and all are the property of the members.


The Post Office is an old institution at Wyoming. Mrs. Shallen- berger states that " in 1834 General Thomas came to Wyoming, bring- ing with him a large family of sons and danghters and sons-in-law. be- sides several other men, among them William Godley who accom- panied him in some capacity. All at once Wyoming began to assume importance, and aspired to the post office. The Osceola settlers too, favored the change, always choosing to cast their lot with Wyoming. Accordingly a petition was gotten up, and William Godley was the fortunate appointee of government. Mr. Holgate accompanied Mr. Godley to Essex's to receive possession of the books and papers, mail matter and appurtenanees of the office generally, and to convey them to Wyoming. Hle soon noticed indications of a coming storm in the countenance and conduct of Mrs. Essex. She was washing when they entered, and for a while continned her occupation with a vim that as- tonished her visitors. rubbing and serubbing ahnost furiously. then she deliberately turned from her tub, wiped her arms and hands. sat down, and gave them her opinion of men who would steal a post oflice, in terms which those gentlemen could never forget. The office has been generally well filled down to the present time. On August 1. 1870. it was created a money order office and in recognition of its growing importance a sidewalk was at once built from Casthe's addi- tion to this office. For years the late John B. Brown had charge of this office. In 1884 C. G. Colburn was appointed master here, but was succeeded by J. M. Thomas in 1885, the present courteous and able incumbent.


The Wyoming Cemetery Association was formed May 8, 1871, when the following named organized under that title: J. W. Agard. S. K. Conover, J. B. Pettit, A. 1. Conover, E. S. Conover, Isaac Thomas, J. B. Brown, John Hawks and H. A. Holst. Messrs. Agard


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TOULON TOWNSHIP.


and Thomas were elected president and clerk respectively, and S. K. Conover. A. J. Conover and J. B. Pettit. directors. They were in fact the successors of the old cemetery trustees -a body in name only, and being so. agreed to purchase the land between the old cemetery and First street. S. K. Conover being a committee to negotiate such pur- chase with Gen. Thomas. Messrs. Agard, Pettit and A. J. Conover were to plat the grounds and build a fence. The tract was purchased for $100. and sold at from Si to $15 per lot : E. S. Conover was first superintendent. In 1972 .J. C. Copestake, J. Hawks and S. K. Conover were elected directors: in 1873 A. G. Hammond, G. W. Scott and Samuel Pierce were chosen directors, the president and secretary hold- ing over: in 1874 E. S. Conover replaced S. Pierce, and (. Collier was appointed collector of an improvement fund. This board continued until 1877. when the president, secretary with Robert Jordan, John Wrigley and S. F. Otman were chosen, and the latter elected presi- dent. In 1850 Rev. Win. Walters, John Wrigley, S. F. Ottman, A. G. Hammond. F. Thomas and JJ. (. Copestake formed the board, with Capt. Otman. president, and Isaac Thomas secretary and treasurer. In 1852 1. G. Hammond was chosen president; in 1883 the same officers served and continued in office down to the present time. James Buckley, the first regular sexton, is now filling that position. Isaac Thomas, who for years has been secretary of the association, permit- ted .I. G. Greene to make the following entry in the old school record. which is also the cemetery record. April 23, 1558. It is witnessed by 11. A. Holst and regularly signed by Greene: "I hereby agree to give Isaac Thomas 85 a year for abstaining from the use of tobacco from this date." The present cemetery at Wyoming may be said to be opened by the burial of Artemus Lake, brother of Mrs. Barley and Mrs. Sewell Smith, next Win. Godfrey, and next Ann Carney Hodges. The land was donated by Gen. Thomas to trustees for public use on condition that it would be fenced and kept in order.


Wyoming cemetery contains the remains of many pioneers of the village and of the district. The list tells what old Father Time has done. William C. Thomas, 1846; Naney (A. MeDonald) Crone, 'S0; James Woods, '78; Charles M. Teeter. 'S3: Jane Ingram. '75: Lizzie S. Edwards. 'S0: Anna Frantz. 'S1; Thomas H. Jackson, 58; Anna Dixon, '56: Sarah Dawson, 67; Charles Bringer, '73: Henry .. Ilolst, '75; Sally A. Holst. '65: Mattie Kerns. "7; Mary A. Dew- hurst. 's0: Sarah Walters. 72: William Kerns. 73: Elizabeth Brown, 'S1; John B. Brown, 'So; Zeuriah Greenwood, 64; Rachel Dixon, '60; Simon Dixon. '60: Sanmel Pierre, 179: Emma Otman. 64: William Denchfield, '57; William 11. Denchfield, 65: Dan. M. Beers, '46: Ezra Wooden, 57: Henry M. Rogers, 'S: James Gibson, Go: Betsy E. Wrigley, 64; David Ronse, 69; James II. Bloomer, 62; M. W. Mc- Mullen, 54: Polly Thurston, 63; Hartwell Thurston, 45: Mary Butler. 'S: Rebecca Butler, '65: HI. Augusta Butler, 65: Capt. II. Butler, '64: Lydia S. Whitney, '83; Ward B. Dana. 73; Anna Curf- man, 'S1; Hannah B. Cox. 55; S. Keeling, '84; Mary E. Cox. 'S1: Clara M. Davis, '58; Sol. Wilkinson, '85: Mary A. Leffers, '82: Capt. A. E. Ewer, '79; George Marlatt, '68; Barbara E. Smith, 'S2: B. W.


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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.


Whitcher, "75; Joel Stewart, '66; Uzziel Meachum, '67: Margaret Johnson, '68; James R. Wilson, '66; Eliza A. MeKean, '66; Susanna Buckley, '85; L. L. Hanchett, '65; Robert B. Marlatt, '59; Edmund Wrigley, '72: Joseph Diggle, '64: Emma E. Pilgrim, '84; Thomas Heywood, '68; Samuel E. White, '66; Isabella McCormick, '68; John Brandon, '64; Samuel Dixon (One-hundred-and-fifty-first Illinois In- fantry), '65; James Hartley, '71; William Wilkinson, '64; Emily Nicholas, '65; George Nicholas, '62; John Dixon, '73; Rosanna Dixon, 'S5; Lydia L. Coombs. '60; Thomas B. Whiffler, '80; Lydia Webster, '70; Peter Pettit, '75; Delana B. Pettit, '67; Henry J. Otman, '67; J. W. Agard, '81; William F. Thomas, '75; Marcia Thomas, '65; Ruth Ann Dana, 56; Nancy M. White, '78; E. S. Con- over, '77; Sally A. Hochstrasser, '83; Henry Shroh, 'S4; Robert E. Westfall. '63: James A. Harwood. '77; C. W. Wright, '75; Margaret Ditmon, '77; Jane Ingram, '78.


The C. S. Payne monument, erected by the owner, is an elegant work of art. Mr. Payne has undoubtedly ontwitted death, and gives promise of battling with Old Time for years to come. John Brandon, a soldier of 1812, and of the Black Hawk war, is buried here, but the headstone lies broken. The grounds contain many excellent monu- mental pieces.


In the foregoing list the year of death is given and with few ex- ceptions only the aged old residents mentioned.


Traders .- In May. 1869, F. J. L. sent to the Prairie Chief for publication thirty-one quartettes - a long mathematical poem on Wyoming. Messrs. Payne, King, Ottman, Kellogg, Brown, Winn, Holst, Bough, Bunn, Bonner, Dennis, Bloomer, Doctors Green, Fox, Copestake and Castle ; Conover at the mills, all find mention in this poem in connection with their business and their enterprising town.


The removal of the Bond store to Coal village in August, 1878, where about fifty men were at work on the big shaft, gave Wyoming the appearance of being divided up into three distinct parts, the origi- nal town, the Castle addition, and Coal village.


When W. J. Bond came in 1872 to take charge of the Lathrop Co.'s store, there were 100 men working on the shafts, the company then furnishing the C., B. & Q. R. R., and local consumption. The works were burned April 28, 1880-the mule used in the mine escaping with little injury. Wm. Taylor and Joseph Swanson are said to be the first regular miners, JJohn McCarthy was their contemporary, also John and Anthony Robinson. After the founding of the Lathrop Co.'s works the men named continued to supply local trade, Taylor being engaged actively up to a few years ago, Swanson still in harness. McCarthy is also here, so also are the Robinson's. Thomas Stevenson, who worked for the Lathrop Co. up to about 1878, now operates his own mine. In 1882 James Higby opened a bank on Mr. Bond's farm. In Coal Hol- low are a number of small operators, while along the C., B. & Q. shafts are worked economically.


The interests of the Lathrop Coal Co. here have ceased - their leases having passed into other hands. About 1878 79 the weigh- master, Richard Kent, stepped on the cage, which descended rapidly,


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TOULON TOWNSHIP.


almost causing his death. A few minor accidents mark the progress of the coal industry.


For the purpose of making a record of the new buildings erected in Wyoming during the ten years ending in 1882, a list of the same with the names of the occupants in 1882 is presented .* Where the oecu- pant does not own the building the name of the owner is also given.


House occupied by B. C. Boice, house occupied by Dr. F. A. Sweet- land, house occupied by H. L. Weller, house occupied by Jacob Smith, house occupied by Mrs. Carpenter, house occupied by Robert Jordan, house owned by Robert Jordan and occupied by James Hendricks, house occupied by C. IL. Rogers, house occupied by Charles Geesey, honse occupied by William Ditman, house owned by Mrs. McClaugh- lan and occupied by Marvin Colwell and George Lyons, house occupied by J. M. Rogers, house owned by Mrs. M. Ditman and occupied by M. F. Meeker, house occupied by A. B. Robinson, house owned by George Selders and occupied by E. O. Swift, house occupied by Miles Stancliff, house occupied by H. F. Turner, house occupied by George Kerns, honse occupied by Thomas Fox, house occupied by C. W. Teeter, house owned by King Brothers and occupied by John Hansel, house occupied by John Hanes, house occupied by William Eagelston, house owned by W. Eagelstou and occupied by S. H. Smith, house occupied by Mrs. Selders, house occupied by Ripley Watts, house occupied by Ansil Hanchett, house occupied by Charles Eagelston, house occupied by E. II. Smith, house occupied by John Seibold, honse owned by Mrs. Hill and occupied by L. F. Hill, house occupied by James Duff, house oc- cupied by W. A. Eddy, house occupied by William Greenfield, house owned by James Muse and occupied by Ed. Chapman, house occupied by John Karnaghan, house occupied by John Curtiss, house occupied by B. Newlin, honse occupied by Newton Bess. house occupied by John Noret, house owned by JJ. Noret and occupied by James Strong, house occupied by John Heperly, house occupied by D. Barth, honse occupied by Peter Herberger, house owned by Mr. Wales and ocenpied by W. O. Hudson, house occupied by Mrs. J. Wall, house ocenpied by Dexter Wall, house occupied by H. B. Harris, house occu- pied by Mrs. Ewers, house occupied by L. E. Wood, house occupied by Mrs. Nicholas. house ocenpied by Elias Teeter, house owned by Mrs. S. M. Wright and occupied by Will Huffman, house occupied by J. A. Klock. house occupied by Adam Lyons, four honses owned by A. I. Stone, occupied by James Fulton, C. Priester, S. G. Brees and Samuel Emery ; house and ollice owned by Dyer Sisters and occupied by Frank Thomas, house occupied by (. M. Teeter, house occupied by Rev. W. Sturgeon, honse occupied by D. S. Burroughs, house owned by Thomas Beall and occupied by W. Holgate, house occupied by W. Miller, house occupied by A. W. King, house occupied by I. M. Thomas, house occupied by S. F. Otman, house occupied by A. F. Stickney, house occupied by J. N. Conger, house occupied by Greger Herberger, house (rebuilt) owned by C. C. Payne and occupied by (). B. Merrick, house occupied by Henry Duckworth, house occupied by John Jones, house occupied by M. Winn, house owned by J. W. King


* From Post-Herald.


19


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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.


and occupied by David Hull, house occupied by M. Sparr, house occu- pied by M. L. Bingham, house occupied by Simon Cox, house occupied by E. Keeling, house occupied by David Jones, house occupied by Dr. Magee, house occupied by M. Alderman, house occupied by M. Teets, house occupied by Dr. Fox, house owned by Thomas Johnson and occupied by W. R. Sandham, house occupied by C. P. Mccorkle, house occupied by II. A. Hammond, bank building occupied by Farmers, Bank, store owned by W. J. Bond and occupied by II. B. Harris & Co., store occupied by Lyons Bros., store owned by the Farmers' Bank and occupied by W. C. Wall, store owned by Thomas Beall and ocenpied by D. Barth for restaurant, store and dwelling occupied by Hopkins Sisters, shop occupied by E. II. Laymiller, store occupied by John Seibold, photograph gallery occupied by Charles L. Davis, barber shop and dwelling occupied by T. .. Cross, store occupied by F. E. Davis. store occupied by Hammond & Walters, store occupied by King Bros., store occupied by Miss A. E. Rieker, store and dwelling occupied by Peter Lane, store and hall occupied by E. O. Swift and Central Hall Company, office and hall occupied by the Wyoming Post and Odd Fellows, bank building ocenpied by Scott & Wrigley, North Side school house, Catholic church, Congregational church, office and other build- ings on Otman & Jordan's lumber yard, office occupied by Charles Sargent, chicken dressing house occupied by D. S. Burroughs, office owned by Scott & Wrigley and occupied by JJ. McMillen, several build- ings on the fair grounds of the Central Agricultural Society.


During the ten years the Episcopal church was re-built, United Brethren church moved to its present location and remodeled, and the South Side school rebuilt.


The following buildings have been moved into town from outside the corporation during the ten years : House occupied by 1. 11. Cowen, house owned by W. J. Bond and occupied by F. C. Wilson, store and dwelling owned by W. J. Bond and occupied by W. T. Wood, mill or- cupied by 6. Priester & Co., elevator occupied by Charles Sargent. There have been several shops and offices put up during the ten years.


The Yapp log-house, which in 1850 stood on the S. W. corner of Beers lot, and which was sold to Beers by John Wrigley in 1855, and moved in rear of his stable was torn down in April, 1882, by Harry Ilammond, who purchased the Beers' homestead. The old Methodist building of Wyoming and the old Congregational building of Toulon were moved by C. S. Payne and transformed into an opera house.


In November, 1860. the Wyoming Banking Company filed articles of incorporation in the clerk's office, placing the capital stock at 8500,000. The Exchange Bank of Wyoming was opened in October, 1869, at Wyoming. in Rockhold's building, by Anson Miner. Otis Dyer was appointed cashier of this bank in November, 1869. The Farmers' Bank held an important place for some time. The Wyoming Building and Loan Association was incorporated in August, 1582, on the petition of John Wrigley, S. F. Otman, W R. Sandham, C. P. McCorkle. Win. Holgate, John A. Klock and Win. II. Barrett.


The First National Banking Company of Wyoming, successors of the Farmers' Bank, elected their first board of directors in October,


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TOULON TOWNSHIP.


1882, viz. : James Holgate. President ; John A. Klock. Cyrus Bocock, W. P. Buswell, Win. Holgate, Levi Silliman, Vice-Presidents, and Andrew F. Stickney, cashier. The other stockholders were S. W. East- man, E. S. Teeter. Isaac Thomas, A. Bailey, J. Smith, R. M. Bocock, C. W. Teeter. Bryan Rielly, John Delzer. Peter Lane, John Snare, Il. Brown. A. F. Bloomer and Abram Phenix. The bank was opened March 15, 1553, and continued as a National bank until January 14, 1885, when the company went into voluntary liquidation.


The banking house of Scott & Wrigley dates back to 1870. It is the predecessor and successor of the National Bank. With its capital of $100,000, and the men who control and manage this capital, the house justly claims as high, if not a higher position in the estimation of the people as it would if working under a national charter.


The leading business circle at Wyoming comprises Joseph Ander- son. John A. Klock, grain merchants : C. II. Bogue, II. T. Prentiss and Otman & JJordan. lumber; C. S. Payne, grist and planing mill; Scott & Wrigley, bankers: Hammond & Walters, King Bros .. R. H. Miller & Co., C'has. S. Payne, merchants : Winfield Scott, meat market and stock dealer : Chas. Ilill, John Seebold, C. R. Wilson, meat market : J. W. Smith, dealers in dry goods and groceries : JJ. M. Cox & Co., F. E. Davis, Teeter & Co., Wm. (. Wall, druggists; Patrick Sullivan, Pat- terson Bros .. E. A. Trimmer, hardware and larm implements; Viola Flouring Mills, Smith & Miller. Samuel G. Breese, fur- niture: Mrs. G. Tyrrell, Mrs. Ella McCorkle, Misses Hopkins, mil- liners : Mrs. 1. Morgan, dressmaker; Damon & Co .. wind-mills and wagon boards; John Steer, Hour and feed : William H. Gray, William Holgate, Edward Keeling, Higby & Damon, brick and tile manufacturers: W. A. Truax and Fuller & Co .. livery stables; Peter Sanner, hotel: F. K. Fuller, restaurant : J. B. Robinson, carriage manufacturer : Jacob Smith. Geo. W. Davis, James Burns, and E. IL. Lawmiller, boots and shoes ; Teets & Davis, granite and marble works ; Joseph Noret. sorghum works : Charles L. Davis, photographer : W. R. Sandham, newspaper and printing office; C. P. McCorkle. Marsh Winn. E. I. Kellogg, harness manufacturers ; Geesey & Meeker, build- ers : Edgar D. Hewitt, jeweler: Leon Fuiks, clothing; W. Il. Boyer, bakery and restaurant.


The merchants who have acquiesced in the early-closing movement from October to March are: Hammond & Walters, King Bros., Chas. S. Payne, R. H. Miller & Co., JJacob Smith, Patterson Bros .. J. W. Smith, Hunter & Hartz. E. A. Trimmer.


The great milling business of Spoon river dates away back to the years credited in the general history. Samuel G. Breese. of Wyoming, has one of the buhrs of the Dorance & Breese corn-cracking mill of fifty vears ago. B. F. Fuller, C. D. Fuller and Miles A. Fuller were among the many old settlers who worked hard on this primitive grist mill, nor was it unknown to many of those men. a few of whom are still here, who built up Wyoming to its present prosperous state. Such milling enterprise as now obtains here was then unthought of, and he of forty years ago, who would agree with Charles S. Payne, that his big industrial ideas would ever find a field here, would be counted as


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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES


one of the old-time crazy men. He has accomplished even more than he promised in the long ago, and brought up in the very heart of the town two manufacturing industries of great importance. These have been planned and equipped by himself, and much of the actual work of building. fitting and placing new machinery was performed by him. His flouring and feed mills, as well as planing mill have all been brought into existence by him and form to-day a part and parcel of Wyoming's progress.


The Viola Flonring Mills in North Wyoming, operated by Charles C. Priester, were remodeled in 1886 and the roller process introduced. In the neighborhood is the old, okl mili, known for years as Cox's Mill; older one's still have been swept away, while S. K. Conover's was destroyed by fire.


Payne's Opera House, Wyoming, was opened January 1, 1885, by the Peoria Parlor Party. In October, 1582, the old congregational building at Toulon was purchased by Charles S. Payne and moved to Wyoming. The price paid was $175. Subsequently he purchased the old Methodist building, and out of the two dereliets of religion he formed a temple and dedicated it to music and the drama. The ex- terior of this dual edifice is as unique as the idea which brought them together. The interior is without doubt worthy of the originator. The frescoing, scenery, arrangement of seats and ante-rooms were all carried out after Mr. Payne's plans, and all retlect his good taste.


In September, 1870, the American House was opened by Greenwalt & Culbertson, and the name changed from the Wyoming House. This house was burned in April, 1876, while tenanted by Mr. Linscott and family. The hotel was the property of (. S. Payne. The " Tremont," formerly known as the " Castle House," was opened by G. B. Fern, in April, 1582. The Trnax House, or Clifton, one of the leading hotels of the district, is now (September 20, 1886.) conducted by Peter Sanner. W. A. Truax sold this house to John Slater, of Duncan, in September, 1886, of whom Mr. Sanner is lessee. The house is all that is claimed for it. the leading hotel of Wyoming, and one of the best conducted in the whole district.


The Payne building at Wyoming, in which MeCally carried on the grocery business, was burned April 6, 1868. McCully lost his stock, $200 in cash, and barely escaped himself. Wilson Bros.' sorghum works were burned in September, 1879. In 1876 the American House was destroyed by fire. The Castle Block at Wyoming was destroyed by fire March 11, 1885. This building was owned by Teeter & ('o., Fruggists, G. B. Fern, A. H. Castle, and the Dr. Green estate. Pat- terson Bros. carried on business in this building, but were not among its owners. The destruction of darnaghan's tile works, owned by Win. Ilolgate, took place in 1886. The destruction of the Conover mills, about eight years ago, entailed heavy loss on the owner. These fires, with a half dozen of smaller ones, make up the list of conflagrations here.


BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES.


From what has already been written on Toulon township and her towns and villages one would think that the sketch was complete.


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OF TOULON TOWNSHIP.


This, however, is not the case ; for in the written, unrecorded history of the men who made the township is found the minutiƦ and the most interesting parts of her history. These sketches are arranged alpha- betically.


John W. Agurd was born in Odessa, Schuyler county, New York. He was educated at Cazenovia, New York. March 1, 1834, he and Martha P., a daughter of General Thomas, were married at Kingston, Luzerne county, Pa. In 1836 he resolved to make his home in Illinois. Ile arrived in Wyoming September 25 of that year, and though he lived in other places since he always looked upon Wyoming as his home. From 1836 until 1845 he followed farming as a business, occa- sionally working as a carpenter, In 1845 he applied to the M. E. Rock River Conference for a preacher's license. He took an active part in the work of the conference, and was for several years one of the leading presiding ellers. He returned to Wyoming, there to devote himself more fully to the care of his siek wife. completing this duty with her death September 21. 1870. Mr. Agard then considered it liis duty to give his time and attention to the care of his wife's father. the aged General Thomas. A few months after General Thomas' death, which occurred July 7. 1879. Mr. Agard removed to Chicago, where he resided until his death, October 11, 1881.




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