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 58
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The largest log ever cut in Stark county was that cut in Abner Kerns' timber, just west of Thomas Falkner's farm, in 1876. It is known as the " Centennial Walnut Log." It measured 13 feet long, 57's feet in diameter, and 17 feet in circumference. Payne, Thomas, David, James, Richard and Abner Kerns assisted in hauling it to the depot at Wyoming for shipment to Chicago.
The original entries of lands in township 12, north range 6, east, together with the names of present owners, are given as follows:
Edwin Hutchinson, e. hf., n. e. qr., sec. 1: Aug. 12, 1836. G. and D. Kerns, 78; A. D. Gilchrist, 57. and E. Hartley, 20 acres.
Whitney Smith, w. hf. n. e. qr., and e. hif. n. w. qr., sec. 1; April 11, 1836.
Whitney Smith, w. hf. n. w. qr., sec. 1; Feb. 9, 1836. A. P. McVicker, 38; J. C. Decker, 2813: T. Fox, 434 : B. Drummond, 4; R. Hight, 416.
John Trask, s. w. qr., see. 1: Oct. 6, 1817. W. H. Cooke, 41; P. Stancliff, 110.
William Ely, s. e. qr., sec. 1; Oct. 6, 1817. James Hartley, 98; E. Hartley, 60.
493
494
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.
Samuel Thomas, n. e. qr., sec. 2; Jnne, 1835. J. M. Thomas, 45; J. E. Decker, 1812, and small lots.
Sylvanus Moore, n. w. qr., sec. 2; June 13, 1835. J. M. Thomas, n. w. 145; C. P. McCorkle, 3.
John McCloud, s. w. qr., sec. 2; April 9, 1818. Simon Cox, 14713, and small lots. Abram Walton, s. e, qr., sec. 2; April 9, 1818. S. Cox, 70; H. Ingram, s. 80; C'. G. Colburn, 10.
Herman Leek, n. e. qr., sec. 3; June 13, 1835. D. Guyre, 79; M. P. Vicker, 6712; Jackson, 212.
Whitney Smith, n. e. qr. of n. w. qr., sec. 3; April 11, 1836.
John B. Dodge, w. hf. n. w. qr., sec. 3; June 26, 1835. John Leffler, n. w. 150.
John B. Dodge, s. e. qr. n. w. qr., sec. 3; Nov. 14, 1835.
John Newkirk, s. w. gr., sec. 3; Nov. 29, 1817. Miron R. Cox, s. w. 160.
Aaron Graham, s e. gr., sec. 3; Nov. 29, 1817. Abner Kerns, s. c. 160.
Ira Ward, e. hf. n. e. qr., e. hf. n. w. qr., and w. hf. n. w. qr., sec. 4; June 26, 1835. A. Wilkinson, n. 1021,; Sol. Wilkinson, s. 19533.
Jenkins Evans, w. hf. n. e. qr., ser. 4; June 26, 1835.
Ralph Tucker, s. w. qr., sec. 4; Jan. 3, 1818. Sylvester Wilkinson, s. w. 160.
Peter Lawrence, s. e. qr., see. 4; Jan. 3, 1818. Sylvester Wilkinson, s. e. 160, and Joseph Cox, 12.
Lewis Perry, n. hf. n. e. qr., sec. 5; July 3, 1835. Win. Ogle, 120, and small lots. George S. Evans, s. lif. n. e. qr., sec. 5; Aug. 22, 1836.
Stephen G. Worley, n. hf. n. w. qr., sec. 5; Aug. 28, 1835. Hopkins Shivvers, 113, 1. w. qr.
Seth C. Sherman, s. w. qr. n. w. qr., sec. 5; March 30, 1837.
Howard Ogle, s. e. qr. n. w. qr., sec. 5; Sept. 26, 1836.
Southward Shaw, Jr., s. w. qr., sec, 5; Inne 15, 1836. John H. Ogle, s. w. qr.
George S. Evans, s. e. qr., see. 5; Nov. 17, 1835. John II. Ogle, s. e. qr.
James K. MeLanahan, n. hf. n. e. qr., sec. 6; May 11, 1835. Hopkins Shivvers, 52; B. Turner, 87; Ogle, 10.
Robert MeLanahan, s. hf. n. e. qr., sec. 6; Sept. 12, 1835.
William Mahoney, n. e. qr. and n. w. qr., of n. w. qr., sec. 6; July 3, 1835. Oliver Mahany w. 146; B. Turner, 4, n. w. qr.
Samuel Jackson, s. hf. of n. w. qr., sec. 6; March 22, 1836.
William Ogle, s. w. qr., sec. 6; April 9, 1836. Wm. Ogle, s. w. qr.
James McCray, s. e. qr., sec. 6; Nov. 29, 1817. H. Shivvers, 40; J. Il. Ogle; n. w. and s. hf. s. e. qr.
William Lloyd, n. e. qr., sec. 7; April 17, 1818. J. Il. Ogle, 121, and M. B. Trickle, 39.
Southward Shaw; Jr., n. w. and s. w. qr., sec. 7; June 16, 1836. M. B. Trickle, n. w. 158, and 39 of s. w. qr .; J. Trickle, 39; and MeDaniel. 78 s. w. qr.
John Meeks, s. e. qr., sec. 7; Aug. 10, 1818. John II. Slater, n. 80; S. Deaver, s. 80.
Nathan Cox, n. e. qr., sec. 8; May 21, 1836. Jesse Cox, n. e. 160.
Southward Shaw, Jr., n. w. qr., sec. 8; June 15, 1836. John II. Ogle, 40; Levi Silliman, 120 n. w. qr.
Gilman Smith, s. w. qr., sec. 8; April 3, 1818. Levi Silliman, s. w. 160.
Gardner Herring, s. e. qr., see. 8; Ang. 31, 1818. Jos. Cox, 434; Levi Silliman, 7114, and small lots.
James Zings, n. e. gr. sec. 9; Jan. 1, 1818. Jos. Cox. n. e. 160.
John A. Newhall, n. w. qr., sec. 9; Jan. 1, 1818. Wilkinson Bros., 60; Jos. Cox, s. 100, n. w. qr.
Javille Chaffee, s. w. qr., sec. 9; June 10, 1818. C. II. Cox, s. w. 137, and 19 acres in small lots. Nathan Bennett, s. e. qr., see. 9; June 10, 1818. Moffitts, e. 80, and Monroe Cox, w. 80.
Robert King, n. e. qr., sec. 10; Feb. 18, 1818. Abner Kerns, 146; Bailey, 4; Faul- coner, 10.
Benj. Davis, n. w. qr , see. 10: Feb. 18, 1818. Monroe Cox, n. w. 160.
John B. MeKenny, s. w. qr. see. 10; Sept. 24, 1818. Moffitts, s. w. 160.
John Wortsbough, s. e. qr., sec. 10; Sept. 24, 1818. Perry Staneliff, 5032; A. Kerns, 7412; A. Bailey, 29.
John Odam, n. e. qr., sec. 11; Dec. 23. 1817. Abner Kerns, n. e. 160.
Tryon Fuller, n. w. qr., sec. 11; Dec. 23, 1817. Simon Cox, n. w. 160.
Solomon Libby, s. w. gr., sec. 11; Jan. 23, 1818. Augustus Bailey, s. w. 160.
-
FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING IN STARK COUNTY -FROM DRAWING BY WINN.
497
ESSEX TOWNSHIP.
Joseph Wright, s. e. qr. sec. 11; Jan. 23, 1818. J. Harvey Cox, s. e. 160.
Roswell Post, n. e. qr., sec. 12; Dec. 13, 1818. Ann ITartley, n. e. 147.
Harvey Sperry, n. w. qr., sec. 12; Dee. 13, 1818. J. Hartley, e. 80; H. Ingram, w. 78. Joseph Woodmansee. s. w. qr. and s. e. qr .: sec. 12. Nov. 7, 1817. H. Ingram. n. 141; J. McMillen. s. 18. s. w. qr .; Michael Colgan, s. e. 148.
James Selah, n. e., qr., sec. 13: May 22, 1818. J. H. Simms, n. e. 154.
John H. Martin, n. w. gr. sec. 13; May 22, 1818. John McMillen, n. w. 160.
James Reed. s. w. qr., sec. 13; June 10, 1818. J. O. Smith, s. w. 160.
J. 11. Winney, s. e. qr., sec. 13; June 10, 1818. I. H. Sims, 115; I. O. Smith, 3911.
Benj. Lovell, n. e. gr., sec. 14; Oct. 6, 1817. Joseph Il. Cox, n. c. 160.
John Lovell, n. w. qr., sec. 14; Oct. 6, 1817. A. Bailey, 120; P. Staneliff, 25; R. Jordan, 5; Il. Dixon, 10.
.John Baptiste, s. w. and s. e. qr., sec. 14; April 23, 1818. B. F. Graves, 62; James Graves, 81 s. w. qr .; Thomas Graves, s. e. 160.
Rufus Stanley, n. e. qr., sec. 15; Oct. 28. 1818. Perry Stancliff, 109; Marshall Graves, 100; T. Timmons, 11012.
John Bruce, n. w. gr., sec. 15: Oct. 28. 1818. A. Bailey, 23; Josiah Motlitt, 60; A. Timmons, 6716.
Isaac B. Essex, c. hf. s. w. qr., sec. 15; June 13, 1835. N. Graves, 5: J. P. Car- penter, 80. Nathan Cox, w. hf. s. w. qr., sec. 15; May 21. 1836. F. F. Brockaway, 80; W. K. Cox, a, sec. 15.
John B. Dodge, e. hf. and w. hf. s. e. qr., sec. 15; June 26, 1835. Wm. Holgate, e. lif., s. d. 13913, and w. lif., s. d. 13912.
Vide History of Township. See. 16.
Joseph Cox, part of div. 2, see. 16; Jan. 18. 1854. Arvilla Sumner, 108.
Mounts family, part of div. 2, sec. 16; Jan. 18. 1854. S. M. Adams, 36; C. II. Cox, 100, and small lots on sec. 16.
Joseph Elliott, n. c. gr., sec. 17: Nov. 5, 1818. All in small lots.
Aaron Scott, n. w. gr., sec. 17; Nov. 5, 1818. Wilson Trickle, n. w. 160.
Samuel Banner, s. w. qr., sec. 17; Oct. 6. 1817. Philip F. Earhart. n. 80; W. Sheets, s. 80.
George Blanchard. s. e. qr., sec. 17; Oct. 6, 1817. Wm. Sheets, s. c. 15912.
Jacob House, n. e. qr., see. 18; Nov. 27. 1818. Charles Potter, n. e. qr.
David Barber, n. w. qr. and s. w. qr., sec. 18; Ang. 13, 1836. John Caldwell, n. w. 154; Theodore Whitten, s. w. 157.
Thomas Hamilton, s. e. gr., sec. 18; Nov. 27, 1818. John Scott, s. e. 160.
George W. Woods, n. e. qr., sec. 19; Feb. 25, 1818. John Finley, n. 80; C. At- kinson, s. 80.
Stephen Trickle. n. hf. n. w. gr., sec. 19; June 19, 1837. John Finley, e. 89; Sarah Finley, w. 40.
Calvin Powell, s. hf. n. w. qr. and n. e. qr. s. w. qr., sec. 19; April 10, 1837. W. Il. Twiss, 69; Trickle, 89.
Edward Trickle, w. hf. and s. e. qr. s. w. gr., sec. 19: Oct. 13, 1836.
John Union, s. e. qr., sec. 19; Feb. 25, 1818. Amelia Standard, e. 80; C. L. Gin- grich, w. 80.
John Cassady, n. e. gr., sec. 20; Oct. 20, 1817. A. J. Scott, n. e. 160.
Thomas Boles, n. w. qr., sec. 20; Oct. 20, 1817. A. J. Scott, e. 2216; Jared Jones, w. 13712.
Jacob Yost, s. w. qr., sec. 20; Jan. 7, 1818. F. F. Brockaway, e. 132; A. Standard, 28.
Thomas Briggs, s. c. qr., sec. 20; Jan. 6, 1818. E. Trickle, 50; A. J. Scott, 66. and other small lots.
Abram Parker, n. e. qr., sec. 21; Nov. 29, 1817. F. F. Brockaway, n. e. 159; Trickle, 1.
Abram Prior, n. w. qr., sec. 21; Nov. 29, 1817. James Kerns, n. w. 160.
Cornelius Overlock, s. w. qr., sec. 21; Dec. 12, 1817. E. Trickle, s. w. 153; 1. J. Scott, 7.
Henry llarmon, s. c. gr .. sec. 21; Dec. 12, 1817. Mason Trickle, s. e. 160. Josiah Moffitt, n. e. qr., sec. 22; Nov. 28, 1838. W. K. Cox.
Edwin Hutchinson, n. w. qr., sec. 22; March 15, 1837. Thomas Nicholas.
Timothy Green, s. w. qr., sec. 22; April 30, 1818. A. J. Fantz, 80; T. Nicholas, 80.
John Miller, s. e. qr., sec. 22; April 30, 1818. W. K. Cox. 120; J. Chaffee, 40.
Taylor Jardin, n. e. qr., see. 23; March 3, 1818. Thos. Graves, 140; W. K. Cox, s. e. cor. 20.
498
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY,
Israel D. Towle, n. w. qr., sec. 23; March 3, 1818. James Graves, 80; Thomas Graves, 80.
Dirk A. Myers, s. w. qr., sec. 23; Feb. 14, 1818. J. Graves, 35; B. F. Graves, 40; W. K. Cox, 5; W. Il. Graves, s. 80.
John Murray, s. e. qr., sec. 23; Feb. 14, 1818. W. K. Cox, s. e. 160.
llenry Smith, n. c. and n. w. qr., sec. 24; Oct. 6, 1817. L. Dixon, 86 and other lots; Walter Cox; n. w. 160.
David Bell, s. w. gr., sec. 24; Dec. 13, 1817. Jeremiah Sullivan, s. w. 160.
Charles C'ain, s. e. qr., sec. 24; Dec. 13, 1817. Maria McCorkle, 40 and other lots.
Michael Colebongh. n. e. qr., sec. 25; Nov. 8. 1817. R. Jordan, 80; C. White, s. 80.
Edward Keough, n. w. qr., sec. 25: Nov. 8, 1817. R. Jordan, 105; G. Shebel, 49. flerman Fisher, s. w. gr., sec. 25; Oct. 29, 1817. G. Shebel, s. w. 160.
Jeffrey Worthington, s. e. qr., sec. 25; Oct. 29, 1817. Wm. and Rosa Kelepfer, s. 0. 160.
Abe Lucky. n. e. qr., sec. 26; Nov. 8, 1818. W. K. Cox, n. 80; C. llull. s. 76.
George Miller, n. w. qr., sec. 26; Nov. 3. 1818. L. E. Timmons, e. 135; J. Chaffee, 25.
John Francis, s. w. qr., sec. 26; Feb. 19, 1818. A. E. and D. M. Gingrich, s. w. 155.
Amos L. Smith, s. e. qr., sec. 26; Feb. 19, 1818. R. Davidson, s. c. 154. George Phipps, n. e. qr., sec. 27; Dec. 24,-1817. Jarville Chaffee, n. c. 160.
Orra Bardsley, n. w. qr., sec. 27; Dec. 24, 1817. JJ. Chaffce. 80; Jos. Smith, 80.
Peter Pilgrim, s. w. qr., see. 27; Oct. 6, 1817, Conrad Smith, s. w. 100.
1. V. Feagles, s. e. qr., see. 27; Oet. 6, 1817. D. H. Gingrich, s. e. 160.
John Mclaughlin. n. e. qr., sec. 28; Nov. 29, 1817. Sylvester Bamber, n. e. 160.
Thomas Wynn, n. hf. n. w. qr .. sec. 28; Feb. 9, 1836. Mason Trickle, 68; A. J. Seott, 52.
Seth (. Sherman, s. hf. n. w. gr., sec. 28; March 30, 1837. E. F. Meeker, 40; n. w. qr.
S. Little, s. w. gr., sec. 28; March 27, 1818. E. F. Meeker. 33; A. J. Scott, 127.
Joseph Lutz, s. e. qr., sec. 28; Nov. 29, 1815. E. F. Meeker, 40; A. E. and D. Gingrich, 120.
John Dickaman, n. e. qr., sec. 29; Nov. 29, 1817. A. J. Scott, e. 80: F. F. Brock- away, w. 80.
Edmund Deady, n. w. qr., sec. 29; Nov. 29, 1817. J. R. Gelvin, n. w. 160. Therrygood Smith, n. e. qr., s. w. qr., sec. 29; Nov. 7, 1836. Henry Colwell, s. w. 158.
Joseph Smith, w. hf. and s. e. qr. of s. w. qr., sec. 29; Nov. 7, 1836.
Southward Shaw, s. e. qr., sec. 29; June 15, 1836. A. J. Scott, e, 80; F. F. Brockaway, w. 80; s. c. qr.
Abram Birch, n. e. qr., sec. 30; Feb. 25, 1818. Noah Springer, c. hf .; C. L. Gingrich, w. hf. n. e. qr.
Therrygood Smith, n. c. qr. n. w. qr., sec. 30; Nov. 7, 1836.
Edward Trickle, w. hf. n. w. qr., sec. 30; Oct. 13, 1836.
Oliver Sheridan, s. e. qr. of n. w. qr., ande. hfs. w. qr., sec. 30; Aug. 23, 1836. E. Trickle, n. 120, C. L. Gingrich, 19; D. Gingrich, 20, n. W.
Therrygood Smith, w. hf. s. w. qr., sec. 30; Ang. 20, 1836. S. B. Gingrich and Dan, 156 on s. w. qr.
Jeremiah Millers, s. e. qr., sec. 30; Feb. 24, 1818. A. A. Gingrich, n. 110; C. Smith, 60 on s. e.
William Hollings, n. e. qr., sec. 31; Jan. 7, 1817. U. B. Church, 1; C. Smith, 76; J. Chase, 80.
Joshua Nelson, n. w. qr., sec. 31; Jan. 29, 1818. D. D. and Geo. Springer, 159, n. W. Tyre Nelson, s. w. qr., sec. 31; Jan. 29, 1818. M. P. and D. Gingrich, 160 s. W. Stephen Trickle, e. hf. s. e. qr., sec. 31; April 4, 1836. C. Smith, c. 2412: J. Chase, e. 58, s. c.
Charles Ballance, w. hf. s. c. qr., sec. 31; April 20, 1836. Joseph Chase, w. 80, s. e.
Southword Shaw, Jr., n. e. gr., sce. 32; June 15, 1836. F. F. Brockaway, n. e. Stephen Trickle, e. hf. n. w. qr., sec. 32; Ang. 20, 1836. F. F. Brockaway, e. SO. 11. W.
Stephen Trickle, w. hf. n. w. qr., sec. 32; April 20, 1836. Conrad Smith, w. 80, n. W.
499
ESSEX TOWNSHIP.
Edward Trickle, e. hf. s. w. qr., sec. 32: Oct. 13, 1836. F. F. Brockaway, 66; T. Darley, 23; C. Smith, 1123; D). Gingrich, 23: E. S. Garrison, 12; W. II. Twiss, 2316.
Stephen Trickle, w. hf. s. w. qr., see. 32; June 10, 1836.
Southword Shaw, Jr., s. c. qr., sec. 32; June 15, 1836. F. F. Brockaway, 115; B. S. Scott, 45.
Charles Austin, n. e. qr., sec. 33; Feb. 19, 1818. I. Graves, G532; J. S. Graves, 80: G. Springer, 4.
Thomas Merritt, n. w. qr., sec. 33; Feb. 19, 1818. A. J. Scott, n. w. 160.
lames Coleman, s. w. qr., sec. 33, Nov. 5, 1818. B. S. Scott. s. w. 160.
Wm. 11. Ilaskill, s. c qr., ser. 38; Sept. 30, 1886. G. W. Springer, SO; J. M. Estep, 80.
Consider Yeames, n. e. qr., sec. 34; Feb. 9, 1818. Martha L. Riner, J. Colwell.
A. E. Gingrich, 159, n. e.
S. Ilodsdon, n. w. qr., see. 34; Feb. 9, 1818.
Ezra Hutchings, s. w. qr., sec. 34; Jan. 11, 1818. Jacob and Joseph Graves, n. w., 160.
John J. Dunbar, s e. gr., sec. 34; Jan. 6. 1818. J. Estop, 80; HI. Springer, 80: s. w .; A. J. Scott, 153. s. e. qr.
Francis Morrow, n. e. gr., sec. 35; Oct. 21. 1818. G. Shebell, 80; J. F. Fox, 80. Reuben Rowe, n. w. qr., sec. 35; Oct. 21. 1818. A. E. and D. II. Gingrich, 57: J. F. Fox, 56; and small lots.
John Ilyatt, s. w. qr., sec. 35; Jan. 1, 1818. Andrew J. Scott, s. w., 160.
Charles Maynard, s. e. qr .. soc. 35; Jan. 1, 1818. A. J. Lair, 941; B. H. Per- kins, 6512.
Wm. Goodman, n. c. qr., sec. 36; Oct, 6, 1817 G. Klepfer, n. c. 160.
Richard Ford, n. w. qr., sec. 36; Oct. 6, 1817. F. Mahle, n. 80, J. Friedman, 8. 80.
Charles Frost, s. w. qr., sec. 36; Feb. 4, 1818. HI. J. Adams, E. 105; J. Aly- ward, 55.
Andrew Gott, s. e. qr., scc. 36; Feb. 4, 1818. Joseph Friedman, s. c. qr.
There are no records now existing to point out the end of a large number named in the foregoing list : but to the majority many refer- ences are made in the previous and succeeding chapters, as well as in this one; for the early settlers of Essex spread out through adjoining townships, and as a rule aided in their advancement. Madison Winn takes us back to 1828, when Isaae B. Essex moved with his family from Virginia to Fort Clark, now the city of Peoria, and tarried there that winter, teaching school, and it lays between him and Hiram Currier as to which taught the first American school in that city. In 1829 he came to what is now Stark county, it being then an entire wilderness. and built a cabin on the south eighty of the northeast quarter of sec- tion 15. His nearest neighbor was Daniel Prince, one and one-half miles southwest of Princeville. Some time afterward he was appointed postmaster, the office being called Essex. the neighbors carrying the mail by turns from Hicks', on LaSalle Prairie, in Peoria county. 1832 he was appointed special commissioner by the legislature to sell school section of Essex township. A little farther east was Greely Smith and his father, who came from Ohio in 1830 and settled on a farm now owned by James Graves, and east of him was J. C. Owens, who was made the first Justice of the Peace in the county, being elected in August, 1831, at the house of Benjamin Smith, and held the office until 1834, when he moved to Canton. selling out to Moses Boardman. This is now the Thomas Graves estate. In August, 1834, Benjamin Smith was elected Justice, and in August, 1835, Major Silliman was elected constable to fill the place of John Dodge. Further up the river was Thomas Essex and David Cooper, who came from Virginia in
500
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.
1830. Mrs. Cooper. later Mrs. Ennis. is still living in Wyoming, and is 89 years of age. The farm they settled on is now owned by Mr. Kerns. A little farther up the river and near where Mr. Kerns' house now stands lived Coonrad Leak, and still farther on was old man Leak. who moved from Tazewell county, this state, in February, 1832, and built a saw and grist mill on Spoon river, southwest of Wyoming, where von could get your clapboards sawed, corn cracked and wheat mashed. A freshet in 1836 washed the mill away, yet traces of it may be seen today. Still up the river and on the east side was Sylvanis Moore, on the place now known as the General Thomas homestead. Also Jesse Heath kept a little store near by. A little south of here lived John Dodge, on the place now owned by Simon Cox. Up and west of here, near the Methodist camp-grounds. lived Wesley and Peter Miner.
In 1832 Samuel Seeley moved from Indiana, leaving his family at Mossville, Peoria county, came to Spoon river, made a claim and built a log cabin a few rods south of where Mr. Duckworth's house now stands, northwest of Wyoming. While himself and two other men were building this cabin it turned coll and they started for Mossville. and when they got to Camp run found it frozen over, and in attempting to eross on the ice with a yoke of oxen and span of horses, it broke through and let them in the water ; the horses got tangled in the har- ness, and Seeley to save them, jumped in himself and had to be dragged out, and finally all got out and across. Mr. Seeley's clothes immedi- ately were frozen stiff, when the men stripped off everything but his shirt, and rolled him up in bed quilts and straw, and drove in that con- dition, one walking and driving and the other rubbing Seeley, and save frozen hands. got through all right.
One mile south of Toulon lived Samuel Merrill, B. Turner now own- ing the place. Further south was Major McClennehan, who lived where James Biggs now resides, and part of that house was built 54 years ago.
South of this lived Stephen Worley, on the farm now owned by Hopkins Shivvers. Mr. and Mrs. Worley are still living, having moved to Henry several years ago. Mr. Worley is over 80 years of age. Ben- jamin Essex came from Virginia in 1830, and settled a little to the west of where Joseph Cox now lives. Mrs. Essex is now living in North Wyoming. and is 85 years of age. Henry White lived on what is known as the Peter Sheets farm, and John Marrow on the James Ballentine farm. Charles Pierce settled here in 1834, erecting a log cabin a little north of the Sheets cemetery. Thomas Win came from Switzerland county, Ind., in October, 1831, stopping near Peoria ; in 1834 he came to Stark county, and built a cabin in the old Spoon river fort. on section 16, now owned by Samuel Adams.
Jarville Chaffee came from Michigan in May, 1834, and stopped with Miner's until fall, when he built a cabin where C. H. Cox's fine house stands. Thinking to get up something extra he split the logs, white- washed the inside, and had an upstairs reached by a ladder. This was the entire settlement on Spoon river and Indian creek from 1829 to May, 1834. Dr. Ellsworth came from Ohio in the fall of 1834, and was the first practicing physician in the county. Up to this time there
501
ESSEX TOWNSHIP.
was no school nor schoolhouse, and on the 4th of July, 1834, the peo- ple came together for the purpose of building one.
In 1839 several families moved from Pennsylvania and settled in Wyoming, and while they did not particularly want the county seat. they thought themselves entitled to the postoffice, so got it changed from Essex to that place, William Godley being appointed postmas- ter. The Eastmans came from New Hampshire in 1838, and started a blacksmith shop in Moulton, a little south of John Lefler's. Here you could get anything done, from the welding of a knitting needle to iron- ing a wagon. It is claimed they ironed the first wagon and buggy that was made in the county, and that Calvin L. made the first plow that would scour in this soil.
Up to 1835 most of the trading was done in Peoria. In August of this year the Essex and Cooper families ran short of groceries, so they filled two grain sacks with meat, saddled two horses, Cooper taking one and Madison Winn the other, and with sacks across the saddle, started for the city. taking an Indian trail, going through Princeville and crossing the Kickapoo at Dunlap, arrived at Thomas Essex's late in the afternoon. The day was exceedingly warm, and what had become of the meat in the sacks was a mystery. Winn was a mess of grease from his waist to his heels. They made the trip in three days. Henry Colwell came from Ross county, Ohio, in 1837. and was the first stock auctioneer in this county, and has now been an auctioneer for forty-nine years, being seventy-four years old. He is the father of nineteen children - nine sons and ten danghters.
Other pioneers and old settlers of Essex are named in the pages devoted to biography in chapter 16, as well as in this part.
Sheets Cemetery .- The interments in Sheets Cemetery are listed as follows: Lettice L. Smith, '62; Greenleaf Smith, '48 ; Benj. Smith, 47; David Cooper, '60; Argelon Graves, 36; Ann Boardman, '47; Moses Board. 47; Mary Bayley. 51: Charles L. Lake, '31 ; Nero W. Mounts, '47; Matilda Edwards, '59: Mary J. Timmons, '58; Nancy Mounts, '42; Ellen Drummond, 60; William Johnson, '56 ; Susannah Ely, '66; Eunice Johnson, '43: Mary Drummond, 65; Nathan Cox. '40; Ann Cox. '44: John Cox, '61; Abigail Cox, '77: Sarah Cox. '59; John Stewart. 53: Ealy A. Whitcher, 475; Jarville Chat- fee, 46; John F. Leseur. '63: Elizabeth Cox, '56; Margaret Timmons, 75 : Eliza Acklev. 57: Paulina Ennis, 472; Daniel Davis, '72: Elizabeth Cornish. '60; I. Elizabeth Graves, '75; George Umbaugh. 55; Avis J. Harris. 58: Francis M. Sollars, 664: Amanda Earhart, 64; Mary A. Drennin, '63; Henry Graves, '71; Alice Graves, 'S0: Malinda Simmer- man. '47: Peter Sheets. 'S0; William Colwell. 663: Robert Colwell, '68: Esther Colwell. 57; Margaret Ballentine, '58; Mary Turner, 66 ; Andrew Turner. 49: Hannah Colwell, 54; Edman Dawson. 54: Elizabeth Colwell. 47: Jonas E. Ballentine. '83: Matilda Edwards, '47: Mary Edwards, '54; Isaac Edwards, '47. John Cox and F. M. Sollars are the only soldiers resting here.
Pleasant Valley Cemetery .- The soldiers and old people interred in Pleasant Valley Cemetery are named as follows, the date of death being given: George Springer, '86; Eve Springer, '72; Jacob New-
502
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.
man, '79; Christian Gingrich, '76; Joseph Armentrout. '63; Susannah Honze, '70; Christian Gingrich, Sr., '39; Eliza A. Gladfelter, '63; Polly Gingrich, '49; Isabella Slaughter, '76; Reuben Collwell. '74; Catherine Smith, '84; Mary M. Nicholas, '68: Mary Coleman, '56; Martha M. Waldron, '71; David Waldron, '75; Calvin White, '70 ; Malon Cox, '83 ; Samantha Springer, '62; Amy Graves, '77 ; Clarinda Colwell, '80; Nancy Trickle, 'St ; Mary Huffman, '83 : Sarah Huffman, '73; George Springer, Sr., '49; Henry Springer, '45; Eleanor Graves, 171; Elizabeth Barr. '70; Elizabeth Barr, '67. The soldiers buried here are: Michael Springer, '63; Calvin Vulgamott, '65; William B. Barr, '64 ; Ezra Gingrich, '65; Noah Fantz, '64; John Gingrich, '65. In Shebel's cemetery are the remains of Elizabeth Eby, '85 ; Joseph Eby, '82 : William Dawson, 85 ; Gottlieb Klepfer, 'S1 ; Sarah S. Smith, '85; Sewell Smith, 73; Edwin L. Smith, '62 ; Gottlieb Schultheis, '71. E. 1. Smith served in the Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry.
Schools of Esser .- In 1832-3 the question of establishing a school in the Essex settlement was brought before the legislature, and on March 1. 1833, an act was approved creating Isaac Essex commissioner of the school fund and authorizing him to sell section 16. On February 4, 1834, this section was sold for 8968.70. The day prior to this sale, the voters assembled at the Essex cabin and elected Sylvanus Moore, Green- leaf Smith and Benjamin Smith. trustees. Moses Boardman was elected in 1835. Madison Winn. in his paper of 1886, says: "On the fourth day of July, 1834. the people came together for the purpose of building one. The site chosen was near the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 15, in Essex township. The building was planned to be twenty feet square, and all went to work with a will, some cut- ting, some hauling, some making clapboard. and others building. By noon it was built up waist high; and there coming a shower, we arranged the clapboards over the wall and underneath ate our Fourth of July dinner. The first day the walls were built up to the roof. which was soon covered, and from Leak's mill slabs were brought for seats. A post was driven into the ground and a slab laid on it for a teacher's desk, while mother earth was the floor. Adam Perry com- menced school about July 15, with about thirty scholars, out of which number I am the only one living. (This Perry received $55.50 for teaching the winter school of 1834-5 for three months. Sabrina Chatfield, later Mrs. B. Hilliard received $13 for a three months summer school in 1835, and Mary Lake $6.314 for six weeks' teaching during the fall term.) In the fall the house was fin- ished -a floor put in above and below, three windows sawed out, the east one having a light of glass in it, the other two covered with cloth, cracks plastered up with yellow clay, holes bored in the walls in which pins were inserted and slabs laid on for desks, and a sod chimney built. Sabrina Chatfield, better known as Grand- mother Hilliard (whose death is recorded elsewhere). of Lafayette, now taught, and was the first female teacher conducting a school in the county. Next was Jesse W. Heath. Mary Lake, Joseph R. Newton, William Samis, and James Dalrymple. At the elose of Mr. Dalrym- ple's school, in March, 1839, he gave a school exhibition, the first in
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