USA > Illinois > Ford County > Historical Atlas of Ford County Illinois > Part 23
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Willard Proctor was born in Rutland, Vt., in 1827, where he lived for about twenty-five years, then moved to Illinois. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourth Illi- nois Regiment, and served in the war until its close. He was married, March, 1847, to Miss Sarah A. Hewitt, a native of Rutland, Vt.
Albert Gilmore was born in Harrison County, Ohio in 1841. In 1861, he came here and bought 1.600 acres of land. He now owns 960 acres of fine farming land, all under cultivation. In 1880, he married Miss Elizabeth A. Boundy, of Peoria County, Ill. She was born in 1858. They have two children.
Robert A. McClure was born in McLean County in 1843. He lived there until 1867, when he came to this township and settled at the place he now lives on. In 1862, he enlisted in the Ninety-fourth Illinois Regiment, and was in the service until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged and returned home. He was married in 1865 to Miss Ann Mclaughlin.
Austin Crabbs, merchant in Gibson, was born in Richland County, Ohio, January 8, 1838. His father, David Crabbs, was a native of Pennsylvania, and removed to Indiana in 1852, where he departed this life in August, 1854. Mr. Crabbs came to Illi- nois in 1873, and located at Gibson, where he has since resided. He engaged in the mercantile trade, which he has since followed with the exception of one year. Mr. Crabbs served in the late war for three years, being Captain of Company C, Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteers. He has recently erected two handsome buildings in the " Center Block," where he has a large stock of dry goods, groceries, etc. IIe was married to Miss Catharine Yeiter in Decatur County, Ind., March 3, 1864. She is a native of Ohio. This union has resulted in a family of eight children, all living. Mr. Crabbs has been at all times indentified with the general business interests of Gibson, and is universally re- spected by all who know him.
ROGERS TOWNSHIP.
Rogers Township is the extreme north township of the county, bounded on the north by Kankakee County, on the east by Iroquois County, on the south by Mons Township and on the west by Livingston County.
It derived its name from Jeremy W. Rogers, its first Super- visor. This township was originally called Grant, and when organized comprised the present townships of Mona and Rogers. A petition from the citizens of Grant to the Board of Super- visors to change the name to Rogers was granted in the spring of 1864.
This is considered the best township in the county, with at least 75 per cent of the area, suitable and adapted to farming purposes, that can be made to produce excellent crops.
It is peopled with industrious, enterprising and progressive farmers, showing many well-improved farms.
Among the early settlers were Jeremy W. Rogers, William Atherton, Jared Williams, James Clayton, Henry Clayton, John Clayton, William Clayton, Mary Clayton, James Taylor, Edward Clayton, Samuel Clayton, Peter Taylor, David Rogers, A. Sad- .ler, Peter Minich, Abraham Cook, D. and S. Burroughs, Will- ism Bouk, N. Wagner, Samuel C. Farley, Charles Shumacher, Wright Kemp, George Hargreaves, Jacob Hare, J. C. Eldridge, E. Quayle, D. F. Brenisa, D. B. Case and J. Broadbent.
The first church built in the township was the Catholic Church in Cabery.
The next church was built at Eldridgeville by the Methodists. In 1878, the Germans erected a chapel on Henry Clayton's land, called " The Church of God." J. M. Castle was the first German preacher.
The first post office was at Eldridgeville, with John Eldridge as Postmaster, although at an early date the farmers took turns in bringing the mail from Dwight, which was left at Jared Will- iams' house.
The first schoolhouse was built on the farm now owned by
George Riggs, and Miss Laura Cook (now Mrs. Charles Bouk) was the first teacher.
Cabery is the principal village of Rogers Township, situated on the Middle Division of the Illinois Central or Kankakee & South Western Railroad. It lies on the county line. the largest half in Rogers Township, which was first laid out. It was in- corporated ns a village in the fall of 1881, and contains stores of various kinds, one hotel, two elevators, two liveries, two brick and tile factories, two lumber yards, a flax mill, a steam mill for grinding corn and feed, and a newspaper called the Cabery En- quirer, edited and published by B. C. Burroughs. There is a good public hall and one Masonic Hall. The Masonic society numbers over forty members. There is but one church building. the Catholic. The Methodists have organized a society, having at present no church, holding services in the public hall. The place is a wide awake, go-ahead one, containing a class of good citizens, who heartily unite upon any enterprise or improvement for the public good
The Supervisors of the township have been Jeremy W. Rog. ers, 1864; John C. Eldridge, 1866; D. B. Cuse, 1867; Edward Clayton, 1868; Thomas Winstanley, 1x72; Samuel Clayton, 1878; James Ogilvie, 1876 ; W. B. Sargeant, 1881 ; re-elected 1882 and 1883, still in office.
The following is a brief mention of old settlers and some of the prominent and lending citizens of Rogers Township.
Peter Taylor, a native of Morgan County, Ohio, came to Rogers Township in 1865, settling on Section $5. Ile now owns 640 acres of fine land in this township, where he has erected splendid buildings and made durable and permanent improve- ments.
Frank M. Cook was born in Elkhart County, Ind. He came to this township in 1864. He has a fine farm and a beautiful home one mile from Cabery.
James Ogilvie is a native of Licking County, Ohio, coming to this township in 1866; he settled on Section 22. Ilis farm of 820 acres, with buildings and improvements, is among the best. Samuel Clayton is a native of England. He came to Rogers Township in 1865, settling on Section 33. He has an excellent farm of 280 acres, with buildings and improvements suitable and adapted to the day and age.
James Clayton was born in Cheshire, England. He came to this country in 1849, and to Rogers Township in 1868. He has a fine farm of 160 acres in Section 31. He laid out that part of the village of Kempton, called "Clayton's Addition." He is a public-spirited man and much respected.
David Huntley is a native of New York. He came to this township in 1859. He has a farm of 240 acres in Ford County, and eighty acres, the home place, just over the line in Livingston County. His home is a pleasant one, with a wife and six chil- dren-three boys and three girls -- whose names all begin with the same letters, "A. E. HI."
George Hargreaves was born in England, coming to America in 1854; he first settled in Kendall County, Ill. In 1867, he moved to this township, settling on Section 36. He owns 820 acres of land with good improvements, and may be classed among the enterprising farmers of Ford County.
W. B. Sargeant is a native of England. Ile came to Cabery in 1865, and is now one of its live business men, being engaged in the hardware business. He is the present Supervisor of the township, having held the office since 1881.
James F. Wright was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1840. He came to Cabery in 1876 and engaged in the lumber business. As a contractor and builder, he has erected most of the fine residences and buildings in this part of the town- ship.
Andrew Stuart, farmer, a native of Canada, settled in Grundy County, Ill., in 1843. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Volunteers in 1862, remaining in the field until the war was over. Shortly after returning home, he moved to this township, where he has since resided.
Joshua Henthorn came to this county from England in 1856. He settled on Section 28, Rogers Township. He has 160 acres of good land, which he purchased of the Illinois Central Railroad Company.
Frank MeLaughlin was born in Grundy County in 1858. He came to this township in 1880. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Clayton, in 1874, and is at present living on Mr. Clayton's farm, on Section 26. He is a young man, and without doubt his life will be a useful one.
Frank Stuart, son of Andrew Stuart, was born in Livings- ton County in 1856. He married Alice, a daughter of Henry Clayton, and now lives on the D. B. Case farm. Still a young man, he undoubtedly has many years before him, which, we may safely predict, will not be spent in vain.
John and Alfred Clayton, sons of Henry Clayton, a retired farmer now living in Kankakce, were born in Chester County, Penn. John came to this township in 1865 and Alfred in 1868 They both have beautiful homes on Section 25,and from their pros- ent standpoint in life their future looks as auspicious as the mnost hopeful could wish for.
Charles Curd was born in the county of Kent, England. IIe came to America in 1846, and to Section 20, this township, in 1876. He has a well-improved farm of 160 acres, and is one of the solid farmers of Rogers Township.
William Naas, a native of Germany, came to this township in 1870. He has a good farm of 160 acres on Section 29.
In 1865, Mrs. Priscilla Taylor, widow of James Taylor, de- censed, together with Samuel and Edward Clayton, Peter Taylor and others, came from Ohio to Rogers Township. Mrs. Taylor with her children now reside on Section 35. They have a fine
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home, which is situated on a high elevation of land, commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country.
Mrs. Elizabeth Clayton, widow of William Clayton, an early settler, came to Rogers Township from Noble County, Ohio. Mrs. Clayton lives in the beautiful home on their farm on Sec- tion 27.
BRENTON TOWNSHIP.
This township was at one time a part of Stockton Township, the latter being organized when Ford was a part of Vermilion County, and at that time comprised the present townships of Rogers, Mona, Pella, Brenton and Lyman.
The name of Stockton was changed to Brenton March 7, 1864, and embraced the townships of Lyman, Brenton and Pella. As the country became more thickly settled, Lyman and Pella were set off, leaving the present township of Brenton, which com- prises thirty six sections of land.
In 1856, John R. Lewis, Mark Parsons and S. Standish were the first permanent settlers of the township. Mr. Lewis built the first house in the township, which is still standing on the northwest corner of Section 22. In the fall of 1856, Peter Van Antwerp, George Binford, W. T. Reed, John E. Davis, T. W. Pope, Frederick Chambers, the Jeffreys and A. J. Bartlett came. In 1857, came the Cross and Mckinney families, Ira Z. Condon, W. W. Wicks, Aaron Schofield and Conrad Volp. In 1858, Joseph Davis, L. T. Bishop, Thomas Hahn, Jacob Titus, Merritt Free, Peter Rouse and Benjamin Hobbis settled here. In 1860 came William L. Conrow, M. P. Sherwood, James Free, T. Jones ; and in 1863, Jacob Lippincott, W. S. Thompson, Henry Patterson, Robert Wilson, D. E. Middleton and Joseph Carpenter.
The settlers of the township were nearly all Eastern men. The first birth in Brenton was Hattie B., daughter of A. J. Bartlett, on the 14th day of June, 1857. The second birth was a son of John R. Lewis, August 4; and, August 26, Mark Parsons was blessed with a son.
The first death was Capt. Mack, who, with his young wife, came to Illinois from the East in search of a better climate for his health, but, growing worse instead of better, he sold out his property to W. W. Wicks and started for his Eastern home. He got as far as Onarga, where he died and was buried. The first marriage in the new settlement was in 1859, between Charles Phelps and Miss Mary A. Davis.
The first school was started by John R. Lewis, and taught by Miss Annie E. Hobbis, of Onarga, who remained a teacher for a number of years.
The first election after Brenton was organized was held at District Schoolhouse No. 1 (the Wagner School).
There were regular religious meetings held at settlers' houses every Sunday, being conducted principally by A. Mckinney, Robert Hall and Henry Atwood.
The following are the names of those who went from the Pan Handle to the late war and returned safely :
A. S. Bavouse, Fred Foot, Henry Phelps, R. A. Pope, Robert Ferris, Jacob Brown, Ed Kent, Mr. Stoneback, James Feeley, H. Eccleston, D. Kingsley, Morris Burt, John Haven, Ed Haven, Albert Holmes, B. Lyman.
Killed or missing, Thomas Hahn and Joseph Law.
The list of Supervisors of Brenton: George B. Winter,. 1861; Mark Parsons, 1862; Goorge B. Winter, 1865; John R. Lewis, 1866; Saul C. Burt, 1867 ; Lucius T. Bishop, 1868; William L. Conrow, 1871; M. M. Pulver, 1872; Hugh P. Beach, 1878; N. M. Ward, 1874; John A. Montelius, 1875; Joseph Burger, 1876; John S. McElhiney, 1880 ; Joseph Bur- ger, 1881, and the present incumbent.
The first schoolhouse built was the Wagner Schoolhouse, in the southeast quarter of Section 28. There are now nine school buildings in the township, and one in the village of Piper City, employing four teachers, with an average' attendance of 200 scholars.
The railroad through this township was built in 1857, first called the Eastern Extension of the Peoria & Oquawka Railroad, afterward the Logansport, Peoris & Burlington, then shortly after changed to the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw, and now the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad. It runs in an east and west direo- tion across the north tier of sections of this township.
PIPER CITY.
Piper City is the principal village in the Pan Handle, and the third village in population in Ford County. It was laid out in Seo- tion 4, Brenton Township, by H. J. Howe, County Surveyor, for Dr. William A. Piper, of Philadelphia, Penn., and Samuel Cross, of Chicago, in 1867, and contains about 750 inhabitants. The village lies on both sides of the Wabash Railroad. It has a fine school building, four churches, one hotel, two newspapers-the Advertiser and Advocate-a bank, four general stores, two hard- ware stores, one lumber yard, three elevators, one creamery, one livery stable, one agricultural warehouse, two drug stores, two wagon and three blacksmith shops, and many other minor indus- tries incidental to a thriving, prosperous village.
John Allen and W. C. Jones opened the first store in the new village in the summer of 1867. Mr. Jones still continues in the business.
Soon after Dr. Piper and J. A. Montelius opened a general store. The post office was established in John R. Lewis' house, and he was appointed first Postmaster. The first station agent was John Allen. The station was then called New Brenton. The United Presbyterian Church was built in 1869. The next
FORD, COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
one erected was the Presbyterian in 1872. The Catholic Church was built in 1880, and the Methodist in 1881.
Mrs. McElhiney taught the first school in Piper City in the building now occupied as an office by Montelius & Bro."
The Piper City Dairy Association was incorporated in 1881. with Joseph Burger, President; J. A. Montelius, Secretary and Treasurer; E. H. Brooks, Manager ; and Joseph Burger, J. A. Montelius, E. H. Brooks, John Mckinney, Columbus Jennings, John Clark and B. F. Church, Directors. This creamery is located on the east side of the village, and the butter manufact- ured is about twenty tons per year, which is mostly sold in New Orleans at a price varying from 20 to 35 cents a pound. Their water supply is from an artesian well, which is constantly running. They use horse-power to do the churning. In summer, they churn four times a day, in winter about eight times a week. They go around among the farmers collecting the cream, which is placed in large cans holding about twenty-five gallons each. They have about 1,000 of these cans scattered through their milk district.
The following are sketches of some of the early settlers and business men of Brenton Township :
John R. Lewis was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., June 6, 1828, where he lived until April 16, 1850. He spent his childhood years upon a farm and attending school. One of his schoolmates was the Hon. A. H. Prescott, now Judge of Her, kimer County, N. Y. Mr. Lewis taught school several winters, and then came West in 1856, and settled in this township, being the first permanent settler. Mark Parsons came one day later. Mr. Lewis has been one of the most active and enterprising men in this county ; he practically sold most of the lands in Brenton and Pella Townships as agent for the Illinois Central Railroad lands. He was the first Justice of the Peace, first Police Mag- istrate, third Supervisor and first Postmaster of Piper City. He has seen the ups and downs of life, and is still full of vim and energy, and is much respected and liked wherever known.
The second permanent settler of Brenton was Mark Parsons, who was born in Bennington, Vt., May 18, 1828, where he lived until seventeen years of age, working on a farm in the summer, and attending school during the winter. When about twenty- three years old, he married Miss Jane E. Crossett, and with his young wife, moved to Will County, Ill. In 1856, he came to Ford County and settled in this township. He built his house on the southwest quarter of Section 84. Mr. Parsons has held many positions of trust in this county, and is looked upon as an honorable man and prominent citizen. He is now living in Piper City.
Archibald Mckinney was born in Ireland May 2, 1802, where he lived until 1848, when he emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia. He worked in a factory there for ten years. In 1858, he came to Ford County, settling on Section 20 of this township. Mr. Mckinney was married in 1882. He has four children living, viz .: John, in hardware and lumber business in Piper City ; Joseph, in the same business in Kemp- ton, and two daughters, Rachael and Margaret. Seven children are deceased. Mr. Mckinney has done much good for the peo- ple of Brenton. He was an active worker in building the churches in this township and organizing the different societies. This pioneer is now over eighty years old, having accomplished a life work that is an honor to his name, and justly entitled to the respect of all.
John Mckinney, son of Archibald Mckinney, was born in Ireland . in 1888. He came to this country with his parents in 1848. Mr. Mckinney learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at it for many years. When Piper City was started, he moved from his home in Brenton Township and went into the lamber business, and in course of time started a hardware store, which he is now conducting with good success. The subject of our sketch has a pleasant home in the village, is an active member of the Meth- odist Church, a man of large and comprehensive views, alive to every work and enterprise that promotes the interest or improve- ment of his town.
William Carpenter was born in Rhode Island February 22, 1811, where he lived continuously for fifteen years; then moved to Herkimer County, N. Y. Here he lived until 1867; then moved to Ford County, and settled in Brentou Township, on his present farm south of Piper City. In 1833, he married Ann Elisa Randall, a native of Rhode Island. They have six chil- dren. He now lives in an excellent home in the village, and is much respected by all.
Abner Mclaughlin came to this township in 1861, and set- tled on Section 5. In 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Mckinney, daughter of Archibald Mckinney, an old settler of this township. Mr. Mclaughlin used to teach school in winter and work on his farm in the summer. He has been School Treasurer for many years, and always takes an active in- terest in all public enterprises.
Samuel D. Culbertson, physician and surgeon, was born in Cumberland County, Penn., September 5, 1839. Here he lived for twelve years, attending school and helping on a farm. When eighteen years old, he began teaching school, and taught until the war broke out, when he joined the army. After the war, he began the study of medicine, and in 1866 graduated from the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He came to Piper City in 1867, and began the practice of his chosen profession, in which he has met with success. He has one of the finest resi- dences in the village; is also engaged in the drug business. Dr. Culbertson was married in 1866 to Miss Clara Kate Culver. They have four children living. The Doctor is a wide-awake, pushing man, a great help to the village of Piper City, and an honored and respected citizen of the county.
Joseph Burger, farmer, and Supervisor of Brenton, was born in Baden, Germany. He came to this county in 1868, settling on Section 2, this township. He now owns a good farm of 290 acres in this township; he is considered one of the best farmers of the county. In 1876, he was elected Supervisor of Brenton Township, which office he still continues to fill with satisfaction to all.
John C. Culver was born in Cumberland County, Penn., in May, 1848. In 1865, he went to Cincinnati, thence to Leav- enworth, Kan., and to the Indian Territory, riding pony express from Fort Wallis to Denver ; then was Government scout through Southern Kansas, Indian Territory and New Mexico. He served under William F. Cody (" Buffalo Bill "), he being .chief scout. After being there several years, he came back and settled in Piper City, and went into the drug business. In 1880, he sold out and engaged in the grain business in this village. Mr. Cul- ver was Coroner of Ford County for two years. In 1872, he married Clara D. Fairley, of Lyman Township. They have two children.
James P. McDanel, the efficient Town Clerk of Brenton, was born in Butler County, Ohio, where he lived until ten years old; then came with his parents to Illinois. In 1862, he married Miss Kate Huddleson, of Randolph County, Ill. When he came to Piper City, he engaged in the hardware and furniture busi- ness. He soon sold out, and began farming and teaching. He has been Town Clerk for many years, and enjoys the entire con- fidence of the people.
Henry Allnutt, publisher and proprietor of the Piper City Advertiser, is a native of England. He came to Ford County, and located on a farm in Pella Township in 1869. In 1878, he moved to town, and soon after started the Advertiser, which he still continues to publish. He married Adda, daughter of Joseph Carpenter.
Ephraim H. Brooks was born in Steuben County, N. Y., in 1837, where he lived for eleven years; then moved to Livingston County, N. Y., where he attended school and helped in his father's store until 1857, when he came to Woodford County, Ill. In the spring of 1861, settled in Brenton Township, Section 6, and began farming. Six years ago he came to Piper City, and began work in the creamery, of which he is now the manager. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Russell in 1868. They have four children.
Conrad Rohrbach is a native of Germany, where he was born February 27, 1921. He lived there until thirteen years old, then came to this country and settled in Tazewell County, Ill., where he remained for about fifteen years. In 1859, he located on Section 26, Brenton Township. In 1843, he mar- ried Annie May Dingledine. They have been blessed with three children. Mr. R. now resides in Piper City, but owns one-half section of land in Brenton Township.
James McBride, farmer, was born in Ireland in 1842; soon after, he came with his parents to Belmont County, Ohio, where he lived until the breaking-out of the war, when he enlisted and served until its close. He was honorably discharged at Washing- ton, D. C., and returned to the peaceful pursuits of a farmer's life. In the spring of 1869, he came to Ford County, and set- tled where he now lives, on Section 31, on a fine farm of 400 acres. In 1869, he married Miss Clara Strank. They have three children:
Michael Cross was born in England in 1880. He remained there for twenty-four years, working at the blacksmith trade. In 1854, he came to America, and two years later settled in this township. Mr. Cross now resides on Section 18. He was mar- ried in 1867 to Catharine Mitchinson, and six children have been born to them.
William Corey, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in Wash ington County, R. I., in 1824. He came to La Salle County in 1865, and to Brenton Township in 1867, and settled on the north- west quarter of Section 17, where he has a pleasant home and . a fine farm. In 1859, he married Miss Ruth Wilcox, and five children have been born to them.
Thomas Cue is a native of England, where he was born Au- gust 12, 1886. In 1858, he came to America; and settled in Woodford County, Ill. He lived there till 1870, when he came and settled in Brenton Township. In 1871, he was united in marriage with Victoria Arrowsmith, and three children have been born to them.
John C. Steen, farmer on Section 15, was born in Adams County, Ohio, in 1887. In 1868, he moved to La Salle County, Ill., where he remained several years ; then moved to Chatsworth, and in 1878 came to his present home in Brenton Township. In 1868, he was married to Alice E. Moore, and four children have been born to them, two of whom are living.
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