USA > Illinois > Ford County > Historical Atlas of Ford County Illinois > Part 6
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The following is the membership to February 28, 1884: Capt- ains, J. H. Collier, Austin Crabbs, Willard Proctor. First Lieu- tenants, J. N. MeVicker, Samuel, Johnston, J. J. MeCormack, Russel Puntney. Second Lieutenant, S. A. Armstrong. Ser- geants, R. M. Smith, J. T. McClure, II. J. Ring. A. J. Hamn, J. E. Collier, F. P. Wood, Fred Potts, George W. Preston, James Grant, Frank Du Close, J. S. Frederick. Corporals. S. J. Le Fevre, W. II. Vreeland, W. B. Aaron. J. L. Mitchell, Mark Anthony, W. E. McMullen, S. S. Barnes, L. L. Garrett, F. M. Anderson, T. M. Bunch. Musicians, R. A. MeClure, John Grove. Privates, II. M. Blacker. J. S. Moore. J. D. Bell, G. W. Haupt, S. A. Plank, Daniel Crummy. Charles Phillips, J. N. Vauglin. James Allen, J. D. Corbin, P. W. Dale, C. C. HIoudyshell, O. O. Perrin, S. Emmons, Il. E. Shearer, J. R. Lott, Ralph Mulvane, C. Ashby, W. T. Estes, William Dav. J. M. Phillips, W. P. Jones, E. Barnabee, J. M. Burner, W. II. Simms, M. K. McDowell, J. M. Mitchell, F. C. McDowell, O. II. Damon, T. B. Strauss, J. W. Rinchart, P. II. Fanght, A. Stratton, W. Bowen, J. G. Barker, M. W. Scott, W. Gilchrist, D. Baylor, L. L. Flora, J. S. Sawyer, Charles B. Payner (saudl- (ller), Elmer Ashby, J. W. Moore, D. S. Hall. V. G. Way. W. Ramey, J. II. Stathem, J. II. Arrowsmith, Nelson Smith, II. A. Grove, J. R. Gilchrist, John Joos, A. J. Cooper, S. Ross.
PIPER CITY POST, NO. 361, 4. A. R.
List of members to February 28, 1884: Officers 1844, F. O. Walrich, Commander; II. P. Beach, S. V. C .: T. J. Sowers, J. V. C .; S. D. Culbertson, Surgeon ; G. M. Williams, Adjt .; Ira W. Hand, Chaplain ; W. Dick, O. D .; J. R. Rezner, O. G .; J. A. Montelius, Q. M .; D. W. Turney, S. M .; C. R. Jackson, Q. M. S. Members, Robert Hevener, James Healey. J. G. T. Luther, B. G. Church, J. S. Campbell, T. W. Eaton, Robert R. Farris, J. C. Moore, C. C. Crandell, Charles Litsy, D. Ritchie, W. P. Moore, D. H. Rodgers, B. II. Morrow, W. B. Miller, W. W. Coburn, W. T. Riggs, James Feeley, A. J. Long, J. McBride, J. Wagner, E. B. Beighle, C. Fable.
PAXTON POST, NO. 387, G. A. R.
Organized January 12, 1884. Membership to March 6, 1884 : Oficers, Col. Charles Bogardus, Commander; M. II. Cloud, S. V. C .; W. C. Hutchison, J. V. C .; T. M. King, Q. M .; C. M. Taylor, Chaplain; B. F. Mason, O. D .; John Swanson, O. G .; J. W. Ramsay, Adjutant; W. M. Wilson, S. M .; Will- iam Cramer, Q. M. S. Membership, G. L. Atkinson, A. II. Bridgeman, Charles Bogardus, J. M. Briney, G. W. Berdine, M. HI. Cloud, William Cramer, M. Cramer, M. V. Davis, Stacey Daniels, W. C. Hutchison, Frederick Johnson, Theodore M. King, B. F. Mason, F. McFarland, Taylor Pyle, John A. Peter- son, T. S. Peacock, J. W. Ramsay, John Swanson, Alfred Sam- pic, C. M. Taylor, J. D. Wilson, Thomas Wier, W. M. Wilson, W. T. Westbrook, Henry Weaver.
PIPER CITY GUARDS.
Company C, Ninth Battalion Illinois National Guards, was organized March 27, 1876. The list of original members has been furnished, and is as follows, viz .:
Captain, II. C. Baughman ; First Lieutenant, F. O. Walrich ; Second Lieutenant, B. F. Walden ; Orderly Sergeant, J. P. Mad- den ; Sergeants, John Neinmier, J. D. Parsons, E. F. Pulver, J. T. Wilson ; J. R. Rezner, Color Sergeant Ninth Battalion ; Corporals, J. W. Ramsay, J. R. Bagly, S. Kiblinger, Frank Kiblinger; Musician, II. S. Randell ; privates, Henry Allnutt, Watson Bishop, John Hobbis, E. A. Kice, G. M. Bagley, N. G. Plank, J. S. 'T'elfer, J. B. Telfer, W. M. Thompson, Joseph C. Kirk, M. Johnson, William Hartley, James Liston, Alex Liston, J. Netterville, John C. Zea.
The company was re-organized September 1, 1877, in accord- ance with the new military code, and under the consolidation of the different regiments and battalions May 4, 1852, was assigned to the Fourth Regiment, and is now known as Company II.
The present commissioned officers are Frank O. Walrich, Captain; John Rohrbach, First Lieutenant; J. R. Rezner, Second Lieutenant.
REMINISCENCES.
" We will revive these times, and in our memories preserve and still keep fresb, like flowers in water, those happier dnyx."-Richter.
"Memory seizes the passing moment, fixes it upon the canvas, and hangs the picture in the soul's inner chuinbers for her to look upon when she will."_ 'Haven.
" Look not mournfully into the past; it comes not back again. Wisely im- prove the present ; it is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future without fear, and with a manly heart."-Longfellow.
There are recollections as pleasant as they are sacred. There are words and faces and places that never lose their hold upon the heart. These words, faces and places have had a controlling in- fluence in training our aspirations and in shaping our destinies, and they can never be forgotten. They remain invested with a fadeless beauty, sacred in their exemptions from oblivion and decay.
'l'he heart of the early settler in a community renews its youth and the whole man is cheered and invigorated by the con- templation of those earlier days. As you talk with him, you recognize the facts of his gray hairs; his shoulders are bent, and you realize that he is on the sunset slope or life.
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Years ago, when in the prime of life, he said " good-by " to the family at home and came to "Little Ford." Hope, a pleas- ant acquaintance, an enjoyable traveling companion, but an un- safe guide, was chiefly in charge of his affairs. Her picture of a new country usually shows only the pleasant days, the gentle showers, warm sunshine, bountiful harvests, maximum prices and general prosperity. As a consequence, an unusual buoyancy of spirit, neighborly feeling and general good-will manifested them- selves in the disposition of our " oldest inhabitant." It is quite possible that Hope has this panorama still on exhibition, and at this time beyond the great rivers to the West, and rumor says that the crowds of " early settlers " still follow her. thus endeavor- ing to reach the still undiscovered land of "milk and honey." There is scarcely a man, his years having reached threescore and ten, whose life, if written in detail, would not be of great in- terest. But in this chapter, we shall only mention a few hap- penings as related to us by the early comers to this county.
The line of travel, at the earliest date of which we have any account, was from Danville, Vermilion County, of which Ford once formed a part ; thence to Sugar Grove, on the south line of the present Button Township; thence to Trickel Grove, in the same township ; thence to Ten Mile Grove, in Patton Township, crossing the present line of the Illinois Central Railroad in the southern limits of Paxton, a short distance south of Ottawa street, and over the handsome knoll, the present site of A. C. Thomp- son's residence; thence from Ten Mile Grove, passing south of where Henderson Station now stands; afterward this part of the route was changed when D. C. Stoner settled on the present Stoner farm, passing by his residence ; thence in a northerly di- rection past the home of Mr. Wall in the present Wall Township ; thence to Oliver's Grove, Livingston County ; thence to Pontiac and Ottawa. From the latter place communication was had with Chicago. Latterly the route to Chicago from Ford County was more direct, crossing the Kankakee River near the present city of the same name.
At one time the nearest post office to the settlers at Trickel Grove was Danville.
Afterward, a mail route was established, and the mail was carried, generally on horseback, over the above-described route. Henry Tuttle was one of the first mail carriers. William Har- ris carried the mail from Danville to Pontiac, making the round trip once each week.
This was a very responsible position, as large sums of money were constantly passing through the mails in those days.
About 1850, as near as can be ascertained, a post office was provided for on the William Walker farm, Button Township, then occupied by John Dops, who became the Postmaster. This post office was called Point Pleasant.
About 1852, Thomas Lyon, afterward a resident of Paxton, was appointed Postmaster, and continued to discharge the duties of the office for seven years. This line of travel was the great route for Westerly-bound emigrants, at least as far as Ten Mile Grove, where the lines diverged. A reliable citizen informs us that he has seen as many as forty emigrant wagons settled for the night in Sugar Grove. This was a favorite camping place, hav- ing an abundant supply of fuel and good water. It is said that in 1855 the number of emigrants far exceeded those of preceding or subsequent years.
The accounts given are related by the persons whose names appear at the beginning of each incident or statement, viz. :
William R. Trickel, came to Trickel Grove with his father's family about 1836, and settled on the present Button homestead in the township of the same name. The house was built of logs, the family camping in the grove during its construc- tion. A portion of the logs were cut into lumber with a "whip" saw at an expense of $1.25 per 1,000 feet, by men who made this their business. This was considered good wages, as laborers without trades received but 50 cents per day. The best horses brought but $50, and ordinary ones $40. The very best cows sold for $10, the usual price being 88. Land was 81.25 per acre, and could be had in abundance. When living at Trickel Grove, they traded at Danville, thirty-one miles distant, and every autumn they hauled a load of wheat to Chicago, and exchanged it for a barrel of salt, a side of sole leather, a side of upper leather, bolt of sheeting, twenty-five pounds of coffee, and other necessaries. The father made the shoes for the family. The price of wheat was then 60 to 75 cents per bushel.
Game was abundant in those days. Wild deer could be readily obtained, and prairie chickens were so numerous that there was no market for them. "Saddle" venison was taken by the load to Danville, and was slow sale at 50 cents each. Prairie wolves made night ring with their yells. On one occasion, in a two weeks' hunt, two of the Trickel boys killed twenty-two wild tur- keys in addition to other game secured. Wild turkeys came in flocks or droves only occasionally, being far more numerous nearer Danville.
Harmon Strayer came to Ford County in 1851 and settled near Sugar Grove, afterward removing a few miles north to his present residence. His early neighbors were Thomas Lyon, John Dops, Simeon Alkire, Matthew Elliott, James P. Button. Their trading points were Danville, Higgins- ville and Myersville. Their custom was to feed out their grain to live stock, and the latter was bought up by buyers from La Fayette and other cities. In 1857, the schoolhouse in Range 11 was built. First directors were Harmon Strayer, T. B. Strayer and Charles Mullen. First teacher was James Edgar.
Previous to this, Simon Mitchell taught school in the cabin of Jacob Tanners. W. Jesse Button, when but sixteen years of nge, taught in this schoolhouse; and the old settlers still say, " it was the best school we have ever had."
FORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
A society of the Christian Church was organized at an early day, and held their services in the Range 11 or Strayer School- house until the present brick church was erected. The names of some of the ministers were Rev. Elisha Scott, Rev. Holloway, Rev. Rolla Martin.
After the Illinois Central Railroad was built, the farmers in the Strayer neighborhood dealt principally at Loda, Iroquois County, until a station was provided where Paxton now stands.
Harmon Strayer assessed Patton Township in 1858, which at that time comprised what is now Ford County. After the new county of Ford was formed, D. C. Stoner was the first Assessor. Mr. Strayer received $60 for his services as Asses- sor.
Mr. Strayer relates that when he first came to this county, deer were frequently seen on the prairies ; one of their watering places was at a slough on the Strayer farm.
Thomas Lyon settled at Sugar Grove in 1850, and his son, now a resident of Paxton, states that their early neighbors were Elihu Daniels, Samuel Kerr, William Chenoweth, Daniel All- hands, Hiram Driscol, John Wilson and others, whose names are already mentioned.
When John Dops lived in the log cabin on the William Walker farm, his home was the gathering place of the people, and here were held spelling, singing and writing schools and church services. This time was as early as 1851. Singing schools were carried on without regular teacher. "We would meet and have a general sing and practice new pieces." When Elim Bales moved into the settlement, he, being an excellent singer, took charge of the singing class.
Rev. Henry Gunn was one of the carly preachers (1853), and was of the Christian Church. Rev. John Emily came in 1855, and organized the New-Light society at John Bales'.
About 1852, Thomas Lyon was made Postmaster, and held the office seven years, as previously mentioned. Some eighteen years after he had given up the office, the post office department at Washington sent Mr. Lyon 896 balance due him on account.
During their early settlement at Sugar Grove, the farmers found it necessary to have persons care for the growing crops to prevent depredation from the herds of deer.
Dr. J. E. Davis located at Drummer Grove in 1854, and at that time there was no house to be seen as far as the eye could reach across the prairie. Wild ducks and geese were numerons. Prairie wolves infested this locality in great numbers. This part of the county being sparsely timbered was settled slowly, and re- mained as a herding ground for many years. Dr. Davis says : " I have with the aid of my field-glass counted herds which ag gregated 17,000 head of cattle." The winter he came to this locality, he could count herds of decr of from twenty to seventy- five quite often. His first crop of sixty acres was eaten by them, assisted by the ducks, brants and gecse. A choice fat saddle of venison, weighing thirty to thirty-five pounds, would sell for 75 cents. In the winter of 1865, there came a heavy sleet. A hunting party was organized, and secured fourteen deer the first day and seven the day following.
The spring of 1858 opened beautifully, and thus remained until April 16, when it began raining, and rained, more or less, every day until June 10. This was known as the " wet year." The year 1860 was remarkably favorable from early spring until winter. The winter of 1862-63 was remarkably warm and open. There were only four days during the winter when the ground was frozen hard enough to bear up a team. Frost killed the corn on the 28th of August, 1863, and the next winter many hogs died from starvation. On New Year's Day, 1864, we had a nota- ble snow storm and blizzard, which caused great suffering to the people of Central Illinois and to the live stock. Railroad trains were snow blockaded for many days.
The only remarkable seasons since then were those of 1809 and 1875, which were very wet.
Stacy Daniels, who settled here in 1856, assisted in build- ing the Stites House or City Hotel, R. Clark's, A. C. Thom- son's, George Wright's, the Sheriff's residence and jail, besides many other residences and business houses. He states that in 1856 there were in what is now the original town of Paxton, the following buildings: On Ottawa street, just west of the rail- road, the residence of William Goodrich, where elections were held at an early day ; the Stites homestead, east of the railroad; Shilling's boarding house, next east of Stites', which was after- ward moved up town ; the Thomas Daniels' residence adjoining Shilling's on the east, now used by the Stiteses for carriage house; on the north side of Ottawa street opposite the Stites residence, was the general store building of Dryden Donnelly, and next cast was Mr. Donnelly's residence. Then came a small octagon building built and used as a meeting place for the "Spiritual Circle." The latter building now stands just west of the south- west corner of the old cemetery. The Goodrich residence has since been destroyed by fire. The Donnelly store and residence have been moved north into the business part of the town.
At an early day, the meetings of the Spiritualists gave to this locality the name of " Spiritual Hollow." Mr. Goodrich con- ducted a small store at his residence. The first business house in Paxton, west of the railroad, was the Cloyes Bros. store, now owned and occupied by S. D. Cooper.
Remembrance Clark erected the first building west of the railroad and on the east side of Market street, Paxton, which he occupied as a residence and store. This is now his large and commodious home. This building was completed in 1859, Mr. Clark removing his family here the year following. Cloyes Bros. and Mr. Barnhouse were conducting general stores in Pax- ton when Mr. Clark began his very successful business career in our city. At the deep cut, where Orleans street crosses the rail-
road, was once a bridge over the railroad for public travel. The money paid by Mr. Clark for his lots was applied in the con- struction of this bridge.
John Hanley came to Illinois in 1855, and at an early date opened a lumber yard and grain office west of the I. C. R. R. depot, Paxton. As there was no side track here then, he re- ceived permission from the railway company to put in a short siding with old irons and ties to be gathered from along the rail- road track. This was accordingly done by the citizens, and Paxton was provided with the necessary side track for freight cars. Previous to this the unloading of freight was done at Loda, four miles north, or on special occasions the train was halted long enough on the main track at Paxton to hurriedly unload heavy freights.
B. F. Stites, now of Hoopeston, says, in regard to the pin- neers of Prairie City, then Prospect City, now Paxton, that B. F. and J. N. Stites arrived at that place December, 1853. In the summer of 1854, they improved the forty acres on College Hill, known as the Ilasselquist place, and now occupied by the Glen Cemetery. The same autumn they built the Donnelly House on the north side of Ottawa street, previously mentioned. Stites homestead, on Ottawa street, and William Goodrich's house were erected in 1854.
The winter of 1854-55 occurred the "snow blockade." when B. F. Stites hauled passengers from the train (which had become snowbound in the "cut " just north of Ottowa street) to his house on the Hasselquist place. The house stood in the north- west corner of the cemetery near the potter's field. Mr. Stites says he transported the passengers with sled and ox team. At one time he had sixty persons in his house, a building 18x22 feet. There were probably upper rooms. The supply of bread was exhausted, and he went to Loda for provisions. Ile says seven locomotive engines were at this time " snowed up" in the cut as stated.
James Sheldon, of Pella, who came to Ford County in 1865, relates that, February 14, 1866, there was a very severe storm of snow. Sheep and hogs were smothered and frozen to death in great numbers. On the day after the storm, Mr. Sheldon, assisted by Mr. Conrow and Mr. Hobbis, took 200 head of live sheep from under the snow and thirty-six dead ones. He also states that Mr. Bennett, just over the line in Livingston County, lost 900 sheep during this storm.
George H. Thompson, formerly of Lyman and now a resi- dent of Kansas, writes : " The years of 1857-58-59 were hard times for the new settlers on the Illinois Central Railroad lands. Crops were short, and the people all pretty poor. They often received relief from their 'wives' relatives in the East, but the yearly interest on the lands purchased from the railroad company could not be met, and many fearing they would lose their little homes were troubled. S. K. Marston, the only man who had a respectable suit of clothes to wear to Chicago, was sent to inter- view the land officials of the company. Arrangements were made to get the payments extended, and some seed wheat was forwarded and loaned to those who needed, and by economizing in all things, using peas and rye for coffee, red root for tea, sorghum for sweetening, and then patching up the old clothes, they bridged over these bad years. July 4, 1859, the settlers of the township collected their best garments for use on the great Independence day, and held a picnic at 'School Section ' Grove, near Roberts'. Although shy of each other at first, the ice was broken and the foundation laid for many happy, social times in the years that followed, which will ever be remembered by your correspondent from the grasshopper State."
Henry R. Daggett, one of the early settlers of Paxton, now of Petoskey, Mich., favors us with the following : " In 1859, R. Clark and myself arrived in Prospect City. The day following our arrival, I bought a farm just west of town, and during the summer built a house and small barn. The house is the present residence of A. Croft, Esq. I take the following from my jour- nal : April 8, 1859-This morning the ground is covered with snow. A cannon arrived in town and was fired a few times. April 9, we had a celebration for the new county. The cannon was fired and the few people there were rejoiced-this same old cannon you now have in Paxton. The first Sabbath I spent in Paxton, a number of us started for Sabbath school. We were stopping at the Shilling House (now Occidental), and our route was across the railroad by footpath in a straight line to the Barn- house corner (southeast corner Vermilion and Orleans streets), thence to the little building on the southeast corner of Franklin and Union streets. Since then this house has had a small addi- tion built on the east side of it. This was the public school house and church. Miss Lyon, now Mrs. S. L. Day, was the teacher. We entered the Sabbath school and joined the Bible class, of which Mr. Edgar was teacher. Following the session of the Sabbath school came preaching services by Rev. E. Dunham. The building was too small to accommo- date all who came, so the men stood outside. Rev. Charles Granger, Congregationalist, and Rev. Edwards, Baptist, also held services at the same place at stated times. Rev. Brown, Baptist, also officiated in Paxton at a later date. Following the services at the little schoolhouse as mentioned, came Sabbath school and preaching in the upper story of the Rice warehouse, which was recently destroyed by fire. Mr. Hurd was Superin- tendent. Then we went to the new schoolhouse, which after- ward became the Swedish Lutheran Church, and now the Baptist Church. This schoolhouse stood on Block D, 'original town, east.' Here I became Superintendent of the Union Sabbath School.
" Rev. George Schlosser was called by the Congregational Church which was organized. From the second schoolhouse we
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went to the present public school building. Here Mr. Schlosser commenced his preaching. From here we went to the court house, and about this time (1865) the Methodists and Congrega- tionalists built their churches, and then each held its own Sabbath school.
" While I was Superintendent, I missed but three Subbaths for three years, and many times I had to provide wood or coal, build fires and sweep the room. But this has to be done in a new country.
" While living in the Croft house, John Hendrickson was an- sisting me in improving the farm. Just before the 4th of July, 1859, he proposed to make a flag if I would provide the material. This was done, and on the morning of Independence Day, the flag was flying from a fine flag-stuff just in front of the house. When Fort Sumter was fired on, this flag was run up and there it remained until it was worn out."
Samuel L. Day came with his father's family to Ford County, then Vermilion, in 1853. Ilis recollection is that the voting place for all of Ford and part of Vermilion was then at Marys- ville. His father, went there to vote. At the time of their ar- rival, there were no houses between Trickel Grove and Ten Mile Grove, and none between the latter and Oliver's Grove. At one time (1854) he joined a party of neighbors to search for a man who had set out to drive some cattle from Ten Mile to Oliver's Grove. Ile was found some two weeks afterward about midway between the two groves frozen to death. The wind at that time had full sweep, and came sharp end foremost over the prairies. Mr. Day relates that he has had many an exciting deer and wolf chase. Ile has scen as many as one hundred deer in one herd in this vicinity. IIe assisted in putting the roof on the first building erected in Paxton. This was the William Goodrich house previously mentioned.
When Ford County was organized, Mr. Day became the first Circuit Clerk, and was again elected for a full term.
N. B. Day relates that while out on the search for the man mentioned by his brother Samuel, that an cagle of great size was discovered. It had been injured in some manner, and after a spirited chase was captured. One of the company riding a young horse proposed to take charge of the bird and convey it home. Accordingly, placing it upon the saddle before him, the company pursued their search. Very soon a wail of anguish from the rider with the eagle in charge startled every one. The flapping of the eagle's wings frightened the horse and away he went over the prairie. The secret of the trouble was that the eagle with won- derful strength and precision had fixed his talons in his keeper's thigh. The result was that before his grip could be loosened the eagle's life had to be taken. This incident created much merri- ment, although a very painful affair to the chief actor, and for years afterward was related with much spirit to the new comers. In the autumn of 1953, while Mr. Day, Mr. Hock and Mr. Newlin were driving about 300 head of cattle to the Chicago market, they took the more direct route by way of Kankakee. The old trail was by way of Ottawa. Arriving at the Kankakee River, they undertook to ford it. A mile up the river was a bridge, but the owners of the cattle, with an eye to business, had directed these young men to avoid crossing at the bridge, thus saving the toll. The cattle plunged into the river and soon the entire drove was swimming in a circle in the middle of the river. In a short time they would certainly have drowned, horns be- ing the principal things in sight. Dashing in on horseback, they separated a large ox from the drove and swimming their horses they directed this leader of the herd across the river. Looking back, they discovered the rest swimming after them, and soon the entire lot were grazing on the north bank of the river.
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