Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 40

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1126

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"The first year of onr incorporate existenee was singularly distinguishable for the frequent meetings, parliamentary etiquette, violent debate and crowded audiences, for it was the only source of amusement then afforded to those who didn't read to break the monotony of long nights, and relieve them from the ennui of want of thought and vacant mind. for we had tall speech- ifying and long controversial discussions on hog and dog laws, street paving and sidewalks, public wells and private awnings, nuisances, and what were or were not such ; levying taxes, erecting a town hall and, above all, what the majority con- sidered of highest importance, and a minority of no importance at all. or next to a nuisance as a place to breed fleas in, a Marlet House. But we exerted all our utmost energies of thought. displayed all our highest oratorical powers, oc- cupied more time and legislated on money mat- ters and concerns, and devised means for laying out more dollars in improving our town. than would at this day finish the Washington monu- ment in the District of Columbia."

There have been three epochs in the history of Rushville which mark clearly the various periods of her existence. Each one stands to a certain well-defined degree apart from the oth- ers : each has produced its leaders and has ex- erted its far-reaching intheuce upon the growth and development of the city.

First comes the period of settlement to recite

the history of which is to tell the story of the fortitude and struggles of the pioneer settlers. who made for themselves a home in the wilder- ness. Following this is what may be termed the speculative period. when fortunes were made by shrewd business men and dazzling prospects for the future greatness of Rushville were indulged in at a time when the industries of the State were in their infancy. Then came the era of slow substantial growth, when Rushville, as it appears today, was builded. For the sake of comparison it is most convenient to divide these epochs into periods of twenty-five years, each.

Let us first consider Rushville for the years 1825 to 1850. This was the formative age when city and county were yet undeveloped and sparse- ly settled. It was a time when every village on the then western frontier aspired to be the me- tropolis of the West. Rushville, like other towns, bad her aspirations and in those early days the future indeed looked bright, but in the later development of railroad building the city was un- fortunately located and did not come in for the benefits that the great lines of transportation be- stowed so lavishly.

When the Commissioners decided upon the southwest quarter of Section 30, 2 N., 1 W. for the site of the county-seat, Richard Black was in possession of the land. He had purchased the claim of Willis O'Neal, and lived in a house on the lot now owned by Mrs. E. D. Leach. MIr. Black was entered out of his land by the county, and lost what he had paid on his claim.

The first cabin erected within what is now the bounds of Rushville was built by John B. Terry, on a lot south of the Webster School building. Soon afterwards Hart Fellows erected a cabin where 11. M. Dace's store stands, and it was here the first stock of goods was put on sale. a gentle- man from Jacksonville owning the stock. In 1528 Rushville was granted a government postoffice and Hart Follows was named as Post- master. The first industry to be established in the village was a tannery that was operated on West Lafayette street near the town branch by Dr. James Blackburn. In 1831 Hodge & Hunter established a carding mill. the first to be operated in the Military Tract. and they did a thriving business for many years. Among the early mer- chants were Benj. Chadsey and Thomas W. Scott, who were in business here in 1830.

The first tavern in Rushville was kept by Orris McCartney, and in the County Commissioner's

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

court of November 3, 1525. he was granted a

license and his scale of prices fixed as follows :

One Meal .1891

With Horse .25

Ilorse Feed 1212

Lodging .0611

Whisky (12 pint ) 1216

Whisky (1 gill) . 0614

Foreign spirits (12 pint)

Foreign spirits (1 gill) 1216

Cider or beer, (1 quart) 1213

In 1834 Rushville was credited with a popula- tion of 750 in "Peck's Gazetteer of Illinois," and the following faets were given of the town's industries : "Rushville has six stores, two groceries, two taverns, four cabinet makers, four brick masons and plasterers, three carpenters, two blacksmithis, four tanneries, one steam saw and grist-mill, one carding factory, four lawyers and two physicians."

Within the next two years the town had a rapid growth. Churches were erected and al- most every denomination was represented. In 1835 a newspaper was established, and this in- deed was a luxury that few of the Illinois towns supported. In a copy of the Rushville Journal of 1836 we find the names of the following busi- ness firms : General merchandise -- Nelson & Robertson, Drake & Pemy. G. H. Scripps. J. & R. H. Burton, MeCrosky & Bailey, J. & T. Parrott, Fellows & Burton, Dawley & Wells, R. H. Hurblut & Co., Parrott & Olcott, Montgom- ery & Gray; Drugs and books -- J. W. Clark ; Groceries-G. W. Baker, MeCabe & Ritchie; Tin shop-Robert Dorsey and Isaac Greer; Hat factory-A. La Croix ; Chair factory-Wm. Snei- der; Tannery-Geo. Baker: Saddlery -- True & Garrett ; Cabinet-Maker-E. II. O. Seeley ; Black- smith-John B. Seeley ; Physicians-Dr. J. S. Dunlap, Dr. G. B. Roger, Dr. J. W. Clark. Dr. B. V. Teel, Dr. F. J. Maloy, Dr. Hall ; Attorneys --- W. A. Minshall, William A. Richardson, J. M. Mccutchen.

It is interesting in this connection to record the impressions of a visitor to Rushville, a man of wide experience in the world and who had traveled from London, England, to visit with relatives in this city. We refer to William Ar- miger Scripps, who visited Rushville in the sum- mer of 1833. To reach this eity he traveled a distance of 1650 miles from New York City by boat and stage, and was thirty six days making the trip. Ile arrived in Rushville July 25. 1-33,

having traveled by way of Chicago, thence to Ot- tawa overland. and from there down the Illinois River in a canoe to the Frederick Landing. In a letter written to his wife in England, he gives a description of Rushville of that day, which is full of interest. It reads :

"This is an inland town, very healthy and dry and free from mosquitos, situated on a prairie with extensive woods behind it. When brother (John Scripps) came here there were only four or five houses. Now the population is 500 or 600, with a court house, steam mill, seven stores and two groceries, and is increasing in trade and magnitude. Business to any extent could be car- ried on here at enormous profit. Money is in great demand for which 25 to 30 per cent can be obtained, and mortgage security. Twelve per cent is the legal interest, which is considered so very little that capitalists despise it.

"As for living, this is a land literally flowing with milk and honey. Fine cows cost about $10 each, cost nothing to keep, and scarcely any at- tention. lloney, if bought, is about six cents a pound. The finest coffee I ever tasted, brought up the Mississippi from San Domingo. retails at five pounds for $1, or twenty cents a pound. Ten is equally good and cheap. Beef is about four cents a pound, pork about half that price; chickens from 75 cents to $1 per dozen ; four is from $4 to $5 a barrel. In short, eating and drinking they consider as costing next to noth- ing. But wages and clothing are very high. A journeyman carpenter or smith gets from $1.75 to 82 a day, besides lodging and board. I shall have much to say on my return. The last week or two have opened my eyes a little. The traders are carrying all before then-100 per cent! !! 12 per cent on unpaid accounts !! household ex- penses scarcely nothing."

While there was great prosperity in the year Mr. Scripps visited Rushville, the panic of 1836- 37 swept away many bastily built mercantile businesses, and merchants who had large out- standing accounts were utterly ruined. Business stability thus shaken to its very foundation, was rot restored for ten or twelve years to come.

The rapid development of Rushville in the first decade of its history was such as to attract at- tention in the great trade centers of the East and South. where our merchants made annual trips to purchase merchandise, and the town grew rapidly. The fever of speculation was rife throughout the West, and this was augmented by

Corpus Le, DE Hitt

691

HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

a vast scheme of State internal improvement, wherein the Legislature was to spend $7,500,000 on river improvements and railroad construction. Rushville at this time was an important station on the State road from Springfield to Quincy, and a great portion of overland travel to the Galena lead mines also passed through the vil- lage. There were stage routes to Quincy, Carth- age, Beardstown. Macomb and Lewistown, and the government mail contractor for this part of the State made his headquarters at Rushville. Greater things were expected when the gigantic scheme of internal improvements was inaugur- ated, but it was a strange stroke of fate that the first railroad constructed in Illinois detracted from Rushville a great portion of the transient business she had heretotore enjoyed. This road, running from Springfield to Meredosia, was first operated on November 8, 1538, and when trains began to run regularly, nfuch of the tratlie from Quincy to Springfield that had formerly passed through Rushville, was turned southward to Meredosia. The hard thes of 1836-40, following close upon the collapse of the internal improve- ment scheme, was a sad blow to the booming Illinois towns, and its effect was widespread and general throughout the State and Rushville. along with other ambitious villages, suffered in consequence and, in the decade from 1840 to 1850. her growth was slow.

The second period of Rushville's history-from 1850 to 1ST5-was, we might say, the heroic age. Speculation in land was at its high tide; new enterprises were inaugurated and the business of the town had reached tremendous proportions for an inland village. To add to the glowing prospects for future growth was the certainty of railroad construction. In 1550 pork-packing was the most important industry in Rushville and, during the winter months, employment was given to a large force of men and big shipments were made to St. Louis each spring when navigation on the Illinois River opened.

Among the prominent merchants of that period were George Little. William II. Ray, Thomas Wilson, Jolm Beatty, R. Il. Griffith. August Nell, W. W. Wells, Angust and Joseph Warren. G. W. Metz. James McCreery.

Among the leading manufacturing industries were the following: Wagon Factory, established by J. & J. Knowles in 1919; Schuyler Flouring mill, established by George Moench in 187; Rushville City Flouring mill. established by Lit-

tle & Ray in 1947: Rushville Brick and Tile Works. established by John MeCabe in 1866; Rushville Martde Yards, established by William Prosier in 1539; Rushville Tanery, established by Angust Peter 1962: Rushville Woolen Mills, established 1565. In 1956 Rushville's two oldest papers. The Times and The Citizen, were estab- lished and given the mines they now bear.

During these same years Rushville men in public life were soaring at the top. Hon. William A. Richardson was in the United States Senate; John Locke Scripps was aiding in founding The Chicago Tribune: P. H. Walker was on the supreme bench of Illinois, and John C. Bagby and William 11. Ray were representatives in Congress. J. D. Erwin and John P. Rieinhoud were promi- nent members of the Ilinois Legislature before the war and the favorite sons of Rushville were conspienons in the affairs of State and nation.

Meantime the town continued to thrive and prosper and many of the mercantile houses es- tablished during this period still exist. and-the business is carried on how by another generation of the same families in larger and more pro- tentious buildings, Lat of the scores of promi- nent merchants whose business was founded in the year 1:50 and Is60 bone remain in active business life. And so it happens that, while the primitive business houses have long since disappeared, some of the early builders lived to aid in the regeneration of the modern Rushville, and have left the impress of their industry and progressive ideas upon the city of today.

The story of Rushville's growth during the last twenty-five years is too long to be told in detail. but the main facts can be chronicled briefly. In 1850 there were four brick store- buildings on the public square. Now there are scores of them of a uniform style of architecture and only one frame building remains as a reife of the old days. The symmetrical style of the builtlings in the business district zive hints of disastrous fires and Rushville has saffenul se- verely in this respect, but. Phoenix like, has wach time arisen from the ashes and the end build- ings were replaced by fine new business blocks.

The south side of the square w. s the first to suffer and on January 11. 15-2. Med the block was burned ; the year following the ast end of the north side was burned on Aner. 1. 1ss, and May 20. 19%. four buildings on the east side of the square were destroyed.

In the residence portion of the city the in-

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

provements have kept pace with those in the business center and new additions have been platted to allow the city's growth. After all is sald. the spirit that is abroad among the people themselves; the spirit that appreciates the wealth of nature and the need for effort on the part of man : the spirit to work and do its best. is more significant and important in the long run than anything proved by existing facts and reminiscences of the past.

First incorporated as a village May 10, 1831, Rushville so continued until March 2, 1539, when the Illinois Legislature granted a special charter and Rushville was incorporated as a town, and the municipal government was vested in seven Trustees, who served without compensation.

On Monday, May 11, 1SOS. the voters of Rush- ville decided to abandon the special charter and adopt city organization under the General State Law. At an election hekt May 10, 1898, Dr. R. C. Amrine was elected the first Mayor of Rushville. Since then the following Mayors have served the city: George Hartman, 1899-1901; D. II. Glass, 1901-2003; Dr. T. W. Scott, 1903- 1905; Lewis A. Jarman, 1905-1907; A. J. Lash- mell, 1907-

The population of the City of Rushville, ac- cording to the census of 1900, was 2.292, of which 629 fell within Buena Vista Township and 1,663 in Rushville Township.

. CHAPTER XIX.

TOWNSHIP HISTORY.

SKETCHES OF INDIVIDUAL TOWNSHIPS IN SCHUYLER COUNTY-BAINBRIDGE. BIRMINGHAM, BROOKLYN, BROWNING, BUENA VISTA. CAMDEN, FREDERICK. HICKORY, HUNTSVILLE, LITTLETON, OAKLAND, RUSHVILLE AND WOODSTOCK TOWNSHIPS-GEO- GRAPHICAL LOCATION AND CHARACTERISTICS- FIRST SETTLERS. WHENCE THEY CAME AND WHERE THEY LOCATED -- FIRST CHURCHES AND FIRST SCHOOLS-LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS AND IM- PORTANT EVENTS-POPULATION IN 1900.

In the following pages will be found au in- dividual history of each of the thirteen town-

ships comprised within the limits of Schuyler County, arranged in alphabetical order for con- venience of reference :

BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP.

Bainbridge, by reason of its location near the Illinois River, was one of the first townships in the county to be settled and. during the year 1823. it was invaded by the pioneers who built their cabins and made a clearing in the timber for the cultivation of their crops.

Bounded on the south by the Illinois River and Crooked Creek and traversed from north to south by Crane and Coal Creeks, it naturally fol- lows that the land surface of the township is broken and rugged. Along all these streams there is a rich alluvial soil that yields tre- miendous erops in seasous when the land is not overflowed by water. Much of the land that was considered unfit for cultivation twenty years ago, and carried each successive year on the delin- quent tax-roll. has now been reclaimed and a large portion of it is in cultivation.

Along the Illinois River a tract of land em- bracing 7,000 acres has been taken into a drain- age district and, by a system of levees and lateral drainage ditches in the enclosed portion, an effort is being made to reclaim the land. Another re- clamation project was started in 1908 when the Crane Creek Drainage and Levee District was organized and 5,000 acres will be reclaimed.

Bainbridge Township is the only section of Schuyler County that does not show an out- cropping of coal veins of sufficient thickness for mining purposes. But while this mineral vein is lacking. there are others present that may prove more valuable. In the neighborhood of New- berry a well marked deposit of zine has been located, but whether it is present in sufficient quantity to work profitably has never been de- termined. In the same neighborhood specimens of lead have been found, but the surface in- dications are not so favorable for this mineral as for zine.

Thomas MeKee and Willis O'Neal were the first settlers in Bainbridge Township. In the fall of 1823 they came to Schuyler County from Kentucky and built their cabins six miles south of the Hobart settlement, where the entire pop- tilation of the county. numbering perhaps a score of people, was centered. Thomas McKee built

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

his cabin on the northeast quarter of Section 20 and Willis O'Neal located on Section 16. Me- Kee was a trained mechanic and, as soon as he bad erected a home for his family, he constructed a workshop and this was the first blacksmith shop in the county. Ilis coming was a valuable addition to the little settlement, for he was a natural mechanic and gunsmith, and in his little log shop he did a good business for those pioneer times. Willis O'Neal later moved from Bainbridge and settled on the present site of Rushville, and took a prominent part in the af- fairs of the county in the early years of its his- tory. He afterwards removed to Brown Counts.

In 1824 David and Thomas Blair and Jacob White settled on Sertions 2 and 3, and in that same year George Naught, who had come from Whiteside County with his brother Isaac and settled on Section 36, Woodstock, removed to Bainbridge where he afterwards made bis home.

Jonathan Reno and John A. Reeve were among the newcomers in 1825 who settled in Bainbridge. In November. 1526. Abraham Lemaster and his son-in-law. Charles Hatfield. moved into the town- ship and purchased Willis O'Neal's improvement. James B. Atwood, William Mitchell, Moses Pet- tigrew. Archibald Parris. James Edmonston, James, William and John Evans were among those who came in 1827. Rev. Joseph Bell. a Baptist minister. Isaac Briggs, George Butler. Peter DeWitt, Samuel Jackson, Sanford Close, Elisha Hudson, Jerre Jackson and Thomas How- ell were all residents of the township prior to 1830. Among other early residents were: Allen Persinger, Daniel Matheny, Jonathan Reddick, Harvey Phinney, John Jacobs, John Bowling, John Dougherty, James Lawler, Jonathan Pat- teson, Ebenezer Grist and Apollos Ward.

The first mill in the township was built by Ephraim Eggleston on the bank of Crane Creek on Section 19. The mill was erected in 1827 and was barely in operation when there came a sud- den flood on this now famous erratic stream, that carried away the improvement down stream. Zeph Tyson built the second mill in 1835 and it was operated by horse-power.

The first school building in the township was on Section 15, and John Parker. Joseph Bell and William Burusides were among the first teachers.

There is not now a town or postoffice in Bain- bridge Township, the postoffice at Center having been discontinued in 1904, when the rural free delivery system was extended to the township.

The town of Newburg, now commonly known as Newberry, was founded by Joseph Newburg and was surveyed and platted by Franeis E. Bryant, County Surveyor. April 24. 1840. There was once a store and blacksmith shop there, but all semblance of a town has long since disappeared.

The population of Bainbridge Township. ac- cording to the census of 1900, was 1,210.

BIRMINGHAM TOWNSHIP.

The farthest outlaying township in Schuyler County is Birmingham, located in the extreme north-west corner. It is bounded on the north by MeDonough County and on the west by Han- cock County, and its business is largely tributary to Plymouth. the nearest shipping point. This township is almost equally divided between un- (ulating and fertile prairie land in the south and north, and heavy timber land along the wa- ter courses. The farms are well improved and the land valuable for grain farming and stock raising.

Brummel Sapp was the first settler in Birming- ham Township. He was a neighbor in North Carolina of the Manlove family, who first settled in Schuyler in 1824. Their glowing accounts of the new country fired bis enthusiasm and, in the early fall of 1831, he started on the long journey to the frontier in Illinois, llis family consisting of his wife and children. Harmon, Jefferson, Jacob, Adain, Newell. William, S. R. and Sarah, accompanied him, and they reached Rushville in early winter of that year. Ilere the family re- mained until the spring of 1832, when they ouce more packed up their household belongings and began the journey westward. Far removed from all other settlements he located on the south- western part of the northwest quarter of Section 3. in Birmingham Township, and there in the solitude of the forest built his home, and his after years were spent on the old homestead and his descendants are today numerously represented in the population of the township.

Soon after Mr. Sapp settled in Birmingham his old neighbor in North Carolina, David Manlove, removed there from the Rushville settlement. He was followed soon afterward by Moses and Jonathan D. Manlove, who settled nearby. Other settlers who came in 1832 were Peter Popham from Kentucky, and a man named Haggard, also Edward and David Wade. Isaac Pigeon was a

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

near neighbor of Mr. Sapp in 1533, and William and Jesse Bodenhammer and Adam Wier came from North Carolina in that same year. In 1834 the settlement was further increased by the arrival of three brothers, Alexander, John and Charles Bilderback, who came from Vamis County, Ill., where their father had arrived from Kentucky some years before. William 11. and James Bilderback, the remaining brothers, fol- lowed in the fall of that year. About this time James G. King and David Graham settled in the township. Thomas Twidell and Simeon Mor- ris, from Virginia, were among the settlers of 1834, settling in Round Prairie. In 1836 James and Harrison Graham and John L. Carden and family made the long journey west from Vir- ginia, in response to letters that had been sent home by David Graham. William Edwards, John T. Gash, Col. Geo. HI. Briscoe, John L. Ewing, William Noel. S. S. Walker and Edward Whipple were others of the early pioneers who settled in Birmingham Township in the 'thirties.

The early home-seekers in Birmingham were men who had faith in the future development of the rich country of Illinois, and as soon as they had reared their cabins aud planted their crops, they turned their attention to developing the resources nearest at hand. In 1835 Robert Wil- son. a practical mill-wright came to the settle- ment, and in partnership with David Graham, began the construction of a water mill on the northeast quarter of Section 11. They built a dam aeross Crooked Creek at this point, and the first grist was ground in 1836. The mill was a two-story frame building, and the power was obtained from an undershot wheel. It remained in service until 18 2 when. on May 5. a spring freshet undermined the wheel and it was car- ried down stream.

The building of the mill was an incentive to greater effort in the development of the country. and on July 1. 1536. the village of Birmingham was platted by Allen Persinger for David Gra- ham. David Manlove and Moses Manlove, the proprietors. The prospectus issued by the town- site promoters, and published in all the eastern papers, was a most glowing one, and the new town-site was heralded as a thrifty manufac- turing center at the head of navigation on the La Moine River. Like many other of the boom towns of 1836, Birmingham failed to fulfil the expectations of its enthusiastic promoters. but is today a pretty little country village along

whose boundary flows the waters of Crooked ('reek.

The first school in Birmingham was taught by William Noel in a log cabin in the village. In 1829 Birmingham was made a government post- otlice and William Noel was named as Post- master. The first church erected in the town- ship was built by the Protestant Methodists in the village in 1852.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 40

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1126

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1126