USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2 > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102
Daniel Matheney moved to Oakland from Woodstock Township soon after Mr. Ashcraft set- tled there, but later left the county. William Burress, a brother of Mrs. Ashcraft, came from Kentucky in December, 1832, and, together with his wife and one child, lived with his sister until a house could be built. In the spring of 1833 Josiah Downen located on Section 23. and the following year Joseph Logan settled on the same section, but afterwards removed to Littleton.
Prominent among the other early settlers were Caleb Houston, who located on Section 27 in 1834; Ephraim Hills, who removed from the Hobart settlement to Section 31 in 1835; Thomas Pemberton, who arrived in the fall of 1836 and took possession of the southwest quarter of Sec- tion 11, and Nicholas Pittenger, who came from Virginia in 1837 and located on the southwest quarter of Section 13.
The first birth in the township was that of James Ashcraft. September 3, 1833, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ashcraft. The first death also occurred in this family, their son, Abisha, dying in the spring of 1833.
The first school was taught by a man named Preston in the summer of 1835, in a cabin erected by Frederick Noble, on the southeast quarter of Section 21. Mr. Preston remained in the town- ship only two years.
Roy. Thomas Kane, a Free-Will Baptist. preached the first sermon in the fall of 1834 at the home of Richard Asheraft. Rev. Jolin P. Fast, Richard Ashcraft and Rev. Deacon Brown were other pioneer ministers.
James Skiles was the first merchant in the township and he opened a store on the north- east quarter of Section 34. In 1867 a postoffice known as Oil Ilill was established there, and Mr. Skiles was first postmaster.
When the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney Rail- road built its line through Oakland Township, a town was founded on the southeast quarter of
:06
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
Section 26 by William Seachrist, and named Oak- land. but was afterwards renamed Ray by the Railroad Company. The town was platted by J. W. Watts, County Surveyor, and les along the edge of the bluff. After the town was estab- lished James Skiles removed his store from Oil Hill and the postoffice was transferred at the same time.
Township population in 1900, 1.192.
RUSHVILLE TOWNSHIP.
Rushville Township was the home of the earli- est pioneer in Schuyler County, and it dates its history from February, 1823. Nor could those early pioneers have found a more suitable loca- tion. There was timber in plenty and an abun- dance of sparkling spring water, and the rich prairie land had natural drainage that allowed the cultivation of the deep black loam soil by the first settlers, who harvested abundant crops with but little labor.
These same lands where the first homeseeker broke the sod are the finest in Schuyler County. and more than eighty years of constant cultiva- tion has not impaired their fertility. But to this limited area of prairie land has been added a valuable area of land that. in those early days. was thickly covered with timber. Where the giant forest stood are now cultivated fields, save along the streams where the marketable timber has been removed and the young growth left standing.
Rushville Township is underlaid almost en- tirely hy an excellent yein of coal. Along the streams the coal seams crop out, and they fur- nished coal in the early days with but little effort on the part of the miner. Best results, however, are obtained by the shaft mines, and coal is found from forty to fifty feet below the surface. The vein varies in thickness from four to five feet and is of fine quality. Although extensively mined near Rushville and Pleasantview, it can be said that there are yet hundreds of acres of the finest coal lands in Illinois yet undeveloped in Rushville Township, and this great store house of mineral wealth will one day add immensely to the wealth of the property owners.
Inasmuch as the story of the carly settlement of Rushville Township is so closely associated with the general history of the county, it would mean but a repetition of other chapters to go into
detail. But it can here be said that the location of the county seat on the southwest quarter of Section 30 was a most fortunate one, for with Crooked Creek running through the center of the county as originally formed, it was the natural result that the county would be divided and, after this division, Rushville was almost the geo- graphical center of what became known as Schuyler County.
The only other town in Rushville Township is Pleasantview, located on the south half of Sex- tion 36. The town was laid out and platted by Ebenezer Dimmick, who was the first merchant and Postmaster.
Pleasantview is surrounded by a rich agricul- tural country and, in addition, there are several coal mines in operation there, which add to the wealth and prosperity of the village.
The total population of Rushville Township in 1900, including the larger part of the City of Rushville, was 2,893, of which 1,663 was within the city limits.
( A more detailed history of events in Rushville Township will be found in the following chapter on the City of Rushville.)
WOODSTOCK TOWNSIIIP.
Woodstock is one of the fractional townships of Schuyler County, Crooked Creek cutting off a portion of the southwest corner, making the township triangular in shape. The area included within the township, however, is equal to those six miles square. for there are fractional addi- tions ou the south and west.
The land surface of Woodstock Township is well drained by numerous streams that flow into Crooked Creek, and in consequence the greater portion of the township is rolling, although there is a large area of small prairies lying between. The soil is rich and productive. and suited alike for the cultivation of corn and wheat. The re- sources of the township are wholly agricultural. Coal is found in small quantity, but veins are not sufficiently large to mine profitably. There are no towns or postoffices in the township.
George and Isane Naught were the first set- tlers in Woodstock Township, loeating there the year following the first invasion of Schuyler County by homeseekers. They came from White- side County in 1524. first settling on Section 36. Soon afterwards George Naught removed to
707
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
Bainbridge Township, where he made his per- manent home. Isaac Naught continued to make his home in the township and reared a family of eleven children, and his grandchildren and great- grandchildren are today residents of the town- ship. In 1825 John: Starr and sou, Hasting Storr, and Thomas Eggleston joined the Naught settle- ment, locating on adjoining sections.
William Black was the pioneer settler in cen- tral Woodstock, moving there from what is now the city of Rushville in 1826. Mr. Black came to Schuyler in November, 1825, and purchased the claim of Willis O'Neal on the southwest quarter of Section 30, Rushville Township. The following spring the committee chosen to locate a county-seat selected this quarter, and Mr. Black was entered out, thereby losing the $200 he had paid O'Neal. When thus compelled to seek a new home he moved into Woodstock Township, lo- eating on the southwest quarter of Section 15. The Indians were then in possession of the coun- try, but a few years after Mr. Black had erected his cabin here a road from Rushville to Quincy was laid out, and his little cabin was the fre- quent stopping place of travelers, and the locality was known for years as the Black settlement. Mr. Black reared a large family and his de- scendants continue to make their home in Wood- stock.
In 1827 Isaae Sanders located on Section 15 and made an improvement, where he resided un- til his death some years afterwards. He was accompanied to the county by Jacob Fowler, who drove a flock of geese all the way from Indiana. Those were probably the first domestie geese in the county. James Edmonston was another set- tler of 1527, and he took a prominent part in county affairs in the early days. Other settlers of that year were Moses Pettigrew, Benjamin Golston and John Logsdon and his brothers, Vaughn, Amos, Redman and Jackson Logsdon.
In 1829 Mrs. Amelia Riley, with a family of six sons. Daniel. Caleb, Anderson, Martin, Isaac Shelby and Pressley, and a married daughter. the wife of Mordecai Fowler, drove from Indiana and settled on Seetion 7, Woodstock Township.
Allen Alexander and family took up their home on Section 28 in 1529, and for a time he operated a ferry across Crooked Creek near where the wagon bridge now stands.
Timothy Harris came from the neighborhood of Springfield in 1830, and settled on the northwest
quarter of Section 15, and lived in the township until his death many years afterwards. Promi- heut among the other early settlers were: John Howell. Joties Beard, Pierre J. Jonte, Peter Hermetet. James P. Grosclaude, and Alexander Stutsman. John Brown, who represented Sehuy- ler County in the Legislature when the State capital was at Vandalia, serving at different periods in both House and Senate, first became a resident of Rushville in IS31, and eight years afterwards removed to Woodstock Township, Io- cating on Section 16, where he lived until his death in 1-58.
The first marriage in the township was that of John 11. Starr and Miss Nancy E. Black.
The first school taught in the township was in a cabin on Section 36 and John Taylor was teacher.
The first church was built by the Baptists on the northeast quarter of Section 2, Range 1 South. in 1931. Rev. John Logan was the first preacher. Rev. John Ray, Rev. Win. Crow, Rev. John Taylor and Rey. Granville Bond were among the earliest preachers.
As early as 1529 a mill-seat was granted John Ritchey on Crooked Creek, where Ripley is now located. and on June 6, 1831, Walter D. Scott and Osborn Henley were granted permission to build a dam across Crooked Creek on the northeast quarter of Section 11. One North, Three West. Both these early mills were in what afterwards became Brown County, and it was not until 1837 that a mill was erected in Woodstock Township. This mill was erected by Robert Burton on the southeast quarter of Seetion 28, and was a com- bination grist and saw-mill.
Population in 1900, according to Cuited States census report, 1,076.
CHAPTER XX.
GENERAL CHURCH HISTORY.
CHRISTIAN CHARACTER OF EARLY SETTLERS IN SCHUYLER COUNTY-LEVIN GREEN PKLACHES THE FIRST SERMON IN THE COUNTY IN NOVEMBER, 1823-SKETCH OF 111S CAREER-REV. JOHN
708
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
SCRIPPS, ONE OF THE FIRST METHODIST MINIS- TERM IN ILLINOIS, LOCATED IN RI SIVILLE IN 1831 -- A METHODIST CHURCH ORGANIZED 1828 -- SESSION OF ILLINOIS CONFERENCE HELD IN RUSHVILLE IN JSSG -- EPISCOPAL CONVENTION OF ILLINOIS MEETS HERE IN ISBS AND IS 12- EARLY HISTORY OF CHURCH DENOMINATIONS AND PROMINENT CLERGYMEN WHO HAVE VISITED SCHUYLER COUNTY.
The ecclesiastical history of Schuyler County is of more than local interest, for the reason that it is closely interwoven with the early his- tory of almost every religious denomination in the State. The settlers from the East and South, who came to Illinois at an early day, were, as a rule, devoted Christian people. Their first oh- .ject was to obtain a home for themselves in the undeveloped Prairie State that held out such rich promises of worldly wealth, but they did not forget the need of spiritual teaching and, as soon as they had builded a home, they joined together in establishing a church in order that they might worship together. Coming, as they did, from every section of the country, there was a wide variation of religious beliefs and, as the distinction between the sects would not permit of their joining together in worship, each little band of settlers built their own church and os- tablished their own form of worship. Thus it appears that, in the early 'thirties, Rushville had as many churches as she has today; and, while it meant extreme self-denial on the part of the clergymen, there were noble, self-sacrificing men who consecrated their lives to the work of the Lord without hope or thought of any other re- ward than that the teachings of the gospel might be carried to all mankind.
COMING OF THE PIONEER METHODIST .- There were a number of these God fearing men, who should receive their full meed of praise and credit for the work they accomplished, but let us first consider Levin Green, the pioneer of them all. The history of Illinois Methodism affords no more picturesque or romantie figure than that of Rev. Green, who was on one occasion referred to by Rev. John Scripps as the "Lord's Prodigy."
The first settlement had been made in Selmy- ler County in 1523 and, in the fall of that year. Levin Green put in appearance. Ile was a tall, straight, gaunt man, attired in Kentucky jeans, with deer-skin moccasins and coonskin cap, and
his coming brought joy to the Hobarts, who were loyal Methodists. As soon as they learned the stranger was a licensed preacher, they welcomed him to their home and assisted in moving his family from Dutchman Creek, sixteen miles above on the Illinois River, whither they had come from below St. Louis in a canoe. On the first Sabbath in November, 1823, Levin Green preached the first sermon in Schuyler County at the home of Calvin Hobart, and he had for his congregation the entire settlement, numbering thirty persons. Afterward services were held reg- ularly every two weeks throughout the winter. and here in the wilderness the corner-stone of Methodism in the Military Tract was laid.
Levin Green was one of those queer products of pioneer times, that cannot be gauged in the standards of our present civilization. He could barely read intelligently, having had no scholastic opportunities, and yet he played a prominent part in the evangelist work of his day. . He was li- censed to preach by Jesse Walker, Presiding El- der of Illinois, in 1814, and the early years of his ministry were spent in Missouri. In his Book of Reminiscences, Rev. Chauncey Hobart says: "Levin Green belonged to that remarkable elass of men. so well known on the frontier line of civilization. Born where the howl of the wolf and the war-whoop of the savage were well known sounds; accustomed to supply the larder from the chase, and to eating bread made of ineal manufactured by the 'hominy mortar.' he was ot a race of men whose perceptive faculties were keenly developed by the new and strange surroundings of their exposed lives, and whose resources, mental and physical, were. by the very exigencies pressing upon them, always equal to the demand. To him God, eternity, deatlı. the resurrection, the judgment, Heaven and hell, were vivid and solemn realities. In many of his discourses he spoke as if these were actually present, being seen and felt by him."
At the Methodist campmeetings Levin Green, attired in his buckskin breeches and coon-skin cap, entranced the pioneers with his peculiar style of oratory and. in civil affairs, he was de- corded honors becoming his station. The love for the romantic pioneer life, however, was ever present and, with the coming of the settlers and homemakers, be left to seek his home anew on the borderline of the western frontier, and Schus- ler County knew him no more.
1
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. RUSIIVILLE, ILL.
709
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
In every community there are men who are looked upon as leaders; men who take the initia- tive and plan and build for the future. Such a man was Rev. John Seripps in the religious life of Rushville, and a history of the times would not be complete without some reference to his life and its activities.
It was in the summer of 1831 that Mr. Scripps moved to Rushville, coming here from Cape Gi- rardean, Mo., where he had resided since 1809, and although his object in locating in the city was to engage in merchandising. he entered heartily into the work of up-building the Metho- dist Church, which had been established a few years before. No one in the village was more capable of assuming the leadership of the little congregation than he, for he was then a member of the Methodist Conference of Missouri and bad done valiant work on the circuit in earlier years.
As early as 1812, while a resident of Cape Girardeau, Mo., he had been given a license to preach, and in the fall of 1814 he had been em- ployed by the Presiding Elder of Illinois to travel the circuit while the ministers went to confer- ence. Without his knowledge his name was presented to the conference, and he was assigned to the Indiana circuit. The following year he was transferred to Illinois, and one of his sta- tions was Kaskaskia, afterwards the first capital of the State. In 1816 his circuit covered a por- tion of Missouri, and to him belongs the honor of holding the first Methodist service in the city of St. Louis. There was no church in the city and the meeting was held in an old dilapidated log building used as court house, legislative hall and theater. There, amid the rude scenery of the theater, he preached to a large audience compris- ing the entire American population. In later years he traveled a circuit in Arkansas, and in 1×23 returned to the St. Louis circuit. In the years 1820 and 1824 he was a member of the General Conferences. The Methodist Conference in Illinois was not formed until 1824, and Rev .. Scripps continued a member of the Missouri Con- ference until the division of the church in 1845. Refusing to go South with his conference. he was transferred to the Illinois Conference in ISIG and placed on the superannuated list.
Rev. Scripps had practically retired from the ministry when he located in Rushville, but his years of service had given bim a knowledge of affairs that was invaluable to the struggling lit-
the church here. He entered heartily into the work and was often called upon to fill the pulpit in the absence of the regular pastor. Rev. James leaton, in writing of Rev. Scripps in Rushville, says: "The coming of such a man and Chris- tian minister into the young society at Rushville was hailed as a providence : God's hand was seen and recognized in it. His long experience in the itineraney, his intimate acquaintance with the working of Methodism. his personal acquaintance with the ministry, and his influence with the Bishops pre-eminently fitted him for a counselor and leader in the young society. How much he loved. how wisely he planned. and how well he built, is attested by the permanent and efficient character of the church today."
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- In the foregoing chapters we have noted the fact that Methodist services were held in Schuyler County as early as 1823, but it was not until several years afterwards that an organization was ef- fected. In August, 1826. Rev. William `See, of the Peoria circuit, which extended a hundred miles along the east side of the Illinois River, came to Schuyler County and a church of twenty members was formed. All united by letter ex- cept W. Il. Taylor, who united on probation and was converted a few days afterwards. being the first convert in the county. Regular services were afterwards held every three weeks by the eircuit preacher, Rev. Levin Green filling the pulpit on intervening Sabbath days.
The first quarterly meeting in the county was held in 1827 by Rev. Peter Cartwright at the home of Levin Green. Schuyler County was at this time attached to the Atlas circuit, with Wil- liam Medford as minister. In 1828 the first society was organized in what is now the city of Rushville. the meeting being held at the home of Richard Black. Among the early preachers may be mentioned Asa D. West. 1828-30: James Bankston. ISSO: Barton Randle, 1530-31; David B. Carter. 1831-32: Henry Summers, 1832; Thomas N. Ralston and Peter Borein. 1833; W. II. Window, 1833-34.
In February. 1834, plans were maik- for a re- vival meeting, and Rov. W. C. Stribling, a cele- brated divine from Jacksonville, was engaged to assist. Such a religious awakening had never before been witnessed in Illinois Methodism and, at the close of the conference year, 544 n: mbers were reported to conference.
710
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
At the session of 1834 the town of Rushville was separated from the circuit and made a sta- tion. I'D to this time services had been held in the court house and in the room over Rev. John Seripps' store; but, with the rapidly increasing congregations, there was a demand for a church ednice and a fine brick church was erected, which at that day was the finest church building north of the Ilinois River. This church was com- pleted in 1836 and that same year the Illinois Conference met in Rushville. The preachers came from Green Bay, Lake Superior, St. Peter, Minn., Prairie du Chien, Cairo and Shawneetown, and were accorded a warm welcome by the citi- zens of the village.
The conference sessions were held in the new brick church and were presided over by Bishop Morris. The Illinois Conference then included not only our own State, Init Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin and there were many questions of im- portance to be discussed, which kept the conter- ence in session from Wednesday, Oct. 5, to Fri- day, the 14th. The routine business of the con- ference had little interest for the lay members, but the camp meeting held a mile north of town was largely attended and great interest was shown.
Among the new members admitted to the con- ference in Rushville were a number of young men, who later played a prominent part in the church work. Prominent among these were Chauncey Hobart, afterwards known as the Father of Methodism in Minnesota, who spent more than fifty years in active ministerial work. Richard Haney, one of the best known and be- loved ministers in Illinois, was admitted at this time, as was also Jobn P. Richmond. afterwards missionary to Oregon, and Norris Hobart and Wm. H. Taylor, who were both residents of this county.
By this time Methodism in Schuyler County was firmly established, and it has since had a steady and constant growth as the city grew in population. In 1867 the present church build- Ing was erreted.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- The date of founding of the Presbyterian Church in Sehuy- ler County is Jan. 31, 1830, and the first meet- ing was held in a store room on the north side of the public senare, then owned by Thos. W. Scott. Revs. Cyrus L. Watson and J. M. Ellis were the leaders in this movement to establish
a church and they mnet with great encourage :..... The original members were: Wm. Blair, Th .. Blair, Margaret Blair, Sarah Blair, Hugh M. Creery, Sarah Metreery, Mathew Mccreery, J.the MeCrvery, Margaret Mccreery, Sarah MeCrees, William Moore and Jane Moore.
Rev. Watson took keen interest in the While church that he had established, and minister. 1 to its welfare until 1835. There was no restdar place for holding services and the court Www. store building- and taverns served for a place of meeting. Mrs. Sarah Young, one of the carly members, once told of a meeting held in the bar room of the tavern. where the sacrament of the Lord's supper was solemnly celebrated.
About 1836 plans were made for the erection of a brick church, where the present edido is located, but before the structure could be rooted in, winter came and the walls were damaged to an extent that repairs could not be made. The persons who bought the wrecked building. built for the church a frame building as an equivalent. and this was used until 1876, when the Isent handsome church was ocenpied. It was during the pastorate of Rev. J. MI. Paige, who served as minister from 1873 to 1850, that the new church was erected. the corner stone of which was laid Ang. 23, 1875, with appropriate ceremony.
Among the early ministers of the church were: Rev. Samuel Wilson, Rev. Breese, Rev. Alfred Carrington, Rev. J. T. Tucker, Rev. Henry Ber- gen. Rev. J. Haswell and Rev. L. P. Kimall. bu: it was not until 1850 that a regular resident pas. tor was chosen. A call was extended to Rev. Alex. B. Campbell in that year, and he served as pastor until 1855.
Internal dissensions within the Presbyterian Clmreh. as regards general church doctrines, ba i its effect in retarding the growth of the loud society. During the pastorate of Rev. Samme! Wilson the Presbyterian Church in the United States separated into two branches known as 1. Old and the New. Rev. Wilson went with !' Old School, but the greater part of his Rushny congregation was not in sympathy with his id. The New School brauch, having the majority. . tained the church editice, but in finishing : furnishing the interior they incurred a bird some debt. At this juncture the Old S. branch proposed to assume the debt, pay a . tain additional sum and take the church 1 erty. The offer was accepted and it passed !
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. RUSHVILLE, ILI ..
CHRISTIAN CHURCH, RUSHVILLE.
711
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
porarily into their hands and Rev. Breese was engaged to preach at stated intervals, and he was followed by Rev. Carrington, and some years afterwards the church property once again came into the possession of the New School. During these early years of the church the discipline was strictly enforced, and it is recorded that Eller Daniel V. Dawley was placed on trial for playing chess for amusement.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.