Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 42

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1 > Part 42

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).

The soll Is a deep hiack loam, especially aiong the hanks of the Sangamon, which flows near its southern border, and French and Fancy Creeks, the former flowing through the western portlon and the latter through the eastern Originally about half the surface was covered with timher, and it is consequently weil sup- -plied with hoth water and timher.

The first settlement In what Is now Fancy

Creek Townshlp was made in 1819, by Stephen England, who came to that locality, accompanied hy two sons-in-law, Andrew Cline and Wyatt . Cantrail, during the previous winter. Mr. Eng- land was born June 12, 1773, removed with his parents to Bath County, Ky., where, in 1791, lie married Anna Harper. Iu 1813 he moved to Ohlo and in 1818 to Madison County, Ill., and the following winter, as already explained, to the "Sangamo Country." A man named Wil- liam Higgins had a short time previously set- tled on the soutlı hank of the Sangamon, ahout where the Chicago & Alton Railroad now crosses that stream. Crossing the river, the party se- lected claims north of the Sangamon near what was called Higgins Creek, but now Cautrall. Then, after spending a few weeks with their families lu Madison Connty, in March, 1819, with Mr. England's son David, they returned to the Sangamo Country, and immediately com- menced building thelr cabins, in the meantime a heavy fall of snow occurring the night after their arrival, which was followed by the coldest weather of the winter. The work of construct- ing their cabins was prosecuted, Mr. England's heing first completed, and he was finally joined hy two of his daughters, hut the removal of the rest of the familles was delayed hy the bad roads until June. During the first few months they completed their cabins, cleared some land and planted crops. Mr. England was a zealous preacher of the gospel, and Is sald to have per- formed many marrlage ceremonies, one of these heing the marriage of Phiio Beers and Martha Stillman, married November 2, 1820, hesides a couple who came from Fort Clark (now Peorla) for that purpose. He died September 26, 1823.

William Higgins, who has also been mentioned in the preceding paragraph, was born in Bureau County, Ky., in 1774, In 1817 came with his family to St. Clair County, Ili., and in the fall of 1818 to the Sangamon region, stopping first for a time with the Drennans on Sugar Creek. In January or February following he went north to the valley of the Sangamon, and his wife and two daughters are belleved to have been the first white women to cross the Sangamon River.

Levi Cantrall and John Cline came to IilInois in 1819, arriving in the American Bottom In the fall of that year. Mr. Cline, who was a Vir- ginian by hirth, hut came from Ohio, had planned a visit to the western country on horseback,

717

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

but found an opportunity to drive a four-horse team for Mr. Cantrall instead. Mr. Cantrall was born in Botetonrt County, Va., October 1, 1787, at two years of age was taken by his parents to what afterwards became Bath County, Ky., where he was married, May 30, 1809, to Fanny England. In October, 1819, accompanied by his family and John Cliue, he came to Mad- ison Connty, a few weeks later moved north, arriving where the city of Springfield now stands ou December 4th, one day later crossed to the north side of the river in what is uow Fancy Creek Township, and on the 7th selected the site for hls cabin, which he began building on the Sth. During the whole of his trip he was accompanied by John Cline, who had intended returning to Ohio in the spring, but later de- cided to raise a crop, and while thus engaged, on July 20, 1820, married Mrs. Lucy Scott, who was a member of the England family.

Others who came about the same time or soon after the England, Higgins and Cantrall families, were John Dixon, Robert McClelland, William G. Cantrall, Thomas Constant, John Strode, Aqullla Davis, Thomas Hargls, Thomas Strawbridge, Garrett and Willlam F. Elkin, Thomas Brown and George Power.

Thomas Constant, who was a native of Vir- ginia, spent some years in Kentucky, there mar- ried Margery Edmonson, moved thence to Ohio and, in the fall of 1820. to what is now Fancy Creek Township. Jerry Smith came in the spring of 1819, but later moved to the Military Tract, where he died. Jonathan Hodges set- tled on Section 22, but soon after sold out and moved farther north. James Sayles came in the spring of 1819, settled on the present site of the village of Sherman and there died. Alex Craw- ford lived for a time in Fancy Creek Township bnt spent his last years in Petersburg, Menard County.

The most historic character connected with the local record of what Is now Fancy Creek Township was the pioneer John Dixon, who, after spending several years iu Sangamon Coun- ty, became the first white settler in Lee County, Ill., and founder of the city of Dixon. Col. Dixon was born in Westchester County, N. Y., October 9, 1784, at twenty-one years of age re- moved to New York City, and after being en- gaged in business there fifteen years, in 1820 came to Sangamon County, finally locating on Fancy Creek about nine miles north of the

present city of Springfield. After remalning there five years, in 1825 he was appointed Cir- cuit Clerk for the new county of Peoria, and in April, 1830, removed to the point on Rock River known as Ogee's Ferry, which afterwards became the site of the city of Dixon, and was an impor- tant locallty during the Black Hawk War. (See fuller sketch of Col. Dixon in Historical Ency- clopedia portion of this work, p. 134.)

Another prominent character in Fancy Creek Townshlp history was Mr. George Power, who was a native of Fayette County, Ky., born Feb- ruary 18, 1798, a son of James and Eleanor (Dedman) Power; at the age of ten years re- moved with her parents to Bath County, and there, on February 10, 1820, married Nancy Wilcockson, in the fall of 1821, in company with his father-in-law, William Wilcockson, coming to Fancy Creek Township and settling on land which he continned to occupy during the re- mainder of his life. In 1829 he erected the first frame building in the county north of the Sanga- inon River, served as Second Lieutenant during the Black Hawk War, and for nineteen years was a Justice of the Peace. Coming to Illinois in straightened circumstances, Mr. Power be- came one of the most wealthy citizens of his locality before his death, being the owner of 2,400 acres of land, 2,000 of which was In Fancy Creek Township, besldes property In the village of Cantrall.

The winter after the establishment of the first white settlement in the Fancy Creek neighbor- hood, was one of great severity, and the pioneers were compelled to endure many privations. Snow began to fall on December 24, 1819, finally reach- ing a depth of two feet, with intense cold. A party consisting of Levi and Wyatt Cantrall, Alexander and Henry Crawford, M. Holland, a Mr. Kellogg and John Dixon was finally com- pelled to go to the American Bottom for pro- visions. After procuring flour and meal, they started with their wagons on their return, but in consequence of rain and melting snow, were delayed by a flood in the Sangamon River, until after constructing a canoe, they were enabled to reach their homes, the trip consuming twenty- one days.

The first rellgious service in the township was held by Elder Stephen England, in his own home in June or July, 1819, and on May 15, 1820, he organized a church consisting of eight members besldes himself. Mr. England had

718

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

been a Baptist minister in Kentucky, but this became the beginning of what is uow the Antioch Christian church. Mr. England served as pastor of this church until his death. The first house of worship was built of logs iu 1823.

FIRST EVENTS .- The first birth of a whlte cbiid in that towuship was that of Oliver Perry Higgins, the son of Williamu and Rosanna Hig- gius, which occurred iu July, 1819, and is he- lleved to have been the first north of the Sanga- mon River.

The first death was that of a child of Jecho- niah Langstou in the fall of 1819.

Levl Cantrali built a mill operated by a band- wbeel and horse-power in the fall of 1820. This was the first mlii built north of the Sangamon, Mr. Cantrall later built a water-mill on Cantrail Creek, near the town of Cantrall, which did sawing and grinding.

Levi Cantrali aiso establisbed a tannery which he operated for ahout forty years and until his death.

One of the first, If not the first, orchard, in the township was planted by George Power, in 1824. In 1881 there was an apple tree still standing in that orchard with a circumference of eleven feet and with branches extending over a space of sixty feet.

RAILROADS-VILLAGES .- Fancy Creek Township is entered by two railroad iines-the Chicago & Alton, which passes through Sections 25 aud 36 in the southeastern corner of the township, in its diagonai course coverlug a distance of ap- proximateiy two miles, and the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis, entering the township from the west on the southern line of Section 6, extending southeasteriy to the southern border of Section 35, covering a diagonal space within the town- ship of about six miles.

Of the two villages within the township, Sher- man. situated near the southeastern corner of the towuship, and on the liue of the Chicago & Aiton Rallroad eight miles north of Springfield, is the oider, having been platted in September, 1858, about four years after the compietlon of the Springfield & Bloomington section of that iine. Owing to its ciose proximity to the city of Spring- field, Sherman has had a siow growth in popu- lation. It has a population estimated at about 150, but Is not Incorporated.

The village of Cantraii, situated eieven miles slightiy west of north from Springfield, ou what was originaliy tbe Springfieid & Northwestern,

hut now the Chicago, Peorla & St. Louis Rail- road, is the outgrowth of the construction of that liue, heing platted in 1872, by Messrs. Joseplı Cantrall, Oliver Canterbury, W. H. H. Hoiiand, Thomas Giasscock, Thomas Ciaypool, B. F. Hol- land, John T. Canterbury, and James M. Sewall. The orlgiuai center of the Cantrall Settlement, it naturally took from that settlement its name. The population in 1910 was 318.

The entire population of Fancy Creek Town- ship according to the census of 1910 was 1498.

GARDNER TOWNSIIIP

The township of Gardner, comprising an area identical with governmentai Township 16 N., R. 6 W. of the Third Principal Meridian, is bounded on the north by Salisbury Township, east by Springfield, south by Curran and west by Cart- wright Townshlp. It was organized in 1861 and named in honor of John Gardner, one of its early and prominent settlers, and who served as one of three Commissioners appointed to divlde the county iuto townships.

The surface is mostly iudulating prairie, witli considerabie timber along Spring Creek, which flows through the southern part of the townsbip, and the Sangamon River, which flows through the northeastern corner. Prairie Creek, a branch of the Saugamon, also traverses the north- western part of the township. The soil is weli adapted to farming purposes and stock-growing is one of the most prosperous iines of business.

The first settlement is credited to Samnel New- house, A. Inyard, B. Davis, David McCoy, George Kuox Hamilton and Abraham Duff, who came in 1819. Others who came soon after were Ed- luond Taylor, Edward Rohinson, Mrs. Elizabeth McMurray, Joshua and James Short, Edward Williams, Mrs. Elizabeth IIail, John Garduer, Hiram K. Gardner, Wiliiam and Thomas Kirk- patrick, John Kendall and Willlam Sims.

George Knox Hamilton, who was born In Tennessee, August 17, 1798, came to what is now Gardner Township, with his father, four hro- thers and two sisters, in the fall of 1819, and settled near what Is now Bradford Station. IIe married Jaue Coieman, March 5, 1823.

Abraham Duff was born in South Carolina May 5, 1777, came with pack-horses to the vicli- ity of Bowling Green, Ky., there marrled Ver- linda Combs, Ilved for a tlme iu St. Cialr

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES J. RYAN

719

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

County, Iii., and from there came with his son- in-law, John Sinis, locating ou Spring Creek, six miles west of Springfield iu April, 1819.

Edmond Taylor, born in Christian County, Ky., October 22, 1785, married (first) Mary Pugh, and (second) Constant Blakey, a native of Georgia, and coming to Sangamon County in the fali of 1819, first settled on Sugar Creek, but iu 1822 or '23 removed to the south side of Spring Creek in the southeastern corner of Gardner Township.

Edward Williams was born in Hardin County, Ky., June 3, 1789, married Margaret Neai, iu Ohio County, that State, about 1806, and came to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1826, settling iu Gard- uer Towuship, where he died in 1873.

Mrs. Elizabeth Hall (nee Foster) was born in Bedford Connty, Va., there married John Hall, and came to Adair County, Ky., where he died. As a widow she moved with her children to Sangamon County in 1830, settling north of Spring Creek, six miles west of Springfield ; there marrled Samuel Willis and in 1844 or '45 moved to DeWitt County.

John Gardner, born June 21, 1805, in wbat is now Trimbie County, Ky., married Mary C. Duucan June 30, 1830, and In April, 1833, came to Sangamon County, first settling two miles west of Springfield, but early iu 1834 removed to what is now Gardner Township two miles north of Farmingdale, where he died February 11, 1868. Mr. Gardner was one of the most prominent citizeus of the townshlp, became an extensive iand-owner, and the township was uamed in his honor. He ieft several sons who were promiuent in their community.

Hiram K. Gardner, a brother of John, aiso a native of Trimble County, Ky., was born June 5, 1803, married Eliza Morris in 1827, and in 1833 came with his brother to Sangamon County.

James H. Slater was born in Gardner Town- ship, Sangamon County, December 26, 1836, in his youth removed to Oregon, there served in both the Territoriai and State Assemblies, was Presidential Elector in 1868, and stili later was Representative iu Congress and United States Seuator.

James M. Bradford, a native of Culpeper Coun- ty, Va., born September 28, 1795, spent a part of his boyhood in Kentucky, was a soldier in the War of 1812, iater iived at Port Gibson, Miss., and in 1834 came to what Is now Gardner Town-

ship, Sangamon County,-was a member of the State Legislature of 1840-41.

What is known as the Farmington Presby- terian church was organized iu January, 1834, Rev. J. G. Bergen, then of Springfield, serving as the first pastor. This church has a house of worship on the southwest corner of Section 17 near the village of Farmingdale. It has a finc parsonage with ten acres of land for church purposes.

The Baptists have a church edifice on Section 32 and the United Brethren meet on Section 34, both near the southern border of the township.

Gardner Townsbip is well supplied with schoois, having ten good frame school-houses within its limits, where schools are held an av- erage of six months in the year.

VILLAGES .- The village of Sangamo, originally situated on Sectlou 2 iu Gardner Township, on the east bank of the Sangamon River, appears to have had Its origin about 1825. Its location on the river before the days of the rallroad gave it the promise of a fiourisbing future, and It Is said to have been recognized as a proml- nent candidate for the county-seat at the time · Springfield was selected for that purpose. Its originai proprietor was Moses Broadweil, who buiit a steam-mili there, and it had one or two stores and a blacksmith shop. Its site is uow occupied by a fine farm.

The villages of Bradfordton and Farmingdale, botb located on the Baltimore & Obio Sonth- western Railroad-the former six miles and tbe iatter nine miles west of Springfield-are the only villages in the townshlp, each having a population of less than 100 and unincorporated.

The Springfield Division of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad extends through the township, entering from the west on Section 19 and passing out on Section 24. Farmingdale and Bradfordton, already named, are the ouly stations in the townsbip on this iine ..

The population of Gardner Township (1910) was 1,301.

ILLIOPOLIS TOWNSHIP

The townsbip of Iliopolis, occupying (so to speak) the extremity of the eastern wing of Sangamon County, consists of fractional divis- ions from four different governmental townships, vlz. :- Towns 16 and 17 N., R. 1 W., and Towns

720

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

16 and 17 N., R. 2 W .- and embracing an area of fonr and one-half miles from east to west by an average from north to south of eight miles, or approximately thirty-six square miles. It is bounded on the north by Logan County, east by Macon, south by Christian and west by Lanes- ville Township. The northern and central por- tions are made up almost entirely of prairie, while the region along the Sangamon, which con- stitutes the southern bonndary, was originaily densely wooded, and still retains much timber on a belt from one to three miles in width. The soii is a heavy black loam, and especially well adapted to the cultivation of cereals. The grow- ing of cattle and hogs has at all times been a leading industry in the township.

The township derives its name from the vil- lage of Iliiopolis, the only village corporation within its limits, the history of which will be given later on.

The first settlement in what is now Iiliopolis Townshlp was made in 1826, by Mrs. Anderson, a widow lady, who settled on Section 34 near the Sangamon River in the southwestern corner of the township. Mrs. Anderson's settlement was soon followed by a Mr. Allen, Joel Watkins, Samuel and Chesley Dickerson, William Gregg, James Hampton, John Churchill, John and James Hunter, Josiah Kent, William Bridges and others, all settling, as was the custom of that period, in the timber and near the water-courses -the Sangamon River and its smaller tributa- ries being the only ones in this section.

Samuei Dickerson, born in Virginia in 1793, went with his parents to Pendleton County, Ky., and was there employed in salt-making at Grant's Lick for a time. He came to Illinois in 1830, first settling in Logan County, but dur- ing the next year removing to Sangamon Coun- ty and settling iu Illiopolis townshlp five miles east of Mechanlesburg. He died in 1856 and his widow in June, 1859.

James Hunter was born in Loudoun County, Va., August 14, 1778, while a young man came to Gallatin County, Ky., there married Rachel Scott, born in Virginia, October 17, 1783, and in December, 1828, came with his family of nine children to Sangamon County, Ill., settling in Illiopolis Township, and died there in 1867, his wife dying two years earlier.

Josiah P. Kerst, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, November 28, 1804, married Clarissa Poole in 1816, and in November, 1836,

came to Illiopoiis Townshlp, Sangamon County, dying there July 26, 1856.

The fact that Illiopolis Township consisted largely of prairie land delayed its settlement for many years, but it has developed in later years until it is now the seat of some of the most vai- uable and highly cultivated farms in Sangamon County. The sparseness of its settlement also prevented the development of early schools, and it was not untli 1840 that the first school was tauglit within its Ilmits, and not untii 1845 that the first schoolhouse was erected.

(For a fuller history of schools see chapter on "Education -- Public Schools.")

The first death in the township was that of John Sanders, but the history of the first re- ligious exercises has not been preserved. This was probably delayed for the same reason as was the founding of public schools, aithough there is reason to believe that the early settlers in the southwest corner of the township patron- ized schools and churches in some of the adja- cent settlements.

VILLAOE OF ILLIOPOLIS .- The following history of the original village of Illiopolis is taken from the "History of Sangamon County" issued in 1881 :

"In 1834, when the question of the removal of the State Capital began to be agitated, a beauti- fut city was laid out by John Taylor, Eli Blank- enship and Governor Duncan, about half a mile south of the present viliage of Iiliopolis, on the northwest quarter of Section 18, to which was given the same name-"Illiopolis"-the City of Illinois. The location of the village was de- scribed as the geographical center of the State, and as such, entitled to the State Capital when it should be removed from Vandalia. Beautiful lithographie maps were issued, in which all.the glories of the 'future great city' were revealed, and iots were placed upon the market and a num- ber soid. A neat hotel was erected by the com- pany and Jesse Kent was placed in charge. This hotel was subsequently burned down and never rebuilt. The 'Long Nine' (as the dele- gation from Sangamon County in the Houses of the General Assembly of 1837 were known), being successful in their efforts to have the Cap- ital removed to Springfield, the project of build- ing up a great clty was abandoned by the pro- prietors."

(On the second of the four ballots cast in the houses of the General Assembly, on Febru-

721

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

ary 28, 1837, for the bill providing for the re- moval of the State Capital from Vandalia, Illi- opolis received ten votes out of a total of 120 ju the two houses, against 43, the leading vote for Springfield. On the third ballot this vote dwin- dled to 3, and on the fourth, entirely disappeared. )

The village of Illiopolis, on its present site, was established as a station on the Wabash (then the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroad) and platted on the central part of Section 7, : Town 16 N., R. 1 W., the proprietors being Judge William Wilson, Timothy J. Carter and Col. Thomas S. Mather, and the survey recorded Octo- ber 13, 1856. The first house had been erected in 1854, hy a Mr. Ganson, the railway station agent, and was later used as the first store in the village. The village was originally named Wilson, lu honor of Justice Wilson, of the Su- preme Court, one of Its founders, was Incorpo- rated in 1866, hut in 1869 tbe name was changed to Illiopolis.

Illiopolls ls 23 miles east of Springfield and 16 miles west of Decatur. At first it had a rapid growth, but of late years has had a mod- erate development, although its location in a rich agricultural region assures a prosperous future. According to the census of 1910 it had a population of 849, and the township 1,635.

Illiopolis has a newspaper, the "State Center- Record," and is the location of the Farmers' State Bank with a capital of $40,000. (See chap- ters on "Banking" and "Sangamon County Press.")

ISLAND GROVE TOWNSHIP

The township of Island Grove, the most west- erly of the middle tler of townships in Sanga- mon County, is bounded on the north by Cart- wright Township, east hy Curran, south by New Berlin and west by Morgan County. It con- tains an area of twenty-seven sections or square miles-three from north to south and nine miles from east to west-its surface being composed mostly of level prairie, but embracing the larger portion of Island Grove, from which it derives its name. There are two small streams within the township, a most westerly branch of Spring Creek, which flows through the northwestern por- tlon, and Skillet Creek, a branch of the former, which flows through the southeastern section.

Island Grove was organized lu 1861, and orig- Inally embraced the whole of what is now New Berlin Township to the south, but which was cut off in 1869.

One of the early, if not the earliest, settlers of this region was John Roberts, who came from Tennessee in 1818 and settled at the foot of the grove iu the northeastern part of what is now Island Grove Township. Others who fol- lowed during the next year were Mr. Roberts' son Jerry, David and Fred. Troxell, Thomas Evans, Andrew Scott, Wm. Hart and Josiah Hedges. At this time there were two Indlan vil- lages within the townshlp-one on Skillet Fork and another at the head of the grove, near the west line, with about 300 Indians in each. The Indians were of the Pottawatomle and Delaware tribes, but were peaceable and soon moved west.

Among others who came soon after may be mentioned the names of McCoy, Douglas, Rhea, Foutch, Smith, Brown, Hensley, Weger, Wyckoff, and others whose descendants now form a large proportion of the present inhabitants of the township. The first comers were largely back- woodsinen of a wandering character who re- mained but a short time and then went to some other frontier. Those mentioned last, however, established for themselves permanent homes and a number of them later became prominent in connection with local and State history.

Simon Hensley, who was born in Washington County, Va., February 26, 1785, in 1820 married Mary Arnold near Dayton, Ohlo, and in 1823 came to Sangamon County, Ill., locating north of Spring Creek, in what is now Island Grove Township.

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.

Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 42

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 864

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864