USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1 > Part 43
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Josiah Hedges, horn In Maryland, about 1788, spent his boyhood and youth in Virginia and Kentucky, in the latter State married Anna Brown, and in 1826 moved to Illinois, settling on the north side of Island Grove two and a half inlles northwest of Berlin. Mr. Hedges brought money enough with him to purchase forty acres of land, and ultimately became the owner of 900 acres, dying in 1872.
Henry Ellis, horn near Lexington, Ky., No- vember 17, 1786, son of John and Sarah (Parrish) Ellis, married Martha Yates, a sister of Henry Yates, father of Richard Yates, the War Gov- ernor of Illinois, and in September, 1825, 'set- tled in Island Grove, two miles north of Berlin.
John Foutch, horn in Loudoun County, Va., May. 1776, a descendant of one of three brothers,
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
who came to that locality from France before the American Revolution, spent his boyhood in Fayette County, Ky., where in 1796 he married Nancy A. Wherrett, and after spending some . tique in Dearborn County, Ind., and Frankiin County, Ili., in the fall of 1825 came to Sanga- mon County, settiing ou the south side of Rich- iand Creek, east of Pleasant Plaius, but in the following spring moved to Isiand Grove and be- came one of the prominent citizens of that lo- cality.
James Rhea, horn in Greenbrier County, Va., while a young man went to Barren County, Ky., there married Rachel Joliff, and in 1827, with his family of ten children moved to Sangamon County, settling in what is now Island Grove Towuship. Before coming to Iilinois Mr. Rhea had been a soldier in the War of 1812, and was on Lake Erie at the time of Perry's victory. He died February 12. 1843, and his wife Octoher 28, 1851.
Mrs. Catherine Harmou, whose maiden name was Sears, was born in North Carolina about 1775, married George W. Harmon, who died in Simpson County, Ky., about 1825, and in 1827 with eight of her children, came to Sangamon County, locating in Island Grove Township.
David McGinnis, born iu Mercer County, Ky., in 1798, in 1820 married Ellza Gibson in Boone County, that State, and in November, 1827, came to what is now Island Grove Township. David and William McGinnis were the inventors of a device for guiding prairie plows by wheeis and a lever, which they put in operation in 1829, and which was much used in the prairie region but never patented.
Henry Yates, born In Caroline County, Va .. October 29. 1786, was a grandson of Dr. Michael Yates, who came from Engiand to Caroline County, Va., before the American Revolution, and there married Martha Marshall, a sister of Chlef Justice John Marshall. Their son Ab- ner married Moilie Hawes, and they became parents of Henry and one daughter, Martha. who became the wife of Henry Ellis. Henry Yates spent some time in Kentucky, but later returning to Caroline County, Va., there married his cousin, Mlliicent Yates, who died in 1830, and a year later he married Mary A. Shuff, and they came to Sangamon County, Ili., arriving at Springfield, in May, 1831. In November, 1832, he moved to what is now Island Grove Township, and a year later laid out the town of Berlin, and stlli later,
after the construction of the Wabash Railway, the village of New Berlin. He was the father of the first Gov. Yates. Hls death occurred Septem- ber 13, 1865.
Joel Maxcy, born in Rockinghamu County, Va., about 1759, was a soldier iu the War of the Revolution, married Mrs. Susan Hill, and, after spendlug a number of years In Warren County, Ky., came to Sangamon County, in 1827, settiing iu Island Grove, where he died December 27 of the same year. Jesse Roberts came from Ten- nessee in 1822, but after spending a short time lu Isiand Grove, removed to Hancock County.
Among other later comers to this locality were : Thomas Evans, from Kentucky in 1822; E. Jones from Kentucky iu 1824-later moved to Hen- derson County, Ill .; Willis Bledsoe, from Ken- tucky iu 1825-returned to his native State; John Underwood, from Tennessee. The following came before the period of the deep snow, though the exact date is uot known : Ludlow Maxwell, from Ohio, but subsequently removed to Oregon; Ellas Maxwell, from the same State; William Tilford and Abram Foutch, from Kentucky, but both moved to Iowa ; Thomas Moore, M. Publer and G. May, all from Kentucky; Andrew Scott (a minister of the Christian Church), James Cordeli and William Fleharty, all from Tennes- see; Absalom and II. M. Hadmuore, both from Kentucky.
SOME FIRST EVENTS .- The first couple married in what Is now Island Grove Township were Nelson Roberts and a Miss Tabor, at the home of Rev. Andrew Scott, for many years the oniy minister resident in the township.
The first death was that of Willlam Hart, Jr., who died in 1822, aged twenty-one years.
The first store was located at the head of the grove in 1830, hy Pruett & Company.
The first births are believed to have heen those of twin children of Jerry Roberts, born in 1822.
The first mill was a horse-mill erected by John Roberts in 1822.
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS .- There Is no record of the first religious services or the denomina- tion represented, but it Is known that Methodist itinerants visited this region at an early day, and Andrew Scott, an elder of the Christian Church, came prior to the "deep snow."
Different denominations are well represented by churches both In the viliage and the country districts.
RT. REV. JAMES RYAN, D. D.
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
Island Grove Township is not traversed by any railroad, but the Wabash ilne extends about one miie south of and parallel with the southern boundary of the township, and railway facilities for shipment and travei are obtained at New Beriin Station.
VILLAGE OF BERLIN .- The village of Beriin is situated on the old State Road between Jackson- ville and Springfield, on the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 17, Town 15 N., R. 7 W., and now extends into Section S farther north, the site being just two mlies north of New Beriin, the nearest station on the Wabash Railroad. The founders were Thomas and Henry Yates, the piat being recorded in December, 1826. Henry Yates, as previously explained, was the father of the first Gov. Richard Yates, and Beriin was the boyhood home of the famous "War Governor."
The first store in the village was opened in 1832 by Henry Yates in a log cabin which be had erected as a dwelling, and this became the center of the future viliage, and was continned in operation untii 1857. Mr. Yates later moved to New Beriin-of which he was the founder-on tbe ilne of the Wabash Railroad. now in New Berlin Township. A postoffice was estabilshed two and a half miles east of the village, in 1828, but later moved to the village.
The first blacksmith shop was started by Charles Parker in 1836, and a wagon shop was put in operation hy Thomas Eiilott in 1860.
The population of Isiand Grove Township ac- cording to the census of 1910 was 928 and of the vliiage of Berlin 251.
LANESVILLE TOWNSHIP
The township of Lanesville originally con- stituted a part of Illiopolis Township, from which it was set apart in 1875 under the name of Wheatfield Township, the latter name being changed by the Board of Supervisors, June 12, 1888, to Lanesviiie. It is made up of a strip of land three and a haif miles wide from east to west, by a little more than ten miles long, from nortb to sonth, extending from the Logan County Ilne to the Sangamon River, and embracing an area of approximately thirty-seven square miles. It is bounded on the north by Logan County, east by lliiopolis Township, south by Christian County and west by Cooper, Mechanicsburg and
Buffalo Ilart Townships. Except its southern border along the Sangamou River, its surface is chiefly undulating prairie, with an exceedingly fertile soil, especially weil adapted to agriculture and stock-raising.
Like other prairle townships it was one of the last to be settied on account of the lack of timber, and this has ied to the development of large farms for stock-growing purposes. As usnai the early settlers located as near to the timber as possible along the Sangamon River. Among the first were Reuben Builard and his two sons, John and Wesiey, James Hampton, William Grogg, Samuei Dickerson, and John Churchill.
Reuben Bullard was born In Caroline County, Va., December 22, 1782, was taken to Woodford County, Ky., in 1787 and to Sheiby County, that State, in 1790. In the latter county in 1803 he married Elizabeth Gill, who was born near Charlestown, Va., October 30, 1779. Eight chii- dren were born to them In Kentucky, four of whom died betweeu fifteen and twenty-five years of age, Mrs. Buliard dying there January 6, 1835. In November foliowing Mr. Buiiard came with tbree `of his children to what is now Lanesville Township, Sangamon County, Iii., one son hav- ing preceded him to Illinois. Mr. Buliard's death occurred September 6, 1836, less than one year after coming to Sangamon County. His father, also named Reuben, was in the Revolu- tionary Army as a non-combatant and lost his life by drinking too freely of cold water wien over-heated. IIe made a gun, which he gave to his son, and which is still preserved by his de- scendants. A brass plate opposite the lock bears the iuscription "R. B. 1772."
Jesse A. Pickreil, another early settler of this region, was born In Montgomery County, Ky., June 3, 1805, and came to Sangamon Connty in 1828, being the first of his family to come to this region. He stopped for a time in what is now Mechanicsburg Township, but iater settied in Section 8 in what is Lanesville Township. Mr. Pickreli was an enterprising citizen and became one of the leading stockmen in central Illinois, being one of the first to introduce improved breeds of various kinds of stock in this region.
Others who have been prominent citizens of Lanesville Township and descendants of pioneer settlers in the township, inciude the Fulien- widers-William A., Henry T. and Samuel- sons of Jacob N. Fulienwider, who came to
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
Sangamon County in 1833; the Graggs, George A. Pickrell and others, most of whom became large land-owners.
Lanesville Station, the only locality in Lanes- ville Township that can lay claim to the title of a village, was established by the railroad com- pany on the line of the Wabash Railroad on Sec- tion 8 near the center of the township, seventeen miles east of Springfield. A grain elevator was erected there in 1878, and it has been the ship- ping point for a large amount of grain and stock. While a considerable group of houses have been bullt around the station, with the ex- ception of two or three stores and groceries for local trade, the village is occupied chiefly by people engaged in agriculture or employed by the railroad. The first postoffice was established here in 1861, with Jesse A. Pickrell as post- master.
The population of the township (1910) was 756.
LOAMI TOWNSHIP
Loami Township, located on the western di- vislon of Sangamon County, as originally organ- ized in 1861, embraced the whole of Town 14 N., R. 7 W., excepting two sections in the northwest corner, with a fractional division of Town 14 N., R. 8 W., and containing approximately forty- two sections or square miles. On July 13, 1896, Maxwell Township was set off from the western portion, embracing a little more than one-half of the original township of Loami, leaving to the latter three and a half tlers of sections in the eastern part of Town 14 N., R. 7 W., or an area of twenty-one square miles. The township is now bounded on the north by New Berlin Town- ship, east by Chatham, south by Talkington and west by Maxwell. In treating of the early hls- tory of this section it will be impossible to sep- arate Loami and Maxwell Townships.
The surface Is generally level prairie and the township is watered by Llck Creek and its branches.
The first settlers in what became the original Loami Township were Henry Brown and fam- ily, including his step-children, Willlam Huff- master and sister Lucinda, who came In March, 1819, and settled on the north side of Lick Creek, Later Mr. Brown went back after another load of goods, and during his absence Huffmaster
built a cabin and had it ready for the family when Mr. Brown returned. He had also made a trough and filled it with honey obtained from bee-trees. John Campbell, who came soon after, settled on the sonth side of Lick Creek, thought himself the first settler in that vicinity, but hear- ing the sound of Hnffmaster's axe, went over and discovered his neighbor. Huffmaster is de- scribed as a man of remarkable endurance and courage, being credited with splitting 700 rails in a single day and on one occasion is said to have encountered a panther which, aided by his dogs, he killed with a club, while his comrade, Samuel Harbour, had gone to secure a gun. Mr. Huffmaster, who was of German ancestry, married Clarissa Smith about 1821, and died in 1861.
Mr. Brown and family were originally from Virginia, but spent some time in St. Clair County, Ill., before coming to Sangamon. After thelr arrival, population gradually increased by new arrivals. Besides John Campbell, who came to this vicinity about the same time, but settled in what became Chatham Township, other early settlers were Willis Coley, William and Eben- . ezer Colburn, William and John Morris, John Johnson, E. A. Meacham, Adam Barger, Achilles Morris, John Hudson, Zaza Bowen, Seth R. Cut- ter, Stephen and William Workman.
Panl Colburn, who was one of the first per- manent settlers of Loami Township, was born in Hillsboro County, N. H., and after iiving suc- cessively in his native State, Massachusetts, and Ohio. where he became the head of a nu- merous family, with several of its members he descended the Ohio river on a raft to Louisville, Ky. Leaving his son Isaac there to dispose of the Inmber, Paul Colburn and other members of the family went on to Shawneetown, where lie and his wife and daughter remained, while hls son Ebenezer and wife went on to joln relatives in Monroe County, Ill. Isaac Colburn died at Louisville in August, 1820, and his wife at Shawneetown a few months later, leaving a family of six children at Louisville, four of whom were afterwards taken charge of by his brother William, who had remained at Marietta, Ohio, but joined his father at Shawneetown in Decem- ber, 1820. In March following Paul Colburn, accompanied by his daughter Isabel, his son Wil- llam and family, and the orphan children of Isaac-a party of ten or twelve persons, of whom the majority were children-started with
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
a Mr. Harris iu a wagon drawn hy four oxen for Morgan County, Ill. After a journey of five weeks, during which they encountered many difficulties from floods and unbridged streams," they finally arrived iu what is uow Loami Town- ship, and, finding an empty cahin on the south side of Lick Creek, exhausted hy their long journey, they decided to stop there, Mr. Harris proceeding with his wagon and team to Morgan Couuty. Later they were joined hy the son Eh- enezer and wife, who had gone to Monroe Coun- ty, and this resulted in one of the largest col- onies that came to Sangamon County, although Paul Colburn survived only until 1825, dying near the present town of Loami on November 27th of that year, leaving a numerous group of descendants.
Adam Barger, who was a uative of Botetourt Couuty, Va., horn in 1784, came to Loami Town- ship, Sangamon County, in October, 1826, and died in 1864; Zaza Bowen, born in North Car- olina, came in 1827; Henry Hall, a native of Maryland, came here from Martin County, Va., in 1828. After 1830 settlers came to this section very rapidly.
CHURCHES-SCHOOLS .- The first religious ser- vices in Loami Township were held in 1820 hy Rev. Simon Lindley, a Baptist minister of great energy and zeal and widely known through Cen- trai Iilinois.
There are now seven churches in the town- ship, representing the following denominations : three Methodist, one Baptist, one Regular Bap- tist, and two Preshyteriau.
The first schooi patronized by residents of Loami Township was taught in a house in the Lick Creek settlement but located in Chatham Township, and it was not until 1824, when a schoolhouse was erected in what was known as the "Yankee Settlement," about a mile and a half east of the present village of Loami, and Theophilus Sweet was one of the first-if not the very first-teachers there.
FIRST EVENTS .- Todd & Jackson, of Jackson- vilie, started the first store in the township in 1831, a mile and a half east of the present vii- lage of Loamni.
Colhurn & Smith opened the first stock of goods in the village.
Mark Briggius was the first blacksmith, lo- cated a mile southwest of the village.
A Mr. Goshom hrought the first piano to this section in 1834.
Calvin Goodell taught the first singing school iu the township in 1827.
Jonathan Jarrett started the first tan-yard in this vicinity in 1826, a mile and a quarter south of the village.
The first death was that of William Hughes, an Indian ranger, who was killed hy Indians and buried hy his comrades near Sulphur Springs.
A Fourier Society was established here in 1845, consisting of about twenty families, and had a prosperous career for some three years, when owing to internal dissension, the society was dissolved, and the property divided among its members.
MILLS .- Andrew Heredith, who came here from Cincinnati in 1834, soon after began the erection of a saw-mill on Lick Creek, a mile and a half west of Loami Village, and iater erected a grist-mill-the latter having four run of stone. This had a liberai custom for a time, and con- siderahle of a village, known as Miliviile, gatlı- ered around it. The hard times of 1837 caused the failure of the proprietor, and hoth village and the miil have practically disappeared.
The Colburn Mill, erected at Loami iu 1836, by Ehenezer and William Colhurn, sons of the pioneer. Paul Colhurn, met a number of dis- asters hut had a longer existence. Previous to 1873 it was burned three times, and as often rehuilt; in 1881 had two run of stone and ren- dered valuable service to the community. It proved an important factor in promoting the growth of Loami.
The Peoria, Springfield & St. Louis Railroad enters the township near the uortheast corner, and extending to the southwest, leaves the town- ship on Section 21, Loami village heing the only station in the township.
VILLAGES .- While at least three attempts have heen made to establish viliages in Loami Town- ship, Loami village is the only one now in exist- ence. The viiiage of Cleveland was laid out about 1832, occupying a part of the site of the present village of Loami, and some half-dozen houses, with a blacksmith and a cooper shop, were erected, hut the village finaliy disappeared.
What was called the viliage of Miilvilie grew up a few years later around a mill erected by Andrew Heredith, west of Loami, and flourished as long as the mill continued in operation, but went out of existence as the result of the finan- cial crisis of 1837.
William and Ebenezer Colhurn hnilt a horse-
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
mill soon after coming to Loami Township, but later put up a water-quill, which in 1836 they changed to a steam saw and grist-mill. Arouud this grew up quite a village, first called Leb- anon, the name later being changed to Loaml. Uuder the iatter name the village was platted lu August, 1854, by O. B. Kidder, H. D. Gibsou aud others. It is situated in Sectiou 11 on the Peoria, Springfield & St. Louis Railroad, is pop- ulated by an intelligent and progressive colu- munity, and being located in the center of a rich agricultural district, during the last few years has maintained prosperous growth.
Loami has two banks-the Farmers State Bank and the Loami State Bank. The popula- tion of the towuship (census of 1910) was 992, and of the village of Loami, 530.
MAXWELL TOWNSHIP
The early history of Maxwell Towushlp has been treated in connection with- Loami Town- shlp, of which It constituted a part from the adoption of township organization In 1861, until Marcb 14, 1899, when it was set apart hy act of the Board of Supervisors from the western part of the original township of Loami, with its present name. By this arrangement the orig- inal township was about equally divided, giving to Maxwell Township an area of about twenty- one square miles, of which eight sections are located iu Town 14 N., R. 7 W. and the remain- der in Town 14 N., R. 8 W. It is bounded on the uorth by New Berllu Township, east by Loami, south hy Talkington and west hy Mor- gan County.
Located on the headwaters of Lick Creek, the uew township consists more largeiy of prairie land than does Loami, hut with the same qual- ity of soil. According to the census of 1900 the populations of the two towuships were about equal.
The southeastern corner of Maxwell Township Is crossed by the Peoria, Springfield & St. Louis Railroad, from northeast to southwest, covering a distance of about four miles within the town- ship. Maxwell Station on this line Is the only railway station In the township, and is gradually developing Into a village, though not yet incor- porated.
Population of Maxweii Township (1910) 435.
MECHANISCBURG TOWNSHIP
The towuship of Mechanicsburg was organized 'In 1861 with its preseut dimensions, consisting of Town 16 N., R. 3 W., or thirty-six governiuell- tai sections. It is bouuded on the north by Buffaio Ilart, east hy Lanesville, south by Cooper and west by Clear Lake Township. The surface is moderately undulating, being composed of about three-fourths prairle and oue-fourth timber. The principal water-course is Clear Creek, which flows through the central part of the township and has a number of small tributarles. The southwest corner approaches closely to the east bank of the Sangamon River.
The first settlement was made In the towuship in 1824, and among the early settlers after that period were: James Newell, Jesse Wilson, Wil- liam Burch, A. Churchill, Samuel Garvey, Wil- liam Jack, Jacoh Constant, Charles aud Danlel Morgan, David IIall, Jesse Pickrell, Benjamin L. Ilail, George Churchill, Samuel Cox, John Con- stant, Josiah Green and J. II. Fullenwider.
Jacob Constant, 'who was a brother of John, Isaac and Thomas, and grandfather of Rezln H., was boru in Virginia about 1765, there married Eleanor Clinkenbeard, and soon after moved with pack-horses to Fleming County, Ky. In 1814 they moved to Clermont County, Ohio, and In October, 1826, to Sangamon County, locatiug in what is now Mechanicshurg Townshlp, wbere he died in 1828, leaving a large family.
Charies Morgan was horn in Hampshire Coun- ty, Va., September 5, 1781, moved to Fieming County, Ky., with his parents, In 1793, married Ellzabetb Constance in 1807 and In 1814 went to Clermont County, Ohio, whence in October, 1826, he came to Sangamon County, Ill., settling in Mechanicshurg Township, dying there in 1866.
Josiah Green, born in South Carolina lu 1800, married Rebecca Long and in 1828 came to what is now Mechanicsburg Township, Sangamon County. His death occurred iu 1855.
Samuei Garvey was born in Culpeper County, Va., August 31, 1794, a son of Job Garvey, who was a native of Scotland, but came to America in his youth and served seven years as a soldler in the Revolutionary War. Samuel's boybood was spent in Kentucky, and when about eighteen years old he enlisted lu the War of 1812, taking part in the Battle of the Thames, where Tecum- seh was kilied. Iu 1816 he married Maria Ellis- ton and in the fall of 1830, with a family of seven
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
children, moved to Sangamon County, Iii., set- tling in the vicinity of what became Mechanics- burg.
David Hali, born uear Shelbyville, Ky., De- cember 25, 1799, in 1823 married Juliet Owen, and in September, 1834, came to Mechanicsburg, Sangamon Connty, finally settling about four miles west in the township.
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Jesse A. Pickrell, born in Montgomery Connty, Ky., June 13, 1805, the son of Abel and Sarah (Taylor) Pickrell, in the spring of 1828 came to Sangamon County, Ill., being the first of the family to arrive in the connty. He first stopped at Mechanicsburg, but later became a resident of what is now Lanesville Township. In 1828 he taught the first school in Mechanicsburg Town- ship, and in December of the same year married Elizabeth Churchill. Abel Pickrell, the fatber of Jesse, came to the county in 1831, and set- tled in Willlams Township. The Pickreli fam- ily was one of the most widely known and highly respected in the eastern portion of Sangamon County.
Benjamin S. Hall and his wife, Eveline (Pick- rell) Hail, came with their family from Shelby County, Ky., to Sangamon County, Ill., in Sep- tember, 1833, locating in what is now Mechan- iscburg Townshlp.
Jacob N. Fullenwider was born in Sbelby County, Ky., June 5, 1814, the son of Henry and Harriet (Neil) Fnlienwider. In the fali of 1833 Henry Fullenwider came to Sangamon County and there bought a tract of land in what is now Mechanicsburg Township, but in August of the next year died in Kentucky. In the following fall his widow and family of nine children started for Sangamon County, where they arrived October 11, 1834, and settled on land the father had purchased in Mechanics- burg Township, and there the mother died Jan- uary 31, 1867. The Fullenwiders became the most extensive land-owners and prosperous far- mers in their section of the county.
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