USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 29
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
EARLY SETTLERS.
Some of the first settlers of Christian County are accredited to Mt. Auburn Township, they being Ephraim Cooper and Benjamin Giger and their families who came here in 1820. In the little party were John Cooper and his family, Henry Giger and William Bragg. They all lo- cated on North Fork, and were the pioneers of this region. Ephraim planted what was prob- ably the first orchard in Christian County, and it was bearing fruit by 1827. The first frame
residences in Christian County were erected by Benjamin Giger and Ephraim Cooper, who built them in 1822, sawing the lumber with a whip- saw. John Cooper divided his time between the duties of a justice of the peace and those of a Methodist minister. For many years William Bragg was a resident of a place known as Camp- bell's Point. Other early settlers were Martin Hinkle who came in 1821; Moses Archer who came in 1827; James Baker who came in 1828; Col. William Porter came in 1830; and William Hazlett in 1831; Henry Davis, Sr., Dial Davis, Sr., John Davis and Fergus Milligan all came in 1831. The year 1834 brought Thomas Elliott and Isaac Virden ; John Crompton came in 1835 ; in 1836 the Wadkins family, Philip and John Locker, Overton Williams, Henry S. Luckett, John McKinney, T. E. V. Farris and Gustavus Kilburn all located here; while William Robbins came in 1838, H. G. Lindley, in 1839, and Samuel J. Sadler arrived the same year as Mr. Lindley.
BOLIVIA.
On the fifth of June, 1833, some of the above settlers had the demand on their part for a vil- lage gratified, and the southeast quarter of sec- tion 18, township 15, was laid out in the townl of Bolivia, with eight blocks and 123 lots. At the present time Bolivia contains the stores of Ensminger & Son, G. W. Orey and William George; the Bolivia Farmers' Grain Co., of which M. W. Spengler is manager. The com- munity is justly proud of a graded school of two rooms which is standard in every respect.
LAND ENTRIES.
The following are the early land entries now on record : Moses Archer entered the first tract of land in the township, it being the northwest half of the southwest quarter section 13, town- ship 15 north, range 3 west, on November 27, 1827, and used this property as a site for a mill. Ephraim Cooper the northwest half south- west quarter section 24, township 15 north, range 3 west, April 4, 1829. During July, 1821, the United States government land survey was made. On May 29, 1829, Benjamin Giger entered south- west quarter of section 22.
PIONEER CONDITIONS.
One of the earliest mills in the county was known as Archie's Mill and was built on the
780
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
banks of the Sangamon River in Mt. Auburn Township. It was both a saw and grist mill and was in operation some time before the deep snow, and long after that historic event. An- other early mill was owned by James Baker, although it was begun by Dial Davis, Sr. Like Archie's Mill, it was also a saw and grist mill, and had many patrons. Owing to the terrific cold of the winter of 1831, known as that of the deep snow, the following season yielded a small crop of corn, and not only was there but little for the mills to grind, but that had been injured by the frost. In the spring of 1832, seed corn was so scarce that Capt. Bougue's steamboat, ascending the Sangamon River as far as Portland Landing, brought a large cargo of corn. So great was the demand, that this corn sold for $2.50 per bushel.
FIRST MARRIAGES.
George Dickson and Frances Cooper were the first couple to be married in Mt. Auburn Town- ship. The date of their wedding was September 13. 1823, and their license was issued to them by Charles R. Matheney, clerk of Sangamon County, and the ceremony was performed by Rev. Rivers McCormick of the Methodist Church. In 1824 a marriage was celebrated by Samuel Lee, a member of the county commissioners' court. The first child born was George William George, in October, 1830, son of William George.
FIRST SCHOOL.
A little cabin on the property of Martin Hinkle, held the first school, organized in 1831. The first teachers were poorly paid, and had to board around among their patrons. Of course all the early schools were subscription ones, each family subscribing a certain amount of produce or money, generally the former. It is related that upon one occasion the pupils of the first Mt. Auburn township school, were con- siderably astounded and amused to receive an addition to their numbers in a flock of sheep, which was with difficulty induced to leave the premises so unceremoniously invaded.
MT. AUBURN.
The most pretentious settlement ever made in Mt. Auburn Township, is the little city bearing the same name as the township. The site is
beautifully located some fifty feet above the surrounding country, and from it a fine view is commanded of points some miles distant. It was laid out by John B. Augur, John Grigg, I. V. Williamson, Cyrus P. Smith, Elias B. Bishop and Augustus Mitchell who were the original proprietors. T. R. Skinner, Logan County's legal surveyor, made the survey, the place being located on section 12, township 15 north, range 2 west. The date of this survey is July 11, 1839. That same year John B. Augur opened a store, but soon sold it to Camp, Bradish & Co., of Philadelphia, whose western manager was a Mr. Bloxam. The pioneer blacksmitlı was William Phillips who opened his shop in 1840. A storehouse, dwelling and hotel were erected in 1839 by the founders, but the latter was never fully completed and was torn down in 1876. During 1840 and 1841 Thomas Marr con- ducted a hotel, but the building was later used for residential purposes by Warner and Gates who built the first mill. This mill was later moved to Beardstown, Ill. Dr. J. Hughes was the first physician to locate permanently at Mt. Auburn. The third store was conducted by John S. Foster who established it in 1847, but two years later sold to Henry Davis, and the latter after a year disposed of the business to P. N. Hooper and V. D. Emert. P. D. Night & Co. established a dry goods and grocery store, but sold it in 1853 to John S. Foster, who in turn disposed of it in 1854 to M. Stafford & Co, who were succeeded in 1857 by C. E. Bosworth who continued to conduct this store until 1859. An- other early merchant was P. D. Night who con- ducted a general dry goods store from 1854 to 1856, when he sold to John Cole, and the latter changed the business to one of handling cloth- ing, and then in six months consolidated with C. E. Bosworth. In the fall of 1857 Jolin B. Zaring built a store and conducted a general merchandise business until 1858 when he sold to Robert H. Fowkes. Later D. Davis & Son carried on a general merchandise business. Benjamin Ellis was a merchant here from 1862 to 1867.
The first sermon was preached in the village by a Reverend Dresser. The post office was es- tablished in 1839, and John B. Augur was the first postmaster, E. B. Windsor is the present postmaster. He has held this position for many years. Other postmasters have been: R. Kim- ball. J. R. Vanderbilt, James Lindsay, and Louis N. Smith. The records of incorporation are miss-
Clara E Kessler
N. A. Kessler
781
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
ing but some of the older inhabitants say the village was incorporated in the late fifties or the early sixties. The following named men have been intimately connected with the history of the village: physicians, Henry Bloxam, J. H. Lawrence, A. Conel, O. C. Reynolds, J. B. Matthew, W. K. Wright and B. P. Windsor ; merchants, John S. Foster, Henry Davis, P. N. Hooper, V. D. Emert, P. B. Night, Moses Staf- ford, John Cole, C. E. Bosworth, John B. Zaring, Robert H. Fowkes, M. P. Goodrich, B. R. Par- rish, Benjamin Ellis, John Jones, R. Kimball, H. D. Parker, O. R. Stiffey, J. R. Foster, Russell Bros. and T. Bohon.
During 1880, a local census shows that the following men represented the commercial and professional interests at Mt. Auburn: Richard Kimball, general merchant; Dial Davis & Son, groceries and drugs; H. D. Parker, groceries and drugs ; Ezekiel Sargeant, cabinet-maker and undertaker; Jacob M. Wise and John Sargeant, blacksmiths ; E. R. Mooney, carriage and wagon maker; D. Everet, wagon maker; William F. Milligan, hotel keeper; A. S. Parrish, painter; J. R. Vanderbelt, harness and shoemaker ; Drs. Henry Bloxam, J. H. Lawrence, A. Conel, J. B. Matthew, and O. C. Reynolds, physicians.
PRESENT BUSINESS HOUSES.
General stores, T. A. Montgomery & Co., Ed- ward Critchnau; restaurants, Oscar Short, Roy Critchnau ; banks, First National, Farmers' State Bank ; elevators, Hight & Cline and the Farmers' Elevator, D. C. Armstrong, manager ; drugs, J. M. Wiswell ; meat market, Edward Smith; hard- ware, Virgil Davidson ; physicians, R. E. Holben and Doctor Hedrick ; lumber, A. E. Weaver. All of the business is located on the southern slope of the "Hill," which has been built up since the railroad was built in 1901. Prior to that date the business houses were located around the square on top of the "Hill."
Mt. Auburn has two churches, Methodist and Disciples, commonly known as the Christian Church. Plans have been perfected and ma- terials are now on the ground to erect a new Christian church building on the site of the old church. The building, when completed, will cost in the neighborhood of $20,000.
Tradition has it that Mt. Auburn lacked only a few votes of being chosen as the site of the state capitol when it was removed from Van- dalia to Springfield. The population of the vil-
lage is about 500. The present mayor is Chas. Tankersley.
The schools of Mt. Auburn are comfortably housed in a new four room brick building. It is located on the site of the old two-story frame building which was destroyed by fire a few years ago. Two years of high school work, and the elementary grades are taught here. The high school is recognized by the State Department of Public Instruction as being standard.
FRATERNITIES.
Kedron Lodge, No. 340, A. F. & A. M. was instituted in 1859 and chartered October 2, 1860, with eleven members. The first officers were as follows: Moses Stafford, W. M .; B. D. Ellis, S. W .; George N. Junkins, J. W .; Dr. John Lawrence, secretary; James Davidson, treas- urer; Oscar Stafford, S. D .; Elijah Davidson. J. D .; E. White, tyler. The present officers are : Jesse M. Wiswell, W. M .; A. E. Weaver, S. W .; E. M. Wurl, J. W .; W. C. Armstrong, secretary ; Royal Butcher, treasurer; H. L. Tankersley, S. D .; F. B. Mulberry, J. D .; George Parish, tyler. Gen. Samuel Whiteside, a famous Indian fighter, was one of the charter members of this lodge, and George A. Parish, who still lives on the "Hill" was the first one raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
Kedron Chapter, No. 536 O. E. S. was insti- tuted in Mt. Auburn on August 27, 1904, with eighteen members. Mrs. E. B. Windsor was the first worthy matron and B. F. Karnes, the first worthy patron. The present officers are as fol- lows: Mrs. Lena Hardbarger, worthy matron ; James E. Sallenger, worthy patron ; Mrs. J. E. Sallenger, associate matron ; Beulah Henderson, secretary ; Mrs. Mary Milligan, treasurer. The present membership is sixty-one.
Mt. Auburn Lodge, No. 993, I. O. O. F. was chartered November 23, 1911, with the following members: James Drake, George Drake, R. M. Greer, Fred Zimmerman, James Parrish, Charles E. Davis, Harry Tankersley, A. L. Ryan, R. H. Stanberry, Ott Davis, James Sallenger. The present officers are as follows : Roy Thompson, N. G .; Isaac White, V. G .; Walter Rutherford, secretary ; E. M. Wurl, treasurer ; R. M. Greer, O. G .; Henry Myers, I. G.
Mt. Auburn Lodge No. 664, Rebekahs, was chartered November 23, 1911. Esther Smith is the present N. G. and Frances Peel is secretary. Racy Lodge, No. 629, K. P. was chartered
782
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
October 22, 1903. Lee Housley is the present chancellor commander.
GROVE CITY.
Grove City, a prosperous little village of Mt. Auburn Township, is conveniently located in the midst of a very wealthy agricultural district that looks to it as a source of supply, and it is ten and one-half miles due north of Taylorville. In 1858 the first house in the place was built by E. N. Hoagland, and F. H. Henshie kept the first store. Another member of the family, A. Henshie, was the first blacksmith. In 1864 Dr. H. J. Grismer took up permanent residence here and was Grove City's first physician. The post office was established in 1862, with F. H. Henshie as the first postmaster.
In 1880, the business and professional interests of Grove City were represented by the following men : H. C. Shanafelt, manager of the dry goods store owned by R. Little of Decatur, Ill .; J. G. Harvey & Co., drug and grocery store; John Engle, boot and shoe store; A. Flock and M. Collins, blacksmiths: F. M. Thomas, harness- maker; S. J. Snyder, wagon maker and under- taker; house and sign 'painter, Rufus Housley ; Dr. W. H. Vermilion and Dr. J. G. Harvey, physicians.
A schoolhouse was erected in 1876 and Syl- vester Patterson was the first teacher. The present schoolhouse, a modern one room build- ing was erected in 1912. Grove City has a pros- perous bank and a flourishing Methodist Church. Since it is an inland village, no grain is bought here. The principal business house is the Grove City Mercantile Co.
The Fraternal Societies are as follows :
Fisher Lodge No. 585 A. F. & A. M. Dis- pensation for this lodge was granted Nov. 15, 1867. There were nine charter members. The first officers were : J. G. Harvey, W. M. ; E. P. May, S. W .; John Hazlett, J. W .; R. A. Hazlett, treasurer ; L. Smith, secretary ; J. W. Davidson, S. D .; J. A. Short, J. D .; H. N. North, tyler. The present officers are: Roy Robinson, W. M. ; Clarence Butcher, S. W .; Jesse Morgret, J. W .; Sidney Holben, secretary.
The Grove City Chapter, O. E. S. No. 663, was instituted in June, 1911. The first matron was Mrs. W. A. Sadler and the first associate matron was Mrs. G. F. Murry. These officers have remained unchanged to the present time.
Grove City Lodge No. 275 I. O. O. F. was in- stituted May 3, 1872. The charter members were John Coll, Eli Porter, John C. Paxton, Henry Kirk, J. M. Milligan, Wm. E. Pettus, J. H. Lawrence, Henry Bloxam and J. W. John- son. The first officers were : J. E. Paxton, N. G .; Eli Porter, V. G .; Henry Bloxam, secretary ; Henry Kirk, treasurer. The present officers are : G. G. Lefever, N. G .; Earl Hertel, V. G .; J. C. Douglas, financial secretary ; M. E. Anthony, treasurer.
Grove City Rebekahs, which lodge was organ- ized February 24, 1902. Mrs. Amanda Ward was the first N. G. and Florence Morrison the first V. G. Mrs. J. H. Douglas is the present N. G. and Mrs. J. E. Montgomery, the present V. G.
ROBY.
ROBY is a small village in the western part of Mt. Auburn Township on the Chicago, Indiana & Western Railroad. J. F. Akin and Haslip & Day run general stores here. The elevator is owned and operated by the Roby Grain Co. School facilities are provided by the old Sud- duth school, one-half mile east of the village. This is now a two-room school, an addition having been made necessary by the growth of the village.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
The following men have served Mt. Auburn Township as officials :
ASSESSORS.
J. P. Cooper, 1876; W. Y. Crosthwait, 1877 ; S. N. Neblock, 1878; B. R. Parrish, 1879-80 ; Charles J. Reed, 1881-84; Jesse Ryan, 1885 : Charles J. Reed, 1886-87; H. C. Shanafelt, 1888; L. N. Smith, 1889-91; Charles J. Reed, 1892; A. M. Bloxam, 1893; R. B. McNeil, 1894-95 ; Charles J. Reed, 1896-98; George H. Sherman, 1899; Robert B. McNeil, 1900-02; George H. Sherman, 1903; A. M. Bloxam, 1904; W. A. Sadler, 1905; A. B. Bottrell, 1906; J. H. Meacham, 1907; W. O. Bramel, 1908 ; J. J. Green, 1909; B. F. Alls, 1910-11; Edward Lahue, 1912-17.
783
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
COLLECTORS.
Dial Davis, 1866; Robert A. Hazlett, 1867; Richard Jones, 1868; J. C. Paxton, 1869-70; John Cole, 1871; J. C. Paxton, 1872; W. C. Sharp, 1873-74; F. P. Davis, 1875; J. W. Hart- sock, 1876-77; S. N. Neblock, 1878; B. R. Par- rish, 1879-80; Charles E. Davis, 1881-84; W. C. Sharp, 1885; E. R. Mooney, 1886-87 ; Jesse Ryan, 1888-89; George R. Parrish, 1890; W. C. Sharp, 1891; J. A. Pharis, 1892; A. D. Housley, 1893 ; William L. Rasar, 1894; James E. Sallenger, 1895 ; Jesse Ryan, 1896; W. L. Rasar, 1897 ; John Pharis, 1898; Walter Ricks, 1899 ; John T. Hart, 1900-02; Elmer Caudle, 1903-04; H. P. Hart, 1905; Arthur E. Belt, 1906; N. B. McKee, 1907; William Young, 1908-09; William Moomey, 1910- 13; B. F. Stogdell, 1914-15 ; O. W. Davis, 1916-17.
CLERKS.
O. Z. Housley, 1876; A. L. Parrish, 1877-78 ; O. Z. Housley, 1879-80; James P. Kipper, 1881- 83; L. N. Smith, 1884-85; J. W. Huddleston, 1886-89; Solomon Miller, 1890; C. J. Reed, 1891; C. W. Graham, 1892; S. J. Snyder, 1893-94; Mason Wise, 1895; J. W. Huddleston, 1896; John A. Kimball, 1897; J. W. Huddleston, 1898 ; S. J. Snyder, 1899; Jacob Frey, 1900-01; R. W. Bowman, 1902; J. W. Huddleston, 1903-04 ; H. H. Patton, 1905 ; J. W. Huddleston, 1906-11 ; Walter A. Lester, 1912-13; J. W. Huddleston, 1914-15 ; L. C. Bramel, 1916-17.
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.
J. A. Hazlett, 1876; John Montgomery, 1877 ; William Augur, 1878; Duncan Lahue, 1879; F. Pricket, 1880; George A. Parish, 1881; H. W. North, 1882; O. Z. Housley, 1883; J. S. Milligan, 1884; J. A. Hazlett, 1885; O. Z. Housley, 1886 ; J. W. Augur, 1887; Duncan Lahue, 1888; I. N. Ward, 1889; M. V. Swick, 1890; S. B. Gaines, 1891; Willis Chick, 1892; M. V. Swick, 1893; S. B. Gaines, 1894; James McGinnis, Sr., 1895; W. L. Igon, 1896; S. B. Gaines, 1897; James McGinnis, 1898; W. L. Igon, 1899; Reuben Smith, 1900; James P. Kipper, 1901; Benjamin F. Whitesell, 1902; William Farron, 1903; Austin Smith, 1904; George H. Baughman, 1905; S. D.
Steward and James Modlin, 1906; Austin Smith, 1907; M. A. Mosgret, 1908; William Troxell and L. C. Armstrong, 1909; William J. Wasson and Oscar Fields, 1910; Oscar Fields, 1911; John H. Baker, 1912; W. J. Wasson, 1913; Oscar Fields, 1914; John H. Baker, 1915; W. J. Was- son, 1916-17.
CONSTABLES.
William M. Milligan, 1879-80; Jesse Ryan and J. M. Johnson, 1881-84; M. V. Swick and J. M. Johnson, 1885; I. A. Watkins and J. M. John- son, 1889-92; I. A. Watkins and D. J. Truxell, 1893-96; I. A. Watkins and James Cook, 1897- 1900; A. J. Ross and I. A. Watkins, 1901-04; Joseph Dunn and L. R. George, 1905-08; George W. Orey and J. H. Dunn, 1909; William Ben- nett, 1910-11; B. F. Stogdell, 1912; S. J. Swick, 1913-14 ; Charles Toles, 1915; Earl Moomey, 1916-17.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
A. G. Neel, J. E. Southwick, J. N. Patton and I. T. Colby, 1881-84 ; C. W. Graham and Andrew Flock, 1885-SS; Henry Bloxam and H. C. Shana- felt, 1889-92; Levi Sherman and J. P. Kipper, 1893-96; Levi Sherman and J. P. Kipper, 1897- 1900; C. W. Graham and Levi Sherman, 1901- 04; Levi Sherman and N. B. Chapman, 1905 ; Leonard Davidson, 1906-08; H. P. Hart and Leslie J. Smith, 1909-11 ; Charles Stafford, 1912; Leslie J. Smith and William F. Drennan, 1913- 14; Percy Akin, 1915; Nathan Ward, 1916-17.
SUPERVISORS.
John M. Hill, 1866; Davis Henshie, 1867; D. Davis, 1868 ; Victor Thompson, 1869; Eli Porter, 1870-71; J. M. Hill, 1872-73; J. M. Hill, 1874; M. V. Swick, 1875; H. Bloxam, 1876; John A. Hazlett, 1877-79; D. T. Barrett, 1880-81; P. P. Daigh, 1882-83; R. Jones, 1884-85; George T. Barrett, 1SS6-87; W. C. Sharp, 1888; E. R. Mooney, 1889; T. T. Berry, 1890-93; A. D. Housley, 1894-97; T. T. Berry, 1898-1903; M. S. Sadler, 1904-05; James E. Sallenger, 1906-09 ; H. P. Hart, 1910-11; J. E. Sallenger, 1912-15; M. M. Spengler, 1916-17.
11
784
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
CHAPTER XXVIII.
-
PANA TOWNSHIP.
ORIGIN OF NAME- EARLY SETTLERS - PIONEER INCIDENTS-FIRST ROAD-MOTION TO SECEDE- CITY OF PANA - ADDITIONS - TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES-EARLY RESIDENTS-PIONEER BUSI- NESS HOUSES - POLITICAL HISTORY - FIRST ORGANIZATION -SECOND ORGANIZATION -THIRD ORGANIZATION - CITY OFFICIALS - TREASURERS CITY ATTORNEYS - POLICE MAGISTRATES - MAYORS, CLERKS, CHIEFS OF POLICE-SUPER-
INTENDENTS OF STREETS-ALDERMEN-PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS-WATER WORKS-POST OFFICE- -POSTMASTERS-GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT-CITY -LIBRARY-FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS- TELEPHONE SERVICE - PARKS - CEMETERIES - BUSINESS INTERESTS OF 1880-BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN OF 1917-FRATERNITIES- CLUBS-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS-ASSESSORS-COL- LECTORS - CLERKS - COMMISSIONERS OF HIGH- WAYS-CONSTABLES-JUSTICES OF THE PEACE- SUPERVISORS.
ORIGIN OF NAME.
Pana Township was originally named Stone Coal Precinct and formed a portion of Shelby County until the organization of . Christian County in 1839, when it became a portion of the new county. The old name was taken from the fact that stone coal outcrops in limited quan- tities along a small stream that bears the name of Coal Creek. On September 2, 1856, Mason French, on behalf of thirty legal voters, pre- sented a petition to the County court to have the name changed to that of Pana, and this petition was granted, so since then Pana has been the legal name of the township in the extreme southeastern part of Christian County, comprising the whole township 11 north, range 1 east, and bounded on the north by Assump- tion Township, on the east and north by Shelby County, and on the west by Rosemond Town- ship. The surface is a beautiful undulating prairie, and the soil is a rich, black loam that is extremely fertile. There are 30,720 acres of land in the township.
RAILROADS.
Four railroads traverse the township, namely : the Illinois Central Railroad; the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad; the "Big Four" Railroad, and the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first settlers of Pana Township were as follows : Jared Malin, Abram Milligan, Thomas Bell, Henry H. Bond, Andrew Hanson, Levi Hopson, Alfred Hopson, Benjamin Gordon, John Abbott, Joseph Edwards, James Edwards, William Pryce, Ignatius Butler, John Hanson, and others.
PIONEER INCIDENTS.
On August 2, 1845, the first election in the Stone Coal Precinct was held at the home of Andrew Hanson, and he, Thomas Bell and Abram Milligan were chosen judges of election. Nineteen votes were cast at this election. Prior to this election, the voters in this territory voted at Taylorville. It is interesting to record that during the year 1845, William Pryce, the deputy tax collector, reported that the entire amount of taxes collected for that year was $7.60, from which it must be inferred that either tax rates were considerably lower than today, or that people possessed little or no property. Mr. Pryce is further distinguished by the fact that he was the first bridegroom of the township, he marrying Mary Jane Edwards February 15, 1844, while the following year, on September 1, the second marriage occurred when Rev. Miles H. Abbott married William Buzen to Jane Gordon.
FIRST ROAD.
One of the events of great interest during the early days was the locating of a county road between Taylorville and Stone Coal Pre- cinct, by Joseph Edwards, Andrew Hanson and William Hammer, who were appointed con- missioners by the County court for this pur- pose. This road was surveyed by the county surveyor, William A. Goodrich, beginning near the southeast corner of the county, and running in a direct line to Taylorville. The survey was marked by a furrow. The Stone Coal post
KITCHELL PARK, PANA
CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY, PANA
HIGH SCHOOL, PANA
785
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
office was established in 1854, with Milan S. Beckwith as the first postmaster, and it was located near the Illinois Central Railroad in the cabin of Mr. Beckwith, where he also kept a small stock of merchandise, but the office was subsequently moved to Pana.
MOTION TO SECEDE.
Considering the pride which the residents of Pana take in their association with Christian County, it is interesting to note that at one time the motion to secede from Christian County and go back to Shelby County, was seriously considered. The reason for this was that when the matter was brought up for con- sideration, the territory embraced in the present Pana Township was in such an unsettled con- dition, and the difficulty experienced by the settlers in reaching the county seat or other points made some of them imagine that con- nection with Shelby County would better their condition. An election was ordered by the legislature to take place on the first Monday in July, 1851, but fortunately for the people of Pana and Christian County, it was defeated by a large vote, and the matter was closed.
THE CITY OF PANA.
Pana Township history really centers around that of the city of Pana, which shares honors with the county seat in being one of the most flourishing and important little cities of the middle west. The name was taken from a tribe of Indians which many decades ago had their home on the prairies where twentieth century civilization now predominates. It is located near the center of township 11 north, range 1 east, on sections 15, 16, 21 and 22, and it had its beginning in the erection of the Illinois Central Railroad through the township in 1853 and 1854. C. A. Manners surveyed the original site for David A. Neal who was then president of the new railroad, and the plat was recorded January 16, 1855.
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.