USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 32
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
CHAPTER
-
RICKS TOWNSHIP.
BOUNDARIES-EARLY SETTLERS-MORRISONVILLE - ADDITIONS-FIRST BUSINESS MEN-POST OFFICE -POLITICAL HISTORY-EARLY BUSINESS-BUSI- NESS MEN-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS-ASSESSORS- COLLECTORS-CLERKS-COMMISSIONERS OF HIGH- WAYS-CONSTABLES-JUSTICES OF THE PEACE- SUPERVISORS.
BOUNDARIES.
Ricks Township bears the name of one of the honored pioneer families of Christian County, which located on the head waters of Bear Creek in the territory later to become a part of Ricks
Township. This township, originally a part of Bear Creek Precinct, comprises township 11 north, range 3 west, and is bounded on the north by Bear Creek Township; on the east by Green - wood Township; on the south by Montgomery County, and on the west by King Township. The surface is an undulating prairie, and the soil is very fertile, being a rich, black loam. It is drained by the head waters of Bear Creek, Prairie Fork, Lick Creek and several smaller streams, and an ample supply of water is af- forded for all purposes.
EARLY SETTLERS.
In addition to the Ricks family, other early settlers in this region were: the Durbins, James M. Logsdon, Nathan Painter, Walter Clark, John Baker, Col. T. B. Bond, G. R. Jernigan, Alfred Currie, Robert McCollum, Lewis H. Jernigan. William Currie, Solomon Meads, Hiram Glass, Lewis Elliott, and Thomas Anderson, upon whose farm the Anderson log church and graveyard were located.
MORRISONVILLE.
The leading city of Ricks Township, and in fact of this part of the county, is Morrisonville, which ranks among the prosperous, flourishing little inland communities of the middle west. It was entered on June 14, 1831, by ex-Gov. Carlin, and the title of the present site was vested in Col. J. L. D. Morrison of Belleville. Ill., for whom it was named, he buying it from the heirs of his first wife who was a daughter of Governor Carlin.
It was Colonel Morrison who laid out his name town in the fall of 1869, under the supervision of the railroad then known as the Decatur and East St. Louis, later the Wabash Railroad. He donated half of the land under the definite understanding that the railroad company would establish at this point a station for all trains. In addition Colonel Morrison donated fifty lots to those who were willing to settle permanently at Morrisonville, and erect upon them suitable residences.
The main part of Morrisonville was surveyed and platted by Richard M. Powel, county sur- veyor in 1870, and since then the following additions have been made to it : the W. E. Mor- rison Addition and the T. F. Pott Addition.
1
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
798
FIRST BUSINESS MEN.
The first to take up permanent residence at Morrisonville was James Arnold, although at that time his home was not included in the original plat, it containing but eighty acres. A later addition brought it within the city limits. The first settler of the original town was Richard McLean, who erected the first house in Janu- ary. 1870, near the depot. The following month, Joseph Poggenpol built a residence, and N. N. Bell, James Sanford and A. Wall also built in that spring. The first store was built by N. N. Bell, and he began merchandising in it during February, 1870, his stock of goods being the first to be shipped to Morrisonville over the new road. C. M. Leiberman built and opened up the second store, and his establishment, as that of Mr. Bell, was located on Carlin street. D. F. Bonnell became the third merchant, all of these men entering commercial life at Morrisonville during 1870. E. Green was the first carpenter ; H. Means had the first mill; Stewart and Post had the first elevator : Anson Wall opened the first hotel; C. Wucherpfennig was the first blacksmith ; a Mr. Tetzloff was the first wagon- maker ; Chedister & Shull were the first lumber dealers; C. Townsend & Co. were the first drug- gists; William Wilkins was the first banker ; George Britton conducted the first hardware store and Dr. C. Voorhees was the first phy- sician.
POST OFFICE.
The post office was established in 1870, with Alpheus Wall as the first postmaster, and he was followed by George H. Cox, R. A. Buxton, J. W. Campbell and D. Noonan, the present incumbent.
POLITICAL HISTORY.
Morrisonville was incorporated under the general city and village law in May, 1872. The first board of trustees consisted of the following named persons: C. M. Leiberman, Dr. C. Voor- hees, W. T. Ricks, E. S. Shull and J. T. Hall. Dr. Silas Irion was police magistrate. The present village officers are as follows: Benja- min Kent, president ; John M. Becker, village clerk ; John Gray, treasurer; and George Hill, A. L. Stocks, John Swinger, Ralph Freeman, Joseph Virden, Frank Woodward, trustees. The present population of Morrisonville is about 1,200.
EARLY BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN.
The following men were instrumental during the period centering about 1880, in maintaining the commercial and professional interests of Morrisonville ; Steen Bros., editors and pub- lishers of the Morrisonville Times ; J. H. Vande- veer, banker; Fredrick & Harrison, elevator; A. B. Herdman & Co., elevator; Drs. W. W. Crane, J. W. Campbell, A. B. Simmons and D. F. Salander, physicians ; T. S. Knott, J. L. Ter- reel & Co., N. K. Beardslee, general merchants ; J. B. & C. H. Walker, Kelley & Cole, J. W. & A. S. McCauley, and E. L. Cheatham & Co., grocers and queensware merchants; Steen Bros. and Leroy Martin, druggists ; Wyckoff & Ran- dolph, hardware and agricultural implements ; Rafter & Hammack, hardware and tinware; William Drake & Co., tinware; V. Breene, cloth- ing and gents' furnishings; J. Welsh, dry goods and groceries ; Jacob Levi, dry goods and cloth- ing; G. H. Schmidt, merchant tailor; David Noonan, clothing, boots and shoes; E. Overand, boots and shoes; Joseph Kins, F. Sandhagen and A. Wiegant, shoe shops; A. Michael, har- ness ; George Atzger, bakery and confectionery ; M. M. Sternberg, bakery and restaurant; J. H. Poggenpol, grocery and restaurant; A. Munster- man and Michael Warren, tobacco and restaur- ant; Dr. C. M. Brown, dentist; E. S. Shull, lumber; Offighter and Warren, architects, builders and wagon manufacturers ; A. W. Miller, wagon factory ; Anson Wall, livery and feed stables; J. T. Hall, Christ Wucherpfennig, Joseph Ochsner, Templeton & Galloway, black- smiths ; Samuel Brown, butcher ; E. P. Tilley, photographer ; Simon Byer and E. P. Tilley, barbers ; Miss Emma Buchanan, Miss Rosie In- galls and Mrs. Dora Thatcher, millinery and fancy goods stores; N. N. Bell, proprietor of the Tremont House ; W. H. Hearin, proprietor of the Cheeny House; and Lewis Banschbach, pro- prietor of the City Hotel.
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN OF MORRISON- VILLE.
Department stores, T. J. Akin & Son; D. R. & L. Supply Co .; groceries, P. A. Tate, Frank Schweitzer, J. F. Clickener; clothing, John Becker ; furniture and undertaking, O. F. Gauer, R. C. McCauley; jewelry, L. D. Lord, C. C. Munsterman; hardware. A. L. Kitchell, H. P. Krastien ; meat market, B. A. Kent; novelties,
CATHOLIC CHURCH AND RECTORY, MORRISONVILLE
799
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
John Gray ; restaurants, R. M. Aull, Pete Chris- topher, Frank McLean; bakery, J. H. Door ; harness, Frank Barnett; livery, Cloyd & Crites, Ernest Haywood; elevators, Farmers Grain Co., Louis Johnson ; garages, C. S. Hill, Ira L. Van- cil; implements, C. A. Wyckoff; banks, First National, Louis Johnson & Sons, Farmers State; drugs, M. A. Johnson, H. G. Williams; physi- cians, A. T. Gibson, C. M. Seaton, Jerome Thomp- son ; dentist, M. L. Moomey ; lumber, Paddock Lumber Co .; sales stables, Lloyd Bros., Jas. A. Shrout; poultry dealers, Manning & Manning, A. E. Wagoner; veterinarians, A. D. Balsley, R. A. Luzader; tile factory, Frank Fleigle; con- crete factory, Marsch & Marsch ; insurance, Leo Sternberg ; newspaper, Morrisonville Times, K. B. Lindsey, proprietor; hotel, Bost Hotel.
The first settler in Morrisonville was Richard McLean who erected the first building in Janu- ary, 1870. This building was located near the depot and was used for saloon purposes. The first dwelling-house was built by Joseph Poggen- pohl in February, 1870. N. N. Bell erected the first store building in, the town and conducted the first store. The population of Morrisonville in 1870 was 128; in 1890, 844; in 1910, 1200. The present school building is a brick structure consisting of six rooms in which the eight ele- mentary grades and four years of high school work is taught. The high school is fully ac- credited with the University of Illinois. A flour- ishing Catholic school is also conducted in the village. D. Noonan is the present postmaster. .
FRATERNITIES.
Gethsemane Lodge No. 587 K. P. was or- ganized December 12, 1899, with the following officers : Charles W. Morris, C. C .; Luther Man- ning, V. C .; Russell Compton, prelate; H. S. Stout, K. of R. and S .; W. S. Springate, M. of W .; Walter Adams, M. of F .; John S. Dey, M. of E .; O. E. Steen, M. at A. The present officers are as follows: W. E. Johnson, C. C .; C. A. Springate, V. C .; F. H. Woodward, prelate; P. A. Tate, K. of R. and S .; W. S. Springate, M. of W .; John Becker, M. of F .; E. C. Dey, M. of E .; John Woodward, M. at A. This lodge has seventy-one members at present.
Morrisonville Lodge, L. O. O. M. No. 1522 was instituted May 15, 1914, with the following officers : J. S. Sloan, past dictator ; J. O. Tom- linson, dictator ; Howard Bullard, vice dictator ; Louis Rittger, prelate, Leo Sternberg, secretary ;
O. F. Gauer, treasurer; William Hardy, ser- geant at arms; Edward Tolliver, I. G .; Florence Weatherford, O. G. The present officers are as follows: J. O. Thomlinson, past dictator ; Louis . Rittger, dictator ; J. R. Dey, vice dictator; O. J. Reisch, prelate ; John J. Murphy, secretary ; T. B. Pierson, treasurer ; H. A. Hendricks, ser- geant at arms ; M. O. Bump, I. G .; A. D. Balsley, O. G. The present membership is 160.
Morrisonville Lodge No. 459 I. O. O. F. was instituted July 26, 1871, chartered October 10, 1871. The first officers were Louis Puckett, N. G .; James Miller, V. G .; M. F. Cheney, secre- tary ; E. P. Tilley, treasurer. The present of- . ficers are as follows : Edward Klingler, N. G .; Joseph Betterton, V. G .; John Machiel, secre- tary ; John Smith, treasurer ; John Morris, I. G .; M. A. Johnson, O. G. At present there are forty-eight members.
Morrisonville Lodge No. 681, A. F. & A. M., was instituted February 28, 1871, with nineteen charter members. The following were the first officers : Jacob C. Wood, W. M .; R. K. Pence, S. W .; M. T. Ricks, J. W .; D. R. Bell, chaplain ; S. M. McReynolds, treasurer; J. B. White, sec- retary ; Silas Irion, S. D .; A. Wall, J. D .; H. C. Bartholmew, Tyler. The present officers are : Charles Rittger, W. M .; Robert Pence, S. W .; Ray S. Nelson, J. W .; Geo. M. Wilson, chaplain ; James McElroy, treasurer ; A. L. Stocks, secre- tary; L. A. Smalley, S. D .; E. C. Dey, J. D .; John Smith, Tyler; J. B. Lowder, S. S .; J. G. Swinger, J. S. The present membership is eighty-four.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
The following are the men who have served Ricks Township as officials :
ASSESSORS.
John S. Craig, 1876; E. S. Shull, 1867; W. T. Rick's, 1878; Fred Grundy, 1879; W. T. Ricks, 1880; Charles A. Wyckoff, 1881; James W. Pence, 1882; William Monegan, 1883; W. W. Deming, 1884; Fred Grundy, 1885; F. H. Gill- more, 1886; E. A. Campbell, 1887; J. H. Alex- ander, 1888; T. C. Cloyd, 1889-90; Joseph Ochsner, 1891-92; G. M. Wilson, 1893; T. C. Cloyd, 1894; J. W. Perrine, 1895-96; James M. Pence, 1897; V. J. Breene, 1898; F. C. Cloyd, 1899; S. S. Whitmer, 1900; Joseph Ochsner, 1901; D. J. Craig, 1902; W. W. Deming, 1903;
12
800
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
Louis Banschbach, 1904; D. J. Craig, 1905; C. R. Woodward, 1906; Joseph Adams, 1907; William F. Nail, 1908; John S. Peek. 1909; J. A. Adams, 1910-11; Harry C. Cummings, 1912-13 ; A. M. Leslie, 1914-15 ; E. A. Klingler, 1916-17.
COLLECTORS.
John D. Fuller, 1866; William Montgomery, 1867-69; N. W. Dennis, 1870: W. T. Ricks, 1871; William Monegan, 1872-74; W. H. Hearin, 1875 ; George A. Vandeveer, 1876-79; Louis Johnson, 1880-81; Jeremiah Welsh, 1882-83; Louis John- son, 1884; S. W. Culp, 1885; L. Banschbach, 1886; W. H. Hearin, 1887; Philip Fleigle, 1888- 89; George Despain, 1890-92; R. B. Miller, 1893; L. Banschbach, 1894; W. H. Hearin, 1895; G. G. Grundy, 1896; Walter Adams, 1897; Christian Wucherpfennig, 1898; D. M. McReynolds, 1899; Joseph A. Adams, 1900; E. D. Barnard, 1901; A. S. Wyckoff, 1902; John Howell, Jr., 1903; A. M. Leslie, 1904; J. W. Gray, 1905; Charles A. Lamb, 1906; Oscar White, 1907; A. C. Brook- man, 1908; Edward C. King, 1909; H. V. New- port, 1910-11; D. R. Compton, 1912-13; Marie Ryan, 1914-15; Charles D. Cloyd, 1916-17.
CLERKS.
J. G. White, 1869; W. A. Anderson, 1870; Peter Clickner, 1871; Silas Iron, 1872; D. F. Murry, 1873-81; John T. Wilson, 1882; Harry McGee, Jr., 1883; J. W. Steen, 1884; K. B. Lindsey, 1885-86; K. B. Lindsey and A. E. Arnold. 1887; J. H. Bertman, 1888; K. B. Lind- sey, 1889; F. Munsterman, 1890-92; John F. Clickner, 1893-94; George W. De Spain, 1895- 1905; H. J. Dey. 1906-08 ; John M. Becker, 1909- 15; H. V. Newport, 1916-17.
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.
Anson Wall, 1876; Frederick Bertman, 1877; Frederick Schmidt, 1878; W. H. Beaty, 1879; Frederick Bertman, 1880; Frederick Schmidt. 1881; Charles W. Wyckoff, 1882; A. Wundhenke, 1883 ; Frank Brokamps ; 1884 ; William Monegan, 1885; Timothy Lynch, 1886; T. J. Tufts, 1887; William Langen, 1888; T. Lynch, 1889; John Glover, 1890; W. Langen, 1891; John Alderson, 1892; Oscar Mundhenke, 1893; John Smith, 1894; W. A. Anderson, 1895; Oscar Mundhenke, 1896; Joseph Klingler, 1897; Timothy Lynch, 1898; John Walch, 1899; Joseph Klinger, 1900;
James Pope, 1901; Oscar Mundhenke, 1902; Louis Rittger, 1903; Martin McLean, 1904; W. R. Palmer, 1905; Joseph Klingler, 1906; Martin McLean, 1907; W. R. Palmer, 1908; Joseph Klingler, 1909; Martin McLean, 1910; Anthony Von Ruden, 1911; Joseph Klingler, 1912; Martin McLean, 1913; Ray H. Beaty, 1914; William Prose, 1915; Frank P. Anderson, 1916; Ray H. Beaty, 1917.
CONSTABLES.
Anson Wall and James W. Fuller, 1873-76 ; James McArnold and John W. Hunter, 1877: Charles Dinwiddie, 1878; I. J. Christopher, 1879- SO; A. M. Leslie and George W. Tindle, 1881-82 ; Virgil L. Hearin, 1883; John A. Morris, 1884 ; Edward A. Campbell, 1885; R. H. Dennis and William A. Kerr, 1886; James H. Cisna, 1887 ; B. F. Compton, 1SSS ; Thomas Leathers and J. A. Blackford, 1889-90; John Morris, 1891-92; John Morris and A. L. McCanby, 1893-96 ; Edward C. Dey and W. S. Hill, 1897 ; John Beck, 1898-1900; W. S. Hill and James R. Dey, 1901- 02; J. S. Peek and I. J. Christopher, 1903; John Woodward, 1904; J. S. Peek, 1905; Frank Schlegel, 1906-09; Frank Schlegel and Walter Gilbert, 1910; H. A. Hendricks and I. J. Chris- topher, 1911-14; S. C. Solomon and I. J. Chris- topher, 1915-17.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
J. H. Sisna and J. W. Snively, 1866; N. D. Ricks, 1867; Sanford Petty, 1868; J. H. Sisna and J. S. Craig, 1870-76; J. S. Craig, 1877-80; James Stark, 1877-80; James P. Stark and Wil- liam Monegan, 1881-83; William Monegan, 1884; James P. Stark and Conrad Geiser, 1885-SS ; Conrad Geiser and J. H. Alexander, 1889-90 ; D. A. Compton, 1891-92; J. H. Alexander, 1893; E. E. Strevey, 1894; J. H. Alexander and N. M. Coffey, 1895-97; V. J. Breene, 1899-1900; V. J. Breene and J. H. Alexander, 1901-04; J. G. Swinger and W. F. Nail, 1905-08; James T. Al- mond, 1909; Thomas Patton, 1910-12; James T. Almond and William F. Nail, 1913-14; S. C. Solomon and I. J. Christopher, 1915-16 ; William F. Nail and James T. Almond, 1917.
.
SUPERVISORS.
J. H. Sisna, 1866-68; Alpheus Wall, 1869; J. B. White, 1870-75; A. B. Herdman, 1876-79 ;
801
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
E. S. Shull, 1880; Lansing Adams, 1881; Edwin Grundy, 1882-84; A. B. Herdman, 1885; J. W. Campbell, 1886-87; II. C. Bohn, 1888; George E. Maxon, 1889; A. B. Herdman, 1890-91; W. L. Long, 1892-95 ; H. H. Herdman, 1896-1901; O. A. Kelso, 1902-03; W. F. Langen, 1904-07 ; Herman W. Rittger, 1908-11; Oscar Mundhenke, 1912-15; E. C. Day, 1916-17.
CHAPTER XXXI.
ROSEMOND TOWNSHIP.
ORIGIN OF NAME-BOUNDARIES-WATER COURSES- TRANSPORTATION-EARLY SETTLERS-ROSEMOND GROVE CEMETERY-MARY LINCOLN-FIRST TOWN MEETING - PIONEER INCIDENTS - COUNTY POOR FARM-ROSEMOND-EARLY BUSINESS AND PRO- FESSIONAL MEN-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS-ASSES- SORS-COLLECTORS-CLERKS-COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS - CONSTABLES - JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-SUPERVISORS.
ORIGIN OF NAME.
No other township of Christian County came by its name in a more artistic manner than Rosemond, for it is derived from the fact that during the spring and early summer, the prairies were covered with a luxuriant growth of wild roses, and their beauty suggested the naming of the new township for this physical charac- teristic.
BOUNDARIES.
The township is located in the southeastern part of the county, being township 11 north, range 1 west, and is bounded on the north by Locust Township; on the east by Pana Town- ship; on the south by Montgomery County, and on the west by Greenwood Township.
WATER COURSES.
The surface is undulating prairie, so that this is one of the most beautiful of the county's
townships, and in the early days there was a considerable amount of timber, along Locust and Cottonwood creeks. These tributaries of the South Fork of the Sangamon River form the principal drainage of the township, and give ample water supply. The soil is a deep, rich black loam, and extremely fertile, so it is un- necessary to state that the farms in this sec- tion are held at a high figure.
TRANSPORTATION.
The transportation facilities of the township are furnished by the Big Four Railroad, for- merly the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Benjamin R. Hawley, Brainard Smith, Benja- min E. Warner, John Putnam, Orlando M. Hawks and John S. Marvin, men from different points, came to Rosemond on January 14, 1856, and formed what was known as the New Eng- land Colony. These men not only erected com- fortable residences for themselves, but put up additional ones for other settlers, who followed them from Massachusetts and New York. Other early settlers were John Bell, James Waddle, John Crow, William Reed, Jonathan Blackburn, and William A. Chase.
ROSEMOND GROVE CEMETERY.
The following historical sketch, written by L. Parsons, was taken from a pamphlet published by the Rosemond Cemetery Association :
"The village of Rosemond, Christian County, Ill., on the line of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, four miles west of the city of Pana, was settled in 1856 by a colony of Massachusetts people, who immediately established a church and school.
No cemetery was located until 1863, when the following named persons met and organized a cemetery association under the then existing laws of the state, viz .: B. Smith, L. Parsons, D. Paine, G. G. Holmes, W. P. Warner, B. R. Hawley, B. E. Warner, John Putnam, B. F. Adams, C. A. Cragin, D. N. Harwood, W. A. Schermerhorn, A. C. Vandewater, E. S. Hill and M. D. Steward ; at which meeting a constitution and by-laws were adopted, with the following :
802
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
"PREAMBLE.
"'We, the citizens of Rosemond and vicinity, feeling it a duty to provide a suitable resting place for the dead, do hereby associate our- selves together, and agree to abide by the follow- ing constitution and by-laws.'
As the constitution and by-laws then adopted have since been merged into new ones, they are here omitted.
"After the adoption of the constitution the association proceeded to the election of officers. L. Parsons was elected president ; M. D. Steward, treasurer and A. C. Vandewater, W. A. Scher- merhorn and B. Smith, directors.
"The association then instructed the directors to purchase a beautiful mound in Bell's Grove, one and three-fourths miles southeast of the village of Rosemond, containing ten acres.
"After the meeting adjourned, the directors at once secured the tract, paying therefor forty dollars per acre. A plat of the ground, laid out into burial lots was soon made and the lots offered for sale at ten dollars a lot, to raise money to pay for the land and for fencing the same. There came a hard struggle to clear the ground of trees, hazel-brush and briars which had full possession, as the association had no funds on hand, and but for the energetic efforts of the officers and a few faithful friends, all without any compensation, the attempt would have been a failure.
"At the annual meeting in 1864 the same of- ficers were re-elected. At the annual meeting in 1865. O. M. Hawkes was chosen a director and served in that capacity for thirty years. At a called meeting April 2, 1867, L. Parsons was elected secretary and treasurer, and filled that office for thirty-six years, when he resigned on account of ill-health. In 1874 Robert Little was elected a director and served in that ca- pacity for thirteen years, to the close of his life; during that period, through his ability and aid, the cemetery grounds were wonder- fully improved. In 1878, C. G. Richards was elected a director, and held that office until the present time with untiring service. B. E. War- ner, Moses Hutchins, J. B. Waddington, W. O. Wilcox, E. A. Hawkes, P. L. Dodge, and S. R. Weaver have served as directors with ability for shorter periods of time.
"In the year 1901, Mrs. J. W. Kitchell, pre- sented as a memorial to her father, the late Robert Little, who in his life time had been
very active in the interests of the cemetery, a beautiful metallic gateway for the cemetery en- trance, which has added not a little to the con- venience and attractiveness of the grounds.
"In 1903 the association re-organized and be- came incorporated under the general laws of the state; a certificate of such organization issued by the secretary of state was duly recorded in the recorder's office of Christian County.
"In the year 1903 Capt. J. W. Kitchell and his wife, Mary F. Kitchell, presented to the association a soldiers' monument, consisting of a granite pedestal surmounted by a bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln, a work of which the com- munity is justly proud and which should exer- cise an elevating influence for all time to come.
"In the same year Capt. and Mrs. J. W. Kitchell deeded to the association about fifty acres of land lying immediately west and south of the ten original acres, to be used in case of need for additional burial lots, and providing for an income from the rent of pasture lots, to be used in caring for the cemetery grounds.
"And now, after years of labor the association has sixty acres of land in a surpassingly beauti- ful and retired location, excellently suited for cemetery purposes, high and dry, shaded with magnificent native walnut trees, affording a vista many miles in extent in all directions ; and with a pledge in its constitution that all money for sale of lots shall be used to care for and im- prove the grounds already adorned with beauti- ful and costly monuments, it may rightly be affirmed that no more desirable locality can any- where be found for burial purposes than Rose- mond Grove Cemetery."
MARY LINCOLN.
"Mary Lincoln" is an old gun located in Rose- mond Grove Cemetery. The following interest- ing bit of history written by P. J. McAfee and A. N. Warner was taken from the pamphlet mentioned in the above sketch :
"'Mary Lincoln' was cast at Terre Haute, Ind., in the year 1860 on the order of the Re- publican Club of Rosemond, and was mounted by L. Guth of the latter place, in true artillery style.
"The gun squad consisted of Wallace P. War- ner, John Hirt, Ben. E. Schermerhorn and Frank Adams and was drilled by Capt. Edward Hill, formerly of New York militia.
"Its first important service was during the
-
MR. AND MRS. RICHARD LILLY
NOYES LADD
PHOEBE LADD
803
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
occasion of a great mass meeting at Springfield, Ill., the same year. It was taken there under charge of Capt. B. R. Hawley (a name familiar in Rosemond's history) accompanied by nearly every man in Rosemond and a number from 'Buckeye' prairie, its escort stopping at Taylor- ville the first night out, and attracting much attention all along the route. Arriving at Springfield, the company halted in front of the now famed residence of A. Lincoln and fired a salute. Mr. Lincoln made his appearance amid enthusiastic cheering and when quiet was re- stored, was asked to name the gun. Reflecting a moment and then laying his hand upon the piece he said, 'Let it be named after my wife' and so it was christened 'Mary Lincoln' and ever after known as such.
"The gun has done service in every important campaign since then, except the last two. It is now relieved from active service and placed in the cemetery by the side of the monument erected to do honor to the memory of him who gave it a name."
FIRST TOWN MEETING.
The first town meeting was held in the freight house, town of Rosemond, Christian County, State of Illinois. John Putnam was elected to the chair pro-tem, and the body proceeded to elect a moderator and clerk according to notice from the county clerk. William Patterson was elected moderator ; and Charles W. H. Hill was elected clerk. To make a full board to attend to the election, James Simpson and William Swim were elected as judges to assist the moderator; and Henry Fickel was elected as- sistant clerk. The polls were declared open. The meeting was adjourned for one hour for dinner.
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.