USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 75
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The Supreme Court concluded :
"The system was abrogated in Hancock county, not at any general election, but only at their town meetings, when there was not even a county officer to be elected ; and when even the law provided no judge or clerk to hold the election and make the proper returns. This is a fatal objection to the whole proceeding, and to that portion of the law under which it was had."
3. "This conclusion supersedes the necessity of inquiring into the regularity of the returns which were made, or into the legality or the results of the election, which was held under the special law of 1843 (1853)."
4. "We are of the opinion that the township system never was legally abrogated in Hancock County after its first adoption under the law of 1849, and that the People were entitled to judgment."
The effect of this decision was to oust the County Court from the management of the busi- ness of the County, and to recognize the acts of the Board of Supervisors as lawful and bind- ing from the first election in 1850.
On June 11, 1854, Mr. Manier filed the record of the decision of the Supreme Court in the Circuit Court of this county. The case was continued without action until March 12, 1856, when it was dismissed, by agreement, at the costs of Hancock County. The decision of the Supreme Court had settled the question, the County Court was out of existence as to County business, and the terms of the decision had been practically realized. Hence, no judgment of ouster was necessary.
David E. Head, Clerk.
Squire R. Davis, Sheriff.
On March 13, 1854, the Board of Supervisors passed the following order :
"It is ordered by the Board that Manier & Ferris, & Williams & Lawrence, be allowed the sum of $120 for fees in full for legal serv- ices in the case of Manier, etc. vs. Couchman, quo warranto."
Another election was held, this time on Tues- day, Nov. 4, 1873, in an effort to abolish town- ship organization in the county.
The vote was nearly three to one in favor of township organization. The record gives the vote by townships as follows :
For township
Against township organization organization
Augusta
171
53
St. Mary's
65
51
Hancock
63
77
Fountain Green
202
54
LaHarpe
293
24
Chili
154
21
Harmony
85
68
Carthage
70
312
Pilot Grove
102
92
Durham
42
35
St. Albans
172
3
Bear Creek
103
20
Prairie
109
38
Rock Creek
73
43
Pontoosuc
66
15
Dallas City
70
58
Walker
126
11
Wythe
59
36
Montebello
180
5
Sonora
88
6
Appanoose
92
4
Rocky Run
83
0
Wilcox
58
2
Warsaw
278
14
Nauvoo
148
8
When the suit was commenced in 1853 the court officials were :
2,952
1,050
Onias C. Skinner, Judge.
Calvin A. Warren, State's Attorney.
David E. Head, Clerk.
Benjamin J. Welch, Sheriff.
When the suit was dismissed in 1856, the court officials were:
Joseph Sibley, Judge.
George Edmunds, State's Attorney, protem.
1,050
1,902
September 12, 1854, Prairie Township was set off from Carthage and Montebello, embracing the whole of township 5 north, 7 west. At the same time, Harmony Township was set off from
1
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
Chili and Carthage, embracing the whole of 4 north, 6 west.
April 27, 1855, Hancock Township was estab- lished out of parts of St. Mary's and Fountain Green, so as to include the whole of 5 north, 5 west.
September 12, 1855, Rock Creek was estab- lished out of parts of Pilot Grove and Sonora, embracing the whole of 6 north, 7 west.
November 15, 1855, Wilcox township was created as embracing all of Warsaw township, 4 north, 9 west, excepting the City of Warsaw, which was made a separate township.
February 22, 1861, by special act of the Legis- lature Dallas City township, "to be named and known as Dallas City Township or Precinct," was created out of Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, 36, and the east one-half of sections 3, 10, 15, 22, 27 and 34 of Pontoosuc Township. The act of the legislature does not specifically mention the west half of section 1, or the, east half of section 3, but these were included in Dallas City, and the territory of Dallas City in Hancock County was made part of Dallas City Township.
March 21, 1876, on petition of residents, that part of Prairie township embraced in sections 13 and 24, the south half of section 12 and the north half of section 25-three sections in all -was detached, and annexed to Cartliage town- ship. That included the two depots in Carth- age and all the population then in their vicinity. Prior to that time those living in the western part of Carthage had to go to Elvaston, six miles away, to vote at general and township elections.
Note: Churches, schools and other items per- taining to the townships, may be found in the special articles devoted to them, if they are not mentioned in the township chapters.
CHAPTER XX
APPANOOSE TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-EARLY SETTLERS-BIG MOUND-POPU- LATION-VILLAGE OF EAST FORT MADISON (NIOTA P. O.)-APPANOOSE VILLAGE PLAT-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1920.
BOUNDARIES
Appanoose Township is bounded on the north by the Mississippi river, on the east by Pon- toosuc Township, on the south by Sonora Town- ship, and on the west by the Mississippi river and Nauvoo Township. One-third of this sub- division of the county was originally covered with heavy timber, and rises to some heights in bluffs along the river, while the remaining por- tion is prairie. The land is very fertile in the prairies and some exceedingly valuable farms are found within its confines. The leading water-courses are Tyson and Rollosson creeks, and there are several smaller ones, so that the land is well drained. The name of this Town- ship is taken from that of the old historic In- dian chief, Appanoose, who was well-known by the pioneers in the early days of Ft. Madison.
EARLY SETTLERS
Edward White and Amzi Doolittle were the pioneers of this township and they laid out the little hamlet of Appanoose in 1836, from which, later, the township was named. This place was almost opposite Ft. Madison, Iowa, across the Mississippi river. There were several others whom it is claimed lived here prior to 1829 but there is no record of them, and it is not be- lieved Appanoose had any permanent settlers until after the Black Hawk War. Among those who made the first actual settlement in this township were: Amos Davis, Samuel T. Egan, Samuel V. Elliott, James E. Green, John Haigh, James Hammond, John Hobbs, L. A. Hobbs, Hugh Jackson, Robert Jackson, William Jack- son, John Kennedy, James Lindsay, Jr., James A. Ollis, Chauncy Robison, Lewis Sleight, James B. Webb, and John Zingree.
BIG MOUND
What is styled the "Big Mound" in this town- ship is an elevation of land about fifty feet ill height, seven miles east of Nauvoo on the open prairie. On the east, south and west the land is quite level for several miles but it is ap- proached on the north by broken timber land, skirting the river bluffs. On this elevation or mound Amos Davis built his house and barns, set out shade trees, and also planted a large orchard. The mound itself is about a quarter of a mile in diameter. While Mr. Davis was
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1052
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
having a well sunk the workmen discovered a piece of cedar down at the depth of thirty feet.
POPULATION
Population of Appanoose Township (1890), 800; (1900), 837; (1910), 722; (1920), 661.
VILLAGE OF EAST FT. MADISON
Niota Post-office, or East Ft. Madison rail- road station, was originally laid out in 1857 by John H. Knapp, William Adams, George P. Eaton, and J. P. Harper. It is located on the river near the mouth of Tyson creek, and is two miles south of the original site of Appanoose. Its population in 1910 was 180. Its business, of recent years, has been in the hands of the following named persons or firms: The gen- eral merchandise store of Mr. Yettemeyer, the post-office, a shop or two, with whatever rail- road interests the Santa Fe railroad company may have at this point, in way of supplies, re- pair-material, etc. Doubtless had it not been for the Keokuk Dam, which backs up the water of the Mississippi River nearly to Burlington, this place would be one of more substantial growth and importance, but the river spreads over much of the town site when the stage of water is high, and causes it to be undesirable for either residence or business purposes. This village is near the approach of the long steel railroad bridge which was constructed by the Santa Fe railroad company over the "Father of Waters."
APPANOOSE VILLAGE PLAT
About two miles to the north-east of present East Ft. Madison there was platted a village on the Mississippi river in the northwest part of the county and within Appanoose Township, called Appanoose. It was almost opposite Ft. Madison, Iowa, and was laid out by Edward White and Amzi Doolittle, July 1, 1836, in sec- tion 2, township 7, range 8 west. It was seven- teen miles northwest of Carthage in a direct line, and was named for the Indian chief "Ap- panoose," of the Fox and Sac Indian tribes. This was mostly a "paper town" and never ma- terialized.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-1920
Supervisor, F. C. Ferguson ; Town Clerk, Rus- sell Soland; Assessor, George Hogan; Highway
Commissioner, O. A. Jones; Justices of the Peace, F. C. Ferguson and B. F. Schafer ; Con- stable, Wm. Mackie, Jr .; School Trustees, John Easterday, N. S. Welch and Henry Gerhardt; School Treasurer, May Graham Strong.
CHAPTER XXI
AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-PHYSICAL FEATURES-FIRST SETTLERS -PIONEER EVENTS-NAMING "FLOWER CREEK"- POPULATION-VILLAGES-AUGUSTA - POST-OFFICE HISTORY - MUNICIPAL HISTORY - COMMERCIAL INTERESTS -- CHURCHES - LODGES - SCHOOLS - TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS, 1920.
BOUNDARIES
Augusta Township is located in the extreme southeastern corner of Hancock County, and is bounded on the north by St. Mary's Township, on the east by Schuyler County, on the south by Adams County, and on the west by Chili Town- ship. It is named after Augusta, the principal community within its confines, and it contains some of the most valuable farms in this part of the state. Originally some very fine timber covered about one-third of its surface, the re- mainder being prairie land, but a greater part of the timber has been cut down. Panther, Flower and Williams creeks are the principal water-courses and they, with their numerous tributaries, afford an excellent natural drain- age.
FIRST SETTLERS
The first to locate in what is now Augusta Township were the following: Alexander Oliver in 1830, Jesse and Shelton Phillips, Dr. Adol- phus Allen, Benjamin Gould, Christopher E. Yates, George Sadler, Isaac Pidgeon, Solomon Stanley, Joel Catlin, William D. Abernethy, Dr. Samuel B. Mead, Horace Mead, Alfred Mead, Jonathan Mead, James Bowman, P. P. Jones, Roger Ireland, Thomas Trimble, Thomas Rice, David H. Rice, John Wilson, P. P. Newcomb,
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
William Dexter, William M. Dexter, Emsley Jackson, George W. Hawley, Benjamin Bacon, Alfred Skinner, Silas Griffith, Jolın Jackson, George Jackson, and E. S. Austin.
PIONEER EVENTS
The first burial occurred in August or Sep- tember, 1833, when the remains of John An- derson were interred in the Augusta Cemetery. Benjamin Gould and Rebecca J. Jones were mar- ried on December 25, 1833, by Christopher E. Yates, Justice of tlie Peace, and this is sup- posed to be the first wedding in the township. On July 4, 1839 or 1840, Augusta Township had its first official Fourth of July celebration which took place in what was known to the early set- tlers as "Round Grove." Unfortunately this beautiful natural park has entirely disappeared. The orator of the day at this first patriotic celebration in, this section was William N. Grover of Warsaw. The first school in the town- ship was taught by Miss Ruth Bateman, a sister of State Superintendent Bateman, in 1835. It is claimed that Flower Creek, originally called Flour Creek, gained its name from the follow- ing incident. A Mr. Pruitt and a Mr. Box of St. Mary's were returning from the mill at Brooklyn where they had carried their grain for grinding. It was on a Sunday evening in the spring of 1834. In crossing the creek which their adventure was to name a large sack filled with flour was swept from their oxen-drawn wagon. Supposing, of course, that it was lost they went on their way, but the following Wed- nesday the sack was fished out of the creek and the flour was found to be in an excellent state of preservation, save for a thin crust .that had formed next to the sack. From then on the name clung to the stream, but in time the spelling was changed, as this water-course was beautiful enough to justify a change in orthog- raphy from "Flour," suggesting utility, to "Flower," suggesting the beautiful. In the spring and summer its banks are lined with wild flowers and so the name Flower Creek is specially appropriate. It is presumed that in the very early days panthers chose the creek known as Panther Creek for their watering- place and that a warning of their possible pres- ence there, was intended to be given, by desig- nating their favorite water-course by this name. Along Williams Creek coal veins have been opened and considerable coal mined for local
consumption, but the vein is too thin and the cost of production too heavy to make coal-min- ing a profitable occupation.
POPULATION
The population of this township, including the village of Augusta, in 1890 was 1,847; in 1900, 1,923 ; in 1910, 1,889; and in 1920, 1,750.
VILLAGE OF AUGUSTA
Much interesting information concerning the early history of the township and village of Augusta is contained in Gregg's History of Han- cock County.
It appears that Alexander Oliver came to this vicinity in August preceding the "Deep Snow" (1830), and settled in Adams County near the county line, although his land was in Hancock County. Just before the snow he bought his supply of provisions for the winter in Rush- ville, but was not able to get them home until March. It is said that hominy was the main support of himself, wife, and eight children during the winter. He fed the tops of bass- wood trees to his cattle to keep them from starv- ing. That vicinity became known as Oliver's Settlement.
In July, 1832, Joel Catlin and William D. Abernethy (brothers-in-law), eastern men, came to Oliver's Settlement from Augusta, Geor- gia, and, having located where the town of Au- gusta now stands, gave that name to the place. (It seems that there was an Augusta in Pike County also in 1839, for the Legislature, in that year, by special act, changed the name of Augusta in Pike County, to Florence.) Mr. Catlin resided there for some years. Mr. Aber- nethy was at one time sheriff of the county.
Dr. Samuel B. Mead came to Augusta in 1833.
The town of Augusta was laid out by Joel . . Catlin, William D. Abernethy and Samuel B. Mead, in February, 1836, and was surveyed by James W. Brattle. It was laid out in the vi- cinity where the postoffice had been established in 1834.
Mr. Benjamin Gould in his reminiscences pub- lished in the Augusta Herald says: "On the 22d of Feb., 1833, I celebrated Washington's birthday by hauling logs for the first house ever built in the city of Augusta." He and Henry D. Abernethy lived alone in this house for a short time until Mr. Gould was married,
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1054
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
as above stated, on Dec. 25, 1833. A short time afterwards Mr. Gould built the first log house for use in religious worship.
The first grist mill (run by horse power), was established in 1833 by John Wilson. One of the leading men in the early history of Au- gusta was Eliphalet Strong Austin, a native of Connecticut, who came to Augusta in 1843. He was a pronounced free-soiler and acted as the Augusta conductor of the U. G. R. R.
Dr. Samuel B. Mead was also one of Au- gusta's most distinguished citizens, identified with its early history, and continuing his resi- dence there for a long period of time and until his death.
Dr. Mead was a botanist of national reputa- tion. The writer holds in his hand the "Class Book of Botany" by Alphonso Wood, published in 1868, a volume of more than 800 pages, and which was in general use as a text-book in schools and colleges at that time, in the preface to which the author mentions Dr. Samuel B. Mead as one of those colaborers in Botany whose invaluable aid in the preparation of the work had been acknowledged in former edi- tions. In a number of places in this volume, reference is made to Dr. Mead as authority.
The following extract concerning Dr. Mead taken from Gregg's history is interesting in connection with the early history of Augusta, with which this eminent man was intimately associated.
"Dr. Samuel B. Mead lived on his father's farm until about 15 years of age, receiving, during this time, a common-school education. He then received a collegiate course and grad- uated at Yale College, New Haven, Conn., in 1820. He studied medicine and received his diploma to practice from the same college, Feb. 25, 1824, He emigrated to Illinois in the spring of 1833, living a short time at Rushville; the following August he came to Hancock county and located at Augusta, then called 'Oliver's Settlement,' and commenced the practice of his profession, which he continued till 1860, com- manding an extensive practice. He was next to the first regular physician that practiced medicine in this county. In 1833 Dr. Isaac Galland was said to be the only practicing phy- sician in the county, and probably was the first. In 1834 Dr. John F. Charles settled in Carthage. On Dr. Mead's arrival at 'Oliver's Settlement,' now Augusta, he immediately selected a site for a dwelling; first had a well dug and en-
gaged a hewed log-cabin built ; this was in July. It was finished in August, and he moved into it, with his family. It was the first cabin built on the site of Augusta. In February, 1836, the town was laid out by the proprietors, William D. Abernethy, Joel Catlin and Dr. S. B. Mead. October 1, 1834, Dr. Mead was appointed 'Sur- geon Mate' in the regiment of militia for Han- cock county, by Dr. Isaac Galland, Colonel ; September 12, 1840, he was appointed Post- master at Augusta; Nov. 14, 1840, took charge of the same and continued as Postmaster until Feb. 2, 1857. He received the first mail carried by railroad into Augusta, Feb. 6, 1856. He has kept meteorological observations for the Smith- sonian Institution at Washington, D. C., nearly since its beginning-till it turned them over to the War Department, and he still keeps them. He has many years devoted much time to the study of botany, and has discovered several in- teresting plants. As a botanist he lias a world- wide reputation, frequently receiving letters from Europe and other distant places, asking for information in matters pertaining to plants, etc. Several plants are named after him."
COMMERCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS
Agricultural Implements-Farmers Supply Store, E. L. Smith. Attorneys-S. P. Lemmon, J. A. Mead, Adolph Weinberg. Bakery-The "Ideal" by Ralph Kirkbride. Banking-The First National Bank, The First Trust & Sav- ings Bank. Barber Shops-Earl Brooks, Joseph Dorsey, Joseph Grimes, Frank Watts. Black- smiths-W. E. Herleman, W. HI. Root, Frank P. VanHorn. Building & Loan-A home com- pany. Cement Work-The Augusta Concrete Brick & Tile Co. Clothing-B. B. Crain. Coal Dealers-A. HI. Ebbens, Merideth Bros., The "Square Deal" Coal Co. Contractors- (build- ers and contractors in lumber)-Oscar Magill, J. W. Watt. Cream Stations-"The Pioneer," Swift & Co. Dentists-Dr. A. F. Henning, Dr. C. E. Hurdle. Drugs-Edwin Artz, O. L. Pit- ney. Elevator-C. E. Dawkins & Co. Furniture -F. M. Kings Sons Co. Garages-J. K. Win- ters, B. R. Wood, H. W. Young & Son. Gen- eral Merchandise-F. M. Kings & Sons Co. Groceries-S. P. Gordon, F. M. Kings Sons Co., R. F. McAfee, G. P. Palmer. Hardware-V. C. Massie, G. H. Minier Hardware Co. Harness- H. W. Young & Son. Hotel-"Commercial" by Mrs. John Stark. Ice Dealers-West Bros.
Eng by 5. G Williams & Bro NY
Munsell Publishing Co
A. R. Manifold
1055
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
Jewelry-D. W. Martin, W. S. Tobie & Son. Livery-E. W. Chambers, J. H. Pierson. Lum- ber-J. C. Simpson Lumber Co., Charles G. Phelps, manager. Meat Market-West Bros. Mill (feed)-C. S. Lafferty. Millinery-Miss Mame Coffman, Mrs. C. F. Myers. Newspaper -The Augusta Eagle. Opera House-Heslep Theatre Co. Physicians-Drs. Earl Cooper, W. E. Hillyer, A. O. Howd (Osteopath). Prod- uce (Poultry and Eggs)-The Bushnell Prod- uce Co., The Dennis Produce Co. Public Li- brary-See history of. Restaurant-B. E. Howard. Shoe Dealer-R. B. Booker. Shoe Repairs-James Frend, Everett Hendrickson. Stock Dealers-W. O. Farlow, A. R. Hamilton, Aaron Weinberg. Tailor-John Guinen. Un- dertakers-M. G. Markel & Son. Variety Store -Miss Millie Hill. Veterinary-Dr. F. H. Gor- don, J. W. Sparks.
POST-OFFICE
A post-office was established at Augusta in 1834 with W. D. Abernethy as the first post- master. (Prior to that date the mails were carried from Rusliville to Carthage by Elder Thomas H. Owen.) He was succeeded in 1840 by Dr. Mead who held the office until 1857, and was succeeded by the following: James Comp- ton, 1863 (who was possibly in several years prior to that date), S. B. McAfee, Theodore Par- rott, Joseph Pease, Dr. J. P. Ellis, P. P. New- comb, John F. Ellis, William Steinbarger, J. H. Coffman, C. H. Mead, and J. B. Agnew, pres- ent postmaster. This is a third-class office ; has three rural delivery routes.
MUNICIPAL
On Feb. 24, 1859, an act was passed by the Illinois Legislature for the incorporation of the town of Augusta. This act provided that the inhabitants of the town of Augusta should be a body corporate and politic by the name and style of "The President and Trustees of the Town of Augusta." The act was a complete special charter. The town limits as provided by the act embraced one square mile of terri- tory. Prior to this time, the town of Augusta had been acting as such under and by virtue of the general laws of the state for the incorpora- tion of towns and cities. This is manifest from Sec. 4 which provides that the persons who were then trustees of the town, holding their offices
under the general laws, should continue in of- fice until their successors should be elected and qualified under the special charter. After act- ing under the special charter for 20 years, Au- gusta was organized into a village in Septem- ber, 1879, under the general incorporation laws as to cities and villages. The following is a list of presidents and clerks since that time as far as the same are readily obtainable.
J. P. Fosdyck, Eli Gillett; J. W. Stormer, J. H. Coffman; J. E. Shindle, James Coffman ; James C. Coffman, C. H. Mead ; 1894-James S. Coffman, J. A. Robertson ; 1896-James S. Coff- man, C. H. Mead; 1897-Jacob Klepper, C. H. Mead; 1898-Jacob Shindle, C. H. Mead; 1900 -James S. Coffman, C. H. Mead ; 1902-R. B. Booker, C. H. Mead; 1903-R. B. Booker, C. H. Mead ; 1904-R. B. Booker ; 1905-R. B. Booker; 1906-R. B. Booker; 1907-Grant Winfield, C. H. Mead; 1908-Grant Winfield, C. H. Mead; 1909-Jacob Klepper, C. H. Mead; 1910-Jacob Klepper, C. H. Mead ; 1911-A. R. Hamilton, C. H. Mead; 1913-J. P. Ellis, Charles G. Phelps ; 1914-J. P. Ellis, Charles G. Phelps ; 1915- T. K. Pendleton, Charles G. Phelps; 1916-T. K. Pendleton, Charles G. Phelps ; 1917-H. N. Holmes, Charles G. Phelps ; 1918-H. N. Holmes, Charles G. Phelps ; 1919-H. N. Holmes, Charles G. Phelps; 1920-H. N. Holmes, W. Lester Fahey.
The officers of the incorporation are: Presi- dent, H. N. Holmes; Clerk, W. Lester Fahey ; Treasurer, S. P. Lemon ; Trustees, C. F. Myers, J. H. Hartley, J. N. Berthoff, Earl Smith, S. P. Gordon, A. O. Howd; Police Magistrate, Oscar Magill; Street Superintendent and Marshal, E. P. Fosdyck; Attorney, J. A. Mead.
The citizens are now agitating the question of a water-works system, and expect to put in a sewer system. The Village Hall is owned in conjunction with the Township.
CHURCHES, LODGES AND SCHOOLS
Augusta enjoys the up-to-date churches, in- cluding the Methodist Episcopal, Christian, and Presbyterian. All of these societies have excel- lent edifices. In the country, but in Augusta Township, there is a Methodist church at Pu- laski and a United Brethren four miles south- west of Augusta.
The Lodges include the Masons, Eastern Star, Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, Modern Woodmen of
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
America, Royal Neighbors, Knights of Pythias, "Hancock Mutual" (insurance order), and Knights and Ladies of Security.
The village school-house consists of a two- story brick building of eight rooms and there are now employed ten teachers.
THE AUGUSTA PUBLIC TOWNSHIP LIBRARY
The Augusta Public Township Library was founded by the Martha Board Chapter, D. A. R., under the leadership of Miss Luella Swanson, and was maintained by the Chapter free to the public for a year and a half, when a town- ship mill-tax was voted, making it a free town- ship library. The library has grown very rapidly since it was opened Dec. 18, 1915, having by April, 1919, a total enrolled membership of 1008. During the month of March, 1919, 1151 loans were made. The library reading room is open two afternoons and evenings a week, when books may be drawn out. There is a total of 2000 books on the shelves, a large proportion being standard works.
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