USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 81
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Under City form of government the Mayors and Clerks were: 1859-Bryant Bartlett; W. A. J. Russell. 1860-W. O. Sanford; Edward F. Humphrey. 1861-Bryant Bartlett; Edward F. Humphrey. 1862-Edward F. Humphrey ; Thomas Gregg. 1863-Edward F. Humphrey ; E. C. A. Cushman. 1864-Edward F. Humph- rey ; E. C. A. Cushman. 1865-Edward F. Humphrey ; E. C. A. Cushman. 1866-Edward F. Humphrey ; E. C. A. Cushman. 1867-H. R. Dickinson; Samuel Gordon. 1868-W. O. San- ford; Samuel Gordon. 1869-H. R. Dickinson ; G. D. Sayller. 1870-H. R. Dickinson; G. D. Sayller. 1871 -- H. J. Mack; G. D. Sayller. 1872 -H. J. Mack ; William O. Sanford. 1873-H. J. Mack; G. D. Sayller. 1874-H. J. Mack; F. C. Crain. 1875-H. J. Mack; F. C. Crain. 1876 H. J. Mack; F. C. Crain. 1877-C. N. Dennis;
C. C. Safford. 1878-C. N. Dennis; C. C. Saf- ford. 1879-C. N. Dennis; F. C. Crain. 1880- C. N. Dennis; F. C. Crain. 18S1-Mark Black- more; M. B. Lane. 1882-Mark Blackmore; G. D. Sayller. 1883-Joseph Johnson; James Mc- Manis. 1884-James McManis; C. N. Dennis. 1885-C. N. Dennis; William K. Githens. 1886- C. N. Dennis; G. D. Sayller. 1887-W. C. Bridges; G. D. Sayller. 188S-W. C. Bridges; G. D. Sayller. 1889-W. C. Bridges; Ed. Rug- gles. 1890-W. C. Bridges ; Ed Ruggles. 1891 -- W. H. Glazebrook; Ed Ruggles. 1892-W. H. Glazebrook ; A. L. McArthur. 1893-F. M. Jack- son ; A. L. McArthur. 1894-F. M. Jackson; J. A. Gordon, 1895-C. L. Bartlett; J. A. Gordon. 1896-J. M. Elder; J. A. Gordon. 1897-R. R. Wallace; J. A. Gordon. 1898-R. R. Wallace ; J. A. Gordon. 1899-R. R. Wallace; J. A. Gor- don. 1900-R. R. Wallace; J. A. Gordon. 1901 -- J. M. Elder ; J. A. Gordon. 1902-J. M. Elder ; J. A. Gordon. 1903-R. S. Gordon; A. L. Mc- Arthur. 1904-R. S. Gordon; A. L. McArthur. 1905-Geo. W. Rose; A. L. McArthur. 1906- Geo. W. Rose; A. L. McArthur. 1907-Neal Daugherty ; L. McArthur. 1908-Neal Daugherty ; A. L. McArthur. 1909-Neal Daugh- erty ; A. L. McArthur. 1910-Neal Daugherty ; , A. L. McArthur. 1911-Neal Daugherty ; A. L. McArthur. 1912-Neal Daugherty ; A. L. Mc- Arthur. 1913-A. D. Barber; Oscar Johnson. 1914-A. D. Barber; J. Weaver Blan. 1915- Neal Daugherty ; J. Weaver Blan, and J. H. Crawford. 1919-Neal Daugherty ; J. H. Craw- ford. 1920-Robert R. Wallace; J. H. Crawford.
Under Commission Form of Government, the Commissioners were E. F. Dennis, F. H. Elder, E. W. Hosford, George Hosford, who served till spring of 1918, when George Hosford resigned and H. B. Kinkade was elected in his stead. Board of Commissioners-1920: C. B. Marshall, F. M. Leffler, E. F. Dennis.
In 1873 the city erected, in conjunction with the Masonic Order, a three-story frame building, the upper floor being the section erected for the Masons and the first and second floors for city purposes. This is the headquarters for the city board and Commissioners, the fire department and equipment, etc. This cost the city (their part of the structure) $10,000. The water-works- of Hamilton consist of an up-to-date pumping plant, a high tower and tank. The water supply comes from the Mississippi river and is filtered by seeping through twelve feet of earth. It is
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
one hundred and seventy-five feet from the river's level to the top of the tower, giving a gravity pressure of great power. This plant was installed in 1911-12 and cost $30,000, the same being paid for from sale of bonds. The water-mains, hydrants, sewerage system and other modern city improvements have cost the city $85,000.
CITY PLAT ADDITIONS
The principal addition to the orignal platting of Hamilton is the section originally comprised in Oakwood, laid out in June, 1855, by John Morse, Thomas J. Potts, T. DeWitt Carey. This lay a half mile east of the original site of Ham- ilton but was embraced in that corporation by the charter of 1859.
LODGES, CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS
Hamilton has Fraternal societies as follows- Masonic, Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, Eastern Star, Rebekah and Royal Neighbors.
' The churchies are: Catholic, Methodist Epis- copal, Presbyterian and Christian denominations, all having buildings and regular pastors, save the Catholics who are served from Warsaw.
The city has school houses of modern ap- pointments, including the new High School building costing $25,000, and a frame building in the East End known as "Oakwood."
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS
Agricultural Implements-McMahan Hard- ware Co. Attorneys-W. G. Humphrey, O. C. McCartney, E. W. Wood. Bakery-J. H. Craw- ford. Banking-First National Bank, Peoples State Bank. (See chapter on banks.) Barber Shops-Clyde Smitlı, Thompson & Champeau. Blacksmith Shops-Leffler Bros., F. M. Leffler, Thomas & Englehart. Cigar-maker-J. T. Guy. Clothing-(Exclusive)-J. E. Rayburn. Den- tists-Drs. G. W. Covell, J. P. Sennett. Drugs --- W. C. Hughes. Elevator-C. O. Cochran. Feed Store-E. M. Leroy. Garages-F. W. Garretson, Hamilton Auto & Garage Co., Henry Weber. General Dealers-L. W. Berdolt, H. C. Parsons. Groceries and Meats-J. G. Buss. Groceries and Shoes-Derksen & Smith. Hardware-Hamilton Hardware Co., McMahan & Co., George W. Rigg.
Hotel-Hotel Granite, W. S. Eaton, proprietor. Ice Dealer-R. Parsons. Jewelry-Miss Bessie Gordon. Livery-H. K. Denton. Lumber-Ham- ilton Lumber and Milling Co., Tabor Lumber & Coal Co. Meat Market-Hurley Berry. Mil- linery Store-Hawks & Webb. Newspapers- "Hamilton Press," A. L. MacArthur, Proprietor ; The Bee-keepers Journal, Dadant & Sons, Pro- prietors. Opera Hall-The Photo Play House. Physicians-Drs. J. A. Miller, Runyon & Runyon, J. C. Taylor. Pool Hall-F. E. Heberer. Prod- uce House - The Lane Produce Co. Public Library. Restaurants-Crawford's Bakery & Restaurant, "Depot Restaurant," W. H. Turner. Rooming House-Mrs. B. D. Guy. Shoe Re- pairs-Ralph Pancake. Stationery and Books -J. A. Gordon. Stock Dealer-Neal Daugherty, Charles Marshall, Frank McGee. Tailor-Joseph Uhlik. Vulcanizing-Arthur Berry. Among the various industries in Hamilton may be named the following : Armour's Fertilizing Plant ; Hamilton Brick and Tile Works; The Garment Making Factory, by Marks & Haas.
HAMILTON AND OAKWOOD BUSINESS DIRECTORY FOR 1859
H. F. Emry & Co., Saw Mill and Lumber Deal- ers. Thos. Reid, Dry Goods and Groceries. Thos. Reid, Postmaster. Y. S. Hughs, Dry Goods and Groceries. Allen & Rugless, Dry Goods and Groceries. John S. Cox, Hotel Proprietor. D. Smith Alvord, Attorney at Law. W. A. J. Rus- sel, Physician and Surgeon. W. H. Githens & Bros. Drugs, Medicines & Notions. Harris & Rhier, Tin and Stove Dealers. Samuel Gordon, Real Estate Dealer. Battell & Hamilton, Whole- sale and Retail Grocers. J. & J. K. Lloyd, Wholesale and Retail Grocers. Banks & Co., Flouring Mill. B. Bartlett, Real Estate Dealer.
POPULATION
According to the 1920 census the population of Montebello Township was 2,402; and that of the city of Hamilton 1,698.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-1920
Supervisor, Fred Twesten; Town Clerk, H. C. Parsons ; Assessor, E. F. Dennis ; Highway Com- missioner, H. L. Mekemson; Justices of the Peace, J. H. Crawford and George D. Gates ; Constables, W. F. Tanner and R. H. Athey;
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
School Trustees, O. E. Pence, D. H. Coffman and Thomas Wyles; School Treasurer, H. M. Cuer- don.
CHAPTER XXXII
NAUVOO TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-NAME SIGNIFIES "PLEASANT LAND" -ONCE THE STRONG-HOLD OF MORMONS-PIONEER SETTLEMENT-DEFUNCT VILLAGES-CITY OF NAU- VOO - POST-OFFICE HISTORY - PUBLIC PARK - MUNICIPAL HISTORY-COMMERCIAL INTERESTS- POPULATION-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS, 1920.
BOUNDARIES
Nauvoo Township, surrounded on three sides by the Mississippi River, is bounded on the east by Appanoose and Sonora Townships, and while the smallest township in the county it embraces two small fractional townships, numbered 6 and 7 north, 9 west. The name, which signifies ' "pleasant land," is rightly bestowed for here is found some of the most beautiful scenery along the Mississippi River, as well as fertile farm land, and a thriving city where once stood the stronghold of Mormonism.
EARLY SETTLERS
Capt. James White was the first settler, and it was on the land he originally pre-empted that the famous Mansion and Nauvoo houses stood. Daniel H. Wells pre-empted the land upon which the Mormon temple was built. Alex- ander White, George Y. Cutler, Horace R. Hotch- kiss, John Gillett, and the Mormon elders and followers were among the first settlers. When the Mormons were expelled from Nauvoo another class of settlers came into the township, and dating from 1847 we have: George Bratz, John G. Bratz, Leonard L. Bratz, Frederic Baum, John Bauer, John B. Risse, John Dornseif, Gus- tav Eberdt, Max Reinbold, Peter F. Wahl, Albert Person, John Engler, F. Mauck, G. H. Henckler, Christopher E. Yates, Samuel Slocumb, Bryant Whitfield, L. C. Bidamon, William Clifford, Na-
tlan Prentice, Luke P. Prentice, Adam Swartz, Bryant Bartlett, Daniel Brown, R. H. Loomis, Milton M. Morrill, William McLennan, Prentice Pond, S. M. Wather, George Edmunds, Reuben Mason, John Gearhart, D. B. Smith and Thomas H. Owen.
THREE DEFUNCT VILLAGES
Venus, Commerce and Commerce City, now all defunct villages or community settlements, though never organized as such, were in exist- ence away back in the thirties. The first post- office established by the United States govern- ment in Hancock County was known as Venus, and it was situated within what is now Nauvoo township. About it grew up a good-sized settle- ment. Like Venus, Commerce and Commerce City were "laid out"-the first-named in 1834 by Joseph B. Teas and Alexander White. In 1837 Horace R. Hotchkiss and John Gillett laid out Commerce City. Great hopes were enter- tained as to their future greatness, but nothing much came of these "paper towns" except a small collection of settlers' houses. Concerning Venus, it is interesting to note that on Jan. 24, 1835, the Ninth General Assembly of Illinois passed an act authorizing and empowering the proprietors of the town of Venus in Hancock County, and the purchasers of lots therein, to alter, change or vacate the survey and plat of the town, but not without the "consent of all the pro- prietors and purchasers aforesaid." It was further enacted that any change, alteration or vacation theretofore made in the survey, plat or name of the town "with the consent of the pro- prietors and purchasers as aforesaid," should be and remain valid and effectual to all intents and purposes.
NAUVOO
It is doubtful whether Illinois has ever had a more interesting and, romantic town than Nau- voo, so happily situated on the east bank of the Mississippi river. The history of the Mormons in Hancock County will be found in another chapter, so that this chapter will be devoted to the Nauvoo of more modern times.
Beautifully located in a commanding position on the bluffs of the great Mississippi river, Nauvoo has grown in extent until today some of its incorporated lands are within the adjoin-
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
ing township of Sonora. Its principal streets were named after Mormon leaders who platted the original place in 1839, among whose names appear of record the famous Mormons, Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon and George W. Robinson. They named streets as follows -Sidney, Parley, Ripley, Kimball, Young, Knight, Hyrum, Carlos, Samuel, Robinson, Wells, Woodruff and Page.
"The Independent," one of Nauvoo's local newspapers, said in September, 1885: "The annual manufacture of wine was commenced by our vintners the fore part of the week and many of our people are busy in cutting the luscious fruit from the vines and doing other work connected with the making of wine. The manufacture of wine has come to be quite a paying business and 'Nauvoo Wines' may now be found all over the country. It is a profitable industry and is appreciated by our merchants who sell great amounts of sugar to the grape- growers. About sixty thousand gallons of Nau- voo wine are made annually." (This reads now like ancient history.)
POST-OFFICE
The date of establishing this office cannot now be determined, but long before the civil war it had an existence and it is certain that the following postmasters have served in the order here given : Before the civil war was John Bauer, succeeded at the close of that conflict by R. W. Mckinney, Alonzo Burt, Robert Aitchison, Rudolph Anton (under Cleveland's first admin- istration) , Robert Aitchison (under Harrison's), Rudolph Anton (under Cleveland's second ad- ministration), A. J. Beger, who served nineteen years (under Presidents Mckinley, Roosevelt, Taft and Woodrow Wilson) until succeeded by George H. Hart in 1915, who is still serving.
In Mr. Beger's administration this became a third-class post-office. The salary was increased during the years he served to $1,500 per year. The government now pays rental on the fine business block in which the post-office is kept. Two rural free delivery routes run out from this office-one extending a distance of twenty- four and one-half miles, the other, twenty-seven and one-half miles.
CHURCHES AND LODGES
Nauvoo first became known religiously through the original Mormon worshipers, who
were followed by the "Gentiles." so called by the Mormons in speaking of the Protestant de- nominations. Today there are churches as fol- lows: Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal, Catholic, and Presbyterian, each supporting a regular pastor and having good houses of worship.
Of secret societies and fraternities let it be said that Nauvoo has good lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen and Knights of Columbus.
PUBLIC PARK
There is a beautiful little park situated two blocks from the river, known as Anton's Park.
WATER WORKS AND LIGHTING
Nauvoo has a good supply of water, the same being pumped by electric pumps from the near- by Mississippi river. It is forced to a high stand-pipe tower and gives a sufficient "head" to throw water, in case of a fire, to all parts of the city. There is a well trained volunteer fire company. The electric lights of Nauvoo are fur- nished by the power of the great power com- pany's dam at Keokuk, through a system of copper wires over which the current is trans- mitted.
During 1918 the city put down a good Main street sewer system.
MUNICIPAL HISTORY
After the charter of Nauvoo had been re- pealed in 1845 and the Mormons had been ex- pelled, the inhabitants organized for municipal purposes under the General Law for the incor- poration of towns and cities, and maintained a municipal government under the said law until Feb. 10, 1853, when an act of the General Assem- bly was passed to the effect that all acts and deeds of the city of Nauvoo done and performed by virtue of organization under the General Law be confirmed and legalized, and that the inhab- itants of the city, within such limits as were then established by ordinance of the city, be declared a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of "The City of Nauvoo," and vested with all the powers and privileges granted to the city of Quincy by an act of in- corporation approved Feb. 3, 1840, and the sev- eral laws amendatory thereof. This amounted to the granting of a special charter to the city of Nauvoo with all the powers and privileges of
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
the special charter granted to the city of Quincy as above stated, to the same extent as if the Quincy charter had been reenacted section by section and provision by provision as the charter of Nauvoo.
In 1899 the city of Nauvoo became incorpo- rated under the general law passed in 1872, re- lating to the incorporation of cities and villages. (Many interesting events in Nauvoo history will be found in the Chapter concerning the Mor- mons. )
MUNICIPAL HISTORY
Mayors : 1847, J. J. Brent; 1849, C. Robinson ; 1850, John J. Brent; 1851, W. W. Cosgrove; 1852, W. W. Cosgrove; 1853, S. M. Chapman ; 1854, R. W. Mckinney ; 1855, R. W. Mckinney ; 1856, E. Kimball; 1857, M. M. Morrill; 1858, M. M. Morrill; 1859, J. B. Icking ; 1860, M. M. Morrill; 1861, M. M. Morrill; 1862, M. M. Mor- rill; 1866, H. Weigand; 1867, H. Weigand ; 1868, H. Weigand; 1869, C. Knaust; 1870, A. Beger; 1871, M. M. Morrill; 1872, M. M. Morrill; 1873, H. Weigand; 1874, John Bratz; 1875, August Beger; 1875-77, H. Weigand; 1877-80, John U. Bechtold; 1880-83, John Tanner; 1884, W. D. Hibbard, last half 1884, J. N. Datin; 1884-87, M. M. Morrill; 1887-89, J. N. Datin; 1890, R. Anton ; 1892, W. D. Hibbard; 1894, H. Berger, Sr .; 1896, John Tanner; 1898, J. N. Datin ; 1899, Joseph Nelson ; 1901, J. N. Datin ; 1902, R. Sum- merhalder; 1905, R. Summerhalder; 1906, R. Summerlialder; 1907, R. Summerhalder; 190S, L. B. Hobbs; 1909, L. B. Hobbs; 1910, L. B. Hobbs; 1912, J. Laubersheimer; 1913, L. B. Hobbs; 1914, L. B. Hobbs; 1916, R. Arbuckle; 1917, E. J. Baxter; 1918, C. R. Montgomery ; 1920, Henry Harsch.
Clerks : 1847, J. F. Wilbur ; 1849, D. B. Smith ; 1850, R. W. Mckinney; 1851, R. W. Mckinney ; 1852, R. W. Mckinney; 1853, William Cos- grove; 1854, William Cosgrove; 1855, Wil- liam Cosgrove; 1856, William Cosgrove ; 1857, A. Swartz; 1858, A. Swartz; 1859, A. Swartz ; 1860, A. Swartz ; 1861, John A. Hamma ; 1862, John Hamma; 1863, John Hamma ; 1864, John Hamma; 1865, J. J. Hefflemann ; 1866, J. J. Hefflemann ; 1867, A. W. Bauer; 1868, J. P. Thomas; 1869, J. P. Thomas ; 1870, J. P. Thom- as; 1871, J. P. Thomas; 1872, J. P. Thomas ; 1873, E. D. Morrill; from here on the minute
books are lacking, hence a complete list of the later city clerks cannot well be given.
The 1920 city officials were as follows : Mayor, Henry Harsch; Clerk, William H. Bicker ; Treasurer, Edward J. Kember; Councilmen : First ward, J. E. Mapes, S. E. Fowler ; Second ward, J. B. Nelson, A. C. Rahn; Third ward, John F. Hohl, John Laubersheimer; Health offi- cers, W. M. Haggett, G. W. Rudolphi ; Magis- trate, L. L. Hudson ; Attorney, William Hemmy.
NAUVOO BUSINESS DIRECTORY FOR 1859
(Taken from an old map of Hancock County.) M. M. Morrill, Attorney at Law; Adam Swartz, Attorney at Law; Jolin Bauer, Justice of the Peace; John Bauer, Postmaster; R. H. Loomis, Nauvoo Quarry; L. C. Bidamon, Pro- prietor Nauvoo Mansion; S. M. Chapman, Dry Goods and Groceries; C. E. Yates, Real Estate Dealer.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS
Agricultural Implements-J. F. Ochsner. At- torney-William Hemmy. Bakery-E. Bicker. Banking - First National Bank, State Bank. (See Banking Chapter.) Barber Shops-Ed Walther, J. W. Welter. Cement Works-Sid Fowler. Clothing - (Exclusive) - John Paul. Dentists-Dr. L. B. Hobbs, Dr. Krueger. Drugs -A. J. Beger. Feed Mill-Frank Kerl. Furni- ture Robert Kuhn. Garages-F. Hamma, Wil- liam Pitt, John Repplinger. General Merchall- dise Blum, Bechtold and Blum, Datin & Lep- pert, Schneider & Hummel. Groceries-L. L. Hudson, J. E. Mapes. Hardware-N. J. Reim- bold & Son. Harness Shop-L. C. Schaefer. Hotel-The Oriental, W. C. Reimbold, proprie- tor. Ice Dealers-John Buckert, Walter Bros. Jewelry - Ed Kemler. Laundry - St. Mary's Academy. Lumber-The Tabor Lumber Com- pany. Meat Markets-Ellis Daugherty, Hudson Bros. Millinery Stores-Blum, Bechtold and, Blum, Zelda Walther. Newspapers-The Inde- pendent, The Rustler. (See Press Chapter.) Opera Hall-A stock company. Physicians- Drs. Haggett and Rudolphi. Picture Show-One at present. Restaurant-H. Berger. Saloons- Jacob Boyer, Hagen & Rundle, A. Nestle, Nickel & Co., John Schmidt, F. C. Weisman. Shoe Store Wolf & Son. Steam Ferry-J. W. Reim-
GEORGE W. NASH
ANNA B. NASH
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
bold. Stock Dealer-George Boegner. Tobacco and Cigars-John Kraus. Undertaking-George Anton. Variety Store-J. A. Reimbold.
For many years the wine and grape industry in and near Nauvoo has been quite extensive. There are six hundred acres of grape vineyards, of from one to ten acres each, and some still larger. The annual shipment of grapes is from one hundred to one hundred and seventy car- loads and the annual production of grape wine at Nauvoo is very large. The soil and topog- raphy of the land are well adapted to the cul- ture of grapes.
A home capitalized canning factory where corn, peas and tomatoes are canned is among the industries that are profitable to the com- munity.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Nauvoo Public Library was established February 28, 1913, the incorporators being Mes- dames Anna Jackson, Martha E. Reimbold, Myr- tle Salm, Theresa Argast and Miss Alice Baxter, who solicited the first funds. The library is now located in a leased room in a business block on the main street. The number of volumes on the shelves is 1,739. It was started by popu- lar subscription, and directed by the Library Association, which elected a board of directors, and membership cards were then sold. The Association found they could not maintain the library unaided by the city, so petitioned the city council to take it over, which it did June 22, 1915.
Miss Yetta Young was librarian from March 19, 1913, to August 15, 1913, since which time Marie Masbery has served in that capacity.
POPULATION
The present population of Nauvoo Township is 990; and of the City of Nauvoo, 9,720.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS IN 1920
Supervisor, John Nelson; Town Clerk, Fred W. Walther; Assessor, Wm. Memmy ; Highway Commissioner, John Kachle; Justice of the Peace, Herman Berger, Sr .; School Trustees, Jolın W. Bertschi, William J. Dachroth and F. D. Baughman ; School Treasurer, Henry Harsch.
CHAPTER XXXIII
PILOT GROVE TOWNSHIP 1
BOUNDARIES-EARLY SETTLERS-POPULATION-VIL- LAGES-BURNSIDE AND LA CROSSE-THE OLD ROCK ISLAND INDIAN TRAIL-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS, 1920.
BOUNDARIES
Pilot Grove Township is bounded on the north by Durham Township, on the east by Fountain Green Township, on the south by Car- thage Township and on the west by Rock Creek Township. It is named from a strip of timber that lay near the old Rock Island Indian trail, which, following the course of the Mississippi river, ran from point to point on the prairie, and in Hancock County from Green Plains to Golden's Point, thence through Pilot Grove and through Durham Township to some point in Henderson County, and so on to Rock Island. After the whites settled in this section they continued to use the much traveled trail, de- veloping it into a road.
EARLY SETTLERS
About 1830 a man by the name of Franklin located a few miles northeast of Carthage, and his claim was bought in 1835 by Ephraim Par- kins. Other early settlers were: Neill Mckay, Joseph Lionberger, Thomas Perkins, Elting Thompson, William B. Wilson, Wilson Wright, John Hamrick, Ralph Gorrell, James Goldsburg, William De Hart, Dr. Cheney, Nelson Andrews, Merrill Andrews, Nathan S. Cheney, Isaac Cooper, John Bailey, Solomon. Elefritz, Harry Earles, James Gibson, William Gorrell, Isaac C. Howd, John Huckins, John Manering, Nathan Mason, Samuel F. Pray, Neil Rice, John Roth, Joseph Thompson, George C. Wagoner, William and L. V. Aleshire, Smith Howd, Benjamin and J. W. Lionberger, J. B. McMillan, William G. McCubbin, William Tyner, Miles B. Mann, I. K. Jacobs and J. Hemmingway.
This township was settled largely by immi- grants from Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and New
,
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
York. What was then a wide expanse of grass- covered prairie, the home of the deer, and the pleasure-ground of wild geese and ducks, ren- dered doubly attractive by a profusion of wild- flowers, has become, under cultivation, one of the many garden spots of Hancock County. Grain and stock are the great sources of wealth to the thrifty agriculturists of the township. There was not a single open quarter section of land here in the late seventies and early eighties.
The first post-office here was known as Pilot Grove and it was kept by Nelson Andrews; afterward it was removed to the village of Burnside. The first justices of peace in the township were Isaac C. Howd, Nathan Mason and John Huckins. This part of Hancock Coun- ty was early interested in educational affairs and in 1879 had nine public schools in opera- tion.
In Mormon times John Huckins organized a company of men of the Anti-Mormon stripe, known as "Brick-Batters."
The population of Pilot Grove Township has been at four census enumeration periods. as follows: 1890, 1,186; in 1900, 1,000; in 1910, 959; and in 1920, 889.
The territory of this sub-division of Hancock County is traversed by the Toledo, Peoria & Western railroad, with two station points in this township-Burnside and La Crosse.
VILLAGE OF BURNSIDE
Burnside was platted by J. B. McMillan in 1868 and now has a population of about three hundred and fifty. As early as 1879 there were ten business houses there, but not a single saloon among the places of business. When fairly started the post-office of Pilot Grove was re- moved to Burnside. Among the postmasters here are recalled : Dr. O. C. Ing, Henry Yetter, J. M. Hull, Frank Grove, E. P. Hull, George L. Evans, J. W. Westfall, George L. Evans, Fred P. Hull. This is a fourth-class office with one rural free delivery route. The present post- master was commissioned on October 20, 1913.
The Methodist and Christian denominations each have a church at Burnside, and the Ma- sonic, Eastern Star, Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors and Knights and Ladies of Security each have lodges. The Tri- State and Hancock Mutual insurance corpora- tions have places of business at Burnside.
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