USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 83
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The 1920 officers of the village of West Point are: President, R. J. Brumby ; Clerk, J. F. Guthrie; Treasurer, E. R. Hinkle; Street Com- missioner, S. C. Scott; Trustees, J. B. Kelley, D. T. Guthrie, John Saling, D. B. Mensendick, Fred Freeman, George Major; Marshal, W. G. Zinn ; Attorney, J. S. Miller.
POST-OFFICE
West Point has a third-class post-office, estab- lished in the fifties. The postmasters who have served here are W. W. Franks, J. J. Guthrie, J. R. Garner, H. A. Eyman, G. W. Wolf, John Hicks, Glen Hartman, and Grover Barnard, the present postmaster, who keeps the post-office in the railway depot, where he is also depot agent.
LODGES AND CHURCHES
West Point has churches and lodges as fol- lows :
Churches-Christian, Methodist Episcopal, Lu- theran, Catholic.
Lodges-Grand Army of the Republic, Masons, Odd Fellows, Woodmen, Royal Neighbors, Re- bekahs and Eastern Star.
BUSINESS INTERESTS
Agricultural Implements - Mensendick Bros. Attorney-J. L. Miller. Banking-The State Bank of West Point. Barbers-Perry Renix, J. R. Warner. Cream Stations-Hawkins & Co .. William Lawrence. Druggist-Holt & Co. (K. S. Holt and E. R. Hinkle). Elevator-George W. Major. Furniture and Undertaking-Fred V. Freeman. Garage-W. G. Zinn. General Merchandise-E. E. and T. G. Emerson. Gro- ceries-H. H. Hawkins & Co. Hardware-Men- Endnick Bros. Harness-T. H. Hanson. Jeweler -E. Ralph Hinkle. Lumber Dealer-West Point Lumber Co. Meat Market-Hawkins & Co. Milling-R. G. Brumby-a feed mill. Opera Hall-Owned by the Odd Fellows Order. Phy- sicians-Drs. J. R. Bryant, and C. W. Gillham. Stock Dealer-John Workman.
VILLAGE OF STILLWELL
This little village has a population of about one hundred. Its commercial interests are a general merchandise store, a bank-The Farmers State,-two grain elevators, operated by the Farmers Co-Operative Company. Two churches are found here Methodist Episcopal and Chris- tian (see Church Chapter). The present post- master is Harvey Crear. Stillwell was platted in December, 1870, by William H. Zinn and Ar- thur Stillwell and is a station point on the Burlington system of railway.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
POPULATION
St. Albans Township had a population in 1890 of 1,263; in 1900, 1,207; in 1910, 1,089; and in 1920, 1,079.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-1920
Supervisor, E. L. Charpentier ; Town Clerk, J. F. Guthrie; Assessor, Harvey Crear; Highway Commissioner, H. E. Tanner; Justice of the Peace, R. J. Brumby; School Trustees, W. J. Richey, William Sanderson and William Ramp- ley ; School Treasurer, J. L. Miller.
CHAPTER XL
ST. MARYS TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY SETTLEMENT- POPULATION- ST. MARY'S-PLYMOUTH-MUNICI- PAL HISTORY-COMMERCIAL INTERESTS-TOWN- SHIP OFFICIALS.
BOUNDARIES
St. Marys Township is bounded on the north by Hancock Township, on the east by McDon- ough County, on the south by Augusta Town- ship, and on the west by Harmony Township. It is watered by Crooked creek and Bronson's creek, and in the early days it had some valu- able timber. The name of the township is taken from the old village of St. Marys.
EARLY SETTLERS
Some of the early pioneers in St. Marys Town- ship were: Mathew Melton and his son Allen, John Trammel, Ezekiel Bowman, Edward Wade, Daniel Cain, Jesse Cain, Jacob Castlebury, Jesse Roberts, John and Robert Box, John Shelton, Peter Wood, Uriah Dodd, Abijah Terrill, Ros- well Terrill, Dr. Blackburn, John Atchison, Ed- ward Bryant, William Irwin, Benj. Terrill, John Martin, Mr. Lanman, Paul Brattan, La- marcus A. Cook, Joshua Owen, James R. Smith, T. Madison, William Page, Byrd Smith, Samuel
Haggard, Silas Griffith, Reuben Graves and sons, Henry Garnett, Frederick Walton, Charles Friend, John T. Johnson, William Darnell, Dr. Jonathan Berry, Jesse W. Bell, David Greenleaf, Elias Johnson, Otho Johnson, Benjamin Talbot, John Wilson, Jonathan Printy, Dr. H. P. Gris- wold, William M. King, Minor R. Deming, John W. Crockett, George W. P. Cook, Dr. A. W. King.
POPULATION
The United States census gives the popula- tion for the township and village in 1890 as 1,561; in 1900, 1,626; in 1910, 1,576; and in 1920, 1,583.
CHURCHES, LODGES, SCHOOLS
There are excellent public schools in both village and rural districts, and the usual number of fraternal secret societies in the vil- lages. At the village of Plymouth one finds today a good two-story brick school building with eight rooms, and an office and spacious basement. An extension was built in 1915, cost- ing $6,000. There is a water system on the school premises in the village, which is second to none in the schools of Hancock County. The number of teachers now employed is eight. This is called a four-year High School and is recog- nized by the State of Illinois.
VILLAGE OF ST. MARYS
The little village of St. Marys, built around the church of the same name, was laid out in 1835, by Walter R. Hurst and Wesley Williams. At this time there is nothing save the church and a small commercial interest. A general merchandise store is there conducted by Lewis & Son; a blacksmith shop by Clark Huddleston. The public school-house is but the ordinary frame district building. The Baptist church has for its pastor Reverend Scott, who also presides over the Baptist church at Plymouth.
VILLAGE OF PLYMOUTH
Plymouth was laid out in January, 1836, by John W. Crockett, James Clark, Benjamin Ter- rill, and Lamarcus A. Cook, in section 36, first settled by Mathew Melton and his son Allen and John Trammell in August, 1831. In 1837 Ben-
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
jamin Whitaker moved to Plymouth from Riv- erside and kept the first store. Jesse W. Bell had the first hotel. In 1837 the first school- house was built. In the fall of 1836 a post- office was established with Carroll O'Neil as the first postmaster. He was succeeded by William M. King, William Melton, John Cleaveland, H. P. Weir, John H. Lawton, Samuel Haggard, Mrs. E. S. Haines, E. J. Ellis, S. C. Gilbert, Wil- liam Potter, M. C. Shaffer, Ed Bickford, S. H. Aldridge, and -present postmaster, H. C. Ale- shire, who was commissioned in 1915.
MUNICIPAL HISTORY
Plymouth is now an incorporated village and has a history running back much further than the present records show. From 1889 the list of Presidents and Clerks is as follows :
1889-E. W. Bickford, J. M. Dunsworth; 1891 -S. S. Fox, J. M. Dunsworth ; 1892-S. C. Gil- bert, L. G. Aadkey; 1893-D. M. Sapp, George H. Tuck; 1894-S. C. Gilbert, W. A. Currans ; 1895-J. H. Wier, George H. Tuck; 1896-John McWherter, George H. Tuck; 1897-A. T. Bar- tell, J. H. Wier ; 1898-A. T. Bartell, J. H. Wier ; 1899-A. T. Bartell, J. H. Wier; 1900-D. M. Sapp, R. M. Hendrickson ; 1901-Daniel Fite, C. N. Chapman ; 1902-W. F. Aleshire, J. H. Wier ; 1903-E. F. West, J. H. Wier; 1904-E. F. West, C. E. Young; 1905-E. F. West, C. E. Young ; 1906-D. L. Frazee, C. E. Young; 1907-J. P. Heston, C. E. Young ; 1908-J. P. Heston, J. M. Grover; 1909-J. P. Heston, J. M. Grover ; 1910 -J. P. Heston, J. M. Grover ; 1911-J. P. Hes- ton, J. M. Grover; 1912-J. P. Heston, J. M. Grover ; 1913-J. P. Heston, J. M. Grover; 1914 -J. B. Satterfield, J. M. Grover; 1915-J. B. Satterfield, J. M. Grover; 1916-J. B. Satter- field, J. M. Grover; 1917-O. H. Woodward, J. H. Folts; 1918-O. H. Woodward, J. H. Folts ; 1920-John P. Heston, J. H. Folts.
The 1920 officers are : President, John P. Hes- ton; Clerk, J. H. Folts; Treasurer, Robert Claud; Marshal, W. E. Brickell; Trustees : Thomas I. Kennedy, Walter B. Thomas, Clyde Brown, Roscoe C. Burdett, Fred Swisegood, Robert Myers.
Plymouth had a full block devoted to a pub- lic square and the business houses are largely erected opposite the four sides of this "Square." The square has a handsome two-story band- stand, and is embellished with beautiful shade trees. The water tower and tank are situated in
this square, the mains reaching the business center of the village. The village obtains its electric light from the Power Company at Keo- kuk, Iowa.
PLYMOUTH BUSINESS DIRECTORY FOR 1859
J. M. Randolph, Staple and Fancy Dry Goods and Groceries. Wm. M. King, Dry Goods and Groceries. Kinsey and Graham, Dry Goods and Groceries. J. H. Lawton, Proprietor Lawton House. J. H. Lawton, Forwarding and Commis- sion Merchant. J. H. Lawton, Furniture and Stoves. M. M. Hooton, Physician and Surgeon. A. W. King, Physician and Surgeon. E. Bidwell, Plymouth Premium Plow Manufactory. J. El- liott, Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries and Prod- uce. Albert Walty, Dealer in Stoves and Tin- ware. H. A. Markley, Plymouth Boot and Shoe Manufactory. John Cleaveland, Postmaster. Lewis Graham, Furniture and Cabinet ware. C. H. Cuyler, Proprietor Keokuk House. L. E. Walker and G. W. Ross, Lumber Merchants. B. F. Peterson, Attorney at Law.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS
Agricultural Implements-Emery & Huey. At- torney-S. S. Groves. Auto Garages-Bible & Co., Cannon-Ball Garage Co., Plymouth Auto- garage Co. Bakery-"Plymouth Bakery." Bank- ing-Plymouth State, and Tri-County State Bank. Barber Shops-Bowman & Rigsbee, J. E. Follin, G. W. Hart. Blacksmiths-R. B. McKin- ney, E. P. Thompson. Clothing-Fred G. Thomas (also handles shoes). Coal-W. B. Cox. Drugs -M. C. Shaffer, W. G. Williams. Elevator-W. A. Smith. Feed Mill-C. W. Johnson. Furniture -Hamilton & Welborn, C. M. Hummer, George M. Nichols. General Merchandise-C. C. Hamil- ton, E. B. Shumate. Hardware-M. E. Young. Harness-J. B. Brown. Hotel-The Commercial, by E. C. Hughes; Cottage, by W. Wade. Ice Dealer-A. T. Bartell. Insurance-Edgar Ale- shire, William F. Aleshire, O. C. Aubrey, Fred L. Smith. Jewelry-E. F. West. Meats and Groceries-J. A. Mickle. Meat Market-Cox & Turner. Millinery-Mrs. C. Grove. Newspaper- Tri-County Scribe, Elmer Leach, Proprietor. Opera Hall-Monk Bros. Physicians-Drs. J. W. Daniel, W. L. Irwin, W. O. Tuck. Poultry and Eggs-W. B. Thomas, Manager for a com- pany. Produce-Ed Duncan, Manager of a cor- poration. Restaurants-Ben Major, David Ma-
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
jor. Shoe Repairs-N. S. Hendrickson. Stock Dealers-Thomas Atyeo, Ed DeWitt, W. E. Phillips, L. H. Tuck, O. H. Woodward. Tailor -George Knappelin. Veterinary-W. J. Wil- liams. Wood Contractor-H. S. Blodgett.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-1920
Supervisor, C. C. Patterson ; Town Clerk, Geo. W. Carlisle; Assessor, L. N. Grove; Highway Commissioner, C. B. Dorothy; Justices of the Peace, J. L. Patterson and J. E. Sullivan ; Con- stables, L. N. Grove and Ralph Duncan ; School Trustees, L. N. Grove, A. I. Moyes and S. F. Furrow ; School Treasurer, John Cruise.
CHAPTER XLI
WALKER TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-EARLY SETTLERS-PIONEER EVENTS- POPULATION-VILLAGES OF TIOGA AND BRECKEN- RIDGE-1920 OFFICIALS.
BOUNDARIES
This township was named after one of the early settlers, Hon. George Walker, a man of considerable prominence in pioneer days.
Walker Township is bounded on the north by Wythe Township, on the east by St. Albans Township, on the south by Adams County, and on the west by Rock Run Township. The land is watered and drained by Bear creek, along which stream there used to be a considerable growth of timber.
EARLY SETTLERS
Among the earliest settlers in the township were Hon. George Walker, Col. Levi Williams, John Harris, Elder Joseph Ilatchett, Enoch Hankins, Robert and Eli D. Gillham, Harrison Grant, B. F. Howes and Harrison Kanes.
EARLY EVENTS
The first school in this township was taught by Rev. Hatchett about 1833 or 1834. The first
school-house was built of logs, on Col. Williams' farm, and in it was taught a term of school by Mrs. Kinney.
The first persons to die within Walker Town- ship were two of Col. Williams' children and Mrs. Joseph Hatchett, all three dying during 1833.
The first child born of white parents in the township, so far as can be ascertained, was Mrs. Elizabeth (Harris) Vaughn, whose birth oc- curred in the spring of 1834.
Thirty years ago it would have been possible to give a list of the more progressive and wealthy farmers in the township for the list at that time was not large, but the list of such farmers today would be too large for insertion in this chapter.
POPULATION OF TOWNSHIP
In 1890 the Federal census report gave the population of this township as 1,361; in 1900, 1,164 ; in 1910, 978 ; and in 1920, 922.
VILLAGES
Walker Township has had at least three vil- lages : Tioga, Sutter and Hickory Ridge. The two last named are each a mere collection of houses, with a store and a shop or two. Sutter is situated in section 5, while Hickory Ridge is in section 14. (At an early day a village was located in the eastern part of this township, known as Breckenridge. It was on land owned by C. P. Smith and C. N. Gentry, and the date was about March, 1857. It is .now "Hickory Ridge.") The village of Tioga in the southern part of the township was laid out by George Ensminger in March, 1855, on the older site known as Yelrome, or Morley Town, that was burned in the autumn of 1845 during the Mor- mon trouble in Illinois. It now has a popula- tion of about two hundred and fifty persons, with the usual number of stores and small shops found in places of that size. Tioga has no rail- road. The post-office was established in about 1868, and the following have served as post- masters : Daniel Perrick, Joseph Wilson, Miss Lizzie Heitland, J. L. Weiler, Charles Ens- minger, Harry H. Weiler, P. W. Hardy, B. F. Clark, and the present postmaster, Jacob Haueise, since 1909. Tioga is a fourth-class post-office with no rural route running there-
WILLIAM J. PATTERSON
ANTOINETTE PATTERSON
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
from. The lodges here are the Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen and Royal Neighbors. The churches are the Methodist Episcopal (South), Methodist Episcopal (North), and the German Evangelical.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS
Barber-William J. Neaterour. Drug Store- William J. Neaterour. Garage-Virgil McNay. General Dealers-Kaltzenberg & Son. Grocer- William Klusman. Hotel-Mrs. J. Haueise. Plasterer and Cement Worker-Al Householder. Restaurant-Mrs. S. A. Neaterour. Undertakers -Schafer & Henerhoff. Well Digger and Con- crete Worker-John Householder.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS 1920
Supervisor, Wm. Linnenburger ; Town Clerk, Edw. C. Meyers; Assessor, J. E. Rampley ; High- way Commissioner, Philip Spory ; Justice of the Peace, Ralph Ensminger; Constables, E. C. Myers and Lem Wiebrock; School Trustees, Harlan Jingst, Louis Boedecker and William Linnenburger ; School Treasurer, W. H. Duer- kop.
CHAPTER XLII
WARSAW TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-CITY OF WARSAW-POPULATION- EARLY INDUSTRIES-PRESENT-DAY FACTORIES- BUSINESS MEN OF 1919-CHURCHES-LODGES- THE LAST FIRE-PUBLIC PARKS-THE FORT ED- WARDS MONUMENT-POST-OFFICE-MUNICIPAL HISTORY-1920 OFFICIALS.
BOUNDARIES
Warsaw Township is bounded on the north by the Mississippi river, on the east by Wilcox Township, on the south by Wilcox Township and on the west by the Mississippi river. At one time Warsaw was a part of Wilcox Town- ship, being known as Warsaw Township, but
with the increase of territory of the city of Warsaw the rural part of the township was set aside as a separate township and given the name of Wilcox Township. The early history of Warsaw Township is therefore the same as that of Wilcox Township given in another chap- ter. This chapter will therefore be devoted to the City of Warsaw.
CITY OF WARSAW
Warsaw was laid out in 1834 by John R. Wil- cox, Mark Aldrich, John Montague and John W. Vineyard. In 1836 additions were made by John Montague, Mark Aldrich, L. Allen Key, Richard Barrett, Joseph Duncan and Calvin A. Warren. Since then large additions have been made to the limits of the corporation, both on the east and the south, chief among which was that of the 16th section adjoining on the south and which in 1841 came near falling into the hands of the Mormon leaders and becoming the seat of a large Mormon city. The census of 1845 showed a population of 472 in Warsaw. The next largest place in the county at that time outside of Nauvoo, was Macedonia, the Mormon town in Fountain Green Township (now Web- ster), which had 380 persons. (At that date Nauvoo had a population of 11,036, and at one time probably 20,000.) According to the 1920 census, the population of the city of Warsaw is 2,031.
Warsaw is situated on bluffs, which rise al- most precipitously 100 feet from the water's edge, overlooking the Mississippi river, and is the most westernly municipality in Illinois. Lo- cated in the bend of the river, one going either West or North from the intersection of Main and Fourth streets-the center of the business section-strikes the stream. On the bluff in this bend is the site of old Fort Edward, erected in September, 1814, by Major Zachary Taylor, the most westerly frontier post in the war of 1812 and built for the purpose of quelling Indian up- risings instigated by the British. It was occu- pied by U. S. troops until 1824, when it was abandoned as a post, but was long a place of refuge for early settlers in time of Indian troubles and was a rendezvous for militia in the Black Hawk war. No trace of the Fort is now left, but logs from the officers' quarters are do- ing utilitarian but humble service as a granary on a farm within Warsaw's present corporate limits. Fort Edwards was ideally situated for
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
its purpose, being difficult to approach from three sides, and having not only an unobstructed view of the Mississippi for miles up stream but likewise overlooking the low lands of Missouri, and those of Iowa at the mouth of the Des Moines, which empties into the larger stream opposite Warsaw. September 30, 1914, a beau- tiful monument erected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Fort was dedicated with imposing ceremonies and in the presence of the largest assemblage of people ever witnessed in Warsaw, it being made the occasion for a home-coming of hun- . dreds of former residents.
This granite shaft is more than fifty feet in height and attached to its four-sided base are bronze plates, with life-sized portraits of Gov- ernor Edwards, Major (afterwards General) Zachary Taylor, a medallion of old Fort Ed- wards and its blockhouse. The inscription reads : "Erected September, 1914, to com- memorate the establishment of Fort Edwards built by Major Zachary Taylor, 3rd United States Infantry, September, 1814-abandoned July, 1824."
This monument, standing on the exact site of that old fort, is directly opposite the mouth of the Des Moines river in Iowa. The outlook is ideal for a fort. The landscape is indeed beautiful, taking in as it does in its scope, the scenes up and down the wonderful Mississippi Valley for many miles.
The State of Illinois made an appropriation of $2,500 for this monument and Warsaw peo- ple at home and abroad added a much larger sum to the fund. The Commission appointed by the Governor to let the contract and supervise the erection of this monument consisted of five persons : Philip Dallam and Louis Lamet of Warsaw, John H. Hungate of La Harpe, Charles J. Scofield of Carthage, and Dean Franklin of Macomb.
On another promontory, almost a half mile to the south, stood Fort Johnson, erected later in 1814, which was occupied for a brief period by troops under Major Taylor. It was soon abandoned, and not a trace of it remained as late as 1840, although within a score of years past, in plowing on the spot, army buttons of the early part of the past century were un- earthed.
FURTHER INFORMATION AS TO THE TWO FORTS
Letter to Mr. Gregg from the Secretary of War :
War Department, Washington City September 7, 1878.
Sir :- In regard to the history of old Forts Johnson and Edwards, which were situated in Hancock County, Illinois, information concern- ing which was desired in your letter of the 27th ultimo, I have the honor to state that the only data in possession of this Department regarding Fort Edwards, is that it was established about the year 1814, and abandoned in July, 1824, at which date it was garrisoned by Company F, Fifth Infantry, commanded by Lieut. Gideon Low, Fifth Infantry.
There is nothing of record here regarding Fort Johnson.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. W. MCCRARY, Secretary of War. Thomas Gregg, Esq., Hamilton, Ill. .
ORDER NO. 36.
Adjutant-General's Office, Western Department Louisville, Ky., 11th June, 1824.
The position of Fort Edwards, Ill., will forth- with be evacuated, and its garrison (excepting a faithful non-commissioned officer and six priv- ates, who will be left for the preservation of the public property, and the crop at present stand- ing) be removed to Fort Armstrong.
Assistant Surgeon McMillan will, on the re- ceipt of this order, report by letter to the Sur- geon-General for orders, as to his present sta- tion, and will accompany the garrison at Fort Edwards to Fort Armstrong, where he is re- quired as a witness before the Court to be con- vened at that post, for the trial of Brevet-Major Marston, of the Fifth Infantry.
The Quartermaster's Department will furnish the necessary facilities for the most prompt ex- ecution of this order. By order of
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. H. Smith, Lt. and Aid-de-Camp.
As a matter of fact (now certain) these two forts were both built within a few months of each other in 1814. We find in "Peck's Annals of the West," second edition, St. Louis, 1850, on page 744, the following: "A detachment under command of Major Taylor left Cape au Gris on the 23rd of August, 1814, in boats, for the
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
Indian town at Rock, River. The detachment consisted of 334 men, officers and privates. A report from the commanding officer to Gen. Howard, dated from Ft. Madison, Sept. 6, and published in the Missouri Gazette of the 17th, gives the details of the expedition."
The expedition met with a superior force at Rock Island, were repulsed and fell back. The report says :
"I then determined to drop down the river to the Des Moines without delay, as some of the officers of the Rangers informed me their men were short of provisions, and execute the prin- cipal object of the expedition, in erecting a fort to command the river.
"Fort Johnson (says the Annals), a rough stockade with block-houses of round logs, was then erected, on the present site of the town of Warsaw, opposite the mouth of the Des Moines."
On page 746 of the Annals is found :
"Fort Madison, after sustaining repeated at- tacks from the Indians, was evacuated and burned. And in the month of October the peo- ple of St. Louis were astounded with the intelli- gence that the troops stationed at Fort John- son had burnt the block-houses, destroyed the works, and retreated down the river to Cape au Gris. The officers in command (Maj. Taylor having previously left that post), reported they were out of provisions and could not sustain the position."
That there was no fort between Cape au Gris and Fort Madison previous to 1814 is proven by several circumstances. In the several expeditions made up the river before that date mention is made of the Des Moines river and Rapids but no mention of a fort until Madison is reached. Again about 1813 Governor Ed- wards furnished the War Department with a long table of distances from Prairie du Chien down, in which Madison, the head of the Rapids, the Des Moines river, the foot of the Rapids, are all named but nothing is said about a fort.
And so it may be stated as veritable history that instead of having been built One Hundred and Eighty Years Ago by the French and named Johnson, that fort was erected during our war with Great Britain by our own soldiery and by command of our own Government in 1814, and that Fort Edwards was also built and occupied the same year after the destruction of the
former and named after the Governor of Illi- nois Territory.
Much of the above information is from Gregg's History of Hancock County. In some instances his language has been given.
Among the officers in Fort Edward was Lieut. John R. Wilcox, who graduated from West Point in 1822. He came to the fort in 1823 but resigned his commission in the army in 1824, to accept one with the American Fur Company ; but so impressed was he with the country sur- 'rounding the fort that he returned here a few years later. He laid out and surveyed War- saw in 1833, and under date of January 1, 1834, a printed sale bill was issued over the names of Mark Aldrich, John R. Wilcox, John Vineyard and John Montague, proprietors, announcing a sale of town lots on April 15, 1834. Subse- quently L. Allen Key, Richard F. Barrett, Joseph Duncan and Calvin A. Warren, as- sociated with the four above named, enlarged the original town. Of the original proprietors, one, Joseph Duncan, subsequently became gov- ernor of Illinois and another, Calvin A. Warren, attained to a high rank in the legal profession in the state. It may be noted here that the youngest daughter of Major Wilcox, Mrs. Vir- ginia Ivins, is still living.
Warsaw was incorporated as a city under a special act of the legislature, February 12, 1853 ; and under an act of the general assembly dated February 14, 1859, it was granted a special charter, with enlarged powers. It con- tinued under this charter until 1906, when it voted to come under the general law governing municipalities.
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