USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 84
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In early days Warsaw was the shipping mar- ket for the country for miles back and was one of the most important ports on the Mississippi. Gradually the construction of railroads cir- cumscribed its territory and likewise the uses of the river as a highway for commerce. The de- cline of the latter is marked. Half a century ago there were daily palatial packets in the St. Louis and Keokuk trade and also in the St. Louis and St. Paul trade, steamers in the latter frequently going south with two to five barges lashed to their sides and ladened to the water's edge with produce, and returning north bearing merchandise. Today not a single boat is running in either trade.
Warsaw had great promise of becoming a rail- road center sixty years ago, but the promise
f
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
materialized in a debt of more than $100,000 for which it received nothing in return, and this proved an incubus that hung as a blight over the community for nearly half a century and from which it is but recovering in these early years of the 20th century.
The Woolen Mill came into existence in 1866. This was a stock company, which had such stockholders as Messrs. Hill, Knox & Co. In its day it was one of the most costly and perfect woolen factories in the entire Western country. It was situated in Lower Warsaw.
Another very early enterprise at Warsaw was the plow factory of Cress Brothers and Com- pany, established by a noted mechanic, James H. Wood, in conjunction with Cress and others. They made a large number of plows and much other farm machinery before the days when Moline, Rock Island, Monmouth, and Rockford, became the great centers for farm implement production.
The flouring mill industry was at one time among the most successful and profitable branches of home industry at this point. C. Al- bers & Co. began the milling business at Warsaw about civil war days. This mill was finally, in the eighties, conducted by a son of the founder of these mills-Henry Albers. Under his proprietorship a fine grade of family flour was produced. These mills stand idle today on account of the great milling companies of the northwest, chiefly Minneapolis, which stifled competition and closed the small mills that once carried on a successful business.
The pearl or clam-shell button factory at War- saw is another very profitable industry. Here, near the railway track and wharf of the Mis- sissippi river, may be seen hundreds of tons of clam shells brought by steam and other barges from long distances up and down the river, to be run through machinery suitable for making the "blanks" from which pearl buttons are made at other points in the country. After these shells have had their blanks cut from them the refuse is stacked up in immense ricks and is ground up and shipped as poultry food or grits. Car and even train loads of these products are shipped monthly from Warsaw to every part of the country.
Among the city's principal industries today are a shoe factory, employing more than 100 persons, a soft-drink factory (formerly a brewery) which represents the largest invest-
ment ($150,000) in a plant of any enterprise in the city, a mill making interior finish, incu- bators, etc., and a canning factory. The city has two elevators; two banks-one with a sur- plus and capital of $200,000 and carrying more than a million and a half dollars in individual deposits ; numerous mercantile establishments, and one newspaper.
It has two school buildings, and it may be added here that a school building, known as the Little Brick, now used no longer as an educa- tional institution, in which Secretary John Hay received his early schooling, still stands. A handsome library building, erected with funds left for the purpose by Adolph Roesler, several times mayor of the city, houses the public li- brary, of which a more particular account ap- pears elsewhere in this article. Another bequest of Mr. Roesler's is a rest room at Oakland ceme- tery. Warsaw has three parks : Ralston, Beller- sheim and Fort; the first named occupying a full block. The city has water works and sewer system, is electrically lighted, with cluster lights on Main street. There are many beautiful resi- dences in the city.
JOHN HAY, MOST DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN
Among Warsaw's prominent citizens, the most distinguished is John Hay. As a boy, he carried the Warsaw Signal, when published by Thomas Gregg, and at an early age developed a faculty for writing which was encouraged by Mr. Gregg. He graduated from Brown University in 1858, before he had attained his 20th year, studied law in the office of his uncle, Milton Hay, of Springfield, where he met Abraham Lincoln, be- came the great emancipator's private secretary, and his career from that time forward is his- tory.
TWO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Warsaw was the home of the only two resi- dents of Hancock County attaining seats in con- gress from a district of which it was a part, Col. B. F. Marsh, who was elected in 1876, 1878, 1880, 1892, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1902 and 1904, and Jacob C. Davis, who was elected in 1856 to fill the unexpired term of Col. W. A. Richardson, resigned. Mr. Davis had previously served sev- eral terms in the state senate, to which he was first elected when he was but 25 years old. Among the early settlers was Major W. H.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
Roosevelt, a member of the well known New York family, who was an active local spirit, serving the city as mayor for several terms and was a member of the general assembly one term. Prof. A. H. Worthen, for many years state ge- ologist and curator of the state museum, was likewise a pioneer resident of Warsaw and spent his life here. Perhaps one of the ablest and most intellectual men in Warsaw's history was Edward E. Lane. He was a keen, incisive, chaste speaker, and the world might have known more and profited greater by his abilities if his disposition had not leaned to placing his own ambitions in the background while furthering the political interests of others. He served one term in the legislature and was U. S. consul at Tunstall, England, for seven years. Hon. I. N. Morris, subsequently a prominent member of the Quincy bar, Gen. Henry Stephens, who studied law under Millard Fillmore, Dr. Chas. E. Hay, father of Jolin Hay, Judge J. W. Marsh, and Wm. N. Grover, the latter U. S. District attorney of the St. Louis district during the civil war, are among the more prominent of the pioneer citizens.
Warsaw had its full share of representatives in the several wars in which the nation has en- gaged since the community came into existence, finding its nucleus in the war of 1812; Black Hawk War, Mormon War, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War and the World War.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS
Agricultural Implements-H. Dross & Son, Martin C. Eckbohm. Attorneys-Frank Hal- bower, Plantz & Lamet. Bakery-Mr. Russell. Banks-Farmers National Bank, Hill-Dodge & Co. Barber-shops-Benj. Crow, Hans J. Koch, Ernst Longnecker. Billiards-Harry Lockhart, Elmer McAdams. Blacksmiths-Grant Lutman, Peter Paar, George Rothenstein. Brewery- Popel-Giller Co. Cement Works-August Plume and Paul Plume. Cigar Factory-Charles Zeig- ler & Son. Dentists-Drs. W. T. Davis, Fluent. Drugs-Louis Brinkman, Ferris & Raich. Dry Goods-(with shoes)-J. H. Bott & Co., A. J. Buckart, C. I. Eymann. Elevator-Farmers Elevator Co., Frank Sharp. Furniture-Joseph Houston, Ed Ketting, Jr. Garages-H. Dross & Son, Weber Bros. Groceries-(with hardware) -J. T. Battles, H. Dross & Son, Martin C. Eck- bohm, H. H. Grant, Rinckel Bros., F. J. Rote,
William V. Schmitt, Albert Stracke. Hardware ~(Exclusive) -Carl Kruskopf. Harness-Ed- ward Echle, Frank Ernst. Hotel-The Grant House, by John Grant. Ice Dealer-Clippert Bros., Piedret Bros. Insurance Agencies-M. T. Hunt, Carl Kruskopf, Louisa Reich, C. E. Wal- lace. Jewelry-J. W. Kirkpatrick. Livery -- Jacob Greenwold. Lumber-J. A. White, Jr. Meat Markets-Henry Grimpe, Klingel & Sons, Joseph Klingel. Millinery-Mary I. Shafer. Newspaper-The Bulletin. Opera Halls- "Dream Land," "White Palace." Physicians- Drs. P. D. Gaunt, J. E. Johnson, D. W. Loomis, S. E. Matzke, John Miller. Produce-Charles Larson (poultry, butter and eggs). Restaurants -J. M. George, Rains & Berger. Tailor-J. W. Berlin. Transfer Line-W. M. Borncheur, Link Bros.
CHURCHES AND LODGES
Warsaw has seven churches, each with a resi- dent pastor : Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Pres- byterian, First M. E., Trinity M. E., Lutheran and Evangelical.
The Lodges include the Masonic, Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World, Woodmen of America, Eagles, Court of Honor, Eastern Star, Rebekah, and Royal Neighbors.
THE LAST GREAT FIRE
Warsaw has had its share of damaging con- flagrations, but none possibly as far-reaching among the business houses as the fire of mid- summer, 1918, when nearly two city squares were swept away by a fire which defied the best efforts of the citizens of the place. The cause of the heavy loss was due to a lack of water in the water-works system, which had cost the tax-payers much money and which was believed ample to head off the work of the fire-fiend. This fire consumed the old Grant House on Main Street, where Mr. and Mrs. John Grant had con- ducted a hotel for over thirty years, and whose loss was total and amounted to forty thousand dollars. The most of the properties, fortunately, were protected by insurance which materially aided in rebuilding.
POST-OFFICE
The post-office at Warsaw was established November 14, 1834, since which date (accord-
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
ing to an official list sent from Washington · especially for this purpose), the postmasters have been as follows :
Mark Aldrich, November, 1834. Robert L. Robertson, August, 1839. George Rockwell, June, 1841. E. A. Bedell, July, 1845. Lemuel Mussetter, August, 1846. Henry Cheseldine, April, 1849. George Rockwell, August, 1850. J. C. Codner, October, 1851. George W. Thatcher, June, 1853. J. O. Butler, April, 1857. Joseph Burton, October, 1859. Charles Hay, March, 1861. M. H. Brawner, September, 1866. J. C. Coolidge, March, 1867. Oliver Edwards, April, 1869. Joseph Baird, December, 1870. John E. Johnston, January, 1877. Charles Wieseman, December, 1886. E. P. Becker, June, 1889. George Porter-Walker, April, 1894. James Crawford, September, 1897. Milton T. Hunt, Feb- ruary, 1908. Charles J. Paar, March, 1916.
There have been twenty-three postmasters at Warsaw since the establishment of the office, which was over eighty-five years ago.
The Warsaw office is now a third-class post- office with two rural routes and one "star route." Its business has almost reached the limit entitling it to go into the second class, which will take place very soon.
WARSAW PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Warsaw Public Library was established July 1, 1872. In 1916 the present building was erected at a cost of $7,000. It stands on the corner of Fourth and Clay streets. This build- ing was erected through a bequest from A. Roesler. The library now contains 6,975 books. The building is heated by furnace and lighted by électricity. This was one of the first li- braries established under the general law which was in effect July 1, 1872, its organization dat- ing from that very day. While it is supported by taxation, it likewise had an endowment fund, known as the William Hill fund, of $5,000. In his life-time he was long a member of the Board of directors. A. Roesler for many years was president of the Board and he bequeathed it $7,000 for the purpose of erecting a library building. The first president of the Board was Dr. Charles Hay, father of Col. John Hay, whose fame as a diplomat is world-wide.
The following is a list of Librarians: Ed- ward E. Lane, September, 1872-78; John H. Finlay (assistant) 1874; Richard McDougal, 1875 ; J. R. Hollobush, 1877; Mrs. A. M. Mitchell,
1878; Mrs. L. B. True, 1885; Mrs. Mary F. Rogers, 1890; Mrs. L. J. Baldwin, 1896; May L. Stevens, 1906; Mrs. Mary Daneger, 1907; Mrs. May L. Stevens, 1912; Mrs. Clara L. Mills, 1914.
The Board of Trustees is as follows : Philip Dallam, president; H. J. M. Luedde, sec- retary ; William A. Dodge, treasurer; Truman Plantz, Sr., Dr. Charles A. Warner, H. A. Brink- man, Milton T. Hunt, Sr., Julius K. Eymann, Charles Albers.
MUNICIPAL HISTORY
Warsaw became an incorporated city, Feb- ruary 12, 1853. Since that date the city's mayors and clerks, as shown by a carefully compiled list made for this work, the old records having been gone through and this list made by Hon. William L. Hill, have been as follows :
Mayors and Clerks: 1853-Thomas C. Sharp; William H. Taylor. 1854-Thomas C. Sharp; William H. Taylor. 1855-W. C. Wagley; Wil- liam H. Taylor. 1856-John C. Fonda; William H. Taylor. 1857-W. C. Wagley ; Thos. Hollo- bush. 1858-W. H. Roosevelt; Edward E. Lane. 1859-Thomas C. Sharp; Peter Baker. 1860- Thomas C. Sharp; Peter Baker. 1861-Thomas C. Sharp; Peter Baker. 1862-W. H. Roose- velt; Peter Baker. 1863-W. H. Roosevelt; Peter Baker. 1864-J. W. Knox; Thomas Sharp. 1865-J. W. Knox; Thomas Sharp. 1866-J. W. Knox; Benj. F. Marsh. 1867- Robert Black; Benj. F. Marsh. 1868-Lemuel Mussetter ; George J. Rogers. 1869-Lemuel Mussetter; George J. Rogers, J. K. Simmons. 1870-S. R. Holmes; Charles Coolidge. 1871- A: Roeseler ; William Euler. 1872-A. Roesler ; William Euler. 1873-Robert Black; William Euler. 1874-A. Roesler ; John H. Finlay. 1875 -Conrad Nagel; Charles Hilker. 1876-H. A. Silsby ; Charles Hilker. 1877-Robert Black ; P. W. Plantz. 1878-A. Roesler; P. W. Plantz. 1879-Conrad Nagel; Charles Hilker. 1880-A. Roesler ; Charles Hilker. 1881-William Hill ; Charles Hilker. 1882-William Hill; Charles Hilker. 1883-William Hill; Charles Hilker. 1884-William Hill; Charles Hilker. 1885-Wil- liam Hill; Charles Hilker. 1886-William Hill ; Charles Hilker. 1887-Arthur Edwards; Charles Hilker. 1888-Henry J. M. Luedde; Charles Clerk. 1889-Henry J. M. Luedde; P. W. Plantz. 1890-Henry J. M. Luedde; P. W. Plantz. 1891-Truman Plantz; P. W. Plantz. 1892-Oliver Edwards; P. W. Plantz. 1893
Charles, L. Ped
Sadia M. Peck
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
Oliver Edwards; James F. Crawford. 1894
Oliver Edwards; James F. Crawford. 1895- Henry J. M. Luedde ; James F. Crawford. 1896 -Henry J. M. Luedde; James F. Crawford. 1897-John H. Finlay; William P. Raich. 1898 -John H. Finlay; Albert H. Eymann. 1899- Truman Plantz; Richard Dallam. 1900-Mar- tin G. Eckbohm; A. H. Worthen. 1901-Martin G. Eckbohm; A. H. Worthen. 1902-Truman Plantz; A. H. Worthen. 1903-Martin G. Eck- bohm; A. H. Worthen. 1904-J. P. Schlenk ; A. H. Worthen. 1905-Martin G. Eckbohm; A. H. Worthen. 1906-Henry Klump; A. H. Worthen. 1907-Martin G. Eckbohm; A. H. Worthen. 1908-Martin G. Eckboum; A. H. Worthen. 1909 -Henry A. Brinkman; A. H. Worthen. 1910- Henry A. Brinkman ; A. H. Worthen. 1911- Martin G. Eckbohm; Paul G. Kraushaar. 1912 -Martin G. Eckbohm; Paul G. Kraushaar. 1913 -Louis Lamet ; Paul G. Kraushaar. 1914- Louis Lamet; Paul G. Kraushaar. 1915- Richard O. Marsh, resigned and William L. Hill elected ; Paul G. Kraushaar. 1916-William L. Hill; Paul G. Kraushaar. 1917-William L. Hill; Esper Ziegler; M. C. Eckbohm; Esper Ziegler.
OFFICERS 1920
Mayor, M. C. Eckbohm ; Clerk, Esper Ziegler ; Treasurer, Edward Enon; City Marshal, T. J. Neves ; Aldermen-first ward, A. P. Buckert, C. H. Schaad; second ward, E. C. Berlin, Archie Clark; third ward, J. W. Schwarz, George L. Spitzo; Health officer, T. J. Nevis ; Magistrate, Frank Halbower.
SCHOOL BOARD
President, Charles C. Crawford; Clerk, Louis Lamet ; Treasurer, William A. Dodge; Members of Board, George Riste, George Wemhaner, Ed. Grimpe, A. P. Buckert, William L. Hill; Super- intendent of Schools, Prof. L. Fairfax.
A GOOD WORD FOR THE WARSAW SCHOOLS IN 1861
In his report to the General Assembly in 1861, George W. Batchelder, School Commissioner, said :
"In presenting my annual report of the con- dition of schools in this county, I would say that there has been much improvement, when com- pared with former years. School officers, gener- ally, understand and perform their duties better. In visiting the schools last winter I found them,
with few exceptions, in a flourishing condition. We have a number of promising graded schools, at the head of which that of Warsaw stands pre-eminent. This school is equal to any this side of the Alleghanies, in every particular. Augusta, La Harpe, Carthage and Hamilton are working in earnest, and I expect to be able to report great progress during the present year.
PROF. L. FAIRFAX TWENTY-TWO YEARS (PLUS) AT WARSAW
Prof. Fairfax has been superintendent of the Warsaw Public Schools for twenty-two years and will hold the fort there for another year. This is a record, not only for him, but also for Warsaw. How many school districts have thus appreciated and honored a faithful servant?
WARSAW CITY BUSINESS DIRECTORY FOR 1859
The following list is taken from an old map of Hancock County, a copy of which is in existence in Carthage :
Sharp & Marsh, Attorneys at Law. Stephens & Rogers, Attorneys at Law. True & Smith, At- torneys at Law. Marsh & Bliss, Attorneys at Law. John Cooley, Attorney at Law. Dr. C. Coolidge. Dr. J. Hollowbush. Dr. Chas. Hay, C. J. May, D. D. S., Dentist. A. & W. S. Death. Dis- tillers. Cox, Elifritz & Co., Forwarding and Com. Merchants. C. Albers & Co., Merchants' Flouring Mill. A. Weir, Leather, Saddlery, and Harness. Eymann's Lager Beer Saloon. Cole & Weakley, Staple and Fancy Dry Goods. George Walker & Son, Dry Goods and Groceries. F. Kolatzky, Dealer in Drugs, Books & Wall Paper. Orndorff & Co., Forwarding and Com. Merchants, Agents for American Express Co. Wm. Holzward, Watchmaker & Jeweler. J. G. Fonda, City En- gineer. Pearson, Mellin & Co., Bankers. John E. Johnston, Real Estate Dealer. Chittenden & Barnes, Land Jobbers. W. R. Davison, Ed. & Pr. of daily & Weekly "Bulletin." R. & A. Lomax, Proprietors Fort Edward House. Rob- ert Black, Lumber Merchants. D. A. Gardner, Lumber Dealer. Adams & Brother, Dry Goods and Groceries. Brill & Berdolt, Dry Goods and Groceries. A. & W. S. Death, Dry Goods and Groceries. G. W. Coster & Co., City Drug Store. Wm. Hoffman, Bakery and Confectionery. A. Roesler, Tin and Stove Dealer. W. D. Payne, Drugs and Medicines. John D. Luft, Dry Goods and Groceries. Grubb & Greene, Custom Mills.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
Y. F. O'Daniels, City Marble Works. M. Miller, Dry Goods and Groceries. Jno. H. Boscow, Dry Goods and Groceries. James Elder, Dry Goods and Groceries. Thos. H. Boscow, Dry Goods and Groceries. D. & F. Kruskopf, Hardware. Case & Hiscock, Hardware. S. R. Holmes, Hardware. Sterling Wallace & Co., Wholesale and Retail Grocer. John Smith, New Orleans Cheap Grocery Store. Henry Kreipke, City Hall Saloon. W. A. Katz, Dealer in Groceries & Queensware. M. T. Hunt, Pork Packing. J. Seaton, City Boot and Shoe Store. Blake & Brother, Wool Carding. L. D. & W. D. Paine, City Livery and Sale Stable. G. F. Deubler, Boot and Shoe Manufactory, Dealer in Hides, Leather, and Shoe Maker's Findings. Thos. H. Heberling, Patentee Coffee Concentrator. Dr. W. H. English, Ferry Owner. Worthen & Brother, Dealers in Tin, Stoves & Castings. Hill, Knox & Co., Millers and Distillers. A. & W. S. Death, Merchant Flouring Mill. Heberling, Edwards & Co., Pattern Foundry and Engine Shop. C. Kuennecke, Wholesale & Retail Dealer in all kinds of Dry Goods, Groceries, Wines, and Liquors, Boots and Shoes, Hats and Caps, Ready Made Clothing, Bonnets, Fancy Goods, Crockery and Queensware, dealers in all kinds of Produce. Thos. H. Heberling, Patentee for Denley & Heberling's Coffee Concentrator. G. W. Batch- elder, Sec'y Han. Co. Ag. Soc., Carthage. E. Lane, Sec'y Warsaw Ag. Soc.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS, 1920
Supervisor, Geo. A. Wemhaner ; Town Clerk, J. W. Berlin ; Assessor, C. E. . Wallace; Justice of the Peace, Charles Young ; Constables, W. D. Crenshaw and Thomas J. Neves ; School Treas- urer, Wm. A. Dodge.
CHAPTER XLIII
WILCOX TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-EARLY SETTLEMENT-POPULATION- TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
BOUNDARIES
Wilcox Township is bounded on the north by Warsaw Township and the Missisippi river, on
the east by Wythe Township, on the south by Rocky Run Township, and on the west by War- saw Township and the Mississippi river. Or- iginally all of Wilcox and Warsaw Townships were included in one township and called War- saw, but afterwards the rural part was sep- arated from the city part for township pur- poses, becoming Wilcox Township, the name given it being in honor of Maj. John R. Wilcox, who had been one of the officers in charge of old Ft. Edwards and was later a prominent res- ident of the township and one of the real pro- moters of Warsaw. This township is admirably adapted to fruit culture, and the product along this line has been steadily increasing for a num- ber of years.
EARLY SETTLERS
Among the early settlers of Wilcox Township are to be found the following: George Clark, Adam Swiffel, Joseph Ochsner, Christopher Stevens, Claus Albers, John F. Spitze, Andrew Swinehart, Henry J. Stroh, Henry P. Roth, John Long, William A. Katz, Caspar Hartmann, Frank Herberts, Charles C. Hoppe, Charles Hilker, Mathew Goddertz, A. and C. Eymann, William Euler, Peter Brill, M. Berdolt, W. Schmitz. Isham Cochran, Daniel S. Witter, James Gregg, Jesse R. Cunningham, Mr. Cham- berlain, Andrew Monroe, James A. Wells, Wil- liam H. Roosevelt, Malcolm McGregor, Thomas Morrison, Dr. Morrison, Dr. Joseph Wilkinson, Calvin A. Warren, Rev. Benjamin F. Morris, T. N. Reynolds, John Hill, John D. Mellen, Homer Mellen, Amos H. Worthen, James L. Kimball, Samuel W. Brown, Isaac H. Brown, John E. Johnston, Abram I. Chit- tenden, George Rockwell, Robert L. Rob- ertson, William Ayres, Calvin Cole, James H. Wood, David W. Mathews, Robert Mil- ler, R. B. Davis, Edward A. Bedell, William N. Grover, Jacob C. Davis, John Scott, Samuel Mussetter, William F. Barnes, Joshua Cole, Lewis Peyton, John Dedman, Dr. Ero Chandler, John Peyton, Pierre A. Barker, Patrick Culliner, Benjamin F. Tyree, B. Whitaker, and Samuel Harris.
These men and their descendants were farm- ers, many of them in stock-raising, horticulture and dairying. By these laudable callings a ma- jority of them became quite prosperous.
The early pioneers forgot not their religion as they left some one of the older States and
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
sought homes in what was then the "west," where all was wild and uncivilized. As soon as possible they met at rude log cabins and very early built school-houses and there worshipped God according to the dictates of their own con- sciences. From the inland and rural churches of this territory have gone forth a number of men who have been noted for their virtues and zeal throughout the Western States.
POPULATION
The population of Wilcox Township in 1890, when it included the city of Warsaw, was 3,246; in 1900, after Warsaw Township was formed, 478; in 1910, 392; and in 1920, 327.
WILCOX TOWNSHIP OFFICERS IN 1920
Supervisor, Louis Brown ; Town Clerk, Louis Frank; Assessor, Henry Boernson; Highway Commissioner, J. C. Crawford; Justices of the Peace, D. W. Logal and L. W. Brown; School Trustees, Philip Buckert, Henry Buckert and George Pohl; School Treasurer, Henry D. Bern- hardt.
CHAPTER XLIV
WYTHE TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-TOPOGRAPHY-EARLY SETTLERS-VIL- LAGES OF THE TOWNSHIP-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
BOUNDARIES
Wythe Township is bounded on the north by Montebello Township, on the east by Bear Creek Township, on the south by Walker Township, and on the west by Wilcox Township. A branch of Bear Creek drains this township into the Mississippi river. It is principally prairie and was hence settled much later than those sec- tions where timber abounded.
EARLY SETTLERS
Among the pioneers who came to this town- ship are recalled: Benjamin F. Marsh, Sr., Rodolphus Chandler, Mark Phelps, Andrew Mc- Mahan, William
Crawford, Samuel Knox, Davidson Harris, Moses Hammond, Slocum Woolley, John S. Johnson, Robert Ayers,
Thomas Crawford, Joshua C. Berry, Lyman L. Calkin, William A. Smith, L. Horney, J. D. Browning, William Wallace Reed, William Jackson, Alonzo Sanford, Charles Ames, Wil- liam Shinn, L. L. Piggott, and the Robinsons, Yanewines, McGees, Butlers, Doughtys, and Livelys. William Crawford built the first house in Wythe Township, erecting the same in the autumn of 1832, and that year also saw the ar- rival of Andrew McMahan and Samuel Knox.
SMALL VILLAGES
The only village now within Wythe Town- ship is Elderville, located in the northeast cor- ner of section 22. The proximity to larger places and industrial centers retards the growth of this place. In fact it was only given a pop- ulation of twenty-three in the last Federal cen- sus.
Prairieville, one of the long since abandoned villages of Hancock County, was once a small community center, but with the rush of new- comers and the final settlement of the town- ship it was lost to view and is not contained on later plat-books of Hancock County. Fine fields of waving grain and grass now appear on the site of what its promoters once thought would outrival Carthage and Warsaw!
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