USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 53
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mour married a daughter of Mr. Christian. I know all the parties here named. A few of these dates may be wrong but in the main, I think they are correct."
We append here a brief sketch of the writer of the above article. James Milton Kelly, son of James and Ilenrietta (Berry) Kelly, was born October 5, 1834, in Montgomery County, Ill., near where the town of Irving now stands. He has continued to reside at the town of Irving up to the present date. He received such an educa- tion as was common in the days of his boyhood, and conferred in the district schools of the pioneer days. Notwithstanding his rather meagre advantages, he secured a very fair education, sufficient for all practical and business purposes. On February 3, 1856, he was married to Miss Harriet R., daughter of Martin and Mary (Cress) Harkey, and granddaughter of Jacob Cress one of the early settlers of the county. By this wife he had seven children, namely : Flora M., who was born September 3, 1858; George B., who was born October 22, 1860; Louisa J., who was born October 8, 1862 ; Dorcas E., who was born April 20, 1865; John A., who was born December 3, 1867; Nellie L., who was born November 22, 1869, and Harriet R., who was born March 13, 1873. Mr. Kelly's wife died March 23, 1823, aged thirty-four years and four months. She was known as an amiable lady, faithful wife and devoted mother. She was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. Though dead in a material sense we have every reason to believe that Mrs. Kelly now enjoys a higher and spiritual life in the beautiful reality of a shadowless home in the Christian's paradise.
IRVING.
No description of the people and development of the township ean be complete without includ- ing the inhabitants and upbuilding of the village of Irving. They are inseparable, as the village was made up largely from those who at an earlier day settled somewhere in the township, and who for convenience, business interests, to take advantage of schools or church opportuni- ties, or associations, located in the growing vil- lage, often retaining their farms and continuing cultivating them. Irving is an excellent little town of nearly 1,000 population. It is about six miles northeast of Hillsboro on the line of the Big Four and Eastern Illinois railroads. The town was laid out in 1868, and incorporated
MASONIC HALL, IRVING
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Methodist Episcopal Church, Irving Il!
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, IRVING
Evangelical Lutheran
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, IRVING
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
under a special charter, but in 1873 it came under the general law of the state when all the ordinances were revised by S. F. King and pub- lished. Its name was taken from a resident of the place about that time, and not from Wash- ington Irving as some have contended.
The first storehouse within its limits, was built before the town was laid out, by William S. Berry and Thomas G. Black in 1846. It was the first store in the township, and a flourishing business was done. In 1847 a second store was built by Edwards & Petrie. In the meanwhile people built in the settlement, and by 1856 there were enough there to justify its being laid out and surveyed. Huggins & Rider laid it out into lots, and the survey was made by J. M. Taulbee who had built the first residence. The year fol- lowing the laying out of the town, the promoters sold their interest to R. W. Davis and Madison Berry, and these two began at once to improve the place. A brick store was built in 1856 by H. J. Huestis and stood for many years, being occupied by successive business concerns. A Mr. Sanford built the first blacksmith shop, the first of its kind in the township, in 1856, and sold it to Jacob Bird in 1858. That year which saw the town laid out, also witnessed the erection of a steam flour-mill by Kelly & Wiley. In 1868 another mill was built by Hanners and Williams and was operated by steam. It was destroyed by fire, but rebuilt subsequently. In 1870 and 1871 two large elevators were built at Irving, which have added largely to the volume of business of the town. W. J. McClure built a hotel in Irving at an early day at a cost of about $7,000. A big sum for that day to be invested in such a build- ing.
EARLY BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN.
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Dr. J. H. Spears was the first physician of Irving, coming here in 1858. Since then some of the older physicians have been: Drs. W. F. Linn, Elias Petra. J. P. Murphy, W. H. Hobson, B. F. Burries, Hart, Tuck, Nicholby, J. F. Whit- ten, Sweet, W. B. Sprinkle, Joseph Cobb, Vin- cent Parkhill, J. W. Parkhill, A. B. Ault and Isaac Short. Kelly & Berry dealt in dry goods, and handled boots and shoes and groceries for a number of years. S. F. King, S. T. Bartlett & Son, James McDavid and Knight & McDavid were also merchants during the early eighties, while about that same time Berry & Grantham
had a restaurant and bakery ; James M. Taulbee carried on a feed and provision store ; Mrs. A. E. Newberry had a millinery establishment, and the Williams Sisters also conducted a similar millinery store. Thomas H. Padgett, Sprinkle & Bro., and Bartol, Leon & Son were druggists ; D. D. Boutlett & Co. were hardware merchants; D. H. Luther, A. M. Edwards and J. Scherer were blacksmiths; George Rarer was a wagon- maker ; M. D. L. Cannon was a cabinetmaker and undertaker; C. B. Wiley had a livery stable; and J. T. Taulbee, Jr., and I. G. Dawson were barbers.
CHURCHES.
The early church history of Irving is involved in considerable obscurity and many dates and interesting facts relating thereto have faded from the memory of the oldest living inhabitants. The early settlers were members of different de- nominations, and held their public services in different houses for several years. At these early meetings all met on a common level, and left their denominational prejudices at home. The Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists and Lutherans all united in these meetings without regard to creed or doctrine, and worshipped to- gether in unity. Many of the early itinerant preachers were men singularly gifted with a powerful eloquence which fired the hearts of the pioneers and many converts were gathered into the different churches. It is not known to a positive certainty who preached the first sermon in the township, but a very early one was de- livered by a Baptist preacher by the name of Jordan, who conducted a series of meetings in a grove in the southwestern part of the township in 1829.
The Methodist Faith. The first church organ- ized in the township was that of the Methodist faith, and was called the Hopewell Methodist Episcopal Church. It had its beginning in 1829, under Revs. Benson and Bastian, two itinerant preachers who came to this section about this time. Among the original members of this church were John Grantham, Thomas Christian, Elizabeth Grantham, James Grantham and wife, Madison Berry and wife. John Grantham was the local preacher, and the first pastor was Rev. Lowry, who was succeeded by Rev. John Drew. In 1830 a church edifice was built on Locust Fork, and the church was named Hopewell, and
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
here the congregation continued to meet for service until 1856 when the building was moved to a mile northeast of the village of Irving. Twelve years later, in 1868, it was decided to transfer the congregation to Irving, and a reor- ganization was effected, the name being changed to that of the Irving Methodist Episcopal Church. Among its pastors have been the fol- lowing: Revs. William Taylor, Hutchinson, J. E. Lindlay, James Calric, J. F. Holloway, W. F. Lowe, A. E. Orr, Rhodes, D. H. Stubblefield, J. W. Lapham, Schwartz, William Birks, Hamill, W. R. Howard.
The Presbyterian Faith. Rev. Joel Knight or- ganized a pioneer church that was in a flourish- ing condition. In 1866 the United Congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Irv- ing was organized with about fifty members, under Rev. L. P. ITeatheridge, and for three years services were held in the Intheran Church at Irving. Then a ehnreh edifiee was erected. This church is now and has been for all these years active and efficient.
The Lutheran Faith. St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1842, with Rev. Daniel Trimper as the first pastor. The original members were: Henry Carriker, Mary Carriker, Tillman Hefley, Mrs. Hefley, Nancy Lipe, John Lipe, Rachel Lipe. The Irving Lutheran Church was organized in 1858 by Rev. Isaac Short its first pastor, who was succeeded by the following clergymen : J. B. Cromer, Mar- tin Miller, Hiram Gregory, Francis Springer, L. C. Groseclose, George Hammer, J. M. Lingle.
The Christian Church of Irving was organized about 1856 by Elders J. G. Ward and J. M. Tanl- bee, but just before the outbreak of the Civil War, was disbanded. It was reorganized in 1876 by Elders J. M. Taulbee and B. R. Gilbert, with Elder L. M. Linn as the first pastor.
The Free Methodist also have an organization with a membership of about fifty. Reverend Boyd of Hillsboro is the present pastor.
Irving, at the present time, is a thrifty and steadily growing town, thanks to the efficient town board, consisting of G. E. Lehr, president ; C. P. Kelly, clerk ; L. G. Cook, W. M. Tuitt, J. L. Drew, C. O. Carriker, C. G. Sullivan and L. R. Hammond, trustees. The board of education is equally efficient, it consists of R. L. Funk, J. M. Vincent and J. T. Carriker. W. P. Modglin is superintendent and L. A. Wood is at present the principal of the schools. Seven teachers are employed. .
PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The business of the town will be apparent when it is known that there are two hardware stores, two dry goods stores, five grocery stores, two restaurants, two lumber yards, two feed or livery stables, and one business for each of the following : drugs, bakery, bank, harness shop, furniture, barber, meat market, millinery, shoes, gent's furnishings, creamery, garage, blacksmith, jewelry, hotel and newspaper.
FRATERNITIES.
The village is well supplied with lodges. The Masonic fraternity organized Irving Lodge No. 455 in 1865 with S. F. Barnes, E. B. Randle, W. B. Van Horn, B. F. Pitts, H. J. Huestes, Wil- liam MI. Cox, George M. Davenport, Bartel Leon, John E. Lindley, Ryland Tuck and John B. Cox as charter members. The lodge has pursned the even tenor of its way with uniform success, and now has a membership of about seventy-five with Robert R. Canaday wielding the gavel and Joseph Platt keeping the records.
The Eastern Star is represented by a lively organization. It is really a re-organization, as the order organized a chapter several years ago, and having the misfortune to have its hall de- stroyed by fire, and losing its records, parapher- nalia, and furniture, the financial burden of securing an adequate outfit was considered too great for the membership, and for several years it was without a charter. Recently however, the chapter was reorganized and is in splendid working condition, with Mrs. A. H. Bartlett as the worthy matron and Mrs. Annie Cockelreas as the secretary, and there is a membership of about seventy.
The Royal Neighbors, a beneficiary order, also has a strong lodge in the town as also has the Modern Woodmen.
The town is provided with a beautiful park, one of the most attractive spots within its borders. A good and effective commercial club looks after the commercial interests of the town. Clem Laws is the president and Milton Berry is the secretary. Its bank is a flourishing insti- tution, with J. Milton Kelly as the president and Milton Berry as eashier.
IRVING WOMEN'S IMPROVEMENT CLUB.
In many towns and cities, the women realiz- ing that the men, either from indifference or
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
some ulterior motive, do not make the advances needed, take hold, organize and succeed in doing the desired things. Irving needed several im- provements, among them a ladies' rest room, with babies in arms, could go and rest or care for their babies without wearying some friendly resident or suffering from lack of the facilities. Their heads. and hands were joined, the plans worked out, the men reluctantly courting their favor by falling in well in the rear, and during 1916 the thing was done, and now the Women's Club is ready for the next important improve- ment, and Irving will soon hear from the club again.
POLICE MAGISTRATES.
Irving has had the following police magis- trates : Robert J. Cockelreas, 1879; James M. Kelly, 1SSS; William T. Ault, 1891, 1896 and 1897 ; James C. Donaldson, 1893; Joseph Platt, 1901; George Doyle, 1905; R. J. Wilson, 1910.
LOCAL OFFICIALS.
There is no better index to the character of the people of a township, than the representative men selected from time to time to transact their public business as local officers. Those having the most to do with the public are, under the present method of organization, the supervisors, the town clerks and the justices of the peace. We give lists of these for the past forty years and over.
SUPERVISORS.
The following men have served Irving Town- ship as supervisors : Thomas G. Black, 1873 and 1874; Charles A. Ramsey, 1875 and 1876; John R. Challacombe, 1877; E. H. Kitch, 1878 and 1879; John T. McDavid, 1SS0; H. J. Bart- lett, 1881, 1882 and 1883; W. S. Berry, 1SS4, 1SS5 and 1886; James M. Kelly, 1887 and 1SS8 ; A. K. Vandeveer, 1SS9; William Counton, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1901, 1914, 1915, and 1916; E. O. Brockman, 1896 and 1897 ; F. P. Cockelreas, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1908, 1909, 1912 and 1913; Ellis Satterlee, 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1905; N. W. Taylor, 1906 and 1907; A. H. Bartlett, 1908, 1909, 1910 and 1911.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Irving Precinct and Township have had the following justices of the peace : James M. Taul- where the weary travelers, or shoppers, possibly . bee, 1858, 1861 and 1865; David E. Gregory, 1860 and 1863; E. H. Kitch, 1861 and 1865; Henry Freidmeyer, 1865; John A. Toma michael, 1865 ; George W. Hickman, 1869; James S. Hall, 1873; Harvey M. Kelley, 1873, 1877 and 1881; James M. Taulbee, 1876 and 1878; Andrew J. Richmond, 1877; Ben F. McClure, 1881, 1885, 1889 and 1901; Robert H. McCord, 1885, 1911 and 1913; Marshall Winn, 1889; Jacob L. Lipe, 1893; Aaron K. Vandeveer, 1893 and 1897 ; W. B. Williams, 1897; George W. Doyle, 1901; Joseph Platt, 1905; William M. Truitt, 1905, 1909 and 1913.
TOWN CLERKS.
The town clerk's office has been filled by nearly all the prominent men in the township. It seems to have been a sort of training school to higher positions, as the following list will attest : James McDowell, 1873; E. H. Kitch, 1874-1876; W. M. Berry, 1877; J. E. Knight, 1878; M. Winn, 1879; T. N. Springer, 1880- 1SS1; George Rorer, 1SS2-1883; Louis Gran- tham, 1884; J. A. McClure, 1885; J. C. Harkey, 1SS6 and 1SSS; R. J. Cockelreas, 1887; W. P. Mason, 1SS9; Charles Tobias, 1890, 1897 and 1910; Charles L. Cockelreas, 1891; Clark M. Roberts, 1892, 1894; J. Milton Romine, 1895; S. F. Barnett, 1897-1898; J. E. Wiley, 1899 and 1902; Oliver O. Lipe, 1900-1901; J. W. Tom- amichael, 1903; A. H. Bartlett, 1904-1905; F. H. Keisling, 1906-1907; C. C. Wiley, 1908; C. P. Kelly, 1909; C. E. Padgett, 1912-1913; F. B. Bailey, 1914-1915; C. L. Neisler, 1916.
CONSTABLES.
Irving Precinct and Township have had the following constables : George W. Hickman, 1859 and 1861; Samuel T. Bartlett, 1857; John W. King, 1857; William Ellsberry, 1861; Wil- liam T. Lyerla, 1861; Joel L. Bostick, 1863; Joseph W. Newberry, 1861; William P. Mason, 1864; William Sanders, 1864; John F. Welch, 1864; William B. Grantham, 1865; John S. Ault, 1865; Thomas H. Manley, 1868; John C. Roberts, 1866 and 1869; Henry C. Smith, 1869; Cleveland B. Wiley, 1874 and 1878; Hillard W.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Carriker, 1876 and 1881; R. M. Upchurch, 1877 ; John W. McDowell, 1877 ; F. P. Cockelreas, 1880 and 1885; Edmund L. Haller, 1SS1; J. Milton Romine, 1885; John Mellman, 1889; Charles P. Satterlee, 1SS9; James C. Johnson, 1889; Joseph Knight, 1SS9; Thomas F. Borrer, 1893; Charles S. Edwards, 1893; Edward Mann, 1897 ; George Hudson, 1897 and 1905; A. C. Short, 1898; Louis L. Cottingham, 1901; Thomas F. Borror. 1901; Jesse D. Sullivan, 190S and 1910; J. A. Allen, 1909 and 1913; W. H. Stewart, 1909.
CHAPTER XXX.
NOKOMIS TOWNSHIP.
MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD - BOUNDARIES - NATURAL PRODUCTS-EARLY SETTLERS-TYPICAL NOKOMIS- ITES-COALTON-WENONAH-CITY OF NOKOMIS- NOKOMIS OF TODAY - NOKOMIS PAPERS - CHURCHES - NOKOMIS CITY OFFICIALS - POLICE MAGISTRATES - MAYORS - CITY TREASURERS - TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS- TOWN CLERKS-JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-CONSTABLES-SUPERVISORS.
MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD.
There is no better township in the county in productivity of soil than Nokomis, nor is there any that has developed a higher state of cultiva- tion and standard of farming. It may further be said that Nokomis Township has for years been the best stock-raising and marketing town- ship in the county, especially in the line of horses, for which the township is noted. In point of wealth among the ruralists Nokomis stands at the top. Nokomis does not claim a long line of history, and lives in its splendid present, rather than in its hoary past. Up to the last few years farming, stockraising and mer- chandizing were the sole occupations of its peo- ple, but with the beginning of the last decade the mining of vast mineral wealth has largely increased its financial resources and its popula- tion, and we may say, its responsibilities and burdens as well.
BOUNDARIES.
Nokomis Township is in the northeastern part of Montgomery County, and is bounded on the north by Christian County ; on the east by Audu- bon Township; on the south by Witt Township, and on the west by Rountree Township. The East Fork of Shoal Creek with its tributaries, waters this township, and the soil is a rich, black loam, mixed with clay in several parts of the township, and with some sand along the water courses. It is well adapted and is used for agricultural purposes and is one of the richest sections of the state with reference to its inter- ests along this natural direction. In its natural state, Nokomis Township was one-sixth in tim- ber, oak, elm, several varieties of maple, hickory and other similar growths prevailing. Unfortu- nately nearly all of this original growth is gone, but there is some artificial timber, and doubt- less as the people are convinced of the necessity for conservation more will be planted.
NATURAL PRODUCTS.
Wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley and similar cereals, clover and timothy and other grasses, and all kinds of garden products, and fruits are grown extensively, and stock is raised in large numbers. The pioneers were not slow to put in apple orchards which maturing furnished fruit of this variety for the neighborhood. These early orchards of course are gone, but in many in- stances they have been replaced by equally good if not better ones, while new ones have been planted all over the township, together with other large and small fruits, and the results from these are such as to encourage others to put in fruit, if not to specialize on it.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first settler of Nokomis Township was Bluford Shaw, who evidently came here prior to 1840. Hugh Hightower settled in 1843 on section 33, and built the first house ever erected within the boundaries of Nokomis Township, traces of which were seen for many years there- after. Why Nokomis Township was settled so late when adjoining portions of the country re- ceived settlers as early as 1816, is difficult to tell. Oftentimes the pioneers followed some one man who happened to select a certain locality.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
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Again a member of a large family would go forth in search of a desirable place in which to form a colony of his relatives and near friends, and determining upon it, would return and bring back with him a number of pioneers. Perhaps . the territory a few miles away would be equally desirable, in many cases more so, but those who acted upon his advice relative to making a change, naturally relied upon his judgment, and took up claims adjacent to his. It is all the inore strange, this late settlement of Nokomis Township because of the amount of timber orig- inally found on it. Usually the settlers selected the timber lands, to later find they had passed over the more valuable acreage in the prairies. However as it may be, Nokomis evidently as far as the records show, lay fallow until possi- bly 1839, or 1840, and emigration did not set in until a little later even than that. After the coming of Mr. Hightower, there were no more pioneers until 1846 when John Henry showed good judgment in entering a claim on section 26, which he improved very extensively.
The northern part of the township received quite an influx of settlers in 1854, among whom were: Royal N. Lee, John Wetmore, William Bonton,. Absolom Van Hooser, William Lee, and Andrew Coiner. One of the first officials of the township was John J. Wetmore who was selected a justice of the peace at an early date, and at the same time J. W. Hancock was elected con- stable. The first religious service in the town- ship was conducted by Rev. J. L. Crane of the Methodist Church. The first school of the town- ship was held by Henry Lower at his residence in 1848. This was a private school, and sup- ported by subscriptions. The first road laid through Nokomis Township was known as the Hillsboro and Nokomis road, and ran in a northeasterly direction. To some extent this road has been altered, but still exists, and is an important highway. Another early road was that between Nokomis and Irving. The road to Pana and Rosemond was an important highway from an early day.
Nokomis is nearly midway between Hillsboro and Pana, and being in the midst of a splendid farming community, the market advantages thus afforded the farmers was alone an inducement sufficient to guarantee a thrifty town or city. Such was the prophesy, and it has been strik- ingly fulfilled.
TYPICAL NOKOMISITES.
Dr. HI. S. Strain, an Ohioan born in 1837, of parents native of South Carolina, and of Irish ancestry, grew to manhood like other boys of that age in poverty and under conditions that taught him the two most important lessons for the young inan, those of economy and industry. After securing a common school education, he went to medical college and was graduated. With this equipment he was ready for life's actual beginning, but the Civil War was on, and with that patriotism so common in that day, he enlisted and soon became the assistant surgeon of his regiment. After serving his country in this important manner, he was ready to enter on his career as the preserver of human life in which he succeeded and earned a competence, a good name, reared a creditable family and passed beyond, remembered kindly by all who knew his merits.
Dr. Thomas J. Whitten, one of the numerous family of the name who have been prominently connected with the county since its earliest days, grew up in the county, was graduated from med- ical college, and for many years relieved the pain and healed the sick or aided nature and the patients to do so. He went into the Civil War as a hospital steward, served with ability through that trying time, and after the close of the war, came home and was married to Sophia Harkey and with her assistance began his active career as a physician. After many years of de- votion to his calling and those in need of his services, he retired from active work, with plenty to live on and with the good will of his numerous patients who have been benefited by his efforts.
David H. Zepp, born in Maryland in 1845, came to Hillsboro when a young man, and be- tween working on a farm, teaching school and studying as he worked, acquired a practical edu- cation and accepted a position as principal of an academy in his native state. There he was mar- ried to a Miss Ella Beaver, and after a success- ful term or two of school work studied law and was admitted to the bar. He selected Nokomis as the field for his legal career and soon had a splendid clientele. He was a studious man in all his ways, became a talented speaker, and rose to eminence in Masonic circles as a lecturer. His friends invited him to stand for the legisla- ture and he was elected, serving with recognized
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
ability. He lived much in his short life and died with a host of friends.
Martin Harkey was one of the early settlers of the county, locating in Hillsboro in 1830 when there was scarcely a dozen houses in the town. He was married to a daughter of one of the early settlers, Miss Catherine Cress, and though beginning very poor, steadily gained in posses- sion of property as well as children and in course of time became one of the leading citizens of the county. He went to Nokomis when the township was young and his gentlemanly asso- ciations and useful helpfulness made him re- spected by all who ever met him in a social or business way.
It is difficult to single out the men or women whose personality and usefulness have im- pressed a community the most. In Nokomis Township few men, if any, a score or two years ago, exercised more force in the public affairs of the township than John H. Beatty, and John Carstens. The former was born in Pennsylvania October 3, 1829, came to Illinois in 1844, settling with his widowed mother near Irving, and after John H. had attained his majority he located in Nokomis Township where his personal abili- ties soon pushed him to the front. In 1867, he was elected county treasurer and assessor. When township organization was adopted his service was called into requisition as supervisor of the newly formed township and he was made the chairman of the board. He, about 1872, aided in organizing the national bank of Nokomis and was made its president, which position he filled for many years. In short Mr. Beatty's life in Nokomis Township was one of active useful- ness.
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