Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 64

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810

USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 64

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Thomas Greenwood with his genial thoughi quaint Scotch brogue, Bobby Hunter, with his peculiar eccentricities, Jonas Hueter with his violin. William Kingston with his clan'of like minded associates, and Martin S. Davenport with his stock of jokes are no more, and the real life of the village is far below that of the former days. But the community is a good one, and there is no reason why a new and better town may not arise to accommodate the coming generations.

PROMINENT SETTLERS.

the building is still the property of his daughter . Walshville Township one of the best, and will

We cannot review the many men and women who by long lives of usefulness have made only briefly review three or four. Dr. Martin S. Davenport was a man of Revolutionary an- cestry, a descendant of defenders of the country in the war of 1812, and also by intermarriage related by descent to Benjamin Franklin, and other historic characters, came of a family of English origin. He was born in Virginia, November 1, 1818, came to Montgomery County in 1847, and to Walshville in 1864. He was married in 1840 to Lucy S. Louis, and reared a family. In 1848 he received a medical diploma and 1870 another from a medical college in Cincinnati, and practiced medicine successfully to a large clientage in the southern part of Montgomery County for over fifty years. He was a leader in the Republican party, in the Christian Church, and in the Masonic Lodge, and will be remembered as a man of influence and distinction as long as the pioneer days of Walshville embellishes history. George L. Hoisington was a quaint and eccentric success ; a diamond in the rough ; a successful man in the midst of adversity. An Easterner, who shook off the effete shackles of Vermont's culture to fight life's battles alone in the unconquered prairies of Illinois, he was born April 17, 1816. In April, 1844, he was married to Miss Roxana Palmer, and came to Walshville Township in 1851, and by dint of hard work, keen trading instinct, and rigid economy reared a large family and at the same time accumulated a fortune. The writer knew him well and ad- ministered on his estate and can say that be- neath his rough exterior there lurked the smile of content and the elements of gentility. "Let" Hoisington will be remembered for many decades to come. Charles Hodges first saw the light of day in Tennessee, July 11, 1813, and lived there till 1833, when bringing his widowed mother with him, he came to Walshville in 1854, and clerked for Mr. Walsh when there were but two houses in the village and in course of time by his strict business management became not only the owner of the store, but of considerable other property. He was married to Elizabeth Bostick in 1860, and reared two daughters. Mr. Hodges was of Irish descent, and his ancestors fought in the War of the Revolution, and also in the War of 1812. He was retiring in dis-

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

position, stubborn in his conviction, unflinching in his adherence to the rules of honor, and held the abiding confidence of the people through life. His life was a tower of strength and his memory an abiding effulgence. Andrew Boone Copeland, "Boone" Copeland was born, reared, lived and died in Montgomery County and few there be that commanded greater confidence. Though of singular disposition and nervous temperament he was a warm friend and the soul of honor. He was born in Grisham Township June 30, 1865, and died in Walshville, February 14, 1914. He was the son of Samuel H. and Nancy H. Copeland, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Tennessee. Both father and mother eame to Illinois in 1828. They were married in the year 1834, locating upon the farm where "Boone" Copeland was born. Their family numbered three daughters and one son, but only one is now living; Elizabeth, wife of A. T. Strange, who resides in Hillsboro. The father of this family died in 1847, and the mother afterward became the wife of George Forehand. By her second marriage the mother had four children. "Boone" Copeland was quite delicate in his youth and as he had to ride on horseback five miles to school. his educational privileges were necessarily limited, but by read- ing. observation and experience in the latter years he made himself a well informed man and kept himself well posted on all the current events of the day. His first business training was received as clerk in a drug store in Hills- boro, where he was employed for four years. In 1861. he engaged in clerking in a store of C. T. Hodges. of Walshville, where he was em- ployed for one year, when, in 1862, he became proprietor of this store and carried on general merchandising. Previously he also engaged in agricultural pursuits for 30 years, from 1862 to 1892. On the first day of January, 1884, Mr. Copeland was united in marriage to Sophronia Butler, nee Cannon. They had but one ehild, Eugene Boone. Mr. Copeland faithfully served his fellow citizens as a justiee of the peace for twenty years, was treasurer of the sehool for a period of six years and also filled the office of constable. and various positions in the village of Walshville where he lived during the last years of his life. At his death his body was placed in Oak Grove Abbey. His unquestioned integrity, loyalty to friends and trustful honor will be remembered by all who ever knew him.

WALSIVILLE POLICE MAGISTRATES.

The following have served Walshville as police magistrates : George D. Taylor, 1873 ; Mareus A. Layman, 1877; James Ferguson, 18SO; Erastus M. Root, 1881; Andrew B. Cope- land, 1895, 1896 and 1901; A. F. Weathers, 1905, 1909 and 1913.

WALSHVILLE TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.

Walshville Township claims to be the banner Republican township in the county, and yet for seven years the township has been repre- sented on the county board by Democrats, Taylor and Nieman. The independence of the people is too great in this day, to depend on them voting for any one the "party" may select. Walshville Township has also had the distinc- tion of having a chairman of the board in the person of Harm H. Montke.

So far as we can reeall to memory, the fol- lowing have served the township as town clerks : Peter W. Davenport, Frank A. Snow, William E. Cannon, Fred Kitchen, and Otto Montke.

As already stated Irvin Cory was the first justice of the peace, William M. Towell' filled the office for several years, James Ferguson was also a "Squire" for a long while, Malichi Pence, and George G. Guthals also filled the office in the country districts, Andrew B. Cope- land and Addison F. Weathers acted in the posi- tion in the village, and Daniel F. Minor for the east side.

So far as we can remember, William M. Towell was the treasurer of schools for many of the early years, John A. Murphy and Frank A. Snow followed him, and the present en- cumbent C. C. Barlow succeeded them. P. W. Davenport was in a short time prior to Barlow, we think.

Those who served Walshville Township as assessors have been the following : T. C. Kirkland, 1873; J. P. Fogleman, 1874, 1877 ; A. J. Keiser, 1878; John A. Murphy, 1879; A. J. Keiser, 1880; J. P. Fogleman, 1881, 1882; Fred Heien, 1883; William F. Barlow, 1884; J. P. Fogleman, 1885, 1886; J. W. Beck, 1887, 1889; John A. Murphy, 1890; P. B. Denny, 1891 ; J. W. Beck, 1892, 1893; C. C. Barlow, 1894, 1897 ; T. T. Hoisington, 1898: P. B. Denny, 1899; Albert Tiffin, 1900; T. M. Easley, 1902; T. L. Barlow, 1903, 1905; G. G. Guthals. 1906; W. J. Evans,

Geo Pr Potter

Martha Harken Potter

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

1907; J. E. Prange, 190S; Albert Tiffin, 1909; Albert Tiffin, 1910; Louis Nieman, 1911, 1916.

The following have served one or more terms since township organization came into force in J. A. Murphy, P. W. Davenport, George D. Taylor, J. A. Murphy, A. J. Engleman, R. W. Saathoff, E. P. Ross, Henry Keiser, Leslie Robb, J. F. Prange, T. M. Easley, Louis Nieman, J. W. Taylor, Jr., Louie Marburger, C. E. Sturgeon, Frank H. Prange, Thomas F. Jones.

The following have served one or more terms since 1873, when township organization was adopted. as township commissioners: T. T. Smith. H. Keiser, John Kirkland, George Mar- burger, S. B. Kirkland, G. W. Deshane, Peter Egelhoff, Jacob Lindly, Robert Whiteside, Rich- ard Engelman, M. J. Weber, Henry G. Marbur- ger, Henry Saathoff, George McPherson, Brunke Schoen, Charles Keune, H. H. Montke, John Pence. Frank H. Prange, F. W. Marburger, Charles Hoisington, R. W. Saathoff, A. A. Missi- more. Henry Drewel, William C. Marburger, John File, Malichi Pence, Henry C. Keune, E. C. Marburger. W. L. Kessinger, E. W. Barcroft, George Hemann, Otto Egelhoff, Fred Johnson.

The following have served Walshville Precinct and Township as justices of the peace: Irwin Cory. 1850; William W. Dowell, 1857; Winfield W. Hix, 1857 and 1861; James Ferguson, 1861, 1865 and 1869 ; Elisha J. Blevins, 1864, 1865 and 1869; Thomas D. Whiterieus, 1869; James S. Currey, 1873; Burrel H. Hill, 1873; Charles W. Mars, 1874; Erastus M. Root, 1877; Benjamin C. Neal. 1877 and 1881; James Ferguson, 1881 and 1889; George G. Guthals, 1885 and 1889 ; George D. Taylor, 1885; Pirie B. Denny, 1884, 1887 and 1901; John F. Prange, 1894 and 1897 ; Malichie Pence, 1901 and 1913 ; Daniel F. Minor, 1905; Thomas F. Smith, 1905, 1909 and 1913; T. F. Karnes, 1907.

The following have served Walshville Pre- cinct and Township as constables : John Fogel- man, 1850; Josiah Green. 1857, 1861 and 1865; Hiram Starkweather, 1857; Riley J. Currey, 1861; Zebulon Garrison, 1863 and 1866; Joseph M. Barlow, 1865; Andrew B. Copeland, 1869; Leonard Bailey, 1872; James J. Bailey, 1872; Andrew J. Sweeney, 1872; John Pence, 1877; Charles W. Garrison, 1877 ; Thomas M. Barlow, 1881: Frank Curry, 1SS5; Charles E. Holliday, 1886. 1889 and 1893; George Derby, 1889; George Rodgers, 1899; J. C. Gaston, 1902, 1909 and 1913; John W. Hudspeth, 1905; Thomas F.

Jones, 1905; Albert Fletcher, 1906; Malichi Pence, 190S; Thomas Kessinger, 1911.

The following is a full list of the supervisors of Walshville Township: Rufus N. Curtis, 1873, as township collectors: H. W. Nelson, . 1873; Thomas C. Kirkland, 1874, 1878 and 1884;

Thomas T. Smith, 1875, 1876 and 1877; Harm Keiser, 1879, 1SS0, 18SS, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893 and 1894; George D. Taylor, 1SS1; Charles Whitehouse, 1SS2; F. W. Marburger, 1883; William Nieman, 1879, 1886, 1887, 1905, 1906 and 1907; Harm H. Montke, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904; W. Gustave Marburger, 1909 and 1910; John F. Prange, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915 and 1916. For length of term we doubt if another town- ship in the county can show the equal of Walsh- ville.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

WITT TOWNSHIP.

IN GENERAL - BOUNDARIES - EARLY SETTLERS - FIRST MILLS-WITT TOWNSHIP'S BEGINNINGS- EARLY CHURCHES-FIRST BUSINESS MEN-SOME WITTITES-GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT-CHANCE VER- SUS WITT-CITY OF WITT-CHURCHES-FRATER- NITIES - CITY ORGANIZATIONS - PROSPECTS - WITT CORPORATE HISTORY-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS - TOWN CLERKS - SCHOOL TREASURERS - JUS- TICES OF THE PEACE - CONSTABLES - SUPER- VISORS.

IN GENERAL.

Witt Township, except in the northwest por- tion, is devoted to farming. The town of Witt was founded quite awhile ago, but made little progress till about the time of the sinking of the mine there, and later at Paisley, by George W. Paisley and others. A rivalry at once was created between the towns, which were only a mile apart, eventually resulting in a victory for Witt, which absorbed the town of Paisley. and now Witt is quite a little city. Outside of the city of Witt, the township has seven schoolhouses and at least two country churches, indicating a high class of citizens. Water

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

courses cross entirely the Western part of the township and enter it from both the northeast and southeast, so that its level lands are well drained. While Witt Township is favorably located as to markets and other farming advan- tages, its development in lines favorable to business is not so marked. Good highways are laid out along most of the section lines and others connecting, so that all parts of the town- ship are easily accessible by an abundance of highways.

BOUNDARIES.

Witt Township is bounded on the north by Nokomis Township; on the east by Audubon and Hurricane townships, the latter township being in Fayette County; on the south by Fill- more Township, and on the west by Irving Township. East Fork of Shoal Creek is the principal water course, and it has a number of small tributaries which drain the district. The original timber, heavy along the water courses, was of walnut, oak and hickory. The soil is a black loam, and in the low land where proper drainage has been installed, the crops are ex- ceptionally large. Nearly all of the acreage in Witt Township is either in pasturage or under cultivation, and all of the products suitable for this climate are produced in banner crops.

EARLY SETTLERS.

Prior to 1831 there appear to have been no permanent settlers in Witt Township, although a number came here and "squatted" on land for a period, and then left, leaving nothing behind but the ruins of crude cabins to indicate that they had passed through this territory. In every new section there are always a number of these nomads, the advance guard of civiliza- tion, who have not the persistence to remain long in any place, but wander on and on, never acquiring anything because of a natural dis- inclination to buckle down to hard wark. The first actual settlers here were members of a family by the name of Brown, represented by two brothers, James and David, who located in 1831 on section 17, East Fork Creek, their claims lying on the opposite sides of this stream. David Brown settled on the west side, while James Brown settled on the east and near the center. For several years these brothers were the only settlers in Witt Township, but in 1833

they were joined by Martin Harkey who entered a claim on section 17, having come here from Hillsboro where he had located when the county seat was a hamlet. Mr. Harkey left Witt Town- ship in 1837, and after Nokomis was laid out lived in the town.

Christopher Armentrout in 1839 bought eighty acres of school land near the Browns, and also invested in other Witt Township farms that he left to his descendants. Later he bought the farm of Martin Harkey, and lived there until his death in 1856. The great distance from towns of any size made settling slow in this township. The building of roads was a first necessity and a road was laid out known as the Shelbyville and Hillsboro road in an early day. This at that time enabled the people to get to markets. and with another road, which was built about that time, known as the Noko- mis road coming to Nokomis from a more southernly direction, an impetus was given to settling in the township.

In 1839 Joshua Seckler located on section 9. and his brother, M. W. Seckler, followed him in 1840. The date of the arrival of William Lights, another early settler, was 1841, and he located on section S, but a year later sold to Alfred Borer, and went on to Iowa. Other early settlers were: Horace Latimer, I. T. Towell, William Hand, E. H. Donaldson, Charles Mast, II. A. Wells, Jacoby Poland,' Wilson Maxey, John Price. J. T. Armentrout, George Knodle, Thomas Vermillion, Andrew Hoehn, Sherman Randall. William Oberlee. George Guile. P. C. Able, Austin Sturgeon, Wilson Wylder, Louis Duncan. James A. Bateman, James H. Zepp, W. W. Wright, Levi Thumb, W. T. Hoes, W. H. Settle, James Drew, Charles E. Madan, J. M. Neisler, F. M. Roberts, Mike Baisch, and Robert Dixon.

FIRST MILLS.

The first mill built in Witt Township was a small one in the southwestern corner, on the farm of David Gregory, and was run by horse- power. Later Mr. Gregory built a carding machine on his farm, and also ran it by horse- power. A saw was attached to his carding machine and he sawed some lumber, but did not operate it for a long period. In 1876, in conjunction with an elevator at Witt, N. Bentz erected a steam mill with two runs of stone and a capacity of two barrels of flour per day.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

These old mills with others were of stone burr type, and after the advent of the railroads, and the building of towns along the lines, these mills were rapidly superseded by mills of more modern pattern,

STAPLE PRODUCTS.

Witt Township is agricultural in people and products and the success made with corn, wheat, oats and grasses has made these staples an important factor in the settlement of the town- ship. Cattle and hog raising for market is, and has been an important source of income, and the raising of horses and mules has been and is now encouraged with profitable results. Dairy- ing in a small way, when convenient to market, is engaged in by a few.

WITT TOWNSHIP'S BEGINNINGS.

One of the earliest settlers of Witt Town- ship was Christopher Armentrout. Coming there at an early day, he secured land and made it his home during the remainder of his days. His sons have been for years past prominent in the local affairs of the township. Another very early settler was William Lights. He is probably forgotten by many as he moved away many years ago. The first school taught in the township was by a man named Gay. It was in a small log cabin built by a squatter, who had abandoned it, and the parents who had children simply appropriated it for the purpose. An- other school was taught soon after the above in the southwestern part of the township by a man named Wheat. In 1839, Ben Norman taught a school in the township. Whether there were log schoolhouses, as was common elsewhere, we do not know, but in 1848 a frame schoolhouse was built and that was afterwards known as the Prairie Valley School, and in 1850 another one was built known as the Maxey School. These schoolhouses were used as much as wanted for church purposes.

EARLY CHURCHES.

The first church organized in Witt Township was a Methodist one and was on East Fork Creek near the place of James Brown, Reverend Aldrige was the circuit rider to organize it. The meetings were held in the schoolhouse

nearby till 1855 when the congregation erected a churchhouse. Later the organization was moved to a schoolhouse further south and the old church torn down. The Armentrouts, the Passleys, the Hightowers, the Smiths and the Borers were among the early members. In 1870 another and better churchhouse was erected. Among those who have served that church as ministers have been : Revs. George Miller, S. H. Whilock, J. E. Lindley, E. E. Cowperthwaite, J. W. West, F. M. Dillman, L. T. Janes, J. W. Crane, and several others.

A church known as the Protestant Methodist was organized in the eastern part of the town- ship in 1872, and the congregation built a frame church for worshiping purposes.

The Witt Methodist Church was organized in 1869 by Mrs. William L. Opdyke, who with her husband had moved to Witt, then a small town. Rev. John R. Chapman was sent to the home of Mrs. Opdyke to preach, and after a two weeks' meeting the success was so satisfactory that an organization was effected with the fol- lowing among the members: A. Duncan, Wil- liam Opdyke, Samuel Williams, Samuel H. Wiley, George McClure, John Lohr, with their wives, and others. Meetings were held in the Opdyke residence till the spring of 1870, when Mr. Wood who had opened a store in the young town provided a place for the meetings in a warehouse which he had erected. In 1876 a churchhouse was erected with J. B. Rhodes as the minister in charge. Other preachers have been Revs. Hazen, George Campton, E. Ran- dall, J. W. Lapham, C. R. Howard, and many others.

The Witt Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in 1873 by Rev. William J. Mc- David. Among the early members were: L. Lohr, William Lohr, Christian Marks, with their wives, and W. Updike, Eugene Updike, Maggie Marks, and Alice Marks. For awhile this congregation met in a vacant dwelling- house belonging to Mr. Wubker, later, in 1875, a churchhouse was built and. among those who have served the church as preachers have been : Revs. T. W. McDavid, W. C. McDavid, William Turner, R. H. McHenry, W. P. Baker, and W. J. McDavid. Among the officers and prominent members of the church may be mentioned : William P. Strain, Adam Bolt, Christian Marks. James Barton, Nicholas Bentz and John Shu- ping.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

FIRST BUSINESS MEN.

William Wood was the first merchant in the town, locating there in 1869. Mr. Keys was the first postmaster and was appointed in 1869. The first physician was Doctor Melrath, who came in 1870. The first elevator for grain was built in 1876, by N. Bentz, who also ran the first mill for wheat in the town, beginning about the same time. Others came in rapid succession.

SOME WITTITES.

The men who make communities are not merely squatters, nor are they adventurers. The adventurer comes, sees the opportunity, per- chance makes his pile, and disappears, leaving a heritage of wreckage behind him. But the man who, leaving all behind him in the land of his nativity, usually alone and on foot comes into a new country, and with nothing but good horse sense to begin with, secures the land, builds a home and rears a family, fills his little niche in the common burdens of society and dies la- mented, is a hero, though unheralded. We might describe many of these in every town- ship, but must content ourselves with the brief- est mention of a few only. Paschel Able, born in Illinois, of Ohio parents, striking out in the unknown world, landed in Montgomery County in 1867, after serving in defense of the Union in tbe Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and began his business career with little more tban his willing hands. Step by step property came within his grasp and he held it for the benefit of his offspring, in the meantime accepting such positions as his neighbors called upon him to fill, such as justice of the peace and supervisor of his township, and now in his old age he looks back with complacency on a well lived life and feels be has earned happy old age.

Daniel Grantham, a "Tar Heeler" from the "Old North" state, born in poverty, in a land of poverty at tbe time, found his way in some manner to this county as a land of promise, and determining to have a vine and fig tree of his own, secured a piece of "God's footstool" and used it so well that a creditable family with a competence of wealth, and characters above re- proach, were his when the time came for render- ing his account of his stewardship.

Joseph Hand, of English birth, saw the op- portunities of home making of Montgomery County first in 1865. Thrifty and industrious, it

took but a few years for him to acquire the foundation of a fortune and to rear a family to transmit it to. Nor was he found delinquent in civic matters, but in all the duties of American citizenship was as noble as had been his parents in their devotion to the throne of Eng- land.

P. S. Holmes, of an ancestry reared amid the fisheries and shipbuilders of Maine, though him- self born in Hillsboro, found in Witt Township room to expend his energies, and with his wife who came from the Attebury stock of people, made a home here. Too many knew him to leave room for saying more of his life.

William Oberle born and reared in Germany, came in search of a place where he could se- cure a home, and finding what he wanted in Witt Township, lost no time in securing a competence and a farm in its rich prairies. After rearing a family, he now has surrendered his farm to those of his children with farming instincts and spends his old age in the city of Nokomis. William L. Opdyke, born in the Quaker state, nine years after Montgomery County was or- ganized, came to Illinois in time to fight for the Union in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and, after that was over, to marry Julia E. Wood of Old Woodsboro and locate in Witt Township. Many there be who remember his force of character and stern man- hood begat by hard toil and rigid economy, that always characterizes the man who "Gets there."

Wilson Maxey, born in the Blue Grass state, forsaking its rocky fastnesses and beautiful scenery, for the rich soil of the Prairie state, located in Witt Township, where success came, as it always does to the deserving, and which en- abled him to rear a family in keeping with the demands of the age, and die with a name as good as the best. Elijah H. Donaldson, a native of Illinois, located in Witt when a young man, married, of course, and reared a family, and after the good will and confidence of the whole county bad centered about him, he accepted the nomination of his party, Democratic, and was elected to the State Legislature, in which he served with credit, as he did as supervisor of his township and in other public offices. We forego mentioning the Armentrouts, the Dees, the Vermillions, the Fraziers, the Kings, the Deans, the Carstens, the Greiners, the Louns- burys and many others, although they are equally important.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 64

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 810

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810