Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 65

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 65

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT.

The good roads movement promises to do much for the benefit of the farmers of this township, and nowhere is it needed more. The lowering of the price of automobiles and their purchase by the many farmers today, is having a good effect in bringing about the road im- provement now in progress and in contempla- tion. The present plans contemplate an im- proved highway from the city of Witt south about two miles then east and south seven or eight miles to intersect the Fillmore road near the southern corner of the township. Then from Witt the road is to continue north to the township line intersecting the Nokomis im- proved road. Another improved road is to be made from near the center of the township west to the Irving line which is to be continued on to Irving and Hillsboro. These with others planned in the future will place Fillmore much nearer the business centers and increase the use of the gas-driven car in place of the horse vehicle.

CHANCE VERSUS WITT.

That Witt was once called Chance, and why the name was changed to Witt, is, we presume correctly explained in a letter from Mrs. J. E. Opdyke, a daughter of William Wood who first laid off the town. She says, substantially : "When father went from Butler to the present location of Witt, he believed that, with the lo- cating of the railroad through that fine fertile prairie, there was an unusual chance to pro- mote a town, and being a man of quick de- cision, he at once accepted the opportunity, and went there and marked out a town site, naming it CHANCE with the paternal feeling that it was indeed his Chance." After he had been there some time, he was approached by a gentle- man with the request to set a price on the land, as he wanted to make a home of it. Mr. Wood not suspecting that his real object was to secure the opportunity which Mr. Wood had foreseen to promote a town, sold the land to him. Later he was chagrined to hear that he had named the town site, improved by him, WITT because he had outicitted Mr. Wood in securing his Chance to promote the town.

CITY OF WITT.

With the building of the Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad in 1869, the village of Witt came

into existence. The first building was a store- room erected by William Wood, and he at once opened it up for business. Keys and Bartlett also opened up a store and when application was made for a post office it was located in their business house, Mr. Keys being the first post- master. Lee Hall opened a business house soon after the above and when the railroad estab- lished a depot, Mr. Hall became the first depot agent. Antonio Leon ran a store for awhile selling it out later to Christian Marks. Mr. Wubker bought out Marks later and thus be- came one of Witt's prominent merchants.

About 1894, George W. Paisley and others sank a coal mine about a mile south of Witt, and secured a post office and a depot there. The station and post office were named for Mr. Pais- ley, and Miss Kate Daly was made postmistress.

The railroad a few years later, not wishing to maintain two stations so close to one another, built a station on the dividing line between the towns and discontinued the Paisley station. The post office department also objected to two post offices so close together and for awhile a bitter fight was carried on for the office, Witt eventu- ally winning. After these battles were over and the smoke of conflict cleared off, it was not long until the efforts at town building were united and the improvements at Paisley made a part of Witt. Since that time, Witt has assumed metropolitan airs and is now a growing little city. At this time the city has three dry goods stores, eight grocery stores, three stocks of general merchandise, two hardware stores, one jewelry store, two millinery stores, two barber shops, one hotel, three restaurants, twelve saloons, one poolroom, one picture show house, two banks, two public halls, one large lumber yard, two bakeries, two good garages with agencies for the Reo and Studebaker autos, a soda water factory, a harness shop and agency for the Studebaker wagons and buggies, and a brick and tile factory. Witt also has a nice young park well laid out. There are three pub- lic schools now employing seventeen teachers with Prof. Joseph W. White as the superintend- ent. The present board of education consists of Dr. Charles H. Lockhart, president ; Charles H. Rolston, clerk. and Dr. E. B. Hubbard, John P. Maxey, John Williamson, W. P. Hagthrop, and E. C. Mayhew as associate members.

This being a good grain market the city has a commodious elevator with abundant capacity for its needs, run by Ernest & Zimmer. The

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

stock buying business is handled by the Fesser Brothers.

CHURCHES.

The church interest in Witt is about the same as in other new towns. The Presbyterians have an organization with a house of worship under the pastorate of Rev. W. T. Gibson. The Metho- dists also have a churchhouse and the organiza- tion is under the care of Rev. C. A. Sullivan. The Roman Catholics have a church with Rev. Father Mee as priest-in-charge, and the Greek Catholics are now building a church to cost about $14,000, and have about eighty families who are members.

FRATERNITIES.

The lodge interest is represented in the city as follows: The Woodman have a membership of 120; the Odd Fellows have about fifty members ; the Eagles have about 200 members and the Knights of Pythias have a membership of about 125.

CITY ORGANIZATION.

C. M. Wooden is the present mayor of the city with the following as aldermen: John Fox, Thomas Crane, Conrad Sullivan, James Tarro. George Rademaker, and Charles II. Lock- hart. The present postmaster is Thomas Daly. John Williamson is the marshal, and Eilert Carstens the police magistrate.

PROSPECTS.

One of the members of the city council re- ports that the prospects are now the best they have ever been. Two large churches are in course of erection; arrangements have been made for paving the principal street, Broadway, in the near future, and plans are now being worked out for a system of water works, and a sewer system, and also for a drainage dis- trict.

WITT CORPORATE HISTORY.

While Witt had an existence as a village for several years there was no effort made to in- corporate till August 25, 1SOS, when incorpora-

tion papers were taken out as a town. In this form the town was managed till May S, 1911, when the town was organized as a city. This was only three years after the post offices of Witt and Paisley were merged, the date of that being October 12, 1905. Those who have filled the important office of mayor since organization as a city, have been Robert Dixon, William A. Shuping, James Shannon, C. E. Bathe, and the present mayor C. M. Wooden. Those who have served the city as city clerk have been as fol- lows: C. E. Maddy, J. E. Waer, Elisha Clark, George Powis, Benjamin D. Roberts, W. P. Hagthrop, C. M. Wooden and the present clerk, J. M. Lounsbury. Witt is supplied with water from several large wells in different parts of the city. A start has been made in the way of fighting fire by the recent purchase of an auto fire wagon at a cost of $3,800. The good order of the city is looked after by a marshal and one policeman. Street paving was begun in the spring of 1917. The principal enterprise in Witt, aside from the farming carried on in the vicinity, is mining. There are two coal mines in operation and it will thus be seen that Witt is just passing through the organic stage. when every little accomplishment adds wonderfully to its sum total of city wealth, and its people point to them with that commendable pride that suggests "See what we have done."

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.

The most prominent and active men in a township are usually to be found on the rolls of officials of the township. We give as accurate a list as we have been able to obtain.

The following have served Witt Township as town clerks: Thomas Vermillion, 1874; J. F. Armentrout, 1875-1876; J. M. Neisler, 1877-1S7S- 1879-1880; James Barton, 1SS1-1882; F. M. Roberts, 1883; William T. Barry, 18S4; A. M. Wolford, 1885-1SS6; G. W. Armentrout, 1SS7- 18SS: C. H. Poland, 1SS9-1890; George Patridge, 1891-1892-1893-1894-1895; Mike Baisch, 1896- 1897-1898; William Lounsbury, 1899-1900-1901- 1902-1905-1906; Frank L. Brockman, 1903-1907 ; Edward Dixon, 1904; U. S. Rusher, 190S; J. M. Lounsbury, 1909-1910-1911 ; Homer Sawyer, 1912- 1913; Ralph Short, 1914-1915-1916.

Witt Township has had the following school treasurers : 1858-1859, W. A. Newcomb: 1859- 1865, W. W. Wright; 1865-1869, Levi Thumb ;

John H Rasor

Ruth a. Rasor & Grand daughter Ruth. a

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

1869-1880, Wilson M. Maxey; 1SS0-1882, C. H. Smith; 1882-1884, G. W. Armentrout ; 1884-1887, W. T. Hoes; 1SS7-1890, A. J. Abell; 1890-1893, W. H. Settle; 1893-1900, James Drew ; 1900- 1916, John L. Huber.

The following have served Witt Township as justices of the peace: Paschel C. Abell, 1873, 1877 and 1SS1; James S. Vermillion, 1873, 1877, 1SS1, 1SS5, 1SS9 and 1893; William Oberle, 1881; P. S. Holmes, 1885; John D. Dees, 1887, 1900 and 1902; B. W. Frazier, 1889, 1893, 1897 and 1901; Charles E. Maddy, 1897; L. C. Dean, 1905 and 1912; John J. King, 1905 ; John Kuntz, 1905, 1909, 1911 and 1913; Harry E. McLean, 1909; J. F. Middleton, 1909; Harry L. Dean, 1916; Eilert Carstens, 1909; Emmet Greiner, 1900, 1901 and 1902; F. L. Brockman, 1912; George L. Spritz, 1913; George Moore, 1914; J. B. Lounsbury, 1914; R. B. Bummett, 1915; Joseph Mitchell, 1915.

Witt Township has had the following con- stables : Austin Sturgeon, 1875 and 1877; Wil- son Wylder, 1877; Robert Beard, 1SS0 and 1881; James A. Bateman, 1SS1 and 1SS5; Lewis Dun- can. 1SS2; Elmore H. Martin, 1SS6; Richard Holmes, 1886; James W. Zepp, 1SS9 and 1893; Noah Ransdell, 1896; Charles A. Boyd, 1897 ; Joseph Schneppe, 1901; Aaron Coffin, 1902 and 1905; John Fox, 1904; W. O. Frazier, 1905; L. C. Dean, 1910.

The supervisors of Witt Township have been : Wilson Maxey, 1873 and 1877; H. A. Wells, 1874; E. H. Donaldson, 1875; P. C. Abell, 1876; J. T. Armentrout, 1878 and 1879; Charles H. Smith, 1SS0 and 1SS1; I. T. Towell, 1882, 1SS3, 1884, 1SS7, 1SSS and 1893; Robert Dixon, 1SS5, 1886. 1900, 1901, 1902 and 1903; Michael Probst, 1889, 1890 and 1891; Lawrence A. File, 1892; J. B. Lounsbury, 1894 and 1895; G. W. Armen- trout, 1896 and 1897; R. W. Barringer, 1904, 1905 and 1906; Henry Ernst, 190S and 1909; N. W. Taylor, 1907; David Taylor, 1910. 1911, 1912, 1913. 1914, 1915 and 1916. As will be seen, Mr. Taylor has served seven years, Mr. Towell and Mr. Dixon, six years each, remark- able records ; and they show that the people appreciate the good work of competent men. Elijah H. Donaldson, one of the above named supervisors, was thought well enough of by the Democratic party of the county to nominate for the State Legislature, and he was elected and served his constituency with credit to the county and honor to himself.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

ZANESVILLE TOWNSHIP.

PECULIAR EXPERIENCE - BOUNDARIES - MOUND BUILDERS - EARLY SETTLERS - EARLY ROADS - EARLY MILLS-PIONEER INCIDENTS - CHURCHES -AN EXCITING EVENT-ANOTHER CRIME-ZANES- VILLE-OLD ZANESVILLE - TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS -TOWN CLERKS-JUSTICES OF THE PEACE- CONSTABLES-SUPERVISORS-SUMMARY.

PECULIAR EXPERIENCE.

Zanesville Township has had a peculiar ex- perience. Its lands are fertile, its citizens are energetic and its location all that could be asked, yet its leading town, once the second one in the county, is no more. Railroads are not only makers of towns, but destroyers at times. Towns and cities are made and unmade by these giant forces that obliterate distance, unite countries once far removed, and create condi- tions unthought of by the early settler. When the Wabash railroad located its roadbed, and its towns, just outside Zanesville Township, the greater advantage overcome the advance made in Leesburg and decay began and soon the death knell was sounded over the once proud little capital of the splendid township. Zanesville Township is rich in reminiscent history, as well as rich in productiveness, and we will give so much of it as we can secure, that we think will interest the readers.

BOUNDARIES.

Zanesville Township originally, when still known as a precinct, included within its limits the present townships of Pitman and Bois D'Arc, but when township organization was adopted in 1872, it was reduced to its present dimensions. and is now bounded on the north by Pitman Township; on the east by Raymond Township: on the south by North Litchfield Township ; and on the west by Macoupin County, and contains a fraction over thirty-four sections of land. A portion is rolling, but not too much so for agricultural purposes, and many mag-

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

nificent farms are located in Zanesville Town- ship. It is in the great wheat belt of Illinois, and that cereal is raised in large quantities and also corn, oats, rye, barley and root products, vegetables and fruits. Some of the best fruit farms in this part of the state are found in Zanesville Township. The soil is a rich, black prairic loam, noted for its fertility. The West Fork of Shoal Creek, with its tributaries drain the township. In the early days there was quite a heavy growth of oak, walnut, hickory, elm, sycamore, and maple, but this has been cleared off. Considerable attention has been paid to the growing of artificial timber, and some of the country homes have been made beautiful by the shade and fruit trees that the owners have planted.

MOUND BUILDERS.

Zanesville Township is peculiarly interesting because of the relics found here of the mound builders. A very good idea of conditions exist- ing prior to the opening of this section for white settlement is given in the following quoted from a former history of the county :

"That this part of the county was at some time in the dim and remote past inhabited by a prehistoric race possessed of many of the attri- butes of what we term a high degree of enlight- eminent, is probable, from the existence of sev- eral mounds at different places throughout this territory and numerous strange relics that have been unearthed in several localities. Whence came they? Whither did they go? Who were these strange people? These questions must forever remain to form a melancholy interest in the wonderous past, and a mystery which neither time nor circumstance, nor science, nor the more wonderous future may reveal. But since their time, another race, mighty in num- bers, has come and gone from its ancient homes and favorite hunting grounds, although yet not quite extinct. When the white man made his first appearance in what is now the territory of Zanesville. it was a favorite hunting ground and retreat of several tribes of savages, notably the Kickapoos and Potawatomies. Their camp- ing grounds were usually selected near the source of Shoal Creek and the timber skirting Macoupin Creek, a small stream across the line in the adjoining county. When the white set- tlers began to increase in numbers, these

Indians moved further west, though at different intervals for several years revisited the scenes of their former camping places, but never to do any mischief. These visits were discontinued about the year 1830, and since that period no Indians have been seen in the northern part of Montgomery County."

EARLY SETTLERS.

There is no definite data with regard to the very first settler of Zanesville Township, but it is known that a man named Robert Palmer located near the once hamlet of Zanesville, where he operated a hotel as early as 1824, this being one of the first public houses in Mont- gomery County, and largely patronized by travelers on the road between Springfield and Vandalia which ran past his hotel. Unfortu- nately this place became the rendezvous of a gang of bad characters, and in time the place became noted as a dangerous locality. No new locality is without these gangs of criminals, their exploits forming a dark page in the history of every section. From this roadhouse the Montgomery County criminals were believed to operate and after several daring robberies in the surrounding territory, action was taken against the bandits, and Mr. Palmer left the neighborhood. It is reported that his end was no more creditable than his life. Several others located in the vicinity of the tavern, but they did not become permanent settlers, as they neither entered land nor bought it, and when they left, they were forgotten.

George Brua, the next actual settler, entered land that later formed the site of the village of Zanesville, in 1828. Through his energy a post office was established, and a town was developed which was called Leesburg after Robert E. Lee, a wholesale merchant of St. Louis, in whose name the land was entered. Mr. Brua was a far-sighted man, who took an active interest in public affairs, and he made great plans for the success of his little town. Among other things he built a storeroom and stocked it with merchandise bought at the warehouse of Mr. Lee in St. Louis, and trans- ported in wagons, a distance of seventy-five miles to the new town. Others were attracted here, and by 1830 there was a fine community on the high road to prosperity. Lots were sold rapidly, stores and residences were built, a

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

school was organized, and so flourishing, Lees- burg, or Zanesville as it came to be called, was considered second only to Hillsboro.

In 1829 a little settlement was made in the southwest corner of the township by some people from the south, among whom were Isaac Bailey, James Crawford, Thomas Williams, Zebedee Williams, and others. Robert Allen, Beatty Burke, George Burroughs, Dores S. Shumway and a Mr. Chastine entered and developed land near Zanesville prior to 1840. Between 1840 and 1848 another settlement was made around the head of Shoal Creek, and among the early settlers of that region were: Walker Williams, Elgin Smith, Jeff Parrott, Moses Martin, Joseph Vignos, and Doctor Cald-

. well, one of the pioneer physicians, who stayed with the town of Zanesville perhaps longer than any other man.

EARLY ROADS.

As early as 1830 there was a regularly laid- out road running between Jacksonville and Vandalia, and it was known by that name. The road leading from Carlinville to Taylorville was another early road, which originally ran from northeast to southwest, although in later years its course has been greatly changed. The St. Louis road was another early thoroughfare, and a very important one, and it passed through Zanesville Township in a northeasterly direc- tion. The Girard road, running through the western part of the township from north to south, the Zanesville and Litchfield road were among the early roads that brought Zanesville Township into close contact with the outside world.

EARLY MILLS.

In 1838. Edward Crawford built a primitive horse-power mill at Zanesville, and here was ground the grain for the early settlers. Later on this first mill was torn down, and there is now nothing to mark the spot of the first industrial plant of Zanesville Township. The Zanesville Mill was built in 1869, by Sharpe, Johnson and Berry at a cost of $16,000, with three runs of burrs, and capacity of 100 barrels of flour per day. For the times this was a very large mill, and the business transacted was immense. In 1872, however, Mr. Johnson sold his interest to Mr. Caldwell, and he in turn sold

to Sharpe and Berry in that same year. Owing to financial difficulties the latter firm sold the plant to Smitherman and Sinclair in 1873. The mill served its purpose well and when the busi- ness of the town ceased to give it an adequate support it ceased its daily grind, though the old building stands as a monument of the town's early prosperity.

PIONEER INCIDENTS.

The first election held in what was later to be Zanesville Township, of which there is any definite record, was in 1836, when George Brewer and James Crawford were elected jus- tices of the peace, which office they held for several consecutive years. On November 13, 1831, Stephen Crawford, son of James Craw- ford, was born, and this is the first recorded white birth of Zanesville Township. It was the same night that this section witnessed what is known as falling stars, a meteoric display that has gone down in history as a wonderful natural phenomenon, though now well under- stood by all students of astronomy.

CHURCHES.

As early as 1830, Elder James Street, the veteran pioneer preacher, held services at the home of Jacob Baker in Zanesville Township. The United Baptists were the first to organize a religious society in this neighborhood, and they had a church edifice at the head of Shoal Creek. The Old Providence Methodist Epis- copal Church, located about three miles south- west of Waggoner, is the oldest church in the northern part of Zanesville Township. From Mrs. F. O. Rogers we have the following infor- mation with regard to that old church: "Old Providence Methodist Episcopal Church was organized and dedicated to divine worship by Rev. Peter Cartwright in 1862. Among its early members may be mentioned John and Harriet Haynes, Charles H. and Samantha Burton, Theodore and Mary S. Rogers, William B. and Hilda Wood, William Whithorn and wife, Mrs. Naoma Richardson, William White and wife, Mary Husband, and Caroline M. Hackney. The church was largely attended in the days of its pristine usefulness. Among the preachers who served the membership may be named: Revs. Preston Wood, William S. Prentice, O. H. P. Ash, William McElfresh, William N. McElroy,

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Anderson Orr, William Mckinney, and A. Sloan. The larger part of the original members have passed over the great divide, but a few yet remain among whom we mention Stephen Rice, Mary S. Rogers, William B. Wood, and Green Haynes. This church was the center of interest, in its stirring revivals, weddings and funerals of the early days of the township. Services were held regularly in it till 1902, when the membership was transferred to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Waggoner, since that time the church had been used only for the purpose of funeral services and burials. For the last few years an annual gathering is held in this church known as the Home Coming Day, when the old members and their descendents and the friends of the past gather there on the first Sunday of July to celebrate the early revivals and exchange reminiscences of the olden times and the good influences of the old church. Many attend these Home Comings, coming hundreds of miles to meet the old associates and enjoy the gatherings. This was the church of my childhood and it gives me pleasure to give this little bit of history of the sacred Old Providence Church."

Another carly church was located in section 27 and still another in section 36, but we have not at hand any history pertaining to these early evidences of incoming civilization. With the building of towns near the border lines of this township, the interest in churches was naturally withdrawn from the rural churches, and toward those more favorably located. The Christian people had a church in old Zanesville which like several others is now but a dim reminiscence.

The building of railroads both makes and unmakes towns, and Zanesville Township has fallen, through no fault of her people, into the latter class. With Zanesville entirely; obli- viated, with new Zanesville and Shop Creek only stops on the railroad lines, and with a population wholly devoted to, and satisfied with, farming as a calling, it would seem that there is no chance for the urban spirit to develop there. Barnett, a nice little town near the southwestern corner of the township, has ex- tended her corporate lines so as to take in a part of Zanesville Township, but as the larger part of the town is in North Litchfield Town- ship, we have listed the town in that political division. A rural township has exciting events

as well as the township with cities, and we enliven this history with one or two of these.

AN EXCITING EVENT.

Andrew J. Nash, a rather quiet citizen, a son-in-law of Mr. Meisenheimer, who then lived on what is now known as the Cory place near Hillsboro, in connection with Alexander Locker- man, went to Zanesville to spend the Fourth of July about 1851 or 1852, and as grog shops were running wide open, they imbibed quite frecly, and a horse race was proposed. Locker- inan rode one of the horses, and fell off. Nash picked him up as an act of friendship, but Lockerman being of a quarrelsome disposition,. picked a quarrel with Nash, and a fight ensued. Lockerman was stabbed to death with a knife by Nash. Nash escaped to Texas, but was eventually caught, and tried at Carlinville and condemned to be hung. When the time came for the hanging, the people of the county went about almost en masse to see the performance. hundreds going the day before and camping near the city to be on hand early and get within seeing distance of the scaffold. Fearing that something might prevent the hanging, the Lockerman family and friends showed signs of organizing a mob to take the reins of justice in their own hands. Just before the hour arrived for the hanging, a courier arrived from the governor commuting the penalty to im- prisonment for life. Then the mob began to show some little signs of organizing, when Sheriff Burke of that county came out on the steps of the jail with his gun in his hand, and said in commanding voice : "Whoever

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 65

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