USA > Illinois > Warren County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Warren County, Volume II > Part 82
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
short time before the rest of the family to pre- pare the home for them. He was killed by the Indians August 9, of that year. Many of Mr. Martin's descendants still remain in the neigh- borhood. About the same time the Martins came, George Gibson came from Greene County, Ohio. He lived on Section 27. William I. Nevius came from Greene County, Ohio, in 1832 also, but only stayed a short time, removing in a couple of years or so over into Mercer County. David Moler settled about the same time near the west line of the township, mov- ing later to the northern part. He was from Gallia County, Ohio. Also the same year came William McCoy, settling where Little York now stands, and furnishing part of the townsite of that village. His son Joseph still lives in Little York. About the same time William and Thom- as Maley, natives of Lancaster County, Penn., settled in the same neighborhood. Their descendants are numerous, and many of them are citizens of the township. Other settlers of about the same date were James and John P. Giles, from Ohio, the former settling a little east of the center of the township, and his brother west of Little York. James Moffit came in the spring of 1832 from Lafayette, Indiana, locating on the northwest quarter of Section 19, on the town- ship line west of Little York. His wife was a sister of David Moler, previously mentioned. Mr. Moffit died suddenly in June following, and his widow two years later married John C. Os- born, who had come to Monmouth in 1832, and after his marriage made his home on the Moffit place, remaining there until his death in 1874. Rev. John Wallace, father of Thomas B. Wal- lace, of Little York, came as missionary of the Associate Reformed Church in 1833, and Charles Baldwin in 1834. Another of the early settlers was Anthony Cannon, who lived on the northwest quarter of Section 15. Benjamin and Ebenezer Scull came from New Jersey in 1835, settling southwest of Little York. In 1835 also came the Brownlees, Hamilton and David, set- tling on Section 16. Hamilton Brownlee was the father of French, Nathaniel and David, Jr., and David the father of Stephenson, Thomas and John. John Brownlee alone survives of the eight. Another David Brownlee settled on Sec- tion 10. He was known as "Scotch Davy" and also had a son David S., now living at Alexis, and quite aged; and a daughter who married Rev. William Bruce. Another pioneer of 1835
.
1005
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
was George S. Moore, father of John G. and H. R. Moore, who came from Ohio and settled on Section 11. He was a native of Henry Coun- ty, Ky. Other early settlers were J. W. Cald- well, son of John Caldwell, who had previously located in Hale, and the Conner family, who settled in the northwest quarter of Section. 2, and James Barton, who located on the south- east quarter of Section 16. David H. McCrery came from the Abbeyville district, South Carolina, in March, 1836, settling on Section 11. He was the father of Archibald, Joseph, David and John C., all of whom came here with him, and of one daughter, Margaret, later Mrs. James Patterson. He was also the grandfather of D. H. McCrery, of oMnmouth. The same year, 1836, came J. F. Arthurs, a North Caro- linian by birth, and settled on Section 15, re- maining there until his death. Joseph W., James C. and John C. Arthurs are his sons. Charles H. Paine came also in 1836 from Paines- ville, Ohio, locating on Section 27. He was the father of John E. Paine and Mrs. C. M. Rodgers. J. F. Pollock, a native of Nova Scotia, came the next year, 1837, and was the first post- master at Little York.
The first death in the township was that of James Moffit on July 18, 1832. His home was near where Little York now stands. His cattle having strayed away on the prairie, he got up- on a fence around a small garden spot to see if he could see them. Tripping in some way, he fell, dislocating his neck and dying soon afterwards. His widow married John C. Os- born. They moved to Oregon, and only es- caped being victims of the Whitman massacre by concealing themselves under the floor of their house. The next death was also a vio- lent one, that of William Martin, who' was killed by the Indians on August 9 of the same year. The story of this crime and the efforts to find and punish the perpetrators, is told fully elsewhere in this history.
The first school in the township was taught at Denny by Miss Betsy Hopper in 1834, and the first at Little York in 1837 by Peter Ter- pening, one of the early residents of Kelly township. The latest report of the county superintendent shows that there are six school districts in the township, with six frame school houses, one of them furnace heated. The school at Little York is a graded school. There are three male teachers who are paid wages rang- ing from $55 to $60, and four female teachers, 1005-21
paid from $30 to $40. The township has 146 males of school age, of whom 110 are enrolled in the schools, and 133 females of school age, of whom 101 are enrolled. There are three school libraries, containing 281 books worth $275; the tax levy for schools is $3,850; the value of school property, $6,650, and the value of school apparatus, $700.
The assessment roll for 1901 shows that at that time there were 1,069 horses, 2,487 cattle, 38 mules and asses, 729 sheep and 3,264 hogs. The total valuation of personal property was $358,475, and the assessed valuation was $72,- 035. The assessed valuation of lands was. $228,990 and of lots $17,845.
The population of the township in 1900 was: 1,029, including the 334 in Little York village. The population in 1890 was 891.
CEDAR CREEK UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
At a meeting held at the home of W. R. Jameson on South Henderson in what is now Henderson county, March 25, 1834, a number of pioneers who had been connected with the Associate Reformed church in the east pre- pared a petition to the Indiana Presbytery of that denomination asking for the appointment of a missionary in this county. In answer to this request Rev. Jeremiah Morrow, a licenti- ate, came and preached a few Sabbaths, using Mr. Jameson's log barn for preaching services in the Jameson settlement, and a log cabin on the farm of John Ritchie on the line between Sumner and Hale townships for services for the people in that neighborhood. These were the first Associate Reformed Church services in the county. Early in the spring of 1835 another .licentiate, Mr. Turner by name, preached for a few Sab- baths, and after him came Dr. Alexander Blaikie and Dr. Hugh Parks, both then young men. July 4, 1835, while millions were ex- ulting on the fifty-ninth anniversary of the na- tion's birthday, these two ministers were or- ganizing the "Associated Reformed Church of Warren and Mercer Counties," as it was then called. The congregation was also known as Sharon church. At a preliminary meeting three elders had been chosen for the congregation, W. R. Jameson, John Giles and John Ritchie, but Mr. Ritchie and five other of the prospect- ive members died of cholera a few days be-
1006
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
fore the day for organizing. Fifty-nine per- sons, coming from the Jameson settlement, the Little York neighborhood, and Mercer county, were received into membership on the day of organization. In the fall of 1835 Rev. John Wallace was appointed missionary and preach- ed for the people until the year 1838.
In the year 1836, or early in 1837, the con- gregation divided, forming the South Hender- son and Cedar Creek congregations. The char- ter members of the Cedar Creek church were eighteen in number, and comprised the follow- ing: Jolın Giles, James Giles, John P. Giles, Hugh Martin, Prudence Giles, Susannah Giles, Nancy Giles, Margaret Giles, Mary L. Giles, Susan Giles. Jane Giles, John Williamson, James Campbell, Mary Findley, Nancy Robin- son, James Findley, George Jay, Mary A. Jay.
Rev. James C. Porter was the first settled pastor of the Cedar Creek congregation, com- ing in 1840 and being installed the year fol- lowing. He remained in charge for nearly twenty-three years until his death in 1863. Rev. John A. Reynolds was pastor from 1863 to 1872; Rev. J. M. Acheson, from 1872 to 1884: Rev. J. A. Gehrett, from 1884 to 1885, and Rev. William Donaldson from April, 1886, to the present time.
The first house of worship of this people was the log cabin on the farm of John Ritchie pre- viously mentioned. After his death, in settling up his estate, the building was sold to Alex. Williams. The second church was much like the first, but with floor and windows, which had been lacking in the first. It stood near the north end of the cemetery on the line between Sections 21 and 22. It was soon found to be too small and an extensive addition to it was built. The third building took the place of the second, and was at that day considered one of the finest church buildings in the county. It was a frame structure, 40 by 50 feet in size, and stood just north of the cemetery. The present building stands on the southeast corner of Section 15, about three miles northeast of Little York and a mile east of the previous buildings. It was erected in 1866 at a cost of about $4,000, but was remodeled in 1897 into a modern and handsome place of worship. The congregation also owns a parsonage, about a mile from the church.
Cedar Creek became a Unitcd Presbyterian church on the union of the Associate Reformed and the Associate (Seceder) denominations,
forming the United Presbyterian denomination, in 1858. It has given to the ministry of that church Rev. John H. Brown, D. D., Rev. Daniel Harris, Rev. John F. Graham, Rev. A. M. Nich- ol, Rev. Nelson Mitchell, Rev. L. N. Lafferty, Rev. G. I. Findley, Rev. E. E. Douglass, Rev. James McConnell, and Rev. Guy J. McCracken. The present membership of the congregation is 100.
LITTLE YORK.
Little York was the twelfth town platted in Warren County. It was surveyed by County Surveyor William C. Butler August 25, 1836, the site being in the southeast corner of Sec- tion 20 and the southwest corner of Section 21, on land owned by William McCoy, Matthew D. Ritchey, and McCallon & Hogue. The town or- iginally consisted of eight blocks, with Main street running east and west, and Walnut, Broadway and Cedar streets running north and south. Five additions have been laid out since. Little York is on the line of the Iowa Central Railway, and Cedar creek flows from east to west just north of the village.
An effort was made to incorporate the village of Little York in 1893, the county court order- ing an election February 6 to vote on the mat- ter on petition of thirty-four voters within the boundaries of the proposed town. The propo- sition was defeated, thirty-two votes being cast for incorporation, and forty-five against it. An- other vote on the proposition, taken May 11, 1894, resulted in a majority for incorporation, and a special election to choose six trustees was ordered by County Judge Norcross for June 12 of the same year. Seventy-four ballots were cast at this election, and the trustees elected were Frank Barrows, George Schuchman, Dr. A. R. Graham, H. R. Moore, H. L. Martin and B. S. Dodson. H. R. Moore was the first vil- lage president, serving from the incorporation of the village until the spring of 1897. C. H. Stewart was president from 1897 to 1900, and W. H. Brown from 1900 to 1902. The clerks have been: D. R. Morris, P. H. Shugart, C. A. Goff, and W. L. Vail. The officers elected in April, 1902, are: President, W. H. Brown; trustees, J. S. Pollock, John Rowe, T. E. Wal- ters, W. H. Speck, A. M. Nelson, D. A. Cope- land; clerk, E. C. Pollock; treasurer, H. R. Moore; police magistrate, H. E. Shugart.
James Kendall opened the first store in the township in 1833, in the blockhouse not far
1007
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
from the present site of the village. He died the next year, and his widow moved the goods to a building on the site of the village and con- tinued in the trade. Later she sold to Arthur McFarland, and he to J. F. Pollock, who became postmaster on the establishment of the post- office at Little York in 1838. Mr. Pollock held the office well on to twenty years, then moved to Oregon. The postmasters who have followed him are William Munsey, Robert Drake, Dr. Gibson, Isaac Hopper, Mr. Williver, William Munsey again, Milton Munsey, Ed Henry, M. M. Palmer, C. H. Stewart, and the present post- master, James G. Gabby.
A disastrous fire occurred at Little York on the morning of July 23, 1889. It started in Stewart & Reynolds' drug store, and the largest part of the business portion of the town was destroyed, with a loss of about $25,000. May 22, 1896, fire started in the grocery store of Goff Bros., and caused the destruction of two or three buildings and a loss of $6,000. March 28, 1897, another fire took a row of five build- ings on the east side of South Main street, com- mencing in W. J. Laird's meat market. The loss was estimated at $13,600.
The First National Bank of Little York was organized first as a private bank in July, 1890, with W. S. Weir as president, R. M. Stevenson vice-president, and S. L. Thomson cashier. The change to a national bank was made January 2, 1902. The present officers are: R. M. Stev- enson, president; W. B. Weir, vice-president: S. L. Thomson, cashier: J. C. Wallace, assist- ant cashier; R. M. Stevenson, W. G. Stevenson, W. B. Weir, N. C. Ranney and S. L. Thomson, directors. The capital stock is $25,000, and the deposits about $80,000.
The only newspaper in the village, The Little York Ensign, was started by R. S. Hook in 1885. It has had a varied experience, with a dozen or more publishers in the short period of its history. Those after Mr. Hook were: N. J. McCormick, Harkraker & Son, McCoy & Dains, W. A. Bryans, W. F. Porter, Lee McDill, Will Vallandigham, J. A. Bryans, H. F. Purcell and the present proprietor, O. H. Akin.
CHURCHES.
The Little York United Presbyterian church was organized April 19, 1863, by Rev. John Scott, D. D., of Monmouth, under appointment of the Presbytery of Monmouth, though the
church now belongs to the Presbytery of Rock Island. At the formation there were forty-one members, all of them coming from the Cedar Creek and Henderson congregations. The first pastor was Rev. W. H. McMillan, who was or- dained and installed October 4, 1864, and labor- ed in the congregation for six years. He was succeeded by Rev. W. T. Campbell, who was or- dained and installed June 13, 1871, and re- mained four years. Other pastors have been: Rev. David Anderson, G. W. Hamilton, J. H. Clark, W. P. White, H. J. Bell, W. R. Cox and W. A. K. Campbell. Rev. J. A. Shannon is now supplying the congregation under appointment of the Presbytery. The congregation has a modern house of worship, remodeled in 1899 at a cost of $2,500. The present membership is 125.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Little York was organized in 1890, among the charter members being Mrs. Bell Applegate, Mrs. Nan Schuchman, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Walker, Miss Lucy Walker, Mrs. Lou Hays, Mary and Allie Hays, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kitzmiller, Mr. and Mrs. Addison Trostle, and Miss Grace Fink. The year after organization a neat little church building was erected and dedicated, August 16, 1891, by Rev. A. P. Beal, assisted by President Evans, of Hedding College. The different pas- tors of the church have been: Revs. A. P. Beal, Thos. Ballew, G. W. Peregoy, Charles F. Crane, McCormick, and Brink. The present member- ship of the church is thirty-five.
W. C. T. U.
The Little York Women's Christian Temper- ance Union was organized May 21, 1902, by Miss Carrie C. Brehm, the state president, and Miss Margaret L. Wiley, district president. The organization started with thirty members and the following officers: President, Mrs. D. R. Acheson; Vice-presidents, Mrs. John Rowe, Mrs. J. G. Gabby; Corresponding Secretary, Miss Campbell; Recording Secretary. Mrs. S. L. Thomson; Treasurer, Mrs. John McCoy.
SECRET ORDERS.
York Lodge No. 153, I. O. O. F., was insti- tuted December 9, 1884, by some thirty members of the order from Monmouth and other neigh- boring towns. The lodge began with five charter members and four initiates. They were all on the list of first officers, and were: William Fil-
·
1008
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
ler, Noble Grand; John W. Rowe, Vice Grand; A. E. Birdsall, T .; C. R. Copeland, C .; George Adcock, R. S. V. C .; F. W. Porter, S .; Casper Galloway, W .; Charles Cannon, R. S. N. G .; T. D. Gordon, G. The present membership of the lodge is forty-two, and the officers are: W. R. Walters, N. G .; J. R. Garwood, R. S .; J. W. Friel, L. S .; W. F. Brownlee, V. G .; T. J. Flat- ley, R. S .; R. L. Bryans, L. S .; J. A. Bryans, Secretary; A. F. Fawley, Per. Secretary; J. W. Friel, Treasurer.
Home Tribune No. 73, of the Fraternal Trib- unes, was organized September 15, 1899, with 63 members. Ralph Laird was Past Chief Trib- une; Henry T. Vaill, Chief Tribune; Clara E. Ranney, Vice Tribune; Charles L. Searl, Secretary; and Searl,
James L. Treas- urer. The present membership is 26, and Ralph Laird is Past Chief Tribune; Wm. L. Applegate, Chief Tribune; Horace Parsons, Vice Tribune; H. T. Vaill, Secretary; and Ralph Laird, Treas- urer.
The Little York Camp of the Modern Wood- men of America was organized April 19, 1893, with twenty members, and the following offi- cers: Dr. A. R. Graham, Venerable Consul; William Lang, Worthy Adviser; George E. Barr, Clerk; George M. Bay, Escort; W. L. Applegate, Banker. The present membership is sixty-eight, and the officers are: W. H. Brown, V. C .; George Barr, Worthy Adviser; George M. Bay, Clerk; W. L. Vail, Banker; T. B. Piper, Escort.
The Ideal Union was organized November 6, 1901, with twenty-two members. The first offi- cers were: Charles Frantz, Past Director; John Mackey, Director; Ralph Streeter, Vice Director; W. M. Vail, Secretary; E. H. McIn- tyre, Treasurer. The present membership of the society is eighteen, and the officers are: Frank Johnson, Past Director; Charles Frantz, Director; Ralph Streeter, Vice Director; W. M. Vail, Secretary; W. M. Streeter, Treasurer.
The Home Forum had a local organization, but it has now gone out of existence. It was in- stituted in 1895 or 1896.
DENNY.
The first postoffice in the township, and, with the exception of the one at Monmouth, the first in the county, was established in 1831 at the Rockwell & Ruffum mill, and was given the name of Cedar Creek Postoffice. Jonathan Buf-
fum was the first postmaster, but he was suc- ceeded by L. P. Rockwell, when he disposed of his interest in the mill in 1832, and the latter held the position for twenty years. In 1851 the name of the office was changed to Denny, and it so remained until the establishment of the postoffice at Eleanor, only three-quarters of a mile away. There were at one time several stores at Denny, but now, were it not for the name that still attaches to the district school, the place would be only a memory. Miss Betsy Hopper taught school in the township here in 1834.
ELEANOR.
This is the latest town platted in Warren County. It is near to the site of old Denny, which was one of the earliest settlements in the county. Eleanor was laid out by County Surveyor J. Ed. Miller December 1, 1892, on the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 35, on land owned by C. P. Avenell. It consists of three blocks and a tract of land not subdivided.
The postoffice was established at Eleanor in 1882, with W. H. Torbett as postmaster, the office being transferred from Denny. The post- masters since Mr. Torbett have been: J. W. Reynolds, W. M. Rodgers, W. H. Torbett (sec- ond term), and the present incumbent, R. J. Mitchell.
Even before the town of Eleanor was plat- ted, the question of erecting a building in which religious services could be held was agitated. As early as 1886 a meeting was held in the Iowa Central depot, at which it was virtually decided to erect such a building, to be strictly undenominational, and open to any evangelical minister who might be secured to conduct ser- vices. Active work, however, was delayed until 1894, when the Eleanor Mission was organized with officers as follows: President, A. B. Yoho; Secretary, Robert L. Avenell; Treasurer, W. M. Rodgers; Trustees, W. H. Mckinnon, J. F. Schweitzer, Thomas Clark. A neat little build- ing was erected, 18x40 feet in size, with a tower, at a cost of near $2,000, and dedicated January 6, 1895, by President J. B. McMichael, of Mon- mouth College, and President J. G. Evans, of Hedding College, Abingdon. A Sabbath school was organized, and carried on regularly, and preaching was held nearly every Sabbath.
The Mission was re-organized February 12, 1898, as the Eleanor United Presbyterian
1009
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
church, by a commission consisting of Rev. W. T. Campbell, D. D., and Elders James Nesbit and John A. Templeton, all of Monmouth. There were thirty-six charter members, and the rul- ing elders chosen were Thomas Clark, E. S. McClellan, R. L. Avenell, J. C. Schweitzer, W. H. Mckinnon and W. H. Torbett. The pastors of the church have been Revs. F W. Schmunk, William Brown, and the present pastor, J. E. Kerr. The membership is about 35.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ALECOCK, JANE (DAVEY), Little York, Sumner Township, was born at Euston, Suffolk, England, November 22, 1823, a daughter of James and Charlotte (Ager) Davey. James Davey was born in Suffolk, England, and lived to be eighty-eight years old: Charlotte Ager was born at Lineville, Suffolk, and died at the age of thirty-five years. Jones and Elizabeth Davey were the parents of James Davey, and the grandparents, in the paternal line, of the subject of this sketch, and they were both natives of England, as were also Joseph and Re- becca (Baker) Ager, her grandparents in the maternal line. Mrs. Alecock came early in life to the United States from England, where for four years she had been a maid in the household of the Duke of Grafton. She was married in New York in 1856 to Louis Beeton, a native of England, and they came the same year to Boone County, Ill., where Mr. Beeton died in 1858. Mrs. Beeton was married at Chicago July 24, 1864, to Abijah Paynter, who became a farmer in Sumner Township and who is buried at Mon- mouth. Her marriage to James Alecock was celebrated in England, February 5, 1872. Dur- ing her second widowhood, in company with her brother, she visited their old home in Eng- land, and there she met Mr. Alecock, who was in charge of the Light Guard Boating Club, with whom, in time, she returned to America, and he eventually purchased a farm in Sum- ner Township, which he operated successfully until his retirement, after which he lived on a ten-acre homestead until he died very suddenly of heart failure. Mrs. Alecock has three broth- ers and a sister, and one of her brothers and a sister remained in England. One of her broth- ers fought under the stars and stripes in the civil war, and received a wound in battle that
crippled him for life. He is a well-to-do farmer in Sumner Township. Her brother George was shipwrecked while returning from a visit to England, but finally reached the United States and came to Illinois, where, for forty years, he was section boss on the line of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. He met his death by being run over by a train, October 3, 1901, only a short time previous to the date on which he would have been retired on a pension. Her brother, who has remained in England, has de- voted himself to the cultivation of flowers, and has long officiated as clerk of his parish of the church of England.
BROWNLEE, JOHN; farmer and stock- raiser; Little York, Sumner Township; is a son of David and Ann (Stephenson) Brownlee, and was born in Washington County, Penn., August 22, 1831. His parents were born there, his father in 1798, his mother in 1800, and his father died in Sumner Township in 1837 and his mother in 1850. His paternal grandfather was Thomas Brownlee, and Gen. James Steph- enson, of Revolutionary fame, was his grand- father in the maternal line. After the Revolu- tionary War, General Stephenson was promi- nent in public life, and represented Washington County, Penn., in the House of Representatives. He died at 4 P. M., Thursday, December 21, 1815, and the Governor and members of the Senate and House of Representatives of Penn- sylvania attended his funeral in a body, and his fellow-representatives wore crape on their sleeves for thirty days. David Brownlee brought his family to Illinois in 1835 and settled in Sumner Township, where he bought a farm in Section 16, on which he lived until his death, which occurred when the subject of this sketch was very young. The early death of his father brought the younger Brownlee and his broth- ers much responsibility, which they accepted manfully. John Brownlee was educated in the common schools and has given his entire life to farming and stock-raising. A Prohibi-
tionist in politics, he wields considerable influ- ence. He is at this time the oldest native resi- dent of his township, and remembers a time when there was but one or two houses within sight of his father's home. He is the owner of 240 acres of land, and is successful both as a farmer and stock-raiser. He and his family are members of the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Brownlee married at Keithsburg, October
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.