USA > Illinois > Warren County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Warren County, Volume II > Part 86
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ship, in all exceeding 400 acres of land. He died May 25, 1866, and his widow, July 25, 1871. When Charles J. Thomas reached his majority he left the parental home to engage in the struggle of life for himself. His business sense and industry have been well rewarded, and, together with his wife, he owns an estate of 525 acres, where they have a fine brick home in Section 23. He is a School Trustee.
TUCKER, GEORGE, was born in Swan Township, February 22, 1849, a son of James and Caroline (Johnston) Tucker, both natives of Washington County, Penn., and a grandson of Tempest and Sarah (McLean) Tucker, both natives of New Jersey. His great-grandpar- ents, James and Sarah (Bane) Tucker, were also natives of New Jersey, as were his mater- nal grandparents, Daniel and Sarah (Kirkpat- rick) Johnston. His maternal great-grand- parents were James Johnston, born in Ireland in 1724, and Jeanette Gaston, also a native of Ireland. George Tucker was educated in War- ren county, and later attended the University of Chicago for some time. He was married in Monmouth September 17, 1873, to Addie John- son, by whom he has had five children: Hari- ette May, born May 9, 1875; Elizabeth Adalina, born June 27, 1878; Idalene Frances, born August 10, 1880; George Edwin, born October 9. 1883; and Phoebe Caroline, born November 22, 1888. All are at home but Idalene, who is attending school in Wisconsin. Mrs. Tucker- was born in Oneonta County, New York, Sep- tember 15, 1849, the daughter of Edwin C. and Harriette (Coe) Johnston. Her parents were both born in New York, and came to Mon- mouth in 1857, where her father followed the trade of a jeweler many years. Her mother died in 1880.
James Tucker, noted in the preceding para- graph, came from his native state to Illinois in 1834, and the following year secured a farm in what is now Section 4, in Swan Township, Warren county, but he built a log house on Section 9, which was his home for a time. At later periods he lived on both the northwest and the southwest quarters of Section 4, in the same township, where he finally built himself a permanent home in his last location. He was a prominent character, and served two years in the State Legislature, being elected in 1846; also served as Assessor before the organization of Henderson County, his field of work extend- ing west as far as the Mississippi River. For
George Jucker
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
many years he served as Justice of the Peace, and at different times was Deputy County Sur- veyor and Commissioner of Highways. In 1881 he removed to Roseville, where he lived until his death, March 26, 1890. He was twice mar- ried, the first time to Abigail Long, May 19, 1836. To them was born one child, Elizabeth, now Mrs. John Coghill, of Monmouth. The mother died March 26, 1838. James Tucker's second wife came to Warren County in 1840, and they were married April 27, of the same year. She died in Roseville, November 22, 1888.
In his religious views George Tucker is a Baptist, and in his politics a Republican. He lives on the old homestead where he owns a farm of 511 acres.
WARREN, DANIEL R., well known mer- chant of Swan Creek and regarded as a leader in the Democratic party, was born in Westches- ter, September 8, 1857, a son of George P. and Augusta (Sears) Warren, natives of Fairfield County, Conn., and Brooklyn, respectively. His parental grandparents are David and Clarinda Warren, both natives of Fairfield County, Conn .; and his grandmother on the maternal side also bore the name of Augusta Sears. David R. Warren had his preparation for active life in the public schools, and was married Novem- ber 22, 1887, to Eliza Jennings, at Youngstown. To this marriage was born one child, George B. Mrs. Eliza Warren was born March 13, 1850, the daughter of Edmund and Malinda ( Hook- er) Jennings, both natives of Indiana, and settlers of Warren County about 1840, where they followed farming in Swan Township. George T. Warren, accompanied by his son, David R., moved from Connecticut to Kansas in 1870, but the former did not long remain. He returned in about six months to his Eastern home. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and his wife of the Methodist. For many years he was a foreman in a shoe fac- tory in the city of New York. Both Mr. and Mrs. Warren's parents are deceased. After a residence of eight years in Kansas, David R. Warren came back east as far as Galesburg, Ill., where he made his home for three years, and later was employed as a clerk in a store in Swan Creek, Warren County, for two years. At the end of that time he engaged in the gen- eral merchandize business at that point on his own account, in which he has been very suc-
cessful, and which he still conducts to the sat- isfaction of his patrons and to his own profit. He filled the position of Town Clerk for two terms and School Treasurer nine years with credit. He belongs to the Free Masons and the Odd Fellows, and is highly esteemed in both fraternities.
WATT, BENJAMIN F., who has been a res- ident of Swan Township since 1864, came to Greenbush Township, Warren County, in 1861, and in that time has won a reputation as one of the leading farmers of this fertile and pros- perous county, was born in Madison County, Ill., September 30, 1840, a son of Felix K. and Polly C. (Hagler) Watt, natives of Warren, Ky., and of Tennessee, respectively. His grandfather, James Watt, was born in Ken- tucky, June 25, 1793, and married February 10, 1814, to Diana Stice, who was born in North Carolina, July 14, 1792. Samuel Watt, the father of James, was born in Pennsylvania, and became a soldier of the Revolution, serv- ing at first in the militia, and afterward in the regular army. The latter part of his life was spent in Kentucky, where he died in Warren at the age of sixty-eight. John Watt, the fath- er of Samuel, came from Ireland. Polly C. Hagler was the daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Graham) Hagler, both natives of Tennessee. Benjamin F. Watt was reared to a farming life and educated in the public schools. He is a member of the Christian church, a Democrat in politics, and holds the position of Commissioner of Highways. His marriage to Arminda C. Simmons occurred in Swan Township, February 21, 1864, and they have had six children: James A., who married Maggie Irwin; Willam P., who married Sena Sands; Diana I .; Louis A .; Arminda Carrie, who married Jacob Adkinson; and John C., who married Maggie Shoop. Mrs. Arminda C. Watt was born in Greenbush Township, War- ren County, November 14, 1837, the daughter of James and Sallie (Stice) Simmons. They came to Warren County from Madison County in 1835, having removed to Madison County from Warren, Ky. They were farmers. Both are now dead. James Watt, the grandfather of Benjamin F., moved from Warren, Ky., to what is now Madison County, Ill., in 1817, while Illinois was still a territory, locating on a quarter section of land, which was his home as long as he lived. Felix K. Watt was brought
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
by his parents from Kentucky to Illinois at two years of age, the journey being made by pack-horses. He became a farmer, and lived in Madison County most of his life. His death occurred in the home of his son, Benjamin F., September 12, 1881. Benjamin F. Watt came into Greenbush Township in 1861, and bought a farm in Section 35, Swan Township. He now owns 335 acres of very choice land, and is a prosperous farmer. While he does general farming, he gives special attention to stock. He has been School Trustee six years, and is serving his second term as Highway Commis- sioner. In the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows he is an esteemed and valuable member.
CHAPTER LIII.
TOMPKINS TOWNSHIP.
(Township 10 North, Range 3 West.)
At the first organization of the townships. which was afterward declared illegal, this township was given the name of Center Grove, but when the organization was perfected in 1854, the committee gave it the present name of Tompkins. It is in the middle of the west- ern row of townships. The entire area of the township is well adapted for farming and stock-raising. The eastern portion is undu- lating, but the northwestern and southern parts are more broken. South Henderson creek runs east and west through the center of the town- ship, and with this and Tom creek in the north- western part, the township is well watered and drained. There is considerable timber along Tom creek and a little on the Henderson. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad passes through the township, entering about a mile west of the northeast corner and passing out near the middle of the west line. The Atchi- son, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad cuts diag- onally across the southeast corner, almost par- allel with the Burlington. Kirkwood is the station on the Burlington road, and Ponemah the one on the Santa Fe.
Tompkins Township was organized April 4, 1854. Orrin Lamphere was moderator of the town meeting, and T. W. Beers and Daniel M. Smiley were clerks. The first officers chosen were: Supervisor, Joseph Tinkham; Town Clerk, Daniel M. Smiley; Assessor, James H. Martin; Collector, John L. Hanna; High-
way Commissioners, Seth Smith,
T. F.
Hogue; Justices of the Peace, William Hanna, James L. Rusk; Constables, H. R. Norcross, John L. Hanna; Overseers of the Poor, William Norcross, Orrin Lamphere.
The present officers of the township are: Supervisor, R. W. Houston; Town Clerk, J. H. Gilmore; Assessor, J. F. Thomson; Col- lector, L. H. Martin; Highway Commissioners, S. H. Smith, J. O. Talbott, J. T. Stinemates; Justice, C. H. Mundorff; Constable, James A. Green. Those who have served the township as supervisor to the present time are: Joseph Tinkham, 1854-56; William Hanna, 1857; Geo. Tubbs, 1858-61; J. L. Bachelor, 1861-62; Henry Tubbs, 1863-65; James Moore, 1866; Cyrus Bute, 1867; Henry Tubbs, 1868-69; N. A. Chap- in, 1870; W. G. Latimer, 1871; Henry Tubbs, 1872; W. M. Galbraith, 1873; Hugh Gilmore, 1874-75; Thomas W. Beers, 1876; J. E. Barnes, 1877-79; T. W. Beers, 1880; W. G. Latimer, 1881; Henry Tubbs, 1882; Robert Gamble, 1883- 84; J. C. McLinn, 1885; E. R. Houlton, 1886; James W. Rusk, 1887-1895: William H. Hart- well, 1896-99; Robert W. Houston, 1900-02.
The first settler in Tompkins Township is said to have been John Quinn, but he did not stay long, pulling up his stakes and removing to Hale Township. He was from Greene Coun- ty, Ohio, and a relative of Willam Nash, all early settler of Hale. In 1830 three families came from Greene County, and settled in Cen- ter Grove neighborhood, northwest of the pres- ent village of Kirkwood. Wilson Kendall lo- cated on Section 6, living there until 1850 or 1851, when he went to Oregon and died there. Samuel Hanna made a home on Section 5, and remained until his death, rearing a large and respected family. The third of the party, James Gibson, located on Section 7, and made that his home as long as he lived. He was the father of the late J. K. Gibson. A little later came Zachariah M. Davis, a Virginian, locat- ing near to Gibson's. After a number of years he removed to Nebraska, staying there less than a year, and returning to Kirkwood, where his death occurred in August, 1900. The year
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
1835 saw a large addition to the population of the township. Matthew Findley, with his wife and family of six children, came from Penn- sylvania, but went to Henderson County the next year: Joseph Tinkham and his brother- in-law, Joshua Porter, came from Vermont, the former settling on Section 19 and remain- ing there until 1881, when he moved into Kirk- wood, and Mr. Porter only staying a year, then going to Spring Grove Township. Ransom Tinkham came about the same time to Mon- mouth, then in 1836 to this township, making his home also on Section 19 until his removal in 1876 into Kirkwood, where he died. His wife was a daughter of William W. Forwood, a pioneer of Spring Grove. In 1836 A. P. Car- michael, father of C. A. Carmichael, of Kirk- wood, came, but soon afterward moved into Henderson County. He returned to Warren County in 1857, living here until 1870, when he removed to Red Oak, Iowa, where his death oc- curred March 26, 1900. Isaac Ray came from Kentucky in 1837, settling on Section 7, where he died. Samuel Cresswell and family came from Greene County, Ohio, landing at Oquawka the evening of May 15th, 1840, and all walking to Center Grove. He built the first grist mill ill the township, operating it with a tread-mill and oxen. Judson Graves, Benjamin Tompkins (from whom the township got its name), and C. H. Warren were also among the early set- tlers.
It will be seen that there was quite a settle- ment at Center Grove even as early as 1831, and there were also several families residing just across the line in what is now Henderson County, and near to Center Grove. They made an effort to secure a location of the county seat there at that time, but the commissioners ap- pointed for that purpose thought the present site of Monmouth was more central and more favorably located.
The Methodist Protestant church at Liberty Chapel, on the northeast corner of Section 35, was the outgrowth of a class which was formed in 1863, at what was known as the Herring school house, afterward known as Prospect, and now Liberty school house, two miles west of where the chapel now stands. The class, under the administration of Rev. S. N. David- son, built a house of worship, 28x40 feet in size, during 1869, at a cost of $1,800, and it was dedicated in November of that year by Rev. C. Gray, president of the Northern Illinois Con-
ference. The lot was donated by J. O. Talbot, who also gave the name of Liberty Chapel to the church, it having been dedicated free of debt. In 1874 Liberty Chapel was made a station, and Rev. M. Hardy appointed pastor. The parsonage at Ellison was sold to the trus- tees, and a new one erected on a two-acre tract adjoining the church, at a cost of $1,000. The church at Larchland is a part of Liberty class, and is known as Grace Chapel. The following have served as pastors: S. N. Davidson, J. L. Barton, W. W. Williams, W. J. Stubbles, M. Handy, J. M. Mayall, Thos. Kelly, J. W. Kidd, J. A. Reichard, W. I. Davenport, H. M. Bowen, J. S. Snyder, R. Pacey, A. J. Wolfe, J. C. Mc- Caslin, and the present pastor, R. E. Fox. The present membership is 125.
The latest reports in the office of the County Superintendent show that there are now twelve schools in the township, eleven with frame and one with a brick building. The two schools in Kirkwood are graded. There were two male teachers paid from $33 1-3 to $80 per month, and twelve female teachers, paid from $27.50 to $42.00 per month. The males of school age in the township were 225, of whom 159 were enrolled in the schools, and the females of school age 201, of whom 165 were enrolled. There were four school libraries, with seventy volumes, valued at $100. The tax levy for schools was $6,310, the value of school prop- erty $16,725, the value of school apparatus $205, and the bonded debt was $5,500. There was one high school-at Kirkwood.
The assessment rolls for 1901 show that there were then in the township 795 horses, 3,182 cat- tle, 51 mules, 155 sheep, and 3,879 hogs. The total value of personal property was $751,950, and the assessed valuation $149,535. The as- sessed valuation of lands was $249,605, and of lots $53,280.
The population of the township in 1900 was 1,658, a decrease of nine from the figures of 1890.
KIRKWOOD.
This village, the second in size in the county, outside of Monmouth, was platted as "Young America" by County Surveyor J. W. Adcock, September 19, 1854, and a very ornate map of the town is on record in the county offices. The original town was located on the east side of the southeast quarter of Section 8, on land belonging to A. G. Kirkpatrick and David Ir-
.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
vine, and there have been several subsequent additions.
The village was incorporated August 12, 1865, under the name of Young America, and on August 19, 1872, incorporated under the general law. On the latter date also a vote was taken on changing the name of the village, two names being proposed, America and Marquette, the name of the first white man on Illinois soil. Eleven votes were cast for the name America, 38 for Marquette, and 132 against any change. Young America therefore remained the name of the village until May 22, 1874, when the name Kirkwood was adopted with but one dis- senting vote. The first trustees were J. K. Cummings, J. B. Sofield, A. Carmichael, Orrin Lanphere and J. L. Batchelor, with Mr. Cum- mings as president of the board, and Mr. So- field as clerk. The board established the boundaries of the village, shortly after its first organization, as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of Section 9, thence one mile west, thence one mile south, thence one mile east, thence one mile north to the place of beginning. The presidents of the village board to the present time have been: J. K. Cummings, 1865; Al- bert Mitchell, 1866-67; S. D. Perkins, 1868; J. C. Lockwood, 1869-70; George W. Kellogg, 1871; David Woods, 1872; Hugh Gilmore, 1873; Henry Cresswell, 1874; Hugh Gilmore, 1875; G. W. Kellogg, 1876; H. W. Allen, 1877; J. B. Sofield, 1878; H. Gilmore, 1879; George W. Kellogg, 1880-81; J. M. McClanahan, 1882-83; F. M. Davidson, 1884; (Records missing for 1885-87); C. H. Mundorff, 1888; (Records missing for 1889); C. A. Carmichael, 1890; W. H. Hartwell, 1891; George Abbey, 1892; C. H. Mundorff, 1893-94; Paul D. Salter, 1895; C. H. Mundorff, 1896; J. M. McClanahan, 1897; W. C. Tubbs, 1898-1901; C. H. Mundorff, 1902. The present officers of the village are: C. H. Mun- dorff, president; G. A. Baxter, clerk; R. R. Davison, treasurer; J. H. Gilmore, W. K. Gamble, J. C. Ackerman, J. F. Kyler, Jas. A. Green, W. J. Smith, trustees; J. S. Glover, police magistrate; S. P. Holmes, marshal; J. S. Allard, street superintendent; R. L. Everett, fire marshal.
Although the townsite was platted in 1854, there was really no town until after the rail- road was completed through it in 1855. The postoffice was established January 1, 1856, un- der the name of Linden, and with W. W. Gil-
more as postmaster. June 9 following, the name of the office was changed to Young Amer- ica, and then to Kirkwood, when that became the name of the village. The office is now a presidential one, and the postmaster is John Holliday, who has been in charge since 1897. The postmasters up to the present time have been: W. W. Gilmore, George Williams, W. M. Galbraith, John E. Willett, Elias Schenbarger, John B. Sofield, Nealy Gordon, A. B. Holliday, G O. Cole, and John Holliday. Two rural routes were started from this office February 1, 1902, with Carl H. Thomson and F. L. Gibson as carriers.
The first building erected in the village was a hotel and restaurant put up by the railroad company. The first store was started by Carr & Rankin, and the second by Knowles, Ray & Chapin.
The first school in the neighborhood was held northwest of town on what is now the Mineral Spring grounds, but known then as the "hooking quarter." Squire James H. Mar- tin was the first teacher, and was followed by a man named Queal. Later a school for the younger children was opened in the village with W. W. Pease as teacher. The first public school was held in Ray's hall, in a warehouse owned by Knowles, Ray & Chapin, west of where the Columbia hotel now stands. A school house was built in the south part of the village in 1861, and taught the first year by a Mr. Carr from Galesburg. At the same time a school was carried on in the room over J. H. Gilmore's present store room. August 28, 1865, a tax of 2 3-4 per cent. was levied for the purpose of building a school house on the north side of the railroad, on a square owned by the village. The building was completed in 1866 at a cost of $3,000, and opened for use in November of that year, with Misses Angie Egbert and Abbie Perkins as teachers. Miss Underhill (now Mrs. Henry Tubbs) and Miss Laura A. Brown were teachers in the south building at the same time, but after a few weeks Miss Underhill was transferred as an ad- ditional teacher at the north school and her place at the south school was taken by Miss Luella Perkins. The north school was burned December 6, 1898, and the next year a hand- some brick school house was erected on its site. The building cost about $9,000, and was built by Contractor J. W. Sanderson, of Bur- lington. W. C. Tubbs was president of the
0
IO3I
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
board at the time. The present board is com- posed of John Holliday, president; W. K. Gam- ble, clerk; Dr. J. M. McClanahan, treasurer. The teaching force for the year 1902-03 is: T. E. Savage, principal; Miss Mattie Armstrong, Sadie Green, Anna C. Hogue, north school; Miss Melle Willett, south school.
The city water works plant consists of two deep wells, one about 125 feet and pumped by a windmill, and the other 150 feet deep and pumped by steam; and a standpipe capable of holding a large supply of water. The city has several blocks of water mains, with fifteen or sixteen fire hydrants, and thirty-two consumers of water. The plant cost some $10,000.
Though fire departments have been organ- ized in Kirkwood at least two different times, the village is at present without any organ- ized effort for fighting fires. It has a chemical engine purchased in the fall of 1875, a hook and ladder wagon and a hose cart, and a num- ber of citizens take it upon themselves to man the apparatus when there is need. The appar- atus is kept in a building owned by the vil- lage, the second story of which is the village official headquarters.
Kirkwood has had several fires, but only a few that were very disastrous. One of the first was the burning of J. Carr & Co.'s elevator, August 16, 1865, with a loss of $10,000. June 8, 1900, four buildings on Irvine street, between Cedar and the railroad, were burned, with a loss of $2,000; and the north side school burned December 8, 1898.
The Tremont house is one of the famous old buildings, having been built during the war. It and the Columbia are the hotels now.
A large brick flouring mill stands on the south side of the railroad tracks, equipped with the best class of machinery, but idle. It was erected by F. M. Davidson in 1885-86, taking the place of an old mill built in 1864 or 1865, but was operated only a short time.
Center Grove cemetery lies just northwest of the village. It had been used as a burying place previous to 1855, but during that year was platted and set aside as a cemetery. There were five burials in the grounds before the platting, and the first recorded was that of a man named Coe.
The population of Kirkwood according to the census of 1900 was 1,008 against 949 in 1890.
BANKS.
The First National Bank of Kirkwood was organized in 1875. It was an outgrowth from the private bank of Henry Tubbs. The capi- tal of the institution was $50,000, and its stock was distributed among a large number of the most representative men of Warren and Hen- derson Counties. The first directors of the bank were: Henry Tubbs, B. H. Martin, P. D. Salter, Jos. A. Pierson, Jos. S. King, James Duke, John B. Sofield, Horatio Abbey and Jas. P. Firoved. Henry Tubbs was elected Presi- dent; John B. Sofield, Vice President; and Willard C. Tubbs, Cashier. The history of the bank is marked by few changes. The President and Cashier first elected served the bank continuously for twenty-four years, and four of the nine original directors served con- tinuously during the same long period. In the year 1880, John B. Sofield, Vice President, re- signed, and Paul D. Salter was elected as his successor. Mr. Salter continued as Vice Pres- ident until the time of his death in 1899. In 1892, Chas. D. Watson was elected Assistant Cashier, being the first employe to serve the bank in this capacity. In 1899, W. C. Tubbs tendered his resignation as Cashier, and C. D. Watson was chosen to succeed him. G. S. Tubbs was at the same time made Assistant Cashier. After the death of Dr. Henry Tubbs during the same year, Willard C. Tubbs was elected President, and Wm. K. Gamble Vice President. The First National Bank of Kirk- wood has prospered from the date of its organ- ization, and has always been, both as to cap- ital employed and as to volume of business, one of the leading banks of the county. Its working capital is $140,000, and its deposits range from $250,000 to $300,000. The officers of the bank are: W. C. Tubbs, President; Wm. K. Gamble, Vice President; C. D. Watson, Cashier; G. S. Tubbs, Assistant Cashier; G. M. Foote, Teller; J. Arthur Tubbs, bookkeeper. The directors are: Wm. K. Gamble, H. Abbey, W. C. Tubbs, P. R. Parrish, James H. Woods, Jas. P. Firoved, Lewis Duke, John K. Gibson, and G. S. Tubbs.
About 1858 Knowles, Ray & Chapin came to Kirkwood from Oquawka and engaged in gen- eral merchandising, and by force of circum- stances, there being no bank in the village, were obliged to add banking to their business. The firm changed at different times, first to
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