Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 184

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388

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M., deceased. There are four children at home. Mrs. Potts has an excellent farm of three hun- dred and twenty-five acres, and a fine resi- dence. She raises much stock.

SHELTON, FRANCIS R .; Farmer; Elba Township; born August 12, 1858, in Elba Town- ship; educated in the common schools. His parents were Robert and Mary Shelton of Eng- land; the father was born March 20, 1814, and is still living; the mother was born in 1829, and died in 1889; the grandfather was Isaac Shelton of England. He was married December 19, 1879, at Yates City, Illinois, to Nellie Roop. She was born in Yates City October 10, 1862, and is the daughter of Barnet and Ellen Roop. The father died in 1892, the mother lives in Peoria. They were Methodists. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Shelton are: Della, born September 3, 1880; Minna, born December 13, 1882; and Mary, who died when three years old, Mr. Shelton has a farm of two hundred and forty acres, which is well improved. He is a stock raiser and breeder. He is a member of the United Woodmen of America, No. 301, Yates City. Mr. Shelton is a democrat.

SMITH, WILLIAM H .; Farmer and stock raiser; Elba Township, where he was born Sep- tember 16, 1847; educated in the common schools. His father, Seth Smith, was born in North Carolina in 1811, came to Yates City in 1835, and died in Adams County, Iowa, July 25, 1887; his mother, Mary (George) Smith, was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and died Septem- ber 16, 1891. His paternal grandfather, William Smith, was born in Ireland, and his grand- mother, Sarah (Phillips) Smith, was born in New Jersey. His maternal grandparents were born in Tennessee. William H. Smith was married at Knoxville, January 31, 1872, to Anna Eliza Carothers, who was born in Elba Town- ship, July 2, 1854, daughter of John and Eliza (Oudirkirk) Carothers, who came from Schenec- tady, New York; both are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have six children: Lillie E., born December 3, 1872; Hattie E., born January 12, 1875; Maud M., born June 10, 1877; Edith G., born January 14, 1880; Fred L., born October 23, 1884; and Hazel M., born April 21, 1892. Mr. Smith has a farm of three hundred acres on Sections 5 and 9. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 73, Yates City. In politics, he is a republican, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace, Constable, and School Director.

SPEER, WILLIAM G .; Farmer; Elba Town- ship; born December 1, 1856, in Indiana; edu- cated in common schools; his grandparents were John Speer of New Jersey, and Rachel Speer; his father was Samuel Johnson Speer of New Jersey, who died in Canton, Illinois, Aug- ust 12, 1895; he was a soldier in the War of 1812; his mother, Susanna (Crothers) Speer, of Pennsylvania, died in January, 1878. Her pa- rents were Martin and Margaret Crothers of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speer was married in Can- ton, Illinois, April 28, 1884, to Emma Slane, who was born January 17, 1855. She was the daughter of Thomas and Anna (Race) Slane, who died in Peoria County, Illinois. They had

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KNOX COUNTY.

one child, Clinton Chester, horn October 15, 1893. Mr. Speer came to Illinois in 1856, and located in Banner Township, Fulton County, where the mother died. He has a farm of eighty acres on Section 33. His parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than forty years. Mr. Speer is a demo- crat, and has been a School Director.

TENNERY, NEWTON H .; Farmer; Elba Township; born July 22, 1823, in Edgar County, Illinois; educated in common schools. His pa- rents were Thomas and Jane (Wilson) Ten- nery; the father came from Massachusetts, the mother from Tennessee. He was married in Shelby County, Illinois, October 7, 1852, to Sy- mantha Williams. She was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, June 11, 1830, and is the daugh- ter of John B. and Francina (Blue) Williams; her father was born in 1803 and died in 1867; her mother was born in 1808, and died in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Tennery's children are: John M., born December 30, 1853; George C., born July 20, 1855, and died May 16, 1862; Edwin A., born November 1, 1856; Francis M., born February 4, 1859; Newton H., born August 30, 1860, died April 20, 1895; Owen Clarence, born November 27, 1865, died October 26, 1879; Angeline, born September 28, 1863, died October 22, 1888; Paris Edgar and George Michael, born January 21, 1869; and Ethel M., born October 22, 1870. Mr. Tennery came to Elba Township in 1853, and located on Section 23, in 1863. His farm con- tains two hundred and forty acres, and a fine residence. Mr. Tennery is a member of the Methodist Church. In politics, he is a demo- crat, and has been Justice of the Peace, School Director and Trustee for a number of years.

TRUITT, T. J .; Farmer; Elba Township; born January 28, 1852, in Ross County, Ohio; educated in common schools. His parents, Eli- jah and Eliza Jane (Taylor) Truitt, were born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1818, and 1822; his grandparents were Giley Truitt of Virginia, and Nancy (David) Truitt. T. J. Truitt came with his father to Illinois in 1855, and located in Elba Township, Section 28. He removed after several years to Yates City, where his parents lived till their death in 1898. The father was School Director in Elba Township for a num- her of years, and was captain of a military company. Mr. and Mrs. Truitt were members of the Methodist Church, of which he was a class leader for a number of years. They had a family of eleven children: Mary Jane, who was married to I. O. Gibbs; J. D. Truitt, a law- yer at Yates City; John. T .; Margaret L., who married Dunaham Drake; T. J. Truitt; William F .; Harvey J .; Isaac M .; Laura E., who mar- ried John G. Grey; Joseph H .; E. E. Truitt, a physician in Maquon, and graduated at Keokuk College, Iowa. Mr. T. J. Truitt is fifth in this family and is unmarried. He is a republican and has been School Director for nine years.

VANCE, S. L .; Farmer; Elba Township; born February 3, 1861, at Highland County, Ohio. Educated in the common schools. His father was Andrew Vance, born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania; his mother was Harriet Kibler

of Highland County, Ohio; his paternal grand parents were David and Hannah Vance of Mary- land. His great-grandfather, Thomas Vance, and his maternal grandmother, Margaret Strain, were from Ohio; his great-grandfather was John Strain. Mr. Vance was married March 3, 1892, in Galesburg to Letty Riner. She was born in Toulon, Stark County, August 22, 1870, and is the daughter of Mathew and Margaret Riner. They have one child, Carmon R. R., born March 19, 1896. The grandparents of Mrs. Vance were John and Elizabeth (Douglas) Wingader; the great-grandfather came from Germany, and died January 25, 1894; the great-grandmother came from Scotland and was born September 4, 1809, and died April 28, 1878. Her grandparents on the father's side were Peter Riner of Virginia, born March 8, 1803, and Margaret (Kelly) Riner, born October 8, 1808, died January 1, 1873. Mr. Vance came, in 1868, with his father to Section 36, where they have a farm of two hundred and eighty acres. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Lodge No. 301, Yates City. Mr. Vance is a democrat.

WHITING, EDWARD; Farmer; Elba Town- ship; born October 5, 1856, at Kickapoo, Illi- nois; educated in the Kickapoo schools. His father and grandfather were called William Whiting and came from Sussex County, Eng- land; his mother, Jane (Cummings) Whiting, came from Portage County, Ohio; his maternal grandmother was Susan Cummings. He was married January 1, 1884, in Elba Township, to Ettie Patterson, who was born in Elba Town- ship, October 23, 1861, and is the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Marshall) Patterson of Preble County, Ohio. James Patterson was married in 1847, and came to Elba Township in 1849. Their children are: Etha Z., born No- vember 13, 1884, and James Kirby, born No- vember 14, 1885. Mr. Whiting has a fine resi- dence and fine farm of one hundred and ten acres on Section 25, three and one half miles northeast of Yates City. In addition, he man- ages his father-in-law's farm. In politics, he is a republican.

WOOLSEY, WILLIAM; Farmer; Elba Town- ship; born in Haw Creek Township, August 11, 1861. His father, David Woolsey, was born in Ulster County, New York; his mother, Mildred (Logan) was born in Virginia. His paternal grandparents were Hezekiah and Hannah (Cut- ter) Woolsey. August 23, 1883, Mr. Woolsey was married in Knoxville to Norah M. Taylor. They have two children, Forest Taylor, born June 18, 1884, and Harley H., born April 4, 1886. Mrs. Woolsey was born in 1860. Her parents were Abraham and Emeline (Cartright) Taylor. The father is dead; the mother is liv- ing in Caldwell County, Missouri. Mr. Wool- sey is a republican in politics. He has been Assessor of the town of Elba, and School Di- rector a number of terms. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, No. 256, Maquon; also of the Modern Woodmen of America, in the lodge lo- cated at Douglas. His farm of one hundred and forty-three acres is on Section 6.

p.m. Oberholtgen

899

KNOX COUNTY.

HAW CREEK TOWNSHIP.

By Charles W. Mckown.

In its natural features this is, perhaps, one of the most attractive townships in Knox County. About two-thirds of its area consists of prairie, and the remainder of timber land. The latter lies chiefly on the east and west, where the surface is more hilly. The central portion of the township, from north to south, is a rich fertile prairie, mainly flat, yet suffi- ciently rolling to afford excellent natural drain- age. The Spoon river is the principal stream, into which flow numerous small tributaries on either side, the most important of which is Haw Creek, on the west. These streams aid in drainage and also afford excellent watering fa- cilities for stock. The Spoon enters the town- ship at its northeast corner, and, after pursuing a devious course, flows out in Section 35.

There is an underlying vein of bituminous coal along the water courses, but as it is only from twenty to twenty-eight inches thick, it cannot be profitably worked for general com- merce, although more or less is mined for lo- cal consumption.

The chief industry of the people is agri- culture, while some live stock is raised for ex- terior markets. The principal crops are corn, wheat, oats and rye; while a little buckwheat and barley are also raised. The farms are well improved, and the farmers progressive, and al- ways on the alert to test new ideas, adopting such as they believe tend to their real better- ment.

The population consists almost wholly of na- tive born Americans, there being but few for- eigners. Of colored people there are none. So- briety and industry are well nigh universal, and illiteracy is unknown.

The first white family to settle in the town- ship was that of Mrs. Elizabeth Gilmore Owen, a widow, who was accompanied by her son, Parnach, and her two daughters, Thalia N. and Althea, who came from Ohio in 1829, and en- tered a claim in Section 18. Their neighbors were few and remote, the two nearest being Perry Morris, who lived on Section 33 of Knox Township, and a family who operated a primi- tive ferry across the Spoon river, at Maquon. Parnach Owen was a land speculator, and the conduct of his business necessarily involved Jong absences from home, during which periods the women of the household relied one upon the other for mutual protection. But they

were of the strong fiber which ran through the frames of those pioneer women of Illinois, who became the mothers and grandmothers of a hardy, stalwart race. They despised noth- ing so much as cowardice and they were them- selves no weaklings, being abundantly able to wield a hunting knife alike in the slaughter of a deer or in defense of their honor.

Two years after their arrival in Haw Creek the Owen family removed to Knoxville. Par- nach Owen was prominent in the organization of the county and was made its first official sur- veyor. He died at Prairie LaPorte, Iowa, about 1845, at the age of forty-seven. Mrs. Eliza- beth G. Owen died at Knoxville, March 6, 1839, in her seventy-fifth year. She and her children, brave in the face of danger, and dauntless be- fore obstacles, are among those who laid the foundations of civilization in Knox County. Thalia N. Owen married Dr. E. D. Rice, of Lewiston, Illinois, and died there in 1880, at the age of seventy-seven years. Her sister Althea became the wife of John G. Sanburn, of Knoxville, on November 3, 1831. To him she bore seven children. One of her sons-Francis G .- was president of the Farmers' National Bank of that place. She died there, having reached the same age as her sister-seventy- seven.

About a year after the Owen family, came James Nevitt, Samuel Slocum, David Teel, and David Enochs. They were followed by Wood- ford Pearce, David Housh, Joshua Burnett, Ja- cob Harshbarger, Linnaeus Richmond, William W. Dickerson and others; so that by 1833 or '34 there was a well grown settlement here.

Charles Nevitt, a son of James, was the first white child born in Haw Creek (1832). The first death was that of Eleanor Jarnigan, in 1834. The first sermon was preached by the noted pioneer, Rev. Peter Cartwright, in 1831. Revs. Richard Haney and William Clark were also early in the field as Methodist circuit riders. The first school was taught in 1836, by Susan Dempsey. She is now the aged widow of Booker Pickrel, and lives in Gilson. The first church was built in 1864, on Section 17, and about one year afterward two others were erect- ed in Gilson. From this statement, however, it should not be inferred that the people had no places of worship prior to 1864. Every school house in the township was used for that purpose, beside regular old fashioned camp meetings in the groves.

James Nevitt built the first frame house in

900

KNOX COUNTY.

the township, in 1835, and Woodford Pearce erected the first brick dwelling.

Enoch Godfrey, James Nevitt and George Benson garnered the first grain crops, in 1832. The first road laid out was the State road from Knoxville to Farmington, in 1836. This soon became a regular stage route, and before long a village sprang up along the line of travel in Section 18, and became an occasional stopping place for stage coaches, although not, in those days, what was considered a regular station. This was the nucleus of what became, later, the village of Mechanicsburg.

In the early days of the township, the only available markets for farm produce were along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers and on Lake Michigan. Loads of grain were hauled to Chi- cago, nearly two hundred miles away; the sell- ers bringing back salt, shingles and general merchandise. Now, the Peoria and Galesburg branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy road enters Haw Creek at the southwest cor- ner of Section 6 and leaves it at the southeast corner of Section 33, and Gilson is the only station within the township limits.

Township organization was effected at a meeting held at the Nevitt school house on April 5, 1853, by the election of the following officers: William M. Clark, Supervisor; Wood- ford Pearce, Clerk; Isaac Lotts, Assessor; Jo- seph Harshbarger, Collector; Jacob Wolf, Over- seer of the Poor; John S. Linn and Enoch Godfrey, Justices of the Peace; George Pickrel and William Lewis, Constables; Milton Lotts, Allen T. Rambo and Benoni Simpkins, Com- missioners of Highways. A complete list of town clerks from the first election down to the present time is given below. A similar list of supervisors may be found in the chapter relat- ing to county government.

In 1853, Woodford Pearce; 1854, Joel Harsh- barger; 1855-'57, William Swigart; 1858, Wil- liam H. Eastman; 1859, Samuel Caulkins; 1860, Peter Lacy; 1861, W. J. McCulloch; 1862, Wil- liam H. Eastman; 1863-'65, William P. Kellar; 1866, E. K. Coe; 1867, Joseph Harshbarger; 1869, C. W. Mckown; 1870-'73, S. M. Ickes; 1874, A. L. Barr; 1875-'76, B. A. Hill; 1877, Joseph Cra- mer; 1878, B. A. Hill; 1879, J. M. Cravens; 1880- '81, O. J. Aldrich; 1882-'84, B. A. Hill; 1885-'86, O. J. Aldrich; 1887-'89, C. W. Mckown; 1890-'96, William M. Gardner; 1897-'99, James Moore.

There are three regularly organized churches in Haw Creek, two in the village of Gilson and one in Section 3. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Gilson was organized in 1857. The present edifice was erected in 1864, and is worth about eight hundred and fifty dollars. Its first pastor was Rev. G. M. Iriom, and the clergy- man now in charge is Rev. S. E. Steele. There are some ninety active members. The other Gilson church is connected with the United Brethren, and has about forty-eight members. Wolf (or Union) Chapel (also United Brethren), on Section 3, has a membership of nearly sixty.

In addition to these organized bodies, there

is a tract of land devoted to the holding of annual camp meetings. The history of the al- lotment of this ground for this purpose is of interest in this connection.

Pursuant to a notice published in the Knox County Republican, calling for the organization of a camp ground association, the Knox County Methodists met in Orange Chapel, September 19, 1868, and elected Peter Godfrey, J. C. Elwell, and Joshua Burnett, Jr., trustees to purchase and hold land for a permanent camp ground. They bought of N. G. Clark eleven and four- fifths acres of ground for four hundred and seventy-four dollars. On September 3, 1869, the number of trustees was increased to nine, and on October 5, 1872, another acre purchased for fifty-five dollars. The camp ground is on the line of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railway, a mile southeast of Gilson. It is well

adapted for picnics as well as camp meetings. A good fence, horse corral, and buildings have been put up, and wells dug, at a cost of about fifteen hundred dollars. The camp meeting be- gins the Tuesday before the fourth Sunday in each August, and lasts one week. Since 1882 a gate fee has been charged all visitors. From the proceeds thus obtained the improvements have been made, and about eight hundred dol- lars are in the treasury. ' The present trustees are: E. H. Arnold, President; E. J. Young, Secretary and Treasurer; A. Dean, H. Shoop, J. M. Vangilder, E. Cramer, G. G. Moore, J. W. Davis and A. Bruner. Messrs. Arnold and Young have been on the Board for over twenty years.

There are eight common schools, one of which (that at Gilson) is a graded school. The build- ings are frame, but well constructed, with a view to adapting them to their use. The at- tendance includes nearly all the children of the township within the legal limits of the school age. The teachers are selected with great care, and the salaries are sufficient to ensure com- petence. In fact, the Gilson school won two of the premiums awarded at the State fair of 1878.

Gilson and Mechanicsburg are the two vil- lages. The former is situated in the south- east corner of Section 7, and has a population of about one hundred and fifty souls. It is not incorporated. Its business establishments com- prise six stores, two blacksmith shops, two car- penter shops, a harness shop, and a grain elevator.

The settlement of Mechanicsburg antedates that of Gilson. The first store in the village was kept by Edmund Smith, and the first in- dustrial establishments were wagon and black- smith shops. A postoffice was established May 7, 1852, and named-by the government-Haw Creek. Joseph Harshbarger was the first post- master, and was succeeded, September 16, 1852, by Allen T. Rambo. Woodford Pearce followed him on March 17, 1855, and on March 5, 1857, the office was removed to Gilson, which was then a railway station, and Mechanicsburg fell asleep.

Samuel. B. Anderson.

901

KNOX COUNTY.

Of the early settlers of the township, many moved away, but the descendants of some of those who remained are numerous. Some of the most familiar family names are Housh, Pickrel, Richmond, and Burnett.

There was a large grist mill built at an early day in Section 34, on the Spoon River, which did a flourishing business for many years, but the flow of water in the river grew less and less, until the miller could obtain power during only about seven months in the year. As a re- sult, the enterprise was abandoned; but the building and machinery were removed to Ma- quon, where they were utilized in the construc- tion of a steam mill.

In 1849 a "cholera scare" was occasioned by the arrival of three immigrant families-Stani- ford, Richardson and Foster-who came by water to Peoria and finally located in the northeastern part of Haw Creek Township. The scourge appeared shortly after their arrival, and the community was not a little perturbed. Mr. Staniford, Mrs. Fred Foster, Mrs. Thomas Rich- ardson and two of her children, and William Richardson died, but fortunately the disease spread no farther.

One of the most exciting episodes in the his- tory of the township occurred in August, 1877, and was of sufficient importance to be worthy of mentioning in some detail. on Sunday, the fifth of that month, while the family of Mr. Woodford Pearce, of Gilson, was at church, a tramp entered their home, and, after ransacking the premises, departed with a miscellaneous as- sortment of personal property, including sev- enty-five dollars in money. On the discovery of the theft a hue and cry was raised, and a posse was soon in hot pursuit. The culprit was discovered eating his dinner in a grove near by. He was armed, and, on seeing the approach of his would-be captors, he retreated to a cornfield, firing as he fled. His shots were returned, and during the fusilade William Kellar was shot in the ankle. Reinforcements were sent for, and soon the field was surrounded by two hundred men and boys. The tramp was discovered and again took flight, firing as he ran. A horse ridden by James Pickrel was wounded and the rider's knee bruised. Another horse, carrying Charles Masten and Charles Cramer, was shot through the neck and killed, and a bullet through the heart killed Charles Belden. The tramp also exchanged shots with Charles W. Mckown at short range (less than fifteen feet), the former receiving a slight flesh wound in the arm and side, the latter was shot through the left lung, the bullet lodging in the muscles of the back, where it still remains. Under cover of the night the quarry made good his escape. He had cast aside his shirt and vest, however, and these were discovered. In one of the pock- ets of the latter was found an express receipt given to Frank Rande. This clew led to his ultimate capture, in St. Louis, through the skillfully directed efforts of Frank Hitchcock, then Sheriff of Peoria County, but not until after he had committed another robbery at the house of John R. Scoles, near St. Elmo, Illi-

nois, killing Mr. Scoles and another man and dangerously wounding a third, as he was mak- ing his escape from an excited, infuriated troop of pursuers.

Before being overpowered at St. Louis, he also killed one of the policemen assisting in making the arrest. A reward of one thousand dollars was offered and paid for his apprehen- sion. He was taken to Galesburg, where he was tried, convicted and sentenced to life imprison- ment in the Joliet penitentiary, where, seven years later, he broke the Warden's skull with an iron bar and was shot hy a prison guard.

Recently a mineral spring has been discov- ered on Section 34. The water is said to be very potent in curing disease, and has been shipped far and near for use of invalids, harrels of it having gone as far as Oregon. The surround- ing grounds are being beautified, and prepara- tions are in progress for erecting a large hospi- tal near the spring.

GILSON.

A brief reference has been already made to the village of Gilson, but its relative promi- nence in the township justifies a more extended notice.

The village was laid out July 10, 1857, on the southeast quarter of Section 7, by Linneus Rich- mond and James Gilson, for whom it was named. The location was good,-just on the edge of the timber land along Haw Creek, eleven miles from Galesburg, on the Peoria branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railway. The engines first in use on this line burned wood, and a large trade grew up in that species of fuel. Indeed, Gilson now seems to have been laid out on an open prairie, so thoroughly has the timber been cleaned away.

The first school house was put up before Gil- son came into existence, and was used until about 1872, when the present structure was erected. The school is graded. There are two churches-Methodist Episcopal and United Brethren in Christ. The present population is about one hundred and fifty. The business is mostly confined to trade with surrounding farmers. There are two hotels, two barber shops, and an apiary of one hundred colonies of bees.

The postoffice was established March 6, 1857, with David Richmond as postmaster. His suc- cessors have been Woodford Pearce, May 21, 1857; J. S. Linn, March 4, 1859; John Love, June 23, 1860; James Moore, December 16, 1860; Jonas Ickes, January 6, 1865; W. J. McCul- loch, May 24, 1870; B. A. Hill, November 23, 1885; Morris Blanchard, June 4, 1886; Jennie Utter, May 29, 1889; Morris Blanchard, Septem-

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 184

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1388

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388