Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 186

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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WEST, MARY ANN; Haw Creek Township; born in Indiana January 5, 1819; daughter of Joshua Guliett; educated in the common schools of Indiana; came to Knox County May 31, 1838. She was married to Samuel West, who was born in Vermont, April 25, 1807, and died in Knox County January 31, 1860. Mr. West's parents were John and Anna West of Vermont, who were of English descent; he was educated in the common schools of Vermont and Cincinnati, Ohio. His occupation was that of sawyer and miller, and he came to Knox County May 1, 1838, and helped build the Selby saw mill on Spoon River in Haw Creek Township, Section 34, which was the first saw mill in Knox County. He later remodeled it into

a grist mill, which he operated several years. After his marriage he settled on a farm, and at the time of his death owned about three hun- dred and fifty acres of land. He was a good friend and neighbor, and a kind husband. He affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. In pol- itics, he was a democrat. Mr. and Mrs. West had six children: Anna; John; Elizabeth, now Mrs. McTier; Joshua; Daniel; Philemon. Anna is the wife of Rev. Newton G. Clark, who was educated in the common schools, and at Val- paraiso, Indiana. They had two children, Elsie, wife of Bert Bays; and Mary L., wife of Dr. James U. Long. Mrs. West has been successful in the management of her farm.

WOLF, JACOB; Farmer; born February 7, 1814, in Athens County, Ohio, where he was educated. His parents were Jacob Wolf, of Pennsylvania, and Lydia (Dorr), of Jackson County, Ohio. Jacob Wolf, Senior, was a tan- ner by trade, and after living many years in Ohio, moved to Porter County, Indiana, where he died. The ancestry of the Wolf family is German and English. Mr. Jacob Wolf was mar- ried in Haw Creek Township March 4, 1849, to

Elizabeth Pickrel. They had five children: Josephine, deceased; Mrs. Mary Pursel; John; Sarah, deceased; and Emily, who married Darius Woolsey, and was the mother of seven children. Mr. Wolf's first occupation after moving to Illinois was that of cattle dealer. He bought cattle in Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois, and drove them to eastern markets. He was a very shrewd and capable manager, and at the time of his death owned nearly three thousand acres of land in Knox County. He carried on an extensive farming business, but used much of his land for pasture. He often fed five hun- dred head of cattle at a time. Mr. Wolf was a republican. He was a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. The old Wolf home- stead is now owned and managed by John Wolf, who was born January 27, 1853; he was married to Miss Delmar Harshbarger, a daugh- ter of Jonathan Harshbarger. They have three children: Ralph, Marie, and Wayne. Mr. John Wolf owns the old homestead, and about one thousand acres of land.

ORANGE TOWNSHIP. By John C. Eiker.

Orange, as at present defined and bounded, was one of the first townships in the county to attract the attention of early immigrants to northern Illinois, and the pioneers were not wholly free from fear of predatory visits from the aboriginal owners of the soil. As a matter of fact, however, in 1830-the year when the first settlers arrived-the Indians were migrating to the west, and comparatively few of them re- mained. A blockhouse was erected, however, in 1830, or '31, and the murder of a white man by a straggling band of hostile savages during the Black Hawk War threw the small community into a ferment of apprehension.

The township is crossed by several well de- fined trails. That which is known as the Peo- rian and Galena runs diagonally from northwest to southeast, passing also through Knox, cross- ing the northeastern corner of the present city of Knoxville. A little to the west of this is an- other, which crosses Brush Creek, in Section 30, and forms a sort of a pathway from that stream to the headwaters of Haw Creek. Sev- eral Indian graves have been found and their traces are yet plainly discernible, just across the Knox Township boundary line, on Section 32. The last appearance of any considerable body of aborigines in the township was in 1843, when several hundred Sacs and Foxes camped on the northwestern quarter of Section 5, while on their way from the north to their reservation in Indian Territory.

About three-fourths of the soil of Orange con-

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sists of fertile prairie, the remainder being cov- ered with a good quality of timber. The wooded sections lie along Brush and Haw creeks and their branches, on the west and east, respec- tively, where the surface is much broken. The center of the township is flat, and here may be found some of the most productive farms in the county. The township is underlaid by three distinct veins of bituminous coal, which are said to be capable of furnishing a well-nigh in- exhaustible output but which have been as yet little developed.

The first white family to settle within the present limits of Orange was that of Joseph Wallace, who located on Section 15, in 1830, and found a rudely constructed cabin suffice for their shelter. After the death of his wife, on the old farm, Mr. Wallace removed to Iowa.

Asa Haynes (born in Dutchess County, New York, in 1804) came in 1836. He had bought the three hundred acres on Section 30, on which he erected a one roomed log cabin, in which he took up his residence with his wife, formerly Miss Mary Gaddis, to whom he had been mar- ried October 7, 1830. He was hardy, daring and adventurous, but without education other than such as he had obtained during two months' attendance at an Ohio district school each win- ter during six or seven years. He brought with him his two children, a half brother, Hiram, and a nephew, Isaac Hill. During their journey from Ohio, which occupied nineteen days, they encountered more or less rainfall during seven- teen days, and found the rivers swollen to the summit of their banks, even the horses' har- ness never drying. Mr. Haynes was energetic and enterprising, and from the outset proved a potent factor in the development of the new country. He started the first brick yard and in 1840, built the first saw mill, which was oper- ated by water power obtained from Brush Creek. In 1841 he erected a large barn, and the following year replaced his primitive cabin by a brick house, which in those early days was regarded as commodious. While by no means a profound scholar himself, he took a deep inter- est in the imparting of at least a sound pri- mary education to children. For a time he him- self taught an elementary school in his little cabin, and when his brick home was completed, one room was reserved and furnished as a school-room. Miss Frances Moore was the in- structress, becoming later, Mrs. Hiram Haynes. Asa Haynes became, in his day, the largest landholder in Orange Township, at one time

owning nine hundred and eighty-nine acres. He was one of the adventurers of 1849 and Captain of the "Jayhawkers" company of gold seekers formed at Monmouth. He led this little band of sixty across the continent. The hardships and privations which the men underwent caused many to drop by the way, but Mr. Haynes reached California safely, where he remained until 1851. Later in life he returned to Califor- nia and made that State his residence for sev- eral years. He returned home and died at the house of a daughter, in Missouri, March 29, 1889. Of his six children, only one-Mrs. Nancy J. Wiley, who yet lives on a part of the old home- stead-remains in the township.

James Ferguson came from Kentucky, with his family, in the same year with Mr. Wallace, settling on Section 11. He had several. chil- dren, but only two are at present residents of Orange; Andrew J., a farmer living on Section 10, and Mrs. Sarah Weir, whose home is on Section 15. The elder Ferguson attained prom- inence as being the first Justice of the Peace and the first Overseer of the Poor in the town- ship. He was also a soldier in the Black Hawk War, being commissioned as Major. He died in 1841, his widow surviving him for twenty years. Both sleep in the quiet plot of ground reserved for sepulture on the old farm.

Peter Godfrey is among the best known set- tlers of 1832, and he and his wife are among the oldest and most honored couples belonging to the "Old Settlers' Association of Knox County." John Denney and John and Simon McAllister arrived two years later. Isaiah Hut- son and wife emigrated from the State of New York in 1837. He has since died (1883), but his widow and daughter still find their home on the homestead, which was theirs sixty years ago. Thomas Gilbert was also an early settler, his farm being on Section 8. His son, Thomas, is a prominent citizen of Knoxville, and two of his daughters still reside in that city.

Other early settlers of the township who are worthy of especial mention are as follows: Thomas and James Sumner, who came from Ohio in 1837 and settled on Section 23. James lost his life through an accident, but Thomas still lives at his old home.

Israel Turner emigrated from Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1837. He entered two hundred and forty acres on Section 32, remain- ing there until he died. Anderson Barnett also came in the same year, settling on Section 10. To him belonged the distinction of begetting

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the largest family of children (eighteen) ever reared in the township, nearly all of whom are yet living.

The oldest residents of the township at pres- ent are William Reed and Mrs. Sarah E. Weir.

The early houses were, of course, of logs, and of these Mr. Wallace built the first, on Section 15. Thomas A. Rude erected the first brick dwelling, on the farm of the late William Tur- ner, in the same section. A portion of the latter is still standing, but the residence of Mr. Asa Haynes is probably the oldest structure in the county, remaining precisely as it was built.

The two earliest marriages were those of Al- exander Robertson to Narcissa Ferguson, and of Daniel Fuqua to Lydia Bomar. This was a double wedding and the ceremony was sol- emnized by Rev. Jacob Gum, at the Ferguson residence, on Section 10. The first white child horn (1833) was Cynthia, daughter of James Ferguson.

It has usually been stated by historians of the township that the first death was that of a Mr. M. Cramer; but one of the oldest living settlers of Orange is authority for the state- ment that the first person to die was an aged female pauper, who was, at the time of her death, living on the farm of James Ferguson, at the time Overseer of the Poor. Both were interred in a plat of ground on Section 15, known as the McCramer burying ground.

Sixteen burials were made here, when inter- ments were discontinued and there is now nothing to mark the spot. The Ferguson and the Ward burying grounds (the latter on Section 3) are neglected spots and are seldom used. There are, however, two other cemeteries, which are well kept up and which contain many hand- some monuments. These are the Haynes, on Section 20, and the McAllister, on Section 12.

The first school house was of logs, and stood on Section 14. It was known as the Wallace School, and religious services were occasion- ally held within its rude, unplastered walls. The first teacher was Thomas Ellison, who wielded the birch during the Winter of 1836. He died at Abingdon, in 1897. Mr. Ellison was followed by Anderson Barnett, who taught in 1837 and 1838. The school house erected in what is now District No. 8 was of brick, Israel Turner being the mason and the carpentry being done by Charles Corwin. Miss Amanda Corwin, one of the earliest graduates from Knox College, was the first teacher and remained six years. An- other early school house was that within the

limits of the present District No. 3, where Miss Mary Gilbert Chaffee was the first to give in- struction to boys and girls, some of whom have long since passed away, while others have grown old and silver-haired. At present Orange Township has eight schools, all ungraded, oc- cupying well constructed frame buildings. The houses are modern and represent an outlay, in the aggregate, of about ten thousand dollars. In addition to this sum, libraries and equip- ments have cost a thousand dollars. The total enrolment of pupils is two hundred and seven- teen.

The earliest religious service held in the township was conducted by Rev. Jacob Gum, a Baptist minister, at the home of James Fergu- son. The first denomination to organize into a church society was the Methodist Episcopal. This body erected a house of worship known as Orange Chapel, in 1855. It was built on Sec- tion 22, and was of brick, burned in the yard of Anderson Barnett and laid by Thomas Ram- bo. The building was dedicated in the Spring of 1856, by Rev. Richard Haney. The Gilson Circuit was established in 1857-8, and Orange Chapel was included within its limits. The following is a list of its pastors, from 1857 to 1898: 1857-8, Rev. G. M. Irwine; 1859-60, Rev. Wm. Watson; 1860-61, Rev. C. M. Wright; 1862, Rev. J. B. Mills; 1863, Rev. G. W. Havermale; 1864, Rev. A. Beeler; 1865, Rev. A. Fisher; 1866- 7, Rev. Thomas Watson; 1868-9, Rev. Stephen Brink; 1870-1, Rev. G. W. Miller; 1872-3, Rev. Jesse Smith; 1874, Rev. L. B. Dennis; 1877-9, Rev. F. R. Boggess; 1880-1, Rev. Frank Smith; 1882, Rev. N. H. Merriam; 1883, Rev. William Collens; 1886-7, Rev. Geo. D. Hensell; 1888, Rev. E. N. Bently; 1889-90, Rev. Lewis Ap- ringer; 1891, Rev. Alford Mead; 1892, Rev. Sam- uel Albricht; 1893-5, Rev. B. C. Dennis; 1896, Rev. A. P. Bolen; 1897-8, Rev. S. E. Steele.

Early in the seventies revival services were held at the school house in District No. 4, which resulted in a general awakening of religious in- terest. At that time there was no organized church other than Orange Chapel, although there was, in the township, a moderate sprinkling of Congregationalists and Protestant Methodists. The fervor of both these sects was aroused. Both denominations organized societies, and Haynes Chapel was built by the Protestant Methodists. The Congregational Church had no place of worship and soon ceased to exist as a local organization. A general re- ligious decline appeared to supervene about the

Asa Thayones

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same time, spreading over the territory be- tween Knoxville and Hermon, on the north and south, and Gilson and Abingdon, on the east and west. In fact, for nearly twenty years, or until 1890, Orange Chapel was the only center of organic Christian effort. In the last men- tioned year, however, a branch of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was formed at Haynes Chapel, with nine active members. For several years the young people conducted weekly services there, after their customary fashion, and in 1893, Rev. A. W. De- pew, of Abingdon, began preaching, with marked success; Haynes Chapel being considered an outlying station. By this time the Christian Endeavorers numbered forty, and it was not long before another Congregational church was organized, with twenty-two members. Its first pastor was Rev. Mr. Slater, who preached for the congregation from May, 1894, to February, 1895. For nearly two years thereafter, the church was without a regular pastor, but on December 1, 1897, Rev. West Alden accepted the congregation's call. The present member- ship is thirty-eight, and the Young People's Society is still maintained. The number of Sunday schools in the township is three, with an average attendance of thirty-six. Mr. J. K. Lawrence is Orange Vice President for the County Association.

The township was organized and its name chosen at a meeting held April 3, 1853. The name seems to have been selected on account of the shape of the central prairie, which, in those early days, was one of the most beautiful spots in the State. Asa Haynes was elected Supervisor; A. Barnett, Clerk; A. Pierce, As- sessor; J. G. Rude, Collector; Peter Godfrey and David Stephens, Constables; Samuel Mather and J. Wallace, Overseers of the Poor; J. H. McGrew, Thomas Gilbert and Morris Chase, Highway Commissioners.

The chief industries are agriculture and stock raising, although in those early days, brick yards were started by Asa Haynes, Thompson Rude, and Anderson Barnett. These ventures proved unprofitable, however, and the kilns long ago fell into disintegration and decay. From the time of its settlement Orange ranked high among the best cereal producing sections of the county, although a lack of transportation facili- ties prevented the marketing of the grain raised. More than half was used in the fat- tening of stock. Haynes, Godfrey and Sumner Brothers manifested great interest in improv-

ing the quality of live stock, and were the first to introduce spotted China hogs and short horn cattle. The principal market of the pioneers was Peoria, although Canton and Oquawka re- ceived a fair share of the farm products. The farmers hauled their produce by teams, receiv- ing in exchange supplies which they carried home to their expectant families. The opening of the first railroad, in 1854, altered the entire situation, shippers now finding Chicago at once the most accessible and most profitable market.

The only village in Orange Is DeLong, a flourishing little station on the line of the Narrow Gauge Road. It came into existence in 1882, and owes its being-as it does its name -to S. H. Malory. He bought the site from Wayne Marks when the preliminary survey of the line was made, in anticipation of a station being established thereon, and called the village DeLong, in honor of the explorer of that name. It can boast two general stores, a barber shop, two blacksmith shops, two grain elevators, a building containing a hall and store room, and about a dozen residences. Its population is about fifty, and it is a relatively important ship- ping point for grain and stock.

Two societies have branches there. The Mod- ern Woodmen established a camp in 1896, with sixteen members. The first officers were: C. A. Clark, V. C .; W. A. Wiley, C .; A. L. Turner, E. B .; F. Hopkins, W. A .; G. M. Clark, E .; E. T. Haynes, W .; G. W. Logue, S .; W. H. Wiley, J. Boston and J. F. Turner, Managers. The present official staff is composed of: R. L. Eiker, V. C .; W. A. Wiley, C .; E. Haynes, E. B .; B. C. King, W. A .; C. Wollsey, E .; J. Eckman, W .; E. Tucker, S .; L. Mather, W. Wise, and F. N. Clark, Managers.

A lodge of Good Templars was organized in the 'Fall of 1897, and has greatly prospered, its present membership exceeding fifty. Its first officers were: H. L. Haynes, C. T .; Mrs. A. Wiley, V. T .; Miss Amy Briley, Secretary; Miss Sarah Haynes, Financial Secretary; E. T. Haynes, Marshal.

The township furnished its full quota of troops in both the Mexican and Civil wars, and has within its borders one veteran of both- the venerable Aaron Weir.

The census figures relative to population are as follows: In 1840, four hundred and ninety; in 1860, eight hundred and seventy-six; in 1870, eleven hundred and sixty-seven; in 1880, eleven hundred and thirty; in 1890, eight hundred and fifty-one.

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ASA HAYNES.

Captain Asa Haynes was born in 1804, in Dutchess County, New York. He was of Scotch- Irish parentage, his grandfather, Enoch Haynes, having come to this country early in its history, together with a brother, William, who settled in one of the Carolinas.

The mother of Asa Haynes died while her son was an infant, and he was cared for by an older sister. At nine years of age he was "bound out," but six years later he rejoined his father, who was "coming west." Clinton County, Ohio, was their destination, and here the boy helped clear the farm and shared in the toil and hardship of pioneer life. Now and then in the winter time he was sent to school for a brief term, but he received altogether not more than thirteen months of such instruction.

At the age of twenty-two he, together with an older brother, purchased a farm; and four years later, October 7, 1830, Mr. Haynes was married to Miss Mary Gaddis, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. She was of Irish descent, was a noted beauty, and there were many suitors for her hand. She proved a devoted wife, and cheerfully bore her part in the common burdens of the time.

In 1836, Mr. and Mrs. Haynes removed to Knox County. They occupied nineteen days upon the trip, in almost continuous rain, finding the rivers greatly swollen, and reaching their journey's end only after much discomfort and danger. They began their residence in Illinois in a log cabin of one room, located in Section 30 of Orange Township, where Mr. Haynes had purchased three hundred acres of land.

The enterprise of Asa Haynes was equal to the opportunities afforded by the undeveloped country. Soon after his arrival he started a brick yard, and in 1840, built a saw-mill on Brush Creek. His appreciation of the advant- ages of education is evidenced by the fact that in winter he opened a school in his own house and taught it himself. In 1843, he built a large frame barn-the largest in the county at the time. The "raising" was an historic event; with only three exceptions every man in Knox County was present to assist. The next year saw the erection of a fine two-story brick house of twelve rooms, which is still standing. The lumber for the barn and the brick for the dwelling had been manufactured by Mr. Haynes himself; most of the furniture was constructed on the spot, a competent workman having been secured for the purpose. A large number of hands were employed upon the place, until it seemed more like a colony than a farm. Sheep were kept to supply the wool needed for cloth- ing, and a tailoress was hired for six months every year to cut and make the homespun suits. With such a spirit of ambitious enterprise Mr. Haynes prospered, and performed his part in the development of Knox County. He was County Commissioner and Supervisor for sev- eral years.

Mr. Haynes was one of the celebrated "Jay- hawkers" of 1849, and in that year, crossed the plains as Captain of the company from Mon-

mouth. He was a republican, and during the Civil War was outspoken in the expression of loyal sentiments, and was several times threat- ened by the notorious Knights of the Golden Circle, though without effect. For many years, he was a noted stock-raiser, having been the first to introduce the spotted China hog, and one of the three men who first brought short- horn cattle into Knox County. He was one of the founders of the Knox County Agricultural Society. At one time, Mr. Haynes owned nearly one thousand acres of land in Orange Township, five hundred acres in Iowa, and two fine farms in California, where, for several years, he made his home. In religion, he was a Protestant Methodist. He died at the old homestead in Orange Township, March 29, 1889.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Haynes: Clark, deceased; Margaret; Eliza- beth; Anna M., deceased; Nancy; Mary E .; Charles A .; and Elery, deceased. One son and one daughter live in Kansas; two daughters are living in Missouri, and one daughter lives in Orange Township, near the old home.

WALTER REDD.

Walter Redd, son of John and Elizabeth (Barber) Redd, was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, March 27, 1820. His father was a farmer, and had served his country as a soldier in the War of 1812. His parents died while he was a lad of seven or eight years of age. The early struggle for a livelihood was a severe one, and the youth was glad to make a living as best he could.

In February, 1842, Mr. Redd, in his twenty- second year, came to Knox County. He had no capital, and for a year and a half worked here and there as he found opportunity. He then went to Knoxville and secured employment in a flour-mill, where he remained eight years and thoroughly learned the miller's trade. Hav- ing accumulated a little money, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on Sec- tion 11 in Orange Township, where he lived until his death, improving his land and adding thereto until he had a farm of about three hun- dred acres. Mr. Redd was a member of Knox- ville Lodge, No. 66, A. F. and A. M. He was a republican.

September 12, 1844, Mr. Redd was mar- ried to Frances Allen, daughter of William and Nancy (Wilkins) Allen. She was born in Jefferson County, Indiana, April 5, 1826. Her father was a native of Kentucky; her mother was born in Pennsylvania. The Allen family came to Knox County about 1836, and took up land in Persifer Township, where Mr. and Mrs. Allen remained until their death.

Mr. and Mrs. Redd are the parents of twelve children: Benjamin F., deceased; Robert H .; John W .; Julia and Julius, twins, both de- ceased; Lorena; Blanch; Frank; Ida M., de- ceased; Grace, deceased; Etta; and Harvey, de- ceased. Robert married Melissa McDowell, and is a farmer in Iowa; John married Clara Bar- nett, and is a farmer in Colorado; Julia married John F. Fink. and lived in Nebraska; Lorena

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is the wife of Peter Hawley, and lives in Knox- ville; Blanch is the wife of Julius J. Maxey, and lives in Knox Township; Ida married Park Garwood, and her home was in Nebraska; Grace married James Mowry, and lived in Iowa; Etta is the wife of Frank Motter, and lives in Persifer Township, Knox County.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 186

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