History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 43

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 758

USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 43
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 43

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).

A small sheet, the Raymond Reporter, was started in the year 1877, by T. M. Snedley,

and issued semi-monthly for about six months. The Raymond Independent, a weekly news- paper, was established by J. W. Potts in the year 1881. It is conducted with considerable energy and success, and has reached a circu- lation of over five hundred. The office and composing rooms are the best in the county, and the editor, Mr. Potts, has won many fa- vorable opinions from his brethren of the quill for the fearless and able manner with which he treats the subjects of the day. The paper is in every respect independent, and promises to remain one of the permanent fix- tures of the town.

The Raymond Bank was established in 1881, by John Green. It is an individual concern, and, for the amount of capital in- vested, is doing a flourishing business.

The town was incorporated in 1871. The first officers elected were the following: R. M. Van Dorn, President of the Board; E. A. Hanna, Clerk; and W. P. Carter, Treasurer. The present officers are: William Fitzger- ald, President; E. R. Day, Clerk; W. A. Maxey, Treasurer; P. J. Harmon, George Hooser, D. C. Kelley and D. J. Parrott, Trustees.

A most destructive fire visited the town in the month of August, 1881, during the prog- ress of which the best part of the improve- ments were completely burned to the ground. The fire originated in the livery stable of Noah Moore, on the east side of Main street, from which it spread to the west side, and caught in the butcher-shop of Paul Zink. From this building the flames leaped with lightning-like rapidity from house to house, and, before the fire could be checked, all the buildings in Block 13, with the exception of two small structures situated in the north- west and southwest corners respectively, were a smoldering mass of ruins. Every effort that could be desired was resorted to in order to

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check the devouring element, but all attempts were futile. The buildings destroyed by the conflagration were the following : Barber shop and family residence of Paul Zink; liv- ery stable belonging to Noah Moore; hotel of Susan Chism; store and restaurant belonging to the Harvel heirs; storeroom and stock of goods of George Zimmerman; Frank Grain- er's saddler shop; Zink's meat-shop; Colvin & Son's store: Costley's livery stable; agri- cultural warehouse of E. R. Day; store build- ing occupied by William Fitzgerald; Maxey & Roberts' grocery store; Anderson's restau- rant; Piggot's blacksmith shop; dwelling and ice-house belonging to George Zimmerman; barn belonging to David Huggins; and the store and stock of Deer, Morrison & Co. The loss caused by this devouring fire is estimated at $35,000, of which amount $11,000 were re- alized by insurance. The citizens soon ral- lied from the effects of this terrible visitation, and many new buildings were pushed rapidly forward. The large and elegant brick build- ings situated on the east side of Broad street, and known as the Union Block, were erected the latter part of the year 1S81, as was also the fine storeroom belonging to Paul Zink, situated on the opposite side of the street. The present business character of Raymond may be estimated from the following list: There are five dry goods and grocery stores, two hardware stores, one cabinet and furni- ture store, two drug stores, two stores that make groceries a specialty, two boot and shoe stores, two barber shops, one harness shop, two millinery establishments, one agricultural store, two lumber yards, two blacksmith shops, one cooper shop and one wagon shop.

There are four religious organizations, with as many houses of worship, the oldest of which is the Raymond M. E. Church. Its history we have already given in a previous page.

The Presbyterian Church was organized in the year 1871, by a committee appointed by the Alton Presbytery, of which Rev. Thomas E. Spilman was Chairman. This committee met in the office of Dr. Ira Barton, and the following names were recorded as members: John H. Barton, Mary N. Barton, William P. Hamilton, Mary B. Hamilton, William Ken- nedy and Dr. Ira Barton. At this meeting, the following Elders were selected: John H. Barton and William P. Hamilton. The first public services were held in the Independent. Schoolhouse. The house now in use is a frame building; is the first one erected by the congregation, and will seat about three hun- dred persons. It is a nicely furnished edi- fice, and is valued at $1.500. The first min- ister was Rev. R. Walker. The following ministers have had charge of the church at different times: Revs. E. R. Rankin, A. H. Parks, - Reynolds, Adam Simpson, James Lafferty, Solomon Dickey, and M. C. Butler, the present pastor; present membership, about thirty; Sunday school is under the charge of S. A. Merriwether.

The Raymond Christian Church commenced its history in the year 1874, with a member- ship of thirty, who assembled at times for worship in the vacant storeroom belonging to W. D. Moore. The organization was effected under the energetic labors of Elder Corwin, of Macoupin County. The first regular Pas- tor was Elder J. W. Balinger. In the fall of 1874, the congregation bought a lot, and, shortly after, commenced the erection of the present church edifice, which was dedicated in the spring of 1875, the dedicatory sermon being delivered by Elder J. H. Garrison, of St. Louis. The building is frame, and, as it stands, is valued at $2,200. J. W. Balinger labored earnestly for the congregation one year, and was succeeded by L. L. Norton, who exercised a pastorate of five months' du-

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ration. H. R. Trickett and S. B. Lindsley were the next pastors. J. J. Cathcart preached one year. Elders Standley and Van Hoosier conducted a series of meetings in the year 1881, during the progress of which twenty-one additions were made to the con- gregation. At present, the church is without a regular pastor, although devotional exer- cises are conducted each Lord's Day. The membership is about one hundred and fifteen. Their Sunday school is large and well at. tended, with an average of 120 scholars, and is under the efficient management of D. J. Parrott, Superintendent.

St. Raymond's Roman Catholic Church was organized about the year 1873. It was re-organized in 1880, by Rev. Father Virena, and the present handsome building erected. This edifice is the largest house of worship in the town, and can be ranked among the best in the county. Its dimensions are 34x56 feet; will comfortably seat 400 persons, and cost the sum of $5,000. The number of mem- bers is estimated at five hundred. Public services are held every third Sunday, by the pastor, Rev. John Gezenhauser, of Bartholto. There are two flourishing secret societies in the town-Masons and Odd Fellows.

Raymond Lodge, No. 692, A., F. & A. M., was established under dispensation in 1871. Their charter was granted in 1872, by De Witt C. Cregier, G. M. On this charter appear the following names: George A. Vannever, Robert M. Van Dorn, J. R. M. Wilder, Samuel S. Peebles, Edward Grimes, William Chapman, S. S. Wertz, James R. Williams, John King, E. A. Hanna, Osman White, D. J. Parrott, P. J. Hermon, Isaac Eldridge, John G. Moore, Alvis Sharpe, C. P. Kerns and John Dowdle. First officers were:

George Vannever, W. M .; Robert Van Dorn, S. W .; J. R. Wilder, J. W .; William

Chapman, Treasurer; S. S. Peebles, Secretary; E. A. Hanna, S. D .; O. White, J. D .; Isaac Elledge, Tiler. Present officers: John Kidd, W. M .; John Green, S. W .; F. C. Hitchings, J. W .; Jacob Guller, Trensurer; James A. Bradley, Secretary; Edward Grimes, S. D .; Harrison Sharpe, J. D. ; Sylvester Keplinger, Tiler; D. J. Parrott, Chaplain. Member- ship, at present, thirty-two.

Raymond Lodge, No. 476, I. O. O. F., was organized October 8, 1872, with the follow- ing charter members: Norris Crane, Nimrod McElroy, G. W. McAtee, Elias R. Day, George A. Vannever, James N. Guthrie, Wal- ker Gunn, James Sanders. The first officers of the lodge were the following: James San- ders, N. G .; Norris Crane, V. G .; G. A. Van- never, Secretary; Nimrod McElroy, Treasurer. The different offices are filled at present by the following: F. B. Wood, N. G .: J. F. Laller, V. G .: M. G. Sisson, Secretary: W. A. Maxey, Permanent Secretary: R. N. Long, Treasurer: A. H. Johnson, Warden; B. F. Query, Conductor; Corder Jones, Chaplain; W. S. Richie, I, G .; James Norris, O. G.

The hall in which these lodges meet is owned jointly by them. Both organizations are reported in good working order.

The part taken by Raymond in the great war of the rebellion does credit to a township of her population. Scarcely had it been an- nounced that Sumter had been fired upon before the spirit of war commanded the thoughts and actions of her citizens. The re- sponse was as ready as the impulse was de- termined, and the history of the part taken by our brave boys in the various encounters that mark the progress of the war presents a record as creditable, perhaps, as that of any other township in the county. We would gladly give a list of the boys in blue who went from Raymond, but the limits of our space forbids.

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RAYMOND TOWNSHIP.

For information concerning the early his- tory of the town and township of Raymond the writer is indebted to Ishmael McGowen, Dr. P. J. Hermon, E. R. Carter, William

Chapman and John Cass. They have his most sincere thanks for the courteous and gentlemanly manner with which the desired information was given.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXII .*

IRVING TOWNSHIP-BOURDARIES-SOIL-PIONEER SETTLERS-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES- PHYSICIANS AND MERCHANTS.

It is not claimed that the statements con- tained in the following pages are in strict har- mony with the truth in every particular, as much of the information concerning the early history of this township is a matter of mere conjecture. Traditions are numerous, but are very unsatisfactory sources from which to ob- tain correct and definite statements. And " perfectly reliable history written from con- flieting accounts is an absolute impossibility." No two men who are questioned will give similar accounts of the same transaction or event, thus adding much to the perplexity of the writer or placing the question beyond a correct solution. Seventy years ago, this division of Montgomery County was a wilderness, whose only inhabi- tants were a few scattered savages and their wild companions, the wolf, deer and buffalo. Occasional hunting parties of white men had passed through it long before any permanent settlement had been made, but its history prop- erly begins with the year 1826, at which time the first pioneer made his appearance and lo- cated his humble home in the wilderness. Since then there has been a constant influx of population, until now it is one of the most thickly settled and enterprising townships in the county. Irving consists of thirty-six square miles of territory, lying near the cen- tral part of the county, and is designated as Township 9, north of Range 3 west. It lies between Butler Grove and Witt, the former being the western boundary and the latter the eastern. The township lying north is Roun- tree, while East Fort Township forms the

southern boundary. The general character of the land is what might be termed rolling, but in the western part it verges into the broken, some of the higher portions being called hills. The eastern and northern parts exhibit a roll- ing and undulating surface, possessing a rich, fertile soil, consisting of a dark loam with a clay subsoil. This soil is very rich, and pro- duces abundant erops of grain, vegetables of all kinds, and many fine varieties of fruits. The soil in the western and southwestern parts is not so well adapted to agriculture, being some- what thin, and largely composed of clay and gravel. The best cultivated parts of the town- ship are in the northern and eastern portions, where can be seen some of the finest and best improved farms in the county. The principal streams, by which this region is watered and drained, are the Middle Fork of Shoal Creek, a stream of considerable size and importance, which runs through the western part, from north to south, and Long Branch, a tributary of the former, which flows in a northwesterly direction through the southwest corner. The land along these creeks is composed of a rich, black, mucky soil, and was originally covered with a dense growth of timber. Much of this timber has been eut off, and from the land thus brought into cultivation, some of the largest and best paying crops are produced. About one-half of the area of the township was formerly timbered, much of which has becu cleared of late years, until now the woodland comprises only about one-third of the area. The timber still standing consists mostly of hickory, elm, oak of several varieties, syca-

*By G. N. Berry.

9. 1. Waggoner

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY Of ILLINOIS

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more and walnut. But little of the latter is left, the greater part having been bought up by agents of the Indianapolis Furniture Company, several years ago. Many farmers in the north- ern and eastern parts of the township are giv- ing considerable attention to the cultivation of artificial groves, and within a few years the timber thus produced will afford a sufficiency for all practical purposes. The early settle- ment of Irving Township cannot be given with perfect accuracy, as many of the statements concerning the pioneer settlers are vague and unsatisfactory. It is safe to say, however, that the first white settler was one Lawrence Frank- lin, who moved to Illinois from Kentucky in the year 1826, and settled in the southwestern part of Irving, on the farm now owned by Mr. Hughes, in Section 29. It was here that the first cabin was erected, which stood till a few years ago. Some of the old timbers of which it was composed can still be seen near the spot which it formerly occupied.

A brief description of this primitive domi- cile may, perhaps, be of interest to some reader whose life has been passed in more com- fortable and commodious quarters. The di- mensions of the structure were about fifteen by eighteen feet. One room was the sum total of apartments it contained, which answered the four-fold purpose of kitchen, bedroom, dining- room and parlor. The floor was made of split logs, called puncheons. These had been smoothed off with a common chopping-ax until they composed a surface which was tol- erably level. A large, open-mouthed fireplace, capable of receiving a log of almost any di- mensions, occupied very nearly an entire end of the building. The furniture of the room was of the most primitive kind, and in perfect harmony with the interior of the apartment, as we have described it.

Yet from this humble cabin home no way- worn traveler was permitted to go hungry or sleepy. A place was always allotted the

stranger at the frugal board, and a shelter for the night assured him if desired. Hospitality was a trait cultivated to a high degree of per- fection by the early pioneer, and a part of his religion was to welcome with open doors any wayfarer who might happen to wander near his little mansion. With Shelly he could say to the stranger,

"You must come home with me and be my guest, Yon will give joy to me, and I will do

All that is in my power to honor you."

Mr. Franklin resided upon the farm he settled till the year 1858, when he sold the place to Mr. Hughes, and moved to the city of Hillsboro, where he died the following year. Several sons of Mr. Franklin still reside in the county, all of whom have been prominently identified with the growth and development of the town- ship. Ezra Bastick, another early settler of Irving, came from Illinois to Kentucky some time prior to the year 1824, in company with his two sons-in-law, William and Joel Knight, They stopped for a couple of years in the southern part of the county, near where the little village of Donnellson now stands, in East Fork Township. Mr. Bastick settled in Irving in the year 1826, but at just what place could not be learned. He was an old revolutionary soldier, and many were the thrilling stories he told of that memorable struggle while seated with his grandchildren around the blazing hearth of the little cabin home. Ile was in nearly all the battles of the war, and received a severe wound in one engagement, which so disabled him that he remained a cripple during the rest of his life.

Joel Knight, who accompanied Bastick to Illinois, located the farm known as the Harmon place, about two and one-half miles northeast of Hillsboro, in Section 29. He was a Presby- terian preacher of considerable ability and assisted in the organization of nearly all the early churches of his denomination through- out the county. He traveled extensively from

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

settlement to settlement, preaching in groves, barns and in private dwellings, and many are the stories told of the wonderful power of his eloquence and logic over the audiences that used to assemble to greet him on his regular preaching tours through the country. In the year 1877, Mr. Knight died at a ripe old age, and was buried in the old Bear Creek Ceme- tery, near the place where he first settled.

" An old age, serene and bright, And lovely as a Lapland night, Led him to an honored grave."

Two brothers, Mark and James M. Rutledge, came into this township some time in the year 1826, and settled in the western part, near the boundary line. The farm on whieli they built their first house is now owned by Mrs. Hogsett, whose husband purchased it the same year in which James died. Mark did not remain a great while in Irving, but moved to Hillsboro Township in 1827, and bought a farm, on which he resided until the year 1858, at which time he disposed of his land and moved to the city of Hillsboro, where he died a few years ago.

John Lipe settled in the northern part of the township as early as the year 1828. He was a stanch old German, well fitted to encounter the many hardships which beset the pioneer settler in a new country. Lipe came to this State from North Carolina in company with quite a number of German families that located in different places throughout the county. The farm on which he first settled is in Section 3, and is at present owned by Trimper Heffley, a relative, who purchased it shortly after Mr. Lipe died. The date of this old pioneer's death was not ascertained, though it occurred a number of years ago. Ilis wife survived him many years. She died in 1881, and was followed to the grave by over four hundred descendants and relatives, probably the largest number of relations that ever attended the funeral of any one person in the State. James

Kelly was one among the earliest settlers, and located on Section 27 in the year 1829.

Just how long Mr. Kelly lived in the town- ship is not known, though it can be said that he lived long enough to see the wilderness where he first located his humble home changed to a very garden. Six sons of Kelly are now living, five of them in this State and one in Utah.

Andrew King was prominent among the first settlers of Irving, but in what year he came into the township is not known, though we may be safe in saying that it was prior to the year 1830. He came from Tennessee, from whence came many of the early settlers of Southern Illinois, and located on Locust Fork, about one and a half miles northwest of the town of Irv- ing, in Section 16. The land on which King settled was prairie, covered with a thick growth of sedge grass. This grass furnished the ma- terial out of which the first brooms used by the early settlers were made. King died in the year 1862. His descendants living are two sons, S. F. and William T., both of whom re- side in the village of Irving. The Berrys are also an old family of this township, and were among the first settlers of Montgomery Coun- ty. James M. Berry moved here in 1829, and improved the farm in Section 16, now owned by Thomas Black. He owned the greater part of the land where the town of Irving now stands, and was one of the principal projeetors of that village, which he helped to lay out in the year 1856. He moved into the town a number of years ago, where he has since resided. He is one of the oldest citizens of the township. His brother, William S. Berry, though not an actual settler in Irving, was among the first pioneers of the county, having settled in Hillsboro when it was but a mere niehe in the surrounding for- cst. Ile moved to this township a number of years ago, and purchased a fine tract of land. His son is one of the leading business men of the town of Irving.

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IRVING TOWNSHIP.

John Christian was also an old settler, who : in the year 1831, about three and a half miles emigrated from Kentucky, and settled in Irving Township in the year 1830. The original homestead of Christian is at present owned by a Mr. Mitz. Christian was one of the first Bap- tist preachers in this part of the State. He as- sisted in the first religious services ever con- ducted in the township, and was instrumental in founding several churches of his denomina- tion in the county.

In 1830, John Grantham also appeared, and purchased a farm in the southwestern part of the township. This farm now belongs to Seth Washburne.

Grantham was a Methodist preacher, and for a number of years supplied the pulpit of the Hopewell Church, of which he was an original member. He died in the year 1842. Three sons are still living in the township, all of whom are prominent members of the Methodist Church of Irving.

Many other early settlers of this township might be mentioned in connection with those already named, but the date of their settlement and facts connected therewith have been for- gotten, and they have long since passed into that silent palace of the dead whose doors open not outward. To the energy and perseverance of these sturdy, strong-handed pioneers is the township indebted for much of its present prosperity.

The early settlers in this township, like the first settlers in many other parts of the county, were obliged to go long distances to obtain flour and meal. The nearest mill for several years was the little rude affair in the southern part of the county known as Fogleman's pepper- mill. This mill ground so slow that many went by it to Edwardsville, a distance of thirty-five or forty miles. A mill was built in Butler Grove Township, in an early day, by Jacob Cress. This mill was extensively patronized by the first settlers of Irving till one was erect- ed nearer home. James T. Paden built a mill

southwest of the village of Irving, on the IIills- boro road. The machinery of this mill was operated by horse power, ground both corn and wheat, and was patronized by the citizens of this and the adjoining townships of Witt and East Fork. This mill was purchased by Eze- kiel Grantham, after it had been run about eight years, remodeled and supplied new machinery. The machinery was removed a short time after- ward to the town of Irving, and used in the constrnetion of a mill at that place. The old building was torn down and hauled away about two years ago.

A saw-mill was built in the southwestern part of the township, in an early day, by a Mr. Hickman. It was situated on Shoal Creek, from which it received the power that operated it. This mill was run but a very short time, and does not appear to have done a very exten- sive business. The first steam mill was built by Kelly & Harris in the year 1864, at a place two miles southwest of the town of Irving. They sold it in the following year to a man by name of Stevens, who in turn disposed of it to H. M. Kelly two years afterward. Kelly moved the mill to the town of Irving, and op- erated it several years. The machinery was finally taken out and used in the construction of another mill at that place, of which we will speak more fully further on. The old building was purchased by S. F. King, who moved it on his lot, where it answers the purpose of a barn.

Schools were opened in Montgomery County in an early day, and the necessity of educating the pioneer children forced itself upon the minds of the first settlers, and many schools were at once established. The first building used for school purposes in this township was a small cabin in the southern part, built as early as the year 1827. It was used as a meeting- house also. The room was furnished with a few rough benches made of small logs split once, and hewed smooth with a common chop-

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ping ax. These rested upon a dirt floor that required no sweeping. A broad board ex- tended around the apartment next to the wall, and served the purpose of a writing desk dur- ing certain hours of the day. A large fire- place occupied the greater part of one end of the building, in the construction of which neither brick nor stone were used; a bank of earth being merely thrown up against the logs to keep them from taking fire. A small rough stand was provided for the teacher near the center of the room, from which he could issue his decrees, give his commands or mete out eondign punishment to any juvenile offender who had the temerity to violate any of the iron- clad rules of the school.

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 43

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin Number of Pages: 758

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 758