History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 44

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 44
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 44

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).

The first pedagogue who wielded the birch in this primitive college was Joseph McEntire, an old man of three-score and fifteen years, though possessed of a wonderful amount of vitality and strength, as many unruly urchins learned to their sorrow. In those days, it re- quired muscle as well as brain to conduct a school successfully, and Mr. McEntire seems to have given universal satisfaction, as he could strike as hard a blow as many younger brethren of the profession. This school was supported by voluntary subscription, and lasted but three months. The teacher " boarded around," as was the custom of that day, and received $1.50 per scholar for his compensation. Among the first schools in the township was one taught by John Grantham in the Hopewell Church house, shortly after the building had been erected. No preparation had been made for this school in the way of fitting up the room, and there were neither desks nor seats for the pupils. No floor had been laid, nor fireplace built. The room was warmed by a fire in the center of the dirt floor, around which the scholars seated themselves upon the sleepers of the building. In the spring the house was abandoned for a grove, where the school was continued during fair weather. When it rained, the exercises

were conducted in a large tent which Mr. Grantham had prepared for that purpose.

The first frame schoolhouse was built in 1848, on Locust Fork, near the place where the resi- dence of Mr. Ault now stands. This house is still standing in the town of Irving, where it was moved in 1860. It is still used for school purposes.

The first public school of the township was taught in this building by William F. King, in the years 1848 and 1849. As time passed, the number of schoolhouses increased. The little log cabins disappeared, or were replaced by the more comfortable and commodious briek and frame buildings. There are at present seven schools in the township outside of the town of Irving. The schoolhouses are all well built, and furnished with latest improved furniture and fixtures. Four of these houses are frame, and three brick. The present school board is composed of the following gentlemen : Joseph Platte, W. W. Webber and J. E. Knight, Trus- tees ; A. J. Huestis, Township Treasurer and Clerk of the Board. The schools last about seven months in the year.

One of the first essentials of civilization is a well-defined roadway. The first roads through this section were mere trails over the prairies, or winding byways among the hills and through the woods. These zig-zag roads were laid out with a view to benefit the greatest number of settlers with the smallest amount of inconven- ience. The first road of any importance in this township was the Hillsboro and Shelbyville road, which was established in the year 1830. It passes through the township from east to west, and is extensively traveled. Another road was established about the same time, known as the Hillsboro and Nokomis road. This was one of the first roads laid out in the east- ern part of the county, and is still the principal thoroughfare between those two cities. It in- tersects the eastern boundary line at a point about one-half mile north of the Indianapolis &

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IRVING TOWNSHIP.

St. Louis Railroad, in Section 1, runs west three miles, where its course is abruptly changed southward. Within half a mile of Irving, the course is again changed to the west. It inter- sects the western boundary of the township near the Middle Fork bridge. One of the first roads established in Irving was the old north road, which ran through the northern part of the township from east to west. The east road in the eastern part is also an old road, and one of the most important highways in the town- ship. A number of roads intersect each other at various places throughout the township, but are not designated by any particular names.

The Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad passes through Irving in a northeasterly direction. It makes one small curve in the southern part ; the remainder of its course is very straight. In all there are about ten miles of this road in the township. It has been a great benefit to the country through which it passes, and has done more than anything else toward the devel- opment of the township. The town of Irving dates its origin from the year in which this road was completed.

The carly church history of Irving is in- volved in considerable obscurity, and many dates and interesting facts relating thereto have faded away from the memory of the old- est inhabitants. The early settlers were mem. bers of different denominations, and held their public services from house to house for several years. At these early meetings, all met on a common level, and left their denominational peculiarities at home. The Presbyterian, Meth- odist, Baptist and Lutheran all united in these meetings without regard to creed or doctrine, and worshiped together the same God in uni- son and harmony. Many of the early itinerant preachers were men singularly gifted with a powerful eloquence which fired the hearts of the pioneers, and many converts were gathered into the different churches. It is not positive- ly known who preached the first sermon in the

township, but, as near as can be ascertained, it was a Baptist preacher by the name of Jordan. He conducted a series of meetings in a grove near the southwest corner of the township in the year 1829, but nothing definite could be learned concerning him.

The first church organized in the township was the Hopewell Methodist Episcopal Church. The organization was effected in the year 1829, by Revs. Benson and Bastian, two itinerant preachers who came into the county several years before.

Among the original members of this church were the following : John Grantham, Thomas Christian, Elizabeth Grantham, James Gran- tham and wife, Isaiah Grantham and wife, Silas Kelly and wife, Madison Berry and wife. Mad- ison Berry is the only one of the original members now living. John Grantham was a local preacher. Thomas Christian was the first class leader. The first pastor who had charge of the church was Rev. Lowry, who preachd for the congregation two years. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. John Dew, the exact length of whose pastorate was not learned, as the early records of the church could not be found. For two years, the congregation held their public services in groves, private dwelling houses and barns. These meetings were attended by all from miles around. In the year 1830, a house of worship was erected on Locust Fork, in the western part of the township, and was named the Hopewell Church. Here the congregation worshiped till the year 1856, at which time the organization was moved to a place about one mile northeast of the village of Irving. For twelve years, the exercises of the church were conducted at this place. In the year 1868, it was decided by the congregation to move the church into the town of Irving, which was accordingly done. A reorganization was effected the same year, and the name of the church changed. It has since been known as the Irving Methodist Episcopal Church. In

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

the year 1860, the propriety of erecting a new house of worship was discussed by the congre- gation, and it was decided to begin the build- ing at once. Work was commenced on the new house in the spring of 1861, and it was completed the following autumn. This build- ing is frame, dimensions about 36 by 56 feet, and will comfortably seat three hundred and fitty persons. It represents a capital of about $3,000. It was dedicated by Rev. J. II. Ald- ridge in the year 1861. Since the reorganiza- tion of the church, the following pastors have preached for the congregation : William Tay- lor, - Hutchinson, J. E. Lindlay, James Calrie, J. F. Holloway, W. F. Lowe, A. E. Orr, --- Rhodes, D. II. Stubblefield, J. W. Lapham, - Schwartz, William Birks, - 1Iamill and W. R. Howard, present pastor. The mem- bership will number at present about two hun- dred and sixty, one hundred of whom were added to the church during a great revival, conducted by Rev. J. W. Lapham, while he was pastor.

A good Sunday school is supported, and the church is reported in excellent working order.

The Presbyterians were prominent among the pioneer churches, and had a flourishing organization at a very early day. This church was organized by Rev. Joel Knight, who was the only preacher for a number of years. The old organization was maintained for a consid- erable length of time, but owing to deaths, removals and other causes, it was finally aban- doned. In the year 1866, the society known as the United Congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in the town of Irving with about fifty members. The first pastor was Rev. L. P. Deatheridge, a man of brilliant attainments and wonderful eloquence. He did as much if not more than any other man toward establishing the church upon the firm footing that it at present maintains. He was succeeded by Rev. Joel Knight, one of the pioneer preachers of the county, and founder

of the congregation of 1830. He was followed by Rev. Mr. Barber, who labored with the con- gregation for several years. Revs. W. J. McDavid and T. W. MeDavid have also preached for the church at stated intervals. The congregation worshiped for three years in the Lutheran Church of Irving. The house in which the church now worships was built in the year 1869, at a cost of $5,000. It is a brick building and contains the largest audi- ence room in the township.

A Sunday school is maintained in connection with the church, with an average attendance of 100 scholars. The St. John's Lutheran Church was organized in the year 1842, and has a present membership of about sixty-five. Rev. Daniel Trimper was the first preacher, and it was nnder his labors that the church was organized. The following names appear on the old church records as original members: Henry Carriker, Mary Carriker. Tillman Heffley, -- Heffley, Naney Lipe, John Lipe, Rachel Lipe. Rev. Trimper was a man of remarkable force of character, and under his administra- tion the church grew to be a power for good in the community. The first house used by the congregation for public worship was built in 1845. Twenty-seven years afterward, their present edifice was erected. This is a frame building, 28x30 feet, and was built at a cost of $1,200. It was dedicated in the year 1872 by Rev. George Bowers. Rev. J. Livingood, Rev. -. Scherer, Rev. -. Schwartz, Rev. John Cromer and Rev. George Hammer have been pastors of this church.

The Irving Lutheran Church is an offshoot of the East Fork Church, one of the oldest organizations in the county. The Irving Church was organized in the year 1858, by Rev. Isaac Short, who was its first pastor. The records, now in possession of David Greg- ory, show the following names of original mem- bers : H. M. Neisler, Isaac Lewey, George File, Reuhen Lingle, Elizabeth Neisler, David

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Gregory, Susan File, Catherine Lewey, Re- becca Gregory, William Newcomb, Samuel T. Bartlett, Mary Newcomb and Patsy Bartlett. Since its organization, the church has been administered to by the follow- ing pastors in the order named : J. B. Cromer, Martin Miller, Hiram Gregory, Francis Springer, L. C. Groseclose, George Hammer, and J. M. Lingle, present pastor. The congregation continued to meet with the East Fork Church till 1860, when their neat, com- fortable building was erected. The building is frame, the aggregate cost of which was about $1,500. Their Sunday school has an average attendance of about sixty, and is superintended by E. P. Cromer. Public services are held every alternate Lord's day, and prayer meet- ing every Wednesday evening. Is one of the aggressive churches of the town.

The Christian Church of Irving was organ- ized about the year 1856, by Elders J. G. Ward and J. M. Taulbee. For several years, this church was in flourishing circumstances, but just previous to the war the members be- came scattered, and the organization was finally abandoned. It was reorganized in the year of 1876, by Elders J. M. Taulbee and B. R. Gilbert. The first pastor was Elder L. M. Linn. The following pastors have had charge of the church at stated intervals : L. Wood, - Muman, - Price, A. C. Layman and J. M. Taulbee. The congregation held their public services, during the year 1876, in the room beneath Masonic Hall. The handsome house in which they now meet was built in 1877. This building is frame, and is one of the neatest and most comfortable houses of wor- ship in the town. It cost about $1,400.

The membership of the church is now about sixty.

The town of Irving is situated in the south- eastern part of this township, on the 1. & St. L. R. R., and is one of the growing towns of the county. The first house erected here was a

store building. It was built by William S Berry and T. G. Black in the year 1846. This was the first store in the township, and repre- sented a capital of several hundred dollars. One year later, another store house was erected by Edwards & Petrie. Both of thesc stores did a very flourishing business for several years, and as the population of the village in- creased, their trade increased also, until more room was required, hence their buildings were enlarged. Quite a number of families moved into the village and built houses, in the years 1846 and 1847. The first dwelling house was built by J. M. Taulbee. The town dates its growth from the year 1856, at which time it was laid off into lots by Messrs. Huggins & Rider. The survey was made by J. M. Taul- bee. Huggins & Rider sold out to R. W. Davis and Madison Berry the year following, who at once commenced to improve the town. The first brick store-building was built in 1856, by H. J. Huestis. This building stands just north of the depot, and is at present occupied by the store of Knight & McDavid.

Among the first buildings erected was the blacksmith shop of - Sanford, which was built in the year 1856. This was the first shop of the kind in the township. It was sold to Jacob Bird, two years after it was built, who continued to work at the trade till within a very receut date. The first school in the vil- lage was taught by a Mr. Frink, in the old llopewell meeting - house, which had been moved to the town in the latter part of the year 1856. The next school was tanght by J. W. King. John Franklin and George Baker were among the first teachers in the village. The little frame building was the only school- house in the town for several years. When there were more pupils than it could accommo- date, rooms in private dwelling houses were fitted up for the surplus scholars. In the year 1866, the present school building was erected at a cost of $2,000. This house is of brick, two

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

stories high, and contains two large-sized school rooms. These rooms are not sufficient- ly large to accommodate all the pupils of the schools, and the propriety of enlarging the building is being discussed.

The schools are at present under the super- intendency of Prof. M. T. Miller, assisted by W. C. Hobson, Miss Means and Miss Hogshett. The first post office was established in the year 1856, with W. W. Wiley as Postmaster. The office was kept in the building now used by Berry & Grantham as a restaurant. A steam flouring-mill was erected in 1856. by Kelly & Wiley. Part of the machinery used in the construction of this mill was taken from the old Kelly mill, which formerly stood in the western part of the township, near Shoal Creek. A mill was built in 1868, by Hanners & Will- iams. This was a steam mill, also. It burned down in the year 1870, but has since been re- built, and at present is the only mill in the town. It has two run of buhrs and a capacity of about twenty-five barrels of flour per day. Two large elevators were built in the town in the years 1870 and 1871, only one of which is now operated. The large hotel which stands in the eastern part of the town was erected in the year 1868, by W. J. McClure, at a cost of $7,000.

Dr. J. II. Spears was the first physician who practiced medicine in Irving. He came here in the year 1858 and remained till 1863. Since 1858, the following physicians have been located here : W. F. Linn, Elias Petre, J. P. Murphy, W. H. Hobson, B. F. Burries, - Hart, - Tuck, - Nicholby, J. F. Whitten, - Sweet, W. B. Sprinkle. Joseph Cobb, Vincent Parkhill, J. W. Parkhill, A. B. Ault and Isaac Short. The best growth of the town has been since the year 1878. The large brick building occupied by the stores of Kelly & Berry, Thomas H. Padgett and A. W. Kelly, was built in the year 1880, as was also the brick building in which the stores of James McDavid and S. D. Bartlett

are kept. Bartol Leon built the large house which he and his son occupy as a place of business in the year 1881. Several fine dwell- ing houses have been erected during the past two years, and quite a number of others are in process of erection at the present time. The town was incorporated in the year 1868, under a special charter. In 1873, it came in under the general law, when the ordinances were all revised by S. F. King and published. The present officers of the town are the following : John T. McDavid, President of the Board ; Au- gustus McDavid, Clerk ; M. D. L. Cannon, George Rarer, James M. Taulbee, Hiram J. Huestis, W. S. Berry, Jr., Trustees. An Odd Fellows Lodge was organized in the town at an early day, bnt of late years has not met. Noth- ing concerning the organization could be ascer- tained. Irving Lodge, No. 455, A. F. & A. M., was instituted in the year 1865, with the follow- ing charter members : B. F. Barnes, E. B. Ran- dle, W. B. Van Ilorn, B. F. Pitts, II. J. Hnestis, William M. Cox, George M. Davenport, Bartol Leon, John E. Lindley, Ryland Tuck and John B. Cox. The first officers of the lodge were Ben- jamin F. Barnes, W. M .; Edward B. Raudle, S. W .; George M. Davenport, J. W. The present offieers are the following : John T. Carriker, W. M .; Thomas Padgett, S. W .; H. J. Bowtell, J. W .; William S. Berry, Treasurer ; A. A. Rine- hart, Secretary ; D. H. Luther, S. D .; Palmer Yemens, J. D .; B. T. McClure, Tiler. The membership is about thirty-two. The hall in which the lodge holds its meetings was built in the year 1868. It is owned by the organiza- tion.

A temperance organization known as the Royal Templars of Temperance was established here in the year 1879. The meetings are held semi-monthly. This organization is seeret, and has the following officers : Select Councilor Vice Councilor, Past Conneilor, Secretary. Treasurer, Herald, Guard, Sentinel and Deputy Herald.

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IRVING TOWNSHIP.

The Irving Coal Company was recently in- corporated with a capital of several thousand dollars. They have erected machinery in the western part of the town, where they are pros- pecting for coal and oil. We conclude this article on Irving with the following list of busi- ness men and the particular business in which they are engaged :

Kelly & Berry keep a large dry goods store, also an extensive line of ready-made clothing, boots, shoes and groceries. They represent a capital of perhaps $7,000, and are doing a flour- ishing business.

S. F. King makes groceries a specialty.

S. T. Bartlett & Son, James McDavid and

Knight & McDavid also keep stores whose stocks consist of a general assortment.

Berry & Grantham, restaurant and bakery.

James M. Taulbee, feed and provision store. Mrs. A. E. Newberry, milliner.

Williams Sisters, milliners.

There are three drug stores kept by the fol- lowing persons : Thomas H. Padgett, Sprinkle & Brother, Bartol, Leon & Son. D. D. Boutlett & Co., hardware ; D. H. Luther, A. M. Edwards and J. Scherer, blacksmiths ; George Rarer, wagon-maker : M. D. L. Cannon, cabinet-maker and undertaker; C. B. Wiley, livery stable ; J. T .ManIbee, Jr., and I. G. Dawson, barbers.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXIII .*

ZANESVILLE TOWNSHIP-POSITION-BOUNDARIES, ETC. - SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS-CREEKS AND TIMBER-PIONEER SETTLEMENTS- ROADS AND MILLS - FIRST ELECTION AND FIRST BIRTH-EARLY SCHOOLS-CHURCHES-VILLAGE OF ZANESVILLE-ITS GROWTH AND DECAY-INCIDENTS, ETC.

"THE original Zanesville Precinct included within its area the townships of Pitman and Bois D'Arc, and was reduced to its pres- ent dimensions as an independent division in the year 1873, when the township organiza- tions throughout the county were called into effect. It lies in the western part of the county, south of Pitman, north of North Litch- field and west of Raymond Township, with Ma- coupin County as its western boundary, and contains a fraction over thirty-four sections of choice tillable land, which, in point of fertility and productiveness, is second to none in this part of the State. Topograph- ically, the country may be described as prin- cipally of an even face, in the central and northern portions, with occasional undulation of a somewhat irregular character in the southern part, while in the southeast cor- ner the land is more uneven, though in no place is it too rolling for farming pur- poses. The soil is similar to that of the surrounding townships, being the rich black prairie loam common to this part of the country and everywhere noted for its fer- tility. This township lies in the great wheat belt of Illinois, and that cereal is the princi- pal staple, although corn, rye, oats, flax, bar- ley, together with the root crops usually found growing in this part of the State, are raised here in abundance, while nowhere in Montgomery County is there better encour-

agement offered to the fruit-grower. A soil of peculiar adaptability and a climate equally favorable, insure a large yield almost every year, facts of which many of the citizens have taken advantage, as is evinced by the numerous orchards to be seen in different parts of the township. The country is suffi- ciently well watered and drained for farming purposes by several streams that wind through- out the township and numerous small tribu- taries flowing into them from many points. The largest of these water-courses is the West Fork of Shoal Creek, which has its rise in Section 30, from whence it takes a devious course, flowing in a northeasterly direction abont one mile, and then a southeasterly di- rection, passing through Sections 28, 27, 26, 35 and 36 before leaving the township. There is a small creek in the northern part, flowing through Sections 7 and 8, which affords stock water and drainage to that lo- cality the greater part of the year. During the early spring months, these streams are hardly sufficient to carry off the immense quantities of water which spread over certain parts of the country, and from mere rivulets they become raging torrents, overflowing their banks for considerable distances on either side, and sometimes doing a great deal of in- jury to the farms through which they pass. From the head of Shoal Creek to the southern boundary of the township are several strips of timber of the varieties usually found in

*By G. N. Berry.

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ZANESVILLE TOWNSHIP.

the woods of Central Illinois-walnut, hick- ory, elm, sycamore, maple and oak predomi- nating. The original timber has disappeared long since before the ax of the lumberman, a character who made his appearance coeval with the first settler, and that which is now standing is, comparatively speaking, of recent growth. Much attention is given to the growing of timber and many farmers have surrounding their dwellings and outbuildings groves of considerable magnitude, which, in a few years, will furnish them not only with lumber for all practical purposes, but with fuel as well. That this part of the county was at one time in the dim and remote past inhabited by a prehistoric race possessed of many of the attributes of what we term a high degree of enlightenment, is probable, from the existence of several mounds at differ- ent places throughout its territory and nu- merous strange relics that have been un- earthed in several localities. Who were these strange people? Whence came they ? Whither did they go? These questions must forever remain to form a melancholy interest in the wondrous past, and a mystery which neither time nor circumstance, nor science, nor the more wondrous future, may reveal. But since their time, another race, mighty in numbers, has come and gone from their an- cient homes and favorite hunting-grounds, though yet not quite extinct. When the white man made his first appearance in what is now the territory of Zanesville, it was a favorite hunting-ground and retreat of several tribes of savages, notably among which were the Kickapoos and Pottawatomies. Their camping-grounds were usually selected near the source of Shoal Creek and in the timber skirting Macoupin Creek, a small stream just across the line in the adjoining county. When the white settlers began to increase in numbers, these Indians moved farther west,

though at different intervals for several years re-visited the scenes of their former camping- places, but never to do any mischief.

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 44

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