USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 54
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A few years ago this whole area was comparatively an unhabited waste ; only here and there stood the lone cabin as an evidence of the more advanced pioneer of civilization ; while to-day its broad acres are subdued and made to yield, and on every hand may be seen well-made farms and houses, teeming with life and activity. An energetic people, not to be surpassed in industry, perseverance and progression, are using their united efforts to make this one of the first townships in the county.
The carly history of Ricks may be found in the Bear Creek township history, as, for many years after the county was organized, it was included as a part of that precinct.
The first land entered in this township was by Gabriel R. Jerni- gan, December 9th, 1835. It constituted the E. 3, N. E. of section 4, 86 acres, and N. W., N. E. section 4, 43 acres. Also on the same date Thos. P'. Bond entered N. W., N. W. section 3, 417 acres. September 30th, 1836, Win. S. Ricks, W. 2, N. E. section 3, 827 acres.
Below we give a list of the Township Officers.
Supervisors-J. H. Sisna, elected 1866 ; and re-elected 1867 and 1868 ; Alpheus Wall, 1869; J. B. White, 1870, re-elected 1871,
1872, 1873, 1874, and 1875; A. B. Herdman, 1876, and by re-elec- tion served till 1879 ; E. S. Shull, 1880.
Assessors .- John S. Craig, 1876; E. S. Shull, 1877 ; W. T. Ricks, 1878; Fred. Grundy, 1879; Wm. T. Rieks, 1880.
Collectors .- John D. Fuller, elected 1866; Win. Montgomery, 1867, 1868, and 1869; N. W. Dennis, 1870; Wm. T. Ricks, 1871; Wm. Monegan, 1872, 1873, 1874; W. H. Hearin, 1875; Geo. A. Vandeveer, 1876, and by re-election served till 1879; Louis John- son, 1880.
Town Clerks .- Joseph G. White, elected 1869 ; Wm. A. Ander- son, 1870; Peter Clickener, 1871; Silas Iron, 1872 ; D. F. Murry, 1873, and re-elected each succeeding year.
Commissioners of Highways .- Anson Wall, 1876 ; Fred. Bertman, 1877 ; Fred. Schmidt, 1878; W. H. Beaty, 1879; Fred. Bertman, 1880.
Constables .- Anson Wall and James M. Fuller, elected in 1873; James M. Arnold and John W. Hunter, 1877; Charles Dinwiddie, 1878; I. J. Christopher, 1879.
Justices of the Peace .- James H. Sisna and Joseph W. Snively, elected in 1866; Newell D. Ricks, 1867; Sanford Petty, 1868; James II. Sisna and John S. Craig, 1870; John S. Craig and James HI. Sisna, re-elceted in 1876; John S. Craig, re-elected 1877 ; James Stork, 1877.
MORRISONVILLE.
The land on which this town is located, was entered by Ex-Gov. Carlin, June 14th, 1871, at the nominal sum of $1.25 per acre. The title of the present town site was vested in Col. J. L. D. Mor- rison, of Belleville, Illinois, now a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, who purchased it from the heirs of his first wife, the daughter of Ex-Gov. Carlin.
Col. Morrison laid out the town, in the fall of 1869, under the supervision of the Decatur and East St. Louis Railroad Company, now the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway, donating one-half the land with the express condition that the company would make
IMPLEMENTS
WAGONS & BUGGIES
AGRICULTURAL
10
LIVERY :
FEED
& SALE
STABLES
OFFICE.
LIVERY STABLE OF GEO. C. WILKINSON, EDINBURG, / LL.
RESIDENCE AND FARM OF GEO. C. WILKINSON, EDINBURG, ILLINOIS,
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
this station a regular stopping place for all trains. He in addition donated fifty lots, conditioned that the occupants build on the same.
Situation and Surrey -The town is eligibly situated on high, roll- ing ground, in the center of a populous prairie, and commands the trade of the surrounding country for many miles. It received its name in honor of the original proprietor, Col. Morrison. The main part of the town is located on the west half of the North-west quarter of section cight, and was surveyed and platted by Richard M. Powel, county surveyor in 1870, and acknowledged by Col. J. L. D. Morrison and Adelia S. Morrison, his wife, April 4th, 1871. The plat was filed in county Recorder's office, April 8th, 1871. Since then there have been two additions made, viz. : W. E. Morri- son's addition, south-west quarter of section five, and T. F. Potts' addition, south-east quarter of section six.
The Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway runs in a south-west direction, diagonally through the center of the town plat. The track was laid through the town in May, 1870, about six months after the location of Morrisonville.
SETTLEMENT.
The first resident within the present town limits, was James Arnold, who lived on the estate of the late Mr. Perrine. This tract, however, was not within the limits of the town at the time of its location. The original town plat contained but eighty acres. The first settler, in the town proper then, was Richard McLean, who erected the first house in January, 1870. It was located near the depot, and was then used for saloon purposes. The building is now owned by J. P. Stark.
Joseplı Poggenpol built the first dwelling-house, in February of the same year. During this month several families-N. N. Bell, James Sanford, and A. Wall, became residents on the same day ; and others followed in quick succession.
The first store building was erected by N. N. Bell, in which he opened the first stock of goods for sale. This was in the latter part of February, 1870. The building is now owned by M. F. Cheney. Mr. Bell's goods were the first shipped on the new railroad to Mor- risonville.
C. M. Leberman built and opened the second store, with a gen- eral stock of goods. Both these establishments were located on Carlin street.
The next store was erected and opened by D. F. Bonnell, with a complete stock of general goods. This store is now owned by N. K. Beardslee. All these stores were built and opened during the early part of the year 1870.
The following named persons located here first in their respective occupations :- E. Green, Carpenter shop; H. Meain, first mill in running order; Stewart and Post, Elevator; Anson Wall, Hotel ; Alpheus Wall, Post-master ; C. Wucherpfennig, Blacksmith; Mr. - Tetzloff, Wagon-maker ; Chedister & Shull, Lumbermen; C. Townsend & Co., Druggists ; Wm. Wilkins, Banker ; Geo. Britton, Hardware store; Dr. C. Voorhees, Physician. George Hall, was the first child born in the town limits. The first death was an in- fant child of Mr. - Burts.
During the year 1871, the commercial interests were represented in almost every branch, and a large number of business houses and residences were erected.
When the census was taken in 1870, there were but one hundred and twenty-eight souls, and at present as nearly as can be judged, would reach a population of twelve hundred.
Below we give a list of the present business houses in Morrison- ville :-
NEWSPAPER.
The Morrisonville Times, was established by Thomas E. Cox, editor and proprietor, and the first number issued August 20, 1875. It was a folio of twenty-four columns, and quite creditable and neat in its mechanical arrangement. The paper is now edited and pub- lished by Steen Brothers.
THE POST-OFFICE,
Was established in 1870, with Alpheus Wall, as the first post-master. The succeeding ones have been Geo. H. Cox, R. A. Buxton and J. W. Campbell.
BANK.
The banking house of J. H. Vandeveer, was established October 15, 1879. A. H. Vandeveer, cashier.
MILLS AND ELEVATORS.
Glenn Bros. Mill and Elevator was built in 1871, and is now owned by Fredrick & Harrison. The mill has four run of burrs. The elevator is constructed for handling all kinds of grain, and has a capacity of 20,000 bushels small grain.
A. B. Herdman & Co.'s elevator was erected by J. R. Stewart, in 1871. It is constructed for handling all kinds of grain, with a capacity of 16,000 bushels.
The elevator owned and operated by Settlemire & Son, is built for handling all kinds of grain, and has a capacity of 16,000 storage. Physicians .- W. W. Crane, J. W. Campbell, A. B. Simmons, D. F. Salander.
Gen'l Stores .- T. S. Knotts, J. L. Terrell & Co., N. K. Beardslee. Groceries and Queenswarc .- J. B. & C. H. Walker, Kelley & Cole, J. W. & A. S. McCauley, E. L. Cheatham & Co.
Drug Stores .- Steen Bros., Leroy Martin.
Hardware and Agricultural Implements -Wyckoff & Randolph. Hardware and Tinware .- Rafter and Hammack.
Tin Store .- Wm. Drake & Bro.
Clothing and Gents' Furnishing Goods .- V. Breen.
Dry Goods and Groceries .- J. Welsh.
Dry Goods and Clothing .- Jacob Levi.
Merchant Tailor .- G. H. Schmidt.
Clothing, Boots and Shoes .- David Noonan.
Boot and Shoe Store .- E Overand.
Shoe Shops .- Joseph Kins, F. Sandhagen, A. Wiegant.
Harness Store .- A. Michael.
Bakery and Confectionery .- George Atzger.
Bakery and Restaurant .- M. M. Sternberg.
Grocery and Restaurant .- J. H. Poggenpol. Tobacco and Restaurant .- A. Munsterman, Michael McLean.
Dentist .- C. M Brown.
Lumber Yard .- E. S. Shull.
Architects, Builders & Wagon Manuf'rs .- Offlighter and Warren. Wagon Factory .- A. W. Miller.
Livery and Feed Stables .- Anson Wall.
Blacksmith Shops .- J. T. Hall, Christ Wucherpfennig, Joseph Ochsner, Templeton & Galloway.
Meat Market .- Samuel Brown.
Photographer .- E. P. Tilley.
Barber Shops .- Simon Byer, E. P. Tilley. Millinery and Fancy Store .- Miss Emma Buchanan, Miss Rosie Ingalls, Mrs. Dora Thatcher.
HOTELS.
Tremont House .- N. N. Bell, proprietor. Cheney House. - W. H. Hearin, proprietor. City Hotel .- Lewis Banschbach, proprietor.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
Morrisonville Lodge No. 681, A. F. and A. M., was organized under dispensation, Feb. 28, 1871, and charter granted Oct. 3d, 1871. The charter members numbered nineteen.
The First Officers were : J. C. Wood, W. M. ; R. K. Pence, S. W. ; W. T. Ricks, J. W .; S. M. McReynolds, Treas .; D. F. Salan- der, Sec. ; N. K. Beardslee, S. D .; A. Wall, J. D .; H. C. Bartho- lomew, Tyler.
Present Officers are : J. M. Pence, W. M .; A. W. Miller, S. W .; Wmn. Drake, J. W. ; D. F. Murry, Treas. ; J. P. Stark, Sec. ; G. W. Ladley, S. D .; John Smith, J. D. ; R. K. Pence and C. A. Wyc- koff, Stewards ; Geo. De Spam, Tyler.
Morrisonville Lodge No. 459, I. O. O. F., instituted July 26th, 1871. Chartered Oet. 10th, 1871.
First Officers .- Lewis Puckett, N. G. ; James Miller, V. G .; M. F. Cheney, Sec. ; E. P. Tilley, Treas.
Present Officers .- E. P. Tilley, N. G .; James Miller, V. G .; A. W. Miller, Sec .; D. F. Murry, Treas.
Werner Lodge, No. 497, I. O. O. F., was chartered Oct. 8, 1872. Number of charter members, ten.
First Officers .- J. Ring, N. G .; E. Klugchnle, V. G ; M. Sternberg, Treas. ; L. Banschbach, Sec.
Present Officers .- Wm. Klusmann, N. G .; J. B. Sager, V. G .; Fred Sandhagen, Treas. ; L. Banschbach, Sec.
Ancient Order United Workmen, Star Lodge, No. 44, was char- tered Feb. 16th, 1877. Charter members numbered sixteen.
First Officers .- A. W. Miller, P. M. W .; John Watson, Jr., M. W .; J M. Pence, G. F .; Frank N. Haven, O .; W. S. Warren, Rec. ; H. P. Lentz, F .; J B. Walker, Rec .; J. W. Campbell, Guide ; F. Sandhagen, I. W. ; A. M. Young, O. W.
Present Officers .- F. N. Haven, P. M. W. ; C. G. Koown, M. W .; Ed. Charlson, G. F .; A. W. Miller, O; J. B. Walker, Rec .; J. W. Campbell, F .; A. M. Young, Rec .; E S. Little, Guide; G. A. Vandeveer, I. W .; J. W. ; J. Shake, O. W .; J. W. Campbell, Rep.
The financial interests are of fair proportions, as may be inferred from the fact that upward of $200,000 worth of merchandize is an- nually sold by retail alone, with an annual sale of from 50,000 to 60,000 feet of lumber; and from 700,000 to 800,000 bushels of grain is received yearly, and either manufactured into flour herc, or shipped to distant markets, together with a large amount of stock, worth, perhaps, $60,000, making, in the aggregate, annually, a large sum of money that is employed in the transaction of business.
SCHOOLS.
Early attention was given to educational facilities. Under town- ship organization, a neat frame school-house was built May 1, 1870. It was used also as a town hall and for church purposes. To avoid disputes and unpleasant feelings, and to keep the peace, the directors assigned a special Sabbath to each denomination. Miss Gertrude Pence was the first teacher employed by the district to occupy it. As the town increased in population the ercetion of a larger house became necessary. In 1874, the board of directors met and decided on the cost and plan of a building, which was soon erected. It is a brick structure, 40x50 fect in size, two stories high, and con- tains suitable rooms for three departments. It was completed at a cost of $10,000.
The building is an ornament to the place and speaks well for the enterprise of the people and the interest they exhibit in popular education.
CHURCHIES.
Mr. Van Emmon, a Dunkard, has the credit of preaching the first sermon in Morrisonville, May 22, 1870, in the first school- honse, soon after its completion.
The Presbyterian church was the first organized in the town. The society made out a list of names of those desiring to unite in the formation of a church, Sept. 1, 1870, and it was presented to the Presbytery, at Matoon, Ill. On the 4th of October in the same year it received favorable action, and Rev. W. Maynard and Elder C. Goudy, were appointed a committee to visit and complete the organization, which they did January 15, 1871. Rev. E. P. Rankin, became the first resident pastor.
The Presbyterian church was the first erected in Morrisonville, on ground presented by Col Morrison. The ground was first broken, early in October, 1871. The enclosure was completed in the following December, but the plastering was not done till the spring of 1872. The building was completed at a cost of $10,000. The house was dedicated July 14, 1872. The sermon was delivered by Rev. L. F. Root, then at Shelbyville, Ill. It is a large hand- some structure of the gothic type, with steeple.
The first Sunday school was organized in the school-house, July 10, 1870, at nine o'clock, A. M.
It was re-organized August 7, 1870, with forty-seven scholars and seven teachers, as the Union Sabbath School, composed of all denominations, with Mebane Anderson, as Superintendent, and William Anderson, Librarian and Treasurer. It was moved into the new Presbyterian church July 28, 1872.
The Catholic church was erected in 1872, at a cost of $4,000. It is a large frame building, and has a parsonage in connection.
The Cumberland Presbyterian church was built in 1873. It is a frame building, rather small, and is also used by other denomina- tions.
There is now in course of erection a Methodist Episcopal church, which will be completed this year.
INCORPORATION.
The town was incorporated under the general city and village law in May 1872. The first board of Trustees consisted of the following named persons :- C. M. Leiberman, Dr. C. Voorhees, W. T. Ricks, E. S. Shull and J. T. Hall ; with Dr. Silas Irion as Po- lice Magistrate.
The present board of Trustees are :- J. W. Campbell, J. T. Hall, J. L. Terrell, G. A. Vandeveer, Jos. Sanford and J. D. Offlighter.
The streets are kept in a fair condition, and good plank walks arc laid on all the principal ones. A large number of shade and orna- mental trees have been planted, and in a few years they will greatly aid in enhancing the beauty of the town.
FINALE.
In this brief record of Morrisonville there is but little to regret, and much to awaken a just pride. On all the stirring questions of her time she has occupied advanced ground in the van of progress. Her people were early friends of the Temperance cause; and zealous advocates of education and religion from the start. Knowing that good society is the outgrowth of a sound morality as taught in the church, she established churches, and liberally maintained them. Conscious that the sum of human happiness is increased by culture, she carly established schools, and has generously sustained then. Believing that prosperity is the reward of enterprise, she has evinced a stirring activity in the pursuits of the various industries, and has prospered. Feeling that a manly independence is what makes the free man, her people have carved their own way, and are not place- seekers. Realizing that worth makes the man, her people do no homage to place or station and court no man for patronage. Her history is not yet made ; the first ten years of her existence was lay- ing the groundwork, from which history is hereafter to be con- structed.
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FARM AND RESIDENCE OF THOS. MONEGAN, SEC, 12, RICKS TOWNSHIP. (II) RANGE 3, CHRISTIAN CO., ILL.
PLAT OF FARM CONTAINING
240 ACRES
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GARDEN
ASH GROVE, STOCK FARM OF J. S.CRAIG, ESQ. SEC. 26 RICKS TOWNSHIP, (11.) R.3.W. CHRISTIAN CO., ILL ..
NEAR MORRISONVILLE.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
E. S. SHULL.
MR. SHULL, one of the leading business men of Morrisonville, was born at Steubenville, Ohio, on the 3d of April, 1838. When he was ten years old his father died, and he was then apprenticed to a farmer in Columbiana County, Ohio, and lived with him until he was sixteen years old. Hc afterward worked on a farm for two summers at nine dollars a mouth wages, and in the winter went to school. When eighteen, he attended the high-school at New Lisbon, Ohio. Having thus by his own efforts secured a substantial Eng- lish education, in the fall of 1857, he took charge of a school in Columbiana eounty. He was engaged in teaching till the spring of 1859. Considerable excitement arose that year about the discovery of gold at Pike's Peak, and Mr. Shull, in company with three other young men, left Columbiana county, Ohio, in March, 1857, for Colorado. The party traveled by steamer down the Ohio and up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Leavenworth, Kansas. At this point they bought two ponies, on which they packed the necessary outfit for cooking and camping out, and set out across the plains for Denver. A month was occupied in making this journey of about six hundred miles. The whole distance was made on foot. On their arrival they found Denver filled with a multitude of for- tune seekers and gold diggers, like themselves, without any capital, all of them anxious to get back to the states onee more, and many of them totally without the means of making the journey. After a stay of two weeks in Denver, Mr. Shull and his comrades con- cluded to return. In company with two others he made a skiff, laid in provisions, and launched it on the Platte river, and in less than two weeks reached Brownsville, Nebraska. The whole dis- tance was in the neighborhood of a thousand miles. Indians and buffalo were the only objects at that time discernible on the banks of the Platte. From Brownsville he took passage by boat to St. Louis.
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His comrades returned to Ohio, but Mr. Shull, unwilling to go back after such a disastrous ending to the Pike's Peak expedition, concluded to come to Illinois. At that time he was unacquainted with a single person in this state, and had only sixteen dollars in money. He first went to Sangamon county, where he worked on a farm for a few months, and in the winter of 1859-60 taught school. He spent about eleven years in the southern part of Sangamon, and in the northern part of Macoupin county, mostly engaged in teach- ing school. On the 30th of September, 1864, he was married at Springfield, by Judge N. M. Broadwell, to Martha E. Summer. She was born in Morgan eounty, but raised mostly in Sangamon, and her father, Michael Summer, was an old resident of that part of the state.
He came to Morrisonville on the 26th of July, 1870, and began the lumber business. The Wabash railway had at that time just been completed through the county, and the town of Morrisonville had been started a few months previously. The vacant land in
that part of the county settled up rapidly, and the improvements made necessary the use of large quantities of lumber. He was first in partnership with Mr. G M. Chedester, of Virden, but since January, 1873, has carried on business for himself, and without a competitor. He has been closely connected with the business in- terests of Morrisonville. He is a democrat in politics. He was elected supervisor from Ricks township, in the spring of 1880. He is a total abstainer from the use of intoxicating drinks. While a member of no religious denomination, he has liberally contributed to the support of all, and has gained a reputation as an enterpris- ing, liberal and honorable business man.
J. B. WHITE.
MR. WHITE is a lawyer by profession, and for a number of years was prominently connected with the bar at Springfield. He was born in Greene county, Ohio, on the 5th of June, 1828. His an- cestors were of English and Scotch origin, and came to America, and settted in Maryland, in the year 1750. His grandfather, Thomas White, was too young to take part in the Revolutionary War, but six of his older brothers were soldiers in the colonial army. His grandfather removed from Maryland to Pennsylvania, and in the year 1811, emigrated to Greene county, Ohio, in which part of the state he was one of the carliest settlers
The subject of this biography was the third of a family of ten children of J. B. White and Hannah Stevenson. His mother was a native of Virginia. The part of Ohio in which he was born and raised, was one of the most fertile and populous parts of the state. His father's farm was eight miles south of Dayton. He was raised much after the usual fashion of farmers' sons at that day, attending the ordinary district schools, and afterward an academy. At the age of eighteen he took charge of a school, and from that time till after he had attained his majority, was employed, for a considerable part of his time, in teaching. He had formed an early resolution to study law, and in 1850 entered the office of Thomas Moore, one of the most popular lawyers of Hamilton, Ohio. He attended law lectures at the Cincinnati Law School, from which he graduated in 1852
He had already resolved to practice his profession in the West, and in April, 1853, settled at Springfield, Illinois. On his arrival in that town, he found himself a total stranger, but at once opened an office. He found that suceess in the legal profession was ob- tained only by slow steps, and by constant and persistent effort, but he gradually succeeded in establishing himself in a large practice. In 1857, the bar of the 18th Judicial District, comprising the counties of Sangamon, Macoupin, Montgomery and Christian, united in recommending him for Prosecuting Attorney. He was elected to this office, and held it for eight years. At that time the prose- cuting attorney of the district embracing Springfield, was ex-officio
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
attorney general of the state, thus making the office one of great eare and responsibility. He occupied this position during the pe- riod of the war, when its duties were more than usually burden- some and important. He had become the owner of a section of land in Ricks township, Christian county, and becoming interested in its improvement, in 1867, he removed from Springfield, quit the practice of his profession, and has since been residing in this county. His wife was Miss M. J. Mills, by whom he has two children. He is a man of liberal and progressive ideas. In polities he has always been a democrat, but has never taken any active personal interest in politics, nor has ever been a candidate for any political office. He was a member of the Board of Supervisors for six years, the latter two of which he was chairman of the Board.
JOHN C. CONROY.
MR. CONROY has been farming in Ricks township since 1869. His parents, Henry Conroy and Mary Davis, were natives of the state of Vermont. While on their way West, they stopped for a few months in Philadelphia, and in that city Mr. Conroy's birth oe- curred on the fourth day of July, 1849. The following December his father settled in Chicago, where Mr. Conroy was brought up. He received his education in the public schools of Chicago, and at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College. He also spent a couple of winters at the Union High School, at Battle Creek, Michi- gan. At the age of thirteen he began life on his own account, travel- ing in the summer through Michigan in the interests of a wholesale grocery house in Chicago. He followed this business till 1868. On the twelfth day of March, 1868, he married Mary A. Chance, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Chance, who resided in Maeou_ pin county, near Shipman, and were both natives of Jersey county. Mr. Conroy's health was, at that time, so impaired that he con- cluded to go to farming. He lived one year in Macoupin county. In February, 1869, he bought eighty acres of land in section thirty- four of Ricks township, on which he settled. He is now the owner of 125 acres, 45 of which are in Montgomery county. When he first undertook farming his weight, on account of bad health, was greatly reduced, but exercise in the open air has fully restored him to his former vigor. On the fifteenth of August, 1879, his wife died, leaving him four children, Charles H., John W., Ella May and Lizzie. He is a demoerat in politics.
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