USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 62
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Constables .- George Housley, Martin V. Swick, John C. Paxton and James R. Foster.
MT. AUBURN
The following notes of the editor of the Sangamon Journal, of September 18, 1839, are expressive of the status of this section of country at that date. " Messrs. John Grigg, J. V. Williamson and Augustus S. Mitchell, of Philadelphia, Pa., Cyrus P. Smith, of Brooklyn, N. Y., Elias P. Bishop, of New Haven, Ct., and J. B. Augur, now a resident of Mt. Auburn, are the proprietors of a tract of land in Dane county (late south-east part of Sangamon county), containing about 40,000 acres, 15,000 of which are heavily timbered. The entry lies on and south of the North Fork of the Sangamon river, and is, on the north and east, bounded by Mosquito (or Silver Creek) ; west by Buckhart Creek, and south by prairie. It is about ten miles long and six broad. About the centre of this tract rises Mt. Auburn, elevated some fifty feet above the surrounding country. This elevation is most beautiful and commands an extensive view, overlooking the country for some ten or fifteen miles, and embracing within the limits of vision the towns of Allenton, Stonington, and but for an intervening skirt of timber Edinburg, and part of San- gamon and Logan counties. The improvements in Mt. Auburn arc at this time limited. It was surveyed and platted by J. R. Skimmer, July 11, 1839 ; not a blow had been struck for its improvement until this date. Now it has one large store, one large barn, designed for the use of a tavern, and one dwelling-housc. Materials are now collected for the crection of a brick tavern house, which it is in- tended will be second to none in the state, the walls of which will be commenced forthwith. A brick church (an evidence of the high moral and religious feeling of Mr. Grigg, as well as his liberality), will be erected in the ensuing spring. . There are already several
236
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
superior eastern mechanics located in the place, embracing joiners, carpenters, blacksmiths, tailors, masons, and brick-makers. As an evidence of the health of the place, a case of sickness has not occurred among them. Mt. Auburn is located on Sec. 12, T. 15, Range 2 W. It is twenty-two miles from Springfield and twenty south-west of Decatur. It lies on the main road from Springfield to Terre Haute, which is a leading route for travelers. It is within five miles of the Northern Cross railroad, and about eighteen miles from the Illinois Central railroad. It is expected that the Northern Cross railroad will be completed from the Illinois river to Spring- field by the 1st of June, 1840, which will be within twenty-two miles of Mt. Auburn.
Within a circuit of eight miles around Mt. Auburn 140 families are located. The population recently arrived is mostly from the New England states. The old residents are generally from Ken- tucky, Tennessee and the south. The tract of country belonging to this company, for beauty, fertility and health we do not believe is exceeded in any location in the state. The land is gently and agrecably undulating, such as any eastern man would select for a farm, every foot of which seems capable of cultivation. The soil generally is equal to the best portions of Sangamon ; it contains a larger portion of sand than some of our soils, and as experience has shown, this description of soil will stand the drought much better than heavier soils, and at the same time is much warmer and can be improved earlier in the season. The policy of the company is liberal ; they wish to secure an intelligent, moral and industrious population. To secure these results, they will dispose of neither lands or town lots, but to such as will make actual settlements."
DANE COUNTY, (NOW CHRISTIAN COUNTY),
" Is situated in a very desirable climate removed from the extremes of heat and cold-in about the latitude of Philadelphia. The winters from necessity, are much shorter than those of the New England states, and the cost and labor of raising cattle is almost in- comparably less. All the fruits, vegetables and grapes, which flourish in the northern states, here succeed in great perfection and with far less labor, and besides the country produces southern vege- tables to which the farmers of the north are strangers. The facility of making farms upon our prairies is good. The emigrant can make a better farm in the prairie in two or three years time than in timbered land in fifteen years. The country in a short period of time must become densely populated. The company design to erect a steam mill at Mt. Auburn the ensuing spring. It will secure the rapid improvement of the town. There is a saw-mill within fonr miles of the town, on the Sangamon river, propelled by water power, but it is not able to supply a tithe of the demand for lumber. John Grigg's liberality to this town is known and acknowledged. Williamson is an opulent and retired merchant of Philadelphia. Mr. Mitchell is well known as the publisher of most of the maps of the day. Mr. Bishop is a stock man, and is making arrangements to bring to this county a valuable breed of foreign cattle."
First Steam Mill .- The first steam mill built in the county was by John B. Angur, in Mt. Auburn, in the summer of 1840. The works were furnished by T. F. Secor & Co., of Philadelphia ; con- sisting of a steam engine, twenty-horse power, with sufficient boiler for steam and mill gear for two run of stones; and for two saws- together with mill stones, burr, bolting cloth all complete, and same delivered at Beardstown, Illinois, for 85300. Mr. Augur was the agent of the Eastern colony, settling in and around Mt. Auburn. None but the saw mill and one pair of burrs, for grinding corn, was ever put in operation. This enterprise measurably failed, owing to the " hard times " and depression in monetary matters,
caused by the financial panic of 1837. The mill in a year or two was sold, and the works removed to Beardstown.
The bounds of the North Fork precinct, were reduced from time to time in the formation of new precincts ; but Mt. Auburn and Mosquito townships remained together till the adoption of township organization in the spring of 1866. The places of voting have been at different points ; first at Forgus Milligans, when the county was organized ; second, at Dr. Leeds' place, now owned by Daniel Kiger; third, on Esquire John Benson's farm, now owned by Dial Davis ; fourth, M. P. Goodrich's old farm residence ; fifth, Mt. Auburn and sixth at Bolivar. At the organization of the county, the North Fork precinct elected, August 5th, 1839, A. D. Northentt and James Baker its first justices of the peace, and James M. Fletcher and Thos. E. V. Farris, its first constables. The total vote then cast in the whole northern part of the county was about 100. At the presidential election in November, 1876, embracing the same territory, the total vote cast was about 1000. In Mt. Auburn township, at this same election, the vote cast was 379.
On the adoption of township organization in 1866, the county court formed the Mt. Auburn precinct, by placing together the fractional parts of three townships : Townships 15-2; 15-3; 16-2 W. It is in triangular form, nine miles long by seven wide at its widest point, rendered fractional by the meanderings of the San- gamon river. It embraces an area of 44 square miles. At the first election held under township organization, April 3d, 1866, John M. Hill was chosen its first supervisor ; Asa Montgomery and Charles Cole, justices of the peace.
The cholera prevailed alarmingly at Mt. Auburn in 1852. Forty victims were carried off by this dreadful scourge. Among them was the wife of Esquire Knight, and daughter of the old pioneer, Mylo Skinner, late of Greenwood township. Dr. Tupper, one of the old pioncer settlers of Mt. Auburn township, lost his life whilst sitting on the end of a flour barrel ; the wagon on going off from a bridge dropped suddenly, and he was precipitated under the wheels and killed.
Old Martin Hinkle, at a very early day, sold whisky. It is re- lated of him that he could neither read nor write, but kept his accounts on the wall. It was at that period customary for candi- dates to treat before elections ; some would deposit some money for that purpose, others not. It made no difference ; he always opened an account, with each candidate as his friends called for a drink, by having his name legibly written high upon the wall, and under this he kept a kind of tally list with chalk. As he doled ont a glass he would chalk one. His ledger was large; and you could find the name of every prominent man in the county, whether candidate, teacher or preacher, for years afterwards on the walls. He never balanced his ledger ; the account always stood unpaid.
Early Preachers .- The first sermons preached in this township were by Aaron Vandeveer and William Crow, Baptist ministers, at the house of Mr. Hancock in the year 1831.
First School .- Was taught in the township by Patrick O'Bryan. First Birth .- The first child was horn in October, 1830, the son of William George; he was christened George William George.
VILLAGE OF MT. AFBURN (PARTIAL RECAPITULATION),
Was laid out by John B. Angur, John Grigg, I. V. Williamson, Cyrus P. Smith, Elias B. Bishop and Augustus Mitchell. The above were the original proprietors. The location of the town is section 12; township, 15-2; T. R. Skimmer, county surveyor, of Logan county, made the survey. The chain carriers were William Rohins, Richard Simkins and Jackson Caywood.
The first store was kept by John B. Angur, in the year 1839.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
'The same fall he sold out to the firm of Camp, Bradish & Co. William Phillips was the pioneer blacksmith in 1840. The first resident physician was Dr. J. Hughes. In February, 1857, two tiers of blocks were vacated on the north and south, and one tier of blocks on the east and west side.
The first buildings erected were by the founders of the town in 1839 ; store-house, dwelling-house and hotel ; the hotel was a brick building 2} stories high. It was never completed and was taken down in the year 1876.
Thomas Marr kept hotel here in 1840 and 1841; the next two years the building was occupied as a residence, by Warner and Gates, who operated the first mill here in 1842, as before stated ; the mill was afterwards sold and moved to Beardstown.
The first sermon preached in the village, was by Rev. Dresser, now a resident of Springfield. The post-office was established in 1839, and John B. Augur was the first post-master.
Present Business Houses .- General dry-goods store, by Richard Kimball; groceries and drugs, by Dial Davis & Son; groceries and drugs, by H. D. Parker. Mr. Parker is also post-master.
Cabinet Maker und Undertaker, Ezekiel Sargeant.
Blacksmiths, Jacob M. Wise, John Sargeant.
Carriage and Wagon Maker-E. R. Mooney.
Wagon Maker-D. Everet.
Hotel, kept by William F. Milligan.
Painter-A. S. Parrish.
Harness and Shoe Maker -- J. R. Vanderbelt.
Physicians-Henry Bloxam, J. H. Lawrence, A. Concl, J. B. Matthew, O. C. Reynolds. In 1860 the M. E. church was built ; it is quite a comfortable house 34x40 feet. In 1869 the Christian church was erected; it is 36x48 feet in size. The present school- house was built in 1861. There are also two saloons in the place.
Believing that it would be of interest to our readers, we subjoin the changes in business that have taken place in Mt. Auburn. The third store was kept by John S. Foster; it was a general store. He began business in 1847, and two years later sold out to Henry Davis, who carried on the business about one year. He sold the establishment to P. N. Hooper, and V. D. Emert. About three months after Hooper sold his interest to his partner, and Emert con- tinned by himself only about three months and then quit business. In 1851 P. B. Night & Co. started a general dry goods and grocery store ; two years after sold out to John S. Foster, and in 1854 Mr. Foster sold to M. Stafford & Co. ; they continued the business until 1857, when they were succeeded by C. E. Bosworth, who continued until 1859. In 1854 P. B. Night opened a dry-goods and grocery store, and in 1856 sold to John Cole, who turned the stock into clothing, and about six months afterward consolidated his stock with C. E. Bosworth.
John B. Zaring built a store-house in the fall of 1857, and started a general store, and continued in business until some time in 1858 ; then sold to Robert H. Fowkes, who continued about six months. The store afterward occupied by D. Davis & Son was built by M. P. Goodrich, in the year 1856, who carried on a general dry-goods business until 1859, when he sold to B. R. Parrish, who continued in business until 1860. Benjamin Ellis started a general store in 1862, and continued until 1867. On March 26, 1859, M. Stafford opened a store and continued in business until Feb. 19th, 1866, when he sold out to John Jones, who continued until April, 1867.
Present officers, J. G. Harvey, W. M., H. C. Shanafelt, S. W .. Ira Lindsley, J. W, F. M. Thomas, Treas., O. Z. Housley, Sec., P. P. Daigh, S. D., G. L. Daigh, J. D., J. K. Porter, Chaplain, J. S. Richards, Tyler.
Present membership 37. Lodge owns half the hall.
M. Stafford began business again in March, 1869, and continued until the first of January, 1873, when he sold to R. Kimball, who carried on the business until the spring of 1878, since which time Mr. Kimball has conducted the business for J. R. Race, of Decatur. Davis and White opened a drug and grocery store in November, 1872, and were burned out February 14th, 1873. During the years 1871-72 Dr. Lawrence carried on a drug store From '68 to '70 Messrs. Cook and Thompson carried on a general dry-goods store. On the 6th of November, 1873, Davis and Bloxam started a drug and grocery store. On the 1st of January, 1875, Bloxam retired from business, and in March, 1877, Davis sold out to Dr. J. B. Matthew, who occupied it until July, 1878, since which time the store has been carried on by D. Davis & Son. In 1863 Dr Conel opened a drug store and continued in business until 1876, at which time he sold out to H. D. Parker.
GROVE CITY.
The village of Grove C'ity is situated on section 34, township 15, range 2. It is located in the midst of a rich agricultural district, and among an enterprising and thrifty class of people. It is about ten miles and a half due north of Taylorville.
The first house was erected by E. N. Hogland in 1858; it was a frame building. F. H. Henshie opened and kept the first store. The first Blacksmith shop was built and operated by A. Henshie. The first sermon was preached by Rev. B. F. Hungerford, in the year 1865. The first school was taught, in 1876, by Sylvester Pat- terson. The first physician was Dr. H. J. Grismer, who located here in 1864. A post-office was established here in 1862, F. H. Henshie post-master. The present school-house was erected in 1876. The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1866.
PRESENT BUSINESS HOUSES.
Dry Goods Store .- Owned by R. Little, of Decatur, and man- aged by H. C. Shanafelt.
Drug and Grocery Store .- J. G. Harvey & Co.
Boot and Shoe Store .- John Engle.
The Blacksmiths are A. Flock, and M. Collins.
Harness Maker. - F. M. Thomas.
Wagon Maker and Undertaker .- S. J. Snyder. House and Sign Painter .- Rufus Housley.
The Physicians are Dr. W. H. Vermilion and Dr. J. G. Harvey. The resident Methodist minister is Rev. R. L. Robinson.
The Benevolent Societies are as follows :-
Grove City Lodge, No. 275, I. O. O. F., was instituted May 3, 1872. The charter members were John Cole, Eli Porter, John C. Paxton, Henry Kirk, J. M. Milligan, Win. E. Petters, J. H. Law- rance, Henry Bloxam, J. W. Johnson.
First officers, J. C. Paxton, N. G., Eli Porter, V. G., Henry Bloxam, Sec., Henry Kirk, Treas.
Present officers, R. W. Bowman, N. G., V. T. Houston, V. G., J. H. Davis, R. S., J. C. Paxton, P. S., H. C. Shanafelt, Treas. Present membership is 34. The lodge owns half of the hall.
Fisher Lodge, No. 585, A. F. & A. M. Dispensation granted Nov. 15, 1867. The charter members were R. A. Hazlett, A. D. Bond, John Hazlett, J. A. Short, Eli Porter, J. G. Porter, L. Smith J. W. Davidson, Wm. Daigh.
First officers, J. G. Harvey, W. M., E. P. May, S. W., John Hazlett, J. W., R. A. Hazlett, Treas., L. Sinith, Sec., J. W. David- son, S. D., J. A. Short, J. D., H. N. North, Tyler.
BOLIVIA POST OFFICE.
Is situated on section 18, Tp. 15, range 2. The route was established on March 4th, 1878, and the first mail was received December 13, 1879. F. Prickett is post-master, and W. T. Baker deputy P. M.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
H.M.SNYDER
Baker
AMONG the prominent old citizens of Christian county, may be mentioned the name that heads this sketch. He was born in Bour- bon county, Kentucky, June 29th, 1828. His father, James Baker, emigrated to Illinois when the subject of our sketch was a babe. He was also a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and was the tenth white child born in that county. His father, Isaac Baker, was a native of Maryland, and participated in the Revolutionary war. He was of German descent, and emigrated from Maryland to Kentucky soon after the close of the above war. He there mar- ried Miss Peggy Waddle. They raised a family of twelve children, nine sons and three daughters. In 1828 he cinigrated to Illinois with his family and settled in Sangamon county. Six of his sons were married and had families. He and four of his sons settled in the above named county in 1828, where he lived until his death, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. His wife preceded him about six years, at the age of eighty-six. Her death was the first in the family after their marriage, and at this time her youngest child was 238
fifty-four years of age. At the time of Isaac Baker's death, he had one hundred and sixty-three children, grand-children and great- grand-children. He followed the life of a farmer, and lived a quiet and unostentatious life ; made himself a good, comfortable home, and lived a much respected citizen. His son James settled in what is now Christian county, before it was organized, and when it was ent off' from Sangamon the division made him a citizen of Christian county. He was married in Kentucky, before coming to Illinois, to a Miss Nancy Squires. They had seven children born to them in Kentucky, and two in Illinois. For a number of years James Baker served as constable, while under the jurisdiction of Sangamon. At the first election held in Christian county, he was elected justice of the peace, an office he held for eight years. He built a water mill on the North Fork of the Sangamon river in 1835. It was a saw and grist mill, familiarly known as "Baker's Mill."
He took a great interest in all agricultural movements. He
The Library of the University of Illinois
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LOOKING NORTH.
"HICKORY GROVE FARM" SCENES UPON THE STOCK FARM OF S. J. SADLER, SEC. 35, T. 15 R. 2 W.(MT.AUBURNTP) CHRISTIAN CO.,ILL.
239
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
was one of the foremost exhibitors of stock at the county fairs. He was an old line whig, and usually took an active part in the elections. He was an energetic and industrious farmer, and did everything in his power to further the development of his county. He died on the place he improved, at the age of eighty-two, on the 14th of February, 1869. His wife's death occurred three years afterward, at the same age. W. F. Baker was here brought up. He assisted his father on the farm and at the mill during his minority. At the age of twenty-six he went to California overland, and returned the same way, after four years. While in California he carried on a hotel and livery stable. Ile returned to Illinois, and after two years he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Green. She was a native of Ohio. They have a family of four children, two boys and two girls, viz. : John S., Fannie Winneford, Lillie Ann and Henry Turley. After Mr. Baker's marriage, he began farming and stoek-raising in Mt. Auburn township, where he now resides. He has also been engaged in shipping stock nearly twenty years. He takes quite an interest in the agricultural society of the county, as his father did before him, and for seventeen years he has been represented in the stoek ring as a prominent exhibitor. At one time he had twenty-one head of stock on exhibition and carried away twenty-three premiums. He takes a pride in fine horses, and knows one when he sees it. During his younger days, when the country was new and game plenty, he took delight in hunting. He would often kill four or five deer in one day with his rifle, and on one occasion he killed twenty deer in a single day, under the following circumstances : There came a heavy rain upon a snow, and it froze, making the whole country a sheet of iee, and, upon horse-back, with a hickory club in hand, it was no trouble to slay the deer, which were wholly at the hunters' merey.
When Mr. Baker started out in life, he was unaided. All he possessed were two willing hands and a good constitution. He has made all he owns by industrious toil and fair dealing. He is now Notary Public. Politically he is a firm and uncompromising re publican. He voted that tieket in North Fork precinct, when it comprised the northern part of the county, and polled seven hun- dred and forty-four votes, seven hundred and forty democrats and four republicans. The other three republicans were his father, George Housley and W. Y. Crosthwait. Such is the outline of an industrious and practical farmer of Christian county.
HENRY BLOXAM, M. D.,
WAS born in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., March 17, 1831. HIe was the son of Henry and Elizabeth Ann Bloxam. Henry Bloxam was a native Englishman, and emigrated to America in about 1825. He was a man of fine education and good business qualifications. Upon his landing in America, he immediately found employment in the old established book firm of Grigg & Elliott; for fourteen years he was their book-keeper, and had charge of the entire busi- ness. He then met and married his wife, Elizabeth Aun Horwath, October 7, 1828; she was a native of New Jersey. Mr. Bloxam there raised his family of five children, the doctor being the second, and now the only surviving member of the family. His father, as above stated, had a good position in Philadelphia, and saved money, and, being desirous to invest it in some paying business, eame west in 1839, and started a general store in Mt. Auburn, under the name of Camp, Braddish & Co. He then returned to Philadelphia. Camp and Braddish were to carry on the business, and receive part of the profits. After two years Mr. Bloxam found it was not a paying investment, and from reports that the firm was not in a good
condition, financially, he so informed his employees, and told them also, that he would be compelled to resign his position, to look after his affairs in the west, and that he intended to make the west his future home. Mr. Bloxam had been a good and faithful man to them and as much as they disliked to part with him, they told him that if it was his desire to go west, they wished him well, and further, in token of their friendship, they presented him a deed for six hundred and forty acres of land, in one body, lying in what is now Buekhart township. So in 1841, he came to Mt. Auburn the second time, and brought out his family. His expec- tations were fully realized. When he arrived at Mt. Auburn he soou found that he had been victimized to the amount of two thousand dollars. He closed out the entire business, and turned over the entire stock of goods on hand, to the creditors of the firm. He then began the life of a farmer, an entirely new business to him. The land that had been presented to him, lay at the head of Buck- hart Grove. He improved part of this section, and for many years it was known as the Bloxam farm. Mr. Bloxam lived upon this place until his death, which occurred August 18, 1844. He was a man of the most straightforward rectitude in business, and his honesty was never doubted. His wife survived him ten years. She died in Springfield, August 6, 1854. The subject of our sketch began the study of medicine with Dr. Leeds, of Mechaniesburg, Illi- nois, in the fall of 1846. He studied under the doctor for five years, and then began the practice in Mt Auburn, and for nearly thirty years he has attended the sick, with success, in that vicinity. In 1857 he began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar, in 1862. Since his residence in Mt. Auburn, he has held the office of Justice of the Peace, for about eighteen years, and was acting deputy sheriff for some time, under Sheriff Goodrich. February 12, 1844, he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen T. Parrish, a resident of Mt. Auburn. They have a family of five children, viz : Lucy E., now the wife of George E. Thaxton, living near Mt. Auburn, William G., Edwin G., Arthur McLean, and Charles J. In politics the doetor is a democrat. He represented his township in the Board of Supervisors, for one term; aud during his profes- sional connection with the people of Christian county, he has won confidence, as well for his good qualities as a citizen and an enter- prising member of the community, as for his services and attain- meuts as a physician.
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