USA > Illinois > Clark County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 21
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 21
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
Orleans, since which time nothing has been heard of him. The supposition is that he was robbed and killed on the journey.
About the same time the foregoing settle- ments were being made in the northern and southern parts of Licking. A few pioneers made their way to the western part of the township. Among these was John White, or as he was more familiarly known, "Fluker " White. He settled in the eastern part of the county when Palestine consisted of but few houses, and participated in the battle which was fought at that place between the settlers and Indians. In this engagement he was shot through the body with an arrow and given up for dead by his comrades. He ral- lied, however, and lived a number of years to relate his narrow escape from death at the hands of the red-skins. His first improvement in this township was made a little southeast of the village of Bellaire, where he lived until about the year 1845, at which time his death occurred. Jackson James settled in the same locality about the same time, and became possessor of a considerable tract of real estate. Mortimer Parsons, Elijah Clark, Tobias Liv- ingston and James Metheny were early resi- dents in the western part of the township near Bellaire. In addition to the settlers al- ready enumerated the following persons found homes within the present limits of Licking prior to 1840: Thomas Boring settled in sec- tion 3; Daniel Coate, northern part in section 2; James Dixon and Ezekiel Rubottom in the same section; Jacob Mullen, section 25; Igel Beeson in southwest part; James Boyd, sec- tion 1; R. G. Morris, same section; Jeremiah Willison, section 6: Uriah Hadley, section 20; James Netherby, section 24; John Bonham in same locality; William B. Newlin and B. Clark, section 25, and Henry Kerby in south- ern part on section 3. Kerby's marriage to a daughter of John Howard's was among the first events of the kind ever solemnized in
this township. From the year 1840 to 1850 a tide of immigration came into the township from Ohio, the majority of the settlers hailing from Lieking County of that State, which faet suggested the name by which the township is at present known.
The hardships of the early settlers in their efforts to secure homes for themselves and their posterity are but a repetition of those experienced in other portions of the county, with the exception, perhaps, that they were not quite so severe, owing to settlements be- ing made elsewhere a little earlier. But life in this locality in the early days was hard enough. The ground, owing to its wet nature and the lack of necessary agricultural imple- ments, made small erops a necessity. Corn was the principal produet, no wheat being raised until a number of years had elapsed from the date of the first settlement. The first wheat was raised in small patches, two acres being considered a large erop. Harvesting was done by the old-fashioned reap hook and sickle, neighbors helping for help in return. Considerable attention was given to the rais- ing of buckwheat by the early settlers, and on almost every farm could be seen a patch of this grain, which, at that time, could always be sold for a good price in the markets of Palestine, York and Terre Haute. Wild honey was found in large quantities in the woods and formed one of the chief sources of revenue to the pioneer, as it could readily be exchanged for dry goods and groceries at the various market places. Bees-wax, venison hams and deer-skins were articles of com- merce, by means of which the pioneer farmer was enabled to pay off many of his debts.
The early settlers of Licking obtained their flour and meal from the older settlements in the eastern part of the county, and it was not until about the year 1848 that a mill was erected within the present limits of the town- ship. The first mill of which we have any
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
knowledge was erected by Henry Varner on Willow Creek near the southern boundary of the township some time during the year mentioned. It was a rude affair, contained but one buhr which had been manufactured from a "nigger head," and was operated by water power. The building was a small frame structure eighteen by twenty feet and one story high. The mill was in operation about ten years and did a very good business considering its capacity. A man by name of Tregul erected an ox-mill on his farm near the central part of the township a few years later, which he operated very successfully for six or eight years. It was kept running night and day for some time after its erection in order to supply the demand made for flour. The old building disappeared long since, and at the present time not a vestige remains to mark the spot it occupied.
In the year 1853 a steam flouring mill was built about one mile west of the village of Annapolis by Holmes & Doty. It was a frame building two stories high, and had but one run of buhrs. A saw was afterward at- tached and for several years the mill did a very flourishing business, both in sawing and grinding. Holmes & Doty operated it about five years, when it was purchased by George Dixon who run it until the year 1858, at which time it was burned. The boiler and most of the machinery were saved from the fire and sold a short time afterward to MI. Vance and a man by the name of Bates, who erected another mill of the same size in the same locality. They operated the mill for three years and then sold it to a man by name of Brown, who moved the machinery to Mississippi. A saw-mill was erected by J. Ward near the central part of the township about the year 1858. It was a water mill and did a very good business while there was sufficient water in the creek to run the ma- chinery. Allen Tregul purchased the mill one
year later and operated it until about the year 1868. The Annapolis steam flouring mill was erected about the year 1867 by Jerry Reese and cost the sum of $9,000. It is a large two story and a half frame building thirty by seventy fect with three run of buhrs and a grin ling capacity of about forty barrels of flour per day. Reese sold to Johnson and Calvin after running the mill a few years, and in 1880 the entire interest was purchased by Johnson, who is the present owner. F. S. Boyle is running the mill at the present time and doing an extensive business.
The roads of a country are an indication of its internal improvement. The first roads were but Indian trails through the thick for- est and over the prairies. As the whites came in and settled the lands regular roadways were established, but with no reference to section lines. The first legally established highway in Licking appears to have been the Stewart Mill and York Road which was laid out by John B. Richardson as early as the year 1842. It passed through the eastern part of the township in a southerly direction but it has undergone so many changes during the last forty years that it is difficult to de- fine the original route. The Palestine and Bellaire Road which passes through the cen- tral part of the township from east to west was laid out and established about the year 1845 and is still one of the leading thorough- fares in the northern part of the county. The Hutsonville and Bellaire Road, which con- nects those two places, passes through the northern part of the township about two and a half miles south of the county line. It was laid out in the year 1846 by county surveyor Fitch, having been viewed a short time previous by Doctor Hill, John Vance and a man by name of Freelin. It is still a good road and extensively traveled. Another early highway is the Robinson and Martins- ville Road which was laid out about the year
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
1845 or 1846. The original route, which has been greatly changed, passed through the township in an irregular course from north to south. It intersects the Hutsonville and Bellaire Road at the village of Annapolis, about one mile west of the eastern boundary, and is one of the best roads in the township. A number of other roads have been estab- lished from time to time which intersect each other at proper intervals, and in the matter of good highways Licking is as well supplied as any other township in the county.
In educational matters the citizens of this township have always taken an active inter- est, and schools were established at a very carly day. It is difficult to determine, at this distant day, when, where, and by whom the first school in the township was taught, as opinions concerning the matter are consid- erably at variance. From the most reliable information, however, we are safe in saying that "Rick " Arnold taught one of the first terms as early as 1837, in a little cabin which stood in the southern part of the township near the Kerby farm. This cabin had been fitted up by the few neighbors living in the vicinity, for school purposes, and was in use but one year. Among the first teachers was Sarah Ann Curran, who taught in a small log building which had been used as a residence by the family of James Dixon. This house stood in the northern part of the township near the present village of Annapolis, and was used for school purposes but one year. Miss Curran's school numbered abont twelve pupils, and lasted three months. A man by name of Hampton taught a term in the southern part of the township about the year 1841, and used for the purpose a vacated cabin which stood on the farm, at present owned by Mr. Rusard. Hampton is remem- bered as a good teacher, and his school, like all others at that day, was supported by snb- scription, and lasted about three months. In
the year 1843 there were two schools in the township.taught respectively, by Sarah Handy and Huldah Woods. The first named taught in a part of Jonathan Dixon's residence. in the northern part of the township, and Miss Woods wielded the birch in an old aban- doned dwelling about three miles southw .st of Annapolis. These ladies were both good instructors, and for a number of years were identified with the schools of Licking. Another early teacher of the township was John Metheny, who had charge of a school where Miss Woods taught in the year 1844. He was a professional instructor, but had to abandon the work on account of a serious malady which unfitted him for teaching. Ann Lamb taught near the village of Bellaire the same year, and Louisa and Alice Vance taught near the central part of the township a couple of years later. The first building erected especially for school purpose was the Mount Pleasant school-house which stood three miles south of the village of Annapolis. It was erected in 1846 and was in use about thirty years. The first teacher who used it was Elias Wilkins. The second school-house was erected about one year later and stood in the northeast corner of the township. It was a hewed-log structure and served the two-fold purpose of school and meeting-house, having been used as a place of worship by the Quakers for a period of ten years. It was sold in the year 1859 and moved to Annapolis, where it is still standing and in use as a dwelling. The township was supplied with free school about the year 1855, at which time the present districts were laid off and good frame buildings erected. Perhaps no township in the county is better supplied with school-houses than Licking, and it is certain that nowhere else is there more in- terest taken in educational matters. There are fifteen good frame buildings, all of which are neatly finished and well furnished, and
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
schools are maintained about seven months of the year. The present township board of education consists of the following gentle- men: Isaac Lamb, Robert Lincoln and Peter Welbert. Melvin Colter is clerk of the board, and treasurer.
The Quakers are said to have been the pioneers of religion in Licking, and a society of them was formed in the northern part of the township in a very early day. The first services were held at the residence of James Dixon whose house was used as a meeting place for seven or eight years. Among the first members of this society were William Dixon and wife, I. Beeson and family, Mrs. James Dixon, William Lindley and family, Nathan Musgrove and family and Thomas Cox a wife. A regular organization was maintained for about twenty years, and meet- ings were held in the school-house which stood on the Dixon farm. Owing to deaths and re- movals the church was finally abandoned. The last preacher was Andrew Tomlinson. The scattered members of the old society were re-organized a few years ago in Hutsonville township, where they have a strong church and a handsome house of worship. The Methodists organized a class at the Mount Pleasant school-house about the year 1848 and have maintained a society in that vicinity ever since. They used the school-house as a place of worship until it was torn down, and since that time have been holding services at the Union school-house. At one time the or- ganization was very strong and numbered among its communicants the majority of the citizens in the vicinity. It has decreased in numbers very materially during the last fif- teen years and at the present time the class is but a remnant of its former self. The pas- tor in charge is Rev. Mr. Seeds, who is assist- ed in the work by Rev. Mr. Cullom.
members. The first meetings were held in the old log school-house in eastern part of the village, which served the society as a place of worship until the Union church building was erected in 1875. The class was organized by the Protestant Methodists and continued as a church of that denomination until the year 1878, at which time it was re-organized as a Methodist Episcopal society through the efforts of Rev. Mr. Stauffer. Among the stated sup- plies of the church were Revs. Jackson An- derson, Daniel McCormick, R. Traverse, R. Wright, J. D. Dees, Newton Stauffer, J. M. Jackson. The pastor in charge at the present time is Rev. S. A. Seeds. The present mem- bership of the church is fifty-one. A good Sunday school is maintained during the greater part of the year. A. J. Holmes is the efficient superintendent.
The United Brethern Mission at Annapolis dates its history from the year 1866, at which time Rev. Richard Belknap came into the country, and at the suggestion of D. B. Shires, and by their joint efforts a class of about fifty members was organized. Belknap preached two years and was succeeded by Rev. James Page, who remained with the church one year. Then came in regular succession Revs. Shep- herd, Samuel Starks, John Helton, Samuel Slusser, Ephraim Shuey, Daniel Buzzard, William Hillis and - Zoeler. The present pastor is Rev. John Cardwell. A society of the M. E. church was organized at Annapolis a number of years ago by members of the Un- ion church who lived considerable distances from their place of meeting. The class was kept until the year 18:3, when it was dis- banded and the few remaining members trans- ferred back to the original society. In 1875 the members living in Annapolis and surround- ing country united with a part of the class which met at Willow church and organized a second class in the village witli a member-
The Portersville Methodist church was or- ganized about the year 1863 with twenty . ship of twenty-three. The organization was
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
brought about principally by the efforts of Dr. J. C. Mason and Rev. R. Wetherford, and the society became a regular appointment on the Oblong circuit. Wetherford was pastor for one year and was followed by Rev. Ira King, who remained on the circuit for the same length of time. The next pastor was Rev. Allen Bartley; then came in regular succes- sion, Newton Stauffer, James G. Dees and John M. Jackson. The present pastor is Rev. S. A. Seeds, who is assisted by Rev. J. W. Cul- lom. There are on the records the names of thirty-seven members in good standing, at the present time. Services are held alternately with the United Brethren in the Union church building. The Union church house was erected by the citizens of Annapolis and vi- einity, in the year 1875, and cost the sum of $3,000. The project originated with Rev. John Anderson of Portersville, who had preached in the village at intervals, using the school house for church purposes. Being a man of considerable enterprise, he soon convinced the citizens that a more suitable place for wor- ship was needed, and money enough was soon collected to complete the work. The build- ing is a neat frame structure, 32x48 feet, with a seating capacity of about three hun- dred. It was finished and dedicated in Au- gust of the year referred to.
The Christian Church of Portersville was organized in the year 1875, by Elder Wood, with twelve members. The following pastors have preached for the society at different times since its organization: William Beadle, Elders MeCash, Lockhart, Couner, Boor and Grimm. The church at the present time is in a flourishing condition, and numbers about seventy communicants; services are held every Lord's day. The Portersville church edifice was erected in the year 1875 by the public at large for general religious purposes. It is a frame building 35x50 feet, and cost the sum of $1,500. The house is open to all denomi-
nations and at the present time is used by the Methodists and Christians alternately.
The West Harmony Christian Church was organized a number of years ago near White's Prairie in the western part of the township. The society is in good condition and numbers among its members some of the best citizens of the community. The neat temple of wor- ship used by the congregation was erected about seven years ago.
The village of Bellaire is situated in the western part of the township on section 14, and dates its history from the year 1844. The necessity of the village was created by the distance of that locality from any trading points, and partly through a spirit of specu- lation by which the proprietor was actuated. The first store in the place was kept by John Rvin, who erected a small hewed log house for the purpose a short time after the town was platted. He did a good business for about six years when the building burned to the ground and completely destroyed his stock of goods. With the assistance of the neigh- bors in the locality, another house was soon afterwird erected and Ryan embarked for the second time in the mercantile business. He continued but a short time, when he moved his goods away. Much against the wishes of the neighbors, who assisted in building his house with the expectation that he would re- main with them. John Brown started a store soon afterward, which he kept for a number of years in the Ryan building and did a very good business. He sold his goods at auction and left the village after becoming dissatisfied with the place. A few months later, Catron Preston enlarged the old store-house and stocked it with a large miscellaneous assort- ment of merchandise. He kept a very good store for about fifteen years when he moved his goods to Granville, Jasper County. Ma- riou Dougherty was the next merchant in the village, and continued in business until a few
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
years ago, when he was succeeded by a man named Mills. The village at the present time is a mere hamlet containing a couple of dozen houses and three stores, kept respectively by John Pearson, Benjamin Purdell and Nicho- las Fessler.
In the year 1852 Richard Porter settled on the southeast quarter of section 36 in the eastern part of the township where he en- gaged in the blacksmithing business. About one year later Doctor McAlister of Hutson- ville bought a lot of Porter on which he erected a dwelling, and an office for the pur- pose of being nearer the central part of his extensive practice. The blacksmith shop and the physician's office, together with sev- eral houses that had been built near by, gave the place a local prominence, and a small vil- lage soon sprang into existence. In 1834 Porter sold his land to Catron Preston and Catlin Cullers, who laid out the town of Ber- lin the same year. Henry Leggett was one of the first to purchase real estate in the new village, which he did soon after the town was laid out, and at once commenced the erection of a store-room and dwelling. This building was a small log structure and was used by Leggett, who kept a little grocery in it for two years. In the year 1856 Hamilton Sil- vers built a frame store-house in the village which he stocked with a general assortment of goods. He was in the mercantile business about one year and six months, when he sold out to a man by name of Perry, who in turn disposed of the stock to Horace Graves, after running the store for a short time. Graves did a fair business for about two years, when he was succeeded by his son-in-law William Lineburger, who sold goods until the year 1862. The village is pleasantly located on the Palestine and Beilaire roa l and has a population of about one hundred souls. Its business interest is represented by one good dry goods and grocery store kept by Morris
and Markwell-a flour exchange, one drug store and a blacksmith and wagon shop. The name of Portersville by which the village is commonly known was given the place in compliment of Richard Porter the original owner of the land.
The Portersville Grange was organized in the year 1873 with a membership of sixteen; meetings were held in the school-house until the 1815, since which time the Union church building has been used as a meeting place. The present officers of the lodge are G. W. Pleasant, master; A. J. Holmes, overseer; D. W. Faught, sect .; Isaac Lamb, treas .; \V. W. Hall, chaplain; Jasper Faught, steward; John Lineburger, gate-keeper; Mrs. Jane Watson, Pomona; Mrs. Tabitha Lineburger, Ceres; Mrs. Abott, Flora; and Mrs. Belle Woods, lady ass't steward.
A. G. Murkey came to the township in the year 18>6 and located in the eastern part at the crossing of the Hutsonville and Martins- ville roads on section 12, where he started a small store.
The Corners, as the place was called, became quite a trading point for the farmers of the surrounding country by affording an easy market for their produce which Murkey would haul to Terre Haute and exchange for mer- chandise. About one year and a half later Thomas Spencer moved into the locality from Ohio and purchased a tract of land lying in sections 12 and 13, on which be laid out the village of Spencerville in December, 1858. The scheme was purely a speculative venture on the part of Spencer who saw, as he thought, a fortune in the prospective city. Among the first to purchase real estate in the village were Andrew Myers, Lorenzo Price, - Cau- horn, Richar.1 Porter and Doctor Lowler. The platting of the town, and the influx of population caused thereby, gave new impetus to the mercantile business and several stores were soon in successful operation. Murkey
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
continued in business with good success until the year 1882. The second store in the vil- lage was started by - Oglesby a short time after the lots were laid out, and was kept in a small building which had been used for a shoe-shop. This store was continued about. two years when the proprietor moved the goods to Brazil, Indiana. J. F. Johnson erected a large frame store house in the year 1869, which he stocked with merchandise to the amount of several thousand dollars, and has continued the business very successfully ever since. A third store was brought to the village about the year 1823 by William Wheeler, who sold goods about six years, when he disposed of the stock to Jacob Myers. In October, 1879, a second village called An- napolis was laid out just west of Spencerville, which it joins. The proprietors of the new town were Silas and Sarah Hollowell. At the present time both places are known as Annap- olis and comprise a population of about two hundred inhabitants. The village is sur- rounded by an excellent agricultural district, and its future is very promising. The busi- ness of the place is represented by three stores of general merchandise kept respect- ively by J. F. Johnson, Mrs. Murphy and Jacob L. Myers; one grocery store by George
Newlin; two small notion stores, and one good drug store; G. L. Baker keeps a wagon shop and an undertaking establishment; James Hill, blacksmith; C. M. Stauffer, harness maker, and O. E. Page, general repair shop. There is one hotel in the village kept by G. L. Baker.
Crawford Lodge No. 666 A. F. and A. M. was organized October, 1871, with the follow- ing charter members: Edward A. Ball, Will- iam H. Joseph, S. H. Newlin, Joel L. Cox, Thomas G. Athey, James Bennett, T. P. Bar- low, Richard Laney, R. L. Holmes, M. P. Rackerby, Henry Stephens, William Laugh- ery, John L. Mount, John W. Bline, E. S. Rathbone and D. D. Bishop. The first offi- cers were Joel L. Cox, W. M .; Thomas G. Athey, S. W., and James Bennett, J. W. The officers in charge at the present time are T. G. Athey, W. M .; J. L. Myers, S. W .; M. T. Vance, J. W .; J. C. Griffith, S. D .; J. N. Thornburg, J. D .; William H. Joseph, Sect .; J. W. Bline, Treas .; C. II. Price, Tyler. The Lodge is not in as good condition as formerly, and at the present time numbers only eighteen members. The hall in which the lodge meets was erected in the year 1871 and cost $250.
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