History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 22

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 826

USA > Illinois > Clark County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 22
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 22

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).

CHAPTER XV .*

OBLONG TOWNSHIP-PHYSICAL FEATURES-SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS-THE COMING OF THE PIONEERS-DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY-EARLY INDUSTRIES- ROADS AND MILLS-VILLAGE OF OBLONG-CHURCH HISTORY -EARLY SCHOOLS-PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

"But long years have flown o'er these scenes of the past,

And many have turned gray in the winter's cold blast;

While others only think of the time that is gone; They are bent by the years that are fast rolling on."

H' E who attempts to present with unvary- ing accuracy, the annals of a county, or even of a district, no larger than a township, the history of which reaches back through a period of more than a half century, imposes upon himself a task beset with many difficul- ties. These difficulties are often augmented by statements widely at variance furnished by descendants of early settlers, as data from which to compile a true and faithful record of past events. To claim for a work of this character perfect freedom from error would be to arrogate to one's self that degree of wis- dom not possessed by mortal man. To give facts, and facts only, should be the aim and ambition of him who professes to deal with the past; and in the pages which follow we incline to those statements supported by the greater weight of testimony. In the western part of Crawford County lies a prairie which on account of its peculiar shape was named by the early settlers who located near it, Oblong, a name afterward applied to the township which forms the subject of the following pages. This township lies in the west central part of the county and embraces a geograph-

ical area of fifty-six square miles of territory being eight miles in extent from north to south and seven miles from the eastern to the western limits. Surrounding it on the northeast and south are the townships of Licking, Robinson and Martin, respectively, while Jasper County on the west make up the complete boundary. A number of streams traverse the township, among which may be noticed Big Creek, North Fork, Dog Wood, Willow and Muddy Creeks. Big Creek, which affords the principal drainage of the eastern part, enters the township near the northeast corner, flows a southwesterly direc- tion and crosses the southern boundary in section 17. It is a stream of considerable size and importance and flows through a well- wooded and somewhat broken section of country. The North Fork flows a southerly course through the extreme western part of the township and receives a number of afflu- ents, the principal of which is Willow Creek. The last-named stream waters the northwest corner of the township, flows a southerly course and empties into North Fork near the county line, in section 26. Dog Wood branch rises in Licking Township, flows a southwesterly course through Oblong and emp- ties into Big Creek, in section 17, about a half mile from the southern boundary. The face of the country presents no scenes of rugged grandeur, but rather the quiet beauty of rounded outlines of surface, clothed with grassy plains, and forests, often arranged in

* By G N. Berry.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

park-like order. About one half of the town- ship was originally woodland, the timbered portion being confined principally to the eastern and western parts and to the water courses enumerated. The timber found growing here is similar to that of other parts of the county, and consists of walnut in limit- ed quantities; sugar maple along the creeks, elm, ash, hickory, sassafras and the different varieties of oak common to this part of the State. Much of the best timber in the town- ship has long since disappeared, and many of the finest farms were originally covered with a heavy forest growth. Oblong Prairie, to which reference has already been made, oc- cupies a scope of territory in the western part of the township, embracing an area of about ten sections, while Willow Prairie includes a similar amount of land in the northern and central portions. Small prairies are found at intervals in the southern and southeastern parts of the township, all of which are desig- nated by names peculiar to their localities. The soil of the wooded portion is a rich gray loam underlaid with a clay subsoil, which renders it susceptible of enduring a continued drouth. The prairie soil is darker, very fer- tile and well adapted for general farming and grazing. Agriculture is the chief resource of the people, the great majority of whom own land, and perhaps in no division of the county are there as few renters as in this township. One happy fact upon which the citizens of Oblong are to be congratulated, is that there are no large tracts of land owned by single individuals, to retard the country's develop- ment.

The settlement of this part of the county dates back to the year 1830, when Lott Watts made the first permanent improvement in the hitherto undisturbed forest. Previous to his arrival, however, a number of persons had traversed the country on tours of inspection for the purpose of selecting homes, but at the

date mentioned no family appears to have been living within the present limits of the township. Watts was a native of Tennessee and immigrated to this State a few years prior to 1830, settling first a short distance north- east of Robinson, where he became the pos- sessor of eighty acres of land, which he after- ward sold to Judge Kitchell. He located in the southern part of the township and made the first entry of land in section 6, one year after his arrival. He was a man of consider- able note and, in recognition of his worth the precinct of which Oblong originally formed a part, was named in compliment to him, " Watts Precinct." At the first election he was unanimously called to the office of justice of the peace and later was elected associate county judge, a position he filled very cred- itably. He was a resident of the township until the time of his death in 1854. Robert. Watts, a brother of the preceding, came to the county the same year and located in the same locality. He settled in this township about the year 1831, on land at present in possession of William Wood, on which he lived until 1871, at which time his deatlı oc- curred. In company with Robert Watts came Jesse and Jeremiah York, who were followed in the latter part of the same year by Jesse Eaton. Jesse York came from Tennessee and had lived several years in the vicinity of Robinson before moving to this part of the county. He improved eighty acres in the southwest part of the township which he afterward entered. " Uncle " Jesse, as he was familiarly called by the early settlers, was a man of character and influence in the little pioneer community, and did much both by precept and example to improve the morals of his neighbors, many of whom stood in special need of culture in that direction. He was a pious member of ti e Methodist church and opened his house for the first religious services ever held in the township. In the

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IIISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

year 1853 he sold his farm to a man by name of Pearce and moved to the northern part of the State, and later to Missouri where he died several years ago. Jeremiah York was a cousin of Jesse and a native of the same State. He settled near the southern limit of the township on land which he entered four years later, and was identified with this part of the county until the year 1865. The farm on which he located is at the present time owned and occupied by II. Larabee.

Jesse Eaton settled on North Fork near the western boundary of the township, where he made a few temporary improvements on government land. Ile lived in that locality a couple of years when he left his improve- ments and moved to the northeastern part of the township, where he afterward entered land and resided until the year 1863. Eaton was a minister of the Old School Baptist church and preached at different places throughout the township during the early years of its history. In the year 1834 " Arch " York and Ezekiel York, relations of Jesse and Jeremiah York, found homes in the town- ship, the first named settling in the southern part near the Watts farm, where he lived until the year 1855 when he sold out and moved to Missouri. Ezekiel became posses sor of a good farm in the same locality, which he retained until 1868, at which time he dis- posed of his possessions and followed his brother west. In striking contrast to the set- tlers enumerated, who were all men of princi- ple and high moral worth, was George Miller, a squatter who settled in the northeastern part of the township about the year 1834. Miller hailed from Kentucky and belonged to that class of characters generally found on the outskirts of civilization, where departure from a community is always looked upon as a hap- py omen. In him were combined the quali- ties of the successful hunter and trapper in a marked degree, to which were added the ani-

mal strength and low eunning so essential to the bully and frontier rough. He maintained his family principally by hunting, but did not seruple to supply his larder from his neigh- bors' smoke-houses when favorable occasions presented themselves. Ile lived for some time in Licking Township and afterward moved to the western part of the county ou North Fork, where he died about the year 1863. Another character deserving of spe- cial mention and similar in many respects to the one referred to, was James Watts, a son of Robert Watts. He came to the country in company with his father and soon acquired a wide-spread reputation as a hunter and back- woods fighter. He was daring almost to fool- hardiness, and many are the adventurous exploits related of him. He afterward mar- ried a daughter of William Wilson, built a small cabin on his father's farm and spent the latter years of his life trapping, at which pur- suit he acquired considerable means.

In the year 1836 the following persons with their families were added to the township's population: Greenberry Eaton, Jolın Salis- bury, Elijah and John Smith. Eaton settled in section 36, a short distance north of the village of Oblong, where he entered land the same year of his arrival. He was a cooper and found plenty of work at his trade in sup- plying the neighbors with barrels, tubs and buckets, articles which they had hitherto ac- customed themselves to do without. He sold h's place to Reuben Leach in the year 1851, and moved from the township. Salisbury was a native of Germany, but came to Illinois from Indiana. He.settled in section 19 about two and a half miles north of Oblong village, where by industry and almost nig- gardly economy he acquired a valuable tract of real estate. His only object seems to have been money, and he possessed a nature totally devoid of any refining quality. His close dealings, together with the cruel treat-)

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

ment of his wife and children, gave him a very unenviable reputation in the community, and his friends were few and far between. The Smith brothers were Kentuckians and men of roving tendencies. Elijah made his first set- tlement in southern part of the township on Dogwood Creek, where he remained but a short time, afterward moving about from place to place with no definite place of residence. John was of an adventurous nature, and spent the greater part of his time in hunting, which afforded his chief amusement and the main- tenance of his family as well. Another brother, James Smith, came in a short time afterward, and settled east of Oblong, where he became the possessor of forty acres of land. He was a good man, and served as constable in an early day, being one of the first in the precinct to fill that office. Prominently iden- tified with the early history and development of Oblong was Joseph Wood, whose settle- ment in the township dates back to the year 1839. Wood was born in Virginia, but moved to Vincennes, Indiana, as early as the year 1809, traveling all the way horseback, and packing the few household goods the same way. He remained at Vincennes about one year and a half, when, thinking there were better lands and more favorable chances further west, he moved to this State and set- tled near Palestine. During the Indian troub- les he served as a "ranger " along the Wa- bash, and engaged in several bloody bouts with the redskins. Itis related that upon one occasion he and a companion were so hard pressed by the Indians that they were com- pelled to go three days without tasting a mor- sel of food. The Indians relaxed the pursuit on the fourth day, which gave the rangers an opportunity to rest and seek some nourish- ment. The latter was afforded by a coou, which was cooked and greedily eaten witlı- out the use of salt or other condiments. Wood said it was the most delicious.repast he

ever ate in his life. At the close of the In- dian troubles Wood settled near Palestine, and engaged in farming and stock raising. He afterward located in the vicinity of Rob- inson, where he lived until 1839, when, be- coming dissatisfied with the country on ac- count of the milk-sick, which proved a seri- ous hindrance to his stock, he moved to Ob- long Township. He settled southeast of the village of Oblong near Big Creek, in section 3, where he made his first entry of land. He afterward entered land at different places in the township, until he became the owner of more than two thousand acres. He was a man of considerable prominence, and died in the year 1866. The old homestead is at the present time owned by his sons, J. II. and Robert Wood, both of whom are prominent citizens and men of character. Another son, William Wood, came to the township in con- pany with his father, and has been one of its leading citizens ever since. His place of residence is situated about one mile east of Oblong on the Vandalia State road. Other settlements were made in 1839 by Richard Lecky, a son-in-law of Wood, who located near the eastern boundary in section 2. D. F. Hale, a native of New York, who entered land in northeastern part. Abraham Wal- ters who located in same vicinity. John Holingsworth in section 32, and Reily York, who made improvements in southern part of the township on section 18. Later came George Jeffers, who entered land in section 27, which he afterward sold to William Hill. James Boatright, a native of Tennessee, who located a farm in section 23, in the eastern part of the township. Ira King, a native of .New York, who settled where the widow Henry now lives in section 20. William Wil- son, who settled in section 31, where he pur- chased land of John Holingsworth and John McCrillis, an Ohioan, who located in section [32, east of the village of Oblong, where he

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

improved a fine farm, and operated a tan yard. Other settlers came in from time to time, and by the year 1850, all the vacant lands were taken up and the township well populated, the majority of the immigrants being from the States of Ohio and Indiana. The carving of a home in a new and unde- veloped country a half century ago, was a task from which the most of us at the present day would be willing to shrink. Savages were still to be seen, and wild animals both fierce and dangerous were plenty, and roamed the forests and prairies everywhere. Pro- visions, except game, were scarce. None of the luxuries and but few of the comforts of life were to be had. For years the pioneer's home was a rude log cabin of the most primi- tive type, and his food and raiment were equally poor; and yet the early settler was happy and enjoyed his wilderness life. There are those still living in Oblong who remem- ber the rude log cabin with its stick chimney and puncheon floor, the spinning wheel and the loom. These rough times, together with the relies of a pioneer age, have passed away, and the country, where a few years ago they reigned supreme, is now the cradle of plenty and the home of education, progress and wealth.

The pioneer's attention is first of all direct- ed to the importance of a mill, and one of the first cares is the erection of some kind of rude contrivance to provide his family with the staff of life. The first mill within the present limits of Oblong was erected by George Miller near the northern boundary of the township as early as the year 1832. It was a horse mill and when kept running constantly could grind about fifteen bushels of corn per day. Miller operated it but a few years when it fell into disuse on account of other mills being erected in different parts of the country. Richard Eaton built a water mill on the North Fork in the western part of the township

about the year 1833. The building was frame, its dimensions about twenty by thirty feet, and two stories high. It was a combination mill and for a number of years did a very good business both in grinding and sawing. Joseph Wood erected a mill in section 34 in the eastern part of the township about the year 1840. It was a combination mill, had one buhr and could grind when kept running steady about one hundred bushels of grain per day. It was a frame building 20 by 32 feet, and two stories high. It was operated by the water of Big Creek and was kept run- ning about sixteen years when the machinery was removed and the building torn down. The Oblong steam flouring mill was built in 1869 by John Miller, who was unable to com- plete it on account of a financial embarrass- ment. It was purchased by Wood and Con- drey the same year, who finished the enter- prise, which proved a very successful venture, by supplying a long-felt want in the com- munity. The building occupies a space of ground 30x40 feet, is two stories and a half high, and was erected at a cost of $3,000. Wood and Condrey operated the mill as part- ners about two years and a half, when the entire interest was purchased by the former, who sold to Joel Zeigler one year later. Zeigler ran it two years when he disposed of it, to W. and P. Condrey. It afterward passed into the hands of Levi Stump, who in turn sold out to the Kirtland brothers, the present proprietors, about the year 1879. It was thoroughly remodeled and furnished with new and improved machinery in the year 1881, and at the present time is considered one of the best mills in the county. It has three run of buhrs, with a grinding capacity of fifty barrels per day, and does both custom and merchant work.

Among the early industries of Oblong was a distillery which stood in the northeast cor- ner of the township. It was built by a man

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

by name of Barlow about the year 1849, but did not prove very remunerative, and was abandoned a few years later. A wagon and general repair shop was erected in an early day about two miles east of Oblong Village by Robert Tindolph, who worked at his trade in that locality for two years. A number of wagons made at this shop are still to be seen in various parts of the country. The first blacksmith shop in the township was built about the year 1852 and stood in the northern part near the Barlow distillery. It was built by Jesse Barlow, who operated it very suc- cessfully for four or five years. John McCrillis opened a tan yard on his farm east of the village of Oblong in the year 1852, which he operated until 1862. A very good article of leather was made at this yard, and during the time the business was carried on it returned a fair profit to the proprietor. A second tan yard was afterward started in the village by David McCrillis, who conducted the business on a more extensive scale. He continued it, however, but two years when he abandoned the business to engage in other pursuits.

The first legally established highway in Oblong is the Vandalia State road which passes through the central part of the town- ship from east to west. It was laid out about the year 1831, and has been since that time one of the principal thoroughfares of the county. The range line road which crosses the township from north to south was sur- veyed about the year 1852. It intersects the Vandalia road at the village of Oblong, and is the second road of importance in the town- ship. The Stewart's Mill and York road was laid out in a very early day through the east- ern part of the township. It passes through the county in a northeasterly direction, but has undergone so many changes in the past twenty years that it would be difficult to de- scribe its original course. Another early road

known as the Henry road crosses the northern part of the township and was laid out for the purpose of connecting Hanner's mill in Jasper county with Robinson. Other roads have been established from time to time, all of which are well improved and kept in good condition. The condition of the country during certain seasons renders traveling over these highways exceedingly difficult on ac- count of the mud, but such is the nature of the soil that it dries out very rapidly after the frost leaves the ground. The S., E. and S. E. narrow gauge railroad passes from east to west through the central part of the township. It was completed in the year 1880, but up to the present time has proved of little benefit to the country. Its history will be found more fully given in another chapter.

In 1853 D. W. Odell built a store-house at the crossing of the range line and Vandalia roads, near the central part of the township, and engaged in the mercantile business. The distance of the locality from any town-the nearest market-place being about ten miles away-gave the "cross-roads " quite a repu- tation, and Odell's store soon had a large run of customers. Other families settled in the vicinity from time to time, and within a few years quite a thriving little village sprang into existence. Among the first who pur- chased real estate and located at the "cross- ing" were John B. Smith and Joel Zeigler, two blacksmiths, who erected a shop shortly after their arrival. David McCrillis was an early settler in the village also, and worked very diligently for the success of the place. A second store was started about the year 1855 by Lucas and Pearson who erected a building for the purpose a short distance west of Odell's building on the west side of the range line road. The firm did a good busi- ness for about two years when they sold the house and moved their stock to Greenfield, Indiana. In 1858 William Wood erected a

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

two-story brick business house in the central part of the village which he stocked with a large assortment of general merchandise. The presence of this store gave additional im- portance to the place and it soon gained the reputation of being one of the best trading points in the southern part of the county. Wood sold goods about four years when he disposed of his stock to John Smith, who did a flourishing business until the year 1867, at which time the store was purchased by Will- iam Parker of Robinson. Parker increased the stock and continued the business about two years when he was succeeded by Wood, Arnold & Muchmore. The firm was after- ward changed to Muchmore & McKnight who are doing business at the present time. Odell sold goods uninterruptedly for twenty years when, becoming tired of the business, he closed out to the Gooch brothers, who have had charge of the store since 1873. In the mean- time the population of the place had con- stantly increased and at the earnest solicita- tion of the citizens of the village and sur- rounding country the town was regularly laid out and platted in the year 1822. It is sit- uated in the southwest corner of section 31 of town 7, range 13 west, and was surveyed by A. W. Gordon for D. W. Odell, proprietor, and named Oblong.

Shortly after the village was platted a num- ber of lots were sold and several buildings erected among which was the business house of McQuillis & Buff situated on lot 12, north of Main street. Wirt and Wood built a fine brick store house north of Main Street near the central part of the town in the year 1882. It cost about $2,500, and at the present time is occupied by the large general store of Zachariah Wirt. The village at the present time has a population of about three hundred and twenty, and supports the following busi- ess: three large general stores, three grocery

stores, one furniture store, one millinery store, two drug stores, two blacksmith shops, two carpenter shops, three grain houses, one under- taking establishment, two butcher shops, one shoe shop, two harness shops and one barber shop. There are two hotels in the town, the Oblong and Cottage Houses, kept respectively by William J. Otell and William Runkle. The locality is said to be a very healthy one, yet despite this fact the following medical gentlemen reside in the village and practice their profession in the town and surrounding country: T. J. Edwards, H. C. Kibby, M. E. Rafferty and W. R. Dale. The Oblong post- office was established in the year 1854 and D. W. Odell appointed postmaster. The present postmaster is D. C. Condrey.

The Oblong City Lodge No. 644 A., F. & A. M. was organized October, 1870. The charter was granted by Grand Master H. G. Reynolds and contains the following names: D. Z. Condrey, J. D. Smith, William Wood, Manuel Beaver, Benjamin F. Buff, John J. Burton, Henry M. Barlow, M. Cawood, Thom- as J. N. Dees, Joseph C. Hughes, William Larabee, Hiram Larabee, James McKnight, James G. McKnight, George McCrillis, Hiram McCrillis and George Routt. The first offi- cers were D. Z. Condrey, W. M .; John D. Smith, S. W., and William Wood, J. W. The officers in charge at present are T. J. Ed- wards, W. M .; Clinton Cawood, S. W .; M. E. Rafferty, J. W .; R. H. McKnight, Treas .; Zacharialı Wirt, Sect .; L. R. Bowman, S. D .; C. D. Condrey, J. D .; J. R. McKnight, Tiler; M. L. James, Chaplain .; Marion Blake, S. S .; and B. F. Byerly, J. S. Meetings were held in hall over Muchmore & McKnight's store until the year 1875, when the place of meeting was changed to Wirt & Wood's hall which had been fitted up for the purpose. In 1878 the lodge was moved back to the hall first used which has been the meeting place ever

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 22

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 826

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 826