USA > Illinois > De Witt County > History of De Witt county, Illinois. With illustrations descriptive of the scenery, and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 62
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A. Rusk and Kate Shipman were the first married couple, aod Milo Twist the first born in the township. The first school was taught by Andrew M. Pne. The school-house was constructed of logs, and situated in section 6. The house was removed some years ago. The first goods sold was in 1870, by John C Conlter. The store-honse was what is known as a plank building, and was sitnated in section 3. It was subsequently moved to the village of Weldon, and is now utilized for a billiard hall. Cicero Twist was the first blacksmith. His shop was a pole cabin, and sitnated in section 8. It was afterwards planked over, and is yet used by Mr. Twist for the same purpose. He commenced business in 1850. D. M. Cavender was the first justice of the peace, and John Magginnis the first postmaster. The first to practice med- icine was Dr. Lewis. He moved to Kansas some years ago, where he died.
Supervisors .- The following are the names of the persons who have represented the township in the county board; Hiram Chandler was elected in 1859, and served until 1863. W. H. Martin elected in 1863, and served one term. W. S. Brooks elected in 1864. John Bosserman elected in 1865, and served three terms. John Manlove elected in 1868. John Bosserman re- elected in 1869, and served two terms. H. C. Martin was elected in 1871. Moses Predmore elected in 1872. Charles Klipzig elected in 1873, and served until 1875. J. C. Coulter elected in 1875. C. S. Lisenbey was elected in 1876, and served until 1879, John N. Manlove elected in 1879, re-elected in 1880 and 1881, and is the present incumbent.
Quite a portion of the land of this township is in the hands of speculators, therefore its progress in the way of improvement is somewhat impeded; but the citizens are tiling largely, and although the surface is rather level, there is plenty of fall for fair drainage. The increase of population has been more rapid than
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HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
in some of the other townships. The following is the official cen- sus since its first settlement ; 1860-337 ; 1870-648; 1880-896.
VILLAGE OF WELDON.
This town was placed on record in the fall of 1873, by Thomas Snell, Charles S. Lisenbey, James B. Alexander, and James De Land. It was surveyed aud platted by the county surveyor, John Brown, in the spring of 1872, and is described as follows : A part of the S. } of the N. E. I, and a part of N. } of the S. E. 4 of section 9, town 19 north, range + east of the 3d principal meridian. It contains twelve blocks, and four half blocks. There are five streets running north and south, and named as follows : Lynn, Oak, Chestnut, Walnut, and Ash. The streets extending east and west are, North, Water, Maple, High, and Grove. All lots fronting are 22 feet in width and 175 feet in depth, except corner lots, which are 22} feet front. All other lots are 25 feet front and 175 feet deep. All the streets are 80 feet wide, and the alleys 25 feet.
The town was named in honor of Lawrence Weldon, a prominent lawyer of Bloomingtoo, who was an attorney of the railroad passing through the town, and took an active part in establishing the road. The first house was a residence, and built by C. S. Lisenbey in 1872, who still occupies it as such. The first goods were sold by Winslow Brothers in 1873. Their store-room was a frame building, 20 x 60 feet, and two stories in height. It was situated between Water and North streets, and was destroyed by fire in the summer of 1879. Their first stock consisted of drugs and groceries, but was subsequently merged into a general assortment of goods. The house was built early in the spring of 1873. John Bennett erected the first hotel in 1874, and was its landlord. The first blacksmithing done was by James Paulson in 187 . His shop was located where C J. Seaborg's carriage factory is now situated. The post-office was established in 1873, and J C. Coulter was the first post-master.
At this time the town contains about two hundred inhabitants, with the appearance of thrift and prosperity on every hand. The buildings, both business houses and residences, are neat for a small country town. There are several new houses in progress of construction, and the village has the general semblance of a prosperous future. The school-house is one of the adornments of the town, and speaks well for the public spirit of the people It is a neat frame building, 24 x 40 feet on the ground, and two stories in height. It was built in 1876, at a cost of about two thousand dollars, and is furnished with the latest improved fur- niture, besides having a cupola and bell. Two teachers are em- ployed, and it is, therefore, partially graded. The maximum attendance is about seventy-five pupils. The town also contains a good church building, which belongs to the Methodist Epis- copal Society. It is a new house of fair size, and is adorned with a spire, and situated in the eastern part of the village.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
There are two elevators in the town, the larger of which is owned by C. S. Lisenbey. It was established in the summer of 1881, and is situated on the north switch of the railroad, in the eastern part of the town. It is a frame building, 16 x 40 feet on the grouud, and 40 feet in height, and cost, in its erection, about three thousand five hundred dollars. Besides the main building, there is an engine-room and other attachments suitable to the business. It contains five dumps, and a capacity of storing fifteen thousand bushels of grain, besides detached cribs that will hold twenty-five thousand bushels of corn. The capacity for
elevating is four thousand bushels daily. The engine is twenty borse-power. This industry gives employment to four men,
Wagon und Carriage Factory .- C. J. Seaburg, proprietor. This manufactory was established in the fall of 1874, and is located on the corner of Water and Walnut streets. It is com- posed of four frame buildings, two of which are two stories in height, and 22 x 30 feet on the ground. The blacksmith shop is one story, and 20 x 70 feet, and the machine shop 20 x 26 feet. The works give employment to seven men, and are oper- ated hy steam power. The estimated value of annual production manufactured is fifteen thousand dollars.
General Merchandise .- Winslow Brothers, McConkey & Co. Dry Goods, Drugs, and Groceries .- Humphrey, Walters & Co.
Dry Goods and Groceries .- Tweed & Goodpasture.
Hardware and Agricultural Implements .- Cain & Nixon.
Hardware, Stoves, etc .- Morehead & Co.
Harness Store .- G. W. Reed.
Confectionery and Restaurant .- I. A. Sharp.
Shoemaker .- E. Cresmer.
Milliner and Drexx-Maker -Mrs. Ella Cain.
Physicianx,-W. H. Taylor, A. M. Drew.
Hotels .- J. S. McConkey, Samuel Morehead.
Lumber and Coal Dealer .- C. S. Lisenbey.
Grain Buyer .- E. Kent.
Carpenters .- John Bosserman, J. W. Turner, J. H. Saulsbery,
D. M. Cavinder.
Painter and Glazier .- Charles-Sweeney.
Plasterer .- E. Freeman.
Barber .- W. D. Griffin.
Postmaster .-- L. B. Chenoweth.
SOCIETIES.
Weldon Lodge, No. 746 .- A. F. and A. M. Chartered Oct. 3, 1876, with the following charter officers: James R. Heskett, W. M. ; F. A. Winslow, S. W .; James Danison, J. W. ; John Bosserman, Treas. ; Worship Gray, Sec ; William Hodge, S. D .; A M. Drew, J. D .; William Smith, Tyler.
There were but nine charter members. The present officers are, A. M. Drew, W. M .; L M. Pace, S. W .; J. W. Turner, J. W .; L. P. Moore, Treas .; Thomas C. Byland, Sec .; L. B. Chenoweth, S. D .; B. F. Staymate, J. D ; John Marsh, T .; W. B. Goodpasture, C .; J. C. Sylvester, S. S .; W. Gray, J. S. The present membership is thirty-five. The Lodge meets in Masonic Hall on every Saturday night after the full of the moon in each month.
On the 4th of June, 1879, the hall of the order was destroyed by fire, including the records, jewels and furniture. From that time until the summer of 1881, the Lodge held its communica- tions in the Public school building. Within the last summer- 1881-the fraternity have erected a good building, costing seven hundred and fifty dollars. The Lodge, at this writing, is some- what in debt, owing to their misfortunes, but will soon be able to throw off their load, and stand free from all indebtedness.
Mozart Lodge, No. 96 K of P, was instituted January 3, 1882. The following were the officers installed : W. H. Taylor, P. C .; J. D. Brown, C. C. ; William Capron, V. C. ; J. C. Nichols, P. ; W. A. McKelvey, K. of R. and S .; D. F. Edmiston, M. of E ; C. J. Seaburg, M. of F .; W. H. Costley, M. of A .; Daniel O'Brien, I. G. ; E. F. Cresmer, O. G. In all there were twenty- five charter members. The Lodge meets on Tuesday evenings at the Masonic Hall.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
PHOTO. BY F. O, PEASE.
TyS. Siserwery
( DECEASED. )
WAS one of the prominent farmers and business men of De Witt county. He was boru in Monroe county, Kentucky, January 30, 1822, the eldest son in a family of seven children, two sons and five daughters.
The Lisenbey family are of English descent on the paternal side, and on the maternal side Irish. His grandfather, Abraham Lisenbey, was born in North Carolina, and married Rebecca Lyon, a native of Tennessee, in which State Benjamin G. Lisen- bey and Margaret Simpson his wife-the father and mother of the subject of this sketoh-were also born, but subsequently re- moved, in the early part of this century, to Kentucky. Benja- min G. Lisenbey brought his family to Sangamon county, Ills., when Charles S. was but little more than six years of age ; and, two years later (in 1830), settled in what is now Creek Township, De Witt county.
Charles S. was industrious and persevering, and his life from youth to age was one of almost incessant labor ; and the slight education he received was obtained in the district schools. While living with his father, he improved for himself a farm in Creek
Township, preparatory to his marriage; and on the 4th of March, 1847, he married Miss Eliza A. McKinley, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Wm. and Susan Mckinley of Farmer City ( formerly called Mount Pleasant), this county.
Mr. Lisenbey acquired considerable property, owning one- fourth of the entire town of Weldon, which place he took an active part in laying out and first settling ; and his farm lands in the immediate neighborhood consisted in the aggregate of over one thousand acres.
He filled the official positiou of supervisor from Nixon town- ship several terms. Politically, he consistently adhered to the democratic party. In 1881 he erected an elevator at Weldon, and, with the assistance of his two sons, carried on an extensive business there as lumber, grain, and coal merchants. He was a very industrious, enterprising, liberal man, and enjoyed the con- fidence and esteem of his friends and neighbors. His death oc- curred Jan. 23, 1882, leaving his wife, two sons and three daugh- ters to survive him.
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W H. Contrary
WHOSE portrait appears above, was boru in Greene county, Ills. Feb. 19, 1845. His parents were Wm. aud Alzena B. Costley. His father was a farmer, a native of Illinois, of Scotch-Irish extrac- tion. He served in the Mexican War. He died November 3d, 1851. Mrs. Alzena B. Costley, nee Brown, was a Kentuckian by birth, and belonged to the family of that name who early settled in Greene and adjoining counties. She is yet living. The subject of this sketch received a fair common-school educa- tion, chiefly in Sangamon county. Although young in years when the war broke out, he was patriotic, and in the month of January, 1863, he enlisted in Company "D," Twenty-sixth Regiment Illinois Infantry. With his command he was in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Chickamauga, Re- saca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, and through
the Atlanta Campaign, with Sherman, to the Sea, winding up his military career at Wasbington, D. C., where he participated in the Graud Review. He was discharged at Louisville, Ken- tucky, July 20th, 1865. He was united in marriage to Miss Maggie B. Johnson, an Indianian, December 7, 1865. By this union there have been born five children, two sons and three daughters, namely : Minnie Frances, John Lewis, Mary Ada, Lucy Jane, and Charles Irvin. Mr. Costley is now engaged in farming near the village of Weldon. He began life a poor boy, and by exertion and industry has attained a competency in life. In politics he is a straightforward, outspoken Republican, as he always has been, his first vote having been cast for Abraham Lin- coln. He is an active member of the Knights of Pythias, in whose work he takes great interest.
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WILSON TOWNSHIP.
HIS township contains twenty-four sections, about one-eighth of which is timher-land, the remainder being prairie, and of the deep, rich soil peenliar to the character of this land in central Illinois. The surface of the latter is gently undulating, while that of the timber is more or less broken. Sec- tions 36, 25, and 24 are mainly timber, the soil being of a light grayish color, and more or less mixed with clay and gravel. For wheat it is unexcelled in this part of the state. All the township lying west of the sections above mentioned is prairie. The north branch of Salt creek enters in the south-east corner of section 25, takes a south-westerly direction and passes out in the south-west corner of section 36. It is along, or near, this stream that the timber- belt lies. The timber is light and scattering, but the ap- pearances are that in a time antedatiug the settlement of the county, timber of a good quality grew on and near the banks of this stream. A small stream called Long Point creek cuts across the extreme north-west part of the township, but there is no appearance of timber. Indeed, this is one of the prairie townships of the county, and among one of the last settled, the first settlers always stopping in the timber-belts. Several fine springs abound in the western part of the township. There are two springs situated near each other abont the center of section 13; one in section 25, on the farm of J. Wal- ters, and another in the north-east of section 23. Artificial drainage, by means of tiling, is coming largely iuto vogue, and it can only be a question of time when Wilson township will stand among the first in the county. It is situated in the north- ern central part, and bounded on the north by MeLean county, on the east by Rutledge township, on the south by Harp, and on the west by Wapella.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The first to settle in this township was a young uumarried man by the name of Fox. He was a native of Kentucky, and in the summer of 1834 he erected a small pole cabin in section 35, on the premises now owned by James A. Wilson, county treasurer. Fox was a mere squatter intending to take a pre-emption right to his land, but in the fall, John Lash offered him $60 for his improvement, which Fox accepted. He afterwards went to parts unknown. Joshua Dale came from Kentucky about the same time as Fox, and settled in section 36. He remained but a short time, when he moved further west. At this time-in the fall of 1834-there was quite a little settlement made, as follows : Thomas Wilson and his brother Edward, Jacob Walters, John Lash, Michael Troutman, and John Guittman. Of these there were but three heads of families, among them Thomas Wilson, Walters and Lash.
The former was a native of Ohio, and moved his family here with a four-horse covered-wagon. The family then consisted of his wife and cight children, Joseph, Alice, John, Aaron, Mary, Asa, Sally and Peter. He settled in section 34, and the fall fol-
lowing entered the S. E. } of the S. E. } of the above section. Four other children were afterwards born to the family, Rachel, Harriet, Caroline and Audrew. But three of the family are now living, Asa, who resides in this township, and Andrew and Peter in Harp. Mr. Wilson at his death-November 1862- owned about 1700 acres of land. Mrs. Wilson died about six years ago.
Edward Wilson, brother of Thomas, came a single man, but in 1837, married Miss Martha Vandeventer, settling in section 35. They reared a large family, there being nine children, James A , Thomas, Rachel M., Robert N., Sarah M., I. L., Mahala D., Ada L., and Mary, five of whom are residing in this township. James A., county treasurer, lives in Clinton. Jacob Walters was born in Pa. He moved with his parents to Ohio in 1804, when he was but four years old. At the age of 22 he married Phebe Batison, the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. He moved with his family to Illinois in the year before stated, and located in section 36. At this time his family consisted of his wife and four chil- dren, Alfred, Sarah, Mary and Jacob. Seven other children have since been born to them, as follows : Susanna, Rachel, Eli, Melvina, John, Louisa, and Phebe. Mr. Walters left his family at Randolph Grove, McLean county, until he had prepared a comfortable log-house to move into. Since which time, he has lived on the old farm, but extending his acres and making im- provements in keeping with the times. He is yet living, and is active for one of his years, being eighty-oue years of age. Mrs. Walters died in 1870. Seven years afterward Mr. Walters mar- ried Martha Beard, who is yet living with him at the old home- stead. Alfred Walters, the first-born of Jacob, came here from Ohio with his father, and was then a mere lad. He married Nancy Lamb in about 1856. They are now residing in section 24, and have three children. John Lash also came from Ohio, and located in section 26. His family consisted of his wife and eight children. October 23d, 1835, he entered the W. 3 of the S. E. } of the above section. He remained here until 1856, when he moved with his family to the state of Kansas. There is bnt one of his representatives now residing in the county, a grand-daughter, and the wife of Noah Wilson, who lives on the farm of James A. Wilson in section 25. Michael Troutman and John Guittman, both single men, were tramping West with packs on their backs and fell in with the Wilson pioneers in the eastern part of Indiana, and kept with them until their arrival in this township. The former lived a bachelor until he was abont sixty years of age, but, in the meantime, had succeeded in amassing quite a property, at which time he married and had a family of three daughters. He died in 1875. llis wife and daughters now reside in the township. Guittman was a native of Germany. He squatted in section 35, a part of which he entered in 1835. He afterwards married and brought up a family, but about 1856, sold his possessions to Troutman, and moved to Kansas. Another pioneer, Wil- liam Palmer, came from Ohio in the spring of 1835, and en- tered in section 36, the E. } of the N. E. }. The fall follow- iug he moved here with his family and located on his land. 333
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HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Ile died in 1850, his wife preceding him. None of the family are residing in the county. Spencer Turner came to the county in 1834, and settled near Waynesville, and subsequently moved to this township. His wife's name was Nancy Hoblitt, daughter of one of the oldest families in central Illinois. Mr. Turner located in section 19. Both are living at the old homestead, and have reared a family of ten children, seven daughters and three sons, seven of whom wow reside in the township. John L. Lewis was a native of Maryland, and migrated to Illinois in an early day. After leaving his native state he went first to Ohio, and from there came to this part of the state, and settled in sec- tion 24. He was twice married, there being six children from the first marriage, and three from the latter. Only one of the children, Elizabeth, wife of Solomon Johnson, is now residing in the township. Two other chi'dren live in the county. G. W. resides in Rutledge, and S. E. in De Witt.
Among other early settlers are Martha A. Livingston, Joseph K. Scogin, residing in section 41, and William T. Turner, born in the county, and now residing in the same section. The first land entries were made in 1835, and are as follows : April 25th, W. Palmer entered the E. 3 of the N. E. } of section 36. Octo- ber 10th, Thomas Wilson entered the S. E. } of the S. E. } sec- tion 34. Jacob Walters entered, October 23d, the W. } of the S. E. } section 36. John Lash at the same time entered E. 1 of the S. W. } of the same section. December 3d, John Guittman entered the S. W. 1 of the S. E. I section 35. December 15, J. Dale entered the S. E. } of the S. E. { of section 36. October 29th, 1836, Edward Wilson eutered S. E. } of the S. W. } of section 35.
The experience of these pioneers with regard to early priva- tions and hardships was similar to those of their neighbors of the adjoining townships and country. Their first milling conld only he had by going several miles north of Wapella, in the edge of Rock Creek timber. This mill was a little horse concern, and owned by Lewis Wilson. Every customer was obliged to fur- nish his own horse to grind with. The mill had the capacity of turning out only about ten bushels daily, aud often parties would have to remain a day or two in order to get a sack of corn ground. Mr. Jacob Walters informed the writer that when he came in 1834, there were many buffalo skeletons scattered over the prairies and through the timbers; that the wolves were so plentiful and bold that they would come up to the very doors of the cabins and snatch up a pig, and successfully make off with it. The dogs could manage the prairie-wolves, hut the big gray fel- lows from the timber were too much for them. In the language of one of the pioneers, " If one of their best and most conceity dogs tackled one of the timber wolves, he would be wooled all over and come out of the fracas looking as though he had passed through a flint-mill."
The first ground broken and the first crop raised was by Jacob Walters and John Lash ; the former being in section 36, and the latter in section 35 This was in 1835. They raised only about ten acres of corn each, and this was a fair crop. Their nearest market was Pekin, but to purchase some articles they were obliged to go to Chicago. To make this trip it took twelve days with horses, and with oxen fourteen days, camping out in the mean- time.
The first marriage rite solemnized was in 1837, the contracting parties being Edward Wilson and Martha Vandeventer-the pa- rents of James A. Wilson, present county treasurer. The first child born was Amanda, daughter of John Lash, in the summer of 1835. The first death occurred in the spring of 1839. It was
Louisa, a young danghter of Jacob Walters. She was buried in section 26, on the land of Mr. Walters. This was the first inter- ment, and established the cemetery in the township. Mr. W. has offered to donate an acre of ground to the public for this pur- pose. It has been surveyed, hut at this writing the numbers or description of property have not been furnished the dooor, hence no deed has been executed. Over a hundred persons have been buried here, and there are several good monuments, showing that thoughtful care has been given to the dead. There is but one other cemetery in the township, and it is situated at Rncker chapel in section 24
The first school was taught in 1837. The school house was a little frame building, built by Jonathan Farmer and Jacob Wal- ters, and situated in section 35. It has passed away with the things that were. Rolla Richards preached the first sermon in 1835, at the log-house of Thomas Wilson. Rev. Watt was also a pioneer preacher. The first and only church built in the town- ship was by the M. E. denomination about 1868. It is a plain frame building, 30x40 feet iu size, and situated nearly in the centre of section 24. William Walden was the first Justice of the Peace, and Charles Cain the second, both representative men of the township. Dr. Moran was the first to practice medicine. He then resided in McLean county, but afterwards moved to Springfield. The first blacksmithing was done by Isaiah Wil- son, brother of Thomas and Edward. This was in 1837. His shop was a pole-cabin, and sitnated in section 35. He afterwards moved to McLean county, where he followed the trade until his death, which occurred about 1856. Jacob Walters was the neighborhood shoemaker and cobbler for many years, and manu- factured the boots and shoes for the pioneers for several miles around. It was the custom for the person having the work done to furnish the leather, and the shoemaker to charge only for mak- ing. Each head of a family then purchased leather for his fam- ily's use, the same as he did salt or other necessities. The first fine cattle were introduced by Thomas Wilson in 1850, and were brought from Kentucky; they were the short-horn Durham breed. At this writing, James Walden and James A. Wilson are the prominent stock-raisers. The former is one of the leading stock-men in the county.
The following are the persons who have represented the town- ship in the Board of Supervisors since its organization : Charles S. Cain was elected in 1859, and served one term. J. K. Davis was elected in 1850. Luther S. Hnbble elected in 1861, and serv- ed two terms. John Johnson elected in 1863, and served three terms. J. K. Davis re-elected in 1866, served one term. W. M. Smith elected in 1867. James A. Wilson was elected in 1868, and served until 1872. J. A. Lemert elected in 1872, and served two terms. James A. Wilson was re-elected in 1874. C. S. Cain elected in 1875. James A. Wilson re-elected in 1876. Thomas Cain elected in 1877. T. W. Cain elected in 1878. Nicholas Foley was elected in 1879, and served two terms. Henry Brittain elected in 1881, and is the present incumbent.
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