History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 34

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 650

USA > Illinois > Effingham County > History of Effingham county, Illinois > Part 34

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potency. His death occurred in this town- ship about fourteen years ago. In the spring of 1850, Thomas Robinson made his advent to this part of the county. and improved a farm adjoining the place where Shumard settled. He came from Ohio. as did many of the early pioneers of northern Effing- ham, and by industry and energy soon reclaimed a fine farm from the wild prairie, which is still in possession of his family. During the last named and fol- lowing year, quite a number of settlers took up their residences in various parts of the township, prominent among whom were Samuel Crollard, John Draper. Brantley Gar- rett and Frank Wetherell. The first named located in the northwest part and improved land lying in the prairie. Draper came from Tennessee and bought land where -- Bennius now lives. Garrett was a Tennes- sean also, and selected for his home a tract of land adjoining the Nathan Ramsey farm. Wetherell made improvements about two miles east of the town of Shumway, where he resided until the year 1881. These were all successful farmers and accumulated during their residence in the township a large amount of land, which was brought to a high state of cultivation and the majority of which is still in the possession of their re- spective families.

When the first settlers came here the coun- try was full of game; the prairies abounded in large flocks of wild chickens, plover, geese, etc., while in timber were found tur- keys, deer and some few bears. Wolves were numerous and very troublesome. often doing great damage to the settlers by carrying off pigs and poultry, and, when the winters were very cold, cattle and horses have been at- tacked and severely injured. The black wolf that infested the timber was larger, and more ferocious than the small prairie

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wolf. though not so numerous. During cer- tain seasons they became very savage, and have been known to attack man himself. As the township settled up steps were taken to rid the country of these scourges, and sys- tematic hunts were planned in which all the neighbors for miles around would partici- pate. and by this means many of the wolves were killed and the balance driven from the country.

The nearest source of supplies to the early residents of the township was Shelbyville, at that time but a mere village, consisting of a a few dwelling houses and a few stores. Though at no great distance, the trip there was beset with many difficulties, the chief of which were the absence of roads, muddy con- dition of the prairies, and the countless mill- ions of green-headed flies that swarmed over the country by day, so that traveling by night became a necessity. The principal crop to which the pioneer looked for support for his family and stock was corn, which, for a number of years, was about the only crop that could be raised in the country. It was ground a' the small horse mills of which there were several in the adjoining town- ships, though none appear to have been in operation in Banner. Wheat was not raised for several years after the first settlements were made, the ground at that time being in no condition for its culture. After the land had been drained somewhat, attempts were made toward raising wheat, which met with but indifferent success. Some grew discour- aged, while others, more sanguine, persevered season after season, until finally they suc- ceeded in harvesting good crops, after finding out how to prepare and treat the soil. Ban- ner is now one of the best wheat-producing townships in Effingham County-a reputa- tion it has sustained for years.

The best evidence of moral advancement

and Christian civilization, in a new country, is the establishment of churches. The relig- ions history of Banner is co-equal with its settlement by white people. The first relig- ious services, of which we learned anything definite, were conducted at the residence of Nathan Ramsey, by the Old-School Baptists. The preacher on that occasion was Elder Henry Shellenberger, a minister who came to the county at a very early period of its history, and, like all the pioneer soldiers of the Cross who preceded or followed in the wake of Western civilization, was a man of of untiring energy in the cause of Him whom he delighted to serve. The meetings at Ram- sey's were held at intervals for several years, and served, not only as a means of spiritual refreshings, but as social events as well; for all met there on a common level, talked about matters in which all had a common interest, and enjoyed many pleasant recrea- tions from their common lot of labor. Shel- lenberger established a church of his creed just west of the timber, on Wall Creek, where a house was erected. A small congregation worshiped in this building for a number of years, but does not appear to have gained much in numbers. The organization was afterward moved to a place about one mile north of the village of Shumway, and a house of worship erected, which is still standing. though not used for church purposes, as the society was abandoned many years ago. The German Methodists established a church, north of Shumway, in the year 1869, which was afterward moved to the village.

The schools next claim our attention, and follow very appropriately the notice of the religious history, as both possess refining influences, and furnish the highest standard · of civilization. The first schoolhouse was a small log structure, that stood in the eastern part of the township, and F. M. Griffith

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

tanght the first term in it. The building was used for school purposes about twelve years, when, from some unknown canse, it took fire and was burned to the ground. A new one was erected in its place, a log house also, but much better furnished and far more con- venient. The first frame schoolhouse in the township was built prior to the year 1869, and stood a short distance north of the town of Shumway. The first public school was taught in this house by F. M. Griffith, now a prominent minister of the Missionary Baptist Church, and one of the oldest teachers of the county. Among other early teachers who wielded the birch at this place, can be mentioned Hester Ann Crollard, Maggie Means, Martha Means, Susan Small, Riley Walker, and J. A. Arnold, present Superin- tendent of County Schools. There are three good frame schoolhonses in the township, in which schools are taught about eight months of the year. The present township board is composed of the following gentlemen: Will- iam Rechter, John Breitzueiser and George Shumard, Trustees; Henry Bernard is Treas- urer and Clerk of the board.

Like other divisions of the county, this township is well supplied with roads, the majority of which are regularly established and in good condition. The Paducah & Chicago Railroad, now a branch of the Wa- bash, St. Louis & Pacific, passes through Banner, and has been a great benefit to the farmers of this section. Since its completion, the township's growth and development have been very marked.

The village of Shumway is situated in Sec- tion 33, on the land formerly owned by Hugh Dennis, one of the early pioneers of the county, and by him sold to the Chicago & Paducah Railroad Company, in the year 1863. The company surveyed the land into town lots and put them on the market in the

year 1874. When the first sales were made, Henry Bernhard, Ed Meyer, M. M. Hemp- hill, Henry Metzler and Dr. J. N. Phifer being the first purchasers. These parties at once began improving their respective lots by erecting dwellings and other buildings, and by the close of the year quite a number of honses were completed and occupied. The first houses finished were the dwelling and blacksmith shop belonging to Fred Meyer, and quite an extensive building, sit- uated in the northern part of the village, and still occupied by Mr. Meyer. A hotel was built about the same time by M. M. Hemp- hill, and the large storeroom belonging to Henry Bernhard was completed in a short time afterward and stocked with goods. Metzler's dwelling and business house and the residence of Dr. Phifer were erected during the summer of 1874, and from that time the growth of the place has been steady and substantial.

Henry Bernhard opened a large stock of goods, consisting of and including all articles generally called for in a country store, from a grindstone to a paper of pins. He continued business with good success until the fall of ISTS, when he disposed of the stock to James MeNair in order to engage in the milling business. McNair replenished the stock and sold goods until September, 1881, when he sold to William Geiseking & Son, who are the present proprietors. The second store in the place was started by Henry Metzler in the fall of 1874, and also consisted of a general stock, with groceries a specialty. Metzler continued the business but a short time, when he sold his goods at auction. fitted up his room for a saloon, in which business he is at present engaged. In 1875, a third store building was erected by Fred Hoese & Co., who started a branch store here, their main stock being at the town of Stew-

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

artson, Shelby County. These parties con- tinned their business with varied success for several years, but finally rented their room and removed the stock to other points; their building is at present occupied by the mil- linery store of Mrs. Walterson.

The first physician to locate in the new village and probably the first in the town- ship was Dr. J. N. Phifer, who as already stated erected one of the first houses in the place, which he still occupies. The village has always sustained a reputation as a healthy place, yet, despite this discouraging fact the following physicians have at differ- ent intervals practiced the healing art here, viz., J. H. Carper, J. B. Johnson, John Van- dervort and George Haummesser, all of whom were regularly graduated M. D.'s of the different schools of medicine.

A schoolhouse was built during the sum- mer of 1875, and occupied the following fall and winter by Prof. J. A. Arnold, the present County Superintendent. Prof. Arnold still resides in the village, which fact may ac- count for the fine reputation the schools here have always sustained. The present school- room is hardly sufficient to accommodate the constantly increasing number of pupils, and the propriety of erecting a building, more in keeping with the growth of the town, is now being discussed.

The Shumway Flouring Mill was erected in 1878 by Henry Bernhard, and is one of the best mills in the country. The main build- ing is four stories high, with basement, and is 40x50 feet. There are three run of stones, which when run steadily will grind on an average of from fifty-five to sixty barrels of flour per day. The cost of the inills with additional improvements will aggregate about $13,000. Connected with the mill is an extensive stave factory and cooper shop, where all the material used in shipping flour

is manufactured, giving work to several mechanics, besides affording a good market for the oak timber of the surrounding country.

A large warehouse was moved to the vil- lage from the town of Dexter in the winter of 1874, thus bringing a good grain market to the very doors of the farmers of this part of the county, who prior to this time hauled all their grain long distances to the cities of Altamont, Teutopolis and Effingham. This warehouse was operated by H. A. Carter for some months and by him sold to Benjamin Walton, of Fairbury, who has a large and remunerative business ever since. A second grain house was built some time during the year 1875 and is at present managed by M. M. Hemphill, who handles many thousand bushels of grain annually. Mr. Hemphill is also the gentlemanly proprietor of the first hotel erected in the place, a business in which he has been engaged for a number of years, and which has returned him a hand- some income. The following exhibit shows the present standing of the village from a business stand-point: Geisking & Son, gen- eral store, have a stock representing several thousand dollars, and are doing a flourishing business. S. F. Smith keeps a general stock of goods which is managed by two clerks, one of whom, Ignatz Helmerbacher, is the present Postmaster. Mr. Smith does not give the business his personal attention, be- ing engaged in railroading and holding an important position on the Vandalia line. Rickets & Bowen keep a general assort- ment of merchandise, and in addition deal largely in` lumber and timber, principally railroad supplies, etc. The millinery estab- lishment of the village is kept by Mrs. Wal- terson. There are at present three black- smiths in the town-Fred Meyer, already named, Fred Fischer and H. Schmidt. P.

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

Leismister keeps a wagon shop; G. Schurz, boot and shoe maker; Paris Griffith keeps a hotel-the Shumway House. The post office at this point was established in the year 1874, with H. Bernard as Postmaster, and for several years went by the name of Tolerance, which afterward changed to Shumway while James McNair had charge of the office. There are in the village three religious organizations, with as many neat temples of worship, which ought to speak much for the morals of the place. The Lutheran Church, known as the Trinity Congregation, was organized in the year 1864. mainly through the labors of Rev. Mr. Ringer at the Buckeye Schoolhouse, and numbered among its original members the households of the following persons, viz .: William Raetz. Henry Keller, Henry Bern- hard, Robert Fulte. Edmund Redloffe, Got- lieb Konrad, Fred Lane, Charles Dunteman, Lonis Fulte, F. Quast, Lonis Engell, Charles Lacherhouse, Gottlieb Weiss and Charles Heiden. The schoolhouse served as a meet- ing place about seven months, when a small house of worship was erected near by, where the congregation met at intervals till the year 1880, when steps were taken to erect a more commodious structure, and, as the village was thought to be the proper place, it was unanimously decided to build here. The house was completed and dedicated in the fall of 1880, and is the largest audience room in the town. The cost of the building. in- cluding furnishing and additional improve- ments, was about $3,500. The first regular pastor the congregation employed while they met in the first building was Rev. Charles Hartmann, who preached about four years. Rev. Dykeman was pastor one year. Rev. George H Geiekler succeeded Dykeman and remained three years, doing much during his pastorate toward establishing the church upon the firm footing it has since sustained.

Rev. Henry Pence, present pastor, commenced his labors in the year 1876, and has been the regular supply ever since. There are at the present time the names of about forty members in good standing ou the church roll, among whom are some of the most sub- stantial citizens of the township. The Sun- day school is under the superintendency of the pastor, and is well attended.

The German Methodist Church of Shum- way dates its organization from the year 1869, at which time Rev. Jacob Tanner came into the place, and being actuated by that zeal in the cause of his Master, characteristic of the true Christian. at once went to work and gathered together a little band of disciples, whom he organized into a class. Their names are as follows: John Bramstadt, Jacob Probst and wife, Joachim Futz and wife, Michael Schwadt and wife, and Mat- thias Bernyus and wife. For a little more than one year, the congregation met for worship at the schoolhouse, where the organization took place, but as their numbers increased, a larger place of meeting became a necessity, and a building was erected in the year 1871. about half mile north of the village. This house was used for seven years, when the church decided to move their organization to the town. and a new building was accordingly erected in the year 1879. This house is frame, will seat about 250 persons, and cost the congregation some $2,000. Since its organization this church has had the following pastors in the order named: Rev. Tanner served one year, and was succeeded by Rev. Charles Ghelert, who looked after the spiritual wants of the con- gregation three years, and was in turn followed by Rev. F. H. Miller; Miller remained one year, as also did his successor, Rev. George Heiden; Henry Brinkmeier was pastor three years; Rev. William Simon

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

preached three years; Rev. J. P. Wilhelme two years; Rev. Charles Ghelert again took charge of the church in 1881, and has preached for the congregation ever since. There are at present about thirty-two members. Edward Meyer is Superintendent of the Sunday school, which is one of the most flourishing in the place.

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Shumway was organized in the year 1879 with a membership of about twenty-six families, at a place called Blue Point, one mile west of the village. A committee was appointed by the organization to determine on a place of building, and after much dis- cussion, it was finally agreed to erect a house at Shumway, which was accordingly done in the fall of the same year. This building is a fine frame structure, 30x60 feet, well

furnished and finished, and cost about $3,000 to complete it. Father Bonifacius was the first pastor of the church, and remained but one year, working hard during that time to build up the congregation, and much of the present prosperity of the church is due to his labors. Rev. Francis Hasse succeeded, his pastorate extending over a period of little more than four years. The next pastor was Father Fulgencius, who ministered to the church one year and six months, and was succeeded in 1881 by the present pastor Rev. Norbert Wilhelme, a man universally es- teemed by all irrespective of church or creed, for his piety, learning and benevolence. Under his care, the congregation has been considerably strengthened, and became one of the strong congregations in this diocese.

CHAPTER XXVI .*

MOCCASIN TOWNSHIP-CONFIGURATION AND BOUNDARIES-STREAMS, TIMBER, ETC .- PIONEER SETTLEMENT -EARLY LIFE OF THE PEOPLE-AN INCIDENT-CHURCHES AND PREACHERS-THE FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE-SCHOOLS OF THE PRESENT - MOCCASIN VILLAGE-PLATTED-GENERAL BUSINESS OF THE PLACE.

"Once upon a time life lay before me, Fresh as a story untold, Now so many years have traveled o'er me, I and the story are old."-Bushnell.

L ONG ago, one morning in May, a young man rode across the Illinois prairies with a friend. They passed on over the bound- less expanse, far out of sight of any human habitation. Thousands of flowers bloomed around them everywhere, their beauty and fragrance surpassing all that they had ever dreamed of floral loveliness and perfume. It seemed as if the whole world had been converted into green grass, blue sky, bloom- ing flowers and glorious sunshine. The

scene was one that might have inspired the sweet "Southern" singer, when she sang-

"Like gladsome gales on Orient seas With odors blown from isle and coast, From fragrant shores we felt the breeze That whispered of the Eden lost.

" We drank the balm of hidden flowers, Whose breath was nectar to the heart, Nor thought we then the rosy hours With life's May dawn would soon depart."

Many people, bubbling over with poetical sentiment, have tried to describe the great prairies of the West, and to portray their feelings when first beholding them. No doubt they were " grand and gorgeous " (the prairies, not the people who tried to describe them) in their pristine beauty before the set-

* By W. 11. Perrin.

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

tler came to mar and destroy their beauty and loveliness, by turning things (literally) " upside down." Whether or not the littlo scene noted at the begining of this chapter occurred in Moccasin Township "long ago," when its territory was the undisputed posses- sion of the gopher and prairie wolf, it mat- ters not. We have the authority, however, of a gushing writer of the period, that it oe- curred somewhere in Illinois, and so we ap- ply it to this section, on the strength of its adaptability. Nearly all of the township is prairie, and generally level, but sufficiently undulating as to require no artificial drain- age. The woodland is contiguous to the water-courses, of which the principal are Moccasin and Wolf Creeks. These streams were named by the old pioneer, Griffin Tip- sword. When he first came to Moccasin Creek, he discovered a great many moccasin tracks, or human tracks, wearing moccasins, in the sand along its banks, hence, he called it Moccasin Creek. He named Wolf Creek in consequence of the great number of wolves that lived in the timber along the stream. Moccasin Creek flows east and west nearly through the center of the township. Little Moccasin flows in the same direction, but a mile or two farther north, passing near the village. Wolf Creek is in the northwest corner, while Beech Creek, a mile or two south of Moccasin, runs parallel with it. There are several other small and nameless streams laid down on the map. These water courses afford an excellent system of irriga- tion and drainage, together with an abund- ance of stock water.

The timber of Moccasin, which is incon- siderable in quantity, is that common in this portion of the county, and consists princi pally of white oak, hickory, walnut, cotton- wood, sugar tree, elm, etc., etc. Moccasin is bounded north by Liberty Township, east by

Summit Township, south by Mound Town- ship, west by Fayette County, and is desig- nated as the Congressional Township 8 north, in Range 4 east, of the Third Princi- pal Meridian.

The settlement of Moccasin Township is of a more modern date than many other portions of the county. Being mostly prairie, the people did not venture out upon the vast plains, until crowded out by the increase of population. Even then, it was with many misgivings as to what the final result would be. But as the great army of pioneers con- tinued to come in, and the timber land was all taken up, they were forced to spread out on the prairies for want of room. As soon as their virtues were discovered, the prairies were then settled as rapidly as the timber had been before them.

Although not settled as early as some of the other townships, yet it is not possible to say who was the first actual settler in what now forms Moccasin Township. The Tip- swords figured in this section, and Griffin, the pioneer and patriarch of the tribe, was, doubtless, the first white man who ever saw it, but from the best of our information he lived over in the present township of Liberty. When Moses Doty, still a respected citizen of the township, came here, in 1840, he found already here the following settlers and their families, viz. : S. R. Powell, Thomas Perry, John Scully, J. P. and Hiram Doty, Samuel Cunningham, Edward and Samnel Mahon, Jesse and Daniel Troxell, Lyman Pratt and Thomas Doty. All these came between 1830 and 1840, most of them toward the end of the decade.

Powell came from Tennessee, and settled on Moccasin Creek. He lived to be quite an old man, and died near the village of Dexter. He has two sons and three daughters still living in the county. Perry came from Ken-

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

tucky, and settled in the west part of the township. He is dead, but has a daughter living here. He had several sons, but all of them, we believe, have moved further west. Scully was an Irishman, born and reared in Ohio-that is, he was a native of Ireland, but brought up principally in Ohio-from which State he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in this township. He was an en- ergetic, money-making man, and was fast growing rich when he died. He was buried on Wolf Creek, in the Tipsword graveyard. Cunningham also came from Ohio. After living here some years, he moved to the southern part of the State. where he died. The Troxells were likewise from Ohio. Jesse died on Wolf Creek many years ago. Daniel came here in 1839, and settled on Wolf Creek where he died about 1853-54. The Dotys, Pratt and Mahons, were all from the Buck- eye State-prolific land of "Ohio statesmen." J. P. and Hiram Doty both entered land on Moccasin Creek, and are both still living- J. P. in Missouri, and Hiram in Texas. They are brothers to Moses Doty. Thomas, a cousin, came out in 1839, and after remain- ing a few years returned to Ohio, where he died. Pratt settled on Moccasin, and after- ward moved back to Ohio, with Tom Doty. The Mahons came about 1838. Edward was a single man, and married Powell's eldest daughter after he came here. He moved to Iowa, and died there, when the family came back, and are now living in the township; Samuel died here, and his family moved back to Ohio.

Moses Doty, to whose intelligence and vivid recollection of early times we are indebted for much of the history of this neighborhood, came to Illinois in 1840, and settled in the present township of Moccasin. There were but few people then in Effingham County, and, in- deed, the county itself had not completed its

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History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 34

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co. Number of Pages: 650

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 650