USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 14
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A German Evangelieal church is located on the northeast quarter of sec- tion 34, surrounded and supported by a thriving German settlement.
The following sketches are of early settlers, and some of the prominent business men who have lived in Lyman township :
SAMUEL LYMAN, the first settler, was born in Southampton, Massachusetts, July 16, 1811, and moved to Ford county, Illinois, in 1856. He bought two hundred and thirty acres on section 2, where he lived until 1869. He moved to Onarga. Iroquois county, and lived there until his wife died. He then came to Paxton and made his home with his son, Samuel B. Lyman, or "Burt" as he was familiarly called, who was sheriff of Ford county for eight years.
JAMES ROBERTS, farmer, was born in Sussex county. England, 1816. His father died when he was eight years old, leaving James to shift for himself and earn a penny at anything he could do. In 1843 he married Elizabeth Gilbert, of England, by whom he had three children. Mr. Robert came to this country in 1851, and to Lyman township, section 32, in 1858, becoming the owner of two hundred acres of land.
ALBERT M. ILALING was born in Hartford county, Connecticut, September 30, 1820. Ile came to Lyman township in 1866. purchasing twelve hundred acres of land in fractional section 3, at eight dollars per acre. He made a resurvey of the section, calling it "Haling's Subdivision." He sold it in 1870 and bought four hundred and eighty acres in sections 10 and 11, where he erected the finest house in the township, which afterward belonged to J. L. Shorthose. Mr. Hlaling was married to Lucy A. Groves, of Ellington, Con- nectient, by whom he had five children, namely: E. S., Frank W., Kate A., Clarence A. and Ley A., all born in Connecticut. Mr. Haling was first town clerk and second supervisor of the township, and in 1874. was elected representative of the eighteenth congressional district of Illinois.
E. S. HALING was born in Hartford county. Connecticut, October 4, 1850, and came here with his father in April, 1866.
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IHISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
EDWARD VAN STEENBERGH, one of the most extensive farmers of this town- ship, was born in Ulster county, New York, in 1814. Ile came to this town- ship in 1871. settling on section 28, owning six hundred and forty aeres, and annually shipped large quantities of hay to Chicago.
THE HURST FAMILY is among the earliest settlers of Lyman township. Joseph and Mary Hurst came to this country from England in 1847, settling in New Jersey, where Mr. Hurst died in 1849. Mrs. Mary IInrst came west and settled on section 30, this township. She died in 1875. Helen and Han- nah (maiden ladies) afterward owned the old homestead. One of the children. Ann, lived in Gloucester, New Jersey.
WILLIAM IIURST was born in 1838 and came to Ford county in 1855, becom- ing the owner of land in section 30. Hle married Mary, daughter of James Roberts.
JOSEPH HURST was born July 8, 1834, in Edgerton, England. Coming to this western country, he settled in Bureau county, where he lived for several years and married Miss Harriett Harvey, by whom he had ten children. Com- ing to Lyman township in 1858. he bought two sections of land from the Illi- nois Central Railroad Company, but poor crops and hard times came and Mr. Hurst became very poor. His main dependence was a shot-gun, which was taken from him on execution; the officer, repenting the act, returned the gun. Mr. Hurst often spoke of this, to show the contrast from that day to the day when he owned three hundred and twenty acres, one mile from Roberts, under excellent cultivation.
AMOS C. MAXON was born in the town of Lyme, state of Connecticut, in 1821. At the age of fourteen years, he went on board ship with Captain Chadwick, making three voyages a year for seven years Ile came to Ford county in 1858, settling on section 14. He was married to Phoebe E. Pierson, of Connecticut, in 1851, and six children were born to them. Mr. Maxon was one of the colony that came to this county from Connecticut.
M. CASSINGHAM, M. D., was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1841. In 1845. he came to Kendall county, Illinois, living there several years. He moved to Grundy county, and later to Ford county, settling at Roberts in 1871. He graduated from the Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1874. In 1862 he mar- ried Miss Ellen Cullen, of Canada.
ORA W. CASSINGHAM was born in Grundy county, Ilinois, in 1854. He came to Roberts in 1880, to engage in the drug business with his brother, Dr. Cassingham. For several years he followed the map publishing business, meet-
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ing with good success. September 26. 1883, he married Elmira, daughter of Lycurgus Burns, of Roberts.
C'IFARLES O. HAYES, a native of Clinton county, New York, came to Ken- dall county, Illinois, in 1855, where he lived until 1861, then moved to MeLean county. He came to Roberts and opened the Glencoe Hotel in 1881. Ile kept a good hotel and obtained a full share of the traveling public. In 1859 he was married to Lusina Alford, of Clinton county. New York, by whom he had four children.
CHRIS ANDERSON, a native of Scotland, bought a farm in this county in 1865. Ile farmed until 1872 and then went into partnership with J. A. Montel- ins and George Campbell. In 1874 Mr. Montelius sold out to the other partners. who continued doing a general merchandise and grain business. In 1876 George Campbell went to Piper City and engaged in the banking business, and Mr. Anderson remained in Roberts. In 1881 he bought ont the banking busi- ness of J. B. Meserve. He was married to Mary Martin, of Marshall county, Illinois, by whom he had seven children, all girls.
WILLIAM B. FLORA was born in Campbell county, Kentucky, in 1844. In 1868 he settled in Iroquois county, Illinois. He opened a store in this piace in 1872 and, in company with E. O. Newman, carried on a good mercantile bus- iness. In 1874 he married Mary Jane Newman, of Kentucky. They had five children. Later he moved to Paxton, where he is and has been county elerk for several years.
E. B. BEIGHILE was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1836, and came to byman township in November, 1869.
WILLIAM HOUGH BOND and JAMES BOND were born in Manchester. Eng- land. William was born February 14, 1841, and James, February 11, 1844. William came to Lyman township in 1866, and soon afterward engaged in farming. They both became the owners of fine farms.
CHARLES RINGEISEN was born in Germany, July 25, 1844. He came to Ford county in 1881, and became an active farmer in Lyman township.
ARTHUR SWANICK was born in County Mayo, Ireland, September 16, 1832. He came to New York state in 1855; to Illinois in 1862; and to this township in 1872, becoming the owner of eighty aeres in section 6.
PATRICK MCQUILLEN, a native of Ireland, came to Ford county in 1868. and settled in section 32, Lyman township.
JOHN HUMMEL was born in Germany. August 7. 1834. He emigrated to America and settled in Illinois in 1854; settled in Lyman township in 1869, and engaged in farming.
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IHISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
GEORGE E. REYNOLDS was born in Knox county, Illinois, November 12, 1859. IIe moved to Lyman township in the spring of 1881 and engaged in agricultural pursuits.
SAMUEL SHUTE was born in Gloucester county, New Jersey, October 19, 1821. Ile moved to this township in 1868 and became the owner of eight hun- dred and twenty acres.
JOIIN ROBERTS was born March 23, 1835, in Sussex county, England. He came to this county in 1859 and settled on section 32, Lyman township.
NICHOLAS HUMMEL was born in Germany, September 18, 1836. IIe came to Lyman township and settled on section 5.
I. C. NEWMAN, a native of Madison county, Ohio, came to Illinois in 1852, and to this township in 1867, becoming the owner of a farm in section 8, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising.
ROBERT H. GRESHAM was born in Christian county, Kentucky, September 6, 1848. ITe came to this state in 1850, and to Ford county in 1882.
JOHN CRAWFORD was born in Albany county, New York, in 1841. IIe came to the state of Illinois in 1865, and to Ford county in 1871, where ho became the owner of a good farm in section 2, Lyman township.
II. M. WILcox was born in Stockbridge, Oneida county, New York. IIe left the state and came to Illinois in 1868, becoming the owner of a large farm and carrying on a dairy business.
JOHN COOK was born in Germany in 1843. He emigrated to America in 1867, and settled in Illinois in 1879, becoming the owner of a fine farm in section 13.
B. F. ILER was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1848. Ile settled in Lyman township in 1874.
CHARLES FELLWOCK, a native of Germany, came to this country to better his condition. He settled in Ford county in 1867, becoming the owner of a good farm in section 35.
GEORGE MINCHI was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, in 1847, where he lived until 1881, when he moved to Wall township, where he became the owner of the northeast quarter of section 3; also two hundred and forty acres on sec- tion 22, this township. He was married in 1869.
F. W. HALLING, traveling salesman, was born in Tolland county, Connecti- eut, January 13, 1854, and came to Illinois in April, 1866.
PRINCE TOBEY, born in New York state in 1820, came to Ford county, Illi- nois, in 1865.
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
MONA TOWNSHIP.
The township of Mona was set off from Rogers March 2, 1870, being the last township organized in the county. When first created, it was called Delhi. at the suggestion of Supervisor Bishop, of Brenton township, but several months after was changed to Mona, at the request of the citizens of the township.
It was so named because many of the inhabitants of said township were natives of the Isle of Man. Through the kindness of David Keighin, we will give a brief sketch of that lonely island :
The Isle of Man is situated in the Irish sea, nearly equi-distant from the three surrounding countries, Its area is about two hundred and twenty square miles. Two-thirds of the island consists of arable and meadow land, and the remainder of heath and moor. The climate is highly salubrious, being exempt from oppressive heats in summer and frosts in winter. The commerce is not great ; the chief article of export is fish (herring) bringing in a clever revenne of forty thousand pounds a year. The language of the island is one of the three dia- lects of Celtic, which still continues to be spoken there. It is similar to the Irish; therefore, the natives of Ireland, the highlanders of Scotland and the Manksman have little difficulty in understanding each other. The island is divided into six manors, and these subdivided into seventeen parishes. The
island obtained its name from the original founder and legislator of the island. Mannanan MaeLer; the name being contracted to Mannin, and in later years to Mann. Mona, with which Mann is often confounded, is rather a description of the island, than.a name. Mona signifies isolated or lonely, and was doubt- less applied to the isle by the inhabitants of surrounding countries.
Mona township is bounded on the north by Rogers township, on the east by Iroquois county, south by the township of Pella, and west by Livingston county. It is a congressional township, being six miles square. The north half is a fine body of undulating prairie land, settled by an excellent class of intelligent farmers.
The southwest part of the township is low, level land with deep soil, and in dry seasons capable of raising large erops of corn, while the remainder of the township is covered over with a large marsh, called the Vermilion swamps. A great part of this has been drained.
The first settler in Mona was Matthew Faddling, who came here a great many years ago, and settled on section 5. Among the early settlers may be mentioned Jacob Holderman. Louis Falter, Sr., Wright Kemp, M. C. Lewis, Daniel Morrical, Thomas Kelly, John Looney, Thomas Heavysides, Robert
MAGNOLIA HOLISE
H.S. Wyllie J.
AT ROBERTS .
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
Lewin, Samuel Dowse, William Cowley. George Sherman, John and William Dancer and Henry Benson.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Thomas Kelly, at which time David Keighin was elected supervisor.
The first schoolhouse was built on the northwest quarter of section 32, Belle Ilose being the first teacher. Schools Nos. 3 and 5 were started about the same time.
In the spring of 1867 fourteen new dwelling houses were being built in the township at the same time.
The first postoffice was at the house of John F. Bute, named Sugar Loaf, the mail coming from Clifton.
The first religious services in the township were held in school No. 3. The Sunday school was started by George Sherman, who was the superintendent for seven years.
The town hall on the southeast corner of section 8 was built for the pur- pose of holding religious, political, social and literary meetings. In 1876, a literary society was organized with John A. Scott, president; David Keighin, vice president ; A. Anderson, secretary ; and M. A. Dinsmore, treasurer, the cen- tral object being to cultivate a taste for literature among the residents of the township. The exercises of the Mona Literary Society were somewhat varied; the main object being the improvement of the social condition of the com- munity. Their efforts were ably seconded by other districts of Ford and adjoining counties, and liberal donations were received from Paxton. Piper City, Clifton and other towns.
The society flourished until the village of Kempton was started in the northwest corner of the township, which drew away some of the citizens and much of the interest that centered at the hall.
The first preaching in the township was at the Bute schoolhouse, by Rev. M. C. Lewis, a Methodist preacher. The society then numbered fourteen members.
In 1881 the society erected a church in Kempton under the supervision of Rev. Joe Bell. pastor, and A. Stuart, R. F. Bell and James Kemp, trustees. The new church was dedicated the 28th of April, 1882, by Rev. B. F Tallman. £
R. F. Bell was appointed the first superintendent of the Sunday school.
KEMPTON.
Kempton is the only village in the township, a station on the Kankakee & Southwestern Railroad. It was laid out in 1878 by Wright Kemp. The rail-
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IHISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
road company called their station Kempton, in honor of Mr. Kemp, who ren- dered them excellent service in securing the right of way for the railroad across the township.
J. W. Brown built the first frame house in the village.
J. E. Seyster was the first station agent.
The following is a brief mention of some of the early settlers and leading men who lived in Mona township:
DAVID KEIGHIN, a native of the Isle of Man. came to Tennessee in 1848, and to this township from Peoria in 1869. He became the owner of a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres on section 11. In connection with his farm, he, with his son Charles, engaged in the grain business in Kempton. Mr. Keighin was elected the first supervisor of Mona, which office he held for several years.
THOMAS KELLY came from the Isle of Man in the spring of 1849, in the same ship with David Keighin. HIe moved to this township in 1867, coming from Galva, Henry county. In reviewing the lives of successful men, how true do we find in nearly every instance, that hard work, economy and industry have laid the foundation of future prosperity. Mr. Kelly was no exception to this rule, and after hard work, acquired six hundred and forty acres of land.
JOSEPH MCKINNEY, a son of Archibald MeKinney, is one of the early set- tlers of Brenton township. Mr. MeKinney came to Kempton in 1880, and bought out the hardware store and lumberyard of John MeKinney, who after- ward engaged in business in Piper City.
SAMUEL DOWSE came to this township in 1868, settling on section 8. He became the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of fine land, with good improvements. He was assessor for six years, and also held the office of jus- tice of the peace.
LOUIS FALTER, JR., was born in Ohio. He came to Mona township in 1869. He became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres on section 4.
JOHN LOONEY. a native of the Isle of Man, became the owner of two hundred and forty acres of excellent land.
JOHN A. Scorr, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, came to this township in 1870, and settled on section 9.
HENRY BENSON left England in 1854 and came to Kendall county. Illinois. then to this township in 1867, settling on section 1.
JOHN AND WILLIAM DANCER came from Will county before the township was settled, with large droves of cattle to herd on the Vermilion swamps during
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IHISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
the summer. They herded as many as a thousand head that were placed under their care in a season. In 1873 they came here to live and became the owners of four hundred and eighty acres of land. John Daneer was one of the drain- age commissioners of the special Vermilion ditch.
FRANK DRENDEL was born in Germany in 1838. He came to the United States in 1865, and to section 21, Mona township, in 1868.
ROBERT LEWIN, a native of the Isle of Man, came here in 1868, and became the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land.
DANIEL MORRICAL was born in Laurel Hill, Virginia, in 1836. He moved to Ohio, then lived in Indiana twenty-two years, and finally settled in Ford county in 1869. He held the office of justice of the peace, and was school director for several years.
GEORGE ESSINGTON, a native of England, came to this township in 1871, set- tling on section 1.
JOHN SUTTON was born in England in 1835. He left there in 1858, settling first in New York state, then moved to Grundy county, Illinois, where he remained some ten years. Ile enlisted in the Ninety-first Illinois Regiment. and was in the service three years. He moved to section 3, Mona township, in 1869.
JOHN THORNDYKE was born in England. He came to this township from Grundy county. in 1882, becoming the owner of the northwest quarter in section 31.
JAMES E. FARLEY was born in Pennsylvania, and came here in 1875, beeom- ing the owner of two hunderd and forty acres on section 5. At one time he was assessor.
JAMES KEMP was born in Kendall county, Illinois, in 1853, being the son of Wright Kemp who afterward moved to Kankakee City.
ROGERS TOWNSHIP.
Roger's township is the extreme north township of the county, bounded on the north by Kankakee county, on the east by Iroquois, on the south by Mona township and on the west by Livingston county.
It derived its name from Jeremy W. Rogers, its first supervisor. This township was originally called Grant, and when organized composed the present townships of Mona and Rogers.
A petition from the citizens of Grant to the board of supervisors to change the name to Rogers was granted in the spring of 1864.
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This is considered the best township in the county. with at least seventy- five per cent of the area, suitable and adapted to farming purposes, that can be made to produce excellent crops.
It is peopled with industrious, enterprising and progressive farmers, show- ing many well improved farms.
Among the early settlers were Jeremy W. Rogers, William Atherton. Jared Williams, James Clayton. Henry Clayton, John Clayton, William Clayton, Mary Clayton. James Taylor, Edward Clayton, Samuel Clayton, Peter Taylor, David Rogers, A. Saddler, Peter Minich, Abraham Cook, D. and S. Burroughs, William Bouk, N. Wagner, Samuel C. Farley, Charles Shumacher, Wright Kemp, George Hargreaves. Jacob Hare, J. C. Eldridge, E. Quayle, D. F. Bren- isa, D. B. Case and J. Broadbent.
The first church built in the township was the Catholic church in Cabery. The next church was built at Eldridgeville by the Methodists.
In 1873 the Germans erected a chapel on Henry Clayton's land, called The Church of God. J. M. Castle was the first German preacher.
The first postoffice was at Eldridgeville, with John Eldridge as postmaster, although at an early date the farmers took turns in bringing the mail from Dwight, which was left at Jared Williams' house.
The first schoolhouse was built on the farm owned by George Riggs and Miss Laura Cook, who afterward became Mrs. Charles Bouk, was the first teacher.
CABERY.
C'abery is the principal village in Rogers township, situated on the middle division of the Illinois Central or Kankakee & South Western Railroad. It lies on the county line, the largest half in Rogers township, which was first laid out. It was incorporated as a village in the fall of 1881 and contains stores of various kinds and a newspaper called the Cabery Enterprise. There is a publie hall and one Masonic hall. The place is a wide-awake, go-ahead one, containing a class of good citizens, who heartily unite upon any enterprise or improvement for the publie good.
The supervisors of the township have been Jeremy W. Rogers, 1864; JJohn C. Eldridge, 1866; D. B. Case, 1867; Edward Clayton, 1868; Thomas Winstanley, 1872; Samuel Clayton. 1873; James Ogilvie, 1876; W. B. Sargeant, 1881; re- elected 1882 and 1883.
The following is a brief mention of some of the old settlers who have lived and are still living in Rogers township :
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY.
PETER TAYLOR, a native of Morgan county, Ohio, came to Rogers township in 1865. settling on section 35.
FRANK M. COOK was born at Elkhart county. Indiana. Ile came to this township in 1864, settling on a fine farm one mile from Cabery.
JAMES OGILVIE, a native of Licking county. Ohio, coming to this township in 1866 ; he settled on section 22.
SAMUEL CLAYTON, a native of England, came to Rogers township in 1865, settling on section 33.
JAMES CLAYTON, a native of Chester, England, came to this country in 1849. and to Rogers township in 1868, settling on a fine farm in section 31. Ile laid out a part of the village of Kempton. called Clayton's Addition.
DAVID HUNTLEY, a native of NewYork, came to this township in 1859. and became the owner of two hundred and forty acres in Ford county. and eighty acres, the home place, just over the line in Livingston county.
GEORGE IHARGREAVES was born in England, coming to America in 1854: he first settled in Kendall county, Illinois. In 1867 he moved to this township. settling on section 36.
W. B. SARGEANT, a native of England, came to Cabery in 1865, being engaged in the hardware business.
JAMES F. WRIGHT was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1840. HIe came to Cabery in 1876 and engaged in the lumber business.
ANDREW STUART, a farmer, native of Canada, settled in Grundy county, Illi- nois in 1843. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Volunteers in 1862, remaining in the field until the war was over.
JOSHUA HIENTHRON came to this county from England in 1856. IIe settled on section 28, Rogers township. Ile purchased one hundred and sixty acres of good land from the Illinois Central Railroad Company.
FRANK MCLAUGHLIN was born in Grundy county in 1853. He came to this township in 1880. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Clayton, in 1874.
FRANK STUART, son of Andrew Stuart, was born in Livingston county in 1856. He married Alice. a daughter of Henry Clayton.
JOHN AND ALFRED CLAYTON, sons of Henry Clayton, were born in Chester county, Pennsylvania. John came to this township in 1865. and Alfred in 1868, both owning homes on section 25.
CHARLES CURD was born in the county of Kent. England. He came to America in 1846 and to section 20, this township in 1876.
WILLIAM NAAS, a native of Germany, came to this township in 1870. locating on section 29.
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IIISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
In 1865, MRS. PRISCILLA TAYLOR, widow of James Taylor, deceased, together with Samuel and Edward Clayton, Peter Taylor and others, came from Ohio to Rogers township, Mrs. Taylor with her children, residing on section 35.
MRS. ELIZABETH CLAYTON, widow of William Clayton. an early settler, came to Rogers township from Noble county, Ohio, residing in a beautiful home on their farm on section 27.
FIRE AT CABERY IN 1885.
On Sunday morning, May 3, 1885. Cabery was visited by a disastrous fire, and the town was almost obliterated by the flames. Twenty-four business houses and fourteen dwellings went up in smoke. The total loss was estimated at one hundred thousand dollars, with about twenty-five thousand dollars insur- ance. The village was without fire protection, and no aid from other towns could be seenred in time to stay the devouring flames. The fire originated in a millinery store at 3 o'clock in the morning. Several guests were in the Commercial Hotel, which was destroyed, and barely escaped with their lives.
PEACH ORCHARD TOWNSHIP.
September 15, 1868. a petition was presented to the board of supervisors. asking their aid in creating a new township out of the township of Dix, com- posed and described as the east two-thirds of the north half of town 24 north, and the south half of town 25 north, in range 8 east, "and on motion of Supervisor Davis, it was ordered by the board that said territory be and is hereby set off in accordance with the prayer of said petition; and it is further ordered that the territory set off shall be known and designated as Peach Orchard."
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