USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 8
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THE PAXTON CANNING FACTORY.
Through the efforts of J. P. Middlecoff, R. Cruzen and others, a company was formed in 1888, and the Paxton Canning Factory was built and started
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operations. This became one of the important industrial institutions of the county and today, when the season opens, gives employment to about two hundred people. The chief products of the concern are red kidney beans and select sugar corn. Some years ago the concern ceased to be a stock company and went into the hands of R. Cruzen, his brother, J. E. Cruzen, and W. M. Wilson. The plant is a large one, the buildings of brick and the ground space covers a block. The equiqment is modern and the product finds a ready market.
FURNITURE MANUFACTORY.
The large building, formerly the home of the Paxton Buggy Company, was installed with the machinery and material of the E. H. Stafford Manufacturing Company, of Chicago, in 1907. This concern is one of the largest of its kind in the country, and has its main factory at Albion, Michigan. The products of the plant here are various kinds of furniture. About one hundred and fifty men are employed.
PAXTON BROOM FACTORY.
The broom factory of Paxton has been in existence for many years. but not until recently has it been in quarters adequate for the business accomplished.
In the fall of 1907, S. H. Hill, the proprietor, through the efforts and assistance of the Retail Merchants' Association, was enabled to occupy a large and commodious new two-story brick building and now, with improved ma- chinery, the concern is employing thirty people, and turning out an article that finds a ready market.
THE KRAMER ROTARY HARROW COMPANY.
Paxton has a harrow manufactory which was established in 1906, by the E. M. Kramer Company, which was induced to locate in the city by the Retail Merchants' Association. This concern is occupying space in the Paxton Hard- ware Manufactory building, but has good prospects of having suitable quarters of its own. Thirty people are in the employ of this company.
THE MIDDLECOFF.
The rapid growth of Paxton and the increase of her business establishments made it imperative that larger and better hotel facilities should be provided for
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the traveling commercial man and visitors to the city. Several of the influen- tial men of Paxton had long determined that a modern caravansary was none too good for the county seat and, in the fall of 1895, a meeting was called by .J. P. Middlecoff, C. Bogardus and others, and the Paxton Hotel Company was organized. A board of directors was chosen of the following personnel: J. P. Middlecoff, C. Bogardus, Geo. H. Proctor, J. B. Shaw, W. J. Lateer, F. E. Bonney and C. A. Larson. President, J. P. Middlecoff ; vice president. W. J. Lateer ; secretary, F. E. Bonney ; treasurer, J. B. Shaw.
At the beginning of the next year the building was under course of con- struction. The plans had been drawn by O. Moratz, of Bloomington, and contract let to N. P. Neilson, of Paxton. In the fall of 1896, the magnificent structure was completed, at a cost of thirty-six thousand dollars, including the site.
The Middlecoff is modern in structure and its appointments. Is three stories in height and has a basement, which is given over to sample rooms for commercial travelers. The north and west fronts are of red pressed brick, trimmed in stone. The hostelry was opened by George A. Proctor. William Elder, formerly of the Paxton House, is the present landlord.
PAXTON HOTEL.
The Paxton Hotel was formally opened January 21, 1886. About four Imundred people were present at the banquet given on the occasion by Henry Weaver, the proprietor. Speeches were made of a congratulatory nature, by A. C. Thompson of the Ford County Bank; Judge A. Sample, Dr. R. N. Davies, Hon. O. D. Sackett, B. F. Mason, Hon. J. P. Middlecoff, J. E. Lewis of Fairbury ; and W. S. Richards of Kankakee. These were supplemented by addresses from Mesdames Garrett, Cook, Sample and G. E. Abbott. The hotel at the time was considered one of the best in this section of the state and now, after being vacant some while, is again catering to the needs of the public.
RETAIL MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION OF PAXTON.
On the evening of March 20, 1902, a meeting of importance to the city of Paxton, was held in its city hall, and the business men of the place evinced their interest in the purposes of the gathering by attending. Paxton had, apparently, become inert; was not moving and keeping pace with her sister cities. The object of the meeting was to stir up the business men of the town
LACE MEAT
ST VA
MIDDLECOFF HOTEL, PAXTON
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and awaken them to the fact that a systematic effort should be put forth to induce outsiders seeking a location to come to Paxton. At a subsequent meeting the Retail Merchants' Association was organized and F. E. Bonney was made its president, Geo. R. Happ, vice president, F. M. Thompson, secretary. Since that time, Paxton has gone forward and has today, through the instrumentality of the association, industries that are beneficial to the community, and bid fair to being a good investment to the city. The members of the Retail Merchants' Association are men of energy, enterprise and of public spirit, and the associa- tion in its endeavors, is meeting with general approval and support from the public. Present officers : T. J. Vimont, president ; D. G. Bailey, vice president ; E. T. Froyd, treasurer and secretary.
MOUNT OLIVET COMMANDERY BLOCK.
The corner stone of the Masonic block, a large three-story building on the corner of Market and State streets, was laid with impressive rites on the evening of July 30, 1885. The dedication took place, followed by a banquet to eminent Sir Knights, October 21, 1886.
THE HOME CULTURE CLUB.
An association of women, with the title as shown in the caption of this article, was formed in Paxton in 1894, and is today the only one of its kind in Ford county. Mrs. J. W. Reed and Mrs. William Happ, no longer residents of that city, were the promoters of the society, and with them were Mesdames S. M. Wylie, O. H. Wylie, Ernest D. Given, A. Coomes and E. A. Gardner. Present officers: Mrs. E. A. Gardner, president ; Mrs. D. P. MeCracken, vice president ; Mrs. E. L. Morgan, secretary; Miss E. F. Meharry, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. E. Thompson, treasurer ; Mrs. A. F. Trams, critic.
The purposes of organization have been for higher literary culture and belle lettres. The association was, until 1896, an independent club, but in that year it was federated with the state organization. There is now a membership of twenty-three.
SOCIETIES AND FRATERNITIES OF PAXTON.
Mt. Olivet Commandery, No. 38, K. T.
May 9, 1870, Charles Edward Munger, grand commander, granted a dis- pensation for this commandery to the following named Sir Knights :
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
Solomon Jacob Toy. Charles Henry Hawley, Joshna Eaton Davis, Benjamin Franklin Mason, Allen Shepardson, Julius Wallace Scott, Thomas Evan Barn- house. Wilson Hoag. George Jeremiah Shepardson.
First conclave was held on the 5th day of Angust, A. D., 1870, in J. W. Scott's Hall.
October 21, A. D .. 1870, Solomon Jacob Toy. E. C., conferred the orders on Jonathan Penn Middlecoff. Norman Edmund Stevens. Ransom Reed Murdock, Tufve S. Johnson. William Lewis. Finley Mcclellan Hall.
Date of charter, October 26. A. D., 1870; constituted, January 25, A. D., 1871. by Eminent Sir Francis Granger Jaques acting as proxy for the grand commander of the Grand Commandery of the State of Illinois.
Past commanders: Solomon J. Toy, 1870-73; Jonathan P. Middlecoff, 1873-75. 77-79; Benjamin F. Mason, 1875-77; George JJ. Shepardson, 1879-84; John M. Hanley. 1884-86; Samuel J. LeFevre, 1886-87; Robert S. Hall, 1887-88, 89-90: John S. Hewins, 1888-89; Charles H. Yeomans, 1890-91; Allen S. Bushnell, 1891-95, 97-98; Edward A. Gardner, 1895-97; Charles H. Langford, 1898-99 ; George II. Proctor, 1899-1901 ; Harry B. Henderson, 1901-02; George W. Younggreen, 1902-03; Reuben JJ. Atwood, 1903-04; Murray E. Hunt, 1904-06 John D. Schwimmer, 1906-08.
Present officers : John D. Schwimmer, E. C., Askel R. Sheldon, general ; William Albert Pfeiffer. C. G .; Abel A. Hanson, S. W .; Rufus Keator, J. W .; Murray E. Hunt. prelate ; William B. Henderson, treasurer; Reuben J. Atwood. recorder : Samuel M. Newlin. St. B .; Herman A. Nelson, Sw. B .; Thomas Galla- gher, warder; Gustavus A. Younggreen, sentinel.
Present membership, one hundred and fifty-six Sir Knights.
Stated conclaves are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month. The annual conclave is the first stated conclave in June.
During the spring of 1885 the question of building a Masonic temple was brought before the commandery. A committee consisting of Sir Knights J. P. Middlecoff. C. M. Taylor, George Grove and J. Y. Campbell were appointed to investigate and to report as to the cost of a suitable building. At a subsequent conclave they reported plans and estimates. It was voted to build and the com- mittee on estimate was constituted a building committee with power to make contracts, sell bonds, pay out money, etc., in the name of the commandery. In June, 1885, the ground was broken and the building progressed as rapidly as possible and was finally completed at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars.
In 1889 the commandery directed the trustees to sell all of the building below the third story reserving a perpetual right of ingress and egress to said
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third story, which was done. Since then about twenty-five hundred dollars has been expended in improvements in the asyhun rooms.
At this date the asylum is owned by the commandery, the commandery is free from indebtedness and has about two thousand dollars in the treasury and an income of about four hundred dollars per year from the rent of the asylum rooms to the other Masonic bodies in Paxton.
PAXTON LODGE, NO. 416, ANCIENT FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS.
Date of Charter, October 5th, 1864.
Charter members. L. A. Barber, J. O. Young, Fred Cloyes. James F. Hall, Charles M. Oakley, H. A. Kelso, John P. Day, P. W. Cooley. W. H. Patton, T. L. Miller, R. R. Murdock, J. G. Cloyes, S. L. Day, JJ. Covalt, M. M. Davison, J. E. Davis, Wm. Davis, D. R. Richards, Jr., Nathan Simons, and A. J. Lyon.
First officers, L. A. Barber, W. M. : J. O. Young. S. W .; Fred Cloyes, J. W.
The original charter and the early records of the lodge were destroyed by fire October 4, 1874.
Names of past masters: L. A. Barber, 1864; J. O. Young, 1865-66; Wilson Hoag, 1867-71; Benj. F. Mason, 1872-76, 79-80, 1884; Alfred Sample, 1877-78; Robert S. Hall, 1881-83, 1885-86; France L. Cook, 1887; Allen S. Bushnell. 1888; Chas. H. Langford. 1889-90; Edw. A. Gardner, 1891-92, 1894, 1898; Frederick E. Bonney, 1893. 1899; Harry B. Henderson, 1895-97, 1901; Harry W. Mason, 1900; Reuben J. Atwood, 1902; Murray E. Hunt, 1903; John P. Irwin, 1904; George W. Younggreen, 1905; John D. Schwimmer, 1906; Robt. B. Coddington, 1907.
Present Officers, 1908: Nels Larson, W. M .: Leonidas J. Ireland, S. W .; William B. Ilenderson, J. W .; Nels Younggreen, treasurer; Reuben J. Atwood, secretary ; Clifford E. Beach, S. D .; Edward B. Pitney. J. D .; Samnel Newlin, chaplain ; Robert B. Coddington, marshal; Daniel G. Bailey, S. S .; Gustavus A. Younggreen, J. S .; Frank Corbett, organist ; William W. Reser, tyler.
Membership on May 18, 1908, one hundred and thirteen.
Stated communications are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The first stated communication in June is the annual communication. The following is self-explanatory :
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IHISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
May 22, 1908.
Dr. R. J. Atwood,
Paxton, Ill.,
Dear Brother :-
The records of the office of the grand secretary having been destroyed by fire in 1870 I can find nothing whatever about the dispensation, either when granted or its officers. The officers of the lodge in 1864 were as follows:
N. Simons, treasurer ; J. F. Hall, secretary ; J. J. Simons. S. D. ; T. L. Miller, J. D. ; C. M. Oakley, S. S .; J. P. Day, J. S .; Rev. M. M. Davison, chaplain ; P. W. Cooley, tyler.
With kind regards, your truly, Isaac Cutter,
Grand Secretary.
FORD CHAPTER, NO. 113, ROYAL ARCH MASONS.
On February 28, 1867, the Most Excellent Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Illinois issued a dispensation to companions Solomon J. Toy, William H. Bradley, L. T. Hewins, S. M. Newlin. Wilson Hoag, M. E. Wandell. Isaac Cross, J. C. Young, and A. Cross empowering said companions to form and open a chapter after the manner and form of Royal Arch Masons to be known as Ford Chapter U. D. and to confer the degrees of the chapter.
The first convocation of Ford Chapter U. D. was held in Paxton on April 3, 1867. G. J. Shepardson, R. C. Christian and E. L. Clark were the first three to receive the Royal Arch degree.
Officers of Ford Chapter U. D., S. J. Toy, M. E. HI. P .; Wilson Hoag, king: L. T. Hewins, seribe ; G. J. Shephardson. C. H .; Samuel M. Newlin, P. S. ; R. C. Christian, R. A. C .; Allen Shepardson, G. M. 3d V .; J. W. Scott, G. M. 2d V .; J. Y. Campbell, G. M. 1st V .; R R Murdock, treasurer; E. L. Clark, secretary; T. E. Barnhouse, sentinel.
Date of charter, October 4, 1867.
Charter members of Ford Chapter, No. 113, Royal Arch Masons: Roland C. Christian, Eugene B. Hill, R. R. Murdock, William Lewis, G. J. Shepardson, Thos. E. Barnhouse, John J. Simons, Wilson Hoag, S. JJ. Toy, L. T. Hewins, J. P. Middlecoff, F. D. Matchet, J. W. Scott, N. E. Stevens, S. M. Newlin, J. Y. Campbell, Isaac Barker, E. L. Clark.
The chapter was constituted October 10, 1867. by R. E. G. Seribe A. A. Murray with the following officers : S. J. Toy. M. E. II. P .; Wilson Hoag. E. king;
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
L. T. Hewins, E. Seribe; G. J. Shepardson, C. II .; Samnel M. Newlin, P. S .; R. C. Christian, R. A. C .; J. W. Scott, G. M. 3d V .; N. E. Stevens, G. M. 2d V. ; E. B. Hill, G. M. 1st V .; R. R. Murdock, treasurer; O. B. Taft, secretary; T. E. Barnhouse, sentinel.
Past high priests of Ford Chapter, No. 113, R. A. M .: S. J. Toy. 1867-72; Wilson Hoag, 1873; G. J. Shepardson, 1874-76, 78-84; Wm. Noel, 1877; Benja- min F. Mason, 1885-87, 1891-94; Samuel Newlin, 1888-90, 95-96, 1902, 1906-07; Frederick E. Bonney, 1897-98; Edward A. Gardner, 1899-1900; C. II. Langford, 1901; Reuben J. Atwood, 1903; John D. Schwimmer, 1904-05.
Present officers, 1908: Murray E. Innt, E. H. P .; William A. Pfeiffer, king; Thomas Gallagher, seribe; Nels Larson, treasurer; Reuben J. Atwood, secretary; Frank M. Corlies, chaplain; Samuel M. Newlin, C. H .; John D. Schwimmer, P. S .; Frederick E. Bonney, R. A. C .; Harry B. Henderson, M. 3d V .; Abel A. Hanson, M. 2d V .; Daniel G. Bailey, M. 1st V .; Ivus L. Atwood. steward; Gustavus A. Younggreen, sentinel.
Membership on May 18, 1908, one hundred and thirteen.
Stated convocations are held on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. The first stated convocation in June is the annual convocation.
PAXTON LODGE, NO. 418, I. O. O. F.
Paxton Lodge, No. 418, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Paxton, Illinois, Nov- ember 17, 1892, with nine charter members, as follows :
W. T. Troughton, P. G., N. Younggreen, J. F. Heritage, Arthur Dillon, T. W. Talley, R. S. Hall, P. G., F. B. Fagerberg, N. E. Stevens and E. B. Pitney.
First officers : R. S. IIall, N. G., E. B. Pitney, secretary ; W. T. Troughton. V. G.
The present membership consists of 182 members.
Present officers : John A. Swanson, N. G .; W. E. Carrington, V. G .; W. W. Reser, secretary.
R. S. HALL ENCAMPMENT, NO. 172, OF I. O. O. F.
R. S. Hall Encampment, No. 172, of I. O. O. F., was instituted at Paxton, Illinois, November 15, 1904, by Gustaf J. Johnson, with thirty- three charter members.
First officers : C. A. Brooks, C. P .; C. F. Graham, H. P .; C. F. Ennd, S. W .; O. W. Linstrom, seribe; Frank Corbett, treasurer.
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
The present membership is one hundred and forty members.
Present officers : O. E. Nelson, C. P. ; W. G. T. Baker, S. W .; W. W. Reser, scribe; Alfred Meis, treasurer ; W. D. Wimer, H. P .; A. T. Carlson, J. W.
PAXTON CAMP, NO. 259, M. W. A.
Paxton Camp, No. 259, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized Octo- ber 27, 1886.
First officers : Consul, M. H. Cloud, ; worthy adviser, W. H. Hunter; clerk, E. N. Stevens; banker, A. Coomes; escort, J. W. Reed; watchman, W. Hopkins; sentry, C. F. Morgan.
Managers : S. M. Wylie; A. Dillon.
Present officers : Consul, O. J. Bainum; worthy adviser, C. O. Stone; clerk, M. Dorsey ; banker, S. A. Hancock ; escort, Orville A. Archer ; watchman, Elmer Rodeen ; sentry, George Imxton.
Managers : C. A. Nordgren ; John Newman; E. M. Grayson.
Physicians : S. M. Wylie, E. E. Hester, S. S. Fuller, S. A. Lundgren. Four hundred and twelve beneficial, and two social members.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
In October, 1894, Mayor C. E. Beach, then a young. inexperienced lawyer, who had recently moved to Paxton, finding that there was no lodge of Knights of Pythias in the city, and being a member himself, secured a dispensation of the grand lodge to secure names for the charter for a lodge at Paxton. sufficient number of names was secured, some thirty odd, and Patton Lodge, No. 498, K. P., was organized and instituted on December 12, 1894, by Sammuel L. Harnit, of Gibson City, acting district deputy grand chancellor.
This lodge has had, since its institution, a steady, healthy growth, and it ranks now number the flower of the young manhood of Paxton and vicinity, Its past chancellors are as follows: C. E. Beach, J. II. Flora, M. E. Int, F. F. Newlin, W. L. Walton, D. B. Steward, A. W. Gylander, C. E. Lewis, L. A. Crum, R. J. Atwood, J. W. MeKown, E. M. Grayson, A. C. Wascher, Theo- dore Anderson, C. S. Schneider, S. W. Stout, and E. M. Grayson has been again elected and is now chancellor commander of the lodge; F. F. Newlin, vice chancellor; H. E. Duffield, keeper of records and seals; V. E. Johnson, master of finance; Vennum Lateer, master of exchequer; Adolph Fager, mas-
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
ter at arms; O. J. Bainum, prelate; John Risser, inner guard, Edward Eng- lund, outer guard. The trustees are D. B. Steward, A. T. Flora and C. S. Schneider. Grand representative, D. B. Steward.
This lodge is now the pride of Paxton in the matter of civic society. In conjunction with the lodge proper, it has a Uniform or Lily Rank Company, officered by William Risser, captain; C. S. Schneider, first lieutenant ; Ray Flora, second lieutenant, and other non-commissioned officers. C. E. Beach of this company, is on the staff of Colonel Bertoni, of Bloomington, with the rank of first lieutenant.
The subordinate or lodge proper is noted all over the grand domain of Illinois as having one of the best rank teams for all three ranks, and is called to various towns of central location throughout the domain to confer the ranks, where lodges of other towns can congregate and see the work.
Its members, as such, were important factors in the retaining of the county seat at Paxton, during the county seat fight in 1906, and are always in the van of everything progressive.
Paxton is also honored by the societies of Yeomen of America, Court of Honor, Independent Order of Red Men and Royal Neighbors of America.
FORD COUNTY CHAUTAUQUA.
The Ford County Chautauqua is a permanent institution and the meetings thus far held have been eminently successful.
PATTON TOWNSHIP.
When this county was a part of Vermilion, it was called Prairie City town- ship, which was organized from Middlefork township, February 16, 1856. This name was changed to Patton, September 15, 1857, on account of there being another Prairie City township in the state. In 1858, Drummer Grove township was organized, or set off from Patton, and included all of the terri- tory in this county lying west of range 9 east, and in March, 1859, all of the Pan Handle was organized from Patton and called Stockton township. Pat. ton township derived its name from Judge David H. Patton, its first super. visor and the first county judge of Ford county.
In 1863, Button was set off from Patton, and in 1867 Wall was organized out of Patton township. This is the largest township in the county, being six miles north and south, and ten miles east and west.
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
The Middle fork of the South Vermilion river enters the township in the northwest corner, and flows diagonally across it, passing out into Button near the southeast corner of the township. Along the line of this stream in this township is found about all of the timber there is in the county. At Ten . Mile Grove the earliest settlers first located.
Two railroads eross this township-the Lake Erie & Western running east and west. and the Illinois Central north and south.
The southwest part of the township is settled principally by Swedes. They have a Lutheran church on the east side of secton 30, when was constructed in 1872 by C. M. Johnson. This part of the township is familiarly known as Farmersville.
It is extremely difficult at this time to ascertain with any degree of cer- tainty who the first settler was or when he came, but among the earliest were John Cooder, who entered the farm owned by William J. Trickel; Joseph Coontz, who entered the farm owned by Frank Meharry; David II. Patton, who settled on section 14, in 1849; a Mr. Dunbar, who built the house owned by B. Q. Cherry, about 1850; Daniel C. Stoner, who entered the old homestead for his son, J. F. Stoner, in 1850; Daniel C. Stoner became a resident in 1851, and was the first treasurer of Ford county; John Kitchen; William Hackworth ; E. Ilagin ; David Crandall; John Cook; a Mr. Edwards; a Mr. Granger; Wil- liam Newlin; James Hock ; J. D. Hall and son Henry C .; R. R. Murdock; the Day family; William Blanchard; William and Stacey Daniels; the Stites fam- ily; J. P. Middlecoff; and Dr. Carpenter. These families came before 1857. During 1858-59, Henry Barnhouse, William Perdue, Dr. L. B. Farrar, Wil- liam Grayson, Frank Meharry, Edward L. Gill, William Goodrich, the Hanley family, Robert Blackstock, A. MeElroy and a Mr. Tabor moved into the town- ship. Remembrance Clark moved into Patton in 1860. £ Ile came from Maine. John B. Shaw and J. C. Dunham came in 1861. George Fnoss came out here from Ohio and entered the school section.
There are many Swede settlers in Patton who came here about 1863 and later, and among the earliest may be mentioned C. M. Johnson, Peter Larson, Peter Hanson, John Nelson, C. F. Carlson, A. M. Hanson, E. Collins, N. P. Nelson, William Holmes, Ola Nelson, John Seogg, Gus Larson, C. A. Ostram, Peter Peterson, Andrew Nelson, J. P. Youngdahl, Swan Olson, Nels Olson, J. W. Swanson, John Telander, C. W. Lindstrom, C. and J. P. Swanson. and Peter Lundburg.
It is probable that William Trickel kept the first store in this township, if not in the county. The store was located on section 13. A blacksmith
MT. OLIVET COMMANDERY BUILDING, PAXTON
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
shop was started at Ten Mile Grove by C. J. Buchner, who afterward moved to Paxton and built a shop near the railroad.
The first school in this township was a log house at Ten Mile Grove, and Judge Patton was the first teacher. A Miss Lewis came from LaFayette and taught the school after the Judge finished teaching.
The following sketches are of some of the oldest settlers and business men who were and are living in Patton township :
J. D. ILALL was born in Ross county, Ohio, April 10, 1821. James IIall, father of J. D. Hall, was a native of Maryland, and died in Vinton county. Ohio, 1855. Mr. Hall emigrated from Ohio to Fountain county, Indiana, June, 1839, and to Warren county, Indiana, in 1843. IIe was married to Eliza Wieman in Fountain county, Indiana, in 1841. She was a native of Virginia. In February, 1852, Mr. HIall emigrated to Ford county, then Vermilion county, where he began to make improvements on section 33. Mr. and Mrs. Hall were blessed with four children. Mr. Hall built the first house north of the river, in what is now Ford county. The postoffice, when he first settled in this county, was eighteen miles from his farm, at Higginsville. Mr. ITall began the grain business with his son, Henry C. Hall, of Paxton, in 1865. Ile had two hundred and eighty-five aeres of excellent land in Patton, which he entered in 1854. He was the second sheriff of Ford county.
DAVID PATTON was born in Clark county, Kentucky, in 1806. His father was a farmer. When quite young he went to Montgomery county, Ohio, then to Preble county, Ohio. He was ambitious to become a lawyer and entered the law office of Oliver H. Smith, in Connersville, Indiana. One of his fel- low students was Caleb B. Smith, who afterward was secretary of the interior. From Connersville, Mr. Patton went to LaFayette, Indiana, and began the prac- tice of law, where he remained about twenty years, and then moved to this township in 1849. He first located at Ten Mile Grove. He lived there until 1865 when he came to Paxton. This township was named after Judge Pat- ton. He was the first teacher in this township and the first county judge of the county. HIe held the office for fifteen years.
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