History of Fulton county, Illinois, Part 41

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Peoria : C.C. Chapman & co.
Number of Pages: 1096

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Joseph Sharp was a lawyer of no special prominence.

Henry B. Stillman .- The late Henry B. Stillman read law in 1843 and '44, went to the northern part of the State and became Prose- cuting Attorney. He was a good lawyer but unfortunately he drank hard during much of his life. He died during the past 'summer at Lewistown.

George W. Stipp came to Lewistown about 1844 and left about 1855. He was an able lawyer. In criminal practice and before the jury he stood in the front rank. He resides in Bureau county and is Circuit Judge.

Washington J. Taylor was a courtly, polite man, well educated, fond of sport, quick to perceive all the points in a case, and was just beginning what would doubtless have proven a successful career at the Bar when death cut him off. He lived at Canton.

S. S. Tipton, at one time a law partner of the Hon. Lewis W. Ross, was raised in this county. He was a good office lawyer but not deeply read in law. He left the county in about 1865 and moved to Kansas where he now resides.

Henry Walker, father of Hon. Meredith Walker, came to the Bar at a time when life had passed its zenith for him. A brick-mason by trade and with a limited education, by dint of hard work, good sense and energy he was able to take a position among our foremost lawyers in both criminal and general practice.

E. T. Warren was the first practicing attorney to locate in Ful- ton county, so far as we are able to learn. He came from Maine and located at Lewistown in 1824 or '25, where he resided three or four years. He was a good pioneer lawyer.

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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

Hon. H. M. Wead came from the State of Vermont to Lewis- town in about 1840, and was engaged in his profession at that time. He was a sound lawyer, a good advocate, and an able jurist. In 1852 he was elected Circuit Judge and filled the office, not only creditably, but eminently. He was a partner of W. C. Goudy for some time. At the expiration of his term of office on the bench he went to Peoria and became one of the most promising lawyers of that city, where he died three or four years ago.

Ira O. Wilkinson came from New York in '45 or '6 and remained only about a year or two, when he went to Rock Island, where he subsequently became Circuit Judge. He was a young man when he came to Lewistown, and although the bar was composed of some of the best men of the State, things were not quite nice enough for him here, and he left.

A. C. Woolfolk came to Lewistown about twenty years ago and remained only a short time. As a lawyer he was not brilliant, or, as we are told, "of much force."

THE MEMBERS OF THE PRESENT BAR.

It has been our intention to give the name and what faets we could obtain of every lawyer who has formerly lived and practiced in this county. If we have over-looked any person it is certainly unintentional. We inquired most diligently for weeks in regard to the various members of the Bar of the past, and have been told by men whom almost everybody will accord the credit of knowing, that our list is a full and complete one.

In regard to the members of the present Bar it has also been our desire to speak of each and every one that has been admitted to the Bar. If we have omitted a name we assure the gentleman and our readers that his name was omitted because we did not have informa- tion of his being a lawyer, etc.

Daniel Abbott, State's Attorney, is engaged in the practice of law at Canton.

Jacob Abbott, Canton, was born in this county and admitted to the Bar July 4, 1876.

J. W. Bantz, Lewistown, was admitted to the Bar in 1872 and began practice in Clearfield, Pa., the place where he began the study of law four years previously ; came to Lewistown in July, 1875. He was born in Loudon Co., Va., in 1850, and is a son of John and Mary A. (Merchant) Bantz.

A. M. Barnett, Lewistown has been engaged in the practice of law for a short time in that city, and is the present Clerk of Lewis- town township.

Hon. Granville Barrere came to this county and located at Can- ton many years ago, and has been actively engaged in law ever since. In 1873-4 he was elected to Congress on the Republican ticket, of which party he is a staunch member.

Hon. Thos. A. Boyd, Lewistown, is the present member of Con-

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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

gress from this District, and is now serving his second term as a member of that body. He has also served in the State Legislature ; and when Abraham Lincoln called for troops in 1861, Mr. Boyd went as Captain of the first company raised at Lewistown. A full sketch of this gentleman will be given in the history of the city of Lewistown.

Henry L. Bryant, of Lewistown, was born in Covington, Mass., and educated in Geneva College, N. Y. He read law at Lexington, Ky., and took a course of lectures at Transylvania University ; came to Macomb, Ill., in 1835 ; in 1837 was elected State's Attorney, before he was 21 years of age, and filled the office with satisfaction to the public and with great honor to himself. He resided in Ma- comb until 1848 ; in 1852 was elected County Judge of this county and served two terms, and in 1876 was again elected to the same office.

Walter L. Crossthwait studied law in the office of Meredith Walk- er at Canton for three years, attended law school at Ann Arbor, Mich., and was admitted to the Bar Jan. 5, 1877. He is now en- gaged in practice in Canton.

W. J. Dyckes, a young lawyer, located at Lewistown, where he is engaged in the practice of his chosen profession.

W. S. Edwards, of Lewistown, is a son of Sam'I and Sarah (Dodds) Edwards, natives of Ohio; in 1870 he entered Hedding College, Abingdon, Ill., studied law at Quincy, and in 1876 entered the office of Hon. Thos. A. Boyd, with whom he is still associated in the legal profession.

Samuel A. Ghee, Canton, is an old attorney, but of late years has not been actively engaged in the practice of his profession at the Bar.

Frederick M. Grant, of the firm of Barrere & Grant, is a native of Connectient, studied law with Judge R. L. Hannaman, of Knox Co., Ill., and was admitted to the Bar in March, 1869. He prac- tieed law in Galesburg for a few years, and came to Canton in 1873.

John A. Gray, Lewistown, was born in Morgan Co., O., in 1842; was brought to this county with his parents in 1850; enlisted in May, 1861, in the 17th Ill Inf., was wounded at Ft. Holden, Ky., and was finally promoted to the Captaincy. In 1867 he began the study of law with Col. Robert G. Ingersoll at Peoria, and two years afterward was admitted to the Bar ; in 1870 began practice at Cuba, this county ; in 1872 moved to Lewistown and formed a partnership with Judge Shope. He was a member of the Legislature from this county in 1873-4.

Frank B. Gregory, State's Attorney, Lewistown, was educated at Ann Arbor, Mich., and began legal studies with Judge Shope, of Lewistown, in 1876 ; two years afterward he was admitted to the Bar and began practice in this county.

John M. Heller, Avon ; born at Cuba, Fulton Co., in 1847 ; reared and educated at Peoria ; attended the St. Louis Law School ; in 1873 went to Texas ; in 1874 began the practice of law ; practiced his pro-

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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

fession in Kansas one year ; and in 1877 was admitted to the Bar in Illinois.

N. S. Jordan, of Bernadotte, is one of the pioneer lawyers of Ful- ton Co.

C. J. Main read law with J. L. Murphy, of Canton, and was ad- mitted to the Bar in April, 1871. He was born in Ohio. He is the present Police Magistrate of Canton, and has served that city as Alderman, City Clerk and Justice of the Peace.

Joseph L. Murphy, Canton, was born in Pennsylvania; came to Fulton county when 5 years of age ; read law with Warren & Wheat, of Quincy, and was admitted to the Bar in the spring of 1864.

Hon. L. W. Ross, son of Ossian M. Ross (the founder of Lew- istown), in honor of whom the city was named, was elected in 1862 as member of Congress from this District, and served until 1869. During the war with Mexico he raised the only company that went from Fulton county. He has been an active partisan and a strong adherent to the principles advocated by the Democratic party. A full sketch will be given of Mr. Ross as a citizen of Lewistown.

R. B. Stevenson began the study of law under the direction of Judge Winston Paul at Hillsboro, O., in 1846; was admitted to the Bar two years later, and began the practice of his profession in his native city ; in 1854 moved to Jackson Co .; was sent to the Legislature in 1857, and served one term as State's Attorney in Highland Co .; he came to Lewistown and associated himself with Hon. Lewis W. Ross; in July, 1879 he moved to Canton.

Harry M. Waggoner, son of D. J. Waggoner, entered the office of Shope & Gray in 1876, began the study of law, and was admitted to the Bar in December, 1878.

Arthur Walker, of the firm of Whitney, Walker & Walker, at- torneys, Canton, was admitted to the Bar July 4, 1877.

Hon. Meredith Walker, Canton, of the law firm of Whitney, Walker & Walker, is a native of that city, and was admitted to the Bar July 19, 1874. In 1878 he was elected to the State Senate, and made an honorable record while a member of that body.

Mr. Whitney, of the law firm of Whitney, Walker & Walker, but recently located at Canton.

John S. Winter was born in Mason Co., Ky., in 1826, and is a son of John and Margaret (Livingston) Winter; was educated at Miami University, Oxford, O., and began the study of law at Little Rock, Ark., in the office of Albert Pike and Senator Garland, of thit State, and three years later began practice. In 1863 he moved to Lewistown.

TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.

ASTORIA TOWNSHIP.

The first settler of Astoria township was Parker McNeil. Soon after his arrival came David McNeil, his father, and David McNeil, his brother. After them came the father of Deacon McNeil. David MeNeil was the first Justice of the Peace, and was, in all probability, elected in 1832. His successor was Stephen Merrill, from whom this sketch is obtained. Before entering upon the duties of his office Esquire Merrill proceeded to the cabin of Esquire McNeil to get the doeket ; but much to his astonishment he made the discovery that no such legal article existed. 'Squire McNeil had conducted the business of the office for some time without a "docket." Ac- cordingly 'Squire Merrill went to Lewistown, then a small struggling village of one or two hundred inhabitants. There he procured the necessary documents and became Justice of the Peace for all the townships' of Kerton, Woodland and Astoria. Nor did he transact an extensive business, for at this time the voters of these townships numbered only twenty-one.

Among other pioneers of the township were William Carter, Rev. Abraham Brown, W. Menton, Wmn. Tate, Robert Mclellan, Thom- as Garvin, Robert and Peter McLaren, John Williams, Miss Mary (Peggy) Mclellan and James Carter. These were the early settlers. Soon, however, others came in, among them Jacob Sharp, Charles Gilbert, Zachariah Gilbert, Franklin Fackler, Jacob Derry, B. W. Lutz, S. P. Cummings and Joshua Matheny. The latter gentle- man, we are informed, as compared with the majority of mankind was almost a marvel. He never used liquors, nor tobacco, never swore an oath and never had a lawsuit or quarrel in his life, and he lived to the ripe old age of sixty-five, forty years of which time he was a member of the M. E. Church. He was good, generous and acted from principle. Could a higher eulogy be passed upon any man ?

The first religious ceremonies were held at the cabins of the set- tlers, and afterwards the people met for divine worship at the school- house in the old town of Washington. This building was used for a number of years as the place for holding religious services. Henry Summers was the first preacher for this township. Peter Brown was his successor. There are now in the township, outside of the town of Astoria, four churches.

In the early days Astoria township was literally a forest, and Mr. Stephen Merrill states that a wagon-load of walnuts could have been

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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

gathered where now stands the business portion of the town of As- toria.

The first school-teacher was, in all probability, Martin Fast. David MeNeil also taught quite frequently, as also did John McNeil. Perhaps no settlers throughout this section were better known in pioneer days than the MeNeil brothers. No stranger came from the South or East who did not inquire on his arrival in Illinois for the McNeils.

This township was all patent land. Two millions of acres through this part of Illinois, known as the Military Tract, had been deeded to the soldiers of the war of 1812. Accordingly, when the township was settled much difficulty was experienced among actual settlers in regard to procuring valid titles. The soldiers who held this land never realized the value of their grants, and frequently sold them for a trifle. Astoria is a full Congressional township and among the best in the county. It produces wheat superior to any, and, indeed, as an agricultural district, is surpassed by few townships in the State.

The legal voters of this township were called together at the house of A. T. Robertson, on Tuesday, April 2, 1850, for the pur- pose of organizing said township under an act entitled " An act to provide for township and county organization," approved Feb. 12, 1849. At this meeting Solomon Lybarger presided as moderator and H. A. Brown was clerk. The following township officials were chosen, being the first of the township: Supervisor, Robert Me- Clelland ; Town Clerk, Zachariah Gilbert; Assessor, Michael En- gle ; Collector, Jas. M. Carlock ; Overseer of the Poor, Thomas G. Garvin ; Commissioners of Highways, Jesse Walker, Cooper Farr and Elias Keach ; Justices of the Peace, Amos Hipsley and A. T. Robertson ; Constables, Geo. W. Derry and Wm. Walker.

TOWN OF ASTORIA.

Astoria may truly be said to be one of the most flourishing towns in Central Illinois, and only few in the State of the same number of inhabitants excel it in the display of enterprise. In detailing the history of Astoria we shall begin at a very early date in pioneer history.

In what is now called MeLellan's addition, in the eastern por- tion of the town, a small village called Washington was laid out in 1836 by Robert Mclellan and Zachariah Gilbert, who kept a small store for the sale of general merchandise. This hamlet boasted of two cabins, one blacksmith shop and the store. The cabins were occupied by Nathaniel MeLellan, sr., and Franklin Fackler. A rude school-house also nestled among the heavy timber and under- brush, where blackberries grew in such profusion during the sum- mer of 1836 that wagon loads could easily have been gathered. The berries when fully ripe presented the appearance of a vast buck- wheat field. Owing to the limited space allotted for the village here Zachariah Gilbert, Benjamin Clark and a Mr. Bacon, of St.

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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

Louis, in 1837, moved a quarter of a mile westward, where they laid out the present town of Astoria. Mr. Gilbert moved his store- building and located it upon the site now occupied by the store of Lovell & Smith, grocers. In a short time the new village boasted of a postmaster. This gentleman was a Dr. James Owen, who came from Ohio. The postoffice was kept in a small frame building that stood upon the west side of the square. This town was more fortu- nate than most frontier towns, for it was on the line of the daily four-horse stage-coach from Peoria to Quincy, from 1836 till 1843, and was the point at which dinner was taken.

The town grew very slowly for a number of years. Vermont was bitterly opposed to the infant village struggling for an exist- ence, and proved a formidable rival for many years. The first log cabin upon the town site was built by B. W. Lutz. Zachariah Gil- bert, as we have before stated, erected the first store building in the town of Washington, but at the platting and organization of Asto- ria a Mr. Morland erected the first business building in the town. Mr. Gilbert, however, moved his store building from Washington to Astoria, and on the way carried on his regular trade. Jacob Sharp, who previously sold goods about a mile and a half from town on the road to the river, bought Morland's building and moved his stock of goods to Astoria. John Bane built the second store build- ing, in which he kept a stock of general merchandise. He also had a tavern, which, doubtless, was the first tavern opened in the town. Wm. H. Scripps came in 1840 from Rushville. His means were limited at that time, but he rented a building from Dr. Owen, and began his successful career as a merchant, grain-buyer and pork- packer. Zachariah Gilbert was the first Justice of the Peace after each Congressional township had been formed into an election pre- cinct. The first physicians were Drs. James and Carrolton Owens, Dr. G. V. Hopkins, Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Walker.

Shortly after the town was organized John Boyd erected a tan- nery, and for a number of years carried on an extensive business. Jacob Derry was the first cabinet-maker to locate here. The first preacher was a Rev. Carter. The first saw and grist-mill was built by James Brown. Mr. Brown and others ran it for about twelve years, when it fell into the hands of H. L. Mooney, It was after- wards purchased by Cooper & Hamson and used as a carding-mill. This venture proved unsuccessful, and the old building, which stands in the western part of town, is rapidly going to decay.

Astoria was first named Vienna, and it went by that name for some time ; but on account of another town in the State bearing the same name it was changed to Astoria, in honor of John Jacob Astor. It is not generally known, but it is true, that John Jacob Astor, the great fur-trader and New York millionaire, was interested in property in this county. He became the owner of a quarter-sec- tion of land, the site of the present town of Astoria. Owing to this fact, when the name was changed from Vienna, it was called Astoria.

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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

From 1845 to 1850 some improvements were made in the town as a result of rectifying the titles to lots in the place, which had been a cause of trouble, and the infant town suffered materially in prosperity up to 1860. At that time a new vigor began to perme- ate every department of business, and the town steadily improved for some time. It should be mentioned that Franklin Fackler was the first blacksmith of the place. He was and is well known as one of the most generous of men and a skillful mechanic. The first school was organized in 1838, and was taught by John Fast. At present 'there is one large graded school, with principal and two teachers; and owing to the rapid growth of the town there was erected this year a substantial brick structure at a cost of over $2,000. Prof. Boyer is principal of the schools, and John Palmer is teacher of the grammar department, Miss Rose Anderson of the intermediate department, and Miss Dolly Kost of the primary. The new building is occupied by Miss Bartholow and Miss Dun- can as teachers. There are four Churches in the town, viz : Methodist Episcopal, Rev. J. G. Bonnell, pastor ; Christian, Elder Robinson, pastor ; United Brethren, Rev. Pease, pastor ; German Reformed. All of these congregations own good church edifices. Rev. Isaac Pool was the first Methodist pastor, who also preached at the school-house in the old town of Washington, as already mentioned. Peter Akers was the first Elder in Methodism in this section. Peter Cart- wright, whose fame extended throughout the land, was also an Elder and frequently preached at the town of Washington.

Generally speaking, Astoria has borne a good reputation as a quiet, orderly town, doubtless greatly shielded by the ennobling influence of her strong religious organizations. Occasionally, however, the town has been disgraced by a street brawl. In an early day intox- icating liquors were freely dispensed, but now there is no saloon here, thanks to the order-loving community who have voted down the hellish traffic and driven the liquor-venders from their midst.

For a number of years the growth of the town of Astoria was comparatively at a stand-still, but was not unlike all inland towns having no railroad communications. In 1870, as nearly as can be ascertained, Astoria contained a population of 350 persons. At that time a railroad rivalry existed between the people of Rushville and Macomb, on one hand, and of Astoria and Bushnell on the other. A proposition was set afloat for the purpose of finding a suitable route for the Rockford, Rock Island & St. LouisRailroad. This road had been completed from St. Louis to Beardstown, and the proposition was then made by railroad officials to build the road on its present line, and not through Rushville and Macomb. Appeals were made to the citizens of Bushnell, Vermont, and other places of less note for aid. Vermont, however, made a desperate struggle to secure the road and voted a large sum of money to it. It remained for Astoria township, however, to decide the momentous question of railroad or no railroad, and in a short time the magnificent sum of $300,000

Dr. B. C. Toler

Merrill

ASTORIA

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

was voted by the townships. Although certificates of stock were issued by the Railroad Company for the bonds, yet it was generally understood that the amount was a donation. When the people had decided in favor of the road, work was immediately begun, and in 1870 the road was completed.

This marked an era in the prosperity of Astoria. But few busi- ness buildings of any note were in the town at that time, the most important being the one built and owned by George W. Kost. The eastern part of the town, below where Fackler's wagon shop is sit- uated, was platted for town lots in 1872, although no residences had been erected there. During the fall of 1870 Nathaniel Mclellan laid out about 48 acres in lots, which is now known as Mclellan's addition. In 1874 John Wolf laid off an addition. In 1877 and the following year W. H. Scripps laid off about 26 acres in town lots. Robert H. MeLellan laid off the "R. H. MeLellan addition" in abont 1873.

The following is copied from the town records now in possession of D. M. Stockham, Clerk : " At an election held on Thursday, Sept. 15, 1865, a vote was taken ' for' or 'against' town incorporation ; the boundaries of said town to include the northeast quarter of sec. 23, 3 N. and 1 E. For incorporation there were 46 votes ; against it 7." The measure thus being carried, a Board of Trustees were elected. They were Rutherford Lane, John English, B. C. Toler, John Shannon, R. F. McLaren and J. W. Green. Ruth- erford Lane was chosen President and John Boyd Clerk. The Trustees afterwards, Oct. 27, 1865, chose J. W. Shannon as their President. The present Board is composed of the following gen- tlemen : President, B. C. Toler ; Clerk, D. M. Stockham ; Trustees, J. W. Green, W. H. Emerson, H. C. Mooney, T. M. Mercer and S. S. Chapman.

The town at present numbers about 1,400 inhabitants, and is rapidly growing. The buildings of note are W. H. Scripps' bank building; Dilworth Carter's dry-goods and hardware store and hall, conceded to be one of the finest, if not the finest, building of the kind in the county ; Bonnel Bros.' drug house, Green & Cummings' dry- goods house, Waggoner & Lutz, hardware, and H. C. Mooney's drug house,-all worthy of note. The following comprises a list about complete of the business houses of the town : There are two lumber yards : Messrs. Coyner & Hettrick are the leading dealers ; one grain elevator, owned by W. H. Scripps; two flouring-mills, one owned by Emerson & Tanksley, the other by William Kost; two saw- mills, owned respectively by Moore Bros. & Co., and Oviatt & Robinson ; one tile factory, run by John B. Palmer; one planing mill, owned by Mr. Mowery, one cabinet shop, S. W. Hunter, proprietor ; two carriage and wagon shops, owned by Fackler Bros., and McDonald Cox; two harness shops, run by T. W. Price and J. M. Myers; two hardware dealers,-Dilworth Carter and Wag- goner & Lutz; two jewelry stores; seven dry-goods and general

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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

stores ; two groceries; one dentist ; three millinery establishments ; two restaurants ; one photographer ; three hotels ; two barber shops ; two livery stables ; three meat markets; one clothing store, etc., etc. R. J. Nelson is the present postmaster. The coal interest is one of the most important features of the town. Messrs. Emerson & Skin- ner are proprietors of the leading mines worked. These gentlemen have done much toward building up Astoria. They employ eighty men and the annual shipments are very large. Astoria has assumed to be quite a shipping point for cattle, hogs, grain, coal and hard- wood lumber.

CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.

The Methodist Episcopal Church .- This is one of the oldest Churches in Fulton county. Those old pioneer preachers, Peter Cartwright, Henry Summers, Peter Brown, Peter Akers and others who first found the settlers in their cabin homes, came to the old town of Washington, and afterwards to Astoria, and preached the Gospel to the early pilgrims in this section. People came for many miles in those days to hear the traveling preacher, nor were they dissatisfied if he preached one hour and a half, or even two hours and a half, as was often the ease. This congregation has one of the best church edifices in the township. It is located one block north- west of the square. The congregation is in a prosperous condition. Rev. G. J. Bonnel is pastor.

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History of Fulton county, Illinois, Part 41

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Peoria : C.C. Chapman & co. Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Peoria : C.C. Chapman & co.
Number of Pages: 1096