USA > Illinois > Fulton County > History of Fulton county, Illinois > Part 77
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Harriet Cheyney was born in Dee., 1822, in Wayne Co., O., the daughter of Wm. and Harriet (Bailey) Cunningham ; her father was born in Pennsylvania in 1792, and her mother in Connecticut in 1791; they are both deceased. Mrs. Cheyney was married in Ohio, in 1841, to Thomas Cheyney, and next year they emigrated to this county, where they have lived ever since, except 4 years in Peoria. Mrs. C.'s children are : Helen, Cordelia, Rachel, Mary and Effie,-Cordelia and Rachel not living. Home comprises 220 acres. P. O., Bushnell.
Noah W. Dunbar was born in Hartford, Ct., April 27, 1801 ; his father, Bennett Dunbar, was born in Rhode Island, and died in 1807 ; his mother, Sabiah (Stutson) died in 1859; the family emi- grated to this tp. in 1845; Dec. 12, 1822, in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Noah W. married Sarah Hopps, a native of Greenfield, N. Y., born in 1802; have had 8 boys and 9 girls, as follows: Sarah J., Oct. 30, 1823; Louis R., Sept. 26, '24; John H., April 4, '26; Francis E., July 17, '27 ; Reuben M., Sept. 3, '28; Noah W., Dec. 22, '29; Maria A., April 12, '31; Helen 1., Jan. 14, '33; Harriet S., June 2, '34; Eliphalet R., March 5, '36; Eliza W. and Elizur N., May 10, '37 ; Fernando C., May 16, '39; Oscar F., Oct. 21, '40; Minerva O., April 11, '42 ; Saloma 1., JJan. 15, '44 ; Mary O., Nov. 10, '45. The father of German ancestry and the mother Irish. Occupation, farming and blacksmithing; res., sec. 5; land, 180 aeres ; polities, Democrat ; P. O., Prairie City. Was Sergeant of Militia in Hartford, and has been Collector and Road Commis- sioner.
George Ererly was born June 28, 1810, in Maryland, son of David Everly ; farmer 9 years; March 22, 1832, he married Anna Mary Hesson. About 1835 David and his two sons George and David came to Illinois and entered a large tract of land in Deer- field tp., where David, jr., remained, his father and brother return- ing to Maryland. In 1838 George moved to Illinois with his wife and 4 boys,-Noah H., Jonas W., John S. and George, settling on
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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
sec. 28, Deerfield tp. Here they made a farm. They also put up a saw-mill on Spoon river, on sec. 20. In 1858 they moved to sees. 22 and 23, Lee tp., and made a new farm on the prairie. George died June 1, 1873. Noah H. received his education in the Wiley school-house, an old-fashioned log building.
J. W. Ererly was born in Carroll Co., Md., Sept. 11, 1834, the son of George and Anna Mary (Hesson) both natives of Md. : also his grandfather and grandmother were natives of the same State. His father came to this county when he was only 3 years oldl. Jonas got his education in the common schools, but has acquired more in business than he ever got in school. He has been all his life a farmer and has madeit a success. He owns 625 acres of land, and 100 head of cattle. His improvements are good : has a fine residence and is able to take the world easy, but he is diligent in busi- ness and a lively worker. In polities he is a Democrat ; has been School Director, but does not want office. He was married, Feb. 24, 1867, to Anna C. Zimmerman, and their marriage has been blessed with 4 children,-3 girls and 1 boy, all of whom are living.
Noah H. Everly was born in Maryland Feb. 3, 1833; his father, George, was born June 28, 1810, and his mother, Anna M. (Hes- son), was born in Maryland Oct. 19, 1813; they emigrated to Deer- field township, this county, in 1838, where Noah H. married Nancy J. Curtis March 10, 1870, who was born April 14, 1851, at Virgil, Ill. Mary E., born Oct. 21, 1875, is their only child. Residence, sec. 22; has 400 acres of land. In politics Mr. E. is a Democrat. P. O., Prairie City.
Solon F. Fairman. . His father, R. H. Fairman, was born Dec. 29, 1811, in Manlius, Onondaga, Co., N. Y .; Sept. 16, 1833, he married Celestia Warren, and they became the parents of 5 children, of whom 4 are living. Emigration-1820 to Enelid, O .; thenee to Elyria, Lorain Co., O., Madison Co., N. Y., Erie Co., Pa., Lake Co., Ill., in 1843, and to Fulton Co. in 1865. Solon F. was born in Erie Co., Pa., May 9, 1842; came to Fulton Co., Ill., with his father ; married Oct. 20, 1874, Mary Scott; had one daughter April 26, 1876. Mr. F. is a Republican. Sec. 30, Lee tp. P. O., Bushnell.
William Hendryx was born in 1802, in Yates Co., N. Y .; his parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth (Boyd) Hendryx were also natives of the Empire State, and William emigrated first to Ohio, and then in 1839 to Lee tp., this county. March 4, 1824, in Huron Co., O., he married Lucinda Day, who was born in Chittenden Co., Vt., in 1807, and they have had 4 boys and 8 girls: Elizabeth, born July 14, 1825; Laura, Feb. 7, 1828; Nancy, July 29, 1830; Ben- jamin, May 1, 1832; Anna L., Aug. 28, 1834; Alzina, Oct. 16, 1839; Sarah, Jan. 4, 1837; Wm. R., June 19, 1845; Corydon D., Feb. 2, 1841; Lucinda M., April 7, 1847; Mary C., Ang. 28, 1849; David S., Sept. 2, 1855. Parent's are of German descent and members of the Christian Church. Mr. H. is a farmer, and in
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.HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
polities a Democrat. Resides on see. 4, where he has 120 acres of land. P. O., Prairie City.
Edward Herworth ; P. O., Babylon ; was born in Franklin Co., O., Nov. 4, 1848, son of Israel and Sarah (Markley) H., the former residing now in Knox county, the latter deceased. They emigrated to Vermilion Co., Ill., in 1852, and to Knox Co. in 1854. Edward served in Co. H, 2d Iowa Vol. Inf., enlisting at the early age of 16, and was in the siege of Atlanta and the battles of Resaca, Dal- las, Kenesaw Mountain, the siege of Savannah, etc., being in Sher- man's great march. He located in Babylon, this township, in 1877, where he put up a store-building and has since carried on general merchandising with success. He is at present acting Postmaster.
Hugh L. Hulick, farmer, sec. 9; P. O., Prairie City; was born in Fulton Co. in 1831, a son of Isaac and Ruth A .; his father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Ohio, near Cinninnati, 77 years ago; they emigrated to this county about 1827, and Mr. H. died in 1852 or '53. Hugh L. married in 1865 Mary Jane Louk, born in 1845 in this county. Their 6 children are: Albert E., George, Charles, Roy, Mary and Lawrence. Mr. H. com- menced with nothing, but by his own industry he has made for himself and family a good home on 140 acres of land.
B. F. Louk was born in 1850 in this county, son of J. and Anna Louk ; his father was a native of New York and his mother of Ohio ; he married Elmira Clark in 1870, who was born in MeDonough county, Ill., in 1854, and they have had 2 children,-Parepa A. and Julia L. Mr. L. is a farmer on see. 9 and stock-shipper; has 120 acres of land. Has accumulated all his property by his own honest labor. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Church. P. O., Prairie City.
Jefferson Louk was born in Genesee county, N. Y., June 6, 1822 ; his parents, David and Clara Scott, were also natives of the Empire Stato ; the former died in 1845 and the latter in 1869 ; their emigra- tion to Lee township was in 1847. Jefferson married Anna Piersol, Feb. 1, 1844, who was born in Holmes Co., O., Jan. 3, 1824, and they have 6 children, namely, Sarah J., born Nov. 25, 1844; David L., July 15, 1847; Benjamin F., Feb. 6, 1850; John P., Feb. 11, 1854: Charles F., June 28, 1856 ; Julia E., Nov. 1, 1860. Farmer, see. 16 ; 400 acres ; P. O., Prairie City : Republican ; Methodist.
Elza Majors was born in 1826 in Edmonson county, Kv., son of Thomas and Polly Majors. His father was born in Virginia and his mother in Kentucky. He first came to Illinois in 1854, near Swan creek, then to Greenbush, and then (1875) to this county. In 1859 he married Elizabeth Patterson, who was born in 1838. They have had 11 children. Mr. M. resides 13 miles southeast of Baby- lon. Democrat.
Charles O. Nickerson was born Feb. 4, 1816, in Green county, N. Y. His father. Ezra N., was born JJune 16, 1776, and died Dec. 27, 1859 ; his mother, nee Anna Dodge, was born July 5, 1778, and
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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
died Jan. 10, 1850. The subject of our sketch came to Fulton county Aug. 7, 1837 ; he married his first wife, Mary Ann Scofield, in Virgil, Ill., April 29, 1843, who was born in New York Sept. 14, 1823, and died Feb. 26, 1867 ; his second wife, Angusta Doolittle, was born in Broome county, N. Y., July 30, 1843, and married Nov. 4, 1868. Mr. N. has had 6 children, as follows : Solomon R., Aug. 8, 1844; David H., May 2, 1846; Martha, June 5, 1848; Sarah A., Ang. 31, 1851 ; Harriet L., Jan. 8, 1854; Myron E., Feb. 21, 1856. Mr. N. is a carpenter and farmer, owning 280 acres of land, and residing on sec. 4; in politics he is a Republican. P. O., Prairie City.
Wesley Osborn. In 1836 Richard Osborn emigrated from Indiana to Cass tp., this county, rented land for two seasons, and then set- tled on sce. 32, Lee township. Wesley Osborn resides on the same seetion, and as a farmer and stock-raiser has been very successful. March 11, 1852 he married Miss R. A. Johnson, and they are the parents of 7 children. Mr. O. has been Assessor, School Trustee, and is now serving his second term as Supervisor. Democrat.
Stephen Payne was born in 1816 in Washington Co., O., son of Abraham and Philomela Payne, natives of Connecticut, who died aged 100 years; in 1850 Stephen emigrated to Iowa; in 1858 he came to this county ; served nearly 4 years, in the war,-first in Co. D, 70th Ill. Inf., then in Co. I, 16th Ill. Cav., then transferred to Co. E, V. R. C., and discharged at St. Paul, Minn., Sept. 5, 1865. Mr. Payne first married Phoebe Rickey, who was born in 1812, in Belmont Co., O .; she died in 1843. In 1845 Mr. P. married Catharine Dunn in Madison Co., O., who was a native of Hampshire Co., Va., and who died in 1865. Mr. Payne has had 11 children, 6 of whom are living. He has been a merchant, but is now a farmer on sec. 5, Lee tp. Is Justice of the Peace, and in politics a Demo- crat. P. O., Prairie City.
Joel E. Peirsol was born in Lee tp. in 1843; his father, Joel, was born in Berks Co., Penn., and his mother's maiden name was Cath- arine Emry ; emigrated to Lee tp. in 1837 ; in Prairie City, in 1870, Jocl E. married Ella L. Clark, who was born in Prairie City in 1853. Harry A., born in 1871, and John L., born in 1874, are their children. Home 160 acres, sce. 21; P. O., Prairie City ; religion, Mrs. P. is a Baptist : polities, Mr. P. is a Democrat, and has been Township Collector and School Director. Father died in 1876 and mother in 1852.
Harrison Rigdon, the oldest settler in Lee tp., was born Dec. 12, 1812, in Alleghany Co., Pa. ; went to Ohio with his father's family in 1822; came to Canton, Fulton Co., in 1832, lived there two years, then came to this tp. in 1834, where he has since resided. His parents were Stephen and Jane Rigdon, the former a native of Burks Co., Md., the latter of York Co., Pa. ; both dead. Mr. Rigdon came to this county on horseback, or, as he says, walked most of the way with most of his clothes, etc., tied on the horse's back. He came to
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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
Lee tp. in May, '34; lived alone until his father came with his family from Canton in October following ; during this time he did not see a white person. His father was in the war of 1812. Mr. Rigdon has held the offices of Town Clerk, Constable, Collector, and different school offices in the township, and was County Surveyor one term. Was married Jan. 12, 1837, in Deerfield tp., to Prudence Peirsol, who was born in Beaver, Pa., May 25, 1817. She died Sept. 17, 1877; was a member of the M. E. Church. By her he had 4 children. Hiram, his eldest son, died Aug. 31, 1848. His son Peter and two daughters are still living; has missed but one election in the 45 years he has lived in township. The first sermon preached in the township was in his father's house by his uncle. Is a very active old man of 67 years and still follows farming. All the pioneers who came to this county with him have passed away. Has been a Democrat since 1850. P. O., Babylon. Other interesting faets related by this gentleman are given in this volume.
John Rowland was born in Cumberland Co., Ky., in 1828, son of Wade and Winifred Rowland, natives of Henry Co., Va. In 1851 he married Sarah L. Young, who was born in 1832 in Tennes- see ; emigrated to Mason Co., Ill., in 1857; afterward moved to MeDonough Co., where in 1860 Mrs. R. died. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. I, 11th Ill., Cav., and served from Oct., 1861, to Oet., 1865, having fought in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, in raids with Sher- man, etc. He then settled in Lee tp., where he is a prosperous farmer, owning 100 aeres of land on see. 11. Feb. 27, 1862, he married Anna M. Aylsworth, who was born in N. Y. in 1837. By his first wife he had 4 children and by his second 3; all are liv- ing. Mr. R. is a Republican, and has been Road Commissioner. Mrs. R. is a Methodist. P. O., Babylon.
Albert D. Scudder was born in Fulton Co., Jan. 14, 1856, son of Dr. J. T. and Sarah A. Seudder, the former a native of Pennsyl- vania and the latter of New York. Dr. Seudder practiced medi- eine 15 years, and died in 1867 in this township. At the age of 20 Mr. Albert D. Seudder married Martha A. Powell, who was born in 1858, in Nicholas Co., Ky. They lived in Warren Co., Ill., two years, and in 1867 came to Fulton Co. They have three children, -Flora M., JJohn M. and Edith. Mr. S. is a farmer, and in poli- ties a Democrat. Residence, see. 16. P. O., Prairie City.
John Shellenbarger was born in 1828, in Fayette Co., Penn., son of George and Polly S., of the same State. When 16 years of age he came to Fulton county with his parents; then went to Warren Co. and lived two years; then in Marshall Co. six years; then in Tazewell Co. one year ; then went to Kansas, but finally located in this county last March. John has followed railroading. He was married to Miss Eliza J. Wilson in 1853, who was born in 1832 in Grayson Co., Ky. Eleven children were born to them, 3 of whom are dead. Mr. S. is farming ; has 85 acres of corn and 85 acres of rye. Demoerat. Lee tp., see. 16; P. O., Prairie City.
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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
Joseph Spangler was born in Franklin Co., O., March 6, 1835. the son of Joseph and Mary Spangler, natives of Ohio. Joseph came to Fulton Co. in Oct., 1849. He is a farmer, and at present is the owner of 400 acres of land in Fulton Co., Ill. He buys stock, fattens it, and then sells. He was once a poor boy and worked by the month for 6 years. He is a Republican. He was married in 1863 to Hannah Odell, and they have one boy and one girl, living.
W. E. Streeter was born in 1841, in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., son of Erasmus and Phoebe Streeter, the father, born in Vermont in 1808, and the mother in New York in 1809; both these are liv- ing, and came to Illinois in 1863, locating at Avon. In 1864 Mr. W. E. Streeter married Martha E. Edmonson, who was born in Tennessee in 1839. Their children are Lillian, May and Grace. The family have by honest industry worked their way up from noth- ing in 1863 to a nice home of 160 acres, on sec. 33. Mr. S. follow- ed peddling in 1864-5, and was Constable one term. P. O., Bush- nell.
Wm' Vanlier, sec. 2; was born April 1, 1830, in New Jersey, and is the son of Cornelius Vanliew, who was born in New Jersey, where he pursued the occupation of farming, and where he died about the year 1859. Our subject came to this county in 1855 and settled in Fairview tp. In 1871 he moved to Lee tp., where he re- sides, a well-to-do farmer and stock-raiser. He was married Feb. 18, 1858, to Elizabeth Young, of Joshua tp. They have 4 chil- dren, viz: John Y., Anna, Ida C. and Mary Ella.
Joshua Wagner was born in 1836, in Northampton county, Pa., son of John and Susan Wagner, also natives of Pennsylvania. In 1850 the family emigrated to Marshall county, Ill., then to Ellis- ville, this county. Joshua was in Colorado 7 years, where he fol- lowed gold-mining; clerked in Prairie City two years; and since then has been a farmer and stock-raiser : is on sec. 17, Lee tp. Mr. W. crossed the plains in 1859 with an ox team and has traveled a great deal and suffered many hardships. P. O., Prairie City.
A. A. Wheeler was born in Crawford county, Pa., in 1842, son of Oliver C. and Margaret M. Wheeler, the former a native of North- ampton, Mass., and the latter of Crawford county, Pa. At the age of 13 the subject of this sketch came to Fulton county and has lived here ever since; in 1863 he married Sarah J. Louek, who was born in this county in 1844; they have had 5 children, 4 of whom are living. Mr. W. has been Township Collector and Clerk ; was again appointed Clerk last spring (1879). He is a Baptist and a Demo- erat. Has 80 acres of land on sec. 16. P. O., Prairie City.
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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
The following is a full and complete list of the Supervisors, Clerks, Assessors and Collectors serving in this township since its organization :
SUPERVISORS.
Joel Peirsol
1850-51
F. M. Williams 1867
Montgomery Sweeney
1852-53
Noah HI. Everly
1869
A. W. Russell
1854
Oliver Chatterton
1870-71
J. H. Taylor.
1855
Noah H. Everly 1872
Joel Peirsol.
1857
J. H. Taylor
1873
J. H. Taylor 1858
J. W. Frederick 1874-75
A. K. Sweeney
1859-62
Samuel Taylor
1876
John Cline.
1863-64
Solomon Neff
1877
Wesley Osborne
1865
Samuel Taylor
1878
John Cline
1866
Wesley Osborne
1879
TOWN CLERKS.
H. Rigdon.
1859-69
A. A. Wheeler. 1877
Samuel Taylor
1870-71
Willard A. Guernsey
1878
H. Rigdon
1872
R. I. Baughman
1879
W. A. Guernsey
1873-76
ASSESSORS.
Joel Peirsol
1859-60
H. R. Fairman
1872-73
N. W. Dunbar
1861
Joel Peirsol.
1874-75
Joel Peirsol
1866
W. H. Bell
1876
Newton Hey
1867-69
Wesley Osborne.
1877
W. F. Fairman
1870
W. H. Bell.
1878
Newton Hey
1871
M. K. Sweeney
1879
COLLECTORS.
John Cline
1859-61
David Louk
1872-73
Newton Hey.
1863
A. A. Wheeler.
1874
Peter P. Rigdon
18644
Wm. M. Bernhard
1875-76
F. M. Williams.
1865-66
Ira Molt.
1877
John G. Kreider
1867
I. N. Williams 1878
Joel E. Peirsol.
1869
L. Olin
1879
W. J. Beer
1870-71
LEWISTOWN TOWNSHIP.
This township is bounded upon the north by Putman township, upon the east by Liverpool, the south by Waterford, and upon the west by Bernadotte. Formerly most of its surface was covered with timber, but much of this has been cleared away and the land is in a high state of cultivation. There are in the township 13,471 acres of improved land, with an average value of $24 per acre. Of un- improved land there are 8,796 aeres, with an average value of $9.40 per acre. There arein the township 851 horses, with an average value of $72 per head. Of cattle there are 1,857, having a total value of $22,138. Indeed, as an agricultural township, Lewistown ranks among the first in this fine agricultural county.
Many were the dark forebodings that erept into the minds of even the sturdy pioneers as they contemplated their situation in this vast wilderness, especially so when they thought of the coming of win- ter. They could live very comfortably in their rude cabins during the warm seasons, but when the heavy snows and chilling' winds swept down upon them with all the fury of an artic winter, their situation was anything but pleasant. Then their food was limited. If they were so fortunate as to have a fair crop of corn upon the lit- tle patch they had cleared away, it was almost an impossibility to have it converted into meal. As illustrating this feeling we relate the following story about Matthew Hulick. He was greatly
troubled with the " shakes," or, in other words, the fever and ague. Toward the fall of the memorable year remarkable for the abundance of rain-full, he had an unusually severe attack of this Western scourge. He was compelled to take to his bed, where the greater part of the day was spent in energetic shaking,-indeed, such shak- ing as would put to blush our modern fever and ague. One day when in the midst of his contortions an old friend and neighbor dropped in and solemnly remarked, by way of consolation, "Never mind, Mat; if worst comes to worst and you die now you won't starve to death next winter." Cleanthes Arnett, of Liverpool town- ship, stopped for dinner one day when 15 miles from home, and found the people had nothing to cat but squash and potatoes. They pointed to a sack of corn in the corner of the house which had been carried on foot a total of 40 miles to be ground, all in vain.
A Snake Story .- While hunting one day, Sam'l Wayne came sud- denly upon a large collection of snakes of different species, inter- twined thoroughly together, struggling and squirming in a knotty
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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
embrace. With his rifle he shot into the disgusting mass, soon after which the living ones cleared away and 16 were found perforated with the leaden messenger.
An interesting anecdote was related by Mr. Lewis Ross-an early pioneer boy of Fulton-at the Old Settlers' Reunion in 1879, which attracted a great deal of attention, and which in the end proved to be very laughable. It seems that Mr. Ross in company with some other pioneers, including Mr. Putman, were going to mill in a flat- boat on Spoon river in an early day (date not given), and on the way they encountered a stump, or " snag " in the river, which caused the boat to spring a leak ; the greatest possible haste was necessary to save the grain before the boat should sink. Now, all these sturdy pioneers, except Putman, could swim. Mr. Ross related, therefore, that they put Mr. Putman on the " snag," and the rest of them swam to the shore, and in the meantime the boat sank. Now, according to Mr. Ross' story, about 50 years have elapsed, and for aught we know Mr. Putman is still on that "snag" in the middle of Spoon river. Later .- We have recently heard from Mr. Putman, and he says that if he lives until the next Old Settlers' Reunion, he will tell the people how he got off that " snag."
The history of the city is only that of the township, and as we give that below we will not consume space by repeating it here.
LEWISTOWN.
This beautiful little city is the oldest town in the county, and one of the first that was laid off in the Military Tract,-the first, per- haps, with the exception of one. It was laid off in April, 1822, by Ossian M. Ross, and derives its name from the Hon. Lewis W. Ross, his son, and who at that time was a small bov. Ossian M. Ross was a native of the State of New York, and followed agricult- ural pursuits in the Empire State. He married Miss Mary Winans July 7, 1811, in Waterloo, N. Y. She was born April 1, 1793, in Morris county, N. J., and died only a few years ago. She was a noble woman and possessed a fund of information of the early history of this county, most of which, however, was buried with the good old lady. We give her portrait in this work as a repre- sentative pioneer woman. We know our readers will be glad to see it ; and we would give also that of Mr. Ross, but he never had a picture taken. AAfter the war of 1812, in which Mr. Ross partici- pated, he came into possession of three-fourths of a section of land in the Military Tract. A portion of this land is now occupied by the city of Lewistown. He came here with his family in 1821 and erected a cabin upon the site now occupied by Major Newton Walker's residence. When it is remembered that at that time Chicago was situated so far in the wilderness that the news of the massacre, which occurred at Ft. Dearborn only a few years before, did not reach the inhabitants of the State for many days after its occurrence, and that St. Louis was only the resort of trappers and
Mrs Mary Ross (DECEASED) WIFE of O.M.ROSS
LIDHANY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
hunters, some idea may be had of the daring, energetic and resolute character of this man.
Mr. Stephen Dewey surveyed the town. He was then a young, unmarried man, but he soon accepted the advice of Mr. Ross and was married. Not long after this event of his life he located at Lewistown and erected the first house in the old town. Fulton county being organized in 1823, a commission consisting of H. R. Colter, Stephen Chase and John Totten was appointed by the Leg- islature to select a location for the county-seat. Upon the 14th of February of that voar these gentlemen decided in favor of Lewis- town, since which time the public buildings have remained here, although desperate efforts have been made to remove them to other parts of the county. The very earliest history of the city is so closely identified with that of the county as recorded in the third chapter of this work, we refrain from repeating much of what prop- erly is important historical matter relative to this city.
It will naturally be expected that in our historical sketch of Lew- istown we will give more than a passing notice of those early and prominent citizens whose fortunes were cast with the early history of the place. For a period of eight years, from 1821 to 1829, Ossian M. Ross took a conspicuous part in promoting the enter-, prises of the infant village, so far separated from civilization. He was a man of great force of character, and the utmost confidence was reposed in him by the few inhabitants of the place. He moved to Havana, Mason county, in 1829, became its first merchant, and there passed the remainder of his days. Stephen Dewey, the sur- vevor and first settler of the town, is described as a social and intel- ligent gentleman, and occupied various offices of trust and responsi- bility. He erected several of the first buildings of the town. David W. Barnes located here when he first came to the county, which was in 1822, but he soon removed to his farm near Canton.
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