History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 54

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois > Part 54

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The first marriage in the township was that of William Gillham and Mar- tha Munsey, in 1826 or '27.

The first store was opened by John W. Slaten and Isaac N. Piggott, about a quarter of a mile south of Newbern, on section 32, in 1836.

The first school in this township was taught by Turner R. Lurton, in 1819.

The first school house was built in 1819.

The first sermon was preached by Rev. Jacob Lurton, at the house of John D. Gillham, in 1820.

The first brick house in what is now Mississippi township was erected by J. D. Gillham, in 1828, on section 28. It was also the second brick house in the county, that of Major Patterson, erected the year before in Jersey township, and blown down in 1830, being the first.

The first justices of the peace in Mis- sissippi township were Thomas McDow and Joseph J. Basey.

EDUCATIONAL.

Turner R. Lurton taught the first school in Mississippi township, in 1819, at a log cabin built for that purpose, on the farm of John D. Gillham, on sec- tion 28. Describing the location of that first school house from present land- marks, it was situated on the north side of the public road, about a quarter of a mile due east from East Newbern. This school was taught by Turner Lurton, during two winters, 1819-20, and 1820-21. The next term was taught by a man named Davis, in the same building. There were in attendance at this term about 14 scholars. The following names of some of these are furnished by one of them, who still survives: Abijah and Farrow Davis, Allen and Marcus Gill- ham, Matilda and Albert Bartus Lofton, Jordan Gillham and Charles Carroll. Davis, the teacher, was a married man with a large family. The cabin in which this school was held has long since been torn down or rotted away, and only one of the early scholars men- tioned-Charles Carroll, is yet living.

The first school house was built in 1819, as we are credibly informed, but now the township is studded with places of learning, and the facilities of acquir- ing an education are within the reach of all

School district No. 1, called Black Jack district, has a school house on the northwest corner of the southeast quar- ter of section 11, which was erected in 1840. It is a frame house, built in the old style, 18x24 feet in ground area, and

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

showing considerably the lapse of years. The first directors were Thomas Cum- mings, Joseph Crabb and J. R. Black. The pioneer teacher, James VanHorne, was well known throughout this county. The directors in 1885 are, C. C. Cum- mings, Mathew Walsh and G. H. Van- Horne.

District No. 2 has a neat school house 32×22 feet in size, erected in 1878, at a cost of $630, on section 9. The pioneer teacher in this building was Enos John- ston. The first directors were J. B. Voorhees, Sanford Ross and John J. Lamb; the present, George Voorhees, Ninnian Beaty and S. Ross. The aver- age attendance is about 25.

The present school building in district No. 3 was erected in 1871, at a cost of $900. In size it is 24x30 feet. Nettie Gaskill taught the first term of school in this house. The present teacher is Mrs. Owen. The directors are Ephraim Chappell, Joseph Marshaw and John Fitzgibbons.

District No. 5 is in the village of East Newbern, and the school house is known by the name of Round Prairie. It was erected in 1855, and is a neat frame structure, 18x36 feet in dimension, built at a cost of $800. The first directors were Robert Dymond, Robert Gardner and L. Hempfield. The present board of directors is composed of the follow- ing gentlemen : C. Cook, George House and William Rintone. Lucy White is the present teacher, and there is a gen- eral attendance of 40.

District No. 6 has a school house erected on section 6, which was built in 1867, when William Hurd, William Linnen and A. C. Fitzgerald were di- rectors. The first teacher was Mary

Hurd. The building is octagonal in shape, each side being 10 feet in length, the roof running to a peak in the center. A. C. Fitzgerald, James Wall and Wil- liam Hildred, are the present directors, and Lillie Hassett the present teacher. There is a general attendance of 23.

District No. 7, in the old town of Newbern, has a school house which was erected in 1857, on section 29, but sub- sequently was removed to its present location. The first directors were Henry Travis and William Argo. The present board consists of Joseph Knight, Henry Gill and James Palmer. The present teacher is Nazaretta Slaten. Previous to this there were two other frame buildings, besides log cabins, which were used for educational pur- poses, all of which have outlived their usefulness and have been torn down or left to decay.

School district, No. 9, known as White school house, is situated on the northeast corner of section 1. The first building here was built about the year 1856, but this was destroyed by fire in April, 1866. It was a small frame building which cost about $700, and was a total loss when it burned, as there was no insurance. On the site of the old one, in 1866, the present building was erected at a cost of $1,200. It is 18x26 feet in size, and is a neat, frame struc- ture. The first directors in this district were Mathew Stanley, Hugh N. Cross and Joseph Pennyfield, and the first teacher Lucy Hoyt. The present teacher is Julia Howell, and the directors Mathew Stanley, Oliver Terrell and Silas Bates. The average attendance is 20 now.

District No. 10 has a school house

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

known by the name of Irene, located upon section 21, which was erected during the year 1873. This building was first built a half mile west of its present location, on section 21, from whence it was moved in 1876, to its site of to-day. The first directors of the district were Joseph Chambers, Moses Cockrell and Jacob Loker. Irene Fer. guson was the first teacher here, and after her the school house is named. The present directors are William Dar- lington, Hiram Mccluskey and Richard Chappell. Edward Shaffer is the present pedagogue.

NEWBERN.

This village was laid out by Jacob Lurton, on section 32, in 1832. A post- office was established by removal from Eminence. Jacob Lurton was made postmaster, and served as such 14 years. The first store was built by David L. Mott, who put in a large general stock, which he operated a number of years, or until his death, when John Mott suc- ceeded his uncle, and was afterward succeeded by John D. Mott. John H. McDow was the next proprietor, and afterward removed the store to Dow. J. J. Briggs also opened a store here, which he operated during the war, and was afterward succeeded by Marcus Gillbam. He afterward sold it to Dod- son & Co. A blacksmith shop was started by William Collapp-the first in the place-which he operated two or three years, when he was succeeded by George Spencer, a farmer of Fidelity township. It is now operated by Henry Gill.

CEMETERY.

The Newbern cemetery is situated on the northeast quarter of section 32, and

contains one acre of ground, deeded to the township by Jacob Lurton and A. Lofton. It was laid out at an earlyday as a private burying ground, but has since become a public one. Judge John Lofton was the first person interred therein.

NEWBERN 11ORSETHIEF DETECTIVE SOCIETY

This society was organized by the West Union order, at Newbern, March 21, 1864. The first officers of the society were-Addison Greene, president; Geo. W. Slaten, secretary; and Jasper Terry, door-keeper. The society at present is in a flourishing condition, and has a membership of about 20. The present officers are: George W. Slaten, presi- dent; Nelson M. Lurton, secretary; and J. C. Lurton, treasurer.

MCCLUSKEY.

This village was laid out by Iliram Mccluskey and Mary McCluskey, his wife, under the name of the village of Howe, on the 30th of June, 1883. The survey was made by Daniel J. Murphy, the county surveyor, and the plat re- corded July 21, 1883. It is located upon Sec. 16, T. 7, R. 11. At that time a store building was put up and a stock of general merchandise placed therein by H. Mccluskey & Co. This they continued to operate until Oct. 1, 1884, when Mccluskey purchased the interest of his partner, and, ever since, the busi- ness has been operated by Mccluskey & Ford, the latter gentleman acquiring an interest therein. They carry a stock of about $1,200.

There is also a blacksmith shop, pre- sided over by William M. Grether, from which the ruddy glow from burning coal

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

gleams ont brightly during the long days, and the cheery ring of steel on iron enlivens the still air. This shop was erected by L. F. Linkogle, who oc- cupied it about six months, when it reverted to H. McCloskey, who held it until Aug., 1884, when it was purchased by the present proprietor, W. M. Grether. He does horse-shoeing and general repair work, and has a good bus- iness.

William M. Grether was born in St. Charles connty, Mo., the 22d day of Sept., 1840. His father died in 1841. One year after that his mother married again. William remained at home until he was 14 years of age, when he left and joined his brother John, in Frank- lin county, Mo., where he remained five years. He then came to Grafton, Il1., and from there proceeded to Otterville, where he began the trade of blacksmith- ing, under his brother-in-law, John Lin- kogle. He served two years under him, when the war broke out, and in 1861 he enlisted in Co. C, 61st Ill. Inf. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, in the right foot and ankle, which leaves him a cripple for life. When he recov- ered sufficiently to be able to work, he returned to Franklin county, Mo., where, in company with his brother John, he engaged in the blacksmithing business. He remained here two years, when he disposed of his interest to his brother, removing to St. Louis county, where he established a shop. He was married to E. A. Longworth, Sept. 21, 1866. He then came to Grafton, Ill., where he and his brother, M. Grether, formed a partnership, and engaged in the tin and hardware business. Three children have been born to them-the

first died in infancy; F. M. C., born July 22, 1871; Eva M., born March 14, 1874. Mr. Grether is still working at his trade, having a shop at Mccluskey. He is a member of the M. E. church, and affiliates with the democratic party.

Charles W. Scott was born in Halifax county, Va., on Oct. 19, in the year 1828. He is the son of Jonathan and Frances (Stanfield) Scott. They were both born in Halifax county, Va., he, on the 6th of Oct., 1794, and she on the 8th of Oct., 1802. They were married on her birthday, in the year 1822. He died in Florida, Monroe county, Mo., in the year 1841. She died at the same place on the 28th of Jan., 1846. When Charles W. Scott was seven years old, he came with his parents to Monroe county, Mo., and lived there until 1864, when he came to Delhi, Jersey county, Ill. He lived there until the Sth of Oct., 1884, when he came to the village of Mccluskey, and located on section 16, where he now follows the occupa- tion of farming. He was married to C. J. Kendall in 1851. She was born April 11, 1837. Her father, S. T. Ken- dall, was a major and served in the Black Hawk war. He was also a mem- ber of the house of representatives in the Illinois legislature. Her mother is a native of Missouri, and is the daugh- ter of Joseph and Elizabeth Sumner, of English origin. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have two children-Eliza J., born in Audrain county, Mo., Oct. 21, 1852, now the wife of HI. N. Ford, living in the village of McCloskey; Lena R., born March 2, 1870, at Delhi, and lives with her parents. Mr. Scott is a member of the Methodist church, and his wife a member of the Baptist church.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

The village of Mccluskey has a pop- ulation now of about 30 souls, and con- tains the store of Mccluskey & Ford, the blacksmith shop of W. M. Grether, and seven dwelling houses. The post- office is located in the store of McClus- key & Ford, Horatio N. Ford being postmaster. Samuel Darlington was the first to handle the mail at this point.

EAST NEWBERN.

This village is situated at the corner of sections. 27, 28, 33 and 34, part lying in each section. The place was formerly known as Chamber's Corner, after one of the first settlers at this locality. It was laid out as a town by J. T. Gillham, Marcus Gillham, John Chambers, Jr., and E. Briggs, and platted on the 26th of Sept., 1866, and the plat filed for record with the clerk of the court, Jan. 10. 1867, although there was a store, mill and other buildings here prior to this.

The mill was built by E. Briggs about the year 1859, and was a fine one. It continued in operation nearly all the time until 1878, when the machinery was taken out and removed to Elsah, or Jersey Landing, since which time the building has stood unoccupied and silent.

A general store was started here by Wilson & Whipple, about the year 1860, and was run by them about one year, when it became the property of Gillham Bros., who were succeeded by Gillham & Giberson, and finally into the hands of Robert Dymond, the pres- ent proprietor. He carries a stock of about $1,200, and is doing a nice, com- fortable business.

Robert Dymond was born on the 30th

day of Jan., 1823, in Devonshire, Eng- land. He came to America in 1849, landing in Genesee county, N. Y., where he staid 18 months. He came to Alton, Ill., in 1852, staid there two years, and then came to Jersey county. Here he bought 120 acres of land on section 35, on which he lived. He afterward bought another 80 acres in the same township, and farmed on it for 24 years. He then moved to East Newbern and bought 18 3-4 acres of land on the north- west quarter of section 27, in Mississippi township. He also keeps a store in which he handles general merchandise, and is postmaster at this place, which position he has held for seven years. He was married to Mary Cook, a native of Devonshire, England. She was born on the 8th day of May, 1824. There were five children born to them-Thomas, the first child, died, and the second child was named after him; William J., de- ceased; John E. and Lucy. Robert and his wife are both members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church, of this township, of which he is one of the trus- tees. He is succeeding well as a merchant.

A store was operated here at one time by Dr. James A. Briggs.

POSTOFFICE.

The postoffice was established at this point in 1862, with John Doyle as post- master. It was then called Newbern, but later was changed to East Newbern. Robert Dymond is the present post- master.

The blacksmith shop is now operated by David Tonkinson, who has a good business, as he is known as a skillful workman.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

David T. Tonkinson was born in Clark county, O., Sept. 15, 1826. His youth was spent in this place. He went from there to Burlington, Ia., in 1844, where he remained for two years, work- ing part of the time in a blacksmith shop. He left there and went to St. Louis and went with Lieut. Newton, Co. C., 2d Dragoons, to Mexico, and was in that service about eight months. He came back to St. Louis, staying there abought 16 months, during which time he worked in a foundry and machine shop. From St. Louis he came to Jersey Landing, now called Elsah, in Elsab township, in 1849, where he staid until 1883, when he moved to East Newbern where he now resides. He was married to Susan M. Davis, a daugh- ter of John and Sarah Davis, on Aug. 8, 1854. She was born May 9, 1834. To them, nine children were born- William W., born Feb., 5, 1857; Sarah A., born Nov. 28, 1858; George W., born Jan. 29, 1861; Mary A., born May 15, 1864, died June 22, 1864; John H., born Oct. 26, 1865; Charles F., born March 23, 1868, died Aug. 6, 1885; Robert W., born July 22, 1870, died July 2, 1871; Ida L., born Aug. 18, 1872, and Julia M., born May 3, 1875. He served in Co. C, 154th Ill. Inf., about eight months during the Rebellion. He has held the office of justice of the peace three different times. He has three lots in the village, on which is lo- cated his dwelling, a comfortable frame building, and also his shop, in which he carries on blacksmithing. His wife is a member of the M. E. church, of Elsah. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 269, of Elsah.

The village is but small, as yet, con-

taining but the one store, blacksmith shop, and seven dwellings, and the M. E. church. A history of this latter society is given in its proper place in the Ecclesiastical chapter.

Philip Seibold is a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, where he was born, Dec. 12, 1835. He resided in Ger- many until 1865, and then immigrated to America, landing at Castle Garden, in New York city. He proceeded west immediately, stopping at Alton, Ill., where he remained two months, and for four years following, worked at black- smithing in a number of different places in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. In 1869 he came to Jersey county, locating on section 37, of Mississippi township, where he purchased 35 acres of land, on which he now lives. He has good and comfortable improvements, and raises fruit quite extensively. He has 250 grape vines, some pear, and other fruit trees, and also small fruit. Mr Seibold was married Nov. 14, 1869, to Elizabeth Barker, who was born in Hesse Darm- stadt, Feb. 4, 1839. They have one child-Annie C., born Nov. 14, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Seibold are members of the Lutheran church.

DOW.

The village of Dow is a small station on the W., St. L. & P. railroad, and was laid out by John H. McDow and Medora McDow, his wife, June 30, 1883. The survey was made by Daniel J. Murphy, the county surveyor, and the plat was filed for record Oct. 18, 1883. It is located on section 32.

John McDow had formerly been en- gaged in the mercantile trade in New- bern, or West Newbern, but on his cre-

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

ating the new town, he removed his store building to the latter. He carries a neat stock of general merchandise, that will invoice about $1,200, and is doing a nice business, as he is well liked by the people of this vicinity. The postoffice was also removed with the store, but still retains its original name of Newbern, and the station is more familiarly known as Newbern than by its right name of Dow.

John II. McDow, a merchant in the village of Dow, was born on the 7th day of Sept., in the year 1847, in the same place that he now lives on section 32, in Mississippi township, Jersey county, Ill. He owns 140 acres on this section, besides keeping a store, in which he carries a stock of general merchandise. He was united in marriage with Medora A. Burley, on the 5th day of Feb., in the year 1873. She is the daughter of Martha (Lacy). Burley, and was born

on the 29th day of March, in the year 1854. Five children were born to them -Tell, born on the 18th of Oct., 1873; Claude N., born the 23d of Oct., 1877; Alice M., born the 18th of May 1880, died March 29, 1882; Arthur H., born Oct. 28, 1882; and Ross O., born Sept. 7, 1884. John H. is a member of the A. F. & A. M., both lodge and chapter, and of the arch and encampment of the I. O. O. F., at Grafton.

There is, also, located at this point a general repair shop, operated by N. N. Chase & Son, where work both in iron and wood is done.

The village, which is yet in its in- fancy, contains but five dwelling houses and about 25 inhabitants. The post- office was established on the laying out of the town, or shortly afterwards, with J. H. McDow as postmaster, who con- tinues to manipulate the mail satisfac- torily.

CHAPTER XXVI.

RUYLE TOWNSHIP.

This civil sub-division of Jersey county was set off with its neigh- bors, at the time the county adopted township organization. It is the most northeasterly of all the townships in the county. The name of Ruyle was applied to it in honor of Col. W. L. Ruyle, one of the enterprising citizens of the township, who was quite active in securing for the county this mode of internal government.

It has large tracts of fine prairie land, but there is also considerable timber land, more or less dense. The prairie portions are located in different parts of the township, the largest tracts lying in the eastern and northeastern portions.

Ruyle is not a full congressional town- ship, six sections, three half sections, and an 80 acre tract in the northwest corner of the congressional township being attached to Greene county.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

The Macoupin creek is the principal water course, though it does not traverse any extended amount of the township's territory. It interests section 1, 2, 3, 16, 21, 20, 19 and 18. Long Point Branch and Elm Branch are small trib- utaries which traverse the township, flowing into the Macoupin within its borders. Besides these, there are numerous little rivulets, all tributaries of the Macoupin creek. These streams furnish water in abundance for stock and farming purposes, besides giving abundant drainage facilities. The tim- ber lands afford ample supplies of wood; so that, all in all, the township has within its borders numerous sources of wealth. Considerable attention is given to stock-raising, some of the citizens making that their principal busines.

The C., B. & Q. railroad intersects the township diagonally, coming in from the northwest at the center of section 3, and passing through section 3, 11, 14, 13, 24, 25, and going out towards the south- east, at the northeast corner of see- tion 36.

Some of the best citizens of Jersey county are residents of Ruyle township, and some of the best improved farms are to be found here.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

John W. Huitt came to what is now Jersey county in 1816, and located on the northeast quarter of section 31, in the present Ruyle township. His father, Johu Huitt, a native of Virginia, moved to North Carolina some time after the war of the Revolution, where he married Lizzie Radcliff, by whom he had, at the time of his immigration to Illinois, eight children. In 1804 they settled in

Madison county, Ill. John W. came to Jersey county in 1816, loeating as afore- said. In 1818 he removed from there to a farm about four miles northeast of Carrollton. He afterward removed to Carrollton, where he lived until his death in 1882. He was married to Ros- anna Hareford, a daughter of James Hareford, of Kentucky. He retained the vigorous use of his faculties until the time of his death.

Matthew Cowan made a settlement in this township in 1822. He was a Virginian by birth, and one of the pio- neers of Illinois, having located in Madison county as early as 1812, where he resided until he came to this county. Here he lived for years, until, in the fullness of time, he was gathered to his rest.

John C. Whitlock came to this town- ship and made a settlement in 1823. He was a native of Virginia but had lived, for some time, in Kentucky, from whence he had come here. He died in 1879.

Samuel and Richard Rhoads made a settlement in this township during the year 1828.

William Palmer, a native of Vermont, made a settlement upon a portion of section 13, in Ruyle township, in 1829. He is now numbered with the great ma- jority of old pioneers who have passed the river of death.

Among other old settlers in this town- ship, the date of whose settlement it has been impossible to obtain with accuracy, but who were known to have lived here prior to 1830, were the following: Rich- ard Chowning, John Hawkins, Benja- min Cleaver, Eli Fitzgerald, Henry Floyd, two brothers by the name of Wood, and others.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

Benjamin Cleaver was a relative of the Reddish family and came about the same time with them. Ile subsequently went to Oregon, where he still resides.

James Richey, a Kentuckian, made a settlement in the township during the year 1830.

Rev. Jacob Rhodes settled upon sec- tion 36, during the year 1830.

John Rhodes made a settlement about the same time, in the same township.

John Gilworth came to this township locating upon section 29, in 1830. He had been a resident of the county for 10 years previous.

John Twitchell settled, with his fam- ily, on sections 13 and 14, in 1833. He was from the state of Vermont, and came to Apple creek, Greene county, in 1830, but moved onto the above land soon after he had entered it. He only lived here until Aug. 10, 1833, when he died.

David Rhodes and family settled in Ruyle township in 1834. His son, J.L., yet lives in the township.

Elias Palmer came to Jersey county, with his family, in 1836.

CEMETERIES.

There are two regularly recorded cem- eteries within the boundaries of Ruyle township, both of which are well kept up, as well as neatly laid out.

Oakland cemetery was laid out by W. K. Miner, president, and James Bring- hurst, secretary, of the Oakland Ceme- tery Association, on the 13th of March, 1869, the survey being made by George I. Foster, the county surveyor. It comprises the northwest corner of Sec. 36, T. 9, R. 10.

Hawkins' Prairie cemetery was sur-

veyed and platted by George I. Foster, county surveyor, on the 14th of May, 1868, for the Hawkins' Prairie Cemetery Association, of which D. P. Pritchett was president, and John Fenke, sec- retary.

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History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 54

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150