USA > Illinois > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws > Part 59
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
635
IIISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
he was reared a farmer's boy with Abe Lincoln; has cradled with him in the harvest field. He was 19 years old at the beginning of the Black Hawk war. He was married in February, 1837, to Lucy Lasley, and of their 10 children 7 are living; namely, Jimri, Jas- per, Sylvester, John W., James P., Wm. M. and Charles P. Mr. White owns 140 acres and is engaged in farming and stock-raising.
E. W. Winans was born in New York city, Nov. 8, 1825, and is a son of Alfred G. and Anne (Hutchinson) Winans. He came with his parents to McKean county, Pa., about 1830, and to a point abont 4 miles West of Jacksonville, Ill., in 1836. There they re- mained until 1840, when they removed to this county. Old Mr. Winans died in Topeka, Kan., in 1872. Mrs. Winans resides with her children in Hamilton, this county. She was born Oct. 31, 1795, and therefore is in her 85th year. Mr. E. W. Winans was mar- ried Dec. 4, 1847, to ' Miss Elizabeth, daughter of. Joseph and Margaret Kinney. They have had S children, 7 of whom are living: Andubon, Linnæus, Wilson R., Martha A., Margaret A., Ephraim J. and Elizabeth K. Mr. Winans resided in Kansas 7 years. He now resides on sec. 6, this tp., engaged in farming and fruit-growing.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
The following is a list of men who have served this township in an official capacity since its organization, as completely as could be made out from the means at command:
SUPERVISORS.
Slocum Woolley
1850
Asa D. Rockwell. 1866
H. P. Griswold. .
1852
George P. Walker
1868
John S. Johnson.
1855
James Elder. 1871
Lemuel Horney
1856
Geo. P. Walker. 1873
Wm. F. Frazee.
1858
Joseph Larimore. 1874
Davidson Harris.
1859
Geo. P. Walker 1875
W'm. A. Smith
1861
E. P. Denton. . 1876
Wm. I. Price.
1863
George D. Gates.
1878
J. L. Piggott .
1864
E. P. Denton. 1879
. A. R. Jordan.
1865
A. D. Barber. 1880
CLERKS.
Michael G. Bush.
1855
Augustus M. Green 1867
Davidson Harris.
1856
Hugh M. Elder.
1868
Jepthia S. Dillon .
1859
James King. 1869
John Aslılock.
1861
James G. Cochran.
1870
Henry P. Harper
1863
Hugh M. Elder 1877
Joseph Larimore.
1864
W. B. Slattery
1880
D. T. S. Jack.
1866
ASSESSORS.
Jonathan D. Browning.
1855
J. H. Karr. 1867
William Jackson. ..
1856
John C. McMalıan.
1868
J. C. Berry.
1858
A. W. Robinson. 1870
J. H. Cobwell.
1859
Jasper K. Mason 1871
William I. Price
1860
B. Robinson 1873
John Ashlock
1863
W. J. Ash. . 1874
J. H. Karr.
1864
A. D. Barber. 1878
B. Robinson
1865
Wm. J. Ash 1880
636
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
COLLECTORS.
Walter T. Glover.
1856
Hugh M. Elder 1869
Samuel A. Smith.
A. T. Denton.
1870
J. D. Knox.
1858
J. W. Smith.
1871
J. M. Browning. 1860
George C. Carr.
1873
Henry K. Calkins.
1861
J. W. Smith.
1875
J. M. Browning.
1862
Henry Duerkopf
1876
E. P. Denton. . .
1865
T. P. Calkin. .
1878
J. M. Browning.
1867
Jas. G. Cochran
1879
Benson. ..
1868
J. W. Smith.
1880
WARSAW AND WILCOX TOWNSHIPS.
Surveyed township No. 4-9 embraces about two-thirds of a full township, and contains at present two organizations for township purposes. It was originally called Warsaw; but when the city was erected into a township the country portion was detached and called Wilcox,-named from Major John R. Wilcox, an officer in the ser- vice at Fort Edwards, and afterward a prominent citizen of Warsaw and one of its proprietors. About one-fourth of it is river bottom, beginning at the city limits and extending down the river to Rocky Run tp. The remainder is chiefly woodland, there being a narrow strip of prairie on the east line. The upland portion is a good deal broken and cut up by ravines and water courses, running in all di- rections. It contains, however, many beautiful and picturesque sites, and many tracts of valuable land. The whole is eminently adapted to the cultivation of fruit, both of orchard and small fruits, and the attention of the people is steadily turning in that direction.
The City of Warsaw is located on the bluffs in the bend of the Mississippi, opposite the mouth of the Des Moines river. Its east and sonth lines are each about three miles long, running at right angles, and intersecting the river on the north and west, the line along the river shore between the termini of these lines being over four miles in length. The bluffs in front are abrupt, rising from the water's edge to a height of 80 or 100 feet, on which the town is built. The sites of the old Forts Johnson and Edwards are within the city limits; the former on the high point 200 yards below Main street, and overlooking Albers & Co.'s steam mill, and immediately opposite the principal mouth of the Des Moines; the latter occupy- ing a bold bluff a half mile further up the river, and fronting toward Keokuk and the Iowa shore. The city is handsomely situated, though portions of it are rough and cut up by deep ravines. From the top of the bluff back for three-fourths of a mile there is a gradual rise till it reaches the level of the back country, thus affording ground for handsome streets and picturesque building sites.
Warsaw was laid out in 1834 by John R. Wilcox, Mark Aldrich, John Montagne and John W. Vineyard; and in 1836, addition was made to it by Mark Aldrich, John Montague, L. Allen Key, Richard F. Barrett, Joseph Duncan and Calvin A. Warren. Since then large additions have been made on the east and south, notably among which was that of the 16th section adjoining on the south, and which in 1841 came so near falling into Mormon hands and be- coming a Mormon city.
Of its original proprietors, not one remains, and but two are known to be living at this date-L. Allen Key, in California, and
(637)
1
638
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
C. A. Warren, Esq., of Quincy. Mr. Vineyard long ago settled in Western Missouri; John Montague removed to Kentucky many years ago and died there; ex-Gov. Dunean, of Illinois, and Dr. Barrett, of St. Louis, are long since dead; and Mr. Aldrich went to Calfornia during the gold excitement, and thence to Arizona, where he died a few years since. A notice of Major Wilcox will be found in another chapter.
By the census of 1845 Warsaw contained a population of only 472 persons. The next largest village in the county was Mace- donia, the Mormon town in the Fountain Green township (now Webster), which had 380. By that census Nauvoo contained 11,- 036.
The 16th section was sold at an early day to speculators for over $17,000, but the purchasers being unable to stand up to the bargain, a special act of Legislature was procured, allowing the traet to re- vert to the township. It was while in these men's hands, it came so near being purchased by the Mormon prophet. In course of time, however, the tract was again sold in blocks, and the whole section is now included within the city limits, and considerably improved.
Previous to 1840 there were but few if any foreign-born residents in Warsaw; but later a large portion of the population has become German and of German extraction, generally an economical and in- dustrious people, and good citizens. They are emigrants from the different States of the German Empire. Ireland also has furnished her complement, and France a few. Other European countries have sent us but few emigrants. The same statements may be made of the other towns and villages in the county, especially those on the river.
Among the earlier settlers from Europe, now recollected, were George Clark and his sons, from Ireland; Adam Swiffel, Joseph Ochsner, Christopher Stevens, Claus Albers, John F. Spitze, An- drew Swinehart, Henry J. Stroh, Henry P. Roth, John Long, Wm. A. Katz, Caspar Hartmann, Frank Herberts, Charles C. Hoppe, Charles Hilker, Mathew Goddertz, A. and C. Eymann, Wm. Euler, Peter Brill, M. Berdolt, W. Schmitz and others from Germany.
Of those of native birth, beside the proprietors already named, the following occur to us: Isham Cochran, Daniel S. Witter, James Gregg, Jesse R. Cunningham, Mr. Chamberlin, Andrew Monroe, James A. Wells, Wm. H. Roosevelt, Malcolm McGregor, Thomas Morrison, Dr. Morrison, Dr. Joseph Wilkinson, Calvin A. Warren, Rev. Benjamin F. Morris, T. N. Reynolds, John Hill, John D. Mellen, Homer Mellen, Amos H. Worthen, James L. Kimball, Samuel W. Brown, Isaac H. Brown, John E. Johnston, Abram I. Chit- tenden and sons, George, Edward, Abram B., James and William,- George Rockwell, Robert L. Robertson, Wmn. Ayers, Calvin Cole, James H. Wood, David W. Mathews, Robert Miller, R. B. Davis, Edward A. Bedell, Wm. N. Grover, Jacob C. Davis, John Scott,, Samuel Mussetter, Wm. F. Barnes, Joshua Cole,-all of whom came previous to 1840. Of these, and numbers of others, whose
O
0
Ale Hamn
WILCOX Tp.
641
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
names do not now occur to us, alas! a few remain! 26 of them are known to be dead, and barely six remain in the place.
Among the settlers in Wilcox proper we mention Lewis Peyton, John Dedman, Dr. Ero Chandler, John Peyton, Pierre A. Barker, Patrick Culliner, Benjamin F. Tyree, B. Whitaker, Samuel Har- ris, etc.
Of the many Warsaw enterprises worthy of note, we must not omit to mention the following.
The Woolen Mill, built about 1866, by a company of which Hill, Knox & Co., were the chief stockholders. It is probably the best, most costly and substantial mill in the West, and was built under the supervision and plans of one of the Hill owners, a ma- chinist of great ability. It has proven to be, however, an unprofit- able concern, paying but small dividends and frequently standing idle. It is situated in Lower Warsaw.
The Plow Factory of Cress Brothers & Co., established many years ago by that excellent mechanic and citizen, James H. Wood, in conjunction with George Cress and others. This firm turns out a large number of plows and other agricultural implements, which have gained a wide and growing reputation.
The Flouring Mill of C. Albers & Co. (Albers senior) began the milling business in Warsaw many years ago, and has carried it on with varied success to the present time; and now the firm, of which the son Henry is the active business manager, has one of the best appointed mills in the country, and their brands are known and sought for far and wide.
Many other enterprises in Warsaw, of more or less note, we should be glad to record, but want of room forbids.
RELIGIOUS PROGRESS.
For a notice of the Presbyterian Church of Warsaw (which we are obliged to condense), we are indebted to Rev. J. G. Rankin, its pastor.
The initiatory steps looking to the organization of a Presbyterian Church in Warsaw, were taken in Sept. and Oct., 1842. In Sept., 18 persons formed themselves into a "Religious Society," in ac- cordance with an act of the General Assembly of the State of Illi- nois, entitled "An Act Concerning Religious Societies." Five trus- tees were appointed; namely, Silas Williams, Andrew Weir, Wm. Y. Patch, Robert Miller and George A. Chittenden. The church was organized Dec. 3, 1843, with the following members: Andrew Weir, Harriet V. Weir, Silas Williams, Elizabeth B. Williams, Louisa A. Williams, Janette B. Miller, Maria M. Barnes, Eliza S. Chittenden, Wm. Y. Patch and Eliza J. Swope; Rev. Wm. King, of Plymouth, officiating.
Previous to this a Congregational Church had been organized, as early as 1836, by Revs. Asa Turner, Wm. Kirby and Julias A. Reed, which was the earliest religious organization in the place. Most, if not all, the ten members constituting the Presbyterian
38
642
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
society, had been for a shorter or a longer period with the Congre- gational Church. Mr. Benjamin F. Morris was preaching to the first, and the two united in his support as pastor, meeting together in the same house.
In 1846 the Congregational Church was dissolved, and the fol- lowing members united with the Presbyterian: Dr. Charles Cool- idge, Mary Coolidge, William S. Spencer, Susan Spencer, Sarah D. Gregg, Keyes F. Steele, Sophia Steele, Constantia Stevens, Amelia Chandler and Laurinda Chandler.
The following have been Elders in the church since organization : Silas Williams, Andrew Weir, Sr., Charles Coolidge, William S. Spencer, S. A. Call, Jacob Elliott, Dr. J. W. Hollowbush; and Joseph Miller and William W. Chittenden the present acting Board.
The ministers of the church have been-Revs. B. F. Morris; 1844, J. N. Grout; 1848, John G. Rankin; 1850, W. H. Williams; 1850, George J. Barrett; 1853, C. J. Watson; 1858, J. J. Marks; 1861, J. G. Rankin again; 1868, S. W. Worth; 1869. J. N. Crit- tenden; 1873, again J. G. Rankin, who has continued its pastor to the present.
Much of the intervening time the Church has been without a pastor.
The first Sabbath-school in Warsaw was organized in 1836, prob- ably cotemporary with the Congregational Church. Mr. George Hitchcock was the first superintendent. For ten years it was the only one in the place. It has been kept up, summer and winter, since its organization, except for a short period during the Mormon troubles, and is still, after a lapse of more than 40 years, a live and prosperous school. Its superintendents have been-Andrew Weir, William S. Spencer, J. B. Parker, Dr. Charles Coolidge, H. A. Roberts, William F. Barnes, J. G. Rankin, N. A. Prentiss, S. R. Holmes, Charles H. Case, C. L. Stinson, J. W. Hollowbush, Henry Albers. Mr. A. is the present superintendent (1879), and has filled the place with great acceptance for seven or eight years past.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, WARSAW.
Before 1849 only about four Catholic families were in Warsaw; viz., Messrs. Ochsner, C. W. Schmitz and C. Miser and brother. Then one of the leading members of the congregation and the Catholic settlement arrived from Germany (Rhin-Prussia), namely, Mr. C. Hartmann, with five more countrymen of his, whom two more soon followed.
In the year 1850, the first Catholic priest, Rev. Alleman, came from Fort Madison and said mass in a private house four times a year. In 1853, Rev. Schilling, from Nauvoo, attended Warsaw; and in his time the first church was built, at a cost of about $1,000.
Rev. Miller, O. S. B. and Vicar-General of Chicago, preceded Rev. Philip Albrecht, who worked for the congregation from about 1857 until 1861, visiting Warsaw once every month, from Macomb.
643
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Rev. Hendricks was the first resident, and left the congregation in 1867. From this date on, the Franciscan fathers from Quincy gave religious services here once every month, until Rev. F. H. Heller took charge of the mission in 1874, as the second resident priest. One new splendid brick church and parish house were built under his administration; he moved to Lincoln, Ill., in 1877. Rev. Allgeyer was his immediate successor, but stayed seven months only. Since July 27, 1878, Rev. L. Zumbuchl has been the resident pastor of Warsaw.
Warsaw has a Catholic school with about 80 pupils on an average, attended by sisters of St. Francis, from La Crosse, Wis. The con- vent, about two blocks east from the church, is a present from the deceased Mr. Stephen Roach, an Irishman; and the Benedictine Sisters from Chicago were first sent here by Rt. Rev. Foley, Bishop of Chicago. They quit Warsaw in 1878. The school property was bought in 1864; before this the Catholic school was taught in the old church.
The past history of the congregation has been one of many troubles, trials and difficulties, some of which were of a rather malicions character, and not to the advantage of those who caused them, or the community; and some were the natural consequences of poverty and great enterprises. To-day the congregation counts about 100 active families, mostly German; some are farmers, but the greater part are living in the town.
[For the foregoing history of the Catholic work in Warsaw, we are indebted to Rev. L. Zumbuchl, the present learned pastor of the congregation in that city.]
There are five other Churches in the city, namely: the Episcopal and Methodist Episcopal (American), and the Methodist, Lutheran and Evangelican (German), all of which have good and substantial church edifices and some of them numerous congregations. Of these the Methodist has been the longest organized, and next the Episcopal. We have failed to procure data concerning these, and must therefore be content with this partial notice.
BIOGRAPHIES.
The most important part of the history of the township will be found in the personal sketches which follow:
WILCOX TOWNSHIP.
Wm. P. Andrews was born in Madison, New York, Oct. 3, 1818, and is a son of Elisha M. and Sarah G. Andrus. Elisha M. Andrus was a hatter by trade and also "carried on a farm " at the same time. Wm. P. learned the hatter's trade, at which he worked for 13 years in the towns of Utica and Hamilton, N. Y. He went on a farm in 1846. on account of ill health. In 1855 he came to this county, where he still resides, engaged in farming and stock-raising on sec. 12, Wilcox township, and owns 101 acres of land, having
644
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
had at one time here over 200 acres, but has since sold a portion of it. He was married Jan. 17, 1843 to Miss Loretta E. Luddington, by whom he has had 7 children; of these, 5 are living, Grosvner S., Sarah E., Maria, Ellen G. and Charles W. An interesting item in Mr. Andrus' life is the following: In 1878 he had a farm hand named John Douglas, who sickened and died. Mr. Andrus buried him near his house and some grave-robbers came, exhumed the body. enclosed it in a sack, and were about to make good their escape, when Mr. Andrus apprehended them and shot them both, killing them almost instantly. He then went before the Grand Jury, which was then in session at Carthage, and immediately informed that body of what he had done. But the Jury discharged him with no verdict, stating that he ought to have shot the man who held the grave-robber's team.
Samuel Bride was a native of New Hampshire, where he was born Jan. 4, 1810, and is a son of William and Mary (Scripture) Bride, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of New Hampshire, and of Irish and'English descent respectively. Samuel Bride was married in Vermont in 1836, to Esther Dyer, a daughter of Elisha and Ruth (Heath) Dyer, the former a native of Massachu . setts and the latter of New Hampshire. Mrs. Bride was born in Vermont in 1812. Both her parents were of English ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. B. have 3 children living, whose names are Frances E., now the wife of Albert C. Shinn, of Kansas; Wallace S. and James. Leroy is deceased. Samuel Bride first came to Illinois in 1842, locating in St. Alban's tp., Hancock Co. He had very little means, probably not over $50. when he commenced business for himself, but with that characteristic New England stick-to-it-ive- ness, of making "everything go that has go in it," combined with hard labor, industry and economy, he accumulated a fine property, consisting of over 700 acres of land, all in this county and under a good state of cultivation, besides other property. He is now living just in the suburbs of the town of Warsaw; he has of late years re- tired partially, only having some 20 acres attached to the homestead, renting the rest of his land. He is now one of the most substantial citizens of Hancock county; respected and honored by all who know him. He has always contributed liberally to the cause of religion and education. We present a good portrait of Mr. Bride to our readers.
Frederick Buckeft is a native of Germany and was born April 5, 1828; came to this country in 1850 and to St. Louis the same year, where he staid until 1851, when he came to this county, where he has since resided, engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1859 he was united in marriage to Catharine Wallembroke, and they have had 8 children, of whom 7 are living; viz., Harry, Christian, William, Catharine, Anna, Larry and Elizabeth.
Dr. Ero Chandler, sec. 25, Wilcox tp., is an early settler of Illi- nois, having located where Jacksonville now stands in 1820. He was born in the town of Tinmouth, Vermont, Dec. 14, 1795. He
645
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
came with his parents to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1804, where he re- mained until 1818. From there he removed to the Scioto valley, in Ohio, remaining there two years, when he emigrated, as before stated, in 1820, to the present site of Jacksonville. Here he prac- ticed medicine until 1836, when he came to this county. Since that time he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is a descendant of Capt. Miles Standish, one of the Pilgrim fathers who located in Massachusetts in 1620. The Chandler family had a pewter plate which was brought from England in the Mayflower; it was the property of Miles Standish, and had his name in full en- graved on it. This plate was inherited by the youngest daughter, from generation to generation, and therefore became the property of Dr. Chandler's mother, at the death of his grandmother. It was carelessly placed upon the fire one day, by the Doctor's sister, and before she thought, it was melted. The Doctor was married in June, 1826, to Mrs. Emmeline (Reed) Cook, by whom he had S children. Of these, 5 are living; namely, Harris, Henrietta (now Mrs. A. C. Hammond), Julia (now Mrs. S. B. Langhridge), Eme- line (now Mrs. Salem Hammond), Seabury and Charles. Dr. C. owns 200 acres of land, and has given 300 acres to his children.
James F. Crawford, farmer, sec. 24; P. O., Warsaw; is a son of Thomas Crawford, deceased, who emigrated from Bourbon county, Ky .. to this county in 1832. He was born in this county Sept. 2, 1851; raised a farmer's boy, and now resides on the farm his father occupied prior to his death, and has completed the beautiful resi- dence that his father had erected just before he died. He was mar- ried Oct. 10, 1876, to Miss Lydia M. Tapp, of Quincy, by whom he has one child, Earle T. Mr. Crawford is now serving his second term as Supervisor.
Henry Gash, farmer, sec. 26; P. O., Warsaw; is a native of Lin- colnshire, England, and was born March 24, 1831; emigrated to America in 1851, and settled in Hancock county, Ill. He was mar- ried in 1858, to Miss Sarah Tyree, by whom he had 3 children; namely, Mary A., Frederick O. and William T., deceased. Mr. Gash is engaged in farming, and owns 120 acres of land.
John Gillham was born in Campbell county, Ky., June 17, 1823. His parents' names were Robert and Elizabeth (Walker) Gillham, the former a native of Buncombe county, South Carolina, and the latter of Baltimore, Md. Robert Gillham and wife came and settled in Walker tp., this county, in 1835. His wife died at the home- stead on sec. S, in 1855, and he moved to Monroe, Mo., about 1872, and died in May, 1879. His son, Eli B., now owns and occupies the old homestead in Walker tp. John Gillham, the subject of this sketch, was married April 15. 1849, to Ann H. Woodworth, daughter of Charles G. and Elizabeth (Stone) Woodworth, of Hannibal, Mo. They were formerly of Virginia. John Gillham and wife have a family of 4 children, named Robert E., James E., George L. and Charles W. Robert E. married Ann M. Pell, daughter of John Pell, of Michigan, and this son lives with Mr. G. James E.
.
646
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
married Etta Barber, daughter of Frederick and Lydia Barber, and resides in Rocky Run tp. John Gillham successfuly followed gold- mining in California from 1850 to 1855, returning with a hand- some sum of money. . He now lives on sec. 26, this tp .; his resi- dence is a fine two-story brick, and he has 351 acres of good land. He is considered one of the most substantial citizens. He has always been a Democrat in principle, but partly endorses the "National Greenback" party; has assisted in erecting churches and supporting the cause of religion, although he does not belong to any religious denomination. Has been a member of the Masonic order since 1860, of which he is a Master Mason. We give Mr. Gillham's portrait in this volume.
Asaph C. Hammond was born in Worcester county, Mass., in the town of Charlton, Nov. 2, 1831. His parents' names are Moses and Elizabeth (Chandler) Hammond, former native of. Massachu- setts, and latter of Vermont. The founder of the Hammonds in Amer- ica was Thomas Hammond, an Englishman who settled in Newton, 12 miles from Boston, Mass., in the year 1632. Aaron Hammond one of his descendants, moved to Charlton, Worcester Co., Mass., early in 1700, where he raised a family. His son Moses was the grand- parent of our subject and lived and died at Charlton. His son, Moses, Jr., was the father of our subject, and came to this county in 1846, settling in Wythe tp., sec. 19, where he followed farming. He died in 1865, aged 65 year. His wife died in 1864, and both are buried near the Congregational church in Wythe tp. They brought a family of 4 children to this county. Caroline, deceased, Asaph C., Harley and Salem J. The three last are all living in this county. Asaph C. Hammond was married April 3, 1855, to Henrietta Chandler, daughter of Dr. Ero Chandler, an early settler in this county, and still living in Wilcox tp. They have one child liv- ing, Miles Standish. Mr. Hammond lives on sec. 23, Wilcox tp., a very pleasant locality. He is a Republican in politics and has held various tp. offices, although he has never sought political promi- nence. Has for a number of years been actively interested in the promotion of agricultural and horticultural interests through the different societies organized for that purpose, and has been a mem- ber of the Illinois State Horticultural Society for about 15 years, and an officer in the society for about 10 years, and has also acted as President for the same for one year. Mr. H. has been President for the past 12 years of the " Warsaw Horticultural Society," and in fact is probably one of the best working members in promoting the interests for which these societies are formed. Mr. H. was also an active worker in the " Grange " movement, and acted as Mas- ter, or presiding officer, of the "Hancock County Grange." The society is now disorganized.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.