USA > Illinois > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws > Part 89
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This township sports two towns, as yet very small ones. Appa- noose, from which the township was named, was laid out by Edward White and Amzi Doolittle in 1836, nearly opposite Fort Mad- ison, Iowa.
Niota, a later town, near the mouth of Tyson creek, also on the river, two miles below Appanoose. This was laid out by John H. Knapp, William Adams, George P. Eaton and J. P. Harper, in 1857.
Appanoose was named for an Indian chief of the Sac and Fox Indians, well known in those days about Fort Madison.
This township, lying on the river above the rapids, is supposed to have been the residence of several of the settlers previous to 1829, but who left the county at an early day. We know of no one in the township who was there previous to the Black Hawk war. Many Mormons settled in this township and in Sonora, in the vicinity of Nauvoo, and since they left, their places have been sup- plied by newer immigrants.
BIOGRAPIIIES.
Below are personal sketches of many of the old settlers and leading citizens of this township.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Amos Davis, deceased, was born Dec. 20, 1814, in Vermont, where he grew to manhood; was educated in one of the universities of his native State; emigrated to this county in 1841, settling first in Nauvoo; was one of the leading merchants of that city at that time. He followed that business until 1857, when he moved upon his farm in Appanoose tp. When he first came to the county he had only $1.50 in money, but by industry and economy he accumu- lated considerable property, owning at the time of his death 1,300 acres of very fine land, mostly in this tp. He knew well the achievements of self-education and experience. He despised not the day of small things, and by and by great things were added to his successful efforts. He was joined in marriage April 12, 1866, to Mary J. Isenberger, and they had 4 children; viz., Amos, Jacob W., Mary J. and Guy. Mr. Davis' death occurred March 22, 1872, and in that event the community lost one of its most enterprising farmers and worthy citizens.
Samuel T. Egan, one of the leading farmers of Appanoose tp., was born in Franklin county, Ind., Dec. 14, 1819. His parents, James and Nancy, were both natives of Pennsylvania. His father dying when he was but a small boy, and his mother when he was 16 years old, he was early thrown upon his own resources for a training for the vicissitudes of life. The seeds of pure morality, however, having been sown in his youthful heart, he persevered through life, and has won a success far beyond that of many who have had better early advantages. He has now a fine farm of 285 acres, on sec. 34, a good residence, etc., all acquired by his own management and industry. Nov. 19, 1846, he married Cordelia M. Maynard, and they have had 8 children, 7 of whom are living -4 sons and 3 daughters. His wife died Feb. 24, 1869, a member of the Methodist Church.
Samuel V. Elliott, farmer and school-teacher, Nauvoo, was born in Tioga county, Pa., May 12, 1845; was brought to this county by his parents in 1850, where he grew to manhood and enjoyed more extended advantages than many others at that day, especially farmer boys; he received his education at the Fort Madison Acad- emy; he now follows farming in the summer and teaching school in the winter. March 27, 1873, he married Alice Cwerden. His father died in 1875, aged 65 years; and his grandfather, John Rey- nolds, was a soldier in the war of 1812.
James E. Green, farmer, sec. 34; P. O., Appanoose; was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. S, 1820, and is a son of Samuel and Jane Green, who also were natives of the Keystone State. James E. emigrated from his native place to St. Louis, in 1853, and the same year came to this county, where he has since resided, following farming. Dec. 28, 1858, he married Anna Bolton, a native of England; she died in 1860, and he again married in 1865, this time Eliza J. Reed, and they have had one child.
John Haigh, farmer, sec. 13; P. O., Appanoose; was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 26, 1821, and is a son of John and Mary
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Haigh, natives of England; he was reared in his native city, but was deprived of the advantages of an early education; at a very early age he was placed in the Tecoma cotton mills, which were built by his father. It was among the first in that city. The sub- ject of this sketch worked in that establishment for seven years, that is, until 1838, when he went to work in Gambol's morocco works, of Philadelphia, and learned the art of dressing morocco; he continued in this business until 1853, when he came to this county, where he settled and has since resided, engaged in farming. He owns a fine farm of 210 acres in this tp. In 1842 he married Sarah Falcrod; she died soon afterward, and in 1846 he married Sarah E. Sheward.
James Hammond, farmer, sec. 13; P. O., Fruitland; was born in England Dec. 17, 1842, and was brought to this country by his parents, Thomas and Mary A. Hammond, in 1843, first settling in Nanvoo, where they lived until 1844, and then they moved to their farm in this tp., where our subject has since resided, except a few years. Feb. 4, 1862, he enlisted in Co. B, 17th Iowa Inf., in which he served till 1863, shortly after the surrender of Vicksburg, when he was transferred to the Signal Corps, a division of the regular army, where he served until April, 1865, when, on the expiration of his term, he was discharged. He then returned home and has ever since followed farming. In the fall of 1867 he married Mary S. Boyle, and they have had 6 children, 2 sons and 4 daughters.
John Hobbs, deceased, was born Dec. 4, 1801, in Pennsylvania; he went to Knox county, O., in 1823, and came to this county in 1856. Dec. 27, 1825, he married Anna Shipley, who died May 1, 1853; March 27, 1856, Mr. H. again married, Rebecca S. Zeigler, and they have had one child, Alice May, deceased. Mr. Hobbs lived near Nauvoo from the time he first settled in this county until his death, Jan. 5, 1871. He was a man highly respected by all who knew him, for his generosity and good manners. His fu- neral was very largely attended.
L. A. Hobbs was born Oct. 26, 1835, in Washington county, Pa., and is a son of John (deceased) and Nancy Hobbs; he was taken to Knox county, O., by his parents, when quite young, where they re- mained until 1850, and then they removed to Delaware, O., where he received a college education. He came West the first time with his father in 1854, remaining here about six months, when he re- turned to Ohio; during the following winter (1855) he attended and graduated at the Cleveland Commercial College; in March, 1855, he came to Nauvoo, where he engaged as book-keeper in the store of John B. Icking. In May, 1856, he returned to Ohio, and the next fall came back to Illinois, and spent two years in traveling and other business. Nov. 26,1858, he married Miss Julia A. Henry, and they have had 5 sons and 3 daughters. Mr. H.'s father died in March, 1871, aged 70 years.
Hugh Jackson was born Sept. 23, 1837, in Fulton county, N. Y., and is a son of James and Mary Jackson, farmers by occupation and
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
distinguished for intelligence and piety; they were in comfortable circumstances and gave their children a good education: they were natives of Scotland and came to America in 1832; at the age of 18 Hugh left the paternal roof in Albany county. N. Y., whither they had removed from Fulton county, and came to Illinois. settling in Hancock county with but little of this world's goods; he had but $5.25, but by industry and integrity, having during three years saved some little money, he joined a party of friends and went to Pike's Peak, thence to New Mexico and thence to New Orleans, where he spent the winter; he then returned to Illinois for a short time; after traveling some months in Missouri and this State. he returned in the spring of 1861 to this county, where he has since remained. In 1865 he married Mary H. Hammond. a native of England. Mr. J. is a Presbyterian.
Robert Jackson was born in Albany county. N. Y., a brother of the preceding; he grew to manhood in his native State, where he received a common-school education, and after he came here he at- tended school at the Fort Madison Academy. April 13, 1865, he enlisted in Co. E. 118th Ill. Vol. Inf .; was discharged at the close of the war. having served about six months.
William Jackson was born in Scotland June 27, 1808. and is a son of James and Isabella Jackson. natives also of Scotland; he emigrated to the United States in 1834, and lived in New York until the fall of 1838, when he came and settled in this tp., where he has since resided. During the Mormon troubles he took no part on either side. He was here at the first immigration of the Mor- mons, and heard Joe Smith make his first speech in Illinois, and saw the corner-stone of the temple laid. An anecdote of Joe Smith Mr. J. relates as follows: At that time live-stock was running at large everywhere. and application was made to the city council to adopt a law prohibiting this; they applied to Joe Smith, Mavor, to make a proclamation to that effect; Smith refused to do so, but said he would come out and make a speech; he did so. and said that if any person had any more dogs than he could keep at home and feed. he was one of the dog breed himself; and made a similar re- mark concerning the people allowing hogs to run at large. In the fall of 1844 Mr. J. married Allisa Winning. Mr. J. has for four- teen years been township Treasurer, and has also been Supervisor and Assessor for awhile. He owns a farm of 120 acres on sec. 29.
John Kennedy, deceased, was born in 1815, in Ireland, and came to this country in 1830. first settling in Delaware county, Pa .; in 1850, while there. he married Eliza Scanlin: in 1853 they came to this county, locating in this tp., where they lived until his death, Feb. 15. 1880. He was a very estimable citizen.
James Lindsay, Jr., was born Aug. 27, 1853, in this county, and is a son of James and Anna Lindsay; was reared on a farm. re- ceiving a common-school education: April 24, 1879, he married Ella Ikerd, of this county. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving also 18 months in the war of 1812.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
James A. Ollis, farmer; P. O., Appanoose; was born Sept. 8, 1828, in Montgomery county, Ind., and is a son of Matthias and Catharine Ollis, father a native of England and mother of Ohio. James A. was reared on a farm and received a common-school edu- cation. March 2, 1854, he married Martha Brown, and they had 5 children, 4 of whom are living: James A., Mary C., Sarah C. and Elizabeth A. Mrs. Ollis died March 28, 1880, a consistent mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, which she had been for 18 years. Mr. O. is also a member of the same Church.
Chauncy Robison was born March 27, 1805, in Oneida county, N. Y .; came to this county with his parents, Charles and Jerusha Robison, in 1829; here he spent his early life, while the county was first settling up. He had one brother, John K., who was a soldier in the Black Hawk war. Channcy entered as register in the land-office at Quincy, in which position he remained until 1837, when he went to Carthage, and there engaged in clerking in a dry-goods store, which he followed till August, 1839, when he was elected County Recorder, in which office he served eight years; he then went to Louisiana, where he spent the winters of 1847-'S, for the benefit of his wife's health; in the spring of 1847 he came to Nauvoo, where he lived until 1850; he then purchased a farm in Appanoose tp., where he has since resided. In 1841 he married Hannah D. Hughes, of Carthage, and they have had 4 children, only one of whom is now living, Ella M., now Mrs. Densenburg. Mrs. R. died March 27, 1861. Mr. R.'s grandfather on his mother's side was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, under Gen. Washington.
Lewis Sleight, deceased, was born March 2, 1819, in New Jersey; when sixteen years of age he emigrated to St. Louis, where he resided sixteen years, then came to Nauvoo, and was Captain of the ferry-boat that ran from that place to Montrose, Iowa, from that time, 1851, until his death, June 2, 1872. He was married in 1842 to Sarah Frisby, and they had 3 children: Emma L., now Mrs. Violett; Lulu L. and Ada. Several of Mrs. Sleight's ancestors were valiant soldiers in both the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812.
James B. Webb, son of Wm. and Harriet Webb, who came to this county in 1841 with a company of Mormons, was reared here and educated in the common school. December 21, 1869, he mar- ried Mary E. Tyner, and they have had one child, Hattie U. Mr. W. owns 80 acres of land on sec. 27.
John Zingree, physician and surgeon, Appanoose, was born in Switzerland September 14, 1830, was educated at the Military Academy of Berne, was 1st Lieutenant of the 3d Division of the Swiss army under Gen. Doriass, one of Napoleon's old generals. The Doctor came to this country in 1851, and the next year com- menced the study of medicine under Dr. Branton, an eminent physician of Cleveland, Ohio. In the spring of 1854 he graduated at the Western Missouri Medical College, and soon after came to Nauvoo, where he commenced the practice of medicine. He
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Nauvoo, where he commenced the practice of medicine. He remained in Nauvoo till 1856, when he purchased a farm opposite Fort Madison and moved upon it, where he has since resided, engaged in farming and practicing medicine. He married his last wife, Hattie Knapp, in April 1877. Dr. Z. owns about 2,000 acres of land in Illinois and Iowa.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
The town Officers that have served or are now serving this town- ship are about as follows:
SUPERVISORS.
James A. McCance. .1850
I. D. Stone. 186S
Fred. R. Prentice. .
1852
Amzi Doolittle. .1869
William Jackson. .
.1853
I. D. Stone ..
1871
Wm. P. Logan.
1858
Samuel Elliott. 1872
William Jackson.
1860
Hugh Jackson.
1873
Samuel Elliott.
1863
John Jackson.
1874
Peter Wilsey.
.1866
George H. Rudisil. 1876
Amzi Doolittle.
1867
Leonard A. Hobbs.
1878
CLERKS.
George T. Thompson.
1858
Charles G. Fish 1873
Hugh Jackson
1863
John Trouthart. ..
1874
L. A. Hobbs
1866
Charles G. Fish
1876
Hugh Jackson
1869
John W. Bertchi. 1879
Samuel V. Elliott.
1870
Alexander Haymart
. 1880
ASSESSORS.
Benjamin Ritter.
1858
William Jackson
.1863
Geo. T. Thompson.
1859
Charles C. Ritter.
1867-1880
COLLECTORS.
Robert Mackie.
1858
James Webb. 1871
Gershom Pope.
1863
James Hammond.
1872
Robert Mackie.
1864
Wm. G. Webb. 1873
John D. Johnson
1865
Leonard A. Hobbs.
1874
L. A. Hobbs.
1866
George H. Rudisil
1875
Hugh Jackson
1867
Leonard A. Hobbs 1876
George Elliott.
.1870
John W. Bertchi.
1877-1880
.
NAUVOO TOWNSHIP.
This city of " pleasant land " is a township by itself. It embraces two small fractional townships, lying in the bend of the Mississippi, and numbered 6 and 7 north, 9 west, the township line dividing them striking the river a little north of the extreme point of the bend, and dividing the city into two nearly equal parts. It embraces within its limits what was once the site of Venus, as well as the town of Commerce and the later Commerce City. The portion on which the Mansion House and famous Nauvoo House stand, is part of the farm originally pre-empted and owned by Capt. James White, the first settler; and that on which the Temple stood was a portion of the farm of Daniel H. Wells, Esq., now Gen. Wells, of Utah. The stone from which the temple was built was obtained partly from the great quarry a little below the town in the river bluff.
We cannot learn from the records that there was ever any laid ont town at Venus. The name was given to it perhaps by Mr. White, and that is the name Uncle Sam used for the postoffice there, the first ever established in the county. It contained Alex- ander White's store, and the residence of his father, and of George Y. Cutler (in the same vicinity), but whether near enough together to constitute a village, is unknown.
Commerce was laid out by Joseph B. Teas and Alexander White, in 1834. Commerce City was laid out in 1837, by Horace R. Hotchkiss and John Gillett, two speculators from Connecticut, and lies a little above its namesake on the river. These plats seem not to have been vacated; so that they are included in, but not a part of, the plat of the city.
Nauvoo was laid ont in 1839, by Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon and George W. Robinson. Afterward, at inter- vals, down to May, 1843, it received as many as fifteen additions by Hiram and Ethan Kimball, Hyrum Smith, Daniel H. Wells, Davidson Hibbard, Herringshaw and Thompson, Geo. W. Robin- son, Joseph Smith, James Robison's heirs, Benjamin Warrington and John T. Barnett.
The situation of Nauvoo is most commanding and beautiful. But few, if any, sites on the upper Mississippi can compare with it. The Mississippi, which opposite Commerce is over a mile in width, gracefully sweeps around its rock-bound shore in a semi-circle, then falls off' to the first chain of the rapids. Above the city the river approaches in a westerly course; below, it glides winding over the rapids southward, presenting a long reach of green and wooded bluffs on either side, to Keokuk and Hamilton, twelve miles below.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
From the immediate bank of the river-some feet above high water mark-the ground is nearly level for six or seven blocks, when begins a gradual ascent to Temple Block, where, after a rise of 60 or 70 feet, it again falls off level, away back into the prairie. There are, however, some bad ravines and broken bluff's within the city limits, which break the monotony and give variety to the landscape.
The curve of the river around the city forms a somewhat pointed half circle. A straight line back of it, from where it intersects the shore above and below, will measure about four miles; while the water-line measurement around its western side is nearly twice that distance. Some of the additions lie in Sonora township.
The towns of Commerce and Commerce City are laid out square with the shore opposite them; but the whole of Nauvoo and all of its additions are laid out on due east and west lines. The streets of the city are named mostly after Mormon dignitaries-as Sidney, Parley, Ripley, Kimball, Young, Knight, Hyrum, Carlos, Samuel, Robinson, Wells, Woodruff, Page, etc. Major General Bennett, Bishop Lee and Orrin P. Rockwell seem to have been slighted.
How many of the earliest settlers resided within the limits of Nauvoo. it is hard to tell. Mr. White and his sons were there; George Y. Cutler and Davidson Hibbard were there; Daniel Van Burkloe is supposed to have been there also (there was a Van Burkloe there when the Mormons came); but of all the other officers and jurymen at organization, none other is now known to have resided there, though numbers were in the vicinity.
The history of this city from 1840 to 1847 can be found in the chapter on the Mormon period.
After those people left, an entire new class of citizens appeared. from all parts of the country and from Europe.
THE MORMON TEMPLE
Was burnt October 9, 1848. Who the vandal was that applied the torch has never been known, and it is not believed that good grounds exist for suspicion against any one. There was a report, some years since, that Mr. Joseph Agnew, late of Pontoosuc, was the guilty person and had so confessed on his death-bed. After diligent inquiry we find that there is no foundation whatever for the story. Mr. A.'s friends, while admitting that he was a pro- nounced and daring Anti-Mormon, scout at the idea that he was capable of such an act. A large reward was offered for the appre- hension and conviction of the criminal, by the citizens of Nauvoo, but the perpetrator was never found. But whoever it may have been. public opinion abroad has fixed the stigma upon the Anti- Mormons. This has been unreasonable and unjust. Without pre- tending to assert that it may not have been done by some reckless Anti-Mormon, we do know and afirm that the great body of them everywhere condemned the act. We heard no other expression
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
among them at the time but stern dennneiation of the deed. There is another theory in regard to its destruction that is quite as likely to be the true one. The truth is, that, now that the Mormons were leaving the city and State, the temple had become quite a large elephant on their hands. It had cost them, as they claimed, twelve hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In it the rank and file had invested a large amount of their surplus earnings for years; and however suited it may have been for a Mormon Temple for worship, it was evidently fit for nothing else. It had been spoken of for an institution of learning; and it is said had actually been contracted for by New York parties, for such a purpose. Two hundred thousand dollars had been asked for it; but it was evident that sum expended on a new building, properly con- structed, would be a more economical investment. Yet still it was an object of interest and an ornament to the city, and no one, except the merest fanatic, could have desired its destruction. There was dissention among the brotherhood; two or three parties existed among them, all claiming to be the true Church, and the others as heretics, and they hated each other. It has been guessed, and we think not without reason, that some fanatical and over- zealous member of one of these parties may have destroyed it in order that the other should not reap the benefit of it. At any rate the question so stands: The Mormons and many others believe that the deed was committed by the Anti-Mormons; the latter, without being able to establish the contrary, think it just as likely the deed was consummated by some of themselves.
As stated, the temple was burned on the night of Oct. 9, 1848. It was a beautiful night, and about two o'clock fire was discovered in the cupola. It had made but little headway when first seen, but spread rapidly, and in a very short period the lofty spire was a mass of flame, shooting high in the air, and illuminating a wide extent of country. It was seen for miles away. The citizens gathered around, but nothing could be done to save the structure. It was entirely of wood except the walls, and nothing could have stopped the progress of the flames. In two hours, and before the sun dawned upon the earth, the proud structure, reared at so much cost-an anomaly in architecture, and a monument of religious zeal-stood with four blackened and smoking walls only remaining.
If any party or parties had been contemplating the purchase of the temple, for any purpose, its destruction, of course, put an end to the scheme.
THE ICARIAN COMMUNITY.
In the year 1848, M. Etienne Cabet, a distinguished French communist, conceived the idea of establishing in America an ex- perimental colony of their seet. Accordingly a number of them were landed at New Orleans, who proceeded to establish in Texas what he termed an Icarian Community. But Texas not being deemed
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
suitable, it was decided to remove and settle at Nanvoo. In the spring of 1849. a company of them, to the number of 75 or 100, settled in that city, and during the ten years that followed, con- tinned their organization there, under the presidency and manage- ment of their eminent leader. During their stay in that city they increased by ac essions to between 500 and 600.
Without undertaking to state correctly the principles of their organization, we may say that their chief tenet seemed to be a community of property and interests. While their family rela- tions were kept up, each maintaining a separate household, all were required to eat at the same table, and to contribute of his and her labor to the common fund. The children were regarded rather as the wards of the Community than of the parents, and were re- quired to be taught in the same school and with the same care and attention.
They purchased the Temple Block and the remains of the struc- ture, and were about to repair it, so as to make it habitable, when a storm blew it down. Afterward. from its ruins, they constructed a long, low stone building, which was used for the school. The Community is said to have been composed mainly of intelligent, moral and industrious men and women. and were well esteemed by their neighbors. They carried ou many branches of business, such as farming, the manufacture of flour and lumber, and the various mechanical trades. They also ran a distillery for a period.
Soon after establishing, they issued a weekly newspaper called the Popular Tribune, under the editorship of M. Cabet. This was afterward changed to the Revue Icarienne, and was printed partly in French and partly in English. While President Cabet was in Europe. the paper was left in charge of M. Piquenard, a young man who has since been conspicuous as architect of the new State House at Springfield.
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