USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > History of Iroquois County > Part 3
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village organization 1950 population 232-1960-231 Iroquois City-platted 1836 plat vacated LaHogue-platted 1871 never incorporated Leonard-platted 1899
never incorporated L'Erable-platted 1857 never incorporated Loda-platted 1854 village organization 1950 population 559-1960-585 Martinton-platted 1873 village organization 1950 population 292-1960-314 Middleport-platted 1836 became a part of Watseka Milford-platted 1836 city organization 1950 population 1648-1960-1699 Montgomery-platted 1835 plat vacated Onarga-platted 1854 village organization 1950 population 1455-1960-1397 Papineau-platted 1871 village organization 1950 population 157-1960-169
Pittwood-platted 1873 never incorporated Plato-platted 1836 plat vacated Point Pleasant-platted 1837 plat vacated Ridgeville-platted 1871 never incorporated St. Mary's ( Beaverville P.O.)-platted 1859 village organization 1950 population 383-1960-430
Savanna-platted 1837 plat vacated Sheldon-platted 1860 village organization 1950 population 1114-1960-1137 Stockland-platted 1901 never incorporated Texas-platted 1836 plat vacated Thawville-platted 1872 village organization 1950 population 267-1960-246 Trumanville-platted 1901 plat vacated Watseka (platted as South Middleport)- platted 1860 city organization 1950 population 4235-1960-5219 Wellington-platted 1872 village organization 1950 population 300-1960-334 Woodland-platted 1876 village organization 1950 population 334-1960-344 Woodworth-platted ? never incorporated
Artesia Township
Artesia township is the second from the southern line of the county in the western tier of townships. Spring Creek runs nearly through the center of the township. The Illinois Central Railroad also travels through the center of the township through Buckley.
The township of Artesia received its name from the Artesian wells located in the townships. The Indians referred to these flowing wells as living water.
The early settlements of Artesia were along the thin belt of timber along Spring Creek. The early settlers were mainly interested in the raising of cattle. Mr. Jacob Hill appears to be the earliest followed by Mr. J. S. Clove and Mr. J. A. Drake. Other settlers soon followed who were also in the stock raising business, but they also pursued other agri- cultural interests.
Artesia Township, organized on March 17, 1864, had originally been a part of Loda and Onarga townships. The principal officers elected for the township at this time were J. S. Pusey as Supervisor; W. G. Riggs as Clerk; and E. L. Gibson as Assessor.
The agricultural development of Artesia Township can be traced to an agreement by George A. Tallman of Utica, New York to purchase thousands of acres here at $1.00 per acre. He drained the land at his own expense, and the result of this project is an area that is quite valuable agriculturallv.
The town of Buckley was founded by Mr. Ira A. Manley in 1856. He signed a contract with the Illinois Central Railroad for the land where Buckley is today. After planning a shipping point between Onarga and Loda, he built a station to handle the business and named it Buckley after a relative in Philadelphia. He was joined in the following year by Mr. Franklin Pierson. Both Manley and Pierson were responsible for the early building that took place in Buckley.
W. J. Riggs, of Chester County, Pennsylvania came to Buckley in 1859 and opened the first store there. In the same year Mr. Manley signed his contract for the land to John A. Koplin of Philadelphia. Koplin secured a post office and changed the name of the town temporarily to Bulkley instead of the present Buckley.
On January 2, 1871, the residents of Buckley voted to incorporate. A short time later five trustees were elected to govern Buckley-Eli Strawn, E. D. Hartsharn, J. B. Merserve, J. G. McClave and E. Luther. At the first meeting of the trustees Eli Strawn was chosen president.
The Methodist Church was organized by Reverend Thomas Cotton about 1860. Mr. W. G. Riggs was a very valuable ally to Reverend Cotton in the establishment of this church. During the Civil War Rev. Cotton served in the Union Army.
As early as 1866 a number of German families moved to Buckley primarily from Downer's Grove in Cook County. These people, members of the Lutheran Church, officially organized the Lutheran Church in 1869.
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Ash Grove Township
The present boundaries of Ash Grove Township were established on September 15, 1868, and political headquarters established at Glen- wood, which is now known as Pitch-In in the southern part of the township.
Most of the land in this area was deep black loam with plenty of moisture; there was some swamp land with possibilities of drainage. The value of this soil with its great possibilities was recognized by the first settler Robert R. Roberts, in 1833. He was a Methodist minister with deep religious convictions. He contracted with the government for eighty acres of this land for $1.25 an acre.
Soon other settlers followed: Henry Skeels who settled near Spring Creek, John Hemmel and John Nunemaker both came in 1835, John Henry who came from Lawrenceville, Indiana, and settled on 80 acres one and one-half miles east of Glenwood. He started a sawmill and also ground grain for the settlers, following were other settlers, Lewis Brock and son, Allen and Wesley Harvey.
In the autumn of 1838 more settlers arrived. Joseph Nunemaker was the first white child born in this township in 1835. The first wedding was at the home of Lewis Roberts, whose daughter Sara was married to Henry Skeels in 1838.
The first pioneer school was raised on March 4, 1841, one-fourth mile west of Glenwood. This school was run on a private plan with each pupil paying the teacher, Lewis Roberts, $1.50 for each three-months' term. Fourteen pupils attended the first term. Later this school was merged into a public school.
The first Post Master was John Nunemaker, who handled the mail from his home, having received his commission from the government in 1849. The mail was brought from Milford by horseback once a week for the sum of $25 a year. Later the post office was in the general store owned by Mr. Nunemaker. Mr. Harvey was responsible for having the name of the post office changed to Ash Grove. The mail came three times a week by horse and buggy from Milford. Henry Childs, the mail carrier, was eqiupped with a two seated open buggy with plenty of horse blankets and robes to protect the passengers he was permitted to carry. The route he took was to Queen City (which is now Schwer), then to Woodworth, then to Ash Grove. In case there was no mail for Queen City, he omitted that stop and went directly to Woodworth, saving mileage.
The name Ash Grove was chosen because of a real big old ash tree that had fallen across the creek. There were no other ash trees any where in the grove and the peculiarity of this tree being where it was produced the name Ash Grove. Ash Grove-Pitchin had about 150 residents in 1871- 1880. The village followed the road north and south. Running from north to south on the west side were houses of Silas Brock, John Herman, the general store, the Herman blacksmith shop, Dr. L. D. Hackett, Bill Scott, and Henry Childs. On the east side were the Harveys, the Koglers, the Turner Drug Store, the Hotel, the Methodist Church, and the parsonage.
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Going east was the Hamilton home on the south side of the road, and the Hill and Nebekers on the north side, and at the edge of the village was the Henneike farm. During development of Ash Grove a C & E I railroad spur was brought from Wellington to Cissna Park in 1882. This was bad for Ash Grove, as a booming town was going up just six miles away. Many citizens began to move to that town including Isaac Miller Ham- ilton, Turner, Young, Brock, Harvey, Bishop, Herman, Dr. Hackett and others. Gradually they moved away. Today, 1968, all that is left of the former village is the Harvey home, the Turner home, the Herman home, the Hackett home, and the Hamilton home.
While Ash Grove was growing, another small town was developing. It was Woodworth located on the northwest corner of the August Luecke farm. It began with the blacksmith shop of Fred Kruger who located there in 1874. In 1875 Fred Meyer opened a store; soon after Fred Hart- man, a wagon maker, came; several, years later Wm. Becker opened a har- ness shop; then a Post Office was acquired. It was named Woodworth to honor Mr. Woodworth of Milford who assisted in its procurement.
Then more settlers came to this area mostly from Crete, Beecher, and Eagle Lake all in Will county. They were Missouri Synod Lutherans and built a church which was later enlarged as the congregation grew. There also was an Iowa Synod Lutheran Church.
Then there was the village in the northeast part of the township, which was named Queen City (soon known as Schwer). John Schwer came from Chicago where he had been working in a store. Soon after he opened a store, a blacksmith came as well as a wagon maker and shoe maker.
The religious side of the early settlers was evident by their churches. In Ash Grove there was the Methodist Church; in the west side of the township was the society of Quakers who numbered 300. The northwest corner had a Missionary Baptist church which was moved into Cissna Park in 1891 and is now the Union Church. The St. John Lutheran ( Mis- souri Synod) was built near the center of the township, and two miles east is the American Lutheran Church.
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Ashkum Township
Ashkum Township is situated near the northwestern part of the county, with Milks Grove and Chebanse townships north of it and the Iroquois River for its eastern boundary. The Illinois Central Railroad runs across the township a little east of its center, and on the railroad property is the village bearing the name of the township.
Ashkum received its name from the Chief of the Pottawatamie Indian tribe which lived in what is now Indiana. The true meaning of Ashkum is found in the vocabulary of the Algonquin Indians. In their dialect it means "more and more.'
In 1857 Mr. William M. Ross, a merchant with interests in New York and Chicago, purchased land one mile west of Ashkum station. Another early land owner in the township was Dr. Wilson, of Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois. Dr Wilson purchased his land from Mr. George C. Tall- man of New York, the original owner of the land. Mr. Tallman was responsible for much of the early drainage activities in this township and its neighbors. This drainage was needed because of the swamp characteristics of this part of Iroquois County. Dr. Wilson's family and that of Mr. Artes Yates were among the first who made permanent settle- ments in Ashkum Township. Mr. John Wilson and Mr. Thomas Yates, sons of Dr. Wilson and Artes Yates. Both moved to Iroquois Township and played important roles in developing that township.
As early as 1850 French from Canada began to settle in this town- ship. Soon there were enough of these people to establish what is now L'Erable. William La Bounty is believed to be the first of the Canadians to immigrate, settling here around 1850. This settlement was given the name of L'Erable because of the great number of sugar trees planted by the early settlers. A chapel was built in L'Erable in 1854. In 1875 the present church was built. The French people who settled here were nearly all of Canadian birth and attached to the Roman Catholic Church.
Ashkum Township was organized in 1861, at which time Thomas Stump was elected the first supervisor; H. R. Cornell, clerk; and A. J. Lake, assessor.
The village of Ashkum was laid out on railroad land. Messrs. Ogden and Dufee purchased this section of land for $20,000 from the railroad and in 1856 laid out the town. By 1867 the population of Ashkum had grown to 1,200. It had a grain warehouse, one grain mill, two sorghum mills, one hotel and eight presses. The four schools in the village had 200 pupils.
A meeting was held on January 20, 1870 to vote on incorporation of the village of Ashkum. The vote was favorable, and the first election was held on January 27th. In 1872 Ashkum incorporated under the Gen- eral Act of that year.
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Ashkum Bank, M. R. Meents & Sons, then later Farmers Trust & Savings. Built in 1899.
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Beaver Township
In the early days of history, Beaver Township was a small uniden- tified area five by six miles, approximately eighty miles south of the southern tip of Lake Michigan.
As surveyors began to plat the State of Illinois, County of Iroquois, and divide this unit into townships, Beaver Township extended to the Kankakee River. When Kankakee County was formed in 1853, Iroquois County gave up the land area south of the Kankakee River to the ex- isting Iroquois County line; however, Beaver Township was organized and Beaver Township gave up the area to provide for this new township. Since 1921, Beaver Township has held to its present boundaries.
Before the division of Beaver and Beaverville Townships, the people who settled in the northern part around St. Mary (which was later re- named Beaverville) were predominantly French. The pioneers in the Beaver area were, for the most part, Swedes, many families migrating directly from Sweden
In the days when the area was thinly populated and before the days of the railroads, the main artery of travel between Danville and Chicago was the Hubbard Trail. This wagon trail entered Beaver Town- ship just east of the crossing of the Milwaukee and Big Four Railroads, south of Donovan. Buckhorn Tavern was a stopover at the southeast corner of what is now Donovan. This building was of log construction and stood about fifty feet southeast of the house now occupied by the Everett Fieleke family. The Hubbard Trail followed the high ground northwest toward Beaverville and on to Momence and Chicago.
The only village in Beaver Township was founded in 1871. The land on which Donovan was built was acquired from the government in 1849 by Joseph Donovan and was given as a town site by his son, John L. Donovan, in memory of his father, Joseph Donovan. The first dwelling house built in Donovan is still in use, occupied by Mrs. Emma Carlson. William Creutz was the first baby born in Donovan in 1873.
In 1871, The Big Four Railroad was started. At first, only slow freight service was available, but later, in 1875, the depot was built and passenger and mail service were added. Some of the early freight bills record shipments of hay, ear corn, hides, and flax, along with shelled corn and oats. About 1902 the John R. Walsh Railroad was built across Beaver Township about one-half mile east of Donovan. This railroad was built especially for hauling coal and Bedford stone and was of no great benefit to the town.
The congregation known as the Church of Christ of Donovan was organized in a school house west of town in the year 1856. There were twenty-five charter members. These people continued using the school house as a place of worship until 1871, when, under the ministry of a preacher-carpenter, they erected the building at the site where the church now stands. The lumber for this building was the first material brought into Donovan over the newly completed Big Four Railroad. The congre-
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gation grew and in 1908 the building was remodeled. A basement and classrooms were added to accommodate the membership of ninety-two. Today this church has a membership of about one hundred fifty members.
The Swedish Methodist Church was organized May 4, 1854. There were thirteen charter members. This small congregation met in a log building used also as a school and located in section 12. This Beaver Church was the second congregation organized in the Chicago District of the Central Swedish Conference of the Methodist Church. The First Methodist Church of Chicago was organized a year earlier. In 1860, a new church building was erected on a little knoll on the east side of the same section, and in 1863 a parsonage was built. By this time about thirty families had settled in the Beaver Community. In 1871 the church was moved to the southeast corner of section 14, a more central location. In 1880, ten acres across the road from the church was purchased and a new parsonage was built there. In time there was increased evidence of the damage the church suffered in the moving, so in 1890 a new build- ing was constructed to replace it at the cost of $3000. This rural church did outstanding work in the Swedish Conference and was host to both District and Annual Conferences. Its centennial birthday was celebrated in 1954. On June 12, 1964, a bolt of lightning struck and the building was completely destroyed by fire. A marker has been placed at the corner where Beaver Church served the community so well.
In 1882, John L. Donovan and his wife, Anna, gave the land for a Methodist Church in Donovan. (This church was built with great sac- rifice and hard work.) The Rev. S. W. Abbott was pastor during the erection of the building. The church has been remodeled since that time and in 1962 was completely modernized. After the fire destroyed the Beaver Church building, this congregation worshipped with the Donovan congregation. On June 1, 1965 these two groups merged to become the Donovan Methodist Church. December 20, 1965, the minister moved to town to occupy the house next to the church that had been purchased and remodeled for a parsonage.
There was also a Lutheran Church many years ago in Beaver Town- ship, but little is known of it now except the location on the east side of section 23 on land now in the Carrie Swanson farm. The Lutheran par- sonage was sold and moved to Donovan where it is now used as a dwelling.
One of the worst storms Beaver Township ever experienced took place in the late Sunday afternoon on April 21, 1912. The killer tornado traveled from southwest to northeast across the township. Just before leaving the township one-half mile north of Beaver Cemetery, a complete set of buildings was destroyed. The Rice family and one farm worker were killed, seven people in all. This family was the father, mother, wife, and daughters of Edgar Sam Rice of baseball fame. These storm victims are buried in the Beaver Cemetery.
Federal authorities in 1785 dealing with the Northwest Territory
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stated the territory being surveyed into townships would be six miles square and the sixteenth section of each township be reserved for schools. In the year 1818, the State of Illinois joined the Union. In compliance with this order, section sixteen of Beaver Township was reserved for school purposes and any earnings therefrom were to be used to help defray expenses of operating the schools. As time passed the land was sold with the money being loaned to local people and interest used for schools. Still later these monies were turned over to the consolidated unit school district.
Beaver Township had seven one-room one teacher schools. Inde- pendence School, organized in 1862, was located in the northwest corner of section 11. The building was made of logs, the windows were greased paper, and benches were used instead of desks. The building was also used for spelling bees, threshing meetings, and church. Mr. Oscar Kenny, the first teacher, received $20 per month for his services.
Maple Grove's first school was made of logs. It was built by men of the district in 1862 on the north boundary of section 12. In 1865 a new schoolhouse was built twenty by twenty-four feet. The school had a two months' fall term and two months in the spring. Students from five to twenty years of age enrolled. Later a full eight month school term was begun with reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, grammar, geography and history comprising the curriclum. Money to buy equipment for the school was raised by social events, of which the box supper was the most popular.
College Corner School was located in the northeast corner of section 21. In addition to being used for school, like many other schools, the building was used for neighbor gatherings and was one of the last schools to be sold and moved away as consolidation took over. The schoolyard became farmland again.
West Union School is located in the northeast quarter of section 36. The building still stands and has been remodeled into a home and is now owned by A. Clark Duzenbery.
Salem School, located in section 24, was organized in or about 1883. Records reveal some of the early teachers: O. E. Brow, 1884; Anna Tulles, 1SS5; Libbie Sweet, 1886; and Mary Willard, 1887. In 1932 the Salem Reunion was started. This continued for many years and was very popular with former students and teachers who had worked together. A grove of maple trees still marks the place where Salem School served the community.
Pleasant Valley School was organized in 1862. The first teacher was Jane L. Paur who received a monthly salary of $23. In 1881 a new building was erected on a site purchased from Mr. E. J. Barnlund, the first treasurer. This building was located on the east boundary of section 27, and served as a community center.
The first school in Donovan was begun in 1878 on land purchased from J. S. Donovan and was used until 1902 when a new four-room brick building was completed. Mr. Morrual was the first teacher and also held the first eighth grade commencement in 1903. A ninth grade was soon added and later a two-year high school was adopted.
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There were other schools outside Beaver Township which some Beaver Township students attended. In the 1930's two country schools had closed due to the shortage of students. Transportation was furnished by Donovan Township High School, and students attended District 48 in the village of Donovan. In the early 40's, partly due to World War II, a teacher shortage became evident and moves were made to consolidate. In this new plan students would be taken to Donovan by buses. There was much discussion and community conversation concerning this new concept in educating young people. The new district was consolidated as District Number 262 and plans were completed to open in the fall of 1945. Grades one through six were housed in the Donovan Grade School, with the seventh and eighth grades meeting in the high school. This system continued until 1949 when further consolidation became necessary, and Beaver Township became a part of Unit District Number 3. At this point Beaver Township school his- tory becomes a part of a new era in education. Although the District Unit high school and grade school buildings are within the boundaries of Beaver Township, the school program extends to the boundaries of Unit Number 3.
The turn of the century and the years that followed was the period of greatest growth for the village of Donovan. During this period this small country town could boast of having two banks, two grocery stores, two grain elevators, a lumber yard, two garages, a newspaper, harness shop, telephone office, tailor shop, bakery, drug store, barber shop, blacksmith shop, a hotel, a livery barn, and for a short time a movie theatre.
The heartbeat of this industrious community centered around the railroad whose depot was open twenty-four hours daily. With this artery of travel, supplies were easily accessible, and the Sears Roebuck catalogue was a household necessity. With better highways and more efficient auto- mobiles, the old way of life began to change and these businesses began to disappear from mainstreet one by one. In the early 30's, Route 52 was built across Beaver Township bringing with it a steady change from rail traffic to auto and truck transportation. Filling stations became new busi- nesses replacing the horse and buggy needs. This trend continued until in 1966; the old depot which was built in 1875 was dismantled and moved away. This seems to mark the end of an era which belonged to the pioneer people who founded this early community.
Main Street-Donovan, Illinois 1912
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Beaver Swedish Methodist Church originally built in 1854 and destroyed by fire in 1964.
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One room, one teacher school in Beaver Township
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Beaverville Township
Beaverville Township, the youngest township in Iroquois County, was organized in 1921. The area to create this new township came from Papineau and Beaver Townships and consisted of thirty-nine sections in the northeast corner of Iroquois County.
The majority of the pioneer people who came to this area were French. Many families came from Canada, their families having come earlier from France.
The town of Beaverville was first called St. Mary's. When the rail- roads were built and mail service became commonplace across the state, it was discovered there was a town in Jasper County by the same name, so the name St. Mary's was changed to Beaverville. The post office, how- ever, has always carried the name Beaverville. About five and one-half miles east of Beaverville there was another post office by the name of Rose. This building was located where the Nick Rheude home stands today. Every work day a man would carry the mail in a locked pouch on horse- back from Beaverville to this little country post office. Across the road from Rose and about forty rods west was a blacksmith shop. This business was operated by a family by the name of Denton. This crossroads village was short-lived as people became willing to go further for more services. After a few years, about 1890, Rose was closed.
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