USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > History of Iroquois County > Part 9
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Pond) Lamont, and Pleasant Hill. Old records which were found in these schoolhouses reveal that school convened in September and closed during the month of November. December, January, and February, the winter term, enabled older pupils to attend. Some were twenty-one years old. Often there were as many as sixty attending. The spring term of April, May, and June was attended mostly by the younger ones. Only one school house now replaces the old ones built in 1950. The new school house now stands where the old John Greer Hall stood and is used for the two first grades of Prairie Green and Lovejoy Townships. All other grades, including high school, go to Wellington.
The religious history of Prairie Green is perhaps similar to all other communities of the area. A Methodist class was formed at Abner Mitchell's home early in 1858. There was preaching around at the homes, but after the school houses were built, meetings were held in them. Every winter revivals of great interest would take place in these school houses. A Sunday School was organized in 1878 at the Maple Grove School. J. W. Dixon was superintendent for a number of years, M. Garrison, secretary. In the early 1880's the Pleasant Hill Methodist Church was constructed. A small society of United Brethren met in the Willow Brook school. The Prairie Green Church of Christ, organized about 1858, met at first in homes, at RouindTop, and in 1875 a building, costing approximately one thousand dollars, was erected on section 12. It was known at that time as the Hope Church of Christ but later was changed to the Prairie Green Church of Christ. The old school houses are gone and the Pleasant Hill Church closed in 1964. Instead of the old Hope Church of Christ, a new Prairie Green Church of Christ was erected near the crossroads at Greer. This building. costing $103,000, was dedicated July 6, 1958.
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Ridgeland Township
Ridgeland Township occupies the western part of what was originally Onarga Township. At the annual meeting of the Iroquois County Board of Supervisors in 1878. a petition was presented, asking that a part of Onarga Township be organized into a new township with the name of "Ridge." This division was approved, and the first township election was held in the Ridgeville school house in April, 1879.
The first officers of the township were Supervisor. A. R. Butler; town clerk, F. R. Jameson; assessor, D. B. Moffat; and collector, William M. Dinning. At the first meeting of the township board the name of the township was changed to Ridgeland to avoid confusion with the township of Ridge in Jackson county, Illinois.
This township was originally all prairie with a number of ridges ex- tending east and west in direction. Spring Creek rising in Ford County on the west, enters Ridgeland near its southwest corner, following irregu- larly in a northeasterly course nearly to the center of the township where it bends to flow southeasterly to leave the township on the eastern boun- dary. Artesian wells were also a source of water in the township.
Among the first of the settlers in this township was John Northrup who arrived in the early 1850's. He built the first mill and made the first brick that was made in the township. He also was one of the builders of the old court house in Middleport.
Other early settlers included Benjamin P. Norville who came in 1854, and Garner Oliver who followed shortly after Norville. Oliver was re-
Super Suds
General Store in Thawville, Illinois.
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sponsible for building the first blacksmith shop in the township. Ridgeland Township grew rather slowly until the Illinois Central Railroad was built through the township.
The Village of Ridgeville was laid out by Garner Oliver and others, five miles southwest of Gilman and three miles west of Onarga. It was a shipping point on the Illinois Central railroad line going to Springfield.
The larger village in Ridgeland Township is Thawville. This village was named in honor of William Thaw, a prominent railroadman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr. Thaw was a large stockholder in the Gil- man, Clinton and Springfield Railroad that later became a part of the Illinois Central System.
Most of the land of Thawville today was originally owned by Mr. Taylor John. Thawville was first platted about 1871. Although an at- tempt to incorporate Thawville failed in 1897, another attempt was suc- cessful in 1903.
The Congregational Church was the first church organized in the com- munity. The members of the congregation met in the home of Edmund F. Hoover in the winter of 1859 and 1860. The early settlers were mostly from Connecticut.
In 1879 a group of residents of the then Willow Grove School com- munity became interested in organizing another church. These people were Methodists and United Brethrens in denomination, but the Thaw- ville Methodists became a reality as a result of these efforts. The Lu- therans of Thawville became organized in about 1887, holding their serv-
Homestead in Ridgeland Township.
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ices in the Congregational Church until 1896. In that year they began construction of their own structure which was first used the following year.
The first school in the township was built east of the present Route 54. The first school building in Thawville was built in 1876. Any student who wished to pursue an education beyond the grade school level provided in the township could attend the Grand Prairie Seminary in Onarga.
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Sheldon Township
Sheldon Township was named after a village within its limits and was organized on April 7, 1868, by the election of the stipulated necessary officials. The number of votes polled at this organization meeting was recorded as 99, and the assessed valuation of property was $120,000. At the present time the registered voters number 927 and the last assess- ment of real property reached more than $8,000,000.
Also embraced within the township is the unincorporated village of Haxby located at the Illinois-Indiana state line and U. S. Route 24. This settlement is more familiarly known as Effner for the railway terminal located just east of the state line and south of the highway in Indiana. In the southwestern portion of the township is Darrow Station, consisting of a grain elevator, a church, and a residence. For many years another such station existed in the north central portion known as Eastburn Station consisting of an elevator, a church, and a couple of residences. During its early history this station had the distinction of having regular passenger traín services.
The timber was the scene of all settlements until 1848 when Zedic Parks, who had been living near Iroquois, marched out into the sea of prairie grass and pitched his tent on the road leading from Lafayette to Chicago. Jesse Eastburn, Sr. and his family were the first settlers in Sheldon Township coming from Adams County, Ohio, in 1832 when he was sixty-two years of age. He had nine children, four sons coming to Illinois and settling near their father's homestead. The eldest son and family had migrated to the prairies before his father and was one of the three first settlers in Iroquois County.
The prairie swamps of Sheldon township, "the place that seemed unfit for habitation of man," became a fertile countryside and, by 1870, was dotted with prosperous farms and comfortable homes. The first road within the township skirted the timber in the northwest portion. It led to Chicago via Iroquois, following the Old Hubbard Trail. Another was opened through the prairie from Lafayette to Chicago, also via Iroquois. Owing to the late settlement of the prairies, there were few permannt roads until the turn of the century. By 1880 the township had laid out roads on all the section lines. Bond issues were floated for road improve- ments. Sheldon township was the first community in Illinois to follow this procedure. The road between the town of Sheldon and the village of Haxby or Effner was built in 1904, and six years later (1910) the roads running south from town were built. Since then improvements have been made steadily until at the present time Sheldon township has approximately seventy miles of all weather roads.
Three railroads cross the township. The Toledo Peoria and Warsaw (TP&W) was completed during the winter of 1859-1860. In January, 1860 a switch was constructed and named Sheldon for an official of the railroad by the same name. The road is now operated by the Pennsyl- vania system. In 1871-1872 the Cincinnati, Lafayette and Chicago Rail-
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road was built. Later it became the Big Four (CCC&STL) and is now under the jurisdiction of the New York Central organization. These two roads gave access to the markets in all directions. In 1905-1906 a third system was constructed, transversing the township from north to south, cutting it near the center.
This was known as the Walsh Road since it was promoted by a finan- cier by that name. It connected Chicago and points south; its main pur- pose was to move heavy freight long distances, mostly loads of coal and grain. It is now a part of the Milwaukee system.
Purely an agriculture community, the industries developed were prompted by the need to dispose of farm products. Five grain elevators comprise the main industries of the township. Rated one of the top five townships in fertility of soil in the United States, grain storage has been a prime factor in its development. Sheldon's first business man started buying grain in 1859. His descendants have continued in that busi- ness until the present day. The first steam elevator was built in 1870. The Bishop Hominy Company, organized in 1SS1, continued in op- eration until 1945 when it was purchased by the Farmers Cooperative Elevator. It is interesting to note that five Bishop generations have lived in Sheldon and engaged in the grain business. This business later formed the nucleus of the Cleveland Grain Company. Many additions and im- provements have been made during the year. Since 1924 it has been operated by four nationally known grain brokerages between Chicago and Cincinnati. A small neighborhood elevator, built by A. M. Eastburn at Eastburn Station in 1891, is still in operation, managed by a descendant of the builder. Today it has a capacity of approximately ten thousand bushels. During the winter of 1896-1897 a company of farmers of the com- munity organized and started the operation of the Sheldon Elevator Com- pany. The first corn was bought at sixteen cents per bushel and the first oats at fourteen cents. Few communities had tried such a venture, and at
Corner of South 4th and West Center in Sheldon, Illinois. The Opera House was upstairs in this building.
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913HOPF
NOWINY O.O.
IMINT OMOP.
-
I
Bishop Hominy Co., Sheldon, Illinois.
Main Street of Sheldon, Illinois in 1900.
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first the infant industry received very little cooperation. But by 1901, the old building was too small and a new one was constructed, paid for out of the profits of the company. The growth has continued through the years and the facilities have been enlarged, modernized, and the services expanded. There has also been a reorganization in recent years, and the enterprize is now known as the Sheldon Farmers Cooperative. It is the oldest organization of its kind in Illinois. Shortly after the building of the Walsh ( Milwaukee) railroad an elevator was built south and west of the village by the Herron Patterson Grain Company. Located near the Darrough family homesteads, it became known as Darrow Sta- tion. A few years later a group of neighboring farmers organized and purchased the facilities. This organization has prospered and now exists under the name of the Darrow Cooperative Grain Company. The newest and most modern establishment of this type is a privately owned facility built in 1950 with a storage capacity of 500,000 bushels of grain.
More recently three new enterprises have sprung up in the commu- nity. Two are definitely farm or agricultural industries, and, in a manner of speaking, the third could also be so classified. A. H. Hoffman Incor- porated, manufacturers of fertilizers and plant food, has been operating a packaging and distributing plant for several years. About three years ago a branch of Custom Farm Services, a company servicing farms with large quantity fertilizers of all kinds has begun operation. The third is the Lectro-Loader Corporation, manufacturers of trailer and boat hitches, which can also be adapted to use with certain farm implements.
From the beginning the settlers of Sheldon Township manifested an interest in and lent great support to the establishment of schools. It is recorded that as early as 1850 several terms of a "subscription" School was held in a log building on the farm of Jesse Eastburn. At that time there were only a half-dozen families living in the township. The first district school in Sheldon Township was built in 1859 and took in most of the southern area. A school, in a log structure, was conducted near the east edge of the village about this same time. A small frame building was the next building constructed in 1861 or 1862. After moving this building to a different site, a new one was built in 1876, and a high school course was added. The first class of six members graduated in 1878. In 1900 the construction of a brick structure was begun. With the com- pletion of this building the high school curriculum was increased, and the high school became accredited. In 1940 an election was held, and the voters of the township voted to discontinue rural schools and to provide transportation to bring school children into the town schools. The old county school houses were abandoned.
As early as 1834 the United Brethren organization was formed with the first church building dedicated in 1875. About 1859 the Methodists held the organization meeting of that denomination in one of the school houses. The first Methodist Church was built in 1867. In 1886 the Presbyterian Church was organized. Prior to that time services of this
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group had been held every two weeks in various places available. Now the Methodist people offered to allow them the use of their building. The first church building to meet the needs of this group was dedicated in December 1894. In 1966 these three separate groups united and now form the United Church of Sheldon. A movement for a Christian Church of Christ was started in 1890 by a group of women who had at- tended a missionary rally. The first services were held in the Opera House, but in 1891 a building was erected and dedication services were held in January 1892. About 1912 following a "tent revival," a group of neighbors in the vicinity of Darrow Station formed the Darrow Christian Church. A building was erected the next year This group had been meet- ing irregularly in a nearby school house. During the summer of 1950 a group from Olivet College held a tent meeting in the interest of the Church of the Nazarene. Further services were held in the town hall, and during the fall the present church building was erected. At the present time four active religious groups are active in the community.
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Stockland Township
Stockland Township is situated in the southeastern part of Iroquois County, and is bounded on the north by Sheldon, on the east by the In- diana state line, on the south by Prairie Green, and on the west by Mil- ford. Stockland Township is nearly seven and a half miles in length north and south, and seven miles east and west with an area of about 33,914 acres. The only important stream is Sugar Creek, entering the township on the east side, in section 7. At first it flows west by north until it has passed what was once Crab Apple Grove; then it bends more to the south and continues in a somewhat southwesterly course, until it leaves the township near the line between section 18 and 19. The soil is exceedingly fertile and feed grain farming of corn, wheat, soybeans, some oats and small grain is the principal industry. The Sumner estate is the largest farm under one management, comprising several acres of land which has been held in the family for over 100 years. Stockland Township boasts approximately 25 farms which are in hands of heirs of original owners for over 100 years. The township has many black top roads and good bridges. Stockland Township boasts one historical bridge, namely, the one over Sugar Creek, at Sugar Creek Cemetery. (Still at- tracting the attention of many travelers), the iron work on this bridge helped support the dome of the administration building at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Electric lights came into Stockland Town- ship through the Central Illinois Power System to a few farm families. Later in 1938 the Eastern Illinois Power Cooperative came into existence and rural electrification came by degrees to farm homes until now, nearly all have the facilities of electrical equipment and appliances.
This township was formerly called Crab Apple, from a large grove of crab apple trees situated in the eastern part, and which at that time con- stituted the greatest continuous extent of timber in it, its estimated area being 70 acres. Just when the change of name was effected, or why it was done, does not clearly appear. The record of the township gave no account of proceedings which led to the change. Suffice it to say, the first record in which the name occurs is dated March 28, 1865, and as the previous entry is dated in the spring of 1864 and the name Crab Apple is there used, it is presumed that the change was made at some time during the year 1864, or between the dates above mentioned. The reason for the change is quite difficult to determine. Upon the question of a new name a great difference of opinion was manifested, until at length the name "Stockland" was suggested, and at once adopted. It has been told that Alba Honeywell, grandfather of Homer Beall Sr., suggested the name on account of the stock raised.
The first settlement in what is now the township of Stockland was made by Samuel Williamson who settled in Crab Apple Grove in March 1832. As late as 1850, not more than a dozen families had settled in Stock- land Township. Stockland was peopled with a class exclusively engaged
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in agricultural pursuits with corn and farm stock being the principal productions. There was no village in the township.
The people of Stockland Township were determined that their chil- dren should not experiense the same neglect of a common school educa- tion that they had, so as the country improved, school districts were multiplied and school houses built. The first school, a log building, was built in 1850 on the south side of Sugar Creek west of the cemetery called "Brush College." The first teacher who taught in this school was William Williamson. Later in 1872, the township was divided into ten school districts with a school house in each district. The population of Stockland was estimated at 1200. This must have been the population
a
.
4
--
Stockland Methodist Church built in 1893 which was moved to Stockland in 1905 and is in use in 1968.
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in the year of ISSO (H. W. Beckwith book), but the population today, 1967, is only about one half of that.
The first post office was established in 1854 at the J. H. Jones' house. The location of this place would be northwest of the village of Stockland and Mr. Jones was postmaster. It flourished for a year or two and then was discontinued. There was a mail carrier between Lafayette and Middleport via Milford, and this route took in the above post office; at this time there was no village in Stockland Township. The first public road located in this township was the Ottawa and Lafayette State road, running east through the central portion of the township to Indiana State line.
Township organization was effected April 1, 1856. Previous to this time, what is now known as Stockland formed a part of Milford precinct, with a voting place at Milford. When township organization was accom- plished this township was named Crab Apple and together with Prairie Green formed a political township. This relation existed for a short time, and then they became separate townships. The first township election in Crab Apple was held at the Gothic school house, but afterward they were changed to the Vienna school house. This school was located within what is now the village of Stockland and was directly north of today's elevators and south of the consolidated school.
John H. Gillan, county surveyor of Iroquois County, on August 27, 1901, at the request of William M. Dawson and Christopher Truman, owners, subdivided and laid off into lots, streets, and alleys, 10 square acres of land out of the northwest corner of the S. W. quarter of Sec. 19, T. 25 N. R. 10 W. to be known as Dawson Park. The lots were numbered from 1 to 46 inclusive. This small village, bordered on the north by the Freeland Branch of the C & EI railroad, consisted of several homes, a
Bridge over Sugar Creek in Stockland Township that was purchased in 1893 at the close of the Columbian Exposition in Chicago and moved to its present location where it is located today.
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store, the United Brethren Church, a park, a corn elevator, and a railroad depot.
At the present time (1967) it consists of four houses, the small park, and an elevator now only used for storage. The original home built by Mr. William Dawson still remains a part of Dawson Park. He was the owner of a 200 acre farm joining this small village on the south.
The first religious society organized was a class of United Brethren in 1853. Six years later, this society succeeded in building a house for public worship at a cost of $1000. Lumber for this building was hauled from Attica, Indiana, and Onarga, Illinois. It was situated on the left bank of Sugar Creek near where it was crossed by the state highway in the south half of section 17 and was named Sugar Creek Chapel.
The next church edifice to be erected in Stockland Township was the Antioch Christian Church. This was situated near the Milford- Stockland Township line in the extreme northwest corner of section 31. This building was the result of the planning and labors of the society which was organized in 1861. Meetings were held in the Gothic schoolhouse until 1867, when the chapel was built at a cost of $1600. On January 12,
Stockland Townhall in Stockland Township.
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1892 this building was destroyed by a fire caused by an over-heated stove.
No sooner had "Old Antioch" burned than plans were being made for the rebuilding of a place for Christian worship. A site was chosen one mile east of where "Old Antioch" stood, at what is known as the Fairview corner, located in the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 32, township 25, north range, 11 west. On September 25, 1842, a new "Christian Church" was dedicated, but later this building was struck by lightning and totally destroyed by the fire. Although the loss was keenly felt throughout the community, the congregation decided to disband. Most of the members affiliated with Milford or Stockland churches. A group of trees surrounds the spot where the church building stood.
Another religious group, the Methodists, was organized by Isabel Taylor, sister of Jennie Taylor Summer. Judge Samuel Williams of Woodland Methodist Church, knowing of their desire influenced them to form a nonprofit corporation for the purpose of teaching and worship- ping under the Methodist conference. In 1892 the first Sunday School and church was held in the Samuel Nolin tenant farm house and later moved to the Mitchell school house and operated until the new Crab Apple M. E. Church building was completed and dedicated in the fall of 1893. This was located in section 9 between what is now known as the Nolin bridge and "Cutmer" road (now leading to the popcorn plant ). This same church was moved to the present location in Stockland in 1905. It was remodeled and rededicated in the fall of 1906 when it became offi- cially known as the Stockland Methodist Church. The church building has been remodeled several times, an annex of two stories has been added to the main building containing modern classrooms and a reception room, which serves as a community center for all neighborhood activities. This is the only church now in Stockland Township.
The first school in Stockland that has previously been mentioned was the Vienna. Later a school house was built just a little south of where the present school now stands. This building burned and in 1916-1917 the present brick building was erected. In 1940 the schools in the township were consolidated. More room was needed, so in 1940 an addition was built and another in 1954. The Stockland Community Consolidated Grade School has an enrollment of over 100 pupils at the present time, (1967). School buses provide transportation for the pupils.
A Township High School unit was organized in 1907, and in Sep- tember of that year seventeen girls were enrolled in the freshman class. The town hall was the school room until the brick building under con- struction was completed. This was the first township high school in Iroquois County and the first commencement was held in June 1911 with four graduates. B. A. Winans was the first principal.
The high school, because of its small enrollment, was ordered closed May, 1961, and students for high school are transported to the neighboring high schools in Wellington, Sheldon, or Milford, tuition being paid by home township.
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Stockland Township High School organized in 1907.
General Store in Stockland, Illinois in 1906.
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Old Iroquois County Courthouse
1866 to 1881 (before 1st addition)
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Iroquois County Historical Society
As a result of the growing interest in the history of Iroquois County a County Historical Society was organized in 1967. This local interest and the planning for the observance of the Illinois Sesquicentennial encouraged a group of citizens to make plans for the Iroquois County Historical So- ciety. A charter to this organization was issued by the State of Illinois in May of 1967.
The Society was quite active in the Centennial Celebration that was held in Watseka in 1967 and has taken as a major project the restoration of the Old Iroquois County Courthouse on Cherry Street in Watseka. Much volunteer labor has caused this county landmark to become a site of his- torical interest and cultural value. It serves as the home for the Iroquois County Historical Museum as well as a center for community activities.
The present officers of the Historical Society are; President, Avery D. Shepherd of Gilman; Vice-president, Edward L. Davis of Onarga; Sec- retary, Mrs. Marvin M. Craig of Onarga; Treasurer, Mr. R. P. Roberts of Watseka; Directors, Mrs. Robert E. Meyer, Mrs. Wilbur Disosway, Mr. Jo- seph Kelley, Mr. Dale Nelson, Mr. Glenn Hamilton, Mr. Bernard Fleming, Mr. Charles Lundsberg, Mr. Wayne Rosenberger, Mrs. William Fox, Mr. John Bell, Mr. Kenneth Bauer, and Mrs. Warren Lockhart.
Officers of the Iroquois County Historical Society. Seated: (left to right) Major Edward L. Davis, Vice-President, Avery Shepherd, President. Standing: (left to right) Mrs. Marvin M. Craig, Secretary, and Mr. R. P. Roberts, Treasurer.
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Board of Directors of the Historical Society.
Seated: (left to right) Mrs. Robert Meyer, Mrs. Wm. Fox and Mrs. Wilbur Disosway. Standing (left to right) Mr. Glenn Hamilton, Mr. Joseph Kelley, Mr. Charles Lundsberg and Mr. Bernard Fleming. Absent were Mr. John Bell, Mr. Wayne Rosenberger, Mr. Kenneth Bauer, Mrs. War- ren Lockhart, Mr. Dale Nelson.
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New German Lutheran Church in Papineau, Illinois.
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Fording the Iroquois River at Old Texas.
BEAVERVILLE ILL
Looking north on Charles Street in Beaverville, Illinois.
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Lambert Co. elevator and Big 4 Depot in Beaverville, Illinois.
An early threshing outfit in Iroquois County.
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A single binder operating.
A pair of binders operating in Iroquois County.
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A one-row, horse-drawn corn picker.
Woodland's first concrete bridge built in 1911.
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Fourth and Walnut Streets in Watseka Looking West.
Northwest corner Fourth and Walnut Streets in Watseka, early 1900's.
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WAY
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BOUND BY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.364D75H C001 HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY
3 0112 025395051
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