USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources > Part 103
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· Mrs. Elizabeth Morgan, farmer, Sheldon, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, March 23, 1820. Her parents were Molleston and Susannah Fisher. Her mother died when she was nine months old. Her father died in Indiana, in 1861, nearly ninety years of age. In 1837 the family left Ohio and came to Huntington county, Indiana. Elizabeth was married, October 25, 1838, to Charles Morgan, who was born in North Carolina, and came to Indiana with his sisters when fifteen years of age. After marriage Mr. Morgan and wife remained for a time on their farm of 60 acres ; then sold and came to Warren
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STOCKLAND TOWNSHIP.
county, where they lived two years; again sold and removed to Stock- land in February, 1867. Mr. Morgan died September 8, 1874. The family have since continued to reside on the farm. They have had eleven children : Lorena, born May 29, 1840; Malinda, born October 12, 1841; Clinton, born April 8, 1843; Julia A., born January 7, 1845; Wesley, born November 20, 1846; Mary, born May 23, 1849; Isaiah, born April 30, 1852 ; Ascena A., January 26, 1855; Daniel L., born November 10, 1856 ; Ezra L., born November 16, 1860; Maria J., born September 9, 1862. Julia, Mary and Maria are dead. Two daughters and one son are married. Wesley enlisted in the 47th Ind. Vol., and served nearly three years. The husband and sons were republican in politics. Mrs. Morgan is a member of the United Brethren church. Her present circumstances are prosperous.
Jacob M. Harman, farmer and stock-dealer, Milford, son of Anthony and Sarah A. Harman, was born in Randolph county, Mis- souri, December 31, 1841. His father was from Virginia, and his- mother from Kentucky. They were married in Missouri, to which state the respective families had removed at an early date. Mrs. Har- man died September 10, 1844. Mr. Harman's father was again mar- ried, Marclı 26, 1846, to Theodosia Carver, by whom he had two chil- dren : Oscar and Robert. April 27, 1865, J. M. Harman married Miss Emma Cox, who was born in Monroe county, Missouri, December 28, 1845. They have three children : Jacob A., born March 7, 1866; Charlie, born July 30, 1871; and an infant, born August 6, 1879. Mr. Harman continued to live with his father until the property in Mis- souri was exchanged for land in Benton county, Indiana. He lived a short time in Indiana, when he removed to his present location in Stockland in 1871. 'Mr. Harman is extensively engaged in raising corn and cattle, and has an excellent farm. With his two brothers, Oscar and Robert, he occupies an extensive tract of about 4,000 acres in Illinois and Indiana. Mr. Harman is a stanch republican, and he and wife are members of the Christian church.
The parents of Alfred U. Hamilton, farmer, Milford, Wiley and Lucinda Hamilton, were from New England. The father was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, and served through the war of 1812 as a lieutenant and saw active service. The mother was an Upson, and was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. Alfred U. Hamilton was born in Summit county, Ohio, May 13, 1812. His grandfather, Hamilton, served through the American revolution. His great-grandfather was a brother of Alexander Hamilton, with whom he emigrated from Scotland. Mr. Hamilton's parents moved to Olio in 1802 with Judge Payne. In 1833 the family removed to Toledo, where they remained
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
fourteen years. The parents died in Ohio. Mr. Hamilton was mar- ried, December 25, 1845, to Miss Susan Hubbell. They have three sons and one daughter. The daughter is married. In 1847 the family came to Attica, Indiana, where they lived three years. In 1850 Mr. Hamilton removed to Iroquois county and settled in Loda, and in 1878 came to Stockland. Mr. Hamilton is by trade a ship-carpenter. He worked in Toledo and Attica. He finally abandoned his trade and has since devoted himself to farming. Mr. Hamilton is a republican. Mrs. Hamilton is a member of the Christian church.
MARTINTON TOWNSHIP.
Martinton occupies a position in the center of the northeast quarter of the county, having Papineau on its northern boundary, Beaver on its eastern, Middleport and Iroquois townships on its southern, and the Iroquois river on its western boundary, and contains all of town 28, range 12 west of the 2d principal meridian, and all lying east of the river, (being about one-half) of town 28, range 13. The Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad passes from north to south nearly through its center, having the station of Martinton on it; and the Cincinnati, La Fayette & Chicago railroad runs by the northeastern corner of the town, giving to its citizens the benefit of Chicago, Cincinnati and eastern markets by two railroads, which in their very nature cannot combine and "pool" their earnings from this vicinity. The soil is chiefly the fertile sandy loam common along the Iroquois river. Originally nearly one-third of its surface was covered with timber. Along its western portion the timber along the river, extending about two miles back from the stream and along Pike creek, was heavy, and was drawn on for fencing, building and fuel, as it still is. For several miles along its eastern side, Bean's Grove stretched out, affording hospitable shelter for those pioneers who there made their homes. Until the building of the two roads referred to the farms here were distant from market, and this distance was a serious drawback to the cultivation of the land, but it was a favorite grazing-ground for those who were looking to the raising of cattle. With the increased railroad facilities, however, the land came rapidly into more complete cultivation, and the free system of drainage adopted is fast reclaiming even those portions which were supposed to be impossible to cultivate.
The first settlers in the township are believed to have been those who came to Bean's Grove and put up their cabins along from 1833 to 1840. As they are nearly all gone now and their places supplied by others, the
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dates of their coming and going can only be approximately deter- mined. The writer is under obligations for such information to Mr. Bean, of Donovan. Aaron Rush is believed to have been the first of these, and must have arrived here about 1833. He resided here nearly forty years. He removed to Wisconsin about 1873, and died there. A son lives at Watseka, and a daughter, Mrs. Green, lives here yet. Mr. Cottrel, who came soon after, removed to near Watseka, twenty- five years ago, and his family went to Iowa and Kansas. Benjamin King, who came here soon after, returned to Indiana and died there. James Williams was another early settler. He went to Wisconsin with his family many years ago.
E. M. Hammond, who came about 1836, died here some fifteen years since. His son, Charles, resides on the place yet. Jones Green died on the place which he early took up, about 1854. His widow lives on the place. His son, Sidney, lives near, and daughters, Mrs. Gillaspie and Mrs. Sherill, in Watseka. Mr. Gillaspie, who was another of the pioneers, died on the place where his family still lives. John Merrily still lives on the farm which he early reduced from its wild condition, though his family, except one son, have all died. Mr. Edwards moved many years ago to Momence, and from there to Bour- bonnais, where he followed the occupation of milling. Further west from the Bean's Grove settlement, and just on the south line of the township, old man Floyd, as he is still called, built a shanty near where the Van Meeter house now stands, about 1845, and lived in it some years.
Thomas Yates, known all over this end of the state of Illinois as one of the cattle kings of the west, was one of the first settlers in the western portion of Martinton. He and his father had subdued the land lying south of L'Erable, over on the west side of the Iroquois, and covered it over with good graded cattle and sheep, early in the forties. Becoming crowded there (John Wilson on the south, Thomes Stump on the west, and Peter Spink on the north, each two miles away) he sold to Mr. Ayres, and crossed over the Jordan (Iroquois), where he could have room to spread and keep a few hundred head of cattle. With a constitutional tendency to scatter, he ranged all over this side of the river, and is now in Iroquois township. John Scoon settled where he now lives, a few years later. He had a large family of children.
For a long time these three pioneers, Yates, Bryant and Scoon, were the only residents in this part of Martinton. They had no school except as they sent their children across the river on the ice or in small boats, and so far as roads, bridges, and other conveniences of civilization were concerned, they might as well have been the only 31
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
settlers in the county. They held out bravely, however, and finally saw this region, which. had so long been terra incognita filled up with a teeming population. A neat school-house stands on the road near by, and every evidence of civilization appears where so long the wilderness . was untouched.
In the olden time, before the railroad was known, the old stage- route from Bourbonnais to Middleport traversed this township, but there was no post-office within its present boundaries. The old Demo- crat post-office, a relic of our early congressman, John Wentworth, the long-time editor and proprietor of the Chicago " Democrat," was down on Beaver creek. At the time the Martins came here to live, and began business at Old Martinton, Mr. Beckett was appointed post- master of Democrat and received his commission, but all endeavors to get a post-route to that place failed, and it was. not until the railroad was built in 1871, that a post-office was established in the township.
Porter Martin,- from whom the township received its name,- removed here about the time the Central railroad was built through the county, and with his family has been largely identified with the interests of the township since that time. They were originally from Vermont, and were imbued with the " green mountain " spirit of enter- prise and " push." He had four sons : James, John, Warren and Bar- ney ; and two daughters: Mrs. Stearns and Mrs. Burnham. James commenced mercantile business with Mr. Beckett, at Old Martinton, in 1856. A town was laid out and lots were sold, but no record of the plat was ever made. Martin & Beckett sold the store to John L., he to Porter, who in turn sold to S. J. Martin, and she to J. W. Stearns & Co., who moved the stock when New Martinton was laid out on the railroad, to that place. The point was a famous trading point, and it is known that as high as $24,000 worth of goods were sold some years. Mr. Carreau had a blacksmith shop there, and that prince of good fel- lows, A. O. Edison, after having helped build the Central railroad as far south as Spring creek, settled liere and opened up a wagon-shop, and followed the trade of carpenter and house-builder. Mr. Edison is a cousin of the genius of Menlo Park, who lias recently made his naine famous by those wonderful inventions, wherein he has shown that human ingenuity can counterfeit nature in matters pertaining to sound and light.
Mr. and Mrs. Martin, and their sons John and James, are dead. Warren lives on a farm in this township, and Barney is the station agent and lightning-dispenser at Martinton station, and shows that it does not spoil a Vermont Yankee boy for general usefulness, by being brought up in the Iroquois timber.
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MARTINTON TOWNSHIP.
Considerable land in the township is owned by non-residents. Mason Ayers, who was among the early settlers in this county, and now in his old age residing in West Virginia, owns 1,041 acres in sec- tions 26, 27 and 28, along Little Beaver creek, which is mostly in pas- ture, and is occupied by Mr. Thomas Stump, of Ashkum township, who keeps a lot of cattle on it. Mr. W. N. Coney, a merchant in Watseka, owns six improved farms in different portions of the town, and several other tracts, and Donovan & Vennum have half a section. Peter Enos, who resides in Chebanse, owns the south half of 26 and north half of 35, range 13, half of which is in cultivation and half in pasture.
The earlier settlers were mostly from Indiana or Ohio, and a few came in later from the eastern states. There are scattered here and there representatives from most foreign countries. Of late years the French Canadians from the settlements in Ashkum and Papineau have spread into this town, and many of the citizens of the township are of that nativity.
There is no church in Martinton. Most, if not all, of the French residents are members of the Roman Catholic church, and attend wor- ship regularly either at L'Erable, Papineau or St. Mary's. The Martin family were Universalists in belief, and had occasional preaching by clergymen of that denomination at Old Martinton. Many of the resi- dents are Spiritualists in belief. The Christian denomination had some years since an organization at Bean's Grove, and kept up services with more or less regularity. When Donovan became a town the organization was moved there.
Politically, the town was strongly republican until the " farmers' movement " which swept over this and adjoining counties in 1873, since which it has been usually in opposition to the republican party, but never democratic. At the September meeting of the board of supervisors, in 1857, the present town of Martinton was set off and named Buchanan, from the then president of the United States. The first town meeting was held at the store of Martin & Beckett, for years the place of holding all public meetings. In 1858 Thomas Mag- gee was the first supervisor, as up to this time the last. Two years later the election of Mr. Martin, one of the family which during more than a quarter of a century has been a central figure in the business, official and social life of the township, suggested a change to the appro- priate name of Martinton. At the first election which occurred, in 1858, Thomas Maggee was chosen supervisor ; N. M. Bancroft, clerk ; J. P. Martin, assessor ; J. Matzenbaugh, collector ; J. P. Martin and E. M. Hammond, justices of the peace. With the exception of two
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
years (1872-3), Messrs. Martin and Maggee have held the office of supervisor all the time since the organization of the township. Victor Pettior has acted as collector for the last sixteen years. At the elec- tion in 1858, 66 votes were cast. At the present writing the voting population is nearly 200, indicating a population of about 1,000. The present officers of the township are: Thomas Maggee, supervisor ; S. Lottinville, clerk ; A. O. Edison, assessor ; Victor Peltier, collector ; and J. L. Martin and Victor Peltier, justices of the peace.
January 13, 1868, at a special town meeting, the town voted by fifty- five to forty-two in favor of a tax of $10,000 to the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes Railroad Company. At a later day the town, at a special town meeting, voted by a large majority, which amounted to almost unanimity, against issuing $12,000 in bonds for the same railroad com- pany. Soon after this the officers of the township issued to the com- pany $11,000 in bonds in lieu of the money which was to have been raised by the tax voted in January, 1868, under the belief that bonds to the amount of $11,000 would be equivalent, to the company and to the township, to the tax voted. There seems to be no charge that the offi- cers acted otherwise than in the utmost good faith toward the company and the township. Still, as the township never voted to issue bonds,- indeed, voted almost unanimously not to do so,-there is said to be a disposition shown, however, on the part of the company or its success- ors, to attempt to enforce by law their claim against the town under the vote of January 13, 1868.
MARTINTON VILLAGE.
Martinton, a hamlet of twenty-five houses and the usual ware- houses, stores and shops, was laid out when the railroad was built on land of Adam Wamba; but following the custom in such cases he had to convey it to the railroad company before a depot could be secured. The company conveyed it to John L. Donovan, who platted the town, and through whom title of all lots was received. J. W. Stearnes was the first to commence mercantile business here, by bringing his stock of goods from Old Martinton in the spring of 1872. Thomas Maggee, Jr., commenced buying grain for Simon & Runyan during that winter. Mr. Comstock put up the warehouse, and still owns it. Dr. Collins was the first physician, and was succeeded by Dr. Tascher, and he by Dr. B. L. Ewans, the present one. Mr. Stearnes sold his mercantile business to Bowman, who a few months later moved the goods to Watseka. Savoie & Lottinville engaged in mercantile business, and, after Mr. Bowman retired, took in Mr. Massy as a partner, and carried on two stores until 1877, when the firm dissolved, Mr. Lottinville
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MARTINTON TOWNSHIP.
retaining the hardware trade, which he still carries on. The other store was sold to E. T. Frechette & Son, who continue it yet. Massy, Pilotte & Co. bought grain liere from 1871 to 1877. Laveau & Legaree carry on the grain trade, and sell lumber, coal, etc. Mr. Fos- bender also has an agent buying grain here, and Mr. Wamba deals in hay. Henry G. Stearnes was the first postmaster; Victor Peltier was appointed in February, 1875, and continues in office yet. The village was incorporated in 1875. September 24 the county court ordered an election to be held, on petition duly presented, and the election was held October 23. Isaac Pilotte, Peter Gamache, Barney Martin, Sam- uel Lottinville, Levi Case and A. Belgard were elected trustees; Pilotte was elected president; V. Peltier, clerk ; and A. Belgard police magistrate. Mr. Peltier has continued to act as clerk the entire time, and he and Mr. Lottinville are now the oldest business men in town.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
William Lyman, farmer and stock-raiser, Pittwood, was born in Pennsylvania, July 21, 1811. When six years of age with his parents he moved to Stark county, Ohio, where he spent his youth with his parents engaged in farming till he came to Illinois in May, 1837. He at once entered government land in Iroquois county, and engaged in farming and stock-raising, the country at that time being well fitted for tlie latter business. At the time he settled in this connty there were scarcely any improvements of any kind, and his nearest market was Chicago, where he hauled grain withi ox teams, fording the streams, a bridge tlien being a thing unknown. Many times during his pioneer life, when the rivers and creeks were unfordable, he was compelled to grind corn for bread in a coffee-mill, or pound it in a mortar made in the top of an oak log or stump, and so live for weeks till the roads, or rather prairies, rivers, creeks and sloughs became passable, and he has, after going to mill, had his return delayed by bad weather for weeks. In 1831 he married Mrs. Shipman, who is a native of New Jersey, and was born November 15, 1796, and with whom he is still living. They lived for many weeks after their arrival in this county under the protecting branches of an oak tree, having no material with which to build. He now has 290 acres of land, and his patent is signed by President Martin Van Buren. He has two children living : Hannah, wife of John L. Barley; and Andrew W., with whom he now lives. His home farm is on section 6, town 27, range 13, in the old Lyman settlement.
Andrew J. Lyman, farmer and stock-raiser, Pittwood, came to Iro- quois county, Illinois, in 1839, from Stark county, Ohio, where he
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
was born July 7, 1836. His father, he thinks, built the fourth house in old Middleport, formerly the county-seat of Iroquois county, but lie soon after died, and Andrew's mother married again and removed north about four miles, to the place known as the Lyman settlement. Here he lived with his mother till the age of fifteen years. His mother then died, and he then began for himself by working out at breaking prairie. His school advantages were very limited, only going to school about six months. His teacher was Miss Eliza Gard- ner, who taught the first school in the Lyman settlement. November 19, 1861, he married Miss Elmira Brandenburg, who was born in Fountain county, Indiana, November 29, 1843; and August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Co. B. 113th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., and was honorably dis- charged February 17, 1863, by reason of disability. He now owns 120 acres of land, all earned by his own industry, hard labor and close attention to business. He has lived here to see this county pass through a great change. Deer and other wild animals occupied undis- turbed all the surrounding country when he first came, and now it is thickly settled and well improved with railroads and villages in every direction. His nearest market formerly was Chicago, where he has hauled grain with ox teams, requiring at times eight yoke of oxen to haul through the Calumet swamps. He has six children : Frank A., Cora J., Alta S., Mary, Kittie and Ida P.
Russel B. Weygandt, farmer and stock-raiser, Martinton, is a native of Ohio, and was born March 21, 1834. His early youth, till about the age of fifteen years, was spent with his parents in Ohio attending school. In October, 1849, lie came in company with his parents to Iroquois county, Illinois, and settled with them near where he now lives, and engaged in farming and stock-raising, the latter business being engaged in to great advantage at that time. The townships of Papineau and Martinton derived their first name from his father's name. His near- est market then was Chicago by team, a distance of about seventy miles, via the old Hubbard trail. September 15, 1859, lie married Miss Mary A. Murphy, a native of Indiana. August 8, 1862, he volunteered his services to his country, and became a member of company I, 113tlı Ill. Inf., and was severely wounded June 10, 1864, and after a month's treatment by the regimental surgeon was sent home. He remained at home five months, and then returned to his regiment before his wound was liealed and actively engaged until discharged June 29, 1865, hav- ing risen to the position of orderly-sergeant of his company. January 25, 1877, his wife died, and October 12, 1879, he married Miss Adelia Phillips, a native of North Carolina, and born October 5, 1844. He now has four children living: Silas J., Francis M., Annie May and
1
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MARTINTON TOWNSHIP.
James A. He owns 160 acres of land two miles east of Martinton station, very highly improved. He lias filled the position of school treasurer two terms, commissioner of highways three years, school trustee three years, and school director many years.
Samuel Lottinville, hardware merchant, Martinton, was born May 19, 1843, at Riviere du Loup, Canada. At the age of eight years, with his parents, he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Iroquois county. He was one of the many on board the ill-fated steamer Atlantic, that was wrecked and sunk on Lake Erie, August 19, 1851. He was res- cued from the sinking vessel the last minute before she went down. His parents and family were all saved, but lost everything they had except their night clothing. He lived with his parents, engaged in farming, till the time of his father's death in October, 1865. He was then by the county court appointed administrator of his father's estate. He continued in the business of farming and stock raising till 1874, when he removed to Martinton station and engaged in the mer- cantile business, in which business he is still employed. March 3, 1867, he married Miss Lucy Savoi. She is a native of Canada, and was born September 11, 1843. They have four children living as follows : Frederick E. A., George H. L. C., Nelda Celina and Joseph Ezra. In September, 1862, he enlisted in company K, 4th Ill. Cav. At the battle of Coffeeville, Tennessee, he was wounded, but remained with his regiment in all its active movements. He has filled the position of township clerk four years, and clerk of Martinton village board three years.
Winfield S. Yates, dealer in general merchandise, Pittwood, was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, April 11, 1852, and is a son of Thomas Yates, one of this county's early pioneers. His early youth was spent with his parents in this county, engaged in stock-raising and farming. His educational advantages, owing to the newness of the country, were very poor, but by a determined will and close applica- tion to his studies he acquired a fair education. January 30, 1872, he married Miss Nellie C. Lindsey, who was born at South Bridgewater, Massachusetts, October 2, 1852, and in early childhood came to what is now Kankakee, Illinois. Her father was one of the first to settle in that place, but soon after he removed to Iroquois county, Illi- nois. After Mr. Yates' marriage he at once engaged in farming and stock-raising for himself, which business he followed till March 7, 1879, when he removed to the village of Pittwood, in this county, and engaged in the general mercantile trade. Besides attending to his store he is acting agent for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Company and the American Express Company. He has one child,
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