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 82
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yours Tuely Ab Rankin M.D.
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manager, died, and then it was idle for a time. Archibald Leckey then took charge of it, repaired it up, and the second day after starting it he lost his life by falling into a hot-water tub. The death of nearly all those interested stopped operations, and soon after it was burned, and the ground where it stood is now in cultivation.
The destruction of the distillery was followed almost immediately by the building of the new railroads which cross each other at Hoopes- ton, which deprived Loda of the trade of a large region of country which had before that been tributary to it, and the building of the Gilman & Springfield road cut off from the west a portion of the trade in that direction. A number of her business men found locations elsewhere, and many of her houses were empty. The people in the country who were making new farms found it was cheaper to go to Loda and buy a house than to build one, and many were hauled out to the surrounding farms. The town is partially recovering her former business prosperity, and is by no means the dull, dead place that has been represented. The business men are fully employed and are evi- dently prosperous.
CHURCHES, SOCIETIES, ETC.
A preliminary meeting was held by those who desired to join in the organization of a Baptist church, February 14, 1857, at which Adam Smith was chairman. It was determined to organize a church, and articles of faith and church government were adopted, and a com- mittee was appointed to correspond with a view to having a council of churches convene to recognize such action, according to the custom of this denomination. March 14, a council met composed of delegates from churches at Spring Creek, Hopewell, Urbana and Champaign (Rev. A. L. Farr presiding, and J. C. Griffing acting as clerk), which sanctioned the action of the church organization, with the following original members: Adam Smith and wife, D. B. Davis and wife, J. V. Riggs and wife, and Albert Riggs and wife. May 2, A. Smith, J. V. Riggs and A. Goodell were appointed trustees.
May, 1879, a committee was appointed to represent this church in the Christian Association of Loda, composed of delegations from all churches here, for united action. In 1860 a call was extended to Rev. S. M. Brown, which was accepted. March, 1863, pastor Brown resigned. August 27, 1864, Rev. Harry Smith was chosen pastor and served two years. The first church was built in 1864 and 1865. It was 40×60, two stories high, and was built under the management and largely through the contribution of Mr. Smith. He reported that it cost nearly $10,000, which is likely, as everything he built cost a good deal more than it ought to. In 1874 Rev. John Dunham was pastor.
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During his pastorate, January 31, 1875, the fine church edifice was burned. The organ, library and carpet were saved. The fire was understood to have originated around the register, from an over-heated furnace. The Methodists kindly offered the destitute congregation the use of their church, which was thankfully accepted. In 1876 Rev. W. H. Roberts was pastor. June 3, 1877, the new church was dedicated ; it cost $2,317, and it is 36×60. In 1878 Elder Roberts resigned to accept an appointment to the Burmah mission. The church numbers seventy-two members. A Sabbath school has been maintained through- out the time. W. Wait is superintendent. The school numbers about one hundred, with ten teachers.
A preliminary meeting of those desiring the organization of a Con- gregational church at Loda, was held October 19, 1857, at which a council was invited to meet and sanction the organization. The council met November 4, consisting of Rev. W. W. Patton, of the First Con- gregational church of Chicago; Rev. J. E. Roy, of Plymouth church ; Rev. W. H. Smith, of Kankakee; W. S. Hoyt, from West Urbana ; and S. A. Van Dyke. The church was organized with the following original members: Talcott Smith and wife, Mrs. M. D. Rankin, Simeon Hackley, Albert James, Mrs. William Gould, Mrs. C. E. Gould, Miss Sarah H. Gould, Dr. L. T. Haines, Mrs. Rachel Haines, Edward Lamb and wife, N. P. Clark and wife, Sarah G. Clark, James Harkness and Dorcas Hackley. Dr. L. T. Haines and Simeon Hackley were elected deacons for two years, and Albert James, clerk and treasurer. A com- munication was received from Mr. Charles Merriam, of Springfield, Massachusetts, one of the publishers of " Webster's Dictionary," enclos- ing a donation to the church of $300, on the sole condition that the clerk should each year send him a report of the condition of the church and congregation. The money was accepted and the church was named Merriam Congregational church of Loda, but for several years the report was not sent. After a few years Mr. Uriah Copp was elected clerk, and learning the delinquency in this matter, the church, like the prodigal, came to itself, and began sending the annual statements, which were acknowledged by Mr. Merriam by remittances of from $20 to $50 for the Sabbath school.
Rev. A. L. Rankin acted as minister for one year from January 1, 1858. N. P. Clark was elected deacon in 1858. Rev. William Gould succeeded Mr. Rankin for two years. The church was built in 1859 and 1860 ; it is 32×50, and cost $1,500. The Sabbath school was com- menced in 1859, with Mr. Gould as superintendent. For sixteen years Mr. Copp has superintended this school, and has brought the energy, tact and spirit to the work which has characterized his labors in other spheres.
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It numbers about 125, with nine teachers. It lias 500 volumes in its library, besides in a spirit of missionary enterprise furnishing five prairie schools with libraries. Thus has the moderate contributions of Mr. Chiarles Merriam borne fruit which is of inestimable valne.
Organizing the Methodist church was largely due to the ministerial efforts of Father Dunham and Rev. Thomas Cotton. "The latter sends, at the request of the writer, from his present home at Purdy, western Tennessee, the following reminiscences, which should find place here :
" In response to your request for some items of information con- cerning the organization of Methodist churches in Iroquois county, and my share in the work, I will endeavor to give a few facts in a plain, brief manner, presuming that there are some who yet remember me, and to whom they may be of interest.
" I was appointed to Middleport circuit in the fall of 1857, when it extended up the river to the Indiana state line, and included Bunkum (or Iroquois), and extended soutli to beyond Milford. Ash Grove had previously belonged to the charge, but was then separated. One of the most prominent and popular of my predecessors was Rev. W. J. Giddings. . .. Then were formed those strong attachments which continue to this day, and have caused my family to regard Iroquois county as their loved home. Among those who aided me in my work I must make mention of J. H. Empre, D. Fry, the Hogle Bros. (though not members of the church), and the venerable George Vennum, Hon. Samuel Williams, William Garner, and the late Jesse Eastburn. In September, 1859, I was appointed to Loda, then a new and weak work, with but a handful of members, and with neither church nor parson- age. The society was, I believe, organized by Rev. Jacob Horn, then pastor at Ash Grove, who died at Old Middleport a short time since. My immediate predecessor at Loda was the venerable Ella Dunham, then a recent immigrant from New England, a worthy exponent of Puritan spirit.
"During my two years at Loda we were favored with some revi- vals, the work was established on a more independent and permanent basis, and a parsonage erected in the western part of town. In the advancement of the church at Loda I was greatly aided by the zeal, firmness and devotion of brother E. D. Hall, afterward a minister in the Central Illinois conference, and now of Providence conference. [An extract from this interesting letter, referring to the work at Buck- ley, will be found under that head.] The second year of my pastoral labors closed my four-years residence in that county. I can only allude to my removal to Pontiac, to my two-years service in the army as chaplain, to five-years itineracy in Woodford county, and my more
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than ten-years labor in the southern field. My present charge embraces a large scope of country, including the historic battle-field of Shiloh and the vicinity of Corinth, Mississippi.
"With best wishes for the success of your enterprise,
"I remain, dear sir, yours truly, THOS. COTTON."
During most of its history the Loda church has been served by the same preachers who labored at Buckley. The church was built during Mr. Collins' ministerial labors in 1864 and 1865. It is 32×50 and cost about $2,000. The Sabbath school was organized with Mr. Amos Ford, who now resides at Normal, as first superintendent. S. E. Hitchcock and Joseph Hobbs have been his successors. The member- ship is about sixty.
The Roman Catholic church was first gathered here about 1870, under the ministration of Father Fanning, priest-in-charge in Gilman, now of Fairbury. Mr. Fanning has been the leader in collecting most of the congregations of his faith through this strip of territory, from Chenoa to the state line. He was followed by Fathers Bloome and Van Schwadler. The church was built in 1874. It is 26×44, and cost about $2,000. Father Cahill was first resident priest. The parish includes Loda, Rankin, Gibson city and Melvin, and embraces about 250 families. The priest usually holds service in each point one Sabbath. Father Martin F. Kelley, who is now in charge of the parish, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and educated there and at the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, at Niagara Falls. He has but recently arrived here, and is giving promise of great efficiency in the important field which is given into his charge by the church.
The Abraham Jonas Lodge, No. 316, A.F. and A.M., was instituted October 5, 1859, with the following charter members: L. T. Haines, W.M .; R. D. Foster, S.W .; J. D. Mick, J.W .; Moses Wilcox, Joshua Huestis, D. G. McMillen, T. H. Swain, William Wilson, Geo. Delker and E. G. Harrington. The following have, in turn, served as masters of the lodge : L. T. Haines, R. D. Foster, E. G. Harrington, J. T. Weir, W. H. Bradley, T. H. Swain, T. N. Boue. Lodge meets first and third Mondays of each month, and numbers twenty-one. The present officers are : T. N. Boue, W.M .; F. B. Coleman, S.W .; Dan. Healey, J.W .; Fred Veder, treasurer; W. H. Bradley, secretary; C. W. Long, S.D .; James Baxter, J.D .; George Delker, S.S .; T. D. Healey, J.S .; L. S .; Kelch, tiler.
A lodge of Odd-Fellows was in operation some years, but the charter has been surrendered.
The Spring Grove Lodge, No. 411, I.O.G.T., was organized Feb- ruary 25, 1861, with Uriah Copp, Jr., Rev. Thomas Cotton and forty-
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eight others as charter members. Mr. Copp was the first worthy chief, a position which he has filled for much of the time of its existence. The lodge has never omitted to send its quarterly report to the Grand Lodge since it was instituted, and has been in good working condition all the time. It has taken the lead in all temperance efforts, and has done more to educate the people to vote against licensing dram-shops, than any and all other temperance efforts combined. It has organized several other lodges in this part of the county, and has been the center from which temperance light has shed its rays in all directions. The present membership is seventy-five. The present officers are : T. N. Bone, P.W.C.T .; Addison Curtis, W.C.T .; Allie Archer, W.V.T .; U. Copp, Jr., W. Sec .; J. S. Sheldon, W.F.S .; Minnie Carrington, W.T .; George Kinsman, W.M .; Mary Middleton, W.G .; Harry Row- ley, W. Sent .; Lydia Van Hise, W. Chap .; Carry Carrington, Asst. Sec .; Miss L. Hungerford, R.H.S .; Fannie Sheldon, D.M., J. S. Shel- don, L.D.
The school at Loda is graded to four departments-primary, inter- mediate, grammar and high-school. It is under charge of W. D. Gardner, formerly of Gilman, with three assistants: Miss Emma Stan- ard, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hobbs. The average attendance is about 160. Pupils are taken through all the higher branches taught in the public schools of this state, and the ancient languages are optional. The school year is nine months.
INCORPORATION.
In pursuance of a call signed by twenty-three citizens, a meeting was held at Dare's hotel, June 27, 1863, to vote for or against incorpo- ration. Of these twenty-three, only J. Huestis, A. S. Austin, Jr., W. H. Bradley and A. Goodell, are here now. The meeting voted unanimously in the affirmative. W. R. Smith acted as chairman, and Uriah Copp, Jr., as clerk. July 6, an election was held for five trus- tees ; thirty-seven votes were cast, and the following were elected : A. D. Southworthi, J. T. Bullard, George Shafer and A. J. Hammond. : On organizing, A. D. Southworth was chosen president, and Lewis Lyon, clerk. The boundaries of the town were fixed to include all of tlie original town of Loda, and all the additions which had been plat- ted. A. D. Southworth was appointed police magistrate, and Uriah Copp, Jr., was selected by the board to fill the position.of president, thus made vacant. This incorporation was under the general act then in vogue, and soon after a special charter was obtained, which some- what enlarged the powers of the board. September 1, 1873, the town voted to accept the general act for the government of villages, passed
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in 1872. The present officers are : Frederick Veder, president ; John Madix, D. V. B. Holcomb, T. G. Butter and W. H. Copp, trustees; Volney Weaver, clerk ; William Weaver, police magistrate ; A. Goodell, treasurer. For some years license was granted for the sale of liquors, but more recently the views of the temperance party have prevailed, and license is not granted.
The first paper published in Loda, or in this part of the county, was started by Gov. D. S. Crandall, in 1856-" The Garden State." It was an independent, six-column paper, devoted to local interests, lit- erature and home affairs. It was never considered a great success in a financial point of view, but was published because its proprietor had long been in the editorial harness, and could not content himself, when coming to a new country, to be without a newspaper of his own. Its publication continued for four years.
The "Loda Independent" was published by Mr. Wolf in 1866, for one year, after which he went to LeRoy, in McLean county.
Mr. Rathbun published the "News" for two years, commencing in .1872.
The "Register," edited by Dr. J. C. Dunham, has been published for five years, and the "Times," edited by Volney Weaver, is in its first year.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Fredrick Veder, farmer, section 31, was born in New York, April 21, 1815, and moved to Milwaukee in 1836, and stayed there till 1841. He was married, in 1855, to Emily Stark; she, too, was born in New York. They are the parents of five children, three living: Peter, Angel and Tilla. The deceased are: Frederick and Harrison. Mr. Veder has almost retired from active business life. He helped to raise recruits for the Mexican war. He was for several years engaged in building and running canal-boats, at which business he was very success- ful. He is a man well respected in the community in which he lives. He is a democrat, and in religion a liberal. He owns 340 acres of good land in this township.
Hon. Addison Goodell, banker, Oakalla, the subject of this sketch, and whose portrait appears in this work, is probably as widely and favorably known as any citizen of Iroquois county. He is a native of Lake county, Ohio, where he was born July 16, 1822, and is the son of N. P. and Hannah M. (Griswold) Goodell. His early life was spent at farming, he being fortunate enough, however, to have re- ceived a good academic education. He began at the age of seventeen years to teach school, which he followed as an occupation for about six years, during which time he taught a private school in Louisville,
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Kentucky, for about two years. After giving up teaching he engaged in the lumber trade, making Painesville, Ohio, his headquarters. This business he became so far interested in as to have several vessels coast- ing on Lake Erie, which were loaded with lumber at different ports in Ohio, Michigan and Canada, and destined for an eastern market. In 1855 he came to Illinois, and in July of that year located at Loda. Having disposed of his business in Ohio he again began the lumber trade in Loda. This, however, in a few years he gave up, as he had become interested in the real-estate business, and in the negotiating of loans in farm securities for eastern capitalists. These two branches have mostly occupied his attention since he has been a resident of Iroquois county, though in 1856 he began a banking business, which he has since continued. The building up of the town of Loda has been due mainly to his efforts, as churches, schools and all public insti- tutions have received from him very liberal donations, and a generous support. He may have been actuated through motives of policy to have been thus anxious for the prosperity of the village, as he has been very extensively interested in real-estate in the vicinity, but his generosity as well as leniency having been thoroughly tested in hun- dreds of other instances, would belie the assertion. He lias never sought political preferment, but being a stanch republican, in 1861 he was elected a member of the legislature, and in 1870 was chosen by the people as a member of the Illinois constitutional convention from the district of which Iroquois county is a part. Again, in 1871 and 1872, he was called upon to represent the people of Iroquois county in the state legislature. This is the extent of his political career except several home offices in Loda township. As a loan agent, Mr. Goodell has been generous, even to his own disadvantage and pecuniary loss ; yet his career in this respect has abundantly demonstrated the truth of the old axiom that "honesty is the best policy." Left in early manhood to his own exertions in the building up of an honorable name and reputation, as well as in the accumulation of property, he chose an honest and straightforward course of doing business, which, in almost all instances, has been conducive to his success. Choosing rather to sacrifice property than his good name and credit, he has during the past " hard times" met with some loss of property. His financiering ability has been put to the test, as in 1873 he owned about 2,000 acres of land, which rapidly began to depreciate in value. In addition to this, during the hard times from 1873 to 1879, he had stood as mediator between eastern capitalists and unfortunate farmers of the west, who through him had borrowed over a million of dollars. The capitalists found his statements true in every particular in cases of
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distress, and the farmers found him to be a true friend, as in every case possible he gained a reduction of interest-rates or an extension of time. As a consequence, both parties have learned to place in him the most implicit confidence, which to him is prized more than wealth. Thus through adversity as well as prosperity he has pursued an honor- able course, which has establislied for him a name, a reputation and a credit not easily to be won. In 1851, while a resident of Ohio, Mr. Goodell was married to Miss Jane H. Warren, who was born in Rensselaer county, New York, in 1830. They are the parents of four children now living: Frances M., Warren, N. P., and Bertha.
C. O. Barstow, real-estate dealer and farmer, Loda, was born March 7, 1820, in Massachusetts, and is the oldest son of Charles and Alice Barstow (deceased). He married Almira A. Stanard, of Connecticut, September 6, 1846. She was born October 12, 1822. They have one child, Charles E., who was born June 6, 1848. Mr. Barstow came to Loda in 1855, and built the first store and sold the first goods in the place. He has held the offices of justice of the peace and postmaster. His early advantages for education were the common schools, etc. He is a republican in politics, and in religion a Materialist.
Samuel Lees, farmer and stock-dealer, Loda, owns 400 acres of excellent farming land, with good buildings, 280 acres of which is in the home farm, one and a half miles northeast of Loda. He was born in Pennsylvania, July 10, 1831, and spent his boyhood days on the farm until eighteen years of age. He learned the blacksmith trade, which he continued to follow until within the last twelve years. He came to this state in 1855, and settled in Mercer county, and remained there six years. He then went to Iowa, where he lived until he came to this county. He enlisted in the late war, in 1862, in Co. H, 134th Penn. Vol., and served ten months. He was in the battles of Shepherds- town, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and several others. He was married in Pennsylvania, June 19, 1862, to Nancy J. Hoge, who was born in Ohio, September 22, 1833. They are the parents of five children, four living: James B., born April 6, 1863 ; Francis E., born April 25, 1868; Essie H., born September 9, 1870, and Minnie C., born July 22, 1871; and one infant, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lees both belong to the Congregational church. Mr. Lees is considered one of the influential citizens of Iroquois county.
William H. Bradley, merchant, Oakalla, was born in Lake county, Ohio, December 19, 1836, and is the son of Joseph and Delia M. (Mills) Bradley. His early life was spent at farming. In 1857, when twenty-one years old, he came west and located at Loda. Though brought up on a farm and having but little knowledge of mercantile
Addison Goodell
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pursuits, he sought and gained employment in the capacity of clerk in the store of. C. O. Barstow, with whom he remained in that capacity for three years. He then bought the business, and became Mr. Bar- stow's successor. He continued doing a general mercantile business until 1866, when he sold out and accepted the position of United States revenue agent, being located while in this business at the large distillery then in operation at Loda. In 1871 he quit the employ of the government, and again embarked in the mercantile trade, which business he has since continued. He is occupying a favorably located building, in size 24×80 feet, two floors, all of which room is well stocked with a general line of goods. The accumulation of a fair prop- erty and the building up of a good business have been the result of his own energy and industry. Mr. Bradley was married, November 3, 1862, to Miss Laura A. Southworth, who was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1837. They have three children living: William H., Carrie F. and Elouise.
T. J. Healey, grain-dealer, Oakalla, is another of the stirring busi- ness men of Loda. He was born in Livingston county, New York, November 28, 1851. In 1857, when still a child, he came west with his people, his father locating at Loda, where T. J. spent his early life attending the schools of that place, and later taking a very thorough course at the Normal University. At eighteen years of age he began teaching, and for about three years was engaged in that business in Loda and vicinity. In 1875 he became his father's successor in the coal trade, to which he added agricultural implements, and also en- gaged in the grain trade. In each of these three branches of trade he is now doing quite an extensive business. He is now holding the office of town clerk, and is filling his second term of office as police magistrate. In 1876, on November 28, he was married to Miss Flor- ence Curtis, of Painesville, Ohio. They have by this union but one child, Miss Bessie L. Though a young man, Mr. Healey has taken an active part in all matters relating to the general welfare of the public, and especially to the people of Loda, who have already recognized in him both ability and honesty, and have, as a consequence, placed him in such responsible positions as could be bestowed by their ballots.
Henry Alvey, farmer, Oakalla, section 22, was born in England, September 3, 1833. His father was a glove-maker. Mr. Alvey assisted his father in carrying on the trade until he came to America, in 1848. He came to this county in 1857, and settled near where he now resides. He was married in 1855 to Sarah A. Dunham. They are the parents of six children, three living. Mr. Alvey has held the office of school director and road master. Mrs. Alvey's father was one of the first
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Methodist preachers in this township. He established the first Meth- odist church in Loda. Mr. Alvey is a republican, and in religion a Methodist. He owns 40 acres of fine farm land, worth $45 per acre.
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