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 85
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
Spink commenced suit against the father for slander, laying his dam- ages at $7,000, which was in the courts for several years. The bishop interfered, and tried to put a stop to what he knew must result in spir- itual disturbance of great dimensions ; but Chiniquy was stubborn, and was finally removed (or withdrew) from the priesthood, and joined the Presbyterian church, and for a time continued pastoral labors in that connection. Spink became embarrassed through the reverses which overtook business in 1857, and the demands of an expensive family, and lost what would have proved a very valuable property. The place where he formerly lived, on the northeast quarter of section 17, is one of the finest in town. The liouse is well shaded by a stalwart growth of fine shade trees, and shows thie educated taste of its owner.
The Belgian settlement, which was just north of here, and will be more fully noticed under the liead of "Chebanse," spread farther soutlı, and a number of the men of that colony have found homes and work farms in the northern part of Ashkum.
The French settlement spread here from Bourbonnais Grove largely under the active management of Peter Spink. William La Bounty, who is believed to be the first of the Canadian immigrants, settled on section 9, one mile north of L'Erable, in 1850. The first religious services of this people were held in his house, probably during the following summer. He has continued to reside near this for thirty years. He now lives in Ashkum village. A gentleman of tact, he early acquired such command of the English language that he became of great service to his countrymen in helping them to transact their business. Eugene Patmois and Peter St. Peter were also early settlers. About 1851 Francis, Joseph and Nicolas Grossaint came in, with means enough to make a fair start in the new county. The old gentleman lives there yet. Anton Roboine came to section 30 at the same time and made an excellent farm there. The place was given the name of L'Erable, from the great number of sugar-trees which some of the earlier settlers planted out. The post-office was established about 1857, and John Borland was appointed postmaster ; after him Israel Bashour was postmaster. A. F. LaMott is the present officer. A chapel was built about 1854. In 1875 the present beautiful church was built. It is about 46×80, withi a spire, and is a well proportioned and sightly edifice. It has cost about $15,000, and is believed to be the finest house of worship in the county. The parsonage was built in 1857. After Chiniquy, Father Theodore Bresair ministered to this congrega- tion as the first resident priest ; after him Father Vanderpool, Father Perner, Father Clement, and Father Routic now. A school has been kept up most of the time. The French people coming here were all,
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or nearly all, of Canadian birth, and like the Belgians who settled here, were all attached to the Roman Catholic church. They readily became citizens, taking an interest in public affairs, and many of them were called into official position, as in the surrounding townships. A gentleman who has long been acquainted with their life here, says that they have lived sober, industrious lives, meeting very fully the high anticipation which was held in regard to them, being free from vices and law-abiding.
The township was organized in 1861, at which time Thomas Stump was elected first supervisor ; H. R. Cornell, clerk; A. J. Lake, asses- sor ; and J. R. Smith and J. B. Wolcott, justices of the peace. At present writing C. W. Brown is supervisor ; M. R. Meents, clerk ; J. O'Reiley, assessor ; J. Gallagher, collector, and A. J. Lake and F. Lemeneger, justices of the peace. At the first election, in 1861, less than 60 votes were cast. At present the voting population is over 200.
ASHKUM VILLAGE.
The town was laid out on railroad land, on section 28. Messrs. Ogden & Dupee had purchased the section of the railroad company, and were to pay about $20,000 for it, and in 1856 laid out the town. The name was derived from some eastern Indian tribe, and not, as is generally supposed, taken from the Indians who had occupied this region of the country. Business was lively at that time, and had it not been for the general prostration in business which followed the financial disaster of 1857, there is no reasonable doubt that Messrs. Ogden & Dupee would have realized a very fair return from their speculation here. That, however, put a very different construction on their enterprise. They appear to have begun discreetly, built a good hotel, and arranged for opening business as fast as the country in the vicinity should become settled.
Edwin Mead, who had become interested with them by loaning' some money on their property here, came here in 1858, intending to oc- cupy the hotel. Mr. Hill was then living in it, and not desiring to give it up, Mr. Mead permitted him to remain. He died soon after, how- ever. Peter Kelley was then here, learning his trade of blacksmith, and has been without intermission a resident and a business man here, so that he appears to be entitled to the appellation of father of tlie town, if any of the present inhabitants are. There was at that tinie (spring of 1858) a forty-acre tract under cultivation in section 22 of the southwest quarter, and Mr. Brown was living on it, and remained there till he died. Rev. Mr. Wood, who had been a Presbyterian minister, was living in the small house near the Methodist church, now
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
occupied by George A. Springet, and was engaged in surveying. There was a small house where Mr. Haight lives, but it has been enlarged. The house where Peter Kelley lives was occupied by David Britten. David Wright was living in a portion of the house which is now a part of Skinner's store. Dr. Norvell, the first practicing physi- cian here, was living in the house now owned by Mr. McCurdy. Ferrell & Humphrey were the first firm in business here. Mr. Ostrander built a store here, across the street from the hotel, and that firm rented it. After Ogden & Dupee became embarrassed, they conveyed their interest to Paul Cornell and Mr. Mitchell. Cor- nell was by no means a slow man, and in order to save what he had got invested in the concern, induced Mead to release his claim and let him in first. In this way he came into possession of the hotel prop- erty, which had cost about $4,000, and sent his brother, H. K. Cornell, here as his agent, to keep the hotel. The result was that both Mead and Mitchell failed to realize on their investments, while Cornell seems to have made it pay. Mitchell's interest, and indeed all inter- ests, finally reverted to the railroad company, and titles come from that source.
Daniel Wright was the first postmaster. He was keeping store with one Bumpus, who got mixed up in a little irregularity with the government. He hired some money of one Huggins, who appears to have been a dealer in counterfeit money. Bumpus went to Champaign with the money and got rid of what he could of it, purchasing small articles at the stores, and commenced preaching. Huggins was con- victed and pardoned out, after serving a portion of liis term. One " Doctor" Groves, who used some of the money around here, disap- peared, and some others who were wanted could not be found. The bills were counterfeits of a Bloomington bank, but on the detection of the men an examination showed that they had tools for making coun- terfeit coin also.
Two murders have occurred in Ashkum. The first was that of Leonard Stringham, and was the result of a complication of circum- stances. It was during the war, and personal ill-feelings were apt to be largely fanned by frequent bitter political discussions. Stringham was a radical in politics and temperance. A quarrel which began about the trespass of hogs into liis garden,- followed by the killing of one, and subsequent paying for it,- slumbered for awhile, when, meet- ing at the post-office, when his assailant was intoxicated and was ejected from the building, lie returned and cut him with a small pocket-knife in the abdomen, which resulted in his deatlı the day following. Trial, conviction and pardoning out followed.
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ASHKUM TOWNSHIP.
A few years later Hair and McDonald, brothers-in-law, had a mis- understanding which resulted in a very bad state of feeling. One rainy day Hair came to town, and was reading in Smith & Chapin's store, partially leaning over the counter. McDonald came to town, and went to Kelley's blacksmith-shop while Kelley was at dinner. Waiting till his return, he secured a short bar of iron, on pretense of wishing to make use of it in some repairs, and went directly to the store and felled Hair to the floor, striking him from behind. He died in a few hours. McDonald was tried, convicted and hung. This, with two others, are the only legal hangings which have taken place in the county in the now almost half century of its legal existence.
The liay business was a very important branch of business here during the war. Great quantities were cut on these prairies and shipped to the front, and some large ricks of it never were shipped. After Sherman's march to the sea the bottom dropped out of the Con- federacy so suddenly that the hay crop was not in demand down there.
CHURCHES, SOCIETIES, ETC.
Before any regular church organization was formed, there was occasional preaching by Methodist brethren in the school-house. Rev. Mr. Henry and Rev. Mr. Card were, as is now remembered, the first who collected a few together for religious services. Revs. Hull and Thorp also occasionally preached here. Mr. Daniel Robinson was one of the first members of this church. Mr. Sanders, an early resi- dent, collected the means on a subscription to. buy a parsonage. The terms of this subscription were such, that it was to belong to the Methodist society as long as conference kept a supply here, after which it should revert to any other orthodox society keeping up preaching here. During the pastorate of Mr. David the church was built. The building is 36×50. and cost about $3,000. The member- ship is forty. Charles Case is class-leader. The Sabbath school has been kept up most of the time.
Thirty-five members (twenty-six by letter and nine on profession) united in forming a Congregational church, March 6, 1869. Rev. Joseph E. Roy, who so faithfully represented that denomination in its home mission and church extension interests, was present and preached the sermon and gave his assistance in the organization, which was perfected by the election of T. D. Haight, clerk; C. Mead, treasurer; John Brown and Edwin Mead, deacons. The church was built, in 1871, at a cost of about 3,000. The present membership is forty-four. The Sunday school is in charge of Charles E. Case, superintendent. This school was established in 1869. William M. Mellen was the first
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
superintendent. One of the most interesting occasions connected with the school was the celebration, in 1870, at Harroun's Grove.
The Ashkum Lodge, No. 580, I.O.O.F., was organized June 12, 1875, with the following charter members and original officers: S. A. Didamy, N.G .; T. D. Haight, V.G .; John R. Miller, A. C. Badgley and Prudent Vadbonker. C. C. Chapman was elected secretary, and Jacob Lewis, treasurer. Onarga and Watseka Lodges participated in the instituting ceremonies. The present officers are : W. H. Badgley, N.G .; John Fedderman, V.G .; C. C. Chapman, secretary ; J. Lewis, treasurer; M. Chapman, lodge deputy. The membership is thirty- seven. Lodge meets Wednesday evenings.
There was a lodge of Good Templars here as early as 1863, of which Leonard Stringham was worthy chief at the time he was mur- dered. The present organization, Ashkum Star Lodge, No. 408, dates from October 20, 1874, with J. D. Weed, M. Packard, G. B. Carley and sixteen others as charter members. The present officers are : S. M. Packard, W.C.T .; Sena Carley, V.T .; G. B. Carley, W. Chap- lain ; John McDonald, W. Sect .; W. B. Langley, Asst. Sec .; Frank Meents, financial secretary ; Sarah Mead, W. Treas .; G. Morrell Fow- ler, marshal ; Ada Lewis, W.D.M .; Dora Lower, W.I.G .; Frank Lake, W.O.G .; Lizzie Brown, W.R.H.S .; Ada Lower, W.L.H.S .; James McLane, P.W.C.T. There are twenty members. Lodge meets Tuesday evening in the Methodist church.
VILLAGE ORGANIZATION. .
A meeting was held January 20, 1870, of the "white male free- holders" living in section 28, at which Arnold Earl presided, and H. L. Payson, Jr., was secretary, to vote for or against incorporation. The vote resulted in twenty votes for, to two against incorporating, and the section-lines were fixed as the boundaries. The first election was held January 27. The following were elected trustees: Peter Kelley, Jacob Lewis, H. L. Payson, C. Brayton and H. K. Cornell. H. L. Payson was elected president; A. J. Lake, clerk; and Jacob Lewis, superintendent of streets. Thirty-two votes were cast. In 1875 it was decided to incorporate under the general act of 1872. At the first election under this the following were elected : John Mc- Curdy, president ; A. S. Cook, G. B. Heath, C. C. Chapman, James O'Reilly, J. R. Smith, trustees; and S. A. Didamy, clerk. The pres- ent officers are : Jacob Haight, president ; C. C. Chapman, M. R. Meents, Thos. Kelley, James O'Reilly and P. Vadbonker, trustees ; Geo. A. Springet, clerk ; and J. C. Fowler, police magistrate.
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ASHKUM TOWNSHIP.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Robert D. Ross, farmer, Ashkum, is not exactly an old settler here, though the farm of 1,160 acres, known as the "Ross Farm," has been in possession of the family for a number of years. Originally they used it as a hunting station, when deer and other game were abundant. He was born in Bonar Bridge, Ross (shire), Scotland, in 1843, and came with his parents and the remainder of the family to Canada in 1845, and a year later to Buffalo, New York, finally settling in Chicago in 1851, where the brothers engaged largely in the dry-goods business.
Thomas Stump, farmer, L'Erable, was born in the state of Ohio, December 27, 1829, and resided there until March, 1855, when he came west to Ashkum township, where his cousin, Mr. Spence, had already settled. At that time the country was very sparsely settled, but in the spring of 1855 there was a large immigration, and houses began to be. erected and the prairie to be broken up. He is quite a prominent cit- izen of this township, having filled the office of supervisor with honor to himself and the town from 1861 to 1867, and after an interval of three years was again elected to the same office in 1870, and held it until 1877, refusing to again be put in nomination. Mr. Stump is unmarried and resides with his half-cousin, Mr. William H. Spence, their combined farms containing over 700 acres, all well improved and bearing evidences of careful cultivation.
Francis X. Lemenager, farmer, Aslıkum, is a native of Belgium,, having been born in the canton of Perwez, province of Brabant, in that country, in 1828. He arrived in America in 1856, and came west, settling in this township in the neighborhood of L'Erable. He worked in Clifton for Mr. Howe part of the first year, and on the arrival of his brother from Belgium went to farming, in which business he has continued since. He bought his land from the railroad com- pany, at which time it was raw prairie ; now he has it well improved and in a high state of cultivation, a commodious and handsome farm- house, good barn and out-buildings, a grove and orchard. The whole farm of 320 acres is well fenced and thoroughly ditched. He was elected justice of the peace in 1878, and continues to discharge the duties of his office to the general satisfaction of the people. In 1874 Mr. Lemenager married for the second time, and has a family of eight children, three boys and five girls.
Eugene Lemenager, farmer, L'Erable, was born in Belgium, October 8, 1839, and sailed from Antwerp, in company with his father and two sisters, on the steamship Belgian Constitution, March 12, 1857, and after a stormy passage of twenty-two days landed in New York. He at once
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
came west, and rejoined his brother in this township, and proceeded to farming, in which he has been eminently successful, now owning a splen- did farm of 320 acres. He has a handsome farm house, which was erected at a cost of $2,600, the main building being 20×30 feet, and the L 20×20, all two stories higlı, with piazza around the south and east sides. The farm buildings are good, and a grove of 2,000 trees and orchard of 200 trees, adds greatly to the appearance of the homestead. Sep- tember 23, 1862, he was married, in L'Erable, to Miss Antoinette Aucremanne, and has a family of six children, four boys and two girls. In 1879 Mr. Lemenager revisited Belgium, and found quite a change had occurred there during the twenty-three years he had been absent, and met an old neighbor there who was ninety-two years old.
Edwin Mead, farmer and stock-raiser, Ashkum, was born in Green- wich, Connecticut, October 25, 1819, and lived there for twenty-six years. He then went to New York city, and clerked, and was also engaged in the flour and feed business, the firm being Clark & Mead. After a two-years residence in this city, lie returned to Connecticut and lived there one year, when he went to Virginia, where he conducted a saw-inill, lumber and wood business for five years. He subsequently visited Connecticut and farmed there for three years. He also laid out an addition to Greenwich. In 1858 he came to Ashkum, and has lived here since. He married Miss Mercy M. Reynolds, January 29, 1844, who was born in Bedford county, New York. Of their seven children six are living : Julius, Cornelia R., Edwin, Stephen J., John T. and Sarah M. Mr. Mead owns 600 acres of land in this county. He has served as road commissioner, school director and trustee.
Victor and Jasper Changelon, fariners, Clifton, were both born in Belgium, and left that country in company with their father and mother, they being both young, in the year 1863. They at once came west to this township and bought raw prairie land, which through unremitting labor they have made into a beautiful and productive farm; it is well improved and fixed up, the whole 230 acres being well ditched and fenced, with good house and barn, large bearing orchard, and handsome shade trees. Jasper married, in August, 1870, Miss Mary Constantin, and has a family of two children. Victor is still unmarried, and con- tinues to reside with his brother.
August Muehlenpfordt, physician and druggist, Ashkum, is a native of Brunswick, Germany. He was born in September, 1839, and lived there until 1866. He began studying medicine at the age of seventeen, and graduated at the Georgia Augusta (Germany) Medical College. He practiced one year in Germany, prior to his coming to the United States. On his arrival in this country he settled in Will county,
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CHEBANSE TOWNSHIP.
Illinois, and practiced there until 1868, when he moved to Ashkum, and has lived here since. In 1868 he married Miss Henrietta Gerdes, who was born in Germany, and came to the United States in 1858. Of their six children five are living : August, Emma, Della, Freda and an infant.
CHEBANSE TOWNSHIP.
Chebanse occupies a position on the northern border of the county, with Kankakee county as its northern, the Iroquois river its eastern, Ashkum its southern, and Milk's Grove its western boundary. The Illinois Central railroad runs very nearly through its center from north to south, having on it the villages of Chebanse, sixty-four miles from Chicago, and Clifton, sixty-nine miles. Langham creek winds through it nearly central from west to east, and affords good water facilities for stock, in addition to the artesian water which is found in all portions of the town. It is composed of the following portions of congressional townships: The northern one-third of town 28, range 14, the northern third of all that is west of the river in range 13 west of the second principal meridian, and sections 6 and 7 of the fractional township, range 11 east of the third principal meridian, four sections of town 29, range 11, and the southern two-thirds of town 29, range 14, and all west of the river in the southern two- thirds of range 13, making in all some sixty-two sections of land.' The poet has somewhere said that " comparisons are cruel," though just where, or what poet advanced the doctrine, very few even of our literary men can tell. The writer, while recognizing the fact that there is more truth than poetry in the excerpt, will disclaim all cruelty in saying that for location, and all the conditions which go to make a first-class township Chebanse has not its superior in the county. The rolling lands which extend in a due westerly course from the Iroquois almost to the Illinois river, keeping nearly all the way in township 29, begin here. The early settlers found along Langham, which early went by the name of "White Woman's creek," all the conditions for preemption and early homes. While they could not afford to be away from timber and water, they found such marvelous richness of soil and beauty of landscape that one is not surprised that when Maurice Kirby came into this state at an early day, he was told that the finest land in all this county was on " White Woman's creek," and that Cassady, the then famous land speculator of Danville, was going to enter the whole of it the very next week. It was no exaggeration ; and as fast as settlers could find
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
their way there they took up the lands. Long before railroad build- ing good farins were under excellent cultivation in town 29, on both sides of the county line. There was in the country no finer grazing place, no richer land and no healthier location. The old "Butter- field trace," which was the highway of travel from all the country around the Upper Sangamon, the Okaw, the Embarrass and Big Grove, to the lake (Urbana), passed through, keeping very near the line which was afterward followed by the Illinois Central rail- road. It ran along the Spring creek timber to a point where that stream turned east, near the present residence of Mr. Kirby, thence nearly north, passing two miles west of Plato; crossed Langham either on section 31 or 32, where William Enos lives, about one mile west of where the bridge was afterward built. Nothing seems to be known by the old settlers here in regard to Butterfield, or why this trace received his name. They only know that it was, for about twenty years, commencing probably immediately after the Black Hawk war, the greatest hog and cattle route in the state. The Funks and others, who ranged all over central Illinois, picking up all the cattle and hogs which could be bought, and who had, before this time, found in Galena the only market, commenced driving to Chi- cago, a place until then unknown, except on the maps of explorers and Indian traders.
. In driving through here the hogs sometimes became lost, and away from civilization soon reverted to their ancient wild habits ; and for protection against man and wolves, their only enemies, and especially to guard their young, would select an impregnable posi- tion,-an island in a swampy place, where they were comparatively safe. It seemed strange, at first thought, that they should select such places on the prairie instead of in the timber, but it seems that they knew best. In these places they would live for years, until a severe winter would kill them off. No wolf could approach the young pigs while protected by a cordon of ferocious old chaps, with tusks long enough to appear almost like horns. The most ex- citing hunting in these parts was for these wild hogs. "The dan- ger's self was lure alone." African jungles could hardly be, so far as the excitement and danger of the experiment was concerned, more alive to real high-toned sport than were the prairie morasses along Butterfield trace.
B. F. Brady and his two brothers, Joseph and William, came from Attica, Indiana, in 1843, and bought land in sections 33 and 34, near the mouth of Langham creek, and began to make a farm of it, as well as three bachelors could. This land was bought of the state,
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CHEBANSE TOWNSHIP.
and was known as "state land," in distinction from government land, canal land and seminary land. It had been conveyed to the state under an act of congress, entitled "an act to appropriate the proceeds of the sales of the public lands and grant preemption rights, approved September 4, 1861." The Brady boys built a log cabin on section 33, and lived there a number of years, and engaged in farm- ing, raising cattle and hogs, which they drove through to Chicago, or sold to the " drovers " who scoured the country. Roushe's store was the nearest at hand, over on the east side of the river. B. F. Brady was one of the first justices of the peace in this part of the county, and was elected to the second board of supervisors, where he distinguished himself in trying to prevent the consummation of the sale of the swamp lands which he believed then and still believes was a great wrong. He considered the bonds for which they were exchanged as being utterly and entirely void, and the sale really a give-away. Before township organization took effect, voters from here went to Mt. Langham, on the east side of the river, to vote. In 1865 he removed to Kankakee, where he still resides. Joseph died on the farm about 1856.
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