USA > Illinois > Knox County > History of Knox county, Illinois > Part 48
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On the northwest quarter of section 31, Truro township, on the
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A. H. May
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
land afterward owned by Charles Bradford, a number of Indian graves were found when the first white settlers came there. The corpses had been buried in the forks of the trees ten to fifteen feet above the ground. Logs had been split in halves and excavated for coffins; the forks of the trees were cut away with their tomahawks sufficiently to let them in, and the rude coffins there rested with their skeleton con- tents, until about 1836 the whites took them down and buried them in the earth.
VICTORIA TOWNSHIP.
Victoria township lies in the northeast part of Knox county, and was named in honor of Queen Victoria. It is bounded on the east by Stark county, south by Truro township, on the west by Copley town- ship, aud on the north by Lynn township. It is well interspersed ' with timber and prairie, rock is found in large quantities good for building purposes, and coal is abundant. The whole township is un- derlaid with coal, yet the land is good and rich, producing abundant crops. In her mineral resources she has a mine which when worked will produce abundant remuneration to the laborer.
The first settlement made in this township was in 1835, by Edward Brown, John Essex and Mr. Frazier. They were soon followed by John Smith, Wm. Overlander, Moses Robinson, Moody Robinson, Archibald Robinson, Charles Bostic, John Arnold, Passons Aldrige, H. Shurtliff, and Conrad Smith, who settled on section 30 in 1838. He died about ten years ago leaving a large family to mourn his loss. This family consisted of 8 boys and 5 girls. Some 15 to 20 years ago these children were scattered into the following States and Territories: Illi- nois, California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington and Utah. They have all, however, gathered back into Knox county save two, one of whom lives just over the line in Stark county, the other in the edge of Peoria county. So near together are they living that all of them can be reached in one day by one person. It is seldom that a large family so widely scattered afterward settle down in the same neighborhood.
Saralı, daughter of Moody Robinson, born November 16, 1836, was the first white child born in the township. She is now the wife of Manford Mosier. Mrs. Frazier died in 1837, being the first death in the township. The first marriage was Peter Sornberger to Miss Pliebe Wilbur, in 1838. She is now living with her son, Briggs Sornberger, in the bounds of the township. G. F. Reynolds built the first house on the prairie in 1837, near the present site of Victoria: both he and his aged companion are still living. Passons Aldrige was the first Justice of the Peace, he being elected in 1837. Charles Bostic, a
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Methodist local preacher, preached the first sermon in the house of Moses Robinson in 1836. Salem school-house was the first seat of learning; it was abont one mile northwest of the present site, and was built in 1837. G. F. Reynolds, E. Smith, S. Locke, Rev. J. J. Hed- strom, Isaiah Berry, Peter Van Buren, Alexander, Peter and Anson Sornberger, M. C. Hubbell, Edward Boyer, the Shurtliffs, Smiths and Olmsteds, with others, were among the early settlers.
The town was first organized under the township organization law, April 5, 1853, when J. L. Jarnagan was elected Supervisor; Moses Robinson and John P. Smith, Justices of the Peace; C. A. Shurtliff and Seneca Mosier, Constables; C. A. Shurtliff, Collector; B. Youngs, Assessor; J. F. Hubbell, Clerk; J. W. Mosier, Peter Van Buren and A. B. Coddling, Commissioners of Highways.
The first church was built in the village in 1851; it was the Con- gregational, with S. G. Wright as its pastor. The next church was the Swede Methodist Episcopal, which was built in 1854. This church also has a branch society six miles southeast, yet in the township, that is served by the same minister that preaches in the village. The next church in Victoria was the Methodist Episcopal, which was organized about 1841. Besides these there is now a Free Methodist church, six miles southeast of the village, in Victoria township. The Mormons once had an organization in the south part of the township, with some 18 members. This church is scattered; yet there are quite a number that hold to the faith, but have no church organization, having re- moved their membership elsewhere. The Second Adventists have had an organization in this township, but they have principally moved away.
LYNN TOWNSHIP.
Lynn township has some features peculiar to itself. For instance, it is without a church, town or postoffice within its limits, which can be said of no other township in the county. But with all the incon- veniences and want of high moral sentiment such a statement would generally imply, we find Lynn favored with postoffices at convenient and accessible points, and her people are not excelled in moral tone by those of any other section in the county. Indeed their reputation in this direction has justly attained so high a standard that we shall class this one of the peculiar features of the township. Substantia- ting this is the highly commendable statement that no person has ever been fined in the township for the violation of law; neither was there · ever an indictment found, or suit brought in the Circuit Court against any citizen of Lynn for a criminal offense. Her people, however, en-
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
joy the elevating influences of the churches in the surrounding towns, some of which are accessible to all parts of the township. The school buildings and the character of the schools of this township are second to none in Knox county. The soil of the township is fertile, well drained and supplied with timber, a beautiful grove being in its midst. On the southern edge of this grove, in the spring of 1830, Michael Fraker located, being the first settler in the northeastern part of the county. His original cabin, and the oldest house now standing in the county, erected in 1830, is occupied by R. Harrison. This same log house, when owned by Alden Bennett, was about twelve years ago adorned with blinds by E. Child, of Oneida, and to-day is one of the substantial farm houses of Lynn township. It was erected by Mr. Fraker on section 23, but at present stands on the northeast corner of section 16.
Mr. Fraker was a regular pioneer genius, always ready to adapt himself to any unfavorable surroundings. His genius was displayed, shortly after his arrival, in constructing a hand mill to grind his neighbors' and his own grain. The burrs were about two feet in di- ameter, and were made out of stone called hard-head. Such stones are occasionally found singly scattered over the country. This mill proved a blessing, for when the water mills through that part of country failed, the neighbors went to the Fraker mill, which stood in the living room of the family. Mr. Edward Sellon tells us that many are the times that he has gone there to grind corn and buck- wheat for food for his family. Two persons could grind one-half a bushel of wheat on this mill in an hour, or one bushel of corn or buck- wheat in the same time. William Dunbar purchased the original burrs, as he kept a public house requiring a large amount of flour and meal. Sometimes 25 to 30 men, who were looking for land, would be there over night. Washington Dunbar was the principal miller. Being unable to bolt the flour or ineal, Mrs. Dunbar used sieves of two grades before preparing to cook either. Before purchas- ing the old Fraker mill, however, they made a mortar mill by boring, chopping and burning into the top of a burr-oak stump which stood some 20 rods from their house. This by use became as hard and smooth as a stone. A spring pole with pestle attached to break the grain was even a much harder and slower process than the hand mill afforded; besides, it was not nearly so good.
In 1830, when the county was organized through the interposition and influence of Riggs Pennington, the two townships adjoining Lynn and Victoria township in Stark county were included within the boundaries of this county. La Fayette was, during its early his-
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tory, in Knox county. At the session of the Legislature of 1836-7, an act "for the formation of the county of Coffee " was passed and approved. This new county was to comprise nine townships, six of which were to be taken from Putnam, one from Henry and two from Knox. The two townships taken from this county were to be the two referred to above, and which were subsequently taken. The formation of Coffee county was, however, defeated by the voters of Knox county. A more vigorous attempt to form Coffee county was made in 1838, but proved futile. In 1839, after great difficulty and a close contest, Stark county was organized and townships 12 and 13 north, 5 east, were taken from Knox and added to, or aided in forming Stark county.
The first couple of Lynn township to be united in marriage were William Hitchcock and Julia Fraker. They were married in Knox- ville. The second marriage, or the first performed marriage cere- mony in the settlement, was that of Peter Miner and Matilda Smith, by Esquire Fitch. At the appointed time the parties arrived at the cabin of the 'Squire, also some young companions of the groom to wit- ness the ceremony. The happy pair placed themselves in position, when 'Squire Fitch in a dignified manner began the ceremony. When about half through, Mr. Miner suddenly interrupted him by exclaim- ing, "Hold on, 'Squire," at the same time drawing a paper from his pocket and handing it to him, saying, with a broad grin on his coun- tenance, " I reckon, 'Squire, you would like to see this 'ere paper be- fore you go any further," handing him their license. Mr. Fitch, evi- dently embarrassed, hastily exclaimed, " Why, yes! yes!" and com- menced reading the document aloud. He commenced at the begin- ning again to tie the knot, when, just as the happy pair were pro- nounced man and wife, down came one of the 'Squire's large turkey gobblers through the old stick chimney into the room! The newly made benedict seized the turkey, claiming it as a gift sent from above especially for the occasion. This couple in after years proved to be among the most worthy and respectable of the community.
In 1851 the streams of Lynn were higher than were ever known before or since. Especially was this so of Walnut creek. At the Gibbs saw-mill, located on this creek, the water rose to the eaves of the building, sweeping away lumber, logs and fences, although the mill and dam withstood the fury of the current. Every seventh year, for a long period, was noted as being a wet season. Especially were the years 1844, 1851 and 1858 noticeable for this. During the winter of 1855-6 apple and other fruit trees, together with the osage, were
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
greatly injured by the severe cold weather. The osage was killed down to within a few inches of the ground.
There is a good Town Hall in the center of the township, open and free for all moral public gatherings. Since 1855 the township has given a Republican majority.
When the last draft during the rebellion was ordered, Lynn had only 90 men subject to military service, but furnished its quota of 21 men.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXI.
BLOODED STOCK.
If there is one interest of greater importance to the farmers of Knox county than any other it is that of stock-raising. Many have realized this, and have turned their attention largely to this branch of agriculture; and the result is that Knox county can boast of the finest stock, especially of cattle, of any county in the State. While this chapter is headed as if to treat on stock indiscriminately, yet as cattle are receiving, and have received, more attention than any other class of domestic animals, we shall devote most of the space to cattle. As thoroughbred stock was introduced into Knox county at a very early day, as early indeed as in almost any part of the State, we will speak of the first introduction of such stock into Illinois. The first, perhaps, that were brought into the State were by James N. Brown, in 1834, when he arrived in Sangamon county with the progenitors of his afterwards famed herd of "Island Grove." Some grades of the "Patton" stock are said to have been found in Madison and in some other southern counties, even earlier. . G. W. Fagg, of Perry county, advertised a short-horn bull in the Union Agriculturist in 1841. The Prairie Farmer notices the Devons of James McConnell, near Springfield, in 1843. A letter of Gov. Lincoln, of Massachusetts, to Gov. Reynolds, of Illinois, published in the Union Agriculturist for 1841, shows that the former sent some crosses of Ayrshire and short- horn cattle to a son in Alton that year, which was, perhaps, the first introduction of Ayrshire blood even in a diluted state. The Prairie Farmer, in 1844, chronicles the arrival at Chicago of an imported short-horn for Bronson Murray, of La Salle county. By the time of holding the first State Fair at Springfield, in 1851, the short-horn ap- peared in very respectable numbers, and Devons, although not much shown, were said by the Prairie Farmer to be already found in quantity in the northern part of the State. In 1857 the formation of the Illinois Stock Importing Association, and their importations and sales, among other animals, of twenty-seven short-horns, increased the interest in breeding.
The first thoroughbred cattle brought into Knox county was by Israel Marshall, in 1846, at which time he brought some Durhams
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
from Kentucky into Cedar township. This did much to improve the native stock at that time. Mr. Marshall yet lives in Cedar, a very old man, being over 90 years old. He has lived to see a vast im- provement in the stock of the county. No special interest was taken in thoroughbred cattle for several years after they were introduced by Mr. Marshall. Some short-horns were brought here in 1860 by Peter Godfrey, who is the first man from Knox county to have a record of thoroughbred stock made in the " American Herd Book." In 1862 the nuclens of Mrs. E. J. Byram's herd were brought here from Ken- tucky. Mr. A. J. Dunlap, of Galesburg township, brought some to the county about the same time. From that time to 1870 great in- terest was taken in improving the cattle stock of this county, and many small purchases were made from Byram, Dunlap, and also from the best herds in the State of Kentucky by other gentlemen in the county, many of which have grown to be large and worthy herds. A large number of short-horns were shipped from Kentucky to Gales- burg in the years 1872-3 and 1874, and sold at public auction. The people in general were alive to the importance of improving their stock, and consequently these shipments proved to be very remunera- tive to the interested parties, and highly beneficial to the stock-raisers of the county. The result of these importations and a scientific knowledge of breeding and the expenditure of vast sums of money and close attention, has placed Knox county in the very front rank of the counties of Illinois in the raising of fine cattle. The final grand result of all this ontlay of time, labor and money is that dealers and purchasers of blooded cattle are coming to this county to bny them, instead of going to Kentucky. As a proof of this statement, we need but to refer to the shipments made by one gentleman engaged in rais- ing thoroughbred cattle. Mr. J. S. Latimer, proprietor of Cedar Farm, Cedar township, has shipped to the West, principally to Chey- enne, Wyoming Territory, over 500 bnlls and 80 cows and heifers during the last five years. The shipments inade thus far this year number 175 cattle.
Recently there has been introduced into Knox county the Holstein breed of cattle, which will, no doubt, raise still higher the standard of the cattle stock. Samnel Chapman & Son, of Ontario township, brought their fine herd of Holstein in the spring of 1876. It con- sisted of . Siegel (male), No. 124; Camper Down, No. 103, and Lady Young, females. The last was imported too late to appear in volume 2, American Herd Book, but will be recorded in the succeeding vol- ume. W. W. Green, of Maquon, brought his herd of this class a few months prior to Chapman.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Sheep were not very extensively raised in the primitive days, when wolves were plentiful in these parts. The first flock of sheep, per- haps, that were brought into Knox county were brought from Ken- tucky by Rev. H. H. Kellogg and Olmsted Ferris in 1842. This flock numbered about 1,500 head. Dexter Farr and Weston Ferris drove them from Kentucky to this county. Calvin A. Cole took the first load of wool sheared from these sheep-consequently the first from this county-to Chicago in June, 1843. On his return Mr. Cole brought a load of leather made in Herkimer county, New York, from hides sent there by Olmsted Ferris the year before. The next year Cole took another load of wool to Chicago, and brought back the cloth made of the wool carried the year previous. This cloth was also made at Herkimer. In 1845 Mr. Ferris imported six full-blood Merino bucks from Vermont, which were the first Merinos brought to the county.
The improvement in the hog stock of the county is, perhaps, more noticeable than that of any other class of domesticated animals. Since the arrival of Daniel Robertson and his brother, in 1828, with 80 head of hogs bred and raised entirely in the timber, and almost alto- gether upon the roots and acorns of the native forests, there has been untold numbers of these animals raised in Knox county. It would take millions to record their number. Then, and for many years afterwards, it seemed to have made no difference with the farmers in regard to the breed of hogs. They reasoned that a hog was a hog, and that one was as good as another, and made no effort to better their stock. The first effort, perhaps, ever made in the county to improve this stock was about thirty years ago, by Asa Haynes, of Orange township, when he brought some Poland Chinas from Ohio. This breed, with the Berkshires and Chester Whites, comprise the principal breeds raised in Knox county.
In aggregate value the horses of the county are worth more than the combined aggregated value of all other domestic animals. Much interest is now being manifested in the improvement of the farm horse stock as well as the roadsters. W. K. Scott, of Abingdon, has evinced no little interest in this work. He is the proprietor of the celebrated Laurent, an imported French Boulonais stallion, which was brought to the county in 1870. Many other fine blooded animals have been brought to the county by various parties from time to time, all of which have done much to better the horse stock. Among them none have done more than C. E. Cranston, who is well posted in horse flesh, as is attested by his stable of fine Clydesdales.
The following is almost a complete list of breeders of thoroughbred
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stock in this county: J. S. Latimer, farm near Abingdon, short-horn cattle, Berkshire and Poland China hogs; Samuel Chapman & Son, Ontario township, Holstein cattle; J. Branard & Son, Ontario town- ship, short-horn cattle and Poland China hogs; J. Alex. Finley, short- horn cattle, postoffice, Oneida; G. S. Gates, Ontario township, Poland China hogs; I. M. Wetmore & Son, Ontario township, short-horn cattle and Poland China hogs; G. W. Dunlap & Brothers, section 19, . Cedar township, short-horn cattle; H. M. & W. P. Sisson, Henderson township, short-horn cattle and Poland China hogs. Among others are Niles Brothers, Robison Brothers, Robert Deatherage, Dowdy & Son, Samuel Morse, William Maxey, Godfrey & Grice, W. H. Heller, A. G. Dunlap, Mrs. Byram, Mr. Woodmansee, W. H. Green.
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CHAPTER XXII.
MANUFACTORIES.
FROST MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
J. P. Frost first came to Henderson, Knox county, July 7, 1837, among the pioneers who came to build up Knox College; and like Mr. G. W. Brown, he commenced with a small field of operation, which has since grown to gigantic proportions. He first put up a saw-mill in Henderson Grove, and after running it about six years, he took a farm, and while working that, lie did what machine work was to be done in Galesburg and vicinity. He put in the engine and work at the old brick grist-mill on Broad street,-the first work of the kind in the place. In 1855-56 he erected a small shop in Gales- burg, on the north side of Simmons street, between Cedar and West streets, and formed a partnership with W. S. Bellows and Andrew Harrington, under the name of "J. P. Frost & Co."
After running for six or eight years under the above name, they re- organized into a joint-stock company under the name and style of "Frost Manufacturing Company," L. C. Field president, and H. M. Hale secretary. Messrs. Bellows and Field have died within a few years, and Messrs. R. H. and C. M. Avery have bought the interest of Mr. Field. J. P. Frost is now president, T. N. Ayres secretary, and R. H. Avery treasurer.
This company has been the leading one in Western Illinois in all kinds of iron work connected with steam-engines, mills and heavy machinery, having a foundry 60 by 120 feet in size, wood shop for patterns and wood work 40 by 100 feet, a machine-shop and engine room, blacksmith shop, ware-house, and two buildings, each two stories high, containing patterns. It is scarcely worth while to detail the extent of this pattern work, for it covers almost everything from a 150-horse-power engine down to the smallest casting. Time would fail us to tell of the pulleys, cog-wheels, shafting, rollers, pinions, boxes, engine beds, fly-wheels. castings for buildings, hoisting appar- atus for coal inines, etc., and castings for sugar mills, hay-presses, stalk- cutters, etc., which the company has patterns for, and are prepared to make on the shortest notice. Of course they also manufacture and
FROST MANUFACTURING COMPANY GALESBURG.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
repair boilers, and deal in and repair gas and steam pipe, and the fixtures connected with them. But the most important branch of this establishment is the department for the manufacture of corn- stalk-cutters and corn-planters. The Spiral-knife Stalk-cutter was in- vented by R. H. & C. M. Avery, who commenced their manufacture at Galesburg in 1872. They were afterwards made for a number of years by Geo. W. Brown, but are now manufactured extensively by the Frost Company. These cutters find their way into fields all over the Northwest, and the demand for them is rapidly increasing, which is the best of evidence of their superiority. Their manufacture is be- coming one of the large business interests of Knox county.
The various buildings of this extensive concern, which are well represented in the accompanying engraving, occupy the south half of the square bounded by Main, Simmons, Cedar and West streets, Gales- burg.
THE STEEL PLOW.
It is but justice to this county to perpetuate in history the fact that it furnished the first steel plow in America, thus imparting unappre- ciated pleasure to the present tillers of this soil and increasing the ma- terial wealth of the Mississippi valley alone many millions of dollars yearly ; for now the same team power will plow more land in one day and do it better, than in two days prior to 1842. Then, except along some water courses and strips of sandy land, all plowmen had to stop about every 10 rods and scrape the soil off the moldboard, which would pack so quickly again as to make very bad and very slow work.
On moving to Galesburg among entire strangers, in 1837, H. H. May began experiments at once in trying to make a plow that would scour bright. In this, one disappointment followed another, and sneers followed jeers. A prominent man called Mr. May a fool pub- licly for "trying to do an impossibility." Nearly every man sup- posed it impossible ever to make a plow that would scour brightjin this adhesive soil. But some gave noble encouragements for trying it. Several offered Mr. May $100 each for such a plow; and Maj. Butler offered to give him his choice among 30 excellent horses for such a plow. A plate of wrought iron cut in the shape of a diamond, and stocked like a shovel plow, did scour bright, when set very square to the ground, but when turned back to an angle suitable for turning the soil, it would not scour. But after five years of discouraging ex- periments, on May 6th, 1842, Mr. May noticed that the cavities in fine steel were many times less than in cast or wrought iron, and concluded at once to try fine steel for plows, and within two days 29
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he had a plow running, made of one of Wm. Nowland's best saw-mill saw plates, and it would scour bright in any soil, which made that day one of great rejoicing in Galesburg. H. H. May's first application for letters patent for this invention was filed Aug. 20, 1842. It was rejected Sept. 8, 1842, for want of novelty. Being sure the act- ing Commissioner understood the word "novel " in the law to mean wonderful or strange, Mr. May argued in several letters that " novel " there means new, or not so used before, and quoted the action of his predecessors in granting patents for substituting one material for an- other; and he finally invited Mr. May to make a new application, which he did. But a new Commissioner rejected that also Aug. 19, 1844, and in nearly the same words as his predecessor, and he said May could appeal; but the severe and protracted sickness of Mr. May forbade his appeal, and also impelled him under decided medical ad- vice to sell out his plow factory.
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