USA > Illinois > Knox County > History of Knox county, Illinois > Part 56
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
UNITED BRETHREN.
Persifer Chapel .- The church building of this congregation is located on section 34, Persifer township, and was erected about eight years ago.
Mound Chapel .- This church erected their meeting-house about 1872. It is located on section 8, Persifer township.
PROTESTANT METHODIST.
The Bethesda Protestant Church was organized by Rev. J. W. Stevens and W. Mount, of Louisville. Their first church building, which burned down, cost them about $500. Their present church edifice is constructed of wood; was erected in 1869 at a cost of $5,000. It is located on section 9, Cedar township.
Haynes Chapel was organized in 1870, with 13 members, by A. M. Ravenscroft. The church building was erected in 1871 at a cost of $1,600. Present membership about 30. Scholars in Sunday school 70, contributing $40 per year.
Ontario .- The Protestant Methodist Church of Ontario was organ- ized by Rev. L. S. Hitchens in the winter or spring of 1871. The present pastor is Rev. George Briden.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.
Summit Church was organized in 1871. Arrangements were made with the Methodist denomination at Summit, by which the U. P. congregation occupy their house of worship. Prof. J. C. Hawkinson, of Monmouth College, is stated supply.
SWEDISH INDEPENDENT.
Oneida .- This church edifice is located on Pine street, in the city of Oneida; is 50 by 30 feet in size, and in Gothic style of architecture. The church was organized in 1877 by Rev. Charles Anderson. The present pastor is J. W. Stromberg.
GALESBURG CITY MISSION. 1
On the 22d day of February, 1858, Rev. J. W. Bailey, Isaac Delano, A. N. Bancroft, H. S. Hitchcock and J. S. Kuhn, a committee ap- pointed by their respective churches, adopted the following preamble as a basis of organization in this mission work:
"In view of the rapid increase of population in this city and the fact that many will be liable to be without the means of grace, unless measures be taken to make them acquainted with the various churches
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of the place, and in order to secure religious instruction to such as are not inclined to attend any. church, and the benefit of the Sabbath- school to children whose parents are indifferent to their spiritual in- terests, we, the undersigned, appointed to represent our `respective churches, would recommend to them the appointment of a City Mis- sionary to act under the direction of the pastors, and two members to be appointed by each church, in promotion of this object."
March 1st, 1858, there met at the house of I. Delano, Rev. C. M. Tyler, pastor, and A. N. Bancroft and J. S. Kuhn, from the First Church; Dr. Beecher, I. Delano and A. S. Martin from the First Congregational Church; Rev. J. W. Bailey, W. A. Wood and H. E. Hitchcock, from the Second Presbyterian Church; Dr. Candee, C. H. Matthews and S. Jackson from the Old School Presbyterian Church. A full organization was effected, W. A. Wood being made President of the Board, and Deacon Leonard was employed as City Missionary. A mission school was organized, and held every Sunday in one of the cars of the C., B. & Q. Railroad, that was kindly given by Superin- tendent Hitchcock, till the autumn of 1861, when a mission chapel was built on railroad ground, where it remained till 1866. When the company needed the ground, the chapel was removed to its present site. Besides these favors from the railroad company through their Superintendent H. Hitchcock, the children of the school have had given them a yearly picnic and excursion to some pleasant spot on the line of the railroad.
Deacon Leonard filled the office of City Missionary until his death, February 11, 1865. Probably no man ever lived in Galesburg who was more universally esteemed and beloved than good old Deacon Leonard, and certainly no man's deathi was more sincerely mourned by the poorer classes than was his. After his death there succeeded him Mr. Burton, who remained until he left for his present mission field in Africa; then Rev. Main, then Rev. S. Dilly, then Mr. Inger- soll, then Mr. Sears, and on April 1st, 1871, the present efficient City Missionary, Geo. Holyoke, was chosen. Too much praise cannot be given those who have given their labors in this good cause.
It must be added in the history that very early the Baptist and Methodist churches came into the Board by pastor and delegates, and took their part in the labors.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXVI. CITIES AND TOWNS.
KNOXVILLE.
Knoxville is beautifully located in the southern portion of Knox township, about midway between the Mississippi and the Illinois rivers, -- between the points of two fine timber groves, which, approach- ing the city from the east, seem to converge, leaving a narrow neck of prairie, upon which the city is located. After leaving the city, trav- eling westward, it expands into a broad and most delightfully rolling country. The farms scattered over this expanse are fine and well equipped. Knoxville is the oldest town in the county. It was laid off by order of the County Commissioners' Court in 1831, Parnach Owen doing the surveying. As the early history of Knoxville is in- corporated and given in detail in the second chapter, we refer the reader to that portion of this work. This was the seat of justice for the county for more than two-score years, and naturally many of the public actions of the county officials are but the history of the city. Knoxville was prosperous, and grew in size. Soon a town organiza- tion was wanted, and accordingly an election was called for March 5, 1836, to vote for or against incorporation. At this election 24 votes were cast for and one against the measure. Six days thereafter an election was held to elect five trustees. The following men were chosen: W. H. Higgins, John G. Sanburn, Samuel Lyter, B. Methushead and Charles Hansford. A little over a decade had passed when, the village having grown so rapidly, Knoxville aspired to be a city, with a Mayor and Aldermen. This desire was gratified, and in 1853, the first Mayor, James Price, was chosen. Since, the following gentlemen have received the honor, and in the order which we give them: T. J. Hale, Hugh S. Woods, Benjamin Hebard, Jolın Jack- son, H. N. Keightley, Jehiel B. Smith, John W. Carns, A. M. Bur- dett, Henry Arms, Zaccheus Beatty, P. H. Sanford two terms, Al- bert Pierce, Henry Arms, Abraham Lightner, J. C. Cover two terms, Elijah T. Eads two terms, Stephen H. Tompkins three terms.
Clothed in the garb of a metropolis, it may be readily imagined
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that Knoxville at once assumed "city airs." New sidewalks were laid out, streets were improved, and everything that belonged to the public in common was watched over by the city fathers of the day, with wise solicitude. Everything went smoothly for a time, when an alarming and what proved to be a serious question arose. It had its origin in Galesburg, and was nothing less than an attempt to take the county seat from Knoxville. This city had long cherislied and taken pride in this feature, an important factor of itself, and to see it taken from her by a younger and more prosperous town would only be permitted when her power and resources failed her. The people of this city rose in their might and fought a hard fight, and contested the ground inch by inch, but finally, overcome by Galesburg, she was compelled to yield, and in 1873 saw the county records, which had known no place but Knoxville, carted away to Galesburg. She is noted for her good schools and colleges. The fine High School building, shown in the engraving, was erected in 1876, at a cost of $18,500. It is a neat, finely.proportioned and showy building, of 6 rooms. Everything in connection with it is in good taste and reflects credit upon the city. The principal of the school is John Maclanahan. The other teachers are Miss Edith Mosier, Miss Mary Parmenter, Miss Allie O. Sanburn, Miss Mary E. Grimes and Mrs. Ada Evans. There are in attendance 300 scholars.
The Knoxville Public Library and Reading Room, organized under the State law, in February, 1878. Books now in library, obtained by donation and subscriptions. Number of papers taken, 19; num- ber of magazines, 6. The officers. of the Board of Directors are: President, J. H. Lewis; Secretary, D. B. Huggins. There is an average of 36 visitors a day.
HENDERSON.
At one time in this county's history, Henderson played an impor- tant part. It was laid out June 11, 1835, by Calvin Glass. It is located on section 14, Henderson township. March 7, 1838, an election was held to vote for or against incorporation; 28 votes were cast for the measure and none against it.
GALESBURG.
Galesburg is beautifully situated, on a high, undulating prairie, on sections 10, 11, 14 and 15, of Galesburg township, near the middle of the western side of the county. It is by rail 164 miles from Chicago, 100 from Quincy, 53 from Peoria and 43 from Burlington.
Thus situated, in one of the most fertile regions of the globe, with
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excellent railroad facilities and with no city of equal size between it and either of the above, save Aurora (38 miles this side of Chicago), its future greatness is destined.
The growth of the city, from its inception, has been of a stable, steady and permanent character. Its history, from the moment its founder conceived the idea of building a city upon the broad prairies of Illinois, until to-day, when it numbers 15,000 inhabitants, is one replete with extraordinary events, and will be read by posterity, especially, with great interest. G. W. Gale originated the idea of founding a colony early in 1834. We give a brief personal sketch of this man, in order that posterity may know something of him who was the prime mover in founding their beautiful city.
George Washington Gale, son of Josiah and Rachel (Mead) Gale, was born December 3, 1789, in the town of North East, Douches county, N. Y. He graduated at Union College, N. Y., and Prince- ton Seminary, N. J. He entered the ministry about 1820. From ill health, he was obliged to quit ministerial labors, when he retired to a farm; but being so desirous of seeing the young around him receiving better education, he could not remain inactive in this great field. Accordingly, he commenced teaching the young men of his neighborhood, asking no compensation, and receiving none save the satisfaction of seeing their conditions bettered. This really was the germ implanted, which in a few years led a band of worthy pioneers to the wild prairies of Knox county.
He was rather sanguine of the success of his undertakings. His ambition was lofty and noble, inspiring him with high thoughts and anxiety to do something great and good for the benefit of others. Consequently he was always engaged in some public enterprise, which, backed by his powerful energy, excellent judgment and the enthusiasm of liis sanguine nature, was almost invariably crowned with success. From poor health his naturally even temper had become irritable; but lie subdued it by the magnanimity of his spirit, comporting himself with a courteous and gentle gravity, and never indulging in any intemperance of language. He was of a religious temperament and a zealous member of the Presbyterian Church; nor did his piety consist in mere forms, but was genuine and fervent and partook of that lofty and solemn enthusiasm, with which his whole character was strikingly imbued. He was one of the most agreeable and instructive companions. Though always pious, there was notliing austere, obtrusive or revolting in his religion; and in liis domestic circle he would often indulge himself with great playfulness and humor, yet no occasion was ever lost in instilling into the minds
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
of his children or companions pure, honorable and lofty sentiments and principles. He departed this life on the 13th day of September, 1861, in the city of Galesburg, and his remains were consigned to earth in Hope Cemetery in the western part of the city.
Thus ended the life of a good and noble man, one whose memory will grow brighter and dearer as the city which perpetuates his name shall grow larger. So thoroughly imbued was Mr. Gale with the idea of starting a colony in the West and then founding a college, that he lost no opportunity to consult the wisest men of his vicinity and to present the scheme for their criticism and suggestion.
After maturing a plan by which a colony might be formed, he issued a lengthy circular setting forth the necessity of converting the young to Christianity and of giving them the advantages of a liberal education. In this circular he also made known his plan,-a remark- able combination of philanthropy and sagacity. It was extensively approved by prominent men, who warmly advised and urged its prosecution; and the unquestionable wisdom of this plan is demon- strated by the fact that although but about one-half the sum origi- nally contemplated was ever received from subscribers and only 10,- 746 acres of land purchased for the colony, yet on this greatly dimin- ished scale of operation the enterprise has proven eminently success- ful. There was, however, one feature of Mr. Gale's plan which proved to be impracticable in this western country, and that was the idea of aiding students by affording manual labor.
Mr. Gale, by the early part of 1835, had secured a subscription to the amount of $21,000. On the 6th day of May of this year the first meeting of the subscribers was held in Rome, N. Y. At this meet- ing an organization was effected, and a Prudential Committee ap- pointed, consisting of George W. Gale, H. H. Kellogg, J. C. Smith, N. West, Thomas Gilbert and Walter Webb. This committee appointed an exploring committee which consisted of Nehemiah West, Thomas Gilbert and Timothy B. Jervis. They were not to purchase land, but examine the country and report a suitable location for the objects of the colony. A purchasing committee was subsequently appointed to proceed forthwith to Illinois, select a location if possible, and make a purchase. This committee were Sylvanus Ferris, Nehemiah West, Thomas Simmons and George W. Gale. They left New York Sep- tember, 1835. The committee entered about 17 sections of land in township 11 north, 1 east, Knox county, at $1.25 per acre, and returned home, being absent but about 8 weeks.
At a meeting of the subscribers held in Whitesboro January 7,
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
1836, they named their embryo village "Galesburg," and their insti- tution "Prairie College."
A plat of the purchase was now prepared, and front it the land was distributed among the subscribers, only two of whom had ever seen the country. There were 10,746 eighty-one hundredths acres, which cost with expense of exploring $16,559.70; 560 acres were reserved as town property, and 1,004 acres were reserved for college use. The balance of the purchase was divided into farms, which were appraised upon the average of $5 per acre. The town plat made in the center of the land purchased embraced 560 acres. The form, size and price of lots were fixed. A 10-acre lot on each side of the town was reserved. for male and female academies, also a cemetery of 5 acres, ground for a meeting-house and a lot for a parsonage. Plans for academy build- ings, public house and steam-mill were suggested, but the latter were finally left to private enterprise.
When the committee were entering the land at the land office in Quincy, they visited Marion College, Missouri, and met Sherman Williams and Henry Ferris. Both of these gentlemen decided to go to the new village. Ferris immediately started, and by the first of November, 1835, was on the ground, the first actual resident col- onist.
On the 2d day of June, 1836, the first company of settlers, 25 in number, arrived at Log City. This was a place at Henderson Grove selected as a temporary location until they could erect houses on the site of their proposed village. This place received the name "Log City" from the fact that all its dwellings were constructed of logs.
A second company, under the leadership of John C. Smith, pur- chased a canal-boat at Utica, N. Y. On this they embarked with their families and effects. Their voyage was long, their progress slow, the boat was crowded, the weather was warm, and the alternation of scorching heat by day and chilly dampness by night necessarily sub- jected thiem to sickness, which very few, if any, escaped. Wagons were sent to Illinois river to carry them to Log City, but they were found at an inn nearly all sick. Forty persons were crowded into one narrow canal-boat from two to three months in the warm season of the year. Three of the leading men died from the effects of the trip. Colonel Isaac Mills died ten days after arrival. Captain Smith speedily followed Mr. Mills to the grave. Mr. Lyman, after being removed from the boat to the grove lingered about two months and then died.
Others came during the summer of 1856, until when cold weather began more than 30 families, or 170 persons, were located in cabins
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
on the south side of Henderson Grove. There they spent their first winter, preparing to improve their farms and commence the building of their village the next season. How the colonists lived during their temporary sojourn at Log City is graphically described by Mary Allen West in a paper read before the "Old Settlers' Association" July 4, 1873. In speaking of one family, she says:
"Their goods came all the way by water to Chicago, and did not reach here till six weeks after the folks came. Consequently their supply of furniture was rather limited. As near as I can discover, all the 'kitchen fixins' they had during those six weeks were a long- handled frying-pan and a horse pail. (Not that horse pails usually belong in that category, but this was an exceptional one.) The frying-pan performed all offices for which iron was necessary, and the horse pail did the rest. Indeed it seems to have been the most im- portant member of the colony just then: and if a stave of it remains it certainly deserves a pension. It must first water the horses; that was what it was made for, and pa's horses were always of the dainty kind that would not drink out of a trough; then after a good scrub- bing it must submit to having bread mixed in it, for what else was there to mix it in? The frying-pan managed the baking, but after the baking came the eating, and after the eating came the dish-wash- ing. I don't say the dishes were waslied in that long-suffering pail, but only remind you it was the only thing in all the colony that would hold dish-water.
"Then the people were rather thick for the limited accommodations, especially after Mr. and Mrs. Gale came with their six children. But children are easily disposed of, in warm weather, when one lives in the woods. I have heard some of these boys, now bearded men, sigh for a lodge in the wilderness; well that's just what they did have then,- those children. A rude tent was built out of boughs, off in the woods, and thither, each pleasant morning, trooped the delighted youngsters, dinner-baskets in hand, to spend the day as it seemed unto them good. Oh, the delights of those long summer days in the green wood! I know their memory was fondly cherished by at least one of their band till her dying day.
"It has ever been my great regret that I did not arrive on the scene early enough to take part in these sylvan pleasures. At night, when the inen returned from work, and the children rushed in, ravenously hungry, then came the tug of war. But the house-mothers had been hard at work all day preparing for the onslaught, and now they man- „aged to fill all the hungry mouths and, what was more wonderful, stow away all the tired bodies in bed. Imagine the stowing-away 34
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
process, following close on the feeding! Atleast I know Brother 'By' won't let his children be sent to bed till they want to go, remember- ing the torture he endured from the sun shining in his eyes through the chinks of the log cabin, after he had been put to bed to be out of the way. But if misery loves company, he ought to have been con- tent, for he had enough of that. The space between the two parts of the double cabin, four or five feet wide, had been enclosed, bedding spread down, and here without regard to sex, and the children do aver, with alternate heads and feet, like sardines in a box, were stowed away for the night the future lawyers, doctors, engineers, farmers, legislators, housekeepers and teachers of our city."
Of the pioneers of Galesburg the following are still living. There were many children, of course, that are still living, but we give only those married at that time or connected with the enterprise personally. Widow of Nehemiah West, Galesburg; widow of N. H. Losey, Gales- burg; widow of Leonard Chappell, Galesburg; Daniel Wheeler's widow, at present a Mrs. Anderson; William Hamblin and wife, Gales- burg; widow of Henry Wilcox, Galesburg; C. S. Colton and wife, Galesburg; widow of Isaac Colton, living in New York; John G. West, living west of Galesburg; widow of Lorentus E. Conger, Dex- ter, Iowa; John Kendall, Cleveland, Ohio; George Avery and wife, Galesburg; widow of Sylvanus Ferris, Galesburg; George Ferris, Nevada; Western Ferris, came in 1835, went back, and returned in 1839, Galesburg; widow of N. C. Ferris, Galesburg; Levi Sanderson and wife, living with children in Galesburg and in Brooklyn, New York; Eli Farnham, Galesburg; G. D. Colton, Galesburg; H. H. May, Galesburg; Sheldon Allen, Galesburg: Abram Tyler, living in Iowa; Ralph Skinner, Galesburg; A. Z. Haynor, Galesburg; widow of Edward Dailey, Galesburg; A. C. Higgins, Galesburg.
During the summer of 1836 Professor Losey surveyed the village and lands, in accordance with the plat made in New York.
In Noveinber, 1836, a bachelor, Phlegmon Phelps by name, com- menced a frame house on block 16, of the newly laid-out town. This building was afterward known as the Holyoke house, and stood on the north side of Main street, just east of Prairie street. The first mar- riage which occurred was during the winter passed at Log City, and was that of Henry Ferris. He and Maria Hudson were then united in the bonds of matrimony. Fidelia Wheeler, now Mrs. Albert Por- ter, was born here this winter. Professor Losey, assisted by Miss Lucy Gay, opened a school in January, 1837.
Very early in the spring three houses were built in the village, all of which are now standing: The house on the southwest corner of
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Cedar and Ferris, built by Mr. Wheeler, the one on the northwest corner of the same block, built by Elisha King, and one on Cedar and Simmons streets. Several log cabins were occupied in May, in which month, in the cabin standing where President Bateman's residence is, and occupied by Colonel Caleb Finch and family, was born Harriet Finch, now Mrs. Luther Wilcox, who was the first child born in Gales- burg. The summer was a busy one upon the prairie. Houses were being constructed, the virgin soil was being plowed and everybody busily engaged in making preparations to enter their new homes. In the spring, Messrs. Swift, West, King and Gale erected a steam saw- mill on block 8, of which Mr. Swift soon became sole owner. The town was not without its store. May 1, 1837, the County Cominis- sioners granted a license to Chancey S. Colton, to sell general mer- chandise. He was the first merchant of Galesburg. Matthew Cham- bers also erected a small building on the east side of the square, but moved to Knoxville. This building was used as a school-house on week days and a meeting-house on Sundays.
By the time cold weather began, in 1837, most of the colonists were permanently settled, and then began in earnest the stern, long-pro- tracted labors and trials incident to building up a city on the wild, unbroken prairies,-labor and trials that can never be appreciated by the present and future generations.
A town was now fairly started. It consisted of those who came in 1836 (173 individuals), and those who came in 1837 (59), making a total population of 232.
While under village organization, Galesburg was always a strict prohibitory. town on the liquor question, and for many years after assuming the title of "city" no saloons were on her streets. Indeed, the saloon is a new feature to Galesburg life. It may be supposed that more or less liquor was sold during all these years, but it is quite evi - dent the gilded signs of "Saloon " were not visible on every hand, as now. In accordance with a clause in the first city charter, which was granted by the Legislature, February 14, 1857, the people were to vote for or against granting the city council discretionary power to license the sale of liquors. Accordingly, on the first Monday in April, a vote was taken on the question, resulting in 462 votes for prohibition and 104 for power to license,-a majority of 358 for temperance,-thus making prohibition a clause in the fundamental law of the city, and seconding the efforts of the founders of the city, who had inserted the temperance clause in the deed to every lot.
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