USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 44
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NELSON TOWNSHIP.
This township is bounded on the east by South Dixon, on the south by Harmon, on the north and west by Rock river and Whitesides county. The soil is sandy and not so productive as in some other portions of the county, and consequently was not settled as early. The principal prod- ucts are corn, wheat, oats, barley and rye. The land is nearly all tillable and devoted to grain raising. The farmers of Nelson do not devote as much of their attention to grazing and stock raising as do the people in some portions of the county. Her people are a quiet, well- to-do class of farmers, and intelligent, enterprising and patriotic. Polit- ically the township is republican, yet as a rule her citizens are rather independent, and do not so far forget the welfare of the common country as to allow party prejudice to cause them to overlook errors and corruption simply because they exist in their own party. They do not believe in permitting a scoundrel to evade justice simply because he bears a party trade-mark. Neither do they believe that patriotism is confined to party lines. They are broad-minded enough to see that a man whose lot is cast in America, who has a home on her soil, whose father and mother lie side by side under the sod made free by patriotic blood, whose children are taught to lisp the names of Washington and Lincoln, regardless of his political opinion, is as deeply interested in the common welfare of the nation as themselves.
The earliest settler in Nelson township was Luther Stone, who came in 1836 from Erie county, New York, and located on Sec. 29. Burrel and Samuel Stone, who are still residents of the township, are sons of Luther, and shared with their father the dangers and hardships of pioneer life. In the winter of 1837 Burrel, his brother Samuel, and their father, were getting home a supply of wood from
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Scott's Grove, eight miles south of Burrel's present residence. During the father's absence with a load of wood a snowstorm of unusual severity came on. Alone in the timber, without shelter or food, the boys became alarmed and saw that something must be done or they would perish in the storm. The snow came down in such quantities as to darken the air. The wind roared through the leafless branches of the forest and night was coming on. With this gloomy prospect, together with that of passing the night in the forest, filled their hearts with dismay, and they set out in a westerly direction, hoping to find a deserted cabin that stood about two miles distant. Fortunately, after a long search, they came in view of the shanty, which, although in a very dilapidated condition, afforded them a shelter from the merciless storm. With the aid of some tow they succeeded in making a fire with their guns, and for three days were cooped up in that gloomy prison, sub- sisting during their imprisonment on a coon they had shot in the forest. At the end of that time the storm subsided, so that they were enabled to make their way home. At another time, in the winter of 1842, Burrel was driving home from Dixon. A few scattering flakes of snow were falling when he started, which soon developed into a howling blizzard. Owing to the density of the falling snow darkness came on earlier than usual, and Barrel lost his way in the blinding storm. Knowing that if he did not keep himself and horses in motion death would be certain, he kept the horses going around in a circle until day- break, when he found to his surprise that he was within a short dis- tance of home.
The first supervisor of the township was Abner Coggswell. The first justices of the peace were Daniel Uhl and George Jones; first assessor, Michael Troutman ; first collector, R. Henry Heaton, all of whom were elected in 1860, in which year the town was organized.
When the rebellion broke out Nelson township furnished her quota of troops without a draft, and deserves great credit for the prompt manner in which she responded to the call of her country. She fur- nished troops for the 13th, 34th and 75th Ill. regiments. The only church in the township is Zion's Evangelical Lutheran, which society was organized February 23, 1867, with 58 members. The first elders were Conrad Hartman and Daniel Uhl; deacons, Lewis F. Long, Gerhart Missman. The first pastor was Rev. A. A. Trimper; the second, Ephraim Miller, who was made pastor in September 1871, and served until February 20, 1875. The next pastor was the Rev. J. P. Sanderson, who was elected pastor March 29, 1875, and served until October 1877. Rev. J. W. Henderson took charge of the con- gregation November 1, 1877, and served until April 1, 1879. A. J. B. Kast became pastor June 15, 1877, and still presides.
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NELSON TOWNSHIP.
The church building now occupied by the congregation was erected in 1880, at a cost of $3,500, on the land of Conrad Hartman. The present elders are Thomas Clayton and Jacob Harden, and the deacons are Gerhart Missman and S. G. Cook.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ABNER COGGSWELL, farmer, Nelson station, son of John and Re- becca Coggswell, was born in Oneida county, New York, where he resided with his parents until 1843. In that year he came to Lee county and bought land in Sec. 30, Nelson township. Mr. Coggswell served as road commissioner four years, when Nelson and South and East Dixon townships were one, and was the first supervisor of Nelson township. He was married June 10, 1838, to Miss Phalinda Hawley, who died in 1860. He was again married in October 1861, to Mrs. Rachel Ferguson, a native of New York state. Politically he is a re- publican, with which party he united in its infancy.
URIANI GROOVER, farmer, Dixon, son of George and Pheba Groover, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1818. When Uriah was nine years of age his father, with his family, removed to Berks county, where they remained nine years. In 1836 the family removed to Amherst county, Virginia. After remaining here one year Uriah returned to Columbia county and apprenticed to a carpenter. After working two years as an apprentice he went to Danville, Montour county, where he worked at his trade until the spring of 1854. In that year he came to Dixon, where he again worked at his trade for some time. In 1857 he bought land in Dixon township, which he sold in 1865 and bought in Sec. 26, Nelson township. In 1862 his son Joseph enlisted in Co. A, 75th Ill. Inf. In 1864 his son James enlisted in the 12th Ill. Cav. and started to join his regiment. He was taken suddenly ill at Vicksburg and died in the hospital in November following. Mr. Groover was married in 1842, to Miss Catharine Ritzs, also a native of Columbia county. His first wife, Catharine, died in December, 1862, and in 1868 he was again married, to Elizabeth Kelly. He is the father of twelve children, nine of whom are living. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1863.
WILLIAM COVERT, farmer, Dixon, was born in Seneca county, New York, May 27, 1824, where he resided until fourteen years of age, when he went to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and remained about four years. At the end of that time he returned to Seneea connty and remained there until 1858. In that year he came west and located in McHenry county, Illinois, where he resided five years. He then removed to Cook county, where he remained a short time, after which he removed to Lee county and bought land in S.E. ¿ of S.E. ¿ Sec. 26, where he
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY:
has since resided. He was married in 1849, to Miss Mary Geer, a na- tive of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1856.
CHARLES F. HUBBARD, farmer, Dixon, son of Ruggles and Catherine Hubbard, was born in New York city, in 1817. He resided with his parents in that city till nineteen years of age. He received his early edu- cation in the city, and in 1829 was sent to Bennington, Vermont, where he attended school three years, and was a class-mate of Gen. Robert Marcy and Gov. Cornell. After having completed his education he returned to the city and was engaged as clerk for an importing mer- chant. In 1837 he left New York for the Rocky mountains, in com- pany with his brother-in-law, William Graham. They came from New York to Pittsburgh by canal, thence down the Ohio by steamboat to Cairo, and up the Mississippi to St. Louis, which at that time was but a struggling village in the heart of the great frontier. On their arrival at that place they found that the Santefe wagon train had departed several days before, and not caring to embark alone on a journey so full of peril, they abondoned the idea and took a boat for Galena. After remaining here a short time they went across the country to Dixon, for the purpose of spending a few days in hunting. This country at that time he describes as being a paradise, the clear, sparkling river abounding in fish. The green hills adorned with flowers of every hne formed a scene well calculated to fascinate the young travelers just out of the city, with its great, gloomy buildings and dusty streets. Mr. Hubbard, being desirous of making his home in this beautiful land of flowers, purchased a claim from John Dixon in what is now the N.E. ¿ Sec. 11, in Nelson township, where he cast his lot. His present residence is situated on a bluff overlooking the river, on whose banks he expects to pass the remainder of his life. Among all the many pioneers of Lee county whom the writer has in- terviewed we have not found one more interesting in conversation than Mr. Hubbard. He is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, broad-minded and liberal in his views, and possesses the respect of all who know him. He was married in 1844, to Miss Helen Graham, also a native of New York city. He is father of five children, one son and four daughters.
SAMUEL STONE, Rock Falls. Luther Stone, father of Samuel, was born in Massachusetts in 1795. He was married in 1817, to Miss Tamina Warren. In 1836 he came to Lee county and located on the banks of Rock river, in what is now Nelson township. Here he erected a large log house, over which he presided in the capacity of landlord, keeping travelers, which were then becoming quite numerous. The names of Luther- Stone's children are as follows: Willard, born
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NELSON TOWNSHIP.
in New York, February 4, 1819; married July 10, 1840; died Febru- ary 13, 1841. Henry B., born January 12, 1821, in New York state ; married April 27, 1851. Samuel, born December 18, 1824, in New York state; married November 3, 1843. Alonzo Stone, born March 1, 1827; died at Dixon, October 9, 1847. Savina, born January 21, 1830; married March 10, 1853. Albert Stone, born March 11, 1834. Samuel Stone is one of the oldest residents in Nelson township, and his name is closely interwoven with her early history. In 1879 a large barn belonging to him, and containing fifty tons of hay and all of his machinery, was burned to the ground.
JACOB HARDEN, farmer, son of George and Hester Harden, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, within forty rods of Mason and Dixon's line, where he remained with his father's family until twelve years of age, when they moved to Alleghany county, Mary- land. At the age of twety-nine Jacob returned to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and remained three years. He then came west and located in Lee county, purchasing land S.E. ¿ Sec. 23 in Nelson town- ship. In 1880 Mr. Harden was elected supervisor of the township, and reelected in 1881. He is a member of the Lutheran church, with which he united at an early age. In politics he is a democrat.
LEWIS F. LONG, Nelson Station, son of Henry and Elizabeth Long, born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1831, where he remained until twenty-five years of age. In 1856 he came to Lee connty and located in Nelson township. In 1865 he bought land in E. ¿ N.W. ¿ Sec. 28; since that time he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1869 Mr. Long was elected supervisor of the township, and was again elected in 1870. He was married in 1853, to Miss Sevilla Haas, a native of Pennsylvania, and is father of seven children. Mr. Long united with the Lutheran church in 1865, and since that time has been a prominent member. In politics he is a republican.
ALBERT HUBBARD, Dixon, farmer, son of Walter and Lucinda Hub- bard, was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in 1824, where he resided until thirty years of age. His grandfather, Judd Hubbard, was one of the pioneer settlers of Berkshire county, having located there prior to 1800. His father was one of the militia ordered to Boston in 1814 to repel an expected invasion. At the age of thirty years Albert came to Lee county and located in Nelson township; in 1879 was elected justice of the peace, which office he held two years; married in 1850, to Miss Hanna Catharine Hunter, 'also a native of Berkshire county ; is father of five children, four of whom are living. Politically Mr. Hubbard is a republican, having joined the party in its infancy.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
His brother Alonzo, who came west with him, went to Colorado in 1874, and has become quite wealthy.
ELIJAH WALKER, Dixon, son of Peter P. H. and Sarah Walker, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1832, where he remained until twenty-seven years of age ; in 1860 came to Lee county and bought land in N. W. 1 of Sec. 25; married in 1852, to Miss Joanna Fricca, a native of Hanover, Germany, and is father of three children. Mr. Wal- ker started out in the world with nothing, and by long years of persist- ent toil has accumulated a large amount of property, and is one of the model farmers of Lee county. He is in his political belief a democrat, yet is not so narrow in his opinions as to overlook wrongs in misdoings in his party, and does not hesitate to denounce such. Mr. Walker is kind and courteous among his neighbors. Liberal in his views on all questions, yet firm in his convictions, he is a citizen of merit and an ornament to the community in which he resides.
HARMON TOWNSHIP.
This township is bounded on the south by Hamilton, on the east by Marion, on the north by Nelson, and on the west by Whitesides county. As yet the land is not as productive as in some parts of the county, being very flat and inclined to be marshy, but as drains are being made in all parts of the township it is rapidly improving, and when thoroughly drained will be as good as the average. Owing to the sterility of the soil the township is sparsely settled, the present population not being more than about six hundred. The inhabitants are largely Irish.
In early times, owing to the numerous swamps and ponds, ducks and geese were very plentiful, and hunting was a favorite pastime among the early settlers. The first settler was John D. Rosebrook, who purchased a large tract of land in the eastern part of the township. Among the settlers who came soon after Mr. Rosebrook were Louis Hullinger, Thomas Sutton, John L. Porter and James Porter, jr. The first school-house in the township was built on Sec. 23 in 1856. The first school was held at the residence of Mrs. Tuttle and conducted by her daughter, Vienna Tuttle.
The first supervisor of the township was Mitchell Rosebrook.
The village of Harmon, situated on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, was laid out in 1871, on land owned by A. Kenyon. The present population of the village is about three hundred. Sur- rounded by a wide scope of country, which, owing to the industry of its enterprising citizens, is rapidly improving, Harmon promises to become one of the thriving inland villages of Lee county. It has two
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HARMON TOWNSHIP.
extensive elevators, which receive large quantities of grain, three dry- goods and grocery stores, one jewelry store, three blacksmith shops, one livery stable and one hotel, one creamery and three churches, the Methodist Episcopal, Wesleyan Methodist and Catholic.
The Wesleyan Methodist church was accepted by the Illinois con- ference September 20, 1862. The first pastor of this organization was the Rev. J. Pinkney; Secretary, L. Wakeman ; the present pastors are the Rev. J. P. Spalding and William Clalworthy. The present membership is sixty-four. The trustees are Levi Jennes, W. L. Smith, A. Berlin.
The Methodist Episcopal society was organized in 1871. The first pastor was the Rev. Rice, whose initials the writer was unable to ascer- tain. The first class-leader was James Backus; the present pastor is the Rev. Edward Breen, who took charge in October 1879. In March, 1881, the following-named persons were elected as trustees for the purpose of building a church : A. B. Smith, W. E. Mechem, J. U. Fry, W. H. Kline, Daniel Swartz.
SILAS ACKERT, Harmon, son of Edward and Sarah Ackert, was born in Ulster county, New York, in 1836, where he resided until nineteen years of age ; he then came to Marion township, Lee county, and was there engaged in farming. After remaining there nine years he removed to Amboy and remained one year, after which he went to Woosung, Ogle county, where he worked at his trade (blacksmithing) for six years. At the end of this time he removed to Harmon town- ship. In 1879 he was elected supervisor of the township, and reëlect- ed in 1880. Is a member of the Baptist church, with which he united in 1869. Married in 1865, to Miss Mary J. Rosebrook, a native of New Hampshire. Is father of one child. Politically Mr. Ackert is an independent, owing no allegiance to any faction or party.
GEORGE W. HILL, merchant, Harmon, son of George and Margaret Hill, was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1848. His father was here engaged in manufacturing soap. When George was fifteen years of age his father, with his family, removed to Monongahela City, where they remained three years ; at the end of that time George went to Frostburg, Maryland, and remained two years, and then came to Lee county, where he farmed and worked at carpentering until April 1877, when he engaged in the dry-goods and grocery business. He was also appointed postmaster in that year in the village of Harmon. Mr. Hill was married in 1871, to Miss Gula E. Porter, daughter of James Por- ter, jr., one of the early settlers of Harmon township. Mr. Hill started in business with but a few hundred dollars of borrowed capital, and by close attention to business has placed himself in good circum- stances. Mr. Hill is a young man of enterprise and public spirit, and
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
always enters with enthusiasm into any movement calculated to advance the interests of the village or benefit the community.
JOHN T. SWAN, Harmon, son of James G. and Susan Swan, was born in Bureau county, Illinois, in 1852. He remained there until twenty years of age, when he went to Peru, Illinois, and attended high school one year; at the end of that time he came to Harmon and engaged in the dry-goods and grocery business. Mr. Swan is one of the inany prosperous merchants of Lee county. Was married in 1875, to Miss Clara Shelhamer, a native of Lee county.
THOMAS SUTTON, farmer, Harmon, son of Joseph and Hanna Sut- ton, was born on Wheeling Creek, Virginia, in 1820. At the age of five years his father, with his family, moved to a point about fifteen miles north of Zanesville, Ohio, where he resided two years; from there they went to Jackson county, Ohio, and remained until Thomas was seventeen. At this time they sold their farm and located in Hock- ing county, Ohio, and remained until 1854. In that year they re- moved to Lee county and bought land in the S. ¿ Sec. 25, Harmon township. Mr. Sutton was married in 1840, to Miss Mary Ann Petit, a native of Ohio.
ABNER C. WELCHI, Stone Station, son of Russell and Louisa M. Welch, was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1848. In 1856 he went with his father's family to Michigan, and received his early education in Grandville, in that state. In 1865 Abner removed to Lee county, and began farming in Nelson township, where he remained until 1875, when he removed to Harmon township and bought land in section 6. In 1878 he embarked in the grain and stock business at Stone Station, at which he has since been engaged. He was married in 1870, to Miss Ada Stone, a native of Lee county.
WILSON E. MECHEM, farmer, Harmon, son of John and Abigail Mechem, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, where he resided until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he removed to Magnolia, Put- nam county, Illinois, where he worked at his trade (carpenter) for three years, after which he went to Marshall connty and resided there from 1854 to 1868; in that year he removed to Petis county, Missouri, and remained five years, then returned to Marshall county and remained three years. He then removed to Lee county and bought land in sec- tions 22 and 27, in Harmon township. Mr. Mechem is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1870. He was married December 31, 1851, to Miss Rhoda Simson, a native of Ohio.
LEWIS HULLINGER, farmer, Stone Station, son of Frederic and Catharine Hullinger, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1820. When Lewis was seventeen years of age his father's family re-
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HARMON TOWNSHIP.
moved to Baltimore county, Maryland, where they remained about five years. At the end of this time they went to Bradford county, Penn- sylvania. At the age of fourteen Lewis was apprenticed to a black- smith at a place called Flint Stone, in Alleghany county, Maryland. He served five years' apprenticeship, after which he embarked in busi- ness alone. He carried on a shop at Polish Mountain, three and a half miles east of Flint Stone, for four years. From that place he removed to Mount Savage, in the same county, where he remained until the spring of 1855. In that year he came to Lee county and bought land in S.W. { Sec. 7, in Harmon township. Mr. Hullinger was married in 1847, to Miss Susan Long, a native of Pennsylvania, and is the father of nine children, six of whom are living. He is the present supervisor of the township.
W. H. ALLEN, farmer, Stone Station, son of John and Mercy Allen, was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, July 18, 1824. The family remained there until William was ten years of age, when they removed to Erie county, New York, where they remained until 1839. In that year William, actuated by a desire to see some of the sights and wonders of the boundless West, left home and started on a journey toward the setting sun. Before his return he traveled over nearly all of the United States east of the Mississippi from Canada to New Or- leans. After an absence of two years he returned to his old New Eng- land home and attended school three years at Dartmouth. In 1847 he sailed as a common hand on a merchant vessel that left the port of New York bound for Vera Cruz, and was in sight of that famous old city during the bombardment. From Vera Cruz he returned to New Orleans and was there made captain of a vessel engaged in the coast- ing trade, and was engaged in that business for several years. In 1848 he again returned to New Bedford and remained there until 1852. In that year he sailed on a whaling vessel, occupying the position of first mate. On the first voyage he was absent two years, during which time he was in nearly all of the important seaport towns in the world. Mr. Allen has in his possession a large diary, or sailor's log-book, kept by himself during his life on the ocean wave, containing sketches de- scriptive of the people he saw in the different countries he visited, also containing descriptions of the countries, records of every storm en- countered, of every whale captured, etc. In perusing this time-worn book the writer found sketches dated at Melbourne, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Gibralter, and many places of historical interest, among which was some notes written at the island of St. Helena. While here Mr. Allen visited the burial-place of the dead conqueror, who had once electrified the world by his brilliant military movements, and who ended his days on that lone, barren isle with no loving hand to
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
caress him, no voice to bid him a last farewell, save that of the wild waves as they dashed against the bleak and rocky shore. Mr. Allen spent about fourteen years of his life on the sea, and has now changed his occupation from that of plowing the billowy deep to that more humble and less exciting vocation of tilling the soil. He came to Lee county in 1864 and bought land in N.W. ¿ of Sec. 18, Harmon township. He was married in 1859, to Miss Caroline Dean, also a native of Massachusetts.
ABRAHAM BERLIN, farmer, Harmon, son of Abraham and Maria Berlin, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1837, where he remained until fifteen years of age. His father died in 1847. In 1853 Abraham came with his mother to Stephenson county, Illinois, where they resided two years and then removed to Bureau county, Illinois. They resided in that county five years, and then came to Lee county and bought land in S.W. ¿ Sec. 26. Mr. Berlin is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church, with which he united in 1865 ; was married in 1863, to Miss Nancy Jane Swan, a native of Kentucky, and is the father of five children.
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