USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 62
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Among the first white persons and settlers about the groves (as these towns were first settled there) was David Town, then Diek Allen, then Zach. Melugin, after whom the groves in Viola and Brooklyn were named, then William Guthrie, who also named the small grove. After these came John Gilmore, William Lawton, who sold to Walter Little. Then they began to come in faster, among those a little later being Evins Adrian, who perhaps has made himself more felt than any of his predecessors in this township and Lee county.
There are several large farmers in this township; but among the most noted are Evins Adrian, with his 1300 acre homestead and miles of osage hedge fence and herds of fine blooded stock reared by him. Mr. Adrian is not a large purchaser of stock except to improve his already high grade. He is a stock raiser and seller, doing all business on his own premises. Mr. H. B. Cobb is also an extensive stock man in this township. He not only raises large droves, but is also an ex- tensive buyer and shipper of large bunches of hogs as well as cattle.
About four years ago Mr. Evins Adrian lost one of his large barns by fire. It was 42×60 in size, with a fine basement for stock, and had just been filled with hay. In it was also stored a lot of farm tools, harness, and some valuable live-stock. It was the work of an incendi- ary ; the total loss was about $5,000. He rebuilt, and had the new barn ready for occupancy in about thirty days after the burning.
SCHOOLS.
There are six school buildings in this township, and another con- templated this fall. The cost of these was from $400 to $600 each. There are seven school districts in Viola, and schools are held from six to nine months a year in each. The school fund is $7,496.
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OFFICERS.
Viola's present town officers are : supervisor, James Adrian ; town clerk, Rufus Johnson ; assessor, Calvin Johnson ; collector, Robert Hutchinson ; commissioners of highways, Joseph Merrill, three years ; Alexander Harper, two years; Abram Bennett, one year ; justices of the peace, Alexander Harper and Truman Johnson ; constables, Rufus Johnson and William H. Bennett ; school trustees, A. J. Ross, three years; Truman Johnson, two years ; James Taylor, one year; and school treasurer, Calvin Johnson. The number of votes polled at the 1881 election was 130.
Mr. Evins Adrian was the first person married living in Viola, to widow Smith, formerly Marrilla Goodale. The next was William Happ, who married a Miss Smith, of Smith's Grove. He afterward in a spree stabbed his wife, who died. Truman Johnson's was probably the third marriage, to Miss Mary Melugin.
The first adult person who died in this township was Walter Little, grandfather of the present sheriff of Lee county. An infant child of William Lawton's died previously. Mrs. Curtis Lathrop and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Little also died in the early history of Lee county. The first birth in this township was a child to William Lawton, which died in its infancy.
One mark of prosperity in this township is its large and intelligent family records, giving the residents not only great present aid, but pro- viding for the future management of the affairs of this vicinity.
In the early history of Viola township, long before Lee county was set off, roaming bands of Indians from several tribes inhabited the beautiful groves, there being those now living among its citizens who have played with the children of the red men, and were eye witnesses to the great council and last payment in Illinois of the Indians by the government at the grove at Shabbona.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
M. W. HARRINGTON, farmer, Compton, removed with his parents when four years old from Grand Isle county, Vermont, and located at Joliet, Will county, Illinois. He was born in Grand Isle county, Ver- mont, May 21, 1835. His father, at an advanced age, is still living. In 1862 he removed to Viola, Lee county, and on August 13, 1862, en- listed in Co. E, 100th Ill. Vol. Inf., and remained eighteen months. He was wounded in the battle of Chickamauga, September 19, 1863, which disabled him for service, and he was honorably discharged. He married, July 2, 1858, Mary E. Cole. They have three children : Charlie E., Willie M., Oric C., and one adopted child, Carrie A. He
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has a good and well managed farm of 120 acres, and is a representative farmer. In politics he is republican.
CATHARINE (JOHNSON) GRAY, widow of Henry W. Gray, farmer, Compton, was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, September 1826. Her youth was spent in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where she re- sided with her parents. They came to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1830, where they remained until she was twenty-five years of age. In 1855 she removed to Illinois, locating in Lee county. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1844 she was married to Henry W. Gray. She has five children living, three having died since her husband's death, which occurred twenty-two years ago. Her three sons at home, Emory, James, and Lewis, are working 160 acres. They also thresh and shell grain during the season.
WILLIAM W. GILMORE, farmer, Compton, born in Brooklyn town- ship, Lee county, November 8, 1835, was the second white child born in the grove. His mother is living. He had the common school advantages, such as could be obtained in his pioneer youth. Nearly all his life has been spent near his birthplace. Mr. Gilmore has held local town offices for several terms, and given good satisfaction. He is a chapter Mason, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a democrat in politics. He was married January 15, 1856, to Regina Carnahan. They have five children : Jennie, now Mrs. Chas. Guffin, of Compton ; John, Ida, Hattie, and Floy. He has a 255 acre farm, well managed, and is building a residence at Compton, where he will re- move. He was engaged during considerable of his life in the dry- goods and general store business, also in agricultural and hardware, in Melugin's Grove and at Mendota. Mr. John Gilmore and Hannah, his wife, father and mother of the subject of this sketch, were the next set- tlers, after Zachariah Melugin, at the grove, and nearly their entire life has been spent at or near their early settlement. They have been identified with the growth and prosperity of Lee county for near half a century, and have endeared themselves to all who have known them. Mr. J. Gilmore was a Master Mason in New York, and upon his re- moval west he was presented with a valuable token of jewels by his comrades. They are now the heirlooms of Mr. W. W. Gilmore. When Mr. John Gilmore first settled he had $40 and an old team, which was all he possessed.
MARGARETTA (HANNAN) BARR, widow of John Barr, farmer, Comp- ton, came to America in 1850. She landed at the city of New York, and came directly to Illinois, locating in Lee county. She was born in county Antrim, Ireland, in May 1833. She received common school advantages in her native country. Her youth, till seventeen, was spent there. She was married May 13, 1851, to John Barr, who died in the
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spring of 1881, leaving herself and nine children. She has a 203 acre farın, which the youngest son, Alexander, manages for her. It is well stocked and cultivated. The other children are Martha, Jane, James, Robert, William, Maggie, Mary, and Ellen. Mary, Ellen and Alex- ander are at home and are the only members of the family unmarried.
MOSES B. VAN CAMPEN, farmer, Compton, landed in Illinois on April 13, 1854, locating in Lee county. He was born in Warren county, New Jersey, October 24, 1816. His mother lived till over ninety years of age. His father died when young Moses was but ten years of age. He received common school advantages in his native state, where he lived till twenty-four years of age on a wooded farm. In 1840 he moved to Pennsylvania and commenced the clearing of a new farm, and remained there fourteen years. He was married Novem- ber 30, 1844, to Eliza Ann Winters. They have four children living. He has now a homestead in Melugin of twenty-five acres. Mr. Van Campen holds certificates, bearing date March 29, 1826, from his teacher, Benjamin Depue, given at Pahaquarry, New Jersey, which are quite interesting relics of his early school days. In 1854 he began in this county with only a yoke of oxen and good health. The first town meeting and the first election in Viola were held in his house. The first school in district No. 3 was held for three terms in his house, with no charge for its use. Mr. Van Campen has been largely iden- tified with his township, and is among the most respected of her citizens. He is a Jackson democrat. His children are Cynthia, James, Emanuel and Cecilia. His son Emanuel manages the homestead and a rented farm, and is one of the valned young men of his township.
JOHN M. ABELL, farmer and carpenter, Compton, was born at St. Charles, Kane county, Illinois, December 25, 1844. His mother is still living. Mr. Abell has followed the carpenter business for seven years till the past year. In 1864 he enlisted in the artillery service, Battery G, 2d reg., and remained till the close of the war. He is a member of the United Brethren church, and in politics a republican. He mar- ried, March 11, 1869, Leonora Lazarus, and they have four children : Charley, Phillip, Harry, and Laura. He has a 143 acre farm, under good cultivation. Mr. Abell has lived in Viola thirty-six years.
C. F. VAN PATTEN, farmer, Steward, came to Shabbona, De Kalb county, Illinois, in 1856, where he lived eleven years. He was born in Glenville, Schenectady county, New York, January 6, 1826, and there received common school advantages. His youth and early manhood were spent at home on the farm. In 1868 he moved from De Kalb county to Viola. He has held several local town offices. He is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal society of the flats. He was married October 22, 1855, to Mary Jane Young. They have fourteen children living, one
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
dead. He has a 320 acre farm, well managed and well stocked. The family of Mr. Van Patten are worthy of mention, being of more than usual intelligence, and all standing high in the estimation of their neighbors.
JOSEPH MERRILL, farmer, Compton, was born in Hartford township, Licking county, Ohio, February 14, 1831. His youth and manhood, till thirty-five years old, was spent in Ohio at the blacksmith trade. He moved to Viola in 1866. He is a Chapter Mason, and in politics a democrat. He married, in the summer of 1853, Sarah J. Noe, who died March 28, 1869. He was again married January 31, 1869, to Lydia J. Johnson, widow of Alfonso Johnson. He has six 'children, three by first and three by second marriage. They have a fine large farm, formerly the property of A. Johnson.
B. F. JOHNSON, farmer, Compton, was born in Kane county, Illinois, March 4, 1846. He had a common school education, mostly received in Lee county. His youth till about six was spent in Kane county, at which time he was brought to Viola, Lee county. In the spring of 1865 he enlisted in Co. I, 156th Ill. Inf., remaining till the close of the war. In politics he is a republican. He married, February 24, 1877, Arrilla Compton. They have two children, Lewis Emory, and An- drew. He has a 300 acre farm, well stocked and cultivated. Mr. John- son was mining in Montana territory for six years, from 1870 to 1876, with more than ordinary success. The last year took out over $26,000. Mr. Johnson's family were the first settlers on the prairie in Viola township.
EVINS ADRIAN, stock raiser and farmer, Compton, the genial proprietor of the Glenwood farm, was born in county Antrim, Ireland, October 15, 1815, and received a portion of his education in that country and partly in Illinois and New York. His youth till about eighteen was spent in Ireland on a farm. In 1833 he came to America, landing in Quebec, Canada, where he remained about two years. He then went to Erie county, New York, and remained about two years, getting $7 per month wages, when he removed and settled in Illinois, before Lee county was set off or organized. He was married October 1840, to Mrs. Marilla Smith (widow of Rev. George Smith). She died in February 1857, and he was again married in July 1857, to Mary Ann Agler. He has nine children, six by the first and three by the second marriage. His magnificent homestead contains 1300 acres. Mr. Adrian is an aggressive farmer and buys but little stock, and that only to improve his herds. He usually keeps on hand 200 head of cattle, 300 sheep, 100 hogs, besides horses and mules sufficient to work and manage his farm. He feeds all grain raised, and is a large purchaser of corn from the adjoining farms. He is selling every year
S. F. MILLS.
THR Y57 YORK
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large lots of stock, weighing and doing all business at home, having all conveniences for so doing. In an early day he chopped and split rails at fifty cents per hundred, and has come up to his now independent and commanding position only by energy, self-sacrifice, and an indom- itable will. His daughters, Emma, Marrilla and Sarah, also his sons, John and Willie, deserve mention, as they have been and are now largely interested and worthy helps to their father in his vast under- takings, and now in the shadow of his life remain to cheer and assist him through. Mr. Adrian has not only done well for himself and family, but is largely interested in the growth and prosperity of his township, giving liberally and rendering mature advice in school, road, and other improvements. He has honored his township by being their supervisor several terms.
H. B. COBB, farmer and stock buyer and shipper, Steward, was born in Tallard, Connecticut, November 27, 1834. His youth till sixteen was spent in his native state at home. When sixteen years of age he went to Massachusetts and engaged in a cotton-mill, and remained till nineteen, and then came west, locating first at Lamoille, Bureau county, Illinois. Here he worked in a nursery for Samuel Edwards, at $13 per month. However, he soon after went at regular farming, living there about four years. In the spring of 1856 he removed to Lee county. Mr. Cobb had three brothers in the late civil war. He has been super- visor of Viola four years, township treasurer about fifteen years. He is a Mason and a republican. He was married May 15, 1859, to Ellen C. Beamer. They have five children : Minnie J., Lillie A., George H., Flora E. and Laura L. He has a 490 acre homestead, over 900 acres in Viola township, and a joint farm in Brooklyn of 110 acres. Mr. Cobb has one of the finest farm residences in Lee county, and few equal it any- where, being first-class in all its appointments. His farm is first-class, well managed, and well watered. He keeps about 250 cattle, on an average, all the time, also other fine stock. Mr. Cobb is one of the largest stock raisers and shippers of Lee county, and among the most popular and energetic farmers.
CUMMINGS NOE, farmer, Early Dawn, was born in Caldwell, Essex county, New Jersey, July 20, 1809. He had common school advan- tages partly in New Jersey and partly in Ohio, going to school part of two winters in a log school-house without a pane of glass in the build- ing, a log being left out and oiled paper pasted over the opening to ad- mit light and keep out the wind. His youth till nine years of age was spent in New Jersey. About 1817 he moved with his parents to Franklin county, Ohio, near Columbus, and there remained about two years, when he again removed to Licking county. His mother died in Franklin county, and he lived with a brother-in-law three years near
37
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Columbus. He then returned to Licking and lived with his brother, adjoining his father's place, about three years. In the fall of 1834 he removed to Illinois, locating and remaining a year in Tazewell county, then to Franklin, Jo Daviess county, before Lee county was set off, re- maining over a year, and then to Ogle county for eight years, at the end of which time he came to Lee county, living in Willow creek for many years. In 1878 he came to Viola. His sons William and Amos enlisted in the summer of 1862 in Co. B, 27th Ill. Vol. Inf. They were in the battle at Vicksburg that season. They contracted disease from which both died, never returning. Mr. Noe is a member of the United Brethren church, and is anti-Masonic in politics. He was mar- ried April 1, 1830, to Martha Parkhurst. They have four children living (eight deceased). He has a 160-acre homestead, well stocked and managed. Mr. Noe came to Illinois in company with an elder brother. Each had a wife and two children in a wagon. All their capital was health and $10 in money, which not being current had to be returned to Ohio for exchange, which took many weeks.
ASHTON TOWNSHIP.
This town is located in the north tier of townships. It is one-half the size of a congressional township, being six miles from east to west and three miles from north to south. It originally formed a part of Bradford township. The surface is for the most part undulating. Stone suitable for building purposes abounds in considerable quantities. The finest quarry is just north of the village of Ashton, which is said to be equal in quality to any in northern Illinois for building.
The first person to locate'in the township was Erastus Anderson, in 1848. He was followed in a few weeks after by his brother Tim- othy, their father coming in December of the same year. At that time there were only four houses to be seen, and part of these were twenty miles distant. In 1849 a man by the name of Hubbard settled in the west part of the township. In 1852 Daniel Suter located near the site of the German Baptist church, and H. Saunders farther to the west. These comprise most of the settlers of what is now Ashton township prior to the location of the Northwestern railroad in 1854.
The first settlers of Ashton township say not a tree was to be seen nearer than the grove, at what is now Franklin ; that game was plenty, that ducks, geese and sandhill cranes reared their young here in the swamps, and that chasing the prairie wolf was of frequent occurrence. Sheep had to be closely guarded. Prairie fires sometimes broke out, sweeping the grass, which was very abundant, and sometimes the build-
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ings and crops of the pioneers, leaving behind a black and desolate waste.
The land of Ashton township was bought principally by specula- tors about the time the first settlers made their appearance. They rated it from $5 to $10 per acre. Those with small means settled farther from the railroads, where land could be had for less money. Ash- ton township is yet owned largely in large farms, and worked by tenants.
In 1854 emigrants began to come in from every quarter and lo- cated in Ashton township. In that year the first house was built by James L. Bates, where the village of Ashton now is. The town was laid out in 1855. J. L. Bates kept the first store here. The first ware- house was erected in the latter part of 1854, and in this was kept the first post-office. The first blacksmith shop was erected in 1855, by S. M. Kifnes.
The first church erected was the Methodist Episcopal, in 1863. A lot was offered, free of charge, to the church society which would erect the first building in the village. The Methodist Episcopal people, not feeling themselves able to build a durable church, erected a tempo- rary structure to secure the lot till such time as they were able to build a durable church. The second church was erected by the Free Method- ists in 1864. This is said to have been the first church of the kind in the state. The society was first organized in Ogle county, four miles north of Ashton, by J. G. Terrol, in 1860, but for convenience the society was divided and a church built in Ashton. Among the promi- nent members at the time of its organization were Charles Butolpk, Jonathan Dake, Sidney and Melville Beach, Sylvester Forbes, Isaac Martin, Samuel Walker, James Reed, William Martin, their wives and others. Rev. Terrol was followed by Rev. W. Underwood. The so- ciety at one time, shortly after its organization, numbered ninety active members. It now numbers twenty-five. It is in a flourishing condition. The society has kept in good running order a Sunday-school most of the time. It has now united its Sunday-school with that of the Pres- byterians. Its church principles are absolute freedom and strong oppo- sition to all secret societies.
The third church erected here was by the Catholics, in 1866. Its members are for the most part Germans, and number about fifty active communicants.
The Christian church was built. in 1868. The prime leaders were F. Nettleton, J. P. Taylor, and Peter Plantz. It was organized with fifteen members. It first held its meetings in the school-house. The society flourished with the other societies of the town till within the past two years, when misfortunes beyond its control befell it, but it is now in a fair way to revive and recover its former standing.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
The German Baptists built their present church house one fourth of a mile south of town, in 1866. Its membership at the present is something more than forty, and is in a flourishing condition. The cem- etery connected with this church is on a beautiful rising ground.
The Presbyterian church was erected in 1877. The building com- mittee were Messrs. Mills, Petrie and Polluck. At the time of organ- ization its membership was fourteen. The leading members were Griffith, Hutsen, and Brewer. The first minister was Rev. S. Vale; present pastor, Rev. Jordan. The present elders are S. F. Mills and J. Brewer. The society is in good condition.
The Lutheran society holds its meetings in the Presbyterian church.
The Masons and Odd-Fellows each have a society here. The for- mer was organized in 1862, and is prosperons. The latter was organ- ized in 1867, and though not so numerous in members is enjoying a good degree of prosperity.
Temperance orders of various kinds have sprung up at various in- tervals, only to be lost sight of and suffered to die.
Ashton boasts of the finest school building in the county. It is a stone edifice erected at a cost of $28,000. The school employs six teachers.
THE ASHTON BANK.
This bank was opened by Mills & Petrie in 1867. During its exist- ence it has never closed its doors. During the month of June, 1881, it received checks amounting to over $80,000, the greater part of which was for produce shipped from this point.
Ashton has several times been visited with very destructive fires for a town of its size. The first fire of note was in 1863. The grain ele- vator was burned, and the loss was estimated at $2,000. Next, the Ashton flouring mill burned in 1863; loss, $60,000. In 1871 the railroad property, which consisted of two tanks, the depot and a coal-liouse, in which were stored 1,200 tons of coal; in addition to the rail- road property, a lumber yard and four dwelling houses were burned, the estimated loss being $75,000. This fire originated in the coal-house. In 1874 the hay-press and elevator were burned; a loss of $30,000. Besides these fires named there have been numerous smaller ones.
At the present time Ashton has three elevators, two hotels, and flouring mill, six churches and seven congregations, one bank, of which Mills & Petrie are the sole proprietors, and several very good stores for a country town. The Masons and Odd-Fellows are the only secret societies.
There has been but one tragedy in the township. The perpetrator of the heinous crime of wife-poisoning was a man by the name of
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McGee. He was a minister stationed at Ashton. It seems the vil- lain had become enamored of another besides his wife, and not possess- ing moral courage sufficient to free himself from the matrimonial bonds in an honorable way, resorted to poison as a means of putting his wife out of the way. Strichnine was his agent; this he gave to his wife in minute quantities for some time. The doctor was summoned, but not suspecting the treacherous villainy that was being practiced, did not discover what had been done till a short time before she died. The fatal dose was administered by him just before he repaired to the church to preach. He was arrested and incarcerated in the county jail. He then thought to place his erime upon his fourteen-year-old daughter by making her sign a paper stating that she had poisoned her mother. In this he failed. He was tried, convicted and sent to the state peniten- tiary for a term of fourteen years. His wife was much loved and respected by the community, as are his children, and no one reflects on them the villainy over which they had no control, but all are filled with sympathy for their misfortune.
W. A. PETRIE, of the firm of Petrie & Mills, bankers, Aslıton, was born in 1842, near Syracuse, New York, and is the son of Rudolph and Elizabeth (Vrooman) Petrie, natives of New York. His parents were of German descent, and his maternal grandfather was captain of a fort in the pioneer times of New York, and was killed and scalped by the Indians; and a son was also killed and mutilated in the most horrible manner. The Vroomans are an old established family of New York. W. A. Petrie received a fair education and came to Lee county in 1858, and went into partnership with his present partner, Mr. S. F. Mills. Mr. Mills is a native of New York, born in 1830 near Utica, and is the son of Loran A. and E. (Petrie) Mills, natives of New York. Mr. Mills' father was colonel of the state militia. His father was of Scotch extraction, his mother of English descent. He came to Ashton in 1854 and engaged in the grain and lumber trade and was joined by Mr. Petrie in 1858. In 1861 they gave up the grain and lumber trade and engaged in the mercantile trade, and in one year sold $109- 000 worth of goods, their yearly average being $80,000. In 1867 they quit the mercantile business and opened a private banking house in Ashton, in which business they still remain. They were both married in 1879 at the same ceremony : Mr. Petrie to Sarah E. Howard, daughter of William and Mary Howard, natives of England, who emi- grated to America in 1856 and settled in Ohio, and Mr. Mills to Louisa Getman, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Vrooman) Getman, natives of New York. They live in the same house on a beautiful farm one mile west of Aslıton. Mr. Petrie has held the office of notary public for twelve years, and is elected for four years more. He
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