History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 100

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens > Part 100

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Arehart Hickman came to McDon- ough county in 1857, and for six years following, worked upon the farm of Lewis Eblesizer, in Blandinsville town- ship. He was then married to Mary Ann Langford, and shortly after, pur- chased 80 acres of land in the same township. This farm is located in sec- tion 36, and at the time of his purchase was well improved. He has continued to reside upon the same place until the present time, and is engaged in raising grain and stock. Mr. Hickman was born in Floyd county, Indiana, January 12, 1829, and is a son of James and Eliza- beth (Sisloff) Hickman. At the age of 21 he went to California, where he re- mained three years, returning to Indiana in June, 1853. He left that state in 1857, coming then, as before stated, to this county. Mr. and Mrs. Hickman have 10 children-James W., Fannie O., Pres- ton A., Olive J., Fulton, Willard L., Gussie, Jessie, Noah` P. and Columbus L. Mr. Hickman is a demecrat, poli- tically, an honest, upright man and an esteemed citizen.

Thomas Bartlow is a native of Indiana, and was born in 1820. His settlement in Blandinsville township dates from 1850. In December, 1840, he was mar- ried to Catherine Westfall. They have

had six children-John H., Nancy Ann, now the wife of Christopher Spiker; Cynthia E., now the wife of Robert Stapleton, of Blandinsville; Basil, Frank and Jessie. Mr. Bartlow owns a small farm, is an honest, upright citizen, and respected by the community in which he lives.

Robert T. Bodkin, of Blandinsville township, is a son of William and Lu- cinda (Snodgrass) Bodkin, and was born January 12, 1846, in the state of Ken- tucky. In 1849, William Bodkin died, and soon after his death, Robert accom- panied his mother to Ohio, where he remained five years. When he was eight years old he went to Missouri, and continued to reside in that state until the fall of 1868. At that date he came to Illinois, and located in Blandinsville township, where he is now among the leading farmers. He owns a fine ·farm of 173 acres, with good and substantial improvements. His house and barn to- gether, cost $3,200. Mr. Bodkin was married October 26, 1871, to Margaret M. Wright, daughter of Isaac Wright, of Blandinsville. They have had seven children born to them, as follows-Myr- tie P., Hardin L., Evert G., Ira B., El- pha O., Sarah L., and Emma E. One daughter died January 24, 1884. Mr. Bodkin is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and with his wife, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is, politically, a democrat.

A. J. Hankins is a native of Indiana, and was born March 10, 1828. His fa- ther was a native of Tennessee, born in 1787, and came to this county in 1834, from Coles conuty, this state. He died in Hire township in 1881, and was in-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

terred at Vermont, in Fulton county. His wife was accidentally killed by a runaway team in this county. A. J. Hankins, was married, August 28, 1845, to Lydia Pennington, a daughter of Joel Pennington, one of the early settlers of this section. He is now a resident of Blandinsville, where he is engaged in the harness business. . His wife died January 23, 1885, and was buried in Good Hope cemetery.

Robert W. Davis was born on the 5th day of October, 1825, in Columbia county, Indiana. He came to this county in October, 1853, and settled on section 24, which was then new land, with no improvements. He built a small house, which was however a good one for the time, and lived in it until 1866, when he erected his present pretentious residence, and has beside, large commodious barns and other farm buildings. He was mar- ried, April 10, 1851, to Eliza Warner, by which marriage five children have been born. Mr. Davis owns 300 acres of fine land, all of which he has earned by his own exertions and good business management. He is a democrat in poli- tics.

John M. Davis was born February 23, 1852, in Ashland county, Ohio, and is a son of R. W. Davis, who was a native of New York. He came to the county in 1853, and in 1877 removed to Kansas, where he remained two years and en- gaged in buying stock. He returned to Illinois in 1880, and has, since his return, actively engaged in the stock and grain business. He was married, September 6, 1873. He is a member of the Masonic order. and in politics may be found in the democratic ranks. He owns a nice

residence and several building lots in the city, and is also engaged in the im- plement business.

EDUCATIONAL.

It has been truthfully promulgated that the character of a people may be judged to a great extent by the attention given to schools, and the opportunities afforded for securing a good education. The people of Blandinsville township have not been unmindful of the neces- sity and advantage of having a good system of public schools; and although much improvement might be made in many districts, yet this township com- pares favorably with others in her facil- ities for imparting instruction to the youth. Even at an early day, before there was much settlement and but few scholars, arrangements were made with Enoch Cyrus, an early settler from Ten- nessee, to teach a school. Accordingly. a small log cabin was constructed-not by the skilled artisan -- but by the muscle and axe of the pioneer, on section 18. This building, without floor, and rudely furnished with inverted slabs resting on wooden legs set in auger holes for seats, was the first institution for learning in the township, and among the first in the county. The style and teacher were de- cidedly primitive, yet it truly demon- strated a commendable appreciation of desire for an educated generation to subsequently take their places in the active duties of life. Instead of stove or furnace was the fire-place, with its roaring fire of logs, which, with all its objections, furnished a more perfect ven- tilation than any school building in the township to-day. The chimney was

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

constructed of sticks and mud, and if not beautiful or artistic, afforded the neces- sary exit for the smoke. Although the systems or methods of the present time were unknown, yet from "a - b-c to the rule of three," a commendable progress was made under the tutorship of this pioneer. The building has long since been torn down, and the place is now owned by Nathan Mustain, Jr. Some other pioneer schools were taughtin this township at a very early day, among them two terms by James-or, as he was familiarly called - "Jimmy" Cyrus, a brother of Enoch. Some of the scholars of this school are yet living in the county, among them Silas Grigsby.

John G. Woodside was among the early teachers of the township, and the following is a copy of the agreement between him and the patrons:

Articles of agreement made and entered into this 1st day of April, 1835, by and between John G. Woodside, of the one part, and the undersigned, of the second part, both of McDonough county, and state of Illinois:

I, the above named Woodside, do hereby agree to teach a school in the school house near Levi Parents' for the term of six months, five days in each week, or time to that amount. I do agree to teach spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic to the best of my skill and judgment. I also bind my- self to keep good order,and pay strict attention to my school. And we, the undersigned, do promise to pay the said Woodside for his ser- vices one dollar per scholar in money and three dollars in good, merchantable wheat, pork, wool, linsey, flax, or work at the mar- ket price in this neighborhood, to be deliv- ered at said Woodside's house; in pork to be paid at the usual time of killing, the money part or other articles to be paid at the expira- tion of the school. And we, the subscribers, do bind ourselves to fix the school house in a

comfortable manner; school to commence the first of May, or sooner, if the subscribers want it. I, the said Woodside, will com- mence with 20 scholars, and any large scholar or scholars, that will not submit themselves to the rules of the school, shall be expelled from said school. And it is understood that the said Woodside is to have the liberty of . teaching his own children. If either of the parties should become dissatisfied, the school can be discontinued by the teacher or a ma- jority of the subscribers, either party giving two weeks notice.

It is learned from an examination of the county superintendent's annual report for the school year ending June 30, 1884, that Blandinsville township has, 527 children of school age, 492 of whom are enrolled in the nine schools of the town- ship, one of which is a graded institution of learning. In the schools of Bland- insville there is an average of eight and one-ninth months of school taught per annum. Eight frame buildings and one brick structure grace the several dis- tricts. The highest wages paid any male teacher is $65, and the lowest, $30 per month; while the highest monthly wages received by female teachers is $40, and the lowest, $22. The estimated value of school property is $15,175, and the tax levy for the support of schools is $4,625. Blandinsville has a bonded school debt of $300.

The school house in district No. 3 was erected in 1855 or 1856, on section 18, and is 18x24 feet in dimensions. This is known as the Mount Pleasant dis- trict.

In 1837 a log school house was built in district No. 4, William Hall teaching the first term of school in the building. In 1858 a frame building 18x24 was erected on section 21, at a cost of $600.

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Among the early teachers in this build- ing were E. Dice, Martha Charter, John Hungate and Rebecca Mear. The first directors of the district were Colonel Berry, Nathan Mustain and Nathaniel Grigsby, while the present are William Campbell, George Mustain and Preston Huston. The teacher at present is Emma Woodside.

In 1858 or 1859 the first school house was erected in district No. 5. It was 20x30 feet in size, constructed of brick. The present house was built in 1876 or 1877, and is a large structure, 24x40 feet in dimensions. Wesley Bugg is the present teacher, with A. R. Hickman and P. Baughman, directors. There are 61 scholars enrolled in the school.

School district No. 11 has a school house, 19x22, on the southeast corner of section 4, which was erected in 1882, at a cost of about $1,200. In 1864 a build- ing, 18x24, was removed to this site and used until the new house was built. The first term of school in this building was taught by Thomas Goodnight; Isaac Miller and William Hardesty being the first directors of the district. The pres- ent teacher is Dora Hall, and William Miller and W. L. Woodside are the pres- ent directors of the district.

MILL.

At an early day, Frank Redden built the first grist mill in the township, on the quarter section of 34 where ' he had previously settled. It was arudely con- structed concern, unlike the modern mill of to-day, operated by horse power, and by its slow process the corn for the sur- rounding neighborhood was cracked. Although a seemingly useless enterprise

in the eyes of the present generation, it served very profitably its purpose in the pioneer days of the county. The land upon which the mill was formerly located is now owned by Peter Reiser. Wheat was also ground at this mill, and bolted by hand, at an early day.

CEMETERIES.

A place for the interment of the dead was located on the southwest quarter of section 21 at an early day, probably the year 1833, and was called Liberty cem- etery. It was the first graveyard in the township, but was never platted.

North cemetery is located on the northwest quarter of section 33, the ground title being in the old Blandin estate. It was originally intended for private purposes, but was afterward made public. Louisa Blandin was the first burial, which occurred August 2, 1840. Her father, J. L. Blandin, was the second body interred, and William Davis was the third, by request, after which it was made public. The ceme- tery contains two acres of fenced land.

RELIGIOUS.

The character of the early settlers of this township was such that they could not long remain satisfied without some opportunity whereby they might assem- ble for the purpose of worship. Although not the first in the county to make a move in this direction, yet they were early found establishing the preaching of the gospel, and when the pioneer preacher came among them, he found hearts warm to appreciate, willing ears to hear the "gospel's joyful sound," and willing hands to materially assist in the

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

good work of church building in their midst. In their warm-hearted zeal they cast aside all sectarian spirit, denomina- tional lines were forgotten, and under the lead of Christian and Baptist organ- izations, they built the first church in the township, which was located where Elijah Bristow first settled. The well known John Logan, now deceased, preached the first sermon here. Some

meetings had been previously held in cabins and barns, where others officiated, but Rev. John Logan was the moving person among the pioneers of that day, so far as their spiritual welfare was con- cerned. For a more complete digest of the religious affairs of this township, the reader is referred to the Ecclesias- tical chapter of this volume.

HILLDALE STOCK FARM.

Prominent among the enterprises of this township is this fine . stock farm, owned by Rigdon Huston & Son. The place consists of 1,250 acres, located in the northeast part of the township, and with its many improvements and natu- ral advantages, is admirably adapted to this branch of business. The proprie- tors are men of life-long experience in the fine cattle trade, which, combined with good judgment, has enabled them to occupy the first rank among short- horn breeders. Rigdon Huston has made Shorthorn Durhams a study, and no man in this section of country is bet- ter versed in "cattle lore," or more thor- oughly understands the necessary strains of blood to constitute a good and valua- ble animal. A visit to this farm and an inspection of the stock, is necessary to form an adequate idea of the superiority

of this herd. They now have on hand 127 registered cattle, representing a large amount of money. the value of the same running from $200 to $15,000 each. Among them are Airdrie Duchesses, Kirk Livington, Wild Eyes, Barring- ton's Hilpas, Renick, Rose of Sharons, Constances, Young Phyllises, Joseph- ines, etc., the pure duke bulls, 22d duke of Airdrie 16695, the 2d duke of Hilldale, and others. We clip the fol- lowing from "Allen's History of Short- horn Cattle," and there is no better au- thority in such matters:

"The largest private sale ever made in the United States was to Rigdon Huston & Son, of Blandinsville, Illinois, in 1881, by Colonel LeG. Cannon, of Vermont, consisting of 32 head, in which were four (Bates) Duchesses and one bull, 22d duke of Airdrie, together with others of high pedigree, for $50,000."

This would seem a large amount to pay for 32 head of cattle, but to the thoroughly informed, the sale is regarded as much in favor of Huston & Son. The lowest estimate upon these cattle by men of judgment in such matters was $65,000. The wisdom of this purchase is already apparent, and the outcome more than justifies the investment, and is another evidence of the rare good judgment of the purchasers. Cattle of better pedi- gree are not to be found in the United States. Ready customers for such cattle are found among representatives from Kentucky, Canada, New York, and other states, at remunerative prices.

ORGANIC.

Blandinsville township was officially organized at the general election held

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

in 1856. It is comprised of 36 sections of land, and known as a full congres- sional township. William W. Moss was the first supervisor from this sub-divi- sion, to represent the same on the board at the seat of justice-Macomb.

At the first township election, April 7, 1857, the following officers were elec- ted: W. W. Gillihan and L. G. Carter, justices of the peace. The first police magistrate and ex-officio justice of the peace of Blandinsville was A. R. Champ- lin, who was elected to that office Feb- ruary 27, 1858. The present officers of the township are as follows: supervisor, J. M. Davis; town clerk, Fred Williams; assessor, Isaac Argenbright; collector, Vincent Hardesty; highway commis- sioner, William Campbell; justices of the peace, W. W. Gillham and C. G. Hungate; constables, E. Randall and David Hall; school trustees, P. W. George and R. W. Davis.

HISTORICAL.

The first child born in Blandinsville township was James, a son of John Vance, who resided on section 29. He was born in the spring of 1830.

The first school building was con- structed of logs, about the year 1831, on section 18. Enoch Cyrus was the first teacher.

Frank Redden and Jacob Coffman were the first constables from the third magistrate's district, of which Blandins- ville township, formed a part, and of which these gentlemen were residents.

The first sermon was preached at the barn of John Hardesty, by that pio- neer Baptist minister, John Logan,in the year 1830.

The Baptist and Christian organiza- tions erected a union church on section 21, in 1832, which was the first in the township.

William Job was the first settler and erected the first house, during the spring of 1826. He also plowed the first ground and raised the first crop.

The first justice of the peace was Na- than Ward, and the first supervisor was William Moss.

TOWN OF BLANDINSVILLE.

Joseph L. Blandin came here from Vermont in June, 1837, and and settled on land now occupied by the village, which was named in his honor. In 1842, he had the town platted on the south- east quarter of section 32. There was no special effort put forth to build up the place, and for a number of years the growth of the town was slow. Without railroad facilities her sister towns, hav- ing connection with the outside world through the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad, had the advantage, and her strides toward prominence were dis- couragingly short. At length, when the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw railroad was agitated, her citizens interested them- selves in securing this line. The town raised 45,000 dollars for this purpose, and although it took time, yet in the future a railroad was an accom- plished fact, and from that date a new spirit of life and enterprise seemed to animate her citizens, and improvements began to be made upon every hand. Fine brick buildings were erected, new dwelling houses sprang up and old ones were repaired and otherwise improved. The slow-going manner of doing busi-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

ness gave way to the young America mode, all of which has redounded to the advantage of the place. The neighbor- hood in which the town is located had long been known as Job's settlement, and was the second one in the county, William and Ira Job having located here in the spring of 1826. Even for ten years after the town was platted, the people of the county would still fami- liarly call it by its old name. Blandins- ville is surrounded by as fine a farming country as can be found in the state, and her growth has been uniform with it. No effort has ever been made to es- tablish manufactories, and therefore the mercantile and laboring classes are de- pendent upon the trade of the farming community. The mercantile trade of the place has always been good, its busi- ness seemingly never to have been over- done. The town is very pleasantly sit- uated, and various additions have been made to its territory, the first being by Thomas J. Davis, who had laid off the southwest quarter of section 33; after which we find additions recorded by William H. Grigsby and Thomas I. Sor- ter on section thirty-three, Joshua Dun- ham on section 32, and Mr. Foster, north- east quarter section 5, Hire township. William Mustain also made an addition to the town.

BUSINESS.

The first store building was erected early in the history of the place, by Cap- tain Charles R. Hume and Joseph C. Blandin, who were the first parties to engage in the mercantile trade at this point. The size of the building was 18x 34 feet.

Williams & Huston, dealers in dry goods and groceries, have been en- gaged in the business about three years. This firm purchased the business of Dines & Son, who had previously suc- ceeded Dines Brothers in January, 1882. Messrs. Williams & Huston carry a stock valued at $12,000. Their store building is of brick, and is situated on the corner of Main and Harrison.

In March, 1880, Thompson Brothers purchased their present grocery estab- lishment from M. G. Banks, who, in turn had purchased of Schoville and Mason. This latter firm were successors to a man by the name of . Carmack. Thompson Brothers carry a stock of about $1,100, with annual sales aggregating about the sum of $7,000.

Holliday & Welch, dealers in general merchandise, purchased the business about five years since from Pancake & Co. They carry a stock of goods valued at $6,000, with annual sales amounting to $20,000. The building was erected in 1867, by Huff Brothers, and is still owned by the F. M. Huff estate.

L. A. Holliday, of the firm of Holliday & Welch, came to McDonough county in 1865, from Missouri. He is a native of Virginia, having been born in that state on the 22d day of January, 1829. His father being a farmer, he was brought up on a farm, and received only a limited education, attending school as the oppor- tunity offered. He remained at home un- til attaining his majority, then engaging in farming on his own account, which he continued for six years. The three suc- ceeding years found him doing a general merchandise business in Shelby county, Missouri. In 1865, he came to this county

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

and engaged in merchandising at Bland- insville. At various times, he has been prominently identified with the lumber, stock and various other interests of that city. In fact, he has been considered one of the leading business men of that section of the county. As the head of the firm of Holliday & Welch, he has been engaged in his present business for about five years, and now has a large, and con- stantly increasing business. L. A. Hol- liday and May T. Parker were united in marriage in 1853, in Virginia state. One child by this union is living, being mar- ried and at present residing at La Harpe. Mrs. Holliday departed this life in 1854. Mr. H. was again married in 1860, in Missouri, to Bertie A. Lyell. This union has been fruitful, they now being the parents of five children-Annie, Thomas L., of Dakota; Martha P., Hattie and Jessie. Mr. and Mrs. Holliday are mem- bers of the Christian church, while he is also a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, as well as of the I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand.

H. C. Sumpter is one of the represen- tatives of the grocery business at Bland- insville. He engaged in this branch of trade October 1, 1882. The building is a two-story, brick structure, 22x56 feet in ground area, and has a printing office in the second story. His stockis valued at $1,800.

H. C. Sumpter, grocer of Blandinsville, is a worthy example of that class of men who attain to success by cultivating their own powers and standing in their own independence. His early determination was to be independent of circumstances, and secure for himself a competency. He was born on the 13th of September, 1849,

in the state of Kentucky, his parents be- ing Edward R. and Elizabeth (Finch) Sumpter. He remained at home until at- taining his 13th year, and then attended college at Russellville, Kentucky, and also at Elkton, at which places he re- ceived a liberal education. At an early age he demonstrated the fact that he was possessed of good business ability, and at the age of 18 years we find him in the grain business in Hancock county, Illinois. He made the first shipment of grain from Bentley, over the Wabash branch, and continued in business at that point for three years, meeting with good success. He then retired from that bus- iness and engaged in general merchan- dise, which he continued nntil 1876, then accepting the position of traveling agent for a nursery. One year later, his health failing him, he resigned his position, and engaged in farming in Henderson county, which he continued until coming to McDonough county, in 1882, and en- gaging in the grocery business at Bland- insville. His success at this point is due to his ability as a merchant, as well as to the reputation he has made for himself by fair and honest dealing. On the 23d of September, 1875, H. C. Sumpter and Mary E. Smith, a native of this state, were united in marriage. Mrs. Sump- ter's home was near Fountain Green, in Hancock county. Mr. and Mrs. Sump- ter are consistent members of the Chris- tian church, while he is also a member of the select Knights of the A. O. U. W. In the various changes of active life, Mr. Sumpter has gained the respect of a large number of friends and the confidence of his business connections. He is a man of good, sound understanding, of large

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History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 100

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150