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 110

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 110

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

M. E. Lavens, John R. Seybold, William Trower, and J. Obermeyer. After this, elections were held regularly every year. The present officers of the village are J. H. Shryack, president; Dr. H. Knappen- berger, J. B. Duncan, Ira Bonwell, Wil- liam Mckinley, Albert Head trustees; J. Obermeyer, clerk.

ELEVATOR.

One of the largest elevators in Mc- · Donough county was built at Sciota, dur- ing the summer of 1883, at a cost of $8,000. It is 40x110 feet in ground area, 28 feet high and has a capacity of 40,000 bushels. It was erected by U. T. Doug- lass, but is at present owned and opera- ted by Douglass and Elting, who engaged in handling grain in 1883, as successors to C. D. Elting. They also handle and store the grain purchased by C. D. Elt- ing & Co.

HISTORICAL. .

J. C. Clarke, son of William, was the first child born. The event occurred February 22, 1855, before the town was laid out, but was on the present site.

The first death occurred in 1873, being H. J. Kline. The body was buried in the Spring creek cemetery.

Emma Atkinson taught the first school ever held in the town.

Rev. John McGinnis preached the first sermon in the town. He was a preacher of the M. E. church.

The first postmaster was William H. Franklin.

SOCIETIES.

Sciota lodge, No. 552, I. O. O. F., was organized October 4, 1874, with the fol- lowing officers: J. M. Harrington, N. G .; T. S. Hainline, V. G .; A. V. Ramsey, sec- retary; Albert Head, treasurer. Includ- ing the above officers, the following are the balance of the charter members: W. W. Ragon, J. H. Head, William Per- rine, M. M. Head, A. Gist, J. Roberts. The present officers of the lodge are R. E. Wilson, N. G .; Ira Bonwell, V. G .; Henry Arbogast, secretary; Ira Bonwell, treasurer. At present the lodge is in a flourishing condition with a membership of 34. They own the hall in which they meet, which is 28x58 feet in dimensions.

. EDUCATIONAL.

In 1872, a good school building 24x36 feet in size, was erected a a cost of ·$1,- 200. In 1875, an addition 17x22 feet, was built, at an additional cost of $600. The building has now two large, com- fortable rooms and two teachers are em- ployed regularly eight months in the year. The school has a large average attendance and is known as district No. 10. It is two miles in length, north and south, and one mile in breadth, east and west. The first term of school in the present building was taught by H. G. Boles.

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

MOUND TOWNSHIP.

This is considered one of the best townships in the county, and consists of beautiful, gently undulating prairie, in a good state of cultivation, there being only one quarter,section of timber land on the west and another in the south- east corner. On section 14, is the sum- mit of a very high mound, perhaps the highest point in the county; the ascent is very gradual, and scarcely percepta- ble. When the summit is reached a grand view of the surrounding country presents itself. From this mound the township derives its name. The mound is known as Dyer's mound. Kepple creek, in a semicircle, enters Mound from near the centre of the west side, then easterly to the center of the township, and turning gently north and west, flows by the C. B. & Q. water tank to its junc- tion. just below, with Drowning fork from the north, and thence to near the west line where it unites with the north fork of Crooked creek, which enters the town- ship at its northwest corner. The head waters of Shaw fork pass eastwardly from a little north of the center of the township, and the very head waters of Camp creek, start in the south edge. The township is well watered and adap- ted to stock raising as well as the pro- duction of corn, oats. wheat, rye, clover, grass, etc. The soil is a dark loam, chocolate color, but when wet, very black.

There is a fine bed of fire and potter's clay on John Booth's farm, north of Bar- dolph; also an extensive bed of white fire clay on Park Hillister's place, on Shaw . fork, which supplies both of the Bush- nell tile works. Good coal is mined quite extensively at the Hood and Clark mines, in the northeast part of the town- ship, where, also, good sandstone is quarried for building purposes. There is a rich deposit of iron ore, one-half mile south of Epperson, on D. C. Flinty's farm; so says Mr. Worthen, the state ge- ologist. It is probable that coal under- lies most of the surface of the township.

Mound lies adjoining Fulton county and the fourth principal meridian on the east, with the thriving young city of Bushnell on its northern boundary, New Salem on the south, and the village of Bardolph on the west line. The C. B. & Q. railroad, traverses the northwestern portion a distance of fivemiles. The St. L. division of the same passes through the township from north to south near the center, where it effects a junction with the Wabash railroad, which enters about the middle of the east side, and running nearly west, passes the impor- tant shipping point of New Philadel- phia to the above junction, and thence north, parallel with the former to Bush- nell, thus giving the township three rail- roads. The station of Epperson is lo-

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY. 959

cated on the St. L. division of the C. B. & Q. railroad, five miles south of Bushnell. New Philadelphia is the only village within the limits of the township. No township in the county has as good railroad facilities, with Bushnell on the north, Bardolph west, New Philadelphia the east part, and Epperson the center. Excellent farms with many fine, large dwellings, and good barns, and beautiful planted groves of maple, walnut and box elder, with fine and well trimmed hedges, and orchards, give a beautiful appear- ance to the eye. Some farms have from eight to ten acres, planted to small fruit, such as blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries.

The dairy is receiving considerable at- tention here. L. B. Sperry usually milks from 30 to 40 cows, and furnishes milk for the city of Bushnell; and W. H. Greene has kept from 20 to 30 cows and made cheese for a number of years, and has acquired a reputation for a good article equal to New York or West- ern Reserve. The fine stock business has and is receiving much attention by such enterprising citizens as J. Kepple, J. Shannon, J. Langford, John Work, and others, especially in rearing Clydesdale horses and Short Horn cattle.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The pioneer settlement of Mound was made by Joseph Smith, in 1830, who settled at Wolf Grove, on the northwest quarter of section 18, coming from Ken- tucky. He erected a cabin of round logs, but did not remain long, as he was of a restless disposition, and did not en- joy living in the county after it began to settle up. He was a great hunter, quite

poor, and removed to Missouri, or some other state further west.

A son-in-law of Smith by the name of Osborne, came shortly afterward and located near Smith. He left about the same time as did his father-in-law.

Abner Cox, a bachelor, was the next settler, coming from Louisiana. He located on the northwest quarter of sec- tion 20. He improved the place, and in 1833, sold the same to Jacob Kepple. About a year afterward he removed to Fulton county, since which time he has not been heard of.

John Snapp, a son-in-law of Jacob Kepple, came in 1833, locating on the southwest quarter of section 30, where he built a cabin. He came to the county" from Washington county, Tennessee. He remained in the township until about 1840, when he removed to Macomb township. In 1856, he went to Mercer county, Missouri, where he afterward died.

Durham Creel came to McDonough county in the spring of 1833, and located on section 18, Mound township, where he improved a farm. He was born in Kentucky, and came to this county from that state. ' He died in 1867, and his wife followed him on the long journey, in 1873.

Jacob Kepple came from East Tennes- see in 1833, settling on the northwest quarter of section 30, on the farm im- proved by Abner Cox, who had built a double cabin and broke out several acres of land. Mr. Kepple lived on the home- stead several years and afterward re- moved to Bardolph, where he died. Some of the family are still residents of this county.

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Silas Creel came to the county in 1833, with his parents, and located near Bar- dolph, in Mound township. At that time he was but 15 years of age. He is at the present time a resident of Macomb town- ship.

James Chandler came in the spring of 1838, settling on section 7, on the farm now owned by Bigger Head, where he built a small house and made some im- provements, and afterwards moved away.

Thompson Chandler came in the spring of 1834, locating on the northwest quar- ter of section 6. He soon afterward re- moved to the city of Macomb, where he still resides. A sketch of this gentleman appears in the Representative chapter of this volume.

The southwest quarter of section 6, was settled about the same time by a brother- in-law of Thompson Chandler, Jacob Chase. He built a house, made some improvements and afterward removed to Rushville, Schuyler county.

Elias Culp came in 1834, settling on the north half of the southwest quarter of section 19. He built a hewed log cabin and improved the place. He sold his farm and removed to Macomb town- ship about the year 1841, where he re- sided some time and then removed to Iowa. He was a man of family, having a wife, two daughters and a son. He was given to hunting considerably, but was a good neighbor and citizen. He was a native of Pennsylvania.

Rev. William Howard Jackson, the father of the Jackson brothers in the vil- lage of Bardolph, and vicinity, landed in the county November 11, 1836. The northwest quarter of section 19 was pre- viously purchased by George Miller for

Mr. Jackson, before he came, also the timber land on the northwest quarter of section 13, Macomb township. He worked Mr. Miller's place in Macomb township the first season after arriving in the county, and in the fall of 1837, re- moved to his own land in this township, upon which lie erected a log cabin and worked at his trade, that of blacksmith- ing. A couple of years after settling in Mound, he erected a hewed log cabin, in which his widow still resides. Mr. Jackson was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, March 1, 1804, being a son of Jacob Jackson. When a small boy the family removed to Orange county, Vir- ginia, where he was married December 24, 1824, to Ann Miller, who was born in Rockingham county, that state, April 25, 1803, and was a daughter of Jolın and Margaret Miller. Her people removed to Madison county, Kentucky, about the year 1805, and two years later, removed to Boone county, that state. Her father served in the war, 1812, and shortly af- ter his return to Boone county, at the close of the war, his death occurred. In the fall of 1823, she returned to Virginia for a visit, and while there met Mr. Jack- son, to whom she was afterward married, as stated above. Jacob Jackson and wife, the father and mother of William, died In Orange county, Virginia. After the marriage of William H., they resided in Orange county until 1834, when they removed to Fauquier county, from which place they came to this county. Mr. Jackson joined the Methodist Episcopal church in 1828, and in 1831, was licensed to preach by John Hersey, which he followed until his death, September 2, 1866. He was one of the pioneer minis-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

ters of this and Fulton county, and was one of the leading advocates in the es- tablishment of the Methodist church at Bardolph. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were the parents of 10 children-John M., William J., Mary Frances, James W., Albert L., Nathaniel H., Hester A., Mar- garet E., Joseph, George and Thomas A.

James W. Jackson, the third son of William H. and Ann (Miller) Jackson, was born in Virginia December 6, 1830. He remained at home until 1852, and on January 28, of that year, he was married to Margaret Kepple, a daughter of Jacob Kepple. She was born in Ten- nessee January 22, 1831. He lived with. Mr. Kepple, and helped to build a small cabin, in 1854, on the place where he now resides. In 1873, he erected his present home. They have had 12 chil- dren, as follows-Franklin P., died in infancy; Tamzin Ann, wife of Eli Holler, of Macomb township; Charles W., living in Macomb township; Laura J., de- ceased; Margaret A., wife of Conwell Fleming, living in Nebraska: Lewis A., living in Mound township; Harriet Eva, at home; Ida May, deceased; Minnie C., at home; John M., deceased; Mary Lizzie, living at home; James Elba I., at home. Mr. Jackson joined the M. E. church when but 15 years of age, and has been an officer in that body for many years. He has also been school director of his district, more or less, for 25 years.

William J. Jackson, the second son of William Jackson, was born in Orange county, Virginia, on the 15th of April, 1827. He remained at home with his father until August 23, 1848, at which date he was united in marriage with Hannah Crabb, a sister of Daniel Crabb.

He then removed to the farm of Michael Vincent, in Macomb township, and one year later rented another farm. In the spring of 1852, he removed to section 19, where he had bought 40 acres in 1848. Here he resided until the summer of 1865, when he built his present residence on the west half of the southwest quar- ter of section 20, Mound township. His land is well improved, and paid for, he now being one of the most substantial farmers of the township. Mrs. Jackson departed this life on the 14th of Janu- ary, 1868, leaving a husband and five children to mourn her loss. She was the mother of seven children, two of whom preceded her. The children were named, respectively-John H .; Anna E., wife of James Easton, of Bardolph; Frances, deceased; William W .; Emma, wife of A. W. Fluke; Minnie, wife of William Mason, of Bardolph. Mr. Jack- son was again married in February, 1869, Mrs. Rachel A. Bates becoming his wife. By this marriage there are four children living-James M., Jere- miah, Henry Tilden, and Joseph E. Two of their children died in infancy- Temperance and Jennie. Mr. Jackson has been a church member since his boy- hood days, and at present is a member of the Bardolph M. E. church. He has held the office of justice of the peace four years in Mound township. The Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges claim him as an honored member.

William McCandless located upon the southwest quarter of section 30, in 1837, coming from the state of Pennsylvania. There was a cabin already constructed upon the place by John Snapp. He had a family of two sons and two daughters,

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

and at the time of his death, some 30 years ago, divided the farm with the sons, Samuel and William, Jr. The old gentleman was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and was highly respected by his many friends and neigh- bors.

David Noel and family came in the spring of 1837, and settled on the north- east quarter of section 7, where he re- sided until his death. His wife also died there.

LEADING CITIZENS.

Under this caption are given the sketches of representative people not mentioned under the head of early set- tlement:

Levinus Sperry, born in Waterbury, Connecticut, July 7, 1814, is one of a family of 14 children, of whom seven are now living, scattered through five states, from Ohio to Colorado. When he was five years old his parents moved to Ohio, which was his home until the fall of 1838. It was during the latter part of this period that he made some flat boat ex- peditions down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Spending the winter on the lower Mississippi, he gained some knowledge of the workings of negro slavery, which in after years made him a stern and un- compromising abolitionist. Late in 1830, he migrated to Fulton county, Illinois, first to a place near Fairview, and two years later to Bernadotte. Here it was that he became a member of that cour- ageous band, since famous as the con- ductors of the mysterious "underground railroad"; men who chose rather to risk the penalty of an infamous law than to violate the dictates of conscience and become partners in crime and oppres-

sion, by aiding to drive the slave back to bondage; men who chose to obey God rather than man, no matter what the consequences to themselves; and he en- tered into it with that same zeal and in- flexible obedience to his convictions of right, which form so marked a trait of his whole life; made his word as good as his bond, and caused it to be said of him, that, "were all men as upright as he there would be small need of laws." It was at Bernadotte, in 1847, that he was married to Charlotte Churchill, who proved a helpmeet for him through the "heat and burden of the day," until some 10 years later, when she succumbed to the privations and hardships incident to frontier life, leaving four small children to be brought up without a mother's love. In 1849, he moved to what is now - known as Seville Mills, in Fulton county, and four years later, in 1853, began im- provements on his present farm, near where Bushnell now stands. No town was there then, nor were there any other settlers within sight. In 1855, he moved his family to his prairie home. This farm he gradually improved and en- larged until it was one of the largest and best in this vicinity. February 11, 1857, he was married to Joan Swayze, his present wife, and by this union there was one son, who is now deceased. She was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Catawissa, Columbia county, in 1834. The following is clipped from the Western Times, as showing the charac- ter of work in which she is engaged, and the estimation in which she is held in the country where she lives: . "Mrs. Sperry, of Pueblo, Colorado, president of the Ladies' Benevolent Union, which

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

she herself has established and which is doing a blessed work for God's suffering and poor, is president of the board of charities of the state, and accomplishes more active charitable work, in a "broad guage" sense than any one man or woman we have ever known. She is like the sunshine of heaven all over, visiting the sick, relieving suffering everywhere; taking home the poor, deserted, dying wives, and folding to her motherly heart the motherless little ones. All Pueblo helps and blesses her. The Santa Fe, and Denver & Rio Grande railroads honor her request to carry the sick and maimed home. How glad these green places in the deserts of human selfishness makes our soul." In 1861, Mr. Sperry found his usually robust health so im- paired by overwork that he was forced to abandon farming, and determined to cross the plains to the "far west," hop- ing thus to regain his health. He ac- cordingly started with teams, accompa- nied by his sons, Mentor and Lewis. After traveling six months they reached the territory of Idaho, where they spent a year, engaged in mining and ranch- ing, passing through the' rigorous six months winter, with seven to ten feet of snow. Singularly enough, during the time spent in this wild region, and while on the journey thither, he endured the hardships and dangers incident to that · manner of life, and enjoyed, meanwhile, almost uninterrupted good health. They returned by way of Salt Lake City, and the old California trail, breaking through the mountains northwest of Denver, and reached home in the fall of 1864. He then resumed charge of his farm, which he continued until'he emigrated to Col-

orado, in 1876. Ever just, ever upright, ever true to his convictions of right, with a broad, deep and liberal judgment, he sifted every question, and having once decided it by its moral rights, no power on earth. could induce him to change. Neither the open threats of mob law by the owners of fugitive slaves, nor the offer of bribes, could persuade him to desist helping the slave to his freedom. So in every important question, he took a bold and fearless stand. It is truly said of him, that you could sooner turn back the mighty. Mississippi in its course, than prevail on him to do or sanction anything that was morally wrong; a pure, noble, christian gentle- man, and no meed of praise or position of honor bestowed can be greater than such a name. Mr. Sperry has found his health much improved by the climate of Colorado, but since his removal there has made periodical visits to the old home place in Bushnell township. His son, L. B. Sperry, now resides upon the place, which, under his care, has been not only kept up, but still further beautified and improved.

Henry F. Rogers was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, in 1835, on the 20th day of December. His fa- ther's name was Deitrich, and he was born at the same place. His mother's native place was near that of his father. When 17 or 18 years old, Henry F. de- cided to try his fortune in the new world, and accordingly, after bidding good-bye to home, friends and relatives, he set sail for the United States. Arriving on America's shores, his first experiences were the same as fell to the lot of the average new immigrant. He finally

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

brought up at Staunton, Macoupin county, near which place he hired out by the month. He was then engaged until he had reached the age of 26 years. He was married on the 3d day of April, 1861, to Christina Miller. She was born in Quincy, Illinois, and is a daughter of Rev. Jacob Miller. After their mar- riage they lived in Montgomery county, until 1865. He then removed to his present home on section 6, Mound town- ship, where he had bought 123 acres of land. He set to work improving this farm, and now has a very creditable appearing place. Besides the above mentioned, he has added another parcel, containing 50 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Rog- ers are the parents of seven children- Jacob H., Mary M., Adelaide M., Katie E., John M., deceased, Benjamin M., Edward J., and Bertha L. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are members of the German M. E. church. He is a school director of district No. 1, and has held that position sor nine years. The family are intelli- gent and highly respected.

John M. Wilcox was born in Carroll county, Kentucky, formerly Gallatin county, March 19, 1826. His father, Benjamin Wilcox, was born and reared in Shelby county, Kentucky, but after- words removed to Carroll county, where he died in February, 1836. The maiden name of Benjamin's wife was Flora Mc- Cormick. She was born and reared in Lexington, Kentucky. After her hus- band's death, Mrs. Wilcox removed to McDonough county, locating in Chal- mers township, two miles northeast of Middletown. She brought with her, her family of seven children. There they lived two years, then removed to Bethel

township. In 1845, Mrs. Wilcox re- moved to Scotland township, where she was again married. She died in Bar- dolph. In 1879, John went to Califor- nia, where he was engaged in the mines for three years. At the end of that time he returned home, having been quite successful in the west. In 1853, he bought the southwest quarter of section 31, which was then raw prairie. This land has since been brought into a high state of cultivation. He also owns 52 acres on the northwest quarter of the same section, besides 80 acres in Macomb township. He was married on the 13th day of March, 1855, to Mary Z. V. Yocum, daughter of Major Yocum, and then re- moved to his present location. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Wilcox have had six chil- dren born to them- George T., Elvira J., William F., Mary A., Robert C., John R., George T., married to Hetty Dorr, they live in Macomb township. El- vira J., died March 12, 1869; William F., died April 8, 1884; Mary A, married Eugene L. Lindsay, they live in Kearney county, Nebraska. Mrs. J. M. Wilcox died March 23, 1883. His niece, Luella Wilcox, is keeping house for him. R. C. and J. R., live with him and work the farm. He has been director of schools in district No. 5.

William Stephens, one of Mound town- ship's substantial citizens, was born in Campbell county, Kentucky, on the 24th day of July, 1828. His parents were James and Margaret (Peck) Stephens. Both of his parents were of old Virginia families, his mother's ancestors, however, having been of German descent. James Stephens, father of William, was born in Kentucky, in 1801, and his wife was born

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

in 1808. James settled with his family in the township of Industry, McDonough county, in the early part of 1836, and in March, 1838, removed to Fulton county, settling in the southern part. Here James and his wife lived until their death. William went to Oregon in 1853, and staid one year. He then went to California, where he was engaged in the mines for four and a half years. He came back to Fulton county in the fall of 1859, and in the spring of 1860, went to Colorado, but returned in the winter. He was married there on the 21st day of February, 1864, to Mary Markley, nee Welker. They came to McDonough county in 1873, and located on the northi- west quarter of section 9. At this place the family have made their home ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are the parents of six children-Margaret, Etta, James W., Helena, Olney and Joseph. By her first marriage, Mrs. Stephens was the mother of one child-Mary L., who is now the wife of Charles Combs. Besides his possessions here, Mr. Steph- ens has 680 acres of land in the southern part of Fulton county. He has large numbers of both cattle and hogs. Mr. Stephens is a democrat, in politics, and has been quite prominent in township affairs, having been assessor, supervisor of Mound township two terms, and com- missioner of highways three years. He is highly respected by all who know him.

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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 110

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