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 115

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 115

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EDUCATIONAL.

From the last report of the county superintendent, for the school year end-

ing June 30, 1884, it is found that the estimated value of school property in Macomb township amounts to $9,400, being free from any bonded indebted- ness. The amount of tax levy for the support of schools amounts to $3,350. The highest monthly wages paid any male teacher is $60, and the lowest, $35. The highest wages paid female teachers is $40, and the lowest, $20 per month. There are eight school buildings in the township, all of which are frame, and the average number of months of school annually is eight. There are 270 pupils enrolled in the schools of the district township, and 377 children of school age. One district in the township has a graded school.

District No. 2 .- The school house stands on the northeast quarter of the the northeast quarter of section 10. There is one acre of ground about this building belonging to the district, for which $50 was paid to L. H. Shriner. The building was erected in 1856, at the time the district was set off. The direct- ors at that time were: Madison Irven, chairman; L. H. Shriner and A. Switzer. The building, furniture, etc., cost about $1,800. A tax of $2 was levied for school purposes, and $3 for building, and the amount was paid up in two years. Since that time they have had nine months of school each year. The present directors are: H. H. McElvain, chairman; D. C. Harris, treasurer; Albert Collins, secre- tary.

District No. 4 .- The meeting for the organization of this district, was held at the house of John M. Crabb, on the 8th day of February, 1858. Directors were chosen as follows: R. B. Hampton,

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

president; George Upp, and I. N. Van- Meter, clerk. The first school house was built by William McCandless, at a cost of $375. This building is now standing where it was erected, on the southwest quarter of section 16. It is 20x24 feet in size. The first teacher was Mary Spangler, and the next was Caroline Spangler. The directors for 1885, are: W. J. Runkle, president; Daniel M. Crabb, clerk, and Jolın A. Crabb.

CLAY BANK.

Runkle's clay bank is located near the southeast quarter of section 16, Macomb township. . It was first discovered by Frank Runkle, who noticed the clay sticking to the legs of cattle which crossed a ravine that passed through the land. Stephen, William and Frank Runkle, then sunk a well, and after digging 13 feet, procured an auger and commenced boring. They found, after going lower, potter's clay, between two layers of rock. Under the lower layer of rock, they struck fire-clay, of splendid quality. It was not operated to any extent, till 1880. The Runkle Bros., operated it at first, for Eddy & Co. Benjamin Myers took charge of it in October, 1880, and worked it about a year. George Dexter next operated it, and after a year, Elisha Runkle came in as partner. All these took out the clay for Eddy & Co. This firm run it themselves after Dexter & Runkle discontinued. William Stone operates the bank for them. In 1884, 2,310 tons were taken out for Eddy & Co., while other potteries got about 2,250 tons of the product. It is sold at an average of 20 cents per ton. This price is in the way of royalty, as the proprie-

tors of the land do not have to handle the clay. This bank supplies all the clay used by the Macomb potteries, and a great deal for the tile works.

LYCEUM.

In the school house of district No. 4, have been held some fine lyceum meet- ings. They commenced here in 1862, but the society was organized at the old Prairie school house, and meetings had been held there for some time. Among the principal workers in this society, were: Daniel M. Crabb, Thomas Grant, now of Monmouth, Robert Grant, Mead Bros., Cyrus Van Meter, Ed. Ayers, Dr. Westfall, of Bushnell, Hiram Van Meter, Edward Fuhr, David Maguire, William Fuhr, Elder Newton Walker, now pre- siding elder of the United Brethren, and Samuel Crabb, who was a warm debater. For a time meetings were held at Pleas- ant Hill, and while there, five sous of Andrew McMahon were members. This gentleman is enthusiastic in his praises of the work done by these meetings, and he attributes much of their success in life, to the improvement of their minds at these meetings. The debates are still continued, though many of the most in- terested have moved away, and there are not so many members of tlie lyceum so- ciety as formerly ..

CREAMERY.

In October, 1883, A. A. Adair and C. V. Chandler commenced operations in their creamery, which is located on sec- tion 31, Macomb township. They com- menced business by using the milk fur- nished by 40 cows, but they have in- creased the capacity as business has

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.'

' grown, until they now use the product of 60 cows, besides a large quantity of milk furnished by farmers in all the con- tiguous territory. They now employ eight cream wagons on the road, and get milk from portions of McDonough, Han- cock and Schuyler counties. The cream- ery building proper is 30x42 feet in ground area, with ice house in the rear. The machinery is run by steam power, and the engine is well suited to this work. The vats and churns are well ar- ranged, and the, works may be said to have all the latest improvements for mak- ing butter. The creamery has a capacity of 1,500 pounds a day, the major part of which finds a market in New York, Phila- delphia and Baltimore, though some is shipped to Chicago. They make a su- perior quality of butter, which is a source of profit to its proprietors, and besides adds an important item to the in- dustries of McDonough county. Cream for their works is obtained from as far south as Colmar. Calves and hogs are kept by the proprietors to use up the surplus milk and refuse of the creamery.

RELIGIOUS.

The organization of the Greenwood M. E. church was effected in 1857. Their church building is located on section 2. (See Ecclesiastical chapter).

GRIST AND SAW MILL.

A mill of this description was built by George Miller and Abner Walker, in 1832 or 3, near the place now owned by David Holler. They operated it for a time, when Miller sold out his interest to Walker. It afterward passed into several different hands and was operated

by water power until rented by Thomas Rabbit, when it was converted into a steam mill. It has since been destroyed.

ORGANIZATION.

The first election under township or- ganization, occurred on the 7th day of April, 1857. W. S. Hail and W. I. Hen- dricks were elected justices of the peace. J. O. C. Wilson was the first police mag- istrate, having been elected on the 4th of May, 1857. W. S. Hendricks was the first supervisor. The present offi- cers of the township are as follows: Supervisor, J. A. Bricker; clerk, H. A. Maxwell; collector, W. M. Thompson; assessor, I. Cline; school trustees, John Randolph, Robert Crabb, and J. M. Jackson; highway commissioner, Henry Graham; justices of the peace, C. L. VanMeter and Lewis Wilson; consta- bles, John Hindman and Samuel Helms.

FIRST ITEMS.

The first Sunday school in the town- ship, was organized at the house of George Miller, in 1837, by Rev. Wil- liam H. Jackson, assisted by James Har- ris and Michael Vincent.

The first brick house was built by a man by the name of Lovell, on section 26, in 1836.

James Clarke was the first justice of the peace.

W. S. Hendricks was the first super- visor.

BARDOLPH.

Bardolph was laid out August 3, 1854, by order of William H. Randolph and Charles Chandler, and surveyed by Wil- liam H. Rile, county surveyor, at that

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

time. The town is located on section 24, of Macomb township, and in the midst of one of the best agricultural districts in McDonough county. The country around is rolling prairie, although the timber land bordering on Crooked creek is not far distant. Bardolph is situated on the line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, and nearly seven miles by rail from Macomb, and 196 miles from Chicago. It is laid out with the railroad, the main streets running parallel with, and the business houses fronting the road. The town was first given the name of Randolph, in honor of William H. Randolph, its founder, but on finding another town in the state having the same name, it was changed to Bardolph.

The first dwelling house was erected by Nathan Jones in 1856, about the time of the completion "of the railroad, and the first store building by Clinton A. Jones. In this house Wetherhold & Jones started the first store in Bardolph. About this time J. B. Hendricks erected a building. Both these building were erected on block 1. The first named store was occupied for a time by its first proprietors, and subsequently by the following parties in the order mentioned: James Creel, Jackson Brothers, Dyer & Amos, hardware, Jackson Brothers, again, Dallam & Jackson, Dyer & Amos and A. W. Fluke. At this time the building was removed to the rear of the Hendrick's building, which was the sec- ond building erected in the town. This building was first occupied by Hendee & Osborn as a general store, for about two years. Hendee & Beaver succeeded this firm. They sold to Cowgill & Jackson,

and they to T. J. Creel. Creel closed out the stock, and Jackson Brothers moved in. After a time they moved out and the building was vacant. In the fall of 1877, the Jackson Brothers re- moved it to its present location, and oc- cupied it until 1878, when they sold to E. D. Stevens. He occupied it a short time. Since that time it has been occu- pied by Slinard, Perrine & Mitchell. Fluke; McElroy & Jackson, are the pres- ent occupants.

The dwelling house built by Nathan Jones, the first in the town, is still stand- ing on its original site, on lot 9, block 13. It is a one-story, frame structure, and is now owned by Dr. H. B. Sikes.

Later, in 1856, the Hendricks Bros., erected a two-story hotel building. One of the brothers occupied it with his family, and run the place. A short time afterward the building was bought, on time payments, by a man named Hunter. In 1861, as he had failed to pay for it, it reverted to the original pro- prietors. They, however, sold it to A. J. Turney. He occupied it till 1863, and then disposed of it to Seth Jacobs, and the sisters of the latter, who con- ducted it till three years later, when Mrs. Margaret Rhea purchased it. She had it four years, and was succeeded by E. T. Osborn, who only remained in pos- session one year. He traded it to Eras- tus Jacobs, who was succeeded by the present proprietor and occupant, N. H. Jackson, in April, 1884.

I. M. Parvin, shoemaker, has his place of business alongside the drug store of Curry & Knapp. The shop was started by his father, Samuel R. Parvin, who commenced work in the lumber office,

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

and afterwards removed the shop to its present location. He continued the business there until he died, in August, 1881, at which time his son succeeded him. He does shoe and boot making and repairing.

McElroy and Jackson commenced their present business on the 1st day of April, 1884. They carry what is com- monly known as a general stock, and the contents of their store will average about $2,000. Their building is 96 feet deep, and their store room is 80 feet in depth. They have a large and varied assortment of goods, and are doing a good business.

Nathaniel H. Jackson was born in the state of Virginia, on the 13th day of October, 1834. He is the youngest liv- ing child of William H. and Ann (Mil- ler) Jackson, who, with their family came to Illinois in 1836, settling in Mound township, McDonough county, Illinois. Nathaniel H. remained with his parents, assisting on the farm, until his marriage with Elizabeth Dyer, daugh- ter of Edward Dyer, January 7, 1858. The first four years of their married life was spent in Mound township on a farm. In 1862, they removed to Colchester, where Mr. Jackson engaged in mercan- tile business for about 18 months, when he removed to the village of Bardolph, in Macomb township, where, with the exception of short intervals, he has since resided, being engaged in mercantile business until 1868, when he exchanged his stock of goods for an interest in the Bardolph fire-clay works. In 1881, he purchased a saw mill in Lawrence county, Arkansas, where he spent the greater portion of the time until 1884, when he sold out and returned to Bardolph and

opened the Bardolph House, the only hotel there. At the outbreak of the late war he offered himself for enlistment in the army, but was rejected on account of ill health. In the Masonic order he is a Knight Templar and has held nearly all the offices in the lodge. He was secre- tary at the time the charter was granted to Bardolph lodge. He has been prom- inent in local affairs in the village and has contributed in large measure to its prosperity. He was justice of the peace for a period of 11 years, supervisor of the township for three years, and school treasurer for several years, besides which he has filled other less important offices. His property consists of a farm of 110 acres, located on the southwest quarter of section 1, Mound township. His store building and residence is in Bardolph. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jack- son, were five in number, three only of which are now living-Frank S., now a resident of Mound township and a farmer; Harry D., a teacher of music who has followed his profession in and about Bardolph for the past five years; and Nathaniel H. Jr., who is the younger, and still at home with his parents. Those deceased were the oldest, a son named William E., who died at the age of 15 months, and the fourth child, a daugh- ter, who died at the age of four years.

The principal grain business of Bar- dolph is done by J. M. Pelley, represent- ing Hendee & Co., of Bushnell. They have control of the railroad company's elevator. During the year 1884, grain was shipped from this firm as follows: Wheat, 5,000 bushels; rye, 4,000 bushels; corn, 12,000 bushels; oats, 3,000 bushels; This was, however, a light year for ship-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

ment, as it averaged 100,000 bushels up to 1883.

James M. Pelley was born February 4, 1837, and is a native of Kentucky. His father died in that state and his mother is now living in McDonough county. When 11 years of age, Mr. Pelley, with his mother, left Kentucky, and located in Macomb township, within a mile of Bardolph. They resided there until 1857, when Mr. Pelley moved to the village, and went into business there. He was for a short time in business at St. Augus- tine, Knox county, but returned to Bar- dolph and resides there. He was mar- ried January 1, 1860, to Sarah E. Rearson, and they have seven children-David E., Eva M., Elizabeth E., Rosa A., Nancy F., Mary C. and James E. The oldest son, Wiley P., was killed while braking on the C. B. & Q. railroad, near Biggsville, in 1880. Mr. Pelley is a Master Mason, and with liis wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is now village treasurer, custodian of the township school funds, and has for several terms been a member of the town board. He owns a nice dwelling and eight acres of land in the corporate limits of Bardolph.

ORGANIC.

April 15, 1869, Bardolph was incor- porated as a town by a special act of the legislature, and the following trustees were appointed by that body: President, A. Russell; trustees, W. J. Merritt, W. S. Hendricks, E. Dyer, N. D. Clark; clerk, David Adams. After this the trustees were elected annually, the po- lice magistrate acting as president.

On the 5th day of February, 1876, Bardolph was incorporated as a village.

The main cause for this change was that the town trustees were also school direc- tors for district No. 7, part of which is in the country, and the people residing out of the corporation, therefore, had no voice in choosing the directors. This naturally caused dissatisfaction, and as a remedy, the town was changed to a vil- lage, and a board of school directors cre- ated, separate and apart from the village officers.

Annual elections are held on the third Tuesday of April, at which a president and five village trustees and a clerk are chosen. The first board of trustees were: President, H. A. Maxwell; trus- tees, E. D. Stevens, J. B. Knapp, J. M. Pelley, Lewis Wilson, and J. T. Norris; clerk, T. A. Jackson. Bonds to the amount of $2,000 are required to be given by the treasurer and clerk for the faithful performance of the trust and duties imposed upon them.

BARDOLPH FIRE-CLAY WORKS.

This extensive establishment is the outgrowth of a small shop started in Colchester by Mr. A. Horrocks, in 1861, which he had built up from infantile dimensions until it had assumed good business proportions. In March, 1874, a copartnership was formed between A. Horrocks, E. D. Stevens and J. W. Stevens, under the firm name of Hor- rocks, Stevens & Co., and arrangements perfected for removing the works to Bardolph. The capital stock invested was $15,000, divided in three equal shares. Attempts were made at that time to obtain clay for the works by mining, which, however, proved futile. The clay used has since been taken from

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

1003

the farm of David Holler. Between the months of March and May, 1876, an engine house and machine shop were erected at Bardolph, and in the latter month the works at Colchester were abandoned, and all the fixtures removed to their new location. About this time the capital stock of the company was in- creased to $30,000. After removing to Bardolph, the company manufactured fire brick and drain tile principally, the former article constituting the major part of their product. About three years afterward, they commenced to de- vote their principal attention to drain tile, and so continued till 1882, when they turned their efforts in the direction of the manufacture of sewer pipe, and now their output consists in a great measure of this article.

In the spring of 1877, the institution was reorganized as a joint stock com- pany, with a capital stock of $60,000, divided in shares of $100 each. Messrs. Reed, Babcock, and Stilson, of Gales- burg, came into the company, taking one-half the stock, while the other half was held by the old firm. The works then took the name of Bardolph fire-clay works. The company was organized with the following officers: E. D. Stevens, president; A. Horrocks, super- intendent; Josiah Babcock, secretary and treasurer. The stockholders at the present time are: A. Horrocks, Alex. McLean, R. C. Pointer, C. V. Chandler, and William Bailey. The officers at present are: C. V. Chandler, president; A. Horrocks, superintendent; Alex. Mc- · Lean. secretary and treasurer.

The main building for drying pur- poses, is 204 feet long, 36 wide, and two

stories high, to which is attached the engine house and machine shops, 50x36 feet, two stories high. In addition to this, they have four sheds, each 150x20 feet, or a total shed room of 600x20 feet. The engine used is 20-horse power, but from the way it is geared, it is equal to a 60-horse power engine. They have 10 large ovens for burning purposes. Of these, eight are 21 feet, 4 inches in the clear, and two are 25 feet in the clear. In 1877, the company constructed a tramway, two miles in length, from their works to the clay banks, on which all their clay is transported. The factory for a time enjoyed the distinction of be- ing the largest in the state, and is now equal to any. The works are situated about one-half mile west of Bardolph, on the line of the C., B. & Q. railroad, which affords ample side-track facilities. Sixty hands find employment here, and the establishment, it will be seen, is a prize for Bardolph. Most of the product is shipped to Chicago, though it finds a market throughout the entire country.

Abram Horrocks was born July 5, 1832, in Lancashire, England, where he lived on a farm until he reached the age of 16, at which time he went into a fire brick and terra cotta pottery, and worked until he came to the United States, being then 24 years old. He settled at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and engaged in coal min- ing, there being no pottery works in that neighborhood. Three years after he came to La Salle, Illinois, where he worked as a coal miner for six months. He then went to Henderson Grove, near Galesburg, Illinois, where he opened a coal mine and worked eight months, thence, in 1857, to Colchester, where he

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

worked for the Quincy coal company one year, and thence to Avon, where he was engaged as manager and superintendent of the works of a fire brick company, a Chicago institution, and where he re- mained till November, 1859, when the company ,became bankrupt, owing him at the time $500. He then returned to Colchester and again entered the service of the Quincy coal company, by whom he was employed at this time 18 months. He then rented a coal bank and went to mining coal on his own responsibility. He saved all the clay taken from the mine, from which he commenced, in a small way, the manufacture of brick, the clay being ground for the purpose in a corn grinder. He was assisted at this time by Robert Entwisle. Being short of means they secured credit at a store. The first season's operations resulted in the manufacture of 20,000 brick, which were sold at $20 a thousand. Upon set- tlement of accounts at the store they found themselves in debt $36. They succeeding in hireing a mule which they used to grind clay. He continued in the business until he left Colchester, when he had accumulated about $8,000, over and above his expenditures in open- ing up mines and developing the brick- making business. He made it a rule to keep out of debt and conducted his busi- ness on strictly business principles, and to which he gave both industry and close attention. In April, 1883, he went to his brick yard and found a machine which was used in mining clay, out of order, and while engaged in cleaning out the knives, his right arm was caught by them and taken off near the shoulder. By this accident he was laid off from his

work only two months. Mr. Horrocks now has about $15,000 invested in his business. He owns 80 acres of land in' Macomb township, and five acres where he lives. He owns seven houses in Bar- dolph, and has also investments in notes and like securities. He was married in England July 28, 1852, to Eliza Fletcher, a native of Lancashire. They have had no children. This man learned to read by studying the signs over shop doors. He is possessed of rare intelligence, is a good geologist in his rude way, and is the best judge of clays for tile, pottery, fire brick and the like, in the county, and possibly in the state.

Robert C. Pointer was born in Meri- dosia, Morgan county, Illinois, Decem- ber 17, 1838. His parents were Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Morrison) Pointer, who were natives of Fleming and Cum- berland counties, Kentucky, whence they came to Morgan county, being among the earliest settlers. During the early childhood of Robert, his family removed to the place where Concord now stands, where they remained until the spring of 1855, and whence they removed to a farm purchased by his father near La- Harpe, Hancock county, Illinois, where they remained four years. In the fall of 1859, they again changed their resi- dence to Scotland towns hip, McDonough county, where Robert resided until 1877, when he settled in Bardolph. Soon after removing to Bardolph, he became inter- ested in the fire clay works at that place, his interest being a one-third ownership, and he has since given his entire atten- tion to the manufacture of tile, etc. Hè now has $10,000 invested in the works, besides which, he is the owner of a farm

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

1005

in Scotland township, and a house and five lots in Bardolph. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the A. O. U. W. He has been a member of the village board of trustees four years, and of the school board five years. He was married May 5, 1864, to Flora Gates, a native of McDonough county, and a daughter of Nathan Gates, who died when she was about one year old. They have six children-Anna E., Jennie D., Ida M., Sarah L., William C., and Flora N.

BARDOLPH POTTERY WORKS.

In the early part of 1870, William Cleveland located in Macomb with his family. He was a practical tile maker, as was also his son, H. A. Cleveland. About this time experiments were being made with clay, obtained upon the farm of David Holler, near Bardolph, and the citizens made overtures to Mr. Cleveland to induce him to come to the town for the purpose of utilizing the clay in the manufacture of pottery. The negotiations were successful, and Mr. Cleveland began in the fall of 1870 to erect shops and a kiln. Manufacturing was soon commenced, Mr. Cleveland as- sociating with him Mr. J. Stoffer. In 1872, the proprietors sold a one-fifth in- terest to W. M. Albert. In the mean- time, the firm had built another pottery in Macomb, and in 1873, Stoffer and Al- bert exchanged their interests in the Macomb pottery with Mr. Cleveland, the latter taking the Bardolph works. The business was conducted by William Cleveland & Son, until 1878, when W. M. Albert and J. F. Easton purchased the Bardolph pottery and took control.

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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 115

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