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 92

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 92

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Isaac W. Dailey, one of the farmers of Eldorado township, was born October 6, 1829, in West Virginia. He is a son of Thomas and Sarah ( McIntosh ) Dailey, who were also natives of the same state, and came to this state in 1835, locating near Springfield. Thomas Dailey was born in September 1783, and Sarah, his wife, April 13, 1790. They were mar- ried September 22, 1814, and raised a family of eight children, four of whom were boys. Of these living, two in this county, one in Dane county, Wisconsin, one in Seward county, Nebraska, and two in Jewell county, Kansas. Isaac W., is the seventh child. The family re- mained in Springfield one year, then came to this county, and settled in Eldorado township on section 6, where he owned two quarters of prairie land, which he improved and where they lived the remainder of their days. He died January 1, 1854, and she, November 21, 1862. The subject of this sketch came west with his parents, when but a small boy, and with them remained un- til their death .. He now owns 212 acres of good land on section 6, which is well improved. He was married Novem- ber 19, 1867, to Emily Craig, daughter of Richard Craig, of Industry village. They have three children-Warren M., born November 3, 1868; Irena A., born December 31, 1871, and Lucy H., born September 1, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Dailey are members of the M. E. church. Poli- tically he is a republican, and took an active part in war for the suppression of the rebellion, enlisting in the army of the United States, August 14, 1862, in company C. 84th Illinois volunteer in- fantry. He was one of the number that

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

. followed General Bragg through Ken- tucky. He was honorably discharged at Nashville, April 24, 1863.

Jacob Lawyer is a son of John and Massey (Cooper) Lawyer, who came from Ohio. Jacob was born December 7, 1841, in Industry township, and lived with his parents until of age. He was married to Nancy E. Standard, February 3, 1881. They have had nine children, all living but Alba W. and Walter. Those living are-Arthur E., Alvin C., Dallas, Alva L., Shered, Franklin and George. He now owns 320 acres of land, which is well improved. He has put in 940 rods of drain tile on his place, and now it is an excellent farm. He has been the highway commissioner for six years.

Samuel J. Foster, now a wealthy citi- zen and farmer of Eldorado township, was born here December 7, 1832, being the first white child born in Eldorado township. His father was A. J. Foster. .He grew to manhood and received his education in his native county. Sep- tember 19, 1854, he was married to Mary McMahan, daughter of James N. and Helena (Kelso) McMahan. By this union there have been nine children- Sarah V., wife of William T. Vail, of Eldorado township; Alonzo D., also in this township; James M., John L., Henry L., Eva H., Nellie C., Luella and Samuel Roy. Mr. Foster and his fan- ily are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He is a republi- can in politics, and has held the office of road commissioner three years and that of assessor two years. He owns 500 acres of land with fine improvements, and carries on general farming.

EDUCATIONAL.

From the superintendent's annual re- port for the year ending June 30, 1884, it is learned that there are nine schools in Eldorado township, none of which are graded. There are 312 children be- tween the ages of 9 and 21 years, 256 of whom are enrolled in the various schools; the average number of months of school being seven and one-ninth.

There are nine school buildings in the township, all frame, one of which was erected during the year. The highest monthly wages paid any male teacher is $40, the lowest, $30; while the high- est wages paid females $33, and the low- est, $20.

The amount of district tax levy for the support of schools was $2,550, the esti- mated value of school property being $6,400, while the township is entirely free from any bonded indebtedness.

One of the early schools in this town- ship was obtained and conducted in an entirely original manner. A man who was sub-director for his district induced a friend to represent him to the county superintendent as being well qualified for the position of teacher. His excuse for not seeing that official in person was urgent business in another direction. The friend secured a certificate for him, and being sub-director, he hired himself and taught by proxy, his wife doing, or pretending to do the teaching. She be- gan with six or seven pupils, but they dropped off, one by one, until she had but two or three left. One day, a neigh- bor from another district, seeing one of her former pupils running at large, asked him why he was not in school. "Oh, 'cause the school ain't worth a -;

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

the school-marm washes, cooks, sweeps and keeps school all at one time; then she doctors folks, too," She taught in the same shanty in which the family re- sided, and when the sub-director went to draw his pay, he brought in a bill for fuel, house rent and teacher's salary.

School district No. 1 .- The school house stands upon the northeast corner of section 11. It is valued at $700. Until 1872, this district was two miles and a half long, north and south. At that time districts 1 and 6 were divided, forming 1, 6 and 7, as now known.

District No. 2 .- The first school house in this district was built in the year 1865, being at the time the township was divided. It was an old building, costing about $400, and in 1884 it was worked over and $350 in repairs put on, making a good building for schools.

District No. 3 .- This district had its first teaching about 1850, in a log build- ing 18x18 feet in dimensions. Robert Comer and Thomas Ausbury were di- rectors then. The first teacher was Jackson Wayworth. The second build- ing used was erected in 1856, at a cost of $300, and was 20x24 feet in dimension's. The present school house was built in 1881, at an expenditure of $800. The first teacher in this school was Emma Tolen. The directors are: Samuel Price, Samuel Lee and Anthony Aus- bury. Samuel Holton is the teacher at present. The enrollment is now about 30.

District No. 4 .- The first school house was an old log building; after which, in 1861, a new one was built, costing about $600, and in 1880 a new one was erected, costing probably $800 to $900.

District No. 5 .- The school house of this district stands on the northwest cor- ner of section 22. It is a good frame building, erected in 1869, at a cost of $1,500; it is now valued at $1,000. Itis 24x30. This school is familiarly known as "Sixteen." Wm. Carothers was the first teacher.

District No. 6 .- The school house of this district was erected in 1872, at a cost of $800. It is on the southeast corner of section 14.

District No. 7 .- The school building was erected in 1875, and is valued at $700. It is located on the northwest corner of section 36.

- The school house in district No. 8 is situated on the southwest quarter of section 27, and is valued at about $200.

In 1875 the school house in district No. 9 was erected, at a cost of about $800.

HALL.

Eldorado Hall was built in I871, at a cost of $1,800, to serve the uses of the public at elections, meetings, etc. It is located on the southwest corner of sec- tion 15. The building committee was Isaiah Dennis and William Beckwith.

ORGANIC.

Eldorado township was organized at the time of the division of the county, in 1857, and on the 7th day of April, of that year, the first township election was held. At that election Thomas Cox and E. D. C. Haines were elected justices of the peace, and William Price, constable.

The present officers of the township are as follows: Supervisor, J. P. Mar- shall; clerk, J. M. Little; assessor, J. N. Foster; collector, W. B. Moran; high-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

way commissioner, S. J. Foster; justices of the peace, Thos. Cox and Jesse Fow- ler; constables, J. M. Adams and Alex. Robinson; school trustee, S. K. Mus- grove.

HISTORICAL.

At the residence of Father Harris, living on section 1, was performed the first marriage ceremony in the township -Mr. Cleon Reddick and Miss Lucy Harris, by Rev. Aaron Kinney, a Uni- versalist minister, in the year 1839.

The first death was that of Nimrod Foster, son of Henry Foster, in the fall of the same year.

Lucy Harris taught the first school in 1837.

The first birth was Samuel J. Foster, son of A. J. and Sarah Foster, who was born in the fall of 1831.

RELIGIOUS.

On section 2, Eldorado township, is located the Sugar Creek Cumberland Presbyterian church edifice. (See Ec- clesiastical chapter. )

The West Prairie Cumberland Pres- byterian church building is located on section 9, Eldorado township. (See Ecclesiastical chapter.)

CHAPTER XXXII.

CHALMERS TOWNSHIP.

Chalmers township is one of the in- land sub-divisions of the county, and is known as township 5 north, range 3 west. It was first organized in 1857 as a. full congressional township, and so remained until 1880, when Colchester township was formed, at which time all of sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 30 and 31, and the west half of sections 20, 29 and 32 were taken therefrom, and now compose a part of the newly-organized township. Chalmers is one of the old- est settled townships of the county. It contains more timber land than any other township in the county, which doubtless accounts for its early settle-

ment and subsequent growth. It was first christened Erin, but at the first meeting of the board of supervisors, in May, 1857, it was changed to its present cognomen. A portion of the city of Macomb lies in the northeast corner of this township. By reference to the re- turns of the assessors, we learn that there are yet 7,760 acres of timber land, a greater number than any other in the county. The fuel question, so far as they are concerned, is settled. There are here many good farms, the most of which are small, there being very few large landholders. This is far better for the general good.

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

It is believed that Elias McFadden was the first to settle in Chalmers town- ship. In 1828, he located in the north- east part of the township, in company with his son David, and nephew, after- wards his son-in-law, Wylie McFadden. This was on what is now the Hunter farm. A history of this family is given elsewhere, they having made themselves infamous during the early days of the county's existence, by a dastardly mur- , der.

James Edmonston was one of the early settlers of Chalmers. He came in 1829, and located in the south part of the township. He did not remain at that location very long, but removed over the line into Bethel. In a few years he removed again into Chalmers township, locating on section 32, at the edge of what is now Middleton. He afterwards went with his family to Schuyler county, and there resided un- til his death.

William O'Neal came from North Carolina to this township in 1829, with his family, and located on section 24. He went to Iowa a few years later.

Truman Bowen came to this county in October, 1830, and located on section 3, Chalmers township. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1786, and when yet a young man, removed to Ohio, where he married Nancy Lewis, in 1811. Mr. Bowen died in the March following his arrival in this county. His wife died in 1858.

Among the first settlers of Chalmers was John Massingall. He had a cabin on the northwest quarter of section 33. He did not pay any attention to agricul-

ture, but was known as a great deer hunter. He afterwards died in the county.

James Clarke settled in Chalmers in 1830. He shortly afterward removed to the city of Macomb, where he lived until . his death. A sketch of this gentleman appears elsewhere in this volume.

David Troxwell came to the township prior to the summer of 1828, locating on the northwest quarter of section 21. In November 1830, Troxwell left for parts unknown.

William I. Pace, a native of Ken- tucky, came in 1830, settling the farm now owned by Robert · Venard. Five years later he removed to Scotland town- ship, on the farm now owned by A. J. Pace, where he lived until his death, in 1855.

William Edmonston located on the southwest quarter of section 26, in 1829. He came from Indiana, and became widely and favorably known within a short time after coming to the county. He is spoken of in the representatives' chapter, he having representod this county in the general assembly.

John Wilson, who was afterwards murdered, in 1834, by the McFaddens, settled in the northeast part of the town- ship, in 1830.

David Clarke the same year located in this township, but did not remain very long, removing to the city of Ma- comb.

Willis Wayland, Sr., came to McDon- ough county in the spring of 1832, and located on section 34. He was born in Orange county, Virginia, in 1795, and was there reared. He removed from there to Carroll county, Kentucky, and

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

from there to this county, as before stated. He was twice married and 13 of his chil- dren are living. He died in this town- ship in 1861.

James McClure located on section 33, in the year 1832. He was born and reared in Kentucky, and from that state removed to,Morgan county, Illinois, in an early day. From there he removed to this county, choosing a location as aforesaid. He was almost deaf, and is remembered by old settlers for his odd way of approaching and listening to any one speaking to him. He died in this county.

William Champ is one of the old set- tlers of Chalmers township. He is a native of Kentucky, and was born in Oc- tober, 1802, in Madison county, where he followed farming. In September,' 1834, he came to this county and located in Chalmers township, where he resided until 1857, when he moved to Colchester, his present home. He was married to Frances Maupin, who died February 8, 1884. They had seven children.

Andrew M., his second child, was born in Kentucky, in 1830. In early life he followed farming, but after coming to Colchester, worked at carpentering for some time. He began the study of law in 1867, and has been city attorney of Colchester since 1877. In 1862, he was married to Phoebe Wood, and by this marriage they have five children.

Reuben Alexander was a settler of 1833. He located on section 34, but sold his place the next year to Wesley Way- land, and removed to Lamoine township, where he died.

Wesley Wayland came to the county in 1834, and located on section 34, where

he lived until the time of his death, which occurred in 1874. He came from Car- roll county, Kentucky.

Israel Camp and family located on section 3, in 1835.

Farman B. Camp lives on section 3, Chalmers township, where he was born November 13, 1836. His parents, Israel and Anna (Barnes) Camp, came here in 1835, from Vermont. They are now both dead. Farman was brought up on the farm, and acquired his education by attending the district school. He was bereaved by the death of his mother, when 11 years old. His father died 10 years later. Mr. Camp has followed farming with the exception of eight years, from 1856 to 1864, during which he operated a saw mill in this township, and two years spent in working at the carpenters' trade. He now owns a por- tion of the homestead farm, and is en- gaged in general farming. Mr. Camp has several times visited Kansas and Colorado, once on prospecting tours. He is a republican in politics, and has always been identified with that party, also strongly favors the cause of tem- perance, having been for the past 20 years a member in good standing of the Good Templars. He was assessor of Chalmers township one year, and has been director of school district number 2, for many years.

Alexander Provine came to McDon- ough county in the spring of 1835, and located on section 36. He was born in Clark county, Indiana, on the 7th day of November, 1806, and there resided until coming to this county to make his home. He died in Macomb, on the 3d day of May, 1853.

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

William Allison located on the south- west quarter of section 24, in the spring of 1835. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1775. He was reared in that state. He died Decem- ber 10, 1857.

John McCormick settled on section 33, in the fall of 1835. He was born in Maryland, in 1789, but was reared in Kentucky, and came from there to this county. He was married in Kentucky to Nancy Cox. They were the parents of seven children. Mr. McCormick died December 18, 1880, and his wife died May 31, 1838.

OTHER LEADING CITIZENS.

Under this heading are placed the sketches of those who, while not pio- neers, are yet worthy of prominent men- tion on account of their standing in the township.

William F. Steckel is a native of Le- high county, Pennsylvania, and was born September 25, 1835. He is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Frantz) Steckel, who were of German descent, but natives of the same state. Daniel died August 18, 1871, and his wife March 16, 1879. William was brought up and educated in his native county. In 1859, he went to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where he taught school until 1861. In that year he enlisted in company B, of the 10th Indiana infantry, in which regiment he served three months. He then re-en- listed in the same regiment as first lieu- tenant of a detachment of a company, which was afterwards used to fill up an- other company, so he returned to Indi- ana, and resumed teaching, which he con- tinued until the spring of 1863. At that

date he came to McDonough county, and engaged in teaching in the Oakwood dis- trict. He taught there two terms, then in 1864, settled on his present farm, in Chalmers township. In the winter of 1872, he returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1876, then came back to this county, and engaged in the gro- cery trade at Macomb, continuing the same three years, after which he went in the sewing machine business, in the same place, until the spring of 1880, when he again located on his farm near Salem church. He was married Decem- ber 17, 1863, to a daughter of John Saf- fell, of this township. She died Sept- ember 25, 1872, leaving him two children -Mattie E. and Henry R., deceased. Mr. Steckel was married May 9, 1876, to Emma M. Kachline, a native of Penn- sylvania. By this union there is one child-May Iva. Mr. Steckel is one of a numerous and prosperous family in which the medical, the legal and the ministeral professions are equally and fully represented. Personally of a mind that aims not at public praise or posi- tion, the community in which he resides, has nevertheless from time to time, mani- fested its appreciation of him as a wor- thy citizen, by electing him as president of the Bible society, superintendent of Sunday schools, etc., which positions he now creditably occupies.

Mrs. W. F. Steckel was born in White- hall, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, of kind and most estimable parents, Aaron J. Kachline, of German descent, and Clara Tice, English born. The former departed this life November 20, 1872. In early years became a consistent member of the Reformed church, at Egypt, Penn-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

sylvania, under the ministrations of Rev. Dr. Dubbs. At the age of 11, attended school at the Allentown seminary, which was then conducted by Rev. Dr. Kessler. Several years later went to school at Jonestown, Lebanon county, Pennsylva- nia, Professor I. L. Rupp, principal. The institution is now known as Swatara collegiate institute. At the beginning of the internecine war, was a member of the senior class at Washington female college, Maryland. Returned home and taught school at Ballietville and Hoken- dauqua. During 1868-69 was principal teacher of the female high school in the city of Allentown. May 9, 1876, she was married and came west, leaving home and friends with the heartfelt conviction that memories of her were fraught only with the pure thoughts of a life of virtue and rectitude.

Robert W. Saffell is a son of John Saffell, who was born in Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in 1811. John Saffell was reared in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, and about the year 1837, went to Richland county, Ohio, where he lived 13 years. He then removed to Highland county, of the same state, from whence he came, in October, 1854, to McDon- ough county, and located on section 22, this township. In 1860, he removed to the place where his son, Robert W., now lives. He was married in Pennsylvania, to Martha Wilson, a native of that state. They had two children. John Saffell died September 8, 1876. Robert W. Saf- fell, the only surviving son of John Saf- fell, was born in Richland county, Ohio, February 11, 1837. In 1854, he came to this county, with his parents, and has re- sided here since that time. He now lives

upon the homestead farm, formerly owned by his father, and carries on gen- eral farming. He was married July 28, 1863, to Isamile Wolf, a native of Penn- sylvania. They are the parents of four children-George V., William F., Chas. W. and Minnie M. Mrs. Saffell died February 24, 1885. Mr. Saffell has been for the past two years, supervisor of the township. He has also held the offices of township treasurer and commissioner of highways.

George W. Kruse, a prominent far- mer and stock dealer of Chalmers town- ship, is. a son of Dirk S. M. Kruse, who was born in Germany, in 1776. In 1835, he emigrated to America, and located in Schuyler county, Illinois, where he re- mained until his death, which occurred in 1860. George W., the subject of this sketch, is the youngest of seven sons, and was born June 12, 1832. He was reared by a brother in Germany, and in his youth, learned the baker's trade. In 1857, he emigrated to Amer- ica, and located at Rushville, Illinois, where he continued one year, then came to McDonough county, and settled at Macomb, where he managed a large bak- ery until February 22, 1867, at which date, the establishment was burned out. In the spring of 1868, he moved to the farm where he is now living, on section 23, Chalmers township. He has 380 acres of land, and is largely engaged in feeding and shipping stock. He has at present, a large number of cattle and hogs on his place. Mr. Kruse was a member of the board of county super- visors, for the term extending from 1880 to 1882, and for six years previous, commissioner of highways. He was

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

married in October, 1859, to Rinne M. Grovewold, a native of Germany, who died November 19, 1867, leaving him four children-Frank H., "Emma, Eliz- abeth, and Herman G. In January, 1869, Mr. Kruse was married to Agnes McCann, a native of Ireland, and by this union, has five children-William, Anna, George H., Peter, and Clara.

William M. Reid is a son of John Reid, a native of Scotland, and was born in New York city, April 9, 1842. He came to this county in 1858, and located at Macomb, and there followed the car- penter's trade until 1860. In the spring of that year, he began farming in the neighborhood, which he continued until August, 1864. At that date. he enlisted in the service of his country, and was as- signed to company A, of the 8th Tennes- see regiment. He served until April, 1865, when he was honorably discharged and returned home, to Macomb, where he lived one year. He then settled where he now lives, on section 15, Chalmers township. He has 100 acres of land, which is well cultivated and valuable. January 20, 1864, Mr.'Reid was married to Mary E. Curtis, a native of New York. They have seven children-Charles D., Mary E., Nellie E., Jessie E., William M., Mabel and an infant. Mr. Reid is a member of the G. A. R.

John Reid was born in 1804, and mar- ried in his native country, to Mary Mc- Kay. They emigrated to America, and located in New York city, from whence they came to Macomb, in the year 1857. He was here employed as a carpenter and builder, until his death, in 1868.

August Plassmann, a native of Ger- many, was born May 20, 1837. He re-

sided in Germany until he arrived at the age of 18 years, then came to Amer- ica, and located at New Orleans, Louisi- ana, where he remained three months. He then went to St. Louis, Missouri, and two months later, to Quincy, Illi- nois. He worked on a farm in the vic- inity of that city, two and a half years, after which, he came to McDonough county, and worked on the farm of An- drew H. Allison, by whom he was em- ployed 18 months, He then rented the farm of Harmon Allison, upon which he lived eight years. In 1865, he settled on his present farm on section 23, Chal- mers township, where he now owns 260 acres of land. He ranks among the suc- cessful farmers of the township. He has been commissioner of highways three years, and school director six years, and is an esteemed citizen. He was married, October 28, 1857, to Char- lotte Rethorst, a native of Germany. They have seven children living-Anna, Emma, Frederick, Maggie, Lou, Lillie, and William. There were 'two other children-Charles and Henry, both de- ceased.

Orrin Peck, is a son of Lyman Peck, who came to this county in 1839, and lo- cated near Blandinsville. The latter was born in Essex county, New York, February 22, 1806. He was brought up in his native county. In 1835, he/ set- tled in Sandusky county, Ohio, where he resided four years, then removed to this county at the time above stated. Here -. mained in Blandinsville township until 1859, then moved to section 21, Chal- iners township, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in February, 1872. He was married in

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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 92

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