USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., gathered from mattter furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, interviews with old settlers, county, township and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources as have been available : containing also a short history of Henderson County > Part 21
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MILLERSBURG TOWNSHIP.
society has always had Sunday-school at its church-house, but not con- nected with the church. The Sunday-school which it has always supported was organized at Millersburg. in the court-house in 1842. by the American Sunday-school Union. Among the members of this society since its organization are the names of many prominent families, both of the past and present.
The next church organization in age and extent is the Methodist Episcopal church. The people of this faith who located here at an early day, like the Presbyterians, held their meetings at private houses and in groves till the court-house was erected. when they used that till the school-house was built in 1844, when they held services there till they erected their first church building.
The early pioneers of the Methodist Episcopal church worshiped at Camden Mills (now Milan. Rock Island county), and for several years only had preaching at Millersburg now and then. It remained a part of the Camden Mills circuit till 1865, when it became the Mil- lersburg circuit, then including Aledo, which was afterward detached from the circuit. They began to have regular preaching about 1850, but no organization distinct from the Camden Mills church till 1857, . when the organization was effected and included in the Peoria con- ference. R. N. More was the elder who presided here at the organi- zation. J. W. Long was secretary of the meeting. D. M. Falkinbury was first pastor in charge. James Sheriff, Jacob Wharton and John Ashbaugh were the first class-leaders. The first stewards were: J. W. Lane, Ambrose Eddy. Jacob Colier, Peter Blue, E. C. Partlet, William T. Shafer, and Joseph Richmond. Samuel Wharton was appointed Sunday-school superintendent, and Samnel Artz assistant superintendent. The Methodist Episcopal society erected their first and present church building, 40 ×60, seating room 40×50 feet, in 1857, at a cost of 84,000. Previous to erecting this present church a build- ing was begun on the same foundation, and when partly completed, was blown down by a storm. This was a sad thing for the church ; it needed a place for worship, and the generosity of many had received considerable tension, and it seemed like raising mountains of granite from their foundations to arouse the people again to a necessity of beginning a second building, and to renew their subscriptions for that purpose. Citizens with money to loan were less common than now. But in the face of all this opposition the Methodist Episcopal people went to work with a will which meant to carry the point. and did so. The building is well furnished, and the best in the town. The church has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity since its organization. Like the Presbyterian church. it has come up from the pioneer days, and
220
HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
among its members since the church was established here, and before,. are many of the prominent families. not only of Millersburg township,. but of the county.
The ministers who have labored here since 1857, are: F. A. Falkinbury, from 1857 to 1858, during which time Joseph Richmond was exhorter in the church ; L. D. Crouch, till 1860: Z. E. Kaufman,. till 1861; J. D. Taylor, till 1863; L. S. Ashbaugh, till 1864; J. D. Taylor again, till 1865; James Cowden, till 1866 ; M. P. Armstrong,. till 1868, who came here from Indiana, and as the conference year of the two conferences did not end at the same time, his place was filled, till his time expired in Indiana, by J. H. Payton ; A. Morey, till 1870; A. Beeler, till 1871; Thomas Head, till 1874; J. J. Walter, till 1875; G. M. . Morey, till 1878. Present pastor in charge is G. W. Frizell. The present officers are: Ambrose Eddy, J. D. Strat- tan, J. H. Purdum and Dr. J. P. Chowning, church stewards; Jacob Wharton, William Dunn, Ambrose Eddy, J. D. Strattan and S. H. Riddell, trustees ; Charles York, J. H. Purdum and William Robinson, parsonage trustees.
The Methodist Episcopal church has had connected with its organi- zation, since 1857, a live and profitable Sunday-school. Previous to 1857 they labored in the capacity of a Sunday-school in the interest and under the anspices of the American Sunday School Union. The school is now kept in operation throughout the year, and is in a prosperous condition.
LATTER-DAY SAINTS' CHURCH.
The third and last of the churches now represented in Millersburg is the Latter-Day Saints' church, not unfrequently called Mormons, but the people of this faith here detest the very idea of polygamy. This doctrine of the church was first preached in the county about 1840, by Elder G. M. Hinkle. The first society in the county was organized in 1861 in Duncan township. The members of this faith then at Millersburg worshiped with the congregation in Duncan town- ship till 1872, when they were organized into a distinct society, which met at private residences for worship for a short time after its organ- ization, and other buildings suitable, till 1876, when they built their present church-house .at a cost of $600. The first members were as follows: W. S. Morrison, Joseph Harris, James Vernon, Eliza Vernon, Viola Vernon, J. M. Terry, Mary Terry, Elizabeth, Emma, Stephen, Theresa, James and Nancy Miller, Jasper, Mary, Mary E., Clara, Juliet, Adelaide and Edward Duncan. Hannah Terry, Margaret Brown, William Cardman, Sarah Cardman, Elizabeth Webb. The present members number forty-six.
221
MILLERSBURG TOWNSHIP.
A partial list of the ministers, as furnished us, is as follows: J. M. Terry, J. W. Terry, E. Bryant, J. L. Terry and J. B. Harris, present pastor in charge. The first officers were J. B. Harris and J. M. Terry. The present officers are J. L. Terry, E. Bryant and J. W. Terry. The first death that occurred in the society was that of W. S. Morrison in 1873. The society is in a prosperous condition. It receives much uncalled-for censure because of the infamous doctrine preached by the Utah church.
While these three church societies compose those who have erected church buildings in Millersburg, they do not embrace all the creeds represented by her people. The earliest preaching at Millersburg was of the predestinarian Baptist faith, which at that time was rapidly losing its favor with the people from whence came the greater part of the early settlers of Millersburg. In addition to these Baptists were the Missionary Baptist, who have had at no time in the history of the settlement of the township a church buliding and a regular organized society, but have had, at irregular intervals, preaching almost from the beginning of the settlement. The people a part of the time held their meetings in the Presbyterian church building, and the remainder in the school-house and at other places. In 1870 G. M. Zook preached here regularly for one year; he was followed by A. F. Sharpner. Among others who have from time to time labored here in the ministerial capacity are M. D. Murdock and J. W. Washdale. Owing to the fact that no record of the early settlers who held to the Missionary Baptist faith has been kept of those who resided at and around Millersburg, we are not able to give a list of their names, and give only the names of this faith at this time residing here : A. P. Sharpner and family, Thomas Landreth and family, James Burges and wife, Herschel Felton and wife, and James Cash. These hold their membership at Antioch, in Duncan township, or at Aledo. Such is the history of the religious sects of the town of Millersburg from its first settlement.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS.
This society ranks high in this vicinity in morals, business ability and intelligence. The history of its organization and progress, as follows, has been prepared by a committee appointed for the purpose.
Iris Lodge, No. 267, I.O.O.F., was organized December 13, 1858, by William L. Green, James McJenkins, J. W. Close, Jolm S. Moore and O. C. Allen, over the old store of O. A. Bridgford. J. W. Close is the only living charter member, as known by the
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
lodge at the present time. The first officers of the lodge were as follows: N.G., W. L. Green ; V.G .. J. W. Close: Sec .. James McJenkins : Treas .. J. S. Moore. The first members of Iris Lodge had a pretty hard struggle to keep life in the organization ; for, when the lodge was vet young, a number of the members were called away to the army, which left only about a quorum, and it was a hard matter to get all out at once. But by hard work they pulled through. The brethren never forgot those who were called away to help in the sup- pression of rebellion, and showed their interest in the absent ones by paying all back dues, and in gaining help. The first death in the lodge was that of Lewis Trimble, and the whole number of deaths since the lodge was organized is five. The progress of the lodge. since the close of the war, has been very rapid, increasing from the five charter members to an average of forty members in good standing, and from a state of bankruptcy to a surplus of $1,500. The society now owns their own hall, which is very neat and attractive, and claims as a mem- bership the best men that society affords. The present officers of the lodge are as follows: N.G., C. C. Brown; V.G., W. W. Wakeland ; Sec., J. U. Roberts ; Treas., J. N. Close. The number of members at present is forty-five. The society has occupied one building almost all the time, and it cost $500. The lodge is now in a prosperous condition, and is one of the ablest lodges in the county.
Millersburg public schools is one of the institutions in which her people take great pride, and it is well that they should feel proud of an institution that can prepare her sons and daughters to become men and women among men and women. About the first, if not the very first, school taught in Millersburg, was kept in H. W. Thornton's law office by a man named Bell, in 1838. After this, school was held in the court-house till 1844, when the first house for school purposes was erected. Harry Scenter, David Felton, Hiram Hardie, Mrs. HI. W. Thornton, David Lloyd, Charles Winchip and Joseph McChesney were pioneer teachers of Millersburg, some of whom taught both in the rural districts and in town. The first school building was used for school purposes till 1862, when the present spacious brick school-house was erected, with four departments. The present principal is Prof. Daniel Farmer, of Normal, Illinois. A word complimenting the sys- tematic course of instruction is not out of place. Students are fitted here for teachers without further drill.
The other village in the township is Joy, located on the Keithsburg division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. It was laid out in 1869 by L. W. Thompson and William Ungles, on section 19. The first business house in the place was a store of general mer-
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MILLERSBURG TOWNSHIP.
chandise, kept by C. S. Richey, and the first drug store by John Moss. The first blacksmith to locate here was Joseph Hughes. The first religious meetings in the town were held by the Presbyterians, Metho- dists, and Later Day Saints, in the school-honse. The population of the town is about 150. It has two stores: one kept by J. H. Crane ; the other by J. T. Galloway; both have a good trade. One wagon shop is run by Joseph Hughes, and one blacksmith shop by G. W. Cook. The hotel is kept by J. W. Wood. The first hotel ever kept in the village was by O. F. Green.
The village is quite a shipping point. The railroad established a station here the same year the village was laid out. For some time the business of the station was almost nothing; the people had become so accustomed to take their produce to the river that it seemed hard to get out of the old ruts. The first station agent was H. N. McNeil. The present agent is Hiram Standish; he came here in 1870, and took hold of the business for both the company and the farmers ; his object was to bring to this point the shipping both of grain and live stock that properly belonged here. In 1881 there were loaded at this place 196 cars of stock and 74 of grain; the number of cattle shipped was 1,338; of hogs, 7,678. To bring the business of the surrounding country here the agent received the produce from the producer and shipped it. At that time there were no buyers here. J. H. Crane is the present grain merchant.
The post-office now at Joy was first established in 1847, and named High Point. George Scott was the first postmaster, and kept the · office at his home, where Edward Griffith now resides. The next appointed postmaster was Samuel Eayle, who kept the office one year, when it was given again to George Scott. In 1865 Peter Spangler was appointed postmaster and held the office till 1870, when it was moved to Joy, and the name changed from High Point to that of Joy. and the office given to O. F. Green. In 1871 J. T. McGinnis was made postmaster. The present postmaster is J. HI. Crane, appointed in 1878, but has kept the office since 1873.
Joy has one church, the Methodist Episcopal. It was organized in 1874 by Rev. Head. Previous to this time they had irregular preaching at the school-house at Joy and at the brick church two miles southeast of the village. The society was organized with the follow- ing named members : J. W. Wood and wife, W. P. Zentmire and wife, William Kiddoo and wife. Richard Edgar and wife. Eliza Kiddoo. K. H. Day and wife, Frank More and wife, and Augusta Mays. The society now numbers forty members. In 1877 it built its first and present church edifice, a frame, at an outlay of $1,800. The trustees
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
at present are : William Kiddoo, P. P. Zentmire and J. M. Shingle- decker. The stewards are : J. M. Shingledecker and Mrs. Mays, The class-leader is W. P. Zentmire. The ministers who have- labored here are : J. J. Walters, instrumental in bringing about the building of the church ; M. Morey, and W. B. Frizell, present pastor in charge. The society has lost by removals several of its valuable members.
· A Sunday-school was organized shortly after the church organiza- tion was effected, which has since been in operation, and now numbers forty scholars. W. P. Zentmire is the present superintendent. Both the church and Sunday-school are in a prosperous condition.
In addition to those church societies in the town of Millersburg and the village of Joy, there are the Seventh Day Adventists church at the Marsh school-house in the southeast part of the township ; the Peniel church, four miles south of Millersburg, and the free Presby- terian church, familiarly known as the old brick church a half mile south of the Peniel church.
The Seventh Day Adventists are of recent date in Millersburg township, being as late as 1871 ; though there was a society of this belief much earlier in Aledo, with Elder Andrews as pastor, who came to the Marsh school-house previous to 1871, and preached for the. benefit of the members of the church living in that community, at irregular intervals. The society was organized with about thirty com- municants, and at this time numbers twenty members. The society has been very much affected by the unsettled condition of the popu- lation. The first officers were : J. R. Witham, elder ; C. Dreyden, . deacon ; J. C. Middaugh, clerk. The present officers are : elder, same as the first ; clerk, Mary Miller. The society is flourishing, and proposes to erect a church-house for worship at the earliest possible period.
The Presbyterian congregation, known as the Peniel class, was. organized into a distinct society in 1871. From the early settlement of the township there were several of this faith in this community, but not sufficient for sometime to support an independent society ; hence they held their membership at Millersburg. For several years they had preaching at the Pleasant Hill school-house, two miles east of Joy, and occasionally held meetings in the brick church one mile south. In 1871 the organization was effected by forty-five members, who were dismissed from the Millersburg society for that purpose. They met at the brick church and proceeded to form themselves into. a society, and forthwith adopted measures for the erection of a church editice, which was completed in 1872, at an outlay of $4,500. This is
225.
MILLERSBURG TOWNSHIP.
by far the finest church in the township. It is a frame. structure 40×60, with a seating capacity for 300 persons. J. Downing donated the ground for the church and cemetery. In addition to this a par- sonage was built at an outlay of $1,600, Edwin Gilmore donating the ground on which it stands, one-fourth mile north of the church. This society and the one at Millersburg employ the same pastor ; hence it is not necessary to repeat the names of the ministers who have labored here since the organization was effected ; nor before, as they will be found in the list of ministers in connection with the society at Millers- burg. The first elders of the society were : J. Downing, William Miller, J. T. McGinnis and John Love. A few years after there were two more added to this number: Richard Kiddoo (deceased) and Henry Dool. The present eldership is the same. The largest mem- bership the society has had at any one time was 125 members, which has been reduced to 84 by removals. The society dedicated its building out of debt. Many of the friends of the church came on dedication day with their pocketbooks, and went away surprised to think that no collection was taken. The Presbyterian element is largely predominant in the section surrounding this church. The society has kept, in connection with the church work, an interesting Sabbath-school. Until quite recently it was discontinued during the winter months, but now continues throughout the year. The present superintendent is William Jewel. The average attendance is 100.
The brick church one and a half miles north of the south line of the township, and directly south of Millersburg, was the first church building erected in the township. It was built in 1847. It is in size 40×60, and is still standing. It was built not so much by subscription as by contributions in work. The society was that of the Free Presby- terian faith. The leading members, and those who were instrumental in building the church, were the Kiddoo brothers, James, Richard, William and John, and others of the neighbors whose names we failed to get, as the records are either lost or have been carried away. The brick were burned by Richard Kiddoo. The men who did the work were kept by the people who were interested in its erection. Rev. James Pogne was the first minister in charge. The first elder was James Kiddoo, who moved west a few years since. This society was an advocate of freedom, not at that time inherent with the other branches of Presbyterianism. The organization was kept up till sometime during the war, when the principles of the denomina- tion, whose mission it was to demonstrate, became impressed upon the community ; and the society having become reduced in its men- bership by frequent removals of its members, it united with the
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Methodist Episcopal church society now located at Joy. as the prin- ciples of freedom advocated by the two societies were one and the same. The society was reincorporated under the name of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, which held its meeting here regularly till the present church building was erected in Joy.
Connected with the church is the first established cemetery in the township, south of the Edwards. Here reposes the dust of several of the early settlers of the surrounding country.
The first Sunday-school in this part of the township was organized at this church, about the time of its dedication, under the auspices of the American Sunday School Union, which was kept up till the Methodist Episcopal society ceased to hold meetings here. The only use now made of the church building, is for funeral services at the cemetery. The erection of this church, at the time it was effected, if we consider the financial circumstances of the community, and the durability of the building itself. clearly illustrates the character of the people of the surrounding community.
Among the societies of the township, held at Millersburg, which clearly illustrates the progress of agriculture and stock raising is the county fair. It was the first association of the kind in the county. The fair grounds were located southwest of Millersburg, adjoining the town, and originally consisted of three acres, and enlarged to nine, at the time of its removal to Aledo. The expenses were kept within the annual income. The labor necessary to make the needed improvements was donated by the members of the association. Any one could become a member of the society by paying the fee of one dollar at each annual meeting. The sole interest of the society was manifested in behalf of the products of the county, and was con- ducted on strictly moral principles. Very little racing was permitted. and no gambling within the enclosure. Those who attended its annual show of stock, agricultural products and woman's wares, say that a marked progress in each department was perceptible, and it is not unfrequently the remark is made of the good social times enjoyed at the Millersburg fair. The ladies of the county are equally entitled to their share of the praise for the success of the institution while at Millersburg. The officers of the association gave free of charge their services. without even charging up their expenses while conducting the business of the association. When the place of its annual meeting was moved to Aledo, the society was out of debt and had a surplus of twelve or fifteen hundred dollars in the bank. We now leave the history of the society to be continued in the history of Mercer township.
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MILLERSBURG TOWNSHIP.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
In 1854 the people of Millersburg township met at the school-house near Edward Brady's corner, with Ephraim Gilmore, chairman, ap- pointed by L. B. Howe, and L. B. Howe, secretary. These temporary officers became the permanent officers for the year. The township was divided into three road districts : No. 1, north of the Edwards; No. 2, embraced the east half of the township, south of the Edwards; No. 3. the west half of township, south of the Edwards.
The following list of township officers, taken from the records, will prove of great interest as being a list of gentlemen, who at various times, were considered worthy of the votes of their constituents and well fitted for the offices to which they elected them :
Date of Election.
SUPERVISORS.
CLERKS.
ASSESSORS.
COLLECTORS.
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.
1854
David Lloyd.
J. E. Bay
Benijah Lloyd, Jr.
J. R. Lemon.
1855
M. L. Marsh.
J. O. Allen
R. W. Bay
W. A. Bridgford.
1856
James Haverfield.
J. O. Allen
W. A. Bridgford.
1857
James Haverfield.
S. J. Strattan.
J. T. MeGinnis. .
W. L. Crane.
1858
J. T. MeGinnis.
W'm. A. Crane .
O. A. Bridgford
J. R. Lemon ..
1859
J. T. MeGinnis.
Wm. Greene
W. A. Bridgford ...
Win. L. Greene ..
1860
J. T. MeGinnis.
J. M. Nevius ..
James Kiddoo, Jr. James Haverfield.
Wm. L. Greene ..
1862
A. P. Taylor.
J. E. Bay
W'm. M. Brown ....
W. A. Bridgford.
1864
J. T. MeGinnis.
J. E. Bay
Wm. M. Brown .... L. B. Howe ..
W. A. Bridgford. J. E. Bay
1867
J. T. MeGinnis.
J. E. Bay
J. E. Beaty
J. H. Grady
W. o. Dungau.
1869
J. T. MeGinnis.
J. E. Bay.
R. H. Day
John Brady.
J. W. Close.
1870
J. T. MeGinnis.
J. E. Bay.
O. A. Bridgford.
A. W. MeClain ..
W. A. Marsh. J. W. Close. Ed. Brady.
1873
R. H. Day.
J. E. Bay
Ed. Griffith
W. A. Bridgford.| John Love . L. B. Childs John Brady. Jahn Brady
R. Kiddoo.
1877
J. T. MeGinnis.
John Brady
J. R. Wartwick.
J. W. Close.
1878
J. T. MeGinnis ..
John Brady.
J. E. Bay
J. R. Wartwiek .. John Harvey ..
Ed. Brady.
1879
J. W. Close.
John Brady
J. E. Bay
R. Kiddoo.
1880
J. W. Close.
John Brady
J. E. Bay
W. R. Lemon ..
Taylor Gilinore.
1881
J. W. Close ..
John Brady.
J. E. Bay.
W. R. Lemon ..
Ed. Brady.
1882
S. H. Riddell
J. G. Haverfield. J. E. Bay.
W. C. Irwin
S. A. Steele.
1865
J. T. MeGinnis ..
J. E. Bay
1866
J. T. McGinnis
J. E. Bay
Johnson E. Beaty
M. L. Detuler
1868
Thos. Merriman ..
J. E. Bay
R. H. Day
J. H. Grady
( Ed. Brady,
1871
R. H. Day.
J. E. Bay
E. L. Emerson
W. A. Bridgford.
1872
R. H. Day
J. E. Bay
E. L. Emerson
Richard Kiddoo.
1874
J. T. McGinnis
John Brady
Ed. Griffith.
J. W. Close.
1875
J. E. Bay
John Brady
Edward Brady.
1876
J. E. Bay.
John Brady
J. G. MeCarnahan. J. A. Gilmore .. J. E. Bay
W'm. L. Greenc ..
1861
Ephraim Gilmore. A. P. Taylor.
Wm. L. Greene,
J. E. Bay
W'm. M. Brown ...
W. A. Bridgford.
1863
Previous to 1868 there were elected each year three commissioners of highways, whose names are as follows : 1854, J. Falls, S. Carnahan and Charles Griffith ; 1855, J. Falls, C. Criffith and O. A. Bridgford : 1856, C. Griffith, J. P. Boyd and H. L. Marsh ; 1857, C. Griffith, J. P. Boyd and James Kiddoo; 1858, C. Griffith. A. Eddy and J. P. Marsh : 1859. A. Eddy, Charles Griffith and William Brown : 1860, William Brown, Ed. Brady and A. Eddy : 1861 and 1862, same as in 1860; 1863, Ed. Brady. A. Eddy and D. Thatcher: 1864 and 1865, same as 1863: 1867, J. M. and R. H. Gilmore.
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