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 27
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cabin a short distance away was pointed out to them, where they were assured they could find quarters. Drury started from that place early the next morning, and reaching Andalusia just at sun up in the morn- ing, was directed to cross the river at that point and take a trail made the day before, from Rock Island down the river by drawing a log through the snow, to allow the Indians to go there to trade. Arriving at Rock Island about noon, he stopped at a tavern kept by a man named Dixon, who was county clerk of the county. He was instructed by him as to the route to take, and also informed him that he should stop at Port Byron for the night, which if he passed he would not find another stopping place within forty miles. Soon after leaving Rock Island Mr. Drury looked back and saw a man on horseback, appar- ently in pursuit, which he supposed to be the speculator. On arriving at Port Byron the man overtook him and remarked that Drury must have a fine horse as he had tried all the afternoon but had failed to overtake him. They left in the morning in company, but had not gone far until Drury noticed that the stranger's horse was a superior animal, which, not agreeing with the statement he had made the day before, caused Drury to fear that the man was fol- lowing him for the purpose of waylaying him at the first opportunity. After a few hours' ride together he told Drury that he had just come from Eliza township, where the day before he had beaten a citizen doctor in a horse race and taken $500 from him. Drury also noticed by the actions of the man that he likewise .suspicioned him, and thus the two men rode along together in silence, the one watching the movements of the other. Presently the stranger asked Drury if he had any money about him. He replied that he had $2.50 and was hurry- ing to get to Galena to find work, and asked if he was acquainted there. The man said that he was, but that work was scarce. He offered to bet Drury that his money was counterfeit, and demanded an examina- tion, after which he passed it back, and producing some of the same kind from his own pocket, said that he was well acquainted with the parties in Galena who made it. This statement aroused Drury's fears more than ever, and as it was now growing dark both parties watched closer than ever. They however reached Dubuque in safety, and Drury going straight to the land office was there informed that they were three weeks behind with their books and that he would have to await his turn to make the entries. Not satisfied he went back and enlisted the co-operation of a friend and the two succeeded in making the entries that same night. The next morning just as Drury was prepar- ing to start back the speculators made their appearance, and going to the office were told that the lands had all been entered the day before,
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at which they broke out in a fit of rage and said the trick had been played by that little sheriff of Mercer county, and if he could be found they would cowhide him within an inch of his life. Instead of being settlers looking for homes, they turned out to be Virginia land agents.
ROADS.
The first road laid out in the township was one leading from the bluff to Rezin Pratt's mill, on Eliza creek. This road was located in 1850. In the same year a road was laid out from the bluff to the old Bloomington road, at Bear's. Another road, commencing where the Millersburg and Muscatine road crossed the county line, running west in Mercer county, through HI. Mardock's land, intersecting the county line at John Boruff's, then west into Rock Island county, was laid out in 1851. A road leading from George Scott's house in New Boston township to D. F. Noble's, was laid out in 1851.
A portion of an old Indian trail, leading from New Boston to Rock Island, is still visible in the southeastern part of the township.
ORGANIZATION.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Daniel Noble April 2, 1854. J. P. Mannon was chosen moderator and Joseph Leonard clerk. The first election resulted in the choice of John Glancy, for supervisor ; L. W. Noble, town clerk ; James M. Mannon, assessor ; William Irvin, M. A. Cook and D. W. Noble, commis- sioners of highways ; H. H. Randolph and G. W. Black, overseers of highways; Dudley Willits, overseer of the poor ; and Eli Mills, pound-
master. The whole number of votes cast was thirty. At an annual town meeting held at the school-house in district No. 2, twenty-five votes were cast for supervisor ; twenty for town clerk ; twenty-five for assessor ; twenty-three for commissioner of highways; twenty-four for overseer of the poor, and five for pound-master. A vote was taken to decide the question of township organization, which received eight votes in favor, and twenty-three against it.
D. F. Noble has served as supervisor nine years ; Martin Bear, six : and A. B. Swisher, eight years. J HI. Nolan, J. Y. Merritt and J. H. Leech have each served one year.
The Nobles at times held nearly all the principal offices in the township. The Bishops have also held numerous offices, notably that of town clerk, which was filled by one or the other for ten consecutive years.
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
SOLDIERS.
At the first breaking out of the late civil war, the question as to "my duty to go," was responded to affirmatively by many of Eliza's truest patriots, and from the beginning to the termination of the great struggle, they bravely answered every call for troops ; father and son left the farm to offer their lives, if need be, that the nation might be perpetuated. And it was not until the town had almost exhausted her resources that men were hired to fill the quota. Many from Eliza enlisted in Iowa regiments, among whom were P. Whaley, B. R. Whaley, Jasper Reed, David Noble, Monroe Leech, Eli Mills, Pyrhus Glancy, Isaiah Bishop, E. A. Wood, S. S. Wood, Walter Keneday, John I. Reed, Alexander Irwin, Harrison Bishop, wounded. Those who enlisted in the 102d reg. Ill. Vol. Inf. were: J. G. Merritt (who entered company K as a private and was promoted to captain, and was wounded at Averysborough, North Carolina), Madison Reth- erford, Jacob A. Reed, Thomas Beverlin, James A. Barlett, William Carr, Ezra Fuller, H. J. Frazier, Josiah Spicher, James R. Wood, Abram Fuller (died of disease February 8, 1862), James Collier (died of disease December 4, 1862), George Barlett. (died May 18, 1864, of wounds received at Resaca), Noah Spicher (died of disease October 17, 1863), Otis Albee (discharged on account of wounds); Peter O. Pierce (died May 17, 1864), M. Biverlin, John H. Murfin, Franklin Ferguson, Daniel Knapp, Walter Smithers, Henry Smithers, Harvey J. Fisher (wounded at Averysborough, North Carolina), J. F. Essly (enlisted in company outside of the county), II. C. Esley, W. D. Maladay (who was killed at Stone River), and Van A. Noble (wounded at Chickamauga).
BURIAL PLACES.
There are several burial places in the township, the most noted of which are Eliza and Leech's. Eliza cemetery is situated just east of Mr. D. F. Noble's house, on top of the bluff, on a beautiful site over- looking the Mississippi. More than a hundred have been buried here. The first person buried in this cemetery was Miss Elizabeth Pratt, wlio was also the first person to die in the township. Leech's cemetery is located in the northeast part of the township, just south of William Leech's house, and contains some fifty graves. There is also a burial place on the old Miller farm, and one at John Glaney's.
The first child born in the township was Mrs. John Shaunce.
TIMBER.
At the time of the first settlement of the township, old timber, such as the various oaks and hickory, ash and elm, was found in abundance on the upper lands along the edge and on top of the bluff's and in the
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bottoms near the lakes, but young timber could not be found, having been destroyed by prairie fires started by the Indians to drive out the deer and other game to points where they could the more easily cap- ture them. Noticing the destruction of the young timber by these fires, many of the settlers began plowing around the edges of the timber to protect it, which had the desired effect, and in a few years young saplings sprang up, and where once only large trees could be seen the ground is now thickly dotted with a fine new growth of oaks and hickory large enough to convert into rails. Many of the large oaks now standing were here when the early settlers first came. On the land of Harrison Bishop, a large white oak is standing, as straight as an arrow, three feet through at the base, and sixty feet to the first limb. Another, the largest tree in the county, is standing in the door- yard of J. Y. Merritt. It is an elm measuring 37} feet in circum- ference at the ground, and 34 feet three feet from the ground. It is 108 feet high and has a spread of top of 104 feet. Much notice has been taken of this tree by the press throughout the country, and having several times been measured by competent surveyors is pronounced the largest in the county. It is said that Black Hawk used to hold council under the shade of its branches.
LAKES.
In the bottom lands west of the bluff and near the Mississippi river is nestled numerous small lakes, all linked together by a chain of tributaries extending from one to another from north to south, the currents in these outlets being strong in places. The lakes are all fed by the under drainage of the river and from numerous springs along the summit of the bluffs, in consequence of which the water is fresh and clear. In many places the lakes are shaded by large trees, and the sun's silvery rays shining through the tree-tops on the face of the water gives it a picturesque beauty. Fish and wild game are plentiful, and the angler and hunter find enough to occupy them pleasantly for a short stay. Late in the summer season these lakes become thickly matted along the edges with a tall green moss growing from the bottom to the surface of the water. At the time of the first settlement here. these lakes, with the exception of Glancy lake, were much wider and deeper than at the present time, owing to the accumulation of decaved vegetation and continual washing from the bluff. Glancy, however. still maintains its usual depth, owing to a swift current passing through it from the river in seasons of high water. At the present time the depth of Glancy lake is from twenty to twenty-five feet in places ; Eliza, three to five; Swan, four to six. All along these lakes was the favorite hunting ground of the Indians.
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
SCHOOLS.
The first school-house in the township was built on top of the bluff, a short distance from where D. F. Noble now lives. The house was built of logs, and the first school taught in it was presided over by Miss Mary Ann Delabar, and afterward by Miss Emily Cawkins. The school was kept up for many years by subscription, until the legislature passed a law authorizing such townships as desired to levy a tax for the maintenance of schools, soon after which a meeting was called to discuss the merits and demerits of changing to that system. It being determined at that meeting to accept the provisions of that act, the schools have thus been kept up ever since. Before the change was made the township had but one district, which was com- posed of what is known now as districts 1, 2, and 3, since which the town has been divided into six school districts, as follows: Center, No. 1; Boruff, No. 2; Glancy, No. 3; White Eagle, No. +; Eliza Creek, No. 5; Winter Creek, No. 6. The following, as shown by Mr. A. B. Swisher, present school treasurer, are the amounts received and disbursed by him for school purposes for the year 1880 :
Amount levied for 1881
$1,600 00
State funds received.
364 62
Interest received from town fund.
161 65
$2,126 27
RELIGIOUS MEETINGS.
Many of the early settlers here were church members, and re- ligious meetings date from 1836. At the request of Mr. Daniel Noble, the first was held at his son's (D. F. Noble) house which, at the time, was the largest house in the neighborhood; and afterward at David Shaunce's and other places in the township, until the first log cabin was built on the bluff, which was then used for all meetings, public and religious. The Methodists were the most numerous at that time, but the meetings were of a union character, and were partici- pated in by members of all other religious sects. The Methodists afterward became a regular organized body here, which has since been broken up owing to many of its members having joined churches located elsewhere outside of the township. They, however, as well as the Baptists and Christians, still continue to hold meetings at the several school-houses in various parts of the town. Neither denomina- tion being strong enough to support a regular minister, the services are conducted'by transient preachers. Asa McMerter and Samuel Pinkly were the first preachers, who were at that time termed ex- horters. Soon after the first log cabin on the bluff was built, a regular
MARTIN BEAR
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ELIZA TOWNSHIP'.
camp-meeting ground was established near the site of it, where the people of the whole neighborhood congregated to worship and talk to familiar friends and acquaintances.
In 1842 a kih of briek was burned in the township. on the premises of Samuel Strauss, from which several houses in the neighborhood were built the same season.
Eliza township has never yet sent a man to state prison for crime.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
MARTIN BEAR, a retired farmer, now residing in Aledo, was born in Northumberland county, Catawissa township. Pennsylvania. April 6, 1808, and moved with his father at an early date. to Pickaway county, Ohio, where he was raised and educated at a common school, and resided till his marriage with Miss Catherine Dodson. September S, 1831. In the same month they were married they emigrated to Cov- ington, Fountain county, Indiana, and after a residence of four years there they came to Mercer county in 1836. arriving May 10th and settling near Eliza creek, in what is now Eliza township. Jacob Bear, his brother. then a single man, accompanied and settled near him. In 1835 Mr. Bear first came out to look at some land, and traveled pretty much all over northern and central Illinois, and bought a claim from Thomas Morgan. In 1836 he went to Galena and entered the tract, with some other pieces to which he had obtained the choice number. When Mr. Bear came out here in 1835. somewhere about the head of the Edwards river, night overtook him, and the darkness was not relieved by moon or stars. No house could be seen. so without anything to eat. he slipped the reins over his horse's head and sat down in the tall grass to hold his horse while he was grazing. He fell asleep, and in the morning when he awoke found that his horse had gotten away from him. After finding his horse he journeved on and the following night reached Major Lloyd's at Camp creek a little below Millersburg. That was the only house around. Mr. Bear felt at home here. The major was bragging about the fat of the land, which the good housewife illustrated with a very fat coon for supper, the first Mr. Bear had ever tasted. In early times Mr. Bear used to go to Spoon river to get his milling done, and to Knoxville to get his plows sharpened and general smithing done. When Mr. Bear first came here he found the following persons living in the neighborhood : Isaac Dawson. Esq., John Drury, Daniel Noble, D. F. Noble. Aaron Mannon, Elisha Essley, John Shaunce, Isaac Drury, William Fisher, Jesse L. Adams, all from Indiana ; David Shaunce, from Carolina; Abijah Wilson, from Connecticut; John Shaunce and Thomas Morgan, from Ohio;
17
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Martin Fisher (father of William Fisher), Jacob Bear and John Pratt, all from Indiana, in 1836. Thomas Miller came about 1837; William Retherford, in 1840; James Larue, about 1842; J. J. Huston arrived about 1847; Edwin Bishop, in 1850; William Irvin, about 1849. A. B. Chilas, still residing in the township, settled here June, 1838, at which time there were residing in the northern part of the township, John Glancey, William and John Fisher, Valentine Boruff (and his sons, Felty and John), Miles Boyd, and Martin Bear. In the northern part of the township was Daniel Strauss, who fell from a tree while gath- ering hickory-nuts, and was partly devoured by hogs before found. John Shaunce lived near Boruff's. Mr. Chilas was a blacksmith, and worked at his trade there; was a smith in New Boston ; he sharpened plows and shod horses for twenty miles around.
FRANCIS LAMBERT was born in the southern part of Ireland, in 1816, and moved to America with his father's family in 1840, landing first at St. Johns, New Brunswick, where he resided for two years, and then went to New York, in which city he resided for ten years. Being of a roving disposition, he next went to Pennsylvania, where he staid one year; then went to Tazewell county, Illinois, where after a short stay he started back to New York, but changed his mind when arriving at St. Louis, and started north for Galena, at which place he resided ten months. He then came to Rock Island, and from there to Buffalo, Iowa, and from there to Eliza, settling on section 10, where he made a farm and now resides. He was married in Iowa in 1844 to Miss Nancy Moore, who was a native of Ohio. Mr. Lambert was educated in this country, and has followed farming as an occupation. IIe began life poor, but by industry and close attention to business has attained an easier position in life. In politics Mr. Lambert is a democrat.
GEORGE MOORE, of New Boston township, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, October 5, 1807. He moved with his parents while young, from that state to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1814, where he was educated at a common school and afterward worked at the car- penter and wheelwright trades until his marriage, when he moved to Mercer county, settling in Eliza, near where D. F. Noble now lives. Since his residence in the county he has followed farming. In April, 1852, Mr. Moore crossed the plains to Oregon, and was five months making the journey, in company with other parties. They stopped first at Yam Hill county, Oregon, and went from there to the southern part, where they stayed until February 20, then went back to Yam Hill county, where they stayed until October 7, and then started for home. Leaving Port Louis, Oregon, on board a steamer they went by way of San Francisco and the Isthmus of Darien to New York, then
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up the Hudson to Buffalo, and from thence to Chicago, reaching home December 8, 1853. George Moore's great-grandfather was born on December 19, 1732. His grandmother was born February 24, 1766. Mrs. George Moore. wife of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ohio September 27, 1813. They have seven children, one of whom, Leslie G., died a soldier, at St. Louis, January 14, 1862. He was a member of the 2d Iowa cavalry. Sarah Jane, Helen L., Araminta E., Cara, Robert C., are living. Ella Clarissa is deceased. In religion Mr. Moore is a Universalist, and in politics a republican.
EDWIN BISHOP was born in New Jersey October 29, 1815. and moved with his parents to this state November 13, 1850. They made the journey through by canal and steamboat up the Mississippi river, landing first at Muscatine, Iowa, where he stayed until December 2. 1850, when he settled in Eliza. He received a common school educa- tion in the former state, and learned the blacksmith trade, which he has followed during his residence in Eliza. He was married in Penn- sylvania Angust 31, 1837, to Miss Sallie Meeker, who was born in Crawford county, that state, in 1819. Mr. Bishop's father was an American and his mother Scotch. They left New Jersey in January. 1816, and moved to Pennsylvania. Mr. Bishop has from time to time filled all the various offices in this town, and has served as justice of the peace for twenty-four years, and is at present postmaster. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His family of children consists of Delilah, Isaiah, Harrison, Barbara A., Levi A., and Sarah (deceased).
SILAS DRURY was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1808, and moved with his parents to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1811, and from Wayne county to Morgan county in 1820, where he received a common school education and was brought up to farming. His father was English and his mother Welch. His grandfather was also English, and was born in London (Drury Lane, which bears the name of the family), where he was educated for a lawyer. After this he turned Quaker and moved to America, settling in Baltimore, Mary- land, where he followed legal writing as a profession. Silas Drury. the subject of the sketch, came from Indiana to Mercer county in the spring of 1834, just after serving as a soldier in the Black Hawk war, which service he entered in 1832. He first settled in Eliza township, and was the first sheriff elected in the county, April 6, 1836, after which he moved to Rock Island county, Illinois, where he now resides. Ile has, since his residence in that county, held the office of justice of he peace, assessor, and several minor offices, for twenty-six consecu- ive years. Mr. Drury is a member of the masonic fraternity, and a
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
member of the Illinois City Lodge ; also a member of the Old Settlers' Association, of Rock Island connty. In politics he is a national. His business is farming and trading along the river. He was married in Rock Island county in 1843 to Miss Malinda Bentley, by which marriage they had four children : Silas, Sarah, Oscar, and Byron.
J. Y. MERITT, the subject of this sketch, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, January 5, 1828. and is the third child of a family of eight, all of whom are living except Aaron J., who died a soldier at Bardstown, Kentucky. He was a member of the 36th reg. III. Vol. Inf. Moses, a merchant, resides in Appanoose county, Iowa. Eliza, wife of A. C. Reynolds, whose husband is a farmer. also resides in that county. Mary, wife of Samuel Spangler, a farmer, resides in Whitesides county, Illinois, near Port Byron. Sarah Free also lives in that county. Mary M. Kirlin lives in Mercer county, Illinois. John, a farmer, lives in Wayne county, Indiana. J. Y. Meritt's mother's maiden name was Margaret Trindall, and of Scotch-Irish descent ; was raised in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. His father, E. J. Meritt, was born and raised in Belmont county, Ohio, and served as a soldier in the war of 1812. J. Y. Meritt received a common school education in Indiana, and was there raised to farming. He came to Mercer county, Illinois, in 1848, and for the first few years worked at the carpenters' trade, which he picked up after coming to the state. He bought the land where he now resides in 1856, and on December 25 of that year was married to Miss Mary Prine, and in 1858 moved upon the place. His residence is marked by a large elm tree, the largest tree in Mercer county. J. Y. Meritt enlisted in the three years' service in the late war in 1862, as a private in company K., 102d Ill. Vol. Inf., and was afterward promoted to the captaincy of the company, and participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged. He was wounded at Averysborough, North Carolina, in March 1865. Unlike many who enlisted at that time, he served until the close of the war, in 1865, when he was mustered out of service after participating in the grand review at Washington, D.C. In polities Capt. Meritt is a republican.
D. F. NOBLE was born in Fayette county, Indiana, February 9, 1813, and is the son of Daniel and Sarah Noble. His father is Scotch-English, and was born in North Carolina, August 22, 1787; his mother is German, and was born in Pennsylvania, January 20, 1788. His father left North Carolina with his parents at the age of six years, and went to Tennessee, where he remained until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he moved to Ohio, where he was married in 1810 to Miss Barbara Fruit, soon after which he went
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to Indiana, where he resided until 1836; he then moved to Mercer county, Illinois. He was drafted for a soldier in the war of 1812, but did not serve, owing to the termination of the war soon after his enrollment. His father was a soldier in the revolutionary war. On coming to this county Daniel Noble first settled in Eliza township, where he remained until the time of his death in 1880, his wife having preceded him in 1875. They were buried side by side in Eliza ceme- tery, which place is marked by an appropriate monument. They had lived together sixty-five years. D. F. Noble, the subject of this sketch, is widely and favorably known, having from time to time served in all the various offices in this township. Soon after township organization he was elected supervisor of his town, which office he held for several years in succession ; he also served as justice of the peace. and was postmaster for twenty consecutive years when the salary of the office amounted to one dollar per year. After serving in that office for twenty years he received his twenty years' salary, amounting to $20 and a few cents. During the late war of the re- bellion he was appointed enrolling officer for Eliza and Millersburg townships. He has also served as school director for thirty-six con- secutive years. Mr. Noble received a common school education in Indiana, and moved with his parents to Eliza in 1836, since which he has been engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married in Union county, Indiana. January 26, 1836, to Miss Sarah Pratt, who died in 1881 and was buried in Eliza cemetery. Eight children have been born to them, six of whom are living. Miss Avarilla married Elisha L. Essley, to whom four children were born; Essley having died, Mrs. Essley married Michael Shannahan. Ira Noble married Miss Caroline Reed, who also died. The result of that marriage was ten children, two of whom died in infancy. Ira lives just a mile north of his father's place. David Noble married Eliza Hampton, of Rock Island county, and they had five children, one of whom died while young. Miss Barbara E. lives with her father on the home place. J. F. Noble also lives at home. Edward HI. was married to Miss C. A. Bean in 1881, and lives with his father and farms the place.
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