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 60
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
appointed superintendent of the Mercer county infirmary, which posi- tion he now holds. Mr. Willis was married in 1872 to Miss Mary J. Ashmhurst, of Aledo. He is a member of the masonic order and politically is a republican.
CHARLES W. DETWILER was born and raised in Mercer county. He went to school in Aledo, and began learning the trade of a tinsmith with H. Holmes in 1872, with whom he worked four years, since which time he has been in business with his father and brother. The firm of Detwiler Brothers was formed in 1881. Mr. Detwiler is a member of the Presbyterian church and a member of the citizens' cornet band of Aledo, and is a republican in politics.
LEWIS CASS DETWILER was born June 1, 1860, and is the youngest son of Eli and Martha Detwiler of Aledo. He was born in Mercer county and went to the public schools of Aledo, learned his trade of tinsmith with his brother Charles, and entered the firm of Detwiler Brothers as partner in 1881. The firm do a general hardware, stove and tinware trade.
SAMUEL BROWN, retired farmer, was born May 13, 1823, in Breck- inridge county, Kentucky. His parents, Alfred and Mary (Mordock) Brown, were born, raised and married in Kentucky. About 1830 they emigrated, making their homes in Knox county, Illinois, bringing their five children : James N., Samnel, Harmon, Taylor, and William. In Knox county were born : Alfred T., Mary, Sally A., and Abigail. The elder Brown died in 1866. Mr. Brown was for a time in the Black Hawk war, receiving land as a reward. Samuel was reared on the farm, and in the rude log cabin. He was educated with his fellows in the log hall of learning. He was married June 1, 1854, to Caroline Greenwood, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Legg) Greenwood. Her parents were early settlers of Suez township, Mer- cer county. Mr. Brown settled in Suez township, purchasing a farm there. After selling and buying, etc., he located in North Henderson, where he became owner of a half-section of good land. He sold and moved into Aledo in the spring of 1882. He is one of the many who have made farming a success, and has aided in reclaiming the soil from its wild state. His children are : Harmon G. (dead), Maxy (now Mrs. George G. Cheney), George E. (an Aledo liveryman), Grant, Mary E., Samuel T., and Katy G. Mr. Brown has property in Aledo.
LOAMMI BROWN, liveryman, is a son of Richard G. and Rebecca (Moore) Brown. Richard Brown was born in Ohio, and his wife in Virginia. He became an early settler of Iowa. Loammi, the eldest of four children, was born in Iowa Territory, February 22, 1840. IIe enlisted in the civil war August 11, 1862, in company G, 124th reg.
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Ill. Vol. Inf., Capt. Seudder and Col. Sloan. He took part in many skirmishes and in the engagements of Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River, Fort Jackson, et al. He served till July 17, 1865, when he was mustered out at Rock Island. He resumed farming in Mercer county. He has also dealt heavily in stock-raising and trading. In November, 1875, he purchased the John S. Moore livery stables, and has since lived in Aledo, where he has a good property. In politics he is decidedly democratic. Mr. Brown was married November 12, 1865, to Amanda J. Melton, daughter of R. G. and Susan Melton, of Mercer county. She is a native of Rock Island county, Illinois. They have had five children: Susie, Loammi, Jennie, Minnie, and Richard.
SUEZ TOWNSHIP.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The broad domain of Illinois did not afford a more inviting spot to the eye of the early pioneer than the territory embraced within the lines of what is now known as Suez township; consequently that part of Mercer county has kept pace with any part of the state in settle- ment, in thrift, and in religions and educational progress. Along the crystal streams that flow through the township an abundance of timber grew, and, underlying portions of the township, inexhaustible beds of coal are found. Back from the streams a beautiful expanse of fertile prairie greeted the eye of the observer; and, shortly after the close of the Black Hawk war, the snug log cabin began to take the place of the Indian wigwam; the white-topped wagon, the lowing of cattle, and the sound of the axe announced the fact that the day of civilization was dawning. Among the first to cast their lot in Suez township we find the following names: David Williams and George Blake came together from the State of Indiana in 1835, the former locating on the S. W. ¿ of Sec. 22, and the latter on the S. E. } of Sec. 21. In the same year James Stewart and family, Robert Pollock and family, and William Moore and family came from the State of Ohio. Mr. Moore located on the N. E. Į of Sec. 5, James Stewart on N. E. } of Sec. 21, Robert Pollock on the W. ₺ of Sec. 27.
In 1835 Harison Brown, formerly a resident of Kentucky, came and located on the S. E. ¿ of Sec. 1. William Martin came in the same year, and located on the N. W. ¿ of Sec. 5. In 1834 James Baine entered a claim on the N. W. ¿ of Sec. 29.
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
The first birth in the township was the daughter of George Blake, who was born in 1835. The first marriage occurred in the same year, the contracting parties being Robert Caldwell and Miss Mary Pollock. The first death was that of Mrs. Preston, daughter of Robert Pollock, which occurred in 1841.
In 1837 Asa Ransom, a native of New York, located on the S. W. ¿ of Sec. 3. In 1838 John Mauk located half a mile north of Suez postoffice. In 1837 the Pease family came and located on section 20. In 1840 John and William Lafferty came from Trumbull county, Ohio, the former locating on section 21 and the latter on section 22. In 1841 John Greenwood bought the claim owned by Henry B. Fleharty and located thereon. The Bridger family were also among the earliest settlers. William Moore was the first blacksmith in the township, and William Martin the first carpenter.
The only road laid out through the township, at the time of the earliest settlement, was one running from Macomb to Galena, which extended diagonally across it from the southeast to the northwest corner. The first bridge was constructed on North Henderson creek, where the Macomb and Galena road crossed it, in 1838 or 1839. The structure was built of oak logs, which were split and the flat sides turned downward, the hollows on the top being filled with earth.
The first school-house in the township was erected by Robert Pol- lock, James Stewart, Samuel Shaw, and Mr. Pease in 1837, on the S. W. Į of Sec, 21. This rude structure was built of logs, with a clap- board roof, doors of the same material, and puncheon floor. In this building the first religious services were held, the sermon being preached by a traveling minister of the Baptist persuasion. The first teacher to wield his hickory within the walls of this antiquated building was R. Caldwell.
The first church built was the Associate Reform, which stood on the N. W. ¿ of Sec. 31, and which was erected in 1841.
The first postoffice was established at the residence of Moses Decker, on the N. E. } of Sec. 3, in 1840. The next one was established on the S. W. } of Sec. 22, and was called North Henderson, Robert Pollock officiating as postmaster. Later the name was changed to Norwood. In 1839 a saw mill was built by Pelatiah Pease on the S. W. } of Sec. 21 on the banks of North Henderson creek, being propelled by the waters of that stream. In 1873 a steam grist mill was built by C. S. Hart at Norwood.
The first coal mined in the township was taken from section 21 by Mr. Ditto in 1837.
There are at present four stone quarries in the township, located on
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sections, 19, 21, 22, and 29. The rock produced from these quarries is of a good quality, and the supply inexhaustible.
An abundance of timber grows along the banks of North Hender- son creek, oak, hickory, walnut, linn, hard maple and ehm being the predominant kinds. An occasional honey locust and coffee tree may be seen. Wild crab apples, gooseberries, plums, grapes, strawberries and blackberries, abounded in early times.
The fences in early times were made exclusively of rails. The first hedge was grown by John Lafferty.
The settlers used farming implements that would bring a smile to the countenance of our modern farmers. Their plows had wooden mold-boards, and their harrows were all of wood. William Lafferty states that the first plow he used in the west was one with a wooden mold-board. He started in with the clumsy affair, where the weeds and prairie grass were higher than his head. He rooted along without regard to sectional lines, furrows, angles, or corners, and by night found he had rooted over about twelve acres. The land appeared as if a drove of long-nosed hogs had been turned loose on it. Mr. Lafferty states that he planted his corn in it, but for reasons best known to hin- self did not return to look at it until after harvest.
The early settlers along North Henderson creek did the principal part of their trading in Oquawka and Peoria. Grain was frequently hauled to Chicago, and sold at a very low price. Asa Ransom states that he once worked a week with a yoke of oxen to thresh out and haul to the house of his creditor a hundred bushels of oats, which went to liquidate a debt of five dollars. Dressed pork brought $1 to $1.50 per hundred. Mr. Ransom once gave 1,100 pounds of pork for a pair of pantaloons, after having hauled it to Rock Island.
This stringency in monetary affairs existed from 1840 to 1848. During that period it was almost impossible for the farmers to get money with which to pay for their claims when the land came into market. Money was sometimes borrowed at fifty per cent. for this purpose.
Wolf hunts in early times were of frequent occurrence. Large numbers of the settlers would turn out on these occasions. They were carried on in the following manner: a meeting was called, captains elected, and a day chosen for the hunt. Every settler for miles around would generally be on hand, and every musket, shot-gun, rifle, and pistol was brought into requisition. The lines would form at a uni- form distance from the appointed place, and at a given signal from their respective captains would advance, from all points of the con- pass, keeping time to the melodious music of the hound and the hunts-
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IIISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
man's bugle. The wolf, with his usual cunning, would usually make his escape, however, before the point was reached, and the hunt would prove fruitless so far as wolf-sealps were concerned.
On the night of August 10, 1851, a terrible wind and rain storm visited the southern part of the county, which, owing to its disastrous results, will long be remembered by those who witnessed it. For about four hours the rain fell in sheets ; every brook and rivulet was swelled into a mad, roaring torrent. The waters of North Henderson creek rose about fifteen feet above their normal height. Every bridge, from its source to the Mississippi, was carried away before the rushing flood. This was the most severe tempest in the recollection of the old- est settlers. It is said that barrels standing in dooryards, away from buildings, were actually filled with water.
The coldest winter in the recollection of the old residents was that of 1842-43. On November 12 Jack Frost "came down from the north" and held high carnival until the following April. During the month of March the sun shone brightly every day, but so firm was the grasp of the winter king on the shrouded earth that its rays were with- out effect.
ORGANIZATION.
Previous to April 4, 1854, this township was known by the name of Palmyra. It was ascertained however that the name of Palmyra had previously been conferred on another township and postoffice in the state, and consequently the name was abandoned and a new one substituted at the time of organization.
On the date above mentioned a meeting was held at the residence of Henry Bridger, at which the township was organized and officers elected. The names of the first officers chosen are as follows : su- pervisor, Thomas Likely ; town clerk, John B. Hoag ; assessor, William Lafferty ; collector, F. M. Postlewaite ; overseer of the poor, James E. Ray ; commissioners of highways, Harison Brown, John Lafferty, William McGreenwood ; justices of the peace, Robert Pol- lock, J. O. Edwards ; constables, David Molar, A. Trask.
SUEZ POSTOFFICE.
What is now known as Suez postoffice was established in 1842, Henry Bridger being the first postmaster. The office was then known as Pope Creek, and still more generally known as Bridger's Corners.
In 1851 Asa Ransom erected a hotel building at the Corners, where for many years he did a thriving business. Towns being few and far between, emigrants on their way westward would always aim for Bridger's Corners, for a stopping place.
Harison Brown
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Samuel Shove opened the first store. He was succeeded by Mr. Turner, who was followed by Mr. Nourse. Messrs. Shaw, Mauk and Sedwick also did business successively at the Corners. James Page is now running a grocery, and is the present postmaster.
The school-house at Suez, commonly known as the " White Lilly " school, was erected in 1851, a Miss Stuart, of Greene township, being the first teacher.
In August. 1881, a band was organized at Suez, consisting of a few of the music-loving gentlemen of that locality. The names of the performers are as follows : C. L. Ransom, E flat cornet ; John C. Bowers. B flat cornet ; Charles Furr. B flat cornet ; Ezra Ilartzell, first alto : II. Woltham, second alto; P. F. Mauk, tenor; J. Hughes. B Bass; James Page, E flat tuba.
THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The above-named congregation was the outgrowth of a union of the "Associate " and "Associate Reform " churches. In 1842, by order of the Associate Presbytery, of Iowa. the Rev. James G. Bruce preached in a small wooden house at the crossing of the roads one mile west of Norwood, which was then the residence of S. L. Brownlee, and organ- ized the Associate congregation, of North Henderson. The member- ship then numbered fifteen, whose names are as follows: James, Elizabeth, and Nancy Imbrie; Robert and Mary Caldwell: John Humphreys and wife ; S. L. and Sarah Brownlee ; William and Mary Jane Caldwell ; John W. and Sarah A. Caldwell, aud Samuel and Margaret Graham. James Imbrie and Robert Caldwell were chosen elders.
For some time services were held in the little dwelling, except in pleasant weather, when the people would assemble under the trees to listen to the divine teachings. Lumber wagons drawn by oxen were the only conveyances. The men in checkered shirts and the women in plain calicoes came from far and near to listen to the teachings of the scripture. These were the men and women who paved the way for civilization, and made smooth the paths for those who were to follow. Should one of those humble worshipers enter a church in one of our towns or cities to-day, cold indeed would be the reception with which he would meet. The domed and frescoed ceiling, the rich car- pets, the upholstered seats, the people in gandy attire, and the great pipe-organ would present a strange scene to him, and we fear lie would feel that he was not welcome there.
In the fall of 1844 a call was made in connection with the Liberty congregation for the services of Mr. R. W. French, and by him
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
accepted. October 26, in that same little dwelling in which the infant congregation was organized, he was ordained, the brothers James and William Bruce, being the officiating ministers. The young pastor en- tered upon his duties cheerfully, although the salary was very small. The house in which he was obliged to live afforded a very poor shelter for his wife and little ones against the summer rains and winter blast. In the following year JJames Graham gave a lot from his farm recently purchased, and a number of able-bodied men turned out and erected a plain but comfortable dwelling thereon, and the pastor was soon occu- pying more pleasant quarters.
An amusing anecdote is related of the reverend gentleman that is worth repeating. It was Saturday morning, as they supposed. when Mrs. French, having an errand to perform, went to a neighbor's house, and meanwhile her husband began some work on his lot. Im- agine her surprise on being told on her arrival at the neighbor's that it was Sunday, and people were by that time seen wending their way toward the church. She went home and informed her husband of the fact. He dropped his tools, donned his Sunday garments, and hastened to the church, where he found most of his congregatton wait- ing for services to begin.
In 1846 the first church building was erected. being two miles west and a mile sonth from Norwood. The place is still marked by the cemetery. At the end of four years Mr. French was at his own re- quest released from the charge of the congregation. After a brief period of vacaney the congregations of South creek and Bethel were united with that of North Henderson in one charge, and they united in a call for the pastoral services of the Rev. Nathaniel McDowel, which was accepted. His installation took place in the Smith creek church. In 1854 the pastoral relations were dissolved.
During the second period of vacancy, extending over almost two years and a half, a very decided current of emigration carried pros- perity to the rising congregation. Eighty-seven names were added to its membership. In the month of September. 1866, a call was extended to the Rev. J. A. Edie, which was by him accepted, and on the follow- ing March he took charge of the congregation. At his ordination and installation, Revs. A. A. Rogers and John Scott, D.D., officiated.
THE ASSOCIATE REFORMED BRANCH.
In the early days of North Henderson there appeared many warm adherents of the Associate Reformed church. On May 12, 1856, the Rev. M. M. Bigger, by direction of the Associate Reformed Presbytery, of Monmouth, preached in the Associate Reformed church at Spring
,
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. Grove, where he organized the Associate Reformed church of North Henderson. and twenty-one names were enrolled. On the same day the Spring Grove and North Henderson congregations each extended a call for the half-time services of the Rev. J. C. MeKnight, which was by him accepted, and in the following Inne he was installed in the united charge and entered upon his labors. This pastorate was brief, ending in the release of Mr. MeKnight from his charge in the month of March. 1858.
On June 14. 1858, a joint meeting of the Associate and Associate Reformed congregations of North Henderson was held in the Associate church, at which it was agreed that the two congregations would unite in one organization, which has since been known as the United Pres- byterian church.
After the union of the two branches it became necessary to erect a larger and more commodious church building. Accordingly during the summer of 1859 the neat. comfortable building, in which the congregation still worships, was erected. The building is situated one mile west of Norwood, is 45× 72 feet in size, and cost about $5,000.
During the dark hours of the rebellion, that began soon after. the congregation gave their undivided support to the union canse. Many of its members bade farewell to friends and relatives, to the happy associations that made the old homes dear, and went forth to defend the principles they loved. The gray-haired father and mother knelt under the roof of their cottage home and prayed for the success of the flag, while their sons marched forth to the wild music of war, and gave np their lives in its defense.
Mr. Edie, the pastor, spent some time in the army, administering to the spiritual wants of the soldiers in camp, and to the heroes as they laid mangled and blackened on the field of battle.
After the close of the war Mr. Edie continued his labors for several years, but finally desiring to change the field of his labors, he offered his resignation. Being strongly urged by his congregation to remain for a time. he decided to do so. In 1869 he again offered his resigna- tion, which was reluctantly accepted. During the period of eleven years. through which Mr. Edie's pastorate extended. 338 persons were added to the roll of membership.
In April, 1872. a call was made to the Rev. J. M. French, which was accepted. He entered immediately upon his labors and had charge of the congregation three and a half years, during which time seventy- six were added to the roll of membership. In June, 1876. the Rev. J. T. MeCrory took charge of the congregation and was officially installed in April. 1877. and was released in 1880.
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IHISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
In 1881 the Rev. W. A. Spalding began his labors and was installed . by the Rock Island Presbytery August 23 of the same year. In the past few years this congregation has greatly decreased in number, owing to the fact that many of the members have sought homes in the western states, but it is still one of the largest and most prosperous in the county.
The Sunday school in connection with the church is in a very pros- perons condition. the average attendance being about one hundred. The land on which the church stands was donated by David Molar. The parsonage stands one mile south of the church on land donated for the purpose by. Thomas Likely.
THE CEMETERY.
" What is death ? 'Tis to be free- No more to hope, to love, nor fear."
Contiguous to the grounds owned by the Presbyterian church is located the Norwood cemetery. The first person buried here was a child of Alexander McKenstry in 1854.
The association which has this cemetery in charge was organized under the state law in 1877, and received its charter in 1881. The present officers are : president. Thomas Likely ; secretary, George M. Evans : treasurer, John Hutchison ; trustees. John Lafferty. J. D. Por- ter. William P. Morgan. The neatly kept grounds indicate the feeling of reverence and love entertained by the surrounding community for their departed dead.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The initiatory movement of organizing this society was made by the members of the Monmouth Presbyterian church, who resided in the vicinity of North Henderson. A meeting was called and held in a school-house on Seetion 29, on March 17, 1853. R. C. Mathews was chosen chairman, and J. D. Porter secretary.
It was unanimously agreed to petition Schuyler Presbytery to organize a church at Norwood, and J. D. Porter was selected to pre- sent the said petition. For some reason not shown by the records the church was not organized at that time.
In the spring of 1854, F. Postlewaite, S. R. Boggs and Thomas Likely were appointed a building committee, and a church building, for which purpose funds had already been raised, was begun. The committte contracted with Russell & McFarland, of Oquawka, Illinois, to erect a frame building, 36×49, which was to cost about $2,100. The building was begun in the fall of 1854 and completed in the spring
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of 1855. In that year. a petition, signed by thirty-six members of the Presbyterian church, and eleven persons who were members of no denomination, was presented to the Presbytery of Schuyler, which met in Knoxville, in April of 1855, being in accordance with the sentiment of the members who held the first meeting. viz : that a church should be organized at North Henderson. The prayer of the petition was granted, and Rev. R. C. Mathews and the Rev. T. S. Vaile, with elders John Eiken, of Knoxville, and A. C. Gregg, of Monmouth, were appointed to organize the church. The committee met in the new building at North Henderson, July 7, and proceeded to organize the society. Forty names were enrolled, twenty-four of whom had for- merly been members of the Monmouth congregation. Messrs. J. R. Boggs, R. W. Porter, and S. R. Boggs, were chosen elders, and Thomas Likely, M. T. Postlewaite and T. S. Robb, were chosen trus- tees. No regular pastor was employed by the congregation until June, 1856, when J. H. Nevius began his labor, as stated supply, and was installed as pastor. November 11, of the same year. Mr. Nevius officiated as pastor until April, 1863, when he was succeeded by Rev. George Norcross, who acted as stated supply until June 6, 1865, when he was officially installed as pastor, in which capacity he served about a year.
The Rev. J. H. Moore was the next pastor called upon to take charge of the congregation. Mr. Moore began his labors on Jime 2, 1867, but was not installed until November 2 of the same year. This gentleman served as pastor until March, 1876, when he removed to a new field of labor.
The church was without a pastor until January, 1877, when Rev. E. B. Miner began his ministerial labors with them. Mr. Miner was installed in the summer of the same year. ITis relation as pastor was continued until 1881 when he relinquished his charge.
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