History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 27

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1424

USA > Illinois > Mercer County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 27
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 27

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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The glowing accounts of the then far west sent back by those who had settled here, induced others to follow them, and the next one coming in the spring of 1835 was John Drury and family. They settled on section 35, now known as the A. B. Childs place, on which he lived until the time of his death. Aaron Mannon then bought a piece of land on section 29, which is now owned by Harvey Mills. After Mannon bought the land he returned to Indiana for his family, leaving his son, who had come with him, in charge of the place. During his father's absence he built a house on section 30, which land he had entered soon after his first arrival with his father. His father returning in the following May, settled on section 30, land now owned by W. H. Mills. Abijah Wilson and Allen Wilson came in the summer of 1835; they took up land on section 33, which they after- ward sold. Robert Childers settled on section 16, where he built a cabin, lived a short time, sold out and moved to Iowa. John and William Fisher came in the fall and settled on section 18, the Joseph Bush place. John also bought land in section 23. William settled on the Ira Noble place, at the foot of the bluff. Jesse L. Adams settled on section 19, from which place he moved to section 22, where he now resides. Rezin Pratt came from Indiana to Mercer county in 1836. He first bought in section 30, and subsequently bought land adjoining. He then returned to Indiana the same season for his family. Pratt was the first postmaster in the township and had his office in the house in which he lived. He was also the first justice of the peace.

Daniel Noble and family, accompanied by his son, D. F. Noble, and wife, came soon after Pratt. They rented land the first season of Jessie Willits, and the same year Daniel Noble bought some land from Silas Drury, and at the same time entered on sections 30, 18 and 19. He built a house on the S. E. { of Sec. 30 the same year. D. F. Noble first entered land in sections 31 and 20, which he afterward sold ; he also bought eighty acres in section 29 at the same time, as did David Shannce, where he first settled. He afterward bought land in section 30, near the bluff, upon which there was a small honse, in which he lived until 1SS1, at which time he built a fine new frame, near the site of the old one. Thomas Morgan, of Montgomery county, Indiana, settled with his family on section 22. on which place he died in 1850. The place is now owned by Martin Bear, and occupied by his son Madrew. The first log cabin built upon the place is still standing in a good state of preservation. Morgan was buried in Eliza cemetery. Samuel Elliott bought the Mark Mullen place in 1836, in section 7. George Moore came in the spring and settled on the S. W. } of Sec. 30, which he sold in the spring to his brother John Moore, who came

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during the previous winter. Moore started early in the winter to make the journey by boat, accompanied by his wife and a small child. When boarding the boat at Cincinnati he fell through a hatchway and was severely injured. On arriving at Fort Madison they found that they could not proceed farther by boat, owing to the river being frozen over at that point. They left the river at that place and began the balance of the journey on foot, through a wilderness of prairie grass and howling wolves. The sufferings they endured on account of cold and hunger was intense, but after several days painful travel, tired and foot sore they finally arrived at the house of Joseph Glancey, where they stayed during the winter, and in the spring settled in Eliza on land bought of his brother George. John Moore seems to have been exceedingly unlucky, for in the spring of 1839, while in the timber splitting rails, a tree fell upon him crippling him for life. But notwithstanding all the sufferings he had previously endured, he went to work and built a saw-mill on Eliza creek, the first of the kind in the township. Martin and Jacob Bear came next. They started from Indiana about April 16, in company with John Thompson, and Abraham Piatt. Thompson and Piatt were from Ohio, and settled in Walnut Grove, in Knox county, Illinois. The Bears' outfit consisted of four yoke of oxen hitched to an old fashioned Virginia road wagon, heavily loaded, in consequence of which the journey was a slow and tedious one. Often the drivers had to unhitch their teams and carry their loads out of a slough on their backs, and often this interesting performance was repeated several times during each days' journey. Many times they would hitch all the oxen to one wagon to pull it through a slough, and when that failed then the inter- esting process of wading through the mud was resorted to. Mr. Jacob .

Bear's experience on the occasion as related by him must have been an exceedingly interesting one to him. Among the party there was a small child who was very fond of him, and when not in his company would continually cry for him, and as Mr. Bear's part of the programme was to drive the cattle, he was forced to strap the child to his back, in which manner they made the trip to Illinois together. The party arrived in Mercer county on the evening of May 10, 1836, having been twenty-four days on the road. Arriving at a point two miles below Pope creek, they went into camp for the night, on top of a high bluff. They turned their cattle out to graze, built a fire and began preparations for supper. A heavy storm that had been threatening for a few hours before suddenly broke with great violence upon the party, putting out their fires and carrying away their tents, leaving them to sit all night in a drenching rain. As soon as daylight came, they moved forward to

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Mrs. William Willits', where a breakfast was prepared for them. after which they continued their journey. reaching the place where they settled and still own. George and Isaac Dawson. learning of their arrival in the neighborhood, concluded to frighten them, and accord- ingly prepared their toilets in true Indian style. painted their faces with blood root. and. to give them a more hideons look. they bedaubed their hair with yellow clay, in which style they suddenly rushed upon the emigrant party. It is hardly necessary to add that the scheme had the desired effect upon the party. Martin Bear bought his land of Thomas Morgan, on section 22. upon which he lived until a few years since when he moved to Aledo. Jacob Bear still lives where he first settled, and has at different times since bought other lands adjoining. For the first few years after coming to the country, he lived with his brother Martin. He first broke ten acres the first season. and built a cabin near the site of which he has since built a large frame house. John Glancy settled in Eliza in 1837. He still lives where he first settled. on section 7. He bought the land of Samuel Elliott, and from time to time bought lands adjoining it, and now owns one of the largest farms in the county.

The Indians were plentiful here in the days of the first early settlers. They were peaceful, however. and disposed to trade honorably with the whites. They belonged mostly to Black Hawk's tribe. Black Hawk himself was a frequent visitor to Mr. Silas Drury's cabin. where he was accustomed to stop to enjoy a night's rest on his cabin floor. Among Black Hawk's tribe was one familiarily known to the old settlers as Slim Jim, who was noted for his cunning. and of whom many good stories are still told by the surviving settlers. Jim lived in the bottoms below the bluff, but was quite fond of lounging about the settlers' cabins. and especially at Mark Mullen's. One day Jim came up out of the bottom and reported to Mullen that he had found a bee tree in the timber below, which, after considerable bartering. he succeeded in buying Jim's right in the tree for one dollar in silver. Then Mullen and Jim started to hunt for the tree. which they found as Jim had stated. Mullen then set to work chopping the tree, which was a large one. Mr. D. F. Noble and John Pratt. being in the neighborhood. on hearing the noise went to where the parties were at work. and offered their assistance for a part of the honey. Thus reinforced the tree soon began to fall. and on its downward course fell against another near by, breaking off a large limb. from the opening of which there fell out upon the snow a comb of honey, about the size of Jim's fist, which he quickly picked up and ate. Upon further examination it was soon found that Jim had got all the honey the tree contained, besides a good

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joke on the parties present and a dollar in silver. Mullen concluded to keep cool about the matter and revenge himself in some other way. HIe used to keep liquor for sale at his cabin, an article that Jim had a peculiar liking for. One day, not long after the bee-tree transaction, Jim's thirst for fire water became so great as to force him to pawn a fine new blanket to him for a quart of the ardent, which, if he failed to redeem in a specified time, was to be the property of Mullen. When redemption day came around, Jim's cash account being short, he forfeited his right to the blanket. Jim took in the situation at once, but said nothing, and quietly walking away was not seen about the place for many days after, and while the settlers were feeling alarmed lest some evil had befallen him he one day suddenly made his appear- ance, with a large powder horn filled with lead ore, which he took into Mullen's cabin and began to mold bullets from. This excited Mullen's curiosity greatly to know where Jim had found the ore. Upon inquiry Jim pointed across the river, and by signs and gestures conveyed the impression that the place was quite a distance away. Mullen began at once to enter into negotiations with Jim to be conducted to the El Dorado. Mullen wished to start immediately for the place, but Jim, pointing to the ground, told Mullen that the place could not be reached in the winter season, but that they must wait until the grass grew in the spring, so the oxen could graze. This philosophical state- ment satisfied Mullen, and he took Jim and his squaw in the cabin with him, where they both enjoyed Mullen's hospitalities during the winter, but when spring came, and they were nearly ready to start for the promised land, Jim suddenly disappeared, and was not seen again for many years.

MILLS.

The first mill built in the township was by Rezin Pratt and John H. Mannon, about 1837. It was situated just above Daniel Noble's, and was built about 1844, or 1845. This was a grist mill, and disappeared years ago. No other mill has since taken its place, owing to an insuffi- cient body of water of late years to run one. A saw mill, built by Rezin Pratt and E. Esley, stood on the same stream, a little below Mr. Noble's, and was built somewhat later; no remains of it can be seen there now. The mill was a large one and was well patronized at the time. For a long time after this mill ceased running there was no other mill in the township, until about 1864, when a steam saw mill was erected by Jesse Bogart, which, for the want of patronage, did not do much business. A steam grist mill for grinding feed was started on section 16 by J. C. Achison. Before the establishment of the first

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mill in the township, the inhabitants, having then to go as far as North Henderson and Monmouth, one man would generally do the business for several of his neighbors ; he was usually detained from six to ten days, according to the stage of water and the number of persons ahead awaiting their turn. They usually started with a supply of rations and feed for an emergency. The teams quartered about these mills gave the place the appearance of a camp-meeting ground.

The only town of importance in the township was started by Edwin Bishop, who settled there in 1850. Being a blacksmith by trade, he there started a shop on the corners, and the place was then called Bishop's Corners until Mr. Bishop's appointment as postmaster ; the office having formerly been called Eliza, that name was substituted. The place is located near the center of section 16. On or about the year 1876 Dr. Thomas L. Edwards bought a house and moved to the place, where he followed his profession until a few years since, when he retired from practice on account of advanced age, and was succeeded by Dr. Reynolds, who is the only physician in the place. Harrison, son of Edward Bishop, built a large house in the place a few years ago, on the opposite corner from his father's, where he resides and follows the carpenter trade. The next, a building sixteen feet square, was built for a store by Isaiah Bishop in 1876, which was stocked and opened up for the first time on the morning of the annual town meet- ing of that year. His stock consisted of a barrel of kerosene and a few other light goods which he had carried on his back from Muscatine the day before. Not having a large stock, his business at first was slow and perplexing; some of his customers greatly annoyed him by calling for such goods as they knew he did not have on hand. After a careful survey of his stock, one of his customers remarked that his was the only store he ever saw which he felt able to buy out. Remem- bering the old adage, that from small acorns large trees grow, he continued in business, and by careful watching of the wants of his customers, has built up a large trade, and added an addition to his store-room, which is now well stocked with such merchandise as is usually needed by farmers. Before the establishment of this store, the trade of the township was divided between New Boston and Musca- tine, Iowa. The place also contains a jeweler shop and the business is carried on by Mr. Taylor.

Soon after the organization of, and at the September term of the board of supervisors of 1854, on order was made by that body author- izing the issuing of a bond of $100,000 to the capital stock of the Warsaw & Rockford Railroad Company, to be paid in county bonds to run twenty years with interest at six per cent, providing that the bonds

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should not be issued until a sufficient amount of available capital stock was subscribed to build the road ; and providing that the money from the sale of the bonds should be expended within the limits of the county. In 1855 Mr. Hiram Thornton, agent for said company, filed a petition asking a modification of the terms of the bonds, and asking that the bonds be made unconditional and payable on demand of the company or its agents. The question of rescinding the former action was submitted to the voters of the several townships in the spring of 1856. Eliza township cast eight votes for rescinding the former vote, and twenty-eight against.

SPECULATORS.

For a few years after the first settlement here the settlers were greatly annoyed by speculators and land grabbers, in consequence of which they were ever upon the lookout for intruders, who usually appeared in the guise of emigrants seeking homes, therefore all new comers were eyed with suspicion. Upon one occasion three strangers were noticed in the neighborhood whose actions aroused the suspicions of Mr. Silas Drury, then sheriff of the county, as to the real nature of their business. After carefully examining several of the best pieces of land in that vicinity, they came to Drury and requested him to show them such lands as had not already been taken, saying that they were seeking places upon which to settle. Supposing that they were land sharks, he took them up on top of the bluff in a thickly timbered place where left them, knowing that they would get lost. Then returning to his cabin he mounted a swift horse and notified his neighbors of the threatening danger. They all met that night at a cabin at the foot of the bluff to determine the best course to pursue in the mat- ter. Believing the parties to be speculators, they began to realize the importance of quick action, and accordingly concluded to gather all the money in the neighborhood and start Mr. Drury to the land office to buy in their lands for them. Drury left that night in company with a neighbor who was going a part of the way. They took a trail leading through Rock Island county, at which place it was their intention to have staid for the night, at a cabin owned by one Dunlap. On arriving they rode up to the cabin, and looking through a partly open door, saw the same parties whom Mr. Drury had left in the timber but a few hours before. Mr. Drury at once came to the conclusion that the parties were head- ing for the land office, and determined to get ahead of them if possible. Not wishing to proceed farther that night, the man accompanying Drury rode forward to the cabin and called Mr. Dunlap, who, being in sympathy with the settlers, was confidentially told their business. A

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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 H. 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 Roek 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 distriet 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 H. 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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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 Retli- 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, who 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 Glancy'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 bluffs 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 373 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.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 27

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co. Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1424