History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 52

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 52
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 52

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).

MERCER TOWNSHIP.

Mercer township includes all the congressional township known as 14 N., R. 3 west of the 4th P. M. The soil is generally black and rich, with some clay along the brakes and water courses. It is well watered, Edwards river traversing the north tier of sections, from east to west, and Pope creek crossing the southeast corner and follow- ing west near the south line, in Ohio Grove township. These, with their numerous runs, as feeders, furnish an ample supply of water for stock and irrigation. Along the creeks the land is broken, but there is very little so steep that it cannot be cultivated. On the "divide," as it is called, between Pope and Edwards, the land is level, and until brought under cultivation, much of it was of a swampy nature. Over this prairie in early times there was scarcely a track that rose to the dignity of a road, as travel was not frequent enough to keep down the luxuriant growth of grass, which often grew so high that a man on horseback could see but a short distance. Woe then to the luckless traveler who undertook to cross the prairie in a wet time with wagon and team. Suddenly his oxen would sink in the mud, knee deep, the wagon go down to the hub, and there was nothing to do but to unload, and then perhaps "double teams," if perchance there was some one to double with, or if not, go two or three miles to secure assistance. But cultivation and judicious draining have so changed the nature of the soil in this respect that it is difficult to convince our farmer boys of to-day that the most productive parts of their farms were at one time little better than impassable swamps.

Much of the township is underlaid with coal of a good quality, but there have, as yet, been but few banks opened, as it generally lies too deep to work with profit. Banks in the northeast part of the township

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

have been run for many years, but seldom at a great profit. Within a few years mines have been opened near Aledo and are still run on a small scale.

The water courses are lined with timber, oak, hickory, elm, maple, and linn predominating, while hazel covers the hill sides, and willows are plenty near the water. There are a few walnut trees, of good size and quality, and also some ash and hackberry, with perhaps a few other kinds. Wild plums, wild cherries, crab-apples and blackberries formerly grew in abundance, but with the exception of the two latter, they are now rare. Strawberries were also plenty on the uplands.

In the days of the first settlers deer were plenty on these prairies, as were also the prairie wolf, whose wild howlings are still among the most vivid, if not the most pleasing, recollections of the pioneers. Game of other kinds also abounded, and the early settlers dined sump- tuously on wild turkey, prairie chicken, venison, rabbit, duck or goose, according to the season.

Prairie fires were of yearly occurrence. The luxuriant growth of grass, scorched by the summer's heat, by early fall was as dry as tin- der, and a spark from a careless hunter's pipe, or sometimes the wad from his gun would start a conflagration which soon became at once grand and terrible. None who have once seen it can ever forget the majestic sweep of the wall of fire as it sped before the ever increasing wind, stretching out its arms farther and farther on either side, rivaling in speed the horse or deer, and gathering up and devouring all within its reach. Such was the prairie fire of early days, and fortunate was it for him who, caught in the track of the fast-coming flames, understood the pioneer's way of fighting fire with fire. Without this knowledge a severe scorching, if nothing worse, most surely awaited him.

The first entry of land made in the township was on August 21, 1837, when John and Abraham Miller entered the northeast quarter of section 4. In this and the two following years, the Miller family entered over 800 acres of land in sections 3, 4, and 16. They were the first settlers in the township ; but as a full history of the family, and their coming to, and making a home in, Sugar Grove is given in connection with the history of Perryton township, we will not repeat it here, merely noting that they built the first mill and the first school- house in this township. Most of the land in this township lies in what is known as the "military tract," and was patented in 1818. A por- tion of the lands entered by the Millers were school lands, and were patented to them by the governor of Illinois, who also issued a patent to Benjamin Clark, to the W. ¿ of the S. E. } of Sec. 16, on Sep- tember 4, 1837.

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MERCER TOWNSHIP.

Sugar Grove is situated on the north of Edwards river, including in its limits parts of sections 3, 4, 9, and 10. It received its name from the large number of sugar maple trees there growing, from which, until very recently, large quantities of maple sugar were manu- factured yearly ; but at present the quantity is very small. It obtained a wide celebrity in early times as the place for holding the yearly camp-meetings of the Methodist church for the district then known as the Rock River district, embracing, we believe, full half the state. Here gathered, each succeeding fall, the hardy pioneers, coming fifty, and even one hundred, miles to spend a week or more in their chosen mode of worship. Here they would listen to the soul-stirring appeals of Giddings, Cartwright, Haney, Morey, Doughty, and the many others whose memory is revered by hundreds still living. When the first

camp-meeting was held here we cannot definitely state ; certainly as early as 1845, and we think before that, and they were only discon- tinued in 1873, when the district, now less than one-fourth as large as then, purchased grounds of its own in Rock Island county. The grounds, however, are still occasionally used, the primitive Method- ists and the Seventh Day Baptists having each held one or more meetings there within the past few years ; but as a "permanent camp- ground," their glory has departed.

Early in 1837 Messrs. Benj. Clark, John J. Charles, Timothy Con- dit, and William Mackey conceived the idea that a town should be built near the centre of the county, and they accordingly employed Judge E. Gilmore, then county surveyor, to make the plat. The judge left New Boston, with his instruments and assistants, and on foot they wended their way for fifteen long miles eastward, the day being bright and warm. Unfortunately a storm came up in the night, the thermometer rapidly fell, and the next morning broke clear and cold, with the ground covered with snow. The chain-bearers refused to work, and the judge, facing a cold west wind, made his way back to New Boston, arriving worn out and chilled to the bone, the trip resulting in a serious illness. A second attempt was more success- ful, and on March 30, 1837, the lines were run and the stakes driven that marked the town of Mercer, situated on the N. E. } of Sec. 21, T. 14 N., R. 3 W. of the 4th P. M.

But the expectations of the proprietors were never realized. But one house was erected, and the only inhabitant of this, so far as known, was a large white owl, who held for years undisputed posses- sion of the lonely tenement. The house rotted down, and in 1851 we crossed the town site, the only remaining mark of the existence of the town being a portion of the roof of this lonely cabin, which had not

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

as yet quite rotted and blown away. The town site has long been under cultivation, and few of the residents of the township remember that it was ever laid out ; indeed, many of them will perhaps first learn this fact from a perusal of these pages.

Incidents of importance are of rare occurrence for a series of years, or if they occurred, are now unattainable.

In 1842 or 1843 Samuel McKee, John H. McBride, and William Carnahan, all young men of this vicinity, each took a load of wheat to Chicago, with ox teams, with three or four yoke of oxen to the wagon. They sold their wheat for forty-two cents per bushel, and brought back salt, and other necessaries. Samuel McKee gave one barrel of salt from his load for the use of a wagon for the trip. The party were gone three weeks, and they wasted no time, either in Chicago or on the road.

Among the early settlers of the township but few are now living, and still fewer are those who yet reside within its limits. Among them we may mention Mr. N. Edwards, who opened a farm on section 18, in 1849 ; Mr. L. F. Jobuschi, who settled here in 1851, and Mr. E. C. Bartlitt, who opened a farm the same year ; Henry Lee, William McKee, Isaac Artz, and R. H. Wirger, still residing here, came about, or prior to, the latter date. Joseph, William and Mary Ann McKee, all children of John McKee, are the only persons now living in the township who were here in 1841.

Township organization was adopted in this county in 1853, and the first election of township officers, of which a record is found in the town records, was held at the house of John McKee, April 4, 1854. John McKee served as chairman, Isaac Jones as moderator, and E. C. Bartlitt as clerk. At this election twenty-seven votes were cast, and the following is a list of officers elected : supervisor, David Braucht ; town clerk, E. C. Bartlitt; assessor, Jolin S. Moore; collector, John Ashbaugh ; overseer of poor, John Artz; commissioners of highways, L. F. Jobusch, Jacob Sprecher, R. H. Winger; justices of the peace, John McKee, John L. Candor; constables, William McKee, Israel Artz; overseers of highways, Edward Clifford, George Smith.

At the general election in the fall of the same year but sixteen votes were cast. At this time a vote was taken "for or against the county of Mercer taking one hundred thousand dollars stock in the Warsaw & Rockford Railroad," resulting nine for and five against. James E. Willett, John McKee, and Henry Lee were judges at this election, and E. C. Bartlitt and R. H. Winger clerks.

In November, 1855, a vote was taken for or against levying a tax

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MERCER TOWNSHIP.

to build a poor-house for the county, when sixteen of the seventeen votes polled were against the levy.

In 1855 the Great Western Air Line railway was laid out, and the line divided Mercer county almost in the center from east to west, and a town laid out in the following spring on the S. E. } of Sec. 17, and named Aledo, a history of which will be found elsewhere.

August 3, 1857, an election was held "for or against the removal of the county seat from Keithsburg to Aledo," at which 231 votes were polled, each and all of which were very naturally "for " removal.

May 5, 1859, a special town meeting was held to vote for or against the township subscribing for stock of the American Central Railway Company (the Air Line under a new name), resulting for subscription, 132 ; against, 50 votes. Although this vote appears decidedly in favor of the subscription, we can find no record of the issue of any bonds to the company at this time; but on May 29, 1868, Elisha Miles, Matthew Maffitt, C. S. Richey, Hiram Parkman, James M. Macy, and J. F. Woods filed a petition with the town clerk, asking that "an election be called for the purpose of voting for or against the subscription by said township to the capital stock of the American Central railway to the amount of $13,400," etc., and on the 9th of June said election was held, resulting 142 votes for subscription, four votes against it, and eleven votes "no tax."

In pursuance of the authority granted by this vote, bonds were issued for the above amount, March 23, 1869, in sums of $100 each, payable ten years after date, and bearing ten per cent interest, payable annually ; the bonds "to be delivered to the company when the iron was laid from Galva to Aledo, provided said iron was laid on or before July 1, 1869."

Some of these bonds were paid off by the township before they became due, and at the April meeting in 1879 the supervisor and town clerk were instructed to issue new bonds to the amount of those yet outstanding, at as low a rate of interest as possible, not to exceed the legal rate of eight per cent, and with the proceeds pay off the old bonds. The expense, however, of issuing the new bonds was avoided by an agreement with the holders to extend the time of payment at eight per cent. There are yet outstanding $4,800, due as follows: $2,000, May 12, 1883 ; $1,000, March 23, 1884; and $1,800, May 23, 1884. Ample provision has been made for paying them when due, and they would be paid off at once if the holders would give them up, which they decline to do.

There are now in the township nine school districts, with fair build- ings, in which school is held from six to nine months each year, and

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

the education is progressive and keeping full pace with the demands of the times. Care is exercised in the selection of school officers, and they in turn look well into the merits and qualifications of the teachers they employ. As a rule the wages paid are above the average in the state, although seldom equal to what the same talent would command in other professions.

There is little or no vacant land in the township. What can not be tilled with profit is utilized as stock pasture, or for the growth of young timber, the latter an industry that does not receive the attention its im- portance demands. Our farmers are for the most part in comfortable circumstances, and what little land is leased out commands from two- fifths to one-half the crop, or a rental of $4 to $5 per acre per annum, in advance. Corn and stock-raising are the leading agricultural inter- ests, although grain of all kinds is raised and commands good prices in our market. While comparatively little fruit is raised for market, each farm has an orchard of well selected trees, from which the family is expected to be supplied, with perhaps a small surplus to sell. Apples and cherries generally do well, but peaches and pears seldom bear a fair crop, or come to maturity. Most of the orchards are supplied with home-grown trees from the extensive nursery of Mr. Tyler Mc Whorter, one-half mile south of Aledo. Grapes and berries are grown largely, and in a fair season our markets are overstocked.

· Our population is at present about 2,550; our people are industri- ous, energetic, wealthy and well educated. Our farmers have good, and many of them very fine residences, with large and well filled barns and granaries ; implements and machinery of the best and most labor- saving kinds ; horses, cattle and hogs of the finest breeds. Roads and bridges are generally kept in good repair, but such a thing as a good road at all seasons is impracticable with our soil and will never be attained here without large expense for gravel, or some substitute of the same nature.

The present town officers, elected April 4, 1882, are as follows : supervisor, H. R. Morrison (who was elected in 1878 and has held the position ever since, and who is now chairman of the county board) ; town clerk, L. B. Doughty, elected first in 1879; assessor, J. A. Mar- quis, second year ; collector, F. T. Owen, second year; commissioners of highways, R. C. Morrison, W. K. Fulton, John C. Dool; justices of the peace, M. L. Marsh, elected first in 1862, and has held continually ever since, and M. S. Boice, elected in 1882, to fill vacancy ; consta- bles, Joseph McDougal, elected in 1870, and held ever since, and Geo. A. Smith, elected in 1881; school trustees, W. C. Galloway, Henry" Lee and W. J. Brown ; school treasurer, Joseph McCoy.

Cornelis Dohenck

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MERCER TOWNSHIP.

The equalized valuation of real estate, personal, and railroad prop- erty in Mercer township in 1881, as shown on assessor's book, was $979,837. These figures, however, represent less than one-third of the actual wealth of the township, which, at a fair cash rating, must consid- erably exceed $3,000,000.

The census report of 1880 showed a population of 2,454; a gain of 507 over the report of 1870. The same average increase, which we think has been fully maintained during the past two years, would make our population now about 2,550, as given above.

In noting the products of the township, we made no mention of the hay crop, which is one of present and constantly growing importance ; nor of sorghum, which is grown and manufactured in quantities to meet the home demand. Vegetables of all kinds are raised in abund- ance and sold in large quantities to dealers and shippers. Potatoes are generally a good crop, 1881 being an exceptionally poor year for them, and one of the very few in which our growers have failed to raise enough to supply the home demand.

ALEDO.

The survey and location of the Great Western Air Line railroad through the county, opened a wide field for speculation in the estab- lishment of new towns ; and the result of one of these was the location and platting of a town on section 17, in Mercer township, in the fall of 1855, which was christened De Soto by its founders, Messrs. Willits and Thompson. Finding that there was already a village bearing that name in this state, a new one was deemed necessary, and from a num- ber suggested, the choice fell upon Aledo. On March 20, 1856, a public sale of lots was held on the site of the proposed town. This sale was attended by what was then considered a large crowd, and the bidding was spirited and at times exciting, when what was considered a choice location was offered. 112 lots were sold at a fraction over $103 each, aggregating $11,580. The first two lots offered brought $240 each ; the highest price paid for any lot was $255, while two went as low as $35 each. Among the purchasers were Judge E. Gilmore and M. L. Marsh, Esq., who still reside in Aledo. The proprietors had decided to donate the proceeds of the sale of the first fifty lots to the establishment of a college or seminary, and the amount realized for that purpose was. $5,780. The first building erected was put up by the proprietors of the town, on the north side of Seventh street, near Maple, during the early summer of 1856; and as soon as it could be occupied, a hotel was opened, with J. E. Harroun as landlord. The carpenters, while building it, boarded with a farmer living near the

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

town site. The building is still standing, and is used as a business house below and residence above. The business rooms are occupied by M. S. Boice, with a china store, and W. J. Stuart with a barber shop, while a recent addition is used as a cigar manufactory by C. L. Brankamp. The building is now owned by Capt. L. B. Morey.

The first business house erected was on College avenue, south of the railroad, and was occupied by John S. Moore and O. C. Allen, under name of Moore & Allen, with a general stock of dry goods, gro- ceries, hardware, ete. Dr. S. Macy started the first drug store, and was the first dentist in the new village. Thomas Maddox opened the first hardware store and tin shop. He is still a resident, although long sinee retired from business. J. E. Harroun was the first postmaster, and it is said he carried the mail in his hat, and delivered it whenever or wherever he should happen to meet the fortunate recipient of a letter or newspaper. Judge John S. Thompson built what was then consid- ered a very fine residence, and moved into it in the fall of 1857; and right here we' will say something of the proprietors of the town. Judge T. was one of the early lawyers of the county, and had attained a fair prominence in his profession in the district. He was subse- quently elected circuit judge and filled the position acceptably. During what was termed the "Johnson campaign," he was a candidate for congress on the Johnson, or fusion, ticket, but was defeated. He was, moreover, a man of energy and push, and whatever he understood he generally pushed to completion. Failing in his political aspirations, he turned his attention to securing the completion of the railroad so long promised, but as yet without prospect of completion. Largely through his efforts the company was reorganized under the name of the American Central ; new subscriptions were secured from townships, villages, and private individuals. He was indefatigable in his efforts, and would doubtless have pushed the road through to completion under the organization of which he was president, had he not secured an advantageous arrangement with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, whereby the latter was to complete the road from Galva to Keithsburg for the consideration of a lease thereof for ninety- nine years. Under this arrangement the road was completed in 1869, and has since been operated under the charter of the American Cen- tral, but is known as the Galva and Keithsburg branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. This lease, however, was distasteful to the people, who, while paying their subscriptions to the railroad, did not relish the idea that the funds went into the pockets of the judge and his associates, and many were the anathemas showered upon his head. This, we believe, was all wrong; the judge had secured the

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MERCER TOWNSHIP.

completion of the road, which has proven worth more to one and all than was ever hoped for, and it matters little whether it was built and operated by the Amercan Central or the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. It may have been to a certain extent a "sell out" on the subscrib- ers, but it was much better to be "sold out" with the road than without it. The advantages conferred and secured by the road cer- tainly far outweigh the disadvantages under which we might still be laboring but for the energy and tact of Judge John S. Thompson.

Shortly after the completion of the road, Judge T. removed to San Jose, California, where he followed his profession of the law, and entered into politics to some extent ; but having had some experience in railroad building, he has again entered [into that pursuit, and is at present president of a new company known as the Rock Island & Southwestern, which proposes to build a road from Rock Island to New Boston, where it will cross the river and connect with ex-senator Harlan's road to Kansas City. Surveys have been made, and efforts are now in progress for securing the right of way and the establish- ment of the line. The surveys run through Duncan, Eliza, and New Boston townships, and if built will open up a rich section now having poor facilities for reaching market. The headquarters of the company are in Chicago, where the judge at present resides.

Levi Willits, his partner, was one of the early settlers of New Boston, and he and William Drury were among the first business men of that .place, where for many years they conducted a general store, and by judicious investments in real estate, both laid the foundaton for wealth. Mr. Willits was a thorough and far-seeing business man, and so open-handed and liberal in his dealing that he won the regard of all with whom he came in contact, and at his death in 1858, he was truly mourned by all who knew him.

In 1857 the Barton house, on the corner of College avenue and Seventh street, was erected and opened by D. N. Barton. It was a large four-story brick building, one of the largest at that time in the military tract, and has ever since ranked as a leading hotel of the place. It changed hands a number of times, until the ownership fell to Mr. Schuyler Button; but a short time after he took possession it caught fire and was destroyed, the walls being so badly damaged that they were taken down. The fire occurred on November 16, 1867, and the loss was $10,000, the heaviest ever experienced before or since within the village. The building was at once rebuilt, and is at present occupied by John S. Button, a son of the gentleman last mentioned.

We cannot name all of the first business men, but will try and note those who are still residing here, who came in 1856 or 1857.

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

James M. Wilson, lawyer, established a furniture store in 1857 ; was subsequently elected circuit clerk ; read law, and has for years been a member of the firm of Pepper & Wilson. I. N. Bassett, of the law firm of Bassett & Wharton, has practiced here continuonsly since 1857. C. F. Cunningham has been in business here since the spring of the same year, first as a painter, and. afterward starting and still running a carriage shop. His brother, Frank C., learned the painting trade with him, and is still following it. M. L. Marsh opened an office as notary public in 1857 ; was afterward elected justice of the peace, in which office he is now serving his fifth consecutive term. Ilorace Bigelow, one of the founders of the " Record," in June of 1857, is still one of its publishers, having now been connected with it for a quarter of a century. N. Edwards came here in 1857 or 1858, and has been in business of some kind ever since. George McEowen started a wagon-shop in 1857, and still does a little repairing at the old stand. John Rainey has resided in the same house twenty-five years. Joseph McCoy, T. H. Day, J. H. Abercrombie, H. R. Morri- son, C. S. Richey, and J. M. Warwick were among the first residents, and are still here. D. V. Reed, now deceased, was another, and his wife lives adjoining town. Capt. J. Y. Merritt, now of Eliza town- ship, came to the town site with the first load of lumber.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 52

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