USA > Illinois > Piatt County > History of Piatt County; together with a brief history of Illinois from the discovery of the upper Mississippi to the present time > Part 43
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MR. ELIJAH TRYON (deceased) was a native of Indiana. He moved from that state to Piatt county over twenty years ago, and lived in Unity township until his death, in 1874. He held the office of super- visor of Unity township. At the time of his death he owned some over three hundred acres of land. He bought the raw prairie and made all improvements for the home place. He first married Agnes Smith, who died leaving two children, one of whom, Margaret, is living. She married Samuel Welch, and they, with three children, Laura E., Guy C. and Chas. A., live in Unity township. Mr. Tryon next married Rebecca Sampson, who died leaving two children by her first husband, and one, Clarinda, by her last. Clarinda is married and has one child, Lura Hester. They live in Unity township. Mr. Tryon was married again in 1869, to Nancy Shaw. It is a noticeable fact tkat the name of each one of his wives began with the same letter. Mr. and Mrs. (Shaw) Tryon had two children, Dora and Lola May.
MR. L. M. TEMPLE, the third and present postmaster of Hammond, is a native of Ohio. He moved direct from that state to Illinois, and about 1873 came to Piatt county. He began business in Hammond about four years ago. He keeps a general merchandise store. He was married in 1866. to Mary C. Green. They have five children, Nancy E., Eva May, Fannie Dell, Nora Alice and Elbert Earnest. Mr. Temple is a member of the masonic lodge of Bement, No. 365. He went to the army in 1862, in Co. C of the 68th Ill., and again in 1863, in Co. C of the 8th Ill. Inf. The principal battles he engaged in were those of Jackson, Miss., Spanish Fort, Ala., and Fort Blakely, Ala. His first march was that of Sherman's raid from Vicksburg to Meridian, Mississippi, during which time he went thirty-one days without change of clothes. He was discharged May 4, 1866, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Mr. Temple passed through the army without loss of limb, but he was destined to suffer suclı loss at a later date. On
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August 2, 1876, he had his right arm crushed in the horse-power of a threshing machine, near Voorhies Station. Dr. T. A. Collett, of Lov- ington, Illinois, a graduate of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, assisted by Drs. Parker and Vance, of Bement, amputated the arm at the shoulder joint at 8 A.M. August 3, 1876.
MR. J. N. TERRILL, farmer, was born in 1818, in Indiana. His parents were from Virginia, from which state they moved to Ohio and from there to Indiana. Mr. Terrill moved to Piatt county in 1856. He first lived on Mr. Joe. Moore's place, and then on that of Mr. Adam Shonkwiler, from which he inoved to Mackville, and then moved to the farm on which he now lives. He was married in Indiana, to Saralı A. Sampson, who was born in Kentucky in 1824. They have had seven children, five of whom are living. Mary married James Hunt, and lives in Tennessee ; they have four children. James died in the army. Rebecca R. married Jno. Matthews, who died in 1881 ; they have four children living. John is living at home. Alice married Albert Grove, a farmer, who lives at Mackville ; they have one child. Charles is at home. Mr. Terrill went to the army in 1862, in Co. H of the 107th reg. He never was in a battle or a skirmish. Mr. Terrill remembers, when he first came to the county, of Joe. Moore and Royal Mitchell's going to Bourbon to mill in a boat. It was the only possi- ble chance to get there, and they were three days making the trip.
MR. HAMILTON TAYLOR, farmer, was born and partly reared in Page county, Virginia. His father died when he was but two years old. He moved from Virginia to Ohio and then to Montgomery county, Indiana. He next moved to Douglas county, Illinois, and in 1869 came to Piatt county. He owns forty acres of land. He was married in Montgomery county, Indiana, to Elizabeth Masterson, a native of Indiana, and has three children, all living. Mary Ann, the wife of James Taylor, has one child, Oscar. John William married Caroline Harshbarger and lives in Douglas county. Alice, the wife of Richard Brown, a native of New York, lives in Bement township.
MR. H. C. TALLEY, a carpenter of Hammond, is a native of Northi Carolina and moved from there to Douglas county, Illinois. He spent two years in Champaign City as carpenter on the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western railroad, and in 1874 moved to Piatt county. He opened a carpenter shop soon after settling in the county. His wife, née M. M. Cowen, is a native of Indiana.
MR. H. F. TURNER, farmer, Voorhies, is a native of Missouri, from which state he moved to Coles county, Illinois, from there to Douglas
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county, and in 1864 le settled in Piatt county. He now owns eighty acres of land in Unity township. He was married in 1864, in Illinois, to Matilda Jones and has seven children, Nellie, Mary, Lizzie, Maggie, Zelica, Lear and Katie.
MR. BENJAMIN QUICK (deceased) was a native of New York. His father moved from that state to Ohio, and from there to Indiana. A portion of the family, Benjamin, Smith, Huldalı (Harshbarger), Theda (Harshbarger), with Ambrose and John, twins, and half brotliers to the others, came to this county. Benjamin came in 1841 and settled on the place Mrs. Quick now lives on. He was married in 1836, to Elizabeth Utterback, a native of Harden county, Kentucky. Her parents were natives of Virginia and moved from Kentucky to Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Quick had a large family of children. John Quick, a soldier in tlie late war, married Mary Bryson and lives in Unity township. Isaac was in the rebellion also. Huldah was the wife of Isaac Baker and died in 1875. Elizabeth married Mr. Masterson. Naomi married Peter Mosbarger and died leaving three children. William H., a farmer in Unity township, married Rebecca Ater and has three children, Charles Ida and Albert. James married Anna Bryson. Miles married Margaret Landis and had one daughter, Grace E. Daniel is still living at home. Vincent married Permelia Livengood. Benjamin F. married Vashti Riley and lives with his mother. Mr. Benjamin Quick died December 26, 1875, aged sixty-five. He was a member of the Christian church and was a good husband and father. He left each of his children a farm of forty-five acres. His heirs were all satisfied with the disposition of property.
MR. L. J. VANHOOK, a druggist and grocer of Hammond, is a native of Kentucky. He moved from there to Coles county, Illinois, in 1864 and in 1875 opened a drug store in Piatt county. In Kentucky he united his life with that of Mary J. Burk, of the same state. They have had seven children. John is married and lives in Missouri. Clarissa married Dr. Noe, of Hammond. Marion P. is in business in the post-office. The remaining members of the family are Balus, Mary, Jane, and an infant.
MR. ELIJAH WILDMAN, farmer, near Atwood, was born in Ohio in 1828. His father, of Pennsylvania, and mother, of New York, moved to Ohio, thence to Indiana, and then to Douglas county, Illinois. He came to this county first when thirteen years old, but did not make it. his home until lie was twenty-three years old. He first bought land west of Mackville and then moved on to his present home place. He
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was married in 1854, to Melvina J. Cain, a native of Indiana. They had fourteen children, twelve of whom are living. Sarah E. married James Skidmore, a farmer. They have two children, Tilman and Lillie. The remaining names of the living children are Will D., Albert A., Benjamin F., Clarissa E., Mary E., Charles E., named for Judge Emerson, Elijah Q., named for great-grandfather in the revolu- tionary war, and Jurmana and Jurda, twins. Mr. Wildman is a member of the Christian church.
MR. JAMES WHARTON, farmer, is of English and German lineage, and was born in Pennsylvania. Mr. Wharton came from Pennsyl- vania to Burean county, Illinois, in 1854, and in 1860 moved to Bement, Piatt county, and began clerking in Mr. McDowell's hotel there. In 1864 he married Mrs. McDowell, and took charge of the hotel. In 1870 he moved out of the hotel into another house in Bement, and the next move was to the farm of 120 acres he now lives on. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton have two sons, Frank A. and George Le Sure.
MR. JAMES WILSON is a native of Ohio, moved from there to Indiana, then to Piatt county about 1860, and located in Unity town- ship, where he remained with the exception of one year. He was married in Indiana, to Nancy Owen, a native of that state, and five of their seven children are living. Columbus married Margaret Noland, lives in Atwood, owns three lots and a residence, and is a painter. Martha is the wife of Mr. Ritchey (see his sketch). Mary married W. F. Stovall, lives in Douglas county, and has two children. Thomas A. is in partnership with Mr. Ritchey, and is a member of the Royal Templars of Temperance and Masonic lodge. Miss I. D. Wilson is at. home.
MR. JOHN R. WORTHAM, a merchant of Hammond, moved from Kentucky, his native state, to Illinois in 1868, and in 1873 settled in Hammond, Piatt county. In September of the same year he began merchandising in a new building which he had erected. He was married February 14, 1861, in Coles county, to Susan J. Abell. She died, leaving four boys, William L., Jessie L., Horace L. and Evan L., all of whom are at home. He next married Sarah E. Butz, née Kizer, who has had three children, Edna L., Roy L. and Emma Lena.
MR. EPHRAIM WITHERS (deceased), farmer, was a native of North Carolina. He moved from there to Arkansas, and from that state to Springfield, Illinois, and in 1866 moved to Unity township. He was
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
married in North Carolina, to Sarah Berry, who survives her husband. He died in 1881. They had seven children, four of whom are living. Seborn S. was in the late war. He married Emily Torrance, has three children, Allie, Lillie and Hattie, and lives on a farm in Unity town- ship. Newton was also a soldier. His wife, née Sarah Adams, is dead. David married Nancy Shonkwiler, has two children, Alma A. and Sarah J., is a farmer, and owns 120 acres of land. Catharine married William Welch, a farmer, has five children, and lives in Kansas.
MR. REUBEN WILLEY, a grocer and grain merchant of Pierson, is a native of Hamilton county, Ohio. He moved from there to Christian county, Illinois, in 1853. He was a merchant in Arcola, Douglas county, for a time, and then moved, in 1877, to Pierson. He opened the first store and grain office in the place, and for two years was the only person in business there. He was virtually the first postmaster in the place, there being one for only a few weeks previously. He lias been notary public and has been township clerk for two years. He was married in 1879, to Mary N. Hunt, of Danville, Pennsylvania. They have one child, Frank R. Mr. Willey owns 120 acres of land in the vicinity of Pierson. His dwelling house was begun in 1875, and was the first house near the switch.
MR. CHARLES WEAVER is a native of Pennsylvania, and moved from there to Piatt county, Illinois, in 1877. . He first lived on Dr. Noecker's place, and in 1881 moved to Pierson. He is the first person to live in the laid-out town of Pierson. He was married in 1871, to Lizzie Hunt, and has four children, Carrie, Jennie, Ella and Grace.
MR. JOSEPH W. ZORGER, farmer, Voorhies station, was born in this county, Monticello township, in 1848, and has lived here all his life except a few years. He owns a farm of eighty acres in Unity township, upon which he has put all improvements, built a dwelling house, planted about two hundred trees, and has it well fenced and in a good condition. He was married in 1873, to Cordelia A. Fisher, a native of Green county, Illinois. Mr. Zorger is a member of Bement I.O.O.F. His father, Henry Zorger, deceased, was a native of Penn- sylvania, moved from there to Macon county, tlience to Piatt county, and settled at an early time at what is now Mr. McIntosh's mill. He owned the mill and lived there for a number of years, and in 1854 moved to Monticello, where he died in 1855. Mr. Zorger was mar- ried in Pennsylvania, to Elizabeth Spangler, whose father built
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Spangler's mill in Macon county. She died, leaving eight children: Sarah, who is the wife of Charles Haggerty, lives in Fulton county, and has three children ; Jacob married Margaret Miller, lives in De Witt county, and has a family of children ; Emanuel married, and died, leaving one child ; Kate, who married Mr. Benjamin, is now in Macon county, and was formerly a teacher in this county ; George was in Colorado when last heard from ; Mary married Richard Ratcliffe, lives in Woodford county, and has three children ; Susan is a school teacher, and lives with her sister Sarah; Joseph W .; Isaiah is married, lives in Champaign county, and has two children. Mr. Henry Zorger married his second wife, Mrs. Nevill, who died a year after he did, leaving two children by her first husband.
CHAPTER XVII.
CERRO GORDO TOWNSHIP.
T THIS township is seven miles wide and eight and one-half miles in length, thus containing fifty-nine and one-half sections of land. Almost the entire township is prairie land, a few groves in the southern part being about all the natural timber the township contains. With the exception of the extreme southwestern and northwestern corners of the township the land seems perfectly flat, it being just slightly rolling, however, in the parts mentioned. The main drainage of the land is toward the south. A small branch of the Okaw rises in the southwestern part of the township and flows southeast. Cerro Gordo township is composed of good rich farming land. It already contains some of the most productive farms of the county ; and now that a great deal of artificial draining is being done, it will soon con- tain a goodly number of the best farms that the county affords.
In regard to the name of the township, we have had two versions given as to its origin. One is that Col. Williams, who bought a large tract of land in the eastern part of the township and lived there a. number of years, was noted for his deeds in the Mexican war, and that he was thus given the sobriquet of Cerro Gordo Williams. As he was the largest land-liolder in that vicinity, it was not strange that it
29
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
was supposed that when the townships were organized the name of Cerro Gordo was given on his account.
At the time of the Mexican war a postoffice in Mr. Geo. Peck's house, which was on the old stage route from Urbana to Decatur, was named Cerro Gordo, in memory of the battle of that name. After the railroad, now known as the Wabash, was built, the postoffice was moved to the same, and ultimately the town was called Cerro Gordo. When the townships were organized it is quite likely that the name of the principal town was given to the township. We think that this latter version in regard to the name is the most plausible.
Cerro Gordo township has two railroads and four stations. The Wabash railroad enters the township at the northeastern corner, extends southwest, leaving the township about two miles south of the northwest corner. Milmine and Cerro Gordo are situated on this road, while Lintner and La Place are on the road formerly known as the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield, and which passes from east to west about one-half a mile from the southern boundary line.
Early settlement .- The Cunninghams settled at seven mile or Cunningham grove at quite an early day, at least previous to the sudden freeze in 1836, and they had some neighbors whose names we could not learn. This grove alluded to is near La Place. Messrs. Joseph, Isaac and Daniel Howell, and John Sea, were the first people who settled in the vicinity of Cerro Cordo. With the exception of these people, there were not many who came to the township before the railroad was built. Soon after the building of this road, settlements began to be made at Cerro Gordo. One of the first deaths in the township was that of Wm. Lee, who lived near Mr. Jos. Howell's.
Cerro Gordo .- This town was originally named Griswold, but when the post-office was moved to the station from Mr. Peck's house in Willow Branch township, it retained the name of Cerro Gordo, and soon the name of the town was changed. The town was not incorpo- rated for a number of years after the station was made.
Mr. McMurray was reported to us as being the first station agent of the place. The section house for railroad hands was the first building in the town. Andrew Mckinney was the first postmaster, and put up the first dwelling house, and Andrew Mckinney and A. L. Rodgers in 1856 had the first general merchandise store of the place. Win. Cole and Mr. Sawyer were also among the first to put up dwelling houses. The first death in the town we could learn of was that of Eugene, a little son of Mr. Denman, who died in 1856 from the effects of a rattle-
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snake bite. The first birth was reported as that of Mr. Dunbar's child. Among the first marriages, if not the very first, was that of Isaac Mckinney and Miss Campbell. John Prosser was the first physician and John Fields the first blacksmith we have any note of. Jno. Garver and Mr. Green were the first teachers in the new school building, which was built about 1866. The first church was built in 1857, and was dedicated by Mr. Campbell. The mill now used by Mr. Pitts was put up about 1859.
Cerro Gordo in 1858 contained only about two business houses and probably only a dozen residences. For quite awhile after the war Cerro Gordo was at a standstill, but within the last few years it has taken a new start and is now improving quite fast. There are about twenty-five business firms in the place now, and it is anticipated that the town will make steady improvement from this on. It now has about 700 inhabitants. It is well supplied with trees and contains a neat little park. Nowhere in the county were we met more cordially than by the people of Cerro Gordo. This town was the first in the county to vote against liquor license, and the residents see no cause to regret the fact that it has been a temperance town for some fifteen to eighteen years.
Presbyterian church .- This Presbyterian church was really organ- ized across the river, in Willow Branch township, and in a school building, by Father Kingsbury, of Danville, and the church was known as the Liberty Prairie church. Meetings continued to be held there until Wesley chapel, in Macon county, was built, when the society met in that. About this time most of the members moved into Cerro Gordo and in a little while after the church in that town was started. For a time the meetings were held in the school-house, but ere long land was bought and the present building was erected about 1860. Origi- nally the congregation was of good size, but now there are probably not over twenty-five members. There is no regular minister, but Mr. Ringland, from Bement, preaches occasionally. Mr. J. C. Campbell was the first located minister of the church, and he was followed by Mr. McMurray. The Presbyterian church building was used by various denominations. Mr. John McKinney was largely instrumental in the building of the church.
Methodist church .- This church building was erected about 1866 by Mr. John Smith, and elder Buck dedicated it. At present it is a part of a circuit and has a membership of nearly one hundred persons. Mr. Smart is the minister, and his circuit includes in addition Ridge
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
Chapel, Pleasant View and La Place. The Sunday school was organized about 1868.
Temperance society .- The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized about May 20, 1881, by Miss Pitts, of Mansfield, Illi- nois. The officers elected were Mrs. E. H. Jeffres, president ; Mrs. J. Garver, vice-president ; Mrs. J. A. Replogle, secretary, and Mrs. W. F. Donaldson, treasurer. The Union held four meetings and then adjourned during the hot weather. Smallpox broke out at this time in the town and withal the society was so affected that few meetings have been held since. Mrs. Villars lectured May 3. Good work, however, it is anticipated will be done.
German Baptists .- This sect appeared in America in 1719. About twenty families landed in Philadelphia at this time and settled in various parts of Pennsylvania. This society is similar to the Friends, in that they use great plainness of dress, take no oaths and do not go to war. A member of this church told us that "the Testament is our discipline," and that their belief is "faith, repentance and bap- tism," and that upon this salvation is dependent. They believe in tri- une immersion and in observing all the commandments in the New Testament. The ministers are elected from the congregation, as are also visiting members or deacons, who attend to the church matters and make preparation for communion service. The elders are the heads of the church. There are three degrees in the ministry, and when a man is to be installed in the first degree he is brought forward with his wife and installed by the men with hand and kiss and the wife with the hand to the minister and hand and kiss to the women. The minister of the first degree has only the power to preach, while he of the second degree is installed in the same manner and has power to preach, baptize and marry. An elder is installed by the laying on of hands and prayer by other elders, has power to preach, baptize and marry, and liberty to go where he pleases. An elder, only, can organ- ize a church. The number of elders of a church varies according to circumstances. The Lord's supper is commemorated yearly, in mem- ory of the coming of Christ; and as a commandment at these meetings, they first have feet washing, then the Lord's supper of bread and wine. The occasion is a somewhat sociable one, and not necessarily solemn.
There are three churches or congregations of this sect in Piatt county. The first was organized in 1856 or 1857, in Macon county, and was known as the Cerro Gordo church. Mr. and Mrs. David Kuns were the first members of this church, next Mr. Kuns' brother,
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and gradually the congregation grew to a good-sized church. In 1865 or 1866 the church was divided and three congregations were organ- ized. Each congregation has its own quarterly councils for the settle- ment of business. The southern district of Illinois has started an Orphan's Home, which is located in Macon county, near Cerro Gordo. There are eighty acres of well improved land, and a good house and barn belonging to the Home. This Orphan's Home is in the Cerro Gordo congregation, as is also the first church building which was erected in Macon county. The organization was started through the influence of Mr. David Kuns, Mr. Metzger and Mr. Replogle. The church build- ing in Cerro Gordo, which cost near $2,000, was built about 1878, and was donated, with the ground it stands on, by Mr. Metzger. This was certainly a great gift, and the congregation should feel very grateful for it. There are near 250 members in the Cerro Gordo congregation. The names of the deacons, as given to us by Mr. J. P. Replogle, are Stephen Shively, J. P. Replogle, Solomon Hufferd, John Hickınan, John Blickenstaff and David Blickenstaff. The names of the minis- ters are John Metzger, David Troxel, A. F. Snider, Amos Nickey, Adam Bingeman and V. B. Clifton. The membership of the Milmine congregation is about seventy-five or eighty, and the Sunday school, which has been in existence about four years, has an attendance of from forty-five to fifty members. The ministers of this congregation are D. B. Gibson, Menno Stauffer, Henry Kuns and Daniel Mohler ; and the deacons are Benj. Bowman, David Kuns and John S. Kuns. The congregation has but one building, but meetings are held both in Milmine and in the country, where Henry Kuns donated one and a halt acres of land, upon which the church, which cost $2,600, is located.
The Okaw congregation has a membership of about 200, and a large church building was erected about 1875. Mr. Peter Fouts is of the opinion that Jacob Wagoner was the first German Baptist minister who preached in this church, and that Robert Miller dedicated the same. The building is 40×60 feet and cost near $3,500, which amount was raised by subscription. The following are the names of the ministers as given to us by Mr. Replogle : Jacob Wagoner, Jacob Ulrey, Jacob Miller, John Arnold and Philip Siders. The deacons are Geo. Funk, Elijalı Hendricks, Isaac Ulrey, Solomon Miller, Peter Cripe, Isaac Shively and Charles Dicks. The people belonging to these congrega- tions are some of the best citizens-most peaceful and industrious- that our county affords. The majority of them have good farms, which under their able management yield bountifully. Some of the finest
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
country houses and barns in the county belong to the German Bap- tists, or Dunkards, as they are wrongly called. We found many of these people hospitable in the extreme, and we are glad to have this opportunity of saying so, and to show to the people of the county some of the work that has been done by them.
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