USA > Illinois > Stark County > History of Stark County, Illinois, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 12
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1.
VIEW NORTH ON NORTH SEVENTH STREET, WYOMING
PUBLIC LIBRARY, WYOMING
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
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Whether the story of the circular be true or not-and it may have been, as such occurrences were by no means rare in those days-Wyo- ming has passed the point where such subterfuges are necessary to call attention to its commercial importance. In 1865, just after the close of the Civil war, there was a marked increase in the number of inhabi- tants and in response to a petition the "Town of Wyoming" was duly incorporated under the laws of Illinois. Unfortunately the early records of the village under this first government have not been pre- served. In fact, but little attention was paid to municipal matters until after the completion of the two railroads in 1871. Then a more active interest was awakened and in 1872 A. G. Hammond, Otis T. Dyer, Perry II. Smith, A. J. Conover and C. Collier were elected trustees. In the organization of the board Perry H. Smith was elected president and Mr. Collier, clerk.
In the spring of 1898 a census was taken, which showed the mm- ber of inhabitants to be 1,311. An ordinanee was then passed by the board of trustees dividing the town into three wards and ordering an election to determine whether or not Wyoming should be incorporated as a eity under the general laws of the state. The voting places were designated as follows: First Ward, Engine House No. 2. on Main Street; Second Ward, Engine House No. I, on the north side of William Street: Third Ward, King Brothers' store, on the south side of William Street. The election was held on April 19, 1898, and a majority of the citizens cast their votes in favor of a city government.
A special meeting of the old board of trustees was then held on April 26, 1898, for the purpose of inaugurating the new régime. As this was the last meeting of the town officials under the old village system. it may be of interest to know who the men were that changed Wyoming from a village to a city. C. P. MeCorkle was president of the board; W. E. Nixon, clerk; II. B. Brown, J. A. Klock, M. P. Ryan, W. J. Townsend, Marshall Winn and Peter Lane, trustees. The first and most important business of the special meeting was to appoint the 19th day of May as the date of the first election for city officers. On that date S. R. Perkins was chosen mayor: A. W. Hig- bee. Henry Duekworth, Fred Stevenson. Fred Ditewig, HI. B. Brown and C. F. Hamilton, trustees: Ernest Mortimer, clerk : M. HI. Lutes, treasurer.
In 1899 A. J. Harty was elected mayor and served until 1905. when he was succeeded by John W. Smith. George F. Garden was eleeted mayor in 1909 and was succeeded by the present inenmbent. William H. Hartz, in 1913. The other members of the city govern-
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ment in 1915 were: Frank Jacobs, elerk; Charles Peve, treasurer; I. S. Foster, Elting Arganbright, Charles Ingram, C. F. Scott, A. C. Cooper and A. C. Stagg, aldermen.
THE POSTOFFICE
As stated in the chapter on Township History, the first postoffice in Stark County was established in the Essex Settlement in 1833, with Isaae B. Essex as postmaster. When Gen. Samuel Thomas eame to the county in 1834 he was accompanied by several others, among whom was a man named William Godley. Two years later the Town of Wyoming was platted and a movement was started to secure the removal of the postoffice to the new town. This project was favored by the people living about Oseeola Grove and those living along the Spoon River above the Essex Settlement, as a matter of convenience, and a petition was circulated asking for the removal of the office and the appointment of William Godley as postmaster. The petition was granted and the new appointee, accompanied by James Holgate, went to the Essex dwelling to receive possession of the property appertain- ing to the postoffice. What happened upon their arrival there is thus told by Mrs. Shallenberger:
"Mr. Holgate soon notieed indications of a coming storm in the countenance and eonduet of Mrs. Essex. She was washing when they entered, and for awhile continued her occupation with a vim that astonished her visitors, rubbing and serubbing almost furiously, then she deliberately turned from her tub, wiped her arms and hands, sat down and gave them her opinion of men who would steal a postoffice, in terms which those gentlemen ean never forget. Later in the day a neighbor eoming in and observing she was exeited, inquired the cause. when she made the apt. but petulant, play upon their names, Mr. Clifford has recorded, saying: 'God Almighty and Hellsgate have come and taken away our postoffice.' Surely enough to upset any woman, and coming on washday at that!"
It could hardly have been the ineome that at that time made Mr. Essex so desirous of retaining the postoffice, but rather the prestige it gave him in the settlement. The affair created some strife between the settlements on the lower and upper portions of the Spoon River. but the office remained at Wyoming and in time the affair was forgotten.
At the elose of the fiscal year ending on June 30, 1915, the Wyo- ming postoffice showed receipts of about five thousand dollars, en-
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ployed two people in the office and four rural carriers who delivered mail daily to a large traet of the surrounding country. P. B. Colwell was then postmaster.
ELECTRIC LIGHT
On April 7, 1890, an ordinance was passed by the village board granting a franchise to R. C. Jordan & Company to light the Town of Wyoming with electricity. It seems that the recipients of this favor failed to do anything under the provisions of the franchise, and on July 6, 1892. another ordinance relating to the subject was passed. giving to E. B. Hillman & Company, of Peoria, authority "to con- struet, maintain and operate an eleetrie light and power plant," fixing the rates to be charged by the firm, and containing provisions for the purchase of the plant by the village. Soon after the passage of the ordinance, Mr. Hillman and his associates began the construction of a power-house just west of the Rock Island Railroad station, setting poles and running wires through the streets, and before the elose of the year Wyoming was rejoicing in the fact that it had an electric lighting system in operation.
On November 6, 1912, the company was reorganized and ineor- porated for fifty years, under the name of the Stark County Power Company, with a capital stock of $20.000, held by Edwin B. Hillman, Adele S. Hillman and Edgar P. Reeder. This company now fur- nishes eleetrie light and power to the towns of Castleton and Brad- ford. as well as to the City of Wyoming. Its plant is equipped with modern machinery and the service is as good as is generally found in cities of Wyoming's class.
WATERWORKS
'The first move toward establishing a system of waterworks for the City of Wyoming was the passage of an ordinance by the city council on April 22, 1902, granting to S. V. Deem, of Galva, Ill., a franchise to construct a water system at a cost of $28,000, the life of the franchise to be twenty years. Mr. Deem carried out the pro- visions of the ordinance and the waterworks were completed the fol- lowing year.
On March 7. 1904, the city council passed an ordinance entitled the "Waterworks Purchase Ordinance," under the provisions of which the city purchased the entire plant from S. V. Deem for $30,685. The first bond, or waterworks certificate, for $685. was made pay- Vol. 1 -- S
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able on the first day of April, 1904, and the remaining $30,000 in certificates of $1,000 each, payable annually and bearing interest at the rate of 5 per cent per annum. The amount of these bonds or certificates outstanding on September 1, 1915, was $9,000. Both the franchise for the construction of the plant and the purchase ordinance were adopted during the administration of Mayor A. J. Harty.
The system consists of a water tower 100 feet in height, with a capacity of 36,000 gallons: five miles of mains, and a pumping capacity of 200 gallons per minute. The rates charged are 35 cents per 1,000 gallons per month, up to 10,000 gallons, and all over that amount 25 cents per 1,000 gallons per month. The number of con- sumers on October 1, 1915, was 245. The supply comes from a deep well and the quality of the water is excellent.
PUBLIC PARKS
Wyoming has two public parks-the public square laid out by General Thomas when he platted the town in 1836, and Central Park, at the northeast corner of Galena Avenue and Van Buren Street, in Scott & Wrigley's addition. The latter was set apart at the time the addition was platted as a site for the courthouse in the event Wyoming secured the county seat, which the people were then trying to obtain. Both are real "beauty spots," being provided with band- stands, seats, swings for the little ones, handsome shade trees, etc., and they form places for recreation and amusement for the people.
OTHER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
About the time the waterworks were completed the subject of a sewer system began to engage the attention of the people. The first sewer, which was constructed by general taxation, runs from a point on the south side of Van Buren Street, opposite Central Park, to the southwestern part of the city, near the cemetery. Since it was built other sewers have been added from time to time by special assessments until Wyoming has a method of disposing of its sewage that is as good as that found in most cities of its size.
The fire department is a volunteer organization, but is marked by efficiency and promptness in time of need. Prior to the establish- ment of the city government two engine houses were built by the municipality-one on the north side of William Street and the other
STREET SCENE IN BRADFORD
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on the south side of the same street -- and both were supplied with approved fire-fighting apparatus. With the completion of the waterworks an additional supply of hose was purchased, to be attached to the hydrants in case of fire, and this assured ample fire protection for all ordinary occasions.
Within recent years Wyoming has given considerable attention to building sidewalks and oiling the roadways of the streets. The result is several miles of excellent concrete sidewalks and dustless, streets that makes the little city one of the cleanest in the State of Illinois.
MISCELLANEOUS
The fair grounds of the Wyoming Agricultural Society are located in the eastern part of the city, a short distance east of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and within easy walking distance of the business district. The first fair was held here in Sep-) tember, 1881.
Besides being the oldest town in the county, Wyoming claims the honor of having the first frame house. A year or two after the town was started by General Thomas, Whitney Smith erected a small frame building, which he used for a store, and it is generally conceded that this was the first frame structure of any kind to be erected in Stark County.
Two modern public school buildings, one known as the South Side School and the other as the North Side, furnish excellent educational facilities for the city. During the school year of 1914-15 eleven teachers were employed.
Wyoming has two banks, a public library, a weekly newspaper, a number of mercantile houses that compare favorably with those of larger cities, Congregational. Catholic, Episcopal and Methodist churches, grain elevators, lumber and coal yards, hotel and restaurants, a large poultry house, a motion picture theater, an opera house, a baseball club, a large number of cozy homes, and in 1910 reported a population of 1,506. Being located at the jimetion of the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific rail- roads, it is the principal shipping point for a rich agricultural distriet in Essex, Penn. Toulon and Valley townships and large quantities of grain and livestock are handled here annually.
BRADFORD
Bradford. the third largest town in the county, is situated in the northeastern part of the county, the original plat being in sections 23
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and 26, Osecola Township. It was surveyed on April 27, 1854, by Sylvester F. Ottman. then county surveyor, for Bradford S. Foster and derived its name from the Christian name of the proprietor. In making the survey, Mr. Ottman located Main Street on the section line. North of this is one tier of lots. The next street south is Arbor and South Street forms the southern boundary of the original town. Between Main and Arbor (at first ealled Bowery) streets was left a "market square." and north of Main Street was a public square, intersected by a short street called Park. This square was vacated by a vote of the eitizens at an election held on September 22, 1869. The north and south streets in the original plat were Peoria, Park and Elm. and the total number of lots was thirty-seven. Since then Foster's and Phenix's first and second additions have extended the limits of the town toward the south and west, and Drawyer's, Pilgrim's, Real's and some minor additions have extended the limits northward and eastward into seetions 24 and 25 until the corporation includes about one square mile.
In the fall of 1869, when it became certain that the Dixon, Peoria & Hannibal (now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) Railroad was to be built through Bradford, the town experieneed its first boom. A number of energetic, progressive men bought lots and established homes and business houses. The town was incorporated on August 13, 1869. and M. S. Curtiss was elected the first president of the board of trustees. At the general election held on November 4, 1873. the question of incorporating under the general laws of the state was carried by a substantial majority and the present form of municipal government was shortly afterward inaugurated. Joshua Prouty was elected the first president of the board under the new charter. In 1915 the village government was composed of Albert Deyo, president : George A. Marsh, clerk : R. W. Sharp. Walter Scholes. W. S. Ribley, R. C. Hay, O. C. Boyd and R. D. Laekman, trustees.
A postoffice was established at Bradford soon after the town was surveyed, but the name of the first postmaster could not be learned by the writer. Some idea of the growth of the town and the develop- ment of its business interests may be gained from the knowledge that in 1915 the postoffice had risen to a third-class ofliee, with annual receipts of about four thousand dollars, employing two people and being the source of five rural routes that distribute mail daily over a large territory. T. J. Mowbray was then postmaster.
On September 7, 1896, "in compliance with a vote of the legal voters at a special eleetion." the board of trustees passed an ordinanee
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to issue five bonds of $1,000 each, the first due in five years and the last in nine, with interest at 6 per cent per ammin, for the purpose of installing a system of waterworks for the village. A deep well was sunk, a pumphouse ereeted, a large tank mounted upon a tall tower and a reserve tank constructed, mains laid upon the princi- pal streets, and in the summer of 1897 the water was turned on.
The fire department was organized under the provisions of an ordinance passed on April 4, 1904. The force consists of twenty-five men (volunteers) and the equipment of hoseearts, the pressure from the waterworks being sufficient to furnish enough water to extinguish any fire that is likely to ocenr. The members of the department meet at regular intervals for drill and instruction.
Bradford has two banks, a weekly newspaper, churches of several faiths, a fine publie school building, in which eight teachers are eni- ployed, well kept streets, good sidewalks, several well stocked stores, two large grain elevators, a number of handsome residences, and the visitor to the town is impressed by the air of prosperity and eommer- cial activity. In 1910 the population of Bradford was 770.
LAFAYETTE
Located on the Chieago, Rock Island & Paeifie Railroad, six miles west of Toulon and near the Knox County line, is the incorporated Village of Lafayette. The original plat-bloeks 1 to 10. of eight lots each-was surveyed on July 7, 1836, by George A. Charles, then county surveyor of Knox County, for William Dunbar. On the north of this part of the town is Monroe Street. From Monroe Street it extends southward to Franklin, bounded on the east by Hodgson Street and on the west by Timber. Additions have since been made until now the town embraces forty squares of eight lots each. The north and south streets are Willow, Mulberry, East Main, Hodgson, Main and Timber, the last named forming the western limits of the town. Beginning at the north, the east and west streets are Monroe, Jefferson, Lafayette, Washington, Jackson, Franklin, Madison and Adams, and there is one row of bloeks south of Adams Street. The northern tier of lots in block 20 and the southern tier of block 21 were taken to form a public square, which is interseeted by Jackson Street. The railroad cuts off the north side of this square and the remainder of it forms a pleasant little publie park. The additions to the first plat were made by Jonathan Hodgson, Henry Dunbar and John Lundy. August 8, 1836.
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One of the first houses in Lafayette was built by William Dunbar, the "Old Hatter," mentioned in a former chapter. Few lots were sold until about 1842 and 1843, when Asahel Holmes, George W. Jackson, George W. Dunbar, James J. Wilson, Joshua Woodbury, William Wheeler and a few others all bought property in the new town. Other early settlers were Peter F. Miner, Daniel J. and Theo- dore F. Hurd, William D. Runyan, Jehial Bouton, James B. Lewis, Gilbert Ward, Thomas N. Fitch, Walter Hock, James Dunn and James E. White, some of whom located as early as 1837. Several of these Lafayette pioneers afterward beeame prominent in the affairs of Stark County.
Jesse C. Ware was the first merchant and is said to have been the first man to build a house within the limits of the town. Theodore F. Hurd and Barnabas M. Jakson were other early merehants, and Ira Reed opened a shoe shop as early as 1838. Some years later a few enterprising individuals organized a stock company to build a earding mill and woolen factory, but it proved to be a financial failure.
At an election held in 1869 the vote on the question of ineor- poration was forty-one for to thirteen against the proposition. The first board of trustees was composed of Thomas W. Ross, J. H. Nichols, Daniel J. Hurd, Dennis Lee and James Martin. The gov- ernment thus established existed until September, 1872, when the vote on the question of obtaining a new charter was twenty-four for to eighteen opposed. The first trustees under the new charter were M. S. Barnett, James Martin, Samuel White, B. II. Snyder, Daniel J. Hurd and Dr. J. H. Niehols. The election of clerk was declared illegal and C. P. Jaekson was eleeted in 1874. In 1915 J. H. White was president of the village board; F. T. Gelvin, clerk: Joshua Grant, Samuel Hanks, James Norton, S. E. White, V. HI. Brown and Wiley Plankel, trustees.
Some years ago the village board granted to Jesse S. Atherton a franchise to build, equip and operate an electrie light plant. Mr. Atherton built the plant and conducted it for some time when he sold out to some parties in Galva, Ill., and Lafayette is now sup- plied with light from Galva. The streets of the village are kept well oiled, keeping down the dust: there are several blocks of good eement sidewalks; the village has a commodious public sehool building in which four teachers are employed during the school year. Formerly there were several churches, but they have all fallen into disuse exeept the Methodist Episcopal, which is now the only active denomination.
The business interests of the village inelude a bank, several stores
BANK AND PUBLIC LIBRARY. LA FAYETTE
PUBLIC PARK, LA FAYETTE
LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
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handling practically all lines of goods, grain elevators, restaurants, etc., and there are two large nurseries near the town that ship fruit trees and plants. Lafayette also has a public library, the gift of Mrs. Reed. an account of which will be found in the chapter on Educational Development. The population in 1910 was 287.
The smaller villages of the county, those not incorporated and those that have ceased to exist, are treated in alphabetical order, beginning with
CAMP GROVE
Strictly speaking, Camp Grove is no longer in Stark County. It was established at an early date on the lines between Stark and Marshall counties, near the southeast corner of Penn Township. Among the early business men here were: J. Townsend and Cyrus Bocock, general merchants: R. G. Fargo, dealer in iron and metals; William Evans, butcher: S. H. Nichols, contractor and builder, and W. J. Townsend, postmaster. When the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad from Peoria to Nelson was built in 1902, it passed about half a mile east of Camp Grove and most of the business concerns "pulled up stakes" and removed to the railroad. About all that is left of the old village is the Catholic Church and cemetery.
CASTLETON
This thriving little place is situated in sections 9 and 16 of Penn Township, on the Buda & Rushville division of the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy Railroad. It was surveyed by Edwin Butler. surveyor of Stark County, on March 4, 1870, for Dr. Alfred H. Castle, after whom it was named. The original plat shows seven blocks averaging sixteen lots each. the north and south streets being Main, Washington and Lincoln, and the east and west streets, Smith, Sherman and State. Since the original plat was filed three additions have been made to the town-Julg's and Fuller's, of six lots each. and Kissinger's. of forty-five lots. Among the carly business concerns of Castleton were Klock & Fleming's grain elevator, Leo Julg's boot and shoe store, D. W. Crum's drug store, G. Wright's hardware and farm implement house, Mrs. Stewart's hotel and HI. D. Martin's wagon and paint shop.
The Castleton of 1915 boasts several good mercantile establish- ments. a branch of Scott. Walters & Rakestraw's bank, three churches, a fine publie sehool building, two grain elevators, a town hall, a number of minor business concerns and many pretty homes. The streets and
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sidewalks are in good condition and the town is lighted by eleetrieity from the plant of the Stark County Power Company at Wyoming. It ships considerable quantities of grain and livestock, and in 1910 reported a population of 201.
DUNCAN
On June 10, 1870, Edwin Butler, county surveyor, platted the Town of Duncan for Dr. Alfred H. Castle, with six blocks (104 lots) though blocks 1 and 4 were afterward vacated. The streets running north and south are Monroe, Adams and Jefferson, and those running east and west are Main, Washington and Galena. Duncan is located in section 35. Essex Township, on the Buda & Rushville division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, seven miles south of Wyoming. F. F. Brockway and John H. Slater were among the first merchants of the town; George Fautz opened a hardware store, William Heath conducted a grocery store and a hotel, John Barker was the village blacksmith, and Dr. T. C. Thomas was probably the first resident physician. A postoffice was started soon after the village was laid out in 1870, with W. H. Miller as postmaster.
Although a shipping point of considerable importance, Duncan has never grown to be a town of any great proportions. Rand & MeNally give the population in 1910 as 125. Seott, Walters & Rake- straw, of Wyoming, have a branch bank at Duncan. The village has general stores, a grain elevator, lumber yard, hotel. several small shops, a church and a publie school.
ELMIRA
W. R. Sandham, of Wyoming, who has given considerable atten- tion to the origin of Stark County names, says: "Elmira is the name given to a postoffiee which was first established about the year 1837, where the present Village of Osceola is now located. It was named by Oliver Whitaker, its first postmaster, after his former home, Elmira, New York. About the year 1845 the postoffice was moved to its present location on the west side of Spoon River and the name moved with it."
However, the Village of Elmira had its beginning some two years before the removal of the postoffice as mentioned by Mr. Sandham. In 1843 Ambrose Fuller entered the quarter section of land upon which the village stands and opened a store. Fuller's store soon
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became a sort of rallying point for the people of the neighborhood, the Methodists and Presbyterians located churches there, several families purchased lots and built dwellings, thus starting a town. No official plat of Elmira was ever filed with the county recorder, though part of the town is known as "Parsons' subdivision." In 1915 Elmira had two churches, two general stores, some small business concerns, a publie school and a few residences. Rand & MeNally give the popula- tion in 1910 as 76. The postoffice has been discontinued and mail is now delivered by rural carrier from Toulon.
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