USA > Illinois > Tazewell County > History of Tazewell county, Illinois ; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons and biographies of representative citizens. History of Illinois Digest of state laws > Part 63
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Peter Speece, farmer ; is the son of Peter and Sarah (Princehouse) Speece, Virginians. He was born to them in 1824, while they were living in Champaign county, Ohio. In the common schools of that State he received his education. At the age of twenty (Sept. 1, 1844), he was married to Thamer Swiger, who has borne him seven children, all of whom live. Their names are Washington, Martha A., Mary E., William, Elizabeth, Edward, and Thomas T. Mrs. S. came to this State from Ohio in 1850, and settled in Sangamon county, where he made a farm. In 1865 he came to Tazewell county. In 1863 he made a profession of his faith in Christ, and united with the Christian Church. He is connected with the Concord Congre- gation in Hopedale township. Politics, Democratic. Post-office, Tremont.
William D. Sperry was born in Onondago county, N. Y., Sept, 10, 1831. His father, Aurelius Sperry, was born in New Haven, Conn., in 1800, and came to Tazewell county in 1849. He was Deacon in the Baptist Church at Tremont for many years and held the position at the time of his death. His mother, Julia Mandiville, was born in Middlebury, Conn., in 1804. She is now living. William's grandmother died in 1877. She was born in New Haven, Conn., in 1780. On the 4th day of July, 1877, at a pienie, this old lady was present and had great-great-grandchildren with her. They were the children of William S. Russell. The younger nearly three years of age. These children had eleven grand and great- grand and great-great-grandparents living. Mr. Sperry resides on sec. 10, and is engaged in farming. He formerly worked at the cooper's trade. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for eight years. In 1853, Jan. 11, he was married to Anna Dean. Ella, Eugene, Adelbert, and Elmer E., are the names of their four children. He is a member of the Tremont Baptist Church. In politics, a Republican. Post-office, Tremont.
Henry L. Trout. One of the many young men who were born in Tazewell county ; who have grown up, educated and married here, and who have identified themselves with the interests of their native place, is the subject of this sketch, Henry L. Trout. His parents were Matthias and Mary (Ireland) Trout, of Tennessee. He was educated in the common schools and Tremont High School. He is engaged in farming on section 15. October 15, 1874, he was joined with Elizabeth Owens in holy matrimony. Mrs. Trout is also a
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HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
native of this county. They have a little girl, Gertrude, who was born March 5, 1876. In politics he is a Democrat. Post-office address, Tremont.
Mrs. Minnie E. Trout, wife of the late William H. Trout, a stock dealer, which business he carried on successfully until his death, which occurred Dec. 14, 1872, after a brief illness of thirty hours. Mrs. Trout was born in Lorain Co., Ohio, April 23, 1839. Her parents were Libeus and Anna (Bliss) Sperry. She was wedded to William H. Trout April 18, 1861; they have had two sons- Zenas A., born Sept. 7, 1862, died July 7, 1867 ; and Frederick H. Trout, born June 5, 1864. Mrs. Trout united herself with the Methodist Church in 1859. Post-office, Tremont.
De Witt C. Warner. In the dark days of the Rebellion Mr. War- ner came forward and enlisted, Aug. 14, 1862, in Co. A. 108th Ill. Vol. He had the misfortune to fall into the hands of the enemy at Price's Cross Roads, on ths 12th day of June, 1864. He was taken to Andersonville prison, where he was confined for five long months and eight days, suffering terribly the pangs of hunger, his rations being a half pint each of beans and corn meal per day, and a tea-spoonful of salt once a week.
Fredrick W. Warner is a son of Hiram and Phebe Warner. He was born in Tremont, this county, Dec. 24, 1854, and was educated in the schools of his native county. He chose the pursuit of farm- ing, in which he has been quite successful. Mr. W. was joined in marriage, Ang. 13, 1875, to Miss Elizabeth J. Williamson.
Jesse Wilson, farmer, is a native of this county, having been born in Tremont township. His parents are Edward and Mary Wilson. Mr. Edward Wilson is a very large farmer and stock raiser, and is the owner of 1800 acres of land. Post-office, Mackinaw.
Mary Wilson was born in Montgomery Co., Tenn., in 1829. Her parents were John Allensworth and Rebecca Shanklin, his wife. She came to this county in 1834. She was united in marriage Feb. 3, 1846, to Henry Wilson. She is the mother of seven children - Edward S., Sarah E., Benjamin F., Susan E., William S., Jesse S., and John L. She is a member of the Hopedale Christian Church. Post-office, Mackinaw.
Alexander Wynd, grocer and farmer, Tremont, was born in Dun- dee, Scotland, June 18, 1808. His parents, Robert and Margaret (Constable) Wynd, were Scottish people. Young Alexander was apprenticed to the bakery trade to Margaret Proctor, of Dundee, then worked in London two years, and shortly afterwards sailed for America, landing in New York in 1830. He remained in that city for a number of years, when he went to New Orleans, and in 1839 came to this county, and engaged in mercantile life. He received a good common-school education in Scotland. In 1844, May 27, he united his fortunes with those of Frances E. Clement, a native of France. Their children numbered ten, six of whom are living - Margaret, John C., Augustus P., Frances, Freeman and Genevieve. Religiously he is a Presbyterian ; politically, Democrat.
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HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
Henry C. Vawter, farmer, sec. 27, post-office, Tremont. He is a son of J. D. and Sarah (Foster) Vawter. He was born in Ky., April 4, 1838, and came to this county when but nine years old. Was educated in the public schools of his adopted State and county. He has been a consistent member of the Christian Church since 1858. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah L. Davis, Sept. 7, 1866. They have been blessed with three children -Oliver, Sarah L., and Henry L.
The following gentlemen have served the township in official ca- pacities since its organization :
SUPERVISORS.
R. W. Briggs.
1850
Peter Menard.
1866
John M. Bush
1851-52
Edward Allen.
1867
James K. Kellogg
1853-54
Stephen Stout.
1868-71
Charles Emerson.
1855
A. J. Davis ..
1872-73
James J. Kellogg
1856-59
Edward Pratt
1874
Samuel R. Saltonstall
1860-61
S. C. Hobart.
1875-79
Edward Allen.
1863-65
TOWN-CLERKS.
David Roberts
1854-58
James E. Phillips 1867
H. R. Brown
1859
David Roberts
1868-69
Robert Wynet, Jr
1860
W. Hayward
1870-71
James E. Phillips
1861
J. C. Wynd
1872-73
C. G. Howland.
1863
A. J. Davis
1874
John Ingalls
1864
W. Hayward.
1875
Stephen Stout.
1865
James Pons.
1876-77
L. M. Hobart
1866
W. Hayward
1878
ASSESSORS.
John Stiles
1854
Samuel G. Russell
1866
A. Stockwell
1855
E. L. Case ..
1867
John Stiles
1856-59
Simeon Norman
1868-69
David Eaton
1860-61
Stephen Stout
1870
Stephen Stout.
1863
C. M. Broyhill
1871
Edward L. Case.
1864
C. W. Clark.
1872
Alfred Lowell.
1865
Justin S. Armstrong
1873-78
COLLECTORS.
Richard Oliver.
1854
R. Oliver
1867
J. W. Howard
1855
W. B. Armstrong
1868
Richard Oliver.
1856-59
R. L. Ryant ..
1869-70
Emery Warner.
860
S. H. Quinn.
1871-72
Stephen Stout.
1861
W. W. Stiles.
1873-74
Gilson Holcomb
1863
Richard Oliver.
1875-76
James Pettijohn
1864
Wm. H. Harris.
1877-78
Justin Armstrong.
1865-66
A
662
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
The first settler in Washington township was William Holland, Sen., a native of North Carolina, and who emigrated from that State, and settled in Edwardsville, Madison county, Ill., in 1815. He remained there for three years, when he removed to Sangamon Co., and after two years residence there moved to Peoria, then Fort Clark, in the spring of 1820. He crossed the river to the flats, now Fond du Lac township, and occupied an old shanty. Here he raised a crop during the summer of the same year. He cut logs, which he hauled across the river and erected a double log cabin. This was the second dwelling built in Peoria. Prior to his settling in Peoria, and during his residence in Sangamon, he was employed by a man named Cramer, who had contracts with the Government to do blacksmithing for the Indians. But completing the erection of his abode, he, himself, formed negotiations with the Government, and commenced at his trade, blacksmithing. In the spring of 1825, he came to this township, and built a log house on section 23, and on the present site of A. G. Danforth's residence. Here the family were surrounded by a dense wilderness, and were the only white occupants of this township until 1826. Holland commenced im- proving a farm on see. 24, town 26, range 3, just east of the town of Washington, and embracing a part of the Holland, Dorsey, Wal- than and Robinson addition to the town. His nearest neighbors were located on Farm creek, three miles east of Peoria, where the first settlement was made in this section. Among them were Wm. Blanchard, Elza Bethard, Jack Phillips, and his son William, Aus- tin and Horace Crocker, and Thomas Camlin, whose cabin was located nearest Holland's Gove. There are others, the exact data of whose coming seems quite impossible to determine. In 1824 Jacob Wilson, Sr., Joshua Walker, Thomas Banks, and Elisha Green, all settled on Farm creek. Cyrus J. Gibson followed in 1830, and Thomas Trimble, whose sons are now prominent among the residents of Washington City, settled there in 1834. William Thompson, a native of Indiana, came in 1826, and settled on the farm now occu- pied by John Johnson and made some improvements. The same year William Weeks came from Indiana, and settled on the present estate of Peter Portman, where he erected a rude habitation, which has since given place to the fine residence of its owner. In the fall of the same year, John Redman, also from Indiana, settled near the farm of 'Squire Baker.
These four families were the only white inhabitants in this town- ship until 1827, when Ira Crosby, of New York, located on the place now occupied by James R. Crane. George Burrow, of Ten- nessee, came in the same year, and settled on the Peter P. Scott farm, and James Holland, a brother of William Holland, Sen., from North Carolina, made a temporary location, but removed to Macou- pin Co. In 1828, James Harvey, father of Wesley B. Harvey, came
(DECEASED )
665
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
and purchased the Benjamin Kindig farm, where he lived until 1834, when he removed to Groveland, where he died in 1859. In 1829, George Burrow and Peter P. Scott added their number to the little community. In the spring of 1830, William Heath located in Wrenn's Grove, also a man named Pearl, made a temporary lo- cation in this vicinity. The same year James MeClure settled on the present farm of Orin Castle, where he lived until his death, in 1858. His son, Hamilton, is still a resident of this township. William and Walter Berket, of Lancashire, Eng., and John Low- man, from Indiana, came in 1831, and located west of the city, where they are still living. Their heads are silvered by the frosted tooth of Time. These worthy pilgrims are numbered among the few living pioneers. The same year Reuben Bandy, a Kentuckian, came and located on the claim made by Ira Crosby ; Abarham Van Meter, from the same State, settled on the farm now occupied by Adam M. Switzer, and where he lived until his death, in 1868. In the fall of the same year, Rev. Nathan Curtis, a Methodist minister, located on the present farm of W. T. Higgins. Several of his chil- dren are still residents of the township. Col. Ben. Mitchell, a Vir- ginian, settled in Wrenn's Grove, and opened the present farm of Wade T. Wrenn. He was elected to the Legislature in 1834, and to the State Senate in 1836, and was succeeded in this position by Major R. N. Cullom. He died at his home in 1840. In 1832, the settlements became numerous. Among the arrivals of that year, were Elias Slaughter and Philip Varble, from Kentucky, Thomas and Jonathan Reed, from Indiana, and John Minch. The last two named located on their present estates.
With the coming of the spring and summer months of 1833, there came a general rush of immigrants, and ere the first snows of winter fell, the whole of the timbered sections of the township were nterspersed with cabins and settlers. A large portion of the lands bearing timber, and the smaller groves, were claimed, if not occu- pied, while the prairie, for most part, was left untouched and un- sought. The prairie land was regarded as worthless for purposes of agriculture, and considered a useless waste. There were hundreds of men who believed it would never be occupied, If any of the settlers at that time had located on the prairie he would have been regarded as extremely visionary, if not absolutely crazy. Of those whose names appear among the early pilgrims, many removed from the township cre many years had flown ; others followed from year to year, in other localities ; others have passed to the Shining Shore of the Beautiful River, while many others still remain in the en- joyment of the homes of their industry, endurance, and enterprise ; fashioned and founded in the beautiful lands of Washington. The surroundings of pioneer life are well calculated to test the true in- wardness of the human heart, and the trials, sufferings, and endur- ance, incident to the founding and building of homes, unite them in the strongest and deepest feelings of friendship, that grows and
666
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
strengthens with their years. Raven locks may bleach and whiten ; full round cheeks wither and waste away; the fires of intelligence vanish from the organs of vision ; the brow become wrinkled with care and age, and the erect form bowed with accumulating years, but the true friends of long ago will be remembered as long as life and reason endure.
The oldest living settler of this township is Lawson Holland, eldest son of William Holland, Sr., who was born in Lincoln Co., N. C., in 1812, and came to this county with his parents. From him we gather many incidents connected with the early settlement of the township. He was married in Oct., 1833, to Miss Elizabeth Bandy, daughter of Reuben Bandy, who came from Kentucky in 1831, and bought out the claim of Ira Crosby. They were married by Rev. Nathan Curtis, a Methodist minister. This was the fourth marriage in the township. The first in the neighborhood was in 1828, between James Hendricks and Miss Sallie Redman, daughter of John Redman. They were united by Daniel Meek, Justice of the Peace and resident of Waterloo. The same day Terrill Hall was married to Miss Jane Redman, second daughter of John Red- man. The first funeral was that of a child of Henson Thomas. It was buried in the graveyard on the 'Squire Baker farm. The first death of an adult was a Mr. Pembrock, a stranger, who had stopped at the residence of William Heath, where he died. He was also laid away in the same grounds. The first physician was Dr. Goodwin, who came from Vermont in 1832, where he was a student with the late Dr. G. P. Wood, and with whom he associated a busi- ness relation in 1835, in this city. They were the originators of Goodwin & Wood's addition to Washington. He is now a resident of Kendall Co., Ill. James Huggins, of North Carolina, came in 1833. He learned wagon-making in the same shop in which Hol- land worked at blacksmithing. He engaged in the practice of med- icine until 1859, when he removed to Peoria, where he died in 1870. In 1834, Joseph Kelso and George D. Gibson came in, and are all of the living relics of that date. In 1835, Anthony Field, deceased, came in and located on sec. 34, where he resided until his death, in 1878. His widow still occupies the homestead. Thos. Cress came in the fall of the same year, and has secured an impregnable posi- tion in the public history of this township, having been elected Col- lector twenty-four consecutive years.
The first school-house was built near Wm. Holland's hut in the winter of 1827-28. It was built of logs and was 16 by 18 feet. The writing desks and seats were made of split logs, and it was lighted by sawing an aperture out of each end of one log, over which was pasted greased paper. This ancient and somewhat unique style of windows served to keep out the wind and admitted some light. The school was a subscription school and was taught by George H. Shaw, now a resident of Shaw's Grove, who was travel- ing through the country, and stopped over night with Wm. Hol-
667
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
land, Sr. He was satisfied to receive, as compensation, his board, washing and horse feed. The second school was taught by Eli Red- man, in the house built by William Weeks as a residence, on the Portman place in the winter of 1828-29. In the spring and sum- mer of 1829 or 1830 school was taught by Miss Elizabeth Wathon, a native of Kentucky. It was taught in a building which at that time was erected near the site of the old Methodist Church. It has since gone to decay. Chas. S. Dorsey, who came from Kentucky in 1831, erected the third building in the township and the first on the present site of Washington city, in 1834. It was built of logs, and near the present site of Kingsbury & Snyder's store. It was occu- pied by Dorsey, who had the honor of exhibiting the first stock of goods for sale in the city. The first frame building was erected by Jehu Lindley, on the present site of Long's wagon manufactory, where he also opened a store, and was, for some years, a pioneer merchant. The following year he built the premises now occupied by Thomas Handsacker, as the office of the Washington Herald. It was used by Lindsey as a store-house. The carpenter work was done by L. J. Smith, a native of Virginia, who settled in Washing- ton in 1834, and performed the first carpenter wark in this city, where he died in 1844. His son, Robert, came with his father and is a resident of the city. Other authorities say the first frame build- ing erected in the town is still standing opposite the present resi- dence of Mr. Buckley, and is called the Gorin House. Be this as it may, we have positive information that this building retains the first plastering done in the city. It was originally owned by Ben Sickler. It has been rebuilt, and at the present writing presents a good appearance. The Buckley mansion, on Walnut street, nearly opposite, shelters its happy occupants from spring and autumn rains,. and the cold blasts of winter fail to pierce its walnut sides ..
William Holland, Sr., laid out the original town of Washington in 1834, being part of the town lying cast of main street. The first building was erected on the original town plat by Joseph Kelso, Sr., in 1834. Kelso and a Mr. Wagoner had purchased of Holland three lots for $150 cach, upon one years credit. Much valuable timber grew in front of these lots, and in the street, which, by agreement, the first to build should be entitled to use. The ques- tion was settled by lot, which fell to Kelso, who was also the first of the pioneers to open a farm wholly on the prairie. The first hotel was opened by Charles Dorsey in a two-story frame house, which stood on the lot now occupied by Lewis Tobias & Sons' hardware store. Jesse and James Oatman came in 1835, and engaged in the mercantile business. The same year Whipple and Blair opened a general stock of goods, and a man named Kilebrem, also opened a small store. Lands & Hawks were another firm added to the busi- ness list. Burton & Gant came in soon after, and erected a store-house on the corner of Peoria and Main sts., and on the lot now occupied by the Zinser Brothers. Here they carried on an extensive business
668
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
for some years. Gant and Jacob Wilson were the only Constables between this precinct and the boundaries of Tremont and Peoria, including Hushaw's Mills, some miles to the North. Grant is now a resident of Missouri and Burton has passed through the shadow and valley to that brighter and better land. Old man Pearl, as he was usually called, was another merchant, who remained a few years. His whereabouts is at present unknown to any person living in this township. Prior to 1835 William Holland Sr., carried on the only blacksmith shop in town, at which time Brazilla Allee built a large two-story frame building on Main street, now occupied by his widow, Sarah Allee. Allee and William Spencer used this building as a blacksmith shop and wagon manufactory, it being the first place in town in which wagons were manufactured. These were primi- tive times, and the sight of a wagon was hailed with much joy and pleasure, and its possessor envied by all. Travelling was princi- pally done on horseback, and hauling on sleds. Peter P. Scott opened a blacksmith shop soon after his arrival. He carried on his trade here for several years. Tinware was sold by the merchants until 1848, when Charles S. N. Anthony became engaged in that business.
William Holland, Sr., built the first grist-mill west of his dwell- ing, in 1827. It was called a band-mill, and was run by horse- power, a simple arrangement consisting of one large wheel, the nave of which was a log of wood eight or ten feet long, hewed eight square, set in a perpendicular position, and supplied with spokes or arms. The lower end was secured by a pivot, on which it turned to another timber fastened in the ground, the upper end being secured in like manner. The flour produced resembled bran or Graham flour.
Lawson Holland, Esq., has the honor of manufacturing the first flour made in Washington. It was produced by breaking the wheat with a pestle in a mortar, and sifting through a hand seive. The mortar was made by hollowing out one end of a log, the other end of which rested firmly on the ground. The pestle was a heavy piece of timber, the lower end of which was shaped to fit the exca- vation in the mortar, the upper end being fastened to a spring pole, which aided in raising the weight of the pestle. Near the lower end of this pestle were four cross pins or handles, for the use of the operators. The hand seive was not of the modern manufacture, but was made by drawing a fawn skin tightly across a wooden hoop, and perforating it with a red hot iron of the size desired. Through these holes the fine particles of grain escaped during the shaking process. What remained in the seive was returned to the mortar and repounded and sifted again, until all the flour was separated from the bran. The hand-mill of William Holland, Sr., was the only kind of mill in this section of country until 1836, when Wm. Kern erected a flouring-mill on the premises formerly occupied by Jaquin as a brewery. It was run by Jehu Lindly, and proved a
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HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
financial failure. A. Danforth & Co. built the next mill, in 1845. It was the first brick builing erected in Washington. The bricks used in its structure were made by Danforth. The mill is now being operated by the Andrews Brothers, who settled in Washington in 1843.
RELIGIOUS.
Methodist Church .- The first religious society was organized in 1828, by Jesse Walker, a Methodist preacher. The meeting was held at William Holland's cabin. His family and that of James Harvey, constituted most of the society at that time. In 1840, they built the old church, near the corner of Jefferson and Main streets, which is now fast passing into decay. This denomination erected their present place of worship, on the corner of Walnut and Pine streets, in 1866. A complete history of which we were unable to secure on account of lost records.
Christian Church .- In 1832, the Christian Church was organized by Richard B. McCorkle, in the school-house on the 'Squire Ba- ker farm. Of its members we find R. B. Isabelle and Eliza Mc- Corkle, James and Mary McClure, John and Martha Johnson, Wm. Holland, Sr., Peter and Catharine Scott, Dr. and Mrs. Goodwin, Rufus and Catharine North, Levi and Mrs. Moulton, Josiah and Mrs. Yager. The first church building was built of brick and was erected in 1851. The congregation became too large for it, and it was sold to the Germans, and Nov. 28, 1869, the second edifice was dedicated. This was burned Feb. 17, 1870; fire caused by a defect- ive flue. Another and the third building was erected, which was dedicated Aug. 28, 1870, and Oct. 29, 1876, was burned, being set on fire by lightning. The congregation, not disheartened, erected another, which was dedicated July 29, 1877. The congregation has expended, on the several houses, about $32,000. The present mem- bership is about 150. The officers are, Elders : John Johnson, Geo. Bonurant, H. A. Pallister ; Deacons : John Bassett, Henry JJewett, W. P. Thompson, and A. J. Cress. The present pastor is Elder J. W. Spriggs. Those who have preached regularly here are: R. B. McCorkle, Wm. Davenport, H. D. Palmer, Josiah Yager, S. P. Gorin, J. J. Harvey, John Lindsey, O. A. Burgess, A. G. Ewing, J. B. McCorkle, B. W. Johnson, R. H. Johnson, J. A. Walters, J. M. Allen, J. F. Berry, D. R. Howe, J. W. Allen, H. W. Everest, James Kirk, G. W. Mapes, A. P. Cobb, and J. W. Spriggs, present pastor.
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