USA > Illinois > Clay County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 30
USA > Illinois > Wayne County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 30
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The following statistics show the present business of the town: T. D. Colvin, G. T. Harrington and Robert Davidson, general stores; J. P. Billington, drugs and groceries; H. C. Hill, groceries; J. C. Brock, hotel and groceries ; Brock & Cisne, grain buyers; F. A. Kutz, grain and stock; William White, furniture; J. C. Phillips, blacksmith; George Trager, wagon shop; David Slade, shoe-maker. and W. Cisne, railroad agent.
Rinard Village was laid out in 1870, but was not platted until April 18, 1871. The plat shows 109 lots on the northeast quarter of Section 31, land owned by Ed Bonham, of Fairfield. The circumstances which led to the location of a town here, were as fol- lows: A proposition was made by C. A. Beecher, at that time Vice President of the railroad, to Mr. T. R. Center, to buy so many thousand bushels of oats to be shipped from this point, and he would put in a side track. Upon learning of this, Mr. Bonham and Adam Rinard, at once employed Center to purchase the oats, amounting to several thousand bushels. The side track was then put in, and the little town of Rinard, named in honor of Adam Rinard, at once sprung up.
The first building was erected by D. F. & B. J. Chaney. It stands on Lot 29, and is the one now used by R. L. Wilcox as a store. The next house erected was the depot build- ing. Before the depot was built, Mr. Wilcox, who was the first, the last and the only station agent the railroad has had at this place, kept the depot in a box car. The depot was built in the spring of 1871, about the time the town was surveyed. The second house, aside from the depot, was put by C. McDaniels, and was a two-story frame build- ing. The lower room was used by him for a store, and the upper for a dwelling. Later his brother was conducting business there, and the building was burned. McDaniels then erected a dwelling, and for some time carried on a general merchandise business. The building which burned stood on the present site of D. T. Chaney's store.
The Presbyterians built a church in Rinard in 1873. It is a brick structure, 25x50 feet. and cost about $1,400. The first preacher was Rev. J. H. Hughey. The Presbyterians soon sold the building to the Methodists, who still own it, and use it for a temple of worship. The membership is about sixty, under the pastorate of Rev. L. A. Harper, and a good Sunday school is kept up, of which A. R. Spriggs is Superintendent. A good comfortable schoolhouse was built in 1875. It has two rooms, and one teacher is employed.
The post office was established soon after the town was laid out. R. L. Wilcox was the first Postmaster and still holds the posi- tion. He first kept the office at the depot, but now keeps it in his store. Mr. Wilcox is also a Notary Public, and deals largely in grain.
Rinard has about eighty inhabitants, and the business outlook is as follows: R. L. Wilcox, general store; D. F. Chaney, gen- eral store; M. W. Naney and W. W. Wheeler,
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
blacksmiths; C. E. Yokey, shoe-maker; mil- linery store in charge of Mrs. Martha Fletcher; R. L. Wilcox, grain dealer; Dr. J. H. Hall, physician. The first physician here was Dr. J. A. Jetfries, and was soon followed by Dr.
A. R. Spriggs. W. W. Naney was the first. Justice of the Peace; the town boasts of none now. R. L. Wilcox, who is a Notary Public, attends to what little legal business the place requires.
CHAPTER XX .*
INDIAN PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP-DESCRIPTION-TOPOGRAPIIY, ETC .- EARLY SETTLEMENTS-PIONEER IMPROVEMENTS AND INDUSTRIES-EARLY PREACHERS AND CHURCHES-FIRST SCHOOL TEACHERS-FIRST DEATH IN THIE TOWNSHIP-CHURCHES, PREACHERS AND OFFI- CERS-JOHNSONVILLE-WIIEN AND BY WHOM LAID OUT-ITS GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENTS AND ITS FUTURE OUTLOOK-RAILROAD PROS- PECTS-BLUE POINT-WIIEN LAID OUT AND BY WHOM- A LIST OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, ETC., ETC., ETC.
" Where nothing dwelt but beasts of prey, Or men as fierce and wild as they. IIe bids the oppressed and poor repair And build them towns and cities there." -Old Hymn.
INDIAN PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP, to which this chapter is devoted, was organized as such in 1859. It is bounded on the north by Clay County, on the east by Bedford, on the south by Arrington and on the west by Brush Creek Townships, and comprises one and one- half Congressional townships, making fifty- four sections, and is known as Town 1 and 2 north. and Range 3 east. The name was given in honor of a tribe of Indians who in- habited this beautiful land many years ago. The township is abont equally divided be- tween woodland and prairie. The former, when cleared of its massive growth of white, jack, black, pin and post oak, hickory, wal- nnt. sassafras, elm and various shrubs, is well adapted to the cultivation of corn, wheat, rye. oats and vegetables, while the prairie is
especially adapted to the grasses. Many acres of the "red-top " are grown with abun- dant success. The portion known as Johnson's Prairie, was so named after a man by the name of Johnson, who was an early hunter here, but whose history went out into the dim and shadowy past and cannot now be secured. Dry Fork is the most important stream in the township, and has its source in Section 15, from a small stone quarry, and runs southward through Arrington Town- ship, and when entering Big Mound Town- ship it spreads out into a swamp, but is again formed into a channel which empties into Skillet Fork near the boundary line be- tween Wayne and Hamilton Counties. Rock Branch and Elk Fork having their sources, the former in Section 16, and the latter iu Section 28, constitute the only important atiluents of Dry Fork. Along the northern boundary of the township courses Bear Creek in an easterly direction. This stream received its name from the number of bears seen and killed along its banks, and was 14
*By J. M Runk.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
christened such by a Mr. Meisenheimer, who was a very early settler. The principal early roads were the Maysville & Mount Ver- non, and the Fairfield & Salem, each of which crossed the township.
Who the first settlers of Indian Prairie Township were is not known. Isaac Elliott, Thomas Elliott and Mathias Meisenheimer were among the first, if not the first, white men who settled permanently in what was then Indian Prairie. The exact time of their settlement is not fixed, but it was while the Indians held almost unbounded sway of all the eye could see. It is probable that these men came from Pennsylvania, and they set- tled in territory that is now in Clay County. Meisenheimer was a brother-in-law to the Elliotts, and he and Isaac were strong sup- porters of the Methodist Episcopal faith, and were among the leading characters in organizing a church of this denomination near where they settled. Meisenheimer died after having done considerable to improve the wild country. He was the projector and operator of a saw mill on Raccoon Creek, and was the father of Isaac, Levi, Jackson, John, Isaiah, David, Ellen and Betsey. Isaac El- liott resides in Xenia, and maintains the same good health that it has been his fortune to experience through life. Thomas Elliott was a Universalist, and exerted his energy to establish his religious belief in the com- munity where he lived. He has long since been summoned from earth's labors. John M. Griffith was a local Methodist min- ister who came very early to the northern part of the township. He preached and taught school in any cabins he could obtain, and later he erected a double log cabin, and in one department had his dwelling and in the other he taught all the children for three or four miles circuit. He died the father of Martha, Elijah, Olive, John, Thomas, Will-
iam, Jesse, Jane, Mary, Elizabeth and Re- becca. A number of "squatters" were in the north part of the township in 1839, but soon after that year they moved away.
Alf. Hargraves settled pretty early in the southwest part of the township; was a farmer and reared quite a large family. Clint, one of his sons, occupies the old homestead.
William Sessions came to the township in 1838, from Kentucky, and settled on Section 9. After awhile he sold out and went to Texas; was an honest man and made con- siderable money while here. His children, Richard and Mary J., the wife of N. King, are living in the county. Robert Galbraith came from Jefferson County, this State, in 1839, and settled on Section 17. In 1859, he removed to Johnsonville, where he had for some time been operating a blacksmith shop. He died November 9, 1870 in John- sonville, and his consort died in 1872. Their union resulted in several children, five of whom are living, namely, Wiley, A. T., Mar- tha (the wife of W. Ellis), Elizabeth J. and step-son, T. P. Alvis. Robert Galbraith was Postmaster at Johnsonville one term; was a man of good standing; a Democrat until the war, at which time he united with the Re- publicans, and was aggressive in espousing that cause. James McGrew settled in what is now Clay County before 1832; was a Methodist preacher, and died in that county. John MeGrew, his son, sold a farm to Daniel McDaniels, who settled on the same in 1839, and died there about five years subsequent. He was a native of North Carolina, and mar- ried and settled in East Tennessee, and from there came to the place spoken of above. Richard Burg settled on Section 12, in the spring of 1839, and put up a log cabin. He remained here but a short time, selling to Thomas Howe. who lived there until his death. Howe was from Marion County, Ill.,
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
and held some township offices here; he and son, Clark, were distinguished as expert hunters, and played havoc with the wild animals that then inhabited the prairies.
Richard Clark came from Marion County, this State, in 1839, and settled on Section 4, where he remained until 1847, when he traded farms with William Irvin, of Hickory Hill Township, and each became permanent residents of the respective townships.
Wiley and W. W. Galbraith came to the township in 1841, and settled on Section 21. The former is now a resident of Alexander County, and the latter died in Jonsonville.
W. B. Goodpaster came from Tennessee about the year 1843-44, and located on Sec- tion 10. He was a trader and dealt mostly in stock, but after a short period he located in Menard County, this State.
A. S. Hargraves came in 1839 from Ken- tucky, and was soon guilty of matrimony with Milley A. Cliff, of Hickory Hill Town- ship. He was an active man and held some of the township offices. He died near Rin- ard in 1875. Samuel Halliday bought Will- iam Sessions out in 1859, and after the late war he sold and returned to Ohio. Somo of his sons are influential and wealthy citizens of Cairo, Ill. A. Maxey settled on Section 16, now the home of Col. Weems in 1842. In a few years he returned to Jefferson Coun- ty. Col. T. L. B. Weems was reared by Robert Galbraith, and has always been an honest, upright citizen, and was Colonel of the Forty-eighth Regiment.
A melancholy event, the first death to occur in the township, was a daughter of Henry Burrough, and filled the first grave in the Johnsonville Cemetery.
William Irvin had a small distillery in the township at an early period and distilled peaches.
L. D. Bullard who settled on Section 5, at
an early period, had a horse mill on his farm, and ground corn.
Robert Metcalf, a professional hunter. is remembered as having located for awhile in the township, and a small stream running along where he settled is called Bob's Branch in honor of him.
Among the early rectors of the township came Rev. James Keal, who, with Rev. Grif- fith, preached in dwellings in various parts of the country.
Village of Johnsonville .- Johnsonville was laid off in 1855, by James Ading, from the land of Wiley Galbraith, in sixteen lots. S. R. Caudle put up the first house to mark the place. It was a howed-log structure, and is now used as a kitchen by A. Tenney; Candle used it for a dwelling. He was a house car- penter, and, being unable to obtain as much work as he was able to perform, owing to the slow growth of the village, he moved away. The next building erected in the place was by Wiley Galbraith for a store room. It was a frame, and is the present business room of N. W. Galbraith. In the spring of 1856, G. B. Galbraith put in a stock of goods in this building He was the second merchant in the place, the tirst being T. P. Alvis, who had moved a log cabin from his farm, about one mile north of the present site of tho vil- lage, in which he had been selling goods since 1850. He located in the town early in the spring of 1856. Later, Mr. Alvis put up the store building now occupied by Leander Galbraith, and, transferring his merchandise to it, he made a stable of the orignial log store room. Here Mr. Alvis sold goods until 1863, in the meantime being in partnership with Nathan Bullard and A. T. Galbraith. About the same time of putting up the store room, Mr. Alvis erected a dwelling-house, just south of the store. W. W. Galbraith put up a building in the town which is now
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
owned by Mrs. Bowden. W. W. Hoskinson began merchandising in the village in 1857, and continued the same until 1860, when he went to Xenia, and subsequently to Benton, where he is now engaged in the same business.
Robert Galbraith started the first black- smith shop in Johnsonville. It stood on the east side of the public square, and was con- structed by setting posts in the ground and planks nailed to them. In a short time, Na- than Bullard erected a shop, and worked at his trade until 1859, when he went to Texas. The first school in the town was either taught by J. O. Fether or Thomas Garrod, soon after the village was laid off. The building used for the school was the log house now the residence of C. C. Bunch. In 1872, the dis- triet bought from the Methodist Episcopal organization, a small frame building, which stood where A. Tenney's store room now stands. In a short time this building was consumed by fire, and in 1874 the present commodious two-story frame building was erected at a cost of about $1,800, and since then good schools have prevailed. R. E. Seichrest is Principal for the present term, and has forty-eight pupils in his department; and Miss Frankie Galbraith is the primary teach- er, with forty-three pupils.
The first post office was established in 1857, and W. W. Hoskinson was the first Post- master.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was the first and only one ever organized in the vil- lage. It was so effected in 1855 by Rev. W. H. Maxey. G. B. Galbraith, Wiley Galbraith, and wives, Joseph Black, Mrs. E. Buck and Yarby Galbraith and wife were among the early members. It was organized in a small frame building erected for the purpose, where A. Tenney's store room stands, and was afterward sold to the district for school purposes. In 1865, the present well ar-
ranged building was erected, mostly by the members, at a cost of $3,500. The Rev. Harper is the present pastor. The present Trustees are John D. McLucus, A. Armstrong, F. M. Galbraith, W. M. Johnson, A. T. C. Johnson and T. L. B. Weems. F. M. Gal- braith is Superintendent, and A. T. C. John- son Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday school of seventy-five pupils, and W. M. Al- vis, N. J. Galbraith, R. E. Seichrest, Eugene Tenney, Theo A. Johnson, Mary A. Johnson and Frank Galbraith are teachers.
The following is a showing of the business of the village: A. Tenney, general merchant, Postmaster, Notary Public, etc .; Galbraith & Haney, general merchants; Forth & Weav- er, general merchants; C. C. Bunch, black- smith; Alvis & Stephens, cabinet-makers; Johnsonville Milling Company; J. H. Nehf, harness shop; S. B. Mason, carpenter; W. M. Johnson and W. H. Kelson, physicians; W. L. Tenney, stoves and tinware; Brooks Brothers, shoe-makers; D. Dunlap, barber; Mrs. A. T. C. Johnson, millinery; A. Arm- strong, hotel. Coming down to the present time. there are but few persons remaining who lived about Johnsonville twenty-five years ago. While the little village will compare favorably with any locality in the county for health, many have died; but make the same review of the changes wrought in twenty-five years, and the numbers who have died are below an average mortality. Since the town is somewhat isolated, being situated several miles from railroad, it necessarily possesses comparatively less notoriety than some of its neighboring villages, through which the iron horse passes. The early set- tlers, many of whom have gone to their re- ward, have been succeeded by a class of un- pretending citizens, that for industry, intel- ligence and prosperity will compare favora- bly with any part of the county. The social
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
habits of the place have of course changed in the last quarter of a century. While some of the present inhabitants are eager for the daily papers that are brought once a day by hack from Cisne, lest their interest may be affected by the " spring " or "decline " in " the market," the pioneers were content with mail once a week, or less frequently. There is certainly a brighter future for Johnson- ville just beyond. Two railroads are now in progress, each of which is to pass adjacent to the place. Blue Point was laid out by Thomas Howe in 1855.
Felix Mills was for awhile a dealer in general merchandise at the place, and was Postmaster. Mills pursued the business here for some time, and then sold out. The build- ing and stock of goods were moved to Cisne. The dwelling where Mills lived yet marks the village. It is thought that C. C. Bunch conducted a blacksmith shop there for some time; anyway, a shop of that kind was in ex- istence, whether Bunch owned and run it or not. A schoolhouse was erected there soon after the place was laid out, and is still to be seen. Drs. Hall and Sprigg were stationed there for awhile. The town is a thing of the past, there being no business whatever done there.
The following is a list of township officers since its organization:
Supervisors. - A. S. Hargraves, 1860, 1861; Robert Gray. 1862: A. S. Hargraves, 1863, 1864. 1865; A. T. Galbraith. 1866, 1867; T. P. Alvis, 1868. 1869 (county ruled by five Supervisors). W. H. Mix. 1872: I. J. Tur- ner, 1873; G. M. Karr. 1874, 1875; J. Mil- ner, 1876; G. M. Karr, 1877; J. Milner, 1878; L. P. Cook, 1879; Lewis Miller, 1880; T. L. B. Weems, 1SS1; Jesse Pennington, 1882, 1883.
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Town Clerks. -- Samuel Halliday, 1860, 1861. 1862; John Rudesell. 1863: Felix
Mills, 1864; G. M. Karr, 1865, 1866; H. H. Brown, 1867; James Roy, 1868; G. Karr, 1869; A Tenney, 1870, 1871; S. B. Mason, 1872; T. L. B. Weems, 1873; A. J. Hale, 1871, 1875; J. R. Alvis, 1876; Samuel Stot- ter, 1877; H. H. Brown, 1878; W. H. Dur- ham, 1879; Israel Stephens, 1880, 1881; E. M. Turner, 1882; H. H. Brown, 1883.
Assessors. - W. B. Harrison, 1860; W. B. Harrison, 1861; W. E. Ellis, 1862, 1863; Robert Gray. 1864; F. M. Ellis, 1865; H. Mix, 1866, 1867, 1868; James Irwin, 1869; W. II. Mix. 1870; J. Gleeson, 1871; B. H. Cornwell, 1872; A. T. Galbraith, 1873; E. J. Ream, 1874; W. M. Gilliland, 1875; W. Church. 1876; S. Bunnell, 1877; T. L. B. Weems, 1878, 1879; B. H. Cornwell, 1880; J. W. Evans, 1881; A. T. C. Johnson, 1882; E. M. Turner, 1883.
Collectors. A. T. Galbraith, 1860; J. C. Maxey, 1861; H. H. Brown, 1862; C. C. Irvin, 1863; H. H. Brown, 1864, 1865; W. B. Hammond, 1866, 1867; H. H. Brown, 1868; J. W. Chaney, 1869; A. S. Hargraves, 1870; B. H. Cornwell, 1871, ----; W. H. Mix, 1873: James McGrew, 1874; D. Spicer, 1875; H. P. Mix, 1876; A. J. Hale, 1877; F. M. Ellis, 1878: H. P. Mix, 1879; I. J. Hale, ISSO; H. P. Mix, 1881, 1882; N. T. Hale, 1883.
Commissioners of Highways .- J. W. Brad- ley, Thomas Howe and Jesse Pennington, 1860; Thomas Howe, 1861; Jesse Pennington, 1862; David Mills, 1863; J. W. Chaney, 1864; N. E. Roberts, 1865; E. Milner, 1866: Moses Jones, 1867: George Flick, 1868; D. Spicer, 1869; J. C. Woodworth, 1870; Thomas Senters, 1871; D. Spicer, 1873; W. L. Har- rison, 1874; J. A Wagner and A. J. Heath, 1876; Joseph Kurtz. 1877; J. A. Wagner, 1878; A. J. Heath, 1879; N. Border, 1850, 1881; I. N. Cunningham, 1882; G. A. Ganmer, 1883.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Constables .- T. W. Hill and W. W. Vaughn, 1860; P. Crissip, 1865; H. G. Wheeler and W. S. Griffith, 1868; J. L. Curry and T. N. Connard, 1872; J. A. Weems and J. B. Holmes, 1873; John Miller and A. S. Hargraves, 1875; G. W. Penning- ton and H. M. Nehf, 1877; J. L. Currey, 1879; William Holmes, 1883.
Overseers of the Poor .- George Weaver, 1860; J. L. Day, 1866; A. S. Hargraves, 1867.
Justices of the Peace .- John Cunningham and I. J. Turner, 1860; T. P. Alvis and Samuel George, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1871; J. Cunningham and T. P. Alvis, 1872; J. Wilson and T. P. Alvis, 1873; C. C. Bunch
and W. A. Vernon, 1877 (Bunch resigned, and a special election was held, resulting in the election of T. P. Alvis). The record does not show who was elected from 1861 to 1868, from 1872 to 1877, and from 1878 to 1883. Politically the township is about equally di- vided, as the following will show, taken from the township poll books of the spring election of 1883: For Supervisor, Republi- can votes, 124, Democrat, 119; for Assessor, Republican, 135, Democrat, 114; Collector, Republican, 135, Democrat, 116; Clerk, Re- publican, 141, Democrat, 107; Commission- ers of Highways, Republican, 131, Democrat, 117; Constable, Republican. 135, Democrat, 113.
CHAPTER XXI.
FOUR MILE TOWNSHIP-INTRODUCTION-BOUNDARIES-SURFACE-WATER-COURSES-PRODUC- TIONS-BEANS-FROG ISLAND-EARLY SETTLERS AND SKETCHES-THE WILD MAN-POPULATION-WAYNE CITY-MIDDLETON-KEENS-SCHOOLS CHURCHES-POLITICS-OFFICERS, ETC., ETC., ETC.
D EPLORABLE indeed it is that more preciseness in regard to the dates of the interesting occurrences in which the history of the township revels, could not be secured. It again illustrates the invaluable importance of the present work, the importance of gath- ering and preserving all that can be obtained now, lest even this also be lost in the dark confines of oblivion, from which there are no means to recover it. The youth of the present generation have but a faint idea, if any, of the dangers and hardships through which their forefathers were compelled to pass, of the trials and sufferings they had to endure, and of the formidable obstacles they had to surmount in order that this beautiful land of ours might be wrested from its wild
and barbarous possessors and turned over to intelligence and civilization, under whose be- nign influence it has since bloomed and pros- pered. The story, then, of our early pioneers is not only interesting but instructive, and. worthy of thoughtful study. To study their habits and characteristics, their manner of gaining a subsistence, their romantic experi- ences, and the noble impulses which led them to strive and labor for the benefit of those to follow them, more so than for their own, af- fords not only delightful recreation, but it is a theme which offers rich returns to an ear- nest contemplation thereof. But we have in other chapters devoted considerable space to this subject, and we will not repeat.
Four Mile Township, to the immediate
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
history of which this chapter is allotted, is the largest in the State of Illinois. It em- braces within its present limits eighty-six sections of land, although several of these do not possess the requisite number of acres. Its territory is made up of parts of four Con- gressional townships -Sections 7 to 36, in- clusive, of Town 2 south, Range 5 east; 17 to 36 inclusive, of Town 2 south, Range 6 east; 1 to 13 inclusive, of Town 3 south, Range 5 east: and 1 to 13 inclusive of Town 3 south, Range 6 east. The boundaries are as follows: North, by Hickory Hill and Ar- rington Townships; east, by Arrington and Big Mound Townships; south. by Hamilton County, and west, by Jefferson County. The original precinct or rather the territory em- braced in Four Mile Precinet, previous to township organization, had the following boundaries: Commencing with the intersec- tion of Horse Creek and the Jefferson County line, following the course of the former to its confluence with Skillet Fork, and the lat- ter to its point of crossing the line of Ham- ilton County; west on this line to that of Jefferson County, and north again to Horse Creek. The territory comprised within these described limits was, although of different shape, about the same size as the present town- ship. The precinct took its name from Four Mile Creek, and the township did not choose to change it, but who named the creek could not be ascertained. The origin of the name is equally obscure, and there appears to be nothing even as a suggestion for it.
The surface of this township is greatly varied. Something like one-half of it is swamp land, which includes the immense flats and bottoms along Skillet Fork. Large tracts of these low lands are nearly continu- ally overflowed. and the whole of them are not at present subject to profitable tillage. The improved systems of drainage would
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