USA > Illinois > Clay County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 53
USA > Illinois > Wayne County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 53
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His wife was a victim of epileptic tits, and so familiar had he become with their effects, that he could perfectly imitate the actions of a person affected with them; even to the minutest details was this true, and when the officer saw him fall in all the agonies of a fit, subjected to the most frightful contor- tions, he hastened to the nearest house to se- cure assistance for the unfortunate (?) man, but on returning, what must have been his surprise and chagrin to find that his bird had flown.
Robinson never again allowed himself to be surprised, but placed himself on the com- fortable side of danger, where none dared molest or make him have fits.
The following-named men have served the township officially:
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
Justices of the Peace- - J. B. Turner, War- ren King, Hiram Green, James Hackett, Enoch Sceife, James Riley, S. C. Dayton, D. M. Laswell, Harris Gammon, Wm. H. Hackett and R. N. Smith,the present incumbent.
Supervisors-A. H. Bryan, G. W. Harrall, William Krutsinger, J. L. Hortenstine, R. N. Smith, Samuel Dillman, Jesse Montgomery, William Colclasure, with Lewis Dillman, present incumbent.
The first physician to locate in Oskaloosa Township was Dr. Hines. He came in an early day from Wabash County, Ill., and located in Section 20. He was much fonder of whisky than of women, and consequently spent a life of bachelorhood, and died in Xenia, of delirium tremens, about 1857.
Amos P. Finch was the next resident physician, followed by Dr. Ramsey in 1855, who with Dr. Picthall are the only physicians in the township.
The only organized religious societies are the Methodist and Old Baptist. Of the former we have previously spoken, and to say that Methodism has flourished in this township would be a statement unwarranted by the truth. They however maintain regnlar preaching, which is held in the vil- lage schoolhouse. The Missionary Baptist society was organized abont 1855, by Rev. Canady, and was composed of James Las- well and wife, Zadock Lovelace and wife, A. H. Barker and wife and William Finamore and wife. Their efforts in building a church house have already been alluded to. "Icha- bod" has been indelibly written upon their efforts as a society, and as such they have ceased to have an existence since 1875.
Among their ministers have been I. H. Elkin, now a resident of the township, Rev. Pearson, of Marion County, Rev. Wharton and Rev. Mckay.
The first religious society formed in the township was that of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Their first meetings were held at the house of Levi Rollins, in the west part of the township, where they met regularly for several years, and near where they set apart a portion of ground for a burying ground. Rev. Joseph Helmns was their preacher for some years, assisted occasionally by John Griffith. The original society was composed of Levi Rollins and wife, John Sutton and wife, Scott Smith and wife, John Craig and wife, and others whose names are forgotten.
The Old Baptists, among whom were Enoch Sceife and wife, Jephtha Allen and wife, Levi Daniels and others were early organized by Rev. Whiteley. They built their first church house near the center of the town- ship on Crooked Creek. This house was burned, and they erected another near the north line of the township, which is still standing, and where they continue to hold occasional service.
The first school ever conducted in Oska- loosa Township was taught in the house of Levi Rollins, by his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Meeks, in the year 1833. Of the few who attended this school are remembered the names of Elijah Sutton, Elizabeth Sutton, John Dunham, Sarah and Elizabeth Rollins, the last named being now the widow of -- Webster, and lives near Flora. A Mr. Chyle taught the next school in the township, which was kept in the kitchen of Scott Smith, liv- ing in Section 20, on the Vandalia road. Chyle was also a Methodist preacher, but was not a permanent resident of the town- ship. Benjamin Nixon was also among the first teachers in the township, and we believe is still living in the county.
The first house built for school purposes was erected in the south part of the township, near where the village stands, but has long since ceased to exist. The township now supports eight public schools.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIV.
XENIA TOWNSHIP-DESCRIPTION-FIRST SETTLERS-EARLY SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES -VILLAGES-SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC., ETC., ETC.
X ENIA TOWNSHIP formerly embraced all that portion of the county now known as Xenia and Songer Townships, and was separated from the latter by the adoption of township organization in 1861. In 1867, they were again united by act of the Legis- lature, and so remained until 1869, when they were again separated.
Xenia Township, so named from the old town of Xenia, which was within its limits, is a half Congressional township, with its longest dimensions east and west, and con- sequently contains eighteen sections. Its northern boundary is formed by Songer Township, the eastern boundary being Har- ter Township; the south is bounded by Wayne County, and the west by Marion County; the township, therefore, lies in Township 2 north, Range 5 east. It is largely a timbered region, much of which has yielded to the ax of the industrious settlers, thus bringing a large proportion of the township under cultivation. The soil is fairly adapted to agriculture, and especially adapted to fruit-growing.
The township is crossed from east to west by the main line of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway, running nearly parallel with which is the " Old St. Louis Trail," one of the old- est roads in the State of Illinois.
Brush Creek and Nicholas Creek afford the principal natural drainage. The former stream rises a short distance north of the township, enters it at the northwest corner of Section 3, flows southwest and leaves it from
the southwest corner of Section 13. Nicho- las Creek rises in the vicinity of the village of Xenia in Section 3, flows southwest, and leaves the township through Section 17.
Among the early permanent settlements in Clay County was the one formed in Xenia Township. It is impossible, at this late day to obtain absolute dates of the coming of the first settlers, or to determine fully who the first comer was; but from the best authenti- cated account, the first white man to settle in the township was a Mr. Kiffcart, who came previous to the year 1818. He located on the land now occupied by D. W. Strain, but only remained for a few years, and was fol- lowed to the same place by one Retherford, who came from St. Clair County, Ill. After a residence of a few years, Retherford left the county for the county's good, as well as to avoid the associations of an uncongenial wife.
The next actual settlement was made by William Lewis, who settled in 1818 on what has long been known as the old Davenport farm. Mr. Lewis was a native of North Carolina, but came to Clay County from Indiana. He was a man of more than ordi- nary ability for the time in which he lived. Like most pioneers, he depended largely npon his gun for the necessary meat to supply his table, and especially excelled in the deer chase and in the search for wild honey; later in life, he became one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of the county, and served the township for some years as Justice of the
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
Peace. The county records show two mar- riage returns over his name, bearing the dates of June and August, 1826.
About 1830, Mr. Lewis left the township. owing, as we are informed, to the pressure of public opinion, those who knew him best being satisfied that his desire for gain had rendered him somewhat covetous. In 1836, he entered land near Georgetown, in Bible Grove Township, where he died many years ago. A Mr. Fitch settled a few years sub- sequent to the coming of Lewis a short distance south of the residence of Mr. Lewis, and on the original route through the town- ship of the "old trail" which had been changed so that two roads crossed the town- ship, uniting with each other at the extremi- ties of the township east and west. Both Mr. Lewis and Mr. Fitch kept a public house or inn, and, consequently, a strife arose be- tween them, each trying to induce the gen- eral travel past his own house. As a means to this end, they resorted to advertising, which was done by placing a placard on the sign-post which stood at the point of diver- gence of the two roads, each claiming his road to be the shortest and best. It is said that Lewis was at last successful, owing to his extreme height, which enabled him to nail his placard high above that of his rival, and thus the longest pole, as is usual, knocked the persimmons. -
In 1822, Isaac Elliott came from Wash- ington County, Ind., to Clay County, Ill., and. in 1824, entered a tract of land in Sec- tion 1 of Xenia Township. He is still a resident of the same place, and we deem him worthy of more than a passing notice, as he now enjoys the honor of being the oldest settler in the county. He was born in North Carolina on the 8th of January, 1800, and is, therefore, ciglity-four years old, and has been a resident of the county sixty-two years,
and of Xenia Township for the past sixty years. His father, John Elliott, died in North Carolina in 1807, and his mother. whose maiden name was Susanna Cleaver, soon after removed to the Indiana Territory, where Isaac grew to manhood. He was mar- vied in Floyd County, Ind., in 1824, to Deli- lah Walker, and again in Clay County, Ill., in 1866, to his present wife, Mary, widow of James N. McLin. His first wife died in Clay County in 1865, leaving two children- John Wesley Elliott and Catherine, wife of Thomas Monical. Mr. Elliott was a member of the first grand jury ever assembled in Clay County, and let it be recorded to his lasting credit that no man in the county has ever evinced greater zeal for the Christian religion than has been manifested in the life of this old pioneer, having been a faithful and honored member of the M. E. Church for fifty-three years.
About 1830, the families of John Griffith and Dr. John Davenport settled in the town- ship. John Griffith came from Kentucky and located in the southern part of the town- ship, and for many years exerted a potent influence for good. He was a pioneer Methodist preacher of more than ordinary ability, and served a term in the State Leg- islature, during which he won honors for himself, giving his constituency the benefits of his faithful service and ripe judgment. He died in Xenia Township in 1858. Of his descendants, several are now living in the county and numbered among its most worthy citizens. Dr. John Davenport bought the farm of William Lewis, now known as the Davenport farm. He came from Virginia, was a practicing physician, with which he combined general farming. He was very successful in the treatment of the prevalent diseases of the new country, and the first physician in the township; also kept the first
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
post office known as the Cato Post Office. This position he accepted against his will, and at the earnest solicitation of his neigh- bors. As a result, his other cares so occupied his time that, when called upon by Uncle Sam for a report, his report was not ready, and he told the aforesaid Uncle Sam to take the office and go to h-1 with it, and thus ended his service as a Government official. His successor in the office was John Jordon, who came to the township about 1835, set- tling in Section 3 on the State road, where he kept a store. Two sons, Frank and Fred- erick Jordon still reside in the county.
Maj. John Onstott, in 1828, settled in Section 4, and came from Indiana. He kept a stage stand on the old road, and was a prominent farmer and a man of great energy and perseverance. He recruited a company for the Black Hawk war, and was its Captain. He died in May, 1876. Of his family, two sons. Levi and John Onstott, are now resi- dents of the county ; a daughter, Sophia Edwards, is a resident of Carlyle, Ill.
Abram, Jacob, Frederick, John, Samuel, James and Giles Songer, with their widowed mother, came to the county from Virginia in 1828. Perhaps no family has reflected more honor upon the township than has this fam- ily of sterling men. Abram served with Maj. Onstott in the Black Hawk war, and is still in the township. Frederick afterward re- moved to Songer Township, and died in the town of Kinmundy, Ill. John was noted for his business integrity, and was one of the proprietors of the village of Xenia, and died in 1860.
i
The Rev. Joseph Helinn and his father-in- law, John Maxey, settled on Ramsey's Prai- rie, in the northeast part of the township, about 1832. Joseph Helmn was a farmer, and also a Methodist preacher of the shout- ing order. He traveled over a radius of for-
ty miles, holding revival meetings. He was an uneducated man, but nature had done much for him, and for mental penetration and oratorical ability he surpassed most men of his day and surroundings. He died in the township, and is buried in the old camp ground cemetery.
Maxey was an unpolished man of noble parts, and was a local preacher in the Meth- odist Episcopal Conference. There are no descendants of either of these pioneers in Clay County.
In 1831. George and Rebecca Baity came from North Carolina and settled in the southern part of the township. They were members of the Old-School Baptist Church, and their descendants are a prominent fac- tor in the community at the present time. George Baity was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace early in the political history of the township, and held the office without an intermission until his death, which occurred in the township in December, 1847. The responsibilities of the office were then placed in the hands of his son, Isaac Baity, who still holds the position.
His wife died but recently at a very ad- vanced age. Of the sons, Isaac, James, Giles and Alex are still living.
Otho Davenport, brother of Dr. John Dav- enport, came to the township and located in Section 2 in the year 1833. He taught an early school in the township, where he soon became prominent. In 1846, he removed to St. Clair County, where he died in 1853.
In 1835, Samuel Whiteley built a cabin in Section 6, and the year following Leonard Melton settled in the same section.
John Peirce settled on the same section in 1837. He came originally from New Hamp- shire, married a daughter of Otho Daven- port, and is still living and a resident of the village of Xenia.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
Robert Montgomery came in 1837, as did his sons, -Isaac and William. The widow of the latter still lives on the old homestead, and is the wife of Jesse Clemens.
Two brothers, William and John Lawson, settled in 1838, the former in Section 7 and the latter in Section 6. William was a Bap- tist minister, and John kept a country store. Both in the meantime engaged in farming.
Holman, Anderson, Jarvis, Cook and Hen- derson came about 1838.
From this time to 1850, a large number of families settled in this township, among whom were N. B. Nelms, Gilbert Pritchet, a son-in-law of Dr. Davenport, and Aaron Finch. Dr. James A. Finch, son of Aaron, was the second resident physician of the township. He was a graduate of the Chi- cago Rush Medical College, and married a daughter of John Griffith. Dr. Finch died in September, 1851, and his widow after- ward married a lawyer named Griffin, and resides in Louisville, Clay County.
Following are a few of the earliest land entries in the township: 1830, John Onstott, in Section 4; 1836, Samuel Whiteley, Section 6; Isaac Elliott, Section 1; William Childress, Section 2; John Davenport, John Jordon and John Songer, in Section 3; Jacob Songer, Section 10; William Holman, Rebecca Bos- ley and George Bailey, in Section 11; John Speaks, Section 12, and Gideon Bosley, in Section 15. In 1837, John and Edward Peirce, in Section 5; Otho Davenport and Leonard Melton, in Section 6; Mary and Abram Songer, Section 15.
The first death that occurred was that of a child of John Speaks, in Section 12. This was the first burial in what is now the Camp Ground Graveyard.
The marriage of William George and Elizabeth Songer was doubtless the first wedding, but who the first child born may
have been is a question too nice for even the oldest inhabitant.
In 1830, the first schoolhouse was built. It was made of round logs, having a puncheon floor, and old-fashioned "stick in the mud" chimney, and, to afford a little light, a por- tion of a log was cut away and the opening covered with a greased paper. This house stood in the timber in Section 21. Rev. Whiteley was the first teacher, and taught one term. He was well qualified for the re- sponsibilities of a pioneer teacher, and con- ducted school with marked ability. This school was supported by the families through- out a radius of four miles, some attending even farther remote than that, among whom were the children of Thomas Elliott, who then lived in the house now occupied by John A. Gerhart, near Flora. Isaac Elliott and Levi Onstott attended the same school. In 1834, another schoolhouse was erected, located in Section 3, on land now occupied by the village of Xenia. George Baity taught the first school in this house, and proved a very good teacher, but was succeeded by some of questionable ability. The town- ship now supports four public schools, em- ploying seven teachers.
Religious worship has been held within the township since a very early date. Among the early settlers, as has already been noticed, were some zealous ministers, who lost no op- portunities to appeal to the consciences and hearts of the people. A suitable placo for meeting, however, presented no small barrier to their prosperity, and yet they would meet in their rude cabin homes, and there listen to the rough eloquence of their pioneer teachers. The first religious gathering, of which we have any account, was held at the house of John Onstott about 1830, and was conducted by a Rev. Whiteley, of Baptist faith, and a resident of what is now Songer
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
Township, and the man who taught the first school in Xenia Township. Of those pres- ent at this meeting, we know of none now living except Uncle Isaac Elliott.
The Baptists afterward formed a society and erected a log church near the residence of John Onstott. This house has long since been torn away, and replaced by a frame building near the same site.
The first Methodist society was organized about 1832 by Rev. Simeon Walker, consist- ing of about twelve members, among whom were Isaac Elliott and wife, Jacob Songer and wife, and Abram Songer and wife. For some years they worshiped in the private houses, later in the schoolhouse in old Xenia, where they finally built a brick church. Simeon Walker, referred to above, was a man of wonderful endurance, earnest and very forcible in his appeals to the hearts of his people, and now has two sons who are noted ministers in the Methodist Conference.
The first village of the township was that of Xenia, now called Upper Town, to distin- guish it from Xenia proper. It was laid out in 1834 by Dr. John Davenport, John O. Pierce and John A. Gowdy, the two last named being non-residents, and is located in the northwest quarter of Section 3, on the old State road. The first business enterprises of this new village was a horse mill, a small carding mill owned by John Onstott, and a general store kept by a man named Colman. Colman believing it better to face the ills we have than fly to those we know not of, sold strictly for cash, and spared no paint to notify the people that no indigent cus- tomer need apply without the necessary lucre; and while he was not required to cry after his goods, he mourned over them until they were shelf-worn and stale.
After a time, more 'pretentious business houses were erected, a few more families
moved to town, a hotel was erected, and as has already been said, a schoolhouse and church were built, and the aspirations as well as the admiration of its people seemed to have reached their zenith, when the coming of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad forever sealed the doom of the once happy village, many of its best buildings having been removed to the new town.
The present village of Xenia, as has just been intimated, was a sequence of the coming of the railroad. It was laid out and platted in 1854 by Songer, Camp & Co., who were working in the interest of the road, the laud being furnished by John Pierce and John Songer, and is situated in the southwest quarter of Section 3 and the north west quar- ter of Section 10. The village has sustained considerable growth and has a population of about 1,000. It has always been considered a good business point, and has been favored with many very substantial men, a number of whom are still there. Among the more important business men may be mentioned the names of J. W. Westcott, David Strain and George Lappin, dry goods merchants; Thomes Finty, general merchandise, and one of the wealthist men in the county; D. M. Maxey also deals in general merchandise and drugs; J. R. Gauger, druggist; T. O. Peirce, Joseph Tully (who is also the Post- master), M. Symonds and Robert Flemin are also leading merchants, besides several others of minor importance, as well as two boot and shoe stores, which are among the solid enterprises of the town. Besides the business already referred to, the village sup- ports a machine shop, a wagon and carriage manufactory, steam cider mill and first-class marble works. The Moody House is kept by Charles Moody and is the principal hotel of the town. J. P. Hill and J. G. Hill each are engaged In the hotel business on a smaller
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
scale. There are two flouring mills, both frame buildings, and each containing three sets of buhrs or stones, and having a capacity of fifty barrels of flour per day. One is known as the Eclipse Mills and is owned by Wescott, Bryan & Co., but operated by M. Spaulding & Co., to whom it is rented. The other is known as the Excelsior Mills, and was originally built for a lint mill and con- verted into a flouring mill in 1873 by Dayton & Davis. It is now under the management of D. W. Riley & Son. A woolen mill is also a prominent feature of the town. The churches of the village are three in number, viz., Methodist, Baptist and Christian.
The Xenia Lodge, No. 485, A. F. & A. M .. was organized about 1865 in Oskaloosa, and was then known as the Oskaloosa Lodge, No. 485, and was removed to Xenia in 1879. Among the charter members were: Dr. James B. Harrison, Master; William Gammon, Sen- ior Warden; William Krutsinger, Junior War- den; Silas Gammon, Secretary; Harris Gam- mon, Alfonzo Bryant and A. H. Porter. They now have membership of twenty-five, with their present officers as follows: J. W. West- cott. Master; C. C. Ramsey, Senior Warden; T. W. Kepley, Junior Warden; T. M. Cox, Treas- urer: C. P. Evans, Secretary; Harry Evans, Senior Deacon; George S. Lappin, Junior Deacon; and S. E. Payne, Tiler. Regular meetings held in T. O. Poirce's Hall.
The old Xenia Lodge was the first in the township, and was organized in 1856 or 1857. They at one time were in a flourishing con- dition, having more than sixty members, but owing to the removal of many of its most in- fluential members the organization was dis- banded in 1871. Among the charter mem- bers of this lodge appear the names of R. J. Holtsclaw, N. J. Martin, J. W. Westcott and N. B. Nelms.
Rounceville Lodge, No. 213, I. O. O. F.,
now called Orphan's Hope Lodge, No. 213. was organized in October, 1856, by J. S. Irwin, of Samaritan Lodge, No. 111. From 1860 until 1868, the society did not flourish, and no meetings were held during that interval for want of a quorum. The lodge however was restored by dispensation of the Grand Master of Illinois, and William Elston was elected Noble Grand: John Peirce, Vice Grand; Henry R. Gregory, Secretary; and S. D. Jaynes, Treasurer.
The society is now flourishing, and meets regularly in Peirce's Hall. The lodge controls a cemetery in Section 9 of the township.
The Knights of Honor also have a healthy Society in Xenia. and were organized April 11, 1879, with twenty charter members, viz .: F. A. Davis, J. F. Davis, Henry Davis, M. Spaulding, W. O. Brissenden, L. A. Baity, F. M. Baity, E. K. Rose, E. M. Rose, James Clark, James Kendall, T. Smith, J. A. Songer, John R. Bryan, R. Gaw, A. R. Jones, S. E. Paine and R. Flemin. Their first election resulted in selection of J. A. Songer, Dictator: F. M. Baity, Vice Dic- tator; A. R. Jones, Reporter: S. E. Paine, Treasurer; F. A. Davis, Chaplain.
The present officers are: M. Spalding, Dic- tator; E. M. Rose, Vice Dietator; E. K. Rose, Assistant Dictator: W. O. Brissenden, Re- porter; L. A. Baity, Treasurer; A. R. Jones, P. D .; and R. Flemin, Financial Reporter. Meet every alternate Friday night in Flem- in's Hall.
The first Methodist Episcopal Church was built in Upper Town about 1845. It was a brick structure, and was built with the aid of but little ready eash, and was paid for with cattle, colts, sheep, hogs, or whatever the patron might be able to contribute. The only church of the society now in the town- ship is the Xenia Methodist Episcopal Church, a brick building that was erected in
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