History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois, Part 56

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Globe Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 704

USA > Illinois > Clay County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 56
USA > Illinois > Wayne County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 56

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Many of the early settlers in this township were earnest, active Christians, and their influence has been felt throughout all the surrounding country. At first their only place of worship was in the cabins of the settlers, and their ministers were those earnest, self-denying missionaries who en- dured the hardships of the frontier for the sake of carrying the comforting words of their Master to the struggling pioneer. As the settlements became more thickly peopled, churches were organized. The first organi- zation was that of the Hoosier Prairie Regu- lar Baptist Church in 1848, but as this organization was changed to Louisville in 1850, its history more properly comes in the history of Louisville. In about 1858, a frame church structure was erected on Sec- tion 15 on land originally settled by William Erwin, but deeded to the Trustees of the church by John Dodd, of Indiana, a descend- ant of William Erwin. This building was occupied at first by both the Baptists and Methodists, but is now used by the Baptists alone, and is known as the Hoosier Prairie Baptist Church. In. 1866, the Methodist Episcopal denomination erected a building on land adjacent to that of the above Baptist Church. This land was bought of the heirs of William A. MeKnight by Henry Conley, and deeded by him to the Trustees of the

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

Church which is called Conley's Chapel. On Section 23 is located another church, which was erected chiefly through the efforts of John Ditter and James McKinney. This church is used by the Universalists, and has but few members, though earnest workers. The Vernal Baptist Church is situated on Section 35, and was built in about 1835. This organization is uot largo, but is in a live condition.

Sailor Springs. - Although these springs are treated of moro fully in the chapter on geology in the general history of Clay Coun- ty, yet this chapter would be incomplete without making mention of this the most noted spot in Clay County. This was a place frequented by the Indian hunter in search of deer, also by the " medicine man," who would boil down the water and use the resid- num to heal the sick. The early white set- tler, however, would not accept these waters as a blessing, but did all he could to shut out all animal life from those poisonous (?) waters. Gradually, however, superstition gave way, and those in the immediato vicin- ity found that the waters were health-giving, instead of breeders of pestilence; but it was not until about 1878 that the grounds were opened up to the public and all were invited to come. As the Springs became more widely known, invalids and pleasure seekers came from a distance. To supply all those who came, hotels and cottages have been erected, till now about 200 guests can be accommo- datod in comfort, and each year the number of visitors is rapidly increasing.

Schools .- While the citizens of this town- ship have been industrious in making for themselves good homes and farms, they have not neglected the intellectual development of

their respective neighborhoods, as the follow - ing statistics, taken from the report of the Township Treasurer of Schools for the year ending June 30, 1883, will show, as follows: Number of school districts. 8

Number frame schoolhouses. 7

Number log schoolhouses

Estimated value of sehool property. $4,350

Number of months schools were in session 41

Number of male teachers. 6

Number of female teachers. 2

Number of males under twenty-one. 257

Number of females under twenty-one. 281

Total number children under twenty-one 538

Number males of school age 168

Number females of school age. 180

Total number children of school age. 348

Number male pupils enrolled. 160

Number female pupils enrolled. 177

Total number pupils enrolled.

337

Amount of township fund. $2,638.60

District tax levied. 850.00

Total expenditures for school purposes. . 3,363.97

The educational facilities seem almost com- pleie in the township, but to reach this stand- ard it has taken time and much care and ex- pense, but from the very first there was the desire on the part of the settlers for good schools. Probably the first school taught in the Hoosier Prairie was by Judge Erwin, at his own home, and attended by all in reach. This school was evidently successful, as young meu would come from other neighborhoods and board in the vicinity in order to attend the school.

When the county went into township or- ganization, Adam McCollum was elected the first Supervisor of this township. Present officers are Benjamin Fields, Supervisor; J. T. McCollum, Clerk; Lyman T. Bonney, Assessor; E. Maxwell, Collector; Benjamin Eytchison, W. R. Tolliver and John Ward, Commissioners; T. D. Ogden and J. R. Bon- ney, Justices of the Peace.

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVIII.

LARKINSBURG TOWNSHIP-POPOGRAPHY AND PHYSICAL FEATURES-SOIL AND TIMBER-PIONEER SETTLEMENT-EARLY MILLS-ITS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT-SECRET SOCIETIES_ SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-PRESENT BUSINESS-TOWNSHIP RECORDS, ETC.

THE northwestern part of Clay County, known by the Government survey as Town 5 north, Range 5 east, called Larkins- burg Township, is bounded on the north by Effingham County, on the east by Blair Township, on the south by Oskaloosa Town- ship, and on the west by Fayette County. It is well timbered by both hard and soft wood, which is converted into lumber used for building material chiefly, by portable steam saw mills, of which there are several in oper- ation each year within the limits of the township. The principal drainage is afforded by Dismal Creek, Crooked Creek and the tributaries of the Little Wabash, the latter draining the northeastern part of the town- ship. Dismal Creek rises in Fayette County, enters the township in Section 7, flows in a southeasterly direction, and leaves it in Sec- tion 36. It receives numerous small tribu- taries which afford a natural drainage to the prairie north of Iola, which is one of the best in the county. Crooked Creek is in the south- west part of the township, and flows through Sections 30, 31, 32 and 33; on it was the first permanent settlement made of which we have any knowledge, also the first mill ever operated in the township, and the first store. Although it was at one time, half a century ago, the place of some traffic and life, yet at the present writing not a vestige of it re- mains, the cleared places being barely kept in cultivation. The Illinois Central Rail- road runs through the northwest part of the

township, and some of the timber land is yet owned by the company. The Springfield branch of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad also runs through it, entering it in Section 34 and leaving it in Section 5. The people in Larkinsburg Township voted against the railroad bonds, and are consequently not suffering from that affection ..

The soil, although not the best in the coun- ty, yields an abundance of corn and small grain, especially when the seasons are not too wet, as the land is flat in some places; but by the use of tiling, which has been tried by a few citizens with good success, this township can be made one of the very best, as it has the benefit of two railroads, and better bargains for shipping can be obtained. Clover and other grasses will yield an abun- dant crop, and pay the tiller of the soil better than grain. Fruit-growing, which has made a great deal of business and a new field of enterprise in this part of Illinois, has also received due attention the last few years. In the southern part of the township, quite a number of acres of strawberries and other small fruit have been set out and prospered.

In the summer time, Larkinsburg Town- ship presents a pretty appearance with its prairies and many groves; but, according to the saying of the old settlers, the country forty or fifty years ago looked most beautiful, as the timber was to a great extent devoid of underbrush, and abounded with all kinds of game, which often became very destructive

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

to the small, unfenced crops of the pioneer. Wolves and panthers prowled about the homes of the early settlers, who would often shoot deer from the door of the log cabin. No attention was paid to the smaller game, such as prairie chickens. quails, squirrels and rabbits, of which there is a wonderful abundance in this and adjoining counties, and which our Nimrods of to-day go forth to conquer.

Among the early settlers of this township, and probably the first, was Benjamin Bishop, better known as " Old Benny Bishop." He came to Clay County in an early day, and was the first grand juryman chosen in this county, in the spring of 1825. He was one of the prominent men in his day. In 1830, he entered land in what is now Larkinsburg Township, in Section 21. Here he worked, and reared a respectable family, descendants of which are yet living in this county. Jesse Bishop was a step-son of Benjamin Bishop, who reared him; he also entered land in Sec- tion 35. Joseph Bishop came to Saline County, Ill., in 1817, and in 1820 came to Clay County, settling in Oskaloosa Township when quite young. In 1832, he was married to Sallie Davis, a native of Middle Tennes- see, and settled in Section 32 in Larkinsburg Township. In 1835, he built a grist mill on Crooked Creek; this was the first mill in the county. He subsequently sold it to Henry Long, who ran it several years and then tore it down and used the frame for a barn. Joseph Bishop raised eleven children, viz. : Patsey, Polly, Enoch, Henry, Maria, John, Jones, Harvey, Nathan, Thomas, and Peggy, who died in infancy. Of the above, Enoch built the first house in Iola, where lie yet resides.

Alfred J. Moore, a native of South Caro- lina, came here from Tennessee in 1829. He settled in the southeast corner of the town-

ship, where he resided a number of years; but finally went to Hoosier Township, where he lived till 1870, when he moved to Oskaloosa Township, where he yet resides.

William Alldridge came to this township in October, 1828, from Randolph County, N. C., the place of his nativity. He was quite young when he came here, and for awhile worked with Walker in a tannery. He also cleared some land in Section 32, which he entered in 1839, and was married here to Dicy Davis, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Enoch and Patsey Davis. She was the mother of eight children, who reached maturity-James P., Mary Gullett, Julia A. Cain. John M., Sarah Cain, Basil D., Amelia M. French and William A. William Ald- ridge owned 360 acres at his death, which occurred December 6, 1876, aged eighty-one years. He served as Justice of the Peace about twenty-four years, and was greatly in- terested in township affairs. Only two of his children-John M. and James P .- are living in the township. William Price and his father were also among the early settlers; they settled in Section 4.

S. B. Walker lived in Section 33. He kept a tannery on his place and was afterward Sheriff of Clay County.

The following persons entered land in the year 1837: Jesse Bishop and Francis Har- man who came here from Middle Tennessee: he died hero leaving two children-John, deceased, and Pollie Sanders-whose descend- ants are yet living in the township. Ho also brought Thomas Rodgers to this county when he was just able to ride horseback. This was before the land was surveyed. He was left an orphan at an early age and reared by Harman's first wife, whose maiden name was Penrice. After living seven years on the Okaw River, he came to this township, where he hunted a good deal; he was con-

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

sidered one of the most successful and noted bee-hunters of which we have ever heard. He was married three times, and is the father of eleven children. William N. and Andrew J. Rodgers are yet living in this township. John Human entered land in IS38, in Section 25. 1839, Henry Hobbs, Section 36, came from Tennessee. He was married here to Sarah Bishop, who bore him two children. After her death he married the widow of S. B. Walker. who was the mother of George Hobbs. Joseph Hoffman, Section 33, Philip Curtis, Section 32, and David Bohall came from Indiana. Larkin Thrash, Section 26, Andrew J. Cochran, Section 28, and Martin Stipp, Section 31. 1840, Lewis Zabrisky, Section 32. 1841, John Black, Sec- tion 36, came from Indiana; Charles Brewer, Section 31. 1842, Joseph Henry, Section 10. 1846, Thomas Long, Section 31. 1847, Bris- coe D. Landers, Section 35; James David, Section 35; Looker Nixon. Section 33; Hay- man Nixon, Section 33; J. W. Murray, Sec- tion 27; Andrew Fender, Section 11; James H. Cochran, Section 22; John Elrod, Section 20. 1848, Daniel Keen on Section 23, on Dismal Creek, where he built a water mill; he moved to Missouri in 1867; James David, Section 22, a native of Indiana; he died here and has descendants; John Alldridge, John Pettyjohn, Section 28, and James Morris, Section 21. Some that entered land in the limits of the above time have been mentioned and are therefore not named here. Morde- cai Price, who settled in Section 4, and Old Johnny Landreth in Section 1. are old settlers, but little is known of them now. Enoch Scief, a native of Tennessee, was also an early settler, and has descendants living in the county; he died in Oskaloosa Town- ship. The early settlers of Larkinsburg Township experienced the same trouble that others of the early settlers of Illinois did in

regard to milling. The first mill, as has al- ready been stated, was built by Joseph Bishop on Crooked Creek. When it gave out a tread mill was built on Section 27, by Washington Bishop; it was run by liorse- power and stood in the southeast corner of the section. It was succeeded by another tread- mill run by ox-power, which only stood a few years. After this, Uncle Joseph Bishop built a small horse mill in Section 33; this was about 1859. About IS60, a man by the name of Jones built a small steam mill, about the same place where the old water mill used to stand. It was bought by Washington Bishop and his son Benjamin H., and moved to where the railroad tank now stands, and was used for sawing and grinding. But not giv- ing the expected satisfaction it was soon sold. At present the Larkinsburg Steam Saw and Flouring Mill, built by C. R. Ellis & Co., in Iola, does a large and paying business. The ; first store was kept by William Alldridge, be- tween the years 1835 to 1840, situated in the southwest part of the township; the next was kept by Henry Long in Section 30: Murray & Thrash kept the next in Section 28, suc- ceeded by L. P. Loofborough; Levi B. An- derson kept a store a little south of that. In 1864, William J. Moore opened a store in Section 34, but the next year moved it to the present site of old Larkinsburg, named in honor of Larkin Thrash, one of the oldest settlers in the township. Here M. H. Pres- ley went into partnership with Moore. The next house built in the old town was by A. P. Finch, M. D. The next store was put up by Henry Long.

The first post office was kept by Larkin Thrash. Levi B. Anderson kept it next in Section 2S; then in Section 34. by Joe Bish- op; next in Section 34, by William J. Moore, who also kept it in Larkinsburg, and who was also the first Postmaster in Iola. Will-

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

iam B. Vickrey was the second Postmaster, and J. M. Sloan, the present. The village of Iola owes its existence to the railroad. The land on which it is built was owned by Wat- son & Presley, and is situated in the cen- ter of Section 34. It was surveyed in 1870, by E. Nixon. The first store was that of William J. Moore, which was moved down from Larkinsburg: it was followed by one or two other buildings. W. V. Vickrey & Co. opened the next store in the fall of 1870. The next year Moore and Vickrey formed a partnership. The first blacksmith shop was kept by J. W. Settles, and the first drug store by Fender & Laswell. Rapp & Broad- well also kept a general store.

The present business directory of Iola con- sists of: Groceries. J. M. Alldridge and W. H. Cain: general stores, Vickrey Bros., J. M. Sloan and P. G. Dedrick: drug store, I. A. Patrick: blacksmiths. J. W. Settles and Jerome Percell: carpenters, E. H. Bishop, W. C. Compton and I. H. Elkin; dealer in agricultural implements. Levi Jackson; physicians, A. P. Finch and T. O. Hatton; mills. Iola Mills, Watson, Moss. Williamson & Son, proprietors: harness, Vickrey Bros .; cooper, Jolin Bennett; wagon-maker, Jona- than Downey: shoe-maker, Samuel Marshall; dress-maker, Mrs. Rusher: millinery, Misses Dora J. Conley and Mary E. Elkin; operator and agent, J. T. Moore; Postmaster, J. M. Sloan.

In 1880, Iola had 137 inhabitants: it has now about 200, and is a thriving little town.

Iola Lodge, A., F. & A. M .. No. 69], was organized March IS. 1872, and received its charter October 1, 1872. I. H. Elkin in- stalled the following charter members: Will- iam J. Moore, James C. Craig. J. D. Patton, W. D. Watson. L. R. Bounds, J. R. Scief, T. A. Hutson, W. H. Morgan, M. H. Thomp-

son, F. M. Harman, A. W. A. Pruitt, A. P. Finch, H. A. Cochran, Samuel Pruitt, MI. HI. Presley, H. S. Watson, Looker Nixon and Edward Patton. The present membership amounts to seventeen. The first officers were William J. Moore, Master: J. C. Craig, S. W .; J. D. Patton. J. W. Prosent officers are: D. H. Moore. Master; P. G. Dedrick, S. W. ; F. M. Harman, J. W .: J. T. Moore, Secretary; J. C. Craig, Treasurer; A. W. Moss, Tiler: J. Dockins, S. D .; William H. Morgan, J. D. The meetings of the lodge are held in their hall. over P. G. Dedrick's store on Wednesday night before each full moon.

Two religious denominations at present ex- ist in Larkinsburg Township, viz., the Meth- odist Episcopal aud Baptist Churches. The former dates its first organization as far back as 1847. Before that, traveling ministers occasionally enlightened the people, and warned them to "flee from the wrath to come." The church held its first meetings at the Linn Branch Schoolhouse, Rev. J. Lambert officiating, who was succeeded by John Patcher. David Reed, R. J. Wall, etc. In 1857. the church was re-organized in the western part of the township, at the Cochran Schoolhouse, by Rev. Ryman. The meet- ings were held at private residences and dif- ferent schoolhouses till 1873, when a church edifice was built in Iola, with Rev. N. E. Har- man in charge of the church. The member- ship then was about fifty; it is forty now. The cost of the building was $1,500. The following is a list of ministers since the church was built: Rev. N. E. Harman, C. W. Sabine, E. Lathrop. J. D. Reeder, Asa Snell, G. A. Seed and J. G. Dee.

Iola Baptist Church was organized Au- gust 2, 1879, by Rev. I. H. Elkin and Rev. E. Patton. Members' desired to be again

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

under the dispensation and blessed influence of a church. The first members were Ed- ward and Lizzie M. Patton, I. H. and Anna Elkin and their daughter Mary, Andrew Fender. Arminta Hudson, Elizabeth Patrick and Emma Patton. The number of present membership is thirty. Rev. Elkin was the first minister, and Rev. Ed Patton is the present minister. The meetings are held in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Iola. A branch or mission church is established at the Little Prairie Schoolhouse, three miles east of Iola.

The Presbyterian Church of Larkinsburg, now defunct, was organized in August, 1868, by Rev. R. C. Galbraith. The first mem- bers were Mrs. Eunice Graves, Spencer Graves, Mrs. Hattie Graves, Charles Graves, Cyrus Graves, David Byers, Mrs. Francis P. Byers, Mrs. Juliann Wood. At the time of organization, David Byers was ordained Elder. The first meetings were held at the residence of Joel S. Graves, and afterward in the schoolhouse near Iola, till the Methodist Episcopal Church was built in the latter place by the Methodists, assisted by the Pres- byterians, after which the meetings were held in that chureh till the abandonment of the organization, which occurred about 1877, on account of the moving away and death of members. The average membership was about twenty-five. The following is a list of officiating ministers: Rev. Joel S. Graves, Rev. R. C. Galbraith, Rev. Doctor Joseph Warren, Rev. William B. Minton and Rev. William Reed.

Schools .- As the light of civilization be- gan to dawn in the East and shed its rays of light and freedom over this country, the ignorance and mysteries began to recede, and finally, like the torches and camp fires of the Indians, disappeared in the distant West, till its last faint glimmer was lost to sight.

Thus has it ever been, thus will it ever be, and therefore schools, the dispensers of intelligence are always hailed with delight. The settlers of this township, early devoted their attention to the erection of schoolhouses, rude though they may have been, and employed such tal- ent as could be had. The pedagogue of thirty or forty years ago was suited to the times. He would be required to be master of the three R's, but it was more necessary for him to be physically well developed, as a good share of his work consisted in " maul- ing " the scholars, especially the bigger boys once a week. What he lacked in intelli- gence, he made up in an earnest endeavor to beat something into the children. He flour. ished in the backwoods, and when the click of the telegraph and the whistle of the loco- motive, sure signs of the onward march of civilization, fell upon his ears, he shrank into oblivion and disappeared in the distant West.

William Robinson taught the first school in this township in an old log cabin situated in Section 29. It was taught on the subscrip- tion plan, the tuition fee being about $2.50 per scholar for one quarter. The next school was tanght by Sam Van Camp in the same section, but in another cabin. He taught several terms; very strict yet a good teacher withal. The following is a list of teachers who have wielded the rod here: Boltonhouse, Billy Robinson, Ben Bishop, Ben Nixon, Jacob Hortenstein, John P. Davis. When, finally the free schools were introduced, about 1857, a new start in education was made, which can be greatly augmented. At present, there are eight schoolhouses in as many school districts, all frame buildings. Number of pupils of school age, 338; males, 161; females, 177; enrollment, 266; males, 125; females, 141; number of teachers, 10- 6 males and 4 females; average monthly

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

wages paid male teachers, $31.49; females, $24.50; estimated valne of school property, $2,400; total expenditures for the last year, $2,060.

The only industry over started in this country was a carding mill, built by Larkin Thrash and Levi B. Anderson, who ran it by ox-power. It existed three years, and was quite a benefit to the country, in which then a lot of sheep were raised. The mill was afterward sold and removed to Flora.

The only incident of a serious character, which was accompanied with loss of life and property, occurred on Sunday night October 21. 1866. On that night a tornado swept over this part of Clay County, coming from the southwest and going northeast. It almost annihilated the little village of Larkinsburg, tearing down every house except two. Many persons were seriously injured, and a daugh- ter of M. Rusher was killed, and also some stock.

Larkinsburg Township has been singularly . Highways ; H. C. Stephens, School Trustee.

exempt from accident or bloodshed.

After the township was organized, Henry Long was elected Supervisor ; H. S. Watson, Clerk ; A. J. Long, Collector ; J. D. Cochran, Assessor: William Alldridge and R. M. Will- iamson, Justices of the Peace.

Owing to the fact that the records of the township have been destroyed or lost, we are only able to give a list of officers for the last ten years-from 1873 to 1SS3 :

1873-H. M. Campbell. Supervisor ; George Griffith, Clerk ; Rufus Robinson and J. A. Flemming, Justices.

1871-H. M. Campbell, Supervisor ; W. D. Watson, Clerk ; Rufus Robinson and J. A. Flemming, Justices.

1875 H. M. Campbell, Supervisor ; F. M. Herman, Clerk ; J. A. Flemming and Rufus Robinson, Justices.

1876-H. M. Campbell, Supervisor ; W. T. Britton, Clerk : James A. Flemming and Rufus Robinson, Justices.

1877 -1I. M. Campbell, Supervisor ; F. M. Herman, Clerk ; James Craig and Rufus Robinson, Justices.

1878-W. V. Vickrey, Supervisor ; F. M. Herman, Clerk ; H. M. Campbell, Assessor ; I. D. Fender, Collector ; C. R. Brown, High- way Commissioner ; L. R. Bounder, School Trustee.

1879-W. J. Moore, Supervisor ; F. M. Herman, Clerk ; J. Robinson, Assessor ; J. P. Baker, Collector ; J. D. Cochran, Com- missioner of Highways ; S. H. Pring, School Trustee.

1SSO-W. V. Vickrey, Supervisor : J. P. Baker, Clerk ; J. Robinson, Assessor ; I. D. Fender, Collector ; A. Koss, Commissioner of

1881-W. V. Vickrey, Supervisor ; J. P. Baker, Clerk ; J. Robinson, Assessor ; W. H. Morgan, Collector ; M. Rush, Commissioner of Highways; F. M. Herman, School Trustee; J. C. Craig and J. Craig, Justices of the Peace.

1882-W. V. Vickrey, Supervisor ; Edgar Hayes, Clerk ; Isaac Edwards, Assessor ; A. C. Vantino, Collector ; Jonathan Robinson, Commissioner of Highways; A. J. Rodgers and B. F. Bishop, Constables.

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History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois, Part 56

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : Globe Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 704

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Globe Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 704