USA > Illinois > Woodford County > History of Woodford County > Part 15
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John Seibel was an early comer in Secor, arriving there in September, 1869, and lived there three years. The family then moved to a farm three miles southwest of Benson. His son, William C., and daughter, Catherine, reside in Secor, while Henry lives near town.
There are four churches in Secor. In 1862 the Church of Christ was erected and still serves as a place of worship.
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TOWNS OF THE COUNTY.
Twelve years ago a part of this organization withdrew and built a new church of Christ. The M. E. church was built in 1865-'66. It was originally for both English and German services, but of late years the services in German have been abandoned. The Lutheran church was established in 1864- '65 and it has one of the largest congregations in that vi- einity.
The first telephone exchange was organized in 1899, with W. B. Graybill as manager. The company has 225 tele- phones now in operation. A separate exchange has now been installed.
In 1906 a large modern school building was ereeted at the cost of over $10,000. It has four sehool rooms, aside from the library and superintendent's office. The school is now under the management of Prof. William C. Stauter. The present structure devoted to education is the result of many years' progress. The first school was established in Se-
SECOR SCHOOL.
cor in 1857; but in 1860 it was found necessary to ereet a larger building. This was improved and enlarged, but final- ly gave way to the larger, more modern brick structure now in use.
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
The records of the secretary of state show that Secor was incorporated as a town under a special act of the legis- lature, February 28th, 1867. It was later incorporated as a village, but no report of such action was ever made to the secretary of state. It became necessary to resubmit the mat- ter to a vote of the people, which was done in 1902, and it became incorporated under the general law. The following were the first town officers : President. R. L. Sidwell ; clerk, D. C. Smith; trustees, David Gephart, Henry Dierking, George Thode and John Noffsinger.
The village at present has the following corps of officers : President. George Goebel; clerk, J. T. Warner : trustees, Ira Powell, John Frey. Wm. Dehority, William Seibel, L. R. Deiner and Win. Mahlsteh ; treasurer. Il. Reed : police magis- trato, L. G. Wilson ; marshal. Charles Zimmers.
Seeor, like many of the other towns of the county, has suffered greatly on several occasions from fire. In 1874 the Grand Hotel was destroyed entailing a loss of forty thous- and dollars on its owners and there was but little insurance to cover it. After this a few years, a second fire occurred that destroyed the block facing the railroad. In this fire II. Ludwig lost his home and his family had a narrow escape. The loss was quite heavy. December 28. 1905, the cast half of the main business block was burned. The fire broke ont in the middle of the night and could not be checked until the street was reached. These buildings have been replaced by a number of better buildings than before ocenpied that site. II. Ludwig, who suffered from this fire also has rebuilt. The Secor hotel is another of these buildings.
Zeiger and Imdwig assumed control of their general store in 1907. having succeeded Flessner and Zeiger who had been in business about eleven years. Goebel and Gassner have a stock of general merchandise, occupying the stand so long occupied by E. F. Dierking. As before noticed, Adolph Harseim has a large general store. Il. I. Brown and C. W. Frey have extensive hardware and implement stores, and
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Charles de Long conducts the lumber yard and does con- traeting.
Panola.
Panola was one of the villages along the Illinois Central road, and it at one time seemed likely to become a town of considerable importance. As the county became more thick- ly settled and other railroads were built, it began to lose its hopes of a great future, and settled down to the quiet life it has since enjoyed. The railroad was built in sections, and reached Panola before it was constructed thru Minonk. Timothy O'Connell, who aided in building the Central road, still lives there. Altho 82 years of age, his memory is still filled with stories of the early history of his township. Ile remembers having planted the park around the station many years ago. Ife was one of the first men to work on the Central at Cairo. On the completion of the road steps were taken for the establishment or a town. A station was built in 1854, and B. Stockwell was the first agent. He was later followed by N. L. Seever and John Parks. The same year a postoffice was established there and F. 1. Barnard became the first postmaster. The first buildings were erected by the Central. Aside from these, William Crosley moved the first house to town from Greene township, and F. I. Barnard erected the first building. Thomas Enright established a boarding house, his patrons being principally railroad men. The first store was opened by William Crosley and Thomas Patterson in the fall of 1854. Steps were taken at an early date for the establishment of a town. It was platted for the Illinois Central, that owned the property on which the town was located, May 16th, 1855. The main streets were named for the common varieties of trees, such as Hickory, Walnut, Chestnut, Oak, Locust and Poplar. In 1855 James Dye opened a lumber yard and Henry Saltsman also opened his place of business the same year. The town grew rapidly, more business houses were erected and the people enjoyed an extensive trade. Among those who traded in Panola was
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
the Ray family. John Ray still has in his possession a bill for goods purchased of Crosley and Lewis, bearing the date of 1854. One of the articles mentioned in the bill was a pair of glasses, which Mr. Ray still has in his possession.
There was originally a turntable south of Panola and the engines took wood there. Michael Kelly had charge of wooding the locomotives, and Michael Klug looked after the pumping.
The first church organized was of the Baptist denomina- tion in 1857. It drew many of its members from the Willow Tree Baptist church, which had been organized in Greene township a year earlier. This church prospered and in 1866 a neat building was erected. In 1862 the United Brethren be- gan to hold services, and in 1875 they erected a church, northeast of Panola. This structure has in recent years fal- len into the hands of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a part of the Gridley circuit. In 1909 they erected a new building at the cost of $5,000. The Evangelical church now has services in town, being served by the pastor of the Evan- gelical church at ElPaso.
In 1856 the people of Panola suffered a serious disap- pointment. They had expected that the Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw railroad would cross the Central there and great- ly increase the importance of the town by making it a rail- road junetion. For some reason the road went two miles south of Panola, and the town never quite recovered from the effects of this disappointment. ElPaso reaped the bene- fits that Panola had hoped to receive.
Kappa.
Prior to the establishment of the present village of Kappa in 1854, there was a postoffice located a short distance south of the town as it is now located. This was on a mail route between Ottawa and Bloomington, and deliveries were made there twice a week. The first postmaster was Caleb Ilorn. When the Illinois Central railroad was built thru the township, the village was established where it now stands.
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There were but few settlers in that vicinity at that time. and the location seemed especially promising for a town. It soon entered upon an era of prosperity that gave foundation for high hopes for its future greatness. These hopes were en- couraged by a rumor that a new railroad from Peoria east would cross the Central at Kappa. The town soon became an important grain center. Farmers hauled grain for miles around to Kappa for shipment. Towns with railroad ac- commodations were widely scattered, and these drew grain from a wide territory. When the new railroad was built and the crossing with the Central was at ElPaso. that town soon became a growing, prosperous village, while Kappa be- gan to lose the prestige it had gained.
The first agent at this place was C. D. Cook. the father of John W. Cook, now president of the Northern Illi- nois Normal School, at DeKalb, and who enjoys a national reputation as an educator. After leaving Kappa Mr. Cook became prominent in the affairs of Illinois. Ile was appoint- ed by the state to look after the collection of its war claims against the National government. He also had charge of a like commission from Missouri.
J. W. Mann came from Boston to Kappa in March and was agent there for twenty years. Ile at one time also bought grain and stock there. When he gave up the ageney, the Illi- nois Central Company gave him a lot on which his store now stands.
Ira C. Stone, known far and wide as the oldest man in the county, came to Kappa from Buffalo, New York, in 1859. with his wife, son and daughter. These have all since died and Mr. Stone now has no blood relative living. He has passed his ninety-ninth year. and bids fair to live beyond his one hundredth. On coming to Kappa he entered busi -. ness and for many years conducted a general store and. bought grain. The change from the city to the wild region to, which they had come was very great yet they soon became accustomed to the new ways of the people in the west, as,
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
IRA C. STONE.
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TOWNS OF THE COUNTY.
this was termed. Mr. Stone is remarkably well preserved for a man of his age, and his mind retains the vigor and activi- ty of a much younger man. Ile and his son, Eugene, were connected with the enterprises of that portion of Woodford county for many years.
One of the first business men of Kappa was Asa Sparks, who kept a general stock of merchandise. Ile was preceded, however, by Mr. Reed, who was in turn preceded by a Cana- dian, who was the first business man in the village.
Christian Schafer was another of the early business men of the town. He entered business and remained there until the business tides set in favor of ElPaso, when he removed to that place. Ile was very prosperous and at the time of his death was one of the wealthiest men in the county.
About 1858 a German Lutheran church was formed, but it was later transferred to ElPaso. In 1855 the M. E. class was organized and in 1874 a neat church was erected. The organization is a part of the Gridley charge. The Evangeli- cal church also holds services there, the two congregations meeting at different hours on the Sabbath day. The pastor of the Kappa church also preaches at the Centennial church in Palestine township.
One of the more recent improvements is the introduc- tion of the rural telephone, with the central in the grain office. This has been in operation for about eight years, and has an extensive system of phones.
In 1884 the village was organized under the general law. I. C. Stone was the first mayor of the village. The of- ficers at present are as follows: President, E. E. Crawford ; clerk, E. W. Porter, treasurer, J. C. McGraw; trustees, C. D. Witt, Ed. S. Summers, B. D. McClure, II. II. McClure, Eu- gene Porter and W. M. Motherway.
After the completion of the Central road, mail was carried from Kappa to Eureka, Spring Bay and intermedi- ate points, it being delivered twice a week. The building of
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
other railroads soon took from the village its prestige in this line also.
Low Point.
Low Point was first established at a point over a half mile southwest of the present site of the village. It derived the name from a low point of timber land on the south fork of Richland creek. The postoffice was on the stage route from Chicago, which was at that time an important line of travel. The first postmaster was William Dodds. Later J. E. Dodds conducted a store there, and continued to do business at that point until 1871, when he removed his store to the present site of Low Point. He was postmaster both before and after the removal of the office. A saw mill was put in operation in 1847, and did an extensive business. At that time goods were hanled to and from Peoria, Spring Bay, Chillicothe and Lacon, these being the nearest markets and sources of supply.
The completion of the railroad thru the township gave a new impetus to its growth and resulted in building up three towns along its line of road within the township of Caze- novia.
As previously suggested the site of Low Point changed and it was laid out near the railroad. In 1871 D. II. Davi- son, who is surveyor at the present time, surveyed the town for James G. Bayne, who came to the county in 1846. One of the early enterprises of the town was a tile factory, first opened by John Pinkerton, but operated by his son, Osear. Of late the plant has fallen into disuse and decay.
The business interests of the town changed hands quite frequently. J. E. Dodds and F. M. Patton formed a partner- ship and erected one of the buildings now occupied by Banta Bros., and conducted a general store. Other names among the business records of the town are those of Charles and Joseph McCulloch, Smith and Amsler. Finally the business interests of the town came into the hands of Banta Brothers & Company. This enterprising firm now controls the lum-
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TOWNS OF THE COUNTY.
her, grain, stock, implement, merchandise, grocery and bank- ing interests. They employ a large number of men and do an extensive business. This has made necessary new quar- ters and they are at present engaged on a large new building.
LOW POINT SCHOOL.
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There is a telephone exchange in connection with their other branches, and a number of country lines run into their een- tral office.
In 1848 the first school house was built, many years be- fore the founding of the town. The first teacher was Orson Cheedle. It was located on the outskirts of the town. In 1905 a convenient brick school house was erected and high school work was introduced under the principalship of Prof.
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
Harry Andrews. The building has two rooms equipped for school use.
In 1851 a Methodist church was built there under the leadership of their pastor, and it was dedicated by Rev. J. S. Cummins, who was presiding elder at that time. The class had been previously organized, and held services for some time without the convenience of a church.
Cazenovia.
On the completion of the railroad thru the township, a second town sprang up within two miles of Low Point, nam- ed Cazenovia for the township. It was laid out for W. O. Hammers and E. N. Farnsworth in 1870. The postoffice was at once established and W. O. Hammers was the first post- master. John Hamilton, a brother of Mrs. Isaac Boys, was the first station agent. Wikoff & Bowen conducted the first grocery on the site of the Speas Bros. store building. Nick Portman, of Metamora, started the first dry goods store in a building owned by E. N. Farnsworth, W. O. Hammers and Richard Tanton. The first blacksmith shop was owned by a man named Kise. At the present time the large general store is conducted by Speas Bros. The hardware and imple- ment business is owned by Bachman Bros. The farmers in the vicinity of Cazenovia enjoy free telephone services. The county lines organized were among the first in that vi- einity. They now have 15 of these running into their ex- change in Bachman Bros.' office, and have over 150 phones on the line. Both Bachman Bros. and Spers Bros. have large brick buildings that are both substantial and conveni- ent.
In 1858 the first school was built. In 1907 a new and modern structure was erected. It is one story in neight and 60 by 20 feet. The first church was built by the Baptist eon- gregation in 1873, being dedieated the first Sunday in Janu- ary, 1874. The dedication sermon was delivered by Rev. C. D. Merit, of Fairbury, who is named in the history of Mi- nonk as the founder of the Baptist church in that city. Rev. W. E. James was first pastor of the new church, and resid-
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TOWNS OF THIE COUNTY.
ed in Washburn until April, 1874, when he moved to Caze- novia. The lot on which the church was built was donated
CAZENOVIA SCHOOL.
by Mary A. Farnsworth. Since 1893 no services have been held in that church. Rev. Musser, of Metamora, was the last pastor.
A second church was built after this by the Christian congregation. This pulpit has been supplied for a number of years by students from Eureka College. There is a union Sunday school with an enrollment of 25 or 30 pupils.
Woodford.
There is another grain station in Minonk township be- sides Minonk. In 1874 John Warren had the town of Wood-
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
ford platted. It is located three miles south of Minonk, and a station was established with Jacob M. Holder as the first agent. The first store was opened by Henry Patton, who was also appointed the first postmaster. Six years ago the town suffered a fire that destroyed several business houses, including the postoffice. Since then the mail has been cared for in the grain office. The destroyed store buildings have never been rebuilt. The one store in town is conducted by Mr. Schlink.
Goodfield and Congerville.
In 1888 the village of Schrock and Guthville were sur- veyed, the former for Joseph Schrock, January 2nd, of that year, and the latter for John Guth, August 29th. The build- ing of the Lake Erie and Western railroad led to the estab-
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CONGERVILLE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL.
lishment of the above towns, and the opening of convenient markets in the southern part of the county. The names of the villages afterward became Congerville and Goodfield, respectively.
The first postmaster at the former was Gus Naffzinger. The first business men were Gus Naffzinger and Marshall Bros., each of whom conducted a general store. The first grain dealer was J. F. Tobias and the present dealer, Leslie Reel. There are two churches, Lutheran and Mennonite. The
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TOWNS OF THE COUNTY.
pride of the village is their handsome school building which was erected at a cost of more than $10,000.
The village of Goodfield is also in Montgomery town- ship. Shortly after its organization a store was opened by Mr. Zimmerman and IIohulin Bros. soon began their im- plement business. In 1891 a Baptist church was erected there and is still prosperous. It is a part of the Deer Creek charge. The same year a Methodist church was erected north of Goodfield, known as Galey chapel. Rev. A. O. II. de la Gardie being pastor at the time. This has since been aban- doned and sold. A handsome briek school house has recent- ly been erected and two teachers are now employed. It was ereeted in 1907. Simon Naffzinger has become a prominent figure in the business and political life of Goodfield during recent years.
CHAPTER XX.
Miscellaneous.
I IN recent years the annual pienie of the Old Settlers' As- sociation has come to be very popular, and thousands of people attend the exercises given under the auspices of that organization each year. The pioneer hardships endured, serve to unite the early settlers thru the ties of common in- terest, and they gather in great numbers to renew acquaint- anceships and exchange reminiscences of pioneer days. These gatherings are also a source of great interest to the younger generations. The stories of early struggles, endured with unflinching courage, awaken strong admiration in the hearts of those more favorably situated, as are the men of today. The programs presented consist of addresses and talks by men who have experienced some of the hardships of life in an undeveloped country.
In 1874 the Old Settlers' Association was organized, and the year following the first meeting was held at Eureka. The following were the first officers chosen : President, John Summers; vice-president, W. R. Willis : secretary, R. N. Rad- ford; corresponding secretary, B. D. Meck : treasurer, P. Il. Vance. The meeting of 1876 was held at Eureka July 4th, and that of 1877 was at Metamora. The constitution at that time provided that any one who was a resident of the county at the time of its organization in 1841 could become a mem- ber. The association at its first meeting elected the follow- ing vice-presidents from the various townships: Montgom- ery, H. A. Robinson; Metamora, John W. Page; Cruger, M. E. Davidson; Palestine, L. P. Hereford; Panola, M. R.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
Bullock ; Greene, Thomas A. MeC'ord : Olio, Thomas Bullock, Sr .; Worth, Charles Molitor ; Partridge, Isaac Snyder; Caze- novia, Jesse Hammers ; Clayton, Harvey Davison ; ElPaso, II. WV. Bulloek ; Kansas, A. W. Carlock : Roanoke. Jacob Banta; Spring Bay, Dr. J. G. Zeller ; Minonk, E. D. Davison.
The list of the original members of the association can not be obtained, but from other sources a few of the names of members have been secured. In addition to the above named officers were the following: Adino Page, W. C. Wat- kins, Zadock Hall, D. Kindig, W. Lamson, George Arrow- smith, Thomas Clark, Wm. H. Delph, Benj. Grove, John Warren, Abner Mundell, Simeon Mundell, Jesse Hammers, Samuel Mundell, W. Drennen, John Tanton. Richard Tan- ton, Thaddeus Page. N. Dutton, W. P. Brown, D. D. Fair- child, L. P. Morse, J. G. Bayne. Joseph Morley. J. S. Whit- mire, Henry Martin, B. J. Radford.
The association was not maintained with unimpaired regularity. For a time its meetings were abandoned, and in 1891 a meeting was held in ElPaso for the purpose of reor- ganizing the association. A new constitution was adopted and the requirements for membership were changed. It is now asked that an applicant for membership be over 50 years of age and that he has lived in the county at least 35 years. The meetings in 1891 and '92 were held at ElPaso, 1893, '94, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, and 1900 at the camp ground in Eu- reka. In 1901 the meeting was held at Metamora and that city was chosen as the permanent home of the association. The following have served as presidents of the organization in the order in which they are given. Presidents: Samuel Stitt, F. D. Learned, W. M. Bullock. S. H. MeClure, J. H. Reeder, E. S. Fursman, B. J. Radford, James W.Pleasant, M. W. Wilson and John L. MeGuire. E. W. Diekinson has served as secretary-treasurer for a number of years. The records of this association bring to mind the names of many. settlers not previously mentioned.
One of these pioneers who came to this county at an
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
early date was Jehm Hinshaw. His father, George Hinshaw, came to Blooming Grove, near the present site of Blooming- ton, in 1827. There was no town there at the time of his coming. In 1840 he moved to Kansas township, J. D. Franklin coming at the same time. Dolphus Hinshaw, who now resides in Enreka, is the son of Jehu Hinshaw and has many interesting memories of pioneers experiences. The prairies were wild and unbroken. Ilis father was one of the settlers that marked the roads between East White Oak Grove and Bloomington. This was twelve miles in length and did not follow any direct line, but wound around, the highest ground being chosen, as it was less likely to become swampy or to be covered by ponds. The road was marked by plowing a furrow on each side of it with a prairie plow and ox team. Much time was spent in hunting in those days and Jehu Hinshaw, Winton Carlock, Zachary Brown and Isaac Allen spent many a day in the pleasures of the hunt. Deer were very plentiful and these were the hunter's coveted prize. Many of them were quite gentle and would come up to the houses. On one occasion a deer came up to the fence that surrounded Mr. Hinshaw's yard and looked over the fence. Mrs. Hinshaw shot at it, but failed to bring it down. The only apparent result was that it tossed its head and ran away.
The last few years of the life of this pioneer were spent at Eureka, where his death occurred at the advanced age of 86 years.
In 1856 Andrew Tomb came to Woodford county and settled in the vicinity of Enreka. Mrs. Tomb remembers when the postoffice, grocery and dry goods store were all in a single small building. She also recalls many of the great changes that have occurred since that time. Several of the members of this family have been widely known in the county. Andrew C. and John C. Tomb are each of them well known in a business way. The former conducts an ex- tensive poultry business, and the latter was at one time
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MISCELLANEOUS.
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connected with him, but he has recently moved to the home farm, northwest of Eureka. Other children are James, Mary and William Tomb.
Much earlier than this, Matthew Tomb, a brother of Andrew, came to this county and settled. His family ex- perienced many of the pioneer hardships. Of the members of this home, but one remains, John W. Tomb. Another son, A. JJ. Tomb, was a resident of Eureka for a number of years, but at the time of his death was a resident of Peoria.
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