USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Past and present of Mercer County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 44
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In 1861 Craig & Terry conducted the Union Flour Mill, which was patronized by many farmers for miles around. In 1867 Sharp- nack & Menafee were owners of the Millersburg Mills. In 1867 the Farmers Lumberyard Company was organized here, with E. Gil- more president and J. S. Russell secretary. It had a capital of $20,000 and the business was managed by five trustees. Stock in the lumber company was sold to farmers and others in this vicinity. The name taken by the concern later was Farmers Lumber Joint Stock Company. Later in the '6os Millersburg did what had been con- templated for a long time, namely : Raised sufficient funds to improve, fence and decorate its cemetery. Excellent stock was raised by Colonel Thornton at a little later date. In 1872 he delivered at Aledo eighteen hogs which averaged 459 pounds each. These ani- mals were one of the heaviest large lots ever marketed from this county in early years. In 1873 J. D. Stratton was a prominent and successful merchant here.
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In November, 1878, Willie Anderson, a four-year-old child, living at Millersburg, became lost nearby and 200 persons for miles around came to assist in the search. He came up missing late in the afternoon and was sought without success until 2 o'clock the next morning, when all went home and went to bed with the agreement to begin the search at daylight the next morning. Three hundred people then assembled and searched diligently until 10 o'clock, when the little boy was found on Camp Creek bank, a half mile from where he disappeared. When found his hand was wrapped in his handerchiet and he was crying and wiping his eyes. Though stiff with cold he had not otherwise suffered seriously. The joy of the parents was almost unbounded at the return of their little child.
In 1881 the cemetery not being satisfactorily kept and otherwise not being suitable the Millersburg Cemetery Association was organ- ized and took over the property. Henry Lee was president of the association; S. H. Riddell, secretary; J. D. Thornton and T. V. Enugh, trustees. Stock was sold and fifteen additional acres were purchased northwest of the village. The grounds were then fenced and three years later the association was out of debt. In early years Millersburg was famous for its church conferences, Christmas cele- brations, lodge and society observances and patriotic doings on the Fourths of July. The town was thoroughly loyal during the war and then made a name for itself in the work of the hospitals and in the soldiers furnished that will ever stand to the credit of that com- munity. In 1882 the creamery at Millersburg was conducted by Stratton & Lunn and by this time was a great success. Joe Green ran a horn factory here in 1891.
In 1894 Millersburg boasted of its fine schoolhouse with two teachers, its three large, commodious and well attended churches, several prosperous merchants, one harness maker and its clubs, socie- ties and leagues. The Children's Epworth League was a prominent organization at this date. A little later the Home Forum Associa- tion had great influence in this community. Its president was J. T. Gilmore. It met in Van Tuyle's Hall. By 1895 the Mercer County Creamery at Millersburg was an important industry. It was one of the first, if not the first, to run all the year round. Mr. Henry was manager. In 1894 they shipped 1,100 tubs of butter, having a total weight of 66,000 pounds; 250 cases of eggs, the receipts being about $14,000. In July, 1896, Col. Hiram W. Thornton died at his home here. All things considered, he was unquestionably one of the most prominent and useful citizens of the county. In recent years the Harvest Home Association has become prominent with its social
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work and its picnics. In August, 1899, 1,500 people assembled and enjoyed an instructive and delightful program. Present were the Joy Band and the Millersburg Glee Club. The orators were Rev- erend Kile, Rev. J. O. Slyter, Reverend Fleming and Rev. J. A. Alford. On this occasion the ladies served thirty-five gallons of free coffee, and conducted two stands of refreshments.
In 1900 W. W. Wakeland & Son were contractors and builders here; Reed Brothers had a large dry goods and grocery store; T. M. Duncan was the leading blacksmith and R. J. Henry conducted the creamery.
In 1901 the University Extension Club, which had been organized for several years, held regular meetings at the residences of its members.
On May 11, 1908, Millersburg came near being entirely swept out of existence by a tornado. The whole south part of the village was wrecked and destroyed. The path of the storm was from two hundred feet to two hundred yards wide and everything therein was torn to pieces. In all twenty-one houses were either blown away or damaged. Sixteen barns were damaged or torn to pieces. Among the damages were the following: Presbyterian Church blown away, $7,000; Presbyterian parsonage wrecked, $1,500; Reverend Wyllie's household goods ruined, $500; L. B. Turner's house and barn dam- aged, $400; Thomas McAfee's house and two barns destroyed, $4,000; H. Felton's house damaged, $1,000; J. T. Gilmore's house damaged, $500; John Cady's house blown away and other damages, $400; N. W. Thornton damage to property, $200; Will Wakeland's house blown away, $300; Sarah Thornton's house damaged, $300. On all of the above there was no insurance. But there was insurance in part on the following losses : L. R. Hyatt, two houses and three barns dam- aged, $3,000; George Bristlime's house damaged, $800; J. U. Roberts' store wrecked, $300; G. S. Thornton's house and barn damaged, $3,600; T. M. Duncan's house and barn damaged, $1,700; Mrs. J. N. Close's house destroyed, $700; E. R. Gilmore's house and barn dam- aged, $1,100; W. A. Vetter's house damaged, $700; W. W. Wake- land's house and shop damaged, $1,000; R. A. Turner's store damaged, $2,800; M. D. Murdock's house blown away, $1,500; Steve Miller's damage to restaurant, $500. Not a life was lost, singular as it may seem. Articles of various kinds were carried in many instances many miles. There were many narrow escapes. The same storm passed directly over Joy but was too high to do damage. The country districts in the path of the storm were devastated and many houses and barns were wrecked.
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The population of Millersburg in 1914 was 225. It is a money order postoffice. The business houses are: James Burgess, black- smith; E. R. Gilmore, pumps and windmills; S. A. Miller, groceries; Leslie B. Turner, general store.
JOY
The Town of Joy was laid out by Lewis W. Thompson and Wil- liam H. Ungles, June 21, 1869, and is located on the northeast quarter of section 19, township 14 north, range 4 west. Several additions have been laid out to the town since it was first founded. Monroe, near the same line, was laid out and lots were advertised to be sold in April, 1856. It was located at the junction of the two railroads, but upon the failure of the Warsaw & Rockford Line to be built the village died without having made any start. It was about six miles west of Aledo. Joy at once became a thriving and prosperous little place. It was named in honor of J. F. Joy, president then of the C. B. & Q. Railroad Company. It dates its commencement from the completion of the railroad. The first structures were a depot and grain elevator, Ritter's Hotel and a store built and kept by Richard Braucht, who rented the structure at an early day to Richey & Com- pany of Aledo, who put therein a large general stock of goods. James Crane bought them out the next year and continued the store and soon had a large and profitable trade. The second store was started by Elhart Brothers, who sold boots and shoes and general articles. Quite early in the '7os a destructive fire occurred and swept away nearly all the industries of the place. The first drug store was kept by John Moss and the first blacksmith shop was established by Joseph Hughes. One of the earliest buildings was a schoolhouse and therein were held the first religious services by the Presbyterians, Methodists and Latter Day Saints. By 1882 the town had a population of about one hundred and fifty and had two substantial stores, one kept by J. H. Crane and the other by J. T. Galloway. Joseph Hughes owned and conducted a wagon shop and G. W. Cook was the town black- smith. The hotel was conducted by J. W. Wood. From the start the town became an important shipping point. The first station agent was H. N. McNeil. He was succeeded in 1870 by Hiram Standish. The Peniel Church at Joy was dedicated in October, 1871. In 1881 there were shipped from this place 196 cars of live stock and seventy- four cars of grain. The postoffice here was first established as far back as 1847 and was called High Point. George Scott was the first postmaster and kept the office in his home on the present town site.
Methodist Episcopal Church Main Street
Presbyterian Church
VIEWS OF JOY
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The second postmaster was Samuel Eayle and the third was George Scott. Peter Spangler succeeded in 1865. In 1870 the name was changed from High Point to Joy and O. F. Green was appointed postmaster.
The teachers at Joy in 1882 were Richard Wolfe, principal, and Miss Retiker, assistant. In the 'Sos the Joy Cornet Band of sixteen pieces was organized and its services were called into use on all important occasions not only here but elsewhere even outside of the county. Charles Jackson was secretary of the band.
Old settlers' picnics were often held in the 'zos, 'Sos and 'gos at Dodson's Grove, near Joy. In August, 1890, 3,000 people assembled there to celebrate the annual meeting of the Old Settlers' Association. In 1893 Joy shipped 99 cars of hogs, 86 cars of cattle, 4 cars of horses, 24 cars of corn and 10 cars of miscellaneous products. In 1894 the leading business men of the village were as follows : George Braucht, general store; Paul Bustard, jewelry; Jasper Riggs, hardware; Alex- ander Carnahan, merchant; Woods Hotel; George W. Cook, black- smith; William Armstrong, meat shop; E. L. Bowers, blacksmith shop; Ramsey Brothers, the Joy Feed Mill; Richard Miles, mer- chant; the Kecks, carpenters; David Braucht, wood sawyer; Love & Shingledecker, shippers; William Keck, photographer; J. H. Thompson, grain shipper; Poland Brothers, contractors; D. F. C. Keck; Harney Brothers, contractors; Holmes & Bean, lumberyard; Alonzo Kiddoo, carpenter; B. Genaust, house repairer; Joe Green, painter; O. A. Bridgford & Company, the Farmers Bank.
The business in 1900 was as follows: Bank, O. A. Bridgford & Company; barber, E. J. Husted; blacksmith, E. M. Bateman ; carpenters, contractors and builders, J. M. Keck, B. D. Keck, Alonzo Kiddoo, Paris Noble; druggist, W. R. Taylor; flour, feed, coal and collections, J. W. Terry; grain and general merchandise, J. H. Thomason; groceries and general merchandise, George Braucht; harness, E. O. Sade; hotels, Transit, Woods ; hardware, Jasper Riggs ; horse buyer and shipper, W. V. Love; implements, harness and black- smiths, G. W. Cook & Son; livery, sale and feed barns, C. H. Thorn- hill; lumber, D. Dickinson; millinery, Mrs. Ora Thornhill; mer- chandise, boots and shoes, J. Downing & Company; meat market, J. M. Odell; photographer, W. M. Keck; plasterer and brick mason, John H. Hefton ; physicians and surgeons, MI. Criswell, L. B. Doxey ; restaurant and groceries, John W. Swanson; stock buyer and shipper, H. E. Tuttle; wagon and carriage shop, Richard Mills ; well drillers, J. A. Powers, August Relander, J. T. Ryan.
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In 1899 the new Methodist Church at Joy was dedicated. It cost, all told, $10,877.71.
In 1907 the Joy Bank had a paid-up capital of $13,500. By 1910 the amount was increased to $15,000. In 1907 the deposits amounted to $61,325.71 ; in 1910 they amounted to $147,569.75.
In the spring of 1914 the population of Joy was 550. The busi- ness houses were as follows : Joy Bank, W. V. Love, president, capital, $21,000; Alexander Lumber Company; C. C. Belt, livery; George Braucht, grocery and restaurant; J. G. Campbell, drugs; Cunning- ham, blacksmith; Davison & Davison, hardware; John Downing & Company, general store; Finch & Son, grain and coal; G. O. Cool, grain and coal; Dr. Samuel Haley, drugs; Thomas J. Harney, hard- ware and implements ; Nels Jansen, jewelry; Joy Creamery Company, A. V. Peterson, manager; H. R. Kiddoo, dry goods and clothing; H. E. Miller, bakery; Marion S. Poland, general store; M. W. Reynolds, poultry and hides; W. S. Robinson, clothing; Robison Brothers, general store; Sade & Dillon, harness; Mrs. Rebecca Sloan, milliner; Rosa J. Small, furniture and crockery; Taylor & Epperly, blacksmiths; Thompson & Company, meat market; O. A. Bridgford & Company, bank; the Joy Hotel, Harry Sutliff.
CHAPTER XXII
GREENE TOWNSHIP
Greene Township has many interesting physical and geological features. The central part from east to west is a wide plateau, which is drained north to Edwards River and south to Pope Creek. The latter extends from east to west through the southern tier of sec- tions and the former touches the few sections in the northwest. The township is well drained, has a good soil and the farmers raise large crops of grain, hay, etc. Of course the surface deposits belong to the quarternary period; that is, alluvium, loess and drift. The drift here consists mostly of brown and blue clays, mixed often with sand, gravel and small pebbles and is spread over the entire surface of the township. Bowlders or metamorphic rocks lie scattered here and there mostly along the streams. The coal measures are the most valuable products of the soil. Bed No. 3 consists of limestone, sand- stone, clay, shale and coal, and altogether have a thickness of from 100 to 150 feet. A well bored near Viola did not pass through the formation after 130 feet. Three seams of coal have been found and worked in the township-Nos. 3, 2 and 1-3 and I have been most extensively mined. The former has been found thus far on sections 31, 32 and perhaps others. Messrs. Martin, Morrow and others mined this bed at an early date. No. 2 was worked by them also. No. 3 is the thickest and contains coal of the best quality. It varies from three to five feet in thickness and furnishes an excellent fuel coal. Coal No. 2 is too thin a vein in this township to make profitable working. It has been mined on sections 23, 27, 31 and elsewhere. Almost the entire township contains these beds and in the end the township is bound to reap enormous wealth from marketing the product. It is in the shales adjoining these coal beds that the valuable fossils peculiar to the coal measures are found here. Coal No. I stretches across the township from east to west and is only a part of the great Edwards River seam. It has been mined extensively already on sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12. In recent years although a great deal is mined yet very little is taken out for shipping pur- poses. The mines are worked for local use mainly. In this township is found an excellent quality of whitish or pale blue clay, which is
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found to be first class for potter's work. This and other similar deposits are found in several places. Connected with coal No. I is a valuable bed of blue limestone, which upon being burned, fur- nishes a good quality of lime. However, it has to be sorted and screened carefully owing to impurities. Connected with coal No. 2 are valuable sandstone, parts of which though light at first, become yellowish upon exposure to the air and thus become very hard and serviceable. Several large quarries have been opened in the town- ship and an inexhaustible supply of rock can be had. The limestone connected with coal No. I is drab colored and somewhat impure. It varies from eight to fifteen feet in thickness. It has been mined and used to some extent.
The first settler in this township was David Williams, who located on section 14, in 1836. About the same time William Terry arrived from New York and entered 440 acres, 160 of which were entered in his son's name. In 1837 Mathew McChesney made a permanent settlement in this township and about the same time Thomas Weir located on section 9. In the spring of 1837 John Collins came from Ohio and first located near the present site of Joy, but in 1839 moved to section 15, this township. He built a log cabin and occupied it for a number of years. His son William P. was another early settler. John Cowden arrived the same year and took up a claim on section 17. About the same time William Brownlee located on the same section and John Linn within a short distance of the latter. A little later Elijah Stewart bought the claim of David Williams. About the same time John Carnahan, Sr., came from Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and located on section 18, this township. He had two sons, William and David, and a son-in-law, Frank Anderson, all of whom also located near the elder Carnahan. William Pinkerton arrived in 1840 and took up a claim on section 18. At the same time John Walker arrived and established a home near by. In 1839 the Park family, of which there were several members, became residents of this section of the county. Other early settlers were George McPherren, Matthew Doak and Henry Griffin. Mr. Durston was another early settler. It is maintained that his son Charles was the first white child born in the township. William Terry stated a short time before his death, not many years ago, that he had seen on Pope Creek Bottoms as many as fifty deer in one drove, and that lynx and wolves were very plentiful and extremely annoying. He said that the first religious service he attended was in the cabin of James Mann, in North Henderson Township. At that
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time many of the first settlers drove to church in rude wagons and ox teams.
By 1840 there were probably twenty settlers in the township and by 1850 almost all the valuable land was taken up. By that date schools and churches were well organized and the people were in much better circumstances than they had been ten years before. Under the law of the early '50s Greene Township was organized and named for Gen. Nathaniel Greene of the Revolution. The name was suggested by John Collins. The first town meeting was held in a schoolhouse which stood near the present Village of Viola. John Collins served as chairman; Uri Smith as moderator; and Henry Hoagland as secretary. The following officers were then elected by ballot : Elisha Miles, supervisor ; Henry Hoagland, town clerk; Wil- liam P. Collins, assessor; John Frazier, overseer of the poor; Alex- ander McGauhey, collector; Samuel E. Russell, John H. Park, and David Summerville, Jr., commissioners of highways. William T. McGauhey and William P. Collins, constables ; Jeremiah Boyer and David Summerville, Jr., pound masters ; Alexander M. Stewart, Van R. Harriott and C. Doty, overseers of highways; John Griffin and Henry Hoagland, justices of the peace.
It is declared that for a number of years previous to the Civil war people in the western part of the township were heavy stock- holders in the underground railway. A depot or station was located at more than one house in that vicinity and it is stated that many runaway slaves from Kentucky, Tennessee, or Missouri, found pro- tection here temporarily while on their way northward to the Dominion of Canada. So prominent became this feature of the set- tlement that the neighborhood came to be called "Nigger Ridge," which name is yet applied to the locality by the old settlers familiar with the circumstances. The people of this township in early times were much troubled with prairie fires, which usually were set by careless hunters and which often swept away valuable property.
Lodge No. 577, A. F. & A. M. was organized in this town- ship July 16, 1867. J. B. Longley was the first master. The lodge was conducted under dispensation until 1868, after which they oper- ated under a charter. At one time the membership was over sixty. The cemetery located about a half mile northwest of Viola was donated to the United Presbyterian Church by John Collins. The first burial therein was that of John Kennedy. In recent years it has been greatly improved and added to and now contains many graves.
Vol. 1-29
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The Viola Vineyard, conducted near the Village of Viola, by J. M. Erne, was a notable industry in the '70s. There were twenty- two acres devoted to the vineyard and people came many miles when the grapes were ripe to see the sight. He had at one time over six thousand vines growing and could show thirty different varieties of grapes. In 1880 he produced about fifty tons of the fruit. He likewise had an orchard of 600 apple trees, also pears and cherries and marketed large quantities of strawberries and raspberries. He is the originator of the Viola crab, which became known through- out western Illinois in after years. The Green Bower Nursery was another important industry in the '6os and '70s. In 1869 James Ferry opened this nursery. In the end it covered more than twenty- two acres and was on rolling land, and trees and shrubs therefrom were sent all over the western part of the state and the eastern part of Iowa. He raised large quantities of apples, raspberries, grapes, blackberries, strawberries, etc. Another early industry of the town- ship was a steam mill, which was started at Viola in the '6os. In the end it was discontinued. The mill was built by contributions from about twenty persons and was not a corporation. It was operated at a loss and finally was closed out. During its existence one of the lessees of the mill purchased grain and got other credits and closed out without paying for the grain and other articles.
Among the early settlers was the Frazier family, consisting of John Frazier, the father of a large family, who settled and made a farm on section 9 prior to 1850. John Frazier was born in 1800 in Morgantown, West Virginia, and four years later moved with his parents to Hubbard, Trumbull County, Ohio. In 1821 he was united in marriage to Nancy A. Veach, the daughter of a Wesleyan Metho- dist minister. To this union eleven children were born. Three sons and seven daughters grew to manhood and womanhood, one daughter dying in infancy. Mr. Frazier was of Scotch descent and his wife of English, she being a distant relative of Lord Cornwallis.
In May, 1847, Mr. and Mrs. Frazier with their family of ten children emigrated to the then distant frontier of Illinois. Reaching the Ohio by canal they came down the river to the junction at Cairo and then up the old Mississippi to New Boston. From the little river town they journeyed overland to the farm one mile west of Viola, known to this day as the Frazier homestead. In this twenty- mile trip they only passed four homes. Aledo was a barren prairie, and where the village of Viola now stands there was but one house, that of Elijah Stewart.
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Mrs. Frazier served the whole countryside as doctor and nurse, and through her native skill and sympathetic assistance many chil- dren owed their birth and many mothers their lives.
Mr. Frazier was a great reformer and leader in every worthy movement. For years his barn and house was the official meeting place for the whole community for miles around. He was a strong abolitionist and a part of the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves during the pre-bellum days. He established the first school in the neighborhood, and so determined was he that his children should secure an education that he bore practically the entire expense of keeping up the school alone. In every way he was a good citizen- the highest of all compliments that can be paid a man.
The eldest son, Jesse Veach, graduated in medicine at St. Louis, and after spending several years in the California gold fields settled in Viola and became an eminent physician. For almost a half century he practiced medicine in this district. Many families remember him as a dear friend and a most successful physician.
The other sons were John Wesley and Hugh Benjamin, the latter having been a successful merchant of Viola for a great many years. The daughters were Harriet Snyder, Margaret Eaton, Mary Har- riott, Maria Snyder, Matilda Brown, Martha Mathews and Amanda Hunt. The youngest daughter, Amanda, was elected county super- intendent of schools of Mercer County the first year that the office was made eligible for women to hold. She served three successful terms.
Of this great family of eleven children only three survive: Mrs. Mary Harriott of Viola, Mrs. Maria Snyder of Loup City, Nebraska, and Mrs. Martha Mathews of Aledo.
To this union of John Frazier and his wife there are now some two hundred descendants, most of whom are living in Mercer County, where they are known as good citizens and kind neighbors.
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