USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Past and present of Mercer County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 50
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
515
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
Jesse A. Winger was publisher and editor of the Reynolds Press in the '90s. In 1896 the place had over four hundred population. James P. Johnston was president of the town board.
In 1900 the following business establishments were located at Reynolds : Bank, Reynolds Bank; barber, Charles F. Schlueter ; boots and shoes, C. L. Berry; blacksmiths, C. M. Kreps, William H. Stanley ; contractor and builder, F. E. Miller; dentist, Guy F. Wait; druggist, M. C. Crandell; dry goods and general merchandise, S. P. Ash, J. E. Volkel; furniture and undertaking, P. C. Freytag; grain buyers, M. Schoonmaker, C. H. Wayne; hardware and implements, W. G. Davis, R. L. Mallette; harness, Frank Keim; livery and feed barn, John Hogan; lumber and building material, G. R. Ainsworth & Company; lightning rods, hotel and livery, R. E. Bailey; meat market, W. G. Haefele; painters, D. L. Finley. C. W. Haskell ; physicians and surgeons, A. B. Montgomery, L. C. Moore; poultry, Jennings Brothers; restaurant, W. J. Clark; stone, brick and marble worker, John McAdams; stock buyers and shippers, Bruner & Vickers. Reynolds is on the Rock Island & Mercer County Rail- road, and the Rock Island Southern Railroad. All of the business places of the town are within Rock Island County and it is given here because it is an important point for Mercer County people to do their trading.
Graham Lee lived on a farm one-half mile south of Hamlet, and was the neatest and most tasteful farmer in Mercer County. He built a nice residence in an early day and set out an Osage orange hedge on each side of the road which passed by his house, and instead of running straight with his farm it meandered, running a little as the tip of a ridge, which made the appearance of the farm most pictur- esque. Mr. Lee was one of the most prominent men in Mercer County, serving several terms as supervisor of the township, and was active in the Agricultural Society of the county. He was an officer for a number of years of the State Agricultural Society of Illinois and was one of the trustees for quite a number of years of the Asylum or Institution for the Feeble Minded, located at Lincoln, Illinois. He was a most intelligent, excellent citizen, working for the interest of the county as well as for himself. He is now dead and his son, Elisha Lee, is living at or near the old homestead. William McHard was also one of the early settlers, living south, between Camp Creek and Edwards, near Gingles Corner. He was a prominent and suc- cessful farmer and held many township offices, and he has three sons now living in the county: William in Aledo, and Harvey and Samuel in Perryton Township.
CHAPTER XXXII
DUNCAN TOWNSHIP
The first settler in this portion of the county was Buford Duncan, who located on section 16, in 1838. He came from Indiana and at once became one of the foremost citizens of this part of the county. He was well advanced in life when he arrived and had a considerable family of children, most of whom settled in the same neighborhood. A short time afterwards his brother, Braxton Duncan, came here . and located on section 17. The latter possessed a frail constitution and after a few years passed away. Several other members of the same family located in that neighborhood, which soon took the name of Duncan Settlement. Among the early arrivals were William Epperley and James Vernon. Another early settler was Luman Castle, who located on the southern boundary, not far from the Village of Millersburg. Joseph King came in at an early date and took up a claim on section 33. About the same time Robert Norris established a home on section 25. The latter came from Scotland and had a better education than the average early settler. In 1844 he became county surveyor. He was the Duncan Township treas- urer at an early date also. In the '4os he went to California. About 1844 Elbridge G. Howe and Lucien B. Howe secured homes on section 33. In the summer of 1845 Tyler McWhorter and William S. Rowe came and took up homes on section 31.
Mr. McWhorter at once started an experimental orchard in con- nection with the nursery business. He called the place Pome-Roy (Royal Fruit) Nursery. The Pomeroy postoffice took its name from this circumstance. The whole neighborhood, in fact, is called the Pomeroy Settlement. As a matter of fact, in after years, this nursery established by Mr. McWhorter supplied the trees for the orchards of a great portion of this county. He likewise made shipments to surrounding counties and to sections in eastern Iowa. Mr. Mc- Whorter said that when he settled in the township not a schoolhouse had yet been located there and that the only religious services which had been commenced had been conducted by a branch of the Mor- mons, under the ministry of Rev. Mr. Hinckle. A little later a revivalist named Ringer came to his assistance. A schoolhouse was Vol. I-33
517
518
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
built in Duncan Township late in the '40s. The whole township was taxed then as one district. A little later another district was set off on the south side of the township and this was called the Pomeroy District.
The township has no considerable town and is made up almost wholly of a rich agricultural community. It is well watered by small streams and the soil is rich and productive. Live stock has been grown here for market since its first settlement. James Vernon became prominent in this township. His descendants ever since have occupied prominent positions in the county. Herschel Felton settled in the southern part at an early date.
In early times the streams were skirted with heavy belts of timber, among which there was considerable oak, which was utilized in the construction of fences and the building of homes. Perhaps the soil of this township is blacker and richer in humus than any other upland soil in the county as a whole. The first mill was located just east of Millersburg and was patronized by the first settlers of Duncan Township. A history of that mill is given elsewhere. In that vicinity were forests of large trees, which were utilized for picnics, camp meetings, etc. Underneath the soil spreading out over almost the whole township are heavy beds of coal ranging in thickness from two to five feet. This has been opened in several places, but as yet the supply has scarcely been touched.
Joseph King came in at an early date and located on section 23. The place was afterwards owned by J. C. Staley. Later arrivals in the township were Ebenezer Bunting, Joseph N. Elbridge, G. and Lucien B. Howe, brothers. William S. Rowe came in also about the time Mr. McWhorter did. Church organizations sprang into existence at an early date. An account of the same will be found elsewhere in this work.
In 1854 the township was organized under the new law. At the meeting held on April 4th, George W. Bennett was clerk; William Epperley, moderator. On this occasion four pound masters were chosen as follows: W. S. Rowe, Michael Miller, Buford Duncan and Samuel Herson. Tyler McWhorter was elected supervisor, receiving thirty-two votes. Alvah Sutton was chosen town clerk; Caleb Vernon, collector ; William S. Rowe, assessor ; Samuel Herson, G. W. Bennett, John Page, Buford Duncan and James Vernon, overseers of the poor; William Summers and James Lloyd, commis- sioners of highways; William Duncan, constable; James Vernon, justice of the peace. At the first meeting the township officials passed a resolution restraining swine, sheep and cattle from running at large.
519
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
On the ridge one mile north of Millersburg was located the seminary, which was patronized by this township as well as by the town of Millersburg.
Prior to 1881 the township was without a postoffice. At that date Leonard Gorber built a small structure on section 2 and placed therein a quantity of goods and thus was the first storekeeper. John Ball about the same time was appointed postmaster. He likewise kept store at the same time in conjunction with Mr. Gorber. In the spring of 1882 Ball sold his stock of goods to John Boltinghouse, who succeeded him as postmaster. In April, 1882, another postoffice was established in the township and Edward Connel was appointed postmaster. This was a postoffice in the extreme southwestern corner of the township and is now known as Pomeroy. A store has been there for many years. A mill was built on Camp Creek as early as 1835 on the line between Duncan and Millersburg townships. This was patronized by the early settlers of Duncan. It was a combined sawmill and grist mill and although rude, yet it served an excellent purpose during its existence. It is said that Luman Castle mined the first coal in the township about 1845. He was assisted by a Mr. McDonald. The coal seemed to outcrop along the stream and several of the citizens worked the same for their convenience with- out opposition from the owners.
At a later date J. A. Downey and Charles Epperly conducted the store at Marston. At one time this little village seemed quite promis- ing. It had a brass band, a large general store, a physician, black- smith and a few other institutions, but in recent years it has usually had nothing except one store, a blacksmith, a school and a church.
CHAPTER XXXIII MISCELLANEOUS
THE MERCER COUNTY WOMAN'S COLUMBIAN CLUB-ITS ORIGIN, OBJECT AND HISTORY
The Mercer County World's Columbian Exposition Club was organized in Aledo, March 31, 1892, by Mrs. Marcia Louise Gould of Moline, Illinois, president of the Illinois Woman's Exposition Board. The club was composed almost entirely of ladies of Aledo and vicinity, who met to plan an exhibit of Mercer County products to be placed in the Illinois Building at the World's Fair, Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Lallie Connell, Aledo, Illinois, presided at the meet- ing, explaining its object, and it was voted to organize. Mrs. Clar- ence Brock, Aledo; MIrs. Hugh Grazier, Viola, and Mrs. Flora B. Winger, Aledo, were appointed a nominating committee. They reported Mrs. Lallie Connell for president; Mrs. Frances Byers, vice president, and Mrs. Della Harr, secretary. Mrs. Connell asked to be released. Mrs. Byers was appointed president; Mrs. Robert Dool, vice president, and Mrs. Harr, secretary; adopted by a rising vote.
Mrs. Byers took the chair and a membership roll was made, resulting in a membership of sixty-seven ladies, signing the constitu- tion and paying a membership fee of twenty-five cents, each.
Mrs. Gould further explained what an interesting exhibit should consist of, and plans were discussed for the same. After many meetings in which various plans were spoken of the club decided to make a carved wood cabinet and fill it with Indian relics and other articles of special interest to be found in Mercer County. Mrs. Brock was appointed to interview Miss Alice E. Hall of The Art Institute in Chicago and learn the expense of such a cabinet. Miss Hall was later engaged to come to Aledo and superintend a class which should do the work on the cabinet. Twenty ladies took the lessons, begin- ning February 18, 1892, meeting and doing the work in the G. A. R. Hall in what was then the Richey Building, on the ground where the courthouse now stands. The wood used in the cabinet is red southern gum, which is fine grained and takes a high polish. The
521
522
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
design is flattened octagon, five feet high. The feet are eight in number, six inches high, arching in shape, and carved in scroll work. Two panels are of wood carved in relief. One of these is an elaborate pattern of wild roses, with over lapping leaves and stems, and is the work of Mrs. Hortense Moses, formerly of Aledo, now of Portland, Oregon. The other panel is an equally beautiful and elaborate design in maple leaves, stems and twigs, and is the work of Mrs. Ella Graham Reynolds of Aledo. There are six glass panels, two of which are doors. The frames of these panels are carved at the top with wreaths of wild roses in incised work. The bevels at the top and bottom are of conventional pattern in over lapping leaves. The roof of the cabinet is pointed. Eight rafters carved in scroll work to match the feet lead from each panel to a point in the center and terminate with a cone of closed leaves at the top. Miss Hall remained with the club five weeks, until the work on the cabinet was finished and ready for putting together. This important part of the work was done most perfectly by Mr. Gustaff Bjorkman of Aledo. Those who belonged to the class and assisted in carving upon the cabinet are the following: Mrs. Hortense Moses, Aledo; Mrs. Ella Reynolds, Aledo; Mrs. Clarence Brock, Aledo; Mrs. Della Harr, Aledo; Mrs. Melissa Fleming, New Boston; Mrs. Abbie Morey, Aledo; Mrs. Orpha Lorimer, Aledo; Mrs. Sallie Love, Millersburg; Mrs. J. C. Mitchell, Aledo; Mrs. Alice Willits, Aledo; Miss Neta Durning, Aledo; Mrs. Cora David, Aledo; Miss Fanny Bay, Aledo; Miss Katie Porter, Aledo; Miss Maggie Gilmore, Aledo; Miss Alice Young, Rock Island; Miss Pearl Love, Aledo; Frank C. Coning- ham, Aledo; Robert Danford, New Boston; J. F. Henderson, Aledo; all of whom worked upon the cabinet, except Mr. J. F. Henderson, Miss Alice Young and Mrs. Della Harr. A floor was fitted in the cabinet to slope from a high central part especially designed to display the Indian relics. Mrs. Sarah M. Tudor suggested that specimens of the Aledo artesian well soils be sent as it was the deepest well in Illinois, being 3,116 feet in depth. Accordingly 100 vials filled with the various strata were properly labeled and sent. There was a long list of very fine articles placed in the cabinet, which is too voluminous to enter here. These were shipped to Chicago on April 13, 1893. Mrs. Mary L. Chowning was then secretary and received the fol- lowing letter: "I am glad to be able to inform you that the exhibit from Aledo has arrived today. The cabinet has been opened and is very handsome. Very truly yours, Mrs. L. D. Bayley. April 27, 1893. Office superintendent." Mrs. Byers and Mrs. Morey went to Chicago and placed the exhibit in the cabinet according to the
523
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
plans made for it, where it remained until November, 1893, a credit to Illinois, and much admired during the World's Fair. Since that time it was kept by the club for fifteen years in the club room of the courthouse, and for the past four years at the home of Mrs. Ella Reynolds. After the cabinet was finished a debt of $70 still remained. By an act of the club, August 7, 1893, Mrs. Mary Chowning and Mrs. Orpha Lorimer were a committee to correspond with state officers to secure, if possible, the amount from the state fund appropriated for such purposes. This was granted and the cabinet became the property of the club, to keep or dispose of as they might decide to do. The first work of the club being finished, no other meetings were held until February, 1895, when the president, Mrs. Byers, called a meet- ing at her home to consider the securing of a room in the courthouse in which articles of historic and special interest might be kept with the cabinet, and to be known as the Columbian Club Room. Mrs. Abbie Morey, Mrs. Florence Wells and Mrs. Clarence Brock were appointed by the president to secure the same if agreeable to the Board of Supervisors of Mercer County. Mrs. Orpha Lorimer was elected secretary. While this committee was pursuing the necessary course to obtain the consent of the board for a room in the courthouse, the club voted to read and study at weekly meetings, held on Saturday afternoons, some good and instructive history. Mrs. Flora Winger and Mrs. O. J. Lorimer were appointed to plan a program, which was the beginning of the study and reading which has continued for nearly twenty years. Miss Mabel Pepper was then the instructor in general history at the Aledo Academy under Prof. J. R. Wiley, and at her suggestion to Mrs. Flora Winger that the Barnes' General History would be a good foundation for further study, it was decided to use that text book, which was the backbone, so to speak, of the literary and historical work done by the club for three years follow- ing, and no better choice could have been made then this which was offered by one in every way capable of making a wise selection. Miss Mabel Pepper is now Mrs. John W. Weeks, of Punta Gorda, Florida. The club met at various homes every Saturday, reading the history and adding such literature as increased the interest in the periods studied.
On April 27, 1895, the committee on rooms reported a permission to use for historical relics and as a permanent home for the club, the free use of the library room in the courthouse. The cabinet was at once taken there and for fifteen years it was an object of much interest to many visitors. On May 4, 1895, the first meeting of the club was held in the beautiful room granted the club as the only county organi-
524
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
zation whose object it was to preserve interesting relics of Mercer County. This brought forth many articles of interest from various parts of the county, presented or loaned to the club for exhibition in their room. Such a mark of approval by the Board of Supervisors of Mercer County has ever been appreciated by the club as one of its greatest honors. As an expression of the thanks they felt, the club decided to hold a public reception of all who cared to come to see the room on July 4, 1895, as a great celebration had been planned for that day and a large number of people were expected here. This proved a very pleasing part of the program of the day and the room was visited by many people, who registered their names in a book which is still one of the treasures of the club. A large rug and chairs were bought for the room, and it was decided to prepare a souvenir book for the fourth anniversary of the club. This book contains forty pictures of members of the club at that time, a cut of the cabinet, and 340 of the many quotations given each week at the call of the roll. It was believed that this souvenir would recall to members the pleasant and profitable hours spent together in an earnest desire for self-improvement.
How well it has performed that task is more fully realized as the years pass on. Twelve of those faces have passed from earth to heaven. Fourteen dwell in far away states. Fourteen remain in Aledo and vicinity, and all but one are still members of the club. The club list contained at that time eighty-four names, thirty past members, most of whom were charter members. The souvenir was completed March 31, 1896, and was the work of a number of com- mittees dividing the work into groups. Mrs. Della Harr, Mrs. Tilla Gregory, Miss Alice Sponsler, Mrs. May I. Whitham, Mrs. Clarence Brock, Mrs. Hortense Moses, Mrs. Mellie Eames, Mrs. Mary McKinney, Mrs. Flora Graham and Mrs. Flora Winger being the members of the committees. Mrs. Mary McKinney presented the club with a Webster's Unabridged Dictionary at the fourth anni- versary, which was much appreciated for many years. When a new one was bought this was presented to the Mercer County Jail by the club, believing many prisoners would be glad to make use of some such help to put in their time of waiting. The reading done by the club then, as now, was of the highest standard of literature, as the list of books and selections show on the records. At the fourth anni- versary meeting Mrs. Mary Byers read an interesting paper, relating to her experience as president for four years, with a summing up of the work done, and expressed her hope of future usefulness for all time to come; that the Columbian Club should ever be an aid in any
525
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
good work Aledo should undertake. Mrs. Mary Mckinney gave an able address on "Our Club Emblem, The Maltese Cross," one well worthy of being printed and preserved in the cabinet. MIrs. Clara Ingmire gave a "Parody on Tennyson's Dream of Fair Women;" Mrs. Harr, a paper of "The Souvenir," which was very interesting and witty. Since then the anniversary day has always been fittingly observed.
The next meeting was an important one, April 4, 1896. Mrs. Byers announced that William Marsh, Sr., had offered his valuable collection to the Columbian Club. His generous offer was accepted and Mrs. Morey, Mrs. Winger and Mrs. Byers appointed a com- mittee to confer with Mr. Marsh, the sheriff and board of super- visors as to the placing of the collection in the club room of the courthouse. Action was taken and the collection was accepted.
The club kept open house for the Soldiers' Reunion of August, 1896. On October 9th of the same year they served meals during a political rally, Mckinley Day at the city hall, clearing the sum of $65.90. This money paid for three handsome cabinets which were placed in the club room and Mr. Marsh, himself, arranged in order the properly labelled specimens, working many days in the club room, sometimes assisted by a few of the ladies who would write labels for him, but more often he would go alone and work for hours. Visitors from far and near came to see the specimens and hear his interesting account of them. In April, 1912, it was voted to present the great collection to William and Vashti College. Mr. Marsh and the committee of supervisors agreed with the ladies of the club that the college was a worthy and fitting institution of learning and deserved such a valuable present as this.
For almost six years Mrs. Byers was president of the club, ever faithful and efficient, building so well that its growth has been of a nature to command the respectful attention of the public generally throughout Mercer County. On September 4, 1897, she asked to be released from the responsible position of president. This was granted at her repeated request and Mrs. Flora B. Graham was a worthy successor and never has an unworthy president occupied the chair. In this and in all the membership the club has been most fortunate. Those early days of hard work and much planning were full of untried plans, which experience only might pronounce wise or unwise. In all the plans for the good of the club Mrs. Byers was ably assisted by many and especially by her husband, A. M. Byers, president of the Farmers National Bank of Aledo. For many years she was also assisted by Captain and Mrs. L. B. Morey.
526
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
These four considered the welfare of the club from every standpoint and it is believed they have builded an association which will con- tinue to be a credit to the ones who worked hardest and spent more time and money than any others to make the club what it has been and still is in Mercer County.
In 1898 the club joined the State Federation. For many years the work of the club was chiefly self-culture, and adding to the collection of Mercer County relics, which they still own. Many social events gave pleasure to members and friends. Four years ago Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Tudor and Mrs. Sarah Eshbach proposed the plan of establishing a Free Public Rest Room under the manage- ment of the Columbian Club. All business men favored the plan. The club appointed a Civics Committee of ten ladies who have solicited the necessary funds ($500) a year, and have made up by their own subscriptions and efforts any lack of funds for that pur- pose, adding much needed convenience to Aledo's well equipped business interests. This is daily found to be the greatest benefit, averaging an attendance of more than two hundred out of town people every month. Often on Saturday from sixty to seventy-five out of town people make use of this public benefit. Committees of all kinds make frequent use of its comfortable rooms. A library of over three hundred books are on its shelves. It is an institution Aledo is well proud of and dear to members of the Columbian Club. This little start for a public library has been helpful in efforts now being made for a splendid new Carnegie Library.
When the William and Vashti College was built an endowment fund was a necessity. The club responded to the appeal and awoke to find themselves famous, having given the generous sum of $2,400 to the fund. This was done largely through the untiring efforts of Mrs. Minnie Carroll whose enthusiasm awoke a corresponding will- ingness to sacrifice, if need be, for the college Aledo has just reasons to feel proud of. This has been the latest great work of the club, but they are earnestly engaged in many ways to be helpful all the time to the college, the new library soon to be, and the rest and reading rooms.
They have long been a member of the State Federation. Miss Lizzie Winders and Mrs. Martha Mathews assisted on committees at the recent General Federation in Chicago. The club emblem of the Maltese Cross, and the national colors of red, white and blue remind them of their privilege as Americans, and their hopes of future usefulness by a little self-sacrifice that others may be bene- fited by them. This is the aim of the club-To get all the good
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.