USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 65
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Mr. Young remarked: "A man may fool me, but he can't fool that Old Fellow up vonder." Men would live and raise their families as renters of Mr. Young and it has been said that he never requested the removal of a ten- ant nor did he ever bring suit against any man or in any way enter into law against his neigh- bor. A record certainly to be coveted and an example that may well be imitated. Squire Young died at his home in Hillsboro only a short while ago at upward of ninety years of age. Other names familiar in the early his- tory of Grisham township are William and Robert Paisley, Jacob Holbrook, Spartan Jor- dan and William Rogers ; and later Tipton Cox, Uriah Wilson, Fred flelfers, the Angersteins and others. James Wilson and Bonaparte Wilson are sons of the late Uriah Wilson and are among the most influential and popular citizens of Grisham township. James Wilson has served his township in different official capacities and is the present township super- visor. "Bona" Wilson is extensively engaged in agricultural lines and recently succeeded in procuring several thousand acres of coal leases in his township for a mining syndicate. The Messimore family and the Kessinger family have long been prominently connected with the social and political affairs of Grisham town- ship. The village of Donnellson lies partly in Montgomery and Bond counties. It is also di- vided on the Montgomery side by the west line of East Fork township. Among the business men of the village may be named William Boone, hardware and agricultural implements; and James Price engaged in the same line; Baxter Taylor, general merchandise. Wilson Laws and S. G. Gardner. carrying on similar lines: Fred Krummel, furniture and under- taking: Henry Myatt, engaged in hay and grain trade. Among the physicians are Dr. W. A. Allen and Carey and Son. These have an extensive practice. Among those deserv- ing especial mention at this time is Rev. Wil- liam Young, who for many years was a resi- dent of East Fork township; but during the past few years has made his home in the vil- lage of Donnellson. He has been among the forceful men in his community and his influ- ener has always been on the moral side of
every question. Ile has always believed in the strict enforcement of law and his opinion upon matters demanding legal settlement is often times sought by both parties before an action at law is taken. His advice and council has possibly averted more suits than that of any other man in our county. In other words. he might justly be styled "The Peacemaker." Shelby Young, a brother of William Young of Donnellson, is another unique character of this section. He is not so conservative as his brother William. but his influence for good has been far reaching and donbiless Shelby Young will be remembered as well and as kindly as that of any man in the vicinity of Donnellson. This hurried survey of the past and present of Grisham township the writer is well aware is too briefly stated to do justice to the many noble characters that have come and gone and that are now engaged in the affairs of the present. Within the narrow con- fines of Grisham township many scenes of in- terest have been enacted and much of im- portance in the history of Montgomery county has transpired there, yet. we must leave untold more perhaps than can be found in this nar- rative and to search out these traditions and chronicle them we leave to the service of an- other.
WALSHVILLE TOWNSHIP.
About 1817 there came to the neighborhood of Walshville Nicholas Voiles, Melcher Fogle- man. William Stevens. Elias Baker and his son James. Two or three years later James Jordan. Austin Grisham and others settled near. In 1826 J. W. Garrison. Thomas Evans, John Evans and Joseph Evans and in 1828 Robert Kirkland made settlement in the same neighborhood. These men were in character and spirit similar to those that we have de- scribed in the history of other townships. They were just as true, just as brave as their contemporaries and in the sections where they located their influence has been as marked for good as the influence of pioneers who settled in other parts of the county. It has been
PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
claimed by some writers on the earlier history of Montgomery county that JJames Jordan who settled near Walshville, preached the first ser- mon over delivered within the present bound- aries of Montgomery county. We know, how- vor. that conflicting evidence exists to show that James Street might have deserved this honor and there is also tradition that one Henry Sears, of Hurricane settlement, deserves that credit. We leave the matter, however, to some more exact and precise historian. We are perfectly willing to leave these questions of minor importance to be ferreted out by someone more interested in minutia than the writer. About the year 1840 John Simpson and John King made improvement of the lands upon which the present village of Walshville now stands. These two pioneers have left sev- eral descendants in this part of the county. The first marriage that ever took place in Walshville township was that of James Jordan
to Elizabeth Grisham. This occurred in the year 1825. li is related that Peter Cartwright organized a Methodist class at the residence of Elias Baker in the year 1824. Probably this was the first Methodist Episcopal class in Montgomery county. Rev. James Jordan had organized a Baptist church at the resi- dence of William (line, which was later re- organized by the Rev. William Burge in 1836. No church edifice was erected until ten years
later. This was a log structure and served the congregation until about 1862 when the organ- ization decided to build a new place of worship and located it in the village of Walshville. This building was destroyed by fire in 1866 and in 1869 they rebuilt their church, since which time the organization has passed through the varying experiences of prosperous conditions and depressions. In 1850 E. D. Smith opened a country store at what is now the village of Walshville. Some years later he sold his busi- ness to a Mr. Bowers. Bowers in turn sold to Chapman and Kennedy and they to Michael Walsh. In 1855 Mr. Walsh laid out the vil- lage and named it in honor of himself. The township, however, takes its name from the village. John King built his residence about this time and Seymour and Cline built a brick store room and put in a general stock in 1856.
Shortly after Cline sold his interest to Eli Deshane, who afterward became sole owner of the stock. Mr. Deshane did quite an extensive business at Walshville and accumulated a very creditable estate by attention to business and the practice of habits of economy. William Kingston for many years conducted a general merchandise business in the village, and several others whose names are familiar to the people of this section may be named. Sanders & Hodges, Blevins & Denny, Hodges & Boyd, Thomas Barlow. Boone Copeland and 1. T. Strange, the last named more recently engaged in business. A. T. Strange for the last quar- ter of a century has been very closely identified with the affairs of Walshville township. As an administrator of large estates and as trustee for parties left in trust he has had as much and possibly more experience than any other citizen of the township. He was for many years en- gaged in the profession of teaching; later, however, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He has been identified with organ- izations that have had for their purpose a union of the agricultural classes. He was an active organizer of the Grange and the Farmers Mutual Benefit Association. No man residing in that section of the county enjoys the con- fidence and esteem of the public more than Alex T. Strange. Among the physicians that deserve mention in these pages are the follow- ing: Ambrose Barcroft, John T. Koen and M. S. Davenport. This trio of very worthy professional characters, each of whom has left his influence for good upon the locality, has moved on to the silent halls of the dead. and while their voices are hushed and while they are no longer able to practice their skill that others may live. yet what they have done is not silent and the example of their lives is over living. T. T. Smith, who lives just south of the village, is another of the deserving citizens of the township and he has been identified with much that has been done in the moral and social uplift of the community. William Nei- man, who lives near the west line of the town- ship, is a German-American who at different times has represented his township on the board of supervisors, and along with him may be named Harm Keiser, who for a longer period
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of years served that township on the board than any of which we have record. Following Mr. Keiser comes IL. IL. Monke, also of Ger- man parentage. This township is largely set- tled along the western and southern part by thrifty German population and we are glad to note that no part of Montgomery county has a more enterprising people than Walshville township.
The story which we have told is incon- plete, but space will not allow any further nar- rative of this township.
FILLMORE VILLAGE AND TOWNSHIP.
We have had occasion to notice a few of the first families of Fillmore township. The first settlement of this township was made in the neighborhood of the old town of Vanburens- burg. It was made by John Ilill in the au- tumn of 1816, and here the succeeding spring others came and made settlement near him. These early settlers came from Kentucky, and the year previous to their settlement near the burg they had spent in some other part of the state. Among this little band wore Harris Revis, Henry Hill, Levi Casey, Aaron Casey, John Lee, Joseph Wright. Henry Piatt. It is related that these parties built their cabins in a group about a large spring in that neighbor- hood. It must be remembered that not a few Indians were to be found near this place, and it is well known that the average Kentuckian of that day had no particular love for the red man. Somewhat later this little community was broken up by each of the parties locating on different claims. Harris Rovis made his claim near the southeast corner of the town- ship, where he lived until his death, which oc- enrred in 1840. Several of his descendants live in the neighborhood of where this old Revolutionary soldier made his settlement. Adjoining the Revis farm Henry Hill entered a claim. and his grandson and his grand- danghters own the larger part of the old home- stead. John Hill, the first pioneer, entered a farm in the same locality, and it is also in possession of his descendants. Levi Casey set-
tled on what to-day is known as the Briggs farm, but in 183; he sold his homestead and moved to Shelby county, where he afterward died. Aaron Casey, a son-in-law of Revis, sot- tled on a farm near Sammel Hill, and John Lee entered a tract of land adjoining Revis. Aaron Casey afterward sold his farm to Sam- nol Hill. Joseph Wright, who was one of the commissioners appointed by the legislature to fix the county seat. made settlement in this community. and Henry Piatt built a home near that of Joseph Wright. The farm set- tled by Joseph Wright passed to his son. Jar- rett. Wright, and is yet in the family Among the most prominent pioneers of Fillmore town- ship was Newton Coffey, father of Cleveland Coffey and grandfather of Newton Coffey, who now lives on the old homestead. Newton Cof- fey. Sr., is the same who entered the tract of land where Hillsboro now stands and after- ward donated twenty acres to the county to be used for public purposes. Mr. Coffey came to Ilinois in the fall of 1817 and settled west of the Hurricane about five miles. His near- est neighbors were those who were living over near the "burg," but in the spring of 1819 several settlers made their way to the neigh- borhood of Mr. Coffey. Among these were Easton Whitten, Colbert Blair. John Beck and Stephen White. All those were from Ken- tucky and originally from Virginia. Easton Whitten the next year made his settlement over on Dry Fork, and Beck settled just north of Mr. Coffey. and Stephen White and Colbert Blair just west of Mr. Coffey, near Shoal creek. The first mill erected in Fillmore township was in 1825 by John Beck, one of the commissioners appointed to relocate the coun- ty seat, and who selected Hillsboro instead of Hamilton, where the first commissioners had attempted to locate it. John Bock made his settlement not far south of the Vandalia road, and the old mill, which was a treadmill ope- rated by a yoke of oxen, stood on the George Blackburn place. Benjamin Rose built the next mill operated in the township in 1838. This was afterward sold to a man by the name of Austin, who did a very flourishing business for several years. The next mill was run by steam and operated by John Hill. It had hnt
PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
one buhr and the demands of the trade kept it going almost constantly. Harris Wright and James Kirk bought this mill and operated it until 1846. The sawmill first erected was run by hand. It consisted of what was called a whipsaw, and one man stood below and the other above, and in this way the log was ripped into boards. John Fuller in 1840 built a mill in the grove near where he lives at the present time. (Deceased but a few days ago.) He operated it but for a year or two, when it was sold and removed from the township. The first school ever taught in Fillmore town- ship was in 1825 by Mr. Hatchett in a little log house that had been used by Aaron Casey as a residence. The succeeding year Benja- min Robbins followed Mr. Hatchett, and thus from these humble beginnings the excellent school system which we enjoy to-day has come. The first frame schoolhouse ever built in the township was in 1845 near the little village of Vanburensburg, and it was known as the Easley schoolhouse. In 1821 a burial ground was staked off on Dry fork on an old battle- field, where at one time, many years before, an encounter took place between United States troops and a band of hostile Indians. The first interment in this cemetery was that of Stephen White, who died in the summer of 1821, and the first birth in the township was in 1819, which happy event occurred in the family of John Beck, and the first wedding was between John Revis and Patsey Coffey. The ceremony was performed by Squire Levi Casey and took place in 1822. The village of Vanburensburg was laid out by Joshua White in 1842, but prior to this time there had been a postoffice in the neighborhood, and as early as 1837 it is recorded that Benjamin Roberts kept the postoffice at Hurricane. This was the name which this settlement bore through all the earlier years, and the name at- tached to the postoffice until it was abandoned by the rural route which was established from Fillmore through the Hurricane neighborhood about two years ago. Robert White kept store at the "burg" through the same period that .Joel C. Traylor kept one ten miles further west. The "burg" had the reputation. during the Civil war and the period immediately pre-
ceding it, of being a tough place, and there is little doubt that the reputation which it held was justly earned. It must not be thought, however, that many good people did not live in this vicinity. The years that have passed since then have borne away in their stream the unsavory characters that made Vanburensburg a place feared by some of the more timid of our people forty years ago. Emery Wright is carrying on quite a pros- perous business in merchandising at this place. While there is no railroad within several miles of the place, this country store is patronized very widely, and Mr. Wright enjoys an ex- cellent business. Jocie Lynn settled in this neighborhood some time later and acquired quite an estate, which at his death fell to his sons and daughters, who at present live in Fillmore township. Dr. B. Haynes, a veteran physician, removed from East Fork township to Fillmore some thirty years ago. Besides being very successful in his practice, he has been very prominent in the political and social life of the community. He is still living on his farm and actively engaged in the practice of his profession, though seventy-six years have left their marks upon him. Prominent among the settlers who came to the township somewhat later than those mentioned in the earlier history of the township are Fred Sny- der. Jolm Fuller, Ed Hurd. Joseph Easley, Tom Harvey and the Blackburn brothers. Most of these came from Ohio, but were originally from Virginia. Moses Fuller, father of John Fuller, died but a few years ago, after having rounded out a century. Richard Blackburn. the oldest of the brothers, was the first to make his home in this section. He bought the property known as the old Bradley tavern and settled in that community about 1838. Wil- liam Blackburn. George Blackburn, Charles Blackburn and Robert Blackburn came about two years later. They settled near one another and for many years this was known as the Blackburn settlement. All these brothers sue- ceeded in building for themselves good home- steads. Their descendants own much of the lands formerly entered by their fathers. Since the death of Unele Robert Blackburn, which occurred about one year ago. Harrison Black-
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burn, oldest son of George Blackburn, is the oldest member of the Blackburn family now living. Ile resides on a farm in East Fork township, but also owns the Tom Harvey farm in Fillmore township. Harrison Blackburn properly belongs to the sketch of East Fork township, but his identity is linked with the history of Fillmore township more closely. Lafayette Blackburn, only son of Robert Blackburn, lives on the homestead of his father. For many years Lafayette Blackburn was engaged in merchandising at Hillsboro, and immediately following his removal from Hillsboro to Oregon he was engaged in real estate ventures in that western country. llis son and daughter have been engaged in edu- cational and mining enterprises in the west. Stewart is at present in Colorado, and Miss Blanche during the past year has been making her home with her father at the old homestead. There are several members of the Blackburn family living in the neighborhood of Coffeen. James, a son of William Blackburn, lives in the village and his brother John at the old home. Charles Blackburn left but one son, who lives somewhere in the west, and besides I. H. Blackburn, George Blackburn. Sr., has a son, Ezra, living in St. Louis. Richard Blackburn also has a son, George, living some- where in Kansas, A daughter of Richard Blackburn was the wife of Rev. T. W. MeDa- vid, whose family we have noticed in the chap- ter on East Fork. James Kirk came to Fill- more and settled in the north part of the town- ship near Bost Hill. He afterward changed his location to the farm where he lived until a few years before his death. Mr. Kirk was a very peculiar man, quiet and inoffensive, vet exerting a wide influence. He was very successful in acquiring a large estate, and at the time of his death was one of the largest landowners in the township. Another family prominent in the settlement of Fillmore town- ship and closely identified with the Cross fam- ily were the Bosts-John Bost, Henry Bost and Martin Bost. sons of JJacob Bost. who came from North Carolina in 1838 and settled on a farm about one mile south of the pres- ent village of Fillmore. His brother Aaron. who accompanied him from the old north
state, settled somewhat later on the farm now owned by John 1. Bost, at what is known as Rost Hill. Henry Bost, who died some years ago, left surviving him several sons and daughters, among whom is Rufus Bost, who lives at present in Oklahoma; Durley, who lives in Christian county, and Victor, who is engaged in agriculture and stock-raising on a farm south of Fillmore. Victor Bost has been very successful in a financial way and has earned the reputation of being among that class of our citizens who reflect high credit upon the community by the moral standards which they have adopted. Mr. Bost was for several years the president of the County Sab- bath School Association, and by his interest he has contributed very largely to the suc- cess that has come from this union of effort. John Bost for many years lived on his father's old homestead. but has within the last few years retired to the village of Fillmore and has given the control of the farm over to his son, John Q. Bost, who lives upon the ances- tral estate. Martin Bost, who has been dead for many years, left surviving him a widow and ten children, among whom are Cyrus, Byron, George and Herbert, all citizens of Fillmore township. Among the daughters of Martin Bost are Dorcas, wife of Dr. John T. Hendrix, of Coffeen. Dr. Hendrix until re- cently was engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in the neighborhood of Fillmore. For several years the doctor enjoyed a wide and successful practice in the neighborhood of the village of Fillmore. However, in 1902 the doctor saw fit to change his location, and since that time has been residing in Coffeen. About the time that the Bosts came from North Caro- lina there came from New Hampshire and set- tled in his neighborhood Joseph Knowles, Al- fred Bliss. the Lanes, the Richmond- and a man by the name of Fairbanks. Alfred Bliss settled on the mound near where George Rich- mond now lives. Like all the earlier settlers, he built for himself a log house, in which he lived some years and raised quite a large fam- ily of children, several of whom are to-day honored citizens of the county. Some time along in the '50; Alfred Bliss borame connect- ed with the Methodist Episcopal conference as
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a local preacher. He afterward was identified as an itinerant minister and for several years "rode the circuit." No character in this sec- tion was more widely known than that of Uncle Alfred Bliss. He was among the few Methodist preachers who succeeded, by conomy and thrift, in securing a small fortune. MIr. Bliss was a very successful business man, and no one had a keener perception of what con- stituted a good bargain than Uncle Alfred. For the last few years of his life he lived with his daughter, Mrs. White, over near Effing- ham. In the division of his estate he gave to his children and grandchildren, by will, an equal inheritance in all his property-that is, the child and the grandchild were made to share alike. At the age of more than four- score years this aged patriarch closed his earthly career. By an active lite, filled with many valuable experiences, he had earned the rest which had been promised him, and the well-spent life is a legacy more enduring, more valuable to his children and grandchildren than any other which he could have given them. Charlie Bliss, son of Alfred Bliss, editor of the Montgomery News, will be noticed in the article given the Montgomery county press. George Bliss, another son. lives at Nokomis and is a retired farmer of considerable means. George Bliss and wife have no children, but the disposition of Mr. Bliss is such that all the children in his neighborhood call him uncle. They have, however, an adopted daughter in whom they are very much inter- ested. Among the daughters of Alfred Bliss are Mrs. James Moody. Mrs. L. C. Allen (now deceased ), Mrs. Devore (also deceased ) and Mrs. White, who lives in Effingham county. Mrs. Moody lives with her son Charles at the home of the late James Moody. She has a very interesting family, consisting of the son. Charles, and several danghiers. L. C. Allen, who married another of the Bliss girls, has been identified with nearly all the pro- gressive movements in his town and township for many years. He is at present conducting a private bank at. Fillmore, and it is consid- cred among the soundest financial institutions in the county. Mr. Allen built the first brick structure in the village and has been one of
the factors in building up the trade of that town. His son Ned is conducting a hardware store, furniture store, undertaking, and at the same time carries a large line of vehicles and agricultural implements. Ned Allen and Anna. his wife, are much interested in the social life of the town, The Methodist Epis- copal church, of which Mrs. Allen is a valued member, owes much to her efforts in building up a Sabbath-school, league work and the financial assistance which she gives to the dif- ferent benevolences of the church. Ned Allen has inherited from his father energy, push and economy and to-day. although under forty years of age, he is one of the financially strong men of Fillmore. Ned is courteous in all his deal- ings and the trade which he has established is evidence of his honesty and fair dealings in business. Frank Herron married Jessie Allen, only daughter of L. C. Allen. At present Frank is cashier in the Allen Bank. Carl Al- len is professor in the Southern Illinois Nor- mal at Carbondale. lle is a rising young man and doubtless will occupy high place in the edu- cational world. Joseph Knowles, who settled in Fillmore township in 1838, was the father of John Knowles, William Knowles. Joseph Knowles. Jr., and George Knowles. He had three daughters who were married to Alfred Bliss, Gideon Richmond and Martin Bost. of these William Knowles. John Knowles, Harriet Richmond and Hannah Bost are yet living, but much advanced in years. ( 1904.) George Richmond is the oldest son of the late Gideon Richmond and at present he is living on the old homestead. Ernest Rich- mond, a second son, died some years ago. The late J. B. Lane was for many years one of the most prominent figures in Montgomery county. lle was associate judge at the time when the present courthouse was built. For many years be kept a stock of general mer- chandise in the north part of the township. He had quite an extensive trade from the sur- rounding country and his store was a great meeting place for the north Fillmore people. J. Bowers Lane had much to do in having the village of Fillmore located at its present site and his influence did much in having the contest between Chapman and Fillmore decided
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