USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 12
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In all the wars of England, during the thou- sand years of her history, there were not so many lives lost, nor so much money spent, as in the American Civil war.
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
FIFTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, COM-
PANY A.
Captains, William C. Ware, George Barber ; first lieutenant, George Barber; second lieuten-
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' ant, V. C. Peckenpaugh; first sergeant, D. Ern- in 1906 the county has sixteen full congressional est Moreland ; quartermaster sergeant, Tracey T. and eight fractional townships. Tompkins ; sergeants, William W. Ahl, James In 1847 a State election was held for members of the Constitutional Convention, which Conven- tion prepared and submitted to the people a 'new Constitution, which was adopted by a large ma- jority. By this Constitution, in place of the Com- missioners' Court a County Court was organized in each county. This court consisted of a county judge, and, if the Legislature saw proper to so order it, two associate justices. This the Legis- lature favorably acted upon. The last meeting of the County Commissioners' Court was held No- vember, 1849. After the transaction of such busi- ness as properly came before them, they adjourned until court in course, but never re-assembled. F. Petty, George Beard, Burr H. Swan; corpo- rals, Guss Anson, Harry A. Abbott, Loren E. Waters, James L. Adams, Hicks Dow, William Worthington, Frank Stanton, Oliver R. Barrett, Lee Stobie, William St. John, Chauncey H. Bo- dine; musicians, Roland Fry, George Waters ; wagoner, William F. Wyatt; artificer, Fred Petty; privates, William Allen, Edward Allen, Lawrence Bagby, Newton Bennett, William Bergman, Archie Brown, Louis Bringman, E. J. Downing, William Dutton, Samuel Elledge, Wil- liam B. Gratton, Lawrence Harvey, Newton Harris, Albert Heck, Thomas C. Huestead, Her- man Jones, Charles Johnson, Thomas E. John- On the first Monday of December of the same year the first regular term of the County Court was held. The duties of the court in a legislative capacity were precisely the same as those of the County Commissioners' Court. In addition to the legislative power the members of this court were permitted to exercise judicial authority, hav- ing all the rights and privileges of justices of the peace, together with all probate business. This 'court consisted of a county judge and two asso- ciate justices. The judge and associate justices acted together for the transaction of all county business, but none other. The justices had an equal vote with the judge, and received the same salary while holding court, which was $2 per day. Two of the three constituted a quorum. · son, Fred Johnson, Ellis Kindred, Louis Lou- woert, John M. Lovett, Loren Main, Charles Mc- Glasson, Joseph Milby, Leon P. Monta, Bert Niccuin, James Niccum, Charles Paine, George Paine, Marshall Parker, Carl E. Rogers, Thom- as D. Shehan, George Shinn, Lewis M. Smith, Guy Stanton, Fred J. Stobie, Eugene Thompson, Roy Vertrees, Russell Wells, J. E. Wyle ; trans- ferred from Company D, Charles Boyd, David D. Edwards, William B. Harris, Frank Hurst, Lewis G. Kindred, Jesse G. Morrison, John H. Mckinney, Charles Sweeden, Cool Stanton,. George Smith; transferred from . Company K, Henry Caplinger, Edward Foreman. Robert L. Gratton, Everett Miller, William Paine, John Shanahan, Morris Seaman ; recruits, William S. The county judge who served under this re- gime was James Ward. The associate justices were Joshua Woosley and William P. Harpole. Bowden, Leon Chamberlain, Lawrence Cawthon, Arthur E. Daman, Charles C. Dunn, Rollo Grimes, William A. Grimshaw, Joseph C. Hamil- ton, William H. Harris, Oliver Jones, Charley Kastner, Ernest C. Lightle, William L. Lawson, Edwin O. Mckinney, Hugo May, Cecil Manker, F. C. Peebles, H. Douglas Parke, Zack N. Pul- liam, John Quinlan, Clyde Rush, Henry J. Ree- den, A. Fred Williams.
TOWNSHIP HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
In 1824 there were only three townships, namely : Coles Grove, Atlas and Franklin, while
The Constitution of 1847 provided for town- ship organization in those counties desiring it. (Hons. William R. Archer and William A. Grim- shaw, both of this county, were members, of the convention framing this constitution.) The ques- tion of organizing according to this provision soon began, of course, to agitate the people of Pike county, and the controversy grew bitter,-the bitterest indeed that this more than usually peace- ful community ever indulged in. Immigrants from the East were familiar with the workings of township legislation and management, and de- sired to perpetuate their home institution in the
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West; but the other citizens of the county were afraid that the introduction of the measure would necessitate an increase of office holders, useless expenses and many unforeseen vexations. The judges in office were all opposed to the innovation, -so much so indeed that they continued to hold court even after the great victory of the innova- tors in carrying the county by 1,563 votes against 317, and the election of new members. For a short time the county had two legislatures at once. The vote was taken at the general election of November 6, 1849, at which election Peter V. Shankland was elected county clerk on this hotly contested issue, and Stephen R. Gray sheriff. Both these gentlemen were Democrats, in favor of township organization. Indeed, as a matter of curiosity, but of no political significance, we may state that the fight on both sides was nearly all done by the Democrats, the Whigs taking but little part.
An election was held in November, 1849, to vote "for" or "against" township organization, which resulted in favor of the measure. This was met with bitter opposition, however, and an appeal was taken to the Circuit Court by Samuel L. Crane. The law was decided to be constitutional, and the election a fair one.
The Board of Supervisors of Pike county first assembled April 8, 1850, this being one of the first counties in the State to organize under the town- ship mode.
There were present at this meeting the follow- ing members : Montgomery Blair, Barry ; Hazen Pressy, Washington; Archibald Brooks, Cham- bersburg; David Preble, Salem; Wilson Adams, Hardin ; William Ross, Newburg; Thomas Hull, Kinderhook; A. W. Bemis, Martinsburg; R. C. Robertson, Milton; James M. Seeley, Atlas, and John McTucker, Hadley. Supervisor Blair was elected temporary chairman and Colonel Ross chosen chairman. The board then adjourned to re-assemble April 23, 1850. There were present at this second meeting the following gentlemen : William Ross; Archibald Brooks ; Darius Dexter, Perry; Amos Hill, Griggsville ; David Preble; John McTucker; Montgomery Blair ; Jesse Seniff, Detroit ; Thomas Hull; A. W. Bemis ; J. M. Seeley ; J. T. Hyde, Pittsfield; R. C.
Robertson; Wilson Adams; Hazen Pressy; and James Talbot, Pleasant Vale.
Chambersburg, Flint, Detroit, Montezuma, Pearl, Levee, Cincinnati and Ross are fractional townships, while Atlas has eighteen full sections and seven fractional sections on her western border.
· CHAMBERSBURG. This township lies in the extreme northeastern part of the county. The first pioneers who came to this township were James Wells, Samuel Atchison, a Mr. Brewster and a Mr. Van Woy. They came in 1822. The first sermon preached in the township was in 1827. The town was laid out May 7, 1833, by Sebourn Gilmore. It is situated under a high bluff on the edge of the Illinois river bottom and is surrounded by some good farming country. The town is a small one but filled with good and enterprising citizens.
FLINT. This is the smallest township in the county and was the first one settled, in 1817. A Frenchman by the name of Teboe was the first settler. Garrett Van Deusen was the next set- tler. He established a ferry at what is known as Phillipsburg, now Griggsville Landing or Valley City. Flint has a fine magnesia spring in the southeastern portion of the township. Valley City is the only town in the township and is on the Wabash Railroad.
DETROIT. Detroit township was settled by Lewis Allen in 1823. The pioneers had many en- counters with wild animals during the early settle- ment. Detroit has two towns, Florence being the oldest and laid out in 1836 by the Florence Com- pany, composed principally of Pittsfield business men, among whom were Austin Barber, William Ross, Robert R. Green and Thomas Worthing- ton. In the old Illinois Gazeteer, Florence was known by the name of Augusta. Florence has the honor of being the place where nearly one thousand men of Pike county's bravest and best were mustered into the United States service in 1862 and afterward known as the Ninety-ninth or Pike County Regiment of Volunteers. Detroit village was founded in 1837 by Peter H. Lucas, and is surrounded by beautiful farming country and its people are among Pike county's best.
MONTEZUMA. The first settlers of Montezuma
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FIRST JAIL AT PITTSFIELD
LIBRARY OF THE ANTVERCITY OF ILLINOIS.
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township were Ebenezer Franklin, who came in gressive town. This township also has the fa- mous Perry Springs, which are called magnesia, iron and sulphur springs, but of late years seem to have lost their prestige as a health resort. 1819; Charles Adams, James Daniels, David Dan- iels, David and Daniel Hoover, Joel Meacham, Thomas Davis, who came in 1826. Like all set- tlers of new countries they suffered many hard- GRIGGSVILLE. Griggsville is one of the most important and wealthy townships in the county. It has the distinctive honor of being the only town of that name in the United States. The township was settled as early as 1825 by Henry Bateman. The first birth in the township was a son of Mr. Bateman and the first to die was Mr. Bateman's wife. The city of Griggsville was laid out in 1833 by Joshua Stanford and Richard Griggs and was named Griggsville by Mr. Jones in honor of Mr. Griggs. In 1838 there was what was known as an abolition melee in ships and inconveniences. The nearest mill for the first few years was at Edwardsville, Madison county, eighty miles away. At that time there were about 200 Indians in the neighborhood. A Dr. Houston was the first physician. Polly Davis was the first school teacher. In addition to the care of the neighbors' children she had eight of her own. The first marriage was that of Joseph Gale and Elizabeth Garrison in 1830. There are three villages in this township, Milton; Mon- tezuma and Bedford. The township is a most excellent agricultural one and has some of the. . Griggsville caused over a democratic and whig best and most enterprising farmers.
PEARL. Pearl's first settlers came in 1824 or 1825 and were A. Perkins, J. R. Ottwell, William Pruett and John Ottwell. The first marriage was William Ottwell and Rachel Collins and they were united by Rev. Mr. Osborne, a Baptist minister, who preached the first sermon in the township in 1829. Pearl has the villages . of Pearl, Bee Creek Village, Bee Creek Mills, Pearl Station and Chow Row. Near old Pearl is one of the finest springs in Illniois. In the old times an old- · fashioned undershot watermill was run by the immense volume of water flowing from the spring. What is known as the new town of Pearl is situated on the Chicago & Alton Railroad and is a place of considerable business.
PERRY. Perry is one of the first class town- ships situated in the northeast part of the county. The first settlers came in about 1829 and were Joseph Cavander, John Hume, Abel Shelley, John Matthews, Mr. Lovelady and John Gillaspie. The first school taught in the township was in 1830 by John Cavander. The town of Perry, number- ing about 700, was laid out by Joseph S. King in 1836 and first christened Booneville in honor of Daniel Boone. The name was afterward changed to Perry in honor of Commodore Perry, the hero of Lake Erie, who said "We have met the enemy and they are ours." Perry has a bank and a newspaper and while an inland town with no railroads is an enterprising, energetic and pro-
election for constable. They had a red hot and bitter contest which resulted in the election of B. S. Coffey. The democrats were very hostile over the election and a democrat assaulted Cof- fey, which caused a general row with no one se- riously hurt. A few weeks later a gentleman visited at Griggsville holding anti-slavery meet- ings and asking people to petition congress to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. Quite a number signed his petition. The objectors met in ą saloon and passed resolutions that the parties who had signed the petition should be compelled to erase their signatures from it. The mob element took the papers away from the man and returned with them, called upon the signers and demanded that they immediately erase their names under the penalty of violence should they refuse. Some complied, others did not. They then notified the obstinate ones that they must erase their names. The good people of the town met in a hotel and organized for resistance. The mob came with a rope and threw it around the body of N. W. Jones and attempted to drag him out and hang him, but he escaped from them and the good citizens soon showed what metal they were made of and the mob soon found it the best policy to desist from their murderous intention. Griggsville has two banks and two newspapers and all kinds of business is fully rep- resented in the town. The early settlers knew what privations were. In 1834 tea, coffee or
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sugar could not be bought. They had maple sugar and corn or rye coffee and sassafras tea. Griggsville has a very successful fair and is now the only fair held in the county. They have per- haps the most commodious fair grounds of any county in the state and being in the racing circuit, the lovers of equine speed have great enjoyment in witnessing the trials on the track.
NEWBURG. The first settler in Newburg was Daniel Husong in 1833. Newburg is so closely identified with Pittsfield that it has no town of its own but is noted as a most excellent agricul- tural township.
HARDIN. The first settlers in Hardin were Benjamin Barney, Nathaniel Bagby, Solomon Main, Jacob Henry, Joseph Halford, Jesse Mason and Aaron Thornton. The first couple married was Nathaniel Thornton and Lucinda Bagby, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Lewis Allen. The first school was taught by Jesse Gar- rison in 1833. Time, a very pleasant little· village, is located in this township. Its population now is about one hundred and fifty, and being an in- land town, its future is not very bright. It has many good citizens and is an excellent farming community.
SPRING CREEK. Spring Creek is one of the southern tier of townships bounded on the south by Calhoun county. It was settled in 1832 by Silas Wilson. The surface is very broken and is not a very good agricultural township. Nebo is its principal town and has about six hundred people. It has a bank and a newspaper and is located on the Chicago & Alton Railroad and is known as a good business town.
FAIRMOUNT. Fairmount is one of the finest townships on the north side of the county. Its first settlement was about 1831. The township is an excellent one for farm and stock operations and her citizens are among the best of the county. In 1840 Henry Benson taught the first school on section 16, in a log school house. In the time of the Civil war Fairmount's patriotic blood was aroused and she sent her quota of her gallant boys in blue to do or die for home and country.
NEW SALEM. The first pioneer who ventured to locate in this township was Mr. Joab Shinn, who came in 1830. In 1831 came Isaac Conklin
and his two sons, William Scholl and Nathan Swigert. The first school house built in New Salem was in 1834. New Salem has two enter- prising towns, Baylis and New Salem. New Salem was laid out in 1847 and Baylis in 1869. Baylis has a bank and a newspaper. Both towns have enterprising business men and have the benefits of the Wabash Railroad. A noted resi- dent of New Salem township from 1833 until his death a few years ago, was Capt. Henry Browne, who was born in Ireland, highly educated and aristocratic, a quiet and useful man, always held his allegiance to Great Britian. He was a skilled physician, and was a true friend to the poor ; and was never known to take a cent for services or medicines. He was noted for his high sense of honor, and marked respect for the rights of others.
PITTSFIELD. Pittsfield is near the center of the county and is the county capital. The pio- neer who first located here was Joel Moore, next came Ephraim Cannon and Moses Riggs. The county seat was located at Pittsfield by Commissioners George W. Hin- man, Hawkins Judd and Benjamin Barney. The first sale of lots took place May 15, 1833. The town was recorded May 14, 1833. The first court house was built in 1833, and the second one in 1838, and the present structure in 1894-5, is a handsome temple of justice and perhaps in its appointments and finish will compare favorably with any in the State. The town has three news- papers, two banks and the largest flouring mill in the western part of the state; has eight churches and two large school buildings. Among the famous people who began their careers in Pittsfield were Milton Hay; John Hay, who in his lifetime was recognized as one of America's greatest diplomats; John G. Nickolay, private secretary to President Lincoln. Pittsfield's citi- zens that are sojourning on the Pacific coast and in the West are very numerous, and most of them are making fame and fortunes for them -. selves. Pittsfield has several good hotels and a very commodious opera house. In secret socie- ties, she has the Masons, blue lodge, chapter and commandery ; Odd Fellows; Knights of Pythias ; Woodmen; Mutual Protective League; Pike
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County Mutual; Grand Army of the Republic, and numerous others.
MARTINSBURG. This township is situated in the second tier above the Calhoun county line, and its southwest corner is within five miles of the Mississippi river. Fisher Petty was the first settler and came in 1825. It has two villages, Martinsburg and New Hartford; both towns are occupied by good quiet citizens, and for little vil- lages do their share of the business. Neither have railroad facilities, which rather militates against their business.
PLEASANT HILL. This township was first set- tled in 1821 by Belus and Egbert Jones. Pleas- ant Hill's southern boundary touches Calhoun county. It has the Chicago & Alton Railroad, a bank and a newspaper. It has a number of pro- gressive business men and a population of about 450. The town of Pleasant Hill was laid out in 1836, and was incorporated in 1869. Pleasant Hill had the first license from the county com- missioners court in 1821 to keep a tavern and sell liquor. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Stephen Ruddle in 1826, who had been a pris- oner held by the Indians for sixteen years. The man's ability and knowledge was such that al- most every person in the entire township turned out to hear him preach. The first schoolhouse was erected in 1832. -
HADLEY. Hadley is a fine township of land, perhaps one of the best in the military tract. The first settler in this township was a black.man, who was known as Free Frank, and who came from Kentucky in 1829. The Legislature gave him a name, and he was afterward known as Frank McWorter. The first white settler to locate in this township was Joshua Woosley, who was af- terward sheriff of the county. Mr. Woolsey used the first grain cradle superseding the old- fashioned sickle ; and it was such a curiosity that the settlers came from far and near to see it. He charged a bushel of wheat per acre for cutting with it, which was a very small price, being only about thirty-seven and a half cents.
DERRY. Derry is a splendid farming town- ship. It was first settled by David W. Howard in 1826. Derry has one town, founded in 1836 by Nathaniel Winters and named Washington.
In 1850, when township organization took effect, it was found there was another Washington in Tazewell county, and the postmaster general noti- fied them they should change their name, which was afterward changed to Eldara. The town has about two hundred and fifty population and several thoroughgoing business men, two churches and an excellent school building.
ATLAS. When we reach this name we are car- ried back to the day when Atlas was expected to be a great city .. It is located in a fertile valley, with upland and bottom land, good and produc- tive. The first settlers were the Ross family; Ebenezer, Franklin and Daniel Shinn. Many of the early settlers of Atlas went to other parts of the county, and John Wood went to Quincy and founded the now "Gem City." Atlas township has three towns, Atlas, Rockport and Summer Hill, filled with many of Pike county's best people. Rockport, on the railroad, has a fine elevator and several good business houses. In Atlas town there is yet standing a house that was erected in 1822. To a person vis- iting Atlas for the first time, seeing the beautiful landscape and surroundings, would be impressed that Colonel Ross was evidently much elated with his great expectations that Quincy would not make much of a town because it was too near Atlas.
Ross. Ross township was formed from Atlas township in 1879 and was named in honor of Colonel William Ross by Captain M. D. Massie, who was a member of the board of supervisors in that year. The township is fractional and has no particular history except for its productive farms and worthy agricultural citizens.
BARRY. The first settlers in Barry, in 1824, were Rev. David Edwards and Mr. Hadley. Soon after these men came Rev. William M. Blair and his sons. Those who afterward took an impor- tant part in the history of the township were Montgomery and William Blair, Hezekiah Mc- Atee, Alfred Grubb and Elijah L. McAtee. Other early settlers were Josiah and Wil- liam Lippencott, Stephen R. Gray, Burton Gray, John Milhizer and Levi McDaniel. Most of the above came prior to or during the year 1836. Benjamin Barney, Michael and Alonzo
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Gard came in 1826, A. C. Baker in 1827. A noted Dr. Hudnel was an eccentric character and useful man, practiced in Barry and Pleasant Vale. Bart- lett & Birdsong kept the first store and they also laid out Barry as the agents for Stone, the owner. of the land. In 1836 Daniel A. Shaw hauled the first load of goods into Worcester, now Barry, for Bartlett & Birdsong. They were landed at Phil- lips Ferry, now Griggsville Landing or Valley City. The first Fourth of July celebration in Barry took place in 1838. Among the speakers were Dr. A. C. Baker, William A. Grimshaw and Colonel William Ross. The first wedding in the town- ship was that of Samuel Blair and Miss Lucy Brewster in 1829. Rev. William Blair preached the first sermon in his own log house on section 30, in 1829, and he also taught the first school in a log building on section 28 in 1830. Barry has two newspapers, the Adage and Record. The first bank in Barry was known as the C. & S. Davis and Angle Bank. It was opened in 1872 and in 1905 it became insolvent and went into the hands of a receiver. Indications appear to show that the depositors will lose but little if anything. The First National Bank was organized in 1901. Barry has numerous secret societies as follows : Masons; Odd Fellows; Modern Woodmen of America; Ancient Order of United Workmen; Mutual Protective. League; Court of Honor ; Grand Army of the Republic; Woman's Relief Corps; Fraternal Army of America and Loyal Americans and a few others. Stephen R. Gray was the first postmaster; Captain C. H. Hurt is postmaster now. Barry has a fine library build- ing, the gift of Mrs. B. D. Brown. The library is one of the best in the county, and is being added to frequently. Barry has a fine record for entertaining as the old settlers and soldiers can attest, having been often given the keys of the city.
Jon Shastid's school in Barry for the term ending on April 2, 1857: Edward W. Baker, Al- fred Baker, James C. Brown, Arthur Baird, Al- bert Blackman, James Baird, George Bill, Eugene Chamberlain, Jerome Chamberlain, Jon Chamber- lain, Aaron Chamberlain, Alfred Elam, Oliver Emerson, Marion Fairchild, Eugene Gray, William E. Grubb, Ira O. Gray, William P.
Gorton, Thomas E. Gorton, Marcellus Harvey, Henry L. Hadsell, Charles H. Hurt, Jon M. Hurt, George Howland, George Jasper, Edward D. B. Jerome, Charles Klein, William H. Kidwell, David Kidwell, Daniel Kidwell, George Luzader, George W. Liggett, William E. Robison, George W. Thompson, James M. Widby, Sarah E. Bond, Jane Cheadle, Diantha Cheadle, Mary J. Crooks, Lucy M. Ellis, Emma Eddingfield, Dorothy Frike, Mary E. Gillum Catherine Harvey, Allena Lane, Elizabeth J. Lane, Mary A. Mason, Maricia Mason, Julia U. Mason, Elizabeth Petty, Nancy Petty, Lucetta Pope, Matilda Sprague.
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