Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 65

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois > Part 65

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Since the first town meeting and election, many improvements have been advocated and made. not the least of which is one voted on at the last two meetings-the question of building a new town hall. It is to be built at the S. E. corner of the S. W. qr. of section 16, and the cost is not to exceed $1,000.

Ellington is now densely populated by a moral. intelligent, and thrifty people: it contains sub- stantial eburch edifices, has the nsnal number of prosperous schools, and no more beautiful farms, and cheery homes can be found in any part of the state.

FALL CREEK TOWNSHIP.

This township derives its name from the creek of the same name running through it from east to west. the creek having been so named from a cascade, or waterfall. of considerable size in the stream. It is situated in the southeast corner of Adams County : is bounded on the north by Mel- rose, east by Payson, south by Pike County and west by the Mississippi river. Fall Creek is a fractional town. being ent in an irregular form by the river: is seven miles wide on the north line, and less than five on the south line.

Its surface is considerably diversified. the bluff lands, comprising two-thirds of its area, are quite rolling, traversed by several creeks and brooks which furnish abundant water supply and am- ple drainage. The largest of these is Mill Creek, which was once the seat of the pioneer mill from which it derived its name, flowing diagonally across the northwest corner, on whose banks the village of Marblehead is located.

Ashton Creek heads about the north boundary of the township a mile and a half west of the east line, and flows sonthwesterly. emptying near the center of the west line. Fall Creek enters the township a mile south of the northeast cor-

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

ner, ils course is meandering, and its mouth a little north of the southwest corner. A luxu- riant growth of timber originally covered three- fourths of the township, and the prairie grass the remainder.

The soil is a dark sandy loam, with a sub- stratum of lighter color strongly impregnated with sand and gravel, and a subsoil of limestone. This composition admirably adapts it to the pro- duetion of the cereals and fruits. Wheat, of which very large erops are grown. amounting in the aggregate to over 100,000 bushels in a single season, has been considered the staple crop, though corn is extensively planted, and yields a rich harvest to the husbandmen. Much atten- tion is given to fruit growing.

Limestone abounds everywhere along the bluffs, and many fine quarries are being profitably worked. At Marblehead, large kilns are in ac- tive operation, and are turning out large quanti- ties of the finest lime, which finds a ready market in various parts of Illinois and other states.

The bottom lands, comprising the other third of the township, are inexhaustible in their pro- duetive resources : by drainage and levee protec- tion from the river, they have become the most magnificent and valuable farming lands in the country.

The Louisiana branch of the C. B. & Q. R. R. ents this town diagonally from northwest to southeast along the edge of the bottom, furnish- ing an outlet for the shipment of its abundant productions. There are three stations within its limits. Marblehead, the first south of Quiney, Bluff Hall and Fall Creek. This latter village is at the junction of the llannibal branch, and is quite a shipping point for live stock and farm produce. It is the seat of Fall Creek postoffice : there is also a general store and a blacksmith shop. There is also a neat little church building. not under any one denominational control-a "Union" Church.

Marblehead is about seven and a half miles southeast of Quiney. It was laid out in 1835 by Michael Mast, John Coffman and Stephen Thomas, in the center of section 6. taking a eor- ner of land from each. For a time it gave prom- ise of growth. Michael Mast erected a large store and filled it with a stock of general mer- chandise, and for a time commanded considerable trade. In later years, the business shrunk to the modest dimensions of a very small grocery. Early in its history, the saw and grist mill on Mill Creek did considerable business, and a large steam ferry plied between a point opposite Mar- blehead and Marion City, now extinet on the Mis- souri side, furnishing a great thoroughfare for emigrant travel as late as 1850. The chief fea- ture of importance now at the place are the lime kilns and stone quarries, giving employment to a

large number of men. The village has never been incorporated.

Justice I. Perigo was the first white man who songht a home in Fall Creek. He settled south of the present site of Marblehead in 1821, but being a regular frontiersman, he made little show of improvements. In June, 1823, John C. Thomas came to the township and moved on the same farm where Perigo settled. Col. Headly and Mr. Slayton, the father of Ferando Slayton, came the same year. Zephaniah Ames and Eben- ezer Harkness came the next April. Amos Beebe, Amos Baneroft, Mr. Crandall, Daniel Moore, HIohnan Bowles, Mr. Journey and Thos. Carr were among the early pioneers, as was also Wm. Thompson and son, M. L., who came in 1830.

The first marriage was that of Amos Baneroft and Ardelia Ames, in the winter of 1824-25. The first child born was Priscilla Crandall, after- wards the wife of Josiah Thomas, in 1825. The first death was old Mr. Slayton, of consumption, in 1825.

The first school house was ereeted on section 16, in 1825, and Levi Wells taught the first school in it the following winter. The first ser- mon was preached by an itinerant Methodist preacher named Medford in 1826.

The first house of worship was erected by the Baptists in Joseph Thomas' woods in 1832. The first permanent church edifice was built by the Methodist Protestant society, on section 23, near the falls of Fall Creek, in 1844. A lady mem- ber worked the date in the curtains. The first Sunday School was organized at the residence of Zephaniah Ames in 1832, by Deacon Chatten and Elder Sweet.

Amos Baneroft, Daniel Moore and Rial Cran- dall built the first saw mill on Mill Creek, late in 1824. In 1831, a grist mill was erected which supplied the surrounding country with bread- stuffs.

Among the early settlers of Fall Creek town- ship were Holman Bowles, Alexander Fruit, and John Hickerson, who, with their families, were members of the Christian Church. They began to assemble together for worship in their cabins as early as 1831. Rev. Jesse Bowles preached for them occasionally, and the believers in the faith increased in number until in 1840 when they organized regularly, Revs. John B. Curl and John Rigdon officiating. Hohan Bowles, Jesse Fruit, and Albert Morris were elected elders, and John Featheringill and James Lewis chosen deacons. The society held services in school honses until 1851 when it attained sufficient strength in numbers and purse to erect a house of worship which they built that year. It is the parent of the Payson Christian Church, and is the second oldest society of that denomination in Adams County.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

A considerable number of Germans having settled in Fall Creek township, they organized a Lutheran Society, and erected a stone edifice in 1860 upon seetion 9. A neat, commodions, frame church builling now stands on the same site. There are quite a number of Methodist people in Fall Creek who attend at Fall Creek Chapel, just in the edge of Payson township.

Fall Creek township contains a population of about three thousand inhabitants. It ranks among the first in the county in fertility of the soil, and the character of its farm improvements.

THE THOMPSON SETTLEMENT.

In the early history of the county there was a settlement in the southwest corner of Honey Creek and in the southeast corner of Mendon known for many miles around as the Thompson Settlement. The patriarch of this settlement was Enos Thompson, one of the three brothers who came to this county from Ohio in 1830. The youngest brother of the family, Josiah, had come the year previous, and after spending about a week with the family of John Wood, in Quiney, concluded to settle in Fall Creek township, where he made his home on section 11. The other two brothers, Dr. Samuel Thompson and William Thompson settled on sections 1 and 12, respect- ively, in Fall Creek.

Enos Thompson was a minister in the M. E. Church, quite a revivalist, and was well known all over Western Illinois. Like most of the pio- neers in the great West, he had a large family. ITis sons were Morgan, Andrew, John, Wesley, Salathiel, Milton, and Robert. The daughters were Mrs. Brackett Pottle of Payson, Mrs. Brad- ley Stewart of Houston, and Mrs. Martin Stewart of Honey ('reek, afterwards of Camp Point town- ship. Enos Thompson's first wife was a Miss Iliggins whom he married in Ohio, and who was the mother of all his children. His second wife was a Mrs. Stone, whose first husband was one of the family after which Stone's Prairie was named. The oldest two sons of Enos Thompson, Andrew and Morgan, lived in the southern part of the county and the writer is not acquainted with the history of their families. John Thomp- son lived first in Mendon, then in Honey Creek, where he died. His first wife was a Miss Long- eor, by whom he had five children, three sons and two daughters. The sons were Albert, Charles and Horace: the daughters were So- phronia, wife of Sylvester Woodward, and Me- linda, wife of Chauncey Bloomfield. The sec- ond wife was a Miss Shields, by whom he had six children, two sons and four daughters. The sons were George W. and Aksekia: the daugh- ters were Orpha J., Samantha, Elizabeth and Lucy A. Wesley Thompson lived first in Honey Creek, then in Denver, Colorado, then in South-

west Missouri, where he died. Ilis wife was a Miss Kineaid. They had one child, a daughter, who died before reaching womanhood.

Salathiel Thompson lived first in Mendon township, then in Gilmer, then in Colorado, and afterwards in Quincy. His wife was a Miss Newell. They had eight children: Mary, Lydia, George W .. Aaron, William, Sarah, Elizabeth and Alfred, named in the order of their ages. Mil- ton Thompson lived in Honey Creek, then went to Montana, where he now resides. His wife was a Miss Pilcher. Two children are known to have been born to them-Laura and Charles. Robert, or as he was commonly called, "Bob" Thomp- son, was "simple minded" and died at about the age of twenty-five. The Thompson men were all farmers and did cooper work as a side line. In the early history of Quiney, when the city packed all the pork raised within a radius of many miles, when there were several flouring mills and large distilleries, the demand for bar- rels was unsatiable, and almost any week day in the year one could see wagons from the Thomp- son Settlement, with their great ladders holding from sixty to one hundred barrels, on the road to Quincy. This was kept up until near the time of the Civil War when the timber in Honey Creek was becoming exhausted.

The daughters of Enos Thompson, as before stated. were Mrs. Brackett Pottle, Mrs. Bradley Stewart and Mrs. Martin Stewart. Martin and Sarah Stewart were long time residents of the Thompson Settlement in Honey Creek, but they finally settled in the northern part of Camp Point township where they both died at a ripe old age. To them were born eleven children, all of whom grew up to manhood and womanhood. The four sons were Marens De Lafayette, Enos, An- drew and Sullivan. The seven daughters were Rosanna, wife of James Stone, Jane, wife of John Messick, Leviea, wife of Capt. T. L. How- den. Lavina, wife of Dan. Humsher, Emerett, wife of Stephen Brewer, Elizabeth, wife of a Mr. Ilowell, and Lucy, wife of a Mr. Noble. It is believed that the only representative of Enos Thompson's family bearing the name and now living in Adams County, is W. N. Thompson, of Coatsburg.

Of the three brothers of Enos Thompson, Jo- siah, who came in 1829, died in about two years after settling in Fall Creek. His wife was a sis- ter of the late Joshua Tibbets. There were five children, three sons, and two daughters, born to them. The sons were Washington, who died be- fore reaching his majority; Newton, who now lives in Payson, and Franklin who died at Ten- nessee, Illinois, in 1887. The daughters, both now deceased. were Sobriety, wife of the late E. R. Sechorn, and Eliza A., wife of Dr. Henry Houp. The children of Newton Thomp-

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son now living, are Mrs. S. S. Inman of Plain- ville and Mrs. N. J. Hinton of Quiney. lis grandchildren are the Misses Edna V. and Blanche Inman, and Ralph T. Ilinton. The children of Franklin Thompson are Mrs. Neal MeDonough of Burlington, Iowa, and the Misses Bertha and Mamie Thompson of Galesburg.

Samuel Thompson, as previously stated, set- tled in Fall Creek, but after some years he re- moved to Missouri where he died. ITis descend- ants now residing in this county are a grand- danghter, Mrs. M. W. Hughes of Fall Creek, with her chikIren and grandchildren, Arthur Thomp- son of Fall Creek, a great grandson, with his sis- ters, Misses Ley and Alma Thompson, and the two daughters of the late Mrs. James Grove of Payson, Mrs. Harry Scehorn and Miss Lela Grove, both great granddaughters.

William Thompson remained on the farm where he first settled in Fall Creek until the time of his death in 1880. One son, Mareus L. Thomp- son, now in his eighty-eighth year, and two grandsons, Wm. E. and John G., sons of Mar- eus, live on farms adjoining on the west the one occupied by that worthy pioneer. A daughter, Mrs. D. E. Tipple, with her husband, now resides on the old home farm which is a model in the way of up-to-date management and culture, and adorned by a fine residence, and neat, substan- tial and convenient barns, etc. Another daugh- ter. Miss Esther, resides in Quincy.

The members of the Thompson family were honorable people, respected by all who knew them. As a rule they were Democrats in politics and almost to an individual they adopted the faith of the M. E. Church. Their descendants are scattered all over the Mississippi Valley, and as has been shown, some of them may be encoun- tered in different parts of this county.

GILMER TOWNSHIP.

The first settlers in Gilmer Township were George Wigle, who settled in 1829, on section 34-he built a log cabin and made other improve- ments-Benjamin Walby, an Englishman by birth, JJacob Smith, John Thomas, Mr. Franks. and Mr. Riddle.

In November, 1831, John Yeargain and fam- ily came. and soon after Daniel Harrison and others. These men were good citizens, their or- enpation that of farming; they were poor and enjoyed but few of the luxuries of life. but they were cheerful, contented and hospitable.

The first sermon was preached at John Year- gain's, by James Hobbs, in the year of 1832. In the same year John Hunter, a preacher of the M. E. Church, preached at the same place. Soon after a class was organized consisting of the fol- lowing persons: John Yeargain and wife, Jacob Sharp and wife, Weaver Potter and wife, Geo.

Kuntz and wife, Naney G. Tate and W. T. Year- gain. Soon after this others were added. David Carter, who was the first circuit-rider, com- menced his labors in the year 1832. The class continned to meet at John Yeargain's until thought best to move it elsewhere. Meetings were then held successively at John Yeargain's thence to a log school house on what is now known as the old telegraph road. From there it moved to Mr. Brunton's, then afterward to a school house known as Mount Pleasant, and built in 1836, where meetings were held until 1865, when they built a church on section 27. During the year 1832 David Ilobbs and John Curl preached at various times at the residence of John Yeargain. whose house was open with a welcome to preachers of all denominations. Also at other times John Kirkpatrick, Samuel Griggs and John Ilam of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and John Wolf, a Dunkard, preached frequently at Daniel Harrison's. Wm. Roberts, a Baptist, preached at various places. There are now established here several Methodist Episco- pal churches, a German Methodist Episcopal church, two Christian churches, one Lutheran and one Catholic church in Gilmer.

The first marriage was that of Mr. William Lamberth to Miss Nancy G. Tate, 1832. The ceremony was performed by Judge James Rals- ton.

The first birth was a child of Daniel Harrison, and the first death that of John Bayne in Novem- ber, 1834.

The township was named in honor of Dr. Thornton Gilmer.

The first election was held at what was known as Mr. Pitts' school house, on section 15. April 2. 1850. The first judges of election were John Rice. Hobbs and Wm. B. Finley, clerks: first su- pervisor was JJ. F. Bartell; first magistrate un- der township organization, Paris T. Judy ; first town elerk. Win. Morrow; first assessor, Philip S. Judy: first overseer of the poor, Jeremiah Ballard; first collector, David Chase: first com- missioners of highways, Robt. Breedlove, Chas. Gilmer, and Jacob Smith, who afterward served one terin in State Senate: first treasurer, John Lawless: second treasurer, Geo. B. Thompson : first trustees of schools, Geo. W. Thompson, Eli Williams, Benj. Walby, and D. L. Pedow : second trustees of school, Thornton Gilmer, John Bar- tell. Abner Chase, and John Finch.

The first school was taught by Miss Ellis, a missionary from the East, in 1833.

The first goods were sold in 1832, by Daniel Harrison, who kept a store on section 30. In the year 1835 he moved his house and goods to Co- limbus, where he took as partner in the dry goods and pork-packing business. Abraham Jonas, who was a member of the legislature.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Columbus was laid out by William Graves, in the year 1835.

The poor house and farm are in Gilmer. There are three miles of the C. B. & Q. Railroad in Gil- mer township. Fowler is a little village on this line, and is known as a shipping point.

The land of this township consists of about two-thirds prairie and one-third timber. It is settled by an intelligent class of people. Its church and school privileges are excellent.

HIONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP.

By Dr. W. E. Gilliland.

Honey Creek comprises the original survey of I north of the Base Line, range 7 west of the Fourth Principal Meridian. It is bounded on the north by Keene, on the west by Mendon, on the south by Gilmer and on the east by Camp Point. Originally it consisted of about three- fifths timher and two-fifths prairie land. The entire watershed is drained by Bear Creek, its principal tributaries in the township being HIoney Creek and Brush Creek, thence the waters How into the Mississippi. The natural resources are agriculture, horticulture and stock-raising. wheat and corn, hogs and cattle being the main products. lloy raising seems to be a favorite employment with most of the farmers, and cat- tle are receiving more attention each sucereding year. The tendency at this time seems to be to- ward the dairying industry. Timber, which at one time was an important item, is now well-nigh exhausted. There is an abundance of excellent stone for building purposes and for road mak- ing, and an inexhaustible supply of fine brick elay which has never been utilized, but there is no eoal. Horticulture has always received much attention. Apples, peaches and pears do as well here as in other parts of the county. The trees of the first planting have nearly all passed away, and, on account of the insect enemies of these fruits, some of the people have become discour- aged and have ceased to plant. A few, however, are continuing the work extensively with a view to fighting the insects with all the modern seien- tifie implements of warfare

The history of Honey Creek is the history of the men who have made the township. The first habitation of which we have any knowledge was built by a squatter named llaven, on section 21, prior to 1830. It is said that he found a bee tree on the creek bottom and that he obtained from it a fine lot of honey, from which cirenm- stance the creek derived its name. After llaven eame Ed. Edmonson, HI. B. Baldwin, Enos Thompson and sons, John, Byler, J. E. Kam- merer, Richard Gray, Mrs. Irene Grigsby, Jos- eph Pollock, Jabez Lovejoy, W. D. Iler-lley- worth, the Strneys, father and sons. James

Bailey, Daniel Gooding, Joel Darrah, M. D., the Whites. Thomas, Richard and James, Wm. Eu- banks, Horatio Ellis and several others whose names were less conspicuous. These were all here prior to 1840, except Joel Darrah, M. D., who came in the spring of that year.

In the seventy-five years that have intervened since the arrival of the first settlers, Honey Creek township has witnessed a wonderful transforma- tion. From a state of wilderness, of which words would give but a faint conception to those who had never seen it, to a condition in which every acre and rod of land is made to yield to the wants of its 1,500 population; from the terrific scream of the hungry panther, the howl of the ravenous wolf, and the weird wail of the wildeat, to the friendly greeting of the house dog, the low- ing of cattle and the grunt of satisfaction from the pig sty ; from a lone cabin to over three hun- dred comfortable, respectable dwellings, many of which are almost palatial; from nothing in the way of school and religious advantages, to nine substantial school houses, where some four hundred children annually receive their primary odneation, and seven churches, where as many denominations worship according to the teach- ings of their several creeds.

The principal prairie of Honey Creek is called "Froggy." How it came by such an enphonious title is, to the unitiated, a mystery. It originated at one of the old-fashioned spelling bees, where a school distriet to the westward of this prairie was pitted against the home district. School house, a log cabin on the prairie: time, Mareh 25, 1844; at eandle lighting, present both schools in full force ; wild grass taller than a man ; water, bootleg deep, full of frogs which made so mueh noise that the teacher was compelled to pro- nounce the words at the top of his voice in order to be heard at all. A school girl from the west district ealled the place "Froggy, " and "Froggy" it has been ever since.

Manufacturing of any kind has always been limited in Honey Creek. In the early history of the township great numbers of pork and lard barrels, flour barrels and even whiskey barrels were made and hauled to Quincy. In 1840 Charles Fletcher built a water mill on Bear creek, on seetion 4, for the purpose of grinding grain. A few years' experience taught him the unreliability of water power, and he put in steam engines. In 1870 he moved the whole plant to Coatsburg, and about two years later the mill burned. It was rebuilt by Fred Cruze and after- ward remodeled by Aaron & MeGuire. Later it came into the possession of I. N. Pevehouse, who sold it to J. N. Shanhaltze, the present owner.

Some fifteen years ago Joseph Freeze and son started, at Coatsburg. in a small way. the For- est Oak Nurseries, whose growth has been almost

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marvelous. For the past five or six years the annual ontput from these nurseries has run into the thousands of dollars' worth. Two very vah- able varieties of apple, the Bayard and the Rohe's Favorite, have propagated in these nurs- eries.

Honey Creek has two villages within its bor- ders, Coatsburg and Paloma, both situated on the Burlington division of the C., B. & Q. R. R. Coatsburg was laid out by Robert Coats in 1854. at the time the railroad was built, and Paloma at a later date. Coatsburg has the distinction of having been the rival of Quincy in the county seat controversy of 1875. From the beginning it has been an important shipping point for live stock, grain, hay, etc. It has now a skimming station for the Camp Point Pioneer Creamery Company, which receives ten thousand pounds of milk per week in winter and thirty thousand pounds in summer. This seems to be a growing industry. Coatsburg has three general stores which do a large retail business; there are also several restaurants, blacksmith and repair shops. One rural free delivery mail route goes ont from there. The present population of the village is about 285.

Paloma was laid ont by Daniel Gooding, about 1862, and it now has a population of about 160. It has three stores, a blacksmith shop, and a soda water factory. There are also two churches and an 1. O. O. F. lodge. Several years ago, because of the enormous quantities of enenmbers shipped from this station, the railroad men dubbed it "Pickle Station," or "Pickleville." It is a shipping point for live stock and grain, and there is no other station in the county that bales and ships as much hay. A rural free delivery mail ronte goes ont from Paloma.

HOUSTON TOWNSHIP.

Houston boasts not only an illustrious name, but its history is no less important than that of other townships in the matter of early settle- ment and the character of its prominent men who have long been residents.

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 65

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228