Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 68

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 68

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The first secret order permanently organized was a lodge of Masons, called Prairie Lodge No. 267. organized Oct. 6, 1858. A lodge of Odd Fellows had previously been organized, but after a few years the charter was surrendered and the lodge abandoned.

The village of Golden was formerly known as Keokuk Junction, where the connection was made with Keokuk by the Wabash and Burling- ton Railroads. A hotel, two or three saloons, run "wide open," and a station and telegraph office were established here early in 1863. At a meet- ing called by the citizens of the hamlet in 1867, a village organization was formed under a special act of the legislature and the town was named Keokuk Junction. The following officers were elected : John Lyle, justice of the peace : John H. Wendle, constable : L. U. Abbers. George Meyer, Andreas Fruhling and William Hanna, trustees. This organization gave the town very good authority for police regulations, which had be- come a matter of necessity for the safety and

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health of all law-abiding citizens. and the in- corporation soon showed the benefit of such a course in the gradual but steady improvement of the moral attitude of the population.

This form of goverment continued in force until March, 1873. when the board of trustees called an election to vote upon the new state law, authorizing the town to relinquish their special organization acts and to adopt the gen- eral method of organization of cities and vil- lages. The result was a unanimous vote to make such a change. The next April, according to the plan adopted, an election was held. and the new- ly elected board of trustees proceeded to or- ganize and execute the village government ac- cording to the new state "Village and Organi- zation Laws, " which course is still in full effect.

While the moral aspect of the village has so vastly improved. the physical has not been neg- lerted. Previous to the building of the railroads, the middle of the village was actually the middle of a vast malarial pool. so wet. in faet, that in early summer, even persons on horseback, were obliged to avoid this portion when passing from side to side of the prairie. Now a system of thorough drainage added to a fair degree of san- itary regulations, seenres the resident popula- ation a greater immmity from pestilence than is afforded to many of her sister towns.

The cause of the settlement of a mercantile community in sneh a seemingly unfavorable spot being the location of two very important rail- road lines, it is naturally a matter of interest to turn a few moments to the local operation and management of those two roads. On the 21st of November, 1863, the first telegram passed from this station. From that time until the pres- ent immense stocks of merchandise of all deserip- tions have been received at this station for sale or trans-shipment, while, at the same time, large «mantities of grain and live stock have been shipped from the depot to be scattered through all the markets of our own, and probably many foreign countries.

Religions services were held here first in the depot and were conducted alternately by the Methodists and the Presbyterians. Later the Methodists. about 1869, erected a new church building. The German Lutheran church has since been organized, and other denominations have come.

The cause of education received marked at- tention from the first. Perhaps few towns can prodnee as many permanent residents who have been school teachers. The village organized a special school district for themselves and built a new school house at a cost of $3,000, abont 1869. Some four or five years ago, this building proved inadequate to the demands, and a larger. fine modern structure, more in keeping with the

growth of the village, was erected, so that the youth of this vicinity have satisfactory educa- tional advantages. There are parochial schools, also, in connection with the Lutheran churches here.

About the year 1869, came temperance reform. At first only a few private citizens took much interest in it. but a very bitter, violent spirit was aroused against one or two strenuous re- fom advocates.

This spirit was put down by the calmer heads of the community. and later. in 1877, a public organization was formed. This organization has been prodnetive of much good.

The name of Keokuk Junction was changed later to the village of Golden. after the organi- zation complying with the general law enacted for uniform government. This was to avoid con- fusion of names as used by postoffice depart- ment and express and railroad companies, a dis- tinet designation.

The village of La Prairie was laid out in 1855 by Harrison Dills. Benjamin Bacon and others. A village organization was effected in 1855. The railroad. the Northern Cross. afterward the C., B. and Q., was built through and beyond what is now called LaPrairie, and a station house was erected in the fall of 1855, and at first it was called Gibbs or Gibbstown, after a settler who located there before the building of the road. but afterward it was changed to LaPrairie.

It is a beautiful little village located about thirty miles from Quincy. It has gained quite a reputation as a shipping point, from the amount of merchandise which passes through here.

An elegant school building adorns the south- ern part of the village and the educational re- «nirements are carefully looked after.

The establishment of telephone lines communi- cating with nearly every permanent residence in the township. the rural free mail delivery, the great improvement in agricultural methods, in cultivation, as well as in machinery, improved road-making, better sehool houses, and the nut- merons churches that have sprung up in the last twenty-five years, have made this township pros- perous and progressive.

PAYSON TOWNSHIP. ( By Il. F. Scarborough.)

Payson township is one of the south tier of townships in Adams County, lying about five miles east of the Mississippi river and contain- ing some of the richest lands and also some of the poorest in the county. The two small vil- lages of Payson and Plainville are located with- in this territory. Payson is situated fifteen

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miles southeast of Quiney and twelve miles northeast of Hannibal, Mo.

In the year 1833 the land upon which Payson now stands was entered at the general land of- fiee by Hon. John Wood. E. B. Kimball and Brackett Pottle. Prior to this date some pioneers had settled in the adjoining vicinity, Andrew MePeterie settling on section 32 in the spring of '30. Woodward Lawrence came in May, 1831, and the following fall taught the first subserip- tion school in this vicinity: it was conducted in a log stable with puncheon floor and very large eracks between the logs for windows. John Ed- monds' family arrived July 3d. 1831; E. S. Nichols in September, 1832; Robert G. Kay in October, 1833. In the fall of 1834 Deacon Al- bigence Scarborough, of West Harvard, Conn., settled in the township, having made a prospec- tive trip in 1833. Ile purchased the land on which Payson now stands and in the spring of '35 laid out the village of Payson, having it platted and recorded: he afterward associated with himself in the laying ont and sale of lots. P. E. Thompson and James (. Bernard. The village was named by Deacon Scarborough for the Rev. Dr. Edward Payson of Portland. Me. In 1836 Deacon Scarborough, Deacon David Prinee and Captain John Burns commenced the building of the stone wind mill, which was com- pleted about three years afterward, at a cost of $13,000.

The first sale of town lots took place on the 7th day of August, 1836: and twenty per cent of the purchase money of the lots sold was do- nated by the founders for the purpose of build- ing a seminary. Four aeres of land were given by Deacon Scarborough upon which to preet the said building. This educational interest led to the erection of a building, which for a few years was used for an academy, and afterwards rented by the school district for a public school. This building was finally sold and moved off the lot : but through the patient efforts of Joel K. Sear- borough and his associates, a new and commodi- ous public school brick building was erected on the same beautiful lot. The school has ever been good, and today is an honor to the town, rank- ing second to none in the connty. The influence of her scholars is evinced by numerous distin- gnished people of various vocations, who were born and reared in the town. Among these were Dr. David Prince, a famous physician and sur- geon ; Mrs. Anna Scott and others who devoted their lives to mission in foreign fields: Prof. Ed- ward Perry, the head of an oratorical school in St. Louis: and Miss Mary F. Leach, once a pro- fessor of chemistry in Mt. Holyoke, now a Ph. D. in Ann Arbor, Mich. There may be found emi- nent representatives of the Payson schools in the ministry, the law and in business professions.

The first school within the village of Payson was conducted by Miss Emily Searborough in 1837 in a school house located at the northeast corner of Edwards and Fulton streets.

One of the most prominent characteristics of the early settlers of the village of Payson was their regard for religions institutions, and while the community yet consisted of but few families, they regularly met for worship in one of their cabins and as early as the fall of 1835 they se- cured the services of Rev. Anson Hubbard. On the 8th of May, 1836, the Congregational Church of Payson was organized, with twenty members. They met for worship in a school house for a time, but in 1840 built a church, at that time one of the best and most expensive in this coun- try. It was dedicated in March, 1841, and the society enjoyed this fine house of worship only a short time, as it was consumed by fire, Nov. 18th. 1842. This loss, in conjunction with the hard times and consequent depression of busi- ness, was a terrible blow to the church. But services were held in sneh rooms as could be pro- cured until a much smaller building was erected in 1844. The present commodious building was finished and dedicated in the fall of 1865.

The M. E. Church of Payson was incorporated as a society March 18th, 1840, and the lot on which the present church building stands was obtained and the construction of the first church begun in the spring of 1841 and completed in the fall of 1842. The first quarterly conferenee of the Payson cirenit was held in Payson Nov. 13th, 1847. In 1854 a second ehmreh building was erected on the same lot. The increasing strength of the society demanded still a larger and more modern house of worship, and conse- mently the present beautiful structure was

erected in 1878.

The Payson Baptist Church was organized in Burton township March 8th, 1834. under the name of "Bethany Baptist Church:" removing their society to the village of Payson in 1838, where they had erected and dedicated a new honse of worship. This society was strong for many years, and in 1865 the more commodious church edifice they now ocenpy was built; but the society was afterwards much weakened by the drawing off of many of its members to form Baptist churches in Newton and Plainville.

The Christian church was oragnized Feb. 15th, 1868, with twenty-six members; they have a neat church building and have increased in numbers, becoming a strong society.

Payson has three seeret societies: the A. F. and A. M. is the oldest. being chartered in Octo- her. 1863: they own a fine hall. There is an I. O. O. F. society : and a society of the order of Eastern Star. There are three mutual insur- ance societies : the M. W. of A .: Royal Neigh-

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bors and Court of Honor. The Payson Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized in 1873 and has increased its busi- ness till at the present time the company has over one and a half million dollars of insurance in force. ranking as the sixth township insurance company of the state. The officers are: J. K. Scarborough, president ; Horace Bernard, secre- tary, and II. L. Tandy, treasurer.

Payson supports a flourishing weekly news- paper. edited by E. P. Maher, who has a power plant installed. There are five stores, two har- ness shops, a tin shop. two implement houses and four blacksmith shops in the town.

The thriving village of Plainville has grown up on what was originally known as "Stone Prairie", so called for one of the first settlers in the southeast part of this township. Samuel Stone, who settled in the year 1822. Plainville is located two miles from the east line and two miles from the south line of the township. Al- though a much younger village than Payson, it is a fast rival in the amount of business trans- acted. Among the early settlers in the vicinity of Plainville were Henry Wagy, settling in the fall of 1832: Wyman Whitcomb. October, 1833: A. B. Vining. Nov. 6th. 1833, and Solomon Shinn, May 5th. 1836. A. B. Vining and John Delaplain were prominent in the early history of the village. It was incorporated as a town May 1st. 1896, with the name of Plainville. There are two thriving churches in Plainville- the Baptist church, organized in 1890 with Forty- six members : they have a neat church and have regular church services and Sunday school. The M. E. church was organized in the year 1875. They have a commodious church building and are prosperous. Those that have had the pleas- nre of attending conventions held in Plainville can vouch for the cordiality and hospitality of her people. There are five or six stores, a weekly newspaper, the "Plainville Messenger," wagon shops, blacksmith shops, etc., in the town.

Plainville has four secret societies: the A. F. and A. M .: Order of Eastern Star: I. O. O. F. and Rebekahs. There are three mutual insur- anre societies, the M. W. of A. being quite strong.

The two towns are connected by telephone lines and are both well equipped with that serv- ice and have hopes of an electric railway con- necting them with the cities of Quiney and Han- nibal. Payson township took its name from the village of Payson and was organized in the year 1850. The first supervisor was Robert G. Kay. The succeeding supervisors were Wyman Whit- comb, J. O. Bernard, J. W. Vickers, A. T. Cook, S. E. Hewes, G. E. Hupert. T. S. Elliott and II. F. Scarborough. Space will not permit the men-

tion of many others who have taken great inter- est in the welfare of Payton township.

RICHFIELD TOWNSIHP.

(By J. C. Baker.)

Three years after the organization of Adams County the first settlement of this township was made, having been first settled by JJacob Franks and A. N. Penrod, in the fall of 1828. On Dec. 6, 1831, David Locke and Joseph Linthicum came: Dixon Tungate and N. D. Harris came in 1832: Aberdeen Mallet came in 1833; Henry Lile was also one of the first settlers. These all brought their Families, and soon the township began to be filled up with a class of good and in- dustrious people, among whom were Goldsbury Childers, John B. Atherton. Sanford Harris, Solomon Cusie, Henry Cleveland, James and Jefferson Long. Nathan Harris, I. Hunsaker, Alvin Hartshorn, Sr., and others. The first child born in the township was a daughter to David Locke: hers also was the first death. The first justice of the peace was Jesse Evans who was also the first supervisor of the township. The succeeding supervisors were Ira Tyler. A. H. Pettit, J. T. Dull, William Evans. L. M. Mor- rison, F. M. Behymer, Alvin Hartshorn and P. J. Daniels. The first school was conducted in a log cabin on section 6, by Erastus Rice, in 1836. The first school house was built in 1839, on see- tion 19. The first church was situated on sec- tion 30, and was of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. The church building was erected in 1850, and is known as Shiloh Chapel. The Arst preacher was the Rev. Northeutt. At the time of organization the board of trustees con- sisted of William Gooding. Joseph Linthicum, Henry Lile, William Holcomb, Jacob Baker and Benjamin Fahs. The first mill was built on Me- Crany creek, about 1840, by David Locke. In 1843 the first saw mill was built.

The village of Richfield. which has never been incorporated, was platted about 1842. The first store in the place was built about 1845, by Nahma Tyler, who conducted a general merchandising business. The village is located on the line of sections 8 and 17; it contains a number of small dwellings, an M. E. church, blacksmith and wagon shop and two stores. The first secret society was a camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, organized here in 1899.

The township contains four churches, one Baptist and three Methodist Episcopal. The peo- ple of Richfield are intelligent and industrious. as is evidenced by their well kept homes and im- proved farms. The surface of the country is quite rolling and somewhat broken. It was orig- inally about three-fourths timber. Much of the soil is quite productive.

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Richfield has the honor of having furnished a representative to the General Assembly of the State from this district, in the person of llon. Ira Tyler, who served three terms. He was a member of "Palmer's famous 101."

RIVERSIDE TOWNSHIP.

Riverside township is directly north of Quincy and is bounded on the north by Ursa, east by Ellington, south by Quiney, and west by the Mississippi river.

It was formerly a part of Ellington, but in 1887 was organized as a town.

Two ereeks, with their branches flow through Riverside, Cedar creek and Iloman's or Leon- ard's creek, thus affording good drainage for this township. Much of Riverside was formerly bottom land, but it is in the Indian Grave Drain- age district, and thus has been made among the most valuable farm lands in the county.

I. J. Earl is the present supervisor : the first was Thomas Sinnock, and he was succeeded by Charles Pool, Josiah Barnes and W. E. Chap- man.

The Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home is lo- eated in this township.

URSA TOWNSHIP. (By Tom B. Smith. )

This is the largest township in Adams County. It embraces parts of the two congressional town- ships. 1 north, 8 west. and 1 north. 9 west, hav- ing an area of about fifty-six square miles. The Mississippi marks the western boundary, a dis- tance of about seven miles, and furnishes a means of transportation for the products of the town- ship. The devions course of Bear creek marks the northern boundary. The beautifully undu- lating uplands are among the very finest farm- ing lands of the state, and comprise about two- thirds the area of the township. An abundance of water is supplied by numerous springs and several creeks, chief among the latter of which are: Rock, which flows across the township from the east, a mile or so from the base line: Ursa, which rises in Mendon and flows west through the center, and Bear, forming the boundary line on the north. The rich bottom lands have become among the most valuable in the township through the organization of the Indian Grave Drainage District in April. 1880. This district, including that portion in Riverside township, comprises 18,200 acres, about 14,000 aeres of which is in Ursa township. These lands are now being brought to a high state of cultiva- tion which will add very materially to the landed wealth of the township. The Indian Grave Drain- age District celebrated the new year, Jan. 1, 1904, by burning. in front of the courthouse in the

city of Quiney, some $400,000 of cancelled bonds of the district, the landowners having purchased the same through a committee previously ap- pointed for that purpose. There remains out- standing only $4.000 of bonded indebtedness against the whole district- a fraction less than twenty-two cents per acre.

George Campbell, William Worley and Samuel Groshong, who came in 1825, were the first white settlers in Ursa. Mr. Groshong settled on Roek creek in the south part of the township, where he built the first cabin; George Campbell, on the northwest quarter of section 31, and Mr. Worley on section 18. These were followed the next year by Robert Beatty, and in 1827 by George Frazier and his son, James B. Stedman Smith and John Denson came in 1828, and I. G. Smith and Stephen Ruddell in 1829. The second marriage license issned in Adams County was to George Campbell and Mary Groshong. They were married Aug. 18, 1825, by Willard Keyes, county commissioner. The first marriage was that of David Ray and Rachel Thomas, which occurred July 26, 1825, by Peter Journey, coun- ty commissioner. The first birth in Ursa was Andrew J., son of George Campbell. in the summer of 1827. The first death was that of Thomas Campbell, George Campbell's father. Peter Vannerst opened the first store in what is now known as "old Ursa." in 1828. Joel Frazier, brother of James B., taught the first school in the fall of 1828 in a little log school house. erected that year, the first in the town- ship, on the northeast quarter of Section 31. 1 north. S west. The first school house within the bounds of the present village of Ursa was also of logs. It was built in the early thirties near where the Christian church now stands, and the first teacher was Hans Patten. The present mod- ern three-room building accommodates a fine grade school presided over by Prin. C. W. Col- Iins.

The first religious society in the township was of the Christian denomination, organized in 1833 or 1834 by the Rev. Stephen Ruddell and Rev. Jesse Bowles, grandfathers, respectively, of .T. T. Ruddell of Ursa, and Holman Bowles of Riverside. This society was organized at the residence of Elder Ruddell, on seetion 18, the first house of worship being built two years sub- sequent to organization on land donated by him near what is now the fine farm residence of George McAdams. The seven charter members of this church were Stephen Ruddell and wife, Jesse Bowles and wife, Sarah Crawford, Mary Riddle and Elizabeth Stone.

The first mill was a grist mill that ground corn only, operated by David Metcalf in 1829. on the Gabriel Keath farm. This mill was built after the sweep fashion and is said to have been pro-

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pelled by oxen. The first mill that ground both building used as a school house, whose upper wheat and corn was built by David Campbell a year or so later on seetion 25, 1 north, 9 west, on Roek creek, and run by water power. The first frame building was erected by Peter Vannerst, the merchant, in 1830; he was also the first post- master when the postoffice was established by Hon. Richard M. Johnson, who gave it the name of Ursa. "Old Ursa," however, was never or- ganized as a village, that distinction remaining for its namesake, or "new Ursa", founded in 1875, less than a mile north and now organized as Ursa. In 1875 William B. Smith sold off aere lots at the crossing of the Quiney and War- saw publie road and the C., B. & Q. Railroad, Carthage branch, to several persons who erected residenees, store buildings, shops, etc., and moved their families and their business from "old Ursa". The village has continued to grow. Quite a number of fine cottage residences have been erected during the past few years. General stores and other business interests usually found in a thriving railroad town are well represented. Comparatively speaking it is one of the best shipping points on the Carthage branch of the C., B. & Q. Railroad.

The Christian, the Lutheran and the Meth- odist Episcopal churches each have prosperous societies here. The Methodist Protestant church is also represented.

The village of Marcelline, laid out by S. M. Jenkins, in 1842, is situated in the northern ex- tremety of Ursa township, three miles north of Ursa, on seetion 31, 2 north, & west. Thomas Payne of Ellington, made two additions to the original plat, the last in 1849. A man named Wade, who came there as early as 1830, was the first settler on the original site. John W. Me- Faddon settled there and begun business with a general stock of merchandise some years before the place was platted. William Price and Thomas Payne also sold goods there years ago. Besides a number of good substantial residence build- ings there are now two general stores and a

story is a Masonic hall. There are also wagon and blacksmith shops. The Christian society, organized in 1879, with eighty-nine members, now has a fine new modern house of worship and is in a flourishing condition.

The first supervisor of Ursa after township organization, April 2, 1850, was John M. Rud- dell. Succeeding supervisors, in order of their terms of service, were W. W. Beam, J. C. An- derson. J. M. Ruddell, Henry Newcomer, W. D. Ruddell, Henry Newcomer. J. M. Ruddell, Lee R. Campbell, W. D. Ruddell, G. H. Walker, J. M. Daugherty, G. H. Walker, J. M. Ruddell, G. II. Walker, Tom B. Smith, Elijah Shepherd, George MeAdams, JJ. L. Denson and Tom B. Smith, the present incumbent.

The first seeret society organized in Ursa town- ship was Mareelline Lodge No. 114 A. F. & A. M., at Marcelline. The date of organization was Oct. 7. 1851, and J. C. Anderson was the first Worshipful Master. Marcelline Lodge No. 127 I. O. O. F. was organized Oct. 14, 1853. The Masons of Ursa still meet with Marcelline, but the Odd Fellows have their own organization. Besides these, there are in the village of Ursa organizations of Woodmen, Rebekahs and Royal Neighbors. There is a Court of Honor at Mar- celline.

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 68

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