USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 42
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Vol. I-17
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
Not only the veterans themselves, but the citizens of Peoria generally rejoiced in the erection of a permanent home for the post, which was made possible by the generosity of one of Peoria's former citizens, a comrade of the post, Joseph B. Greenhut, a principal factor of the great Seigel-Cooper department stores, with headquarters in New York city.
The origin of the idea leading toward the building of a home for the veterans of the G. A. R. belongs to Byron C. Bryner and Philip Smith, many years past quartermaster. Their views were presented to a meeting of the post in January, 1909, which were received with the utmost favor. Steps were at once taken to collect a sufficient amount of money from the old soldiers to build a modest home that would cost not more than $4,000. As soon as the project became known the auxiliary societies of the Grand Army, churches and newspapers desired to take a hand in raising the required amount of money, and finally it came to the ears of Mr. Greenhut, whereupon he requested members of the post to call upon him at his office, then in the Woolner building, and there their old comrade generously subscribed $5,000 toward the building fund, in consideration that the plans be enlarged upon and a structure put up that would not only do honor to the memory of the war veterans, but be a credit to the city. Bids were then asked for and plans were requested to be submitted, to those appointed for the purpose, by the post and the plant adopted was for a building to cost something over $15,000. A lot had previously been purchased of the Swedenborgian church society on Hamilton avenue, between Jefferson and Madison streets, costing $4.000. As the building progressed a deficit was experienced in the collection of the money promised by subscription, and learning of the difficulty Comrade Greenhut raised his subscription to $10,000. This gave the post courage to go on with the work and on December 30, 1909, the beautiful Greenhut Memorial G. A. R. hall was dedicated free of debt, Mr. Greenhut having subscribed an addi- tional $4,000, making $14,000 in all. The building, with the grounds, cost $22,800, and is a magnificent contribution to the many beautiful places of Peoria, made possible by the large-heartedness of Captain Greenhut, the generosity of many private citizens and the determined efforts of the Woman's Relief Corps and similar societies associated with the Grand Army.
THE WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS
The Bryner Woman's Relief Corps was organized August 12, 1884, within a year after the order had been created at the National Encampment of the Grand Army in 1883. There were nineteen charter members of the local corps and today it is strong in numbers and persistent in the work for which it was founded. Many have been the gracious deeds of helpfulness by this noble body of women. the beneficiaries coming within its scope having been the Grand Army of the Republic, Sons of Veterans and similar societies. Much credit is due the Bryner corps for its efforts toward raising money to build the Greenhut Memorial hall and a commemorative stone stands in the soldiers' plot in Springdale cemetery, which was erected by the members and dedicated to the "Unknown Dead."
LADIES OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
George A. Wilson Circle, No. 49, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, is made up of the wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of veterans of the Civil war of all arms of the service. The circle was organized October 13, 1900, with thirty-six charter members and the first official list was as follows: Mrs. Helen MI. Wilson, president; Mrs. Virginia C. McClure, senior vice president ; Mrs. Lena Wasson, junior vice-president; Mrs. Emma B. Bryner, secretary ; Mrs. Sadie A. Boyd, treasurer ; Mrs. Helen M. Schofield, chaplain; Mrs. Mary C. Orr, conductress ; Mrs. Jennie Dibble, guard ; Mrs. Sue C. Rogers, assistant con- ductress ; Mrs. Mary C. Orr, Mrs. Sue C. Rogers, Mrs. Maggie A. Reed, color
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guards. This organization has a large membership and has accomplished much good during its short existence.
SPANISHI-AMERICAN WAR
About one hundred and fifty men from this county enlisted in the United States service for the Spanish-American and Philippine wars. Some of them served in Cuba, some in Porto Rico and others in the Philippines, but Company L of the Fifth Infantry, which was mustered into the service on May 26, 1898, for the Spanish-American war, was disappointed in its desire to be sent to the scenes of activities cither in Cuba or Porto Rico, and only got as far as Chicka- mauga, where it remained in camp until recalled home.
The Fifth Infantry was organized July 2, 1889. S. O. Tripp was elected captain and held his office until January 7, 1891, when he stepped aside for E. H. D. Couch, who commanded the company during the Spanish-American war. At this period James S. Culver, of Springfield, was colonel of the regiment ; Frank P. Wills, of Decatur, lieutenant-colonel ; John C. Cabanis, Kinmundy, Fred B. Nichols, of Quincy, and Walter F. Colloday, Decatur, were majors; and Stuart Brown, Springfield, regimental adjutant. In addition to Captain Couch, Frank R. Pacey, first lieutenant, and Robert L. Mitchell, second lieutenant, were the commissioned officers of Company L.
BLACK HAWK WAR AND PEORIANS
At the outbreak of the Black Hawk war a company was organized in the county of Peoria for a battalion that was placed in command of Major Isaiah Stillman, a Peorian. The company was officered by Abner Eads, captain ; William A. Stewart, first lieutenant; John W. Caldwell, second lieutenant. The non- commissioned officers and privates were :
Sergeants
First, Aquilla Wren ; second, Hiram M. Curry ; third, Edwin S. Jones ; fourth, John Hinkle.
Corporals
First, William Wright ; second, John Stringer; third, John Hawkins; fourth, Thomas Webb.
Privates
John E. Bristol, Harrison Brown, Jeremiah Cooper, John Clifton, Stephen Carle, Joseph H. Conner, Jefferson Cox, Jolin Cox, Ebenezer Clark, Hiram Cleveland, Alexander Caldwell, James Doty, John B. Dodge, William Egman, William Eads, Elias Love, Alvah Moffatt, Jacob Moats, Sylvanus Moore, Harris Miner, John C. Owen, Joseph Phillis, George Redick, David Ridgeway, Lucas Root, David Roos, John Ross, Thomas B. Reed, Simon Reed, Francis Sharp, Rice Smith, Jefferson Taliafero, Thomas Tamplin, William D. Trial, Johnson T. Thurman, Henry Thomas, William L. Wood.
A complete history of this company will not be attempted in these pages. The story of the Black Hawk war and "Stillman's defeat" has been oft-told and can be found in many histories especially written. The simple fact that Peorians took part in that last stand of the Sacs and Foxes is here noted, so that their names may be perpetuated in the local history of the county. No doubt some future local historian will do justice to the heroism of those pioneer Indian fighters, but it is impossible to go into any of the many interesting details at this time.
CHAPTER XXII
THE TOWNSHIPS OF PEORIA COUNTY-WHEN SETTLED AND ORGANIZED-PIONEER FARMERS AND INTERESTING STORIES TOLD OF TIIEM- FIRST SCHOOLS AND CITURCHIES-BUILDING OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES-ALL PROSPEROUS COMMUNI- TIES
RICHWOODS TOWNSHIP
BY MARGARETTA KELLAR
The tract of land designated Richwoods township was known as Richwoods long before any township organization was effected. Its exceeding fertility of soil and abundant wealth of verdure, its gigantic forests of valuable woods- oak, walnut, elm, maple, hickory, birch, cottonwood and all the native fruits- and grass so tall that a man riding on horseback could not see over it, all con- spired to win for it the appellation.
Beautiful for situation, rich in varied picturesque scenery, it is one of the most beautiful townships in the county. Its primeval forests in most localities have been compelled to disappear before the woodman's ax; yet in others, they have been permitted to remain in all their pristine glory. Stately forest moni- tors! What tales could they tell, what mysteries reveal !
Richwoods is bounded on the south by Peoria township. On the east its sides are laved by the waters of the Illinois, which renders its acreage incomplete. On the north Medina is its boundary, and on the west. Millbrook.
Richwoods certainly possesses more attractive features than any other town- ship in the county. There are few such parks as Glen Oak, with its beautiful sunken gardens, rustic bridges, lake, natural springs, palm house, abounding in beautiful exotics, fountains, beautiful circuitous drives over hill and dale, and most beautiful infloresence everywhere. Springdale cemetery, conceded to be one of the most beautiful in existence, also lies within its boundaries, and pos- sesses the greatest variety of localities adapted to the taste of those compelled to lay away their loved ones.
ROADS AND DRIVES IN THE TOWNSHIP
Some of the roads here it would seem have been in existence since time im- memorial. The old Galena, which follows the river, and has its terminal at Galena, and over which the oldest inhabitants transported lead ore (Galena) from the Galena mines to shipping points along the river, is one of the oldest. The Knoxville, leading out through Knoxville and Galesburg to Burlington on the Mississippi, is another highway, for whose construction no one now living is accountable. The old Mt. Hawley must have been designed by Mr. Hawley, who lived about nine miles out from Peoria and kept a country inn and post- office many years ago. The new Mt. Hawley, which intersects the old a short distance from Kellar station, originated in the brain of Rev. Isaac Kellar, who thought it too far to go around by the edge of the bluff to Peoria, when he could just as well cut off a mile or more. Mr. Kellar accordingly called a meet- ing and presented his plans before the assemblage, and it seeming feasible to
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all, it was decided to have the road-a beautiful driveway extending from Avery- ville, past the country club to Prospect avenue, over hill and dale, disclosing views of the most varied and picturesque scenery. In driving out Prospect avenue, after leaving Peoria Heights, we are again regaled with the most enchanting scenery. Some beautiful residences where some of our city friends are wont to spend the summer months, with their beautifully improved yards and gardens, border the roadway. But as we are wont to extend our vision, the forests primeval again present themselves, and these are interspersed with beautiful gardens, ef- fectively tilled, and orchards of luscious fruits. While these husbandmen have been providing for the culture of their gardens, they have not neglected the cul- ture of their children's minds. A neat structure revealing itself among the trees, fronting on the Galena road and known as the Gardeners schoolhouse, provides for that. An extended vision gives us the river and the beautiful farms on its east, with their fields of waving grain and restful meadows, mirrored in the sunlight. Originally, the land in the northern part of the township, as it ap- proached the Medina line, assumed a prairie-like contour-miniature prairies interspersed with thickets of wild plum, dogwood, crabapple, hazelnut, etc. On the west it is more undulating. The Big Hollow and the terraced hills of the Kickapoo are along its western boundary.
There are many of the early settlers whose living has made history for the township, and of whom we cannot forbear to speak, but it is impossible to mention all ; space forbids.
The first settler of whom we have any record was William German on section 39, in 1832. He must have had a short sitting. We have no recollection of ever hearing anything of him or his descendants.
Thomas Essex came later in the same year and also settled on section 39. HIe cleared his farm. reared a family and was a unique figure in the early history of the township. Possessed of a true pioneer spirit, fearless, alert, always carrying his gun and accompanied by his dogs, he was ready for any emergency. We remember to have seen him once at a charivari, the most prominent feature there, with his gun and dogs, around and around the house they marched. Mr. Essex cleared his farm, reared his family, and then laid down his armor and quietly sank to rest. lle was laid away under his own vine and fig tree.
Josiah Fulton came in 1819, when Peoria was yet Fort Clark. He purchased quite a tract of land, in what is now a very prominent part of Peoria, which he disposed of for a mere song. He was never ambitious to amass wealth, and the country was more after his heart than the city. Accordingly he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in the township and moved his family to it, living there the remainder of his days. Some of his family still reside on the place. Mr. Fulton was a prominent feature in the early history of the township. Noted for his inherent good nature and ready wit, he was always an attraction wherever he went. He was seven years old when the first steamboat navigated the Hudson river and in his time the first railroad was built and the first steam engine run.
We feel constrained to speak of one who must have settled here in the early 30s and whose pioneer habits always impressed us-John Clifton-a perfect nimrod of the forest, before whose gun the animals would quail. We remember to have seen him clad in a whole suit for which he had killed the deer, tanned the hide and fashioned it into a perfect fitting suit. At the close of the day he would sit out before his cabin door and the country round would be made to resound with the strains from his violin, and many of the young men and inaidens were wont to "trip the light fantastic toe" to the melodies of John Clifton's music.
Another historical figure was Thomas Giles, and although he passed from earth before the writer came upon the stage of existence, the little green mound with its paling fence, on one of the little hillocks near the Bourland house, where reposed all of him that was of the "earth, earthy" has never been forgotten. Mr. Giles was a British soldier, was sent to the Isle of St. Helena to guard
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
Napoleon Bonaparte, and while there his son Thomas was born. In memory of this isle he afterwards named his only daughter Helena. In 1827 Mr. Giles, with his wife, came to America, stopping for a time in Utica and afterwards in Richland, Oswego county, New York. In 1836 he came to Illinois. Mr. Giles was a member of the Baptist church, and although not an ordained minister, he often exhorted. His sons were all men of sterling qualities and all more or less important factors in establishing a reputation for the township, nearly all, or most of them at least, having held important township offices.
Another early settler was Mr. Slough, who came with his wife. Mrs. Slough drove out in her carriage from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1834. Coming by way of St. Louis, she left her horse and carriage there, and being much pleased with the lay of the land, returned, and in the year following she and her husband moved to Peoria, where they kept hotel on Washington street and afterwards removed to a tract of land which they purchased on the Knoxville road.
The first ordained minister who held service in the township was Rev. Isaac Kellar, who came from Washington county, Maryland, in 1835, overland, his family traveling in a carriage, while his household goods were transported by wagon. A log schoolhouse had been built on section 27, in which Mr. Kellar held the first service in the township. On the east side of the river Mr. Kellar had been greeted by a deputation from the First Presbyterian church in Peoria "Why my dear sir we have been looking for you for the last four weeks." Mr. Kellar's first sermon in Peoria was preached in Garrett's ball room in the Garrett hotel. He preached for some time in a church built by Samuel Towsey, which building still stands on Jackson street below Jefferson, but is not used as a church. After some time the congregation made arrangements to hold services in the court house, which was used until they made arrangements to build a church. Mr. Kellar had purchased a farm on section 16 and moved his family to it, but when they conceived the idea of building a church, he moved his family to Peoria and went cast to collect funds toward the building, the congregation not being able to defray all expenses. Mr. Kellar lived in Peoria and super- intended the construction of the building, but after two years moved his family back to the farm. He was pastor of the First Presbyterian church for twelve years and then, in consequence of failing health, resigned. Some time afterwards he organized a church on Orange Prairie, preaching in schoolhouses and private homes. When he moved to the township there was no school. There had been a log schoolhouse erected on section 27 in 1834, but there was no school in it. Mr. Kellar opened a school there, with his daughter Katherine as assistant, and taught until J. G. Bryson, a young man from Pennsylvania, came to Peoria, when they got him to take it off their hands. Mr. Kellar performed the first wedding ceremony in the township, the contracting parties being Charles Bal- lance, one of three prominent young lawyers in Peoria at that time, and Miss Julia Schnebley. Her father, Henry Schnebley, had come to Illinois in the fall of the year in which Mr. Kellar appeared and being unable to procure a house and, being a brother-in-law of Mr. Kellar, he offered Mr. Schnebley and his family a home until they could build, and it was when making a call at Mr. Kellar's that Mr. Ballance first met Miss Schnebley and lost his heart.
The township was not organized until 1848. Mr. Kellar had built a new house on the MIt. Hawley road, just at the junction of the old and new Mt. Hawley roads, but it was not ready for occupancy, and as it was a central loca- tion, it was decided to hold the election there and the name of Richwoods town- ship was established. The election was held there the succeeding year and after- wards in the schoolhouse or wherever most acessible until after a town house was built on section 16 for the purpose. The building was, unfortunately, de- stroyed by a storm some years later. It had been found a very convenient build- ing for church service and Sabbath school. The house has never been rebuilt but the township still owns the ground. The manufacturing villages of "Peoria Heights" and Averyville are both included within the limits of Richwoods.
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
ELMWOOD TOWNSHIP
In relation to the other townships of the county, Elmwood is situated in the western tier of townships, being bounded on the north by Brimfield, on the east by Rosefield, south by Trivoli, and west by Fulton county. The locality is well watered by numerous streams and the soil is rich and well adapted to agriculture, while an abundance of coal is found in the bluffs along the creek. Originally the township was about half covered with timber. The rest was prairie.
John E. Ewalt, a Pennsylvanian, who had lived for some time in Ohio and Indiana, came to Illinois and resided two years in Edgar county. He arrived in Elmwood, May 1, 1831, and settled on the edge of the grove in the south- east quarter of section 29. Near him in Trivoli township Isaac Harkness had settled in 1830. Mr. Ewalt, with his four sons, spent his time the first summer breaking prairie, building a log house and fencing the land. In the meantime he and the boys made their habitation in a wagon and tent.
In 1832 Isaac Doyle located in the southwest quarter of section 20, and in 1834 Henry Cone located on section 18. W. J. Phelps, a native of Connecticut, who had arrived in Peoria in the fall of 1834 with his wife, located on the southeast quarter of section 18, which for many years continued to be his home. Fountain Watkins came from Fulton county and settled on section 29 in the winter of 1835, and that same year Joseph Cone, Jr., located on section 7 and Andrew Al. Wiley near by. The arrivals of 1836 were Roldon Pierce and Justus Gibbs; those of 1837 were Ichabod Smith, Avery Dalton, George and Thomas Huff, Mr. Hunkerford, Samuel McCann and Stanley Butler.
It was in 1837 that Joseph Miles built the mill that long bore his name. Henry and Joseph Cone put up a sawmill on section 18 in 1843. In 1838, how- ever, Joseph Miles was joined by his son, Freeman, and family, and a year later by his brother Eli. Among others of the carly settlers about this period were John Jordan, James Jackson, Isaac West and Ichabod Rowley.
Among the first happenings in the township may be mentioned that the first house was built on section 29 by John Ewalt, a pioneer, and there the first white child, Harriet Rebecca Ewalt, was born in 1833. The first blacksmith and wagon shops were built in 1840 by Jacob Wills and William George, respectively. The first marriage in the township was that of Abner H. Smith and Eliza Ann Doyle, James P. Harkness performing the ceremony March 10, 1835. Justus Gibbs is credited with having taught the first school in the winter of 1836-7, in a log building subsequently used for a wagon shop by Isaac Harkness. The first schoolhouse was east of the Henry Harkness residence and was presided over by Daniel Faush. It is a tradition that a station on the "underground rail- road" was maintained by Fountain Watkins on section 29; that he received his passengers from Deacon Beige and transported them to Rochester.
lIon. W. E. Phelps has furnished the following article containing data per- tinent to the history of this township, and which also appeared in a sketch fur- nished Judge McCulloch for his history of Peoria county : "The country about here was first known as Harkness Grove, from Isaac Harkness, the first settler, and the large body of timber around which the first settlements were made. It was afterwards called Harkness Precinct.
"Elmwood was first the name of the home of William J. Phelps, then the name of the postoffice. When, in 1850, the county adopted township organization, it became the name of the township. Justus Gibbs was the first supervisor, and the first meeting of the board was in April, 1850. As a natural consequence the railroad station and the village were also called Elmwood. For many years it was the only place of the name in the United States, and for that matter, in the world. Now, however, there are two or three Elmwoods in other states.
"Isaac Doyle was elected first justice of the peace in 1833. William J. Phelps was elected justice of the peace in 1835, an office which he held for a number
AVERY DALTON. ELMWOOD, IN HIS 1030 YEAR Oldest Man in Peoria County
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of years and which gave him the title of 'Squire' Phelps, by which he was known during the remainder of his life. He officiated at a large number of weddings. He married A. M. Wiley and Miss Mary Ewalt in 1838.
"The early justice's court was a very unique, and often amusing institution. Usually the litigants managed their own cases, often very ably. Judge Wells, of Connecticut, the grandfather of our townsman. W. T. Wells, was a guest at Mr. Phelps' log cabin during the trial of a cow case. The cabin was crowded and a number of witnesses were examined by the plaintiff and defendant, after which they argued the case. The Judge said he had been very much interested, and was surprised to see how clear an idea each one of them had of what he wished to prove, and just what bearing the evidence had on the case. He was more than ever surprised when Mr. Phelps told him that neither man could read nor write. He could scarcely believe it, and said that frontier life had developed and broadened these men to an extent that would have been impossible any- where else.
"In 1836 William J. Phelps was elected county commissioner, and in 1840, after a hotly contested campaign, he was returned to the legislature over Judge Norman H. Purple by a majority of eight votes, while the Harrison electors were defeated by thirty-two votes. Judge Purple contested the election, and after a long fight MIr. Phelps was sustained in a democratic legislature. John Dougherty, afterwards lieutenant governor, one of the democratic members of the election committee, said boldly: 'Politics is one thing, but right is another. I believe that Phelps has been elected and I shall support him.'
"These early settlers were not without their amusements. There was a log- rolling now and then, and once or twice a year a general round-up hunt. Then, too, there was the neighborhood dance and the spelling school, and, greatest of all 'sugaring off' time in the maple woods in the spring. The women did a good deal of visiting. They went early, spent the afternoon and stayed to supper.
"Every now and then there was a quilting, on which occasions there was the usual amount of gossip. At one of these the ladies present got into a dis- cussion of the comparative merits of their husbands. One was good natured, but slack and a bad provider ; another always kept the house well supplied, but was a constant fretter, and so on around until Mrs. was reached. She raised her spectacles on her forehead, crossed her hands on the quilt and said : 'Well, women, I'll tell you what it is; if I never had married, I know I never would.'
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