USA > Illinois > Henry County > Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 101
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There is a tradition, or rather an unverified story, that two brothers, James and John Sumatro, came into this part of the county in an early day, about 1836, and put up a pole cabin and made a small truck patch; but their chief occupation was hunting and trapping. Their home was the cheapest and easiest made they could design-simply a poor pro- tection from the elements, and indicated that they were ready, upon short notice, to follow the game in its migrations from one portion of the country to another. They lived their solitary life, it is thought, wintering here only one winter and spending two summers, and had possibly been gone years before the remains of their camping place were discovered. Where they were from or where they went is not known.
It was only after the Winnebago Swamp Land Company had succeeded in demonstrating the feasi- bility of draining these swamp and overflowed lands that the permanent settlers and farmers began to turn their attention to the township, and now may be seen the tillers of the soil tickling the ground that breaks forth in smiling crops, where once a good- sized steamboat might have easily floated. These lands, when once restored to the husbandmen, like
all overflow lands, are deeply covered with the richest soil. This is true of the Green River swamp lands, except in spots where there is more or less peat in the drift deposits. While Alba Township still only has a sparse population, yet the future may transforni it into a very rich garden spot, producing all the cereals and grasses in unexampled quantities.
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP.
HIS was one of the several experimental colony enterprises in which prospective hard cash and piety lurked at the base of the original idea. It was proposed to build a splendid city on the wide prairie plains, and reap the profit that would arise from convert- ing crawfish chimneys and the trysting places of the festive " greenheads " into valuable corner lots; and where, on the Lord's day the grand peal of the great, wide-mouthed bells would ring out the command from on high, " Come, let us worship!" But worship meant probably singing nasal psalms strictly accord- ing to my doxy :
" Lord have mercy On me and my wife, My son John And his wife, Us four And no more."
William S. and Jesse Woolsey, Ithamar Pillsbury, Noah T. Pike and Archibald Slaughter came to Henry County in September, 1835. The last three named were agents for the Andover Colony. When starting West their objective point was Knoxville. They crossed the mountains in stages to Pittsburg, then down the river and up to St. Louis, and then up the Illinois River. Pillsbury had been out the year before. Abel K. Woolsey, brother to the above, came in the spring of 1837, in company with his brother William, who had returned to his old home, married, and the two brothers and their families came to Illinois.
Pillsbury was the prime leader in authority for the colony. He was authorized to buy land and control matters generally ; he put up buildings, and soon commenced a mill on Edwards River, the first in the county. Among the patrons of this mill were people all the way from Prophetstown. The three Woolseys
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settled in Andover. William and Abel K. were mechanics in wood, and Jesse opened a tavern.
When these parties arrived on the ground they found a man named Campbell already there in his hut. He was engaged in building a bridge across Edwards River. Pike and Slaughter soon returned to their old homes. The nearest settlement to Andover then was Henderson Grove, where lived William Riley, two families of McMurtrys-James, William and Samuel-and Reece Jones. The nearest post- office was Knoxville, distant 30 miles.
The venerable Eben Townsend bought Campbell's claim. Townsend lived to be a very old man, and when he died he was buried in the Andover grave- yard, with no stone to mark the resting-place of the old pioneer. Rev. Pillsbury was buried in the same graveyard. He left a widow; his son, Edward P., is a lawyer in Macomb; Nettleton is in Florida, Frank in Dubuque, and Ithamar in Macomb; the dangh- ters, Mary is in Macomb; Sarah and Elizabeth in Minneapolis ; Jesse Woolsey died, leaving two chil- dren-Gilbert R., a physician, and Mrs. Buck. Al- bert K.'s children are in the West; one daughter lives in Jersey City.
The agents of the colony entered about 30,000 acres of land, and provided for a section to be laid out into town lots. No member could hold more than four quarter-sections; he was entitled to five acres of timber land, and in business meetings each owner had one vote for every quarter-section of land he owned. The south half of section 8, and the north half of section 17 were platted into town lots. The town was intended to be patterned, after New Haven, Conn., and one of their rules was that no buildings should be erected within less than 30 feet of the street without special permission. Ample provisions were made on paper for the building and endowment of a splendid seminary of learning, and also for spacious and costly edifices for the worship of God. But neither the seminary nor the church materialized under the auspices of the colonists ; but in 1853 Jenny Lind appropriated $1,ooo to build a Lutheran Swede Church in Andover. At first the Presbyterians dominated, and eventually, under Rev. Pillsbury, a very modest, plain little church was erected. It soon divided on the question of the Old and New School, and as early as 1839 the colonists got to wrangling among themselves, and the courts
were invoked to settle their differences. So utterly did the Utopian designs of the colony fail that in a few years all the original parties moved away until William J. and Jesse Woolsey were all that were left of them. As already stated, Jesse died, and William removed to Cambridge, where he now lives in com- fortable retirement.
It was long confidently asserted and believed that Dr. Baker was the first settler in Andover Town- ship ; but it will be remembered that Dr. Baker set- tled first in the northwest part of the county, not far from the mouth of Green River, and then, after liv- ing awhile in his wagon, he removed south and then again went back to the northern part of the county. At an old settlers' meeting in 1877, B. W. Seaton read a paper and discussed this subject pretty thor- oughly, and it was then pretty well settled that a man named Butler was the first settler in this town- ship. Judge Tillson said that Butler was living on section 19 in the early summer of 1835, and that he entered the tract in August of that year. He sold his land to the New York Colony. Judge Tillson said : " In June, 1837, I found Mr. E. Buck and fam- ily living in a log cabin 60 or 80 rods southwesterly from Capt. Mix's place, near the timber, but not in it. The cabin was there when Mr. Buck arrived. Mr. W. S. Woolsey says he and William Potts used the cabin for a carpenter shop in the summer of 1836. This cabin was moved across Edwards River some years later and occupied by Swan Nelson. Capt. E. A. Mix, who came from New Haven, Conn built the first frame house in Andover in 1836." The account closes as follows : "The preponderance of evidence goes to show that Butler, not Baker, was the first settler in Andover Township ; but as neither remained permanently, it does not matter which was there first. "
ORPHANS' HOME.
This institution was chartered as the "Orphans Home and Farm School of the Scandinavian Augus- tana Synod, " November 13, 1872, the charter mem- bers being Jonas Swenson, A. Andreen, P. M. Sann- quist, A. G. Setterdahl, Victor Setterdahl, S. P. Lindell, S. A. Peterson, Samuel Hoogner, Gustav Johnson, Jonas W. Larson, S. P. Johnson and Jonas Westerlund.
The institution had its beginning in the town of Swedona, in 1868, by S. Peter Lindell and wife. It
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was but a small beginning. They conducted it until 1871, when it was removed to Andover under the supervision of Mr. Lindell, for the Synod.
The property now used in Andover was purchased in 1871. It was purchased in the name of Rev. Swanson, and after his death conveyed by the courts to the institution. The buildings on the property were sufficient for temporary purposes. New build- ings were added in 1881. The new house has 12 large rooms and accommodates 62 children, its full capacity.
The objects and the Christian works and charities of this institution make it one of the most admired institutions in the world. It is a home for poor or- phans, and we know of no place that comes nearer to supplying the poor unfortunate little ones for their loss of parents and their natural homes. In religion they train them according to the faith of the Lutheran Church, but yet more important, they give them a practical education, well grounded in the ru- diments of learning and thoroughly trained to work and prepare them to successfully enter upon the duties of life. In this home they are kept until 18 years of age, when they are supplied with good ward- robes and an amount of money to do for themselves, the house in every instance securing those who de- sire it suitable places in private families. To every one of its children it is always their home, and no parents watch more carefully after their own flesh and blood than does the institution of its wards. Each year they hold a 4th-of-July reunion, and those who are too far away to attend in person write let- ters, and thus the family of children know of the whereabouts and doings of their Home brothers and sisters. Thus the sacred relations of parent and child, brothers and sisters, are continued through life, and at last these orphans are blest with loving par- ents who never die.
Mr. Lindell, who came to Andover with the Home, opened here with 17 children as inmates; and that he successfully conducted it until the time of his death, in December, 1881, is fully evidenced by the fact that it increased in that time to 45 children. Mr. Lindell and wife did all the work of teaching and superintending the Home during their incumbency.
John S. Swensson succeeded Mr. Lindell. He is now in charge, and there are 62 orphans cared for in the school.
Children are received into the institution of the ages from 2 years to 12 years.
The main new building is a plain, but very sub- stantial structure, and comfortable; two stories; is 38 x 42 feet and 22 feet high. The old building, to which the new is a front, is 50 x 18 feet, story- and-a-half. The new building cost $3,364. There is a cellar under the entire building and it is all heated by a furnace. The buildings were paid for by contributions from different congregations. The Home is maintained by the farm of 280 acres be- longing toit and from charitable contributions, espec- ially from Sunday-schools of the different Lutheran Churches.
The Orphans' Home was under the supervision of the Synod to 1876, and since that time the Illinois Conference, Augustana Synod, has had the control.
It probably should have been stated above that in case one of the Home children is unfortunate or af- flicted after leaving the institution, the doors are al- ways open to him or her to return and partake of that substitute for a mother's love and care.
We fear the people of Henry County are not gen- erally aware of the existence and holy work going on in their midst-of this sunshiny spot, where the ten- der unfortunates are taken and they partake of that wholesome and real charity that certainly, to our mind, is a blessing to see and blessed to aid and en- courage.
The present directors of the Home are Rev. Erl Carlson, Rev. J. Vickstrand, R. T. Setterhahl, G. Johnson, S. A. Peterson, S. Hoogner and G. Beng- ston.
CHURCHES.
The Swedish Lutheran Evangelical Church, of An- dover, was organized March 18, 1850, with ten com- municant members. Rev. Lars P. Esbjorn was the first Pastor, remaining in the active work until 1856. Under his care the first church building was com- menced, in 1851, and completed and dedicated in 1854. For one year after Esbjorn left, the Church was not regularly supplied. Rev. B. J. P. Burg- endler was then stationed here. In 1858, Jonas Swenson, the father of John S. Swenson, at present in charge of the Orphans' Home, was ordained in Swedona and took charge of the Church. This Church and the one at Moline and New Sweden re- ceived $1,500 donation front the celebrated singer
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Jenny Lind. Mr. Swenson remained in charge of the Church to the time of his death, in December, 1873. The vacancy thus caused was supplied by transients until April 28, 1875, when Rev. Erl Carl- son, the present minister, took charge.
The present new church was completed and dedi- cated in August, 1874. It had been commenced in. 1867. The total cost was $41,000. It is supplied with an organ costing $3,000. The Church trustees are Jonas W. Larson, Peter Esterling, S. P. Johnson, Gustav Benkston, Ostoff Stephenson.
The number of present communicants is 950, and the whole membership is 1,5 35.
Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church probably owes its existence to Jonas Hedstrom, who came here in 1850 and at once took up the subject. He called a meeting in the house of Mrs. Lobecks and incited tlie few friends to enter upon the good work.
In 1854, a little church was built, at a cost of $536. This church eventually was too small for the growing congregation, and in 1863 the present church edifice was erected, at a cost of $3,200. During the past ten years, several members have removed to the West. Present membership, 140. Sunday-school, 75. The following Pastors, in the order of their suc- cession, have been in charge: Jonas Hedstrom, Victor Witting, Peter Newburg, A. J. Anderson, An- drew Ericson, Albert Ericson, L. Lindquist, John Wigreen, O. Gunderson, James Iverson, H. Olson, J. H. Ekstrand, Alfred Anderson, and the present Pastor, Rev. John Bendix.
ANNAWAN TOWNSHIP.
HAT is now Annawan Township presented no inviting grove to tempt a settlement of either the earliest lone pioneer, or the ad- vance agent of the different colonies that were organized in the old States, and hence it was only when the railroad became a fixed fact that immigrants began to turn their attention to this part of the county.
I. G. Heaps, the present Supervisor of the town- ship, came to the county in 1848. He is a native of Pennsylvania. He has been a respected and valued citizen ; was among the first to commence the breed-
ing of Short-horn cattle and Norman and Clydesdale horses. He was in the late war, in Co. I, 27th Ill. Vol. Inf., was twice wounded in battle, and was for some time a prisoner in Andersonville.
The real settlement commenced in 1853 and con- tinued in an uninterrupted stream until Annawan became one of the populous townships of thrifty farmers. Of those who came in 1853 and early in 1854, we note William M. McDermond, John Troyer, Joshua Matthews and his son Thomas, Charles Tinker, Daniel Blinn, Silas Morton, J. C. Webb, John Burns, Daniel Morton, Isaac Croft, Mr. Ding- man and his sons Joseph and William, Charles Dun- ham, G. W. King, James Carroll, Thomas Piper, Jolin McNeeley, William B. Heaps, Henry Patterson, Joseph Frock, Isaac Shellenberger, " old man " Ben- son, Fred Benson, William Benson, Mr. McCanney, William Hodges, John Hags, Mr. Hunt and his son Lewis.
Solomon Minard came in 1860, George McChes- ney in 1854, John McNeeley in 1852, Erastus Kelly in 1856, H. F. Humphrey in 1856, Stephen Moon in 1853, C. V. Holdridge the same year, William Haxby, 1855 ; William Gochenouer, 1856; Samuel Pettit, 1853; G. H. Mumford, 1856. Daniel Mor- ton, one of the earliest settlers in Annawan, and Charles Dunham, another one, reside in Geneseo.
John C. Ward returned to Bergen, N. Y., and died in 1868. His widow is living in Galesburg. . Philo S. Ward's grandfather married Rufus Hub- bard's mother.
Annawan Village.
NNAWAN village was platted and dedi- cated to town purposes by Charles Atkin- son, now of Moline. This action was taken as soon as it could be ascertained that the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad would want a depot at or near this point on the road, then being constructed. The rapid settle- ment of the surrounding country indicated this as one of the natural important shipping points on the road.
The earliest settlers in the new town were Joseph L., T. T. and Silas Morton, Almon Baker, Absalom Blinn and Joseph Dingman. The two last named were probably the first to take up their abode in the village boundaries. Solomon Minor lived just north
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of the village. Philip J. Wintry came in 1854, and at once commenced actively his trade of house- builder.
The first house was put up by Silas Morton, which was a small frame store, now owned by B. C. Sar- geant as a residence. The first residence was by Almon Baker, and very soon after this Philip J. Wintry had his residence completed and moved into it. Then in quick succession the houses of Samuel Pattorf, Miram Barber, Absalom Blinn and Daniel Blinn were soon up and occupied. Daniel Blinn built the first warehouse, in 1854. He operated it about two years. Joseph L. Dow erected the first hotel, and Tristam T. Dow built the next hotel in the place. Josiah Dow, Asa Prescott, and Philip, Joshua. William and Philip, Jr., Locks, all built about this time.
The first school-house was built in 1854, and it is said, though not certain, that William Cole was the first teacher.
William Romine and Peter Hillman came in 1854. Mr. Berkey came at the same time and opened a tinner's shop.
The Daw Brothers, who put up the first hotel and kept a store, and built the elevator, are now living in Davenport. They still own the elevator in Anna- wan.
B. C. Sargeant is the only one left of the very first house-builders in the place. The first grain-buyers were Jared Sexton and Henry Hutchman. The first railroad agent was William Lamb. Zebulon Jones was the first " village blacksmith " of the place. He is now in Galva.
The first mill was built by William and Ebenezer Hard in 1856. It was burned to the ground in 1866. When burned it was the property of White & Andrews, who had purchased of Hard. It after- wards was wrecked by a boiler explosion. In 1859 robbers burned Daw's store.
A public meeting was called Jan. 30, 1860, to consider the question of incorporating the village, F. H. Slater, president, and G. W. Lewis, clerk of the meeting. The election was held on Feb. 11, 1860. Sixty-one votes were cast; fifty-one for in- corporation and ten against.
The first Board was F. H. Slater, President ; Will- iam W. Cole, Clerk; W. C. Carroll, Josiah Daw and D. L. McChesney.
There are at present in the village four dry-goods and grocery stores, one ยท drug store, a hotel, lumber yard and one feed store, and several small shops.
CHURCHES.
Congregational Church .- This church was origi- nally organized in the country, south of the village. It was moved into town about 1866, and supplied by Rev. Mr. Lyman, of Sheffield, who remained till the church was built in 1867, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Allen, who was followed by Rev. Mr. How- ard, the preacher in charge at Atkinson. There was no regular pastor from that time till 1876, when Rev. John A. Griffin, of Atkinson, commenced preaching.
The Annawan Baptist Church was organized in Sept., 1843, at Wethersfield, but was removed to its present location in 1854. Its original membership was eight, whose names were Rev. Edw. Otis, Han- nah Otis, Edw. Otis, Merrill Otis, Hileman Otis, Sarah Otis, Chas. B. Miner and Mary G. Miner.
The present church was built in 1856, at a cost of $1,000. The following ministers are among those who have served as Pastors : Rev. Chas. E. Tinker, Wm. McDermond, R Turner, D. S. Dean, R. Ev- erts, Wm. Storrs, David Heagle, J. D. Cromwell, Harvey Kingsbury, G. A. Hogeboom, Edward Jones, Wm. Archer and G. W. Lewis.
The present membership is about 125, with a Sunday-school of 100.
The Church of the United Brethren in Christ .- This church, now located three miles south of Anna- wan, at Fairview Chapel, was organized in the vil- lage of Annawan in May, 1854, by Almond Baker and others, with a total membership of eight persons. The first meetings were held in private houses and in unfinished or unoccupied buildings, and not until 1858 did the society build a church, which was dedi- cated by Rev. Wm. Rinekart, Dec. 15, of the same year, at a cost of about $1,400.
The following are the names of its Pastors and their respective terms of service :
First services by Almond Baker, Julia Baker and Jared Sexton ; William C. Romine preached one year; John Cubbage two years; B. Wagner two years; St. Clair Ross, two years ; J. R: Evans, one year; David F. Bear, two years ; M. Bonnet, one year ; J. L. Condon, one year; David F. Bear, one year ; Elisha Godfrey one year ; Amos Worman, one
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year ; I. Kretzinger, one year ; Seth Coats, two years ; William Hankins and J. Edwards, one year; B. Wagner has served two years; Archie W. Colla- han, two years; O. F. S nith, one year; N. M. Doug- las, present Pastor. The membership is 60, Sunday- school 50. Present Church Trustees : Daniel Blinn, Joseph Frank, Richard W. Batten, Thomas Crosby and Philip J. Wintz. Clsss-leader, W. B. Heaps.
The Congregational Church of South Grove was organized in May, 1854, at King's School-house, near the present residence of I. G. Heaps, at which place the earliest meetings had been held prior to organization.
The original membership was ten persons, as fol- lows : Elijah Benedict, wife and son, Thomas J. Hunt and wife, Asa Prescott and wife, A. B. Noyes and wife and Mrs. J. McConney.
The society built their present church in Anna- wan in 1866. The following in succession have been the Pastors : Revs. Asa Prescott, A. Lyman, John Allen, Alva Hurd, O. Howard, John Griffin and the present pastor and only minister now stationed in the village, Rev. O. O. Smith.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1854 ; first meetings were held in the house of G. W. King ; the original members being John Hays, Jacob Hodges, Isaac Shelinberger, G. W. King, Almon Woodruff, John P. Bassett, William Benson, Solomon Minard, William Barber and their families.
The church was built in 1856; cost $2,000. The Pastors in their order were as follows: Revs. Wni. White, P. J. Moulton, J. T. Linthicum. G. M. Morey, G. C. Woodruff, W. Odell, W. W. Sedore, G. W. Brown, R. L. W. Jameson, S. S. Gruber, W. E. Will- iamson, A. E. Day, C. C. Woodruff.
ATKINSON TOWNSHIP.
TKINSON was named after Charles Atkin- son, now of Moline, one of the early settlers of this county. He owned large quantities of land in the township and all the land on which the village is situated. The first set- tler in Atkinson Township was Andrew Tay- lor. He died here many years ago. One of his sons, John, lives in Cornwall, and a daughter, Mrs. S. J. Hamilton, lives in Geneseo,
The next was John B. Taylor, who came and put up a cabin in 1837. He died in September, 1839.
In 1852 there were but two families in this town- ship, namely : H. Fane's and Rozel W. Little's. Asa Crook is probably the oldest settler now living in the township. He made his improvement on sec- tion 18. J. W. Little was one of the early settlers. John Welch was another early settler and was quite a prominent man while he lived here. He went to Nebraska. One of his daughters is still in the town- ship; married her cousin, B. F. Welch. The most important family were the Nowers, Thomas Nowers, Sr., and his sons and daughters, David Walters, the Trekells and Trekell's brother-in-law, D. W. Won- derly. The last named are all now in Nebraska. R. M. Besse and Henry Bass are both well known early settlers.
A large part of this township is in the Green River swamps. There were very few settlers came into it until after the building of the railroad in 1854, and the extensive drainage of the swamp and overflow lands, which was commenced in 1856. Jacob Meyers came in 1855 ; the same year Robert W. Milar. Otis W. Mankins came in 1854. John K. Trekell came to the county in 1836. He is a native of Ohio. His wife was Theresa Walters, of Ohio. They were mar- ried Feb. 13, 1860.
Village of Atkinson.
W. MILAR came from Ohio and settled in what is now the town in 1856. He found living in this vicinity when he came Lor- enzo Eldridge, now of Chicago; Stephen Trekell, who left for California and died on the way on shipboard ; Henry Bass, living two and a half miles north ; E. R. Lucas, the present Town Street Commissioner ; Benj. Shearer, who re- turned to his old home in the East; James W. Eng- lish, Z. Welch, Hiram Grant and Michael Milar (the last four deceased), and John Crosby, now living in the southern part of the county ; George Rummell, living in Geneseo; David Walters, in Nebraska; John Rummell, in Iowa; John Heller, in Missouri; Asa Crook, living near the village; John Bowen (de- ceased); Harry and Henry Fanes, now in Kansas ; George Williams, living north of Green River; C. J. Gearheart, living on Green River; M. W. Taylor (de- ceased); E. F. Rose, in Chicago; George Lowbauch,
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