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 103
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CHURCHES.
The Congregationalists were the first to effect a church organization in this place. The settlement had in it from the first many of this faith from New England and New York, earnest God-fearing men, whose great joy and highest worldly pleasure was to mingle and work with their brethren, and on Sunday to hear and heed the call, " Come, let us worship God. " A meeting was held as early as February 9, 1837, and the Church organized, with II members, as follows: Nelson Gaines and wife, Henry G. and Mrs. Fidelia Little, H. G. and Mrs. Elizabeth Griffin, Joseph and Mrs. Julia Tillson, C. W. Davenport, Mrs. Margaret Atwater and Mrs. Ruth Moore. Revs. L. H. Porter, of Galesburg, and William F. Vaill, of Wethersfield, officiated. In company with the Meth- odists and Baptists, worship was held in the court- house. In 1854 the congregation had increased to 24 members, and they determined to put up a house of worship. This was accomplished the next year,
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and the church was dedicated Jan. 12, 1856. It was used continuously until 1875, when it was sold to the Swedish Lutherans, and then the present edifice was erected.
Rev. Vaill was in charge the first year. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph D. Baker, who continued in charge seventeen years. Then came Rev. L. H. Parker, who remained one year. Then Rev. Joel Grant came and remained three years, then Rev. Thomas Douglass two years. Then Rev. S. F. Dickinson took charge. The present Pastor is Rev. J. B. Bidwell.
The M. E. Church organized for worship in the old frame court-house in 1850, with 20 members. Missionary Harding, then traveling through the West, officiated. John and Mary Russell, S. P. and Mrs. L. Cady, Michael Grant, A. S. Ebright, A. M. Com- stock and wife, Elias Morse and wife were the prin- cipal organizers.
The preachers were, the missionary Harding, one year ; H. J. Humphrey, two years ; C. M. Wright, one year; G. W. Brown, two years; D. A. Falken- burg, two years ; Geo. C. Woodruff, two years ; J. J. Fleharty, two years ; G. M. Morey, two years ; J. D. Smith, two years; William Leeber, one year; Geo. I. Bailey, two years ; G. M. Morey, two years ; then Rev. Dilley, then after an interval came Rev. J. A. H. Wilson, who is at present in charge.
The Protestant Episcopal (Trinity) Church, is a mission church under the care of Grace Church Parish, whose permanent headquarters are five miles northwest of Cambridge. Their church building was erected in 1876, at a cost of $5,000, with a member- ship at that time of 30. The pastor first to reside in Cambridge was Rev. J. S. Chamberlain, who was in charge of Grace Parish and Cambridge Church. Has no resident pastor at present. It has generally been served by the Osco minister, or, in other words, the two churches are in charge of Rev. J. Newman, of Osco.
The Baptist Church was organized July 8, 1854, in the court-house. Prior to this they had met at the court-house for occasional worship. There were thirteen of the original members, as follows : William Talbott, Mary Talbott, Aaron Talbott. Phebe Talbott, James M. Woodmansee, Clarissa M. Woodmansee, John McFarland, H. McFarland, Emma Black- man, Laura Bishop, Harriet Daggett, Electa Daven-
port and Eliza Ayers. They purchased the old school-house, and worshiped in it until they erected their present church, at a cost of about $10,000. In 1877 they built a parsonage, at a cost of $2, 100. Their first Pastor was Rev. F. Ketchman, one year, then Rev. W. W. Smith, fourteen months; Rev. R. Ed- wards, one year; G. D. Simnion, eighteen months ; Rev. A. Edison, two years and four months ; Rev. J. Shepherd, six years; Rev. W. B. Velsher, two years and six months ; Rev. J. Cairns followed. The resident minister of this church is S. G. McCormack.
The Christian Church .- The Disciples of Christ held meetings in the court-house, then in the Bap- tist church and at times in the school-house. Dec. 18, 1859, they held a meeting to organize in the court- house. The following were attendant at this meet- ing: Samuel and Mrs. Ellen Horn, Mrs. A. E. Mathews, Asa B. Lobingier, George Lobingier, G. W. Sroupe, William and Mrs. Martha McFarland, and William Kirkland.
Jan. 23, following, a permanent organization was effected ; William Kirkland and G. W. Sroupe, Elders ; William McFarland and John M. Evans, Deacons, and George Lobingier, Clerk. At this meeting Han- nah and Elizabeth Kirkland, Mrs. Mary E. Evans, Mary Busenbark, Mary L. Cahon, John, Hannah B., and Malinda McFarland, Mary Hazel, Miranda M. Noel and Nathaniel C. Whitney joined the Church.
Jan. 1, 187 1, the congregation purchased the Baptist church (school-house) and removed it to its perman- ent place. They had over fifty members and a Sun- day school of over 35 pupils.
Rev. James E. Gaston organized the Church and remained one year. For three years they had no regular pastor, then John W. Errett was called and remained in charge until 1868. In January, 1869, Elder G. W. Sroupe was employed. He remained until 1872. In October, 1873. James Seaton was en- gaged and preached until March, 1875. After he left, no regular pastor was engaged for some time. The present Pastor is S. C. Humphrey.
Swedish Lutheran Church .- The first few members of this church met for worship also at the court-house, and sometimes in the Christian church. With 52 members they met at the court-house and organized, May 30, 1875, by Rev. L. Carlson, of Andover. They purchased the Congregational church. Rev. Carlson continued for years their only minister. There
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was a gradual increase in the number of members from the first organization. Have no resident pastor. Is served from the Lutheran college, near Moline.
SCHOOLS.
Miss Sarah Francis Little, sister of Henry G. Little, taught the first school in Cambridge, in the year 1845. Like everything else in the way of a public gather- ing in those days, it was held in the court-house. In 1850 a building was erected, and in 1856 it was sold to the Christian Church, when the old brick on Col- lege Square was put up. In 1857 there were two departments taught in the school, and the basement of the M. E. church was used for a school until the brick was completed. This was the first attempt at grading or dividing the schools. The Principal was R. C. Raymond, afterwards a practicing physician, assisted by Miss Fanny Gould and Miss Lucy Brooks. The next year, 1858, Henry P. Sumner was Princi- pal. Dr. Raymond was again principal. Then Mr. Thorpe, assisted by Miss Sarah B. Dunn. These reniained until 1863, when Ira D. Marston became principal, remaining until 1866. The building to this time contained but two rooms.
In 1866, B. F. Borge was secured as Principal. Ten years afterwards he was elected County Super- intendent of Schools. He remained in charge until 1872. In 1868, the spacious frame school-house in College Square was built. . This added two additional departments to the school. When Mr. Barge retired C. J. Gruey was placed in charge. At that time the enrollment had reached 288 pupils. The High School course of study, maintained to the present, was es- tablished in 1873. The first graduates were in 1875. In 1876 the enrollment had reached 450, and five departments provided, and six teachers were em- ployed. In 1876, the frame building was enlarged to six rooms.
A. G. Smith became Principal 1884. The teach- ers for that year were Miss Amy Rhodes, Lizzie Rhodes, Maud Marston, Alla Rosenstone, Belle Mock, Mrs. A. M. Nye and Miss Mary Hagin. The present (1885) corps of teachers are A. G. Smith, Principal, Miss Lizzie Rhodes in charge of study hall, Amy Rhodes, language and reading, Maud Marston, history and geography, Laura Haggart, mathematics, Belle Mock, third and fourth grades, Mrs. A. M. Nye, second, Miss Mary Hagin first, Prof. W. J. Stabler, teacher of music.
Enrollment for the year 350. Average attendance 280. Two school buildings. Two rooms in the old brick and six in the frame building.
This school is not conducted upon the old graded plan exactly. There is one general study hall in constant charge of one teacher, and from this they go to their respective rooms for recitations. School Directors-Ira D. Marston, F. G. Welton and J. F. Gack.
The Board of Trustees of Cambridge are : Henry White, President; L. H. Patten, L. T. Gould, James Stewart, B. J. Hulin, E. H. Gaines, and Clerk W. R. Allen; City Marshal, William Decker; Police Mag- istrate, Samuel B. Randall.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The present Postmaster is J. E. Ayers; deputy, Miss Emma Busenbark. Mr. Ayers was appointed in February, 1884.
' There are two elevators, one mill, lumber yard, three hardware stores, two national banks, three drug stores, two dry-goods and clothing, four groceries, four dry-goods stores, two jewelry establishments, and numerous shops, bakeries, restaurants, millinery stores and two hotels.
Three of the court-houses built by the county are in Cambridge. One is a small residence east of the public square; the second is a kind of broom-corn store-room west of the square, and the present splendid court-house, commenced in 1878 and com- pleted in 1880. The contract price, $68,000, and total costs, $75,000. It certainly is the most elegant and commodious fire-proof building in the State for the money.
The soldiers' granite monument stands in the court-house yard. Foundations laid in 1884, com- pleted May, 1885 ; cost, $8,000.
CLOVER TOWNSHIP.
LOVER TOWNSHIP had for its first set- tler Thomas Weir, who came April 6, 1841, and settled on the northeast part of the southwest quarter of section Io. He came from Mercer County, and at one time was regularly employed as a " runner" (called detective now) for the "Vigilants "-a close corporation that devoted its energies to catching horse-thieves. When he came to this county, the only neighbors he had were some Winnebago Indians,
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who were out hunting. As a part of Mr. Wier's ex- periences, he was twelve days in going and coming to the mill at Moline. The chief part of the time was in waiting at the mill for his turn, and in the meantime he worked so diligently on the dam that the miller favored him and slipped his grist in ahead of its turn. He said if he had not thus been favored by the miller, he might have had to wait a "right smart spell !"
The first child born in this part of the county was in Weir's house-James Hammers, in October, 1843. In 1846, the first newspaper was received by a sub- scriber. It was the New York Weekly Universe. The extensive name of the paper indicates that the eagle-eye of the editor was fixed, not only on the whole human family, but "the rest of mankind " in the wilderness, and was indifferent as to the name of the subscriber so long as he paid in good subscrip- tion money.
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The oldest settler in this part of the county is A. P. Vannice, from Indiana : came in 1852. A. A. Reed is one of the oldest settlers in Clover. He is from Connecticut, and came to Knox County in 1840, and came to this county in 1850. He has a family of six children. William Payton, from Ohio, came in 1851. He was for some years Justice of the Peace and held other town offices. Daniel Mc- Queen came in April, 1852. After the death of his wife he lived with his grandchildren, George H. and John McQueen. Thomas S. and J. A. McConnell came in 1857. They were from Pennsylvania. S. W. Johnson came in 1858. T. J. Howell came in 1856. Henry E. Houghton came in 1852. Mrs. Phebe Forgy, widow of Newton Forgy, came in 1852. Forgy died Nov. 14, 1868, leaving three children. Mrs. Morgan's maiden name was Phebe Taylor, born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 20, 1833. William Forgy came in April, 1853, born in Morrow County, Ohio, May 27, 1826.
Woodhull.
OODHULL is an enterprising town of al- most a thousand population, and is on the line between Clover and Oxford Town- ships, mostly in the former. There are many good business houses located there, divided among the various lines of trade necessary to supply the wants of its inhabitants and those in the
surrounding country. The village was laid out Sept. 30, 1857, by an Eastern gentleman by the name of Maxwell Woodhull, of New York City. Not much progress was made for some time, but in 1867, J. W. Horn laid out a large portion of the place lying north of the railroad. Hugh Russell, about 1861, laid out a considerable portion of the present town and upon this the first house was built.
Three years after his first addition, Mr. Horn laid out another, lying south of the railroad. A large dwelling was the first building erected in the place. This, however, was shortly afterwards purchased by E. A. Widney and converted into a hotel, the Widney House.
The railroad passing through the place-the Keithsburg Branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy-was surveyed in 1847 ; but years elapsed before it was built. In 1868 the franchise passed into the hands of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and it was soon completed and a road was in operation. The old road, that remained so long only on paper, was known as the American Central Railroad. The first buildings of the town were erected mostly on the west side of town, except one or two opposite the present postoffice. The town was rapidly built in anticipation of the coming of the cars, and by the time trains were running there were half a dozen stores, a number of shops, and many busy carpenters, masons, etc. The first boom of the new town had expended itself before the completion of the railroad, and did not, as is usually the case, wait until the road was waking the echoes with its shrill whistle. It maintained a steady and permanent growth in business and population. Before the town was sur- veyed and platted, a postoffice called Heathland was kept by F. Heath at his house, but a short distance from the village site. When the town was founded it was the determination to call it Leoti, and for some time it went by that name, but the friends of Mr. Woodhull finally prevailed, and its name was fixed as it has remained, in compliment to him.
M. N. Hurd opened the first store. In a short time it was destroyed by fire and building and con- tents lost. In 1871, T. S. McConnell's store, in which Mr. Wright had a large stock of goods, was destroyed by fire. An unoccupied building adjoining was destroyed at the same time.
From the first the stock and grain trade of Wood-
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hull has been unusually heavy. During 1876, more than $500,000 Was received at the place for produce, and in the fall and winter of 1871-2, more broom-corn was shipped from this station than from any other point in the United States. In 1869, a spacious brick block was erected by J. D. B. Bell and Andrew Edson. Another brick block was put up in 1876, the upper part of which was made into a hall and offices.
Before the railroad came it was a common occur- rence for great trains of wagons to pass through the place loaded with grain. They would generally haul their loads to Oneida, make their sales and re- turning stop in Woodhull to make such purchases as they desired. A firm-Elder & Skinner-sold in one year over $80,000 worth of goods. Three large eleva- tors were erected, and three good hotels were well patronized. It commenced a temperance town and has maintained its fame in this respect unfalteringly.
Woodhull was incorporated in 1870 and the fol- lowing were elected as the first Board : B. Taylor, Prest., J. V. Kennegoy, Clerk, W. O. Gamble, Treas- urer, W. C. Wagner and James Walton, Trustees.
The village is provided with excellent schools, which have good accommodations and are ably man- aged. Prior to 1869 there were only the regular district school-houses where school was held, but at that time excellent quarters were provided for the school and great interest manifested in educational matters by the people in general.
The village is equally well supplied with churches, which as a general thing are reasonably live and prosperous. There are five different denominations, as follows: Methodist, Christian, Presbyterian, Lu- theran, and Catholic. These have good, comfortable houses of worship, and are in charge of good pastors.
COLONA TOWNSHIP.
ITHIN the confines of this township with a curious name, is the spot of the first settlement of Henry County. Here it was Dr. Baker, impelled now by what we do not know, to direct his way to this particular place, drove his wagon and team, and looked out upon the fair and beautiful world that lay before him, halted, unhitched and went into camp; and then
for the first time the smoke from an actual settler's camp-fire went curling and creeping through the tree- tops, and the frugal meal and the first supper of the first settler was prepared, and the little houseless household went to bed in the wagon, and slept in in- nocent content after their long wandering.
It is fully told elsewhere how in a few days came Thomas and James Glenn and Anthony Hunt, and how they were simply following the wagon tracks of Dr. Baker. They had been to the " lead mines " and come down to the mouth of the Rock River, and fol- lowed up its course until they found Baker. How they, too, looked upon the country and said " it is good enough " and concluded to tarry. Then came George Brandenburg, and slowly his friends followed and founded the first town in the county, and for a long time Brandenburg's was the famed and wide-world- known point to all who contemplated coming or did come to the new country.
It was from here Major Allan tells us he rode to Vandalia to secure the county organization by the Legislature at Vandalia.
In the history of the early settlements and of the early settlers in preceding chapters all this is told of who these men were and what has become of them and their descendants.
The villages in the township are Dayton, the oldest town in the county, and Colona. Dayton served its 'day of usefulness or imperative necessity for ex- istence as an important business center for com- merce and business of the county, and went into a quiet and unostentatious decay, a kind of slow for- getfulness among new-comers, and in 1853 Colona came into existence as a desirable place for a station on the railroad. It was laid out in that year by Marcus Warren. The next year (1854) the railroad just then commencing to do business, J. A. Sawyer built a grain house and prepared to handle some of the great quantity of grain that the surrounding country was awaiting to ship.
Colona Township has more heavy timber-growth in it than any other township in the county, and in addition to the grain to be shipped at this point, considerable timber and wood was transported away on the cars. M. Smith, the first settler in Colona, had a mill on the river near the town. A small depot building was erected by the railroad. The additions were slow. Lucy A. Sharp, who came
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with her father, Asa C. Sharp, and her sister, Sarah, to Colona, in 1856, remembers that at that time there were residences about. as follows: A part of what is now the hotel, kept by Webster. There was no hotel in the place, and her family had to go to Brandenburg's until they could get a house. This building was occupied by John Baum, who died in Colona some ten or twelve years ago. Also was then standing the house in which Mr. Mccullough now lives, at that time occupied by Jeff. Taylor. The small house occupied by Mr. Sharp and daughters, situated near the present postoffice. Jake Smith's store (not the store and dwelling as now but the store proper) was then in existence, and there was a shanty near where Mr. J. Kime now lives. There was a store opposite the hotel, or where the hotel now stands. This building was destroyed in the great storm of May, 1859, which also destroyed the railroad bridge near town, and where the iron bridge now is. Norman Sharp built the hotel as it now stands in 1857. The first school-house was built between Colona and Dayton ; it was eventually moved down to Colona, and Miss Lucy A. Sharp taught the first school in the place in the room she now uses for a postoffice, in 1863. She had about 30 pupils. The present two-story school building was erected in 1872. Three teachers are regularly em- ployed.
For many years R. A. Smith was postmaster in this place. For 13 years his deputy, who transacted the entire business of the office, was Miss Lucy A. Sharp. In 1883 Mr. Smith removed to Moline, and he so strongly recommended his faithful deputy for a successor that she was appointed and is the pres- ent " non-offensive partisan " Postmistress of Colona, where the writer trusts she may never escape except by " removal " to the state of matrimony.
There are two general stores, two hotels and one drug store in the place.
The population of the town and township is given elsewhere.
A list of the leading citizens of Colona Township will be found in the biographical department of this work.
The United Presbyterian Church of Colona was organized Dec. 22, 1866, in the town school-house. The petition for the organization was signed by Samuel H. Reed and twelve others. The Rev.
Henry Wallace had preached in Colona in 1855, the second sermon ever preached in the place. Rev. J. F. Martin was assigned as a missionary to this charge in September, 1855, and he was succeeded by Revs. J. P. Finney and the present S. H. Reed, as licentiates, in 1866, and Revs. J. K. Blair and John Todd. The names of the first members are: An- drew Stewart, Grace Moderwell, Christina Moder- well, Joseph Moderwell, James Moderwell, James Montgomery, Sr., Sarah Bell, William McGonagil, Sr., Elizabeth McGonagil, Mary Cochran, Barbara McFerren and Margaret McFall. Joseph Moder- well and Andrew Stewart were ordained Elders.
S. H. Weed, J. J. Baum and James Bell were chosen building committee, and a frame church 32 x 50 feet was erected and thrown open to worship- ers Oct. 18, 1862. The building cost $2,108 in cash and about $1,000 contributed in labor and materials. Rev. S. H. Weed, still a resident of the village, was ordained Nov. 23, 1867. He labored as a mission- ary until June, 1869, when he was installed Pastor, where he officiated until 1876, when the Church ceased to have a regular Pastor.
EDFORD TOWNSHIP
S in the northwest part of the county. Its northern boundary is nearly traversed from side to side by the track of the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad. A short distance north of the railroads is Green River, as it passes through Hanna Township in nearly a direct general line running west in the lower tier of sec- tions.
Edford is bounded on the west by Colona Town- ship and on the north by Hanna,-two of the first settled places in the county, unless Edford itself, -- which there is no doubt but that it can-lays claim to being the second settled point after Colona.
There were very few additions to these early set- tlers that are enumerated elsewhere until 1852, when the conviction went abroad that the railroad was going to be built, and those who knew about where its line must run through the township moved in, and secured themselves farms and homes.
The township is rich in agricultural and mineral
HENRY COUNTY.
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resources ; portions of it were in the Green River swamps, that are now drained and made into splen- did farms. Other portions again are quite rolling and parts bluffy, but underlying these are rich and inexhaustible veins of coal and fire clay.
The first Church organization in the township was St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. The first meetings of those of this faith were held in the Cen- tral School-house, in 1867, and the Church organiza- tion was effected the same year. There were only about a dozen members at this time. In a very few years this little band was augmented by the addition of fifty families. In 1872 they erected their church building, at a cost of $2,500, with Rev. I. P. Guen- ther as Pastor.
The Church of God organization located in this township Sept. 16, 1876, at the "Howard School- house," where those interested in Church matters had been holding services since the 8th of April previous. Of the first to take action that resulted in effecting an organization were W. T. Harris and L. E. Harris. Soon after the Church had become a living thing, steps were taken to erect a house of worship, and W. R. Coovert was installed as pastor. He was suc- ceeded by M. S. Newbommer.
CORNWALL TOWNSHIP.
ORNWALL TOWNSHIP lies a little east of the center of the county, and the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad nearly touches its northeast corner. Its points of easiest access to railroads are Atkinson and Cambridge, and for the southeast portion of it Kewanee is not a very long distance for shipping. In its limits are neither a town nor postoffice ; but it is a populous and wealthy township of farmers and stock-raisers. To stock-raising the people are giv- ing much attention of late years, and this is making itself evident by the great improvement in stock, especially in horses and cattle. The land yields im- mense crops of corn and grass, and when the stock is graded up and thoroughbreds abound, the annual profits to the farmers of this section will soon make them all rich and independent.
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