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 104
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The township is well drained by Spring and Mud
creeks, the former passing out at the northeast and the other at the northwest.
Like Galva and other parts of the county, there were only one or two, or at most, three pioneer fami- lies in the township prior to 1852-simply because immigrants could not see the advantages of this rich, virgin land; and so long as there was no chance for transportation to the distant markets for their produce. But when the canal was constructed to La Salle, and work was commenced on the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad, then began the rush of immigrants, the first coming of course settling as near on the line of the road's survey a possible.
James Southworth, a native of Erie, Pa., born Sept. 4, 1823, came to the county in 1837. He improved a farm of 231 acres on section 6. He was for years one of the leading, influential men of the county. His wife was E. C. Hanna, a native of Whiteside Co., Ill., born Nov. 15, 1827. They were married Feb. 19, 1850, and had four children. Mr. S. was a veteran in the Mexican War, and was in politics and in the general affairs of life independent, and would be no man's man.
John Taylor came in 1837. He improved a farm of 160 acres on section 8, he and Southworth thus becoming near neighbors. Mr. T.'s wife was Eliza- beth Ogden, a native of Pennsylvania, born Feb. 5, 1831. They were married Nov. 1849, and had eight children, five boys and three girls.
They were not surprised by any new neighbors until 1846, when Thomas J. Trekel fixed his abode on section 4 and when he became an extensive farmer, owning 760 acres. He was from Tippecanoe Co., Iud. Mrs. Trekel was Lydia Wolever, born in New Jersey, Feb. 22, 1839. They were married Sept. 24, 1855.
Lewis Shearer, of one of the leading families in the county, and noted as a stock-raiser, came in 1850, a native of New York, born Oct. 6, 1817. His im- provement was made on section 18, and became a valuable farm of 694 acres.
Joseph W. Mukins, a native of Virginia, came in 1844. His wife was a Miss Mary Ellenwood, a na- tive of Washington Co., Ohio, born Sept. 7, 1823.
E. H. McConoughey came in 1841, and settled on section 15. He was a native of Massachusetts, born Jan. 1, 1808 ; married March 7, 1849. His widow, Mrs. S. McConoughy, came to the county in 1849.
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1811949
The Calvary Presbyterian Church was organized Jan. 2, 1868. The organization took place in the nearest accessible .Church-the Methodist Episcopal, on the north line of Burns Township. The organiza- tion was effected by the following committee of the Bureau Presbytery : Rev. J. C. Barr, J. Milligan, and Ruling Elders, Alex. White (now of Geneseo), Charles M. Priestly, Rev. J. S. McClung and Moses Thatcher. Rev. J. C. Barr preached. John Fleming was at this meeting elected, ordained and installed as Ruling Elder of the Church. After the organization they held meetings for some time in the school-house on section 27.
In 1870-I a church was built on section 27, at a cost of $3,500. Rev. J. S. McClung was stated sup- ply of the Church from the date of its organization until March, 1871. Then Rev. F. I. Moffat served the Church as stated supply from October, 1871, up to Dec. 10, 1872, when he was installed Pastor. The original members were: H. S. Rogers, Mrs. Phœbe Rogers, W. W. Winters, Mrs. Virginia Winters, Wil- liam Allen, Mrs. Margaret Allen, Thomas Rowland, Mrs. C. T. McClung, Mrs. A. C. Torrence, John Fleming, Mrs. Mary A. Fleming, Mrs. Sarah A. Cal- lender, A. E. Benedict, Mrs. Harriet T. Benedict, Gabriel Romig, James J. Dickey, Mrs. Caroline E. Dickey, Isaac Callender, James Orr, Alexander Walker, W. H. Torrence.
GALVA TOWNSHIP.
OBERT BONHAM was the first settler in this township. He was drawn to the place by the strong temptations he could see in hickory groves. For a number of years Bon- ham was the lone inhabitant, whose widest range of vision, so far as neighbors were concerned, left him monarch of all he surveyed. * He was from Maryland ; had started life in his native State and greatly prospered, but in one of those turns in the affairs of business he greatly impaired his fortune and then he turned his face westward and came to this place. Though bankrupt he was not conquered, and he faced the dreary solitudes of the wild country as bravely as any of the pioneers who came West. His stout resolution to regain what he had lost never
failed him, and ultimate success crowned his efforts.
Hickory Grove is on sections 20 and 21, and the surrounding locality was known and designated by the name of the grove until the townships were formed and named, when it was changed to Galva, after some town in Sweden. The grove was a noted body of timber in the early days-a land-mark known to many an emigrant before he left his old home and started for the Illinois country. The grove lies a little northwest of the village of Galva, and it is a little remarkable that none of the advance agents of the many colonies that came to the county did not select this elegant body of timber as a nucleus around which to locate a colony. But in talking with aged settlers we find a good cause why the colonists did not seize upon this remarkable body of timber land. Bonham was here before they found it and had se- cured the entire grove, and from this fact we can es- timate that he was among the earliest comers to the county. He was an inveterate old bachelor and died rich and without issue, and his fortune was inherited by heirs of collateral blood.
The next settlement in the township after Bon- ham was the founding of Galva in 1853, by J. M. and William L. Wiley, the history of which is given be- low.
Galva.
ALVA is one of the leading places on the main line of the C. B. & Q. Railroad, and, like many other towns which sprang up on the line of the road shortly after it was built, it received its first impetus at that time and from that cause. It is located in the midst of a fer- tile agricultural district and over rich and exhaustless mines of coal. The business men are live and en- terprising, andevery means for the promotion of the interest of the place receives a hearty support from all sources. The crossing of the C. B. & Q. and the Peoria & Rock Island railroads occur at this point. It is also the eastern terminus of the Galva & Keithsburg branch of the C. B. & Q.
The founders of Galva were William L. and J. M. Wiley, gentlemen who have also done much toward building it up and making it the thriving town. In 1853 these gentlemen were making a trip from Peoria to Rock Island, and, of course, traveling overland, the only means through this section at that time,
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Upon reaching the spot where the town is now loca- cated, they were struck with the beauty and fertility of the country. Halting their buggy, one of them said : " Let us buy this ground and lay off a town." The proposition was accepted and ere long the land was entered. The C. B. & Q. Railroad was surveyed through this section, and Messrs. Wiley opened negotiations with the company for the purpose of having a station made at this point. Satisfactory ar- rangements were made with the company and in 1854 the town was platted. In December of that year the trains began running and the town received quite an impetus.
Messrs. Wiley purchased about 50 acres of land, on the south side of the town, from George Farr, and subsequently sold an undivided interest in a certain number of lots to the Bishop Hill Swedish Colony, then in their most prosperous days, and afterwards a a large number of lots to Jacob Emery. Both of these parties gave their money and influence to for- ward the interests of the new town.
Owing to the large purchases of the Swedishi Col- ony in the new town, they were granted the privilege of being its sponsors in baptism and bestowing upon it the name which it was to bear. Olof Johnson, one of the earliest settlers, accordingly christened it Gefle, the name of a prosperous town in Sweden. This name was afterward corrupted or anglicised to Galva, a name new and unheard of but correspond- ing as near as possible to the Swedish name in pro- nunciation.
The first house of the new town was built in the fall of 1854, and is a part of the one formerly be- longing to John I. Bennett, and which was owned by A. J. Rockafellow and occupied by Mr. E. A. Lynd. It was built by the Bishop Hill Colony and was used as a boarding-house or hotel. The first store was built during the first fall, and was occupied by C. F. Bodinson as a grocery, between the two railroads and just south of and adjoining the agricultural ware- house. It was then occupied by George Farr, the Bishop Hill Colony and the postoffice.
Col. E. Fuller was the first station agent appointed by the railroad company, and he continued to hold that position up to the time of his death, or very nearly.
The winter of 1854-5, following the completion of the railroad, was unusually mild and open, allowing
out-of-door work to go on without interruption until Jan. 21, when there occurred the severest snow- storm ever known in this region, accompanied by a terrific wind. This resulted in blocking up the rail- road and preventing the running of any trains for over two weeks. It was during this time, when the inhabitants of the new town were shut off from com- munication with the outside world, that the first child was born. Mr. and Mrs. David Emery were the happy parents, and they exclaimed : "Unto'us a child is born, a girl is given, whose name shall be called Galva."
The town having been laid out and a depot estab- lished in 1854, the following season witnessed a rap- id growth and quite an influx of population, no less than 75 men having settled here before the great fire which occurred in Nov., 1855. Although the settle- ment of the town took place only about a few years ago, the larger part of this number are gone-not dead, but, moved by the same restless spirit which impelled them to take up their abode here when the place was new, they have emigrated to other and newer towns. We are informed that about the only remaining of the first to locate here is Esq. Nelson Pierce, the present City Clerk and Justice of the Peace. The town, with a wonderful rapidity, arose like an exhalation after the passage of the first train of cars, and, at one time, there were over 150 car- penters busy in the erection of new houses. In an - incredible short space of time there had gathered in the new town between 1,500 and 1,800 people. This prosperity did not abate until the panic of 1857 prostrated the business of the county, and scattered the hopes of not only great business firms through- out the country, but also scattered many of the men who came here to build a city upon the prairie, and now but a small fraction of the original settlers have found their long home in the quiet cemetery to the south of the town.
When Dr. A. D. Babcock arrived here on the 5th of May, 1855, there were already sixteen buildings in the place, 12 of which were dwelling-houses ; when Mr. Seeley arrived on the 26th of Sept., the number of buildings had increased to 30.
It was during this season that the old brick ware- house, on Exchange Street, was built by the Bishop Hill Colony, and used for the storage of grain, pork, and broom-corn. The first hotel was also built then
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by Mr. J. E. Wolever, occupying a portion of the lot where Mr. A. W. Albro now resides, on the corner of Main and Locust Streets. It was known as the " Galva House."
The first surgical operation which Dr. Babcock was called upon to perform was for Augustus C. Bergman, who was injured while working on the railroad; the first death was that of Mr. O. P. Bige- low, who died on the 12th of Sept., 1855. The first male child born in the place was a son of Absalom Wood. The first fire occurred on or about the 8th of Nov., 1855, and originated in Dr. Babcock's drug- store. It was caused by carrying a lighted lamp too near a barrel from which varnish had been drawn and which had been spilled upon the floor.
The whole business portion of the new town was laid in ashes by this disaster, no less than six busi- ness firms being burned out. They were : first, Dr. A. D. Babcock, whose stock consisted of drugs, gro- ceries, paints, oils, liquors and cigars ; second, A. M. Black, shoe-shop and its contents ; third, Ham- lin, Beecher & Davis, dealers in hardware; fourth, A. J. Curtis, dealer in furniture ; fifth, Babcock & Clark, who do not appear to have had any stock of goods in the building at the time ; and sixth, Hurd & Driscoll, whose stock of dry goods were still in the boxes as received, not yet unpacked, and therefore easily saved by rolling them into the street. With this exception the building and its contents were a total loss, as there was no insurance upon either.
At the time that the fire broke out, most of the citizens were in attendance at a railroad meeting then in progress at the school-house.
Mr. D. E. Jacobs was then living in the house now occupied by Mr. H. L. Dickenson, and which was the third dwelling-house built in Galva. His moth- er perceived the fire by the glow of light which shown in at the window, from the burning building, when her candle was accidentally put out, and sent him to apprise the citizens at the school-house. He rushed to the door and informed them that the Wi- ley House was on fire. It took but two minutes to empty the building.
There has been only a moderate growth in the increase of population in the past 15 years, but the solid and elegant buildings that have been erected in that time almost make it a new town in the past decade,
Galva is the railroad town of the county, and if not now, it will in a few years be one of the wealth- iest communities in a county that is rapidly accu- mulating great wealth. Three of the four railroads that traverse Henry County come into or pass through Galva,-the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, the Galva & Keithsburg and the Peoria & Rock Island. all first-class roads and radiating from the town like the spokes of a wheel, and traversing in every direc- tion the richest and most populous portions of Illi- nois ; and no matter where you may want to ship your goods or go yourself, if you get to Galva, there is a direct way to your point of destination. It is a great shipping point, and in this respect there is no doubt but that the future will develop another re- markable growth. It has a population of 3,000 souls. It is surrounded by the finest grain-growing and grazing country of the State, as well as being situated in the heart of one of the richest coal-fields in Amer- ica. It is distant only one mile from the north line of Stark County.
There are here two banks; the oldest has just ceased to be the First National Bank, by the expira- tion of its charter, and is now the Banking House of L. M. Yocum & Co. This institution was started in 1856, by Claudius Jones, as a private bank. In 1862 he sold to L. W. Beck, and in 1865 it was or- ganized as the First National Bank, L. W. Beck, cashier. When it was organized into a national bank, the Wileys before mentioned were the principal owners.
The other bank is the Farmers and Merchants National Bank, with a capital of $50,000. A. Deem, President; Directors-H. Higgins, E. L. Bowen, and P. Herdien.
There are three spacious elevators ; Finkle's steam roller flouring-mill ; a lumber-yard, three farm imple- ment stores ; and two coal companies, situated about three-fourths of a mile east of town. The Herdien Coal Company work five shafts. The Galva Coal Company mine extensively. Here is a large broom factory that works up much of the broom-corn, of which such great quantities are raised in the county. There is here an extensive brick-yard, where are used the latest and best improvements in the manu- facture of brick. F. D. Guthrie has a foundry, and the county's great inventor has an establishment for the manufacturing of some of his half-dozen different
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patents. The Galva Gas and Coke Company was formed and began to supply the people in 1881. There are two carriage and wagon shops, three dry- goods stores, one dry-goods and clothing store, six grocery stores, two hardware stores, two clothing stores, two jewelry establishments and two hotels.
James Gaster is the present Postmaster and has been since Feb. 27, 1883. He looks clever enough to be a "non-offensive partisan " for the next two years. His predecessor was A. F. Miller, who was in the office about 18 years.
Noted for its beautiful streets, parks, umbrageous green lawns and elegant and handsome residences, the most notable of which are those of Mr. William L. Wiley, C. E. Davis, J. M. Wiley, Thomas Brown- lee, W. E. Hough, M. M. Ford, Jacob Emery, B. S. Eldridge, H. Higgins, D. E. Holmes, T. E. Milchrist, H. Bigelow, S. P. Johnson, R. W. Jones, E. Carver, Mrs. O. Johnson, Mrs. Ericson and many others.
The town has an opera house with a seating ca- pacity of 800, a spacious town hall, the Galva Cor- net Band, an efficient fire department, two elegant and well kept parks, gas-works, etc. Nine religious edifices attest the moral bearings of the people.
The present officers of the town are W. S. Hough, President; H. Bigelow, B. H. Mink, T. J. Finkle, W. H. Gibbs, A. F. Hathaway, Trustees, The Clerk is Nelson Pierce ; Police Magistrate, O. P. Emery ; Treasurer, O. A. Hempstead.
In 1858, Dr. Dunn, then editing the Cambridge Chronicle, visitéd Galva, and in substance said : Pre- vious to 1853, the now flourishing town of Galva was surrounded by an unbroken prairie the distance of many miles. In 1854 the first house was built. Many places now occupied by stores were then near- ly impassable to pedestrians, being wet and sloughy -tenanted only by wild fowls, frogs and serpents. The village was incorporated in 1857, with a popu- lation of about 1,200. Work was progressing in 1858 on the Western Air Line Railroad, and it was expected to be completed to the Mississippi the next year. Mr. Tabor was principal of the public schools, with four assistants-325 pupils. The Bap- tists had a Church built, and the Methodist Episco- pal Church was near completion. There were then eight dry-goods stores, three lawyers and three phy- sicians. The hotels were the Wiley and the Vir- ginia houses. Dr. Norton had built the town hall,
at an expense of $20,000. North of the park were the fine residences of G. R. Wiley and others, and in the east part of the town was B. F. Merriman's.
SCHOOLS.
The first school-house in Galva was built by J. M. and W. L. Wiley, and was 12 x 20 feet in size. This was also used for Church purposes, and it was here the Baptist Church was organized, William L. Wiley and Mrs. Thomas Getty being the active con- stituent members. The Congregational and Meth- odist Episcopal Churches were also organized here in 1855.
The first public school building was commenced in the summer of 1855, and is now the central part of the North School. The money to put up this build- ing was borrowed upon a joint note executed by J. M. and W. L. Wiley and George Farr, which money was repaid as soon as it could be collected in taxes. The building contained two rooms; these were af- terwards divided into two rooms each, and so used until 1876, when additions were made to the building -- three rooms being added.
The South School was built in 1865, originally one room, and in 1867 it was remodeled and made into four commodious rooms. At one time Mr. E. E. Fitch, now of the Galva. News, was the efficient Principal of the schools, and was of great value in grading and bringing them to their present efficient excellence.
Col. J. McClenahan is the present Principal of the schools. F. M. White is High School teacher. In the North School is Nellie Burke, Grammar; Eliza Curtis, first Intermediate; Lillie Johnson, second ; Ada Grant, first Primary; Frankie Smith, second. In the South School, L. L. Todd, Grammar; Lola Maddox, first Intermediate; Libbie Price, second ; Sue Breckenridge, first Primary ; Threse Burt, sec- ond; Mary Peterson, third. The enrollment is 550.
CHURCHES.
There are nine religious organizations at Galva, which occupy neat, commodious church structures, and are in a very prosperous condition.
Methodist Episcopal .- The oldest religious organi- zation in Galva is that of the Methodist Episcopal. It was organized June 26, 1855, in the school-house. Meetings had been held here to complete the organi- zation, and for some time after. At this time the
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first Board of Trustees were elected. This Board consisted of the following persons : Isaac M. Witter, John T. Carran, Isaac E. Dennis, Amos Dennis, Wil- liam Pierce. John B. Nixon and Norman E. Pome- roy. They were the most active members then in Church, which, in addition to these men, possessed but few members. In 1857 they erected a house of worship at a cost of $3,000. Rev. John Morey was the first minister. Rev. P. A. Cool presides at pres- ent, and has now been in charge two years.
In 1881, under the ministration of Rev. M. A. Head, the new church was commenced, and com- pleted in 1882, at a cost of $14,000.
The Congregational Church was organized in the school-house, Sept. 15, 1855. The constituent mem- bers were the following persons : George Farr, Re- becca Farr, Charlotte M. Cholette, George Fairlamb, William H. Fairlamb, Henry H. Parker, Mary Fair- lamb, Hannah Carrigan, Thomas and M. E. Harrison, Elizabeth J. Hill, and George Hill, Jr.
Rev. S. G. Wright was soon called to the pastor- ate of this congregation, serving one-half his time. He remained until April, 1864, when he resigned. In November following Rev. R. B. Guild was in- stalled. The present Pastor is Rev. C. C. Harrah. From a membership of 12, the Church has grown to 150, and sustains a Sunday-school of nearly the same number of scholars. The congregation erected a church edifice in the autumn of 1856. In 1866 this was sold to the Free Methodist Church, and the present commodious building erected. This latter was dedicated May 29, 1869, and cost $12,000.
The Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church was or- ganized on the fifth of January, 1866, with 15 mem- bers. Two years afterwards, they erected their present house of worship, costing $3,000. Their Pas- tors have been as follows: Rev. A. J. Anderson, three years ; O. C. Simpson, one year; A. P. Wigren, one year; H. W. Eklund, one year; C. A. Wiren, two years; A. T. Westergren, two years ; Charles A. Stenholm, and the present Pastor, Rev. J. J. Berggren. There are now 96 members, and 100 Sunday-school children.
The Free Methodist Church .- In the autumn of 1866, 17 persons, principally from the Methodist Episcopal Church, formed themselves into a separate body, under the care of this Church. For some time they met for worship at Mr. D. P. Reed's, one of the
main members, and often at the residences of other members desirous of promoting the welfare of the Church. In 1866, they purchased the Congregational Church, and have since occupied it. The member- ship is now about 20, sustaining a Sunday-school of 30 scholars. The first Pastor of this Church was Rev. D. W. Drake, who remained two years. They have no Pastor at present.
The Swedish Lutheran Church .- The people pro- fessing this faith held meetings several years before effecting a regular Church organization. This was accomplished in December, 1869, with 44 members. In 1873 they erected their present house of worship, a comfortable brick building, costing about $3,000. There are over 90 members and a prosperous Sun- day-school. The Rev. P. M. Sandquist was the first Pastor here. The present Pastor is Rev. J. F. Borg.
The First Baptist Church .- The first meeting for the transaction of business of this congregation was held in the school-house, June 28, 1855, at which time the preliminary steps were taken to organize a Baptist Church. The Church was organized Aug. 14, 1855, in the school-house. The original mem- bers were : William L. Wiley and Mrs. Louise Wiley, from the Baptist Church, Saxton's River, Vt .; H. D. Ward and Mrs. Angelina Ward, from Canton, Ill .; J. M. Corson and Mrs. Ann D. Corson, from Brimfield, Ill .; Mrs. Margaret Bushnell, from La Fayette, Ill .; Mrs. Dorothy Getty, from Brimfield, Ill .; Henry H. Clark, from Alden, N. Y .; O. P. Bigelow, from Boston, Mass.
The first church building was located near the business center of the town, and was erected in 1856, at a cost of about $2,ooo. The second building, and the one which the Church now occupy, was built in 1867, and cost, carpets and bell included, about $25,000. The bell in the tower of the present church building was also used in the old church, and rung for public service the first time Jan. 24, 1864.
First Pastor was Rev. M. H. Negus. The present minister is Rev. J. E. Todd. The present member- ship is a little over 200. Sabbath-school was organ- ized in 1856; the number of scholars is about 150.
The Church of the Holy Communion (Episcopal). The first religious meetings held in Galva were in a room in Union Block, 1866. About that time the Ladies' Church Aid Sociey was formed, and through their efforts a small church was built, called the
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