USA > Illinois > Knox County > Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois > Part 138
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.1860
J. E. Eiker. .1877
W. Woolsey . 1861
T. W. Sumner .. .1878
Peter Godfrey .
1862
w. H. Reynolds .1879
Geo. Newman. 1863
M. W. McCollister . . 1880
T. W Sumner.
.1867-70
J. C. Eiker ... .1881-82
George Harlan. 1871
Luther Clark .1883-85
1085
KNOX COUNTY.
PERSIFER TOWNSHIP.
ERSIFER went into township organization April 5, 1853. George W. Manley was chosen Moderator, and Richard Daniel, Clerk of the election. After the polls were closed it was found that the following-named citizens were elected to fill the township offices : George W. Manley, Supervisor; Richard Daniel, Clerk ; James McCord, Assessor; William T. Butt, Collector ; Francis Wilson, Caleb Reece and David Cobb, Commissioners of Highways; Rufus W. Miles and Thomas Pation, Justices of the Peace ; Wilson Fierce, Overseer of the Poor ; L. A. Parkins and David Russell, Constables.
The township is very liberally watered by numer- ous streams which meander through it and empty into Spoon River. This river also ventures a little way into the eastern border. The township is quite broken in some parts and pretty well timbered; the southwestern portion, however, is rolling prairie. It, like the four townships cornering on it, Elba, Truro, Victoria and Copley, has no railroad. The Peoria Branch, however, passes within about half a mile of its southwestern corner. R. C. Benson is credited with being the first settler in the township, coming in 1835. He was also the first man to form a mat- rimonial alliance, taking to his cabin home the only marriageable lady in the township, in the person of Sarah J. Bradford. This wedding was celebrated at the home of the bride's father, Charles Bradford, Jan. 5, 1837. Mr. Benson took his fair bride to his home, which was not unlike most of the dwellings in those pioneer days. He was a great hunter, and upon his unerring aim and good rifle he depended mostly for his subsistence. To this he added a more delicate luxury, the product of the wild bee. In looking for a bee-tree his eyes were as true as when looking along the line of his rifle-barrel after a bounding deer. Adding the above articles, venison and honey, to that of corn-meal, made up the repast during the pleasant days of the honeymoon of Ben- son and his bride.
The first child born was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds. The first death was that of Mrs. Elizabeth Bradford. The first sermon preached in the township was by Rev. S. S. Miles, father of Rufus W. Miles. In 1838 a Sabbath-school was or-
ganized at the home of Charles Bradford, by this clergyman, and it is remembered to have been a very interesting one. John McIntosh taught the first school, in 1841, in a log school-house that was built this year.
The Indians were living about this township when the white people came. They remained for some time, hunting and making baskets and maple sugar. Among these Indians were a squaw and her son. She had, it was reported, accumulated quite an amount of money in gold and silver. Having to leave, with her tribe, and being unable to take all of her money with her, she buried part of it on the banks of Court Creek, in one of her iron kettles. Subsequently she sent her son back for it, but he was unable to find it, and as far as is known it has never been found. Persifer is the home of Hon. Rufus W. Miles, who has held many important township positions, and who has also represented the county for several years in the Legislature. (See biography.) It was Mr. Miles who sent President Lincoln a pen made from the quill of an eagle, with which the martyred President wrote his first inaugural address. Accom- panying the quill was a letter to the President which was remarkable for its prophetic character.
There are four churches in the township-the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, the building of which was erected in 1863, on section 30, at a cost of about $1,800. Maxey Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, on section 4, was erected several years ago. The United Brethren have a church on section 34 ; their building is a good one and was erected in 1868 ; this is called the Persifer Chapel. Mound Chapel is located on section 8, and was built in 1872. There are some finely-cultivated farms in this township, and pleasant homes. It has no town within its bor- ders, the nearest market being Knoxville, where most of the people do their trading. The population at the last eensus was 765, and there has been but little gain since. The School Superintendent's re- port for 1885 gives the following statistics regard- ing the schools of this township : There are nine school districts, with nine ungraded schools, and all the school-houses were frame. The value of school property was $2,875.25. Of persons under 21 years of age, there were 327, of whom 213 were of school age, 18t being enrolled.
SUPERVISORS. George W. Manley, 1853-54; R. W. Miles, 1855-
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KNOX COUNTY.
58; George W. Manley, 1859; James W. Maxey, 1860-61; R. W. Miles, 1862-67 ; James Dorsett, 1868-69; J. J. Biggerstaff, 1870-71 ; R. W. Miles, 1872-78; E. J. Wyman, 1879-1884 ; R. W. Miles, 1885-86.
000
RIO TOWNSHIP.
R IO TOWNSHIP went into township organi- zation with the others, April 5, 1853. Samuel Arnold was chosen Moderator, and Larkin Robertson, Clerk. There were 104 votes cast, resulting in the election of the following offi- cers : Reuben Heflin, Supervisor ; Paul Hahn, Clerk ; Lewis Goff, Assessor; Daniel Robertson, Col- lector; Samuel Brown, John Gibson and Thomas J. Jones, Highway Commissioners; Larkin Robertson, Justice of the Peace; Josephus Hahn, Overseer of the Poor; W. D. Epperson, Constable.
The first settler in this township was Joseph Rowe, who came in in the spring of 1830 and made a claim on section 33, in the timber. Reese Jones and Joseph Halliday soon joined him, the former entering a claim on section 6, near the county line. Abe Jones, as he was called, came in in 1831, and settled on section 27. In 1832, John Cresswell joined the pioneers, making a claim on the southwest corner of section 27, near the old Indian fort, called Fort Aggie, after Mr. Cresswell's wife. During the Indian troubles, and when there was an Indian "scare," the settlers used to gather into this fort for protection. In 1836 it was torn down by John Hahn, and the logs used for the construction of a barn. John Wooley came in in 1832 and made a claim. In 1836 the families of Nelson and Lewis Coe were added to the settlement. From that time until 1840 the settlers came in at intervals and made claims in different parts of the township. From 1840 to 1878 there was a healthy and prosperous emigration to the township, raising the population to some 1,200, since which time there has been a decrease.
The first child born in the township was Thomas A. Goff, April 5, 1835. The wife of John McMur- try was the first death.
The name first suggested for this township was Rio Grande, which are Spanish words, meaning a grand river, and had its suggestion from the Rio
Grande River. The Grande part of the name was deemed a superfluous appendage, and was dropped, the name Rio only being retained.
The land in Rio Township is mostly rolling prai- rie and is very fertile. In the southern part and northeastern corner the land is broken and was originally pretty well timbered. It is liberally wa- tered by Pope Creek, the Middle Henderson and their tributaries. The Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad (now the St. Louis Division of the C., B. & Q. R. R.) was completed through the town- ship in the fall of 1870. It enters on section 4, and, describing nearly a circle, passes out on section 19. The township is well-cultivated, and contains many fine farms and farm buildings.
At one time there were four churches in Rio Town- ship-Congregational, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and Protestant Methodist. With the exception of the Methodist, these societies have not been pros- perous nor regularly kept up. The population of Rio Township, when the census of 1880 was taken, was 1,126. Since that time there has been a de- crease.
There are nine school districts, with nine ungraded schools and nine frame school-houses. The school property was valued at $3,600. There is one library, with some 40 volumes. Of persons under 21 years of age there was 442, of whom 298 are of school age, 25 1 being enrolled.
SUPERVISORS.
Reuben Heflin. . 1853-56
Samuel Brown .. . . 1869
T'hos. J. Jones ... .1857
Robert leatherage. .. 1870
Benj. Titus. .. 1858
Daniel Robertson .. .1871
Daniel Robertson. . 1859-62
A. Gillis .1872
James Deatherage. .1863
John Robson . 1873
Reuben Heflin. . 1864-66
J. W. Deatherage. .1874-77
John Wikoff. .1867
L. G. Bair
1878-79
Daniel Robertson 1868
S. W. May. 1880-85
RIO.
The township has in it one little village, which is located on the line of the railroad, on the southwest corner of section 16 and the southeast corner of sec- tion 17. It was laid off by William Robinson, Deputy Surveyor of the county, in 1871, and was named Co- burg, after the Coe brothers. Soon after it was platted, there was a public sale of lots. Messrs. Schroder & Owens bought one lot on the southeast corner of section 17, for $125, upon which they erected a building for a store, which was the first opened in town. A post-office was established here in 187 1 and was called North Prairie. Nelson Coe was the first Postmaster. It was subsequently
1087
KNOX COUNTY.
changed to Rio, which name the village has since borne. It contains a church, school-house and one store. There are a number of wealthy and promi- nent gentlemen who live in the vicinity, and thus is it a great convenience to them to have a post-office and railway station so near.
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
MEETING was held for the organization of Salem Township, April 5, 1853, at a school-house near Michael Eagan's, which resulted in the election of S. S. Buffum for Supervisor ; Win. Gray, Clerk; J. E. Knable, Assessor ; 1). Waldo, Collector; T. A. Croy, G. W. Enke and J. Jordan, Justices of the Peace; M. B. Mason, A. Kent, J. E. Duel, Highway Con- missioners ; J. Taylor and D. Waldo, Constables, and G. Chrisman, Overseer of the Poor.
Alexander Taylor and family are credited with being the first settlers in the township, making a claim on section 5, in 1834, where he put up the first log cabin ever built here. Soon after Mr. Taylor came Felix and John Thurman, Henry and Avery Dalton, Solomon Sherwood, Benona Hawkins, Wm. Kent, John Darnell, John Haskins and Sala Blakes- lee, most of whom came in with families.
In 1835 the population of this township was in- creased by the advent of little Laura, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Haskins. The first persons to be joined in wedlock were Avery Dalton and Delilah Dalton, in 1835. Andrew Corbine died the same year, which was the first death. These pioneers were quite religious and held their prayer-meetings soon after the first settlement. This attracted the atten- tion of Rev. Henry Summers, who came and preached for them, delivering the first sermon in the township on section 13, November, 1836.
In 1837 the settlement became of sufficient im- portance to have a post-office, which was established at Middle Grove. Abiel Drew taught the first school in a log house on section 13, in 1838. The enter- prising and progressive Sala Blakeslee erected the first frame building in the township, in 1837, for a barn. It was quite a large barn, but it did not stand
long, for it was burned the same year-a reproof, some of the neighbors said, for his extravagance.
William Davis was the first man to hold the scales. of justice, and it is said of him that he did it with a fair but strong hand. On the farm located by Sala Blakeslee may be seen some fine old chestnut trees, grown from seed planted by him in 1846.
Sałem was settled up by a good class of people, and after a beginning was made its population in- creased quite rapidly. Its lands lie fair and are rich and very productive, and easily drained by the little water-courses that meander through. A great portion of the township is beautiful rolling prairies, the southeastern and southwestern portions being somewhat broken. These sections at one time were liberally timbered. It is regarded as one of the best townships in the county ; it ranks second in raising cattle and horses, and first in hogs. It has more miles of railroad than any other township, except Galesburg, and is third in population.
The Peoria Branch of the C., B. & Q. R. R., which was completed in December, 1856, passes through the northern part of the township, running nearly east and west; the Rushville & Buda Branch enters the township, forming a connection at Yates City, where the people of the township do most of their marketing and trading. Summit, another town on the railroad, claims and gets some of the trade. This town was platted Oct. 17, 1856, by W. K. Ware, on the northeast corner of section 7 and the south- east corner of section 6. It is located on a high rolling prairie.
Uniontown, on section 19, was one of the earliest settled towns in this part of the county, and before the advent of railroads there was quite a trade done here. The railroad towns have taken the trade away, and there is nothing here now but a blacksmith-shop.
Salem is a great farming township, and is dotted over with fine dwellings. Its population, in 1880, was 1,794, and it is claimed that these figures have since been enlarged. From the School Superintend- ent's report for the year ending June 30, 1885, the fol- lowing items are obtained :
There are ten school districts in this township, one graded school and nine ungraded. The school property was valued at $14,650. In the ten districts there are two brick and eight frame school-houses. Of the persons under 2 1 years of age there were 767, of whom 554 were of school age, 473 being enrolled.
-
1088
KNOX COUNTY.
The highest wages paid male teachers were Sioo per month; the lowest $33.33; the highest wages paid female teachers were $40, and the lowest 22.
SUPERVISORS
S S. Buffum 1853
M H. Pease. 1565-66
M E Mason
:854-55
C. M Hu
.1867
G W Enke ... 155F
D'av d Cory. 1868
M B Mason 135-
Trhn Soạn .1669-70
JE Knable. 1855-60
] W Hensley 1871-72
M ₺ Mason
.1661
John Sloan .. 1873-78
JE Knable
1552
J. M Cory ... 1879-80
Samuel Phelps 186-
L F Wertman 1881-82
John E Knable
1654
John Sloan ... 1883-85
Yates City.
MATES CITY is very pleasantly located on the Peoria Branch of the C., B. & Q. R. R., in the northeast portion of Salem Township. It was platted in October, 1857, by Amos C. and William Babcock, James Burson and Bost- wick Kent, and was surveyed by Elias T. By- ram, October, 1857. It embraced the whole of section The land was purchased from R. H. Bishop, Mrs. Gray and W. D. Dixon. It was named after Yates County, N. Y., where the Babcocks were born and raised. The first building erected in this town was in 1857, by James Burson, which was located on the corner of Union and Main streets, and was used for a store. In 1858 another store was built by W. D. Dixon and D. B. Coykendall; Mr. Stimalt, John Sonnemaker and A. Kerns erected dwellings. When the depot was located here an impetus was given to the growth of the town, and it has been increasing in population from that time on. It was incorporated as a village by a special act of the Legislature in 1869. An election was had in April for organization. D. Touslee, W. H. Eastman, G. N. Pierce, J. D. Roberts and F. Madder were elected Trustees. At a subsequent meeting of the Board, D. Touslee was chosen President; E. B. Rhea, Clerk; Benj. Kersey, Treasurer; W. L Adams, Marshal; and David Wiltse, Police Magistrate.
Yates City is one of the most thrifty towns in the county, full of life and vigor. It is surrounded by as fine a farming country as there is in the State. It has a large flouring-mill, a good brick and tile factory, a first-class wagon-shop and a sorghum mill. The wagon factory is owned by W. D. Alley, and was es- tablished some 18 years ago. Mr. Alley's wagons
have a wide reputation, and he has a ready sale for all that he can make. Sleighs and cutters are also made at this factory.
In addition to this, Yates City has a good banking institution, known as the Farmers' Bank, which is ably presided over by L. F. Weriman. Several large business houses,, lumber yards and elevator, and many other business establishments are located here. There is here a co-operative store, which was organ- ized in the spring of 1875. Its capital stock now is $20,000, and the business is carried on in a two-story brick building, which was erected by this company at a cost of $3,000. They are now out of debt and have a fund large enough to meet purchasing de- mands, and hereafter it is proposed to pay dividends.
Three churches have been established here, and also an excellent graded school and a newspaper. It is the headquarters of the construction train for this division, and the junction of the Buda Branch. The people are enterprising, hospitable, social and moral. The present population is about 1,000. The present officials are : C. S. Roberts, Wm. Burson, Win. Nash, H. J. Truitt and F. T. Westfall, Trustees; with C. S. Roberts, President; R. A. Fulton, Clerk, and Lewis Serles, Marshal. Postmaster, Smith Rhea.
Yates City has one of the best public graded schools in the county. A full English course is taught, with the sciences and Latin. S. C. Ransom is the Principal, and E. F. Cunningham, Assistant. Miss Lizzie Furniss has charge of the Grammar De- partment; the Intermediate is under the charge of Miss Ella E. Williams, and the Primary is presided over by Miss M. E. Clancey. The enrollment is 225, with an average attendance of 200. Connected with the school department is the Salem Teachers' Asso- ciation, which has a membership of 25. Meetings are held monthly during the school season. It has been organized about one year. A well-selected library is one of the features of this school, contain- ing 1,480 volumes. This school has a good corps of teachers, who are interested in their work and thor- ough in their system.
PRESS.
Industrial Banner. The first issue of this paper was cast before the reading world on Christmas Day, 1879. It was started by A. H. McKeighan, who is the present editor and proprietor, and advocated the Greenback policy. It is a seven-column folio, issued
1089
KNOX COUNTY.
every Friday, is neatly printed, well edited and de- voted to the advancement of the interests of Yates City. In politics it is now independent, its editor holding himself free to advocate the claims of that party which, in his judgment, will serve the interests of the people. It is quite liberally patronized for a territory so limited in population, having a circula- tion of about 600.
The Maquon Sunbeam is published by Mr. Mc- Keighan, and is printed at the Banner office, with a circulation of about 100. Before coming to Yates City, Mr. McKeighan published the Stream of Light at Ipava, in Fulton County.
RELIGIOUS.
The Presbyterian Church. A committee appointed by the Presbytery of Peoria to organize a church in Yates City met at the school house Nov. 16, 1866. After a sermon by Rev. Thomas Stevenson, the meeting was opened for the admission of members and the election of officers. The enrollment was made and Joseph Cunningham and William B. Mathews were elected as Elders, after which they were de- clared to be duly organized as the First Presbyte- rian Church of Yates City. There were 18 members, who were admitted mostly by letter, having belonged to other organizations. When the organization was completed the congregation proceeded to the elec- tion of Trustees, which resulted in the choice of the following: John C. Bryson, John D. Henry, William B. Mathews. The committee of the Presbytery were Thomas Stevenson, J. H. Smith and John Mar- shall. John H. Smith was the first pastor, and was followed respectively by Revs. J. E. Caruthers, L. D. Wells, L. C. Littell, C. F. Carson and J. L. Hen- ning, the present pastor. Some of the above-named gentlemen were supplies. The church building was erected in the summer of 1867, at a cost of $3,700. The Ruling Elders at the- present time are W. B. Mathews, R. J. McKeighan and J. J. Mathews. Present membership, 105. A Sunday-school was organized in November, 1867, by G. N. Peirce. It has been prosperous and has a membership of 100. It is presided over by W. B. Mathews.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized here soon after the town was started. In 1867 a very neat and substantial church building was con- pleted. This society has no local pastor, but regu- lar services are held by the pastor of the Elmwood Church, who has charge here. The persons to whom
we have to look for church history failed us in re- gard to this society ; hence our history is rather limited.
SOCIETIES.
Y'ates City Lodge, No. 448, A., F. & A. M., was chartered Oct. 4, 1865, with 18 charter members. The first officers were : S. S. Buffum, W. M .; John E. Knable, S. W .; M. B. Mason, J. W. Present officers : Henry Soldwell, W. M .; W. H. Houser, S. W .; M. W. Thomson, J. W .; Henry Hare, Treas. ; J. D. C. Hoit, Secy .; W. H. Langdon, S. D .; Smith Rhea, J. D .; John Hensler, Tiler. Present membership, 45. This Lodge occupies a hall with the Odd Fellows. It is well furnished and equipped.
Eureka Chapter, No. 98, R. A. M., was chartered Oct. 5, 1866, with 25 charter members. Officers under the charter were Benj. Kersey, H. P .; M. B. Mason, K .; J. C. Riner, Scribe. This is a flourish- ing Chapter and has been quite prosperous, having a present membership of 60. Present officers are : J. M. Corey, H. P .; Henry Hase. K .; W. H. Lott, Scribe ; J. W. Hensley, C. H .; Henry H. Potts, Treas .; J.D. C. Hoit, Secy .; J. H. Spring, R. A. C .; John Hensler, Tiler.
Yates City Lodge, No. 207, 1. O. O. F., was chartered Oct. 13, 1868, with Ira Dunn, Benjamin Hays, B. Bevins, A. S. Murphy and Henry Soldwell as charter members. First officers were : H. Sold- well, N. G .; B. S. Briggs, V. G .; B. Hays, Secy. ; B. Bevins, Treas. There are at present 32 members connected with the Lodge. Present officers : John Bird, N. G .; William Clark, V. G .; J. B. Coyken- dall, Secy .; T. J. Kightlinger, Permanent Secy. ; Henry Soldwell, Treas .; B Bevins, O. G. The Lodge is prosperous and in good working condition. They have a good hall, which is owned jointly with the Masonic fraternity. There was a Rebecca De- gree Lodge organized some years ago, but it has not been kept up. It was chartered Oct. 11, 1870.
SPARTA TOWNSHIP.
PARTA was organized as a township in 1853. A meeting was held, pursuant to a notice, on the 5th of April, at the house of Thomas H. Taylor, and was organized by the appointment of Morvan Baker, Chairman, and Asaph DeLong, Clerk; Julius DeLong was chosen Moderator, and E. L. Foster, Permanent Clerk, when the polls were declared open. At this meet-
1090
KNOX COUNTY.
ing the following officers were elected : T. H. Tay- lor, Supervisor; Asaph DeLong, Clerk ; Stephen Smith, Assessor; C. W. Rhodes, Collector ; D. Reed, Stephen Russell, Peter Davis, Commissioners of Highways; Morvan Baker and Hugh Ferguson, Jus- tices of the Peace ; M. P. DeLong, Constable.
This township is indebted for its classic name to Amos Wilmot. Hezekiah Burford has the credit of being the first settler in the township. He came in the spring of 1834, locating on section 5. He with his family moved with the colony that went to Ore- gon about the year 1850, locating at Monmouth. Amos Wilmot, from Connecticut, joined the pioneer Burford, June 5, 1836. He was born in 1802. He had by his wife (Betsey Crawford) ten children, six daughters and four sons. Mr. Wilmot was a public- spirited man, and was much interested in the pro- motion of education and religion. He died Aug. 28, 1878. Cyrus Robbins, from New York, made a claim on section 5, early in the year 1836. His two brothers, Levi and Reuben, joined him the same year, locating on the same section.
About the first thing these brothers did was to start a nursery, from which afterward were established fine orchards and groves; one of these groves has since been known as " Robbins' Grove. This little settlement was increased later on in the season by the arrival of Asaph DeLong and Luman Field, from Vermont, and Wm. M. Heath, from New York, locat- ing on section 31. About this time also came the brothers James and Abraham Neely, from Cayuga, N. Y., the former locating on section 30, and the lat- ter on section 8. Abraham moved to Missouri, and James lived at the old place. Among the early settlers were Richard, Joseph and William Armstrong, S. S. Russell, Stephen Smith, Thomas and Geo. W. Falkner, Morvan Baker, C. C. West and B. Pickrel. When once the start was made this township settled quite rapidly, and by an excellent class of citizens. They were mostly from the East, and understood farming and stock-raising, as was afterward shown by their fine farms and the quality of their stock. During the early days prairie fires were frequent. Combustible material had been accumulating for years, and when the fire got in it threatened destruc- tion to everything, and cast terror and dismay over the neighborhood. A fire started at Red Oak, in Henry County, and, moving southward with fearful roar, threatened to destroy the settlement in this
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