USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Records of the olden time; or, Fifty years on the prairies. Embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the country, the organization of the counties of Putnam and Marshall, biographies of citizens, portraits and illustrations > Part 29
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Records of the olden time; or, Fifty years on the prairies. Embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the country, the organization of the counties of Putnam and Marshall, biographies of citizens, portraits and illustrations > Part 29
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In those times there were neither railroads nor express companies in the West and exchanges and collections were attended with difficulties. The mail and stage coach were the means employed for the conveyance of valuables, and it was the usual custom to insure packages and then start them on their long journey. Occasionally they were lost, but not often.
Somewhere about the year 1852 a package sent from Boston was missed. The Postmaster here was a one-legged Mexican soldier named Williamson, who was believed to be a person of the strictest integrity. The Fishers were instructed in advance of the shipment of packages and knew when to expect them. There was seldom any delay, and hence when two packages of fifteen hundred dollars each failed to arrive it oc- casioned endless wonder and comment. Williamson was well connected here, his brother being married to a daughter of Norman Fenn, and was not suspected, but the Postoffice Department concluded he was the guilty party, and placed detectives on his track who soon obtained evi- dence that convicted him, and he made a clean breast of the matter. He was sent to the Alton Penitentiary for ten years, and died there.
The rapid development of the country and the competence that many men enjoy to-day is due to this firm. They made a market for hogs when there was none other between Chicago and St. Louis, and paid good money when most needed. Misfortunes came in after years, and the riches laboriously piled up were swept away; yet they can say with the old Roman, " All is not lost while honor remains."
In 1836 the name of the town was changed to Lacon. The credit of suggesting it rightly belongs to D. C. Holbrook, of Cincinnati. He was one of the founders of Cairo, largely interested in the extensive im- provements undertaken by the State at this time, and a personal friend of
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NAME CHANGED FROM COLUMBIA TO LACON.
Jesse C. Smith. General Henderson was Representative from the District, and Smith and Ira Fenn went down to lobby the measure through. There they met Holbrook, who gave them some assistance and contributed the name. The matter was referred home, discussed and adopted.
Reference has been made to the firm of Fenn, Howe & Co., who be- came part owners of the town site and built a store in the winter of 1836, east of the present elevator, which was afterward removed, and it now forms part of the dwelling and restaurant of Fred. Roth. Swan, at a later date, removed his storehouse to the corner, where the brick hotel stands, which, after his failure, burned down, and the lot fell into the hands of Dr. Wilcox, who erected on the ground a two-story frame building, and that likewise caught fire one fourth of July and was consumed.
William Hadley was another emigrant who came in 1836, and his son James is one of the leading merchants of Peoria. -
Other early settlers were Jesse Bane, who married Rachel, eldest daughter of John Strawn, and J. C. Coutlett, who for many years carried on the merchant tailoring business. About this time, too, came Barrows and Case, Cochran and Perry, merchants, Lindley and Fishburn and many others.
In the summer of 1836 the street leading to the river was cleared and a substantial road made through the morass by placing timbers side by side and covering them with brush and dirt. The succeeding winter the timber fronting the town was chopped down, and a great freshet in the spring carried it away. Instead of the shallow ponds now seen, they were deep and clear, being fed from springs in the bottom.
In 1837 the town was incorporated under the general act, and elected a Board of Trustees, with William Fenn for President, and Ira I. Fenn, Clerk.
The postoffice was established in 1835, and Dr. Effner appointed post- master. Before this the citizens relied upon the office of Crow Creek, at Bell's Ford, for mail facilities. A letter from the Eastern States cost 25 cents postage, and correspondence was small, as compared with the present time. The new Postmaster, it is said, carried the entire mail in his hat, and distributed it among the owners as he found them. Mails were carried in four-horse stages, and the route was from Peru to Henne- pin, via Granville, and thence to Bell's Crossing, over Crow Creek, and so on to Peoria; but after the establishment of the postoffice here it was
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
changed so that stages came directly down the river from Hennepin, and crossed the Illinois at this place.
In 1838 Frink & Trowbridge obtained contracts for all the routes in this country. Their headquarters were in Chicago, and the schedule called for a daily mail between that place and Peoria.
In this year (1837) the Presbyterian Church was organized, an ex- tended notice of this and the other churches being given elsewhere.
From this time the new town grew rapidly. In 1838 Norman Fenn built the house where George W. Wightman lives, and Ira I. Fenn com- pleted the dwelling where he lived until the day of his death.
The Fisher brick, as the corner store was called, was begun in 1837 by Fenn, Howe & Co., and finished the succeeding season. Samuel Howe built the house formerly occupied by Owen McEntee as a flour store and still standing, and the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy built the " Jake Foster" house. The front room was made purposely large for prayer meetings, but we fear its "days of grace " are ended.
The new proprietors of the place early turned their attention to educa- tion, and in 1836 the "Lacon Academy" was organized, and $1,000 pledged to its support. A building was put up in that year capable of holding sixty or seventy pupils, which for several years afforded all the educational privileges needed. It was used for church purposes, town meetings, elections, lyceums and all public purposes for many years, and afterward was turned into a dwelling house. Later still it served as a work-shop, and finally was turned around facing the street, a more pre- tentious front added, and became the store which William Fisher oc- cupies. Here in the spring of 1837 was taught the first school in Lacon, by Jane M- Kilgore, now a well preserved matron of sixty, and wife of Henry M. Barnes. Among her pupils were the three children of Norman Fenn,-Sarah Ann, Adaline and William Porter. Sarah married Samuel Dunham, builder of the Presbyterian Church, who in less than one month died, and she became a widow, after which she wedded Eleazer Pomeroy, dying many years ago. Adaline married James N. Williamson, moved to Chicago, and died in Michigan in 1878. William Porter enlisted in the Seventy-seventh Illinois Ingantry in the war of the rebellion, served with credit until after the capture of Mobile and died of the small pox.
Gen. Babb sent three children-Jane, Evaline and Erastus. The two girls became wives of the Rev. John T. Devore, a noted Methodist min- ister of early tines, and both died in Oregon. Erastus also died there.
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W. E. COOK.
LACON, ILL.
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DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
William Hadley sent his two sons, at present living in Peoria; and the Rev. Augustus Pomeroy sent two, -Henry and Augustus. They re- moved elsewhere at an early day.
Samuel Pomeroy sent Cornelia, Samuel and Frank. Cornelia became the wife of Judge Bangs, for many years a resident of Lacon, and now of Chicago. Samuel was for several years with William Fisher, and died in Peru, and Frank lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Ira Fenn sent three nieces named respectively Matilda, Laetitia and Maria McMillen. Matilda died in Lacon; Laetitia married Geo. Eckley, became the mother of two children, removed to California, and now lives with her daughter in the Sandwich Islands.
There were two children named Lindsay, -Benjamin and Dorcas. The former was for many years a conductor on the C. & A. Railroad, and the latter married George Wightman. There was also among the pupils a girl named Jemima Orr, who afterward became the wife of Philip Maguire.
The old school house served its purpose for several years, and was re- placed by a larger one, afterward reconstructed into the dwelling now occupied by the family of the late Henry L. Crane.
In 1856 the present High School building was erected at a cost of $8,000, and was reconstructed in 1878. The public schools of the place have always stood high, and still maintain their reputation.
The act establishing the County of Marshall passed January 19, 1839, and under its provisions Lacon was made the County seat April 6, 1839. The first Circuit Court was held in the old M. E. Church (long since con- verted into a place of business). April 23d of that year, Thomas Ford presided as Judge, and J. M. Shannon was appointed Clerk. The Grand Jurors were Ira Lowrey, Lewis Barney, Joel Corbill, Jeremiah Cooper, Allen N. Ford, Charles Rice, William Gray, Enoch Sawyer, Zorah D. Stewart, Elijah Freeman, Jr., Nathan Owen, George Scott, Samuel Howe, Robert Bennington, John Bird, Andrew Jackson, Henry Snyder, Allen Hunter. There being no jury cases on the docket, no petit jury was summoned.
A movement toward constructing a Court House was begun in June, and in December a contract was entered into with White & Shepherd, of Tremont, for putting up a building with stone foundations and brick superstructure, 40x55 feet, for $8,000. It stood fourteen years, and burned down January 5, 1853, through a defect in one of the chimneys.
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
The present edifice was built in 1854, by two Peoria firms, and cost $7,300.
The old log jail, still standing in the rear of the Court House, was built in 1844, by George and Thomas Wier, for $500. It proved quite insecure and inadequate for the purpose, many prisoners escaping from it. The present structure, with comfortable rooms for the Sheriff, etc., was built in 1857, and cost $12,000.
About this time a movement was set on foot for constructing a rail- road from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Fort Wayne, Ind., crossing the river at this point. A charter was obtained from the Legislature, and the County voted by a large majority to subscribe $100,000 to the capital stock. In December, 1855, the city of Lacon also voted bonds to the extent of $50,000 for the same purpose. Individual subscriptions to a considerable amount were likewise procured, and a large amount of grading done; but it was evidently too early for so great an enterprise, and the return of hard times compelled its abandonment for lack of means to carry it through. The bonds voted by the city were paid with interest and the debt extinguished in 1878, but a portion of the County bonds are still outstanding.
The Township of Lacon voted $60,000 toward building a branch of the Chicago & Alton Railroad from Wenona to Lacon, which was com- pleted, but there appears to have been some informality in the proceeding, and their legality is disputed.
Among other improvements worthy of extended note may be men- tioned the milling interest of Lacon. The Phoenix Mill, built in 1855 by William Fisher, cost $42,000, and the Model Mill, built by Fenn, Perry & Dodds, cost a like sum. The former burned down about 1871, and was not rebuilt. In 1857 a distillery was added to the Model Mill, which burned down in the spring of 1862. The next year the Thayer Bros., of Chicago, purchased the property and greatly enlarged its capacity. Au- gust 12, 1864, the boilers of the distillery exploded, damaging the prop- erty to the extent of $25,000 and killing five men, viz: Michael Sullivan, James Howard, Daniel Barnhouse, Daniel Foltz and - Stephens. In a single year it paid the Government a revenue tax of one million nine hundred and ninety-three thousand dollars. After the death of the Thayers the works were run in a desultory way for some time and then dismantled.
Another enterprise of which Lacon is deservedly proud is its Woolen Mill, where 'are made the celebrated and widely known Prairie State
343
LACON WOOLEN MILL-THE FERRY.
shawls. So far as known, it is the first establishment of the kind west of the Alleganies, and such is the excellence of their manufacture that they successfully compete in style and finish with the best Eastern-made goods. Their annual production is about 30,000 shawls of various patterns and styles, as well as a large quantity of piece goods. The project originated in a letter upon the subject of manufactures written by Spencer Ellsworth for the Chicago Tribune, which attracted the attention of William F. Sague and John Grieves, out of which grew a correspondence leading to a meeting of a half dozen citizens and the appointment of William Fisher and Mr. Ellsworth as a committee to meet and confer with those gen- tlemen. Their report was considered so favorable that a company was organized and incorporated with a nominal capital of $100,000, afterward increased to $123,000. Books of subscription were opened and a Board of Directors chosen, consisting of Archibald Riddell, Andrew Smith, Rob- ert Pringle, John Grieves, William Fisher, D. E. Thomas and Spencer Ellsworth. D. E. Thomas was chosen President, and Spencer Ellsworth, Secretary. During the winter the capital subscription was worked up until $50,000 was raised, when the buildings were put under contract and finished that summer. They furnish employment to some sixty-five per- sons, and with little intermission the mill has run continuously since its erection.
THE LACON FERRY.
The first ferry across the river was established by Elisha Swan in 1832, who built a flat for the purpose and propelled it with oars. Its principal use was the conveyance of coal from the Sparland banks. In 1837 he sold his interest to Dr. Boal, who built a larger flat capable of carrying two teams. It was constructed on the bank near the lower saw mill, so as to run it out at the slough entrance.
On the opposite shore the track turned up the river bank for a quarter of a mile, and then followed the high ground near the creek to what was known as the Reddick House. A very good road was found for most of' the way.
Joseph Johnson and Charles Ballance, of Peoria, secured the fractional tract of ground across the river, above the ferry, with a view of establish- ing a rival ferry, but sold their interest to William Fisher. William
344
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
Fisher & Co. bought Dr. Boal's interest, and several years later, while the Doctor was in the Legislature, secured a charter through him. A larger boat was constructed, which served until 1849, when a new one was built. The receipts were small and the franchise was not considered valuable.
The first ferryman was Joseph Mac Taylor, and Richard Vinecore ran it for several years. He was succeeded by a man named King, who got drunk, fell off the boat and was drowned. Josiah Martin ran it several years, and John Jason also. Ed. Corcoran was the " boatman pale" for seventeen years, and a better man 't were hard to find.
The road and its repairs across the river has cost, according to William Fisher, $12,000. The County paid Sparr toward constructing the first bridge $300.
In 1857 William Fisher became sole owner of the property for a con- sideration of $20,000. He built a new boat and added steam power. He also purchased a steamer for use in seasons of high water, and made the crossing popular with the public.
In January, 1869, it passed into the hands of Jabez Fisher & Co., and in 1879 was sold to the city of Lacon for $6,000.
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345
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF LACON.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
HE Presbyterian Church of Lacon was organized mainly through the aid of the Rev. Augustus Pomeroy, assisted by a few devout Christian men and women, who had been in the County but a short time. Among those prominent in the good work may be mentioned the three Fenn brothers, Ira I., William and Norman ; likewise Samuel Howe, Heze- kiah T. Crane, and others, who had known and listened to the ministrations of Mr. Pomeroy in Ohio, and at whose solicitation he had agreed to accompany them into the wilderness. Serv- ices were held in private houses, and as considerable interest was manifested in the cause it was decided to organize a society. Accordingly the 12th of May, 1837, was set apart, and due notice being given, a large congre- gation assembled at the residence of the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy. Here a ser- mon was preached by Rev. Mr. Farnum, by direction of the Peoria Presbytery, assisted by the Rev. Augustus Pomeroy, after which those qualified and desiring to enter into a Church organization were advised to come forward.
Thirty-eight persons presented themselves, exhibiting satisfactory evi- dence of previous good standing, and were enrolled, as follows:
Samuel M. Kilgore and his wife, Jacob and Frances Reeder, William and Eleanor McCuen, David and Harriet Mitchell, Norman Fenn, Ira I. and Eunice B. Fenn, Hezekiah and Clarissa Crane, Thaddeus and Ann Barney, James and Margaret Work, Susan Work, Isabella Work, Wm. and Maria Fenn, Martha Ramsay, Jane M. Kilgore, John T. Shepherd, Charles and Mary Barrows, Mrs. Susan L. Pomeroy, Mary Ann Pomeroy, Rev. Augustus D. Pomeroy, William Fisher, George and Mary Snyder, William and Priscilla Dodds, Mrs. Mary Murphy, Samuel and Sarah Howe and Mary J. McEwen.
The Articles of Faith and Covenant of the Presbytery of Ottawa were adopted, and Charles Barrows, David Mitchell Hezekiah T. Crane and Ira
346
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
I. Fenn were elected Elders. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered for the first time June 14, 1837.
The Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, who had previously labored a part of the time at Hennepin, was employed to devote his whole services to the Church here.
July 29, Ira I. Fenn was elected Clerk. August 1, Samuel Pomeroy, Mary Pomery, Elijah Pomeroy, Isabella Kilgore, Emily Spangler, James Work, Jr., Samuel Work, Mary Work, Elizabeth and Margaret Work joined. January, 27, 1838, twelve new members were enrolled, and eight admitted for examination. January 28, five persons were baptized, the first recorded.
During the winter the most remarkable revival in the history of the Church took place, and on the 19th of February thirty-four persons made profession of faith and were received in the Society.
February 19, six persons were baptized, and April 7, six additional members joined.
In March, 1838, there were five dismissals of members who wished to join other churches.
In July, 1837, William McCune was removed by death, and on the 14th of August Eunice B. Fenn, and in February, 1838, Harriet Mitchell. In September, 1838, Mrs. Sarah W. Johnson; November, Mary Pome- roy; June 20, 1839, Jacob Smalley.
September 15, 1838, four new converts were secured.
February 25, 1839, the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy asked to be relieved from the care of the Church on account of failing health, which was granted.
The first minister of the Society, as stated before, was the Rev. Augustus Pomeroy, who began in the fall of 1836, and closed by resigna- tion February 25, 1839.
The second was the Rev. H. T. Pendleton, who commenced his labors in June, 1839, and served one year. He was succeeded by the Rev. David Jones, who preached three years.
In October, 1843, the Rev. David Smith was engaged and labored one year, when his services were terminated by death.
On the 4th of August, 1844, Henry G. Pendleton began his labors, preaching one year.
August 19, the Rev. Joseph Fowler was secured and preached until April, 1853,-a longer time than any other minister since the organization of the Society.
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347
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF LACON.
In 1854 the Rev. Mr. Christopher began preaching as stated supply, and served the Society four and a half years. He was dismissed in No- vember, 1858, and died in 1879. On December 1st of that year the Rev. Mr. Waldo was hired and labored eighteen months. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Parsons, who preached for three and a half years.
In July, 1865, the Rev. Mr. Felch took charge of the Church, and con- tinued until dismissed in 1865. During his pastorate about one-half the congregation seceded and formed the Congregational Church. Both societies got along pleasantly together until 1879, when joint services were resumed again under the ministration of the Rev. Mr. Tracey. Mr. Felch afterward abandoned the ministry and went into the insurance business.
December 10, 1865, the Rev. John McLeish was engaged as "stated supply," and preached two years. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Curtiss, who remained three years and six months. After Mr. Curtiss came the Rev. C. F. Littell, Rev. T. S. Vail, and Rev. S. D. Wells, who was succeeded by the present incumbent, the Rev. William Tracey.
Public worship was first held and the Church organized at the resi- dence of Mr. Pomeroy, and afterward at the house of Henry L. Crane, in a room occupied jointly with the Methodists. This served until the old public school house was built, which accommodated all denominations alike for years. The attendants sat on benches of the rudest construction, and the minister stood at a table equally primitive.
The present house of worship was begun in 1849, and finished in 1851, at a total cost of $4,000. It contains a fine bell, and a pipe organ costing originally $1,500. The Society is in a flourishing condition.
THE M. E. CHURCH OF LACON.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Lacon dates back to the spring of 1836, when so far as known the first sermon heard in the place was preached in the unfinished Jesse Smith mill, by the Rev. Quinn Hall. The families of Hartley Malone and Henry L. Crane, both Methodists and ardent workers, had reached the place a few days before, and took an active interest in the cause. At this meeting a large congregation assembled, coming from the country round about, and notice was given
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348
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
that service would be held the Thursday following at the cabin of James Hall, east of Lacon, and the Rev. A. E. Phelps would officiate. This worthy and pious man, of remarkable ability, and John McMurtry, a sweet singer of Israel, traveled the Pekin circuit, embracing all the country between Hennepin and Pekin and the Illinois and Vermilion Rivers, making the "round" once in two weeks. The Methodists of Lacon, requesting the appointment be changed to the village, on his next arrival Mr. Phelps held services at the cabin of Mr. Ma- lone. At this meeting the little band of Methodists handed in their "letters" or credentials of standing, and from this may be dated the first organized class and society of the place. The names of those uniting at this time were : James Henthorn, Sarah Henthorn, Nancy Henthorn, Sarah Effner, Jonathan Babb, Mary Babb, E. H. Williamson, Catherine Wil- liamson, H. L. Crane, Elizabeth Crane, Hartley Malone, Julia Malone, Wil- liam Hadley, Sarah Hadley, D M. Robinson, Elizabeth Robinson. James Henthorn was appointed leader, but died in September. He was the sec- ond person interred in the new cemetery, a daughter of Virgil Lancaster being the first. After the death of Mr. Henthorn, H. L. Crane was ap- pointed leader, in which capacity he served faithfully for many years. He died in February, 1880, and with a single exception (Mrs. Hartley Ma- lone) was the only survivor of the original class. For the first year services were held in a frame building erected by Dr. Condee that stood near the Fisher Mill. It had neither fire-place nor stove, yet during this time served both the Methodists and Presbyterians.
The first Church was erected in 1837, and dedicated in November by the Rev. Wm. Cundiff, pastor. It served the Society for twenty years, or until the completion of the present fine structure. After that it became a workshop, and then a store. At present it stands on the south side of Fifth street, and is used as a merchant tailor's shop. The building of the present Church was begun in 1855, and dedicated Sunday, June 24, 1860. At eleven A. M., Dr. O. S. Munsell preached in the audience room, and A. C. Price in the basement. F. Smith preached at three P. M., and Dr. Munsell in the evening. The dedicatory services were held at the close of the evening service.
1838, Z. Hall was pastor. >
1839, Lacon became the head of a "circuit" embracing all of Putnam and Marshall Counties east of the Illinois River, with what is now
349
THE BAPTIST CHURCH-WHEN ORGANIZED.
Tonica, and Cedar Point, in La Salle County -David Blackwell, pastor. 1840, David Dickinson.
1841, C. Atkinson, J. B. Houts.
1842, J. C. Pinckard.
1843, "supplied." 1844, J. F. Devore.
1845, Francis Smith.
1846, C. Babcock, T. F. Royal.
1847 and '48, W. C. Cumming, A. D. Field.
1849, Lacon became a station, B. C. Swartz, pastor, who was suc- ceeded as follows :
1850 and '51, L. R. Ellis.
1852 and '53, Z. Hall.
1854 and '55, Joseph S. Frost.
1856, Ira Norris (supply).
1857, Ahab Keller.
1858 and '59, B. Applebee.
1860, S. B. Smith.
1861 and '62, C. C. Knowlton.
1863, J. S. Millsap.
1864, G. M. Irwin.
1865, '66 and '67, J. W. Haney.
1868, William Watson.
1869 and '70, Jarvice G. Evans.
1871, W. P. Graves.
1872, P. A. Crist. 1873 and '74, A. Bower.
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