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 38
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 38
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Sandy Precinct remained intact, consisting of the present towns of Evans and Roberts, till the adoption of Township organization in April, 1852. As some evidence of the rapid increase of population of Illinois, it might be mentioned here that in 1836 we had five electoral votes; in 1844 nine, in 1852 eleven.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN EVANS.
One of the oldest Methodist Societies in the County is at Cherry Point. Early in the fall of 1831 John Dixon, a local preacher of Dry Grove, came to Cherry Point to visit his son. While here he held a two- days meeting in the cabin of Thomas Brooks, situated on the east bank of the little creek on the west side of the Adams farm.
A Methodist class was organized, consisting of Thomas Brooks and wife, Justus Jones and wife, Abram Jones and wife, Joshua Evans and wife, Thomas Dixon and wife, and probably Barton Jones. The Jones' had just come into the neighborhood. This was the first religious society organized in the Township, and has continued with various degrees of prosperity until the present time.
In the fall of 1831 Win. Royal was appointed to the Peoria mission which embraced the territory from Peoria northward without any special limitation. The mission actually embraced a part of the Fox River country. He arranged for services at Cherry Point, but the Black Hawk war seriously embarrassed him in his work. His family occupied a cabin near where Enoch Dent lived for many years, and considering it unsafe here, he removed further south to a place of safety, but returned at the close of the war and filled out the year.
In the fall of 1832, Jesse Hale, an eccentric old bachelor, was ap- pointed to the Pekin mission. Some of his brethren thought he ought to get married, and arranged for him to visit a lady they had selected, and
451
THE M. E. CHURCH IN EVANS TOWNSHIP.
she willing to make the best impression possible arrayed herself in goodly raiment set off with flowers and ribbons in that day quite un-Methodistic. The parties were introduced by a mutual friend and results waited. The preacher viewed carefully the dress of the lady candidate for matrimony and then said, "Sister, are you not afraid the devil will get you ?" The sequel was not a wedding.
-
The following statement of appointments may be valuable for refer- ence, as giving the order in which the M. E. Church in this Township has been served by Methodist ministers since its organization, in 1831:
1831. Peoria charge, William Royal.
1832, Pekin charge, Jesse Hale.
1833,
Z. Hall, John McHenry.
1834,
Joel Arrington, Charles Parker,
1835, 66 Asahel E. Phelps, J. Arrington.
1836,
660 A. E. Phelps, John McMurtry.
1837, Hennepin charge, William Cundiff.
1838,
Z. Hall, R. H. Moffett.
1839, 66 66 John Maris.
1840,
William Justice.
1841, 66 66
Mifflin Harker.
1842,
W. Justice.
1843, 66
J. H. Devore, L. A. Chapin (supply).
· 1844, 66 66 S. P. Burr.
1845,
S. Stover.
1846, 66 66
C. Babcock, T. F. Royal. William C. Cumming.
1848,
W. C. Cumming, A. D. Field.
1849, 66 66
R. N. Morse, N. Curtiss (supply).
1850,
66
J. C. Pinckard, J. W. Stogdill.
1851,
H. J. Humphrey, G. W. Mowrey (supply).
1852, Magnolia charge,
R. N. Morse, W. H. Harvey.
1853,
A. M. Earley, J. B. Craig.
1854,
66
J. Matthews, J. C. Long.
1855,
A. Keller, B. E. Kaufman.
1856,
A. Keller, C. A. Stine.
1857,
B. P. Wheat, T. F. Smyth.
1858,
66
B. P. Wheat, E. Summers.
1847, 66 66
66 66
.
452
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
1859, Tonica charge, J. G. Evans, A. E. Day.
1860, Wenona charge, R. A. Cowen.
1861, S. B. Smith.
1862, Wenona, R. Smithson; resigned the charge in April, 1863, and his time filled out by A. K. Tullis.
1863, Wenona, A. Bower.
1864, Wenona, A. Bower.
1865, Wenona, W. C. Knapp; Wenona Circuit, G. B. Snedaker.
1866, Wenona, D. D. H. Young; Wenona Circuit, G. B. Snedaker.
1867, Wenona, C. C. Knowlton; Wenona Circuit, C. Springer.
1868, Wenona, Geo. Montgomery; Wenona Circuit, C. Springer.
1869, Wenona, P. A. Crist; Wenona Circuit, R. A. Cowen. 1870, Wenona, R. G. Pearce; Wenona Circuit, R. N. Morse.
1871, Wenona, R. G. Pearce; Wenona Circuit, O. Jenne.
1872, Wenona, M. C. Bowlin; Wenona Circuit, J. P. Mitchell.
1873, Wenona, M. C. Bowlin; Wenona Circuit, T. Head.
1874, Wenona, W. A. Spencer; Wenona Circuit, T. Head. 1875, Wenona, A. Fisher ; Wenona Circuit, E. B. England. 1876, Wenona, T. R. McNair; Wenona Circuit, E. B. England.
1877, Wenona, C. H. Brace ; Wenona Circuit, T. M. Durham.
1878, Wenona, C. H. Brace; Wenona Circuit, T. M. Durham.
1879, Wenona, J. G. Evans; Wenona Circuit, H. C. Birch.
· Asahel Elihu Phelps, whose name occurs in the above list, and who was subsequently Presiding Elder, was one of the most profound and bril- liant men of Western Methodism. He was not only an orator, but a con- troversialist of unusual ability, and is remembered all over Central Illinois by the early Methodists as the great defender of their faith.
The little class organized by John Dixon and taken into the Peoria Mission by W. Royal was soon depleted by the removal of Thomas Brooks, Thomas Dixon and Abram Jones and their wives.
The oldest class book in existence is dated August 29, 1834. John Sinclair was Presiding Elder, Z. Hall, preacher in charge, and John McHenry assistant preacher. Justus Jones was class leader, and the ad- ditional members were Sally Jones, Joshua Evans, Elizabeth Evans and Barton Jones. Justus Jones remained leader of the class until his death in October, 1849, when he was succeeded by his son Daniel W. Jones, who retained that position until his death, in 1853.
453
THE M. E. CHURCH OF EVANS TOWNSHIP.
In the early part of 1835 the name of Barton Jones disappears, leav- ing only four members, namely: Justus Jones and wife, and Joshua Evans and wife. In the latter part of that year the names of Vincent Bowman and Martin Kennedy appear on the class book. In 1836 Hannah Rad- cliff joined the Society, and in 1837 the class was strengthened by the addition of Wm. Evans, Sarah Evans, Daniel W. Jones, Joseph Long, Eliza Long and Robert Brown. In 1838 Mary A. Brown, Almira Evans and Truman B. Hall were added to the class. In 1839 first appear upon the records the names of George Beatty, Effie Bowman, Louisa Jones, Parmelia Bowman, William Bowman, John C. Bowman and Joseph Warner. The additions in 1840 were Rachel Caldwell, Chauncy W. Barnes, Sarah Barnes and Wm. Swarts.
In 1841 the Society was strengthened by the Alexander family, who moved into the neighborhood from Kentucky. The first death in the Society was that of Joseph Warner, who died September 5, 1842, at the advanced age of 104 years. In October of the same year Rachel Cald- well was buried. July 12, 1843, Elizabeth Evans died with the small- pox and Jane, wife of Wm. Evans, on the 26th of the same month, and with the same disease. Between 1845 and 1850 the Society was very - mnuch reduced, and even threatened with extinction. The Methodist Protestant Church had organized a Society, and for a while seemed to have a prospect of taking the community. But in the early part of De- cember, 1849, R. N. Morse held a series of meetings in the Evans School House, which resulted favorably for the M. E. Church. He was assisted part of the time by Rev. - Johnson of the M. P. Church, but the meeting was in charge R. N. Morse, and the M. E. Church was most largely benefitted. Thirteen joined the church (also a few from the M. P. Church), at the close of the meeting, and out of the thirteen, five became ministers, viz : C. Springer, L. Springer, M. C. Springer, J. G. Evans and Z. R. Jones. A new impetus was given to the Society, and in 1852, under the administration of H. J. Humphrey, the erection of a church edifice was projected. It was completed in the spring of 1854, and dedi- cated in April 24, by Silas Bowles, of Chicago, Revs. A. M. Early and J. B. Craig being pastors at that time.
The Sandy M. E. Church cost $1,200, Daniel W. Jones, Joshua Evans and William Evans being the largest contributors. Since the erection of
454
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
the Church building the Society has been upon a permanent basis, and is now one of the strongest and most flourishing churches in the country.
THE FIRST SCHOOLS.
In the winter of 1832 a man named Anson Bryant was engaged to teach school, and a part of the "fort" was put in order for that purpose. The names upon his rolls were: John O. Dent, Minerva Dent, R. E. Dent, Enoch Darnell, Larkins Darnell, Benjamin Darnell, Jr., Alfred Judd and William Evans. Five of the pupils of that pioneer school were living in 1879, and some of them have become distinguished citizens of this and other counties.
In the fall of 1833 the necessity of a more ample and convenient school room was agitated, and the citizens decided to build a school house. The site chosen was near the present residence of Mrs. Lucy Gibson. The size was agreed upon, and each of the heads of families was asked to furnish his proportion of logs for the building and deliver them upon the ground, which was promptly done, and a raising bee followed. The house had a puncheon floor, stick chimney and slab seats and desks. Fuel was contributed by each patron in proportion to the number of children sent. The teacher boarded around with them, and was paid by subscription.
In the winter of 1840 Francis S. Damon, a young man from Amherst, N. H., taught school there and gave general satisfaction. Mr. Damon taught two winters, and in the spring of 1841, just after the close of his school, he became ill and died, and was buried in Cumberland Church Cemetery, regretted sincerely alike by patrons and pupils. No slab marks his resting place. His brother, William Damon, came here the following season to settle up his affairs, and he too sickened and died, and the brothers sleep side by side.
In the winter of 1842-3 Thomas Gallaher taught this school, with about the same attendance as that of the previous winter. The season was noted for very deep snow, and was also memorable as the time when the great comet appeared which caused much excitement among the Millerites.
Of Anson Bryant the following incident is related: It was cus- tomary in those days for the teacher to "board round" and make his own fires. In a field contiguous to the school house an old ram was
455
WENONA AND ITS INSTITUTIONS.
pastured who from long possession was inclined to resent the ap- proach of visitors as an intrusion. One day Bryant went into the field to gather fuel, and was bending over in the act of picking it up, when the ram, who had warily watched his entrance with ill-concealed displeasure, advanced for battle. The teacher was unconscious of any hostile inten- tions, and, as stated, was stooping to the ground, which the ram inter- preted as a wager of battle, and gave him a "boost" in the rear with the force of a thunderbolt, throwing him, as the phrase goes, "heels over head." The poor man gathered himself up and felt greatly like resenting the ill-concealed merriment of his pupils, but finally joined in the laugh himself, the ram meanwhile marching off with the lofty air of a con- queror. The pedagogue ever after avoided that locality when gathering fuel.
WENONA.
The town of Wenona was laid out May 15, 1855, on Section 24, Town 30, north of Range 1, west of the third principal meridian, by the Illinois Central Railroad. It stands in the center of a wide expanse of prairie, underlaid with rich deposits of coal not yet developed.
The land upon which the town was built was entered by John O. Dent, in 1849. In 1853 the railroad company erected a small station, and likewise a dwelling for the agent; . and in the succeeding year Willian Brown purchased the corner lot opposite the freight depot and erected a building, which he occupied as a store and boarding house. He came from the head of Sandy.
Another merchant was a Mr. Gilbert, who opened a store in the station house. He subsequently erected a store and dwelling near Fowlers' corner, but was not successful and soon left.
Charles Brown built the first hotel-the Wenona House-which burned down in the big fire. The house built by Gilbert was sold to Silas Gray, who converted it into a saloon and boarding house. John L. VanAllen succeeded Mr. Goodall as station agent.
About 1855 John B. Newburn opened a store. Other prominent citi- zens and business men were W. and J. Todd, who came from the Verniil- lion. James Barton had charge of their business the first year. About this time.Hon. N. Moore came to the place and entered into a partnership with J. B. Newburn. The next year Mr. Moore sold his interest to S. J.
456
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
Taylor, going to his farm, two miles west of town. The firm of Newburn & Taylor did a large business for some time, but was finally dissolved, both members retiring from the business.
In 1855 the village grew rapidly, and in 1857 organized a municipal government, with F. H. Bond, Solomon Wise, George Brockway, John B. Newburn and Emanuel Welty as Trustees, and John Brown as Police Magistrate.
Mr. Bryant taught the first public school in Wenona.
Rev. J. R. Dunn was the first minister to locate in the new town. Under his supervision the Presbyterian Church was begun in the fall of 1855. Mr. Dunn was the pastor for many years, the church under his care was prosperous, and from a few members increased to a large congre- gation in a few years.
The town is regularly laid out, its principal street being built up with substantial, well filled stores, occupied by energetic business men doing a very extensive trade with the country surrounding. It has numerous elegant private dwellings surrounded with trees that tame the fierce heats of summer and add greatly to the beauty of the place.
In 1872 the population was 1,135, which has since largely increased.
THIE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
The public school building of this village is a fine frame structure, 34x80 feet, two stories high, and with an addition of nearly equal size affords ample room from its numerous attendants. The main portion was commenced in 1863 and the wing in 1866. The entire cost was about $9,000.
Evans Township is divided into nine public school districts, with a respectable school house in each.
MASONS.
Wenona Lodge No. 344, of A. F. & A. M., was organized August 22, 1860, Wilson Ong W. M .; S. A. Gray, S. W .; O. S. Davidson, J. W.
The charter members were W. Ong, S. A. Gray, J. N. Taylor, W. R. Phillips, L. Luddington, C. C. Radmore and O. S. Davidson.
ODD FELLOWS.
The I. O. O. F. of Wenona Lodge No. 283, was established October
1
457
WENONA AND ITS INSTITUTIONS.
11, 1860, the charter members being Geo. F. Brunick, Arthur Orr, John B. Newburn, O. L. Davidson and Chester H. Helm. Their first elected officers were : Arthur Orr, N. G .; O. L. Davidson, V. G. ; Chester Helme, Secretary, and J. B. Newburn, Treasurer. The charter bears date March 5, 1860, and the Society is in a very flourishing condition.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Catholic people of this vicinity had no regular services at Wenona until about 1865, when steps were taken to build a church. The people of this faith in the town and country around were few and their means limited, but a little personal effort convinced the leaders in the enter- prise that the people wanted a church, and were willing, even at great personal sacrifice, to furnish the necessary means.
Sufficient funds were raised or guaranteed to warrant building, and the church was soon completed, being dedicated to public worship by Father Murphy within the same year. It is 40x50 feet, with fourteen-foot ceiling, has convenient seating capacity, and with altars, ornaments and decorations of all sorts, cost about $5,000. The present membership is about three hundred.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI.
On the 26th of June, 1852, the Presbyterians of Wenona met to or- ganize a church of that denomination. Those present were Newton Erwin and wife, Ira F. Lowrey, Henry W. Lowrey, C. B. Rushmore and wife, Samuel Horner and wife and Wm. H. Lowrey. The Confession of Faith of the Peoria Synod, was read and taken as the basis of the organization. The name selected was: "The Hebron Presbyterian Church of Marshall County."
July 10, 1852, they met again, when Rev. Joseph Fowler, of Lacon, preached. Newton S. Erwin and Samuel Horner were elected Elders, and Evans Township school house was chosen as the place of worship.
The building of a house of worship, coming up at the next meeting, C. B. Rushmore, Newton S. Erwin, and Henry and William Lowery were chosen a committee to raise money for that purpose.
May 7, 1853, a Sunday School was organized, and C. B. Rushmore was appointed Superintendent, and Mrs. Lindley, assistant, the place of meeting being the station house of the Illinois Central Railroad Company.
458
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
This Company afterward donated to the Society a lot on which they built a house of worship, finishing it in 1856.
M. E. CHURCH IN WENONA.
In 1856 Ahab Keller visited Wenona and made arrangements for regular preaching in the village. He organized a class of six, of which Solomon Wise was appointed leader. For about two years the Metho- dists, by the courtesy of the Presbyterian brethren, were permitted to hold their services in the Presbyterian Church.
. In the spring of 1859, under the administration of B. P. Wheat, the erection of a church was planned. The enterprise was difficult, as the Society was small and weak financially. During the summer the building was enclosed. In the fall the Society was connected with Tonica. J. G. Evans was in charge of the work. The building was plastered in the fall, used in an unfinished state during the winter, completed in the spring and dedicated in April by O. S. Munsell, D. D., President of the Illinois Wesleyan University.
In 1865 Wenona was made a station, and the Sandy M. E. Church became the center of a new charge, under the name of Wenona circuit. Since then the two charges have been maintained separately, each support- ing its own pastor. There is an aggregate membership connected with the two churches of about two hundred, being perhaps more than double the membership of any other denomination represented in the Township. The congregations at both churches are large, the Sunday Schools good, and the societies prospering under the administration of the present pastors.
THE WENONA UNION FAIR.
This enterprise, of which its citizens are so justly proud, owes its ex- istence to a few public spirited farmers, who used to meet at the Evans Central School House and discuss matters pertaining to their interests. The Club had been merely a local affair, attracting to it only such farm- ers as lived in the vicinity, but it being desired to extend its operations and add to its influence, a special meeting was called for the purpose April 8, 1871.
The idea was favorably received, and the interest spreading it was
459
WENONA UNION FAIR AND GROUNDS.
deemed best to make it a District organization, including the Townships of Evans, Roberts, Groveland and Hopewell. A committee was appointed to see what could be done, and another meeting called for the 22d of April, at which report was made that J. A. McCall & Co. would donate the free use of their hall, the Wenona Stock Yards suitable grounds for cattle, and George Monser his machine sheds and ground for the prospective fair. The meeting unanimously adopted the following :
,
Resolved, That the Evans Farmers' Club will heartily co-operate with the people of Wenona and surrounding Townships, to aid in getting up a Union Township Fair, to be held in Wenona the fall of 1871.
The plan upon which the organization was effected being found defective, several clear-headed practical men, of whom the Hon. John O. Dent was one, outlined a plan which has carried the Society to a magnifi- cent success and placed it upon its présent substantial basis, thus: To make the shares $25 each, which every subscriber must be legally bound to pay in amounts as needed, and no person to own more than a single share; the Society to purchase fifty acres of land in the suburbs of Wenona, erect >suitable buildings thereon, fence the grounds and make other needed improvements.
A new constitution embodying these features was adopted and the name changed, and from this date the association started on the remarka- ble career of prosperity it has attained. Its first officers were: President, Marshall McCall; Vice President, James Freeman; Recording Secretary, Thomas Judd; Corresponding Secretary, Cadet Taylor; Treasurer, John A. McCall.
The committee appointed to solicit subscriptions reported 220 mem- bers and $5,500 subscribed, sufficient to purchase the required real estate and have a handsome surplus over. The Society at once began prepara- tions for their first exhibition by offering $20,000 in premiums, and the Fair held October 3 to 6 (inclusive), 1871, was a surprising success.
The fifty-five acres of land were purchased in the south-western limits of the town, and convenient buildings- large and permanent, were erected, also a fine track made, with other desired conveniences. The cost of grounds and improvements up to 1880 amounts to $20,000.
Since then, annual Fairs have been held, each one seemingly an im- provement on its predecessors. In premiums, number of exhibitors and
.
460
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
attendance it fairly rivals the State Fair, and its success promises to be as lasting as it is satisfactory.
EVANS STATION.
Between Varna and Wenona, on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, is located Evans Station. The oldest settler in the Township, dating from his occupancy, is Dr. Cornelius Perry, who came in 1853.
The next to settle in the vicinity were Joseph Frazer, one-half mile south, and David Baker the same distance north of the Station, in the same year. L. A. Watt came in 1855, making his home one and a fourth mile from Evans. John Algoe came in 1856.
The first school house was in District No. 8, built in 1859. Their nearest church was at Sandy, five and three-quarters miles distant, or, later, at Wenona, a trifle further away.
In this vicinity, it is said, is the greatest elevation between the Illinois and Wabash Rivers, though the statement needs verification. Standing here on a clear day a good pair of eyes can see the towns of Wenona, Lostant, Minonk, Rutland, Pattonsburg, Varna and the spires of the churches at Mt. Palatine.
METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH IN EVANS.
In 1844 or 1845 Rev. Mr. Woolston, a minister of the M. P. Church visited the head of Sandy and established a regular appointment. . He was succeeded by J. P. Strong, who organized a class, which was quite pros- perous for a few years. George Beatty, James Caldwell, Vincent Bow- man, William Swarts, and - Talbert were among the leading members.
The ministers who traveled the circuit to which the appointment at Cherry Point belonged, were Woolston, Strong, Fowler, Roy, Jolinson and Young.
The Society has long since entirely disappeared.
INCIDENTS AND ITEMS.
In Cherry Point Cemetery, on the farm of Albert Evans, in an unmarked grave, lies the honored remains of Joseph Warner, a soldier of the war
461
THE GRAVES WHERE OUR HEROES ARE BURIED.
of the Revolution, and in Cumberland cemetery repose those of Lemuel Gaylord, whose brief history as repeated by himself has been told else- where. Mr. Warner was born on the shore of Chesapeake Bay, of Irish parentage, in 1738. He was left an orphan and underwent many hard- ships, until he attained his majority. When the Colonies revolted he became a soldier and fought at the battle of Germantown, the particulars of which he was fond of relating, it being his greatest pleasure in later years to gather the children about him-
" Tell o'er his deeds and tales of valor done, Shoulder his crutch and show how fields were won."
After the war he settled near Mount Vernon, Va., where his old com- mander resided, and lived there until his removal to Madison County, Ohio. He cleared a farm here, and lived until 1838. He was now one hundred years old, and many of his immediate relatives had paid the debt of nature. His property had been given to his children except "Lib- bie," a faithful old horse twenty-seven years old, his companion for many years. A grandson,- Justus Jones, had settled in Illinois, and with the perverse restlessness of old age he determined to search out and visit him. His family strongly opposed this, but one day when they were absent he mounted his nag and stole away unobserved, turning westward. He had no money, but his simple story made friends everywhere, and the kindliest care was his until he reached Chicago. He knew nothing con- cerning his friends whereabouts, but struck south-westwardly, and fortu- nately rode right into .the neighborhood while prosecuting his inquiries. He found here kind friends, and remained with them until his death, Sep- tember 5, 1842, aged 104 years.
Among the exciting and ever popular amusements of the long ago, were the corn-shucking bees of young and old, at each others houses.
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