USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Butler Grove > Semi-centenarians of Butler Grove Township, Montgomery Co., Ill. : also a brief history of the village of Butler > Part 8
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The town was incorporated about the year 1865.
The first School-house built in the District was of logs, and built in 1849, near the residence of Geo. Seward. It
· 130
was afterwards purchased by Dennis Crowley, removed to the village, and now constitutes a part of his residence.
The first School-house erected in the village, was built a- bout the year 1857, by John H. McGowan. About eight years afterward an addition was made to it so that it con- sisted of two rooms.
When there were more pupils than could be accommoda- ted in these two rooms, the deficiency was met by securing a private room for a portion of the school until the year 1863, when, at the cost of about $10.000 the present neat and com- modious building was erected, which is free from debt.
We give below, according to the best of our information the names of those who have taught school in the Village of Butler.
We have not attempted to fix upon the dates of the ser- vice of those who taught in the earlier history of the Village, but give names as we have received them from those who are familiar with the history of the place.
This record commences about the year 1857.
TEACHERS OF THE BUTLER PUBLIC SCHOOL.
Charles Seward, George Paisley, Rev. Daniel Lee, Rev.
Mize, Edwin Keeler, Charles Parks, Jesse C. Barrett. We have dates from the year 1863. The School term generally commences in one year and closes in the next. During the term there may have been assistant teachers who taught but a short time, but we mention their names in con- nection with the year in which the school commenced.
In 1863, Andrew Waters.
In 1864, James W. ,Colvin.
In 1865, Jesse Barrett and Miss Abbie Cunningham.
In 1866, E. Hodson and Miss Jane Hickman.
In 1867, S. T. Sanford and Miss Jane Hickman.
131
In 1868, J. C. Barrett, Miss Jane Hickman and Miss Lucy Stuckey.
In 1869, J. C. Barrett, Mrs Helen Colvin and Miss Lucy Stuckey.
In 1870, Miss Fannie Kiddoo, Mrs. Helen Colvin and Miss Lucy Stuckey.
In 1871, M. V. Zimmerman, Mrs. Helen Colvin and Miss Lucy Stuckey
In 1872, George B. Mitchel, Mrs. Helen Colvin and Miss Florence Seward.
In 1873, C. L. Howard, Miss M. E. Richardson and Miss Alice Hickman.
In 1874, R. M. Henderson, Mrs Mary B. Mitchel and Miss Etta C. Doerr.
In 1875, L. B. Whitham, Miss Mary E. Smith and Miss Sylvinia Gardner.
In 1876, William S. Cress, Miss Alice Hickman, Miss Sylvinia Gardner and Miss Susie Hostetter.
In 1877, George A Franklin, Miss Camilla Jenkins, Miss Sylvinia Gardner and Miss Annie Anderson.
In 1878, Geo. A. Franklin, Miss Cammilla Jenkins, Miss Sylvinia Gardner and Miss A. E. Luderman.
TEACHERS OF SUBSCRIPTION SCHOOLS.
Charles Seward, Miss Sarah Casey, Miss Carrie Lockhart, Miss Frncina Sargent. Miss Mary Pogue, Miss Mary Pool, Mrs. Maria Brooks, Mrs. M. M. Stuckey, Miss Fannie Sew- ard, Miss Jane Hickman, Mrs. Helen Colvin, Miss Fannie Kiddoo, C. L. Howard, Miss-Stroud, T.J.McGrath. Mrs. J. B. Christy, Miss Millie Stuckey, Miss Jennie Van Doren.
132
NAMES OF BUTLER. MERCHANTS, MECHANICS, PHYSICIANS &c. :
DRY GOODS, GROCERY, BOOT & SHOE MERCHANTS ...
William Wood, Samuel Haywood, Thomas Wallace, Wal- lace & Nelson, Alexander Goudy, Coudy & Mehagen, Thom- as Morrison, C.Meisner, G. Geist, Henry Wilson, S. M. Hedges & Bro., J. R. Roth, Staten & Wickersham, J. Baum & Co., L. D. Washburn, A. W. Marshall, Cheatham & Bros., A. H. McCallister, Fred Arnsted, Mrs. Susan .Gunderman, Watkins & Mackey, A. B. Seward & Co., J. H. McGown; Brown & Bro., Cannon & Williams, Williams & Colvin, Col- vin & Son, McReynolds & Garrett, McGowan & Watkins.
GRAIN MERCHANTS.
Wm. Wocd, Samuel Haywood, Charles Condy, Frank Ly- ford & McGill, M. McMurtry, J. H. Haywood, John Nelson,, Alex. Hoxey, G. D. Brookman, Kirkanbaum & Co., Thomas Elliman & Bro., Dickerson & Bro., Capt. Wm. Young, John G. Moore, H. & J. S. Weaver, Mr. Hay, (bought for Soule & Gibson, Indianapolis, Ind., ) George Vanneevar, Brown & Bro., (bought for Soule & Gibson, ) A. B. Davis, Davis & Elli- man, John Noonan, L. Washburn, Brown & Bro.
HAY. PRESS.
The Hay Press of Butler was built by J. B. Christy, about the year 1871.
HAY MERCHANTS.
J. B. Christy, S. M. Haywood, J. H. McGowan, and J. R. Mitchel.
.
133
CARPENTERS.
William Wilson, Henry Wilson, S. M. Haywood, J. H. McGowan, Joseph Chenneworth, Milton Chenneworth, Charles Coudy, Charles Vorhees, George Vansandt, Jerome Van- sandt, John Hostetter, Athan Cannon, Marcus Cannon, M. M. Stuckey, Wm. Brookman, H. H. Titcomb, T. J. Wat- kins, Charles Westcott, William Wharton.
CABINET MAKERS.
Carl Brell, Conrad Schroeder, Wm. Vansandt.
WAGON MAKERS. John Born, Hermann Tetzlaff, George Cooper. HARNESS MAKERS. John Fehr, John Vrooman & Bedford Stanley, Charles E. Moore, Alexander Mutchler, Bedford Stanley.
TINNERS & HARD-WARE MERCHANTS.
Fred Schmidt, Tinner & Hard Ware merchant. Thomas Kessinger, Hard Ware merchant.
MILLERS.
John Cunningham, John Cunningham & George Baker, L. Hoffman, August Roth, B. F. Rhodes. John Strunk, Thomas Kessinger, J. N. Wood.
TAILORS.
Wm. Weber, Fred Klemme, Hamilton Hose, John Hose. BLACKSMITHS.
Robert Bryce, Joseph Rogers, J. C. Sammons, Balford Richmond, Lewis Schardon, Peter Simons.
BUTCHERS.
James Brookman & Bryant McReynolds, Wallace Nelson, & Thompson, Fred Luddeke, John Van Doren, Fred Ander- son & Amasa Washburn, and Henry Stanley.
134
SHOE-MAKERS.
McReynolds & J. C. Railing, L. D. Washbarn, Manufac- turer and Merchant. Christain Keachley, Hermann Wygant, Frank Shuford, Claudns Hough, Rollond Rakow, Frank Shu- ford (2nd time.) : PROPRIETORS OF THE BUTLER HOTEL. " ?
Bryant McReynolds, Richard Barrett, Mrs. Elnora Duke, Mrs. Mary Pollard, Thomas Kessinger, William Brookman, Mrs. Menerva Steere, J: W: Webb, Wm. Brookman (2nd time, ) Henderson Howard.
POST MASTERS.
Henry Richmond, Samuel Haywood, Alexander Coudy, Bryant MeReynolds, J. H. McGowan.
DRESS MAKERS & MILLINERS.
Mrs. Lewis Vansandt, Dress-maker & Milliner. Miss Carrie Lockhart, Dress-maker. Mrs. Cordelia Schardon, Milliner, Mrs. Laura Gray, Milliner. Miss Annie Boyd, Dress-maker & Milliner.
JEWELERS.
Charles Witherspoon and J. W. Webb.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Henry Richmond, James Ghaston, George Burnap, Wm. Wood, James Judd, Wmn. Elliman, G. D. Brookman, Je- rome Kendrick, A. W. Marshall.
POLICE MAGISTRATES
Henry Richmond, James Judd, J. B. Christy, and George W. Brown.
CONSTABLES.
D. W. Manners, Wm. Wharton, M. M. Stuckey, John Van Doren, Charles Wright. Daniel Bost.
135
VILLAGE CLERKS.
D. W. Manners, J. H. McGowan, James Judd, J. E. Hick- man, A. W. Marshall.
CHEESE FACTORY."
The Butler Cheese Factory is owned by a Stock Company called The Mont Cabanne Creamery Co. It was built in the year 1875, at a cost of about $3.000, with apparatus costing about $1.600.
PHYSICIANS.
Charles Harper, -Sargent. J. B. White, Jesse Stick, C. R Ross, Daniel Schardon, P. L. Brown, Benjamin Perlee, J. H. Kester, John Enlow, A. Gifford.
The physicians at the present time are Charles Harper, Daniel Schardon, and A. Gifford.
DRUGGISTS ..
Ross & Brown, E.L. Thomas, Frank Seward, Charles Slay- back, Wm. Diddle, G. W. Parr, W. A. Wesner.
EXPRESS . AGENTS. . ...
Thoinas R. Wallace, A. R. Fink, Coudy & Mehagen, James Judd, Thomas Elliman, William Elliman.
FIRES.
In 1866 a Store belonging to J R. Roth, near the Rail Road, and also an adjacent Drinking Saloon, were destroyed by fire.
A Plaining Mill, located in the western part of the town belonging to D.W. Manners was burned about the year 1867. It had been in operation about one year,
In the Spring of 1875 a small dwelling house belonging to Wm. Vansandt near Robert Bryce's Blacksmith Shop was de- stroyed by fire.
136
Concerning a destructive fire in the early part of Oct. 1877 we copy the following minute from the Revised Village Ordinances of Dec. 1877.
"On the night of the first, or morning of the second Octo- her 1877, a fire broke out in the Buildings adjoining Sew- ard's Hall and continued its destructive work until all the Buildings and the Hall containing all the Village records, papers and other property belonging to the Village were con- sumed by the devouring element against all the efforts made to save them."
On the 31st of Oct. 1877, the private dwelling of Charles Casselberry in the north-western part of the town was de- stroyed by fire.
The only Firms engaged in General Merchandise in Butler at the present time, (Sept. 1878) are those of Brown & Bro., and McGowan & Watkins.
George W. Brown commenced business as a Grocery & Queens-ware merchant in Butler, in the building known as Haywood's Old Stand, in April 1867. In a few months he and his brother, Charles O. Brown, entered into partnership constituting the Firm known as Brown & Bro. In the early part of the year 1869 Brown & Bro. purchased the Haywood building, at that time belonging to Moses Berry, and contin- ued to do business in it until 1873. In 1871 they added to their Stock Dry Goods, Boots & Shoes. In May 1873 they pur_ chased what was called the McReynolds property nearly op- posite the Butler Hotel, and in Sept. of the same year moved their goods to this building, adding to their stock Ready made Clothing. They have recently enlarged, remodeled and repainted this Store, adding much both to its conven- ience and appearance.
137
J. H. McGowan commenced business in Butler as a Mer- chant with Samuel Haywood in the year 1865. He was as- sociated with Mr. Haywood for about one year. During this year he was appointed Post Master. After dissolving partnership with Mr. Haywood he clerked a year or two for the Firm of A. B. Seward & Co., keeping the Post Office in their Store. He then removed to the small building south of the Hotel owned by Thomas Colvin, and now used as an Office by A. W. Marshall, Justice of the Peace. Here he kept the Post Office, Stationary, School Books &c., until about the year 1867, when he built the house north of the Hotel now used as a Shoe & Harness Shop, to which he re- moved the Post Office and his merchandise. In this build- ing he remained until he entered into partnership in 1872 with Thomas J. Watkins.
Thomas J. Watkins and George Mackey commenced busi- ness as General Grocery Merchants in Butler, in the Spring of 1866, occupying the building belonging to L. D. Wash- burn, and standing a little to the south of the residence of C. O. Brown.
T. J. Watkins continued in business with George Mack- ey about one year, but a portion of this time he spent work- ing at the carpenter's trade. He then clerked for the Firm of S. M. Hedges & Bro., for about five years, with the ex- ception of a few months, during which time he sold goods for A. B. Seward & Co.
In the Spring of 1872 he and J. H. McGowan bought out the Firm of Hedges & Bro. and formed a partnership in Gen- eral merchandise, under the name of McGowan & Watkins, and have ever since occupied the building formerly owned by Hedges & Bro. J. H. McGowan still remains Post Master, and has the Office in this building.
138
CHURCHES.
BUTLER M. E. CHURCH.
The M. E. Church of Butler was organized under the ministerial labors of Rev. - Boon, a local preacher, about the year 1856.
The orginial members were as follows :
Mrs. Alexander Gray, Moses Berry, Mrs. Eliza Berry, Mrs. J. M. Ghaston, Mr. Thomas Wood, Wm. Williamson, Mrs. Eliza Williamson, James Wood, and his wife and Mrs. Benaiah Kelly.
Its pulpit has been regularly supplied by the following ministers :
Revs. J. E. Lindley, -Aldridge, - -Cabrie, R. W. Travis, T. S. Johnson, A. E. Orr, J. H. Holloway, W. F. Lowe, M. M. Cooper, J. D. Bodkin, D. Stubblefield, S. T. McIlheren, George Barrett, R. M. Beech, J. W. Lapham, and E. D. Randle.
The Church Edifice in which the congregation now wor- ship, was erected in the year 1863 at a cost of about $2.350.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Butler Presbyterian Church was organized in the School House in Butler, Aug. 29th, 1858, by a Committee consisting of Rev. R. M. Roberts, Minister, T. W. Wash- burn, M. D., and J. T. Eccles, Elders. The original mem- bers were fourteen in number and their names were as follows :
Mrs. H. K. Harper, Mrs. Catharine Coudy. Israel Seward, William Seward, Mrs. Mary Cunningham, Mrs. Susana Cun- ningham, Mrs. Martha Burnap, Robert Bryce, S. M. Hedges,
139
Mrs. Margaret Seward, Mrs. Deliverance Hugg, Mrs. Mary McReynolds, Minerva Mrs. Steere, Mrs. Sarah Ware.
The names of the Ministers who have statedly supplied the Presbyterian Church are as follows :
Rev. R. M. Roberts, Rev. W. L. Mitchel, Rev .- Todd, Mr. Cornelius V. Monfort, Licentiate, Rev. - Lougheed, Mr. Moses Paisley, Licentiate, Rev. T. E. Spilman.
The 'Church Edifice belonging to the Presbyterian Con- gregation was built at the cost of about $2.200 and dedica- ted to the service of God, July 3d, 1864, Rev. T. W. Hynes preaching the dedication sermon, and Rev. R. M. Roberts assisting in the service.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
About the year 1868 a Baptist Church, consisting of about thirteen members, was organized in Butler, by Rev. Johnson, and enjoyed for a time the ministerial labors of Rev. Mize, then teaching school in Butler.
No efforts, of which we are aware, have been made for some years to revive or retain the organization.
We give as, follows, a brief account of the other Churches in the Township, outside of the Village.
CHERRY GROVE M. E. CHURCHI.
We find that as early as the year 1843, there was existing a church with a considerable membership in the community now called Cherry Grove, three and a half miles N. W. of Butler. Just what its membership was, and how long it had existed as a Church we have not ascertained. But from some cause, probably deaths and removals, this Church so declined that in a few years there remained of it but a feble remnant. About the year 1852 it was reorganized, and prob-
140
ably for the first time, elected regular Trustees, and assum- ed the name of Cherry Grove Church.
The following, so far as we are able to give them, are the names of those who assumed the responsibilities of member- ship at the re-organization :
John Nail, Mrs. Martha Nail, Nathan Nail, Mrs. Sarah Nail, Mrs. Susan Williams, Anderson Walker and wife, Me- nassah Camp and wife, Wm. Williams and wife, James Rob- erts and wife and Mrs. Sarah Baker.
The congregation, in an early day, worshiped in a private dwelling house upon the farm now belonging to D. C. Burris. The building now known as Cherry Grove Church was erect- ed about the year 1856.
MONTGOMERY M. E. CHURCH,
five miles north of Hillsboro, and about the same distance N. E. of Butler, was organized in the year 1836, and consist- ed of the following members :
James Osburn and wife, Michael Webber, Mrs. Sarah Webber, Henry Nichols, Mrs. Ellen Nichols, Joseph Webber, Mrs. Eunice L. Webber, James Wiley, Mrs. Sarah Wiley, Nicho- las Webber and wife, Allert Dryer and Mrs. Eunice L. Dryer.
The Church was organized under the pastoral labors of Rev. - Hale.
For some years the congregation worshiped in a School House. The neat and comfortable Church Edifice in which they now worship was built in the year 1872. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. C. P. Baldwin.
WARE'S GROVE CHURCH.
'The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ware's Grove was organized Dec. 24th, 1860 under the pastoral labors of Rev. J. Livengood.
141
The names of the original members are as follows :
Jacob W. Scherer, Mrs. Electa Scherer, Henry Misen- heimer, Mrs. Rachel Misenheimer, Mrs. Mary Scherer, Mrs. Rebecca A, Cress.
The Church Edifice in which the congregation now wor- ships was built in 1862, and dedicated in Dec. of the same year, the dedication sermon being preached by Rev. George A. Bowers.
----
142
CONTENTS.
Page
Dryer, A. 54
Anderson, MA 82
Dryer, EL.
54
Anderson, J
83 Duke, E C
Anderson, G
83
91
Aten, J C
16
Fogleman, J S. 58
Aten, MJ 16
Fox, E F. 91
Basset, L.
18
Fahey, M.
94
Bost, D ..
19
Grobe, U.
Barrett, E E. 20
.7
Barrett, M W 21
Gray, A. 64
Berry, S. 38
Hamilton, J.
1
Berry, M S. 39
Hamilton, E 3
Bremer, II. 48
Harper, C. 10
Harper, II K 10
Bell, F
53
Hough, H. 27
Bell, E 53
Hostetter, J. 40
Berry, M. .66
Hostetter, L 41
Berry, E J. 67
Harper, H 47
Bewley. OH. 76
Harper, CP 47
Berry, D 93
Hose, E .59
Bateson, I. 96
Hugg, I).
.60
Bryce. R.
104 Haley, W
65
Bruce, J D 109
Bovey. G. 112
Hicks, J D.
89
Betty, I. 116
Harris, H R.
97
Howard H 119
History of the Village, 129
Jenkins, C W 122
Cress, J. 92
Cress, H 93
Judd, E
87
Cole, J S
120 Keele, W W 110
Clinesmith, M B. 121
Kelley, B.
99
49 Kendrick. S 10G
De Kay, R .
Heffley, D. 70
Burris, D C 114
Harris, TE
97
Betty, L. 117
Crowley, D 69
Jennings, S F
22
Colvin, T .36
Daily, F. 62
Griffith, HI 90
Burnap, J. 50
143
Lockhart, S M. 6
Smith, J D
17
Livengood, J. .28
Seward, Wm. 31
Livengood, A M
30
Seward, S 31
Mackey J
. 41
Seward, G C 32
McCoy J
81
Stuckey, M M
45
McCoy NE 9 Simmons, W
51
McMurtry M
23
Simmons, E W 51
McMurtry E 251
Steere, M
67
McReynolds, M 26
Sammons, N
100
Mette, J 52 Stickle, J
102
Mack, ()
77
Todd, W M
107
Mack, L P
80)
Vrooman, M 73
Masters P
85
Vrooman, J A . 73
Nail, J H 84
Varner, S 15
Obituaries, .124
Williams, G 109
Petheram, J
.81
Wood, RR 3
Petheram, E
.81
Watson, W 34
Phillips, F
74 Watson, M 35
Polley, B 80 Wright, R
42
Roberts, - R
112
Whelan, P
118
Roberts, M
113
Whelan, M 118
44
Robertson, A M
101
Wilson, E
55
Remarks or Errors, 125
Washburn, L D
56
Stanley, H S
5
Washburn, L W 57
Stanley, M
5 Williamson, W 71
Sammons, J C
11 Williamson, E M
72
Sammons, E
12 Wikoff, A
75
Schardon, D
12
Westcott, C M 98
Schardon, C
13 Ware, S 64
Scherer, M
13 ¡ Weber. J 108
Robertson, S
101
Weber, F W
142
CONTENTS.
Page
Dryer, A. 54
Anderson, MA
82
Dryer, EL.
54
Anderson, J
83 :
Duke, E C.
Anderson, G
83
Daily, F. 62
91
Aten, J C.
16
Fogleman, J S. 58
Aten, MJ 16
Fox, E F. 91
Basset, L. 18
Fahey, M.
94
Bost, D. .
19
Grobe, U. 90
Barrett, E E. 20
Griffith, HI
.7
Barrett, M W 21
Gray, A. 64
Berry, S.
38
Hamilton, J. 1
Berry, M S. 39
Hamilton, E 3
Bremer, II.
48
Burnap, J.
.50
Harper, HI K 10
Bell, F
53
Hough, HI.
27
Bell, E.
53 Hostetter, J. 40
Berry, M 66
Hostetter, L 41
Berry, E J. 67
Harper, H 47
Bewley, OH. 76
Harper, CP 47
Berry, D. 93 1
Hose, E.
59
Bateson, I. 96
Hugg, D).
60
65
Bruce, J D. 109
Heffley, D.
70
Bovey. G. 112
Hicks, J D.
89
Harris, TE. 97
Harris, H R.
97
Howard H . 119
History of the Village, 129
Jenkins, C W 122
Cress, H. 93
Judd, E
22
Jennings, S F 87
Cole, J S 120
Keele, W W 110
Clinesmith, M B. 121
Kelley, B.
99
De Kay, R
49 ! Kendrick. S 106
Burris, D C 114
Betty, I. 116
Betty, L. 117
Crowley, D 69
Cress, J. 92
Colvin, T 36
104 Haley, W
Bryce. R.
Harper, C. 10
143
Lockhart, S M. .6
Smith, J D
17
Livengood, J 28
Seward, Wm. 31
Livengood, A M. 30
Seward, S 31
Mackey J
4
Seward, G C 32
McCoy J . 8
Stuckey, M M 45
McCoy NE 9
Simmons, W 51
McMurtry M
23
Simmons, E W 51
McMurtry E
25
Steere, M
67
McReynolds, M 26
Sammons, N
100
Mette, J 52 Stickle, J
102
Mack, ()
77
Todd, W M
107
Mack, L P
80
Vrooman, M 73
Masters P
85
Vrooman, J A 73
Nail, J H
84
Varner, S 15
Obituaries, .124
Williams, G 109
Petheram, J
.81
Wood, RR 3
Petheram, E
.81
Watson, W 34
Phillips, F
74 Watson, M 35
.
Polley, B 80
Wright, R
42
Roberts, . R 112
Whelan, P
118
Roberts, M
113
Whelan, M
118
Robertson, S
101
Weber, F W
44
Robertson, A M
101
Wilson, E
55
Remarks or Errors, 125
Washburn, L D 56
57
Stanley, M
5 Williamson, W 71
Sammons, J C
11 Williamson, E M
72
Sammons, E
12 Wikoff, A
75
Schardon, D
12 Westcott. C M
98
Schardon, C 13 Ware, S 64
Scherer, M
13 Weber. J 108
Stanley, H S
5
Washburn, L W
.
L
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