USA > Illinois > Jo Daviess County > The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Illinois Constitution of the United States > Part 66
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104
82
598
HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
ship, and was made postmaster in 1853, his house being on a stage route be- tween Galena and Dixon. The post-office is now called " Derinda," and is kept by Mrs. John Leonard. Another post-office has been established in sec- tion 17, called " Derinda Centre," at a store which was opened by Joseph Pettit in 1867, and is now kept by Robert McGrath.
A large majority of the settlers are German and Irish, some of whom at the time of the land sale in 1847, were unable to pay in money for the claims which they had labored to cultivate. Consequently many of them accepted the offer of a banker of Dixon, to purchase the land in his name, and deed it to them when they were able to pay the usual price and an additional 331/3 per cent as his commission.
School was first kept in the township by John McKinley, in his own house, on section 8. The first school-house was built in the south part of section 5, in 1839. There are now seven school districts, each having a good, substantial school-house.
The first preaching in the township was by Samuel McGrath, at his resi- dence, where, afterwards, Mr. Schunk, a young circuit rider, held occasional meetings. The first church was one which the German Methodist Church mem- bers purchased at Galena, in 1855, took apart and brought to this township in wagons, erecting it again on section 21. Rev. Philip Funk occupied the pulpit of this church as first regular pastor. At present the membership is not large enough to support a pastor.
The Albright Evangelical Church .- Many Germans were converted to the Methodist Episcopal belief in Ohio and elsewhere, as early as 1830. About that time a German, named Albright, received permission from the M. E. Con- ference to labor in the ministry. In order to reach many of his countrymen, who did not understand English, he began preaching in the German language. To this the Conference made repeated objections, so that those people organ- ized the Albright Evangelical Church, embracing the Methodist religion, but permitting worship in either language. To-day it is a permanent and compara- tively strong denomination.
Such a society was organized at an early day in Derinda Township. They held meetings in the school-house for many years, and built their church on Section 27, in 1856. Rev. Mr. Sendlinger acted as first pastor in the church. At present, the minister is Rev. Mr. Riemenschneiter.
The First German Lutheran Church was organized by Rev. Mr. List, in 1856. A number of other ministers had preached occasionally in private houses. Their church was erected in 1858, on Section 22. At present, Rev. Theodore Seilor is their pastor. It is a strong, progressive society.
The Second German Lutheran Church was organized about the same time, and has been directed by the same pastors. Its church was built on Section 16, in 1872. Meetings were held for some years in the school-house and the old Methodist Church.
The Methodist Episcopal Church (English) has held services in the Derinda Centre School House since 1857. The Hanover pastor, Rev. Mr. Soule, now officiates.
In 1860, the population of the Township was 818; in 1870 it numbered 804.
No alteration has been made in its boundaries since the time of organiza- tion, in 1853.
The first officers of the township were : Supervisor, William McGrath ; Clerk, William Jordan ; Road Commissioners, Thomas Oliver, Alexander Moli- son, and Jacob Buck. The present officers are : Supervisor, William Logan ; Clerk, Albert Dittmar; Road Commissioners, Joseph Khiel, Michael Gouse, and William Skene; Justices of the Peace, Ehrhardt Dittmar and John Rogers.
.
599
HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
STOCKTON.
This name was suggested by Alanson Parker, who desired it named after a town in the East, and, also, as suggestive of the future development of the township, as one devoted to the raising of stock. The prophetic eye which foresaw this, was not in error, for to-day the farmers of this township are nearly all exclusive stock-raisers, and the beautiful prairies through it are devoted to pasturage or meadows; and stacks of hay are far more numerous than piles of straw, while the stubble is that of grass and corn, rather than of oats and wheat.
The first settler of the township was Henry Rice, who moved from Galena to Section 3 in 1832 with Philip Rice and others, who have been referred to more at length in the history of Rush Township. John Hayes moved to this township in 1836, from Indiana, where soon after his little daughter died-this being doubtless the first death of a white person in Stockton Township. Dis- couraged by the hardships of Western life, Mr. Hayes sold his claim and cabin, in 1837, to Elisha C. Hamilton, and returned to Indiana. Mr. Hamilton con- tinued to live there until the time of his death, gaining a large circle of friends and being elected the first Supervisor of his township.
The fourth settler of this beautiful valley was Nathaniel Morris, who built a cabin on section 24, in 1838. He afterwards sold out to Mr. Jesse Wilson, and moved to Missouri, where he died. Mr. Wilson still resides in the original log house erected by Mr. Morris.
The next resident was John Wilkins, who settled in 1838, on the north part of section 28, where he died. After 1839 the country became more rap- idly inhabited. In that year Alanson and Benjamin Parker settled on section 24. Then followed Whipple C. Ward, Wm. Richards, Fred Tucker, and J. R. Patridge.
School was first taught by Sarah Miner, who afterwards married Aratus Haskell, one of the early settlers of Nora.
The first school-house was built in 1843, of logs, on section 23. In this building Ben. F. Parker was the first teacher.
In the north half of the township the Wilsons were prominent among the early settlers. They took up large tracts of lands, and made extensive farms. Wm. Stayner was also an early settler. Ashael Morse came in 1841, and settled in the southeast corner of the township, on the site of Morseville. George L. Dow, Chester Parker, Orange Gray, the Lyons', and Stephen Johnson soon fol- lowed. A school-house was built where Morseville now stands in the year 1846, where Betsy Lyon first taught. In 1855 a stone school-house was built on the same lot, and in 1871 a new two-story wooden building was erected, the stone structure being sold for a residence. Here C. C. Waldo first gave instruction. At present the teacher is J. Hamilton.
The first school records were made in 1843, when E. C. Hamilton, J. R. Patridge and B. F. Parker were appointed trustees by the Commissioners Court. An enumeration of school children was made that year and it was found that there were seventy-five in the township. In 1868 there were 670, and at the present time there are 559. In 1843 the township was divided into two dis- tricts; now there are eight school-houses and a number of joint districts with other townships. The early history of Stockton and Ward's Grove Townships is intimately connected, and many men who are now residents of Stockton Township, came to Ward's Grove as early as 1835 to '38. The Tyrrells came in 1838; Miles and Frank are now living in Stockton Township. James Blair was also an early settler of Ward's Grove, although now living in Stockton. The vicinity of Morseville has been a trading point for a great many years ; a blacksmith shop in 1851 by Jonathan Parker, and store, was one of the early
600
HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
institutions. In 1852, Miles Tyrrell purchased the business of Talbot, and has since been continually connected with the business interests of the place. In 1866, Ashael Morse had the Village of Morseville platted and recorded. In 1871 he built his hotel there, and, during the same year, the greater part of the buildings in the village were erected. In an early day the people were poorly provided with post-offices, although the township now has five. There was a post-office in the south part of the township known as West Plum River, but that was abandoned in 1842. Another office was established at or near the same place about 1849. During Buchanan's administration it was removed to Morse- ville, and Miles Tyrrell made postmaster. R. Strickland at present manages the office. In the Spring of 1862 another office was established, known as Yankee Hollow, and G. L. Dow made postmaster. He held the office until 1865, when B. F. Parker took it and held it until his death in 1874. His daughter was commissioned in Feb., 1875, and now holds the office. A't quite an early day an office was established near the centre of the township known as Stockton, and Fred. Tucker was made postmaster. He went to California several years ago, when his wife took charge of the office, and continued to discharge the duties until May, 1875, when it was removed to Geo. Justus', and he was made postmaster. A post-office called Pitcherville was established in the northeast part of the township in 1868, and Mr. Pitcher officiated as postmaster. S. T. Eade now has charge of the office. In 1874 an office named Winters was established near the centre, with Henry Winter as postmaster. He still acts in that capacity. There are two church buildings in the township; one at the centre, and one at Morseville. The centre church nominally belongs to the Free Will Baptists, but the organization is very weak, and maintains no regular services. It was built in 1868. The church at Morseville is a Union church which was erected in 1870, and any denomination is welcome to the use of it. The Winebrenarians have a feeble organization, but do not hold regular ser- vices.
In 1875, an insurance company, known as the " Stockton and Ward's Grove Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Company," was organized under the act of 1874. The present officers are M. K. Hammond, President, Geo. Justus, Secretary, and Samuel Tyrrel, Treasurer. The company has had only one loss, which amounted to $425. They now have 135 policies in force, and $150,000 liable to assessment. There is a Masonic Lodge at Morseville, known as Plum River Lodge No. 554. It was chartered Oct. 1, 1867. The present offi- cers are Francis Tyrrell, Master ; A. B. Byrum, S. W .; C. Tiffany, J. W .; Wm. Farrell, S. D .; S. E. Waldo, J. D .; J. N. Sharp, Chaplain ; Samuel Tyrrell, Treasurer; F. S. Tyrrell, Secretary ; Millard Johnson and W. H. Starkey, Stewards; Jno. F. Tyrrell, Tyler. When the lands came into market the north half of this township was held as a mineral reserve, but the south half has proven the most valuable in mineral. More or less has been taken out since the country was first settled, but about 1871 the greatest quantity was found, and Morseville bid fair to become a lively mining town. But the lead suddenly gave out, and but very little has been done at it since. The manufacture of cheese was commenced, and two factories built. The work was abandoned, however, after a short time. At Morseville, H. F. Hastings has been in business in a general store for a number of years. He has always lived in the West, and is a thorough Western man. There are two blackmith shops in Morseville, also two wagon shops, one harness shop, one tin shop, one drug store, and one hotel. The latter was originated by Ashael Morse, who was killed about a year ago by being thrown from a wagon. Geo. A. Bixby now runs the hotel business. At the centre, Winter & Johnson are engaged in a general country store, and at Pitcherville, S. T. Eade is likewise engaged.
Stockton Centre Church is situated in the centre of the Town of Stockton. It was erected in the year 1868, by a Baptist organization then numbering about 100.
.
601
HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
It is a beautiful and substantial structure, size 34 by 44 feet, and cost $2,500. It has 56 seats, capable of seating 280 people. Elder Torrey was their pastor. Un- fortunately, however, the Baptist organization proved to be short lived. The work of erecting the building having been done during an excitement created by a revival, the members retreated from the ranks one after another, until there re- main but few members.
The Township of Stockton has never been modified since its organization in 1853. It had, in 1860, a population of 1,044, and in 1870, 1,214.
Township Officers .- Supervisor, A. B. Byrum; Town Clerk, Joel G. Ball ; Assessors, Wm. H. Starkley; Collector, Ira T. Benton ; Commissioners of High- ways, Chester Parker and Martin T. Carpenter, the third place being vacant since the decease of Mr. John Phelps.
WARD'S GROVE.
The first claimant of Ward's Grove Township is a matter of some doubt. It is understood that a few claims were made from 1834 to 1836. There is, however, no question but that Mr. Bernard Ward, after whom the township received its name, was its first permanent settler. Mr. Ward is still residing in single blessedness at the old location, where he is an influential citizen and large property holder.
It is learned from Joseph Moore that Homer and Charles Graves came west from Ohio in 1836, and made a claim in Ward's Grove Township in the Summer of the same year, near the head-timber of Yellow Creek, where they broke five acres of ground, but soon returned to Ohio, where they remained until 1838, when they again came to this township with their mother, brother William, sister Emily (now Mrs. F. M. Rogers) and half-brother Joseph Moore. These brothers became prominent residents of the township. Homer and Wil- liam Graves and Mr. Moore still reside there, where the latter owns 1,527 acres of land.
James Blair came to Ward's Grove Township in the Fall of 1836, and settled there. Mr. Blair moved into Stockton Township in 1876, with his fam- ily, where he now resides. His marriage to Catherine Marsh, 1837, was the first in the township, and his daughter Margaret, born March 4, 1838, was the first white child born in the township.
Jabez Giddings came to the township in 1836, and his brother, Smith, in the next year, and to the former Mr. Blair and Arthur Tyrrell hired out to work in the same year. Mr. J. Giddings afterwards (1840) sold out to Jacob Reber.
Among other early settlers were Asa Hutton (1838), whose infant son was the first person who died (1839) in the township; Dr. Bratton, the first physi- cian ; Ezra Latham, who built a saw mill at the head-waters of Yellow Creek, in the northeastern part of the township, in 1839 ; George W. Flack, who came in April, 1837, and is now a resident of Iowa; John Flack, who came with his family in 1839, and died in 1842 ; Samuel, Charles and Miles Tyrrell, the former two of whom came in November, 1837, and the latter in November, 1838; Charles died in 1860; Samuel is still an influential citizen of Ward's Grove, while Miles is now living in Morseville, Stockton Township; H. A. Perry, who came in June, 1839, and is now a farmer of Stockton ; Samuel Tyrrell, Sr., who came in October, 1841, with his family of four daughters and a son, of whom Mrs. Benjamin Parker, of Stockton, is the only daughter now residing in the county; Mr. Samuel Tyrrell, Sr., died in 1845; Hiram Tyrrell, who came in May, 1843, and now lives in Iowa. There are many other early settlers of the township, equally worthy of mention, many of whose biographies appear in another portion of this work,
602
HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
Schools .- Bernard Ward first taught school by permitting the children of his neighbors to come to his house, where he gave them instruction, but the first organized school was taught by Mary R. Tyrrell, now Mrs. Isaac Lyons, in a cabin built in 1843, by Mr. Giddings, and owned by Jacob Reber. The first school-house was built in 1845, on section 29, and taught by Mary Tyrrell. The first Trustees of School Lands were James Blair and Samuel Tyrrell ; school organization was effected at the house of Mr. Tyrrell just before build- ing the school-house. The Directors were Charles B. Tyrrell, William Blair, Jr., and David Earlewine. There are now four school-houses in the township.
In almost all neighborhoods a substantial sympathy is usually extended to a citizen whose property is destroyed by fire. Many, of course, insure their property at bigh rates, so that much more money is taken from the neighbor- hood for insurance during a term of years than has been destroyed in value within the same limits. Investigate where you may, this will be found true. Hence, a number of the residents of Stockton and Ward's Grove Townships resolved to form an association within themselves by which they should pay all the losses of their members and each be insured against loss, without being obliged to support a large retinue of officers and agents at high salaries. Rush and the south fifteen sections of Nora Township were afterwards included. It is called the "Stockton and Ward's Grove Mutual Fire and Lightning Insur- ance Company, of Jo Daviess County, Illinois," and was organized and incor- porated under the act approved March 24, 1874, entitled : "An Act to revise the law in relation to Township Insurance Companies," from which the follow- ing are extracts :
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That any number of persons, not less than twenty-five, residing in any congressional or political township, or in one or more adjoining congressional or political townships in this state, not exceeding six in number, and without regard to county lines, who, collectively, shall own property of not less than $50,000 in value, which they desire to have insured, may form an incorporated company for the purpose of mutual insurance against loss or damage by fire or lightning.
SECTION 2. Such persons shall file with the Auditor of Public Accounts a declara- tion of their intention to form a company for the purposes expressed in the preceding section, which declaration shall be signed by all the corporators, and shall contain a copy of the charter proposed to be adopted by them. Such charter shall set forth the name of the cor- poration, which shall embrace the name of the township in which the business office of such company is to be located, and the intended duration of the company, and if it is found con- formable to this act and not inconsistent with the laws and constitution of this state, the Auditor shall thereupon deliver to such persons a certified copy of the charter, which, on being filed in the office of the County Clerk of the county where the office of such company is to be located, shall be their authority to organize and commence business. Such certified copy of the charter may be used in evidence for or against said company, with the same effect as the original : Provided, That such charter so obtained shall be subject to control of and modification by the General Assembly.
SECTION 8. Such company may issue policies only on detached dwellings, barns, (except livery, boarding and hotel barns), and other farm buildings. and such property as may properly be contained therein, for any time not exceeding five years, and not to extend beyond the limited duration of the charter, and for an amount not to exceed $3,000 on any one risk. All persons so insured shall give their obligation to the company, binding them- selves, their heirs, and assigns to pay their pro rata share to the company of the necessary expenses and of all losses by fire or lightning which may be sustained by any member thereof, during the time for which their respective policies are written ; and they shall, also, at the time of effecting the insurance, pay such percentage in cash, and such other charge as may be required by the rules or by-laws of the company.
The required members having been obtained, a charter was secured on April 17, 1875.
Officers .- M. K. Hammond, President ; George Justus, Secretary ; E. E. Byrum, Treasurer.
Directors .- George S. Wing, Samuel Tyrrell, M. K. Hammond, Simon Polker, George Justus, Wm. L. Lawhorn, John D. Brown, Ebenezer Backus · nd E. E. Byrum.
603
HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
Religious .- The first preaching in the township was by Rev. Fleeharty, a Methodist minister, who held occasional services in Hutton's cabin. He after- wards organized a class, and, after meeting for four years at Mr. Hutton's, the place of holding service was changed to Morseville, Stockton Township.
The first regular preaching of the Presbyterian denomination was in 1844, by Rev. Littlefield, at private houses. He was followed by Rev. Powell.
The first Free Will Baptist sermon was at Mr. Flack's, by Rev. Wm. John- son, who was followed in 1842 by Rev. Norton, at Mr. Tyrrell's. Since the Union Church, spoken of in the Stockton sketch, was built, the residents of Ward's Grove generally attend divine worship at that place.
· The only town attempted was by Wm. Johnson, who laid out a village on the southwest quarter of section 19, now on the farm of Joseph Moore, but as he received no encouragement, the plan was abandoned.
In 1848, a post-office was established at the residence of Samuel Tyrrell, after which the following gentlemen were made postmasters in succession : Orange Gray, Joseph Moore, Thomas B. Carter, and Eliab Meyer ; after about ten years the office was discontinued.
This township, being the west lialf of township 27, range 5, was originally a portion of the Imus precinct, afterwards of Ward's Grove precinct, and at the time of township organization, 1853, it was given its present boundaries. The first officers elected were :
Supervisor-Thomas B. Carter; Town Clerk-B. Ward ; Samuel Tyrrell was the first Justice of the Peace, and has continued until the present time. He was first elected in 1839, in the Imus precinct.
Present officers :
Supervisor-Samuel Tyrrell (chairman of County Board) ; Town Clerk- Isaac G. Mitchell ; Assessor-Joseph Moore; Collector-Homer A. Tyrrell ; Commissioners of Highways-Homer Graves, Wm. Blair, and John Heilman; Justices of the Peace-S. Tyrrell and I. G. Mitchell.
In 1860, the population of Ward's Grove Township was 425, and in 1870, it was 530.
GUILFORD.
Elias P. Avery first made claim, on section 33 of this township, in 1827. In April or May of the year following, he moved there with his sons, William, Azel, David and Elias, Jr., of whom the two former took claims; the latter, being a young man, lived with his father, while David took a claim across the present township line, in Elizabeth Township. Elias P. and Azel Avery con- tinued to reside there until the time of their death. Elias, Jr., and William, who married in 1834, still reside in the vicinity, although William resides in Elizabeth Township.
Mr. E. T. Isbell came from Missouri in 1832, and mined at New Diggings and other places until the Spring of 1834, when he settled at his present loca- tion on section 25, in Guilford Township.
At that time, the following persons are remembered as residents there : John W. Taylor, on section 20, who afterwards moved to Clay County, Kansas, where he died. His remains were brought back in the Fall of 1877 for inter- ment. His son, Obadiah, still lives on the old place ; another son, Thoma's, is dead; and two others, John and 'Henry, reside in Kansas. S. W. Hathaway, who is still a resident, settled on section 17, and married a daughter of Mr. Taylor. William Johnson, or "Uncle Billy," as he was called, settled on sec- tion 35, and furnished the only religious direction that the settlers received for some time. He had two sons and a daughter, all of whom are now gone.
-
604
HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
Henry Williard settled in the township, on section 13, a short time before Mr. Isbell, and still lives there with his family. James D. Rawli s, father of John A., settled near the claim of Mr. Isbell, and built his housn a little before him, where he still lives. Further mention is made of John e A. Rawlins in another portion of this work.
School was taught in the house of William Avery, in 1837, by Mr. Swin- burn. Abner Hodgins taught a school in the same year, near Mr. Isbell's farm, and soon after, a school-house was built on the south part of section 25, by Mr. Isbell. A school-house is believed to have been built a short time before this one, on the farm now owned by Robert Carson. Another school-house was built in 1851, in which Mrs. Phoebe Wait first taught. The school-house on section 25 was afterwards torn down, when a new and larger one was erected on section 26. There are now school-houses on sections 8, 11, 17, 26 and 32.
In 1835, Mr. Isbell opened a small stock of groceries, and continued to keep some goods for fifteen years.
Preaching was first held in the school-houses. The first regular preacher was David Matlock, Baptist. There is now a Methodist Episcopal Church, on the line between sections 10 and II. The first Methodist Church was on the southwest corner of section 6.
The first post-office, called " Avery," was established on section'33, Octo- ber 30, 1850, by William Avery, postmaster. The present postmaster is George S. Avery. A post-office was once kept at the house of J. D. Rawlins, called " Guilford," but it is now discontinued.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.