USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 41
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The township was one of those set off in 1857 for a separate precinct, and the first election was called for and held April 6, 1858. With the exception of Stephen H. Kyle as Supervisor, L. E. Ross, James C. George and Stephen Morrison as Commissioners of Highways, and John Carlisle and Jacob Angle as Justices of the Peace, we have no means of determining who were the first officers elected-the record of the first election being lost.
At first, politics did not enter into questions relating to township matters ; but after a year or two the lines were drawn tightly, and Nevada has almost always since been strongly Democratic-indeed, at times has claimed to be the banner town of the county. At the subsequent township elections, the follow- ing were the principal officers elected :
Date.
Supervisor.
Clerk.
Assessor.
Collector.
1859 S. H. Kyle.
Thomas Magee
John Carlisle.
R. C. Adams.
1860 Robert Thompson
R. B. Strong.
J. C. George.
John Thompson.
1861 'S. S. Strong ..
E. B. Coleman
John Thompson
John George.
1862 Robert Thompson
E. B. Coleman.
S. H. Kyle ..
J. C. George.
1863 I. C. Magee.
E. B. Coleman.
J. M. Reeder
J. C. George.
1864 Robert Thompson
C. G. Barr.
J. D. Lambert. J. M. Reeder.
1865 Robert Thompson
John Carlton
J. D. Lambert.
Stephen Morrison.
1866 Robert Thompson
John Carlton
II. B. South worth
John George.
1867 Robert Thompson ..
Ira W. Hand.
Henry L. Badger.
Benjamin Thompson.
1868 Robert Thompson
Thomas Ward
Davis Atkins.
Thomas Dougherty.
1869 Robert Thompson
Thomas Ward
J. D. Lambert.
Patrick Moran.
1870 Robert Thompson
Thomas Ward
W. D. Willoughby
Patrick Moran.
1871 Robert Thompson J. B. Bell
W. D. Willoughby
Hosea Spencer.
1872 Benjamin Thompson A. C. Miller
Austin Gibbons
Charles O' Donnell.
1873 Benjamin Thompson J. B. Bell
Austin Gibbons
James Dunbar.
1874 Benjamin Thompson. J. B. Bell ..
Johnson Vankirk
Patrick Riordan.
1875 E. D. Brown.
J. B. Bell.
Louis Gillet.
Patrick Lannan.
1876 E. D. Brown.
J. B. Bell
Edward Farrage
Patrick Lannan.
1877 E. D. Brown.
J. B. Bell
Louis Gillet
Patrick Lannan.
The officers elect for 1878 are E. D. Brown, Supervisor ; J. B. Bell, Clerk ; Louis Gillet, Assessor ; Patrick Riordan, Collector; Philip Gibbons, Peter Killeen and Matthew MeDermott, Road Commissioners; M. McDonnell, Lyman
432
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Moore and Peter Webber, Constables ; Bernard Murphy and Joseph Bellott. Justices of the Peace, and J. A. Cavanaugh, School Treasurer.
The first school taught in the neighborhood was about the year 1852. A few families joined together and built a small log cabin, in which Hannah Putnam, as now remembered. taught the first term. The school, though organ- ized largely for the benefit of children living in Nevada Township, was in reality across the line, in Grundy County. These facilities, limited as they were, answered the demands until 1855, when what was and is still known as the " Thompson School " was organized and a school house erected. The house was erected from funds belonging to the county, which amount was subsequently paid back to the county fund. At the time of which we speak, there were but thirty-two persons under 21 years of age, and the school numbered only about eighteen scholars belonging to the township ; but by a law then in force, children from adjoining districts, and even in adjacent townships, where schools had not been organized, were permitted to attend; and from these neighbor- hoods a few scholars attended. Ten years later, we find large accessions have been made to the population. The land has all been entered and mostly put under cultivation. Dozens of new farms have been opened, roads and bridges have been built, and the towit has a largely improved appearance. In the item of schools, a decided interest has been taken, and very satisfactory advance is observable. From the little log cabin in 1852 to the more pretentious frame building in 1856, the number increased, by 1866, to five respectable school houses, with 120 scholars in attendance. From thirty-two persons under 21 years of age, during the ten years, we find an increase of nearly three hundred; and while, in 1856, the whole amount expended for educational pur- poses in this township was but $54.55, in 1866 it was $761.
An idea of the condition of schools at this date may be gathered from the following figures, extracted from the Township Treasurer's report for 1878 :
Number of schools
9
Number of scholars enrolled. 350
Number of persons between 6 and 21 418
Number of persons under 21 601
Number of teachers 18
Special tax raised for school purposes $1,838 00
Whole amount paid teachers. 1.760 00
Whole amount paid for all school purposes 3,547 00
Amount of township school fund.
5.655 00
From the above it will be readily seen that the increase and improvement in schools must have been quite marked, comparing very favorably with other townships.
There is not at this time what might be termed a real poor school house in the township ; on the contrary. all are comfortable, and most of them furnished with good desks, maps, charts and other conveniences for making first class schools.
433
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The call of the country in 1861, to rescue the Government from the hands of those who sought its destruction, was not unheeded by the citizens of Nevada Township. As did Putnam, when informed that the country was being over- run by the British, they left their plows in the furrows, and, mounting the horses that had been unhitched therefrom, galloped off to the nearest recruiting office, and enrolled their names "for three years or during the war." We should like to follow them in all of their weary marches and their hard-fought battles. and give them credit for all of their bravery, for their noble endurance of hunger, thirst and cold, for sore feet and tired limbs ; but time and space forbid but a short mention of the names of those who did still more-who even laid down their lives that the country which they loved better than their own lives might live. Among those who enlisted from this township, who went out to fight their country's battles and returned not, are remembered Stephen Kyle, Orson Spencer. Charles Spencer. John Collister, Henry Collister, John Kyler. Frank Kimberg and Frank Angle. Though their bones lie, some in the soil where they fell, and some nearer home, where friendly hands removed them, yet are neither they nor their valiant deeds forgotten.
Nevada Township is a full Congressional town, and is described as Town- ship 30 north, Range 6 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is bounded on the north by Grundy County, on the east by Dwight Township, on the south by Esmen, and on the west by Sunbury. It is crossed, from east to west, on the half section line a mile and a half from the north line of the township, by the west branch of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, and from the northeast to the southwest by the main line of the same road, which cuts off two sections from the southeast corner. The west branch of Mazon Creek rises in the southwest part, and flows northeast and north, leaving the town at a point near the middle of the north line of Section 1. This creek furnishes an ample supply of stock water for the farms through which it flows. In the north part of Section 1 is a fine little grove of timber, not so extensive, how- ever, as formerly, as many of the trees have been felled and used for fuel and fencing. The soil is very fine and deep, being well adapted for the raising of corn, oats and rye, immense quantities of which are produced. The total valu- ation of real and personal property for 1877 was $390,760.
VILLAGE OF NEVADA.
The village of Nevada was laid out and platted for William Shephard, of Jersey County, Ill., from Section 8. The plat consists of forty-five acres, and was surveyed by A. C. Huetson, County Surveyor, February 10, 1870.
Prior to 1868, the citizens of Nevada Township had not thought of a closer market for their grain and other produce than Odell and Dwight. The valuable accession to the commercial facilities of this section, of the main line, had so recently been completed that they were scarcely ready to believe that they had need for more. However, in 1869, the western division was built, and immedi- ately a new trading point was established in the midst. The line had but
434
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
been completed, and the location for a station fixed, when it was realized by a number of shrewd business men that this must soon be a point of considerable significance. With a large scope of territory, consisting of such fine farming lands as is embraced in Nevada and the eastern part of Sunbury, it could not be otherwise than that a trading point would develop here, comparing favor- ably in extent and importance with others on the line.
The first to realize these facts was E. D. Brown, who was then residing in the township. He built the first house, in the Spring of 1870, removed his family at once to the station, opened a store, and began buying grain. For the purpose of handling grain, he at first erected a small granary. To this, as circum- stances required, he made additions, until it embraced the large elevator now occupied by A. M. Wright & Co., of Chicago. He continued the store until it was burned down, in April, 1875, and the grain business until the following Spring.
Buildings were erected here as nearly in the order in which they are named as can now be remembered.
After Brown had completed the buildings already mentioned, he erected the dwelling house in which he has since resided, and into which he removed in the Fall of 1870.
Michael Bridell and family came from West Virginia in the Fall of 1870. and built a house which was at first used as a saloon, but in which, a few months later, was opened a store of general merchandise. The store, however, had but a short existence, and he returned to his former occupation, that of a carpenter, and Mrs. Bridell opened up a millinery establishment. which she has kept up ever since.
John B. Simpson came from Gardner, in the Fall of 1870, and built a blacksmith shop, and worked at the trade during the Fall and Winter. Early in the Spring of 1871, he built himself a dwelling house and brought his family to the place. His shop was the first of its kind, and the " village black- smith" still plies the bellows, and from early inorn till the setting sun the sharp ring of his anvil may still be heard.
Louis, Joseph and Julius Gillet, three brothers, and Frenchmen, resided in the township when the railroad was built, and, on its completion, came to the station to live. They reared them a stable in the Fall of 1871, in which they "kept house" during the ensuing Winter and most of the next Summer. In the Fall of 1872, they built a more comfortable abode, and turned the stable over to its legitimate purposes.
H. F. Burr and family removed to this place in the Spring of 1872, and erected a store and dwelling house, in which he set up a stock of hardware. They subsequently removed to Kansas.
In the Fall of 1872, A. C. Miller arrived and built a dwelling house. He has since removed.
435
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
In the Spring of 1873, Thomas Brady, from Grundy County, erected a store building, for the purpose of opening a dry goods and grocery house, but did not prosper well, and returned to his former home. In the Fall of 1872. J. A. Cavanaugh and family arrived from La Salle County. He came for the purpose of engaging in the grain and stock trade, in which business he has been eminently successful. The country about the station is well adapted to the raising of corn. and immense quantities of it are shipped from this point. Cavanaugh at first built a small granary, and in this handled grain during the Winter of 1872-3. The following Spring, he erected the large elevator which he now operates.
As soon as the station was located, and people commenced to settle at the place, demands began to arise for postal, educational and church accommoda- tions. Heretofore Dwight and Odell, though somewhat distant, had served the people of this vicinity with postal facilities, but when business began to open at the station. the Government established a post office.
E. D. Brown was appointed first Postmaster. His successors have been E. F. Eaton, H. F. Brown, James K. Dean, B. Dow, Henry Devoe and George 'Baker. At present, the office is held by B. Dow.
The only church in the village, and indeed in the township, is that of the Methodists. It was organized soon after the village began to build, and at first consisted of about ten members. A convenient place for holding public meet- ings was very desirable, and a proposition to erect a church edifice met a hearty response; and very soon a sufficient amount was pledged to warrant the society in building. Lewis Springer, as Pastor, had charge of the society in 1873, and it was under his administration that the work began. The subscrip- tions were procured largely through the influence and personal solicitation of E. D. Brown. The house cost $1,800, and is twenty-six feet in width and forty- two in length. It is well built, neatly furnished throughout, and compares favorably in size and style with similar buildings in towns of larger size. The society has been quite successful, not only financially, but in increase of mem- bers and influence. The present membership is about one hundred. Rev. W. R. Phillips is the present Pastor, and resides in the village.
So far, educational advantages have been quite limited ; and until last year no school had been organized at the place. The only privileges of the kind heretofore had been those afforded by the district school, some distance from the village. Last Winter, however, a room was hired in town, Emma Carlisle en- ployed as teacher, and a school, consisting of about forty pupils, established. The citizens contemplate the immediate erection of a school building, commen- surate with their wants, within the limits of the village.
Business is represented here at present by J. A. Cavanaugh and A. M. Wright & Co., who deal in grain and lumber; A. W. Davis and J. A. Cava- naugh, dealers in dry goods and groceries ; B. B. Dow, dealer in drugs and medicines ; and various other shops and stores common to a village of like size.
436
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The population of the town, at this time, is about 200.
As an indication of the business transacted at the station, the following - figures, kindly furnished by the Agent of the C., A. & St. Louis R. R., John Jamison, are given :
Received from freights forwarded, 1877 16 .. received, 66
$8,095 00
1,737 00
$9,832 00
ROOK'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
This township is one of the best watered in the county. It is crossed by Scattering Point Creek in its western part; by Rook's Creek, from which it receives its name, through the eastern and central portions ; by the Vermilion River, in the northeast corner, and variously traversed by numerous small tribu- taries of these streams. The eastern and northern parts are well timbered. though the large trees fell before the axe of the pioneer, and by the old water mills were rapidly converted into lumber.
Away from the streams, the surface of the township is rather undulating, and well adapted to stock grazing. The land is very productive, and many of the farmers confine their occupation to raising grain. In the carly settlement of the township, wheat was one of the principal crops grown. Of late years, however, corn has done better and is now the principal grain crop grown. Oats and rye do well and are raised to a limited extent.
The earliest settlement in this township dates prior to the Black Hawk war. It is a noticeable fact, and one the reader cannot well pass by in these pages, that all early settlers located near the timber. There were many causes tend- ing to this move. The majority came from a wooded country, and, not know- ing the prairie could be cultivated and having no implements with which to do it, had they desired, allowed it to remain as nature formed it. Being accus- tomed to log cabins, large fireplaces (and who of us does not yet love to linger over the wide old fireplace ?), with the blazing log fire, they very naturally sought for the same comforts in their new home. Coal was not then to be had; hence we find the pioneers of Western life, with scarce an exception, taking their claims near the timber, and, in many cases, planting their first crops there.
The first settler in the township was Roderick Rook, from whom the creek and the township afterward received each its name. He brought his family here in the latter part of 1830, and located a claim where is now the farm of Nathan Huston. Mr. Rook came from Pennsylvania to the Sucker State, and, though this part was then a wilderness, with hardly an inhabitant, with his German pertinacity, he struck boldly out for it, and that year found a suitable home and determined to locate.
At that date, there was not a sign of civilization where Pontiac now stands, and not a village in this part of Illinois could be found. The nearest point was Bloomington, on the south. then scarcely worth the name of a village. Ottawa,
ODELL TP. Mr. leleary
-
439
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
on the north, was just coming into notice ; Chicago was a small trading village, with more Indians than white men ; Springfield was only a small town ; Jack- sonville had about 200 inhabitants ; while "Egypt" was the "land of corn and wine " to many a frontier settler, who replenished his crop of corn from that locality when nature failed him or his supply was exhausted.
Mr. Rook built a small cabin immediately on his arrival, and began the sub- jugation of his pioneer farm. Mr. John Johnson, who followed him in 1833, thinks he came in the Spring of 1831, and raised a crop that season. He is certain he preceded Mr. Garret Blue, the second settler in the present bounds of Rook's Creek Township, whom he thinks came in the Autumn of 1831. Mr. Rook remained on his claim until about 1835, when he sold to Robert Brecken- ridge and went to Missouri. From that State, as though desirous of getting further in advance of settlements, he went to Texas. In all his removals, his family remained with him, and with him went to the Lone Star State.
Mr. Blue, already mentioned, was a native of Virginia. From the Old Dominion, he went to Ohio, while that State was in its infancy. There he heard of the rich, grassy prairies of Illinois, and determined to emigrate thither. Hence, we find him, during the Summer of 1830 or 1831, threading his way across the State of Indiana, then thinly settled, and, by the time the frost came, he was on the banks of Rook's Creek and preparing to pass the Winter. His claim is now the farm of James Marks, whose father, Jacob, came to the settlement in 1836, and purchased Mr. Blue's claim.
Mr. Blue's family consists of his wife and several children. Mrs. Johnson thinks a daughter of his, Keziah, was the first white child born here, and that the marriage of another daughter, May, to Lemuel Barrett, was the first nup- tial event in the settlement. "We generally had a frolic, when a marriage occurred in the neighborhood," said Mrs. Johnson, in a conversation with the writer, " but when Mary was married, there wasn't enough to make a frolic, if we had invited everybody on the creek." Weddings were a source of great pleasure to the pioneers, and, when one occurred, everybody was always invited. A greater affront could not have been given than to have omitted inviting any neighbor to a wedding. It was rarely, if ever, done, and only when a feud or an ill-feeling existed between the family of the groom or bride and some of their neighbors-a state of feeling rarely existing.
A settlement of a few families was made on the eastern side of Rook's Creek about 1831 or 1832, by a Mr. Hill, David Kinkaid, and a Mr. Moxley. These persons, it seems, made a very short stay, removing in a year or two after their settlement. They were, no doubt, only looking for a permanent location, and not feeling satisfied with the country here, soon left for other parts. While living here, Mrs. Hill died. This is believed to be the first death in the settle- ment. So of all the pioneers who had so bravely endured the trials incident to frontier life, Mrs. Hill was the first to lay herself down in that quiet sleep that "knows no waking."
440
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
We have digressed somewhat in our narrative, and will return to Mr. Blue. He, as has been narrated, sold to Jacob Marks. When Mr. Marks took pos- session, Mr. Blue went to Wolf Point, where he passed the remainder of his days. One of his daughters married and removed further west; the other is now the wife of Reuben Bennett, of Amity Township.
One of the earliest residents near the timber skirting Rook's Creek was Andrew McMillan, whose claim was in Pontiac Township. His sons were grown when they came. It was in his house that the first election for county officers was held, May 8, 1837, when the highest number of votes any candidate received was eighty-six.
Mr. John Johnson, already referred to, came to the settlement in August, 1833. He brought his family first to the cabin of Mr. Blue, with whom he remained until his crops were gathered. He then went to his own selected claim, and there he is yet living. He built a small log cabin. in which they lived until he was able to erect a better one. His first son occupied the site of his present home, and here he and his family passed many happy days.
The oft repeated story of the emigrant's removal to the West need hardly be repeated here. It was substantially the same in all cases. Almost all came in the large canvas-covered wagons, drawn by as many horses as their means allowed them to own. On the way, they camped out when no sheltering house could be found. and prepared their evening, morning and noon meals by the roadside over a fire kindled for the purpose. In this way he journeyed on, over plains, through forests, fording streams, with the sun, in many cases, his only guide from one landmark to another. When he arrived at his destination, his first care was the erection of a cabin, which, with its mud or puncheon. floor, its stiek chimney, rude door, and no window save the openings left here and there between the logs, sufficed him many days for a house. Mr. Johnson says that when he arrived on the banks of Rook's Creek, no families save those mentioned-Mr. Rook's and Mr. Blue's-were living in the confines of what is now Town 28, Range 4 east. He made the third actual settler, the families of Mr. Hill, Mr. Kinkaid and Mr. Moxley, from their short stay, not being counted among actual settlers. Mr. Johnson says concerning the time of his settlement, "The prairie west of me was as wild as it ever was. There was not a house to be seen anywhere on it, and one could travel many miles before he would find one. Wolves were as plenty. as blackberries, and were rather bold in their movements. I could have shot lots of them from my cabin door. They would commonly stay in the prairie in the daytime, and come to the woods at night. Deer were not so plenty at first as after a few years. The Kickapoo Indians had hunted a good deal around here, and had driven them away. They killed more does than bucks, and hence put a check on their increase." After a few years, however, they increased rapidly, and Mr. John- son and other pioneers tell how they could go out on the prairie any time and see from fifty to one hundred. The early settlers often supplied themselves
441
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
with clothing by tanning the hide of the deer, dressing it with oil and making pants or cloaks. If tanned and dressed properly, the hide would always remain pliable, and not shrink when wet, and was very durable. Wild dueks, geese, cranes and prairie chickens abounded then in great numbers. They fur- nished plenty of food for the early settlers, and afforded fine opportunities to any wandering Nimrod who desired to enjoy this healthful sport. The grad- ual encroachment of the white man drove away these natives of the prairies, until now not one remains.
The next settler after Mr. Johnson was Mr. Robert Breckenridge. He came in 1834 ; purchased the claim of Mr. Rook ; returned to Ohio, and sent his boys to the new home. They brought part of their goods in wagons, and shipped part by water around to Hennepin, where they found them, and from thence brought them to Rook's Creek.
Another native of the Buckeye State, Thomas Pendiel, with his brother David, came about the same time. They did not remain long, however, remov- ing to some other locality.
David Corbin also came to Rook's Creek about the same date, from the Vermilion River. A short time after this, the land was surveyed and the settlers were required to go to Danville to the land office and pay for their claims. They commonly paid Government priee, $1.25 per acre, and were always allowed first choice in the entry of their homesteads. Did a speculator attempt to over- bid them at the land sale, they were a kind of law unto themselves, and per- suaded him not to enforce his claim, and nearly always prevented him from bidding against any of them. He must content himself with unsettled lands, and generally acceded to the demands of the settlers.
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