USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 49
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506
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
As soon as it was settled that a station was to be located here, this became a busy point indeed. Lots were bought, houses were built, stores opened, shops erected, and, within less than a year, almost every kind of business carried on in a town a dozen years old was flourishing.
The first building erected was the one afterward occupied by Hiram and Wesley Grable, of Wenona, as a store room. John Gossett followed soon after with a portion of the hotel to be used as a boarding house. The first dwelling was put up by Peter Bennet.
The road at first refused to make a station of Ancona ; and, consequently, some of its best institutions were removed to this point, among which were Amos Bosserman and the Masonic Lodge. Bosserman was made agent of the road at this place, and still remains in the position. The Lodge, previously known as Ancona Lodge, was removed the year following the establishment of the town : and in 1877, its name was changed to Long Point Lodge. This Lodge was organized in October, 1866. The first officers were : Abel Bradley, W. M .; O. Chubbuck, S. W .; J. C. Mills, J. W .; J. B. Phillips, Treas .; A. J. Bosser- man, Sec .; E. L. Stratton and J. C. Fulton. Deacons ; and I. D. Bullock, Tiler. The present officers are A. J. Bosserman, W. M .; S. D. Carson, S. W .; E. L. Stratton, J. W., A. M. Taggart, Sec .; Wm. Miller, Treas.
The township of Long Point bore an honorable part in the struggle for the preservation of the Union. The promptness with which volunteers flocked to the standard of the country was not surpassed by that of any other community. and several of them sacrificed their lives in their efforts to protect it.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
This is one of the latest organized townships in the county. It was sparsely settled until the commencement of the war, and from the date of its earliest settlement was attached to Odell for judicial purpose. It remained in this connection until February 2, 1864, when, upon a petition from twenty-four of its citizens, it was set off into a township by itself, and named " Union." As a Congressional township, it is Town 29, Range 7.
The earliest settler in its limits was Mr. John Harbison, who, with his family, came from Pennsylvania in 1856, and settled on land belonging to Mr. Alex. Campbell, a native of the same State, and a large land owner in the township. He knew Mr. Harbison in his Eastern home, and, offering him liberal encouragement to come West, induced him to try his fortune in the Prairie State. That same season, a Mr. Scott located in the township, and Mr. Joseph Walton, with his family, came from Boston, Mass., and settled near them. These three families were the pioneers of Union Township. They were the first to subdue it from the hand of nature to its present condition, and the leaders in its cultivation. The last mentioned, Mr. Walton, sold out in 1864. and returned to the East. When they came to this part of Livingston County.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
not an inhabitant dwelt near them, and not a road was laid out to mark their way. They found the township a beautiful undulating prairie, possessed of an. excellent soil, and traversed by two small ereeks. In many places large sloughs were found, which, since the settlement of the township, have been ditched, and, in many cases, are now valuable pasture lands. The township represents now an unbroken series of excellent farms, all in an advanced state of cultiva- tion, and all showing in a remarkable degree the rapid progress of its settlers.
Hardly had these three families got settled, when they were joined by Westly and Fletcher Hedenburg, who purchased a section of land on which Fletcher settled, and on which he remained in the pursuit of farming until his death in 1868 or 1869. Westly was then a resident of St. Louis, and a dealer in real estate. He never lived in the township, coming occasionally to attend to his interests here and to visit his brother. He is now living in Chicago. William and Hugh Thompson were also land owners at that date.
The first settler of 1857 was Mr. Levi Dell, who came with his family from Williamsburg, Penn., and opened a farm. When the war broke out, he- enlisted in the army of the Union, and in one of the engagements was severely wounded. After his return he sold his property and removed to Chicago. Mr. Joseph Dell settled the same year. His wife died the next year, and is believed to be the first death in the limits of the township. Her grave was by some means unmarked, and is now unknown and trodden over by the foot of the plowman as he yearly turns the lea. In 1858, Mr. Arthur Marshall came from Belmont County, Ohio. He soon after married one of Mr. Thompson's daughters, and became a resident of the township.
The following Summer, Mr. Samuel Hoke brought his wife and three chil- dren from Blair County, Penn .. and located on his present farm.
While a resident of the Keystone State and a mechanic in his native town, he became acquainted with the owner of much of the land east of Odell, in Livingston County, and, desirous of seeking a location and an avocation more conducive to his health, was induced to try the West, and became a farmer. After selling his property there, like, others of his day, he took the cars for Chicago, and from there to his newly chosen Western home. Emigrants of his day were not obliged, like their predecessors, to come West with ox or horse teams, drawing the huge emigrant wagon, but could come by a much swifter and easier way-the railroad. While many followed the example of their ances- tors, in their western journeys, none of them were compelled to, and only adopted that mode of migration from choice.
Mr. Hoke states that on his arrival, Odell contained a small grocery, the station house, and probably a small shop or two. The storekeeper was Peter Lundgren, still a resident of Odell. There was no road out to the new settle- ment, each one going in as direct a line across the prairie to his home as the nature of the country allowed. It was nearly twenty miles to the east before a habitation was encountered; while to the south it was nearly eight miles
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
before a similar structure was to be seen. In order to obtain a certain road to Odell, Mr. Hoke drove there with a heavy wagon while the ground was quite wet, and thereby made a track that remained plainly apparent some time. This track the others gradually began to follow, and the first road from Odell to Union Township was established. As many of the first residents were liable to get lost on their way to Pontiac, there being no road there, Mr. Hedenberg took his breaking plow and made a furrow directly from the settlement to the county seat. By following this, the settlers soon had a road quite plainly marked, and which remained in use until the laying out of roads on the section lines. This road was a matter of considerable importance to the earliest settlers, as they were compelled to go to Pontiac to mill, and to attend to any necessary legal business incident to the purchase of their farms, or business affairs. Odell was their post office and usual trading point, although some preferred Dwight, then a small place.
Early in the Autumn of 1859 Mrs. Walton opened, in her house, the first school in the neighborhood, and conducted it successfully a few months. On Oct. 20th, Mrs. Hoke began a similar undertaking in her residence. Mrs. Wal- ton's school was paid by subscription, the common price being $1.50 per scholar. Mrs. Hoke taught her school six months, in compliance with the law, which, at that time, required that number of months to entitle the district to any public money. She received $20 per month-$120 in all-and, what would delight many of us now, received her pay in gold. She was required to teach six days in the week ; and states now, that she did all her house work mornings and evenings, and was always punctually at her post. This was the first public school in the township; and taking into account all its inconveniences, was quite a success. Mrs. Hoke relates, that while attending to her school duties, one day, she was stopped by a knock at the door, which, when opened, disclosed to her view a man, shivering with the cold, and apparently suffering from its effects. He inquired if he could bring his family, consisting of eleven persons, to the fire to warm. It was a bitterly cold day, and the family had been, for some time, traveling over the cheerless prairie; and as they were rough looking and weary from exposure to the weather, no one would extend to them a hos- pitable hand. Mrs. Hoke, however, immediately granted their request ; took all in and warmed them, and furnished them a bountiful dinner. They were exceedingly grateful for this kindness; and to render some equivalent, the stranger, who proved to be Dr. Wild, and on his way to his claim, left a colt almost old enough to work, for Mr. Hoke, refusing his note for it, telling him his word was enough, and as he desired a horse, to take this one and pay when- ever he could. It is worth while to mention, that when Mrs. Hoke finished her school, part of the money was used to pay for the colt! The doctor, after thoroughly warming himself and family, went on, a most grateful and much encouraged man. This incident, like many others of a similar nature, shows something of the discomforts endured at that date, and the dangers encountered in traveling over a new country.
Albert Moon
(DECEASED) ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF READING TOWNSHIP WHO SETTLED IN AUG.1833
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The Spring after Mrs. Hoke's school closed, Miss Ellen Craig was employed to teach a Summer school, and continued in Mr. Hoke's house. While this school was going on, the residents were erecting a school house, to be ready for the Winter term. They had experienced some difficulty with non-resident land owners concerning taxing their lands, but had carried the day, and organized themselves into a school district and were ready to open a school by the time frost came. The election for School Trustees was held in the Spring of 1860, Mr. Hoke thinks. Frank Whipple built a house on Dr. Brown's land, about this time. He and the doctor came from La Salle County. The doctor was a large land owner, and, consequently, opposed to taxation to support schools from which he derived no immediate benefit, and seemed to forget that educat- ing any persons near property belonging to him made that property more secure. The school element prevailed, as we have mentioned, and that Winter the first public school house was opened in the bounds of the township. Arthur Mar- shall, James Hamilton and Mr. Hoke were elected the first School Trustees, and before the year had gone by another district was formed, and soon another, and so on, until, when Union Township was formed from Odell. nine districts were made, in a part of which houses were at once built. The last school house in the township was built in 1876, and school opened in it that Winter. They are well sustained, are conducted about seven months during the year, often longer, and are a credit to the township.
Before the school houses were built, religious meetings were held in the houses of the settlers, generally at Mr. Hedenberg's. When this was not the case, especially after the roads were opened, and during that part of the year when they were in good repair, many went to Odell and Dwight to attend church. As the school houses were erected, in many of them Sunday schools were opened and sustained during the Summer months. This practice was kept up until about 1866, when the Presbyterians living in the township con- cluded to organize a church, and thereby bring preaching nearer to them. Rev. G. S. Bascom often came from Odell, afoot, to the school house where the congre- gation met, preached to them, and returned the same evening. Old Dr. Bettle- heim, a man who spoke several languages, and who at one time was interpreter to the United States Legation at Japan, often came to the little church and ministered to them. Although Presbyterian in name, it was composed of members of several denominations united under that name. Rev. Mr. Hargrave, a former missionary to India, was one of the first pastors after the church was formally organized. Rev. Dr. Rabe is the present Pastor, the congregation numbering over one hundred members, and still using the school house.
The German Catholics, formerly attending church in Odell and Dwight, in 1876 organized a church in Union Township, and soon after built a neat frame church. The congregation numbers upward of one hundred members, and at present does not sustain regular services.
R.
512
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The general reader may be at a loss to know why the lands comprising this township were so long allowed to remain unoccupied. The chief reason lies in the fact that, until after the completion of the railroads through this part of the State, no market nearer than Chicago could be had to sell farm products. Another reason was this : the township lay in the canal grant of lands, and, in some instances, land was not offered for sale until after 1850. These lands at first, in this township, sold for $6.00 and $7.00 per acre, on long time. They rose rapidly in value, however, and soon brought three times those prices. When the first sale of the school section was made, one-half sold for only about $8.00 per acre. A few years after, the remainder brought $24 per acre. All im- proved land is now worth from $40 to $60 per acre.
The surface is sufficiently rolling to prevent a failure from excessive rains, or from drought. Good water is easily obtained at a moderate depth, and is gen- erally used in watering stock instead of the surface slough water, not always to be depended upon in dry seasons.
When the township was organized in 1864 active measures were at once taken to secure good roads. Mr. James C. Brown was elected Supervisor at the Spring election, and before long the benefit from this form of government from that of an adjunct of Odell Township was quite apparent. From that time forward, the progress has been strongly marked, until Union Township, although one of the youngest in the county, is now one of the best.
In politics the people are pretty evenly divided. During the war they were strongly in favor of the Union, and gave many a brave soldier to the defense of the country. As these generally enlisted in Dwight, Odell or Pon- tiac, they were credited to those places. The residents of the township will, however, know them each by name, and in the War Record of the county, pub- lished elsewhere in these pages, can readily trace each one in his life in the army.
We have stated the township was formed in February, 1864. The elec- tions have been regularly held each year since, the township making no changes in its limits. The present officers are: Assessor, Edward Collins ; Clerk, William Trecker ; Supervisor, W. E. Thompson ; Road Commissioners, John Fulton and J. E. C. Ebersoll : Collector, Peter Trecker ; William A. Hutch- ins and J. A. Jones, Justices of the Peace.
EPPARD'S POINT TOWNSHIP.
Town 27 north, Range 5 east, lies directly south of Pontiac, and is one of the best irrigated townships in the county. Rook's Creek traverses the west- ern side of the township, Turtle Creek the center, and Hickory the eastern portion These all find an outlet in the Vermilion River, which flows near the northeast corner. . All these creeks are more or less skirted by timber, and all of them were the scene of the first settlements in the township. The early residents found here material for the erection of their cabins, fuel and a natural
1
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
protector from the cold of Winter. Around their primitive cabin homes clus- tered a memory fraught with incidents of the past. over which our grand- sires and grandams love to linger.
Excellent timber grew along the banks of the streams, and occasionally in groves, in the early days of its settlement, and afforded a considerable source of revenue to those who cared to cut it, construct mills and saw it into lumber. The first persons engaging in this enterprise were nearly always in advance of civilization, yet a factor in the history of the country. They were not at all particular in ascertaining whether the timber land was entered or whether the General Government was paid for it. A kind of general disregard exists in the minds of many people concerning the property of governments or of large corporations. This spirit was largely prevalent among those who despoiled the forests of their choicest trees, and who thereby rendered the life of the early actual settlers more difficult.
The first settlers in the country were generally denominated "squatters." They were said to " squat " on any piece of land that suited their fancy. If they remained until the land came into market, and went to the land office to enter it legally, they were always allowed the first choice and chance in secur- ing the claim they had chosen. It was unsafe for speculators to purchase and endeavor to hold such a claim. The squatters were a kind of law unto them- selves, and dealt with such persons in a summary manner, seldom if ever allow- ing them to occupy a claim thus obtained. These measures, vigorous as they were, almost always secured them the homes for which they had labored, and considering the times and the known greed and rapacity of the speculators, the measures may be looked on as just.
The first residents of Eppard's Point were the squatters. Of those known to belong to this class, living in this township, were the Eppard, Hayes, Pen- dle, Brock. Suttle and Anderson families, but one of whom now remains. Just when they settled cannot now be accurately stated. It is known to be before the land came into market, and was probably about the year 1834 or 1835. When the township was organized in the Winter of 1857-58, it received the name Eppard's Point from one of these families, supposed to be the earliest settler here. Of the heads of the families named. Eppard, Suttle. Hayes and Tuttle have moved away.
These persons were all squatters. Those who moved away sold their claims to others who have since improved them. When they came Pontiac was hardly known ; Bloomington was a primitive frontier town ; Ottawa was the principal trading point for this part of Illinois, while Chicago was one of its chief mar- kets. They are all who are now known to have located prior to 1850 ; and many of them made but a short stay.
In the Fall of that year, Judge Eli Myer located in the western part of the township on land previously entered by some of these squatters. He lived to become a very prominent man in the township, and held several offices of trust
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
in it. He was one of the Associate Justices of the county several years before the present system of township organization was adopted. His death occurred some years since, one of his last acts being to give $600 from his property to aid in the erection of the Ocoya Baptist Church. He was always a firm friend of education and religion, and was the first teacher in the township, and the first School Treasurer and Clerk after its organization.
The next Spring, John Powell and Frank and Samuel Umphenour located. They, like Judge Myer, settled near the timber. Mr. Powell made his home on Section 29, near a fine spring. Here he lived until a few years ago, when he sold and came to Pontiac Township, where he now resides. Samuel Umphen- our vet resides in the township. Frank Umphenour died some years ago. The next year after these came 'Squire Payne, John Umphenour, Alexander and John Morton, Thos. B. Craycraft and Samuel and John St. John settled. Of these 'Squire Payne is yet on his original claim ; John Umphenour is dead ; John Morton is still living on his farm ; Alexander Morton removed to Pontiac, where he died a few years ago : Thos. B. Craycraft is dead ; Samuel St. John is now residing in Chenoa, while John St. John, his brother, is numbered among those who have gone to that bourn from which no one returns.
During the year 1853, probably in the Spring and Summer, D. W. Young, Washington Stafford, Addison Muzzy, Samuel Freeman, Wm. Vickroy, Wm. Griffith and J. H. Turman, joined the other settlers and became residents.
The next year marks the opening of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Rail- road and a consequent rush to all parts of the county was the result. Eppard's Point partook of the inflation of emigration, and filled so rapidly that to enu- merate all who came would be a repetition of names given in the biographical part of this book. Of those who came in 1853, Messrs. Young, Vickroy and Griffith moved away. Muzzy and Stafford are yet residents, and Freeman and Turman are dead.
Among those who located in 1854, Asbury Minier may well be mentioned. 1
The completion of the railroad in the Summer of that year gave the town, or settlement it may better be termed, a post office, near where the first school house was built, just below where the railroad crosses Rook's Creek, which name the 1 office received, and was continued until the establishment of Ocoya.
This village was laid out by Jonathan Duff and A. W. Cowan, then partners !! in the banking business in Pontiac. The land where the village is situated was entered by Peter A. Badeau, in June, 1854. After passing through the hands of several owners, it was purchased by Charles Roadnight, then General Freight Agent of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, who soon after erected a small warehouse and depot.
Part of the warehouse was used as a store, Alexander Martin generally attending to the business of Agent, Postmaster and Storekeeper. D. S. Shire- man and E. M. Babbitt began about this time to buy grain, and were owners of the stock of goods in the little store.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
It was during the Winter of 1858-59, that Reuben Macy came to the "Corners," as the village was then often termed, and taught the school, and with others in the community began to discuss the feasibility of getting a town here. He had been an early settler in Nebraska Township, from whence he moved to a farm near Pontiac, where he was living when he came to Ocoya to teach. Nothing further was done, however, and the town remained at a stand-still nearly ten years. A few goods were kept in the little store, a few bushels of grain annually purchased, and the mail was daily put off to the few who made this their post office.
Leaving the village, if it may be called such, we will return to the other parts of the township, which we left just entering on the year 1854.
Soon after 'Squire Payne's arrival, sickness appeared in a malignant forni among his children, and before long four of them were consigned to any early grave. They were buried near the creek, on a beautiful knoll, which, in after years became a general burying ground, and which is yet used.
The year before the advent of the railroad, the settlers determined to erect a school house, for well they knew such an insitution among them was well worth its price. They got together, as all pioneers did for such occasions, cut and notched logs for its construction, and on an appointed day, all the settlers on the creek came to assist in the raising. It was covered with " shakes," held on by weight poles, had a strong wooden door, a good floor, and, for those days, what was to many a luxury, had a good box stove, for warmth. Mr. Eli Myer taught school in this log structure, now a worn-out affair, on the farm of D. J. Taylor, where it passed away its days as an out-house for cattle. The school continued for three months, and though the first in a school house in the town- ship, was the second school therein, Mr. Myer having taught a few months the previous Winter in his own cabin.
The log school house, with its slab seats and slab desks, continued alone until about 1856, when a school house was built near the Rook's Creek Rail- road bridge, the first under the district system, and here Mr. Reuben Macy taught school the next Winter.
Another was also built, in the northeastern part of the township, about this date, for a few families had located here and had succeeded in getting a school house built.
In this part of the township, Thomas Virgin, S. P. Garner, Thomas Car- son and Nelson Guthrie were among the earliest settlers. Mr. Virgin was a native of Indiana, and remained here until 1865, when he sold his farm to W. H. Wagner and removed to La Salle County. Wagner is still living on this farm. Garner has also removed, having sold his farm to W. T. Russell. Car- son went to Missouri. while Guthrie, of all these, is the only one still living on his first claim.
These residents erected a school house about the time mentioned. which they occupied both for educational and religious purposes as long as it could be kept
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