The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 54

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr.
Number of Pages: 1092

USA > Illinois > McLean County > The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 54

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The following year, Rev. C. D. James had charge of the circuit, and Mr. Wams- ley was his assistant. This year, the "Sparta " Church on Capt. Stringfield's land, southeast of Section 11, was built of uniform size with the others. A. M. Stringfield, Albert Welch, E. J. Moore and Mr. Ijams were largely instrumental in carrying on this work. The circuit preachers since then have been Cornelius Bradshaw, S. Martin, Arthur Bradshaw, Thomas Simmons, Messrs. Lattimer, Sail, Joseph Long, McCoy and John Enerly. The circuit belongs to the Bloomington District, Illinois Conference. The churches are all in a prosperous condition, and well attended, and flourishing; Sab- bath schools maintained. During the war, there were few preachers here; many of them were away with the army, and for a time Mr. Wamsley was about the only ordained minister in the neighborhood, and as such was called on very frequently to perform services at weddings and funerals for many miles around. For this, among other reasons, he is very widely known. He is not now a member of the church which he so long and faithfully served. Owing to some unpleasantness, he withdrew, and connected himself with the Christian Union Society.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

Questions and animosities growing out of the war, and the position taken by the M. E. Church in regard to the subject of slavery, caused a division in that body, and the Episcopal Methodist Church was formed. These same questions divided the church of Heyworth, and a church of that denomination was formed here, which, about the year 1864, erected a house of worship, 32x46, at a cost of about $2,500. It belongs to the Pana District. The Church was organized by Rev. Mr. Smithson, who preached for it awhile. The house was built under the ministration of Rev. Mr. Laurence. Afterward, Rev. William Howard was Presiding Elder, and officiated. Rev. A. Hocker aud Rev. M. Crews have also preached.

Elder S. Stagner, who has performed efficient labors for the Christian Church in this part of the county, held meetings at Heyworth, and baptized about thirty mem- bers into that Church. In 1971, a church was formed, and a neat building was erected. about 34x50, with belfry, at a cost of about $2,000. Elder Harry Vandervoort preached about one year. J. C. Campbell, S. Low and Jefferson Hodson have also labored here. A Sabbath school has been maintained irregularly. There is no pastor of this Church at present.

The Heyworth School District is under a special act, incorporated in 1867, with seven directors, one of whom goes out each year. The present Directors are J. F. Brown, H. A. Karr, Erastus Miller, William H. Wakefield, J. M. Funk, Samuel Hill and J. E. Wakefield. The district embraces about six or eight square miles of territory. School is maintained four months in the winter term, and two months in the summer. Average attendance, 185 in the former, and 132 in the latter term. The school is in four grades; grammar, first and second intermediate, and primary. The building, erected in 1865, is 36x65, two stories, with a separate building for the primary department, and cost about $5,000.

The successive Principals have been W. L. Glover. C. A. Laus, Rev. I. H. Ste- phenson. A. G. Scott (now a Judge in Nebraska), D. C. Clark, J. R. McGregor, J. E. Jewett, L. B. Wadsworth, A. M. Scott and T. H. Zimmer. The higher branches taught are algebra, natural sciences and rhetoric. The present teachers are : Principal, T. H. Zimmer; first intermediate, F. H. Hill; second intermediate, Miss Jessie Reeder ; primary, Miss Jennie Brown.

Masonic Lodge, No. 251, was chartered in 1856. The charter members were H. J. Short, W. W. Elder, U. S. Washburn, John Washburn, T. F. McGowan, J. S. Mc Wharter. H. J. Short was the first W. M. The present officers are: Isaac Van- ordstrand, W. M .; John Vanordstrand. Senior Warden; George Stephenson, Junior Warden ; J. T. Shannon, Secretary ; N. Low, Treasurer. They own their hall and have it nicely furnished, and are in a prosperous condition.

Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 483, was established in 1872. The charter members are William Shannon, J. C. McFarland, J. I. Mills, J. T. Walton, F. S. Watkins. The first officers were : William Shannon, N. G .; J. C. McFarland, V. G .; F. S. Watkins, Secretary. It now has sixty members and is in good working condition. The present officers are: S. R. Shannon, N. G .; Mr. Reisser, V. G .; Hugh Robb, Recording Sec- retary ; George A. Hull, Treasurer; N. Low. Permanent Secretary ; Lodge Deputy, William Marker. The Lodge meets every Friday.

Encampment No. 168, was established in 1875. Charter members, J. C. McFar- land, D. H. McFarland, N. Low. John Flemming, J. B. Robertshaw, J. C. Geroldman,

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

T. A. Walter, J. F. Brown. The officers are Hugh Robb, C. P .; N. Low, H. P .; George W. Bell, S. W .; G. A. Hull, J. W .; R. W. Orr, Seribe; G. W. Marker, Treasurer. Meets first and third Mondays of each month.

The Good Templars were instituted December 21, 1874, with twenty-sevcn mem- bers and the following officers : J. E. Jewett, W. C. T .; Rev. H. R. Peairs, P. W .; Frank Capell, Secretary ; Mrs. J. E. Jewett, Treasurer; John Shannon, Financial Sec- retary ; S. R. Shannon, Marshal. The Lodge numbers sixty-seven, and meets in the Masonic Hall. The present officers are : S. R. Shannon, W. C. T .; Mrs. N. B. Shan- non, V. T .; Arthur Short, Secretary ; Miss Altha Campbell, Financial Secretary ; John Fryer, Treasurer ; John Greenlee, Marshal ; J. G. Chatterton, Chaplain ; John Peters, P. W. A Degree Temple is attached to the Order, with twenty-five members. It is in a good condition and the interest well maintained.

RANDOLPH STATION.

When Randolph Station was first established it was on the township line between Sections 3 and 4. When the Randolph Grove Post Office was first established, David Noble was Postmaster. This was the first office in the town. Gov. Moore succeeded Noble as Postmaster, after whom Karr was appointed. When the station was estab- lished, the post office went there, and Oleut was appointed Postmaster. The location of the station did not accommodate those living north of the Grove. The railroad company es- tablished Karr's Station, a "flag station " opposite the residence of William Karr; after- ward, by consent of the company, the station was moved to Karr's Station, about two miles.

H. J. Feelder was engaged in buying grain there, and W. C. Stewart shipped a good deal of grain and hay during the war. J. C. Elder is present Station Agent and Deputy Postmaster, and is engaged in buying grain. Grain loaded here goes south to Clinton thence to Chicago or to Bloomington, and thence east to Philadelphia.

The names of physicians who have practiced here are : Dr. H. Noble, who studied at home and with Dr. Luce in Bloomington, died in 1870; Dr. R. G. Laughlen, who came here in 1857, went into the army in 1862, returned and moved to Bloomington ; Dr. D. H. MeFarland, who came in 1862; Dr. H. C. Luce, who succeeded Laughlen ; Drs. Patterson and Suggett, and Dr. W. L. Pollock, who came in 1872.

As a proper closing of the history and people of this important township, a short sketch will be appropriate of Hon. John Moore, one of the most remarkable and most important personages of Randolph.

John Moore was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1793 ; attended school a few years after arriving at school age, but perfected what book education he had by reading while engaged at his trade. He served a full apprenticeship in England and came to America in 1817. He worked around in different places in several different States, married in Kentucky and settled down at Harrison, Ohio, to work, where he remained seven years. During this time and for a few years after he came to Illinois, his habits were convivial and free. Strong drink was not a stranger to him by any means, and some of his best friends, on this account alone, doubted the propriety of making him a Representative when his name was first brought forward for that position.

In 1830, in company with the Passwaters he came to Randolph Grove and pre- pared to make his home, where it continued to be until his death. His first settlement was in Section 15, where he put up his cabin and fixed up a small shop to work at his

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HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY.

trade of wagon-making. Here he quietly spent the few years which ensued before he became drawn into public life. If not the first, it is certain that he was among the first, to teach school in Randolph, teaching half a day and working at his trade the remainder. In 1831, or as his son-in-law, Richard Passwaters, thinks, in 1832, Mr. Lindley, an admiring friend, brought out his name for Justice of the Peace. He was elected, and for the first time began to show the quality of the material that was in him. He con- tinued to serve as Justice for a number of years, so very acceptably that Judge Treat, who was at that time Circuit Judge, says, "he would render the best decisions of any Justice within his knowledge." Either in 1834 or 1836, he was suggested by some friend as candidate for the Legislature. The county, district and State were Democratic, and all that was thought necessary to secure an election was to nominate an acceptable man. His friends went to Merritt Covel, at that time an authority in the Democratic camp, with his name. They were met with an unexpected rebuff. Said Covel, " You can't resurrect John Moore !" Whether this taunt from Covel, his own better nature, or the appeals of his friends, who had got their hearts set on making him a public man, or all combined had the effect, certain it is that he became a changed man. He was elected to the House and continued to serve there until 1840, when he was elected to the State Senate over David Davis, after that memorable contest which the people of McLean County, who were here, never tire of talking about. It is said that Davis gave up the contest, privately, before the election, an account of Moore's capacity for adapt- ing himself to every position, and the ease with which he got the sympathy of all classes. Moore was pre-eminently a man of the people, and thought it no sin to give them a chance to see it in that light. In 1842, he was selected, with considerable unanimity by his party, for their candidate for Lieutenant Governor, and was elected, and served through a four-years term. He then enlisted for the Mexican war and was chosen Lieutenant Colonel of the Fourth Regiment, and went through the war, participating in every battle of that regiment. On his return, in 1848, he was appointed State Treas- urer by the Governor, an office made vacant by the death of the recently-elected incum- bent. He was elected successively to that position in 1850 and 1852, and was a candi- date in 1854, but was defeated by James Miller, who was the candidate of all the ele- ments which united against the continuance of Democratic ascendency in the West. Moore was the first in Illinois to fall before the popular rising against the Kansas- Nebraska bill. He was one of the Trustees of the Illinois Central Railroad lands up to his death, and thousands of the residents of this and adjoining counties held their titles from him. His eyes had for some years been troubling him, and in 1866, he went to Boston to have a surgical operation performed, which brought him to his death. His remains were brought to Randolph Grove and buried near where he had so long lived.

Among all classes of people there are no two opinions in regard to his ability, integ- rity and worth as a public man. All place him in the higher range of politicians in all these particulars. He had, for a laboring man, a mind well-stored both in reading and travels. In the various positions of public life running through more than a quarter of a century, he never got rich, and at his death was worth less than many who had begun life when he did here in Randolph, and had attended to their own private affairs. He had a remarkable memory, a kind, generous nature, and from the time of his pro- fessing religion his life was worthy of no blame. He was one of the rare instances in which political excitement did not seem to lead away from a fixed principle.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

LEXINGTON TOWNSHIP.

At the formation of the County of MeLean, it was divided into five townships or precinets, each precinct being so located and outlined as to suit the convenience of its inhabitants. Of these, the Mackinaw Precinct was much the largest, embracing, as it did, nineteen townships of the present size of Lexington. The county then extended far to the north, and included a large portion of what is now Livingston County ; and Mackinaw Precinct embraced ten of the townships afterward set off to that county. Of that vast township, larger than an average county, Lexington now occupies the middle of the southern part, and, at that time, was the most populous portion.

At the time of the first white settlement here, there were found two small tribes or bands of Indians in what is now the township under consideration. These bands were of the tribes ealled Kickapoos and Delawares, about three hundred each. They had built their towns, the former near the present site of the village of. Pleasant Hill- a mile or so south-and the Delawares nearly three miles further up the Mackinaw. The houses of the Indians were mostly constructed of poles set in a circle twelve or fifteen feet in diameter, the tops meeting at a point about ten feet above the ground. Over these poles the skins of animals were stretched, near the top, and, at the bottom, large pieces of bark, peeled from the trees and dried, constituted the siding of these primitive dwellings. Dirt was heaped up on the side as high as the poles would bear, and thus quite a comfortable abode was formed. The door consisted of the skin of an animal, and the chimney and window were identical, being simply an opening left at the top for the egress of smoke and the ingress of the sunlight. In morals, if they could be said to have any, the Kickapoos were superior to the Delawares. The former had a code of morals which, in some respects, were severe in the extreme. Drunkenness, which was so common among the Indians, was prohibited by this tribe, and the infringe- ment of the rule relating thereto was death to the law-breaker. Some of the old set- tlers remember cases of this kind. They even professed a kind of Christianity, and some of them were, no doubt, really pious. They were all great beggars, and the men were lazy. The women did a little gardening, raising corn and beans, while the men spent their time in hunting. Game was plenty here, but they were not content to hunt in their own neighborhood, preferring to take long rambles to other parts of the country in search of game. On some of these expeditions, they would be gone for several months, but would always return as the cold weather approached, and spend the winter in their wigwams. After a few years, the whites having settled quite numerously in their neighborhood, the Kickapoos removed their camp to a point further east, in Living- ston County, still known as Indian Grove, and the Delawares wandered off to Arkansas. A year or so before the Winnebago and Sac troubles, the Kickapoos changed their camp to Oliver's Grove in the eastern part of Livingston County, where they resided a short time and then joined other bands of their own tribe at their reservations, west of the Mississippi.

FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENTS.

The first white settlers in this vicinity were Conrad Flesher and family, John Haner and sons-Jacob, John and William-and Isaac and Joseph Brumhead. These

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

families arrived here in 1828, at which time Bloomington had been settled by Hendrix and Dawson about six years, and a few settlements had been made in various other parts of the county. This was three years before the formation of McLean County, and while most of it still belonged to Tazewell, and the ancient town of Mackinaw, some fifteen miles further down the river, was the capital. The families named settled in the timber of Mackinaw River, a short distance south of the present site of the town of Lexington, with the Kickapoo Indians as their nearest neighbors. about three miles further up the stream, and the Delawares as many miles beyond.

In the year 1828, the population of what is now Lexington Township con- sisted of not more than twenty white persons, and fifteen or twenty times as many Indians. The intercourse between the two races was by no means so unpleasant as might be supposed. Notwithstanding the advantage in numbers of the Indians over the whites, and notwithstanding their general jealousy of the encroachments of their pale-faced neighbors on their ancient rights, they annoyed them but little, and never became openly hostile. In 1831-32, when rumors of inupending troubles were plenty, the Indians still professed friendship for the whites, and asserted their readiness to take up arms against Black Hawk. rather than to assist him.

The privations of these pioneer families were. in some respects, very great, cut off, as they were, from almost all social, religious, educational and commercial advantages. Of course, they enjoyed all of these advantages in a very limited degree. The first settlers were people who greatly valued such privileges. and. though they were for many years without schoolhouses and churches, easily found the facilities for enjoying them- selves both socially and religiously. The greatest privations arose from a want of the means of communication with the outside world. Au absence of railroads, and even of good wagon-roads, rendered the locality almost inaccessible to postal and commercial facilities, and traveling for other than business purposes out of the question. Most of the first settlers were from Ohio, and we believe all who settled in 1828. with one excep- tion, were from that State. Of the families named, we believe the Haners and Brum- head were related by marriage, and came from the same place in Ohio. All these fam- ilies are still represented here, but the original pioneers all passed on to a country that is always new, but where the trials of the pioneer life are unknown, many years ago. The first settlers were all farmers, after a fashion now unknown. They raised a little corn and a few vegetables, and, like their red neighbors, depended largely upon the rifle for subsistence. Their houses were but little superior to those of the Indians, being merely little cabins, erected with the help only of the ax, and perhaps an auger. No Jocks, nails or any other article of iron entered into their construction. but just such devices as could be wrought out on the ground by the use of the tools named, and of such materials as the locality afforded. The only boards used for any purpose were such as were hewed out of logs. Some ten or twelve years after the settlements indicated. John Haner, Sr., built on the Mackinaw a saw-mill, which supplied, from the logs cut in the vicinity, the lumber for the partial construction of many of the houses still standing in the township. Jacob Spawr, who came to the country in 1826, was handy with the ax and saw, and constructed from walnut logs, by hewing, the boards which he after- ward made into coffins in which many of the old pioneers were buried. It was no every family, however, who could afford to lay away their loved ones in even so good a coffin as this, but many a worthy old settler was entombed in a casket constructed by

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

simply splitting in two a log, cut to proper length, and the halves scooped out by the use of a common chopping-ax. One of the troughs thus prepared received the remains, and the other placed in its original position and held there by wooden pins or hickory bark, served as the lid.

Benjamin H. and William Downey were brothers. They came to this country about the same time that the families before mentioned arrived. They were also from. the State of Ohio, and one of them was related to the Haners by marriage.

During the years 1829-30-31, the population of MeLean County increased quite rapidly, and the neighborhood at the Mackinaw timber received several acees- sions.

The following persons, in nearly the order in which their names are mentioned, arrived in this locality during the years named : Joseph, Moses, Aaron and John Pat- ton and son Benjamin came in 1829, having lived a short time in what was called Old Town Timber, east of Bloomington. This family eame to the county from Indiana, though some of the older ones of the family were natives of Kentucky. When they first eame to the township, they lived in one of the recently-deserted Indian wigwams- until they built a more comfortable abode.

The family of the Messers came from near Columbus, Ohio, in 1828, to the Mack- inaw timber, and settled at first in what is now called Money Creek. After a year's residence there, they came to this township. Mr. Messer was a man of more than ordi- mary importance. In 1812, while he yet resided in Ohio, he enlisted in the service of the United States as a soldier, and served in that capacity during several campaigns. He was one of the founders of the original United Brethren Church, since removed to Lexington, and preached for the same for a number of years. A large number of his descendants still reside in the northwestern part of the county. Isaac Messer died many years ago in Money Creek Township.

Valentine Spawr and family located in Lexington Township in 1829, having lived two years in Money Creek. This has been one of the most favorably known families in this part of the county. Mr. Spawr was from Pennsylvania, where he had taken an aetive part in publie enterprises of various kinds. In 1794, he was a soldier under Gen. Anthony Wayne, in a campaign against the Indians in Northwestern Ohio. The Indians had, for several years, given the Government a good deal of annoyance, and Gen. St. Clair had suffered a severe defeat at their hands. In the year mentioned " Mad Anthony," as he was called, was sent out against them, and, at the rapids of the Maumee, he met them and gained over them a complete victory, resulting in the treaty of Greenville, by which vast tracts of territory were ceded to the United States. Mr. Spawr died here in 1855. Of this family, Jacob Spawr, son of the above, had really preceded his father and the rest of the family one year, but remained in Money Creek ten years, removing to Lexington in 1836. The other sons, John, George and Peter, accompanied their father to Money Creek in 1828, and, in 1829, removed with him to this township. Of these, Jacob is still a resident of the village of Lexington ; Peter died some years ago in Kansas ; George lives in Blue Mound Township, and John occupies the old Spawr homestead.

Patrick Hopkins moved from Indiana in 1830, and settled in the central part of the township of Lexington. About twelve years ago, he moved to the village of Lex- ington, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1874.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

John B. Thompson was one of the early citizens of the township, as he was also one of the best known.

An influential and well-known family is that of the Dawsons. James R. Dawson, the father of a number of the name in this and adjoining townships, came with his family from Ohio, in 1832. He settled at first in Money Creek, but removed to Lexington Township a year later. In 1831, the precinct of Mackinaw was organized or set off by the County Commissioners, and of this domain, John B. Thompson, named above, was elected the first Justice of the Peace, and Henry Flesher, Constable. The election was held at the house of John Patton. The Judges of Election were John Hawley and Conrad Flesher. Jacob Spawr, who then lived in what is now called Money Creek, was also elected a Justice of the Peace the same year. Though the territory over which these dignitaries held sway was large, embracing, as it did, more than half as much as now constitutes the largest county in the State, their duties as publie officers were not arduous ; indeed, they did not materially interfere with their usual avocations. The limits of the precinct a year after this were somewhat modified by the formation of Vermilion Precinct, embracing the settlements of the upper part of Vermilion River in Livingston County. Gradually, from time to time, as the popula- tion and wants of this part of the county demanded, the outlines of the precinct were changed, until 1858, when they were established as we now find them.

In 1832, occurred an event which, though it took place many miles distant, was the cause of much excitement and apprehension in this neighborhood. For a year or more, deep mutterings from the northwestern part of the State had been heard, indi- cating a near approach of trouble from the Indians who lived there. Treaties had been made with the chiefs by which the territory there had been ceded to the Govern- ment, but the original possessors were loath to give it up, and returned occasionally from their reservations west of the Mississippi to their old homes, upon which occasions they never failed to annoy and sometimes to massacre the whites, who were then beginning to settle there. Of course these acts would be resented, and finally open hostility was declared by the Indians, who, headed by Black Hawk, crossed the river and commenced to over-run the country, destroying property and scalping all who came in their way. Though the scene of these troubles was a hundred miles distant, and though the Indians in this vicinity professed friendship, yet there was a constant dread and alarm. The settlements here were comparatively weak and scattered, and had their enemies chosen to attack them, they would easily have been overpowered. Fortunately, how- ever, the State and Government took prompt and active measures to suppress the uprising of the savages, and their devastations never reached this section. Some pre- cautions were taken by the people along the Mackinaw to prevent a surprise. A company of rangers was organized for the purpose of scouting through the country in the direction of the enemies' camps, to ascertain their movements.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 54

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr. Number of Pages: 1092

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr.
Number of Pages: 1092