The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 64

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 64

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).

The first depot-building, put up this year, also has a " history." For some time after the Peoria end of this railroad was built, there was no railroad bridge. Passengers came out of Peoria on foot or by Parmely's buses across the bridge, and took the cars at this end of the bridge. The depot was built at that place for the convenience of passengers. When the railroad bridge was made, there was no further use for the building there, so it was taken down and removed to Gridley. It was placed in a mud- hole east of the present building, and enjoyed all the privileges and immunities of a depot until the tornado of May 13, 1858, sent it kiting. The corner of the building hit against the north rail with such force that it was bent out of parallel several inches, and, for a year, trains ran around it on the switch. The rail has since been straight- ened, however, and trains can now run regularly.

Messrs. Carlisle & Kent, in July of this year, transferred their entire interest in the town and in Section 4 to Gen. Gridley, and he remains the owner of a considerable number of the lots. Mr. Kent moved his family here in the spring of 1858, into a house which was near enough completed by the time of the tornado to get the full benefit of whatever wind could reach it.

The first schoolhouse was built in 1859, by private contributions of Messrs. Mitchell, Cochrane, Manning, Kent and Young, and cost $105. For some reason not now fully understood, the citizens living in Gridley Station could not get public funds for building, although, after the building was up, they could get the teachers' wages,

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and Charles Cochrane, who came here as Station Agent, was put into the. school as teacher. He was a young man of good education, superior to many who got "'stificates" in those days. Born in New Hampshire and educated there, he had taught in Kentucky, and at Mount Hope, in this county. The first school had sixteen scholars.

Mr. Cochrane also kept the first lumber-yard. Lumber came from Chicago via Chenoa for some years, and principally via Gilman, as the railroad company now is in closer business relation with the Illinois Central than with the Chicago & Alton.

The first hotel was built in 1859 or 1860, by C. K. Drum. Gen. Gridley donated two lots and $200 toward it, on condition that Drum should put up a house worth $1,000. The "Gridley House " actually cost several hundred dollars more than was stipulated.

The first commercial venture engaged in to make Gridley a "shipping point" was the cutting and baling of several hundred tons of prairie-hay. It proved reasonably successful. The grain trade has been, sinee 1859, the principal commercial business of Gridley. During the earlier years, it was principally wheat. There were no ware- houses to hold the grain for shipment, and the grain was shoveled directly into the cars, that is, all that did not seatter on the ground. This was a wasteful method, and men began putting up small buildings to hold a earload or two. When the load was pro- cured for the car and a car could be secured for the load, the grain was carried out in baskets or wheelbarrows. Wheat gradually disappeared as a shipping commodity, and corn became king. Great, long lines of eribs stretched out all around the depot-grounds to hold the hundreds of thousands of bushels that annually seek a market here. The men who have engaged in this business here, and have annually held the market price up to a point where they could command as much grain as is bought at any point on the line of this railroad are the men who have really conserved the prosperity of this place. A short notice of these men is appropriate.

James M. Mitchell commenced the purchase of wheat and country produce in 1858, soon after opening his store here, in fact as soon as there was any to buy. He bought for Boies & Van Vleet, a grain firm then doing business in El Paso. G. W. Kent, in 1859 and 1860, engaged in the business, and during the latter year built the first grain- house in town. It was 16x24 feet, and answered the purpose very well in those times. George A. Coburn built a warehouse the following year, and Mr. Mitchell continued buying for John Dehner, of Pontiac and Chenoa.

In 1862, Silas E. Brooks commenced to buy corn here for a Boston firm. The ruling price was 10 cents. They allowed him to buy all he could for 123 cents, he to make his commission out of that, and they to furnish him lumber for eribs. He employed Kent to buy for him on a commission, and the two continued buying as long as they could get it for 10 cents. The corn remained here until 1864-65, and sold for an average price of $1.03 per bushel. It seems that some others than " bloated bond- holders " made something in those days.

William H. Boies, who had been in the grain trade in El Paso for a few years, to which place he had come from Livingston County, N. Y., was appointed station agent here at this time, and commenced in a small way the business which has grown on his hands until he is now one of the heaviest shippers on the line of this road. He rented the Coburn Warehouse to begin with, and his business soon outgrew that. In 1866,

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he built his present large steam elevator, which has a capacity of 20,000 bushels. In 1869, he formed a partnership with Richard Breese, an Englishman who had for twelve years been largely engaged in stock farming and feeding. A little incident shows the transmutations of things in this changeful country : One of this firm recalls how he bought 400 bushels of corn in 1862 of N. J. Pillsbury, now a Judge of the Appellate Court in this State, for 10 cents a bushel. It seemed to be a big job for the future Judge, for it took him nearly all summer to draw it in with a yoke of steers.

In 1863 or 1874, Sykes & Smith were in the grain trade, and built a horse-power elevator, which was burned in 1878.

C. P. Ayers, for several years a farmer in Livingston County, has been for two years engaged in buying grain.

F. D. Callsen, at present Justice of the Peace and insurance agent, was engaged, during several years, in buying grain. This does not claim to be a complete list, but gives the names of those who have been instrumental in making the Gridley market one of the very best in the county, and aggregating shipments of from a quarter to half a million bushels per year.

In 1860, the present schoolhouses were built, and the present depot.

One of the " seven wonders " of Gridley is the wind-mill built in 1874 by Mr. Martin, of Peoria, for the Franzen Bros. It is patterned after the old Dutch mills that for ages have pumped the waters and ground the grist of the industrious race which have made the sea to blossom like the rose. It is octagonal in shape for about 18 feet in height, 32 feet in diameter on the ground, tapering up to about 26 feet at the top of this first story, which is surrounded by a platform 8 feet wide, upon which the " engineer" operates the machinery which shifts the wings to the breeze, there being no fan-tail, as there is on our common American wind-mills, to throw the wings to windward. Above this, the building is conical, running up to a sugar-loaf top. This section is shingled. Above this are attached the huge wings, four in number, 33 feet long and 8 feet wide, made of strong timber frame, covered with high boards and sail-cloth. Within the wonder increases. The huge timbers, so placed as to give great strength to withstand the terrible strain which would rack and tear in pieces any ordi- uary frame in a moment, give to the unpractical eye the impression of a chaos of heavy beams, braces, posts, girths, girders, sills, in endless number. You dodge and twist around among them and wonder how or where the architects of this structure expected to have the grists placed or the stones run. In the second story are three runs of stones, smut-mill, etc., and all the machinery usually found in any well-regulated grist- mill, in the amount of space that in most mills is allotted to the stone and a few old boxes for customers to sit on and warm themselves. In an L are the bolts, meal-bins, etc. All the shafting, gearing, etc., are of wood, with a few trifling exceptions. By an ingenious device, the " governor," which is used on all steam-engines to regulate the escape of steam, is made to raise or lower the upper millstone, according as the motion of the mill is slow or fast.

The proprietors find the wind of late years so uncertain that they are now putting in a thirty-horse-power upright engine so as to be able to about double the working capacity of the mill.

The town of Gridley was incorporated under the general incorporation act in 1869. The first election resulted in the choice of H. E. Sieberns, President ; W. H. Boies,.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

George Jewett, D. Sloan and S. L. Martin, Trustees ; M. C. Prescott, Treasurer. These men put the machinery in motion and adopted such ordinanees as were found necessary to do the business of the town. In 1870, the Board elected consisted of W. H. Boies, President ; H. E. Sieberns, George Jewett, S. Archer, H. Drum, and M. C. Prescott, Treasurer. 1872, George Jewett President ; W. H. Boies, S. C. McConnell, B. F. Van Dolah, and J. E. Jewett, Clerk. 1873, W. H. Boies, George Jewett, W. C. Mack and F. D. Callsen. 1875, H. Drum, President ; J. D. Webster, Clerk ; W. C. Mack, H. A. Platt and V. Meininger. 1876, F. D. Callsen, President; J. D. Webster, Clerk ; Joseph Gilmore, E. P. Gibbons, Richard Breese, Trustees ; D. L. Hoover, Treasurer. 1877, J. D. Webster, President ; J. A. Taylor, Clerk ; R. Breese, H. A. Platt, C. H. New- hauser, Trustees ; D. L. Hoover, Treasurer. 1878, George Frank, President ; R. Breese. C. H. Newhauser, E. Lugeanbeal ; J. A. Taylor, Clerk ; D. L. Hoover, Treasurer, 1879, George Frank, President ; W. H. Ruckle, Clerk ; E. Lugeanbeal, Isaac Sheets and Ham. Franzen, Trustees ; D. L. Hoover, Treasurer.

The only official salaries paid by the town are for Clerk, $10 per annum ; Treas- urer, 3 per centum.

J. M. Mitchell was appointed the first Postmaster, and continued in office until the administration of Andrew Johnson, when he was removed and Upton Coomes was appointed. In 1869, Mitchell was re-appointed and has served ever since.

The gentlemen who have in turn served as agents at the depot are Charles Coch- rane, G. W. Kent, H. H. Soper, S. E. Brooks, W. H. Boies, E. C. Shearer, W. G. Mess- ler and George A. Parmely, who is agent at present; baggage-master, Thomas Liston ; trackmaster, William Lynch ; engineer, Joseph Hoffman.

Among the earlier business men of Gridley, who has quietly but energetically attended to his business in such a manner as to make a success of it, is Mr. H. E. Sieberns, who, in 1863, put up a building and stocked it with a complete stock of goods, on the corner east of the post office corner. He has been universally successful in his engagements and has acquired a competency.

The first child born in the village of Gridley was Willie Sleezer, who arrived at his majority in September, 1878, and feels almost as though he had " grown-up with the country."

The first death was that of the excellent wife of James M. Mitchell, who died soon after he commenced business here.

Maj. Houghton is one of the characters who, a few years since, was well known along this road as a resident of Gridley. He frequently passed back and forth on the trains, selling his photograph, and interesting the passengers with his bright and intelli- gent conversation. He was less than four feet in height and well-proportioned, with fine head and interesting features. He was just large enough to look out of the car windows by standing on tip-toe, carried a gold-headed eane and dressed the style of a gentleman of leisure. For several years, he has been traveling with a Lilliputian troupe, of which he is the chief attraction.

The schoolhouse is not, perhaps, as attractive, nor is it as expensive, as many more ambitious villages can show, but the school itself is a good one. Under the charge of B. F. Howard, the pupils are being attended to properly, and are acquiring a thoroughly good and useful education. Pupils enrolled, 120 ; daily average attendance, 103. Miss Luella Barnum is assistant, having charge of the younger scholars. The course of

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study embraces all rudimentary studies and algebra, botany, physiology, philosophy, physical geography. The school continues nine months of twenty-two days.

The present business men and firms are: Dry goods and groceries, J. M. Mitchell (twenty-two years), H. E. Sieberns (fifteen years), W. C. Mack, George A. Frank, Bloom- enshine & Seidel, Philip Klein ; drugs and notions, D. L. Hoover ; books, news and notions, G. W. Kent; boots and shoes, Chris. Overbach, E. G. Alvord; grain, Boies & Breese, C. P. Ayers, W. C. Mack, John Smithers; hardware and tin, D. L. Myers ; restau- rant, Isaac Sheets ; millinery, etc., Misses Boies, Misses Slown & Roberts, Mrs. J. C. Houghton ; wagon and carriage makers, C. H. Newhauser, E. Lugeanbeal, John Laufer ; livery. M. C. Drum; grist-mill, H. Franzen & Bro .; butcher, M. Barry ; harness-maker, G. Inthurm; furniture and undertaking, Gilmore & Slown, August Strathman ; lumber, etc., Sloan & Gilmore; physicians, L. C. McConnell, J. A. Taylor, Dr. Kruze.

Gridley has four churches-the Christian, the Mennonite (New Ormish), the Methodist and Congregational.

The first preaching in the village was by Elder Branch, the Baptist clergyman of El Paso. His services were usually held in Mitchell's store, but he had no regular appointments here. Next in point of time, Rev. S. W. Cobb, a Congregational minis- ter, preached for some time every fourth week, in the station-house. The edifice was not, in all respects, as comfortable to go to sleep in during preaching as are some churches of the present day, with cushioned pews and all the " modern improvements ;" nor, perhaps, were the words of the devout men of God so sensational as to call for publication in the daily papers, nor for telegraphing all over the country, but the com- mon people heard them gladly. In 1862, Rev. J. A. Johnson, Congregationalist, of El Paso, commenced preaching regularly in the schoolhouse, and in June, the Church of that name was regularly organized according to the custom and canon of that denomination by a council called for that purpose, with eight members. Mr. Johnson continued Pastor until January, 1863, when Rev. G. M. Conville succeeded him, remaining until April, 1864. Rev. B. C. Church, filled the pastoral relation for four years, during which time eight joined the Church. Rev. J. A. Palmer next served the Church, four years. receiving eleven members. Rev. W. E. Cattin succeeded him for two years, who, in turn, was succeeded by Rev. H. G. Pendleton, who is now filling the pulpit, alternating his labors here with the church in Nebraska Township. During each winter of his service here, protracted efforts have been maintained, resulting in bringing into the Church forty-two additional members. A flourishing Sabbath school, under the superintendency of Mr. J. M. Mitchell, has an enrolled membership of 120. The church-edifice, 36x40, was built in 1866 by Tarman & Ruckle, contractors, at a cost of about $2,000, and dedicated to the worship of God the same year. The patient and laborious pastoral work of Mr. Pendleton, is fully appreciated by the people of his own charge and the community.

The German Mennonites, who have settled in such numbers in the vicinity of Gridley are, in many respects, a peculiar people. Some of their peculiarities might well be followed by those who are to the manor born. Politically and socially, they are non-resistant and take no part in the affairs of State, never voting or seeming to care who runs the ship of State or the town-meetings. They carry their religion into every affair and business of life. If a brother gets into debt and honestly cannot pay, the

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brethren contribute to liquidate; but if able to pay and will not, he is cast out as unworthy. They will not go to law, but settle all disputes within their own organization.

In 1874, they decided to build a church, but their religious tenets require them to build on a firm foundation. Before a blow was struck, every dollar of the money was collected ; after which a contract was let and the work rapidly done. They have erected thirty sheds, with doors to them, for their teams, as most of them come from their farms in the surrounding country, and every team is carefully housed before its owner commences his religious services.

The church-edifice is 30x40, with an L 16x40, and cost $1,200. Near the church they erected a dining-hall and kitchen, where a meal is served each Sunday, their serv- ices continuing during the day. Members take turns in providing the necessary food. They practice baptism by immersion. They hold, almost literally, to the doctrine " If a man take away thy coat," ete., for they do not permit their members to prosecute a thief, or even to follow one to recover stolen property. They seem as near free from the vices of the day as any class of people known in this vicinity.

The Christian Church was built in 1866; is 36x40. There is also a Church of the same denomination in the southern part of the township, in the vicinity of Mr. Gregory's.

The M. E. Church was built in 1871 and 1872. It is 36x50, with a tower in the center of the front 10 feet square, running up to a spire 80 feet in height.

The number of churches would indicate a probable rivalry and strife that is nowhere noticeable in reality. The petty rivalries and bickerings which are so common in small towns seem to be here entirely wanting, and peace and good-will seem to reign everywhere. Business seems to be reasonably prosperous, and every one appears to have the general good at heart.

At the time the village of Gridley was platted and recorded, there were left two open pieces or parcels of ground between the railroad and the platted blocks, which, by general consent, became public. The original proprietors apparently intended them for general use in transacting the business of the town. There was no attempt to sell or lease them, and as soon as the place became of any importance, business men began to put up offices, elevators and corn-cribs on them. The proprietors, in furnishing their plats for record, did not dedicate them to the public, and, as far as the record went, they appeared to be the private property of the proprietor.

In July, 1875, Gen. Gridley caused the plat of the town to be resurveyed and replatted. Among other changes, he caused the land marked depot ground, south of the railroad track, then used by various parties for storage of grain, to be laid off into lots thirty feet wide, and proposed to sell them at a price which would have made the operation a pretty good speculation. The railroad company procured an injunction in the United States Court, restraining him from selling these lots. This injunction was dissolved, however, and Gridley commenced suits in ejectments against all parties, including the railroad company, occupying any part of the land in question. The cases were tried in MeLean County and resulted in favor of the defendants. On an appeal to the Supreme Court, the decision of the lower court was sustained, and the occupants remain in undisputed possession of the land.

This litigation caused the parties much perplexity and no little expense, and was the cause of much ill-feeling against Gen. Gridley. He was said to be " rich," and to

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have no respect for the rights of poor men ; that he wanted to shut up the town and ruin those who were engaged in trade, and remarks that were continually made. were far from complimentary. The fact probably was, that there was sufficient of legal show for the claim he set up to render it probable that the courts, on a full hearing, would give give him a verdict, and very few men would decide to give away thirty or forty good business lots if there was a chance of selling them. Gen. Gridley is probably no excep- tion to the general rule of landed proprietors.

DANVERS TOWNSHIP.

Danvers is located in the northwestern corner of MeLean County. It includes all of Town 24 north, Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and one and one- half miles from the south side of Town 25 north, in the same range, and consequently contains forty-five square miles. It is bounded on the north by Woodford County, on the east by White Oak and Dry Grove Townships, on the south by Allin Township, and on the west by Tazewell County. It is well supplied with timber. Stout's Grove, which lies farthest to the southeast, is the most important. The timber extends south, on the west side, to near the middle of Section 19; from this point, irregularly east to within two and one-half miles of the east line of the township; thence north and slightly west to near the north line; thence along the northern part may be found some little timber. Thus it will be seen that all the northwestern part of the town- ship is timbered land. Of course, this is not a solid body of timber, for there are farms in here, many of which have been cleared from these woods. Still may be seen the cabin built of logs and surrounded by a few small fields, while the forest approaches suggestingly near. But these are only relies of bygone days, the more comfortable frame furnishing a desirable home for the successful farmer. The south and eastern part of the township is prairie, the northern part of which is quite rolling, but the southern part is only slightly so. These prairie lands are rich and productive, yielding an abundance of corn, oats, potatoes, etc. There are portions of the timbered land that are broken and not very fertile, while other parts yield fair crops of wheat, rye, oats, corn and other products. Cattle and hogs are extensively raised throughout the township.

Danvers is crossed by the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad, which enters the township near the middle of the east side of Section 24. From this point, the road bears northwest until it reaches the middle of Section 16; thence it follows close to the half-section line to the west side of the township.

Sugar Creek rises near the southwestern corner of Section 1, and flows south and west through Sections 12, 13 and 14; thence more southerly through Sections 22, 21, 28, 32 and 33. Rock Creek is a small stream which flows north from the northern part of the township.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

So large a body of timber as is found here very naturally attracted early settlers. They soon settled all along the south and east sides of Stout's Grove, the families coming in so rapidly as to make it almost impossible to trace the early settlement. The first family was Ephraim Stout's. They were from Tennessee. They came in the fall of 1825, or

Edwin C. Hewett PRES. OF ILLS. NORMAL UNIV. NORMAL

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about that time. They stopped on the southeast corner of the Grove, afterward given their name. The first house, it is said, that they ever built is standing yet. It was a log house, put up of good hewn logs, and afterward weather-boarded on the outside and plastered on the inside. It is said to be in a good state of preservation yet. The place is now owned by Mr. Chastine Mitchell. Ephraim Stout was a large man of command- ing presence. His early education had been neglected, so that he could not be said to have much book knowledge ; but his practical knowledge of the world was extensive, and his ability to judge the qualities of men almost complete. He and all those immediately connected with him were Friends. This man had a son named Ephraim, who was mar- ried and came to the Grove with his father. They lived at the Grove a long time, and then moved farther west, finally settling in Oregon. There were four sons and several daughters. David Stout, a brother to Ephraim, came the next year. In the same year, Robert Drain settled on the east side of Stout's Grove. Soon after him, and probably in the same year, James Wilson came from Kentucky. In 1827, Matthew Robb, Robert McClure and Peyton Mitchell came to the settlement at Stout's Grove. These all remained in this country and became prominent persons in its history. Robert McClure is commonly called "Colonel " on account of his service and position in the Black Hawk war. Matthew Robb was a prominent man, and was one of the first owners of the village of Danvers. Mitchell and McClure came from Kentucky. The former settled in Sangamon County, this State, in 1818. His sons, now living on the south side of the Grove, remember Springfield when there was only one house in it. Peyton Mitchell was a minister. He belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterians. He preached the first sermon ever preached in Funk's Grove. Jonathan Hodge came in the fall of 1826 and made some improvements, and then went back to Sangamon County after his family. They arrived in the spring of 1827. Jonathan Hodge was born in North Carolina in 1789, of German parents. He came to Barren County, Ky., when a boy, and stayed there until after his marriage. He moved to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1821. From Sangamon he came to Stout's Grove, where he reared his family of four sons and three daughters. Two brothers, William F. and U. S. Hodge, now live in the village of Danvers, and, as they have been in the township fifty-two years, they are looked upon as the old settlers of the place, and their stories of "ye olden time " are listened to with delight by many of the more modern folk. Jonathan Hodge was one of those men who enjoy themselves most perfectly in the woods chasing game. While yet in Sangamon County, he indulged his passion for hunting to a considerable extent. He was often associated with the old Indian chief Shaubena, or 'Shabbona, who was well known in all this country, at that time. On one occasion, when in company with a Mr. Cantrell, Mr. Hodge and his companion fell in with a panther. They watched her until she went into a hollow log that lay upon the ground. Then they closed the opening and caught her. It proved to be a female with a number of young ones. They took the young ones home and kept them for some time, but when the wild disposition began to manifest itself they were killed for fear of mischief. During the operations with the female, the male made his appearance, but was gone again before the hunters' rifle could be turned upon him.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 64

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