The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 68

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 68

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In the spring of 1831, Jesse Walden came to the same neighborhood. He was originally from Kentucky. He came to Sangamon County in this State in the fall of 1828. Mr. Walden rented a farm of Jacob Spawr. He lived three years here. Afterward, he moved around, living in several places, until he finally settled down near Smith's Grove.

Between these two settlements might soon have been found Richard Fling. Mr. .Williams, carpenter and builder, who now resides in Bloomington, married Mr. Fling's daughter.

The growth in population, from this time on, was steady, and, though it was not so rapid as in late years, it is impossible to trace the individual settlers as they came in and filled up the few vacant nooks that remained around the borders of the timber. It is worthy of note that the first settlement out on the prairie, at any considerable distance from the timber, was not made before 1849 or 1850. The man who first dared to brave public opinion and prairie wolves was William Halterman. He was born in West Virginia, and moved first to Ohio and then to Illinois. He settled in the western part of the township, near a sulphur spring. Doubtless, the spring had more to do in secur- ing his location at that point than did the fertility of the soil. Those early settlers who came from the mountains, where bubbling springs gush forth from every hillside and glittering cataracts dance wildly over huge ledges of rocks, while down the valley rushes the mighty stream, are not to be mocked for wishing to dwell again beside the gurgling waters ; but that a sulphur spring should have peculiar charms, may seem strange. Had the prairies been able to furnish the old mountain-spring, they would have been settled long before they were, no doubt.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

The second settler, on the prairie, was William D. Moore, who came into this from Money Creek Township. He settled on the farm which he now occupies in the spring of 1853. After the building of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, the settlement was rapid, and the township has since steadily increased in wealth and population.

EARLY INDUSTRIES.

The first blacksmith-shop was an item of considerable importance to the early set- tlers. This will become evident when it is remembered that those who first settled on Money Creek had to go, it is said, all the way to Springfield to get their plows sharpened. Those were the days when wooden moldboards were in use. The plowman depended altogether upon his oxen for a plow-team ; but we faney that a good horse must have been in demand when a share was dull. David Trimmer ran a blacksmith-shop at the head of Money Creek Timber as early as 1828. He is said to have " picked up " the trade, in the first place, but was afterward recognized as an excellent workman, especially upon edged tools. " Unele " Henry Moats says that Trimmer made an adz for him which he kept more than forty years, and that it would cut a nail without making any impression upon the adz. His customers came from far and near, and he was, no doubt, a relief to the community.

Another early enterprise was a saw-mill, which was built on Money Creek, as early, perhaps, as 1837. It was erected by Elbert Dickason and John Pennell. The former was a resident of this township, but the latter lived just across the line north. This mill, like nearly all others in this country at that time, was run by water-power. It had an upright saw and did a vast amount of sawing. Smith's Grove and Money Creek could furnish as fine a lot of timber as was to be found anywhere. It was never fitted up for grinding, and as the woods began to be cleared away, it fell into disuse and was finally abandoned altogether. The flouring-mills built in the village of Towanda were the first in this part of the country, and they were very short-lived. The people got their breadstuffs at Bowling Green, in Woodford County, also at mills down on the Kicka- poo, until after the erection of steam-mills in Bloomington. Sometimes, in dry weather, when the water-mills in all this section of country were unable to run for want of water, they were compelled to go as far as Ottawa, on the Illinois River.

THE FIRST MARRIAGE

solemnized was that of Jacob Spawr and Eliza Ann Trimmer. This took place Decem - ber 3, 1826. Mr. Spawr had no license, and a trip to Vandalia to get one seemed a greater task than was necessary, so he posted notices beforehand, in its stead. William Orendorff officiated, and made the necessary returns to Vandalia. This first marriage took place in the same family in which occurred

THE FIRST DEATH,

and in the same year. As related in these pages before, John Trimmer died a short time after the family reached Smith's Grove. He was buried in a walnut coffin made by hewing out slabs from a log with an ax, and finishing with a jaek-plane. The funeral was attended by their neighbors at Blooming Grove and adjoining settlements.

It is not now remembered who was the first person born in the township. Benja- min Stretch, who now resides in Towanda, is the oldest man now living in this part of the country, who was born here. He was born on Money Creek in the fall of 1830.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

The family came here the same summer, from Ohio, and Benjamin Ogden and family. Benjamin Stretch's father, Mr. Jesse Stretch, was a carpenter. HIe built the first house on the spot where the McLean County bank now stands, in Bloomington. This was one of the first business houses in Bloomington.

THE FIRST POST OFFICE

was kept at the residence of William D. Moore. As has been related in the pages before, Mr. Moore was the first to settle on the prairie, where the village of Towanda now stands. William G. Bishop had held that honorable position for a number of years, just over across the creek. This old man seems to have tired of his trust. He took a day to visit his friend on the prairie. As the chat became free and the folks were having a pleasant visit, Mr. Bishop informed Mr. Moore that he should like to be rid of the post office, and that he should be much pleased to have Mr. Moore take it off his hands. Mr. Moore remonstrated, saying that he was unacquainted with the routine of post office work, and further suggesting that he had not the political influence at Wash- ington, necessary to secure the appointment. Mr. Bishop replied that those obstacles might easily be overcome, and that he only wished to find a man that would accept the office. The result was, that, in a few weeks, an appointment came, and Mr. Moore was duly installed Postmaster. Those were the "good old times," when the office sought the man, and not the man the office. For why should it be otherwise? Mr. Moore informs us that all the office paid was $3 or $4 per quarter. We suspect that should office-holding be again made as meagerly remunerative as then, we might have a return to "the good old times." When the village of Towanda was laid out and the mail began to be carried on the cars, the office was brought down to the station and David S. Kinnan was made Postmaster. Towanda post office is the only one now in the town- ship.

CHURCHES.

The first preaching was probably done by John Dunham, a United Brethren preacher, who held meetings at Smith's Grove. John Dunham was a missionary sent out by the general brotherhood to preach the Gospel wherever an opportunity might present itself. He preached in various parts of the settlement on Money Creek, as well as in adjoining settlements. The exact date is not known, but it was early as 1832. In later years, the Rev. Mr. Dodd preached at Smith's Grove. He was a Presbyterian, and held services, sometimes in his own house and sometimes in those of the members. He organized the first society within the present limits of the township. After the schoolhouse was built in District No. 1, they held meetings in it until the building of their church in the village of Towanda. The Rev. Ebenezer Rhodes, known then as a New Light preacher, held meetings at a very early day, at the house of Elbert Dick- ason. Mr. Rhodes was afterward identified with the Christian Church. A large and

flourishing society of the last-mentioned was formed farther north, on Money Creek. It is possible that the Methodists, also, held occasional meetings. There was a class formed very soon, the regular place of meeting being at the residence of Jacob Spawr, across in Money Creek Township. Mrs. Trimmer and her son David were prominent members. The Baptists, also, began their meetings at Smith's Grove. This seems to have been the starting-point for nearly all the enterprises in the township. They com- menced there about the same time that the Presbyterians did. These societies began to

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

take definite shape first about the year 1852. The first Baptist minister was James Cairns. This denomination built the first church in the township, in the village of Towanda, in the year 1858. The Roman Catholic Church has quite a society in the southeastern part of the township. They have a neat country edifice, which has been built recently. The settlement in that neighborhood is made up chiefly of persons of Irish descent.

At different times there have been other denominations here, but they have never succeeded in establishing societies which remain at the present time. Among those who had something of a beginning, may be mentioned the Protestant Methodists and the Christians.

EDUCATION.

If there were any very early schools, all traces of them are now extinct. The artificial division into townships did not take place until a comparatively recent date, and when it did occur, it cut the early settlements on Money Creek near the middle. The early schools, across in the other township, probably answered for all on the creek who desired a knowledge of the three R's. The first schoolhouse was built of logs, at Smith's Grove. In it was taught the first school, but who was the first teacher is not now remembered. When the township was organized and districts began to be laid off, Smith's Grove District was No. 1. Its school had been running for some time, and it continued to be the only school for quite awhile afterward. School lands were sold at a low figure. Isaac P. Kinnan and William D. Moore were Trustees for about sixteen years. They divided the townships into school districts as fast as it became necessary. Throughout there are good schoolhouses, and a general tendency to keep up with the times, is manifest. An idea of the condition of school work throughout the township, may be formed from the following: Number of school districts, 7; number of chil- dren under twenty-one years, 619; number between six and twenty-one, 544; number scholars enrolled, 361 ; schoolhouses, 7 ; amount paid teachers, $2,974.92 ; total expend- itures, $3,772.06; estimated value of school property, $9,300 ; highest wages paid per month, $60.

RAILROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

The advent of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, was a great thing for this country. This road crosses the northwest corner of the township. As soon as the farmers had an outlet for their corn, cattle and hogs, they could raise crops with a bet- ter prospect of selling, and thus the community was stimulated and made to develop its resources.

Public highways are abundant and kept in good repair. Nearly all section lines are authorized public roads. In the southern part of the township, there are some exceptions to this rule. Besides the section lines recognized as public thoroughfares, a few others are found that do not follow those lines so closely. The most important of these is, first, a road which lies along the line of the railroad, from the southwest to near the center of the village of Towanda. Thence it extends east for a short distance and afterward northeast, crossing Money Creck near the section line between Sections 4 and 5, close by the site of the old saw-mill. Another important highway is a road connecting the village of Towanda with southeastern points. It enters the township from the east and passes through the middle of Sections 13, 14 and 15. It passes to

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

the center of Section 16, and thence in a zigzag course alternately north and west, to the village. There are three roads which cross Money Creek. At two of the cross- ings, the stream is spanned by iron bridges. One of these is on the Lexington & Bloomington road, just northeast of the village. The other is on the road leading from Towanda southeasterly.

ORGANIZATION OF TOWANDA TOWNSIIIP.

Although the Illinois Legislature made provision by which the several counties might adopt the township organization several years earlier, McLean County did not adopt it until 1857. Previously, this township was included in Money Creek Precinct. When the station was made here, many of the people from the surrounding country moved in, so that the old place of voting on Money Creek was on one side and an out- of-the-way place. By order of the County Board, the place of voting was changed to the village of Towanda, September 6, 1856. It was still Money Creek Precinct. James Gilmore, Sr., Hadley J. Short and Silas Waters were appointed Commissioners to divide McLean County and to establish township organization. They reported Feb- ruary 26, 1858, Town 24 north, Range 3 east, of the Third Principal Meridian, was called Towanda, and constituted a voting precinct. Since that report, many of the townships have been changed, but this one remains as first organized.

The first election under the new order of things was held April 6, 1858. It resulted as follows: Supervisor, Nathaniel S. Sunderland ; Town Clerk, Edwin R. Reeves ; Collector, William Halterman ; Assessor, Joel N. White; Overseer of the Poor, Lemuel Kiblinger ; Commissioners of Highways, John Mack, Joseph K. Dod- son and David H. Cowan ; Overseers of Highways, William D. Kinnan, Elijah Ellis, Jeremiah Shade, Calvin Barnes and Dennis Whiterago ; Poundmaster, Norman Finite; Constables, John L. Baylor and Edwin R. Reeves; Justiecs of the Peace, Willis P. Pepenoe and John N. King.

At present, Frank Henderson is Supervisor and also Township Treasurer; George Hilts is Town Clerk ; Cornelius Gatliff and D. F. Biddle are Justices of the Peace ; Benjamin Stretch, Patrick Merna and A. A. Riddle are Commissioners of Highways. The Trustees are W. H. Macy, Monroe Barnes and Nelson Jones.

WAR RECORD AND POLITICS.

The early settlers, though often frightened by rumors of Indian wars, and though thoroughly scared during the Black Hawk war, never suffered anything from the Indians farther than a few annoyances in the way of theft. None of the few who dwelt here at that time, except Frederick Rook and, perhaps, another man whose name we did not learn, were in the above-mentioned war, nor do we find traces of any in the Mexican war. But when the dark clouds of conflict obscured our national horizon in 1861, Towanda turned out her proportion of men immediately. No draft was ever necessary. When the last call came for twenty-six men, they met it, though the num- ber was disproportionately large. The township offered, at one time, $300 bounty. This, with $300 paid by the county, made the total bounty for entering $600. It was only for the last call that the $300 was paid by the township. Most of those who vol- unteered earlier got only $150 from the township. Several brave " boys " offered their lives on their country's altar. William Sears was shot at Ramsey's Lane. He

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

was First Lieutenant, and was in command of his company when they made the charge in which he was killed. Nathan Sears, William's brother, died from disease. Richard Russell also sickened and died. John H. Dodd was shot accidentally and killed. Philip Miller died of disease, and F. E. Wise was killed in the fight at Natchez. Whether there were others who died from the effects of disease contracted in the army, or that were killed on the battle-field, we have not been able to learn. But enough is known to make it evident that the patriotism of this township stands unchallenged.

In political matters the township has been pretty evenly balanced, but generally, of late years, there has been a small majority in favor of the Republican ticket.

THE VILLAGE OF TOWANDA.

This village is located in the northwestern part of the township of the same name. It includes the southwest quarter of Section 5. This land was entered by Peter A. Bedeau. The certificate of entry is dated February 18, 1853. The original plat of the village included only forty acres from the center of this quarter-section. It was then owned by Jesse W. Fell and Charles W. Holder, who filed a plat of the town with the County Board, to be recorded December 7, 1854. The original forty acres was donated by Peter A. Bedeau for town purposes. The remaining part of the quar- ter-section was sold by Mr. Bedeau to Jesse W. Fell and Charles W. Holder on May 1, 1855. The proprietors immediately surveyed it and laid it off into town lots. These were afterward sold to such as wished to embark in business and become residents of the new town on the prairie. Mr. Charles Roadnight, an Englishman, became the heaviest property-owner in the village. In fact, at one time, he owned the greater part of it.

Towanda is pleasantly located on the prairie, less than a mile southwest of Money Creek. The village is on high land, and, judging from its location and the number of its physicians, is a very healthy place in which to live. It is situated on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, about half way between Bloomington and Lexington. The railroad enters the village at the southwest corner, and passes in a northeasterly direction through it. It is surrounded by a good farming and grazing country, and has all the natural facilities for a flourishing inland town. It would have grown much more rapidly, no doubt, had it not been so near to our ambitious county seat, whose shadow reaches far out into the surrounding country, chilling the young life-blood in many smaller towns. The population of Towanda, at present, is about 500. .

EARLY SETTLERS.

As noted in the history of the township, William D. Moore was the first to settle near the present site of Towanda. He is now within the town limits, although he resides on the northwest quarter of Section 5. Mr. Moore came from Ohio. He reached Money Creek October 21, 1851. In the fall of 1853 he moved to his present residence. This was the first residence within what are now the limits of Towanda ; although, at that time, no one had ever thought of a village there. The only house between his and Bloomington was the residence of Mr. Halterman, near the sulphur spring. Mr. Moore kept the post office, and the mail was still carried on horse-back. But there was destined to be a great change in a few years. When the village was laid out, and the cars began to stop at the switch, people came to the railroad to enter into business. David S. Kinnan built the first residence in what was then the village. He

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

and James Alexander built the first warehouse. Mr. Kinnan still resides on a farm near the site of the old saw-mill, on Money Creek. Mr. Alexander lives in town. T. J. Laney built the second dwelling, and with Wesley Fletcher Bishop, the second ware- house. Mr. Bishop built the third dwelling. house. He also ran a small grocery store. This was the first storehouse in the village. The first dry goods store was set up by Frank Henderson in 1857. After running it a short time, he sold out and went on a farm. He is one of Towanda's strongest men. Wesley F. Bishop was the first station agent. He served in that capacity before any dwelling had been erected. When the mail began coming on the railroad, in the winter of 1855 and 1856, the office was brought down "into town," and David S. Kinnan became the first Postmaster in the village. Samuel C. Ware is the present Postmaster. He is also Police Magistrate.

EDUCATION.

The first schoolhouse in Towanda was built in 1854. It was a neat frame build- ing, 24 by 26 feet. It is still standing and is a good building yet. In 1866, the number of children had so increased as to demand a new and larger building for their proper accommodation. Accordingly a house was begun and nearly finished, when it burned to the ground before ever being used. The origin of the fire is not known. But the good people of Towanda were not to be discouraged by a fire. The next year a large and commodious building was erected, and it has done good service ever since. The first teacher in the new building was G. H. Thrasher. Three teachers are regu- larly employed. Mr. James A. Jones now has charge of the schools. Last year, the Principal was paid $60 per month, being the highest wages paid in the township. The School Directors at present are George W. Howard, M. J. Wise and George Hilts.

MILLS, WAREHOUSES, ETC.

A good flouring-mill with two sets of buhrs was soon built by Roadnight & Strothers. After running it a short time, the builders traded it to Nathaniel S. Sunder- land. He had been in possession but a short time, when the mill was destroyed by fire. Mr. Sunderland lost, at the same time, a large warehouse, which burned with the mill. The property was heavily insured, so that the owner sustained only a partial loss.

After this, Henry Warner built another mill. It experienced a fate similar to that of the Sunderland mill. It had been in operation scarcely a year when it was swept away by the fire-fiend. It, also, was insured.

There remains in Towanda a monument to the hopes and ambition of one of her early citizens. It is known as the "big" building. It is situated on the northwest side of the railroad, just across from the depot. It was built by Charles Roadnight, when he was determined to make a large place of Towanda. The house faces the rail- road and is built parallel to it. It is 50 by 100 feet, and two stories in height. It is only partly occupied.

FIRES.

For a small town, Towanda has quite a fire record. Mr. Sunderland's large steam flouring-mill, and with it his warehouse, were the first victims. The fire next seized Mr. Warner's new mill and it was leveled to the ground. These were well insured ; but when Mr. Campbell's dry goods store was burned, he lost it all. His policy had expired the day before the fire. The burning of the new schoolhouse before it was occupied at all was another sad fire. Mr. Laney also lost a grocery store by fire.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

CHIURCHES.

Towanda may be said to be a religious town. It is not to be supposed from this, however, that everybody belongs to a church, but there certainly is a fair proportion that do. There are three churches and each has a comparatively large membership. The Baptists built the first church in the village in 1858. Their first minister was James Cairns. Before this, the Presbyterians had organized a society and held meet- ings in the schoolhouse. They built the second church. This church was begun in 1863 and dedicated January 18, 1864. Robert Conover preached the dedicatory sermon. He was Pastor of the same church continuously until March, 1878. The Methodists organized in 1857. N. H. Craig was Pastor. They, too, held meetings in the schoolhouse until the building of their church in 1866. These churches are all respectable houses of worship ; they do credit to the village. Although other religious denominations have held occasional meetings here, none have been able to establish a permanent organization.

INCIDENTS.

There is seldom anything to enliven the dull monotony of life in a country village. An occasional suit before the Squire, some neighborhood gossip, or the advent of some small show or unknown lecturer, make up the ordinary sensation. But an accident occurred in the early history of this town that is still vividly recalled by the older inhabit- ants. This took place about the year 1856, on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad. The southern-bound freight, passing through in the night, had exhausted its supply of water. The train was left standing on the main track, while the engine went down to Bloomington to the tank. A watch was placed on the track, that the next southern- bound freight might not run into the caboose on the track. The watch, instead of attending to his duty, went into a house and there fell asleep. The train came rushing down the track, and ran into the other one. Thrce men were killed. Two of these were literally torn in pieces. Parts of their bodies were strewn all along the track. Cars were piled up and thrown around in every conceivable shape and direction. The train had been running at full speed. The third man had been carried along with the engine. In the morning, when the wreck was examined, he was found crowded up against the fire-door. His body had been mashed by a freight-car, and then baked by the fire in the engine. The man was killed by the collision, so that he suffered no pain from the fire. The watch was so frightened when he saw the result of his carelessness, that he left the country immediately, and nothing was ever heard of him afterward.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 68

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