The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 69

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 69

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Towanda has, at present, three churches, one graded school, two drug stores, one dry goods store, four groceries, three grain-dealers, two blacksmith-shops, and two wagon-shops in connection with the smithies.

There are no hotels in the village. When the traveling public stop in Towanda, they are not supposed to stay overnight. But should any one be compelled to remain, the good people will house him comfortably in their own dwellings.

There are no lawyers. When cases come up before the Squire, as come they will, sometimes, a lawyer from Bloomington is frequently seen wending his way to Towanda. All villages have one or more physicians. Towanda has two; but they are trying to starve those by failing to indulge in the necessary amount of sickness.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

HUDSON TOWNSHIP.

Hudson Township lies in the northern part of McLean County. It is west of the center, touching Woodford County on the northwest. It comprises one Congressional town, known as Town 25 north, Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian. On the north, it is bounded by Woodford County and Gridley Township of McLean ; on the east, by Money Creek ; on the south, by Normal; on the west, by White Oak Township and Woodford County. Hudson is well supplied with streams. The Mack- inaw Creek is the only large one, but there are several other streams of minor impor- tance. Six-Mile Creek rises by several branches in Normal Township. These unite in Sections 17 and 20 and form one stream, which flows in a very tortuous course north and west, leaving the township near the southwest corner of Section 6. The Mack- inaw flows westerly along the northern boundary, cutting in and out at several points. Farther toward the west, it bears south. The northwest corner of Section 5 is left on the right bank of the stream, while the greater portion of Section 6 is also on the north. Moncy Creek flows northwesterly across the northeast corner of the township. A large branch of the last-named stream rises in the southeast part of the township, and flows mostly north.

There was originally considerable timber in Hudson, but it was not in large bodies. The groves that we look for in every township are represented by Havens' Grove. This was but a small body of timber, lying partly in Sections 20, 28, 29 and 17. The Money Creek Timber extended along that stream in the northeast. Mackinaw Timber skirted the northern boundary.

The Illinois Central Railroad extends through the township. It enters from the north, near the northwest corner of Section 4, where it crosses Mackinaw Creek. It extends south, in the same row of sections, through the township, leaving one-fourth mile west of the southeast corner of Section 33.

Like nearly all the others, Hudson reports a good yield of wheat in pioneer times. It was, probably, superior in the production of that cercal to most other townships of the county. But it is with it, as with others, the days of wheat-harvesting to any considerable extent are past. The principal products at present are corn, oats, rye, pota- toes and kindred crops. Cattle and hogs are produced in abundance. Considerable shipping is done, both of grain and stock.

The surface of the country is slightly rolling in places, while in others there is a tendency to too great a level. The soil is black, deep and fertile. Its productiveness is unsurpassed.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

Although Hudson had a few early inhabitants, the township was not settled up as rapidly as some others, especially during the first four or five years. The first to stop within its present limits were Bailey Harbert, his son-in-law, Richard Gross, and Mosby Harbert. When Jesse Havens and company arrived, they found these men and fami- lies at the grove, on the east side. They were living in cabins. Gross' was made of split logs, but Harbert's was little more than a pole pen, covered with unshaven boards, that had been riven with a frow. The boards were held on by poles, as nails were

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unknown, and altogether too much of a luxury, at any rate to be wasted on the roof of a cabin.

Havens came in the fall of 1829. In the summer before, Harbert had raised a patch of sod-corn and sown ten acres of wheat in the fall. But in the winter, the Harberts and Gross sold out to Jesse Havens and his son-in-law, Benjamin Wheeler. They then moved away to Blooming Grove and entered land there, where they remained.

In the summer of 1829, in Licking County, Ohio, there was much talk of the great prospects out West. This was particularly the case in the family of Jesse Havens. A daughter and son-in-law had already spent a year in the new country, and their glowing reports of fine country, plenty of game and rich soil had the desired effect on the relatives in the East. Accordingly, Jesse Havens, Benjamin Wheeler, his son-in-law, and Jacob Moats started West with their families. They stopped first with those who had sent such enticing words back. This was at Hezekiah Platt's, at Big Grove, Champaign County. Here, the emigrants left their families a short time, and went down to the Sangamon River, intending, if they liked it, to settle there. But they soon returned and started northwest, with their families. They stopped a short time at Buckles' Grove, and then came on to what has since been called Havens' Grove. Here the Havenses and relations remained. Jacob Moats moved his family to Money Creek, where he lived till his death, and where his descendants still live.

Jesse Havens was born June 23, 1781, in New Jersey, near the mouth of Squan River. His father was a Welshman, who spent his life on the ocean. Mr. Havens early came West. He was one of the earliest pioneers of Newark, Ohio. He enlisted in the war of 1812, and participated in the wonderful defense at Fort Stephenson, under Maj. Croghan. In McLean County, he was a man of considerable importance. He was County Commis- sioner before the adoption of the township system, and was generally known through- out the county. He afterward sold out and went to Iowa; but upon his death, in 1862, he was brought back to Havens' Grove for interment by his son Hiram. Several of his descendants live at Havens' Grove.

Hiram Havens, a son of Jesse Havens, tells many an interesting story in regard to early pioneer life. He was quite a hunter and often indulged in trials of skill with the friendly Indians. He reports many of the savages as good marksmen, although he never found an Indian that could shoot at a mark with a precision equal to his own. The Indians would excel in what they called random shooting. They would scarcely ever fail to bring a running deer to a halt, or a flying turkey to the ground. The Indi- ans made Havens' Grove a kind of headquarters, several hundred often camping there. They were wild for whisky, but were careful to keep the Sabbath.

Jesse Havens entered most of the land on which the Grove stood, so that other emigrants beside those of the first company did not come in rapidly. Hezekiah Platt came from Big Grove, not long after Havens settled here.

David Trimmer, son of John Trimmer, of Money Creek, and son-in-law of Jesse Havens, moved up to the southeast corner of the Grove, from Bloomington, where he had been running the first blacksmith-shop ever in the place. Here he lived a long time, until his wife died. Afterward, he went to Kansas, where he still resides.

The next after Trimmer was John W. Hatfield, of Bloomington. He remained for some time, and then went to Eureka and from Eureka to Missouri. These were

BLOOMINGTON

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

about all that can be traced at Havens" Grove until the formation of the colony which laid out the village of Hudson.

Not long after the settlement at Havens' Grove was first made, the Hinthorns came to Money Creek timber on the east side of Hudson Township. They were relatives of the Havenses, and came from the same part of Ohio. There were three brothers of them-Adam, William and Isaac. Next came Elijah Priest, who had married Rebecca Hinthorn ; they arrived in July, 1834. Then Isaac Messer, the United Brethren minister, moved down from above Lexington. Isaac Turnipseed came to MeLean County as early as 1831, but did not move into Hudson Township until after his father- in-law, Issac Messer. These names include about all who settled in IIudson Township early, and had no connection with the colony that located at the village of Hudson.

THE HUDSON COLONY.

The period preceding the year 1837, was an era of speculation in this part of the country. Schemes of almost all kinds were projected throughout the United States for the purpose of making fortunes rapidly. The old and sure, but plodding, methods of making money were abandoncd, and expedients of various kinds for the purpose of out- stripping them were adopted. Patent rights, new discoveries of various kinds, and mineral springs were tried by individuals ; and the States and the Government partook of the excitement and projected canals and other public improvements on a vast scale. In this part of the State, colonization schemes flourished to an unlimited extent. Com- panies were formed in all parts of the country with a view of settling a locality simul- taneously and with a common purpose-that of mutual benefit. It was reasonably con- ceived that with such a concert of movement, many of the hardships and privations usually incident to pioneer life might be dispensed with, and that the social, religious and educational privileges of the older settled parts of the country could be immediately transferred to their new homes. These enterprises were begun mostly during the years 1834-36, and were carried on with varied success. But few ever realized the bright anticipations of their projectors, but doubtless most of them were in a measure success- ful. Perhaps the colony of which we write has proved nearer a realization of hopes of its organizers than any other in this part of the State.

The Illinois Land Association, as it was called, was organized at Jacksonville, in this State, February 6, 1836, by Horatio N. Petitt, John Gregory, George F. Durkitt, and a number of others, the three named being appointed a committee of general superintendence. Nearly all of the township of Hudson was entered in the name of Horatio N. Petitt. Each member of the colony paid $235 for a share in the enterprise ; for this, he was entitled to receive 160 acres of land, four town lots in the prospective village of Hudson, and a share in the net profits of the undertaking. Church and school advantages, were some of the inducements held out to the colonists to embark in the speculation, and these the Association eventually provided. One of the induce- ments held out to the colonists, however, the Association was unable to make good, and that was in regard to the amount of timber to be apportioned to each farm. Twenty acres were thought to be an amount requisite to furnishing fuel, fencing and building material for a quarter-section, but when the Association came to purchase the woodland, it was found that nearly all had been already occupied by carlier settlers, and that they were loath to part with it even at a fair price. The relative value of timbered land was

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then much greater than at present. It was not known that just a few feet below the sur- face of the ground lay millions of tons of superior fuel, all packed away from ages remote for this very generation. The means of transporting lumber from the pineries of the north and other parts of the world had not yet been provided. Consequently, every one who proposed settling here took into account the supply of this very neces- sary article, comparing its exhaustion all the while with the length of time actually required to grow a crop of the same. The failure, therefore, of the Association to sup- ply the amount of timber caused no little dissatisfaction, and quite a number of the stockholders withdrew and removed to other parts. Some twenty of the original stock- holders became actual settlers and have proved to be our most worthy and wealthy citizens. Among these were Horatio Petitt, John Gregory, John McGoun, James Robinson, Oliver March, James and Joseph Gildersleeve, Jacob Burtis and Samuel P. Cox.

The originators of the enterprise were, many of them, from near Hudson, N Y., and the name was given the village in honor of the one where they had formerly lived. On the 20th of June, Petitt, Gregory, Cox and a number of others left Jacksonville in a two-horse wagon, and after a journey of two days arrived at the spot destined to be the site of the village. The party made arrangements with the few settlers in the neighborhood for board for a short time, during which time the surveying and platting was completed. At this time, Jesse Havens and sons-in-law, and one or two more fami- lies were living in the township, and all except Havens, in one story, one-roomed, chinked and daubed log cabins. Mr. Havens was one of the leading men of the county, and as became a man of his standing, had reared for himself an edifice of more than ordinary pretensions, it being not less than a double log house. In this most of the colonists found shelter and food for the few weeks consumed in preparations for the apportion- ment of the lands. By the 4th of July of the year named, Elbert Dickason, who was then County Surveyor, with the help of some of the colonists, had made the survey complete, and on the day named the Independence of the United States was celebrated by the drawing for lots and lands. This accomplished, several of the colonists set out on their return to their homes to bring out their families, while others immediately began the erection of dwellings, so that before the cold weather, several new houses were to be found here. The new houses were all of a better character than the log cabins of the pioneers, being mostly heavy frame buildings; and the township in a short time took on a greatly improved appearance. The next year several more new houses went up, and all of the indications were favorable for a thriving town and settlement. The hard times, however, which usually follow a period of speculation came on that year, and not only did it put a stop to this scheme, but to all others of a similar charac- ter throughout the West, and, from 1837 till 1850, progress in this particular locality was very slow. Occasionally a new settler made his appearance, but in the dozen years but little perceptible change, either in population or improvements could be observed. Much of the land entered in the name of Horatio Petitt has since been many times transferred, though a few of the farms still remain in possession of the original colonists who still reside in the township.

SCHOOLS.

According to promise, the company erected, a couple of years after the establishing of the colony, a schoolhouse in the village. This was a frame building and was used as

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

schoolhouse and church for many years. It is still standing and is still used for school purposes. The same year, S. P. Cox donated a piece of land from his farm, and a school- house was erected there. In this latter mentioned house, the first public school was taught that year, Cordelia Shope being credited with being the pioneer teacher.

The causes which checked immigration brought progress to a stand-still for the next twenty years, of course had their effect on all other enterprises, including the building of schoolhouses, and for twenty years only two more were added to the number erected the first year. The years 1854 and 1855 brought events which have been the direet causes of the rapid development of the school system of this see- tion. Our readers need not be reminded that in the year 1855 was established the sys- tem of free schools which now prevails in this State, and which is the boast and pride of all of its intelligent citizens. The best school system, however, would be of little use in the best and richest country, if there were none to be educated. During the twenty years following the establishing of the colony, but few additions had been made to the population of the township, and the few educational advantages seemed to be about all that could be afforded or that were desired. About this time, however, the railroads were completed through this county-the Illinois Central immediately through the township ; the Chicago & Alton within a mile of the southeast corner, and the Toledo & Peoria a few miles north of the north line-not only " brought a new lease of life " to this part of the county, but infused the life-giving principle into every department of industry, society, religion, politics and education. They brought with them, not only the facili- ties for improving all these, but the people themselves, and that of a most desirable class, and from this very date may be calculated the real prosperity of the township. Very soon additional educational advantages were in demand, and the school law opportunely gave them the authority to put such enterprises in operation. The citizens of this township have always taken a lively interest in any means for educating the youth, and, as a consequence, we find facilities not surpassed by any township of equal population in the county. A few figures from the report of the County Superintendent of Schools will give the reader a better idea of the condition of schools, than any other means at our command :

Number of schools, 9; number of persons under twenty-one and over six, 495; number of scholars enrolled, 415; total value of school property, $4,000; highest wages paid teachers, per month, $50; whole amount paid for teaching, $2,540.92; whole amount expended for school purposes, $3,467.75. An encouraging feature in the above report is that 84 per cent of all persons between six and twenty-one years of age, were last year in attendance at school. Taking out those over eighteen, it would probably dis- close the fact that not more than two or three per cent of those between six and eighteen received no schooling within the year specified.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

The first preaching done in the township was by John Dunham, the United Brethren Missionary. He preached at various places in the grove. When the society of United Brethren was formed on Money Creek, those of that faith, in this neighbor- bood, united with it and attended meetings at the regular place of preaching on Money Creek. As a result, there was no society formed in Hudson Township, at a very early date, as most of the early settlers were United Brethren.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

The first to organize a society were Methodists. The first Methodist preacher that ever held services was, probably, Rev. Mr. Latta, of Bloomington. David Trimmer was the leading spirit in Methodist affairs. The society increased, and built a church just west of the village of Hudson. This was a small church, but served as a place of meet- ing until the building of the present house of worship in the village. In early times, sectarian feeling did not run so high as it has sometimes since. Latta used to preach occasionally at Jesse Havens'. Mr. Mitchell, of Stout's Grove, also preached here early. He was a Presbyterian, but we learn of no Presbyterian society in these parts.

Around Hudson, and to the north, there is quite a strong society of German Bap- tists or Tunkers, or, as they call themselves, Brethren. The first persons of the Breth- ren's faith, to settle in the township, were John Y. Snavely and wife. They came from Indiana, and settled three-fourths of a mile northwest of the village of Hudson, in the east edge of Havens' Grove. Mr. Snavely and wife still reside on the same place. When they first moved here, they were not members of any church. Mr. Snavely had been reared in the Mennonite faith, but on becoming interested in the subject of religion, they visited Indiana, and were there received into the Church of the Brethren. On reaching home again, they gave their credentials to the church already organized in Woodford County. A brother of J. Y. Snavely came next. He and his wife joined the church in Woodford County. There was also a sister, Elizabeth, who belonged to the same fraternity. These five, John Y. and Moses Y. Snavely and wives, and the sister Elizabeth, were the only persons of the faith in the community for a long time. They held their membership in the Woodford County church, where they attended meeting. In 1865, two more were added to their number-Abram Blough and wife, from Pennsylvania. In 1866, Thomas D. Lyon and wife and three daughters added their influence to the small society just starting. Soon after Mr. Lyon and family came, they organized a society. The organization was effected in 1868, under the supervision of James R. Gish, of Woodford County. At this time, Thomas D. Lyon was ordained Elder, and John Y. Snavely was elected Deacon. Mr. Lyon has had charge of the society ever since. He was born in Hardy County, W. Va., March 3, 1821. His father was Michael Lyon, and his mother's name, before her marriage, was Louisa Stingley. Her father was a native of Germany. Michael Lyon is of Irish extraction. He is still alive, living with his son at the village of Hudson. Thomas D. Lyon lived in Hardy County until 1864. October 26, 1843, he married Mary Clark, of the same county. Her ancestors were like her husband's, her father being of Irish descent, and her mother a German. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon have been members of the Brethren's Church from their youth. They have had nine children, eight of whom are still living. Five daughters are married, and all live within a radius of two miles from their father's home, in Hudson Village. Three of these daughters married brothers-sons of John Y. Snavely. The three boys are younger, and not married. . Mr. Lyon has presided over the church interests of his flock with eminent ability and success. For fifteen years, he has been able to observe a steady growth. He has had the satisfaction of seeing his charge increase from a dozen to more than three-score. With no meeting-house at first, they held services in the various schoolhouses in the neighborhood. Now they have a comfortable church, the only difficulty being a lack of room to accommodate their grow- ing congregations. The church was built in 1875. It is two miles north of the village of Hudson. It is a comfortable house, 32x48 feet. It has a basement, and is heated

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by a furnace. The building is characteristic of the people, being plain, but substantial. It has no eupola, and has a side entrance. The cost of the building was $2,000. It proves too small for the purpose. It might do if it were not for the semi-annual com- munion, which the Brethren from all parts make it a point to attend. On these occa- sions, large numbers are unable to gain admittance. Previous to the building of the church, the communions were held for some years in a large shed, erected at the resi- dence of John Y. Snavely.

The officers of the church, at present, are: Minister, Thomas D. Lyon; Elders, John Y. Snavely, Henry Forney, John L. Snavely ; Deacons, Abram Blough, Samuel Stutzman, Moses Y. Snavely, John Forney, William Blough; Clerk, Francis M. Snavely.

WARS AND POLITICS.

Hudson had no men in the Black Hawk war. There were but few in the town- ship, and these were too old or too young. As a reminiscence of the Black Hawk war, we clip the following from the Bloomington Pantagraph : "The first man buried in Hudson Township was Mr. Solomon Lewis, a veteran of the Black Hawk war. Lewis was a soldier in Capt. Brown's command in the regular army, stationed near Danville. When the Black Hawk war broke out, in the spring of 1832, the company were ordered to report at Fort Willburn, a military post near where the city of Peru now stands. On the march thither, Capt. Brown camped at Havens' Grove, where Lewis took sick, and was left at Havens' House, where he died and was buried. When the war was over, Capt. Brown, on learning of the untimely end of his brave soldier, detailed a Sergeant and twelve men to pay the last honors of war over their comrade's new-made grave. The Pantagraph is under obligations to Mr. George P. Ela for the foregoing facts."

We did not learn of any who went from this township to the Mexican war, but, during the " late unpleasantness," Hudson furnished her full quota. Not only did she furnish men to go to the front ; she left her sons on the field of battle. A strange mor- tality was visited upon the Hudson troops. We were told that about thirty persons from this township went out never to return. We were sorry that we could not ascer- tain the names of all the brave men who fell on Southern fields and died in Northern hospitals. William H. Chadbourne died from the effects of disease ; Wellington R. Sanders was shot at Vicksburg, Miss. ; William Jones died of disease; Erwin Clark was shot at the battle of Corinth ; Shepherd Richardson was also shot and killed ; James Richardson died from the effects of disease; Alfred Burtis and his brother, James Burtis, both died at Camp Butler before reaching the scene of action ; Michael Bare, Francis M. Gastman and Walter Stuckey all died in the service ; in like manner, Robert Huston, Jacob Guyer and Jacob Reynolds were sacrificed in the Union cause. These were all citizens of Hudson and were from the prominent elements of her society. Besides these, there were a number of young men working for the farmers in the country, who volunteered, and died in the South, but whose names are now forgotten. They rest in their soldiers' graves, bereft of personal honors, but forming an essential element of the nation's glory.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 69

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