The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 70

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 70

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In political matters, Hudson is Democratic. When national or State questions come up, and discussions run high, and political feeling is thoroughly aroused, they turn out a good vote here, the Democrats generally carrying the day by a good majority.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

In township elections there is not much party strife, one ticket generally being all that there is in the field.

RAILROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

The Illinois Central Railroad, which was completed through the township in 1854, is the only one crossing its territory. This road did much to settle up the prairies, and although it has often tried to trample on the interests of the community by exorbi- tant freights. it has always relented when the people began to haul to and from other roads. There is a considerable amount of grain and stock shipped by it, and the people would realize much difficulty if it were cut off. At the time of building, there was a great rush to get the road completed within the specified time. Everybody that could be had was employed for a time on the portion of the road in the immediate vicinity of Mackinaw Creek. A large force was kept constantly employed night and day. Provisions and feed sold high. The farmers made money then, but it did not last long.

Most of the section lines are publie thoroughfares. Diagonal rcads are not numer- ous. One of the most important roads is one leading from the village of Hudson to Normal and Bloomington. It follows the section line between Sections 33 and 34, and then turns toward the railroad track. Another road that does not follow section lines altogether may be found passing on the line between Sections 32 and 33. North of this, it follows the east edge of Havens' Grove, but finally finds its way back to the sec- tion line. There is another diagonal. zigzag road through the north tier of sections. It comes in from Money Creek Township, and crosses the Mackinaw near the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad. The roads are kept in good repair, so far as we were able to learn. The oblique roads described, with those following section lines, furnish all the necessary out- lets for farmers and others wishing to cross the country. There are several small streams bridged by wooden bridges, but we found none made of iron.

ORGANIZATION.

There was a voting precinct at Hudson for a long time. The voters from White Oak used to come over to vote here; but in the adoption of the township system, Hud- son included only one Congressional town. When the first election thereafter was held, April 6. 1858, it resulted in the election of the following township officers : James H. Cox, Supervisor ; Henry Conkling, Town Clerk ; Alfred S. Weeks, Collector; Warren Coman, Assessor ; John W. Hatfield, Overseer of the Poor; Jacob H. Burtis, Jr., Stephen Arthur, Benjamin Wheeler, Commissioners of Highways; Hiram Havens and James Nighbarger, Justices of the Peace; Isaac Messer and Enoch A. Gastman, Con- stables. It will be seen that many of the earliest settlers were represented in this list of officers, and by comparison, that some of the same elected twenty-one years ago. are officers yet. The present list of public servants is as follows: Alfred S. Weeks, Super- visor ; Thomas Lewis, Town Clerk ; Edgar Sager, Collector ; John Ferguson, Assessor ; George W. Gastman, Daniel Gonder, Jesse Platt, Commissioners of Highways; George W. Gastman and Dr. James Johnson, Justices of the Peace; Frank Evans, Constable.

HUDSON.

The village of Hudson is located on the Illinois Central Railroad, six miles north of Normal. It is pleasantly situated, being near the eastern edge of Havens' Grove, in the prairie. In the immediate vicinity of the town, the land is rather level, but the

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

surrounding country is good. Portions of the village are very pretty. The surface is rolling, in many places, and. when covered with the green grass of spring, it is not inferior in beauty to many parts of more pretentious cities.

Hudson originated with the formation of the colony which settled the prairie east of Havens' Grove. Consequently, it is one of the oldest villages in McLean County. Bloomington was quite a small place when Hudson took its rise. The comparison is not now much to the benefit of the latter; but when the amount of labor and energy that has been bestowed on the former is taken into consideration, we are not surprised. But Hudson does quite a local trade. The erossings of the railroads at other points have left it at the mercy of the single road sometimes ; but this has been overcome by the energy of its merchants, who do not propose to be imposed upon. Salt was, at one time since the building of the Illinois Central Railroad, hauled from Bloomington ; but is not necessary now.

IIudson has two churches, which are quite ereditable to so small a place as it is- a Baptist and a Methodist Church. The Methodist Church is the descendant of the one whose church-edifice stood, for a long time, down by the grave-yard, west of town. When that building beeame too small for the accommodation of the membership and usual congregations, the more commodious one in town was erected. This occurred in 1856, when a house 40x56 feet was erected. The present membership is not so large as it has been heretofore, although there are quite a list of names still on the books. The present Pastor is the Rev. T. R. MeNair, who has had charge of the Methodist Church at Towanda and White Oak, also.

The Baptist Church in Hudson, although not as early organized as the Methodist, is in quite a prosperous condition, and bids fair to hold its own. In the first organiza - tion, there were only thirteen members. Prominent among these may be mentioned J. H. Cox and wife, Samuel P. Cox and wife, Andrew Armstrong and wife, James Ambrose and wife and John Graves and wife. The first meetings were held in the schoolhouse. These services were conducted by Benjamin Thomas and A. S. Denison. These two men united their efforts in a protracted meeting. This was in 1855. A. S. Denison organized the first church, and served as its Pastor the first two years. After him, James Cairns took charge. He remained a long time. It was during his pastorate that the church was built. This church-edifice is a handsome frame building, 36x40 feet. It was erected in 1859 and 1860. The cost of construction was $2,000. The present membership is about eighty. As illustrating the hold which the Pastor, Mr. Cairns, had upon his people, it is stated that, when he left Hudson for Fairbury, sixteen of the members moved with him and went to the same place. The present Pastor is the Rev. S. G. Miner. The ministers in charge since the first organization, and their order, have been as follows : A. S. Denison, James Cairns, Rev. Mr. Sturgeon, John Sawyer, E. J. Thomas, S. G. Miner.

The business interests of Hudson are looked after by several firms. Cox & Aldrich run a large general store on the corner near the depot. They also carry on a drug store and lumber-yard. They own one of the elevators, and operate the other. They deal exten- sively in grain of all kinds, their principal shipments being of corn and oats. Some rye is also handled. Carlock & Brothers keep a general store. A. Bistorious is a dealer in groceries. Adam Schoberlein adds boots and shoes to a line of groceries. H. Hasen- winkle owns the mill. It has three runs of buhrs, and does a very fair business. There

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

are three blacksmith-shops. Thomas Calem operates one, William Lupton another, and William Hurshey the third. He also keeps a carriage and repair shop and a wagon- shop. John Jewell runs another wagon-shop.

MOSAIC LODGE, NO. 62S, A., F. & A. M.

This Lodge was chartered by the Grand Lodge at its annual session, held in October, 1869, by Harmon G. Reynolds, then Grand Master of the State of Illinois. The name selected by the brethren, though a very appropriate one, as applying to individuals, can scarcely be considered so when applied to this Lodge. The name Mosaic, as originally applied to the pavement of King Solomon's temple, signified that " human life was checkered with good and evil," and, while this Lodge has had some ups and downs, it is peculiarly noteworthy that the organization has pursued the even tenor of its way, seeking notoriety neither by great display or a noticeable lack of good works. In regard to membership, it has " held its own" since its organization, seeking to build into its temple only such timber as the Master Architect would approve. And so we find that, in 1879, it numbers about thirty members. The first Master was George W. Jewell. The present officers are : Daniel Gonder, W. M .; D. H. French, S. W .; M. F. Moats, J. W .; George Stoll, Treasurer ; R. H. Dement, Secretary ; F. R. Johnston, S. D. ; John Jewell, J. D., and J. A. Miller, Tiler. With but few changes, the above brethren have held the offices for nearly the whole decade of the Lodge's existence.

The night of meeting on the " checkered floor," is on the Friday on or before the full moon of each month.

Hudson takes pride in her schools. The building is the same one erected by the colony at the first organization of the village. Although it is thus somewhat antiquated, it affords comfortable apartments for the aspiring young people of the village. There are two teachers employed. Hudson, like the other small towns of McLean, reaps a large benefit from the State Normal University, at Normal. Graduates from this insti- tution teach Hudson's schools, and yet the village is smaller than the aspiring young alumni of that institution usually prefer to select as the scene of their pedagogical feats. Miss Nettie Cox, a graduate of the Class of 1877, is now teaching here. She is the daughter of the merchant whose business proclivities are the life of Hudson.

DALE TOWNSHIP.

Dale Township is in the western part of McLean County. It is one of those town- ships which cuts off bits from several of the early settlements. It has no grove of importance lying entirely within its boundaries, although there is considerable timber in little patches, the largest entire grove being Hougham's, or Harley's.

Dale includes one Congressional town, designated Town 23 north, Range 1 cast of the Third Principal Meridian. It is bounded on the north by Dry Grove Township, on the east by Bloomington, on the south by Funk's Grove, and on the west by Allin Township. On the north side, it cuts into Twin Grove, taking off a strip of timber about one and one-fourth miles long, and one-half mile wide. On the east side there is some timber, and in the southern part is Hougham's or Harley's Grove. Across the northwest corner, Big Slough and another little stream pass. Brooks' Branch of Sugar Creek rises near Covell. The largest stream through the township is the branch

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

of Sugar Creek which comes from Bloomington, and cuts off quite a large triangle from the southeast corner of the township. Dale is well watered. It lies in a kind of valley or swag in the prairie. The north side is higher, and so is the southeastern corner, occupied by Shirley and vicinity. The valley extends in a southwesterly and north- easterly direction.

The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, main line, crosses the southeast corner of the township, coming in from the northeast, near the northeast corner of Section 25, through the corner of Section 36, and then through Section 35. The Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad crosses the northeast corner of the township, passing in a northwesterly direction through Section 1, and cutting off a small corner from Section 2. The Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad enters the east side at the middle of the east side of Section 12. It passes southwest, through Section 13, and then turns almost directly west, and so continues through the township. It will thus be seen that Dale is well crossed by railroads. The I., B. & W. cannot be said to be of much advantage, but the two branches of the C., A. & St. Louis Railroad furnish two shipping points within its limits-Covell and Shirley.

The soil is black, deep and fertile. There are some portions which it is necessary to drain. Occasionally, a natural pond may be seen, and considerable of the land is flat. But there is an immense amount of corn, oats and potatoes raised. At the small station of Covell alone, we noticed 35,000 to 40,000 bushels of corn in the crib. Cattle are raised, and hogs abound. The facilities for shipping are excellent, and many things conspire to make the farming community comfortable and independent.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

The early history of Dale is closely allied to the history of other townships, par- ticularly to that of Dry Grove Township. Twin Grove was first settled, so far as can now be ascertained, by Stephen Webb and William McCord. William McCord, Stephen Webb, George and Jacob Hinshaw left Tennessee in June, 1827. They came west and north until they reached the Ohio River, having no trouble and a pleasant journey. From the Ohio, they experienced difficulty and trial on every hand. The swollen streams often caused them much delay. On these occasions they would be com- pelled to ferry their goods across in canoes, and swim their horses and cattle. When, at last, they reached Cheney's Grove, George Hinshaw said he would go no farther. The others came on and settled at Twin Grove. William McCord remained until the spring of 1831, when he left for Woodford County. He there settled in Panther Grove, being the fourth family in that settlement. The cabin that he built is said to be still standing.

Stephen Webb still lives at Twin Grove, but not on the original farm. The descendants of Hinshaw may be found in the same neighborhood.

At about the same time that the Hinshaw-McCord company came West, Elander Hurst and Matthew Harbert came to Twin Grove from Sangamon County, this State. Harbert was the first to own the Daniel Munsell place, but this was in Dry Grove Township. Elander Hurst settled on the southeast side of the Grove, in Dale.

Just west of Mr. Hurst was a Mr. Ellis, who came to the Grove very early, but the particulars of whose life we failed to learn. He afterward moved north, to the Galena lead-mines.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

In 1830, then, we find in Dale Township the following families, along the south side of Twin Grove: Beginning at the southeast corner, we find Mr. Hurst; going west, we come to Mr. Ellis first, then the residence of William McCord, and just west of this, the old farm first occupied by Stephen Webb, but at this time occupied by Benjamin Hinshaw. Here was a line of four residences. They were the only ones in the township with the exception of Robert H. Johnson's family, at Hougham's Grove. These ou the north were not without their neighbors, for a number of families were on the north side of the Grove.

At the date last mentioned, a company of emigrants from Butler County, Ohio, arrived at Twin Grove. They reached their destination October 9, 1830. The com- pany was composed of the following gentlemen and their families: Samuel Beeler, William Beeler, Francis Rockhold, George Beeler and Isaac Ryneerson. They all set- tled in a row, on the south side of Twin Grove. The company had sent out before and bought the land, and came this year to occupy it. They all lived and died here with the exception of Francis Rockhold, who still lives in Missouri. Their descendants are among the most prominent citizens of these parts, and are familiar to all who are acquainted with the history of the neighborhood.

In the same company was a young man of the name of Jesse Hill. He was a Kentuckian by birth, but moved to Indiana at the age of nine. He was here in Mad- ison County when the company of emigrants came along. He was of an adventurous spirit and engaged with them. They were to give him money enough to return when he had gone as far as he wished. Mr. Hill married the daughter of Col. Beeler, and remained in Illinois. He worked in the neighborhood at various places, spending most of his time for awhile at well-digging. He soon entered a piece of land, built his cabin and took his Nancy home with him. Mr. Hill still lives on the south side of the grove, at a lovely place where he is sheltered from the northern gale in winter, and yet enjoys all the comforts of the southern breezes in summer. He has several children in this country, and some boys in the West learning what pioneer life means.

The first to venture out into the edge of the prairie, were Isaac Barker and Dea- con Tompkins. They came from Ohio and went into the prairie on the southeast of . the grove. Oliver Pease soon moved to the township, from Dry Grove. Others began to come in rapidly. The settlement was soon large and all the paraphernalia of an old settled country began to appear.

So far we have dealt with the single settlement at Twin Grove. This is not the only one, but it was the most important at first. We have not mentioned all those who came in to Twin Grove, but we have endeavored to give a fair idea of the manner of the first settlement. The details of early neighborhood history, at this late date, are meager and hard to obtain.

The first settler at Harley's Grove, or what was formerly called Hougham's Grove, was Robert H. Johnson. He was a Virginian by birth, but at a very early age he removed with his parents to Jackson County, Tenn. Here he remained for a number of years, when he again moved, this time to Overton County, in the same State. In 1814, he married a Miss Potter. He started to Illinois in 1828. He first stopped at Blooming Grove. Here he met a warm reception. The old-time sympathy manifested itself in the liveliest manner. George Hinshaw had built a cabin for the family at what is now called Harley's Grove. This cabin had no shutter to the door,

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so that Funk's hogs that had been in the woods eating the mast, found it a comfortable sty. When Johnson took possession, they were unconscious of the number of animals that would dispute their right before morning. It is reported that a large drove of hogs made their appearance after the family had retired for the night, and demanded admittance. The wary dog disputed with them the narrow pass afforded by the door- way. The pioneer, aroused from his slumbers, managed to apply the fire-wood in such a judicious way upon the poor creatures' noses as to cause them to beat a retreat. In the mean time the wife, who was always on the alert, cast the fiery darts of a righteous one out at the opening, where a chimney should have been, and made it impossible for the enemy to enter by that route. On the next day, the Funks appeared on the scene and things were adjusted in a more amicable way. The Johnson family lived here, the only inhabitants of the Grove, for some time. They had plenty of game at hand, and had many an adventure with the deer and wolf. Mr. Johnson had not entered the land, so that some years after his first settlement, a man of the name of Hongham entered it and bought Mr. Johnson's improvements. Hougham owned a large portion of land in that vicinity and was for a long time the only person there. Johnson went north to Twin Grove, and met his death by accident, in 1837.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

The first sermon preached in Dale Township is not now remembered. The Rev. Mr. Latta, of Bloomington, often preached on special occasions at such places as seemed to demand religious services. Mr. Jesse Hill remarks that the first regular preaching in the township was held at his house. It occurred on this wise: Mr. Hill was digging a well at the prospective residence of Mr. Elias York, on the east side of Twin Grove, in Dry Grove Township, when Rev. Mr. Royal came along. Said he, " Dou you ever have any preaching in here ?" "Yes," replied Mr. Hill, " a funeral sermon occasionally." " Do you wish any regular preaching ?" continued Rev. Royal. " Now, sir," said Mr. Hill, " if you will occupy my cabin, down there, you are welcome to it." The minister accepted the proffered cabin and left word in the neighborhood that he would be there in one week from that day, which brought the sermon on Thurs- day. At the hour appointed, he was promptly on hand. Services were held in the little cabin, whose unchinked walls presented a hole-y appearance and whose simple benches and unpretending stools furnished the only means of sitting. There were several persons present, and, at the close of services, a class was formed. When Mr. York finished his residence, the place of preaching was changed to his house. This formed the Methodist Church in the south of Dry Grove Township. The class was always kept up after the first meeting, but the place of meeting has been all the time in that township, until the removal of the church to the Cemetery in 1877-78. If the reader will refer to that township, he will there find a more complete history.

There was an early organization of the Christian Church at Twin Grove, but it was across the line north. Many of the members of that Church lived in Dale Town- ship, but the first organization of a church inside of what is now Dale, did not occur until 1859. At what is known as the California Schoolhouse, something more than a mile north of Shirley, this first society was organized December 4, 1859. It was organized by the advice and consent of the Grassy Ridge Church in Bloomington Township. There were thirteen original members. Jonathan Park was the minister ;

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

he continued so to aet until the society was moved to Shirley. The following are the names of the first list of members, who became such December 4, 1859: Jonathan Park, Barthana Park, Sidney Park, Alevilda J. Park, John J. Denham, Minerva E. Denham, Andrew J. Denham, Mary W. Denham, Elzira F. Quinn, Hannah Smith, Mary Jane Lane, Hardin Boulware, Florinda F. Boulware. The meetings were held in the schoolhouse ten years. Jonathan Park was their preacher. He was the pioneer settler of that part of the prairie. Of course, when he came to McLean County, nearly thirty years ago, it was then looked upon as being an old settled community, but notwithstanding all that, he tells us that when he stopped where he now is, there was not a farm between him and Brown's Grove.

In the southeast corner of Dale Township, there lived, until quite recently, a trio of ladies noted for their old age. These were Ann McNitt, Mary Boulware and Eliza- beth Quinn. The latter is still living.

Ann McNitt was born December 29, 1786, and died May 15, 1878. It will thus be seen that she was in her ninety-second year at the time of her death. She came to Illinois about 1852. At that time, her husband was still living. Recently, she has lived with an adopted son, Mr. James G. MeClelland, about three-fourths of a mile west of Shirley. Mrs. McNitt came originally from Pennsylvania. There she was born before the Constitution of the United States had ever been framed. At the time of the war with England. she was twenty-six years old. Before Robert Fulton first tried his boat on the Hudson, she had reached womanhood; and when the first cars began their puffing on the American continent, she was growing old. And yet this hale old lady has lingered on the shores of time, enjoying good health, almost to the present time. Mary Boulware, or Aunt Polly Boulware, as she was familiarly known, lived to be even older than her associate just cited. She was born May 12, 1786, and died February 16, 1879. It will be seen from this that she was almost ninety-three years old. Her early life was spent in Madison County, Ky. There she claimed the attention of this world before the Northwest Territory had been organized. She came to Illinois in 1853. Her husband was living at that time. He died in 1864, in the the seventy-fifth year of his age. He was some three years younger than his wife. After the death of her husband, she lived, most of the time, with her son, James F. · Boulware, who lives one and one-fourth mile west of Shirley. Mrs. Boulware con- tinued in good health until the last sickness. She had a few seasons of sickness, but, as a rule, she and Mrs. McNitt retained much of their early vigor. The third and youngest of the trio is Elizabeth Quinn. She is ten years younger than those who have lately passed away, and might have been looked upon by them, at one time, as . quite youthful. And yet, to the vast multitude of mankind, she is an old person indeed. She was born April 23, 1796, almost four years before the death of Wash- ington, and long before a Napoleon shook the world with his wonderful campaigns. Kentucky had not been long a State, and Tennessee was admitted to the Union in the same year.

EDUCATIONAL.

The early educational intelligence in regard to Dale Township is meager in the extreme. The early settlement which has been spoken of at Twin Grove had its school, but it was across in Dry Grove Township. Jesse Hill relates the difficulties often met in getting up a school. On one occasion, he signed for a scholar himself, and afterward

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 70

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