The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 76

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 76

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).

Thomas Kennedy has an excellent farm of 240 acres, in the western part of the town. He came here from Funk's Grove, in 1863. The buildings, orchards and fences are in excellent condition, and the farm shows a careful and successful farmer.

James White owns 200 acres of land in Section 17, which he bought in 1857. It is a fine farm, with good buildings and excellent orchard.

Jonathan Spencer has a well-improved farm in Section 17, upon which he has lived. eighteen years. He has a fine, new barn, and first-rate stoek, having a decided weak- ness for good horses. A thrifty man, with a family of nine children, ought to be, and is, deemed a success.

CHURCHES.

Besides the Friends' meeting-house, there are within the township three Methodist a Christian and a Baptist Church.

The first regular Quarterly Meetings here were held in Frankeberger's barn, by Peter Cartwright and John St. Clair, Presiding Elders. The former is well known, the latter not

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

so well, but quite as favorably. He was a most excellent man, and the few who are now here that formerly knew him, speak of him in terms of profound admiration. At a camp-meeting once, when the services were at the most interesting point, a heavy and very threatening cloud collected, and, with awful peals of thunder and terrific lightning, approached. The tornado was too well known by these dwellers along the timber edges at this time. Fear seemed to seize every heart but the pious Elder's, who, with no indi- cations of other than a fear for the final condemnation of the impenitent, discontinued his sermon, and asked the whole congregation to unite with him in a prayer to Him who holds the winds in the hollow of his hand, for the aversion of the coming storm. With tones as free from feeling as if he had been in his chamber, he sent up the petition of the congregation, that if it was the Lord's will the storm might pass by, that the re- ligious services then in progress might be permitted to continue, to the glory of God, and the up-building of His Kingdom. Whether in response to the prayer of faith or not is not given to finite minds to decide, but the storm divided and passed away. The effect upon the audience was beyond the power of pen description. The whole congregation shouted as they sang a hearty thanksgiving, and each one felt as if stand- ing on holy ground. They retired to their tents to continue clear into the middle of the night hallelujahs of praise. It was the most remarkable soul-stirring scene ever witnessed in this part of the country. Some of the earlier preachers here were Mr. Frank- eberger, William Royal, John French and Squire P. Chase. The first class consisted of eight persons, with John French for leader. They were: Mr. and Mrs. French, Mr. and Mrs. Swan, Mr. and Mrs. Frankeberger and two daughters.

The first M. E. Church was the Old Town Chapel, near the southeast corner of the township, south of where Ellsworth now is. It was built about 1845, and is about 30x38. Jesse Frankeberger, Ezekiel Arrowsmith and Andrew Jones were largely instrumental in building this house. An M. E. Church was built in 1860, at Benjamin- ville, under the active energies of James White, Joseph Murphy and others. It was removed to Holder, and sold to the United Brethren, after which the Methodists built Harmony Chapel, in 1877, two miles east of Benjaminville, on Jennings' land. It is 32x40, plain and neat, painted and carpeted. This was under the pastorate of Mr. Job Ingram, now of Downs, and W. B. Rucker, Seth Middleton Jennings, White and others were active in supplying the long felt need. Asbury Chapel was built at Stumptown about 1869, and cost about $1,900. David and Alfred Frankeberger, and Lewis Hendrix were the leading spirits. The house was dedicated by Presiding Elder Buck.

The Baptists have in years past held an important position in the southern portion of the township. Their house of worship was built about 1843. Elder Whitney preached here several years. Elders Fiske and H. H. Ballard also officiated frequently. There were about twenty-five members at the time of building. Archie Campbell, Mrs. Esther Ireland and Elder Whitney were the most energetic in this work. Mrs. Ireland, now apparently nearing her end, has long been a stay of the church, by her example, her earnestness, doing personally all that any woman could, her purse always open, her faith always strong. Her nephew, Mr. Livingston, and Charles Ingell are live workers in the cause. The Christian Church had on organization before Ellsworth was laid out, and held meetings in Center Schoolhouse. Elder Speed Stagner and Mr. Robinson have preached, and Oscar D. Campbell officiates at present.

Vyden

MONEY CREEK TP.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

The township is usually Republican, when party lines are strongly drawn, but the people have a fashion of voting independently. The following is the list of township officers who have been elected since township organization was adopted :

Date.

Votes Cast.

Supervisor.

Clerk.

Assessor.

Collector.

1858

Josiah Horr.

George Brewer

W. A. Lebo

1859

Josiah Horr.

George Brewer

W. A. Lebo.

1860

Josiah Horr

J. H. Campbell

W. A. Lebo.

1861

James Wirt

(. H. Hobart.

F. P. Glasscock.

1862

Il. R. Arrowsmith ..

C. H. Hobart.

E. P. Glasscock

1863

Josiah Horr

C. H. Hobart.

D. Frankeberger.

1864

Josiah Horr.

C. H. Hobart.

D. Frankeberger

1865

165 Josialı Horr.

Ira Stout.

J. H. Walker.

R. Percey.

1867

B. Marot.

Ira Stout

George A. Yost.

R. Percey.

1868

170 Josiah Horr

Ira Stout.

John Whitcomb

R. Percey.

186!

119 W. R. Anderson

Ira Stout

John Whitcomb

HI. Barnes.

1870 .. Josiah Horr.

Joseph Pierce

George A. Yost.

George Greenman.

1871

203 Josiah Horr.

S. D. Vandervoort

W. C. Lacey

J. W. Heacock.

1872

209. David Moore.

A. J. Wampler

William O'Neal.

Charles Sackett.

1873

207 P. V. Weidnor

A. J. Wampler

James Hancock

S. D. Vandervoort.

1874

145|P. V. Weidnor.

A. J. Wampler

David Moore.

Il. H. Ballard.

1875

183 William O'Neal.

J. Holdren.

J H. Pierce

A. J. Wampler.

1876

192 P. V. Weidnor

A. J. Wampler

D. Frankeberger

11. II. Ballard.

1877

267 P. V. Weidnor

A. J. Wampler

I. B. Jackson.

C. O. Rider.

1878

230 Charles Holdren.

A. J. Wampler

William Rockwell. Oliver Holdner.

1879

287 W. A. Arrowsmith

A. J. Wampler

David Moore

C. O. Rider.

The following have been elected Justices of the Peace: T. N. Hoffman, John Bishop, Josiah Horr, James Smith, H. H. Ballard, D. O. Stout, D. Frankeberger, G. W. Crutchler, F. La Rue, H. T. Edwards, James A. Doyle.

The Commissioners of Highways have been: B. Fetheroff, S. Gaver, A. Merwin, A. Frankeberger, J. R. Benjamin, S. Stanger, William Harrison, Sylvester Stanger, Thomas Starr, I. B. Jackson, Wilson Vandervoort, James Welch, Levi Branson, John Creel, J. B. Moore, Ed. Coale, D. P. Carlisle.

In 1867, by a vote of 79 to 49, the township voted to subscribe $25,000 in ten year's 10-per-eent bonds to the La Fayette, Bloomington & Western R. R. Co. Soon after, the township voted $5,000 additional to the same road. These bonds are due next year, and a proposition has been made to issue in lieu thereof, thirty new bonds, payable five of them each year, for six years, which will probably be accepted.

PADUA STATION.

At the time the railroad aid was voted by the township, it was supposed that the station would be near the center of the township. When the road was completed, how- ever, one station was placed on the western line and one near the castern, where certain " influential " men had land. This is said not to have been satisfactory to Allen Hen- drix and his neighbors, near the center, and they set about " coercing " the officials to provide for them. They did this by a pertinacious system of coaxing, badgering, threatening, begging and buying ; they finally got a station by agreeing to put up the buildings, which was done on Allen Hendrix's land in Section 17; he, with Thomas Mitchell, Joseph Jennings, James Moore, A. R. Coe and A. Mervin were principally instrumental in securing this concession. When the station was established, the post office was called Padua, the name which had for years been used by the office at Horr's.

1866

Marks Banks

C. H. Hobart

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

Samuel Rodman was first appointed Postmaster. Alpheus Webber moved his store from Stumptown to the new station and sold it to Samuel & Scammon Rodman, who contin- ued in business till 1877, when they sold to W. I. Merwin, who is now in trade, is Sta- tion Agent and Postmaster. . Cheney, Rodman, Merwin, and some others, have been engaged in buying corn, and the latter had a steam-power hay press in use for awhile, until it burned.

The Padua tile-factory was erected by Samuel Stoops & Co., in 1878. They have two kilns with a capacity of 20,000 pieces, and use the Tiffany machine which will run from six to eight thousand per day. About $2,000 are invested in the buildings and machinery, and eight men are employed. Sales are ready, and the tiles, which usually run from two and one-half inches to six, are said to be as good as any. They use steam power, and require four days to properly burn.

ELLSWORTH VILLAGE.

Ellsworth was laid out on the lands of Mr. Ellsworth, J. H. Cheney and A. B. Ives, of Bloomington, in 1871. The land of the former lay north of the railroad ; Cheney's south of the road and east of the principal street, and Ives' west of that. A. J. Wampley bought the first lot that was sold ; he purchased, in 1871, on the Ives land. The switch and depot were put in the next year, and the post office established, Wamp- ley being first Postmaster, a position which he holds yet. Wampley at once opened up a general stock of merchandise, and continued there until 1878, when he moved his store and house across the street to lots bought on the Cheney land. John Campbell moved his store and stock of goods from Stumptown, in 1872, and has continued in trade since that time. Harry Vandervoort and Joseph Pierce put up a store and opened in the hardware and implement trade, in 1873. In 1877, they sold to Holdren, who added drugs to his stock, and continues in trade.

W. L. Sapp, James Reed and Mr. Arnold associated with themselves twelve other farmers, and subscribed $100 apiece to commence the "Club" store in 1872. Mr. Van Gundy was employed to conduct it. The next year, Reed & Van Gundy bought it out, and after another year Reed retired, and Van Gundy has continued in the busi- ness since.

In 1874, Dr. Patterson, who had been here in practice a year, coming here from Heyworth, put up a small store and put in a stock of drugs, which he has continued to run in connection with his practice.

The same year, Mr. Rockwood put in a stock of groceries in the building used by the "Club " store, and Joseph Starkey moved his store from a place three miles south- east, popularly called " Confedrit X Roads " (from a real or fancied prevailing opinion that some of the citizens there held opinions not dissimilar from those so eloquently championed by Rev. Mr. Nasby, Deacon Pogram and Saint Bascom), which he contin- ued to occupy for a few years. August Flint has a wagon-shop ; A. Jacoby a harness- shop; H. T. Colwell, a shoe-shop. Dr. L. H. Scaggs has been in the practice of medi- cine for some years.

David Hitch, who had had considerable experience in milling, built a grist-mill with two runs of stones, the citizens subscribing $1,000 toward it. After running it awhile, he sold to S. F. Myers, who is doing a very fair business. Stumptown was just in the edge of the timber. A steam-mill was built there as early as 1854, by Horine &

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

Harrison. After running it awhile, they sold to Fisher & Gibbs; they to David Hitch, who was in trade with Webber, who put in a good grist-will and sold to Hobart, who, in turn, in company with Mr. Dickinson, put the machinery into the Le Roy Mill. Webber & Hitch were selling goods, and John Campbell, also. James Holdren had a blacksmith-shop, and John Selman a wagon-shop. These all took to the prairie when the first proud snort of the locomotive was heard at Ellsworth, and Stumptown became like "Sweet Auburn," a deserted village.

Benjaminville contained a store carried on by Mr. Hollinshead, a blacksmith-shop by Mr. Burrows, and the Friends' meeting-house, built in 1862, with sheds, etc., for comfort as well as worship, at a cost of $1,000.

WEST TOWNSHIP.

The township of West is the second from the east in the southern tier of town- ships. It embraces a Congressional township and a third, and is described as Town 22 north, Range 5 E., and 12 sections off the north end of Town 21 north, Range 5 E. of the Third Principal Meridian. It was originally all prairie except about 300 acres in Sections 6 and 5, where the extreme eastern point of the Old Town Timber runs out on the line between West and Arrowsmith. Topographically, it is one of the most curious in the county, being, as you pass from the northern to the southern boundaries, a suc- cession of high ridges, amounting almost to hills, and valleys. Along its northern end a high ridge extends entirely across the township from Old Town Timber nearly to Cheney's Grove, forming the southern boundary of the valley of the Sangamon, and is a pleasant succession of hillocks and vales, not too abrupt for general cultivation, and making a delightful contrast when viewed in connection with the pleasant valleys on either side, and the broad stretch of level country stretching off to the east into Ford County. The surface, as if by " unanimous consent," makes a gentle declivity to the south, reducing gradually both its elevation and its unevenness for two miles, reaching a dead level, which forms the head of the east branch of Salt Creek, which is about one mile in width, and extending without any seeming variation in its monotonous plain entirely through the township from west to east, and apparently forming a portion of the stretch of level land which runs due east from Randolph's Grove, through and beyond the eastern border of the county, more nearly a perfect plain here than on either side, of unsurpassed richness, but too flat for thorough cultivation in wet seasons. It was intended to drain this thoroughly, but the cumbrous machinery of our drainage laws were past the ability of such mortals as undertook it, and the attempt was aban- doned until our wise legislators succeed in forming a drainage law which can be executed by common people, without going to the Supreme Court with every acre drained. Farther south, and extending like this valley across the entire township, is an elevation less high and more even than the one at the north ; and beyond this is the flatter land which forms the southern end of the township. Across the southeastern .corner of this latter the branch of Salt Creek runs, being here increased by numerous branches to a stream of sufficient size to supply the wants of the herds at all seasons of the year.

There were no early settlements in this township. It was not until about 1850 that the first sod was turned, and much of the land was unplowed as late as 1865, when

660

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

the boys came "marching home " to find, many of them, that it was too crowded in the old homesteads and " swarming " was the order of the day. This " swarming " wave coming principally from the West soon filled up the country that until then had remained unbroken. Tazewell, Fulton and other western counties, sent many of their young men in here. West is pretty liberally supplied with railroads. The Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western runs about three-fourths of a mile across the south western corner. The Springfield branch of the Illinois Central-formerly the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield-runs two miles across its southeastern corner, cutting Sections 1, 11 and 12 (T. 21-5), and has two stations on it, Weedman and Kumler. The Havana, Rantoul & Eastern runs across on the half-section line of sections, numbering from 19 to 24 inclusive, having two stations. Sabina and Delana.

INDIANS.

When the first white settlers made their way into this locality they found a band of Indians in assumed possession of quite a tract of country, though in reality their chiefs had for them some years before traded all of this land to the Government. They were, however, permitted to occupy the country until such time as it was wanted by actual white settlers.

An Indian town was not such a substantial affair as the towns and villages of the county to-day, being but the rudest cabins and tents made of bark, skins of animals and slender poles. Therefore, an Indian town was not necessarily permanent, and we have no evidence that this Kickapoo village had existed in this locality more than a few years. The probability is that it was a band that had moved from some other place upon the appearance of the lawful owners of the country. At Danville, a few years previous, a tribe of the Kickapoos were occupying the timber along the Big Vermilion, and, upon the approach of the whites. they removed to the interior of the State, and from evidences in possession of H. W. Beckwith, Esy., of Danville, but little doubt remains that this was the same band. As soon as the whites had settled to some extent in the neighborhood of Old Town Timber, the Kickapoos, feeling that they were being somewhat crowded, removed their town or camp to the banks of Mackinaw, near the present site of Pleasant Hill; thence, after a few years, to Indian Grove, in Livingston County; and, in 1832, to Oliver's Grove, in the same county. At the last-named place they lived a year or two, when they removed from the State and were lost as a distinctive band or tribe, being merged with other kindred tribes at the reservations beyond the Mississippi.

The early white settlers speak in the most kindly terms of their early red neigli- bors. They were kind, honest, temperate and religious. Of course they were very ignorant, poor, and not over nice in their habits, though a few of them were credited with being neat in person and habits and of being possessed of some education, such as obtained only in good schools. Of this last class were notably Aunt Nancy and Aunt Peggy. They are remembered by some of the early settlers as very decent-looking and good-mannered squaws who made considerable pretense to book learning. On one occasion, they went to hear the pioneer preacher, Peter Cartwright, discourse on religion, and when asked how they liked him, replied, "Oh, he talks very well, but he has no education." In the library of Mr. Beckwith, of Danville, is a copy of the first paper published in the State in 1818, called the Illinois Magazine. In this paper is printed

661

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

a sermon delivered by a Christian Indian to this same band of Kickapoos while they still resided near Danville. The sermon was translated into English by Gurdon S. Hubbard, who was then an Indian trader at Danville, and furnished to the magazine named for publication. For good, sound sense and good rhetorie it is not often excelled by the more enlightened white divines of to-day. Mr. Hubbard says the sermon waslistened to with close attention, and seemed to be well understood and appreciated.

In house-building, they approached more nearly to civilization than most others of their race. While living in this vicinity, some of them provided themselves with houses or cabins as good as some of those occupied by the whites. It is true, most of their dwellings were of a very primitive character ; but Mrs. Paist, who was here in 1822, and then a little girl, informs us that several of their cabins were graced with a second story, and were, in many respects, quite comfortable. The women cultivated patches of corn, beans, potatoes and other vegetables, and in the line of agriculture, excelled most of their white neighbors, though the men considered labor of that kind below their dig- nity, their business being the pursuit of game, with which the forests and prairies of this part of the county abounded.

During the trouble with the followers of Black Hawk, in the northwestern part of the State, the Kickapoos remained friendly to the whites, and, though the excitement consequent upon that war caused some suspicions even at this distance from the seat of war, and though quite a large number of soldiers were raised for the war in this county, the friendly Kickapoos remained true to their professions, and no outbreak occurred. At one time, Machini, who was the chief of the band, proposed a great war-dance, at which many of the settlers became very much frightened, and prepared for defense. They, however, did not understand the import of the demonstration, for, as afterward understood, it was not a menace, but simply the celebration of some past event. Indeed, Chief Machini, to express his friendship for the whites, invited a number of them to take part in the evolutions peculiar to the occasion. Some of the whites, however, fear- ing that this might be a ruse to entice them from their homes for the purpose of murder- ing them, discreetly " sent their regrets." The Dawsons and Orendorffs, however, attended, and were entertained in as kindly a manner as possible. Machini invited John Dawson to take part in the exercises, and, thinking to please the chief, he entered into the contortions with zeal. Mr. Dawson imagined that he understood the step quite as well and could sing far better than the chief himself; but he had sung but a few stanzas of the " he aw han an a haw he haw," when the chief musician, who was Machini himself, shouted, " Stop !" Then turning to Mr. Dawson, in a very grave and somewhat injured manner, said : " Friend Dawson, you dance much good, but you no sing good." Mr. Dawson thereupon ceased his harmony, and confined himself to his muscular exercises. The war-danee passed off without any other disagreeable incident, and Machini thereafter explained that Dawson's singing confused him. In these danees, the women took no part whatever, but were simply spectators.

When the first white man came here to reside, there was upon Section 5, upon the high land which lay beyond the point of timber, the remains of the old Indian fort which, though much talked about by those who make Indian history a study, still seems to be very little known by the citizens of the county in general. The land upon which it stood was surrounded by a fine growth of blue grass, showing that at one time the

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

prairie grass had been killed out by cultivation, or by being very thoroughly tread over by man or beasts.

It is a well-known fact that prairie grass has not the quality of propagation, hav- ing no seeds and no root power of procreation. In these respects it is anomalous. It is not known that any other plant lacks these two essential principles of preservation and propagation. Once kill the roots of a single square rod of prairie grass and to the end of time that particular piece of land will never be covered with a growth of prairie grass again. When in the course of events this destruction occurred at and around the old fort, blue grass came in and remained as long as the land was kept in pasture, which was till about the year 1867. This was famous grazing ground, and Isaac Funk selected and entered it as he did other such lands in this part of the county. It still remains in the family, it being the property of his son George. Until it was put under the plow, the remains of the fort were plainly seen. A recent visit to the ground, in company with Mr. S. H. West, shows that the plow has pretty nearly oblit- erated the last fading lines of this most important landmark. But the importance of its position as a strategic point, as such defense was understood by Indians, will never be effaced.

In another portion of this work, under its proper head, will be found a very full account of the military events which called this fort into being, and the results it effected ; it remains here to describe only its exact locality and position.

In the timber were numerous breastworks behind which, with the friendly alliance of the trees, a last stand could be made in case the defenders of the Old Town rights stood in need of them, but just outside of the timber, fifty rods from the west line, and not more than fifteen rods from the north line of Section 5, stood the works of the fort proper. The land seemed formed by nature for this particular defensive purpose. So elevated as to command, in a clear day, before civilization had dotted the country with hedges and groves, a clear view of from fifteen to twenty-five miles from the east clear around to the southwest, and north, northeast and northwest a somewhat less extended view. The earthworks themselves were about ten rods by fifteen, with the corners rounded, being longer from north to south, and having the western lines run- ning past each other to admit entranee. A passage-way extended down the hillside west to a stream of water to prevent the cutting off of this needed supply. The works were about breast high. It is evident that the attack was expected from the way of the east, as no one would think of attacking the wily Indian through their natural covert, the timber. On either side, south and north, were the burying-grounds so long used by the Indians. These have in years past been ruthlessly dug over to secure the silver ornaments which were buried with their dead in great numbers. The ground was dug over and over, and hundreds of silver rings, bracelets, etc., were taken out. The bones are now lying on the surface, and at one time it was very common for the boys of the neighborhood, after each rain, to collect on the ground to find whatever of silver trinkets had been uncovered by the rain. In the dry, gravelly knolls around were buried their corn and provisions, for they never seem to have learned the habit of selling their crop before husking-time, and hauling it off to the nearest railroad, to enrich the " middle-man."

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 76

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