The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 77

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 77

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

EARLIER SETTLEMENTS.

The first settlements in West were made in the northwestern and southeastern cor- ners of the town. Henry West in the former, and John Weedman in the latter, are excellent samples of the educated, industrious, business farmers which the " second wave " of immigration brought to these parts ; men endowed with such qualities as to prove a success anywhere. The Crumbaughs, having reduced an " Empire " from wilderness to fruitful fields, went to " West," and verified the old saying, with slight variations- " Westward the Crumbaugh of Empire takes his way : " only in this particular case, Westward was toward the rising sun. James Love, James Spear, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Rice were the first settlers in West-Mr. Love near the north line, in Section 4, Mr. Spear near the west line in Section 6, and the other two near him.

Mr. Love came in 1848, and lives here still on the land he first took up. He has 160 acres, with fair buildings, and is comfortably fixed. James Spear came in 1849, from Ohio, and died in 1859, leaving a widow and five children. Mrs. Spear afterward married David Bean, who has a half-section in Section 11, and her children all, with one exception, are settled around her. James has eighty acres in Section 11; is a young man of sterling qualities and respected by all.

Henry West came to this county in mature manhood, in 1850, from Kentucky. He was at that time forty-six years old, and had, by the careful habits and strict bus- iness ways, for which he was so well known both here and there, acquired enough to buy him a comfortable farm, when he could find one that suited him. The reasons for leaving Kentucky were such as operated to induce so many of the pioneers of Illinois to come here. Land was getting too high there for men of moderate means to hope to put their children on good farms. He also had a strong desire to get his family out from the influences of the institution for which he had no admiration. After coming here, he looked around awhile.

The year 1851 was one of those rainy seasons which used to occur with consider- able regularity every seven years. The years of floods, which are well-remembered by the present generation, were 1844, 1851, 1858, 1869. It will be seen that each sev- enth year was, for a time, the rainy one. It has been said that 1837 was a similar one, but no record of such has come under the observation of the writer, unless the financial flood may be taken as such, for it swamped more men than all the others combined. We know that the year 1830 was, but the heavy and long-continued flood came in the winter in the form of snow. This remarkable coincidence of the repeated seventh year of flood and the enforced idleness of the land called to the minds of religious people and teachers the Levitical law laid down in Leviticus, chap. xxv, 4-7 verses, wherein the Lord directed the children of Israel when they should have come into the land to which he would bring them ; that they should let their fields rest untilled and vines undressed each seventh year, and should not even gather what erops or fruit grew spon- taneously on that year; that their teams, servants, maids, and, probably, women, too, should rest. The line of argument which would follow from these repeated seventh- year rainy "dispensations of Providence " can be so easily imagined or remembered that it need not here be repeated. It was boldly insisted that the law of the Lord was unchangeable, making wise the foolish, and that this country would never prosper until that law was fully obeyed. Probably it will not be doubted that, if, after coming into

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

this glorious county, which was literally flowing with a superabundance of milk and honey-the cows had only to be driven in from the boundless pastures, and the bee-trees to be hunted-the people had given each seventh year to the kind of rest, good works and missionary work, and the land and teams to such rest as the Lord had required of Israel, they would have lasted longer, lived more contented, and increased in those qual- ities which tend to higher and better life.

The rainy season warned Mr. West that he must look for high land, and, after a good deal of search, he found what suited him in the southeast quarter of Section 5, where Mr. Hedrick now resides, belonging to N. T. Brittin, a man of large wealth and acquisitive habits, living a few miles west, in Empire. He soon closed a bargain with the proprietor, but when he came to get his deed, Brittin " kicked out," and wanted $50 more. This incensed West, whose notions of honor were of the highest Kentucky order, and he determined to have no more to do with Brittin, but could not find another place that suited him and he was obliged to pay the Yankee the price.

Mr. West continued to live here until 1869, buying land as he was able, until he had acquired 2,800 acres, lying in Sections 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 17, 20 and 21. He was the first Supervisor of the township, and continued to represent it in the Board of Super- visors as long as he remained a resident.

The town received its name from him, but not by him. The naming occurred in this way: At the first town meeting, in April, 1858, Mr, Simeon H. West, then a young man, proposed to call the town Pottawatomie, from the Indians, whose fort still stood on the hill in that township. He explains this mistake by saying that, though the Indian residence was so well-known and so much talked about, there was an alarming ignorance in regard to them ; that an old citizen had informed him that it was that tribe which had its home here. The mistake was a very natural one, as will appear from the Indian history at the end of this sketch. When his proposition was made, he learned for the first time that it was the Kickapoos who lived here, and, on his motion, the name of Kickapoo was given to the township. At the first meeting of the Board of Super- visors, the Board was informed that there was already a township by that name in Peoria County, and, on motion of some member of the Board, it was named from the Super- visor from that town.

Mr. West was largely engaged while here in stock-feeding and driving. He never believed in selling grain. When he determined to marry again and reside in Blooming- ton, he gave each of his children a good farm. Mr. I. H. West, Mrs. Hedrick and Mrs. Cawby, still live on the lands their father thus provided for them.

Henry West was a man of strong, robust constitution, firm will, fixed purpose, and kind and affectionate in his family. This latter trait was the more marked, perhaps, than any other.

He still resides in Bloomington, but owns considerable land in this township. Simeon H. West lived here with his father a few years and spent some years in travel. He was traveling through Kansas when " Ossawatomie Brown," Jim Lane and the Free State men were hunting the " Missouri Sheriff," and " Border Ruffians," and " Atchison, Stringfellow & Co." there, trying to overcome the "elections" which the Cincinnati directory had figured so largely in. He had been an Emancipationist in Kentucky, but a States' Rights Democrat in Illinois. He fell in with parties of both sides there, fre- quently, but was easily able to convince both that he was not there to interfere in the

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

Kansas war. He went twice to California, and spent considerable time there. His time was for some years after his return given to improving his place, since which he has devoted more time to attending to township and county affairs, having been for many years the Supervisor from this town. With enlarged information, he has taken a leading position on the Board, and has given much attention to the matter of delinquent taxes, one of the toughest questions which the present generation has to deal with. He lives on a fine farm near where his father first bought, with convenient buildings, well surrounded with groves, evergreens, orchards and well-kept fields. He has formerly run a heavy cattle business, but, like most of the farmers hereabout, now usually runs what cattle he has through the winter light, and grass-feeds for a fall market. For some years now he has thus fed about one hundred head each year. A publie-spirited man, and one who seems well appreciated by his neighbors. Politically, he is decidedly inde- pendent, and never finds a party that holds him in traces long at a time.

Harrison Barnett settled on Section 3, in 1854. He died in 1863. His son lives on the farm, and has fine, perhaps extravagant, buildings for a 160-acre farm.

Daniel Barnhart came here in 1854, and purchased a farm on Section 10, and still resides there. He is a good farmer and has an excellent farm. J. T. and L. A. Crum- baugh, of the plethorie, progressive family in Empire, about the same time took up farms on Sections 7, 18 and 19, along the line of Empire, and still reside there. They are good farmers, energetic and public-spirited. Have driven a large cattle business and are still doing a safe one.

Father Thomas V. Warnsley, now of Heyworth, had a farm here about the same time. He remained here ten years, preaching around as opportunity offered, and then, in the absence of so many of the younger preachers in the army, there were not enough to half fill the appointments, he accepted an itinerant appointment from Conference. He, while here, preached both in the houses, and by his daily walk and conversation. Mr. McFarland and Mr. Coleman each had farms along the western border, at that time. S. L. Bishop, M. M. Craig and Robert Rutledge, of Downs Township, each had small farms in Sections 17 and 20, which, some years after, they sold to J. G. Moore, who came here from Pike County, in 1872. Mr. Moore owns the south half of 17, and the northeast quarter of 20, in West, and about 900 acres in Belleflower, which is kept mostly in grass. He is a man of large capacity for business and work, and is regarded a successful one. He keeps from three hundred to four hundred head of cattle, but, like his neighbors, he prefers to grass-feed, stall-feeding being nearly abandoned.

G. W. Hedrick, whose father was one of the earlier settlers in Randolph's Grove, came here from Padua, about 1866, and lives on the West homestead. He has 520 acres, and has followed cattle-raising pretty extensively, and very successfully.

John Weedman, Sr., came into this part of country about 1844, from Randolph, and lived seven years at Hurley's Grove, now Farmer City, in De Witt County, with his three sons, John, Amos and Isaiah. In 1851, he entered 160 acres on the southern line of this county, where Weedman Station now is, and considerable in DeWitt. In 1853, the different members of the family entered 1,000 acres more in West (21-5), along Salt Creek. This was among the first land entered in this corner of the county, and among the very finest. The excellent living water of this stream makes the land desirable for cattle-farming ; indeed there is none better in the county, though not taken so early as that in the northern part of the township. The little clumps of native.

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timber along its banks made a fine shelter. Amos Weedman built on Section 11, and remained there eight years, when he sold to John, and went to Hurley's Grove, and bought the Hurley farm for $80 per acre. He is now Sheriff of De Witt County. In 1851, John Weedman, Jr., began farming operations here, built a house and commenced turning the sod. The first year he lost his team and all his cattle by sickness. It did not exactly break him up nor discourage him. He has been remarkably successful in his business, having now 1,000 acres of land, a considerable town property and his banking business at Farmer City. He has carried on stock-raising and feeding largely, formerly stall-feeding 200 head in a winter, but now prefers grazing, though from habit, perhaps, he thinks he must feed a couple of car loads. His house is a neat and commo- dious country home of modern build, with veranda nearly encircling it, with neat and tasty surroundings, and the farm well-fenced, well-tilled, well-stocked and well (stream ) watered. About nine years ago, when the railroads which center at Farmer City were building, he engaged in banking business there, and laid out an addition to the town of 100 acres.

E. McCord came here in 1853, and commenced a farm on Section 11, but did not remain here long.

Isaiah Weedman owned considerable land in West, and lived here several years. He entered the military service and was killed at Holly Springs.

In 1854, Melvin Lowery and W. L. Drybread came from Indiana, and settled where the latter still resides. Mr. Lowery moved West some years after.

Dr. Cheney, of Le Roy, came here from Ohio, and entered land in 1851, where Mr. Hamilton now resides. He was a man of energy, and carried on his farm success- fully, and attended to a large medical practice here for ten years. He then sold to John Hamilton and went to Le Roy, where he engaged in trade, and did much to build the substantial part of that young city. He met financial reverses, however, and saw the accumulation of many years of hard work swept away.

John Hamilton, since he bought the Cheney farm, has been largely engaged in stock-raising. He has kept from three hundred to twelve hundred sheep. For awhile he lived in Bloomington, to put his children in school while there. Mr. J. B. Lewis, now in the bank at Farmer City, was in charge of the farm. Mr. Lewis was one of the most esteemed and useful citizens during his residence here; was continually called on to do the work of the town offices, being a good accountant, and a safe, accu- rate and faithful man.

West has been rather given to furnishing the surrounding cities with bankers, besides Mr. Weedman and Mr. Lewis at Farmer City. Joseph Keenan, who is prob- ably the most extensive business man in Le Roy, was for years a resident of this town. He had a good farm on Section 31, upon which he resided before he began banking at Le Roy.

Mr. Clark, father of the Clark boys, came here from Morgan County in 1853, and bought the Lucas land, a half section in 27. He brought with him the first herd of thoroughbred short-horns ever brought into this part of the county. They were pur- chased of D. A. Brown, of Sangamon County, and were white, which was the prevail- ing popular color twenty-five years ago.

J. M. Moon came here twelve years ago from Mendota, La Salle County, whence he had formerly come from De Kalb County. He purchased the south half of Section

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

10, where he still resides, the north half and southeast quarter of Section 12, and the southwest quarter and west half of northwest quarter of Section 7, in Belleflower.

The home farm he works; the other is rented to four tenants, who raise corn mostly. For several years Mr. Moon ran a butter dairy of twenty cows, and for awhile fed cattle largely. He had been a business man for several years before he tried farm- ing. He has a good farm with fair buildings, and is reckoned a successful farmer. He has recently laid a mile of tile drain on his home farm, and believes if they are properly laid, by applying the level to every three pieces when laid, that it cannot fail to be of great advantage to the wet lands. He says he has cut more than thirty miles of open ditch with machines. He is a man of intelligence and good business qualifications. He has tried raising flax somewhat, and thinks it promises to be a success. He prefers mixed farming to any one branch alone.

George W. Snook, one of the best farmers, and universally considered one of the best citizens in West, came here from Maryland in 1868. He owned a section of land in the northern part of the township for a number of years. He now lives on and owns a fine farm in Section 23, where he has fine buildings and a well-managed farm, a railroad depot and a store, and is extensively engaged in the grain trade. He has prac- ticed grain raising, never having invested in the cattle business much.

I. M. Hoffman has a good farm of 120 acres in Section 35. He is a good farmer, a careful manager, and has things looking nice around him.

William Biggs has a good farm on Section 2, is a good farmer, and keeps matters in good shape ; a good citizen and public-spirited man.

W. J. Kimler came here from Bloomington in 1867. He was a grandson of Mr. Orendorff, one of the earliest settlers in the county. He has a fine farm of 200 acres, with good buildings, hedges, etc.

Rev. John Kumler owns a considerable farm in Section 36, and in 1 and 12, (21-5). He is now at Bloomington, at the Wesleyan University, where he has an appointment by the Conference of the M. E. Church. His farm is in charge of renters. Kumler Station is on his farm. There are two good houses and a fine barn.

I. K. Orendorff entered land in Sections 36 and in 1 (21-5), and about 1858, his son Perry came onto it to make a farm. He is a good farmer, has good buildings, and considerable fruit. He has 240 acres close by Kumler Station.

Stephen E. Clarno, an old resident of Logan County, who came across the Sanga- mon River with his father in 1819, when there were only three families between there and Fort Clark, purchased 400 acres of Mr. Ball, in 1875, along Salt Creek, just north of John Wedman's residence, paying for it $40 per acre, cash. He built a large barn, and, after living there a year to see whether he liked it, he sold his farm in Logan and bought 280 acres more, and built a large two-story house-large enough to entertain a good many friends at once. He had been a great traveler ; had gone all over all the Western States and most of the Territories, trying to find the best place he could find, and, when he found this one, he believed he had got about as good a farm as could be found. It lies for a mile along both sides of the stream, which here has water enough at all seasons of the year, is clear, with gravelly bottom. Here he and his family feel, as well they may, content to work out their time earning a living and laying up a trifle against a time of need. The old gentleman was laid hold of by the citizens of West, after he had been here one year, and elected Supervisor. One year satisfied him,

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

however, and he retired on his laurels. He is a good farmer, and calculates he has got enough for his four children (he has buried nine), so that each can have a good farm. The land lies in Sections 2 and 11.

Cary Buford, Vice President of the First National Bank of Farmer City, owns Section 3, a splendid tract of land. His children live on it.

Thomas Warton has a good farm in Section 33-240 acres. James Kincaid, 160 acres in Section 32; Henry Grizzell, 240 in Section 33 ; and William Scott, 80 in Section 28. These men have been here since about 1853, and have good improvements and are good farmers. Corn-raising and stock-grazing and feeding have been the principal lines of farming. Some years since, considerable broom-corn was raised, but this erop has been discontinued. Some are now raising flax, but as there is no sale for the straw, it is not very largely grown. Some small fields of wheat are seen, and oats receive more attention. Corn and stock remain the staples.

RAILROADS AND STATIONS.

The Indianapolis. Bloomington & Western Railroad was built by large local town- ship stoek subscriptions, in 1870. This township voted $20,000 subscription, and 10 per cent bonds were issued. The road only runs across the southwestern corner, about three-fourths of a mile, with no station in it. Empire Station is just west of the town- ship line. Half of the bonds have been paid, and the balance come due in three and eight years from now. West has never gone into any contest of the legality of these bonds, and makes the best of what seems to have been a rather one-sided bargain. It never has objected to paying whatever it agreed to, though a case may arise soon wherein it may try titles with the railroads. She pays her taxes closer than any township in the county. There are no delinquent taxes to be fought over in the Courts.

The stock of the town in this railroad has been wiped out by the recent sale of the road, under a decree of foreclosure, for $1,000,000, which, it is believed, is just about enough to pay the lawyers for wrecking it and the enormous legal (and illegal) expenses which follow such a proceeding in Court, and the back taxes due. By a timely motion on the part of the Board of Supervisors, an order was entered of record that no deed should issue for the road until taxes were paid.

The Springfield Division of the Illinois Central Railroad-formerly the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield-runs across the southeastern corner about two miles. No bonds were voted for this road. It was built in 1871 and 1872. The stations are Weedman, near the southern line of the township, and Kumler, near the eastern. At the former, Lee Watt is station agent. R. M. Ewing has a grocery store, and Mr. Bumcrots a blacksmith-shop.

Capt. James Steele, from Menard County, is buying grain. He had been teaching school for eighteen years, and came here two years ago to work up the grain-trade. He has bought about 100,000 bushels per year. The most of this grain is sold on track. Halliday Brothers, of Cairo, have been large buyers, taking the white corn to Cairo and the yellow and mixed to Chicago.

The M. E. Church was organized here some years ago. This spring, Messrs- Kissack, Hellor, Weedman, Steele and Reed were elected Trustees, and will build a. church on land procured from Mrs. Dodson this summer.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

At Kumler Station, C. D. Belleville has a store, Frank Rawlings a blacksmith- shop, and Mr. Thrashor buys grain. This station is of recent origin, and not so much grain is bought in here.

The Havana, Rantoul & Eastern Railroad, narrow-gauge, was built in 1878 (see Empire for its history). About $7,000 were subscribed to the stock in this town. It runs straight across the town from west to east on the half-section line, half a mile north of the center of the township. Two stations are on it-Sabina, on the line between Sections 20 and 21, and Delana, on the line between 23 and 24. No depots have yet been put up. Keenan & Barnum, two grain-dealers at Le Roy, buy grain and have a grocery store at the former, and G. W. Snook at the latter. About one hundred thousand bushels of grain have been purchased at the two stations this winter.

This road was built as a matter of self-preservation to get lower freights and less hauling. There seems to be a difference of opinion whether it has accomplished all that was elaimed, some asserting that grain has been from 2 to 4 cents higher in consequence of it, while others say it is a great convenience, yet it has not increased the price of grain to the farmer one cent. Of course, the men who put their money into it only expect to get the return indirectly, and there seems to be little reason to doubt that it will result in an increase of the value of the farms in the central part of the township more than the $7,000 invested in it. Very little but grain or lumber is carried by this road, passenger traffic is light, and, as yet, no stock shipments. The grain is carried to the eastern end of the route, where it is reshipped on to Wabash cars at a point fifteen miles east of the Indiana State line.

In 1870, a vote was taken in West Township, which resulted in a donation of $25,000 to the Decatur and State Line R. R. This road has not been built for reasons very fully set forth in the Anchor Township article, and the time for issuing the bonds expired by the terms of the act under which the aid was voted July, 1877, and it was generally supposed that the subscriptions made in this and other counties had fallen by these terms. An act of the Legislature, passed in 1877, extended the time for issue three years. The plan for building this road has been revived, and it may yet trans- pire that the towns which voted bonds will have to stand it or fight the matter in the courts. The temper of the people of West is to contest it, and it is likely the chance will be afforded within a twelvemonth.

CHURCHES, ETC.

The United Brethren Church, on Section 2, was built in 1871. It is 34x40. The men who were, in a great measure, instrumental in accomplishing the work were Samuel Bright, Daniel Barnhart, Daniel Bean, J. P. Roby, Mr. Slingoff and Mr. Morris. Service is maintained every alternate Sabbath. Messrs. Morris, Fisher, Mitchell and J. W. Gilbert have officiated in turn since the chapel was built.

Mount Olive M. E. Church was built about 1869, west of the center of the town- ship, through the active aid of the Clarks, Hamands, Grizzell and others of that denomi- nation who live in that vicinity. A Methodist Church is to be built at Weedman the present summer. The town still owns its school section, and has it leased and under cultivation, waiting for higher prices than the present. Until Township organization, resi- dents here used to go to Le Roy to vote.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 77

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