The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 78

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 78

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670

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

Below will be found a list of the township officers elected since township organiza- tion. It will be seen that Henry West was continuously elected Supervisor until his removal from town, and that his son, S. H. West, has been retained in that position much of the time since, though not usually in political sympathy with the majority in the township, a tribute alike to the good judgment of the citizens and the wise and valuable services of the Supervisor. Mr. J. B. Lewis, also, during the early years of the township history, was almost continually in the official service of the town until he removed to Farmer City to engage in banking pursuits :

Date.

Votes Cast.

Supervisor.

Clerk.

Assessor.

Collector.

1858

38 Henry West ..

John llamilton

Rev. T. E. Wamsley .. John Weedman.

1859

32 Henry West

J. B. Lewis.

H. Croskey

John Weedman.

1860

27 Henry West

J. B. Lewis

H. Croskey

John Clark.

1862

37 Henry West

J. B. Lewis ..

J. Hamilton

Wm. Rosencrans.

1863

48 Henry West

J. T. Crumbaugh

Louis Barnett.

D. Barnhart.

1864

25 Henry West

J. T. Crumbaugh

S. H. West

Wm. Rosencrans.

1865

29 Henry West.

J. B. Lewis.

John Weedman

J. Hamand.

1866

52 Henry West

J. B. Lewis

John Weedman.

J. B. Lewis.

1867

123 Henry West.

J. B. Lewis

William Rosencrans .. J. B. Lewis.

1868

92 Henry West

W. J. Kimler.

L. A. Crumbaugh

J. B. Lewis.

1869

72 J. B. Lewis

W. J. Kimler.

G. W. Snook

J. B. Lewis.

1870

90 J. M. Moon

D. M. Dickinson

G. W. Snook

J. B. Lewis.

1871

84 William Biggs

H. E. Wentworth.

E. Barnhart.

J. B. Lewis.

1872

140 J. B. Lewis

W. J. Kimler.

Samuel Healea

John Clark.

1878

126'S. II. West.

W. W. Hammond

G. W. Snook

John Clark.

1874

108 S. Il. West.

D. M. Dickinson

John Hamilton

James Kincaid.

1875

52 S. H. West.

D. M. Dickinson

R. Robertson.

James Kincaid.

1876

105 S. E. Clarno

D. M. Dickinson

R. Robertson.

James Kincaid.

1877

178 S. H. West

W. J. Kimler.

R. Robertson.

James Kincaid.

1878

108 S. H. West

W. J. Kimler.

S. Healea

Alex. Daniels.

1879

98 S. H. West.

W. J. Kimler.

S. Healea.

Alex. Daniels.

The Justices of the Peace who have been elected are H. R. Coleman, M. H. Cawby, William Rosencrans, George Hedrick, L. T. Delaplain, E. Dickinson, R. Rob- ertson.

Commissioners of Highways elected are M. H. Cawby, S. M. McFarland, Isaiah Weedman, H. Barnett, J. T. Crumbaugh, J. Hamilton, R. J. Rutledge, J. Oliver, James Love, J. B. Lewis, D. Barnhart, H. Williams. John Clark, W. L. Drybread, G. W. Snook, I. Beckelhammer, L. T. Crumbaugh, S. Healea, J. B. Savage, J. M. Hoff- man, David Hart.

Some pages back, the confusion in regard to the Indian tribes was alluded to, and the statement was made that that confusion was a very natural one, and that the mistake which so annoyed Mr. Simeon H. West, in his attempt to rescue the name of the primeval inhabitants of this town from oblivion, was not so much of a mistake, after all.

The statements following are given on the authority of Hon. Perry A. Arm- strong, of Morris, Grundy Co., who is the highest authority in all matters pertaining to Indian history and tribal complications in this part of the State.

The Kickapoos, Pottawatomies and Miamis, more than a century ago, formed an alliance, offensive and defensive, against the Illini, who were the first inhabitants of this region of which history gives any authentic account. The Illini-meaning supe- rior men-were a confederation of the Peorias, Moinguienas, Kas-Kaskias, Tamaroas and Cahokias. In 1700, their great Chief, Chicago, went to France, and was received

671

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

with the distinguished consideration which the French always showed the Indians, and which was the secret of their success in dealing with them.

Against this confederation the allies first-named above began a war of extermina- tion,-probably coming here from the east,-which was long and eventful, and ended in the tragedy of "Starved Rock," in La Salle County, in 1774, a year before the beginning of the American Revolution.

This defeat of the Illini, who had held the prairie State so long, left the allies in undisputed possession of a large portion of the eastern half of the State; but, true to their robber-like instincts, they immediately fell to quarreling over the conquest. In this latter struggle, the Kickapoos and Pottawatomies were united against the Miamis. To settle the whole matter, it was agreed that each contending party should select three hundred picked men, who should meet each other in mortal combat, the contest to determine on the result of the combat. The opposing bands met on the banks of Sugar Creek, less than a year after the affair at Starved Rock, and by the terms agreed on, the duel opened at sunrise and lasted till the going down thereof. When the sun set on this exciting day, only twelve warriors remained able to do battle, seven of which belonged to the Kickapoo and Pottawatomie side, and five to the Miamis ; and the lat- ter retired to their old homes east of the Wabash, which left this portion of the country in undisputed possession of the two tribes, who amicably divided the country on the line of the old Indian trail running near Oliver's Grove. This trail was distinctly vis- ible until the land came into cultivation. When this boundary line was established, the Pottawatomies retired to the Fox River, and the Kickapoos occupied this region. The amicable relations of the two tribes were never broken, the former never coming south of Rook's Creek, in Livingston County, which was not quite the southern limits of their possessions. It will be seen that the two tribes were not only on very friendly terms with each other, but were frequently together; and, in all probability, the Pot- tawatomie tribe has occupied the very ground which the people of West now cultivate. The township might well have borne the name first suggested twenty-one years ago.

ARROWSMITH TOWNSHIP.

Arrowsmith Township was named by the Supervisors after Ezekiel Arrowsmith, who was the first Supervisor and one of the early settlers. It contains thirty-six sections, being a full Congressional township, and is known of record as Town 23 north, Range 5 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is almost entirely prairie, having originally about one square mile of timber in Sections 31 and 32, where the castern extremity of Old Town Timber lies along the line of Arrowsmith and West, giving to each a little patch of woodland, which was so highly prized by those who first com- menced settlement here. There was in addition a small bunch on Section 24, "Smith's Grove," which hardly grew to the importance of being called timber-land. In its gen- eral topographical appearance it is not unlike Padua, which is upon its western border, having the same high ridges along its northern and southern sides, a trifle more elevated and uneven, the well-rounded hills being a somewhat more prominent feature in its land- scape, and the level of its valley being somewhat more undulating than in the former. Under the head of Padua (which see), a fuller description of the peculiarities of the

672

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

Sangamon valley is given, which need not be repeated here. The Sangamon River, by its numerous rivulet feeders, becomes a considerable stream in its course across the township, although not large enough to make it sufficient for mill-power. The town- ship is bounded on the north by Martin, east by Cheney's Grove, south by West, and west by Padua, and is second from the eastern and southern boundary line of the county. Owing to the lack of timber it had few early settlers, and correspondingly fewer early incidents of importance.

EARLY SETTLERS.

So far as the facts in regard to the earliest settlement in this township are at hand, it seems that the sons of Jonathan Cheney were the first to take up claims and live in what is now Arrowsmith. The land around the head of the timber was attractive on account of its grass. All around the old Indian fort, the blue-grass had come in after the prairie-grass had been killed out. The first year of Jonathan Cheney's residence in the county, he had driven his cattle here for late pasturage. Undoubtedly attracted by this fine pasturage, his sons, when they began to look out homes for themselves, looked this way, for, in 1833, two or three of them had taken claims in this township. Thomas lived for a while in Section 31, where he had a little patch of about ten acres fenced in. He did not remain on it long, however, as a few years after he sold it to Daniel Hall, and joined his brother Owen, in Padua, in building a mill. He afterward went to Cali- fornia. Cassel Banks, father of Marks Banks, of Padua, rented this land one year.

David Hall came here about 1837, and settled on this land in Section 31. Here h, and his sons, Pryor and Daniel, built their cabins, and remained here until the old gen- tleman died. Pryor removed to California, and Daniel, Jr., died here, his children living around here. Their sister married Mr. Maurice. William Cheney took up the land in Section 30 about the same time, and, in 1835, Abijah Westover came from New York and bought Cheney's claim, and, in 1839, married a daughter of Aaron Hildreth. About 1850, he went to California, and thence to Australia and returned, and finally set- tled down in Johnson County, Mo. His wife still remains here, and keeps the hotel at Arrowsmith, and is now the oldest resident of this township. having come here with her father in 1836. Her daughter married Mr. Cundiff, and lives on the Mackinaw, and her son Sherman is engaged in the grain and lumber trade at Arrowsmith.

Aaron IIildreth came here from Lewis County, N. Y., in 1836, and settled in Sec- tion 31. He had three sons and two daughters; one daughter married Abijah Westover, as stated above, the other married Hillery Ball, of Cheney's Grove; both are still living. The sons went West, and Charles married Miss Owens, and remained on the homestead for many years, a prosperous and successful farmer. When he died, he had 600 acres of land. Aaron Hildreth died here in 1851, and his wife in 1849. A. C. Jones came here from Ohio, in 1839, and settled on the line between this town and Padua. For some years his residence was across the line on Section 25 of the latter; afterward he lived on this side of the township line. His daughter married Mr. Cline, who was the first one to engage in business at the station here, after the railroad was built, and still continues a prosperous merchant. Mr. Jones had five sons, who are all dead; two of whom died in the service of their country. He now lives in the village, a hale and hearty old man, enjoying the advantages of a frugal life commenced in the privations which are consequent on settlement in a new country. He has seen the wide prairie of Arrowsmith

Jesse Simmer MONEY CREEK TP.

675

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

changed into productive farms. Samuel Arrowsmith, the father of the present race of that goodly name, came to this county with his three sons, Ezekiel, John and Henry, and made his home a little west of the present town. Ezekiel came here onto the farm he now resides on, in 1842, in Section 30. He has 230 acres of land. He was the first Supervisor of the town, and is esteemed one of her best citizens. His house was early the place of religious meetings in this part of the township, and his early interest in the prosperity of religion has not been chilled by the increase of his worldly interests. All these were in the southwestern corner of the town, that being the first inhabited in consequence of the nearness of the woodland. St. Clairville was the voting precinct, and these worthies, that is, the maseuline and mature portion of them, had to go there to develop the highest prerogative of the backwoodsman, to vote for "Tippecanoe," or little " Van Van Van." No one of them in this " neck of the woods " ever got a chance to vote for Jackson.

The handiest mill to the settlement was that built by Thomas and Owen Cheney. Others before them had put up mills, and used the common prairie bowlders, yelept " nigger-heads." The Cheneys were progressive men, and would have nothing but the very best buhr stones. So they sent a team to St. Louis to bring them in. Chicago could not furnish any such material in those days.

Mr. John B. Thompson, after his marriage in 1841, made his home with his father-in- law, and, some years after, his aged father gave up his home on the Mackinaw and came here, and spent his last days with him. Mr. Thompson commenced selling goods at the place which was known as " Nasby's Cross Roads " about 1860, and for a time did a large business there, selling $20,000 worth per year. He also kept the Lenox Post Office, which had been kept by private families about there for thirty years. When Arrow- smith village was begun, he moved his store and post-office here in 1873. Abram Stansbery was the old mail-carrier, who long supplied the Lenox office and carried the mail from Bloomington on horseback to Cheney's Grove and thence on to Danville.

One of the Indian burying-grounds of the Old Town was in Arrowsmith, and Mr. Thompson tells how, for a long time, people used to dig up the Indian remains to get the silver trinkets that were buried with them, such desecration being continued as long as there were any trinkets to be found. No law was supposed to exist against this resurrection, as under the old-time notion, this was the "white man's country." About this time, the settlement at Cheney's Grove on the east began to swell over the town- ship line. In 1838, William Arbogast commenced a farm on Section 13, where he lived until his death. Of his children, one, J. L. Arbogast, remains on the homestead which his father made into a farm, the rest having found homes in Kansas.

Jacob Smith, who has for more than thirty years been recognized as a prominent man here, having several times been elected Supervisor and frequently to other important township offices, came into this township to live in 1844, and took up the land in Sec- tion 24, south from aud opposite the Argobast place, where he now lives. He had wandered around a good deal. He came to the Mackinaw Timber in 1833, with his mother; went back the next year to Indiana. The next year, returned, and, a year after, made his home at Cheney's Grove, where, for years, he worked the land of the patroon until he saved enough to enter a little land of his own, when he came to his present farm. He has been fortunate, rather it should be said, careful, in his matters, though not as greatly prospered in his family as many of those hardy old pioneers who can

676

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

point to a dozen or more children and three or four score of grandchildren. Of his seven children, three only survive.

Garrett V. Wall came here from Vermilion County in the winter of 1845, and took land in Sections 19 and 20, in the west part of the township. He married here and lived there thirteen years, when he sold out and went to Kansas. He returned and has since lived at the village, carrying on his trade. He is a Mason, a man of large information and good abilities.

Elias Owens, from Ohio, in 1848, bought a house of Thomas Martin near Le Roy, and moved it to a farm east of Hildreth's, and Thomas Fry and Gabriel Stein came into Section 19 in 1850. Owens is dead. Fry went to Old Town, and Stein to Mis- souri. By this time, 1851, the passage of the bill to build the Illinois Central Rail- road through Bloomington, closed to market all land lying between the west line of this township and Bloomington, and, of course, every one who wanted to buy land near the latter, then a growing young town, rushed into the towns of Range 5 in a hurry. The entire town soon filled up. Its history from that time (except what refers to the village) is a continued story of prosperity. The hills and the valleys send forth the story of plenty, and the barns and houses show that the men of Arrowsmith have made good use of the natural resources of this goodly land. There are many excellent farms, a short notice of a few only can find room here.

John Marsh came here with little but energy and good judgment, about 1850. He owns 700 acres of land near the head of the Sangamon, with good out-buildings and one of the best houses in town. He keeps about five hundred sheep and trades largely in cattle, feeds a few, and raises grain. The farm is well watered and neatly and successfully managed.

S. T. Bane, joining him on the west, also along the river, running up to the town- ship line, has about six hundred acres with good buildings. He feeds cattle, and is a good farmer, having as good a farm as one need wish for. He has been there about twenty years.

John Slingoff has half a section in Section 34. He is a grain farmer, and with several children whose help he uses, manages to work his broad acres well, and produces some few thousands of bushels each year to sell.

A. C. Hazele, on Section 34, has a good grain farm, fair buildings and good sur- roundings. He is a good farmer and good manager.

T. W. Maurice, on Section 21, has 240 acres. A nice grain farm with good barn and comfortable house. He is a good farmer, thrifty, intelligent and successful.

David Hileman has 260 acres in Section 22 and adjoining it. Has lived on the land from its first cultivation ; is a clean, neat farmer ; has good buildings, hedges, etc. He is a publie-spirited man and good citizen.

Philip Hileman, on Section 20, has a fine grain farm of 280 acres, with fine house and good crops, almost universally.

Anderson Young lives in the village ; his farm is just northeast of his residence. One-fourth of the village was laid out on his quarter-section. Good buildings and a good farmer. He has a very fine tract of land.

I. C., A. S. and T. P. Bane have 580 acres in Sections 3 and 10, fine rolling land, well improved and well cultivated. They are enterprising, thriving, industrious young men. They have been in the habit of working and trading together, but the

677

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

former, now married, concluded to be satisfied with his more recent partnership, as it promises to be a success. They have dealt largely in cattle.

Sabina Sackett has a fine farm in and adjoining Section 17. He is a first-rate farmer, has a nice honse and says he is bound "to have one of them 'ere things" called a barn, and is putting up one of the best in town. He has fed cattle some, but does not make it the chief business.

Ezekiel Arrowsmith has 200 acres where he has so long resided, and is considered one of the best farmers.

M. Pemberton, in Section 27, has a large farm-grain and stock ; is also engaged in buying and shipping.

James R. Cundiff has 136 acres in Section 27, with good buildings. He has five acres of black-walnut grove now growing. They stand about one rod apart. He con- siders them the best timber to raise on the prairie, especially on dry land, for the rea- sons they grow quick, nothing will kill them out, timber very valuable, and the nuts- when people become accustomed to them-will find good market. Mr. C. is a good deal more than three-quarters right.

The town is usually Republican.

The following list shows the Township officers who have been elected since 1858, the year township organizations took effect :

Date.

Votes.

Supervisor.

Clerk.

Assessor.

Collector.

1858

56 E. Arrowsmith

S. O'Neal.

A. Fenstermaker.

J. Fenstermaker.

1859

47 James Ellis

J. Fenstermaker.

A. Fenstermaker.

F. Kimler.

1860

James Ellis

J. Fenstermaker. S. O' Neal.

P. Ifileman.

1861

Jacob Smith

J. Fenstermaker

P. Hileman J. F. Payne.

1862

54 Jacob Smith

J. Fenstermaker

A. Fenstermaker Hugh Birney.

1863

81 John McDowell

J. Fenstermaker

A. Fenstermaker S. F. Bane.

1864

97 John McDowell

J. Fenstermaker

A. Fenstermaker

J. F. Payne.

1865

73 S. F. Bane.

J. Fenstermaker.

Samuel O' Neal James Crosson.

1866

96 W. Vanscoyoc

J. W. Stansbery

G. W. Rayburn.

Alex Coss.

1867

Jacob Smith.

A. G. Barnes

W. W. Moore

1868

98 W. Vanscoyoc

A. Robinson

G. W. Rayburn

J. W. Barnes.

1869

93 W. Vanscoyoc

A. Robinson

James Crosson

J. W. Barnes.

1870

135 P. Ilileman.

J. W. Barnes.

A. Brannaman.

John Foust.

1871

107 |Jacob Smith

J. W. Barnes

A. Brannaman

J. W. Barnes.

1872

113 T. W. Maurice

S. E. Cline

James Crosson.

J. L. Arbogast.

1873

95 T. W. Maurice

G. W. Payne.

A. Brannaman

W. W. Moore.

1874

118 John Marsh

J. M. Thompson

A. Brannaman

Thomas Clary.

1875

139/T. W. Maurice.

G. W. Payne.

A. Brannaman ...

S. E. Cline.

1876

129 J. A. Larimer

G. W. Payne

A. Brannaman ..

J. M. Stipp.

1877

170 J. Robinson.

(). G. Atherton

J. M. Stipp

S. E. Cline.

1878

173 R. Porter

J. S. Mills

J. M. Stipp.

A. II. Webber.

1879

183 T. W. Maurice.

J. C. Bane

A. Brannaman

B. Cornell.

The following gentlemen have been elected Justices of the Peace : Walter Van- scoyoc, D. G. Tear, W. H. Thompson, Jeremiah Reed, J. R. Lewis, A. G. Barnes, J. M. Thompson, James Crosson. And the following Commissioners of Highways: Isaac Cornell, Jacob Smith, R. Porter, O. H. P. Vanscoyoc, Thomas Fry, Henry Hickman, John Marsh, James Cundiff, John Coss, H. R. Rayburn, R. C. Watson, J. M. Green, John Deutsch, W. C. Jones, J. R. Lewis, William Spencer.

At a special town meeting, June 3, 1867, held, according to notice, to vote for or against subscribing $25,000 to the capital stock of the La Fayette, Bloomington & Western Railroad. The vote resulted : For such subscription, 76; against such

678

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

subscription, 12. At a special town meeting, February 19, 1868, to vote for or against $5,000 additional subscription to the capital stock, the vote resulted, 41 for to 3 against such additional subscription. Ten-per-cent bonds, running ten years were issued for this $25,000, and they are now just about due.

An election was held August 17, 1869, to vote on the question of giving $15,000 to the Decatur & State R. R., which resulted 23 for to 85 against such aid. The bonds that were issued in aid of the L., B. & M. R. R. were issued before the road was built. The terms upon which they were voted, included a stipulation that the road should establish a depot in the town. It was agreed that there was no authority to issue until such depot was established, and that hence the issuing was illegal. It was believed that the three years' interests that was paid before such depot was established could be recovered. A suit was the result, which, after costing the township a few hundred dol- lars in the way of expenses, lawyers' fees and fee-bills, was discontinued, the Court holding in a similar case that bonds were good.

ARROWSMITH VILLAGE.

Arrowsmith was surveyed and platted in 1871. Railroad communication was opened in 1872. The land upon which it was laid out belonged to Mr. Young, Jonas Fry, James Crosson and M. Ulmer-ten acres each. The men were required, or per- mitted, as it were, to convey to the certain persons who had the care of the railroad officials, land enough upon which to start the young town for $17 per acre, in order to get the station located in the center of township where it naturally belonged.

S. E. Cline put in the first pair of scales here, late in 1871, before trains were running on the railroad, so that he enjoys the reputation of being the father of the town. Cline and James R. Larimer at once commenced buying and cribbing corn. In the spring of 1872, the switch was put in and depot erected. John A. Larimer and Mr. Jones put up the first store north of the railroad and east of Main street. Garrett V. Wall moved in the small house next north of the drug store adjoining his present res- idence. W. H. Thompson moved his store in from " Cross Roads " in the beginning of 1873, and continued to sell goods; indeed, before this time, he had quite a reputa- tion for selling. The post office had been previously moved. During 1872, Mr. S. E. Cline built the residence now occupied by him, and Mr. Wall put up the one now used by him as a residence-both of these were on Young's quarter of the town. Mr. R. S. Krum, brother and representative of J. R. Krum, grain-dealer of Bloomington, put up, in the southwest quarter of town, the first residence that was built here, and about the same time put up the small grain office which now stands in the rear of his present store. He has been continuously in the grain trade to the present time, and proposes to stay. No man has done more for the interest of the young village.

In 1873, A. B. Ives and Walter Vanscoyoc built the present large steam elevator, 40x50, which was occupied by Cline & Larimer. It has been in use ever since, and is now in charge of Mr. Ives' son. Seth Mills moved his dwelling-house and blacksmith. shop the same year, in from the "Cross Roads." He still occupies them, and has built, since, a new shop; and Mr. J. A. Larimer built a residence on Main street south of the railroad. W. H. Thompson built a dwelling on Main street north of the railroad, and Walter Vanscoyoc, who now lives at Saybrook, built one which he occupied for some years. Mr. O. G. Atherton, same year ( 1873) built the store he now occupies,

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 78

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