The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 84

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 84

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).

The only church in the township, outside of the village of Stanford, is the edifice erected by the Cumberland Presbyterians in 1863. It is a fine country church, stand- ing a short distance northeast of the village of Stanford. It is in the open prairie, but has company in the tall, white tombstones that stand so lonely and still in the graveyard adjoining. The building is 40x60 feet, and cost about $4,000. The members of this society belonged to the church organized at Stout's Grove, before the organization here. The Rev. J. A. Chase began preaching in the schoolhouse, which stood one-half mile north of the site of the present church. Here a considerable interest was awakened in the cause, and a number of additions made to the society. As a result, the members of this denomination, living in convenient distances, met and formed a society, and built a church immediately. John Armstrong, Thomas Neal, Kane Cooper and others were prominent men in the organization of the society and the building of the church. J. A. Chase continued his efforts until two years ago. After him, came J. G. White, of Jacksonville, Ill. He is the present Pastor. The society has been a pretty strong one, there having been over five hundred members since the first organization. The present number of communicants is something over two hundred. The church may be

719

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

considered a child of the Stout's Grove Society, though the offspring is of more lusty growth than the parent.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school in the township was taught on the north side of Brown's Grove, at the residence of one Mr. Stout. This man had gone up into the northern part of the State. About Elgin, somewhere, he married, and his wife proved to be an Eastern lady, with more education than the average pioneer woman. Accordingly, when she came to Brown's Grove, it was thought best that she utilize her superabundance of knowledge, and teach school. She taught in her own house. Later, a schoolhouse was built, and the youth taught in the usual way. Mr. Warlow remarks the difference. between then and now. Then, three months were all that the year afforded. Now, eight and nine months are the number usually taught. Then, private houses and log cabins were the seats of learning. Now, neat frame schoolhouses appear for the accom- modation of all. The people seem to take pride in their schools, and keep them up to the times.

At present, the status of the schools is indicated by the following: Number of children under twenty-one years, 621 ; number of children between six and twenty-one, 334; number of scholars enrolled, 287 ; number of schoolhouses, 7; amount paid teachers, $3,225 ; total expenditures, $4,142.16; estimated value of school property $6,000 ; highest wages paid per month, $60.

POLITICAL AND WAR RECORD.

Unlike the greater portion of MeLean County, Allin is Democratic. In all State and national questions, it turns out strongly for the old party which it has honored with its suffrage for so many years. In township elections, the dominant party is generally remembered, although the returns do not always show strict party tendencies.

Further than a general scare, we hear of no harm from the Indian war of 1832. If there were persons who enlisted in the companies sent out from this county, we were not fortunate enough to learn their names. They rest in their unknown graves, with none to cherish their deeds of valor.

Allen Palmer and Joseph Bozarth were in the Mexican war. These were all, we- suppose, that were among the few whom the Government accepted to fight its battles ; for it will be remembered that of the 8,370 men who offered themselves from the State of Illinois, only 3,720 could be accepted.

During the war of the rebellion, Allin furnished its share of men for the defense of the Union. We learned the names of the following who gave their lives to the cause : Austin Bond died from the effects of the measles; James Gourley, John Brooks and Josiah Bozarth died while in the United States service ; William Ryan vol- unteered and was captured and paroled, when he returned home. Afterward he went again as a teamster, and was kicked to death by a rebellious mule. If any fell in battle we know them not. To meet an enemy on the field of battle, and there to be shot down like a beast, is hard, regardless of all the glory that is attached to heroic deeds; but to languish on beds of disease, in foreign lands, and there to sicken and die, where no sympathetic hand of mother or sister or brother or wife can press the aching brow, is far worse.

720

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

ORGANIZATION OF ALLIN TOWNSHIP.

The Commissioners who first laid off the county into townships for political pur- poses, reported Town 23 north, Range 1 west as constituting such a division, and named it Mosquito Grove Township. The name was afterward changed to Allin, in honor of Mr. Allin, whose efforts in behalf of Bloomington are very well known to all the early inhabitants.

The first election held, April 6, 1858, for the election of township officers, resulted as follows : Presley T. Brooks, Supervisor ; John M. Jones, Town Clerk ; Green B. Larison. Assessor ; John Armstrong, Collector ; John W. Godfrey, Overseer of the Poor ; Thomas Neal, Leonard McReynolds, Jarvis Mack, Commissioners of Highways ; Richard A. Warlow, John Cavett, Justices of the Peace; Henry M. Kerbaugh, Kane E. Cooper, Constables.

This list, besides introducing many new names, takes us back to the early settle- ment of the township. It includes at least two of the oldest settlers now in it-Presley T. Brooks and Richard A. Warlow.

The late election, for 1879-80, resulted in the choice of the following township officers : John L. Kaufman, Supervisor ; Abel Brooks, Town Clerk ; Leonard McRey- nolds, Peter D. Springer, Justices of the Peace; Amos Harrison, John Armstrong, Andrew Springer, Road Commissioners ; Sigh Hennershotz, Constable; Scott Wier, Assessor ; Michael Garst, Collector.

RAILROAD AND HIGHWAYS.

Before the building of the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, the farmers in the west and south part of the township had to haul their produce long distances to market. Accordingly, when a proposition was made to secure the railroad through the township by taking $25,000 worth of stock, the scheme was strongly supported. The men of the eastern side were not so anxious to take a $25,000 debt, but their interests were not so vitally affected. On election day, the bonds were carried through triumphantly. The township is still owing about half of the amount, but it got the railroad, and the farmers are benefited materially thereby. The road was built in 1867. The first trains began running the same fall.

The public highways of Allin comprise several good roads. The section lines extending east and west are nearly all laid out roads. The only exceptions to this are found in the southwest corner and the east side. The north and south section lines are not generally authorized highways, though several of them are. As is generally the case, the groves are bordered by roads which pay no attention to section lines. Brook's Grove is thus completely surrounded. There is also another road which reminds us of early settlements in the eastern side. It extends north and south through the sec- tions, not even following the half-section line. There are a number of wooden bridges across the streams, but we found none composed of iron. The roads are generally drained or thrown up. This is rendered quite necessary by the lay of the country in many portions. But, notwithstanding a few natural difficulties, the highways are in as good condition as they are generally found throughout the county.

STANFORD.

The original survey of Stanford included the southwest fourth of the northwest quarter of Section 21, together with forty acres off of the north side of the southwest

721

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

quarter of Section 21. George P. Ela was the County Surveyor at that time, and he laid off the town. His certificate of survey is dated October 7, 1867. The village was surveyed for John Armstrong. It was then called Allin. Since the first, there has been an addition. This includes five acres from the northwest corner of the south- east quarter of Section 21, and is called Maurer's Addition.

Stanford is located in the prairie, two miles north of Brooks' Grove. It is on the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, twelve miles from Bloomington. This railroad was the cause of its birth. It was begun with the rail- road, and does considerable business. The village is surrounded by a comparatively level prairie, which renders the approach in rainy weather somewhat difficult. The distance from Bloomington is sufficiently great to give the place a very fair local trade. The large elevators attest the amount of grain annually shipped. There are a number of farmers, situated to the south and west of Stanford, that have no other convenient market for their corn, oats, etc., and the days when men haul produce long distances to market are passed.

John Armstrong, the man for whom the town was surveyed in 1867, is still a res- ident, and one of the most prominent men of the village. John Rockhold, who is still engaged in the business, was the first to start a store. He runs a large grocery trade. The first station agent was Henry Daniels. There have been a number since his time. The agent that remained longest, and was best known, was A. M. Berkholder. The present obliging agent is Jasper Morgan. The first Postmaster was Dr. Lackey, and the present official is William Rufwiler. The first school was taught before the erection of any building for educational purposes. This was taught in a dwelling-house, by a Mr. Loomis. For some time, schools were taught in various dwelling-houses. In 1869, a brick schoolhouse was erected, which has served the purposes for which it was built until the present. It is two-story, with the usual arrangements. Although it is some- what worse for ten years' wear, it will probably answer the purposes until the growth of the village demands a larger house. Two teachers are employed; generally a gentle- man above and a lady below.

There are two churches in the village-a Methodist and a Christian. The Chris- tian Church was organized by James Robinson, in 1870. The first meetings of the men of this persuasion were held in Bozarth's Hall. Presley T. Brooks, Dr. Lackey, G. M. Wright and others, were among the prominent men of the first organization. The church is 30x46 feet. The cost of building was $3,200. This church is, perhaps, the strongest society in the village, but is not equal to the Cumberland Presbyterian Society, whose church building stands just northeast of town a short distance. The present membership of the Christian Church is about sixty. Their Pastor is the Rev. W. B. Berry.

The efforts of the Rev. Mr. Pilcher secured the erection of a Methodist Church in 1875. Prominent among the members whose purses secured the church edifice, may be mentioned Messrs. George Bunney and John Barnett. The building is 30 by 46 feet. Rev. Mr. Shinn is the present pastor. The building was not paid for at first, and for some time the society were troubled with the debt. As a result the present membership is not large.

As a business directory, we note the following: S. B. Wright & Co., dealers in drugs and medicines ; L. A. MeReynolds and B. F. Bowling, contractors and builders ;

722

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

C. Roth, dealer in hardware and stoves ; Martin Lewis, agricultural implements ; Roek- hold & Gerbrick, grocers ; also C. A. Naffziger. grocer; W. C. Rusmisell, grocer and dealer in hats, eaps and dry goods ; D. C. Dossett, wagon and blacksmith-shop ; C. W. Naffziger, lumber yard; A. Jewett and Mr. Morgan, boots and shoes ; Murphy & Hennershotz, dealers in live stock ; William Ruf, painter; C. H. Wick, harness-maker ; Martin Lewis & Co., meat market; J. N. Tryner, painting and graining ; Libbie Cole' dress-maker ; Joseph Bachman, wagon-shop; Roth & Brock, dealers in agricultural implements and farm machinery : Linebarger & Bro., grain dealers. From the fore- going it will be seen that Stanford has representatives of nearly all the trades. She has her physicians, but we found no lawyer's sign. Another item that is missing is a hotel. So far as we could learn, there never has been one in the village. But should the weary traveler find it necessary to remain over night, he will find himself comfort- ably cared for if he should stop with Mr. Morgan. the boot and shoe man.

As every little town must advertise its trade, it became necessary that measures be taken to cheapen the process. This is usually done by the establishment of a local newspaper. On the Sth of February, 1879, appeared the first issue of the Stanford Tribune. It is a very fair country paper, and is well patronized by the local advertisers. Linebarger & Son are the editors and proprietors. It is not particularly partisan, being run in the business interests of Stanford and vicinity. The journal is still in its infancy, and will, no doubt, increase in strength and influence as it grows older and the village increases in population.

Stanford has had its experience with saloons and the intoxicating bowl. At times there have been licensed saloons in the village. but at present these do not exist. A very remarkable temperanee sermon was preached by an accident which occurred during the time that the village gave licenses. Harry Moore was running a saloon at the time. A young man by the name of Woodrum was working for a farmer near the village. In the afternoon on a certain day, this young man ran out of tobacco. He concluded that it was not possible to get along without a bit of the weed, so he left the team in the field where he had been at work, and intended to step over to the store to get a plug of tobacco and return immediately. He had not been in the store long, until he concluded that he must go by the saloon and get a drink. Unfortunate man ! That was his last drink ! Some one got up a drinking-spree. The question was, who can drink the most. without its hurting him ? The young man from the farm was ambitious and determined not to be outdone. He drank fourteen glasses. This was enough to upset any man, especially as they were taken at once, without any rest. After the drinking, he went out of the saloon and walked a short distance only when he fell. On approaching him, it was found that he was very seriously affected, and in a very short time he was dead. Only a half hour before, he had been in the field working away, with no intention of taking a drink even, but now he was a cold corpse lying in the street-a dead man- one who had killed himself by the foolishness of over-much drinking of strong drink.

723

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

BLUE MOUND TOWNSHIP.

In general appearance and in topography, Blue Mound is not unlike Martin. It has no timber-land, however, and the little streams or runs which run across it to the northeast toward the Mackinaw, and to the southwest, into Money Creek, are deeper cut, and show pebbly bottoms not common in this prairie country. Township 24 north, Range 4 cast of the Third Principal Meridian, is a full Congressional township, and is in the centre of the eastern part of the county, being in the third tier of towns respectively from the north, east and south lines of the county, and the third east from the Illinois Central Railroad.

With the peculiar beauty of its primeval state, and the excellence of its soil, it is a wonder that it was so long before it came into general cultivation. Probably the fact that it was within the fifteen-mile belt which was withdrawn from market at the tinie the Illinois Central land grant was made, had much to do with this delay. Certain it is, there is nothing in the nature of the land that would delay settlement.

The name was derived from the mound, an elevation on Section 28, which, though not very high, was, when seen from the level land, stretching off toward Bloomington, high enough to attract general attention and notice. The "blue " part of it was only such as distance lends to it, for there is no blue appearance on close inspection.

Settlements were first made in 1854, on the north side, near the Lexington line, and, the same year, near the southeast corner.

John Speed Stagner, from Madison County, Ky., but who had been living four years near Bloomington, and one of the best-known men in Blue Mound, from his energy and publie spirit, came on Section 27, and purchased 200 acres of land around the sides of that section. While in Bloomington, he had united with the Christian Church, and had been ordained an Elder, and at once took an active part in the spirtual welfare of the new settlement. A few had moved in the year before. Thomas Arnold had settled on Section 27, entering the four inside forty-acre tracts, thinking it would prevent others from buying until he should be able to purchase. He still resides on his original purchase, and has good improvements on it. David Wheeler was at that time on the south side of Section 25. He removed to Kansas a few years since.

James A. Doyle, from Kentucky, who now lives in Ellsworth, was then on Section 23, where he lived about twenty years. John Doman, now dead, was on a farm of 160 acres, in Sections 34 and 35. Alexander Willhoite, from Owensburg, Ky., and William Newton, were opening farms on Section 11. Zachariah Arnold, who, like his brother Thomas, was from Virginia, and at that time unmarried, was commencing to improve on Section 35, where he still lives. All these had come here to live the year before. Stagnor, on the north side of the township, a little settlement, was growing up at the same time. Isaac Smith, who afterward committed suicide in a temporary fit of insan- ity, had connnenced to make a farm on Section 9.

William L. Barton came from Ohio to Section 4 in 1854. William MeHugh, a brother-in-law of Mr. Barton, came about the same time. He rented a farm in Lex- ington for a time, and then purchased the northeast quarter of Section 4. Mr. Burton and N. T. Linthicum, both of whom are now dead, settled in the same neighborhood about the same time. William Russell also purchased a farm at the same time. Anderson

724

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

Brumhead made a farm on Section 5, where he still resides. Mr. Arnold, father of Scott Arnold, opened up a farm on Section 7, where the younger Arnold still lives. Mr. King also commenced farming on a large scale. He lived on a part of Section 4, east of the church, and owned all of Section 8. His operations were large, and so conducted as to indicate an unbalanced mind. Great crops of wheat were raised about this time .. Indeed, many men were able to pay for their land and improvements from the proceeds of a single crop. Forty bushels was not uncommon, and was sufficient to induce many brilliant castles of marvelous wealth to be erected in the minds of the newcomers. They came to believe that wheat would grow almost spontaneously on this virgin soil, and many went in debt for land to sow to wheat. Several years of almost entire failure followed, driving those who engaged in it most largely into bankruptcy. Mr. King had a large breadth of wheat, and, the following year, he sowed on the stubble, without even plowing it, though he did harrow after sowing. The result was what might well have been expected. He was soon utterly ruined, both in purse and mind, and was taken to the asylum. Many others lost all in the wheat-raising mania. William A. Galdon opened up a farm where he now resides, near the corners of Sections 1, 2 and 12. The financial crash of 1857 unsettled affairs greatly, and few settlers came in for ten years. From this settlement, near the Lexington line, to that on the south, around about Speed Stag- ner's, was long an open prairie. It was not till the close of the war for the Union, when " Johnny came marching home " to make new alliances or renew long-broken ones, and new homes were needed, that this whole range of country for miles around Blue Mound, stretching out east to the county line, was filled up by the hardy, industrious, patriotic men who now live here. They came almost with a rush. Old settlers tell of their surprise, after living on these prairies for years, at seeing this rush of immigra- tion. Daily, as they were at work in their fields, the vision, unobstructed by trees, sweeping for miles in all directions, new shining roofs would spring up, almost by magic. This migration came from the west, Tazewell, Fulton, western McLean and other coun- ties sending their young and strong men to this open field.

CROPS.

Since the first experience in wheat, corn has been, and probably will continue to be, the great staple crop. The adoption of the law preventing cattle from running at large, made it possible for men to crop their land without fencing, and hedges were started, although there are many pieces of land in the township which are still open. There is no railroad, marketing of the crops being done at Lexington on the north, and Ellsworth and Holder on the south.

Old settlers tell of a terrible tornado which swept over the town in the summer, which did much damage and caused more fright. The wind had blown from the east all day, and at night came back from the west in a terrible gale. For years, the people at the East had heard heart-rending stories of the awful winds on these treeless prairies. This was the first experience these settlers had after leaving their Eastern homes, and some of them fully expected, when the "storm center " should fairly get " onto " them, to see their cook-stoves going skyward, their cattle's limbs flying promiscuously through the firmament, and the fleeces blown clean off the sheep, going to re-enforce the clouds. The damage was comparatively light, but the fright was enormous. They have now lived here long enough to know that we really have no more wind here than they do in

725

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

Ohio or New York. We now hear the stories coming from Kansas and Nebraska that Eastern folks heard twenty-five years ago from Illinois.

Below is given in table the names of those who have served the town in an official capacity during its history :

Date.

Supervisor.

Clerk.

Assessor.

Collector.

1858 J. H. Doyle.

N. T. Linthicum

A. J. Willhoite.

D. Wheeler.

1859 J. Il. Doyle.

J. T. Smith

A. J. Willhoite.

D. Wheeler.

1860 D. Wheeler

J. T. Smith

J. Snail.

William Elbert.

1861 |F. Wheeler.

J. T. Smith

J. A. Barton

W. T. Elbert.

1862 J. T. Smith

J. M. Carey.

M. S. Gill

P. J. Foster.

1863 William Elbert

D. Wheeler.

J. Snail

Isaac Smith.

1864 William Elbert

D. Wheeler

J. Snail

Isaac Smith.

1865 William Elbert

D. Wheeler.

A. McMullen

Milton Barton.

1866 J. II. Newton

William Elbert

A. McMullen

W. H Russell.

1867 J. H. Newton

William Elbert.

Robert Barr

A. Cumming.

1868 D. Wheeler

Il. Green

Scott Arnold

Scott Arnold.

1870 William McHugh

H. Green.

G. L. Libbey

B. Brigham.

1871 William McHugh.

H. Green.

J. Spawr.

H. C. Hayes.

1872 William McHugh

B. Brigham

W. T. Branson

T. H. Newton.

1873|W. H. Russell.

J. R. Tavener

HI. C. Hayes.

Isaiah W. Farquhar.

1874 W. H. Russell.

J. R. Tavener

B. Brigham

H. C. Hayes.

1875 William Mellugh

George Cooney

B. Brigham

Ed. Allen.

1876 William McHugh

1. W. Farquhar.

C. H. Pierson

Ed. Allen.

1877 |William McHugh

I. W. Farquhar.

W. H. Russell

Ed. Allen.

1878 William McHugh.

I. W. Farquhar.

B. Brighan

Ed. Allen.

The following persons have served as Justices of the Peace : J. M. Rayborn, Isaac Smith, P. Barnhouse, G. L. Libbey, J. Van Bushkirk, D. Wheeler, E. Easley, J. B. Bender, L. C. Blake, Thomas Arnold.

The following have had charge of highways : J. Lupton, J. S. Stagner, H. Hor- ney, H. Coal, W. Newton, William McHugh, Isaac Smith, J. W. Abbott, W. H. Hayes, William Benjamin, James Smith, Wesley Lewis, W. I. Arnold, D. Wheeler, W. H. Murphy, J. Arnold, W. L. Sapp, M. S. Sill, L. Bender, E. H. Burbank, E. B. Johnson.

D. Wheeler served as Township School Treasurer three years, Isaac Smith ten years, until his tragic death. After him, William McHugh for some time, then Ben- jamin McCoy, the present very efficient officer.

On the death of Mr. Isaac Smith, a deficit was discovered in his affairs ; demand was made upon the signers of his bond; they resisted payment for several reasons which seemed sufficient to them, the principal one being that the School Trustees, whose officer the Treasurer is, had been derelict in duty, in not sufficiently examining his affairs, and in permitting him at the time of his last election to serve six months without a new bond. Hon. William H. Smith, of Lexington, was one of the bonds- men, and he was known to be wealthy, which was thought to have had its influence on the Trustees, they probably reasoning that he was "good for it." The case was tried before Judge Tipton and decision given against the Trustees and in favor of the bonds- men, on the ground that the office was an annual office and that an annual bond must be signed, and for this neglect the signers of the bond were released, following the decision given in the case against the bondsmen of Duff, Treasurer of the State Reform School. The amount was not large, but the legal principle and its effects were important ant to every township in the State. Capt. Rowell, attorney for the Trustees, carried the

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 84

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