The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 65

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 848

USA > Illinois > Mason County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 65
USA > Illinois > Menard County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 65

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).

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

comfort of the pupils. From the Treasurer's last report to the County Superin- tendent, we find the principal of the township fund to be $2,963; amount of tax levied, $1,925 ; value of school property, $2,100 ; number of scholars under twenty-one (including color), 178; between six and twenty-one, 195 ; males between six and twenty-one, 130 ; females, 139; highest wages paid male teach- ers, $50; highest paid females, $55; 'total amount paid for school purposes, $1,316.50 ; males between twelve and twenty-one unable to read and write, 2; cause, neglect of parents and willful neglect of child.

EARLY POST OFFICES, PREACHERS, DOCTORS, ETC.

The first post office established in Manito Township was kept by Col. R. S. Moore, at his residence, on what is now known as the P. W. Gay farm. This was established in 1851, on the route leading from Havana to Delavan. It was called-Pilot Hill Post Office, after a high hill on the route, some three or four miles northwest of the point at which it was kept. A year or two later, it was moved farther south, toward Havana, to the residence of John Pemberton, who was the second Postmaster. At a still later date, it was taken to Berkstresser's store, at a point called Egypt Station, and was re-christened with the name of Egypt Station Post Office. Finally, on the establishment of the village of Manito, and the consequent overthrow of Egypt Station, it was removed to Manito, and the name of the office was changed to that of the town.

Ministers, in connection with the Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian Churches, came among the people in an early day, to preach to them the word of life. Meetings were held at the homes of the settlers. Rev. Caldwell, a Methodist minister, was, perhaps, the first who had regular stated appoint- ments. The Baptist and Presbyterian brethren were not far behind him in point of time.

At a later date, the ubiquitous Methodist itinerant, Peter Cartwright, was in their midst. He was present in 1852 or 1853, and conducted a camp-meet- ing at Walnut Grove, at which there was a great awakening among the people. Many were happily converted, and remained faithful workers in the ranks of the Church throughout the remainder of their lives. As late as the spring of 1865, he preached in the village of Manito, in the upper story of the building now occupied by Messrs. Burnett & Perrill as a general merchandise and drug store.

Dr. John Allen, who resided near McHarry's mill, in what is now Quiver 'Township, was the first practitioner who sought to alleviate their aches and pains. Dr. Mastiller came at quite an early day. He was a student in the office of Dr. Allen. Dr. Holton, who located at Spring Lake, in Tazewell County, was also among the earlier practitioners. The first resident physician in the township was Dr. John B. Meigs, a young man who came in 1855 or 1856, and who still resides in the village of Manito. He came from Macou- pin County. Others have followed, too numerous to mention.

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

Richard L. Porter, a son of Stephen W. Porter, was, so far as can be ascertained, the first child born of white parents in the township. His birth dates back to 1841. The first death of which we have any account given was that of William Herron, who has already been mentioned as the earliest settler, and whose grave is on the farm on which he first settled. The exact date of his death cannot be ascertained, though it must have occurred as early as 1844 or 1845. The first wedding was celebrated between Alexander Graves and Polly Ashmon. This happy event occurred in 1846, at the residence of the bride's father, Zeno Ashmon, one of the early settlers.

Outside of the village of Manito, but two houses of worship have been erected in the township. These are both in the eastern portion. One is a German Lutheran, or Lutheran Evangelical, and the other a German Meth- odist, or, as it is commonly designated, Albright. These churches were both built in 1869. Rev. Reisinger organized the Lutheran congregation in 1867, and was Pastor of the Church some years. Rev. Henry Siering followed him, and was the spiritual teacher of the congregation about five years, when he was succeeded by his brother, Rev. Hermann Siering, the present Pastor in charge. The Church has a membership of about fifty souls. They have regular services and a flourishing Sunday school. Of the Albright, or German Methodist, we were unable to learn any particulars other than that the society is in a prosper- ous condition, meeting regularly for worship, and having a Sunday school con- nected with it of fine interest.

No mill was ever built in the township save the one of recent date, built in the village, and to which reference will be made in its history. The P., P. & J. R. road enters the township near the center of the southern boundary of Section 6, and, passing through in a general northeastern direction, leaves it at the northeast corner of Section 21, thus giving to the township about five miles of railroad.

Among her citizens who have received political preferment at the hands of the citizens of the county, we may inention the names of John Pemberton and Matthew Langston. John Pemberton or "Uncle Jackey," as he is familiarly called, was chosen Associate Justice of the county in 1849. The other mem- bers who assisted in holding down the seat of justice were Smith Turner, County Judge, and Robert McReynolds, Associate. This position he held until 1853. He was also chosen to represent the county in the Lower House in quite an early day. It is said of him that, so great was his zeal to secure a successful issue of the campaign, whereby Mason County might be properly represented at the capital and a seat for himself secured in the Grand Council, that he was found once or twice outside the limits of his county, earnestly engaged in trying to persuade the citizens of an adjoining county that he was the proper man to represent Mason County in the General Assembly, and that he would be grateful to them for their support. This he did, not with any design of obtaining his seat fraudulently, but simply from the fact that he did

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not recognize that he had passed beyond the limits of his own county. A vote for and against township organization was taken November 11, 1861, to take effect April, 1862 The vote for adoption prevailed, and Hon. Lyman Lacy, of Havana, Maj. B. H. Gatton, of Bath, and Hon. Matthew Langston, of Manito, were chosen Commissioners to divide the county into townships. Mr. Langston was chosen first Supervisor of Manito Township, and held the office three terms in succession. In 1865, he was elected to the office of County Judge, and sat upon the judicial bench two years, at the end of which he resigned the position to devote himself more fully to his private affairs. In 1871 and 1872, he represented his county in the Lower House, at Spring- field. Since then, he has devoted himself to the quiet pursuits of agricul- tural life.

The township of Manito acquired its name from that of the village, which had been platted and recorded before the township was laid out. About twenty-five years ago, a tragedy occurred within her borders, and with a brief allusion to this we will close our township history. In 1849 or 1850, Benjamin Alwood and family, consisting of his two sons-Andrew Jackson and Hugh M .- and two daughters, came from New Jersey and settled not far southeast of the present village of Manito. The Alwood family were pos- sessed of considerable means, and entered a large amount of land. From vari- ous causes, they soon became unpopular with their neighbors, whether justly or otherwise it is not our province to explain. The feeling of hatred grew into gigantic proportions, and finally culminated in open demonstrations. As early as 1853 or 1854, a party in disguise waited upon the family and informed them that they must quit the neighborhood. The Alwoods informed them that they had come to stay, and did not propose to be frightened away. Not long afterward, a crop of wheat belonging to a man by the name of Hoyt was destroyed by fire. It was the generally received opinion, though it was by no means supported by positive proof, that the Alwoods had a hand in the burning, or, at least, had privy knowledge of the fact that it would occur. At any rate, this was made a pretext for destroying their entire crop, by way, as it was said, of retaliation. This was followed up by the burning of their house and the shooting of Hugh M. and one of his sisters. The shooting in this instance did not, however, prove fatal. It so happened that at the burning of the wheat crop, Jack Alwood followed the parties, and succeeded in identify- ing some of them before he was discovered and forced to flee for his life. Legal proceedings were instituted, and a number of persons were indicted before the grand jury. Trials were appointed, but were postponed from time to time.

After the burning of their home, the Alwood family moved to Quiver Township and remained a short time. Returning, they built a hewed-log house and set about raising their crops. In the fall of 1856, while Jack Alwood was in his field, engaged in cutting up corn, he was shot by unknown

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

parties, and instantly killed. This put an end to the prosecution of indict- ments against parties supposed to have been engaged in the destruction of their property. While this sad occurrence was deeply deplored by the better class of citizens, it was nothing more than had been expected for months pre- vious to its commission. He had been warned time and again that a continued attempt on his part to prosecute the indictments found would speedily lead him to an untimely grave. Let us hope that no similar occurrence may ever again darken the fair name of Manito Township and those of her citizens.

MANITO VILLAGE.

This village, situated on the P., P. & J. R. R., near the center of the north- ern boundary of the township, was surveyed and platted by James Boggs, Deputy County Surveyor, for James K. Cox, Robert M. Cox and William A. Langston, in 1858. Soon after the laying-out of the town, Hon. Hugh Fullerton, of Havana, acquired an interest for the influence exerted by him in procuring the location of the depot on the village site. The expectations of the proprietors must have been very great, and they possibly may have imagined that in the rearing of the first two or three buildings they beheld a miniature Chicago in embryo arising in their midst. One hundred and ten acres were laid out in blocks, streets and alleys. Manito did not increase in growth very rapidly, until the close of the war; in 1865. Egypt Station had been laid out in 1857, on the line of the railroad, about three-fourths of a mile southwest of where Manito now stands, and when the road went into operation, in 1859, from Pekin to Virginia, the contest for the mastery waxed warm. Egypt Station had the advantage in the beginning, in that she already had two or three stores and the post office, but Manito secured the location of the depot, and immediately the scepter departed out of Egypt. The village of Spring Lake, which has already been mentioned as having been established by Col. Robert S. Moore, as early as 1851, contributed to the upbuilding of Manito, by giving her business men and citizenship to swell the population of the newly begun village. The farm residence of James K. Cox, erected in 1851, stands near the center of the busi- ness part of the village, east of the railroad, and may be easily recognized from the fact that it stands at an angle of about forty-five degrees with the street. fronting it. The first business house in the village was erected by James K. Cox, and was occupied early in 1860 by E. A. Rosher, as a general merchan- dise store. Mr. Rosher is still a citizen, and is the veteran merchant of the village. The second store in the village was kept by J. P. & Alexander Trent. A. M. Pollard, from Spring Lake, opened a grocery store in 1861. Langston & Havens, Rankin & Luckenburg, had each a general store quite early in its history. J. Mosher opened the first drug store in 1865 or 1866. In 1868, Smith, Hippen & Co., of Pekin, built an elevator, at a cost of $5,000. It has a capacity of 15,000 bushels, and 10,000 bushels can be handled through it per day. It is operated under the personal supervision of Fred Knollhoff, who is a

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

member of the firm. The firm of Smith, Hippen & Co. was the first in tho place to purchase grain on an extensive scale. Their annual shipments range from 250,000 to 300,000 bushels. Previous to the building of the elevator, a Mr. Cranwill had bought grain for some years, at this point, and shipped in gunny sacks on flats. In 1876, James A. McComas built the Manito ele- vator, at a cost of $6,500. It had a capacity of 20,000 bushels, and, in annual shipments, ranged from 200,000 to 250,000 bushels, making the total annual shipments from the village from 500,000 to 600,000 bushels. This was operated by McComas one year ; afterward by different parties, and, in 1878, Grier & Co., of Peoria, took charge of it. It was totally destroyed by fire on the 29th of May, 1879. The building contained 5,000 bushels of grain at the time of its destruction. The village of Manito is conceded to be the best grain point on the P., P. & J. R. R., from Peoria to Havana, except Pekin. The business trade of the village aggregates about $500,000 annually. Some of the statements in regard to the history of the village and the dates of their occur- rence may not be, in every particular, correct, but this is owing to the fact that the village records have been twice destroyed by fire, and the dates given are those that have been furnished us by the citizens who took an active part in the proceedings. The village was incorporated under the special act known as the Springfield and Quincy Act, in 1866. The following named persons were chosen as members of the first Board of Trustees: R. S. Eakin, Joe W. Brooks, Smith Mosher, Joe Cranwill and E. W. Crispell. The Board selected R .. S. Eakin, President; Joe W. Brooks, Treasurer, and Joe Cranwill, Clerk. Stephen W. Porter was first Police Magistrate. The village continued under this organization till 1875, when the charter was surrendered by vote, and it was re-organized under the general law for cities and villages. The present Board consists of W. B. Robison, Thomas Boon, Joel Cowan, J. S. Pollard, M. Lins and A. J. Roberts. The officers of the Board are : W. B. Robison, Pres- ident ; J. S. Walker, Treasurer ; W. C. Hall, Clerk ; R. S. Eakin, Police Justice.

CHURCHES, LODGES, ETC.

The Methodist Church was erected in 1867. Among the early pastors, we find the names of Revs. Middleton, Sloan, Shagley and Goldsmith. Rev. Sloan is remembered as the minister wlio was accustomed to make the entire- round of his circuits on foot. Stephen W. Porter and family, Thomas Boon and family, Father Nash, P. S. Trent and family, were among the early com- municants of the Church. Elders Miller and Page, of the Campbellite order, held meetings here at an early day, and had at one time an organization, but did not build a house of worship. The Catholic Church was built about 1870. The building is a neat frame, patterned after the modern style of church build- ings. They have a large and flourishing congregation. Sabbath schools are regularly held at both churches. In 1861, a petition was presented to the Post Office Department, praying for a removal of the post office from Egypt

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Station to Manito, with a change in name to that of the village. The prayer of the petition was granted, and Smith Mosher was appointed first Postmaster. He was succeeded in office by his brother, John Mosher, in 1865. In 1866, A. M. Pollard was appointed, and, in 1869, E. A. Rosher received the appoint- ment, and still holds the position.

In 1870, J. N. Shanholtzer erected a steam grist-mill in the village. This is the first and only mill ever built in the township. The cost of construction was about $6,000. It has two runs of stone, and is capable of turning out about eighteen or twenty barrels of flour per day. It has a fine run of custom, and manufactures a first-class quality of flour.

Manito Lodge, A., F. and A. Masons, was organized under dispensation from Most Worshipful Deputy Grand Master J. M. Gorin, in 1865. In Octo- ber, 1866, a charter was issued from the Grand Lodge, over the signatures of H. P. H. Bromwell, Most Worshipful Grand Master, and H. G. Reynolds, Grand Secretary, to Henry A. Sweet, R. S. Eakin, A. G. H. Conover, John Thomas, Peter W. Gay, B. Ruthenburg, A. A. Griffin, Smith Mosher, Perry W. Thomas, Hubbard Latham, Zachariah Miller and W. W. Pierce as charter members. Henry A. Sweet was appointed W. M .; R. S. Eakin, S. W .; A. G. H. Conover, J. W. Regular meetings occur on the first and third Wednes- days of each month. In 1878, the lodge room was built by a joint-stock asso- ciation. In the destructive fire which occurred December 22, 1878, the Lodge sustained heavy loss, the records, furniture and paraphernalia being entirely. consumed. At present it has a membership of twenty-two. The present offi- cers are : R. S. Eakin, W. M .; W. B. Robison, S. W .; E. S. Starrett, J.W .; J. P. Cowan, Treasurer : Fred Knollhoff, Secretary ; J. C. Perkins, S. D .; R.W. Whiteford, J. D .; M. W. Rodgers, Tiler. A Lodge of I. O. O. F. was organ- ized about the year 1871, but has some time since ceased to exist.

The village at present has a population of about 600, and has four general merchandise stores, two groceries, two drug and notion stores, one harness-shop, two boot and shoe shops, one hardware store and tin-shop, one millinery, notion and fancy goods establishment, three general blacksmithing and repair shops. Drs. J. S. Walker and J. R. McCluggage are resident physicians, and deal out pills and powders for the pains and aches of the people, while William Maloney deals out coal in quantities to suit the purchaser.

The early settlers of the village were fond of playing practical jokes upon each other, and frequently did not scruple to tackle even strangers. Before corporate powers were conferred, it is stated that a man by the name of Moore came in and desired to start a saloon. He approached Joe Cranwill on the sub- ject, and Joe furnished him the necessary license, for which he charged him the round sum of $25. Joe shoved the money down in his own pocket, and let the boys into the secret, and, as he spent most if not all of it in " setting 'em up," nothing was said about it, and it was many moons before Moore found out that his license was a fraud, and that he had been tricked out of his money. Many

Nocection

ALLENS GROVE TP

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. .

of the early denizens of the village will remember the days when "High Cod Court," as it was called, was in vogue. This was not a chartered institution, so far as we could learn, nor do we know that it had the sanction of the powers that be, ordained to meet in solemn conclave at Springfield biennially, in its establishment. But certain it is that it existed. Having charged some indi- vidual with an offense against the peace and dignity of the village, the Court would assemble and proceed to try the offender. The person presiding was dubbed the Hon. Judge Advocate, to whom all matters of difference between the lawyers for prosecution and defense were submitted, and from whose decis- ion there was no appeal. Witnesses were called and examined, who were not expected to tell the truth any more than a witness of to-day is expected to tes- tify to facts before a Congressional Investigating Committee. Indeed, the oath administered had a saving clause for the prosecution, couched in these words : " And you furthermore swear that you will not tell the truth in the case now pending, wherein," etc. No matter how clearly the defendant might prove his innocence, conviction was sure to follow. The penalty was generally drinks for the crowd, and usually cost the accused about $1. But these days have long since passed away, and the citizens of Manito are as staid and sober-going people as are their neighbors. And yet the old citizens love to recount these days of fun and frolic, and, in imagination, live over again the scenes and incidents of their early manhood's years. The name Manito was undoubtedly taken from the Indian word Manitou, though with just what significance it was applied to the village, we have no means of determining.

ALLEN'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.

This division is on the eastern line of the county, and is known as Town- ship 21 and 22 north, Range 5 west of the Third Principal Meridian. It embraces in its limits thirty-six full sections-a Congressional Township-but does not exactly coincide with the Congressional survey. In establishing the boundaries of the townships, the southern tier of sections of Town 21, Range `5, was included in Mason City Township, and the southern tier of Town 22, same range, was made the northern limit of Allen's Grove Township. The position of the township is north of Mason City Township, east of Pennsyl- vania Township, south of Tazewell County and west of Logan County. Excepting two or three copses or groves of timber of limited extent, which stand out in the prairie like islands in the ocean, the entire area of the town- ship is prairie land. The most important of these is Allen's Grove, from which the township took its name. It comprises about five hundred acres, mostly in Section 9, and is the point in and around which the early settlements in the township were made. In an early day, before the clear, ringing note of the woodman's ax was heard reverberating throughout its aisles and along its cor- ridors, much timber, valuable for building and other purposes, was here found. X

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

At present, but little that is valuable, except for fencing and firewood, remains .. Swamp Grove, in the northwest corner. and Lake Grove, on Sections 19 and 20, are of far less importance, and contain no valuable timber. These three groves, together with a portion of Cherry Grove, on the line between Mason- City and Allen's Grove Townships, constitute the entire woodland districts of this section. No natural water-course is found in any portion of the township. Norton's Lake, in Section 23, occupying the space of about one hundred and twenty acres, is the only body of water of any consequence within its limits. This is a place of resort for bathing and fishing. The eastern and southern sections of the. township are well adapted to the growth of vegetables, corn, wheat, rye, barley and oats. The soil is of a somewhat sandy nature, very similar in character to that found in adjacent townships and in the western part of Logan County. To the willing husbandman it yields rich and boun- teous harvests. The northwestern portion is low and level, and is embraced within the district known as swamp-lands. By a system of artificial drainage much of this has been rendered arable, and when sufficiently drained for farm- ing purposes it is found to be highly productive, possessing a soil of almost exhaustless fertility. In the past few years, many fine farms have been opened up in this heretofore discarded section of the township. The early settlers found this portion of the county covered with tall grass and the flower-produc- ing weeds. In the summer, the plains seemed an ocean of flowers of various hues, gracefully waving to the breezes that swept over them. In the language of poesy it may be fitly said that

" Travelers entering here, behold around A large and spacious plain on every side, Strewed with beauty, whose fair grassy mound Mantled with green, and goodly beautified With all the ornaments of Flora's pride."

The township contains two villages, San Jose and Natrona, the history of which will be given in detail at the close of this chapter. The Jacksonville Branch of the C. & A. Railway enters the township near the northeast cor- ner of Section 1, and, traversing it in a general southwestern direction, leaves it near the center of the southern. boundary of Section 28, giving about seven miles of road-bed to the township. That we find the eastern portion of the county but sparsely settled until recently, when compared with other sections, is doubtless owing to the fact that a large district of swamp-land, occupying the more central portion of the county, completely cut off the eastern settler from Havana, the only shipping-point, at that time, for his various products. The absence of timber and water-course also exercised a retarding influence over the early settlement. Not until the advent of railroads through this sec- tion, and the bringing of market-places and shipping-points to their very doors, did settlements begin to be made in rapid succession.

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The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 65

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 848

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 848