The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 69

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 69
USA > Illinois > Menard County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 69

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).

631

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

and from Petersburg; that is, once a week when the crossing at Salt Creek bridge would permit, which was only about half the time. Sometimes there were three and four weeks that we would be totally shut out from all mail com- munication on this account, even down as late as 1856. Often, some anxious person would take the chances of swimming the sloughs on horseback, and bring the mail over in a grain-sack, locked with a cotton string. Mr. Chase died in 1856, and William Warnock, Jr., who, in partnership with William Young, kept a country store at the farm of the latter, was appointed Postmas- ter, soon after removed it, with the store, to Hiawatha, where the office was sus- pended in 1858, upon the location of one in Mason City.

In 1854, George Young erected a steam saw-mill a quarter of a mile south of Big Grove Cemetery, and, the following year, Edward Sikes, Jr., moved the George Virgin store-building, of which he had now become the proprietor, to that place. Several dwelling-houses were soon after erected, and a flouring-mill added to the saw-mill, when the place was given the romantic name of Hia- watha. John Pritchett, who afterward became a prominent hardware and grain merchant in Mason City, and is now a commission merchant in St. Louis, started a blacksmith-shop. Dr. William Hall, a good physician, located there for the practice of medicine, and when the first line of the Tonica & Petersburg Railroad struck that place, in 1856, the most extravagant hopes of the people seemed about to be realized. But the railroad went four miles farther east ; Mason City sprung up, and-Hiawatha went down, and now not a vestige of the village remains to be seen.

The old " Timber Schoolhouse," or Virgin Schoolhouse, was the voting- place for the two townships, now Mason City and Salt Creek, until 1857, and was known as " Salt Creek Precinct." The election of 1856 will never be for- gotten by any one who was an eye-witness to the scenes of that day at this place. With politics at fever heat, and barrels of whisky as fuel to the political fire, no words can adequately describe the hurrahing, quarreling, fighting and confusion of that day, from early morn until dusky eve.

At this schoolhouse, religious meetings were frequently held, and the strong- hold of Satan was stormed upon the tactics of border warfare, that is, upon the theory that there is more terror to the enemy in noisy demonstration than in means of effectual destruction. Sinners were held " breeze-shaken " over the yawning abyss of the preacher's most vivid imagination, and the mighty oaks bowed their majestic heads to the thunders of Sinai, and one unused to such demonstrations would think the "heavens were rolling together as a scroll." In 1857, a camp-meeting of three weeks' duration was held in the grove about a half-mile southwest of George Lampe's place, at which Elder Peter Cart- wright made his last visit to this section. About three-quarters of a mile south- west of this, and, on the ridge a quarter of a mile east of where Michael Malo- ney's house now stands, was the inevitable grog-shop that was always to be found as near the sanctum sanctorum of the camp-meeting as the law would

632

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

permit. Here it was that the first and last murder in the township was committed, for which William (Duff) Armstrong and James Henry Norris were indicted at the following term of Court, and for which the latter served a term of eight years in the Penitentiary at Joliet, and the former was acquitted -- defended by Abraham Lincoln, as we have before stated. The name of the murdered man was Metzker, a citizen of Menard County. It was done about '9 o'clock at night, by being struck on the head with the neck-yoke of & wagon, which fractured his skull, and from which he died next day. Dr. J. P. Walker, now of Mason City, conducted the post mortem examination.

Dr. J. P. Walker settled in the west part of this township, at the place now owned and occupied by George McClintick, in 1849, and pursued the practice of medicine, and carried on his farm until 1858, when he moved to Mason City. Dr. A. R. Cooper settled on the farm now occupied by William McCarty about the same time, but removed a few years later. About the same year, Dr. John. Deskins built a hut and located a half-mile east of George Lampe's place. He built his house in the side of a ridge, so that the earth formed three sides of his domicile; but, embedded in the earth as it was, a tornado, in 1852, swept it away and scattered his goods for miles around, though, as by a miracle, none of the family were seriously injured.

The 29th of May, 1850, is a memorable day with the old inhabitants of this township, on account of the violent hailstorm which devastated growing crops, killed small domestic animals, and frightened the people terribly. This storm came from the northwest, and left its marks of violence upon the trees so that they were not outgrown for years after. Beautiful fields of wheat were left as desolate as a barren desert, and fruit-trees were stripped of foliage and fruit. Sheep, pigs and chickens were slain by hundreds with the cold shot from Heaven's artillery.

This township contains two church edifices, built about ten years ago, one at Big Grove, and the other at Lease's Grove, both owned by the Methodist denomination. A third building, by the Christian denomination, is in course of construction at Big Grove.

The principal cemetery, and the only one in the township controlled by a regularly organized Board of Trustees, is at Big Grove, and has been used as such since the earliest necessity of such a place. It is a beautiful location, well cared for, and, with its monuments and headstones, from a distance looks like a miniature marble city set upon a hill. There are several other burying-gronnds in the township, but most of them have been abandoned, as to future use as such.

The Havana extension of the I., B. & W. R. R., now the Champaign, Havana & Western Railway, runs diagonally across the northeast corner of the township ; but there is no railroad station, or town or village of any kind within the boundaries of the township.

The first school district organized in the township was down in the south west part, and is now District No. 1. The house was built of hewed logs, and was

633

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

generally known as the " Chase Schoolhouse." Several years ago, a new frame schoolhouse was built about a half-mile northwest of the site of the first, and is now known as the " McCarty Schoolhouse." The second district was organized in the east part of the grove, and is District No. 2. The first house here was in the timber, near the north side of the grove, about a quarter of a mile south- east of the "John Auxier Pond." It was a log house, of course, and was known as the " Virgin Schoolhouse." The original building burned down in 1849, and was succeeded on the same site by a frame, which was used as the district schoolhouse until 1863, when the old house was abandoned and a new one built about a mile further east, which is now known as " Mount Pleasant Schoolhouse." The third schoolhouse was built at Lease's Grove about 1850; was also a log house, but, several years ago, was abandoned, and a new house built about a mile east of the old site. The next, in District No. 4, was built in 1854, on a high elevation, three-quarters of a mile west of the present site, and was known, as the present is known, by the name of "North Prairie Schoolhouse." The next, in District No. 5, was built in 1855, and was desig- nated as the " Knox Schoolhouse." Other districts were organized and school- houses built soon after, until the township is well provided with public school facilities. The present Board of School Trustees is composed of the following gentlemen : Robert A. Melton, Elias Hull and L. C. Agnew. H. C. Burnham, the present incumbent, has been Township Treasurer for the last ten or twelve years, whose last statistical report is as follows :

Number of males under twenty-one years of age ..... 303

Number of females under twenty-one years of age.

261

Total

564

Number of males between the ages of six and twenty-one.

192

Number of females between the ages of six and twenty-one. 173

365

Number of school districts in township. 9

Number of districts having school five months or more.

Whole number of months of school.

59}

Average number of months of school.

Number of male pupils enrolled.

165

Number of female pupils enrolled.

164

Total

329

Number of male teachers employed.

Number of female teachers employed

Total

Number of months taught by males.

Number of months taught by females.

18}

Grand total of number of days' attendance

23,524

Number of schoolhouses ih township.

Number of volumes bought for district libraries during year ..

Principal township fund. $5,130 09

Highest monthly wages paid any male teacher 47 50

Lowest monthly wages paid any male teacher. 22 50

Highest monthly wages paid any female teacher 35 00

Lowest monthly wages paid any female teacher

30 00

Total

634

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

Average monthly wages paid male teachers. 40 91

Average monthly wages paid female teachers 33 05

Amount of district tax levy, 1878. 2,270 00

Estimated value of school property. 4,100 00

Estimated value of school libraries 35 00

Estimated value of school apparatus.

260 00

Amount paid male teachers 1,328 60

Amount paid female teachers 408 87

Amount paid for repairs and improvements 80 55

Amount paid for school furniture. 233 52

Amount paid for fuel and incidental expenses. 105 81

The names of the gentlemen who have officiated as Supervisors of the town since the adoption of township organization, in 1862, are as follows: Selah Wheadon, now residing in Kansas; Jacob Benscoter, now residing in Mason City ; A. H. Fisher, now residing in Logan County, two terms ; J. A. Phelps, who died a couple of years ago, in Nebraska, two terms ; C. L. Montgomery, who died in Greenview, Menard Co., in March of this year, two terms; A. Thompson, three terms ; A. A. Blunt, three terms; H. C. Burnham, present incumbent, three terms; L. C. Agnew, one term.

The present township officers are: H. C. Burnham, Supervisor ; D. W. Hillyard, Town Clerk ; Joseph Silvey, Assessor; J. P. Montgomery, Col- lector ; Robert A. Milton, Michael Maloney and C. C. Dare, Commissioners of Highways ; H. C. Burnham and Joseph Silvey, Justices of the Peace.

QUIVER TOWNSHIP.

Fifty years ago-half a century ! A period of time that measures off the birth, growth and decay of almost two successive generations of mankind ! Fifty years ago ! Since then, what mighty changes have marked the onward march of time in this great and growing West ! Cities have been builded, vast areas, even in our own State, populated, and large portions of its territory, reclaimed from native wildness, have been brought to a high state of cultivation and made to yield abundant harvests of plenty to the toiling husbandman. Within these years, the nation has been convulsed from its center to its circum- ference with the throes of civil war. The patriot son of the sturdy old pioneer has gone forth to battle in his country's cause, but his return comes not at setting of the sun. Thousands of homes have been made desolate by the cruel ravages of war in our own fair land, but the nation's honor has again been sealed by the blood of her noble and daring sons. Fifty years ago, not a single cabin had been erected in the territory now included in Quiver Town- ship. Indeed, it is not definitely known that more than a single family had settled within the limits comprising the present county of Mason.

This township is located in the extreme northwest corner of the county, and comprises in its area about fifty sections. It is bounded on the north and northwest by Tazewell County and the Illinois River; east by Manito and

635

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

Forest City Townships ; south by Sherman and Havana Townships, and west by the Illinois River. By far the larger portion of the township is prairie, the timber-land being, for the most part, confined to the western section along the river bluff. A limited amount of timber is found in the northeast cor- ner of the township, the outskirts of what is known as Long Point timber. The character of the soil is similar to that of the adjacent townships. The western part is somewhat broken, often rising into bold, rounded bluffs and ridges of sand. The woodland portion is not very productive; it does not afford pasturage, nor, when cleared and cultivated, does it yield as abundant harvests as the prairie land. The central and southern portions are very fer- tile, and annually produce large crops of corn, wheat, rye and oats, though corn is the staple product. Clear Lake and Mud Lake are found in the north- west corner of the township. Duck Lake, an expansion of Vibarger Slough, is situated in the southwestern portion of the township. Quiver Creek is the only stream of any consequence flowing through the township. This stream enters the township at its eastern boundary, flowing in a general southwestern direction through Sections 28, 29 and 30. Near the western boundary line of Section 30, its course changes to the northwest, and from this point the stream forms the dividing line between Havana and Quiver Townships. The township received its name from the water-course, of which we have just spoken. The creek is said to have been named by early huntsmen from Menard and Fulton Counties. At certain seasons of the year, standing a short distance back from the banks of the stream, one was enabled, by gently swaying the body to and fro, to impart a wave-like or quivering motion to the surface for some distance around him. From this it early acquired the name of Quiver land, and to the stream, naturally enough, the name Quiver Creek was applied. Whileit is a small and unimportant stream, it was made to subserve a large and important interest in the early settlement of the county. On the south bank of the stream, near the northeast corner of Havana Township, Pollard Simmonds erected a small grist-mill as early as 1838 or 1839. But as the mill is now included in the- limits of Havana, a full account of the enterprise will be given in the history of that township.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Though a settlement had been made west of the creek as early as 1835 or 1836, no one had ventured to cross the stream and locate in what is now Quiver Township prior to 1837. John Barnes, from Kentucky, had located at the Mounds as early as the first mentioned date. Of his wife it may be truthfully said that she was a faithful helpmeet. Slie was a woman possessed of great muscular strength, and could wield an ax as skillfully as an experienced wood- man. With an ordinary amount of exertion, she could turn off her one hun- dred and fifty rails per day. At his home, Joseph Lybarger and family, the first settler of Quiver Township, stopped some weeks prior to crossing the creek and starting his improvement. Lybarger was from Pennsylvania, and

636

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

was a blacksmith by trade. The exact date of his settlement cannot be fixed to a certainty, but it is more than probable that it occurred in the spring of 1837. There are some who think it may have been as early as the summer of 1836, but the preponderating weight of testimony is in favor of the first men- tioned date. Soon after coming, he opened a shop, and for a number of years did the work of general blacksmithing for a large scope of country. In the summer of 1837, Henry Seymour came and settled east of Lybarger's. About one month later, Peter Ringhouse, who had been stopping a short time in St. Louis, came and settled about midway between the ones already mentioned, though a short distance further west. Ringhouse was originally from Germany, but had lived some years in Baltimore before coming West. William Atwater came from Connecticut, and located in the immediate neighborhood in 1838. He had served an apprenticeship and for a number of years had followed the silversmith's trade. He erected a frame building, doubtless the first in the township, and began improving his farm. For some two years after coming, he led the life of a bachelor, and farmed with about the usual amount of success that all old bachelors are permitted to enjoy. The climate did not seem to agree with his constitution, and for some considerable length of time he was annoyed with chills and fever. So thoroughly dissatisfied did he become at one time, that he determined to exchange the best eighty acres of his quarter section for a horse and wagon, and the tail-end of a stock of goods in Havana. These latter articles he intended to peddle through the country, and with the proceeds and avails he hoped to be able to flee the country and make good his return to his native State. But he was destined to become one of the early permanent settlers of Quiver Township, however slow he might be to accept the situation. On communicating his intentions to one of his neighbors, he remonstrated with him at the folly of his proposition, and suggested the pro- priety of his taking a helpmeet and beginning life in earnest. Mr. Atwater acted upon the suggestion, and what we know is, that not many months after- ward, Miss Elizabeth Ringhouse became Mrs. Elizabeth Atwater. The alliance thus consummated led to a life of happiness and prosperity. He continued to live at the place of his first settlement till the date of his decease, which occurred some eight or ten years ago. His widow yet survives him, and occu- pies the old homestead. John Seeley, William Patterson, and a man by the name of Edwards, settled further north along the edge of the bluff timber as early as 1840 or 1841. Isaac Parkhurst settled near Quiver Creek in the southwest corner of the township, in 1840, and was a Justice of the Peace when this section was included in Tazewell County. He remained but a few years, and then moved to Peoria. During the year 1842, a num- ber of settlements were made in the township. Benjamin Ross, Daniel Waldron, William E. Magill, and George D. Coon were among the per- manent settlers at the close of 1842. Ross was from Tennessee, and had settled in Cass County some years prior to coming to Marson. Waldron was

M. A. Smith

SNICARTE

639

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

from New Jersey, and remained a citizen of the township till the date of his demise, which occurred some years ago. William E. Magill came from the Quaker State to Menard County, and from there to Mason, as before stated, and is one of the early settlers, who is still surviving. George D. Coon came from New Jersey, and settled in Greene County in 1839. At the same time, Stephen Brown, his father-in-law, and Robert Cross and Aaron Littell, brothers- in-law, came and settled near him. In 1842, Mr. Coon came to Mason County, and settled in this township near the creek, and the following year moved to his present place of residence. Loring Ames, a native of the old Bay State, came West in 1818, and settled in St. Clair County, Illinois Territory. In 1823, he moved to Adams County, and, in 1836, to what is now Mason County. In 1842, he became a citizen of Quiver, and at present resides on his farm near the vil- lage of Topeka. He served in the Black Hawk war, first as a private in Capt. G. W. Flood's company, and later as a Lieutenant in the company of Capt. Pierce, of Col. Fray's noted regiment. Rev. William Colwell, a native of England, emigrated to America in 1838, and first settled in Cass County, Ill. In February, 1841, he came to Mason County, and resided near Bath until the fall of 1842, at which time he removed to Quiver Township. He died in April, 1861, from the effects of a kick from a horse. He was a substantial citizen, a man of abilities and great personal worth. He served in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a period of about forty years, and the result of his labors will only be known in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed. George Sleath settled in 1843, but did not remain long. He sold out to Robert Cross and moved away. In 1843, Cross and Littell came and settled on farms adjoining that of George D. Coon. These they improved and occupied until the date of their decease. Fred High, Henry Rakestraw and Freeman Marshall made settlements during the year 1843. High was from Tennessee, Rakestraw from Kentucky and Marshall was a native- born Hoosier. Some of the Rakestraws still reside in the township, near McHarry's Mill, but the names of High and Marshall have long been absent from her citizenship. Moses Eckard, whose name occurs prominently in con- nection with the history of the village of Topeka, came from Maryland, and located in Fulton County in 1839. The following year, he came into what is now Mason County. In 1844, he was married to Sarah E. Simmonds, daughter of Pollard Simmonds, who settled in Havana Township in 1838, and built the mill elsewhere referred to. In the fall following bis marriage, he moved to his present place of residence, and has continuously lived there since. At the date of his settlement few, if any, others were living in the southeastern section of the township, all the settlements so far having been made along the bluff tim- ber and in the central portion. In 1847, John M. McReynolds, whose father had settled in Havana Township in 1838, located about two miles northeast of Moses Eckard's. His residence still remains on the farm he first improved. Hon. Robert McReynolds, the father of John M., came from Columbia County,

640

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

Penn., in 1838, and settled some seven miles east of the present city of Havana, in Havana Township. In 1849, he became a citizen of Quiver Township, and, as he was at an early day officially connected with the interests of the county, we deem it proper to give some points of his life in this connection. In 1845, we find him a member of the Board of County Commissioners. To this office he was re-elected in 1846, and again in 1848 and 1849. In 1849, he was chosen Associate Justice with John Pemberton, Hon. Smith Turner being County Judge. In every position, public or private, conscientious integrity marked his course. He was an earnest and zealous advocate of the Gospel as taught by the Wesleys, and, having united with the M. E. Church in 1831, was not only a pioneer in this county but a pioneer in Methodism in the West. In building his first residence, an extra large room was provided, which was not only designed for the use of his family but also for religious worship. Quarterly meetings, over which the venerable Peter Cartwright presided, were held here, and, on one occasion, fifty of the brethren and sisters were present for breakfast. The first Sunday school in the county was established at his house in 1841, and consisted of twelve teachers and twenty-one scholars. His death occurred in 1872. His son, following in the footsteps of his father, has been an efficient member of the Church since early boyhood, and for many years has held official relation to the congregation at Topeka. Stephen Brown, who has already been mentioned as having settled in Greene County in 1839, ten years later became a citizen of Quiver. John Appleman, from New Jersey, Thomas. Yates and George Ross, from the Buckeye State, became citizens as early. as 1848 or 1849. These all settled in the region of the township familiarly known as "Tight Row." Appleman died some years ago, and Yates in 1876.

. Ross, after a residence of two years, returned to Ohio on a visit, and while there sickened and died. From 1850, the settlements increased so rapidly that any attempt to enumerate them in the order in which they occurred, would be a fruitless task. Of one who came into the township in 1845, we must speak somewhat at length, as, perhaps, no one of her citizens is more widely or more favorably known. Hugh McHarry, a native of Ireland, emigrated to America in 1825. He was but a "broth of a boy" of some eighteen or nine- teen summers, who had come to try his hand at making a fortune in "Swate America." He started in life in the land of his adoption penniless. Soon after coming, he engaged in labor on the Erie Canal, but the natural bent of his mind was toward milling. He soon obtained a situation in the mills at Louisville, Ky., where he remained till 1842. During his residence in Louisville, he became an ardent admirer of George D. Prentice, the veteran editor. of the Journal, and through its influence, was molded into a stanch Henry-Clay Whig. With this party he acted during its existence, and, on the formation of the Republican party, he was among the first to espouse its prin- ciples. In 1842, he came to Beardstown, Cass County, and again engaged in milling. In 1843, he purchased the mill site on Quiver Creek, and, in 1845,

641

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

constructed a grist-mill. Julius Jones, Charles Howell and William Pollard had built a dam and erected a saw-mill at this point some years previous. For the improvements made and the site, McHarry paid the sum of $1,500 cash. The saw-mill stood on the east bank of the creek, but when the grist-mill was constructed it was placed on the west bank, and, consequently, stands in Havana Township. A complete history of the enterprise will be given in con- nection with the sketch of that township. Mr. McHarry's residence stands on the bank of the creek in Quiver Township, and amid its pleasant shades and quiet retreat he is quietly passing his declining years, enjoying the society of his children and friends and the large competency he has acquired by a life of honest toil and well-directed energy. He is by far the wealthiest man in the township, and owns a large amount of the best land in the county. Few citi- zens of the county are more widely known or more highly esteemed for their good qualities of head and heart, than Hugh McHarry, the miller.

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 Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 69

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