The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc., Part 93

Author: Johnson & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Johnson & Company
Number of Pages: 932

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In 1842. Wm. W. Thompson was elected to the Legislature of Illinois for the session of 1842-3. and succeeded in getting the name of Charleston changed to that of Brimfield, a change had become necessary on account of two other towns in the State having the same name, one being the county seat of Coles county, which claimed precedence. There was some dissatisfaction with the change, some wanted it called Woleottsville and others Guyersburg ; but the town was to be known as Brimfield, not such a bad or disagreeable name after all for a town with a territory so famous for its fertility of soil and salubrity of climate, the brimfulness of its barns and corn eribs with each retiring year, gathered from its extensive and teaming fields.

In the year 1849, township organization was adopted by Peoria county, so that each congressional township had jurisdiction only within its own boundary lines, and the west half of 10, north range 6 east (now Jubilee) ceased to be a part of Brimfield election preeints, and this township was named Brimfield after the chief town. From the year 1850 to 1860 the town and neighborhood had a very considerable accession to its inhabi- tants.

A branch of the C., B. & Q. railroad passes through the east side of Brimfield town- ship and the town of Brimfield. It is a place of about eight hundred inhabitants, and contains a number of prosperous business houses in different lines of trade, prominent among which are C. B. & E. K. Hayes, in dry goods ; Wesley Stain and W. Cowls, in groceries ; J. P. & B. B. Bowman, in hardware ; Wm. Robinson, in drugs ; F. P. Wiley. in jewelry, wall-paper, etc .; F. H. Camp, in furniture. Daniel Belcher is proprietor of the Brimfield House, one of the best managed and popular country hotels in the county.

Baptist Church of Brimfield .- Was organized on Saturday, May 4, 1850, pursuant 10 the recommendation of a council of ministers and members of the neighboring Baptist Churches, which convened here on the same day. The constituent members were nine in number, named as follows : Eli Bailey and Elizabeth Bailey, Dorothy Getty, Debo- rah Alden, Elizabeth J. Aiken, Elizabeth Layman, by letter; and A. E. Martin, A. Taylor and Matilda Taylor by profession. On Sunday, the day following, five persons were received by baptism, being baptized by Elder Simcon G. Miner, of Canton. They were : Lewis Atkinson, Eddy Baker, Eliza Baker, Mrs. Margaret Martin and Miss Jane Layman. The above fourteen composed the whole number of the church when it was received into the Illinois River Association, which met in Peoria, June, 1850. Lewis Atkinson, who had formerly been a Methodist preacher, was the first pastor of the church : Elder Bailey, its first deacon, and Adonijah Taylor, its first clerk, all of whom were elected at the organization of the church. L. Atkinson served as the first licentiate, nud was regularly ordained in July, 1850. The number of members in 1551, as reported, was eighteen.

Early in the year 1852, the church resolved to ereet a house of worship. Five trus- tees were elected, a building committee was chosen, and most of the timber delivered on the ground that Spring. During that conference year ten members were added to the society. The frame of the building was raised in August, 38x60 feet in size, and was

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY

finished in 1854, at a cost of $3,000. The church increased in 1853 to thirty-five mem- bers. In February, 1954, Rev. E. N. Jencks was called, and entered upon pastora duties April 1, following. The church now numbers eighty-five members. G. Hatha- way, J. B. Slocum and W. A. Arnold are deacons, and Geo. M. Day, clerk. Rev. H. G. James is serving it as pastor. The society sustains a flourishing Sunday school of sixty scholars, superintended by George M. Day.

Catholic Church, Brimfield .- Previous to 1840, but few Catholics lived in the vicinity of Brimfield, and those few lived in sod houses. Others soon followed the pioneers, bringing some means with them, and erected better dwellings. They were first visited by Rev. Raul and Rev. Roseti, in succession, from Peru, Ill .; then by Father Brody, Father Doyle, and Father Drew, stationed at Peoria. Until 1852, divine services were held in sev- eral private houses. In 1852 the Catholics had increased to about thirty-five. They con- cluded to erect an edifice for divine worship at Alec McDonald's place in Scotland Prairie, but by the advice of Rev. Father Brady, changed their purpose and built a little church at Brimfield, 22x36 feet, Rev. Father Brady being the first priest who offered up in it the sacrifice of the Holy Mass. In 1864, Rev. Theodore Vanderpoel attending, an addi- tion 22x36 feet was built. January 13, 1867, he was succeeded by Rev. M. Lyon. April 15, 1877, Rev. Jeremiah Murphy took charge of the mission, and at this time the Catho- lics bought a parsonage for $1,600, Rev. J. Murphy being the first residing pastor. April 22, 1868, Rev. Max Albrecht became pastor. He vacated the mission for Father Charles Wensserski, June 29, 1873. Rev. William Kuchenbuch was appointed his successor by the Rt. Rev. J. L. Spaulding, of Peoria, Sept. 15, 1877. The Catholics of Brimfield and vicinity number at present about eighty families.

Congregational Church .- The first Congregational Church of Christ in Brimfield was organized on the 29th day of March, 1847, Revs. J. Blanchard, then president of Knox College, and Milo N. Miles, then of Newburg, officiating. On that day the following six named persons entered into church covenant : Bradford Hall, Catherine Hall, Margaret Cummings, Julia Ann Jones, James Delano and Elizabeth Delano. At their next meet- ing, April 10, 1847, they adopted the faith. On that day there united with the infant church, by letter : Freeman Miles, Maria P. Miles, Adeline Stone, Margaret S. Wiley, and Pennal Richtdmever; soon after, on profession of faith, J. M. Wiley and Lavina Richtdmeyer. Of the thirteen who constituted the church thirty-three years ago, nine are still living. The infant church had no where to lay its head, and took refuge for two years in the old school-house which stood on the spot now occupied by the homestead of Mr. Kellogg. Then for a couple of years its occasional gatherings were held in the build- ing owned by our Methodist friends From 1847 to 1850 the church was served at irregu- lar intervals by President Blanchard, Milo N. Miles, Geo. Sill, and others. With joy and alacrity the people gathered by the wagon loads in the old school-house to a meeting by candle light or a Sabbath service. From 1850 to 1852, Revs. John Somers and L. H. Parker, of Galesburg, supplied the pulpit, and held a series of meetings, which resulted in great good to many.

In July, 1853, J. E. Roy was invited to the pastorate, and was ordained by coun- cil - the only council ever called by this church -on the 25th day of October, 1853. Up to this time the young church had been homeless. In June, 1851, Bradford Hall and M. D. Billings were chosen to go to Fremont and procure plans for a building. In this year the stone for the foundation was furnished by Edward Hayward. In 1853 the frame was put up by D. B. Jones and A. G. Stone. The building was finished and dedicated some time in 1854; the dedication being preached by Rev. J. E. Roy. The cost of the build- ing was about $2,400, and nearly all was raised in Brimfield, by economy and self- denial.

In March, 1855, a parsonage was provided, at a cost of $800, which has been used by the successive ministers of this church for nearly twenty-four years. Since 1855, the

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

pulpit has been supplied by several different preachers. The Rev. W. H. Cobb was called in 1857 : Rev. M. W. Fairfield in 1858: Rev. James Vincent in 1859: Rev. L. Benedict until 1864. In 1865, Rev. I. W. Atherton had charge ; in 1866, C. E. Leach ; in 1869, A. J. Drake, and remained for three years. Rev. Mr. Wakefield supplied the church the first half of 1873. In December, 1873, A. J. Marshall was called. He closed very acceptable labors in 1874. October 10. 1875, Rev. H. P. Chase was called. The church prospered, and in two and a half years thirty-eight were welcomed into the church. Despite this very broken pastoral care, this church has prospered. Organized with thirteen members, it increased slowly to thirty members at the end of three years. The next ten years, from 1850 to 1860, was a period of decided growth, gaining 178 members during that time. From '60 to '70 it received but forty-three. The sum total received into the church for thirty-one years was 319.

The first trustees on record are : Bradford Hall, J. M. Wiley, and Freeman Miles ; clerk, J. M. Wiley ; deacons, Bradford Hall and J. P. Bowman. The present member- ship is 100.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - The Rev. Zaccheus Hall organized the first class in this village Nov. 1, 1836. He was the first Methodist preacher that held meetings in the place. The class was formed at the house of Jacob Snider, and consisted of the follow- ing members : Jacob Snider, Catherine Snider, Samuel Snider, L. L. Guver. Martha Johnston, Margaret Johnston, Catharine Johnston, David Stansberry, Susannah Stans- berry, Susan Stansberry, Ephraim Hoyt, Francis J. Hoyt, Isaac Harrison, Sarah Har- rison, Eliza Martin, Susannah Wills, Benj. F. Berry and Polly W. Berry. Samuel Snider was chosen leader of the class. Brother Hall preached every four weeks ; had twenty-eight appointments on his circuit, traveling about 300 miles. This was called the Kickapoo Mission, the district embracing the entire north part of the State.

In the Fall of 1837 the Illinois Conference held its annual session, and John St. Clair was returned as presiding elder of this district. The name of this mission was changed from Kickapoo to Wyoming ; and John Johnston was sent as " circuit rider." The pulpit was supplied by local preachers a part of the time. In the Fall of 1838 the conference sent S. W. D. Chase as presiding elder to this district, and this work was changed from Wyoming Mission to Peoria Circuit. The Rev. John Brown supplied the pulpit with the aid of the local preachers. The preachers had to travel over more terri- tory then than the presiding elders do now, and their pay was from $60 to $100 per year.

The Spring of the same year Mr. Guyer organized the first Sunday school that was established here, and probably the only one between Peoria und Burlington, Iowa. The same year the Rev. Bishop Chase of the Episcopal Church, and founder of Kenyon Col- lege in Ohio; also the founder of Jubilee College of Kickapoo township, commenced preaching in this place and continued until 1845, when they built a church here.

In the Fall of 1839 the name of the district was again changed to Knoxville district. and two preachers were sent to the Peoria circuit. According to the custom of the M. E. Church, each year, or every two years witnessed a change in the ministers. In the Winter of 1846-7 a religious revival was experienced, resulting in a large addition to the church. The corner stone of a new church edifice was laid by Rev. A. E. Phelps in August, 1848, and the following year the structure was finished and paid for. It was of brick, 28x44 feet, and well finished and seated, forming a pleasant contrast with the log houses and barns in which the society had previously worshiped. The same year the name of the circuit was changed from Peoria to Brimfield.

Presbyterian Church of Brimfield. - The committee appointed by the Presbytery of Peoria, to organize a Presbyterian Church at Brimfield, met in the Town Hall on the 17th day of May, 1870. After a sermon by Rev. J. H. Smith, of Yates City, an election was held to elect ruling elders. William Johnson and George Pursell were chosen. Mr.

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Pursell declining to accept the office at that time, the committee proceeded to install Mr. Johnson, who had formerly been ordained a ruling elder. The original members were Mrs. Jane Darr, Sarah J. Pursell, Martha J. Rusk, Belle Moore, Laura Frazier, Elizabeth Martin, Elizabeth Johnson, George S. Pursell, Samuel Moore, William Johnson, James Frazier, Isabell Martin, Mary Walters and Matilda Fisher. The committee was com- posed of the following named gentlemen : Rev. J. H. Smith, J. R. Reasoner, John Cam- eron and Henry Hervey.

At the session, June 18, 1870, Rev. J. H. Smith, moderator and Wm. Johnson, elder, seven persons were received into the church by letter, and at the session of 1871 eight persons united with the church.

The church erected a place of worship in the year 1871, 36x50 feet, with an addition of ten feet, costing $4,000. The church is in a prosperous condition with a membership of ninety ; and a Sabbath school in connection with an attendance of seventy, J. A. Pyle, superintendent. Rev. J. E. Carson is pastor. The ruling elders are G. S. Pursell, William Johnson, A. Whetzell and J. H. Pyle. Clerk of session, J. H. Pyle.

Brimfield School. - The present school building was erected in the Summer of 1877. The plans and specifications were drawn in Peoria by a man by the name of Quail, and was contracted and built by Bryson & Silloway. It is a brick structure, two stories high ; has six apartments, five occupied. The cost of building and furnishing was $11,000. The present directors are Milton Duncan, Dr. Lowe and James Farnum. The principal is R. Stone Hill ; assistants, Frank E. Pummer, Ella Hall, Ellen G. Slattery and Ada Hall. The school is divided into five departments and about fifty in a department, making an attendance of 250, with good and efficient teachers, and is in a prosperous condition.

CHILLICOTHE TOWNSHIP.

This township is triangular in shape, situated in the northeast corner of Peoria County, and is composed of the fractional towns 11 north, 9 east, and 10 north, 9 east. It contains thirteen whole sections, and seven or eight fractional parts of sections. Mar- shall county bounds it on the north, the Illinois river on the east and south, and Medina and Hallock townships on the west. The south end of the township, comprising a part of LaSalle prairie, is but slightly undulating, lies beautifully, has a soil composed of sand and vegetable loam, and is well adapted to the growth of the cereals. The north part, which was originally timbered land, is considerably broken in some portions by the Senachwine creek and its branches, though there are fine agricultural lands inter- spersed.

The first white settler in the township was Mahlon Lupton, who located on section nine, in the Fall of 1829. John Hammett and family, who came June 10, 1830, and settled in the same section, were the next, followed soon after by others. This township contains the towns of Chillicothe and Rome.

THE CITY OF CHILLICOTHE

Is beautifully situated on the west bank of the Illinois river, eighteen miles above Peoria, and on the line of the Bureau branch of Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad. It was settled in quite an early day, and was laid out as a town in July, 1836, by Harrison H. Jameson and Joseph L. Hart, on the southwest quarter of section twenty-one, and the southeast quarter of section twenty. The original plat included thirty-eight blocks of ten lots each, sixty-six feet wide by one hundred and sixty-five feet deep.

The first cabin erected on the present town site was by Jef. Hickson, a blacksmith, some time before the town was laid out, and stood on the bank of the river, where he

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

also built a shop and pursued his trade. The second cabin was built and occupied by Esq. E. Jones, now of Marshall county, immediately after the town plat was surveyed. He put a small stock of goods in one room of his double log cabin, and was the pioneer merchant of the place. Mr. Jones was also elected the first justice of the peace. He conducted the store for seven or eight years. About 1838, Mr. Lehart came to Chilli- cothe and erected a small frame house of one room. which his family occupied ; and he kept a store in a cabin on Water Street, for several years, then removed to Indiana. In 1835, James M. Brown - then a young single man - came from Ross county, Ohio, and soon after built a story and a half frame house on First Street, containing four rooms on each floor, and opened a tavern, to which he gave the euphonious title of " American Hlouse." A part of the old building still stands on the site. It was first kept by William Dunlap -afterwards Mr. Brown's father-in-law - for about five years, during which time his house was a stopping point on the Peoria and Chicago stage line.

The second tavern building was erected by John Hayes, and stood opposite to Messrs. Mathews & Holman's store. It was a frame structure containing ten to fifteen rooms. and known as the "Chillicothe House." Mr. Hayes kept it for a number of years. It was destroyed by fire in April, 1873.

The first religions exercises were held by the Baptist people in 1837, who, a year later, organized the first church in the village.

The first school taught in the village was in the Winter of 1838-9, and occupied a vacant cabin. In 1845, a frame house of one room was built on the public square, which sufficed for school purposes until the first part of the present brick structure was erected in 1856.

The prosperity of Chillicothe has been somewhat impeded by several disastrous fires, which have at various times destroyed some of the most valuable property of the place. In the Fall of 1864, the grain elevator at the depot burned ; in 1869, Wood & Hosmer's large steam mill and two large warehouses on the river bank were burned ; and in 1873, a large store and several dwellings on the corner of Elm and Second Streets, went up in thin air.

From an early period in its history Chillicothe has been prominent as a grain market. John Alonzo Moffitt, built the first grain warehouse, in 1847. The old frame still stands on the river banks. Henry Truitt erected a grain warehouse, at about 1853 at a cost of some 85,000; and forming a partnership with S. C. Jack, conducted the first legitimate grain trade of the place. Some years later John W. Fuller succeeded Mr. Jack in the firm, and about 1867, machinery and dumps were put into the building. In the Winter of 1873-4, Mr. Fuller bought Mr. Truitt's interest, and the style of the firm has since been J. W. Fuller & Co. In 1876, Mr. Fuller re-built and fitted up the warehouse with the most modern elevator improvements. It has a storage capacity of 75,000 bushels, and he has additional storage room for as much more. This firm handles half a million bushels of gram per year, about half of which finds a market in Peoria, and half in Chicago.

Soon after the completion of the Bureau Valley railroad now the branch of the C., R. I. & P .- the railroad company built an elevator near the depot, which was destroyed by fire in August, 1864 ; but was re-built and filled with grain that season. The present building has a storage capacity of 75,000 bushels with all modern improve- ments. Since the Spring of 1866, C. W. Carroll & Co. have controlled the grain traffic over the road from that point, and handle from 300,000 to 400,000 bushels and 350 ears of live stock, per annum. Besides the elevator room the firm have crib storage room for 50,000 bushels of ear corn.

The Farmers' Mill erected by Adam Petry and A. C. Thomas, in 1868, at a cost of 85,000, containing three run of burrs, and a capacity for manufacturing fifty barrels of flour per day, consumes a considerable quantity of the grain grown in the vicinity.

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

In 1873 Chillicothe adopted a city form of government, previous to which its muni- cipal affairs had been controlled by a board of five trustees. In April of that year the first Mayor and Board of Alderman were elected, consisting of the following gentlemen : Mayor, Henry Hosmer ; aldermen, William McLean, Levi Booth, Joseph Bailey, William H. Barbour and Richard Hughes. Wm. H. Barbour was elected mayor in 1875, Henry Truitt in 1877, and in 1879 Mr. Barbour was re-elected and now holds the office. It is now a place of about 1,200 inhabitants, and in size and commercial importance is the third town in the county.

It contains a bank, two dry goods houses, seven groceries, two fine drug stores, one farm machinery house, two hardware and stove stores, two furniture stores, two large grain elevators, a lumber yard, a fine flouring mill, a saw and planing mill, two jewelry stores, a millinery store, a confectionery and bakery, a real estate office, two barber and two butcher shops, three carriage and wagon shops, three blacksmith shops, one tailor shop, a livery stable, a bowling alley, two hotels -the Woods Hotel, C. Marble, con- taining about thirty rooms and well conducted, and the Will House about twenty rooms.

Doctors A. Wilmot, J. O. Tomlinson, J. F. Thomas, C. C. Allen, Mrs. E. Moffitt and O. F. Thomas are active in the medical profession. Societies of the place are A. F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., and Temperance Reform Clubs. The bank does a heavy business, and the dry goods house of Mathews & Holman is the most extensive in the county out- side of Peoria ; some of the grocery houses would be a credit to a city of 5,000.

The public square, occupying a block near the center of the city, has recently been nicely improved, planted to deciduous and evergreen trees, and will in a few years be an attractive ornament to the place.

CHURCHES.

The Baptist Church, of Chillicothe, was organized in the Spring of 1838 with the following members : Peter Temple and wife, James H. Temple and wife, James Han- mett and his wife and mother. Elders Thomas Powell, Thomas Brown and Gersham Silliman officiated. Elder Silliman preached for the young society occasionally, and there were three additions to their number during that Summer. In 1838 Alexander Ridler, a Scotch clergyman, assumed pastoral charge and preached for the church till his death in 1840. After Mr. Ridler's decease the church was without a pastor for a number of years. J. H. Temple established a Sunday school in 1838, and held the sessions at private residences.

Mr. Bristol, a Congregational clergyman, and others preached occasionally. In 1850 Elder C. D. Merritt began preaching semi-monthly, and a re-organization of the society took place in June of that year, with 13 members. The first regular pastor of the church was Elder Thomas Bodley, who began his labors in June, 1850, and was succeeded by Rev. Merritt in 1851. An extensive revival was held that year, resulting in 49 baptisms, and an increase of membership to 92. In 1851 and '52 the society erected a comfortable brick edifice, with a seating capacity of 400. Through another revival effort in 1854, by Rev. Barry, the church was increased to 98 members. In 1857 the society numbered 102. During the war the interest declined, and the membership decreased to a few per- sons. The house was used for entertainments, given in behalf of that interest. In 1864 the church had become involved to the amount of $300. The building and property was sold at sheriff's sale for debts. Through the efforts of some of the members, and the generosity of the citizens, the amount was raised and it was redeemed. The building was put through a course of repairs in 1866, at a cost of about $900 ; and in December of that year Rev. G. E. Prunk was called to the pastorate. The edifice was re-dedicated, and the church took a new lease of life. Several clergymen have ministered successively to its spiritual wants since. From May, 1876, till the close of 1879, Elder L. D. Gowan served as pastor. The present officers are J. L. Kenner and N. F. Bancroft, deacons ;

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY

J. L. Kenner, acting clerk, and Henry Truitt, treasurer. The society now numbers about 80 members. The church supports a flourishing Sunday school of 100 scholars

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Chillicothe was organized about 1850, with the following constituent members : Mr. Siddons and wife, Elijah Hoyt and Elizabeth Hoyt, Thomas Aspinwall and wife, J. W. Gates, Henry Truitt and wife, Mrs. Sarah Van Meter, G. A. Hoyt and Amanda Hoyt, John Hammett and Elizabeth Hammett, L. H. Thomas and wife, and some others. The church began the erection of a house of worship in 1853, while Rev. G. D. Miller was pastor, and completed it in 1856, during Rev. A. H. Hep- perly's pastoral charge. It is a neat frame structure, with a seating capacity for about 300 auditors. The society also built a comfortable frame parsonage in 1852. The church now numbers 70 members, and supports a Sunday school of 85 scholars. Rev. J. A. Windsor is serving his second year as its present pastor.

The Reformed Episcopal Church, St. John's parish, was organized about the year 1865. The organizing clergyman and first rector was a Rev. Dr. Chamberlain, who was a cler- gyman of acknowledgedl ability. Under his administration, the church edifice now occu- pied by the parish was built and dedicated. The parish has never been numerically strong. Dr. Chamberlain was succeeded for a short time by a Rev. Mr. Russell, and he by a Rev. Mr. Johnson, a very highly esteemed clergyman. On the 25th of October, 1874, as a missionary of the Reformed Episcopal Church, with the consent of the author- ities of the parish, Rev. J. P. Davis commenced services in their church, it having been for some time vaeant.

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The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc., Part 93

Author: Johnson & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Johnson & Company Number of Pages: 932

Author: Johnson & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Johnson & Company
Number of Pages: 932