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 96

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

USA > Illinois > Peoria County > 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 96

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The first mill built in the township that the settlers in the northern part of it could easily reach, was that built on Senachwine by William Moffatt, one and a half miles cast of Northampton, about the year 1834. The first saw mill built in the township, and the only one that ever did any amount of work, was erected in the year 1838 by Thomas Ford, in the N. E. } of sec. 13.

This settlement formed part of LaSalle precinet. Simon Reed was the first justice of the peace, and was appointed to the office prior to 1828, and Cornelius Doty was elected justice in the Fall of 1831. This election took place at the only polling place in LaSalle precinct, covering nearly one-half of the northern part of Peoria county, on see. three of Medina township.

In 1850 the township organization was adopted, and the township received its name. out of compliment to its oldest settler, Lewis Hallock, by a vote of the citizens. The first supervisor of the township was Walter S. Evans.

The present officers of Hallock township (1879) are, supervisor, S. P. Perkins ;

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

town clerk, C. C. Lockwell ; assessor, Alonzo Root ; collector, R. J. Nurse ; road com- missioners, John Spicer, Hiram Rankin, and Justice Stewart; justices of the peace, W. E. Smith and Samuel Merril.

The only village sitnated entirely within the township is that of Northampton, on See. 13, which was laid off by Reuben Hamlin and Mr. Freeman in July, 1836. The first house therein was also the first erected in the township as a tavern. It was built in the Winter of 1835-6 by Reuben Hamlin, and was kept as a public house by him for many years. He came from near Northampton, Mass., and he named the village, of which he was the founder, after it. Aaron Reed was the first settler near the site of the village, and his old log cabin was replaced by the house which stands beside the bridge, near the south end of the village.

Nathaniel Chapin, a native of Massachusetts, was quite a prominent resident of the village about 1840. He held the office of justice of the peace.

The population of the village is at present but little over 100, and it contains one good general store, kept by Mr. C. O. Phillips, who is also postmaster.

The village of Lawn Ridge stands upon the boundary line dividing Peoria and Mar- shall counties, and has a population of about 500. It has been partially platted for some years by individual enterprise, but has never been formally laid out. Nathaniel Smith, now a resident of New York State, was one of the earliest settlers in it. It has two churches-a Methodist Episcopal, and a Congregational - whose congregations are drawn about equally from the two counties.

Congregational Church. - The Congregational Church at Lawn Ridge was organized by Rev. Owen Lovejoy, who was then a settled minister in Princeton, Ills., in March, 1845. The original members were six in number, viz: Ebenezer Stowell and wife, Nathaniel Smith and wife, and Dr. A. Wilmot and wife. The organization took place in a small brick school house in Hallock, which had been built about seven years before. A preacher was shortly afterwards hired, and with help from the Home Mission, regular services were maintained until about 1848, when, owing to the rapid settling up of the prairie around Lawn Ridge, the place of meeting was transferred there. At first they met in the school house, and some years later built a small church which they continued to occupy till about four years ago, when the present fine building was erected, at a cost of about $6,000. It is the best church building in the county west of Peoria. Rev. Hall is the present pastor, and has filled that position for over six years. The membership numbers about 130. Services are held every Sunday. A prosperous Sunday school is connected with the church, having an attendance of from ninety to one hundred children.

Lawn Ridge M. E. Church. - The church which is now known as the Lawn Ridge M. E. Church, was built during the Summer of 1856, on the land of David Shane, Sr., about three miles south of Lawn Ridge, and it was dedicated by Rev. H. Summers, under the name of the Mount Hedding M. E. Church. The leading movers in its erec- tion were David Shane, Sr., Isaac Breidman, and John Ferguson. About fourteen years later, owing to the influx of so many Seventh Day Baptists into its immediate neighbor- hood, having displaced many of its members, it was decided to move it to Lawn Ridge, which was done in the Spring of 1871, and the church was rededicated July 22d of that year, under its present name. It is a plain, substantial, but well finished building, with a seating capacity for over 200 people. Among the preachers whose ministries are nota- ble for their beneficial results, may be mentioned Revs. Ahal Keller, Chas. H. Brace, William Wooley and H. S. Humes. The society is at present out of debt, and is finan- cially and spiritually in a prosperous condition, under the pastorship of Rev. Geo. M. Bassett.

Lawn Ridge Lodge, No. 415, A. F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation May 18. 1864, and was chartered by Grand Lodge of Illinois October 5, 1864, with ten origi- nal members. Its first officers were W. M., Henry A. Raney ; S. W., Amos F. Leigh ;

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J. W., John B. Phillips ; Secretary, W. H. Wilmot ; Treasurer, E. Sickles. Those now in office are, W. M .. John B. Phillips; S. W., Elijah Stowell; J. W., N. P. Green : Secretary, John Morris : Treasurer. Stephen Cornell. The lodge has about thirty mem- bers, and the regular meetings are held on the Wednesday nights on or before full moon, in a nicely furnished, and well appointed little hall, devoted to its sole use.

The village contains two good general stores, two hotels, a post office attended to by Mr. Stephen Cornell, and a good public hall, built by a stock company, capable of seat- ing 500 people, and situated above the public school.

The hamlet of West Hallock is almost entirely in Akron township, opposite seetion 19 of Hallock township. It contains a cheese factory, which has been in operation for some years, mentioned in the history of the township in which it is located. It also has a good general store and post office, under the care of Mr. Potter.

Seventh Day Baptist Church. - The only church in the village is that of the Seventh Day Baptists. In the year 1845, Elder Anthony Hakes came to the township, and was followed some three years later by his brother, Daniel Hakes, and John Simpson, who had been connected with a church of that faith in the State of New York. They kept holy the seventh day. In due time accessions were made to their number, and meetings were held from house to house until the erection of the Academy building in 1849. when it was made their place of worship, and there on the 3d day of September, 1852, the church was organized by Elder Coon, with fourteen original members. The society grew yearly in numbers, and in 1871 it was found expedient to ereet a larger and more com- fortable structure for their sole use. The present house was accordingly put up in the Summer of that year, at a cost of 85,500, the whole of which was pledged by the adhe- rents and friends of the church, before any thing was done towards its construction. The building is a neat and substantial one, and can comfortably seat about 250 people. El- der A. Hakes was the founder of the church. and for many years before its organization preached as a layman to the Baptists in Hallock and the surrounding townships. After organization he was ordained minister, and had charge of the congregation for some years. Rev. H. B. Lewis is the present pastor, and has been with them since May, 1879. The church is very prosperous, and has a membership of about 150. Daniel Hakes has been for many years superintendent of Sabbath school, and still holds that office. Its average attendance is over 100 children. Besides these three villages there are two post offices in the township, Southampton, situated in S. E. } of section 80, and Hallock (often improperly called Blue Ridge), on the middle of the northern boundary of sec- tion 10.

Hallock M. E. Church. - The first Methodist sermon preached in this district was by Rev. Milton Smith, a local preacher, about the year 1839, in a log cabin which stood on the site now occupied by the house of Isaiah Nurs, on section 3. In 1841 a two days' meeting was appointed to be held in the brick school-house then in process of erection at Hallock. From this time forward regular preaching was held every two weeks till 1849, when a joint movement was made by the Methodists and Congregationalists in the vicin- ity for the erection of a church, resulting in the present building, in the Summer of that year. Robert Will donated the land now occupied by the church, school and graveyard. The church was used on alternate Sundays by the Methodists and Congregationalists. until the meeting place of the latter body was changed to Lawn Ridge, and it is now and always was, a free church, used for the meetings of all denominations. The first cost was about 8800, and when it was finished and completely seated, some seven or eight years later, near 81,200. It has a seating capacity for 200.

The Union Baptist Church is located at Union, on section 26, and its congregation was formerly connected with the Chillicothe Baptist Church. It was organized June 19, 1858, with thirteen members, as follows: Thomas B. Reed, Sanford Reed, Amy Sil- liman, Simon Reed, Walter S. Evans, Sarah Kirkpatrick, Mary Baggs, Frances Reed,

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Naney Sprague, Levi Sprague, C. Reed and Amy Reed. Only two of these are now alive. In July of the same year Elder Anthony Hakes was chosen pastor, and preached once in two weeks. The church was erected immediately after the organization, by the Methodists and Baptists of the neighborhood in common, and was in consequence called the Union church. It was occupied by these societies in common until 1873, when the Methodist interest was brought out by the Baptists, and the building assumed its pres- ent name. The present pastor, Rev. R. Tyrrell, came to them from Michigan, in March, 1879. The building is a substantial one, and cost originally about $1,000. The present membership is about seventy-five.

Schools. - The first school ever taught within the present bounds of the township was located on the present site of Harrison Reed's house, and was taught during the Winters of 1829 and 1830, by Lucia Root, daughter of Jeriah Root. The first school- house built in the district, stood near Joel Hiek's place on sec. 32. It was erected in the Fall of 1836, and was removed about eight years afterwards to the Hallock farm. In the northern part of the township a little school was taught during the Summers of 1839 and 1840, in a log cabin where the house of Isaiah Nurs now stands. Fiducia Bliss was the teacher. In 1841 the first school-house in what is now School Distriet No. 1, was ereeted It was 18 ft. square and was built of briek. Sarah Fosdick was among the earliest of the teachers. The present school-house in that distriet was built in 1856, and stands near the S. E. cor. of the S. W. { of see. 3. It is well fitted up and ean accommodate sixty children. In School Distriet No. 5, the first school was taught in an old log cabin which stood a little south and east from where O. M. Miller's dwelling now stands, and was used for that purpose about the year 1851. Joseph Gallup was then its teacher. In 1856 the present school-house was built. School District No. 6, was originally composed of portions of Peoria, Stark, and Marshail counties, and was reconstructed in its present limits in 1860. It was the last school district to be organized in the township. The first public school was built about 1857 at a cost of $800, and in 1866 to accommodate the growing wants of the distriet, the present school was ereeted at a cost of about $1,400.

In the West Halloek district the structure now occupied as a publie school was ereeted in the Fall of 1856 as an academy, and was occupied as such for about five years, when it fell into the hands of the sehool trustees, and has sinee been conducted as a pub- lic sehool.

The school in District No. 4, was erected about ten years ago and stands on sec. 32. It was the first school in that section.

HOLLIS TOWNSHIP.

Hollis township is bounded on the north by Limestone, west by Timber, aud the south and east by the Illinois river, directly opposite the city of Pekin. and about six miles southwest from the city of Peoria. The lands on the Illinois river are unimproved bottom lands, but along the bluff, on the line of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw R. R., arc some of the most valuable coal mines in the State. In the northwestern portion of the township, and along the crest of the bluffs, are some extensive and very fertile farms. Among the early settlers that eame to the township was Wm. Martin, a native of Wash- ington county, New York, where he married Margaret Scott, and came in 1837. Mr. Martin was the first justice of the peace in the township. S. D. Buck, a native of Cay- uga, New York, came in 1837. E. W. Homan came from Kentucky in 1835. In 1832, Peter Muchler, a native of Laneaster, Pennsylvania, eame to the township. S. C. Wheeler came from Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1844. The township was organized in 1850, and derived its name from a man by the name of Denzel Hollis, who came among the early settlers, and was a native of England.

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HOLLIS VILLAGE

Is situated on the T. P. & W. R. R., six miles southwest of Peoria. It was laid out September 8, 1868, by E. J. and M. A. Jones, and is a mining village. The Hollis mines are owned by Hamilton & Carter. There is also one run by a corporation. The Orchard mines are owned and operated by the Newsam Brothers, who also have the only store. where they carry a general stock of about $2,000.

MAPLETON.

Mapleton village is located on the T., P. & W. R. R., twelve miles southwest of Peoria. It was laid out in 1868, by William Maples, now of Missouri. and has about 100 inhabitants. There are three coal mines, one owned and operated by Linsley & Walker, who employ forty men. The Mapleton mine is owned by Mansfield, Gilfoy & J. T. Lins- ley, and employs twenty-five men. The mine is half a mile east of Mapleton, and was formerly owned by Neil. McGrew & Co., but is at present operated by Frank Newsman, who works twenty-three mines.

There are two general stores, one owned and run by Thomas Linsley, who carries a stock of $3,000, and has an annual business of $15,000 ; the other by Frank Newsam, who commenced business in 1874, and in 1876 erected a large. commodious store build- ing, where he keeps a stock of from 83,500 to 84,000, and does an annual trade of from $15,000 to $20.000.

Lamarsh Baptist Church, Maple Ridge. - This church was organized October 27. 1838, with fourteen original members, who had come from Guernsey county, Ohio. The original members were Isaac and Sarah Maples, Robert and Rebecca Buchanan. Abram Maples, William and Mary Maples, Hugh and Sidney Ann Jones, Mrs. Harker and Eliza Jones. The settlement in which this church was formed contained a population of one hundred, which has increased to over eight hundred. The nearest Baptist church was at Peoria, twelve miles distant. This little church was at first surrounded by Methodist influence, but now occupies almost the entire religious field in the community. Elder A. M. Gardner served as pastor of this church from its organization until August, 1848, a period of nearly ten years.

The church continued quite small for several years, never reporting more than twenty-two members. In 1847 it had increased to thirty members. In January, 1849, Elder Wm. T. Bly became pastor of the church, residing at Washington, Tazewell county, and preaching at Lamarsh half of the time. The association held its sessions with this church in June, 1849. The meetings were held in a barn for the want of a house of worship. After the association adjourned, some of the ministers, among whom were Elders H. G. Weston and S. G. Miner, remained and continued a series of meetings for some days. A glorious revival commenced, which continued through the year, and in 1850 the church reported fifty-eight baptisms and 102 members. The following year eight more members were added.

Elder Bly closed his labors as pastor in June, 1851. In July, 1851. Eller Joel Sweet, who was also preaching at Trivoli part of the time, became pastor of this church. There was another revival in 1852, when twenty-one were received into the church. Elder Sweet closed his labors as pastor in July, 1855.

Immediately after the meeting of the association in 18449, the church commenced the erection of a house of worship 30 by 45 feet, which cost about one thousand dollars. Elder John Edminister began his pastoral labors in 1855, and continued for some years. The first deacons were William Maples and John McGee. The present trustees are Abram Maples, Joseph Hornbucker and Samuel Walters. Deacons are Elijah Starks, Samuel Walters and Benjamin Hart. Of the original members two are still living - Abram and Isaac Maples.

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Schools. - Hollis township contains six school districts, each of which is furnished with a comfortable, substantial frame house. Careful attention is paid by the local school officers to the selection of competent teachers, for which fair salaries are paid, and the schools are all creditable and prosperous.

JUBILEE TOWNSHIP.

The first settlements in Jubilee township were made in 1835, by Clark D. Powell, Roswell Walker, Samuel Johnson, A. W. Harkness, Jacob Snyder, Samuel Snider, Daniel Stansbury, David Shane, and Mrs. Lambert, of whom only two are now living, viz. : Samuel Snider and A. W. Harkness.

Rev. Philander Chase, Bishop of Illinois, secured funds from the friends of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America and England, in 1836, with it he founded the Jubilee College, selecting lands in section 25, and came with his family into the township. He called the place "Robins' Nest," because, as he says, his first dwelling was " built of mud and sticks and filled with young ones," and the place is called by that name to this day. It is the only postoffice in the township. Although the village was known at this early date, there is perhaps now not over a score of houses within its limits. Bishop Chase was the first postmaster, and was appointed in 1837. On the 3d day of April, 1839, Bishop Chase laid the corner-stone of the chapel of the Jubilee Col- lege, from which the township was afterwards named. Noah Alden and Hiram Shane were the first justices of the peace ; they were appointed in 1843.

Prominent among the citizens of this township is the name of Gilbert Hathaway, who settled here in 1838, and has always taken an active part in the affairs of the town. He held the office of assessor five years, collector four years, and supervisor two years ; and held the office of township treasurer for twenty-seven years continuously, from 1851 to 1878. Mr. Hathaway has dealt considerably in real estate in his town, and has done much to improve and build up the township. Hon. William Rowcliffe, residing on sec- tion 11, has also taken an active part in the township, as well as the county mat- ters ; has held nearly all the offices of the town, and has honorably acquitted himself as a member of the General Assembly. His prospects are perhaps as favorable as any man in the township for further promotion ; in fact, his influence throughout the county is probably greater than any other man in the township. J. B. Slocum, one of the early settlers of Jubilee, although not taking so active a part in the public affairs of the town and county, has held many of the offices from time to time, and been counted as one of the leading men of the place. He has dealt largely in real estate, and improved a num- ber of farms in the township, but has resided for some thirty years on section 29, and now owns a farm of over two hundred acres on sections 20 and 29.

Jubilee was first divided into four school districts, viz. : number one, or the Rowcliffe district; number two, or the Shane district, which built its first school-house in 1847; number three, or the brick school-house district, which was built in 1848 ; number four, or the Bramble district, which built its house in 1850. Nathaniel F. Shaw was the first teacher of a public school in the township. The first marriage was that of Samuel Snider to Mary Jane Stansbury, in 1839. Samuel, son of Daniel Stansbury, was the first child born. Mr. Squires, who lived on the southern line of the township, was the first person who died in the township after its settlement. Rev. L. N. Hall preached the first ser- mon, in the house of Jacob Snyder. There has never been a house of worship erected in the township, except the chapel referred to in connection with the college, but arrange- ments are now being made to build a Lutheran church on section 28, and also a Methodist church on section 33. A part of the plat of land set apart for the Lutheran church is to be used as a cemetery. The first person buried here was the wife

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

of Philip Killstadt, who died April 15, A. D. 1880. The school-house known as the Town House, is built on section 15, where all township meetings and elections are held. The increase of population in this township has so augmented the demand for edu - cational facilities that the number of school districts is now not less than nine, with very good school-houses in each. The principal market for this township is at Brimfield, one mile from the western line of the township. The postoffice at Robins' Nest is now kept by Benjamin Tueker, an old resident of the place. The present officers are as follows : Supervisor, Peter Cahill ; collector, George Rowcliffe ; assessor, Cecil Moss ; town clerk, Frank Coulson ; township treasurer and justice of the peace, Thomas Pacy ; justice of the peace, Wm. Rowcliffe ; constables, Phil. Lully and George Rowcliffe.

This township is well watered by numerous branches of the Kickapoo and their trib- utaries. There is plenty of timber throughout the whole area, and stone and coal of good quality abound. Jubilee, although not as rich as some of the neighboring towns, is per- haps as favorable a locality as can be found in this section of the county. It is sur- rounded by railroads on all sides, at distances varying from a few rods to three or four miles, and yet it has never voted any tax or bonds for either road, and hence it is us free from debt as any town in the county ; and its taxes lighter, perhaps, than any of the surrounding towns.

KICKAPOO TOWNSHIP.

Town 9 north, range 8 east, took its name from the creek which flows through it. Kickapoo is an Indian term and signifies red bud. The stream was so named from the abundance of that shrub that grew along its banks. The township dates its settlement from 1834. John L. Wakefield, now of Radnor, claims to have been the first settler, in that year. Francis Pond. George O. Kingsley, came to the township in the Fall of 1834, and kept bach. and shook with the ague in a cabin on the farm where Mrs. Mary Kingsley now lives. Jolin Coyle and Israel Pinckney came the same Fall. The former settled on the farm now owned by Joseph Voorhees, and was afterwards one of the pro- prietors of Kickapoo village. Mr. Pinckney built his cabin on S. E. of Sec. 12. He came from New York city. The Kingsleys were natives of Vermont. They both married and reared famlies, and died in the township, George in 1869, and Francis in 1873.

Others soon followed these first pioneers. Samuel Dinnon came from Connecticut in 1838 and located on See. 10, where he still resides. Gideon Thomas, father of John A., came to the township in 1844 and settled where J. A. Thomas now lives.

Hale's Mill. - In 1834 William Hale, then sheriff of Oswego county, N. Y., being West on official duty, visited the Kickapoo valley and selected a mill site at what is now the upper end of Pottstown. He returned home, resigned his office, und in the Spring of 1835 came back accompanied with George Greenwood, John Easton, and Waldo Holmes, and erected a saw mill on the site that year. The following Winter material was prepared, and in the Spring of 1836 a flouring mill was raised. He brought the neces- sary machinery and his family by wagon from Albany, N. Y., that Summer, and the mill was completed and set to running in the Spring of 1837. It was visited by settlers for a radius of thirty miles, and was crowded with business. The water supply giving out in 1848, steam was substituted, and Mr. Hale controlled the property until his death, in 1859. The mill was converted into a distillery, which was destroyed by fire in 1867.

Mr. Hale donated a tract of land for burial, religions, and school purposes, und erected a small house thereon. A Rev. Mr. Boggs was one of the first preachers to visit the Hale's Mill settlement. He held services there and organized a Methodist society, which flourished a number of years, and at one time contained one hundred and fifty members, but is now extinet.

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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 96

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