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 98

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 98

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Salem Presbyterian Church. - Was organized May 9, 1850, near Smithville, by a committee appointed by Peoria Presbytery, consisting of Rev. Samuel C. McCune and Wm. MeCandish. The organization was composed of the following named persons, Wm. Brooks and Elizabeth Brooks, Wm. Stewart, and Sarah J. Stewart, James H. Patterson and Isabella M. Patterson, Wm. A. Brooks, nine persons in all. William Stewart and Jas. H. Patterson were chosen ruling elders, and duly ordained and installed on that day. The first sacramental service was held May 26, 1850, at which time nine persons were added upon certificates of membership from other churches. The place of meeting was a little brick school-house which occupied the place now adorned by the present more com- modious one in District No. 7. There had been a former organization of a Presbyterian church in this community, known as the LaMarsh Presbyterian Church, as far as now can be ascertained, it was organized during the Spring of 1843, and was suffered to go into dissolution for some cause. The church building was erected about 1856, and during the ministry of Rev. J. C. Hanna, who was the first regular pastor the church had. The value may be estimated at $1,200 to $1,500. Within the past nine years a neat cottage parsonage has been erected at about the same expense. The church has a Sabbath school in which one man, Mr. S. W. Brooks, has been the superintendent for almost

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

twenty-five years. The present pastor, Wm. Kerry has officiated almost ten years The present membership numbers seventy-five. There is a Women's Foreign Mission Society organization which proves an efficient helper to the society.

MEDINA TOWNSHIP.

The first settler within the limits now comprised in this township was undoubtedly George Love, who came with his family from Park Co., Indiana, and settled November 10, 1-24, near the spot now occupied by the village of Mossville. He had at that time no nearer neighbor than Fort Clark in one direction, and the Fox river in the other. In course of the succeeding year some five or six families settled near them. John Ridge- way was the first to follow and he helped the Loves to build their house. Edmun I Weed Briarley. Abner Cooper, Henry Thomas and Samuel Clifton came next. The latter on coming bought out Weed's claim. Several other families whose names can not now be learned settled within a mile or so of Love's cabin, but staying only a short time sold their claims and moved on towards the setting sun. This was at that time the most thickly settled portion of the northern half of Peoria county. No saw or grist mill was created in the township till about the year 1850, except some circle saw-mills which were put up about 1853. The Indians at that time were very numerous. The Pottawattomies were native to the county, and numerous other roving bands of Saes, Foxes and Winnebagoes with a few Chippeways and Delawares were encamped and hunted all over it.

In 1325 a small colony sprung up near the northern boundary of the township, and among those forming it were the Averys, Stephen French, Stephen Carl, and Resolve Cleveland with their families and they occupied at first the abandoned bark houses of an Indian town on See. 4. In the Spring of 1831. Mr. Linas Scovill with his family came from Vermillion county, Ind., and settled on a claim which he had previously bought from one of the Love family. The claim then entered upon is still owned by Mr. Sco- vill's son, who bears his father's name. The settlement at Mossville was directly in the track of the emigration going on between the years 1828 to 1835, to Galena, and the numbers passing through afforded a ready market for all surplus grain, garden products, ete. Much was also disposed of to voyagers upon the river. Between 1831 and 1840 the district was settled up rapidly, and good claims advanced greatly in price. Among those coming between these years may be mentioned, Gershom Silliman and family who set- on Sec. 2 in 1831. John E. Bristol and Nicholas Sturm in 1832. Thos. Mooney and his sons James and William in 1835, J. H. and I. W. Case in 1536, William Robinson in 1837, and JJohn P. Neal and Jonathan W. Rice in 1838. Simon Reed and Hiram M. Curry were the first justices of the peace, and held office in 1829. The first marriage was that of Abner Cooper to Sally Sheldon in February, 1826, near Mossville. They were mar- ried by Rev. Mr. Cormack, a Baptist preacher. Rev. John Thomas also a Baptist, preach- ed the first sermon.

In April, 1850, the township in common with the others forming Peoria county, was constituted and its present name adopted. The origin of the name is very uncertain. The committee on names wrestled with the problem for some weeks before they fixed upon Medina, which is certainly unobjectionable. both as regards its enphony and its singularity.

The township consists of twenty-nine perfeet sections and several fractional sections. It forms the southern part of LaSalle prairie and contains some excellent land. Running north and south through the middle is a belt of bluff land, two miles in width, covered with timber, but on each side and especially to the eastward a level prairie stretches out, dotted with us fine and productive farms as can be found anywhere. Two railroads

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

traverse the township - the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, and the Peoria and Rock Island. The former having a depot at Mo-sville, and the latter at Alta.

The township contains two villages. Mossville on Sec. 27 and Alta on Sec. 31. The former has a population of about two hundred. and is situated near the first land taken up in the township. It is on the line of the Bureau branch of the Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, which was opened in 1854, and the village was laid off about the same time. It was named after Wm. S. Moss, who owned, in company with Isaac Un- derhill, the quarter section on which the village stands at the time the railroad was laid through it. Few villages of its population possess better church or school edifices. Mr. A. Marberry, the postmaster, is proprietor of the only store in it, and the Mossville House. conducted for many years by Mr. John Crawl, offers excellent accommodation for the weary stranger.

Alta is a railway station and post office on the Peoria and Rock Island Railroad, and was laid off for Imri Case, Thos. Hanson and Loren Wilder in March, 1873, and gained its name from its elevated position. being the highest point between Peoria and Rock Island. On account of the increased postal facilities gained from the establishment of a depot there, the village has been a great convenience to the inhabitants of that portion of the township. It contains a general store kept by Clarence Case, who is also post- master, a grocery kept by Alden Hawley. the Potter Brothers' cheese factory, capable of handling several thousand pounds of milk per day, and a blacksmith and wagon shop. A prominent feature of the place is the public school. The building is one of the best in the township. A lodge of the A. F. & A. M., and a temperance reform club are pros- perously conducted in the village.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church. - Previously to the year 1855 there were but few Catho- lics resident in the township. In that year the late Thomas Mooney headed a movement for the erection of a Catholic church in the township and gave to it the practical backing of a subscription of 8500 and the donation of a lot of five acres of land upon which to build it and to serve as a burial ground. His sons gave 850 each ; Patrick Boylan gave 8200, and many others gave freely of their substance to aid in the good cause. The building was forthwith begun, and it was completed in the Fall of that year at a cost of about 81,000 in cash. The church is situated on the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of Sec. 2, and is substantially built of wood with stone foundation. The interior presents a most neat and pleasing appearance. It is capable of seating comfortably about three hundred worshipers, and the average congregation numbers about 150. It contains a large, handsome organ, and the services are rendered by a full choir.

The edifice was dedicated under its present name ten years ago by the late Rev. Father Halligan, of Chicago, and services are held every second Sunday by Rev. Thos. Quigley, of Henry, who divides his time between the church there and the one thus briefly sketched.

The Baptist Church in Mossville was organized at a meeting of the adherents of that body held in the school-house. April 9, 1868. Geo. E. Prunk was chosen as chairman, and Thos. Hongh clerk. The membership of the society is at present very small, but services are held in the M. E. church every other Sunday. Rev. L D. Gowen, of Galva, Ill., is the present pastor.

A Methodist class has been in existence in Mossville for over forty years, but the number of adherents has never been large enough to warrant the organization of a church. Until within the last five years it was upon the Peoria Circuit, but is now upon that of Chillicothe. Services are held every second Sunday in the church edifice of the village, by Rev. J. A. Windsor.

The church building in which the religions services of Mossville are held, is quite a handsome and substantial one, and is a prominent object in the village : is strongly built of brick, and can comfortably seat about 200 persons. It was built about the year 1869,

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY

through the united efforts of the church-going people of the village and vicinity, and more especially under the auspices of the Presbyterians, at a cost of about 82,600. The structure is now owned by Mr. S. C. Ncal, who is prominently connected with the Meth- odist society.

Schools .- The first school was started in the latter part of 1826, by Jesse McGee, who secured the necessary number of scholars and turned over the school in January. 1827. to Moses Clifton, who taught it for three months, and he was succeeded by a man named Marks. The school was situated near Mossville in a building erected especially for that purpose. It was a log cabin, 18x16, with puncheon floor, paper windows and elapboard door, and was daubed with mnd. The cost of tuition was $2 per scholar for a term of three months. In 1836, a school was taught by Hiram M. Curry in a cabin near where the residence of Moses Neal now stands, and about three years afterwards was removed to N. E. + of Sce. 27, where it remained until the school site was changed to its present location on See. 27 in Mossville about twenty years ago. The present school structure in this district is a very fine one, and was built of brick at a cost of 84,000 about 186%.

The first public school in the N. W. portion of the township was located in N. E. } of S. E. + of Sec. 7, and was taught about the year 1840, by Joseph M. Batchelder. The first private school in the same distriet was taught by Mrs. John Benjamin about the year 1936, in a little log cabin used as a dwelling. In school district No 1, the first pub- lic school was erected about 1852, and was located in S. W. cor. of S. E. # of Sec. 3. where it remained till 1866, when it was determined by public vote to build a new school-house, and to change the site to S. W. cor. of N. W. } of Sec. 2, where it now is. The first school-house built under the township organization stood upon the farm of Mr. Bristol. It was built in 1853, and was removed to the eighty acres upon which the pres- ent school building in district No. 3 now stands, in the Fall of 1856. The present struct- ure was built at a cost of about 82,500 in 1872.

In school district No. 2 the building now in use was erected in 1855 ; was originally a good building and has lately been repaired and fixed up anew.

MILLBROOK TOWNSHIP.

In the Spring of 1833 William Metcalf, then a young man, with a wife and two children, left Richland county, Ohio, to seek a home in the then far West. They came by wagon, camping out on the way. and arriving at French Grove, Brimfield township, ended their journey. Mr. Metealf erected a house on See. 9, of Millbrook, and removed his family into it in the Spring of 1834, and was the first settler in the township. John Sutherland. » native of Pittsburgh, Pa., came to Peoria in 1834, bought the land where the Ingersoll hotel now stands. He removed to Millbrook in 1835, and located on See. 32. Mr. S. was one of the organizers of the First Presbyterian Church of Peoria. He died September 30, 1845.

ROCHESTER.

Is situated in the northwest portion of the county, in Millbrook township. on Sec. 7. 36 miles from Peoria, and 24 miles from Galesburg. It contains three dry good stores, two churches, two blacksmiths, one wagon shop and undertaker, two milliners, one drug store, one butcher shop, and post office. There is a population of about 200.

Was and is the only town laid out and platted und recorded in Millbrook township, which was done July 2, 1836, by John Smith, Jr. The only houses at the time were those occupied by John Smith, Jr., and Clark Stanton. Some time 1886 a man by the name of Hurd, of Peoria, brou ;ht the first stock of goods to the town and opened ont in a small log cabin on the bank of the river. He was soon after succeeded by Stacy &

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Holmes, who sold goods for about two years. John Smith Jr., opened out a stock of goods some time during the Winter of 1836-7, and remained in business until the Summer of 1857, when he sold out to the Hon. David Markley, of Canton, Fulton county, Illinois, then a prominent merchant and politician. This stock of goods was finally moved away.

The first school-house in the village was built by Dr. Fifield, C. W. Stanton, Russell Stanton, and Jonah Lewis, without the assistance of the public funds. The frame of this house is a part of E. Markley's dwelling. This was replaced by a large commodious brick, now in use, in 1867.

The first church was built by the Campbellites in 1858, a frame structure, costing about $1,000, which was blown down by cyclone on the 8th day of May, of the same year. In 1865 they erected their present church. The mill at this place has added very materially to the prosperity of the town since Mr. Holtz, of Elmwood, has had charge. It was built in the year 1837. People at that time came from Kewanee to get their milling done. The post office was first established in 1846, Mr. Therrygood Smith act- ing as postmaster, and as the first justice of the peace. The first death that occurred in Millbrook township was an infant son of C. W. Stanton. on the 1st day of August, 1836. The first marriage in Millbrook took place at the residence of C. W. Stanton, December 15, 1837, the ceremony being performed by Therrygood Smith, Esq. The parties mar- ried were Mr. T. Greeley, a native of Salisbury, N. H., who came to Millbrook in 1836. Miss Chloe A. Barnes, a native of New York, who came to Millbrook the same year of her husband. The first white child born was the infant son of C. W. Stanton, which died, as previously mentioned. The first physician was John Fifield, who was a native of Salsbury, Hillsborough county, N. H. He came to Peoria, March 10, 1838, and soon after to Rochester, where he practiced until about 1845.

Christian Church. - This church was organized December 18, 1844, by John W. Underwood, with four original members. The first meeting was held in a school-house in November, conducted by Elder Milton King. Seven persons attended this meeting. In the Summer of 1864 the church built a house of worship costing between $3,000 and $4,000. It was dedicated by John O'Kane in June, 1865. The present membership is twenty-five. The officers are John A. Pratz, Jonathan Pratz, and O. P. Willett ; pastor - Dr. John Doyle. The first Sunday school was organized in the early part of 1844. The Rev. Robt. F. Bruse, superintendent. There was a regular attendance of twenty children.

Congregational Church was organized June 30, 1841, at the house of Elias Wycoff, Jr., in Stark county. Ministers present were S. S. Miles and S. G. Wright. The origi- nal members were nine in number. After entering into covenant, Wm. Webster and N. Wycoff were elected ruling elders, and duly installed in office, and S. G. Wright moder- ator of session. In 1854, the meetings were held in Rochester, in Millbrook township. It appears on record that Chas. B. Donaldson was acting pastor after December, 1854. At a meeting of the church held April 14, 1866, the name was changed from that of Spoon River Congregational Church to that of Elmore Congregational Church of Roch- ester.

During the Summer and Fall of 1866 the society succeeded in building a house of worship, costing 82,300. Five hundred dollars was donated by the Congregational Union, the rest was raised by its members and the citizens. It was dedicated on Wednesday even- ing, January 22, 1867. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Wm. G. Pierce, of Elmwood, assisted by James Wycliff and B. F. Hawkins. Previous to the sermon it was announced that the donations and subscriptions would be sufficient to free the church from debt. The Rev. B. F. Hawkins filled the pulpit for twelve years. On June 28, 1878, Rev. C. S. Benton was called to the pulpit for one year. Their pastor at present is Thos. Armstrong.

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY

M E. Church was organized in the year 1836. Rev. Wm. Cummings preached the first sermon in the latter part of May or the early part of June. This was the first church organized in the township. The original members were John Smith, Sr., and wife. Therrygood Smith, an unmarried daughter of John Smith, and Wm. Metcalf. John Smith, Sr., was chosen class leader. In the year 1858 the society commenced the erce- tion of a house of worship, and had it inclosed and roof on, when it was torn to frag- ments by a cyclone on the 8th day of May of that year. Through misfortunes and vari- ous causes the organization, at one time very strong, became extinct.

Presbyterian Church. - Old School. - Some time in the Summer of 1836. Rev. Geo. G. Sill preached the first Presbyterian sermon in the house of John Sutherland. on section 32. The church was organized some time previous to 1838, by Rev. Geo. G. Sill. Among the members was John Sutherland, Mrs. Christina Sutherland, Mrs. Mary Mat- thews. John Pratz. Elias Wycoff. Wmn. Webster. Miss Mary Wycoff, Mrs. Matthews. The organization was dissolved years ago, and Mrs. Matthews is the only one of the members now living there.

French Grove Presbyterian Church. - Rev. A. Coffee, Rev. Wm. McCandlish, and ruling elders Rice and Reynolds were appointed at Crow Meadows, September 22. 1852. to visit Brimfield, French Grove, and Scotland, to examine the religious state of affairs. and organize a church or churches, if the way was clear. The committee reported at Princeville, April 15, 1853, that they had organized a church to be called the Church of French Grove. The exact date of organization can not be ascertained. The licentiate. John C. Hanna, supplied the pulpit one half of the time, and the church at Rochester as often as consistent with his other engagements. Wm. Reed and John Coe are the pres- ent elders. Rev. J. M. Boyd supplies the pulpit. The church is in a flourishing condi- tion, having a membership of one hundred. The society has a large and prosperous Sunday school. Mr. J. C. Coe, superintendent.

Swedenborgian, or Church of New Jerusalem. - The first meeting held by these people was at the house of John Smith, Jr., on section 18. The meeting was addressed by the eminent divine. Rev. John R. Hubbard, now of Detroit. Mich. After this. meet- ings were held once a month. Either at this meeting or a subsequent one an association was formed, consisting of the following members: John Smith, Jr., and wife, Gilbert Arnold, Caleb, North. G. P. Wycoff, and the Adams and Pulsifer families of Southport. Deaths and removals have so depleted their ranks that they no longer hold meetings.

Schools .- The first school in Millbrook was taught by Caleb North, in a log house 12x14 feet, in the Winter of [>36-7, for which he received $10 per month.

Millbrook is divided into eight full school districts and two fractional union districts. The citizens of the township manifest a zealous interest in their schools, as shown by their flourishing condition and the liberal tax imposed to sustain them. The school buildings are of a superior order. varying in cost from $600 to $1,500. Perhaps no town- ship in Peoria county ean exhibit a finer class of school-houses, or show a more liberal taxation. in proportion to its wealth, for the support of their schools. The trustees of the school fund for 1879 were: John Doyle, president ; E. L. Witlett and John Mu- son ; S. H. Winchester, clerk and treas.

PRINCEVILLE TOWNSHIP'.

Daniel Prince came to Princeville in 1822, and settled on section 24, built a log cabin 14x14, being the pioneer of civilization in this part of the county. He was a native of the northern part of Vermont. The first settler who moved his family into the township was Stephen French, a native of Connecticut, who emigrated to Sanga- mon county, Ill., some time previous to 1828. He came to Peoria county and settled

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

near Peoria that year, and soon afterwards became a resident of Princeville, and was the first justice of the peace and first postmaster in the place. Mr. French has a son, Demmeck French, living in the township, who was the first white child born in the county. The first school was taught in a log house near where Hitchcock & Voores' mill now stands, by Miss Esther Stoddard. The first male teacher was Theodore F. Hurd, now a successful merchant and farmer of Galva, Ill. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Robt. Stewart, a Presbyterian minister. The first death was that of the father-in-law of Isaac Essex (name unknown). The first birth was a child in Mr. S. French's family.

THE VILLAGE OF PRINCEVILLE

Is situated in the northern portion of the county. on section 13 of Princeville town- ship, on the Peoria and Rock Island railroad, twenty-two miles from Peoria, and is a Hourishing town of about 900 inhabitants. It was laid out and named by Win. C. Stevens, on the 20th day of June, 1837, in the midst of a rich and fertile prairie.

The first store in Princeville was kept by Elisha Morrow, on block No. 9, (owned by Thos. Morrow, ) in a log building, where he remained about two years. Afterwards, Mr. Wm. C. Stevens put in a small stock of goods-as he says-to hold the village together. After the closing out of Morrow, Hitchcock & Rowley embarked in business in the same building. They were afterwards succeeded by J. W. Gue, in 1851, where he remained a short time and then built the brick store now occupied by F. B. Blanchard, it being the first brick store in the town.

About 1851, a man by the name of Gray commenced the grocery and notion trade, but soon abandoned it. In the Summer of the same year, Eldridge & Parker built a store room where the Eureka House now stands, and put in a stock of goods.

Among the present business men are F. B. Blanchard, William Simpson and Otto Davidson, dry goods : J. H. Russell, Garrison & Fuller and Emmet Illingsworth, in gro- eeries ; Peter Auten & Son, in banking ; Solomon Bliss and D. W. Herron, in drugs ; C. W. Russell, in hardware ; Valentine Weber, in boots and shoes ; James B. Ferguson, in jewelry. There are two hotels in the place. The proprietors are J. G. Corbett, who also has a livery, and Mrs. W. G. Selby. There is one meat market, by John D. Ham- mer ; two cabinet shops, one by James Campbell, and the other, Hammer & May; one bakery and restaurant, by John Ayling : one steam flouring mill, by Hitchcock & Voor- hess ; two harness makers, O. F. Herrick and George Reimhart ; one attorney at law. B. P. Duffy ; two millinery shops, Misses Bonton & Bohrer, and Misses Edwards & God- frey : E. H. Burgass is postmaster.

The Presbyterian Church at Princeville was organized as " The Prince's Grove Church," August 16, 1834. The presiding ministers were Revs. Robert Stewart and Theron Baldwin. The latter minister preached the first sermon at this time. The num- ber of constituent members was seventeen. On May 16, nine months after the church was organized, they seenred the services of Rev. Calvin W. Balbitt, who was their first minister. The meetings were held in the old logschool- house, situated near the site of Voorhes & Hitchcock's steam grist mill, but this became too small. To get a church building when they were so few (fourteen male members) and so poor, was a great under- taking, but Thomas Morrow and Wm. C. Stevens stepped forward and pledged them- selves that the church should be built. Mr. Blumb, of Peoria, was engaged to do the carpenter work. The members of the church and community did much of the work, and about 1844 the church was enclosed and dedicated. It was a good frame building, and the first church built in Princeville, and would seat two hundred and fifty persons. This church was used by the society till September 6, 1866, when the present neat, commo- dious and beautiful frame building was dedicated to the worship of God. At the dedica- tion it was stated that the cost was $6,165, having been all paid by the church and its

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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 98

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