USA > Illinois > Woodford County > The Past and present of Woodford County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c.; a directory of its tax-payers; war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics etc > Part 23
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CHURCH ORGANIZATION.
The sound of the Gospel in Woodford County is almost coeval with the first settlement, and the voice of the preacher, as one " crying in the wilderness," was heard long before the war-whoop of the savage had died away. Says Prof. Radford, in his Old Settlers' History : "If the people of Woodford are not, like the ancient Athenians, exceedingly religious, they are by no means to be reckoned as heathens. The voice of the preacher of the Gospel was heard in the cabins of the early settlers, and in the groves which were lately the haunts of the red man and the panther." Among the early pioneer preachers were Rev. Mr. Lattey, or Lattcy ; Rev. Zadock Hall, familiarly known as Uncle Zadock Hall, the pioneer Methodist, who has proclaimed the word of God throughout Central Illinois for more than forty years; Rev. W. T. Adams, Presbyterian ; Revs. J. D. Newell and A. M. Root, Baptists ; Revs. John Oatman, Abner Peeler, H. D. Palmer, James Robeson, William Davenport, John Lindsey and James Owens, Christian, are a few of veterans, who came to the county in its days of hardships, and have spent the flower of their lives in teaching " the
254
HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
way of salvation." The first churches organized in the county were the Bap- tist Church in the southeastern part of the county in 1837; the Christian Church at Eureka and the Episcopal Church at Metamora soon after. The Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, in the present township of Worth, was organized in 1838, and the Methodist Church of Metamora, and Mount Zion at the head of Walnut Grove, was organized at a very early day. Although these are the first organized church societies, of which we have any authentic information, yet religious services were held in the cabins of the set- tlers, and in the groves,
" Amidst the cool and silence, they knelt down And offered to the Mightiest solemn thanks And supplication."
Great revivals were enjoyed, in which many were brought to a realization of the " error of their ways," long before a regular temple of worship had been erected in the county. But as the settlements expanded in might and pros- perity, and numbers increased, tabernacles of worship arose on every hand, until every town, village and hamlet is supplied and adorned with elegant church edifices. To use a Bible metaphor, "the wilderness has rejoiced and blossomed like a rose." The first Sunday school was organized by Parker Morse, in 1837, at his own house, in the Low Point settlement. Now, perhaps, there is not a church society in the county but what maintains a flourishing Sabbath school. A more complete history of churches and church organiza- tions is given in the chapters devoted to the townships, cities and villages in which they are situated.
AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.
In 1858, a movement was made by some of the leading citizens of the county, for the formation of a society tending to the promotion of the interests of agriculture. For this purpose, a meeting was called, and held at the Court House in Metamora, on the 29th of May, 1858. The meeting was organized by electing Jesse Hammers President and I.' J. Marsh, Secretary. Shares were fixed at one dollar, and the following are the original stockholders : Jesse Hammers, A. C. Rouse, H. L. S. Haskell, Charles Rich, David Watson, B. W. Kendig, G. F. Hay, George Ray, W. H. Delph, John J. Perry, Melvin Newton, Sylvanus Stoddard, Joseph H. Hammers, Horace Hazen, M. W. Wil- son, Geo. H. Painter, R. B. Hanna, Wm. Minor, J. B. Hayer, R. H. Fair- child, J. M. Morse, David Banta, A. Minor, John Lyons, Oren Chudle, John W. Page, Stephen Skinner, B. Slemons, Ed. Nichols, C. D. Banta, Peter Doty, Samuel L. Kirby, A. J. Kirby, John Kirby, John Bayne, Jas. G. Bayne, Wm. Buckingham, O. P. Shaw, Samuel Mundell, Simeon Mundell, S. D. Cushing, Abraham Masters, E. N. Farnsworth, Wm. Lamson, T. B. Spears, P. F. Kellogg, Doc. Fairchild, I. J. Marsh, John L. Causey, Evan Tunnel, John Parminter, C. A. Nesmith, S. G. Smith, J. S. Whitmire, James Scott, Thos.
255
HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
Walden, Dennis Noirot, George Kingston, B. D. Perry, Wm. Carpenter, G. A. Marsh, F. Cornell, David Irving, T. C. S. Page, J. G. Walker, Lewis Hall, Levi P. Morse, J. A. Ranney, R. T. Cassell and W. G. Wood. Having secured the requisite amount of stock, they proceeded, under the statute of Illinois, to organize a society, to be called " The Woodford County Agricultural and Hor- ticultural Association," and adopted rules and regulations for its government. The following officers were elected, viz .:
President-Jesse Hammers.
Vice President-Charles Rich.
Secretary-H. L. S. Haskell.
Treasurer-John W. Page.
Directors-Horace Hazen, George Ray, John J. Perry.
The Directors were recommended to apply the money on hand and the amount received from the State, for the purchase of fair grounds. The grounds were duly purchased and laid out, buildings erected and the first Fair held the 13th, 14th and 15th of October, 1858. The following is the report of the Committee to purchase and improve the grounds :
To amount received on subscriptions
$952 50
To amount of Treasurer of Society
200 00
To gate fees
299 00
To entrance fees.
8 55
To license
25 00
To entrance, Denham, Jennings
1 50
$1,486 55
By part of above in hands of Treasurer.
$9 00
By amount paid for land, improvements, etc .. 1,332 10
1,841 10
Balance in hands of J. J. Perry, Ch. Committee. $145 45
An amusing incident occurred at one of the annual fairs while the Associa- tion was in the zenith of its prosperity. As a joke, or burlesque, or a little flash of sarcasm, Adino Page was appointed Superintendent ; Jesse Hammers, Judge Buckingham and George C. Painter, four little gentlemen whose avoir- dupois averaged near three hundred pounds per head, were placed on the list as judges of poultry. After discussing the matter among themselves, they agreed to turn the joke upon the officers of the society who had placed them on the judges' list. Attending the fair was a long six-footer, who followed as a busi- . ness the raising of chickens, and had on exhibition some very fine specimens of the best breeds in the country, which he valued highly. The committee, or judges rather, had arranged, with the assistance of their wives, whom they had let into their secret, that in order to competently test the quality of the poultry, on which they were to report, they would get up a kind of make-believe that they were killing and cooking them, with the intention of being able to report on the subject understandingly. That they might successfully carry the joke through, Page had several pair of the finest fowls his own poultry yard could
256
HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
produce nicely cooked and secretly conveyed to the grounds, and placed as though intended for exhibition. When the time came for their plan to be car- ried into effect, they dug a pit in which a fire was built in regular barbecue style, and on being asked the meaning of the proceeding by some curious ones, told them that they were judges of poultry, and in order to report understand- ingly, had determined to test its quality. Reaching up the " six footer's " wagon, Page took down his coop (which he had himself sent there, but which was supposed to belong to some exhibitor). Seeing what course affairs were taking, Mr. Six-footer began to grow excited, and the judges, in order to carry out their joke successfully, let him partially into the secret. He entered heartily into the sport, and at their request, went stalking through the grounds apparently in a high state of excitement, inquiring with a nasal twang, " What's the President, what's the President ? " and upon finding that official, told him what the judges were doing, and demanded payment for his chickens. It was soon noised over the grounds what was going on in the poultry depart- ment, and it at once became the chief point of attraction. The President, a man fond of making money and of taking care of it after it was made, came on the scene of action raging like a wounded lion. Finding several chickens with their heads wrung off, and the good ladies industriously preparing them for cooking, his wrath bubbled over furiously. He asked them what in the - - they meant. They repeated that they wished to be able to report understand- ingly upon the quality of the poultry, and in order to do so, had coneluded to thoroughly test it. The long six-footer excitedly demanded five dollars a pair for his chickens. Said the President to the judges, " We will have to pay for these chickens." "Certainly," said the judges, "pay for them, of course." With all sorts of angry arguments on the part of the officers, and the defense of their actions by the judges, the chickens were finally ready for being tested, when the judges politely invited the officers to dine with them, but they in their anger abruptly refused. The joke finally leaked out before they succeeded in getting the officers to pay the man five dollars a pair for his chickens, but not till they had quieted him by promising to do so. When the joke did explode upon their devoted heads, they grew madder still. The judges awarded Adino Page a premium on his chickens, which paid for their sacrifice in carrying out a joke. The association flourished, and for a number of years was a popular institution, but never became self-sustaining. After losing money, and drag- ging along for a time, the property was sold for debt March 12, 1877, for $1,400. The society still exists, but is without " house or home." The officers elected Jan. 1, 1877, being the twentieth annual meeting of the society, were J. A. Ranney, President ; Isaac Boys, Vice President ; John L. McGuire, Secretary ; John W. Page, Treasurer ; Adino Page, L. P. Morse and John Kirby, Directors.
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259
HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
A CHAPTER OF TRAGEDIES.
We come now to scenes in the history of Woodford County over which we would gladly draw a veil. Within the last dozen years, three distress- ing tragedies have been committed within its borders, and none of the parties engaged in them have received the slightest punishment beyond the pang of their own remorse. About the year 1868, a man by the name of Hedges was murdered on his farm in Panola Township by a man named Kingston, in a fit of passion. Kingston was tried, and acquitted without difficulty. It may be that there were extenuating circumstances. At least, the man Kingston had borne a good character, and it is believed by many who knew him well that he had not the slightest idea of killing Hedges. In a mad fit of passion, he struck him a blow on the head with a spade, from the effects of which Hedges died in a short time.
The next in the vocabulary was a murder which for some time created the most intense excitement, and the final acquittal of the prisoner seriously threat- ened lynch law. This was the alleged murder of Christian Shertz by Daniel Goldsmith, in 1871, and had attendant circumstances of a most distressing character. Shertz was a stepson of Mr. Joseph Shertz, an old settler of Worth Township, and a highly respected citizen. He had taken the name of his step- father, upon assuming that relationship, and when he married, the old people set him up on a farm six miles east of Metamora, on the Panola road. It was while sitting at home in the bosom of his family, spending a quiet Sunday evening, listening to the reading of the Bible, that a shot came through the window and killed him. It was on the 3d of December, and one of the storm- iest nights of the Winter season, when the howling of the wind without and the driving of the snow against the sides of the house would stifle the sound of a a murderer's footsteps. The evidence was wholly circumstantial, but of a very strong character of that kind. Goldsmith was indicted by the Grand Jury, and the fact that he had lived with Shertz, that they had had trouble and disagree- ments, and Goldsmith had left him but a few days. previous to the murder, coupled with other points of a strong circumstantial character, everything seemed to indicate beyond a doubt that he was the assassin. His trial lasted from Monday afternoon until about the same time on Saturday, when the jury, who had received the case at 7 o'clock on Friday evening, returned a verdict of "Not guilty." The counsel for the people were Smith M. Garratt, Dis- trict Attorney, and Hon. W. W. O'Brien, now of Chicago. For the defense, Messrs. Burns (now Circuit Judge), Ray, Feilitzsch and Barnes, all able law- yers. As we have said, the points in the case were all circumstantial, and therefore left room for doubt. The assassin of Christian Shertz may never be positively known until the last day, when all things shall be revealed. The following extract from the Woodford Sentinel shows the prevailing sentiment at the result of the trial : "We are now, and always have been, opposed to
C
260
HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
mob violence of any character whatever, and we trust we may never be compelled to chronicle a case in Woodford County, but if we are to have such farees enaeted as the last two murder trials spoken of, we want to ask, Where are the people going to get justice, and how ?"
The third and last seene in this chapter of melancholy events was the most pitiable and, at the same time, the most horrible of all-the alleged murder of a woman hy a woman. Like the Shertz murder, the testimony was cireum- stantial, but equally as strong as in that case. By a strange fatality of cireum- stanees, the victim in this case was the widow of the man Hedges, murdered by Kingston, as already detailed in this chapter. It has been said that, "in all events, whether for good or ill," there is a woman in the case. In this, how- ever, the principal participants were women, with a man figuring in it rather conspicuously, and he a preacher. The tragedy occurred in the village of Eureka, in 1873, and the alleged murderess, Mrs. Workman, wife of Rev. Mr. Workman, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. From newspaper publications of that period, and other information gathered in regard to the affair, it seems that the reverend gentleman had conceived a passion for the murdered woman (who was a member of his flock), which, if she did not reciprocate, she did not, at least, very strongly condemn. From a publication of letters, said to have passed between Workman and Mrs. Hedges, their love for each other would appear to any one to be of a character rather warmer than should exist between a pastor (with a wife and children) and a sister of his congregation. It was the discovery of this correspondence that rendered his wife insane with jealousy. Mrs. Workman, according to the most of the testimony given before the Grand Jury, was a woman of very violent temper, and the most probable theory in regard to the matter seems to be that, in a fit of insane jealousy, she mur- dered the woman who had roused within her the green-eyed monster. She had forced her husband, who, it appears, stood somewhat in awe of her, to write a letter to Mrs. Hedges, at her dietation, demanding the return of his letters, which she set out to deliver in person. She and Mrs. Hedges were seen, or supposed to have been seen, about dark, in earnest conversation, and a while after, Mrs. Workman returned home, with her face badly bruised and seratched and her dress muddy and in some disorder, which she explained by saying she had fallen on the sidewalk in a dizzy fit. Mrs. Hedges was never seen alive again, but was found early the next morning, with a bruise on her head, as if from the blow of a club, and her throat cut, lying near where she and Mrs. Workman were supposed to have been seen the evening before. This was the gist of the testimony before the Grand Jury, and with which they even failed to find an indictment against Mrs. Workman.
An incident, related to us by an old settler, who was familiar with the cir- eumstances at the time they transpired, is not inappropriate in this connection. In 1836, there came to Woodford County an English portrait painter, the first in the county, by the name of James Wilkins, and an Irishman named Canaday.
261
HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
The latter, apparently, was of a good family, and seemed to have plenty of money. He bought considerable land and accumulated other property around him. Quite an intimacy seemed to exist between him and the Englishman, and for a time they worked and lived together in a kind of rude, easy way ; but after a while they broke up, and Canaday went to board with Rev. Mr. Daven- port. Among other property, he owned a couple of ponies and a light wagon. One day he went to Peoria, riding one of the ponies, and leaving his wagon and the other pony at Davenport's. From that day to this he has never been seen or heard of by any one from this seetion. After waiting several days for his return, Mr. Davenport went to Peoria in search of him, and found where he had stabled his pony, but further no trace could be had. Inquiries were made and search instituted everywhere ; letters written to Ireland were never answered, and all efforts to learn his fate utterly failed. Finally, a party appeared, who showed deeds to Canaday's lands, but were here pronouneed forgeries and excited suspicion as to their validity, which have involved litigation not yet settled. Later, parties came from Ireland, claiming to be relatives and heirs, thus adding further complications. What the man's fate was will probably remain forever one of the unrevealed mysteries. The locality where he had put up his pony, it is said, was of rather bad repute at that day, and as he was known to have had a considerable sum of money with him, the most plausible theory is that he was there made way with. Wilkins finally went to California, making the trip overland, and painted a kind of panoramic sketch of the journey. He is said to be still living, and at present in St. Louis.
THE PRESS.
The art preservative of all arts is represented in Woodford County by five sprightly newspapers, viz .: The Woodford Sentinel, the El Paso Journal, the Minonk Blade, the Eureka Journal and the Washburn News, all weekly issues ;. and the Eureka College Messenger, a little sheet published monthly, devoted chiefly to the interests of Eureka College. The Woodford Sentinel is the old- est paper, and the first established in the county. Its first issue was presented
to the publie in 1854, and was printed in Peoria. It was thought to be such a stupendous enterprise that when brought over to Metamora, a copy was hoisted on a pole, like a flag, the streets paraded, and a regular "war dance" held around it. A man by the name of Shepherd was the first proprietor. After experiencing many changes and vicissitudes, it has passed into the hands of that red-hot old Democrat, George L. Hart, who has been connected with it for eighteen years-its senior editor and one of the proprietors for the last twelve years, and since June, 1877, its sole proprietor. The Sentinel is the only "true blue " Democratie paper in the county, and the Minonk Blade the only Repub- lican paper. The El Paso Journal, the Eureka Journal and the Washburn News are Independent, and take no particular side in political issues. They
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
are all live newspapers, well np to the average standard of merit, and are lib- crally supported in their respective towns.
The school facilities of Woodford are second to no county in the State. With good school honses, able teachers, well-conducted schools and an ample fund for their support, they cannot be otherwise than in a flourishing condition. From Prof. J. E. Lamb, Connty Superintendent of Schools, we receive the fol- lowing statistical information :
Number of ungraded schools in county 117
Number of graded schools in county 10
Number of children entitled to school privileges. 11,813
Number of male teachers employed.
89
·Number of female teachers employed. 127
Highest monthly wages paid to male teachers $122 22
Highest monthly wages paid to female teachers.
52 80
Estimated value of school property.
109,375 00
Estimated value of school libraries. 450 00
Estimated value of school apparatus.
1,403 00
School fund, principal and interest.
7,945 25
In addition to the excellent system of common schools, the county enjoys the advantages of a first-class college, admirably located, in the village of En- reka, and in charge of an accomplished faculty. In Eureka College, students receive a classical education, under the very shadow of their own homes, and in the long list of graduates of the institution stand some of the foremost men of the country.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
Woodford County has abont seventy miles of railroad in successful opera- tion, and telegraph lines stretehing aeross it in all directions. Fonr roads intersect it, and the snort of the iron horse is heard in almost every village. The Illinois Central crosses from north to sonth through the eastern tier of . townships-Minonk, Panola and El Paso-with abont nineteen miles of road in the county. The Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw erosses from east to west, pass- ing through Cruger, Olio, Palestine and El Paso Townships, and has abont eighteen miles of road in the county. The Western Division of the Chicago & Alton and the Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern cross diagonally from the north- east to southwest, the former through the townships of Cazenovia and Meta- mora, and the latter through Minonk, Clayton, Greene, Roanoke, Olio and Cruger, with a combined distance of road in the county of thirty-three miles. The following table more clearly shows the importance and valne of its railroads :
Miles of Road in the County.
Assessed value, includ- ing Rolling Stock, Buildings, Side-tracks, etc. $110,895.00
Chicago & Alton.
13
Chicago, Pekin & South-Western.
20
44,829.00
Toledo, Peoria & .Warsaw.
18
67,420.00
Illinois Central*
19
Total
70
$223,144.00
* The Illinois Central pays no county tax.
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
POLITICAL AND WAR RECORD.
Through all the changing scenes of political strife, the revolution and reversal of political parties and questions, Woodford has ever stood a Demo- cratic county. In the days of Jackson, long before its formation as a county, when the seanty settlements boasted of but a few dozen voters, a majority of those few were Democratic ; and when a new party arose, destined to shake almost the entire world with its broad political views, the old county-no longer a feeble few, but a host-still retained its principles of Democracy, and on all important occasions piled up a Democratie majority. There are those living to-day, in Woodford County. who voted for Gen. Jackson, and who desire no higher political distinction than that of being called a Jackson Democrat. When the old hero of New Orleans passed away, and the star of the " Little Giant" rose in the West, they beheld in him one worthy to wear the old man's mantle, and adopted him as their leader. The name of Douglas is enshrined in their hearts with all the veneration bestowed on "Old Hickory." Although styled a "Copperhead" county, no county. perhaps. in Illinois turned out more soldiers, according to its population. than did Woodford. When the old flag was lowered from the battlements of Fort Sumter and the " Palmetto" hoisted in its place, they quietly left their daily pursuits and offered themselves to their country. Many went to Peoria and Bloomington and enlisted, and were accredited to those cities, while. with a carelessness almost reprehensible, the county failed to get credit for the recruits she furnished. From the most reli- able information, it is believed that at least fifteen hundred men volunteered from Woodford County, many of whom were registered from other places. The Eleventh and Fourth Cavalry Regiments; the Seventy-seventh, Eighty-fifth and One Hundred and Eighth Regiments of Volunteer Infantry, contained many of the brave fellows of Woodford. and the fields of Vicksburg, Stone River, Gettys- burg, and a score of others, attest their valor. Many a far-off grave, beneath the pines and palm trees, records the fate of those who never retunred, while " The muffled drum's sad roll las beat The soldier's last tattoo."
They went forth strong in the virtue of their cause. and it was no reproach to their valor that they fell by those brave as themselves. Col. Meek, Major Sid- well, Capts. Bullock and MeCulloch, Lieuts. Briggs and Davidson are some of the officers of Woodford, and the Drs. Whitmire and Kinnear, of Metamora ; Dr. Conover, Eureka ; Drs. Stockwell and Cole, of El Paso, were of the medi- cal department, while the rank and file were of the best and sturdiest men of the county. To those who fought the battle through, and returned in safety to home and friends, you have your reward in the knowledge that the old flag still floats over all the States. Of those who fell in the storm of strife and sleep far away, perchance in neglected graves, we say, Requiescat in pace.
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