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 31
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A. S. Fisher, who taught the first permanent school within the present boundaries of the village of Eureka, and who is one of the village's earliest citizens, came from Ohio with his father, in 1828, when a boy but five years of age. His father settled in Tazewell County, near the present line of Woodford.
The site of this village and the country known as Walnut Grove was then but one great hunting ground, with here and there a cabin of some hardy pio- neer, who, like Daniel Boone, has wearied of the more thickly inhabited States, and sought solitude in the western wilderness.
In the Fall of 1848, Mr. Fisher opened a school near the southern limits of the present town of Eureka, of a higher grade than the common schools. A similar enterprise had been commenced the pervious year by Miss Susan Jones, a daughter of Elder John T. Jones, but was short lived, and this school begun by Prof. Fisher, in 1848, was really the germ from which finally originated
EUREKA COLLEGE.
This college was chartered in 1855, and has been in uninterrupted operation for nearly twenty-three years. It is under the auspices of the Christian Dis. ciples of Illinois, more familiarly known as the Christian Church. Before obtaining the charter, the institution had been known for several years as Wal- nut Grove Academy, and this itself had originated from the seminary of Prof. Fisher above alluded to. At a convention of the Christian Disciples, held at Abingdon, in September, 1852, the following was adopted :
WHEREAS, The Walnut Grove Academy, now under the control of a Board of Trustees, organ- ized under the general law of Illinois, which has been in successful operation for the last four years, taught by Prof. A. S. Fisher, Principal of Department of Mathematics, and John Lindsey, A. B., Principal of the Department of Languages, and which is the only regularly organized institution of learning among our brethren in the State ; and
WHEREAS, said institution proposes to educate young men for the ministry, free of tuition fees, therefore,
Resolved, That we commend to the brethren in Illinois this institution, and urge upon them to foster it by sending their sons and daughters, and donating to its library, apparatns, and rais- ing such means as may enable the Trustees to place it upon a sure and permanent basis, and be recognized as the institution for the brethren of the State.
·
Albert Briggs ATTY. AT LAW EUREKA
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
As pertinent to this part of the subject, we take the following extract from the Eureka College Messenger, a paper published by Prof. Fisher. Referring to the resolution adopted at Abingdon, the editor says: " The anthorities of Walnut Grove Academy at once commenced work under that Abingdon reso- lution, and pushed forward their work with some degree of energy. The result was the securing a liberal college charter, the organization of Eureka College, the erection of a more substantial and commodious college edifice, and a con- tinned series of regular college sessions, from the first organization in the Fall of 1856, to the present time, passing, without suspension, the terrible financial convulsion of 1857, the still more terrible shock of revolution in 1861 and 1862, the ever memorable crisis of 1873, and the gradual increasing depression of business all over the country, even down to the present time. Thousands of students, young men and young women, have been received within these walls, have received liberal training for good, and have gone forth into the wide world to do battle for themselves and humanity."
" This enterprise," concludes the editor, " that first began to assume form and shape in an humble log cabin, standing near the eastern terminus of what is now called Conover avenue, as early as the year 1847, under the care of the venerable John T. Jones, that was revived in the small frame house, nestled among the underbrush and brambles, at the roadside, near the present cemetery of Eureka, in the Fall of 1848, has an unwritten history, which none but its founders, who have stood by it through evil report and good report, can ever appreciate. Its career has been one of success, but not of that flattering kind which the world regards as a grand success."
When the school was organized under the college charter, Elder William Brown, of Springfield, became the first President. Upon his resignation, Prof. C. L. Loos was chosen, who administered affairs for one year, and returned to Bethany. The Presidents in order from time have been : George Callender, B. W. Johnson, H. W. Everest, A. M. Weston and B. J. Radford.
The following are at present members of the Faculty : B. J. Radford, A. M., President, and Professor of Philosophy and Sacred Literature; J. M. Allen, A. M., Professor of Latin and English Literature ; D. M. Blair, A. M., Professor of Greek : James Kirk, A. M., Professor of Natural Sciences ; E. W. Diekinson, A. M., Professor of Mathematics ; Charles Johann, Professor of Modern Languages ; J. W. Metcalf, Professor of Vocal and Instrumental Music ; G. W. Reynolds, Principal of Commercial Department; C. W. Camp- bell, Teacher of Painting and Drawing; D. M. Blair, Librarian and Curator of Museum. These gentlemen are of large experience, and their reputation as teachers is a guarantee that the work will be kept up to the high standard which has given Enreka College an enviable reputation among the temples of learn- ing and of the Christian brotherhood everywhere.
The institution numbers among her Alumni many of the foremost men of the country in all the walks of life, filling some of the highest stations in "the
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
camp, the court and the holy church," and she points to her children, in all pursuits, with pride, as samples of her work.
The collegiate year is divided into the Fall, Winter and Spring terms, and / the enumeration of classes for the Fall term are: Arithmetic, English Gram- mar, Ilistory of the United States, Geography, Latin Grammar, Greek Gram- mar and Lessons, Higher Algebra, Physiology, Caesar, Memorabilia and Greek Composition, Geometry, Natural Philosophy, Virgil, Demosthenes de Corona, Analytical Geometry, Mental Philosophy, Latin Composition, Mechanics, Polit- ical Economy, Rhetoric, German Reader, Goethe's Faust, French Grammar, Telemaque, Bookkeeping, Bible Studies, Music, Lectures on Constitutional and International Law.
Winter term : Arithmetic, Algebra, Grammar and Rhetoric, Elocution, Latin Grammar and Reader, Greek Grammar and Anabasis, Higher Algebra, Cæsar, Plato's Apology and Crito, Trigonometry, Virgil, Homer's Iliad, Dif- ferential Calculus, History of Civilization, Horace, Mechanics, Chemistry, Moral Philosophy, Penmanship, Bookkeeping, German Grammar, Schiller's Thirty Years' War, French Grammar, Corinne, Bible Studies, Music, Lectures on Philology, Style and English Authors.
Spring term : Arithmetic, Algebra, Elocution, General History, Latin Grammar and Reader, Anabasis, Higher Algebra, Modern History, Sallust, Thucydides, Surveying, Botany and Zoology, Tacitus, Sophocles or Eusebius, Integral Calculus, Logic, Cicero de Officus, Astronomy, Geology, Bookkeeping, German' Grammar, William Tell, French Reader. French Poetry, Normal Studies, Bible Studies, Music. Lectures on the Antiquities of the Greeks and Romans and Mythology.
There are four permanent societies connected with the college, which have comfortable rooms assigned them by the Trustees. The halls have been taste- fully and elegantly furnished, and are among the most attractive features of the institution. Valuable libraries have been collected by these associations, and they afford excellent oppotunities and facilities for the acquirement of rhetorical accomplishments.
The Excelsior Society is composed of ladies exclusively ; and the exer- cises consist of essays, addresses, recitations, discussions, conversations, etc. The two oldest societies in the college are the Edmund Burke and the Pericle- sian, each having had a prosperous existence for more than twenty years. The exercises are similar to those already enumerated, and they both have a large mem- bership. The Mathesian is a religious society, and consists chiefly of young men- preparing for the ministry. The exercises are prayer, scripture readings and recitations, essays, discourses and discussions, and are admirably adapted to the training of the young preachers.
The following gentlemen constitute the present Board of Trustees: John Darst, R. D. Smith, A. M. Weston, W. G. Anderson, John T. Jones, E. W Dickinson, W. R. Adams, J. M. Allen, N. B. Crawford, H. C. Baird, J. L.
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Myers, John Lindsey, W. S. Allen, B. F. Maupin, John W. Arnold, B. J. Radford, of Eureka ; J. M. Kirkbridge, of Peoria ; J. H. Rowell, Peter Whit- mer, M. Swann. of Bloomington ; and J. G. Willard, of Harristown.
The officers of the Board are: John Darst, President ; R. D. Smith, Sec- retary ; J. P. Darst, Treasurer; and W. G. Anderson, Financial Agent.
The college buildings stand in a beautiful and spacious grove of grand old forest trecs, a little way removed from the business part of town, and consist of two large and substantial bricks, containing in all sixteen commodious rooms, including chapel, recitation rooms, society halls, library and musuem, all fur- nished in the most comfortable style.
We would deem the history of this enterprise incomplete without a parting notice to the founders and early and earnest workers, who toiled manfully in the cause they loved so well. The names of Elder Ben. Major, Elder Wm. Davenport, Elder John T. Jones, Elder John Lindsey, David Deweese, E. B. Myers, B. J. Radford, A. S. Fisher and others will ever be remembered and cherished among the friends of Eureka College. Many of them lie mouldering in the churchyard, but they have left a monument to their own memory more lasting than crumbling marble.
In addition to this eminent temple of learning, the village has three public schools and three comfortable school houses. As a school district, Eureka is a union district with Cruger Township, though included bodily in Olio Township; it has one brick and two substantial frame school buildings. The brick was purchased from the college for $1,000, and was the building first of Walnut Grove Academy before the organization of the college. The frame buildings cost, respectively, $1,000 and $700. The schools are graded and employ five teachers, viz. : J. W. Hyatt, A. P. Felter, Mr. Rogers, Miss Emma Ward and Miss Ella Myers, with an average attendance of about two hundred scholars.
In conclusion of this chapter devoted to the history of Eureka, we notice, briefly, the village's beautiful little " city of the dead." It is handsomely laid out, on a sunny slope, in the southern extremity of the town, and like all other portions of Eureka is shaded by huge forest trees, while loving hands have added to its beauty by planting shrubs and flowers over their sleeping friends. The myriads of snow white stones denote that many have gone to their last rest. The cemetery is enclosed by a neat but substantial fence, and the clean kept grounds reflect credit upon Mr. M. Pifer, the Superintendent.
ROANOKE TOWNSHIP.
The history of this township, though reaching back to comparatively an early date, is by no means obscure, as the parties with good memories who were on the ground during the period of its earliest history are yet alive, and from them the facts concerning the earliest settlement have been obtained.
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
Until about the year 1850, the broad prairie, from the head of Panther Grove to within a mile of Metamora, was literally a " desert waste." Not a house, fence or tree could be seen north, west or south. There were five or six cabins only in the whole township, and they were in the edge of the timber. A few families had wandered off from their native States, and, attracted to this point of timber, as much, perhaps, on account of the abundance of game as for the purpose of opening farms, had built them habitations which barely protected them from the inclemencies of the weather and the hunger of wild animals. Doubt- less this explains why, in most instances, the best lands in this part of the country have been left for later settlers. Going back from this date eighteen years, which brings us to the year 1832, we learn of the first actual settler. Jacob Stephenson, formerly of Christian County, Kentucky, with a view to bettering his condition, and securing to himself and family a home and indepen- dence which his limited means would not permit in his native State, made his way to this part of the county and settled in the Grove, southeast of where the village of Roanoke now stands. He built the first cabin in the township. He was a blacksmith as well as a farmer, but worked at the trade, after coming to this country, only for the accommodation of himself and his neighbors. Next came J. W. Ewing. He was also from Kentucky, and from the same county with Stephenson. Joseph Wilkinson came next. He moved from Indiana to this township the next year, 1833, and lived for two years on Jacob Stephenson's farm, after which he entered land of his own and became a permanent settler. About this time Joseph Wilson emigrated from Tennessee, and located three- fourths of a mile east of the village.
Joseph H. Causey was also an early settler. He left his native State, Ken- tucky, in 1836, and found his way to this county, stopping for a season in the south edge of the Grove, on the western line of Greene Township. He then removed to Versailles, where he remained four years, when he returned to the Grove and settled permanently on Sec. 27 of Roanoke Township, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1869. He was a black- smith, and built the first shop. He continued to ply the hammer and bellows until within a few years of his death ; and the old shop still stands-a relic of the early industry of the township. His widow, at the age of 74, still lives on the old homestead, being the oldest living resident. She enjoys good health for one of her years and experiences, and takes great pleasure in recounting the incidents of the olden time.
The above, with their families, were literally the pioneers of Roanoke Town- ship. They were hardy, brave and honest men and women. Doubtless, they were easy, free and simple in their manners, and their immediate wants were few and easily supplied. There were no carpets on their puncheon floors ; no expensive mirrors or pictures on the walls, or tapestry at their windows. Their houses contained usually a single room, which was their parlor, dining-room, chamber and kitchen. Their tables were spread with plenty of venison, turkey,
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
corn and such other game and vegetables as could be easily obtained by the use of the rifle and the hoe. Luxuries were neither obtainable nor desired. The little marketing that was done required long journeys to the nearest stores ; and goods of every kind, owing to slow and expensive transportation. were very dear, and, by these people, almost wholly dispensed with. Most of them have long since passed away. Some lie in the soil, near the scenes of their pioneer life. Some of them. when the country began to be more densely populated, began to feel the want of more freedom, and, to some extent, their cramped condi- tion : and, again taking up their line of march, journeyed off to the Far West. A few still remain to tell the stories of the early past : waiting only for a short period, to follow on to the newer and better country in the " great hereafter."
PROGRESS.
From the pioneer period up to 1850, the settlement of the country was very slow. Occasionally a family, guided by letters of friends who had preceded, came in : and others, as if by chance. lit upon the place. They came from almost all parts of the Union : but most who made this their permanent home were natives of Virginia or Kentucky. After awhile, the timber and adjoining prairies were all taken up, and shanties here and there-north, south and west -began to make their appearance. This was the condition in 1855, when, at the first election held under township organization. there were just thirty votes polled ; which probably indicated a population at that time of 150. some then, as at present, on account of peculiar religious views, not desiring to take any part in politics. From that time to the present, the increase in population has been steady, being now about 1,500, judging from the last vote and the last enumeration of children.
The first laid out road was the section line road, from Metamora east, to in- tersect the State road, on the Third Principal Meridian. Since then, roads and bridges have followed from time to time, as the growing country demanded, until the township justly lays claim to as good a system of thoroughfares as any in the county.
The land at a distance from the timber, which by the first settlers was looked upon as worthless. and which as supposed by them would not be occu- pied in a century. now sells for from $50 to $60 per acre. The assessed valua- tion of real and personal property is, at this time, $671,000, which doubtlest represents, as property is usually assessed, a cash value of real estate of not less than a million of dollars.
The township was organized April 3d, 1855, by the election of the follow- ing officers : David S. Brown, Supervisor : James Stephenson, Clerk ; John H. Gish, Assessor; Benjamin Sanborn, Collector: Samuel Stitt, Emerald Fisher and Joseph Brubaker, Highway Commissioners : Charles Stoller and Joseph Gish, Constables ; and Garmon Gish and John Franz, Magistrates.
There were at the election that day thirty voters, with eleven offices to be filled. Had there been as many applicants for office as at some subsequent
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY
elections, every man must have been a candidate. Since that time, the vote has doubled every eight years until the present. The duties of the officers were not arduous, nor the perquisites great, but they were filled with dignity and honesty. Surely the temptations for plunder were comparatively small. Be it said to the credit of the Clerk and his successors, the records have been kept intact.
The name Roanoke was given by John Gish, who happened to be present when the County Commissioners were in session and naming the townships, and, being called on by them for a name for his township, called it Roanoke, in honor of his native county in Virginia. The present officers are: Gideon Jeter, Supervisor ; M. L. Mock, Clerk : Daniel Brubaker, Assessor : B. F. Lantz. Collector ; A. C. Wheeler and M. L. Mock. Magistrates ; and T. W. Gish and R. W. Ratcliff, Constables.
SCHOOLS.
This township has not been behind in the attention given to the education of the youth. Though the facilities for obtaining an education in the early times of the county were meager, and in this locality especially so, and many of the fathers of later years had been deprived of the privilege of a common school education, yet they fully realized their loss, and were determined that the future generations should enjoy its benefits. Accordingly, at a very early day, when the number of inhabitants about the Grove had increased to a few dozen, they at once set about to put in operation the means whereby this desirable end might be accomplished.
The first school was opened in 1855, in a little shanty, located on Section 14. There were less than a score of boys and girls altogether. Some had books and some had none; and the variety of books brought was as great as the number of children who brought them. Some of the children had been taught a little at home ; a few had recently moved into the neighborhood, from more thickly settled places, and had received some school instruction there, and some of the older ones had ridden on horseback to schools in other portions of the county, but by far the greater number were totally ignorant of books or school. The school, however, was a pronounced success ; and many of the middle aged men and women, who still reside in the neighborhood, look back to the first days spent in the Bunch school as among the happiest of their lives. The Bunch school still exists, though the old cabin has given place to the more pretentious edifice.
From this small beginning, the educational interests have developed with the other improvements, until we now find nine good school houses, and a school population of five hundred, between the ages of six and twenty-one. The ex- penses of running the Bunch that year did not exceed a hundred dollars; now, seven thousand dollars per year are collected and paid out on account of the schools. The value of school property, including township fund, is but little less than fifteen thousand dollars.
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
Gideon Jeter was the first Treasurer. He held the office four years. D. T. Fauber is the present Treasurer, and has held the office continuously, since his first appointment in 1862.
CHURCHES.
The organization of the Christian (or, as known by some. the Campbellite) Church dates back to 1846. Rev. Abner Peeler, who was literally a pioneer in religious work, had been preaching in the school houses, in the eastern part of the grove and in private houses or in the open air in the grove. as the place and season seemed to indicate, had gathered into the congregation of his own faith sixteen persons, and with this number the organization took place. The Rev. John Oatman afterward became the Pastor of the church. The success of the society has been varied, sometimes having its seasons of refreshing, and at others a corresponding depression. On the whole. the enterprise has been quite satisfactory, as is indicated by its present status. The membership, at this time, is more than eighty. They have. in the eastern part of the village, a commodious and substantial house of worship, which they completed in 1873. The building is sixty feet long and thirty-six feet wide, and will seat, comfort- ably, two hundred and eighty persons. It cost $2,950.
The present officers are James Kirk, Pastor ; B. G. Kindig, J. R. Wilson and Joseph Wilson, Elders ; and I. H. Fisher, C. L. Stephenson and C. K. Snyder, Deacons.
The Apostolic Christian Church is a society of Christian German people, who came to this township originally from Germany, Switzerland and France. Their location is in the south part of the township. Twenty-eight years ago, B. Wyaneth, a minister of this denomination, came to this place, 'and began preaching to the few of this faith who had preceded him: He soon succeeded in gathering about him quite a little band of his people; and, from that time to the present, the society has been receiving additions, mostly, however, from immi- gration, until now it numbers, including the branch churches in Livingston, McLean, Tazewell and Peoria Counties, more than four hundred. Rev. B. Wyaneth was the first Pastor, and has continued to minister to the congregation ever since. They have a very large and substantial building-the largest, indeed, in this part of the county. The main building is forty feet by eighty. The seating capacity, including the two galleries, is about seven hundred. The building was completed in 1873, and cost the society four thousand dollars. The eating hall and Sunday school room is an additional building, which was for- merly used as the house of worship. It is twenty-eight feet by fifty-four, and cost, when built in 1865, eighteen hundred dollars.
The people who worship here are very simple in their customs, dress and religious views. They take the Bible for their only rule and guide of faith. Indeed, they substantially make it their only book of education, law and science, not being desirous that their children should receive any other education, except barely enough to enable them to transact business. They will not sue nor
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
enforce a claim either against their brethren or an outsider. Neither will they vote or hold office, or take any part in politics whatever.
The German Baptists, by many denominated Dunkards, organized their society in 1852, having, at the time, a membership of eighteen. J. R. Gish and George W. Gish were appointed to the ministry, and have remained in charge to the present time. For five years they were without a house of wor- ship, and then, in 1857, erected their present building, which stands near the line of Greene Township. It was built at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars; is thirty feet by forty, and will scat three hundred persons. The membership at this time, is about two hundred, besides congregations which have been organ- ized since, and which were formerly a part of this. The present eldership con- sists of J. R. Gish, George W. Gish, P. A. Moore, Thomas Keiser and Jacob J. Kindig.
The Methodists have held services in this vicinity from the year 1856, and, as in the case of other churches, services were held in school houses and dwell- ing honses until within three years of the present date. They now have a neat little house of worship, in the western part of the village, which they completed in 1875. Its length is forty-five and width thirty-two feet. It seats comfort- ably two hundred persons. The membership is about fifty persons. The present Pastor is L. V. Webber. Services are held every Sabbath ; in connec- tion with the church is a flourishing Sunday school.
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