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 32
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The Omish have a church building in the extreme southern part of the township. Its size is thirty by fifty feet. It was built in 1875, at a cost of $1.500. Divine services, however, had been held in this vicinity for more than twenty years previous. Services are held twice each month, and are conducted by Christian Roop and Jacob Sear.
The Baptist Church was organized in 1865, with thirty-two members, and the next year the society proceeded to build. Rev. Sumner Robinson was the Pastor at that time. Subscriptions were taken, and the building completed the same year. It is the latest organized church in the township. The mem- bership live mostly in the northwestern part, and number at this time fifty- five, with a Sabbath school of seventy. The Pastor in charge is M. L. Fuller.
To recapitulate, we find within the limits of Roanoke six organized churches, each with a house of worship. The value of the buildings and other church property is about twenty thousand dollars. The membership exceeds five hun- dred, though some reside outside of the township, and none of the organizations are a dollar in debt.
INCIDENTS.
The events of a startling character which take place in a new and thinly- settled place, like this, must necessarily be few. And yet, this town is not with- out its incendiarism and tragedy.
The only fire that has ever occurred, that was generally believed to have been maliciously kindled, was that of the burning the house of Joseph Reiff,
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about a mile northwest of the village. The fire occurred on the night of the 4th of March, 1858. It was supposed to have been set on fire by one Jacob Hilderbridle, who lived in an adjoining township. There was a slight snow on the ground at the time : and, in the morning, the fresh tracks of horses' feet were discovered in the road. A peculiar conformation of the track of one of the feet led some parties to follow. The tracks led directly to Hilderbridle's house. He was arrested and taken to jail. but the evidence was not strong enough to convict, and he was released.
In the Winter of 1870-71. occurred, in the western part of the township. a horrible murder. Mr. Christian Schertz, while sitting by his fireside and play- ing with his children, was most brutally murdered, by a shot from withont. by, some unknown person. Certain suspicious circumstances led to the arrest of Daniel Goldsmith. a resident of the western part of the county. It appeared in evidence, that he had been out hunting the day before : that one barrel of his gun had been discharged ; and that the ball found in Mr. Shertz's body corre- sponded to those used by Goldsmith. The evidence, thoughi considered by many as convincing. failed to convict, and he was set at liberty.
In the Fall of 1875, this township was visited by one of the most violent tornadoes that has ever been known in this section of country. Though confined tc a narrow belt-in some places not exceeding fifty yards in width-the de- struction of all within its compass was complete. Honses, barns, trees, cattle and horses were literally swept out of existence.
The whirlwind struck in the southwestern part, demolishing the school house, that stood a mile from the west and three miles from the south line. It was just before 4 o'clock in the afternoon. and the teacher of the school, seeing the storm approaching, and being desirous that the children should reach their homes before the storm broke, dismissed them. They had not all passed a dozen yards outside the track of the tornado. before the house was crushed into fragments. Only for the precaution of the teacher, a score of human beings would have lost their lives. From this point it passed across the road and com- pletely obliterated the house occupied by E. E. Bingham and family. There were four persons in the house at the time. They barely escaped with their lives by taking refuge in the cellar, one old lady being badly injured, and ren- dered a cripple for life.
From thence, in its course lay A. C. Bullington's house, which shared a similar fate. After leaving this point, a second school house was destroyed. Gideon Jeter's barn was the next object of its fury. It finally left the town after the destruction of C. H. Waldron's house. Fortu- nately, no human lives were lost. though a number of persons were more or less seriously injured.
The freaks of the wind were extremely curions, and, in many instances, almost incredible. Large stones, partly imbedded in the earth. were scooped up and carried long distances from their beds. Horses were carried through the air. Fence posts were drawn from the ground. A child was blown from
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its mother's arms, and deposited safely in a straw stack, and was only found afterward by some person hearing its cries.
In the late war, Roanoke was not an idle spectator. A large number of her young men not only volunteered their services to the government they loved, but sacrificed their lives for its preservation. A singular fatality seemed to attend the soldiers from this part of the county. Of some twenty who volunteered to fight their country's battles, only nine returned alive. From the Gardner family went out Daniel, Levi, David and John. Before their terms of service expired, their bones were moldering in the ground, and their spirits had gone to the land where war's alarms are never heard. In the same manner likewise passed away the two brothers Henry and Aaron Brubaker. Also, Joseph and Henry Causey, sons of the pioneer mentioned in these pages. The war is of the past. Peace again reigns ; and as many Confederate and Federal soldiers make this township their home, they have " shaken hands across the bloody chasm." They tell to each other the anecdotes of their soldier lives ; and peace and harmony prevail.
In 1872, occurred an event in the history of Roanoke Township. that has had a marked effect on its prosperity. In that year, the C., P. & S. W. R. R. was projected and built. A number of townships along the proposed line had voted bonds for aiding the company, and thereby securing its location through this part of the county. Though this township voted no bonds, yet subserip- tions were taken from private individuals to the amount of five thousand dollars, which amount was required to pay for the right of way. This was done by the citizens in consideration of the locating by the company of switch within half a mile of its present crossing of Panther Creek, and the present site of the village of Roanoke. Thus was secured to this community an outlet for the large products of grain and stock, which formerly had to be hauled from eight to fifteen miles to the nearest railroad points.
VILLAGE OF ROANOKE.
The next Fall after the completion of the railroad, December, 1872, the vil- lage of Roanoke was laid out. It was surveyed and platted for Hiram Barney, Benjamin G. Kindig and D. T. Fauber, who were the original proprietors of the village. Lots were offered for sale, and immediately improvements began to be made. The first house built in the limits of the town was erected by Henry J. Franz. The same is now occupied by John Franz as a store. The second house was built by Jacob Engle. son of Peter Engle, one of the pioneers of Metamora Township. A store building had, at some time previous, been erected on the east side of the creek, but after the village was laid out, was moved into town. The first residence was built by Chris. Gozinger, in 1873. The town has steadily increased in size and population, until it now contains over a hun- dred buildings, and three hundred and fifty inhabitants.
The post office was established in 1872, with Frank Pifer as Postmaster. Pifer was succeeded by F. M. Wheelwright, the present incumbent.
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In the Spring of 1873, a grain elevator was built by William and Peter Crow. The same is now owned and operated by Messrs. Hollenback & Rickey. The building is twenty by forty feet, and has a capacity of ten thousand bushels. In the same year, C. K. Snyder built the elevator owned and operated by him at present. Its capacity is about ten thousand bushels. There is handled, by the two elevators, per year, an amount of grain exceeding four hundred thou- sand bushels. There is also shipped from this place, each year, fifty cars of stock, mostly hogs.
In 1877, a flouring-mill was erected by Isaac Snyder, at a cost of three thousand dollars. It has two runs of burrs, which are run to their full capacity.
At present. business of almost every kind is well represented by the follow- ing persons and firms :
Dry Goods and Groceries, John Franz, Jacob Engle, Trainer & Kindig and Robinson & Leonard; Clothing, Isaac Moore ; Drugs, J. F. Wheelwright and D. B. Zimmerman ; Hardware, Hatcher & Jeter ; Hotel, L. D. Schwender ; Flour-mill, Isaac Snyder ; Elevators, Hollenback & Rickey and C. K. Snyder : Harness, Thos. A. Brown and F. Marti ; Furniture, Godfried Harseim ; Boots and Shoes, C. Gozinger ; Wagon Makers, I. H. Fisher and Ulrich Beer ; Phy- sicians, Z. H. Taylor. J. M. Wilkerson and J. M. John (Coroner) : Insurance and Real Estate, M. L. Mock.
In the Fall of 1873, an event of much importance occurred in Woodford County, of which Roanoke was the central figure. The citizens of the village and vicinity, fully realizing that this was the most central point in the county, and with other natural and artificial advantages in view, moved for the location of the county seat at this place. A petition, with the requisite number of names, was accordingly presented to the County Judge, Meek, and an election was ordered to determine the question. The election was closely contested, at every polling place in the county, and a heavy vote polled. The returns, as canvassed by the County Board, showed a decided majority for Roanoke. In the meantime, injunctions had been served on the county officers, restraining them from removing the county records from Metamora ; and, on a contest of elec- tion, before Judge Burns, a majority of six votes was declared against removal.
PRESENT DESCRIPTION OF TOWNSHIP.
Roanoke is geometrically the center township of the county. It is bounded on the north by Linn, on the east by Greene, on the south by Olio and on the west by Metamora, and is known as Congressional Town 27 N., Range 1 W. It contains thirty-six sections of as fine land as can be found, being mostly high and rolling, with soil rich and productive. Panther Creek flows from near the middle of the western part, east, crossing the line into Green Township. The creek is fringed with a fine grove of timber, extending from the village to the township line, and embracing about one thousand acres. The C., P. & S. W. R. R. passes diagonally through, from the northeast to the southwest, crossing Panther Creek near the southern boundary of the village of Roanoke.
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GREENE TOWNSHIP.
DESCRIPTION.
This township is situated east of the center of Woodford County. It is bounded on the north by Clayton, on the east by Panola, on the south by Pales- tine, and on the west by Roanoke. It is known as Congressional Town 27 N .. Range 1 E. of the Third Principal Meridian. It is six miles square. and con- tains about twenty-three thousand acres of very fine land, about seven-eighths of which is prairie and the balance timber. The surface is undulating, but not too much so for casy cultivation. The soil is deep and very rich, and well adapted to the raising of corn. Some wheat is raised near the timber. The timber lies on both sides of Panther Creek. One branch of the creek flows from the east and the other from the west, forming a junction near the south- west corner, and leaving the township at a point near the village of Secor. The C .. P. & S. W. R. R. passes through the northwest corner, cutting off about a section.
EARLY HISTORY.
In the year 1826, an adventurer in the then far Northwest had returned to his home in Overton Co., Tenn. He had been traveling in the newly made State of Illinois, and had brought back glowing account of the richness of its soil, the abundance of game and the many other real and fancied advantages to the emi- grant bold enough to face the dangers and privations of a pioneer life. He was listened to by his hearers with wonder and admiration, and by some, who doubt- less thought the pictures somewhat overdrawn, with a mixture of doubt. Among those who heard the tempting description was William McCord. The idea of going to the new country immediately took possession of him, and he soon set about making arrangements for his departure. He had a large family of boys, and the prospect of providing them with homes seemed better in a new country than in the older, settled State of Tennessee. Accordingly, the Spring of 1827 found him, with five other neighbor families, ready for the journey. It will be readily conceived that an undertaking of such a nature was a different thing from what it would be at present. It would compare more properly with the embark- ation of the hundred Pilgrims who left their native shore two hundred years earlier to make their way across the boundless deep to find a home in the New World.
Indeed the hardships of the wilderness road were greater than those expe- rienced by the emigrants of the Mayflower. The length of time required to accomplish the undertaking, too, was almost as great. The 7th of June was the day fixed upon to commence the weary march. The wagons were packed with a few household effects and some of the simpler farming implements. The cattle were turned into the road, and all were ready to start. Numerous friends were gathered around to bid them good-by, looking on them meanwhile with
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feelings mingled with sorrow and wonder. The women and younger children rode in the wagons, while the men and boys trudged along behind to attend to the cattle. It would be interesting to listen to all of the accounts of their long and tedious journey ; but time and space forbid more than a few brief allusions When a few days out, it commenced raining, and continued almost incessantly all the way. There were but few bridges then, especially after crossing the Ohio ; and the streams, being swollen by constant rains, were difficult to cross. At the crossing of the Wabash, where there was a ferry, the cattle would not stay on the boat, but, jumping off, returned to the bank ; and the men were obliged to take off their clothing, take the cattle by their tails, and, guiding them in this manner, swim them across. Thomas McCord, then a young man, thus swam the Wabash eleven times. Over many of the streams, they were compelled to carry their wagons and goods on rafts, made of timber cut and prepared on the spot, and lashed together with bed cords. Such cross- ings often required a whole day to accomplish. The crossing of the Sangamon was effected in this manner. After traveling in this toilsome way for fifty-three days, they at length, on the 30th day of July, arrived at Twin Grove, near where the city of Bloomington now stands. Here they lived until the Spring of 1831, when Mr. McCord, with his family, consisting of himself, wife, five sons and three daughters, removed to Panther Grove, arriving at this place on the last day of March. They at once set about providing themselves with a shelter. In a short time, they had completed a log cabin, twenty feet square and one and a half stories high, the lower and upper portions consisting each of a single room. It was built of small, round logs, "chinked" with smaller pieces of wood, and daubed with mortar. There were two doors and two win- dows, the latter consisting of four panes of eight by ten glass each. The chim- ney was built of sods, piled one on top of another to the proper height. The old cabin is still standing in the midst of the old orchard planted by Mr. McCord's hands, and is an object that will engage the attention of any one interested in relics of the early days of the county.
The McCords found that they had been preceded by only three families.
Amasa Stout and wife had come to the grove but two years before, and located on the south side and near the west line of the township, on what is now Section 19. The land had not then been surveyed, and he, with all others for several years, were simply squatters. Stout lived, for the first year including the Winter, in a rail pen, protected on three sides and top with corn fodder. He scarcely became a permanent settler, as he removed a few years subsequently to Dry Grove.
William, Allen, Winslow and Almira Patrick, cousins of the McCords, moved from Overton Co., Tennessee, in 1829, and settled on Section 29. They built a house, using the same plans and specifications as those used by Stout previously. In this they lived until the boys had cleared ten acres of ground. It will doubt- dess sound strangely to some to hear of clearing land, while just adjoining
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the timber were thousands of acres better adapted for agricultural purposes, on which was not a stick nor a stone. But then, it must be remembered that these people were from a thickly wooded country, and naturally concluded that where trees would not grow corn would not thrive.
The next Spring, while engaged in preparing to build a better house, an accident occurred, which resulted in the first death within the limits of the township, or even in the Grove. Winslow Patrick was hauling logs for the new house, when, on returning from the woods with a load, he was caught by the head between the butt of the wagon and a tree, and his skull was literally crushed. In this condition he was found soon after, dead. William Patrick died two years after. They both lie in the public burial ground near the old saw-mill. There was no pageantry or hearse, or robed priest or hired livery at those funerals ; neither was there a long train of mourners, though all the inhabitants for miles around were there, and their death was mourned deeply and earnestly. There was no eulogy pronounced, but their friends spoke kindly of them for many a long year afterward.
Allen Patrick continued to reside in the neighborhood, until the year 1842, when he removed to Tazewell County.
Almira Patrick married Joseph More, and with him also removed to Tazewell County. This constituted the first wedding. Joseph had courted Almira for more thana year, and being desirous of setting up housekeeping, on his own account, propounded to her the one important question, she replying ever-more, he mounted his horse and galloped off to Bloomington, a distance of thirty miles, to procure the necessary documents to "make two one " and one More.
Young Bilberry, brother-in-law of the Patricks, came, with his wife, from Overton County, Tennessee, in 1830, and settled on the east fork of the creek. To them, in 1831, was born the first white child in this part of the connty. They lived here several years. but finally removed to McLean County. In 1833, Abram Hahn and Jacob Kindelsbryer, two Germans from Ohio, made their appearance in the neighborhood. They were the first additions to the settlement after the arrival of the McCords. About this time, or perhaps a few months later, S. Y. Barnard, of Overton County, Tennessee, through the influence of the McCords, also came on. He was subsequently, from 1836 to 1840, Postmaster of the office known as Josephine. It was the only post office for miles around. It was situated at the intersection of the old Bloomington and Ottawa road and the laid out road running east from Metamora.
Thus, one family after another continued to arrive, until in 1840 there were . about twelve families all told. When we take into consideration that at this time-they were withont schools, or churches, or newspapers, or other means of communication with the outer world, it is easy to imagine that the state of society must have been quite different from what we now find. The Indians were amongst their nearest neighbors, until the Government caused their removal to reservations further west. There were residing, until 1832, at the head of
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the Mackinaw, a tribe of the Kickapoos and a tribe of the Delawares, of about eighty warriors each, together with numberless squaws. papooses, ponies and dogs. There was also living at Joliet Chief Shabbona, with a small tribe of Pottawatomies. These all came, from time to time, to Panther Grove to hunt and trap. They were quite friendly and whites and redskins hunted and drank and visited together in the most kindly manner.
But the time was near when the wild man must give place to the less romantic pale face. The Government had made arrangements for their removal from the State to reservations beyond the Mississippi. Some went willingly, some submitted stubbornly and others resisted the Government. Of the latter were Black Hawk and his followers, the Sacs and Foxes, who lived on the Rock River. At the call of Gov. Reynolds, among the companies being formed for the purpose of enforcing the designs of the Government, was a company at Bloomington, to which Robert McClure was afterward elected Captain. Thos. McCord and Allen Patrick left their homes, in Greene Township, on the 5th day of May, 1832, and, proceeding to Bloomington, joined this company. They immediately set out for Pekin, on the Illinois River, to the appointed rendez- vous, where they met several other companies. They marched from this point directly to Dixon, where they joined the regiment commanded by Col. Stillman, who had, the day before their arrival, been defeated by the Indians in an engagement at a point about thirty miles further up Rock River. The next day they marched back to the scene of battle. In the meantime, the Indians had retreated, carrying all their dead and wounded with them, with the excep- . tion of one old man, whom they had left bound in a sitting posture, doubtless for the purpose of indicating to their enemies that this had been the small result of their hard-fought battle. They also found on the field eleven white soldiers, some of whom had been shockingly mutilated. After taking care of the dead, they returned to Dixon, where they stayed a few days, when they were ordered .to march to Ottawa. When within fifteen miles of Ottawa, they came to a set- tlement where sixteen persons-men, women and children-had been massacred but the night before. After burying the dead and taking care of the property of the murdered families, they continued their march to Ottawa. A few days later, they were discharged, and McCord and Patrick returned to their homes.
An incident, illustrating the insecure feeling that must have pervaded the white settlement at that time, is here given. Reports of massacres had been common for some time, when one day, when the danger from an attack by the Indians seemed imminent, a sudden discharge of what seemed to be many rifles was heard by all of the inhabitants of the neighborhood. The greatest excite- ment at once prevailed, and, doubting not that the savages were upon them, they fled as hastily as possible to Walnut Grove, leaving everything behind to the plunder of the Indians. Young Bilberry, whose name has already been men- tioned, in great haste assisted his wife to mount a horse, and, advising her not to spare the whip, took to his heels and fled on foot. Thus he ran for a couple
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of miles, when he became so exhausted that he could run no further, and seeing a pond of water just ahead, waded in and concealed himself by sitting down in the water, allowing only his head to remain above the surface. In this position he remained for some hours, when he caught sight of some of the returning fugitives, of whom he cautiously inquired about the massacre. When informed that the fright had been occasioned by a company of white soldiers on their way from Bloomington to Ottawa, and that they had, on their approach to the tim- ber, discharged their muskets, he was glad to come out of his forced bath and return to his home. This pond was, for many years, known as " Bilberry's Defeat."
In those times, deer, wolves, wild turkeys and other wild animals and fowl were almost as plenty as domestic animals are at present. It was no unusual thing for the hunter to return after a single day with a half dozen deer. In- deed, we may believe that the original settlers could scarcely be deemed farmers, but supported themselves and families, in a great part, by the use of the rifle and trap. Mr. Thomas McCord, though fearing that some may not believe the story, says that he has killed four deer at one shot, with a single barreled shot- gun. Mr. Simpson McCord has had in his possession a gun for fifty-nine years, which he believes has killed over two hundred deer, and a proportionate amount of other game. Times have changed. The deer and wolf have gone, and their places are filled by the more practical ox, dog and pig. A few nimble squirrels and timid rabbits are all that still remain.
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