USA > Illinois > Woodford County > The Woodford County history > Part 17
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Schools
The first school in eastern Montgomery Township was started in 1832 at Slabtown. This school was located a short distance east of the town, Miss Mary Brown being the first teacher. The school (about 20x30 feet ) was built of logs with a fireplace at one end and a large opening at the south end with a board placed over it. On nice days the board was let down and on stormy days it was closed with a greased paper over it. There were no windows. On very cold days the school was closed. Those attending the school were required to pay $I per month.
The second larger school was started in 1840 about three miles cast of the first school and was known as the Sodom School. Many of its pupils walked four miles. The number of pupils increased over the years, so, about 1870, an old building was purchased and was moved with horses about three miles north of Sodom School,
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Woodford County History
and a new school, named Hickory Point, was started.
This school, being newer, was conducted on a more modern basis. Literary and spell- ing bees were common with large crowds attending.
Another school came into being after the Village of Congerville was begun. Part of the land in each district was included in this district. This, of course, caused the other districts to become smaller. Not too many years later a plan for the consoli- dation of these four districts was consid- ered. After an election the Congerville Consolidated School became a reality in 1908. This was the first consolidated school in Woodford County and the second in the State of Illinois. This school consisting of four large classrooms, full basement, and of brick construction was built at a cost of $15,000. Eight grades were taught; later two years of high school. This was con- tinued until the formation of the Conger- ville-Eureka-Goodfield Unit No. 140.
As the above account shows, the settlers of Montgomery Township began very early to provide for the education of their chil- dren. Small district schools served for many years and our residents still remem- ber such school names as Gayley, Sodom, Slabtown, Reed, and Science Hill.
A petition was circulated in 1894 in be- half of a public school at Goodfield. This was successful and a building was erected the same year. By 1907 this building had proved too small so it was moved away and a two-room brick building took its place.
The Goodfield Community High School District was formed in 1920. A brick build- ing was erected at the west edge of town.
Following the trend toward larger school districts, in 1948 all schools in Montgomery Township became a part of the Conger- ville-Eureka-Goodfield Unit District No. 140. The Goodfield high school building and the Congerville school building are used for grades 1-6. The old Goodfiekl grade school building was sold and now is a two-apartment dwelling. All high school
and junior high school pupils go by bus to schools in Eureka.
Churches
The church has been an important part of the history of Montgomery Township. Congerville has had three different denom- inations, namely, Mennonite, Lutheran, and Church of God. Today only the Men- nonite, the oldest, remains.
Mennonite Church. This church has a very interesting history. The church was built in 1854 at Oak Grove (then a town four miles east of Congerville) by a congrega- tion called the Christian church. Services were held in this church at Oak Grove until about 1889, when the coming of the Lake Erie Railroad by-passed Oak Grove. The town of Carlock came into being and it was decided to build a church there. The church at Oak Grove was for sale and Congerville bought it; then moved it to Congerville where it still stands. At first the building was used for community pur- poses as well as for worship. This did not work too well and in 1899 the Mennonite congregation bought the building and re- modeled part of it. This building was used continuously until 1963, when a new church was built just a short distance east of the old church, which today is being used as the Mennonite Clothing Center for Illinois and is still in very good condition after being used 114 years.
Lutheran Church. First church was built in 1893, largely through the efforts of Fred- erick Siebert. This was a small congrega- tion. The first church burned in 1912, then a small church was erected, but after a number of years the congregation dis- banded and members united with Lutheran churches in Danvers and Bloomington.
Baptist Church. The first Baptist Church in Montgomery Township was organized in the house of James Vance in 1837. In 1890, a church was built in Goodfield. This building was struck by lightning and burned on September 7, 1917. The congre- gation immediately replaced this with a fine new brick building which has been 2
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well kept and which continues to be the home of the Baptist congregation. Rev. Ray Smith is the present minister.
Apostolic Christian Church. As early as 1857, a group of the Apostolic Christian faith were holding meetings in homes, in Klopfenstein's barn, or out-of-doors, and whenever possible met with another group at Dillon in Tazewell County. In 1874 they were able to erect a church at Mackinaw Dells where members and friends from the Congerville community and from the Goodfield vicinity worshipped for over 40 years. The first ministers were Michael Zimmerman, Gottlieb Hohulin, and John Witzig.
This original building was enlarged and rebuilt several times and then in 1960, the congregation added a large assembly room and remodeled the old building to fill the needs of the growing congregation.
In 1917-IS the Apostolic members and friends of the Goodfield community erected their church at the west edge of Goodfield. By 1961-62 the congregation had outgrown the old building and proceeded to add a large assembly room and dining room and remodeled the old building for increased Sunday School rooms.
The History of Congerville
(Taken from The Daily Pantagraph, July 1933.)
The building of a railroad bridge on the Mackinaw River and the early winter in the fall of ISS7 created the village of Congerville, and, incidentally, killed the town of Farneyville, now known as Macki- naw Dells.
It occurred in this manner: In 1886 the Lake Erie and Western Railroad secured a charter to extend its tracks from Bloom- ington to Peoria. Work hegan the follow- ing year and it just happened that an early winter closed in to stop work when the rails had reached the Schrock farm, two and a half miles east of the river. Had the winter been a little later, Congerville might never have been born, for the rails might have reached the bridge site at the river and in that case Farneyville would have benefited and prospered.
Post Office Moved. A siding was built at the end of the rails at the Schrock farm, and a station placed there, first known as the village of Schrock and later as Conger- ville named after Ben Conger, an early settler with a great reputation as a hunter. Lumber and other materials were hauled and stored there pending the opening of spring work on the Mackinaw River bridge, and many workmen moved there to participate in the building job. Several of the residents of Farneyville moved to the new village on the railroad that first season, and the post office was later moved to the new location. When the road pushed westward the following summer, the siding and station remained there and to this day serves the farming community.
The first grain elevator was built here in ISSS by A. P. Cory of Danvers and was managed by J. F. Tobias. The first store was built by Valentine Nafziger also of Danvers and a blacksmith shop was built by Brandt Brothers who moved here From Farneyville, then came a mill built by Joseph Salzman, along with other stores and shops.
Business and Industry
Congerville and Goodfield each have the usnal businesses found in smaller towns- grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, hardware stores, and lumber yards. In ad- dition to these, Goodfield has had a bank since 1914, when it was organized by Simpson and Colburn of Eureka and S. E. Nafziger of Goodfield. The building was erected in 1915 and has served the com- mumity all these years. Dan Knapp is the present cashier and a director.
A look at other business places and in- dustries in Montgomery Township shows them to be largely farm related.
Elevators were among the first busi- nesses in both communities. These have changed ownership over the years and have been remodeled and enlarged to keep pace with agricultural needs. The drying and storing of corn, soybeans, and other grains is an important part of their service now.
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Woodford County History
Closely related to the elevators are the feed mills. The big Pellet Service plant was built on Route 117 at the edge of Goodfield in 1963. This plant is now leased to the Hale and Hunter Company of Chicago for the manufacture and sale of Red Comb Feeds. The present manager is Dave Geraghoty.
The Goodfield Milling Company has been serving the community many years. At present it is owned and operated by Leo Dorsey. It is distributor for Super- sweet Feeds.
The Eureka Mineral Company of Con- gerville is owned and operated by J. D. Schumacher.
In Congerville, the Sehrock Fertilizer Company was organized in 1940 by J. B. and A. J. Schrock. After about 15 years, this suceessful business was sold to Stand- ard Oil, Tuloma division.
The Dietrich Manufacturing Ine. began in 1963 in the Bob Grimm Chevrolet build- ing. Now they have 30 acres on Route 150 east of Goodfield with three big ware- houses covering about 46,000 square feet. They manufacture tractor dual wheels, dry spreaders and blenders, liquid applicators and other kinds of fertilizer equipment. At
peak season times, they employ nearly 100 people and work three shifts. William Dietrich, Jr. is owner.
The Wiegand Fertilizer Equipment Inc. was formed in 1966. They have purchased the former John Deere buildings and are busy making tool bar applicators, in-line- trailers, 1,000 gallon tanks and other ferti- lizer equipment. Henry and Simon Wie- gand are the owners.
On Route 117, just north of Goodfield, is the Tuloma Testing Laboratory where soils are tested. Recently much new equip- ment has been added for testing of liquid fertilizers.
The Schrock Hybrid Corn Company, started by J. B. and A. J. Schrock, has been well known for many years. The business grew until over 3,000 acres were planted in 1967. This has now been sold to the Grace Company, but still managed by A. J. Schrock.
The S. and S. Company is located in the former Bob Grimm Chevrolet building in Goodfield. There Paul Schueeking has a fast growing wholesale farm equipment business.
Harper and Sander of Eureka have pur- chased a large plant on Route 150 east of
Things were cheap in 1897 by to-day's standards and fences ineluded. Man in right fore- ground, with his wife purchased fence, all 326 feet of it, from the Hohulin Fence Co. for $29.30 ineluding gate. Picture here was made 63 years ago southeast of Goodfield, IN. Man at well is Jacob Zehr, Jr., women in background are Mrs. Phoebe Zehr Wolber, her daughter and Mrs. Zehr Warner. Jacob Zchr, Sr. and wife are at gate. Mrs. Wolber's small son fled to the safety of the house because he was eamera-shy!
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the Dietrich Manufacturing buildings and are moving certain divisions of their Harvestore Silo business to this location.
Out on Route 150, at the top of the hill, is the Central Illinois Angus Association sale barn. It was built in 1946 and since that time hundreds of pure bred cattle have been sold to buyers from all over the country.
Hohulin Brothers Fence Company of Goodfield is one of the oldest manufactur- ing businesses in Central Illinois. In 1893. John, Sam, and Tim Hohulin, sons of the carly pioneer Gottlieb Hohulin, purchased a hardware, implement and blacksmith shop in Goodfield. In 1897, they purchased a fence weaving machine which had been invented in Switzerland. Their first order of the fence was sold to Jacob Zehr and the second order to HI. M. Robinson. As business grew, they sold the hardware and blacksmith and in 1917 built and moved into their present place of business. Over the years, Tim sold his interest and moved to another state. Sam died suddenly in 1929, and John in 1946. The plant since then has been entirely owned and operated by the six sons of Sam, and now in the 7Ist year as Hohulin Brothers Incorpo- rated; several of the fourth generation Hohulins are working at the making and erecting of fence.
Dr. J. R. Steffen, is our veterinarian and is located one mile east of Goodfield along Route 150.
Transportation
From earliest times, transportation (or the potential for transportation ) has been a great factor in the location of settlements. In this Montgomery Township has had distinct advantages. The Mackinaw River and its tributary ereeks cut through the township from boundary to boundary. This territory was well known to early Indian tribes ( Potawatomies, Fox, Ottawas and Sacs) as can be verified by the many ar- rowheads and other Indian artifacts still to be found on farms adjoining the river. The river was the deciding factor for the
The first railroad bridge across the Mackinaw was a wooden trestle 12 mile long erected in Mont- gomery Township.
location of Farnisville, the first Mont- gomery Township settlement.
Then in ISS6-SS the Lake Erie & West- ern R.R. purchased right-of-way and built a railroad between Peoria and Blooming- ton. A wooden trestle was constructed across the Mackinaw. The completion of this railroad brought many changes to Montgomery Township. Farnisville dwin- dled but a new settlement of Congerville came into being. Then H. M. Robinson and several other ambitious cattle raisers and farmers petitioned the railroad to build a siding and stock pens so that stock could be shipped from their area. The railroad did this and soon a village was started. This was named Guthville in honor of John Guth of Washington, Illinois, who owned a large tract of the land. The name later took on the English translation of Goodfield. The original wooden trestle was replaced by a bridge about 1900 and then in 1947 the railroad (which had become the Nickel Plate R.R. Co. ) installed a new 600-foot span of steel. The road is now part of the Norfolk and Western system. Passenger trains were discontinued in 1951 and the depots, once such busy and popu- lar places, are soon to be things of the past.
With the advent of motorized vehicles more and more attention was given to road improvement. The dirt roads, a big prob-
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Woodford County History
lem even with the horse and buggy, were impossible with the car and truck. So roads progressed from dirt to gravel, to oil, to blacktop and then to the concrete slab. In 1923 there came the concrete road from Bloomington to Peoria, cutting across the entire breadth of Montgomery Township through Congerville and Goodfield to the county seat at Eureka ( Route II7).
Finally, in 1966 Interstate Route 74 was completed, cutting across the entire south end of Montgomery Township with an in- terchange at Goodfield to join Route 117 north.
Also at the present time Woodford County is building a new bridge over the Mackinaw to replace the Reel bridge (built in ISS4 and added to in 1906) north of Congerville. Practically all roads in the township are black-topped.
Communication. Our entire township is served by the Deer Creek Telephone Com- pany. This has been owned and operated by Guy Norris and his son, Dick, for at least 20 years. It is a fully dial operated system with dial offices in both Congerville and Goodfield and has a hook-up with the Bell Telephone System.
Interesting Facts-
Snakes were one of the dangers the pioneers had to face.
In 1858, Joe Klopfenstein operated a butcher shop at Slabtown. For two years he made trips to Eureka to supply resi- dents with meat. He made the trips twice a week and often had fresh venison.
First supervisor was James Vance.
First marriage in Montgomery Township was that of Ebenezer Mitchell and Rachel Vance, May 26, 1836.
John Finley and wife took eggs to Eureka but found no market. Next day took them to Slabtown and received 3¢ per dozen. Took in exchange cotton at 5. a lb. Within three weeks from then, cotton went to 85c a lb. due to the war.
Prairie grass grew 8 to 10 feet tall.
Prairie land which was swampy was drained by ditches formed by pulling a large iron ball with a team of horses. The
ditch was made into a trough with wooden slabs.
Oxen were used to break the prairies, sometimes five or six yokes to one plow.
Example of taxes for year 1875. Forty aeres assessed value $200, equalized value $200, equalized value by state board $I86. State tax 86¢, county tax 52¢, town tax 9¢, district school tax 80¢, and road and bridge tax 17¢, making a total tax of $2.14. In 1876, one year later, this same 40 acres of land had an assessed value of $350, equal- ized value by board of supervisors $438, equalized value by state board $3SI. State tax $1.07, county tax $1.22, town tax 17¢, district school tax $2.97, road and bridge tax 57¢, making a total tax for year of $6.00.
One of the old pioneers tells that Chris- tian Reeser, who lived to be 103 years old, helped Abraham Lincoln ford the Mack- inaw River near where the Reel bridge is now.
In 1923, surveyors discovered that due to errors in deeds, the Apostolie Christian church owned part of Senator Lantz's yard and he owned part of the church yard. An exchange was made to straighten things out.
Indians. Long before I-74, U.S. 150 or the L.E. & W. Railroad, the Indians had estab- lished a trail across what is now Montgom- ery Township. Historians tell us the trail went from the site which is now Peoria through the site which is now Carlock to Lafayette, Indiana. This trail almost coin- cided with the L.E. & W. Railroad laid years later. Marker trees may still be seen in the area of Mackinaw Dells. After the Black Hawk War of 1832, most of the Indians moved westward across the Mississippi; however, Indians frequently visited stores in Farnisville as late as ISS0. It is thought that their burial ground was somewhere near where the river was forded.
In 1829, Jacob Ellis was the first settler in Montgomery Township. James Vance came soon afterward.
IS47-Land boom in Illinois. Land had been $I.25 per acre and went to $3.00, then
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to $6.00. Some accounts say some fine timber land near a stream and with a spring soll for $12.
IS50-Severe malaria epidemie. Whole families were wiped out.
First business project in Goodfield was a restaurant on site where the Zehr house now stands.
Gottlieb Hohulin, came to Montgomery Township from Baden, Germany in 1859. He not only farmed but was also a minister of the Apostolic Christian Church; was a well known teacher of the German lan- guage, and was a skilled weaver. Ilis beautiful coverlets are treasured heirlooms.
Recollections of Mr. Lee Lantz, 96-year- old resident of Congerville, and a very do- vout member of the Apostolic Church:
"The village of Slabtown took its name from a building that was boarded up with slabs. The correct name of the place was Farneyville, named after a popular resident by the name of Farney. He seemed to have some connection with the manufacture of a kind of drink, not as effective as LSD, yet more powerful than Coca-Cola. The Habeck store had a large trade in the beverage for there was no license required to sell it.
"When it was known that the railroad would be built, Mr. Habeck was deeply concerned that a town should be built and a railroad station located at Slabtown, though the railroad track was much higher than the top of his store. He insisted that it cost the town of Johnstown, Pa. ten times more to build a town than it would cost to build one in Slabtown. Mr. Habeck al- ways wore a long beard and had a knot tied in the end. When he failed in his ef- forts to get the town located in Slabtown, it was said he would tie a double knot in his beard.
"Slabtown had a blacksmith named Mr. Kislick, who had a solution to the labor problem. After he had properly heated a plowshare, he took his place on one side of it, with his wife or mother-in-law on the other; then as they turned the piece he would beat the blade to a cutting edge.
"The post office was located near Hla-
beck's store. The mail reached Farney- ville (often called Faneyville) by way of Danvers. There were no regular mail car- riers, so if some of the farmers living in the neighborhood of Farneyville chanced to be in Danvers, they were asked to take the mailbag along and see that it reached Farneyville.
"Slabtown, once a thriving village, was eventually replaced by a place of amuse- ment called Mackinaw Dells, but now that too, is nearly forgotten.
"Oak Grove, another small town north of Carlock, was also left high and dry and was replaced by Carlock when the railroad was built.
"It was about 1889 when the railroad switch was put in at Congerville. The trestle bridge at The Dells was put in then too. The farmers were hired to come with their teams and dump shovels to do the grading. One man had a little team of mules working. When they dumped the shovel full of dirt over the edge, it was too heavy for the mules to hold and they were pulled over the embankment. head over heels. Everyone was amazed to see that the mules were still able to work after this ordeal.
"At one time the Mackinaw River at the Dells could only be forded since there was no bridge. One man who was known for his swearing, was floating his box wagon across the river when the water was high and the box floated away from the running gears. The man started his swearing and the men on the bank called to him "You'd better pray! Don't swear."
"When Congerville was named there was considerable debate whether it should be called Schrock, (The switch was built on Schrock's property ). A family by the name of Conger had been here longer so that was the name chosen. However, it was often confused with Cruger, so the "ville" was added, making it Congerville.
"Nafziger built the first store in Conger- ville and also the first house (now torn down ) between Millard Reaba's house and Highway 150.
"Marshall had the first hardware store
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here. Eli Sharp bought the store from Nafziger; Sam Lantz bought it from Sharp. Ben Sharp ran the railroad ticket office for a time.
"When Abraham Lincoln rode to Meta- mora for court, he crossed the river at the Reel bridge. Christian Reeser chatted with him and ferried him across."
Some figures for the year 1878
No. of males in township under 21 years. ... 189 No. of females in township under 21 years. . 175
Total 361
No. of males between 6 and 21 years. 136
No. of females between 6 and 21 years 117
Total 253
No. of males attending school in township. 105
No. of females attending school in township. 83
Total 188
No. of schools in township. 6
Average number of months taught. 6312
Highest monthly wage paid to males ... $ 50.00
Highest monthly wage paid to females. . $ 40.00 Amount paid teachers during year ... $1,631.58 (Beginning teachers, presently ) $6,200.00
Some of Montgomery Township farms have been in the same family for over 100 years. Peter Vance, Henry Robinson and Sam Stumbaugh each owned over 1,000 acres of land at one time.
Senator Simon Lantz was one of Mont- gomery's best known citizens. He served in the Illinois House and Senate for 38 years. He made many contributions to agriculture and his farm was truly a show place. On it he raised Aberdeen Angus cattle and Cheviot sheep.
The Robinson's, H. M., Sr. and H. M., Jr. were prominent Montgomery farmers.
A history Montgomery Township would, quite understandably, be concerned with the people who have farmed its fertile acres. Herewith is a list of names of many of those who have had an association with the farms of this area:
Builta
Maurer
Chaffer Chapman Claywell
McCloud MeGinnis McNutt Miller Moser
Clymer Colburn
Compler Conger
Myers Naffziger
Conibear
Naffzinger
Cornwell
Coulter
Craig
Nixon
Crane
Nutty
Crossman
Over
Daniel
Parks
Darst
Parsons Patterson
Dingledine
Pepper Pfeffinger
Doward
Dreyer
Eglin
Ehresman
Ernst
Ramsey Rankin
Fehr
Rassi
Field
Reaba
Finley
Reed
Fryes
Reel
Gayley
Reeser
Gelston
Rich Risser
Gilbert
Rubenstein
Graham
Robinson Rokey
Gridley
Ropp
Grimm
Russell
Guengrich
Salzman
Guengerich
Guingrich
Guth
Hallam
Schad
Hangartner
Schertz Schneider
Harland
Schrock
Hartman
Schumm
Hartter
Harvey
Heinold
Heiser
Helderle
Slonaker
Herberger
Smith
Hinrichsen
Sommers
Hoeft
Sparks Stahl
Hohulin
Staker
Holliger
Steffen
Hoyt
Stephens
Hunkler
Stewart
Irons or Irions
Stoller
Jarrett
Streit
Johnson
Stumbaugh
Jones
Tanner
Joos
Tuttle
Kamp
Ulrich
Kath
Vance
Kauffman
Watkins
Kellogg
Wells
Kern
Wettstein
Kincaid
Whidmer White
Kingsbury
Widmer
Knapp
Wiegand
Kreeb
Winkler
Kuhn
Williams
Kuntz
Wilson
Ladd
Witzig Wyss
Lawyer
Yergler
Lemons
Yoder
Allison
Bindschaedler
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