USA > Illinois > Woodford County > The Woodford County history > Part 21
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cabin, and that mud was used for the fire- places and chimneys. She boarded wood- choppers, and because of the great supply of wild game, a wild turkey could be killed before breakfast and served for dinner.
From other accounts we learn that in the cabin the door was frequently also the only window. Sometimes a log was left out to admit light and a slab was supplied to put over it when necessary. Later, a space was cut purposely, and oiled or greased paper placed over it to let in light. Needless to say, there was plenty of ventilation.
It was during the early thirties that the Federal government sought to clear the Indians from the country east of the Mis- sissippi and transfer them to the public lands in Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. Fi- vally, on September 28, 1833 in Chicago where some 8,000 Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi Indians had assembled, their chiefs signed a treaty with the U. S. Com- missioners by which they relinquished all claim to their lands. With the Indian men- ace removed, hordes of immigrants from the East began pouring into the Middle West, almost without cessation.
During the township's early years, the recording of births, death and marriages sometimes went no further than the family Bible. Until 1841 when Woodford County was formed, the Partridge area was part of Tazewell County, and because of the distance involved, its early records in that county seat undoubtedly are not complete.
The first white child born in Partridge Township is supposed to have been a Wal- ter Cheeny, born in 1834. The first marriage was between Francis Ayres' daughter, Phoebe, and John Sharp in 1833. The first death, in 1832, was that of an elderly man named Gingrigh. During the winter of 1836-37, however, a sad incident occurred which was talked about and long remem- bered by the early settlers. A farmer named Butler and his daughter froze to death in the woods near their home. They had left their house in the morning to go after some cattle which apparently had strayed. The weather was quite mild, and the snow had begun to melt. Then, it started to rain, and
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a few hours later as father and daughter were returning with their cattle, the weather turned suddenly cold. According to the old "Woodford County History," it turned cold as "Greenland's icy moun- tains." The two were found several days later, frozen to death, their clothing and lower limbs thickly covered with ice. Their bodies were doubled up and therefore had to be put into large boxes until the weather permitted them to be buried decently. They were buried a few rods from the old Talbot Hoshor place which is on the farm presently owned by Dr. Joseph Herman.
Schools
The first children born in the township probably received little or no formal edu- cation. It took all of a family's resources and time simply to survive. Before school houses were built, children were taught in the home by teachers who boarded with the families and who were often paid in produce when there was no money. The first of these teachers is said to have been a man named Plummer, who taught a while at the home of Francis Ayres. Where the first log school house was built is not known, for as the story goes, some claim it was built near Richland Creek in 1845, while others say it was built near Partridge Creek. Wherever it was, it was taught by a Mary Curry. The first meeting of the school trustees-Harlow Barney, Samuel Hledlock and II. M. Curry-was held on the 27th of November, IS44.
By the 1860's, the township's three school houses were all good frame buildings. In 186I, Jefferson Hoshor, the township's first supervisor, deeded ground in Section 14 on which the Richland School was built. In September of 1863, the Partridge School was built on land deeded by Isaac Snyder in Section 29. The Brush Hill School was built in 1868 in Section 25 on land deeded by Abner Mundell. It was destroyed by fire, and in ISS5, John H. Rediger deeded land in Section 36 for a new school which was named Oakenwald. In 1921, the Rich- land School was also destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt at the same location.
In 1878 the records of the Township Treasurer, Alexander Boulier, showed that there were 167 pupils between the ages of 6 and 21, and that there were 3 teachers employed. The highest monthly wage paid was $42 and the lowest was $30. Today the one-room school house is a thing of the past. The Partridge School was sold in 1948, and the Oakenwald School in 1955. Both are now used for homes. In 1953, the Richland School was purchased by the Township for use as a Town Hall.
The schools often served as churches, with traveling or visiting preachers giving the sermons. As far as can be ascertained, the township did not have a church build- ing within its limits until 1900. In that year, Jacob Wagner and his wife conveyed land in Section 28 to the trustees of the Church of Christ. The church was built by Mr. Amos Q. Wilson of Secor, who was a preacher as well as carpenter. He had been preaching in the Partridge School house since 1884. The church was dedicated in October 1900 and Mrs. Emma Jones, a daughter of Jacob Wagner, stated recently that she was married at the dedication. In his deed to the church, Mr. Wagner had included several stipulations. One was that failure to hokl religious meetings there by the Church of Christ for a period of three years would be considered an abandon- ment of the premises, and the owner would have the right to repossess the property. Unfortunately, this came to pass despite the efforts of a few to keep the church going. The Wagner property had been sold in the meantime to a Mr. Traver, and in 1928 or 1929, the church was taken down.
The first settlers did not have much money and had little chance for getting more. For a while when more grain was produced than they could use, it went to waste for there was no market. Although many things could be obtained by trading, there were times when the lack of actual money was keenly felt. Any mail the set- tlers received had to be picked up in Peoria and paid for. The price of the letter was determined by the distance it had come, and generally was about twenty-five cents.
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Many times the settler was hard put to produce this amount in silver and the letter would have to wait until the money could be obtained. Soon, however, steamboats began to appear on the Illinois River, pick- ing up and delivering products, and mar- kets for grain and stock were established at several points, including Peoria (which was still Ft. Clark ), Spring Bay and Pekin. Many a load of grain was hauled even as far as Chicago if the market was too low other places, and during cold weather hogs were driven to the same market. When the ice was strong enough in winter, hogs and cattle as well as loads of grain were driven across the river to Chillicothe. Just as he does now, the farmer tried to sell where he could get the best price. But, in his day, with the slowness of travel and the lack of communication, he sometimes arrived at the market expecting a good price, only to find that the market had fallen. Since he had to dispose of his load, he would settle for a price which was lower than he had expected.
Chillicothe Ferry
Around 1849 a ferry was running be- tween Allentown, which was a mile south of present Chillicothe city limits, and a
point located where the Woodford County Public Hunting and Fishing Area is now. This operation apparently did not last very long for very little is known about it. In about 1856 another ferry began operating in the channel between Chillicothe and Chillicothe Island. The island was about 160 acres and a part of Partridge Township, although separated from it by a branch of the Illinois River which was called the East River. There one crossed a bridge to the island and thence to the channel, where they waited for the ferry to come over and pick them up. The ferry was attached to a cable which was anchored on both sides of the channel. For many years a horse was used with a treadmill which pulled the boat across, and for a while, a small motor- powered boat was used to pull the ferry. The Chillicothe Ferry, Road and Bridge Company operated this ferry for many years, and also maintained the levee road. The ferry, of course, brought business to the Chillicothe merchants. Other roads be- ing almost non-existent (or undependable ) at that time, the ferry was used by many Partridge residents, as well as those from Washburn, to haul their grain to the Chil- licothe elevators, and to bring supplies from town. A ferry report dated May 1905,
1
A
Ferry between Chillicothe and Partridge Township.
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shows that 176 single rigs, 73 double rigs, 134 footmen, 21 cattle, 3 horses and 75 tickets ( commuter ) were taken across. The cash taken in was $65.10.
Rameyville
During the early 1870's George Ramey operated a store east of the levee road on ground now part of the Harold Poignant farm. He kept a general assortment of goods, saving many a trip to town. Nearby was also a blacksmith shop; this area for sometime being known as Rameyville. The store was used as a pick-up for mail as well, for when anyone went over to Chil- licothe, he would pick up any Partridge mail, and leave it at Mr. Ramey's store. Some years earlier, when mail was carried on horseback from Lacon to Spring Bay, any letters for Partridge residents were dropped off at the Chauncey Baker place.
By this time, there were several black- smith shops in the area. An 1873 map shows one in Section 15 on the Benjamin Younger place, and one in Section 25 on the J. M. Clingman place. About one-half mile west of the present Partridge School was a mill operated by Isaac Snyder and from an old newspaper account we have this description, "The mill was a two-story frame building about 35 x 40 feet; it was operated by the power obtained from a big over-shot water wheel at one side of the structure. It was also the favorite meet- ing place of many of the inhabitants of the country-side, and many were the horse- races and poker games that were held there."
One of the results of better roads and the growth of the towns, was the gradual disappearance of these familiar sights from the landscape. The blacksmith shop prob- ably stayed longer than the others, for in the rural area, the horse and buggy were still handy items to have around even though the Motor Age had come. More than one Old Dobbin was used to haul a Model-T out of the mud. By 1921 it was no longer profitable to keep the Chillicothe Ferry running, and its operation ceased. But it is still well remembered by many of
the area's residents, and today portions of the old Ferry Road can be seen from the farm now owned by Leroy Bennington.
One familiar sight of earlier days, which is now rarely seen and which undoubtedly is not missed, is that of the farmer dragging the road-a job he could look forward to every spring and after every rain. In an old Partridge record book we note that in March, 1898, any able-bodied man over 21 and under 50 was subject to a tax of $1.50 if he failed to do his share of road work. Until 1918, Partridge had three commis- sioners of highways.
The gradual improvement of the roads and particularly the black-topping in 1937- 39 of State Route S7 (changed this year to State 26) probably contributed the most toward changing the social life of the com- munity. Before that time, most of the recreation and social entertainment were created by the residents themselves. The school houses held many a box social, 4th of July celebrations, and Christmas and New Year's parties. In the winter there was ice-skating, and in the summer there was good fishing from the levee. In December 1911, in order to raise funds for the annual Christmas tree at the Richland School, 15 ladies of the vicinity accepted the offer of Clarence deGuibert to pay them 3¢ a bushel for all the corn the ladies husked. The ladies went into the field at 8 o'clock in the morning, two of them husking to a wagon, and by 3 o'clock had 600 bushels husked and cribbed. Rose deGuibert and Clara Hunter were the champions, bring- ing in 107 bushels.
In 1889, the Louis A. deGuibert. Jr., farm residence was completed. It was built on the family property just north of the Rich- land School, and at that time was said to be one of the finest frame residences in the county. There was abvays lots of ac- tivity centered around the deGuibert house. After a few years, Mr. deGuibert had a building put up a little north of his home to be used for recreational purposes. It came to be known as the Midway pavilion, or simply, the Midway. Baseball games were played there, and many square dances
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were held. Saturday night was apt to be a lively night at the Midway. After Mr. de- Guibert's death, his daughter Rose, and her husband, John Eiben, lived with Mrs. deGuibert. They kept up the tradition of encouraging social activity in the area. Mr. Eiben had Louis Poignant, a neighbor, build a track west of the house across the road, where the farmers raced their horses and probably did a little wagering on the side. Eventually, the Midway was taken down. A little closer to the deGuibert home, John Eiben had a one-room building put up which was used as sort of a meeting place, and many a poker game was played there, just as there was in Isaac Snyder's mill many years before. In 1951 this build- ing was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Pete DeCon- nick, who enlarged and modernized it, and it is now the Midway Duck Inn.
In January 1944, the deGuibert home was completely destroyed by fire. It had become such a landmark that the loss of it was felt by many of the area's residents. The house had contained much of the furniture and furnishings brought from France by Louis deGuibert, Sr., as well as his medals, documents and honors. Many items which were of great historical value went up in smoke that day.
"Proposed" Railroad
More than once, just as they did in other towns, the rumors flew around that a rail- road was going to be built through the area, and the local papers would contain items about engineers having been seen headed this way to make surveys. A plat of Partridge Township in an I893 Atlas does, in fact, show a "proposed railroad" route, running somewhat parallel and to the west of the present state highway. In I887 the Santa Fe was surveying and locating stakes from Crow Creek down to Spring Bay with the thought of relocating their bridge over the Illinois River, and whether or not these two incidents are related is not known.
In 1910 both Partridge and Spring Bay residents entertained the hope of getting the Mckinley syndicate to build an electric interurban road through the territory this
side of the river. A large and enthusiastic meeting was held at the Spring Bay 1fall, but nothing more seems to be known about this project.
A man named F. W. Cherry came through this area in 19HI and obtained right-of-way options from some of the resi- dents in exchange for which they received stock in the "Milwaukee Peoria, and St. Louis R.R. Co." From the Marshall County Historical Society, the following informa- tion appeared in an article written in 1964 about Lacon's hope of getting a railroad. "Around the turn of the century and for several decades later, a promoter named Cherry made sporadic visits to the city and on each occasion fanned the embers of hope. He made at least one trip to Europe looking for capital. The money was not forthcoming, either here or abroad, and Cherry's visits came at longer intervals, then ceased. The graying embers of hope died." Those of Partridge residents died likewise.
Drainage District
In 1903 a movement was started to re- claim the land by the formation of the Part- ridge Drainage District, which hoped to reclaim several thousands of acres of swamp land in the township. By 1909, a levee 20 feet high had been built and a pumping plant capable of throwing out a million gallons of water an hour was com- pleted. Unless an unusually high stage of water should occur, it was felt that now the land was protected and could be culti- vated. The test was not long in coming. In May of that same year, the unusually high stage of water was reached, and the bottoms as well as the pumping plant were flooded. The commissioners of the Drain- age District resigned, thousands of dollars had been spent, and several years of work had been undone by the flood.
However, new commissioners were named to try and continue the work. Their first job was to locate the two dredges working on the project for they had dis- appeared. It was learned that the owners had moved the dredges to Jersey County,
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whereupon the attorney for the district and one of its commissioners went down to serve attachments on the boats. They se- cured the services of a deputy sheriff to make the attachments, and he and the com- missioner rowed out to the dredges in a skiff. Unfortunately, the rather over-gener- ous weight of the deputy caused the skiff to sink, but undeterred. he swam the rest of the way and served the writs. In July of the following year, the two dredges were back in Partridge, clearing out the ditches, and trying to repair the damage caused by the flood.
During the period from 1905 to 1910, a number of suits involving submerged lands had been filed against the Chicago Sanitary District by Partridge landowners. The Chi- cago Sanitary and Ship Canal had been completed in 1900, reversing the current of the Chicago River and causing its sew- age to be taken away from Lake Michigan and carried instead by the Illinois to the Mississippi. The landowners held them re- sponsible for the damage done to their ground.
The first case to come to trial in the Circuit Court in Eureka was that of B. F. Zinzer in September of 1910. It was an in- usual one in that it not only was tried by eleven jurors instead of twelve, but it on- joyed the dubious honor of being the long- est case ever tried in the county. Fifty-five witnesses were heard for the plaintiffs, and 60 for the side of the defense. There were 165 exhibits of maps, charts, samples of grass and soil shown. The verdict was re- turned awarding Zinzer $15,000, but the Sanitary District immediately appealed the decision. Although over the years many cases were tried, and the verdicts returned were in favor of the landowners, they were just as quickly appealed. The cases went from one court to another, taking much time and involving much expense. Farmers living in the area at the present time, whose land and crops had been affected, state that they received very little or nothing. Legal fees undoubtedly took up a large portion of any judgments the landowners may have been awarded.
The Partridge Drainage District was dis- solved, and in 1927, part of its area was sold to the Illinois Department of Conser- vation. That was the beginning of what is now known as the "Woodford County Pub- lic Hunting and Fishing Arca." At that time, 1721 acres were purchased from Emanuel and Ida Garber of Washington. Illinois. In 1928, sixty more acres were pur- chased from George and Ruth Roberts of Chillicothe. Prior to its present name, it had been variously designated as "Chilli- cothe Game Preserve", "Chillicothe Public Shooting Grounds", and "Woodford County Game Preserve". The dam at Peoria was finished around 1938 and this inundated all of the flood plain to its present level. This flooded area is presently known as the Upper Peoria Lake.
"Woodford Ditch"
In 1947 and 1948, the State purchased an additional 1,113.35 acres so they could have a roadway into the Upper Peoria Lake for the fishermen and hunters. In 1948 a ditch was dug, now known as the Woodford Ditch, which gave the fishermen and hunters an outlet to the lake. This roadway and waterway gave the public a way into the Upper Peoria Lake without having to go across private land. Now the Woodford Ditch is known to all the public of Illinois for the fine crappie fishing in the winter time. Unfortunately, in the last decade, pollution of the Illinois River has lowered the fish population to a great ex- tent, and some species have become extinct. Although pollution has taken its toll, many species of fish-bass, crappie, sunfish, chan- nel catfish, bull-head, white perch and earp -still gave many hours of recreation to the 60,000 people who used the area in 1967.
In 1959 the state purchased 2.20 acres of land so it would widen the road coming into the area. At this time, a blacktop road was built. This purchase brings the total acres of land and water in the Woodford County Conservation area to 2.896.55. There are 106.55 acres of land, and 2.790 acres of water.
In 1946 the state held its first public
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hunting at the Woodford area. At that time, the check station was on the west bank of the river at Chillicothe. In 1947 enough land was purchased on the east side to permit the department to build the present check station. Duck hunting and fishing have operated from here since that time. In 1967, 1,569 duck hunters used the Woodford County Public Hunting and Fishing Area.
As more people began turning to the outdoors for recreation, one of the bigger and faster growing forms being outdoor camping. To meet this need, the depart- ment, in 1964, started the development of a camping area. This area was completed and opened to the public in 1965. The camping area will accommodate 42 camp- ing trailers with electrical outlets. In 1967, 1,198 camping trailers and tents used the area.
The area is also used by many picnick- ers. We estimate that 10,000 to 15,000 peo- ple used this area in 1967 for picnicking alone.
Boating is another form of recreation. The department has rental boats, which are maintained for rent to the public for fish- ing, hunting and boating. In 1967, the de- partment started the development of boat- ing facilities for the many private boat owners who use the area. These facilities should be completed and in operation in 1968. (The foregoing information was fur- nished by Mr. Richard Brooks, refuge man- ager of the area. )
The population of Partridge Township in 1860 was 346; 100 years later the census showed it was 349. The township has never had a village nor an industry, having re- mained a rural community. The number of farms and farmers is smaller than it was, but the past 25 years has seen an increase in commuters. Many people have been at- tracted to Partridge Township because of the views from the bluffs overlooking the river and the valley with its modern farms and well-eared-for ground. The bluffs and hill-tops, which years ago were so difficult to reach from the valley, are now dotted here and there with homes and many of
the roads leading to them are black-topped.
In its earliest days, Partridge Township was overwhelmingly Democratic. Of the first settlers, Benjamin Younger who was school treasurer for many years and then justice of the peace, was supposedly the only one who voted the Whig ticket. The political record of the township changed słowły as the years went by. For several years in local contests, there was a Demo- crat party and a Peoples Party. From the names appearing on the Peoples' ticket, it would seem that the party was made up of both Democrats and Republicans. One can assume that those elections must have been exciting ones. For the past 20 years, the township has gone Republican in the Na- tional elections, and in most of the state elections. The township officers, however, for many years have been Democrats, as they still are. Mr. Ivan Beavers, the town- ship supervisor, has held his office since 1930, longer than any supervisor in Wood- ford County. The clerk is Martin Kunkel, Russell Winkler is the assessor, and Palmer Clark is the commissioner of highways. All are well known throughout the area, and are descendants of old families, long associ- ated with the politics of the township.
Several generations have come and gone since Partridge Township began, and much evidence of its past is no longer visible. Here and there, however, still stands a house which has seen at least 100 years of history. One of these, the Dan Jones house on State Route 26, is owned and occupied by Floyd Jones, a descendant of that early family. Next to it is the Baker place, and farther south on the highway is the Hoshor farm, occupied by Charles Head, and the John Snyder house. The Frank Poignant house, formerly the Ramsey place, is also over a century old, and there are doubtless others.
Here and there, too, on a lone hill, can be found a single grave or a small cemetery, reminders also of the past. Buried here are some of the first settlers of Partridge. On the top of one hill is the deGuibert burial ground called the Lone Hill cemetery. The Johnson cemetery can be seen from the
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highway, and in it one can read other names such as Thomas Tunis, whose grave marker indicates that he was a soldier in the Civil War. Just across the way from this cemetery, on a hill overlooking the valley is a single monument in memory of Nancy Johnson. In Section 2 is the Baker cemetery and nearby are buried Cranks, Pritchetts, and Jones. The first settler in Partridge, Francis Ayres, is buried in a small plot near the Elmer Winkler farm owned by Mrs. S. M. Snyder. flere also are his wife, and George and Naney Ruekle. There are Hoshors buried behind the Hoshor place on the hill, and in Section 36 near the old Rediger place is a small ceme- tery where Rediger and Clarks are buried. On a hillside behind the Kern farm are buried some of the Bettelyunes and De- Fords. Unfortunately, many stones are no longer legible, and like the bodies that were buried there in simple wooden coffins, they are a literal returning of dust to dust.
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