The history of Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 76

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps
Number of Pages: 1254

USA > Illinois > Adams County > The history of Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 76

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An attempt to murder one of the citizens on Christmas eve, in the year 1858, proved a failure, we believe, though it created such a sensation as to be handed down among the records.

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

In the month of February, 1865, a dwelling and its contents was lost by fire. Estimated loss $1,000.

Within the past two years a fine school-house has been built near the site of the old town. It is used for school and church purposes and all town meetings. The almost obliterated town of Bagnolia was started by William Hart and Dan Higbe, in 1865, for three years. They conducted a dry goods, grocery and whiskey store; the latter department became the principal business, and ruined the town.

Mr. Payton, in 1869, started Hickory Corner and Post Office Payton, which since has been changed to Kellerville, a prosperous and pleasant town, with large trade; two stores kept by Anthony Gruber & Co. and P. H. & H. H. Hoffman; Mrs. Rhea supplies the millinery, and two physi- cians heal the sick; the buildings are in good repair, and the town looks bright and thrifty. A fine suspension bridge crosses McKee creek at this point; we find also a saw and grist mill operated by Patterson & Co., on section 33; the German Methodists have their church on section 31, the only one in the village.

McKee creek runs through the township in a southeasterly direction, and forms in many places deep ravines. George W. Query, now living in Indiana, made the discovery of a furnace, in 1849, in one of the bluff's near the creek, which formed some foundation for the old story that, during the French war with the Indians, a small party of French, having with them a large amount of silver, were overpowered by a band of Indians, and before capture buried their treasure. They were then burned in the furnace-all save one who escaped, wounded, and on his death bed very minutely described this locality as the one where the treasure had been concealed. After the discovery of the furnace for several years many adventurers, guided by different fortune-tellers, came from St. Louis and other points in search of the money, which has not yet been discovered.

In politics the Democrats have the majority. The first supervisor was John W. Wardwell; town clerk, A. J. Durbin, in the year 1851. The present supervisor is Mr. E. W. Leisley. The first school-house was built on the farm of Rube F. Smith, on section 3.

It is gratifying to state that the citizens of McKee township have been very accommodating and friendly in giving us facts from which we have been enabled to write the foregoing history.

CHURCHES.

German Methodist Church, Fairweather, Mckee township. This church was organized in the year 1847, and for twenty-six years worshiped in a log cabin. Mr. George Hess acted as class-leader for twenty years. During this time the number of members has increased to twenty-five, and the church flourished. In 1873 the old house was torn down, and a substantial one erected at a cost of $1,000. Mr. Wm. Hofmeister at this time became class-leader, and has since acted in that capacity. Many of the early members have died. Among the number who have passed away but are not forgotten, are Geo. Hess and wife, John Deal, A. Lentz and wife, John Harss and wife, and John Winder. Rev. Mr. Bowers was the first regular minister, and began his work with the organization. Rev. John Smith succeeded him in 1849, and many others have filled the position since; some of them are still living in the county. Rev. H. Zeigler is the present pastor. The Sunday-school is an interesting one, and well attended every Sabbath.

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

United Brethren Church, Spring Valley, McKee township, was or- ganized in an early day, but was entirely broken up by neglect of church duties, etc. In 1867 it was reorganized by Joseph Diendorff, with the as- sistance of Morris Bennett and John Padgett, and has the names of twenty members now on its church-book. The officers of the church at present are as follows: Joseph Diendorff, minister; Morris Bennett, class-leader; John Padgett. steward. The organization now holds its regular meetings at the Spring Valley school-house on every alternate Sabbath.

SCHOOLS.

Washington Grove School District, No. 1, was organized in 1857, and a building erected at a cost of about $400; it has since been remodeled and is kept in good repair. There are now one hundred and twenty scholars in the district, and an average attendance of thirty-six, the highest in rank in the township. The first board of directors was composed of James Parker, Wiley Veach and W. G. Smith, who employed Mr. Guhrrie as teacher. The present directors are Wm. McConnell, Henry Boss, and John H. Jones, clerk. The last teacher was John Jameson; the salary $55 per month.

Unfortunately school records have not been kept in the following districts, and the early history will of necessity be meagre.

North Rock School District, No. 2 .- The present school building was completed in 1864-a substantial structure well furnished, with an average attendance of thirty. In the district there are 102 scholars. Directors for the present year are Morris Bennit, John Gigei, and Alex. Hoffman, clerk. Mr. E. D. Roe is now teacher; salary per month, $35.

South Rock School District, No. 3 .- The building of stone, was erected in 1862. 126 scholars in the district. Of this number forty attend school regularly. Directors at present time Daniel Balzar, William Kuntz, and Christian Hess, clerk; teacher, Aneline Junison; salary, $33.33 per month.

Green Wood School, No. 4 .- The building meets the requirements of the district, and is valued at about $200; seventy scholars in the district; average daily attendance, thirty; board of directors, J. W. Leichtenthaler, Geo. F. Cyrle, John Campbell, clerk; teacher, Solomon Belmyer; salary, $31.25 per month.

Spring Valley School District, No. 5 .- T. P. and E. Patten erected the building in 1877, at a cost of $600. The district has seventy-five scholars; average daily attendance twenty-five; directors, John Padgett, Jacob Womelsdorf and A. J. Durbin; R. C. Hinckley, teacher; salary $30 per month.

Vanier School District, No. 6 .- The building is of log and comfortable; there are sixty-eight scholars living in the district; average attendance, thirty; directors, Abraham Hulse, John Britt and J. B. Moore; teacher, G. W. Miller; salary $35 per month.

Wiland School District, No. 7, has a substantial building; ninety- four scholars in the district, and an average attendance of thirty-seven; directors, John M. Bowen, James Gallaher, and Samuel Gallaher, clerk; teacher, Isaac Dana; salary $45 per month.

Happy Hollow School District, No. 8 .-- The building of logs is pic- turesquely situated in a valley at the foot of high bluffs, and, according to the old legend, the "hidden treasure" is in this vicinity. There are forty- eight scholars in the district; average attendance, twenty-three; directors,

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Jacob Mixer. James M. Grady, and David Watkin, clerk; teacher, Clark Raugh ; salary $40 per month.

NORTHEAST TOWNSHIP.

The first settlement of this township was made on section 2, in 1829, by Alexander Oliver. He came to the township from the State of Ohio, with a wife and ten children-five sons and five daughters-built a log cabin and made the first improvements ; two of his sons entered the minis- try of the Methodist church. Mr. Oliver and his family resided in this township during the Black Hawk war, also during the winter of the deep snow, and suffered many and great privations and hardships incident to those times, much owing to the limited circumstances of the early settlers. The next in the order of time, as we learn from the old residents who set- tled in the township, were HIarmon and Alfred Marlow, Mr. Bates and Mrs. Smith and their families, from Indiana; Hiram Elliston, John Hiber, Levi Conover and Elliott Condes were the next to settle. The last three families came from the State of Kentucky and settled in the year 1831. The first white child born was a son of Hanson Marlow, in the year 1831, and the first death was that of Mrs. Smith in the year 1832. Benjamin Gould and a Miss Janes were the first parties married. The ceremony was performed by Christopher C. Yates, a justice of the peace, in the year 1833. The first sermon was preached by the Rev. W. H. Ralstin, at the log cabin of Mr. John Hiber, a minister of the Methodist church, in the year 1833. The first school-house was a log cabin built on section 4, in the year 1833, and Miss Janes taught the first school. The first church build- ing was erected by the Presbyterians on section 36, and Rev. Wm. Crain was their first minister. The minister is still living, and is probably the oldest minister in the county. This township is mostly prairie, well skirted with fine timber, and is settled by a prosperous and intelligent people.

The township of Northeast was organized in the year 1850, when an election was held. The first supervisor was Benjamin Gould; the first town clerk, William Burke; the first assessor, William Ketchum; first collector, J. J. Graham; first overseer of the poor, B. N. Galliher; first justices of the peace were Mitchell Alexander and James J. Graham; the first constables, Robert B. Combs and William F. Crain; commission- ers of highways, E. B. Hough, Elliott Combs and Clements Robbins.

KEOKUK JUNCTION.

Some time in the year 1862 the Wabash railway corporation having located their branch front Clayton to Keokuk so as to pass across this particular part of the prairie, Mr. J. H. Wendell built a small saloon between the Wabash and C., B. & Q. railways, some rods south of the junction, he having occupied, for a short time, a part of a small building previously erected on the east side of the railway tracks for depot purposes. This building although long since destroyed by a violent wind, appears to have been the first attempt towards a permanent building of the town as the said Wendell continued to reside here for eight or ten years, and during the time erected a number of much more permanent edifices which are still standing and are ornaments to the place. Other buildings quickly fol- lowed and in the early part of the year 1864 Mr. L. A. Albers erected a house where Philip Cain, Esq., resides and commenced store keeping in

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

one room of it. Mr. G. H. Buss the same year built and staked a large store on the east side of the C., B. & Q. railway a few rods south of the present crossing of Smith street.

In the spring of 1867 the late Mr. Herman Miller erected the brick store on southeast corner of Smith and East Tront streets and in partner- ship with Mr. J. G. Klosterman commenced a trade which finally merged with the stock of Mr. Buss into the stock of goods now owned and located by Onki Shuen, southwest corner of Smith and West Front streets.

In 1866 Col. Wm. Hanna rented the store of Mr. J. H. Wendell (now owned and occupied by the Messrs. Selby) and occupied it as a store until he erected in 1868 the house now standing on the northwest corner of Wendell and West Front streets, fitting up the first floor as a first class store, in which he has transacted business continuously to the present time, being not only the first American merchant to locate here but the only merchant who has continued in business here so long a time, and yet pur- sues the even tenor of his way.

The year following-1867-Mr. H. E. Selby with Mr. John J. Weiden- hammer purchased the interest of Mr. G. H. Buss and continued the trade at Buss' stand for one year when, Mr. Weidenhammer withdrawing, the firm of Albers, Lyle & Selby was formed, who occupied the store now occupied and owned by Messrs. H. E. & S. Selby, a firm which commenced business in 1869, Buss & Weiens at the same time occupying Buss' old stand.

The late Nehemiah Bushnell, attorney of Quincy, having, as agent of the owners of this portion of the prairie, had a survey and plat of this village made and recorded, and sold the lots, a petition of the citizens was laid before the Legislature of 1867, for the act of incorporation necessary for a town government, by the name of Keokuk Junction. Such an act was granted early in the session, and confirmed on March 5th, granting the settlement power to act in the election and qualification of officers for self government. On the first day of April, 1867, the first meeting was held for election of officers, when Mr. John Lyle was elected the first justice of the peace (an office held by him continuously with one very short inter- ruption until the spring of 1878), Mr. John H. Wendell, constable and Messrs. Libbe U. Albers, Geo. W. Myers, Andreas M. Fruhling and Wm. Hanna as a board of trustees. On the seventeenth of the same month a full organization was perfected with Mr. L. U. Albers as clerk. This organization gave the town very good authority for police regulations, which had become a matter of necessity for the health and safety of all law- abiding citizens, and the town soon showed the benefit of such a course, in the gradual but steady improvement of the moral attitude of the popula- tion.

This form of government continued in force until March, 1873, when the board of trustees called an election to vote upon the new state law, authorizing the town to relinquish their special organization acts and to adopt the general method of organization of cities and villages. The result of the election was a unanimous vote to adopt such a change. On the fifteenth of April following, an election was held according to the new plan adopted, and the newly elected board of trustees proceeded to organize and execute the village government according to the new state " Village Organization Laws," which course is still in full effect. The result of such early and thorough organization has been visible to the most casual observer and culminated at the annual election of April, 1879, in the election of an

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

entire anti-license government by an overwhelming majority. The village government as at present organized consists of Messrs. Seneca Selby, presi- dent; Samuel H. Tipton. Cornelius Hennirk, Milton Patton, Franklin M. Huff and Wm. T. Selby, the board of trustees, L. A. Martin, village clerk; Col. Wm. Hanna, police magistrate; Gerd. G. Franklin, treasurer; Geo. E. Ross, police constable and Herre Herrn, street commissioner.

While the moral aspect of the village has so vastly improved the physical has not been neglected. Previously to the building of the rail- roads, the middle of the village was actually the middle of a vast malarial pool-the fit home of the frog and the serpent-so wet and miry in fact in the early summer that even persons on horseback were obliged to avoid this portion when passing from side to side of the prairie. Now a system of thorough drainage added to a fair degree of sanitary regulations, affords the resident population a greater immunity from pestilence than is afforded to any of our sister towns.

The cause of the settlement of an important mercantile community in such a seemingly unfavorable spot being the location of two very long and powerful railroad lines, it is naturally a matter of interest, to turn a few moments to the local operation /and management of those roads. On the fourth day of September, 1863, an entry was made of the first freight re- ceived at this station, then under the management of Mr. John P. Harlow, agent. On the twenty-first day of November following the first telegram · passed from this station. From that time to the present, a period of a little over fifteen years, immense stocks of merchandise of all descriptions have been received at this station for sale or transhipment, while in the same time large quantities of grain and live stock have been shipped from this depot to be scattered through all the marts of our own and probably many foreign countries.

Mr. Harlow was superseded on the first of April, 1864, by L. U. Albers, who held the position until the first of October, 1868, when John M. Graham took charge and held it until April 1st, 1872, when Cornelius Hennirk, of Pennsylvania, the very pleasant and gentlemanly agent of to- day was placed in charge. Mr. Hennirk is assisted by Wmn. T. Selby as baggage master and John H. Potter as night operator, all very agreeable and satisfactory officials.

In connection with railroading may be noticed the post-office depart- ment. L. U. Albers, the agent of the railroad companies, about the commencement of the year 1864, received the appointment as post-master and administered the affairs o the office in the depot building until, in the year 1868, he was removed, afnd Wm. O'Harra received the appointment and located the office at the hotel of which he was proprietor. In the autumn of the same year Col. Wm. Hanna, our present worthy post-master, receiv- ed the appointment and at once removed the office to his new store, where it has since remained.

In autumn, 1872, Mr. Jas. Stone purchased the store he now occupies. which was b nilt by the late firm of Whitford & Beckett in 1869, and opened a first class drug store. Quite a stock of drugs were kept for a short time previous to this by the Messrs. Selby, in connection with their general merchandising, but no specific drug store had been opened here previous to the arrival of Mr. Stone. His stand has been kept as a drug store, unin- terruptedly, and with the exception of one year by himself.

Religious services in the English language were held in the present

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

depot (which was erected in 1864) alternately by Methodists and Presby- terians until the autumn of 1869, when, the school-house being finished, it was used as a house of worship instead of the depot. A Union Sunday- school had been organized in the depot, which was also removed to the school-house at the same time. It continued there until the Methodists erected their present house of worship on Albers street, in 1872, when they organized a Methodist Sunday-school which destroyed the Union school. The Germans (a large and influential part of the population) residing here attended worship at the "Prairie Church," about four miles southeast of the town, until the spring of 1869, when the German Lutheran church on the west side of Congress street was finished, and the Rev. Mr. Tjardin, of Quincy, was called to preside, who remained only a year. The Rev. Peter Kleinlein, of Iowa, was called, who still presides over that church.

Abont 1874 a portion of the members of that church drew off from the parent organization and founded the "Trinity " Lutheran church, which held services in a building south of South street (now occupied by Mr. Wm. H. Staats as a furniture factory and warehouse) until their present elegant church on the north side of Hayes street was consecrated in December, 1877. Rev. Richard Schele was called to the pastorate and remained until March, 1879. The pulpit of that church is now vacant. The Rev. Mr. Ash, of the Methodist conference, who came to this circuit in the autumn of 1878, officiates at "Simpson " Methodist chapel at the present time.

The cause of education has received marked attention from the first. Perhaps few towns, in proportion to population, can produce as many per- manent residents who have been school teachers, as this. As a consequence the public attention was early called to the need of instruction for youth. The village growing up suddenly in a distant corner of the district, it was arranged to form a new district of the village part and it was organized as such in 1869, and the present commodious edifice erected at an expense of over $3,000. Schools have been held each school year since by various teachers, the present very successful principal, Prof. M. F. McCord, being near the close of his first year of instruction. Besides our public schools each Lutheran church has a parish school in connection with the church, so the youth of the village have ample opportunity to meet the very sensible requirements of the newly enacted state school law.

Hand in hand with the advance of education, and as a fitting sequel to the Master's work, came temperance reform. As far back in the local annals as 1869, the late Wm. Beckett, a merchant, then president of the board of trustees, exerted his influence in efforts to promote the cause of temper- ance to such a degree that the mob spirit of King Alcohol aroused his minions in rebellion, and surrounding the residence of Mr. Beckett at night threat- ened personal violence. The spirit arose to such a pitch that finally the calmer element of society became aroused in favor of order and safety and the mob spirit quietly subsided. But it has shown its power and venom in repeated instances since. Although the spirit of temperance was steadily working, no decided and actual advance was made until the noted " Murphy " excite- ment began to pervade the country and that sentiment of the community began to take form and brought the believers in the canse to the front and a well organized association is the result. Commencing its public organi- zation late in the year 1877. it has been the means of checking many young people in a downward course and of doing much other good. It still has very attractive gatherings, bi-monthly, by lectures and literary performances,

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

notable among which is a well edited monthly paper. Its present officers are Cornelius Hennirk, president; Messrs. Seneca Selby and Milton Patton, vice presidents; Scott Taylor, secretary, and Laban Cain, treasurer.

The medical fraternity is well represented in this village at the present time. Dr. L. A. Martin, of Rhode Island, came here in the spring of 1869 and has followed his profession withont interruption to the present time. Dr. Milton Patton, of Ohio, came here in the autumn of 1870 and with the ex- ception of a short residence in Bowensburgh, has remained here permanently. Dr. J. T. Cushenburg came in the spring of 1878, from Paloma and has taken up his residence with us. A half dozen other representatives of medicine have at times stopped with us a short period.

In 1874 a movement was made toward the organization of a military company, and a number were induced to meet for drill under the guidance of Col. William Hanna, who, in October, 1875, was commissioned captain, and proceeded at once to perfect the organization and drill of the company. In February, 1876, Capt. Hanna was promoted to the colonelcy of the regi- ment, and Lient. H. E. Selby to be captain of the company. In July, 1877, Capt. Selby having resigned the command of the company, and Col. Hanna that of the regiment, Col. Hanna was re-elected to and accepted of the com- mand of the company, which he held until the reorganization of the regiment in September, 1877, under the present State militia law, when Capt. Hanna was again elected and commissioned colonel of the Sth Regi- ment, and Lient. C. IIennirk was elected and commissioned captain of the company. During the short period of the life of this company its record has been good, once winning the second prize and three times the first prize at annual fairs, besides earning a first-class record in the expedition to East St. Louis during the memorable strikes of 1877.

One hotel serves to meet the requirements of public travel. This was erected in 1864, by Messrs. Browning and Underwood, and passing through various proprietorships finally came into the possession of its present worthy landlord, Mr. William A. Strikler, in 1874. Little need be said of it more than that it is well kept as a first-class honse, and is pronounced by the mercantile traveling agents, alias " Drummers " (than whom none are more critical in such matters), as well as by the traveling public generally as one of the best kept houses on these railroads.

The present occupations of our population comprise the following: The " Prairie Mills" is a very large and powerful windmill, with two runs of burrs and all the latest improved preparatory and bolting machinery for grinding and finishing corn, rye and buckwheat, under the successful man- agement of Mr. Hiram H. Emmenga, and noted far and near for the superior quality of its products. The second windmill, but a little inferior to the power and capacity of the first, and in no appreciable degree inferior in quality of products, is under the management of Mr. Cobus Franzen. Also a cheese factory, of about a daily capacity of 800 pounds, under the charge of Mr. John Poppe; one small mill for wood turning by wind power; one lumber yard, well stocked; two large shipping granaries, for all varieties of grain, both of which do an extensive business; four stores for general merchandising, which have large and well selected stocks of goods; four firms, or individuals, who deal largely in farming implements; two drug stores, supplied with the usual requisites for prescription as well as general trade; one firm of harness makers; one dealer in lime, cement, etc .; one cabinet maker and dealer in furniture, whose manufacture received

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The history of Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 76

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps Number of Pages: 1254

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps
Number of Pages: 1254