Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 35: Fidelity Township, 1919

Physical Characteristics

Fidelity Township is composed of township 8, range 10, and is one of the best agricultural towns in the county. Piasa Creek crosses the southeast corner, and that part of the township is broken and was originally heavily timbered. Phill's Creek heads in Fidelity Township, running northwest into Ruyle Township, and empties into Macoupin Creek. The first settlements were made in the timber land in the south¬ east corner, skirting upon the prairie, for as usual the pioneers were timid about leaving the forests altogether. This township is composed principally of fertile prairie land, and since its settlement and the planting of orchards and groves, it has become one of the most beautiful and prosperous sections of the county. It is devoted to grain and stock raising, and its farmers are among the most intelligent and progressive in this line of business. The C. P. & St. L. Railroad crosses this town¬ ship from east to west, in its course from Springfield, through Jerseyville to St. Louis, Mo., with stations at Medora on the east line, and Fidelity, the latter being the only village in the township.

Early Settlements

Thomas Chapman located on section 33, in 1828, where he lived several years, and he was its first settler. The Simmons family came next.' Samuel C. Simmons, in the fall of 1829, came and selected a location for his father, and in the next year, settled here. James Simmons and Ann (Hodges) Simmons, his wife, went from Maryland to Knoxville, Tenn., in 1816, where she died. From thence he came to Fidelity Township in 1830, and resided on section 26-8-10, on the farm he originally settled, until his death which occurred in 1861.

James Simmons was born in Maryland in 1773. He was married to Ann Hodges, a daughter of Charles Hodges, who was the grand¬ father of Judge Charles D. Hodges of Carrollton, Greene County, Ill., in January, 1806. Samuel C. Simmons was the eldest of the fam¬ ily. James Simmons was born when Maryland was a colony of Eng¬ land, and he was a friend of George Washington, and voted for him for president, and cast his vote for president from that time to the candidacy of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Samuel Simmons came to Fidelity Town¬ ship at the same time as his father, as did his brothers, John H. H. .and Thomas H. and Richard J., and his sisters. Sarah E. Simmons who married James Cummings, was one of the sisters, and Ann M. and Margaret R., who were married and lived in Indiana. The chil¬ dren married, established families, and developed substantial farms in Fidelity Township, and became highly respected citizens, as have their children after them.

James Cummings came to Fidelity Township in 1831. Jeremiah Bell of Hancock County, Ga., came from his native state to Madison County, Ill., in 1918, and to Fidelity Township in 1832, settling on section 34, where he remained until his death. Thomas Chapman resided on section 33 until his death, which was caused by his being confined in his smokehouse by accident while a fire was lighted, and he was burned to death, in April, 1870. He was a very highly respected citizen.

William Phillips was one of the settlers of 1831 ; Jeremiah Tindell of 1833, and John Tribble in 1834, settled on section 25. Henry J. Hoff¬ man of Pennsylvania came here in 1834. Later John B. Hickman, Henry Turner, Isaac McCollister, John C. and William H. Marshall, William J. Miner, Josiah Vaughn, John W. and Henry Christopher, Isaac R. and Richard Ely, Archibald Craig, Patrick Coleman, Sr., John W. and D. Q. Trotter and J. Murray Becon, Samuel and Joseph Tober, Thomas C. Watson, J. T. Hauskins, LI. V. Voorhees, T. B. Aydlett, Peter Teitsort, James C. Frost, Elisha and Charles H. Bowman, Peter R, Parsed and his sons, Jeremiah, Peter, Jr., James and Oliver, and many others settled here and became prominent and influential, not only in this township, but also in the county.

Early Events

An infant was born to Thomas and Ann Chapman in 1831, and it was the first white child born in the township. The infant did not live, and this was the first death. The first constable was Jeremiah Tindell, and he was elected in 1831.

The village of Fidelity, which is a station on the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad, has a present population of 100. Its business inter¬ ests are as follows : Bank of Fidelity, John Ewin, president, Ray Brad¬ shaw, cashier; deposits, $100,000.00; Merchants, Thomas Watson and Charles Masters; Elevator, Farmers Elevator Co.; James Bringhurst, blacksmith ; Henry Lutz, wagonmaker ; Dr. A. D. Erwin, physician.

Village Board

A. T. Aydlett, president; J. F. Huff, clerk; William Niedler, treas¬ urer; trustees, C. G. Roady, John Ruyle, R. E. Ewin, William Webb, William Leutken, and Arthur Watson; William Leutken, justice of the peace; Harry Armstrong, school treasurer. The Methodists and Baptists have churches at Fidelity.