Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 39: Piasa Township, 1919

Chapter 39: Piasa Township

Piasa Township is in the southeast corner of Jersey County, and is bounded by Madison County on the south; Macoupin County on the east; Fidelity Township on the north; and Mississippi Township on the west. The big and little Piasa creeks intersect it diagonally, the former from Fidelity Township, entering Piasa Township in section 2 ; and the latter entering the township from Macoupin County in section 12. These two water courses form a junction in section 20, and flow thence into the Mississippi River in the southeast corner of Elsah Township, branches thereof reaching into Elsah and Mississippi townships.

The main line and the Jackson division of the Chicago & Alton Railroad intersect Piasa Township, the former passing through sections 24, 25, 35 and 36 ; and the latter through sections 18, 19, 30 and 32. The only railroad station is Delhi on the southwest quarter of section 18. Brighton is adjoining this township on the east, and a part of the village is platted in Piasa Township. By reasons of the Big and Little Piasa creeks the land is well watered, and heavily timbered, although a large portion of the woodland has been cleared and put under cultiva¬ tion and Piasa Township is now one of the most prosperous townships in the county.

Early Settlements

The first settler of Piasa Township was Capt. John Wilkins, a sailor by calling, who was a. native of Maryland. He first settled on section 31, in 1820. In 1824 lie removed to section .19, near Delhi, where later he kept a stage station and tavern, and there he remained for about twenty years. Perley Silloway was married to one of his daughters, and later was elected the second sheriff of Jersey County. Still later Mr. Silloway moved to Virden, Macoupin County, Ill. Levi McNeil, a native of New Hampshire, was another very early settler, locating on section 22, in 1825, and here he lived until his death in 1852.

Nelson R. Lurton, a settler of 1828, located on the present site of Delhi and was a tavernkeeper and the first postmaster. He was born in Kentucky in 1803. His wife bore the maiden name of Adeline Sum¬ ner, and she was born in Missouri. They had seven children, all of whom are now deceased. Nelson R. Lurton died in 1844, having been a prominent citizen.

James B. Pinckard settled on section 24 in 1830. He was born in Virginia, but came to Piasa Township from Ohio. John Hart, William Hackney, S. T. Kendall, George and David Settlemeier and Barthol¬ omew Downs all came here in 1830. Of these, John Hart, S. T. Kendall and George and David Settlemeier were natives of Tennessee, but Wil¬ liam Hackney and Bartholomew Downs came here from Missouri. S. T. Kendall was a brother-in-law of N. R. Lurton, and was the candidate for sheriff against J. N. English, being beaten by one vote. However, he was elected state representative in 1842. Still later he moved to Mexico, Mo. William Hackney was the first blacksmith of Delhi. The Settlemeiers sold their claim to Phineas Eldridge in 1848. They -had both served as soldiers during the Black Hawk War. Bartholomew Downs was a native of England and he lived on section 22 until his demise.

In 1834 came Howwill, who was born in 1774, in Somerset County, N. J. He settled on section 33. Mr. Howwill was burned to death in 1846. Thomas Marshall, another settler of 1834, located on section 30, where he remained until 1881, when he moved to Jersey ville. He was born at Wilmington, Del., November 21, 1814. In 1848, he was married to Mrs. Agnes McFarland, widow of Robert McFarland. Mr. Marshall was very highly respected and died at Jerseyville in the eighties.

Other Prominent Early Settlers

Andrew Edwards, who was born in Pennsylvania May 11, 1808, moved to Ohio in 1819, and came to Jersey County, Ill., in 1849. He was married to Mary Darlington, December 24, 1835, and their children

William Chappell, a son of William Chappell, was horn in England, January 28, 1816, and came to the United States in 1833, with his father, and to Piasa Township in 1834, and continued to reside here until his death in 1894. In 1840, he was married to Mary King, who died soon after their marriage. Mr. Chappell was married (second) in 1842, to Elizabeth Hooper, and they had four sons, namely: William H., Charles F., Chevalier S., and Chester J. At his death, Mr. Chappell owned over 600 acres of land.

James R. Goodman was born in Virginia, but came to Jersey County prior to 1837, in which year he was married to Frances Fuller, who was born in Tennessee. After twTo years' residence in Piasa Township, they went to Madison County, Ill., but returned to Piasa Township and lived on section 29, where Mrs. Goodman died July 6, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Goodman had a family of seven children, namely: John A., James G. and William C., who were prominent citizens, and four who died earlier in life.

Capt. Oliver Marston was born at Marston Mills, Cape Cod, Mass., in 1804, and for twenty-seven years followed a seafaring life, for sev¬ eral years of this period being captain of his vessel. In 1826, Captain Marston was married at Philadelphia to Elizabeth Powers. In 1842, Captain Marston located in Piasa Township, on the farm where he died in 1856, his widow surviving him until 1879. Their son, Joseph G. Marston, recently eighty-one years old, sold the old homestead in this township.

Phineas Eldridge, a son of Capt. Anthony and Susanna (Vance) Eldridge, was born at Philadelphia, Pa., March 14, 1822. His father was a neighbor of Captain Marston on Cape Cod, Mass., and for five genera¬ tions the Eldridges had been sailors. Phineas Eldridge fitted himself for the same occupation, and followed this calling until 1843, when he went to New Orleans, La., and remained there until 1848. In that year he and his father purchased a large tract of land on sections 11, 12 and 13, Piasa Township. In 1843 Phineas Eldridge was married to Elizabeth Wharf, and their children were as follows: Susanna, who became the wife of Judge James Burke; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Col. John J. Brenholt; Harry, wdio is a pilot on the Mississippi River; and Anthony, who is clerk on a steamer plying between St. Louis, Mo., and New Orleans, La., on the Mississippi River. Both Phineas Eldridge

William Bartlett, who was born in Maine in 1802, came as far west as Ohio, from whence he moved to Piasa Township in 1853, remaining here until his death in 1878. His sons, William H. and Charles B. Bartlett, have both been leading citizens of the township. William H. Bartlett was born July 3, 1840, in Ohio, and in September, 1862, enlisted for service during the Civil War, in the One Hundred and Twentyfourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Charles B. Bartlett was also born in Ohio, in September, 1845, and he died in 1908. Both he and his brother, William H. Bartlett, served as supervisors of Jersey County, from Piasa Township.

In the years between 1850 and 1860 some men came to Piasa Town¬ ship who later became prominent, among them being the following: Frank Schoberle, who was born in Bohemia, Austria, in 1830; George Cairns, who was born in Scotland in 1820; Charles P. Long, who was born at St. Louis, Mo., in 1850 ; Horace Lindley, who wras born in Mad¬ ison County, Ill., in 1853; Herman Oeliler, who was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1842; and James Nugent, who was born in Manchester, England, in 1818. The daughter of the latter, Sarah A. Nugent, was married to William H. Bartlett.

Early Incidents New Piasa Chautauqua

deliberation the ministers of the Southern Illinois Methodist Episcopal Church, and the St. Louis Conference, jointly organized and incorpor¬ ated The Piasa Bluffs Assembly, under the laws of the State of Illinois. This corporation purchased several hundred acres of land, erected a tabernacle, hotel, office, and several cottages, leased lots, and made other im[ rovements.

First President

Rev. Dr. B. St. James Fry lived in St. Louis, Mo., was the editor of the Central Christian Advocate, and a very able and influential man. Under his administration, as president, great numbers of people became interested in the enterprise, and regular Chautauqua programs were given, which were attended by large concourses of people from the rural districts, as well as from Springfield, Jerseyville, Alton, St. Louis, East St. Louis, Peoria and Grafton.

Original Plat

The first plat of Piasa Bluffs was made by J. F. Hunt, C. E., of Chau¬ tauqua County, N. Y., November 3, 1888, and filed for record November 9, 1888, by Benjamin St. James Fry, president, and Fletcher M. Doan, secretary, Piasa Bluffs Assembly.

Present Boundaries

Re-surveys were made and filed April 17, 1894, by Jacob B. Ulrich, president, and Robert T. Brock, secretary, Piasa Bluffs Assembly. The plat extends into both of townships 6-11 and 6-12. It H located on the Mississippi River, and the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad, which gives direct communication with Springfield, Jerseyville, Alton, St. Louis, East St. Louis, Edwardsville and Grafton. During the summer excursion steamers bring large crowds from the cities on the river, who enjoy the beautiful grounds, and refresh themselves with the pure cold water from the spring which flows abundantly during the entire year. A large reservoir upon the top of one of the hills supplies this spring water to all of the hotels and cottages, and the swimming pool is also supplied with water piped from the spring. A postoffice is open here from June until September of each season. 'When the city schools close, the cottages in this beautiful summer resort are filled with eager seekers after health and pleasure. No liquors are allowed upon the grounds.

Advantages Of Grounds

The different clubs, societies, schools, athletic associations and advo¬ cates of other amusements are now represented on programs suited to the tastes of the residents. The convenient location of these assembly grounds with reference to the different cities gives the business and pro¬ fessional men whose duties keep them there during the day the oppor¬ tunity of going to business in the morning, and returning to their fam¬ ilies at the assembly grounds in the evening, during the summer months. In this way the period which is so trying to both old and young in the sweltering districts of the cities is comfortably passed.

Present Officials

Christian Bernet, ex-president of the Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis, Mo., is now president of the Piasa Bluffs Assembly, and M. Ed¬ win Johnson is its manager. Its name has been changed to the New Piasa Chautauqua. This organization has, in the past thirty years of its existence, had a wonderfully elevating and educational influence on the county.

Delhi

Charles P. Long is a justice of the peace, and Jerome W. Long is a constable. D. Sunderland & Co. have a general store and the postoffiee, and George ITouge operates a blacksmith shop.

Coal Mines

The coal mines in Piasa Township are light veins, of 12 to 24 inches, cropping out of the sides of the hills near Piasa Creek, worked by landowners, by drifting, with the most primitive tools, and sold at* mouth