Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 42: Rosedale Township, 1919

Chapter 42: Rosedale Township

Rosedale Township is fractional township No. 7 north, range 13 west, and is bounded on the south by Quarry, on the east by Otter Creek, on the north by Richwoods, and on the west by the Illinois River. It has an average width from east to west of about five miles; the bottom lands between the bluff and the river being from a mile to a mile and a half in width; of very rich alluvial soil, but to a considerable extent subject to overflow from the river in extreme high water ; except a strip next to the bluff of one quarter to one-half a mile in width. The principal streams are Otter and Coon creeks, flowing from east to west, into the river. The eastern part is broken and hilly, and was originally covered with immense forests of hardwood timber; but as time passed these forests were cleared, and much of this land has been made into farms. These lands are peculiarly adapted to the production of a superior quality of apples, and other fruits. One of the most notable of these fruit farms is that of R. P. Shackelford, on section 36. The bottom lands are well adapted to the production of wheat, corn, oats, grass, clover, alfalfa, and live stock. Shipments of these products are made by river landings, at the mouths of Coon and Otter creeks. There is no railroad nearer than Grafton to this township ; and there is not a bank, nor an incorporated village ; though the farmers are industrious, thrifty, and well to do.

Early Settlers

Among the earliest settlers were William Larue, who came in 1818, and Walter Creswell, who came in 1819. The latter was appointed justice of the peace by Gov. Shadracli Bond in 1820, and was the first in what is now Jersey County. In after years the writer knew him very well. John Killworth, who came in 1820, lived ten years near Nutwood, and then moved to Ruyle Township. In 1820 also came Elisha Fowler, and Thomas, Samuel, and William Creswell, brothers of Walter, above men¬ tioned. John Gilbert, and A. P. Scott, came in 1824. Silas Crane, who came in 1825, was a Methodist Episcopal minister, and afterward removed to English Township. Enoch Spaulding, John Stafford, and Lewis and Amos Lynn came in 1828. The latter were chair makers. In 1829 Wil¬ liam Starr, R. C. Bangle, and Coe Edsall, settled here. John Dabbs came in 1831 and James Nairn in 1832. Later, he moved to Calhoun County and in 1835, James and Nancy Wedding, with their sons, Thomas, Nicholas, and Benjamin Wedding became settlers of the township. The daughters of Thomas Wedding (who died Dec. 28, 1885), and James Wedding, son of Benjamin Wedding, now own and occupy the lands originally settled upon by James Wedding in 1835. In 1842, came Wil¬ liam G. Thompson, without means, working as a farm hand by the month. When he died, November 14, 1885, he was the owner of about 1,500 acres of land. He left a large family, of whom his daughter, Mrs. Bertha C. Crull, owns his original homestead, and a large portion of his other lands. His son Grant Thompson also resides in this township, and is the principal purchaser of the crops and products of the township. He has also been elected supervisor several terms. William G. Thompson and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was a member of Full Moon Lodge No. 341, A. F. & A. M. Other prominent early settlers were : Thomas K. Phipps, Hezekiah Funk, Thomas Jeffer¬ son, and Andrew Jackson Crull, Henry Smith, John Maltimore, Robert Smith, Jonathan Plowman, afterward sheriff, John L. Johnson, Isom Mathews, A. J. Thompson, James L. Bierne, Davis M. Highfill, W. C. Gleason, Freeman Sweet, John L. Reed, Henry L. Legate, William S. Brown, J. Donald Sinclair, Solomon Phillips, and many others.

The first school was taught by Moses E. Morrell, in a log cabin, on section 21, which was attended by Lloyd T., John H. and Elizabeth Belt, two or three children of Levi Harrison, and children of William Ennis, and Amos and Lewis Lynn. Jonathan Plowman, later sheriff, was one of the early teachers. He was married to a sister of T. J. and A. J. Crull. Benjamin Wedding was also one of the early teachers, and he also suc¬ ceeded Plowman as sheriff in 1856, when he moved to Jerseyville and died there September 26, 1907. He was born in Scioto County, Ohio, April 14, 1826. He was married to Miss Tabitha Johnson, August 9, 1847. During 1854-6, he wTas coroner; was revenue collector during 1864- 8; mayor of Jerseyville during 1870-2; a justice of the peace for eight years, and pension agent from the time of the passage of the first pension law, during the Civil War until his death; and he was one of the most honored, and honorable citizens of the county. He left surviving him, his widow Tabitha and five sons, namely: Barclay, James, Thomas, Phillip, and Heber, all residing in Jerseyville, except James, who lives in Rosedale Township. Charles and A. L. Wedding, grandsons of Nicholas Wedding, also live in Jerseyville, the former being proprietor of a large auto garage and agent of the "Ford" auto and Fordson tractor; and the latter is agent of the Railroad Express Co.

Rosedale Township has three churches: a Union church at Nutwood, and Methodist churches at Rosedale and Meadow Branch. The two latter are attached to the Grafton Circuit. The former has no regular pastor.

William Ennis and his wife wrere buried in Union Cemetery at Rose¬ dale, in 1835; James Wedding in 1837, and Nancy his wife, in 1841; and other members of the family and people of the township since that time have been interred there. There is also a cemetery at Meadow Branch Church.

Mississippi River Power Company

The Mississippi River Power Company has purchased a strip of land, 100 feet in width, extending from the electric power dam, across the Mississippi River between Keokuk, Iowa, and Hamilton, Ill., and thence extending through the counties of Hancock, Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Jersey, to Alton, in Madison County, for the purpose of the construc¬ tion, maintenance, and operation, over and upon said premises, of a line for the transmission of electricity, electric railway, telephone and tele¬ graph lines, which crosses the Illinois River, at the north line of section 32-3, in Rosedale Township, thence southeast to the north line of Quarry Township thence east to section 1, in Elsah Township, thence south and

It has been said that Rosedale has no railroad nearer than Grafton. Now that, as a war measure, the United States has placed the control of the Chicago, Peoria & St. L. Railroad in the hands of the Chicago & Alton Railroad there would seem to be no reason why the latter railroad should not extend the road from Grafton to Hillview, in Greene County, and there connecting with its Kansas City branch of the Chicago & Alton, and thereby secure a water level line from Hillview to Alton and St. Louis; a shorter route, with no railroad competition. This ex¬ tension, if constructed, would run six miles in Rosedale Township ; and in direct contact with immense crops grown in the large drainage dis¬ tricts, in this territory; and also in Calhoun County on the opposite side of the Illinois River.

Change In Name

When Jersey County changed from the commissioner, to Township Organization form of government, in 1879, this township was named Illinois; but later the name was changed to Rosedale, upon petition of its citizens.