Livingston County, Illinois - The whole text, 1878 (part 14 of 25)

In 1850, Hugh Cummins came to the township to reside, and to marry the oldest pioneer's daughter. Cummins had been one of the old residents of Pontiac Township, having been in that vicinity six or eight years. His first wife, in the meantime, having died, and John Chew having a comely daughter, it was no hard matter to persuade Hugh that the soil in the vicinity of Mud Creek was of a superior character, and the daughter preferring to live near her paternal relatives, he removed his effects to Esmen and became one of its permanent and respectable citizens.

The year 1852 brought two of the most substantial and useful citizens that have ever resided in the township. ApoUos Camp and his son-in-law Bennett Humiston came that year from Connecticut. Camp had been in the employ of Seth Thomas, a man whose memory time will certainly never obliterate; for if he has not made time, he surely has made more machines for computing it than any other American. Mr. Camp was the foreman of the shops of the great clock-maker, and the husband of the time-maker's daughter. Ben. Hu- miston has been a most successful farmer and stock raiser, and has made a fortune from the products of the soil. Neither of these men has ever been much in politics or in office - not because their services were not desired, but because they preferred to give their attention to their own business, and allow those who had time and disposition to attend to such matters. Camp still makes his home in the township, while Humiston. having built one of the finest residences in Pontiac, has removed to that place.

By the last date mentioned, that is 1852, David Brown, Isaac Dickey, Cornelius Walrath and James Day had made their appearance. The first three settled on Mud Creek, and the last named was one of the first, and perhaps the very first, who ventured out on the prairie. Brown removed some years ago to Iowa. Dickey resided here until his death, which occurred several years since. His widow still occupies the old homestead. Walrath and Day have both been dead some years. The last named was a man who took much interest in education, and was the first school treasurer in this township, being chosen to that office in 1855. The next year after Camj) and Humiston arrived, Moses Ross came from Ohio and settled near them in the center of the township, where he continued to live until his death, which occurred a year and a half ago. No further additional settlements are now remembered, until the completion of the railroad, and then they were so frequent as to excite but little interest, and no exact information can be had in regard to the date of their arrivals. Suffice it to say that within five years of the last-mentioned date not less than fifty families had settled within the limits of what is now denominated Esmen Township.

One family, not on account of respectability alone, but also on account of number, will receive special mention. Thomas Pearson, from Ohio, came to the township during the last-named period. He had a large family and had married a widow with another large family ; and the two together coming to a new country like this, added very largely to its population. The family consisted of Thomas Pearson, Sr., Job, Ezra, William, Jesse, Moses and Thomas Jr.. and on the other side Mrs. Pearson and son, John Anderson, and three daughters. The sons and daughters were almost all grown and several of them married. In the meantime, William R. Babcock, J. N, Barr, C. W. Sterry, Jos. Finley, H. Marsh, John Campbell, Thornton Knight, E, Chase, Arlineus BroAver and others had arrived.

The balance of the township officers elect are : Eli W. Pearson, School Treasurer ; C. W. Sterry and A. W. Camp, Justices of the Peace ; E. W. Pearson and Thomas Schlosser, Constables.

The first school, as noted in Sunbury Township, was taught in the northwestern part of the township by Catharine Sprague. As the grove about Mud Creek was partly in Esmen and partly in Sunbury, so, consequently, the first settlements were made near each other in what is now denominated the Two Sections. Of course the history of the two sections of the neighborhood is the same. They had the same school, the same religious meetings, and whatever was an event in one was known and commented on by all ; and until the arbitrary lines made by the commissioners were drawn, this was called the Mud Creek Precinct. So, as the foundation of the schools and churches has already been given in a foi^mer page, it is not deemed necessary to repeat the same here.

From the first report made by the Township Treasurer, James Day, in 1855, we are permitted to glean the following facts : There w^ere in the township two public schools supported by public money ; there were 97 persons under 21 years of age, of whom 42 were in attendance at the schools : they were supported at an expense of $193.00, and the highest wages paid either of the teachers was $16.00 per month.

That the reader may have an idea of the progress of education in this township during the next twenty-three years, the following table is introduced :

Nevada

Except the two branches of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, no religious societies exist in the township ; though we would not have it understood that the people of this township are strangers to the influence of the Gospel, for they are surrounded on all sides by churches. At Pontiac, Cayuga, Odell, Cornell and Blackstone, all Avithin convenient distance, are organizations to which many of the people of Esmen belong, and to the support of which they contribute. Sunday schools and preaching in the school houses are privileges of which they also avail themselves.

The two houses of worship alluded to are situated in the southwest corner of the township, one in the village of Rowe, and the other about a mile northwest of town. The one in the village was built in 1876, and is still not quite completed, though nearly enough so to permit the holding of services. The building is thirty by forty feet, and has cost about $1,900. Rev. J. I. Welo is the present Pastor.

The other building Avas erected during the war, and is of about the same size and cost about the same amount. In this building a select school is supported during a portion of the year, but more for religious training than for secular, the children attending the public schools the most of the time.

The call of the President for soldiers to suppress the rebellion was heard by many in this township, and hearing, they left all - homes, firesides, friends and kindred - and followed the beat of the drum to the field of battle. A number of the brave boys who left us never returned. Their bones lie mingled with the soil of the country which they went out to rescue from the hands of traitors. The names of a few are here given. There were others, but on account of an unfortunate method of registration, many of the names are accredited to other towns. However, in the general War Record, in a subsequent portion of this work, will be found not only these, but the names of all who enlisted from the township. Among those who were killed or died from their wounds or disease, are remembered : George Perry, Henry H. Reid, Wm. H. Perry and Andrew Allen.

Village Of Rowe

On the completion of the Chicago & Paducah Railroad, among the many little towns which sprang up along the line was this. It was surveyed and platted by A. C. Huetson, from the southeast quarter of Section 32, for James Rowe, the proprietor, July 24, 1871. As will readily be guessed, the name iwas for the originator of the scheme. The project has been scarcely as successful as many who lived in the vicinity hoped, though it has proved a great con- Ivenience to shippers of grain and stock, and as a minor trading place ; and the road has been quite an accommodation as a means of communication with the ,30unty seat. The village contains at this time about fifty inhabitants, one store, one grain elevator and one blacksmith shop. J. M. Rowe still owns the plat of he town, though he has removed to the town of Sheridan in this State.

Esmen, otherwise in the survey described as Town 29 north, Range 5 east of the Third Principal Meridian, is bounded north by Sunbury Township ; east by Odell ; south by Pontiac, and west by Amity. Its surface is slightly undulating in the eastern part, and somewhat more level in the southwestern part. Nearly all of the land is of an excellent quality, though in portions of the township, the soil, being rather thin with a clay subsoil, is rendered subject to drought. It is traversed by Wolf Creek and its branches. Baker's Run and Mud Creek, all of which flow from the township on its western side, and empty into the Vermilion. The Chicago & Alton Railroad from the northeast to southwest, cuts oif a few acres from the southeast corner of Section 36, near the village of Cayuga. The Chicago & Paducah Railroad passes through the southwestern part, from northwest to southeast, cutting off" two sections from the southwest corner. Perhaps two sections in the vicinity of Mud Creek, and a quarter section at the head of Wolf Creek, called Babcock's Grove, embrace all of the timber in the township.

A few periods in the history of every nation, of every man and of every locality are seemingly of more importance than all of the balance of their existence. Probably no year in the history of Illinois has been more eventful than that of 1832. Certainly no year has brought so much anxiety and excitement to Central and Northwestern Illinois as did the one named. Previous to this time, it is true, there was considerable unrest and fear experienced by the inhabitants from their red neighbors, the Indians. Though, to all outward appearances, they were on friendly terms, yet the former, conscious that they were encroaching on the assumed rights of the others, and knowing full well their dispositions and their sensitiveness on the subject, were all the while apprehensive of trouble. During the year mentioned, all of their forebodings and much more were realized. Black Hawk and his allies had been wrought up to such a pitch that neither threats nor promises by the Government or the State would longer avail, and war between the two races seemed inevitable. The State and nation were prompt to deal with the belligerents, but not until a number of wholesale butcheries had been perpetrated, were the Indians brought into subjection and removed from the State. In the mean time, though no actual demonstration occurred in this section, yet all were in such a state of suspense and anxiety that the county was for a time entirely deserted, some going to the nearest fortifications for protection, and others returning to their friends in the East, to be out of harm's way until the troubles might blow over. After peace and order had been restored, those who had for a time left their pioneer homes returned, bringing with them many new settlers. Of this number were Jacob Moon and his sons, Rees, Albert and Thomas, and daughter Margaret. These were the original and first settlers of what is now Reading Township. They were from the State of Ohio, a-nd, like all early emigrants from wooded countries, were attracted by the timber and water features of the country, and hence settled in the immediate vicinity of the river, and near the little stream of water which now bears their name. The point of timber, still known as Moon's Point, is one of the most beautiful spots in this part of the country, and no wonder is expressed that they should have been pleased with the fine scenery as well as satisfied with the more material prospects. At the time of which we speak, there were not to exceed a dozen families in the whole county, of which were Rook, at Rook's Creek, the McDowells at Avoca, and Darnalls at Indian Grove. These were from ten to fifteen miles apart ; and it is not surprising that some trepidation was felt at the nearness of the wild men, and of their very insecure condition, should an enemy appear. Even after the troubles were all over, frequent frights occurred. It is related of one of the Moons that, one evening, on his return from work, seeing his wife at a distance from the house, he gave the well known Indian war-whoop, and was rewarded for his little pleasantry by seeing his wife go into spasms, from which she was recovered with great difficulty. The Moons were not alone in the township a great length of time, for in a short time they were joined by others from their native State.

Daniel Barackman, or "Bergman," as the name was spelled in the German language, came from Ohio a very short time after the Moons had lifted the light of their countenances upon the region. This family Avas a very large one, and this, with the large Moon family, went a good ways toward settling the township. The family consisted of Daniel Barackman, Sr., James, Upton, Jacob, Benjamin, Daniel, Jr., and daughters Harriet and Mary Ann. Of these original settlers but few still remain, but their descendants are quite numerous. The original Moons are all dead ; and all of the first Barackmans, except Benjamin and Daniel, Jr., are either dead or have removed to other parts.

M. I. Ross, mentioned in Pontiac Township, settled here in 1835. He was clerk of the first precinct election, held at the house of Alexander Breckinridge in the Bayou Precinct. He was the first C. C. C. C, as he signs himself - Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court. He lived here until his death, which occurred at an early date.

It may seem almost unaccountable that for the next fifteen years, scarcely a new settlement was made in this township. However, when it is remembered that the prairie lands of Livingston County did not find purchasers until 1848, or a little later, and that though one whole side of the township is bordered with timber, it is mentioned that the Moons and Barackmans occupied nearly all of it, the explanation becomes easy. There were several of the Moon families, and also several families of the Barackmans, and they spread themselves along the whole side of the township. In Amity it was quite different. The edge of the timber bordering on the prairies was nearly four times as great in length, and the families who settled did not usually consist of grown-up and married sons and daughters ; hence the amount of land occupied by a single family was much less, and there being a much longer stretch of timber, made room for nearly four times as many settlers. It was not until about 1848 that the township began to fill up, and settlements began to be made in the prairie. By 1854, which is generally named as the end of the pioneer period in these parts, about a dozen families, mostly from Ohio, moved into the neighborhood, entered land and became permanent residents. Of these were the Defenbaughs, Bussards, Mathises and Millses, almost all of whom were from the same neighborhood. The original Defenbaughs were Samuel, Andrew and John. The descendants of these, together with others who have come more recently to the neighborhood, constitute the largest number of a single connection in the township. The time has been when almost every second person met would prove to be a Defenbaugh.

Jacob and William Bussard were brothers, the former of whom is dead (the widow living in the village of Reading), and the latter residing in the township. Jerry and Caleb Mathis were amongst the very first who entered land here, their names appearing upon the original entry book as early as 1852. Caleb was one of the founders of the town of Reading, and for him and David Boyle the town was laid out, in the early part of 1851.

John Mills and sons, John W., Joshua and Thomas, came in 1851, the first three settling in this township, and the last just across the line in Long Point. This family is known and recognized as one of the most substantial and straight in the township. John Mills, Sr., has been dead several years. The sons still reside where they first settled. J. C. Mills was the first Collector elected in Reading Township, was Supervisor a number of terms, and has held many other official positions.

Ephraim Clark is one of the solid men of this part of the county. He was one of the first two Justices of the Peace elected after the township organization act was adopted, John A. Hoskins being the other. Hoskins was a man of some note. He was one of the first to enlist in the service of the country during the rebellion, was elected Captain of Co. D of the 20th I. V. I., and was afterward promoted to the office of Major.

Richard S. Hick was also one of the early settlers. We find his name recoMed in the county archives as a "Magistrate of the Precinct of Reading " in the year 1857.

Wm. B. Lyon, while he remained in this section, was one of the most prominent citizens ; he was also a native of Ohio, and came to this part of the county in 1851. He was the first School Treasurer of Reading, being appointed to that office in 1855 ; and was one of the first merchants of Reading. Upon his election to the office of Sheriff" of the county, he removed to the county seat, and thus, while the township was honored by the selection of

The northwestern part of the township was settled principally by natives of the " Keystone State." Among the earliest and most prominent were the Bradfords, Woolvertons and Kysers. Joseph Woolverton was elected from this township Treasurer of the county, and removed to Pontiac, where he resided until 1876, when he again removed to Colorado. This township has been further honored by the selection from among its citizens of two other men to fill prominent offices. In 1861, Samuel Maxwell was elected County Treasurer. He was at the date named the most prominent politician in Livingston County, and could manage elections and manipulate caucuses in a manner that surprised everybody, especially his opponents. Maxwell removed to Missouri about ten years ago. Amos Hart was elected Sheriff in 1864, and resided in Pontiac until a few years ago, when he went to California to hunt gold, where he is at present.

In 1858, the population of the township had increased to about 400, and the voting population was nearly 100. Previous to this, what is now Reading and a small part of Long Point, were known as the Reading Precinct ; but in the year mentioned, all that portion of Town 30, Range 4, west of the Vermilion, and all of Town 30, Range 3, were set off by the commissioners as a separate precinct or political township, and an election ordered for the 6th of April.

At this election, J. S. R. Overholt was elected Supervisor ; Alex. H. Boyd, Clerk; Christopher Brazee, Assessor; J. C. Mills, Collector; Albert Moon, Overseer of the Poor; Samuel Woolverton, J. G. Defenbaugh and Hugh Grant, Commissioners of Highways.

The township officers elect for 1878 are J. W. Moon, Supervisor; L. H Mallery, Clerk; Lovejoy Hunt, Collector; John Coe, Assessor; L. H. Mai ery and J. H. Holt, Justices of the Peace ; Samuel Yorty and Joseph Defen baugh, Constables ; and John Coe, School Treasurer.

Education has received due attention in this township. Our information as to the very first school, by whom taught, and when, being somewhat conflicting, it is thought best to venture no positive assertions ; but that the first school opened was in a little log building at Moon's Point, and that it was at an early date is not doubted. We have reliable information for stating that, in 1856, there were two schools, one at Reading and the other in the Barackman neighhood ; there were in attendance at these schools 110 scholars, and that there were two other organized districts in the township. In these last mentioned districts, which were the Ancona and Woolverton, houses were built the next year. One noticeable item in the report of the Treasurer for that year, is that the average wages paid for their Winter school was |47.50 per month. This was higher wages than that paid in any other township that year, and is a good indication of a favorable sentiment in regard to the then new public school system. Since that time material changes have taken place in population, politics and society, in which the town has shown commendable progress, and the subject of education has continued to hold a prominent place, as is indicated by the following figures extracted from the report of the School Treasurer for 1877:

This township is quite well supplied with church privileges. Besides those afforded by Streator and in other adjoining townships, there are four very comfortable and convenient buildings, situated in different parts of the township. In the village of Reading, the Methodists erected a house of worship in 1857.

A year or two later, the Protestant Methodists, in conjunction with the Christian or Campbellite denomination, built a Union Church at Ancona. A few years later, in 1867, a Union Church was erected at Coalville, which, however, has since been used mostly by the United Brethren society. In 1871-2, the Presbyterians, who had for some years been worshiping in the Methodist Church at Reading, erected a neat little house of worship a couple of miles northwest of the village.

All of these buildings are occupied by flourishing societies of the respective denominations. Sunday schools are kept up at all of them, and also in some of the school houses besides.

No township took a livelier interest in the defense of the Government in the great struggle against those who would have destroyed it in 1861-5. Reading Township furnished men for the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth, the Seventyseventh, and several other regiments, many of whom received deadly wounds, and some fatal ones. Of those who proved their valor by such a precious sac- rifice, the following are remembered : Andrew S. Bradford, S. H. Henion, David Jones, Marion Rush, William T. Boyd, Fred. W. Hall, James H. Chritten, John Roberts and Stephen Shipley.

Politically, until within a few years, this township has been a Democratic stronghold, whose fortifications were impregnable to any assault which the enemy could make. However, lately, on local questions, factions of both Republicans and Democrats have united, and formed the Anti-Monopoly or Greenback party, so that it would not be safe to state positively that it belonged to either of the old parties.

Village Of Reading

Excepting the county seat, this is the oldest laid out town in the county, having been surveyed and platted previous to 1851. In the year named, it was surveyed by Franklin Oliver for David Boyle and Caleb Mathis, from the southeast quarter of Section 15. Scarcely a prettier location for a town could be found in the whole county than this. The ground is high and dry ; and being on the bank of a fine little stream of water, good drainage is rendered easy. The first house built in the village was put up by L. S. Latham. Dr. Follet built an office near the same time.

The parties who laid out the town Avere also interested in its business and its early improvement; and David Boyle, who was one of the proprietors, and Jeremiah Mathis, brother of the other, built the first store house. Mathis also built a hotel, and was the conductor of the same. About this time the coal mines in this vicinity were being developed ; and people from all sections of the country, within fifty miles, came here for coal. Being unable to make the trip in one day, and sometimes having to await their turn, necessitated hotel accommodations for those who were obliged to stop here over night. So extensive did this business become in a few years that three hotels Avere at one time in successful operation. Those times are all passed; and the weary and worn traveler, unless he be so fortunate as to find a friendly villager who will take him in, must pursue his tedious journey a few miles further. Dr. J. Hill came in soon after the town was established, and built a residence and opened an office. C. R. Kyser, who had been living in the township, came to the village and built a blacksmith shop, and carried on the trade.

Jacob Bussard, in partnership with William B. Lyon, opened up a store a short time after. They afterward dissolved, and each carried on the business independentl}^, thus making at one time three flourishing general stores. Prior to the establishment of Reading, the people in all of this section of country went to Lacon and Ottawa to do their trading ; and, consequently, this enterprise, in connection with the coal banks, drew a large amount of business to this point. The town grew rapidly, and bid fair to be a place of importance ; but railroads, built soon after in other parts of the country, drew business and capital away from the place, and Reading was left to languish. The town is still a

Village Of Ancona

The history of Ancona is quite similar to that of Reading. With the change of dates and names, the remarks which apply to the one, might with propriety be repeated. Ancona was, however, founded on a different basis. The Great Air Line Railroad, from Fort Wayne to Council Bluffs, had been projected, surveyed and partially graded through this section, and there was not a doubt entertained that it would be completed. Accordingly, in 1854, the town of Ancona was surveyed for Orson Shackleton and Joseph Gumm. Depot grounds were set apart, and a street for a track surveyed. True to expectation, the road was graded through the village, and then Ancona real estate was held at high figures. Lots were sold out rapidly, and buildings went up as if by magic. Stores were opened and a hotel was built. Orson and Benjamin Shackleton built the first house, a store, and occupied it with a stock of goods. The Shackletons were form New York, and remained here until about eight years ago, when they removed. L. B. Smith, who had been living in the township, and who was formerly from Pennsylvania, built the first dwelling, which was the second house in the place. He is still a resident, and occupies the same old house. William Boatman, also a Pcnnsylvanian, soon after erected a hotel, and as this was but a short distance from the coal banks it was well patronized. Boatman afterward sold the hotel to Joel Willet, who had been living in the township. Boatman still resides in the village. Willet is dead, but the hotel is still kept open by members of the family.

Johnson Bradley came here in 1854, from Ohio, and started a wagon shop, and still carries on the trade at or near the old stand. C. R, Kyser, who had been living in the village of Reading, this year sold out his possessions there to Jacob Bussard, and came to Ancona and opened a blacksmith shop. Joseph Gumm had also been in business in Reading, and, seeing a bigger thing here, removed his store to this point. Gumm and Kyser have both gone further west.

The enterprise that did most to actually develop and give solidity to the town was the flour mill erected by Erastus Loomis, who came here from Ohio, in 1857. At this time there was no such convenience in this vicinity, or for miles west, and it naturally drew a large amount of trade from the surrounding country. Wheat was then considered a good crop, and a great deal of flour was made, not only for home use but for the purpose of shipping abroad.

After a while, the railroad seemed to be a delusion ; and, though it was a severe blow to the little village and the neighborhood, they did not continue to mourn. A few years subsequently, however, the mill was removed, and their hope of making this a town of any great consequence went out.

Streator was built a few years ago, and has quite overshadowed this place and Reading. The Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern Railroad was constructed through here in 1872, and stations being made of these two places has given to them new life, and they are now convenient local trading points.

Village Of Coalville

This is a little town, laid out by L. H. Mallery, October 6, 1865, near the coal beds, on Section 2. The town is occupied almost wholly by parties interested in the mining of the coal, of which immense quantities are taken out here. As much as 2,000 tons are mined per year ; and before the works at Streator were established, more than double this amount was mined. The mines are owned by L. H. Mallery and others, Avho allow them to be worked by other parties, who pay the proprietors a percentage of the products.

Reading is a fractional township, consisting of Congressional Town 30 north, Range 3 east, except Section 1 and part of 2 (which are cut off by the Vermilion River), and Sections 80 and 31, and parts of Sections 18 and 19, of Town 80, Range 4. It is traversed by Moon Creek, from the west, and another small tributary of the Vermilion, flowing from the southwest.

The Western Extension of the Chicago & Alton Railroad crosses the northwestern corner of Section 6 ; and the C, P. & S. W. R. R. divides the township into two nearly equal parts, from northeast to southwest.

The land is of a very rich and productive character, well adapted to the raising of corn, oats, rye and vegetables, large crops of which are produced.

This, according to the survey, is denominated Township 30 north. Range 5 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is a full Congressional town, being six miles square and containing 28,040 acres of land. With the exception of about one section in the southwest corner, and the little groves planted by owners of the land, it may be said to be without timber. The surface of the land, especially in the southern part, is quite rolling, perhaps more so than any other township' in the county. The only stream of water flowing through any portion is Mud Creek, which in reality rises in the township.

The western branch of the Chicago & Alton Railroad passes through the northern part, on the half section line of the second tier of sections.

Owing to the scarcity of timber and water, but little of the township was settled until a comparatively recent date. A few sections had been selected in the southwest corner, in the vicinity of Mud Creek, prior to 1850, but the larger portion was yet unsettled five years later.

When rapidly growing cities have become so compactly built that there no longer remains ground on which buildings may be placed, or when lots have become so dear that newer comers can find no suitable location, corresponding to their limited means, on which to erect them a habitation, they are necessarily compelled to seek room at a distance from the occupied portions of the city. In this way, addition after addition is made to the original plat of the city, and suburb after suburb follows, until what was at first considered a long way out in the country becomes the very heart of the city. Suburban towns thus grow and thrive from the simple overflow, until some of them even rival the parent corporation in wealth, population and power. By this means, Brooklyn, which is truly a suburb of New York, has become the third city in population in the United States, containing half the number of inhabitants that doea the city of New York. This is the history of the old world and the new. The people are being perpetually pushed off, thrust out and led forward as the human race multiplies. It is the history of societies and families. When the children are grown, though their love for the paternal fireside is not less, their love for independence and freedom is greater, and, one by one, they build their own tenements and erect their own altars. Human beings, like some of the lower orders of animals, love home, and, but for the hope of bettering their condition, would be loth to change their habitations. There is no better illustration of this idea than the settlement of the prairies of the West. The Eastern States were full. There was no land there for the increasing population, and young men and women, with the constantly-arriving emigrants from foreign shores, must seek homes on the borders of civilization. So they came. The first ones settled in the timber tracts, because, perhaps, it reminded them of the well remembered scenes of their youth. The later emigrant, however, was not permitted to rest his feet even here, but was obliged to locate at a greater or less distance on the open prairie ; and now, the emigrant finds not a foothold there, but is advised to continue his journey toward the setting sun.

The groves along the Vermilion River and along Mud Creek were pretty well occupied by 1850 ; but yet, at that time, all to the north and east, including all of Sunbury Township and many other whole townships, was but an open plain on which not a house or a fence or any other evidence existed to indicate that a white man had ever visited the region.

The Indian troubles of 1882 had been removed by the removal of the Indians to their reservations beyond the Mississippi. The panic of 183T and '38 had passed, the credit of the State was beginning to recover from its effects, and settlements were again being made in this section ; and, as they found the land along the creeks already occupied, shanties, here and there on the open prairie, began to appear.

The first actual settler of the township was Andrew Sprague. He came to the township in the year 1835. Mr. Sprague was from the wooded part of New York, and was doubtless pleased more with the timber feature of the township than with its rolling prairie, and therefore selected his farm on the bank of Mud Creek. He is still living, but has moved his residence to the village of Cornell. He has seen many changes, not only in the appearance of the township, but in the county, as he was one of the first settlers of this part of the State. Soon after his arrival, a great financial panic swept over the country, and especially over this State ; and emigration, for several years, was materially cbecked. For the next nine ^^ears, Sunburv did not have a single permanent addition. The few who came to the neighborhood settled in the timber ; and as this belt in Sunbury was quite limited, Sprague occupying the largest and (then considered) the best portion, they were constrained to look elsewhere for their ideal of a farm.

The financial crisis, however, had passed by 1844 ; the Michigan & Illinois Canal project was again on foot; and the eyes of emigrants were again on the central part of Illinois. In the year named, Jacob Longnecker made his appearance. Longnecker was a native of Pennsylvania ; but, when but a boy of ten years, went to Kentucky, where he lived until of age, when he married and removed to Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and finally, in 1844, as stated, to this township.

Ephraim Sprague, brother of Andrew, though not a permanent resident, had bought land in the neighborhood, and had built cabins thereon. Into one of these cabins the Longnecker family removed, and worked the land for a year, and then, having pre-enipted land and built them a cabin, moved to it. In this house the family, or members of it, resided untd 1865, when the building was turned into a blacksmith shop. Mr. Longnecker died in 1861.

Three years after the coming of Longnecker, E. G. Rice and Luther Smith settled here. Rice was a native of Maine. He had left that State, however, two years before, and had spent a year in Michigan and another in Kendall County of this State. He is now a resident of the southern part of the State. His son George, who was, at the time of his father's coming to the township, but a boy, is now a resident of Pontiac. Luther Smith was the first man who had the hardihood to settle on the prairie. He selected his home in the northwest part, near the present site of the village of Blackstone. His farm has always been known as ''Smith's Mound." Smith died about fifteen years ago, but the Mound is still occupied by representatives of the family.

For five years after the arrival of Smith and Rice, though the timbered portions of the county received accessions yearly, no others had the temerity to settle on the open prairie. However, in 1852, characteristic of the man, contrary to the advice of his friends, who added ridicule to solicitude, Asa Blakeslee took up a claim in the central part. He was laughed at by those who lived in the timber, and was told that he would certainly be eaten up by the wolves, and that, should he live out there till he was old, he would never have any neighbors. But Blakeslee comforted himself with the reflection that he would, in that case, like Robinson Crusoe, be " monarch of all he surveyed." He bought 200 head of young cattle, and had no trouble to find plenty of pasture for them, as the adjoining sections were all vacant. Soon after coming to the neighborhood, he went with his team to Ottawa, and bought a load of lumber. On his return, as he passed through the timber, he cut two forked saplings and one long pole, which he brought with him. The two saplings were planted at a distance of fifteen feet from each other, and the pole laid in the forks. The boards were then placed one end upon the pole and the other end on the ground, thus making in appearance a habitation resembling the roof of a rough stable. In this simple shelter he lived while his house was being built. For six months he did not see the face of a white man.*

He lived, for the first six months, on corn meal, pork and turnips. These items are given not on account of any peculiarity in the mode of living, but, on the contrary, because it was the usual manner with the first settlers. Mr. Blakeslee is a native of Litchfield County, Connecticut ; he has been closely identified with every public and political movement of his township, and, at an advanced age, he resides in the vicinity of his first settlement.

Very soon after the advent of Blakeslee, Isaac Ames, from Maine, settled a little northeast from the point of timber on Mud Creek, and built a log cabin, in which he resided for a time, until he had erected a better house. Isaac Ames, Jr., now of Streator, had been teaching school in Michigan, and had practiced medicine there and in La Salle County in this State. He lived on the Ames place until about ten years ago, Avhen he sold out, removed to Streator and engaged in the hardware trade.

James L. Hadley was a Methodist preacher. He came from Ohio at about the time that the Ameses made their appearance. The first preaching, except an occasional sermon, was done by him and Jacob Hoobler, of Newtown.

In 1854, the two great railroads, the Chicago & Alton and the Illinois Central, had been finished through Central Illinois, and not only conveyed immigrants to this part of the State, but some of the contractors and laborers on the works became some of our very best citizens. During the two preceding years, Thomas F. Norton, J. 0. Corey, Erastus Corey, Ansel Gammon and brothers, and Perry Corbin came to this part of the State. Thomas F. Norton was from Maine, and settled in the northeastern part of the township. He first settled in La Salle County, a little north of Ottawa, where he taught school a year before making this his permanent residence. After a short residence in the county, he was elected County Surveyor, the duties of which office he performed in a very satisfactory manner. In 1862, he was ordained as a minister of the Baptist Church, and preached at New Michigan and other points until his death, in 1866.

J. 0. Corey and his brother Erastus were from Pennsylvania. The former was a man of no ordinary ability. He had been an officer of high rank in the Mexican war. At the close of the war, having distinguished himself as a soldier, he was proposed by his friends as a candidate for the office of Sergeantat-Arms of Congress, and, though not elected, received a very flattering vote. He was the first Supervisor of this township, being elected in 1858. He removed to Iowa two years ago. Erastus was a carpenter, and worked most of the time at the trade. He came to this part of the State in tlie employ of the railroad company, in 1853. He afterward returned to his native State, where he was killed by falling from a building on which he was working.

Perry Corbin, a relative of one of the earliest settlers of Rook's Creek, came here from Virginia. He and his brother Anderson, who came a few years later, w^ere both blacksmiths,though only Anderson worked at the trade after settling here.

Enos Thatcher, H. H. Brower, and John Gower and son, B. A. Gower, though not among the earliest settlers, are deserving of mention as men of more than ordinary character. The first was an early settler of La Salle County. He still resides in this township. Brower came from Ashtabula County, Ohio. He was a lawyer, and practiced in the courts of this county. In 1860, he^ was a candidate for Representative to the Illinois Legislature, but was not elected. A few years since, he removed to Nebraska, where he now resides. Gower and son were from Maine, and being men of education and ability, have proved themselves valuable accessions to the social and business wants of the community.

The first school to which the children of Sunbury had access was established in the edge of the timber of Mud Creek, just outside the limits of the township, and near the Sprague property. It was taught by Catharine Sprague, mother of Andrew and Ephraim. This was about the year 1836, and twenty years before the public school system of the State was adopted, hence Avas a private affair, maintained by subscription. In 1855, the Hilton school house was built, and the next year the Ames house. The report of the first School Treasurer, Thomas F. Norton, shows that in 1855 there was but one school, thirty-four scholars in attendance, ninety-two children in the township, and one teacher ; the highest wages paid was |12 per month, and the whole amount paid out for school purposes was $38.75. He also reports that a canvass of all the township discloses the fact that there are 107 school books in all of the houses, sixty-five of which are elementary spellers. But few townships made more satisfactory progress during the next ten years. The one school had been multiplied by seven, each of which had a comfortable house ; the number of scholars had increased to 217 ; the average monthly wages paid to teachers was ^28.50 ; and the total amount paid out for the support of schools was thirtythree times as great, being, in 1865, over |1,300.

The first post office for the benefit of this community, like the first school, was established in Esmen Township, was called Sunbury, and kept at the Brown residence. It was afterward moved to Andrew Sprague's, and has since had a migratory existence, like all country post offices, going from one house to another, as different persons could be found who were willing to be bothered with it. At last, when the village of Blackstone was established, the post office was moved there ; and, as its name was changed, it can hardly now be said to exist.

Though preachers have had a permanent residence here, and though many pious Christian people have lived here, neither church house nor organization existed in the township, until the village of Blackstone began to build. Sabbath schools held in the public school houses, with preaching at the same places, have been as common as in other parts of the county ; and the morals and religion of the people are as well cultivated as in other towns.

The township of Sunbury was organized April 6, 1858, by the election of J. 0. Corey, Supervisor; J. S. Cummings, Clerk; T. F. Norton, Assessor; A. S. Blakeslee, Collector; A. Sprague, John Gower and R. C. Myer, Commissioners of Highways : Isaac H. Ames and A. J. Collins, Justices of the Peace; A. A. Blakeslee and Wm. M. Hopkins, Constables. The whole number of votes cast at this first election was but nineteen, and as most of them were elected to an office, it will be seen that, by 1858, but few new names appear to the old settlers' list.

The following list gives the names of the principal officers elected at each successive meeting, to this date (1878), which list has been kindly furnished by Geo. H. Blakeslee, present Township Clerk :

The officers elect of the township are : H. H. Kent, Supervisor ; George H. Blakeslee, Clerk ; Bernard Demsey, Collector ; Thomas LaVell, Assessor ; Samuel B. Norton and M. J. Bosworth, Justices of the Peace ; W. B. Hamil-

During the "late unpleasantness," this township bore a very considerable part. Quite a number of the young men of this vicinity enlisted in the various regiments raised in this portion of the State. Several who thus exchanged liome and family comforts for the hardships and suffering of the camp and field, in addition, sacrificed their lives for the principles which they loved better than fireside, and better even than existence. Some were killed outright in the affray ; some received wounds of which they died after a lingering illness ; and others, though never receiving a saber cut or a musket shot, received the seeds of disease, contracted from exposure and hardships, which finally terminated their existence. All honor to the townships which they represented ; and in an especial manner, all honor to the brave representatives who proved their love of country by their valor.

Village Of Blackstone

Blackstone is situated on the western extension of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, nearly midway between Streator and Dwight, being ten miles from the former and thirteen from the latter. It is a neat little town of nearly two hundred inhabitants ; and, in the amount of business transacted, is not exceeded by any town of its size in the county.

The land which constitutes its site, originally belonged to R. B. Hamilton. About the time when the line of railroad was completed through this section, the land was purchased by Wm. Shepard, of Jersey County, Illinois, and for him the village was laid out by A. C. Huetson, on January 6, 1870. The original plat consisted of eighty acres of Section 7, lying on the north side of the railroad track.

The town was called Blackstone in honor of the President of the road ; and much of the plat being property of the officers of the road, the town is naturally looked upon as being a favored point.

The first house within the limits of the place antedates the village or the road, having been built years ago by R. B. Hamilton. As soon as the survey had been made, Frank Mcintosh built a store, and this was the first building of the kind erected here. As soon as it was completed, he put into it a stock of general merchandise, and has continued in the business ever since. About the same time, R. B. Hamilton erected a warehouse and commenced buying grain. This warehouse is now idle, the whole grain business having been absorbed by the Kent Brothers, who built an elevator here a few years later. They handle about 400,000 bushels of grain per year, mostly corn.

As soon as the town had been certainly established, the post office of Sunbury was removed to the station, and Charles A. Holton installed as Postmaster, which position he still retains.

Among the others who manifested their confidence in the future of the place by settling here at its beginning, were J. L. Colier, Enoch Sherick, R. D. Gregg and J. A. Tout. The last named was a blacksmith ; and the first was a carpenter, who built nearly all of the houses that have been put up in the

There are no organized churches here ; but religious services are held by several denominations, who occupy the school house for that purpose by turns. A Sunday school, in which all of the citizens take a deep interest, is conducted under the superintendence of M. F. Waters.

This is a fractional town and lies in the southern tier of townships, between Belle Prairie and Germantdwn, with Forrest on the north and Ford County on the south. It is mostly rolling prairie, but with a few sections that are low and flat, and is wholly devoid of native timber. The latter defect, however, has been supplied by the planting and cultivation of trees ; and many beautiful groves are to be seen in every part of the township. It is intersected by the Chicago & Paducah Railroad, which enters the town through Section 4, and crosses Sections 3, 10 and 15, in almost a southerly direction. Fayette is known as Town 25 north. Range 7 east of the Third Principal Meridian.

The first settlement within the present limits of Fayette was made by Rees Morgan, on Section 16, in June, 1863. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Illinois in 1829, and to this neighborhood as stated above. His settlement was made on the School Section, with the expectation of long enjoying the entire section ; but the town developed more rapidly than anticipated, and he was only permitted to occupy it about seven years, when it was sold according to law, for school purposes. Mr. Morgan, now well advanced in years, lives in the village of Strawn, a highly-respected citizen and honored among his fellow-men. He Avas a soldier in the Black Hawk war of 1832, and was with Col. Stillman in his memorable defeat at Pawpaw Grove, which occurred on the 14th day of May of that year. Possessing fine conversational powers, his description of the Black Hawk campaign is graphic and entertaining.

At that early period, military organizations were in their embryonic state, and the authority of a militia Major extended over an entire county. Four companies, he states, were raised in Peoria, Tazewell and McLean Counties, and he volunteered in Tazewell, under command of Captain Adams. These troops were ordered to rendezvous at Dixon, and await the arrival of the Commander-in-Chief, Governor Reynolds, and his forces. A dispute arose among Majors Stillman, Bailey and Johnson, as to which of them belonged the right to command the entire forces from this section. On the arrival of Governor Reynolds, Stillman was appointed Colonel of the forces from the counties already named, on account of the seniority of his appointment as Major. Jealousy on the part of the other two followed as a natural consequence at the high honor conferred on Stillman, each feeling that his own peculiar fitness for the position had been wholly disregarded, and they were quite willing to encompass him with defeat, and compromise him or any one else in order to gratify an envious disposition.

On the arrival of the Governor and his forces at Dixon, Col. Stillman was sent with his command on a scouting expedition. His force numbered 200 men. while Black Hawk's was not far short of 450 warriors. Army regulations in the far West were not as strict then as at the present day, and each soldier was allowed a pint of whisky as a part of his daily rations. In drawing their supplies for a three-days scout, they were careful to obtain three square pints of whisky each, to the utter neglect of the more substantial necessaries. Their frequent imbibitions on the second day of their march resulted in dire confusion, and each man became his own commander. Not the slightest attention was paid to the commands of the ofhcers, and they raced over the broad prairies, spoiling for a hand-to-hand fight with the " redskins." Near the close of the days march (if march it could be called), Indians were seen in the distance, and immediately the whites charged pell-mell toward them. On arriving on the spot where the Indians had been seen, what was their consternation to find themselves flanked on the right and left. A " V " had been formed by the wily chieftain - a trap had been set, and into it they had ridden at full speed. And now came the time for retreat. Mr. Morgan says, if they " rode fast in coming up to the Indians, they certainly attempted to make double-fast time in cc«iiing away." The running away was as promiscuous as the advance had been, and some of the troops did not reach Dixon for two or three days, though distant but thirty miles from the scene of disaster. Stillman was defeated and disgraced, and Johnson, who succeeded to the command, correspondingly gratified. This little notice of a war with which all are familiar seems so appi'opriate in the history of Mr. Morgan, the first settler in this toAvnship, that we deem no excuse necessary for giving place to it.

The next settlement in Fayette was made by B. F. Brandon in the Spring of 1864. He settled on Section 8, where he remained several years, and then sold out and removed to La Salle County. John and Thomas Brownlee came from Knox County, but were originally from Scotland. They settled in Fayette Township in 1865, but recently Thomas has removed into the village of Strawn and John removed to Kansas. Among other early settlers, we may notice George Seaton, Charles Wilson, James, Benjamin and Robert Turner, William Walker, John and Daniel Parsley and the McCormicks. Seaton came from New York in 1867, and when he settled in Fa3^ette, his was the fourth house in the township. Charles Wilson was from Kendall County, and settled I here in 1866, when he broke the farm and built the house where Seaton now 'lives. Wilson removed to Forrest when Seaton came in, and now lives in

Hoopeston. The Turners were from near Ottawa, and settled here in 1867, where they still reside. Walker came from Galena, and the Parsleys from La Salle County, and settled here in 1867, and still live in the township. The McCormicks were also from La Salle County, and settled here in 1865.

The first birth in Fayette Township was Rose McCormick, a daughter of James and Jane McCormick, who was born December 15, 1865. The first death was that of a young man of the name of Eaton, and occurred at the residence of John Brownlee about the 1st of August, 1867. The first marriage which took place in the township was that of Moses K. McDowell and Mary Morgan ; and the second, that of D. R. Morgan, a brother to the first bride, and Jennie McDowell, a sister of the first bridegroom, on the principle, we presume, that " a fair exchange is no robbery." Since the occurrence of the two marriages above recorded, Frank C. McDowell and Laura Morgan have been united in holy wedlock, thus forming a triple alliance between the McDowell and Morgan families. The first physician was Stacy Stephens, who located in the village of Strawn soon after it was laid out. Dr. G. S. Harvey has recently located there, and both practice their profession in the village and township. The first Justice of the Peace in the town was H. McCormick, who was elected in 1869, and held over on the separation of Fayette from Belle Prairie Township in 1871.

It seems appropriate that some mention should be made in the history of Fayette Township of the "- Burr Oak Farm," the largest farm in the world, perhaps, owned and controlled by a single individual. The Burr Oak Farm of M. L. Sullivant embraces nearly 40,000 acres, eight sections of which lie in Fayette Township and four sections in Germantown, while the remainder of it is in Ford County. People who have never visited the great West, and in whose eyes a farm of two or three hundred acres is large, have very little conception of the magnificent scale on which farming operations are carried on in the regions of the prairie country. Notwithstanding the vast area of this gigantic plantation, its management is reduced to so perfect a system that everything moves on with as much harmony as though but a few hundred acres were embraced in it. In 1871, the Harpers sent out a special artist and reporter to visit "Burr Oak Farm," as Mr. Sullivaut's place is called, and to write a description of it, with illustrations. An issue of their Illustrated Weekly in September, 1871, contained about three columns, descriptive of this great farm and the mammoth establishment of Sullivant's, accompanied by some dozen engravings of diff'erent scenes and occupations. Among the illustrations we noticed the following: First, a striking portrait of M. L. Sullivant, the proprietor of Burr Oak Farm; "The Homestead, Burr Oak," "Evening in the Burr Oak Grove," "Planting Corn," "Ditching Plow," " Cultivating Corn,*' "Hedge Gang," "Breaking Raw Prairie," "Farm Gang," "Harvesting," "Mr. Sullivant and his Captains at Evening," " Sunday in Burr Oak Grove," etc. The system observed on this place is equal to military discipline. Sullivant was Commander in Chief, then an Adjutant under him, who assisted him in the management and saw that all orders were obeyed ; next, there were twelve Captains, each of wliom had three Lieutenants under him, and each Lieutenant had charge of a gang of six to ten hands. The farm was laid of into stations, and each station was in charge of a Captain, whose duty it was to report every day's business to the Commander in Chief at night. A bookkeeper was employed and an account opened with every station, and in this account was entered everything done on that station each day, viz., how many men were employed, how many horses, mules and oxen, together with what kind of labor each had performed.

One Day

This is but a fragment of the list, but shows the system adopted. Nor was the Commander idle. Seldom a day passed but either he or his Adjutant was in every field on the entire plantation ; so that if a Captain had attempted a false report it would have been detected at once. The following extract is from Harpers' WeeMy^ of the date already alluded to : " The machinery in use at Burr Oak would handsomely stock two or three agricultural implement stores : 150 steel plows, of different kinds ; 75 breaking plows ; 142 cultivators, of several descriptions ; 45 corn planters ; 25 gang harrows, etc. The ditching plow, a huge affair of 18 feet in length, with a share of 11 feet by 2 feet 10 inches, is worked by 68 oxen and eight men. These finish from three to three and a half miles of excellent ditch each day's work. * * There is 300 miles of hedge, 6 miles of board fence for stock, and 150 miles of ditching to drain the wet places. The stock of Burr Oak at present is 300 mules, 50 horses and 50 yoke of cattle. There may be 1,000 or 1,200 hogs and a magnificent herd of milch cows - mostly Durhams - and very valuable. An entire section of land is devoted to raising produce for feeding stock and hands. There are 2,500 acres of tame grass, which will cut an average of a ton and a half to the acre ; besides this, much wild grass is cut." But anything like an accurate and complete description of this immense farm would occupy more space than we can give it in these pages, and, therefore, we must i let it pass with this meager notice.

The first school in Fayette Township was taught by Rebecca Morgan, in 1868, in a small shanty on Section 6, located on the present site of the school building near the residence of William Walker. In 1873, there were eighty-five children in the township entitled to school privileges, and seventysix reported as attending school. Two schools were reported, with one male teacher and four female teachers. School fund, $10,803. The treasurer's last report shows the following :

There are four school districts in the town and four good, substantial school houses, in which first-class schools are maintained for the usual period each year.

The building of the Chicago & Paducah Railroad through this township has been the means of developing it, and has been a great convenience to the people, particularly to those who have business occasionally at the seat of justice. The road received their hearty support and they have always been friendly toward it.

As previously stated, Fayette was a part of Belle Prairie until 1871, when it was set off by act of the Board of Supervisors. The present officers of the township are as follows, viz.: J. W. Ebersol and M. M. Gatchel, Justices of the Peace; William McCormick, Assessor; Adam Kopp, Collector; John Hopkins, Town Clerk, and D. A. Morgan, Supervisor.

The color of Fayette politics is about half and half; that is to say, it is about evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. At least, it has been so for some time past; but it is not edsj to say just what effect the Greenbackers will have in the township. The war record is given in the histories of other sections of the county, as there were no settlements made here until very near the close of the war. ^

The Village Of Strawn

Strawn is situated on the Chicago & Paducah Railroad, about ten miles south of Fairbury, and was laid out June 6, 1873. It was surveyed by Alfred

C. Huetson, County Surveyor, for David Strawn, the original proprietor, and for whom the village was named. The original plat contained 30.09 acres, in Section 3, of Town 25 north, etc., and has since, we believe, had some additions made to it. In order to induce settlers to locate in the village, and in building it up, Mr. Strawn adopted the plan of giving every alternate lot to such as would erect houses, under certain specifications, by the 1st of September folowing its laying-out. The houses might be as large as the proprietors chose to build, but must not fall below certain dimensions. No shanties, either as business or dwelling houses, were to be erected. The first business house inclosed in the village was that of E. H. Roberts, who selected the first lot, on the day the village was laid out. The business houses of H. McCormick, T. H. Aaron and Brownlee Brothers were under process of erection at the same time. The first dwelling was erected by John Golfer, now owned by Hampton McCormick, and operated as an hotel. About the same time, dwellings were put up by L. L. Graves, James Stevenson and a Mr. Welch.

E. H. Roberts, now of the firm of Aaron, Roberts & Co., sold the first goods in the village. His store was opened about the 1st of July, 1873. At the present time, there are eight stores in Strawn, also harness shops, blacksmith shops, shoe shops, grain firms and one saloon. Indeed, the village seems to have completely risen above the swamps and marshes, where it languished when a poet of the period evoked the muses and thus described its condition :

The post office was established October 6, 1873, and E. H. Roberts was appointed Postmaster, which position he still holds. The .first freight received at Strawn station was July 1, 1873, and was a barrel of meat for S. K. Mitchell, who kept a boarding house. The first shipment of freight was a carload of hogs, and was made by Walter D. Strawn, July 7, 1873. The freight shipments for the six months ending July 1, from Strawn, were as follows :

The amount of grain shipped from this point during the year is not far I short of 250,000 bushels. The first corn bought here for shipment was by W. Reed, agent for Hoyt & Beebe, of Forrest.

The first school was taught in Strawn by Sarah Hanagan, of Ottawa, in the Summer of 1874, and a temporary school house built the same year. The jviUage at present supports a good school, which is well patronized and main, 'tained about eight months in the year. At the last election, a tax of $1,800 ;wa8 voted for the purpose of erecting a suitable school building, and soon the

The Methodist society was organized in the village in the Summer of 1874, under the ministerial care of Rev. R. D. Russell. The membership at the date of organization did not exceed eight persons, and the church now numbers on its roll some twenty active members, and is in a flourishing condition.

Strawn, like hundreds of other railroad towns and villages, has sprung up in the last few years like a hot-house plant. It is, however, a flourishing little place, full of energy and enterprise, and does a large amount of business. It is increasing in importance each year, and will soon overtake some of its elder neighbors, unless they rub off the rust of years, and, like Dickens' Little Joe, "move on."

This township is very appropriately named. It is strictly a German town. Three-fourths of its population, perhaps, are from the "Faderland," and have sought the prairies of the New World, and homes where all are free and all are equal. No more honest and enterprising farmers, or quiet and peaceable citizens exist in Livingston County, than these hard-working Germans of the township heading this chapter. They move on in the " even tenor of their way" without ostentation or display, quietly enjoying their pipes and their lager beer, and very rarely interfering, to their credit be it said, in the affaixs of others. Germantown occupies the extreme southeast corner of the county, and is described as Township 25 north. Range 8 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is a fractional town, and is almost entirely prairie, with but very little native timber, and a small quantity of what was in the earlier days of settlement, termed "swamp lands." Until 1867, Germantown was included in Chatsworth Township, as noticed in that part of this work. At the meeting of the Board

Thomas Y. Brown made the first actual settlement in Germantown Township in 1855. He came from Jefferson County, N. Y., and located as noticedabove, in Germantown, where he lived until a few years ago when he retired from active business and removed to the village of Chatsworth. He still owns his farm in Germantown, which is cultivated by tenants, while he resides in the village enjoying the competence his life of industry and perseverance in business has won for him. A son of Mr. Brown's is engaged in the banking business at Chatsworth, and is one of the honorable business men of the place.

The next year after the settlement of Mr. Brown in Germantown witnessed the arrival of Nicholas Fraoeb and P. Goembel, from the " Black Forests of the Rhine." They settled here in the Fall of 1856, and were soon followed by others from "Deutschland," until to-day, as stated a little space ago, nearly the entire town is settled up with Germans, many of whom cannot speak a word of English, and among whom the mellow accents of Germany alone are heard. Dr. R. B. Wilson, who came from Ireland, but lived in Washington, Tazewell County, owned a section or two of land in this township. He sold the most of it to Germans, Avho, through his instrumentality came here and made their settlement within a few years from the time of the first opening made by Brown.

Hon. Samuel T Fosdick is from New York City, and was induced to come West by his physician, with a hope of restoring his feeble health. He settled in Germantown in 1858. At that time, he informed us, there wefe living in the town Thomas Y. Brown and a few German families ; the remainder of the lands were unoccupied. A few years ago Mr. Fosdick removed into Chatsworth village, where he at present resides. He is a lawyer of merit, and a member of the State Senate, from the district composed of the Counties of Livingston and Ford. But a more complete history of him is given in the chapter devoted to Chatsworth. This includes the first settlements made in this township, and brings its history up to a period when immigrants came in? mostly from the " old country," with too much rapidity for the historian to keep trace of them.

Germantown has no church edifices, nor a store or post office, within its territorial limits. There are, however, several church societies of the German Lutheran, Ormish and Evangelical Association, who hold their religious meetings in the school houses, and at the people's residences but of them, we were unable to obtain much definite information. Their mail is received from Chatsworth, Strawn and other offices around its borders, and their trading is likewise done at these places.

The schools of Germantown are in a very flourishing condition, and well up to the standard of public schools in any other section of the county. The first school was taught in 1859. but the name of the teacher is forgotten. We find from the records that in 1866 there were three school districts in the county, and thirty-five scholars in attendance. White persons under 21 years of age were forty-five, and the school fund was $146. In 1873 there were five schools ; 161 children between the ages of 6 and 21 years, and the number at school 101, Two male and six female teachers were employed, and the district tax levy for support of schools was $947. The following figures are taken from the last annual report of A. B. Minnerly, School Treasurer of the township, to the county superintendent of schools :

There are at present in the township, which is fractional, five school districts, in all of which there are good, comfortable school houses, and schools maintained for the usual term each year.

We have stated that Germantown was without churches, stores and post oflSces, and we may add, without mills, railroads, mighty water courses or great forests. In fact it has little history beyond the settlement of its quiet citizens. It is well supplied with good roads ; but these are of too modern construction to be an interesting matter of history. Its political faith is pretty evenly divided between the two great parties of the day, and indeed, it is stated that the Presidential contest in 1876 between Hayes and Tilden was a tie vote. The present township officers of Germantown are A. B. Minnerly, Supervisor; John Leggate and A. B. Minnerly, Justices of the Peace ; F. C. Dassan, Town Clerk ; Charles Roedel, Collector, and John Leggate, Assessor.

This concludes our history of Livingston County, and to the patient reader, who has followed us through these pages, we kindly bid you adieu.

Geological Features

[For the benefit of our patrons who are interested in the subject, we copy from the Geological Survey of Illinois that portion pertaining to the coal measures of Livingston County. The plates of this work were destroyed by fire at Springfield some time since, and hence no more copies will be issued, which renders this extract of great interest in the history of the county.]

Coal Measures

The Big Vermilion River, from the north line of the county to Pontiac affords many exposures that help to determine the changes in the coal measures.

A coal bank on the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 1, Township 30 north, Range 3 east, shows the Streator coal, which is here divided by a clay seam fifteen inches thick, leaving thirty-three inches of coal above and twelve inches of coal below it. The coal here is a little below the bed of the river, and a quarter of a mile below it is at the river level. A quarter of a mile above the mine, the coal at Newtown Mill is in the bed of the river below the dam. A half-mile below the mine the clay parting is only oneeighth of an inch thick.

Glen wood Mill, on the northeast quarter of Section 12, about the middle of the quarter section. The river runs north, 35° west, and the sandstone above the shale that overlies the coal at Sreator, shows here with a dip south, 35° east, one foot in ten. At the mill the dam rests upon the coal. One mile above the dam the coal appears again. It was worked in 1860 and 1861, and said to be three and a half feet thick.

One hundred and twenty rods north of the south line of Section 18, Township 30 north. Range 4 east, the coal is four and a half feet thick on the east side of the river. At the south line of Section 18, the coal is under the river not more than eight feet. Further down the river a short distance, on the west side the coal is three feet thick.

At the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 19, Township 30, Range 4 east, a limestone nearly six feet thick appears where the river makes a bend west. This rests on a blue clay, and appears to be No. 12 of the general section of La Salle County. Fossils found in it were Productus longistinus, Spinifer cameratus, Sp. lineatus, Athyris subtilita and Cyathoxonia.

The same limestone appears again in the elbow of the river, on the right bank, on the south part of Section 19, near the middle line; also in a detached mass, slipped down in the east part of the southeast quarter of Section 19, with the underlying greenish clay and shale forming the bank.

Sandstone appears on the north line of Section 30, Township 30, Range 4 east, near the middle corner. This seems to be No. 49, of the general section of La Salle County. The base is shaly, discolored by wafer bands of coal and coal-plant fragments. This sandstone continues in sight to the mouth of Long Point Creek, on the left bank of the river, in the southeast corner of Section 29 ; then reappears on the right bank just above the mouth of Long Point Creek. The dip shows well here to the northeast, one foot in twenty. In the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 32, in the bend of of the river, the direction of the dip is a little more east, and the massive sandstone is overlaid by a bed of silicious and micaceous shale, on which rests a clay shale of a light blue color, the silicious shale being of a grayish light blue. In the clay shale are two bands of limestone somewhat like ironstone, irregular, separated by clay shale and each about one foot thick. The main sandstone appears again one quarter of a mile below the mouth of Mud Creek, on the left bank of the river, and at the mouth of Mud Creek is the underlying shaly sandstone. This is near the middle of Section 32.

Continuing up the river, this sandstone appears in the south part of Section 5, Township 29, Range 4, with five or six feet of the underlying shales. One quarter of a mile further up, and probably in the north part of Section 8, coal comes in suddenly, with section as follows :

This eighteen inches of coal is generally represented elsewhere, and in La Salle County are fragments and wafer seams of coal. The fire-clay is absent. A thin, shaly sandstone of eighteen inches is here found two feet thick below the coal.

Southeast, three-quarters of a mile or less, in a straight line from this point, a coal seam appears in the bed of the river. Its thickness could not be determined, but is at least one and a half feet. The right bank shows argillaceous shales, with bands of nodules, and thin shales indicating the Streator coal. The dip is between southeast and east. This point is a little below the mouth of Scattering Point Creek, and is probably in the north part of the southeast quarter of Section 8. The shales in the right bank of the river, in the northwest quarter of Section 9, in that part of the river which runs near the west line of the section, appear to be the same just referred to. In the bend of the river at the middle of the northwest quarter of Section 9, the strata of sandstone and shale dip about west one foot in twenty. Ten rods further up the river, the dip is a little south of east at the same rate.

Near the south line of Section 9, the same sandstone appears again, and dips southeasterly ; in the bank of the river in the southeast quarter of Section 16, the southwest quarter of Section 15 and the northwest quarter of Section 22, limestone before referred to appears in loose masses, the banks formed of the underlying blue clay. A slippery bank, and the limestone slipped down, is everywhere, it appears, characteristic of this portion of the vertical section, often obscuring the details. Near the north line of Section 22, and a quarter of a mile east of the northwest corner, the limestone in place is down to the river level. The character of this rock to disintegrate into irregular fragments, is exhibited here in abundant loose, coarse limestone gravel, two to four inches in diameter.

From this point to Allen's Mill, in the southwest quarter of Section 23, nothing noticeable is to be seen. This limestone appears again at the mill dam, and also ait the ford, two miles and a half below Pontiac, and at Pontiac. The fossils are Spirifer cameratus, S. lineatus, S. planoconvexus, Productus longispinus, and Bellerophon.

The branches of the river in this county afford no aid in determining the rock strata, excepting at a very few points, the drift concealing everything below. Above Pontiac, but little exposure is found. The details given of the tracing of the river up to Pontiac show the upheaval of the coal measures continued as in La Salle County, and also seem to indicate some slight local disturbances or parallel axial lines with the main axis. -

On Rook's Creek, in the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 23, Township 28, Range 43, a sandstone is quarried. The section is as follows :

One hundred yards west, down the creek, it shows again. Two hundred yards west, on the left bank of the creek, a limestone comes in, stratified in masses, brecciated, about five feet altogether ; no fossils. The sandstone shows again in the bed of the creek, about eighty to one hundred rods in the southeast corner.

I do not regard the section as a valuable one. Some specimens oi'Avioulopecten rectilaterarius, found in the waste pile, were reported as from No. 27

From the coal No. 27 the section was ascertained by boring in bottom of shaft. Water was noticed at 427 feet. The upper sixteen feet of No. 25, reported to contain calamiles and large wood-like fossils, body being of sandstone, probably sigillaria incrusted with coal. Limestone No. 5 of 4;his section outcrops near town.

The shaft and boring of Amsbury & Jones, on southwest quarter of Section 2, at Fairbury, exhibit the following section, as reported by them :

Section

This boring is fifty feet from the railroad, near east line of Section 4. Artesian well at Chatsworth, southeast quarter of Section 3, Township 26, Range 8 east :

The earliest attempts at popular exhibitions of the agricultural and mechanical products of the county were held about the year 1850, in the Court House Square. The principal mover in these exhibitions was Mr. Samuel Ladd. But few articles were exhibited ; and at the close of the day's entertainment, a hat was passed around to raise means to defray expenses.

These primitive fairs generally went by the name of '-'rope fairs," from the fact that a rope was stretched around the articles shown. These fairs were held at irregular intervals until 1856, when, at a meeting of several gentlemen interested in the subject, a permanent organization was effected.

This meeting was held at the Court House, on Jan. 5, 1856, at which meeting Wm. J. Murphy was chosen Chairman and James Stout, Secretary. A Constitution was submitted and adopted, and the following officers elected at said meeting :

The first County Fair was held in the Fall of 1856, in the Court House Square in Pontiac. No admission fee was charged and a very small list of premiums offered.

On the 18th day of April, 1857, the Board reorganized, and a Constitution was adopted. Section 1 of the Constitution provided that this society shall be called " The Livingston County Agricultural Society." Its objects shall be to improve the condition of agriculture, horticulture, mechanic and household arts. Also, that this Board shall consist of such persons as shall pay into the treasury not less than |1.00 and |1.00 annually thereafter. The payment of $20 or more shall constitute a life member of this society.

The officers of this Board shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a Board of nine Directors (five of whom shall constitute a quorum).

Under this organization twenty fairs were lield, with a very good attendance at each. The result has been a growing interest in agricultural, horticultural and mechanical pursuits.

In 1865, the society purchased the old fair grounds, south of the Vermilion River, which they furnished with buildings, stalls and a good half-mile track, and which were occupied until the present season.

In 1872, the Legislature passed a law changing the State Agricultural Society to the State Agricultural Board, and giving it certain privileges. The same act provided that any County Agricultural Society forming an organization in compliance with this law would be entitled to $100 each season a fair was held.

That year, the Livingston County Agricultural Society changed to the Livingston County Agricultural Board, in compliance with this law, and continued under that organization and name until Jan. 1, 1878. At this date, it was decided to form a stock company, sell the oLl grounds, purchase new and more <lesirable grounds and extend the aim and purpose of the society. One thousand shares at $10 each were decided upon and readily disposed of, thereby creating a fund of $10,000. This is used in part to defray expenses, insure payment of premiums and to supply any deficiency that may occur.

The grounds comprise fifty-five acres southeast of the city on the bank of the river. One-third of the grounds are admirably shaded, affording a pleasant retreat. A most excellent one-half-mile track is graded and ready for use. Oood buildings, stables and other necessax'y adjuncts will be at once erected, so that by the Fall meeting - first week of September - every thing will be in readiness. The premiums offered aggregate $3,000, and an excellent exhibition is anticipated.

The present officers of the association are as follows : President, W. C. Burleigh; Vice President, Bailey A. Gower; Secretary, A. W. Kellogg : Treasurer. D. C. Eylar ; Executive Committee, J. P. Houston, W. P. Corbin. A. E. Sweet, James Marks, C. W. Ament.

A Director from each township in the county is elected by the stockholders for three years. These Directors are divided into three classes, one class going -out each year.

Old Settlers' Association

The Old Settlers' Association of Livingston County was organized on the 30th day of December, 1875, at the Court House in Pontiac, 111., being the first public meeting held in the new Court House.

Constitution and By-Laws were adopted. James McDowell was elected President; E. C. Allen and J. W. Darnell, Vice Presidents; John A. Fellows, Secretary ; Samuel C. Ladd, Scribe ; James E. Morrow, Treasurer, and Rev. James Parcells, Chaplain.

The second meeting of the Association was held at the fair grounds at Pontiac -on the 28th day of September, 1876. James McDowell was elected President, with one Vice President from each township ; John A. Fellows, Secretary ; D. L. Murdock, Scribe ; James E. Morrow, Treasurer ; Rev. James Parcells, Chaplain.

The third meeting was held at Fairbury, 111., on September 4, 1877. Walter Cornell was elected President, with one Vice President from each township ; John A. Fellows, Secretary ; D. L. Murdock, Scribe ; James E. Morrow, Treasurer, and Rev. James Parcells, Chaplain.

1840. John Hannamon, settled here in 1831 ; died in November, 1832. Nicholas Hefner, born in Greenbrier County, Virginia ; died in March, 1850. Isaac Jordon, born in Ohio ; settled here in 1830 ; removed to Southern Illinois

* here in 1840. Jasper N. Hieronymus, P. 0. Fairbury ; born here in 1844. William Hieronymus, P. 0. Fairbury ; born here. V. M. Hieronymus, born here in 1846 : died Aug. 29, 1877. John G. Steers. P. 0. Fairbury ; born in Boone County, Ky. ; settled here in in 1860. Nelson Cornell, P. 0. Dwight ; born in New York ; settled here in 1854. James Mclllduflf, P. 0. Dwight : born in Ireland ; settled here in 1855. David McWilliaras. P. 0. Dwight : born in Belmont County, Ohio ; settled

Thos. A. Jones, P. 0. Fairbury; born in New Jersey ; settled here in 1837. T. B. Jones, P. 0. Fairbury ; born in New Jersey ; settled here in 1838. Orin Phelps, P. 0. Fairbury ; born in Boston, Mass. ; settled here in 1840. John Thompson, born in New Y'ork ; settled here in 1837 ; died in 1849. Nancy Wilson, P. 0. Forrest ; born in Franklin County, Ohio : settled here

Battalion 0Fficeb8

' Tfds Company is not in Livingston Countii, but it attached tc the Tenth Battalion, and is inserted here at the request of the commanding officers, who wished a complete list of the command given

Russell, C. J Ream, L. R. Stateter, A. H. Southwell, Thos Taylor, W. H. Thierry, F. F. Taylor, J. T. Thomas, Jno. Walises, J.N. Wise, A. W. Wilson, Reubin. Work, J. P. Winter, H. A.

[Note. - Does not belong to the Tenth Battalion, but U an independent company of small boys n'ho are well drilled and organized, and deserve record in the military department of ihis worlc.]

Wae History And Eeoord One Hundred And Twentyninth Infantry

President Lincoln had issued his call for three hundred thousand volunteers, and loyal men, all over the North, were enlisting in the service of their country. The idea that seventy-five thousand men could crush the rebellion io three months had exploded; and the call of the President met a hearty response in Livingston County. Professional men, mechanics and farmers left their families and their business, and enrolled their names " for three years or during the war." Company A was raised in Pontiac, Reading, Oddl, Long Point and other towns; Company B, in Dwight and vicinity ; Company C, largely in Rook's Creek, Nevada, Odell and other townships; Company E, in Fairbury, and Company G, mainly in Pontiac and vicinity. Of course it will not be understood that other townships are excluded from the credit of representation in this regiment ; but. on account of an unfortunate method which prevailed, of giving the name of the post ollice, instead of the township, the actual residi-ncc of a large number was not recorded. The balance of the regiment was raised in the counties of Scott and Rock Island. John A. Hoskins, who was subsequently promoted to the office of Major, was elected Captain of Company A; .1. F. Culver, who afterward, by promotion, Buccceded Hoskins as Captain, was elected First Lieutenant, and John W. Smith, subsequently promoted to the First Lieutenancy, was elected Second Lieutenant. To the last named office C. C. Yetter eventtially succeeded.

Company B was officered as follows : Samuel T. Walkley, Caiitain ; George \V. Gilcrist, First Lieutenant, and Elihu Chilcott, Second Lieutenant. John B. Perry was elected Captain of Company C ; Robert P. Edgiiigton was chosen First Lieutenant, and A. A. McMurray. who on the resignation of Perry was promoted to the Captaincy, was elected Second Lieutenant. To the office made vacant by the promotion of McMurray, S. H . Kyle was advanced.

The officers of Coiujiany E were C. N. Baird, Captain ; John F. Blackburn, First, and B. F. Fitch, Second Lieutenant. To the last mentioned office W. H. H. McDowell succeeded, on the resignation of Blackburn, Fitch being promoted to the First Lieutenancy.

The regiment was organized September 8, 1862, with George P. Smith, of Dwight, as Colonel; Henry Case, of Winchester, Lieutenant Colonel ; A. J. Cropsey, of Fairbury, Major; Philip D. Plattenburg, of Pontiac, Adjutant ; W. C. Gwinn, Regimental Quartermaster; Dr. Dariu> Johnson, of Pontiac, Assistant Surgeon, and subsequently promoted to Surgeon, with Dr. 0. S. Wood as his Assistant, and Rev. Thomas Cotton, of Pontiac, Chaplain ; and noncommissioned officers, I. G. Mott, of Pontiac, Hospital Steward, to which office John A. Fellows, of Pontiac, succeeded on Mott'g death ; W. H. H. McDowell, of Fairbury, Sergeant Major, and George W. Quackenbosh, Quartermaster Sergeant.

The regiment remained in camp, at Pontiac, until th'- 22d of September, when it was ordered to Louisville. Ky., where it joined the Thirty-eighth Brigade of the Twelfth Division, under Maj. Gen. Gilbert. On the 3d of October, they were ordered forward, in pursuit of Gen. Bragg, who was threatening Louisville. His retreat led them by way of Frankfort and Danville, to Crab Orchard. On the 2Uth of October, the brigade having been transferred to the Tenth Division, commenced a return march to Bowling Green, arriving at which place, they remained until th<- 2l8t of November, when they were ordered to Mitchellville, to guard the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. In this duty the regiment, being statiomd in detachments at Mitchellville, Buck's Lodge, Fountain Head and South Tunnel, continued until June 9, ISOli, when they were ordered to Gallatin, where they went into camp and remained until August 20, when they received orders to move forward to Nashville. Here the regiment remained for six months, when, on the 24th of February, 1864, tents were struck, and they again took up the line of march, this time to make their way to Chattanooga, to join the army under Gen. Slierman. From this point to Atlanta, Ga., the regiment was engaged in almost a continuous fight with the enemy. On the 14th of May, the regiment came in contact with the rebels at Re.saca, which was a continual fight of two days, endifig in the capture of the place. On thi^ 2.'>th, they came upon the enemy at Burnt lllickory, where a bloo<ly battle was fought; and from the 18th of June till tlie 3d of July, they were engaged at Kenesaw Moiintain and Marietta. On July 17th, they crossed the Chattahoocliio River, and continued their march to Peach Tree Creek, where they were confronted by the rebels under Gon. Hood, who had superseded Johnson. After a hard fought battle, lasting - through the day, the rebel army fled, the Union army pursuing toward Atlanta, which place they reached on the 22d. After a siege of six weeks, the rebels abandoned Atlanta, and the Union army took possession. This was \ one of the most important victories of the war. On the , 13th of November, the army began to move forward, further into the interior of the enemy's country. From here until the entrance of the army into the city of , Savannah, their progress was, in a measure, without opposition, though the fatigue and privations to which the soldiers were subjected were severe in the extreme. They ^ reached the neighborhood of Savannah on the 10th of ' December, and entered the city in triumph, just as the last of the enemy were retiring. Their sore feet and tired limbs were permitted to rest here, until the last of January, 1865, when they commenced the march through the Carolinas. Their route now lay through Columbia, Fayetteville, Bentonville and Goldsboro to Raleigh, reach- I ing the last named place on the 13th of April. Their advance to this place, with the exception of the sharp conflict at Bentonville, in which the One Hundred and j Twenty -ninth took a prominent part, met with no opposi- ' tion of importance, and the work of the army consisted mainly in destroying railroads and bridges, and foraging ' on the country. While resting here, negotiations were in progress for the surrender of the rebel armies; and, on the 30th of April, the army was on its way to Washington, where it arrived without incident of importJince, on the 24th of May. After a few days, the One Hundred and Twenty -ninth was mustered out of service, and, on the 8th of June, took leave of the city, and arrived at Chicago on the 11th. On the 19th, the men received ; their discharges and final pay, and, at once, those from ! Livingston County took the train for Pontiac, having been absent from their homes two years and nine months.