McLean County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 14 of 42)

James Hedrick came here about 1833, and purchased the place which had been improved by George C. Hand, and put up the first saw-mill on the Kickapoo in this township. Three years after, he sold it to John Baldwin and Siebern. Baldwin, from being a very wicked and boisterous man, had, after his conversion, become a preacherand though lacking some of the refinement which a life of early piety and devotion usually engenders, was really a greatly altered man. He engaged in revival work with great spirit and zeal, and though considered a little crazy by many, is believed to have been faithful to his profession. Stories are told of his prophesying when under strong religious excitement ; but there is no record of any fulfillment. His brother James was the earliest doctor in this neck of woods, and lived on a farm east of the mill property.

Baldwin, like some other Ohio men, had a " wicked partner," who persisted in running the mill on Sunday. It was an old-fashioned gate-saw, which went so slow that there seemed to be a sort of excuse for putting in all the time when the water was up. Baldwin used to go to the mill Sunday and expostulate with his partner, and while arguing the matter, the mill running meantime, the sawyer would get him to help turn down the log and set the tail end for him. All these kind acts did not convert him from the error of his ways, and the partnership had to be dissolved.

Baldwin laid out the town of Lytleville around his mill, and for a time it contested strongly with Waynesville and Bloomington for the chief place in the future greatness of this part of the country. A post office was established, stores and trade grew -up ; but the building of the Central Railroad blotted out the last hope, and Lytleville is among the things that were. It was named by Mr. Baldwin after and in honor of his old friend, Hon. Robert T. Lytle, the first native of Ohio who was elected to Congress from that. State.

Another sudden conversion upon the road - not to Damascus, but to church - is reported. Mr. Toverca, spoken of heretofore, was a local Methodist preacher, and had gone over to the United Brethren. While going on his faithful horse one day to meet an appointment in a portion of the country that contained some pretty rough characters, he heard shooting before him, and was somewhat alarmed, and doubted whether to go forward or not. Coming to a fork in the road, one road leading to the place of his appointment, and the other to a Methodist preaching-place not far distant, he decided to give his horse the rein, agreeing to accept the situation and go where the Lord or the horse led. The horse turned unhesitatingly on the road leading to the Methodist place, and he went and was received back into full communion.

Matthew Covardale, when only nine years old, walked with his father from Maryland to Ohio, and, after his father's death, came on here with some of the Hamilton County folks. After working out and renting for several years, he accumulated enough to get a farm of his own. He now owns a considerable farm on Section 11, and is very much respected, his latter life a bright commentary on the rewards which honest labor, thrift and energy give in this present world.

Dr. Thomas Karr, who has but recently died - September, 1878 - was well known to every resident of Randolph. His early life was spent in Hamilton County r Ohio, where he grew up a great admirer of his neighbor, Gen. Harrison. Though he was a Democrat, he voted for him when he was elected President in 1840. He received a good common-school education, and studied medicine and commenced the practice of it in Ohio. In 1835, he came to Randolph Grove to occupy the land which he had purchased in 1833. He arrived in October, and for two weeks, until he could get up his little cabin, he occupied one jointly with two other families. It had but one roomr and, while he remained there, was the home of eighteen persons. Thus people began life in these new places. He built a cabin, first, on Section 22, near where Mr. Powell now lives, and remained there two and one-half years, after which, he put up a frame house on Section 10, where he continued to live until his death. He carried on his farm successfully, raising and feeding stock, which was the line of farming most generally followed by these farmers.

In general, he took an interest in political affairs, and in 1843, was County Assessor. Of his five children, only one survives - Mr. William Karr, who was born in Ohio, and came with his father to the present home when only twelve years old. He is a man of strong constitution, and is a good farmer, as his fine farm of 850 acres, with its good buildings, will sufficiently testify.

Mr. Walter Karr, from the same neighborhood in Ohio, came here in the spring of 1834. He came by river all the way to Pekin, then the important river-landing for all this country, with a prospective future as bright as any young city in the State. He commenced on a farm near where Heyworth now stands. He was a strong man, a great reader, especially of history, and, with the methodical mind which he possessed, together with a strong love of truth for truth's sake, he took in and held the important events of historical interest in such a way as to be popularly supposed to be the best posted man in town.

In the spring following his arrival here, his little three-years-old child was drowned in a well. Up to this time, all burials had been made in the cemetery north of the Grove, near the Stewart residence. It was decided that a place of burial must be had nearer by, and the beautiful location - beautiful in all but that the railroad now rumbles too near it - now so well filled up, was selected. Walter Karr's little one was the first who was laid here to sleep. At this present writing, he is himself the latest one tenderly laid away in this sacred place more than forty years after the first burial here. James Martin, from Tennessee, was the second, and a little daughter of Esquire Buck the third, interment. Hiram Buck, with whom the whole history of McLean County is identified in its political, educational and agricultural interests, came here to live in 1833. He built the house, now modernized, 300 yards east of the present residence of Esquire Wakefield. The cabin stood out on the prairie, and he took it down, rebewed the logs, and set it up again near the timber. It is now occupied by Mr. Hill. The door was made out of blackwalnut strips sawed out by hand, the sash rived out and dressed down, and " puncheon " floors. He remained on his little farm four years, and sold out to Gen. Gridley just before the latter's failure in the crash of 1837, which took with it nearly every man who had engaged largely in business in the State, and even the State itself, for, during nineteen years, this goodly State did not even pay the interest on its indebtedness. Gridley immediately sold the property to Wakefield, who still owns it. Mr. Buck went to Le Roy, then recently laid out by Mr. Gridley, and commenced to build up that town. At the time of his residence here, he showed, probably in a less degree than latterly, those positive traits which have since made him recognized as one of the most useful and important men in the history of this county.

The Nobles, David and William C., his son, and Joseph and his family, came here from Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1831, and were followed by Dr. Harrison Noble in 1833. They came from the old home of Gen. Harrison, and had the strong admiration for that old hero which was bred by a long acquaintance with the stern soldier and were constantly dwelling on the stories of his dash and heroism. David Noble first occupied a cabin on the Passwaters place. The next spring he took up land near or southeast of Lytleville, where he lived until 1844, when he took up a prairie farm. His first introduction to the manly sports of this new land was before he reached the place where he spent his first winter. He saw a wolf and set his dog on it. The dog soon gave it up as a bad job, when Capt. Stringfield, the hero of more such adventures than he is willing to have recorded, came along and gave chase, captured it and took it home alive. The idea that he would find men here who could run down and capture wolves, had never entered old Dr. Noble's mind and his admiration for Capt. Stringfield's prowess knew no bounds. Dr. Noble was twice married and was the father of ten children, those by his first wife reside and in Bloomington, and by his second with their mother Champaign County.

His son William C. Noble lives on a farm about one mile north of where he spent his first winter, the land first owned by Gardner Randolph and more recently by William Rust.

William Birdsell came here in 1829, and located on Section 21. He built a small wagon-shop and after having learned his trade of Gov. Moore, who was recognized as the best wagon-maker in the country, worked at repairing wagons a portion of his time in the interim of farming. He was a good citizen and an upright man. The farm had, really before it became a farm and before any title came from the Government, passed through several hands. The claim was first taken by Mr. Gaines, who was a nephew of Gen. Gaines, once famous as a soldier, and since his death made still more widely known by the long contest carried on by his widow for her rights in New Orleans. He -was a brother-in-law of Rev. Peter Cartwright, and soon took up his home with him at Pleasant Plains. The claim passed to Kinsey, who commenced to improve, but soon sold to Brook and he to Birdsell. It was not very uncommon for these frequent changes to occur in the early times. The men (and perhaps, their wives, too) who migrate to new countries, are proverbially restless, and slight things will serve to change their minds and location. Owen Evans came from Pennsylvania with or soon after his son-in-law Thomas Fell, who lived part of the time in Bloomington and part of the time in Randolph, near Mr. Evans. He had a farm on Section 16, where, after several years, he died and the farm came into possession of his son-in-law, J. H. Stewart.

Mr. Stewart was the eldest son of Samuel Stewart, and came with his father to Randolph, where he worked the farm until his marriage to Miss Evans in 1839, when his father gave him a little piece of land upon which the new couple went to work to make a living and do their full share to perpetuate the clan Stewart and its goodly name. They succeeded reasonably well in both, for he increased his farm, and, in 1857, sold to William Rust, and moved to Normal to give his children an opportunity of a higher education. Thomas Fell, after living here some years, tried California luck with very little success. He went there twice overland and the second time passed through California Gulch, now one of the most famous places in the world. He did not find the fortunes there which, it is said, are being taken out now.

Joseph Noble, who came here in 1831 with his family of children, and purchased what was called an improved place, that is, some one had lived a year or two on it, and got up a small log cabin. His children speak of attending school where the future Lieut. Gov. Moore taught. In his school, he was in the habit of teaching half a day only, as his time was required in the shop a portion of the time.

Dr. Harrison Noble came, in 1833, from the same county which had already sent to Randolph so many Noble men and children, and took up a farm in Section 28. He had received only a fair common-school education in Ohio, but was well qualified to teach school, and had qualified himself for surveying ; could work at his trade, or at farming, " and even the story ran that he could gauge," though whisky-gauging was not at that time in as much demand as now. It seems that his personal appearance was prepossessing, and the development of acquaintance showed a mind of real mental vigor, and qualities of very decided note. He was above all things averse to boasting of his own deeds or qualifications, so that men who knew him intimately did not even know that he was qualified for County Surveyor, when he appeared as an independent candidate for the position. That he was thoroughly qualified might have been known from his offering himself as a candidate, for he was the last man to assume to do what he could not perform. After serving three terms as Surveyor, he studied medicine at home and with Dr. Luce in Bloomington ; went to Cincinnati to attend lectures, where he graduated and received his diploma. His practice was very general, and carried with it the same trait which showed so strongly in his character. He was several years President of the County Medical Society, and twice of the State Society. In politics,

Dr. Noble was a Whig, with strong Antislavery leanings. It was not until hydraheaded Treason rose in rebellion against the Government, that the people of McLean began to know and realize the stuff that the quiet, homespun Doctor was made of. Like all men of his type, he grew with the occasion. He took very active steps in arousing the people to arms, and was untiring in his zeal to help on enlistment. Particularly was this so in regard to the Ninety-fourth, a regiment officered, manned and filled up by his friends in McLean County. The regiment, while in Texas, had so many proofs of his remembrance and friendship that they purchased a cane and sent it to him. In 1862, he was elected to the Legislature. But what could a man of his peculiar qualities do on the minority side in a House which was kept at fever heat during its entire session by the continued recurrence of questions of a most exciting nature growing out of the war? His was a mind which was most active in committee-room. Committee-rooms were practically abolished during that Legislature. Lovejoy would have stirred all by the zeal and fury of his speech ; a Charley Steele might have turned the tide by the eloquent periods of his perfect oratory ; Dr. Noble did what neither orator could have done. It is well remembered by all except the very youngest who will read these pages, that Gov. Yates took advantage of the failure of the two Houses of the General Assembly to agree upon a time of adjournment, to prorogue the Assembly. Soon after this was done, in the fervor of political excitement, citizens of Jacksonville (the Governor's home), who were in political sympathy with the Governor, gave him a banquet. During his speech upon that occasion, he publicly acknowledged the great service which Dr. Noble had done him during the exciting scenes through which he had just passed. The parties themselves are both dead, and there is no known way to verify the statement; but what seems very good authority, states that it was Dr. Noble who carried to the Executive chamber, immediately on its occurrence, the news of the vote of the House disagreeing to the adjournment resolution of the Senate, and with it the suggestion that there was now, if promptly applied, a remedy for the longer sittings of the Assembly. The proroguing message was immediately sent to the two Houses, and the Legislature stood adjourned, and, from all accounts, somewhat surprised. Dr. Noble was never known to allude to this ; still it was in full unison with his character and habits that he did not. He never boasted. He was re-elected to the House in 1864, and served with great distinction. He was presented to the State Convention in 1868, by McLean County, for the position of Lieutenant Governor, but the nomination of a candidate for Governor from the same Congressional district required that the candidate for the next office should be elected from another part of the State. He was pre-eminently a man of the people, uniformly temperate in his manners, destitute of vanity, kind, considerate and safe. He died in 1870, where he had so long lived, beloved by those among whom he had grown in private and public consideration. Campbell Wakefield came from Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1835, and took up land on Section 3, Town 21, Range 2. He built a snug log cabin and returned to Ohio to bring out his wife and child. He has continually been engaged in farming, and has been more than ordinarily successful in what he has undertaken. He is a man of fine form, commanding presence and positive convictions - one of the latter of which is that his success in life is largely due to his most excellent wife. It would hardly be possible to get up an argument with him on that point, for his opinion on it may well be accepted. She seems a most excellent and estimable lady.

Commencing in a small way, Esquire Wakefield has added to his farm until now he and his son own about one thousand five hundred acres of as fine land as the town of Randolph affords. They have, lying in a body, all of Section 3, west half of 10, 120 acres in 27, Town 22, and 400 acres in 34.

He has but one child, living near by him, and whose children and grandchildren are growing up around him in goodly numbers. They have given a good deal of attention to cattle raising and feeding, but no phantom of great wealth has ever lured them into dangerous speculation.

Mr. Wakefield was proprietor of the town of Heyworth, and gave an undivided half of the town, reserving the cemetery, church and school lots, etc., from the transfer.

He was early and throughout a friend and one of the strongest promoters of the Presbyterian Church. The first preaching services of that denomination were held in his house.

Politically, Mr. Wakefield is a Democrat of the strictest sect. He never has been in public life much. He was several time selected a Justice of the Peace in the early days ; but his services in that line were confined mostly to taking acknowledgment of deeds and marrying off the young people who had come to the conclusion that it was not good for man to be alone in this world of temptations. In his hale old age, though his step is slightly unsteady, he can look back over a busy life with probably as few regrets asany of us.

The same year, the brothers William, Robert and Samuel Leeper came. The former bought a farm on Section 24, and Samuel in Section 4, south of Heyworth. H. M. Miller settled on Section 36, where he remained a few years. In 1835, Capt. George Martin came from Ohio with Mr. Wakefield, and still resided here at the time this sketch was written, but died about the middle of April. He was a worthy and upright man, much respected by all.

In 1834, William Rust came to Randolph from Hamilton County, 111., where he had moved, a few years before, from Tennessee. He brought with him a large family, and commenced by renting some of the Stewart land. Two years later, he bought a piece of land now owned by W. C. Noble, and went onto it. In 1847, he bought the mill at Lytleville, and ran it in connection with Wooster and Hougham. Finding the water insufficient, he put in steam, and it was quite prosperous. He sold out in 1867, and died in 1873. Mr. Rust's sons went to work with energy to help their father get a farm. They worked out for Mr. Kunk and others, and, as the result of their hard work in those days, have made farms and are in comfortable circumstances. They were engaged driving cattle and hogs for Mr. Funk at those times when it was about as much as the hogs were worth to get through to market and get back home. Such experiences, though grievous to bear, have an influence in making strong and useful men. John, William and Harvey are honored and respected citizens.

Samuel Turman, in 1836, bought the saw and grist mill at Lytleville, and carried it on ior some time. He was an energetic business man, and undertook to supply Bloomington with flour.

A. R. Nickerson, who now resides at Heyworth, came from Maryland to Bloomington in 1 834. Ten years later, he bought a farm on the north line of the township, near Dr. Karr's. He has several sons, and bought a section of land in Martin Township in 1865. He came to Heyworth in 1871, where he has been engaged in business.

Mr. Johnson took up a claim about 1832, and sold it to Squire Wakefield. Further west Mr. Richards had a claim, but he soon moved over onto Salt Creek.

Near Short Point, Mr. Kennedy and Fred Bernard settled. The latter had one of the finest farms in the county. His widow now resides with her son-in-law, in Bloomington.

Nathan Low, father of the present, active business man of that name at Heyworth, purchased land of Weedman in 1829, intending to make it his home, but he decided to settle in Bloomington, and never built here.

The manner of living was of course primitive, and many privations were undergone. Sickness, that bane of a new country, was not wanting. The cold, the deep snow, the wilderness and the savage foe were the final assurances of success. The residences were small and uncomfortable ; mail facilities were scanty. Mills were rare, persons having to go to Peoria, to the Mackinaw and other distant points for their grinding. When corn was only 10 cents a bushel, grinding cost 12£ cents, so that a load of corn would not pay for its grinding. The settlers kept good horses, but no carriages. For the men, the only sport was hunting deer and wolves; and for the women - well, if they had any sport, it is not on record. The children had short schooling, and were early pressed into such work as they could perform. The large families which were so common - now so rare - were looked upon as blessings rather than burdens, and were made useful rather than ornamental.

The settlers of Randolph Grove were almost without exception religious people, civil in their behavior, and even before total abstinence came to be demanded as a Christian virtue, drinking was rare, loafers, cowards and criminals were unknown, and notwithstanding the warmth of political controversy, quarrels and litigations were kept in abeyance by a spirit of Christian forbearance. McLean Couuty cannot show a more civil and pleasant neighborhood. Religious services were early instituted in the little cabins, and Ingersoll, himself, would have found very little to cavil at in Randolph Grove. The first to preach the Gospel here was Ebenezer Rhodes, in 1823. Jesse Walker, the missionary, also preached here that year.

In 1825, Rev. William See was sent here by Conference. He owned the Maberry property, and had a blacksmith-shop there. He rode the Kickapoo circuit two years. The circuit required six weeks to go around. He preached in Blooming Grove, Peoria, Lewiston, Beardstown, Waynesville, Salt Creek and Randolph Grove. He went from this to Chicago, and James Kinzie married his second daughter. Mr. See, A. M. Stringfield and Mr. Barnett were the first ones to go from here to Chicago. When it began to be known. Smith L. Robinson followed as circuit preacher for one year, and Rev. James Atty and Jesse Walker, the missionary, were next. Mr. Walker was an old man, and so few of the settlers had tea and coffee, that he was in the habit of taking those useful commodities with him in his pocket, so that he should not be without them. Rev. William Crissey preached on this circuit in 1831, and Rev. Stephen R. Beggs after him.

The Cumberland Presbyterians held services here early. The Johnsons - Archie and Neal - were" the first of that denomination to preach here.

Mr. Baldwin, of Lytleville, a Baptist preacher, was for several years in the habit of holding religious meetings in various places, and Elder Elijah Veatch also frequently filled appointments here at an early day.

Robert H. Rutledge and Charity Weedman were the first couple who got a license to marry from the County Clerk of McLean County, and Nathan Low the first to get a deed recorded.

The Downs Mutual Insurance Company, organized in 1875, has its Secretary's office in this township. Under its original charter, the territory which it was authorized to operate in only included the townships of Bloomington, Randolph, and the four lying east of this latter. In 1878, its charter was so amended, as to extend its operations over the county. It has over $115,000 of policies in effect, and has met with but a single loss of $400 in nearly four years. Sylvester Reasley, of Downs, is President; J. C. Elder, of Bandolph, Secretary, and William Karr, Treasurer.

The large amount of black-walnut timber which was originally growing here has been very generally cut off. Latterly, a great many logs have been sent by rail to Indianapolis, where they are sawed and shipped east as Indianapolis lumber. Not a very bad cheat, either, as it is in all respects just as good as the best Indiana walnut.

Those who have been elected Justices of the Peace since township organization has gone into effect are George Crookshank, Samuel McGowen, John Kelly, J. R. Stewart, A. Kelly, C. N. Vandervoort, Z. A. Newton, William Thompson, F. S. Watkins, W. W. Elder, Harrison Howser.

When the Illinois Central Railroad was built and the cars commenced running, in 1855, it was known that there would be a station somewhere in Randolph's Grove, but it was not so easy to find out just where it would be located. There was an interest at Bishop's, two miles north of where Heyworth now stands, which, it was thought, could not well be defeated. John Nichols, of Bloomington, who was understood to rely on the influence of Gen. Gridley, who had again become an important factor in all the affairs of the county, and who, in the Legislature, had secured the building of the railroad through Bloomington, had purchased a piece of land of Enoch Passwaters and laid out a town on it. A side-track had been put into a gravel-bank near by, and every thing looked as though the station would be there. The contest grew lively between Wakefield, Funk and Vanordstrand on the one side, and Nichols and his party on the other. So far as pluck, energy and push were concerned, the parties were pretty nearly equal. Gridley has a habit of speaking out in meeting or in any other place he happens to be, and indulged in some pointed remarks in regard to the officials of the road, which had the effect to displease them, and the salve offered just at this time by Wakefield, of an undivided half of the entire forty acres which he proposed to lay out, carried the point, and Wakefield laid off forty acres in the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 34, and immediately transferred an undivided half to the corporation, after making the reservations spoken of before. Frisbee soon after laid out an addition west of, and Wakefield has since laid out and platted his first, second and third additions on the south and east sides of the original town. The next most important thing after a child is born is deciding upon a name. Those interested here had decided on calling it Elmwood ; but finding that the name had been appropriated by Mr. Phelps in Peoria County long before, the President of the railroad, proposed to call the new station Heyworth, the name of one of the English directors of the road. This was in 1856, and everybody around the south end of the grove felt happy.

Mr. Wakefield fulfilled every obligation which he made in regard to the new town> and, true to his well-fixed principles, inserted in every deed he made an inhibition against the sale of spirituous liquors on the premises conveyed. Whether this or the well-established sentiments of the citizens is the cause, it is a fact that no license for the sale of liquor has ever been granted in Heyworth.

0. C. Rutledge, who is still in business at Heyworth, purchased and shipped the first grain that was ever sent from this point. This was in 1855, before the station was established. The wheat was weighed in bags, on a small platform scale, and carried out to the car on the track. It was extremely difficult to get cars, and he often had to load in the night, the train waiting for the men to load, if they did it briskly.

As soon as the station was established here in 1856, J. C. Frisbee moved an old station-house here, and commenced buying and shipping wheat. Elder & Rutledge and J. S. & G. T. Barber also engaged in the same line of business. Isaac Vanordstrand commenced, together with Mr. Ludington, a business which he has very successfully carried on, with one or another, to this time. He is a man of great business capacity and energy, and has, besides his large mercantile business, been foremost in everything which has been for the interest of his place. He has been largely engaged in the purchase and sale of land, and has always taken a lively interest in educational matters, and in the politics of the town and county. Always a Democrat politically, he has been in political unison with the majority in Randolph, and has frequently served his town in official position with the same energy and business-like attention which he gives to his own large business. According to general belief at Hey worth, he has acquired a very fair competency.

Mr. 0. C. Rutledge, who is now and has long been his partner, is a man of good business habits and excellent judgment. He is now the oldest native-born citizen of Randolph residing in the town. Two daughters of Jesse Funk were born here before him, and probably one or two children to Gardner Randolph ; but none of them reside now in the township. The extensive business of this firm embraces grain, lumber and and all the line of articles usually going with it - exchange, banking, real estate, loan and conveyancing, commission, live stock, etc., and almost anything else that the public wish them to undertake.

In the early days of the grain trade of Heyworth, very little but wheat was purchased ; but this came from many miles roundabout, especially to the east. Trade was drawn to it from the farmers off as far as Le Roy and Farmers' City, there being no railroad in that direction nearer than the Chicago Branch of the Illinois Central.

William H. Wilson & Co. were the first to commence mercantile business here in 1856. The firm name was soon changed to Coursin & Wilson, and continued the business for some time and sold to McFarland & Co. J. C. McFarland, who has, during the entire life of Heyworth, been one of the leading men in business, in religious and other public interests, came here in 1857. For twenty-one, years he has continued one of her most enterprising citizens. For three years, he served his country in the Ninetyfourth Regiment as Major, returning to continue his mercantile and other interests. In 1877, he was elected Circuit Clerk and County Recorder, which makes his home temporarily in Bloomington. No man is more thoroughly respected, or more worthy of such respect.

His first business was a general store, conducted in a building which stood on Block 17, just east of the railroad and south of Main street. In this building he conducted the post office, also ; it burned in 1860, consuming everything, including the mails ; he saved only a pitchfork and six candles from the building.

He then built the store owned by him across Main street from the former store, and continued in trade for a year, when 0. C. Rutledge went into the firm and continued in business until Maj. McFarland returned from the army, when he sold out his interest to McFarland, and he soon sold to Short & Bayless.

In 1864, S. Hill & Son came from Ohio and engaged in trade. In 1866, McFarland went into the firm, which did business as McFarland, Hill & Co. until 1869 when they sold to Brittenham, who moved the goods to Monticello. Hill & Son brought on a new stock of goods in 1870, which they soon sold to Wise & Co.

Short & Bayless, about this time, sold their business to Jefferson Moore. Wamsley & Co. opened a store here in 1867 and continued in business ten years, when they sold to Short & Dillon, and they to Samuel R. Nickerson. Plummer & Trowbridge commenced in 1874, and after a year, Trowbridge sold out.

G. M. Delano, the present Postmaster, commenced harness-making in 1857. In 1861, President Lincoln appointed him Postmaster, and he has never resigned it.

John Morsman commenced blacksmithing in 1356, but remained only eighteen months. After him came Jacob Hagel, who is here yet with John Peters.

Dr. A. F. Rogers, from Le Roy, put in a stock of drugs and medicines in 1865. In 1869, he sold to A. Wise, who soon after moved the stock away.

D. A. Abbott ran a drug store here a few years, and, in 1871, took it to Missouri. Soon after which, McFarland & Co. opened a drug store and sold out in 1877, when McF. went into the Circuit Clerk's office.

J. P. Kenton, from Ohio, commenced a grocery trade here in 1860, and his sonin-law, J. B. Robertshaw, about the same time, commenced working at his trade as carpenter and builder. Both are still here, the latter engaged in the furniture trade and undertaking.

Hey worth was incorporated in 1869 by a special act. The charter gives the corporation, which is in the hands of five Trustees elected annually, one of whom shall be elected President - all the authority needed to run a city of the first-class, even to borrowing money on the credit of the town and lighting the city with gas, except that they can only grant license to sell intoxicating drink upon a vote of the legal voters at the annual term election. The question of license must be submitted each year, and has never yet been voted in the affirmative. The present Town Board is A. R. Nickerson, J. J. Hancock, J. B. Rutledge, William Marker and C. Perkins.

In 1857, Coursin & Wilson built a large mill west of the railroad, south of Main street, opposite the Vanordstrand warehouse. This mill was burned in 1860, together with the building opposite. Mr. Alexander Wilson had been educated to business and and had for many years carried on a wholesale grocer's business in Pittsburgh, Penn. He closed in 1837, and went across the river and engaged in trade for some years. He came to Hey worth in 1857, and went into this miil operation, by the loss of which he suffered heavily. He built the first good dwelling-house in Hey worth, that on the block next east of the railroad, at the cost of about $3,000. He was a man of superior business qualifications, a leading man in church and public enterprises. While living in Pittsburgh, he was Superintendent of the large Sabbath school of the First Presbyterian Church and of a large mission school, such a man as would be greatly useful in any community. He died in 1862, and his widow resides in Allegheny City. Maj. McFarland has quite recently purchased the Wilson residence and expects to repair it for his residence.

Upon this same block, for a long time stood the pioneer residence of Capt. George Martin, whose recent death removes from the town the earliest resident within its borders. The cabin was removed by McFarland after he purchased the lot upon which it stood for thirty years. Capt. Martin was so long the " oldest inhabitant " that he was almost considered a fixture.

In 1868, Dice, Hall & Co. built the present mill, a two-story, three-run mill, at a cost of about $1,800. It stands just east of the railroad, two blocks north of the hotel. In 1869, McFarland bought out Hall's interest, and it was sold, a few years afterward, to Ellsworth & Mayers. It has done a large and good business a portion of the time, but is not now running. The engine exploded some years since and killed the engineer, Cooley.

The good supply of timber induces many of the inhabitants to burn wood for fuel. The coal supply comes from Du Quoin. No attempt has ever been made to find coal here, though there can be no doubt of its existence at a reasonable depth.

Churches, Schools, Societies, Etc

The Randolph Grove Presbyterian Church was organized in 1844, by Rev. Josiah Porter, of Waynesville, of the Presbytery of Illinois, N. S., with twelve members, all of whom were received by letter from churches in the western part of Hamilton County, Ohio. Previous to, the organization, Rev. Mr. Watson had preached occasionally and there had been occasional preaching by others, but seldom by the regular Presbyterians. The original members were Mr. C. Wakefield and Margaret, his wife, J. M. Wakefield and Nancy, his wife, Homer Buck and Mary, his wife, Robert Spence and Anna, his wife, John Finnie and Elizabetb, his wife, Mrs. Margaret Karr and Mrs. Hannah Elder. For a year or two, Mr. Porter continued to serve the little Church, preaching in the east room of Mr. Wakefield's house, where the organization had been effected. The Church at once connected itself with the Presbytery of Sangamon, 0. S., all of its members being attached to that branch of the Church.

A Sabbath school had been established by the Wakefields and Mrs. Elder as early as 1838, in their house, and has been pretty regularly kept up from that time.

In 1848, Rev. D. I. Perry, father-in-law of Judge Scott, of Bloomington, was engaged to preach once a month, which engagement continued two years. After him, Rev. A. II. Rogers, of Waynesville, was employed for two years one-fourth of his time.

In 1853, the first church-edifice was erected at a cost of $900. It is now used as a school-room for the primary school. After this, the successive pastors were Revs. J. II. Moore, S. H. Stevenson, John Wilson and A. L. Knox. During the ministrations of Mr. Knox, which continued to 1870, the Church increased to 121 members and the new church-building, was erected. It is 38x70, two stories, with the belfry and spire foundation projecting out from the front center a few feet. It cost, including the bell, $9,000, and is really a fine structure. Rev. W. R. Glenn served the Church one year, and was followed by Rev. H. R. Peairs, the present Pastor. The present membership is about 140 and of the Sabbath school, 90. A parsonage was built in 1864 at a cost of about $1,800.

Though only one Methodist Episcopal is in Heyworth, there are three others in Randolph Township, and their history is so united that it will be given under this head. The writer finds it far more difficult to get the exact data of this, the pioneer denomination all over the country, than of the one given above, and is, as a matter of necessity, obliged to depend largely on the memory, seldom very accurate, of the leading members.

The earliest labors of the Methodists in this Grove are given in the proper place, the Township History. After those, the regular appointments of the Randolph Grove Circuit were usually at the schoolhouses near by, where the present churches, the Heyworth, Shiloh, Sparta and Wesley Chapel, now stand. In 1853, Mr. Carlos was preaching at these several appointments; the next year, Rev. Mr. O'Neil, and after him the Rev. Mr. Barthlow; others followed whose names could not be learned. In 1864, Rev. Mr. Hendallwas sent to this circuit, and was instrumental in building the " Shiloh" Church, which stands on John Maberry's land, on Section 25, near the eastern boundary of the township. The following year, Rev. Thomas E. Wamsley was on the circuit, and started the matter of building churches at the other appointments. The previous year, he had been engaged in completing the church at Wapella, and thought all things were possible. Several attempts to build the church at Heyworth had been made, and ended in talk. Father Wamsley got a subscription paper, and went through the usual form of getting signatures. He then hired a man to lay the foundation, and engaged material for building, and then there was no alternative but to collect what had been subscribed. The people took hold very liberally, and a good, substantial building, 34x50, with belfry, spire and bell, was erected at a cost of about $3,000. The same year, under Father Wamsley's ministration and energetic spirit, Wesley Chapel No. 2, was built on the land of Jonathan Houser, on southeast corner of Section 16, which is about the same size, plain, at a cost of about $2,800. Mr. Houser, John Rust and George Crookshank are remembered as very efficient workers in this enterprise; of course, among many others.

The following year, Rev. C. D. James had charge of the circuit, and Mr. Wamsley was his assistant. This year, the " Sparta " Church on Capt. Stringfield's land, southeast of Section 11, was built of uniform size with the others. A. M. Stringfield, Albert Welch, E. J. Moore and Mr. Ijams were largely instrumental in carrying on this work. The circuit preachers since then have been Cornelius Bradshaw, S. Martin, Arthur Bradshaw, Thomas Simmons, Messrs. Lattimer, Sail, Joseph Long, McCoy and John Enerly. The circuit belongs to the Bloomington District, Illinois Conference. The churches are all in a prosperous condition, and well attended, and flourishing; Sabbath schools maintained. During the war, there were few -preachers here ; many of them were away with the army, andjbr a time Mr. Wamsley was about the only ordained minister in the neighborhood, and as such was called on very frequently to perform services at weddings and funerals for many miles around. For this, among other reasons, he is very widely known. He is not now a member of the church which he so long and faithfully served. Owing to some unpleasantness, he withdrew, and connected himself with the Christian Union Society. ^

Questions and animosities growing out of the war, and the position taken by the M. E. Church in regard to the subject of slavery, caused a division in that body, and the Episcopal Methodist Church was formed. These same questions divided the church of Hey worth, and a church of that denomination was formed here, which, about the year 1864, erected a house of worship, 32x46, at a cost of about $2,500. It belongs to the Pana District. The Church was organized by Rev. Mr. Smithson, who preached for it awhile. The house was built under the ministration of Rev. Mr. Laurence. Afterward, Rev. William Howard was Presiding Elder, and officiated. Rev. A. Hocker and Rev. M. Crews have also preached.

Elder S. Stagner, who has performed efficient labors for the Christian Church in this part of the county, held meetings at Heyworth, and baptized about thirty members into that Church. In 1871, a church was formed, and a neat building was erected, about 34x50, with belfry, at a cost of about $2,000. Elder Harry Vandervoort preached about one year. J. C. Campbell, S. Low and Jefferson Hodson have also labored here. A Sabbath school has been maintained irregularly. There is no pastor of this Church at present.

The Heyworth School District is under a special act, incorporated in 1867, with seven directors, one of whom goes, out each year. The present Directors are J. F. Brown, H. A. Karr, Erastus Miller, William H. Wakefield, J. M. Funk, Samuel Hill and J. E. Wakefield. The district embraces about six or eight square miles of territory. School is maintained four months in the winter term, and two months in the summer. Average attendance, 185 in the former, and 132 in the latter term. The school is in four grades ; grammar, first and second intermediate, and primary. The building, erected in 1865, is 36x65, two stories, with a separate building for the primary department, and cost about $5,000.

The successive Principals have been W. L. Glover, C. A. Laus, Rev. I. H. Stephenson. A. G. Scott (now a Judge in Nebraska), D. C. Clark, J. R. McGregor, J. E. Jewett, L.'B. Wadsworth, A. M. Scott and T. H. Zimmer. The higher branches taught are algebra, natural sciences and rhetoric. The present teachers are : Principal, T. H. Zimmer; first intermediate, F. H. Hill; second intermediate, Miss Jessie Reeder; primary, Miss Jennie Brown.

Masonic Lodge, No. 251, was chartered in 1856. The charter members were H. J. Short, W. W. Elder, U. S. Washburn, John Washburn, T. F. McGowan, J. S. McWharter. H. J. Short was the first W. M. The present officers are: Isaac Vanordstrand, W. M. ; John Vanordstrand, Senior Warden ; George Stephenson, Junior Warden ; J. T. Shannon, Secretary ; N. Low, Treasurer. They own their hall and have it nicely furnished, and are in a prosperous condition.

Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 483, was established in 1872. The charter members are William Shannon, J. C. McFarland, J. I. Mills, J. T. Walton, F. S. Watkins. The first officers were: William Shannon, N. G.; J. C. McFarland, V. G. ; F. S. Watkins, Secretary. It now has sixty members and is in good working condition. The present officers are: S. R. Shannon, N. G. ; Mr. Reisser, V. G. ; Hugh Robb, Recording Secretary ; George A. Hull, Treasurer ; N. Low, Permanent Secretary ; Lodge Deputy, William Marker. The Lodge meets every Friday.

Encampment No. 168, was established in 1875. Charter members. J. C. McFarland, D. H. McFarland, N. Low, John Fllmming, J. B. Robertshaw, J. C. Geroldman,

T. A. Walter, J. F. Brown. The officers are Hugh Robb, C. P. ; N. Low, H. P. ; George W. Bell, S. W.; G. A. Hull, J. W.; R. W. Orr, Scribe; G. W. Marker, Treasurer. Meets first and third Mondays of each month.

The Good Templars were instituted December 21, 1874, with twenty-seven members and the following officers: J. E. Jewett, W. C. T.; Rev. H. R. Peairs, P. W. ; Frank Capell, Secretary ; Mrs. J. E. Jewett, Treasurer; John Shannon, Financial Secretary; S. R. Shannon, Marshal. The Lodge numbers sixty-seven, and meets in the Masonic Hall. The present officers are : S. R. Shannon, W. C. T. ; Mrs. N. B. Shannon, V. T. ; Arthur Short, Secretary ; Miss Altha Campbell, Financial Secretary ; John Fryer, Treasurer ; John Greenlee, Marshal ; J. G. Chatterton, Chaplain ; John Peters, P. W. A Degree Temple is attached to the Order, with twenty-five members. It is in a good condition and the interest well maintained.

Randolph Station

When Randolph Station was first established it was on the township line between Sections 3 and 4. When the Randolph Grove Post Office was first established, David Noble was Postmaster. This was the first office in the town. Gov. Moore succeeded Noble as Postmaster, after whom Karr was appointed. When the station was established, the post office went there, and Olcut was appointed Postmaster. The location of the station did not accommodate those living north of the Grove. The railroad company established Karr's Station, a "flag station" opposite the residence of William Karr; afterward, by consent of the company, the station was moved to Karr's Station, about two miles.

H. J. Feelder was engaged in buying grain there, and W. C. Stewart shipped a good deal of grain and hay during the war. J. C. Elder is present Station Agent and Deputy Postmaster, and is engaged in buying grain. Grain loaded here goes south to Clinton thence to Chicago or to Bloomington, and thence east to Philadelphia.

The names of physicians who have practiced here are : Dr. H. Noble, who studied at home and with Dr. Luce in Bloomington, died in 1870; Dr. R. G. Laughlen, who came here in 1857, went into the army in 1862, returned and moved to Bloomington ; Dr. D. H. McFarland, who came in 1862 ; Dr. H. C. Luce, who succeeded Laughlen ; Drs. Patterson and Suggett, and Dr. W. L. Pollock, who came in 1872.

As a proper closing of the history and people of this important township, a short sketch will be appropriate of Hon. John Moore, one of the most remarkable and most important personages of Randolph.

John Moore was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1793 ; attended school a few years after arriving at school age, but perfected what book education he had by reading while engaged at his trade. He served a full apprenticeship in England and came to America in 1817. He worked around in different places in several different States, married in Kentucky and settled down at Harrison, Ohio, to work, where he remained seven years. During this time and for a few years after he came to Illinois, his habits were convivial and free. Strong drink was not a stranger to him by any means, and some of his best friends, on this account alone, doubted the propriety of making him a Representative when his name was first brought forward for that position.

In 1830, in company with the Passwaters he came to Randolph Grove and prepared to make his home, where it continued to be until his death. His first settlement was in Section 15, where he put up his cabin and fixed up a small shop to work at his trade of wagon-making. Here he quietly spent the few years which ensued before he became drawn into public life. If not the first, it is certain that he was among the first, to teach school in Randolph, teaching half a day and working at his trade the remainder. In 1831, or as his son-in-law, Richard Passwaters, thinks, in 1832, Mr. Lindley, an admiring friend, brought out his name for Justice of the Peace. He was elected, and for the first time began to show the quality of the material that was in him. He continued to serve as Justice for a number of years, so very acceptably that Judge Treat, who was at that time Circuit Judge, says, " he would render the best decisions of any Justice within his knowledge." Either in 1834 or 1836, he was suggested by some friend as candidate for the Legislature. The county, district and State were Democratic, and all that was thought necessary to secure an election was to nominate an acceptable man. His friends went to Merritt Covel, at that time an authority in the Democratic camp, with his name. They were met with an unexpected rebuff. Said Covel, " You can't resurrect John Moore ! " Whether this taunt from Covel, his own better nature, or the appeals of his friends, who had got their hearts set on making him a public man, or all combined had the effect, certain it is that he became a changed man. He was elected to the House and continued to serve there until 1840, when he was elected to the State Senate over David Davis, after that memorable contest which the people of McLean Cqunty, who were here, never tire of talking about. It is said that Davis gave up the contest, privately, before the election, an account of Moore's capacity for adapting himself to every position, and the ease with which he got the sympathy of all classes. Moore was pre-eminently a man of the people, and thought it no sin to give them a chance to see it in that light. In 1842, he was selected, with considerable unanimity by his party, for their candidate for Lieutenant Governor, and was elected, and served through a four-years term. He then enlisted for the Mexican war and was chosen Lieutenant Colonel of the Fourth Regiment, and went through the war, participating in every^ battle of that regiment. On his return, in 1848, he was appointed State Treasurer by the Governor, an office made vacant by the death of the recently-elected incumbent. He was elected successively to that position in 1850 and 1852, and was a candidate in 1854, but was defeated by James Miller, who was the candidate of all the elements, which united against the continuance of Democratic ascendency in the West. Moore was the first in Illinois to fall before the popular rising against the Kansas- Nebraska bill. He was one of the Trustees of the Illinois Central Railroad lands up to his death, and thousands of the residents of this and adjoining counties held their titles from him. His eyes had for some years been troubling him, and in 1866, he went to Boston to have a surgical operation performed, which brought him to his death. His remains were brought to Randolph Grove and buried near where he had so long lived. Among all classes of people there are no two opinions in regard to his ability, integrity and worth as a public man. All place him in the higher range of politicians in al' these particulars. He had, for a laboring man, a mind well-stored both in reading and travels. In the various positions of public life running through more than a quarter of a century, he never got rich, and at his death was worth less than many who had begun life when he did here in Randolph, and had attended to their own private affairs. He had a remarkable memory, a kind, generous nature, and from the time of his professing religion his life was worthy of no blame. He was one of the rare instances in which political excitement did not seem to lead away from a fixed principle.

At the formation of the County of McLean, it was divided into five townships or precincts, each precinct being so located and outlined as to suit the convenience of its inhabitants. Of these, the Mackinaw Precinct was much the largest, embracing, as it did, nineteen townships of the present size of Lexington. The county then extended far to the north, and included a large portion pf what is now Livingston County ; and Mackinaw Precinct embraced ten of the townships afterward set off to that county. Of that vast township, larger than an average county, Lexington now occupies the middle of the southern part, and, at that time, was the most populous portion.

At the time of the first white settlement here, there were found two small tribes or bands of Indians in what is now the township under consideration. These bands were of the tribes called Kickapoos and Delawares, about three hundred each. They had built their towns, the former near the present site of the village of Pleasant Hill - a mile or so south - and the Delawares nearly three miles further up the Mackinaw. The houses of the Indians were mostly constructed of poles set in a circle twelve or fifteen feet in diameter, the tops meeting at a point about ten feet above the ground. Over these poles the skins of animals were stretched, near the top, and, at the bottom, large pieces of bark, peeled from the trees and dried, constituted the siding of these primitive dwellings. Dirt was heaped up on the side as high as the poles would bear, and thus quite a comfortable abode was formed. The door consisted of the skin of an animal, and the chimney and window were identical, being simply an opening left at the top for the egress of smoke and the ingress of the sunlight. In morals, if they could be said to have any, the Kickapoos were superior to the Delawares. The former had a code of morals which, in some respects, were severe in the extreme. Drunkenness, which was so common among the Indians, was prohibited by this tribe, and the infringement of the rule relating thereto was death to the law-breaker. Some of the old settlers remember cases of this kind. They even professed a kind of Christianity, and some of them were, no doubt, really pious. They were all great beggars, and the men were lazy. The women did a little gardening, raising corn and beans, while the men spent their time in hunting. Game was plenty here, but they were not content to hunt in their own neighborhood, preferring to take long rambles to other parts of the country in search of game. On some of these expeditions, they would be gone for several months, but would always return as the cold weather approached, and spend the winter in their wigwams. After a few years, the whites having settled quite numerously in their neighborhood, the Kickapoos removed their camp to a point further east, in Livingston County, still known as Indian Grove, and the Delawares wandered off to Arkansas. A year or so before the Winnebago and Sac troubles, the Kickapoos changed their eamp to Oliver's Grove in the eastern part of Livingston County, where they resided a short time and then joined other bands of their own tribe at their reservations, west of the Mississippi.

First White Settlements

The first white settlers in this vicinity were Conrad Flesher and family, John Haner and sons - Jacob, John and William - and Isaac and Joseph Brumhead. These families arrived here in 1828, at which time Bloomington had been settled by Hendrix and Dawson about six years, and a few settlements had been made in various other parts of the county. This was three years before the formation of McLean County, and while most of it still belonged to Tazewell, and the ancient town of Mackinaw, some fifteen miles further down the river, was the capital. The families named settled in the timber of Mackinaw River, a short distance south of the present site of the town of Lexington, with the Kickapoo Indians as their nearest neighbors, about three miles further up the stream, and the Delawares as many miles beyond.

In the year 1828, the population of what is now Lexington Township consisted of not more than twenty white persons, and fifteen or twenty times as many Indians. The intercourse between the two races was by no means so unpleasant as might be supposed. Notwithstanding the advantage in numbers of the Indians over the whites, and notwithstanding their general jealousy of the encroachments of their pale-faced neighbors on their ancient rights, they annoyed them but little, and never became openly hostile. In 1831-32, when rumors of impending troubles were plenty, the Indians still professed friendship for the whites, and asserted their readiness to take up arms against Black Hawk, rather than to assist him.

The privations of these pioneer families were, in some respects, very great, cut off", as they were, from almost all social, religious, educational and commercial advantages. Of course, they enjoyed all of these advantages in a very limited degree. The first settlers were people who greatly valued such privileges, and, though they were for many years without schoolhouses and churches, easily found the facilities for enjoying themselves both socially and religiously. The greatest privations arose from a want of the means of communication with the outside world. An absence of railroads, and even of good wagon-roads, rendered the locality almost inaccessible to postal and commercial facilities, and traveling for other than business purposes out of the question. Most of the first settlers were from Ohio, and we believe all who settled in 1828, with one exception, were from that State. Of the families named, we believe the Haners and Brumhead were related by marriage, and came from the same place in Ohio. All these families are still represented here, but the original pioneers all passed on to a country that is always new, but where the trials of the pioneer life are unknown, many years ago. The first settlers were all farmers, after a fashion now unknown. They raised a little corn and a few vegetables, and, like their red neighbors, depended largely upon the rifle for subsistence. Their houses were but little superior to those of the Indians, being merely little cabins, erected with the help only of the ax, and perhaps an auger. No locks, nails or any other article of iron entered into their construction, but just such devices as could be wrought out on the ground by the use of the tools named, and of such materials as the locality afforded. The only boards used for any purpose were such as were hewed out of logs. Some ten or twelve years after the settlements indicated, John Haner, Sr., built on the Mackinaw a saw-mill, which supplied, from the logs cut in the vicinity, the lumber for the partial construction of many of the houses still standing in the township. Jacob Spawr, who came to the country in 1826, was handy with the ax and saw, and constructed from walnut logs, by hewing, the boards which he afterward made into coffins in which many of the old pioneers were buried. It was no every family, however, who could afford to lay away their loved ones in even so good a coffin as this, but many a worthy old settler was entombed in a casket constructed by simply splitting in two a log, cut to proper length, and the halves scooped out by the use of a common chopping-ax. One of the troughs thus prepared received the remains, and the other placed in its original position and held there by wooden pins or hickory bark, served as the lid.

Benjamin H. and William Downey were brothers. They came to this country about the same time that the families before mentioned arrived. They were also from the State of Ohio, and one of them was related to the Haners by marriage.

During the years 1829-30-31, the population of McLean County increased quite rapidly, and the neighborhood at the Mackinaw timber received several accessions.

The following persons, in nearly the order in which their names are mentioned, arrived in this locality during the years named : Joseph, Moses, Aaron and John Patton and son Benjamin came in 1829, having lived a short time in what was called Old Town Timber, east of Bloomington. This family came to the county from Indiana, though some of the older ones of the family were natives of Kentucky. When they first came to the township, they lived in one of the recently-deserted Indian wigwams until they built a more comfortable abode.

The family of the Messers came from near Columbus, Ohio, in 1828, to the Mackinaw timber, and settled at first in what is now called Money Creek. After a year's residence there, they came to this township. Mr. Messer was a man of more than ordinary importance. In 1812, while he yet resided in Ohio, he enlisted in the service of the United States as a soldier, and served in that capacity during several campaigns. He was one of the founders of the original United Brethren Church, since removed to Lexington, and preached for the same for a number of years. A large number of his descendants still reside in the northwestern part of the county. Isaac Messer died many years ago in Money Creek Township.

Valentine Spawr and family located in Lexington Township in 1829, having lived two years in Money Creek. This has been one of the most favorably known families in this part of the county. Mr. Spawr was from Pennsylvania, where he had taken an active part in public enterprises of various kinds. In 1794, he was a soldier under Gen. Anthony Wayne, in a campaign against the Indians in Northwestern Ohio. The Indians had, for several years, given the Government a good deal of annoyance, and Gen. St. Clair had suffered a severe defeat at their hands. In the year mentioned " Mad Anthony," as he was called, was sent out against them, and, at the rapids of the Maumee, he met them and gained over them a complete victory, resulting in the treaty of Greenville, by which vast tracts of territory were ceded to the United States. Mr. Spawr died here in 1855. Of this family, Jacob Spawr, son of the above, had really preceded his father and the rest of the family one year, but remained in Money Creek ten years, removing to Lexington in 1836. The other sons, John, George and Peter, accompanied their father to Money Creek in 1828, and, in 1829, removed with him to this township. Of these, Jacob is still a resident of the village of Lexington ; Peter died some years ago in Kansas ; George lives in Blue Mound Township, and John occupies the old Spawr homestead.

Patrick Hopkins moved from Indiana in 1830, and settled in the central part of the township of Lexington. About twelve years ago, he moved to the village of Lexington, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1874.

An influential and well-known family is that of the Uawsons. James R. Dawson, the father of a number of the name in this and adjoining townships, came with his family from Ohio, in 1832. He settled at first in Money Creek, but removed to Lexington Township a year later. In 1831, the precinct of Mackinaw was organized or set off by the County Commissioners, and of this domain, John B. Thompson, named above, was elected the first Justice of the Peace, and Henry Flesher, Constable. The election was held at the house of John Patton. The Judges of Election were John Hawley and Conrad Flesher. Jacob Spawr, who then lived in what is now called Money Creek, was also elected a Justice of the Peace the same year. Though the territory over which these dignitaries held sway was large, embracing, as it did, more than half as much as now constitutes the largest county in the State, their duties as public officers were not arduous ; indeed, they did not materially interfere with their usual avocations. The limits of the precinct a year after this were somewhat modified by the formation of Vermilion Precinct, embracing the settlements of the upper part of Vermilion River in Livingston County. Gradually, from time to time, as the population and wants of this part of the county demanded, the outlines of the precinct were changed, until 1858, when they were established as we now find them.

In 1832, occurred an event which, though it took place many miles distant, was the cause of much excitement and apprehension in this neighborhood. For a year or more, deep mutterings from the northwestern part of the State had been heard, indicating a near approach of trouble from the Indians who lived there. Treaties had been made with the chiefs by which the territory there had been ceded to the Government, but the original possessors were loath to give it up, and returned occasionally from their reservations west of the Mississippi to their old homes, upon which occasions they never failed to annoy and sometimes to massacre the whites, who were then beginning to settle there. Of course these acts would be resented, and finally open hostility was declared by the Indians, who, headed by Black Hawk, crossed the river and commenced to over-run the country, destroying property and scalping all who came in their way- Though the scene of these troubles was a hundred miles distant, and though the Indians in this vicinity professed friendship, yet there was a constant dread and alarm. The settlements here were comparatively weak and scattered, and had their enemies chosen to attack them, they would easily have been overpowered. Fortunately, however, the State and Government took prompt and active measures to suppress the uprising of the savages, and their devastations never reached this section. Some precautions were taken by the people along the Mackinaw to prevent a surprise. A company of rangers was organized for the purpose of scouting through the country in the direction of the enemies' camps, to ascertain their movements.

Several forts or blockhouses were built at various points along the Mackinaw, one of which was erected in this township. The one built here consisted simply of a log building some 20 feet square at the base, with a projection all around at the top to prevent any from climbing its sides. Through the sides near the top were made portholes, to allow the firing of rifles, or such other fire-arms as the settlers might possess, without exposing the body to shots from without. To this fortification it was proposed to flee upon notice of approaching danger, and a good many families who lived at a

In the neighborhood of Pontiac and Fairbury, then in this county, there was not an inhabitant left, all having fled to this vicinity, or to others beyond. Some brought their women and children, and occasionally returned to look after traces of the Indians, and their deserted homes. Fortunately, the summer passed without any more serious trouble to this section than the neglect of crops and the troubles incident to moving back and forth. Many frights are remembered, which now seem quite ludicrous ; but when it is remembered thai the settlers were without telegraphs to inform them of the movements of the enemy, and, indeed, without any easy means of communication with the seat of war. it cannot be wondered at that they were in a state of mind almost bordering on a panic.

The immediate result of the Indian troubles was to check immigration to this State, and for a few years but few new settlers made their appearance in this section. However, after the lapse of a few years, when it began to be definitely understood in the East that no further molestations were likely to occur, a new tide of immigration set toward this country never before or since equaled. This began in about 1834, and continued about five years. A system of advertising and speculation similar to that now prevailing in tbe country several hundred miles further West, brought thousands upon thousands. Not unlike the excitement which prevails in later times in regard to the Western gold, silver and lead mines was that which swept through the Eastern States in regard to Illinois lands and town lots. During the years 1835, 1836 and 1837, more than five hundred new towns were laid out in Illinois, not less than a dozen of which were in McLean County, Lexington being one. Railroads were projected through nearly all of them, and these, with the town sites, were platted, showing depot grounds, parks and drives, and were sent with the most exaggerated descriptions to all parts of the country. The State government caught the epidemic, and bills for railroads, canals, and other internal improvements were passed, corresponding in magnitude with the universal expectancy of the people. In 1837, a financial crash came and found this State but illy prepared for the shock. As a consequence, the numerous railroads, canals, and paper cities vanished in thin air ; and then for a number of years, improvements and immigration were at a stand-still. Of course, this part of the country having no extra inducements to offer, partook of the general stagnation ; and for a score of years no remarkable advance was made, either in population or improvement. Occasionally, a new arrival was announced. A relative or friend writing back to the old home in the East or South would induce some one to come out and see the country, and perhaps work a year, and once here, he would likely stay. As in other parts of the State, the first settlers located in or near the timber, and thus it will be seen by a glance at the map where the first improvements in the township were made. A strip of a mile or less in width, on either side of Mackinaw Creek, embraced all of the settlements for fifteen years or more after the first settlement was made. In 1840, Jacob Spawr took the census of the county, and he says that at that time his house was the farthest away from the timber.

Among those who located here during the five years following the Indian scare, were John Smith, Milton Smith, James Brown, William Popejoy, Isaac and Jacob Harness, Dr. Abbott Goddard and Jacob Spawr, who came in, as nearly as can be remembered, in the order in which their names occur. The founding of the town of Lexington was the indirect cause of bringing to the neighborhood some of these, and a number of other families.

In 1854, occurred an event which had more to do with the immediate development of the country than any other single cause. For years it had been known that this was one of the finest agricultural regions in the country ; farms had been opened and successfully cultivated ; schools had been organized and churches founded ; towns had been platted and post lines and ofiices had been established. It seemed that almost everything had been done that individual energy could accomplish, and yet the country was poor and backward ; much of the very best land was even then for sale at Congress price. In the year mentioned, however, the " one thing needful " to this section - a means of disposing of the abundant productions which heretofore found no market, came. It is impossible to conceive how the country through which the Chicago & Alton Railroad passes ever would have approached the wonderful development it has but for the timely completion of this enterprise. Indeed, it is not too much to say that it is the very basis of the greatness of the country through which it passes. Immediately upon the completion of the road, the prices of real estate doubled, and within three years there was not to be found a foot of Congress land within ten miles of its line, where whole townships had lain unoccupied for thirty years without a single purchaser.

Commerce is said to be the great civilizer. In this instance, it has proved itself eminently so, and much more. It has not only improved the condition of the people socially, intellectually and morally, but it has brought the people. With the people have come the schools and churches, and to these have come teachers and books and ministers and Sunday schools. With the railroad came improved methods of farming, better plows, better means of harvesting grain, and better prices for grain. With the railroad came lumber which enabled those who would settle on the prairie to protect their grain from the stock which roamed at large, and to protect their cattle and horses and themselves from the inclemencies of the weather. This made it possible to utilize all of that vast extent of country wnich till then was thought to be useless except for a boundless pasture-field. For several years after its completion, the road was in a greatly embarrassed condition, owing somewhat to incompetency in the management; but of late years, through a more systematic policy, and a liberal course toward its patrons, it has not only become one of the soundest roads financially, but the most popular line in the West.

The citizens of Lexington Township have always been noted for a deep interest in whatever would tend toward the education of the youth. Though the advantages of school education to the early settlers were exceedingly meager, they, nevertheless, have striven to give to their children that of which they were, in a great measure, deprived. The first schoolhouse was a little log cabin built in the timber just south of Lexington. Like all of the schoolhouses of that early day, it was a joint affair, being erected by all interested in providing means of learning for the few children of the neighborhood. The State Government had not, at that time, made provision for the general education of the people, and a school depended entirely on the interest taken by private individuals. As the people were nearly all quite poor, it may be easily imagined that enterprises of this kind were of the most primitive character. A little log shanty that

-would not now be worth $10 as a schoolhouse, a teacher who was barely able to give a little instruction in spelling, reading and writing, the only apparatus a bundle of birch switches - these were the school advantages provided for the children of 1830. And yet, surprising as it may seem, some of our most competent business men, judges and legislators, got their education in this very class of schools.

Perhaps in no particular has the country changed more than in that of educational advantages. From the little log shanty, with its huge fire-place, its puncheon floors and seats, and its paper windows, have sprung ten comfortable buildings, in various parts of the township, estimated in value at over $12,000, each of these furnished with improved desks and seats, and, in most cases, with charts, maps, globes and other apparatus.

This township has furnished its full quota of men to fill positions of honor and trust. For a number of years, the township has been not without a representative, either as a county or State officer, of which those of Judge and Representative, in the persons of Hon. Thomas F. Tipton and Hon. W. M. Smith, are worthy of special mention.

The township did its duty well in the recent great, struggle of the nation to preserve its identity. The call for men and means to put down the rebellion had scarcely been made before numbers of the strong and loyal men of this part of the county stepped forward to defend their country and to preserve the nation intact.

The law authorizing the organization of townships for the transaction of business previously done by county officers, as before stated, was adopted by this county in 1857, and the first township election was held in this township in April of the following year. The following officers were elected : Jacob C. Mahan, Supervisor ; Jonas Fell, Clerk ; T. E. Scringer, Assessor ; James H. Gaff, Collector ; 6. B. Okeson, Overseer of Poor ; J. W. Smith, George Flesher and James Adams, Commissioners of Highways ; John Fulwiler and H. McCrackin, Justices of the Peace; and J. Hand and Jacob Best, Constables.

At that time there were in the township 310 voters. Since that time, the number has increased to nearly double. At the last election, there were polled over five hundred votes, and a majority of which were polled for the following persons : George B. Okeson, Supervisor; James M. Bay, Collector; John Gallehugh, Assessor; William H. Shepherd, Clerk ; William A. Smith, Noah Wilson and George W. Vandolah, Commissioners of Highways ; Reason A. Wells and George Bradford, Justices of the Peace, and Henry C. Hays and James E. Johnson, Constables.

Village Of Lexington

As before indicated, the village of Lexington was founded during the great " townlot speculation " era, the plat being selected and surveyed as recorded in the office of the Circuit Clerk, for James Brown and Ashael Gridley, by Elbert Dickason, January 14, 1836. The original plat consisted of parts uf the northeast quarter of Section 1, and of the northwest quarter of Section 8, Town 25 north, Range 4 east. The plat has since been greatly enlarged by numerous additions. The enterprise, like most others of its time, for nearly twenty years seemed to be a failure, and, but for the building of the railroad through this section, doubtless would have proved so. Numerous other places, with advantages fully equal to those afforded by Lexington, have budded, blossomed and died. At the time when the line was surveyed, there were not in the village more than a dozen families. The first improvement made after the town was surveyed was by A. Gridley and C. Carpenter, who erected a store-building. This was rented and occupied by Carpenter with a stock of goods for about two years. In the mean time, two or three families settled at the place, but the hard times coming on, the store was found to be a bad venture and was taken to Bloomington, the house being removed to Clarksville, the last-named being considered a better point for business. The first dwellinghouse was a cabin erected b\ Jacob Spawr, on the site of the more modern and pretentious dwelling occupied by him. Mr. Spawr had lived in Money Creek Township for nearly ten years before settling here. For a year or so after the removal of Carpenter's store, Mr. Spawr's family were the only residents of the town. His double log house was post ofiice, dwelling and tavern, and Mr. Spawr was Postmaster, farmer and landlord. At about this time, Livingston County was organized, with Pontiac as the seat of justice ; courts were beginning to be held there, and Lexington being in a direct line between Bloomington and Pontiac, and the only place on the road where public entertainment was to be had by the traveler, this became a general stopping-place for lawyers, judges, litigants and witnesses on their way to the court at either place. Lincoln, Douglas, Treat and many other worthies and dignataries were among those who stopped regularly and partook of Mr. Spawr's hospitality. Though his accommodations were quite limited at first, he was credited with being a first-class tavern-keeper, and continued to monopolize the business until 1854, when the railroad made its appearance. Then Messrs. Franklin & Long built what has since been known as Long's Hotel, and now used as a boarding-house, and Mr. Spawr retired from the hotel business.

A short time after the removal of the Carpenter store, William Lander built a dwelling-house and moved to the place. About three years intervened before the place was considered an available point for business. Then J. C. Mahan brought on a stock of goods. George Dement and Messrs. Knotts & Gregory were also among the first merchants. Other classes of business gradually came, as circumstances seemed to warrant. Blacksmiths, shoemakers, carpenters and additional merchants started business at various times, until, in 1854, there were probably nearly two hundred inhabitants in the town. From the year named, the real growth and prosperity of the town may with propriety be dated. The railroad brought a large number of laborers who were employed in the construction of the line. These made their headquarters here, and after the completion of the road many of them became permanent residents of the village and vicinity.

Hotels, additional stores and shops at once became a necessity, and, those wants being at once supplied, the population in a short time was doubled. The surrounding country filled up very rapidly about this time, and this levied additional trading facilities on the little town, and everything seemed for a time to contribute to its improvement. Another era of hard times followed in 1857, which gave a partial check to progress, which, with the breaking-out of the war of 1861, put an effectual check upon the development of the town. After the war closed, money was found to be plenty, and, as was the case all over the country, so here, business was brisk and another period of improvement followed.

Just at the close of the war, the first of the fine brick blocks which now grace the village was erected by J. C. Mahan. The Smith Block was erected about two years later.

Of course, Lexington grain trade dates no further back than the completion of the railroad. The nearest markets, prior to that time, were Pekin, Peoria and Chicago, whence farmers hauled by wagon over the prairies their superfluous products. However, on the location of a station at this place, a trade of this character at once sprung up here, which has been quite extensive ever since. The country in the vicinity of Lexington is exceedingly productive, and grain and stock buyers at once became a necessity. Among the first grain-buyers here were Messrs. Dexter & Kinkaid. The extent of the trade was not at first realized, and it was some time before the complete apparatus for handling grain now in use was erected. Of the gentlemen named, Mr. Dexter was the railroad agent, and the firm confined their operations in grain to buying on the track and loading directly into the cars, sometimes using the company's building for storing such as came in while cars were not to be had, and shoveling by hand or wheeling by trucks into the cars. Messrs. Fulwiler & Okeson also engaged in the grain trade after the same fashion. John Richardson also did a little in the same line.

The first improved means of handling grain was introduced by Messrs. Dawson & McCurdy some time after the railroad was completed. This was the first elevator proper, and is the building now used by S. R. Cleggett as a kind of store-room.

Organization Of The Village

In 1855, a year after the completion of the railroad, the citizens of the town were aspiring to be known and recognized as an incorporated village, and a year and two days - July 6, 1855 - found the citizen voters assembled to take measures to accomplish the important fact in the history of the town. Thomas F. Tipton, since Judge and member of Congress, was chosen Clerk, and G. T. Dement, President, of the meeting. The motion to call an election to choose officers was carried, and the 12th day of the same month was agreed upon for the purpose.

The election was accordingly held at Dement's store. At the election, thirty votes were cast, and John Fulwiler was chosen President of the Board of Trustees, and Jacob C. Mahan, M. Magill, G. T. Dement and Croghan Dawson as members. Thomas F. Tipton was selected Village Clerk, and G. W. Knotts as Treasurer. The organization then and there effected was under the provisions of the general law of the State. The same charter, somewhat modified by the Legislature in 1867, has been in force ever since. In 1874, a vote was taken to adopt the organization common to towns and villages of the State and now in force, but the proposition was voted down by a large majority. Again last year, the proposition to adopt the general law was lost, and the organization consequently stands nearly in its original form.

The present Board of Trustees consists of William Skelly, D. H. Vandolah, George W. Hiser, Charles H. Preble and Henry Weekly, the first named being President. J. W. Weekly is Clerk ; A. B. Davidson, Treasurer and Police Magistrate, and M. G. Hays, Marshal. The number of votes polled at the last election was 265, indicating a population of near 2,000.

The temperance question has entered very largely into corporation politics at this place, and, singular as it may appear tp other towns used to the presence of saloons, there has never been an authorized dram-shop in the village. Naturally enough, we look for a high state of morals and refinement in a place thus so solidly opposed to the liquor traffic, and in this we are not mistaken. In no instance within our observation, have we found a more intelligent and moral people than inhabit Lexington. As a further evidence of this, one need only turn his attention to the places of religious and secular instruction which have been established here, and which are in a most prosperous condition.

The old pioneers, though they would not have hesitated much to engage in a rough-and-tumble fight, and did not hesitate to take a dram once in a while (though they say the whisky did not contain as much infernal fire as it does now), were yet almost universally pious people, and enjoyed themselves religiously quite as well as the more fastidious church-goers of to-day. The religious services were simple, the churchbuildings were simple, the methods of conveyance to and from church were simple, and the manners, dress and intercourse of the people who attended church were primitive in the extreme. But some of the old pioneers assert that the natural organs of the voice, with which they praised God, were to be preferred to the organ now pumped by a boy and skillfully manipulated by a popular but not pious young lady or gentleman, dressed in silk or broadcloth, instead of the ancient linsey-woolsey or jeans.

Let us not quarrel with our fathers and mothers about the matter ; they have sacrificed their preferences to our modern methods, and many, if not most, of them are praising Him on harps of such glorious construction as we are little able to comprehend.

The United Brethren seem to have been the pioneers, religiously, in this neighborhood, or, at least, they were the first to organize a society. There were a number of Methodists here at about the same time, but they generally fraternized with the United Brethren, and a number of them went into the early organization. For a number of years, church services were held in private houses, in barns or in the groves - " God's first temples" - as the size of the congregation and the state of the weather seemed to indicate. Ten or a dozen years after the first settlements were made here, a house of worship was erected south of town, in the timber. It was quite a comfortable and commodious edifice for the times. When the village began to grow, however, a demand arose for a church-building in town, which, about that time, was erected. The old building finally went into disuse, and was removed to the village and appropriated to a very practical, though scarcely so dignified a use as formerly - that of livery-stable - and the spot from which the Scriptures were once eloquently expounded is now occupied by John Barret, who dispenses horse-knowledge with equal fluency. About twentyfour years ago, the society built in the village their present house of worship, and though the same frame is still in use, the house was so remodeled last fall that it scarcely appears to be the same building. In the rebuilding, some $2,000 were expended, and the Brethren now have one of the most comfortable houses of worship in this part of the county. Lexington seems to have been a favored location for the faithful of this denomination, and was, in consequence, for a number of years, the seat of residence of Bishop Edwards. A fine residence was erected for him. The house once occupied by the Bishop is now owned and occupied by Albert Dawson. The present Pastor of the Church is Rev. John Morrison. The Sabbath school in connection with this Church is successfully managed by James Norman, Superintendent.

The original members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of this place were Jacob Spawr, Patrick Hopkins. Dr. Mahan and their wives. The first services were held in the U. B. Church and in the schoolhouse until 1855, when their present building was erected. The house was built mainly through the influence of Rev. Mr. Griggs, who was the Pastor at the time. The size of the building is 45x65 feet, and cost $2,700. The Church has prospered well, and numbers, at this time, about one hundred and sixty members. Rev. R. B. Williams is present Pastor, and John Langstaff is Superintendent of the Sunday school.

The Presbyterians organized a society here near the same time that the Methodists built their church, but did not erect a building until 1867. In the mean time, services were held by this denomination frequently in the Christian Church. Among the original members of this organization were John Fulwiler, J. C. Mahon, their wives and others, to the number of about a dozen. Rev. J. C. Mahan was the first preacher, and ministered to the Church for about four years. In 1867, the congregation erected a very handsome and substantial church-edifice, at an outlay of $7,000, which was dedicated the following year. Rev. Robert Conover is Pastor at present. The membership numbers nearly one hundred, and the Sunday school numbers about as many. The Superintendent of the Sunday school is Jacob Mahan.

The Christian Church was organized in 1859, by Rev. B. H. Smith, with Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Long, Mr. and Mrs. John Franklin, and Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Dement as original members. From this small beginning, their numbers have increased to sixty. They have a comfortable house of worship, 40x60 feet, that cost $3,000. It was erected about 1860. At present writing, the Church is without a settled Pastor; but church services and Sunday school are held regularly. The Sunday school numbers about seventy scholars. Frank Trimmer is Superintendent.

The Baptists of this place have held religious services here for the last twenty years or more, but did not own a house of worship of their own until about four years ago. The organizers of this Church were L. P. Scroggin and wife, Henderson Peek and wife, John Peek and wife, and a half-dozen others. In 1874, they erected, at an expense of $5,000, a handsome church-edifice,.the dimensions of which are about 34x66 feet. The membership of the' Church is about one hundred and forty, and that of the Sunday school about one hundred ; of the former, Rev. John Davis is Pastor, and of the latter, L. P. Scroggin is Superintendent.

Secret Societies

McLean Lodge, No. 206, I. O. O. F., was organized October, 1856, the charter being granted Brothers David W. Griffith, Edwin M. Murphy, Thornton Robertson, J. A. Hart and J. E. Murphy. For several years, especially during the war, the prosperity of the Lodge was not marked, at times barely a sufficient number to maintain the organization. Since the war, the fraternity has increased quite rapidly. The present membership is about seventy. The officers are : Charles Stiller, N. G. \ Benjamin Arbogast, V. G. ; F. P. Casey, Sec, and R. Stevenson, Treas. Meetings are held every Saturday evening.