Stark County, Illinois - Chapter 8: Cities. Towns and Villages, 1916

Chapter 8: Cities. Towns and Villages

In the early settlement of the West there seems to luive been a sort of mania for layin<>- off towns. Companies were organized for the purpose of preempting- the most available sites, employing surveyors to make plats, copies of which were sent to cities in the East to advertise the advantages of the coming metropolis of this or that locality. In some of the counties there were more towns two or three years after tlie first settlements were made than there are today, if a paper ])lat constituted a town, and nearly every man or company that had a town-site had a map made to show that particular town as being the best situated for the county seat.

Scarcely had the first settlements been made in what is now Stark County until the speculator and promoter were in the field laying oft' towns. Some of tlie towns thus projected have sur\'ived and grown into commercial centers of consideral)le importance ; others are merely small railroad stations, neighborhood trading jjoints. or postotfices for a rural community: and still others have passed out of existence. From a careful examination of the official plat l)ooks, old atlases and newspaper files, the following list of towns that are or have been in Stark County has been compiled: Bradford, Camp Grove, Castleton, Duncan. Elmira, Lafayette, Lombardville. Massillon, INIodena, IVIorse, ^loulton, Osceola. Pleasant (rreen, Puckerbrush, Slackwater, Speer, Stark, Starwano, Stringtown, Toidon, Wady Petra, \Valden, West Jersey and Wyoming. A few of these places, such as Puckerbrush and Stringtown, were never officially platted, but, like Topsy in Uncle Tom's Cabin, they "jest growed."

\Vliile the above list is arranged alphabetically, in giving their history, the to^viis will be considered in the order of their importance, beginnhig with

Section 9 of the act of March 2, 1839, under which Stark County Avas organized, provided that the county seat should be called "Toulon," and in Chapter XI will be found an account of the manner in which the location was selected. At the time the site was chosen for the seat of justice in 184.1, the only house upon the original plat of the toAvn was a small cabin. Avhich was occupied l)y John Miller and his family. This cabin had been erected by :Minott Silliman in the spring of 18;3.5 and sold, with the land, to John :Miller, the place afterward becoming known as "Miller's Point." Leeson's History of Stark County says: 'Tn 1832 Harris W. Miner erected a cabin not far from the Toulon depot: and it is further claimed for him and tliis section that here the beginnings of cultivation of lands in this township were made, although ^Nlinott Silliman, who came later, does not state positively that any evidences of such improAcment were observed by him."

On July 28. 1841, John ^Miller and his wife executed a deed, conveying to the conunissioners of Stark County the tract selected for a county seat. The "ninety rods square" included in the deed was laid off"" into lots by Carson Berfield in August. 1841. The original plat shows sixteen blocks of ten lots each, with 3Iiller, Franklin, Washington and Henderson streets running north and south, and Yine, ]Main and Jeff'erson streets running east and west. Between the north and south streets were three alleys, each twenty feet in width, named Plum, Cherry and Grape. Since that plat was filed in the office of the county recorder several additions have been made to the town, tlie most important of which is Henderson & Whitaker's addition, which consists of thirty blocks. Then there are Culbertson's Eastern and Western additions, the Assessor's addition and Turner's addition. Tliese additions have increased the area of the town more than three times that shown by the original plat.

The first sale of lots in Toulon was held on September 14-1.'). 1841. Bidders were plentiful and 122 lots were sold. The highest price paid for any one lot was $80, which was paid for lot 10 in block (J. and the lowest price was $.5, for lot 2. ])lock 9, and lot 1, block 1. Among the ])ui-ehasers Avere Oliver Whitaker, John W. Henderson, Jonathan Hodgson, Benjamin Turner. Cyril Ward, JNIinott Silliman. David

Essex, Nero W. Mounts, John JNIiller, Henry Breese, Calvin Powell, Harris JMiner and several others whose names figure prominently in early Starlv County history. In October following the sale Benjamin Turner built the tirst "real house" in the town. A postoffice was established a little later and ]Mr. Turner was appointed the first postmaster.

John Culbertson, who located just outside the town ])lat in 184.1 and brouglit a stock of goods, was jjrobably the first merchant. He commanded a large trade in and around Toulon, built a flour mill and established a woolen factory, and was otherwise active in building up the new county seat. His investments in real estate were extensive and a neighlior once remarked: "Uncle John will not be satisfied until he owns all of this township and the one west of it." Another jjioneer of 18-il was Dr. Thomas Hall, who was the first resident physician.

The first hotel was kept by Benjamin Turner, who also ke[)t a small stock of goods in one of the front rooms. The building in which his hotel was kept was afterward removed to the northwest corner of the public square, where it was occupied by various persons as a mercantile establishment for a number of years. Other early hotel keepers were B. A. Hall and AVilliam Rose. Alexander ^Vliel kei)t a tavern on the north side of ]Main Street, between Franklin and Miller, where the Virginia House was built by J. A. Cooley in 1849.

The first school in Toulon was taught bj^ JNIiss Elizabeth Buswell, in an upper room of the courthouse, in 1843. It was known as a common school, while JNIiss Susan (rill, daughter of Elder Elisha Gill, taught a "select" school in an adjoining room. The first schoolhouse, still referred to by old i-esidents as the "old brick," was built on Jefferson Street, in the Avestern part of town. It was but one story ' high and was built by Ira "Ward, Jr., at a cost of $000. T. J. Henderson taught the first school in the building after it was finished. The brick for the structvn'e was burned especially for it by W. B. Sweet, and the lumber was hauled from the Illinois River. That was the beginning of Toulon's ])ul)lic school system, which has developed into two magnificent modern buildings, in which seventeen teachers are em])loycd.

A Methodist class was organized just south of the town in 1841. Avith Caleb B. Flint as class leader. This was the beginning of the Toulon ^Methodist Chiu'ch, the first religious organization in tlic town. A more com])lete account of the churclies of Toulon will be found in Chapter XV.

III October, 18.57, a movement was instituted for the incorporation of Toulon. At a meeting of the citizens, held at the clerk's ottice early in ^larch, 18.58, thirty-four votes were cast in favor of the proiJosition and only two were opposed. E. L. Emery, Oliver Whitaker, INliles A. Fuller, William Lowman and Isaac C. Reed were elected as the first board of trustees. No record can be found concerning this lirst corporate government of the town, but on February 11,1 859, the Legislature passed an act defining the powers and duties of the trustees of Toulon.

A reorganization of the town government took place in the spring of 1868. At an election held on the first jMonday of April in that year, Caleb M. S. Lyons, Davis Lowman, Amos P. Gill, Hugh Y. Godfrey and David Tinlin were chosen trustees. In the organization of the new board, Mr. Lyons was elected president ; JNIr. Tinlin, clerk : JMr. Gill, treasurer, and Miles A. Fuller was appointed attorney. On A])ril 17, 1868, fourteen ordinances were passed and ordered printed in the Stark County News. The first related to public morality, health and iJolice regulations; the second prohibited gaming houses; the third fixed a 2)cnalty for interfering with the town officers in the discharge of their duties; the fourth ])rovided for the punishment of persons disturbing the peace; the fifth prohibited certain animals from running at large; the sixth related to streets and alleys and prohibited fast driving within the corporate limits; the seventh altered certain streets and alleys; the eighth and ninth dealt with labor upon the streets and alleys; the tenth forbade the sale of intoxicating liquors; the eleventh licensed and regulated the keeping of billiard tables; the twelfth provided for licensing peddlers and auctioneers ; the thirteenth related to legal ])roceedings, and the fourteenth to the election and appointment of officers.

The railroad was completed to Toulon in June, 1871, and during the next year there were a number of additions to the population. Consequently the board of trustees on IMarch .5, 1873, issued a call for an election to be held at the courthouse on April 7. 1873. "to submit to the voters of the said town the (juestion whether the said town shall become incorporated as a city (village) under the general incorporation laws of the State of Illinois."

A majority of the votes were cast in favor of the change in municipal government and the following trustees were elected: Dennis JNTawbey, .James Nowlan, H. StaufFer. Benjamin C. Follett and Warren Williams. The village government thus established continued for thirty-six years. On A])ril 20, 1909, an election was held to decide the question whether Toulon should incorporate as a city. A majority of the votes were cast in favor of the chanoc and the charter bears date of April 22, lUOU. The lirst city othcers were: George Xowlan, mayor; Arthur Shinii, clerk; Harry B. Davis, treasurer; A'ictor G. Fuller, attorney; F. C. INIcClenahan, Thomas J. Malone, William A. Newton, Orlando Brace, Amiel F. Lehman and E. H. Lloyd, aldermen. Mr. Nowlan served as mayor until the spring of ini.>, when he was succeeded by J. H. Baker.

Electric Light

On .Tune 0, 1892. the board of trustees granted to ^Nfiles A. Fuller a fianchise to construct and maintain an electric lighting plant, tiie life of said franchise to be twenty-five years. Mr. Fuller and his associates went to work almost immediately upon the ])lant and the result was that on the evening of Decembtr 2.), 1892. the Town of Toulon was lighted for the first time by electricity. Some years later the business was incorporated under the name of the "Toulon Light and Power Company." The power-house, which is located on Franklin Street between JNIain and Vine, is ecjuijjped with modern electric machinery and the comj)any besides furnishing light to the people of Toulon also furnishes power for pumping water for the municiiJal

^Vbout the time the form of government was changed from village to city, the question of establishing a sJ^stenl of waterworks was agitated by some of the progressive citizens. The movement gained headway and on .Tune 0, 1910, the city council passed an ordinance calling a special election for the ])urpose of voting on the question of issuing bonds to the amount of -f l.l.OOO to establish waterworks. The ])ro))osition to issue the bonds was carried by a substantial ma joiity at the election and the engineering firm of W. S. Shields & Company was given the contract for the erection of the tower and reservoir and the installation of the ])um])ing machinery.

Gray Brothers, well drillers, were em])loved to sink a deep well and during the summer of 1911 about foui- and a half miles of mains were laid, the mains being paid for by a s])ecial assessment against the property benefited. The well which furnishes the water supplv is 1,44.8 feet in depth. iV reservoir of .)(),()()() gallons and a steel taidc mounted upon a tower also having a capacity of 50,000 gallons, hold a supply of water equal to any demand that is likely to arise. The ordinary jjuniping capacity is sutficient to furnish water for daily use, and in adtlition there is a reserve pump that can be called into requisition in case of fire, etc. The cost of the plant complete, including the special assessment for the mains, was about thirty thousand dollars. Few cities in the state, the size of Toulon, can boast a better system of waterworks or a more bountiful supply of pure, wholesome water.

Public Buildings, Etc

The City Hall, located on Franklin Street, adjoining the water tower and the electric light plant, was erected in 1910 at a cost of $6,000. It is two stories high, with walls of concrete block, steel ceilings, etc. In the lower story are kept the fire engine, hook and ladder truck and other property of the fire company, and the second story contains the offices of the mayor, city clerk, council chamber, and in the rear a room for the members of the fire dei)artment. The Iniilding is heated by a finnace and well provided with toilet rooms and lockers for the municipal officials and employees.

On ]March (5, 1914, the council passed an ordinance for the construction of a sewer system, to be paid for by special assessment. The contract was awarded to W. S. Shields & Company, the same firm that built the ^vaterworks. This firm has made a special study of sewer problems in connection with cities, and at Toulon an op])ortunity was given for the construction of a model system. A septic tank was built southeast of the city and about four miles of sewer laid, the total cost being about twenty-five thousand dollars. So well has this system done its work that other cities about to install sewers have sent committees to Toulon to study the methods used, and all have gene away satisfied that the city "got its money's worth" in building the way it did.

A fire department was organized in the early "90s and Charles S. ^IcKee was appointed chief a little later, a position he has held ever since. The first apparatus purchased for the use of the company was a second-hand hose reel, which was bought from the City of Clalva. Then came the hook and ladder truck. Later ^Ir. McKee went to Indianapolis, Ind., and purchased a combined gas engine and hose cart fi'om the Howe ^Manufacturing Company of that city. With this acquisition to the fire fighting eqi!i])ment of the city, Toulon is well prepared to combat any fire that is likely to lireak out. The company consists of twenty-five members and holds meetings for instruction and drill on the third ^Nlondav eveniny in each month.

The Toulon Civic Club was or<«auize(l at the opera house on Thursday evening, August 5, 191.). The objects of the club, as stated in the articles of association, are "to develop, promote and enhance the civiC; industrial, eoniniercial and agricultural interests of Toulon and vicinity." C. D. ]McClenahan was elected president of the club; W. U. Sickles, vice president; and M. D. Dewey, secretary antl treasurer.

^lention has been made of the establishment oJ' tlie postolliee at Toulon in 1841 and the api)ointment of Benjamin Turner as postmaster. ^Ir. Turner continued in charge of the office until President liuchanan came into office in 18.57, when he was succeeded by Oliver Whitaker. In 191.3 the office enii)loye(l two clerks, a man to carry mail from the ofHce to the railroad station and return, five I'ural cai'- riei's. and the total receipts for the fiscal year ending on June .'{(), 191."). amounted to nearly seven thousand dollars. At that time the ])ostmaster was Otto Raemeister.

From the single log cabin of John ^liller in 1841. Toulon had grown to a city of 1,208 inhabitants in 1910, with many modern homes. It has two fine public scliool liuildings, a public library. Baptist, Catholic, Christian, Congregational and INIethodist Episcopal chiu'clies, two lai'ge grain eknators, two banks, stock yards, several miles of cement sidewalks, a telei)hone exchange, telegraph and express service, a number of well appointed mercantile establishments, a weekly newspaper, a motion picture tlieater, an opera house, a base ball club, and on every hand ai'c to be seen evidences of progress and pi'osperit}'.

City Of Avyoming

Wyoming, the largest city in Stark County, also claims the distinction of being the oldest town in the county. It was surveyed in INIarch. 18.36. by B. M. Hayes, then surveyor of Putnam County, for Cien. Samuel Thomas, and the plat was filed the following INIay. The oi'iginai town contains eighteen blocks or squares, one of which was set aside by General Thomas for a jjublic square. William Street, the northern boundary, is the line between Essex and Toulon townships, the plat being entirely within Essex Townshij). The other streets running east and west are Main. Smith and Agard. Beginning at the west line of the plat the north and soutli streets are numbered from First to Seventh, inclusive. Since the original plat was filed additions have been made wliich increase the area of the cor])oration to more than four times that of the first toA\'n laid out by General

Thomas. The most important additions are Thomas', Dana's, Scott & W'rigley's, and the two additions hiid out hv Dr. Alfred Castle, sometimes called "Xorth \Vy()ming."

Gen. Samuel Thomas, the founder of Wyoming, was horn in the State of Connecticut, February 2, 1787. When about nineteen or twenty years old he went to the Wyoming Valley, in Pennsylvania. At the beginning of the War of 1812, he was captain of a company of young men who were well drilled in artillery tactics. He ofi'ered the services of his conqjany to the Cxovernment and the offer was accepted, the company being ordered to Erie, Pennsylvania, where Commodore Perry was engaged in building his fleet. Captain Thomas was placed in command of the post and several times thwarted the British in their attempts to burn Perry's ships before they were completed. His company then joined the army under Gen. William PI. Harrison and he was present at the battle of the Thames, where the celebrated Shawnee chief, Tecumseh, was killed. After the war he was apiJointed inspector of the Pennsylvania militia and in 1828 was commissioned brigadier-general. After serving two terms in the Legislature of Pennsylvania he decided to seek his fortunes in the West, and in October, 183-i, he purchased the claim of his brother-inlaw, Sylvanus ]Moore, who had preceded him to Stark County, 111. When he concluded to lay off a town, his recollections of the Wyoming Valley prompted him to confer that name upon his town. General Thomas was engaged in farming and keeping store until his death, on July 21, 186j. He was one of the leading members of the 3Iethodist Church, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and took an active interest in political affairs as a democrat.

lenberger, in her "Stark County and its Pioneers," says: "For a long time it had little but a name. In a communication to the Lacon Herald in 1838, it is spoken of as having upon its site 'one second hand log smoke house, which serves the double purpose of store and postoffice.' Xevertheless, its name appears upon several maps of that time, and it was a prominent candidate for the county seat. It is said that some speculators interested in the sale of lots, had circulars struck off and circulated in the eastern states, in which this town ^^-as represented in 1837 at the head of navigation on Spoon River, with fine warehouses towering aloft and boats lying at the wharf which negroes were loading and unloading, giving the appearance of a busy commercial mart. This may be but a story, still it serves to illustrate the speculating mania of those days; which disease has not yet ceased to afHict mankind. l)ut has only traveled a few degrees farther west."

Whether the stoiy of the eircular he true or not - and it may have been, as such occurrences were bj' no means rare in those days - ^Vyoniino- has i)assc(l the point wliere such subterfuges are necessary to call attention to its couunereial importance. In 18G.5, just after tiie close of the Civil war, there was a marked increase in the number of inhabitants and in response to a petition the "Town of Wyoming" was duly incorporated under the laws of Illinois. Unfortunately the early records of the village under this first government have not been preserved. In fact, but little attention was paid to nuinici])al matters until after the completion of the two railroads in 1871. Then a more active interest was awakened and in 1872 A. G. Hammond, Otis T. Dyer, Perry H. Smith, A. J. Conover and C. Collier were elected trustees. In the organization of the board Perry II. Smith was elected president and JNIr. Collier, clerk.

In the spring of 1898 a census was taken, which showed the lumiber of inhabitants to be 1,311. An ordinance was then passed by the board of trustees dividing the town into three wards and ordering an election to determine whether or not Wyoming should be incorporated as a city under the general laws of the state. The voting places were designated as follows: Fir^t Ward, Engine House No. 2, on ^lain Street; Second Ward, Engine House No. 1, on the north side of William Street; Third \Vard. King Brotliers' store, on the south side of William Street. The election was held on April 19. 1898, and a majority of the citizens cast their votes in favor of a city government.

A special meeting of the old board of trustees was then held on April 2<j, 1898, for the purpose of inaugurating the new regime. As this was the last meeting of the town officials under the old village system, it may be of interest to know w ho tlie men were that changed Wyoming from a village to a city. C. P. ]McCorkle was president of the board; W. E. Nixon, clerk;' II. R. Brown, J. A. Klock, M. P. Ryan, W. J. Townsend, 31arshall Winn and Peter Lane, trustees. The first and most important business of the special meeting Avas to appoint the 19th day of INIay as the date of the first election for city officers. On that date S. R. Perkins was chosen mayor; A. W. Higbee, Henry Duckworth, Fred Stevenson, Fred Ditewig, H. R. Rrown and C. F. Hamilton, trustees; Ernest Mortimer, clerk; M. H. Lutes, treasurer.

In 1899 A. J. Harty was elected mayor and served until 190.), when he was succeeded ])y John W. Smith. George F. Garden was elected mayor in 1909 and was succeeded by the present incumbent, William H. Hartz, in 1913. The other members of the city govern- ineiit in 1915 were: Frank Jacobs, clerk; Charles Peve, treasurer; F. S. Foster, Elting Arganbright, Charles Ingram, C. F. Scott, A. C. Cooper and A. C. Stagg, aldermen.

As stated in the chapter on Township History, the first postoffice in Stark Comity was established in the Essex Settlement in 1833, with Isaac B. Essex as postmaster. When Gen. Samuel Thomas came to the county in IHSi he was accompanietl by several others, among whom was a man named ^Villiam Cxodley. Two years later the Town of Wyoming was platted and a movement was started to secure the removal of the postofiice to the new town. This project was favored by the people living about Osceola Grove and those living along the Spoon River above the Essex Settlement, as a matter of convenience, and a petition was circulated asking for the removal of the office and the appointment of ^YiIliam Godley as postmaster. The petition was granted and the new appointee, accompanied by James Holgate, went to the Essex dwelling to receive possession of the property appertaining to the postoffice. What happened upon their arrival there is thus told by INIrs. Shallenberger:

"JNlr. Holgate soon noticed indications of a coming storm in the countenance and conduct of ^Irs. Essex. She was washing when they entered, and for awhile continued her occupation with a vim that astonished her visitors, rubbing and scrubbing almost furiously, then she deliberatelj^ turned from her tub, wiped her arms and hands, sat down and gave them her opinion of men who would steal a postoffice. in terms which those gentlemen can never forget. Later in the day a neighbor coming in and observing she was excited, inquired the cause, when she made the apt, Init petulant, play upon their names, INIr. Clifford has recorded, saying: 'God Almighty and Hellsgate have come and taken away our postoffice.' Surely enough to upset any woman, and coming on washday at that!"

It could hardly have been the income that at that time made JNIr. Essex so desirous of retaining the postoffice. but rather the prestige it gave him in the settlement. The affair created some strife between the settlements on the lower and upper jjortions of the Spoon River, but the office remained at Wyoming and in time the affair was forgotten.

ployed two people in tlie office and four mral carriers who delivered mail daily to a lar<>e tract of the surrounding" country. P. B. Colwell was then postmaster.

On April 7. IH'.H). an ordinance was passed by the village board granting a francliise to R. C. Jordan & Company to light the Town of Wyoming with electricity. It seems that tlie recipients of this favor failed to do anything under the provisions of the franchise, and on July t>, 1892. another ordinance relating to the subject was passed, giving to E. B. Hillman c^ Company, of Peoria, authority "to construct maintain and operate an electric light and power plant." Hxing tlie rates to be cliarged by the firm, and containing i)rovisions for the purchase of the plant l)y the village. Soon after the passage of the ordinance, Mr. Hillman and his associates began the construction of a power-house just west of the Rock Island Railroad station, setting poles and running wires througli tlie streets, and l)efore the close of the year Wyoming was rejoicing in the fact that it had an electric lighting system in operation.

On November 6, 1912, the company was reorganized and incorporated for fifty years, under the name of the Stark County Power Com])any. with a cajjital stock of !p2(),()()(). held by Edwin B. HiUman, Adele S. Hillman and Edgar P. Reeder. Tliis company now furnishes electric light and power to tlie towns of Castleton and Bradford, as well as to the City of Wyoming. Its plant is ecjuipped with modern machinery and the service is as good as is generally found in cities of Wyoming's class.

The first move toward establishing a system of waterworks for the City of Wyoming was the ])assage of an ordinance by the city council on April 22, 1902, granting to S. V. Deem, of Galva. 111., a franchise to construct a water system at a cost of $28,()()(). the life of the fianchise to be twenty years. INIr. Deem carried out the provisions of the ordinance and the waterworks were completed the following year.

On March 7. 1904. the city council passed an ordinance entitled the "Waterworks I'mrhase Oi-dinance," under the i)rovisions of which the city purchased the entire plant from S. Y. Deem for $.'}().()8.j. The first bond, or waterwoi-ks certificate, for .f()8.). was made pay- able on the first day of Ajjril, 11)04, and the reauiining $30,000 in certificates of $1,000 each, payable annually and bearing interest at the rate of 5 per cent per annnni. The amount of these bonds or certificates outstanding on September 1, 1915, was $9,000. Both the franchise for the construction of the plant and the purchase ordinance were adt)pted during the administration of flavor A. J. Harty.

The system consists of a Mater tower 100 feet in height, with a capacity of .'id, 000 gallons: five miles of mains, and a pumping capacity of 200 gallons per minute. The rates charged are 3.5 cents per 1.000 gallons per month, up to 10,000 gallons, and all over that amount 25 cents per 1,000 gallons per month. The number of consumers on October 1, 1915, was 245. The supply comes from a deep well and the quality of the Avater is excellent.

Public Parks

Wyoming has two public parks - the public square laid out by General Thomas when he platted the town in 1836, and Central Park, at the northeast corner of Galena Avenue and Van Buren Street, in Scott & Wrigley's addition. The latter was set apart at the time the addition w^as platted as a site for the courthouse in the event Wyoming secured the county seat, which the people were then trying to obtain. Both are real "beauty spots," being provided with bandstands, seats, swings for the little ones, handsome shade trees, etc., and they form jjlaces for recreation and amusement for the people.

Other Public Improve5Iexts

About the time the waterworks were completed the subject of a sewer system began to engage the attention of the people. The first sewer, which was constructed by general taxation, runs from a jjoint on the south side of Van Buren Street, opposite Central Park, to the southwestern part of the city, near the cemetery. Since it was built other sewers have been added from time to time by special assessments until Wyoming has a method of disposing of its sewage that is as good as that found in most cities of its size.

The fire department is a volunteer organizatiou. but is marked by efficiency and promptness in time of need. Prior to the estal)lishment of the city government two engine houses were built by the municipality - one on the north side of William Street and the other on the south side of the same street - and botli were supplied with approved tire-fij>htin<>- apparatus. AVith the completion of tlie waterworks an additional supply of hose was purchased, to he attached to the hydrants in case of tire, and this assured ample tire protection for all ordinary occasions.

Within recent years \Vyoming has given considerable attention to building sidewalks and oiling the roadways of the streets. The result is several miles of excellent concrete sidewalks and dustless, streets that makes the little city one of the cleanest in the State of Illinois.

Miscellaneous

The fair grounds of the AVyoming Agricultural Society are located in the eastern part of the city, a short distance east of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and within easy walking distance of the business district. The first fair was held here in Sep-) tember. 1881.

Resides lieing the oldest town in the county, Wyoming claims the honor of having the first frame house. A year or two after the town was started by General Thomas, Whitney Smith erected a small frame building, \\ hieli he used for a store, and it is generally conceded that this was the first frame structure of any kind to be erected in Stai-k County.

Two modern pul)lic school buildings, one known as the South Side School and the other as the North Side, furnish excellent educational facilities for the city. During the school year of 1!)14-1.3 eleven teachers were employed.

AVyoming has two banks, a pul)lic library, a weekly newspaper, a number of mercantile houses that compare favorably with those of larger cities. Congregational, Catholic, Episcopal and ^Methodist churches, grain elevators, lumber and coal yards, hotel and restaurants, a large ])oultry house, a motion ])icture theater, an opera house, a baseball club, a large number of cozy homes, and in 1!)10 reported a population of 1,;50(). Being located at the junction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroads, it is the princi])al shij)ping ])oint for a rich agricultural district in Essex, Penn, Toulon and Valley townships and large (|uantities of grain and livestock are handled here annually.

Bradford

and "20, Osceola Township. It was surveyed on ^Vpril 27, 18.5-t, by Sylvester F. Ottman, then county surveyor, for Bradford S. Foster and derived its name from the Chi'istian name of the proprietor. In making the survey, JNIr. Ottman located Main Street on the section line. North of this is one tier of lots. The next street south is Arbor and Soutli Street forms the southern boundary of the original town. Between ^Main and Arbor (at first called Bowery) streets was left a "market square," and north of JMain Street was a public square, intersected by a short street called Park. This scjuare was vacated by a vote of the citizens at an election held on Sei)tember 22, 18(39. The noi'th and south streets in the original plat were Peoria, Park and Kim, and the total number of lots was thirty-seven. Since then Foster's and Phenix's first and second additions have extended the limits of the town toward the south and west, and Drawyer's, Pilgrim's. Real's and some minor additions have extended the limits northward and eastward into sections 24 and 2.5 until the corporation includes about one square mile.

In the fall of 18G9, when it became certain that the Dixon, Peoria & Hannibal (now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) Railroad was to be built through Bradford, the town experienced its first boom. A number of energetic, progressive men bought lots and established homes and business houses. The town was incorporated on August 13, 18(i9. and ]M. S. Curtiss was elected the first president of the board of trustees. At the general election held on Xovember 4. 187'3. the question of incorporating under the general laws of the state was carried bj^ a substantial majoritj^ and the present form of municipal government was shortly afterward inaugurated. .Toshua Prouty was elected the first president of the board under the new charter. In 191.5 the village government was composed of Albert Deyo, president; George A. ISIarsh, clerk: R. W. Sharp, Walter Scholes, W. S. Ribley, R. C. Hay, O. C. Boyd and R. D. Lackman, trustees.

A postoffice was established at Bradford soon after the town was surveyed, but the name of the first jxistmaster could not be learned by the writer. Some idea of the growth of the town and the develo])- ment of its business interests may be gained from the knowledge that in 191.5 the postoffice had risen to a third-class office, Avith annual receipts of about four thousand dollars, em])l()ying two people and being the source of five rural routes that distrii)ute mail daily over a large territory. T. .T. Mowbray was then postmaster.

to issue five bonds of $1,000 each, tlie first due in five years aiul the hist ill nine, with interest at (5 per cent per annum, for the purpose of instalhng a system of waterworks for the viUage. A deep well was sunk, a pumphouse erected, a large tank mounted upon a tall tower and a reserve tank constructed, mains laid upon the principal streets, and in the summer of 18U7 the water was turned on.

The fire department was organized imdei- the provisions of an ordinance passed on April 4. 1904. The force consists of twenty-five men (volunteers) and the equipment of hosecarts, the pressure from the waterworks being suHicient to furnish enough water to extinguish any fire that is likely to occur. The members of the department meet at regidar intervals for drill and instruction.

Jiiadford has two hanks, a weekly newspapei'. churches of several faiths, a fine jjublic school building, in which eight teachers are employed, well kept streets, good sidewalks, several well stocked stores, two large grain elevators, a number of handsome residences, and the visitor to the town is impressed by the air of prosperity and couimercial activity. In 11)10 the population of Bradford was 770.

Lafayette

Located on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, six miles west of Toulon and near the Knox Countj' line, is the incorporated Village of Lafayette. The original plat - blocks 1 to 10, of eight lots each - was surveyed on July 7, IS.'JG, by George A. Charles, then county surveyor of Knox County, for William Dunbar. On the north of tills part of the town is JMonroe Street. From Monroe Street it extends southward to Franklin, bounded on the east bj^ Hodgson Street and on the west by Timber. Additions have since been made until now the town embraces forty squares of eight lots each. The north and south streets are Willow, JMulberry, East INIain, Hodgson, jNIain and Timber, the last named forming the western limits of the town. Ikginning at the north, the east and west streets are Monroe, Jefferson, Lafayette, Washington, Jackson, Franklin, ]Madison and Adams, and there is one row of l)locks south of Adams Street. The northern tier of lots in block 20 and the southern tier of block 21 were taken to form a public sfjuare, which is intersected by Jackson Street. The railroad cuts off the north side of this square and the remainder of it forms a ])leasant little ])ublic ])ark. The additions to the first plat were made by Jonathan Hodgson, Henry Dunbar and John Lundy, August 8, 1836.

One of the first houses in Lafayette was built by Wilhani Uunbar, | the "Okl Hatter," mentioned in a former chapter. Few lots were sold until about 184'2 and 1843, when Asahel Holmes, George W. Jackson, George W. Dunbar, James J. Wilson, Joshua Woodbury, William Wheeler and a few others all bought property in the new town. Other early settlers were Peter F. JNIiner, Daniel J. and Theodore F. Hurd, William D. Runyan, Jehial Bouton, James B. Lewis, Gilbert \\^ard, Thomas N. Fitch, \\"alter Hock, James Dunn and James E. White, some of whom located as early as 1837. Several of these Lafayette pioneers afterward became prominent in the affairs of Stark County.

Jesse C. Ware was the first merchant and is said to have been the first man to build a house within the limits of the town. Theodore F. Hurd and Barnabas M. Jackson were other early merchants, and Ira Reed opened a shoe shop as early as 1838. Some years later a few enterprising individuals organized a stock company to build a carding mill and woolen factory, but it proved to be a financial failure.

At an election held in ISGO the vote on the question of incorporation was forty-one for to thirteen against tlie proposition. The first board of trustees was composed of Thomas W. Ross, J. H. Nichols. Daniel J. Hurd. Dennis Lee and James Martin. The government thus established existed until September, 1872, when tlie vote on the question of obtaining a new charter was twenty-four for to eighteen opposed. The first trustees under the new charter ^\-ere M. S. Barnett, James ^Martin, Samuel White, B. H. Snyder, Daniel J. Hurd and Dr. J. H. Nichols. The election of clerk was declared illegal and C. P. Jackson was elected in 1874. In lOl.') J. H. Wliite was jjresident of the village board; F. T. Gelvin, clerk: Joshua Grant, Samuel Hanks, James Norton, S. E. White, V. H. Brown and Wiley Plankel, trustees.

Some years ago the village board granted to Jesse S. Atherton a i'ranchise to build, ecjuij) and operate an electric light plant. Mr. Atherton built the plant and conducted it for some time when he sold out to some parties in Galva, 111., and Lafayette is now suj)- plied with light from Galva. The streets of the village are kept well oiled, keeping down the dust; there are several blocks of good cement sidewalks; the village has a commodious public scliool building in which foiu" teachers are employed during the school year. Formerlv there were several churches, but they have all fallen into disuse except the ^Metliodist I^piscopal, which is now the only active denomination. The Inisiness interests of the village include a bank, several stores haudliny practically all lines of goods, grain elevators, restanrants, etc., and there are two large nurseries near the town that ship fruit trees and plants. Lafayette also has a public library, the gift of Mrs. Reed, an account of which will be found in the chapter on Educational Development. The pt)pulation in 11)10 was 287.

The smaller villages of the county, those not incorporated and those that have ceased to exist, are treated in alphabetical order, beginning with

Camp Grove

Strictly siJeaking. Camp Grove is no longer in Stark County. It was established at an early date on the lines between Stark and Marshall counties, near the southeast corner of Penn Township. Among the early business men here were: J. Townsend and Cyrus Rocock, general merchants; R. G. Fargo, dealer in iron and metals; William Evans, butcher; S. H. Nichols, contractor and builder, and ^^\ J. Townsend. postmaster. When the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad from Peoria to Nelson was built in 1902, it passed about hall' a mile east of Camp Grove and most of the business concerns "pulled up stakes" and removed to the railroad. About all that is left of the old village is the Catholic Church and cemetery.

This thriving little place is situated in sections 9 and 16 of Penn Township, on the Ruda & Rushville division of the Chicago, Rurlington &: Quincy Railroad. It was surveyed by Edwin Rutler, surveyor of Stark County, on ^Nlarch -1, 1870. for Dr. Alfred II. Castle, after whom it was named. The original ])lat shows seven blocks averaging sixteen lots each, the north and south streets being Main. Washington and I^incoln, and the cast and west streets, Smith, Shei'man and State. Since the original plat was filed three additions have been made to the town - Julg's and Fuller's, of six lots each, and Kissinger's, of foity-five lots. Among the early business concerns of Castleton were Klock & Fleming's grain elevator, Leo Julg's boot and shoe store, D. \V. Crum's drug store. G. Wright's hardware and farm implement house, ]Mrs. Stewart's hotel and II. I). ^lartin's wagon and paint sho]).

The Castleton of 191.) boasts several good mercantile establishments, a branch of Scott. Walters & Rakestraw's bank, three churches, a fine ])ublic school liuilding, two grain elevators, a town hall, a number of minor business concerns and many pretty homes. Tiie streets and sidewalks are in good condition and tlie town is lighted by electricity from the plant of the Stark Connty Power Company at Wyoming. It ships considerable quantities of grain and livestock, and in 1910 reported a population of 201.

Duncan

On June 10, 1870, Edwin IJutler, county surveyor, platted the Town of Duncan for Dr. Alfred H. Castle, with six blocks (104 lots) though blocks 1 and 4 were afterward vacated. The streets running north and south are ^Monroe, Adams and Jefferson, and those runningeast and west are Main, Washington and Galena. Duncan is located in section 35, Erssex Township, on the Buda & Rushville division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, seven miles south of Wyoming. F. F. Brockway and John H. Slater were among the first merciiants of the town; George Fautz oi)ened a hardware store, ^Villiam Heath conducted a grocery store and a hotel, John Barker was the village blacksmith, and Dr. T. C. Thomas was probably the first resident physician. A postoffice was started soon after the village was laid out in 1870, with W. H. Miller as postmaster.

Although a shipping point of considerable importance, Duncan has never grown to be a town of any great projiortions. Rand & ]McXally give the pojjulation in 1910 as 12.5. Scott, Walters & Rakestraw, of Wyoming, have a branch bank at Duncan. The village has general stores, a grain elevator, lumber yard, hotel, several small shoi^s, a church and a public school.

W. R. Sandham, of Wyoming, who has given considerable attention to the origin of Stark County names, says: "Elmira is the name given to a postoffice which was first established about tlie j-ear 1837, where the jiresent Village of Osceola is now located. It Avas named by Oliver ^Vhitaker, its first postmaster, after his former home, Elmira, New York. About the year 1845 the postoffice was mo\ed to its present location on the Avest side of Spoon River and the name moved with it."

However, the Village of Elmira had its beginning some two years before the removal of the postoffice as mentioned by ]Mr. Sandham. In 1843 Ambrose Fuller entered the quarter section of land upon wliicli the village stands and ojjened a store. Fuller's store soon became a sort of rallying point for the people of the neighborhood, the MetluKhsts anil Presbyterians located' churches there, several families purchased lots and built dwellings, thus starting a town. No otiicial plat of Elmira was ever filed with the county recorder, though part of the town is known as "Parsons' subdivision." In 1!>15 Elmira had two churches, two general stores, some small business concerns, a public school and a few residences. Rand & McXally give the po])ulation in I'JIO as 7tJ. The postoHice has been discontinued and mail is now delivered by rural carrier from Toulon.

On June 15, 1870, Edwin Butler, then county surveyor, surveyed the Town of Lombardville for Julia A. Lombard and Dr. Alfred H. Castle, and the plat was filed on the 8th of July following. Lombardville is located on the Buda & Rushville division of the Chicago, Burlington <Sc Quincy Railroail, on the line dividing sections 2 and 11, Osceola Township. The original i)lat shows 104 lots, with State, Frajiklin, Lombard and Duncan streets running north and south, and Howard, JNIain and Washington rim east and west. The hotel and elevator were completed in the fall of 1870, the I^ombardville Mining Comj)any began operations about the same time, and for some time the village showed signs of becoming a town of some importance, lint the coal deposits were worked out, much of the trade was diverted to Bradford and other towns and Lombardville never came up to the expectations of its foimders. A public school, a general store and grain elevators are the jirincipal institutions. INIail is delivered by rural carrier from the postoflRce at Bradford.

Says Mrs. Shallenberger: "Massillon was situated seven miles nearly due south of the present Town of Toulon, not far from the southern boundary of the county. Its projector and pro])rictor was Stephen Trickle. Date of survej', April, 18.'}7."

This is the only written account of ISIassillon that the writer has been able to find. It is known that one of the precincts of the county war; named "^Massillon," from which it may be inferred that the town Avas once a j)lace of some consequence, though it is now nothing more than a memorv.

Modena

Tlie \"illage of JNIodena is located in the southeast quarter of section 1, ill the northeastern part of Toulon Township and on the west bank of Spoon River. It was surveyed on IMarch 24, 1853, for JNIiles A. and Williston K. Fuller. The plat was filed in July and shows thirty-one lots, with Main and Second streets running- nortli and south and Locust and Chestnut, east and west. The Hour mill and the coal mines in the iiiiniediate vicinity were the principal industries of early days. A. Y. Fuller, who was one of the early purchasers of lots, opened a general store, and B. .A. Newton also conducted a store here for some time. Mr. Saiidhaiu says the name was suggested by ^lodeiia in Italy. A Baptist Church Avas erected here about 1850. In 191,5 a general store and the public school were the principal features of the village, which reported a population of 3.5 in 1910. It is on one of the rural mail routes from the postoffice at ^Vyoming.

Morse

This is one of the new towns of the county and owes its existence to the building of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad through the county in 1901-02. It is located in the extreme northeast corner of the Township of Osceola and is only a short distance east of Lombardville. No official plat of the village Avas ever filed in the office of the county recorder, but an atlas of the county, published in 1907, shows fourteen lots - six north and eight south of the railroad station. Rand & McNally give the population in 1910 as 50. jNIail is delivered by rual carrier from Bradford.

The extinct town of IMoulton was located near the northern border of Essex Townshiji, about three miles west of Wyoming, in the Indian Creek Valley. It was surveyed in August, 183G, l»y Roliert Schuyler, Russell H. Nevins. William Couch, David Lee and Abijah Fisher. George and AVilliam Sanimis had a store. on the site at the time the town was laid out. At one time INIoulton had aspirations to become the county seat of Stark County, but Toulon won that honor and the close proximity of Wyoming also contributed to INIoulton's downfall. A frame house was erected there by Eugenius Frum a year or two after the town was platted, but tliis l)uilding was afterAvard pur-

The village of Osceola is situated in the southeast quarter of section 11, Elmira Township, a small portion of the place extending southward into section 1-i. The first settlers in this part of the county came late in the year 18.'j.5. Among them were Giles C. Dana, Isaac Spencer, James Buswell, Thomas Watts and the Pratts, one of whom was a physician. Mrs. Shallenherger saj's: "They came out under the auspices of ^laj. Robert ^Sloore, who encouraged emigration hither, with a view to building up a town, which he had surveyed and called Osceola."

If such a tuwi) \\as e\er surveyed it failed to become a reality, though the first settler named the grove in which they built their cabins "Osceola Grove," after the celebrated Seminole Indian leader in the Florida war. When the postof!ice was established there in 18.'37 it was named Elmira, as already stated, and a settlement grew up around the postofRce. After the removal of the postoffice to the present village of Klmira, the village where it was first established took the name of Osceola. Being some distance from a railroad, the village has never grown to any considerable proportions, but it forms a trading point and meeting place for the people in the northeastern part of Elmira Township. The population in 1910 was only 55. It has a general store, a Baptist Church, a iNlethodist Chiu'ch and parsonage, a public school and a few dwellings, and is on one of the rural mail routes fi'om Neponset, in Bureau County.

Pleasant Gijeen

An old map of Stark County shows the settlement of Pleasant Green near the center of section 3.3, Osceola Townshi]i. It was never formally laid (jut as a town, but a rural p(Jstotlice was maintained here for some time in early days and some coal was mined in the vicinity. The district school known as the "Pleasant Green" school is all that is left to tell the story.

This is another settlement that "just growed." It is located in section 7, Penn Township, a little south of the site of the old village of ^Valden, and consists of six lots along the south side of the higliwav. Just how the settlement obtained its name is uncertain.

Slack Avater

Just east of the Spoon river, in section 33, Essex Township, is the old viUage of Shickwater, which at one time was a trading point and neighhorliood center of some importance. The building of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and the foundhig of the town of Duncan, only a mile and half east on the railroad, robbed Slackwater of its prestige and it sank into insignificance.

While the Peoria & Nelson branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad was under construction, James A. Speer, who owned a farm on the line of the railroad in section 36, Valley Township, conceived the idea of founding a town. Accordingly, on December 5, 1901, Henry H. Oliver, county surveyor, platted the town of Speer, in the northwest quarter of the above named section. The original ])lat showed twenty-four lots west of the railroad. Iiut on April 1.5, 1003, 31r. Oliver made a revised plat of the original town and Speer's first addition thereto. Front Street runs north and south next to the railroad and farther west is jMcKinley Avenue. The streets running east and west are IMain and South, and one not named on the plat. Speer soon came into prominence as a trading and shipj^ing })oint for the southeastern part of the county. It reported a population of 1.50 in 1910: has general and hardware stores, a bank, livery barn, planing mill, postofRce, lumber yard, grain elevators, and is one of the flourishing little towns of Stark County.

Five miles east of \Vyoming, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, is the little village of Stark, which grcAv up soon after the railroad was completed, but was never officially platted. A postoffice was established in the early '70s; Simpson ds: Smith and Charles N. Hull opened general stores; Joseph Anderson began dealing in grain and drain tile, and a few other business enterprises were established. In 1910 the population was 7-5. It has a large grain elevator, general stores, a Congregational Church, etc., and does a good business in shipping grain and livestock. It derives its name from the county.

eastern boundary. A JNIethodist Church was organized here at an early date and is still in existence, l)ut the coiniiicrcial activity of Starwaiio has departed.

In the atlas of Stark County, pul)lished in 1907, is shown a thickly settled neighhorhood in the sonthwcstcrn part of Essex Township (sections 30 and 31 ) which has long been known as "Stringtown." Its location is almost identical with that of the old Town of ^Nlassillon previously mentioned. A church and public school are the only institutions worthy of note.

This little town with the oriental name was platted on June 2, 1873, by Edwin Rutler, then surveyor of Stark County, for "Sirs. Anna K. Chase. It is located on the Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, in section 31. Valley Township, only about one mile east of the ^"illage of Stark. Front Street runs parallel to the railroad and a square farther east is Chase Street. The north and south streets are ]Main and Hamilton. The original plat shows fifty-five lots. Wady Petra is a typical little railroad station, with the usual local business enterprises. In 1910 the population was given as forty-five. INlail is delivered by rural carrier from the postofl^ce at Stark.

Avai,Den

The old Town of Walden was situated in the nortii side of section 7, Penn Township, just across the Spoon River from Modena. It is said to have taken its name from Dexter Wall, and was sometimes M-ritten "Wallden." JMr. Wall built a steam mill there at an early date and a general store was opened, but the name of the pioneer niei'cliant has apparently been i'orgotten. "Wall's Schoolhouse," which stood not far from the mill, was a favorite place for holding religious services by ministers of different denonn'nations. In time ^Ir. Wall removed his mill to Wyoming and the Town of Walden disajjpeared from the map.

almost in the exact geographical center of West Jersey Township, which town was named West Jersey. Seminary and Jersey streets and Plum Alley are shown on the original plat as the thoroughfares. The plat was filed for record on February 19, 1850, and ten years later only twenty-four lots had been sold. Dm-ing the next twenty years the growth was "slow but sure," and in 188G about seventy lots had been sold. Among the early industries and business houses of West Jersey may be mentioned Snediker's mill, John Catton's coal mines, Giwitts & Son's planing mill. ^V. II. IJttle's harness shop, \Villiam Atkinson's blacksmith shop and W. II. Jolinsons store. The ^Methodist Church was built about 1860. A postoffice was established here before the Civil war, but it has been discontinued and mail is now addressed to Toulon and delivered by rural carrier. \Vest Jersey has a public school building, a church, general stores, some smaller business concerns, a hall for pul)lic entertainments, and in 11)10 reported a population of seventy.

With the introduction of the free rural delivery system, several of the postoffices of Stark County were discontinued. The United States Postal Guide for July, 191.5, gives the following offices in the county, the figiu'cs in parentheses following the name indicating the number of rural mail routes: Bradford (.5) ; Castleton, Dimcan, Lafayette (2) ; Speer (1) ; Stark (1) ; Toulon (.5) ; Wyoming (4). Everj' office in the county is authorized to issue money orders. Those at Bradford, Toulon and Wyoming issue international money orders and are postal savings depositories.