Woodford County, Illinois - Chapter 5, 1910

onk are almost identical. During the years of 1852 and 53 '53 work was being pushed on the Illinois Central railroad and a year later trains were running thru Minonk. Prior to that time the township had been unsettled. It belonged to that prairie region that had for so many years been shunned by the pioneer. The prejudice against the prairies was gradually giving way before the positive proof of the fertility and value. When the Central was completed, it opened a wide field for settlement, and advantage was soon taken of the cheap lands coupled with the advantage of railroad connections.

The first man to make an actual settlement in the township was Samuel Work, who came from Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1831. He came to Woodford county in 1854, and settled in Minonk township. He was the first station agent and was also elected as the first justice of the peace. The second man to come was Charles Dobson. whose name frequently occurs as one of the prominent characters of Minoke. He erected the first house built in the township. C. W. Goodrich was next in the settlers of the region. He erected the second house. Next, Johathan Macey came. Others who were pioneers, were James Parker and Americus Pogue. Thus far the settlers have resided in the town, but it was not Long before the country surrounding was settled. The first man to open a farm was Samuel Wiley, who eame from Vermont in 1855. Thornton Taylor came there in 1856 from the western part of the county. II. A. Christians opened the first blacksmith shop.

The first school was taught by Miss Prances Reeder in the City of Minonk in 1857. The trustees in 1857 divided the township into two districts. This number was increased until now there are seven rural and one graded school in the township. These require an annual levy of more than $12,000.00 for their maintenance.

The first preaching in the township was done in 1856, by a Presbyterian minister named Frost. The services were frequently held at the hotel conducted by Jonathan Macey. From this beginning the religious interests have grown until there are eight churches in the township, all of them located in town.

When the county was divided into townships in 1855, Minonk and Panola were united and the first list of officers is included in the history of Panola. In 1857 the population had increased sufficiently to form Minonk into a separate district. The first officers were as follows : Supervisor, George P. Danf orth ; clerk, A. L. Pogue ; assessor, Charles Dobson ; collector, Thomas Reeder ; overseer of the poor, Jonathan Macey; commissioners, George P. Danf orth, Samuel Clegg, John Vance; justice, William Reeves; constable, Joel B. Pratt, Lewis Fowler ; poundmasters, Jonathan Macey, Lewis Fowler, George Danf orth ; roadmasters, Lewis Fowler, Thornton Taylor, A. H. Danforth.

The township is controlled by the following officers; Supervisor, N. L. Davison ; clerk, Henry G. Ilohlen ; assessor, John Ilertschuh; collector, John Katzmareek; commissioners, John Meridan, Edmund Ioerger, John Waldschmidt;

The first settlements in Roanoke township were made in the timber southeast of the present site of the village Here as in the other townships of the county the settlers were slow to occupy the prairie regions. In 1832 Jacob Stephenson, formerly a resident of Christian county, Kentucky, settled in these timber lands. lie was followed at a later period by J. W. Ewing, also from Christian county. Joseph Wilkinson, from Indiana, and Joseph Wilson, from Tennessee, were on the scene shortly after the arrival of the predecessors. The first cabin in the township was built by Mr. Stephenson, who sometimes aided his neighbors by doing blacksmithing for them. Joseph II. Causey was another early settler who did blacksmithing. As late as 1850 there were but few houses in the township.

In 1848 Elijah Marshall came to the township from Chester, Vermont. He came by water and drove back in a short time. In 1850 his father, Thomas Marshall, came and settled in the township. Nelson Marshall came at a later date. Hiram Barney also came from Chester, Vt., but did not arrive until about 1852, coming there from Olney, where he had been a short time. The first frame house was built by Elijah Marshall, as was also the second and the first frame barn was also erected by Mr. Marshall. In 1855 a school was opened in the district now known as the Bunch. In 1856 Miss Cinthia Fisher taught just east of Mr. Marshall's farm. This was the first school taught in that part of the county.

From this beginning schools multiplied as rapidly as the needs required. In 1908 there were nine rural and one graded school in the township, expending approximately $5,500 per annum in their support. In 1909 two rural districts were united with the town district, reducing the number of country schools to seven.

The oldest churches in. the township are located in the country. In 1852 the German Baptist now known as the Brethern organized their church, with J. R. and George W. Gish as ministers, and five years later their building was erected. The church grew. R. C. Bryant relates that the building used to be crowded at their services twenty-five years ago.

In 1856 the Baptist church was organized by Elder Sumner Robinson. This church flourished for many years, but was finally abandoned owing to the removal of its members. Six years ago the building was sold to the Amish, and has been remodeled and is now used by them as a place of worship. The Amish have another church in the southern part of the township erected in 1875. The Apostolic Christian church has a large building southwest of Roanoke. It will seat about 700 people and there is a large attendance. The organization has branches in both Eureka and Roanoke.

David T. Fauber, who became one of the founders of the village, came to Roanoke township in 1855 He purchased a farm on which a portion of Roanoke is now located. The land was purchased for $15 per acre, and is now part of the most valuable property in town. The residence formed for many years a landmark in the village, being located on Broad street. It was built in 1851 by William Front, and remained there until a few years ago, when it was removed from between the bakery and tailor shop. The name of Mr. Fauber is very intimately connected with the early history of Roanoke. Four of the children still reside in Roanoke, Mrs. Jennie Heppard, Mrs. Barbara Cox, J. W. Fauber and E. D. Fauber.

The name of Peter Kennell has been closely identified with the financial interests of the township. He settled there half a century ago and has amassed great wealth.

In 1853 Gideon Jeter moved to this county and settled in Roanoke township. Later he moved to Greene township. At the time he came the prairie was practically unsettled and one could look across it for miles willioiii seeing a house. Deer were frequently seen and it was si ill a pioneer region. Of the children of Mr. .Jeter, but one, James deter, now resides in th county.

Onc» of the most prominent families in Roanoke was that of the Gishes. George Gish was horn in Virginia in 1825, and in '48 came to Indiana, where he lived until 1850, when he came to the vicinity of Roanoke, lie lived there until a few years before his death, when he moved to Green township. He was a minister of the Dunkard church. His death occurred in 1894. The most prominent members of his family are T. W. and L. C. Gish, the former of whom was sheriff and later both sheriff and treasurer.

Garmon Gish also came from Roanoke, Virginia, at the same time George came and also settled in Roanoke. Later he became sheriff of the county and for many years was connected with county affairs, either as official or deputy.

Chrisley and Abraham Gish also came from Virginia to make their home in the new settlement near where Roanoke now stands. They were brothers to George and Garmon.

Chrisley Gish, or Uncle Chrisley, as he was familiarly called, was the oldest of those who came to Woodford county. He was the father of Rufus and John Gish, both of whom were Dunkard ministers. John Gish suggested the name, Roanoke, as appropriate for the new township and the name was later adopted by the village.

Joseph and William Gish were also pioneers in this township. The former still resides in Illinois, but the latter moved a few years ago to Nebraska, where both he and his wife were killed in a tornado.

In July, 1851, John A. Woltzen landed in Peoria and settled across the river in East Peoria. He lived there until the next spring, when Mr. Woltzen died. The family then moved onto the prairie in Roanoke township. There were five sons, Albert, Simon, Henry, John and Ede Woltzen. Of these, Simon and Henry were for many years identified with

Another family that has been well known in the county was that of Samuel Peterson, who came to Roanoke township in 1858, from the state of New Jersey. He later came to Benson, and built the first elevator there in 1874. He lived to be 87 years of age and at the time of his death was an extensive land owner. He was considered the wealthiest man in Benson. Of his children, Simon. S. L. Peterson and Mrs. James Jeter still reside in the county.

In 1855 the county was divided and the name Roanoke was given to the township, it being suggested by John Gish in honor of Roanoke, Virginia, his old home, April 3rd of that year the first township election was held, resulting in the selection of the following : Supervisor, David S. Brown ; clerk, James Stephenson ; assessor, John H. Gish ; collector, Benjamin Sanborn ; highway commissioners. Samuel Stitt, Emerald Fisher and Joseph Brubaker; constables, Charles Stoller and Joseph Gish ; magistrates, Gannon Gish and John Franz.

Thirty votes were cast at that election. The country districts grew gradually until the completion of the railroad, when the growth became much more rapid.

Linn. Linn township, which was named in honor of the Linn family, was settled somewhat later than Cazenovia on the west, but more than a decade earlier than Clayton on the east. Probably the first family to settle in Linn township was that of Harrison Hollenback, who came from Ohio, in 1840. He was soon after followed by George Hollenback, who lived across the line of Marshall county with his Father, Daniel Ilollenhack. They came there from Ohio in is:}."), making the journey in wagons, cooking and camping on the way. Daniel Ilollenhack later moved to Minonk, where he resided at the time of his death. A short time after 1844, when George came, he was followed hy Jaeob Ilollenhack. The latter still resides in Woodford county, being of a ripe old age.

These were soon followed by William and Simeon Linn, and by John P. Davison, who was a member of the Davison family so prominently named in the history of Clayton township. .

Amos West, Alfred Coombs, Samuel Jackman, II. Simpson, John and Isaac Fisher, Joseph Martin, Benjamin Wilson, William Parks and Lewis Wyanteer were the earliesl settlers.

West of Benson in Linn township we find a region that is now called the Tjaden settlement, from the number of Tjadens who own and occupy land in that vicinity. Jacob II. Tjaden came to that township in 1857, and purchased a farm. lie was the father of Ileika, John, Menka, Henry, Jacob, Ludwig and Ilermon Tjaden. John F., represented Linn township on the board of supervisors for several years. Ludwig Tjaden is at present supervisor. Another family of the same name came there at an early date. George Tjaden was the first representative of this family. Charles Tjaden of Low Point is the only child of this pioneer who still resides in the county.

In 1855 Wirt Folkers came to Linn towTnship from Germany. He settled on Section 16, which was the school section. Of this family, but two sons, Charles and John Folkers, both of Clayton township, reside in the county. Both are well advanced in age, and are able to tell many stories of pioneer life. Charles Folkers remembers that when they planned to go onto the prairie, their Germantown friends told them they could not be induced to go onto the prairie if they were given an eighty. Time soon proved that the prairie land was far better than the timbered hills. The winters then were much more severe than now, and he remembers that for three months he did not have his team hitched to anything but a sled. Another brother Fred, was killed in a runaway accident.

Among the other early settlers from Germany were Folkert Monk, who also came in 1855, and Eilert Harms, who settled in Linn township in 1856.

William and Thomas Jury were among the pioneers, but both have within recent years passed away. Bazil, Josiah and Richard Turner were also well known settlers. Marshall Smilie is another of the pioneers, and Weldon Smilie, well known in Clayton, formerly resided in Linn.

In 1855 Clayton and Linn townships elected the following ns the first corps of township officials: Supervisor, Isaac Fisher; collector, John B. Fisher; overseer of the poor, Harrison Simpson; assessor, William Jury; clerk, Jesse Pickard; commissioners, James M. Martin and Cyrus Acres; constable, Angus Thorn. This union of townships Avas maintained until 1859, when the population was sufficient to divide.

The present list of township officials is as follows: Supervisor, Ludwig Tjaden; clerk, Ed. Underwood; collector, William Damerell; commissioners, John Geyman, Brachter Flohr, Henry Matter; justice, W. T. Wallace; constable, William Reinken.

The first school in the township was held in 1852, and it is hnovn as the Vernon school. The system has met with satisfactory growth. There are now nine schools in the township, expending annually about three thousand dollars for their maintenance.

The religious interests of the township are looked after by two Lutheran churches. In 1860 a number of German Lutherans went to Rev. Heid of the Lutheran church in Pe- oria with a plea for pastoral care. Their petition was granted, and a member presented the new organization two acres of land and a house on Panther creek in Roanoke township for a meeting place. In 1863 10 acres of land were purchased and the present church was erected. The other church was then used as a school house The first pastor was P. F. Warnke. Since the erection of the present building numerous changes and improvements have been made. The present pastor, Rev. D. M. Ficken, has served his charge longer than any other pastor in the county. lie came to that church in 1879, and has been in constant service for more than thirty years.

In October, 1871, a second Lutheran church was organized and was affiliated with the church at Secor until 1871, when Pastor Carl Weber, of Gilbert, Penn., was called to the charge. The next pastor was Theo. Pissel, who served the church faithfully for nineteen years. January, 1899, the present pastor, Rev. J. B. Graupner, formerly of Mt. Carroll, 111., took the position. During ten years lie lias faithfully served his church in that capacity

Panola township geographically coincides with the congressional township which is designated as township 27 north, range 2 east of the 3rd Principal Meridian. It is therefore a full township. There were few settlers in that vicinity prior to the building of the Illinois Central railroad. As in other regions thru which the Central passed, the completion of the road was the signal for its rapid settlement.

In 1836 John Brewer came to the township and became the first actual settler. It was not until 1851 and '52 that he was followed by others. George W. Kingston settled there in 1851 and Edward Waldron and family came in 1852. Dennis Sharp was an early settler, and continued to make his home there for many years.

Robert McClelland came a year later and was chosen the first member of the board of supervisors from Panola township. In a short time William Tompkins came from New York, James Dye, from Virginia, and Henry Saltsman from New York. Jacob C. Myers and his brother. 0. P. A. Myers, who had previously lived in Greene township, came to Panola in 1855 and '56. Levi I'lodson came from Tazewell county so that by tin- close of 1855 there were sixteen families.

When the county was organized into townships in 1855. two townships. Minonk and Panola, were united in a single precinct, and at the first election chose the following officers: Supervisor, Robert A. McClelland; assessor, William Tompkins ; clerk, Horace G. Allen ; overseer of the poor, William A. Crosley ; highway commissioners, Francis I. Barnard, Joseph Ilanna, Thomas Patterson; constables, William II. Brewer and Charles Dobson ; magistrates, Samuel G. Lewis and Samuel Work ; overseer of roads, James Dye. This union of townships continued until 1857, when Minonk was separated from Panola, the population at that time having become sufficient to warrant such a separation.

The first school in Panola township was taught by Jane Nesmith in 1857. The building was erected in the village at a cost of $600. From that time the number of schools increased as the growing population demanded. The township has ten schools with more than four thousand dollars expended annually in the cause of education.

The township has the following officers : Supervisor, Theobald Stimpert ; clerk. William Oberlander ; assessor, Lewis Kingdon ; collector, C. W. Major ; commissioners, John Krug, Dan Longman, justices, N. S. de Vries, Ed. Burroughs ; constables. Almond Drury, Michel Danner. Montgomery and Kansas.

Montgomery and Kansas townships occupy the southern part of Woodford county, and each has a broken boundary line. Altho of irregular shape Montgomery is almost the equivalent of a full congressional township, its area being thirty-six square miles. The latter has an area slightly great- er Than half a township This territory is crossed by the Mackinaw river and several of its branches, and Large an-a is covered with timber. While much of this has been cleared, there is still much of the land that is nut under cultivation towns .within its borders, and has never had a postoffiee The region was settled at an early date, and within a few years a number of families had been attracted to the region. As early as 1^2^ Robert and Samuel Phillips came to Illinois and shortly after settled in Woodford county. James Phillips also came a little later. The former of these died in 1835 and was the first death of which we have any record in that vicinity. Prominent among tht» names of the early settlers stands that of Oarlock. In 1833 Abraham AY. Carlock came to the vicinity, and a year later was followed by his brother. These pioneers came from Tennessee, as did Isaac Allen and Zaehary Brown. Among the names of Carlock are the following descendants of these worthy pioneers: John J. and Winton, sons of Reuben Carlock, and John <r.. William and A. II.. sons of Abraham Carlock. The little town across the line in McLean bears the family name. Zaehary Brown came to the county in the early thirties and was later followed by his brother J imes. Two sons of the former, Eli S. and Warren Brown remained in the county while another son. Ellis, lived in McLean. When Mr. Brown came to the vicinity there was no house between his cabin and Bloomington. James. William an 1 John Benson were settlers who came before the breaking out of the Black Hawk war. as James and John took part in that struggle, as did also James Y. Phillips. Samuel Kirkpatrick. Thomas and Elisha Dixon came from Ohio at :arly date. Adam Moore and his father. William C. Moore, were pioneers in the county. Daniel Allison came from Ohio in 1831 and settled near Farnisville. Marvin and James Allison, who have been widely known thruout the county, were his sons. Lewis Stephens came from Ohio in 1833 and purchased land. His son. Adam

Stephens, has been closely identified with the political life of his township, having' represented Montgomery on the board of supervisors. James Vance came from Christian county, Kentucky, and when he settled there in 1835 found a number of families there before him. Christian and Peter Farni, whose names figured so largely in the history of Parnisville, were natives of Prance. Peter Farni, of Eureka, is a son of the former. Joseph Gingerich, who came in 1833 was associated with Peter Farni in building the saw mill on the Mackinaw. James Harlan came from Kentucky, in 1833. He was the father of J. N. Harlan who lived in Eureka and bought stock there and grain in Cruger.

Mortimer Robinson came from Ohio in 1838, and in 1842 moved from Tazewell county to Montgomery township. He was the father of H. M. and James Robinson. The former is the most extensive stock raiser in the county, as well as one of its wealthiest men. His business recpiires many hundreds of acres of land in the southern part of Woodford county, and his shipments are heavy

The pioneer preacher of this vicinity was Rev. John Dunham, who proclaimed the gospel both in Kansas and Montgomery townships. The first church was organized at the home of James Vance under the leadership of Rev. Isaac Newell, in 1838. This was the first Baptist church in the county. Another pioneer minister was Rev. Abner Peeler, who was both preacher and teacher. His name holds a prominent place in the history of the Christian church in this county. Among other good works, he was the organizer of the Christian church at Roanoke. James AVells was another of the early leaders in the religious life of the people in the southern part of the county. He frequently preached and wTas for a number of years superintendent of a Sunday school near the present site of Goodfield. Theodore Haze preached for the United Brethern near that place for many years. Their church was built about 1866.

Andrew Galbreath was another who came at an early date. A family that has had much to do with the growth of the southern parts of the county is that of Finley. The first of these was James Finley, who came here prior to the organization, lie was a member of the first grand jury ever chosen in the county. Andrew Galbreath was chosen as a member of the first petit jury in 1841. Later John and Robert Finley came, and finally John Finley, Sr. James and George Finley followed in the steps of their forerunners.

The first school in Montgomery township was taught by Mary Ann Brown in 1843- '44, in a log house. Prior to this Rev. Abner Peeler had taught a school across the line in McLean county, which was attended by a large number of children from Kansas township. It was not until about 1850 that a school house was built in Kansas, altho the children had school advantages prior to that time. The township now has four schools that are maintained at an annual cost of about $1,600. Montgomery township now has six schools. Prior to 1908 there were eight schools, but in that year the new consolidated school at Congerville was completed, and the schools in district 109, 112 and 113 were abandoned. The school building in Congerville is the first consolidated school in Woodford county. It was erected at a cost of about ten thousand dollars. Three teachers are employed, with J. C. Whetzel as principal. High school work has been introduced and the attendance is quite large. Goodfield also has a graded school. A neat two-room brick structure was erected in 1907.

The earliest business enterprise was a blacksmith shop, one being conducted by a man named Craig in Kansas township, and another being opened in Montgomery township but a short time afterward.

Montgomery township was organized at the time of the division of the county into townships and James Vance was first supervisor. The name for the new township was sug- gested by John Wells who was at one time a resident. Kansas township was originally a part of Palestine township, but was separated in 1859. Mr. Vance, who was still supervisor, suggested the name of Kansas for the newly organized township. The first postoffice was at Farnisville, but it was not continued a great while. There was none after that until the completion of the railroad when offices were soon established at both Goodfield and Congerville.

John Wells conducted a saw mill on Ilohulin's place near where Goodfield now stands, and James Wells made all the coffins needed in that vicinity. Another feature of Montgomery township was Clark's cpiarry, which was on Henry I. Clark's farm. Many a house in the southern part of the county has a cellar walled with stones from this quarry or a foundation built from there.