Woodford County, Illinois - Chapter 19, 1910

Chapter 19

IT is difficult to separate the history of Eureka from that of Eureka College, which institution was organized before the foundation of the town. At the time of the origin of the school there was no postoffice nearer than Washington, and mails were tardy in reaching their destination. In 1850 a postoffice was established and A. S. Fisher was the first postmaster. The mails were brought weekly from Metamora, until the Illinois Central was completed. The carrier went from Kappa to Spring Bay once a week. In 1854 the first goods were sold in Eureka in what was known as the "Poor House," a portion of the old Christian church devoted to the needs of the poor. This church was located near where the Soldiers' Monument stands in the cemetery. Thomas B. Sterrit sold goods there for a short time, and the next year built a store on the site now occupied by A. Boudman. Here he carried a general stock of goods that met the simple needs of the people of that time. His store was a general meeting place for the boys of the neighborhood, who had few places to go and little to talk about. The store building now forms a part of the Boudman residence.

Eureka received its name at a meeting held at the home of A. S. Fisher, when plans were being made for the establishment of a postoffice. John T. Jones and John Lindsey each claim the honor of having suggested the name for the new -town. It is a word of Greek derivation, meaning, "I have found it." The word Eureka is said to have originated in the following interesting manner. King Iliero, of Syracuse, had a magnificent golden crown, of great value. He had taken it to a worker in gold to have some alteration made in it, and on its return suspicioned that a part of the gold had been taken out and alloy had been substituted, but the work had been done so skillfully that it prevented detection. He called in Archimedes, and demanded that he should devise some means of detecting the presence of alloy, without in any way disturbing the crown as it was then made. After long pondering the philosopher conceived the idea of weighing the crown in the air and then weighing the water the crown would displace. So elated was he by his discovery that he went about shouting Eureka ! Eureka ! T have found it. ! From that time the word came into use.

After the completion of the Central railroad thru the eastern part of the county, mail was brought from Kappa. George Taggart was carrier, and at one time it was necessary for R. N. Radford who was acting as deputy postmaster, to go to Kappa after the mail, the carrier claiming that the waters were too high to make the trip. There was an accumulation of two weeks' mail. This irregularity continued until the completion of a railroad thru the town. AVhen the T. P. & W. was built, however, it extended thru the region a mile north of the original site of the village.

In 1855 the town of Eureka was platted on its present site, the plat being drawn for John Darst, the owner of the land on which the new town was located. It was filed for record December 29th, 1855, and the early part of the year following, the first town lots were sold. The business part of the community was at once moved to the vicinity of the new railroad.

R. M. Clark built the first store on the new site, choosing as a location the corner of First and College streets, where R. D. Smith's brick building now stands. J. J. Jones erected a store about the same time. He had previously bought out Thomas Sterritt and had been made postmaster.

the northeast corner of First and College streets. There had been boarding houses connected with the college previous to this, but no hotel. In 1851 a boarding hall had been erected that would accommodate fifty students. This later became a ladies' boarding hall and was ultimately destroyed by fire.

In 1856 II. C. Baird came to Eureka and entered business. A. V. S. Baird also came from the same state and became a resident of the new town. Mr. Baird is still in business and is the only one of the original business men of Eureka, who is still in active business. Another of the pioneers of the town, who still has a place of business there, is Ben L. Moore, the photographer, who has been conducting a gallery in Eureka forty-seven years, and is the oldest photographer now in business in the county.

One of the early enterprises of Eureka was a packing house, first located in the north part of town, on what is known as the Risser property, and under the management of Alex. Campbell. Later it was moved to a site near the Streator junction. There it was conducted by Thompson and Roebuck. The firm employed about thirty men and packed a large amount of pork daily. The plant was destroyed by fire.

In 1882 Gudeman Brothers purchased property in the north part of town from Ben L. Moore, and erected a saw mill. In a short time a large brick and tile factory was opened. The firm manufactured a high grade of pressed brick and enjoyed a large trade, but a combination of circumstances made the business unprofitable. The Eureka Brick Tile & Electric company was organized to get the concern on a paying basis, but the plant was finally closed.

The first system of water works was located on land donated by this firm to the city of Eureka. All the pumping was done by the firm, and the first electric light plant was installed by the same firm. On the closing of the plant of this company, C. C. McDonald bought the electric light plant,

In 1905 a new system of water works was constructed, the pressure used being supplied by compressed air. Since its construction it has been extended as far south as the college

The town grew from the time of its foundation, so that in 1859 it was incorporated. The first officers were as follaws : Trustees, C. L. Wellman, J. R. Burton, R. M. Clark, Samuel Stitt and A. S. Fisher. Of these R. M. Clark was chosen president of the board and A. S. Fisher clerk. A. M. Myers was fleeted police magistrate. August 30th, 1880, the original charter was surrendered and it was incorporated as a village under the general law. At a meeting of the board of trustees March 4th, 1894, a petition was granted submitting the matter of incorporation as a city to a vote of the people. The result indicated 232 in favor of such incorporation and 152 opposed to it. The following were the first city officers: Mayor, B. J. Radford; clerk, Roy L. Moore ; treasurer, Lyon Karr ; aldermen, F. M. Iloyt, R. T. Payne, G. W. Lewis, C. II. Radford. W. W. Pratz and Frank Englis.

In 1909 the first paving was done, College street being paved from the railroad to the cemetery. The work will be carried on as rapidly as possible until the principal streets are paved.

The religious interests of the people are eared for by four churches. In 1832 the Christian church was organized with thirteen members at the home of Elder John Oatman. It was re-organized in 1836, and in 1847 they built their church which stood about where the soldiers' monument stands in the city cemetery. In 1863 a new church was erected on the site of the present structure. This served the purpose of a church until 1902, when the beautiful building now in use was erected at the cost of almost $20,000.

In 1858 the M. E. church was organized by Zedock Hall, and in 1862 the church was erected. Tins served the purpose admirably until 1886 when the present building was erected. The Presbyterian church was organized in 1868, with Rev. Hart as its pastor, and in 1875 the present church was built.

The second church to organize in the vicinity of Walnut Grove was the Christian at Mt. Zion. Services are still held there and the organization is now more than half a century old.

Since the removal of the county seat to Eureka, it has enjoyed a slow but steady improvement. Better houses have been built, the town has put in more and better walks, and there has been a general tendency upward.

The town of Cruger was platted May 15, 1856, by Benoni P. Pratt. It was named in honor of W. II. Cruger, who was vice-president and chief engineer of the railroad now known as the T. P. & W. The road was completed as far as Cruger in 1854, and the next year continued farther east. It was then that the first thots of a town were indulged in. The iirst warehouse was built by Mr. Kellogg and later Mr. King also erected one. The first store was opened by B. P. Pratt, who came from Peoria. A postoffice was established with William Flager, the station agent, as postmaster. This postoffice was continued until August, 1909, when Cruger was attached to Eureka, as part of one of the rural routes. P. J. Schreiber, whose death occurred a few years ago, was for more than forty years postmaster of Cruger. He was at that time the oldest acting postmaster in the United States in point of years of service. The height of its business prosperity was reached when two general stores were in operation.

The village of Secor was platted for Octave Chanut, June 10th, 1857. The new town was on each side of the railroad, and soon began to attract settlers. It was named for Zeno Secor, one of the directors of the recently completed

The first store was conducted by E. T. VanAlstine, father of John VanAlstine, and grandfather to Frank A. and L. H. VanAlstine, widely known thruout the county as having been circuit clerks. Jacob Lahr and Henry Smith had blacksmith shops. Another early blacksmith was Christian Mahlsteh who came to Secor from Cruger. F. X. Hausler opened a furniture store. A postoffice was established and Mr. VanAlstine was the first postmaster. Charles R. Richardson was another of the early merchants, and Deacon Trosber was the first to conduct a boarding house. Dr. P. L. Tribbey came to Secor in 1857, John Tribbey, his brother, came the same year, while D. W. Tribbey came in 1859 and S. A. Tribbey a year later. The first named served two terms as coroner of the county. Rudolph Harseim came there in 1862 and opened a general store. This was later owned by his son, E. J. Harseim, and has now passed into the hands of his younger son, Adolph R. Harseim. In 1866 II. Ludwig engaged in business there and is still conducting a hardware store. One of the most extensive investments made in the town was the great hotel erected by Isaac Underhill. It was a two-story brick structure, with four large store rooms on the first floor. The second story was used for a hotel and sanitarium. Mr. Underhill owned a large amount of land around Secor, and had extensive plans for the future of the town, but the plans failed. The hotel was closed and its owner suffered heavy losses. It was finally destroyed by fire. The original cost was $48,000.

John Seibel was an early comer in Secor, arriving there in September, 1869, and lived there three years. The family then moved to a farm three miles southwest of Benson. His son, William C, and daughter, Catherine, reside in Secor, while Henry lives near town.

Twelve years ago a part of this organization withdrew and built a new church of Christ. The M. E. church was built in 1865- '66. It was originally for both English and German services, but of late years the services in German have been abandoned. The Lutheran church was established in 1864- '65 and it has one of the largest congregations in that vicinity.

The first telephone exchange was organized in 1899, with W. B. Graybill as manager. The company has 225 telephones now in operation. A separate exchange has now been installed.

In 1906 a large modern school building was erected at the cost of over $10,000. It has four school rooms,' aside from the library and superintendent's office. The school is now under the management of Prof. William C. Stauter. The present structure devoted to education is the result of many years' progress. The first school was established in Se- cor in 1857 ; but in 1860 it was found necessary to erect a larger building. This was improved and enlarged, but finally gave way to the larger, more modern brick structure now in use.

The records of the secretary of state show that Secor was incorporated as a town under a special act of the legislature, February 28th, 1867. It was later incorporated as a village, but no report of such action was ever made to the secretary of state. It became necessary to resubmit the matter to a vote of the people, which was done in 1902, and it became incorporated under the general law. The following were the first town officers: President, R. L. Sidwell; clerk, D. C. Smith; trustees, David Gephart, Henry Dierking, George Thode and John Noffsinger.

The village at present has the following corps of officers : President, George Goebel; clerk, J. T. Warner; trustees, Ira Powell, John Frey, Wm. Dehority, William Seibel, L. R, Deiner and Wm. Mahlsteh ; treasurer, II. Reed ; police magistrate, L. G. AYilson ; marshal, Charles Zimmers.

Secor, like many of the other towns of the county, has suffered greatly on several occasions from fire. In 1874 the Grand Hotel was destroyed entailing a loss of forty thousand dollars on its owners and there was but little insurance to cover it. After this a few years, a second fire occurred that destroyed the block facing the railroad. In this fire II. Ludwig lost his home and his family had a narrow escape. The loss was quite heavy. December 28, 1905, the east half of the main business block was burned. The fire broke out in the middle of the night and could not be checked until the street was reached. These buildings have been replaced by a number of better buildings than before occupied that site. H. Ludwig, who suffered from this fire also has rebuilt. The Secor hotel is another of these buildings.

Zeiger and Ludwig assumed control of their general store in 1907, having succeeded Flessner and Zeiger who had been in business about eleven years. Goebel aad Gassner have a stock of general merchandise, occupying the stand so long occupied by E. F. Dierking. As before noticed, Adolph Harseim has a large general store. H. I. Brown and C. W. Frey have extensive hardware and implement stores, and

Panola was one of the villages along the Illinois Central road, and it at one time seemed likely to become a town of considerable importance. As the county became more thiekly settled and other railroads were built, it began to lose its hopes of a great future, and settled down to the quiet life it has since enjoyed. The railroad was built in sections, and reached Panola before it was constructed thru Minonk. Timothy 0 'Connell, who aided in building the Central road, still lives there. Altho 82 years of age, his memory is still filled with stories of the early history of his township, lie remembers having planted the park around the station many years ago. He was one of the first men to work on the Central at Cairo. On the completion of the road steps were taken for the establishment of a town. A station was built in 1854, and B. Stockwell was the first agent. He was later followed by N. L. Seever and John Parks. The same year a postoffice was established there and F. I. Barnard became the first postmaster. The first buildings were erected by the Central. Aside from these, William Crosley moved the first house to town from Greene township, and F. I. Barnard erected the first building. Thomas Enright established a boarding house, his patrons being principally railroad men. The first store was opened by William Crosley and Thomas Patterson in the fall of 1854. Steps were taken at an early date for the establishment of a town. It was platted for the Illinois Central, that owned the property on which the town was located, May 16th, 1855. The main streets were named for the common varieties of trees, such as Hickory, Walnut, Chestnut, Oak, Locust and Poplar. In 1855 James Dye opened a lumber yard and Henry Saltsman also opened his place of business the same year. The town grew rapidly, more business houses were erected and the people enjoyed an extensive trade. Among those who traded in Panola was the Ray family. John Ray still lias in his possession a bill for goods purchased of Crosley and Lewis, bearing the date of 1854. One of the articles mentioned in the hill was a pair of glasses, which Mr. Ray still has in his possession.

There was originally a turntable south of Panola and the engines took wood there. Michael Kelly had charge of wooding the locomotives, and Michael King looked after the pumping.

The first church organized was of the Baptist denomination in 1857. It drew many of its members from the Willow Tree Baptist church, which had been organized in Greene township a year earlier. This church prospered and in 1866 a neat building was erected. In 1862 the United Brethren began to hold services, and in 1875 they erected a church, northeast of Panola. This structure has in recent years fallen into the hands of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a part of the Gridlcy circuit. In 1909 they erected a new building at the cost of $5,000. The Evangelical church now has services in town, being served by the pastor of the Evangelical church at ElPaso.

In 1856 the people of Panola suffered a serious disappointment. They had expected that the Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw railroad would cross the Central there and greatly increase the importance of the town by making it a railroad junction. For some reason the road went two miles south of Panola, and the town never quite recovered from the effects of this disappointment. ElPaso reaped the benefits that Panola had hoped to receive.

Prior to the establishment of the present village of Kappa in 1854, there was a postoffice located a shoi't distance south of the town as it is now located. This was on a mail route between Ottawa and Bloomington, and deliveries were made there twice a week. The first postmaster was Caleb Horn. When the Illinois Central railroad was built thru the township, the village was established where it now stands.

There were but few settlers in that vicinity at that time, and the location seemed especially promising for a town. It soon entered upon an era of prosperity that gave foundation for high hopes for its future greatness. These hopes were encouraged by a rumor that a new railroad from Peoria east would cross the Central at Kappa. The town soon became an important grain center. Farmers hauled grain for miles around to Kappa for shipment: Towns with railroad aceommodations were widely scattered, and these drew grain from a wide territory. When the new railroad was built and the crossing with the Central was at ElPaso, that town uoon became a growing, prosperous village, while Kappa began to lose the prestige it had gained.

The first agent at this place was C. D. Cook, the father of John W. Cook, now president of the Northern Illinois Normal School, at DeKalb, and who enjoys a national reputation as an educator. After leaving Kappa Mr. Cook became prominent in the affairs of Illinois. He was appointed by the state to look after the collection of its war claims :: gainst the National government. He also had charge of a like commission from Missouri.

J. W. Mann came from Boston to Kappa in March and was agent there for twenty years. He at one time also bought grain and stock there. When he gave up the agency, the Illinois Central Company gave him a lot on which his store now stands.

Ira C. Stone, known far and wide as the oldest man in the county, came to Kappa from Buffalo, New York, in 1859, with his wife, son and daughter. These have all since .-led and Mr. Stone now has no blood relative living. He has passed his ninety-ninth year, and bids fair to live beyond his one hundredth. On coming to Kappa he entered business and for many years conducted a general store and bought grain. The change from the city to the wild region to which they had come was very great yet they soon became accustomed to the new ways of the people in the west, as.

Ira C. Stone

this was termed. Mr. Stone is remarkably well preserved for a man of his age, and his mind retains the vigor and activity of a much younger man. He and his son, Eugene, were connected with the enterprises of that portion of Woodford county for many years.

One of the first business men of Kappa was Asa Sparks, who kept a general stock of merchandise. He was preceded, however, by Mr. Reed, who was in turn preceded by a Canadian, who was the first business man in the village.

Christian Schafer was another of the early business men of the town. He entered business and remained there until the business tides set in favor of ElPaso, when he removed to that place. He was very prosperous and at the time of Ids death was one of the wealthiest men in the county.

About 1858 a German Lutheran church was formed, but it was later transferred to ElPaso. In 1855 the M. E. class was organized and in 1874 a neat church was erected. The organization is a part of the Gridley charge. The Evangelical church also holds services there, the two congregations meeting at different hours on the Sabbath day. The pastor of the Kappa church also preaches at the Centennial church in Palestine township.

One of the more recent improvements is the introduction of the rural telephone, with the central in the grain office. This has been in operation for about eight years, and has an extensive system of phones.

In 1884 the village was organized under the general law. I. C. Stone was the first mayor of the village. The officers at present are as follows : President, E. E. Crawford ; clerk, E. W. Porter, treasurer, J. C. McGraw ; trustees, C. U. Witt, Ed. S. Summers, B. D. McClure, II. II. McClure, Eugene Porter and W. M. Motherway.

After the completion of the Central road, mail was carried from Kappa to Eureka, Spring Bay and intermediate points, it being delivered twice a week. The building of

Low Point was first established at a point oxer a half mile southwest of the present site of the village It derived the name from a low point of timber land on the south fork of Richland creek. The postoffice was on the stage route from Chicago, which was at that time an important line of travel. The first postmaster was "William Dodds. Later J. E. Dodds conducted a store there, and continued to do business at that point until 1871, when lie removed his store to the present site of Low Point, lie was postmaster both before and after the removal of the office. A saw mill was put in operation in 1847, and did an extensive business. At that time goods wrere hauled to and from Peoria, Spring Pay, Chillicothe and Lacon, these being the nearest markets and sources of supply.

The completion of the railroad thru the township gave a new impetus to its growth and resulted in building up three towns along its line of road within the township of Cazenovia.

As previously suggested the site of Low Point changed and it was laid out near the railroad. In 1871 D. H. Davison, who is surveyor at the present time, surveyed the town for James Gr. Payne, who came to the county in 1846. One of the early enterprises of the towTn was a tile factory, first opened by John Pinkerton, but operated by his son, Oscar. Of late the plant has fallen into disuse and decay.

The business interests of the town changed hands quite frequently. J. E. Dodds and F. M. Patton formed a partnership and erected one of the buildings now occupied by Banta Bros., and conducted a general store. Other names among the business records of the town are those of Charles and Joseph McCulloeh, Smith and Amsler. Finally the business interests of the town came into the hands of Banta Brothers & Company. This enterprising firm now controls the lum- ber, grain, stock, implement, merchandise, grocery and banking interests. They employ a large number of men and do an extensive business. This has made necessary new quarters and they are at present engaged on a large new building.

In 1848 the first school house was built, many years before the founding of the town. The first teacher was Orson Cheedle. It was located on the outskirts of the town. In 1905 a convenient brick school house was erected and high school work was introduced under the principalship of Prof.

In 1851 a Methodist church was built there under the leadership of their pastor, and it was dedicated by Rev. J. S. Cummins, who was presiding elder at that time. The class had been previously organized, and held services for some time without the convenience of a church.

On the completion of the railroad thru the township, a second town sprang up within two miles of Low Point, named Cazenovia for the township. It was laid out for W. 0. Hammers and E. N. Farnsworth in 1870. The postoffice was at once established and W. 0. Hammers was the first postmaster. John Hamilton, a brother of Mrs. Isaac Boys, was the first station agent. Wikoff & Bowen conducted the first grocery on the site of the Speas Bros, store building. Nick Rortman, of Metamora, started the first dry goods store in a building owned by E. N. Farnsworth, W. 0. Hammers and Richard Tanton. The first blacksmith shop was owned by a man named Kise. At the present time the large general store is conducted by Speas Bros. The hardware and implement business is owned by Bachman Bros. The farmers in the vicinity of Cazenovia enjoy free telephone services. The county lines organized were among the first in that vicinity. They now have 15 of these running into their exchange in Bachman Bros.' office, and have over 150 phones on the line. Both Bachman Bros, and Speas Bros, have large brick buildings that are both substantial and convenient.

In 1858 the first school was built. In 1907 a new and modern structure was erected. It is one story in neight and 60 by 20 feet. The first church was built by the Baptist congregation in 1873, being dedicated the first Sunday in January, 1874. The dedication sermon was delivered by Rev. C. D. Merit, of Fairbury, who is named in the, history of Minonk as the founder of the Baptist church in that city. Rev. W. E. James was first pastor of the new church, and resid-

A second church was built after this by the Christian congregation. This pulpit has been supplied for a number of years by students from Eureka College. There is a union Sunday school with an enrollment of 25 or 30 pupils.

ford platted. It is located three miles south of Minonk, and a station was established with Jacob M. Holder as the first agent. The first store was opened by Henry Patton, who was also appointed the first postmaster. Six years ago the town suffered a fire that destroyed several business houses, including the postof6.ee. Since then the mail has been cared for in the grain office. The destroyed store buildings have never been rebuilt. The one store in town is conducted by Mr. Schlink.

Goodfield and Congerville. In 1888 the village of Schrock and Guthville were surveyed, the former for Joseph Schrock, January 2nd, of that year, and the latter for John Guth, August 29th. The building of the Lake Erie and Western railroad led to the estab- lishment of the above towns, and the opening of convenient markets in the southern part of the county. The names of the villages afterward became Congerville and Goodfield, respectively.

The first postmaster at the former was Gus Naffzinger. The first business men were Gus Naffzinger and Marshall Bros., each of whom conducted a general store. The first grain dealer was J. F. Tobias and the present dealer, Leslie Reel. There are two churches, Lutheran and Mennonite. The

The village of Goodfield is also in Montgomery township. Shortly after its organization a store was opened by Mr. Zimmerman and Hohulin Bros, soon began their implement business. In 1891 a Baptist church was erected there and is still prosperous. It is a part of the Deer Creek charge. The same year a Methodist church was erected north of Goodfield, known as Galey chapel. Rev. A. 0. II. de la Gardie being pastor at the time. This has since been abandoned and sold. A handsome brick school house has recently been erected and two teachers are now employed. It was erected in 1907. Simon Naffzinger has become a prominent figure in the business and political life of Goodfield during recent years.