Butler, Illinois

When Butler Grove township was surveyed in 1819 it included one settler, who belonged, as we have shown before, to the Hillsboro settlement. Tins settler was Jacob Cress, who in 1818 entered a. farm in section 34. Mr. Cress came originally from North Carolina. It is well to note here that in coming across the prairies the early emigrants were compelled to follow Indian trails or buffalo paths in their journey. It. is related of Mr. Cress that he made this trip during the warmer months of the year and that lie found the Hies in such immense swarms that he could not travel by daw ami that it was only during the night and when the stars were shining that he could proceed on bis journey. Mr. Cress brought with him much live stock from his native state. and we find in a previous narrative the statement that to keep his hogs from being lost he supplied each with a little hell. Tn 1865 Jacob Cress, the pioneer, crossed to that other country, having completed bis course and having faithfully performed the service of a long and eventful life he might well enter into the joys which are prepared for those who have "fought the good fight." We have noticed at some length Jacob Cress, of Hillsboro township, who was the son of Jacob Cress, the pioneer. The next to locate in this township was Israel Seward, of Hamilton county, Ohio. In L819 .Mr. Seward pitched his tent on what is known to us as Seward's hill. Mr. Seward was the first school commissioner of the county and when teachers made their reports directly to the count] commissioner. As the state had provided a small allowance for each child enrolled, it was neeessan to make tins report to the school commissioner and receive this pittance in addition to the subscription fee paid by the parent. To the reader I would suggesl that when visiting the county seat he will find one of these old schedules, kept in 183? b\ Alexander Buie in East Fork township. On this schedule you will find the names of the Whittens, the Cresses, the Barringers and many others which were familiar to all the older settlers. The writer, to preserve tins document, had it framed in 1892. and it lianas in the other days. Mr. Seward left many descendants in the neighborhood of the village of Butler. Butler Seward, who was a brother to Israel Seward, made his settlement in Seward's Grove in 1829, and doubtless it is from this fact that the township derives its present name. Butler Seward, however, afterward removed northward to what was known as Seward's Point. This is located in Raymond township. In 1823 Obadiah Ware came from New Hampshire ami settled a paid, of section 15, and here he built one of the most pleasanl and attractive homein the county. I'pon this farm he resided for over half a century. William A. Young, who married a daughter of Mr. Ware, is the owner of the old homestead. Mr. Ware had other children: Mrs. Harris, wife of the late Thomas E. Harris; Elizabeth Westcott; and Henry Ware. A brother of Obadiah Ware was also an early settler of this township. His name was Benjamin, and. like his brothers, was one of the quiet, unassuming, though successful, farmers of Butler Grove. Justice Ware is a son of Benjamin Ware and succeeded to his father's estate. Ware's Grove, in Butler Grove township, receives its name from the Ware brothers, Obadiah and Benjamin. The wife of Obadiah Ware was a Miss Electa Post, of Addison county. Vermont. She died, however, in 1858, and Mr. Ware died in September, L876. David Ware'- father, 1 am informed, never came to this stale, but David Ware was tor many years among the most prominentcitizens of his township. lie lived northeast of Ware's Grove and much of his large estate included the black, heavy soil lying north and east of the mound. Lyman Ware. John Ware and other sons of David Ware are among the best citizens of our county. William II. Cass settled in tins town-hip on section 5 in 1824. Mr. Cass left several children, among whom is William ('ass. one of the largest landowners of the township, but who. some years ago, moved to the village of Raymond. The first mill built in the township was in 1825. It was a horsemill, so called because the power was supplied by horses. This was built by Jacob Cress. Sr. It was the only mil] within a radius of many miles, the nearest being Fogleman's i -< - ; >- per mill. This mill was operated in this way for a period of twenty years and was finally remodeled into a steam mill. Mr. Seward erected a mill about one mile south of the present village of Butler in 1839. This venture, being upon rather a, large scale, did not prosper, ami Mr. Seward soon found himself in financial embarrassment. Mr. Seward was not the man to let a. matter of this kind discouragi him. and when the gold fever of 1849 swept over the country Mr. Seward, in company with others, made l he overland journey to that western country, and there, in the "new Eldorado," he amassed considerable fortune, and he it saiil to his credit he returned to Illinois and paid all his outstanding obligations, lie disposed of the idd mill which had been his undoing, ami once more stood among his fellow men free from the obligations that had. in a made improvements in this township at an early date. Tin' farm is at present owned by John Grassell. Thomas A. Gray was another early settler of this township, and among those who at one time held Large estates mm lie mentioned Solomon Harkey, of Eillsboro; Henry Welge, John and William Turner, D.G. Burris, George Grassell, Muses Berry, Orlando Mack, James M. (icss, William Watson, John Clinesmith, Joseph Stickle, A. H. 11. Rountree, Absalom Cress. Charles W. .Jenkins. James Doyle, Isaac Doyle, E. M. Hodges. Roberi Bryce, William W. Keele and James M. Puntenney. Many of these estates, however, have changed owners within the past leu years. Charles W. Jenkins, at one time the efficient circuit clerk of Montgomery county, owned an estate immediately south of the village of Butler, and here his widow resides on the old homestead. An only son, Roto, manages the estate. A daughter, Camilla, who resides with her mother, was for a period of several years one of the leading teachers of the county. Moses Berry, one of the successful farmers and stockmen of the county, lives on a well-apportioned farm about one mile north of the village. Uncle Moses i.- a familiar figure in the little town, and though an octogenarian he is frequently seen at the county seat. He has for many years been connected with the school board of the Butler district, ami to his interest the Butler schools owe much of the superior standing which the) enjoy among the schools of our county. On a farm adjacent to Mr. Berry lives Jesse Barrett, ex-county superintendent of Montgomery county. We have alluded to Mr. Barreti in our article on the county in general. W. A. Young, who lives on the old Obadiah Ware estate, is not to he regarded as limited in his work ami reputation to the narrow confines of his township. Mr. Young .-lands among the best known horticulturists of the state, and for many years he has been a member of the hoard id' agriculture. Ai the Paris Exposition and also at Buffalo Mr. Young secured lirst prizes for fruit grown on his Butler Grove farm. Isaac and James Doyle, who settled in the northern part of the township, were gentlemen of the highest order. Thev were among thai class of farmers whose farms at once proclai) 1 them men of progressive ideas and habits of thrift - two qualities absolutely necessary to develop the highest character in any branch of industrial life. The writer i- glad to have been able to know these gentlemen among his true friends, and though they are no more numbered among the living it is a pleasure to reflect upon their good qualities as citizens and as friends. Robert Bryce, for thirty years and more township treasurer of the schools of that township, has become the trusted friend of the succeeding count)' superintendents of schools who have served in thai capacity during the long period of years in which Uncle Robert has made his annual report to that office. Robert Bryce is a native of Scotland and is a typical character of that rugged country. It is a pleasure to converse with him about the Scottish poets and statesmen. Ih' is familiar with the location of all the scene- described in Scott's "Lady of the Lake" and by Robert Burns, whose poems are as familial- in America as in his native land. The\ describe no quiet vale or mountain crag that Uncle Robert has not seen, for in his boyhood as a guide he pointed out each spot made famous in the song and story that tell of Scottish life. Orlando Mack was another of the earlier settlers of Butler Grove township. Ih' came to this county in 1840 and, being a millwright, he assisted in building and equipping many of the water nulls that were found in Montgomery county fiftv or sixty years ago. Orlando Mack left three daughters surviving him: Elizabeth, wife of William Nimmons; Myra, wife of George Walcott; and Ella. Oscar Mack came to this count) from New Hampshire with his father. Calvin Mack, about 1830 and settled on a farm in section 9, Butler Grove township. Calvin Mack died in 1845 and left Oscar Mack, then a lad of fifteen years of age, to assist his mother in the direction of the affairs of the farm and caring for the younger members of the family. Dexter Mack is the youngest of a family of six children left by Calvin Mack. At last accounts he was living on a farm about four miles north of Hillsboro. i (sear Mack died some vears nso and lefl surviving him Calvin 11., an only son, and several daughters, ('alia Mark, as be is called, ranks among our energetic and enterprising voung farmers. Ee lives on the estate formerly owned by his father. I >. C. Burris, who married Roselma, a sister of Oscar Mack, was another of those who have contributed much toward the development of Butler Grove. He succeeded in acquiring a Large homestead in the northwestern part of the township. He died smile years ago ami this estate has been divided among his children. George W. Brown, father of George W. Brown, Jr., came to Montgomery county in 1838. In 184] he was married to Miss Sarah A. Jenkins, daughter of Stroud and Rebecca Jenkins. The oldest son is George W., Jr.. of Butler, Illinois, lie has been engaged in the village in various lines of business during the past thirty years. At one time he owned and operated the elevator and mills at that place. For the past few years he has been engaged in general merchandising. Hi- sons, James and Frank, conduct a large hardware ami implement business in the city of Hillsboro. S'eott Hoes ami Charlie are engaged in general merchandising in the village of Butler ami they have, by strict business principles, built up a very large trade. They have a very extensive general stock, which enables them to supply their patrons with anything thai can he found in any well-arranged creneral stock anywhere. Frank McWilliams operates the elevator at this place lor Munday & Settlemeyer. Frank is of the pioneer Mc- Williams stock, ami his upright, business-like methods have won fur him many frii ads in his neighborhood. William Elliman, who lives in the vicinity id' the village, is another of the leading citizens of this township. Mi'- Elliman has been engaged in tanning ami stock-raising. He is interested, however, in whatever contributes to the bettermeni of the community. James Ward, who moved from Urn- d'Arc to Butler Grove township about twelve years ago, ranks as one of tin' first real estate men of the county, ami h\ his attention to his large farming interests and to his land deals he has become one of the financial strong men of Butler Grove township. We may sav for Mr. Ward that bis estate has been built up from a beginning so small that it was not. appreciable, and. though he enjoys a position of affluence to-day, no man can say that .lames Ward acquired any of his holdings by deception or indirection, lie is another whose latchstring is always out and the hospitality of his elegant home lie is every ready to extend with a friend. In closing I must not forget to mention my good friend, dames Sammons. Like Mr. Ward, the reputation of Mr. Sammons is not circumscribed, tor he is known by cattlemen throughout this entire section of the state. Possibly Mr. Sammons is the largest shipper of fat cattle in Montgomery county. This closes our narrative of Butler Grove township, and we hope to preserve in these pages the names id' sonic of the worthy citizens, living and dead, who have contributed to the progress and development of our county.

Passage source: Past and Present of Montgomery County, Illinois, published 1904.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Butler Grove Township.