Elmira, Illinois

PERIOD of time, little- oyer half a century, has passed away since the American pioneers of this division of the county made their lirst settlements here. Those years have been replete with clianges, social, political, religions, '^ even physical change. The visitor of toda3% ignorant of il the past history of Elmira, could scarcely realize tlie fact that within five decades a large jiopulation grew up, where, in the second quarter of the Xineteenth Century, Indian tepees stood, and the savages themselves had worn the warpaint and retained their scal])-belts. The ])eople have not only increased in number, but also in wealth, refinement and all those characteristics of advancement which mark the older settlements of the North Atlantic states. Cultivated fields now occupy the hunting grounds of the aboriginal races; while a peojile endowed with the highest faculties have taken the place of the Illinois and Pi)ttawatomies themselves. There are but few left of the old landmarks - still a smaller number of old settlers. Civilization and its demands have conspired to raze every monument of the red man - to obliterate almost ever}" trace of liis occupancy. Old time, too, has not looked calmly on ; Ijut, by way of reprisal, has driven many a pioneer to the ^^romised land beyond the grave, or led others from the old homestead westward in the track of the Indians, to reenact beyond the Mississippi the drama of early settlement. As a general rule, the men and women who fii'st settled in this township were fearless, self-reliant and industrious. Xo matter from what state or what country they came, there was a similarity of character. In birth, education, language and religion, there were differences ; but such differences did not interfere with harmony : on the contrary, they were lost in association ; forgotten in that common interest which united all. In such a community there was a hospitality, a kindness, a benevolence, and high above all, a charity, unknown and unnracticed among the older, richer and more densely populated settlements of trans-Alleghany counties, just in the same manner, perhaps, as there was a higher faith animating the early Christians than that wdiich marks our latter day Christianity. The very nature of the surroundings of those pioneers taught them to feel each other's woe, to share each other's joy, and live in communal integritv. Therefore it is not strange that, among the old settlers of this township, a deepseated friendship existed and grew and strengthened with their advancing years. The incidents peculiar to life in a new country - the privations and trials of early settlement in the wilderness, Avere well calculated to test, not only the physical })owei's of eiulurance, but also the moral, kind, generous attributes of true wouianliood and manhood ; and bring to the surface all that was in them of good or evil. In this chapter, taken in connection with others, a full effort is made to deal in a thorough manner with the pioneers and old settlers. Almost the whole story is based upon the authority of records, and thus, at least, claims authenticity - a fact which must go far to compensate for the absence of legendary or nnauthenticated relations.

Passage source: Documents and Biography Pertaining to the Settlement and Progress of Stark County, Illinois : Containing an Authentic Summary of Records, Documents, Historical Works and Newspapers Relating to Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization and Politics ..., published 1887.

This division of the county is certainly one of the fairest parts of Illinois. Prior to 1834, it was a common hunting-ground for the Indians, and even that year the population of the settlement therein was made up of two families. In 1835 the Peoria colony arrived, settlements extended, and within forty -five years the number of residents increased to 978, including the population of Osceola, sixty-nine, and of Elmira, eighty-four. With the exception of the wild land, along Spoon river, the township presents a rare scene of pastoral beauty. With very few exceptions, the homes of the people may be classed as residences, for they are generally large houses, surrounded by wellkept lawns or gardens - in every house a library, and in every garden, flowers. The fields, too, are laid out regularly, enclosed by Osage orange hedges, and in each miniature swail, a line or grove of willows, sometimes trimmed to corres])ond with the hedge, but oftener allowed to attain full growth for shade or shelter. On the Avest and north the township is bounded by Henry and Bureau counties, on the east by Osceola Township, and on the south by Toulon Townshi]).

Passage source: Documents and Biography Pertaining to the Settlement and Progress of Stark County, Illinois : Containing an Authentic Summary of Records, Documents, Historical Works and Newspapers Relating to Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization and Politics ..., published 1887.

The coal fields of the townshi]) are extensive, but the industry has not claimed much attention. One mile north of Elmira post otfice, is Thomas Oliver's coal shaft, opened in the winter of 1885-86. The coal pi'oduced is large block, equal to anj^ hitherto mined in the county. There ai-e small outcro]is in tlie river region of the township, which have been worked for years. Native and cultivated groves are scattered throughout the township, while in the river valley plenty of native timber is still to be found. In a few instances, as at Dr. Boardman's, groves of thrifty pine are found, and on the lawns several species of ornamental pine, juniper and cedar find a home. The progress of the district within a half centur}^ was entirely unexpected by the great majority of the pioneers. Bobert Hall in his reminiscences of 1837, relates that while aiding in building a barn for Major Eobert Moore, the son of the latter, now of Toulon, remarked that the time would come when a railroad would stretch across the prairies from Chicago to Burlington through this county. Mr. Hall thought over the matter, conversed with other pioneers, and ultimately appealed to David Currier for an opinion. The latter declared emphatically, that the " prophet was crazy."" The prophets in other branches were also set down as a species of madmen.

Passage source: Documents and Biography Pertaining to the Settlement and Progress of Stark County, Illinois : Containing an Authentic Summary of Records, Documents, Historical Works and Newspapers Relating to Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization and Politics ..., published 1887.

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 Elmira Township - it names this place 69 more 69 times.