Lafayette, Illinois

Isaac L. Hart was trustee in 1858. and in '59, J. W. Eodgere, James Inglis, W.AV. Wright and Hiram Xance served up to Jnlv. 18t3(i, when Daniel J. Hurd was appointed treasurer. In 1862. John Emery was elected trustee: in '64, Elijah Eltzworth and John A. White; in ^Q(\ William Ogle and William Xowlan ; in '68, William Xowlan : in B. L. Hilliard. Looman Himes; in '71, Eqbert Moore and John A. White: in '74, George Bradley; in '76, R. Bruce Jamieson, now of Abingdon, Knox county ; in '77, Robert Moore ; in '79, J. W. Dexter : in '8<^ George W. Potter and J. H. Quinn : in '81, John A. White to fill vacancy. In April, 1881, Daniel J. Hurd, after serWng as treasurer twenty-one years, gave place to C. M. Beecher. In '82, X. C. Brown took his piace as trustee ; Frank A. Jones, in '83, vice George W. Potter, John A. White, in '84; F. A. Jones and W. F. Price, in '86. In April. "84. the property deeded by David Smith to the school trustees, now known as the addition to the old Lafayette burial ground, was deeded by them to the village trustees. In 1886 there were 271 males, and 26(> females under twentA^-one years, one graded school and eight ungi'aded schools, attended ])y 23n pupils, and pi'esided over b}" five male and thirteen female teachers ; the former earning S865.35, and the latter si. 795.45. Tax levy, §2,695: total receipts, 85,610.63; total ex))enditures, 83,321.34. C. M. Beecher was serving as treasurer.

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.

Pioneer Neighhors. - As stated in the general history the Frakers, Owens and Fitch families were the first settlers in the northeastern part of Knox county, and consequently the first in the neighborhood of West Jersev and Goshen townships. Fraker had purchased a few quarter sections prior to his coming here, on one of which was an Indian village. When he arrived the Indians strongly objected to his settlement, but in the face of the L'nited States patents they concluded to leave, and moved their town to Indian creek of Spoon river, seven miles east of Fraker's grove, to which they often paid visits, and every spring would go there to raise squaw corn and vegetables and make sugar, their trail i-unning just two miles south of Lafayette village, through what was kniAvn as Cedar townshij), of Knox county. During the Black Hawk war the northeast part of Knox and what are now the western towns of Stark, were thrown into great excitement, and settlers rushed to and fro bet\veen Henderson Fort and Essex Foi't. but troubles settling down, all returned to their homes except Amelia Fraker (afterwards Mrs. James Jackson, of Lafa3^ette) who remained with friends at the fort.

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 original town of Lafayette, blocks 1 to 10, of eight lots each, extending from Fi'anklin north to Monroe, and from Timber east to Hoggins, was surveyed July 7. 1836, by George A. Charles, for William Dunbar. Main street formed the center of the town, with Franklin. Jackson, Wasiiington, Lafayette, Jefferson, and Monroe running east and west. The ])lat was acknowledged by Justice Josiah Witcher, of Knox county. Among the first purchasers of lots at Lafayette were P>. M. Jackson, 1846; Dan. J. Hurd, "49; Theo. F. Hurd, '50; Sabina Miner, '54; Emeline Headley, '53; George Farr, '47; Jacob Ross, '58; Washington Dunbar, '47; Sarah Messenger, '53; Henry Dunbar, '43; George W. Dunl)ar, '43; James E. White, '4H; G. W. Jackson, '40; Peter F. Miner, '37; W. F. Reed, L. B. Leonard, '43; James B. Lewis, '46; Andrew Church, Eliza Sellon, '51; Thomas C, Moore, Driscoll & Gooding, '53; William D. Runyan, '47; Nathan Barlow, '50; Jacob Ross, '53; E. Gunsaul, '48; David W. Brown, James Brink, and James Dunn, '39 ; Asael Holmes, '41 ; Harry Hayes,

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 Goshen Township - it names this place 57 more 57 times.