Mossville, Illinois

The first settler within the limits now comprisefl in this township was undoubtedly George Love, who came with his family from Park Co., Indian;i, and settled November 10, 1824, near the spot now occupied by the village of Mossville. He had at that time no nearer neighbor than Fort Clark in one direction, and the Fox river in the other. In course of the succeeding year some five or six families settled near them. John Ridgcway WiLS the first to follow and he helped the Loves to build tlieir house. Eilmund Weed Briarley. Abner Cooper, Henry Thomas and Samuel Clifton came next. The latter on coming bought out Weed's claim. Several other families whose names can not now be learned settled within a mile or so of Love's cabin, but staying only a short time sold their claims and moved on towards the setting sun. This was at that time the most thickly settled portion of the northern half of Peoria county. No saw or grist mill was erected in the township till about the year 18.50, except some circle saw-mills which were put u|i about 18.5.3. The Indians at that time were very numerous. The Puttawattomies were native to the county, and numerous other roving bands of Sacs, Foxes and Winnelmgoes with a few Chippeways and Delawares were encamped and hunted all over it.

Passage source: The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a History of the Northwest--history of Illinois--history of the County, Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Etc. .., published 1880.

In 182.5 a small colony sprung up near the nortliern boundary of the township, and among those forming it were the Avery's, Stephen French, Stephen Carl, and Resolve Cleveland with their families and they occupieil at first the abandoned i)ark houses of an Indian town on Sec. 4. In the Spring of 1H:',1, Mr. Linas Scovill with his family came from Vermillion county, Ind., and settled on a claim which he had previously bought from one of the Love family. The claim then entered upon is still owned b^' Mr. Scovill's son, who bears his father's name. The settlement at Mossville was directly in the track of tlie emigration going on itetwecn the years 1828 to 18:1.5, to (Jalena, and the numbers passing through afforded a ready market for all surplus grain, garden jiroducts, etc. .Much was also disposed of to voyagers ujion the river. Between 18ol and 1840 the district was settled up rapidly, and good claims advanced greatly in price. Among those coming between these vears mav be mentioned, Gershom Silliman and family who seton Sec. 2 in 18.T1. John E. Bristol and Nicholas Sturm in 1S.',2. Tlios. .Mooney and his sons James and William in 18:5.5, J. H. and I. W. Case in ls8t;, William H(ibins(ui in 18:17, anil John P. Ntal and Jonathan W. Rice in 18.',8. Simon Reed and Hiram M. Curry were the first justices of the peace, and held office in 182!>. The first marriage was that of Abner Cooper to Sally Sheldon in February, 182t), near Mossville. They were married by Rev. Mr. Cormack, a Baptist preacher. Rev. John Thomas also a Baptist, preached the first sermon.

Passage source: The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a History of the Northwest--history of Illinois--history of the County, Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Etc. .., published 1880.

The township contains two villages. Mossville on Sec. 27 and Alta on Sec. 31. The former has a population of about two hundred, and i^ situated near the first land taken up in the township. It is on the line of the Bureau branch of the Chicaijo, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, which was opened in 1854, and the village was laid off about the same time. It was named after Wm. S. iloss, who owned, in company with Isaac Underbill, the quarter section on wliich the village stands at the time the railroad was laid through it. Few villages of its population possess better church or school edifices. Mr. A. Marberrv, the postmaster, is proprietor of the only store in it, and the Mossville House, conducted for many years by Mr. John Crawl, offers excellent accommodation for the weary stranger.

Passage source: The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a History of the Northwest--history of Illinois--history of the County, Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Etc. .., published 1880.

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 Medina Township - it names this place 17 more 17 times.