North Henderson, Illinois

North Henderson Township is in the extreme southeastern part of the county. It took its name from the stream which passes through the central part toward the west. The southern part is drained by small streams which flow south into Warren County. The township from an agricultural standpoint is one of the best in the county. The soil is rich and black and insures large crops with suitable care. Pope Creek runs along near the northern border, occasionally coming inside the township line. A portion of the township was originally covered with timber, but by far the largest tract was prairie land. On section i, particularly, was a very heavy bodv of timber, from which the early settlers took their first rails and their timber. The St. Louis Branch of the C, B. & Q. Railroad passes through the southern part of the township. This road when built in 1871 was called the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis. The township was required to vote stock to aid the road, and did so, and in the end paid its obligations promptly and cheerfully.

Passage source: Past and Present of Mercer County, Illinois, published 1914.

In comparatively recent years this township has erected a commodious town hall. The first postoffice was called Ethel and was located on section 21, with John Goff, postmaster. After North Henderson Village was started this office was removed there and the name was changed, but Mr. Goff continued to be postmaster. Afterwards George G. Blue, a druggist there, conducted the office. The first marriage ceremony in the township was in 1838 between Benjamin F. Brown and Miss Lucinda Mann. The first child born in the township was William D. Fleharty, on October 4, 1834. The first cemetery was on land furnished by James Mann. The first schoolhouse was a cabin which had been built by Mr. Mann and stood on section 6. John Wilshire was the first teacher. The township in early times was called Liberty and continued to use this name until 1854, when under the new township law the name was changed to North Henderson. At that time the township was duly organized and the first officers chosen were: Notley Scott, supervisor; Joshua Bruner, town clerk; John W. Miles, assessor; James M. Holmes, collector; R. R. Mathers, Eli Tangham and Nathan Bailey, commissioners of highways; Timothy Meeker, overseer of the poor; Andrew J. Holmes and William F. Garrett, justices of the peace; and James M. Holmes, constable. At this first township election a total of twenty-four votes were polled. The town hall was not built until 1880. It cost about seven hundred and eighty-five dollars.

Passage source: Past and Present of Mercer County, Illinois, published 1914.

In early times a postoffice called North Henderson was established in Suez Township, but upon the starting of this little village in North Henderson Township that postoffice was removed and established in McCutcheon & Evans' store, with George M. Evans postmaster, in 1862. The Village of North Henderson proper was laid out November 18, 1871. Since that date there have been several additions and the place now is active and growing rapidly.

Passage source: Past and Present of Mercer County, Illinois, published 1914.

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 North Henderson Township - it names this place 2 more 2 times.