Radley, Illinois

About 1870 the Presbyterians of Paw Paw began holding meetings in the school-house, the Rev. Alexander S. Peck, of the Wyoming church at Cottage Hill, preaching for them regularly every two weeks. A committee consisting of the Revs. John Eustic, Alexander S. Peck, and Robert Hays, appointed by the Ottawa Presbytery to organize a church at Paw Paw, were called to meet for that purpose on the 26th of May, 1873. Only the first two were present. Those who took part in the organization and were the first members were Miss Sarah A. Wilson, Andrew J. Fuller, Susan C. Fuller, Jane Nettleton, Jane Balentine, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Cole, Henry Cole, and Jane Howell. Andrew C. Radley and Andrew J. Fuller were elected ciders, and Jacob Ilendershot, A. C. Radley and A. J. Fuller trustees. The Rev. Alexander S. Peck was the first preacher. In 1875 this society built their present beautiful little church on East avenue, at a cost of $1,900. The funds were raised by subscription, and when the house was completed in the autunm no specter of debt hung over it to trouble the free course of the truth and the thoughts of the worshipers. The Rev. .Dr. Gibson, of Chicago, delivered the dedicatory sermon. The Rev. Peck supplied the pulpit until the close of the year 187G, and the Rev. McFarland and others from that date to April 1878. The Rev. George D. McCulloch was then ordained, and installed pastor of this church, and remained in charge until July 1881. Whole number of members since the organization, 57; number received by letter, 11 ; deceased, 3 ; present membership, 44.

Passage source: History of Lee County, published 1881.

William Rogers was the first settler and built the first house, which was used for a hotel. The date of his arrival is not definitely known, but it was not later, probably, than 1836. He was endowed with great bodily strength, and had a fondness for gambling, which he gratified without restraint. He obtained a large part of the Ogee reservation and sold it out piecemeal. From here he went to Dixon, was proprietor of the Western Hotel some time, and finally drifted to California. He was everywhere known, particularly on the river between here and New Orleans, being a man of inuch energy and practical experience. His reappearance in these parts recently is mentioned. In 1877 John Wentworth and other old residents of Chicago got up a banquet for Rogers. He died a year or two ago.

Passage source: History of Lee County, published 1881.

A. C. Radley, tarmer and town clerk, Paw Paw Grove, was born January 14, 1827, at Florida, Montgomery county, New York. His father was the late John J. Radley, who died at Earlville in the summer of 1881. Anderson, the subject of our sketch, was the eldest son, and his father was an invalid for many years. For these reasons the son's schooling was quite limited. Not till he was twenty-four ^^ears of age did he surrender the care of the old homestead. After working a rented farm in his native state some four years, and another in Batavia, Illinois, for two years, in the spring of 1858 he came to Wyoming township, and purchased the eighty acres of wild prairie which he has since transformed into the Eden Home, where he still resides. On December 14, 1862, he was married to Miss Mary B. Hayden, of Jackson county, Michigan ; but she was taken away October 7, 1865, leaving a son about two years of age. On May 9, 1866, he \\as married to Martha, daughter of Frederick and Mary McBride of this township. Mr. Radley was one of those who organized the Paw Paw Presbyterian church, and has been a ruling elder and trustee from that time to date. An Odd-Fellow for more than a quarter of a cen- tury, he instituted Anchor Lodge at Paw Paw, and has served four tim^^s as representative to the Grand Lodge. In 1881 he was elected town clerk, and in July spent one whole day signing the new railroad bonds.

Passage source: History of Lee County, published 1881.

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 Wyoming Township - it names this place 2 more 2 times.