Summerfield, Illinois

I HIS precinct lies in the extreme north-east corner of the county, the greater part being in T. 2 N., R, 6 W., with a strip one and a half miles wide and four long, from the north of T. 1 N., R. 6 W. It is bounded on the north by Madison county, east by Clinton county, south by Mascoutah, and west by Lebanon precints. The surface is a pleasantly undulating prairie, containing numerous high and beautiful building sites. The soil is rich and productive, and many fine, highly-improved farms may be seen within its borders. Several small streams, tributaries of Silver Creek, flow westwardly through the precinct, and furnish drainage to the lands and a supply of water for other purposes. There are several small patches of timber scattered over the territory, which supply the demand for fencing, etc. The Ohio and Mississippi railroad runs from east to west through the precinct, entering it on section 24 and leaving on section 28. The first settlements in this precinct were made prior to 1810, one mile south of the present site of Summerfield, in what is known as the Union Grove settlement. The earliest settler was Nathan Chambers, who located on section 33, near a small branch of Silver Creek, as early as 1806. Chambers was a man of some talent, and well adapted for the hardships incident to a frontier life. In 1811- 12 he built a fort on his place, which was known as " Chambers' Fort," where the neighboring families gathered for protection against Indian depredations. Mr. Chambers held several minor county offices in early times. We will mention the names of some of the earliest settlers in this vicinity : - Robert and James Moore, John Broom, William Padfield, Robert Farar, Samuel and Alfred Ryle, Henry Button, John Dew, a Methodist minister ; Thornton Peeples, also a Methodist minister ; Dr. Anthony W. Casad, Edmond Randle, Malcom Johnson, Peter Wright, Wm. Lunceford and Samuel H. Thompson - a noted Methodist minister. William Padfield was a native of Kentucky, and settled here in 1815. He had quite a large family, mott of whom married and left descendants. The sons were - Thomas, William R. (who lived in a fine residence in the suburbs of Summerfield) ; Henry, James R., a farmer, residing on section 34; Joseph, Hiram, and several daughters. Wm R. and James R. are the only sons now living. Mr. Padfield was a zealous member of the M. E. Church, and for a number of years had a camp-meeting ground on his farm. Joshua Barnes was an early settler, and also an early Methodist preacher and school teacher. Among the earliest settlers north of Union Grove may be mentioned W. W. Roman, Wm. Frazier, Michael Keith, J. McKeg, John Lord, Mr. Anderson, Joseph Schrougham, John Marney, Capt. Morris, Preston Utley, James Paydon, and others. The following are the land entries in this precinct in 1814, as taken from the county records : Daniel Simons, S. W. i sec. 33, 160 acres, Sept. 26; George Nichols, N. E. i sec. 34, 160 acres, Sept. 15; Pleasant Nichols, N. W. i sec. 34, 160 acres, Sept. 15 ; Nathan Chambers, S. W. i sec. 34, 160 acres, Sept. 15; Francis Swan, S. E. i sec. 34, 160 acres, Sept. 16. The above are in T. 2 N. R. 6 W. Francis Swan, N. E. i sec. 3, 153 im acres, Sept. 16 ; Nathan Chambers, N. W. i sec. 3, 154 acres, Sept. 15 ; Robert Frazier, N. E. i sec. 9, 160 acres, Sept. 10; John Brown, N. W. i sec. 10, 160 acres, Nov. 24; John Nichols, N. E. i sec. 4, 154 /oo acres, Sept. 26; Henry Hutton, 8. W. i sec. 4, 160 acres, Sept. 10, are in T. 1 N. R. 6 W. John Wordsworth, who resides on section 16, is a native of Clinton county, Illinois, and settled in St. Clair in 1830. G H. Appel, a farmer on section 35, was born in Germany, and came to this county in 1834. John H. Calbreath, who resides on section 11, is a son of William Calbreath, who settled in this county about 1804^5. He was born here in 1825. Judge James Whittaker, an honorable citizen who resides in the northern part of this precinct, was an early associate judge, and has held other minor offices.

Passage source: History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With Illustrations ... and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, published 1881.

Frederick Hecker arrived in the United States in autumn, 1848, a voluntary exile. Hecker was born in Eichtersheim, Baden, September 28th, 1811, had received a splendid education, became a most distinguished jurisprudent and ardent politician. Hecker was the acknowledged leader of republicanism in south Germany, organized as such, an insurrection against the existing monarchy, in the spring of 1848, was defeated at Kandern, and fled into Switzerland. After a brief stay, he emigrated t ) America. Another revolutionary attempt, promising a better success, re-called Hecker to Europe, where he arrived in July, 1849, just in tinie to learn that his most cherished dreams of freedom and popular sovereignty would have to remain dreams for ages yet. Hecker returned the same year and settled in this township, near Summerfield. His home was known as the most hospitable one far or near, and of the thousands that came in the course of years to pay their respects to the revolutionist and philosopher, not one departed but was most favorably impressed with the amiability of host and hostess. Hecker died on the 24th of March, 1881, and was buried on the 28th. His funeral was the largest ever witnessed in St. Clair county. A dozen states sent delegations, and the friends that participated in the solemnizing of the day, are to be numbered by thousands.

Passage source: History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With Illustrations ... and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, published 1881.

A coal-shaft was sunk at this point several years ago, but was never successfully worked. Coal was discovered at a depth of three hundred and eighty feet ; the vein, however, was but three and a half feet in thickness, which was too small to be profitably worked, Summerfield, situated as it is in the heart of a rich and populous farming district, makes it a good point for shipping and general mercantile business. The precinct and village together have a population of 1 ,676, both well supplied with churches and schools, which are liberally maintained. Summerfield has two secret societies ; the Summerfield Lodge, No. 342, A. F. & A. M., was chartered in 1860, and has a membership of twenty-four. The Summerfield Lodge, No. 163, A. O. W. M., was chartered March 12, 1880, and has twenty-eight members. Both societies are in good working order.

Passage source: History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With Illustrations ... and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, 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 Lebanon Township - it names this place 11 more 11 times.