Sunbeam, Illinois

The first election was held at the house of George McPherren, in the fall of 1836. For several years afterward voting was done at William I. Nevius' residence. The following is a list of the principal officers of the township since its organization :

Passage source: History of Mercer County : Together with Biographical Matter, Statistics, Etc., Gathered from Mattter Furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, Interviews with Old Settlers, County, Township and Other Records, and Extracts from Files of Papers, Pamphlets, and Such Other Sources As Have Been Available : Containing Also a Short History of Henderson County, published 1882.

Spring seems to have been a favorable time for beginning a new life ; appropriately so, too. It was an April evening of 1840, when William C. Brownlee dropped into esquire Nevius' house and inquired for the squire. The squire was away, but would be back at dusk ; so, also, would this young man. A short journey was made by the young man. When he returned the squire was at su])per. The young man was accompanied by a young lady. Miss Mary A. Brownlee, a very distant relative. Conversation of a liv^ely style was indulged in. As the squire finished his meal, young Brownlee i)roduced a suspicious looking document, whicli soon explained itself. Ceremony was actually called for. The comi)any was then gathered in the squire's sraoke-houite. The squire, with all the dignity of his office, administered the service. It was dark. The squire suggested the couple remain till the mormng. The good wife of the squire then performed her part of the ceremony, and the twain were safely couched for the night. Thus occurred the smoke-house services, which have ever been a reminiscence of merriment to old and young.

Passage source: History of Mercer County : Together with Biographical Matter, Statistics, Etc., Gathered from Mattter Furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, Interviews with Old Settlers, County, Township and Other Records, and Extracts from Files of Papers, Pamphlets, and Such Other Sources As Have Been Available : Containing Also a Short History of Henderson County, published 1882.

According to the researches of Elijah Forsyth, an Associate Reformed (now U. P.) congregation was organized in 1842, consisting of Jane Rice, Elenor Moorehead, Phebe Smith, Sophia Hardy, William Moore, William McMichael, Ella McMichael, Josiah Moor, Samuel Moor, of Ohio Grove ; George Jay and Agnes Jay, of Keithsburg ; John, Elizabeth, Ann, Jane and Elenor Collins, of Twin grove. Services were held in the groves, at school-houses or in the barn of Wm. I. Nevius. For some time immediately previous to 1852, J. C. Porter ministered to this congregation one-fourth of the time. D. C. Cochran and Revs. Fulton, Morrow and Finley also labored here. May 5, 1852, the congregation was reorganized. Robert Miller and William M. Hayes were elected ruling elders ; Rev. J. C. Porter officiating. William M. Hayes, Robert M. Miller and George Smith, trustees. At a meeting of the session, William M. Hayes was elected clerk, which office he held till 1869. At that time the membership was fortyfive. In 1853 sixteen joined by certificate and two on examination. From 1853 to 1859, Rev. M. Bigger labored as stated supply. In 1854 twenty-two joined on certificate and fourteen on examination ; in 1855, thirty-seven by certificate and eight on examination. In 1853 to 1855 a house of worship was erected at Sunbeam, 40x60 and twenty feet from floor to ceiling. This was largely the result of the liberality, untiring energy and perseverance of William M. Hayes, an honored member. In 1860 Rev. J. H. Nash became pastor. In 1877 Rev.

Passage source: History of Mercer County : Together with Biographical Matter, Statistics, Etc., Gathered from Mattter Furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, Interviews with Old Settlers, County, Township and Other Records, and Extracts from Files of Papers, Pamphlets, and Such Other Sources As Have Been Available : Containing Also a Short History of Henderson County, published 1882.

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 Ohio Grove Township - it names this place 8 more 8 times.