Wapella, Illinois

This town was laid out by David A. Neal in the fall of 1854, and the first lots were sold in the spring of 1855. Neal was in the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and was then the vice-president of the road. He it was that gave it a name, and it was first spelled Wapellah. The first survey was made by the civil engineer of the railroad company, the then county surveyor of De Witt being Alexander Barnett, who simply recognized said survey without certifying to it officially. For this reason and some little dispute with regard to some of the corners it was again surveyed in 1861, by Oliver Lakin, then county surveyor. The lines, streets, and all were left intact, no change being made from the original platting. The following is the official description of its boundaries. : Commencing at the Dorth-east corner of the south-east quarter of the south-east quarter of section 34, town 21, range 2 east the 3rd principal meridian ; thence running west one-half mile, thence south one mile, lacking fifteen rods ; thence east one-half mile ; thence north one mile, lacking fifteen rods to the place of beginning. At onetime, soon after the railroad was built, in 1854, '5, it looked as though Wapella might be the leading town in De Witt county. The Central Railroad built an immense brick hotel here, and located the machine-.shops and round-house at this point, expecting to make this the central objective point between the northern and southern termini of the road. The question of moving the County Seat from Clinton to Wapella was mooted in 1S57, and the battle between the two places wa.xed warm, but the effort proved a failure. In 1879, another eflbrt was made to the same end, but proved abortive as before. In this effort it was proposed to change the boundaries of the county Hue, the petition ai-king for a p irtion of the southern part of McLean county to be joined to De Witt; thereby making Wapella more central. The machine shops were subsequently moved to Clinton, and the question of changing the county seat was abandoned.

Passage source: ... History of De Witt County, Illinois. With Illustrations Descriptive of the Scenery, and Biographical Sketches of Some of the Prominent Men and Pioneers, published 1882.

The little hamlet of Zabriska is situated on the old state road three miles north of Wapella, and from its general appearance would strike the observer as having its origin as early as 1800 ; but this is a mistake, as it dates back only to about 1850. A mill was erected here at this time, and as it was situated on the public thoroughfare of the township (there then being no railroad) a nucleus was formed, which under favorable circumstances would have finally developed into a town. The hamlet now contains seven houses with a population of about thirty inhabitants, and is one of the landmarks peculiar to the state road of ye olden times, prior to the screeching of the iron horse through the prairies of central Illinois.

Passage source: ... History of De Witt County, Illinois. With Illustrations Descriptive of the Scenery, and Biographical Sketches of Some of the Prominent Men and Pioneers, published 1882.

The world loves to honor those who through their own exertions and by virtue of native ability acquire enviable positions in life. Success is largely measured by one's acquisition of property, and he who begins in poverty and unaided works his way to wealth, is looked upon as successful in life. To this class belongs William R. Carle, who was born in Wellsburg, West Virginia, INIarch 24th, 1832. His parents were John Carle and Rebecca Carle, (nee Miller) natives of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Ephraim P. Carle, who lived in New Jersey, was a Hollander, his wife, Nancy Clark, was of .Scotch origin. AVilliam R., was the eighth in order of birth in a family of nine children. His father was a carpenter by trade but forsook its following for the more lucrative business of manufacturing cotton cloth. He erected a factory in Williamsburg, and in company with others opened a store in connection therewith. In 1857 the company failed, so that William, whose advantages had been good for the acquisition of knowledge found himself confronting a cold world, jienniless. Although poor in means he was rich in energy, in tact and talent. He left his native home for the west ; reaching St. Louis he found cholera reaping its harvest of death, and so made his way north-ward to Bloomingtou. Here he took charge of a public school just outside the limits of the city. For this work his attainments, commanding presence and excellent judgment well fitted him. His success is attested by many patrons, and further by the fact that his services were in demand. He taught in Major's Grove without interruption, summer and winter for three years, when having saved some means he formed a co-partnership with David S. Hord, in the grain business. The new firm bought a warehouse just being constructed, and had the misfortune to lose it by fire when it was ready for occupancy. With commendable energy they built upon its ruins and within thirty days were in occujjation. In 18.59 he disposed of his interest to his partner. As indicative of the fact that his a b c in the grain trade was dearly bought experience, he found himself barely square with the world financially ujjon closing out his share in the business. In April, 1859, he formed a co-partnership with Sabin Taylor, to prosecute the grain trade in Clinton, which they did in the place now occupied by Emmett Kent. Disposed of his interest in July, and in August located in Wapella, where he worked for an old Englishman named Dixon, for $1.25 per day. At the expiration of two months service Dixon proposed a partnership if he would raise one hundred dollars. He at once went to Bloomington, where he was well known, and borrowed the amount on thirty days time. This business move, proved eminently successful and through its means was laid the foundation of a competency enjoyed by the subject of this sketch. Mr. Carle continued in the grain trade until the fall of 1862, when he disposed of it to E. Kent & Co., and bought a stock of general merchandise. In the dry goods trade he continued until 1865, when he again entered the grain trade, combining with it, dealing in lumber, this time in connection with E. B. Harrold. This arrangement was continued a year when he pursued the business alone until 1869, when he went to California on account of failing health, returned after a single seasons [sojourn in the Golden State, and resumed the general merchandise business here. In the fall of 1870, he was elected a member of the 27th General Assembly, by a majority of two hundred and forty votes. As a member, the same business tact, integrity acd ' earnestness that have ever followed him through life, gave him a reputation as an able legislator. The same year, 1870, he was elected President of the Clinton National Bank, a position he held for three years. Mr. Carle has continued in the grain trade since his return from his California trip, and also for part of the time in general merchandising. Politically Mr. Carle is an active outspoken Democrat, as undeviating in his devotion as the needle to the pole. In religion he is just as firm and faithful to the Disciple's faith, contending earnestly for the restoration of the primitive order of things. Possessed of rare social qualities, unquestioned integrity of character, he enjoys the respect and esteem of hosts of friends. His tall, athletic figure, being six feet four inches in height, and proportionally built, commands attention among his fellows. His business career, so uniformly successful since he gained his' first foothold in 1869, calls for admiration and emulation.

Passage source: ... History of De Witt County, Illinois. With Illustrations Descriptive of the Scenery, and Biographical Sketches of Some of the Prominent Men and Pioneers, 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 Wapella Township - it names this place 2 more 2 times.