Wesley, Illinois

The first settlers here experienced many hardships. During the winter of the big snow, 1830-31, they suffered greatly. The slight snow and sleet that fell before the heavy snow came froze the mast to the ground, which, when the big snow came, the wild animals were unable to get to subsist upon, and, consequently, many died. Those, however, that could get to the cornfields lived well. Wild hogs were quite abundant these times. These were the progeny of the hogs the old French traders formerly raised about Wesley City. They would often mix with the hogs of the settlers running in the timber. Sometimes they would become furious and attack other stock. One old hog, with ancient and mammoth tusks, became quite fierce and troublesome. Many eifijrts were made to kill him, but in vain. His thick callous hide resisted many a shot and rifle ball. However, Franklin, son of B. J. Montgomery, found his weak spot one day, and sent the fatal lead to the monster's forehead, and relieved the neighborhood of their dreaded terror.

Passage source: History of Tazewell County, Illinois ; Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. History of Illinois ... Digest of State Laws, published 1879.

The streams of the township are the South, Middle and North forks of Lick creek, named from the Deer licks of salt springs. At the lick on the Middle Fork, Mr. B. J. Montgomery found the skeleton of two large bucks, that had locked their horns together, and unable to separate themselves died. He kept these horns for many years. This same gentleman also describes the Indian burying places of this section. A pen was made about the size of a coffin, of split timber about four inches square, nicely locked together at the corner, joints all very close. These were covered with bark. A hole was cut through either side of this pen, one for the good spirit to go in, and the other for the evil one to go out. These when first seen were somewhat decayed. The bones, beads and an old hat were all that was visible in the enclosure, where, evidently, an Indian woman, with a child abont four years old, were laid to rest. As many as half-dozen of these pens were seen on ths east bluff, near Wesley City, section 6.

Passage source: History of Tazewell County, Illinois ; Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. History of Illinois ... Digest of State Laws, published 1879.

The oldest house in Groveland is owned by Thomas Hancock, section 27. Some twenty years ago it was moved from the bottoms near Wesley City, and is said to be over fifty years old. It is made of logs and looks quite pioneer-like, as also the present owner, who believes in old-time ways and customs, and has never been on a railway car. Although he does not believe in sewing machines and many other modern improvements, yet we see he has a modern mowing machine. Still he is of that liberal turn of mind which leaves every one, without let or hindrance, to enjoy his own chosen ways.

Passage source: History of Tazewell County, Illinois ; Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. History of Illinois ... Digest of State Laws, published 1879.

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 Groveland Township.