West Jersey, Illinois

Pioneer NeigJibors. - Before proceeding to notice the pioneers of the township, let us examine who were their neighbors on the south and west. Millbrook Township adjoining, was first settled in "33 by "William Metcalf and his family. In '36. John Smith, jr.. platted the village of Rochester, Clark Stanton being the onh^ other settler there then. About this time one Hurd opened a store there, but was soon succeeded by Stacy & Holmes. In '37, a mill was erected here ; in '46, Therrygood Smith was chosen first postmaster. Dr. John Fitield practiced there from "38 to '45. In '44 the Christian church was organized there by Milton King ; the Congregational in '41, by S. G. Wright, at the house of EliasWycoff, which was known as Spoon River Congregational church until -iSQ. In '36, Rev. William Cummings organized tlie Methodist church, and George G. Sill, the Old School Presbyterian church. In '36-7, Caleb North taught the first school for .slO per month.

Passage source: Documents and Biography Pertaining to the Settlement and Progress of Stark County, Illinois : Containing an Authentic Summary of Records, Documents, Historical Works and Newspapers Relating to Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization and Politics ..., published 1887.

Victoria Township, of Knox county, adjoins West Jersey on the west. In '35 the Fraziers, John Essex and Edward Brown made the first settlement, and following them came Moses Moody and Archibald Robinson ; William Overlander, John and Conrad Smith, Charles Bostic, John Arnold, P. Aldridge and H. Shurtliff. Sarah Robinson was the first Avhite child born there (Xovember It). "36). and Mrs. Frazier, who died in '37, the first death. In "36 Peter Sornberger and Phoebe Wilbur, were the parties to the first marriage ; G. F. Reynolds built the first house near the village in "37 ; P. Aldridge was the first justice in "37, and Charles Bostic, a local Methodist preacher, held the first religious services in '36. Salem schoolhouse, built in '37, was the first school ; J. L. Jarnag-han was the first supervisor in '53 ; Rev. S. G. Wright organized the first church in '51 ; the Swede Methodist church was built in '54; the Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist church, Mormon church, and Second Adventists all followed.

Passage source: Documents and Biography Pertaining to the Settlement and Progress of Stark County, Illinois : Containing an Authentic Summary of Records, Documents, Historical Works and Newspapers Relating to Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization and Politics ..., published 1887.

At this time the women would become entangled in tlie weed known as the devil's darning-needle, whenever they ventured out, or if escaping this, had to fly from the snakes, which were found everywhere. The men had their milling done at Ellisville, Bernadotte or Peoria for some time, and there, also, was their marketing done. Twenty-five cents a bushel was the ])rice of the best wheat, while calico sold for thirty-eight cents per yard. To escape the trials of going to mill, the old corn-mortar was brought into use. In 1836 Daniel Prince erected a log mill, 11x16 feet, at Shickwater, with a capacity of five bushels cracked corn per diem. Later, a distillery was connected with this concern. Some Spoon river men, enraged at the poor qualit}^ of the whisky produced, attacked the distillery part of the building one night, and put an end to the enterprise of Prince in this direction. The Barnett, Jones and Trickle mill, on Walnut creek, begun in 1838, was completed in 1839. Harvey Barnett hewed the timbers ; his brother Ephraim, Michael Jones and Stephen Trickle helped to erect it. Stephen Trickle l)ecame owner of this concern, whicli in later years was known as '^ Pound's Mill.'' In 1838-9 Stanton's mill, at Rochester, was erected and entered into fair competition with " Trickle's mill," doing away forever with the prospect of long journeys, delays, etc., attending the old-time "going to mill." The first j:eg.ular ball in West Jersey was at Joseph Palmer's, on Wain lit creelT, July 4, 1838. Palmer contracted to give dinner to twenty-one couples for forty-two dollars, provided that number presented themselves. Forty-six persons were present. Caleb North delivered the oration. Wm. Mason, then residing near Toulon, was the orchestra, for wiiich he was paid

Passage source: Documents and Biography Pertaining to the Settlement and Progress of Stark County, Illinois : Containing an Authentic Summary of Records, Documents, Historical Works and Newspapers Relating to Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization and Politics ..., published 1887.

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 West Jersey Township - it names this place 34 more 34 times.