Brenton Township

Brenton Township

This township was at one time a part of Stockton Township, the latter being organised when Fora was a part of Vermilion County, and at that time comprised the present townships of Rogers, Mona, Pella, Bren ton and Lyman.

The name of Stockton was changed to Brenton March 7, 1864, and embraced the townships of Lyman, Brenton and Pella. As the country became more thickly settled, Lyman and Pella were set off, leaving the present township of Brenton, which com¬ prises thirty-six sections of land.

In 1856, John R. Lewis, Mark Parsons and S. Standish were the first permanent settlers of the township. Mr. Lewis built the first house in the township, which is still standing on the northwest corner of Section 22. In the fall of 1856, reter Van Antwerp, Qeorge Binford, W. T. Reed, John E. Davis, T. W. Pope, Frederick Chambers, the Jeffreys and A. J. Bartlett came. In 1857, came the Cross and McKinney families, Ira Z. Condon, W. W. Wicks, Aaron Schofield and Conrad Volp. In 1858, Joseph Davis, L. T. Bishop, Thomas Hahn, Jacob Titus, Merritt Free, Peter Rouse and Benjamin Hobbis sottled here. In 1860 came William L. Conrow, M. P. Sherwood, James Free, T. Jones; and in 1863, Jacob Lippincott, W. S. Thompson, Henry Patterson, Robert Wilson, D. E. Middleton and Joseph Carpenter.

The first birth in Brenton was Hattie B., daughter of A. J. Bartlett, on the 14th day of June, 1857. The second birth was a son of John R. Lewis, August 4; and, August 26, Mark Parsons was blessed with a son.

The first death was Capt. Mack, who, with his young wife, came to Illinois from the East in search of a better climate for his health, but, growing worse instead of better, he sold out his property to W. W. Wicks and started for his Eastern home. He got as far as Onarga, where he died and was buried. The first marriage in the new settlement was in 1859, between Charles Phelps and Miss Mary A. Davis.

There were regular religious meetings held at settlers' houses every Sunday, being conducted principally by A. McKinney, Robert Hall and Henry Atwood.

The first schoolhouse built was the Wagner Schoolhouse, in the southeast quarter of Section 28. There are now nine school buildings in the township, and one in the village of Piper City, employing four teachers, with an average* attendance of 200 scholars.

The railroad through this township was built in 1857, first called the Eastern Extension of the Peoria k Oquawks Railroad, afterward the Logansport, Peoria k Burlington, tnen shortly after changed to the Toledo, Peoria k Warsaw, and now the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad. It runs in an east and west direc¬ tion across the north tier of sections of this township.

Piper City

Piper City is the principal village in the Pan Handle, and the third village in population in Ford County. It was laid out in Sec¬ tion 4, Brenton Township, by H. J. Howe, County Surveyor, for Dr. William A. Piper, of Philadelphia, Penn., and Samuel Cross, of Chicago, in 1867, and contains about 750 inhabitants. The village lies on both sides of the Wabash Railroad. It has a fine school building, four ohurches, one hotel, two newspapers - the Advertiter and Advocate - a bank, four general stores, two hard¬ ware stores, one lumber yard, three elevators, one creamery, one livery stable, one agricultural warehouse, two drug stores, two wagon and three blacksmith shops, and many other minor indus¬ tries incidental to a thriving, prosperous village.

Soon after Dr. Piper and J. A. Montelius opened a general store. The post office was established in John K. Lewis' house, and he was appointed first Postmaster. The first station agent was John Allen. The station was then called New Brenton. The United Presbyterian Church was built in 1869. The next

Ford, County, Illinois

The Piper City Dairy Association was incorporated in 1881, with Joseph Burger, President; J. A. Montelius, Secretary and Treasurer; E. H. Brooks, Manager; and Joseph Burger, J. A. Montelius, E. H. Brooks, John McKinney, Columbus Jennings, John Clark and B. F. Church, Directors. This creamery is located 6n the east side of the village, and the butter manufact¬ ured is about twenty tons per year, which is mostly sold in New Orleans at a price varying from 20 to 85 cents a pound. Their water supply is from an artesian well, which is constantly running. They use horse-power to do the churning. In summer, they churn four times a day, in winter about eight times a week. They go around among the farmers collecting the cream, which isplaced in large cans holding about twenty-five gallons each. They have about 1,000 of these cans scattered through their milk distriet.

John R. Lewis was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., June 6, 1828, where he lived until April 16, 1850. He spent his childhood years upon a farm and attending school. One of his schoolmates was the Hon. A. H. Prescott, now Judge of Her r kimer County, N. Y. Mr. Lewis taught school several winters, and then came West in 1856, and settled in this township, being the first permanent settler. Mark Parsons came one day later. Mr. Lewis has been one of' the most active and enterprising men in this county ; he practically sold most of- the lands in Brenton and Pella Townships as agent for the Illinois Central Railroad lands. He was the first Justioe of the Peace, first Police Mag¬ istrate, third Supervisor and first Postmaster of Piper City. He has seen the ups and downs of life, and is still foil of vim and energy, and is much respected and liked wherever known.

The second permanent settler of Brenton was Mark Parsons, who was born in Bennington, Vt., May 18, 1828, where he lived until seventeen years of age, working on a farm in the summer, and attending school during the winter. When about Iwentythree years old, he married Miss Jane E. Crossett, and with his young wife, moved to Will County, Ill. In 1856, he came to Ford County and settled in this township. He built his house on the southwest quarter of Section 84. Mr. Parsons has held many positions of trust in this county, and is looked upon as an honorable man and prominent citisen. He is now living in Piper City.

Archibald McKinney was born in Ireland May 2, 1802, where he lived until 1848, when he emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia. He worked in a factory there for ten years. In 1858, he came to Ford County, settling on Section 20 of this township. Mr. McKinney was married in 1882. He has four children living, vis.: John, in hardware and lumber business in Piper City; Joseph, in the same business in Kempton, and two daughters, Rachael and Margaret. Seven children are deceased. Mr. McKinney has done much good for the peo¬ ple of Brenton. He was an active worker in building the churches in this township and organising the different societies. This pioneer is now over eighty years old, having accomplished a life work that is an honor to his name, and justly entitled to the respect of all.

John McKinney, son of Archibald McKinney, was born in Ireland in 1888. He came to this country with his parents in 1848. Mr. McKinney learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at it for many years. When Piper City was started, he moved from his home in Brenton Township and went into the lumber business, and in course of time started a hardware store, which he is now conducting with good sucoess. The subject of our sketch has a pleasant home in the village, is an active member of the Meth¬ odist Church, a man of large and comprehensive views, alive to every work and enterprise that promotes the interest or improve¬ ment of his town.

William Carpenter was born in Rhode Island February 22, 1811, where he lived continuously for fifteen years; then moved to Herkimer County, N. Y. Here he lived until 1867; then moved to Ford County, and settled in Brenton Township, on his present form south of Piper City. In 1888, he married Ann Elisa Randall, a,native of Rhode Island. They have six chil¬ dren. He now lives in an excellent home in the village, and is mach respected by all.

Abner McLaughlin came to this township in 1861, and set¬ tled on Section 5. In 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret McKinney, daughter of Archibald McKinney, an old settler of this township. Mr. McLaughlin used to teach school in winter and work on his farni in the summer. He has been School Treasurer for many years, and always takes an active in¬ terest in all public enterprises.

Samuel D. Culbertson, physician and surgeon, was born in Cumberland County, Penn., September 5, 1889. Here he lived for twelve years, attending school and helping on a form. When eighteen years old, he began teaching school, and taught until the war broke out, when he joined the army. After the war, he began the study of medicine, and in 1866 graduated from the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He came to Piper City in 1867*-und began the practice of his chosen profession, in which he has met .with success. He has one of the finest resi¬ dences in the village; is also engaged in the drug business. Dr. Culbertson was married in 1866 to Miss Clara Kate Culver. They have four children living. The Doctor is a wide-awake, pushing man, a great help to the village of Piper City, and an honored and respected citisen of the county.

Joseph Barger, farmer, and Supervisor of Brenton, was born in Baden, Germany. He came to this county in 1868, settling on Section 2, this township. He now owns a good farm of 280 acres in this township; he is considered one of the best formers of the county. In 1876, he was elected Supervisor of Brenton Township, which office he still continues to fill with satisfaction to all.

John C. Culver was born in Cumberland County, Penn., in May, 1848. In 1865, he went to Cincinnati, thence to Leav¬ enworth, Kan., and to the Indian Territory, riding pony express from Fort Wallis to Denver; then was Government scoot through Southern Kansas, Indian Territory and New Mexico. He served under William F. Cody (" Buffalo Bill "), he being .chief scout. After being there several years, he came back and settled in Piper City, and went into the drug business. In 1880. he sold out and engaged in the grain business in this village. Mr. Cul¬ ver was Coroner of Ford County for two years. In 1872, he married Clara D. Fairley, of Lyman Township. They have two children.

James P. McDanel, the efficient Town Clerk of Brenton, was born in Butler County, Ohio, where he lived until ten years old; then came with his parents to Illinois. In 1862, he married Miss Kate Huddleson, of Randolph County, III. Whenhecame to Piper City, he engaged in the hardware and furniture busi¬ ness. He soon sold out, and began forming and teaching. He has been Town Clerk for many years, and enjoys the entire con¬ fidence of the people.

Henry Allnutt, publisher and proprietor of the Piper City Advertieer , is a native of England. He came to Ford County, and located on a farm in Pella Township in 1869. In 1878, he moved to town, and soon after started the Advcrtieer , which he still continues to publish. He married Adda, daughter of Joseph Carpenter.

Ephraim H. Brooks was born in Steuben County, N. Y. f in 1837, where he lived for eleven years; then moved to Livingston County, N. Y., where he attended school and helped in his father s store until 1857, when he came to Woodford County, Ill. In the spring of 1861, settled in Brenton Township, Section 6, and began farming. Six years ago he came to Piper City, and began work in the creamery, of which he is now the manager. He was married to Miss Elisabeth Russell in 1868. They have four children.

Conrad Rohrbach is a native of Germany, where he was born February 27, 1321. He lived there until thirteen years old, then came to this country and settled iu Tasewell County, Ill., where he remained for about fifteen years. In 1859, he located on Section 26, Brenton Township. In 1843, he mar¬ ried Annie May Dingledine. They have been blessed with three children. Mr. R. now resides in Pij»er City, but owns one-half section of land in Brenton Township.

James McBride, former, was born in Ireland in 1842; soon after, he came with his parents to Belmont County, Ohio, where he lived until the breaking-out of the war, when he enlisted and served until its close. He was honorably discharged at Washing¬ ton, D. C., and returned to the peaceful pursuits of a former s life. In the spring of 1869, he came to Ford County, and set¬ tled where he now lives, on Section 31, on a fine farm of 400 acres. In 1869, he married Mias Clara Strank. They have three children.

Michael Cross was born in England in 1830. He remained there for twenty-four years, working at the blacksmith trade. In 1854, he came to America, and two years later settled in this township. Mr. Cross now resides on Section 18. He was mar¬ ried in 1867 to Catharine Mitchinson, and six children have been born to them.

William Corey, stock-raiser and former, was born in Wash ington County, R. I., in 1824. He came to La Salle County in 1865, and to Brenton Township in 1867, and settled on the north¬ west quarter of Section 17, where he has a pleasant home and a a fine form. In 1859, he married Miss Ruth Wilcox, and five children have been born to them.

Thomas Cue is a native of England, where he was born Au¬ gust 12, 1836. In 1858, he oame to America^ and settled in Woodford County, Ill. He lived there till 1870, when he came and settled in Brenton Township. In 1871* he was united in marriage with Victoria Airowsmith, and three children have been born to them.

John C. Steen, former on Section 15, was born in Adams County, Ohio, in 1887. In 1863, he moved to La Salle County, Ill., where he remained several years; then moved to Chatsworth, and in 1878 came to his present home in Brenton Township. In 1868, he was married to Alice E. Moore, and four children have been born to them, two of whom are living.

John Goodman was born in Huntingtonshire, England, July, 1818. He oame to this country in 1852, and settled in Erie County, Ohio; after living there four years, he moved to Ford County, Ill., and settled on Section 30. He lived there until a few years since, when he gave up farming and moved into the village of Piper City. In 1852, he married Sarah Bellamy, of England. They have four children.