Bunker Hill Township

Bunker Hill Township

Union Gazette, January, 1866-69; established by A. W. Edwards and conducted by him as a republican paper until January, 1867, when he sold to A. R. Sawyer and F. Y. Hedley, who made it independent in politics. Sawyer died in 1868 and the paper again became republican under Hedley. The name was changed to

Gazette, 1869; F. Y. Hedley continued as editor and proprietor until January, 1878, when W. S. Silence became publisher. Said and Poorman leased the paper in January, 1879. Later Phil C. Hansen edited the paper for a stock company of local merchants, who bought it about 1895. Hansen bought the stock later and sold in 1903 to W. B. Powell, then running the news (established 1900), who combined the two as Gazette-News, an independent paper. He sold to Edward Wilson in 1904, who a year later sold to T. H. Truesdale, the present editor and publisher. Independent republican.

The site on which the present town of Bunker Hill is located was once a prairie, known as Wolf ridge, from the fact that it was frequented by wolves. The earliest inhabitants of this section were the Peoria, Kickapoo and Winnebago Indians, who had a camping ground northeast of the present town of Bunker Hill. In 1826 the last of these tribes left here and moved farther west.

The first entry of land of which we have any record was made by William Jones. He secured eighty acres on section 33, on the 3ist of July, 1827. Howard Finley entered eighty acres on section 21, January 25, 1830, and Alexander Conley entered one hundred and sixty acres on section 29, March 17, 1830.

Among the earliest settlers here was John Cooper, a native of Tennessee, who built a house on section 28, and here developed a farm. In the year 1825 Howard Finley and Daniel Branscomb settled on the east side of the east fork of Wood river, and as above stated, the former entered land here in 1830. Mr. Finley was a native of Tennessee. He built a cabin on his land and later erected a more modern dwelling on the southeast quarter of section 21, in which he made his home for many years. His death occurred in Greene county, this state.

The year 1827 witnessed the arrival of James Breden, who was the first justice of the peace in the township, holding the office for more than twenty years. Simeon Jones may also be classed among the first settlers in this township. He was born and reared in Madison county, this state, and after coming to Bunker Hill township, served for many years as school treasurer.

In 1830 Jonathan L. Wood also settled here, as did also Benjamin Davis, and his sons, Jefferson, Isaac, Alfred and David. They came to this state from Tennessee but had formerly lived in North Carolina.

James Wood settled here in 1831, establishing his home on section 30. His sons, Samuel, David B. and James E., eventually became prominent residents of this section of the county.

William McPike, a Tennesseean by birth, came here in 1831 and became a prominent citizen. His death occurred after a residence here of many years. Mrs. Millie Bayless and her sons, Reese, John, George arid Daniel, came here in 1831. Reese and John were prominently connected with the old militia, the former holding the position of colonel, while the latter attained the rank of adjutant. Both served in the Black Hawk war.

In that locality known as Corneilson mound, or sometimes called "Tickey" mound, on section 29, the first settlers were Daniel Littrel, Alexander Conley, John Murphy, Charles Collyer and Finley and Moses Jones.

In the vicinity of the Springfield road the first settlements were made by William, Isaac, Alfred, James and Ephraim Wood, Anthony Linder, George Rowland, Elijah Lincoln, Dr. Budden, Samuel Buell and Charles Goodnight. Dr. Budden was the first man to practice medicine in the township.

In 1833 Messrs. Tuttle and Lincoln laid out a town two miles south of the present site of Bunker Hill and named the place Lincoln. However, a log cabin and a frame house marked the farthest progress to which the town ever attained. This was later converted into a farm by J. V. Hopper.

In 1833 a postoffice was established and called Lincoln, the first postmaster being Anthony Linder. He was succeeded by a Mr. Cook, while in 1837 Samuel Buell took charge of the office. In November of the latter year the postoffice was transferred to Bunker Hill. Nathaniel Phillips was the first postmaster appointed after the removal of the office to Bunker Hill. Josiah Richards acted as assistant. In 1837 a postoffice was also established in Woodburn.

Moses Jones built the first mill in the township on section 33, on the east side of Wood river. It was operated by ox power. Dr. Budden shortly afterward erected the second mill on the prairie, a mile southwest of Bunker Hill.

The first schoolhouse was erected on section 21 but it was later moved to section 22. A Mr. Richardson was the first teacher and he was succeeded by Josiah B. Harris. In 1831 a schoolhouse was erected on section 20, on land belonging to John T. Wood, John Wilson, Jesse Wood and Aaron Leyerley were among the earliest teachers of the township.

.: ' Elder William Jones, a Baptist, preached the first sermon in the schoolhouse which stood on section 21. Alexander Conley was the first resident minister in the township. Rev. Gimlin was also a pioneer minister here. He was also of the Baptist faith. The first church was erected by the "hard shell" Baptists on section 33, while the second in the township was built by the Congregational people at Woodburn.

The first couple to be married in the township was Finley Jones and Mary Conley and the second was Daniel Branscomb and a Miss Gregg. John Finley was the first child born in Bunker Hill township.

Bunker Hill

The city of Bunker Hill lies in th eastern part of Bunker Hill township, which is one of the southern tier of townships. In March, 1836, Messrs. True