Chambersburg Township

Chambersburg Township

This town has had her celebrities, as 'Benj. Metz, once a worthy member of the Illinois Legislature; Jack Morris, James Johns, the whole and numerous race of Metz junior, and also the abounding family of Ham. This family cannot realize the joke of Lord Bacon to one Hog, who claim- ed kin to his Lordship; the Judge's reply was, "You are not bacon until you are hung," and he then sentenced him to be hung. The Hams are too honest to swing so high.

Part of the plan proposed for the preservation and embodiment of the history of the county is through reports from the respective townships of local matters, of the biographies of men of repute. This should cover all the matters and individuals not embraced in the general sketch of the county now submitted.

Pittsfield, as the county seat, is so interwoven with the county at large that more space is given to the sketch of men in this locality than to others.

The historian now announces to the audience and the public that if any subjects or individuals of note have not been introduced, it is not through an intention to slight any such, but has been owing to the short space of time allowed to work up this interesting field of labor, covering a space of fifty-five years. The history not being closed, in fact, suggestions will be thankfully received as to any additions proper to be made; if communicated in writing, action will be taken upon them.

General Topic

Pike county has almost been the mother of states to the west or Illinois. Having a pioneer population of an enterprising turn, large numbers have emigrated together to Oregon, Texas and California and other remote points, following the star of empire. Many estimable farmers have gone further east in Illinois and settled in the prairie counties who once lived in Pike.

The health of this county is almost invariably good, excepting in lowlands, where some malarious disease comes on at times. Long levity exists to a marked degree, and children fairly swarm. Prosperity and fine crops are the general results of industry.

In 1833, when Pittsfield came into being, mails, once, then thrice weekly, were wonders. No newspapers existed for many years; elsewhere we give the report of the rise and fall of newspapers. Church buildings were not erected, but came in apace with population; we now have nearly all known religions extant in the United States; these generally have houses of worship, some of them of fair appearance. The Methodist Episcopal has the highest steeple. We do not quite fill Dean Swift's des cription: "High church, low steeple, dirty streets and proud people."

At present we have two banks, one National, under the acts of Congress, the other has an old state charter. Griggsville and Barry also have each a bank.

Pittsfield'S Early Settlers

It is said impartial history is not written of the living or of current events. We now come to the sketch of many early settlers yet in life: we do not speak in terms of eulogy for the re :son that they may hear these remarks; the families of the departed have heard the preceding, and we say that we have not set down anything in malice, and have not spoken through favor. We will not enumerate, as we cannot in the time name all the marked people of Pittsfield and the vicinity, but take those who filled a large space for many years in public estimation.

Mrs. Nancy M. Heath, who came in the first years of Pittsfield, is a native of Ohio, a ward in childhood of Governor McArthur of that state; she is venerable for her years, feeble in health, but of great endurance. She has witnessed many of the trials and active scenes of western life; her narrative of events, as told by her in person at an "Old Settlers" meeting, was very interesting. She has outlived many relatives and friends. Mrs. Heath and daughter, afterwards Mrs. A. V. Wills, kept one of the earliest schools in the county, and likely the first in Pittsfield.

Thomas Worthington, M. D., yet in life, was the earliest resident physician of Pittsfield; he came in 1833. For a long time he was not outranked by any in his profession here, and while his health permitted had a lucrative practice and was successful and popular. He was for one term a State Senator from Pike.

Merrill E. Rattan, the first postmaster of Pittsfield, long since dead, was also Probate Judge in Pike; he kept a hotel on the same lot on which the "Oregon House" stands.

William Watson, once a Probate Judge, and his wife, are yet with us, advanced in years. Mrs. Watson, long a sufferer, but once a model housekeeper in the Mansion House, and a sincere friend. Mr. Watson is daily seen, six days in the week, with chums enjoying checkers in his old home, the "Mansion House Hotel." As a business man he was ever foremost, and by his industry, economy and honesty, he accumulated a handsome property.

Robert R. Greene, who, with his cousin, Austin Barber, opened and carried on the evrliest large store in Pittsfield, yet survives; his health long troubled him. He was an industrious, superior business man. Mrs. Greene was one of the earliest and highly respected school teachers.

Austin Barber, in his day the merriest of the gay, honest as the day is long, was for a period County Clerk. He left well written records, in all particulars clean.

Henry T. Mudd, honored of late often in Missouri, was a boy here. He is a first-class business man and early excelled in energy. He was when a boy deputy in the post office and afterwards was County Clerk of Pike.

The Post Office At Pittsfield

This, from its central position and as a distributing office, has been a marked office. Many individuals have filled the position of Postmaster. Of Rattan and Crane we have spoken, and of Colonel D. B. Bush. Mr. Porter Bennett and his father, Lucius Bennett, the latter as acting postmaster for many terms and at present. Mrs. Louisia Gilmer was appointed by President Grant and filled the office very acceptably until her death. Miss Lizzie Gilmer, daughter of her predecessor and of the late gallant Col. D. Harvey Gilmer, is now the incunrbent of this office; the duties of the office are faithfully discharged.

Although a delicate matter for this historian to write as to relatives, yet it would be far from complete unless record wasi made as to worthy relatives.

John U. Grimshaw settled near Pittsfield in- 1834 and afterwards moved to town and for many years was an active merchant exemplary in his life and business, a true friend, a man of great intelligence, he has long departed to the better land. He was a cousin of this writer.

and much beloved and was a leading member of the Bar ,of the State; he died in Quincy in December, 1885. He was a beloved younger brother of the writer.

This county has sent many sons and daughters to adorn society in the larger cities ami to carry the beauty and order of civilized life to distant states and ' territories. We cannot particularize all who have gone out from us. St. Louis has energetic business men and physicians who owe to Pike county their earliest training.

Who among the early settlers but remembers that quiet, unobtrusive man, Jacob Hodgen, father of Dr. John Hodgen, and the benevolent member and leader in his, the Christian Church.

Amongst our sons departed to other fields of glory were Messrs. O. M. Hatch and Alexander Starne, both residents of Griggsville, then of Pittsfield, each ran about the same career in Pike, (both were Clerk of the Circuit Court and members of the Legislature from Pike county, both have held the office of Secretary of State of Illinois, and are now residents of Springfield in prosperous circumstances. Mr. Starne recently has been a State Senator from his district. They are yet in the vigor of manhood.

Major James Tolbert, an old Virginian, he was an officer in the 17th Illinois Militia at an early day. He left a numerous respected family, and was himself a substantial farmer and upright man.

Horace Horton, yet in life, was an old sea captain, a very "Jolly tar" from the state of Connecticut, an energetic man. He settled in 1832 above Rockport and still resides there.

Lyman Scott, an early settler, married a daughter of Leonard Ross. He was for a time one of the owners of a former mill at Rockport, he was a pushing businessman and removed early to Kansas and is dead.

The Meredith and Neely settlements near the Illinois river, now Detroit township, were composed of ?everal southern families, old settlers, prior to the location of Pittsfield.

John Lyster. at t'mes a Justice of the Peace, died recently in that settlement, of which he was an early and respected citizen and was often on the Grand Jury.

David Dutton, of the vicinity of Pleasant Vale, long deceased, was a very early and active farmer and became a wealthy mm, a warm friend, peculiar in his ways so is to be eccentric.

At Bayville, Dr. Hezekiah Dodge, an early practitioner of medicine, was from Virginia. He was a good study for a painter; he was, as one described John Randolph, 'long, lean and lank, and moved upon a spindle shank.' He was respectably connected, and left numerous descendants who are highly esteemed. A son-in-law of his, Mr. Ferguson, was once County Surveyor of Pike and a good citizen and officer.

The brothers Belus and Egbert Jones were old settlers. Belus was never a lawyer, but a pettifogger, he hung on to Lord Coke (J. W. Whitney) like a bobtail to n kite. At court time is was said; "No court till Coke and Belus come*"

Early Settlers In Other Parts Of Pike

Fearful that township histories may not be forthcoming, we sketch hastily the following, as the history is partial and incomplete unless memorial is preserved of the other meritorious persons whose names follow.

Source changes here: from With The Colors in Pike County, Illinois, by The Barry Record, published 1920; 940 words in this source stream.

Chambersburg Township

The Chambersburg Branch of the Pike County Chapter, American Red Cross, was organized, with the assistance of County Chairman Geo. C. Weaver, in June, 1917. Mrs. W. A. Lidgard was elected chairman, and Mrs. Mame Pool treasurer. We had only ten names for our charter, but the branch grew 'and at one time had 266 members. It also became very active in all the branches of work that were done by the Red Cross. We paid to Pittsfield for yarn, outing flannel and for other general expenses, $649.69. We have a balance in the Chambersburg bank of $655.84, which money was raised by various means, such as the big July Fourth sale in 1918, and by serving dinners at public sales.

We did all kinds of work asked by the Council of Defense, registration of women, and child welfare work. After the work for the American Army was over, we did much sewing for the Belgian Relief. Mrs. Lidgard was chairman through the first and second Red Cross drives. In the second drive our apportionment was $500, and we raised $473. This made a total of $1,798.53 which was raised by the Branch during its work.

The El Dara Branch of the Pike County Red Cross Chapter was organized Aug. 11, 1917, with a membership of 50, and the officers elected were: Chairman, Rev. J. D. Dabney; vice-chairman, Rev. J. D. Shooh; secretary, Mrs. Bert Boyd; treasurer, Wm. Easley. Charley Robinson was selected as the fifth member of the Executive Board. In September, 1917, Rev. Shooh was transferred to another field and the Rev. A. E. Thomas, who received the appointment here, was elected to fill the vacancy, becoming vice-chairman January 29, 1918. Wm. Easley resigned as treasurer and Mrs. J. D. Morehead was elected to fill this vacancy. *

On September 20, 1917, two standing committees were appointed. P. A. Moyer, Charley Robinson, Mary Easley and Grace Taylor were made the soliciting committee; Mrs. Lola Chamberlain, Mrs. Elizabeth Henry, Mrs. Dee Wallace, Mrs. Iva Hurst and Miss Neva Shannahan constituted the work room committee. Mrs. Lola Chamberlain, being the chairman of the committee, became superintendent of the work room; Mrs. Henry superintendent of the knitting; Mrs. Dee Wallace superintendent of the cutting, and Mrs. Iva Hurst superintendent of the purchasing committee. The directors and superintendents associated with them such assistants as were especially interested in the various departments of the work. The marvelous success of the El Dara Branch attests the fidelity of the women.

At the last meeting, which was held March 5, 1919, there was a balance in the treasury of $542.21. There is also some material on hand, and the Branch is ready for any emergency which may arise. At this last meeting the officers were elected as follows: Chairman, Rev. A. E. Thomas; vice-chairman, Rev. J. D. Dabney; secretary, Mrs. CATS: Robinson; treasurer, Mrs. J. D. Morehead. The chairman and vice-chairman have both left El Dara since that time, but a committee has been selected to act with the secretary and treasurer in case -of an emergency. The committee is: Mrs. Ray Ownby, Mrs. L. W. Chamberlain, Mrs. Elizabeth Henry and Mrs. Dee Wallace.

Fish Hook

The Fish Hook Branch of the Red Cross was organized September 25, 1917, the following officers elected and department heads appointed: Chairman, J. E. Collins; vicechairman, A. B. Bowman; secretary, Dr. W. F. Bowman; treasurer, Mrs. Mary Henthorn; member of County Executive Board, Mrs. Emma Potter; member of County Board of Directors, Mrs. Carrie Davis; superintendent of work room, Mrs. Lena Bowman; chairman of knitting department, Mrs. Geo. Kistner; chairman of cutting department, Mrs. Julia Bowman; inspector of work, Mrs. Mary Henthorn; shipper, Mrs. Myrtle Faris.

There was but one drive during our period of war activities, or at least our books show but one in which we participated. In the drive of August, 1918, we secured $132.33, which was turned over to the authorized agents of the county organization.

We should not fail to state that the I. O. O. F. Lodge furnished us with fuel and gave us the free use of the lodge hall for a work room. The Red Cross workers of Fish Hook were very faithful in attendance. The branch had 196 yearly members, but no life members.

The Chambersburg Unit of the Woman's Committee, C. N. D., was organized June 6, 1918, with the following officers : Chairman, Mrs. E. B. Tolbert; vice-chairman, Mrs. 0. Dennis; secretary, Mrs. Ed. Pool; treasurer, Mrs. Ben Elliston.

The chairman of Women's Registration was Mrs. E. B. Tolbert, assisted by Mrs. Minter Metz, Mrs. Lloyd Taylor, Miss Flora Newton. One hundred and forty women were registered.

The Liberty Loan Committee was composed of Mrs. E. B. Tolbert, chairman, and Mrs. Claud Orr, Mrs. Frank Lower and Mrs. Minnie Hazelrigg. Bonds to the amount of $12,600 were sold.

Cincinnati being a very small township, both in area and population, and having no community center, we did the best possible with very little organization. School district chairmen were appointed as follows: Mrs. Ella Vincent, Mrs. Lizzie Malone, Mrs. Lizzie Constable, Mrs. Grace Smith, Mrs. Sophronia Brammell and Miss Nora Godfrey. To these women a great deal of the credit for what the township did is due.

There were only a very few women in the township who did. not register for war work. We subscribed our quota for the Girls' Educational Fund, and solicited funds to support a French orphan for one year. Quite a sum was also raised for the Armenian Relief Fund. I also spent some time soliciting for the Liberty Loan Drives and the United War Work Campaign.