Coldbrook Township

Coldbrook Township

LD BROOK TOWNSHIP, or the territory that is now embraced by it, was among the earliest that was settled in the county. As early as 1828, Peter Peckenpaugh, from Indiana, found his way up into this locality, and put down his stake for a

* families. The former located on section 31, and the latter on section 25. These pioneers were from Kentucky. They all had their families to brighten their pioneer firesides, and this gave them hope, courage and strength to put the axe into the timber, the plow-share into the virgin soil, and carve out homes for themselves and families.

If there is any one position in life more lonely than another, it is that of a man starting out in a new country all alone to make his fortune, without wife or children to assist him in building up a home; it would seem that his condition must be something akin to "Coleridge's Ancient Mariner" -

Peter Peckenpaugh died but a few years ago. His wife died in 1850. Mr. McFarland has only been dead a few years. Peter Butler, who figured quite extensively in the early history of the county, moved to Oregon, in 1853, where, after an active life, he died. He was one of the first County Commissioners. William Whitman and family, and Josiah Whitman, his brother, were the next to settle in the township, which was in the spring of 1829. They came from Kentucky and made claims upon section 32. William was a preacher of the Christian Church, and in those early days, charmed his hearers with his eloquence. He died at his home in 1838. Josiah Whitman was married to Hannah Davidson. He died near Monmouth in 1865. His widow is still living in this city. William Whitman's widow married Rev. Richard Johnson, who was also a minister of the Christian Church. They are both dead. Richard H. Ragland and family, of Kentucky, moved into the township at an early day, locating in the timber near Cedar Fork. This pioneer did not live long in his Western home,but passed on to the eternal one, dying in 1839. His widow survived him, nearly half a century, dying in 1885, at the old homestead. Their children are residing in the townsnip. In 1830, Aaron Hardin, from Schuyler Co., 111., came in and located on section 33. He left the county at an early day. John G. Haley, with his wife, Elizabeth, came in this year, and located their home on section 29. He was a very active and influential man, and an Elder in the Christian Church. He was quite prominent in the early days in county matters, and was at one time Sheriff of the county. He moved to Missouri in the fall of 1870, and died there some years later. His first wife, Elizabeth, died in 1847, at the old homestead. They had a family of seven children, three boys and four girls - Mary Jane, Henry, Edward. Eliza, Cynthia Ann and Thomas. Of these children three are living - Jane and Eliza in Warren County, and Thomas in California.

Mr. Haley married for his second wife, Mrs. Martha Whitman, "Aunt Patsey," who came from Kentucky, in 1831, locating on section 7. Her seven children were William C., S. Squire, Sally, C., John C.,Lucy A., Huldy A. and Christina J. They are all living except Huldy A and William C., and all in the county except S. Squire. Aunt Patsey is living with her daughter, Mrs. Hascall, on section 7, in Floyd Township, in her 891)1 year. She is still strong and hearty, and bids far to live many more years.

Of those who came after the pioneers above mentioned up to 1837, there were Phillip Homey, H. S. Hascall, Max Haley, P. R. Haley, Alva Gordon

Warren Coumty

David R. Shelton, Sr., with a family of 13 children, Edward Grounds, William Harper, Sr., Seth C. Murphy, Jacob Rust, David Morrow,William Fraymeyer, and Mrs. Claycomb and children, Henry and William Bruner, Thomas Wallace, Sr., William and Joseph Murphy, William Wallace, Alexander Moore, Nelson E. Hills, Thomas Griffee, Jesse Cleveland, Henry Landers, William and John Davidson, John Underwood, John P. Cone, b. S. Wallace and John E. Murphy. Thus a goodstart was made toward settling the township. They were an industrious, intelligent class of pioneers, and went to work with energy and perseverance to build up homes, develop the township and improve the country.

Seth C. Murphy taught the first school in the township, in a small log house on section 30, or in the "Neck." This was in 1832. Mr, Murphy died in the fall of 1836. Rev. William Whitman was the first preacher to entertain these pioneers with gospel eloquence, which was in the old town of Cold Brook, in 1831, the services being held in Peter Peckenpaugh's house. Alma Arasmith and Elizabeth Peckenpaugh led off in this township in the first ' matrimonial venture. This very interesting event, which created quite a sensation in this neighborhood, was duly solemnized on Christmas day, 1831, by Rev. William Whitman. Jacob Rust was the first man to embark in the mercantile business, which he did by opening a store in a log cabin in the town of Cold Brook. Jacob did not have an elaborate assortment of goods, nor was there much capital invested, but his little cabin store, as humble as it appeared, was a pleasing sight to those pioneers. A postoffice was opened at Cold Brook, in 1832, and Alva Gordon was the favorite son who held Uncle Sam's commission.

Thomas Wallace started the first saw mill in the township, about a mile north of Cold Brook, on Cedar Creek. This was one of the first mills in the county, and was started in the summer of 1832. Subsequently he put in a stone for grinding corn. Cold Brook received its name from some cold springs which were located near there. It was platted by John G. Haley.

In 1832, Mr. Haggett and John Bundy started a blacksmith shop here, which was the first in the township. At one time, Cold Brook was quite a town, and. a thriving trade carried on. The Brink & Walker stage line passed through the town. It was twelve miles from here to Knoxville and eight miles to Monmouth. Mr. Gordon served as Postmaster until 1840, when H. E. Haley was appointed. A. D. Hawkins succeeded him and was the last Postmaster in the town. Upon the completion of the railroad, Mr. Hawkins moved the office with his store to Cameron, where it was established in 1855. The starting of the town of Cameron broke the town of Cold Brook up, and the owners of the land there have had the good sense to convert the site into fields. If many of the other would-be towns in the county would follow the example of the town of Cold Brook, there would be many acres of good land put to a proper and beneficial use.

A sad accident occurred near this town in the early days (1838). Mat Dean and John Hardin were fishing in the mill pond. They were sitting on a log, one end of which lay on the bank and the other ran out into the pond. Dean suddenly had a fit and fell off the log into the water. Hardin seeing him go down, plunged in after him, and they - were both drowned. Singularly enough, their bodies were found some distance apart. Hardin's body was found a few hours after the accident, but that of Dean was not recovered until the next day, and not until after the pond had been dragged. It was found clinging witli knees and arms to the under side of the log upon which they had been sitting.

This township was organized April 4, 1854. The minutes of this meeting are imperfect, but we find that Philip Horney was chosen Moderator, and Joseph Stewart, Clerk. After the votes were polled, it was found that Benjamin F. Morey was elected Supervisor; J. S. Parker, Clerk; James McFarland, Assessor and Collector; Andrew Claycomb and B. F. Morey, Justices of the Peace; W. H. H. Claycomb, T. F. Taylor and B. S. Parker were elected Commissioners of Highways. It is .township 11 north of range i west, and is bounded on the north by Kelly, on the east by Knox County, on the south by Floyd and on the West by Monmouth Township.

The only village in the township is Cameron, situated on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, where some of the people do their trading.

their branches. Much of the township contains broad, rolling prairie, and some parts are rather broken. The land lying along and bordering the streams is very well timbered. Most of the farms are well cultivated and provided with good buildings. The farmers with but few exceptions are out of debt and prosperous. More attention is being given by the farmers to the raising of stock than was formerly done, and the production in this line is increasing every year.

The County Superintendent's reports for the year ending June 30, 1885, contains the following school items : There are eight school districts, one graded and seven ungraded schools, with a valuation of school property amounting to $6,400. All of the school-buildings are frame. Of persons under 21 years of age, there were 425, of whom 272 were of school age, and 252 were enrolled. The highest wages paid to teachers is $45 and the lowest $25 per month. The tax levy for this year was $2,170.

From the Assessor's report for the year 1885, the following information is obtained : Number of acres improved land, 22,439 ; value of improved land, $314,- 025; total value of lots, $3,375; number of horses, "922; cattle, 1,688; asses and mules, 37; sheep, 157; hogs, 3,249; steam engines, i; carriages and wagons, 308; watches and clocks, 197 ; sewing and knitting machines, 99 ; pianos, 7 ; melodeons and organs, 35. Total value of personal property, $708.02.

AMERON is located on the line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and principally in Floyd Township. After the route of this road was determined, Robert Cameron concluded that this would be a good locality to lay out a town. It was first platted Feb. 22, 1854, and was called Cameronville, and was located south of the track. There were a few people at least here who must have had great expectations regarding this town. Why they did so remains a mystery. We find it was platted again at two different times, once by Ivory Quinby and John H. Warren. This plat was filed Dec. 21, 1854, and was located on sections 32 and 33 in township ii north of range i west, containing 79 acres. It was surveyed by J. W. Adcock. Cameronville south of the railroad track was platted by Robert and Sarah Cameron, March 6, 1854, and was located on sections 5 and 6, township 10 north of range i west, and was also surveyed by J. W. Adcock. Waste's Addition to Cameron was platted July 13, 1855, and was located on section 4, township 10 north of range i west, and was surveyed by S. M. Moore.

Robert Cameron made another addition to Cameronviile, Aug. 2, 1856. Waste's addition lay east of the first plat and also extended across the railroad track into Cold Brook Township, and was called Cameron. This place, or noted village, is known in the sad years gone by, by travelers as a sort of a cross between a watering place and a harbor of refuge. It is not remembered, that anybody ever had the courage or audacity to accuse a traveler of voluntarily stopping, but he has been quietly or unceremoniously " dropped," by the conductors, to foot it back to Galesburg, and there wait for the next train to carry him on to his destination, giving him in the meantime ample opportunity to stretch his limbs, for which he left his car, and was left by it. The railroad officials corrected their management at Galesburg some years ago, and hence Cameron has gone down, not having any more unfortunate travelers to supply with cigars, cookies, crackers and cheese.

The first man to open a store here was A. B. Hawkins, who moved over from the old town of Cold Brook. The postoffice was established here after the railroad was completed, in February, 1855, and Mr. Hawkins was appointed postmaster. After this, the name of Cameron was united upon, and it has been known as such since that time. Edward Hunt followed Hawkins as postmaster, and served during President Buchanan's administration. Harrison Waste came in during the Republican administration of President Lincoln. He was followed by H. C. Higgin, H. H. Kelly, and E. Hart, who is the present postmaster. After the advent of the railroad, some houses from Galesburg opened business here. At one time it was quite a shipping point for grain, and it still receives most of the products from the western portions of Cold Brook and Floyd Townships, and some from the eastern parts of Lenox and Monmouth. The population, as estimated by S. T. Shelton last spring, is 306.

There is a general store carried on here by E. Hart, and one by L. T. Kelly. Robert Atkinson keeps harness and saddlery ; Temple & Son carry on the drug business ; E. W. Rowe has also a general store.

The Christian Church is the same society that was organized at Peter Peckempaugh's on section 30, April 30, 1831, and is one of the first church organizations in the county. The first members were among the first settlers of the county. As they were somewhat historical, their names are given below: William Whitman, Sarah Whitman, Julia A. Whitman, Henry C. Haley, Elizabeth Haley, John C. and Francis Murphy, John G. Haley, Richard H. Ragland, Nancy Ragland, Wm. M. and Elizabeth Davidson, Josiah Whitman, Elijah Davidson, Sr., Margaret Davidson, Sr.,and Margaret Davidson, Jr., Elijah Davidson, Jr. Six of the above members are still living: Julia A. Whitman, now Mrs. Davidson; Elizabeth Haley, now Mrs. Jones ; Francis Murphy, now living in Oregon; Margaret Davidson, Jr., also in Oregon; Elijah Davidson, Jr., in Oregon; and Elizabeth Davidson, now Mrs. Lucas, and living at Abingdon. This church was constituted upon the belief that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice, and sufficient for the government of 'the Church. They erected their first church building at Savanna, afterward called Cold Brook, which was completed in 1839. Rev. Wm. Whitman was their first pastor. Before their church building was constructed, meetings were held in school houses and in private families. This society at one time numbered over 200 members. In 1851 many of its members went to Oregon, enough to form quite a congregation there. The place where they settled was called Monmouth, after the town in Warren County. In 1860, Cameron having become a thriving railroad town, and the business of

Cold Brook having been transferred to that place, it was decided to move the church also. Accordingly an edifice was put up at Cameron, at a cost of $2,300. In an early day the people attended this church from far and near ; from Abingdon, Monmouth, Ellison, Gerlaw, etc. Among the preachers that have served this church are : Revs. Wm. Whitman, Alexander Reynolds, James R. Ross, Livy Hatchett, John Rigdon, (cousin of Sidney Rigdon of Mormon fame), William Davenport, A. J. Kane, Isaac Murphy, John G. Haley, Josiah Whitman, Alex Johnson, L. S. Wallace, . J. S. Edwards, John E. Murphy, and T. H. Goodnight, now in Kansas. Some pf these early preachers are still living. When the church had no regular pastors, Elder S. T. Shelton, one of Cold Brook's most prominent and favored citizens, would preach to the congregation. Recently they have secured the services of Rev. Charles Laycock, a talented young preacher. They have now about 125 members with a large and interesting Sabbath-school. This society is prosperous and is doing good work in the Christian field of labor.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in J 1856 ; M. B. .Morey and wife, J. B. Porterfield and wife, Benjamin Tinkham and wife, and William P.J Crosby and wife, constituted the first members. Their building was erected in 1857, at a cost of $1,300. This building was burned in Sept. 1877. A new edifice was erected in 1883, and was dedicated July ist, the same year. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Revs. George W. Palmer, pastor, and Thomas H. Pryon. It is a neat frame structure, costing about $3,000, with a seating capacity of probably 250 persons. They have a good parsonage, which cost $1,000. Rev. J. B. Snedaker is the present pastor who presides over about 60 members. In connection with the society is an interesting Sabbath-school with about 45 members.

The First Baptist Church. A number of the members of this church assembled June 30, 1866, for the purpose of perfecting an organization. Rev. J. N. Talman of Monmouth preached the sermon, when Rev. H. H. Parks was called to the chair. J. N. Talman was chosen clerk pro tern. Letters were presented by D. F. Smith, C. C. Manford and F. G. Manford. Several others gave their names and de- clared themselves in favor of uniting as soon as they could receive letters from their former churches. After this, articles of faith were adopted. Rev. John Ballon was the first pastor. The church was completed and dedicated in August, 1869. Rev. Balton terminated his labors with the church, March 4, 1871. He was followed by J. K. Pennington, who remained until 1878, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. G. Kent, who served until 1880. Rev. T. W. Jones then took charge and remained for a while, when he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Depperman. At present the society is without a pastor, but occasionally they have services at the church.

Cameron has a fair graded school. It is a union district from Floyd and Cold Brook. Before the consolidation in 187 1, they had separate schools and school buildings. After the districts were united, a good two-story building was erected for school purposes. Miss Libbie Regnieris the present principal, and Miss Kate Boggles, assistant, with an average attendance of 75 pupils.