Council Hill Township

Council Hill Township

The hill from which this township and village are named, received its appellation from the Indian Councils which were held there in olden times. The land is high, rolling, and, in some parts, very broken. Being within the mining region, it was inhabited by white men at a very early date. Much difficulty has been experienced in securing accurate and reliable information concerning the scattered inhabitants before the year 1828.

Patrick Hogan, who had been engaged in mercantile business at St. Louis, came to the lead mines in 1825, and laid out a claim near Council Hill Diggings, which had then been known for many years to the Indians and a few white miners. In 1826, Ezekiel Lockwood built there a furnace - the first one in the township. Mr. Lockwood afterwards (1828) engaged in business at Galena with his brother, J. H., going from there to Dubuque.

Being near Galena, Council Hill had very few permanent settlers until 1835. It is inferred from a review of the Miners' Journal of i828-*9, that the miners went there for mining purposes but still considered Galena as their headquarters. Among these earlier inhabitants were Jonathan Hilliard, William

Before the Black Hawk War Mr. Bowles had built a cabin at Horse Shoe Bend (on the Galena River), just below the present Millbrig Mill. At the same time he erected a saw mill on the Small Pox River, on land that is now included in Rice Township. In 1832, but three cabins stood on the site of Council Hill Village. Mr* Hilliard and Mr. Hughes first established saloons where Council Hill now stands, soon after the Black Hawk War. At this time saloons seem to have been very profitable investments. Mr. Barrows added one to the number, and in 1838, Mr. Brenton and Richard Arthur opened saloons, in connection with which some other goods were sold, but no regular store was operated until 1849, when Simon Alderson established a store, which was purchased in 1856 and is still continued at the same place by William Harvey. For some years after purchasing it, Mr. Harvey had a partner - Wm. Birkbeck. In 1837, Richard Arthur came with D. Harris, but they did not locate there for some time after. In the meantime (1838) George Redfern arrived. He still remains at Council Hill - the earliest, living permanent settler.

The chief mines of this township are the Council Hill, Grant Hill and Drummond Diggings. These have in the past been very prolific, but are not in a very prosperous condition at present. Nearly twenty million pounds of mineral have been taken from them.

The Village of Council Hill was laid off and platted on October 22, 1853, by J. C. Gardner, on the southeast and southwest quarters of section twenty-four and the northeast and northwest quarters of section twenty-five, township 29, N. R. E. The owners of the land were William Williams and Simon Alderson. There was but one street - "Mineral," running north 32 degrees west. The village was never incorporated.

The first, and only regular hotel, dates from 1840. It has always been kept by members of the Brenton family. The present school-house of Council Hill was erected in 1856 and enlarged in 1867. It is now a two-story building, containing two departments which are taught by G. W. Hickman and wife. Previous to the erection of this building and just south of the present site, stood for many years a little log school-house, in which church was also held. There is no one now resident at the village who is able to tell the date of erection of this house, although it within for fifteen or twenty years.

Church services were held in 1841 by Rev. W. Woods, followed by Revs. Pillsbury, E. Springer, J. Searles, J. W. Putnam and by John L. Williams, under whose pastorate the first and only church was built, in 1849. It is of brick, 30 by 40 feet in size. Since that time the following ministers have officiated: E. S. Grumley, William Summersides, James Lawson, S. G. Havermill, Z. S. Kellogg, John L. Williams, H. Ely, A. H. Ellis, G. L. Wiley, C. Perkins, Samuel Ambrose, A. Newton, Wm. Cross, F. Maston, W. S. Young, S. Gates, A. Perry, Z. S. Kellogg, George Wells and H. W. Record, who is the present minister.

John Beatty, whose wife still lives at Council Hill Station, was one of the early settlers, not yet mentioned. In 1832, under his supervision, lead was smelted in a " blast furnace" for about the first time in America. Log and ash furnaces had been used prior to this time, but only fifty per cent of lead was extracted from the ore with them, while the ore, when smelted in a blast furnace, yielded seventy to eighty per cent. In 1833, a company was organized, with " Uncle John " Beatty, as he was called, at the head, who started four blast furnaces, as follows : One on East Fork, in Council Hill Township ; one near Platteville, Wis. ; one at Mineral Point, Wis. ; and one at Catfish, near Dubuque, Iowa. The company, which afterwards divided into four associations, consisted of John Beatty, Major Legate, Daniel Wann, Robt. Shaw, Robt. Waller, Richard Waller, Richard Bonson, Robt. Bonson, Major J. H. Rountree, George Snowden, Henry Snowden and Snowden.

In 1837, a blast furnace was erected by Stahl, Leakley & Co., near the township line, between Vinegar Hill and Council Hill. This they continued to use until 1860, and in the meantime a settlement grew around it, part of which is in each township. In 1862, a large, four-story stone grist mill, containing three runs of stones, was built there, by Wm. Bell, Thos. B. Leakley, Nicholas and Frederic StahL This mill is run by water power from the Galena River, from which a head and fall of seventeen feet are secured.

In 1853, there was built, beside the cemetery on the hill, the Primitive Church, and in 1870 a second church (Methodist Episcopal) was erected in the valley below - both, however, in Council Hill Township.

In 1873, the narrow-guage railroad was laid through the settlement, past the mill, and a side track built, though there is no regular station.

When the Illinois Central Railroad was built through the township, in 1854, a station was established one and one half miles south of Council Hill Village, which has received the name of Council Hill Station. There is much confusion caused by the similarity of the names of the two villages.

Andrew Conway opened a store at the station soon after the railroad was built, but at the present time there is none, although a few goods are kept at private houses. Anthony Roe at one time kept a public house, but the patronage did not justify its continuance.

Council Hill The Ubhadt

The first postmaster was Simon Alderson, soon after the station was established. It is at present kept by Wm. Passmore. The church there was-built in 1860; repaired and re-opened in 1877.

The station was laid off and platted by J. C. Gardner, on December 6, 1855, on the northwest quarter and a small portion of the southwest quarter of section 31, on the land of Wm. Williams, Simon Alderson, John Bethel and John Alston. It has never been incorporated.

At the township organization, in 1853, the territory of this township was incorporated in Scales Mound and Mann (now Vinegar Hill) Townships, the dividing line being Fever (now Galena) River.

"Commencing at the northeast corner of section 17, on the state line in township 29 N., R. 2 E.; thence west along state line five miles, to the northwest corner of section 15, township 29 N., R. i E. ; thence due south on section line to the southwest corner of section 34, township 29 N., R. i E. ; thence due east along township line five miles to southeast corner of section 32, township 29 N., R. 2 E. ; thence due north on section line to state line or place of beginning."

After the township organization in 1853, an election was held atx Rocky Point school-house, where Mark Leakley was elected Supervisor ; Robert Shaw and John McAllister, Justices of the Peace, and Wm. Harvey, Township Clerk.

Supervisor* Wm. Passmore ; Town Clerk, Wm. Harvey ; Assessor, Wm. Bell ; Collector, Charles W. Leakley; Commissioners of Highways, Charles Smart, Wm. Lupton and Henry Goodbern ; Justices of Peace, B. J. Ewing (at village), and R. T. James (at station).

Bennett J. farm; S. 23; P. O. Council Hill. BETHEL JOHJf, (Deceased) Farmer; Sec. 30; P. O. Council Hill; born i a Nelson Co., Va., June 6, 1816; came to this Co. in 1833; settled near New Diggings, Wis. ; lived there 9 years ; was married to Eliza Dougan in May, 1842; she was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1818; came here with her father in 1833, who settled on this farm ; they had six children : John, now in N. Y. City ; Mary J. and William, now living; Thomas, drowned in 1858; Harriet A. and John, died when young; Emily Alston, a sister of Mrs. B., is living with her; Mr. B. died Aug. 27, 1876 ; they own 502 acres of land. Bethel W. farm; Sec. 30; P. O. Council Hill. Birkbeck Samuel, farmer; Sec. 27; P. O.

THOMAS, Farmer; Sec. 25 ; P. O. Council Hill ; born in Cornwall, Eng., in 1817; came to this Co. in 1837; owns 125 acres of land ; was married in 1844 to Margaret Chalder; she died same year; married again in 1846 to Ann Edwards; had three children; Thomas H. and Elizabeth J. are living; Mrs. H. died in 1849; he went to California in 1850, staid three years, returned, and in 1854 married Jane Arthur; she was born in Cornwall May 10, 1810; Mr. H. went to Idaho in 1864 ; was gone 17 months ; they are members of the M. E. Church. Harris Thomas H. farmer; Sec. 23; P.O. Council Hill.

HARVEY WIIXIAM, Merchant; Council Hill ; born in Cornwall, Eng., April 5, 1818 ; came to this Co. in 1842 ; followed mining until 1853; commenced mercantile business in this place, where he has been ever since ; is also Postmaster, a position he has held about twelve years ; was mai ried in 1850 to Caroline Ne Collins ; she was born in Cornwall, Eng., in 1823; they have four children living: Christopher, Joseph J., James H. and William; lost three girls: Caroline, Mary E. and Mary Jane ; has been Town Clerk twelve years; is a local preacher in the M. E. Church, of which his family are members.

HICKMAN WM. Teacher, Council Hill; born in Buffalo, N. Y., Nov. 24, 1854; came to this Co. in 1873: attended the German-English Normal School in Galena ; graduated in 1877 ; has been teaching ever since ; was married Dec. 25, 1876, to Lydia Wenz ; she was born in Dubuque, Iowa, Oct. 16, 1855; graduated in same school, at Galena, in 1875 ; is now employed teaching in the same school here ; are members of the M. E. Church.

K I I I I \<. GFO. F. Engineer I. C. R. R. ; born in Middletown, Conn., Oct. 10, 1843 ; enlisted Oct. 22, 1861, in Co. F, 24th Mass. V. I.; was mustered out at Richmond, Va., Jan. 20, 1866: was in 34 general engagements; came to 111. in 1866; was run over by an engine on I. C. R. R., and disabled for 18 months ; came to this place in 1870, and has run stationaryengine ever since; was married Dec. 26, 1871, to Marietta Williams ; she was born in this place in 1853; have three children: Charles W., George W. and Gertrude ; attend the M. E. Church,

LAIRD HUGH S. Farmer; Sec. 19; P. O. Council Hill ; born in Co. Down, Ireland, in 1807 ; came to the U. S. in 1832; was married in Philadelphia, in 1837, to Ellen Campbell ; she was born in Co. Antrim, Ireland, in 1817 ; they came to this Co. in 1843 ; owns 355 acres of land ; they have five children : James, now in Kansas, William, Sarah, John and David ; lost four, three died in infancy, and Hugh died April 10, 1872 ; Mr. L. was Supervisor seven years, and Trustee and School Director since 1852 ; family attend the M. E. Church.

MTHL.EAN WM. Farmer; Sec. 31; P. O. Council Hill Sta. ; born in Cornwall, Eng., Nov. 25, 1839 ; came to this Co. with his parents in 1841 ; went to Montana in 1864, staid three years, returned, and was married Nov. 5, 1868, to Mary Trevarthen ; she was born in Cornwall May 20, 1836; they have five children: William H. T., Mary E., Emma H., Benjamin F. and Thomas J. ; are members of the M. E. Church.

NEWSOM JOHN A. Farmer; Sec. 34; P. O. Mill Brig; born in Yorkshire, England, May 19, 1825; came to Wabash Co., 111., in 1842, and to this Co. in 1847 ; owns the undivided half of 170 acres of land; was married in 1851, to Elizabeth Evans ; she was born in Chesshire, England, in 1832; they have five children living: William, Clara, Elizabeth, Maud and Martha ; lost one - Sarah Lois, died in 1853 ; Jas. Diehl, an orphan boy, is also living with them; are members of the M. E. Church.

NEWSOM KENRICKA. Farmer; Sec. 34; P. O. Mill Brie; born in Yorkshire, Eng., June 8, 1827 ; came to Edwards Co., 111., in 1841, and to this Co. in 1847 ; owns the undivided half of 170 acres of land ; was married Oct. 2, 1850, to Martha'Wilde; she was born in Pa. July 2, 1833; they have five children living: Mary, John, Kichard, Carrie and Martha ; lost three : Sarah, James and an infant ; are members of the M. E. Church.

OATEY WltMAM, Farmer; Sec. 32; P. O. Council Hill Station; born in Cornwall, England, July 17, 1817; was married to Mrs. Jane Rodda, maiden name Thomas, in 1840 ; she was born in Devonshire, April 10, 1817 ; owns 160 acres of land ; they have two children, Alice (now Mrs. Jeffries), born Nov. 20, 1849, and Samuel, Feb. 26, 1857 ; Mr. O. went to California, in 1851; returned in 1854; bought this farm and has resided here ever since; Mrs. O.'s first husband was killed while minine in Cornwall in 1838; her son, John Rodda, was killed at Chicamauga, Tenn., Sept. 20, 1863 ; are members of the M. E. Church.

JL and Telegraph Operator, I. C. R. R., Council Hill ; born in Hamilton, Ontario, Oct. 18, 1836; was married in Detroit, Mich., in 1859, to Thomisina Cragg; she was born in England Oct. 9, 1837 ; came to this Co. in 1865; have four children: Mary E., Ella R., Charles, G. W., and John B. ; they belong to the M. E. Church.

PASSMORE WM., Blacksmith and Carriage Maker; Council Hill; born in Devonshire, Eng., Nov. 5, 1822 ; came to this Co. in 1846 ; owns 7% acres of land ; married Elizabeth Hughes in 1849; she was born in Wales ; she died same year ; was married again in 1850 to Sarah Hughes ; they have eeven children living : Mary A., Catherine, George F., Lizzie Ella, William Y., and Sarah O. ; lost three - died when young; he was Supervisor 11 years, Town Clerk for a number of years; is Coroner of the Co., and Postmaster at Council Hill Station, a position held by him for the last 15 years ; was Justice of the Peace 16 years.

REDFEARN GEORGE, Retired; resides in Council Hill Village; born in Durham, England, in 1808 ; was married in 1829, to Ann Seward ; she was born in the same Co. in 1806; came to the U. S. in a sail vessel in 1830 ; stopped in Pa. until 1834 ; thence to Michigan where he lived five years ; came to this Co. in 1839 ; has resided in this Tp. ever since ; followed mining until 1841, when he went to farming ; acquired land to the amount of over 600 acres which is now divided among his children ; has eight : Mary A., Margaret, Thomas, John, George, Adeline, Hannah, and William; Mrs. R. died Sept. 11, 1874; Mr. R. was Commissioner of Highways 18 years, and has held a number of minor offices for a number of years each.

REDFEARN THOMAS, Farmer; Sec. 24; P. O. Council Hill ; born in Michigan, Aug. 23, 1835 ; came to this Co. in 1839 ; was married March 7, 1869, to Sarah Jane Robinson ; she was born in Benton, Wis., Aprit 26, 1850 ; they have four children : Chas. W., Eddie C., Thomas H!, and an infant daughter; owns 310 acres of land; Mr. R. enlisted Sept. 19, 1861, in the 45th Regt. I. V. 1.; was in 13 engagements, and mustered out in Sept., 1864 ; family attend the M. E. Church.

RICK EDWARD, Farmer; Sec. 17; P. O. White Oak Springs, Wis.; born in England, Jan. 9, 1801 ; married , Martha Rear, April 6, 1849 ; she was born in Leicestershire, Eng., June 10, 1807 ; she was the mother often children, six living; Mrs. R. died Aug. 9, 1865 ; Mr.R. marriea again Dec. 5, 1868, to Louise Lyne ; she was born at Mackinaw Island, Feb. 27, 1850 ; has two children; Mr. R. bought this farm when he first came here in 1850 ; the family attend the M. E. Church. Roberts Simon E. farmer; Sec. 23; P.O. Council Hill.

STACY WILLIAM, Farmer; Sec. 22; P. O. Galena; born in Buncombe, Wis., Oct. 17, 1846 ; has been living in this Co. since 1858; is now superintending farm for James M. Day, Esq.

TODD GEORGE, Miner; Sec. 22; P. O. Galena ; born in White Haven, Eng., Sept. 6, 1807 ; came to the U. S. over fifty years ago ; settled in Pa. ; was married to Isabella Gray in 1832 ; she was born in Durham Co., Eng., Oct. 2, 1815; they came to this Co. in 1834; have four children living : John, Ellen, Margaret and George H. ; lost two : Thomas died in Virginia City, Nev., Dec. 20, 1863, and Elizabeth Ann (Mrs. Spensley) at Mineral Point, Wis., in 1873 ; Mr. and Mrs. T. are members of the Grant Hill Primitive Methodist Church.