De Witt Township

De Witt Township

The town was originally called Marion, and is one of the oldest villages in the county. Marion was laid out by Benjamin .S. Day, March 7th, 1836, and comprised ten acres, being a part of the north-east quarter of section 19, town 20, range 4 east. The lots were 41 i feet by 822, and the streets 82 i feet. Benjamin Austin was the surveyor. At a public sale held in the same month, nearly all the lots were sold, ranging from five to twenty dollars per lot. The following summer the first election was held at the house of Benjamin S. Day. Gabriel Watt and Flemming G. Paine were elected Justices of the Peace, and James Hutchison was elected Constable. In 1836, Daniel and P. S- Bobbins opened the first store in the precinct. It was situated about 200 yards south of the square. The building was a hewed log house, of small dimensions, and the stock was such as was kept in those days in a country store. The building was taken down and moved away many years ago, and was afterwards utilized by Mr. Benjamin Day for a dwelling. The first dwelling was constructed by F. S. Robins, in the fall of 1835. It was a log cabin, and situated on the property now owned by D. F. Robins, a little south of the square. It is yet standing, but clap-boarded with rived boards four feet in length, and used for a coal and wood house. The pedestrian can see it at this writing by passing Mr. Robins' hotel. The first hotel or public house was kept by Sylvanus Shurtlefl', in 1837, and located on the north-east covner of the square. It was a double-hewed log house, of fair pretensions for the times. About fifteen years ago it was taken down and moved to the prairie out of town, and used for a stable. Mr. Shurtleff" also built the first mill in 1836. This was a rude concern with an inclined wheel, ten feet in diameter, for a power. Those who desired to have their corn ground were obliged to get on the wheel and tread it. He did not understand the principles of philosophy, and first attempted to run the wheel by a wheelbarrow well greased and filled with stones at- i tached at the top of the incline ; thinking the weight would ] propel the wheel. Of course this would not work, and hence his patrons were obliged to tread the wheel. The mill was located on the east side oT the square, near the dwelling now occupied by H. Le Feber. Mr. Shurtleff' was of a roaming and restless disposition, and subsequently moved to the far west. The second rain was built by Daniel Robins a short time afterwards, and situated on the south side of the square. It was a horse mill, ] and did fair service for that day. Mr. Robins was also the first postmaster, and the office was established in 1837. In the same year the town of Marion was greatly enlarged by the additions of Day and Robins; the former by twenty acres, and the latter [ by forty. Prior to this time the people were destitute of mail privileges, the nearest post offices being at Decatur and Bloomington. Newspapers were a luxury not thought of, and letters from friends abroad did not come oftener than about four times ttithiu the year. The first church house was constructed by the Cumberland Presbyterians in 1840. It was a frame building, and situated just across the street from the present In-ick church. It was afterwards abandoned by the church and used for a sorghum mill, and subsequently for a stable. It has since been torn down and moved to another place.

The village of De Witt as now situated is long and straggling, extending from the original town of Marion north to the railroad, a distance of about three-fourths of a mile. The addition was made by A. C. Jones, August 2.3d, 1871, and described as follows : Commencing at the N. E. corner of the E. i of the S. E. part of section IS, town 20 N. R. 4 E., south on section line 2,646 feet to section corner; westerly on section line 1,240 feet; north 2,646 feet, easterly 1,240 feet except right of way of the G. C. & S. Railroad, now Springfield Division of the Illinois Central.

Incorporation. - The village of De Witt was incorporated iu the fall of 1879, and the first meeting of the board was held November 1st, of the same year. The following are the names of the first board : A. jMcConkey, President ; Charles Richter, Henry Myers, J. H. Tyler, H. Le Feber and H. S. Chapin. The second board, or for the year 18S0, were, Charles Richter, President ; H. Le Feber, H. Myers, Johu McDonald, H. Baker, and W. A. Finley. The board for 1881 - Charles Richter, President ; H. Le Feber, John McDonald, H. Myers, Frank Fisher, and Samuel Darby. J. R. Basserman, Clerk. Prior to 1881, the clerk was not an elective officer. W. A. Myers has officiated as village Treasurer since its organization.

Present Business

De Will Tile Works. - This industry was established in the summer of 1S76 by Charles Richter, present proprietor. Is situated just south of the railroad, and east of the depot These works were built at a cost of §5,000, and have capacity of manufacturing 300,000 feet of tile annually, and give employment to seven men. There are two kilns of an improved make, styled the crown-top and down-draft. The size of the sheds are 30x220 feet, with three oar-ways extending the entire length. The works are driven by a ten-horse j'ower engine. Three hundred and fifty cords of wood and ten car loads of coal are consumed every season.

Saw and Grist Mill owned and operated by E. M. McPherson. It was established in 'the fall of 1866 by Nixon & Leasure, and came into the possession of Mr. McPherson iu the spring of 1876, and is located on the north-east part of town, about midway between the square and the depot. The saw-mill contains a circular saw, 60 inches in diameter, and can saw 7,000 feet of lumber daily. The grist-mill attachment contains but one burr, used wholly in' grinding corn, and has the capacity of turning out 130 bushels of meal per day. The entire machinery is driven by a twenty-five horse power engine. From five to eight men are given employment by this industry.

Blacksmith, Wagon and Carr lag Shop, A. King, proprietor - This shop is situated one block north-east of the square. The business gives employment to three men.

Blacksmith and Wagon-ironer, John Armstrong. - The shops are situated on the west side of the main street, leading from the square to the depot, about two blocks from the former.

At this writing the village contains about 300 inhabitants. It has one church, a brick structure with cupola and bell, and built in 1856. It is of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. The school-house is a one-story brick, and built in 1S71. It employs two teachers, and is thus semi-graded. About ninety pupils is the maximum attendance.

Anion Lodge, 'So. 251, A. F. and A. M. was chartered October 6, 1881, with the following Charter officers: John H. Tyler, W. M.; John i^Iarsh, S. W.; Benjamin S. Lewis, J. W. Stilmou, A. Chaj in, Treas.; Joseph J. Kelly, Secretary ; Joseph Marsh, S. C: James McCord, T. The number of Charter members were 11: The present officers are: James Marsh, W. M.; Isaac C. Lafl'erty, S. W.; John Furgeson, J. W.; G. B. Leasure, Treas.; S. A. Chapin, Sec; H. Le Feber, S. D.; Asa Wilson, J. D.; A. King, T. The present membership is 59. The Lodge meets in Masonic Hall, Tuesday evenings, on or before the full moon in each month. This is one of the oldest Lodges in De Witt county. It is in excellent condition financially, owning the entire building in which their Lodge meets.

In consequence of the decease of membership during the war, the Lodge merged with Mt. Pleasant Lodge, No. 126, in the year 1862. It was reinstated as De Witt Lodge, the 18th of March, 1875. The present officers are: A.J. Brown, N.G.; Samuel Darby, V. G. ; H. S. Chaplain, Sec. ; M. A. Myers, Treas.; Charles Chappell, C ; Levi Hodges, I. G. ; Edward E. Claflin, O. G. : Darius Cheney, R. D. G. M. The present membership is thirty. The assets of the Lodge in furniture and regalia is estimated at 8200-00. Amount in the treasury, $400.00. The Lodge is therefore, in good financial condition.

Town Of Parnell

This town was laid out by James Porter, a public-spirited citizen of the township, in the spring of 1880, and situated on the Springfield Division of the Illinois Central, just south of the township line between De Witt and Rutledge township. It was named in honor of the present Irish agitator, Parnell.

The first house was a small frame building, 16 by 24, and built by John Williamson, in the spring of 1880, for a blacksmith shop. Mr. Williamson still conducts the business at the old stand. The first dwelling was constructed by J. W. Nichols in the spring of the same year. The first goods were sold by C. L. Winslow in the same season. The store was a frame building, and situated on the corner of Lincoln and Elizabeth streets-

JVichols & North Elevator Co. - This elevator was] built in the summer of 1881, at a cost of 83,000, and is one of the neatest and most complete elevators in De Witt county. It is thirty feet scjuare and fifty-six feet in height, and has the capacity of storing 20,000 bushels of grain, besides having cribs capable of holding 35,000 bushels of corn. Its capacity for elevating per day is 4,000 bushels, and employs four men to run it. It is conveniently situated on the switch of the railroad, has one double dump, and drive ways suitable for the buisness. It is operated by what is known as the " Taylor horse-power," but will some time in 1882, put in a steam-power, as the business is so increasing that the latter power will have to be utilized. In addition to the steampower, there will also be added a track-scale, and a set of corn burrs for manufacturing meal- In the last twelve months this firm has handled 180,000 bushels of grain.

The little town is on the high road, in time, to become a village of some local importance, as it has an excellent country sur^ rounding it; and a wide-awake class of citizens. It now contains but about fifty inhabitants, and is not two years old at this writing. Mr. Wilson North has a telephone connecting his store with his residence, three-fourths of a mile away.

Fullertox Station

Is situated on the railroad, about midway between the town of De Witt and Parnell, and contains one store, consisting of a general stock. Mr. David Fuller is the proprietor, also grain buyer, freight and ticket agent. The place has a switch, and all day-trains stop here.

Biographical Sketches

Who is one of the largest farmers and stock raisers iu the county, was born in Marion County, Ohio, September 21st, 1827, and was the son of Daniel and Elizabeth Swigart. Daniel Swigart was born and raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His grandparents were Germans, who settled there at a very early date. His wife was reared in Virginia ; she also descended from German parents. Daniel Swigart came to De Witt County in 1849, and settled where Jacob now lives, where he resided until his death, February, 1869 ; his wife survived him until March, 1875. They raised a family of eleven children. The subject of our sketch came west two years previous to his father's coming, and worked by the month, and taught school until 1850. October the 3d of that year he was uniteil in marriage to Mrs. Rebecca Davis. They have raised a family of nine children, seven now living. Mr. Swigart has been very successful in life, as he started out without aid, but with a good constitution and willing hands he determined to succeed in the world, and 'as a natural consequence of labor coupled with good management and economy, he is now the possessor of a large landed estate of upwards of 2,500 acres finely improved. A view of his residence can be seen on the opposite page. In politics he is a staunch Republican; for many years he has represented his township on the board of supervisors. In 1868 he received the nomination of his party to represent this district in the Legislature, and the election following was elected to a position

Amoxo the prominent farmers and old settlers of De Witt County, we present the above portrait. He was born in Jefi'er- 8on County, X. Y., August 27th, 1808. His father, Joseph Wakefield, was a native of New Hampshire, and raised in Windsor, Vermont ; at the age of maturity, he turned his face westward, and in 1800 he stopped near where Watertown, N. Y., is now located, where he afterwards married Miss Susan Sawyer, who was a daughter of Thomas Sawyer. The history of the Sawyer family dates back to Thomas Sawyer, sen., who emigrated from Lincolnshire, England, to America iu 10.39. being one of the first settlers In Lancaster, Ma.ss. His descendants are numerous.

and scattered through most of the states. The subject of our sketch settled where he now resides in 183-3. He has been twice married, and raised a family of six children, five now living, four sons and one daughter, viz.: George W., a lawyer, in Sioux City, Iowa ; Jlelancthon, a lawyer in Cherokee, Iowa ; Philetus, a physician, living in Waynesville, this county ; Lycurgus, a lawyer, in Pierre, Dakota Territory; and MissBandusia, who is a teaclier, and now living with her brother, George W., in Iowa. !Mr. AVakefiekl has served his township as Assessor, Treasurer, and Justice of the Peace. In polities he is a Republican ; religiouslv a Universalist.