Divernon Township

Divernon Township

The village of Riverton was laid out and platted by John Taylor, December 1, 183'7, its location being described as "the south half of the northeavSt quarter of section nine, township sixteen, range four, west." The plat was recorded under the name of Jamestown, so named in honor of James F. Reed, whose adventures are given on a preceding page, in connection with George Donner and a trip across the plains.

The village grew but slowly for some years, and until Mr. Howlett came and erected the distillery and mill adjoining. Up to this time, the village bore the name of Jamestown, but soon after it was changed to Howlett, which name it retained until 187-, when it w^as changed to Riverton - an appropriate name, it being upon the banks of the Sangamon river, the principal stream in the county.

There being already one Jamestown post office in the State, another name had to be chosen, and it was called Reed. This was one reason why the name of the village was afterward changed, as it was inconvenient to citizens and correspondents to call the town by one name and the post office by another. When the name of the village was changed to Howlett, the name of the post ofiice was also changed, it taking the name of the village. The same change was made to Riverton. Jesse Sweatman was the first jjostmaster. The large correspondence of the distillery here gives quite a large amount of mail to handle.

Riverton Alcohol Works

The most noted institution of Riverton is the large distillery of the Riverton Alcohol Works. In 1865, it w^as"owned and operated by P. L. Howlett, and was then said to be the largest in the State, with a capacity of 2,400 bushels of grain per day. It has since been eclipsed by some Peoria houses, but is yet considered a large distillery, its revenue, paid the Government annually, amounting to thousands of dollars. In connection with the distillery there is a large flouring mill, with six runs of burrs.

A Mining Village

The village of Riverton is what might be termed a mining village, its coal mines affording employment to by far the larger part of its inhabitants. Next to the mines the distilleries and mill furnishes employment to the greater number The cottages of the miners are among the things to attract the eyes of a traveler as he passes through on the railway cars, and the question is often asked, why so many cottages, as well as the name of the town.

A Newspaper

Riverton, like many other small villages, has had its newspaper, which flourished for a time, like the mushroom, and like the mushroom, soon passed away.

The religious welfare of the villagers is attended to by the Catholic and Methodist Episcopal brethren, each of whom have houses of worship.

(J has. Beerupvi^^ born April 27, 1841, in Sangamon county. He is the son of Andrew and Mary (Maltby) Beei'up, natives of New York and Vermont, and came to this county at an early day and resided until their death, the former occurring in 1872, and the latter in 1873. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and that occupation he has followed thus far through life. Mr. B. was married, January 14, 1864, to Miss Mary Babcock. Her parents were James and Jeanette Babcock, who were natives of Ohio, emigrating to this county in 1850. Miss B. was born January 14, 1843, in Muskingum, Ohio. By the union, seven children were born, six of whom are living: John R., Alice J., Leander, William R., Jennie, and jimmie. Mr. B. located in this township in the spring of 1881, on section thirty-two, where he owns fifty acres of land, worth $80 an acre.

William A. Butler, one of Sangamon county's pioneers, was born July 23, 1817, in Adair county, Kentucky. He is the son of Nathan M. and Mary (Hardin) Butler, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Kentucky, who emigrated to this State in the year 1824, and settled in Morgan county, ten miles east of Jacksonville, where he resided until the spring of 1831, at which time he sold out and located near Berlin, where they resided until death ; the former occurring April 4, 1842, and the latter November, 1834. Mr. Butler fought under General Jackson in the fight below New Orleans, in the year 1815. He also, in the year 1831, fought Black Hawk. So popular was he among his friends that he was elected major. Our subject was reared on the farm, and only received about eighteen months' schooling, although he has acquired a good education since he became of age. Mr. Butler began life a poor man, in the city of Springfield, in the livery business, with a capital of less than |300. By close attention to business he accumulated enough to purchase a farm, seventeen miles west of Springfield. Mr. Butler served as Marshal of Springfield the years 1860 and 1861. Mr. B. was mairied in the year 1863, to Mrs. Jane Clark, daughter of James and Mary A. Trotter, who came to this county 1827, and settled on section thirty-two, this township, where the latter still resides, the former having died many years ago. Mrs. Clark is mother of two children - Thomas and Emma. Mr. B. is holding the office of township trustee ; he owns one hundred and eightyeight acres of good land, where he carries on mixed farming.

6. S. C hiir chill wsis born June 30, 1842, in Shelby county, Kentucky. lie is the son of George and Sarah (Arnold) Churchill, both of whom were natives of Virginia, and emigrated to this county, settling near Mechanicsburg, in 1827, where they resided a number of years, and then came to this township and settled on section eighteen, where they both died. Our subject was reared on the farm, which occupation he has followed thus far through life. He was married July 31, 1845, to Miss Hester F. King. Miss King was born January 21, 1825, in Bracken county, Virginia; by this union nine children were born, three of whom are living - Henry, Parmelia A. and Amanda P. Mr. C. owns three hundred and sixty acres of good land, well improved.

Jbh7i Cromley, farmer, was born May 11, 1816, in Northamption county, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Jacob and Sarah (Hiueman) Cromley, both of whom are deceased. They were early settlers of Ohio, where they were residing at the time of their death. Our subject was reared a farmer and he was deprived of the chance for an education. Though being possessed with a limited education, he has accumulated a large amount of property. He is owning three hundred and twenty acres of good land, all made by his own exertions.

Mr. Cromley was married to Miss Sarah Frederick. By her four children were born, three of whom are living - Mary J., Jacob and Charles. Mrs. Ci'omley was called to her resting place, and to supply this loss, he'raarried Julia Lamkie, in the year 1870. Miss L. was born in Germany in the year 1839, and emigrated to this country in 1866. The fruits of this union have been three children, viz: Emma, John and William. Few have been as successful financially as Mr. Cromley.

Amos Grubh was born May 26, 1826, in Perry county, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Henry and Mary (Smith) Grubb, both of whom died in Perry county, Pennsylvania, Amos was reared to manhood in his native State, and emigrated to this county in the year 1857, first settling in the city of Springfield, where he lived a few months, and then moved one and a half miles east of Springfield. From this he moved to the present place, where he has resided eighteen years. Mr. G., until three years ago, had devoted his entire attention to farming. Since that time he, in connection with his farming, has been operating a tile mill, with good success, his sales averaging about one hundred and fifty thousand tile per annum. Mr. G., was married in June 24, 1852, to Miss Mary A. Thrasher. Miss T., wasborninPerry county, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1821. The fruits of this marriage was seven children born to them: Elizabeth A., wife of Henry Churchill; Michael, Henry, Edwin, Dora J., Mai-y C, and Emma F.

Mr. G., has held several oflices in the township, one of which he has held seventeen years in succession, that being the office of school director. He is owning one hundred and seventysix acres of good land.

Thomas A. King, farmer, was born April 22, 1809, in Clarke county, Kentucky; his parents were William B. and Annie R. (Greening) King, natives of Virginia. The former was educated for a surveyor, but never followed surveying to any extent, farming being his principal occupation; he died October 19, 1863; the latter died March 27, 1873, Mr. King emigrated to this State in October, 1831, and located in German Prairie, where he resided ten years. In 1840, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, where he has resided ever since. He was united in marriage to Miss Ann Mann, November 11, 1830, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Gaterel, of Bracken county, Kentucky. The fruits of this marriage was twelve children, of whom six are living, namely: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Todd; Melvin, now a resident of Kansas; Uriah, now resides on a farm joining the old homestead; John J. resides on the old homestead; Julia, now Mrs. Turney; Thomas A., now living with his father; he has also an adopted son, Robert. Mrs. King departed this life May 11, 1881; they had been married fifty years and six months the day of her death. He had two sons in the war, Melvin and Uriah; the former enlisted in July, 1862, for three years, in Company I, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry; served full term, and was honorably discharged, August, 1865. The latter enlisted at Springfield, June 17, 1861, in Company E, Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry, for three years. He fought at Perryville. Stone River, and Chickamauga, being wounded in the latter September 19, 1863, and captured the next day, and after enduring the horrors of nearly all the famous rebel prisons, at Richmond, Danville, Andersonville, Savannah, Milan, Thomasville, and back to Andersonville, was released March 20, 1865, and returned, via. Vicksburg and St. Louis, to Springfield, and was honorably discharged June 7, 1865, being within ten days of one year over time. Mr. King once owned four hundred and thirty acres of land, but has divided it among his children, reserving the old homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, valued at $60 per acre. Politically, he is a Republican; voted for General Fremont; was formerly a Whig. He has filled a number of township oflices; was supervisor two terms and school trustee a number of years; and other local oflices. Post ofl[ice, Riverton. Never had a suit in court. Colonel John F. Ring was born December 12, 1831, in Sangamon county, Illinois. His parents were William B. and Annie R. (Greening) King, natives of Virginia, the former born in Forquier county in 1779, and the latter at the same place, 1785. Mr. K. was educated in the common schools. The school houses at that time were all log houses, with slabs for seats. The windows were holes cut in the wall, with planks to slide back and forward. He resided with his parents until 1857, on a farm in German Prairie. They sold their farm and moved on section fifteen, where they resided until their death. Mr. K. then followed the carpenter and joiner's trade, from 1857 to 1860. In July, 1860, he organized and was Captain of a company called the Wide-Awakes, ninety in number. In October 18, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Threlkeld, of Kentucky, born January 5, 1838, daughter of Thomas and Melinda Threlkeld. The fruits of this marriage were nine children, eight of whom are now living, namely: Elma E., John L., Jessie V., Charles W., Thomas

M., Henry O., Tillie M. and William B. The deceased was Edgar, died April 3, 1873. He enlisted July 18, 1862, in what became Company I., One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. He recruited the company and was elected Captain, but was not commisfiioned, but when the regiment was organized he was elected and commissioned, September 18, 1862, as Lieutenant Colonel. He was commissioned August 4, 1864, as Colonel, but never mustered, because the regiment was then reduced to a minimum, and was not entitled to a Colonel. He took part in several decisive battles, including the first fight at Jackson, Mississippi, siege of Vicksburg, siege of Jackson, Mississippi, and several other engagements. He resigned December 7, 1864, on account of physical disability. On his return home he purchased a farm near Mechanicsburg, where he resided about six months, when he sold out and purchased the site of his present home. January 15, 1866, he was appointed Assistant Assessor of the Eighth District of Illinois. On February 28, 1867, was appointed Inspector of distilled spirits of the Eighth District. November 22, 1869, *was appointed internal revenue store keeper, and is now store keeper and ganger of distillery number eleven, of the same district. He has held several lownship ofiices, was justice of the peace four years, also served three years as secretary of the Old Settlers' Society. Mr. K. and wife are worthy members of the Christian Church. Politically he is a Republican. He now owns two hundred acres of land, well improved, valued at |60 per acre. Post oflice, Riverton.

Uriah Mann, farmer, was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, September 17, 1810. His parents were Peter and Elizabeth (Gaterel) Mann, natives of Virginia, and of Dutch-Irish ancestry. He emigrated to this State in October, 183], locating in Sangamon county, Springfield township, where he entered eighty acres of land, and resided there about eighteen months, when he sold his farm and purchased his present home, situated on section seventeen. His father was born in Virginia, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1833. His mother was born in 1785, in the same State, where her death also occurred. Mr. M. was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth King, January 6, 1832; she was a daughter of William and Annie R. King. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom are now living, viz: Peter, now a resident of Clear Lake township; Sarah A., now Mrs. George Black; Charles, now farming on the old homestead, and Frances, now Mrs. Grubb. Mrs. M. departed this life September 11, 1800. Mr. M. married for his second wife. Miss Ellen Brumbarger, August 5, 1862; she was a daughter of John and Nancy A. Brumbarger; her parents died when she was two years of age; she was raised by her uncle, Mr. William Chapman. He has had eleven children by his second wife, of whom nine are living, viz: Fannie, Bettie, Ethel, Sonora, Percie A , Richard O., Adeline, Celestia and Mary L. When he commenced life in this State, he had the sum of six and a quarter cents, and by economy and hard work has accumulated considerable property; has owned at one time six hundred acres of land; has sold all but two hundred and thirty-two acres, which he has reserved for a homestead. In 1832, he enlisted in the Black Hawk War, under General Whiteside. His son, Thomas IL, enlisted in August, 1862, for three years, in Company I, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Guntown, Mississippi, June 10, 1864; was ten months in Andersonville prison pen; exchanged about the close of the rebellion, and honorably discharged, June 14, 1865, at Springfield, and died at home, February ]6, 1867, of disease contracted in the rebel prison. Politically, Mr. M. is a Republican, and also a member of the Christian Church; his estimable wife is a member of the Second Baptist Church. Post oflice, Riverton.

Geo. H. Miller was born June 16, 1818, in Logan county, Kentucky. His parents were Geo. and Mary (Owen) Miller, the former a native of Berkley county, Virginia, and the latter of Fayette county, Kentucky. They emigrated to this county in the year 1829, and settled on section nineteen, in this township, where they lived happily together some eleven years, when their happiness was severed by the death of Mr. Miller. Mrs. Miller lived until the year 1874, when she, too, was called to her final i-esting place. They both died in the Christian faith, and were buried in the German Cemetery.

Our subject was eleven years old when his parents came to this county, and he has lived continuously in this township ever since, following the avocation of a farmer.

He was married, September 14, 1842, to Sarah A. Wolf, a native of Allegheny county, Virginia, and born May 3, 1827. Her parents were Abram and Hannah (Arritt) Wolf, who came to this county about the year 1836, and since have died, and their remains were interred in the German Cemetery. Our subject's family consists, at present, of eight children: Mary A.,

Mr. Miller's farm consists of three hundred acres of good land. Mr. Miller has held several township offices, the duties of which he discharged to the satisfaction of all.

Col. George JB. Richardson was born Decem- \)er 22, 1821, in Morestown, Vermont, is the son of Eri and Abigal (Bragg) Richardson, natives of New Hampshire; his father followed the carpenter and joiner's trade to some extent, but farming was his principal occupation. Mr. R. was educated in the common shools and received a fair education. When eight years of age his father moved to Cornish, New Hampshire, where he remained until eighteen years of age, following farming for his father and also contracting and building. After which he started out in life for himself, going to Boston and hiring out by the month on a farm, at sixteen dollars per month for one year, then rented a farm of one hundred acres, of David Seai's, of Boston, and continued to raise vegetables on his own hook, running three market wagons the year around, he continued this business about two years, when the farm was laid out in town lots, and is now what is Brookline. In 184*7, he commenced working by the day on what was called the Boston and Worcester Railroad, putting in switches and laying track, etc. In the spring of 1848, he went on the old Colony road following the same work, in 1849 he took charge of the work as foreman, laying a branch of the Colony road from Neponset to Milton, then went to Bridgewater and took charge of the Bridgewater branch, having every thing in his charge, acting as conductor and superintendent of the work, followed the business between two and three years. About 1853, he went to St. Louis, then came to Springfield and engaged in railroad work under T. J. Carter, on what was then called the Great Western Railroad, as the grading was not finished he was engaged in completing the grading, putting in the ties and laying the rails, also was supply agent. Being conductor on the construction train, and as that train carried the first freight and passengers, he carried the first over what is now called the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad, from Springfield to Danville. In the fall of 1857, he returned to St. Louis and engaged in the land business, his office was located at seventy-one, Market street, in the meantime, in 1858, he opened a wholesale general grocery and liquor store, on seventy-five, Market street, and also had a half interest with his uncle. Dr. A. G. Bragg, in two saw-mills at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, engaged in getting out wood for steamers on the Mississippi and sawing lumber for Memphis, Vicksburg, St. Louis, and other principal cities, and stays to ship to New Orleans for the European market, he also dealt in stock, horses, cattle and mules, he followed these occupations until 1862, when he went to Louisiana, Missouri, and purchased a general store, where he carried on business until 1865; in the meantime he was drafted into the army, but never served any length of time, as he hired a substitute. He purchased the site of his present home in 1856, then one dense wilderness, where he has resided since 1865. He now owns five hundred and fifty-seven acres of land in Clear Lake township, valued at $40 per acre, and nine hundred and sixty acres in Missouri, also four dwelling houses in the town of Riverton. Politically he is a staunch Republican. Post office, Riverton.

Thomas Richardson was born in the Parish of Lochmaben, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, July 12, 1812. His parents were William and Elizabeth ( Hannah) Richardson. He attended the common schools of Scotland, receiving a common school education. He remained at home until about eighteen years of age, when he was bound out for three years to Sir William Jardine, of Jardine Hall, to learn landscape gardening; followed that business until 1843. On February 3, 183*7, he was united in marriage to Miss Jannet Wilson, born November 21, 1812, they are the parents of eight children, all of whom are living, William, James W., Jane F., now Mrs. John Beaumont, of St. Louis; Elizabeth A., now Mrs. E. Johnson, of Springfield; Mary H., now Mrs. John Norred, of Christian county; Thomas B., John D., and John R. The same 3'ear of his marriage he emigrated to America, (his wife coming the next year); he first located in New Haven, Connecticut, working for Michael Baldwin, of York Square, as a gardener; he finished the St. John's Conservatory, working there five years. He then went to New Y^ork city and hired out to Colonel Thomas Mathers, now a resident of Springfield, Illinois, for two years, laying out the Colonel's residence, where the State House now stands. In 1844, he purchased one hundred and thirty-five acres of land where he resided nineteen years, then moved to the site of his present home. He built a beautiful dwelling in 1875, and has since laid out the front grounds in mathematical style. He com- menced life in America with one sovereign, and by hard work and economy has accumulated considerable wealth, he now owns seven hundred and fifty-nine acres of well improved land, valued at $60 per acre. Mrs. R. is a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church. His son, James W., enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, serving his country all during the war, receiving an honorable discharge. Politically Mr. R. is a Democrat. Post office, Riverton.

Jolxn Wilson, a farmer of Clear Lake township, is a native of Scotland, and was born at Dumfries, February 1, 1821. His father was James Wilson, and his mother Jane (Frood) Wilson, both born in Scotland. Dumfries, the birthplace of John Wilson, will be remembered as the burial place of Robei-t Burns, and the elder Wilson was one of the number who attended the funeral of the great Scotch bard, who after his death became famous, as one of the world's greatest poets. They had a family of six daughters and two sons, all born in Scotland; emigrating to this country in 1844, they settled in Clear Lake township, where he bought land. Mr. Wilson died December 1, 1872, in Buffalo Hart township, and Mrs. Wilson's death occurred February 3, 1801. John Wilson came with his parents to this country, when twenty-two years of age, and is therefore essentially American, both by education and adoption. He was raised on a farm, received a good education, and when quite young formed a co-partnership with his brother-in-law, in conducting a farm, and at the close of the fourth year severed the co-j)artnership, and to the present time has continued in agricultural pursuits. On January 30, 1851, which he well remembers as being a very cold day, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Mary Cooper, a daughter of Merideth Cooper and Polly (Witcher) Cooper, of Williams township, this county, who were early pioneers, and came from Tennessee to St. Clair county, Illinois, as early as 1817, where Mrs. Wilson was born July 28, 1822, and came with her parents to Sangamon county, in 1823. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are the parents of three children, Annie, now Mrs. Edwin H. Agee; James M. and Thomas W. James M. is a graduate of Cornell University, and at present, is attending Rush Medical College, Chicago. Mr. Wilson has held several local offices of crust, as supervisor and justice of the peace, and has been school treasurer for twenty -four years; has always acted with the Democratic party, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Like most of the early pioneers of a new country, Mr. Wilson began with almost no capital, and with that energy and integrity so characteristic of the hardy Scotch race, from which he sprung, has accumulated a fine estate, on which himself and wife live, in comparative retirement, enjoying the fruits of their well directed efforts, surrounded by a cultured and contented family.

Joh?i 61 Woltz was born June 5, 1818, in Shepherdstown, Jefferson county, Virginia, and is the son of John B. and Leah (Updegraff) Woltz, natives of Maryland, and of German ancestry. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, receiving a fair education. When seventeen years of age, he w.;s apprenticed for four years to learn the car})enter's trade, and followed that trade more or less for about eight years. In the fall of 1840, he emigrated to this State, coming on a stage from Shepherdstown to Wheeling, Virginia, and from there by boat on the Ohio river to St. Louis, stopping there for two or three weeks, then on the Illinois river to Naples, from Naples he rode on the construction train (it being the first railroad in Illinois) to New Berlin, that being as far as the iron was laid at that time; he then walked from there to Springfield on the rail, the distance being sixteen miles. The railroad was then built with what was then called mud sills, laying lengthwise of the road, and ties laid across, about two feet apart. The rail was six inches high and three inches thick, made of wood, with a strip of iron three quarters of an inch thick, laid on the top. On his arrival in this county he followed his trade, with making furniture, about two years. Was united in marriage to Miss Sidney R. Halbert, December 7, 1843, daughter of Dr. James and Nancy (Kennolds) Halbert; she was born February 3, 1822, in Essex county, Virginia, They are the parents of nine children, of whom six are living, viz: Virginia C, now Mrs. William Summers; Sarah M., now Mrs. John Riddle; Julia E., John C, Maggie H., and Alice I. The deceased are George A., James P. and Andrew H. Mr. W. purchased eighty acres of land, the site of his present residence, but did not reside on it; he resided with his father-in-law about eight years, improving his own farm in the meantime. He now owns three hundred and ninetyfive acres of land, well cultivated, and valued at S75 per acre. When he left Springfield he had nothing; but by economy has accumulated considerable wealth. He helped set the first hedge fence in Sangamon county. Mr. W.'s father. Dr. Halbert, was a Baptist minister, but never preached but two sermons in Illinois.