Eden Township

Eden Township

The town of Eden embraces Township 32, of Range 1. It joins the Illinois timber on the north, and Builey's Grove on the cast. It is drained by Bailey's and Cedar creeks, which ran to the Illinois and Vermillion rivers, The southwest part of the town is high land, forming the divide separating the 'waters that run north to the Tinos and those that run to Sandy creek, and southwest to the same stream. Tt is a fine farming region, and its beauty and fertility suggested the name it so well bears.

Tt was settled at an early day along the north and east sides, adjoining the timber, then considered indispensable. The Dlinois Central Railroad passed through it, near its eastern boundary, in 1853, and the prairie portion of the town was soon converted into farms, Tonics station, on the Central Railroad, sprang up immediately after the road was built, and has hada steady and healthful growth, and does a large business.

Nathaniel Richey, and his wife, Susanna Kirkpatrick, came from Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1890; came through the wilderness, by wagon, and Settled on Secs. $ and 4, T. 32, R.1. Mr. Richey 'sympathized with the slave, and had the reputation 'of kindly entertaining the sable sons of Africa when traveling toward the North star, and freedom. He was a Justice of the Peace for several years; he raised a large family, and his descendants are numerous, His children are: Sophias, who married James Robinson, now deceased, leaving eleven chilee dren; Mary, married Joseph Robinson, has six children, on the old place ; David, married Margaret E. Evans, they live in the town of Eden - he isa farmer, and prominent politician, has three children; Sarah, married John Hopkins, lives in Towa, and has seven children; Margaret, married George B. Holmes, lives in Kansas, has fire children; James, married Anna Hamilton, is a farmer in the town of Eden, and has three children ; Susanna, married J. F. Evans, lives in Towa, and has three children ; John married Nancy Hall, lives in Towa, and has seven children; Esther Ann, died young; Elizabeth, married A, P. Landers, lives in Missouri, has five children; Nathaniel, married Bertha E. Wilson, and lives in Tonica, has one child,

Dr. David Richey, brother of the above, came from the same place, at the same time; was here three or four years, then removed to Patnam County, and resided for several years in Livingston County. He died August, 1877.

David Letts, and wife, widow Dunnavan, from Licking County, Ohio, in 1830; made a farm on 8. 4, T. 32, R. 1; kept a store at Dayton, and at Or tawa, He was School Commissioner of the county ; removed to Louisa County, Iowa, and died there, in 1852.

N. M., Letts, son of David, married Miss Grove; his second wife was Mrs. Holderman; resided on the old farm, at Cedar Point, till 1854, when he sold to Franklin Corwin, from Ohio, and moyed to Tows, and is living at Lettsville; a large dealer in cattle,

Nathaniel Manville came from Pennsylvania in 1835; he Inid out the town of Manville, which, like many of its cotemporaries, failed to bea town. He died in the south part of the State, leaving two daughters: Clarissa, married H. L. Owen; Susan, married E. D. Lockwood, and lives on the old place.

John Myers came from Tennessee, in 1840. He married a danghter of John Hays, of Peru, and settled on Cedar Creek timber; he bought the mill that Simon Crosiar built, on Cedar creek, and ran it some years; an eccentric character, such as is often seen on the frontier. Kind and generous at home, he was wild and loquacious when he viaited the town, calling himself the stallion panther. He became restive when surrounded by civilization, said the Yankees had overrun the country, and he left for Missouri, and freedom, but came back, and died here, in 1846, or 1847.

John Hendricks, from Virginia, to Indiana, and eame here in 1831. His mother was a daughter of a respectable Virginia planter, who eloped with and married her father's coachman, one of his African chattels. Under the laws of Ilinois then, he could neither yote nor testify against a white man; yet he was an honest man and a good citizen. He bought the Peru ferry of Hays in 1840, and run it several years: he removed to West Missouri or Kansas, and died there.

Resolved H. Potter was born in New Bedford, Mass., and settled in Green County, New York, in 1828; removed to Onondaga and then to Tioga County, New Yorl, and from there to Illinois in 1834; settled on S. 12, T. 32, R.1; deceased in 1842, aged 60 years, leaving two sons, Champlin R. and Adam. Adam came to Illinois with his father, and returned to New York about one year after.

Champlin R. Potter, sonof Resolved HL, with his wife, Mary Jane Richards, came from NewYork with his father in 1834, and resided on the same farm, He was a surveyor; held the office of Justice of the Peace several years, and was a member of the Legislature one term; he died Sept, 27, 1860, aged 56, leaving two daughters ; Catharine, who married D. Darby of Wenona - died 1873 ; Helen, who married Fred Ambrose, and lives with her mother on the old farm; a son, Adam, died about 1854.

Joseph T. Bullock came from Rehoboth, Mass.. in 1897, and settled on 8 36, T. 4, R.1; he marri Catharine Galloway, and with his brother, Leonard, engaged largely in farming and stock-raising ; since his brother's death he has continued the same on a large scale, He has two children; Ransom, married Ada Ellsworth, and lives nean Tonica; Susan, married Henry Foss, now in Colorado,

Asa Holdridge, from New York in Jnne, 1833, and settled on S. 25, T. 32, R. 1, near Bailey's Point ; he married Polly Warren ; was a snecessfal farmer, and died in 1866, leaving five children: fayette, married Hannah Simmons, and Hives in Livingston County ; W. H. E., married Mary Swift, live in Eden; Volney, married Lizzie Simmons, and lives in Ancona; Clarinda, married D. Willey; Arminda, murried Capt. L. Howe, and lived near Toniea.

Nathaniel Bddy, from Virginia, in 1833, bought a claim of John Slater, west of Bailey's Point; he kept astore. Eddy, Holdridge and Bailey built a sawmill on Bailey's creek nearits mouth ; Eddy moved West, -

William Groom, and wife, Miss Burhans, from Albany County, N.Y., came with Alvord's company ih 1883; was a farmer, and Methodist preacher; he died in 1852. His children were: Delia, married aMr. Wells; Betsey, married John Harkins; Alida, married Anstin B. Carleton, of Vermillion ; Peter, married Miss Martin, now in Nebraska ; Abram, married L. T. Naramoor; Joseph, married Eunice Harrington, in California ; William, married Miss Thomas, in Tonica.

Tra S. Moshier, from Saratoga County, N.Y., came in 1834, and settled on 8. 12, T. 32. R.1; a farmer, Methodist preacher, and Jawyer. He died in 1874, Teaving nine children: Edgar W., at Sandwich ; Henry C., married Elizabeth Baker, and lives at Gilman ; George, married Delana Schermerhorn, and dives at Gilman; Charles W., married Celia Wilson, of Sandwich ; Maria A., married Thomas Foster; M. Charlotte, married Hugh Miller; Sheridan L. ; Margaret, married Onslow Barrass, of Tonica; Clara J., married A. G. Gray.

1826, and settled on Section 26, where he lived until his death in 1844, aged 66; his widow still survives, at the age of 90 years. He had nine children: A. Judson, died in 1842, aged 23; Barnum, is in Guthrie County, Iowa; Wallace, is also in Towa; Esther L,, married Moody Little - her second lnsband is Andrew J. West, of Tonica; Charlotte, married Henry Kingsley, from Connectiout - ashe is deceased ; Harriet L., married Henry Kingsley - his second wife; Eunice, married Joel B, Miller; Abi, married Angus McMillan.

Geo. M. Newton,son of Amos A. ,and from the same *s Point in 1835, He moved his uuny Loomis, and family in 1886; and settled ion 2. Mr. Newton has been Postmaster, Jusof the Peace and Supervisor. His wife died in 1863, He is now living with his second wife, the widow Sarah Maflis.

Joel B. Miller, came from Greene County, N. Y., in 1887. He married Eunice Newton; he died in 1862; his widow died in 1875. Has three children : Horace, lives at Minonk ; a daughter married a Mr, Swift; another married George Beardsley_

Angus McMillan, from Pennsylvania, eame in 1888. He married Abi Newton, and lived here five or six years, and then removed to Grandy County. His wifi and he went to Iowa.

James Little, and wife, Polly Cook, came from New Hampshire, in 1889, and bought the farm of Nathaniel Eddy on 4, Hodied in 1842, and left four children: Daniel, married Mary Jones, and removed to Geneseo; Lucy, married Isaac Gage, of

Willis Moffat, and wife, Olive Simmon, from Greene County, New York, in 1835, and settled on the west side of Bailey's Grove, and is now living in Tonica, His first wife died and left two children: Walter 8., married Elizabeth Defenbangh ; Sarah E., married James B, Flulin, both are living in Livingston County. Mr. Moffit's second wife is Lonisa Harwood, the widow Jenkins, when she married him; she has one daughter, Mary L., av home.

Rev. Reuben H. Moffat, brother of Willis, came from the same place in 1834 - a Methodist preacher. His wife was Catherine 0. Yale. He died in 1863, aged 66. His children are: Reuben, marricd Miss Defenbangh - he died in the army; Sarah, married the Rev, Mr. Young, a Methodist preacher.

| 4. Died in 1857, in Deer Park. Tis widow married @ Mr. Lathrop, and moved to Iowa. He had three clildren: Sarah, married, and is living in Iowa; Charles was killed by the accidental dischange of a gun; the younger daughter is with her mother.