Elba Township

Elba Township

In the year 1835 or '36 John King erected a cabin on section 2 of this township. This was the first attempt known to settle this section of beautiful country. In 1836 came Darius Miller and his brother, who was familiarly known among the pioneers as King Miller. Soon followed John Thurman, Jacob Kightlinger, L. A. Jones and J. H. Nicholson.

The first marriage in the township was that of Moses Smith to Miss Tabitha George, by Jacob Kightlinger. The first death occurring was that of John King, the first settler, who died in 1836, the year after his arrival. The first birth was Tabitha Smith, on section 35. Jacob Kightlinger was the first Justice of the Peace. His commission was dated August, 1839. Here lived the Rev. John Cross, who figured so prominently in the management of the Underground Railroad, and of whom soiiie quite interesting sketches may be found in the chapter on that road in this book. It is said he preached the first sermon at the house of John Tucker on section 1, in the year 1841, but we find Rev. S. S. Miles preached in April, 1839, two years before Mr. Cross preached in this township. From the year 1837 to 1850 there had been a gradual increase of population. During these years they began to think of the need of some educational facilities, and in 1842 a school-house was built. Religious services were held in the school-house soon after its erection, the first being by the United Brethren denomination, with Mr. Cady as leader and preacher.

In 1867 a Good Templars' lodge was 'organized, which met for some time at the house of Mr. Robert Jerman, then occupied by Mr. John Lewis. The society flourished, and in 1869 built the Good Templars1 Hall, a quarter of a mile west of the school-house. It was a one-story wooden structure; and as the members of the order be-

A post-office was established in the southern part of the township, section 15, in April, 1870, under the name of " Spoon River." In January, 1871, the name was changed to Elba Centre. Miss Rebecca Boyce was selected as postmistress, and has retained the position to the present time.

In the spring of 1872, the old school-house was remodeled and modernized, and in the following year a hall was built opposite in which to transact township business.

Two churches were built in 1874, - one by the Methodists a mile west of the Centre corners, the other by the Presbyterians a mile to the north of the same pomt. The first was dedicated in June by President Evans of Hedding College, Abingdon, and the latter in September by a minister from Galesburg.

Source changes here: from Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois, by Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago, published 1886; 2,628 words in this source stream.

Elba Township

LBA completed its township organization April 5, 1853. At the meeting for that purpose, N. S. Barber was chosen Moderat- W or and P. J. Hines, Clerk. Forty-nine votes were cast, which resulted in the election of the following genilemen to fill the respective offices: John B Nicholson, Supervisor; James W. Hines, Clerk; H. L. Bailey, Assessor; Henry Smith, Collector; H. Oberholizer, John West and K. Hines, Commissioners of Highways; John West and B. F. Johnson, Justices of the Peace ; Wm. Series, Overseer of the Poor; Henry Smith, Constable. It was organized first as Liberty Township, but was changed the same year to Elba. This is in township 10 north of range 4 east, and is bounded on the north by Truro, on the east by Peoria County, on the south by Salem and on the west by Haw Creek Township. The first settler in this township was John King, who came in with his family in the spring of 1836, settling on section 2, where he erected a log cabin. ^f The Kings were not destined to dwell alone, for they were soon followed by Darius Miller and his brother (who was generally known as King Miller), John and Felix Thurman, Leonard A. and Darius Jones and J. H. Nicholson, with their families. The Joneses were from New York, and located on section 15, and the Thurmans on French Creek. They were from Ohio.

In the fall of 1837 Jacob Kightlinger, wife and 1 1 children - 9 boys and 2 girls - from Pennsylvania, added their force, which was by no means an insignificant one, to the settlement, locating on section 27. They came in a flatboat to Cincinnati, bringing with them timber for their house. Being unable to get it any further without great risk, they sold it. From Cincinnati they took a steamboat to Peoria, and with teams made their way to their new home.

In 1838, James H. Baird, the Lamberts, Vachel Metcalf and John and Samuel Tucker were added to the settlement. The Lamberts located on section 27, and Biird on section 2, on the Peoria and Knoxville road. Mr. Lambert did not live long after his settlement here, and his sons, Isaac and Martin, carried on the farm. Of these early settlers, the heads of families are all either dead or have moved away, except the Kightlingers. Jacob Kightlinger and his -

The first couple married here were Moses Smith and Miss Tabitha George, in 1840. They were married by 'Squire Kightlinger. Mrs. Smith died at an early day, and her husband moved away. Mr. Kightlinger's children are all living but four, and all in the county but one, and this one is living in Peoria.

The first death was that of John King, who died in 1837, the year following his settlement. Mrs. Tabitha Smith, who was the first bride in the township, permanently established her reputation for enterprise by giving birth to the first child, which was very appropriately named after its progressive mother.

Jacob Kightlinger was the first man appointed to settled the legal disputes of his neighbors and to preserve the peace. The first post-office was opened at Kightlinger's house, where he officiated as Postmaster.

Vachel Metcalf taught the first school in the township, in 1840, in a private house. The Kighdingers had a teacher come to their house to instruct their children before this. Her name was Antoinette Walker. The first school- house was built by Jacob Kightlinger in 1842, on section 27.

Rev. S. S. Miles, of the Methodist Church, preached the first sermon at Mr. Lambert's, in 1839. Preachers would come along and services would be held here and at other houses on any day. After the school-house was erected, services were held there. In 1874 the Methodists put up a house of worship, and the year following the Presbyterians erected one for their use. The Methodist Church was dedicated in June of the same year, by President Evans, of Hedding College. These edifices were fine-looking frame buildings, and were quite an ornament to this part of the township, known as Elba Centre. The Methodist Episcopal Church has regular services at present. Rev. William Soape, pastor, with a fair congregation. No regular services are held at the Presbyterian Church.

township was also quite noted for its temperance movement. A lodge of Good Templars was organized here in 1867. It flourished for several years and a hall was built for its meetings. Finally interest in this movement died out, members dropped off, and in 1876 the building was sold and converted into a dwelling.

During the earlier days the people did their trading mostly at Farmington, Fulton County ; now Yates City gets most of the trade from this township. Elba is watered by French Creek and Swab Run, which empty into Spoon River; the latter stream also touches sections 6 and 7. Along these water-courses there is considerable timber, and the country is quite broken. About three-fourths of the townsiiip, however, is fine rolling prairie, with a rich, black, loamy soil. Fifty-two bushels of wheat to the acre have been raised here, and 75 busliels of oats.

|. the best townships in the county. Of later years more attention has been given to the raising of stock, which has been successful and profitable. In raising

The School Superintendent's report for 1885 furnishes the following items : There are eight school districts, all of which are ungraded. The school property was valued at $4,700; all the school-houses were frame. Of persons under 21 years of age there were 365, of whom 228 were of scholastic age ; 184 being enrolled. Tlie highest wages paid male teachers were $50 per month, and the lowest $35; the highest wages paid female teachers were $30, and the lowest $25.

Galesburg is in the middle of the western tier of towns'.iips, II north, of range i east, and is bounded on the north by Henderson, on the east by Knox, on the south by Cedar Township and on the west by Warren County. In its topography it is unexcelled by any township in the county. For the richness and productiveness of its soil it has no superior. The land is mostly rolling prairie, relieved occasionally by groves of timber, watered by a branch of Henderson Creek and a few other little streams of minor consequence. A great portion of this township was purchased by the Galesburg Colony, through their agents, who weresentout in 1835. Up to 1832 the territory now embraced by this township had not been molested by the genii of civilization, while settlements had been made in Henderson and Knox Townships. It was not long, however, destined to remain in this state ot peace and comfort, for soon Joseph Rowe appeared upon the scene and made a claim upon the extreme western end of the Knoxville grove. Here he commenced the improvement of a farm. This was subsequently owned by Isaac Hague. Joseph was joined the following spring by Isaiah Smelser, who made a location which was afterward owned by George Ratelin. During that year Gaddial Scott came in, locating where a certain point of Cedar Fork Grove enters into the township on section 3. In later years it was known as the " Barnett farm." He was soon afterward joined by Jack Nelson and Harvey A. Gregg, who pushed out from the belt of farms that surrounded the eastern and southern portions of Henderson Grove, and located on section 6. Allen Hodge joined them, locating on the same section. Later that year Edward Morse ventured out and made a location on the northeast quarter of section ^. T'l's was thought then to be goin^ out a good ways, and that he might not be lost sight of entirely by his neighbors he erected a high log cabin, which was very appropriately called by his friends, "Lighthouse of the Prairie." It has been known since as the " Luther Gay " place. The logs were covered over with a more modern dress of clapboards. About this period, or in 1834, strangers would be occasionally passing through, looking for a desirable location, and would be told by the settlers that the county was pretty well settled up and all the best lands taken, and there was nothing remaining but prairie land, which was so far from timber as to be useless except for grazing purposes or as a range for stock. The colony setders, who had located temporarily in Henderson Township - Log City - in 1836-37, moved into this township and began their labors. They, with the other families that had come in, made quite a settlement. Again a prosperous outlook seemed establishing for the future, and ere long proved itself As the histor)- of the city of Galesburg will largely include the history of this township, the reader is li referred to that part of this work. The farms in y the result of which is that this township has the best roads in the county. By virtue of the concentration of the railroad lines in the city of Galesburg, this township has more miles of railroad track than any other township. Its population, in 1880, according to the census reports, was 12,085, *nd since then it has been considerably increased. Below are given some items taken from the report of the County Superintendent for 1885. This report does not include the city of Galesburg :

The township has five school districts ; all the schools are ungraded, with frame buildings. The school property is valued at $4,700. There are two libraries, containing 40 volumes. Of persons under 21 years there were 251, of whom 183 were of school age, 149 being enrolled. The highest wages paid male teachers were $5° P^f month, the lowest $40; the highest wages paid female teachers were $40, and the lowest $30. The tax levy was $218,-

HIS township was organized under a special act of the Legislature, passed in 1867. Its territory lies within the corporate limits of the city of Galesburg. One of the objects, if not THE object, of the movers in the organization of this township was the securing of additional votes in the famous county-seat contest between Galesburg and Knoxville. The election for township oflSceis was held April i, 1867. After the counting of the ballots, it was found that W. S. Gale, Henr)' R. Sanderson, L. E. Conger, R. H. Whiting and Thomas McKee were elected Supervisors. Since then the following men have been chosen to represent the city on the Board of Supervisors : lif(N ekction was held tor the organization of this township April 5, 1853, which resulted ^jf " in the choice of the foUowing-naraed citizens for township oflScers ; Wm. M. Clark, Supervisor; Woodford Pearce, Clerk; Isaac I Lotts, Assessor; Joseph Harshberger, Collector; John S. Linn and Enoch Godfrey, Justices of the Peace ; Benson Simpkins, A. L. Rainbro and Milton Lotts, Highway Commissioners; Geo. Wolf, Overseer of the Poor ; Geo. Pickeral and Wm. Lewis, Constables.

Its railway facilities are good, having the Peoria Branch of the C. B. & Q. R. R., which runs about northwest and southeast across the western portion, entering from the north, on the southwest comer of section 6, and goes out on the southeast corner of section 33.

Parnach Owen, his widowed mother and two sisters, from Ohio, were the first settlers in this township, who arrived in September, 1829. locating on section 18. By a person settling down now in the midst of advanced civilization, with all the modern conveniences of travel, this journey can hardly be appreciated. But this widow, to start out on this long journey with her little family, with all the inconveniences and hardships attending the traveler into a strange and unsettled country, must have pos essed the courage of a commander. The only other settlement then in this county was at Henderson. After Knoxville was laid out, and a settlement was made, this family moved there. Pamach Owen took a prominent part in the early affairs of the county. He was an extensive land dealer and speculator, and at one time owned large tracts of land in the county. He moved to Iowa, where he died. His mother died at Knoxville. One of his sisters married Dr. Rice, of Lewistown, and the other John G. Sanbum. About the. next settler to locate in Haw Creek was James Nevitt, in the early part of 1832. Among the early settlers were Woodard Pearce, David Teal, David Housh, Joshua Burnett, Jacob Harshberger, Linneus Richmond and W. W. Dickerson. Pearce settled on section 12 and is now residing in Gilson. Teal located on section 8. He aftenvard moved to Jasper County, Mo., where he died. Joseph Godfrey, from Ohio, with family, came in 1834 and located .a claim. He and his wife died soir.e years ago. Housh entered a claim on section 19; at one time he was in business in Maquon. He died in this township. Burnett also entered a claim on section 19, where he lived and died. Harshberger settled on section 15, where he lived and died.

The first child bom in the township was a son to the wife of James Nevitt, who was named Charles, in 1832. Eleanor Jarnagin died durinj; the winter of 1834, which was the first death. That distinguished divine, Peter Cartwright, gave the pioneer settlement its first sermon, in 1831. A school-house was built on section 8, in 1836, and the first school taught here the same year by Susan Dempsey. They were not very early in erecting a house of worship in Haw Creek, the first one being put up by the Methodists in 1864, on section 17.

Haw Creek is a fine township; the lands are rich and generally well cultivated, and the majority of the farm buildings are good. It is a large stock-raising township, being the first in the raising of sheep and third in cattle and horses. Most of the trading and marketing is done in Maquon and Gilson. In 1880 the population, according to the United States census, was 1,049, and it is about the same at the present time.

According to the County Superintendent's report for 18S5, Haw Creek has eight school districts, with one graded and seven ungraded schools, and the school property was valued at §6,540, all the schoolhouses being frame. Of persons under 21 years of age there were 451, of whom 319 were of school age, 275 being enrolled. The highest wages paid male teachers were $50 per month, the lowest $25 ; the

From the Assessor's report for 1885 the following items are obtained: Number of acres of improved land, 22,737; value of improved lands, $321,643; value of lots, $10,699 ; number of horses, 950 ; number of cattle, 2,579; number of mules and asses, 94 ; number of sheep, 1,057; number of hogs, 2,392; number of steam engines, 10; number of carriages and wagons, 210; number of clocks and watches, 10 ; number of pianos, 5 ; melodeons and organs, 36 ; total value of personal property, $79,593.

'his little hamlet is located on the northwest corner of section 7, Haw Creek Township, and was laid out by Linneus Richmond, July 10, 1857. It is on the Peoria Branch of the C, B. & Q. R. R. and the station was built very soon after the road was ' completed. Around this town the first settlement of the township was made. There are some fair business houses here, which are supported by the local trade of the township, and also by some parts of Orange and Persifer Townships. The population of the place is about 250.