Fancy Creek Township

Fancy Creek Township

This township when originally organized in 1861, was named Power township, in honor of George Power, one of the oldest and most influential citizens residing in it. Objections were raised to its being thus named for one who was still living, and a petition was circulated praying the Board of Supervisors to change the name and suggesting Fancy Creek as a proper name, after its principal creek. The name was thus given it.

The soil of the township is a deep black loam, especially along the banks of the Sangamon river, Fancy and French creeks, by which it is watered. The surface of the country is gener- rolling, and timber in large quantities can be found on the banks of the streams. Originally the township was one-half timber, much of which has been cleared away, though the quantity is as great as ever.

Early Settlers

The date of the first settlement in what is now Fancy Creek township, was 1819. Among the earliest settlers were Stephen England and his son David, William Higgins, John Cline, Robert McClelland, Levi, Wyatt and William G. Cantrall, Thomas Constant, John Strode, George Power, EliphaletHawley, John Bracson, Aquilla Davis, Thomas Hargis, Thomas Strawbridge, Garrett Elkin, William F. Elkin, Thomas Brown and Andrew Clamo.

Stephen England was born June 12, IV^S, in Virginia. His pai'ents removed to Bath county, Kentucky. Stephen was there married about 1Y91, to Anna Harper. In 1813, the family moved to Ohio, and in the fall of 1818, to Madison county, Illinois. The following winter Stephen England, with two of his sons-in-laAv, came up to the San-ga-ma country to explore it. The nearest habitation to where Springfield now stands, was on the south bank of the Sangamon river, near Avheie the Chicago and Alton railroad crosses. They found a man named William Higgins living in a cabin there, which he had built in January, 1819. They remained over night with Mr. Higgins, and crossed to the north side of the river, each selecting a spot on which to make a home. In order to prevent others who might come after from choosing the same ground, they cut a few logs, laid them across each other in three piles, and each man cut his initials on a tree near by, as evidence thai the land was claimed. That was near what was soon called Higgins' creek, but is now called Cantrall's creek. They returned to their families, and early in March, 1819, Stephen England, his son David, his sons-in-law, Andrew Cline and Wyatt Cantrall, returned to their claims for the purpose of commencing improvements. The night after their arrival snow, fell about one foot deep, and the weather was colder than it had been at any time during the winter. They commenced work, and Mr. England and his son soon had their house up, roofed, and the door and chimney place cut out. The other two men had their materials on the ground. By that time the melting snow warned them that they must cross the river at once, or they might be delayed several weeks. They returned to their families, and attempted to move them, but the ground was so soft from melting snow that their teams were unequal to the task of drawing the wagons with their heavy loads, and they again left their families. The same men returned, accompanied by two of the daughters of Mr. England. They then completed their houses, cleared land, planted their crops, and returned to Madison county for their families, bringing them to their new homes about the first of June, 1819.

solemnized quite a number of marriages in that early day, one of whom was Philo Beers and Martha Stillman, November 2. 1820, which was for a long time supposed to have been the first in Sangamon county. A couple once came to him from Fort Clark, now Peoria, to get married, and as they did not care to go to Edwai'dsville for a license, their intentions were advertised for ten days, when Mr. England performed the ceremony.

William Higgins was born in Barren county, Kentucky, in 1774, and in 1817, moved with his family to St. Clair county, Illinois. He started with his lamily, in the fall of 1818, to the Sanga-ma country. They stopped on Sugar creek, with the Drennans, until January or February, 1819, when they moved about fifteen miles north, and built a cabin on the south side of the Sangamon river, above where the Chicago & Alton railroad now crosses. While he was living in camp, before his cabin was completed, himself and wife crossed to the north side of the river on horseback. They were belated, and spent one night in the river bottom, near the mouth of Fancy creek. A few days later, Mr. Higgins went to the north side alone, found five bee trees, and killed a panther which measured nine feet from tip to tip. He went over soon after, accompanied by his wife and two daughters, one of whom is now (1876) the wife of David England. These three are believed to have been the first white women who ever crossed to the north of the river, in what is now Sangamon county. Stephen England and his two sons-inlaw came on their exploring expedition, and stopped with Mr. Higgins, who accompanied them to the north side, and led the way to the vicinity of where Cantrall now stands, and all four selected sites for improvement.

John Cline was from Ohio, though a Virginian by birth. In 1819, he prepared to visit the western country on horseback. Levi Cantrall was about moving to Illinois, and Mr. Cline engaged to drive his four-horse team, and they arrived in the American bottom in November. Mr. Cantrall purchased a supply of corn there, and moved to what became Sangamon county, arriving in December, 1819, in what is now Fancy Creek township. Mr. Cline drove the team, and arrived at the same time. He intended returning to Ohio in the spring, but when the time came he decided to raite a crop, and while thus engaged he was married, July 20, 1820, to Mrs. Lucy Scott, whose maiden name was Eng- Jand.

Levi Cantrall was born October 1, 1787, in Botetourt county, Virginia. He was taken by his parents in 1789 to that part of Mercer which afterwards became Bath county, Kentucky. He was there married November 30, 1809, to Fanny England. They moved to Madison county, Illinois, in October, 1819; moved on and arrived where Springfield now stands, December 4, 1819, and reached the north side of the river, in what is now Fancy Creek township, on the fifth, made the selection of a location on the seventh, and commenced building a cabin December 8, 1819.

Thomas Constant, a Virginian by birth, resided in Kentucky for many years, and was there married to Margery Edmonson. They subsequently moved to Ohio, and in the fall of 1820, to what is now Fancy Creek township.

The first winter that any white men spent in the township was unusually severe. Levi Cantrail, before his death, stated that the cabin he commenced December 8, 1819, about half a mile west of the present town of Cantrall, the mortar froze so that he could not plaster it. December 24, 1819, snow began to fall, and continued one snow after another until it was two feet deep on a level. The weather continued intensely cold, and a company of seven men started to the American Bottom, for provisions. They were Levi and Wyatt Cantrall, Alexander and Henry Crawford, M. Holland, a Mr. Kellogg and John Dixon, who afterward founded the city of Dixon, Illinois. They loaded their wagons with flour and meal, and started home on the 18th, and on the 20th rain commenced falling. The rain and melting snow set the whole country afloat, and when they reached the Sangamon river it was too full to cross. They sent back to Kelly's - where Springfield now stands - for tools, and obtained an axe and grubbing hoe. With these they made a canoe, and reached home twenty-one days from the time of starting. On the 6th of May, 1820, the frost killed the growing corn. The settlers thought of moving back south, but

Educational

The early settlers of Fancy Creek did not wait long before they secured the services of a schoolmaster. In the winter of 1820-21, the men living within a radius of several miles gathered together and erected a log school house. It required but little time to finish the building, as the cracks only required to be -" chinked," greased paper being used for window lights, and no plastering was required. James Bellows was the first teacher. The house was located on section sixteen, a short distance east of the graveyard known as Britton's. Sixty years have since passed and improvements have been made in the educational facilities of the settlers in Fancy Creek township. The old log school house has long since given place to the modern frame building, and the subscription school where the teacher "boarded 'round" among the scholars is now unknown. The present free school system now furnishes a good English education to rich and poor alike - to all who will avail themselves of its advantages. There are now in the township seven school houses, valued at |5,800.

Religious

The religious element in the life of a pioneer bas often been commented upon by the historian and essayist. There is something grand about it. The great, rough man, who feared no one save his God, with simple, child-like faith, toiling early and late, making many and great sacrifices for the sake of his family, and yet trusting implicitly in the pi'omise of an all-wise God. Stephen England was a Baptist minister in Kentucky, and when he brought his family to the new settlement, the people having planted their crops, wished to have religious services, so Mr. England announced that he would preach at his own house late in June, or early in July, 1819. Everybody in the entire settlement came. Two women walked five miles through the grass, wnich was almost as high as their heads. The husband of one of them walked and carried their babe. That was the first sermon ever preached north of the Sangamon river in this county, and probably in Central Illinois. Mr. England organized a church May 15, 1820, at his own house. There were eight members besides himself. The names of the persons con stituting the church were Stephen England and Anna, his wife; .Techoniah Langston and Nancy, his wife; Levi Cantrall and Fannie, his wife; Mrs. Adelphia Wood, Mrs. Sarah Cantrall, the wife of Wyatt Cantrall, Mrs. Lucy Scott (daughter of Mr. England,) afterwards Mrs. Cline. That was the first church organized in Sangamon county, and the organization has never been broken It is now known as Antioch Christian Church, and composed at present of about ninety members. It is occupying its third house of worship, which is a handsome wooden edifice situated within the limits of Cantrall. Elder Stephen England was pastor of the church until his death, in 1823.

There are now in the township five church organizations - one Christian, one Baptist, one Methodist Episcopal, one Southern Methodist Episcopal,

The Antioch Christian Church was organized May 15, 1820, a number of professed Christians meeting together and signing the following agreement:

"We, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ, being Providentially moved from our former place of residence from distant parts, and being baptised on profession of our faith, and met at the house of brother Stephen England, on a branch of Higgins' creek, in order to form a constitution, having first given ourselves to the Lord, and then to one another, agree that our constitution shall be on the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, believing them to be the only rule of faith and practice."

The first house of worship was one of logs erected in 182R, shortly before the death of Stephen England, on land owned by Mr. Britton. This church was erected after the manner of the first school houses, the neighbors gathering and erecting it because of its necessity. This house was used for a few years, when a more pretentious frame building was erected, which was used for a number of years. In the fall of 1872, the present church edifice was erected in the village of Cantrall, at a cost of $1,600, but on which several hundred dollars were subsequently expended in its improvement.

Elder Stephen England was the first pastor of the church and served until his death, in 1823, since which time at intervals the following named have served: James Hughes, George Sargent, Ebenezer Rhodes, William Snodgrass, Rev. Trimble, John Powell, Rev. Balls, Sr., John Hughes, Rev. Walter Balls, Rev. Morrow, Rev. Sweet, Michael Engle, George. Allkire, Robert Foster, Joel Hughes, John England, James Scott, AndreAV Scott, William Mallory, John Wilson, John Lemon, William Hally,

David England was the first elder elected, and has served the church for nearly sixty years. Carlisle H. Canterberry served for many years, until his death. The present active eldership is composed of Henry H. England, Carlisle Mitts and John J. Stevens. The present membership is one hundred and eight.

Bethel Baptist Church

The church was organized November, 1826, as near as can be ascertained from the records. It goes to show the original members were Michael Mann, Elizabeth Mann, Nicholas Steele, Isabella Stelle, Samuel Howe, Mary Howe, Charles Allsbury, Jane Allsbury, Margaret Stevens and John Crowder. The first pastor is supposed to have been Michael Mann. The first ordained Deacon was Charles Allsbury, and the same year William Keener was also ordained by Elders Bowman and Roberts. The first association held with this church was in the barn of John Dunlap. A house of worship thirty-two by twenty-six was erected in 1832, at a cost of $500 It was a frame building and erected at a time when everything was much cheaper than at present. The present ofiicers of the church are as follow^s: Elder William J. Wheeler, Pastor; Henry Nave, Deacon; John R. Dunlap, Clerk. The meetings are held the fourth Saturday and Sunday in each month.

The Methodist Episcopal congregation, meeting at the Strode school house, ha« been in existance about a half century. After John Strode settled in the neighborhood, his house was a preaching place where such men as Cartwright, B. Randall, J. G. Barger, and L. C. Kimber preached at different times. Since 1 856, the following named have served as pastors: W. F. Bennett, J. Taylor, Joseph Lane, A'. C. McDougall, G. B. Wolfe, H. C. Wallace, Mr. Demotte, S. M. Crags, Peter Stigle, C. Arnold, G. D. Furber, G. B. Goldsmitt, W. S. Clark, M. McK. Gooding, A. B. McElfresh, M. Finity, W. R. Carr, J. M. Eckman, W. W. Curnutt. The more recent Presiding Elders have been, W. S. Prentice, W. H. Webster, W. McK. McElfresh, J. L. Crane, Peter Cartwright, Peter Akers and W. H. H. Moore. Regular meetings for preaching and for class purposes, are held in the Strode school house.

The First Birth First Death

A young child of Jechoniah Langston died in the fall of 1819, being the first death in the township. It was buried near w^here Stephen England settled, and around its grave others were afterwards interred, and being near the residence of Mr. Britton, it was given the name of Britton's Graveyard.

Levi Cantrall built a horse mill in the fall of 1820. It was a band mill, with a wheel fortyfeet in diameter. It was the first mill ever built north of the Sangamon river, and people came thirty miles or more to mill. Mr. Cantrall, subsequently built a water mill on Cantrall's creek, near the present town of Cantrall. It did sawing and grinding.

True To Their Country

In the War of the Rebellion Fancy Creek township nobly did its duty without resorting to draft, or even levying a tax to pay a special bounty in order to secure enlistments.

Tannery

One of the first, if not the first orchards planted in the township, was by George Power, shortly after his arrival. On his place there is now an apple tree about eleven feet in circumference which was planted in 1824. From limb to limb it is sixty feet. It is, doubtless, the largest and jjrobably the oldest tree in the county,

Organic

Fancy Creek township was organized at the same time the county adopted the township organization law, and its first election was held the first Monday in April 1861.

Reminiscence

In 1870, David England, now the oldest citizen in Fancy Creek township, delivered an address at the Old Settlers' meeting, at Clear Lake, in which he expressed his gratitude that he had been able to attend the meeting, and to meet so many of his old acquaintances again. They had all met to talk over old and new times and things, and he would go further back than his own time. His father came to St. Louis at an early day and from thence to Edwardsville, where he wintered.

Not liking the country he came to what is now Sangamon county, after having received a glowing description from a man who had visited it. This was in 1818. His father came and examined the country in the vicinity of Cantrall's creek, and was pleased with all he saw. When his father came through where Springfield now is, there were no signs of inhabitants, and no tracks except those of wild beasts. His father built a log house sixteen by eighteen feet, and then returned to Edwardsville for his family. Not being able to move them, he returned and put in a crop. His father's family afterwards came in July. His father plowed the first corn north of the Sangamon river. Indians were their only neighbors at this time. About 1819,8everal neighbors came in and took up land. When they first came to this country the price of salt was 86 per bushel, and pork |o to |6 per hundred pounds, while shortly after this pork would not bring $1.50 per hundred, for really they had no market for their produce. They had an abundance of everything to eat, but were obliged to raise their own cotton and make their own clothing. His father preached the first sermon on that side of the river, and a woman walked six miles and brought a child the entire distance. His father was a good gunner and they had plenty to eat. It was one of the best countries in the world until 1831. Previous to that time they raised plenty of cotton without cultivation - all they wanted - but after the deep snow, which all the old men remembered, there was a change in the climate, and it has not been the same since, as every old settler can testify. His father had to go to mill at a place about four miles this side of St. Louis, but soon after a man put up a mill near by, which was a "band mill" and driven by horse power. They ground their grain with their own horse. In this connection he referred to the fact that his father had fixed np a cotton gin, which consisted of two rollers which were turned by hand. After the deep snow there was a great change and corn did not grow well, and it was the same with cotton; in fact, other crops did not grow as well as before that noted event. The first butter made in his father's family was made with a churn which was cut from a log, the bottom of the churn being nailed in. It was made from a buckeye log. The first wheat they sent in was in 1819, and they got one bushel per day for a day's work. He once worked, reaping, three days, and got three bushels of wheat in payment. In cultivating the ground they used the old-fashioned shovel plow, and the first year they got about half a 105 - crop, but the next year the yield was nearly sixty bushels per acre. At this time the flies would sometimes so trouble the horses and the oxen that the animals had to be driven to the timi er, and sometimes a fire had to be kindled to drive the flies away. In those days when people wanted to get married they either had to go to Edwardsville for a marriage license, or have their intentions posted in a public place ten days before the event.