Goose Creek Township

Goose Creek Township

GOOSE Creek township lies northwest of Monticello township, and is bounded on the north by Blue Ridge township, on the east by Sangamon, on the south by Monticello and Willow Branch, and on the west by De Witt county. The western boundary line is quite uneven, so that De Witt county bounds a small portion of the township on the north. The township contains about fifty-six sections of land, finely located for farming. It has, in addition to a large amount of tillable land, a good deal of timbered ground.

It is well drained by both Goose creek and Friends creek. The main course of the former-named stream is from the northwest to the southeast, and it empties into the Sangamon river at almost exactly the southeastern corner of the township. This creek derived its name from the fact that two wild geese had their nests in the tops of trees which were on the banks of the stream. These geese had their nests here for a number of successive seasons. The western part of the township is drained by Friends creek, another branch of the Sangamon. The land along these streams is slightly rolling, while, as it recedes from them it is comparatively flat. There is but a very small portion of the township now that is untillable.

There is but one railroad in this township. The Havana branch of the Chicago division of the Wabash railway enters the township at almost exactly the middle point of the eastern boundary line, angles northwest for about one mile, and then extends almost due west, entering De Witt county about five miles north of the southern boundary line of Goose Creek township.

The first settlements of this township have already been referred to. The first cabin on Goose creek was built near the present residence of George Varner. The Olneys were early settlers, and we think that Mr. and Mrs. Olney, who were buried just north of where Mrs. M. J. Marquiss lives, were the first who died in the township. Mr. Abraham Marquiss and sons followed the Olneys in making settlement. Ezra Marquiss, Sr., has lived longer in Goose Creek township than any other person. 'Tis going on fifty years since he first set foot on

Goose creek soil. William Piatt and wife are the next oldest residents. The Welches were also early settlers, as was also Mr. Richard Hubbart. We might mention other comparatively early settlers, but sketches of the most of them appear further on.

De Land, - This township has but one town, which is situated on the Havana Branch railroad, about four miles from the eastern boundary line of the township. This is an enterprising place of over 300 inhabitants. It has already made a rapid growth and bids fair to keep on growing. According to the surveyor's certificate, De Land was laid out for Thomas E. Bondurant on the 23d and 25th days of April, and the 20th and 21st days of May, 1873, and is situated on the JST.W. i Sec. 9, T. 19 K, R 5 E. 3d P. M.

According to Thomas Bondurant, S. C. Langdon owned the first dwelling house in De Land. Mr. Langdon was the first station agent, and was the first postmaster, which position he still holds. Richard Tilson says he moved the first dwelling into De Land. In the fall of 1873 R. B. Moody and John Yail built a store where the latter had had the first store of the place. Dr. J. A. Davis was the first physician in the town, Dr. H. M. Harrison was next, and then Dr. Wood came. Dr. William T. Ward was the first neighborhood physician, but he never lived in the town. Dr. J. R. Gardiner WPS in the place for a short time.

De Land of to-day contains two churches, a school building, and about fifteen business firms. Quite a number of new residences have been erected the past year, and Moody & Rodman have recently put up an elevator having a capacity for 30,000 bushels of grain. T. E. Bondurant is erecting a commodious dwelling, which bids fair to be the finest residence of the place. -

Goose Cree'k township has reason to be proud of its one town, which has sprung up so rapidly, and the citizens of the place are welldeserving of praise for their part in its growth.

Union Church. - The following items were obtained from Mr. Moody. The Christian and Protestant Methodists joined forces for the erection of a new church, and the meeting for the election of the trustees was held September 25, 1875. A. R. Borton was chairman, and J. P. Van Vickie, secretary. The following were made trustees, the first three of whom were chosen on the building committee : A. R. Borton, T. E. Bondurant, R. B. Moody, Jacob Mansfield, K B. Moberly. Robert Bryden and M. D. Marvel. The location for the church was chosen in block 2, lots 13 and 14, and the church building, which cost $2, TOO, was built by Meredith & Roberts, of Monticello, and was completed July 15, 1876. The church was dedicated July 23, 1877, and Elder Moppin, of the Christian church, and J. M. May all, president of the North Illinois conference of the P. M. church, were present. The following ministers of the P. M. church have preached in DeLand : Rev. D. Ackerman, Rev. J. W. Kidd, Rev. Chas. Slack. and Rev. L. S. Hitchins. The Christian ministers are Rev. Moppin, Rev. Samuel Lowe, Rev. Jas. Seaton and Elder Robinson.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - This organization was transferred from the Ashland school-house to DeLand about 1874, while Mr. Winjterbottom was minister. On the 24th of March, 1879, a meetingwas held to see about the building of the present church building. R. B. Moody, Salem Kesler, Joel H. Rhinehart, Jno. W. Cyphers, Jacob Stults (deceased), were appointed trustees. The building was erected under the management of a building committee, who employed workmen by the day. It cost $2,250, and was dedicated February 7, 1880, by Rev. Hiram Buck. J. D. Bodkin was the first minister in the new church, and H. C. Turner was the second. There has been a Sunday-school in connection with the church ever since the transfer to De Land. At tirst it was a Union Sunday-school, which was held in a hall, and. then in the Union church. Under the charge of Rev. Bodkin a Methodist Sunday-school was organized in the Methodist church.

Kentucky School-house. - The ground for the Kentucky schoolhouse was donated by Rev. Johnson for both church and school purposes. At present three denominations hold services there : a congregation of Germans who are Baptists, the Mission Baptists, and a United Brethren minister preaches every two weeks. Sometimes there are three sermons and two standay schools on a Sunday. The German Baptists have a regular church organization, and I. C. Dosher is their present minister. They have bought some land for their minister, but at present rent a place for him. He has what he can make off the place and is paid some besides. This is a small congregation, but is certainly an enthusiastic one, or so much would not be done for their minister. There is talk of a church being built by donation.

Source changes here: from Past and Present of Piatt County, Illinois : Together with Biographical Sketches of Many Prominent and Influential Citizens, by McIntosh, Charles, published 1903; 75 words in this source stream.

Goose Creek Township

The first school house erected in Goose Creek township was a log house near where the Piatt school house now stands. George A. Patterson was the first teacher. The next school established in the township was the Morain school. These were both large schools, the average attendance being from sixty to eighty pupils.

Mount Vernon, Wisegarver, Western, Fairview. Pleasant Falls, Harmony, Piatt Morain, Ashland, Prospect, Enterprise, Kentucky. The Kentucky school house was built in 1902.