Grandview Township

Grandview Township

This town was laid out in 1831, by and for James M. Archer. A considerable population had already settled along the branches of Big Creek and along the timber skirting the branches of the Embarrass River, in Kansas Township. Also some settlements had been made in what is now Embarrass Township. F urther south, in Clark County, was a wide scope of country which had received some accessions of population, and which was unprovided with a trading-point. The location of the village was, at that time, deemed a good one for business, and immediately quite a number of enterprising business men settled here and began opening up their different classes of trade. Milton Archer is said to have had a small stock of goods for sale prior to the laying-out of the town, but, as soon as the plat of the town was made, Col. Smith came in and opened up quite an extensive store, and soon after W. K. Payne, now a resident of Ashmore, in Coles County, began selling goods. Other establishments of various kinds fol¬ lowed, and the town showed signs of prosperity. It grew in population, size and importance, not rapidly, but gradually and surely, until there were at one time as many as six general stores of respectable size, and other classes of trade in proportion. It was indeed the rival of Paris, or of any other town in this part of the State. Its hotel was the best ; its stores were the finest ; its churches were the most flourishing, and its people the most enterprising. . It is not easy to conceive what the future of the embryo city might have been, had not an untoward event, which broke down many villages and built up many more, have come to pass. In 1853, the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad was built through thik county, and being located at a few miles' distance from the place, effectually stopped further investment or improvement in the then flourishing village. Probably but few finer locations could be found for a town, than the site occupied by Grand View; and, had the road been built on the line first selected, we should not have been called upon to record the many disappointed hopes consequent upon its partial failure. Even yet, with its disadvantage of having no railroad facilities, it is a desirable little place for a quiet home and good society. Of course there is now comparatively a small amount of business done here, there being but one general store, and other branches of trade in proportion. Henry C. Wilson has recently built a very fine, substantial brick storehouse, and in this he keeps a general variety of goods. Besides the insti¬ tutions already mentioned, the town contains one of historic interest, and one which deserves more than passing notice. It is doubtful if in the whole State of Illinois, there are a half-dozen temperance organizations that can boast an age co-extensive with the one we find here, Grand View Division, No. 95, of the Sons of Temperance was established here in 1848, has kept up its organi¬ zation to the present date, and with the exception of the last two years has met regularly every week. In that period, some of the original members, then young men, have really grown old. Some of the first members of the society were J. B. Brown, J. M. Gilbert, Cyrus Goodale, J. A. Brown, Thomas S. Sluss, David Murphy and W. K. Payne. It is said that these were not all tem¬ perate men at the organization, but that some of them were so much under the influence of strong drink that they really felt the need of the assistance that they felt they could obtain from their brethren in an organized effort of this kind, and thus the society was formed. The results of this action on their part was of the most beneficial character, and the continued effect on the community has been to transform a community almost universally addicted to the habit of liquor-drinking, into one of total abstinence.

During the thirty years of its existence, the society has accumulated a con¬ siderable amount of property. At first, the meetings were held in the dwellings of its members, but, as it grew in numbers and importance, the erection of a building suitable to their uses was decided upon and erected. Besides the pay¬ ment of all claims on the building, a considerable amount of money has been gathered up and loaned for the benefit of the institution. A movement is now on foot for the purchase of an extensive free library, and in this way it is designed to add to the morality of the community another beneficence - general intelligence.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows of this village and vicinity pro¬ cured from the Grand Lodge of this Order, in 1876, a charter empowering them to open a lodge at this place. The original or charter members were E. Swartz, H. B. Hutton, J. A. Gano, L. M. Bratton, John Allen, H. C. Wilson, I. J. Wilson, J. M. Tate, John C; Sims and John A. Walz. They have a very nice lodge-room - the second story of H. C. Wilson's store-room, 50x22 feet, and nicely furnished with the paraphernalia necessary for use in exemplifying the mysteries of the institution.

The present officers of Grand View Lodge, No. 614, are: L. M. Bratton, N. G.; Charles Allen, V. G.; W. W. Smith, Secretary; John A. Walz, Treasurer; John Allen, Per. Sec. The meetings of the Lodge are on Saturday evening of each week.

Village Of Dudley

The failure of Grand View was the foundation for another town which should rise with the completion of the railroad already mentioned, and no sooner was the road located, than a movement was made to start a town in the northern part of the township, on that line. The land on which the village of Dudley now stands was originally owned by John Cline. After the death of Cline, the land was sold at auction, and R. B. Sutherland became its owner. When the railroad was ascertained to be a fixed fact, Sutherland caused it to be laid out into town lots. It was surveyed and platted by Edward Wolcott, County Surveyor, November 2T, 1855. Prior to this date, there was only one house inside of what is now the plat of Dudley. Alexander A. Young had built where he now resides, and his house may well be regarded as the first house in the village. The first house erected, after the town was laid out, was by Thomas Langford, who was then living just a little way north of the station. This was a store building, and into it he placed a stock of general merchandise, and kept it for sale. The second house erected was the hotel-building, now kept by William Grismer. This building was put up by John Shultz, for the purpose to which it has ever since been put, and was kept by him, as a hotel, for fourteen years. Following these improvements, were a dwelling and store by R. B. Sutherland. Very soon after, M. Shrader built a dwelling and store¬ house. Aaron Norton built the property now occupied by the Yowell family, and, from that time, dwellings, stores, shops and other buildings of various kinds, sprang up all around in such number that it would require more space than is at our command to record all of them. Mr. Norton was appointed first Post¬ master, and kept the office for a time in the house just named. A school was soon in demand, and a small frame building for this purpose was erected, and William Ramsey was installed as first teacher. Dr. Mark Rowe, who still resides here, was the first resident physician. The town has improved, not so rapidly as some others in the county, but it can be set dowm as a 'place of more than ordinary thrift and solidity. The population of Dudley, at present, is about three hundred.

Among the institutions of Dudley not already mentioned in the township history, we notice a nice, two-storv frame schoolhouse, which has taken the place of the original little affair in which Prof. Ramsey formerly held forth. We also notice a fine brick building in the western part of the business portion of town, the upper story of which is dedicated to the practice of the mysteries known only to that Ancient Order whose professed principles are Friendship, Morality and Brotherly Love. Grand View Lodge, No. 198, A., F. & A. M., was once one of the institutions of the village of Grand View, and was estab¬ lished there in 1856. Its charter members were William S. Yanmeter, T. J. Langford, Thomas M. Smith, Ira R. Langford, Jefferson Shrader, John 0. Worster and Lewis Shrader, the first three of which were respectively the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens. In 1870, the brethren of Dudley and vicinity, then outnumbering those of Grand View, resolved upon its removal, and in December of that year the removal was accomplished. The quarters of the society are owned by the Lodge, and consist of an elegant room, 22x70 feet in size, and fitted up in good taste. The present officers are: Robert Dean, W. M. ; Mark Rowe, S. W.; John A. Walz, J. W.; G. N. Humphrey, Secretary; Jefferson Shrader, Treasurer; Z. F. Shultz, S. D. ; George L. Gorham, J. D. ; and D. C. Shultz, Tiler. The present member¬ ship of the Lodge is thirty-eight. Meetings are held on Tuesday evenings, on or before the full moon of each month. In connection with the Lodge is organized a society denominated the Eastern Star, an order to which ladies - the wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of the brethren in good standing - are admitted.

Village Of Conlogue

This is a station on the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, in the north¬ eastern part of the township. It was formerly called Walnut Grove Station, from the fine rows of trees of that variety stretching off toward the south ; but when the town was laid out, and it was ascertained that there was already one post office in the State by the name of Walnut Grove, it was changed to its present name. The town was laid out for Preston Rudy, by George Anthony, County Surveyor, in September of 1864. The town at present consists of one store, post office and a few other shops and dwellings. T. W. Dawson is pro¬ prietor of the store and acts as Postmaster. J. P. Snyder, of Buck Township, handles grain and stock.