Greene Township

Greene Township

Greene Township has many interesting physical and geological features. The central part from east to west is a wide plateau, which is drained north to Edwards River and south to Pope Creek. The latter extends from east to west through the southern tier of sections and the former touches the few sections in the northwest. The township is well drained, has a good soil and the farmers raise large crops of grain, hay, etc. Of course the surface deposits belong to the quarternarv period; that is, alluvium, loess and drift. The drift here consists mostly of brown and blue clays, mixed often with sand, gravel and small pebbles and is spread over the entire surface of the township. Bowlders or metamorphic rocks lie scattered here and there mostly along the streams. The coal measures are the most valuable products of the soil. Bed No. 3 consists of limestone, sandstone, clay, shale and coal, and altogether have a thickness of from 100 to 1 qo feet. A well bored near Viola did not pass through the formation after 130 feet. Three seams of coal have been found and worked in the township - Nos. 3, 2 and 1 - 3 and 1 have been most extensively mined. The former has been found thus far on sections 31, 32 and perhaps others. Messrs. Martin, Morrow and others mined this bed at an early date. No. 2 was worked by them also. No. 3 is the thickest and contains coal of the best quality. It varies from three to five feet in thickness and furnishes an excellent fuel coal. Coal No. 2 is too thin a vein in this township to make profitable working. It has been mined on sections 23, 27, 31 and elsewhere. Almost the entire township contains these beds and in the end the township is bound to reap enormous wealth from marketing the product. It is in the shales adjoining these coal beds that the valuable fossils peculiar to the coal measures are found here. Coal No. 1 stretches across the township from east to west and is only a part of the great Edwards River seam. It has been mined extensively already on sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12. In recent years although a great deal is mined yet very little is taken out for shipping purposes. The mines are worked for local use mainly. In this township is found an excellent quality of whitish or pale blue clay, which is found to be first class for potter's work. This and other similar deposits are found in several places. Connected with coal No. i is a valuable bed of blue limestone, which upon being burned, furnishes a good quality of lime. However, it has to be sorted and screened carefully owing to impurities. Connected with coal No. 2 are valuable sandstone, parts of which though light at first, become yellowish upon exposure to the air and thus become very hard and serviceable. Several large quarries have been opened in the township and an inexhaustible supply of rock can be had. The limestone connected with coal No. 1 is drab colored and somewhat impure. It varies from eight to fifteen feet in thickness. It has been mined and used to some extent.

The first settler in this township was David Williams, who located on section 14, in 1836. About the same time William Terry arrived from New York and entered 440 acres, 160 of which were entered in his son's name. In 1837 Mathew McChesney made a permanent settlement in this township and about the same time Thomas Weir located on section 9. In the spring of 1837 John Collins came from Ohio and first located near the present site of Joy, but in 1839 moved to section 15, this township. He built a log cabin and occupied it for a number of years. His son William P. was another early settler. John Cowden arrived the same year and took up a claim on section 17. About the same time William Brownlee located on the same section and John Linn within a short distance of the latter. A little later Elijah Stewart bought the claim of David Williams. About the same time John Carnahan, Sr., came from Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and located on section 18, this township. He had two sons, William and David, and a son-in-law, Frank Anderson, all of whom also located near the elder Carnahan. William Pinkerton arrived in 1840 and took up a claim on section 18. At the same time John Walker arrived and established a home near by. In 1839 the Park family, of which there were several members, became residents of this section of the county. Other early settlers were George McPherren, Matthew Doak and Henry Griffin. Mr. Durston was another early settler. It is maintained that his son Charles was the first white child born in the township. William Terry stated a short time before his death, not many years ago, that he had seen on Pope Creek Bottoms as many as fifty deer in one drove, and that lynx and wolves were very plentiful and extremely annoying. He said that the first religious service he attended was in the cabin of James Mann, in North Henderson Township. At that

By 1840 there were probably twenty settlers in the township and by 1850 almost all the valuable land was taken up. By that date schools and churches were well organized and the people were in much better circumstances than they had been ten years before. Under the law of the early '50s Greene Township was organized and named for Gen. Nathaniel Greene of the Revolution. The name was suggested by John Collins. The first town meeting was held in a schoolhouse which stood near the present Village of Viola. John Collins served as chairman; Uri Smith as moderator; and Henry Hoagland as secretary. The following officers were then elected by ballot: Elisha Miles, supervisor; Henry Hoagland, town clerk; William P. Collins, assessor; John Frazier, overseer of the poor; Alexander McGauhey, collector; Samuel E. Russell, John H. Park, and David Summerville, Jr., commissioners of highways. William T. McGauhey and William P. Collins, constables; Jeremiah Boyer and David Summerville, Jr., pound masters; Alexander M. Stewart, Van R. Harriott and C. Doty, overseers of highways; John Griffin and Henry Hoagland, justices of the peace.

It is declared that for a number of years previous to the Civil war people in the western part of the township were heavy stockholders in the underground railway. A depot or station was located at more than one house in that vicinity and it is stated that many runaway slaves from Kentucky, Tennessee, or Missouri, found protection here temporarily while on their way northward to the Dominion of Canada. So prominent became this feature of the settlement that the neighborhood came to be called "Nigger Ridge," which name is yet applied to the locality by the old settlers familiar with the circumstances. The people of this township in early times were much troubled with prairie fires, which usually were set by careless hunters and which often swept away valuable property.

Lodge No. ^77, A. F. & A. M. was organized in this township July 16, 1867. J. B. Longley was the first master. The lodge was conducted under dispensation until 1868, after which they operated under a charter. At one time the membership was over sixtv. The cemeterv located about a half mile northwest of Viola was donated to the United Presbyterian Church by John Collins. The first burial therein was that of John Kennedy. In recent vears it has been greatly improved and added to and now contains many graves.

The Viola Vineyard, conducted near the Village of Viola, bv J. M. Erne, was a notable industry in the '70s. There were twentytwo acres devoted to the vineyard and people came many miles when the grapes were ripe to see the sight. He had at one time over six thousand vines growing and could show thirty different varieties of grapes. In 1880 he produced about fifty tons of the fruit. He likewise had an orchard of 600 apple trees, also pears and cherries and marketed large quantities of strawberries and raspberries. He is the originator of the Viola crab, which became known throughout western Illinois in after years. The Green Bower Nursery was another important industry in the '6os and '70s. In 1869 James Ferry opened this nursery. In the end it covered more than twentytwo acres and was on rolling land, and trees and shrubs therefrom were sent all over the western part of the state and the eastern part of Iowa. He raised large quantities of apples, raspberries, grapes, blackberries, strawberries, etc. Another early industry of the township was a steam mill, which was started at Viola in the '6os. In the end it was discontinued. The mill was built by contributions from about twenty persons and was not a corporation. It was operated at a loss and finally was closed out. During its existence one of the lessees of the mill purchased grain and got other credits and closed out without paying for the grain and other articles.

Among the early settlers was the Frazier family, consisting of John Frazier, the father of a large family, who settled and made a farm on section 9 prior to r8t;o. John Frazier was born in 1800 in Morgantown, West Virginia, and four years later moved with his parents to Hubbard, Trumbull County, Ohio. In 1821 he was united in marriage to Nancy A. Veach, the daughter of a Wesleyan Methodist minister. To this union eleven children were born. Three sons and seven daughters grew to manhood and womanhood, one daughter dying in infancy. Mr. Frazier was of Scotch descent and his wife of English, she being a distant relative of Lord Cornwallis.

In May, 1847, Mr. and Mrs. Frazier with their family of ten children emigrated to the then distant frontier of Illinois. Reaching the Ohio bv canal they came down the river to the junction at Cairo and then up the old Mississippi to New Boston. From the little river town they journeyed overland to the farm one mile west of Viola, known to this day as the Frazier homestead. In this twentymile trip thev only passed four homes. Aledo was a barren prairie, and where the village of Viola now stands there was but one house, that of Elijah Stewart.

Mrs. Frazier served the whole countryside as doctor and nurse, and through her native skill and sympathetic assistance many children owed their birth and many mothers their lives.

Mr. Frazier was a great reformer and leader in every worthy movement. For years his barn and house was the official meeting place for the whole community for miles around. He was a strong abolitionist and a part of the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves during the pre-bellum davs. He established the first school in the neighborhood, and so determined was he that his children should secure an education that he bore practically the entire expense of keeping up the school alone. In every way he was a good citizen - the highest of all compliments that can be paid a man.

The eldest son, Jesse Veach, graduated in medicine at St. Louis, and after spending several years in the California gold fields settled in Viola and became an eminent physician. For almost a half century he practiced medicine in this district. Many families remember him as a dear friend and a most successful physician.

The other sons were John Wesley and Hugh Benjamin, the latter having been a successful merchant of Viola for a great many years. The daughters were Harriet Snyder, Margaret Eaton, Mary Harriott, Maria Snyder, Matilda Brown, Martha Mathews and Amanda Hunt. The youngest daughter, Amanda, was elected county superintendent of schools of Mercer County the first year that the office was made eligible for women to hold. She served three successful terms.

Of this great family of eleven children only three survive: Mrs. Mary Harriott of Viola, Mrs. Maria Snyder of Loup City, Nebraska, and Mrs. Martha Mathews of Aledo.

To this union of John Frazier and his wife there are now some two hundred descendants, most of whom are living in Mercer County, where they are known as good citizens and kind neighbors.

The Carnahan family also embraced several of that name, John Carnahan being the oldest, and there was a large family of influential men of that family, several of whom are still living in the township. There is also residing in the township a Doctor Miles, who has been there for a number of vears.

The Village of Viola was surveyed and duly acknowledged bv Benjamin C. Perkins, Milton M. Ford and Charles C. Sheppard on December 9, 1856. It was located on parts of sections 14 and 15,

Greene Township. Since that date several additions have been made to the village, rendered necessary by the growth of the place and the demand for lots.

In September, 1857, Carbon postoffice was established in Greene Township in the home of James Carnahan, who was appointed postmaster. As soon as the town of Viola was established this postoffice disappeared. This occurred about June, 1861. Viola of course sprang into existence with the construction of the railroad. Previous to that date it had been talked of, because the road was projected as early as 1855, but no town was started until the road was certain to be built, in 1869. During the summer Carnahan & Caldwell opened a large general store. At the same time other business establishments appeared. In 1870 J. H. Maxwell opened the Viola Hotel and about this time the village had grown so rapidly that it was incorporated as a town. The village was one of the most promising of the county in the early years of its growth. It had many good business establishments, reliable business men and was particularly famous for its schools, its religious organizations and its social and fraternal societies.

In 1872 a large convention was held here for the purpose of offering opposition to secret societies of all kinds. It was held in the United Presbyterian Church and was presided over by Rev. W. S. McClanahan. Fifty residents of the town and vicinity signed the constitution and by-laws. This association was a branch of the National Association which flourished at that time.

Early in 1873 Viola was an important shipping point. B. F. Morey on one occasion marketed thirty-one hogs which averaged 476 pounds in weight each. These animals were a cross between the Poland China and the Berkshire breeds. About the same time Levi B. Willits elsewhere in the county marketed ninety-five hogs which averaged 452 pounds each in weight. Many cattle were shipped from this point as the years passed. It was necessary to establish stock yards here where animals could be kept indefinitely if not in suitable condition to be shipped.

In 1875 the village had a population of several hundred and contained numerous stores and shops of all kinds and was a prosperous, progressive village. In 1875 Samuel Park marketed here fifteen head of hogs which averaged over four hundred pounds each; forty of them averaged 441^2 pounds each. At this time hogs were worth here $6.60 and in Chicago, $7.40 a hundred.

In January, 188 1, H. B. Frazier & Company, the large mercantile establishment of Viola, dissolved, J. A. Goding of the concern retiring. H. B. Frazier and W. C. Breckinridge continued the business alone. In February, 1881, it was noted that Viola had in crib over two hundred and fifty thousand bushels of corn. At that time the town had four religious organizations - Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational and United Presbyterian. The latter was the oldest.

In 1883 the Viola Library Association, which had recently been formed, was in active operation and had collected about one hundred books. It was at first promising and had a large membership. About the same time David Little, Jr., established here a creamery in the old Viola Mill, which he had purchased. He soon had 300 patrons and for a number of years it was a promising business institution. Mr. Little conducted creameries in other parts of the county. This was called the Rivoli Creamery.

During the '70s, '8os and '90s large quantities of coal were mined in this county and much of it was marketed. The remainder was sold for home consumption. The Empire and Aledo companies were in active operation at this time. The pay roll of these two companies in the early '90s amounted to about ten thousand dollars a month. The Gilchrist and Cable miners struck in May, 1894, and it required considerable time before thev could be satisfied with the conditions and pay offered.

An early newspaper was the Viola Enterprise, conducted by Barrett Murray, but was sold out in the end to Boyd Cabeen, who managed it successfully for many years. In later years the Viola Building & Loan Association was established and did much for the development of the town. Henry Crosly was president; A. R. Moulton, secretary; and Fred L. Crosly, treasurer.

In the immediate vicinity are coal beds, valuable deposits of fire clay and an excellent article of white sand suitable for the manufacture of glass. The fire clay a little later was manufactured in large quantities into brick and tile. In the earlv '90s the town did not have a suitable supply of pure water. Thus far they had depended upon wells which furnished surface water only. A project to bore a deep well at a cost of $1,500 was opposed by a majority of the voters at the polls. This was done in spite of the fact that the water was known to be contaminated and that probably the health of the inhabitants would suffer.

By March 31, 1897, the receipts of the Viola Building & Loan Association amounted to $10,080.64. It nad spent about the same amount. The profits were placed at $1,155.87.

In November, 1898, Dr. J. V. Frazier, of Viola, one of the most prominent men of the county, a student, a scholar and a man of great natural ability, passed away after having lived here and been active as a citizen since 1847. He had spent a few years in California during the '50s, but otherwise had lived here since his first arrival.

Bankers began here in the '70s. A. R. Moulton conducted banking operations here in the '80s and '90s, but retired from the business in 1898 and was succeeded by the Commercial Bank of Terry Brothers. Mr. Moulton had started this establishment in 1893 an(I had been quite successful, as an institution of that kind was needed here by business men.

Bank, The Commercial; boots and shoes, B. J. Swanson ; blacksmith, L. S. Whitcombe & Son; barber, B. B. Patterson; contractor and builder, J. G. Gilbert; dry goods and clothing, Frazier Brothers; druggists, Henry Crosby; furniture and undertaking, Charles J. Winn; hardware, Jenkinson & Russel, Sexton & Breckenridge; harness and merchandise, J. M. Poe; jeweler and optician, J. W. Mahaffey; lumber and grain, B. L. Christy; livery and feed, A. G. Frakes; mill (feed), C. E. Culver, R. W. Stewart; meat market, J. D. Peters, A. W. Smith; general merchandise, Ashenhust Brothers, J. C. Bradford, J. J. Mitchell & Company, R. E. Terry & Company; mason, brick and stone, James L. Dunn; painter and paper hanger, W. N. Robinson; poultry, H. H. Clayton; physicians and surgeons, E. L. McKinnie, Ryan & Packer; restaurant and hotel, C. A. Warner; stock buyer and shipper, Greenwood & Company.

In 1902 Viola had an athletic field day, upon which occasion baseball games were played, races were run and other sports indulged in. In the forenoon the Gilchrist Club played the Keithsburg Club, and in the afternoon the Gilchrist Club played the Aledo Club. In both of the games the Gilchrist nine won the greatest number of scores.

The Mercer County Chautauqua was held in Viola in 1906. It occupied a tent at the park, where refreshments were served. This was called a prohibition Chautaqua, as the principal feature of the institution was the advocacy of strict prohibition measures. Among the leading speakers were Col. John Sobieski and E. W. Chapin.

of deposits and with the confidence of the public. Frank Terry was cashier and B. L. Christy president. The deposits of this bank in 19 1 3 amounted to $173,653.

In 191 3 Viola was given the electric light service of the Tri County Light & Power Companv which had previouslv been established at several other towns and cities in the county. At that time also a new opera house was constructed at Viola and the people were put to their wits end to furnish the same. The cost was between $1,500 and $2,000 to place it in suitable condition for use.

The Viola Enterprise was started by Dixon in 1892. A little later it passed to L. R. Witheral, who managed it about two years and it then passed to Guv Adams, who owned it for a short time. A little later a man named Michaelson secured it. Frazier Brothers also had possession of it for a short time. D. M. Harkrader & Son, of Alexis, secured it about that time and conducted it for four years, when it became the property of Andrew C. Peterson, the present proprietor. The sheet is in better condition now than ever before and is newsy, ably conducted and a credit to the editor and publisher and the town.

In 19 14 Viola had a population of 760. S. C. Fugate was justice. D. W. Sedwick was president of the Farmers Bank, the capital and surplus of which amounted to $37,500. The business houses were as follows: Ashenhurst Brothers, shoes and general store; A. N. Bewe, rugs and carpets; E. Chilson, hay and feed; Walter Corsetius, restaurant; Fred Craig, restaurant; Forsyth & Hunting, blacksmiths; John Gilbert, contractor; E. L. Greenwell, drugs; W. H. Kent, furniture and undertaking; W. C. Millikar, coal; McCoy Hardware Companv, hardware; C. B. Moore, lumber; P. F. Moore, harness; A. G. Peterson, printer; D. F. Ralston, grain; D. F. Ralston & Son, harness; Mrs. J. L. Robinson, hotel; K. M. Saunders, jewelry; William Shapiro, junk; H. H. Sidwell, music; R. E. Terry, general store; V. P. Terry, hardware and implements; Thomas Sisters, millinery; Tri-County Light & Power Company; Adolph Weinstein, general store; N. D. Winn, meat; Wood & Smith, general store; Worley & McLaughlin, automobiles and garage.

Gilchrist has a population in 1914 of 100. Its mail comes from Viola. The business establishments are: Empire Coal Company, general store; F. A. Essley, groceries; J. H. Smith, restaurant.