Limestone Township

Limestone Township

The first settlers in this township were Abner Eads, who first settled at Fort Clark, in April, l^ilit, and the Moffatts : Juseph .Moffatt and tliree sons, Alva. Aqiiila and Benjamin F. The Moffatts came in June, 1822. Alva Moffatt settled on Sec. 13, and still occupies a home on that section.

In 1824, Aquila Moffatt made a claim on the northeast quarter of Sec. 13, and enclosed and broke five acres of ground, whicli, witli the exception of about six years, he has continued to occupy. Benjamin Moffatt now lives near Hollis. The rest of the family removed to Jo Daviess couuty.

The settlement of this township was not rapid. The Harker family came to the county in 1821*. Daniel Harker, now a resident of this township, was then a boy of fifteen. Henry W. Jones came very early, and built the first hewed log-house in the township.

James Crow and family came about the same time as Jones, but the Black Hawk Indian scare of 1832, frightened them l)ack to Ohio, where they remained until after the close of the troubles. They returned in 1834.

James Heaton and Joshua Aikin came in 1834. Aikin settled on the Kickapoo creek and built a grist-mill. Pleasant Hughes came in 1837, and settled on Sec. 29, where his widow still resides. In 1837, Daniel Harker, wjio w;vs married on tlie 10th of July of that year, occupied a iiouse he had previously Iniilt on tlie southeast quarter of Sec. 31, and still lives on the same place. In 183», his father moved over from Logan township, and settled on the southwest quarter of the same section, where lie died June Itj. 184'J, at the age of seventy-five years.

There is a large German element in this township. Tlie earliest settler of this nationality was Conrad Bontz, who came in 1844. Christian Straesser and the ILiUcrs in 1847. The Beatly Johnson family in 1848; George Ojeman in 184tt, and the Roelfs in 18.01. The Straessers and Hallers were natives of Wurtemberg. The temainder were nearly all from the Kingdom of Hanover. Many of these people are largely engaged in grape culture, and some of them in tiie manufacture of wine. Ed. Retlfs, deceased in 1872, is believed to liavc planted the first vineyard, and to iiave also made the first wine. Before iiis vineyard matured he made wine from the wihl grape.

Witli the rarest excejUions, these people are among tlie very liest people in tiie commniiitv. They are industrious, energetic and honest, and rank higii as successful farmers.

When the township organization system was adopted liy the people of Peoria county in 18->0, th(! township was named !yiiiR'st<nu'. because of the aliimst inexhaustible quarries of that stone that exist in the north part of the townsiiiji.

Nearly the whole township isunderlaiil with coal, and the mines now worked extend four miles along the eastern tier of sections, and there are several hundred miners employed in the different mines. Peoria is largely supplied with coal from the Limestone mines.

The first coal mining in the township was done by a man named Warner. He opfiifd a bank at a point on the soiitli-'.'ast corner of section 24. The Moffatts mined coal at the same place soon after, and shipped it to St. i^oiiis by keel boats.

Petrifactions. - At Secord's limekilns and stone quarry, on the south-east quarter of section, some rare petrified curiosities have been found. These curiosities consist of petrified timber, shells, etc., and are found all through the quarry, at a depth of from three to seventeen feet. Among those most worthy of note was an elk's head, with the horns attached, which was in a perfect state of preservation. It was found at a depth of seven feet from tlie surface, while quarrying rock for the County Infirmary. Evei'y part of it was thoroughh' petrified, and as solid as the stone from which it was taken.

A petrified turtle, with its form preserved intact, was found in the quarry from whicli stone is taken for lime, or what Mr. Secord calls the " North Quarrj'." Mr. S. and othei-s who saw it say it looked as " natural as life." It was found in a crevice between tlie layers of rock.

Christ Church (^Episcopal). - The first services of this Episcopal community were held at the pioneer home of John Benson. Sometimes meetings were held at the homes of some of the other settlers. After Bishop Chase came, in 1836, regular services were observed almost every Sabbath. In time, the members so increased that a house of worship became a necessit}-, and in 1843, they began to cast about for ways and means to build a church. John Pennington gave two acres of ground in the north-west quarter of section 4. for a church site and cemetery, and in May, 1844, the corner stone was laid. The building was not fully completed until the Fall of 184'), nor consecrated until December of that year. The original cost was about $1,500. Of this sura, $1,100 was contributed by friends in England. Dowager Queen Adelaide gave £20 ; Lord Kenyon gave £20. Rev. John Benson is the officiating clergj^man.

Some years ago Rev. John Benson, James Clark and Isabella Douglas deeded to Christ Church forever, a tract of twenty acres of ground just across the public highway from the church edifice. This is called a glebe, and is intended for the use and benefit of the officiating clergyman.

Limestone M. E. Church. - This church society was organized in 1849, with twentyseven members. The church edifice, a neat frame structure, is located on section 4, and was built in 18G0 at a cost of il,000. It was dedicated by Peter Cartright, D.D., on the 21st day of October, 1860. The preacher in cliarge at tliat time was Rev. John Borland. A Sunday school of twenty scholars is maintained in connection with the church ; Henry Goodrich, superintendent.

Presbyterian Church. - The Presbyterian society was organized on the 30th day of April, 185H, by Rev. B. Farris, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Peoria. The cliurcli building is a handsome frame structure, located on the Farmington road, on the north-west corner of section 8. It was erected in 1864, at a cost of $1,600. Rev. M. L. Wood was the first pastor.

The G-erman Lutheran Church Society was organized in 1855 with eighteen members. The first church edifice was built in 1856 at a cost of $1,000. In 1876 this building became too small to accommodate the increasing congregation, and a new and more commodious one was erected at a cost of $4,000. Tiie church is supplied with a bell which cost $400, and an organ costing nearly as much. The society owns three and a half acres of ground where the church stands, which includes tlie cemetery. The first pastor was Rev. F. Warnke. He remained three years. Rev. Mr. Banger is the present pastor.

North Limestone M. E. Church. - First class was formed about 1850. The original members were eleven in number. Rev. Humphrey was the first preacher. Under the pastorate of John Borland, the ciiurcli was built in 1860; the cost was $800. Number of members at the present time, thirty-one. Connected with the church is a prosperous and large Sabbath school.

School*. - Mr. Barton remembers that aliout 1836 he attended a scliool wliicli was taught in a log house that stood on the ground just in the rear of his house. It was a subscrijition school, and the teacher was Simeon Ward. This was the first in the township. Limestone townsliip is divided into ten school districts, nine of which have either a neat and comfortable frame or brick house, supplied with furniture and apparatus well adapted for modern school use. Schools are kept up from six to nine months during each year, and the best material obtainable is employed as teacliei-s. The schools compare favorably with the public schools of the country.

AWL CHARLES S. farmer. Sec. 5, P.O. Peoria, was born in Northumberland county, Penn., ist Aug., 1808. his parents being Samuel and Mary Awl, net McClay. At the age of seventeen, he was apprenticed for three years to the trade of a hatter, at the expiration of which he traveled several years as a journeyman. The 1st Nov., 1832, he married Lucy, daughter of Stephen Duncan, born in Lycoming county, Penn., 5th Sept., 18 12. In 1833 they came to Peoria and remained two years and a half. On the Ist Aug., 1836, moved to a tract of land he had entered of government, in Sec. 22, and in 1845, located on his present farm. He was among the first settlers in this township, and attended the first school meeting ever held, and has been prominently identified with the affairs of the township since. He served as constable two years and a half, and filled the office of justice of the peace for twenty years, besides filling other local offices. He has had nine children : Ann Ellen, born 24th Aug., 1833, married to Thomas Bohanan ; Lucy D., i6th Feb. 1835, married Wra. H. Bohanan ; George Washington, 2gth May, 1837, married Eliza Elliott ; Martha Jane. 24th July. 1839. married George Andrews ; Mary McClay. 1st - . 1841. died 22d Dec, 1858 ; Harriet Louisa, 23d Oct,, 1843, married James Nicholas ; Charles Samuel, 31st Jan., 1845 ; William McClay, i6th March, 1847; Robert Harris, 27th Dec. 1S53, married Lucinda Jones. Mr. Awl is a Democrat, and in religion a Free Thinker.

BALL KDWAlin, coal operator. Sec. 26, P. O. Peoria, is a son of Samuel and Sarah Ball, nte Kare, and was born in Mercer county, Penn., 8th Aug., 1850, and came with his parents to Peoria county when he was two years old, and has ever since lived in the neighborhood of his present home. January 27, 1874, he married Colona .Anderson, daughter of Colbert and Juliet Anderson, M^c Trial, who was born May 3l.»t, 1855. They have three children : Isola, Sarah L. and Samuel.

B.VRTON WM. C. H. farmer and distiller. Sec. 25, P. O. Peoria. Is a son of Vincent and Mary Ann Barton, tue Wright, and was born in Licking county, O., I4lh May, 1818. His parents came to Illinois, and arrived at Farm creek on the evening of Dec. 24, 1825. His father was a millwright, and came to build the Hamlin mill. In 1830. the elder Barton and D. Matthews secured a charter for a ferr)- at the Narrows, when the Barton family removed to the Peoria side of the river. In 1832, removed on the farm now occupied by Vincent Miller. In December, 1834, the father died, after which William began life on his own account, working wherever he could find employment. In 183S, he engaged in .\iken's sawmill, since when he has been nearly always connected with milling interests. His home farm was made from a dense forest, 2S0 to 300 acres of which is now as clean and smooth as a virgin prairie. In the Fall of 1878, he bought an interest in the Kickapoo sour-mash distillery. The establishment was re-modeled, re-fitted, and successfully run until an explosion of the steam boilers, in the latter part of February. 1880. rendered it a complete wreck, and involved a financial loss of several thousand dollars. Politically, Mr. B. is a Republican. He has served three terms as su(>ervisor from his township. On June 9. 1S50, he married .\nn, daughter of Isaac and Catharine Rickets, nt( Mounts, who was bom near Rising Sun, Ind., 19th June, 1834. They have had five children, John T., born April, 1852, died at five weeks ; Henry S., bom 19th November, 1853, married Mary Jane Bickerlon, of Arkansas. 3ISI December. 1S79 ; Nancy Jane, horn 14th October, 1857, married Samuel Brewer, 28th March, 1S77 ; Alice, born 20lh March, iStJO. died 20th December, same year ; William Warren, born 3ISI December, 1864. Mr. Barton owns about 1,000 acres of land, valued at $50 an acre. While the Barton family lived on the Miller place, as men- tioned above, one of the younger brothers, aged about five years, strayed away from home one day, became lost, and perished in the woods. It was several days before his body was found.

FASH CHARLES, blacksmith and farmer, Sec. 2, P. O. Peoria, was born in the city of New York, June 10, 182S. His parents, Daniel and Phoebe Fash nte Campbell came to Illinois in 1S35. Their objective point was the neighborhood of Farmington, in the Harkness settlement. At that time there was neither Indian trail nor road to guide them, and the country was an almost undisturbed wild. In 1850 they removed to Sec. 2, this township, after which Charles Fash served three years at the trade of blacksmith with Richard Heaton, in Peoria. November 19, 1849, he married Frances Jane, daughter of J. W. and Abigail Smith nee Bixler, who was born in Ohio, May 9, 1829. In 1852 they went to Knoxville, and in 1854 crossed the plains to California. For one thousand miles of the trip Mr. Fash walked and carried his firstborn on his back. After bearing five children Mrs. Fash died. May 6, 1867. The children were : Frances O., born Oct. 27, 1852, died Sept. i, 1853, Adraella R., born April 25, 1854, died March 6, 1864; Sarah A., born July 27, 1857, married Hugh Hart, May, 1879; John D., born Sept. 8, i860 ; Philip Sheridan, born April 10, 1865. In August after his wife's death Mr. Fash left California and returned to Knoxville, reaching there Sept. 16. Sept. 15, 186S, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Eli and Matilda Cover nee Bream. This marriage is without issue. In 1874 they removed from Knoxville and settled as above. Mrs. Fash is a member of the Lutheran Church. Politically, Mr. Fash is Independent, with Republican sympathies. He owns fifty-seven acres of land, valued at $35 an acre,

FASH HENRY, farmer. Sec. 11, P. O. Peoria, is a son of Daniel and Phoebe Fash, nee Campbell, and was born in Peoria county, near Farmington, about 1S42, and bred as a farmer. The I2lh of February, i860, he married Lavina, daughter of Matthew and Jane Harris, born in London, England, October 26, 1841, and brought by her parents to America when she was eight months old. They began farm life on the bluflF near Peoria. In July, 1867, they went to Missouri, but returned in October, lS6g, and settled where they now live. They have had eight children - Katie, born .September 23, 1861 ; Thomas Henry, born July 23, 1863 ; Jennie Stella, born August 5, 1865 ; Addie Lois, born August 24, 1S67, died September 20, 1868 ; Addie Lois, (2,) born October 4, 1869; Charles William, born March 8, 1872, died December 5, 1876 ; Lizzie May, born October II, 1877, died December 3, 1876 ; Andrew Daniel, born August 3, 1878. In religion they lean to the Methodists. In politics Mr. Fash is of Republican proclivities. Has been constable six years.

GOODRICH RUFUS C. farmer, Sec. 8, P. O. Peoria. The subject of this mention is the third son and fourth child of James B. and Mary Goodrich, nee Clark, and was born in Portsmouth, Scioto county, Ohio, December 19, 1817. His father was a common laborer, and as fast as his children grew large enough they were put to work to assist in supporting the family. When Rufus C. was about ten years of age the father went as help on a flat boat to New Orleans, and sickened and died in that city, leaving his wife and eight children. The next eight years were full of struggles and trials to the Goodrich family, but at the end of that time ihey rented a farm, which was managed in the main by Rufus. In the meantime he traded a horse to Gen. William Kendall, then post master at Portsmouth, for the 160 acres of land upon which he now lives. On the i6th day of April, 1S4S, soon after his mother's death, he reached Peoria on his way to see and occupy his land, and immediately commenced its improvement. He had but little means and worked by the month, day or job, wherever he could get work to do, to earn means to pay for such work on his land as he could not do himself. His home place is valued at $50 an afite. Besides this he owns 160 acres in Missouri. On t1ie 23d day of January, 1853, he married Mariah P., daughter of George W. and Elizabeth Fash, nee Hill, who was born in the city of New York, May

GREENWOOD CHARLES, farmer. Sec. 16, P.O. Peoria; son of Thomas and Isabella Greenwood, nee Thompson, was born in Cumberland county, England, December 22, 1S24. His father was a butcher and small farmer. Charles remained at home and was kept at school until he was fifteen years old, when he was apprenticed to Capt. John Gates, master of the barque " Rosalind," to leam sea craft. He served four years as an apprentice, two years as third mate, a little more then two years as second mate, and two years as first mate, during which time he sailed to almost every known port. Five years of this time he was on the "Australia" a 1,000 ton ship. In 1850, he shipped on the " Queen of London " as second mate for New Orleans, where he arrived June loth, and came to Peoria on a steamboat as deck hand, reaching here about July 1st. Since then he has resided in Peoria county, for two years working as a farm hand, wherever he could find work to do. In 1S52, he purchased eighty acres included in his present home-place, which now consists of 210 acres, valued at $10,500. The loth of December, 1851, he married Mrs. Anna Peters, net Campen, widow of John C. Peters.'who died of cholera in Peoria, in 1849. They have no children, but they have raised two, John Peters, son of Mrs. G. by her first husband, and Maggie Campen, niece of Mrs. G. Mrs. Greenwood is a member of the German Lutheran Church, Mr. G. is a Presbyterian. Politically he is a Republican ; has been school director many years.

JONES CHARLES P., farmer. Sec. 3, P.O. Peoria, born in Kickapuo township, July 5, 1849, where he was educated and grew to manhood. His parents were Henry W. and Rebecca Jones, Miller. Charles inherited a natural aptitude from his father for mechanics, and can make almost any thing that can be made of wood or iron. The 17th of November, 1869, he married Caroline, daughter of John and Ellen Daily, nee Finger, who was bom in Rosefield township, Dec. 15, 1852. They have both always lived in the neighborhood where they were bom. They have six children : John H., bom Oct. 6, 1870; Rebecca E., Oct. 23, 1871 ; Charles R., March 17, 1873; Timothy B., Nov. 22, 1874 ; Liva, May 23, 1876 ; Thos. R., March 10, 1878. Mrs. J. is an adherent of the Catholic Church; Mr. J. of the Episcopal. In politics independent.

MOFFATT AQUILLA, farmer and coal miner. Sec. 25, P. O. Peoria, is a son of Benj. F. and Nancy Moffatt, nee Risden, born October 8, 1837. His father came to Peoria in June, 1822. During the lead mining excitement about 1826-7, be removed to Jo Daviess county, settling near Scales' Mound, where the subject of this sketch was bom. The family moved back to Peoria in 1854, where Aquilla grew to manhood, receiving such educational advantages as the district schools afTorded. At the beginning of the war of the rebellion he enli.sted in one of the first companies offered, but more men enlisted than could be used, and the company disbanded. Later, when the draft came on, he was enrolling officer, for two drafts. In February, 1865, he enlisted in the 14th Illinois Infantry, Company (!., and served about nine months. On his return home, he resumed farming and coal mining. On July 3, 1861, hewas united in marriage to Mary, daughter of Samuel and Sarah MaW.nee Kear. who was born in South Wales, June 6, 1843, and came with her parents to America, about 1849, and to Peoria county in 1852. Tliey have had eight children, two of whom died in early infancy. The living are : Frank-

MONROE JAMES, miner, P. O. Peoria. The Monroe family consisted of father, mothei, three sons and eight daughters. All of them, except one married son and two married daughters, immigrated from Susquehanna county, Penn., in the year 1S36, and landed in Peoria on the fifth day of September of that year. The married son and two married daughters and families followed a few years later. They settled on the extreme eastern border of Limestone township, where their occupation consisted of farming, milling and jobbing. Permelia, the youngest daughter, died in the year 1843, aged thirteen years ; Kessiah, the second daughter, died in 1845 - Mr. Aldrich, (her husband) and family, have since resided in Chenango county, N. Y. ; Lois, the mother of the family, died in the year 1848 ; Anson, eldest son, died in the year 1849 - a part of his family still resides in Limestone township ; John, the second son, died in California in 1849, at the age of thirty-six years ; Samuel Monroe, father of the family, died in the year 1S60, aged eighty years ; Emeline Monroe, nee Morse-Carothers, died June 8, 1S79, ^"d members of her family reside in Whiteside and Hancock counties. Ills., and Neosho county, Kansas ; Caroline Monroe, nee Hulse, seventh daughter, died January 10, 1880 - her husband and family now reside in Cowley county. State of Kansas. Those who still survive are Eliza, eldest daughter, age seventy-two, and Mrs. Charlotte Monroe, nee ShoU, third daughter, resides in Pekin, Ills.; Mrs. Mary A. Monroe, nee Woodruff, sixth daughter, lives in the city of Peoria. James Monroe, third son, of Limestone township, Peoria county, is widely known throughout the south part of Peoria county, from the fact of his long residence here, and also from having been engaged in the milling business and in various official positions in the township of Limestone. He is now running his coal mine near his residence. The Monroes were of Scotch descent, and Democratic in politics.

PETERSEN JOHN R. horticulturist. Sec. 26, P. O. Peoria. Son of Peter I. and Geeske Petersen, nee Roelis; was born in Pilsen, Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, 14th November, 1838. He came to America wilh parents in 1853, who settled in the immediate vicinity of his present residence, and where John grew to manhood, as a farmer. He commenced working among the farmers soon after coming to America, and continued industriously at that business until he was of age, without the privilege of attending school. On the 20th of May, 1867, he married Margaret, daughter of William and Nora Price, nee Baldwin, born in Wales, 28th December, 1839. Her parents came to America when she was about five years of age, and settled at Frostberg, Maryland, and in 1855 she went to West Virginia, remained there about eight years, and came to Peoria in the Spring of 1865, and in 1867 was married. They settled on the place they still occupy, and engaged in the culture of small fruits, and own twenty-two acres of land, which is exclusively devoted to this business, and which has been made remuneratively productive. Valued at $100 per acre. They both belong to the South Limestone M. E. Church. Politically Mr. P. is independent.

ROELFS JOHN, farmer. Sec. 26, P. O. Peoria. Born in Groothazen, Province of Hanover, Germany, 3d August, 1841. His parents, Simon and Margaret Roelfs, nee Smid, came to America in 1850, and in the Spring of 1851 settled at Peoria. In the Fall located on the northwest quarter of Sec. 26, where John grew to manhood as a farmer, receiving the advantages of the district school. The i6th January, 1870, he married Etta, daughter of John and Aje Riemann, nee Hatterman, who was born in Wognard, Hanover, Germany, 3d March, 1S41, and came to America in 186S. They first settled at their present home, a part of the Roelfs homestead. They have had four children, none of them surviving infancy. Mr. and Mrs. R. are not communicants of any church. Politically Mr. R. is a Democrat. He has been school treasurer since 1874, and has handled $33,000, accounting for every cent. Mr. R.'s father was born in 1796, and is hale and hearty. His mother died in 1S66, in her 66th year.

SCHULZ FREDERICK W. justice of the peace and coal miner. Sec. 13, P. O. Peoria ; son of John Frederick and Louisa Schulz, nee Wagener ; was born in Berlin, Prussia, April i6, 1829. He learned the trade of a machinist, serving seven years, and came to America June 13, 1851. He first settled in Dodge county, Wisconsin, thence came to Peoria county, in June, 1865, and settled as above. He engaged as manager and bookkeeper for his brother, August Shulz, who was operating the coal bank now managed by Frederick Mohn. His brother died in April, 1875, "id he continued to manage the business in the interest of the widow for a time, when he commenced mining on his own account, and is still so engaged. December 26, 1B6S, he was married to Martha Ashue, who was born in Westminster, London, England, August 25, 1835, and came to America with her parents, William and Mary Fowler, nte Tipper, in 1845. The marriage is without children. Politically Mr. Schulz is a Democrat. He was elected justice of the peace in April, 1S77, for a term of four years ; ii also school director. Religiously, he i:> a Free Thinker. His wife was a member uf the Baptist Church.

SHOUP ABUAM M. farmer. Sec. 23, P. O. Harker's Corners. This native Illinoisan is a son of Abram and Sarah Shoup, nte Crittenden, and was born in Fulton county, December 12, 1844. When he was a lad his parents removed to Hancock county, and settled near Carthage, where he grew to manhood as a farmer, with such educational advantages as were offered by the district schools. In 1S61 he enlisted in what was intended to be the Black Hawk Cavalry, but the company became the nucleus of the 7th Missouri Cavalry regiment. At the expiration of three years the remains of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans and consolidated with the First Missouri Cavalry, and served to the close of the war. He was mustered out at Little Rock, Ark., September i, 1865 ; returned to