Lively Grove Township

Lively Grove Township

The first post office in the precinct was established in 1860, and Robert Kennedy was the first postmaster. It was subsequently moved to Petersburg in what is now Venedy precinct, and known as stone church, where it re¬ mained one year, John Luhrmann being the postmaster. In 1866, it was moved to its present location on section 1, town 3, range 5. Henry Eilera is

The first goods sohTat this place was by Keller <fc Dateman. The store subsequently passed into the hands of Wienkeller & Bro., and from them to the finn of J. & H. Eilders.

tling in Lively Grove in 1840. Schwilthard Meyer was the first German settler in the precinct, and Thomas Eidman the second. There are now many prominent German farmers in this locality, who are among the most enter¬ prising citizens of the county. "The Lively Grove" located on section 26-27 gave rise to the name of the precinct from an incident which occurred in early times. ( See general narrative.)

Samuel Dickey

wab born near Sparta, Randolph county, Ill., May 15th, 1837. He was an only son of John and Jane Dickey, and of Sootch-Irish descent His grand¬ father, John Dickey, emigrated from South Carolina and settled near Sparta in 1819, he raised a family of seven children and died on the plaoe he im¬ proved in 1847. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His children are all settled in the west part of Washington oounty. John Dickey, the father of the subject of our sketch, was five years of age when his father settled in Randolph county. He received only three months schooling, but by the assistance of night schools and applying himself in after life, he acquired the rudiments of an English education, which enabled him to transact most any ordinary business. At the age of nineteen he was united in marriage to

Miss Jane Gibson, a native of South Carolina. He lived the life of a farmer, and died in the plaoe he improved in Lively Grove precinct, in 1865. The subject of our Bketoh was married to Miss Ellen Shaukland, July 80th, 1874. They have a family of three children.

In 1862, he enlisted in the late war, 111th Infantry, Illinois volunteers, oomp&ny B, under Chlonel James Martin. He was in the 15th army corps, 2d brigade, 2d division, under General Logan. He went through with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and was in twenty-one regular en¬ gagements ; was mustered out of service at the dose of the.war, at Springfidd, Illinois. He now lives quietly on his farm in Livdy Grove precinct. In politics he is a Republican.

HIS Precinct contains about twenty-four sections of land, and is bounded on the north by Clinton county and Okawville pre¬ cinct, ea9t by Okawville and Elkton precinct, on the south by Livdy Grove, and west by St. Clair county.

It is not positively known who the first settlers were, in whst is now Venedy precinct, but prior to 1837 the following families were living here. Joseph Kinyon, Sr.; he had two sons who lived in this prednct, and had families, Daniel and Joseph, Jr., and also a man by the name of Walton; he also had a son Richard, who had a family and lived in this precinct They emigrated to Missouri in 1837, but remained there only about two years, when they returned to this oounty. Among the early settlers here were also families by the name of Jones, William Wilson and family, James Lochasband's family, Dr. E. Hale, and a Mr. Brown and family. The latter, who had a large family, were among the early residents of this county. The settlements were prindpally made along the edge of the timber bordering Elkhora creek.

In January, 1837, G. H. Brookschmidt, a native of Germany, settled on Sec. 84. He purchased the farm and improvements of Danid and Joseph Kinyon, and was without doubt the first German family who settled in Washington county. The German families who followed him up to the year 1840, were G. H. Borrenpohl, William Hulskoetter, Frederic Dankmeyer, Henry Bfcrmann, and John Massmann.

First Church

was built on Sec. 4. It was a log structure, and was church, school-house, and teacher's residence. It was erected by the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Ottomar Furbringer was the first minister and teacher.

In 1840, G. H. Brookschmidt laid out the town of Yenedy on Sec. 34, and donated three acres to church and school purposes. The first church built in the village of Yenedy was a frame structure erected in 1841, by the Evangelical Lutheran denomination.

In 1861 the members of the same church erected a fine briok edifice on the site of the old frame church; with its beautiful symmetrical spire of 110 feet in height, makes the building an ornament to the village. The same congregation also built a substantial brick school house, with all the modern improvements. They also built, on the same tract of land, a comfortable residence for the minister and teacher.

Three general stores by Dankmeyer and Kulker. Dry Goods by Louis Martin; groceries by Charles Tempelmeir; also harness maker by Charles Bcheffier; hardware and tin by John Knapp; boots and shoes by Fritz Sieving. Blacksmith shop by William NiehofF; wagon shop, by August Kessilk; the cabinet maker is William Mdller. The hotel of the village is kept by William Castrup.

There is also a large merchant mill erected in 1859, by J. F. Brockschmidt & Co. It was operated by this firm two years, and then became the property of J. F. Brockschmidt & Bro. It was destroyed by fire in 1873 ; was re-built the same year, and is now owned and carried on by J. F. Brock¬ schmidt and son. The capacity of this mill is two hundred barrels of flour per day.