Long Creek Township

Long Creek Township

ONG CREEK, so named in honor of the creek which drains the greater portion of its territory, is situated south-west from Decatur, and is bounded on the north by Decatur and Oakley townships, east by Piatt county, south by Moultrie county and Mt. Zion township, west by Decatur and South Wheatland townships. Its area is thirty-eight and one half square miles, or twenty-four thousand six hundred and forty acres. Long Creek is composed of portions of Congressional township 1(3, Ranges 3 and 4.

Drainage. - The Sangamon river drains the north-western corner. The principal stream in the more central portion is Long creek and its tributaries. This creek enters the township on the northeast corner of section 7, and meanders in a south-westerly course through the township until it reaches section 36, when its course is almost due west for about four miles, until it reaches about the centre of section 31, where its course changes to a northern and westerly direction, leaving the township on the south-west corner of section 30. Big creek drains quite an area in the western part of the township.

Timber. - In the early times this portion of the county was well supplied with timber, affording building material and fuel in abundance for the pioneer, and even at this writing about one-fifth of the area is timber land, the balance a rich and fertile prairie. Beautiful groves of the several kinds of oak, elm, sycamore, sugartree, soft-maple, hickory, walnut, ash and other forest trees, skirt the banks of the Sangamon and the several streams which run through the township, adding beauty to the landscape, besides giving an ample supply of fuel, fencing and building material for the farmer.

Early Settlements. - To William Bakes and David Davis, who -with their families came here in the fall of 1828, and located and built cabins on section 20 (township 16, range 4), belongs the honor of being the first permanent settlers. They were natives of Lincoln county, North Carolina, and subsequently moved to Rutherford county, Tennessee, and from there, by means of pack-horses, brought their families and household goods to this county, and founded the settlement above mentioned. At that time (1828) their nearest neighbor on the south, was four miles, and on the north-east, twenty-eight miles.

" David Davis was born in Lincoln county, North Carolina, May 2, 1798. At the age of seventeen he emigrated to Rutherford county, Tennessee. In 1828 he came to Illinois and settled in this county. At the age of twenty-three he had the misfortune to become paralyzed in his lower extremities, and throughout his long life he walked with great difficulty. Notwithstanding this he was ever energetic, and gathered a handsome competence for himself, and provided liberal means for beneficent charities. He died August

19, 1875. He was once county treasurer and one of the judges of the first election held in Macon county. He was married to Mary Martin, September 28, 1825, who was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, November 15, 1806. Of their children -

In the early days there was an abundance of game here, principally deer, wolves, foxes, coons, etc. ; wild-turkeys, pheasants, grouse and myriads of geese and ducks. The streams abounded with fish ; and wild-honey was to be found upon the table of the pioneer; hospitality and good-feeling prevailed. Among the few scattered settlements the " latch-string " of every cabin hung on the outside, and the weary traveler was always welcome to the best the larder afforded - thrice welcome was he, because he brought the news of the outer world. The settler and his family, at that early day in this township, lived a simple and quiet life ; content was he if his little patch of corn and small garden yielded, with what meats and fish he could get with his gun and rod, a support for his little family. His taxes and such " store-goods " as were used were procured and paid for by the then " legal tender," skins of foxes, wolves, coons and other wild animals.

In the fall of 1828 a band of the Kickapoo tribe of Indians encamped for several weeks on Long Creek, and were engaged in trapping, hunting and fishing. After a time they began to wander to other portions of the county where there were settlements, and not being satisfied with the game they could capture, began killing a few hogs and stealing poultry from the settlers. Finally a party of men from the "Ward" settlement came over and ordered them away. They soon after broke camp, and left without doing further damage. After 1830 settlers began to come into what is now Long Creek quite rapidly. In that year John Florey, a Virginian by birth, located with his family on section 26 (township 16, range 3), where he erected a cabin and made other improvements. The same year (1830) came Newton N. Baker, who settled on section 29 in the above township. Mr. Baker was born in Lincoln county, North Carolina, February 28, 1803, and when eleven years old removed with his father's family to Rutherford county, Tennessee. He was married in 1853 to Tabitha J. Hodge, and died May 27, 1872. Mr. Baker's wife was born in Orange county, North Carolina, in 1814, and removed with her parents to Illinois in 1829, first locating in Sangamon county, and the next year moved to Macon county. Several of their descendants are yet residents of this county.

In 1830 came John Rucker, who settled on a tract of land oil section 15, township 16-3, where he built a cabin, and began an improvement. Mr. R. was a native of South Carolina, and was born in the year 1800, and when quite young removed with his parents to McMinn county, Tenn., where he resided until his removal to this county. He was one of the county commissioners of Macon county for fourteen years. This will attest the high appreciation in which he was held by the citizens of the county. Many of the most beneficial acts of the commissioners in the early days of the county, are due in a large measure to his sagacity, good judgment and integrity. In his private as well as public affairs he was successful, and succeeded in amassing for that period considerable wealth. He died in the year 1872 honored and respected by all. After his death his wife, Airs- Elizabeth Rucker, made her home with her son-in-law, E. R. Eldridge, in Decatur. The Travis family were also among the pioneers of this township, and Allen Travis settled on section 27, township 16-3. In "Smith's History," we find the following in reference to this family :

" John Travis was born in South Carolina in 1768, where he married Rebecca Travis, born in South Carolina in 1777. He died in Wayne county, Illinois, in 1824, and Mrs. T., in Macon county, in 1850. Their children were Allen, Thomas, Finis and Harvey, mentioned below. Allen Travis was born May 18th, 1789, in York District, South Carolina. In 1805 his father removed with the' family to Livingston county, Ivy., where Allen was married, October 5th, 1820, to Margaret Campbell, who was born March 5th, 1801. They removed to Wayne county, Illinois, perhaps in the spring of 1821, and to Macon county in March, 1829, in company with his brothers Finis and Thomas, James D. Campbell, Andrew and John Davidson. Mrs. Travis died some five or six years ago. Of their children John B. was boi'n January 9th, 1823, in Wayne county, Illinois. James D. C. was born March 7th, 1825, in Wayne county, Illinois. Presly A. was born April 24th, 1827, in Wayne county, Illinois. Rebecca was born February 24th, 1829, in Sangamon county, 111. Wm. H. was born March 30th, 1831, in Macon county, 111. Elizabeth J. was born May 23d, 1834, in Macon county, 111.; died January 5th, 1863. Samuel H. was born September 14th, 1836, in Macon county, 111. ; died January 9th, 1863. Ulysses D. was born March 5th, 1839, in Macon county, 111. ; died April 27th, 1863. Margaret Z. was born February 3d, 1841, in Macon county, Illinois. Thomas C. was born March 23d, 1844, in Macon county, ill. Thomas Travis was boru in South Carolina, and was married before removing to Illinois, to Sarah Davidson, and settled one and a half miles north-west of Mt. Zion. Finis Travis was born in Kentucky, in 1810, in what is now Crittenden county, and was married in 1840 to Nancy J. Foster, who was then the widow of Wm. Foster, maiden name Bell. She died, and he was married a second time to Nancy Mahollen. Both are now dead. Harvey Travis was born in Wayne county, Illinois, in 1823, and removed with the family to Macon county in 1830. In 1851 he married Elizabeth Cox, who died in 1862, and he was married a second time to Harriet M. F. Campbell ; now residing Decatur."

James Wheeler settled on section 16, in township 16-3, in the year 1830. He was a South Carolinian by birth. Removed to Tennessee when a boy with his parents, and from the latter state

The summer of 1832 was remarkable for the heavy frosts, and the great injury done to corn, potatoes and other crops. Corn was so badly damaged that none was found fit for seed, and when ground into meal came from the hopper in rolls. Many of the settlers the following winter largely subsisted on parched corn and rye hominy. There was in some localities almost as much suffering during that winter, as there was during the period of the " deep snow " and " sudden freeze," both of which at this distant day are regarded as wonderful phenomena.

The first marriage ceremony solemnized in this township, was that between Bailey Myers and Jane Black. Wm. M. Davis was the first child born, which event occurred January 14th, 1831. He was the son of David Davis. Mrs. Birch, the wife of one of the early settlers, was the first white person who died in the township. In 1834 a school-house was built on section 16, township 16-3. It was of rough unhewn logs, mud and stick chimney, puncheon floor and benches, and the spaces between the logs were chinked with mud. The room was lighted by means of one small window, and the wide fire or chimney-place. It was in this structure that Daniel Stichel taught the first school. This building served for many years for school and church purposes. To Rev. Mr. Lapham belongs the honor of having preached the first sermon, at the house of one of the pioneers. Among the early preachers we find the names of Revs. Lapham, Knox, Lewis and Bird, of the M. E. Church ; and David Foster and James Wilson Cumberland, Presbyterian. Occasionally, David Bunn, of the Universalist Church, hpld services.

The first church organized was the Methodist, in the year 1835, and the first building was erected in 1842. The first Sabbathschool was established in 1839, and was attended by the children of all denominations. At this writing, the citizens of Long Creek are well supplied with church and school facilties.

Early Mills. - The first mill built was by Joseph McGuinis. It was what is known as a horse or band mill, and was propelled by horsepower. A blacksmith shop was established on section 28, by John Bell, an " old settler," in the latter part of the year 1830, and was used to keep his own farm implements, and those of his neighbors in repair. A post-office named Hopewell, was established at the residence of Allen Travis on section 27 in 1852.

Imported Stock. - Allen Travis introduced the first blooded cattle. They were of the Durham breed. Among the best stock of horses brought to the township, was a stallion of the Copper-bottom breed, in the year 1845, by Thomas B. Warfield; these horses were noted for their beauty, speed and endurance.

Among the early justices of the peace, we find the name of Joseph Davis, who was the first, and John Rucker, the second. Dr. Cooper was the first residentjphysician ; he located in the township in 1840, and in 1851 was followed by Dr. George Young.

Township Organization. - On the adoption of township organization, the territory now embraced within the boundaries of Long Creek was formed into an election precinct, and the supervisors elected from the several precincts became the governing power of the county. We append the following list of supervisors and the date of their election, and time of service.

Transportation Facilities. - Long Creek is well supplied with good wagon roads, and the streams are spanned with convenient and durable bridges. The Indianapolis, Decatur and Springfield R. R crosses the township in a western and north-westerly direction, enters it on section 33, Tp. 16-4, about the middle of the section, and its line is due west for nearly three miles, when it assumes a northwesterly direction, and crosses the Sangamon on section 19, Tp. 16-3. There are three stations, Long creek, Antioch-flag-station, and Casner, the latter of which is the most important. This road affords excellent facilities for the shipment of the various products of the township; since the building of the road, many farms have been opened up, the lands have advanced in value, and population increased.

Long Creek Station

Situated on section 27, Tp. 16-3 on the line of the I. D. A S. R. R., and is one of the stations of that road. A post-office was established here in 1875, and named Long Creek. The first store was

Village Of Casner

Is located on section 31, Tp. 16-4 on the line of the I. D. & S. R. R., and is a station of the above road. This village was named in honor of its founder, L. B. Casner, who is now one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers, not only of this township, but also of Macon county. It was established in 1877, and the first house was built by Mr. Casner - he also kept the first post-office, which was also named Casner. J. H. Lord carried on the first blacksmith shop, and Dr. M. V. Lonergon was the first resident physician. J. H. Crowder taught the first school in the village, and the first church was erected in 1876 by the United Brethren.

Present Business. - B. S. Tyler carries on a general store; is also post-master, and grain dealer ; his corn cribs have a capacity of 15,000 bushels. Ball & Earns are also grain dealers; their cribs and warehouse have also a large capacity for storing grain. The physicians are Drs. Lonergon and Dawson ; and Thomas Medlon is the blacksmith of the village. A boot and shoe shop is operated by Benj. Simms. Another important industry in this township is the large nursery owned and operated by Mr. H. W. Davis, on section 27, Tp. 16-3. His fruit, shade and ornamental trees have done much in the way of adorning the homes of the farmers of this portion of Macon county.

Among the present old settlers of the county, and now residents of Long Creek, may be numbered the following : H. W. Davis is a native of Macon county, born in the year 1835. N. M. Baker, also a native of this county, was born in 1837, and resides on section 20, Tp. 16-3, and is a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Z. R. Prather was born in this county in 1836, is a farmer by occupation, and lives on section 30, Tp. 16-4. Long Creek has many good farms with substantial improvements, and her citizens are among the most thrifty, enterprising and intelligent in the county.

Biographical Sketches

Both the paternal and maternal ancestors of the Casner family were Germans. Mathias Casner, the paternal grandfather came from Germany, and settled in Cumberland county, Pa. Peter Casner was born in that county, November 17th, 1801. He came west to Ohio with his father in 1811, and remained there until 1831, or until he was thirty years of age, when he removed to Mercer county, Illinois, and remained there four years, and then came to Macon county, Illinois, and settled in Long Creek township, where he entered three hundred and twenty acres of land, in section 31, T. 16, R. 4 E. He also traded Mexican war land warrants for other tracts of land. He remained in the township until his death, which occurred October 25th, 1851, while on a visit to his daughter in Mercer county. He married Annah Holderman. She was born October 31st, 1803. She died April 3d, 1865. The Holderman family moved from Kentucky to Ohio in 1817, and settled'in Pickaway county. There were five children born to Peter and Annah Casner - four sons and one daughter. Their names are Jemima, wife of Jacob Bear ; George W., who met his death accidentally, July 11th, 1879 ; Christopher, a resident of Piatt county, and L. B. Casner ; Hanson, the youngest of the family, died at the age of twenty-two years. Lewis B. was born in Pickaway county,

Ohio, August 30th, 1830. He remained with his father until he was twenty-two years of age, when he started in life for himself. He made his first purchase of land (80 acres), in 1853. It was in section 5, T. 15, R. 4 E. On the 22d of September, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Flaningam. She was born August 10th, 1830, in Montgomery county, Indiana. Her parents, Samuel and Eleanor Flaningam, came to Indiana from Ross county, Ohio. There have been eight children born to L. B. and Mary E. Casner. Four of whom are living. Their names are Cordelia, wife of James H. Wykoff, Idola, John and Ermina. Ellen died in her fifth year, and Oliver in his twenty-fifth year. The latter was married to Lolo Chapman. He left one child named Oliver Casner. Both Mr. and Mrs. Casner are members of the United Brethren Church. Politically, he is a republican. He is an active and ardent supporter of the cause of Temperance. His business through life has been that of a farmer and stock-raisei\ particularly the latter. Few men in the county have been more successful than Mr. C. He is full of push and energy, and always active in whatever he undertakes to do. He is one of the representative and influential farmers of Macon county.

The subject of this sketch was born in York county, Pennsylvania, Oct. 30, 1823. The ancestry of the family is German. Two brothers came to America from Germany prior to the revolutionary war and settled in Pennsylvania, and from them have grown the present family. John Eichinger, the father of Michael, was born in York county, March third, 1778. He remained there until his death, which occurred May fifth, 1845. He was a cooper by trade, and worked at that business during the winter months, and farmed during summer. In 1831 he also operated a distillery in connection with his farming. He married Susannah Welsh. She was born in York county, Pennsylvania, February 7th, 1788. Her father was accidentally killed at a house-raising; this occurred while Mrs. Eichinger was in her seventh year. The date of the marriage of John and Susannah Eichinger was April 12th, 1807 ; she died in August, 1861, in Decatur, where she had gone on a visit. There were ten children, four sons and six daughters. Eight of the children have survived the parents. Michael is the eighth in the family. His advantages for receiving an education in his youth were limited. As soon as he become old enough to work he was compelled to assist the family. He went to school just as he could catch the time. He remained at home until after his father's death, and then farmed the old homestead ; after which he traveled in different parts of the state and in Ohio, working for the greater part of the time on a farm. In 1854 he and his mother came west, landing in Decatur April 8th. He remained in Decatur four years, working at the carpenter trade, and for three months ran a butcher's shop, and lost enough of money in that time to convince him that he was in nowise cut out for a successful butcher. When he first came to Decatur he bought city property. In June, 1858, he traded his property there for eighty acres of land in Sec.

20, T. 16, R. 3 E., which was j^artially improved. He has remained here, following farming and stock-raising, up to the present time. He has added to his original purchase, until he now has six hundred and fifty-three acres of fine tillable land. On the 29th of July, 1866, he was married to Miss Lucy Ellen Huff. She was born and raised in Coshocton county, Ohio. She came with her parents, Eleven and Eliza Huff, to Illinois in 1864, and settled in Oakley township, Macon county. Her father was born in Virginia, Nov. 10th, 1807 ; her mother, Eliza Huff, was also born in Virginia, Dec. 12th, 1812. Both of them died in the spring of 1875. Lucy E., wife of Michael Eichinger, died October 4th, 1876. By this marriage there were four children. Ira died August 2d, 1871, in his fourth year ; John, who is now in his eleventh year, was born Feb. 14th, 1870; Martha Belle died January 27th, 1874, in her second year; William Robert was born June 25th, 1875. His wife was a member of the Christian Church ; Mr. Eichinger is also a member of that religious organization. In politics he was originally an old line whig, and voted first for William Henry Harrison. He joined the republican party on its formation, and has been a member of that organization up to the present. During the war he was a member of the Union League and Soldiers' Aid Society, organized for the enforcement of Union principles and the vigorous prosecution of the war.

Mr. Eichinger has been instrumental and active in organizing a fire insurance company in the county. It is known as the " Decatur Mutual County Fire Insurance Company." It was organized in June, 1880, and has already done a large amount of business. Mr. Eichinger is a man who started in life poor, or, in other words before he got fairly started in life, he lost more by the treachery of a friend than he ever received. But he did not lose his ambition nor industry. He went to work and carved out his fortune, and at the same time made for himself a name for strict honesty and honorable dealing. The word of Michael Eichinger, wherever known, is as good as his bond.

In 1878 he commenced work in the Temperance cause, and has been selected three times as a delegate to the State Charter Temperance Union Convention.

N. M. Baker

The ancestry of the Baker family on the paternal side is Irish and Welsh, and on the maternal, Irish. Nathan Baker, the paternal grandfather, was a native of North Carolina. He removed to Tennessee in 1815, and remained there until his death, in Sept., 1824. He married Elizabeth Aston. She was also a native of the Carolinas. By this marriage there were eight children. William D. is the only one living. He was born in North Carolina, September 12th, 1800. He went with his father to Tennessee, and remained there until 1828, when, in the fall of that year, he emigrated to Illinois, and settled near Bethlehem Church. The next spring he removed to section 20 of Long Creek township, and there he has continued to reside until the present time. He and his brother-in-law, David Davis, were the only settlers in 1828, in what is now known as Long Creek township.

William D. Baker married Matilda Martin. The date of the marriage was Nov. 13th, 1823. She was born in South Carolina, Sept. 29th, 1799. Both she and her aged husband are still living where they settled over a half century ago. Mrs. Baker's father was a native of Pennsylvania, and moved to the Carolinas. His hither was a soldier of the Revolution, and his grandfather a soldier in the old French war, and was taken captive by the Indians, and remaiued in captivity for several years. By the marriage of William D. and Marilla Baker, there have been six children, four boys and two girls - five of whom are living. Their names are,

Matilda, wife of Andrew Dennis, James T., now a resident of Missouri, Mary E., widow of Rev. John R Smith, William P., of Montgomery county, Illinois, and Nathan M., the subject of this sketch. He is the youngest of the family, and was born in Long Creek township, October 22d, 1837. He has been reared, and yet lives on the place where he was born. In his youth he had remarkably good advantages for receiving an education, which he improved. Besides his education received in the public schools, he spent several years in the academy at Mt. Zion. In April, 1862, he was regularly ordained a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and from that time to the present, except when prevented by sickness, has been in charge of a congregation. In the summer of 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. " C," 116th Regt. 111. vols., for three years. Upon the organization of the regiment he was promoted to the captaincy. He resigned the position in 1864, and returned to Long Creek township. On the 1st of September, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Price. She was born in Butler county, Ohio. Her parents, John and Elizabeth Price, were natives of Rockingham county, Virginia. John Price came to Ohio in 1849. His wife, and mother of Mrs. Baker, removed from Ohio to Illinois in 1857, and settled in Macon county, Wheatland township, where she still resides. Mrs. Baker was born August 2d, 1841. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker five children, three of whom are living. Their names are, Florence F., born Aug. 3d, 1870, Mary E., born Aug. 17th, 1874, Emma L., born January 11th, 1876. Mr. Baker is a respected member of the order of Free Masonry. He is a strong advocate of temperance, and belongs to an organization for the suppression of the liquor traffic. Politically, he is an advocate of republican principles, as promulgated in the platforms of that party. He, however, takes no further part in politics than to express his principles through the right of suffrage. As before stated, Mr. Baker and his family may be regarded as among the pioneers of Macon county, a sketch of whom may be found in another chapter of this book.