Morton Township

Morton Township

Harvey Campbell proposed the name for this township, and in honor of Gov. Morton, of Mass. A man by the name of Soward was the fir.st settler. He located on sec. 31, but just when is not known. He had a bearing orchard, however, as early as 1831. Among the earliest settlers were, Isreal Shreeve and son, Julius ; Daniel Roberts and sons, John M. Roberts, Ambrose Roberts, Darius Roberts, Walter Roberts ; Alfred Phillips ; Rev. Wm. Brown ; U. H. Crosby. Maus Shreeve was the first child born, which was in the spring of 1831. The first death was Mary Elizabeth, infant daughter of Rev. Wm. Brown, died Dec. 1831. The first schoolhouse was built on sec. 4, somewhere between the years 1828 and 1831. It is claimed that Rev. Wm. Brown taught the first school in his own cabin, in the spring of 1831. The second school-house was built on sec. 16. All material and work was paid for in the currency of that day, viz: labor and trade, no cash. This building is now used as a dwelling by H. N. Crosby. At that date Uriah Crosby was the frontier settler, and had to plow around and protect his property from the prairie fires. But the building of this schoolhouse induced others to settle in his neighborhood.

Uriah H. Crosby came to Morton in 1832, and settled permanently in 1834, erecting his log cabin on the spot where his house now stands, on sec. 9. At this time a few settlers were scattered here and there over the county. He came a little in advance l f the Tremont colony, from New York. This colony entered all Government land on the two southern tiers of sections in Morton. ISIr. C. was busily engaged in making a home in the wilderness, and his trusty rifle was his constant companion.

In the early settlement of this country it was not uncommon for children to get lost, yet when they did the intensest excitement prevailed in the neighborhood. When Robert G. Strickland was only two years old, he started out to find his father. The surrounding country there was one vast wilderness of brush and timber. He was soon missed, but no traces of his whereabouts could be had for some fifteen hours. The whole settlement turned out in search of the child. Three district schools dismissed, that all might join in the search. A Mr. Baricks found him over a mile from the house, and took him to Samuel Tart's, who had just lost a little boy, and their girl was so glad she had another little brother. Mrs. Tart had a little niece about the same age of the lost boy, who lived with her. He was tired and dirty, and his clothes all torn and face badly scratched. To this day he wears the scars on his face. He was dressed in the clothing of her little niece by Mrs. Tart, and was sleeping sweetly when his father called for him. We will close this narrative by stating that the lost boy is now the husband of the little girl whose dresses he was clothed with. He resides on the same old farm, and has seven children, none of whom has he lost either by death or straying.

The original village of Morton was laid out by J. M. Campbell, in October, 1850, in the form of a triangle, comprising about five and one-half acres of land. Since then he has made several additions. His brother, W. W., together ^^'1th others, have added to the village until it is a beautiful place, and contains about 300 acres of land. It was incorporated under the late general law for organizing villages, and the first officers were elected in August, 1877.

Buckeye M. E. Church was the first M. E. Church organized in the township. The building, a frame, 30 by 40 feet, is located on sec. 33. It was built in 1864, at a cost of $1,700. The original members were : Israel Shreeve and wife, James T. Avers and wife, Wm. Brown and wife, (Mrs. B. now resides in the village of Morton,) and Benj. Ayers and wife. The present membership is 31. The parsonage is located on sec. 20, Deer Creek township ; value, $1,000.

Morton M. E. Church. - This church is located in the village and is a good brick, Gothic style, 30 by 50 feet, and cost $1,800. It was built in 1878. The congregation Avas organized in 1842 by either Zadock Hall or Reuben H. Moifatt. The original members were, Father Ratcliif, Wm. Barnuni and wife, Robert Roberts and wife, Joseph Mitchell and wife, and Abner Mitchell. The officers are, Geo. Sharp, Robert Roberts, W. P. Rork, C. G. Parker and Wm. Bennett.

Morton Baptist Chirch was organized March 6, 1851, by Elders W. S. Bly and G. S. Bailey, with 24 members. They continued meeting until 1859, when so many of the members had moved away that the organization was disbanded, and the remaining ones united with the Church at Washington.

Morton Congregational Church is located in the village, and was organized in August, 1851, by Rev. W. W. Blanchard. The edifice was erected in 1870, at a cost of $2,300. It is 30 by 40 feet in size. Up to the year 1870, services were held in the Library Association's building, but at that date that was burned, being set on fire by an incendiary. The school-house was then used till their new structure was ready to occupy. The original members were, Mrs. G. Webb, Mrs. W. W. Campbell, John S. Lilly, John Lilly, Ellen J. Lilly, Horace Clark and wife, Wm. C. Bartlett, Daniel Bartlett, Martin Messingcr and wife, Francis Messinger, H. M. Crosby and wife, and Willard Gray.

Aj)odolical Christian Church is located in the village. The building is a good frame, erected in 1869, and an addition put up in 1876. It is in size 58 by 60, and cost $3,500. The congregation was organized in 1853 by Benedict Weynet. The present membership is 150. This Church has no salaried ministers. Geo. Welk serves as elder.

John W. Brown is among the oldest native born residents of Tazewell Co. He was born in Morton township July 31, 1833. His parents, Rev. William and Permelia (C'ullom) Brown, were natives of Kentucky and came to this township three years before the birth of their son John. Rev. Wm. was the pioneer preacher of this part of the State. He died May 14, 1845, on the form he first settled upon, (the southeast quarter of section 13,) in October, 1830. Isreal Slireeves and Moses Norris were the only residents of this township when Mr. Brown came. Mr. Norris lived on the northeast quarter of section 23. He remained there only a few years, when he moved to Iowa; whether living now or not we can not find out. Mrs. Brown, a sister of the late Major R. N. Cullom, came to Morton at the time her brother went to Deer Creek. She is still living. John W. Brown received his education in the old log school-house, the first one built in the township. He has quit farming and gone into the village and deals in grain and stock. He was married April 5, 18o5, to Sarah McBride, who was born Aug. 18, 1833, in Ohio. Their children are Samuel, born Nov. 14, 18o(j, and Mary P., born Aug. 18, 1859. Residence, Morton.

Robert Barnard. In Essex county Eng., on the 14th day of Aug., 1030, was born unto Robert and Martha (Chaifee) Barnard, natives of the same county, their son Robert. From England, in 1851, Robert came to Geneva, N. Y., and the following year to this county, where he has since resided. He is engaged in forming on section 12, and, considering the size of the family he has reared, he has been pretty successful in life. He has held the offices of Road Commissioner and School Trustee. Aug. 10, 1853, Mr. B. was united in marriage to Rachael Chaffee. She was born in New York Feb. 5, 1836. They are the parents often children, eight of whom are living. Their names and dates of births are as follows : ]5yron E., born April 20, 'oo; Martha, Oct. 5, 1850; Sarah, Dec. 7, '57; Susan, Sept. 14, '59; A. Lincoln, Nov., '61; Robert H., Feb. 10, '63; Marv, Feb. 11, '65; Frederick, Julv 27, '67; Elvina, Feb. 14, '69; Elzina, Feb. 24, '71. Sarah and "Susan died while young. Mr. B. made a profession of religion in 1860, and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. The latter joined in Jan. 1879. Post-office, Washington.

Charles R. Crandall, farmer, who lives on sec. 9 ; came to Tazewell Co. in 1830. He was born of New England parentage, John Crandall, his father, being from Massachusetts, while his mother, Mary (Croell) Crandall, was born in Connecticut. Charles was born Dec. 11, 1812, at Sheldon, Genesee Co., New York. Like most pioneer formers, Mr. C. began life without money or lands, and to day he is one of the wealthiest formers, owning a half section of land under a high state of cultivation and stocked with abundance of fine stock. All this is the result of industry and integrity of character, always indicative of a well rounded Christian life. He united his fortunes, Jan. 9, 1845, with Elizabeth Norris, of London, England. Their only son, John H., was born Jan. 9, 1846. Mr. Crandall embraced the Christian religion in 1850, when he joined the Baptist Church.

Uriah H. Crosby, one of the early settlers, was born at Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y., March 9, 1811. He came here from Ohio, as far back as 1834, when those only with strong determination and nerves of steel cared to come. A thousand miles on foot, with rifle and knapsack, with sore feet and scanty rations, were not pleasant things to look forward to, but Mr. Crosby was one of those men, who, in danger, with a destiny to fulfill, never falter; to prove which his whole life might be called as a witness. His parents were natives of New Eno;land and Avere humble noble characters. Mr. Crosby, at the age of 28, on the 18th day of April, 1839, married Miss Margaret Murray, and from the union sprang nine children, four of whom - Horatis X., John E., Mary Oliver and Lucinda, are living. Mr. C. cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson, for President, which fact healudes to with pardonable pride. A strong Democrat in Jackson's time, he has been a firm Republican since the day Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. He lives on sec. 9 ; P. O., Morton.

William H. Conibear, M. D., jNIorton, was born in 1844, and is the son of Thomas and Ann (Kingdom) Conibear, natives of England, and who emigrated to America in 1850. He settled in Peoria where he resided until 1857, when he came to this county, and settled in Deer Creek, and after two years moved to Bureau county, where he died in 1875. The subject of this sketch enlisted, in 1862, in 112th 111. luf , Co. B, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Knoxville, Resecca, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountains, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, Bkiir's Crossroads, Dallas and Centerville. Dr. C. commenced the study of medicine at Sheffield, Bureau Co., in 1866, after which he attended a course of lectures at Rush INIedical College, Chicago. He commenced practice in this viHage in 1869, returning to Chicago in 1875, and was graduated from that institution. He was married to Miss Jane A. Sterling, a native of Greenfield, Conn., where she was born in 1845. Cornelia A., Charles E., John C. and Eri B. are their living children. Dr. C. is President of the Board of Trustees, School Trustee and controls a large practice in his profession.

Joseph Dodds, farmer; was born in Plattsburg, N. Y., Dec. 28, 1822, and came from that State to this county in September, 1851. His parents, Joseph and Betsy (Chapman) Dodds, were natives of England. He served his township as Collector and School Director. An important event of Mr. Dodds life occurred April 28, 1850. That is the date of his marriage with Louisa Gove. Mrs. Dodds was born in Alburgh, Yt., Nov. 26, 1827. They are the parents of four children, one of whom, however, dwells on the other side of the

Jordan of death. The names and births of chihlrcn are as follows: Mary A., born April 28, '51 ; Sarah Frances, born Feb. 13, '56, and died Oct. 26, '70; George, born Feb. 5, 58; Henry, born July 29, '64. Mary was married" to Lester B. Roberts, Feb. 22, '72. Post-office, jNlorton.

Lorenzo Durham was born in the village of Baldwinsville, Onondaga Co., N. Y. His father, Lorenzo D. Durham, was a native of Baltimore, Md., and his mother, Matilda Minard, was a native of New York City. The subject of this sketch was left an orphan at a very early age, his father died in 1849, and his mother one year later. Lorenzo was left upon his own resources until 1852, when his aunt, Mrs. Col. Hugh Gilston, of Baltimore, offered him a home, which was accepted. He finished his education in 1854, when he entered the wholesale drug-house of Clotworthy & Flint, Baltimore, and remained there until 1856, when he went to Washington, 111. After learning the carpenter's trade, at ^yhich he served as aj^prentice three years, he went to Groveland, 111., and engaged to work on a farm, where he remained till 1861, when, Nov. 16th of that year, he enlisted in the 4th 111. Cav., and was wounded at Pittsburg Landing, which disabled him for cavalry service, but after\yards assisted in raising the 2d West Tennessee Col. Inf, and was commissioned second lieutenant of Co. C, and in 1865 was promoted to first lieutenant, which he resigned in 1866, when he returned home and engaged in farming. On 17th October, 1867, was married to Minerva B. Gay, of Morton township, Taze\yell Co., 111. He moved to the town of Morton in 1875. In April, 1877, he was elected J. P., and has held that position to the present time.

Royal B. Joydin was born in Rutland Co., Vt., Nov. 26, 1820. His parents, Calvin and Eunice (Barlow) Joyslin, were from the Green Mountain State. He came to jNIorton township from Vermont in 1847, and is engaged in farming on section 27. All the education he ever obtained was at the common schools of his native State, and by his own personal exertions. Oct. 5, 1848, he was married to Miss Minerva Brown, daughter of Nathaniel and Sally (Deusmore) Brown, of New York and New Hampshire, respectively. Their children number, five four of whom are living. Fredrick C, born Aug. 30, '51 ; Charles F., born July 5, '57 ; Lulu J., born Nov. 10, '61; Julia L., born June 3, '66, and died Sept. 7, '73; Clara B., born March 26, '73. Previous to the Emancipation of the negro slaves, Mr. Joyslin was a radical Abolitionist and I^iberty Party man in his political views. Since then he has been identified with the Republican party. Post-office, Morton.

Alexander Mooherry. The subject of this sketch, a man of fiftyfour, has spent forty-seven years of his life in this county and is therefore what we term an '^old settler." He was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, Sept. 5, 1825. His parents, John and Lyda (Merion) Mooberry, were natives of Penn. and Mass., respectively. Mr. M. received his schooling at the log school-house with greased-paper windows and dirt floor in Ohio, and at the same kind of structure in Illinois. He came to this county in October, 18o2, and is engaged in farming and stock raising on sec. 26, He converted his place from the raw prairie. He has held the offices of Assessor, Road Com., and that of School Director for fifteen years. He has been married twice. The first time to Martha J. Mooberry, Dec. 9, 1851. His second marriage occurred Dec. 13, 1864, and was with Mary C. Lott. He is the parent of twelve children, and what is remarkable, all are living. Post-office, ]\Iorton.

Christian May, Postmaster and Notary Public, Morton; was born in Dutchy of Nassau, Germany, in 1834, and emigrated to America Oct. 4, 1855, landing in New Orleans Jan. 5, 1856, in a shipwrecked condition, being 88 days on the ocean. The ship w^as struck by an English vessel and disabled, and ran into Plymouth for repairs. In March of that year he came to this village and worked on a farm until 1862, when he enlisted in the 82nd I. V. Inf , Co. E ; was wounded May 3rd, 1863, at Chancellorville, Va., in the left arm, and sent to Finley Hospital, Washington, D. C, where his arm was amputated May 31st, and where he was confined and discharged Sept. 8, 1863; returning, attended school four months at Groveland and ten months at Tremont, when he engaged with a marble house at Peoria and traveled until 1869, when he was married to Miss Mary A. Hay, a native of N. Y. State. Was appointed P. M. in 1870, and in the spring of the same year elected Justice of the Peace, which he filled for seven years; has also been Assessor and Collector for many years. Has been School Treasurer since 1872, and is one of the village Trustees, and always been identified with the interests of the town and county. Dora A. and Charles H. are their living children.

Hon. William A. Moore, who resides on sec. 25, Morton township, is a native of the Blue Grass State, having been born in Todd Co., Ky., Nov. 1, 1839. He came to Illinois when but seven years old. - His parents, David G. and Ann (Ellison) Moore, settled in Woodford Co., where William spent his ycjuth and obtained his education. He married Miss Sarah E. Stumbaugh, Feb. 20, '62, and one year later came to this county. Mr. M. acts with the Democratic party, and has many times been called to fill important offices in the county, and, in 1877, was elected to a seat in the General Assembly from the 27th district, which postion he filled with marked ability, and declined a re-election two years later.

0. J. Pettyjohn is a native of Tazewell Co., having been born in Tremont township Jan. 25, 1851. His parents, James and Mary (Quinn) Pettyjohn, were natives of Ohio. He attended the common country schools for some years and then entered Jacksonville College, Jacksonville, 111. He is engaged in farming and resides on section 29. He is a Director of his school district and Clerk of the Board. February 23 of the present year (1879) he was united in marriage with Nannie Todd. Miss Todd was born in Springfield,

Lewis Tai'bdl, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Lamb) Tarbell, the former of Vermont and the latter a native of New Hampshire, was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., Oct. 1, 1828. Ten years later he came to this county and has since resided here. He is engaged in ao-ricultural pursuits on section 33. His educational advantages were limited to the common schools of New York and Illinois. The 17th day of Nov., 1853, is a day memorable in the history of ISIr. Tarbell's life. Upon that day he was united with IMary Akens in marriage. The union has resulted in the birth of seven children, four bovs and three girls. All of them are living save one of the girls. Post-office address, Morton.

Erastus Roberts, hardware and agricultural implement dealer. Mr. R. was born in Morton township, in 1842; is son of Darius and Augusta (Hathaway) Roberts, natives of New York State, who came to the West in 1831 and settled in this township, where he entered laud and lived until his death, Dec. 16, 1868. The subject of this sketch lived at home until 1875, when he came to the village and formed a partnership with Mr. ]\Ioschel, where he has since carried on a large trade. Was married, in 1862, to Miss Harriet Loomis, a native of Peoria, and four children surround the fireside of their home - Carrie, Edith, Nellie and Fannie. Mr. R. is Town Trustee, and well known throughout the county.

John M. Roberts. The subject of our sketch, was among the first to settle in this county. He is the son of Daniel and Polly (Phelps) Roberts, natives of Connecticut. John was born in Delaware Co., N. Y., on the 9th of Dec, 1807, and after receiving a good education in the schools of his State, came to Tazewell Co., at the age of 24, in the year 1831, setting on sec. 18, Morton township, where he now lives, himself and wife residing with their son, Lester, Mr. Roberts is the oldest settler in the township, living, and the history of the county is also the history of himself, he having been so closely identified with its development. He was first married to Mary Burhans, May 14, 1831, and Sept. 6, 1834, was again united in wedlock to Ann Natirs, five children having been born to him. He has held many important offices in the county, all of M'hich he has filled with honor and ability. In 1838 he joined the Congregational Church.

Joseph Rich was born in France, Jan. 1, 1822. His parents, Jacob and Catherine (Zimmerman) Rich, were also French people. His father was a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte, and participated in the famous siege of Moscow. He was born in 1789, came to this country and died at the residence of his son, Joseph, in Morton township, in August, 1876. Joseph Rich came to America in 1840, and landed in New York. He worked for an Italian, near Brooklyn, for two years. He then went to New Jersey, then toTj*hiladelphia, Pittsburg, and brought up in Ohio. Here he remained for five years, clearinD; land and maulins: rails. He finally came to this county, arriving in 1848, and resides on sec. 1, of this township. He is engaged extensively in farming, and owns 1,050 acres of land, He is a School Director. He has been married twice. His first marriage occurred in 1849, and was with Catherine Rich. In 1860, April 5th, he was married to Catherine Zimmerman. Their children number seven, all living. Tlieir names and ages are as follows : David, born Feb. 5, '50; Jacob, March 15, '53; Mary, Sept. 10, '54; Lydia, May 1, '56; Daniel, Oct. 25, '57; Joseph, July 9, '61; Christian, March 8, '65. Post-office, Washington,

Christian Hinith was born in Woodford Co., 111., Jan. 8, 1846, but is of French parentage; his parents. Christian and ]\Iagdalaine (Schrock) Smith, were natives of France. He came to this county in 1853, and is engaged in farming in company with his brother-inlaw, Peter Sweitzer, on sec. 2. They are conducting the farm of John Sweitzer. He served in the late war, in Co. G, 108th 111. infantry. He united with the (Omish) Minnonite Church in 1867. Feb. 13, 1873, he was married to Rena Sweitzer, daughter of John E. and Mary Sweitzer, and who was born June 12, 1847. They have two little boys, William Arthur, born Nov. 22, '73, and Frederic Albert, born Feb. 21, '79. Post-office, Cooper.

Christopher Shaefer, farmer, sec. 28, is the son of Christopher and Mary (Fisher) Shaefer, of Virginia, and was born in Green Briar Co. in that State, April 29, 1813. He found his way to Ohio and in 1841 came from Franklin county to Tazewell. He received a limited education, having the advantages only of subscription schools, but in life has been reasonably successful. On the 29th of Dec, 1836, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Cox, who bore him eight children, four boys and four girls. One of the boys and one of the girls sleep in their graves. He confessed his faith in Christ in 1840, and is connected with the Baptist Church. Postoffice, Morton.

Louis Stcdtcr, merchant, Morton ; was born on the river Rhine, Germany, in 1841, and emigrated to America with his mother in 1853, and settled in Washington township, where he engaged in farniing until 1863, when he moved to Livingston Co. where he resided until 1874, at which time he settled in this village and opened his present place of business, where he has since been successfully engaged in keeping a general stock of goods. Was married in 1861, to Miss Annie Schrock, a native of this county. She died in 1874. He has five children by this marriage - Joseph, Peter, Lewis, Laury, and Annie. His present wife, Phoebe Rediger, was born on river Rhine in 1846. Mr. S. has been Justice of the Peace three years, and has been otherwise identified with the interests of the town and county,

John Sweitzer, son of John and Veronica Sweitzer, of France, was born in that country Sept. 15, 1807. He had heard much of America and longed to press its free soil. Accordingly, in 1832, he sailed for the United States. He spent some time in Pennsylvania, and in 1833 came to Illinois and located in Woodford county, which, at that time, was included in Tazewell county. He remained there until 1851, when he came to sec. 2, of this township, where he now resides. He has retired from active labor himself and rents his farms, whicii ineludge 720 actes. On the day he was twenty-one years of age he was married to Mary Engel, who was born in France Dec. 1, 1807. Her parents were Christian and Barbara (Brunner) Engel, of France. They are the parents of twelve children, seven of whom are living : Christian, born July 24, '29 ; Barbara, Jan. 10, '31 ; Neronica, Aug. 26, '32; John, Oct. 2(j, '34; Joseph, Nov. 30, '39 ; Mary, Dec. 7, '41 ; Bena, June 12, '47 ; Peter, Sept. 7, '49 ; Catharina, Jan. 4, '52. Three of the children died young and have no record. Christian, a sea captain and pilot, of Oregon, was drowned in the Pacific ocean, near San Francisco, Nov., 1858, while in a gale. Joseph, a mate, fell from a steamboat on the Columbia river, Oregon, in 1864, and was drowned. Peter Sweitzer resides in Washington, is engaged in the manufacture of drain tile and is doing a j)n»sperous business. Mr. S. is a member of the Omish Mennonite Church. Post-office, Washington.

William Voelpel, blacksmith, Morton; born in 1840 and emigrated with parents to America in 1848 and settled in St. Louis, where he lived until his father's death in 1874. In 1861, enlisted in the 5th Mo. V., Co. B, serving three months and twenty days; returned and enlisted in the 2d Mo. V., Co. F, serving one year, when the regiment was disbanded. Participated in the battle of Corinth. The following year came to this village and became engaged at his trade, where he was drafted in the 44th I. V. I., Co. F., and served nine months, participating in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. Returning formed a partnership with Henry Miller and in the fall of the same year purchased his interest, wdiere he has since carried on a successful and remunerative business. Was married in 1867 to Miss Barbara Metz, a native of Germany. They have eight children - William, John, Lucy, Edward, Annie, George, Ida, and Mary. Are members of the Christian Church.

Those serving the township in the various official capacities of Supervisor, Clerk, Assessor and Collector, are given below, together with the year or years of serving :