Nevada Township

Nevada Township

The village of Nevada was laid out and platted for William Shephard, of Jersey County, 111., from Section 8. The plat consists of forty-five acres, and was surveyed by A. C. Huetson, County Surveyor, February 10, 1870.

Prior to 1868, the citizens of Nevada Township had not thought of a closer market for their grain and other produce than Odell and Dwight. The valuable accession to the commercial facilities of this section, of the main line, had so recently been completed that they were scarcely ready to believe that they had need for more. However, in 1869, the western division was built, and immediately a new tracing point was established in the midst. The line had but been completed, and the location for a station fixed, when it was realized by a number of shrewd business men that this must soon be a point of considerable significance. With a large scope of territory, consisting of such fine farming lands as is embraced in Nevada and the eastern part of Sunbury, it could not be otherwise than that a trading point Avould develop here, comparing favorably in extent and importance with others on the line.

The first to realize these facts was E. D. Brown, who was then residing in the township. He built the first house, in the Spring of 1870, removed his family at once to the station, opened a store, and began buying grain. For the purpose of handling grain, he at fii^st erected a small granary. To this, as circumstances required, he made additions, until it embraced the large elevator now occupied by A. M. Wright & Co., of Chicago. He continued the store until it was burned down, in April, 1875, and the grain business until the following Spring.

After BroAvn had completed the buildings ah-eady mentioned, he erected the dwelling house in which he has since resided, and into which he removed in the Fall of 1870.

Michael Bridell and family came from West Virginia in the Fall of 1870, and built a house Avhich was at first used as a saloon, but in which, a few months later, was opened a store of general merchandise. The store, however, had but a short existence, and he returned to his former occupation, that of a carpenter, and Mrs. Bridell opened up a millinery establishment, which she has kept up ever since.

John B. Simpson came from Gardner, in the Fall of 1870, and built a blacksmith shop, and worked at the trade during the Fall and Winter. Early in the Spring of 1871, he built himself a dwelling house and brought his family to the place. His shop was the first of its kind, and the " village blacksmith" still plies the bellows, and from early morn till the setting sun the sharp ring of his anvil may still be heard.

Louis, Joseph and Julius Gillet, three brothers, and Frenchmen, resided in the township when the railroad was built, and, on its completion, came to the station to live. They reared them a stable in the Fall of 1871, in which they "kept house" during the ensuing Winter and most of the next Summer. In the Fall of 1872, they built a more comfortable abode, and turned the stable over to its legitimate purposes.

H. F. Burr and family removed to this place in the Spring of 1872, and erected a store and dwelling house, in which he set up a stock of hardware. They subsequently removed to Kansas.

In the Spring of 1873, Thomas Brady, from Grundy County, erected a store buihling, for the purpose of opening a dry goods and grocery house, but did not prosper well, and returned to his former home. In the Fall of 1872. J. A. Cavanaugh and family arrived from La Salle County. He came for the purpose of engaging in the grain and stock trade, in which business he has been eminently successful. The country about the station is well adapted to the raising of corn, and immense (juantitics of it are shipped from this point. Cavanaugh at first built a small granary, and in this handled grain during the Winter of 1872-3. The following Spring, he erected the large elevator which he now operates.

As soon as the station was located, and people commenced to settle at the place, demands began to arise for postal, educational and church accommodations. Heretofore Dwight and Odell, tliough somewhat distant, had served the people of this vicinity with postal facilities, but when business began to open at the station, the Government established a post office.

E. D, Brown Avas appointed first Postmaster. His successors have been E. F. Eaton, H. F. Brown, James K. Dean, B, Doav, Henry Devoe and George 'Baker. At present, the office is held by B. Dow.

The only church in the village, and indeed in the township, is that of the Methodists. It was organized soon after the village began to build, and at first consisted of about ten members. A convenient place for holding public meetings was very desirable, and a proposition to erect a church edifice met a hearty response; and very soon a sufficient amount was pledged to warrant the society in building. Lewis Springer, as Pastor, had charge of the society in 1873, and it was under his administration that the work began. The subscriptions were procured largely through the influence and personal solicitation of E. D. Brown. The house cost $1,800, and is twenty-six feet in width and fortytwo in length. It is 'well built, neatly furnished throughout, and compares favorably in size and style with similar buildings in towns of larger size. The society has been quite successful, not only financially, but in increase of members and influence. The present membership is about one hundred. Rev. W. R. Phillips is the present Pastor, and resides in the village.

So far, educational advantages have been quite limited ; and until last year no school had been organized at the place. The only privileges of the kind heretofore had been those afforded by the district school, some distance from the village. Last Winter, however, a room was hired in toAvn, Emma Carlisle employed as teacher, and a school, consisting of about forty pupils, established. The citizens contemplate the immediate erection of a school building, commensurate with their wants, within the limits of the village.

Business is represented here at present by J. A. Cavanaugh and A. M. Wright & Co., who deal in grain and lumber; A. W. Davis and J. A. Cavanaugh, dealers in dry goods and groceries ; B. B. Dow, dealer in drugs and medicines ; and various other shops and stores common to a village of like size.

Source changes here: from Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Livingston County, Vol. 2 by Strawn, Johnson, and Franzen (1909)., by Dale C. Maley, published 1909; 146 words in this source stream.

Nevada Township

The village is located on a branch of the Chicago and Alton road, midway between Dwight and Blackstone. It has about 75 inhabitants. There is a general store, post-office, blacksmith shop, and two grain elevators. A Methodist church is also located here, The village was laid t and platted for William Shepherd on February 10, 1870. The first house in the village was built that year by E. D. Brown, who opened a store and purchased grain. Michael Bridell and John Simpson followed a few weeks later. Bridell engaged in the mercantile business and Simpson became the village blacksmith. In 1872, H. F. Burr opened a hardware store. Thomas Brady embarked in the dry goods and grocery business in 1873, but did not make a success of his venture. J. A. Cavanaugh engaged in the grain and stock business. E. D. Brown was the first postmaster.