New Berlin Township

New Berlin Township

The village of Berlin is located on the State road, from Springfield to Jacksonville, and was laid out and platted by Henry and Thomas Yates, on " part of the east half of the northwest quarter of section seventeen, township fifteen, range seven west," the plat being recorded December 12, 1836.

In 1832, Henry Yates opened a stock of goods in a log cabin erected as a dwelling house, and situated where the village was afterwards located. Around this store a settlement was effected, other business was started, and the village of Berlin had an actual existence. The store of Mr. Yates' continued in existence, and operated by himself and son Thomas, until 1857.

A post office was established at the lower end of the grove, two and a half miles east of the present village, in 1828, and Henry Ellis was ap- pointed postmaster, and discharged the duties of the office. The office was continued at this point until the village was laid out, under the name of Island Grove post office. When it was changed to the village, its name was changed to Berlin. Mr. Ellis was succeeded by William Underwood. Since his term the following named have held the office: S. Wood, H. M. Havenon, S. Wood (second time), A. Yates, O. H. Rush, R. Ballay, G. W. Havenon, T. Kerlin, T. Pollock^ P. Price, James Ward, W. Whelehand, Scott Price, and W. B. Price; the last named being the present postmaster.

The religious and moral condition of the place IS represented by four churches - Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Christian, and United Presbyterian, each of whom have houses of worship. The Bsptist Church was built in 1865, at a cost of 16,000. It is forty by sixty feet. The Methodist Church, built in 1861, at a cost of $4,000; the Presbyterian, in 1857, at a cost of $2,000; and the Christian, the same year, at a cost of $2,500.

Jacob Ade, farmer, Berlin, Island Grove township, was born in Kingdom of Werttenberg, Germany, on the 31st day of December, 1817. He came to the United States in 1853, coming by steam, being seventeen days on the water; landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he remained four weeks, then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked on a farm, and through the winter he worked at his trade as baker, remaining there one and one-half years. From there he came to Island Grove township, where he worked on a farm by the month for three years, then bought property in town and started a bakery, which he followed up to 1864, when he embarked in the grocery business, which he followed up to 1870, when he purchased a farm of fifty-six acres, ?11 of which is under a high state of cultivation, and valued at !j!65 per acre. Mr. Ade married Elizabeth Scholl, in Island Grove, December, 1857, born also in Germany. They had three children, two are living, viz: Frederick, who is in partnership with his father in a store of groceries and general merchandise at Berlin; they carry a stock of $2,000, and Charles, who resides on the farm with his father. Jacob Ade and wife are both members of the German Lutheran Church at Berlin. In politics, he is a Republican.

Charles F. Dam^^ harness maker, Island Grove township, post oflice, Berliii, was b )rn in Scott county, Illinois, on the fifth day of February, 1840; son of Jerome and Sarah (Curry) Davis, who were natives of Kentucky, where tbey were married and where three children were born, Susie, Napoleon and James. He emigrated to Illinois, in 1834, and located in Naples, Scott county, Illinois, where he followed the occupation of pork dealer, until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1840; his mother dying the same year. Charles F., when twelve years of age, commenced to learn the trade of a saddler. In 1875, married Miss Annie Carson, who was born in Sangamon county, 1846. The fruits of this marriage was two children, one of which is living, Maud. Mrs. Annie Davis died October, 1877. For his second wife married Edna Pease, in 1879. She was born in Sangamon county, July 1860. Mr. Davis has held several local offices of trust; is a member of the Baptist Church.

William J. Douglass, farmer and stock raiser, post office, Berlin, was born in Island Grove township, on the 12th day of March, 1841; son of Milton and Sarah A. Casselberry. His father emigrated to Sangamon county in the fall of 1833, coming through with an ox team. Previous to his coming to the county, he had worked on a farm for $8 per month, on the place where Mr. Douglass now lives; afterwards purchased the same place, came poor, and by good management has accumulated a fine property of five hundred and twenty acres of land. Mr. Douglass was married three times; by his first wife there was four children, three of whom lived to be adults, Mary, William J. andjChristiana. Mrs. D. died about 1843; for his second wife, he married Louisa M. Underwood, by which there was one child, who died in infancy. She died, and he afterwards married Miss Francis M. Rude, by whom he had seven children, five of whom are living, Sarah A., Caroline, Margaret, Ellen, and Stephen A. In politics, is a Democrat, and a member of the M. E. Church, and one of the original membei's of Simms Chapel. He came in limited circumstances, in company with two others, and the amount of their ca^^h was twentyfive cents, all told. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm; in 1865, he married Miss Adeline Rawlings, of Ohio; she was born in Lawrence county, Illinois, January 3, 1841. The fruits of this marriage were eight children, seven of whom are living, viz: William H., Milton, Fannie M., George, Eddie, and Harvey, and a babe.

He has one hundred and ten acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $60 per acre. Mr. D. has been a resident of the county all his life, and has lived to see its various changes.

John F. Elliott, was born in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, on the 14th day of April, 1823, son of Charles and Phoebe (Leach) Elliott, father of Irish descent, and mother a native of Virginia. They were married about 1821, in Pennsylvania, and immediately left for Urbana, Ohio, where he was engaged in the missionary cause among the Wyandotte Indians. From thence went to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where he held a professorship in a college, where he resided a few years. He died in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in 1870. His mother is still living at Mt. Pleasant at the age of eighty-two. John F., when twenty-five, years of age, left his home in Cincinnati, and came to Sangamon county, and located in what is now Cartwright township, where he embarked in faiming, on what was known as the "Lone Trees," where he rtmained three years, when he Bold out, and bought his present place.

Mr. Elliott is one of the large and extensive farmers of Sangamon county, owning five hundred and twenty acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, and valued at $65 per acre. In politics, is a Republican, and has served the people as magistrate for a number of years, and also held the ofiice of supervisor. In 1843, he married Miss Jane Yates, a daughter of Htnry Yates, of this township. She was born in Warsaw, Kentucky, in 1825. The fruits of this marriage weie five children, four of whom are living: Phoebe, Charles Y., Henry, and John F., Jr.

Bryant Fay, Berlin, Island Grove township, was born in Springfield, Illinois, April 25, 1848. When about three years of age, his father died. He lived in Springfield with bis mother attending the ward schools until twelve years of age, when he struck out for himself. Hefirstworked for John Keltch, in Champaign county. He then returned to Berlin a short time, when he went to Lincoln, Morgan county, Illinois, and worked on a farm for Dr. Joe Sims, and for the Chicago & Alton Railroad some two and a half years, when he came to Island Grove township. He married Nannie Skeen February IV, 1869. She was a daughter of James and Lidia A. (Mooie) Skeen, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Fay is a member of the Christian Church, and Mx's. F. of the Baptist. They have three children, viz: Elizabeth E., Lidia H., and Ann Eliza Fay.

John Fay, father of Bryant, was born in Ireland, and came to America when a young man. He enlisted in the Mexican War, where he remained until its close. He died in 1851. His wife, Eliza (Doty) Fay, is a native of Indiana. She and her husband had two children, Bryant and Mary E. Fay, now Mrs, Lercher, who reside at Dawson. He and the mother still resides in Berlin. Bryant Fay has held several local ofllces of trust in the township; was town clerk two terms and was elected supervisor of this township April, 1880, and reelected in 1881. In politics, he is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Seymour, for President of the United States.

Thomvs Fontch, retired farmer, Island Grove township, post office, New Berlin, was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, on the 25th day of November, 1799, son of John Foutch, who was born in Loudon county, Virginia, May, 1776, and Nancy A. Wherritt, who was born March 8, 1778, in St. Mary's county,Maryland. They had five children born in Fayette county, near Lexington; then the family moved to Dearborn county, near Harrison, Indiana, where they had four children; thence to Franklin county, where one child was born; thence to Sangamon county, Illinois, in the fall of 1825, at the south side of Richland creek, east of where Pleasant Plains now stands, and in the spring of 1826 moved to Island Grove township. The subject of this sketch was married December 21, 1820, in Fayette county, Indiana, to Miss Sarah Wherrett, daughter of Wm. Wherritt, of Kentucky, who moved, in 1817, to Jessamine county, Indiana, and from there to Fayette county. She was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, November 20, 1800. There was a family of six children, four of whom are living, viz: Elizabeth, Nancy, John, now of Butler county, Kansas, who has held several offices of trust in the gift of the people, having represented his people in the legislature, was one of the deacons in the Baptist Church and one of its leading spirits; and Hugh. Mr. and Mrs. Foutch have been identified with the county over fifty years, and have lived together as husband and wife nearly sixty-one years, and at this writing Mrs. F. can see without spectacles, and can read the finest print; she is hale and healthy and bids fair to live a number of years. Mr. Foutch is also living, and is able to be around and enjoy his hard-earned money.

John W. Fugate, farmer. Island Grove township, was born on a farm in Grant county, Kentucky, January 13, 1841. When some fourteen years of age, came with his parents to Illinois and settled on a farm in Island Grove township, where he remained until the war broke out, when he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-Sixth Illinois Infantry Volunteers, and was shot through the face with a minnie ball at the battle of Atlanta, Georgia. At the close of the war, he returned to the old homestead, in Island Grove township, and November 30, 1865, married Miss Mary C. Clark. She was born in Sangamon county, and was a daughter of Irwin and Permelia (Boynton) Clark; natives of Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Fugate are members of the Christian Church, and have five children, viz: William E., George, Ada, Horace C, and Mary Fugate. Soon after his marriage, Mr. John W. Fugate went to Madison county, and from 1870 to 1877, ran a wholesale and retail store at Edwardsville. He then returned to Island Grove township, where he now resides. The parents of John W., are William and Miranda (Order) Fugate, who reside on the old homestead, in Island Grove. They are members of the Christian Church, and have had four children, viz: John W., Eunice, who married E. M. Pike, and resides at Chenoa, Illinois; Mary E., wife of William Hoag, and Thomas H., married and living on his farm near Danville, Illinois.

John W. Fugate, the subject of this sketch, has a fine farm of eighty acres, in section eight. Island Grove township, where he resides. The farm is under good cultivation and well stocked. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 28, at Edwardsville, Illinois. In politics, is rather independent, and votes for the best man. He cast his first vote for A. Lincoln, for President of the United States.

James H. Gibson, M. D. (deceased), Island Grove township, Sangamon county, was born in Gallatin county, near Warsaw, on the 9th day of September, 1 809 ; was the son of David and Mary (Marrow) Gibson. Mr. David Gibson was a man of influence, and represented his district in the legislature for several terms. The family consisted of four sons and one daughter. The subject of this sketch came to Beardstown, and first engaged in the practice of medicine, in company with Dr. Chandler. In 1840 came to Berlin, Sangamon county, where he followed his profession for more than thirty years. He died in Berlin, November 22, 1873, leaving a widow and one daughter. He married Miss Catharine Maison, a daughter of Peter and Catharine (Miller) Maison, of Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, where she was born. May 23, 1813. Dr. Gibson attended lectures in Cincinnati medical college, where he graduated with honors. Dr. G., at his death, had accumulated a fine property, and owned four hundred and forty acres of valuable land, valued at $75 per acre. The Doctor was a member of the Baptist Church for over thirty years. As husband, father, brother, he was a true Christian man, of the noblest and truest type. A large and sorrowing concourse attested his worth at his funeral at Berlin.

Peter Knepler, farmer and stock raiser, post ofiice, Berlin, section nine, was born in Loraine, France, on the third day of February, 1816, where he worked at farming until he was thirty years old, when he came to the United States, landing in New Orleans, thence by river to St. Louis, where he remained a few days, then came via. Beardstown to Springfield, where he was employed in a ham factory for Cox & Billeys, and remained a short time. In 1848, came to Island Grove township, where he worked for Captain Brown on a farm and remained with him four yeai's. The first land that he bought was forty acres, in 1856. He now owns a beautiful farm of one hundred and seventy-six acres under a high state of cultivation, valued at $60 per acre. Married Miss Catharine Kannople, she was born in France, August 10, 1809. The fruits of this marriage was seven children four of whom are living, Catharine, John, Charley and Mary; members of the Catholic Church of New Berlin. Mr, K. came to the United States a poor man, but by hard work and economy, has made a good home and property.

S. O. Maxcy, farmer and stock raiser, post office, Farmingdale, Island Grove township, was , born in Logan county, Kentucky, about 1820; son of Joel and Betsy Ann (Brown) Maxcy, who were natives of Virginia. He was a soldier in a Virginia regiment in the time of the Revolution, and was in the battle of Guilford Court House. He remembered having seen Generals Marion, Morgan, DeKalb and Yates. He was married after the war in Prince Edwards county, to Miss Susan Hill, whose maiden name was Davis.

Mr. and Mrs. Maxcy had three children in Virginia, and in 1798 moved to Warren county, near Bowling Green, Kentucky, where one child was born. Mrs. Susan Maxcy died August 27, 1812. For his second wife married Mrs, Betsy A. Howard, whose maiden name was Brown. By this marriage there were five children.

The family moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving November, 1827, in Springfield, and soon after moved to Island Grove township, north of Spring Creek, coming through with teams and camping out; moved into a log cabin sixteen by sixteen, there being six in the family. He took up two hundred acres of land and made a home, where he remained until his death, which occurred on the Vth day of December, 1847. Mrs. Maxcy died in Shelby county, Illinois, in 1856. In politics, was an old line Whig of the Henry Clay stripe. Mr. and Mrs. Maxcy were among the early members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were leading spirits in the organization of the church. S. O. Maxcy came to this county when he was a boy five years of age, and was reared on a farm. November 16, 1848, married Miss Nancy Archer,- daughter of William and Elizabeth Archer. She was born in Spring Creek township, November 13, 1825. The fruits of this marriage are two children, James H., born in Island Grove township September 18, 1849, whomarried Miss Alice Jameson, a daughter of Samuel Jameson, of Ohio. They have a family of four children: Lee F., Catharine, Nancy and Charles; William J., born October 13, 1856. He married Miss Ida Reed. There is one child, Beulah. Mr. Maxcy is one of the large and extensive farmers of the county, ovvning four hundred and forty acres of land, valued at |65 per acre. In politics, Mr. Maxcy is a Democrat.

W. £. Price, M. D., Berlin, was born in Island Grove, Sangamon county, Illinois, on the 10th day of August, 1835, son of Charles W, and Rebecca (Brown) Price, who emigrated to Jacksonville, Morgan county, Illinois, from Kentucky, about 1832, where he remained a short time, then removed to this county, where he purchased land and made a home, remaining here until his death. Dr. W. B. Price was reared on a farm, and received a scientific education at Illinois College, at Jacksonville. When eighteen years of age he commenced reading medicine with Drs. Gibson & Brown, where he prosecuted his studies one year, when he attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, and graduated in 1857. In 1862 was commissioned as Assistant Surgeon, and afterwards promoted to Surgeon of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, where he remained until the close of the war. After leaving the service, returned to Berlin, where he has followed his profession since. Married Miss Eliza C. O'Bannon. May 17, 1873. She was born in Kentucky. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a member of the Jacksonville Chapter. In politics, a Republican, and cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas, for President of

James D. Smith, farmer and stock dealer. Island Grove township, post office. New Berlin, was born in Island Grove township, Sangamon county, Illinois, oa the 20th day of December, 1837, son of James D. and Ruth (Brown) Smithy natives of Harrison county, Kentucky, where they were married in 1829, where one child was born - William. In 1833, he came to Sangamon county with his father-in-law, Colonel William Brown, moving his family in the fall of 1833 to Island Grove, where nine children were born, three of whom died in infancy. He purchased a. large tract of land, where he remained until his^ death, which occurred November 7, 1871, as fol lows:

" On the afternoon of Tuesday, November 7, 1871, James D. Smith, an old and honored resident of Island Grove, Sangamon county, Illinois, was thrown from his buggy and killed, whilst returning alone to his home from the town of Berlin. On the afternoon of the Thursday following, the large concourse of people, from town and country for miles around, which gathered at his grave, spoke impressively of the high esteem in which he was held by all who knew him. Dying, he has left a strickened family a treasure more precious than his ample fortune - the priceless heritage of a well-spent life."

His widow, Mrs. Ruth A. Smith, survived her husband exactly ten months, and died September 7, 1872. The remains were both interred in Wood Wreath Cemetery, near where they spent so many years of their lives.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, receiving a classical education, graduating at the Illinois College in his eighteenth year. In 1864, he married Miss Elizabeth Brown, a daughter of Elisha Brown, of Boonsville, Cooper county, Missouri. She was born April 2, 1842. By this union there were seven children, six of whom are living: Elisha B., James D., Mary B., Harriet D., Elizabeth and Annie.

Mr. Smith in company with his brother, Lloyd are among the large and enterprising farmers of the central portion of the State, and make a specialty of raising blooded stock, short-horned cattle and Norman horses, of which he has on his place, three beautiful imported stallions, viz: St. Louis, weighing one thousand eight hundred pounds; Chicago, one thousand nine hundred pounds, and Grand Duke, a very promising colt weighing one thousand five hundred pounds. The brothers have in company one thousand eight hundred acres of land, and raise seven

Asa JR. Washburn, (deceased), Island Grove township, was born in Randolph, Vermont, on the 14th day of July, 1824, married Miss Barbara Craig, October IV, 1852. She was a daughter of George and Rebecca (Painter) Craig, natives of Virginia, who emigrated to this State in 1840 and located in Morgan county, four miles east of Jacksonville. She was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, December 2, 1826. There was a family of seven children, three of whom are living, Aurelia, now Mrs. Erastus Clark, of Morgan county; Arthur E. and George. Mr. Washburn was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and at the time of his death was one of the elders, and was respected by all who knew him. In politics he was a strong Democrat. He died in Vermont, September 12, 1868, aged forty-three years, one month and twentynine days.

William B Warren, M. D., post office, Berlin, Illinois, was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, on the 8th day of July, 1852; son of William M. and Percilla (Hitt) Warren. When eighteen years of age he went to Texas, with Colonel S. H. Hill, where they dealt in cattle, until 1875, when he returned t) tliis Slate. Ho imnu'iliate'v commenced the study of medicine in the Missouri Medical College, at St. Louis, where he remained two years, when he gi-aduated, in 1877. From there he returned to New Berlin, where he embarked in the drug business, which he is still pursuing. In the spring of 1880, he came to Berlin, and formed a partnership with Dr. W B. Price, and has followed his profession since. He married Miss Virginia L. Rutledge, a daughter of Dr. Rev. Wm. J. Rutledge, appointed chaplain, at Joliet. She was born in Jacksonville, September 21, 1860; they were married June 3, 1880.

Thomas Yates, Island Grove township, one of its large and extensive farmers, was born March 14, 1811, in Gallatin county, Kentucky; was married March 29, 1837, atBerlin, Sangamon county, Illinois, to Nancy Higgins, who was born May 23, 1816, in Cumberland county, Kentucky, and came with her parents to Sangamon county, in 1836. Thomas and Mary Yates had ten living children, six of which lived to be adults. Mrs. Nancy Yates died December 15, 1860. Thomas Yates is a farmer, has six hundred acres of land, valued at |65 per acre. Mr. Yates came to the county in an early day, and has been identified with its interest over fifty years, and has seen the prairies from their wild uncultivated state, to one of the finest cultivated counties in the State.