North Henderson Township

North Henderson Township

North Henderson Township is in the extreme southeastern part of the county. It took its name from the stream which passes through the central part toward the west. The southern part is drained by small streams which flow south into Warren County. The township from an agricultural standpoint is one of the best in the county. The soil is rich and black and insures large crops with suitable care. Pope Creek runs along near the northern border, occasionally coming inside the township line. A portion of the township was originally covered with timber, but by far the largest tract was prairie land. On section i, particularly, was a very heavy bodv of timber, from which the early settlers took their first rails and their timber. The St. Louis Branch of the C, B. & Q. Railroad passes through the southern part of the township. This road when built in 1871 was called the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis. The township was required to vote stock to aid the road, and did so, and in the end paid its obligations promptly and cheerfully.

Probably the first settler to locate herein was Govert Fleharty, who established a home on section 1 at the edge of the heavy timber tract in the spring of 1833. In the fall of the next year James Mann & Son, Young C. Meeker and Timothy Meeker settled a short distance east of the Fleharty residence. They took up claims, but did not locate on the same until the following spring. Mr. Mann's selection was on section 6 and Mr. Meeker's on section 5. In the spring of 1835 Benjamin F. and Harison Brown took claims on sections 18 and 19. In 1837 the Scott family reached the township and became permanent residents. Notley Scott bought the Harison Brown claim on sections 18 and 19. Benjamin F. Brown also sold out his claim. Harison Brown in the end located in Suez Township. In 1838 Benjamin F. Brown took up a claim on sections 6 and 7 and there made his permanent home. Early in 1839 Allen S. and Benjamin Brown secured homes on sections 25 and 35. In the fall of the same year David Bruner and Andrew J. Holmes took up claims in the southeast part of the township. The Fleharty family became, in the end, one of the most prominent in this portion of the county. They did a great deal for the cause of temperance and religion and set an example of sobriety and correct living that was imitated by large numbers of residents in this section of the county. Govert S. Fleharty, particularly, was a man of great mentality, earnest convictions and unrelenting in his prosecution of crime and sin. Other members of the family who became prominent were Stephen W., Bennett E., William L., Henry, Rev. J. J. and H. C. Rev. J. J. did more than any Other man in the southeastern part of the county for the cause of temperance during the '50s and '60s.

In comparatively recent years this township has erected a commodious town hall. The first postoffice was called Ethel and was located on section 21, with John Goff, postmaster. After North Henderson Village was started this office was removed there and the name was changed, but Mr. Goff continued to be postmaster. Afterwards George G. Blue, a druggist there, conducted the office. The first marriage ceremony in the township was in 1838 between Benjamin F. Brown and Miss Lucinda Mann. The first child born in the township was William D. Fleharty, on October 4, 1834. The first cemetery was on land furnished by James Mann. The first schoolhouse was a cabin which had been built by Mr. Mann and stood on section 6. John Wilshire was the first teacher. The township in early times was called Liberty and continued to use this name until 1854, when under the new township law the name was changed to North Henderson. At that time the township was duly organized and the first officers chosen were: Notley Scott, supervisor; Joshua Bruner, town clerk; John W. Miles, assessor; James M. Holmes, collector; R. R. Mathers, Eli Tangham and Nathan Bailey, commissioners of highways; Timothy Meeker, overseer of the poor; Andrew J. Holmes and William F. Garrett, justices of the peace; and James M. Holmes, constable. At this first township election a total of twenty-four votes were polled. The town hall was not built until 1880. It cost about seven hundred and eighty-five dollars.

In 1874 an attempt to secure artesian water led to the boring of a deep well on section 14 on the farm of G. W. Higgins. It was commenced in 1874, but owing to the drill getting fast in a rock bed at a great depth, was not completed until 1876. The second company were forced to commence again at the surface. A depth of 1,209 *eet was reached and the drift deposits were passed through at a depth of 127 feet. After that the work almost continuously was through shale and solid rock. At a depth of 915 feet an inexhaustible supply of water was struck and the tide rose to within about eighty feet of the surface. A 10-horse power engine running day and night, and throwing a 4-inch stream, failed to lower the water line in the well in the least. The water is quite soft and contains a quantity of iron and other mineral constituents. Coal was struck at a depth of seventy-five feet, but was not of much consequence and had no roof. Again at a depth of from 440 to 485 feet other coal seams were found. Magnetic rock of excellent quality was found at a depth of 405 feet. The following are the strata or beds passed through successively: Yellow clay, 30 feet; dark clay and gravel, 45 feet; coal and shale, 40 feet; limestone and water, 12 feet; shale, 10 feet; black slate, 18 feet; dark shale, 123 feet; limestone, 3 feet; shale, 15 feet; limestone, 4 feet; shale with sulphate iron, 27 feet; bastard limestone, 18 feet; limestone, 95 feet; limestone and coal, 45 feet; limestone, 25 feet; blue shale, 65 feet; limestone, 17 feet; alternate strata of shale and limestone, 2 to 3 feet each, 78 feet; blue shale, 30 feet; limestone, 412 feet; sandstone, 88 feet; black shale, 9 feet; total, 1,209 Ieer- N° doubt if similar wells were sunk elsewhere in the township a supply of water equally good and permanent could be secured.

The settlement of the township was rapid during the '40s and still more rapid during the '50s. By i860 the township was well built up with permanent residences, good barns, substantial schoolhouses and churches and the farmers were in much better circumstances than in early times. But it was not until the construction of the railroad that the township really received its greatest benefits from outside sources.

From the earliest times stock raising has been an important industry. Hogs particularly have been raised in large numbers and marketed. In 1871 Adam Bruner marketed thirty-five hogs that averaged 424V2 pounds each. The price was high at this time and he realized a large sum of money. They were of the Poland China breed. About the same time L. Eddleman sold seven hogs that averaged 490 pounds each. They were likewise of the Poland China breed. Other farmers at this time marketed herds equally as heavy and excellent.

In addition to the Mann Cemetery mentioned above, there is another on section 35 called the Mount Vernon Cemetery. It was established at an early date and has been used as a burial ground by the farmers living in the township.

North Henderson

stands on section 26 and the first proprietors were William H. and John T. Brown, sons of Allen S. Brown, one of the pioneers of the township. The village really started before that date, or rather was a country crossroads. There were stores there in the '50s. McCutcheon & Evans conducted a general store there as early as June, 1858. There was at the same time a blacksmith shop, carpenter shop and a school, and a little later religious societies were organized at the Corners.

In early times a postoffice called North Henderson was established in Suez Township, but upon the starting of this little village in North Henderson Township that postoffice was removed and established in McCutcheon & Evans' store, with George M. Evans postmaster, in 1862. The Village of North Henderson proper was laid out November 18, 1871. Since that date there have been several additions and the place now is active and growing rapidly.

In the earlv '8os the village had two general stores, two drug stores, two grain merchants, two agricultural implement dealers, two hardware stores, one furniture store, one lumber yard, one restaurant, one harness shop, one shoe shop, one blacksmith, one millinery store, one livery stable, one hotel, one barber shop, four doctors and a lawyer. There was a two-story schoolhouse standing in the village and a Methodist Episcopal church. A few years before the Odd Fellows had erected a fine two-story building there at a cost of $1,600. The lower story was fitted up for a general public hall and the second storv was occupied bv the lodge. In 1883 Dr. William H. Brown of this township was shot by Mrs. Stuart, wife of Dr. C. G. Stuart, and died a short time afterwards. She was arrested, put in jail and tried for murder. This case attracted the attention of the public all over Western Illinois. Its details need not be dwelt upon, because they were unfortunate and lamentable.

In iqoo North Henderson had the following business establishments: Bank, Farmers Bank; blacksmiths and wagonmakers, Peterson & Hallstrom, S. A. Tornquist; carpenter and builder, W. S. Blackstone; druggist, D. L. Rowe; dry goods and general merchandise, De Forest & West, H. Glenn Jackson, Mrs. K. O. Lindsay; grain and lumber, L. B. De Forest; hotel and livery, D. M. Bruner; hardware and implements, L. J. Smith; harness, M. Dickerson; meat market, A. Bruner & Son; millinery, Edith M. Dickerson; physicians and surgeons, J. Neil Cox, George Stuart; painter, Victor Hammerquist; restaurant, Hammerquist & Peterson; stock buyer and shipper, F. B. De Forest.

Henderson is well governed. It has excellent schools, churches and social societies and lodges. Its streets are clean and orderly. It is well lighted, has good water and is a promising, growing center.

In 1914 North Henderson had a population of 300. The business establishments were: George E. Allen, restaurant; Devlin & Coffev, meat market; M. Dickerson Company, harness; Frank Ever, drugs; W. A. Fraser & Company; O. W. Holestrom, blacksmith; O. F. Lungren, general store; F. A. Mathers, hay, coal and straw; Miller & Lindsey, lumber; M. A. Peterson, general store; William Scannell, blacksmith and machinist; Arthur P. Shaver, telephone; L. J. Smith, hardware and agricultural implements; S. A. Tornquist, agricultural implements; J. W. Walker, stationery.