North Palmyra Township

North Palmyra Township

This township lies in the extreme northern portion of the county. It is geographically known as township 12, range 8 west, and contains 23,040 acres of land. It is bounded on the north by Morgan county, on the east by North Otter township, on the south by South Palmyra and on the west by Scottville townships. There is some timber to be found here but the land is mostly a fertile prairie, under a high state of cultivation. Apple creek drains the northern portion, while the east side is drained by Massey creek, the central and southern portions by Solomon's creek and the western portion by Joe's creek.

The first man to settle in this township was John Cummings, who came with his family in August, 1824. He was followed by Jonas Thompson and family who came in the same year. In 1825 Mrs. Woodring and family came and in the fall of 1826 Elijah Wills and his family made a permanent location in the township. On the 2jih of March, 1827, Judge Lewis Solomon, Sr., came here from Morgan county and located on section 20. Solomon's creek was named in his honor. The district in which he located was afterward known as Eagle's point and received its name from the following circumstance : When Judge Solomon came to the county to look for a location, he burned off several patches of prairie and as the fire neared the timber a large number of spotted eagles flew around. These eagles are found only in new and unsettled country. Here Judge Solomon, assisted by his sons James and Lewis, erected a log cabin, which had no windows, the only light in the building being received through the door and chimney.

The first man to enter land was Jonathan Thompson, February 17, 1827. He entered eighty acres on the southeast quarter of section 4. Ezekiel Springer entered eighty acres on the northwest quarter of section 3, on the I2th of November, 1827. The third entry was made by E. C. Vancil, January 19, 1828, which comprised eighty acres of the southeast quarter of section 4.

After this time settlers came in quite rapidly. John Nevins, Sr., came from Madison county in 1827 and bought the improvements of Elijah Wills. In the same year John Nevins, Jr. and John Scott, with their families, arrived and settled on section 7. William Nevins, the father of John, came and settled on the same section. Jacob Nifong came here in 1828 and bought the improvements of John Nevins. James Howard came from Morgan county in 1828. He married a daughter of Judge Solomon and became the first schoolteacher in the township. Alexander Carson came from Kentucky and settled on section 28. This was in the spring of 1828. The same year I. B. Vancil and Spencer Norvill came and settled in the township. Aaron Turner and Larkin Richardson arrived in 1829. In 1830 John Cherry and Russell, William, Henry and John Taber arrived in the township. All settled just north of the present site of Palmyra. Robert Ross came in 1829 or 1830 and settled on section 27. Joseph King came in 1829. locating on section 28. His brother David joined him here in 1835. James Pocklington, an Englishman, came with his family in August, 1830. Isham Gibson was an early settler.

Girard Coal Min7E Illinois

hi 1831 the following came: James Young and family, Newton Berry, Stephen Jones and Stephen Robertson. The latter purchased the improvements on section 33, made by Russell Taber. William Sims also came this year and his brother George had preceded him here in 1829. William Rice came here from Kentucky in 1830, locating on section 33. The same year William Hodges settled on section 34. John B. Clevenger came with his father in the year 1830. Daniel Chapman was here in 1831 and Garrett Davis was here the year previous, as was also James Bryant and family, who settled on section 2. Claibourne Gooch, who had a large family, came here from Kentucky in 1833, settling on section 29. Jasper Rice, also a Kentuckian settled on section 28, in the year 1832. Jonathan Landreth came here in 1833 from Virginia. John Cotts came from Kentucky in 1835 and settled on section 22. He married a Miss Wise after coming to the township. In 1835 Thomas Steward, D. A. Pulliam and Jesse Berry arrived, while in the following year, 1836, Lewis O'Neal and Joseph Listen, Sr., came.

The first sermon in the township was preached at the home of Lewis Solomon, Sr. in the year 1827, by Austin Sims, a Baptist. Lewis Solomon, Sr. and William Hodges, both Baptists, also were among the early preachers here. Jacob Nifong, who was of the Christian faith, also was an early preacher here.

The Methodist denomination built the first church in 1840. It was located a mile and a half north of the village of Palmyra and was called Bethel. It was constructed of hewed logs and was subsequently used for school purposes.

The first schoolhouse was located in the northwest part of the township, on section 18, and built in 1829. It was first conducted as a subscription school, the teacher being James Howard.

The first mill was erected by E. C. Vancil and was run by horse power. Prior to this the settlers had to go to mill at a place now known as Rockbridge.

Dr. George Sims located here in 1829 but prior to that time E. C. Vancil practiced medicine to some extent. Dr. Palmer arrived here a little later.

The first justice of the peace was Lewis Solomon, Sr. He was elected when Macoupin county formed a part of Greene county. Mr. Solomon also introduced the first blooded stock in the township.

South Palmyra township occupies the congressional town 1 1 north, range 8 west, and is bounded on the north by North Palmyra, on the east by South Otter, on the south by Bird and on the west by Barr township.

The first settlers in this township were Seth Hodges and John Love, who came about the year 1816. Hodges' creek was named in honor of Seth Hodges.

Levi Day and family came about 1824. He erected a small cabin and began to improve a farm. George Mathews and family arrived in 1827. About 1823 David T. Taylor came here from Tennessee and settled on the creek near Seth Hodges. He afterward moved to near the town of Palmyra and became one of the first constables of the county. Felix Hoover settled here in 1829, and in the same year came William Hodges, a local preacher. Rev. John Howerton, a Baptist minister, came here from Tennessee in 1830. James Cave also came about the same time. Isaac Massey came from Tennessee in 1829. Ezekiel Ross settled here in 1833. His brother, Robert Ross, and family settled here about 1829, but after a few 'years moved to South Palmyra and located on section 8. Judge Samuel Lair arrived here about 1833. Elijah Wills and family came from Kentucky and after spending a short time in North Palmyra township located here in 1832. Andrew Russell and John G. Chiles were also early settlers, the latter coming in 1833. Oakes Shaw came here in 1836.

Other early settlers were W. B. and James Gardiner, who came in 1836, and Joseph B. Steidley came about the same time and bought the improvements of James Solomon, who with his brother Henry had come in 1834.

Seth Hodges made the first entry of land on section 28, December 23, 1823. He had lived here some years previously as a "squatter." The next entry was made by Felix Hoover, April 10, 1829.

W. G. Ross came here from Tennessee in 1829 and located on section 18. Baxter M. Skeen came in 1832. B. F. Bivin in 1834 and Henry Etter, came from Tennessee in 1836. M. C. Tongate came in 1837, as did also C. P. and Achilles Tongate.

The land in this township is well drained on the west side by Solomon's creek, through the central portion by Massey creek, and in the southeastern portion by Otter creek. The oldest cultivated farms in this section were near the creeks and were covered with timber when the settlers arrived. Later they branched out on the prairie, which has also proved good land for farming.

The first church was erected one mile south of the present town of Palmyra, It was constructed of hewed logs and covered with split boards. The first regular minister was John Howerton, of the Baptist faith.

Palmyra

The village of Palmyra is located on the township line between North and South Palmyra. The portion in South Palmyra lies on the northwest quarter of section 4. The portion lying in North Palmyra township is on the southwest quarter of section 33. It was laid out in 1855 by D. X. Solomon, J. F. Nifong and H. Berry. The old town of Xevvburg was situated on section 4 and was laid out in 1855 by James Cave.

The first hotel was conducted by W. B. Gardiner. Scott & Bosworth established the first store in the town. The first postoffice was opened in 1841 with Oakes Shaw as postmaster. The first blacksmith shop was opened by James L. Warfield.

The first church was erected by the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination in the year 1857. The first preacher who delivered a sermon here was Rev. L. S. Williams, a Presbyterian, in 1838, at the home of Oakes Shaw.

Dr. Thornton claimed the distinction of being the first physician in the township, coming here in 1840. He was followed by Dr. H. J. Vanwinkle.

About 1842 the name of the town was changed from Newburg to Cummington, and the latter was continued for thirteen years, when new buildings were erected a little west of the old town, where the land lay higher. Business was then changed to the new part of the town, and the name was once more changed to Palmyra. After it was surveyed in 1855 the town took on new life.

Palmyra has not grown to any appreciable extent in the past twenty years. In 1890 there were 1,527 inhabitants; today the number is but little greater, being only 1,536.