Ogden Township

Ogden Township

Ogden township is situated in the extreme eastern part of the county, and is soaiewhat irregular in shape, being 10-^ miles long from north to soutii. and 3-i mUes wide from east to west The first survey was made in 1821 by James Thompson, deputy surveyor, and the organization of the township was effected in ISTS. The first settlement was made iu Hickory Grove by Hiram Rankin, who soon after moved to St. Joseph. The next settlement was made in Burr Oak Grove. Ln the northern part of the township. Garrett Moore, who was among the earliest men to make improvements in Ogden township was the first constable in Champaign county. The Richards, Freemans and the FLrebaughs are all familiar names among the old settlers. The first supervisor was E N. Miles. Eleazer Freeman is at present supervisor.

The country now known as Rantool was formerly known as Mink Grove, from the grove bearing that name near the present town of Rantoul, which was a general rendezvous for the Indians. The first white settler was Archa Campbell, who built a house in the township in the fall of 1S4S. The house was fourteen feet square, one story, and built ot split lo«rs, it was roofed with rough boards twelve or fourteen feet long-

Mr. Cainpbell's nearest neighbors were Franklin Dobson, on the Sangamon river, nine miles west, and Lewis Adkins, at nortli end of Big Grove, eight miles south. Mr. Campbell farmed until 18.58, when he sold out to Guy B. Chandler. It was througii the influence of Mr. Campbell that the Illinois Central railroad located the present station where it now is.

In 1852 Lewis L. Hicks entered a section of land two miles north-east and was followed by his brother-in-law and sister, Gilbert Martin and wife in 18.53. In 18.55 John W. Dodge came here from Twinsburg, Ohio, for the purpose of pre-empting land for the Ohio colony. He remained until November and by that time had caused to be erected no less than eigliteen cheap houses, on as many quarter sections, within a radius of six miles of the grove. He caused to be bought for himself and his friends 3,295 acres of land, costing, including commissions S3.09 per acre. John Penfield, one of the prominent men of the township removed here in 18.56. In 18.55 John Roughton started a blacksmith shop near the residence of A. Darnell. J. W. Dodge permanently located here May 9, 1856, soon after his brother-in-law, James T. Herrick, arrived, followed by James Smithers, John

J. J. Boiswas appointed agent of the I., C. It. R. May 1, 1857 and holds that position at present. He was also agent for the American express company until January 21, lb66, when he was succeeded by E. J. Udell, the incumbent, who discharges the duties of that office to the entire satisfaction of everyone. Mr. Udell has also been telegraph operator since September 1, 1864.

G. W. Carter settled in 1856, Abraham Cross in same year, John A. Benedict arrived November 1, 1856, he has since died, his biography and portrait appears on another page of this book, Wm. O. Bissell came in 18.55. Tlie town plat of Rantoul was platted in the summer of 18.56, by John and Guy D. Penheld, who have done much to build up the town since. Among the new comers to the town were Muns West,

The town is well supplied with stores, which are supported by a rich country. The growth of the townsiiip has been wonderful and it is not surpassed in improvements and energy of its citizens by any township in tiie county.

The Illinois Central R. R. was completed to Pera, now Ludlow, in 18,5:3, and a turn table put in there, which was moved to Champaign in 18.54. The first agent was John Lucas. He died in Ludlow in 18T0. The first school w^as taught by Miss Mary Wood, in the R. R. freight house, in 1858.

John W. Dodge, now of Rantoul, and others, known as the Ohio settlement, settled in the years 1855, 6 and 7; about the same time Uncle Sam'l Lewis, and his son Wm. and family, G. C. and W. H. Walker, with their father, now dead. Z. Genung, John Roughton, Sam'l Livingston and James and Patrick Malloy, a number of whom are still residents of the township have witnessed the growth of the county from raw prairie laud to a tine farming country. Squire Roughton's farm being now regarded as ihe best improved in the township. There was but little improvement from '.58 to '65, after which the township settled rapidly and is now very largely under cultivation.

John Springsteen was the first blacksmith, John P. and Samuel Middleeoff the first merchants. Uncle John, as he is called, still resides here, John P. Middlecoft' resides in Paxton and his brother Samuel died in the service of his country - in the war of the rebellion. I believe M. Huffman was the first post master. The town, to-day, has two general stores, three grain buyers, one hardware, two grocery and provision stores, one boot and shoe store, two blacksmith shops, a graded school and two churches - the M. E. and Christian, and it is said tliere are but two stations on the line of the lUin. ois Central from which tliat company transports more grain than they do from Ludlow.