Oneco Township

Oneco Township

of the township ; a man named Clark married the " Widow " Lyon, and manyother events of great import, doubtless, were included among the number accomplished.

From this date thenceforward to the survey of the Illinois Central route through the township, immigration was scarcely proportioned to that in the direction of other townships in the county. The lands were cheap, and advantages equal to those offered elsewhere, but for some unaccountable reason the incoming settler was an unknown commodity, or one of such rare exception as to create comment. About 1850, a change came over the spirit of those who came West, and many began to settle in Harlem. When the railroad was surveyed, however, and its construction determined beyond doubt, the value of land appreciated, until to-day property which sold for $12 per acre twenty-five years ago cannot be had at thrice that sum. The water privileges, too, became valuable about this time, though necessity and speculation had made a market therefor almost with the first settlement.

Along in 1840, Henry Corwith, of Galena, acting on behalf of J. K. Brewster, entered a quarter-section of land on the very spot now occupied in part by Oneco. This village, which is located near the center of the township, was thus laid out and platted with the hope that it in time would become a flourishing depot for prosperity to halt at permanently. Some time after its , survey, the land of which the original tract was composed, excepting about fifteen acres, was sold, and is now occupied by the farm of Samuel Stout. Subsequently, two additions were made to the town site by Alonzo Denio, and it now contains a population estimated at one hundred.

School was taught in sight of the village as early as 1843. In 1851, a brick building was erected on Denio's Addition, east of the post office, which was occupied until the completion of the present structure, on the Orangeville road. This was accomplished in 1876, at a cost of $2,000 ; at present, one teacher is employed, who furnishes education and the attendant concomitants to an average daily attendance of sixty-five pupils. The annual expenses incident to maintaining the school are stated at $500.

The residents of the village and vicinity attend church in Orangeville, but the Methodists are at present erecting an edifice, which will be completed in the fall or winter.

JOHN W. BArHOARDNER, with Deal & Swartz, Orangeville ; born in Stephenson Co., 111., Nov. 27 ; he went to Western College, at Western, Lynn Co., Iowa, took a classical course, and graduated in 1878; then he went into business there, but closed out and came to Orangeville, and went in with Deal & Co., general merchandise, and has been here since. In 1876, Aug. 17, he married Miss Frances Owen, of Pennsylvania, who was born in April, 1854 ; their child is named Katie C. Mr. Baumgardner is now studying for the United Brethren ministry ; his father died in 1855 ; his mother, Catharine, while a widow living at Buckeye Center, married Martin Bender, who died in 1876, in the fall ; she is now living with^er sister on the old estate.

D. I<. BEAR, farmer, Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Lehigh Co., Penn., May 21, 1834; came to Stephenson Co. in 1842, with father, mother, his sister Mary (now Mrs. Shipton), and brothers John G-, Willoughby and Peter J. D. L. Bear settled on Sec. 33 in 1863 ; owns 235 acres. May 6, 1858, he married Miss Susanna Wohlford, of Pennsylvania, who was born in Center Co. March 15, 1836 ; their family consists of six children - Lucy A., Aaron Willard, Peter D. L., Christ Benjamin, John H. and David E. (twins). Mr. Bear has held township and school oflSces, belongs to the United Brethren Church, and is a Republican in politics.

WILL.OUOHBY BEAR, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Union Co., Penn., March 20, 1838 ; learned the trade of mason and bricklaying; came West to Stephenson Co. in 1841 ; now lives on the old home.stead, where his father died in 1850, and his mother in 1864 ; he now owns 95 acres of land, valued at $50 au acre. In 1861, he was married to Miss Rebecca Hartman, of Pennsylvania; they have six children - Sarah Jane (now Mrs. A. Fahr), Mary A., Ida L., Howard C, Bertha R. and Wilson Gr. Mr. Bear has been Road Commissioner, School Trustee, and is a member of the United Brethren Church and Sabbath-School Superintendent. In politics, he is a Republican.

B. P. BEIiKNAP, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Vermont, Dec. 24, 1811. In 1836, he was married to Miss Deborah Beebe, of Vermont ; moved to Albany, N. Y., and went into the coal business; in 1839, he started West, and walked from Milwaukee to Monroe, Wis., and then to Gratiot; his wife came in 1841 ; they stopped with the Brewster family on Sec. 25, then moved on the farm where they now reside, consisting of 140 acres, and, with the exception of six years in Monroe, Wis., have been here since. Mr. Belknap taught the first school in Oneco Township, at Aaron Denio's house, in 1840. The children are Mary (now Mrs. Everett), Lattig (deceased), Hannah (now Mrs. Mulks), Corwin (who has served in the 46th I. V. I. Co. A), F. C, Edwin C, Lillie M., Edwin (deceased) and Laura (deceased). Mr. Belknap has been Constable, Coroner and Commissioner of Highways.

FRAli[Kl.IX BOLENDER, farmer, Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Union (now Snyder) Co., Penn., Jan. 30, 1834 ; came to Stephenson Co. in 1840 with his father, Michael, who was accompanied by the well-known old settlers Brother John Bolender, John Kleckner, Michael Gift and George Mowry. Michael's family were Caroline, Lewis, Frank, Henry, Harrison and Benjamin, living in Pennsylvania. Michael Bolender settled on the farm where he is now living, aged 78, being now entirely blind since 1878; the rest of his family was born in Oneco Township - Michael, Mary, Anna and Amelia. Franklin is now farming part ol the old estate, and owns 80 acres on Sec. 30, since 1875. On Jan. 30, 1868, he was married to Miss Susan Rockey, of Pennsylvania ; their children are Charles, Oscar, Edwin, Emma and William (deceased. Mr. Bolender has been Assessor and has held school oflBces. Religion, Reformed Church ; in politics, a Republican.

HARRISON W. BOLENDER, of the firm of Sch och & Bolender, proprietors of Orangeville Creamery ; came to the county with his father and family in 1840; the family consisted of Caroline, now Mrs. Reubendoll ; Lewis, on Sec. 29, Oneco ; Frank, same Section ; Henry, on Sec. 30 ; Harrison W., the subject of this sketch ; Mary, now Mrs. Marion ; Anna L., now Mrs. Fahr ; Amelia, now Mrs. Belknap, on Sec. 30; an infant and Peter, deceased; mother died in June, 1878; Harrison W., was born in Union Co., Penn., Nov. 18, 1839 ; at the age of 18, he worked with his brother Lewis, as architect and builder ; in 1875, went into the wind-mill business, under the name of Swartz & Bolender ; gave up, and is now partner of the firm of Schoch & Bolender, Orangeville Creamery. In 1870, he, married Miss Mary Wagner, of Illinois ; their children are Anna, Michael (dead), Helen and Stephen. Mr. Bolender was in the 46th I. V. I., Co. A, and was wounded in the arm, shoulder and thigh ; he was one of the Trustees and member of the Board of Education ; he is a Republican in politics.

AARON BOWER, farmer. Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Union Co., Penn., Feb. 11, 1840 ; the party that came West consisted of father, Abraham Bower, himself and sister Mary, now Mrs. Naramore. living at Lena; in the spring of 1851, they settled here, on Sec. 35 ; here he now lives, owns 210 acres of land. In 1863, he married Miss Amelia Hackenberg, of Pennsylvania, has a family of five children - Cora,

JOHN BOWER, retired farmer, Orangeville ; born in Union Co., Penn., June 30, 1805; visited Stephenson Co. in 1843, and returned for his family; on coming West then, he settled in Oneco, in April, 1846 ; while in Pennsylvania, he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed until comins West ; in the spring of 1846, he located on Sec. 36, and built not four rods from where the Orangeville tavern now stands; he had also bought the water-power, and in 1848, started Bower's grist mill, now called White Hall Mills ; he laid out the village of Orangeville, then called Bowerville. and now owns considerable town property, together with the hotel, which his son William runs. In 1826, he married Miss Susanna Riehe, of Pennsylvania, who was born in 1807, and is now living with him; their family are Martin, Mary, now dead ; Moses, John, Benjamin. Martet, deceased ; William, landlord of Orangeville hotel ; Catharine, now Mrs. Hayman. Mr. Bower belongs to the Reform Church.

DR. B. H. BRADSHAW, physician and surgeon. Orangeville ; born in Guernsey, Belmont Co., Ohio, Sept. 29, 1834, and came to Freeport in 1855, and in Feb. 2(t, 1861, graduated in the Rush Medical College, of Chicago. On the breaking-out of the war, he enlisted in the 46th I. V. I., Co. G ; was detailed as Assistant Surgeon, and then, finally, on the 12th of Sept., 1862, commissioned Surgeon ; was mustered out with regiment in 1866 ; Jan. 31, came to Orangeville and commenced practice in the field formerly held by Dr. W. P. Naramore, and now has a very nice business. In 1868, Jan. 1, he married Miss Mary E. Cadwell, of Illinois; their children are Caroline P. and George T. Dr. B. belongs to the M. E. Church ; he is a Republican in politics.

CHARL.es a. CADWEIili, farmer, Sec. 32 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; was born in Oneco Township, Stephenson Co., 111., June 24, 1848, ou the homestead which his father had claimed in 1839, and in 1841 took possession ; his father died in 1873; his mother, in 1877, leaving seven children - Mary C, Horace, Charles A. (the subject of this sketch), Abbie, Emily, Isaac and Helen ; Charles has conducted the estate since 1872. In 1871, was married to Miss Amanda Fahr of Orangeville, Stephenson Co., Ill ; their children are Mary E. and a pair of twins, Benjamin and Bertha. Mr. Cadwell has been a teacher ; has held school offices ; io politics, he is a Republican.

W. H. CLARNO, farmer, Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Tazewell Co., 111., April 3, 1835. Grandfather, John H. Clarno, came from France to Virginia, where John Hunter Clarno was born, who then moved to Ohio, and married Miss Jane Plimel, of that State, and in 1832 moved to Illinois, and was elected Captain in a company during the Black Hawk war; moving to Stephenson Co., Aug. 16, 1838, he located on Sec. 34, where he entered 280 acres; the family then were father, who died Jan. 12, 1858; mother, who died April 21, 1877, and ten children; Jane, now Mrs. Bailey ; Andrew, Francis (deceased), one daughter (deceased) ; W. H., the subject of this sketch; John M., Hariette, now Mrs. Foans ; Joseph, James, M. and Francis are dead. W. H. Clarno now is sole owner of the old estate, having 200 acres. On Nov. 22, 1860, he married Miss Mary C. Kyler, of Pennsylvania; their children are Mary Jane, Sarah E., John H., Oliver P., Anthony J., Aaron A., M. Lewella, Stella y., J. Albert. Mr. Clarno has held township and school offices. Republican in politics.

H. R. DEAL, Orangeville ; born in 1851, in Oneco, Stephenson Co., 111. ; after he common experience of youth in the country, he entered the store of his father father as clerk in 1876, and afterward went to Monroe and followed the same occupation; returning in 1877, he went to work for J. Musser in September of that yearwhere he now clerks. In 1872, he married Miss M. Alice Ritzman, of Pennsylvania, W. E. and Villian I. are his children. Mr. Deal belongs to the Board of Trustees.

S. E. DEAL, merchant, Orangeville; born Oct. 19, 1825, in Northampton Co., Penn; he lived with his parents in Philadelphia, in 1831 ; in Lycoming Co., in 1839, and learned the carpenter's trade, and came to Stephenson Co. in the spring of 1848; worked at his trade till his eyesight failed in 1857, when he went to farming; but in 1863 moved to Oneco, and then to Orangcville in 1870 ; opened a grocery and confectionery in 1874, and since has continued in business until now. He carries a stock of general merchandise worth $6,000. and does a tr;tde of over $20,000 per annum ; the firm is known as Deal & Swartz. In 1847, he married Miss Cafherine Rayhorn, of Pennsylvania, who died Aug. 19, 1874. Was married again to Miss Mary Bumgartner, then Mrs. Bechtol ; their children are Henry R., Mary C. (now Fahr). Mr. Deal has belonged to the U. B. for forty years, and has held office most of the time.

J. C. DORX, farmer, Sec. 35; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Cortland Co.. N. Y., Feb. 2^, 1817 ; mother died in 1826, father in 1827, leaving him an orphan at the age of 10; lived with his uncle till 1838, and taught school in New York, Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio. He visited Illinois in 1843, and bought a farm on Sec. 35, of 160 acres; went back to Ohio, and Dec. 31, 1844, married Miss Betsy Hajward, of Ohio. He has taught school here in the West, and also music, to the early settlers. Mr. Dorn has been Justice of rhe Peace since 1866; has been School Treasurer and Clerk of Board ; the children are Lavina, died when 4 weeks old ; Mary, died when 3^ years old; John Quincy, died when 5j years old; Nancy, John, Charles P. (dentist in Naperville ;) Helen, now Mrs. Wagner, George D. and Amelia A. Presbyterian in religion.

ERB, retired farmer, Orangeville ; born in Union Co., Penn., Aug. 12, 1808 ; came to Stephenson Co. in 1854, and went on to a farm on Sec 33, but finally moved into the town of Orangeville. On Feb. 16, 1830, he married Miss Mary Ann Gross, of Pennsylvania ; his first family consists of twelve children ; this wife died in 1858. Married again, in the fall of 1860, to Miss Julia Ann Woodring ; all his first family are dead but two ; those living are Sophaiel, Catharine (now Mrs. Smith}, Ida iMay, Amanda E. Henry and Isaac enlisted in Co. G, 93d I. V. I.; Henry was wounded and taken prisoner at Altoona, and died ; Isaac was killed at Champion Hill. Mr. Erb is Trustee of the village, and an Elder in the Lutheran Church.

JOHN F. FIIVK., clerk, with J. Musser, Orangeville ; came to Stephenson Co. in 1850, with his father, Joshua, whose family consisted of mother (maiden name Elizabeth Kaufman), children - George (deceased), Charles, Matilda (deceased), Jonas D. W. (a preacher, in Lisbon. Iowa), Sarah (now Mrs. Moore), John F., Maria (deceased), Thomas J. (a preacher), and Mary E. Inow Mrs. C. W. Anthony). John F. was born in Allentown, Lehigh Co., Penn., Dec. 23, 1844, and engaged in the woolen business in 1868, and afterward carried on the insurance business till 1877, and then came to Orangeville as a clerk in J. Musser's establishment. In 1866, he married Miss Mary A. Nagle, of Pennsylvania; they have two children - J. W. Ellis (deceased), and Vida Delight, now 7 years old. Mr. Fink has held the offices of Trustee. Clerk and Collector, and is now Clerk of the Board of Education. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the M. E. Church.

JACOB FIISHER, farmer, Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Orangeville; born in Union Co., Penn., Feb. 21, 1806, and stayed in Clinton Co. for eighteen years; then started West, stopping in Rock Grove, June 6, 1847; then he moved on to Sec. 28, Oneco Township, in 1848, where he built the house which is now occupied by his son John ; he having since moved to Sec. 33, where he now lives ; owns 200 acres of farm laud. On Feb. 22, 1829, he married Miss Maria Rayhorn, of Pennsylvania ; they have one son - John Fisher, born Oct. 29, 1829; has held township offices; belongs to Lutheran Church ; politics, Democrat. His father's family consisted of thirteen children ; his mother's maiden name was Christina Walmar.

JACOB FYE, farmer, Sec 34; P. 0. Orangeville; born in Centre Co., Penn., Feb. 10, 1839 ; came to Stephenson Co. in the fall of 1839, with his father, David Fye, and family, consisting of eight children - John (living in Nebraska), Sarah (now Mrs. Zettle), Jacob (the subject of this sketch), Mary (now Mrs. Kohr); beside these, David and Rebecca live in Pennsylvania yet; and one died in 1853, named Katie. On coming West, settled first in Dakota Township; lived there until 1868, when he sold out and moved to this farm of 80 acres, valued at $50 an acre ; his father died in 1 872 ; his mother is still living, and will be 83 years old July 9, 1880. On Dec.

22, 1864, he married Miss Sarah Lanker, of Dauphin Co., Penn., and has nine children - Katie H., Edwin D., Samuel W., Minnie L., Levi F., Anhur H.. Alice L., Boydd M. and Bessie E. Mr. Fye belongs to the M. E. Church.

LiEWIS GIBLER, Ooeco; born in Shenandoah Co., Va., Nov. 1, 1799, moved to Ohio, Ross Co., in 1802, and put up the first mill built in that county ; Jacob Philip and John, his brothers, served in the war of ISl'^; father died in 1818, Jan. 10 ; mother died in 1836. Mr. Gibler, in 1819, married Miss Margaret Van Metre, of Ohio, and, in 1828, came West and worked in the mines, with wife's brother, John J., James and Abraham ; he sold out his share and returned to Ohio ; went to farming ; in 1839, came to Stephenson Co. and settled on Sec. 1, having a farm of 300 acres; moved to Wisconsin and came to the village of Oneco, in 1855; lived in Freeport and settled here again, where his wife died Oct. 'J.4, 1878 ; she was the mother of thirteen children, grand mother of sixty, and great-grandmother of forty-four ; she was buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemettry ; children are Morgan, John, Sarah, Jesse, Mary, Jeffer.-:on, dead ; Prucilla, Lewis B., Joseph H., William, Margaret and Catherine. Held township and school offices ; belongs to Christian Church, and Democrat in politics.

MICHAEL GIFT, retired farmer, Orangeville ; born in Union Co., Penn., Jan. 3, 1816 ; there he learned the trade of blacksmith and worked at the trade three years, and, in 1840, came here to Stephenson Co., in company with his wife's family, her father, John Kleckner, and her mother, with four children ; Charles Kleckner, wife and family, and the subject of this sketch, located first in Rock Grove. In 1843, he married Miss Ann B. Kleckner, and moved on to hia farm on Sec. 19, Oneco Township ; he now owns 300 acres, and, in 1877, in the fall, he moved to Orangeville. His son, William H., lives on Sec. 21 ; Mary E., now Mrs. Potts, and George T., on Sec. 19, are the children. Mr. Gift has held township and school offices; Republican, Lutheran.

REV. R. A. HARWOOD, Pastor of M. E. Church, Orangeville; born in Stephenson Co., 111., in 1852, May 16 ; he attended school at Mt. Morris, in 1875 and 1876, and afterward went to Rock River Seminary, under Principal M. C. Dougherty ; he then taught school and farmed till September, 1877, when he concluded to enter the ministry; in September, he was licensed to preach ; in 1878, admitted to Conference, and October of same year, took the Orangeville Circuit of McConnell's Grove, Winslow, Oneco, Pleasant Hill and Franklin. In 1876, Dec. 24, he married Miss Emma I. Gilman, of Illinois ; they have one child, named Miner, 16 months old ; his mother came to the county in 1848, and is now living at Eleroy ; his father died in 1834.

liYMAKf HUIiBURT, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. McConnell's Grove; born in Easton, Madison Co., N. Y., Feb. 11, 1809; went to Chautauqua Co. in 1819, and came West in 1837, his father having died in 1825: the party consisted of mother, himself and wife, with two children ; settled first in Winslow Township, in spring of 1838 ; located on Sec. 33, Oneco Township, where he owns 120 acres of land. He was married, 1833, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., to Miss Jane Cross, who was born in 1816 ; their children are Delos, Ira, Mary, now Mrs. Diveley : Lyman, who was killed at Chattanooga, a member of the 93d I. V. I., Co. C, and John. Mr. Hulburt belongs to the Christian Church at Mt. Pleasant.

GEORGE KLINE, farmer, Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Union Co.. Penn., Nov. 26, 1831 ; in his younger days, worked with his father at blacksmithing ; in 1856, came West on a visit, and went back to get his wife and two children, and in May 27, 1867, settled on Sec. 28; bought a farm of D. S. Young, containing 82 acres, but afterward became possessor of more land, and now owns 152 acres, valued at $50 an acre. In 1854, was married to Miss Caroline Benfer, of Pennsylvania ; have a family of four children - S. Ellen, M. Emma, Laura A., an infant, now deceased, and Jesse M. Mr. Kline is now Road Commissioner, being elected in the spring of 1880 ; in politics, a Republican. Two of his brothers were soldiers in the war of the rebellion - Eli Kline and L. S. Kline.

LESTIKOW, farmer. Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Prussia, Germany, June 4, 1835 ; landed in New York Oct. 3, 1864 ; came West and settled on this farm on Sec. 33, Oneco Township, in the spring of 1865 ; owns 95 acres, valued at $45 an acre. In 1864, on Christmas, he married Miss Minnie Hubner, also a native of Germany ; they have five children - Rudolph, Emma, Jennie, Charles and Anna. Mr. Lestikow is a member of the M. E. Church, and Republican in politics.

JOHN McDAXIEL, merchant, Oneco; born in Ohi0,.Dec. 10, 1815; came to Stephenson Co. June 12, 1849; settled on Sec. 20, Oneco Township, and farmed till 1880, when he moved to the village of Oneco and opened a grocery store on February 19 ; he now owns 25 acres in the village and the store and residence. On Nov. 28, 1837, he married Miss Nancy Walton, of Ohio ; two children - Melinda J. and Mary E. Belongs to Christian Church.

J. H. MILiJLER, book keeper with J. Musser, Orangeville ; came to Stephenson Co. with his father, Charles S. Miller, and mother, Elizabeth, nee'Dersham. J. H. Miller was born in Union Co., Penn., Oct. 23, 1852; came to this county, and, in 1871, took a commercial course at the college at Naperville ; then taught school; however, he returned and took a course in penmanship, and taught that art until entering the employ of B. & J. Musser as book-keeper, where he has been to this time. On Nov. 4, 1877, he married Miss Lila C. Bobb, of Illinois. Evangelical in religion.

DAXIEL MOORE, retired farmer, Oneco; born in Union Co., Penn., Aug. 2, 1814; learned the mason's trade, and in Pennsylvania constructed a cellar for Dr. Van Valzee, one of the first settlers and physicians of Stephenson Co. Mr. Moore came to the county in 1868, and finally settled on Sec. 25, and owns a farm of 120 acres there now. In 1836, Oct. 16, he married Miss Rachel Rudy, of Dauphin Co., Penn. ; they have nine children - Phoebe A., deceased ; William R., Catharine D., now Mrs. Kline ; Amelia B., now Mrs. P. Strahan ; Sarah E., now Mrs. Kred Winter ; Mary Jane, now Mrs. Kline; Thomas James, deceased; John H., deceased, and Rachel E., deceased. Himself and wife attend the M. E. Church. His son William was a soldier belonging to the 46th I. V. I., Co. A, of which he was Second Lieutenant ; he was wounded at Jackson, Miss.

E. T. MOORE, miller, Orangeville; came to Stephenson Co. in 1848, with his father and family ; they stopped in Cedarville, and run the mill for John H. Adams ; removed to Freeport, and at one time run the old Lurch mill, which is now destroyed ; in 1866, they moved to Orangeville and bought the flouring-mill of Hefty & Legler, which E. T, Moore now runs ; the mill is 40x60 feet on the ground, and three and a half stories high, running three pair of buhrs with the Lefiler water-wheel, Turbine, capacity 200 bushels a day. The old family is Ann S., now Mrs. Kaufman; Edward T., Oscar C, deceased ; Rebecca, now dead ; Aaron, deceased ; Agnes A., now Mrs. Wade ; William H., now dead; John J., now dead ; Ellen R., now Mrs. Tucker; and Mary A., deceased. E. T. Moore was born in Northampton Co., Penn., in 1832 ; has been a miller all his life. In 1859, he married Miss Sarah Fink, of Pennsylvania ; he has a family of six children - Anna, Stephen, Tillie, Mary, Arthur and Stella. He has held township ofl&ces. Is Evangelical in religion, and a Democrat in politics.

CHARIiEIS MrSSER, farmer, Sec. 32 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Center Co., Penn., Dec. 15, 1844 ; his father, Jonas, died in 1855 ; Charles was engaged in farming and clerking before coming West to Stephenson Cu. in 1858 ; he clerked for J. M. Smith, of Buena Vista, then for Kennegy & Delhauer, and afterward for J. & B. Musser, of Orangeville. Jan. 4, 1869, he was married to Miss Mary A. Pollock ; in 1870, he bought 160 acres of land, his present farm ; raises grain and stock ; has two children - Thomas 0. and Winnefred M. Mr. M. has held school offices, and served in the war in Co. A, 46th I. V. I.

EMANUEL, MUSSER, farmer, Sec. 19; P. 0. Orangeville; born in Center Co., Penn., Jan. 13, 1826. In 1855, he was married to Miss Harriet Confer, of Pennsylvania, and farmed for two years in Center Co. ; then came West to Stephenson Co., 111. ; in 1857, he bought a farm of 120 acres on the Kleckner place ; built a residence in 1875, and cleared 50 acres : he now has 100 acres under the plow. He has held township and school offices ; in religion is Lutheran, and in politics a Republican. He has five children - Mary C, Emma A., William A., C. Bo}d and Meda M.

JAMES MUSSER, merchant, Orangeville ; born in Centre Co., Penn., 1843; came to Stephenson Co., in 1857, and attended school at Orangeville, afterward at Beloit, where iu 1861, he joined a company, which not being accepted, he joined the 46th T. V. I., Co. A; having served three years, he re-enlisted in December, 1863, and came home in 1865, having served in the war of the rebellion for four years and six months, lacking ten days ; he entered the commercial business with his brother on Sept. 10, 1866 ; the firm, under the name of B. & J. Musser, in one year, did ^85,000 worth of business, and employed seven men in different departments ; Mr. J. Musser now carries about $14,000 in stock; the firm of B. & J. dissolved in 1876. In 1870, he married Miss Kate E. Zimmerman, of Pennsylvania ; they have three children - Herbert A., Mabel E. and Royston ; has held township offices. Republican in politics.

MICHAEIi MUSSER, real estate broker, Orangeville ; born in Gregg Township, Centre Co., Penn., in 1833 ; came with his parents and family to Stephenson Co. in 1856 ; lived on the tarm, Sec. 2, Buckeye Township. On Jan. 10, 1870, he married Miss Sarah Wohlford, of lUioois, and has two sons - John B., born in 1873, and Logan C, born in 1878. Mr. Musser moved to Orangeville and entered the firm of B. & J. Musser, general merchandise, in 1870, and in 1877 withdrew, and has been engaged in real estate since ; he owns now 378 acres in difi"erent parts of the township; at one time his four brothers belonged to the 46th I. V. I., Co. A. - John, Benjamin, Charles and James ; while Michael looked after the estate at home, the others were serving their country.

WIL.LIAM J. MUSSER, farmer. Sec. 19; P. 0. Orangeville; born in Centre Co., Penn, Oct. 27, 1852, and in 1876, came to Stephenson Co.; located on Sec. 19, buying the farm of 120 acres of John Confer. In 1877, he married Miss Jennie Wolf, of Pennsylvania, and they have a little girl name I Elsie. Politics, Republican.

REV. B. F. PUCjtH, Pastor, Lutheran; Orangeville; born in Somerset Co., Penn., Aug. 4, 1847 ; in 1864, he enlisted in the 5th Penn. V. I., Co. K; mustered out June 30, 1865, at Vienna, Va.; returned, and after working on the farm, entered the school-room ; in this vocation he taught in the States of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, and at other times was employed as clerk at different stores till 1870 ; in the fall he started for Ceylon's drove; here he attended the Missionary Institute, in 1871, taking a classical and theological course; graduating on May 29, 1877; was ordained by the Susquehanna Synod, at Bloomsburg, June 27 ; commenced preaching in Orangeville July 29, 1877. On Sept. 10, 1878, he was married to Miss A. F. Cadwell, in Elmira, N.Y.; they have one child - Claude Stanley, born Nov. 4, 1879. Republican in politics.

WILLIAM M. RAYMOND, stock and grain farmer. Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Oneco; born in Canada May 10, 1834 ; came into Stephenson Co. in 1843, and worked farm work for David L. Humphrey for ten years, and after Mr. Humphrey's death he purchased the farm in the year 1867 ; owns 154 acres ; is now building a fine residence where he helped to build Mr. H's house in 1843. On July 4, 1861, he married Miss Hannah Jane Van Matre, of Illinois, and has a family of four children - Olive, now Mrs. Fenner, Farmer B., Emma, and Willie V., born June 28, 1873. Mr. Raymond has held township and school offices. Politics. Democrat ; religion, Christian. He is one of the three farmers - T. J. and W. J. Van Matre and William M. Raymond, stock farmers, having the finest Norman imported horses in Stephenson Co.

JACOB L. RAYHORN, farmer, Sec. 32; P. 0. McConnell's Grove i born in Stephenson Co., 111., Sept. 3, 1849 ; his parents having come West in that year, and settled in Rock Grove, and after farming at Hickory Grove and down on Cedar Creek, they moved to their present home on Sec. 32 in 1863 ; Jacob now farms all the estate, his father having retired from active labor. In the spring of 1877, he married Miss Agnes Garret ; their child is named Clinton Lumas. Mr. Rayhorn is now a Trustee of the U. B. Church, and School Director.

G. F. RI£M, retired farmer, Orangeville ; came West with his father in 1845 ; located on Sec. 36, Stephenson Co., Oneco Township, where he now lives on his farm of 119 acres. The old family consists of Martin (deceased) ; Eliza, now Mrs. Potts ; Sarah, now Mrs. Trotter; James (deceased) ; George Franklin at home; mother died in 1879. G. F. Riem was born in Union Co., Penn., Feb. 26, 1843; has been farming with his father since. On Dec. 21, 1870, he married Miss Clara E. (.'ross, of Illinois; they have three children - Mary, Esther, George D. and Emma Jane. Mr. Riem has held office of Township Clerk for eight years, and is a Democrat. The Orangeville school buildings are on part of his farm, and he sold one acre for §400.

THOMAS H. ROTE, blacksmith, Orangeville; born in Aaronsburg, Center Co., Penn., July 3, 1861 ; attended commercial school at Iron City College; in 1873, he came West and established himself in Orangeville in 1876 ; he has held public offices, and is now Clerk of the village. In 1876, he married Miss Laura Emily Cadwell, of Illinois. His father's family were Simon Rote and Susan ; parent's children - Archibald, Daniel, John C, Sarah E., now Mrs. Fisher; Mary (deceased;, Joanna (deceased), Thomas H. G., Alice P. (deceased). Mr. Rote's parents visited Orangeville in 1877. On his wife's side, the Cadwell family came here to Stephenson Co. in 1839 ; father, George S. Cadwell, and mother, Caroline (formerly Gillett), settled here in 1841. The family were Mary E., now Mrs. Bradshaw, Forest, Charles A., F. Addie, now Mrs. Pugh., L. Emma, now Mrs. Rote, G. Isaac, Helen.

W. F. SA:SfDERS, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Orangeville; born Union Co., Penn., Dec. 19, 1836 ; came West to Green Co., Wis., in 1850, after stopping in Lafayette Co. ; came to his present location in 1865 ; the farm of 109 acres he bought of Mr. Worick. His father died in 1874 and mother in 1879. In 1863, he married Miss Margaret Jane Worick. who was born in Centre Co., Penn., in 1846 ; they now have three children - John W. E., Spurgeon B. and Clayton F. Mr. Sanders has held school and township offices, and belongs to the Evangelical Church. Enlisted in the 15th I. V. I., Co. E ; was wounded at the battle of Shiloh in the hip, and now gets a pension.

WIIililAM SAXDOE, harness maker and Postmaster, Orangeville ; born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Jan. 9, 1844 ; came to Stephenson Co. in April, 1847, with his father and family ; mother died one year afterward, in 1848, and his father, Daniel Sandoe, married again, and, in 1876, died in the village of Orangeville ; of the old family, there are two brothers in Iowa, two sisters in Kansas, and two sisters here. William went to Monroe, Wis., in 1860, learned the harness-trade, and when the war broke out, enlisted in the 93d I. V. I., Co. G; returned to Monroe in 1865, and worked for D. F. Corson & Son. In fall of 1867, opened a harness-shop in Orangeville, and married Miss 0. V. Knepper, of Maryland, in 1868; they have had three children - Claia D., deceased ; Leonora, now 8 years of age ; Stella, 5. Mr. Sandoe was appointed Postmaster of Orangeville ; is now Police Magistrate ; has been Township Clerk, and belongs to the Reformed Church ; Republican in politics.

DAVID A. SCHOCH, of the firm of Schoch & Boleuder, proprietors of Orangeville Creamery ; born in Snyder Co., Penn., Feb. 18, 1834 ; attended school till 1848^ then clerked in Freeburg, Penn. ; came to Orangeville in 1855, went to work for C. M. SheflPer & Co., where he worked till 1857 ; he then went on to the farm. Sees. 32 and 33, Range 8 east, where he owns 260 acres ; and in September, 1878, established the Orangeville Creamery, owned by Schoch & Bolender. In 1857, he married Miss Harriet Wagoner, of Pennsylvania ; the children are John, dead ; Luella, deceased, and Maude ; also an infant dead. Mr. Schoch has held township offices, Treasurer, etc. Attends M. E. Church.

HIRAH SHOWS, County Surveyor and farmer, Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Orange Co., N. Y., Jan. 12, 1816 ; was engaged in teaching and surveying until the war ; and, having moved to Kentucky, raised Co. H of the 2d Battalion of Cavalry in Estill Co., of which he was elected Captain, and when he was mustered out, in 1864, was appointed Government Agent; served till 1865 ; in 1868, moved on his farm in Stephenson Co., which he owned since 1853 ; it contains 80 acres, alsoowDS

40 acres in Wisconsin. Tn 1845, was married to Miss Roxana Cad well, and they have six children - Alice, Alfred C, Hiram, Jr., William H. S., Carrie and Omar. In politics, Republican.

REV. F. W. STUMP, Pastor of Reform Church, Orangeville ; born in Stark Co., Ohio, Dec. 11, 1851; usual boyhood's experience until November, 1870; attended college at Heidelburg, Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio, in 1876; graduated in the classical course, also in the Theological Seminary of that place ; he was licensed to preach by the Ohio Synod of the Reform Church of Orville ; came to Orangeville, June 24, 1877 ; was ordained and installed by the Northern Illinois Classics, in 1877, July 8, in the Orangeville Circuit, embracing the Orangeville, Cedarville, Bellevue and Shueyville charges. Mr. Stump is Dept. Gr. W. C. T. of the Good Templar Lodge of Orangeville.

A. A. SWARTZ, farmer, Sec. 30 ; P. O. Orangeville ; born in Stephenson Co., 111., March 23, 1852 ; has worked at the mason trade; taught school and now farms the old estate ; his father came to the county, in 1844, bringing his wife Sarah and a family of five children - Samuel, Jacob, deceased ; Anna, deceased ; Henry and Andrew, the subject of this sketch ; they purchased this farm of Mr. Lomas, consisting of 120 acres farm-land and 80 acres timber. Andrew is not married ; his father is a member of the Lutheran Church ; his brother Jacob died in 1874, of consumption contracted in the army.

PHILIP SWARTZ, merchant, Orangeville; born in Union Co., Penn., Aug. 13, 1845 ; in 1866, went to Freeport and entered D. S. Bucher's store as clerk, where he remained six years ; then went to Dakota Territory on land tour, where he purchased 1 60 acres ; returned to Freeport and worked with Mr. Walton at Pecatonica ; afterward for Albert Plato; in 1879, came to Orangeville and bought one-half interest in S. E. Deal's store ; the firm name is now Deal and Swartz. In 1875, he married Mies P. J. Searles, of Ohio. Democrat in politics.

ELIZABETH VAX MATRE, widow. Sec. 28 ; P. 0. ( >rangeville ; born in Sangamon Co., 111., Nov. 7, 1835, and married to Joseph Nogle Van Matre, at Shueyville, Wis., in 1858, July 4, her maiden name being Elizabeth Trotter. He was born in Clinton Co., Penn., April 13, 1837, and came to Stephenson Co. in 1840, and finally settled on the estate which his widow now holds and farms ; he died, in 1878, July 28, leaving her the farm on Sec. 28, and a family of two boys - Greorge N., born June, 1862, and Henry C, born Nov. 25, 1863 ; there is a daughter, Sarah C, and an infant sou deceased. Mr. J. N. Van Matre has held school offices ; belonged to the I. 0. 0. F. Lodge ; she owns 42 acres, well improved ; belongs to the Christian Church.

J. W. VAX MATRE, stock and grain farmer, Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Oneco ; born in Stephenson Co., on the homestead, Oct. 28, 1838, and was a member of L. D. Van Matre's family, consisting of Joseph W., Thomas J., Willard N., Mary E., now Mrs. Sagofer ; Melissa, now Mrs. Arledge ; Caroline, now Mrs. Rote, and Lucy P., now Mrs. Baiten. Mr. J. W. Van Matre owns 202 acres of the estate, and is engaged in raising Norman horses, and with his brother and William Raymond interested in short-horns, with which they are very successful ; he has now the finest Norman mares in Stephenson Co. On Oct. 28, 1858, he married Miss Sarah E. Williams, of New York, who died 1859 ;' he was married again in 186U, to Miss Samantha Arledge ; they have five children - Dora B., L, D., T. J., Emma and Freddie N. Politics, Democrat.

T. J. VAN MATRE, stock and grain farmer. Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Oneco ; born at Scales Mound, Jo Daviess Co., 111., Feb. 16, 1834. His father, L. D. Van Matre, and his brother Thomas J., came to Stephenson Co. in 1836, and took up their claims, on which their sons now live. Of the old family, there are L. 1 ., John and Melissa now living; L. D. was born Sept. 20, 1807, and married in Jan. 13, 1831, to Miss Mary Alexander, who died Oct. 3, 1855 ; he married again, June 22, 1856. T. J., the subject of this sketch, together with his brother W. J., owns about 324 acres, and, in partnership with William Raymond, have imported, and are introducing, full-blood Norman horses, together with short-horn Durham cattle. In April 7, 1855, he married Miss Mary Ann French, of Ohio ; they have a son living, Charles W., and one daughter,

KEV. O. M. VAN SWEARIXGEN, Pastor of U. B. Church, Orangevilla; born in Fayette Co., Penn., Nov. 12, 1843; in early life lived on the farm with father ; the old family were Minerva, Martin Buren, Barbara, now Mrs. Stanley, Thomas I., Otho Miner, Martha, now Mrs. Peugh ; his father and mother now live in Whiteside Co., 111. When 19 years of age, he moved to Ohio, and attended Berlin Normal Institute, and in 1862 taught a school ; came to Illinois in 1863, but returned to Ohio, where he taught for ten years ; entered the lecture field with his brother, Thomas I., and traveled through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. On Jan. 29, 1871, he married Miss Nattie Telford, of Chicago, 111. ; they have two children - Bertha L. and Elsie E. He worked at graining before studying for the ministry. On Jan. 1, 1874, was a convert to the U. B. Church ; April, 1874, he was licensed to preach ; joined the Rock River Conference at Polo, 111.; in 1875, held a charge in Lee Co. one year, and came to Orangeville Circuit in 1877 ; has six appointments, and preaches three times on one Sabbath Day ; has received 130 members into the U. B. Church since coming here.

E. S. WAGrXER. farmer, Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Northumberland Co., Penn., Feb. 14, 1833 ; located on Sec. 33, Oneco, in 1846, and remained till 1866, when he sold the farm to his father and bought this farm, on which he now resides, of William Hoffman ; it contains 80 acres ; he now owns 1 60 acres of farm land, and 14J acres of timber land. April, 1858, was married to Miss Mary C Hassinger, of Pennsylvania ; has a family of five children - Ada M., Willard A., George S., Samuel G. and Ira J. Mr. Wagner has held school offices. Lutheran in religion.

WILLIAM WAGENHALS, retired farmer, Orangeville ; born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Aug. 21, 1822; emigrated to America in 1836; in Philadelphia, Penn., learned the baker's trade; he farmed in Lancaster and Union Cos., Penn.; came West and run the Orangeville Mills for John Bower, in 1847, 1848 and 1849 ; then kept a grocery and drug store ; sold out to Amos Benage in 1851 ; belonged to the firm of McEntee & Wagenhals' dry goods establishment ; in 1865, sold to Lodigan Erb and retired from active life ; now lives on his homestead ; also owns 110 acres on Sec. 35. In 1848, he married Miss Susanna Sandoe, of Dauphin Co., Penn.; has no children; Mr. Wagenhals' was the first Postmaster, in 1853; has been Supervisor; is now President of the Buckeye Insurance Co.; he has two sisters - Louisa Hildinger, widow, and Christiana Mussacher, also widow. Is German Lutheran in religion ; Democrat in politics.

THOMAS W. WERKHEISER, wagon-factory, Orangeville; born in Northampton Co., Penn., July 3, 1849 ; came West with his father in 1856; also, rwo brothers - John H. and Nelson (deceased). In 1871, he married Miss Ruth A. Wilson, of Illinois ; there are now Melvin L., Evah and Stella, and one dead. His brother enlisted in Co. G, 93d I. V. I., and served three years ; Thomas W. was in Delmar, Plymouth Co., Iowa, in 1873, running a wagon-shop there; sold out and carried his business to Seney, Iowa ; after two years there, returned to Stephenson Co.; in March, 1877, commenced business; his buildings are, main, 20x30, with paint-shop above, and an L 16x20, for smithing ; his trade is increasing rapidly; the firm was formerly Werkheiser & Scott, but now Mr. Werkheiser is sole proprietor.

MRS. BETSY WINCHELL, widow. Sec. 32 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; was born in P]rie Co., N. Y., Sept. 9, 1801 ; owns 240 acres of land, which her husband, Ira Winchell, claimed in 1840 ; they lived there since 1843 ; Mr. Winchell died May 19, 1879 acred 84 years and 14 days ; was buried in Orangeville. He left a family of eight children - Susan (now Mrs. West), Clarissa (now 3Irs. Hartley), Samuel (died when 14 months old), Amos (died at 2 years of age), Emma (now Mrs. Walkey), George (now farming the estate), Hiram and Angeline (deceased). Mrs. Winchell has belonged to church for forty-six years, and, together with her husband, has always been identified with the interests of Stephenson Co.

Gr. W. WIRT, druggist. Orangeville ; born Sept. 8, 1830, in Lehigh Co., Penn.; family removed to Centre Co., where his father died in 1831, in month of February ; he worked on the farm; then moved to Greene Co., Ind., and there went to shoemaking, opening a shop of his own ; and in the full of 1865 came to Orangeville, and opened a shoe trade; but, his hedth failing, he tried farming; but came to the village and entered the drug business. May 1, 1876 ; is the proprietor of a business worth about $4,500 per annum. On Nov. 7, 1853, he married Miss Elizabeth H. Stem, of Pennsylvania; they have no children. Lutheran in religion.

II^RAEL wise, Principal of Orangeville School ; his father came to Stephenson Co. in 1844, and married Mrs. Fager (nee Chesta Grrimo) in 1847, at Buckeye Center; soonafter moved to Shuey Mills, Green Co., Wis.; it was during his stay here that his son Israel G. was born ; on Jan. 19, 1849, the family returned to Buckeye Township, and here, in 1862-63-64, Israel G. learned wool-carding, but having prepared himself for the profession of a teacher, in 1873, went to teaching Orangeville schools, at which he is now engaged ; in 1877, he was Township Clerk ; in 1879, Assessor, and on Dec. 26, 1871, he married Miss Mary A. Gorr, of Pennsylvania ; they have two children - Carrie and John ; his father, after retiring to the old homestead on Sec. 7, Buckeye Township, died on Jan. 14,1869; his mother remained until 1879,Tvhen she also passed to a better world, December 13. Mr. Wise belongs to the Evangelical Church.

WIIiLIAH WOLF, farmer, Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Orangeville ; born in Centre Co.,. Penn., Dec. 20, 1832. May 12, 1853, was married to Miss Mary Russell, of Venango Co., Penn.; came West to Stephenson Co., III., in 1866, in company with James Leemau, driving a spiked team ; his wife and throe daughters came in 1868; locat d on this farm March 28, 1868; the farm, which contains 160 acres, was bought from Wilson Russell ; be has held township oflSces. In religion, Lutheran ; the children are Rosette I., Harriet J. and Florence E.

DANIEL WOODRING-, retired farmer, Orangeville ; born in Northampton Co., Penn., Nov. 1, 1810 ; at 16 years of age, he worked on the canal. In 1836, married Miss Catherine, of Pennsylvania, who died Sept. 28, 1856, on the farm to which he had moved on coming to Stephenson Co., in 1855, on Sec. 29, Range 8 east. In 1860, he married Sophia Lurch, of Pennsylvania, and in 1872, sold the farm to Jacob L. Hess, and moved to Orangeville. Mr. Woodring has held township offices ; was Comptroller of Highways in 1866, and is an Elder in the Reformed Church; out of twelve children, there are eight alive - Catherine, Daniel, Violetta, John E., Peter D., Uriah, Anna C, Lucinda U., Mary D., Emma R., Eleanor and Adda M.; John belonged to the 46th I. V. I., Co. A ; returned November, 1865.

Source changes here: from History of Stephenson County, Illinois : a Record of Its Settlement, Organization, and Three-quarters of a Century of Progress, by Fulwider, Addison L, published 1910; 5,758 words in this source stream.

Oneco Township

Oneco township, in the north central portion of Stephenson county, next to the Wisconsin state line, comprises an oblong section of land containing about twenty-seven square miles. The land is fertile and contains not only a large area of farm lands, but a very considerable acreage of timbered lands. Richland Creek, coursing through the central portion of the township from north to south, affords water power for a mill at Orangeville, and Honey Creek, which flows through the village of Oneco, in the north central part of the township, formerly turned the wheels of a mill at that settlement.

Oneco township was settled very early - at least two years before most of the townships of Stephenson county. The first settler, according to tradition, was one Simon Davis, who arrived in 1833, and settled in this portion of the section known as "Brewster Precinct." He took up Ms claim very near to the site of the future village of Oneco, and was soon followed by Andrew Clarno, who established himself on the banks of Honey Creek. John M. Curtis was another comer of the same year, and he, too, settled in the vicinity of Oneco. Both Davis and Clamo had passed through the region sometime before, and had gone on their respective routes north and west to the lead mines in Galena and Southern Wisconsin. Then, for some unknown reason, whether it was because they were unsuccessful in their ventures, or tired of the mining life and desired to follow the pursuit of agriculture, both of them returned and staked out their claims in Stephenson county.

No settlers came after them for two years as far as can be ascertained at the present time. In 1835, the first representatives of the Van Matre family, who subsequently settled in the vicinity of Winslow, arrived in the persons of Lewis and Jefferson Van Matre. Lewis Van Matre had also passed through the county some time previous on his way to the lead mines, and he too had developed a distaste for mining, and returned to take up farming. His brother, Jefferson Van Matre, came from Ohio the same year. Three other brothers followed them within the next four years : Morgan Van Matre, in 1836, and William and Joseph Van Matre, in 1839.

In 1836, the population of Oneco township was considerably augumented. A large migration to different parts of the county occurred in that year, and Oneco did not fail to receive her full quota of new settlers. Nearly all of them settled round about Oneco village: Duke Chilton, Lorin Remay, Fred Remay, Ralph Hildebrand, M. Lott, Jonas Strohm, and a number of others whose names are now forgotten.

The years 1837-1838 witnessed an even larger immigration. A great number of new settlers, whose children are, in many cases, still identified with the ' township, arrived. There were James Young, Philip Wells, Warner Wells, all of whom established their farms at the head of the region known as Long Hollow, James Howe, Henry Howe, George Howe, Henry Johnson, who settled in the northeast corner of the township, near the state line, Oliver Brewster, John R. Brewster, Ezra Gillett, who afterward erected the Buena Vista Whitehall Mills, Joab Mortion, who settled in the eastern part of the township, Isaac Klecker, whose claim was just east of the village of Oneco, James Turnbull, who later moved to Winslow Township, "Father" Ballinger, whose son Asa was famous as one of the earliest circuit preachers of the Illinois conference, and others.

In 1838, a tragedy occurred, one of the few recorded in the annals of Oneco Township. Mr. Lott, who had come to the region with his family in 1836, committed suicide. This was the first death known to have taken place in the township, but he was not buried near the place where the deed was committed. As his final resting place is unknown and forgotten, there are some old settlers who discredit the story. As none of them were contemporaries of the traditional Mr. Lott, it is quite impossible to render any decision as to the merits of the tale. Certain it is that the oldest grave in the township is that of William Van Matre's daughter, in Mount Pleasant cemetery, which bears the date 1840.

In 1839 the roll of newcomers included Lewis Gibler, who came from Ohio to .Oneco Township, and settled in section 18, the two Van Matre brothers before mentioned, Jacob Stroder, and others. William Van Matre settled in the western portion of the township, near Winslow. Later he moved to Rock Grove, and from there to Mineral Point, Wisconsin.

In 1840 a number of old settlers who have left numerous descendents came to Oneco, among them Michael Bolender, Isaac Miller, Lyman Hulburt, William Hulburt, Nelson Hulburt, John Clarno, Joseph Norns and Seth Shockley. The first marriage is said to have taken place in Oneco in this year. The contracting parties were Henry Rybolt and Lizzie McNear, and the ceremony was performed at the residence of Joseph Van Matre, by Squire Gibler. In the same year occurred the death of William Van Matre's daughter, who, as before mentioned, was the first to die and he burned within the confines of Oneco Township. Of the births in the township, there is no record, nor is there any way of finding out who was the first white child to be born in this section.

There were many drawbacks to the joys of living for the early settlers of Oneco Township. Indians were numerous, and snakes were even more so. We, of the present day and generation, who hardly ever think of either of these pests, can scarcely realize how great and manifest was the danger from both to the pioneer settlers in Stephenson county. The Indians did not make their presence known by war whoops or demoniacal yells at this stage of history. They were past that, but they made themselves quite as obnoxious to the settlers in a more subtle manner. For instance, they did not "appreciate the difference between thine and mine," and, what was worse, they did their stealing in the small hours of the night, when there was no opportunity of redress for the white man. But whenever a stray Indian was discovered in the act of helping himself to what was not his own, his punishment was swift and terrible. The occasional sights of their unfortunate comrades dangling from the burdened limbs of trees along the road served to dampen the ardor of the poor Winnebagoes and Pottawattomies, and the struggle with them was short lived. With the snakes it was a different matter. Even more subtle than the Indians, they were doubly venomous, and a dozen or more deaths are on record which were caused by the bite of the rattlesnake, or "racer," the massasauga, or the deadly moccasin. They lurked in the tall grass by the side of the roads and rivers, and in among the grain, and more than one unfortunate stepped upon their shining scales and straightway felt their sharp fangs buried in his flesh.

A story is told of a lad who was fishing with his father, on the banks of one of the small creeks. The country was totally virgin thereabout, and the tall weeds and underbrush round about the river banks furnished most excellent hiding places for the rattlers. As the boy, who had been sitting on the bank with his pole, got up to go to his father, who sat a short distance away he suddenly, as he supposed, stubbed his toe on a stone and uttered a sharp cry of pain. His father hurried to his assistance and immediately discovered that he had been bitten by a "racer." The poor man, frantic and cold with fear, had not the slightest idea what remedies to apply, and carried the boy home for the application of restoratives. But he was too late. The poison had all the while been coursing through his system and he died at sunset.

In spite of the dangers from Indians, snakes, and horse thieves, Oneco Township enjoyed a rapid growth and prosperity after the year 1840. After the filling up of the land, Oneco village was settled, and later Orangeville, first known as Bowersville. In 1888 the railroad came through, and since that time the township has been quite accessible to Freeport and the outside world.

Orangeville, the third settlement in size in Stephenson County, is located in the southern part of Oneco Township, on the banks of Richland Creek, whose current turns its one and only mill. It is situated on the Madison branch of the Illinois Central Railroad, about fifteen miles north of Freeport by railroad and fourteen by road.

The first settler on the site of Orangeville was John M. Curtis, who took up a claim on the spot where Orangeville now stands, and there located his farm. In 1845 J°hn Bowers, to whom is due the credit of founding the village of Orangeville, came to Stephenson County. He first settled at Walnut Grove, in Rock Grove Township, where he remained for about a year. Then, seeking a more desirable place of habitation, he came a few miles west, and possessed himself of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Oneco Township, on the banks of Richland Creek. On this three hundred and twenty acres of ground a log cabin, and saw and grist mills had already been built and Mr. Bowers began to operate the mills soon after his arrival. A year's residence on his new farm firmly convinced Mr. Bowers that the site was suitable for the found- ing of a village. Although it was as late as 1845, the land about Orangeville had not been improved in the least, and the section was almost as wild as the region about Oneco had been, before its fastnesses resounded to the blows of the pioneer's axe. But, with the help of Marcus Montelius, who surveyed and platted fifteen acres of the village site, Mr. Bowers pushed boldly forth upon his venture.

In 1849 tne first brick house, a structure on High street, long occupied by the post-office, was built. In the same year Charles Moore built a residence, George Hoffman a store, John Bowers a blacksmith shop, which was afterward occupied by Benjamin Hallman, and a number of farmers their residences. The old mills which had been built by John M. Curtis were still standing, but John Bowers began to improve the mill buildings in that year. The work of improvement and reconstruction was most arduous, and the greater part of the mianual labor was done by Mr. Bowers himself. It was impossible to get suitable shingles and lumber in the regions about Orangeville, and Mr. Bowers, acting as driver, hauled the material from Chicago in his own wagon. By the next year, 1850, the mill was completed at a total cost of $8,000.

The appearance of Orangeville, or Bowersville, as it was then known, was very promising, and speculators and purchasers thronged to the place where they bought up large quantities of land. The first lot in the village is said to have been sold to Daniel Duck, who paid ten dollars for it. Another early settler was William Herbert. The village offered numerous advantages to settlers. It was about the right distance from Freeport, the lots were exceedingly cheap, the water facilities were good, and the village seemed to be on the point of a flourishing growth. A large number of settlers came within the first ten or fifteen years, and business has never since been at a complete standstill.

The war in 1861, instead of disastrously affecting the growth of the little community, only served to increase the business done by the merchants. It was truly surprising how little effect the great national conflict seemed to have on Orangeville business, when the other villages of the county, such as Davis and Dakota, were nearly prostrated, and never fully recovered from the effects.

During the progress of the war, no surprising developments took place, and business suffered somewhat of a setback: Scarcely had the peace of Appomattox Courthouse been concluded, when the development of Orangeville began again with renewed vigor. In 1867, the settlement was incorporated as a village. That year the first village elections were held with the following results:

President of board, Charles Moore ; associates, William Wagenhals, George Erb, W. A. St. John, Jacob Kurtz; village clerk, W. A. St. John; village treasurer, W. Wagenhals.

In the year 1888 the Madison branch of the Illinois Central Railroad built its tracks through Orangeville and the village at once became a place of great importance. Numerous brick stores and office buildings were built on the main street, known as High street, and the community became a prosperous, thrifty little town. And so it remains. There will never be any great additional development in Orangeville, for the time for that is past. If Orangeville was ever to be a city, it must have become one long ago, and it never reached that status. However, its existence as a thriving village is quite assured. Orange- ville has always contained a decided preponderance of the German element among its citizens, and the thrift and financial prowess of a German community is well known throughout the United States.

The People's State Bank. This is the oldest bank in the village. It is housed in the finest and newest building on High street, a brick structure, two stories in height, with provisions for office suits on the second story, and the offices of the bank on the first floor.

Orangeville State Bank. The offices of the new state bank are located on High street at the lower end of the thoroughfare near the railway station. The building in which the bank is housed is a new one and the offices are most elegantly appointed in every respect.

Reformed Church. The Reformed church of Orangeville is very old in point of time, having been organized May 3, 1851, by Henry Halliston, with twentyfour members, of whom Henry Ault was elder, and John Bowers and Michael Bolender deacons. For a short time meetings were held about in the private residence of the members. Then, at a meeting held the same year, it was decided to join forces with the Lutherans in the erection of a church edifice. Daniel Rean, John Bowers, and John Wohlford were appointed to serve on the building committee. Plans were immediately formulated for the church building, and in September, 1852, the cornerstone was laid by the Revs. G. J. Donmeyer, Daniel Kroh, and George Weber. On September 23, 1855, as much as three years later, the church was finished and dedicated. The church cost $1,900, is a brick structure, with a wooden spire, and has a seating capacity of two hundred. A year ago it was redecorated at a considerable cost and now presents a highly creditable appearance. A number of ministers were present at the dedication services, including the Revs. G. J. Donmeyer, Daniel Kroh, F. C. Bowman, Arastus Kent, J. P. Decker, and the Rev. John Hoyman, the first pastor of the church.

The present membership is eighty-five, with a Sunday school of seventy-five. The value of the church building is about $2,000, and that of the parsonage, which was bought some time ago, $1,800. The Rev. W. D. Marburger is in charge, having come to Orangeville from Dakota about a year ago.

The Orangeville church numbers among its communicants Mrs. A. J. Beam, a member of the Ebel family, who has been the first missionary from these districts to China. She departed for the east about seven years ago, and has only recently returned to Orangeville.

Lutheran Church. The Lutheran congregation was organized in 1847 under the auspices of the Rev. G. J. Donmeyer, with a very small membership. Services were at first held in a log schoolhouse in the Ault farm in Buckeye Township. Rev. G. J. Donmeyer took charge for a number of years, working in company with the Rev. Ephraim Miller, of Cedarville. The services were occasionally held in the schoolhouse, sometimes in the mill, but more often in private residences.

In 1851 the Lutheran congregation combined with the Reformed church in an effort to build a church, a brick structure, costing $1,900, the same which is mentioned above in connection with the Reformed church. Since the pastorship of Rev. G. J. Donmeyer, a large number of ministers have occupied the pulpit of the church, which has since come to be known as "Salem Congregation of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church."

The present incumbent is the Rev. M. Colber, who has been here four years. He came to Stephenson County from Middletown, Indiana, in November, 1906, and is a Pennsylvanian by birth. The Orangeville church is on a circuit with the Bellevue church near Buckeye Center. The membership is sixty, with a Sunday school of seventy-five, while the Bellevue church has a membership of forty-five, and a Sunday school of seventy. The Lutheran congregation of Orangeville possesses a parsonage which was built fifteen years ago, and is valued at $2,000.

United Brethren Association. The United Brethren church is the oldest in Oneco. It was established as early as 1844. At first services were held in schoolhouses, private residences, etc. In 1856 the present Orangeville circuit was organized, and in 1857 the Orangeville church was built. It is a brick structure which cost $2,000. Other churches have since been built in the circuit which is very large, and includes McConnell, Winslow, Oneco, St. James and Orangeville.

Rev. W. G. Metzker is the minister in charge. He has been in Orangeville about a year, having come from Good Hope, Illinois (MacDonough County) in October, 1909. The Orangeville congregation numbers fifty-five members, with a Sunday school approximating fifty. The church is valued at $2,590 and the parsonage, which is a handsome residence, is valued at $3,000.

Methodist Church. Three churches are included in the Orangeville charge of the M. E. church, vix., the Orangeville church, the Red Oak church, and the Pleasant Hill church.

The Methodists have held services in Oneco Township for over half a century, but it was not until October 15, 1875, that the sect first saw fit to organize into a congregation and hold worship at stated times. On that memorable date, Benjamin and Mrs. Bowers, Mrs. Susan Bennett, Mrs. Sarah Heckman, Mrs. B. J. Parriott, Mrs. J. H. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. William Frederick, and Mr. and Mrs. William Holloway decided to form the congregation and thus became the charter members of the church. Rev. F. B. Hardin be- came the first pastor, and services were held in the Reformed church. After a while the Masonic hall was secured as a place of worship and services were held there for a long time. The church building now in use was built about twenty-five years ago. It is valued at $2,000, and the parsonage, a rather old structure, at $1,200. The church contemplates building a new church edifice, and it is probable that this step will be taken some time soon. Recently the church was refitted inside and out at a cost of $700, but there is great need for an entirely new building.

The Rev. W. M. Kaufmann is in charge of the Orangeville church. He came to Orangeville a year ago in November, 1909, and preaches also in the Red Oak and Pleasant Hill churches. The membership at Orangeville is sixty, with a Sunday school of about equal proportions, while that at Pleasant Hill is forty, with a Sunday school of sixty.

United Evangelical Church. Hope church, of the United Evangelical Society, is a part of the charge which includes Orangeville, Stavers, and Fairfield. It was formerly a church of the Evangelical Association, and was built about thirty years ago, to be purchased from that society when the break in the Illinois Conference occurred.

Services of the Evangelical faith were long held in Orangeville, but not until 1870 was Orangeville circuit made a separate charge. In 1880 the present church edifice was built and dedicated on January 18, of that year. It is a very commodious and well appointed frame church, thirty-six by fiftytwo, with a steeple eighty-seven feet high, and an auditorium which will hold two hundred persons. The interior decorations and particularly have been frequently renewed and improved. Among the appurtenances is an organ, one of the finest in the rural sections of the county. The church originally cost the congregation $2,500 and was repurchased from the Evangelical Association in 1894 for $2,000.

The parsonage was put up a number of years ago and is valued at $3,000. Two years ago a fine new barn was added to the parsonage, and the house itself was remodelled and redecorated.

Rev. A. W. Smith occupies the pulpit of the three churches at the present time. He came from Manhattan, Illinois, April, 1909, and has been in Orangeville nearly two years. The Orangeville congregation numbers seventy-five, while the Stavers' membership is about one hundred and fifty and the Fairfield again about seventy-five. The Sunday schools of the three churches are large in proportion to the membership.

Lodges. There are a number of lodges in Orangeville, few of which deserve special mention. The most important are the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Mystic Workers, the American Stars of Equity, the Yeomen of America, and the two Ladies' Auxiliaries of the Mason and Odd Fellow organizations; viz., the Easter Star and Rebekah.

Orangeville Lodge, No. 687, A. F. & A. M. The Orangeville lodge of the Masons was chartered October i, 1872, although the lodge had been working under a dispensation for a long time previous to that date. The pioneer Masons whose names appeared on the charter of the Orangeville lodge were: B. H. Bradshaw, David Jones, James Musser, Benjamin Musser, Charles Musser, I.

G. Ermhold, J. K. Bloom, H. W. Bolender, P. Sheckler, William Potts, and D. A. Schoch. The original; officers at the time of the securing of the charter were. B. H. Bradshaw, W. M., David Jones, S. W., and James Musser, J. W.

In 1876 the Masonic lodge erected a handsome hall on High street for the lodge home. It is a two-story structure, with a basement also in use. The latter contains a banquet room, with kitchen and stoves. The first floor is a hall for entertainments, lectures, and social gatherings. The second story contains the lodge room of the various societies which meet in the hall. Nearly all of the Orangeville secret organizations use this hall, and it is in great demand by church societies, etc., on festive occasions.

The present condition of the lodge is most satisfactory. The membership is large, with every prospect for increase. The officers in charge are : W. M., M. W. Gouse, secretary, J. I. Cadwell.

J. R. Scroggs Lodge No. 133, I. 0. O. F. The Odd Fellows lodge is the the oldest organization of the kind in Orangeville. It was organized October 13, 1868, a charter issued to A. A. Krape, Thomas Spriggs, Henry Dinges, J. K. Bloom, J. J. Moore, and William Sandoe. The officers were : Noble Grand, A. A. Krape; vice grand, J. K. Bloom, and secretary, William Sandoe.

The lodge has always been most prosperous. Meetings are held weekly in the Masonic hall, on High street, where the lodge has always met. The society has a present membership of eighty persons, with the following officers now in charge : Noble Grand, J. C. Schadle ; secretary, Cyrus Snyder.

American Stars of Equity. The Stars of Equity were organized in Orangeville five or six years ago. The membership is large, and the officers are : George S. Wagner, president; H. U. Hartzell, secretary.

The Yeomen of America. The Yeomen were organized at the same time. The officers are : James Chilton, president ; George S. Wagner, secretary. Meetings are held in the Masonic hall.

Rebekahs. The Rebekahs also have had a lodge in Orangeville for about ten years. The membership is somewhat fluctuating, with a present roll of about fifty. Mrs. Harry Snyder is noble grand.

Schools. Orangeville has always had very excellent schools, but it has recently placed itself in the front rank of the villages of the county outside of Freeport by the founding of its new high school. The first village schoolhouse was built before 1850, and stood on the site now occupied by the Lutheran and Reformed church. In 1860, the school was first graded. In 1874 the new building was completed at a cost of $6,000. It has since continued to be in commission, but the prospects just at present are extremely bright for the building of a new school. The quarters are very cramped for the high school, and more room is imperatively required.

The Orangeville High school was founded in 1909, by the Rev. W. D. Marburger, of the Reformed church. It offered a one year's course last year, will offer a two years' course next year, etc., until the full four years' course is filled out. The enrollment of the Orangeville school for the past year, including grades and high school, was one hundred and fifteen. Rev. W. D. Marburger

Orangeville Mills. The first mills ever built in Orangeville were put up by John M. Curtis the pioneer settler at Orangeville. He built a very primitive dam on Richland Creek in the year 1838, and erected a mill which remained in commission until his death between 1840 and 1850. At that time John Bowers purchased the property and conducted the mills for a while. In 1850, when Orangeville had been platted and had begun to be a village of some consequence, Mr. Bowers tore down the Curtis Mills, and built a new building, at a cost of $8,000. The present building is a frame structure, 40x60, three and a half stories high, with a capacity of two hundred bushels of wheat daily.

In 1857 operation at the Mills was suspended for two years. In 1859 tnev came into the hands of Hefty, Legner, & Company, who ran them for seven years. In 1865, they were sold to E. T. Moore & Company. The Moore family transacted the business of the mill for many years, and finally shut down some time in the eighties. For intervals thereafter the mill was idle, and continues to be so for short periods. It is at present conducted by C. W. Bennett. The grist-mill alone is utilized, and corn, barley, and rye flour are ground.

Recently a new mill has been erected in the east end of town by E. Timm. It is run by steam power, and is used as a grist-mill, saw-mill, and planing-mill.

Orangeville Creamery. The Creamery is very old, but has of late diminished in importance, owing to the monopoly of the creamery business by the trusts. The building, which was, in its day, one of the largest and most complete establishments in the west, was put up in January 13, 1879 by D. A. Schoch and H. W. Bolender. The capacity of the plant was about one thousand four hundred pounds of butter daily, thus using six thousand pounds of cream every twentyfour hours.

The original proprietors have long since given up the business and it is carried on by a Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. Improvements and changes have been made in the buildings, increasing the daily output of the factory.

OrangeiMe Band. The Orangeville Band, a very creditable institution for a village of the size of Orangeville, was organized in March, 1909, by Stuart Bolender. It is a brass band, of eighteen instruments. The band has played about at various county fairs in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, an3 in Freeport. They expect to play this fall at the County Fair of Green County, at Monroe.

Orangeinlle Orchestra. Stuart Bolender is also responsible for the organization and existence of the Orangeville Orchestra, which consists of five musicians, all of them relatives of the founder, and bearing his name. It discourses sweet strains at dances in Orangeville, and upon all occasions where the services of such a musical organization are desirable.

The Orangeville Courier. The Orangeville Courier was established in 1882 by William H. McCall, who later removed to Freeport, where he is now connected with the Journal Printing Company. Mr. McCall conducted the business for a number of years, and succeeded in working up a large and growing subscription. But he felt that the business of running a country newspaper was

On leaving Orangeville, he disposed of his business to L. I. Hutchins, a brother of Dr. I. N. Hutchins, who is at present practising medicine in Orangeville. Mr. Hutchins ran the "Courier" for two years and. then sold it to Joseph Upp. Mr. Hutchins is now engaged in the printing business in Monmouth, Illinois.

Joseph Upp remained proprietor for only six months and then disposed of the business to H. U. Hartzell, who was employed at the office at that time. This was in 1890, and on August 16 of that year, the transfer of the business was made, Mr. Hartzell becoming sole owner. He has conducted the business ever since with unbroken success.

While the career of a country newspaper in a village of the size of Orangeville is apt to be beset with all sorts of trials and tribulations, the lot of the Orangeville Courier has been more successful than the majority. While Editor Hartzell has not made a mint of money, he has conducted a paying business as is very evident from the fact that he has remained in it for these twenty years. The Courier has a large subscription, something less than a thousand, among the farmers of the country surrounding Orangeville in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. The paper is a six column quarto published every Saturday.

The business section of Orangeville presents a trim and lively appearance these days. A number of new buildings have lately gone up, and the street is now lined with a row of substantial and well appointed brick edifices. There are a large number of stores doing all sorts of businesses, and catering to various trades. The condition of the village is most gratifying. It is about third in size in the county, and has a steady population of about one thousand inhabitants.

The oldest village in Oneco Township, and one of the oldest in the county, is Oneco, settled as early as 1840. It is situated in the north central portion of the township, northwest of the village of Orangeville, and consists of a church, a school, and a store, surrounded by a handful of houses.

Oneco was located on the old stage road to Galena and the lead mines of southern Wisconsin, and when it was laid out and platted, there were lively hopes on the part of its promulgators that it might become the most important city of the county. Henry Corwith, acting on behalf of J. K. Brewster, took a claim of a quarter section of land, surveyed it and platted it for a town. Later all but fifteen acres of the town site was bought and occupied as a farm. These fifteen acres were twice added to by Alonzo Denio, and the original fifteen acre plat with the two additions of Denio constitute the present village of Oneco4

In 1843, the first school house was built near Oneco village. In 1851 the first schoolhouse within the village was built - a brick structure on Denio's addition, just east of the postoffice. In 1876 the structure which is still in use was built on the Orangeville Road at a cost of $2,000.

U. B. Church. The church of the United Brethren Association, which is the only church building within the village of Oneco, was established ten years ago. The structure itself was erected in the summer of 1880 by the Methodist congregation of Oneco. It was occupied by them for twenty years, until the small size of the congregation and the shortness of the distance to Orangeville, which was only two miles away, made them decide to join forces with the larger church.

At the time above mentioned the transfer of property was made and the United Brethren Association took possession of the church. The Oneco church is on a circuit with Orangeville, McConnell, St. James, and Winslow, pastoral duties being performed by the Rev. W. G. Metsker, of Orangeville. The church property is valued at $1,200, and the membership numbers forty-three communicants, with a Sunday school of fifty.

The men who planned the village of Oneco entertained a vain hope that the settlement might some time attain prominence. Four things have thwarted the growth of the village. The first was the lack of the water power which the settlers had hoped to obtain. Honey Creek flows close to the village, and while, at stated seasons of the year, it is swollen with floods, and afford some water power, nevertheless it is of no value for the greater part of the year. Thus the mill venture was a failure. The second relapse which Oneco suffered was in the platting of Orangeville which was established on a more favorable site. Two villages of equal prominence could hardly exist in those days within two miles of each other, and when one of them offered greater inducements for habitation than the other the battle was sure to be to the strong.

When the railroad came through in 1888, and decided to locate its station at Orangeville and pass by Oneco, the third misfortune befell the ill-fated village. A.11 the traffic was turned aside to Orangeville, and Oneco was no longer a commercial center. But with the coming of the Rural Free Delivery, the fourth and final blow was administered and the village passed out of existence. Oneco lost its postoffice, like so many other small villages, and the population, which had once been in the neighborhood of one hundred, dwindled to less than half that number. The more aspiring inhabitants of the village transferred their place of habitation to Orangeville, Rock Grove, or elsewhere, and Oneco became a tradition.

The site of the village is pleasant, though not surpassingly, beautiful. The town presents an appearance of thrift, if not liveliness, and, in spite of the lack of commercial advantages, the village of Oneco still remains a very pleasant place for residence.