Pine Creek Township

Pine Creek Township

ARTZ HE:^RY, Farmer; Sec. 1; P. 0. Mt. Morris ; was born in Washington Co., Md., Sept. 27, 1814; came to this country in 1839 ; married Miss Maria Funk ; she was born in Washington Co., Md.; she died March 27, 1877; had nine children (two deceased) ; those living are - Nancy, Henry H., Susan, Mary J., Abraham, Charles and Luther; Mr. Arts owns 205 acres of land in Ogle County, and 80 acres in Iowa ; was Highway Commissioner three terms and School Director several terms.

BAKER JAMES A. Farmer; Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Mt. Morris ; was born in Hampshire Co., Vt., Feb. 9, 1815; came to this county Sept. 20, 1839 ; married Miss Catherine Fleming Oct. 31, 1836 ; she was born in Jefierson Co., Va., Dec. 24, 1817; have had eleven children (three deceased) - Clinton died in August, 1864 ; Emma died Sept. 23, 1865; John died Dec. 28, 1866; living are Charles W., Joseph T., Susan V., Albert M., Edward F., Amos N., Lillie I., Laura A.; Mr. Baker has been Supervisor one term, School Director several terms, Commissioner of Highway two terms, and Pathmaster two terms ; had one son in the late war by the name of Joseph ; Mr. B. owns 500 acres of land, valued at $15,000.

FEAVER THOMAS J. Farmer; Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Oregon. Was born in Allegany Co., Md., Jan. 15, 1823; married Miss Margaret Dick, Feb. 6, 1849. She was born Dec. 5, 1824, in Washington Co., Md. Has lived in this town thirty-five years ; has had nine children (five deceased), four living - Ellen A., Lillie B., Jennie R., William T. Mr. F. was Town Assessor two years ; Highway Commissioner two terms, and Path Master one term ; School Trustee several terms. Both himself and wife belong to the Church of the United Brethren ; has been Trustee of church thirteen years ; owns 360 acres of land and one house, and twenty lots in Oregon.

MAIiOl^E ElilAS, Farmer; Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Mt. Morris ; was born in Washington Co., Md., Sept. 6, 1814; came to this Co. June 26, 1849 ; has two sisters living with him - Maria A., born in Washington Co. Nov. 2, 1818, and Sidney Jane, born in Washington Co. Sept. 16, 1824 ; he has been Supervisor six terms, ; Commissioner of Highways two terms ; was President of the Farmers' Home Ins. Co. two years ; owns 120 acres of land ; all are members of the Lutheran Church of Mt. Morris ; Mr. M. was Collector two years and Assessor three years.

Mattesox Harlow

MATTESOX HARLOW L.. Farmer ; Sec. 24 ; P, 0. Oregon ; born in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Aug. 2, 1840 ; married Miss Margaretta Odell ; she was born in the same Co. May 28, 1839 ; have two children - Giles B., born Sept. 18, 1870 ; one not named, born Jan. 3, 1878; Mr. M. has lived in Rockvale, Oregon, and thence to Pine Creek ; Mr. M. has been Constable several years. School Director and Highway Commissioner several years ; Mr. M. and wife are members of the M. E. Church of Oregon ; Mr. M.'s mother, Mrs. Tabitha Matteson, was born April 18, 1897, in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., came to this Co. Dec. 11, 1868.

MIIiliER DAVID F. Farmer; Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Polo ; born in Washington Co., Md., Oct. 29, 1813 ; came to this Co. May 25, 1842 ; married Miss Susan Stover, April 12, 1844 ; she was born Feb. 1, 1820 ; had seven children (three deceased) - Daniel S.,born May 2, 1845, died Dec. 25, 1869 ; Jolin S., born Aug. 12, 1§48, died Aug. 22, 1851 ; David S., born May 1, 1851, died Aug. 28, 1851 ; living - Mary C, born Aug. 15, 1852 ; Annie E., born Jan. 10, 1856 ; George W., born May 27, 1859 ; Chas. H., born Jan. 10, 1863 ; Mr. Miller was Assessor of Pine Creek several years. Justice of the Peace four years, School Director thirty years. Commissioner of Highways and Treasurer of the Board, Secretary and Treasurer of the Farmers' Home Ins. Co. seven years ; has been Treasurer of the Subordinate Grange five years, also Director of the Stock Co. Store in Polo, and also President ; Mr. M. owns 753 acres, valued at ^30,500 ; Mr. Miller's daughter, Annie, married Mr. S. D. Hedges, Dec. 24, 1873.

S., Elmer W., Samuel G., Harvey E., and Nannie E. ; Mr. Price was Path Master one term ; he has been Pastor of the German Baptist Church 17 years.

I came to this county Sept, 1 839 ; married Miss Catharine Miller ; she was born in Baltimore, Md. ; had eight children (four deceased), John, Susan, Charles, and Martha ; living are - George, Mary, Annie, David R. ; second wife, Miss Mary E. Muma ; she was born in Washington Co., Md. ; has six children, (Henry, deceased), living are - Albert, Sarah, Emma, Isaac and Joseph ; has been School Director several terms;. School Treasurer several terms, and Pathmaster ; owns 350 acres land; Mr. and Mrs. Price are members of the German Baptist Church; he has also been Deacon for 25 years.

PRICE SAMUEl. C. Farmer and Manufacturer Wagons and Sleighs ; Sec. 2; P. 0. Mt. Morris; he was born in Berkeley Co., Va., July 14, 1819; came to this county, Sept., 1839 ; married Miss Sarah Long, Jan. 13, 1848 ; she was born in Washington Co., Md., May 4, 1827 ; had by first wife six children (two deceased), Emma C. and Vernie M ; living - Elizabeth L., born August 19, 1849 ; Mary E., Sept. 12, 1851 ; Clinton E., Nov. 29, 1854 ; Martha J., August 24, 1862 ; his second wife was Miss Elizabeth Young ; she was born in Washington Co., Md., Feb 8, 1837; had four children (two deceased), John S. died March 26, 1875 ; Fredie G., April 21, 1875; living - William H. and Benjamin S ; was School Director 15 years.

TEETAR JACOB, farmer ; P. 0. Grand Detour. TICE JOHN H. Farmer; P.O. Oregon ; born in Pine Creek, April 5, 1839 ; married Miss Elizabeth Householder, Jan. 3, 1861. She was born in Minonk, June 28, 1840. Have had six children - Emma A., born Aug. 25,

TICE OTHO, Farmer, Sec. 12 ; P. 0. Ore<z;on ; was born in Washington Co., Md. ; came to this county Sept. 1, 1837 ; married Miss Lucretia Haner Dec. 27, 1864; she was born in Washington Co., Md. ; have had six childreo (four deceased), two living - Albertus, aged 11, and Jennie, aged 10. Mr. Tice was in the late war ; enlisted Sept. 7, 1861 ; discharged Sept. 15, 1864 ; was wounded twice. He served in the 34th I. V. I.

WAI.KUP SAMlJEIi, Farmer, Sec. 12 ; P. 0. Oregon ; was born in Washington Co., Tenn., May 5, 1811 ; came to this county March 31, 1837 ; married Miss Sophia L. Buggies May 10, 1840 f she was born in Bichland Co., Ohio ; have had ten children (two deceased), eight living - Liberty, John W., Samuel G., Carlton, James L., Mary, Sarah M. Mr. W. has been Justice of the Peace, Commissioner ot Highways, and Trustee of Schools four terms, and Town Clerk one term.

Source changes here: from Portrait and Biographical Album of Ogle County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County, by Various, published 1886; 926 words in this source stream.

Pine Creek Township

jf OWNSHIP 23, range g, east of the fourth principal meridian, comprise the civil town- K ship of Pine Creek. About two-fifths of the township is timber land, the remainder be- - ing prairie. This township was first settled in _ 1835, by a man named Smith, a true frontiers- - . man, who remained here about two years, then sold for many years a resident of Richland Co., Ohio, came in 1835 and made a claim on section 36, but did not move his family here till 1836. quite prominent in township and county affairs, servingas County Commissioner, Supervisor, County Judge and in other official positions. While receiving no more than a common school education, he had great natural ability, and was quite an active politician. He died some years ago.

Calvin Joiner came in 1836, from Connecticut, and located on section 25. He was a quiet, good neighbor, mingling but little in public. He died on his homestead about 1856, and his wife some years after.

James and Larkin Baker came from Indiana, accompanied by their aged father. James located on section 13, and Larkin on section rz. They both removed to Missouri in 1839.

Elias Mumma was from Washington Co., Md. With his family he moved to this township and located on section 35. He died in Grand Detour in the spring of 1885.

John Perrine came to the county in 1836, but located in this township in 1837. For many years he was an active citizen of the township, and was the first to there practice medicine. He is now a citizen of Oregon.

James Alexander died in 1839. He was buried on land then owned by Spooner Ruggles, where Thomas Brooks now lives. His was the second death in the township.

The first school was held at what was known as Oak Ridge, on section 25, in 1837. A log house was hastily constructed in which this primitive school was held. John Wilbur was the first teacher. The second school house was built on section 4, some two or three years after. The township is now well supplied with school houses.

From the report of the County Superintendent of Public Schools for the yearending June 30, 1885, the following items are taken: There were 553 persons

The township was divided into ten school districts,and enrolled in its:schools were 349 pupils. Eight male and r2 female teachers were employed during the

The first religious services now remembered were held in Mr. Joiner's house, in the winter of 1837-8, by Rey. Cain, a minister of the Free Will Baptist Church. The next was in the summer of 1838, by Rey. Thomas Hitt, a Methodist Episcopal minister. Services were held at the house of John Hass, another of the settlers of 1837. No township in the county is so well supplied, at the present time, with church edifices. The first house of worship erected was in 1856, the Free Will Baptists building on section 36. In addition to this the German Baptists, or Dunkards, have houses of worship on sections 2 and 29; the Christians or Disciples, on section 31; the United Brethren in Christ, on r2 and 18; the River Brethren, on 29. Each of these are good substantial buildings.

in 1836, on section 27, by John Phelps. Here the early settlers obtained their supplies of hard wood lumber. This mill was continued until about 1850, when it was torn down. The power was furnished by the waters of Pine Creek.

In the winter of 1837-8, Stewart & Mitchell put in operation a saw mill on Pine Creek on section 4. It was run some fo or 12 years and finally the dam was washed out and never replaced

A large grist mill was erected on the north side of the township by John Phelps, Thos Hitt, Nathaniel Swingley and others, in 1838. After running some years it was burned, but was rebuilt by Mr. Hiller, and it is now owned by Mr. Newcomer.

A grist mill was commenced by Rollins & Van- Norman on section 23, and finished by Boardman & Bowman in 1842. It had two run of burrs and was continued in operation until within the past two years, having in the meantime several owners. The Boveys now own it.

Adam Shaw commenced blacksmithing on section 12, about 1840, and was probably the first in the township. There are now two shops in the township, one near the northeast corner, the other situated on section 29.

The first store was started about 1850 by Hill & Funk, at Pennsylvania Corners, on section 28. For the greater part of the time since there has been a store here.

Pine Creek is an agricultural township exclusively, with no village within its borders. As this book is being compiled, the Chicago & Northern Railroad is being constructed through the township, and a station has been decided upon, around which will probably spring up a village. Pine Creek flows through the township, affording a good supply of water for mill and stock purposes. It is fed by numerous springs. There are but few persons of foreign birth now residing here.

In the spring of 1885 the township Assessor reported the following items: Improved land, 24,222 acres; unimproved land, 1,303 acres; total valued, $348,173. Of personal property there were: Horses, gti; cattle, 2,686; mules and asses, 15; sheep, 554; hogs, 3,556; carriages and wagons, 379; watches and clocks, 269; sewing and knitting machines, 150; pianos, 1; melodeons and organs, 39. Total value of personal property, $96,565.