Princeville Township

Princeville Township

Is situated in the northern portion of the count}', on section 13 of Princeville township, on the Peoria and Rock Island railroad, twenty-two miles from Peoria, and is a nourishing town of about 900 inhabitants. It was laid out and named by Wm. C. Stevens, on the 20th day of June, 1837, in the midst of a rich and fertile prairie.

The first store in Princeville was kept by Elisha Morrow, on block No. 9, (owned by Thos. Morrow,) in a log building, where he remained about two years. Afterwards, Mr. Wm. C. Stevens put in a small stock of goods - as he says - to hold the village together. After the closing out of Morrow, Hitchcock & Rowley embarked in business in the same building. They were afterwards succeeded by J. W. Gue, in 1851, where he remained a short time and then built the brick store now occupied by F. B. Blanchard, it being the first brick store in the town.

About 1851, a man by the name of Gray commenced the grocery and notion trade, but soon abandoned it. In the Summer of the same year, Eldridge & Parker built a store room where the Eureka House now stands, and put in a stock of goods.

Among the present business men are F. B. Blanchard, William Simpson and Otto Davidson, dry goods ; J. H. Russell, Garrison & Fuller and Emmet lUingsworth, in groceries ; Peter Auten & Son, in banking ; Solomon Bliss and D. W. Herron, in drugs ; ('. W. Russell, in hardware ; Valentine Weber, in boots and shoes ; James B. Ferguson, in jewelry. There are two hotels in the place. The proprietors are J. G. Corbett, who also has a livery, and Mrs. W. G. Selby. There is one meat market, by John D. Hammer ; two cabinet shops, one by James Campbell, and the other. Hammer & May ; one bakery and restaurant, by John Ayling ; one steam flouring mill, by Hitchcock & Voorhess ; two harness makers, O. F. Herrick and George Reimhart ; one attorney at law, B. P. Duffy ; two millinery shops. Misses Bonton & Bohrer, and Misses Edwards & Godfrey ; E. H. Burgass is postmaster.

The Presbyterian Church at Princeville was organized as " The Prince's Grove Church,"' August 16, 1834. The presiding ministers were Revs. Robert Stewart and Theron Baldwin. The latter minister preached the first sermon at this time. The number of constituent members was seventeen. On May 16, nine months after the church was organized, they secured the services of Rev. Calvin W. Balbitt, who was their first minister. The meetings were held in the old logschool- house, situated near the site of Voorhes & Hitchcock's steam grist mill, but this became too small. To get a church building when they were so few (fourteen male members) and so poor, was a great undertaking, but Thomas Morrow and Wm. C. Stevens stepped forward and pledged themselves that the church should be built. Mr. Blumb, of Peoria, was engaged to do the carpenter work. The members of the church and community did much of the work, and about 1844 the church was enclosed and dedicated. It was a good frame building, and the first church built in Princeville, and would seat two hundred and fifty persons. This church was used by the society till September 6, 1866, when the present neat, commodious and beautiful frame building was dedicated to the worship of God. At the dedication it was stated that the cost was 16,165, having been all paid by the church and its friends. To tli<» honor of the ladies, he it recorded tliat the Ladies Mite Society of tlii^ cluireh ^ave fl.OOO. The present memhersliip of this church (January, 1880,) is 126. Rev. Samuel R. Helville is the minister in charpje. Edward Auteii is secretary and treasurer. Trustees are, Josiah Morrow, Milton Cutler. William Simpson. Tlie elders are Wni. H. Wilson, George Roweliff, Samuel Auten. who is also clerk of session.

Monica

Is a flourishing little village in Princeville township, situated on the Buda branch of the C, B. «t Q. R. R., twenty-five or twenty-six miles northwest of Peoria. It was laid out and platted on the 26th day of June, 1873, by S. S. Cornwell, a native of Duchess county. New York, who emigrated to this county' in 1838, and located on section 28, where he still resides. The town was first named ('ornwell, which was afterwards chaiiired to Monica. The Hon. Wm. J. I'helpsgavc it its name, after a Grecian princess. The first store was l)uill by .\ndrew D. Rogers, for hardware purposes. Then followed H. P. Hanover, who erected a store building and openeil out a stock of groceries and boots and shoes.

Mt. Zion M. E. Chureh was organized in 18o8. The first sermon was preachcil in Nelson school-house, in district No. 8, l)y Rev. J. S. Millsap. The original nicmbcrs were eighteen in number. P'ifteen of the original members are still living. The lirst house of woislii[) was erected in 1867, on the southwest corner of section 20, a frame building. and cost It was removed to Monica in the Fall of 1877. and enlarged and fitted up, at an expense of nearly SK'^OO. Tiie present membership is eighty. Tlie officers are : .John Nelson, Roger Cook, .Fohn Goodman, Reuben Deal, George Belford, f). W. Cummings and Clark Hill, trustees: Pliilliii M. Nelson, George Belford, (icorge Caniplicll and ('. \V . .Miller, stewards; Clark Hill and E. C. Lincoln, class leaders. Rev. S. Brink fills the puljiit.

The Monica liltie liihfuin t'luh was organized by the people of Monica and vicinity on the 17th Decembei-, 1*78. and has been the means of doing a great deal of good. The first officers were, Iv. B. Martin, .M. D., president : W. E. Elliott, 1st vice-pre.sident ; D. I). Clark, 2d vice-president ; L. L. Campbell, secretary ; S. S. Cornwell. treasurer. The membership is about one huixlred and fifty good workers. The jireseiit officers are, Joseph .Motes, president; C. R. Coker, 1st vice-president: Mrs. >L Curtis, 2d vice-president; R. L. V. Deal, secretary; S. S. Cornwell, treasurer.

Schoolt. - The present school building in .M(uiica is a handsome frame structure, 22x44, two stories high, ami was erected in the Fall of L^7X. The cost of structure was -'J2,100. The first teacher was T. C. Young. Average attendance of scholars is seventy.