Quincy Township (part 17 of 74)

The village of Bloomfield is the only town of which Ellingtcm can boast. It is situated ten miles northeast of Quincy, on the northeast quarter of section 3. It was laid out about 1837, by Ansel Clarkson. For some years it seemed a child of promise. Store buildings were erected, a postoffice was located there, a wagon factoiy established, and in every way the little town bade fair to become a great city. But from about 1861, the village rapidly declined. The wagon factory, run by the farming men of the district, did not prove a profitable enterprise, and was abandoned after a few years.

The religious proclivities of the village are chiefly Catholic, and the only house of worship in the place was erected bv that denomination in 1862.

It is said that the old pioneers better understood the transforming the wilderness into the jiroductive farm and the comfortable home than the technicality of law, as evidenced by the following true incident : Henry Jacobs and John S. Wood purchased a quarter section of land on section 17, jointly. Some time after, wishing to divide it, instead of going to the trouble to quit-claim, thej^ .simply cut the patent in two in the middle, supposing that to be legal beyond question.

However, in the spring of 1850, the town was organized and the first election held at the house of ;\[rs. Jacobs, near the center of the township, and John P. Robbins was elected supervisor; Wm. Powell, assessor; Erastus W. Chapman, to\\^l clei'k. The first justices of the peace were Augustus E. Bowles and AVni. H. Cather.

Since the first town meeting and election, many improvements have been advocated and made, not the least of which is one voted on at the last two meetings - the question of building a new town hall. It is to be built at the S. E. corner of the S. W. qr. of section 16, and the cost is not to exceed $1,000.

Ellington is now densely populated by a moral, intelligent, and thrifty people; it contains substantial church edifices, has the iTsual number of prosperous schools, and no more beautiful farms, and cheery homes can be found in any part of the state. "

This township derives its name from the creek of the same name running through it from east to west, the creek having been so named from a cascade, or waterfall, of considerable size in the stream. It is situated in the southeast corner of Adams County; is bounded on the north by Melrose, east by Payson, south by Pike County and west by the Mississippi river. Fall Creek is a fractional town, being cut in an irregular form by the river ; is seven miles wide on the iiortli line, and less than five on the south line.

Its surface is considerably diversified, the bluff lands, comprising two-thirds of its area, are cjuite rolling, traversed by several creeks and brooks ^vhich furnish abundant water supply and ample drainage. The largest of these is Mill Creek, which was once the .seat of the pioneer mill from which it derived its name, flowing diagonally across the northwest corner, on whose banks the village of Marblehead is located.

Ashton Creek heads about the north boundary of the township a mile and a half west of the east line, and flows southwesterly, emptying near the center of the west line. Fall Creek enters the township a mile south of the northeast cor- vier, its course is meanderini;', and its mouth a little north of tlie southwest corner. A luxuriant growth of timber originally covered threefourths of the township, and the prairie grass the remainder.

The soil is a dark sandy loam, with a substratum of lighter color strongly impregnated with sand and gravel, and a subsoil of limestone. This composition admirably adapts it to the production of the cereals and fruits. Wheat, of which very laj-ge crops are grown, amounting in the a-ggregate to over 100,000 bushels in a .single season, has been considered the staple crop, though corn is extensively planted, and yields a rich har\(st to the husbandmen. Much attention is given to frxiit growing.

Limestone abounds everywhere along the bluffs, and many fine ([uarries are being profitably worked. At Marblehead, large kilns are in active o]ieration, and are turning out large quantities of the finest lime, which finds a ready market in various parts of Illinois and other states.

The bottom lands, comprising the other third of the township, are inexhaustible in their productive resources: by drainage and levee protection from the river, the.y have become the most magnificent and valuable farming lands in the country.

The Louisiana branch of the C. B. & Q. R. R. cuts this town diagonally fi-om northwest to southeast along the edge of the bottom, furnishing an outlet for the shipment of its abundant productions. There are thi-ee stations within its limits, ilarblehead, the first south of Quincv, Bluff Hall and Fall Creek. This latter village 'is at the .junction of the Hannibal branch, and is quite a shipping point for live stock and farm produce. It is the seat of Fall Creek postoffice ; there is also a general store and a blacksmith shop. There is also a neat little church building. not under any one denominational control - a "Union'' Church.

;\Iarblehi'ad is abmit seven and a half miles southeast of (^uincy. It was laid out in 1835 by Michael Mast, John Cotfjuan and Stephen Thomas, in the center of section 6, taking a corner of land from each. For a time it gave promise of growth. Jliehael Mast erected a large store and filled it with a stock of general merchandise, and for a time commanded considerable trade. In later years, the business shrunk to the modest dimensions of a very small grocery. Early in its history, the saw and grist mill on Mill Creek did considerable busine.ss, and a large steam ferry plied between a point opposite ilarblehead and Marion City, now extinct on the ]Missouri side, furnishing a great thoroughfare for emigrant travel as late as 1850. The chief feature of importance now at the place are the lime kilns and stone quarries, giving employment to a

Justice I. Perigo was the first white man who sought a home in Fall Creek. He settled south of the present site of ]\Iarblehead in 1821, but being a regular frontiersman, he made little show of improvements. In June, 1823, John C. Thomas came to the township and moved on the same farm where Perigo settled. Col. Headly and Jlr. Slayton, the father of Ferando Slayton, came the same .year. Zephaniah Ames and Ebenezer Harkness came the next April. Amos Beebe, Amos Bancroft, Mr. Crandall, Daniel Moore, Holman Bowles, Mr. Journey and Thos. Carr were among the early pioneers, as was also Wm. Thompson and son, M. L., who came in 1830.

The first nuirriage was that of Amos Bancroft and Ai-delia Ames, in the winter of 1824-25. The first child born was Priseilla Crandall, afterwards the wife of Josiah Thomas, in 1825. The first death was old Mr. Slayton, of consumption, in 1825.

The first school house was erected on section 16, in 1825, and Levi Wells taught the first school in it the following winter. The first sermon was preached bv an itinerant Methodist preacher named ^Medford in 1826.

The first house of worship was erected b.y the Baptists in Josejih Thomas" woods in 1832. The tii'st pei'manent church edifice was built by the ^lethodist Protestant society, on section 23, near the falls of Fall Creek, in' 1844. A lady member worked the date in the curtains. The first Sunda.y School was organized at the residence of Zei)haniah x\mes in 1832, by Deacon Chatten and Elder Sweet.

Amos Bancroft, Daniel ]\[oore and Rial Crandall built the first saw mill on Mill Creek, late in 1824. In 1831, a grist mill was erected which supplied the surrounding country with breadstuffs.

Among the early settlers of Fall Creek to\^^lshi(i wiM-e Holman Bowles, Alexander Fruit, and John Hickerson, who, with their families, were members of the Christian Church. The.y began to assemble together for worship in their cabins as early as 1831. Rev. Jesse Bowles preached for them occasionally, and the believers in the faith increased in number until in 1840 when they organized regulai-ly. Revs. John B. Curl and John Rigdon officiating. Holman Bowles, Jesse Fruit, and Albert Morris were elected elders, and John Featheringill and James Lewis chosen deacons. The society held services in school houses until 1851 when it attained sutifieient strength in numbers and purse to erect a house of worship which they built that year. It is the parent of the Payson Christian Church, and is the second oldest society of that denomination in Adams County.

A considerable number of Germans having settled in Fall Creek township, they organized a Lutheran Society, and erected a stone edifice in 1860 upon section 9. A neat, commodious, frame church building now stands on the same site. There are quite a number of ]\Iethodist people in Fall Creek who attend at Fall Creek Chapel, just in the edge of Payson township.

Fall Creek township contains a population of about three thousand inhabitants. It ranks among the first in the county in fertility of the soil, and the character of its farm improvements.

The Thompson Settlement

In the early history of the county there was a settlement in the southwest corner of Honey Creek and in the southeast corner of Mendon known for many miles around as the Thompson Settlement. The patriarch of this settlement was Enos Thompson, one of the three brothers who came to this county from Ohio in 1830. The youngest brother of the family, Josiah, had come the year previous, and after spending about a week with the family of John Wood, in Quincy, concluded to settle in Fall Creek township, where he made his home on .section 11. The other two brothers, Dr. Samuel Thompson and William Thompson settled on sections 1 and 12, respectively, in Fall Creek.

Enos Thompson was a minister in the M. E. Church, quite a revivalist, and was well known all over Western Illinois. Like most of the pioneers in the great West, he had a large family. His sons were Morgan, Andrew, John, Wesley, Salathiel, Milton, and Robert. The daughters were Mrs. Brackett Pottle of Payson, IMrs. Bradley Stewart of Hoiiston, and IVIrs. Martin Stewart of Honey Creek, afterwards of Camp Point township. Enos Thompson's first wife was a Miss Higgins whom he married in Ohio, and who was the mother of all his children. His second wife was a ]\Irs. Stone, whose first husband was one of the family after which Stone "s Prairie was named. The oldest two sons of Enos Thompson, Andrew and ]\Iorgan, lived in the southern part of the county and the writer is not acquainted with the history of their families. John Thompson lived first in JFendon, then in Honey Creek, where he died. His first wife was a Miss Longcor, by whom he had five children, three sons and two daughters. The sons were Albert, Charles and Horace : the daughters were Sophronia, wife of Sylvester Woodward, and Melinda, wife of Chauncey Bloomfield. The second wife was a ]\Iiss Shields, by whom he had six children, two sons and ionr daughters. The sons were George W. and Aksekia : the daughters were Orpha J., Samantha, Elizabeth and Lucy A. Wesley Thomp.son lived first in Honey Creek, then in Denver, Colorado, then in Southwest Missouri, where he died. His wife was a Miss Kincaid. They had one child, a daughter, who died before reaching womanhood.

Salathiel Thompson lived first in Mendon township, then in Gilmer, then in Colorado, and afterwards in Quincy. His wife was a Miss Newell. They had eight children : Mary, Lydia, George W., Aaron, William, Sarah, Elizabeth and Alfred, named in the order of their ages. Milton Thompson lived in Honey Creek, then went to JFontana, M'here he now resides. His wife was a Miss Pilcher. Two children are known to have been born to them - Laura and Charles. Robert, or as he was commonly called, "Bob" Thompson, was "simple minded" and died at about the age of twenty-five. The Thompson men were all farmers and did cooper work as a side line. In the early histoiy of Quincy, when the city packed all the pork raised within a radius of many miles, when there were several flouring mills and large distilleries, the demand for barrels was unsatiable, and almost any week day in the year one could see wagons from the Thompson Settlement, with their great ladders holding from sixty to one hundred barrels, on the road to Quincy. This was kept up until near the time of the Civil War when the timber in Honey Creek was becoming exhausted.

The daTighters of Enos Thompson, as before stated, were Mrs. Brackett Pottle, IMrs. Bradley Stewart and Mrs. IMartin Stewart. Martin and Sarah Stewart were long time residents of the Thompson Settlement in Honey Creek, but they finally settled in the northern part of Camp Point township where they both died at a ripe old age. To them were born eleven children, all of whom grew up to manhood and womanhood. The four sons were Marcus De Lafayette, Enos, Andrew and Sullivan. The seven daughters were Rosanna, wife of James Stone, Jane, wife of John IMes.siek, Leviea, wife of Capt. T. L. Howden, Lavina, wife of Dan. Humsher, Emerett, wife of Stephen Brewer, Elizabeth, wife of a Mr. Howell, and Lue-y, wife of a ilr. Noble. It is believed that the only representative of Enos Thompson's family bearing the name and now living in Adams County, is W. N. Thompson, of Coatsburg.

Of the three brothers of Enos Thompson, Josiah, who came in 1829, died in about two years after settling in Fall Creek. His wife was a sister of the late Joshua Tibbets. There were five children, three sons, and two daughters, born to them. The sons were Washington, who died before reaching his ma.iority: Newton, who now lives in Payson, and Franklin who died at Tennessee, Illinois, in 1887. The daughters, both now deceased, were Sobriety, wife of the late E. R. Seehoi'u. and Eliza A., wife of Dr. Henry Houp. The children of Newton Thomp- son iKiw liviii;^', are Jlrs. S. S. Imiinn of Plaiii- \illf and Mi's. N. J. Ilintoii of Quiiiey. His lirandchildreii are the JMisses Edna V. and Blanche Intnan. and Ralph T. Hiuton. The children of Franklin Thompson are jMrs. Neal -MeDonousi'h of Burlinnton, Iowa, and the Misses Bertha and Mamie Thompson of Galesburg.

Samuel Thompson, as jireviously stated, settled in Fall Creek, but after some years he removed to Missouri where he died. His descendants now residing in this county are a granddanghter, ]\Irs. Jtl. W. Hughes of Pall Creek, with her children and grandchildren. Arthur Thompson of Fall Creek, a great gi'andson, with his sisters. Misses Lucy and Alma Thomi)Son, and the two daughtei's of the late ^Irs. James Grove of Payson, Mrs. Harry Seehorn and Miss Lei a Grove, both great granddaughters.

William Thompson remained on the farm where he first settled in Fall Creek until the time of his death in 1880. One son, [Marcus L. Thompson, now in his eighty-eighth year, and two grandsons, Wm. E. and John G., sons of ]Mareus, live on farms adjoining on the west the one occupied by that worthy pioneer. A daughter, IMrs. D. E. Tipple, with her husband, now resides on the old home farm which is a model in the way of up-to-date management and culture, and adorned by a fine residence, and neat, substantial and convenient barns, etc. Another daughter. Miss Esther, resides in Quincy.

The members of the Thompson family were honorable people, respected by all who knew them. As a rule they were Democi-ats in politics and almost to an individual they adopted the faith of the iM. E. Church. Their descendants are scattered all over the Mississippi Valley, and as has been shown, some of them may be encountered in different parts of this county.

The first settlers in Gilmer Township were George Wigle, who settled in 1829, on section 34 - he built a log cabin and made other improvements - Ben.iamin Walby, an Englishman by birth, Jacob Smith. John Thomas, Mr. Franks, and I\Tr. Riddle.

In November, 1831, John Yeargaiu and family came, and soon after Daniel Harrison and others. These men were good citizens, theii- occupation that of farming: they were poor and en.joyed but few of the luxui'ies of life, but they were cheerful, contented and hospitable.

The first sermon was preached at John Yeargain's, by James Ilobbs, in the year of 1832. In the same year John Hiuiter, a preacher of the M. E. Church, preached at the same place. Soon after a class was organized consisting of the following persons : John Yeargain and wife, Jacob Sharp and wife. Weaver Potter and wife, Geo.

Kuntz and wife, Nancy G. Tate and W. T. Yeargain. Soon after this others were added. David Carter, who was the first circuit-rider, commenced his labors in the year 1832. The class continued to meet at John Yeargain 's until thought best to move it elsewhere. Meetings were then held successively at John Yeargain 's thence to a log school house on what is now knoM-n as the old telegraph road. From there it moved to Mr. Brunton's, then afterward to a school house known as Blount Pleasant, and built in 1836. where meetings were held until 1865, when they built a church on section 27. During the .year 1832 David Hobbs and John Curl preached at various times at the residence of John Yeargain. whose house was open with a welcome to preachers of all denominations. Also at other times John Kirkpatriek, Samuel Griggs and John Ham of the JMethodist Episcopal Church, and John Wolf, a Dunkard, preached frequently at Daniel Harrison's. Wm. Roberts, a Baptist, preached at various places. There are now established here several IMethodist Episcopal churches, a German Methodist Episcopal church, two Christian churches, one Lutheran and one Catholic church in Gilmer.

The first election was held at what was known as ]\fr. Pitts' schot)l house, on section 15, April 2. 1850. The fii-st .iudges of election were John Rice, Ilobbs and Wm. B. Finley, clerks; first supervisor was J. F. Bartell : first magistrate under township organization, Paris T. Judy; first town clerk, Wm. Morrow; first assessor, Philip S. Judy; first overseer of the poor, Jeremiah Ballard; first collector, David Chase; first commissioners of highways, Robt. Breedlove, Chas. (xilmer, and Jacob Smith, who afterward served one term in State Senate; first treasurer, John Lawless ; second treasurer, Geo. B. Thompson ; first trustees of schools, Geo. W. Thomp.son, Eli Williams, Ben.]. Walby, and D. L. Pedow; second trustees of school, Thornton Gilmer, John Bartell. Abner Chase, and John Finch.

The first goods were sold in 1832, l)y Daniel Harrison, who kept a sto7-e on section 30. In the year 1835 he moved his house and goods to Columbus, where he took as partner in the dry goods and pork-packing business, Abraham Jonas, who was a member of the legislature.

The poor house and farm are in Gilmer. There are three miles of the C. B. & Q. Railroad in Gilmer township. Fowler is a little village on this line, and is known as a shipping point.

The land of this township consists of about two-thirds prairie and one-third timber. It is settled by an intelligent class of people. Its church and school privileges are excellent.

Honey Creek comprises the original survey of 1 north of the Base Line, range 7 west of the Fourth Principal ileridian. It is bounded on the north by Keene, on the west by j\Iendon, on the south by Gilmer and on the east by Camp Point. Originally it consisted of about threefifths timber and two-fifths prairie land. The entire watershed is drained by Bear Creek, its principal tributaries in the township being lioiiey Creek and Brush Creek, thence the waters tiow into the ili.ssissippi. The natural resources are agriciilture, horticulture and stock-raising, wheat and corn, hogs and cattle being the main products. Hog raising seems to be a favorite employment with most of the farmers, and cattle are receiving more attention each succeeding year. The tendency at this time seems to be toward the dairying industry. Timber, which at one time was an important item, is now well-nigh exhausted. There is an abundance of excellent stone for building purposes and for road making, and an inexhau.stible supply of fine brick clay which has never been iitilized, but there is no coal. Horticulture has always received much attention. Apples, peaches and pears do as well here as in other parts of the county. The trees of the first planting have nearly all pas.sed away, and, on account of the insect enemies of these fruits, some of the people have become discouraged and have ceased to plant. A few, however, are continuing the work extensively with a view to fighting the insects with all the modern scientific implements of warfare

The history of Honey Creek is the history of the men who have made the township. The first habitation of which we have any knowledge was built by a squatter named Haven, on section 21, prior to 1830. It is said that he found a bee tree on the creek bottom and that he obtained from it a fine lot of honey, from which circumstance the creek derived its name. After Haven came Ed. Edmonson, H. B. Baldwin, Enos Thompson and sons, John, Byler, J. E. Kammerer, Richard Gray, Mrs. Irene Grigsby, Joseph Pollock, Jabez Lovejoy, W. D. Her - Heyworth, the Struevs, father and sons. James

Bailey. Daniel Gooding, Joel Darrah, I\I. D., the Whites, Thomas, Richard and James, Wm. Eubanks, Horatio Ellis and several others whose names were less conspicuous. These were all here prior to 1840, except Joel Darrah, M. D., wh<i came in the spring of that year.

In the seventy-five years that have intervened since the arrival of the first settlers. Honey Creek township has witnessed a wonderful transformation. From a state of wilderness, of which woi"ds would give but a faint conception to those who had never seen it, to a condition in which every acre and rod of land is made to yield to the wants of its 1,500 population; from the terrific scream of the hungry panther, the howl of the ravenous wolf, and the weird wail of the wildcat, to the friendly greeting of the house dog, the lowing of cattle and the grunt of satisfaction fi-om the pig sty ; from a lone cabin to over three hundred comfortable, resjieetable dwellings, many of which are almost palatial ; from nothing in the way of school and religious advantages, to nine substantial school houses, where some four hundred children annually receive their primary education, and seven churches, where as many denominations worship according to the teachings of their several creeds.

The principal prairie of Honey Creek is called ' ' Froggy. ' ' How it came by such an euphonious title is, to the unitiated, a mystery. It originated at one of the old-fashioned spelling bees, where a school district to the westward of this prairie was pitted against the home district. School hou.se. a log cabin on the prairie: time, IMarch 25, 1844; at candle lighting, present both schools in full force ; wild grass taller than a man : water, bootleg deep, full of frogs which made so much noise that the teacher was compelled to pronounce the words at the top of his voice in order to be heard at all. A school girl from the west district called the place "Froggy.'" and "Froggy" it has been ever since.

Manufacturing of any kind has always been limited in Honey Creek. In the early history of the township great numbers of pork and lard barrels, flour barrels and even whiskey barrels were made and hauled to Qnincy. In 1840 Charles Fletcher built a water mill on Bear creek, on section 4, for the purpose of grinding grain. A few years' experience taught him the unreliability of water power, and he put in steam engines. In 1870 he moved the whole plant to Coatsburg. and about two years later the mill burned. It was rebuilt by Fred Cruze and aftei'- ward remodeled b.v ^Varon & McGuire. Later it came into the possession of I. N. Pevehouse. who sold it to J. N. Shanhaltze, the present owner.

iiiarveloiis. For the past tiw or six years the annual output from these nurseries has run into the thousands of dolhirs' worth. Two very vahiable varieties of apple, the Bayard and the Rohe's Favorite, have propai^ated in these nurseries.

Honey Creek has two villages within its borders, Coatsbui'p: and Palonia, both situated ou tlie Burlington division of the C. B. & Q. R. R. Ciiatsliurg was laid out l)y Robert Coats in 1804. at the time the railroad was built, and Paloma at a later date. Coatsburg has the distinetion of having- been the rival of Quiney in the county seat controversy of 1875. Prom the beginning it has been an important shipping point for live stock, grain, hay, etc. It has now a skimming station for the Camp Point Pioneer Creamery Company, which receives ten thousand pounds of milk pel- week in winter and thirty thousand pounds in snnniiei-. This seems to be a growing industry. Coatsburg has three general stores wliieh do ;i large retail business; there are also several restaurants, blacksmith and repair shops. One rural free delivery mail route goes out from there. The |)resent ])opulatioii of the village is about in:).

I'aloma was laid oul by Daniel (iooding. about 18()"J, and it now has a i)opulation of about 16U. It has three .stores, a lilaeksmith shop, and a soda water factory. There are also two churches and an I. 0. 0. F. lodge. Several years ago, becaus<' of the enormous (piantities of euciunbers shipped from this station, the railroad men dubbed it "Pickle Station." oi- "Pickleville. " It is a shipping point for live stock and grain, and there is no other .station in the county that bales and ships as much hay. A rural free delivery mail route goes out from Paloma.

llonston boasts not only an ilhisti-ious name, but its history is no less imixirtant than that of other townships in the matter of early settlement and the character of its prominent men who have long bci'ii i-esideiits.

A town site was laid out on the southwest quart<'i- section of section o4, in 18:511. by Henry A. Tyrus and Levi T. Benton, and nairied Houston, in honor of Cenei-al Sam Houston of Texas. The town was a com]ilete failure, except in giving the township a umuo when afterward organized. There is a raili-oad station on the east side called Chattel), in honor of the lati' B. T. Chatten of Quiney.

Houston was organized April 16, 1849, by the County Commissioners. The first .supervisor was Joseph Kern. He was succeeded by Samuel Woods, Joseph Nevins, S. R. ^IcAuulty, James .AIcDavitt. P. I\I. Stump, Jacob Groves and L. W. ^liller, the present supervisoi-.

The land is nearly equally divided between timber and prairie. The soil is good and proiluces excellent crops. Fine farms and wealthy farmers arc connnon, and, taking the township as a whole, it will compare favorably with any in the county.

This township was first settled about the year 1834. Joel Benton, Thomas Hudson, Ralph Harden and John Caldwell were among the pioneers who commenced the culture of its soil and took advantage of the rich source of revenue furnished by the valuable timber.s, belts of which interspersed the fine prairies. This township is a valuable stockraising section, more especially because of the fact that it is so well watered. The principal streams are South Fork, Thurman creek. Middle Fork and Big Neck creek.

The first school house in the township was built of logs in 1843, on section 16. The fir.st church organized was of the Methodist Episcopal denomination undei- the name of "Union Society," in iSfiO. They erected a frame church Ini tiding on section 24. The officers were Granville Bond, pastor; Samuel Curless, class leader, and Ezekiel Walters, steward. The church -was oi'ganized with fifteen membei-s.

The first s(>cret society oi-ganized in Keene township was Lt)raine lodge. No. 641, I. 0. 0. P., instituted under dispensation June 20, 1877, by District Dejiuty James A. Beiuieson of Robert Brooker lodge. No. 406. of Quiney, in the hall fitted up for the purpose over the store of Christo|)lier Seals. The charter members were David .\ndrews, John Pollock. Frank Seals, James M. ( 'urless, Christopher Seals and James Coffield. The first officers elected were Christopher Seals, .\. G. ; James Coffield. V. G. : James W. Curless. seci'etary, and James ^I. Seals, treasurer.

The village of Loraine was laid out in December. ISTO. by .Messrs. Woods and Lionberger, during the constri'ction of the Carthage branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney Railroad. James H. Wade, in 1870. built a store house and began a general merchandising business. In 1871 he was appointed postmaster. Christopher Seals, in the spriu^ of 1871, built a store house and a dwellinf^ and did a general merchandising' business, and also kept a hotel known as the "Travelers' Rest." S. P. Ilalton, in the summer of 1871, built a blacksmith .shop and a dwelling. Other store houses, dwellings, .shops, etc., followed soon. In the spring of 1872 George A. Yeuter built a grain house and bought and shipped grain, as well as live stock. The first drug store was built by P. S. Cavilee in the spring of 1873. E. J. Selleek, in the summer of 1873, h\u\t a grist mill, which, before its com- I)letion, he sold to George Jackson and son. Rust & Barniber, in the spring of 187-lr, built a blacksmith shop. Drs. Coffield and Akins, in the spring of 1875, built a drug store and office and also practiced medicine, and in Angu.st of the same year Dr. Akins was appointed postmaster, and remained in office until January, 1878, after %vhieh James Coffield was appointed to the position, which he retained for some years.

All lines of trade incident to a railroad point in the midst of a thriving agricultural and stock raising region has been continued, and the village is in every way calculated to do and to maintain a good business. Woodville, a small place of about fifty inhabitants, is situated on the line of the railroad, in the extreme northern portion of the town.ship. It was laid out in 1836.

ilr. ileacham opened the first store ever kept in the village, or, in fact, the township, and the first house built was erected by Daniel Lile. The first marriage in this township was that of Jacob Wigle and Nancy Hunsaker. solemnized by Elder George Wolfe. The first sermon was preached by George Wolfe, of the Dunkard (German Baptist) denomination in the year 1829, and the first church organization effected was in 1831, which was the establishment of a Dunkard church. This church was located two miles w-est of the present village of New Liberty.

The township took up township organization in 1850, with the other townships, and the first supervisor was David Wolfe. He was succeeded by John I. Adams, John Wolfe. Ben.jamin Wigle, Benjamin F. G rover, Maurice Kelly, John F. fiercer, Alexander Henry, Samuel Naylor. William Huddleston, Jonas Grubb, A. S. ]\Iintle, John William.son, I. B. Roe, J. B. Wolfe and John Campbell, the present supervisor.

The first village, called Montgomery, was organized by Mormons in 1830, one and one-half miles southeast of where New Liberty now stands. New Liberty (Liberty P. 0.) was laid out by Paris T. Judy in 1850. It has now a population of 300. There are two general stores, conducted by Pond Bros, and Wagner & Collins ; a drug store, of which George D. Mercer is proprietor ; a harness shop, a tin shop, two barber shops, three blacksmith and wagon shops, three restaurants and a first-class hotel, the European, binder the management of William Breckenridge. There are five cliui-ches : The Christian, F. Jalageas, pastor; the Evangelical Lutheran, J. II. Nesch, pastor; German Bapti.st, D. M. Brubaker, pastor; Presbyterian, H. Jacobs, pastor; and Catholic, Rev. A. Vollebregt, priest.

Liberty lodge, I. O. 0. F., was organized in Mav, 1860. The present officers are Charles Bai'rd, N. G. ; John Campbell, V. C. ; Floyd Mercer, .secretary; Clarence Pond, treasurer.

Liberty lodge, A. P. and A. M., was organized in October, 1863. The present officers are Clarence Pond, W. M. ; E. J. Grubb, S. W. ; A. J. Enlow, J. W. ; A. II. D. Butz, secretary; Zenas Wiuget, treasurer.

A camp of M. W. A. was organized here in September, 1892. G. 0. Williams is venerable counsel ; J. W. Klarner, worthy adviser ; George D. Mercer, clerk, and H. E. Frey, banker.

The Farmers' State Bank of New Liberty was organized July 1, 1903, with a capital of $25,000. July 1, 1904. it was reorganized as a private bank, with a capital of $10,000. The officers are : A. W^. Callahan, president: Amos J. Linn, vicepresident : George D. Mercer, cashier. The directors are : Hez. G. Henry, Frank D. Thomas, Mrs. flattie F. Henry, Hem. George W^. Dean, A. W. Callahan, Seldon Slade and James F. Hughes.

The first school house built in Liberty township was on section 10, but the date is unknown. The village now boasts a eonnnodious, substantial building, erected in 1887, at a cost of .$2,600. At that time the school was reorganized and well graded, and it compares favorably with other schools of the same size in the county.

From most authentic soui-ees of information, the first settlement of this township was made in 1828, Joseph Harness having erected the first house, about two miles northwest of where the town of Lima now stands, about this time. It may be also interesting to know that the first child born in this township was Julian, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Harness, in the same year. Among the other early settlers were W^illiam Orr, Thomas Killum. Lewis James, John Selbv,

Lima is the township to the extreme north and west of Adams eonnty, and has Ilaueoelv county as a boiindary on the north, Keene to^\^l.ship on the east, the townships of Ursa and Mendon on the soutli, and the iMississippi river on the west.

The first brick made in Adams eonnty was made in Lima township in 1830 by Grayson Orr. The first mill was operated bv William Orr on White Oak branch, in the sonthwest part of the to\«i.ship. The first mari'iaiie in the township was that of Thomas Killnm and Nancy Daze.y.

The first bridge Iniilt by order of the Adams eount,v Board of Supervisors was across Bear creek, on the Warsaw & Qnincy road, in 1850, and at the present time, 1905, it is iu as good condition as when erected. The first school was taught by John ^I. Selliy. ,\ow the township has eleven school districts.

The first supervisor, in 1850, was Grayson Orr. The present supervisor is T. E. Conover; town clerk is V. A. Bolt ; a.ssessor is J. Clark, and collector is J. W. Jacobs.

The western part of the township was originally swamp land, subject to overflow from the ]\iississippi river, comprising Lima lake, which afforded one of the best hunting and fishing grounds in western Illinois. In 1885 this land was leveed, and th(> greater portion of it was reclaimed.

The central part, ai'oiuid the village of Lima, has a very productive soil, especially adapted to fruit culture, particularly that of apples. Lima ranks fii'st in the county in the production of apples. This part of the township is populated almost exclusively b.v native born inhabitants. The eastern part was formerly covered with heavy timber, which has been cleared away and the land converted into productive farms.

One mile cast of the town of Lima is White Oak branch, which circles ai'ound about that distance from the town mitil it gets to the southwest, when it runs directly southwest and em])ties into Bear creek.

To the east of this branch the country is rough and unbroken, and is generall.y known as Pea Ridge. This country, rough as it is, is a source of wealth that cannot be neglected. The timber upon it is the best quality of white oak, suitable for manufacturing purposes. Where this timber is cut off the land produces wheat of the best qualit.y, which meets with read.v sale in the market. Wlieat, however, is not the gi'eatest source of wealth on the "ridge," the sturdy Germans who settled there, in imitation of their life in the

"Let the vine luxuriant roll Its blushing tendrils 'round the bowl, Whih> many a rose-lipjicd bacchant maid Is cullinu clustei-s in their shade."

.Many of tlie hills in autunni ai'e decked with pur|)lc |)asterres that I'oll streams of wealth into caiiMcious coffers of their indi;strious owners. Lying west of White Oak branch, south of Petit branch and east of Lima lake, is some of the i"iehest land in the state, which turns out a vast store of corn, wheat, oats and apples and other staple products. In the center of this plateau is the town of Lima.

Lima is a beautiful little village of three hundred iidialiitants, situated eighteen miles north and one mile east of Qnincy, one mile and a half south of the Hancock county line. In 1833 Dr. Joseph Orr built the first stoi'e in Lima, and at that early day every store that was situated at some distance from the other stores had to be dignified with the title of a town. In obtaining <i name for this town the doctor, who was of a imetical turn of mind, was assisted b.v a Peruvian, who was staying with him. The Peruvian declai'cd he had traveled through many countries, but in none had he found such beautiful women as thei-e were in the capital of his native country, except here, and, therefore, he called it Lima. Thus the town obtained its name from the charms of the fail' sex that inhabited the sur- I'ouiuliiig country. If at that day it laid claims to so much beauty, what can we say of the jn-esent .'

Two miles west of the town is Lima lake, a beautiful expanse of water. The lake itself, and its sloxxghs, afford some of the finest fishing and hunting grounds in the northwest. In early settlements the iieople frequently met together to hunt the wild, animals, either for anni.sement or to rid them.selves of pests. Diiring one of these hunts, in 1833, it is said a snake den was discovered on Bull's branch with one hundred and eighty serpents of all kinds twisted together.

There is one other village in the township of Lima worthy of special mention - the little town of ]\reyer. It is situated on the Mississippi river, opposite ('ant<iii. ^lissouri. and has one hundred inhabitants. II, was laid out by J. W. Caldwell. With the ilississippi river as a means of transl)ortation. it affords a market for the adjacent country.

United Brethivii, and two lodges, the ]\Ioderu Woodmen and Royal Neighbors, while Lima has three churehes, ^lethodist Protestant. ^Methodist Episcopal and Christian, and the following lodges: Masons, the oldest society in the township ; the Order of the Eastern Star, the ^lodern Woodmen of Ajiierica, Royal Neighbors and the Grand Army of the Repiililie.

The first settlement was made in 1S3S. ou section 4, by William Hogan, John Covert, Calvin Brandy. John TI. Keller and Dudley Perrigo. In 1840 there was a numljer more came in - Francis Amro, Philip Anu-o, Jacob Hover, Justice Perrigo. Cyrus Sims and Reuben Childers.

Jacob Hughes and family moved from Gilmer township in 1847 and located on section 14, among the hills, on the brink of one of the bluffs of JIcKee creek, and died on this farm many years after.

The township, although largely composed of hills and valleys, was soon quite thickly settled, and on the top of many of these hills could be seen the houses of pioneers, and from the valley just beyond came the smoke curling up from the home of another of the .sturdy frontier.sman.

A. H. D. Butz. with a keen eye to business, built the first mill in 1845, on section 6, using the water power of McKee creek for sawing and grinding purposes. !\Ir. Smith of Quincy started the first stoi'e in the township, and John Hoffman the second, on section 7. This store, a blacksmith sliop and several houses composed a town named Bowling Green many years ago by William Bowling. In 1853 "Old Slab Town" received the new name of Spring Valley, and struggled hard for existence with her carding, grist and saw mill, in charge of William Wells and John W. Wardell. Harvey Bogley was storekeeper and P. :\r. Torgey the'blacksm'ith. Early in the Civil war the millers enlisted, leaving business for our countiy's service, and in theii- absence the town fell to ruins, with only the blacksmith's shop to mark the spot.

An attempt to murder one of the citizens on Christmas eve, in the year 1858, proved a failure, we believe, though it created such a sensation as to be handed down among the records.

A fine new school house was built near the site of the old town. It has been used for school and church purposes and all town meetings. The almost obliterated town of Bagnolia was started by William Hart and Dan Higbee, in 1865, for three years. They conducted a dry goods, grocery and whiskey store, the latter department becoming the principal business, and ruined the town.

and Post Office Payton, which since has been changed to Kellerville, a prosperous and pleasant town, with large trade. The buildings are in good repair and the town looks bright and thrifty. A fine suspension bridge crosses McKee creek at this point. There was a large gri.st and saw mill on section 33. The Genuan Methodists have their church on section 31.

This church was organized in the year 1847, and for twenty-six years worshipped in a log cabin. Mr. George Hess acted as class leader for twenty years. In 1873 the old house was torn down and a substantial one erected at a cost of $1,000. Among the early members were George Hess and wife, John Deal, A. Lentz and wife, John Harss and wife and John Winder. Rev. ISlv. Bowers was the fii-st regular minister and began his work with the organization. Rev. John Smith succeeded him in 1849, and many others have succeeded him since. Some of them are still living in the county. The Sunday school is an interesting one and well attended every Sabbath.

The United Brethren Chnrch. Spring Valley, iMcKee township, was organized in an early day, but was entii-ely liroken up by neglect of church duties, etc. In 1867 it was i-eorganized by Joseph Diendortf, with the assistance of IMorris Bennett and John Padgett.

In politics the democi-ats have the majority in ]\IcKee. The first supervisor was John W. Wardell: town clei'k. .\. J. Durbin. in the vear 1851.

The first sehool house was built on the farm of Rube F. Smith, on section 3. McKee has now some of the best schools in Adams county and has had for a number of years.

]\IcKee creek runs through the township in a southeasterly dii'ection and forms, in many places, deep ravines. (Jeorge AV. Query, now of Indiana, made the discovery of a furnace in 1849 in one of the bluffs near the creek, which formed some foundation for the old story that, during the French war with the Indians, a small party of French, having with them a large amount of silver, were overpowered by a band of Indians and, before capture, buried their ti-easure. They were then burned in the furnace, all save one. who escaped, wounded, and on his death bed very minutely described this locality as the one where the treasure had been concealed. After the discovery of the furnace, for several years many adventurers, guided by different fortune tellers, came in search of the money, which has not yet been discovered.

]\IcKee township is occupied by a prosperous and thrifty people, who have the reputation of being energetic and ambitious of making and keeping their township the erpial of any in Adams county.

IMelrose townsliip lips immediately east and south of the city of Qiiiney. It is bounded on the north by Elliniiton and the city of Quiucy, east by Burton, south by Fall creek and west by the ;\Iississi])pi river. Pour-fifths of the township is coini)rised in table or bluff lands, which are abundantly watered and considerably broken by Mill creek and its branches. This stream enters the eastern border of jMelrose a little more than two miles from the south line and pursues a serpentine course west and south, tlowinii' aci'oss intii Fall ci-eek near the declivity of the bluff's about two miles from the river. Its principal br.nicli, Ijittle Mill creek, flows into the township I'roni Ellington, near its northeast corner, and bears a southwesterly course, emptying into ]\Iill ci'eek before it crosses the south township line, ilelmse, like the other river townships, has a sub-stratum of linu'stone, and many fine working quarries abound, furnishing building rock and lime in great quantities.

Melrose township was one of the earliest settled in Adams county. Outside the city of Quincy there were only two white families living in the county - those of Daniel Lile and Justus I. Perigo. in Fall Oreek - when Asa Tyrer brought his family from Louisiana. Illinois, and settled on the snuthwcst cpiartcr of section 1'2. 2 south, 1) west, in tlu' spi'ing of 1S21, where he resided until his death in 1873. Mr. Tyrer first visited the site of Quincy in 1821, on a tour of investigation. Having purchased soldiers' warrants for two quarter sections of land on 12, he came up to locate it and see what prospects it offered for a lionii". So he was one of the first white men. if ui>\ llu' first, who ever trod its soil. Being eharnu'd with the beauty of the country, he retui'tu^d to bring his family. But his wife could nut brook the idea of forsaking every trace of civili/.alion and settling in this howling A\il(lei'ness. witli no companionship but that of wild beasts and wilder Indians. So the removal was imstponed until two years later. In the meantime Ex-Oovei'uor John Wood, Willard Keyes and Jeremiah Rose and family had settled in Quincy. David Sh.aw purchased the northwest quarter of sectimi 18 and settled on it in 1828. The late Perry Alexander, a prominent resident .-ifterward, owiieil and lived on the same farm. In 1821t Almdiaii Waddell settled on section 'A'\ -nul the same year Jacob Wauner settled on the southeast ((uarter of 29. Abigal Parsons and Nathaniel Sonuners settled in the town.ship about 1830. ;\lr. Sonimers married Mr. Parson's dauuhter, wliicii was, perhaps, the first wedding, and in 1832 a daughter was born to them, which was one of the first births in Melrose. Perrv Alexander, whose father. Sanuiel, settled in Quiney in 1832, was the first boy to sell i)apers on the streets of the city. In the spring of 1835 he sold the Illinois County Land Register.

Although this township is somewhat broken in some parts, it has some among the most beautifid and productive agricultural lands in the county under a high state of cultivation. The staple pi'oduetidiis ai'e wheat and Indian enrn.

The first Sunday school was organized by Theresa Alexander and Annie Crow in the sunnner of 1829, and was held at their residences. Some rude young men of the neighborhood scoffed at the idea and, by starting an "opiiosition sehnol," as they termecl it, thought to break it uji ; but within a vi^i'v slKu't time thereafter tho.se young men bee;niie zealous members of the church, and the Sunday school still lives and prospers, though tlie founders have been laid in their final resting places. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Sanuiel P>ogard at the residence of Jonathan ('row. The first religious society organized was the .Melrose Methodist Episcopal church, at the house (if Samuel Griggs, on Little Mill creek, in 1833.

In 183r) this society erected the first house for public wtirsliip, a little log structure near Springs." now known as "Coe's Spi'iiigs. ' ' The first school house was built in the sunnner n\' 1S33, on section 35, and James Wal- Icei' taught the first school in it that year. Lacy & Stone ei-ected and operated the first mill for grinding grain in 1838, though there had been a pestle mill for crushing corn for several years pridi-. This mill was erected on section 32.

The sueeeeding supei'visors ai'e A. G. Pe:-irsiin. Jeremiah Parsons, David lluglu's. Perry .Mexander, David Sheer, James Shinu, Edward F. Humphrey. C. S. Hearne, Jonah Hedges and ('. S. Heai'ii, tile () resent supervisor.

a meeting of the citizens of the township in 1849, held at the residence of Nathaniel Pease, he projwsed the name of "^Melrose"' for the township. When it was submitted to a vote of the citizens, it was adopted as the name of the township. It was named after ]\Ielrose, in I\Iassachusetts.

ilelrose contains three cliureh edifices, Melrose Chapel, which was formerly Methodist Episcopal ; St. Antonius, Catholic and Zion "s Chapel, and the German Episcopal Church. Melrose Episcopal Chui-ch was organized at the house of Rev. Samuel Griggs, on North Mill creek, in 1833, under the ministrations of the celebrated "Western Itinerant," Peter Cartwright, and Rev. David B. Carter, who for some time previoiis labored as a missionary among the pioneers of Adams county, ilr. Griggs, who was a licensed preacher, held the position of leader and also of steward for many years. Preaching was held in his hou.se in winter and in his barn in summer for two years. Rev. David B. Carter was their first pastor, or "circuit rider," as they were called in those days, and Peter Cartwright conducted the first f(uarter]y meeting in 1834. One of the first sermons preached in that vicinity was by Rev. Carter on the occasion of the death of Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, who is said to have been the first death in Adams county.

In 1835 the church built the little log house near Dyer's Spring, now known as Coe's Springs, and there held meetings for a number of years ; then in the residence of Joseph Hauks some years until the little brick school house was erected in 1850, on section 19, after which services were held in it for four years, until Melrose Chapel, a neat frame edifice, which has since given place to a neat modern building, was erected on section 19, 2 south, 8 west, in 1854.

In 1859 Messrs. Anton Hoebing, William Wellman, John Schneider, the Widow Brinkman, Mr. Altro and John Mast, citizens of Melrose township and zealous Roman Catholics, concluded after mature deliberation to build a church. Mr. Anton Bordewig, also an influential German Catholic, donated ten acres of laud, which should be used for church, school house and cemetery. The first building erected was of frame, 35 by 60 feet, in which Father Ferdinand fii-st officiated after its consecration. A school house was built, and Mr. Ignatz Lear became the teacher. In 1861 Father Mauricuis took charge of the spiritual affairs of the church and school and remained until 1864, when, under direction of Father Ferdinand, the present brick building, 45 by 70 feet, was erected at a cost of $12,000. The frame church was reconstructed and made into a school building, and "Sir. Gottlieb Jacoby took charge. After much hard work by its members in its infancy, St. Antonius' Church is now in a flourishing condition. All the inside work of the building has been done by contribution, ]\Tr. AVellman making all the pews, and several others assisting in working on the coiumunion rail, chancel and confessional.

held their services at the homes of the members until 1850, when they erected their church edifice, "Zion's Chapel," on the northeast quarter of section 22.

The situation of the township of ^lelrose, so near the city of Quincy, and the facilities of the position near the river, have made Melrose one of the richest and most valuable townships in till' county.

The territoi-y constituting the town of Mendon is composed of four tiers of section east of, and next to, Ursa, extending from Bear creek south to the base line. That part of the country between Rock creek and Bear creek was originally called the "Bear creek country." On the adoption of township organizaticm by Adams county, in 1850, all of this territory was ortranized as one township and named T^rsa. In 1851 the four tiers of sections above referred to were set off by special act of the legislature and called Mendon, which townshi]) is ten miles north and south and four miles east and west.

The first settler of the territory, so far as known, was Ebeuezer Riddle, who came, with his family, from Kentucky in 1829 and settled on the southeast ffuarter of section 9, 1 north, 9 west, where he built his cabin. If there were other settlers previous to that time there is no present knowledge of the fact. The ownership of some of this land still remains among the Riddle descendants. Col. Martin Shuey settled on IVIendon prairie in 1829, on the northwest quarter of section 6, 1 north, 8 west, which is located just over the line in Honey Creek township. John C. Hardv settled on the southwest quarter of section 29, 2 north, 8 west, in 1830. During the following year or two occasional settlers made homes in the locality. It was not, however, until the year 1831 that a preconcerted effort was made to encourage the establishment of a permanent settlement. In the latter part of that year Samuel Bradley and family, from East Haven, Connecticut, and John B. Chittenden and family, from Guilford, Connecticut, came together and located on Mendon prairie. Within a few years many families came from the abovenamed and other" towns in Connecticut. William Lausrhlin came from Kentucky in 1832. He taught school in the northwest part of the tovmship. Among those who came from Connecticut in 1833 were Daniel and Erastus Benton, Benjamin, Henrv B. and Timothy Baldwin. Abram Benton came in 1834: Caleb A. Smith in 1835. In the next few years many from Connecticut and other states located in the new settlement. Anion-: them were James H. and Timothy Dud- ley: Ralph G. Ely; Richard, William ami Ueoi-ue Starr: Edward H. and Henry Puwler; Jonathan and Asahel Hubbard; Lyman Prisbie; Jii-ah Piatt; Thomas R. Bray: Cooley E. Betts; Amos Scranton: Daniel Nutt, A. D. Cook; William and Richard Battell ; Levi Stillman ; and many others whose names cainiot here be enumerated. From 1840 to ISfiO the settlement i-eeeived many additions. C. Shn|ie came in 1841: :\L Shnpe in 1843; Peter Wihle, William Van Dyke and others in 1S44. The most oi' the .settlers" brcmght their families and njade permanent homes, and today their descendants constitute a large part of ]\Iendon's population.

The town of :\rcn(|oii, lirst called Fairfield, was laid out in 18:?;^ Iiy -lolin I!. Chittenden, Benjamin Baldwin and Manic] Hcnton. The name was soon dianevd, as I here was found to be another Fairfield in the state. The Crooks and Fowler. Sellwood, E. II. Fowler, Peter Younir and J. B. Frisbie additions have been made at various tinjcs since.

The tii'st Imildine- was ereeted by E. A. Stron.u' in 1833, It Av;is of loi;s and was usi'd by him as a blacksmilh's sho|). Later .Mr. Strong became an able and i)rominent Episcopal minister, having eilucated himself while woi-king at his trade. A postofiiee ^\-Ms established in 1834, Abram Benton beiiiu- tile lii-sl piistmaster. The first store was kejit i)y Daniel Benton. Abram Benton soon succeeded him. and for half a century cai'ried on the business, increasing it as the develoi>ment and settlement of the eoiintry rcipiired. S. R. I'hittenden was early engaged in mei'cantile business and sneee.ssfully eai-ried it on until he turned it over to his smis. S. F. ami (;eoi-ue R., who are still in business at the old stand uiuler the firm name of Chittendt'U Bros., and represent the oldest e.stabli.shed business in the place.

As early as 1840 the ilendon settlement had become a place of interest and influence in the eonnty. In the William Henry Harrison campaign of that year a grand Whig barbecue was held in Mendon ; the carcasses of oxen, sheep and hogs were roasted whole, and the nudtitude, who had gathered from the surrounding counti-y, were bountifully fed. Daniel Nutt was manager of the roasts; Hon. (). H. Browninu' was the principal speaker. This was the first political gathering of the kind held in the county.

Between 184(1 and 1S44 the Mormon c[uestion assumed threatening pi-opnrt imis. On section 4. 2 north, 9 west, a Moi'mdu settlement was started, and a town came into existence. The houses were arranged in the form of a circle, and the town at one time had a population of between one hundred and two hundred people. But local public opinion was so strong against it. and the people in Adams and Hancock counties wei-i- so determined that i\Iormonism should ncit he permitted to gain a foothold in this pai't of the state that the town was iibandoned. I'he deserted log buildings arc among the eai-ly i-ecollectioiis of the writer.

The fii'st church building was erected in ^lendon in 1833 and was called the "Union fleeting House." all denominations having .ioined in er-eeting it. AH were free to ii.se it, as the services of a minister could be secured. The building was also used as a school house. The first si-hool of which there is an.v knowledge or reeoi'd was taught by a ?iliss Burgess in 1832, in J. H. Chittendeirs house. Miss Burgess afterward mai-i'ied Willard Keyes of Quiney, but lived only a shoi't time. A Congregational church was organized on Febrnaiy 7, 1833, and was the first church of that denomination organized in the state. This church built a "meeting htmse" in 1838 ; it was a frame building, 30 feet by 40 feet. This gave place to a much more pretentious structui'e in 1853. The ilethodist Episcopal and the Kpiscopa! churches were organized early in the history of the settlement, and the Lutheran Church in 1853. They all have biiildings of sufficient capacity for their present needs. The Lutheran ]ieople have recently remodeled the intei-ior of their church, giving it a modern and tastefid a|)pearance. In connection with all the churches are reasonably comfortable parsonages, and the spiritual welfare of the conurcgations is looked after by conscientious ami able ministers. The Congregationalists are erectinu' a new building at a c(ist of about !|;16,000. It is of brick and stone, and will add favorably to the appeai-- ance of the town. The building conniiittee who have the w(n'k in charge are S. H. Bradley, C. A. Chittenden, (4. F. Warner and (icorge R. Chittenden. The old Congregational building has been ]mrchased by "The Mendon Improvement Company," who will spend from .1;2.0fl0 to ;f;3.000 on it and make of it a commodiims |uiV)lic hall, modei'u in style, something ]\Iendon has long needed but never had. There is a Roman Catholic Church in the village and another in the south jiai-t of the townshi]i. Their membei-ship is composed largely of farmei's. who are regai-ded as most vabudile citizens.

Mendon Congregational Church, Built 1853

The Qnincy & Warsaw Railroad came to Mendon in ISHi. The town.ship voted .$20,000 in bonds to aid in its eonstrnetion. The debt has long' since been paid, bnt the township still owns the stock. It was money well invested, at least so far as the farming and producing interests were concerned.

Li 1867 ^lendon was. hy special act of the legislature, incorporated as a town, its boundaries embracing one mile square. Later (about 1890) it was incorporated under the general laws of the state as a village. Its government consists of a president, six trustees, a clerk of the village and a police magistrate. The village is a c[uiet and orderly place. It has many fine resideiices, good business buildings, a fine sy.stem of sidewalks, good streets and handsome lawns. It has a beautiful park called "Chittenden Park." in memoiy of Col. John B. Chittenden, who, when the original town was platted, gave a block of ground for that purpose. This park is filled with handsome trees and suppliecl with seats, making it a most attractive and en.ioyable place. It is bordered on all sides with hard maples, planted in 1876, and called "Centennial Row." The general appearance of the village is one in which its citizens take much satisfaction and is a subject of commendation by its visitors.

ilendon may be said to be almost strictly an agricultural and stockraising community. Twothirds or more of its land was prairie, most of it good soil for agricultural purposes and, with the exception of a portion of that lying near Rock creek, on the south, and Bear creek on the north, which is more broken, is in as good state of cultivation and as productive as that in any other part of the eoiinty ; at least the County Board of Re\'iew persi.st in keeping Mendon real estate near the top of the list in value. The farms of ^lendon township are, as a rule, well improved. There are many fine and costly houses and barns, besides such other buildings as comfort and convenience may suggest.

ilendon was, at one time, something of a manufacturing town. Its principal industries were the manufacture of plows, wagons, flour, leather, etc. : but, owing to the tendency to concentrate business in larger places, manufacturing has, to a great extent, been lost to the small towns. The water plant was recently destroyed by fire. If rebuilt, as it should be, original defects and mistakes should be remedied and the system made effective.

The first newspaper of the place was established in 1877 by C. A. Bristol & Co., and was known as the "Mendon Enterprise." After several changes of ownership, it was purchased by J. R. ITrech in 1878. and the name changed to the "Mendon Dispatch." The late D. H. Darby editor for several years. In 1884 W. H. JMcIntyre purchased an interest in the paper and became its editor ; later he became the sole owner. In 1899 he sold out to J. R. and C. H. Urech, who have continued its publication under the firm name of J. R. Urech & Son.

A bank was first established in Mendon in April, 1889, by J. S. Wallace & Bro., who conducted a general banking business until February, 1895, when they disposed of their interest, and the bank was reorganized under the name of "Mendon Bank," under which name its business has been successfully conducted to the present time. As a business institution it is one of the most important in the village. The bank has a paid-up capital of .$25,000. A. P. Gay is the president and G. P. Warner, cashier.

The public school house is a tasteful and substantial brick building, with a seating capacity of two hundred and fifty or three hundred. It was built in 1871 at a cost of about $20,000. It has recently been refitted with new furniture, a steam heating plant, etc., and is in better condition than ever before. The reputation of the school is good, and many pupils attended from abroad. No intoxicating liquor is sold in Mendon, and it never had within its limits a licensed saloon.

Mendon lodge. No. 449. A. F. and A. M., was (U-ganized in 1865 ; Mendon chapter, No. 157, R. A. il., in 1873 ; Mendon State chapter. No. 153, 0. E. S., in 1889, all of which have strong organizations and large memberships and are in a prosperous condition. Thei-e are also lodges of A. 0. U. W. and I. 0. 0. F., a camp of Modern Woodmen, a Grand Army post, organizations of Rebekahs, of Royal Neighbors, and of Loyal Americans, commendable and beneficial societies to exist in any community.

During the Civil war ilendtm sent large numbers of its young men to the front and filled its "quota with its best blood." It had a society of "Needle Pickets" second to none in the county (outside of Quincy), which was in continuous session from its formation to the close of the war. It did much to relieve the necessities of soldiers' families at home and much more for the relief of sick and wounded soldiei's at the front and in hospitals.

Mendon helped to make real history in the days of the " LTnderground Railroad." It was, from an early day, a well-known station, many of its best men being faithful agents of the company. In the days of Dr. Nelson and until the result of the Civil war put an end to traffic in human beings, the route via iMendon to Freedom was a trunk line in almost constant use. If the escaping slave was posted beforehand and had the right start Quincy. jMendon, Phanouth,

Galesburg, etc., all receiving and forwarding stations, never failed of the desired result. No one was ever known to be captured and returned to slavery if he had a through ticket ou this route. Mendon was known as an abolition town, and pi-iees were set for the capture and delivery in .Missouri of certain of its citizens. Illustrative of the almost unanimous public sentiment on the .slavery question, an incident occurred in 1862 which is of historical interest. The Illinois "Black Laws," prohibiting the immigration of free negroes, were in force when three black boy.s, who had been slaves, but were then called "contrabands" - a kind of pui-gatory condition between slavery and freedom - came to Mendon and were employed by two farmers. After they had been here beyond the law limit, they were jiouuced upon by men armed with shotguns and were run into the village of Marcelline, where wan-ants had been issued for their arre.st. The bringing of the first one caused a commotion among the citizens of the place ; but the law took its course (some of the time) and finally resulted in the following notice being posted :

"Bj' virtue t)f the Laws of the State of Illinois and a Special Act passed by the Legislature of said State, passed Febnmry 12th, 1853, to prevent the immigration of Free Negroes into this state, and

Whereas, on the 16th day of December. 1862, comes Washington A¥ren and complained and had arrested a negro bo>' by the name of (4eorge Price and was fined in the sum of Fifty Dollars by a Jvu-y of 12 men on the 16th day of December, 1862, and costs, for high Misdemeanor for coming into this State and remaining iu this State over ten days with the intention of remaining in this State contrary to I^aws. and the same not having paid, and therefore, I shall, by virtue of my Oftice offer at public sale at the front door of my office in the Town of Marcelline in Adams county, and State of Illinois, to any person or persons who will pay the fine and costs for said George Price, for the shortest time, the purchaser to furnish said negro with comfortable food and clothiiiu' and lojoing during said time, on the 27th dav of December A. D., 1862, between the hours of 8 o'clock A. M. and 4 o'clock P. M. of said day for cash in hand. ' '

The day of the sale came and only one bid was made for the "boy" who had been convicted of a "high misdemeanor" in coming onto the free soil of Illinois to try and earn an honest living. The "l)oy" was sold to work ninety-nine years and six months to pay tlie fifty-dollar fine. Diiring the progress of the sale the purchaser had lieen knocked down, kicked, and choked, by a "man from Mendon," the complainant had been knocked down, kicked, and had most of his clothes toi-n off by a Slethodist minister who was pi-cscnt at the trial, and the six-foot son of the complainant, who attempted to interfere with the ministerial work, was given a broken nose, with accompanying side dishes and "deserts," which necessitated the use of a "big" wagon to carry him home, where he remained contently (?) for several weeks. The "negro boy" went home with his purchaser-, whose wife persuaded the ' ' boy ' ' under promise that he should not be pursued, to run away before morning, which he did. He afterward worked about jMendon without molestation. The other boys, who had also been fined for the same "high misdemeanor" and had been advertised to be sold two days later, were offered to the public, but the market seemed overstocked and no bids were received. They were discharged and admonished "not to cause any further trouble." Several justices of the peace, sitting "en banc," made an effoi-t to ascertain who "busted" the fellow's nose, but the state's attorney, happening along when coiirt was investigating, dismissed the case, assessing the cost on the complainant with the remark that he only "got what was coming to him." Neither the boys nor any one else ever made any further trouble in this line, althoTigh the infamous " Black Laws," to the disgrace of the state, remained on the statute book for years afterward; but their enfoi-cement was never again attempted in IMendon.

The J\Iethodist Episcopal Church was organized in Mendon in the year 1839 and among the charter members of the organization were A. B. Stevens. Ralph G. Ely. Daniel Nutt, James Hull, Jesse J. Kirkpatrick. Stevens was a carpenter by trade and superintended the work of building the first church, which was in 1840. The "Mendon Circuit" included all of Adams county and preaching places in some of the adjoining counties. The redoubtable ' ' Backwoods Preacher, ' ' Peter Cartwright, was the presiding elder of the (Juiney district, which included Jlendon circuit at that time and has ever since. The Quiney district was foi'uied in 1832. and Bishop Soule a|i|iointed Peter Cartwright to the district. The ilistrict included "Galena ilission, Fort Edwards .Mission (now Warsaw), Henderson River Mission. Blue River Mission, Quiney (which included ilendon circuit), Rushville and Canton." This was nearly all the western half of the state of Illinois. Enos Thompson was the first pastor of the "Mendon Circuit." The church building erected in 1840 was replaced bj' the new church that was erected in 1854 and is now (1905) used ]iy the present congregation.

The first settlement of this township was made on section 2, in 1829, by Alexander Oliver. He came to the township from the state of Ohio with a wife and ten children - five sons and five daiighter.s - built a log cabin, and made the first improvements. Two of his sons entered the ministry of the jMethodist Chiirch. ^Ir. Oliver and his family resided in this township during the Black Hawk war; also during the winter of the deep snow, and suffered many and great privations and hardships incident to those times, much owing to the limited circum-stanees of the early settlers. The ne.xt in order of time who settled in the township were Harmon and Alfred Marlow, IMr. Bates and ]\Irs. Smith, with their families, from Indiana : Hiram Elliston, Jolni Hilber, Levi Conover and Elliot Condes were the next to settle. The last three families came from the state of Keutuckv and settled in the year 1831.

Benjamin Gould and Miss Janes were the first parties married. The ceremony w-as performed by Christopher C. Tates, a justice of the peace, in the year 1833. The first sermon was preached by the Rev. AV. H. Ralston, at the log cabin built on section 4, in the year 1833, and iliss Janes, afterwards wife of Benjamin Gould, taught the first school. The first church building was ei-ected by the Presbyterians on section 36, and Rev. William Grain was their minister. This township is mostly prairie, well skirted with fine timbers, and is settled by a prosperous and intelligent people.

The township of Northeast was organized in the year 1850, when an election was held. The first supervisor was Benjamin Gould, the first town clerk, William Burke; the first assessor, William Ketchuni ; first collector. J. J. Graham; fii'st overseer of the poor, B. N. Galliher; fii"st justices of the peace were ilitchell Alexander and James J. Graham; the first constables, Robert B. Combs and William F. Grain : commissioners of highways, E. B. Hough. Elliot Combs and Clements Robbins.

The first election was held in Franklin school. The succeeding supervisors since that first election are : Benjamin Gould, .six years ; James Abraham, fifteen years; John DeGroot, three years ; Jackson Pearee, one year ; Charles J. Tauhaeff, three years; John Lyle, one year; William Burke, two years; William Taidiaeff, two years; William R. Hoyt, seven years; John Alexander, three years; Lemuel Burke, eight years; William DeGroot, resigned September 15, and Ira Reynolds was appointed to fill unexpired term.

H. A. Keller is the present supervisor. William R. Hoyt \va.s listed twenty-one years consecutively as town clerk. He has proved a very efficient officer and to him the township is indebted almost wholly for the accuracy of the records.

The fir.st school house built was on section 4, called Hiler's school house, in 1833. The building was made of logs. The first frame building was the "Franklin," on section 16, and it was for a long time used as the place of holding annual town meetings and general elections.

The first religious service was held by Rev. Ralston at the residence of John Hiler in 1833, under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The first church wa.s built by the Methodist Episcopal Society of Elm Grove in 1847, on section 23, with Rev. William as circuit rider. This church was rebuilt several times, the last time in 1904.

The first mill was built by John Wilson - a horse mill operated for a few years, which ground only corn. The fii-st steam mill was started 114 miles north of LaPrairie by Luke Simpson. He was not successful liere and in a few years he sold it to Abijah Cohetstone, who removed it to Brown County.

Two w^ind mills were operated for the purpose of grinding lye and buclovheat flour, cornmeal and other cereal products. The fii-st mill was built on the northwest quarter .section 33 by Henry Eiinninga in 1854. The present owner is C. Frazen & Son. The other mill is operated by H. II. Emminga, the son of the builder.

The first secret order permanently organized was a lodge of Jlasons, called Prairie Lodge No. 267, organized Oct. 6, 1858. A lodge of Odd Fellows had previously ])een organizect, but after a few years the charter was surrendered and the lodge abandoned.

The village of Golden A\as formerlj- known as Keokuk Junction, where the connection was made with Keokuk by the Wabash and Burlington Railroads. A hotel, two or three saloons, run "wide open," and a station and telegraph ofiice were established here early in 1863. At a meeting called by the citizens of the hamlet in 1867, a village organization was formed under a special act of the legislature and the to^Ti was named Keokuk Junction. The following officers were elected : John Lyle, justice of the i^eace ; John H. Wendle, constable; L. LT. Abbers, George Meyer, Andreas Fruhling and William Hanna, trustees. This organization gave the town very sood authority for police regulations, which had become a matter of necessity for the safetj^ and health uf all law-ahidinu' citizens, and the incorporation soon showed the benefit of such a cov^rse in the gradual but steady improvement of the moral attitude of the population.

This form of government continued in force until i\Iarch, 1873. when the board of trustees called an election to vote upon the new state law, authorizing the town to relinquish their special organization acts and to adopt the u'eneral method of organization of cities and villages. The result was a unanimous vote to nudce such a change. The next April, according to the plan adopted, an election was held, and the newly elected Iward of trustees proceeded to or-- ganize and execute the village govermnent accoi'ding to the new state "Village and Organization Laws," which course is still in full effect.

While the moral aspect of the village has so vastly improved, the physical has not been neglected. Previcms to the building of the i-ailroads, the middle of the village was actuall.v the middle of a vast malarial pool, so wet. in fact, that in early summer, even persons on hoi'seback, were obliged to avoid this portion when jiassinu' from side to side of the prairie. Now a system of thoroiigh drainage added to a fair degree of sanitary regulations, secures the resident population a greater immunity from pestilence than is afforded to many of her sister towns.

The caiise of the settlement of a mercantile community in such a seemingly unfavorable spot being the location of two very imi)ortant railroad lines, it is naturally a matter of interest to turn a few moments to the local o|)eration and management of those twn i-oads. On the 21st of November, 186.3, the first teleuram passed from this station. From that time until the present immense stocks of merchandise of all descriptions have been received at this station for sale or ti-ans-shipraent. while, at the same time, large quantities of gi-ain and live stock have been shipped from the depot to be scattered through all the markets of our own, and probably many foreign countries.

Religious services were held here first in the depot and wei-e conducted alternately by the Methodists and the Presbyterians. Later the Methodists, about 1869, erected a new church building. The German Lutheran church has since been organip;ed, and other denominations have come.

The cause of education received marked attention from the first. Perhaps few towns can produce as many permanent residents who have been school teachers. The village organized a special school district for themselves and built a new school house at a cost of .^3,000, about 1869. Some four or five years ago, this building proved inadequate to the demands, and a larger, fine modern structure, more in keeping with the growth of the village, was erected, su tliat the youth of this vicinity have satisfactory educational advantages. There are parochial schools, also, in connection with the Lutheran churches here.

About the year 1869, came temperance refoi-m. ^Vt first (Hily a few private citizens took much interest in it, but a very bitter, violent spirit was aroiLsed against one or two strenuous reform advocates.

This spirit was put down by the calmer heads of the community, and later, in 1877, a public organization was formed. This organization has been productive of much good.

The name of Keokuk Junction was changed later to the village of Golden, after the organization complying with the general law enacted for uniform government. This was to avoid confusion of names as used by postofRce department and express and railroad companii s, a distinct designation.

The village of LaPrairie was laid out in 1855 liy Harrison Dills, Benjamin Bacon and others. A village organization was effected in 1855. The railroad, the Northern Cross, afterward the C, B. and Q.. was built through and beyond what is now called LaPrairie. and a staticm house was erected in the fall of 1855, and at first it was called Gibbs or Gibbstown, after a settler who located there before the building of the road, but afterward it was changed to LaPrairie.

It is a beautifid little village located about thirty miles from Quincy. It has gained quite a reputation as a shipping point, from the amount of merchandisi' which jjasses through here.

The establishment of telephone lines connnunieating with nearly every permanent residence in the township, the rural free mail delivery, the great improvement in agricultural methods, in cultivation, as well as in machinery, improved road-making, better school houses, and the numerous churches that have sprung up in the last twenty-five years, have made this township prosjierous and progressive.

Payson t()wnslii]> is one of the south tier of town.ships in Adams County, lying about five miles east of the IMississippi river and containing some of the richest lands and also .some of the poorest in the county. The two small villages of Payson and Plainville are located within this territorv. Pavson is situated fifteen

In the year 1833 the land upon which Paysou now stands was entered at the general land oftice by Hon. John Wood, E. B. Kimball and Brackett Pottle. Prior to this date .some pioneers had settled in the adjoining vicinity. Andrew MePeterie settling on section 32 in the spring of '30. Woodward Lawrence came in ^lay, 1831, and the following fall taught the tirst subscription school in this vicinity : it was conducted in a log stable with puncheon tloor and very large cracks between the logs for windows. John Edmonds' family arrived July 3d, 1831; E. S. Nichols in September, 1832: Robert G. Kay in October, 1833. In the fall of 1834 Deacon Albigence Scarborough, of West Harvard, Conn., settled in the township, having made a prospective trip in 1833. He purchased the land on which Payson now stands and in the spring of '35 laid out the village of Payson, having it platted and recorded ; he afterward associated with himself in the laying out and sale of lots, P. E. Thompson and James C. Bernard. The village was named by Deacon Scarborough for the Rev. Dr. Edward Payson of Portland, Me. In 1836 Deacon Scarborough, Deacon David Prince and Captain John Burns commenced the building of the stone wind mill, which was completed about three vears aftci'ward. at a cost of $13,000.

The first sale of town lots took place on the 7th day of August, 1836; and twenty per cent of the purchase money of the lots sold was donated by the founders for the purpose of building a seminary. Four acres of land were given by Deacon Scarborough upon which to erect the said building. This educational interest led to the erection of a building, which for a few years was used for an academy, and afterwards rented by the school district for a public .school. This building was finally sold and moved oil" the lot: but through the patient efforts of Joel K. Scarborough and his associates, a new and commodious public school brick building was erected on the same beautiful lot. The school has ever been good, and today is an honor to thi> town, ranking second to none in the county. The intluenee of her scholars is evinced by numerfms distinguished people of various vocations, who were born and reared in the town. Among these were Dr. David Prince, a famous physician and surgeon; Mrs. Anna Scott and others who devoted their lives to mission in foreign tields: Prof. Edward Perry, the head of an oratorical .school in St. Louis: and Miss ilary F. Leach, once a professor of chemistry' in Mt. Ilolyoke. now a Ph. D. in Ann Arbor, Jlich. There may be found eminent representatives of the Payson schools in the ministry, the law- and in business professions.

The first school within the village of Payson was conducted by Jliss Emily Scarborough in 1837 in a school lioiise located at the northeast corner of Edward.s and Fulton streets.

One of the most prominent characteristics of the early settlers of the village of Payson was their regard for religious institutions, and while the commiuiity yet consisted of but few families, the.y regularly met for worship in one of their cabins and as early as the fall of 1835 they secured the services of Rev. Anson Hiibbard. On the Stli of ^lay, 1836, the Congregational Church of Paysou was organized, with twenty membei'S. They met for worship in a school hoxise for a time, but in 1840 built a church, at that time one of the best and most expensive in this country. It was dedicated in March, 1841, and the society enjoyed this fine house of worship only a short time, as it was consumed b.y fire, Nov. 18th, 1842. This loss, in conjunction with the hard times and consequent depression of business, was a terrible blow to the church. But services were held in such rooms as could be procui-ed until a much smaller building was erected in 1844. The present commodious building was finished and dedicated in the fall of 1865.

The M. E. Church of Payson was incorporated as a society ]\Iarch 18th. 1840, and the lot on which the present church building stands was obtained and the construction of the first church begun in the spring of 1841 and completed in the fall of 1842. The first (pxarterly conference of the Payson circuit was held in Payson Nov. 13th, 1847. In 1854 a second church building was erected on the same lot. The increasing strength of the society demanded still a larger and more modern house of worship, and consequently the present beautiful structure was erected in 1878.

The Payson Ba])tist Church was organized in Burton township :\lareh Sth, 1834, under the name of "Bethany Baptist Chiireh:"' removing their society to the village of Payson in 1838, where they had ei-ected and dedicated a new h(mse of worship. This society was strong for many years, ancl in 1865 the more commodioiis church edifice they now occupy was built; but the society was afterwards nnich weakened by the drawing off of many of its members to foi-m Baptist churches in Newton and Plainville.

The Christian church wa.s oragnized Feb. 15th, 1868. with twenty-six members ; they have a neat church building 'and have increased in numbers, becoming a strong society.

Payson has three .secret societies: the A. F. and A. :\r. is the oldest, being chartered in October. 1863; they own a fine hall. There is an I. 6. 0. P. society : and a society of the order of Eastern Star. There are three mutual insurance societies: the :\r. W. of A.; Royal Neigh- bors and Court of Honor. The Payson Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized in 1873 and has increased its business till at the present time the company has over one and a lialf million dollars of insurance in force, ranking as the sixth towiLship insurance company of the state. The ofScei-s are: J. K. Scarborough, president ; Horace Bernard, secretary, and 11. L. Tandy, treasurer.

Payson supports a flourishing weekly newspaper, edited liy E. P. Maher, who has a, power plant installed. There are five stores, two hai'- ness shops, a tin shop, two implement houses and four blacksmith shops in the town.

The thriving village of Plaiuville has grown up on what was originally known as "Stone Prairie", so called for one of the first settlers in the southeast part of this township, Sanuiel Stone, who settled in the year 1822. Plainville is located two miles from the east line and two miles from the south line of the township. Although a much younger village than Payson, it is a fast rival in the amount of business transacted. Among the early settlers in the vicinity of Plainville were Ilenrv Wasv, settling in the fall of 1832 : Wyman mitcomb, October, 1833 : A. B. Vining, Nov. 6th, 1833, and Solomcm Shinn, ilay 5th, 1836. A. B. Vining and John Delaplain were prominent in the early histoi'y of the village. It was incorporated as a town May 1st, 1896, with the name of Plainville. There are two thriving churches in Plainville - the Baptist chui-ch, organized in 1890 with fortysix niembere ; they have a neat church and have regular church services and Sunday school. The M. E. church was organized in the year 1875. They have a commodious church building and are prosperous. Those that have had the "pleasure of attending conventions held in Plainville can vouch for the cordiality and hospitality of her people. There are five or six stores, a weekly newspaper, the "Plainville Messenger." wagon shops, blacksmith shops, etc., in the town.

The two towns are connected by telephone lines and are both well equipjied with that service and have hopes of an electric railway connecting them with the cities of Quincy and Hannibal. Payson township took its name from the village of Payson and was organized in the year 1850. The first supervisor was Robert G. Kay. The .succeeding supervisors were Wvman Whitcomb, J. 0. Bernard, J. W. Vickers.'A. T. Cook, S. E. Hewes. G. E. Hupert. T. S. Elliott and II. F. Scarborough. Space will not permit the mention of many others who have taken great interest in the welfare of Paytou township.

Three years after the organization of Adams County the first settlement of this township was made, having been first settled by Jacob Franks and A. N. Penrod, in the fall of 1828. On Dee. 6, 1831, David Locke and Joseph Linthicum came ; Dixon Tungate and N. D. Harris came in 1832 : Alierdeen ilallet came in 1833 ; Henry Lile was also one of the first settlers. These all brought their families, and soon the township began to be filled up with a class of good and industrious people, among whom were Goldsbury Childers, John B. Atherton, Sanford Harris, Solomon Cusic, Henry Cleveland, James and Ji'tfci'son Long, Nathan Harris, I. Hunsakei-, Alvin Hartshorn, Sr., and others. The fii-st child born in the township was a daughter to David Locke; her.s also was the first death. The first .iustiee of the peace was Jesse Evans who was also the first supervisor of the township. The succeeding supervisors were Ira Tvler. A. H. Pettit, J. T. Hull, William Evans, L. il. :\Iorrison, F. M. Behymer, Alvin Hartshorn and P. J. Daniels. The first school was conducted in a log cabin on section 6, by Erastus Rice, in 1836. The first school house Avas built in 1839. on .section 19. The fii'st church was situated on section 30, and was of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. The church building was erected in 1850, and is known as Shiloh Chapel. The first preacher was the Rev. Northcutt. At the time of organization the board of trustees consisted of William Gooding, Joseph Linthicum, Henry Lile. William Ilolcomb, Jacob Baker and Benjamin Fahs. The fir.st mill was built on ile- Crany creek, about 1840, by David Locke. In 1843 the first .saw mill was built.

'i'lic village of Richfield, which has never been inc<ir|)<ii-ated, was platted about 1842. The fir.st store in the place was built about 1845, by Nahma Tyler, who conducted a general merchandising Imsiness. The village is located on the line of sections 8 and 17 ; it contains a number of small dwellings, an M. E. church, l)lacksmith and wagon shop and two stores. The first secret society was a camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, organized here in 1899.

The township contains four chui'ches, one Baptist and three IMethodist Episcopal. The people of Richfield are intelligent and industrious, a-s is evidenced by their well kept homes and improved farms. The surface of the country is quite rolling and somewhat broken. It was originally about three-fourths timber. Much of the soil is quite ])roductive.

Richfield has the honor of having furnished a representative to the General Assembly of the State fi'om this district, in the person of Hon. Ira Tyler, who served three terms. He was a member of "Palmer's famous 101."

Riverside township is directly north of Quiucy and is bounded on the north liy Ursa, east by Ellington, south b.y Quincy, and west by the Mississippi river.

Two creeks, with their branches flow through River.side, Cedar creek and Homan's or Leonard's creek, thus atfording good drainage for this township. Much of Riverside was formerly bottom land, but it is in the Indian Grave Drainage district, and thus has been made among the most valuable farm lands iu the county.

I. J. Earl is the jiresent sul5el"^'isor : the first was Thomas Siuuock, and he was succeeded by Charles Pool, Josiah Barnes and AV. E. Chapman.

This is the largest to«iiship in Adams County. It embraces parts of the two congressional to^vnships, 1 north. 8 west, and 1 north. 9 west, having an area of about tifty-six square miles. The Mississipjii marks the western lioundary, a distance of about seven miles, and f ui'nishes a means of transportation for the products of the township. The devious course of Bear creek marks the northern boundary. The beautifi^lly undulating uplands are among the very finest farming lands of the state, and comprise about twothirds the area of the township. An abundance of water is supplied by numerous springs and several creeks, chief among the latter of which are : Rock, which flows across the to^^^lship from the east, a mile or so from the base line : Ursa, which rises in ilendon and flows west through the center, and Bear, forming the boundary line on the north. The rich bottom lands have become among the most valuable in the township through the oi-ganization of the Indian Grave Drainage District in April. 1880. This district, including that portion in Riverside township, comprises 18,200 acres, aboTit 14,000 aei'es of which is in Ursa township. These lands are now being brought to a high state of cultivation which will add very materially to the landed wealth of the town.ship. The Indian Grave Drainage District celebrated the new year. Jan. 1, 1904, by burning, in front of the courthouse in the city of Quincy, some $400,000 of cancelled bonds of the district, the landowners having purchased the same through a committee previously appointed for that purpose. There remains outstanding only .$4,000 of bonded indebtedness against the whole district - a fraction less than twenty-two cents per acre.