Senachwine Township

Senachwine Township

Senachwine received its name from an Indian chief whose home and hunting grounds were in tluit township, on a stream also bearing his name. He was buried on a hilly point that juts out into the valley commanding a view of the scene of hisearthly career. The town originated from a station on the Peoria and Bureau Valley Rail Road, upon the opening of that road the place was laid out, stores, shops and dwellings were erected, schools and churches followed, and it bids fair to become an important point, it being the oidy Rail Road station at this date in tlie iiiuits of Putnam county. John and Curtis Williams and James R. Taliferro were the first settlers. Population in 1875, 801

Several shops, stores, churches, a school house and Post office, grooped among a cluster of dwellings, the whole surrounded by inviting farms is all that comprizes the Florid of to-day.

Black Hawk Wak

The lands on Rock river and elsewhere had been ceded to the general government by treaty in 1804, at St. Louis, a treaty twice ratified subsequently. Black Hawk, a brave and powerful chief, was dissatisfied, charged that the treaty was a fraud, and in the spring of 1881 crossed the Mississippi to repossess and maintain his hold on his old hunting grounds. In the following year, 1832, the conflict came on. The settlers were driven away, their stock'was killed and stolen, and their improvements were destroyed.

Alarm

The alarm spread, homes were abandoned, the plow was left in the furrow, all kinds of property was forsaken, the people fleeing from the murderous rifle and tomahawk. All the inhabitants on the west side of the Illinois crossed over to the east side where they fixed the frontier and made a stand.

Call For Volunteers

Runners were sent in all directions calling for volunteers for the defence. Hennepin was the place of rendezvous for the Putnam county rangers, where fifteen hundred men were organized and from which point they took field.

To provide for the defence of the non-combatants, block houses were built of thick timbers, provided with loop holes through which to fire on aii attacking enemy, and into these defences the women and children were gathered. One was erectetl on the east side of Front St. in Hennepin, the timbers of Hartzell's Trading house being used in its construction. Fort C!ribs was near Florid on the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Shering. (Sec. 19, 32 north, 1 west.)

Warnock's Block House wjus on land now owned by James Moore (E. % N. E. 1^ sec. 8) near (Jranville. At Cah'donia also, and otlier places, houses were fortified for the protection of groopsof familie'smore remote from the thicker settlements.

Shab-Ba-Nee

Shab-ba-nee a friendly Indian chief secured the lasting gratitude of the white settlers by giving timely warning of the approach of war parties on their errand of death. Some of the settlers were over-bold and incredulous, and were almost driven from their exposed position by this faithful man. May the name of Shab-banee be held in greatful remembrance.

Death Of Phillips

A party of men going from Hennepin to Dover, 16 miles distant, to secure tlieir cattle were followed and watched all night by Indians,and in the morning one man named Pliillips was shot as lie cauie out of the cabin in which they had passed the night. The Indians then fled, a boy named Dimmick rode to Hennepin and gave the alarm. It was the day of the disbanding of the rangers, many of whom were there. About thirty of them, as many as could be gotten over the river in time, responded and hastened to Dover where they found the body of Phillips lying as lie fell and liis companions still in ihe cabin. The Indians were followed but not overtaken. The company returned to Hennepin, bearing the remains of the unfortunate man, and Thomas Hartzell, J. S. Simpson, H. K. Zenorand Williamson Durley, selected a burying place, and assisted in burying the only man who fell by Indian hands within the limits of Putnam county, and the first to fill a grave in the burying ground of Hennepin.

End Of War

Black Hawk met his final overthrow in .) uly 1832, and from that time the Indian war-cry dusturbednomorethe growing settlements of the frontier. The people returned to their deserted homes, the weapons of war were laid aside for the implements of peaceful industry, and tlie work of subduing the wilderness went on.

Education

In the earliest days tlie people of Putnam were so widely separated that the maintainaiice of schools was difficult, yet education received early attention. Ill the winter of 1830-1, George H. Shaw taught a school in a log house in the timber near Magnolia. The accommodations were very rude.

The fire place occupied one entire end of the room. Writing desks were made by placing puncheons on pins driven into the wall. Windows were of cloth or oiled paper. "The teacher made his own fires, swept his house, pounded corn for his own bread and taught all day."

As no school laws existed the getting up of a school was wholly voluntary, a man who desired to teach went around with a subscription paper to get signers, each one agreeing to pay a certain ^um for each scholar sent for the specified time, and the test of the man's fitness to teach was his ability to write his own subscription paper.

First Lady Teacher Granville Academy

At Granville, in the year 1836, steps were taken towards establisliing an Academy. A building costing two thousand dollars, the money being obtained by voluntary subscription, was erected in that and the following years. Rev. Otis Fisher was the first teacher, which position he occupied five years. In conseciuence of a lack of support tills institution was soon made a public school, still retaining its high reputation.

Among those who pursued thier studies here may be named J. L. Beveridge. Governor of Illinois, Revs. Daniel Wiiitaker and Thomas Allen, both missionaries to Burma; Rev. Charles Button, Champlain of a regiment of Illinois volunteers, and Judge John Burnes and Berton C. Cook.

Mt. Palatine

Mt. Palatine gave early promise of being a center of learning. Eighty acres of land were given by Christopher Winters, in 1839, to found an Academy. Upon a part of this land the village of Mt. Palatine was located. Lots were sold and the town had a promising growth.

school, un enteiprist^ of the Baptist Deiiuiiiinution, opened in Decenil>er of tlie hitter year. In the winter of 1S50-1 a charter grantiiif? colle.uiate privih'j^es, was obtained, at vvliich time tlie institution took the name of Judson College. It soon met with ditliculties, a fate (Mjnunon to new enteriirizes, particuhirly at the west, and was soldtosatisliy pecuniary demands. From tiiat time it has been owned by the Catholics.

A people so imbued with educational aspirations, would be sure to take advantage of any privileges or i)o\vers whicii the law might give them for the furtherance of tlieir desires. Hence the general school law of the state was quickly applied to the educational problem in Putnam county, and as a result of its woikings the county Superintendent reports for the year 1875, the enrollment of 1790 children between the ages of 0 and 21. Of these 1424 are repoi'ted at attendants at .school. The county contains 84 School Districts and the same.number of School Houses and Schools, of wiiich three are graded. Tlie average wages paid to teac'hers iiermontii was .$40,80 - tlie number ol' months taught in eacii district u;^. Tiie total school fund derived from taxation and all other sources was !$22,2(i."),7U, and the expenditures 817,;5:W,25.

Buel Institute

For tlie jiuriiose of fostering Agriculture* IJuel institute \v;is organized in 184(j, thirty years ago. Tliis is the oldest Agricultural organization in the state tliat lias conlinued its operations from tiie date of its origin, often iioldiiig annual fairs in various localities. A permanent location was secured at llennepin in isi;7, by the pun-hase of nineteen acres of laiul sitiiau'd on the b;ink ol the Illinois, extending to the water's edge, and beautifully siiaded by a young growth of forest trees, most admiral)ly adapted in every way to tiit desiieil puipose. Tliese grounds liave been litted uj) in the most attractive manner, every year adding some new improvement and furnisidng annually line exhibitions of tlie i>roilucts of our farms and homes. The present value of these grounds is §oU00.

The leading minds in tliis organization, set in operation tlie train of causes which produced the system of Agricultural Colleges througliout the United States.

Pv invitation of Ilal]»h Ware, LeonaixrUullock, and others. Prof. J. B. Turner delivered an address at (iranville, in November 18.j1, in the interest of Agriculture and labor, a ctmvention for tlu; consideration of those matters being then and there assembled.

Sixteen years later, at the inaguration of John M. Gregory, llegent of Illinois Industrial University, Chaml)aigii, March 11th 1808, Dr. Newton Jiatcnnan twice referred to that convention using in the latter instance this language. "I observe that the lirst tangible result of the widespread and extraordinary agitation of the subject of industrial university education, whicli liegan with tlie(iranville convention of 18.")1, and soon pervaded the whole state * * * was a memorial to theCJeneral Asseml)ly of Illinois, praying that body to invoke the powerful aid and resourctis of the National (rovernment itself in furtherance of the oOjecl." (First an. rep. of the Ills. Indus. Univ. 1868. Page ir)8-<J)

Result Of The Granville Convention

It will be seen therefore that tlu^ seed-thought of these great agricultural institutions germinated in Granville, in the minds of the founders of Huel Institute, and the great thought which then sprang to life is destiui'd to a wider realm than even our own broad land, for at this writing comniissioners,liaving examined the Agricultural instilutionat Amherst. Mass., are on their way to Japan for the purpose of introducing the same system into that distant eminre.

W'v cannot fail to notice the early eiforts (}f the founders of civilization in our bounds to secure the well being of society by means of a knowledge of and obedience to the word, of God. -Vs eiirly as 1821), forty-seven years ago, the Putnam county Bible Society was formed at the log church, ;it Union Grove, from which date it has continued in active service. At a meet- ing heldJanuuvy 24th 1830 the bounds of the Society were thus defined : - "On the east the Grand Prairie, on the north the Big Vermillion, on the west the Illinois river, on the south tlie northern limits of Tazewell county." At the same meetnig it was resolved "to supply the destitute within our bounds (with Bibles) as soon as practicable." A depository of Bibles was established, the field divided into suialler districts, and the proposed work done.

One of the most energetic and persevering of these men was Steplien Willis, who alone canvassed Putnam county on horseback, with saddle bags filled with Bibles and Testaments. After some years, failing health induced him to remove to Oregon, where he stili lives.

Many times since the field has been canvassed, and the needy supplied, tliose who are able to pay, buying Bibles, and those who are not receiving them without money and without price.

An aggregate of over six thousand dollars has been raised for this work, one-half of which has been donated to the American Bible Society, New York, tor the general work in our own and other lands, and the remainder has been expended on the home field.

Religion

The religious character of the people of Putnam county has been marked from the beginning. Mr. William Haws states that as early as 1823, a Mr. Walker established a mission among the India)is at Ottawa, the influence of which long remained among the natives. It may have been a result of his efforts that became a christian. This Indian Chief lived near the mouth of Clear Creek, in Putnam county, and gave evidence of a ready susceptibility to christian culture. He engaged a white settler to break up his ground for cultivation, in advance of the rude style of savage life. Though unable to read, he had a good knowledge of the Bible, obtained by listening to its reading in the cabins of the white men. He often visited the Indian villages in order to communicate to his red brethren the gospel truths which he had received. On the Vermillion, the scene of frequent visits. he reported "plenty good Indian." He suddenly left his early home, following the retreating tribes and was no more seen in his accustomed haunts. He was highly esteemed by his white neighbors.

It is a gratifying thought that the relation of the pioneers to the Red Men was not wholly that of antagonism. Occasionally the unity of human brotherhood found expression in a fellowship in Christ to which the barbarian was as sensitive as the more favored white man.

First Meetings

As regards religion among the new settlers. Smiley Shepherd says: "Religious meetings have been held regularly since 1 have been in the country, that is since 1828."

Alexander Holbrook, who came in 1827 says: "We went to meeting and had good meetings, wliich we all enjoyed because there was union and we loved one another'."

First Sermon

The first sermon preached in Magnolia, and probably in the county, was by Father Walker, in September 1820. Jesse Hale was the first Methodist Episcopal preacher to preach in Hennepin, he having addresed the people there in the winter of 1832-3. Elias Thompson is also remembered as a pioneer exhorter.

As population in(;reasel churches were formed according to the needs or preferences of the people. The Presbyterian church of Union Grove was formed in 1830, the Methodist Episcopal Church of Hennepin in 1833, the Baptist Church of Caledonia in 1836, the Baptist Church of Granville in 1837, the Presbyterian Ciiurch of Granville in 1839, the Congregational Church of Granville in 1851, the Cumberland Presbyterian

Tliere is also a Cliiistian and a .Metlioilist Cimrcli atSenaciivvine, two eluuflies at Florid, ;.'.nd a Catholic Cliurch at Hennepin, formed in I8r>l. 'J'he Society of Friends held their lirst meetinfj;- in the year 18;i7 and in tlie year 1841 established a monthly meeting, making sixteen church orL',anizations in the county, at this date.

First Newspapku

by 1. H. Cook, 1808, which still lives to recoril tiie proceedings tjf this day, ] laving shown a vitality far more tenacious than any of its predecessors.

JJesides tliese home eiiterprisrs, the phui that linally resulted in the starling at Chicago "The Herald of the Frairie," afterward "Prairie Herald," later and better known as the "Western Citizen," w'as tirst discussed and settled by Zabina Eastman, Hooper Warren, and James (i. Dunlavy, in the log cabin of the latter at Ihiion Grove. Tills was liefore 1844. H appears from the facts liere gathered that from 18;;" to 1870 inclusive a paper has been sustained eighteen out of tliirty-nine years.

'j'he ciianges that have come over i'utiiam in that lime, the crui-1 despoiling of her territory which siie has sulfered, and tlii' springing up of rival centers of influence, have been disastrous to newspaper men. It is not easy to estimate the amount of faith, energy, labor, study andcai)ital expcniled on these ventures, which we may Judge paid so poorly on the investment. Patriotic home feeling ought to give such a supiiort to a county paper as to enable it not only to survive, l)ut we a vigorous gathei'er, recorder and preserver of the facts that express our liistoric life.

'i'lie Pati'iotism of our county has never been appealed to without meeting a worthy response. ^Laiiy of the IMoneers were men who had parliciliated in the dangers and privations of the war of 1812. In the Plack Hawk troubles they rushed to the defense almost to a man. In the great rebellion that shook the nation in the closing yearsof the century, with convulsions as tei'ril.'le as those through which it i>assed at tlie beginning, the records sliow that seven hundred and seven men responded to their country's call. The population of Putnam coujity in 1800 was live thousand Ave hundred and seventy-nine, showing that one man to every 788 of tiie population entered tiie held. A portion of these vetrans re-enlisted, and so twice counted, but they are oltsct by an equal number wiio joined regiments n cruited in other counties, to whicli counties they were credited. The tattered remains of the Hag carried to the held by Co. E 4th Illinois Cavehy. now hangs in the Court House - the only Hag brought iionie by tlie llegimcnt.

Aktesian Well

The artesian wx'll, an enterprise not yet appreciated as its importance demands, but surely destined to a better recognition, deserves mention here.

While tlu^ work was prosecuted by the corporation of Hennepin at a cost of .$2,500, its existence is mainly due to the persistent energy of Jefferson Hurley, who, more than any otlier man foresaw its value and believed in its practicability. The work was begun in September 1875 and iinished after three months labi>r, it heing interrupted by dehiys ;uid accidents incident to such undertakino's. The drill passed through the following strata: - Soil three feet, conglomerate 70 feet, tine sand 42 feel, coarse gravel 1 foot, bine clay (;2 feet, soapstone 185 feet, limestone 440 feet, total 800 feet. Specimens of these strata Jiave been carefully preserved in the order in which they were laken from the well, witli their respective tliicknesses marked, by A. T. Purviance Esq., at his office in the Court House, where they will be an interesting study to the geologist. At a depth of 2;^0 i'eet water flowed at the rate of .5 gallons per minute, at 555 feet the flow increased to 15 galls, per minute, at 7G5 the flow was ;^>0 gallons, and at 800 it rushed up at the rate of 80 gallons showing as yet no sign of variation. The water rose 05 feet in a pipe affixed perpindicularly to the tubing, and ran over. It is slightly impregnated with sidiiu^ and mineral sulistances and is considered by some medicinal in effect.

Puksuits Of People

The people of Putnam county have been almost exclusively devoted to agricultural pursuits from the beginning, few nuinu;;vi'tures having obtidned a fodthold among them except such as local wants require. Sliops for blaci'.smithing, wagon and harness making, carpenter, joiner and cabinet work, coojjering, tin and slieet iron W(n-k, shoe making and tailoring, manned by skillful workmen, are conveniently ilistriiaited throughout the county. Nurseries of fruit bearing and ornamental shrubs and trees are carried on at Florid. Flouring mills exist in sufficient capacity for the demand.

Since the tii'st phuiting of corn by William Haws at Magnolia, in the year 1820, 20103 acres of land have been brought under cidtivation. Of this area 3080 acres were last year in wheat, 7047 acres in corn, 0494 acres in oats, 765.0 acres in meadow, and 1877 acres in other farm products. In addition to this 1175 acres were in orcharding, leaving 28932 acres still occupied by timber. Of very many of our farm houses it may be said : Homes of greater comfort or containing more bountiful supplies of all the products of a prolific S(ul and genial climate need not be desired. The tendency toward order, neatness and ornamentation notical)Ie among our farmeis, augurs well for the future of intelligent, happy and pr(;sperous people.

These are such histo)ic notes as we have been able to gather concerning the formative period of our existence. The men who were actors, their plans and purposes respecting themselves and their posterity, the scene of their activities and the circumstances of their day must ever be an interesting study to those who come after us, auu all the more as these events recede in the distant vistas of time.

We pass no sentence of approval or disapproval upon their doings, and pronounce no eulogies upon their names or characters at this early date. We simply set down the things that were done,our object being to preserve the germs of a christian civilization as heie planted, and oljserved in their first upspringing, for use in times wlien the i)eginnings of things shall more than now engage tlie attention of the student, the statesman, the philosopher and tlie christian.

Characteristics Of The People

A people characterized by an adventurous enterprise that chose its field of action on the uncertain frontiei-, a spirit of endurance that could court the self-denials of pioneer life, at the same time not contented with barbarism but aspiring to the ripe attainments of j'.ncient communities; these (luaiities, joined with patriotism and valor in danger's hour, with patient labor in developing the resources of nature ; with social instincts taking shape in well organized society founded upon intelligence and morality; the whole molded and directed by' a religious life drawn from and conformed to the word of God ; surely concerning such a people we need have no solicitude.

Mav coming years witness the develoimient of industrial, intellectual and religious life from these bejiinninf,'s, on a scale in worthy keepinj^ with the inexhaustible resources of this favored land, the boundless realms of knowledge so free of access and the l)urity and granduer of character attainable bv men transformed and guided by the word and spirit of God

Thanksgiving

We place on record our devout thankfulness for our God, our fathers' Gud, the God of the Bil)le, for the manifold and abounding blessings \ve enjoy to-day; for a fertile land, fruitful in all that necessity can demand or luxury enjoy ; for a climate stimulating aud healthful to all who obey its behests; for a government the freest on earth, with the lightest burdens for society, peacel'ul, lawaliiding, and secure; for intelligence ditl'usrd through schools, open to the humblest child; lor religious freedom, permitting every faith unconstrained development, and we rejoice to utter it, a good hoi)e in the stability and perpetuity of our instituti(ms, substantially as planted by tlie fathers, until coming centennials shall usher in a day of rejoicing over results before which the gU)ries of the present shall be only as day-break compared with noon-day.

Standing as we are now, on the dividing line which separates a century past fnmi a century to come of our nation's history, we are impelled by our ovvnprofoundestconvictions torepeat as our own the words of President Grant to the youth of our land this centennial year. To all who inlierit us we say: "Hold fast to the Bible as to the sheet anchor of your liberties : write its precepts in your hearts and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this book we are indebted for all the progress we have made in true civilization, and to this we must look as our guide in the future." "Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people."

Done bv H. Yallette Wauuen,^^, at t'.ie solicitation of the Putnam Gouiity Centennial Committee, July 4th 187t>, and of the Independence of the United States of America the One Hundredth.