Suez Township (part 4 of 4)

Dr. James S. Rosenberry was born in Warren county, New Jersey, in 1837. In 1849 the family emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois, and located in Perryton township. The subject of this sketch began the study of medicine in 1855, in the otlice of Dr. James S. Mathews, of Preemption township, under whose instructions he remained three years. August, 1861, he enlisted in the 66th Illinois Sharpshooters, in which regiment he acted as hospital steward during the term of his enlistment, which expired August 31, 1864. On his return he entered the medical university of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he took one course of lectures. He then entered the Keokuk university, from which institution he received his diploma. May 30, 1865. He then located at Coal Valley, Illinois, where he practiced five years. In 1870 he located in Richland Grove township, where he still resides. He was married in 1867 to Miss Mary E. Tenny, who died in 1872. Again married in January, 1881, to Miss Sarah E. Rains, a native of Scott county, Iowa.

Source changes here: from Past and Present of Mercer County, Illinois, by Bassett, Isaac Newton, published 1914; 2,167 words in this source stream.

Suez Township

Suez Township is watered principally by North Henderson Creek and its branches. Pope Creek drains a small portion of the extreme northern part. The soil is excellent and large crops of grain have been grown since the earliest date. The township has been crossed in recent years by the interurban line and the new station of Burgess has been established on section 8. This township seems to have been settled more slowly than any other, although in the end all the Government land was taken up by actual settlers. Among the first settlers to arrive here were David, William and George Blake, who came in 1835, the former locating on section 22, and the latter on section 21. They took claims along the creek, so as to secure timber on a portion of their tracts. The same year James Stewart came with his family and also located on section 21. Robert Pollock arrived about the same time and secured a claim on section 27. William Moore came from Ohio the same year and took up a claim on section 5. The same year Harrison Brown came from Kentucky and located in the extreme northwest corner on section 1. William Martin also arrived this year and secured a home on section 5. It is probable that James Baine was the first permanent settler in this township. It is clear that he secured a claim and erected a cabin on section 29, in 1834. In 1837 ^sa Ransom, a native of New York, established a home on section 3 and the next year John Mauk located a claim a half mile north of Suez postoffice. The Pease family arrived in 1837 and established their home on section 20, near North Henderson Creek. In 1840 John and William Lafferty came from Ohio, and the former took up a claim on section 21, and the latter on section 22. They likewise secured tracts of timber. Henry B. Fleharty came at an earlv day and secured a permanent home. A little later he sold out to John Greenwood, who located permanently on the place. The Bridger family arrived about 1840, or perhaps a little earlier, and became prominent settlers. The famous Bridger's Corners were named for this familv.

they could do in early years, because when the settlement commenced it was rapid and houses went up in all directions. At first there were no roads, but a little later the one running from Macomb to Galena, which passes diagonally through this township, served as an outlet. The first schoolhouse was built in 1837, as to^ elsewhere. The first church was organized by the Associate Reformed Society and its building was erected in 1841 on section 31. In later years a cemetery was started there. The first postoffice was established at the residence of Moses Decker, on section 3, and was started about 1840. The second was called North Henderson and was located on section 22 at the house of Robert Pollock, who was appointed postmaster. At a later date this office became known as Norwood. Pelatiah Pease started a sawmill on the banks of North Henderson Creek, on section 21, in 1839. The power was water and the mill had a large patronage in those days. Many years afterwards a steam grist mill was built by C. S. Hart in the little settlement of Norwood. Coal has been mined in this township almost from the earliest date. A quantity was taken out on section 21 by Mr. Ditto as early as 1837. The township is well supplied with stone, which comes to the surface on sections 19, 21, 22 and 29. Along all the streams in early times grew an abundance of timber, but as time passed much of it was cut away and converted into buildings of various kinds. Here also were made the rails out of which were constructed the first fences. The first bridge across North Henderson Creek was built in 1838-9, and was located on the old Macomb and Galena Highway. This served to unite the different sections of the township. In early times there were many wild animals, such as deer, wolves, and the hunters were numerous with shotguns, rifles, pistols, muskets or any other sort of shooting iron. Wolf hunts occurred in the early times, but usually the animals were sly enough to escape; but on those occasions many deer were usually rounded up and killed.

The early settlers did much of their trading at Oquawka and Peoria. Sometimes grain was hauled to Chicago and sold at a low price. Earlv settlers declared that dressed pork sold as low as from $1 to $1.50 a hundred. Money was extremely scarce, prices for farm products very low and farmers had difficulty in securing money enough to pay for their claims.

In 1 85 1 a terrible storm of wind and rain swept across this township. For many hours the rain fell in torrents and every brook and rivulet went high above its banks. It is stated that the waters of North Henderson Creek rose fifteen feet over the normal height.

Suez Township was organized early in the '50s at the time the township law came into operation. This portion of the county was known before 1854 as Palmyra Township. At the time of the organization it was learned that there was another Palmyra Township in the state, whereupon the name was changed to Suez. At the township meeting held in the residence of Henry Bridger, the first township officials were chosen as follows: Thomas Likely, supervisor; John B. Hoag, town clerk; William Lafferty, assessor; F. M. Postlewaite, collector; James E. Ray, overseer of the poor; Harison Brown, John Laffertv and William McGreenwood, commissioners of highways; Robert Pollock and J. A. Edwards, justices of the peace; David Molar and A. Trask, constables. These men put the township machinery in operation.

Suez Postoffice

The first postoffice established here was in 1842 and Henry Bridger became the first postmaster. The postoffice was called Suez, but the location was the crossing which became famous as Bridger's Corners and for certain reasons during the Civil war became known throughout Western Illinois. There was much contention between rival opinions and factions as the war progressed and frequently personal encounters disturbed the quiet and peace of the neighborhood. It was simply a clash of opinion and not by reason of any rude or unlawful acts of the citizens. In a short time after the postoffice was established a store was started. Asa Ransom started a hotel there as early as 1851, and, owing to its location on the Galena Highway, it did a thriving business and contributed not a little to the prominence of Bridger's Corners. Hundreds of emigrants stopped there on their way to different places in the West. Samuel Shove was probably the first storekeeper. The date when he commenced business is not known, but must have been not far from the time the first postoffice was established in 1842. The second man to keep store was Mr. Turner, who soon sold out and was succeeded by Mr. Nourse. Afterwards storekeepers there were Shaw, Mauk and Sedwick, and finally James Page. These men usually in later years became in succession postmasters of the place. The Corners from the early times have had a school, church, store, blacksmith shop and perhaps other institutions which were required by the neighborhood. The schoolhouse there was usually known as White Lily. Miss Stuart, of Greene

Township, taught there in 185 1. A cornet band was organized there in 1881 and acquired much prominence by the excellence of its performances. Its services were called into requisition on nearly all public occasions in that portion of the county- Churches were established at a very early day, but the'buildings were not erected until later. The cemetery was started about 1846 in the vicinity of Norwood. It was under the management of the Presbyterian Church. It is no doubt an association that was chartered in 1881. The grounds are kept in excellent condition by the owners.

Norwood was started at an early date and there has been there usually a postoffice, and a store was established. Nearby are a church and school. In 1914 Norwood had a population of sixty-eight. The business houses were conducted by U. G. Brownlee, general store; W. A. Fraser & Company, general stock; W. H. Litzenberger, blacksmith; and R. J. Miller, restaurant.

Burgess

In July, 1910, the Town of Burgess came into existence on section 8. Its origin was due to the construction of the interurban railway. Nine local men bought eighty acres there and gave twenty acres to the Rock Island Southern for a depot, etc. Part of the remainder they platted and in the fall of 1910 advertised a public sale of lots. The railway under contract was not permitted to throw its lots into market until after the expiration of five years. The sale occurred on October 1 5th and there was present a large number of purchasers. The lots were sold at auction. There were twelve blocks offered for sale, all divided into lots, with streets and alleys as usual. There were eight lots to each block, the lots being 60x120 feet for residences and 30x120 feet for business houses. At the time of the sale a store was already in existence there, conducted by John Fahey, who served lunch to the crowd present. At the same time there was projected and on the way an elevator and lumberyard and other business establishments. The place was named Burgess for County Judge H. E. Burgess. At first it was planned to call the place Centerville, but sufficient reasons arose for a change in the name. The Burgess Center Lumber Company began operations as early as August that year and on that date began to buy grain and ship live stock. It is said that 1,000 men attended the first sale of lots. Forty-four were sold at auction to the highest bidders. The remainder of the sales were mostly in blocks. The latter sold as high as $205 each The lots sold were mostly those for business establishments, although a few were purchased by men who planned to erect residences. The blocks purchased were usually for speculative purposes.

In the spring of 191 1 George Atkinson started a store there and kept a general assortment. By the latter part of 191 1 other business houses were by Rowe Brothers, who bought chickens in large numbers and shipped them to Chicago and elsewhere; O. H. Johnson conducted a restaurant; the Center Lumber Company was doing a large business and meeting the wants of the farmers; Will Sharer had built and was conducting a stockyards. He purchased live stock in considerable quantity from the farmers and shipped to Chicago. A schoolhouse was started this year. E. W. Rowe established a livery stable here at this time.

In 1 91 2 an additional sale of twenty-five lots took place. It was provided that no lot could be purchased at this sale unless the purchasers should agree to erect a building thereon. By the spring of 191 2 the bank came into existence in a new building erected especially for it. It was called the Bank of Burgess and was under the management of John B. Bradford. At this time among the business men were the following: Dr. J. A. Dilley, merchant; Fred B. Peterson, hardware store; L. C. Swartz, restaurant; Ed Hayedelksuch, a small store; Kennicutt Brothers, restaurant; E. L. Hines, livery. The village was prosperous and full of enterprise at this time.

In 1 9 1 3 the business establishments were as follows: W. J. Sharer, purchaser and shipper of farm products; the Center Lumber Company, the same; and many others. This year there were built in the village ten modern houses, which cost an average of $3,000 each. The real owners of Burgess from the start were an organization which called itself the Burgess Town Site Company, the members of which were John B. Morford, Frank Whan, B. L. Christy, W. J. Sharer, Albert Maberg, F. N. Morford, W. C. Olin and Grant A. Brown. They purchased the eighty acres from Phil Sebert and laid out the south forty in lots. At the first sale B. L. Christy paid $20^ for a lot. This was the highest price paid.

Dan W. Sedwick settled in Suez Township in 1854 ar>d was married to Henry Bridger's daughter, and has resided in the county until the present time. He is a very prominent citizen and an excelis± PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY lent farmer. He was a volunteer in the One Hundred and Second Illinois Regiment in the Civil war and when dismissed from the service had the rank of major. He has been supervisor of the township for a number of years, and has been in every way prominently connected with the interests of the township of the county, and has been quite successful in his business career.