Wheatland Township

Wheatland Township

£§|MONG the first settlers of Wheatland Township were Dutee Gerauld, James and John Oliver, Frank F. Pippin, John and James Hankins, Aaron Lock, James Booth, William and James Fulton, George and William Sidenor, Thomas Cooper, Adam Stein, John Campbell, David Lovelace, Thomas Pippin, John McGehon, Martin Eistone, Henry I Lovett, and others, most of whom came to the township between 1830 and 1840. Like most of the other townships in the county, this was settled first by families from Tennessee - some of that old pioneer stock that has helped to develop so many new countries; a people who were seldom known to refuse a stranger the hospitalities of their humble homes; men who are firm friends, but dangerous enemies. A few of them are yet left in the township, and many of their descendants, who appear to have inherited all of the good qualities of their ancestors. At a later date there appears to have been a tide of emigration set in from Ohio - a class of people too well and favorably known to need any comment at our hands. Borne of these old settlers came to the township before the Indians were all gone, and the panthers, wolves, deer, and other wild animals were yet numerous in this part of the county.

Post-Office, Stores, Etc

The first post-office in the township was located at Hickory Creek, now Loogootee, about 1830 or '35, with Dutee Gerauld as post-master. He was afterwards killed by being caught in the machinery of his mill at Loogootee.

The first store was opened iu Olivie in 1850 by James Booth, although John Fulton had sold some goods at an earlier day at his private residence. Wilson Nichols kept a tavern at Hickory Creek as early as 1825. He also built the first horse-mill on Hickory Creek: the date cannot be determined.

Is a little inland town, dependent for its support upon a good enterprising community around it. It is situated in the southwest corner of the township, on Section 32, having a population of about one hundred inhabitants, with a good steam flouring-mill, two general stores, one church (Lutheran), black¬ smith aud wagon shops, etc. " Loogootee," or Slab Town, as it is more fami¬ liarly called, was at one time a place of considerable importance. It was near here that the firet settlement in the township was made, and was in fact almost the only one for twenty years.

T^e first settlement was made in 1825 in the southwestern part of the township, on Sections 32 and 33, near Loogootee, old father Ledbetter build¬ ing the first log-cabin, one-half mile east of where the present town stands, in 1825. The building was standing a few years ago as a relic of pioneer life. The builder has long sinoe died.

The firet couple married in the township were Thomas 8. Pippin and Dicy Hankins, in the year 1838, both of whom are still living, about two miles from where they were married - a hale, hearty, and intelligent old couple.

- There is no record of any person dying in the township sooner than 1844, when John Ingle died from an a ttack of yellow fever. He had contracted the disease in New Orleans, and came up here to die. He was buried in the 8idener burying-ground.

The first school-house was built on Section 16 in the year 1840. It was built of logs, and by private enterprise. February 20,1840, the township was formed into school districts, there being two districts formed, comprising the north and south halves of the township. Hie first trustees were Thos. Cooper, James H. Johnson, James A. Oliver, William Fulton, and John B. Hankins, clerk. There are now eight school districts, with a house in each, and supplied with good teachers. The first teacher of whom there is any record on the books was E. P. Anderson, who taught the sohool in 1841, fer the sum of twelve dollars and fifty osnts per month. Teachers are now get¬ ting, in the same locality, from thirty to fifty for the same amount of labor. It is feir to presume that there were teachings at an earlier date than this reoord would indioate, on the old subscription plan.

The first church building was erected in 1851 at Loogootee by the Lu¬ therans ; but the Rev. Jesse Hale, a Methodist, and Henry Walker, Baptist, had preached many sermons in the township at an earlier date. The follow¬ ing churches have organizations in the township at present, viz.: the Pres¬ byterians, German Reformed, Methodist, United Brethren, Christian, etc.

Some ten years ago Sanford White killed a man named Hamilton, and a comparative stranger, at a dance. The deed was committed on account of some private quarrel. White was tried, found guilty of manslaughter, and sent to the Penitentiary.

Hus township is peculiarly adapted to the raising of wheat, and to this fact it owes its name. About one-half of it is covered with a heavy growth of oak, black walnut, hickory, maple, sycamore, and other varieties of tim¬ ber common to the county. This belt extends across the entire southern por¬ tion of tite township. It was along the edges of this timber that the first settlements were made. There can yet be seen some of the primary cabins.

and the remains of others, standing as relics of the past. The north half of the township is all prairie, with a rich black soil, well adapted to corn and grass. The farmers are giving considerable attention to stock raising; by that means making a home-market for a portion of their crops.

The township is well watered, several small streams runuing through it from northeast to southwest. The largest, Hickory Creek, is a tributary of the Kaskaskia River.

on the prairie land in the northern part of the township. They have exten¬ sive farms, which they are improving as rapidly as possible. The Americans who came to the county at an earlier day, and settled the southern portion of the township, have better improvements, and are keeping pace with the times.

The Grangers have one lodge in this township, with a fair membership. It was among the first organised in the county in 1873. O. E. Lovett, the Master, has been a delegate to the State Grange.

Biographical Sketches

Is one of a few of the early settlers of the county who are yet living. He came to the state in 1830 with his parents, and shared with them all the trials and hardships of a pioneer's life. He was born in Overton County, Tennessee, March 14th, 1819, and was the seventh child of John and Elizabeth Johnson, who were originally natives of Virginia, but moved to Tennessee at an early day.

Before he was of age he worked on the form for his father, sometimes getting the benefit of two or three months' schooling, in the winter, which was all the education he ever received.

He was married May 26th, 1837, to Mary F. Doolan; soon after this event he swapped a horse for a squatter's claim about three miles from where Shobonier now stands, and at once commenced to improve it; he lived on this place until 1847, when he sold out and moved to Marion County; staid there three years, then came back to Fayette County and bought the farm in Wheatland Township, where he now lives in 1850. In 1856-57 he owned and operated a saw and grist mill on Hickory Creek. Since then he has devoted his entire energies to farming. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had born to them a family of eleven children. Five only are now living, viz.: Thomas G., Harriet E., Sarah A., Mary C., and Susan A. Mrs. Johnson died in 18$3 of small pox. She caught the disease while nursing a son who had contracted it in the army, and came home sick.

In politics he is as he says himself a good square Republican, and glories in it, never losing a chance to vote that ticket, although he takes no other active part in politics. He is certainly one of the self-made men of the county, having absolutely nothing when he married and commenced life, but he went to work with energy, which always wins, accumulating property rapidly. He has made two or three small fortunes, and lost them through the rascality of men whom he tried to befriend; now he owns a fine farm of 170 acres, and enough to live on. honored and respected by his many friends.

A history of Fayette County would be incomplete without a mention of G. W. Hankins, both as an old settler and a prominent man. He was born in Wheatland Township, this county, September 7th, 1838. His father, James Hankins, came to the county in 1830, from Tennessee, and was one of the first settlers in the township, encountering all the hardships of a pioneer life. He died in 1844.

George, being the youngest child, it fell to his lot to remain at home and support his widowed mother, which he did, without a murmur, sometimes working for the farmers, at ten dollars per mopth, or splitting rails, at thirtyseven and a half cents per hundred. Owing to the poverty of the family, he had no educational advantages, but managed to acquire through his own efforts entirely enough for the transaction of all kinds of business. He was married March 17th, 1861, to Julia Ann Johnson. She dying in the fall of the same year, he was again married, June 25th, 1863, to Nancy C. John¬ son. They have had born to them a family of seven children; five Are living at home with their parents, the other two died while young. Sir. Hankins and lady are consistent members of the Methodist Church, believ¬ ing there is a bright future for all those who believe and practice the teachings of the Bible.

In politics he has always been an active and consistent Democrat, working hard and successfully for his party iu the county. In April, 1877, the people of his township elected him to the office of supervisor.

TS^tlHIS township is bounded on the north by Montgomery County, on JjB Bft the east by Ramsey Township, south by Sharon, and west by ESC Montgomery County, and comprises the congressional township of 8 N. Range 1 West of Third Principal Meridian, and the south half of township 9, N. R. 1 West of the third principal meridian, and is in length 9 miles from north to south, and in breadth 6 miles from east to west, and is the extreme northwestern township of the County. This township is intersected by Hurricane Creek, which enters it from the west and runs a S. E. direction through it, also by Ramsey, which enters from the north. The bottom lands are of a heavy clay soil. Along the creek bottoms there is a considerable amount of heavy timber. Coal was found near Jas. Brown's place, near the north county line on the waters of Beck's Creek, in Sec. 21, T. 9 N. R. 1 E., from 16 to 22 inches thick.

The first school taught in the township, was by Willis Dodson, a Bap¬ tist preacher, in a shuck pen, between a crib and a stable. The building was constructed of rails.

Churches. The Baptists, Universal ists and Methodists have orgaotod denominations in the township. The first church was built by the Bapflpts on Hurricane Creek, about the year 1830.

Improved Stock . - James Pope introduced the first improved hogs. They were of the Berkshire and Poland China breed. John and James Pope brought the first improved sheep to the township; they were Cotswold.

Murders . - John Murphy killed a man named Van Beuren Williams, over a game of cards, at a store near Little Hickory. During the war in 1864 a party composed of U. S. troops and some citizens, in passing through the township stopped at the house of John Sears, where some misunderstanding arose which resulted in the shooting and death of Mr. Sean and his wife. During their funeral a man named Smart passing by where the troops still were, was hailed by them, and not heeding the summons, he was shot and dragged by his hone some distance, when another shot was fired striking him in the head which caused instant death. These troops were sent to suppress the Elingman gang. This township was peculiarly unfortunate in those times, as the same year a man Burris, a horse dealer, was murdered near the Greenville and Shelbyville road, and his body discovered some five weeks after. The parties doing the killing took the hones which Burris had with him to St Louis, and disposed of them. The murderers were never appre¬ hended.

The citizens of this township are intelligent, industrious and enterprising, and of good moral character. And some among the best farms and im¬ provements in the oounty can be found in Hurricane Township. The popu¬ lation is composed principally of Americans, though there are quits a number of German and Irish citizens, who by their industrious and frugal habits have done much towards making it one among the best producing townships in the county.

John M. Prater

Pfominekt among the names worthy of mention in this work is that of John M. Prater, a ho was born about one mile from his present residence in Hurricane Township, Fayette County, on the 6th of February, 1834. He is the youngest living child of Alexander and Mary (Sears) Prater, and brother of ex-Treasurer Holloway S. Prater, whose biography may be seen elsewhere in this work.

During his youth be was engaged in working on his father's farm. His early opportunities for gaining an education were in subscription schools. Although his entire schooling did not embrace a period of more than two years, he managed to acquire a good knowledge of the common-school branches, and is to-day a man of average ability and information.

His father's death occurred when he was about eighteen years of age. He remained at home for about one year after, then went to Greenville, thence to V&ndalia, where be remained for ten years, and was engaged in blacksmithing, at the expiration of which time, in 1865, he moved to Hurricane Township, and turned his attention to farming.

August 26th, 1858, he married Miss Mary Stein, daughter of Conrad and Eva Stein, who were natives of Germany. Their daughter was born in Fay¬ ette County. By this union they have had eight children, six of whom are living, all at home. Their names are as follows, in order of birth: Mary E., Charles, Emma, Ida, Horatio, Ella C.

In politics Mr. Prater has always been a Democrat. He has filled various township offices. Has been frequently elected County Supervisor. Mr. P. has always filled the. position acceptably to the people and creditably to him¬ self. He began life with little means, but he possessed what was better, good morals, industrious and sober habits, and a determination to suc¬ ceed. He is regarded as among the best citizens of the county, and has the good will and esteem of the community.

Holloway S. Prater

The lives and career of good men, of great men, and of men of enter¬ prise always are interesting. They furnish examples for the young to imitate; their successes stimulate and console the disheartened and unfortunate. Every man who has, by self-denial, energy and industry, risen from poverty to a position of prominence, is beyond question one whose life is worth pe¬ rusing.

Holloway S. Prater is a native of Bond County, and was the eldest child of Alexander and Mary (Sears) Prater. His father was bom in Tennessee, and his mother in Kentucky. They were married in Bond County in 1826, where Mr. Prater located in 1819. Their son, Holloway, was bom September 18th, 1827. In 1832 his parents moved to Fayette County, soon after which his father enlisted in the Black Hawk war. Young Prater took every advantage that came in his way of improving himself, and continued going to school after his majority. In this way he qualified himself to teach. In 1845 he enlisted in Col. Forman's regiment, 3d Illinois In¬ fantry. They were mustered in at Alton, and he served with his command, the history of which appears elsewhere. He was honorably discharged and mustered out at New Orleans May 25th, 1847. After his return he com¬ menced farming, occasionally teaching school. When twenty-three years old he commenced farming on his own account, in Hurricane Township, on what is known as the Morrison Farm. He married December 23d, 1852, Miss Siner Casey, daughter of Samuel Casey. Mr. Casey died while in the United States service, as a ranger in the Black Hawk war, in 1833. He was a native of Kentucky, and came with his parents to Illinois at an early day. As the fruits of the above union they had six children - Samuel A., Mary V., John J., Lyman A., Margaret A., and Joseph F. Mrs. Prater died February 21st, 1866, after a short illness.

Mr. Prater was successful in his business, and his well-known integrity led to his being selected frequently by the Democracy, of which he has been a life-long member, as their candidate for public offices His first office was that of constable; he was next elected justice of the peace, which office he held two terms; he has filled nearly all the township offices, and is at present county supervisor. He has been school treasurer continuously since 1854. In 1875 he was elected treasurer of the county.

Micajah Pope

Is the second son of Valentine and Elisabeth (Davidson) Pope, and was bom in Tennessee Deoember 22d, 1823. His parents were natives of North Carolina, and went to Tennessee at an early day. In 1829, with a small family, they emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Hurricane Township, Fayette County. His father died in 1844, and his mother in 1862. Mr. Pope remained on his parents' farm until his twenty-second year, when he commenced farming for himself. April 3d, 1845, he married Miss Drusilla Pope, daughter of Matthew and Sosan Pope, who came to this State in 1836. They have had ten children, five of whom are living - Mary, Jeremiah, Jane C., Susan and Hettie. Mary, the eldest, married Franklin Pope, and is now living in Shelby County.

Mr. Pope was in early life a Whig, but transferred his allegianoe to the Democratic party. He is an industrious and upright citizen, and is en¬ titled to credit for his battle with adversity, and conquest. He oommenoed life penniless, and has, without aid, made himself and family oomfbrtable.

Levi Sears

The eldest child of John and Hannah (Johnson) Sears, was born November 17th, 1818, in Warren County, Kentucky. His father was a native of North and his mother of South Carolina, were married in Kentucky and emigrated to Illinois on October 8th, 1828, and located about one mile south of the present residence of their son, Levi Sears.

He married Sept 19th. 1839, Miss Frances J. Harris, daughter of Wm. B. Harris, one of the early settlers of the township. They have had thirteen children, eight of whom are now living, in the following order of their births, William, Cynthia, Emily, Smith, Starling, Pattie, Joseph, Delilah. Mr. Sears has endeavored to be just and upright in all of his dealings in life. He has been industrious and energetic, and has, for one commencing without means, accomplished considerable, and is now in the enjoyment of a compe¬ tency. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been elected Supervisor from his township. During the war a terrible tragedy was enacted at the house of his parents, which resulted in their death.

In memory of John Sears, who fought under Gen'l Jackson at New Or¬ leans, and was killed in his own house by the soldiers of the 41st Regiment Ill's Volunteers, August 11th, 1864, aged sixty-eight years, ten months and seventeen days.

John Pope

Is the seventh child of Valentine and Elizabeth (Davidson) Pope. He was born the 20th of July, 1826. In early life he worked on a farm, and attended the common schools whenever he had an opportunity, and by perseverance and hard study be acquired a good knowledge of the common branches.

Mr. Pope, when about twenty yean of age, commenced life on his own ac¬ count. His fint venture was in farming which he followed about four yean, when he engaged in clerking, at which he continued for five yean, at the ex¬ piration of which he commenced merchandizing for himself.

On the 5th of February, 1863, he married Miss Charity A. Donaldson. By this union they had six children, of whom only two are living, viz.: Car¬ rie and Lola, living with their parents.

In politics, Mr. Pope has always been a Democrat. He has been frequent¬ ly called upon to fill public positions in his township. His fint office was that of Assessor. Was Town Clerk for two yean in Ramsey Township, and was Supervisor for the same length of time in Ramsey. Has been elected for three terms Justice of the Peace in Hurricane Township.