Whitmore Township

Whitmore Township

IS township is located in the north-eastern part of the county, and comprises the greater part of Town 17 North, Range 3 East, with seven sections from the north-west corner of T. 17 N., R. 4 E., containing about twenty-three thousand and forty acres of land. It is bounded on the north by Friends' Creek township, on the east by Piatt county and Oakley township, on the south by Oakley and Decatur, and on the west by Hickory Point township. It received its name in honor of a Mr. Whitmore, one of those adventurous spirits, who regardless of old home comforts and its surroundings, pushed forward to expose the trackless West, and located in this township, built a log cabin and began farming. The Sangamon river, which flows along the southern border, and its tributaries Friends' Creek, Stevens' Creek and a few other minor streams drain the lands and furnish an abundant supply of water for stock purposes. The Champaign, Havana and Western Railroad, running through the township from south-west to north-east, enters the township at section 31 and passes out at section 2. This township was settled at an early date. In the year 1828 John Draper moved from Hickory Point township, whither he had removed from the Old Dominion with David Florey in 1825, and located on section 35 of Hickory Point. On his removal to Whitmore township, in 1828, Mr. Draper built a cabin on section 18, Tp. 17, R. 4 E., and began to improve his possessions, now occupied by Dr. Johns' tile works. Among other early settlers were Robert Stewart and John AVhite, who came with their families not long after the arrival of Mr. Draper, and located near the center of the township. By the year 1840 there had grown up quite a neighborhood in the vicinity of sections 15, 16, 21 and 22, Tp. 17 N., R. 3 East. The first marriage to occur in Whitmore was that of John Draper to Miss Amy Florey, (a sister of David Florey, who came from Virginia in 1825, and located in Hickory Point township, and a few years later came to Whitmore township.) Mr. Draper and Miss Florey were married by the Rev. Samuel Miller. As will be seen the Draper family occupy and deserve the foremost position in the pioneer history of Whitmore township. The birth of Anderson Draper, son of John Draper and Amy Draper, was the first to occur within the limits of what is at present Whitmore township. Cynthia Draper was the first person whose death occurred. By the year 1841 the needs of the settlers became such that the erection of a school-house was a necessity, and accordingly a log school-house was erected on section 22, Tp. 17 N., R. 3 E., by the combined contributions of money and labor of the residents of the neighborhood. This building was also used for alhchurch purposes, aud the never-to-be-forgotted old-fashioned singing school. The first preacher to deliver a sermon in this township soon after its settlement was a Methodist circuit rider. The Rev. A. Bradshaw was the first minister to locate. Soon afterward the Rev. Mr. Lewis, one of the early pioneers in the cause of the Redeemer, came to, and located within the limits of Whitmore. The first resident physician was Dr. Walters, who administered to the wants of the sick, and bound up the wounds of the afflicted. Soon after we find Dr. De Watney, a gentleman of French extraction, contending for a portion of the patronage of the settlers of this and adjoining townships.

Mr. Henry Rhodes, a very pleasant and intelligent old gentleman, who is still living a short distance west of Oreana, has the honor of being the first justice of the peace. The first blacksmith shop was opened and occupied by George Eicholtz, who was ably qualified to attend to the wants of the settlers in that line of business. We also find S. T. Miller on section 21, Town 17, Range 3 East, with a blacksmith shop able to do all kinds of work in that line.

The Tile Works of Dr. John, of Decatur, are located on section 18, T. 17, R. 4 E. They have au annual capacity of 175,000 feet of tileing, and are run to their full extent. These works were built by Messrs. Martin and Johns, and subsequently purchased by Dr. Johns, who is now the sole proprietor. The first land entries were made by John White, May 8th, 1830, eighty acres in section 13, T. 17 N., R. 3 E. ; John Draper, April 15th, 1831, eighty acres in section 18, T. 17 N., R. 4 E. The following are the supervisors who have represented the township: James Lichtenberger, elected in 1860 ; Henry Rhodes, in 1861 ; James Lichtenberger, re-elected in 1862; John Gill, elected in 1863 ; Charles Wooster, in 1864; Joshua Green in 1865; Joshua Green, re-elected in 1866; James Lichtenberger, in 1867 ; J. G. Harnesberger, elected in 1868, and re-elected in 1869 ; James Lichtenberger, re-elected in 1870 ; Joshua Green, re-elected in 1871 and 1872 ; J. C. Ruddock, elected in 1873, '74, '75, '76, and '77; C. H. Garver, in 1878; Richard Kirby, in 1879, and is the present incumbent.

Daniel Florey, a very old and highly respected citizen, a native of Virginia, came to this county in 1825, and is now living on section 21. His first wife came in 1828, and died in 1834. O. L. Stewart is a native of this county, born in 1833, and now resides on section 14. Geo. W. Betzer, living on section 13, is a native of Ohio, and emigrated here in 1841. John Magee also came in 1841, and now lives on section 29. He is a native of Delaware. J. Ray, David Ray, J. T. Stearnes, and Samuel T. Miles are prominent among the oldest and most influential citizens now living in the township.

Oreana is a village located on section 9, Tp. 17, R. 3 East. It is situated on the beautiful prairie, and is the only village or town in this township. It lies on each side of the Champaign, Havana and Western Railroad, which traverses this township. The first house erected in Oreana was a dwelling, built by Henry Morrisson, in the year 18 - . In the same year S. G. Coale opened the first store of general merchandize, which business he followed for a number of years. Another important event in the history of Oreana was the establishment of a post-office, with S. G. Crocker as post-master. In 1874 the Baptist Congregation had so increased in numbers as to be able to build a church, thereby being entitled to the honor of erecting the first church edifice in the village. The Rev. Mr. Ingmeyer was the first minister to locate in Oreana. Dr. Cheneworth was the first physician to practice medicine in this village. Oreana is a live business point, and commands the trade of quite a large territory. It is about seven miles north-east from Decatur. The following is a list of the present business houses in this place: General Stores - Frank M. Pratt; Ruddock & Kirby. Grain

Whitmore township comprises some of the best farming lands of Macon county, and is well adapted to agricultural pursuits in all its branches - including its kindred industry, stock raising. Large quantities of corn, flax, wheat, oats, hay, potatoes, and vegetables of all kinds, are raised here annually. Its territory is admirably drained by the Sangamon river, which forms the greater part of its southern boundary, and Friends' Creek and its tributaries, which flow through the eastern portion of Tp. 17, 4. The farm improvements are among the most substantial in the county, and its citizens are a moral, industrious and energetic class of people.

Biographical Sketch Oliver L. Stuart

The Stuart family are of Scotch ancestry. The ancestors of the present family settled in Virginia at an early day. William Stuart, the grandfather of Oliver L., removed from eastern to western Virginia, and settled in Wythe county. He afterwards removed to Tennessee, where he remained until his death. His son, Daniel Stuart, was born in Virginia, and removed with his father to Tennessee in 1823. In 1829 he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Whitmore township, Macon county, where he remained until his death in 1856. He was a farmer. He married Sarah Florey ; she was born in Virginia, and settled in Whitmore township in January, 1871. By this marriage there were five children, three sons and two daughters. Two sons and one daughter survived the parents, viz. : Mary, wife of Edward M. Kile; John T., and the subject of this sketch. O. L. Stuart was born in Decatur, September fifteenth, 1833. His father moved his family from Decatur to Sec. 13, T. 17, R. 3 E., the next year after O. L.'s birth ; there he grew to manhood. He passed his youth like most of the farmers' sons of the pioneer era of the state. His education was received in the log school-houses, under disadvantages and inconveniences that would shock the youth of the present day ; but, notwithstanding all obstacles, he received a fair education. He remained at home until his marriage, the date of which was June first, 1854. He married Miss Elizabeth Kile, daughter of Joseph W. and Mary Kile. They are among the old settlers of this section of the state. By this marriage there have been seven children, six of whom are living, all girls. Their names are : Mattie E., Bertha Luella, Jessie F., Mary Belle, Atta G , and Carrie H. Stuart. The same year that witnessed his marriage also witnessed his removal to Sec. 14 of Whitmore township, where he commenced farming for himself and has continued to reside to the present. Both he and his wife and members of his family are members of the M. E. Church. Politically, he has been a republican. He began voting when the republican party was formed. He cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, and from that time to the present he has been an earnest and active supporter of its principles. His father was a soldier of the Black Hawk war, and was in the disastrous battle known as "Stillman's Defeat." He was one of the pioneers of Macon county. His son, the subject of this sketch, may also be regarded as one of the old settlers, if forty-seven years' residence in the county will entitle him to that honor. In all these years, among neighbors and friends, he has borne the reputation of a peaceable, quiet and honest man.