Wilberton Township

Wilberton Township

ILBERTON comprises the complete geographical Township of 5, Range 2, and was named after Esquire Wilbern, a prominent old settler, who lived near the site of the present town of Wilberton on the farm now owned by R. W. Burnett. Among its old settlers may be mentioned the names of Phillip Luster, Jesse Doolan, Jacob Helm, Wm. Davis, John Edwards, Henry Ginger, Francis Brown, Wm. D. Brown, Elijah Reece, Abel Manion, David K. Hamel, John W. Peyton, Thomas Mahone, Dr. Mahone, and Wm. Wilbern, nearly all of whom have since died. The first cabin was built by Phillip Luster, on Section 6, in 1820. Some of his descendants are still living near there. The first settlement was made in the north-western part of the township along the edge of the timber, by Phillip Luster, Jesse Doolan, and two or three other families, about 1820. There appears to have been another tide of emigration set in about 1830, when the Marions. Mahones, Williams and several other families located along the north side of the township. The township continued to settle up slowly until about 1860, when the Germans commenced coming in rapidly, until now there is hardly a vacant foot of land, except in the timber, and all in a feir state of cultivation.

Religious

Lev* Lowry, Methodist, preached the first sermon in the cabin of some settler as early as 1825. Jesse Doolan, Henry Turaay, Sam'i Dickens, Mr. Sherer, and Mr. Pullen preached here at an early day. It was in this town¬ ship that Ben. Mahone was raised and learned to preach. There is probably no man in the oounty who is better known than " Old Ben," (as he is fami¬ liarly called). He is still living in Avena Township, admired and respected by all. The first church building was erected in* 1836 on Section 10, by the Baptists. The German Lutherans have two nice churches, with a large membership. The following Churches also have organizations and build¬ ings : the Methodists and Cumberland Presbyterians.

Fird Physicians. - Dr. Daniel Williams was the first practicing physician in the township, commencing about 1825. Dr- W. D. Brown settled here and commenced the practice of medicine in 1830".

Fird Road , Bridge f dfe . - The first road through the township was the Vandalia and Kinmutidy road on the east side, and the first bridge was built on this road about 1850. Wm. Jarrott kept the first store at Wilberton about thirty years ago, supplying the wants of his customers with such articles as whiskey, tobacco, coffee, ammunition, Ac., always necessary to a pioneers existence, and taking in exchange for them coon and mink skius. which were legal tender at that time. The first post-office was located at St Paul on Section 26, in 1876, with John Boyer as Postmaster. He still holds the position. The first burying-ground was laid out in 1829, on Sec¬ tion 5. The first burial was that of Abel Manion, who died in May, 1835. (It is a question, however, if one or two children did not die at an earlier period, but of which we can find no authentic record.)

Fird Mills . - Phillip Luster built first saw and grist-mill in 1820 or 1821. It was an old-fashioned hone-mill, but supplied the wants of the neighborhood. Hardy Foster built another mill in 1830; and Jacob Bass built a steam saw-mill in 1855. There are now two good ones in the town¬ ship.

Schools . - The township was orgaoissd into three sohool districts in 1856. The fint Directors were George Pryor, W. B. Chandler, and Jas. M. Manion. There are now five districts in the township, with schools in each. The Lutheran Churoh, also, supports two private schools for the benefit of its memben. Wm. Gentry taught in the fint school-house, which was built in 1882. This building was ereoted by the private enterprise of the neighbon on Section 4, in the middle of the woods, so as to accommodate all. It was but a rough log affiur. In it some of the best men and women of the county commenced their early education.

Tragedy . - About twenty yean ago Wm. Jarrott shot and killed Andrew Pruett, at Frogtown, (now Wilberton). They were rival saloon-keepers, and under the influence of liquor. Jarrott was put on trial for the offenoe, when it was proven that Pruett made the first attack, consequently he was acquitted.

Wilberton, or as it is better known, Frogtown, is situated on Section 14, and at one time was a formidable rival of Vandalia in afousincse point of view. The town was commenced about 1825, and in 1835 it had a popula¬ tion of one hundred or more, with three stores, blacksmiths' shops, tavern, saloons, Ac., in feet all the elements and industries of a flourishing town. Now the visitor sees nothing but one little store and a few small tumble- down houses, the rest having been moved away or destroyed. It is, how¬ ever, surrounded by a splendid farming country, and may at some time recover a part of its former greatness.

Geography, Inhabitants, &C

Wilberton Township is bounded on the north by Qtego, on the south by Marion County, on the east by Lone Grove, and on the wfest by Kaskaskia. About one-third of it is covered with a heavy growth of Hickory, Oak, Black Walnut, and Maple timber. The timbered portion extends entirely across the north side of the township. There is also some timber land in

Sections 31, 32 and 33. The rest of it is level prairie, with a deep, rich, black soil. The soil in the timber is a loose sandy loam, making it one of the best agricultural townships in the county, although it has not been thoroughly developed yet. The products at present are principally wheat and corn, with some hay. It is only fairly watered, Hickory Creek running through the northern and Richland the southern portion of the township, with their tri¬ butaries. About one-third of the population is American who have settled in and along the timber. The other two-thirds are Germans who came to the county at a later date and settled on the prairies, where they are making excellent farms.

Biographical James D. Gould

One of the leading farmers of Wilberton Township, is a native of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and is the fourth child of John B. and Jane (Trainer) Gould, born March 12,1828. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and his mother of Pennsylvania. The Gould family is of Irish extraction, and trace their genealogy to the Bell family as far back as 1600. James D., when a lad, attended the subscription schools of his native county, where, by assiduous attention to his studies, he acquired the rudimeuts of an Eoglish education. At the age of nineteen he went to Washington County, Penn- i sylvania, where he learned the trade of ship-carpenter. After remaining there three years, he went to Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade, with | some intermission, for two yean; after which he engaged in steam-boating, principally on the Mississippi.

On the 5th day of September, 1854, he married Miss Nancy Sconce. Her father was a native of Kentucky, and her mother of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Gould was born in Ohio, in which State her parents had settled. Mr. and Mrs. Gould have had born to them two children, in the following order of their births: John B. and Jennie, both residing with their parents. In 1860 Mr. Gould purchased and located on his present farm. In 1872 he aban¬ doned his business of steam-boating, and has since devoted his time exclu¬ sively to agriculture.

In politics he is a Democrat, but not a politician, preferring the pleasanter and more remunerative life of a farmer. Being an advocate of good schools, he has served as Sohool Director for a number of years. Mr. G., like many of the successful men throughout the county, commenced life without means; but he possessed the essential elements of success, industry and energy, coupled with good judgment and economy; he has been enabled to accumu¬ late a comfortable competence. He is now the possessor of a farm which is among the beet improved in the township.

Dr. Edward Rheiner

A representative man of Fayette County, financially and professionally, was born in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, July 26, 1826, and was the second child of Edward and Rosa Rheiner, both members of old and dis¬ tinguished Swiss families. He commenced attending the common schools of his country at the age of six yean, continuing until he was twelve; then went to College in Zurich five years, preparatory to entering the University at that place, where he graduated in 1848. One year after (in 1849), having heard of the superior advantages offered a young man of energy in America, he decided to make this country his home. Going first to Mobile, Ala., he at once commenced the practice of medicine, remaining there two years. He then removed to New Orleans, and opened a drug store in connection with his profession. Remaining in New Orleans until 1854, and doing a good business, he accumulated quite a little fortune, but, through the ras¬ cality of his partner, he lost it all, and was compelled to remove again.

This time he settled in Boonville, Missouri, where he devoted his entire at¬ tention to the practice of medicine until 1864, when the Doctor, who was a staunch Union man, and dared to express himself as such, was compelled to leave the State by Price's army, who confiscated everything he had in the shape of stock and loose property. This time he settled in Bentonsport, Iowa, and remained there until 1867; then moved to Fayette County, Illi¬ nois, and located permanently at St. Paul, in Wilberton Township, where he now lives.

The Doctor was married March 14,1854, to Meda Slaeger, of St. Louis, Mo. They have raised a family of seven children, who are living near their parents. He belongs to that class of Eu ropeans who have done so much to develop the resources of this country. Possessing a full share of their wellknown thrift and energy, and more than an ordinary amount of intelligence and education, he has made three small fortunes since coming to this coun¬ try - loeing one in New Orleans through rascality, and one in Missouri by the war. But now, at the age of fifty-two years, he has one of the best farms in Fayette County, and appears to be as busy as most men are at thirty.

Rev. Charles G. Schuricht

The eldest child of Charles E. and Hedwig Schuricht, was born in St. Louis, Mo., January 7,1845. His parents were natives of Wallbach, in the king¬ dom of Saxony, and emigrated to America in 1838, settling in St. Louis, where the father died in the fall of 1849, and the mother the spring follow¬ ing, leaving Charles G. comparatively alone in the world. He, however, went to live with an uncle, and commenced going to school when six years old, attending the parochial school of the Lutheran Church six years, after¬ wards studying in the Universities in St. Louis and Fort Wayne, Ind., and graduating, he entered the ministry June 26,1864, at Petersburg, Illinois. He continued to preach in the Lutheran Church at that place until Sept., 1868; then removed to Vandalia; remained there until 1870; then located at St. Paul, in Wilberton Township, where he has had charge of a church ever since. He has been an earnest, faithful, and successful worker in the vineyard. His church only numbered about forty when he took charge of it; now it has a membership of about ninety, and is free from debt.

Mr. Schuricht was married May 21,1865, to Christine Lange, who has borne him six children, four of whom are living, viz.: John C. C., Chas. T. H., Theodore J. A., and Christine A. S.

James M. Manion

Abel Manion, the father of the subject of our sketch, was born in North Carolina, October 12, 1794, and died in Wilberton Township, Fayette County, Illinois, May 20, 1835; and Rebecca Manion, the mother, was born in Georgia, December 1, 1800, and died April 27,1866. They were married in Allen County, Ky., in 1818, where they lived on a farm until 1830, when they moved to Illinois, and settled in Section 9, Wilberton Township, adjoin^ ing the farm where their son James now lives. Abel Manion was a man highly esteemed while living, holding the offioe of Jostice of the Peace eleven years before leaving Kentucky.

James M. Manion was born in Allen County, Ky., November 18,1824. He was raised a farmer, and has followed that occupation all his life, believ¬ ing it to be a safe and healthfal profession. In early life he worked at home in summer, and attended the old-fashioned subscription schools in the win¬ ter. With these limited advantages he managed to acquire a fair Eoglish education, fitting him for the business pursuits of life.

He was first married June 11, 1846, to Sarah M. Day, they raising a family of eight children; six are still living Mrs. Manion dying February 17, 1866, he was again married May 8,1868, to Amanda V. Day. They have a family of four, all living.

Mr. Manion bought and commenced working the farm where he now lives in 1843. It is in a fine state of cultivation, yielding him something more than a comfortable competency. In politics he was an old " Henry Clay " Whig until the organization of the Rspublican party, when he affiliated himself with that party, and is a staunch supporter of its principles. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for twenty yean. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, raising their family " in the fear and ad¬ monition of the Lord.** Mr. Manion is certainly a representative man of his township, commencing life with nothing but that will and energy so neces¬ sary to develop a new country.

John W. Peters

Was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, August 4,1824. His father Jacob was a native of Maryland, and his mother Elizabeth Wolf of Pennsylvauia. They removed to Illinois in 1849. The father died April 12,1852, and the mother October 7, 1864. John, the subject of our sketch, was the fifth of eleven children. He remained at home until he was of age, working on the farm and attending the common schools during the winter, acquiring a fair Eoglish education, enough at any rate to transact all kinds of business; and being naturally a man of fine intellect, he is qualified to fill any office in the county. Although he is a Republican in politics and living in a strong

Democratic township, he has been five times elected to the offioe of Super¬ visor. He has also filled the offioe of Township Trustee for a period of nine years; thus proving beyond a doubt that he is thoroughly respected by all parties for his sterling merit and ability.

He was married May 18,1849, to Susan Nigh. They are both consistent members of the Church, living for a bright and happy future beyond the grave. They are a hale, hearty couple, and look as though they might yet be spared for many yean of usefulness. Mr. Peters has always taken a lively interest in school and church matters, and in fact everything else per¬ taining to the general welfare of the county. He is one of a few men in the world who believe the true aim in life should be to live partly for othen.

Owe of the leading men of Wilberton Township, was born in Virginia, Oct. 13th, 1826. His parents, Pleasant and Elisabeth Burnett, were natives of that good old State. The former is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-three years; the latter died many years ago.

The subject of this sketch was the eldest of four children. His father, being a cripple and unable to support himself, he was apprenticed to a miller, at the age of five years, and continued to live with him until his ma¬ jority, when he went to work, by the month, on a farm.

He also traded, between points in Indiana and New Orleans, for some seven or eight years of his life, buying poultry and produce in the country, and shipping it down the river in flat-boats, sometimes realizing a handsome profit Removing to Illinois in 1863, he continued in the same business until June 5th, 1866, when he was married to Mary E Bellamy. They have a family of five children, aH living at home.

In politics Mr. Burnett has always been a staunch Democrat, working for the best interests of his party. He commenced the world without a dollar, but entirely by his own exertions, he has made a good living, and possesses a fine farm of one hundred aud sixty sores, where he now lives, en¬ joying the fruits of his early struggles and hardships - a fine specimen of the Virginia gentleman - affable and generous to a fault.