LIBRARY
OF THL
U N 1VER5 ITY
or ILLl NOIS
>.\
KLINOIS HISTOSICAL SUMt
JIJI,
STARK COUNTY
ILLINOIS
AND ITS PEOPLE
A RECORD OF SETTLEMENT, ORGANIZATION,
PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENT
J. KNOX HALL
SUPERVISING EDITOR
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME I
Chicago
THE PIONEER PUBLISHING COMPANY
1916
^ -^..f .^r'^y
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
<^ PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC.
LOCATIOX AND BOUNDARIES — SURFACE — RIVERS AND CREEKS — GENERAL
CHARACTER NATIVE A'EGETATION ANLMALS AND BIRDS GEOLOGY
— THE COAL MEASURES — SECTIONS OF MINING SH^Vl'TS — EXTENT OF
THE COAL DEPOSITS — BUILDING STONE — THE GLACIAL EPOCH HOAV
STARK COUNTY ^VAS FORMED — CHARACTER OF THE GLACIAL DRIFT —
THE AVATER SUPPIA' 9
CHAPTER II
ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS
.MOUND BUILDERS FIRST NOTICE OF MOUNDS IN THE UNITED STATES
CHARACTER AND STRUCTURE OF THE MOUNDS — EARLY INVESTIGA-
TIONS AND THEORIES WORK OF THE BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY — DIS-
TRICTS IX THE UNITED STATES — WHO WERE THE MOUND BUILDERS —
MORE THEORIES — RELICS IX THE COUNTY OF STARK — ADAMS AND
shallexberger's work 22
CHAPTER III
INDIAN HISTORY
DISTRIBUTIOX OF IXDIAX NATIO>JS AT THE CLOSE OF THE FIFTEENTH
CENTURY" — THE ILLINOIS — SUBORDINATE TRIBES — THE SACS AND
FOXES THE BLACK HAWK WAR DEATH OF BLACK HAWK THE
POTTAWATOMI THEIR VILLAGES IN STARK COUNTY SHAB-BO-NEE
— TREATIES WITH THE POTTAWATOMI THEIR CHARACTER THE
WINNEBAGO INDIAN NA:MES 31
\ iii
\ I I 0948 I
iv CONTENTS
CHAPTER IV
THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION
EiiRLY EXPLORATIONS IN AMERICA SPANISH, FRENCH AND ENG-
LISH CLAIMS TO TERRITORY IN THE NEA\^ WORLD — THE JESUIT
MISSIONARIES — DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI — :MARQUETTE AND
JOLIET LA SALLE's EXPEDITIONS LOUISIANA CROXAT AND LAW
THE MISSISSIPPI BUBBLE — CONFLICT OF INTERESTS — FRENCH AND
INDIAN AVAR — ILLINOIS A BRITISH POSSESSION THE WAR OF THE
REVOLUTION CLARK's CONQUEST OF THE NORTHWEST ILLINOIS
UNDER VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS ADMITTED AS A STATE EVOLUTION
OF STARK COUNTY — RECAPITULATION 45
CHAPTER V
SETTLEMENT OF STARK COUNTY
AN OLD TRADING POST EVELAND AND ROSS — ISAAC B. ESSEX THE ORIG-
INAL PIONEER — FIRST CABIN IN STARK COUNTY — LIST OF SETTLERS
EACH YEAR TO 1839 — PIONEER LIFE AND CUSTOMS — THE HOUSE
RAISING — FURNITURE AND UTENSILS — SWAPPING WORK — AMUSE-
MENTS AND PASTIMES — MARKING ANIMALS — THE OLD TRAPPER's
SOLILOQUY 58
CHAPTER VI
STARK COUNTY ORGANIZED
THE MILITARY LAND GRANT — FORGED TITLES — FIRST COUNTIES IN THE
ILLINOIS VALLEY — STARK COUNTY — THE ORGANIC ACT — FIRST ELEC-
TIONS — THE COUNTY SEAT — CHANGE IN GOA'ERNMENT — THE COURT-
HOUSE — THE ANNEX — THE COUNTY JAIL — SHERIFF MURCHISON's
REPORT — THE POOR FARM — HOW THE COUNTY WAS NAMED 70
CHAPTER VII
TOWNSHIP HISTORY
ORIGIN OF THE TOWNSHIP — FIRST TOWNSHIPS IN THE UNITED STATES —
justices' districts in STxVRK COUNTY — ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL
CONTENTS V
TOAVNSHIPS IX 1853 — ELM IRA — ESSEX— GOSHEN — OSCEOLA — PENN
— TOULON — VALLEY — WEST JERSEY — MILITARY LAND ENTRIES IN
E^CH — HOW THE TOAVNSHIPS AVERE NAMED — EARLY SETTLERS-
PRESENT DAY CONDITIONS— RAILROADS— SCHOOLS— POPULATION AND
AVEALTH ^^
CHAPTER VIII
CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES
SPECULATION IN EARLY DAYS — NUMEROUS TOWNS PROJECTED — LIST OF
TOAVNS AND VILLAGES IN STARK COUNTY — CITIES OF TOULON AND
WYOMING INCORPORATED VILLAGES OF BRADFORD AND LAFAYETTE
MINOR VILLAGES HISTORICAL SKETCH OF EACPI PRESENT DAY
CONDITIONS POSTOFFICES AND RURAL MAIL ROUTES Ill
CHAPTER IX
MILITARY HISTORY
AVAR OF 1812 BLACK HAAVK AA^VR AVAR AVITH MEXICO AA'AR OF 1861-
'65 — CONDITIONS LEADING UP TO THE AVAR — THE SLAA'ERY QUESTION
C0MPR03IISE LEGISLATION — KANSAS-NEBRASKA BILL — POLITICAL
CAMPAIGN OF 1860 — SECESSION OF THE SLAA'E STATES — FALL OF FORT
SUMTER — CALL FOR A'OLUNTEERS — AVAR MEETING AT TOULON — ILLI-
NOIS' RESPONSE — EARLY ENLISTMENTS — BRIEF HISTORIES OF THE
REGIMENTS IN AVHICH STARK COUNTY AVAS REPRESENTED — ROSTER
OF STARK COUNTY COMPANIES — MISCELLANEOUS INFANTRY ENLIST-
MENTS — CAA^ALRY SERVICE — ARTILLERY — SOLDIERs' MONUJIENT^
THE AVORK AT HOME 135
CHAPTER X
INTERNAL II^IPROVEMENTS
EARLY CONDITIONS IN STARK COUNTY — ^DIFFICULTIES OF EARLY TRAVEL
— INDIAN TRAILS — PUBLIC HIGHAVAYS — KNOXVILLE & GALENA STATE
ROAD FIRST ROAD DISTRICTS AND SUPERVISORS PETITIONS AND
VIEAVERS MODERN HIGHAVAYS STATE HIGHAVAY COMMISSION-
STATE INTERNAL IMPROAEMENTS — ILLINOIS & MICHIGAN CANAL —
vi CONTENTS
ACT OF 1836 LxUJGE APPROPRIATIONS FOR RIVER IMPROVEMENTS
AND RAILRO^VDS THE RAILROAD ERA WESTERN AIR LINE A3IER-
ICAN CENTRAL — CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND &: PACIFIC — CHICAGO, BUR-
LINGTON & QUINCY — CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN — VALUE OF RAIL-
ROAD PROPERTY IN THE COUNTY 162
CHAPTER XI
FINANCE AND INDUSTRY
PUBLIC REVENUES — PROPERTY VALUES — PRINCIPAL FUNDS RAISED BY
TAXATION — BANKING INSTITUTIONS — GENERAL HISTORY — EARLY
BANKING IN ILLINOIS STARK COUNTY BANKS AGRICULTUItE^
CROP AND LIVE STOCK STATISTICS STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
farmers' INSTITUTES — COAL MINING — MANUFACTURING TELE-
PHONE COMPANIES 177
CHAPTER XII
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
CHARACTER OF THE EARLY SCHOOLS — SCHOOLHOUSE AND FURNITURE —
TEXT-BOOKS SPELLING SCHOOLS — THE THREE r's — PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM — STARK COUNTY SCHOOLS PIONEER TEACHERS — EDUCA-
TION^VL PROGRESS BY TOWNSHIPS THE SEMINARY TOULON PUBLIC
SCHOOLS — TOULON ACADEMY WYOMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS — SCHOOL
OFFICERS TEACHERS^ INSTITUTE — TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION — THE
PRESS — BRIEF HISTORIES OF THE VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS — EXTINCT
NEAVSPAPERS PUBLIC LIBRARIES WYOJIING TOULON LAFAY-
ETTE BRADFORD ELMIRA IJBRARY ASSOCIATION SCHOOL
LIBRARIES. ....... ^ 194
CHAPTER XIII
THE BENCH AND BAR
PURPOSE OF THE COURTS — THE LAWYER AS A CITIZEN — EARLY COURTS
OF STARK COUNTY FIRST JURORS SKETCHES OF EARLY JUDGES- -
LIST OF CIRCUIT JUDGES SINCE 1839 — CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
CONCERNING COURTS PROBATE COURT COUNTY COURT AND JUDGES
state's ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES COURTS THE BAR CONDI-
TIONS OF EARLY DAYS SKETCHES OF OLD-TIME LAWYERS THE BAR
OF 1915^ — CRIMINAL CASES A STRAY INCIDENT 219
COXTENTS vii
CHAPTER XIV
THE MEDICAL PKOFESSION
MEDICINE AX OLD I'UOl-ESSION HOME-:\rADE liEMEDIES CHARACTKli Ol''
THE PIONEER DOCTOR HIS METHODS OF TREATMENT^ HARDSHIPS
OF FRONTIER PRACTICE — STANDING OF THE DOCTOR AS A CITIZEN —
STARK COUNTY DOCTORS — BRIEF SKETCHES OF OLD-TIME PHYSICIANS
■ — STARK COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY — REGISTERED PHYSICIANS IN
191.3.... 236
CHAPTER XV
CHURCH HISTORY
DIFFICULTIES IN AVRITING CHURCH HISTORY — JESUIT MISSIONARIES —
THE METHODISTS — PEORIA MISSION THE BAPTISTS THE PRESBY-
TERIANS THE CONGREGATIONALISTS LATTER DAY SAINTS^ — CHRIS-
TIANS OR DISCIPLES — THE UNIVERSALISTS — UNITED BRETHREN —
THE CATHOLICS — HISTORIES OF THE VARIOUS CONGREGATIONS —
MISCELLANEOUS RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS 240
CHAPTER XVI
SOCIETIES AND FRATERNITIES
MUTUAL PROTECTION SOCIETY ITS AUMS AND OBJECTS — AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETIES AND FAIR ASSOCIATIONS OLD SETTLERs' ASSOCIATION —
THE LOG CABIN OLD SETTLERS' MONUMENT LETTERS FROM
PIONEERS MASONIC FRATERNITY ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS — DAUGHTERS OF REBEKAH —
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC — TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES — MISCEL-
LANEOUS SOCIETIES '2C}(>
CHAPTER XVII
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY
PURPOSE OF THIS CHAPTER — FIRST THINGS — PRICES AND AYAGES — LIN-
COLN AND DOUGLAS AT TOULON — THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD —
FOUNTAIN AV ATKINS TELLS A STORY- — A RESOLUTION THE FIRST
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN INDIAN RETALIATION HUNTING IN EARLY
DAYS — THE MORMON PROPHET — A POLITICAL HERO 280
viii CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVIII
STATISTICAL REVIEW
POPULATIOX AT EACH UNITED STATES CENSUS — CONSTITUTIONAL CON-
VENTIONS — CONGRESSION.VI. DISTRICTS — GENERAL ASSE5IBLY — HOW
STARK HAS BEEN REPRESENTED IN THE LEGISLATURE OEITCIAL ROS-
TER — LIST OF PUBLIC OFFICLXXS SINCE 1839 — VOTE FOR PRESIDENT
AT EACH ELECTION SINCE 1840 — SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL
E^'ENTS CONNECTED WITH THE COUNTy's HISTORY 305
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
UR6ANA
J. KNOX HALL
History of Stark County
CHAPTER I
PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC.
LOCATIOX AND BOUNDARIES SURFACE RIVERS AND CREEKS GENERAL
CHARACTER NATIVE VEGETATION ANIMALS AND BIRDS GEOLOGY
— THE COAL MEASURES — SECTIONS OF MINING SHAFTS — EXTENT OF
THE COAL DEPOSITS— BUILDING STONE — THE GLACIAL EPOCH — HOW
STARK COUNTY AVAS FORJIED CHARACTER OF THE GLACIAL DRIFT
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Stark County is situated northwest of the center of the state, its
western Hue being about fifty miles from tlie INIississippi River at
Keithsburg. and its northern bounthiry is eighty-seven miles from the
\\'isc()nsin state line. On the north it is bounded by the counties of
Rureau and Henry; on the east l)y Rureau and Marshall counties;
on the south by Peoria County, and on the west by Knox and Heiu-y
cdunties. It embraces Congressional townshi])s 12 and 13 north.
Range o east; townships 12. l.'i and U, Range (i; and townships 12.
I. "J and 14, Range 7. As each of these townships contains thirty-six
square miles, the total area of the county is 288 square miles.
The general surface of the county is slightly undulating, or roll-
ing, except in the vicinity of the Spoon River and at some places along
Indian Creek, where it is more or less broken. More than nine-tenths
of the 184.320 acres responds easily to cultivation, and the remaining
tenth is by no means waste land, though its cultivation is attended
by greater effort. Natural drainage is afforded by the Spoon River.
Indian and AValnut creeks, Cooper's Defeat, Camping Run, Jack
Creek, ]Mud Run, Jug Run and a number of smaller streams.
The Spoon River is composed of two branches. The East Fork
rises in Rureau County and the West Fork in Henry County, the
former flowing in a southwesterly direction and the latter toward the
10 IIISTORV OF STARK COUNTY
southeast until they form a junction in the northeastern part of Tou-
lon Township, Stark Countj'. From this point the main stream fol-
lows a general southerly course through the townships of Toulon
and Essex. It finally empties into the Illinois River near the town
of Havana, Mason County. The Indian name of this stream was
"]Maquon," which in the Pottawatomi language means "Feather,"
certainly a more euphonious name than the one adopted by the white
people.
Indian Creek, the second largest stream in the county, has its
source not far from the town of Galva, Henry County. It enters
Stark County about two miles west of the northeast corner of Goshen
Township, and follows a general southeasterly direction until it
empties into the Spoon River a short distance above the old settlement
known as Slackwater. This creek takes its name from the fact that
when the first white men came to what is now Stark County they
found a few Indians living along its banks.
Walnut Creek, so named because of the number of walnut trees
that once grew along its course, rises near the little village of Xekoma,
Henry County, whence it flows southeast until it enters Stark County
a little south of I^afayette. Its course is then almost south through
Goshen and West Jersey townships until it mingles its waters with
those of the Spoon River in the northwestern part of Peoria County.
The creek known as Cooper's Defeat begins in the southern part
of Bureau County. Its general course is westward and it finally emp-
ties into the East Fork of the Spoon River in the southwest corner of
Osceola Township. About three miles above its mouth it bends south-
ward into Penn Township, where William and Jeremiah Cooper were
frozen to death in the severe snow storm just before Christmas in is:n,
from which incident the creek takes its name. A further account of
this event Avill be found in another chapter.
Some seven or eight miles south of Coojjer's Defeat and flowing
in the same general direction is Cam])ing Rim, or Camp Creek, as it
is sometimes called. It has its beginning a short distance east of
Camp Grove, in INIarshall County, and joins the Spoon River about
a mile and a half west of the little village of Stark. Before the advent
of the railroad emigrant parties frequently encamped in the grove
near the headwaters of the creek, from which custom it took its name.
Still farther south is ]Mud (or ]Muddy) Run. \\hich rises in ^Slar-
shall County and flows westAvard through the southern part of Valley
Township until it empties into Camping Run about half a mile from
the mouth of the latter. Its name indicates its character.
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 11
Jack Creek rises near the western boundary of Elniira Township
and Hows in a southeasterly direction througli that township and Tou-
lon, finally falling into the Spoon River a short distance below the
village of JNlodena.
.Jug Riui parallels the course of Jack Creek about two miles
farther south. It is a short stream and is all in Toulon Township.
Of the smaller streams the most important are Fitch Creek, which
rises in Knox County and touches the northwest corner of Goshen
Township; and Silver Creek, a tributary of the East Fork of the
Spoon River in the northeast corner of Osceola Township.
GEXEKAh CIIAKACTEU
Originally the greater part of the county was prairie, with groves
of timber interspersed in such a way that none of the prairies con-
sisted of more than a few square miles. The largest prairie was be-
tween Cooper's Defeat Creek and Camping Run, in what are now
Pcmi and \'alley townships. The absence of timber \ii)on the tracts
of land called prairies has been the subject of considerable specula-
tion among geologists. geogra]ihcrs and botanists as to the cause of the
vast, treeless plains in the ^Middle West and the smaller tracts of sim-
ilar character in other parts of the country. It is a notable fact that
no prairies existed east of the State of Ohio. Professor Whitney,
who made .some observations on this subject, says:
"The cause of the absence of trees on the prairies is due to the physi-
cal character of the soil, and especially its exceeding fineness, which is
prejudicial to the growth of anything but a superficial vegetation, the
smallness of the particles of the soil being an insuperable barrier to
the necessary access of air to the roots of dee])ly-rootcd vegetation,
such as trees. \Vherever, in the midst of the extraordinary tine soil
of the prairies, coarse and gravelly patches exist, there dense forests
occur."
Dr. Charles A. White, who held the office of state geologist in
Iowa for several years in the early '7()s, made a somewhat extended
investigation of the subject and reached a different conclusion from
that of Professor Whitney. After calling attention to the fact tliat
])rairies are found resting uj)on all kinds of bed rock, from the Azoic
to the Cretaceous ages, and that all kinds of soil — alluvial, drift and
lacrustral, including sand, clay, gravel and loam — are frecinently
found upon the same prairie, he says:
"Thus, whatever the origin of the jirairies might have been, wc have
12 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
positive assurance that their present existence is not due to the influ-
ence of the chmate, the character or composition of tlie soil, nor to the
character of any underlying formations.
"There seems to be no good reason why we should regard the for-
ests as any more natural or normal condition than are the prairies.
Indeed it seems the more natural inference that the occupation of
the surface has taken place by dispersion from original centers, and
that they encroached upon the unoccupied surface until they were
met and checked by the destructive power of fires. The prairies
doubtless existed as such almost immediately after the close of the
glacial epoch."
Doctor White's statement, that the prairies are not due to any
character or composition of the soil, is borne out by the fact that in
the towns that have been built up on the prairies, and in the artificial
groves around many of the farm houses in the West, trees have grown
M'ith as much vigor as though the surface had once been covered by a
gnjw th of native timber. But, no matter how the prairies originated,
the pioneers of Stark County found upon them a soil — a dark loam in
.structure — that \\hen properly drained and rightly cultivated is unsur-
passed in productiveness.
Along the streams the first settlers foimd belts of timber, vai'ying
in width, the principal varieties of native trees being oak, maple, lin-
den, hickory, black walnut and elm. Smaller and less important spe-
cies were the dogwood, hawthorn, red bud. wild plum, crab apple, etc.
The soil of the timbered lands is lighter in color than that of the ])rai-
ries and not so deep, but with the right kind of care and cultivation it
can be made to produce excellent crops.
Before the plow and the spade of civilization disturbed the nati\'e
vegetation of the ])rairies the land was covered with flowers of various
hues. First in im])ortance was probably the tall plant known as
"Queen of the prairie," which often grew to a height of six feet and
bore at the top a large cluster of flowers resembling the blossoms of
the peach tree. Then there were the white, yellow and ]Hu-])le lady
slipper, the golden rod, the buttercup, the INIay api)le. the blue bell,
the forget-me-not, several members of the phlox family, the best
know n of which was the modest little flower known as the sweet wil-
liam. and numerous others, all of which have disappeared except in
very rare instances.
Along the banks of the streams and around the ponds could be
found three or four species of water lilies, the cowslip, the cat tail
and blue flags, various kinds of mint, etc. In the Avoods the wild mari-
HISTORY OF STxVRK COUNTY 13
gold, tlie bell flower, the yellow honey suckle, aiieinones, the clematis,
the trumpet creeper and the modest violet grew ahuiidantly, and some
of these flowers are still to be seen in a few secluded places, wjicrc the
ravages of civilized man have not yet encompassed their destruction,
in the early days, before the physician and the drug store had
become established institutions, many herbs were gathered and pre-
served for their medicinal properties. Foremost among these were
the horehound, boneset, pennyroyal, catnip, wild garlic, barberiy, yel-
low water dock, burdock, wild senna, gentian, lobelia, and a species of
wormwood. A i'eA\- straggling siJecimens of these plants may be seen,
but whei-e they once grew in pi'oi'usion are now the cultivated fields
of the thrifty husbandman.
ANIMALS AND lilKIlS
Time was when the l)ison. or American I)uff"alo, roamed in great
berds over the prairies of Illinois. At several points along the Spoon
IJivei-, within the limits of Stark County, large quantities of the bones
of these animals have !)een found. It is supposed that these bone
heaps are due to the bufl'aloes seeking shelter in the timber along the
river from some violent storm, and that here the whole herd perished.
What the storms failed to accomjjlish toward the extinguishment of
the bison the rifle of the pioneer and the encroachments of civilization
did accomplish, and they have gone, never to return.
The Virginia deer was also once plentiful in what is now Stark
County and venison formed a considerable jjortion of the meat sui)i)ly
for the family of the early settler. Occasionally a black bear could
be seen prowling about some frontier settlement, but when some
pioneer "drew a bead" on him with the long barreled rifle his tenure of
life was limited to a few seconds at most, and then the family ^^ould
least on bear meat for a short season.
Although not so plentiful as the bufl'alo or tlie deei\ tiie elk was
one of the native animals of the S])oon River \'allev. The beaver,
ottei', nniik. raccoon and nmskrat were the best known of the fur-
bearing animals and in early days were tra])ped in large numbei's for
the revenue that their skins woidd bring. The beaver and otter have
joined the bufi^alo, bear, deer and elk in oblivion and oidy on r;u-e
occasions are any of the others to be seen.
Among the predatory animals, or beasts of ])rey, the prairie and
timber wolf, the lynx, the pantbei-. the catamomit. the wildcat, the
grav and red fox were those most common. Of these the wolves were
14 HISTORY OF STARK COUXTY
probably tbe most troublesome. In JNlarcb, IH^J', the county com-
missioners offered a bounty of $1 for the scalp of each big wolf and
;50 cents for that of each prairie wolf "six months old killed in Stark
County during the year 1844." As late as December 18, 1884, a large
wolf was killed a few miles west of Toulon, and on ^Nlay 23, 188.3, the
county clerk paid E. H. Bates, of Osceola, $24 on fourteen young
wolf scalps. There are still living in the county jjersons who can
I'emember how, when they were children, they were wont to cuddle
more closely together in their beds as the mournful howl of some wolf,
engaged upon his nightly foraging expedition, came to their ears in
the lonely cabin on the frontier.
Other wild animals that were common in the early days were the
IMaryland marmot — commonly called the woodchuck or ground hog —
the rabbit, which is still found in considerable mmibers, several species
of squirrels, the skunk, the opossum, the weasel and a few others.
The gray squirrel, the striped and spotted prairie squirrel have dis-
api)eared aTul the other varieties are found only in limited numbers
compared with former years.
In October, 1867, Robert Church killed an American eagle near
the bridge over Indian Creek on the road leading from Toulon to
Lafayette. The bird was a magnificent specimen, measuring seven
feet from tip to tip of its wings. So far as can be learned this M'as
the last eagle killed in the county, where the bald eagle was once (piite
common and occasionally the golden eagle cotild be seen. Closely
allied to the eagle in habits, but much smaller, are the hawks, several
s|)ecies of which were once quite nmnerous in Stark County. Those
best known were the pigeon hawk, the sparrow hawk. Cooper's, the
sharp-shinned, the red-tailed and the swallow-tailed hawks, while the
fish hawk, the red shouldered hawk and the marsh hawk were more rare.
Of the owls, the most common was the ordinary screech owl.
Next was the barred or barn owl. The long and short eared, the
great horned owl and the snowy owl were to be seen in the smaller
numbers, the last named being rather rare.
Game birds, or birds used for food, were abundant. The wild
turkey, several species of wild ducks, the wild goose, the loon and the
gull Mere the largest of such fowl, though some of the smaller varieties
made u]) in numbers what they lacked in size. The most familiar of
this class were the prairie chicken and some other members of the
grouse family, the quail, the snipe, of which tliere were several kinds,
the plover, and last, but not least in importance, the passenger pigeon.
Prior to 187o great flocks of wild pigeons numbering thousands of
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 15
birds would pass over the county during the migratory seasons. At
night they wouhl pause to roost in some forest and would perch upon
the rimhs of the trees in such numbers that often branches several
inches in diameter would give wav under the weight. Those were red-
letter days for the sportsman and the birds were killed by hundreds,
merely for the sport of the killing. In the early '70s the size of the
flocks began to diminisli and a few years later the ])assenger pigeon
disappeared altogether. The question has l)een asked many times
where they went or what became of them, as they have not been heard
from anywliere. Their disappearance is still shrouded in mystery.
Other birds once seen here in considerable numbers that are now
entirely extinct or exceedingly rare were the turkey buzzard, the
C'aroliit* parrot, the whippoorwill, the cuckoo, the crane, the heron,
the common crow, the tintle dove and quite a number of song birds,
such as the thrush, the finch family, several species of warblers, the
oriole, etc. Then tliei'e were the swallows, of which there were several
kinds, the bunting, the little wren, the titmouse, the chickadee, the
native sparrows, the red throated humming bird, the meadow lark,
the nuthatch, the fly catcher, the jn'airie skylark, the pewee, the blue
bird and some others that have entirely (lisa])peared or are extremely
rare. The ax, the plow and the scythe destroyed many of their
accustomed haunts and drove them to seek other (piarters, and the
pugnacious, worthless English sparrow has added to the destructive
work of man in driving out many of the native birds. The wood-
pecker, the l)lack bird and the uliiquitous lilue jay are still seen in the
county, but in smaller numbers tlian formerly, and on rare occasions
some of the other species mentioned above are to be met with, as
thougli they had returned to mourn over the scenes of their l)y-gone
ha])piness. It is to be regretted that greater and timely protection
was not given to the song ])irds and insect-eating varieties, which
could have done so much toward adding to the cheerfulness of the
liiiiiian familj' and the protection of the farmers' crops.
GEOLOGY
Although America is called the Xew ^Vorld, geologists believe
that it is older than any of the continents of the Eastern Hemis])here.
P]-ofessor Agassiz says: "Here Avas the first dry land lifted out of
the waters; here the first shores were Avashed by the ocean that en-
velo])ed all the earth besides; and while Europe was represented onlv
by islands rising here and there above the sea, America already
16 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
stretched in one unbroken line of dry land from Nova Scotia to the
far West."
It is not witliin the province of a history such as tliis to discuss the
methods by which geok)gists readied this conclusion, but other eminent
autliorities, as well known in scientific circles as Professor Agassiz,
are inclined to favor the same theory regarding the age of the conti-
nent upon which we live. If their hypothesis be correct. Stark County
may have been the home of the creatures of the reptilian type belong-
ing to the Jura-Trias and Cretaceous eras, while the so-called Old
World was still under water.
The first official geological survey of the conditions existing in
Stark County was made by H. A. Green, under the auspices of the
state geological survey, and published in the report for 1870. ]Mr.
Green found in his investigations that all the stratified rocks of the
county belong to the Coal INIeasures, including all the lower portion
of the series from coal No. 7 to coal Xo. 2, inclusive. Coal Xo. 7 was
observed in only a few places, the most notable of which was in section
10, township 14, range 7, where S. C. Francis was engaged in oper-
ating a mine near the east fork of the Spoon River. A section of
the shaft at this mine, as given by Mr. Green, shows the following
formation :
Ft. In.
Yellow clay 2
Red sand 2
Xodular limestone 2 4
Light colored clay G 10
Clay shale 2
Sandstone 8
Blue clay shale 4 2
Sandstone 1 4
Blue clay shale 8
Dark clay shale 5 8
Coal ...". ■ 2
Blue clay shale 12
Impure limestone 3
Clay shale 8
Impure limestone 2
Blue clay shale 1 4
Dark clav shale 3
Coal ..." 2 7
Depth of shaft 62 6
HISTOKV OF STAKK COUNTY 17
Concerning the product of this mine and the coal deposits in the
vicinity, Mr. Green says: "Tliis coal appears to occupy the ])osition
of coal No. 7, and prohal)ly l»eh)ngs to that seam. The coal worked
at the Bradford shaft, which is hut a short distance from here, in
section 21, is thought to he some thirty or forty feet helow, and is
probahly No. G."
With regard to the coal deposits in general his report says : "Stark
County has an abundant supply of coal, which is at present derived
mainly from coal No. i>. It crops out along the West Fork in JOImii-a
Township, along the Spoon River in Toulon, at intervals for about
twenty miles, and can i)robably be found and worked along the
streams and their tributaries for the entire distance. This coal varies
in thickness from 2I/2 to 6 feet, seldom reaching the extreme, but
averaging from 3\-> to .) feet. Immense quantities of coal have been
taken from this seam at its outcrops along the diff'erent streams. In
Osceola Township one shaft has been sunk near the East Fork, and
several others are pai'tially completed. Shafts have also been sunk
at ]Modena. near Wyoming, in Toulon Township and at Cox's Mill
in Essex Township."
That was wi'itten in 1870. Since then several new developments
have been made in the mining industry. Coal No. (i is the ])i'inci])al
seam worked in the county. It first appears in the bluffs along the
West Fork, in the southeast part of section .'}. townshij) 14, range 0.
From that point to the southeast quarter of section 10, in the same
township and range, it has been worked at intervals along the west
side of the stream. In section 16 a number of openings have been
made and considerable quantities of coal have been taken out. Here
the coal crops out of the bluff, some ten or fifteen feet above the level
of the creek. The seam nms from fom- to five feet thick, with a clay
parting of about two inches near the middle. No. seam is also
worked at what is kno\\n as the Bradford shaft, located on the east
side of the East Fork in section 28, township 14, range 7. The shaft
here shows as follows:
Ft. In.
Yellow elaj' .'J
Limestone 4
I^ight colored clay 4 6
IJght colored clay shale 8 4
Limestone 2 4
Clay shale 9 10
Coal 2
18 IIISTOKV OF STARK COUXTV
Soft black slate (fossiliferous) 4
Clay 4 5
Sandstone 22 2
Clay shale
limestone 4
Light colored clay shale 6
Green clay shale 2 4
Dark clay shale 3 2
Impure limestone 1 6
Dark clay shale 2 6
Coal (with 3-inch clay parting) 4
Depth of shaft 88 7
At IModena the vein ranges from 41/.' to .jl/ feet in thickness and
is rarely more than thirty feet below the surface. Coal has also been
noted in the bed of Jack Creek, in section 4, township 13, range 6,
where some of the deposits have been worked a little. In sections 2.
11 and 12, of the same township and range, a short distance south of
jNIodena, the coal crojjs out along the bluff from eight to ten feet above
the bed of the creek and several mines were in operation in this part
of the county at the time of IMr. Green's sur^'ey.
According to Green, coal Xo. 4 is found at only one place in the
county, viz: in section 19, township 12. range .5. near Walnut Creek,
about two miles southwest of the "N'illage of ^Vest Jersey. Here he
found a vein of coal 41/. feet in thickness, below which was a layer
of impure cannel coal, varying from six to ten inches in thickness and
containing the fossil remains of plants and fishes. The vein of No. 4
coal at this point is only about fifteen feet below the surface. Fur-
ther mention of the coal deposits and their develoiMiient will be found
in the chapter on Finance and Industry.
BUILDING STONE
When INIr. Green visited the county in his geological research in
1870, he found only a small quantity of building stone of value. The
best deposit of limestone worked at that time was in the quarries in
sections 21-22, township 14, range 7. a short distance northwest of
Bradford. This he pronounced the largest bed exposed anvwhere in
the countv, being from six to twelve feet thick, but in thin ledges,
I
HISTORY OF STARK COUXTV 19
none of which was over six inches thick. The stone from this (iiiarry
is of a light drab coh)r, conij)act and of even textnre, moderately hard
and stands exposure to tlie weather. It can be l)urned into a lime
suitable for masonry, but too dark in color to be used for plastering.
Near the Spoon River, in section 14, township 1"2, range G, jNlr.
Green found a deposit of sandstone which he considered the best in
the county. About three miles west of this, in section 17 and near
Inilian Creek, he found another sandstone deposit, \\hich furnishes a
fair ([uality of building material. An old house near the quarry, con-
structed of this stone, shows that the weather has l)ut little effect
upon it after years of exposure. Another bed of sandstone is in sec-
tion 20, township 12, range 5, near ^Valnut Creek; a soft sandstone
exists in considerable quantities in section Ki, township 14, range (i,
and a better quality is found in section 13, township 13, range 6, but
neither of these deposits has been worked to any extent. The thick
vein of sandstone (22 feet (J niches) in tiie Jiradford coal mine could
be used for building purposes, but the fact that it lies from thiity-five
to i'orty feet below the surface has prevented its develoi)ment.
THE GLACIAL El'Ot'U
Far back in the geologic past, while the coal beds of Stark County
were in j^rocess of formation, the siu'face was probably one vast marsh
covered with tangled masses of vegetation and inhabited only by
reptiles. ^Vbout the close of the Tertiary period came the I'leistocene
or "Ice Age," during which the upper Mississippi Valley was covered
l)y one vast sheet of ice called a glacier. This glacier extended from
tile country about the (ireat Lakes to the Rocky ^lountains on the
west, and southward to about the latitude of St. Louis. It was formed
in the northern part of the continent by successive falls of snow, each
of wliich added to the weight of the great mass liclow until it was
compressed into one solid body of ice. After many years of the
formative process, a change in tlie tenqicrature started the glacier to
moving slowly soutliward, carrying with it great bow Idcrs. clays, soils,
etc.. to be deposited u])on the bed rocks of a region i'ar distant from
that where they were first placed by the hand of nature. As the
huge mass moved slowly along, the bowlders and other hard sub-
stances at the bottom of the glacier left scratches (called stri;e In- the
geologists) u])f)n the bed rocks, and from these markings the course
of the glacier can be determintd w Itli a fair degree of accuracy. Ex-
aminations of the stria' at various places in the IMississippi Vallev,
20 HISTOKV or STARK COUXTY
where the bed rock is exposed, show that the general direction followed
by the great central glacier was toward the southeast.
-(\.s the ice melted in the warmer latitude, the materials carried by
the glacier Aiere deposited upon the bed rock in the form of drift,
composed of till, loess and alluvium. It was through this method
that the great swamp above mentioned underwent a change. At the
close of the Pleistocene the earth's surface, over which the glacier had
])assc(l. was void of either animal or vegetable life. In time the action
of tile rain and wind gradually leveled the surface, the heat from the
sun warmed it, and life in the most primitive forms made its
appearance.
l"V)r the rich heritage of soil in Stark County, the region is indebted
to the great glacier that once overflowed the country. In its slow
mai-ch it ground up the rocks over which it passed, mixed the fresh
rock flour with the granites of British America and Northern jNIinne-
sota, with the pulverized limestones and shales of the more southern
latitudes, and de2)osited these materials upon the rocks of earlier
geologic periods. Everywhere the soil is the product of rock disinte-
gration. In Stark County the glacial drift is from twenty to sixty
feet deep, giving it one of the most fertile soils in the state.
It was through the action of the glacier that the surface of Xorth-
ern Illinois was formed. At the edge of the glacier, as it moved
forA\ai-<l. it left a ridge called a "lateral moraine." Where two glacial
bodies came together a larger ridge running parallel to the stria^ was
formed and is called a "median moraine." At the terminus of the ice
sheet, where all the remaining solid materials carried by the glacier
were deposited, the ridge thus formed is known as the "terminal
moraine." As no evidences of a moi-aine of any kind have been
noticed in Stark County, it is almost certain that tliis portion of
Illinois was in the heart of the glacier, an indication that is furtlier
borne out by the almost uniform thickness of the drift when comjnired
with those parts of the country where the moraines are known to exist.
CHARACTER OF THE DRIIT
At the bottom of the glacial deposits lies the till — called by some
geologists the lower till — composed of a blue clay or a dark shale,
charged with liowlders and sometimes mixed with sand. This till is
seen in the strata immediately overlying the Coal Pleasures, as shown
by the sections of shafts given in the preceding pages.
The loess is a fine ash-colored silt, or a porous clay, rich in carbon-
IIISTOKV OF STARK COrXTV 21
ate of lime. Tliis substance was (lei)()site(l very irregularly and so
far as known no deposits of it have been found in Stark County.
Above tb.e loess conies the alluvium or .soil, which is made up of
the lighter materials cariied i)y the glacier, to which has been added a
large volume of decayed vegetable matter that has accumulated since
the close of the glacial epoch. As this portion of the drift constitutes
the surface, and is seen everywhere in Stark County, it is too well
known to requii-e further description.
The bowldeis cuinnionly called "nigger heads" that may be seen
in greater or less numbers in all parts of the state, are uiuiuestionably
of glacial origin. They are of a different texture from the bed rock, a
fact that sustains the theory that they are foreign to this part of the
country. IMost of them are found below the surface, but those left
u[)()ii the higher portions of the glacial deposits have remained where
they can still be seen, the lighter materials of the alluvium having
been deposited around them without disturbing their resting places.
THE WATER SUPPLY
There are but comparatively few natural springs in the county.
]Most of the wells derive their svqjply of water from veins in the drift.
only a few of them penetrating to the Coal ^Measiu'cs. The deepest
well in the county is the one at Toulon, from which the town's water
'su])]ily is taken. It is over fourteen hundred feet in de])th. A further
descrijjtion of it, as well as of the wells at Wyoming and Bradford,
will be found in connection with the history of those towns.
CHAPTER II
ABORIGINAL IXIIABITANTS
MOUND BUILDERS — I'lKST NOTICE OF MOUNDS IN THE UNITED STATES—
CHAKACTER AND STRUCTURE OF THE MOUNDS EARLY INVESTIGA-
TIONS AND THEORIES WORK OF THE BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY DIS-
TRICTS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO WERE THE MOUND BUILDERS-
MORE THEORIES — RELICS IN THE COUNTY OF STARK — ADAMS AND
SHALLENBERGER's A\'(niK.
Yov nearly a ccntui-y and a half after the first white settlements
were made along the Atlantic coast, in what is now the United States,
the general belief was that the Indian tribes found here by the first
Europeans were the t)riginal inhabitants of the country. Then evi-
dences were discovered in the interior of the continent that led arch-
aeologists to believe that the great valleys of the Ohio and ^Mississippi
rivers had once been occupied by a peculiar race of people entirely
separate and distinct from the Indian. These evidences were found
in the numerous mounds and earthworks, fragments of pottery, stone
implements, weapons, etc. A report issued by the United States
Bureau of Ethnology says :
"During a period beginning some time after the close of the Ic«
Age and ending with the coming of the \\'hite man — or only a few
years before — the central part of North ^Vmerica was inhabited by a
people who had emerged to some extent from the darkness of sav-
agery, had acquired certain domestic arts, and practiced some well
defined lines of industry. The location and boundaries inhabited by
them are fairly well marked by tlie mounds and earthworks they
erected."
The center of this ancient civilization — if such it may be called —
seems to have been in the present State of Ohio, where the mounds
and relics are more mmierous than in any other part of the country,
though Illinois was well Avithin the confines of the domain once occu-
])ied by this peculiar race, to which the name of "IMound Builders"
has been given by archaeologists, and various theories have been ad-
22
HISTORY OF STARK C'OUXTV 23
vaiiced conceniing- tlieir origin, identity and tlie manner in wliieli llu-y
became extinct.
It may be interesting to the reader to know something of these
theories regarding tiie 31onnd RniUlers, as well as something of the
character of the works they constructed, ^lost of the monnds are of
conical form, varying in height, and when opened they have nsnally
been fomid to contain human skeletons. For this reason they have
lieeii designated by ai'chaeologists as bui'ial mounds. Next to the
burial mound comes the truncated pyi'amid — that is, a mound scjuare
or lectangular at the base and tlattened at the top. ^lounds ol' this
class ai'c nearly always higher than the highest of the burial mounds
and u})on the top of several such mounds charcoal has been found.
The greater heigiit and the charcoal gave rise to the theory that they
were used as lookout or signal stations, upon the top of ^vhich signal
Mres had once been lighted.
In some sections of the country can still be seen well defined lines
of earthworks, sometimes in the foi-m of a scjuare, but more often of
oval or circular shape, bearing every indication of having been erected
as ])laces of defense against hostile invaders. Still another class of
works, less numerous and widely separated, consists of one large
mound surrounded by an embankment, outside of which are a number
of smaller mounds. In such groups the smaller mounds are nearly
always devoid of human bones or other relics, and even the larger
mound within the end)ankment yields l)ut few relics. The absence of
skeletons, implements, weapons, etc., and the arrangement of the
mounds in works of this nature have led anticiuarians to form the
theory that they were centers of sacrifice or religious ceremonies of
some character.
Xot for years after the mounds were first noticed was anv svs-
tematic investigation of the origin made. The earliest persons to
examine the mounds were Squier and Davis, who, about 18.)(), pub-
lished a work entitled "Ancient JNIonuments of the Mississippi Val-
ley." Between the years 184.5 and 1848 these two archaeologists,
working together, explored over two hundred mounds and other earth-
works, the description of which was published by the Smithsonian
Institution. Following them came Baldwin, INIcLcan and a number
f others, ])ractica]ly all of whom held to the theory that the Mound
Builders belonged to a scjnirate and distinct race and that many of the
relics were of great antiquity.
Some of these early writers on the subject took the view that the
^lound Builders first established their civilization in the Ohio Vallev,
o
24 lllSTORV OF STARK COUNTY
from which region they gradually moved toward the southwest into
^Mexico and Central America, where the white man found their de-
scendants in the Aztec Indians. Otliers, with arguments equally
plausible, contended that the people who left these interesting relics
oriuinated in the Soutii and slowly made their way northward to the
country about the Great Lakes, where they were met and driven back
by hostile tribes. Upon only one phase of the subject were these
early authors in accord, and that was that the JNIound Builders consti-
tuted a very ancient and extinct race. This theory was sustained by
the fact that the Indian tribes with whom the first white men came in
contact had no traditions relating to the mounds or tlie people who
built them, while the claim of great antiquity was supported by the
i-reat trees, often several feet in diameter, that were found growing
upon the mounds and earthworks.
Shortly after the United States Bureau of Ethnology was estab-
lished it undertook the work of making an exhaustive and scientific
investigation of the mounds and other relics left by the Mound
Builders. Cyrus Thomas, who had charge of this branch of ethnolog-
ical research, in his analysis and comi)ilation of the information col-
lected, has divided the region once inhabited by the JNIound Builders
into eight districts, each of mIucIi is marked by certain features not
common to the others. In making this division ^Nlr. Thunuis evidently
did not adhere to any of the theories advanced as to the origin or first
location of the ancient people, as he begins in the northwestern part
of the country and proceeds toward the south and east. His districts
are as follows :
1. The Dakota District, which includes North and South Dakota.
INIinnesota, the northwest corner of Iowa and the State of Wisconsin.
In this district the chief objects of interest to the archaeologists are
the beautiful efiigy mounds, constructed in the form of some bird or
animal. Wisconsin is especially rich in mounds of this class. Near
the Town of Prairieville is a mound resembling a turtle, fifty-six feet
in length, and not far from the Town of Blue INIounds is a mound
120 feet long representing a man lying on. his back. Some writers are
of the opinion that the effigy mounds were made to represent the totem
of some tribe or clan, and others think they are the images of some
living creature that Avas an object of veneration.
2. The Huron-Iroquois District takes its name from the country
comprising the district, which was once inhabited by the Huron and
Iroquois Indians. This district includes the lower peninsula of INIich-
igan. the southern part of Canada, a strij) across the northern part of
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 25
Ohio ami the greater portion of the State of ]S'ew York. Xear Toledo
and Sandusky, Ohio, a few well defined fortifications have been ob-
served, but by far the greater i)art of the relics are the small burial
mounds and tiie "hut rings," small circular embankments, whicii are
supposed to have been the foundations of ancient dwellings.
3. The Illinois District embraces the middle and eastern portions
of Iowa, Northeastern INlissouri, Northern Illinois and the western
half of Indiana. That part of Illinois lying within this district in-
cludes about two-thirds oJ" the state. Stark County lies within this
district, in whicli the l)urial mounds are cjuite numerous and a few
fortifications have been found, but they are greatly inferior, both in
size and the manner of construction, to those of the Ohio District. In
the southern part of the district several mounds of the truncated
pyramid variety have been found, the great mound near Cahokia
being one of the finest examples of this class known to students of
American archaeology.
4. The Ohio District takes in all of the State of Ohio, except the
strip across the northern ])art. which is included in District No. 2, the
eastern half of Indiana and the southwestern part of West Virginia.
Here the Mound Builder evidently flourished in all his glory. Burial
mounds ai-e larger and more numerous than in any other part of the
country, many of them having a diameter of one lumdi'cd feet or more
and rising to the height of sixty or eighty feet. JNIore than ten thcni-
sand mounds have been explored in the State of Ohio alone. The
(irave Creek Mound, in West Virginia, is one of the largest lookout
or signal mounds yet discovered. The earthworks of this district
sur])ass those of all the others. The "(ireat Seriient." a fortification
in tile I'orm of a snake, is situated on a blufi' in ^Vdams County, Ohio.
It is nearly fourteen iiundred feet long and is one of the best pre-
served and most ])erfect specimens of the Mound Builders' fortifica-
tions. Its site has recently been pin-chased by the state in order that
the ancient fort may be kept intact. Near Anderson, Indiana, is a
circular fortification, with a lookout mound inside the embankment.
A peculiar feature of tliis woi-k is a subterranean ])assage leading to
the ^Vhite River, some three hundred feet distant, indicating that the
work had been constructed with a view to obtaining a snp])lv of water
in the event of a siege.
.5. The Appalachian District takes its name from the mountains
included within its borders. It embraces East Tennessee, the south-
western part of Virginia. "Western North Carolina and Northern
(ieorgia. Throughout this district abundant evide?ices have been
26 HISTORY OF STxVKK COUNTY
found to show that the inliabitants were in many respects different
from those of the other districts. The mounds are differently con-
structed; stone graves are numerous; copper awls, needles, knives and
othei' utensils have been found; tobacco pipes made of clay and baked,
and some pipes carved fioni a pecidiar kind of stone are among the
relics found here.
6. The Tennessee District, which adjoins the Appalachian on the
west, includes the southern third of Illinois, nearly all the State of
Kentucky, a small jjortion of Xorthern Alabama. Middle and Western
Tennessee and the central part of Georgia. The distinguishing fea-
ture of this district is its pottery, a long-necked water jar of graceful
outline being especially abundant. Fragments of pottery indicated
that they were part of vessels from three to four feet in diameter and
capable of holding several gallons. Several forts have been noted, a
few of which are connected with nearby streams by subterranean pas-
sages, and some of the mounds have yielded up stone images, believed
by archaeologists to have been objects of worship.
7. The Arkansas District includes the State of Arkansas, the
northern part of Louisiana and the southeast corner of ]Missouri.
Burial mounds here are small and few in number, ^'illage sites have
been located by means of the hut rings and pottery has been found in
abundance.
8. The Gulf District includes the country bordering on the Gulf
of JNIexico. In this district are a number of fine tnmcated pyramids,
some of them built in terraces; skeletons buried in bark coffins have
been unearthed and other skeletons have been foimd in caves; the
entire district is rich in pottery, and a peculiarity of this region is the
large numlier of polished stone implements and weapons of obsidian.
WHO WERE THE 5I0UXD BUILDERS?
Going back to the theories regarding the origin and age of the
]Mound Builders, it is worthy of note that in more recent years arch-
asologists are inclined to doubt the idea of great anticjuity. or that the
IMound Builders differed materially in racial characteristics from the
IVorth American Indian. Those who have made extensive research
among the mounds, or a careful and systematic study of the relics in
connection with the work of the United States Bureau of Ktlmolouv,
are practically a unit in the belief that the Indians found here l)y the
first white men are the descendants of the ]Mound Buildei-s. but that
the traditions of the latter have been lost. Even some of the earliest
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 27
writers on the subject expressed the opinion that the Aztecs were
(lesceiuhmts of the ancient tribes who once inhabited the interior of
Xortli ^Vnierica.
That the tlieory of threat age is erroneous, to some extent at least,
becomes apparent \\ iuii it is known that the early French and Spanish
explorers in the soullic rn \)nvt of what is now the I'^nited States, dis-
covered that among the Natchez Indians the house of the chief was
always built ujjou an artificial mound. Mention of this fact is seen
in a numbci' of the early French archives, and as eminent an authority
as I'ierre Margry says: "When a chief dies they demolish his cabin
and then raise a new mound, on which they build the cabin of the chief
who is to replace the one deceased in this dignity, for the chief never
Iddges in the house of his predecessor."
How long this custom had prevailed among the southern Indians
no one knows. l)ut it may account for the large number of small
mounds throughout the region once inhabited by the Natchez and their
ancestors. It has also been learned that the Yamasee Indians of
Georgia built mounds over the warriors slain in l)attle. and Charlevoix
found amony- the Canadian tribes some who built earthworks similar
in many respects to those described by Thomas in the Iluron-lnxiuois
District.
Early investigators found in many of the small mounds burnt or
baked clay and charcoal, for which they were at a loss to account.
Snbst(|uent research has disclosed the fact that among certain tribes.
|)artieularly those of the lower M ississi])])i country, the family hut
was built u])on an artificial mound in many instances. This has led
Jirintoii to advance the theory that the house was constructed of ])oles
and the cracks l)etween the ]K)les filled with clay. When the head of
the familv died, the body was buried under the center of the hut. which
was then burned. i\s it is now known that this custom was followed
for prrha])s many generations. Ri-inton"s theory would account I'or
the binnt clay and charcoal, as well as for the large number of small
mounds, each contaim'ng a single human skeleton.
^Vnother evidence that there is some relationship bL'tweeii the
Mound Builders and the Indians of more recent times is found in tiie
jiotterv made by some of the southwestern tribes, which is very similar
in both texture and design to the ])ottery found in ancient mounds.
Among the cliff dwellers archicologists have fomid wea]Jons and
utensils almost exactly like some of those found in the mounds, and
some have even gone so far as to assert that the cliff dwellers are but
the remnant of the once numerous and widely distriliuted Mound
Builders.
28 IIISTOIIV OF STAKK COL'XTV
In the light of these discoveries, it is not surprising tliat ethnologists
are discarding the theory of a separate race and great age and advanc-
ing in its stead one of a vastly different nature, viz: That the Mound
Builder was nothing more than the ancestor, more or less remote, of
the North American Indian. The new theory, however, has not de-
creased the interest in the ^Moiind Buildeivs and their works. Says
Thomas: "The hoj)e of idtinuitely solving the great problem is per-
haps as lively today as in former years. But, with the vast increase
of knowledge in recent years, a modification of the hope has taken
ace.
MOUNDS IN STAKK COUNTY
Nearly every county in the State of Illinois contains some evidence
of having been inhabited by INIound Builders. Stark County is no
exception. ^Slany of the mounds in the state have been completely
obliterated by the plow and many others show only slight traces of
their former outlines. Flint spear and arrow heads, stone axes, hvmian
bones and a few specimens of pottery have all been found within the
limits of Stark County. Formerly the spear and arrow heads were
so numerous as to excite but little interest or comment. The most
noted mound anywhere near Stark County is probably the one de-
scribed by W. H. Adams, of Rochester, Peoria County, in a communi-
cation to the Smithsonian Institution in 188.5. ^Ir. Adams says:
"(On the north side of the Spoon River, eighty rods west of the
east line and twenty rods south of the north line of section 12. town-
shi]) 11, range 4, east of the fourth principal meridian, is a round
mound about thirty feet in diameter, called by those in the neighbor-
hood 'the hogback.' On the highest ])art of this hogback, at the
surface, is some evidence of fire. The e^'idenees of a former fire
increase very rapidly. At a depth of twelve to sixteen inches I found
five skeletons, nearly all the liones of which were calcined i)y fire, and
many of them entirely consumed. One of the skulls lay to the north,
one to the northwest, one to the southwest, one to the south and one
to the northeast. With the bones were fragments of sandstone burned
red. At or near each skull, and nearly on a line between the point of
the shoulder and the ear. was a water-worn pebble, except in one
instance, and that was an angular ])iece of flint. The pebliles had not
been acted upon by the fire, so that they were evidently placed there
after the intense heat of the fire had subsided. From the appearance
of the earth one would be strongly inclined to believe that the fire in
\
HISTORY OF STARK COrXTV 29
this instance luul hccn one of unusual intensity. From the position
ol" the skulls to each other, the feet of one body would reach to his
neit^lihor's head, if laid at full length. One of the skulls was rather
thinner than those we usually tind in other mounds. Some of the
teeth belonged to a person of great age; others of the teeth were very
small, but 1 cannot say tliat they belonged to an infant. The skulls
were in fragments, the largest piece obtained being about two inches
square. On another hogback, east of the one described, commencing
on section 12, township 11, range 4 east, extending across the north-
west coi'ner of section 7. township 11, range 5 east, and also some
distance on section (>. township 11, are thirteen common round mounds,
varying in height from eighteen inches to tive feet. As far as ex-
amined these are burial mounds and in one I found nineteen skeletons.
This one was forty-tive feet in diameter and five feet high. The bones
wei'C' ill a fair state of preservation. I opened four or five of this
group and in each were found pieces of trap rock from one and one-
half to two inches square; pieces oi' burned sand rock, small water-
worn pebbles, and in the largest mound a very small fragment of red
pottery."
Although the mounds thus described by jSIr. Adams are not within
the limits of Stark County they are situated near its southwest corner.
The first "hogback" mentioned by him is a little southeast of the
Village of Ftherley, Knox County, and the thirteen burial mounds
.ihiiost touch the southwest corner of Stark. All are near enough to
sustain the belief that the ^lound Huilder was once an inhabitant of
the county. Mr. Adams and T. jM. Shalleiiberger gave considerable
attention to the archieology of the Spoon River \'^alley, and after the
Indians Mere removed from the country these two men visited all the
old cam])ing grounds and villages of the red men, leveling numerous
small mounds in search of historic relics. Few were found, however,
exce])t arrow and spear heads, such as those above referred to, and
some I'ragmentary .skeletons. It is doubtful whether the skeletons
found on the old village sites were those of Mound Builders or the
bones of Indians buried there in comparatively recent years.
There is a sort of grim pathos in the reflection that where the
Avhite people of Stark County now live in peace and prosperity there
once dwelt a people of widely different manners and customs: that in
the march of time they ])assed out of existence, leaving only here and
there the mounds and other relics to mark their ])lace of residence.
After the Mound Builder came the Indian, who in turn retired before
30
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
the superior civili/,atii)ii of the wliite man, and there is also a pathos
in the refleetion that 2,000 years hence another race may indulge in as
much speculation over the relics left hy the present occupants of the
country as our scientists have indulged in over the mounds and earth-
woi'ks of America's aboriginal inhabitants.
I
CHAPTER III
INDIAN HISTORY
DISTKIBUTION Or INDIAN NATIONS AT THE CLOSE OF THE EIFTEENTH
CENTURY — THE n.IJNOIS — SUBORDINATE TRIBES — THE SACS AND
rOXES THE BLACK HAAVK WAR DEATH OF BLACK HAWK THE
POTTAMATOMI THEIR TILLAGES IN STARK COUNTY SHAB-BO-XEE
— TREATIES WITH THE POTTAWATOMl THEIR CHARACTER THE
AVINNEBAGO INDIAN NAMES.
When Christopher Cohimhiis first discovered the Western Hemis-
phere, in l-^D-i, he heheved that he had at hist reached the goal of his
k)ng- cherished desires and that the country was the eastern shore of
Asia. The first European explorers in America, entertaining a sim-
ilar belief, thought the country was India and gave to the race of
copper colored peojjle they found here the name of Indians. Later
explorations established the fact that Columbus had actually dis-
covered a land hitherto unknown, but the name conferred upon the
natives still remains. This race is divided into several groups, or
families, each of which is marked by certain physical characteristics
and the language spoken. At the beginning of the Sixteenth century
the \arious groups, or at least the leading ones, were distributed over
the continent of North America as follows :
In the far north were the Eskimo, a tribe that never played any
iiiipdrtaiit part in history. Their descendants still inhabit the country
in tlie vicinity of the Arctic Circle, where some of them are occa-
sionally employed as guides to polar expeditions.
The Algonquian family, the largest and most powerful of all the
Indian nations or groups, occupied a large triangle, roughly liounded
l)y the Atlantic coast from the most eastern point of Labrador to
Ca]je Hatteras and lines from those two points to the western end of
Lake Superior. To this great group belonged the tribes that once
inhabited what is now the State of Illinois, the principal of which were
tlie Illinois, the Sacs, the Foxes, the Shawnees, the ^Vinnebagoes, the
Ottawas, and the Pottawatomies.
31
32 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
In the center of the Algonquian countiy — along the shores of
Lake Ontario and the upper waters of the St. I>a\\rence River — was
the home of tlie Irociuoian trihes, to wit: The Oneidas, Onondagas,
JMoliawks, Cayugas and Senecas. To the early colonists these tribes
became known as the "I^'ive Nations." Some years later the Tus-
caroras were added to the confederacy, whicii then took the name of
the "Six Nations."
South of the Alguntjuian and Iroquoian families lay the country of
the JMuskhogean family, the principal tribes of which were the Creeks,
Chickasaws, Choctaws and Cherokees. The people of this group were
among the most intelligent and aggressive of the North American
Indians.
In the great Northwest, about the sources of the Mississippi River
and extending westward to the IMissouri, Mas the country of the
Siouan group, which was composed of a number of tribes noted for
their physical prowess and warlike tendencies. South and west of
this lay the domain of the bold, vindictive Comanche, Apache and
other tribes, closely allied to the Sioux in appearance, language and
customs, while in various parts of the continent were minor tribes
which claimed kinship with none of the great families. They were
generally inferior in numbers, often nomadic in their habits, and con-
sequently are of little historic importance.
Yolinnes have been written upon the subject of the North Amer-
ican Indian — his legends, traditions and habits — and it has not yet
been exhausted. In a work of this nature it is not the design to give
those tribes whose history is connected with the country now included
an extended account of the Indian race as a whole, but to notice onlj'
within the State of Illinois and Stark County.
THE ILLINOIS
The Illinois — or Illini, as they were at first known to the white
men — belonged to the Algonquian family and was the tribe from
Avhich the State of Illinois took its name. The organization of the
Illinois was in the natiu-e of a confederacy, which \\as conq)osed of
five subordinate tribes — the Peoria, Kaskaskia, Tamaroa, jNIichigani
(or jMoingwena) and the Cahokia. According to their traditions they
were once a powerful tribe and took ])ossession of their lands in Illinois
by driving out some of the Siouan group. Later they made war on
the Winnebago Indians and drove them northward, after which they
held undisinited possession of the broad prairies of Illinois until about
I
I
lUSTOUV OF STARK COUNTY 33
the middle of tlie Seventeenth century, wlien they were attacked by
tlie warh'ke Irociuois and forced to rehn(iuish part of tlieir domain.
The Illinois were expert hunters, skilled in the use of the bow and
arrow, but could not successfully handle a canoe. The principal cen-
ter of their coirfederacy was at Kaskaskia, which, during the most
prosperous days of the tribe, numbered some eight thousand inhabi-
tants. Their cabins here were well built and covered with a water])r()of
matting. Generally each cabin contained four tires, around which
the inmates would gather of evenings, the old warriors relating in-
stances of skill and bravery in the chase or in battle for the edification
of the members of the younger generation.
.Vbout the beginning of the war with the Iroquois, in Ki.jd, some
of the Illinois crossed the Mississippi River and established several
villages in what is now Lee County, Iowa, where they were visited by
JNIarquette and Joliet in tlie summer of 1073.
In the summer of 1G80 anotiier invasion of the Illinois country
was made by the Iroquois, who attacked the Peoria and Kaskaskia
tribes, the object having been to drive them out and get possession of
their hunting grounds. ]Many of the Illinois were killed, their homes
burned, their crops destroyed and about nine hundred were carried
away as prisoners.
In 1709 the Ottawa chief, Pontiac, who had formed the conspiracy
and led the uprising against the white settlements six years before,
was killed by some of the Illinois Indians. The great chieftain was
the idoj of his tribe and was also held in high esteem by the Chii)pe\va
and Pottawatomi Indians. The three tribes allied themselves in a wai-
upon the Illinois to avenge the death of Pontiac. The Illinois, who
had never fully recovered from the onslaughts of the Iroquois, were
in no condition to meet such powerful enemies. Defeat after defeat
followed in (piiek succession and the remnant of the tribe was driven
to the summit of the bluff known as "Starved Rock," on the Illinois
River, about half way between the ])resent cities of La Salle and
Ottawa. The bluff offered a good ])lace of defense, as the sides of
the rock are perpendicular, except in one place, and there not more
than two persons could ascend abreast. Assault was therefore out of
the question and the allies settled down to a siege. The Illinois held
out until one dark, stormy night, when they made a sortie, but only a
few succeeded in making their escape. Those few took to canoes and
])ad(lled down the river, finally reaching St. Louis, where they were
given shelter and food by the white occu])ants of the fort.
One account says that their pursuers soon afterward appeared be-
34 HISTOKY OF STxVHK COUNTY
fore the fort and demanded the surrender of the Illinois, that the
tribe might be comijlctely exterminated, and that when their demands
Avere denied they departetl witli threats of Nengeance against the fort —
threats that were never carried into execution. After spending some
time at the fort, until their strength was fully recovered, the refugees
recrossed the Mississii^pi and joined their kindred tribes in Southern
Illinois.
Some writers say that tlie Illinois were greatly addicted to vice
and were almost constantly at \var until they were converted by the
teachings of Father JNIarquette and other Jesuit missionaries. But, so
far as can be learned, the only aggressive wars ever waged by tliem
were against the minor Siouan tribes and the Winnebagoes in the
early days of their history, the accounts of which are only vague tradi-
tions. In the wars with the Iroquois, and the allied tribes above
mentioned, the Illinois fought on the defensive.
THE SxVCS AXU FOXES
These two tribes, Ashicli at one time occujiied a large tract of
country in Western Illinois, and no doubt hunted where Stark County
is now situated, are usually sjioken of as one people, though they were
two separate and distinct tribes. They liecame allied by force of
circumstances for their mutual protection, each tribe maintaining its
identity, though one chief ruled over both.
The Sacs — also called Sauks and Saukies — belonged to the Algon-
quian family and were known as "The people of the outlet." Their
earliest known habitat was in the lower peninsula of IMichigan, where
they lived with the Pottawatomi. The name Saginaw, as applied to
a bay and city in ^Michigan, means "the place of the Sac," and marks
the place where they once dwelt. The Sacs are first mentioned as a
separate tribe in the Jesuit Relations for IGiO, though they were then
allied with the Pottawatomi, jNIascoutens, Foxes and Kickapoos, and
maintained friendly relations a\ ith the 3Iiami and Winnebago tribes.
Their ti'aditions tell how they were driven from the shores of Lake
Huron by the Iroquois and their allies before the middle of the
Seventeenth century. They then retired by A\'ay of jNIackinaw and a
few years later found a new abode along the shores of Green Bay,
AVisconsin. Father AUouez, one of the early Jesuit missionaries, in
Avriting of these Indians in 1667, says: "They are more savage than
any of the other people I have met ; they are a populous tribe, although
they have no fixed dwelling place, being Avanderers and vagabonds in
the forests."
IIISTOKV OF STARK COUXTV 35
That portion of their traditions rchiting to their expulsion from
the eountry on the west shore of Lake Huron and their pilgriniage to
Green Bay is first told by Father Uablon, in the Jesuit Kelations for
KiTl. Says he: ''The Sacs, Pottawatomies and neighboring tribes,
being ilriven from their own countries, which are the lands southward
from ^Nlissilimakinac, have taken refuge at the head of this bay, be-
yond which one can see inland the Nation of Fire, with one of the
Illinois tribes called Oumiami and the Foxes."
In the same year that this was written, the Ilurons and Ottawas
startetl on an invasion of the Sioux country. On the way they per-
suaded the Sacs and I'ottawatomi to join the expedition. They were
defeated in the undertaking and the surviving Sacs returned to Green
Hay, where they were content to live in peace for several years before
making any more warlike demonstrations.
Dorsey divides the tribe into fourteen gentes, or clans. ^Marriages
were usually made between men and wouien of different clans, though
they were not forbidden among persons of the same clan. Polygamy
was practiced to some extent, though in this respect the Sacs were
not so bad as some of the other AIg(iii(|uian tribes. Their religion
consisted of a belief in numerous "JNlanitous" and was rich in myth
and fable.
The Foxes, also an Algonquian tribe, resembled in many particu-
lars the Sacs, with whom they became confederated. Their Indian
name was JMesh-kwa-ke-lnig (nearly always written INIusquakies),
signifying' "Peojile of the red earth." Their original dwelling place
is somewhat uncertain. According to their traditions they once lived
along the Atlantic coast in the vicinity of the present State of Rhode
Island. Subsequently some of them occu])ied the country along the
southern shore of Lake Sii])erior, from which they were driven by the
Chippewas. In IG.'Ji Jean Nicollet found some of them on the Fox
River, not far from Gi'cen Bay, Wisconsin, and in 107(5 Father
.Allouez visited a band of Foxes on the Wolf River, in the same state.
In his rejxirt of his year's work he speaks of a "IMus()uakie village of
about five thousand inhabitants."
The name "Fox" originated with the French, who called these
Indians "Reynors." They were regarded by the neighboring tribes
as "avaricious, thieving. ])assionate and (|iiarrelsome." With an in-
tense hati-cd for the French they planned the attack upon the ])ost at
Detroit in 1712. The timely arrival of reinforcements saved the post
and the Indians were signally defeated. The Foxes that took ])art
in this movement then joined those spoken of by Father Allouez on
the ^Volf River.
36 HISTORY OF STAHK COUNTY
About 1730 the Dutch and EngHsh traders, knowing the hatred
of the Foxes for the French, formed an alliance with the tribe for the
jjurpose of driving French conijjetition from the fur country about
the Great Lakes. On the othei- hand the French enhsted the coopera-
tion of the Huron, Ottawa, Pottawatomi and some minor tribes. In
the war which followed the Foxes were defeated and sought shelter
M'ith the Sacs who lived near Green Bay. The French authorities,
thinking the Foxes had not been sutticiently punished, sent a force of
French soldiers and Indians, ccjmmanded by an officer named De Vil-
liers, to the Sac village on the shores of Green Bay to demand their
surrender. The demand was rei'used by the Sac chiefs and a hard
fought battle ensued, in which the Sacs were defeated, but the refugees
were not surrendered. This was the beginning of the alliance which
afterward resulted in the two tribes being generally recognized as one.
In the meantime some of the Sacs had migrated southward, into
what is now the State of Illinois, and in 1731 they fovmded the Village
of Sau-ke-nuk on the Kock River near its mouth. ^Vhen those who
remained in Wisconsin were defeated bj' the French and their Indian
allies for defending the Foxes, they brought their refugees and joined
the Sacs on the Rock River. At the beginning of the Xineteenth
century there were about eight thousand Sacs and Foxes living along
the Rock River, their hunting grounds extending eastward to the
Illhiois River. When Lieut. Zebulon ]M. Pike went up the Mississippi
River in 180.5, he visited the Sac and Fox villages in Illinois.
Of all the Indian tribes, the Foxes were prol)ably the only one
that had what might be called a coat of arms. The design consisted
of an obli(|ue line (supposed to represent a river), with the figure of
a fox at each end, but on opposite sides. Following a victory in Mar
this emblem was ])ainted or carved on rocks and trees to tell the story
of their valor and at the same time serve as a warning to their enemies.
The Fox tribe, according to Dorsey, was divided into twelve gentes.
Their pi'incipal deities were Wisaka and Kiyapata. mIio were bi'others.
The former ruled the day and the latter the night. The princijial
features of their religion were animal fable and a crude mythology,
and they had many ceremonial observances, anniversaries, etc. The
Fox Indians practiced agriculture in a primitive way. raising corn,
beans, tobacco, squashes and some other vegetables. In a few cases
some big chief or warrior of note would l)e i)ermitted to have more
than one squaAv, but jjolygamous marriages were the exception rather
than the rule.
Two of the greatest chiefs in the history of the North American
I
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 37
Indians hflonoed to tlif allied tribes of the Sacs and Foxes. They
were Rlaek Hawk and Keokuk, both born of Sac parents, but recog-
nized as chiefs by the Foxes. Black Hawk was a warrior and Keokuk
was a politician. The latter never played any considerable part in
the history of Illinois.
THE m.ACK HAWK WAli
Black Hawk, whose Indian name was INIa-ka-ta-wi-nie-sha-ka-ka,
was born at the Sac village on the Rock River in 1767. His father,
l*y-e-sa, was a direct descendant of Xan-a-nia-kee (Thunder) and
l?lack Hawk was therefoi-c a member oi' the Thunder clan. Accord-
ing to tribal tradition, Xan-a-ma-kee had been intrusted by the (ireat
Spii'it with the great medicine bag of the Sac nation and instructed
to keep it always within the clan. ^Vhen Black Hawk was about nine-
teen years old his fatiier was killed in an encounter with the Cherokee
Indians and the youth thus became the custodian of the sacred medi-
cine bag. This medicine bag had never been disgraced, and to ])re])are
himself for the duty of preserving it unsullied Black Hawk took no
part in the military affairs of his ])coi)le for about five years, although
be bad l)een trained in tlie arts of war by liis father and bad already
(Hstinguished himself upon the Held of battle. The five years were
s{)ent in praying to the (ireat S])irit to endow him with the necessary
strength and wisdom to perform his duty. During that ])criod he
would fre(iuently go to the i)romontory near his home on tlie Roeli
IJivcr. where be would pass hours at a time smoking and meditating.
'IMie pi'omontory is still called "HIack Hawk's ^Vatch Tower."
On November ."}, 1804, (xcn. William H. Harrison, then governor
of the Indiana Territory, negotiated a treaty at St. I>ouis with some
of the ihinor chiefs of the Sacs and Foxes, by which the confederated
tribes ceded their lands cast of the JNIississippi Rivei- to the United
States, retaim'ng the ])rivilege of dwelling thei'eon until the lands were
actually taken up by white settlers, wiien they were to remove to a
new reservation west of the IMississippi River. There was a great
deal of dissatisfaction among a large element of the Sacs and Foxes
over the terms of this treaty. It was then the custom for these tribes
to instruct their chiefs or delegates to a treaty council in advance as to
what course was to be pursued, or afterward confirm the action of
such chiefs or delegates by a vote. Some of the Indians claimed that
the chiefs who attended the council at St. Louis had no definite in-
structions to sell the lands east of the Mississi])pi, and a |)ortion of
38 IIISTOKY^ OF STARK COUNTY
the allied tribes, uiuler the leadershij) of Black Hawk, refused to
confirm their action.
At the heginnino- of tlie War of 1812 part of tlie Sacs and l-'oxes
joined tile British and became known as the "British Hand of Rock
River," of which Black Hawk was tlie leader. Shortly aftei- tiie
conclusion of the war treaties were made with the several tribes or
bands wiiich had fought on the side of England, but it was not until
JNIay 13, 1816, that Black Hawk and twenty-one other head men of
the Rock River Sacs could be persuaded to enter into an agreement
to keep the peace. On that date, at St. Louis, those twenty-two
Indians "touched the goose quill," or signed a treaty reaffirming the
treaty of November 3, 1804, though Black Hawk afterward declared
that he did not understand what he was signing and repudiated his
action.
In 1828 President Adams issued a proclamation declaring the
lands ceded by the treaty of ISO-t opened to white settlement and
ordering the removal of the Indians to the west side of the JNIississipjji.
As a matter of fact Chief Keokuk and his band had removed to the
west side of the river about two years before the proclamation was
issued, but Black Hawk refused to vacate until the United States
Government actually sold the section of land upon which his village
was situated. In 1830 he and his followers crossed tiie river "under
protest," the old chief being far from reconciled to the situation.
In the spring of 1831, «'ith a number of his braves and their
families, he recrossed the river antl they took possession of their old
cabins and cornfields. The white settlers appealed to Governor Rey-
nolds, of Illinois, for protection and the governor sent General Gaines
to Rock Island with a force large enough to compel the Indians to go
back to their new home west of the river.
During the winter of 1831-32 the Indians underwent severe hard-
ships in their new homes. Their houses were poorly built and pro-
visions were scarce, so that thej' suffered from both cold and hunger.
About this time Black Hawk fell under the influence of AVa-bo-kie-
shiek, a "bad medicine man," who advised him to recross the ^lissis-
sippi, ostensibly to visit the Winnebagoes, secure the cooperation of
that tribe and the Pottawatomies, and drive out the hated pale faces.
Accordingly, on April (!. 1832. he again crossed over to the east side
of the jMississippi within ])lain view of the garrison at Fort Arm-
strong, giving out the information that he was on his way to visit the
\Vinnebagoes and join witli tliein in raising a crop of corn. His
disobedience Avas construed as a hostile demonstration, however, bv
I
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY ;^9
the military authoritifs. who feared that he ini^ht attempt to take
possession of his old village on the Roek River. There is no evidence
that he made or attempted to make any such an attempt, and some of
the settlers, knowing that an Indian war party was never accomi)anie(l
hy the old men. women and children of the trihe, expressed the opinion
that J}laek Hawk was on a peaceful mission.
Although the settlers felt no special alarm over the expedition,
Governor Reynolds took the view that Black Hawk's conduct in the
]jast had heen such that he would "hear watching." He therefore
ordered out the state militia to the numher of •2,000 men, which force,
under command of General Whiteside, was sent to the aid of the
gai-i-ison at Fort Armstrong. There has al\\a\s heen a difference of
opinion as to whether Black Hawk's intentions were really hostile,
it is certain, however, that the first warlike movement was made hy
tlie M-hites. 31ajor Stillman was sent out with a force. of 2.50 moimted
meu to turn hack the Indians. The detachment came upon Black
Hawk and about fort>- of his warriors at some distance from where
the main body of the Indians were encamped. Black Hawk sent for-
ward five of his men bearing a flag of truce, to ask for a parley, but
Stillman's men opened fire and two of the messengers were killed.
The Indians then took up the fight according to the tactics of their
race, concealing themselves behind trees and rocks and picking off
the white troopers. Stillman's men being mounted fought at a disad-
vantage and in a short time were uttei'ly routed, abandoning their
provisions and camp equipage in their fiight.
Up to this time no hostile demonstration had been made by the
Indians. The killing of the two warriors while engaged in bearing
a Hag of truce was the beginning of hostilities. This occurred on ^lay
12. 18.'}2. and during the next month some raids were made by the
Inrlians upon the unprotected settlements. But not all the atrocities
were committed by the members of Black Hawk's band. A number
of 'Wimiebagoes and Pottawatonn'es took advantage of the disturbed
conditions to kill and ])lunder. though they declined the invitation tv
join Black Hawk and "fight like men."
Stark County was at that time a ])art of Putnam, and though at
some distance from the seat of war the settlers Avere greatly alarmed
for fear that some straggling war ])arty would reach the Spoon River
A'alley. ]Mrs. Shallenberger, in her "Stark County and Its Pioneers,"
savs: "Manj' settlers along the frontiers of Northern Illinois, in
dread of the untold horrors of savage warfare, fled from their lands
and homes, some of them never to return. It was at this crisis that
40 lUSTOKV OF STiVRK COUNTY
volunteers from Spoon River rciulezvoiised at Hennepin, as related
hv Mr. Clifford, under the direetion of the gallant Colonel Strawii in
'Honajjarte hat and laced coat,' and it is said that no less than fifteen
hundred men reported themselves for service at that point."
Colonel Strawn's name does not appear in any published account
of the war and it is possible that his men were employed for local
defense. Immediately after Stillman's defeat volunteers were called
foi' and on June 1.3, 18.'32. there were three brigades in camp at Dixon's
Ferry, commanded by Gens. Alexander Posey, Milton R. Alexander
and James D. Ilein-y. In addition to these volunteer l)rigades. there
were the regular ti'oops at Fort Armstrong, commanded by General
Atkinson, and the state militia under General Whiteside. And all
this military array was considered necessary to overcome the little,
half-starved band of Sacs and Foxes, whose hostile intentions had not
j^et been made certain.
General Atkinson being between Black Ha^\k and the ^Mississippi
River, the chief started for the \Visconsin River, intending to descend
that stream and recross the jNIississippi. Early in June jNIaj. Henry
Dodge, with his Galena Battalion, joined the forces at Dixon's Fei-ry.
^^'hen it was learned that Black Hawk was making for the \Visc()nsin
River, General Henry and Major Dodge started in pursuit. On
July 21, 18.32, they overtook the Indians at the Wisconsin, about fifty
miles above its mouth, and Black Hawk was forced to make a stand
until the women, children and old men could retreat across the river.
With his few warriors he held the white soldiers at ba.y until the squaws
constructed light rafts for the transportation of the goods and small
ehildi-en. These rafts thej' pushed across the stream, at the same time
leading the ponies. When the noncombatants were out of danger
on the other side. Black Hawk sent half his fighting force over. From
the opposite shore these braves opened fire to cover the retreat of
the chief and the remainder of his little band, who then swam across
to safety. This feat was accomplished with fewer than two hundred
warriors in the face of a vastly superior force, with a loss of oidy six
men. Jefferson Davis, then an ofi^cer in Dodge's Battalion, afterward
president of the Southern Confederacy, said of this maneuver:
"This was the most brilliant exhibition of military tactics that I
ever witnessed; a feat of most consummate management and bravery
in the face of an enemy of greatly superior numl)ers. I never read of
anything that could be compared -^ith it. Had it, been performed by
white men it would have been immortalized as one of the most wonder-
ful achievements in military history."
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 41
The last battle of the Black Hawk War was fought at the mouth
of the Bad Axe River on August '2, 1832. Here all the white troops
were concentrated against Black Hawk, and a steamboat luul been
sent up the river from Fort Crawford to i)revent the Indians from
crossing the ^lississippi. The force on this boat kept up a tire on tlie
red men in front, while from all sides the Indians were assailed by
the land forces. Yet, in spite of the great inequality in the strength of
the two armies. Black Hawk held out for about two hours, hoping
vainly for some fortunate turn in the battle that would permit at
least a part of liis people to escape. Some even attempted to swim
the ^lississippi, but the steamboat ran in among tliem, capturing a
few and dro\^ning others.
After the battle of tlie Bad Axe, Black Hawk escaped to the
\\'innebago village at Prairie la Crosse. Through the treachery of
two AVinnebago Indians, he was turned over to General Street, the
huhan agent at Prairie (hi Chien, as a prisoner. His two sons were
also captured and held as ])risoners of war. They were contined at
Fortress ^Monroe, ^'^a., until June -4, 1833. when President Jack-
son ordered their release. Under the escort ol' Major (iarland the
three Indians were then taken on a tour of the country, in order that
they might behold the greatness of the United States and the futility
of again making war against the white men. AVhen taken ])efore
President Jackson, Black Hawk said:
"I am a man; you are only another. We did not expect to con-
(pier the whites. Thej'' had too many men. I took up the hatchet to
avenge injiu'ies my ])eo])le could no longer endure. Had I borne
them longer without striking, my people would have said Black Hawk
is a s(|uaw; he is too old to be chief; he is no Sac. These retlections
caused me to raise the war whoop. The result is known to you. I say
no more."
This speech has been quoted to show that Black Hawk really
crossed the Mississii)pi with a hostile object in view. At its conclusion
President Jackson presented the old chief Avith a beautiful sword — ■
"a gift from one warrior to another." Black Hawk then rejoined the
remnant of his band in Iowa and died there on October 3, 1838. An
old ^Vtlas of Stark County states that Black Hawk once had an
encampment in what is now Goshen Township, but there is no cor-
roborative testimony to show that he ever sojourned, even for a brief
pei'iod. in the present county of Stark.
42 HISTORY (JF STARK COUNTY
THE POTTAAVATOJII
Tribal traditions and accounts in the Jesuit relations go to show
that the Pottawatonii once constituted one of the powerful tribes of
the Algonquian family. French missionaries and traders first came
in contact with them near the northern limits of the lower ^Michigan
peninsula, where they were known as the "Nation of Fire." Nicollet
met with some of tliem in Wisconsin as early as 1664. Bacqueville
de la Potherie. an early French writer, says: "In 1665 or 1666 the
Pottawatonii took the southern and the Sac the northern shores of
Green Bay, and the ^Viimebago, who were not fishermen, went back
into the forests to live on venison and bear meat."
A few years later the Pottawatonii moved southward in large
numbers and took possession of the country around the head of Lake
^lichigan. In 1674. some of this tribe met Father ^Marcjuette on his
return from the ^Nlississipjji River and acted as his escort part of the
way back to Canada. As already related, they joined with the Ottawa
and Chipi^ewa tribes in a war with the Illinois Indians after the death
of Pontiac, and as a result of that war became possessed of a jjortion
of the lands once inhabited by the Illinois.
About the close of the Revolutionary war a part of the tribe
moved eastward and in the early years of the nineteenth centuiy
occupied practically all that part of Indiana lying north of the
\Vabash River. By the treaty of August '2i. 1816, they ceded their
lands along the shores of Lake ^Michigan to the United States and
received in exchange some of the Sac and Fox lands in Western
Illinois. This brought them into the valley of the Illinois River and
some of the tribe established their homes along Walnut Creek, in
what is now Stark County. In 1830 the band removed to Indian
Creek, in the i)reseiit townships of Goshen and Toulon, where they
were joined by others, and for a time this region A\as the principal
hunting ground.
The leading Pottawatonii chief in this part of the state was Shab-
bo-nee, who was really an Ottawa, ])ut became chief through his mar-
riage to a Pottawatonii maiden, daughter of a chief. In the War of
1812 he listened to the blandishments of the ShaMnee chief, Tecumseli,
and joined the British, but afterward proved to be a good friend to the
white settlers. In 1832, at the time of the Black Hawk war, he visited
the settlers on the Spoon River and warned tliein to leave, as tlie war
was likely to extend to that part of the country. Acting upon liis
information David Cooper and the three Essex families went to the
HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY 43
flirt at the foot of Peoria Lake, tliough they all returned to their
liouies in Stark County with the exeeption of Thomas Essex, Jr., who
settled near Peoria. Shab-bo-nee died in Grundy County, Illinois,
•July 17. 1H.5!).
On August 17, IH-'l. a council was held at Chicago, when (icn.
Lewis Cass, as the coniniissioner of the United States, defined the
Pottawatonii country as "extending along both sides of the Illinois
Kiver and all its tributaries, and along the western shore of Lake
JMichiiian to CTreen Bav, with certain lands south of Lake Erie."
At tlie same time the trilie reliiKiuished title to about five millions of
acres in Michigan and Northern Indiana.
Another council was held at Chicago on September 26, 1833, when
the Pottawatomi chiefs and head men ceded all their remaining lands
in Indiana, and all their possessions in Illinois, to the United States.
Two years later they received their last annuity east of the ^Mississippi
and soon afterward removed to reservations in Iowa and INIissouri.
A few of this once powerful tribe are still living in Kansas.
Says ]Mrs. Shallenberger: "Our pioneers report those they found
here as a dirty, shiftless, set. the men of the tribe eking out a precarious
living by hunting and fishing, while the women broke the sod, built
the 'pony fences,' and raised paltry cro])s of coi-n. They were given
to begging most importunately, if not to stealing from their white
neighbors; their villages or encampments, of which there were several
within our present county limits, formed rendezvous, especially on
Sundays, for the idle and vicious, where horse trading and liquor
drinking went on. much as in later days at a gipsy camp. So destitute
of any element of poetry or romance were the last days of the red
man in this region, and their trails, their corn pits, and the graves
of their dead were the legacies they left us when they took up their
enforced march west of the Mississippi about 183.5-3(5."
THE AVINNEBAGO
Originally this tribe belonged to the Siouan family, but far back
in the past they became allied with the Algonquian tribes living about
the Great Lakes, and some ethnologists class them as being one of
tiie iMgonquian tribes. They are first mentioned in history as early
as l(i()l). wlien they were allied with the Pottawatonii, Chippewa, Sac
and Fox and other members of the Algonquian group.
In the Revolutionary war some of the Winnebago fought with
the Rritish. and in the summer of 179-i some took i)art in the battle
44 HISTOllV OF STAllK COUNTY
of Falk'ii Tiiiihers against the white forces coininaiided by Gen.
^Viithuny Wayne. A few were en<>a<>'e(l in the battle of Tippecanoe
in Novenibei", 1811, and witii the I'ottavvatomi were active in the
massacre at Fort Dearborn (now Chicago) in 1812. Shortly after
that tiiey located in that part of Illinois lying north and west of the
Hock Kiver, tliongh they frecinently visited their Pottawatonii breth-
ren farther south, and it is quite likely that some of them passed
through Stark County. They were friendly to Black Hawk at the
time of his mvasion of Illinois in 18.'32, though it was through the
treachery of two members of the tribe tliat Black Hawk was captured.
Not long after that they were given the strip known as the "neutral
ground" in Iowa for a reservation in excliange for their lands east of
the INIississippi. They intermarried freely with the Sacs and Foxes
and were closely allied to those tribes. — so closely in fact that some
of the last treaties made by the Sacs and Foxes were submitted to
the ^Vinnebago chiefs and head men before they became effective.
The foregoing includes probably all the Indian tribes that inliab-
ited or hunted over that part of Illinois now included in Stark County.
As the march of civilization proceeded westward the Indian retired
before the superior race, and about all that is left as a reminder of
their former occupation of the country are the names of certain
streams and towns which ai-e of unquestionable Indian origin. The
county seat of Gallatin County, in the southern part of the state,
bears the name of Shawneetown. in memory of the Indian tribe that
once liA-ed in that region. Kaskaskia. Kandolj))) County; Cahokia,
St. Clair County; Tamaroa, Perry County; and the city and county
of Peoria all bear names of minor tribes of the great Illinois confed-
eracy, and Indian Creek, in Stark County, marks the site of the Potta-
watomies' old hunting grounds.
chapter iv
tup: period of phepakation
EARIA' EXPLOKATIOXS IX AMERICA SPANISH, FRENCH ANH ENG-
IJSH CLAIMS TO TERRITORY IN THE NEW WORLD — THE JESUIT
.AIISSIONARIES — DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI MARQUETTE AND
JOIJET LA SALLE's EXPEDITIONS LOUISIANA CROZAT AND LAW
— THE MISSISSIPPI BUBBLE — CONFLICT OF INTERESTS — FRENCH AND
INDIAN WAR — H.LIXOIS A BRITISH POSSESSION THE WAR OF THE
REVOLUTION CLARK's CONQUEST OF THE NORTHWEST ILLINOIS
UXDER VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS — ADMITTED AS A STATE EVOLUTION
OF STARK COUNTY RECAPITULATION.
Eastiat. thv eminent Freneh writei- on political economy, once
wrote an essay entitled "The Seen and the Unseen." People of the
present generation see the conditions around them, hut they are not
always so well acquainted with the conditions of former years, and
therefore do not fully appreciate the influence of the ])ast upon the
])resent. Civilization is the outgrowth of a gradual evolution. Stark
County, like all the political suhdivisions of the Lhiited States, is the
])r()(luet of a series of events running hack for many years. The
part of each event may have heen small, hut tlie gradual development
constitutes the "unseen" history of the county. It is therefore deemed
ad\isaiile to devote a chapter to this subject, in order that the reader
may he able to form some general idea of the evolution of the State of
Illinois and the County of vStark.
In 14!).'J. the year iollow ing the first voyage of Columbus to
America, the pojjc granted to the King and Queen of Spain "all
countries inhabited by infidels." At that time the extent of the conti-
nent (liseovered by Columbus was not known, but in a vague way this
papal grant included the present State of Illinois, the region then
inhabited by Indian tribes who knew not the religion of the Catholic
Church, and therefore came within the categoiy of infidels.
Three years later Henry Xll of England granted to John Cabot
and his sons a patent of discovery, possession and trade "to all lands
45
J6 II IS TORY OF STAKK COUNTY
they may discover and lay claim to in the name of the Knglish crown."
Before the close of the century the Cahots had made exjjlorations
aloni>' the Atlantic coast from Cape Ilatteras northward, and their
discoveries formed the hasis of England's claim to all the central por-
tion of North America.
While Spain was pushing her explorations through the West
Inches and along the coast of the (iulf of ^Mexico, and Kngland was
oi)erating along the xVtlantic seahoard farther north, the French Gov-
ernment sent Jacques Cartier on an expedition to the New World.
He discovered and laid claim to the Valley of the St. Lawrence River
and the country ahout the Great I^akes, from which hase the French
suhse(iuently pushed their explorations and claims westward to the
JNIississippi River and southward into the Ohio Valley.
Following the usage of that jjcriod, each of these three great Euro-
])ean nations claimed title to certain territory "by right of discovery."
Spain's 2)apal grant was strengtliened by the expedition of Hernando
de Soto into the interior in 1.54U-i2, one result of whicli was the dis-
covery of the Mississippi River. De Soto died in the wilds and his
body was buried in the great river. The few survivors, after many
hardships, finally reached the Sjianish colony at St. Augustine and
upon their report Spain, in 1.54.;j. claimed all the land bordering upon
the iMississippi as well as the gulf coast. In this way what is now the
State of Illinois became Spanish territory.
In 1()20 the Eritisli crown, ignoring the authority of the pope
and the explorations of De Soto, issued a charter to the Plymoutli
Company including "all the lands between the fortieth and forty-
eighth parallels of north latitude from sea to sea." The southern
l)oundary of this grant crossed Illinois about fifteen miles north of the
present city of Springfield, and wliat is now Stark County was there-
fore included in the old Plymouth Company grant.
Eight years later (in 1(;2S) the ^lassacliusetts Bay Company
received a grant that included a strip of land al>out one Inmdred miles
Avide "extending from sea to sea." The northern boundary of this
stri]) crossed tiie Mississippi River not far from tlie present city of
Prairie du Chien. Wis., and the southern crossed the State of
Illinois about ten miles north of the noi-th line of Stark County. Thus
at least a part of the state was claimed by both Spain and England
"by right of discovery." but no effort was made by either nation to
extend colonization into the interior. S])ain was so busily engaged in
the search for the rumored rich gold and silver mines that she paid but
little attention to the establishment of permanent settlements, whil^
1
HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY 47
the English were apparently content with tlie little colonies at James-
town. Vii., and in Xew England.
^leantinie the l<'rench were not idle. Quebec was fouiuled by
Samuel Champlain in 1608, only one year after the English colony
was planted at Jamestown. In KH I Jesuit missionaries from Quebec
visited the Indian tribes living about the Great I>akes, and in l(>ir>
a French explorer named Le Caron \isited the country of the Huron
and Inuiuois tribes. The reports of Le Caron and the missionaries
C(in\iiieed the r'rencii authorities that it was possible to open up a
jM-otitable trade with the natives, particularly in furs, and explorations
were pushed still farther westward. In KJ.'U Jean Nicollet reached
the Fox River country, in what is now the State of ^Visconsin. For
more than half a century, however, after the founding of Quebec,
no systematic eff'ort was made to establish anything like a colony in
the (ireat Lake basin.
In the fall of KHi.j Claude xVllouez, one of the most zealous of the
Jesuit missionaries, held a council with the Indians at the Chippewa
village on the southern shore of Lake Superior. Chiefs of tiie Sioux,
Chippewa, Sac, Fox, Pottawatomi and Illinois tribes were present
and to them and their jjcople Alloue/. promised the j^rotection of the
great French father, thus opening the way for the establishment of
trading posts in the Indian country. Some of the Sioux and Illinois
chiefs told .Alloue/, of a great river farther to the westward, "called bj^
them the ^le-sa-sip-pi, which they said no white man had yet seen
(they knew nothing of the expedition of Ue Soto), and along which
fur bearing animals abounded."
This same Fa4:her Allouez and another missionary named Claude
Dablon founded the JNIission of St. jNIarys — the first white settlement
in Michigan — in lOCtH. Friendly relations were soon established
between the people of the mission and the neighboring Indians. In
1(J71 Jac(jues INIarquette, one of the most influential of the Jesuit
missionai'ies in Aniei'ica. founded the Mission of Point St. Ignace,
near the present city of INIackinaw, for the benefit of the Huron
Indians. For many years this mission was considered as the key to
the great, unexplored West.
Father .Marquette had first heard of the great river through the
report given bj" Allouez of the coimcil held at the Chippewa village
in IfU!.). and as time passed he grew more desirous of verifying the
Indian accounts of its existence. Fearing hostility, or at least opposi-
tion, on the part of the natives, he made no attempt to reach the river
until after the founding of the mission at Point St. Ignace. Some
48 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
time was then sixnt in making his preparations and in obtaining the
consent of the Canadian colonial officials. In the spring of 1073,
armed with the proper credentials, he went to Michilimackinac to
com])Iete his final arrangements for the expedition. It is said that the
friendly Indians, w^ien they learned of his intention, tried to dissuade
him from the undertaking by telling him that the Indians who lived
alonsi' the great river were cruel and treacherous, and that the river
itself was the abiding place of great monsters that could easily swal-
low a canoe loaded with men.
Giving no credence to the horrible stories, JNIarquette continued
his work of preparation and on ^Nlay 13. 1673, accompanied by Louis
Joliet. an explorer and trader, and five voyageurs, with two large
canoes, the little expedition left the mission.
DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI
Passing up Green Bay to the mouth of the Fox River, they
ascended that stream to the portage, crossed over to the Wisconsin
River and drifted down that stream in the belief and hope that it
emptied into the great river of which they were in search. Xor were
their hopes idle and their belief without foundation. On the morning
of June 17, 1673, a little over a month from the time they left Point
St. Ignace, their canoes floated out upon the broad bosom of the Mis-
sissipi)i. Turning their canoes down the mighty stream, a few days
later they came to what is now the State of Illinois, opposite the city
of Dubuque, Iowa, and were probably the first white men to see the
western part of the state.
On their way down the river ^Marquette and Joliet visited some of
the villages of the Illinois Indians in Southeastern Iowa, after which
they continued their voyage until they met with a tribe of Indians
whose language they coidd not understand, when they retraced their
steps and returned to the French settlements about IMichilimackinac.
They had been absent about four months and had traveled about two
thousand five hundred miles, through an unknown region, anchoring
at night in mid-stream to prevent attacks by foes, and to avoid any
rocks or rapids that might be in the river.
Joliet was a good topographer and prepared a map of the countrj'^
through which he and jNIarquette had passed. The reiJorts of their
voyage, when presented to the French authorities, made the knowledge
of the ]Mississippi's existence certain and it was not long until a move-
ment was started to claim the countrv drained bv it for France.
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 49
LA SAI.LK's expeditions
Robert Cavalier, Sieur tie la Salle, in \(\7i. was granted the
seigneury of Fort I'rontenac, where the eity of Kingston, Canada,
is now located, and on ]May 12, 1078, Louis XIV, then King of
France, granted him a permit to continue the explorations of Mar-
quette and Joliet, "tind a port for the king's ships in the (iulf of
3Iexico, discover the western parts of New France, and find a \\ay
to penetrate Mexico."
Nicholas Perrot had already made some explorations in the Illinois
country in l()71:"the missionaries Allouez and Dablon visited the Illi-
nois Indians in 1(572; and in 1073 Father ^Nlaniuette ascended the
Illinois and Desplaines rivers. The information gained from the
reports of these early explorers led La Salle to select the Illinois
River route as the best way to reach the Mississippi. His first attemj)t
ended in failure, chiefly because his preparations had not been care-
fullv made. As his desire was to explore the great river from its
source to its mouth, he sent Father Louis Hennepin in 1680 to lead
an expedition from the mouth of the Illinois River to the headwaters
of the Mississippi, and in April of that year Heimei)in reached the
Falls of St. Anthony, where the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, now
stands.
Late in December, 1681, La Salle, accompanied by his lieutenant,
Henri de Tonti; .Taccivies de la ]Metairie, a notary; Jean ^Michel, a
surgeon; Father Zenobe 31endjre, a Recollet missionary, and "a num-
ber of Frenchmen carrying arms," started upon the second expedi-
tion to the mouth of the JMississipjji. After a weary journey in the
dead of winter, they arrived at- Peoria Lake on January 2.3, 1082.
La Salle had reached this ])oint about two years before, and had here
built Fort Creveeoeur (liroken Heart), so named because it was here
he had been forced to abandon his first expedition. A short rest was
taken at the old fort and on February (>, 1082, the whole party reached
the mouth of the Illinois. Here another halt of a week was made
until the Indian members of the expedition came up, their progress
having been impeded by the heavy snow and ice. On the 13th the
canoes started down the Mississippi and on i\])ril S. 1(582, I^a Salle
and Tonti jjassed through two of the channels that led to the (iulf of
Mexico. The next day La Salle formally took possession of all the
country drained by the great river and its ti'ibutaries in the name of
France, and conferred upon it the name of Louisiana, in lionor of
Louis XIV, the French king. Under this claim Illinois became a
dependency of France.
50 HISTORY^ OF STARK COUNTY
Before the close of the year 1682 settlements were established by
the French at Kaskaskia and Cahokia — the oldest settlements on the
INlississippi River. A little later settlements or trading posts were
established at Fort Chartres, Prairie du Rocher, Prairie du Pont and
Peoria. To the French therefore belongs the honor of founding the
first settlements within the limits of the present State of Illinois.
It is not surprising that in time a conflict of interests arose among
the English, French and Spanish. Spain claimed the interior of the
continent by virtue of De Soto's discovery of the ]Mississippi River.
England had sent no expeditions into the interior, but upon the dis-
coveries made by the Cahots claimed the country "from sea to sea."
Neither Sjiain nor England made any attempt to found settlements
in the ^Mississippi Valley. The claim of La Salle was acknowledged
by other European nations after some dispute and hesitation and
France remained in control of the great valley for more than three-
quarters of a century. At the beginning of the eighteenth centiuy
the English settlements occupied the Atlantic coast from INlaine to
Georgia; Spain was in possession of the Peninsula of Florida and that
part of the Gulf coast not included in Louisiana: and France held
the Valley of the St. Lawrence, the Great Lake Basin and the
Mississippi Valley.
In 1712 the French Government granted to Antoine Crozat, a
wealthy merchant of Paris, a charter giving him exclusive control of
the Louisiana trade under certain conditions. But when his agents
arrived in the Gulf of ^Mexico they found the Spanish ports closed to
Crozat's ships, for Spain, while recognizing France's claim to Loui-
siana, as based upon the discovery of La Salle, A\as jealous of French
ambitions. xAfter five years, tired of -constantly combating the Spanisli
ojiposition and other difKculties, Crozat surrendered his charter.
Crozat was succeeded by the INIississijjpi Company, which A\as
organized by John I^aw as a branch of the Bank of France. In 1718
Law^ sent about eight hundred colonists to Louisiana and the next
year Philipe Renault went up the ]Mississippi to the Illinois country
with about two himdred colonists. He reestablished the settlement
at Kaskaskia and laid the foundations of the settlements at Prairie du
Rocher and Prairie du Pont. Law AA-as a good promoter, but a poor
executive. In 1720 his whole scheme collajised and so dismal was the
failure that his company is known in history as the "^Nlississijjpi Bub-
ble." In 1730 the white i)opulation of the French settlements in the
Illinois country was about three hundred and fifty, and in 1732 Law
surrendered his charter and Louisiana again became a French crown
province.
lilSTOUV OF STAUK COLNTV 51
l-'KEXCir AND INDIAN AVAR
111 the iiicaiitinif the English had l)eeii gnulually ])iishiiig the
frontier of their eivihzation farther westward. As early as 1()(>7 the
Hudson's Bay Company had been organized and its trappers and trad-
ers passed freely among the Indian tribes around the Great Lakes and
in the Upper .Mississippi \'alley, despite the French claim to the
territory and oblivious to the French protests against their trespasses.
The attack of the Fox Indians on the French post at Detroit in 1712
was incited by the English traders. iVgain in 1730 the English and
Dutch traders infiuenced some of the tril)es to make war on the French
in the hope of driving them from the country. The first open rupture
between France and England did not come until 17.53, when the
former began the establishment of a line of forts from the Great
Lakes to the Ohio Kiver, for the pur])osc of holding back the threat-
ened English occupation of the Ohio \'alley. The French claimed
that the Allegheny JNIountains formed a natural boundary, west of
whieli the British had no right to pass. One of the French forts was
located upon land claimed by Virginia, and (Governor Dinwiddie of
that colony sent George ^Vashington, then just turned twenty-one, to
demand of the French commandant an explanation of this invasion
of English territory while the nations were at peace. The reply A\as
unsatisfactory, not to say insolent, and in 1754 Washington was sent
into the disputed territory with a detachment of troo])s. having been
promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
Some years before this a charter had been granted by the British
Government to an association called the Ohio Company. The charter
carried with it a large tract of country and the right to trade with the
Indians on the Great Miami River. In 17.50 the Ohio Company built
a fort and opened a trading post near the site of the present Citj^ of
Piqua. Ohio. The Canadian authorities, regarding this as an en-
croachment upon French territory, sent a body of soldiers and Indians
to break up the post. The Ohio Com]iany then began a ne\v ]K>st at
the head of the Ohio River, where the City of Pittsi)urgli is now-
located, but again they were driven away by the French. Part of
Washington's instructions in 175-1 was "to complete the fort already
commenced by the Ohio Comi)any at the forks of the Ohio, and to
capture, kill or drive out all who attem])te(l to interfere with the
English posts."
.Vn order of this kind naturally aroused the indignation of the
French and in Mav, 17.5(). that nation formallv declared war against
52 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
England. The conflict that followed is known in American history
as the "French and Indian war," which in the end had a great iniluence
upon the history of the Illinois country. After keeping the Indian
tribes and Ajnerican colonies in a state of tvn-nioil for several years,
the war was concluded by the treaty of Fontainebleau on November
3, 17()2, by which France ceded that ])art of Louisiana lying east of
the ^Mississippi River (except the City of New Orleans and the island
upon which it is situated) to Great Britain. The treaty was ratified
by the treaty of Paris on February 10. 1768, and on the same day it
was announced that, by an agreement jireviously made in secret, all
that part of Louisiana lying west of the ^Nlississijjpi was ceded to
Sjjain. Through the operation of these two treaties the jurisdiction
of France came to an end in what is now the LTnited States and
Illinois became a British jjossession.
]Many of the French subjects living east of the INIississippi refused
to acknowledge allegiance to Cireat Britain ami removed to the west
side of the river. When the English colonies in America became in-
volved in war with the JNIother Country in 177.>, a large number of the
French, who had formerly lived in Illinois, recrossed the river and
joined the colonists in their struggle for independence.
Clark's conquest of the northwest
In the territory acquired by England by the treaty of 1763, several
posts had been established by the French, prior to the cession. Near
the present City of East St. Louis was Cahokia. Forty-five miles
down the river was St. Philippe. A few miles below St. Philippe were
Prairie du Rocher and Nouvelle Chartres (on the site of the old fort
of that name), and a little farther south was Kaskaskia. On the
Wabash River, in what is now the State of Indiana, were the posts of
Ouiatenon and Vincennes, and still farther north was Detroit, the
most important post of all. These posts Avere occupied by the British
at the beginning of the Revolutionary war.
In 1777 George Rogers Clark, a colonel of the Virginia line, sent
two spies — Samuel INIoore and Benjamin Liim — into the Illinois
country disguised as hunters to ascertain the conditions there. LTpon
their return they reported the population of Cahokia as 300 whites and
100 negroes; that a few French families Avere living at St. Philijjpe
and Prairie du Rocher; that Kaskaskia consisted of eighty houses,
500 white inhabitants and nearly as many negroes; that in none of the
posts was the garrison very strong, and that many of the French
inhabitants were friendly to the American cause.
HISTORY OF STAllK COUXTY 53
Armed with this inloriiiation, Chirk Merit before the Viroinia
Assembly and presented a phm for the overthrow of British power in
the Mississippi Valley. On Jannary 2, 1778, the Assembly voted
£1,200 to defray the expenses of the expedition and the same day
Governor Patriek Henry gave Colonel Clark seeret instruetions au-
thori/ing him to raise seven companies of fifty men each, ol)tain boats
at Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) for the transportation of troops, ammmii-
tion and supplies down the Ohio River, "and during the whole trans-
aetion you are to take especial care to kee]) the true destination of
your forces secret. '
Clark raised but four of the seven companies. These four, com-
manded by Captains John Montgomery, Joseph Bowman, Leonard
Helm and \Villiam Ilarrod, rendezvoused on Corn Island, in the Ohio
Ri\er, not far from the present City of Louisville, Kentucky. On
June 24, 1778, the little ai-my left the island and droi)i)ed down the
Ohio, Clark's intention beiirg to ascend the \\'abash and attack the
])ost at ^^incennes first. Circumstances caused him to change his plan
and begin his campaign at Kaskaskia. Leaving the boats at the
mouth of the Tennessee Rivei-, Clark marched his force across the
country to Kaskaskia, which place was captured without opposition
on the night of Jidy 4, 1778.
The inhabitants were treated with every consideration and some
of them joined Captain Bowman, who was sent up the river Avith his
com])any to capture the post at Cahokia. Here another bloodless
victory was won and the inhabitants cheerfully took the oath of alle-
giance to Virginia. Clark then commenced his preparations for the
reduction of the ])ost at Vincennes. Father Pierre (ribault, who liad
been in charge of the parishes between the Wabash and ^Mississippi
rivers for ten years, volunteered to bring the people of A'incennes
over to the American interests without any military demonstration,
provided his name should not be used openly in the transaction and
that Dr. Jean Baptiste LafFont, a ])hysician of Kaskaskia. might be
cliarged with the temporal i)art of the mission.
The priest anil the doctor, with tlieir attendants, left Kaskaskia
on the 14th of July, with an address to the ])co])le of Vincennes au-
thorizing them to garrison their own town. etc. They succeeded in
their embassy and Clark placed the post under the command of Capt.
Leonard Helm, who was also appointed Indian agent for the dcjiart-
ment of the Wabash.
So far everything had worked well and Clark had succeeded be-
yond his most sanguine expectations. But late in the fall Henry
54 HISTUllV OF STAllK COUNTY
Hamilton, the British lieutenant-governor at Detroit, eolleeted a force
of thirty regulars, fifty French volunteers and 400 Indians, with
which he descended the Wabash and on December 1.5, 1778, recap-
tured the post at Vincennes. No attempt was made by the inhabitants
to defend the place. They were disarmed and Captain Helm wa.s
detained as a prisoner of war. When this unfortunate event occurred
Clark was making his preparations for his advance upon 13etroit, but
now he deemed it more important to take and hold Vincennes.
On January 29, 1779, Francis Vigo, a Spanish merchant who liad
been at Vincennes, arrived at Kaskaskia and gave Clark the informa-
tion that Hamilton had weakened his garrison by sending his Indians
against the frontier settlements: that the garrison did not number
more than seventy-tive or eighty men, and that the plan was to have
the Indians gather at Vincennes eai-ly in the spring for the purpose
of driving the Virginians from Kaskaskia and Cahokia. Ui^on learn-
ing these things Clark realized that there was no time to be lost. On
February 4, 1779, Capt. John Rogers and forty-six men embarked
on a large keel-boat, with two four-pounders and four swivels and a
su])ply of ammunition and provisions, under instructions to drop down
the ^lississippi and ascend the Ohio and AVabash rivers with all sjiecd
jiossible, while Clark, with the remainder of his force and some French
volunteers marched across the country.
Crossing the Kaskaskia River, Clark followed the old trail be-
tween the two posts imtil he reached the Embarrass River, near the
present City of Lawrenceville, where the flooded condition of the
country caused him to change his course and he struck the \A'abash
River about ten miles below the post. The march was one of great
hardshijis. the men often wading in water up to their waists and the
rations were limited for the greater portion of the march. Notwith-
standing all the obstacles, on the morning of February 18, 1779, they
were near enough to the fort to hear Hamilton's morning gun. Three
days later, two canoes having been found, the men were ferried over
the ^Vabash not far from the j^resent Town of St. Francisville.
In his account of the expedition Clark says: "Our fate was now
to be determined, probably in a few hours. We knew that nothing Init
the most daring conduct would insure success." Confident that some
of the inhabitants were friendly to the American cause, and believing
that he had some friends among the Indians, Clark inaugurated his
"daring conduct" polic_y by writing the following address:
IIISTORV OF STARK COUNTY 55
"To the Inhabitants of Post Viiicennes:
"Gentlemen — Bein,i>' now within two miles of your villa<);e, with
my army, determined to takeyoui- fort this night, and not heini>- \villiiii>-
to surprise you, I take this method to request sueh of you as are true
eiti/ens and willing to enjoy the liberty I brin<)- you. to remain still in
your houses. And those, if any there be. that are friends to the king-,
will instantly repair to the fort and join the hair-buyer general, and
tight like men. And if any sueh as do not go to tlie i'ort shall be dis-
covered afterwards, they may depend on severe punishment. On the
contrary, those who are true friends to liberty may depend on being-
well treated, and 1 once more recpiest them to keep out of the streets.
For every one I find in arms on my arrival I shall treat him as an
enemy.
"G. R. Claimv."
After sending this by messenger, Clark l)egan to maneuvei- his
force in such a way as to make it appear much more formidable then
it really was. A few horses had been captured from some hunters near
the i)ost. These were now mounted by the officers, who rode about in
all directions, as though carrying orders. There were several stands
of colors, each of which was fixed on a long jjole and carried so that
it could l)e seen above the top of one of the ridges, while the man who
carried it remained out of view. These maneuvers were kept up until
dark, wiien the direction of the ad\ance was suddenly changed and
before the inhabitants were aware of what was taking place Clark had
gained the heights back of the village. Lieutenant liaylej' advanced
with fourteen men and opened fire upon the fort, the main body taking
])ossession of the town.
\Vithout going into details regarding the events of the next forty-
eight lioin's, early on the morning of the "i-ith Clark sent the following
communication to Hamilton under a flag of truce:
"Sir: In order to save yourself from the impending storm that
now threatens you, I order you immediately to surrender yourself,
\vith all your garrison, stores, etc. Foi- if I am obliged to storm,
you may depend on such treatment as is justly due to a murderer.
Beware of destroying stores of any kind, or any jjapers or letters that
are in your possession, or hurting one house in town — for, by Heavens !
if you do. there shall be no mercy shown you.
"G. R. Clakk."
Hamilton replied that he and his garrison were not disposed "to
be awed into any action unworthy British subjects." and the attack
56 HISTORY OF STARK COUXTY
on the fort was renewed. Some of the men begged to be permitted to
storm the fort, but Clark knew he had no men to spare and kept his
solchers from exposing themselves as much as possible. In the after-
noon Hamilton asked for a truce for three days, which Clark denied,
and even refused to go to the gate of the fort for a conference, fearing
treachery on the part of the British commander, who liad won the
appellation of "the hair-buyer general" through his custom of paying-
Indians a certain price for American scalps. However, Clark offered
to meet Hamilton at the church, some eighty yards from the fort, and
requested that Captain Helm, who was still a prisoner, be present at
the jjai-ley. The result of the meeting was the surrender of the fort,
with all its stores and munitions and Clark took possession at 10 o'clock
the next morning. Three days later Hamilton and liis troops took
their departure from Vincennes. During the siege Clark lost one man
wounded, while the British casualties amounted to seven wounded.
Virginia claimed the territory captured by Colonel Clark and in
October, 1778, the Legislature of that colony passed an act providing
tliat the conquered region should comprise the "County of Illinois,"
of A\hich Col. John Todd was appointed county lieutenant in the
spring of 1779. Soon after receiving his commission Colonel Todd
visited Vincennes and Kaskaskia and organized in each place a tem-
porary government, in accordance witli the provisions of the act
creating the county.
The importance of Colonel Clark's conquest can hardly be over-
estimated. By the treaty of Sei^tember 3, 1783. which ended the
Revolutionary war. the western boundary of the United States \vas
fixed at the JNIississippi River. Had it not been for the action of
Colonel Clark and his little band of heroes in driving the British out
of tile 31ississip2)i ^"alley, the chances are that the treaty would have
applied only to the territory included in the thirteen original colonies,
the western boundary of which would in all probability have been fixed
along the summit of the Apj^alachian ]Mountains, and the interior of
the continent would have remained an English possession. In 1784.
Virginia relinquished her claim to the region and Illinois became
territory of the United States. By the Ordinance of 1787 the country
ac(]uired by and through tlie campaign of Colonel Clark — lying north
and west of the Ohio River — was organized as the Xoithwest
Territory.
In 1800 all the Northwest Territory, except the present State of
Ohio, was erected by an act of Congress into the Territory of Indiana,
of M-Iiich Illinois formed a part. On February 3. 1809. President
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 57
Jeft'erisou approved tlic act uiaking lUiiujis a separate territory and
appointed Xinian Edwards governor. At that time there were but
two organized counties within tlie present state limits — Randolph and
St. Clair. Immigration itito the new territory was ra])id and on April
18, 1818, I'resident Monroe approved the "Enabling Act," which
authorized the people of Illinois to elect delegates to a constitutional
convention and adopt a constitution, preparatory to admission into
the Union as a state. The convention assembled at Kaskaskia in
July, the constitution was ratitied by the people and a])proved by
Congress, and on IJecember .'3. 1818, Illinois was formally admitted
to statehood. The two counties of 1809 have been multiplied until
there are now 102 counties in the state. Stark became a separate and
independent county in 1839.
Having thus briefly traced the evolution of Stark County, step by
steji, let us recapitulate. In 1.543 the territory now comprising the
comity was claimed by Spain. Through the claim of La Salle, made
on ^Vpril 9, 1682, it was included in I^ouisiana and became a part of
the French possessions in iVmerica. Ry the treaty of February 10,
17(i"J. which ended the French ami Indian war, it was ceded to Great
Rritain and remained a dependency of that government until the re-
duction of the Rritish posts by George Rogers Clark in 1778. It was
then a part of ^"irginia until 1784, when it was ceded l)y that state to
the United States. Ry the Ordinance of 1787 it was made a part of
the Northwest Territory. From 1800 to 1809 it formed a part of the
Territory' of Indiana. It was then included in the Territory of Illi-
nois, which was admitted to statehood in 1818, when Stark was still
lield by the IndiaTis. Ry the treaty of Chicago, Se])tember 2(), 1833.
the IniUan title to the land was extinguished and the white man came
into full possession.
What were once the hunting grounds of the Pottawatomi Indians
are now cultivated fields. Where once was the Indian trail is now
tile railroad. The whistle of the locomotive has sup])Ianted the war-
whooj) of the savage. The tepee of the red man has given way to the
schoolhouse and the halls of legislation have taken the place of the
trilial council. Indian villages have disappeared and in their stead
have come the towns of civilization, with paved streets, electric lights,
public libraries and all the evidences of modern progress. To tell the
story of this progress is the aim of the subsequent chapters of this
liistorv.
CHAPTER V
SETTLEINIEXT OF STARK COUXTY
AX 01,I) TKAUIXG POST EA'ELAND AND KOSS ISAAC B. ESSEX THE (JKIG-
IXAL I'lOXEEK FIRST CA15IX IX STAKK COUXTY LIST OF SETTLERS
EACH YEAR TO 1839 PIOXEER LIFE AXD CUSTOMS THE HOUSE
RAISIXG FURXITURE AXD UTEXSILS SWAPPIXG AVORK A:MUSE-
3IEXTS AXD PASTI3IES ilARKIXG xVXIMALS THE OLD TRAPI'ER's
SOLILOQUY'.
During the French occupation of the Illinois Valley a trading
jjost was established at the site of the old Peoria Indian village, near
the outlet of Peoria Lake. When Illinois was organized as a territory
in 1809 and Ninian Edwards was appointed governor, this post Avas
still in existence. Shortly after the beginning of the War of 1812
Governor Edwards became convinced of the sympathy of the inhabi-
tants with the British cause. He therefore ordered the inhabitants
banished and the seventy houses that then constituted the village de-
stroyed. ^Vhile the post was in existence, no doubt some of the traders
there dealt with the Indians who lived within the present borders of
Stark County, and these traders were probably the first white men to
visit this portion of the state. They made no settlements away from
the post, however, and it was not until some years later that the atten-
tion of immigrants was attracted to the fertile Spoon River Valley.
In 1828 AVilliam Eveland and Harvey L. Ross, accompanied by
the French interpi-eter, Edouard Plude, left Lewistown. Fulton
County, with a wagon loaded with goods for the piu'pose of trading
with the Indians in Peoria, Stark and Knox counties of the present
day. They were gone nearly a month, when they returned to Lewis-
town, where they re])orted a jjrofitable trade, and that they found ])ut
two white settlers north of the Town of Canton.
In the fall of that year Isaac B. Essex came to the SjJoon River
Valley and selected a claim in section 1.5, township 12, range 6. He
remained there long enough to cut logs and make the clapboards for a
cabin, after which he returned to the "Sliual Creek Colony," M'here
58
HlSTOllY OF STARK COUNTY 59
the ti-a(liii^i>- i)()st had hceii destroyed hy order of Governor Edwards,
and there passed the winter. In April, IS'il), equipped witli two
horses and a wagon laden with tools and supplies, and accompanied
by his Avil'e and little children, he set out for his home on the frontier.
Pausing for a short time at the settlement known as "Prince's Grove,"
a short distance northwest of the jjresent Town of Prineeville, he there
enlisted the cooperation of Daniel Prince, Frank Thomas, two Baptist
preachers — Elders Silliman and Allen — Simon Reed, Stephen French,
and periiaps one or two others, all of whom agreed to go with him to
his claim and assist him in building his cabin. They arrived at the
place late in the day and encamped the first night in the woods, but
before sunset of the next day the cal)in was completed and they "had
a house to sleep in." This cal)in was the first dwelling erected by
civilized man within the ])resent limits of Stark County.
Isaac B. Essex was born in Virginia in January. 1800. From his
native state he went to Ohio, and while still a young man came to
Illinois and was appointed teacher to the Indian children by Rev.
Jesse "Walker, the first INIethodist minister in the state. After teach-
ing a short time he took up a claim on the l)ank of the INIississippi
River a short distance Ijelow Rock Island. Here he laid out a town,
which he called Quebec, but the project failed and he went to I'eoria,
or the Shoal Creek Colony, where he remained until he came to Stark
County. He continued to reside in Stark for many years, when he
went to Dongola. Union County, where he passed the closing years of
his life. Isaac B. Essex was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Essex,
who were married in Virginia in IT'.'l. when he was twenty and she
eighteen years of age. They followed their son to Stark County,
where Elizabeth Essex died on January "iO. 18.53, and her husband
followed her to the grave on May 1.), 18.53. Essex Townshii). where
thej^ first settled, was named in honoi- of this pioneer family. Others
of the Essex family who settled in Stark County were Thomas. Jr.,
William, David and Josej)h. l)rothers of Isaac, and a sister who was
the wife of David Cooper. Further mention of this family will be
found in the history of Essex Township.
The second wliite man to build a cabin in what is now Stark County
was John B. Dodge, who located in section 14, township 12, range 6.
not far from Mr. Essex. After a short residence there he entered
land in section 3 and his cabin in section 1-i was occupied by John E.
O wings. ]Mr. Dodge it seems was a i-estless sort of an individual, who
preferred life on the frontier and went to Texas aliout the time that
state was annexed to the Ignited States.
60 IllSTOllV OF STAllK COUNTY
III tlie spriiii^- of 1830 Eenjaiiiiii Smith, the father-in-law of John
li. Dodge, became a resident of tlie county. He was accompanied by
three others of the family — Sewell, Greenleaf and \\"illiam P. Smith
— and they built their cabin not far from that of JNIr. Dodge, ^\'illiam
D. Grant also came in 1830.
On the southeast corner of the public scjuare. in the Town of Tou-
lon, is a log cal)in which was erected by the Old Settlers' Association
and on August 2.5, 1898, it was dedicated to the "Old Settlers of
Stark Count)'." In the Toulon Public Library are two large, en-
grossed panels, framed and covered with glass, giving a list of the
county's pioneers to whom the cabin is dedicated. From this list it is
learned that the inhabitants of the county in 1831 were: Isaac B.
Essex, Thomas Essex, Sr., Joseph Essex, Henry Seely, Benjamin,
Greenleaf, Sewell and William P. Smith, David Cooper, Harris W.
IMiner, Sylvanus jMoore, David Gregory, AVilliam D. Grant, John
B. Dodge and Peter Sheets.
Those who came during the years 1832-33 were as follows: Par-
don B. Dodge, Conrad, Jacob and Joseph Emery, John P. Hays,
Jesse W. Heath, James Holgate, Elijah ]McClenahan, Sr., Elijah
McClenahan, Jr., James and Robert ^NlcClenahan, Isi-ael Seely,
iMinott Silliman, Lewis Sturms, Gen. Samuel Thomas and Jefferson
Trickle. In this list there are a few names that are still well remem-
bered in the county. IMinott Silliman, a son of the elder Silliman,
who helped Isaac Essex to build the first cabin in the county, was the
first treasurer of Stark County. The first election in the county was
held at the house of Elijah INIcClenahan, Sr., and Stephen Trickle
was a member of the first board of county commissioners.
In 1834, according to the list, twenty-two families were added to
the population, to wit: George Albright, Augustus Bailey, Isaac
Chatfield, Giles C. Dana, Daniel Davis, John Finley, Xelson Grant,
Charles Lake, Henry McClenahan, William ^loore, Nero Mounts,
Joseph Newton, William Parks, Charles Pierce, Ira and Lyman
Riddle, Thomas Scott, Peter Shafer. Robert Sharer, Henry Sturms,
jNIathias Stin-ms, Dexter Wall and Thomas Winn.
The next year witnessed even a larger increase, as thirty-two
pioneers settled within the county. They were: Thomas Bradford,
James Buswell, Capt. Henry Butler, Henry Butler, Jr.. Samuel But-
ler, Jarville Chaffee, David Currier. Peter Davidson, John Davis,
Augustus Dunn, Barnabas Frail, Hugh Frail, John B. Howard,
James and Robert IMoore, Benjamin Newton, George Parker, Adam,
Lewis and Swift Perrv, John T. Phenix, Peter Pratt, Doctor Rich-
OLD sKT'ri.iats' (Ai;i.\, kh mi.n
U3RARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 61
ards, jMiltoii and Silas Richards, ^Vhitney Smith, Isaac Spencer,
Nathaniel Swartz, James Thompson, Stephen Trickle, Thomas Watts
and Calvin Winslow.
In the year 18:30 the immigration passed the hall'-centm-y mark,
over fifty new residents establishing their homes in Stark Couiil> .
Those wiio came this year were: John W. Agard. Ephraim Rarnett.
J. II. Rarnett. Moses Roardman, Charles Rolt. William Rowen.
jNIyrtle G. Rrace, Henry Rreese, E. S. Rroadhead, John Rrowii,
Jacob Claybangh. Henry Colwell, Presley Colwell, Enoch and Nathan
Cox, Lemnel Horrance, Andrew Dray, Ezekiah and Martin Dukes,
William Dunbar, George R. Eckley, Lewis Finch. Rrady Fowler.
Orange Fuller. Frank Grady. George, John. Langley. Robert and
William Hall, Smith Hayes, John W. and Col. William Henderson.
Renjamin F. Hilliard, Philip Keller, Joseph 1). Lane. Joseph K.
Lane, Nathaniel JMcClure, William JNIahany, Richar<l Maskel. John
.Miller, Josiah lAIofKt, Howard Ogle. William Ogle. A^irgil Pike. John
Pratz, Christopher Sammis, Sumner Shaw, Aslnn- Smith, Jacob Smith.
John Spencer, Andrew Swartz, Edward Trickle, Horace Vail, Archi-
bald and Charles Vandyke, John White, Nehemiah Wycoft".
Those who settled in the co\inty in 18:57 Avere: P. J. Anschutz,
Zebulon Avery, Carson and John Rerfield, Nelson Ronham. Dr.
Alfred Castle," Thomas S. Clark, \Villiam Cue, Adam Day, W. W.
Drummond, Calvin and Stephen Eastman, Joseph and Levi Eckley,
Caleb Flint, Ansil Fuller, Luther Geer, Joshua Grant, David Guyer,
Dr. Thomas Hall, John Hamilton. Aaron Harvey, Harry Hays,
John Hester, Jonathan Hodgson, 1). S. Ilurd, Theodore F. Ilurd,
Henry T. Ives, Lemuel R. Leonard, AVilliam Lyall, Thomas Lyle,
Thomas McNaught, Abiah JNIanning, Newton Matthews, Orin INIax-
field, Charles H. and Rev. Jonathan ^Miner. Adam and Thomas
Oliver, Stephen Ordway, Joseph Palmer. Rnloff and Squire Parrish,
Joseph Perry, Isaac Polhamus, P^dward Porter, William Porter,
Calvin Powell, Sr., William Pratt, Ren.jamiii Ricker, W. W. Riggin.
Robert Rule, David, Jacob and John Simmerman. Israel Stoddard,
liberty Stone. John F. Tbom])son, Charles Todd. John Turnbull.
AN'illiam Wheeler, Oliver Whitaker and Ilewes White.
The list of settlers for 1838 includes the following: Philander
Arnold, Royal Arnold, David W. Rrown, Timothy and AVilliam
Carter. Riley Chamberlain, Dr. Ebenezer Clarfield. John Culbertson.
John CurdifF. Eli jab Eltzi'otb. Joshua Gilfillan. Christian (Tingrich.
Daniel Gingrich. Daniel Hodgson, H. M. Jackson, Jonathan H. anf^
James Jackson, John Lackey, Caleb Lyon, David Rouse, Philip
62 HISTOllY OF STAllK COUNTY
Shaner, John and Nathan Snare, Levi Stephens, Jacob Stites,
Lunian Thurston, Robert Turnbull, Cyril ^Vard, Ira \Vard and
Joseph H. Wilhcr.
In JNlarch, IH'M, the Legislature of Illinois passed the act provid-
ing for the organization of Stark County. During that year the
following persons and their families settled in the new county: James
L. Ayers, Jeremiah Bennett, Joseph and William D. Blancliard,
Samuel Camp, Alexander Christy, Asa Currier, Luther Driscoll,
Ellis Uwire. F. W. Emery, James Headly, George Jackson, Sheri-
dan Jones, John Me^^^illiams, ^Villiam Mason, E. C. Merritt, John
Pryor, John Kiggin, John Kussell, Benjamin Turner and ^^^ A.
Walters.
Tile above list of pioneers, compiled as it is from the records of
the Old Settlers' Association, is probably as nearly correct as it can
be made and includes a majority, if not all, of those who settled in the
county prior to its organization. Further mention of many of these
early settlers, giving the places where they located and some account
of their achievements, will be found in the chapter on Township
History.
PIONEER LIFE AND CUSTC^MS
Looking back over a period of four score and six years, to the
time when Isaac B. Essex built his lonely cabin on the banks of the
Spoon River, about two and a half miles southwest of the present
Town of Wyoming, it occurs to the writer that the young people of
the present generation may find some interest in learning how the first
settlers in Stark County lived. Imagine a vast unbroken tract of
country, interspersed with forest and prairie, stretching away toward
the JNIississippi River, with but few white settlers between the Shoal
Creek Colony at Peoria and the great Father of Waters. It was into
this wild region that the Stark County pioneers came — not as con-
(|uerers, seeking to enrich themselves with the spoils of a vanquished
foe, but, armed with axes, rifles and farming utensils, they came to
coiKjuer and subdue the wilderness, build roads, schoolhouses and
churches, and develop the resources of a state that today ranks second
to none in the American LTnion.
One of the first things that confronted the pioneer was the neces-
sity oi' some sort of shelter for himself and family. The manner in
whicli the first cabin in Stark County was l)uilt has ah'eady been told.
Sometimes two or more families woidd come into a new country to-
gether. In such cases one cabin Mould be erected, in which all would
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 63
live- tugetlier until each settler could stake his ckiui and build a dwell-
ing of his own. liun)ber and brick were luxuries unknown to the
frontier settlement, hence the log cabin was the universal type of
residence. The first cabins were built of round logs, but a little later
some of the more aristocratic citizens put up hewed log houses. And
what an event was a "house-raising" in a new settlement.
After the settler had cut his logs and dragged them to the site of
the cabin — quite likely with a team of oxen — invitations were sent to
the neighbors, some of whom lived several miles distant, to attend the
"raising." Verv seldom was such an invitation declined. AVhen all
were assembled the first thing was to select four men, skilled in the
use of the ax. to "carry up the corners." It was the duty of these
four men to take their stations at the four corners of the cabin and, as
the logs were lifted up to them, to shape a "saddle" upon the top of
each log and cut a notch in the under side of the next to fit upon the
saddle. The notch in the butt end of the log had to be cut a little
deeper than the one in the top end, in order that the walls nnght be
carried u]) ap])roximately level, a work that was aided by alternating
the butt and top ends of the logs on each side and end of the cabin.
No plumb line was used to keep the walls perjiendicular, that \nivt oi'
the woik depending upon the eye of the cornerman.
No openings were left for doors and windows, l)ut these were
sawed or chopped out afterward. i\t one end an opening was made
for the fireplace, just outside of which was constructed a chimney.
If stone was convenient the chimney was built of stone: if not it was
built of sticks and claJ^ The roof was invariably of cla])boards, split
or "rived" with an instrument called a frow, and were held in place
bv a pole running the full length of the cabin and fastened to the end
logs with wooden pins. The floor, if there was one, was made of
l)unchcons — that is, slabs of timber s])lit as nearly the same thickness
as ])()ssible and smoothed ofi' on the ui)])er surface after the floor was
laid. The door was also made of thin puncheons, hung on wooden
hinges and provided with a wooden latch. To lift the latch from the
outside a thong of Inickskin was passed through a small hole in the
door. At night the latch string was drawn inside and the door was
locked. This custom gave rise to the saying, "The latch string is
always out." used to signify that a visitor would be welcome at any
time. Nails were rare and not infrequently the entire cabin Mould be -
finished without a single piece of iron being used in its construction.
The furniture was usually of the "home-made" variety and of the
simplest character. Holes bored in the logs of the walls and fitted
^4 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
with pins, upon wliicli boards were laid, formed the "china closet."
Smaller pins driven into the walls were used to hang clothing on and
constituted the only "wardrobe" of the family. Boards taken from
packing cases, or claplioards, battened together, formed the top of a
table, which was supported on two trestles. When not in use, the top
of the table could be leaned against the wall, or set outside the cabin,
and the trestles could be placed one on top of the other to make more
room. In one corner of the cabin was the bedstead, which was made
by boring holes in the logs at a suitable distance from the corner for
the length and width of a bed and inserting poles, which were sup-
ported at the outer corner by a post. Across this framework clap-
boards were laid, one end resting on the "bed rail" and the other in a
crack of the cabin, and on these boards was placed the "straw tick."
Benches and stools took the place of chairs. A few immigrants
brought with them a little factory made furniture and a sash tilled
with glass for a cabin window, but in a majority of cases the furniture
was "liome made." and light was admitted through oiled paper in-
stead of glass.
Stoves were unknown and the cooking was done at the tireplace,
an iron teakettle, a copper-bottomed coffee pot, a long-handled skillet
and a large iron pot being the principal cooking utensils. The skillet
was used for frying meat and baking bread and the iron pot was used
in the preparation of the "boiled dinner." While doing the cooking
the housewife often wore a deep sunbonnet to protect her face fi-om
the heat of the open fire. "Johnny cake" was made by spreading a
stiff dough of corn meal upon one side of a smooth board and pro])])ing
it up in front of the fire. AVhen one side was baked sufiiciently. the
dough would be turned over so that the other side might have its
inning. A liberal supply of johnny cake and a bowl of fresh milk
often constituted the only supper of the pioneer.
Somewhere in the cabin, two hooks, formed from the forks of
small trees, Avould be pinned against the Avail or to one of the ujjper
joists for a gun rack. Here rested the long, heavy rifle of the settler
and suspended from its muzzle 6r one of the hooks hung the bullet-
jiouch and powder-horn.
After the "house-raising" came the "house-warming." A new-
cabin was hardly considered fit to live in until it had been properly
dedicated. In nearly every frontier settlement there was at least one
man who could play the violin. The "fiddler" was called into requisi-
tion and the new cabin would become a "sound of revelry by night."
The two-step, the tango or the hesitation waltz were not known, but
HISTOKV OF STARK C'OLXTV 65
the Virginia reel, the stately luimiet or the old-fashioned cotillion, in
which someone called the figures in a stenotorian voice, were very
much in evidence. It is doubtful if the guests at a presidential
inaugural ball ever derived as much genuine pleasure from the occa-
sion as did these peojjle of tlie frontier at a house-wariuiiig. If the
owner of the cabin had scruples against dancing, the house was warmed
by festivities of a different character, but it iiad to be "warmed" in
some way before the family took full possession.
How easy it is at the present time to enter a i-oom at night, turn a
switch and flood the whole place with electric light! It was not so
four score years ago in Stark County. The ho\isewife devised a lamp
bj- ushig a shallow dish, in which was placed a quantity of lard or
bear's grease. In this grease was immersed a loosely twisted rag, one
end of which was allowed to project slightly over one side, and the
projecting end was lighted. The smoke and odor emitted by such a
lamp could hardly be endured by fastidious ])ersons of the present
day, but it answered the purpose then and gave light enough to enable
the good woman to perform her household duties. Next came the
tallow candle, made in moulds of tin. Sometimes only one set of
candle moulds could be found in a new settlement and they passed
freely from liouse to Iiouse until all had a supply of candles laid away
in a cool, dry place sufficient to last for many weeks. Often, during
the winter seasons, the family would spend the evening with no light
except that which came from the roaring fire in the great fire])lace.
Xo one Avore "store clothes" in the early days. The housewife
would card her wool by hand M'ith a pair of broad-backed Avire brushes,
the teeth of which were slightly bent all in one direction. Then the
rolls would be spun into yarn on an old-fashioned spinning wheel.
She would next weave the yarn into cloth u]}on the old wooden hand
loom and make it into garments for the members of the family, doing
all the sewing with a needle. A girl sixteen j'^ears of age, who could
not spin her "six cuts" a day and make her own dresses Avas hard to
find in a new settlement. How many graduates of the Stark County
high schools in 1910 know what "six cuts" means ^
In these days, with plenty of money in circulation, when anyone
needs assistance he hires someone to come and hel]) him. When the
first white men came to Stark County, money was exceedingly scai'ce
and they overcame the difficulty by helping each other. Cooperation
was the rule. All the settlers in a commimity would join in raising a
cabin for a newcomer, although a total stranger. If a clearing was
made in the timl)er they would all join in the "log-rolling." l?v this
66 IIISTOHV OF STARK COUNTY
means the logs Mould be ijiled in great heaps, so that they could be
burned. The same system was followed in harvest time. Fre(iuently
ten or a dozen men would gather in a neighbor's wheat tield, and while
some would swing the cradle others would bind the sheaves and shock
them, after which the whole crowd would move on to the next field
where the Avheat was ripe, and so on imtil the entire crop of the neigh-
borhood was cared for, or at least made ready for threshing. Xo
threshing machines had as yet made their a))pearance and the grain
was separated from the straw with a flail or tramped out by horses or
cattle upon a smooth piece of ground, or upon a barn floor, if the
settler was fortunate enough to have a barn \vith a floor that was
suitable.
And the community of interests, the custf)m of "swapping work,"
did not apply alone to the men. ^Vhile they were raising the cabin,
rolling the logs or harvesting the wheat, the "women folks" would get
together and prepare dinner, each one bringing from her own store
some delicacy that she thought the others might not be able to supply.
If the weather was pleasant the table would be set out of doors. Bear
meat and venison took the place of terrapin and canvas-back duck,
but each man had a good ai)petite by the time the meal was ready and
the quality of the food was not criticized. The main thing was to
have plenty of it, and when they arose from the table it "looked like
a cyclone had struck it." Each family had its turn and by the time
the year rolled around no one suffered any disadvantage in the amoimt
of food consumed.
Now, when a family needs a supjily of breadstuff, all that is neces-
sary is to step to the telephone and order the grocer to send out a sack
or a barrel of flour, but in the early days going to mill was no light
affair. ]\Iills were few and far a])art and the settler would often
have to go such a distance that two or three days, or even more, AAOuld
be required to make the trip. To obviate this difficulty various meth-
ods were introduced for making at home corn meal — which was the
principal breadstuff of the first settlers. One of these methods was
to build a fire upon the top of a large stump of some hard wood and
keep it burning until a hollow was formed. The charred wood was
then carefully cleaned out of the "mortar," corn poured in small quan-
tities into the mortar and beaten into a coarse meal with a hard wood
"pestle" or a smooth stone. In the fall of the year, before the corn
was fully hardened, the "grater" was brought into requisition. This
implement was made by launching holes closely together through a
sheet of tin. which was then fastened to a board, rough side upward.
HISTOKV OF STARK COUNTY
67
so tliat the till woukl be slightly convex on the outer surface. Then
the corn would he rubbed over the i-ougli surface, the meal passing-
through the holes and sliding down the hoard into a vessel ])laced to
receive it. A slow and tedious process was this, but a bowl of mush
made from grated corn meal and accompanied by a generous supjily
of good milk formed a repast that was not to be sneered at, and one
wiiich no pioneer blushed to place before a visitor.
^latches were exceedingly rare and a little tire was always kept
somewhere about the cabin "for seed." During the fall, winter and
early spring months, the fire \\as kept in the fireplace, but when the
weatlier grew warm a fire was kept burning out of iloors. If, by
some misha]), the fire was allowed to become extinguished one of the
family would have to go to the nearest neighbor's for a new supply.
But if the pioneers had their hardships, they also had their amuse-
ments and pastimes. Old settlers can recall tlie shooting matches,
when men met to try their skill with the rifle, the i)ri/e being a turkey,
a haunch of venison or a (juarter of beef. And some of these old
pioneers with their hair-trigger rities, could hold their own with the
l)est of our military sharpshooters. Then there was the "husking bee,"
in which pleasure and profit were combined. On such occasions the
corn to he husked would be divided into two piles, as nearly etjual in
size as ])ossil)le. Two of the invited guests would then "choose up"
and divide those present into two sides, the contest being to see which
side woidd first finish its pile of corn, ^len and women alike took
])art and the young man who foimd a red ear was permitted by the
rules of the game to kiss the lassie next to him. "^Nlany a merry laugh
went round" when someone found the red ear and the lassie objected
to being kissed. Sometimes the young men would })lay an underhand
game by passing a red ear surreptitiously from one to another.
After the orchards were old enough to bear fruit, the "a])ple cut-
ting" became a popular form of amusement, when a numl)er of young
])eople would assemble to pare and slice enough apples to dry for the
winter's supjjly. The husking bee and the apple cutting nearly al-
ways wound up with a dance, the orchestra consisting of the one lone
fiddler in the neighborhood. lie might not have been a classic musi-
cian, but he could make his old fiddle respond to such tunes as "Turkey
in the Straw," "Money Musk," "The Bowery Gals," and "The ^Vind
That Shakes the Barley Fields," and he never grew tired in furnishing
the melody while the others tri])i)ed the light fantastic toe.
On grinding days at the old grist mill a number of men would
meet, and while waiting for their grists would pass the time in athletic
68 HISTORY OF STAKK COUXTV
contests, such as foot races, wrestling matches or iiitching horseslioes.
The women had their (luilting parties, and after the puhhc school
system was introchiced, the spelling school became a frequent place of
meeting. At the close of the s])elling match the young men could
"see the girls home," and if the acquaintance thus commenced ripened
into an intimacy that ended in a wedding, it was usually followed by
a charivari, or, as it was pronounced on the frontier, a "shivaree,"
which was a serenade in which noise took the place of harmony. The
proceedings were kept up until the bride and groom came out where
they could be seen, and the affair ended all the more pleasantly if
each member of the shivareeing party was presented with a slice of
wedtling cake to place under his pillow to inlluence his dreams.
There was one custom of olden times that should not be overlooked,
and that was the manner in which each settler marked his domestic
animals so that they could be identified. There were Jiot many fences
and stock of all kinds was i)erinitted to run at large. To jirotect him-
self, the pioneer farmer cropped the ears of his cattle, hogs and sheep
in a peculiar manner and these marks were made a matter of record.
The i^rincipal marks were the plain crop, the upper and under bits,
the swallow fork, the upper and lower slopes, the slit, the roimd hole,
and perhai^s a few others, by a combination of which each settler could
mark his stock in a way different from that of any of his neighbors.
The "upper bit" was a small notch cut in the upper side of the ear;
the "under bit" was just the reverse: the "swallow fork" Avas made by
cutting a deep notch in the end of the ear similar in shape to the tail
of a swallow, from which it derived its name, and so on. If someone
found a stray animal marked with an "up])er bit in the left ear and a
swallow fork in the right," all he had to do was to inquire at the re-
corder's office for the owner of such a mark. These marks were seldom
violated and they protected the settler as surely as the manufacturer
is protected in the right to use his registered trade mark.
One accustomed to the conveniences of modern civilization would
sui)pose that the early settlers would be glad to escape the hardships
and disadvantages of frontier life. But there were some who evi-
dently preferred it to any other. JNIany who came to Illinois in an
early day and aided in the tlevelopment of the state's resources after-
ward crossed the ]Mississi]:)pi aiid became pioneers a second time in
Iowa, Xebraska or Kansas. There is a freedom on the frontier that
becomes restricted as population increases, and many preferred the
freedom with its hardshi])s to the advantages of an older comnumity
Avith its conventionalities. Such persons are well described in Brinin-
stool's beautiful jioem : '^
1
I
IIISTOKV OF STARK COUNTY 69
TIIK OLD TKAPrER's SOLILOQUY
I've taken toll from every .stream that held a lurry prize,
Eiit now my traps are nistin' in tlie sun;
Where once the broad, free ranges, wild, unbroken met my eyes,
Their acres have been civilized and won.
The deer have left the bottom lands; the antelope the plain,
And the howlin' of the wolf no more 1 hear,
But the busy sounds of commerce warn me of an alien reign,
As the saw and hammer echo in my ear.
I've lived to see the prairie soil a-sproutin' schools and stores.
And wire fences stretch on every hand;
I've seen the nesters crowdin" in i'rom distant foreign shores.
And the hated railroads creej) across the land.
]\Jy heart has burned within me. and my eyes have misty grown.
As Progress came unbidden to my shack;
jNIy streams have all been harnessed and my concjuest overthrown,
.\nd I've been ])ushed aside and ci-owded back.
I've seen men come with manners and with custouLs new and strange,
To take the land which I have fought to hold;
I've watched the white-topped wagons joltin' on across the range
With those who sought to lure the hidden gold.
I've seen the red man vanquished and the buffalo depart,
^Vnd cowmen take the land which they ])ossessed.
And now there's somethin' tuggin' and a-pullin' at my heart,
And biddin' me m()\e on to'rds the West.
There aint no elbow room no more to circulate around.
Since Civ'lization stopped beside my door;
I'll pack my kit and rifle and I'll find new stompin' ground.
Where things is like they was in days of yore.
I've heard the mountains whisper, and the old, free wild life calls.
Where men and Progress never yet have trod;
And III go back and worship in my rugged canyon walls.
Where the pine trees croon and Nature is my Ciod.
CHAPTER VI
STARK COUNTY ORGANIZED
THE JIILITARY LAND GRANT FORGED TITLES FIRST COUNTIES IN i'lIK
ILLINOIS VALLEY STARK COUNTY THE ORGANIC ACT FIRST ELEC-
TIONS THE COUNTY SEAT CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT — THE COURT-
HOUSE THE ANNEX THE COUNTY JAIL SHERIFF MURCHISON'fv
REPORT THE POOR FARM HOW THE COUNTY WAS NAMED.
Shortly after tlie close of the War of 1812 the United States
Cioverninent api)ropriated and had surveyed a lai\n'e tract of land in
Illinois to be given to the soldiers who took part in that war. The
"^Jilitary Bounty Land Grant," as it was called, was situated be-
tween the Illinois and JNIississippi rivers and extended northward to
about the north line of Henry and Bureau counties. While a large
number of the veterans took advantage of the Government's liberality
to secure warrants, or patents, to a "(juarter section," there were only
a few who became actual settlers on their claims. A large majority
of them traded their patents to speculators, rarely receiving the real
worth of the land. When the actual settlers began to come into the
tract, in which Stark County Avas included, they found a badly mixed-
up situation with regard to land titles, with no sure May of telling
wiiich quarter section belonged to some individual under the military
bounty act, and which was subject to entry. Those who held patents
to th.e lands generally kept out of sight until some settler would make
imjjrovements, when they would turn uj) with a "prior title." These
land sharks showed but little mercy to the pioneers — the men who
were really developing the country — and in numerous instances deeds
and patents were actually forged for the purpose of defrauding the
settlers. Claim associations were organized in several places through-
nut the tract, one of which was formed by the settlers about Osceola
Grove, now in the northeast part of Stark County. Thnmgh the
operation of these associations the land shark antl sjjeculator was
sometimes given short shrift and the settlers were able to hold their
lands until they could jjurchase them from the Government. One of
70
I'l ni.ii si.ii Alii;, ini i.dx
nSRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
I
HISTOllY OF STARK COLNTV 71
the most notorious of tlie land sliarks and claim jum])L'r,s was a man
named Toliver Craig, who was charged with forging titles, and who,
it is said, placed forty fraudulent deeds on record in one day at Knox-
ville. In 18.54 he was arrested in the State of New York and taken
to the jail at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he tried to commit suicide by
taking arsenic. After remaining in jail about a year he was released
on hail and disajjpeared.
This condition of affairs is here mentioned to show one of the
phases of frontier life that the early settler in this section of Illinois
had to contend with, along with the other hardships, and tliat the men
who came here with the determination to make homes for themselves
could not be defeated in their pur])ose, no matter how adverse the
conditions. It was several years before the conflict over titles to the
land was finally settled.
In the preceding chapter is given a list of those who settled within
the present limits of Stark County between the years 18"Ji) and 18:i9.
At the time the first of these settlers came into the Spoon Kiver Valley
the territory was attached to Peoria County for all legislative and
judicial pur])oses. Peoria County was created in 182.) and the act
j)ro\ iding for its organization attached to it all the territory north of
it within the State of Illinois, "on both sides of the Illinois Kiver as
far east as the third principal meridian," which marks the present
eastern boundary of Putnam and Bureau counties.
Knox, Henry and Putnam counties were set off' from Fulton
County, and by the act of A\m\ 2. 1831, Putnam was divided into
four precincts, one of which, known as "Spoon Kiver Precinct." in-
cluded "all the county south of the direct line from the head oi' Crow
Prairie to Six ^Nlile Grove, thence northwest to the original county
line." Bureau Precinct embraced all the present county of that name
and portions of ]\Iarshall and Stark.
As the number of settlers in the Spoon River Valley increased
they began to feel the inconvenience of having to go to Hennepin to
attend court and transact their county business, and a movement was
started for the organization of a new county. At the legislative ses-
sion of 1836-37 the County of Bureau was established and an act "for
the formation of Coffee County" was also ])assed and ajjproved by
the governor. Says Mrs. Shallenbcrger: "Now as Col. William
llentlerson was, from his first settlement here, prominent in local
politics, and known to be an enthusiastic admirer of the Tennessee
hero, General Coffee, with or under whom he had done militarv serv-
ice, it is highly prol)able that this, as well as subsequent acts for the
same purpose, was secured through his instrumentality."
72 HISTORY OF STARK COL XT V
Under the act of 1836 the County of Coffee was to consist of nine
Congressional townships, six of which were to be taken from Put-
nam, two from Knox and one from Henry. Benjamin Mitchell,
Richard X. CuUom and Samuel Hackleton were named in the act as
commissioners to locate the county seat, which was to be called Ripley,
unless some town already established should be selected. The act was
not to become effecti\-e, however, unless a majority of the voters ofi
Knox and Henry counties should give their assent to the formation
of the new county at an election to be held on April 10, 1837. Putnam
was not allowed the opportunity of voting on the proposition, and in
the other counties a majority was against the establishment of the
new county. That was the end of Coifee County.
In February, 1838. a meeting was held at the house of James
Holgate, near Wyoming, to discuss the question of petitioning the
next session of the Legislature to organize a new comity. A factional
fight arose over the question of the eastern boundary, some wanting
the county to extend eastward to the Illinois River, and a spirited
campaign followed in 1838. Colonel Henderson was elected to the
I^egislature and on January Ifi. 1839, he presented a petition from a
large number of citizens of Putnam, Knox and Henry counties pray-
ing for the erection of a new county. Just a week later a bill was
introduced in the Legislature for the establishment of Stark County.
This measure contained some features that were not satisfactory to
Colonel Henderson, and upon his motion it was laid on the table. On
February Ttli the bill and proposed amendments were referred to a
special committee, which reported it back on the 11th, with the recom-
mendation that it pass, but on the final vote it was defeated.
Then a bill was introduced under the title of "An act to dispose of
the territory west of the Illinois River in the County of Putnam, and
for other purposes." On February 28, 1839, the Senate reported that
it had made several amendments to the bill, one of which provided for
the formation of Stark County. The House concurred in the amend-
ments and on March 2, 1839, the council of revision reported a])])roval
of the act, which bore the title of "An act for the formation of the
Count}' of Stark, and for other purposes."
THE ORGANIC ACT
That part of the act relating to Stark County is as follows:
"Section 2. That townships 12 and 13 north, of ranges 5, 6 and 7,
east of the Fourth Principal ]Meridian, shall constitute a new county.
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 73
to be called Stark; Provided, however, that townships 12 and 13 of
range number .5 east shall not constitute or coini)ose any part of
the County of Stark, except upon the condition that a majority t)f the
legal voters in said township shall consent thereto; and to enable the
said voters to decide the question and give or withhold their consent,
an election shall be held at the house of Henry JNlcClenahan, on the
third Monday of March, under the superintendence of Jonathan
Hoduson, Es(i.. Silas Richards. Henrv jNIcClenahan and Conrad
Emery, who shall act as judges and clerk of said election, and whose
duty it shall be to attend at the time and place aforesaid and hold an
election. A poll-l)ook shall be o])ene(l, with cohunns in favor of and
auainst being included in the said Countv of Stark; and the legal
^ oters aforesaid shall be permitted to vote for either proposition. The
polls shall be kept open from !) o'clock A. INI. to .3 o'clock P. M.: and
upon receiving the votes, the said judges and clerk shall certify the
result upon the poll-book, and within five days thereafter deliver said
Ixiok. certitied as aforesaid, to the clerk of the county commissioners'
court of Knox County; and said clerk shall, in the i^resence of two
justices of the peace, or two of the county commissioners, open and
examine the said ])oll-b()ok and compare the ccrtiticate with the votes
given, and thereupon make duplicate certificates of the result of said
election, which shall be signed by the clerk and justices or commis-
sioners as aforesaid; and if it shall appear that a majority of said
votes are in favor of being included in the County of Stark, the said
townshi]) shall be included in said county; otherwise said townshi])
shall continue to form and constitute a part of the County of Knox.
One of the certificates made as aforesaid shall be transmitted to the
secretary of state, to be by him filed with the em-olled bill enacting the
county : and one shall be entered of record in the county commissioners'
com-t of Knox County; but if the majority of said votes shall be
against being included in the said county, the certificates shall be trans-
mitted and recorded as aforesaid, and the boundaries of Stark shall be
as fixed in the foregoing section, excluding the townships aforesaid.
If the y)ersons herein appointed to act as judges and clerk of said
election, or any one of them, shall fail or refuse to act, the voters,
when assembled, shall select others to act in their stead, wlio shall
execute this act as though they were named herein. Notice of said
election shall be ])osted u]) at tln-ee ])laces in said townshi]). at least
five days preceding said election, by Henry JMcClenahan."
Section 3 gave to the county commissioners of Stark County the
power "to vacate, locate and relocate roads, and to use and exercise
exclusive jurisdiction in the premises."
74 IIISTOUY OF STARK COUNTY
"Section 5. The commissioners of the County of Stark, when
elected, shall jjroceed immediately to demand of the county treasurer
of Putnam County the one-sixth ]nirt of '$9,870, paid liim by the Fund
Commissioners, together with fJ per cent per annum upon the
one-sixth part of the sum aforesaid; and should the treasurer of the
County of Putnam fail promptly to pay over the sum aforesaid, then
it is hereby made the duty of the County Commissioners of the
County of Stark to bring suit against the treasurer of Putnam County
and his sureties for the sum aforesaid, it being $1,645, together with
interest as aforesaid from the time of loaning said money imtil paid —
said sum being hereby appropriated to the County of Stark, to be
applied agreeable to the provisions of 'An act to establish and main-
tain a general system of internal improvement;' provided, ho^vever,
that nothing in this act shall be so construed as to release the present
commissioners of the County of Putnam from any liability which they
may have incurred by illegally authorizing the fund aforesaid to be
used for any other object than that for which it was legitimately
approjiriated.
"Section 7. That the legal voters of the County of Stark shall
meet at the house of Elijah ]McClenahan, Sr., on the first ^Monday
in April next, and proceed to choose their own judges and clerks, who,
after being duly sworn, shall proceed to open the polls and hold an
election for the purjjose of electing county officers. It shall be the
duty of Closes Boardman, or, in case of his absence, any justice of
the peace within the bounds of said county, to give at least ten days'
notice of the time and place of holding said election, and, when said
election is over, to give certificates of election to the persons elected
comity commissioners and make retiu'ns to the secretary of state for
comity officers.
"Section 8. The County Commissioners of the said County of
Stark shall meet at the house of Elijah ^McClenahan, Sr., within ten
days after their election, and after being qualified shall proceed to
layoff said county into justices' districts and rpad districts and order
elections for all justices of the peace and constables; to levy a tax for
all county purjjoses for the present year, unless the revenue law shall
be changed, and to do and perform all the duties required of the county
commissioners' courts by law.
"Section 9. The courts of said county shall be held at sueh place
as the county commissioners' court may designate, until a suitable
preparation can be made at the county seat; which county seat, when
located, shall be called Toulon. Said county shall form a part of the
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 75
same judicial circuit with the counties of Putnam and Marsliall: and
the circuit court shall he held for said comity twice in each year at
such times as the judye of said circuit may desi<^'iiate.
"Section 10. Tiie (jualitled voters of the County of Stark, in all
elections except county elections, shall vote with the senatorial aii<l
representative district composed of the counties of Peoria, Putnam.
Hureau and Marshall, until otherwise provided hy law, hut shall make
election returns to the secretary of state in the same manner that is
now required hy law from the other counties in this state."
Section 12 provides that the school commissioner of Putnam
County should turn over to the proper authorities in the County of
Stark all money, hooks, records, etc., pertainin<>; to the schools within
the territory- comprising the new county.
THE FIRST ELECTIONS.
The Legislature having done its })art hy the passage of the ahove
act. it devolved ujion the people of the countj^ to complete the organi-
zation. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 7 of the organic act,
the legal voters living within the limits of the County of Stark met
at the house of Klijah ^McClenahan, Sr., on the first Monday in
April, 1839, which was the first day of the month, and i)roeee(led to
elect the following officers: Commissioners, Jonathan Hodgsoti,
Steplien Trickle and Calvin Winslow; commissioners' clerk, Oliver
^Vhitaker; sheriff, Augustus A. Duim; treasurer, ^Minott Silliman;
recorder, Jesse W. Heath; prohate judge, William Ogle; surveyor,
.John W. Agard.
On Thursday, April 4, 1839, the county commissioners met, for
the first time, at the house of Mr. JMcClenahan, where the election, was
held, and carried out the provisions of the organic act as set forth in
Section 8. ^Vt tlie .lune term the coimnissioners made provisions for
the general election to he held on iVugust .), 1839, by ordering that
each justice's district should he an election precinct, appointing
judges of election in each precinct and designating the voting
places. In precinct Xo. 1, Ri-ady Fowler, Nicholas Sturm and
M. G. Brace were ajipointed judges, and the Northern school
house named as the voting jjlace. No. 2, James Holgate, Samuel
Thomas and Ilemy Rreese, judges; vote at the house of James Hol-
gate. No. 3, Calvin Powell, William W. Webster and ]Moses Board-
man, judges; election at the house of Lewis Finch. No. -1, Conrad
Emery, John ]Mc Williams and Israel Stoddard, judges; election to
76 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
be held at Theodore F. Hurds store in Lafayette. Xo. 5, ^Villiani
Ogle, Adam Perry and Angnstus Richards, judges; election at tiic
house of William Henderson.
The election of April, 1839, was for the purjiose of electing county
officers to serve until the next regular election, which occurred on
August 5, 1839. At the August election Oliver Whitaker and Minott
Sillinian were re-elected clerk and treasurer, respectively; William
Ogle succeeded Stephen Trickle on the board of county commission-
ers; Carson Berfield was chosen surveyor to succeed J. W. Agard;
John :Miller succeeded William Ogle as probate judge; and B. M.
Jackson was elected recorder. The new board of commissioners
organized on September 3, 1839, when lots were drawn for the \ arious
terms. William Ogle drew the one-year term; Calvin Winslow, two
years ; and Jonathan Hodgson, three years. The machinery of county
government Avas now permanently established.
THE COUXTV SEAT
Although the organic act gave the name of Toulon to the coimty
seat, '"when located," no provision was made in the act of ]March 2,
1839, for its location. On February 27, 1841, an act was passed
naming John Dawson. Peter Van Bergen and William F. Elkin, all
of the County of Sangamon, to locate the town of Toulon. The act
stipulated that the commissioners should meet at "the house of Wil-
liam H. Henderson, in said county, on the second ^Monday in April,
1841, thereafter, or as soon as might suit their convenience, and being
first duly sworn, as l)y said act retiuired. to discharge faithfully tlie
duties assigned them by said act, should then proceed to locate the said
town of Toulon, having due regard in making said location to the
})resent and future population of said County of Stark, the promotion
of the general good, the eligibility of the site, and as near as may be,
after considering all other provisions of said act. the geographical
center of the county."
The commissioners did not meet until in ^Slay. Their report, tiled
with the county commissioners and entered in the records of the
county, contains the following:
"And, whereas, said commissioners did on the 17th day of ]May,
1841, meet at the house of William H. Henderson, in said County
of Stark, and did take and subscribe to an oath prescribed by said
act, and which said oath is filed in the clerk's office of the county
commissioners' court of said Countv of Stark, and after having
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 77
inspected the territory of said county in all tilings appertaining to
the discharge of the (hities assigned them by said act above referred
to, have h)eated, and do hereby locate, the town of Touh)n, the county
seat of Stark County, on ninety rods scjuare of hnid, at present owned
l)y John Miller, of said County of Stark, and known and described
as follows, to-wit: It being ])ait of the southwest (juarter of Section
Xo. 19, in Townshij) No. 13 north, of Range 6, east of the Fourth
Principal ^Meridian, whieli said ninety rods square lies twelve rods
east and twelve rods north of the west and south boundary lines of
said (juarter section: upon this condition, however, that the said .loiiii
Miller execute to the county eonunissioners in office a good and sutH-
cient deed in fee simple to the said ninety rods s(iuare of land."
On July 28, 1841, John ^Miller and his wife. Mary Ann Miller,
executed the recjuired deed and Stark County became possessed of
tile site of its seat of justice. (For the further history of the Town
of Toulon see the chajiter on Cities, Towns and \^illages.)
CHANGE IX GOVEKNMEXT
When Stark County was first organized the transaction of tlie
public business was intrusted to a board of three coiinuissioners. This
system was continued until the adojjtion of the Constitution of 1848.
which gave to the several counties of Illinois the privilege of adopting
township organization. A majority of the legal voters of Stark
County, at the general election in November, 18.)2, voted in favor of
townshij) organization, the inauguration of which changed the execu-
tive officials of the county from a l)oard of three commissioners to
a board of supervisors, composed of one member from each ci\ il
township. The first board of supervisors, as shown by the minutes
of Se])tember 12, 18.).'J. when they held their, first meeting, was made
up as follows: Elmira Townshi]), Thomas IjvIc: Kssex, IamhucI
Dixon; Goshen, Lewis II. Fitch: Osceola, Bradford S. Foster; I'enn,
James Holgate: Toulon, Calvin I.,. Eastman: Valley, Charles C.
Wilson; West Jersey, William W. Webster. The system thus intro-
duced has been continued to the ])resent time.
THE COURTHOUSE
l-'or more than two years after the orgam"zation of the county,
the public business was transacted and the sessions of the Circuit Court
were held in private dwellings. Some time in the early part of 1842
78 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
a contract was made by the county commissioners with Abel ]Mott,
an elder of tlie ^Mormon Church, to erect a courthouse upon tlie public
square in the Town of Toulon. It seems that ]Mr. JNIott failed to
carry out his part of the agreement to the satisfaction of the board of
conmiissioners, as the records show that Cyril Ward, John Shores
and J. H. Wilber were appointed to arbitrate the differences or mis-
understandings between the contracting parties. On January 20,
184."3, after the arbitrators had rendered their decision and made their
report, the commissioners ordered "that the treasurer pay to Abel
Mott the sum of $360.36, to be paid out of the notes given for the
sale of lots in the Town of Toulon, it being a balance due him in
full for building said courthouse in said town."
On 3Iarch 8, 1843, ^linott Silliman, the treasurer of Stark County,
tiled a claim for $21.7.5 for commission on $1,087.2.5 \\'orth of notes
taken in jjayment for lots in the Town of Toulon and turned over
to Abel jNIott since JNIarch 10, 184.2. The sum represented by these
notes was probably somewhere near the cost of Stark County's first
courthouse, so far as the contractor was concerned. There were some
extra charges, howe\'er, as shown by the minutes of the commission-
ers' court. Notice was given by the board on September 7, 1842,
that a contract would be let on the 20th of October "to under])in the
courthouse with stone in a good and workmanlike manner, payable
either in notes of the sales of lots in the Town of Toulon, or State
Bank of Illinois paper."
At the same time W. T. Vandeveer was appointed agent of the
county to award the contract and oversee the work "to the best advan-
tage for said county." For some reason the contract was not let at
tlie ai)pointed time, for on July 3, 1843, the bid of Calvin Powell,
of $74.00. for underpinning the courthouse, was accepted by the
boartl, the work to be completed by the first ]Monday in September.
On tlie same date the commissioners made a private agreement with
Minott Silliman, by whicli the latter was to "build six chimneys for
stove i^ipes in the cotn-thouse," for the sum of $33.50, the chimneys
to be finished by the first ^Monday in September.
Tiie old frame courthouse continued in use for nearly fifteen
years before any agitation was started in favor of a new one. On
Seiitember 10, 1856, John Berfield, Henry Breese and C. JNI. S. I>yons
were appointed a committee "to visit I^acon, in ^Marshall County,
and obtain a full description of the courthouse at that place — its
size, the material of which it is constructed, its cost and manner of
construction — together with such drafts, models, plats, etc., of said
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 79
building, or such other phits as they may deem expedient; to consult
with experienced builders, and to make such other arrangements
pre])aratory to building a new courthouse as they may think necessary
and report to this board at its next meeting."
Tile committee reported on October 11, 18.50. and with the rei)ort
submitted plans and specifications for a new courthouse. The re])ort
and i)lans were accepted and ai)i)roved by the board and the committee
was discharged as a committee of in(}uiry and investigation, but the
same men were immediately appointed a building committee, witii
instructions to advertise for bids and report progress at the next
meeting. On December 9, 18.5G, the committee reported that three
sealed proposals for the erection of the courthouse had been received,
to-wit:
Thomas B. Starrett and Edward Nixon $12,700
Stephen ^M. Fisher 10,.500
Parker C. Spaulding 8,300
The bid of Mr. Spaulding, whose home was in Knoxville, 111.,
was accepteil. but before the contract was entered into he came for-
wai'd with the complaint that the advertisement, upon which he had
based his estimate, stated that the building was to be fifty-six feet
in length, while the plans and specifications called for a building sixty-
four feet long. He therefore asked the board to jjermit him to add
$1,185 to his original bid, which was granted, his figures then being
more than one thousand dollars below those of the next lowest bidder.
A contract Avas then made with Mr. Spaulding, in which he agreed
to furnish all materials and labor necessary to complete the court-
liouse for $9,48.5. This contract was dated December 23, 18.5('), and
Mr. Spaulding agreed to have the building completed by the first
day of December. 18.57.
Before the courthouse was more than half done the contractor
assigned to Elias Spaulding, who failed to finish the building within
the stipulated time. On December 9, 18.57. the county clerk was
directed to issue an order on the county treasurer for $1,0()(). due
February 1.5, 18.58, the last payment to Elias Spaulding for building
the C()\u-thouse. The contractor was allowed $104. ()8 for extra work,
and some other extras added l)y the board amounted to ai)ont fifty
dollars.
On August 4, 18.57, it was ordered by the supervisors that the
clerk advertise and sell the old courthouse at auction on the first day
of the October term of court, the purchaser to remove the building
80 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
from the public square within thirty days after the sale. The house
was h()u<^ht by Jett'erson Cooley, who removed it to the east end of
his hotel lot, on the northwest corner of Main and ^filler streets,
Avhere it was used for years as a livery barn. It was then sold to
M. B. Downend, who removed it to his farm a short distance east of
Toulon and converted it into a cattle shed.
THE ANNEX
The fireproof building, immediately west of the courthouse, which
for want of a better name is here called the annex, was erected for
the pin-poses of obtaining more room for the transaction of county
business and providing a safe depository for the jiublic records. It
had its inception on September 12, 1883, when James H. Quinn, the
supervisor from Goshen Township, offered the following preamble
and resolution:
"Whereas, it is the duty of the board of supervisors to provide
necessary bviildings and suitable fireproof safes or offices to keep and
inoperly protect the records of the county, and
"Whereas, the present buildings and offices of Stark County,
Illinois, are entirely inadequate for that purpose, both as to capacity
and protection from fire, and each property holder in the county,
as w'ell as each one who is affected by the records of the county, is
without such protection as an ordinarily thoughtful and prudent man
would provide for his own ^^rivate interests, and
"Whereas, the finances of the county are such that we can and
should immediately make such provision as we are required by law,
and in duty bound to do by the obligation of the oath of our office;
it is therefore
"Resolved l)y this board, and we do hereby appropriate the sum
of .$6,000 for the purjiose of building a suitable fireproof structure
for offices and for the records of said county, said offices to be built on
the coin-fhouse square in the Village of Toulon, in said county, and
we do further direct that the said sum of money be levied and extended
ujjon the tax books of the respective townships that are now being-
prepared for the taxes assessed for the year 1883."
Ujjon the roll being called, the supervisors from Goshen. Elmira,
Toulon and West Jersey townships voted aye; and those from Essex,
Osceola, Penn and ^"alley voted no. The result being a tie vote, the
resolution was declared lost. The next day JNIr. Quinn. not willing
to accept defeat, presented another resolution to appropriate $G.000
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 81
for a fireproof building, provided: "That the sum of $2,000 be raised
by the eitizens of the said Village of Toulon and api)ropriated by thcni
to aid in the erection and construction of said lircproof building, in
addition to the above named sum of $(),000."
After some discussion this resolution was laid on the table and no
further action in the matter was taken until the following spring.
On April 29, 1884., the resolution was taken from the table and upon
the final vote was rejected. Robert Armstrong, the member of the
board from Elmira Township, then offered a resolution similar in
character to that of IMr. Quinn, except that the amount to be appro-
priated was left blank, to be filled in after the cost of such a building
was ascertained, and the peojjle of Toulon were not required to appro-
priate any part of the cost of said building. Mr. Armstrong and
William P. Caverly were appointed a committee to procure plans,
specifications and estimates and report at the next meeting of the
boai'd.
On 31ay 27, 1884, they reported that they had employed Charles
Ulricson, an architect of Peoria, to make plans, which were submitted
to and approved by tlie board. The next day, on motion of J. S.
Atherton, the sum of $7,.)0() was appropriated for the building and
W . P. Caverly, of Toulon, Robert Armstrong, of Elmira, and .lohn
Jordan, of Essex, were appointed a building committee. Rids were
advertised for and were opened on .Inly 14. 1884. The contract was
awarded to John Volk & Company, of Rock Island, for $7,414. and
^V. P. Caverly was appointed to oversee the erection of the building.
In this fireproof structure are the offices of the recorder, surveyor,
county and circuit clerks.
THE COUNTY JAIL
A careful seairli tlirough the records fails to reveal just when and
how the first jail in Stark County was built. For several years after
the organization of the county prisoners were kept in the jails of
some of the adjacent counties. On September 8, 184(), the county
commissioners ordered the treasurer to pay to the treasurer of Mar-
shall County the sum of $134.03 "for keeping, boarding and guarding
Josiah Kemp and Robert Brown," etc.
The next entry in the commissioners' record relating to a jail is
found in the minutes of September 3, 1849, when the following war-
rants were drawn on the county treasury for labor or material used
in building a fence around the jail lot at the southwest cornei- of
82 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
Franklin and Jefferson streets, opposite the public squai'e: Alexan-
der xVhel. $10.62; Jacob Holgate, $8..-)(): David Winter, $5.2.5; John
A. Williams (for self and boy), $10.00; Henry ^Vhite, $10..J0,
making a total allowance of $4.4.. 87 for the fence.
Just a year later — September 3, 18.50 — the clerk was ordered "to
make out and transmit to the clerk of Knox County so much of the
record as may be necessary to exhibit the amount i)aid by the County
of Stark for expenses incurred by AVashiugton Stair, a prisoner
in the Stark Count)' jail on change of venue from said County of
Knox," etc.
From these three entries it may be seen that the jail was built
some time between the years 1840 and 1850 — probably in 1849, at
the time the lot was fenced. It was a brick building, the jail proper
being on the first floor, Avhile upstairs were living rooms for the jailer
and his family. The brick walls of the lower story were reinforced
by a lining of heavy timbers, studded with nails. Init even this precau-
tion was not sufficient to prevent prisoners from working their way to
liberty when they were so inclined. There was at least one jail
delivery that is still remembered by old settlers.
It was a sort of oiien secret that "Uncle" John Culbertson was in
the habit of keeping a considerable sum of money about his house.
One Sunday morning, while ]Mr. Culbertson and his family were
attending church, four men broke into the house and ransacked until
they found at least a portion of the gold and silver coin, which they
divided into four shares and concealed the money in hollow trees near
Toulon. There was a slight snow on the ground, and when 3Ir. Cul-
bertson returned from church and saw what had happened he raised
the alarm. The neighbors soon gathered and had no difficulty in track-
ing the housebreakers into the woods, where three parcels of the
money were recovered. The men were afterward arrested and con-
fined in the old jail, where they kept up a noise every night, singing,
hallooing, etc.. to prevent the sheriff from hearing their efforts to
break through the wall. The only heat in the cell room was furnished
by a stove. Heating the ])oker in the stove, the prisoners used it to
burn out a section of the timber, hanging their clothes over the place
during the day so that their work would not be discovered. After the
timber was burned away they pounded a hole through the brick wall —
singing and yelling all the time as usual — and made a dash for free-
dom. Their escape was soon discovered, however, and a pursuit insti-
tuted that resulted in the recapture of the fugitives. The Civil war
was on at the time and they were given the oi^portunity of enlisting,
corx'i^ .lAii. AM) siii;i;iii-s kksiuknck. TdiLoN
UNiVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY 83
instead of .spending a term in prison. Tliey accepted the alternative
and entered the army.
In Decemhcr. 18().>, the sheriff' was iHrectcd to ascertain tlie cost
of two iron cells for the jail. The following March John ^I. Jirown,
then sheriff, reported that two cells wonld cost $1,150, hut the hoard
of supervisors decided that it was too nuich money to spend on a
jail that had alxnit outlived its usefulness and the cells were not
installed. Xo mcncnicnt for the erection of a new jail was made for
nearly thirty years after that date, notwithstanding that every grand
jury for the greater pait of that period condennied the jail as unsafe
mid unsanitary. On ]Mareh 1, 189.5, Sheriff Donald INIurchison suh-
mitted to the hoard of su])ervisors the following report:
"To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Stark County,
Illinois:
"Gentlemen: — The statute. Chapter 75, Section T2, makes it the
duty of the sheriff, from time to time, to report to the board the
condition of the county jail, and the fact that the board may, in some
measure at least, be ac(|uainte(l with the condition of the jail does
not relieve the sheriff from the duty of making such a report, or of
the responsibility whicii would attach to his failure to make known
to the board the condition of the jail. Therefore, I would rejjort to
your honorable board :
"First — That the jail is in such a condition that it would he con-
sidered unfit for the confinement of brute beasts, much less a fit place
for the confinement of human beings. It is a pure impossibility either
to ventilate or light (except with artificial light) the miserable den.
"Second — It is in such a condition that it is utterly impossible to
confine and keep prisoners safely within its walls.
"Third — It is in such a condition that it is wholly lacking in facili-
ties for liandling prisoners witli safety.
"Fourth — There is only one apartment or cell for all classes of
prisoners, whereas, the statute. Chapter 75, Section 11, forbids the
confining of men and women together, and minors with notoi'ious
offenders in the same room. I would therefore urge on the board
the necessity of at once making such rei)airs and imjjrovements on
the jail as will afford proper light and ventilation, and such as will
insure, at least to a reasonable degree, the safe keeping and handling
of ])ri.soners. Also, to ])i-ovide such apartments as will enable the
jailer to com])ly with the statute in kee])ing the vai'ious classes of
prisoners apart as above set forth. The roof leaks badly and needs
rejDairing. All of which is respectfully submitted.
"DoxAi.D MuRCHisoN, Sheriff."
84 IIISTOKV OF STAHK COUNTY
The board took the sheriff's report under advisement and after
exaniinini>- the jail decided that ^Ir. ]Murchison's caustic criticisms
were not witiiout foundation. On -May 2, 18t).5, the cliairman of the
board was instructed to procure plans and estimates for a ne\v jail
and report at the next meeting.
On .July 3. 189.), it was "moved and seconded that the supervisors
build a jail for Stark County, not to exceed the cost of $8,000, pro-
vided they can sell the west eighty acres of land belonging to the
poor farm, at not less than $80 per acre, and apply the proceeds as
jjart payment on said jail."
On the same date the clerk was ordered to advertise for bids on
the west eighty acres of the poor farm and on the old jail lot. and
also for bids for the construction of a new jail until 10 o'clock A. 31.,
August 0, 189.5. When the bids were opened it was found that the
Champion Iron Works had submitted the best proposition, offering
to build the jail comidete for $7,"200, and that concern was awarded
the contract. All bids on the eighty acres of land were rejected and
the board levied a tax that would net $8,000 foi- the construction
of the jail. The southwest corner of the public square was selected as
the location and John P. Williams was employed to superintend the
building of the jail. It was completed hi JNlarch, 189(j. With the
new jail, which includes a residence for the sheriff. Stark County can
claim to be as well provided in this i-espect as any county of its class
in the State of Illinois.
THE POOR FARM
Concerning the first poorhouse, or poor farm, in Stark County.
Mrs. Shallenberger, on page 82 of her history, says : "The first county
2)oorhouse was located a little northeast of Toidon, on what was long
familiarly known as 'Adam Perry's place:' indeed the house was but
the old residence enlarged and adapted in various ways to its new
duties. But this being deemed insufficient to meet the demands liable
to be made by the increase of ])au])ers as the county grew in years and
numbers, it was decided in 1808 to buy a larger farm, farther from
town, and to erect upon it a good, substantial and commodious poor-
house. Accordingly a tract of land described as the northeast (|uarter
of Section 12, ToMiiship 12 north, Range 5 east, in Stark County,
was ])urchased from 3Ir. Davis Lowman. at a cost of about eight
thousand dollars, and early in the following year preparations for
building began — the committee in charge being C. M. S. Lyons, J. H.
Quinn and H. Shivvers.
HISTORY OF STARK COT^XTY 85
"The 1)1(1 buildings were sold, the old iarm platted and sold in
small lots, and the eontract for the new building- let to William
Caverly for the sum of -$1(),()()0. This was eonsidered by some an
unneeessary expense, eonsidering the small number of our paupers,
and the project met with some opposition and a good deal of ridicule."
The poorhouse erected in 1S()8 was destroyed by tire in the early
part of December, 1«8(). and a few days later Edward Colgan, chair-
man of the board of supervisors, was authorized to "make, sign and
execute proofs of loss," etc., in order to obtain the indemnity from
the insurance companies — $2,.j0() in each of two companies. Some
of the citizens of the county advocated the purchase of a new farm
and the board ajjpointed a committee to examine farms, ascertain the
prices at which they could !)c purchased and report. Several farms
were examined by the committee, but upon final consideration of
the matter the board decided to retain the farm already owned by
the county, and on Jamiary 18, 1887, appointed John F. Rhodes,
John W. Smith and John Ilazen a conunittee to build a new poor-
house on the old foundation walls according to plans made by John
Hawks. On February 18, 1887, the building committee entered into
a contract with Ira F. Ilayden to erect the new poorhouse for $0,909,
and some additional ex])ense was incurred in repairing the foundation
walls where they had been injured by the fire, making the total cost
oi' the l)uil(ling a little over seven thousand dollars. It was completed
and accepted by the board on September 14, 1887. has been kept in
good re])air and is still in use.
now THE COUXTV WAS NAMED
In the early part f)f this chapter is given an account of the effort
to establish Coffee County in the legislative session of 18.3(i-37, as
taken from ^Nlrs. Shallenberger's work on Stark County. The same
autlioi- says, regarding the name of Stark County: "To whose taste
this name was due is sometimes a matter of curiosity among our
people, who had formerly suggested 'Coffee.' There is no means of
ascei'taining this to a certainty now, and it is a matter of small
importance, but the writer is well convinced that the name was a
])olitic concession on the part of Colonel Henderson to the wishes of
his constituents from Yermont, many of whom lived about Osceola
Grove, and who also urged Bennington as a suitable name for the
county seat."
John Stark, in whose honor the county was named, was a native
86 HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY
of New Hanii).sliirc, where he was horn on Augxist 28, 1728, of Irish
l^arents, who came to iVnieriea some ten years l)ef()re. He served
with distinction in the colonial army during the Revolutionary war
and \\as a memher of the council that arranged the terms of General
Rurgoyne's surrender at Saratoga. With seventy-one Irishmen in
his command, he was at the hattle of Runker Hill, and it is said he
was the officer who first gave the command: "Hold your tire, hoys,
till you see the whites of their eyes," a jjolicy that carried death and
defeat to the forces of General Howe. On another occasion, at the
lieginning of an engagement, he urged his men forward hy saying:
"\Ve must win today, or tonight ]MoIly Stark is a widow." AMiile
it may have been a source of some regret to Colonel Henderson that
the county was not named after his old military commander, it was
named for a hero who was no less illustrious.
CHAPTER VII
TOWXSIIir HISTORY
ORIGIN or THE TOWNSHIP ITRST TOWNSHIPS IN THE UNITED STATES
justices' DISTKlfTS IN STARK COUNTY ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL
TO\\NSHlPS IN 18.33 ELMIRA ESSEX — GOSHEN OSCEOLA PENN
TOULON VALLEY WEST JERSEY MILITARY LAND ENTRIES IN
EACH HOW THE TOWNSHIPS WERE NAMED EARLY SETTLERS —
PRESENT DAY CONDITIONS — RAILROADS SCHOOLS POPULATION AND
WEALTH.
The townsliip as a suhordiiuite civic division orioinatcd in England
in Anglo-Saxon times and was called the "tunscipe." It was the polit-
ical unit of poi)ular expression, which took the form of a mass
convention or popnlar assembly called the "tun moot." The chief
executive of the tunscipe was the "tun reeve," who, with the parish
priest and four lay delegates, rejirescnted the tunscipe in the shire
meeting. Says Fiske: "Aliout 871 A. D. King Alfred instituted a
small territorial .subdivision nearest in character to and probal)ly con-
taining the germ of the American township."
In the settlement of New England the colonies there were first
governed by a general court, or legislature, composed of the governor
and a small council, generally made up of the most influential citizens,
'i'he general court was also a judicial body, deciding both civil and
criminal causes. In JNIarch, 103.5, the (Jeneral Court of Massachusetts
])assc(l the following ordinance:
■Whereas, particular towns have many things that concern only
themselves, and the ordering of their own affairs and disposing of
l)usiness in their own town, therefore, the freemen of every town, or
a majority of them, shall have the ])ower to dispose of their own lands
and woods, and all the appurtenances of said towns; to grant lots,
and to make such orders as may concern the well ordering of their own
towns, not repugnant to the laws and orders established by the Cien-
eral Court.
"Said freemen, or a majority of them, shall also have power to
choose their own particular officers, such as constables, petty magis-
87
88 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
trates, surveyors for the highways, and may impose fines for violation
of rules established by the freemen of the town; provided that sueh
fines shall in no single ease exeeed twenty shillings."
That was the beginning of the township system in the United
States. Connecticut followed with a similar provision regarding local
self government, and from New England the system was carried to
the new states of the Middle West.
In the southern colonies the county was made the political unit.
Kight counties were organized in Virginia in H'uii and the system
spread to the other colonies, except in South Carolina the counties
are called districts and in Louisiana, ])arishes. The Illinois country
became a comity of ^'^irginia after the conquest by George Rogers
Clark in 1778.
The first provision for a civil township northwest of the Ohio
River was made by Governor St. Clair and the judges of the North-
west Territory in 17!K). The term "civil township" is here used to
distinguish the township with local officers from the Congressional
township of the Government survey. The latter is always six miles
square, but the civil township varies in size and its boundaries are
often marked by natural features, such as creeks, rivers, etc.
In New England the townshij) is still far more important in local
matters than the county. The town meeting, which is the successor
of the old "tun moot" of Anglo-Saxon days, wields great influence
in sueh matters as the levying of local taxes, appropriating funds
and issuing bonds for j^nWic improvements within the townshi])
limits. In the South the township is little more than name, all the
local business being transacted by the county authorities. Through-
out the great Middle West there is a well balanced combination of
the two systems, schools and roads being usually in charge of town-
ship officials, while business that affects more than one civil township
is handled by the county.
When Illinois Avas first admitted into the Union as a state, no
provision was made in its constitution for the introduction of a town-
ship organization. This idea may have been iniierited from its old
county organization, first established in 1778, while the territory com-
])rising the state was claimed by Virginia. The nearest approach to
the civil township was the "justice's district." Section 8 of the act
of Mai-eh 2. 1839, organizing the Comity of Stark, provides that the
county commissioners, as soon as elected, or within ten days, "shall
proceed to lay off said county into justices' districts," etc.
l^msuant to this provision, on Thursday, April 4, 1839, the county
HISTORY OF STxVRK COUNTY 89
coiiiinissioners — Calvin ^Vin.sk)\v, Jonathan Hodgson and Stephen
Trickle — established the following justices' districts:
1. Township 14, Ranges G and 7. (This district included the
present townships of Elmira and Osceola.)
2. "To eoninience at the northeast corner of Township 13, Range
7; tlienee west to the northwest corner of Section 3, Township 13,
Range 0; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 34; thence
east to the southwest corner of Section 3.5 ; thence south to the south-
west corner of Section 3.5, Townsiiip V2, Range (i; thence east to
the southeast corner of Township 12, Range 7, and thence north to
the place of beginning." (As thus established No. '2 contained the
])resent townships of Penn and Valley and practically the east half
of Toulon and Kssex.)
3. "Beginning at the southwest corner of Township 12, Range
5; thence east to the southwest corner of Section 35, Township 12,
Range (J; thence north to the southwest corner of Section 11; thence
west to the southwest corner of Section 7. Townshi]) 12, Range 5;
tlience south to the place of begiiuiing." (This district included a
strip four miles wide and ten miles long in the southwest corner of
tlie county.)
4. "Beginning at the northwest corner of Township 13, Range
.5; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 7, Township 12,
Range .>; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 10; thence
north to the northeast of Section 3, Township 13, Range .5; thence
west to the place of beginning." (No. 4 contained thirty-two square
miles, including the western two-thirds of Goshen Townshiji and eight
sections in the northwest part of \\'est Jersey.)
.). "Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 4, Township
13. Range 6; thence west to the noithwest corner of Section 2, Town-
ship 13, Range .5; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 11,
Township 12, Range .5; thence east to the southeast corner of Section
3; thence west to the northwest corner of Section 3; thence north to
tlie i)lace of beginning." (This district included all that part of the
county not contained in the other districts, to-wit: The west half
of the ])resent Township of Toulon: eight sections in the nortliwest
coi-ner of Kssex Township, a strip two miles wide oft' the east side
of (ioshen Township, and four sections in the northeast cornei- of
West Jersej^ Township.)
Assessors were appointed for the several districts as follows: No.
1. Isaac Spencer; No. 2, John W. x\gard; No. 3, J. II. Barnett;
No. 4. Silas Richards; No. 5, Adam Perrv.
90 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
On ]March 3, 1840, the board of county commissioners ordered
that each of the justices' districts be made an election precinct and
names were adopted instead of numbers. District Xo. 1 became
Osceola precinct; No. 2, Wyoming; No. 3, Massillon; No. 4,
Lafayette, and No. 5, CentraL
Section 6, Article 7, of the Constitution of 1848 reads as follows:
"The legislature shall pro\ide by law that the legal voters of any
comity in the state may adopt a township form of government within
the county, by a majority of the votes cast at any general election
within such county."
In accordance with this constitutional provision, the General
Assembly jjassed an act on February 12, 1849, authorizing the various
counties of the state to vote on the question of adopting a township
organization. In Stark County the question was voted upon at the
general election held on Tuesday, November 2, 18.52. The total
number of votes cast at that election ^^'as 774, of which 443 were in
favor of the adoption of a township form of government and 173
were ojjposed, 1.58 voters not expressing themselves upon the question.
The records of the commissioners' court for jNIonday, December 6,
1852, contains the following entry:
"And it appearing to the court that a majority of all the votes
cast at said election were in favor of township organization, it is
therefore ordered bj' the court that Theodore F. Hurd, Henry Bi-eese
and Calvin L. Eastman be, and they are hereby appointed, commis-
sioners to divide the countv into towns or townships as required by
law."
Commissions were issued to these three men December 13. 18.52.
They met at the courthouse in Toulon on JNIonday, January 3. 18.53,
and divided the county into eight townships. On ^larch 7, 18.53, they
filed their report with the commissioners and it was made a
matter of record. The townships as then established have never been
changed, to-wit: Elmira Township includes Township 14, Range H;
Essex, Township 12, Range 6; Goshen, Townshij) 13. Range .5:
Osceola, Township 14. Range 7; Penn. Townshij) 13. Range 7;
Toulon. Township 13. Range (!: Valley, Township 12, Range 7; \Vest
Jersey, Townsliip 12. Range .5.
ELMIRA TOAVXSPriP
This townshiiJ is one of the northern tier. It embraces Congres-
sional Township 14, Range 6, and therefore has an area of thirty-six
HISTORY OF STARK COUXTY 91
square miles. On the nortli it is hounded by Bureau County; on tlie
east by Osceola Township; on the soiitli by Toulon Townshi]), and nn
tile west by the County of Plenry. The surface is generally level
or (gently undulatin,L>- and is well watered. The west fork of the
Spoon River flows diagonally across the township from northwest to
southeast; Jack Creek touches the southwest corner, and there are a
few minor streams. The soil is fertile and some of the finest farms
in the county are in this township. Originally there was some native
timber along the water courses and artiheial groves have been planted
around some of the houses upon the prairie. The township has some
valuable coal deposits, ])ut they have never been fully developed.
In a preceding chapter mention was made of the land warrants
filed on Stark County lands by veterans of the War of 1812. During
the years 1817-lH more than three score military claims were tiled
upon lands in what is now Klmira Township. Godfrey Reemer
located a claim In Section 1; James Thomas. Robert Hall, A. F.
S])cncei' and William She])herd, Section 'i: Reuiieu Close. Section 1;
John Hughes and Charles Armstrong, Section .3; William Walsh,
Section 6; John Fleming, Section 7; David Armstead and A. O.
Smith. Section 8; John IMartin and Henry Atkins, Section 9; James
Patterson. Richard Gates, Charles Smith and Frederick Jenkins,
Section 11: Richard Howard, Hemy Shannon, ^Nloses Sears and
]^l)hraim Small, Section 1.3; Michael Conway, Aaron liurbank and
two men named Roberts and Stenhert, Section 17; Daniel (iaskel.
Section 10; Isaac Smith, Section 20: William Thompson, John
liainett. Section 21; Klias Hughes, Section 22: Malbry Palmer and
John Potter, Section 2.'}; John Jones, Section 24; Benjamin Barrett,
Thomas ^IcFaddeii and John Wood, Section 26; James D. Wells,
John Ciowell and Henry Davenport, Section 27; Bela Dexter, Sec-
tion 28; Francis IJncoln, James Tiner and Bird I^avender, Sectioii
2!); Hradford \Villis and Stephen Benjamin, Section 30; Chai'les
Board and Henry Cruser, Section .31 ; .John Timberlake and W. S.
Tom])kins, Section 32; Timothy Weston, Lewis Bronson and .Folin
\Vhitlock, Section .33: Robert Goodwin and Lewis Green, Section 34;
Richard Scott, .John Davis. John (liers and Seward Walters, Section
3.5; .James Joyce, Conrad Sarr, William Sears and II. Edwards,
Section 36.
The first settlement in the townshi]) was not made, however, until
in December, 183.3. Maj. Robert Moore, who conducted a ferry
across the Illinois River at Peoria, had obtained a ma]) showing which
lands had been patented under the military bounty act and which were
92 HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY
subject to entry. His object was to encourage immigration to tbat
pai't of the county, w itli a view to building u]) a town, of which he was
to be the proprietor. In December, IH.'J.j, he led thither a party of
prospective settlers, auiong whom were James IJuswell, Isaac Spencer,
Thomas Watts, Giles A. Dana and the Pratts, all irom Vermont.
They selected lands and began the work of establishing their homes
upon the frontier. The following June came William Hall and his
wife, Robert and Mary Hall, Archibald and Charles ^"andyke,
JNIyrtle G. Brace, E. S. Brodhead and several meml)ers of a family
named Davis. The first of the Sturms family had located at Seeley's
Point as early as 1834. Other members of the family came later and
located claims along the south side of Osceola Grove, in what is now
Elmira Township. ^Irs. Shallenberger describes the Sturms as "regu-
lar frontiersmen, every one 'mighty hunters;' of tall stature, combin-
ing strength and activity in an unusual degree. Wearing an Indian
garb of fringed buckskins, their feet encased in moccasins, with bowie
knife in the belt and rifle on the shoulder; no wonder many a new-
comer started from them in aft'right, supposing they had encountered
genuine 'scalpers.' But these men were by no means as savage as they
seemed, but had hearts to which friend or stranger never appealed in
vain."
On June 17, 1837, the Turnbull and Oliver families left their
"Bonnie Scotland" to seek homes in America. After a voyage of
six weeks they reached Quebec, and nearly six weeks more were con-
sumed in the journey to Chicago. From there they went to Joliet,
where they found two vacant cabins, which they were permitted to
occupy, the settlers there showing them every kindness. But they
were anxious to enter lands of their own. At Joliet they met a man
named Parker, who owned a quarter section of land in what is now
Stark County, and John Turnbull set out on foot to meet Parker
at ^Vyoming, his intention being to purchase the land. He did not
buy Parker's land, however, but, after looking around through the
new settlement, purchased forty acres from John and Thomas Lyle.
in Osceola Grove, u]wu which there was a small cabin, with the under-
standing that if ^Ir. Oliver came on the Lyles would sell him the
adjoining forty acres. On February 14, 1838. John Turnbull and
Andrew Oliver, with their families, took possession of their new pur-
chases. That was the beginning of the "Scotch Colony" in Elmira.
Says INIrs. Shallenberger: "The four families, consisting of eight
Lyles and thirteen of the Turnbulls and Olivers, contrived to live until
s])i-ing opened, in one room, and that one 16 by 18 feet. That they
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 9iJ
succeeded in doing this harmoniously, so that the survivors can now
look hack through the mists of nearly forty years, and make merry
over the experiences of that tirst winter in Osceola, is creditable to all
concerned."
Letters from the Turnbulls and Olivers to friends and relatives
in Scotland soon brought others from that country, and the JMurrays,
the Grieves, the Armstrongs, the ]McDonalds. McRaes, JNlurchisons.
Finlaysons and McLennans joined the Scottish settlement in Stark
County. They patiently endured the hardships and inconveniences
of frontier civilization, and with that industry and determination that
lia\ e alwaj's been such dominant characteristics of the Scotch people
they built up a neighborhood that is remarkable for its thrift :nid
independence.
In 1837 a jjostoffice was established where the village of Osceola
is now situated. It was named "Elmira" by Oliver \Vhitakei-, after
his old home in New York, and when township organization went
into effect in 18.5.'J the name was conferred on the township.
The population of the township in 1910, according to the United
States census, was 884, and in 1914 the property was appraised at
$7.58,198 for taxation — a valuation of over eight hundred dollars for
each man, woman and child residing in the township. Elmira has
seven schoolhouses. valued at $1 ().()()(). and employs nine teachers in
the public schools.
ESSEX TOWNSHIP
Essex is the middle township of the southern tier and includes
Congressional Township 12, Range 6. It is bounded on the north
by Toulon Township; on the east by Valley; on the south by Peoria
County, and on the west by the Township of West Jersey. The
Spoon River enters from the north about two miles west of the north-
east corner and flows in a southerly direction across the township,
and the western part is watered by Indian Creek, which forms a
junction with Spoon River in Section 33. In the southeastern part
Camping Run and Mvul Run flow westwardly through a small section
of Essex, their waters finally nn'ngling with those of the S])oon
River. Along the streams the surface is slightly broken, but by
far the greater part of the tow^nship consists of a gently undulating
surface, with a fertile soil, and there is very little waste land.
This township was named for Isaac Essex, the first white settler
in what is now Stark County. Prior to the inaugm-ation of the town-
shij) system in 18.53, this portion of the county was known as Massillon
94 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
Precinct. Between the years 1817 and 1820 land entries were made
in this townshij) under the ohl MiUtary Rounty Act as follows:
Section 1. William Kly and John Trask; Section 2. John McClf)ud
and ^Vl)ram Walton; Section 3, aiaron Graham and John Xewkirk;
Section 4, Joseph Cox, Peter Lawrence and Ralph Tucker; Section 6,
William Lloyd and James McCray; Section 7, John JNleeks; Section
8. (xardner Herring and Oilman Smith; Section !). Nathan Bennett,
Jarville Chaft'ee, John A. Newiiall and James Zings; Section 10,
Benjamin Davis, R()l)ert King. John B. ]McKenny and John ^Vorts-
hough; Section 11, Tryon Fuller, Solomon Libhy, John Odam and
Joseph Wright; Section 12, Roswell Post, Harvey Sperry and Joseph
Woodmansee: Section 13, John II. ^Martin, James Reed, James Selah
and J. II. Winney; Section 14. John Baptiste, Benjamin Lovell and
John Lovell; Section 15, John Bruce and Rufus Stanley; Section 17,
Samuel Banner, George Blanchard, Aaron Scott and Joseph Elliott;
Section 18, Thomas Hamilton and Jacob House; Section 10, John
Union and George ^V. ^Voods; Section 20, Thomas Briggs and Jacob
Yost; Section 21. Henry Harmon, Cornelius Overlock, Abram
Parker and Abram Prior; Section 22, Timothy Green and John
Miller; Section 23, Taylor Hardin. John INlurray. D. A. JMyers and
Israel D. Towle; Section 24. Uavid Bell. Charles Cain and Henry
Smith; Section 2.5, jNliehael Colebrough, Herman Fisher, Ldward
Keough and Jeffrey AVorthington ; Section 26, John Francis, Abra-
ham Lucky, George IMiller and Amos L. Smith; Section 27, Orra
Bardsley. J. V. Fcagles, George Phipps and Peter Pilgrim; Section
28. John ^IcLaughlin. Joseph Lutz and Samuel Little; Section 29,
Ldmund Ueady and Jt)hn Dickaman; Section 30, Abraham Birch
and Jeremiah Hillers; Section 31, William HoUings. Joshua Nelson
and Tyre Nelson; Section 33, Charles Austin, James Coleman and
Thomas ]\Ierritt: Section 34. John J. Uunbar. Silas Hodson. Ezra
Hutchings and Consider Yeames; Section 3.3, John Hyatt, Charles
JNIaynard, Francis JMorrow and Reuben Rowe; Section 30, Richard
Ford, Charles Frost, William Goodman and Andrew Gott.
]Most of these entries were for a quarter section each, hence it
Avill be seen that more than fifteen thousand acres of the land in Essex
Township were claimed on land wari'ants by the veterans of the War
of 1812. A few of the claimants afterward became actual settlers,
but the greater number sold their titles, which caused considerable
trouble to those who came in later years.
Isaac Essex, the original Stark County pioneer, located u])on the
south half of the northeast quarter of Section 15, a short distance
HISTOKY OF STARK COUNTY 95
west of the Spoon River, about two miles soutli and one mile west of
the present city of \Vyoming. Here he built his cabin in the spring
of 1829, cleared a few acres of ground, and raised that year the first
crop ever grown by civili/ed man in Stark County. Compared with
])resent day conilitions it was not much of a crop, but it marked the
beginning.
In the fall of 1829 John B. Dodge located a claim and built a
cabin in Section 14, directly east of Isaac Essex. His cal)in was the
second house in the county. The following spring Renjamin Smith,
Dodge's father-in-law, settled in Section 14.. His son, Greenleaf
Smith, came a little later and located in the same neighborhood. The
three cabins of Essex, Dodge and Smith constituted the only habita-
tions in the county at the close of the year 1830. In 1831 came \\i\-
liam D. Grant, Tiiomas Essex, David Cooper, John E. Owings (who
occupied the cabin built by Dodge) , Sewell and William P. Smith, and
a few others, all of whom settled in what is now Essex Township.
An election was held at the house of Renjamin Smith in August,
1881, when John E. Owings was elected justice of the peace. He
held the office until in 1834, when he sold out to Moses Boardman
and removed to Canton, Fulton County.
Retween the years 1831 and 183.5 a number of immigrants came
in and established homes within the present township Ihnits. Among
them were the Leeks, father and son, wiio came from Tazewell County
early in 1832 and built a saw and grist mill on the Spoon River, a
short distance southwest of where Wyoming now stands. The mill
was washed away by a flood about four years later, but while it stood
it was a great convenience to the settlers. Samuel Merrill settled in the
northwestern part of the township, about a mile south of the City of
Toulon, and a little farther south was the house of Elijah iNIcClena-
han, Sr., where the first election was held after Stark County was
created by the act of March 2, 1839. Stephen Worley settled south
of ^McClenahan and in 1834 Thomas Winn came from Indiana and
built a cabin in Section 16.
Jarville Chaffee, who laid claim to a part of Section 9 under the
IVIilitary Rounty Act in 1818, came from Michigan in ^Nlay, 1834, and
stopped with one of the settlers until he could build a house of his
own. Concerning that house, Leeson's History of Stark County
says: "Thinking to get up something extra he split the logs, white-
washed the inside, and had an upstairs reached by a ladder."
To Essex Township belongs the distinction of being the site of
the first postoffice and the first schoolhouse in Stark County. A
96 HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY
weekly mail route was established from Springfield, via Peoria, to
Galena in 18.'}8 and the same year an otfiee was opened in the "Essex
Settlement," with Isaae B. Essex as postmaster. The neighbors took
turns in bringing the mail from the "office under the bluff" in Peoria
County. Mrs. Shallenberger says: "The office was an old boot
box, set ui^on pins driven into the wall, high and dry, and above the
reach of the children in the cabin of Mr. Essex. In 1833 only two
newspapers were taken in the county — one by Mr. Essex antl the
other by Benjamin Smith. At this date two weeks were required to
get a paper from Springfield, and a proportionately longer time to
get intelligence from Washington or the East." The office was at first
called Essex, but after the Town of Wyoming began to grow it was
removed to that place and the name changed to Wyoming.
By the act of IMarch 1, 1833, Isaac B. Essex was appointed
commissioner of the school fund in his settlement and authorized to
sell section 16. The section was sold on February 4, 1834, for
'$9(58.70. JMadison \Vinn, in a paper read before the meeting of the
Old Settlers' Association in 1886, says:
"On the fourth day of July, 1834, the people came together for
the purpose of building a schoolhouse. The site chosen was near the
northeast corner of section 15, in Essex Township. The building was
planned to be twenty feet square and all went to Avork with a will,
some cutting, some hauling, some making clapboards and others build-
ing. By noon it was built up Avaist high, and there coming a shower
we ari'anged the clajiboards over the wall and underneath ate our
Fourtli of July dinner. The first daj^ the walls were built up to the
roof, which was soon covered, and from Leek's Mill slabs were brought
for seats. A post was driven into the ground and a slab laid on it for
a teacher's desk, while mother earth was the floor. Adam Perry
commenced school about July 1.5th, with about thirty scholars, out of
which number I am the only one living."
Fi-oni that humble beginning the school system of Essex has de-
veloped until in 1914 the township had ten public school buildings,
valued at $26, 7.50, and employed sixteen teachers. One of the school
buildings is in the City of Wyoming.
Two lines of railway — the Chicago, Rock Island iSs: Pacific and the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy — furnish transportation to the people
living east of the Spoon River, the stations being Duncan and Wyo-
ming, and those living in the northwestern part of the townshij) find
their railroad accommodations at Toulon.
The population of Essex ToMiiship in 1910 was 1,131, which in-
IIISTOllV OF STARK COUNTY 97
eluded the Third AVard of the City of Wyoming, and in 1914 the
property was valued tor tax ])urpose.s at .$87'2,44.().
tiOSHEX TOWNSHIP
of
Congressional townshij) l.'i, range .5, prior to the introduction o
the township system in 18.5:{, was known as "Lafayette Preeinet."
In that year it was organized as a eivil township and was named
"(iosheii." hecause a number of the early settlers in that part of the
county came from tlie Town of (loshen, Clermont County, Ohio. It
is hounded on the north by Henry County; on the east by Toulon
Township: on the south l)y the Township of West Jersey, and on the
west by Knox County. The surface is generally level or slightly
I'olling. well drained by Indian Creek and its tributaries in the eastern
l)art and by AValnut Ci-eek in the southwest. There is some prairie
land in the township and the Walnut Creek Valley is one of the most
fertile jjortions of the county.
Probably owing to the fact that this part oi' the county was in-
habited by Indians for several years after the ^Var of 1812. fewer
enti'ies of land were made by soldiers in Goshen than in the other
to\\nships of Stark County. Consequently the early settlers here
were not subjected to the uncertainty of titles that attached tt) many
other parts of the military tract. Among those who entered lands
under the provisions of the JNIilitary Bounty Act were:
Daniel Shattuck, E. B. Ware and James Ware, section 1: Isaac
Bingham. Klisha Courtney and Rubull Parrish, section 2; Isaac Fos-
ter, section 7; iVlcxander Frazier and Francis Tibbins, section 11;
Jesse Bradbury, Daniel Hand and James Matthews, section T2;
(ieorge Xewton and Henry Webb, section 13; John Foster, section
24'; Solomon Dodd and Herman Johnson, section 2.5; Jonas Witti-
ford, section 3.5; Matthew Caldwell and Walter Thornton, section 30.
After the removal of the Indians a few of these veterans settled upon
their claims, but most of the lands were sold to speculators.
The first settlements in this section were made in 1830, some nine
years before the organization of Stark County. ^lichacl Fraker
located in the grove a short distance west of the i)resent Village of
Lafayette, which still bears the name of Fraker's Cirove. There he
erected a hand mill for the use of himself and his neighbors. This
mill was afterward purchased by William Dunbar, one of the ])ioneevs
of Goshen Township, familiarly known as the "Old Hatter." It is
said that settlers from all parts of the county would bring their furs —
98 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
from rabbit to bea\'er skins — to jMr. Dunbar to have them made into
hats. So well did he do liis work his hats would last for years, the
owner coming in several times to iiave them cleaned and reblocked.
Other early settlers were the ^liners, Parrishes, Ilitchcoeks, Fitches
and a few other families, some of whom lived in what is now Stark
County and the others just across the line in Knox.
In 18.34 Henry ^NlcClenahan settled in the township, entered 2-1-0
acres of land in section 31, and continued to reside there until his
death in Julie, 1857. The next year (1835) Conrad and Jacob Emery
came from Ohio and settled in the township. Conrad Emery was a
veteran of the War of 1812. Xelson Grant, a native of Connecticut,
also settled in Goshen in 183.5. John White came with his family from
Ohio in 1836 and the next year Sanuiel Parrisli, the founder of the
Parrish family in Stark County, located on lands which he had pre-
viously entered in Goshen Township. He served in the Revolutionary
war, afterward settling in Canada and coming from that country to
Illinois. He joined the ]Mormon Church about a year after coming
to Illinois and removed to Xauvoo, where he died. Some of his
children remained in Stark County, where their descendants still live.
JNIinott Silliman, the first treasurer of Stark County, entered sev-
eral tracts of land in Goshen Townshij) and became a resident of that
townshiiJ in 1837. Barnabas M. and James Jackson and Elijah
Eltzroth were among the settlers of 1838. INIr. Eltzroth was a caliinet
maker by trade and made a large part of the fui-niture used by the
first families. The first election for school trustees in Goshen Town-
ship was held at his house on April 6, 1839, when Luther Driscoll.
Charles H. JMiner and Samuel Parrish were elected. Jeremiah Ren-
nett was likewise a settler of 1838.
Lafayette is the only town or village in the township. It is situ-
ated near the Avestern border, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
Railroad, which runs almost due east and west through the central
part of the township. A history of the village will be found in the
next chapter. Goshen is therefore an agricultural community, though
considerable attention has been given in recent years to fruit raising,
and there are two large nurseries near Lafayette.
The nine jniblic school buildings in the township, including the
one in Lafayette, are valued at $17,500 and twelve teachers were
employed during the school year of 1914-15. The population in 1910
was 1.145 and in 1914 the assessed value of the property was
$1,063,077.
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 99
OSCEOLA TOWN SHIP
The Townslii]) of Osceola oeci]])ies the novtlicastern corner of the
county, including' Congressional township 14, range 7. It is bounded
on the north and east by Bureau County; on the south by Penn Town-
ship, and on the west by the Township of Elmira. The East Fork of
the Spoon River flows iliagonally across the township from northeast
to southwest, Silver Creek drains the northeastern portion and across
the southern part Cooper's Defeat Creek Hows westwardly initil it
empties into the East Fork in section ."Jl. ]More than 80 per cent of
the 2."{.()40 acres of land lying within this township is capable of being
cultivated and yields abundant crops, owing to the great fertility of
the soil. ^Vhen the first white men came to this part of the county
they found here a beautiful ])rairie, which may account in a great
measure for the large number of soldiers' land warrants being filed
between the years 1817 and 1820. In those years lands were entered
in this township by veterans of the War of 1812 as follows:
In section 1, Daniel Prestman and John Wingtield; section 2,
John Cochran and Richard INIarsliall; section 3, Levi Spaulding and
John Spencer; section 4, Isaac Irvine and George Rowland; section
5. II. J. Balch and Jacol) Seeders: section 0, John S^^■isson: section 7,
Timothy Carter and Daniel ^Vhisker; section 8. ^Vlanson Adams,
Samuel Adams, John Pilsbury and 3Iargaret Smith ; section 9, James
C. Angell, Alexander JNIcConkey, John T. Swords and Stephen
\\'hip])le: section 10. Charles Aveiy, Nathan Brown, Samuel Shannon
and William \Veavcr; section 11, Stejjhen Bridges, John Gowen,
Rensselaer Lee and Shelton Lockwood; section 12, Joseph Cutler;
section 1.3, David Flagg and Jonathan Pike; section 14, William
JJrower, Andrew Campbell, Frederick Devoe and Asahel Stanley:
section 1.3, John Barker, Fj^hraim l*ratt. Timothv Thompson and
Gerard Tracy; section 17, John Carroll, John Langfitt, Jacob Sticker
and James Wiley; section 18, Amos Bunnell and Asa INIanning; sec-
tion 19, William Kurnin: section 20, James Bush; section 21. Fli
Brady and Andrew (iroynne; section 22, William Crowson. William
Graham and Jabez Graves; section 2.*J, Samuel Allen. I'hilip .Andrews,
Isaac McCarter and James Taylor; section 24, Frederick Ilomi. Sam-
uel Neal, Elijah Nickerson and George Stall; section 25, Job Haskell,
Hudson Knight and F. K. Robinson; section 26, John Coon, Josiah
Brantley. Orson Menard and J. C. Parker: section 27, E. F. Nichols,
Richard Hardy. \\'illiam F. Reed and Amos Small; section 28, Wil-
h'am Eaton and George Stanton; section 31, Zachary Gray; section
100 HISTOKY 01< hiWKK COl^XTV
32, Grandeson B. Cooper; section 33, ^Vinship Gordon and Lawrence
Hoots; section Hi, Saimiel K. Jenkins, John Lennon, Samuel ]Moul-
tonand Arthur Slierrard; section 3.>, George Anway, Joseph Kenion,
George Longniire and William blading; section 3G, Jacob 31orton.
The eighty-seven soldiers' claims of 160 acres each absorbed 13,920
acres, or a little more than 60 per cent of the entire township. When
actual settlers began to come in there were several disputes and law-
suits over title to the lands, which retarded to some extent the develop-
ment of the township. The vexed question was finally settled, how-
ever, and since then Osceola has grown to be one of the wealthiest,
most populous and prosperous townships of Stark County.
When the first settlers came to the townshij) in 183.5 they found a
beautiful grove in the northwestern j^art, extending into what is now
Khiiira Township, and it was here that they located. At that time
the Seminole Indians in Florida were at war with the United States
under the leadersliij) of the half-lireed chief. Osceola. This chief was
the son of a white man named \Villis Powell and a Creek squaw. He
Avas born in Georgia, but while he was still in his youth his mother
deserted her own tribe and joined the Seminoles. Some of the early
settlers, admiring the skill and bravery of the adopted chief in resist-
ing the removal of the Seminoles from their favorite hunting grounds
in Florida, named the grove "Osceola Grove," and this name was
afterward conferred upon the civil township established in 18.53.
The first land entries made by actual settlers were in the grove
above mentioned and along the East Fork of the Spoon Kiver.
Nicholas Sturm and Henry Seely located claims in section 28 in 183.5.
The following year Robert and ^^'^illiam Hall entered land in section
6; James Buswell in section 7: Isaac Spencer, section 18: James
Clark and Samuel Love, section 19: Mathias Sturm, section 21, and
Joseph Xewton, section 28. In 1837 Myrtle G. Brace located in sec-
tion 6, John Watts in section 19, and W. H. Boardman in section 31.
Although Osceola is an agricultuial comnumity, considerable coal
mining has been done in the township. As early as 1861 John ]Mc-
Ivaughlin was mining coal at a place known as Foster's coal bank,
about two and a half miles west of Bradford, and there were other
mines along the Spoon River and about Lombardville. A more com-
plete account of the mining interests of the county will be found in the
chapter on Finance and Industry.
The Buda & Rushville branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
railway system runs through the eastern part of the township, with
stations at Bradford and Lombardville, and furnishes transportation
facilities to the people living east of the Spoon River.
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 1<J1
The first election of school trustees in Osceola Township was on
Jimc ;5. 1840, when Liberty Stone, 1. W. Searl and Zebnlon Avery
were elected. Immediately after their election the trustees divided
the township into three school districts. In I'Jl.J there were nine
pnl)lic school huil(lin<-s, valued at $1(),«0(), and during the preceding-
school year sixteen teachers were employed. The population of the
townsliip in lUlO, including the incorporated Yilhige of Bradford,
was 1,.")77. and in 11)14 tlie pro])crty was valued for tax ])urposes at
,*l,()'.tO,874.
PENN TOWXSHIl'
This is the middle township of the eastern tier and embraces Con-
gressional townshi]) i;5 nortli. range 7 east. It is bounded on the
north by Osceohi Township; on the east by Marshall Covuity, on the
south by Valley Township, and on the west by the Township of Tou-
lon. The surface is moderately diversified and originally a large part
of the townshi]) was ])rairie land, with a soil above the average in fer-
tility. Coal deposits underlie the township and in a few places have
been found beds of a good quality of tire clay, but they have not been
devehtped. The only stream of any consequence is a tribntary of
Cooper's Defeat Creek in the northeastern portion. Cajjfain Ilaaeke,
one of the early settlers of Peoria, several years ago told the story of
how this creek received its name. His account is as follows:
•'The winter of lH.'31-3-2 was the winter of the deep snow. Tlie
M-eather before Christmas being pleasant a party of four men was
ecjuipped by a trader by the name of John Hamlin, then of Peoria,
wh.o was buying furs for the American Fur Com])any. Fitting them
out with an ox team of two yoke and provisions for their journey
trom I'eoria to the Winnebago swamjjs, with goods to trade to the
Winnebam) and Pottawatomi Indians, thev started on their journev.
Soon snow connnenced to fall, the air grew colder, and continued to
grow more so as they went along, until they were compelled by the
fierce cold and driving snow to abandon their team. In fact the snow
was so deep that the cattle got swamped and they were left to their
fate. With BoycTs (irove in view, the men started, guided by a large
tree and a light at the grove. A man named Ridgeway was the only
one of the party who succeeded in reaching the grove. The other
tiuec. two ol' whom wvvv AVilliam and Jerry Cooper (the other name
forgotten), perished on the prairie near a stream southwest of lioyd's
Grove. The bones of the men and the cattle were seen in the spring-
following, also the sled, as the soldiers of the Black Hawk war were
102 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
marching, all mounted, 260 strong, to make battle with the Sac and
Fox Indians. The stream where the men jierished has since been
known as 'Cooper's Defeat.' "
Township 1.'}, range 7, seems to have been a favorite field for the
veterans of the War of 1812, as nearly one hundred land warrants
were located in what is now Penn Township. Following is a list of
entries made betMeen the years 1817 and 1820:
Section 1, AVilliam Y. Knapp, Elizabeth I^eonard (soldier's
Avidow) and James Rogers; section 2, Daniel Robertson; section 3,
Francis Cook and James Scandling; section 4, John and William
Owen; section ,5, William A. JNIcLane and Samuel Tyler; section (!,
Benjamin Howard; section 7, Peter Kerns and Job Price; section 8,
Charles Brewster, William H. Fann and John Hoagden: section
9, Samuel Earl, Samuel Ellis, William Kelly and Levi Pratt: sec-
tion 10, George Coates, Ebenezer Cobb, William Loomis and Stephen
Xewburg: section 11, Richard Carver, William Gordon. Philip
Plielps; section 12, George Kindle, Elijah Loveless, jMoses Taylor
and Thomas Tyler; section 13, Patrick Freeman. John W. Ingersoll
and ^Villiam Trottenberger; section 14. Daniel Bennett. John Connor,
John J. Jewell and William Sheets; section 1.5. John Beals. John
Cook, JNIathias Boyd ajid Robert INIcIntosh: section 17, Ira Ilolman,
Thomas Johnson, Henry Parker and George Suter: section 18,
Nathan Convers and Aaron ^Voodworth; section 19, Abiezer Wash-
burn and Asa Winslow; section 20, Richard Bayard, Jonathan Drake,
Shelby Hobbs and Nathan Shepherd: section 21, Alvin Dillingham,
Samuel Lane. Joseph INIcFarlin ;nid James Parks; section 22, Benja-
min Brown, Samuel Lewis, William Stewart and Joseph AVindell;
section 23, Moses Heath. Archibald McCrary and Christian Right;
section 24, Amos C. Babcock, John W. Ingersoll, Bernard JMc^NIahon
and John iMason; section 25, John Norfleet and Jacob Skinner; sec-
tion 26, James Giles, Paul Green. Thomas ^NIcCov and Joshua Regis-
ter; section 27, Timothy Dixon. Richard Eml)ley, Josc])h ]Morse and
Warren Sartwell; section 28, AVilliam Briggs, John Adams. Thomas
Dennis and Richard Edmunds; section 29, Giles C. Dana, George
Decker, Joseph Dockham and John Nichols; section 30. Horace
Clark and Harvey Gaylord; section 31. Adonijah Ball and Peter
Ricker; section 32. John Brandon. Christo])her Brockctt and Jacob
Trishour; section 33, Peter Brown, Robert Devine, Jeremiah Gillilan
and William ]Matthews; section 34, Adam Sufford, Nathaniel Yar-
nuin, Thomas AValden and Horace Witheville: section 35, jNIoses
HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY 103
Aldrich, John ]Messing ami Jtiiks Waite; section 'Mi, Thomas Lee
and Jolm \V. IngersoU.
Thv actnal settlement of the township began before the organiza-
tion of the eonnty. One of the earliest settlers was James Ilolgate,
who was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Jnly 26, 1804.. and when sixteen
years of age went to Lnzerne County, in his native state, where he
learned the miller's trade. In 18.*}.'} he left Pennsylvania and came to
Illinois, locating in section 19, in what is now Penn Township. lie
held tile otHce of county judge for eight years; was justice of the peace
and a member of the Legislature; was one of the democratic leaders
in Stark County, and was an energetic and useful citizen. He died
about 188.J.
Henry Seely, anoliier pioneer of I'enn, was a native of New ^'ork
State, but came west while still a young man and was mari'ied in
Indiana. Soon after his marriage he came to Illinois and acquired
:i-20 acres of land in what is now Penn Township. His place was long
known as "Seely's Point" and is located in sections 27 and 28. He
Mas elected to several otRces on the republican ticket and was an active
member of the Methodist Church. His death occurred in JSIarch, 187().
Others who settled or entered land in this townshi]) in the '.'JOs
were Dexter Wall, Benjamin and Uavid Newton. John T. I'henix.
Henry lireese, I^emuel S. Uorranee, Sylvanus ]Moore, Klisha C. and
Nehemiah ]Merritt. Then came the Averys, the Bunnells, the Snares,
the Bococks and other families, many of whose descendants still reside
in the township.
Prior to the introduction of the township system in 18.).'J the terri-
tory comprising Penn Township was included in the "Spoon River
Precinct." After the people of Stark County had voted to adopt the
township organization, Henry Breese was appointed one of the com-
im'ssioners to divide the county into civil townshi{)s. He was from
Pennsylvania, as were a number of his neighbors, and suggested the
name of "Pennsylvania" for his township, but the other two commis-
sioners thought the name too long, so it was shortened to "Penn."
Castleton, a little northwest of the center of the townshi]). is the
only town. It is located on the line of the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy Railroad, which runs from northeast to southwest thi'ough the
township.
Perm reported a population of 931 in 1910, Avhich was a slight
decrease from the census of ten years before. In 1914 the pro])erty
was valued for taxation at $88.5. .501. The nine schoolhonses are
valued at $9,3,50, and ten teachers are emploj-ed in the public schools.
104 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
TOULON TOWNSHIP
Of the eight townshi]).s coniprisino- Stark County. Toulon is the
most centrally located. It includes Congressional Township 13 north,
range 6 east. Elniira Township bounds it on the north; Penn on the
east; Essex on the south, and Goshen on the west. Spoon River tiows
soutliwardly across the eastern portion and the southwest corner is
watered by Indian Creek. Along the streams the surface is somewhat
broken, but the greater part of the township consists of rolling land
\\ ith a fertile soil, well adapted to agricultural purposes. Some coal
has been mined in the township. AVhen Stark County was first organ-
ized in 1839 the eastern half of this township was in the Wyoming
Precinct and the western half in the Central Precinct. Fourteen
years later the township system was adopted and the name of "Tou-
lon" was given to the township, from the county seat, which is located
near its western border.
More than one hundred military land warrants were located in
Toulon Township between the years 1817 and 1820. Jonathan ]Mat-
thews and Samuel P. Tufts selected claims in section 1; ]Michael Cun-
ningham and Xathan Chadwick, section 2: William Dunlap and
Charles Gist, section 3: Erastus Backus and Joseph Banks, section 4;
Solomon Plutchinson and Jesse Seeley, section ,5; Jacob Rheam, sec-
tion 6; David Park, Hiram Stevens and William Wiley, section 7:
Elijah Coates, Ira Ellmore and Sanniel McCahan. section 8: Daniel
Dudley, Amos J. Eagleson, Silas McCuUough and Robert 3Iorton,
-section 9 ; Hester Faust, Bela Hall, Joseph Porter and Ira Reming-
ton, section 10; Isaac Dyer, Benjamin Pratt. James Thomas and
Benjamin H. Tozer, section 11: Luke Blackshire. Abram Bowman
and Samuel Grimes, section 12; David Fulwell, Jesse Ormsby, George
^\'. Russell and Isaac Patch, section 13: John Dawson, John Pike,
Robert D. Thompson and David R. Whiteley, section 14; Samuel
Null, Abram Rader, Thomas Thompson and John R. Turner, section
15; James Bulley, William Davidson. Yalentine ^Matthews and John
Yearns, section 17; John Wallace and William Young, section 18;
William Bennett and (iideon W. 3Ioody. section 19: Lydia Barrett.
Edward D. Strickland. Robert Vallally and William Yanderman.
section 20; Jeptha Cloud. Robert Fry. Moses McClay and Roliert
Miner, section 21; Xicholas Cook, Allen B. Strong and John Wells,
section 22: Reuben Boles. Richard Hill and W. B. McKennan, sec-
tion 23; Abel H. Coleman, Silas ^I. ]Moore and Isaac Parcelles, sec-
tion 24; Joseph Joy, William Karns, John Thompson and Asaph
Ki;sl|)KM K i)\- A. .1. ADAMS. WYOMING
UNIVERSITY OF ILLIMOIS
URBANA
HISTORV OF STARK COUNTY 105
AVethcrill, section 25 ; George Metzinger, Tlionias Rogers and Joseph
AVildey. section '26; Timothy Cook, Joseph S. Ciorniaii. Joh Park-
lieatl and Polly Tucker, section 27; Ebene'/.er Gilkey, Samuel CTritlitli,
Jacob Slantler and Phineas Spilman, section 28; Asa Hill, W^illiam
Hyde, Henry Rol)erts and James Trumbull, section 29; Philip Law-
less and Adam ^IcCaslin, section ."30; Sijuire \Villiams and Peter
Wolf, section 31; James Baldwin, David llambleton. Isaac lliggins
and Thomas \Vandell, section 32; Henry Bailey, James Chancey,
Josejjh Cram and Joim Cross, section 33; Jeremiah Davis, Richard
Nixon. William Oaks and John Short, section 34; John Bussell, Luke
G. Hasley. Benjamin Hughes and Henry ^Murphy, section 3.5; John
Lynes, John Ilageman, Patrick Sliort and Thomas W. Way,
.section 36.
The first lands entered for actual settlement were the southwest
([uarter of section 30 and the nortlnvest quarter of section 31, which
were entered on June 24, 1839, the former by Adam Perry and the
latter l)y William H. Henderson. On September G, 1839, John ^Miller
entered the southwest quarter of section 19, where the City of Toulon
now stands, and on the 28th of the same month .Tohn Culbertson en-
tered the quarter section directly north of ^Miller's. Lewis Perry,
Chauncey D. Fuller and William Mahaney also entered lands in the
township in the fall of 1839.
Col. ^Villiam H. Henderson, one of the early settlers in Toulon
Township and a man who i)layed an important part in the early his-
tory of Stark County, was born in Garrard County, Ky., Novem-
ber 16, 1793. At the beginning of the War of 1812 he enlisted in
the Kentucky ^Mounted Riflemen, commanded by Col. Richard ^L
Johnson, and with his regiment was at the battle of the Thames,
October .5, 1813. T^pon retiring from the army he located in Stewart
County, Tenn., where he was married on ;Tanuary 11, 1816, to
Miss Lucinda W^imberly. He served as sheriff of Stewart County
and afterward removed to Haywood County, in the western ])art of
tile state. In 1831 he visited Illinois and selected lands in what is now
La .Salle County, about fifteen miles north of the present City of
Ottawa. In the spring of 1832 his father and mother, two of his
brothers and a man named Robert Norris, with two of his wife's
brothers, set out for the new possessions. Just then the Black Hawk
war came on. Robert Norris was killed ])y the Indians and the other
members of the family were comi)elled to vacate their claims. Colonel
Henderson therefore remained in Tennessee and in 183.5 was elected
to represent his district in the State Senate. He resigned his seat.
106 HISTOKY OF STAllK COUNTY
however, before the exijiration of his term, and on July 2, 1836, landed
in Stark County. Plis work in securing the organization of the county
is told in another chapter; the first session of tlie Circuit Court of
Stark County was held at his house; he was a member of the last
Legislature that met at ^^andalia and the first that met at Springfield,
and was otherwise active in public affairs. In 184o he removed to
Iowa and died in that state on January 27, 186-1. His son, Thomas J.
Henderson, was colonel of the One Himdred and Twelfth Illinois
Infantry in the Civil war.
In 1841 the county seat was located at Toulon and much of the
history of Toulon Township is intimately associated with the county
seat. It is therefore told in connection with the history of the City of
Toulon in another chajiter. The Peoria & Rock Island (now the
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific) Railroad was built through the
township in 1871.
According to the Ljiited States census for 1910 the population in
that year was 2, .379, which included parts of the cities of Toulon and
Wyoming. There are nine school districts in tlie township, outside
of the City of Toulon, in which ten teachers were employed during
the school year of 1914-1.5. and in 1914 the taxable value of the prop-
erty, including railroad property, was $1,401,244.
VALLEY TO ^y N S H I P
Valley Township occui)ies the southeast corner of the county and
embraces Congressional Township 12 north, range 7 east. It is
bounded on the north bj' Penn Township; on the east by ^Marshall
County: on the south by Peoria County, and on the west by the Town-
ship of Essex. Previous to the introduction of the township system
in 18.53, this part of the county formed a part of the ^Vyoming
Precinct. AVhen the county was divided into townships the name
"Valley" was conferred ujion this political subdivision for the i-eason
that it occupies the broad, fertile valley at the foot of the highest divide
in the state. Camping Run flows in a westerly direction through the
northern part and ]Mud Run through the southern part. With a
generally level or slightly rolling surface and a productive soil, some
of the finest farms in the county are in Valley Township.
With the exception of section 16 — the public school section — and
a few isolated tracts here and tliere. practically the entire township
was claimed by veterans of the War of 1812 under the ^lilitary Bounty
Act. Following is a list of soldiers' land Avarrants located between
the years 1817 and 1820:
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 107
Section 1, Charles Gibhard and Linus Gilbert; section 2, Justus
Cobb and Thomas Edwards; section 3, Joseph JMcCord and Jtjhn
Thornburg; section 4, John ^'inchane and Charles Youn<>': section .J,
Welcome Rutterworth (320 acres) ; section (i, Jolm Sargent and
James Sawyer; section 7. Isaac Paulding and Samuel P. Stegner;
section 8, Isaac Cliihis, John Erskine. Hugh IJobh and Xeheniiah
Wood; section D. Richard Ilorton. \Viniani Ilerrald, William W.
Sickles and Nicholas Xau Stcyke; section 10, Renjamin Fall, Caleb
Johnson, Leverett Richardson and John Vanderbeck; section 11, John
Green, David Page and Edward Wyman; section 12, William Heath,
Thomas PI. Parker and John Pritchard; section 13, Robert Rrown,
]*hilip Clarke, Robert Cockk's and Thom])son White; section li,
Zerah Call, John Coffey, 01i])hant Coleman and Charles Kitchen;
section 1.5, Eodowick Rlackley, James Rriggs and Jolm ONeil; sec-
tion 17, George Armstrong, John Concannon, Hampton Owens and
John Thom])son; section 18. Isaac Ackerman, James Reardwine,
Pleasant ]Meredith and Peter Rotis; section 19, John Ringham, Nor-
man Collins and Renjamin R. JNIeredith; section 20, Daniel Rurns,
"William Dillon, Philip Kinston and Nathaniel White; section 21,
John Rooth, Cierard (iibson, Jolm Ij. Griswold and William "Walker;
section 22, David Durand and Charles Tabor; section 23, John An-
drews, Isaac Garrett and Nathan Hall; section 24, Charles Curran,
William T. Graves, William McGlynn and Owen Riley; section 25,
Sanuiel Adams, Thomas Carty, James Sproul and Joseph Yates;
section 2G, Frederick Cook. Frank liowder. John ^NlcCormack and
Renjamin Tarr; section 27, Ichabod Colby, Thomas Harris and Con-
rad ^Mandell; section 28, Clement C. INIinor; section 29, David Guth-
rie, David Rringman, Francis Dudley and ]Moses Hamphill; section
30. John .Ai'chibald, Renjamin S. Snyder and Alexander \Yaistcoat;
section 31, John Ayler, Henry Emery, INIichael Gebhart and Daniel
Palmer; section 32, Silas Reverstock, Sanniel Chatterton. Calvin Iloyt
and John Lackey; section 33, William Hearn, ^Villiam JNIartland,
Aaron Turner and Horton Wood; section 34, Peter Holloway, Isaac
Snn'th, William Tajjp and Daniel Woolford; section 3.3. Putnam
Conouss, Aha/, Cook and James II. Rowland ; section 30, Luke Rar-
ton, iMoses Davis and Zeba Parmeley.
As in the other townships of the county, these military titles sub-
sequently caused numerous misunderstandings and retarded settle-
ment to some extent. Among those who entered lands along in the
'30s for actual occupation were Edwin and Titus Hutchinson, Wil-
liam C. Cunnnings, Joseph Sulliman, Charles Pope and a few othei-s.
The scliool section was not disposed of until 18.51.
los HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
On July 17, 1847, the first scliool trustees — David Rouse, Z. G.
Bliss and William C. Cunmiings — were chosen at an election held at
the house of David Rouse, and the township was soon afterward
organized for school purposes. There were then hut nine families,
with forty-one children, and only two districts were established. Since
then the two original districts have been subdivided until in 1915
there were eight. The eight schoolhouses in the township were then
valued at $8,(j.50 and during the school year of 191-4-15 ten teachers
were employed.
Valley is fairly well provided with transportation facilities, the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad passing through the western
part and the Chicago & Northwestern through the southeastern por-
tion. Stark on the former and S])eer on the latter are the only rail-
road stations. In 1910 the population was 821. an increase of 33
during the preceding decade, and in 1914 the assessed value of the
proj^erty, including railroads, was $806, 836.
WEST JEESEY TOWNSHIP
This township is situated in the southwest corner of the county and
includes Congressional Township 12 north, range 5 east. The surface
is gently undidating and the only stream of conseciuence is Walnut
Creek, which flows in a southerly direction through the western half.
Some coal and fire clay deposits have been found in the township.
With the exception of a small tract of sandy land called the "Bar-
rens," the entire townshiiJ is well adapted to agriculture and produces
fine crops of corn, wheat, oats and other farm products suited to this
section of the state. Fruit growing has received considerable atten-
tion in recent years and West Jersey boasts some of the best orchards
in the county.
For some reason the Walnut Creek ^^alley was not looked upon
with favor by the veterans of the War of 1812 and comparatively few
military "floats" were located in this section. Solomon INIarshall en-
tered by military land warrant the northeast quarter of section 1 ;
Daniel Trash, section 4; Hezekiah Adcock, section 17: Charles Davis,
section 20; Benjamin Sherman, section 21; Nicholas Walsh, section
22; George Dearborn, section 2.5; Sheldon Clark, section 28; Charles
Higgins, section 29; Charles Hoover, in the same section; Elijah
Smith and Ebenezer Nichols, section 32; John Scott and Peleg Tup-
per. section 33; Robert C. Jackson and Edward Stewart, section 34;
Cromwell Bullock, Cato Bunnell and Henry S. Hunt, section 33;
Da\ id Bowen and John Phillips, section 36.
IIISTOHY OF STAKK COUNTY 109
Tlie first actual settler in tlic township was Jacob B. Smith, who
came from Fulton County. 111., in February, IB.'U?, entered the
southeast (quarter of section ;5.), built his lot)- c-abiiiTuul began the work
of I)uil(lins4' uj) a home in the wilderness. George Kckley came soon
afterward with his wife and five children from Seneca County, Ohio,
and located in section 2.). Before the close of the year 18;j() rhilip
Keller. Michael Jones, Washing-ton and Stei)hen Trickle, Fphraim
Jiarnttt. John Brown and a few others settled in various ])arts of the
townshij). The year 18.'i7 witnessed the arrival of \N'illiam W . Web-
ster, Nehemiah WykofF, Newton JNIatthews. John Pratz and some
others. Josej)!) Palmer came almut this time and on .July 4. 1838, a
"celebration" was held at his house, near Walnut Creek. Forty-six
])ers()ns took dinner with Mr. Palmer. Caleb North delivered the ora-
tion, and'the affair wound up with a dance, William Mason furnishing
the nuisic. George A. Clifford says Mr. JNIason li\ ed near the present
City of Toulon and that he received nine dollars on this occasion, "the
fii-sf money he ever took in for music."
Jose])!] I'almer, at whose house this celebration was given, was a
native of Brattleboro. A"t.. where he was born in 1802. When about
twenty-five years of age he decided to "Go West and grow u]) with
the country," and located in iVshland County. Ohio, where he mar-
ried a ]Miss ^Nlary Slocum. In ]8;}7 he came to Stark County and
purchased 320 acres of land in what is now AVest Jersey Townshi]).
In 1844 he was elected a member of the old board of county commis-
sioners and served one term. After the Civil war he removed to Gales-
burg. 111., where he ])asscd the remaining years of his life.
Jacob B. Smith, the original jjioneer of \Vest Jersey, was born
near Beading, Pa., in 1801. He afterward went to Ashland County,
Ohio, where he married Mrs. ^laria JMurphy, nee Trickle, and in IS.'}.)
came to Stark County as above stated. His first dwelling here was a
log cabin sixteen feet square. After a residence of several years in
Stark County, he removed to Galva, 111., and died there in Septem-
ber. 1884.
WHien Stark County was organized in 1839 the territory now coni-
prisitig the Townshij) of West Jersey was included in justice's district
No. 3, which afterward became known as ^Massillon Precinct. Be-,
tween 183(5 and 18.50 several families from New Jersey settled in this
part of the county. Among them wei'e the Bodines, Boyds. Ha/.cns,
A\'ileys. Voungs and some others. W^hen the townshi]) .system was
introduced in 18.)3 these people re()uested that their township be called
West Jersey, which request was granted and in that way the town-
no HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
ship was named. Some say the township was named after the village
of West Jersey, hnt that is a mistake, as the village was not platted
until three years after the townships of the county were oi-ganized and
named.
Washington Smith, a son of Jaeoh Smith, was the first white child
hoiii in the toAvnship. The first frame house was built by Washington
Trickle in 1838. The first school was taught by ]Miss Columbia A.
Dunn, a sister of Rev. R. C. Dunn, and the first schoolhouse was built
in 1837 or 1838. In 191.5 there were eight public schoolhouses in the
township, valued at $8,200, and one teacher was employed in each
district during the preceding school year.
West Jersey is one of the two townships of Stark County without
a railroad. The people living in the northern half of the township find
railroad accommodations at Toulon or Lafayette, and those living in
the southern part are within reach of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fe Railroad, which runs through the northern part of Peoria County.
In 1910 the population of West Jersey Township was 818 and in
1914 the property was assessed for taxation at $73.5,8.51.
CHAPTER VIII
CITIES. TOWNS AND VILLAGES
SPECULATIOX IX EAUIA' DAYS — NUMEROUS TOWNS PROJECTED LIST OF
TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN STARK COUNTY CITIES OF TOULON AND
WYOMING — INCORPORATED VILLAGES OF BRADFORD AND LAFAY'ETTE
MINOR VILLAGES HISTORICAL SKETCH OF EACH PRESENT DAY'
CONDITIONS POSTOFFICES AND RURAL MAIL ROUTES.
In the early settlement of the West there seems to luive been a sort
of mania for layin<>- off towns. Companies were organized for the
purpose of preempting- the most available sites, employing surveyors
to make plats, copies of which were sent to cities in the East to adver-
tise the advantages of the coming metropolis of this or that locality.
In some of the counties there were more towns two or three years after
tlie first settlements were made than there are today, if a paper ])lat
constituted a town, and nearly every man or company that had a
town-site had a map made to show that particular town as being the
best situated for the county seat.
Scarcely had the first settlements been made in what is now Stark
County until the speculator and promoter were in the field laying oft'
towns. Some of tlie towns thus projected have sur\'ived and grown
into commercial centers of consideral)le importance ; others are merely
small railroad stations, neighborhood trading jjoints. or postotfices for
a rural community: and still others have passed out of existence.
From a careful examination of the official plat l)ooks, old atlases and
newspaper files, the following list of towns that are or have been in
Stark County has been compiled: Bradford, Camp Grove, Castleton,
Duncan. Elmira, Lafayette, Lombardville. Massillon, INIodena,
IVIorse, ^loulton, Osceola. Pleasant (rreen, Puckerbrush, Slackwater,
Speer, Stark, Starwano, Stringtown, Toidon, Wady Petra, \Valden,
West Jersey and Wyoming. A few of these places, such as Pucker-
brush and Stringtown, were never officially platted, but, like Topsy in
Uncle Tom's Cabin, they "jest growed."
Ill
112 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
\Vliile the above list is arranged alphabetically, in giving their
history, the to^viis will be considered in the order of their importance,
beginnhig with
TOULOX
Section 9 of the act of March 2, 1839, under which Stark County
Avas organized, provided that the county seat should be called "Tou-
lon," and in Chapter XI will be found an account of the manner in
which the location was selected. At the time the site was chosen for
the seat of justice in 184.1, the only house upon the original plat of the
toAvn was a small cabin. Avhich was occupied l)y John Miller and his
family. This cabin had been erected by :Minott Silliman in the spring
of 18;3.5 and sold, with the land, to John :Miller, the place afterward
becoming known as "Miller's Point." Leeson's History of Stark
County says: 'Tn 1832 Harris W. Miner erected a cabin not far
from the Toulon depot: and it is further claimed for him and tliis
section that here the beginnings of cultivation of lands in this town-
ship were made, although ^Nlinott Silliman, who came later, does not
state positively that any evidences of such improAcment were observed
by him."
On July 28. 1841, John ^Miller and his wife executed a deed, con-
veying to the conunissioners of Stark County the tract selected for
a county seat. The "ninety rods square" included in the deed was
laid off"" into lots by Carson Berfield in August. 1841. The original
plat shows sixteen blocks of ten lots each, with 3Iiller, Franklin,
Washington and Henderson streets running north and south, and
Yine, ]Main and Jeff'erson streets running east and west. Between
the north and south streets were three alleys, each twenty feet in
width, named Plum, Cherry and Grape. Since that plat was filed in
the office of the county recorder several additions have been made to
the town, tlie most important of which is Henderson & Whitaker's
addition, which consists of thirty blocks. Then there are Culbert-
son's Eastern and Western additions, the Assessor's addition and
Turner's addition. Tliese additions have increased the area of the
town more than three times that shown by the original plat.
The first sale of lots in Toulon was held on September 14-1.'). 1841.
Bidders were plentiful and 122 lots were sold. The highest price
paid for any one lot was $80, which was paid for lot 10 in block (J. and
the lowest price was $.5, for lot 2. ])lock 9, and lot 1, block 1. Among
the ])ui-ehasers Avere Oliver Whitaker, John W. Henderson, Jonathan
Hodgson, Benjamin Turner. Cyril Ward, JNIinott Silliman. David
r^'-^w-^iv*
IM r.l.Ii SI III ml.. Till I.I IX
ITl'.I.K l.lliKAHV. TOl'LON
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOi
URBANA
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 113
Essex, Nero W. Mounts, John JNIiller, Henry Breese, Calvin Powell,
Harris JMiner and several others whose names figure prominently in
early Starlv County history. In October following the sale Benjamin
Turner built the tirst "real house" in the town. A postoffice was
established a little later and ]Mr. Turner was appointed the first
postmaster.
John Culbertson, who located just outside the town ])lat in 184.1
and brouglit a stock of goods, was jjrobably the first merchant. He
commanded a large trade in and around Toulon, built a flour mill and
established a woolen factory, and was otherwise active in building up
the new county seat. His investments in real estate were extensive
and a neighlior once remarked: "Uncle John will not be satisfied
until he owns all of this township and the one west of it." Another
jjioneer of 18-il was Dr. Thomas Hall, who was the first resident
physician.
The first hotel was kept by Benjamin Turner, who also ke[)t a
small stock of goods in one of the front rooms. The building in which
his hotel was kept was afterward removed to the northwest corner of
the public square, where it was occupied by various persons as a mer-
cantile establishment for a number of years. Other early hotel keepers
were B. A. Hall and AVilliam Rose. Alexander ^Vliel kei)t a tavern
on the north side of ]Main Street, between Franklin and Miller, where
the Virginia House was built by J. A. Cooley in 1849.
The first school in Toulon was taught bj^ JNIiss Elizabeth Buswell,
in an upper room of the courthouse, in 1843. It was known as a
common school, while JNIiss Susan (rill, daughter of Elder Elisha Gill,
taught a "select" school in an adjoining room. The first schoolhouse,
still referred to by old i-esidents as the "old brick," was built on
Jefferson Street, in the Avestern part of town. It was but one story '
high and was built by Ira "Ward, Jr., at a cost of $000. T. J. Hen-
derson taught the first school in the building after it was finished.
The brick for the structvn'e was burned especially for it by W. B.
Sweet, and the lumber was hauled from the Illinois River. That was
the beginning of Toulon's ])ul)lic school system, which has developed
into two magnificent modern buildings, in which seventeen teachers
are em])loycd.
A Methodist class was organized just south of the town in 1841.
Avith Caleb B. Flint as class leader. This was the beginning of the
Toulon ^Methodist Chiu'ch, the first religious organization in tlic town.
A more com])lete account of the churclies of Toulon will be found in
Chapter XV.
114 IIISTOKY OF STAKK COUNTY
III October, 18.57, a movement was instituted for the incorpora-
tion of Toulon. At a meeting of the citizens, held at the clerk's ottice
early in ^larch, 18.58, thirty-four votes were cast in favor of the
proiJosition and only two were opposed. E. L. Emery, Oliver Whit-
aker, INliles A. Fuller, William Lowman and Isaac C. Reed were
elected as the first board of trustees. No record can be found con-
cerning this lirst corporate government of the town, but on February
11,1 859, the Legislature passed an act defining the powers and duties
of the trustees of Toulon.
A reorganization of the town government took place in the spring
of 1868. At an election held on the first jMonday of April in that
year, Caleb M. S. Lyons, Davis Lowman, Amos P. Gill, Hugh Y.
Godfrey and David Tinlin were chosen trustees. In the organization
of the new board, Mr. Lyons was elected president ; JNIr. Tinlin, clerk :
JMr. Gill, treasurer, and Miles A. Fuller was appointed attorney. On
A])ril 17, 1868, fourteen ordinances were passed and ordered printed
in the Stark County News. The first related to public morality, health
and iJolice regulations; the second prohibited gaming houses; the third
fixed a 2)cnalty for interfering with the town officers in the discharge
of their duties; the fourth ])rovided for the punishment of persons
disturbing the peace; the fifth prohibited certain animals from running
at large; the sixth related to streets and alleys and prohibited fast
driving within the corporate limits; the seventh altered certain streets
and alleys; the eighth and ninth dealt with labor upon the streets and
alleys; the tenth forbade the sale of intoxicating liquors; the eleventh
licensed and regulated the keeping of billiard tables; the twelfth pro-
vided for licensing peddlers and auctioneers ; the thirteenth related to
legal ])roceedings, and the fourteenth to the election and appointment
of officers.
The railroad was completed to Toulon in June, 1871, and during
the next year there were a number of additions to the population.
Consequently the board of trustees on IMarch .5, 1873, issued a call for
an election to be held at the courthouse on April 7. 1873. "to submit
to the voters of the said town the (juestion whether the said town shall
become incorporated as a city (village) under the general incorpora-
tion laws of the State of Illinois."
A majority of the votes were cast in favor of the change in
municipal government and the following trustees were elected: Den-
nis JNTawbey, .James Nowlan, H. StaufFer. Benjamin C. Follett and
Warren Williams. The village government thus established con-
tinued for thirty-six years. On A])ril 20, 1909, an election was held
IIISTORV OF STARK COUNTY US
to decide the question whether Toulon should incorporate as a city.
A majority of the votes were cast in favor of the chanoc and the
charter bears date of April 22, lUOU. The lirst city othcers were:
George Xowlan, mayor; Arthur Shinii, clerk; Harry B. Davis, treas-
urer; A'ictor G. Fuller, attorney; F. C. INIcClenahan, Thomas J.
Malone, William A. Newton, Orlando Brace, Amiel F. Lehman and
E. H. Lloyd, aldermen. Mr. Nowlan served as mayor until the spring
of ini.>, when he was succeeded by J. H. Baker.
ELECTRIC LIGHT
On .Tune 0, 1892. the board of trustees granted to ^Nfiles A. Fuller
a fianchise to construct and maintain an electric lighting plant, tiie
life of said franchise to be twenty-five years. Mr. Fuller and his
associates went to work almost immediately upon the ])lant and the
result was that on the evening of Decembtr 2.), 1892. the Town of
Toulon was lighted for the first time by electricity. Some years later
the business was incorporated under the name of the "Toulon Light
and Power Company." The power-house, which is located on Frank-
lin Street between JNIain and Vine, is ecjuijjped with modern electric
machinery and the comj)any besides furnishing light to the people of
Toulon also furnishes power for pumping water for the municiiJal
^^■aterworks.
WATERWORKS
^Vbout the time the form of government was changed from village
to city, the question of establishing a sJ^stenl of waterworks was agi-
tated by some of the progressive citizens. The movement gained
headway and on .Tune 0, 1910, the city council passed an ordinance
calling a special election for the ])urpose of voting on the question of
issuing bonds to the amount of -f l.l.OOO to establish waterworks. The
])ro))osition to issue the bonds was carried by a substantial ma joiity
at the election and the engineering firm of W. S. Shields & Company
was given the contract for the erection of the tower and reservoir and
the installation of the ])um])ing machinery.
Gray Brothers, well drillers, were em])loved to sink a deep well
and during the summer of 1911 about foui- and a half miles of mains
were laid, the mains being paid for by a s])ecial assessment against
the property benefited. The well which furnishes the water supplv is
1,44.8 feet in depth. iV reservoir of .)(),()()() gallons and a steel taidc
mounted upon a tower also having a capacity of 50,000 gallons, hold
116 HISTORY OF STARK COL XT Y
a supply of water equal to any demand that is likely to arise. The
ordinary jjuniping capacity is sutficient to furnish water for daily use,
and in adtlition there is a reserve pump that can be called into requisi-
tion in case of fire, etc. The cost of the plant complete, including the
special assessment for the mains, was about thirty thousand dollars.
Few cities in the state, the size of Toulon, can boast a better system of
waterworks or a more bountiful supply of pure, wholesome water.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ETC.
The City Hall, located on Franklin Street, adjoining the water
tower and the electric light plant, was erected in 1910 at a cost of
$6,000. It is two stories high, with walls of concrete block, steel ceil-
ings, etc. In the lower story are kept the fire engine, hook and ladder
truck and other property of the fire company, and the second story
contains the offices of the mayor, city clerk, council chamber, and in
the rear a room for the members of the fire dei)artment. The Iniilding
is heated by a finnace and well provided with toilet rooms and lockers
for the municipal officials and employees.
On ]March (5, 1914, the council passed an ordinance for the con-
struction of a sewer system, to be paid for by special assessment. The
contract was awarded to W. S. Shields & Company, the same firm
that built the ^vaterworks. This firm has made a special study of
sewer problems in connection with cities, and at Toulon an op])or-
tunity was given for the construction of a model system. A septic
tank was built southeast of the city and about four miles of sewer laid,
the total cost being about twenty-five thousand dollars. So well has
this system done its work that other cities about to install sewers have
sent committees to Toulon to study the methods used, and all have
gene away satisfied that the city "got its money's worth" in building
the way it did.
A fire department was organized in the early "90s and Charles S.
^IcKee was appointed chief a little later, a position he has held ever
since. The first apparatus purchased for the use of the company was
a second-hand hose reel, which was bought from the City of Clalva.
Then came the hook and ladder truck. Later ^Ir. McKee went to
Indianapolis, Ind., and purchased a combined gas engine and hose
cart fi'om the Howe ^Manufacturing Company of that city. With
this acquisition to the fire fighting eqi!i])ment of the city, Toulon is
well prepared to combat any fire that is likely to lireak out. The
company consists of twenty-five members and holds meetings for
instruction and drill on the third ^Nlondav eveniny in each month.
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 117
The Toulon Civic Club was or<«auize(l at the opera house on Thurs-
day evening, August 5, 191.). The objects of the club, as stated in
the articles of association, are "to develop, promote and enhance the
civiC; industrial, eoniniercial and agricultural interests of Toulon and
vicinity." C. D. ]McClenahan was elected president of the club;
W. U. Sickles, vice president; and M. D. Dewey, secretary antl
treasurer.
^lention has been made of the establishment oJ' tlie postolliee at
Toulon in 1841 and the api)ointment of Benjamin Turner as post-
master. ^Ir. Turner continued in charge of the office until President
liuchanan came into office in 18.57, when he was succeeded by Oliver
Whitaker. In 191.3 the office enii)loye(l two clerks, a man to carry
mail from the ofHce to the railroad station and return, five I'ural cai'-
riei's. and the total receipts for the fiscal year ending on June .'{(),
191."). amounted to nearly seven thousand dollars. At that time the
])ostmaster was Otto Raemeister.
From the single log cabin of John ^liller in 1841. Toulon had
grown to a city of 1,208 inhabitants in 1910, with many modern
homes. It has two fine public scliool liuildings, a public library. Bap-
tist, Catholic, Christian, Congregational and INIethodist Episcopal
chiu'clies, two lai'ge grain eknators, two banks, stock yards, several
miles of cement sidewalks, a telei)hone exchange, telegraph and ex-
press service, a number of well appointed mercantile establishments,
a weekly newspaper, a motion picture tlieater, an opera house, a base
ball club, and on every hand ai'c to be seen evidences of progress and
pi'osperit}'.
CITY OF AVYOMING
Wyoming, the largest city in Stark County, also claims the dis-
tinction of being the oldest town in the county. It was surveyed in
INIarch. 18.36. by B. M. Hayes, then surveyor of Putnam County, for
Cien. Samuel Thomas, and the plat was filed the following INIay. The
oi'iginai town contains eighteen blocks or squares, one of which was
set aside by General Thomas for a jjublic square. William Street,
the northern boundary, is the line between Essex and Toulon town-
ships, the plat being entirely within Essex Townshij). The other
streets running east and west are Main. Smith and Agard. Beginning
at the west line of the plat the north and soutli streets are numbered
from First to Seventh, inclusive. Since the original plat was filed
additions have been made wliich increase the area of the cor])oration
to more than four times that of the first toA\'n laid out by General
118 IllSTOUV OF STARK COUNTY
Thomas. The most important additions are Thomas', Dana's, Scott
& W'rigley's, and the two additions hiid out hv Dr. Alfred Castle,
sometimes called "Xorth \Vy()ming."
Gen. Samuel Thomas, the founder of Wyoming, was horn in the
State of Connecticut, February 2, 1787. When about nineteen or
twenty years old he went to the Wyoming Valley, in Pennsylvania.
At the beginning of the War of 1812, he was captain of a company
of young men who were well drilled in artillery tactics. He ofi'ered
the services of his conqjany to the Cxovernment and the offer was
accepted, the company being ordered to Erie, Pennsylvania, where
Commodore Perry was engaged in building his fleet. Captain Thomas
was placed in command of the post and several times thwarted the
British in their attempts to burn Perry's ships before they were com-
pleted. His company then joined the army under Gen. William PI.
Harrison and he was present at the battle of the Thames, where the
celebrated Shawnee chief, Tecumseh, was killed. After the war he
was apiJointed inspector of the Pennsylvania militia and in 1828 was
commissioned brigadier-general. After serving two terms in the
Legislature of Pennsylvania he decided to seek his fortunes in the
West, and in October, 183-i, he purchased the claim of his brother-in-
law, Sylvanus ]Moore, who had preceded him to Stark County, 111.
When he concluded to lay off a town, his recollections of the Wyoming
Valley prompted him to confer that name upon his town. General
Thomas was engaged in farming and keeping store until his death, on
July 21, 186j. He was one of the leading members of the 3Iethodist
Church, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and took an active in-
terest in political affairs as a democrat.
Concerning the earlv history and growth of Wyoming, jMrs. Shal-
'o
lenberger, in her "Stark County and its Pioneers," says: "For a long
time it had little but a name. In a communication to the Lacon Herald
in 1838, it is spoken of as having upon its site 'one second hand log
smoke house, which serves the double purpose of store and postoffice.'
Xevertheless, its name appears upon several maps of that time, and
it was a prominent candidate for the county seat. It is said that some
speculators interested in the sale of lots, had circulars struck off and
circulated in the eastern states, in which this town ^^•as represented in
1837 at the head of navigation on Spoon River, with fine warehouses
towering aloft and boats lying at the wharf which negroes were load-
ing and unloading, giving the appearance of a busy commercial mart.
This may be but a story, still it serves to illustrate the speculating
mania of those days; which disease has not yet ceased to afHict man-
kind. l)ut has only traveled a few degrees farther west."
\ iKW \()i;iii UN M,i;i II si:\ i:\Tii stkiokt. \\■^"(IMIXI;
PI i;i-ii i.ii,i;ai:\ , w voMl.NU
UNIVERSITY OF ILLiNOiS
URBANA
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY n*
Whether the stoiy of the eircular he true or not — and it may have
been, as such occurrences were bj' no means rare in those days — ^Vyo-
niino- has i)assc(l the point wliere such subterfuges are necessary to call
attention to its couunereial importance. In 18G.5, just after tiie close
of the Civil war, there was a marked increase in the number of inhabi-
tants and in response to a petition the "Town of Wyoming" was duly
incorporated under the laws of Illinois. Unfortunately the early
records of the village under this first government have not been pre-
served. In fact, but little attention was paid to nuinici])al matters
until after the completion of the two railroads in 1871. Then a more
active interest was awakened and in 1872 A. G. Hammond, Otis T.
Dyer, Perry H. Smith, A. J. Conover and C. Collier were elected
trustees. In the organization of the board Perry II. Smith was
elected president and JNIr. Collier, clerk.
In the spring of 1898 a census was taken, which showed the lumi-
ber of inhabitants to be 1,311. An ordinance was then passed by the
board of trustees dividing the town into three wards and ordering an
election to determine whether or not Wyoming should be incorporated
as a city under the general laws of the state. The voting places were
designated as follows: Fir^t Ward, Engine House No. 2, on ^lain
Street; Second Ward, Engine House No. 1, on the north side of
William Street; Third \Vard. King Brotliers' store, on the south side
of William Street. The election was held on April 19. 1898, and a
majority of the citizens cast their votes in favor of a city government.
A special meeting of the old board of trustees was then held on
April 2<j, 1898, for the purpose of inaugurating the new regime. As
this was the last meeting of the town officials under the old village
system, it may be of interest to know w ho tlie men were that changed
Wyoming from a village to a city. C. P. ]McCorkle was president of
the board; W. E. Nixon, clerk;' II. R. Brown, J. A. Klock, M. P.
Ryan, W. J. Townsend, 31arshall Winn and Peter Lane, trustees.
The first and most important business of the special meeting Avas to
appoint the 19th day of INIay as the date of the first election for city
officers. On that date S. R. Perkins was chosen mayor; A. W. Hig-
bee, Henry Duckworth, Fred Stevenson, Fred Ditewig, H. R. Rrown
and C. F. Hamilton, trustees; Ernest Mortimer, clerk; M. H. Lutes,
treasurer.
In 1899 A. J. Harty was elected mayor and served until 190.),
when he was succeeded ])y John W. Smith. George F. Garden was
elected mayor in 1909 and was succeeded by the present incumbent,
William H. Hartz, in 1913. The other members of the city govern-
120 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
ineiit in 1915 were: Frank Jacobs, clerk; Charles Peve, treasurer;
F. S. Foster, Elting Arganbright, Charles Ingram, C. F. Scott, A. C.
Cooper and A. C. Stagg, aldermen.
THE rosTOiaicF,
As stated in the chapter on Township History, the first postoffice
in Stark Comity was established in the Essex Settlement in 1833,
with Isaac B. Essex as postmaster. When Gen. Samuel Thomas came
to the county in IHSi he was accompanietl by several others, among
whom was a man named ^Villiam Cxodley. Two years later the Town
of Wyoming was platted and a movement was started to secure the
removal of the postofiice to the new town. This project was favored
by the people living about Osceola Grove and those living along the
Spoon River above the Essex Settlement, as a matter of convenience,
and a petition was circulated asking for the removal of the office and
the appointment of ^YiIliam Godley as postmaster. The petition was
granted and the new appointee, accompanied by James Holgate, went
to the Essex dwelling to receive possession of the property appertain-
ing to the postoffice. What happened upon their arrival there is thus
told by INIrs. Shallenberger:
"JNlr. Holgate soon noticed indications of a coming storm in the
countenance and conduct of ^Irs. Essex. She was washing when they
entered, and for awhile continued her occupation with a vim that
astonished her visitors, rubbing and scrubbing almost furiously, then
she deliberatelj^ turned from her tub, wiped her arms and hands, sat
down and gave them her opinion of men who would steal a postoffice.
in terms which those gentlemen can never forget. Later in the day a
neighbor coming in and observing she was excited, inquired the cause,
when she made the apt, Init petulant, play upon their names, INIr.
Clifford has recorded, saying: 'God Almighty and Hellsgate have
come and taken away our postoffice.' Surely enough to upset any
woman, and coming on washday at that!"
It could hardly have been the income that at that time made JNIr.
Essex so desirous of retaining the postoffice. but rather the prestige it
gave him in the settlement. The affair created some strife between
the settlements on the lower and upper jjortions of the Spoon River,
but the office remained at Wyoming and in time the affair was
forgotten.
At the close of the fiscal year ending on June 30, 101.), the Wyo-
nn'ng ])ostoffice showed receipts of about five thousand dollars, em-
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 1:^1
ployed two people in tlie office and four mral carriers who delivered
mail daily to a lar<>e tract of the surrounding" country. P. B. Colwell
was then postmaster.
ELECTRIC LIGHT
On April 7. IH'.H). an ordinance was passed by the village board
granting a francliise to R. C. Jordan & Company to light the Town
of Wyoming with electricity. It seems that tlie recipients of this
favor failed to do anything under the provisions of the franchise, and
on July t>, 1892. another ordinance relating to the subject was passed,
giving to E. B. Hillman c^ Company, of Peoria, authority "to con-
struct maintain and operate an electric light and power plant." Hxing
tlie rates to be cliarged by the firm, and containing i)rovisions for the
purchase of the plant l)y the village. Soon after the passage of the
ordinance, Mr. Hillman and his associates began the construction of
a power-house just west of the Rock Island Railroad station, setting
poles and running wires througli tlie streets, and l)efore the close of the
year Wyoming was rejoicing in the fact that it had an electric lighting
system in operation.
On November 6, 1912, the company was reorganized and incor-
porated for fifty years, under the name of the Stark County Power
Com])any. with a cajjital stock of !p2(),()()(). held by Edwin B. HiUman,
Adele S. Hillman and Edgar P. Reeder. Tliis company now fur-
nishes electric light and power to tlie towns of Castleton and Brad-
ford, as well as to the City of Wyoming. Its plant is ecjuipped with
modern machinery and the service is as good as is generally found in
cities of Wyoming's class.
AVATEIMVOlUvS
The first move toward establishing a system of waterworks for
the City of Wyoming was the ])assage of an ordinance by the city
council on April 22, 1902, granting to S. V. Deem, of Galva. 111., a
franchise to construct a water system at a cost of $28,()()(). the life of
the fianchise to be twenty years. INIr. Deem carried out the pro-
visions of the ordinance and the waterworks were completed the fol-
lowing year.
On March 7. 1904. the city council passed an ordinance entitled
the "Waterworks I'mrhase Oi-dinance," under the i)rovisions of which
the city purchased the entire plant from S. Y. Deem for $.'}().()8.j.
The first bond, or waterwoi-ks certificate, for .f()8.). was made pay-
122 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
able on the first day of Ajjril, 11)04, and the reauiining $30,000 in
certificates of $1,000 each, payable annually and bearing interest
at the rate of 5 per cent per annnni. The amount of these bonds or
certificates outstanding on September 1, 1915, was $9,000. Both
the franchise for the construction of the plant and the purchase
ordinance were adt)pted during the administration of flavor
A. J. Harty.
The system consists of a Mater tower 100 feet in height, with a
capacity of .'id, 000 gallons: five miles of mains, and a pumping
capacity of 200 gallons per minute. The rates charged are 3.5 cents
per 1.000 gallons per month, up to 10,000 gallons, and all over that
amount 25 cents per 1,000 gallons per month. The number of con-
sumers on October 1, 1915, was 245. The supply comes from a deep
well and the quality of the Avater is excellent.
PUBLIC PARKS
Wyoming has two public parks — the public square laid out by
General Thomas when he platted the town in 1836, and Central Park,
at the northeast corner of Galena Avenue and Van Buren Street, in
Scott & Wrigley's addition. The latter was set apart at the time
the addition w^as platted as a site for the courthouse in the event
Wyoming secured the county seat, which the people were then trying
to obtain. Both are real "beauty spots," being provided with band-
stands, seats, swings for the little ones, handsome shade trees, etc.,
and they form jjlaces for recreation and amusement for the people.
OTHER PUBLIC IMPROVE5IEXTS
About the time the waterworks were completed the subject of a
sewer system began to engage the attention of the people. The first
sewer, which was constructed by general taxation, runs from a jjoint
on the south side of Van Buren Street, opposite Central Park, to
the southwestern part of the city, near the cemetery. Since it was
built other sewers have been added from time to time by special
assessments until Wyoming has a method of disposing of its sewage
that is as good as that found in most cities of its size.
The fire department is a volunteer organizatiou. but is marked
by efficiency and promptness in time of need. Prior to the estal)lish-
ment of the city government two engine houses were built by the
municipality — one on the north side of William Street and the other
■■^viMr^:^^^^^*'
STREET SCENE IN BRADFORD
? f nt^ r n^/
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 123
on the south side of the same street— and botli were supplied with
approved tire-fij>htin<>- apparatus. AVith the completion of tlie
waterworks an additional supply of hose was purchased, to he
attached to the hydrants in case of tire, and this assured ample tire
protection for all ordinary occasions.
Within recent years \Vyoming has given considerable attention
to building sidewalks and oiling the roadways of the streets. The
result is several miles of excellent concrete sidewalks and dustless,
streets that makes the little city one of the cleanest in the State of
Illinois.
MISCELLANEOUS
The fair grounds of the AVyoming Agricultural Society are
located in the eastern part of the city, a short distance east of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and within easy walking
distance of the business district. The first fair was held here in Sep-)
tember. 1881.
Resides lieing the oldest town in the county, Wyoming claims the
honor of having the first frame house. A year or two after the town
was started by General Thomas, Whitney Smith erected a small
frame building, \\ hieli he used for a store, and it is generally conceded
that this was the first frame structure of any kind to be erected in
Stai-k County.
Two modern pul)lic school buildings, one known as the South Side
School and the other as the North Side, furnish excellent educational
facilities for the city. During the school year of 1!)14-1.3 eleven
teachers were employed.
AVyoming has two banks, a pul)lic library, a weekly newspaper,
a number of mercantile houses that compare favorably with those of
larger cities. Congregational, Catholic, Episcopal and ^Methodist
churches, grain elevators, lumber and coal yards, hotel and restaurants,
a large ])oultry house, a motion ])icture theater, an opera house, a
baseball club, a large number of cozy homes, and in 1!)10 reported a
population of 1,;50(). Being located at the junction of the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific rail-
roads, it is the princi])al shij)ping ])oint for a rich agricultural district
in Essex, Penn, Toulon and Valley townships and large (|uantities of
grain and livestock are handled here annually.
BRADFORD
Bradford, the third largest town in the county, is situated in the
northeastern part of the county, the original plat being in sections 23
124 lUSTOKY OF STARK COLMV
and "20, Osceola Township. It was surveyed on ^Vpril 27, 18.5-t, by
Sylvester F. Ottman, then county surveyor, for Bradford S. Foster
and derived its name from the Chi'istian name of the proprietor. In
making the survey, JNIr. Ottman located Main Street on the section
line. North of this is one tier of lots. The next street south is Arbor
and Soutli Street forms the southern boundary of the original town.
Between ^Main and Arbor (at first called Bowery) streets was left
a "market square," and north of JMain Street was a public square,
intersected by a short street called Park. This scjuare was vacated by
a vote of the citizens at an election held on Sei)tember 22, 18(39. The
noi'th and south streets in the original plat were Peoria, Park and
Kim, and the total number of lots was thirty-seven. Since then
Foster's and Phenix's first and second additions have extended the
limits of the town toward the south and west, and Drawyer's,
Pilgrim's. Real's and some minor additions have extended the limits
northward and eastward into sections 24 and 2.5 until the corporation
includes about one square mile.
In the fall of 18G9, when it became certain that the Dixon, Peoria
& Hannibal (now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) Railroad was
to be built through Bradford, the town experienced its first boom.
A number of energetic, progressive men bought lots and established
homes and business houses. The town was incorporated on August 13,
18(i9. and ]M. S. Curtiss was elected the first president of the board
of trustees. At the general election held on Xovember 4. 187'3. the
question of incorporating under the general laws of the state was
carried bj^ a substantial majoritj^ and the present form of municipal
government was shortly afterward inaugurated. .Toshua Prouty was
elected the first president of the board under the new charter. In
191.5 the village government was composed of Albert Deyo, president;
George A. ISIarsh, clerk: R. W. Sharp, Walter Scholes, W. S. Ribley,
R. C. Hay, O. C. Boyd and R. D. Lackman, trustees.
A postoffice was established at Bradford soon after the town was
surveyed, but the name of the first jxistmaster could not be learned
by the writer. Some idea of the growth of the town and the develo])-
ment of its business interests may be gained from the knowledge
that in 191.5 the postoffice had risen to a third-class office, Avith annual
receipts of about four thousand dollars, em])l()ying two people and
being the source of five rural routes that distrii)ute mail daily over a
large territory. T. .T. Mowbray was then postmaster.
On September 7, 1896, "in compliance with a vote of the legal
voters at a special election." the board of trustees passed an ordinance
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 125
to issue five bonds of $1,000 each, tlie first due in five years aiul the
hist ill nine, with interest at (5 per cent per annum, for the purpose
of instalhng a system of waterworks for the viUage. A deep well
was sunk, a pumphouse erected, a large tank mounted upon a tall
tower and a reserve tank constructed, mains laid upon the princi-
pal streets, and in the summer of 18U7 the water was turned on.
The fire department was organized imdei- the provisions of an
ordinance passed on April 4. 1904. The force consists of twenty-five
men (volunteers) and the equipment of hosecarts, the pressure from
the waterworks being suHicient to furnish enough water to extinguish
any fire that is likely to occur. The members of the department meet
at regidar intervals for drill and instruction.
Jiiadford has two hanks, a weekly newspapei'. churches of several
faiths, a fine jjublic school building, in which eight teachers are em-
ployed, well kept streets, good sidewalks, several well stocked stores,
two large grain elevators, a number of handsome residences, and the
visitor to the town is impressed by the air of prosperity and couimer-
cial activity. In 11)10 the population of Bradford was 770.
LAFAYETTE
Located on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, six miles
west of Toulon and near the Knox Countj' line, is the incorporated
Village of Lafayette. The original plat — blocks 1 to 10, of eight lots
each — was surveyed on July 7, IS.'JG, by George A. Charles, then
county surveyor of Knox County, for William Dunbar. On the north
of tills part of the town is JMonroe Street. From Monroe Street it
extends southward to Franklin, bounded on the east bj^ Hodgson
Street and on the west by Timber. Additions have since been made
until now the town embraces forty squares of eight lots each. The
north and south streets are Willow, JMulberry, East INIain, Hodgson,
jNIain and Timber, the last named forming the western limits of the
town. Ikginning at the north, the east and west streets are Monroe,
Jefferson, Lafayette, Washington, Jackson, Franklin, ]Madison and
Adams, and there is one row of l)locks south of Adams Street. The
northern tier of lots in block 20 and the southern tier of block 21 were
taken to form a public sfjuare, which is intersected by Jackson Street.
The railroad cuts off the north side of this square and the remainder
of it forms a ])leasant little ])ublic ])ark. The additions to the first
plat were made by Jonathan Hodgson, Henry Dunbar and John
Lundy, August 8, 1836.
126 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
One of the first houses in Lafayette was built by Wilhani Uunbar, |
the "Okl Hatter," mentioned in a former chapter. Few lots were
sold until about 184'2 and 1843, when Asahel Holmes, George W.
Jackson, George W. Dunbar, James J. Wilson, Joshua Woodbury,
William Wheeler and a few others all bought property in the new
town. Other early settlers were Peter F. JNIiner, Daniel J. and Theo-
dore F. Hurd, William D. Runyan, Jehial Bouton, James B. Lewis,
Gilbert \\^ard, Thomas N. Fitch, \\"alter Hock, James Dunn and
James E. White, some of whom located as early as 1837. Several
of these Lafayette pioneers afterward became prominent in the
affairs of Stark County.
Jesse C. Ware was the first merchant and is said to have been the
first man to build a house within the limits of the town. Theodore F.
Hurd and Barnabas M. Jackson were other early merchants, and Ira
Reed opened a shoe shop as early as 1838. Some years later a few
enterprising individuals organized a stock company to build a carding
mill and woolen factory, but it proved to be a financial failure.
At an election held in ISGO the vote on the question of incor-
poration was forty-one for to thirteen against tlie proposition. The
first board of trustees was composed of Thomas W. Ross, J. H.
Nichols. Daniel J. Hurd. Dennis Lee and James Martin. The gov-
ernment thus established existed until September, 1872, when tlie
vote on the question of obtaining a new charter was twenty-four for
to eighteen opposed. The first trustees under the new charter ^\•ere
M. S. Barnett, James ^Martin, Samuel White, B. H. Snyder, Daniel
J. Hurd and Dr. J. H. Nichols. The election of clerk was declared
illegal and C. P. Jackson was elected in 1874. In lOl.') J. H. Wliite
was jjresident of the village board; F. T. Gelvin, clerk: Joshua Grant,
Samuel Hanks, James Norton, S. E. White, V. H. Brown and
Wiley Plankel, trustees.
Some years ago the village board granted to Jesse S. Atherton a
i'ranchise to build, ecjuij) and operate an electric light plant. Mr.
Atherton built the plant and conducted it for some time when he
sold out to some parties in Galva, 111., and Lafayette is now suj)-
plied with light from Galva. The streets of the village are kept well
oiled, keeping down the dust; there are several blocks of good cement
sidewalks; the village has a commodious public scliool building in
which foiu" teachers are employed during the school year. Formerlv
there were several churches, but they have all fallen into disuse except
the ^Metliodist I^piscopal, which is now the only active denomination.
The Inisiness interests of the village include a bank, several stores
i;a\k AM) iM r.i.ii l.ll■.l:Al;^ . i.a lA^l;^■|■|■;
l-rULK' I'AUK. I.A I A^ I.I 11.
UNIVERSITY OF /LLflVOIS
URBANA
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 127
haudliny practically all lines of goods, grain elevators, restanrants,
etc., and there are two large nurseries near the town that ship fruit
trees and plants. Lafayette also has a public library, the gift of Mrs.
Reed, an account of which will be found in the chapter on Educational
Development. The pt)pulation in 11)10 was 287.
The smaller villages of the county, those not incorporated and
those that have ceased to exist, are treated in alphabetical order,
beginning with
CAMP GROVE
Strictly siJeaking. Camp Grove is no longer in Stark County. It
was established at an early date on the lines between Stark and
Marshall counties, near the southeast corner of Penn Township.
Among the early business men here were: J. Townsend and Cyrus
Rocock, general merchants; R. G. Fargo, dealer in iron and metals;
William Evans, butcher; S. H. Nichols, contractor and builder, and
^^\ J. Townsend. postmaster. When the Chicago & Northwestern
Railroad from Peoria to Nelson was built in 1902, it passed about
hall' a mile east of Camp Grove and most of the business concerns
"pulled up stakes" and removed to the railroad. About all that is
left of the old village is the Catholic Church and cemetery.
CASTLETOX
This thriving little place is situated in sections 9 and 16 of Penn
Township, on the Ruda & Rushville division of the Chicago, Rurling-
ton &: Quincy Railroad. It was surveyed by Edwin Rutler, surveyor
of Stark County, on ^Nlarch -1, 1870. for Dr. Alfred II. Castle, after
whom it was named. The original ])lat shows seven blocks averaging
sixteen lots each, the north and south streets being Main. Washington
and I^incoln, and the cast and west streets, Smith, Shei'man and State.
Since the original plat was filed three additions have been made to
the town — Julg's and Fuller's, of six lots each, and Kissinger's, of
foity-five lots. Among the early business concerns of Castleton were
Klock & Fleming's grain elevator, Leo Julg's boot and shoe store,
D. \V. Crum's drug store. G. Wright's hardware and farm implement
house, ]Mrs. Stewart's hotel and II. I). ^lartin's wagon and paint sho]).
The Castleton of 191.) boasts several good mercantile establish-
ments, a branch of Scott. Walters & Rakestraw's bank, three churches,
a fine ])ublic school liuilding, two grain elevators, a town hall, a number
of minor business concerns and many pretty homes. Tiie streets and
128 lllSTOKV OF STAKK CUL'M'V
sidewalks are in good condition and tlie town is lighted by electricity
from the plant of the Stark Connty Power Company at Wyoming.
It ships considerable quantities of grain and livestock, and in 1910
reported a population of 201.
DUNCAN
On June 10, 1870, Edwin IJutler, county surveyor, platted the
Town of Duncan for Dr. Alfred H. Castle, with six blocks (104 lots)
though blocks 1 and 4 were afterward vacated. The streets running
north and south are ^Monroe, Adams and Jefferson, and those running-
east and west are Main, Washington and Galena. Duncan is located
in section 35, Erssex Township, on the Buda & Rushville division of
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, seven miles south of
Wyoming. F. F. Brockway and John H. Slater were among the
first merciiants of the town; George Fautz oi)ened a hardware store,
^Villiam Heath conducted a grocery store and a hotel, John Barker
was the village blacksmith, and Dr. T. C. Thomas was probably the
first resident physician. A postoffice was started soon after the
village was laid out in 1870, with W. H. Miller as postmaster.
Although a shipping point of considerable importance, Duncan has
never grown to be a town of any great projiortions. Rand &
]McXally give the pojjulation in 1910 as 12.5. Scott, Walters & Rake-
straw, of Wyoming, have a branch bank at Duncan. The village
has general stores, a grain elevator, lumber yard, hotel, several small
shoi^s, a church and a public school.
ELMIRA
W. R. Sandham, of Wyoming, who has given considerable atten-
tion to the origin of Stark County names, says: "Elmira is the name
given to a postoffice which was first established about tlie j-ear 1837,
where the jiresent Village of Osceola is now located. It Avas named
by Oliver ^Vhitaker, its first postmaster, after his former home,
Elmira, New York. About the year 1845 the postoffice was mo\ed
to its present location on the Avest side of Spoon River and the name
moved with it."
However, the Village of Elmira had its beginning some two years
before the removal of the postoffice as mentioned by ]Mr. Sandham.
In 1843 Ambrose Fuller entered the quarter section of land upon
wliicli the village stands and ojjened a store. Fuller's store soon
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 129
became a sort of rallying point for the people of the neighborhood,
the MetluKhsts anil Presbyterians located' churches there, several
families purchased lots and built dwellings, thus starting a town. No
otiicial plat of Elmira was ever filed with the county recorder, though
part of the town is known as "Parsons' subdivision." In 1!>15 Elmira
had two churches, two general stores, some small business concerns, a
public school and a few residences. Rand & McXally give the po])ula-
tion in I'JIO as 7tJ. The postoHice has been discontinued and mail is
now delivered by rural carrier from Toulon.
LOMBAKDVILLE
On June 15, 1870, Edwin Butler, then county surveyor, surveyed
the Town of Lombardville for Julia A. Lombard and Dr. Alfred H.
Castle, and the plat was filed on the 8th of July following. Lombard-
ville is located on the Buda & Rushville division of the Chicago, Bur-
lington <Sc Quincy Railroail, on the line dividing sections 2 and 11,
Osceola Township. The original i)lat shows 104 lots, with State,
Frajiklin, Lombard and Duncan streets running north and south, and
Howard, JNIain and Washington rim east and west. The hotel and
elevator were completed in the fall of 1870, the I^ombardville Mining
Comj)any began operations about the same time, and for some time
the village showed signs of becoming a town of some importance, lint
the coal deposits were worked out, much of the trade was diverted to
Bradford and other towns and Lombardville never came up to the
expectations of its foimders. A public school, a general store and
grain elevators are the jirincipal institutions. INIail is delivered by
rural carrier from the postoflRce at Bradford.
MASSU.I.ON
Says Mrs. Shallenberger: "Massillon was situated seven miles
nearly due south of the present Town of Toulon, not far from the
southern boundary of the county. Its projector and pro])rictor was
Stephen Trickle. Date of survej', April, 18.'}7."
This is the only written account of ISIassillon that the writer has
been able to find. It is known that one of the precincts of the county
war; named "^Massillon," from which it may be inferred that the town
Avas once a j)lace of some consequence, though it is now nothing more
than a memorv.
130 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
MODENA
Tlie \"illage of JNIodena is located in the southeast quarter of sec-
tion 1, ill the northeastern part of Toulon Township and on the west
bank of Spoon River. It was surveyed on IMarch 24, 1853, for JNIiles
A. and Williston K. Fuller. The plat was filed in July and shows
thirty-one lots, with Main and Second streets running- nortli and south
and Locust and Chestnut, east and west. The Hour mill and the coal
mines in the iiiiniediate vicinity were the principal industries of early
days. A. Y. Fuller, who was one of the early purchasers of lots,
opened a general store, and B. .A. Newton also conducted a store
here for some time. Mr. Saiidhaiu says the name was suggested by
^lodeiia in Italy. A Baptist Church Avas erected here about 1850.
In 191,5 a general store and the public school were the principal fea-
tures of the village, which reported a population of 3.5 in 1910. It is
on one of the rural mail routes from the postoffice at ^Vyoming.
MORSE
This is one of the new towns of the county and owes its existence
to the building of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad through the
county in 1901-02. It is located in the extreme northeast corner of
the Township of Osceola and is only a short distance east of Lombard-
ville. No official plat of the village Avas ever filed in the office of
the county recorder, but an atlas of the county, published in 1907,
shows fourteen lots — six north and eight south of the railroad station.
Rand & McNally give the population in 1910 as 50. jNIail is delivered
by rual carrier from Bradford.
aiOULTON
The extinct town of IMoulton was located near the northern border
of Essex Townshiji, about three miles west of Wyoming, in the Indian
Creek Valley. It was surveyed in August, 183G, l»y Roliert Schuyler,
Russell H. Nevins. William Couch, David Lee and Abijah Fisher.
George and AVilliam Sanimis had a store. on the site at the time the
town was laid out. At one time INIoulton had aspirations to become
the county seat of Stark County, but Toulon won that honor and
the close proximity of Wyoming also contributed to INIoulton's down-
fall. A frame house was erected there by Eugenius Frum a year or
two after the town was platted, but tliis l)uilding was afterAvard pur-
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 131
chased by Beiijamiii Turner and removed to Toulon, \vliere it stood
until 188G.
OSCKOI>A
The village of Osceola is situated in the southeast quarter of section
11, Elmira Township, a small portion of the place extending south-
ward into section 1-i. The first settlers in this part of the county came
late in the year 18.'j.5. Among them were Giles C. Dana, Isaac
Spencer, James Buswell, Thomas Watts and the Pratts, one of whom
was a physician. Mrs. Shallenherger saj's: "They came out under
the auspices of ^laj. Robert ^Sloore, who encouraged emigration
hither, with a view to building up a town, which he had surveyed and
called Osceola."
If such a tuwi) \\as e\er surveyed it failed to become a reality,
though the first settler named the grove in which they built their
cabins "Osceola Grove," after the celebrated Seminole Indian leader
in the Florida war. When the postof!ice was established there in
18.'37 it was named Elmira, as already stated, and a settlement grew
up around the postofRce. After the removal of the postoffice to the
present village of Klmira, the village where it was first established
took the name of Osceola. Being some distance from a railroad, the
village has never grown to any considerable proportions, but it forms
a trading point and meeting place for the people in the northeastern
part of Elmira Township. The population in 1910 was only 55.
It has a general store, a Baptist Church, a iNlethodist Chiu'ch and
parsonage, a public school and a few dwellings, and is on one of the
rural mail routes fi'om Neponset, in Bureau County.
PLEASANT GIJEEN
An old map of Stark County shows the settlement of Pleasant
Green near the center of section 3.3, Osceola Townshi]i. It was never
formally laid (jut as a town, but a rural p(Jstotlice was maintained here
for some time in early days and some coal was mined in the vicinity.
The district school known as the "Pleasant Green" school is all that
is left to tell the story.
PUCKl'.IUtKUSH
This is another settlement that "just growed." It is located in
section 7, Penn Township, a little south of the site of the old village
of ^Valden, and consists of six lots along the south side of the higli-
wav. Just how the settlement obtained its name is uncertain.
132 HISTOKV OF STAKK COUNTY
SLACK AVATER
Just east of the Spoon river, in section 33, Essex Township, is
the old viUage of Shickwater, which at one time was a trading point
and neighhorliood center of some importance. The building of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and the foundhig of the town
of Duncan, only a mile and half east on the railroad, robbed Slack-
water of its prestige and it sank into insignificance.
SPEEK
While the Peoria & Nelson branch of the Chicago & Northwestern
Railroad was under construction, James A. Speer, who owned a
farm on the line of the railroad in section 36, Valley Township, con-
ceived the idea of founding a town. Accordingly, on December 5,
1901, Henry H. Oliver, county surveyor, platted the town of Speer,
in the northwest quarter of the above named section. The original
])lat showed twenty-four lots west of the railroad. Iiut on April 1.5,
1003, 31r. Oliver made a revised plat of the original town and Speer's
first addition thereto. Front Street runs north and south next to
the railroad and farther west is jMcKinley Avenue. The streets run-
ning east and west are IMain and South, and one not named on the
plat. Speer soon came into prominence as a trading and shipj^ing
})oint for the southeastern part of the county. It reported a popula-
tion of 1.50 in 1910: has general and hardware stores, a bank, livery
barn, planing mill, postofRce, lumber yard, grain elevators, and is one
of the flourishing little towns of Stark County.
STARK
Five miles east of \Vyoming, on the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific Railroad, is the little village of Stark, which grcAv up soon
after the railroad was completed, but was never officially platted. A
postoffice was established in the early '70s; Simpson ds: Smith and
Charles N. Hull opened general stores; Joseph Anderson began
dealing in grain and drain tile, and a few other business enterprises
were established. In 1910 the population was 7-5. It has a large
grain elevator, general stores, a Congregational Church, etc., and
does a good business in shipping grain and livestock. It derives its
name from the county.
STARWAXO
No plat of this settlement — for it can hardly be called a town — ■
was ever recorded. It is located in West Jersey Township, near the
HISTORY OF STARK COLNTY
133
eastern boundary. A JNIethodist Church was organized here at an
early date and is still in existence, l)ut the coiniiicrcial activity of Star-
waiio has departed.
STRINGTOWN
In the atlas of Stark County, pul)lished in 1907, is shown a thickly
settled neighhorhood in the sonthwcstcrn part of Essex Township
(sections 30 and 31 ) which has long been known as "Stringtown." Its
location is almost identical with that of the old Town of ^Nlassillon pre-
viously mentioned. A church and public school are the only institu-
tions worthy of note.
AV.U)Y I'ETKA
This little town with the oriental name was platted on June 2,
1873, by Edwin Rutler, then surveyor of Stark County, for "Sirs.
Anna K. Chase. It is located on the Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific
Railroad, in section 31. Valley Township, only about one mile east
of the ^"illage of Stark. Front Street runs parallel to the railroad
and a square farther east is Chase Street. The north and south streets
are ]Main and Hamilton. The original plat shows fifty-five lots.
Wady Petra is a typical little railroad station, with the usual local
business enterprises. In 1910 the population was given as forty-five.
INlail is delivered by rural carrier from the postofl^ce at Stark.
AVAI,DEN
The old Town of Walden was situated in the nortii side of section
7, Penn Township, just across the Spoon River from Modena. It
is said to have taken its name from Dexter Wall, and was sometimes
M-ritten "Wallden." JMr. Wall built a steam mill there at an early
date and a general store was opened, but the name of the pioneer
niei'cliant has apparently been i'orgotten. "Wall's Schoolhouse,"
which stood not far from the mill, was a favorite place for holding
religious services by ministers of different denonn'nations. In time
^Ir. Wall removed his mill to Wyoming and the Town of Walden
disajjpeared from the map.
"O'EST JERSEY
Karly in the year 18.56 Jacob ^'oung employed Carson Berfield,
wlio Iiad previously served as county surveyor, to lay off a town
134 HISTOKV OF STARK COUNTY
almost in the exact geographical center of West Jersey Township,
which town was named West Jersey. Seminary and Jersey streets
and Plum Alley are shown on the original plat as the thoroughfares.
The plat was filed for record on February 19, 1850, and ten years
later only twenty-four lots had been sold. Dm-ing the next twenty
years the growth was "slow but sure," and in 188G about seventy lots
had been sold. Among the early industries and business houses of
West Jersey may be mentioned Snediker's mill, John Catton's coal
mines, Giwitts & Son's planing mill. ^V. II. IJttle's harness shop,
\Villiam Atkinson's blacksmith shop and W. II. Jolinsons store.
The ^Methodist Church was built about 1860. A postoffice was estab-
lished here before the Civil war, but it has been discontinued and
mail is now addressed to Toulon and delivered by rural carrier. \Vest
Jersey has a public school building, a church, general stores, some
smaller business concerns, a hall for pul)lic entertainments, and in
11)10 reported a population of seventy.
POSTOFFICES
With the introduction of the free rural delivery system, several
of the postoffices of Stark County were discontinued. The United
States Postal Guide for July, 191.5, gives the following offices in the
county, the figiu'cs in parentheses following the name indicating the
number of rural mail routes: Bradford (.5) ; Castleton, Dimcan,
Lafayette (2) ; Speer (1) ; Stark (1) ; Toulon (.5) ; Wyoming (4).
Everj' office in the county is authorized to issue money orders. Those
at Bradford, Toulon and Wyoming issue international money orders
and are postal savings depositories.
CHAPTER IX
:Mn.lTARY HISTORY
WAR or 1812 BLACK HAAVK WAR MAR WITH ilEXICO WAR OF 18G1-
"0.5 CONDITIONS LEADING UP TO THE WAR THE SLAVERY QUESTION
COMPROMISE LEGISLATION KANSAS-NEBRASKA BILL POLITICAL
CAMPAIGN OF 1860 SECESSION OF THE SLAVE STATES FALL OF FORT
SUMTER CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS AVAR JIEETING AT TOULON ILLI-
NOIS' RESPONSE— EARLY ENLISTMENTS BRIEF HISTORIES OF THE
REGIMENTS IN WHICH STARK COUNTY AVAS REPRESENTED — ROSTER
OF STARK COUNTY COMPANIES — MISCELLANEOUS INFANTRY ENLIST-
^IE>;-fS CAA'ALRY SERVICE ARTILLERY SOLDIERS' :\IONU5IENT
THE AAORK AT HOME.
At the time of the War of 1812 there was not a single Avhite man
living within the present borders of Stark County. As previously
mentioned, the United States Government, soon after the close of
that war, set apart a large tract of land in Illinois, including the
present County of Stark, to be given to those who had served as
volunteers during the Avar. A few veterans of the War of 1812
afterward became residents of the county, though the most of them
sold their land Avarrants to speculators for a small pittance. In the
fall of 1800 a meeting of old soldiers of 1812 Avas held at Toulon, at
Avhich probably a dozen Avere ji resent.
In the Black HaAvk Avar of 1832 the name of Thomas Essex ap-
pears upon one of the muster rolls — the only one from Stark County —
thouiih the countA' Avas not then organized and there Avere but feAv
Avhite men living Avithin its limits.
On INIarch 1, 184'.j. Congress passed a bill to annex the Re])ublic
of Texas to the I'^nited States. This lirought on a Avar Avith ^Mexico,
Avhich countiy claimed Texas, and Gen. Zachary Taylor Avas sent
Avith the "Army of Occupation" to hold the territory until the bound-
ary question could be settled. Taylor fought the ])attles of Palo Alto
and Resaca de la Palma. defeating the Mexicans in both engage-
ments, and on ]May 11. 1840, tAvo days after the battle of Resaca de
135
136 HISTORY OF STxVRK COUNTY
la I'alnia, Congress declared that "war already exists by act of the
JNlexican government," jjlaced a fund of -$10,000,000 at the disposal
of the administration, and authorized the President to accept the
services of 50,000 volunteers.
^Vithin a few days Illinois offered the President 8,370 men, but
only 3,7-0 were accepted. These men formed the tirst six regiments
of Illinois Infantry. A few Stark County men were included in the
enlistments, but in the absence of nmster rolls it is impossible to give
their names.
THE W.VK OF 1861-05
Soon after the establishment of the American Republic, the slav-
ery question became a "bone of contention" that was gnawed at by
jDoliticians for years in nearly every campaign. In 1808, the earliest
date at which legislation on the subject could be constitutionally en-
acted. Congress passed a law abolishing the foreign slave trade. By
1819 seven of the tliirteen original states had abolished slavery. Ken-
tucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, ^Mississippi and Alabama had been
athnitted to the Union as slave states, and Vermont. Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois as free states, making eleven of each. This was the situa-
tion in 1820, when the people of JNIissouri asked for admission. After
a long and somewhat acrimonious debate, that state was admitted
under the i)rovisions of the act known as the "^lissouri Compromise,"
which agreed to the admission of 3Iissouri without any restrictions as
to slavery, but expressly stipulated that in all the remaining portion
of the Louisiana Purchase north of the line marking the latitude of
36° 30' slavery shoidd be forever i)rohibited.
The ^Mexican war gave to the United States a large territory, to
wliicli the advocates of slaveiy laid claim. According to the views of
the opponents of slavery, the "Omnibus Bill," or Compromise of
1850, was a violation of the terms of the ^Missouri Compromise, in
that it sought to extend slavery north of the line of 36' 30'. The
Kansas-Xebraska Bill of 1854 added fresh fuel to the already raging
flames. The passage of this bill was one of the principal causes that
led to the organization of the republican party, Avhich opjiosed the
extension of slavery beyond the territory where it already existed.
In the political campaign of 1860 some of the southern states
announced their intention of withdrawing from the Union in the event
of Abraham Lincoln's election to the presidency. The people of the
Xorth regarded these declarations as idle threats, made solely for
political effect. Through a division in the democratic ])arty. Mr. Lin-
SOLDIERS" AX I) S \II.01!S- MOXr^IKXT. TOT'T.OX"
f-IBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 137
coin was elected and on December 20, 1860, South Carolina proceeded
to carry out her threat to withdraw, a convention of delegates, chosen
for the purpose, passing an ordinance of secession, declaring that all
allegiance to the United States was at an end. IMississippi followed
with a similar ordinance on January 9, 18G1; Florida, .January 10th;
Georgia, January 19th; Louisiana, January 26th, and Texas, Febru-
ary 1, 1861. On February 4, 1861, delegates from six of these states
(Texas was not represented) met at Montgomery, Alabama, adopted
a i)rovisional constitution, elected Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi,
provisional president, and Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, pro-
visional vice president of the "Confederate States of America." Davis
and Stephens were inaugurated on 1^'ebruary 22, 1861, the anniversary
of tiie birth of George ^Vashington.
Hence it was that when ^Ir. Lincoln was inaugurated on iVIarch
4, 1861, he found seven states, with an organized government, in open
opposition to his administration. Notwithstanding this serious con-
dition of affairs, the President, his inniiediate advisers and the people
of tlie North generally, entertained the hope tliat the situation could
be met without an open rupture between the North and South, and
that the citizens of the seceded states could be persuaded to return to
their allegiance. Vain hope!
About the beginning of the year 1861, Maj. Robert Anderson,
who was in connnand of all the defenses of the harbor at Charleston,
South Carolina, decided that Fort Sumter offered a better oppor-
tunity for defense than Fort Moultrie, where he and his garrison
were stationed. Secretly removing his stores and men, he ordered
the guns at Fort INIoultrie to be spiked, rendering them unlit for
ser\ice. JNIajor Anderson's action immediately raised a storm of
protest from the secessionists. They claimed that the removal to Fort
Sumter was a violation of an agreement made with President
Buchanan. Lincoln's predecessor. On the other hand the people of
the North upheld Anderson and the northern press was almost a unit
in demanding that additional supplies be sent to Anderson, and tliat
he be given a force sufficient to hold the fort. President Buchanan
was still in office, and not liking to invoke too much criticism from
the loyal North, he sent the steamer Star of the West, with 2.50 men
and a stock of ])rovisions, mmiitions of war, etc., to Fort Sumter. On
January 9. 1861. as tlie vessel was passing iMorris Island, she was
fii-ed upon by a masked battery and forced to turn back. This inci-
dent is regarded in the official records as the beginning of the Civil
Mai-, thougli the popular awakening did not come until about three
months later.
138 lUSTORV OF STARK COUNTY
Early in A])i-il, 18G1, General Beanregard, who was in command
of the Confederate forces at Charleston, opened negotiations A\ith
Major Anderson looking to the evacuation of Fort Sumter. Ander-
son's provisions were running low and on April 11, 1861, he advised
General Beauregard that the fort would he vacated on the 1.5th, uidess
orders were received from the war department to remain and the
needed sui^ijlies were sent to the garrison. This answer was not
satisfactory to Beauregard, who feared that Anderson might be rein-
forced before that time. He therefore sent back the reply, at 3:20
A. ]\L on Friday, April 12, 1861, that within an hour fire would be
opened upon the fort. At 4:30 Capt. (ieorge Janes, commanding a
battery at Forf Johnson, fired the signal gun and the shell l)urst
almost directly over the fort. A few moments later a solid shot
from a liattery on Cummings Point went crashing against the walls
of Fort Sumter. The war had begun.
The garrison responded promptly and the cannonading continued
throughout the day. Fire broke out in one of the casemates of the
fort, which was observed by the Confederates, who increased their
fire, hoping to force a surrender. Anderson held out against des-
perate odds until Sunday morning, when he was permitted to leave
the fort with honors of war, even saluting his flag with fifty guns
l)ef'ore hauling it down.
■When the telegraph flashed the news of Sumter's sin-render
through the North, all hope of conciliation was abandoned. Political
differences of the past were forgotton in the insult to the flag, and
there was but one sentiment: "The Union must and shall be jn-e-
served." On INIonday, April lo, 1861, President Lincoln issued a
proclamation calling for 7.5,000 militia and appealing to "all loyal
citizens for state aid in this effort to maintain the laws, integrity,
national union, perpetuity of popular government, and to redress
wrongs long enough endured."
"WAR MEETING
The first war meeting in Stark County was held at Toulon on
INIonday evening, April 15, 1861, the very day that the President issued
his call for 75.000 volunteers. Judge Elihu N. Powell presided and
James A. Henderson was chosen secretary. George A. Clifford,
Dr. William Chamberlain, J. H. Howe, Levi North, Alexander ^Ic-
Coy and Thomas J. Henderson all made short addresses urging the
necessity for united action in support of the national administration.
Among the resolutions — unanimously adojited — was the following:
IIISTOUV OF STARK COUNTY "'J
"That in the present crisis ol' our country, we will ij-nore all uure
l^arty considerations and uphold the administration in enforcing the
laws North and South, and in putting down rebellion wherever it may
arise. And to that end we invoke the entire power of the Govern-
ment, and we hereby adopt as our motto those memorable words
uttered long since by a patriot now in his grave: 'Liberty and Union
now an<l forever, one and inseparable.' "
Illinois' kksi'oxse
Wiieii the war commenced the prevailing opinion throughout the
North was that it would be of short duration — a mere "breakfast
s])ell." That this view was entertained by the President is seen in his
first call for only T.j.OOO troops, which he thought would be sufficient
to suppress the rebellion. Before the conclusion of the conflict ()\'er
two million loj^al citizens of the North had been called into military
service. Illinois prom])tly responded to each call for volunteers and
during the war furnished 18.5,l»41 infantry, ;J2.()82 cavalry, and 7,277
artillery, a grand total (not including reenlistments) of 22.), 800 men.
Stark County was represented in thirty-six infantry regiments, five
cavalry regiments, and the Second Light Artillery. Having fur-
nished six regiments of infantry in the ^lexican war, the first regi-
ment that went out from Illinois in 1801 was the
SEVENTH IXFAXTRY
This regiment was mustered in at Camp Yates on April 2.5, 18()1,
for three months service, during which time it was on guard duty at
Alton, Cairo, St. Louis and other points. It was reorganized for the
three years' service on July 2.3, 18r>l. Early hi 18(52 it joined the
army under Gen. U. S. Grant, took part in the capture of Fort
Donelson and the battle of Shiloh, after which it continued in service
in Mississippi and Tennessee. It was veteranized in December, 18(5.'3,
and in Company B of the Veteran Seventh the following men were
credited to Stark County: Hugh J. Cosgrove, ca])tain; George II.
31ai'tin, first lieutenant; Andrew Nelson and Isaiah V. Bates, ser-
geants; Alexander Headley and Henry Stauffer, corporals.
Privates — Heiny II. Ballentine, Jacob Bogard, Oliver Boggs,
Willis Burgess, Silas Cha])pell. Thomas II. Crowe, .rf)hn Dawson,
Thomas Dawson, John Ditman, Henry Duckworth, Thomas Fal-
coner, John L. Foulk, John Garvin, Jasper Graves, ^Villiam W.
14U HISTORY OF STARK COLXTY
Isenberg, James L. Jarman, John ^lartiii, John Otto, Patrick Plill-
Ih'II. FraiikHn Pratt. Timothy liatclift', Henry Rouse, John Rouse,
William Shipley, ^lason Stauli'er, Jotham K. Taylor, vStephen Tim-
mons, Edward H. Trickle, David White, Henry H. Witcher, Ben-
jamin Witter and William Zumwalt. The regiment was mustered out
at Louisville, Kentucky. July 0. 1865.
EARLY ENLISTMENTS
In several of the first regiments that went out from the state there
were one or more Stark County men. Henry Speers A\as a recruit
in Company C, Eleventh Infantry; Thomas Carroll was a private
in Company H, Twelfth Infantry, until wounded and discharged in
August, 1862; jNIichael Casey, Thomas Doyle, James IMaloney and
Frank Williamson were enrolled in Conqjany C, Fourteenth Infantry;
in the same regiment Thomas J. ^larshall and John Xorris served in
Company E; Livingston Sharrach, Company G; and Samuel A.
Patten was a corporal in Company H ; Thomas D. Bonar and David
^V. Snyder enlisted as privates in Company D, Seventeenth Infantry,
in May. 1861; and in Company F. Fjighteenth Infantry, were George
W. Bowers, Charles McLaughlin, John Gladden and John P. Smith.
NINETEENTH INFANTRY
Not until the organization of the X'ineteenth Infantry, in June,
1861, was Stark County enabled to furnish a full company for the
\()lunteer service. Before the President issued his first call for troops,
Capt. Charles Stuart had commenced the formation of a comjiany
called die "Elmira RiHes." This company was mustered in as Com-
])auy B, Xineteentli Infantry, which regiment was commanded by
Col. John B. Turchin. At the time of the muster in it was officered
as follows:
Captain, Charles Stuart; first lieutenant, Stephen W. Hill; sec-
ond lieutenant, Alexander ]Murchison. Captain Stuart resigned on
Juh' 15, 1862, and Lieutenant JNIurchison was promoted to the com-
mand of the company. Lieutenant Hill having resigned in X^o\ em-
ber, 1861.
Sergeants — John S. Pashley, William Jackson (promoted first
lieutenant), John H. Hunter (promoted second lieutenant), James
G. Boardman, James INIontooth.
Corporals — James Jackson, Charles H. Brace. Robert A. Turn-
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 141
bull, Joseph Rlanchard, John G. Laniper, Thomas Robinson, Joliii T.
Thornton (promoted second lieutenant), George B. Hutchinson.
Isaiah Y. Bates and Isaac M. Spencer enlisted as musicians, and
John Douglas was the company's wagoner.
Privates — John Q. xVdams, Uavid W. Aldrich, Dax-id Allen,
James Atherton, Isaac Bannister, John Blackburn. Charles Black-
well, Frederick P. Bloom, Lenuiel U. Bullis, John Bourke, Henry
Burrows. William A. Cade, Owen Carlin. Julius A. Case, DeForest
Chamberlain. James Cinnamon, ^Vsa Clark, Walter Clark, George
Comstock, Adrian Coon, Urban Coon, I^ewis Corsan, Aaron T.
Courier, Francis Crowden, George Crowden. Ileiny F. Uavison,
AVilliam Douglas, Leonard C. Drawyer. Henry Drury, George Du-
gan, Edward Ervin. Adam G. Fell, Robert Fell, William H. Flem-
ming, Philip A. Galley, Springer Galley, Reuben Gardiner, Charles
(Jreenfield, Wesley Hall, Chester P. Harsh, Leonard D. Henderson,
Frank Ilorrigan. James Hutchins, Alfred S. Hurment, James O.
Imcs. John Imcs. Martin Imes, ^Villiam Imes. William Ingles. David
Jackson, William Johnson, Edward M. Jordan. \N'illard Jordan,
Arnold Kempion, John I^. Kennedy. Isaac Kenyon. John M. Lamper,
Joseph M. Leacox, Charles N. Leeson, Madison Linsley, Alonzo
IjUcc. John ]McConchie. John McShcrry. Jose})h C. Meigs. James
JMeri'ill. Samuel Montooth. Daniel J. Moon, Columbus ^lorgan. Com-
fort Morgan, Cornelius ^Morgan, William X. Nelson, William H.
Newcomer, Thomas AV. Oziah, Joseph X. Park, George P. Richer,
George N. Ryerson, Robert T. Scott, (ieoi-ge T. Sharrer. Heni'v C.
Shull, John (). S])aidding. (ieorge II. Stone. Albert Terwilliger. Eli-
jah N. Terwilliger. James (i. Turnbull, Thomas TurnbuU. Amos
Yinson, Edwin D. Way. John Webber, Fred H. Whitaker, Lewis
Williams, Henry B. Worth.
On the r2th of July the regiment was ordered to Quincy. where
it arrived the next day, and was immediately sent to the line of the
Hannibal & St. Joseph llailroad in Missouri. It was next sent to St.
Ijouis. where it remained for a few weeks, when it joined General
Buelfs Army of the Ohio in Tennessee. After seeing the Nineteenth
drill, GeTieral Buell ])ronounced it the best drilled regiment he bad
seen and assigned COionel Turchin to the command ol' the Eighth
Brigade, Third Division, Army of the Ohio. The regiment was
actively engaged in the second day's battle at Shilob: took i)art in
the battle of Perry ville. Ky. ; formed part of General Negley's
division in the battle of Chickamauga, and took part in the military
ojjerations around Chattanooga in the fall of 180.'}. especially the
142 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
engagement at Missionary Ridge. In the spring of 1864 it joined
the army commanded by Gen. W. T. Sherman for the Atlanta cam-
paign and took jjart in several engagements before it was mustered
outon July 9, 18t)4.
THIRTY-THIRD IXFAXTRY
The next regiment in which Stark County was represented by any
considerable number of men was the Thirty-third, in which a large
])art of Company B came from little old Stark. Of that company
C. Judson Gill was mustered in as first lieutenant and promoted to
captain in January. 1803. Xelson G. Gill, who Avas mustered in as a
sergeant was promoted to first lieutenant, and Walter T. Hall, who
entered the service as a corporal, was promoted to sergeant.
Privates — Jesse Armstrong, William Biggs, Xewton G. B. Brow n
(promoted second lieutenant), Calvin Butler, George Dewey, Daniel
Donovan, Otis T. Dyer. Harrison W. Ellis. Levi^ T. Elli.s, Walter
A. Fell, George Fezler, Alvin Galley, Hugh Y. Godfrey, Charles
Green (transferred to the regimental band), Charles C. Hotchkiss.
^Murray Hotchkiss, Edward H. Ingraham, Charles S. Johnson,
George A. Lowman (transferred to regimental l)andK Andrew Mc-
Kee. William J. R. ^Nlayo, Thomas ^y. Rule. Charles Shinn, John
H. Stickney, Sanford Strowbridge, Lewis Thomas, Andrew Turnbull.
John Peterson and Adam Rush served in Company K of the
Thirty-third, which was mustered into the United States service in
August. 1861. It served in ^Missouri and Arkansas until the spring of
1863, when it was ordered to join General Grant's army for the siege
of Vicksburg. The regiment was in action at Champion's Hill, Port
Gibson and the Black River Bi-idge. After the surrender of Yicks-
burg it took part in the battle of Jackson. ^liss. In August,
1863. it was assigned to the Thirteenth Corps and ordered to Eoui-
siana. Its last active military service was in the movement against
jNIobiie in the sjjring of 186.5. and on Xovember 24, 186.?. it was
mustered out.
THIRTY-SEVENTH IXFAXTRY*
About the time the comi)any known as the Elmira RiHes was
organized, the patriotic people of Goshen Township organized the
"Fafavette Rifles," under command of Ca})t. Charles V. Dickinson.
The comi)any entered the service as Company B. Thirty-seventh In-
fantry, with Charles V. Dickinson as captain: Cassimir P. Jackson,
first lieutenant: Francis A. Jones, second lieutenant; David L. Ash,
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 143
William X. Perry and Fayette Lacey, sergeants; Oliver S. Risdon,
Thomas J. ]Mel3aniel, Luman P. Ilimes, Chillon R. Redtield, Joshua
S. Dudley, James S. Lundy. John A. Perry and William Nieholson,
corporals: and George Ransom, musician. Lieutenant Jackson re-
signed on July 1>, 18<>2, and Lieutenant Jones was promoted to the
vacancy, Sergeant Ash being made second lieutenant. Corporals Ris-
don ami McDaniel were promoted sergeants, and Corporal Himes rose
to the rank of first lieutenant.
Privates — Andrew Anderson, John Anderson, xVaron S. Anshutz,
David Anshutz. William W. Atkins, Joseph Rarlow, William H.
Barney, Alva W. Brown, Emery S. BufFum, John W. Buffum. John
Charleson. Lucius Church. William H. Craig, Henry B. Dexter,
William T. Dickinson. Fldridge B. DriscoU. John A. Eddy, ^Michael
M. Emery, Luther Fitch, Martin Fitch, Cummings Force, JNIatthew
T. Godfrey, Nelson Grant, N. G. Hilliard, Charles F. Himes, George
H. Hurd, W. H. Hurd, Thomas Hughes, Norman Ives, Moses S.
Jones. Julius Kelsey. Alvin Kiem, Daniel Kiem. Anthony Kennard,
Thomas R. Lake. Dennis Lee. James E. Lee, Samuel Lemoine, Dan-
iel Lundy, Chauncey R. ]Miner, Benjamin H. JMorgan, Ira Newton,
Joseph H. NeAvton, William J. Noran, David Nowlan, Edward Per-
kins. \Villiam J. Pilgrim, John Reed, Robert C. Reed. George W.
Rouse. Hartford J. Rowe. John Sackrisson. Henry Sipe. David W.
Snyder, Henry W. Wilbur. ]Martin \Vilcox, Samuel W. Young.
The Thirty-seventh was mustered in at Chicago early in Septem-
ber. 1861, and soon afterward was ordered to Arkansas. In January.
1802. it was in the battle of Pea Ridge, after which it was engaged at
Fayetteville, Newtonia and Prairie Grove. During the remainder of
its service it was in a number of battles and skirmishes and was mus-
tered out in May. 18(16.
FOKTY-SECOXn IXFAXTRY
Fourteen Stark County men served in this regiment, to wit : Hcniy
Boyle. Company B ; James Hall, Frank Horn, Robert jNIiller and
John W. Shoemaker, Company D; Cyrenus Dewey. Case D. Dubois,
Sanuiel P. Hankins and Amos Hodges, Com|)any F; Silas Avery,
Mordecai Bevier, Joseph G. Fowler, Springer Galley and Thomas
W. Oziah, Company K.
The regiment was mustered in at Chicago in Sejitember, 1861;
served in ]Missouri and Kansas until the spring of 18()2; was then in
Mississippi for a short time; took part in the engagements at Stone's
144 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
River, on the Tullahoma cami)ai^n, Chickaniauga and Missionary
Ridge; was with Sherman in the Athnita campaign of 1864 and par-
ticipated in a number of the actions incident to that movement, in-
cliuhng the charge at Ivenesaw JMountain, Peaclitree Creek and
Atlanta. In September, 1864, it was ordered to New Orleans and
served in the Department of the Gulf until mustered out on January
10, 1866.
FORTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY
Stark County Avas well represented in this regiment, having a few
men in each of Companies A and D, and Company K was organized
in the county. Charles S. Blood, who went out as a sergeant in Com-
pany A, was promoted to second lieutenant, and Benjamin Anient
and Benjamin F. Ellis served as privates in the company. In Com-
pany D were the following jirivates: Nathaniel Childs, Alliert G.
Conley, William Crow, Robert Davidson, Perry Kent, William R.
Kiger, John ]\lcKinnon, Robert S. ]Martin, James Richart, Allen H.
Spellman, William ^V. Stewart. Alva W. Sturdevant, Abraham A"an-
dusen. James Drummond was a i)rivate in Company H, being the
only Stark County man in that company.
The officers of Company K at the time of muster in were as fol-
lows: Jacob Jamison, captain; David DeWolf, first lieutenant (pro-
moted ca2)tain) ; James A. Henderson, second lieutenant. Sergeants —
John ]M. Brown (promoted captain), William H. Denchtield (jiro-
moted first lieutenant) ; Elisha Dixon, Philip A. Templeton, Charles
Butler. Corporals — Adam Torrance, Charles D. Paul, Joseph W.
Jamison, Henry Dixon, D. W. Davis, Henry Hixon, Charles Ed-
munds. Wagoner — John H. Waller.
Privates — James Alderman, Henry Allen, John Barler, Benja-
min Blackburn, Hiram Boardman, Wilson Boggs, Allen Chaffee,
George A. Clifford, ^Nliles Colwell, Ross Colwell, Amos Cornish,
Thomas Cross, William Cross, Oliver Crowder, William Dailey, Joel
Dixon, William Dixon, Jasper Doleson, Carson W. Drummond,
Socrates Drummond, John D. Eby, Sanmel Ebv, Lewis Egbert,
George W. Ellis, Andrew Eutzler, Daniel Fast, Robert Garner, ^
Charles Goodrich, George Hachtel, John Hawks (promoted second
lieutenant), Oscar G. Hixon, Charles S. Hitchcock, Daniel Howard,
John Hum, Jacob Hutchinson, William Jamison, James W. Jarna-
gin, James Kinkade, Robert Lambert, Daniel ]McCrady, Theodore
W. ]\IcDaniel, James T. ^Marshall, George H. Martin, Thomas
Nichols, David Oziah, George F. Pyles, Robert Pyles, Edward Som-
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 145
mers, Sylvester Sylcott, John E. Tlirall Barton Tlmi-ston, Jesse
West, John G. ^Vhite, Rohert L. Wright.
The Forty-seventh was organized at Peoria in >;Vugnst and Sep-
tember, 1861. Soon after being mustered in it moved to Benton
Barracks at St. Louis. It was first under fire at Farming-ton, ^liss.,
May 9, 1862; took part in the action of ^lay 28, 1862, at Corinth,
wliere Colonel Tln-ush was killed, and in 3Iay. 1868, joined General
Grant at Vicksburg. After the fall of Vieksbin-g it was ordered to
Louisiana. When the men whose time had expired were mustered out
in 1864. the veterans and recruits were consolidated with some from
other regiments. The Stark County men in the consolidated Forty-
seventh were as follows:
Company A — James B. Riley and Richard Lynch.
Company B — Henry Weiar, corporal (promoted captain) : Wil-
son Boggs, first lieutenant; and the followhig privates: J. Bates,
Socrates Drummond. Cliarles (roodrich. (ieorgc Ilachtel. Henry
Hixon, Oscar G. Hixon, James Kinkade, Uavid Oziah, Sylvester
Sylcott, Jacob Weiar, ^Michael Weiar.
Company C — Benjamin Ellis, corporal.
Company E — Philip C. Scott, corporal; Charles Byrne, Thomas
Byrne. William Conklin, James Farrell. Charles Hall, John Keely
and Robert Keusler, privates.
Company H — George Edwards, John Hartley, Uaniel Hogan
and Charles jNIcBride, privates.
Company I — In this company were four privates, viz: Uaniel
Ballard, John Burns, Abram Loudenburgh, Theodore Vandyke.
Company K — Albert Papeneau, sergeant; Alexander Davis,
George W. Sailer and Alexander Sanies, corporals : Robert Lambert,
wagoner; David Biddleman, Enoch Foble, Thomas J. Fuller, Thomas
Fryman, Samuel A. Glassford, Samuel S. Glassford. Stephen H.
Jackson, John W. ^lorrison and Robert Sames, privates.
After the consolidation above mentioned the regiment continued
on duty in Louisiana and Alabama. It was mustered out at Sehna,
Ala., in January, 1866.
SIXTY-FIFTH INFANTRY
The next regiment in which Stark County was represented by any
considerable number of men was the Sixty-fifth, which was mustered
in at Chicago on ]May 1, 1862. In Company A were James K. iVllen,
Ezekiel Bogard, Joseph Bogard, Asa Greenfield, Bethuel Greenfield,
146 HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY
Sylvester Greenfield and Robert H. Hitchcock. There were three
jjrivates in Conijjany D — Finley ^IcClellan, William \V. Updike and
Daniel P. White — and in Company G were Corporal John Richer,
James F. Ausman, William H. Ausman, privates.
A mimber of men in Company L came from Stark County.
George II. Brown was mustered in as a sergeant and promoted to
second lieutenant; James K. Oziah served as corporal, and the follow-
ing as privates: Isaac Bannister, Benjamin Blackburn, Stephen S.
Burnham. Alfred Cornish, James Dalrymple, Freeman R. Davison,
Chauncey Gardner, Henry C. Hall, Robert Heimessy, Harmon
Ilochstrasser, Osro C. Huckins, Frederick K. Ketzenberger, Alex-
ander C. Lord, Peter Xelson, Arthur R. Olds, George W. Pate,
James C. Powell, Samuel C. Sharrer, William Shirts, Harvey L.
Way. \V. W. Weaver. John Whitclier and Robert ^y. ^Vood.
The Sixty-fifth, sometimes calleil the "Scotch Regiment," served
in ^"irginia until the sjjring of 1863, when it was assigned to the Army
of Eastern Kentucky. In the spring of 1864 it joined General Sher-
man for the Atlanta campaign and was in numerous engagements,
especially distinguishing itself at Lost Mountain and the charge at
Kenesaw ^Mountain. Like the Forty-seventh, some of the veterans
and reci-uits of other regiments were consolidated with tlie Sixty-fifth,
and in the consolidated regiment the following men were credited to
Stark County:
Company B — David C. Jf)nes, sergeant; Josejjh W. Richer, cor-
jjoral ; George JMaxfield and David Woodard, privates.
Company F — Elmer Sage, first lieutenant; Frank L. Yale and
Luther Graham, corporals; George A. Brown, William A. Brown,
Zachary T. Brown, James L. Fox, ^lelvin Gage, William J. Hamil-
ton, Ira F. Hayden, ^Martin Plickman, Andrew Jackson, A\'illiam J.
Lamper, ]Morris C. Lami^son, John Lee, Solomon Leighton, Isaac
Luce, Jacob W. McDaniel, Bailey C. Ogden, George W. Pate,
Thomas Patterson, Adam Rush. George Rush. James M. Tacket,
Stephen Talbot, Anson Tanner, Elisha E. Taylor, privates.
Company H — James K. Allen, Joseph Bogard, Bethuel Green-
field, Sylvester Greenfield, Robert H. Hitchcock and Daniel P.
White, privates.
Company I — In this company Freeman R. Davison and Osro C.
Huckins served as privates, and in Company K. George H. Brown
Mas second lieutenant. The consolidated Sixty-fifth was mustered
out on July 13, 1865.
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY li7
SIXTY-NINTH INFANTRY
Tliirty-onc men from Stark County saw service in Company D,
Sixty-nintli Infantry, which was mustered into the United States
service on June 14, 18152. Jedediah Luce, George ^V. Smith, Mat-
thew Rounds and James Adams were enrolled as corporals, and the
following- served as privates: oMoses jM. Adams. ^Villiam Rowden,
Edward Rrown, Robert Royd, Lucius Church, \Villiam H. Davidson,
Algernon Fitch, Ransom 1). Foster, William Foster, INlichael Gil-
lespie, William Hamilton. David Ilimes, ^Michael Hum, Renjamin
F- I^ewis, Henry R. Lewis, George ^V. McDanicl. Cieorge Pate, Kd-
Mard Perry, Edwin R. Pomeroy, John AV. Rounds, Wilson Rounds,
F^rederick Russell, Jasper Smith, Theron Wallei-, ^Villiam F.
Wheeler, Lorenzo K. Wiley, Isaac INI. AVitter.
EIGHTY-SIXTH INFANTRY
This regiment was organized at Peoi'ia and was mustered in on
August 27, 1H()2. Stark County furnished nineteen men to Com-
pany E, and three men to Company II. George H. Smith was mus-
tered in as a sergeant in the former company and was promoted to the
captaincy on July 1.3, 18G4. The privates were: Renton Carrington,
Joseph Carter, ^Villiam Cooper, Williaiu Dawson, Harvey Fore-
man (promoted to second lieutenant, but not mustered), Alonzo
Goodale, James C. Hall, John A. Job, Andrew Xehlig, Thomas
Reader, James ^V. Reagan, Tighlman S. Reagan, James S. Schank,
Jacol) Schleigh. AVilliam F. Speers, John R. Waldron, Eli Wilson
and Louis \V()odward. The three men in Company II were: Cyrus
A. Fox, who was enrolled as musician, and privates Alexander Ilep-
perly and John Jenkeson.
The regiment was ordered to Ijouisville, Ky., immediately
after it was mustered in and served for several moiitlis in that state.
It was engaged at Perryville, Chickamauga, ^lissionaiy Ridge and
in several of the battles and skirmishes of the Atlanta campaign in
18(>1.. aftei- which it accompanied Sherman's army on the historic
"JMarcli to the sea" and the campaign of the Carolinas. It was mus-
tered out at AVashington, D. C, June 6, 18G.3.
NINETY-THIRD INFANTRY"
In September, 1802, this regiment was organized at Chicago and
when mustered into the United States service Nicholas C. Ruswell,
148 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
of Stark County, held the rank of heutei)aiit-colonel. He was pro-
moted to colonel on Xo\einber 2.5, 18(53, but was not mustered as such.
In Company H the following Stark County boys were enrolled as
privates: George Gardner, Thomas Goodwin, Edgar Hall, William
C. Ifall, John Ilellener, ^Matthew Landon, Fred Selaghter, Seth K.
Stoughton, Xathan Thorn and ^Morgan L. Weaver.
In November, ISC'i, the regiment was ordered to ^lemphis, Tenn.,
and the next ^Nlareh it took part in the famous Y^azoo Pass expedi-
tion. It was in the battle of Rlack River Bridge, the siege of Vicks-
burg, a number of the engagements on the Atlanta eampaign of IHfii,
marched with Sherman to the sea and up through the Carolinas, and
was mustered out on June 23, 1865.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWELFTH INFANTRY
On xVugust 8, 18(;2, the commissioned officers of three Stark
County companies and sevoi Henry County companies met at Cialva
ami took the jireliminary stejjs to organize a regiment. The result of
tliis movement was that on September 20-22, 1862, the One Hundred
and Twelfth was mustered in at Peoria, with Thomas J. Henderson,
of Toulon, as colonel, and Luther S. JNIillikin, of Wyoming, as as-
sistant surgeon, afterward promoted surgeon. "With the exception
of a few men. Companies B, E and F were raised in Stark County.
In Company B the commissioned officers at the time of muster in
Mere: James B. Doyle, captain; Jonathan C. Dickerson, first lieu-
tenant ; John Gudgell, second lieutenant. Captain Doyle resigned on
March 31, 1863, and Lieutenant Dickerson was promoted to the
vacancy. He Mas killed in action on September 18, 1863, Mhen I>ieu-
tenant Ciudgell became captain and served until discharged on ^Nlarch
27, 1865. Bradford F. Thompson Mas then promoted to the cap-
taincy and held that rank until the regiment was mustered out.
Sergeants — Bradford F. Thompson (promoted to lieutenant and
captain), William H. Doyle (i)romoted first lieutenant). Charles P..
Foster (promoted second lieutenant), John II. Bunnell and Willard
B. Foster.
Corporals — Eli C. Jones (promoted sergeant), George W. Reed
(promoted sergeant), Nicholas Hill, Augustus J. Thomi)son | jirn-
moted sergeant), Edward J. Riley.
Privates — Robert Alexander, Charles H. Barber, George Barber,
Orlin Bevier (promoted corporal), Andrew J. Brode, Charles N.
Crook (])romoted corporal), Isaac N. Dalrymple, Thomas E. De-
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 149
•
Jaiit'v. Uriah Dunn. Spencer KIston, Joseph Fleming, Fiioeh \N'.
l'\)stt'r, ^Morris Fowler, Samuel 13. Francis, John P. Freeman, ^Vil-
liam 1). Freeman, AVashington Garside, Hiram P. Cieer. Kphraim
(ilidden. James A. Goudrich, .John Hall, Charles II. Handley, \Vil-
liani Handley, .James Hare, Henry S. Haj'den (mustered out as
musician), Louis T. Ilinkle (promoted corporal), Kdwin Holmes,
George Jennings, ^^'iiliam H. Johnson, Levi W. Jones (promoted
corporal), .John R. .Jones (promoted sergeant), Peter .Tones, Daniel
Kane, Francis J. Leggett, Charles Leighton, John C. Leighton,
.James A. I^ong (promoted corporal), William C. Lopeman, George
Ijudlum, Henry MeKihhons. .John JNIcLaughlin, Hiram P. jNIallory
(promoted corporal). Llias Miller, Ornian X. xMiiler, Horace iNIorri-
son. .Jolm ()lenl)in-g (promoted corporal) , J-'^her S. Oshorn (mustered
out as wagoner), Lewis Oshorn, Irwin Oxherger, James Partridge,
.Jacol) H. Perkey, Ira Porter, Samuel Redding, George W. Scott,
Henry Shim]). Dennis Spellman. Henry Stacy, Nathan D. Stewart,
George W. Stone, Cyrus Sturm, Isaac Sturm, .John Sturm, Alva ^V.
Sturtevant, Clark N. Sturtevant, Joseph Taylor, Charles R. Thomp-
son, .John Wallace, William P. Wilson.
Recruits — Joseph H. Raldwin, George A. Brown, IMelvin Gage,
Ira F. Hayden, ^Villiam .T. 1 tamper, .John Lee, Solomon Leighton,
Isaac Luce.
Sanford I^. Ives, of Goshen Township, was a sergeant in Com-
pany 1), and Robert Creighton, Walter N. Jones, Lemuel F.
JNlathews, Baillie C. Ogden and Ste])hen Talhot. ])rivates in the same
company, Avere credited to Stark County.
Sylvester F. Otman, of Wyoming, was mustered in as captain of.
Company K; Cranner W. Brown, first lieutenant: Elmer A. Sage,
second lieutenant. The last named was transferred to the Sixty-fiftli
regiment and Henry Graves was made second lieutenant.
Sergeants — Henry .T. Otman, Henry Graves (promoted second
lieutenant). Dixon Solomon, John E. Charrett and Charles B. Hitch-
cock.
Corporals— Timothy Bailey, John B. Pettit. William G. Wilkin-
son, I'eter ]M. Swords, Carey G. Colhurn. AVilliam C. JMc^Iillen.
James B. Blackmore. David Fast.
Wagoner — John D. INIartin.
Privates — ^Michael Alderman. iMfred B. Armstrong. .Terry IT.
Bailey. William B. Barr. David Barrett. James D. Bloomer (])i-(i-
moted sergeant), Gershom Bui'nett, .Tames FL Bush. Sidnev D. But-
ler (promoted corporal), William Cassatt, William T. Carter,
150 lllSTOliV Ol' STAKK LOLNTV
Thomas Cohvell, William Cohvcll, John Cole, Absalom J. Cooper,
Klijali Cox, Joel Cox, Douglas X. Crone (promoted eorporal),
Charles B. Davis, David Dawson, John Dawson, Xewton Dolison,
\\'illiam Ellis, James Elston, Wallace W. Emanuel, Whitfield Evans,
Andrew Fautz, Xoah Fautz, Shephard Green, Stephen ^^^ Cxreen,
Henry A. Greenerwalt, Jonathan Ciraves. Charles Hall, Charles
Hart, Eugene Hart, John Harvey, William Herridge, Lewis Hihack,
JNlichael Hire, \Villiam Holgate, IMedora Hoover, X'athan H. Hull,
David Kerns, Calvin B. Laskell, Curwine McCoy, John IMcCoy,
Kiley .AJaranville, George B. Marlatt, David S. .Miller, William H.
jNIorgan, William J. jNlorgan, George W. Nicholas, John Oldaker
(promoted corporal), Charles W. Phenix. Frank Pross, James W.
KatclifF, James Ray, Simon Ray, William Ray, John Sigel, William
E. L. Smith, Cyrus Snare (promoted corporal), Henry Soper,
Joseph Sparks, ^Michael Springer, James Strinhurg, Sylvester H.
Stofer, John D. Swain, Thaddeus Thurston, Ananias Timmons (pro-
moted corj^oral). Philip ^I. Trapp, Josiah F. Umbaugh, David
Wandling, Russell White, Ancil H. \Voodcock.
Recruits — James I^. Fox, jMorris C. Lampson, Adam Rush,
Geoi-ge Rush, Francis M. Sollars, James JNl. Tacket, Anson Tanner.
Companj' F was officered at the time of muster in as follows:
William W. Wright, captain; Jackson Lawrence, first lieutenant;
Robert E. Westfall, second lieutenant. Captain Wright died on
June 24, 1864, and was succeeded by James G. Armstrong, who was
mustered in as first sergeant, Robert E. Westfall being promoted to
first lieutenant.
Sergeants — James G. Armstrong (promoted captain), George
C. ]\Iaxfield (promoted second lieutenant), Edwin Butler. AVilliam
P. Finiey, Bushrod Tapp (promoted first lieutenant).
Corporals — John H. Lane (jiromoted sergeant), Henry B. Perry
(promoted second lieutenant), William C. Bell, Andrew G. Pike
(})romoted sergeant), William Rounds, Levi Silliman, ^Milton
Trickle. John F. Rhodes (promoted sergeant).
Privates — Henry C. Ackley, John L. Adams. Samuel 3L H.
Adams (promoted corporal), Alfred C. Ballentine, William P. Bal-
lentine (promoted sergeant), Elmore Barnhill. AVilliam H. Barton,
William Beiderdeck. John Black. George Iif)yd. William Boyd,
Xathaniel Crabtree, William ]M. Creighton, John W. Curfman. James
W. Davison, Darius Demont. Robert INI. Denney (promoted cor-
poral), Samuel ]M. Eldridge, George Ely, William H. Ely. James
Essex. John D. Essex, William T. Essex. James E. Finlev (mustered
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 151
out as corporal), Olaus Forss, Heiuy Garner, James R. Gelviu (pro-
moted sergeant) , George Graen, William II. Harris, Anderson Harty
(promoted sergeant), James P. Headlev. Milton Headley, Austin C.
Ilimes, William Himes, .Joseph Hoppock. James Hughes (promoted
corporal), Uaniel Huselton, George W. Johnson, Ilavilah B. John-
son, Timothy Kennedy, Andrew Kamerer, John Kindle, Royal Laf-
ferty, Jesse Likens, Theodore ^MeDaniel. James M. ^NlcSharry.
Jeremiah D. ^Madden, Job G. ]MaIiaft'ey, Robert Makings, Isaac
^lessinger, George ^liller, Josiah Minoi-, John F. Negus, Zarah II.
Newton, Cieorge W. Oziah. Hiram G. Parrish, William B. Price,
Thomas Proctor, George Rockwell, (ieorge W. Rhodes, Ira Scran-
ton, Kphraim ^V. Smith, Jacob Stanffer. Milton Stevens, George G.
Stone (promotetl eor])oral), Robert Ci. Stowe, William A. Stowe,
Presley Terrell, David Tiidin, Benjamin F. Todd, Jacob Vulgamott
(promoted corporal), William Vulgamott, David Webster, Thomas
T. White, John W. ^Vhitten. Curtis Wright.
liecruits — Joseph II. Burwick. Futher Graham, Henry C. Hall,
William J. Hamilton, Peter C. Johnson, J. AV. ^NlcDaniel, George
W. Pate, Thomas Patterson, Elisha J. Taylor, Jesse B. Taylor,
Henry J. Stone.
In Company G. Joseph Berry, Charles Kezer, George ^lelbourne,
Louis E. jMorton, John A. Tarble, AVilliam A. Brown, Ransom D.
Foster, Andrew Jackson, INIyron Waters and Frank L. Yale served
as privates, and the following recruits from Stark County were nnas-
signed to comjnniies: John Berier, Ciba A. Dunlap, Noah Hidle-
baugh. Jonas Johnson, Arnold Volney.
The I'egiment left Peoria on October 8, 18(»2, and on the 11th re-
])orted to Gen. Gordon Granger, at Covington, Ky. It remained in
camp at Lexington for about five months, after which it was on guard
and scolding duty in Kentucky until the summer of 1803, several
times being engaged with small bodies of the enemy. It Avas then
moved to East Tennessee and took part in all the military operations
there in the fall of 1863 and the early part of ISfU. In :May, 1804, it
joined General Sherman at Tunnel Hill, Ga.. and was in several of
the hottest engagements of the .Atlanta campaign. When General
Hood evacuated Atlanta and started northward, the regiment, as part
of the Twenty-third Army Corps, moved back to Tennessee. It took
part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, which virtually ended
the war in the ^Vest. After pursuing Hood's retreating army to the
Tennessee River, the One Hundred and Twelfth i)roceeded by steam-
boat to Cincinnati, Ohio, thence by rail to ^Vashington, D. C, and
152 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY'
was next engaged in the reduction of Fort Fisher. Its last service was
in North CaroHna. It was mustered out at Cliicago on July 7, IHGo.
Colonel Henderson was in conunand of the hrigade the greater part
of the time after August 8, 1863, and on November 30, 1864i, was
pi'omoted to the rank of brevet brigadier-general.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUKTH INFANTRY
Sixteen Stark Comity men served in this regiment, though some
of them were credited to Henry County. Asa Bunton was corporal
in Company A at the time of muster in, but was promoted to sergeant,
and Uaniel S. Adams, Frank Hudson, Levi Leek, Fred ^l. Leacroft
and Asa Smith enlisted as privates in the same company. In Ccni-
pany F. George S. Green was a sergeant; Samuel ^I. Likes, a cor-
poral; and the following privates: Nathaniel Copper. Walter A.
Fell, x\lvin Galley, Tliomas :Murray. Thomas W. Rule, Sylvester
Sweet. Andrew Turnbidl and ^Alexander Wier.
The regiment was mustered in on September 10, 1862, with
Thomas J. Sloan as colonel. Its first active service was in Tennessee;
then it took part in the siege of Vicksburg and several of the engage-
ments of that cam})aign. In January. 1864, it won the prize banner
offered by Gen. M. D. Leggett for the best drilled regiment in the
division. Its last service was in Alabama. It was mustered out at
Springfield, 111., August 16, I860.
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINTH INFANTRY
In this regiment, as in the preceding one, some of the men who
went out from Stark County are credited to other counties. Stephen
V. R. Bates, of Toulon, was a member of the regimental band; Otis
P. Dyer was a corporal in Company A ; James Swank was a corporal
m Company E; Ansel J. Wright was first lieutenant in Company H;
Gorham P. Blood and George Dugan were sergeants in the same
company; Oliver P. Crowell, Nathaniel W. Dewey and \Villiam O.
Johnson were corporals, and the following served as privates: Wil-
liam J. Barnett, Samuel Burge, Thomas W, Cade, George W, Dewey,
Joseph Flansburg, Adam Gardner, Abram H. Loudenburg, Don C,
I>yon, Oren ^Nlaxfield, Jr., Elisha ]Mosher, ^Villiam II. Newcomer,
Harrison Newton, Joseph II. Newton, Harvey J. Remington, Reu-
ben Rounds, John S. Roof, Charles D. Sharrer, William Searl,
Joseph H. Sharrer. Theodore Vandyke, Andrew J. Whitaker, Ben-
I
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 153
jainin J. \Vitcher, Isaac M. Witter, Benjamin Witter, William "\V.
WrJMht.
Tliis regiment was mustered in on June 1, 1804., for 100 days and
was soon afterward sent to Columbus, Ky., via St. Louis. Its only
encounter with the enemy was in capturing horses and cattle to replace
some taken by guerrillas, who had taken some Government cattle
from steamboats near Padueah. Some of the stock was recaptured
and enough taken from secession sympathizers to make good the loss.
It was then in pursuit of General Price in Missouri. It was mustered
out at Peoria on October 2.). 18()4. having served nearly two months
beyond the term of its enlistment.
ONE HUXDREl) AXU I'IFTV-FIKST INFANTRY
Fayette Lacey, who had previously served in the Thirty-seventh
Regiment, was made sergeant-major of the One Hundred and Fifty-
first; Lafayette Schanip was a private in Company A; ^V. II. Rover,
Allen Gingrich and C. W. Phenix served as privates in Company E,
and a large ])art of Company I came from Stark County.
The commissioned officers of Company I were as follows: Casimir
P.Jackson, captain; James INIontooth, first lieutenant; Andrew^ Gal-
braith, second lieutenant. James ^lontooth resigned on June 20,
18(5.5. and Lieutenant Galbraith was promoted to the vacancy, Ser-
geant George R. Fezler being made second lieutenant.
Sei-geants — George Dugan. Cieorge R. Fezler. George W. ]Mc-
Daniels, Samuel Keyes.
Corporals — Rufus S. Jones, Samuel Dixon, Thomas Homer,
James F. Thompson, John S. Roof and Herod ]Murnan.
JMusicians — Thomas S. Craig and Charles W. Orr.
^Vagoner — Jonathan Rounds, of Goshen Township.
Privates — Atkinson Coe, David Crumb, Austin DeWolf, Joseph
Dixon. George W. Gilson, Orson Grant. Edward A. Johnson, Leon-
idas H. Jones. Elias R. Ia'w is, Samuel K. Lowman, Ira J. JMcCon-
nell. Samuel Masters. .lohn H. ^Nloncrief, Edward A. Perry. Rethuel
Pierson. Daniel Rockwell, Seth F. Rockwell, Henry W. Thomas and
David Woodard.
The regiment was organized at Quincy and was mustered into the
United .States service on February 2'J. ISfi.l. for one yeai-. Two days
later the men were armed and equi])ped at Springfield, and on March
7, 186.5, the One Hundred and I'ifty-first reported to Gen. James B.
Steadman at Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was present at Resaca, Ga.,
154 HISTOKV (JF STAllK COUM'V
Avlien Confederate General AVarford surrendered his command to
lOjiUO men in May, and spent the remainder of its term of service in
that state, breaking uji guerrilla bands, guarding Government stores,
etc. It was mustered out at Columbus, Ga., January "Ji, 18GG.
MISCELLANEOUS INFAXTRY ENLISTMENTS
In addition to the comijany rosters given above, a number of Stark
County men were scattered through the various infantiy regiments
sent out by the state. An examination of the adjutant-general's re-
ports shows that Keuben Crook and George \y. Leighton served in
Company A, and Lemuel G. JNlarsh in Company G, Sixteenth
Infantry.
In the Twentieth, William Borter, Zelotas Kendall and ^Matthew
Rounds, were enrolled in Company E; William Keeper and Calvin
Vulgamott, Company D: James Farrell, PhiliiJ Graves, Finley C.
JNIcClellan, Edward Quirk and Herman Schrader, Company E;
Thomas Graves, Company F; ^Michael Flynn and William H. Little,
Company I.
Jerome B. Thomas, of Wyoming, went to Kewanee and enlisted
in the Twentj^-fourth, of which regiment he was commissioned assis-
tant 'surgeon on jNIarch 3, 1862.
Six Stark County boys served in the Twenty-eighth, viz: James
C. Hall and John Waldron, in Company E (later transferred to the
Thirt_y-fourth Regiment) ; Edress ]M. Conklin, Company F; George
A. Armstrong, Jeremiah Fergiison and James JNI. Paden, Company K,
In the Thirty-eighth Regiment, John ]M. Cole, Thomas C. Davis
and Peter Lane served as privates in Company E. John Timmons
was a recruit in Company D, Fortieth Infantry, and Hugh D. Keff er
was a private in Company G of the same regiment. James D. Ander-
son was enrolled in Company D, Forty-first.
John L. Lee and William C. Grant were recruits in the Forty-
ninth, the former in Company B and the latter in Com])any K. and
Jolni Ryan was a private in the Fiftieth.
The Fifty-first was organized in the winter of 1861-62. In Com-
pany II were Hugh Donnelly, Eli PLlison, Erick From, Thomas Imes,
Cyrus .lacobs, James Kemiedy. James Kinneman. Charles W. New-
ton, Joseph Pew, David Simmerman, Solomon R. Shockley, Anthony
Sturm and Paul Ward. Cyrus A. Anthony enlisted as a private in
Company K, but was promoted to quartermaster sergeant and later
to captain of Company B.
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY ]55
In the Fifty-third, Francis Bradlej^ was enrolled in Company A;
James W. Albro and James Lee, Company C; William Oziah, Com-
pany F.
Five Stark County men enlisted in Company G of the Fifty-lifth,
to-wit: L. S. Coggswell, George W. Eckley, James A. Eckley,
Joseph C. Hiner and George E. ^Vitter. Three of these five were
promoted to noncommissioned officers.
In the Fifty-sixth, Edward Keffer and Osmand C. Griswold en-
listed at ]McEeansboro. The former rose to be captain of his com-
pany and tiie latter was mustered out as a second lieutenant.
Thomas J. Blake, James Kelley and Joseph ^Manning enlisted in
Company F, Fifty-seventh Tid'antry: James Nichols and Thomas C.
Xicliols in Company K, and William P. Clifford in Company H.
In the Fifty-eighth, Rudolph Shipman enlisted in Company I);
Edward Ueffleg and Isaac Dudley in Company E; Franklin IMaxey
and James C. JNIaxey, Comjjany I; and John Ryan joined the regi-
ment as an unassigned recruit in February, 180,5.
Stephen liabb served in the Sixty-fourth, and in the Sixty-sixth
were Charles Atherton, Andrew Hamilton and Daniel Holmes.
In Company A, Seventy-second Infantry, were Miles Avery,
Jacob Galley, Scepta T. Harding, James U. Heath and Robert
Holmes, and George W. Dunbar, Jr., and W. II. Harris served in
Company E, Eighty-third.
In the One Hundred and Sixth. Henjamin Williams was ca])tain
of Company G, and James W. Berry, who enlisted as a corporal in
C()m])any H, was promoted to first lieutenant.
In the One Hun(h-ed and Eighth, Ricliard I^ynch was a member
of Company C. and James Riley of Company I). Miles A. Collin-
berry was in Company K. One Hundred and Thirteenth, and John
C. Copestake was first assistant sui'geon of the One Hmidred and
Fourteenth.
In Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh regiment,
were Abram Bevier. Robert J. Dickinson, Uriah (xiwitts, William
H. Giwitts and George Kinter.
In the One Hundred and Thirty-second were two privates fi'om
Stark County — Cliarles C. Hotchkiss and Barney M. Jackson — both
members of Company G.
In Coni])any I, One Hundred and Forty-eighth (a one-year regi-
ment), Mf)ses B. Robinson was a sergeant: Edwin B. Pomeroy. a
corporal; and ^^'illiam D. Cundiff, Charles Hester and Unman Ilinies
served as privates.
156 III STORY OF STARK COLXTY
Four men Avere credited to Stark County in Company I, One
Hundred and Fifty-fifth Infantry, viz: William Cross, Patrick
JNlcGuire, Edward ORrien and Oliver P. White.
CAV.VLKY SERVICE
Illinois furnisheil seventeen regiments of cavalry to the Union
army during the Civil war. Stark County was represented in seven
of the seventeen regiments, though in no instance did a whole com-
pany enlist from the county.
In Company A, Third Cavalry, which was mustered in on Sep-
tember 21, 1861. were James H. Chaddock, John ^V. Highlands and
Samuel A. Highlands. After the ranks of the regiment were depleted
liy a long and arduous service, it was consolidated with portions of
other commands and in Company C, Consolidated Third, were Sam-
uel H. Aten. George Boardman, Harrison Rurkhart, William P.
Burns, Hugh R. Creighton, Albert P. Finley, Robert Garner, John
Green, John King, Theodore W. IMcDaniel, George F. Pyle, Henry
Sinunerman and John Simmerman. Andrew J. Walker served in
Company K.
Joseph E. ]McKinstrey was a corporal in Company A, Fourth
Ca^•all•y; William Douglas was a member of Company D. and Wil-
liam Crooks, who enlisted in Company K, was promoted to sergeant-
major.
In the Seventh, which Mas mustered in at Camj) Rutler in August,
18(51, Charles Butcher and William Butcher were unassigned recruits
credited to Stark Comity.
Twenty Stai-k Comity men were enrolled in the Ninth. Chris-
to])lu'r Flanagan, Thomas Flanagan. Henry Lewis. Samuel R. Lewis,
•John C. Shaw, Patrick Smith and John Stokes were privates in Com-
])anv H ; J. O. H. Spinney was promoted to the captaincy of Com-
pany K; John Jamison and Francis ]M. Lamper served as sergeants
m the same company, in MJiich the following were enrolled as privates:
Fowler Rryant, E. AV. Curtis, Frank U. Doyle. Thomas A. Foster,
Wesley F. Foster, Francis Griswold, Christopher Handley, John S.
Hayden, William S. Luce, Henry IMcKibbon, Isaac ]Moon, iSIartin
Shay (imassigned recruit), James Sherlock, James ]M. Stanley, Her-
man D. Sturm. C. :VI. Wheeler, William F. Wheeler.
Andrew Caldwell enlisted in Company C of the Eleventh Cavalry;
William A. Glaze was a member of Company M, and Baxter ]M.
]Mahany was an unassigned recruit.
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 157
In the Twelfth Cavahy were Corporal Joseph E. JNIcKinstrey
and William Douglas, who ^\ere transferred from the Fourth, and
Joseph Johnson.
De\Vitt C. Recce was a member of Company A, and Isaac Dennis
of Company M, Fourteenth Cavalry.
AliTII.I.EUY
In Comi)any A, Second Fight Artillery, were twenty-three men
credited to Stark County. Harvey I'ierce was a corporal and the
following served as privates: Morris Ayres, William Beers, Joseph
G. Bloomer, Alva \V. Brown, Stephen W. Carney, John Cox, Clem-
ens R. Defendener, Albert Eagan. Samuel Eagan. Thomas J. Ellis.
David X. Iliffner, Charles X. Hull, John Hull. Nathan H. Hull,
Emanuel Kissel, Calvin Rockwell, Hugh Stockner, John R. Stratton,
Charles Thomas, Lorenzo K. Wiley, INLirshall Winn, Warren Winn.
In the Marine Artillery were: John J. Campbell, Dennis Clark,
James \V. Dexter. Samuel Dyer. Andrew Gall)raith, ]Marion (God-
frey, James Hall. John Ilotchkiss. Joiiii I^al)arr, Henry ]Marchant,
Charles IMaxfield, Jeptha ^Nlosher, John H. Parks, Carleton Rhodes,
Isaac Whitaker, Oliver White, JMarshall Winn and Warren Winn.
The two last named in the above paragraph were transferred from
the Second I^ight iVrtillery, and ^Villiam Cross and George Rouse
served in the First United States Artillery.
There were also a few Stark County men who served in regiments
belonging to other states or in the regular army. Upon the official
muster I'olls a name now and then is marked as a "deserter." but the
percentage of this class is no larger than that of the other counties,
and in fact not so large as many of them. In whatever arm of the
service — infantry, cavalry, artillery oi- the navy — the Stark County
boys as a rule rendered a good account of themselves, and the peoi)le
of the ])resent genei-ation hold in grateful remembrance the valor and
patriotism of the "Boys in Blue," as is witnessed by the monument
erected to the memory of the Stark County soldiers and sailors upon
the north side of the ])ublic square in Toulon.
A Stark County Soldiers' IMonument Association was organized
at Toulon on the last day of October, 18G7, by Dr. J. C. Copestake,
Capt. J. M. Brown, Andrew Galbraith and others, but no record can
be found of its further proceedings. Early in the year 1901 the board
of su])ervisors took up the question of ajijH-opriating a sum of money
for the ])urpose of erecting a monument to commemorate the services
of the soldiers and sailors who went out from the countv^ during the
158 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
dark days of the nation from 1861-6.3. George T. Oliver, 3Iordecai
Rc'vier and W. ii. JJallentine Avere appointed a eoniniittee to select a
design, ascertain the cost, and report.
The committee reported on INIarch 1, 1901, in favor of the design
suhmitted by Messrs. Drummond, of Bradford, and Teets, of Wyo-
ming, the monnment to cost $:$,()()() complete. The report Avas ap-
]>i()ved l)y the hoard and on the same day it was ordered that "the sum
of .$3,000 be set aside and appropriated out of the county tax levied
for the year 1900 for the purpose of erecting a soldiers' monument
for Stark County."
Xot long afterward the contract was formally awarded to Drum-
mond & Teets and the work was commenced. On September 3, 1901,
the clerk was ordered to draw a warrant for $3,000 in favor of Drum-
mond & Teets, to be payable when the monument was completed and
accepted by the committee. The monument was dedicated on Thurs-
day, June 12, 1902. Gen. William G. Cochran, of Sullivan, 111., who
had been engaged to deliver the address, failed to make his appearance
and the principal speech was made by Gen. Thomas J. Henderson,
who followed George T. Oliver, the chairman of the board of super-
visors, in an address of welcome, in which he presented the monument
to the countj'.
The monument is a handsome specimen of the sculptor's art; an
imposing shaft of graj' granite some forty feet in height, surmounted
by the figure of an infantry soldier at parade rest. On the north side,
facing ]Main Street, is the inscription selected by the board of su])er-
visors: "In Memory of the Soldiers and Sailors of Stark County,"
and (in the reverse is the simple statement — "Dedicated June 12,
1902."
THE WORK AT HOilE
W'hile those at the front wei'c imdergoing the inconveniences of
camp life, the hardships of the long march and the dangers of battle,
the friends they left behind them were not unmindful of the soldier's
needs. On June 10, 1861, the board of supervisors ordered: "Tiiat
the sum of $3,000 be appropriated for the pvu'pose of uniforming
volunteer militia companies organized or to be organized in Stark
County, at the rate of $6 per man, under certain conditions and
restrictions. Also that in the event of immediate call of Ca]itain
Stuart's company — the 'Elmira Rifles' — the clerk shall issue an order
immediately on the treasurer for such amounts as shall be found due
them by disbursing agents," etc.
HISTORY OF STARK COUXTV 159
The next day, pursuant to a plan reported by a committee pre-
viously appointed, a tax of 20 cents on each $100 worth of projjcrty
in the county was levied for the year 1861, "for the purpose ol' aiding
and assisting volunteer soldiers and their families." One thousand
dollars of the money thus raised were ordered to be set apart i'or
aiding the families of volunteers and the remainder to be used for
uniforms and equipment for the men.
David McC'ance, Davis Lowman and Oliver Whitaker were
appointed a connnittee to take charge of the disbursements. On
December 3, 1861, this committee reported the following disburse-
ments : t
'\'^
To the Elnura Rities (106 men) $ 630.00
To the Lafayette Rifles (76 men) 456.00
To the Stark County Rifles (77 men) 462.00
■ For relief —
Elmira Township 86.78
Goshen Township 106.87
Osceola Township 9.00
Penn Township 20.71
Toulon Townshij) 70.62
Valley Township 12.00
Total $1,859.98
On June 2, 1862, the committee reported the additional expenditure
of $348.45 for the relief of soldiers' families. At the September term
in 1862 the supervisors appropriated $4,000 for the purpose of aiding
the families of volunteers and at the same time directed the supervisor
in each townshij) to report the number of families in his jurisdiction,
the heads of which were in the army, when the amount appropriated
should be divided or apportioned among the several townships, each
supervisor to act as disbiu'sing agent in his township, though the old
committee was continued to audit the accounts of the supervisors. A
bounty of $50 was authorized to be paid to each man enlisting from
Stark County and a tax of 5 mills on the dollar was levied for the
purpose of paying bounties and the accumulation of the $4,000 relief
fund. At the next session the supervisors reported the number of
families and the fund was apportioned as follows:
160 HISTOKV OF STAKK COUNTY
Elniira Towii.ship 28 families $ 533.32
Essex Townslii]) 33 " (;28..5(;
Goshen Township 20 " 380.9()
Osceola Township 37 " 704.70
Penn Township 21 " 400.00
Toulon Township 33 " 028.50
\'alley Township 12 " 228.57
West Jersey Township 26 " 4.95.24
Total 210 families $4,000.00
Of this sum there was an unexpended balance on September 14,
1803, but during the winter the fund was exhausted and on March 14,
1804, the board ordered an appropriation of $2,600 for the support
of soldiers' families. On September 13, 1864, a tax of 50 cents on
each $100 worth of property was levied to pay boimties and aid the
families of volunteers. Another appropriation, amounting to $2,760,
was made on March 7, 1865, for relief purposes and several years
after the war was over bounties, the payment of which had been de-
layed, were handed over to the veterans. For this reason it is difficult
to state just what sum was paid by the county in bounties.
Besides the relief given by the county in its official capacity, there
were several organizations formed for the purpose of assisting the
families of those who were engaged in fighting the battles of their
country. The Soldiers" Relief Circle of Toulon \vas organized on
November 12, 1861, with Mrs. Oliver Whitaker, president; JNIrs. O.
Gardner, vice president; Miss F. JNIarvin, secretary; JNlrs. Calvin
Eastman, treasurer; jNIrs. P. M. Blair, JMrs. S. S. Kaysbier, Mrs.
31. A. Fuller and ]Miss R. AVhite, committee on supplies.
The Wyoming Soldiers" Relief Society was organized about the
same time, with Mrs. M. A. Hoist, president; JNIrs. A. G. Ham-
mond, secretary; Miss Lucy Butler, treasui'er; ]\Iesdames Isaac
Thomas, B. F. Foster, W. B. Armstrong. P. Pettit, JMary Butler,
J. AVrigley, J. B. Lashels and J. jNIatthews, committee on collections.
On July 27, 1863, the women of Penn Township organized a
"Loyal League," with JMrs. J. JNI. Ricker, jiresident, and JMrs. S. S.
Rockwell, secretary. There were also a number of meetings held in
different parts of the county for the purpose of collecting money and
supplies for the families of the boys in the field.
The amount of aid extended by these societies and spontaneous
gatherings cannot be ascertained, and no approximate estimate can
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 161
he made of the assistance reiulertd hy individual offerings. ^^^R'n-
ever some sokher's family stood in need of aid it was forthcoming.
The sum thus eontrihuted ran into thousands of dollars, of which no
account was kept. JNIany a basket of provisions found its way to the
home of some soldier; shoes, clothing, school hooks, etc.. wci-c ])ro-
vided for soldiers' children; sons and daughters of volunteers were
given preference in the matter of employment hy loyal citizens, and
in many other ways relief was afforded to those who had sent their
loved ones to the defense of the Union.
CHAPTER X
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
EARLY CONDITIONS IN STARK COUNTY — DIFFICULTIES OF EARLY TRAVEL
INDIAN TRAILS PUBLIC HIGHWAYS KNOXVILLE & GALENA STATE
KOAD FIRST ROAD DISTRICTS AND SUPERVISORS PETITIONS AND
VIEAVERS 5JODERN HIGHAVAYS STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION —
STATE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS ILLINOIS & MICHIGAN CANAL
ACT OF 1836 — L.UJGE APPROPRIATIONS FOR RIVER IMPROVEMENTS
AND RAILROADS THE RAILROAD ERA WESTERN AIR LINE AMER-
ICAN CENTRAL CHICAGO, ROCK KLAND & PACIFIC CHICAGO, BUR-
LINGTON & QUINCY CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN VALUE OF RAIL-
ROAD PROPERTY IN THE COUNTY.
In this year 1916 of the Christian era, when a citizen of Stark
County has occasion to visit the county seat, or make a short journey
into some of the adjacent counties, it is a comparatively easy matter
to step into his automohile and glide along over a public highway to his
destination. Should it be necessary for him to take a longer journej',
he can take his seat in a reclining chair car or a Pullman coacli on
one of the great railway systems of the country and be transported
across the land at the rate of fifty or sixty miles an hour. But does
he ever pause to consider hoA\- all these conveniences were brought
about for his comfort and acconmiodatif)n. I^et him for a moment
draw upon his imagination for the conditions that existed in what is
now Stark County when Isaac B. Essex and his earlj- neighboi's came
to the Spoon River Valley in 1829.
Then all this region was "fresh from the hands of Nature." Along
the stream still known as Indian Creek the Pottawatomi villages were
to be seen, the men hunting where now are cultivated fields and the
squaws raising some corn and a few other vegetables in a desultory
sort of way. Through the groves and across the prairies prowded the
wolf, and the oidy white men were the hunters, trappers or agents of
the great fur companies who came at intervals to catch the fur-bearing
animals or trade with the Indians. No roads had yet been opened for
162
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 163
the white man's travel and the pioneers eanic with the ox teams and
"prairie schooners," i>nidin^' their way l)y the sun and "f()Uowin<>- tlie
line of least resistance."' Streams were unhridgcd, and it was no un-
usual thing for a jjarty of immigrants to reach the bank of an ordi-
narily insignificant creek to find it swollen by recent rains and wait
for the waters to subside before they could continue their journey.
Through the forests or over the jjrairies wound an occasional Indian
trail. These trails were the only thoroughfares and they were only
narrow paths, the Indians always traveling in single file. A man on
horseback might follow one, but they were practically useless to the
man with a team and vehicle. However, the red man's trail ])ossessed
some advantages. They led as directly from one point to another as
the nature of the ground permitted, and they struck the streams at
the best possible fording places.
\\'hen the first wliite men came to Stark County the nearest land
offices were at Q>iincy and (ialcna, and tliither they must go to enter
tlieir lands. 3Irs. Siui]lenl)erger descril)es these journeys to the land
offices as being made "with no roads, no bridges, no places of shelter,
notliing to direct their course save the sun and wind (which latter
would sometimes sadly deceive tliem by an unnoticed change), and
sometimes an Indian trail; these were reliable guides wherever they
existed, and were followed witii perfect confidence by the true back-
woodsmaUi"
In the early part of the nineteentli century a few adventiu-ous
individuals liad clustered around the lead mines at Galena and there
was a small settlement where the City of Peoria now stands. The
fii-st road to pass through what is now Stark County was that known
as "Kellogg's Trail," which ran by a "devious way" from Peoria to
the lead mines. It was opened in 182.), but after a lapse of foin- score
and ten years it is impossible to descril)e the i-oute it followed, as there
Mas neither bridge, ferry nor white man's habitation along the entire
distance.
A\^iiere the Indian trails could be widened for the passage of
vehicles they were used by the first settlers until better highways could
be constructed. The first roads made by civilized man were crude
aflf'airs — generally a route marked out at will, the trees blazed through
the woodlands, Mith liere and there some of the timber removed to
permit the ])assage of wagons. They nearly always passed from one
grove to another, the groves being marked places and serving as land-
marks or guides to the strange traveler. Low places were filled \\ith
small logs, thrown crosswise of the driveway, thus forming the famous
164 HISTOllV OF STAllK COL'XTY
old "corduroy" road, which Avas neither easy on the team nor com-
fortable lor the driver, but it kept the wagon from '"miring down."
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS
Prol)ably the first thoroughfare in Stark County, to be established
by official authority, was the state road running from Knoxville to
Galena. From Knoxville it followed a generally northeastern direc-
tion until it struck the western boundary of what is now Stark County
not far from the southwest corner of Goshen Township. Thence it
followed a more easterly direction, passing through the grove south
of the jjresent City of Toulon, near the dwelling of Elijah ]SIcClen-
ahan. Si-., and from there to the grove near James Holgate's. From
Holgate's it ran to Boyd's Grove, then to Dixon, where it turned
northward toward Galena.
In September, 1831, while Stark was a part of Putnam County,
the authorities of that county ordered a road to be surveyed and marked
from Hennepin to Smith's Ford on the Spoon River. Three years
later the commissioners of Putnam County established road districts.
The Spoon Kiver settlement was in District Xo. 17, of which Sylvanus
JNIoore was appointed supervisor, but that was all that was done, as
no roads were ever built by Putnam County for the settlement, and
Mr. ]Moore really had nothing to "supervise."
Stark County was organized under the provisions of the act of
March 2, 1839, and on the .5th of April following the first board of
county commissioners divided the county into nine road districts as
follows :
District Xo. 1 included the present townships of Elmira and
Osceola, of which John Lyle was api)ointed supervisor.
District Xo. 2 was described as "beginning at the northeast corner
!of township 13, range 7 ; thence west to the northwest corner of sec-
tion 3, township 13, range 6: thence south to the southwest corner of
section 34: thence east to the southeast corner of township 13, range
7; thence north to the place of beginning." James Holgate was ap-
pointed supervisor of this district, ^^hich included all the present
Township of Penn and the eastern half of Toulon.
District X^'o. 3 was bounded as follows: "Beginning at the north-
east corner of township 12, range 7; thence west to the northwest
corner of section 2, township 12, range 6; thence south to the south-
west corner of section 3.5, township 12, range 6: thence east to the
southeast corner of township 12, range 7, and thence north to the
i
l;i)AlJ i:LlLI)L\t- IN ^lARK ( OrXTV
UBRARY
UNIVERSITY-OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
HISTORY OF STAKK C'Ol NTV 165
place of beginning." This district embraced all of Valley Township
and a strip two miles wide across the eastern ])art of Essex. \N'hitney
Smith was appointed supervisor.
District No. 4 began "at the southeast corner of section 10, town-
ship 12, range 6; thence west to the southeast corner of section 10,
township 12, range .5; thence south to the southeast corner of section
34.; thence east to the southeast corner of section 34, townshi}) 12,
range (5; thence north to the place of beginning." This district in-
cluded sixteen sections in the southwestern part of Essex Township
and eight sections in the southeastern part of West Jersey. JeflFer-
son Trickle, su]iervisor.
District Xo. .3 connnenced "at the southeast corner of section 10,
townshii^ 12, range 5; thence west to the southwest corner of section
7; thence south to the southwest corner of the township; thence east
to the southeast corner of section .'34, township 12, range 5; thence
north to the place of begiiming." This was one of the smallest of the
nine districts, embracing a tract four miles square in the southwestern
part of West Jersey Townshi]). \\'illiam W. Webster was appointed
supervisor.
District Xo. began "at the southwest corner of section 7, town-
ship 12, range •>; thence east to the southeast corner of section 10;
thence north to the northwest corner of section 26, township 13, range
.5; thence west to the range line between ranges 4 and ."5; thence north
to the place of beginning." This district was also four miles square,
including eight sections in the northwestern part of West Jersey
Townsliip and the same in the southwest i)art of Goshen. Joseph
Palmer was appointed supervisor of tiiis disti'iet.
District Xo. 7 was described as "beginning at the northwest corner
of townshi]) 13, range o: thence east to the northeast corner of section
3: thence south four miles; thence west to the range line, and thence
noith to the place of beginning." These boundaries include a tract
four miles s(]uare in the northwestern part of (roshen Townsliip.
Peter F. Miner was aijjjointed supervisor.
District X"o. 8 commenced "at the northwest corner of section 20.
townshi]) 13. range .5; thence south to the southwest corner of section
11. townshi]) 12, range .3; thence east to the southeast corner of sec-
tion 10, township 12, range G; thence north to the southwest corner of
section So. township 13, range (J; thence west to the southeast corner
of section 33, townsiii]) 13, range (5; thence north to the northeast cor-
ner of section 28; thence west to the place of beginning." Xo. 8
included a tract of eight sections in the northwest ])art of Essex Town-
166 HISTOKY OF STARK COUNTY
ship; four sections in the northeast corner of West Jersey, four sec-
tions in the southeast corner of Goshen, and six in tlie southwest
corner of Toulon. S. G. Worley was appointed supervisor.
District No. 9 began "at the southwest corner of section 23. to\\n-
ship 13, range .); thence north to the nortliwest corner of section 2;
thence east to the northwest corner of section 3, township 13, range 6;
thence south to the northwest corner of section 27, and tlience west to
the place of beginning." This district included twelve scjuare miles in
the northwestern jiart of Toulon Township and eight square miles
in the northeastern part of Goshen. John ^liller was appointed
supervisor.
The same day that these districts were established it Mas ordered
by the board of commissioners "that each and e\ery able bodied man
sul)ject to work on the higinvay shall be required to perform three
days' labor on the pul)lic roads." But as no roads had as yet been
established, it is probable that the "able bodied" men had an easy time
in the year 1839, so far as work on the public highways was concerned.
The first mention of a public road in the records of Stark County
was on September 2, 1839. when Virgil Pike and tliirty-two others
])resented a petition for the opening of a road "commencing at the
east line of the said County of Stark in the direction of Boyd's Grove
from Seely's Point ; thence at or near the above mentioned point the
nearest and best route through the neighborhood of Cooper's Defeat
in the direction of L. S. Dorrance's mill, terminating at the state
road on the line between L. S. Dorrance and Henry Breese."
John Hester, Joseph D. Lane and Adam Perry were appointed to
"view, mark and locate said road," which was the first highway estab-
lished by the county authorities. They re])orted in favor of the road
on Deceml)er 3. 1839, and the next season the "able bodied" men in
that part of the county had something to do in the way of working on
the highway.
On Septeml)er 3, 1839. John Hester and about thirty other citi-
zens petitioned for a change in the Knoxville and Galena state road
"from the east end of Jackson Street in the Town of Lafayette,
through township 13, range o," etc. ISIyrtle G. Brace, James Buswell
and John Lyle were appointed to view the route proposed by the
jietitioners and report. The change was subsequentlv ordered.
On the same day John Finley and others came forward with a
petition asking for a change in the same road between ^Villiam Hen-
derson's and ^Nfassillon. The viewers appointed for this proposed
change were William Bow-en, Charles H. jNIiner and Israel Stoddard.
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 167
but their report could not be found by the writer. Other petitions
were jjresented at ahiiost every one of the early sessions of the county
commissioners, the people of every neighborhood seemingly being
anxious to secure a highway for their accommodation, whether the
other parts of the county received sucli encouragement or not. I kittle
work was done on these early roads. exce])t such as the settlers them-
selves performed under the road law which required them to perform
so many days' work each year under the direction of the district
supervisor.
The first roads did not follow the section lines, but took the
shortest and most available route between the points it was meant to
connect. Rut as the lands were entered and settled, it became neces-
sary to alter a number of the roads, in order to make them conform
to the lines of the official survey. On March 9, 1842, the board of
commissioners redistricted the county, making eleven road districts,
and levied a tax of 10 cents on each $100 worth of property in the
county for the purpose of improving the roads. This is the first
record of a road tax in Stark County. In 1914. the road and bridge
fund amounted to $44..703.80.
Within recen.t years quite a number of the states have adopted the
plan of supervising the construction and improvement of highways.
A state highway commission was created in Illinois by an act of the
Legislature, approved June 27, 1913. The highway commissioners
in 191.5 were: A. D. Gash, of Chicago: S. E. Rradt. of De Kalb;
and James P. Wilson, of Polo. Under the new system the state is
divided into seven districts, each of which is in charge of a highway
engineer, to whom all plans for the improvement of roads must be
submitted, and there is a chief engineer who has charge of the entire
state. Road building in Illinois has not kept pace with that of some
of her sister states — chiefly for lack of suitable material for the con-
struction of improved highways — but it is hoped that the new system
will result in giving to the people a better class of roads.
STATE INTERNAL IMPKUVE.MENTS
Although Stark Comity had not been created when the state in-
augurated its gigantic scheme for internal improvements, it came into
existence in time to assist in paying for the folly. One of the first
great Avorks undertaken was the construction of the Illinois & iNIich-
igan Canal. It is uncertain who first suggested such a canal — to con-
nect the waters of Lake ^Michigan with the ^Mississippi River — but
168 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
during the War of 1812 it was made manifest tliat some method of
transportation between tlie Great Lakes and the ^Mississippi Valley
was sorely needed.
On INIarch 30, 1822, Congress, in response to a petition from the
Illinois Legislatm-e, granted to the state a strip of ground ninety feet
wide on each side of the bed of tlie canal. The grant was accepted l)y
the next session of the Legislature, which appointed a board of canal
commissioners, who reported that the cost of the canal would be about
tliree-quarters of a million dollars. Subsequent events showed that
their estimate was far too low, and they have been charged with pur-
posely making it so, in order to get the state involved in its con-
struction.
After several futile efforts to get Congress to grant more land,
the Legislature passed the act of January 17. 182.3. incorporating the
"Illinois & ]Michigan Canal Association," with a capital stock of
$1,000,000. None of the stock was ever sold or subscribed and on
JNIarch 3, 1827, Congress passed a bill granting to the State of Illinois
alternate sections of land in a strip five miles wide on each side of the
proposed canal. A new canal board was appointed on January 12,
1829, and the new conmiissioners announced that the canal would cost
$4,000,000. The new estimate caused doubts in the minds of many
of the people as to the advisability of the state's undertaking the cost
of the construction of the canal, and some opposition to the scheme
developed. But the friends of artificial waterways argued that such
improvements had been made in some of the eastern states, notablj'^
the Erie Canal in New York, and that the tolls had not only paid the
cost of construction l)ut also yielded a permanent income to the state.
These advocates of internal improvements insisted that the people of
Illinois must bestir themselves, if they expected to see Illinois occu^iy
a place in the front rank of states.
After about five years of discussion pro and con, the Legislature
in 183(5 authorized the governor to borrow $.)00.000 with wliicli to
commence the construction of the canal, giving tlie canal lands and
tolls as security. Other loans followed and by January 1, 1839,
nearly two millions of dollars had been expended. Then the Legisla-
ture authorized a loan of $4,000,000 all at once. Some of this money
was borrowed from tlie state school fund. Delay after delay followed,
but finally, on April 10. 1848. the canal boat "General Fry" passed
through the canal from Lockpoi-t to Chicago, and on the 23d of the
same month the "General Thornton" completed the trip the full length
of the canal from Chicago to I^a Salle. The canal was finislied. The
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 169
tolls collected covered the operating- expenses until 1879, when the
railroads took nuich of the freighting husiness away from the canal.
Notwithstanding tliis, the canal wielded a great inthience in the de-
velopment of the Upper Illinois Valley and acting as a restraint upon
any imdue advance in railroad freight rates.
The Illinois & ^lichigan Canal was not really a part of the great
system of internal improvements, which had its inception in the wave
of jjuhlic sentiment in favor of huilding canals and turnpike roads,
which swept over the counti'y in the early '30s. Before anything
definite along these lines had heen done hy Illinois, the railroad hegan
to make its influence felt and pul)lic sentiment shifted to the construc-
tion of railroads rather than the huilding' of turnpikes. By 183.5
several lines of railway had been constructed in the East and were
being operated with success. The advocates of an internal improve-
ment system for Illinois did not pause to consider the difference in
the density of population and the greater demand for common carriers
in the East, but, in season and out of season, urged the state to make
large appropriations for the improvement of the natural waterways
and the encouragement of railroad building. As a result of all this
agitation, the Legislature of 183(5 inaugurated the state scheme of
internal improvements by making the following ajjpropriations:
For River Improvements —
Great \Vabash River $10().()()()
Little Wabash River .50.000
Illinois River 100,000
Rock River 100,000
Kaskaskia River .50,000
Total for river improvement $4.00,000
For Railroad Construction —
From Cairo U) the Illinois & ^Michigan Canal $3,500,000
Branch of the above to Terre Haute, Indiana 0.50.000
From iVlton to jNIount Carmel and Shawiieetown 1,(100. 000
Branch of the al)ove to the Cairo line (JOO.OOO
Quincy to the Indiana State line ' 1,8.50,000
Peoria to ^Varsaw 700.000
Belleville to JNIount Carmel 1.50,000
Bloouungton to 3Iackinaw 3;50,O00
Total for railroads $9,400,000
Vol.1 —II
170 HISTORY OF STAllK COUNTY
111 addition to the above there were appropriations of >f'--50,0U0
for the improveiiient of the Great Western ^lail Route and $200,000
to the eounties that received no direct benefit from the proposed pubhc
improvenients, making a grand total of $10/2.50,000. Several of the
enterprises contemplated by the bill were commenced, but none was
ever completed and the money sunk in the state system of internal
improvements was lost bej'ond recovery. The railroad from Cairo to
the Illinois & JMichigan Canal, at La Salle, was afterward finished by
a company and now forms a part of the Illinois Central, and the
Quiiicy & Indiana State Line road was built over another route, after-
ward becoming a part of the Toledo, ^Vabash & Western.
Charles ]M. Thompson, in an article in one of tlie Illinois His-
torical Collections, says: "Within three years the craze had run its
course, leaving the people, as a reminder of their folly, a debt that
hung over them for decades. The impossibility of the scheme was
not revealed until the time came when the bonds were unsalable."
^^^len Governor Ford was inaugurated in 184.2, the state debt
was nearly fifteen and a half millions of dollars. Stark County was
then about three years old. The only benefit this county received from
the internal improvement scheme was under the provision of section 5
of the act of INIarch 2, 1839, that the treasurer of Putnam County
should pay to the treasurer of Stark County the sum of $1.64.5, with
interest at 12 per cent, etc. Putnam was one of the counties that
received a portion of the appropriation of $200,000 that went to the
counties not directly affected by the public improvements, her share
amounting to $9,870. When Stark was cut off she was given one-
sixth of this sum, with accrued interest. Upon demanding the money
from Putnam County-, it was learned that Amnion ]Moon, the treas-
urer of that county, had loaned the funds without taking adequate
security, though Stark finally received her share of the spoils. It is
])robal)le. however, that the people paid back more tlian that amount
in taxes in li(iuidatiiig the enormous debt incurred through the intei'iial
imiJrovement scheme.
THE RAILROAD ERA
The first railroad in the United States to be operated successfully
was a line about nine miles in length, running from the City of ^Nlaiich
Chunk, Pa., to some coal mines. Within a few years men of sagacity
and foresight realized that the railroad was destined to become an
inijiortant factor in the development of the country, and the people
of the AVest began to offer every encouragement to their introduc-
HISTORY OF STARK C'OUXTV 171
tion. The proposition was not favored unanimously, however, but
met with consideralile opposition, some of wliieh merely insisted that
flnaneial aid be withliehl until the eountry was in better eondilion,
while other opposition was unquestionably based upon prejudice.
About 1880 some young men of Lancaster, Ohio, formed themselves
into a debatin<>' society and reijuested the school board to permit them
to use the schoolhouse to discuss the railroad question. To this request
tiie board made the followiny; reply:
"We are \villini>' to allow you the use of the schoolhouse to debate
all jiroper questions in, but such subjects as railroads are rank in-
fidelity and not tit to be discussed in a building erected for the purpose
of educating our children. If the ^Vlmighty had intended tor His
creatures to travel across the face of the country at the frightful speed
of fifteen miles an hour, he would clearly have foretold it through His
holy projjhets. It is a device of Satan to lead immoi-tal souls down to
hell."
Despite the objections of the Lancaster School Board, and otiiers
of that class, railroad building went on. Each year found more people
interested and willing to vote aid to secure a railroad through theii-
respective comnuuiities. And the railroad that today could not run
its trains at a greater rate of speed than the "frightful fifteen miles an
liour" so feared by the Ohio school board, would neither receive nor
deserve a large amount of patronage.
WESTERN AIK LINE
The first railroad project to interest the people of Stark County
was the Western Air Line Railroad, which was first mentioned in
18.50. After about three years of ]ireliminary work, the County
Court, on June 0, 18.>.'}, took the following action:
"Whereas, it has been represented to this court that it would be
for the welfare and advantage of Stark County, and that the citizens
thereof are desirous that said county sliould subscribe to the capital
stock of the 'Western Air Line Railroad Company' to aid in the con-
struction of said road ; it is therefore
"Ordered by the court tliat an election be held in the several town-
ships in said county on the 13th day of August next, at the usual
places of holding elections or town meetings in said towns, for the
purpose of voting for or against the subscri])ti()n by the said County
of Stark to the capital stock of the said 'Western Air Line Railroad
Company' of the amount of $.J0.000. Bonds to be issued for said sum
172 lllSTOUV OF STARK COUNTY
(in case a majority of the legal voters, as required l)y law, shall vote
for said subscription) running twenty years and bearing (J per cent
interest, by the proper authorities under the laws of. the state.
"And it is further ordered that the clerk give notice as required
by law. The bonds to be issued on condition that said road shall run
througii the central part of the county, as near as practicable."
The result of the election was o'.H votes in favor of the stock sub-
sciiption and 141 against it. About a month after the election the old
county court was superseded by the board of supervisors and nothing
further was done concerning the railroad stock until July 31, 18,55.
The minutes of the supervisors' meeting for that date show that it was
"Ordered that the chairman of the board of supervisors he, and
he is hereby, authorized to subscribe $.50,000 to the cajjital stock of the
Western Air Line Railroad, and that the clerk be authorized to issue
to said company $.50,000 of the bonds of Stark County, payable in
twenty years from the date hereof, bearing interest at the rate of
per cent per annum, payable at such place as said company maj^ desig-
nate. Said bonds may be in such sums as may he designated by said
company, not less than $1,000 each, and shall have coupons attached,
which said bonds and coupons shall be signed by the chairman of this
board and attested by the clerk, with the seal of the county attached
thereto."
Pursuant to this order, fifty bonds of $1,000 each were issued and
turned over to the railroad company by William W. Webster, chair-
man of the board of supervisors, and JNliles A. Fuller, clerk, who
received for the county $50,000 in stock of the company. The gen-
eral offices of the company were established at Lacon. the county
seat of ^larshall County. At the amuial meeting of the stockholders
in 1850, Mr. \Vebster cast the vote of Stark County. The next year
Isaac Thomas cast the county's vote. The meeting of 1858 was lield
on the 'id of IMarch. The day before the meeting the board of super-
visors appointed Isaac Thomas to cast the vote for the county, and
instructed him to vote for Dr. Thomas Hall for director.
Like many of the early railroad enter])rises in the West, the
Western Air Line never became a reality. The bonds issued by Stark
County produced more litigation than miles of railroad. In .July,
1858, the board of supervisors appointed T. F. Hurd to obtain legal
a(l\ice as to whether the county was legally bound to pay the bonds,
and in September following the board adopted a resolution declaring
"that the board deems it advisable to decline paying the interest now
d>ie." \y. \y. ^Vinslow was authorized to tender the certificates of
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 173
stock lulcl l)y the county to the railroad company and demand in
return the bonds issued by the county. The offer was declined and
on September 1.5, 18.58, Olai" Johnson tiled suit against the county for
the amount of interest due. In the Circuit Court the suit was dis-
missed, whereupon Johnson carried it to the Suprenje Court, wliere a
decision was rendered in April, 18(il, ordering Stark County to pay
both principal and interest of the bonds.
AMEUICAN CEXTKAL KAIEKOAU
Some work was done on the proposed line by the Western Air
Line Company. Says Mrs. Shallenberoer: "In Sei>tember, 18.).>,
the 'breakin<^- gromid' was celebrated at Toulon by a public dinner on
the square and appropriate speeches. Great enthusiasm prevailed and
a good portion of the vast assemblage afterward adjourned to the
prairie east of town to see the first shovelful of earth thrown up on
the much desired road."
In the suit of Johnson vs. Stark County, it was shown that about
eighty miles of the road bed had been graded and made ready for the
ties and rails. Some of tlie ])eople of Stark County were not willing
to see all this work go to waste, hence a new company, known as the
American Central Railroad Company, was organized to succeed the
Western Air Line. \Villiam Lownian, of Toulon, was chosen treas-
urer, and ^^'illiam F. Thomas, of Wyoming, was one of the directors.
The new company was no more successful than its predecessor and
after a short time the interest in the effort to build a railroad waned
and the project was abandoned.
CHICAGO, liOCK ISLAND & PACIFIC
On March 7, 18()7. a charter was granted to the Peoria l\; Rock
Island l{ailroad Com])any to build a railroad between the points
named. The new comi)any acquired the right of way of the old ^^''est-
ern Air I^ine for $-27,(H)() and began making active ])reparations for
construction. Xew encouragement was thus given to the jieople of
Stark County and on ^Vugust 2(\, 18(;7, a railroad meeting was held in
Toulon. Charles JNIyers presided and Oliver ^VIlite acted as secretary.
Resolutions indorsing the proposed railroad were adopted and Pat-
rick JSI. Blair, Benjamin Turner, Martin Shallenberger, Davis Low-
man and Oliver Whitaker were appointed a committee to formulate
and present a i)lan by which the county could aid in building the road.
174 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
^At a second meeting, Novemhei- 9, 18(57, resolutions pledging
Toulon Township to subscribe -^.50,000 to the capital stock of the
company were adopted and JNIiles A. Fuller, JNIartin Shallenberger
and Davis Lowman were appointed a committee to solicit subscrip-
tions to the stock fund. Three days later the first board of directors
was elected. ^Villiam R. Hamilton was chosen president; Patrick M.
Blair, vice president; C. P. James, secretary; and H. ]M. ^Vheeler,
treasurer.
On November 22, 1867, a large number of the citizens of Toulon,
Penn, Essex and Valley townshi])s — through which it was supposed
the road would pass — assembled at ^Vyoming to consider the question
of granting financial assistance to the company. H. A. Hoist pre-
sided and Dr. J. C. Copestake was elected secretary. A motion to
appoint a committee on resolutions, consisting of two from each town-
ship, was carried and the following were appointed: Toulon, John
Wrigley and Isaac Thomas; Essex, A. G. Hammond and C. H.
Butler; Penn, Charles Holgate and George Nicholas; Valley, Thomas
Crone and Elisha Dixon. The committee offered a resolution pledg-
ing each of the townships to subscribe $.50,000, which was adopted.
About this time the survey of the road was completed through the
county and it was discovered that it did not touch Penn Township.
Instead it passed through Goshen and on January 27, 1868, an elec-
tion was held in the townships of ^^alley, Essex, Toulon and Goshon on
the question of subscribing the stock recommended bv the Wyoming
meeting the preceding November. The proposition carried, though
Valley Township voted only $30,000. The lesson of the old Western
Air Line bonds was not lost on the people of Stark County, and in the
case of the Peoria & Rock Island the l)onds issued by the townships
were safeguarded by such conditions that default on the part of the
company w-as impossible.
Work on the road was commenced in the spring of 1869 and early
in June, 1871, the fii'st train arrived at Toulon. Although it was
only a construction train, the occasion was one of rejoicing on the
part of the denizens of the town, and the incident was celebrated by
a big dinner served in Judge Ogle"s grove, at whicli the officials and
em])loyes of the railroad company were invited guests. The first
regular passenger train passed over the road on July 8, 1871. Pre-
vious to that time the Peoria & Rock Island Railroad Company had
formed a consolidation with the Rock Island tV Pacific. The road is
now known as the Peoria & Rock Island division of the great
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific svsteni.
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 175
CHICAGO, BURLINGTON .*;. QUINCY
Tlie branch of this great system whicli runs tln-ough Stark County
had its inception in 18.3.5, in the Peoria & Hannibal Raih-oad, of
which James H. Stipp was the principal projector. Some tive or
six years later Mr. Stipp, on behalf of his company, gave a perpetual
lease to James F. Joy and E. R. Ward, agents of the Chicago. Hur-
lington & Quincy, with the stipulation that the line would be com-
pleted and operated by that company. Early in 1869 the road was
finished and trains were running between Canton and Rushville. The
Ime was then called the Peoria, Dixon & Hannibal Railroad. About
that time the townships of Osceola, Penn, Yalley and Essex, in
Stark County, took up the question of granting some financial aid
to the company, in order to hasten the completion of the road.
In this work Ur. Alfred Castle, of Wyoming, was one of the
leading spirits. Through the influence of him and his associates,
lil)eral subsidies were granted and the work was pushed with such
viaor that before the close of the year the line had crossed the boun-
dary of Stark County being the first railroad in the county. In 1870
it was finished to Ruda. where it connects with the main line of the
Chicago. Rurlington i<c Quincy system. It is now known as the Ruda
6c Rushville branch. It passes through Essex, Toulon, Penn and
Osceola townships, the Stark County stations on the road being Dun-
can, Wyoming, Castleton, Bradford and Lombardville.
CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN
About the close of the nineteenth century the Chicago & North-
western Railroad Company decided to build a branch from some point
on the main line to Peoria. After surveying several routes the one
decided upon was from Nelson, six miles west of Dixon on the main
line, southward through Lee, Bureau, Marshall and Stark counties.
No subsidies were asked by the railroad company, the right of way
was ])urchased. construction commenced and in 1902 the road Avas
com]jlete and in running order. From Ruda to the Stark Comity
line it runs almost parallel to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail-
road. Upon reaching the northern boundary of Stark County it veers
slightly eastward, crossing the northeast corner of Osceola Townshi])
and entering ^Marshall County. Just south of Camp Grove it again
turns tf)ward the west and re-enters Stark County in section 12, Yalley
Township. It crosses the southern boundary of the county about
176 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
three-fourths of a mile west of the southeast corner. Two stations
have heen established in Stark County by the Chicago k Northwestern
Railroad Company — Morse, in the northeast corner of Osceola Town-
ship, and Speer, in the southeastern part of Valley Township.
Two townships of Stark Comity — Elmira and ^Vest Jersey —
are without raili'oads. In the other six the valuation of railroad
property is as follows: Essex, $116,382; Goshen, $63,428; Osceola,
$107.02'9; Penn, $78,3.54; Toulon, $82,644; Valley, $77,881. This
total of $.52.5,718 is the value as fixed for tax purposes, but it is far
below the real value of the property.
CHAPTER XI
FINANCE AND INDUSTRY
PUBLIC REVENUES PROPERTY VALUES PRINCIPAL FUNDS RAISED BV
TAXATION — BANKING INSTITUTIONS GENERAL HISTORY EARLY
BANKING IX ILLINOIS STARK COUNTY BANKS AGRICULTURE. —
CROP AND LIVE STOCK STATISTICS — STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE — ■
farmers' INSTITUTES COAL MINING — .^lANUFACTURING TELE-
PHONE COMPANIES.
There is a story of an old man wlio once counseled his son tliat
"The best way to establish and keep a good credit is never to use it."
This seems to have been the ])olicy of Stark County from the time
of its organization in 1839. With the exception of the railroad bonds
mentioned in the preceding chapter, and a few county warrants to
cover a small floating debt at times, the county has never issued
promises to pay, but has lived strictly within its income. And it is
worthy of comment tiiat during the entire three-quarters of a century
of the county's corporate existence there has never been a defalcation
on the part of any public othcial, nor any serious charge of unusual
or unwonted extravagance in the expenditure of public funds. ^Vith
such a record it is not surprising that the county has an uncjuestionable
reputation in the matter of public credit. Should the authorities find
it necessary to issue bonds, it is an easy matter to predict that they
Avould command a good price in the market and find ready purchasers.
Few counties in the United States — especially those that have been
organized for three-quarters of a century — can say, "We do not owe
a single dollar."
The property values of the several townships and corporations
in 1914, as shown by the official records, were as follows:
EJmira 'Township $ 758,198
Essex Township 7o().().38
Goshen Township 1,()()().249
Osceola Township 98.'}, 84.5
Penn Township 807,147
177
178 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
rt^
Tuulun Township 1,318,000
Valley Township 778,955
West Jersey Township 735,851
Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific R. R 17(),998
Chicago, Rurlington & Quincy R. R 295,978
Chicago & Northwestern R. R 5'2,7i'2
Total $7,664,621
In the above table the assessed values of the cities of Toulon and
AVyoniing and the villages of Bradford and Lafayette are included
in the townships in which they are located. In the State of Illinois
the custom prevails of assessing property for taxation at about one-
third of its real value. AVhen this fact is taken into consideration it
will be seen that the taxables of Stark County are easily worth, in
round lunnbers, $24,000,000. And even this estimate is too low. Of
the 184,320 acres of land in the county, the average valuation, based
upon recent actual sales, would be not far from $200 per acre. This
gives a valuation of $36,874,000 for the lands alone. Add to these
figures the value of improvements, jiersonal and corporation property,
moneys and credits, and the property of the coimty «ould show a
valuation of fifty millions or more.
The total amount of tax collected in 1914 was $213,929.96, the
jjrincipal items of Mbich were as follows:
State tax $36,800.53
County tax 26.070.77
Road and bridge fund 44,703.80
School fund 61,134.03
Total $168,709.13
Deducting the total of these four principal items from the entire
amount of tax collected leaves a balance of $45,220.83 to be used for
all other purposes. The tax rate upon the low valuation of $7,664,621
is less than 3 per cent, and if the property of the county Avere
appraised for tax purposes at its actual value, with the same amount
of revenue collected, the rate of taxation would jirobably he the
lowest in the United States.
BANKING INSTITUTIONS
A crude system of banking was inaugui-ated early in the Christian
era by the "\''enetian money-changers. The Rank of Venice was
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 179
established in 117"2 and continued in business until 1707. Jewish
money-lenders invented "forei<^ii bills of exchange" in the latter part
of the thirteenth century, but the Rank of Rarcelona (established in
1401 ) was the first financial institution that made a business of issuing
them. The Rank of Cienoa. which commenced business in 1407. was
the first to issue notes that passed as currency. They passed by en-
dorsement, however, not being made "payable to bearer." The same
bank introduced the system of drawing against deposit accounts by
checks. The Rank of Hamburg was opened in 1619 and the Rank
of England in 101)4. Each of the above institutions was an iini)rove-
ment upon its predecessors, hence the business of banking as conducted
today is the product of nearly eight centuries of evolution since the
fii'st organized bank was established in Venice.
The first Iianking house in the Ignited States was formed l)y an
association of citizens of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 18. 1780.
Four days later Congress passed an act granting the association
authority to conduct a general banking business, and two years after-
ward a "perpetual charter" was granted to the Rank of Xo)'th
America, located at Philadelphia. In 1784 the Rank of Massachusetts
was chartered. In the same year the Rank of New York commenced
operations, but it did not receive its charter until 1791.
The Rank of the United States was established by act of Congress
in 1791. At first a majority of the stock was held by the United States
Government, but this was gradually dis])osed of and the bank became
a private corporation. In 18.'32 a bill to recharter the bank was vetoed
by President Andrew Jackson. This caused the bank to lose a great
deal of its prestige as a financial institution; the panic of 1837 so
seriously affected its affairs that on October 5, 1838, it was forced
to suspend specie payments. iVfter a precarious career of about five
years more, the bank finally closed its doors in 1843.
Then came the era of state and ])rivate banks which lasted until
the beginning of the Civil war. During this period tlie country was
flooded l)y what l)ecame known as "wild cat" banks — that is, banks
established by individuals or corporations without sufficient capital
for successfully conducting a banking Inisiness or adequate means for
meeting their obligations. In 1803 an act of Congress established the
national banking system, and the first comjitroller of the currency was
appointed in 18()4. In March, 1800, another act of Congress levied
a 10 ])er cent tax upon the note issues of all state and ])rivate banks
and since that time all paper currency in the United States has been
issued bv the Government or bv the national l)anks.
180 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
EAlilA* I5AXKIXG IX ILLINOIS
One of th(^ first banks in Illinois was the Bank of Sliawneetown,
which was chartered by the Territorial Legislature for twenty years,
beginnino- on January 1, 1817. The next year Illinois was admitted
into the Union as a state. Article 8, section 21, of the constitution
adopted in that j^ear j^i-ovided :
"There shall be no other banks or moneyed institutions in this state
than those already established by law, except a state bank and its
branches, which may be established and regulated by the General
Assembly of the state as they may think proper."
From the time the state was admitted to al)out 18;J0, its experience
in banking was unpleasant, if not actually disastrous, but in the face
of necessity for some form of circulating medium adequate to the
demands of business the lesson such an experience should teach was
forgotten. The internal improvement scheme was inaugurated and a
large amount of state bonds were sold to construct the contemplated
improvements authorized. The ninth General Assembly provided for
a new state bank with a capital stock of $1.. 500.000 and the state was
given the right to subscribe for ,$100,000 of the stock '^\henever in
the judgment of the General Assembly the condition of the treasury
Avould justify such action." The charter of the state bank thus estab-
lished was to expire on January 1, 1860. At the same session the
charter of the old Bank of Sliawneetown, \\hich had been inactive for
ten years, was extended for twenty years beyond the original date of
expiration (January 1, 1837) and the bank reorganized under the
name of the Bank of Illinois.
At the next session of the Legislature the capital stock of the State
Bank of Illinois was increased from $1., 300,000 to^.'J. .500,000, and
that of the Bank of Illinois from $300,000 to $1,700,000, the state
reserving the riglit to subscribe for all the increase of the former and
$1,000,000 of the latter. Then came the panic of 1837, when Imth
. banks were forced to suspend specie payment. The State Bank failed
in February, 1842, and the Bank of Illinois closed its doors the follow-
ing June, notwithstanding the most liberal laws had been passed in
the hoj^e of keeping their heads above water.
The winter of 1842-43 was a critical j^eriod in the financial history
of the state. The failure of the l)anks. in which the state held large
interests, had a depressing effect upon the public credit of Illinois.
The state debt was over fifteen millions of dollars, with interest past
due. and the bonds fell lielow par, selling sometimes as low as 20 cents
HlSTOllV OF STARK COUNTY 181
on the dollar. Without banks there was a scareity of eirculatinii^
iiiediuin and all lines of industry languished. Many people elainied
that large sums had been wasted in the inteiiuil iiii])rovenient scheme
and in speculation, and advocated the repudiation of the debt.
Stark County, then only abt)ut four years old. was affected by
the existing conditions. On March 8. 1843, the board of commis-
sioners ordered: "That ^linott Silliman, treasurer of Stark County,
be employed and authorized to exchange the State Bank money now
in the treasury of said cdunty, amounting to about sixteen hundred
dollars, for the pro rata of s])ecie ]>aid by said bank, and the balance
in certificates of State Bank indebtedness, and that he have the same
in the treasury' as soon as practicable."
jNIr. Silliman made the exchange, receiving .$4()7.31 in specie and
•f 1.147.37 in certificates of indebtedness, or a total of $l.(iM.68. Some
of the certificates were paid out to county officials "for services" at
the rate of ,50 cents on the dollar, and some time later the state
redeemed the pi-oportion represented by stock held in the defunct
l)ank.
Before the state fully recovered from the ])amc of 1837 and the
de])ression caused by the gigantic internal imi)rovement scheme,
the second state constitution was adopted. Article 10, section 3, of the
constitution of 1848 provided that "no state bank shall hereafter be
created, nor shall the state own or be liable for any stock in any cor-
poration or joint stock association for banking ])urposes, to be here-
after created."
The constitution also provided that individual stock holders in
every bank should be liable to the full amount of stock owned by
them. It was a case of the "burnt child dreads the fire," and the
framers of the new constitution took the precautions to j^revent the
state, through its law makers, from again commiting the folly of
becoming a stockholder in any banking institution. The provisions
of the constitution of 1848 were incorporated in the present constitu-
tion when it was adopted in 1870, so far as state ownership of bank
stock is concerned.
STAliK COUNTY BANKS
The first bank in Stark County was established at Toulon in 1860.
It was known as the Bank of Toulon and was conducted by the
fii'm of Small & Walley, though the real proprietor was Benjamin
Lombard. Bonds of the states of Georgia and South Carolina were
used as the basis* of security for the l)ank's circulation. When the
182 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
bank failed, after a short career, the holders of its notes lost al)out
25 per cent of their face value and the depositors lost even more.
About the close of the Civil war Samuel M. Dewey, a Toulon
merchant, began loaning money, and in December, 1865, the banking-
house of Dewey & Rurge was oi)ened on the north side of Main Street,
nearly opposite the northwest corner of the public scjuare. 31r. Dewey
died in August, 1806, but the firm of Dewey & Rin-ge continued until
1869, when Samuel Rurge purchased the interest of tlie Dewey estate.
In 1875 he erected the building at the northwest corner of ^Slain and
Washington streets and removed the bank to new (juarters. Charles
P. Dewey, a son of the founder, became a partner in 1870. The busi-
ness is now conducted imder the firm name of Dewey, Rurge & Gould,
the partners being Charles P. Dew^ey, Samuel D. Rurge and ^Villiam
E. Gould. The i)aid up capital stock of the bank is 5*^.50.000. and the
surplus }f2.5,000, and the deposits $.500,000.
The Exchange Rank of Wyoming was opened in 1869 by A. R.
^liner, with Otis Dyer as resident manager. After a short time the
name of Exchange Rank was dropped and the business was continued
under the firm name of A. R. ]Miner & Company. In 1876 William
Holgate and four others purchased the interests of A. R. ]Miner &
Company and changed the name of the institution to the Farmers
Rank. The five partners then conducted the bank as a private con-
cern until the fall of 1882, when it was reorganized as the First
National Rank of Wyoming, with James Holgate, i)resident: Wil-
liam Holgate, Cyrus Rocock, Levi Silliman, John A. Klock and
W. P. Ruswell, vice presidents; Andrew F. Stickney, cashier. It
began business as a national bank on jNIarch 15, 1883, and continued
as such until early in the year 1885, when it went into voluntary
liquidation, the interests being transferred to the banking house of
Scott & Wrigley.
The Scott & Wrigley Rank of Wyoming commenced business as
a private bank in 1870. A few years later H. A. Hammond was
admitted to a partnership and the firm took the name of Scott, Wrig-
ley & Hammond. In 1910 the name was again changed, the firm
then becoming Scott, Walters & Rakestraw, under ^\llich it still con-
tinues. This is one of the leading banking concerns of the county and
maintains branches at Castleton and Duncan, W. II. Hartz being
in charge of the Castleton brancli and E. V. Graves at Duncan.
^Villiam Leet opened the Exchange Rank at Rradford in 1872 as
a private banking house. It is now known as the Rradford Exchange
Rank, with Rosa L. Thompson, president; Robert Thompson, cashier;
T
T "^■■■■"'■•■■M^,-^^J
■ ■ ■ II
I'lIKXlX liANK. r.i;Al)K<)l!l>
INTEKlOi; \ li:\V OF rUKXIX liAXK
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
HISTUUV OF STAKK COUNTY 183
J. E. Harney, assistant cashier. C. W. & Harmon Plienix also liegan
the hanking husiness at Bradford ahout the time the Exchange Bank
was started. The husiness they estahhshed is now conducted under
tlie name of the Phenix Banking Company.
The State Bank of Speer was organized in 19()'2 under the general
hanking hiws of the State of llhnois with a capital stock of i{?2.5,()00.
It has heen jirosjierous from the heginning and in Septeniher, 191;),
reported a surplus fund of $14,000 and deposits of $100,000. At
that time the officers of the hank were as follows: John TurnhuU.
president; Adam Daxidson, vice president; Benjamin E. 13avis,
cashier.
Two hanks were estahlished in Stark County in 1903 — the State
Bank of Toulon and the National Bank of Wyoming. The capital
stock of the State Bank of Toulon was fixed at $2.11,000 and the first
officers were: S. M. xVdams, president; D. K. Fell, vice president;
W. W. Fuller, cashier. In Septeniher, 191.), this hank reported a
surjjlus of $25,000, undivided profits amounting to $10,711, and
deposits of $27.5,000. S. M. Adams was then president; R. E. Taylor,
vice ])resident; E. H. Lloyd, cashier, George Nowlan, assistant
cashier.
The National Bank of A\'yoming occupies a neat and well
arranged huilding erected expressly for the purpose. The capital
stock of the hank is $.)().000; the surplus, $2.5.000 ; and the deposits,
$27.5,000. In Octoher, 191.5. James Ilarty was president; Jolin T.
Colgan, vice president; A. J. Adams, cashier; D. J. Colgan and Ilazel
Sellon, assistant cashiers. This hank enjoys the distinction of heing
the only national bank in Stark County.
The first bank in Lafayette was o])ened ])y Bailey &: Beecher as a
private banking house, in the building occupied in 191.5 by Aldredge's
store. Bailey & Beecher sold out to Dewey & Potter, who conducted
the bank but a short time when they in turn sold to A. jM. Janes. Mr.
Janes continued the institution as a private bank until early in the
s])ring of 191.5. when it was incorjiorated as the State Bank of I^afay-
ette, heginning business under the new name on ]March 9. 191.5, witli
a capital stock of $2.5,000 and the following officers: A. M. Janes,
})resident; Baxter Fuller and Alexander Inglis, vice presidents; W. N.
Nelson, cashier. The hank has its home in a substantial l)uilding
erected purposely for its acconniiodation, and on September 30, 191.5,
I'eported deposits of $8.5,000.
Six of the eight banks in the county reported deposits in Sep-
tember, 191.5, aggregating $1, 23.5,000. Scott. Walters & Rakestraw,
184 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
of ^Vyonling, and tlie two Bradford banks, l)ein<>- private institu-
tit)n.s. cliose to exercise the privilege granted to such hanks of with-
liokhng information regarding the amount of their deposits. It is
probable, however, that they carry deposits that would raise the total
for the entire county to nearly or quite two million dollars — approxi-
mately two hundred dollars for each man, woman and child residing
in the county. If the bank deposits of a community form any index
to its prosperity. Stark County certainly has no cause for complaint.
AGRICULTURE
Farming and stock raising have always been the leading occupa-
tions of the citizens of Stark County. From the small clearing in the
timber or the sod cornfield on the prairie in 1840, the agricultural
interests have gradually developed until in ltn.3 practically all the
agricultural land of the county was under culti\ation. Originally
some of the land was too wet to produce good crops, but, according
to a bulletin issued by the State Board of Agriculture on August 1,
1915, there are over one thousand miles (.5,401. .540 feet) of drain
tile u2)on the farms of the county, and the total number of acres under
cultivation ^vas 180, .570.
There is neither poetry nor romance in figm'cs, and statistics as
a rule are regarded as "dry reading," but the storv of a community's
•-»'■
progress can often be better told in statistics than in any other way.
Adopting that method, then, for the purpose of showing Stark
County's agricultural status, the following tables have been compiled
from the bulletin of the State Board of Agriculture of December 1.
1914, to show the principal crops, miscellaneous products, and live
stock conditions:
Acres Bushels Value
Corn 60,232 1,32.5,104 ^ 79.5,002
Oats 37,600 2,2.56,000 924,960
Wheat 2,270 .58,.572 ;56.71.5
Rye 795 15,900 12,243
Barley 650 19,500 15,600
Potatoes 115 2,330 1,980
Hay (all kinds) . 40,000 50,000 tons 650.000
Pasture 33.650 168,250
'"1'^
rotal 175,312 $2,624,810
HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY 185
The value of the ero])s was determined by the eoncHtion of the
market at tlie time the hidletiii was issued by the State Board of
Agriculture and would ha\e brought the prices indicated had the
products been sold on December 1, 1914«.
Deducting the total acreage, as given in the above table, from
180,.)7i>, the number of acres under cultivation, leaves .),'284 acres for
"truck patches" and lawns about the homes of the farmers. In addi-
tion to the crops given in the table, the farmers of Stark County s(jld
during the year the following miscellaneous products:
Amount Value
Timothy seed 24 bushels $ 96.00
Clover seed 21 bushels 210.00
Millet seed 27 bushels 100.00
\Vool 16,93.) pounds 4,234.00
Butter l.),7T2 pounds 4,732.00
Honey 988 pounds 119.00
Milk 2,567 gallons 770.00
Poultry 4,098.00
Eggs 1,82.).00
Cheese 187.00
Total value $16,371.00
The number and value of domestic animals on May 1, 1914, as
estimated by the State Board of Agricultiu-e, was as follows:
Number A'alue
Horses 7,197 Not given
Hogs 11,888 $133,204
Cattle 13,977 282,370
Sheep 3,978 23,486
Total value $'439,060
Of the cattle enumerated, 1,27-3 were dairy cows. During the
year the numbei- of sheep sold was 87.'); the number of hogs, 9,867;
the number of cattle, 2,921, the value of the entire product being
based upon the jn-iees received for those marketed. It will be noticed
that the value of horses is not given. If it were included, together
with the value of animals not mentioned in the agricultural l)ulletiii.
such as mules, goats, etc., the value of the live stock of Stark County
in 1914 would easily reach half a million dollars.
Vol. I— 1 2
186 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
STATE BOARD OF AGKICULTURE
The Illinois State Roard of Agriculture was created by the act
of Ai)ril 1.5, 1872. and duriny the forty-three years it has been in
existence it has wiehled a wide inHuence upon tiie farming and stock
raising interests of the state. The lioard is composed of one member
from each Congressional district, who is a vice president of the board.
In 191.5 the member from the Sixteenth district was J. P. Code, of
Rradford, Stark County. Resides the state fair, which is held under
the supervision of the State Roard of Agriculture each year, and
which is generally recognized as one of the finest agricultural exhibits
in the country, the board collects and publishes every year a statistical
report of the crops throughout the state. To accomplish this work
in a manner that will insure authenticity in the results, a corps of crop
correspondents, representing every county in the state, collects and
sends in the necessary information. In 1914 the croj) correspondents
for Stark County were: Duncan JNIcKenzie, 31. R. Downend and
A. Leroy Hazen.
farmers' institutes
Along toward the close of the Nineteenth Century the custom of
holding farmers' institutes was adopted in most of the states of the
3Iiddle ^Vest. The Illinois State Farmers" Institute was created i)y
the act of June 2-i, 189.5. The act provided for an ex-officio board
of directors to be composed of the superintendent of public instruc-
tion, the dean of the College of Agriculture, and the presidents of
the State Roard of Agriculture, the State Horticultural Society and
the State Dairymen's Association. In addition to this there is a
board of twenty-five directors, elective by Congressional districts.
This state institute undertook the work of directing the county insti-
tutes, the state making a small appropriation to such counties as
would hold farmers' institutes under certain conditions.
An act of the Legislature, approved on June 5, 1911, authorized
the boards of county su])ervisors in comities having township organiza-
tion, or the commissioners in counties without township organization,
"to appro})riate from the county treasury, for the use of the county
farmers' institutes in their efforts to promote the adoption of the
latest approved methods of crop production, the conservation of soil
fertility, and the improvement of agricultural conditions generally;
])rovided, that in no case shall it be lawful for a county board to ap])ro-
priate more than $300 in any one year for the above purj^oses."
HISTORY OF STAllK COUNTY 187
For a miiiiber of years the farmers of Stark County held institutes
at some time during the winter months. On a number of these occa-
sions the hoard of supervisors made appropriations under tlie al)ove
mentioned aet to assist in defraying the expenses. Instructors from
the State College of xVgrieidture gave lectures on various subjects
in which the farmers are interested; corn contests were conducted
under the auspices of the institute otficials and prizes awarded to the
winners; boys and young men were taught to judge the "jioints" of
various kinds of live stock; the best methods of preparing ground,
selecting seed, and many otlier subjects of hve interest to the farmer
were discussed. The attendance was generally good and those who
came went away feeling well repaid for their time and tiouble.
The last institute held in the co\uity was in 1913. M. B. Downend
was then pi'esident: W. W. Wi'ight, secretary; Fred Winans. treas-
urer. These three men and their associates spared no effort to make
the institute a success and their efforts were rewarded by the largest
attendance ever witnessed at an institute in Stark County, about five
hundred people being present. Much of the work formerly done
through the county institutes is now l)eing done by the ])ublic schools.
In the township high school at Toulon, and some of the other schools
of the county, instruction is given and experimental work done in
various branches of agriculture.
With the annual products of the farms, in crops and live stock,
running over three millions of dollars; with more than a thousand
miles of drain tile in the wet land districts; with a soil unsurjjassed
in i'ertility, and with the influence of the College of Agi-iculture per-
meating every nook and corner, the business of farming in Stark
County is constantly rising to a higher ])lane and being conducted
upon a more scientific basis. Other industries may be establistied and
may ])rosper, but it is quite certain that for years to come "corn is
king" in the little County of Stark.
COAL MINING
In the first chai)ter of this work some account is given of the coal
dejjosits, in their relation to the geology of the county. Probably the
fii'st attention to the coal l)eds of Stark County was attracted through
the report of Professor Wilbur, who made some investigations in this
part of the state and gave the product the name of "Spoon River"
coal. Professor Wilbur predicted a profitable business in mining
coal. Says he: "The fortunate position of the Spoon River coal
188 HISTOllV OF STARK COUNTY^
field gives lis oceasioii to make a few remarks as regards its future
value. It is situated near the Mississippi River, whose eoal trade in
barges northward will soon equal its lumber trade southward, dis-
tributing these mining products at the depots of 15,000 miles of shore,
on either side. It is bounded on the north l)y the Silliman district,
which occupies 17,000 scjuare miles of Northern Illinois, all of ^Viscon-
sin and ^Minnesota, and Xorthern Iowa. This vast area is entirely
void of coal, depending solely upon transportation from the nearest
coal deposits.
"The limit of workable coal may be safely put at eighty miles
northwest and southeast by thirty miles northeast and southwest,
giving an area of 2,400 square miles. In this field there are two veins
of coal, having a combined thickness of nine feet. To measure the
amoimt in tons we must take one cubic yard for every ton as a measur-
ing vmit. A stratum of coal three feet thick would therefore give a
cubic yard for every square yard of surface. Hence, an acre of three-
foot coal would contain 4,840 tons; but in this field we have a thickness
of nine feet, and an acre here must therefore contain 14, .520 tons. The
aG'oreoate of tons contained in the field, whose limit we have assumed
as eighty by thirty miles, is 22,302,720.000 tons. Now, if we distribute
1,000 tons per day, it will require 75,000 years to exhaust the supply,
allowing 300 working days per year."
These predictions are certainly optimistic enough, >iut subsetp-.ent
developments demonstrated that Professor Wilbur was somewhat
mistaken in his calculations, both as to the area of the field and the
thickness of the deposits.
So far as can be learned, the first coal mined in the county was
about 18.)4 or 185.5. when a few of the early settlers commenced taking
coal in small quantities from the outcrops along Jack Creek and Jug
Rim. A little later David and William Howard opened a mine in
section 23, Toulon Township, about two miles and a half north of
Wyoming and not far from the Spoon River. About the same time
the Howards opened their mine, John Robinson and Richard
Howarth (commonly called "Shanty Dick" by his neighbors) did some
mining on section 25. about a mile and a half southeast of the Howard
mine. A shaft was sunk in this locality some years later and a consid-
erable quantity of coal was taken out. The passenger on the Chicago,
Rurlington & Quiney Railroad can still see the I'uins of the abantloned
mine from the car windows.
In 1857 James Fraser came from England and settled in Stark
County. He was a practical miner, having previously worked in the
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 189
Xewcastle collieries in his native land, lie I'ornied a partnership with
Thomas Tunsall, another Knglishnian, and the two leased a part of
section 14, Toulon Township, from Elisha Dixon. Their mine was
worked systematically, the slack and sulphur heinff taken from the
coal, and the product of the Fraser & Tunsall mine found a ready sale.
In IS.jS this firm purchased a part of Section 23, near the Howard
mine, opened a mine tliere and that year sold about one thousand tons.
About the beyinm'nn' of the Civil wai' in 18(n, John Mcl^au<>hlin
was earryiiii)- on a successful mininfj- business at what was called the
Foster coal bank, two and a half miles west of Bradford, near the
Fast L'ork of the Spoon River. North of that about two miles was
the S. C. Francis mine, mentioned by H. A. Green in his geological
report of the county for 1870, and between the JMcLoughlin and
Francis mines was the Bradford shaft, in section 21, also mentioned
by Green in his report.
Shortly alter the close of the Civil war the Lathrop Coal Com])any
began mining on a more extensive scale than had up to that time been
attemjjted in the county. The mines of this company were constructed
on the most a])proved plans known to that period, being provided with
steam hoisting aj)paratus, jjumjjs for keeping the mines clear of water,
escape shafts for the miners, side tracks, screens, chutes, etc., and
tenements and boarding houses for the miners. It was operated in
the vicimty of Wyoming and the products of its mines were shipped
to distant cities, so the local miners had no opposition from the big
concern. In IBTl' the output of the Lathi-op mines was about three
hundred and tifty tons daily. At the same time the local miners, who
were operating on a smaller scale and supjjlying the local market,
were turning out about 7.000 bushels of coal every week.
Among these local operators were Fred Charleston, Peter Iler-
])erger, William and Hemy Newton and John Cununings, whose
mines were situated at different points in Toulon Township. William
Newton's nu"ne, known as the "Coe coal bank," was opened about
18(>r> and at one time employed about fifteen men. Around Modena
Avas also a favorite field for the operator with small capital.
In Elmira Township the outcrops along the West Fork of the
Spoon River were worked at an early date by some of the settlers,
who thiis obtained a su])ply of coal for their own use. So far as can
be learned, the first shaft sunk in this township was that of Thomas
Oliver, which was opened late in the year 188.3. It was located about
a mile north of the village of Elmira and turned out a large block
coal e(|ual in ([uality to any produced in the countv.
190 HISTOHV OF STARK COUNTY
When Green made his geological survey of tlie county in 180!)-70,
he found a number of workings around Modena, in Osceola Township,
along Jack Creek and near Cox's mill in Essex Township. But in
recent years many of the mines have become "worked out" and have
been abandoned, the great piles of shale and the ramshackle buildings
standing as mute monuments to a bygone industry. Some mining
is still carried on in the county, the largest single working prol)ably
being the "Big Hit" mine, which is situated directly east of the
Chicago, Bm'lington & Quincy Railroad, between Wyoming and
Castleton.
MANUFACTURING
Stark has never been a manufacturing county to any considerable
extent. The first factories of any kind were grist mills, to supply the
])ioneers with material for making the "staff of life," and saw mills,
for the purpose of providing them with lumber that they might have
shelter for themselves and families. Perhaps the first mill in the
county was the one built by Harmon Leek on the Simoon River, not
far from where the Wyoming and Toulon road crosses the sti'eam.
Mrs. Shallenberger says: "It was built as early as 1833 or 183-1,
had one run of stone, and there was a saw mill attached to it. The
dam was made of brush, hay and gravel, and the whole thing was
poorly constructed. In the winter of 183.5 or 183(5 Minott Silliman
rented the entire concern for the coming year for thirty dollars. But
the high waters of the opening spring swept dam and mill away, to
the dead loss of JNIr. Silliman of the thirty dollars ])aid in advance,
and an equal amoimt of prospective profits."
Sylvanus ^loore built a mill at an early date a short distance above
liCek's, on the farm afterward known as the "General Thomas Home-
stead," and Lemuel S. Dorrance had a mill on the river not far from
the jjresent village of JNIodena. The latter was afterward known as
Fuller's mill. Shortly after the Dorrance mill was completed he
took Samuel G. Brcese into partnership and the Dorrance and Breese
mill was one of the landmarks of Stark County for years. One of
the l)uhrs used in this old mill was kept by Mr. Breese as a relic for
fully half a century.
In 1837 Enoch Cox came from Ohio, where he had followed the
milling business, and built a mill on Indian Creek a short distance from
its mouth. It was not long until he found the supply of water insuffi-
cient for the purpose of furnishing the power, and removed to the
mouth of Camping Run. about three and a half miles south of
HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY TJl
Wyoming, where he built a larger and better equipped mill, his
brother, Thomas Cox, becoming associated with him in the latter
enterprise.
Andrew Dray, one of the early settlers, built a mill on Indian
Creek, Parker & Bradford had one on Jack Creek, and Amsey New-
man's mill was on Cooper's Defeat, near the northern boundary of
Penn Township. Newman also had a chair factory, where he made
the old-fashioned split bottom chairs and spinning wheels, which
found a ready sale among the early families of the county. Asher
Smith had a tanyard near Newman's mill and made a good cjuality
of leather. John Prior, of Toulon, also made chairs and a few other
articles of furniture of the primitive type.
Probably the first steam mill in the county was the one built by
Dexter Wall at the oUl village of Waldron, in the northwestern part
of Penn Township. After running the mill there for a while he
removed it to ^Vyoming, where it became widely known as the Viola
]\lills. having three run of buhrs. In 188() the mill was remodeled and
the roller process introduced, after which, it was operated for some
time by Charles C. Priester. The machinery was then moved away
and the building in 191.5 was used by Frank S. Foster as a feather
.sorting and renovating estal)lishment.
The Valley Mills at Wyoming stood about one block w^est of the
Rock Island Railroad station and were conducted for several years
by C. S. Payne. This mill had three run of buhrs and did a successful
business, a considerable <iuantity of flour being shipped to Peoria
and otliei- markets. The ruins of the old mill can still be seen. There
were a few other mills in the county at various periods of its history,
but the ones above mentioned were the best known.
One of the most ])retentious manufacturing establishments of early
days was the Hour and woolen mills of John Culbertson at Toulon.
Says ]\Irs. Shallenberger: "While he never expected to reap great
profits himself from this investment, he did hope to make these mills
a public l)enefit and link his name with home enterprises and indus-
tries." The mills were operated under his personal sui)ervision and
employed a number of people, some of whom were skilled workmen,
but after JNIr. Culbertson's death in 1869 the industry was allowed to
languish and finally Avent down.
Another ]iioneer carding mill was located on Walnut Creek, in
West Jersey Township, or as it was then known "Massillon Precinct."
It was owned by Charles Yocum and \Vashing1;on Trickle and did a
thriving business at a time when the good women of the county spun
192 HISTOKV OF STARK COUNTY
their own yarn, wove it into flannel and jeans, and made most of the
garments worn by the several members of the family.
In the history of Goshen Township mention is made of \Villiaui
Dunbar, the "Old Hatter" of Lafayette. It is said that he would
take a large number of hats fastened together, throw them over his
shoulders, mount a horse and start out on a peddling expedition,
remaining away until his stock was disposed of, when he would return
home and begin the manufacture of another supply. In this Avay he
carried on a successfvd trade for a number of years, or until the "fac-
tory" hats, which sold for lower prices, forced him out of the market.
A cheese manufactui-ing company was organized at Toulon in
December, 1874, with a capital stock of $5,000, and began operations
in May, 187o. Its first year's product amovmted to 4.1,800 pounds of
cheese. After running for a few years the business was discontinued,
and in January, 1885, the old cheese factory was converted into a
skating rink. A bulletin of the State Board of Agriculture issued on
December 1, 1914, shows that during the preceding year there were
1,24'4. jjounds of cheese manufactured in the county.
^Muchmore & Phenix engaged in the manufacture of wagons at
Bradford at a comparatively early date. W. AMiite cV Company con-
ducted a wagon and carriage factory at Toulon, and J. B. Robinson
was engaged in the same line of business at Wyoming. John B.
Maxfield began making brick near Toulon about the close of the Civil
war; James P. Headley operated a brick yard at Toulon along in
the '80s; Higbee & Damon were engaged in the mamifacture of brick
and tile at Wyoming at the same time, and among the other manu-
factured products of the county may be mentioned cigars, harnesti,
sorghum molasses and a few other minor articles. In 1915 a large
bakery at Wyoming shipped bread to a number of the surrounding
towns.
TELEPHONE COMPANIES
Although the telephone company is not an "industry,"" in the sense
that it mamifactures or produces any commodity, it is one of the
greatest aids to business of all kinds in modern times. Before the in-
ti'oduction of the telephone and the free rural delivery of mail, the
farmer de])ended largely upon his weekly newspaper and the informa-
tion bi-ought by his neighbors when they "went to town" for his
market reports. Now many of the farmers have telephones in their
houses and the rural carriers bring the daily jjapers to nearly every
household in Stark County.
On jNIarch 1, 1902, the Toulon Mutual Telephone Comj^any was
HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY 193
granted right of way for their hues along certain liighways in the
county by the board of .supervisors, and soon afterward the work of
construction was commenced. Just a inontii hiter (April 1, 1902)
the Castleton Telephone Company, which was organized by A. U.
Hoff' and A. L. Johnson, was granted right of way over some of the
roads in the eastern part of the county. About five years later the
interests of these two companies Avere consolidated in the Stark
County Telephone Company, which was duly incorporated under the
laws of the State of Illinois, with a capital stock of $2(),()()0. In
October, 191.), the com])any was o])erating exchanges at Toulon,
W'voming, Castleton, Camp (irove, Duncan and Elmira, with about
two thousand telephones comiected with its lines. The building at
Toulon, ill which are the exchange and general otfices of the company,
was erected expressly for the purpose in 191-1, and tlie exchange
building at Camj) Grove is also owned by the company, the other
exchanges occupying leased quarters. The officers of the company
in 1915 were: W. F. Price, president and general manager; A. B.
Hoft', manager of the eastern division; W. R. Sandham, secretary;
C. P. Dewey, treasurer. The boai'd of directors was com])osed of
the above officers, J. W. Walters, Arthur Walters, .Tames T. Rogers,
Jehiel Fuller, William Jackson and J. H. Duncan.
On June 2, 1900, the Osceola-Neponset Telephone Com])any and
the Buda-Rradford Telephone Com])anv were both granted the ])rivi-
lege of setting poles and running wires along highways mentioned in
their respective petitions. Of the former company Frank ^V. Bates
was then president and A. E. Stetson, secretary; and of the latter
com])any Frank Kopp was president and Hollis Blauvelt, secretary.
The Lafayette Telephone Company — C. A. Buffum, president;
F. \Y. Kltzroth, secretary — was granted a right of way on iVpril 17,
1901. The Milo-Bradford Telej^hone Company, of which Festus
Bently was president and Cyrus Bocock, secretary, was granted simi-
lar concessions on ]March 11. 1902; the Duncan Telephone Com])any,
through its secretary, J. W. McXay, filed a petition with the board
of supervisors on April 1.), 1902, which was granted the same day;
and on June 10, 1902. right of way was granted to the West Jersey
Tcle])hone Com])any, of which Watson Egbert was president, and
Thomas J. Dryden, secretary.
By an arrangement with the Stark County Telephone Company,
all the lines of these local companies are connected through the
exchanges of the former, giving long distance senice to all parts of
the county. The advantages resulting from this service can hardly
be estimated.
CHAPTER XII
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
CHARACTER OF THE EARIA' SCHOOLS SCHOOI.HOUSE AND FURNITURE
TEXT-BOOKS SPELLING SCHOOLS THE THREE r's PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEJI STARK COUNTY SCHOOLS PIONEER TEACHERS EDUCA-
TIONAL PROGRESS BY TOWNSHIPS THE SEMINARY TOULON PUBLIC
SCHOOLS TOULON ACADEMY WYOMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL
OFFICERS teachers' INSTITUTE TEACHERs' ASSOCIATION THE
PRESS BRIEF HISTORIES OF THE VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS EXTINCT
NEWSPAPERS PUBLIC LIBRARIES WVOilING TOULON LAFAY-
ETTE BRA n F () R D EL:\riRA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION SCHOOL
LIBRARIES.
The young jjeople who enjoy the excellent educational facilities
offered by the Stark County public schools in this year 1916 can
hardly be exjiected to realize the difficulties encountered by their fath-
ers and grandfathers in the acquisition of an education three-quarters
of a century ago, when the first white people in what is now Stark
County established their homes. Then there were no public funds
with which to build schoolhouses and pay the salaries of teachers.
When a sufficient number of settlers had located in a neighborhood to
support a school they would join together in the erection of a school-
house at some central point, where it would be most convenient for
the children. These early schoolhouses ^vere invariably of logs, with
clapboard roof and puncheon floor, sometimes, in fact, having no
floor except "mother earth." If money enough could be raised in
the frontier settlement, and it was not too far to some trading post,
a real window of sash and glass would be placed in each side of the
building, but in many instances the only light came through oiled
paper fastened to a framework of slender strips over the aperture
formed by leaving out a section of one of the logs. Stoves were a
luxury and the school room was imperfectly heated liy a great fire-
place at one end. On cold days those sitting near the fire would
become too warm, while those farther away would be suffering with
194
HlSTOltV OF STARK COUNTY 195
cold. One can imagine the confusion in tiie school caused by pupils
constantly changing their scats to "get warm."
The furniture of the school room was of the most i)riniitive charac-
ter. Seats were made by splitting in halves a tree of some eight or
ten inches in diameter, driving pins into holes bored in the half-round
sides for legs, and then smoothing the upi)er surface with a draw-
knife. The legs stood at an angle that would insure stability to the
"bench." Under the window was the writing desk, which was made
by boring holes in the wall at a slight angle and driving stout pins into
the holes to support a wide board, the top of which would be dressed
smooth to serve as a table, at which the ])u])ils would take their turns
at writing.
The text-books used in that day were usually Webster's spelling-
book, the English or McGuffey's readers. Pike's. Ual)oirs, Tal])ott's
or Ray's arithmetics, and if the teacher knew enough to teach such
studies and the district was inclined to be aristocratic. Olney's geog-
ra])hy and Kirkluun's or Butler's grammar. The teacher of that day
was seldom a graduate of a higher institution of learning, knew nothing
of normal school training, and rarely made any special preparation for
the work. If he could read and spell well, write well enough to "set
copies" for the children to imitate, and could "do all the sums" in the
arithmetic up to and including the "Rule of Three," he was qualified to
teach. There was one qualification, howevei-, which could not be over-
looked in the teacher of that ])erio(l. He must be a man of sufficient
physical strength to hold the unruly boys in subjection and i)rescrve or-
der in the school. AVith the pioneer pedagogue "to spare the rod was to
spoil the child." Xot many children were spoiled, for at the beginning
of the term a bundle of tough switches were gathered and displayed
to the best advantage as a sort of ])rophylactic. If the mere sight of
these switches did not deter the bad l)oy from committing some infrac-
tion of the rules, a vijSforous application of one of them generally had
a tendency to cure his fi-olicsome disposition.
On the theory that no one could become a good reader without
first being a good s])eller, more attention was given to orthography
during the child's early school days than to any other branch of study.
Spelling schools of evenings were of frequent occurrence, and in these
matches the parents would nearly always take part. Two "captains"
would be selected to "choose up," the one Avinning the first choice
would select the best speller ])resent, the other the next best, and so
on until all who desired to participate were divided into two equal
sides. Then the teacher "gave out" the words alternately from side
196 HISTORY OF STxVKK COUNTY
t(j side. When one mis-spelled a word he took his seat. The one
who stood longest won the victory, and to "spell down" a whole school
district was considered (juite an achievement.
After the child could sjjell fairly well he was taught to read. Then
came the writing lessons. The copy-books used in the early schools
bore no lithographed line at the top. They were generally of the
"home-made" variety, consisting of a few sheets of foolscap paper
covei'ed ^\ith a sheet of heavy wrapping paper. xVt the top of the
page the teacher woidd write a line or "copy," which was usually some
motto or jjroverb intended to convey a moral lesson as well as to give
the pu])il a specimen of penmanshij) to imitate; such as "Evil com-
munications corrupt good manners," "Whatever is worth doing is
worth doing well," etc. When one stoi)s to consider that the term of
school was rarely over three months, that the same teacher hardly ever
taught two terms in succession in the same place, and that each teacher
had a diiFerent style of penmanship, it is a wonder the young peoj^le
of that day learned to write as well as many of them did.
Xext came the arithmetic. In the pronunciation of this word the
soimd of the initial letter was often dropped and it was ])ronounced
'rithmetic. And the fact that Keadin", 'Ritin' and 'Rithmetic were
regarded as the essentials of a practical education gave rise to the
exjjression "the three R's." If one imderstood the three R's he was
equi])])ed for the great liattle of life, so far as ordinary business affairs
were concerned.
But during the years that have passed since the tirst white man
came to Stark County educational development has kept steji with
industrial progress. The old log schoolhouse, with its crude furniture,
has disappeared and in its place has come the commodious structure
of brick or stone. Steam heat, or a warm air furnace, has su2)planted
the old fireplace, giving a uniform temperatm-e to the school room.
The teacher now must show fitness and training for his calling. The
bundle of "gads" is no longer kept on exhibition as a terror to evil-
doers and corporal jjunishment is no longer considered a necessary
part of the educational system. Yet, under the old regime, profes-
sional men who afterward achieved world-wide reputations, chief jus-
tices. United States senators, great inventors, and even presidents of
the United States accjuired their rudimentary education in the old
log schoolhouse.
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
The enabling act of April 18. 1818. which authorized the ])cople
of Illinois to adopt a constitution preparatory to being admitted into
HISTORY OF STAllK COUNTY 197
the Union as a state, set apart section Ifi in eaeli Cono-rcssional town-
ship as the basis of a per])etnal common school fund, the income of
which was to be used for the ecUication of the youth of the state. At
the beginning of the present century the vahie of these sections was
$11. ()(){).()()(), but the school hinds then unsold were valued at only
<t4.()'J.).000.
In IHtiit Congress passed an act dividing the surplus in the national
treasury among the states. Illinois received $33.5,000, which was
added to the permanent school fund. Technically this distribution
was a loan to the state, but no demand has ever licen made for its
repayment — nor is any demand likely to be made — and the state's
school fund has been permanently enriched by that amount.
A county school fund ^\as established by the Legislature of 1837,
the income of which was to be added to the general school fund each
year. The county school fund amounted to $1()"2,0()0 at the begin-
ning, but has been slightly increased by the addition of certain
unclaimed funds in the public treasury, etc. From these several
soui'ces, Illinois has built up a school fund of about fourteen millions
of dollars, which can be increased, but cannot l)e legally diminished.
The permanent school fund is loaned to the state, the interest amount-
ing to about seven hundred thousand dollars per animm, which is
used for the support of the i)ul)lic schools, and which is apportioned
among the counties in proportion to the number of persons between
the ages of five and twenty-one years.
In addition to these various sources of school revenue, each county
levies a tax for the supjjort of its free schools under the following
provision of the Constitution of 1870: "The General Assembly shall
])i'()vide a thorough and efficient system of free schools, wherel)y all
children of this state may receive a good conunon school education."
Pursuant to the above constitutional provision, the Legislature of
Illinois has from time to time passed laws for the improvement of the
public school system until the state offers to its young people educa-
tional facilities that rank high among those of the states of the Uniom
.Stark County's local school tax in li)14 amounted to $()1,134'.()3, or
$2.34 for each pupil enumerated.
STARK COUNTY SCHOOLS
In the chapter on Townshij) History will be found some mention
of some of the early schools and the number of school districts in each
t()wnshi|) at the present time. The first schoolhouse in the county was
198 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
raised in Essex Township uii July i, 1834. An account of the 'rais-
ing," as given by JMadison Winn, is given in connection witli the
history of that township. A school district had been organized there
the year before, with Renjaniin Smith, Sylvanus IMoore and Green-
leaf Smith as trustees for the territory embracing township 12 north,
range G east. After the erection of the schoolhouse the next vear,
Adam Perry taught the first school in the new structure, which is
believed to liave been the fii'st school ever taught in the county. ^Irs.
Sliallenberger, in her "Stark County and Its Pioneers," gives the
following copy of the receipt signed by Mr. Perry for his salary:
":March 1.5, IS.S.").
"Received of Isaac E. Essex $.j.5..5U, in full, for teaching a school
three months in town 12 X., range 6 E., which school ended this day.
"Adam Perky."
Stark County Mas then a part of Putnam and Isaac B. Essex was
commissioner of the school fund for the townshii) that now bears his
name. Under his direction section 10 (the school section) was sold
on February 4, 18.'34. for $968.70.
The second school in the county was probably that taught bv ]Miss
Sabrina Chatfield, which ended on July 8, 183.5, and for which she
received $13.00, the term being thi-ee months. ^liss Chatfield after-
ward became the wife of B. L. Hilliard and removed to Clark County,
Iowa, where she died some years later. ]Mary Lake also taught a
short term in the fall of that year, her receipt being dated Xovem-
ber 3, 183.5. It states that she taught six weeks and two days, for
which she received $6.3li/x.
Other early teachers were Jesse Heath, Jose})h R. Xewton, James
Dalrymple and William Sammis. ^Ir. Clifford says of Jesse Heath:
"He was a man of fair education, from St. Louis, a 'good fellow'
out of school, but a rigid disciplinarian within. He seemed to regard
the scholars as blockheads and dolts, because they were so back^\ard.
He fi-ightened one of the boys so much that the little fellow stayed
at home two weeks in bed, feigning sickness to avoid going to school."
The early schools were frecjuently of the type known as "sub-
scription schools," for the reason that the ])ublic fund was then too
small to defray all the expenses of the teacher's salary, provide fuel,
etc. L. E. INIiner, in a communication to one of the Stark County
newspapers some years ago. gives the following account of a school
taught b}' him shortly after the County of Stark was organized:
HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY 199
"In 1839 I was rcciucsted to teach a scliool at Col. W. H. Hender-
son's. I received snbscriptions for scholarships and Colonel Hender-
son furnished a place for the school in one of his buildings, which was
fitted up by cutting a log out of the west side of the cabin and putting-
greased newspapers in the place of the log. This was all the light we
had in the school room. The scholars came from Spoon River — John
Bowen from up Indian Creek — besides those nearer by who could
walk to school. It was in the winter of 1839-40. There was one fam-
ily in Toulon at that time, that of John ^Miller. Colonel Henderson
sent seven scholars to my school: William, Thomas. Henry, \\'eb-
ster, Stephen and James, and Felix ^Vilkinson, a nephew of Mrs.
Henderson. John \V. Henderson was with his father in attendance
on the Legislature at Yandalia."
iMr. JNIiner fails to state the amount of tuition he received for each
scholar, but his descrii)tion of the schoolhouse will give the reader
some idea of the ditficulties that had to be encountered and overcome
in obtaining an education in the "good old times."
The public school system of Stark County may be said to have
had its beginning in the action of the county commissioners at their
first session. On April .5, 1839, they appointed James Ilolgate school
commissioner and the next day announced the appointment of the
following trustees of the school lands: Township 17, range 7 (now
Osceola), J. C. Avery, Henry Seely and A. JNI. Smith; township 13,
range 7 (Penn), Henry Breese, Samuel Camp and Isaac Spencer;
township 13, range 6 (Toulon), J. W. Heath, Samuel Seely and
Adam Perry; township 12, range 6 (Essex), Calvin Powell, Sr.,
Moses Boardman and Whitney Smith; township 12, range 5 (West
Jersey). William W. Webster. Joseph Palmer and ^Milton Richards;
townshij) 13, range .> (Goshen), C. H. Miner, Luther UriscoU and
Samuel Parrish.
No trustees were appointed for Elmira and \'allcy townships, and
it is difficult to understand why trustees of school lands were appointed
for the Townshi]) of Essex, in which the school section had been sold
some five years before.
An election was held at the house of Robert JNIoore, in Osceola
Precinct, on January 10, 1838. to vote on the question of incorporating
township 14. range C> (Ehnira). for school purposes. Ten votes were
cast, all of them in favor of the ])r()position and Robert jMoore, INIathias
Sturm, R()])ert Hall. Thomas Watts. Myrtle G. Brace and James
Buswell were elected trustees. Stark County was then a ])ait of
Putnam and no report can be found as to the number of schools, if
200 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
any, that were conducted in tlie township. In 18 1.) a petition from
the people of this township was presented to James B. Lewis, sdiool
commissioner, asking for the sale of the school lanils. The early
school records of this township have disappeared and none prior to
1801 can he found. In 1914 the township enumerated 2.3.5 persons
of scliool age: possesseil school property worth $10, GOO, apparatus
valued at $1,080, and employed nine teachers.
The school section in Essex Township was sold in February, 1834,
as already stated, and tlie money ai)])lied to the support of the com-
mon schools. On June 30, 1840, twenty-three votes were cast in favor
of organizing the township for school purposes, but the names of the
first trustees cannot be learned. During the school year of 1914-1. >
Essex enrolled 283 pujjils in the ten school districts; the school prop-
erty, including the south side school building in the City of Wyoming-
was valued at $20,7-5O, and the value of apparatus was $2, 27.3.
The school history of Goshen Township begins with the appoint-
ment of jNIessrs. INIiner, Driscoll and Parrish as trustees on April 6,
1839, though subscription schools had no doubt been taught within
the township limits prior to that date. On September .3, 184.3, a
2)etition signed by seventy-five legal voters asked for the sale of the
school section, and the last of the school lands in this township was
dis2)osed of in February, 18.51. Says Leeson: "One of the first, if
not the first schoolhouse in Goshen Township, was that overlooking
the Indian camp, two miles from the Harris farn), on the old state
road." The first school election was held at the house of Elijah Eltz-
worth in October, 1840. Luther Driscoll, Charles H. INIiner, Jeremiah
Bennett, Jacob Emery and Samuel Parrish were chosen trustees and
Theodore F. Hiu'd was elected treasurer. The first act of the new
trustees was to divide the township into the Lafayette, Emery, Indian
Creek and Fahrenheit school districts. In January. 1841, the people
of this township wrote to Col. W. H. Henderson, then a member of
the Legislature, asking him to introduce a bill providing for the pay-
ment to Stark County of its share of the school fund ajjportioned to
Knox and Putnam counties. The bill was passed in July, 1843,
Goshen Township receiving $60.30. In 191.3 the nine districts of
Goshen em-olled 24.3 pupils, the property was valued at $17,500, and
the apparatus at $1,000.
The first election of trustees in Osceola of which there is any
record, was held at the house of John Shawls on May 17, 184.3. Four-
teen votes were cast and Liberty Stone, Isaac W. Searle and Zebulon
A-\-ery were the successful candidates. The same day the township
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 'Ml
was (lividtnl into three districts. These three districts have since been
sul)divided until in 1D1.3 there were nine districts, huildin,i>s vahicd at
$10, 800, apparatus worth $1,650, and 392 pupils cni-olled.
Penn Township inaugurated its school system as early as 18:)6, -
three years before the organization of Stark County, when Wall's
schoolhouse was erected in section 7. Subscription schools were taught
here at an early date, but the names of the teachers appear to have
been forgotten. The township \\as organized for school purposes in
184.5, but the earliest record is that of June, 1846, when an election
was held at the house of Lcniuel S. Dorrance. Henry Ereese, John
Todd and Xeheniiah Merritt were chosen trustees. In response to a
petition, the school lands were sold in 1849-50. The nine districts of
Penn ToAvnship during the school year of 1914-15 enrolled 286 pupils.
Two teachers wei-e employed in the graded school at Castleton and
one in each of the other districts. The schoolhouses are valued at
$9.;}50 and the apparatus at $1,500.
^'alley Township was organized for school purposes on July 17, -
1847. when an election was held at the house of David Rouse and
Z. G. Bliss. David Rouse and William Cummings were elected trus-
tees. At that time there were but nine families, with forty-one chil-
dren, living in the township. Four years later there were twenty-seven
legal voters, twenty-three of whom signed a petition asking for the
sale of the school section. Among the early teachers in this townshi])
were P. A. Ferbrache, Ithamer Daybault and Joseph Xewton. Dur-
ing the school year of 1914-15, Valley Township enrolled 219 pupils
in the eight districts, the schoolhouses were val'ued at $8,650 and the
apparatus at $950.
West Jersey Township held an election at the house of Philander -
Arnold on April 5, 1842, at which twenty-two votes were cast, the
decision being unanimous in favor of incorjDorating the township for
school purposes. The township was then divided into two districts.
The records prior to 1846 cannot be found. In 1846 C. M. S. Lyon,
A. G. Dunn and Washington Trickle were the trustees. D. V. Frazer
and A. C. Col well were among the first teachers in this part of the
county. In 1915 there were eight school districts in the township, 220
pu])ils were enrolled, the schoolhouses were then valued at $8,200 and
the a])i)iiratus used in the schools at $1,700.
Tt)ulon Township, which contains the greater pai-t of the cities of
Toulon and Wyoming, may be said to be the educational center of the
county, as it is the most centrally located geographically. The first
.schoolhouse in Toulon — the "Old Brick" — has been described in Chap-
202 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
tei- Vlll, in connection with the City of Toulon. One of the early
institutions of learning in the county seat was
THE SEMINARY
The first mention of the seminary in the public records of the
county was on December -i, 1849, when the county court appointed
Samuel G. Wright, Oliver Whitaker and Samuel Reatty a conunittee
to "receive subscriptions and report plans for the building of a female
seminarj' in the Town of Toulon, under the third section of 'An act
to authorize the County Commissioners' Court, or the County Court,
when organized, to sell lots in the Town of Toulon,' ap^n-oved Febru-
ary 12, 1849, and report at the ]March term of this court in 18.50."
On ^Nlarch 3, 18.50, the conmiittee appointed as above reported that
the funds received from the sale of lots were insufficient to build a
suitable building for a seminary, and that the people showed an un-
willingness to subscribe, unless the seminary could be opened to both
sexes. Judge Holgate, of the County Court, then directed the mem-
bers of the conmiittee to solicit subscriptions with the understanding
that boj's and girls would both be eligible for admission to the insti-
tution.
On September 2, 18.50, the county treasurer was ordered to pay to
the committee the sum necessary for the purchase of material, but it
seems that the work went on too slowly to suit some of the citizens,
for on December 6, 1852, Calvin L. Eastman presented a petition to
the County Court, the jH-incipal features of which were: "That the
Comity Court direct and order the committee having charge of tlie
seminary fund, either in receiving, managing or disbursing it, to report
especially upon the following matters:
"1 — The total amount of the said fund, principal and interest.
"2 — The amount paid in, what they have done about the building,
the condition of the woi-k, materials, etc.
"3 — The amount outstanding, in whose hands, and when due.
"4 — The amount expended and for what, giving the same by items.
"5 — Their reasons, if any, for not having discharged the trust
committed to them, and
"6 — What they projjose to do."
After due consideration of the petition, the court ordered "That
Oliver Whitaker, Samuel Reatty and Samuel G. Wright, committee
to superintend the building of said seminary, be required to report at
this term of court upon the foregoing petition, and that the clerk
notifv them immediatelv."
HISTOKY OF STARK COUXTY 203
The committee came in and reported the expcncHture ol' .^(U) for
a site lor the seminary; .%)-i2.71 for l)rick, lumber and shingles and
for work done; that the total paid out, ineludhig a note for $02.81,
was .$()().5.52, and the amount drawn from the county treasury was
$004.. l(i. After a few more delays the seminary was completed, as the
records show that on September Ki, IH.Vt, W. W. Webster, John Eer-
fiekl and L. II. Fitch, of the board of supervisors, were appointed a
committee to confer with T. J. Wright, of the building committee, as
to the best plan for seating the seminary. The first term opened a
few weeks later.
Hy an act of the General Assembly, approved February 14, 18.55,
the board of supervisors was authorized to appoint five trustees for
the Toulon Seminary. Samuel G. Wright, Oliver Whitaker, Ben-
jamin Turner, John Berfield and ]Martin Shallenbcrger were ap-
pointed. Under their management, or that of their successors, the
seminary continued until Septeml)er 9, 1861, when it was leased to
Davis Fowman, Isaac C. Reed and Warham ^Nlordoff, the school
trustees of the Town of Toulon, for a term of five years. By the act
of February 18, 1807. the supervisors were authorized to sell the
seminary and it became a part of the public school system. It was
then used as a sort of high school for some years, when the building-
was sold and converted into a residence. In the fall of 191,5 it was
still standing, located on its original site at the northwest corner of
'Washington and Vine streets, and was then the residence of II. C.
Bradley.
TOULON PUm.lC SCHOOLS
In the fall of 18.58 two new school buildings in Toulon were com-
pleted. One stood upon what was then called Soap Hill and the
other near the northwest corner of the cemeterj'. The latter was
known as the "Fair-ground School." Miss Mary Perry taught the
first school in this building, a ^Ir. C'arjienter taught that year in the
old brick, and William Campbell was made principal of the seminary.
The Soap Hill schoolhouse was afterward sold and converted into a
residence.
Toulon in 191.5 had two ])ublic school Iniildings — the East Side, or
old high school building, and the Township High School in the south-
eastei-n part of the city. The site of the former building was selected
by vote of the people and the interest in the question was as great as
was ever displayed in a ])residential election. Several sites were pro-
posed, l)ut when the votes were counted It was found tliat the one on
20i HISTORY OF STARK COLXTY
the east side of Olive Street, between Vine and Thomas had won, and
here a substantial and cominndious building was erected. The attend-
ance at the two schools during the school year of 191-1-1.5, according
to the county superintendent's report, was 595. Seventeen teacher.?
are employed in the city schools, the value of the buildings is about
thirty thousand dollars, and nearly two thousand dollars' worth of
apparatus is used in the school rooms. The Township High School
was formerly the
TOULON ACADEMY
xVbout 1882 some of the citizens of Toulon, desirous of having a
school that would offer a course of study not provided by the public
schools, conceived the idea of establishing an academy. Among those
who were acti\c in the movement were J. F. Rhodes, J. A. Hender-
son, E. F. Thompson, E. C. Follett. Dr. Theodore Eacmeister, W.
W. Wright, ]Mrs. Sarah A. Chamberlain, Andrew Oliver, Samuel
Eurge, G. W. Dewey and JNIiles A. Fuller. The institution \\'as
opened on October 12, 1888, with J. W. Stephens as principal. After
earnest work and the overcoming of many obstacles, sufficient funds
were accumulated to erect a handsome building, just outside the city
limits at the southeastern part of the town, and here the academy
continued its useful work imtil it was incorporated into the public
school system and made the Township High School.
WYOMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The early records of the Wyoming schools are not available, hence
the city's educational histoiy prior to 1857 is somewhat uncertain. In
]May, 1857, the district composed of the northeast corner of Essex
Township and the southeast corner of Toulon, embracing the Town
of Wyoming, was imder the charge of the following board of di-
rectors: J. E. Erown, William E. Armstrong, Dr. Luther ]Milliken.
Svlvcster F. Ottman and Isaac Thomas. A summer school was taught
that year by ^Nliss Harriet Milliken and in the fall Enoch K. Evans
was engaged to teach the winter school. There was but one school-
house at that time and the district was not financially able to build a
new one — or at least a majority of the voters so expressed themselves
on June 22. 1857. by a vote of twenty to seventeen. Some repairs were
made upon the old building, which continued in use for several years
before the peoiile could be induced to sanction the erection of a new
one.
ni'.i.u suKKii- luii.nixi:. w vo.mix(;
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY :i05
In September, 1870, the first movement was made toward the
hiiildiii^' of a modern sehoolhonse. adequate to the needs of the town.
The phui was to issue bonds to the amount of .$5,()()() and levy a tax to
create a sinking fund for their payment. The bonds were sold in
July, 1871, the people having voted in favor of inereasing the in-
debtedness of the sehool district to .) per cent of the assessed valuation.
Tile South Side sehool opened in tlie new building in September, 1871,
with William Xowhni as prineii)al. He Avas succeeded in 1873 by
W. R. Sandham, in eliarge of tlie high sehool department. In Janu-
ary, 1877, the building was almost completely destroyed by tire, but
was immediately rebuilt with the money received from insurance com-
panies. In the si)ring of 188ti a loan of -t.'J.OOO was authorized for
the purpose of making an addition to the building.
The North Side Ixiilding, which was erected aliout the same time,
is well located for the accommodation of the ])eople living in the north-
ern j)art of the city. It occupies an elevated site on ^ladison Street,
extending from Seventh Street to Galena Avenue, and when first
built had a capacity of over two hundred pupils, although less than
that number were enrolled upon the opening of the school in Septem-
ber, with S. S. Wood as jjrincipal. The South Side building is situated
at the southeast corner of Fifth and Main streets, lacing the public
scjuare as laid out by General Thomas when he established the original
town. The value of the two buildings is approximately twenty thou-
sand dollars. Din-ing the school year of 1914-1.> eleven teachers were
em])loyed and the mmiber of ])u])ils in actual attendance was about
four hundred.
SCH(X)L OFFICERS
When Stark County was orgam'/.ed in 18:39, the law of Illinois
provided for an oflicial called a school commissioner, whose duty it
was to take charge of the i)ublic schools of the county, investigate the
(lualifications of teachers, etc. In 18(>.") the office of school conunis-
sioner was abolished and that of county superintendent of schools
created. Following is a list of those who have held these offices in
Stark County:
School Commissioners — James Holgate, 1840; Charles H. ISIiner,
1841 : James B. Fewis, 184.); Samuel G. ^Vright, 1840; R. C. Dmin,
18.).); Nelson F. Atkins, 18(51 (re-elected in 18(5:3 and died before the
expiration of his second term, John W. Agard being appointed to fill
the vacancy ) .
County Superintendents— B. G. Hall, 18(5.): Aloir/.o B. Abbott.
206 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
1873; Amelia L. Halsey, 1877; William R. Sandham. 1882; George
O. Frank, 1898 (resigned and W. R. Sandham appointed for the un-
expired term); Mary P. Edmunds, 1902; George C. Baker, 190(i
(still serving in 191.3).
TEACHEKS' INSTITUTE
^Villiam Xowlan, in a paper read before the Stark County Teach-
ers' Association some years ago, said: "It is not certain when the
first institute was held in Stark County, l)ut it was about 18.52 or 18.33,
while S. G. Wright was school commissioner. Rev. A. Lyman, of
Genesee, was the conductor, and Rev. R. C. Dunn afterward stated
that it was the first county institute held in the State of Illinois."
Some meetings of the teachers had lieen held prior to that time, but
JNlr. Xowlan expressed the opinion that the first regular institute was •
held in October, 1852. That was the beginning of the institute sys-
tem that has since been of such great lienefit to the teachers in bringing -
them together for the purpose of getting acquainted and adopting a
uniform method of teaching throughout the public schools. In recent
years an appropriation is made from the public — a fund to defray the
expenses of an institute (by fee of $1) which lasts for one week or
more each year, just before the opening of the schools. The institute
for 191.3 was held in August, in the East Side school building at Tou-
lon, under the management of George C. Baker, county superintend-
ent. Prof. H. E. Waite, of Princeton, 111., and ^Nliss :Mary L.
Robinson, of the Peoria public schools, were the conductors. .
teachers' association
According to William Xowlan. in the paper above referred to, the
Stark County Teachers' Association was first organized in 18.38. and
was reorganized in October, 18.39. by a few teachers who met foi- that
purpose at the house of Rev. R. C. Dunn a short time after the close
of the institute for that year. Then began a propaganda, which re- j
suited in a majority of the regular teachers of the county becoming
members of the association. Through this association fraternal rela-
tions have been kept up among the teachers, the meetings being less
formal than those of the county institute, each member feeling per-
fectly free to express his views or to criticize those of his fellow
teachers.
\y. R. Sandham. of Wyoming, still has in his possession the paper "
read before the association bv JNIr. X"o\\lan, in which is related a num-
IIIFTOHY OF STARK COUNTY
207
ber of amusing incidents that show the character of tlie early schools.
One of these incidents tells how a hoy of some fourteen years of age
was discovered "doing sums" in compound numbers, whereupon the
teacher, a young lady of slight experience and limited education, sent
word home that the boy need not bring his arithmetic to school any
more, because she had "never been any farther than long division and
had not been cmi)loyed to teaeli arithmetic, any how."
Another incident told by Mi: Xowlan is of a reading contest at
one of the meetings of the association. C. J. Gill, commonly called
"Jud" Gill, Avon the prize, reading the poem of the Spider and the Fly,
illustrating the actions of the insects by what he supposed were ap-
proi)riate gestures. ^Vt the close of the reading Hev. G. A. Leaver
"asked for information" if "Jud's" rendition of tlie poem was an
elocutionary or a gymnastic exercise.
From this it will be seen that the teachers were not too dignified to
enjoy a little levity now and then in their sessions. The association
organized more than half a century ago is still kept up, regular meet-
ings of two days being held in the winter or spring every year, the
teachers being paid by the county the regular Uvo days' wages for
attending the association meetings.
THE PRESS
The newspaper is unquestionably an important factor in the edu-
cational development of the nation. Through the dissemination of
general news the neoj^le are kept in touch with the woidd's progress,
and by the publication of special articles on scientific, industrial,
economic or domestic subjects every household is moi-e or less benefited.
It is therefore considered appropriate to include in this chapter some
account of the newspapers of Stark County — past and ])resent.
Dr. Franklin W. Scott, of the University of lUinois, in 1910 com-
piled a list of the newspapers of Illinois by counties, which list was
published in the Historical Collections for that year. lie states that
the first newspaper ever ]niblished in the state was the Illinois Herald,
the first numl)er of which was issued at Kaskaskia in INIay, 1814, by
]Matthew Dmican "Printer to the territory and publisher of the laws
of tile Union." The oldest number ol" tliis paper in existence is No.
30, dated Wednesday, December 13, 1814. INIr. Duncan was a Ken-
tuck ian by birth, a lirother of Governor .Joseph Dimcan and a grad-
uate of Yale College. He served in the Black Hawk war and died at
Shelliyville, 111.. January 16, 1844. He was the pioneer journalist of
Illinois.
208 , HISTORY OF STxVKK COUNTY
The first newspaper in Stark County was the Prairie Advocate,
the first number of which appeared on January 4. 18.)(), bearing tlie
names of John G. Hewitt as editor and John Smith, printer and pub-
lisher. Prior to that time 31r. Smith liad been conchicting a news-
paper at Pekin. ]Mr. Hewitt interested a number of the Toulon
citizens, raised a bonus of $300. ^\itIl which he went to Pekin and
induced Smith to remove to Stark County. The old style type used
in the production of that first number of the Prairie Advocate could
hardly find a place in a newspaper office of the present day, and the
press upon which it ^vas printed is said to liave been the third printing
press ever brought into the state. After a few months Smith sold his
interest to Hewitt, who continued the publication of the paper until
18o7, when he sold to Rev. R. C. Uunn, who changed the name to the
Stark County News.
After a few months INIr. Dunn sold the News to Whitaker & Hen-
derson, who placed Dr. S. S. Kaysbier in charge as editor. About the
close of the year 1860 the paper suspended publication, but in the fall
of 18t)l it was revived by W. H. Butler, who named it the Stark
County Union. ]Mr. Butler undertook to run a paper of strong union
sentiment, but witliout being partisan. The result was the Union was
short-lived.
In the spring of 18(J3 the Stark County News was resumed by
Dr. S. S. Kaysbier, who in January, 1864, associated with him Oliver
White. In July of that year ]Mr. White purchased his partner's in-
terest, becoming sole proprietor. A half interest was sold to Joseph
Smethurst in the fall of 1868 and the next spring ]Mr. White sold his
interest to Edwin liutler. Several minor changes in ownership and
management then followed until it passed into tlie hands of Charles
T. Henderson. In October. 1897, the News was purchased by Charles
E. Nixon, of Peoria, and James A. Nowlan, the latter becoming sole
owner and proprietor by the purchase of ]Mr. Nixon's interest in 1904.
In January, 191.5, ]Mr. Nowlan purchased the Galva Standard, and
al)()ut the first of November following bought the Galva News, con-
solidating the two papers, which after January 1, 1916, were ])ub-
lishcd under the name of the Galva News. He is still the owner of
the Stark County News, however, which paper receives his personal
attention.
While the political campaign of 1860 was in progress, some of the
democi-ats of Stark County keenly felt the need of a party organ.
Accordingly a meeting of the Douglas Club on July 6. 1860. started
the preliminary steps toward the publication of the Stark County
HISTORY OF STAKK COUNTY 209
Democrat. A stock company was ornaui/.fcl, with the uiulcrstandiiig
that il' the paper shouhl become self-supporting the remainder of the
stock sliould be paid in and used for printing and distributing Doughis
literature. The subscription price was fixed at 50 cents for the cam-
l)aign. The first number of the Democrat made its appearance on
July 1*J, 18U0, with the following editorial stafi": Martin Shallenber-
ger, chief; G. A. Clifford, W. H. Butler, Charles Myers, Benjamin
Williams, J. II. Anthony, J. H. Russell. W. D. Hicks and Thomas
Ross, assistants. This was rather an imposing array of editorial talent
for a small town like Toulon, but it must be remembered that none of
the editors drew a salary, donating their services "for the good of the
cause."
The paper was printed in Kewanee and in the issue of November
3, 18<)(), appeared the following notice: "PAY UP! AVe shall pub-
lish one more number of this paper, giving the full election returns
throughout the United States, when the Democrat will no longer be
published. We expect every man who is in arrears will pay up now."
The Democrat was 13 by 19 inches in size and contained very little
except politics, the ])rinci])al aim of the i)aper being to keep the demo-
cratic party supplied with ammunition until the election.
Seth F. Rockwell began the publication of another Stark County
Democrat on August 2, 18()7, with ^Martin Shallenberger as political
editor. It a])pearc(l regularly until Christmas day, when the publisher
announced that it wovdd be suspended until after the holidays. The
next number was issued on January 8, 1808. ]Mr. Rockwell retired
in August of that year and the paper came under the editorial manage-
ment of ]\Ir. Shallenberger and Benjamin W. Seaton, who in Novem-
ber changed the name to the Prairie Chief. The paper was owned by
a company composed of Benjamin Turner, Patrick Nowlan, James
Nowlan, Martin Shallenberger and Branson Lowman, who bought
from John Smith tlie ])ress that had been used in the publication of
the first Stark County News in 18.>r). In 1800 Mr. Seaton ])urchased
the outfit and continued the publication of the Chief until the s])ring
of 187*2, when he sold to Dr. Henry JNI. Hall. He changed the name
to the New Era and published until January, 1870, when he removed
to Red Oak, Iowa, and Stark County was without a democratic paper.
The Stark County Sentinel, another Toulon ncws])a])er that ac-
quired some ])r()minence, was first issued on October 8, 1880, by ^V. F.
Nixon and Thomas H. Blair. On the last day of April, 1881, J. Knox
Hall succeeded INIr. Blair, and in INIay, 1882, JNIr. Hall became sole
owner. On January 1, 1884, Gus Hulsi/.er pin-chased an interest, but
210 HlSTOllV OF STiMlK COUNTY
the partnership betweezi Hall and Ilulsizer was dissolved on February
13, 188.5, the former retiring from the paper. Under the manage-
ment of ^Ir. Hnlsizer the Sentinel became a strong advocate of pro-
hibition, wJiich policy was followed until circumstances forced it to
susjiend.
Wyoming's fii-st newspaper was started in 1872, when E. H.
Phelps, at the earnest solicitation of some of the citizens of the town,
began the publication of the Post-Chronicle. The name was adopted
by reason of the fact that the Bradford Chronicle, which had been
started a few months before, had already acquired some circulation in
the eastern townships and it was consolidated with the Wyoming Post,
the name selected by jMr. Phelps for his paper. The first number
of the Post-Chronicle was issued on August 9. 1872. A few months
later the latter part of the name was dropped and the paper continued
under the name of the Wyoming Post.
In 1876 Phelps sold out to J. D. Gilchrist, who conducted the
paper until some time in 1879, when it was purchased by Craddock &
Vosbui-g. In 188.5 this firm was succeeded by W. R. Sandham. Con-
nected with this paper was one of those newspaper controversies that
frequently occur over the question of "good will" and the exclusive
right to a certain territory. It is said that when INIr. Pheljis sold out
to Ciilchrist he agreed not to publish a paper in Stark County for five
years. On July 2. 1880, he issued the first number of the Toulon
Herald, but early in 1881 removed the office of publication to Wyo-
ming. "Sir. Sandham went into court and asked for an injimction
against the publication of the Herald, but finally solved the problem
by purchasing that paper and consolidating it with his own under the
name of the Wyoming Post-Herald.
^V. E. Xixon and J. M. Newton purchased the Post-Herald in
1889 and conducted it until August, 189.5, when Mr. Nixoii ])ecame
sole o^^•ner. In 1902 Mr. Nixon was elected county clerk and on
January 1, 1904, he sold a half interest to Harrison Thomas. A little
later ^Villiam G. and Gladstone JNIoore purchased the entire outfit
and continued the publication of the paper under the firm name of
]\Ioore & Son. In November, 1914, the Post-Herald was bought by
Scott Brothers, the present proprietors.
The Bradford Chronicle above mentioned was founded by B. F.
Thompson, editor, E. H. Edwards, publisher, in the fall of 1871. It
was ])rinted at Princeton until it was consolidated with the Wyoming
Post in August, 1872. The Bradford Times was first issued on
Christmas day in 1880, with F. N. Prout as editor. It -was not ])rinted
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY 211
in the village. The first ncws])a])c'r to he ])i'iiite(l in Ri-adl'ord was the
Rradford Independent, the first nuniher of which was issued on June
4, 188.5, by C. F. Hamilton and J. C. Blaisdell. On June 1, 1880,
]Mr. Rhiisdell retired, leaviiif^- Mi-. Hamilton sole owner. Suhse-
<|uently Mr. Blaisdell established the Rradford Re])ubliean, whieh be
sold to R. L. Hreen, the present editor and ])nblisber, in the sjjring
of 11107.
EXTINCT XKWSl'.VPERS
Several of the newspa])ers above enumerated passed out of exist-
enee after a short time, and there wei'e some other ventures in journal-
ism that failed "for want of adequate support." One of the earliest
of these evanescent publications was the Ku Klux Rulletin, which first
made its appearance on oNIay 7, 1869, with the motto "'Chide mildly
the erring." The editorial staff was announced as "White Alligator,"
"Rattling Skeleton" and "(irand Cyclops," supposed to have been
Chailes \V. Wright, Albinus Nance (afterward governor of Ne-
braska) and Thomas Sballenberger. The Bulletin was pui)lished at
Toulon and in the salutatory its principles were set forth as follows:
"Our Rulletin is not a religious paper. Others may prate of the
orthodox, the martj^rs and the clergy; of the peace and happiness of
religion, and spiritual comfort; but we ])refer to deal with the human
creatures al)o 
