1882 History
Chapter 18 - East Fork Township
BOUNDARIES — WATER-COURSES — EARLY SETTLERS — MILLS AND CATTLE-RAISING — ROADS — CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SECRET SOCIETIES.
"Like the race of leaves is that of human kind.
Upon the ground the winds stir one year's growth,
The sprouting grove puts forth another brood that
Sport and grow in the spring season.
So is it with man,
One generation grows while one decays." — Iliad.
By G. N. Berry
IT is difficult to realize as we travel along the highways that traverse this beautiful prairie township, and note the broad, fertile acres of well-tilled soil and the stately farmhouses, where the happy husbandman lives in the midst of plenty and contentment, that scarcely three-quarters of a century ago these luxuriant plains were peopled by a few wandering savages and formed part of a vast, unbroken wild, which gave but little promise of the high state of civilization it has since attained. Instead of the primitive log cabin and diminutive board shanty, we now see dotting the prairie in all directions comfortable and elegantly formed mansions of the latest style of architecture, graceful, substantial and convenient. We see also the bosom of the country decked with church structures of all religious denominations and well-built schoolhouses at proper intervals. Her fields are laden with the choicest cereals, her pastures all alive with numerous herds of the finest breeds of stock, and everything bespeaks the thrift and prosperity with which the farmer in this fertile division of the county is blessed. East Fork is one of the southern townships of Montgomery County, and is also one of the largest, being ten miles in extent from north to south and six miles from east to west. It contains sixty square miles of land, and is, in many respects, one of the best townships in the county. The northern boundary is Irving; eastern, Fillmore; its southern boundary is La Grange Township, of Bond County. It is bounded on the west by Hillsboro and Grisham Townships. The area embraces one township and a half, the northern part being designated as Township 8 north, Range 3 west, while that division lying south of the dividing line is known as Township 7 north, of Range 3 west. The township is well drained by a number of small creeks and their tributaries, which meander through the prairie in many different directions. The most prominent of these are McDavid's Branch, in the southeastern part, and the East Fork of Shoal Creek, near the eastern boundary. The first named rises near the northeastern corner of the township, flows in a zigzag channel toward the southwest, to within a mile of the county line where it empties into Shoal Creek.
East Fork, the largest and most important water-course, flows in a southerly direction through the eastern part of the township, and affords an excellent system of natural drainage plenty of stock water and is indispensable to the success of the farmer and grazier in this region. Bear Creek is a stream of considerable size in the western portion. It receives many small tributaries, which frequently flood the lands through which they flow during very rainy seasons. Brush Creek flows in a northwesterly direction and intersects the northern boundary at a point about one half mile east of Hillsboro Township. Wolf Pen Branch and Indian Camp Branch arc small streams in the western part, but are of no considerable importance. The greater part of the surface of East Fork consists of undulating and gently rolling prairie lands, of the very best and most fertile soil in the county. In the southern and southeastern parts, for about three miles along Bear Creek and McDavid's Branch, the surface is broken and in some places hilly. The soil on these high places differs very materially from that of the prairies, being thinner and more sandy, but nevertheless very productive.
The greater amount of timber is in the southern part of the township, adjacent to the creeks already named. There are also small strips of woodland in the eastern and northeastern parts, but the most of this has been cleared and put in cultivation. Like the timber in the other townships of the county, the varieties consist of elm along the water-courses, hickory, oak and walnut on the uplands. The best of the timber was cut years ago, what is left being merely a new growth, which has made its appearance since the country was settled. On McDavid's Branch, in the western part of the township, is a large, beautiful spring, where the Fox Indians, in years gone by, made their home. Near this spring numerous relics have been found, such as beads, flint spear heads, silver trinkets of various kinds, pipes, stone axes, etc. These Indians did not remain long after the white man made his appearance, but left for parts unknown in the year 1828. Scattered bauds frequently visited the scene of th< ir former camping grounds in after years, but they never remained for any great length of time. These visits were finally discontinued, and no Indians have been seen in East Fork since 1835. The first settler in this township was William Me David, who came to Illinois from Tennessee as long ago as the year 1820, and entered a piece of land lying in Section 34, near the place now known as McDavid's Point. He came in company with one Jesse Johnson, who stopped at the little settlement in Grisham Township, near where the village of Donnellson now stands.
At the time McDavid settled in East Fork, there was no house nearer than five miles, and for several months his neighbors were few and scattering. Time, however, makes great changes, and within a few years the little settlement became one of the most thrifty and flourishing communities in the county. McDavid lived in the place where he first settled exactly forty-six years. He died the 14th day of February, 1800. His wife is still living, having reached the ripe old age of eighty-two years. The old homestead is now owned by his son, T. W. McDavid, who has added to it much of the surrounding land. His farm is one of the largest in the county. Another son, W. C. McDavid, lives on the farm adjoining that of his brother. He was the first white person born in the township, and his whole life has been passed within its borders. The next settler of whom anything definite is known was James Card. He found his way into the wilds of East Fork in the year 1821, and located the farm now owned by Daniel Cress in Section 4. Here he erected a cabin and lived one year, when his wife died, after which he returned to his former home in Kentucky. In the 3-ear 1823, he came back to Illinois and settled in the northern part of East Fork, near the Irving Township line, where he remained for two years. He moved from this last place to Fillmore Township. Card came from the mountains of North Carolina, and was in many respects a remarkable man. Daring, intrepid and intensely religious, he knew no such word as fail, and all his undertakings were crowned with success. He made the first journey from this township to St. Louis for flour for the settlement, a task at that day attended by no little trouble and inconvenience, as there were no roads in the country. He directed his course across the almost trackless prairies by means of a pocket compass, cut his own roads in the woods through which he was obliged to pass, and readied his destination after many weary days' traveling with his slow ox team. The return trip was made in face of fully as many difficulties, as he was more heavily loaded, and the way was made almost impassable in some places by the heavy rainfall. Several sons of Mr. Card are living in Illinois, one of them being a business man of Hillsboro. A number of settlers located in the southern part of the township between the years 1821 and 1826, among whom were the following: Joseph Williams, John Kirkpatrick, E. Guin, Henry Rowe and David Bradford. Williams settled on the farm where Riley Hampton now lives. Kirkpatrick located in the southwest comer of the township near the village of Donnellson. The places on which the other three settled is not known, nor could the dates of their deaths be ascertained. The earliest settler in the northern part of East Fork was Benjamin Rhodes. He came here from Southern Indiana in the year 1826 and located a farm in Section 8, about two and a half miles east of Hillsboro. Aside from the little settlement at McDavid's Point already alluded to, Rhodes' cabin was the only house in the township at this time. He died in 1877. William R. Linxwiler, a stepson of the preceding, came to East Fork while very young, and has lived here ever since. His whole life has been identified with the growth and development of his township in which he takes a deep interest. He has lived on the farm which he now owns for the last thirty years, and is one of the oldest citizens in East Fork.
Among the first settlers was Jordan Williford, a Tennessean, who came in an early day and rented a small piece of land lying in the central part of the township. This was in the year 1825. The following year, he located on McDavid's Branch, where he lived for three years. when he sold his farm to William McDavid, and moved farther west on Shoal Creek. Here he purchased an extensive tract of land, which was his home till the year 1856, at which time he disposed of all his possessions in this State and moved to Arkansas.
He was a man of sterling integrity, high, moral character and unbounded hospitality. No one was ever allowed to leave his pioneer home in need of anything which his liberal hand could supply. He raised a family of eleven children of whom seven are still living. Andrew J. Williford, one of the sons of Jordan Williford, can be called an early settler, as he came here with his father when but eleven years old, and has been a resident of the township ever since. He is a Baptist preacher, and, like his father before him, is a man universally respected by the community in which he has resided. Robert and Joseph Mann, two brothers, were among the first settlers in the northern part of East Fork. Little is known definitely about them, as to where they came from or how long they remained, but they are spoken of as good citizens, and were well thought of. Just south of the place where the Mann brothers settled, James Wiler located, though how long he remained was not learned. The Aliens were also an old family of East Fork, and settled here prior to the year 1830. Many representatives of this family are still living in the county.
Prominently identified with the early history of this township was one Samuel Haller, who settled near the northeast corner on a large tract of land known as the, old Haller farm. Here he built his little cabin, and raised a goodly family of children, who figured largely in the early settlement of the county. One of these, T. B. Haller, is now one of the leading physicians of the State, and is located at Vandalia. Many privations were experienced by the early settlers, among which was the difficulty of obtaining flour. In order to obtain this, they were obliged to go to St. Louis or Edwardsville, which required a great deal of time, as there were but few if any good roads in those early days. For a number of years, the mill at Edwardsville and the little mill on Shoal Creek, in Grisham Township, were the only places where breadstuff's could be obtained. The first mill in the township was built by G. W. Traylor in the southeastern part, about the year 1830, as near as could be ascertained. This was a steam mill with saw attached, and was in operation about twenty-five years. Another mill run by steam was that of D. M. Williams, in the southern part. This mill was in operation as early as the year 1840, but at just what date it was erected, and how long it was run, was information which the writer was unable to obtain. A. M. Miller built a mill in 1867, which is still in operation. This is a steam mill with saw attached, and is doing a good business. The Brown Mill was moved into this township about the year 1875, and operated till 1877, when it was torn down, and taken to Fillmore Township, a few miles away, where it is still standing.
C. C. Root has a saw-mill in operation in the southern part of the township, which is doing a large and paying business. There have been several portable mills in the township at various times, but none of them did business on a very extensive scale. They - have all been removed, and, at the present time, there ai - e but the two mills already mentioned in operation in this section of the county.
The stock business, breeding, raising and shipping stock, receives considerable attention from the citizens of East Fork, and a number of large farms are to be seen where large herds of fine cattle and sheep are kept.
Prominent among those who make the stock business a specialty are J. B. McDavid, William H. Wilson and Thomas H. Wilson. McDavid owns one of the most extensive tracts of land in the county, there being in his farm over one thousand acres. Here can be seen some very fine cattle that have been bought and reared with no little expense.
The farm of W. H. Wilson contains nine hundred and twenty acres of choice land, which is well stocked. Thomas H. Wilson owns some six hundred and forty acres of land in the best part of the township, aud has some very fine breeds of cattle and sheep. The first stock-markets were reached by driving the cattle overland to St. Louis, but the presence of railroads in the county brings the market nearer home. The first roads through East Fork were probably better than the early roads in any other part of the county, as there are but few hills to cross and little woods to go through. The township is now well supplied with good roads passing through it or along its boundaries.
The oldest road through the township is the Vandalia and Hillsboro road, which connects those two places, and is one of the most important highways in the county. It intersects the eastern boundary of the township at a point about one mile and a half southeast of Hillsboro, and passes through the township in a southeasterly direction. Its course varies but little till within a couple of miles from the line which separates the township from Fillmore, where it bears southward for a short distance. The Hillsboro and Fillmore road passes through the northern part of the township from east to west, and is one of the early roads of the county. It was laid out in the year 1823, and established in 1827. Among the first roads laid out in the township was the Irving road which runs through the western part from north to south. It intersects the Fillmore and Hillsboro road at right angles, about one-half mile from the Irving line and the Vandalia and Hillsboro road at McDavid's Point in the southern part of the township. The Hillsboro and Greenville road runs in a southerly direction from Hillsboro and forms part of the boundary between East Fork and Grisham Townships. These roads are all kept in good condition, and are among the best highways in the country. Many roads of minor importance traverse the township in different directions and intersect each other at various points, but they are known by no particular names.
The early pioneers of East Fork were a moral and religious people as is evidenced in the fact of a church being established as far back as the year 1830. The Bethel Regular Baptist Church dates its organization from this year, though there had been religious services held at different places in the township several yars previous to that time. The first sermon was preached by Elder James Street, in a private dwelling house. He was assisted in the services by Elder Jordan, and together they organized the church already named some time afterward.
The first meetings of this church were held in private dwellings of the members in cold ami inclement weather, and in the groves, "God's first temples," when the weather would admit of out-door services. Among the first members of this church were the following: Eleanore Freeman, Mary Goodwin, James Card, Mr. and Mrs. Colbert Blair, not one of whom is now living. James Street was the first pastor, in which capacity he acted for about twenty-five years. He was succeeded by Elder Larkin Craig, of Kentucky, who ministered unto the church for a period of about forty years. Craig was a fine pulpit orator and a man of more than ordinary vitality and energy. He would frequently travel twenty-five miles on Saturday, preach Saturday night, Sunday morning, afternoon and evening, and be at home in time to do the greater part of a day's work the following Monday. Elder Scars assisted Craig for several years, preaching in the latter's absence.
Willis Dodson had charge of the church for five years. He was succeeded by Elder Peter Long, who preached for the congregation a long time. The present pastor, A. J. Williford, has been preaching for the church during the last twenty years. The house in which the church was organized belonged to Elisha Freeman, and stood in the southeast part of the township. This was the principal place of worship for about ten years. The first church edifice was built of logs and stood one mile north of the place where the church was organized. It served as a place of worship about six years, when the organization was moved farther west and the meeting place changed to a little schoolhouse on Shoal Creek. The congregation met at this place until the year 1855, at which time the building in which they now worship, was erected. This house stands on an acre of ground which was donated the church by Samuel Brockman. The house was remodeled in the year 1880, and is a very pleasant and comfortable house of worship. The church has decreased somewhat in membership through deaths and removals, having at present only about thirty names on the books. The Presbyterians organized a society in the year 1833, under the auspices of Revs. Joel Knight and John Barber. The original membership was about ten or twelve in number, mostly from other churches in the county. Their first building was of logs, and stood on Section 4, in the northern part of the township. For a number of years public services were conducted at this place, but the organization was finally abandoned or moved to some other place. Nothing definite concerning this church could be learned.
The Methodists have an organization in the southern part of the township, where for years a faithful band of Christians have met to worship. This church is no longer the stronghold that it used to be, many of the members having died and many moved to distant places.
The writer was unable to obtain any facts or data concerning this society, and much to his regret was obliged to pass it by with the foregoing brief notice.
The Presbyterians organized a society, known as the McDavid's Point Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in the year 1857. The organization was brought about by the labors of Revs. Joel Knight and Joseph Bone.
The records of the church give the names of ten persons as constituting the original membership, most of them being from the church at Donnellson. We give some of their names as follows: William Linxwiler and wife, J. B. McDavid and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth McDavid. Many of the best citizens from time to time been members of this church. The first building used for a place of worship was the schoolhouse, where the congregation met for almost three years. As the church increased in numbers, a larger bouse was required, and their present commodious structure was erected in the year 1860. This building is 30x40 feet frame, and will comfortably seat three hundred and fifty persons. It cost the sum of $2,000 and is one of the most comfortable and substantial church edifices in the county. It was dedicated in the year 1861, by Rev. J. B. Logan. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained in connection with the church, and like the congregation, is in splendid working order. Rev. J. B. Logan was the first pastor of the church. He was succeeded by L. P. Dutheridge, who ministered in the congregation for several years, and was in turn succeeded by Rev. T. W. McDavid.
Revs. Daniel Bell, E. R. Jones and E. R. Rogers have preached for the church at different times, though not as regular pastors. At present the congregation is without a pastor. The Walnut Grove Free Methodist Church is located in the southern part of the township, and was organized in the spring of 1880 by F. H. Ashcroft, with a membership of twenty-nine.
For six months after the organization, all the public services of the society were held in the barn and private dwelling of William Neal. The house in which the congregation now worships was built in the fall of 1880. This is a very tastefully arranged little building, and cost about $600. The first sermon was preached in the new house by Rev. E. Outlander. The first pastor of the church was Rev. C. A. Flemming. Present membership, about thirty; services are held every Sabbath; prayer-meetings every Wednesday evening. It is impossible to estimate the great good done by these religious societies, in the communities where they' are to be found. They have had a tendency to elevate the morals and strengthen the nobler instincts of life. Many vices have been shunned through their influence, and the result is an abundant harvest of pure lives. May the churches continue their well-begun work until
"All crimes shall cease, and ancient frauds shall fail Returning justice lift aloft her scale. Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend, And white-robed innocence from Heaven descend."
The early school history of the township is almost wholly lost in the shadows of the past. and many dates and interesting incidents relating thereto, have been forgotten long since, hence, we cannot hope to give it with perfect correctness. The first schoolhouse, as near as can be learned, was built in the year 1828, on Section 8. This was a diminutive log cabin, of the most primitive kind, no vestige of which remains to show the exact spot where it stood. One of the first schools was taught by Lewis Cass, in the year 1829. The house in which Cass wielded the birch stood near McDavid's Branch, and was similar in many respects to most of the schoolhouses of that day, having neither floor nor chimney. A log removed from the side of the building left a considerable opening, over which greased paper was pasted, thus affording a very fair substitute for a window. Fires were built in one end of the room, the smoke finding its way out through a large opening in the roof the best way it could. The furniture was of the simplest kind, consisting of a few benches made of hewed logs, and a broad writing-desk, fastened to the wall by means of several long pins. These early schools were all supported by subscription, and were attended by the children of the settlers from miles around. The first public school was taught by A. J. Williford, in a little house which stood near the county line. This school was taught in 1839, and lasted but three months. Michael Walker was one of the early teachers of East Fork, having taught a school in the western part of the township in the year 1830.
The first frame schoolhouse was built in 1843, on McDavid's Branch. There are now seven good schoolhouses in the township, five of them frame and two brick. The school board is composed of the following gentlemen, viz., John Fath, W. S. Barry, A. C. Williams, Trustees; George Linxwiler, Treasurer.
The East Fork Post Office was established in the year 1873, with S. H. Smith as Postmaster. This office was kept in Smith's store, in the western part of the township. It was discontinued several years since.
The first store in the township was kept by a Mr. Cockerel, whose stock of merchandise consisted of groceries, boots, shoes, dry goods and whisky. His place of business was in the southern part of the township, and was the scene of many knockdowns and riots, occasioned by a too free use of the fire-water. One evening a man stopped here, on his way, as he said, to Kentucky. He drank heavily, and did not take his departure until a late hour in the night. The next morning his dead body was found a short distance below, oil which were marks indicating the fact that he had been choked to death. The supposition was that he had been followed, robbed and murdered by some unknown parties who had been on his track for the purpose. No clew to the mystery was ever found. The body was buried near the spot where it was found, according to the law of that day.
A man by name of Rutter was killed near this place in the year 1838, by a certain Jack Wood. It seems that the two had some difficulty, during which Rutter became very abusive, and wanted to fight Wood. The latter tried to get away, and begged to be let alone, as he wanted no trouble. Rutter, however, would not be pacified, but continued to follow Wood up, and finally struck him. Wood returned the blow, and struck Rutter on the neck just below the ear. The blow was fatal. Rutter dropped and died instantly. Nothing was ever done with Wood for the killing.
A part of the village of Donnellson lies in East Fork, though none of the original plat of the town. There is one good store here kept by R. C. Clark, whose stock of merchandise represents a capital of several thousand dollars. M. N. Allen keeps an agricultural store in connection with his blacksmith shop, and is doing a very fair business.
Over Clark's storeroom is a nice, commodious Hall, where Lodge No. 255, A., F. & A. M., holds its meetings. This lodge was established October 8, 1858, by Most Worshipful Master Harrison Dill, with a membership of seven. Their names are as follows: William Gordon, M. S. Davenport, J. C. Banner, P. S. Davenport, Casba Hawkins, Tipton Cox and James H. Moss. The first officers were: William Gordon, W. M.; M. S. Davenport, S. W.; J. C. Hanner, J. W. The hall was built in the year 1861. Present officers of the Lodge are: M. N. Allen, W. M.; R. C. Clark. S. W.; F. W. Kummell, J. W.; J. B. Casy, S. D.; H. S. Hanner, J. D.; B. F. McLain, Sec; William Williams, Treas.; Henry Walkerline, Tiler. Present membership, 35. At one time, this was one of the strongest lodges in the county, but of late years the membership has decreased to a considerable extent.
Several granges and farmers' clubs have been organized throughout the township, but at present there are none in existence.
Extracted 14 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, published in 1882, pages 311-319.
