1882 History
Chapter 20 - Butler Grove Township
BOUNDARIES — SOIL — TIMBER — EARLY SETTLERS — ROADS — EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS — VILLAGE OF BUTLER — BUSINESS INTERESTS — SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
By G. N. Berry.
IN obtaining the fragments of history contained in the following pages, we have been obliged to rely largely for much of the information upon persons who have long been residents of the township, and whose lives have been identified with its development. It may be that some of the facts and dates which are given are only approximations to the truth; other facts of interest may be omitted, while others still may not be accurately recorded, jet we believe that the following statements can be relied upon as a brief synopsis of history free from any serious errors.
Butler Grove was one of the first settled townships of Montgomery County, and was surveyed in the year 1819, at which date there was but one white family living within its boundaries. It lies in the central part of the county, with the following townships as boundaries: Raymond on the north, Irving on the east, Hillsboro on the south, and North Litchfield on the west. Like the greater part of the county, Butler Grove is composed of fine, fertile prairie lands, interspersed with numerous groves and thickly wooded mounds. There are no very large hills, although the southern part is somewhat broken. But little of the land, however, is too broken for cultivation. The most extensive wooded districts are in the northern, northeastern and southern parts. There is also a grove of many acres in the central part of the township, known as Ware's Grove, having derived its name from an old settler, who formerly resided there. It is estimated that the woodland of this township comprises about onetenth of its area, the remainder being rich, roll ing prairie, and contains some of the finest farming lands of Southern Illinois. The quality of the soil on the uplands, in the southern part, is rather inferior for agricultural purposes, although, by proper tillage, remunerative crops are often obtained. The timber is composed mainly of the following varieties: Black oak, white oak. hickory, walnut and cottonwood on the upland, while skirting the creeks on either side are large willows and gigantic sycamore. The best timber has disappeared long since, as the lumber business was carried on quite extensively at an early date.
This township is watered and drained by Brush Creek, the Middle Fork of Shoal Creek, and their tributaries. The former has its source in the northern part, and flows in a southwesterly direction, crossing the township line about one mile west of the village of Butler. Shoal Creek flows in a southeasterly direction through the southeast corner of the township, and receives as a tributary the East Fork of Brush Creek about one half mile north of the township line. There is a small creek in the northern part which flows in a northerly direction, but it is an insignificant stream, being dry the greater part of the warm season. Aside from the creeks enumerated, there are no other streams of importance in the township. During very rainy seasons these creeks frequently overflow their banks and do considerable damage to the farms through which they run, often times carrying away many rods of fencing, and sweeping away entire fields of grain.
The early pioneers of this section found no royal pathway to affluence, and have probably witnessed as great changes wrought by the onward march of civilization as any within the limits of the entire State. They came here when Illinois was in its infancy as a State and when the great West, particularly that portion lying west of the Mississippi, was occupied almost wholly by wild Indian tribes. They have heard and seen the dying away of the voyager's song upon our western waters. They have seen proud cities rear their regal heads upon the favorite hunting grounds of the red men, and the iron horse, the modern civilizer, dart with the speed of the hurricane along the paths beaten into the prairie by the hoofs of the buffalo ages before the white man ever dreamed of battling with the wilderness of the unknown West. All these and many other changes have these hardy pioneers witnessed since they first made their appearance in this part of the Mississippi Valley, and opened up its broad acres to the world's traffic.
The first white settler of Butler Township was Jacob Cress, who moved here with his family during the early part of the year 1818, and located the farm known as the "Old Cress Farm," now owned by Jacob Scherer in Section 34. Mr. Cress was from Indiana, but originally from North Carolina, from which State he moved in the year 1815. The journey of this hardy old pioneer to his new home in the West was replete with many interesting incidents and stirring adventures, and many days were required to reach his destination. It was during the hottest part of the year that this journey was made, and the emigrants found it impossible to travel during the day, owing to the excessive heat and the immense swarms of flies, which proved a serious hindrance to the live stock which Mr. Cress brought with him. At that early date there was not a regularly laid out road in the southern part of Illinois, all roads being mere trails or buffalo paths across the prairies; so Mr. Cress had nothing by which to direct his course but these trails and the stars.
Mr. Cress brought a great deal of live stock with him to Illinois, part of which consisted of a large drove of hogs. To keep them from being lost on the prairie, he had bells put upon them, so the loneliness of their night journeyings was relieved somewhat by the tinkling music never before heard in this western country. Mr. Cress died in the year 1865, full of years and ripe with honors. By his industry and many sterling qualities, he did much toward developing the resources of his township and bringing it up to its present high standard of civilization. Of the children of Mr. Cress there are living at this time one son and four daughters, all of whom are residents of Butler Township.
The next settler was Israel Seward, who moved from Hamilton County, Ohio, in the year 1819, and located his home upon what is known as "Seward's Hill," about one half mile south of the village of Butler. Mr. Seward was a noble type of the pioneer, a man of more than ordinary powers of intellect, and a devoted Christian. Though dead, he still lives in the influence which he formerly exerted upon the community that he was instrumental in founding. The exact date of Mr. Seward's death was not obtained. William Seward, a son, was born in Indiana one year before the family moved to Illinois. He was for a number of years mail carrier between the cities of Hillsboro and Jacksonville. His whole life has been identified with the history of the township and he is justly considered one of its most prominent citizens. The original home of Israel Seward is now owned by his son George C. Seward, the first white child born in Butler Grove Township. He was born October 11, 1821, and has resided at the home he now occupies for the last thirty-six years. One incident in the life of Mr. Seward is remembered with interest by his friends. It was his lot in his younger days to carry the mails, as we have stated, between Jacksonville and Hillsboro, and also between Hillsboro and Alton. At one time there came a freshet which raised the waters of Shoal Creek to an immense height. Mr. Seward tried to cross the creek with a two horse conveyance, but a part of the bridge being carried away by the flood, he found that his vehicle could not withstand the force of the current; so driver, carriage and horses were carried a considerable distance down the stream. Mr. Seward got out of the carriage, and, stepping upon one of the horses, caught hold of a small elm tree, which, after becoming thoroughly wet, he succeeded in climbing. The stream at that time was about three-fourths of a mile wide, and the current baffled their efforts to reach the tree. The logs which were being carried down by the stream would strike the tree with such force that he found it extremely difficult to maintain his hold on the branches. From his lofty perch he could see and hear his friends, which served to beguile the long, weary hours he was compelled to pass in his airy prison. He remained in his uncomfortable quarters all night, and it was not until 9 o'clock the next day that his friends succeeded in rescuing him by means of long poles and a horse trough.
A daughter of Israel Seward. Mrs. McGowan, lives in the village of Butler, where she has resided the greater part of her life. Israel Seward was a cousin of the late William H. Seward, who served as Secretary of State during the administration of President Lincoln, and whose name is among the brightest upon the pages of American history.
Prominent among the early settlers of Butler Grove was Obadiah Ware, who came to Montgomery County in 1823, locating the west half of the northwest quarter, and the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 15, upon which land he resided during a period of fifty-one years. The life of this good man demands more than a passing notice in these pages. Mr. Ware was a native of New Hampshire, where he was born in the year 1795. Reared upon a farm, his early life was passed in the usual routine of farm labor, and he grew to rugged manhood amid the bracing airs of his mountain home, where he was taught the dignity and nobility of labor, and those lessons of economy and frugality which so well fitted him to encounter the difficulties incident to the life of a pioneer. In 1821, after his marriage, he and his young bride started for the Far West to secure a home. Across the great States that stretched away in unbroken and uninterrupted grandeur from the Mississippi eastward, they journeyed until they reached the then diminutive city of St. Louis. He located near that city temporarily, remaining two years, where he engaged in farming. Having a determination to remove to a point where land could be entered, he visited Montgomery County, where he entered the land before referred to. At his home, after a long life of usefulness, his wife died in the year 1858. Mr. Ware survived her twenty-eight years, dying September 24, 1876. The following testimonial appears in biographical sketches of citizens of Montgomery County, from which many of the above facts have been gleaned. "Mr. Ware has been a leading and influential member of the Lutheran Church for nineteen years, during which time he has given liberally of his means for the dissemination of Gospel truths, and for the building of houses dedicated to the worship of God. Educational matters have also elicited considerable attention from him, and he has ever been active and generous in his assistance to every project looking to the advancement of educational facilities. He placed a proper and very correct estimate upon the value of our common school system, regarding it as invaluable to the State and the surest bulwark of constitutional liberty." A very eloquent funeral oration was delivered over the remains of Mr. Ware by the Rev. John Hamilton, which has been published and extensively circulated. Two daughters and one son of Mr. Ware are still living — Mrs. Hulda Harris, Elizabeth Wescott and Benjamin Ware. The old Ware farm is now owned by William A. Young.
Benjamin Ware, a brother of Obadiah. was also among the early settlers of the township, locating upon land adjoining that of his brother's. Like the former, he was one of the substantial citizens of the county, and left a reputation upon which no one dared cast a single aspersion. A son, Justus Ware, occupies the farm formerly owned by his father.
Many other early settlers, additional to those already mentioned, are entitled to a notice in these pages. Among these were William Townsend, who located in the southern part of the township as early as the year 1824. He remained here as a citizen for a number of years. The exact date of his death could not be ascertained, and none of his children are living in this part of the State.
William H. Cass came to the county in the year 1824, and settled in the northwestern part of the township, on Section 5. Many other names could be added to the list already given, but the dates of their settlement, and the facts concerning their early life have been obscured by the lapse of time.
Thus many of the old pioneers who were prominently identified with the early history of the township have passed away "as a tale that is told," many being scattered to other lands, but by far the greater number have passed to "that mysterious bourn from which no traveler ever returns." The first improvement of importance to the pioneer after he has erected a shelter for himself and family, is a mill, an industry that always advances with civilization. The early settlers of Montgomery County were obliged to go to St. Louis for their breadstuff's, and several days were often required to complete the journey. As early as the year 1823, a mill was built at Edwardsville, a distance of thirty-five miles from Hillsboro, which continued to be the source of supplies during the following two years. The first mill in the township was built by Jacob Cress, in the year 1825, and was known throughout the entire country as the "horse mill," horses supplying the power by which the machinery was run. This mill was kept running day and night, and supplied flour and meal to the country within a radius of twelve miles around, people often coming much farther and remaining several days in order to get their grinding done. At that early date, the threshing machine was unknown, wheat being tramped out by horses and sifted by hand at the mill through the large seive made for that purpose. The mill was run in this way until 1845, when the old machinery was taken out, the building remodeled, and new machinery put in, run by steam. One year later, a saw was attached. The mill was kept running a great many years, until the machinery was worn out. The engine was removed in the year 1881, and taken to the village of Butler. The old building is still standing, a monument of the days that were. The next mill was built by a Mr. Seward, about one-half mile south of the town of Butler. This was a combination mill also, steam supplying the power. It was erected in the year 1839, but did not prove a financial success, as it was built upon a scale too extensive for the country at that time. In the enterprise, Mr. Seward became financially embarrassed, and the mill was in operation but a short time. Mr. Seward left the mill standing idle, and went to California, where he remained for several years, amassing quite a fortune in the meantime. He afterward returned home, satisfied his creditors, and disposed of the mill, which was torn down and the machinery removed to the village of Butler.
Another flouring-mill was built by Mr. Hoffman west of the town of Butler, but the exact date of its erection could not be ascertained. It was the only mill of its kind in the township for several years, and was torn down in 1881.
At the present writing there is a very extensive mill in process of construction just north of the village of Butler, which, when completed, will be one of the most complete mills in the county. The building is of brick, 23x30 feet, the engine room 40x18 feet, and was erected at a cost of $4,500. This mill will have three run of stone, and a capacity of about thirty-six barrels of flour per day. The aggregate cost of the mill will probably reach $6,000. It is owned by J. S. Emery, late of Ohio, a man who has spent his life in the milling business.
An extensive creamery was built in the town of Butler, in the year 1875, at a cost of $3,500; the apparatus cost $1,600. This factory was owned by a stock company, and was known as the Monte Cabonne Creamery Company. The enterprise proved very remunerative, but was in operation only two years, being completely destroyed by fire in the year 1877. The loss occasioned by this fire aggregated about $6,000. There have been several planing-mills in the township at different times, but none of them did business on a very large scale. D. W. Manners built and operated a planing mill one-half mile west of the town of Butler, but it is not in operation, it having been injured by fire some time since. Aside from the industries referred to, there have been no others deserving of particular mention in the township.
The first roads through Butler Grove were not laid out with any reference to section lines. Each settler took the shortest route across the prairie in order to arrive at his destination as quickly as possible, and, as a result, there are a great many zigzag roads, which have been a source of considerable annoyance to the land-owners through whose farms they pass. Efforts are being made, however, to have the roads properly established, and in' time it will be effected. The first road that was extensively traveled in this part of the county was the old Springfield road, which passes through Butler Grove from northeast to southwest. As early as the year 1825, this was one of the principal thoroughfares of Southern Illinois. The Taylorville road runs through the southeast corner of the township, and intersects the St. Louis road at a point not far from the southern township line, near the city of Hillsboro. The St. Louis mad forms part of the southern boundary of this township, and is probably the oldest road in the county.
The township in the main is well supplied with good roads, which are kept in good condition, as the citizens are alive to all public improvements. There are no pikes in the township, owing to a scarcity of gravel.
During the early spring seasons many of tho roads become well-nigh impassable, especially those which run through the low prairie lands, and there seems to be no way of obviating the difficulty.
There is one railroad that passes through this township, the Indianapolis & St. Louis, which affords ample means for farmers to ship their agricultural products and live stock. This railroad passes through the southern part, running northeast to the village of Butler, where it describes a curve, then bears southeast, crossing the southern boundary line at a point near the Shoal Creek bridge. This railroad has aided largely in the development of the township, although it has had a tendency to affect the business interests of the town of Butler in such a way as to discourage business men from locating th ore, the greater amount of traffic being taken to the cities of Litchfield and Hillsboro.
A great deal of attention is given to the cause of education in this township, and the schools are among the very best in the State. "The opportunities for acquiring an education in the early pioneer times were scarce, and books were limited," although a school was organized as early as the year 1823. This school was taught in a little log cabin, located on Section 31. The length of the term was three months, and the school was supported by subscription. The name of the teacher was Mrs. Mary Townsend. The first schoolhouse was originally a part of the residence of Capt. Thomas Philips, situated on Section 29. Reuben Boss assisted Mr. Philips in fitting it up for school purposes. This was the only schoolhouse in the southwestern part of the township for a number of years. The next schoolhouse was a log cabin built in the year 1839, near where the Montgomery Schoolhouse now stands, on Section 12. The first school taught in this house was by Miss Mary Burnap, the year after it was built. One among the first buildings used for school purposes was part of the residence of Mr. Seward, near the village of Butler. This building was torn down and moved to the town many years ago, and now forms part of the residence of Mr. Crowley.
Butler Grove now has seven schoolhouses, all good, substantial buildings, five of them frame, and two of them brick. There are six whole districts, and five union districts in the township, and six schools outside of the town of Butler.
The following-named gentlemen comprise the present Board of Township Trustees: William A. Young. Isaac Doyle, Charles W. Jenkins and Robt. Bryce, the last named being Township Treasurer and Clerk of the Board. The school year begins the first Monday in October, and the average length of the term is about six and one-half months.
The neat little village of Butler is situated in the southern part of the township, on the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, and was at one time one of the most thriving business points in the county. The growing cities of Hillsboro and Litchfield, on either side, and within a few minutes' ride, have affected its business interests to such an extent that its traffic is no longer of any great importance, although there are several firms that are dome a very fair of amount of business. This town derived its name from the fact that a great many of its early settlers came from Butler County, Ohio. The village was built upon land formerly belonging to William Seward, and was laid out by him in the year 1853. The first survey of lots was made by James Starr, who surveyed eighty-six lots and within a short time afterward the remaining lots were surveyed and laid out by a Mr. Bayless. The first store was kept by William Wood, who built a very large and substantial brick building upon the east side of the principal street, about one square north of the railroad. Mr. Wood kept a general stock of merchandise in his store, and was for a number of years one of the leading merchants of Montgomery County. This store building was completely destroyed by fire during the conflagration which swept away the greater part of the town, and of which a more extended notice will be given further on in these pages. There were a number of other business houses built and operated successfully, but the writer was unable to obtain any authentic facts concerning them. At one time in the history of this town there was more grain and live stock handled here than there was at any other town in the county outside of the city of Litchfield. The grain trade is still an important industry, and is carried on by the Brown Bros., who own the warehouse, and buy and ship grain during the entire year. The town was incorporated in the year 1865. The first schoolhouse built in the village was erected iii the year 1857, by John McGowan; an addition was put to it eight years after, so that it consisted of two rooms. When there were more pupils than the house could accommodate, the deficiency was met by securing the use of rooms in private dwelling houses. In the year 1863, the present handsome and commodious school building was erected. It is a two-story brick building, containing four large and handsomely furnished school rooms, and is surmounted by a lofty steeple. The location is an eminence on the eastern slope of Seward's Hill, in the southwestern part of the town, and commands an extensive view of the surrounding country. This building was erected at a cost of $11,000, and is one of the finest and most completely furnished schoolhouses in Montgomery County. The first school in the village was taught by Charles Seward, in the year 1857. This school lasted but two months, and was supported by subscription. Among the early teachers were George Paisley, Edmund Keeler, Charles Parks, Jesse Barrett, Rev. Daniel Lee and Rev. __ Mize. The last named was a Baptist preacher of considerable ability, and, in addition to his duties as teacher, he ministered to the Baptist Church during the time that he remained in the village. The schools are, at the present writing, under the efficient management of Prof. Nathan T. Veatch, A. M., assisted by Lucy Stuckey, Josephine Wilson and Grace Bryce. The average attendance during the past year was 135. The citizens of Butler are justly proud of their schools, which, in point of discipline and thoroughness of the work done, will compare favorably with the best conducted schools in the State. The first physician to locate in Butler was Charles Harper, who came to Illinois in company with his early friend, ex-Gov. Bissell, with whom he practiced his profession for a number of years. He is not at present a practicing physician, having retired from the profession several years ago on account of his advanced age and infirmities incident thereto. The date of his location in Butler was the year 1857, and he is still a resident of the village.
The following list comprises the physicians who have practiced medicine in Butler at different times: __ Sargent, J. B. White, Jesse Stick, C. R. Ross, Daniel Schadron, P. L. Brown, Benjamin Perlee, J. H. Kesler, A. Gifford. The present physician is Dr. M. L. Moyer, of whom a more extended notice will be given in the biographical department of this work.
Henry Richmond was the first Postmaster of the town. The office was established sometime in the year 1856, and was the first post office in the township.
Bryant McReynolds kept the first hotel in the Butler House in the year 1858. This house is still standing, and is kept at present by Henderson Howard, who has been in the hotel business here for a number of years past. The business of Butler is represented by the following parties and firms:
J. W. Weisner, M. D., druggist and dealer in groceries, notions and fancy articles. Dr. Weisner keeps a very complete stock of goods, and reports his business good.
Hoes & Bros., is the leading dry goods house in the town. They also keep a line of boots and shoes, hats and caps, and readymade clothing. Their business is in a prosperous condition, and their stock represents capital to the amount of several thousand dollars.
H. Boss keeps a shoe-shop and restaurant.
N. J. Rhodes, dealer in dry goods, boots, shoes and groceries.
__ Webber, merchant tailor.
Robert Bryce, blacksmith and dealer in agricultural implements.
Brown & Bro., grain buyers and stock dealers. This firm is one of the strongest grain firms in the county, owning warehouses here, and a large elevator in Hillsboro.
Robert Henderson, barber.
J. C. Sammons and Conrad Hentus, blacksmiths.
William N. Brookman, Henry Wilson, Hiram Nail and James White, carpenters.
J. C. Emery, miller.
H. Howard, veterinary surgeon.
The Odd Fellows and the Masonic fraternities both have lodges in Butler. Butler Lodge, No. 617, I. O. O. F., was organized in the year 1865, with the following-named persons as charter members: Henry Richmond, G. W. Brown, Jr., W. B. McReynolds, Samuel Berry, Alexander Gray, William Williamson and George Grassell. The charter was issued October 11, of the above year, by A. S. Barry, G. M. The present officers of this lodge are as follows: Daniel Pope, N. G.; A. D. Washburne, V. G.: George Sharpe, Secretary; George W. Brown, Treasurer; William N. Brookman, Warden; Fred Luddcke, I. G.; R. B. Hough, O. G.; S. M. Stuckey, Conductor; C. O. Brown, R. S. N. G.; W. A. Weisner, L. S. N. G.; James Duke, R. S. V. G.; A. H. Brown, L. S. V. G.; T. S. Hoes, R. S. S.: M. L. Moyer, L. S. S.; W. A. Weisner, M. L. Moyer, Fred Luddcke, F. S. Hoes, R. B. Hough, Trustees. The lodge numbers about forty members, and meets every Saturday night in the hall which they own in connection with the Masonic fraternity.
Butler Lodge, No. 459, A., F. & A. M., was established in 1865, with nine charter members. The first officers of this lodge were Samuel Holmes, W. M.; James Rogers, S. W.; J. A. Roth. J. W.; C. M. Ross, Secretary; William Wood, Treasurer; J. Judd, S. D.; M. Helm, J. D.; G. W. Van Sandt, Tiler. The first petition was presented August 1, 1865, by Thomas T. Eliman. The present officers are: G. W. Brown, Jr., W. M.; M. M. Stuckey, S. W.; Isaac Doyle, J. W.; Charles O. Brown, Secretary; H. S. Stanley, Treasurer; W. G. Diddle, S. D.; William Eliman, J. D.; John Van Dorn, Tiler. There are about forty-five members of this lodge, and it is in good working condition. The hall in which both lodges meet is very nicely furnished, and is situated on the main street of the village. It was built in the year 1866.
Several very destructive fires for so small a place have visited Butler at different periods during its history. In 1866, the large store building occupied by J. R. Roth, near the railroad, and the saloon adjoining it, were totally destroyed by fire, entailing a very heavy loss upon the owners of the property. The planing-mill of D. W. Manners, located in the western part of the town, was burned to the ground in the year 1867. In the spring of 1875, the dwelling belonging to William Van Sandt, in the northern part of the village, adjoining the blacksmith shop of Robert Bryce, took fire, and, before the flames could be checked, the building was almost entirely consumed. The most destructive fire that ever visited Butler was the conflagration of 1877, which swept away an entire block of buildings on the east side of the main street, opposite the Butler House. Concerning this fire we copy the following account from the revised village ordinance of December, 1871. "On the night of the first or the morning of the second day of October, 1877, a fire broke out in the building adjoining Seward's Hall and continued its destructive work until the building and the hall, containing all the village records, papers and other property belonging to the village were consumed by the devouring elements against all the attempts made to save them." Later, in the same year, the creamery was burned, but to this fire we have already referred.
The religious history of this township dates from tho first settlement, although there were no churches organized for a number of years later. Religious services were held from house to house, and it was quite a number of years before any of the denominations gained sufficient strength to erect places of public worship. The first regularly organized church, of which there is any authentic record, is the Montgomery Methodist Episcopal Church, about five miles north of Hillsboro, and about the same distance northeast of Butler. This church was organized in the year 1836, and consisted of the following members: James Osborne and wife, Michael Webber, Mrs. Sarah Webber, Henry Nichols, Mrs. Ellen Nichols, Joseph Webber, Mrs. Eunice L. Webber, James Wiley, Mrs. Sarah Wiley, Nicholas Webber, Albert Dryer and Mrs. Eunice Dryer. The church was organized under the ministerial labors of the Rev. Hall. For a number of years the congregation worshiped in a schoolhouse near where their church building now stands. The neat and comfortable house in which the congregation now worship was built in the year 1872. The building is frame, 40x60 feet, and was erected at a cost of $2,000. It was dedicated the latter part of the year 1872, by the Rev. C. P. Baldwin. It belongs to the Irving and Butler Circuit, and is at present ministered to by Rev. W. C. Howard, of the latter place. The Cherry Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, situated about three and a half miles northwest of Butler, was established as early as the year 1838, at which time it had a considerable membership, the names of whom were not obtained, as the early records of the church have been lost. From some cause or other, this church so declined that in a few years after its organization there remained of it but a few scattered families. It was re-organized in the year 1851, when the church for the first time elected Trustees, and assumed the name of Cherry Grove Church. The following are the names of those who assumed membership at. its re-organization: John Nail, Mrs. Martha Nail, Nathan Nail. Mrs. Sarah Nail, Mrs. Susan Williams, Anderson Walker and wife, Manasseh Camp and wife, William Williams and wife, James Roberts and wife and Mrs. Sarah Baker. The congregation originally worshiped in a private dwelling house, upon the farm now belonging to D. C. Burr is. Their present house of worship was erected in the year 1856, at a cost of about $1,600. This church is one of the points on the Butler and Irving Circuit, and is at present enjoying the pastoral labors of Rev. W. C. Howard.
In the year 1856, the Butler Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by Rev. Boon. This was the first church established in Butler, and consisted of the following members: Mrs. Alexander Gray, Moses Berry, Mrs. Eliza Berry, Mrs. J. M. Ghaston, Thomas Wood, William Williamson, James Wood and wife and Mrs. Benaiah Kelly. The first preacher who ministered to the congregation was the Rev. J. E. Lindley. Since its organization it has had the services of the following pastors: Revs. Aldridge, Calric, R. W. Travis. T. S. Johnson. O. E. Orr. J. H. Holloway, W. F. Lowe, M. M. Cooper, J. D. Bodkin, R. M. Beech, J. W. Lapham, E. D. Randall and W. C. Howard. Their house of worship is a very neat, substantial frame building, located in the western part of the village, and cost the sum of $2,500. It was built in the year 1867, and dedicated the year following. The present membership of this church is about seventy-five or eighty, a number considerably smaller than it was several years ago, many families who once belonged having removed from the village.
The Presbyterian Church of Butler was organized in the year 1858, in the old schoolhouse, by a committee, consisting of -the following persons: Rev. R. M. Roberts, minister; F. W. Washburne, M. D., and J. F. Eckels, Elders. The names of the original members are as follows: Mrs. W. H. Harper, Mrs. Catharine Coudy, Israel Seward, William Seward, Mrs. Mary Cunningham, Mrs. Martha Burnap, Robert Bryce, S. M. Hedges, Mrs. Deliverance Hugg, Mrs. Mary McReynolds, Mrs. Steere and Mrs. Sarah Ware. The first pastor who ministered to the church was Rev. R. W. Roberts. Since then the following ministers have preached for the church: Rev. W. L. Mitchell, __ Todd, Mr. Cornelius V. Canfort, licentiate, Rev. Lougheed, Mr. Moses Paisley, licentiate, and Rev. J. E. Spillman. The lastnamed minister had charge of the church from 1872 until the year 1881, and was a man of a high order of intellect and a writer of considerable note. The pastor who has charge of the church at present is Rev. A. S. Hughey, a recent graduate from Wabash College, Ind. The membership numbers about sixty-five. The house of worship in which the congregation meets is a beautiful frame building located in the southwestern part of the village. It was built in the year 1864, and was dedicated July 3 of the same year, Rev. T. W. Hynes preaching the dedication sermon, R. M. Robinson assisting in the services. The house cost about $2,200. A Sunday school is maintained the entire year, with an average attendance of 100 scholars.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church, known as Ware's Grove Church, was organized December 24, 1860, by Rev. J. Livingood, with a membership of five persons — Jacob W. Scherer, Henry Meisenheimer, Mrs. Rachel Meisenheimer, Mrs. Mary Scherer and Mrs. Rebecca Cress. Their present membership is forty-five, among whom are some of the first citizens of the township. The congregation built the house in which they now worship, in the year 1862. It was dedicated in December of the same year, the dedication sermon being preached by Rev. George A. Bowers.
A society known as the Farmers' Club was organized in the year 1879, for the purpose of a mutual interchange of views relating to agriculture, stock raising, fruit growing, and all the subjects pertaining to the farmer's occupation. The exercises were frequently varied by a literary programme, music and original essays upon a variety of topics. The meetings were held weekly, to which the public were invited, and any one who so desired could participate in the exercises. The officers consisted of a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. This society was finally merged into the Grange, a lodge of which was organized at Butler in the year 1871. This lodge ceased to exist several years since, and facts concerning its organization, first officers and length of time it lasted could not be obtained.
Butler Township has a war record of which her citizens feel justly proud, having sent eighty men to the front to do battle for the country during the dark days of the rebellion. Of this number sixty-six returned at the close of the war, twelve having been killed in battle, and two lost, of whom nothing has ever been heard.
There has never been a murder committed in the township, and but one suicide, as far as known. The facts concerning this suicide were related to the writer by Jacob Cress, and are as follows: Mr. Cress, when but a boy, met a man by the name of Stewart in the highway, near the home of the former. Cress had been hunting, and carried a gun, which Stewart asked him for, as he said he wished to look at it. Cress at once handed him the gun; but no sooner had Stewart gotten hold of it than he placed the muzzle to his forehead and tried to discharge it with a long stick. He failed in this attempt to take his life, being foiled by Cress, who tried to take the gun away from him. Finding that he could not succeed in taking his life by shooting himself, he took from his pocket a large, dull knife, and deliberately cut and mangled his throat in such a horrible manner that he died the next morning. It appeared that Stewart was insane, though he regained consciousness before he died.
We have, in the foregoing pages, tried to give a brief and impartial history of Butler Grove Township from its earliest settlement up to the present time. We are indebted for many of the facts and dates to Jacob Cress, Charles Jenkius and Justus Ware, to each of whom the thanks of the writer are due for the courteous and gentlemanly manner in which the desired information was given.
Extracted 14 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, published in 1882, pages 327-339.
