1882 History
Chapter 27 – Rountree Township
SOIL, DRAINAGE AND TIMBER — THE FIRST WHITE MAN — PIONEERS — SCHOOLS — ROADS — THE VARIOUS RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS
By G. N. Berry
FIFTY years ago, the territory now known as Rountree Township was a wide, unsettled expanse, wild in every sense of the word — inhabited by wild men and infested by wild beasts. In this year, it is in every part an exhibitor of the highest civilization. Where the cereals and fine fruits of all varieties now grow in abundance, tall prairie grass and rank weeds covered a soil of wealth unknown. Blooded herd and flock now loll and graze where, less than three score years ago, the timid deer fled from its crouching foe, the panther, only to be pursued by the gaunt, hungry wolf.
Fields, now jocund with the merry song of the contented farmer, were once lurid unto the glare of the Indian camp-fires, or made hideous by the discordant yells of the savage war dance.
But the deep prairie soil held abundant food for civilization, and it needed but stout hearts, strong wills and sinewy hands to set it free. They, in time, came, and stout hearts they were, both from necessity and from nature. Rountree is one of the northern townships of Montgomery County, and possesses a pleasant diversity of surface and soil. Large tracts of rolling and undulating prairie occupy the southern portion, which form a striking contrast to the level surface of the country farther north. The only water-course of any note in the township is the Middle Fork of Shoal Creek, which flows in a southerly direction through the western part, receiving in its course several smaller streams not designated by any particular names. These streams afford an excellent system of drainage, and to the stock raiser are a necessity that could not be dispensed with. A good growth of timber once covered that part of the territory through which these creeks and rivulets run, consisting mostly of walnut, sycamore, maple, elm, and the different varieties of oak common to this part of the State. Forty years have served to change the appearance of this wooded district, the greater part of the timber having been cut and sawn into lumber by the early settlers along the creeks. The attention of the pioneer was early called to the necessity of supplying himself with a means of procuring timber for his necessities, and a number of large artificial groves were set out, from which the owners now obtain both lumber and fuel.
The soil of the township is a strong, deep, rich loam, with a slight mixture of sand along the streams, and clay on the more elevated portions. Rountree is noted chiefly for its farming interests, and for that purpose it was sought by' the early settlers; and, taken as a whole, its territory presents as fine a tract of farm land as there is to be found in the county. The boundary lines of Rountree are Christian County on the north, Nokomis Township on the east, Irving on the south, and Raymond on the west. The township was named in honor of Judge Rountree, one of the earliest and most prominent citizens of Montgomery County. The name is a fitting tribute to the memory of that most excellent man, who did as much, if not more than any other person toward the development of the county.
From the most authentic sources within the writer's reach, John Nusman was the first white man who fixed his residence within the limits of Rountree. He had been a resident of the county several years prior to moving into the township, having settled in the town of Hillsboro when it consisted of but two or three insignificant cabins. From Hillsboro he moved his family to Rountree in the year 1830, and cleared a small patch of ground lying near Shoal Creek, where he lived for a number of years, the only white man in the county north of Irving Township. At that time, the country was wild, game of all kinds plenty, and the family fared sumptuously on venison, turkey, partridge and honey, which was also found in large quantities in the woods.
Elizabeth Nusman says that when they first came to the country the deer were so plenty that her father would stand in the door of his cabin and shoot two or three of them as they sported about near the house; and as for turkeys, they were almost as numerous then as chickens are now. Near Nusman's residence was a camping place of the Kickapoo Indians, who came into the country once a year for the purpose of hunting. They were not at all troublesome, but on the contrary seemed to take a great deal of interest in the welfare of the family, making them presents of many small trinkets and trading them deer skins and venison for ammunition and bacon. Many were the visits they paid to the family, during which the most profound decorum was observed. Their arms were always left outside the gate, a mark of the greatest respect, and when leaving they would evince their satisfaction by a series of bows, grunts and grimaces that would often cause the younger members of the family to laugh outright. Mrs. Nusman manufactured all the wearing apparel for the family with her own hands. Tins consisted of thick, heavy jeans, linsey, and a coarse cloth made from cotton grown on the place.
Nusman lived on the place he entered until the year 1852, at which time he died. The place is now owned by his son, Henry Nusman, one of the oldest settlers in the township. One daughter, Elizabeth Nusman, lives here also, and it is to her the writer is indebted for many of the facts concerning the early history of Rountree.
In 1833, John Dryer came into this part of the county from Tennessee and settled on the farm now owned by Augustus Carriker, in Section 30. When he first came, he brought his family with him; and as they - had no house to move into, they hastily constructed a rude temporary lodge of poles to live in while building their cabin.
The latter edifice was erected in due time, and like all the early houses of that day consisted of parlor, bed-room, dining-room, etc., all combined in one apartment. The floor was of puncheon, as there were no saw-mills, and had there been the pioneers were seldom able, either from want of money or time, or owing to distance and absence of good roads, to procure lumber.
No other settlement was made in what is now Rountree until the year 1840, when William Heffley made his appearance and entered a piece of land in the southern part, which he sold to Wiley Lipe four years later. In 1842, came Wilson Carriker. He settled the farm where Jacob Miller now lives. Two years later, William Tanner and John Ridenour located in the little settlement and figured prominently as early settlers. Tanner purchased a tract of land in the northern part of the township, where he lived until the year 1872. Ridenour pitched his tent a little farther east, on the place where Martin Lingle now lives. The following year, Nicholas Ridenour, a brother of the preceding, came into the township and settled the place where his widow still resides.
These were all men of sterling integrity, and are spoken of by those who knew them as men well calculated to successfully overcome the many privations and trials through which the pioneer is called to pass. Again we glean the following who came prior to the year 1846: George Carriker, Alfred Carriker and Allen Lipe. These have been still followed by along catalogue of others, the names of whom we were unable to learn. Will only name a few of the more active and prominent ones who still remain to speak for themselves: Wiley Lipe, Henry Nusman and Noah Lipe. Space forbids a further enumeration. The first frame house in the township was built by Allen Lipe, in the year 1842, which is still standing, though not in use as a dwelling-house.
In an attempt to learn the early school history of this township but limited satisfaction has been derived. Evidently the first session of school was held in a log building near the southwest corner, sustained by subscriptions and taught by Wesley King. This house was erected in the year 1847, and was used jointly for school and church purposes. It was at this place that the first religious services of the township were held by itinerant ministers of the Methodist Church. King was a man of good acquirements and splendid tact as a teacher. He taught in various localities, and eveiywhere left his impress. While teaching in Rountree, he made his home in Irving Township, a distance of at least six miles from the scene of his labors. This distance was traversed every day, and during the period of his first school not an hour was missed from his work nor was he tardy a single minute. According to the best evidence we have at hand, the first structure erected especially for school purposes was situated in the southwest corner of the township, on the farm of Noah Lipe. Lipe took the contract to build and furnish the house for the sum of S75. It was built of hewed logs nicely fitted together, well furnished, and for a number of years was the best schoolhouse in the township. We have not been able to learn the exact year in which this building was erected, though it is thought to have been in 1846 or 1847. Wesley King taught in this house for about six consecutive years.
One of the earliest schools in the township was taught in a little log cabin on the farm of Tillman Heffley, by a Mr. Miller, sometime between the years 1847 and 1850. The first frame schoolhouse was built in the year 1861. It is still standing and is known as the Hazel Hill Schoolhouse. There are at present five good frame school buildings in the township, all of which are good substantial structures, well furnished.
The earliest birth in Rountree of which we have any definite knowledge was Laura Dryer, a daughter of John Dryer, born in the year 1836, just two years after the family settled in the township. The earliest marriage traceable was that of Peter Cress to Catherine Nusman, in the latter part of the year 1836. William Marks, a Justice of the Peace, from the city of Hillsboro, officiated at the ceremony. The first resident of the township to he summoned away by the death angel was Catherine Nusman, wife of John Nusman. Her death occurred in the year 1846, after having lived in the township fourteen years. The early roads of Rountree, like the first roads in most parts of the county, traversed the country in almost every direction, and every man had his own highway. The first road of any importance was the one which runs from Rountree to the village of Irving, although it has not been very extensively traveled of late years.
The Taylorville road was laid out through the township in an early day, and was for many years the most important highway in the northern part of the county. Its course through the township was from northwest to southeast. The most important roads at the present time are the roads running east and west on the boundary between Rountree and Irving Townships and one passing through the central part of the township from north to south. The last named intersects the former in the southern part of Section 33.
Almost all the roads traversing the township are regularly established on the proper section lines, and are in good condition. The first Justice of the Peace was Henry Freedmeyer, who was appointed in the year 1845 and continued in the office about twelve years. Dr. Elias Petril was the first soother of the sick to locate in the township. He came here in 1850, and for several years made his home with the family of Henry Nusman. Seventeen years later, Dr. Marion Osborne became a resident of Rountree and practiced his profession until the year 1880, when he sold out and went to Nebraska. There were no very early mills in this part of the county. The first settlers obtained their flour and breadstuffs from the Cress Mill in Butler Grove Township, and the Fogleman Mill situated south of Hillsboro. A small horse mill was erected by George Carriker on his farm near Shoal Creek in the year 1842, operated about eight years. During that time, he did a very flourishing business, and was extensively patronized by the neighbors for several miles around. Carriker sold this mill to Nelson Lipe in 1850, who removed it to his farm farther east, where it is still standing. The bolting apparatus has been taken out and no flour has been made for a number of years. Meal of a superior quality is still ground by the old machinery, and the mill is at the liberty of any one who wishes to use it. Noah and Allen Lipe bought and operated a couple of portable steam saw-mills as early as the year 1848. They were located in the southwestern part on the creek, and for several years sawed an immense amount of lumber. Messrs. Robertson & Southworth purchased these mills several years since and moved them to Fillmore Township, where they are still in operation.
Religion has flourished in the township ever since its first settlement, as is proven by the many church-going people now residing within its borders. Probably the first minister was the celebrated Peter Cartwright of the Methodist denomination. At the time he came, in 1842, there were no church buildings in the country, so he was obliged to hold public services in private dwelling-houses and groves. A society was organized in the year 1843, mainly through the efforts of Peter Cartwright, and met for worship in a little log cabin situated in Section 30. Revs. Wiley, Wildman, Frost and Trotter were among the early pastors of this church. Unwritten history tells us that this church maintained its organization until the year 1874, when it was abandoned by mutual consent of the members, a portion of them uniting with Montgomery Church in Butler Township, while those who lived farther north cast their lots with the congregation that met for worship at Burk's Chapel. The old church building where the congregation held their meetings for a long number of years has disappeared, and nothing remains to mark the spot where the first church edifice in the township stood. The next religious organization of which we have any definite knowledge, is the Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. This church dates its history from the year 1868, although there had been religious services held in the neighborhood two or three years previous, in private dwellings and schoolhouses. In the year 1868, a meeting of the few scattered Christians in the vicinity was convened at the Shoal Creek Schoolhouse for the purpose of discussing the propriety of organizing a church. The meeting was presided over by Rev. J. B. Cromer, and a constitution adopted to which were appended the following names: Martin L. Walcher, Julia M. Walcher, George C. Carriker, Arvina Carriker, James W. Huffman, Esther Huffman, Mary J. Carriker, Daniel Carriker, Jr., and Leah Walcher. To this list were added at the next meeting the names of M. F. Pollard, Thomas Sorrels and Amanda J. Sinds. A meeting of several days followed the first services conducted mainly by the Pastor, J. B. Cromer, during which many members were received into fellowship with the church. The congregation used the schoolhouse as a place of worship until the year 1872, at which time the beautiful building in which they now worship was erected. This building is frame, and will seat about three hundred persons. It was dedicated the latter part of the year 1872. Since its organization, the church has been ministered to by the following pastors, viz.: J. B. Livingood, __ Shaver, L. C. Grosclose, G. W. Hammer, M. L. Walcher and Ephraim Kitch. The first member to leave the church militant for the church triumphant was sister Leah Walcher, who passed over the river May 1, 1869. In point of numbers, the congregation is not as strong as formerly, quite a number having withdrawn and joined the Free Methodists, a society recently organized in the community. Others have died or moved to distant places, yet the remnant left is in a healthy condition, and are doing a good work in the service of the Master. The present membership numbers about thirty-five. The Sunday school is a flourishing one, and is under the efficient management of Winfield Walcher, Superintendent. Burk's Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by Rev. John Chapman in the year 186S at the Shoal Creek Schoolhouse with a membership of ten. The society worshiped in the schoolhouse until the year 1872, when they were allowed the use of the Lutheran Church building. They met in this house at intervals for five years, when they* commenced the erection of a new frame house of worship south of the Lutheran Church about two miles. This building was completed in the year 1880, and cost $600. The following list comprises the ministers that have been pastors of the church since its organization: R. B. Rhodes preached two years; James Stubblefield one year; J. W. Lapham, one year; __ Schwartz, one year; E. H. Hammill, one year. C. R. Howard, present pastor, has been with the church since 1880. Like the Lutheran Church, many members of this congregation have been absorbed by the Free Methodists, and the church cannot be spoken of as in good condition.
Of the society of Free Methodists, recently organized, we were unable to learn any particulars, yet we may be safe in saying that it is in a flourishing condition. The growth in numbers has been steady, and among its members are to be found many of the substantial citizens of the community. What its future may be is, of course, hidden from us, but there certainly seems to be a great work for it to do, and we only hope that he who writes a more elaborate history of it hereafter, may tell of many scores of souls which it has prepared for the better life in the Paradise of God.
Extracted 15 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, published in 1882, pages 391-395.
