Pike County IL Montezuma Twp. From the Milton Beacon 7 July 1876 |
Pike County IL Montezuma Twp. From the Milton Beacon 7 July 1876 |
This township borders on the Illinois river and lies between Detroit on the north and Pearl on the south.
It was one of the first townships in this early settled county to receive the pioneer.
A very complete and interesting historical sketch of this township was prepared by Mr. F. N. Grimes, editor of the Milton Beacon, in 1876, and we make no apology for quoting much of this sketch. The people of Montezuma and neighboring townships had a grand centennial celebration at Milton, July 4, 1876, and Mr. Grimes was appointed to the pleasant yet arduous and difficult task of preparing an historical sketch of this township as a Centennial History.
One hundred years ago the sound of the white man's ax had not been heard in our forests.
The ringing of the anvil, the rattle of the reaper, the hum of the thresher,
and the whistle of the engine would have been strange music to the ear of the wild Indian whose song and. warhoop were the only sounds indicative of human existence.
The soul stirring music of the band, the melodious tones of the organ, and the still sweet voices of the choir would have been in strange contrast with the howl of the wolf or the scream of the panther as they roamed
fearlessly o'er the spot where we now stand.
The bark canoe and the majestic steamer, the rude wigwam and the stately
mansion, the Indian pony and the iron horse, the slow footman and the lightning
telegraph illustrate the vast difference between the savage of then
and the civilized of today.
But little is known of the history of Montezuma township prior to the year 1819, at which time Ebenezer Franklin settled upon the lands now owned by his son Fredric Franklin, our townsman. Other settlements were afterwards
made, by Charles Adams, James Daniels, David Daniels, David Hoover, Daniel Hoover, Joel Meacham, Thomas Davis, (1826), Elijah Garrison (1826), Solomon Farringson, (1827),John F. Long, (1818), Fielden Hanks, (1829), William Morton, Frederic Franklin, (came with his father) E. C. Clemmons, James Cheatham (1834), Josiah Hoover, (came with his father 1826). The last eight are still residents. Z. A. Garrison, John Battershell, (1832), now
a resident of Spring Creek Township. Ezekial Clemmons, Boone Allen, John Morton, George Morton, Peter Dillon, John Garrison, Joseph Garrison, John Loep, Nicholas Jones, John Jones, Wm. McBride, Smith Aimes, Joshua Davis, Josiah
Simms, Wm. Kenney (1826), Solomon Seevers, James Grimes, (1836) John Bacus,
Job Wilkinson, B. Greathouse, John Greathouse, Louis Allen, Elijah Garrison.
Like all settlers of new countries, they suffered many hardships and inconveniences. The nearest mill for the first few years was Edwardsville,
80 miles distant. Mr. Franklin informs us that there were then about 200
Indians in this vicinity. Z. A. Garrison of Oregon, wrote us last week as
follows:
"Fifty years ago, I with my father and his family crossed the Illinois
River in a small hand ferryboat at Meacham ferry, where Montezuma now stands.
We went west four miles and settled in the timber a pretty country abounding with game of all kinds. Deer, turkey and bees were very plenty. The Indians were our most numerous neighbors, being about twenty to one white man. In the winter of 1829 and 1830 the deep snow fell which was four feet on a level.
The summer following I was tending the ferry for Solomon Seevers at Montezuma and saw the first steamboat that ploughed the Illinois river. It was a small
stern wheeler. When opposite the ferry the wheel rolled up so much grass that it could not turn, and the men had to cut it loose and pole her through the grass. There was but one watermill in the county and that was on Big Blue.
It was a tub wheel and a very faithful one it was. When it got our grain
cracked it would jump up another with a powerful vim and cra it too.
The nearest store in the county was kept by Col. Ross at Atlas. Women wore homespun cotton dresses, and deer skin moccasins. Men and boys dressed in buckskin from head to foot and on the head a coon or fox skin cap; eat hog and hominy, lived sociable and enjoyed each others company with true friendship."
In the year 1829 a horse mill was built by Freeman Tucker on the lot now
occupied by Mr. Franklin. The nearest trading points were at Atlas and Bridgeport opposite Bedford. The first regularly laid out road ran from Montezuma
to Atlas, and was among, if not the first, in the county. Houston was the physician. Polly Davis taught the first school in a small cabin on the land now owned by Josiah Hoover. In addition to her labors as teacher she had
the care of eight children.
The inhabitants were preeminently religious. Shouting was very common and the "jerks" had not ceased to afflict the religious fanatic. Preaching
and prayer meetings were held at private houses until better accommodations could be had. The Christian church prevailed at that time, and an organization was effected prior to the year 1828. There were five resident "ministers; four
of the Christian and one of the Baptist faith. The present Christian church,
has been perpetuated since the year 1833.
The call for volunteers for the Black Hawk war created no little consternation among the people.
A meeting was called at Florence and John Battershell, Joseph Gale, William Kenney, Joshua Davis, Smith Aimes,
Josiah Simms and Edward Irons enlisted. The first two are still living.
There were others from the adjoining towns or counties who afterwards became residents, as Jesse Lester,
then a resident of Detroit, now residing here, James Grimes, resident of Greene county, and others whose names we
cannot give.
About the year 1830, by virtue of the law allowing slaveholders the privilege of passing through this State with slaves,
slavery existed in the township for a period limited by the law to 30 days.
Jacob Rosel brought a negro woman here, and not wishing to remove for the time, kept her until the expiration of the
30 days, and took her to Missouri for a few days, and brought her back again, and so continued to do, thus evading the
law for nearly a year.
The first marriage so far as we can learn was that of
Joseph Gale and Elizabeth Garrison, about the year 1830. John F. Long is now the oldest resident voter in the township,
having been a legal voter 47 years, and has not missed to exceed three general elections.
The oldest native-born resident is Daniel G. Hoover, son of Daniel and Rebecca Hoover. Calvin Greathouse,
son of John and Catherine Greathouse was the first native-born. He is now a resident of Texas.
EDUCATIONAL
A subsequent meeting is recorded as follows:
1st. That the debtors to the school fund be required punctually to pay the interest when due, and annually to pay ten per cent of the principal.
2d. That 65 days be considered one quarter of a year, and that each school teacher teach 8 hours in each day.
3d. That the trustees receive for their services 50 cts. per day, and the treausrer receive $1.00 per day.
Trustees
At a meeting held at Thomas Davis' house in November of the same year, the township was laid off in districts, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Lots No 4, 14 and 15 of the 16th section were ordered to be sold on the 24th of December on 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years' time. From 1840 to 1850 we find the name of B. Greathouse as Treasurer most of the time. The names of a portion of the teachers are as follows: T. M. Johnson, Louisa Greene, W. W. Tucker, A. Meacham, A.D. Robertson, W. Porter, G. Lester, Joseph M. Jones (now resident of Oregon), N.W. Saxton, J.J. Meacham, A. Jones, H.D. Bennett, C. L. Easley, T. P. Hoit, Noble Shaw, Martha Greathouse, B. F. Turpin, Matthew Morton, Sidney Coffey, James Brook, Nancy L. Reed, John Porter, Sherman Goss, Edwin Woolley, Joseph Colvin (now living in Time), W. F. Anderson, Addison S. Smith, John W. Allen (now residing near Milton), R.R. Clark, James M. Grimes, Adam Acott, Mary A. Clemmons, Caroline E. Davis, Harmon J. Kimball, Wm. B. Grimes, Edwin P. Simmons, John S. Woolley, Emeline Spencer, Robert Owen and Samuel Heaton. From 1850 to the present we can only mention a few of the names: Hampton, Eaglin, Hurley, Roberts, Walden, Underwood, Eakins, Harris, Ewing, N. C. Boren, P. A. Long, J. H. Long, W. M. Landess, N. J. Colvin, Fannie Allen, Jane Allen, A. F. White, W. N. Barney, Sarah B. Stuart, N. D. Mc. Evers, G. W. Manley, J. L. Harris, Lucinda K Smith, G. B. Garrison, W. Z. Garrison, Amanda Boren and J. M. Faris. The teachers during the last year were John King, Miss Cromwell, Mrs. A. Binns, L. D. Riggs, Geo. A. Holcomb, C. E. Thurman, J. G. Webster, J. L. Craven, W. F. Colvin, and the writer. Several of the above named persons have devoted the greater portion of their lives to the profession. During the past 20 years Mr. F. M. Grimes taught 19 successive terms in this township.
Montezuma has always been proud of her schools, and according to her population she stands second to none in the county, perhaps in the State. Liberal wages have been paid, and there seems to be a determination on the part of the patrons to spare no pains in giving to their children the greatest of blessings, a liberal education. As evidence that our schools have been all that we claim for them, we point to the business and professional men who received their education in our schools, viz: J. F. Greathouse, who now ranks among the best lawyers of the county, F. M. Greathouse, his brother, now present State's Attorney of Calhoun, and stands at the head of the Bar in that county; W. B. Grimes, ex-County Clerk, and V. A. Grimes, present Deputy; W. H. Thomas, attorney, now in California; J. H. Nicolay, who held a position in the U. S. Treasury at Washington; John G. Nicolay, present Marshal of the Supreme Court of the U. S., held his residence here for several years prior to entering upon his apprenticeship as a printer in Pittsfield, and what education he received in the common schools, was obtained in the schools in this township.
AGRICULTURE
For many years the tillers of the soil were, of necessity, compelled to use such implements as came within their reach. The plow with wooden mold-board is within the recollection of many who were raised in our midst. The sickle and the scythe were sufficient for the amount of small grain raised, but as the acreage increased, the demand for something more expeditious was supplied by the introduction of the reaper. Mr. R. H. Robertson was the first to lead in this progressive movement, and in about the year 1845, bought and cut his grain with a McCormick reaper. Next year Mr. E. C. Clemmons followed the example. A. Boren and John F. Long soon after introduced one in the south part of the township. Flailing and tramping with horses soon gave way to the "beater," which was run by Wm. Stults. This was quite a relief to the boys who rode the horses from day to day, and bareback at that, on a tramping floor not more than 30 feet in diameter. Our recollections on this point are very vivid indeed. The "beater" soon gave way to the improved thresher and cleaner; the wooden fork was not adequate to the task of taking care of the straw; the wooden plows were laid in the shade and the Stebbins and Modie plows took their places; the wooden harrow was not in keeping with the times, and the material from which it was made served for other purposes. That the soil from which our crops is produced is of the best and most endurable quality, is demonstrated beyond a doubt by the manner in which it has from year to year been tilled. Until late years the clover crop was as rare as the flax crop is at the present. Year after year have our lands yielded bountiful crops, without rest or nourishment in return, and why should we wonder that it should show some signs of diminished productiveness? The improved methods of culture, deep plowing, clovering and pasturing, have made much of our land better than it was when it was first turned by the plow-share.
The introduction of improved and blooded stock was left to a few of our most enterprising farmers, who, in the past 25 years have made rapid strides in this particular, so much so that this for the past two or three years may be called the banner township, so far as the show of fine cattle is concerned. Isaac Brown & Sons, John O. Bolin, E. N. French, Geo. Hoover, R. C. Allen and others, have done a commendable work in the improvement of cattle, hogs and sheep.
The majority of our farmers now have more or less of the improved breeds upon their farms. The original scrub hog is as scarce now as the imported was 20 years ago. In order that the progress of the next century may be readily estimated by the readers who at that time may chance to see this record, we give some of the statistics furnished by Eli Grimes, present Assessor:
Merchandise, value, $27,460; moneys and credits, $66,485; improved lands, 12,257 acres, #327,925; unimproved lands, 8,261 acres, $43,660; wheat, 3,019 acres; corn, 4,148 acres; oats, 509 acres; meadows and pasture, 3,085 acres; town lots, improved, 155; unimproved, 391; total value of town lots, $58,919; total value of personal property, $173,175; total value of real estate, $371,585. Grand total, $607,539.
VILLAGES
There are three villages in this township, the largest and most important of which is Milton, situated on section 5. At the close of the Black Hawk war in 1832, and when the people of the South and East were assured that the settlers through this section of the State had no more to fear from the Indians, there was a most wonderful influx of settlers here. There has never been a period in the history of the settlement of the Mississippi valley or the Great West, when emigration was greater than it was to Central Illinois during the few years subsequent to the close of the war, say from 1833 to 1837. The people poured in by thousands, and the beautiful groves and "points" of Pike county received their portion. During this period we find unprecedented prosperity on every hand. Then, to add to the almost wild excitement incident to the prosperity and speculation then rife, the State inaugurated the most stupendous system of internal improvement ever attempted by a government. The wildest imagination can scarcely conceive the magnitude of this vast system. Suffice it to say that it proved an incentive to the settlers here to embark in speculations, especially in land. Towns were laid out on every hand, and a majority of the villages of Pike county were platted, christened and started upon their career during this eventful period. In this township the villages of Milton, Montezuma and Bedford were ushered into existence at this time.
The beautiful little village of Milton was platted by Freeman Tucker, March 2, 1835. As early as 1828 Wm. Kenney erected a log cabin here. Some little improvement was made in the neighborhood from that time until they laid off the town. There are several good store buildings, filled with a fine assortment of goods in their various lines, situated around a beautiful little square, which is set with trees, etc., and forms a pleasant summer park. The first store was kept by Tucker & Wethers, and the first school was taught by George Lester. The first church structure was situated on the Public Square. Milton is situated upon a beautiful prairie, and enjoys a fine local trade.
The village of Montezuma, which is located on the Illinois river, on section 12, and four miles from Milton, was laid out by an Alton Company for a river landing. In 1836 Joel Meacham, who ran a ferry across the river at this point for many years, laid out an addition, which comprises about one-half of the town. Montezuma had great promise of making a town of some importance, being an excellent landing for boats at all stages of water, but the introduction of railroads and the springing up of inland towns, have so crippled river transportation that at present it affords profit to scarcely any one. The village contains at present about 100 inhabitants.
Bedford, which is situated on section 13 and 24, and about one mile and a half below Montezuma on the river, was laid out by David Hoge, April 16, 1836. It has an excellent river landing, and for years a vast amount of grain, pork and various kinds of produce, were annually shipped from here. It no longer, however, claims any great prominence among the towns of the county. Its present population numbers about 100.
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