Crawford County IL Archives History - Books .....Chapter XIV Licking Township 1883
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Book Title: HISTORY OF CRAWFORD AND CLARK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

CHAPTER XIV.*
* By G. N. Berry.

LICKING TOWNSHIP—DESCRIPTION, BOUNDARIES AND TOPOGRAPHY—EARLY SETTLEMENT—PIONEER
IMPROVEMENTS AND INDUSTRIES—VILLAGES—EARLY SCHOOLS, ETC—CHURCHES AND CHURCH
BUILDINGS.


THE events of every-day life are like the stones in a Mosaic, each going to make
up the whole picture, and it is often that these trifling occurrences are of far
more interest to us than the great events of the time. Doubtless the buiiders of
the Parthenon were more pleased with the goodness of the midday meal which their
wives brought them than they were with the magnificence of the grand temple they
were erecting. In all probability Shakspeare thought more of the acting
qualities of the ideal characters he created than of the echoes they would send
down through the long corridors of time. So in the annals of a county or town,
the historian's aim is to chronicle, not great events that affect the destiny of
a nation, but rather the homely events of every-day life, and such as have
occurred within the last sixty years. The pioneers who bore the brunt of toil
and danger; whose lives were spent, not in the lap of luxury, surrounded by
affluence, but amid perils and manifold hardships; and the youth whose infant
cradles were rocked to the music of the wild wolf's howl—these and kindred
incidents are such as embellish the early history of this part of Illinois, and
are of more interest to us than the great questions which shake empires and
kingdoms. These scenes and incidents, together with those who figured in them,
deserve perpetuation in history. The majority of the original pioneers have
passed away; but few of the old guard remain, and many of their children, too,
have followed them to that "bourne from whence no traveler returns." It is
highly fitting then that a record of the "old times" should be made to stand as
a monument to their industry and hardships. Licking township occupies the
northwest corner of Crawford County, and is eight miles in extent from east to
west and seven miles from the northern to the southern, boundary. It contains
fifty-six square miles of territory and possesses a pleasant diversity of
surface, with prairie and woodland alternating in about equal proportions. An
arm of the Dolson prairie extends through the eastern part of the township from
north to southwest, embracing an area of about twelve hundred and sixty acres.
Willow prairie lies near the central part and includes a scope of land about
three and a half miles long from north to south and three miles in extent from
east to west, while White's prairie occupies a strip about one and a half miles
in width, along the western border of the township. These prairies possess a
gently undulating surface, and a rich gray loam soil which is well adapted for
agricultural purposes. The subsoil is clay, which renders farming, during wet
seasons, rather difficult, owing to its impervious nature. The wooded portions
of the township are more uneven, and along the various water-courses by which
the country is drained the land is somewhat irregular and broken. The original
forest growth consisted of various species of oak, black and white walnut, sugar
maple, elm, sycamore, ash, hickory, sassafras, persimmon, locust, and a number
of other varieties. The undergrowth consists of hazel, sumac, dog-wood,
spice-bush, paw-paw, grape, wild plum, etc. The immediate valleys of the streams
in the southern and central portions of the township are well timbered and
occasionally there are to be seen isolated copses or groves in the open prairie.
But in these the trees do not exhibit that thrifty growth characteristic of the
forests. The timbered land possesses a soil superior in many respects to the
prairies for general farming purposes. It is of a clayey nature, wears well, and
seems especially adapted to wheat and the other small grains. The township is
traversed by several streams, among which are Muddy Creek, Maple Creek, Willow
Creek, and Big Creek. The last named flows through the southeast corner of the
township, and is a stream of considerable size and importance. Muddy Creek
crosses the northern boundary, in section 1, flows diagonally through the
township in a southwesterly direction and leaves from section 6. In its course
it receives a number of affluents, the principal of which is Maple's branch,
which flows a southerly course, through sections 3, 9 and 16. Willow Creek is
formed by the junction of two small streams in section 7, from which point it
flows a southerly course and leaves the township from section 1, about two miles
from the western boundary. The township is noted as an agricultural region and
some of the largest and best improved farms in the county are to be seen within
its limits. There are many fine grazing districts in various parts of the
country, and stock-raising is rapidly coming to the front as an industry.

   The advent of pioneers into that portion of the county embraced within the
limits of this township dates back to a period more than sixty years gone by,
but by whom the first settlement was made can not be correctly determined. It is
known, however, that a number of transient settlers had "squatted" on Congress
land in the southern part of the township as early as the year 1820, but beyond
erecting a few insignificant cabins, and clearing small patches of ground, they
made no improvements. The names of these squatters, and facts concerning them,
have been lost in the lapse of time, and any attempt to designate their location
would be mere conjecture. A man by name of Phelps, of whom but little is known,
settled one mile north of Henry Kerby's farm, about the year 1820, where he
buiit a rude cabin and improved about an acre of ground. He came to this part of
the country from one of the southern States, and like many of the precursors of
civilization, was induced to come west in quest of game, which at that time, was
plentiful, and easily procured. His wants were few and easily satisfied and he
led a charmed life in quest of his favorite pursuit, until the year 1820, when
on the appearance of more permanent settlers he left the country and went
further west.

   Among the earliest inhabitants of Licking is remembered one John Miller, a
native of Philadelphia, who settled temporarily near the southern boundary of
the township in section 3, about the year 1821. He was a true type of the
backwoodsman, and led a wild, free life in his isolated cabin, untrammeled by
the usages and exactions of society for which he had the utmost contempt. He was
an expert with the rifle, and spent the greater part of his time hunting and
trapping, and realized enough from the sale of furs and wild game to keep his
family in such articles of clothing and groceries as they needed, which
fortunately were few. He sold his improvements to John Howard in the fall of
1824, and moved west, and finally made his way to California. A number of years
later he returned to the township and entered land near the central part, where
he lived until the time of his death, about twenty years ago. His reputation for
honesty was not of the highest order, and he was detected in many petty acts of
thievery. His chief means of support after game had disappeared from the
country, was derived from his hogs of which he kept large numbers. William
Johnson came to the township about the year 1823, and made a few improvements on
the farm at present occupied by Henry Kerby. Johnson immigrated to this State
from Indiana in an ox cart, and settled first near Hutsonville, where he
remained but a short time. He was in many respects like his neighbor Miller, and
depended for a livelihood upon his rifle which was his most valuable piece of
property. He lived where he first located about six years, when he sold his
cabin and moved further northwest near the Bellaire road, where he afterward
became possessor of a small farm on which he resided until the year 1866.

   An early settler in the southern part of the township was John Howard, whose
arrival dates from the year 1826. He was a native of Kentucky, and was induced
to immigrate to this State in the hope of securing land, which could be obtained
at that early day at a very nominal price. The family came in a wagon, and were
many weeks on the journey, owing to the wet condition of the season and the
absence of roads, much of the way lay through an almost unbroken wilderness,
through which roads had to be cut, thus rendering the trip very slow. Howard
made his first settlement in the eastern part of the county, near Palestine,
where he lived for a number of years before moving to this town-ship. He
purchased the improvements which Miller had made and moved his family here in
the fall of the year mentioned, and until the time of his death in 1849 was
prominently identified with the development of the township. One daughter, Mrs.
Kirby, is living in the township at the present time.

   In the spring of 1856 Emsley Curtis, a native of North Carolina, immigrated
to Licking, and was joined, the fall of the same year, by James Cox, both of
whom selected homes near the central part of the township. Curtis did not make
any improvements for a number of years, beyond erecting a rude cabin, and was,
like many of the early settlers, a hunter and trapper. He afterward entered land
near where he located, and for about twenty-three years was a resident of the
township. Cox came from Indiana, and was no credit to the community in which he
settled. He raised a large family of boys all of whom inherited in a marked
degree their father's evil disposition and bad habits, and grew up to be the
terror of the country. Becoming implicated in some difficulty of a serious
nature, and fearing prosecution, the boys and the old man left the country about
the year 1843, and when last heard from were in the State of Missouri. Other
settlers in 1836 were William Maples, who located in section 11, in northern
part of the township; William Cooley, a native of North Carolina, who settled
near the present site of Portersville, where he made extensive improvements, and
William Goodwin who came from Indiana and entered land in section 33, near
Hart's Grove. John Hart came a little later, and entered land near the grove
which bears his name. He was born in Virginia, and left his native State for
Kentucky immediately after his marriage. He cleared a good farm in the latter
State, and lived on it for twenty years, accumulating in the meantime
considerable property. He lost this farm through a defect in the title, and
spent all of his hard-earned wealth lawing for its recovery. After his
possessions were all gone he determined to emigrate, which he did in the summer
of 1833, and came with his family to Palestine, arriving there with but few
shillings in his pocket. He rented land near the river, where he remained for
two years, at the expiration of which time he found himself in possession of a
sufficient amount of money to enter eighty acres of land. He made his first
entry in section 34, and moved his family to his new home a few weeks later. He
improved a good farm, which was his home until the year 1852. A son, Jacob Hart,
came with his father to the country, and has been a prominent resident of the
township for forty-nine years. He settled near Big Creek a few years after his
arrival, where he lived for about ten years, when he sold and moved near the
western part of the township on Willow Creek, his present place of residence.

   During the year 1837 the following persons became residents of Licking.
Sargent Hill, John Tate, William Dicks, James Hollowell, "Rick" Arnold, and a
man by name of Landern. Hill came from North Carolina and settled in the eastern
part of the county in an early day. He entered land in section 25 in this
township, which is still in possession of his descendants. Hill was a prominent
citizen, and his descendants are among the leading and substantial business men
of the county. Tate located in the southern part of the township in section 34,
where he entered land. He came from North Carolina in company with a number of
other families, the most of whom settled on the river. He lived in the township
about twenty years, when he sold out and moved to Vandalia. Dicks was a native
of North Carolina also, but had lived in Indiana a number of years prior to
moving to this State. He entered land in section 11 a short distance north of
the village of Annapolis, and for twenty-five years was prominently identified
with the township. His death occurred in 1857, and the place on which he lived
is at the present time owned by the Cunningham heirs. James Hollowell was born
in Virginia, but was taken to Indiana by his parents when but six years of age.
He lived in Indiana until 1836, at which time he made a tour of observation
through the west for the purpose of selecting a home. He went as far as Arkansas
but was not satisfied with the country, and on his return passed through the
northern part of Crawford County. The appearance of the land here pleased him
and he entered a tract in section 11, to which he moved a short time afterward.
He brought his family in the fall of 1837, and domiciled them in a rude cabin
which had been used by a squatter. Being a man of considerable energy he soon
had a more commodious structure erected and a goodly number of acres under
cultivation. He was a man of unblemished reputation and a prominent citizen of
the township for a period of nine years. The old place is in possession of his
son Silas Hollowell, one of the oldest living settlers of the township and one
of its leading citizens. "Rick" Arnold settled near the central part of the
township, where he made a few temporary improvements. Later he entered land near
the southeast part. He was a man of considerable intelligence, and served the
county two terms as sheriff, having been elected about the year 1838. He moved
to Missouri in the year 1848 and died in that State a few years later. Landern
located in the northern part of the township, near the village of Annapolis. He
was an old bachelor and a very eccentric genius, and seemed to shun all
communications with his neighbors. He kept large droves of hogs, which he
fattened on the mast in the woods; from the sale of his porkers he acquired
considerable money which he hoarded away very carefully, being a perfect miser
in his love of the "filthy lucre." He sold all of his hogs about the fall of
1840, and embarked in a small flat-boat for New Orleans, since which time
nothing has been heard of him. The supposition is that he was robbed and killed
on the journey.

   About the same time the foregoing settlements were being made in the northern
and southern parts of Licking. A few pioneers made their way to the western part
of the township. Among these was John White, or as he was more familiarly known,
"Fluker" White. He settled in the eastern part of the county when Palestine
consisted of but few houses, and participated in the battle which was fought at
that place between the settlers and Indians. In this engagement he was shot
through the body with an arrow and given up for dead by his comrades. He
rallied, however, and lived a number of years to relate his narrow escape from
death at the hands of the red-skins. His first improvement in this township was
made a little southeast of the village of Bellaire, where he lived until about
the year 1845, at which time his death occurred. Jackson James settled in the
same locality about the same time, and became possessor of a considerable tract
of real estate. Mortimer Parsons, Elijah Clark, Tobias Livingston and James
Metheny were early residents in the western part of the township near Bellaire.
In addition to the settlers already enumerated the following persons found homes
within the present limits of Licking prior to 1840: Thomas Boring settled in
section 3; Daniel Coate, northern part in section 2; James Dixon and Ezekiel
Rubottom in the same section; Jacob Mullen, section 25; Igel Beeson in southwest
part; James Boyd, section 1; R. G. Morris, same section; Jeremiah Willison,
section 6: Uriah Hadley, section 20; James Netherby, section 24; John Bonham in
same locality; ^William B. Newlin and B. Clark, section 25, and Henry Kerby in
southern part on section 3. Kerby's marriage to a daughter of John Howard's was
among the first events of the kind ever solemnized in this township. From the
year 1840 to 1850 a tide of immigration came into the township from Ohio, the
majority of the settlers hailing from Licking County of that State, which fact
suggested the name by which the township is at present known.

   The hardships of the early settlers in their efforts to secure homes for
themselves and their posterity are but a repetition of those experienced in
other portions of the county, with the exception, perhaps, that they were not
quite so severe, owing to settlements being made elsewhere a little earlier. But
life in this locality in the early days was hard enough. The ground, owing to
its wet nature and the lack of necessary agricultural implements, made small
crops a necessity. Corn was the principal product, no wheat being raised until a
number of years had elapsed from the date of the first settlement. The first
wheat was raised in small patches, two acres being considered a large crop.
Harvesting was done by the old-fashioned reap hook and sickle, neighbors helping
for help in return. Considerable attention was given to the raising of buckwheat
by the early settlers, and on almost every farm could be seen a patch of this
grain, which, at that time, could always be sold for a good price in the markets
of Palestine, York and Terre Haute. Wild honey was found in large quantities in
the woods and formed one of the chief sources of revenue to the pioneer, as it
could readily be exchanged for dry goods and groceries at the various market
places. Bees-wax, venison hams and deer-skins were articles of commerce, by
means of which the pioneer farmer was enabled to pay off many of his debts.

   The early settlers of Licking obtained their flour and meal from the older
settlements in the eastern part of the county, and it was not until about the
year 1848 that a mill was erected within the present limits of the township. The
first mill of which we have any knowledge was erected by Henry Varner on Willow
Creek near the southern boundary of the township some time during the year
mentioned. It was a rude affair, contained but one buhr which had been
manufactured from a "nigger head," and was operated by water power. The building
was a small frame structure eighteen by twenty feet and one story high. The mill
was in operation about ten years and did a very good business considering its
capacity. A man by name of Tregul erected an ox-mill on his farm near the
central part of the township a few years later, which he operated very
successfully for six or eight years. It was kept running night and day for some
time after its erection in order to supply the demand made for flour. The old
building disappeared long since, and at the present time not a vestige remains
to mark the spot it occupied.

   In the year 1853 a steam flouring mill was built about one mile west of the
village of Annapolis by Holmes & Doty. It was a frame building two stories high,
and had but one run of buhrs. A saw was afterward attached and for several years
the mill did a very flourishing business, both in sawing and grinding. Holmes &
Doty operated it about five years, when it was purchased by George Dixon who run
it until the year 1858, at which time it was burned. The boiler and most of the
machinery were saved from the fire and sold a short time afterward to M. Vance
and a man by the name of Bates, who erected another mill of the same size in the
same locality. They operated the mill for three years and then sold it to a man
by name of Brown, who moved the machinery to Mississippi. A saw-mill was erected
by J. Ward near the central part of the township about the year 1858. It was a
water mill and did a very good business while there was sufficient water in the
creek to run the machinery. Allen Tregul purchased the mill one year later and
operated it until about the year 1868. The Annapolis steam flouring mill was
erected about the year 1867 by Jerry Reese and cost the sum of $9,000. It is a
large two story and a half frame building thirty by seventy feet with three run
of buhrs and a grinding capacity of about forty barrels of flour per day. Reese
sold to Johnson and Calvin after running the mill a few years, and in 1880 the
entire interest was purchased by Johnson, who is the present owner. F. S. Boyle
is running the mill at the present time and doing an extensive business.

   The roads of a country are an indication of its internal improvement. The
first roads were but Indian trails through the thick forest and over the
prairies. As the whites came in and settled the lands regular roadways were
established, but with no reference to section lines. The first legally
established highway in licking appears to have been the Stewart Mill and York
Road which was laid out by John B. Richardson as early as the year 1842. It
passed through the eastern part of the township in a southerly direction but it
has undergone so many changes during the last forty years that it is difficult
to define the original route. The Palestine and Bellaire Road which passes
through the central part of the township from east to west was laid out and
established about the year 1845 and is still one of the leading thoroughfares in
the northern part of the county. The Hutsonville and Bellaire Road, which
connects those two places, passes through the northern part of the township
about two and a half miles south of the county line. It was laid out in the year
1846 by county surveyor Fitch, having been viewed a short time previous by
Doctor Hill, John Vance and a man by name of Freelin. It is still a good road
and extensively traveled. Another early highway is the Robinson and Martinsville
Road which was laid out about the year 1845 or 1846. The original route, which
has been greatly changed, passed through the township in an irregular course
from north to south. It intersects the Hutsonville and Bellaire Road at the.
village of Annapolis, about one mile west of the eastern boundary, and is one of
the best roads in the township. A number of other roads have been established
from time to time which intersect each other at proper intervals, and in the
matter of good highways Licking is as well supplied as any other township in the
county.

   In educational matters the citizens of this township have always taken an
active interest, and schools were established at a very early day. It is
difficult to determine, at this distant day, when, where, and by whom the first
school in the township was taught, as opinions concerning the matter are
considerably at variance. From the most reliable information, however, we are
safe in saying that "Rick" Arnold taught one of the first terms as early as
1837, in a little cabin which stood in the southern part of the township near
the Kerby farm. This cabin had been fitted up by the few neighbors living in the
vicinity, for school purposes, and was in use but one year. Among the first
teachers was Sarah Ann Curran, who taught in a small log building which had been
used as a residence by the family of James Dixon. This house stood in the
northern part of the township near the present village of Annapolis, and was
used for school purposes but one year. Miss Curran's school numbered about
twelve pupils, and lasted three months. A man by name of Hampton taught a term
in the southern part of the township about the year 1841, and used for the
purpose a vacated cabin which stood on the farm, at present owned by Mr.
Rausard. Hampton is remembered as a good teacher, and his school, like all
others at that day, was supported by subscription, and lasted about three
months. In the year 1843 there were two schools in the township, taught
respectively, by Sarah Handy and Huldah Woods. The first named taught in a part
of Jonathan Dixon's residence in the northern part of the township, and Miss
Woods wielded the birch in an old abandoned dwelling about three miles southwest
of Annapolis. These ladies were both good instructors, and for a number of years
were identified with the schools of Licking. Another early teacher of the
township was John Metheny, who had charge of a school where Miss Woods taught in
the year 1844. He was a professional instructor, but had to abandon the work on
account of a serious malady which unfitted him for teaching. Ann Lamb taught
near the village of Bellaire the same year, and Louisa and Alice Vance taught
near the central part of the township a couple of years later. The first
building erected especially for school purpose was the Mount Pleasant
school-house which stood three miles south of the village of Annapolis. It was
erected in 1846 and was in use about thirty years. The first teacher who used it
was Elias Wilkins. The second school-house was erected about one year later and
stood in the northeast corner of the township. It was a hewed-log structure and
served the two-fold purpose of school and meeting-house, having been used as a
place of worship by the Quakers for a period of ten years. It was sold in the
year 1859 and moved to Annapolis, where it is still standing and in use as a
dwelling. The township was supplied with free school about the year 1855, at
which time the present districts were laid off and good frame buildings erected.
Perhaps no township in the county is better supplied with school-houses than
Licking, and it is certain that nowhere else is there more interest taken in
educational matters. There are fifteen good frame buildings, all of which are
neatly finished and well furnished, and schools are maintained about seven
months of the year. The present township board of education consists of the
following gentlemen: Isaac Lamb, Robert Lincoln and Peter Welbert. Melvin Colter
is clerk of the board, and treasurer.

   The Quakers are said to have been the pioneers of religion in Licking, and a
society of them was formed in the northern part of the township in a very early
day. The first services were held at the residence of James Dixon whose house
was used as a meeting: place for seven or eight years. Among the first members
of this society were William Dixon and wife, I. Beeson and family, Mrs. James
Dixon, William Lindley and family, Nathan Musgrove and family and Thomas Cox a
wife. A regular organization was maintained for about twenty years, and meetings
were held in the school-house which stood on the Dixon farm. Owing to deaths and
removals the church was finally abandoned. The last preacher was Andrew
Tomlinson. The scattered members of the old society were re-organized a few
years ago in Hutsonville township, where they have a strong church and a
handsome house of worship. The Methodists organized a class at the Mount
Pleasant school-house about the year 1848 and have maintained a society in that
vicinity ever since. They used the school-house as a place of worship until it
was torn down, and since that time have been holding services at the Union
school-house. Atone time the organization was very strong and numbered among its
communicants the majority of the citizens in the vicinity. It has decreased in
numbers very materially during the last fifteen years and at the present time
the class is but a remnant of its former self. The pastor in charge is Rev. Mr.
Seeds, who is assisted in the work by Rev. Mr. Cullom.

   The Portersville Methodist church was organized about the year 1863 with
twenty members. The first meetings were held in the old log school-house in
eastern part of the village, which served the society as a place of worship
until the Union church building was erected in 1875. The class was organized by
the Protestant Methodists and continued as a church of that denomination until
the year 1878, at which time it was re-organized as a Methodist Episcopal
society through the efforts of Rev. Mr. Stauffer. Among the stated supplies of
the church were Revs. Jackson Anderson, Daniel McCormick, R. Traverse, R.
Wright, J. D. Dees, Newton Stauffer, J. M. Jackson. The pastor in charge at the
present time is Rev. S. A. Seeds. The present membership of the church is
fifty-one. A good Sunday school is maintained during the greater part of the
year. A. J. Holmes is the efficient superintendent.

   The United Brethern Mission at Annapolis dates its history from the year
1866, at which time Rev. Richard Belknap came into the country, and at the
suggestion of D. B. Shires, and by their joint efforts a class of about fifty
members was organized. Belknap preached two years and was succeeded by Rev.
James Page, who remained with the church one year. Then came in regular
succession Revs. Shepherd, Samuel Starks, John Helton, Samuel Slusser, Ephraim
Shuey, Daniel Buzzard, William Hillis and _____ Zoeler. The present pastor is
Rev. John Cardwell. A society of the M. E. church was organized at Annapolis a
number of years ago by members of the Union church who lived considerable
distances from their place of meeting. The class was kept until the year 1873,
when it was disbanded and the few remaining members transferred back to the
original society. In 1875 the members living in Annapolis and surrounding
country united with a part of the class which met at Willow church and organized
a second class in the village with a membership of twenty-three. The
organization was brought about principally by the efforts of Dr. J. C. Mason and
Rev. R. Wetherford, and the society became a regular appointment on the Oblong
circuit. Wetherford was pastor for one year and was followed by Rev. Ira King,
who remained on the circuit for the same length of time. The next pastor was
Rev. Allen Bartley; then came in regular succession, Newton Stauffer, James G.
Dees and John M. Jackson. The present pastor is Rev. S. A. Seeds, who is
assisted by Rev. J. W. Cullom. There are on the records the names of
thirty-seven members in good standing, at the present time. Services are held
alternately with the United Brethren in the Union church building. The Union
church house was erected by the citizens of Annapolis and vicinity, in the year
1875, and cost the sum of $2,000. The project originated with Rev. John Anderson
of Portersville, who had preached in the village at intervals, using the school
house for church purposes. Being a man of considerable enterprise, he soon
convinced the citizens that a more suitable place for worship was needed, and
money enough was soon collected to complete the work. The building is a neat
frame structure, 32x48 feet, with a seating capacity of about three hundred. It
was finished and dedicated in August of the year referred to.

   The Christian Church of Portersville was organized in the year 1875, by Elder
Wood, with twelve members. The following pastors have preached for the society
at different times since its organization: William Beadle, Elders McCash,
Lockhart, Conner, Boor and Grimm. The church at the present time is in a
flourishing condition, and numbers about seventy communicants; services are held
every Lord's day. The Portersville church edifice was erected in the year 1875
by the public at large for general religious purposes. It is a frame building
35x50 feet, and cost the sum of $1,500. The house is open to all denominations
and at the present time is used by the Methodists and Christians alternately.

   The West Harmony Christian Church was organized a number of years ago near
White's Prairie in the western part of the township. The society is in good
condition and numbers among: its members some of the best citizens of the
community. The neat temple of worship used by the congregation was erected about
seven years ago.

   The village of Bellaire is situated in the western part of the township on
section 14, and dates its history from the year 1844. The necessity of the
village was created by the distance of that locality from any trading points,
and partly through a spirit of speculation by which the proprietor was actuated.
The first store in the place was kept by John Ryan, who erected a small hewed
log house for the purpose a short time after the town was platted. He did a good
business for about six years when the building burned to the ground and
completely destroyed his stock of goods. With the assistance of the neighbors in
the locality, another house was soon afterward erected and Ryan embarked for the
second time in the mercantile business. He continued but a short time, when he
moved his goods away. Much against the wishes of the neighbors, who assisted in
building his house with the expectation that he would remain with them. John
Brown started a store soon afterward, which he kept for a number of years in the
Ryan building and did a very good business. He sold his goods at auction and
left the village after becoming dissatisfied with the place. A few months later,
Catron Preston enlarged the old store-house and stocked it with a large
miscellaneous assortment of merchandise. He kept a very good store for about
fifteen years when he moved his goods to Granville, Jasper County. Marion
Dougherty was the next merchant in the village, and continued in business until
a few years ago, when he was succeeded by a man named Mills. The village at the
present time is a mere hamlet containing a couple of dozen houses and three
stores, kept respectively by John Pearson, Benjamin Purdell and Nicholas Fessler.

   In the year 1852 Richard Porter settled on the southeast quarter of section
36 in the eastern part of the township where he engaged in the blacksmithing
business. About one year later Doctor McAlister of Hutsonville bought a lot of
Porter on which he erected a dwelling, and an office for the purpose of being
nearer the central part of his extensive practice. The blacksmith shop and the
physician's office, together with several houses that had been built near by,
gave the place a local prominence, and a small village soon sprang into
existence. In 1854 Porter sold his land to Catron Preston and Catlin Cullers,
who laid out the town of Berlin the same year. Henry Leggett was one of the
first to purchase real estate in the new village, which he did soon after the
town was laid out, and at once commenced the erection of a store-room and
dwelling. This building was a small log structure and was used by Leggett, who
kept a little grocery in it for two years. In the year 1856 Hamilton Silvers
built a frame store-house in the village which he stocked with a general
assortment of goods. He was in the mercantile business about one year and six
months, when he sold out to a man by name of Perry, who in turn disposed of the
stock to Horace Graves, after running the store for a short time. Graves did a
fair business for about two years, when he was succeeded by his son-in-law
William Lineburger, who sold goods until the year 1862. The village is
pleasantly located on the Palestine and Bailaire road and has a population of
about one hundred souls. Its business interest is represented by one good dry
goods and grocery store kept by Morris and Markwell—a flour exchange, one drug
store and a blacksmith and wagon shop. The name of Portersville by which the
village is commonly known was given the place in compliment of Richard Porter
the original owner of the land.

   The Portersville Grange was organized in the year 18?3 with a membership of
sixteen; meetings were held in the school-house until the 1875, since which time
the Union church building has been used as a meeting place. The present officers
of the lodge are G. W. Pleasant, master; A. J. Holmes, overseer; D. W. Faught,
sect.; Isaac Lamb, treas.; W. W. Halil, chaplain; Jasper Faught, steward; John
Lineburger, gate-keeper; Mrs. Jane Watson, Pomona; Mrs. Tabitha Lineburger,
Ceres; Mrs. Abott, Flora; and Mrs. Belle Woods, lady ass't steward.

   A. G. Murkey came to the township in the year 1836 and located in the eastern
part at the crossing of the Hutsonville and Martinsville roads on section 12,
where he started a small store.

   The Corners, as the place was called, became quite a trading point for the
farmers of the surrounding country by affording an easy market for their produce
which Murkey would haul to Terre Haute and exchange for merchandise. About one
year and a half later Thomas Spencer moved into the locality from Ohio and
purchased a tract of land lying in sections 12 and 13, on which he laid out the
village of Spencerville in December, 1858. The scheme was purely a speculative
venture on the part of Spencer who saw, as he thought, a fortune in the
prospective city. Among the first to purchase real estate in the village were
Andrew Myers, Lorenzo Price, ____ Cauhorn, Richard Porter and Doctor Lowler. The
platting of the town, and the influx of population caused thereby, gave new
impetus to the mercantile business and several stores were soon in successful
operation. Murkey continued in business with good success until the year 1882.
The second store in the village was started by _____ Oglesby a short time after
the lots were laid out, and was kept in a small building which had been used for
a shoe-shop. This store was continued about two years when the proprietor moved
the goods to Brazil, Indiana. J. F. Johnson erected a large frame store house in
the year 1869, which he stocked with merchandise to the amount of several
thousand dollars, and has continued the business very successfully ever since. A
third store was brought to the village about the year 1873 by William Wheeler,
who sold goods about six years, when he disposed of the stock to Jacob Myers. In
October, 1879, a second village called Annapolis was laid out just west of
Spencerville, which it joins. The proprietors of the new town were Silas and
Sarah Hollowell. At the present time both places are known as Annapolis and
comprise a population of about two hundred inhabitants. The village is
surrounded by an excellent agricultural district, and its future is very
promising. The business of the place is represented by three stores of general
merchandise kept respectively by J. F. Johnson, Mrs. Murphy and Jacob L. Myers;
one grocery store by George Newlin; two small notion stores, and one good drug
store; G. L. Baker keeps a wagon shop and an undertaking establishment; James
Hill, blacksmith; C. M. Stauffer, harness maker, and O. E. Page, general repair
shop. There is one hotel in the village kept by G. L. Baker.

   Crawford Lodge No. 666 A. F. and A. M. was organized October, 1871, with the
following charter members: Edward A. Ball, William H. Joseph, S. H. Newlin, Joel
L. Cox, Thomas G. Athey, James Bennett, T. P. Barlow, Richard Laney, R. L.
Holmes, M. P. Rackerby, Henry Stephens, William Laughery, John L. Mount, John W.
Bline, E. S. Rathbone and D. D. Bishop. The first officers were Joel L. Cox, W.
M.; Thomas G. Athey, S. W., and James Bennett, J. W. The officers in charge at
the present time are T. G. Athey, W. M.; J. L. Myers, S. W.; M. T. Vance, J. W,;
J. C. Griffith, S. D.; J. N. Thornburg, J. D.; William H. Joseph, Sect.; J. W.
Bline, Treas.; C. H. Price, Tyler. The Lodge is not in as good condition as
formerly, and at the present time numbers only eighteen members. The hall in
which the lodge meets was erected in the year 1871 and cost $250.


Additional Comments:
Extracted From:

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD AND CLARK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
EDITED BY WILLIAM HENRY PERRIN.

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO: O. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS,
LAKESIDE BUILDING.
1883.

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