Early History of Hutsonville, Crawford County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 2000 Jim Admire     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  HUTSONVILLE  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE                     -----------------------          Essay Read at a Teacher's Meeting  Feb.  15, 1896                        ----By JOHN B. PEARCE ------ After spending some time in trying to select a subject for an essay and wishing to have something out of the ordinary line  of such productions, I at last decided to write a brief sketch on the early history of Hutsonville Township and Village, hoping that it will interest at least some of the listeners.  Whether it deserves the name "essay" or not will be left to your consideration. It is an undisputed fact that this Township as well as other parts of America was inhabited by the Mound Builders long before the Indians made our country their home, but we shall go back and take a view of Hutsonville Township as it appeared over a century  ago.  We see a wild region covered with the mighty forests through which the savages roamed in undisturbed possession.  Wild beasts of almost every description are seen in abundance, what a contrast when compared the the present appearance.  But in a short time the white settlers pushed westward and the savages were driven back toward the great unknown west.  At the time of the early settlement of this region there were still many Indians here but they were generally  friendly toward the whites, except for a short period during the war of 1812.   The first white settlers were the Hutson family. The father was Isaac Hutson, a native of Ohio, who came here in the latter part of the winter of 1812 and settled about one mile below what is now Hutsonville.   The war of 1812  was not yet over and the Indians were yet hostile but Hutson was a brave man and did not fear them .  A man by the name of Dixon settled near by Hutson's cabin  One day in April ,Hutson went to the mill which was at Palestine and did not get started home 'til night.  When about half way to his cabin he noticed an unusual light in the direction of it.  Fearing something was wrong he urged his horse forward at full speed and upon  nearing his cabin his worst fears were realized.  A prowling band of Indians had murdered his entire family, consisting of a wife  and six children. the youngest of which was about sixteen. To complete the work of ruin they had set fire to his cabin.  Almost frantic with grief and despair, he rode around the ruins, wildly calling the names of his family. A few rods from the burning building lay the body of Dixon  mutilated almost beyond recognition. His breast had been cut open and his heart torn out and placed upon a pole, which was planted in the ground nearby. Hutson left the scene vowing vengeance. He joined the army at Fort Harrison and was afterward killed in a fight with the savages. This is saddast story in the history of Crawford county. The name of Hutson is preserved in the town of Hutsonville and of Hutson creek which flows nearby where he erected his lonley cabin. The next settler John Eaton, who settled in the southwest part of the township in the year 1813. Following him came the Barlows, Hills and a number of Newlins. John Newlin, the father of his tribe, came here in 1818. Another important early settler was Nathan Musgrave who came in 1826. Later on came the Lowes, Chalkey Draper, and the Guyer family. This is a very brief sketch of the principal families among the early settlers. There were many of them and they, like other pioneers lived a hard life. Panthers, wild cats, and wolves were numerous at that time, and were considerably feared. The wolves, while not very troublesome to persons were a source of constant annoyance to farmers because of their danger to what little stock there was. Bears were sometimes found but were not numerous. There many deer, indeed they were so numerous that fifty or seventy-five could be counted in a single herd, and it was years before a deer with the hide on would bring fifty cents. The earliest settlers were, as would be expected farmers. The first crop of corn was often planted in gashes made in the ted by an ax. The first plow used was what is known as the "Cary" plow. It had a mold board which was part iron and part wood. They were succeeded by the "Diamond" plows which were more improved. The oldest church organization in the township is the Quaker church.   It is so old that the date  of its organization can not be learned but it was at least sixty years ago. .Hutsonville Baptist Church was organized Feb. 21, 1856 with a member ship of 8, three men and five women.  The Universalist Church was organized April 5, 1820.   When it was decided to erect buildings, both churches were built out of town.  Now we come to the more important part of the history. Viz, the history of the village, Hutsonville, which was laid out as a village in April 1832 by Robert Harrison .  The most of the business houses were built down near the river bank as this was the old state road from Vincennes to Chicago.  A tavern was built on this street by Andrew Harris. The site is now marked by a sink in the ground.( The old tavern cellar) a few bushes growing out of it.  The first residence was built in the fall of 1832 by Wm. Cox .  It fell down from old age about 15 years ago.  The second residence  was built by W.R. Hurst the same year.  It is still standing and is known as the " Gascon Adams House".  The merchantile business took an early start here.  Wm. Cox and W. R. Hurst were the first merchants. They opened up a store in August , 1832.   it would require, a volume to give the history of all the early merchants as they all sold on credit.  the cheap cash store, not having been invented, and after the firm had been run a few years they would be forced to close out and gather up their scattered capital.  The most money made in the town was by Preston Bros.   who did an extensive business.  Other early merchants were Caswell Jones, Henry A. Steel, A.P. Harness, John A.Merrick and Nathan Musgrave.   Many men have embarked in business in Hutsonville, some have enjoyed prosperity and success, while others failed; but, when we consider it, this, we find, is a universal law, as good in life as in the busy channels of business.  Some fail to make their life a success, while others succeed.  Pork packing has been an extensive and profitable business in our town.  Cox and Hurst began the business in 1835.  Other firms who were in the business  are Carson and Co.  , H.A. Steel and John A. Merrick.   The Prestons also did the largest business in pork packing.  They built a house down on the river bank which has been torn down.   The house where they boarded their hands still stands.  It will be news to many to learn that Hutsonville once possessed a Distillery.  It was built by Merrick and Volk down this side of where the Brick and Tile Co's factory now stands. They broke up in the business and after breaking up everyone one up that took hold of it, this Distillery itself broke up which is acknowledged to be the best break of all.   Religion took an early start as business.  The first sermon   ever preached in Hutsonville was on Sunday before Christmas 1832 by Rev. James McCord, a Methodist preacher.  An M.E. Church was organized in the year 1840.  They built the present brick church about 1853.  The Christian Church was organized soon afterward but an edifice was not erected until the year 1860.  This building has been torn down and the present one erected about six or seven years ago.   The first school in Hutsonville was taught by a man named Broom in a --- house built for school purposes. It was erected on the lot where Ambrose Woolverton now lives.  The date of its erection can not be learned as it was so long ago.  The next school built was in 1855.  It was a two story frame house and is apart of the present one.  The addition was built in the fall of 1883. The earliest lodge organized was No.136 A.T. and A. N.  It is also the first lodge of its kind organized in the county, being organized Oct.5,1853 by Grand Master and Grand Sic. As newspapers are important factors in the civilization of a country, they too, must be given  some attention.  The first newspaper  in the county was started in Hutsonville in 1852 by George W. Cutler.   Its name was the "Wabash Sentinal".  Mr. Cutler sold out to E. Callahan, then a young school teacher of our village.  He changed its name to "The Journal" and after a little over a year sold out to a Marchall man.  The "Crawford Banner" was the next newspaper.   It was started in July 1857,  by W. H. Rubottom.  It suspended publication in about a year.  The "Hutsonville News' was started 1914 (?) by W.M.P. Springer who came here from Palestine. He only published his paper about six months. Although the two great elements, fire and water have been a source of constant loss to Hutsonville.  It has made good progress and we can not help notice the striking contrast between Hutsonville in the year 1832 when it contained only a few buildings and Hutsonville in the year 1896.  We now see a pleasant town with abut 28 business houses, two factories and a total population of about 800 or 900 .   Almost all of the old settlers have gone to their last account.   Those that are left are going down the hill of time very fast, their mission ended and their race almost run. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. 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