Henry County IL Archives History - Books .....Orion 1877 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 2, 2008, 8:35 pm Book Title: History Of Henry County, The ORION Is situated in the western part of the county, near the junction of the R., R. I. & St. L., and Rockport, Peoria & R. I. Railroads, and contains about five hundred inhabitants. It was laid out December 26, 1853, by Charles W. Dean, and was for some time called Deanington. The change of the name was made in 1867. The earliest settler in the township was Mahlon B. Lloyd, who located in 1837, and has always been most favorably known. He labored hard in the interest of the railroads through this part of the county, and devoted much time and considerable of his wealth to their furtherance. In 1852 he brought the first reaper into the township. His son Charles was the first white male child born within its limits. Mrs. Mary Ann Jordan, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth K. Blackfan, was the first white female child born in the township. In 1840 Dr. Alfred Trego commenced the practice of medicine here. He, and two horses he drove, were universally known to the early residents. The Blackfan families came about 1841. Mrs. Elizabeth K. Blackfan, wife of William Blackfan, who died in 1843, kept the first post-office in this locality. She was appointed to the office November 12, 1850, then called Orion, and held the position until after the location of Orion in 1853. The office was called La Grange, having been established at that colony purchase. This being abandoned, the office was removed to Mrs. Blackfan's house. This woman, though early left with a family to support, succeeded in gaining considerable property, and was always an earnest worker for the moral growth of the town, and aided as much as any settler in its material prosperity. Some of the first educators in the township were Charles Trego, who taught the first select school; Miss M. E. Laird, who was similarly employed seven years, and Sarah B. Lewis, who taught the first district school. This was held in 1847. The deficiency heretofore in educational facilities was supplied by these select schools. That of Miss Laird gained considerable notoriety, pupils from other states attending. The marriage of Edward Blackfan to Susan Trego, in 1844, was the first celebrated in Western Township. As these persons professed the Quaker belief, they obtained their letters of permission from the society in Pennsylvania. Four years after H. B. Engle and Sarah B. Elwell were the first married by a minister. She was for thirteen years secretary of the Lyceum, so favorably known and so well maintained here. It was organized in 1846, in the house of Edward Blackfan, under the name of La Grange Lyceum, and until the erection of the first school-house in the township, in 1853, was held in private houses. That year it was held in this building. It is now changed to a historical society, which meets annually. No regular religious services were held until 1853, when a Methodist minister, Rev. Murch, preached in the school-house. As soon as Mr. Dean had laid out the town, he erected a store building, in which he opened the first grocery of the village. In 1856 a saloon was opened by Stephen McCarty, and not long after five resolute ladies went in a body to his saloon and emptied his liquors in the street. The enraged saloon-keeper had them arrested, but in the trial they were acquitted. Until the completion of the railroad but little trade was carried on at this point, but two or three stores were open, and a few shops of various kinds supplied the needs of the community. The first railroad train came into the village in October, 1870, and was received with universal greeting by the citizens of Orion. The railroads at once awakened new enterprises. Buildings we're immediately erected, additional stores and shops were built, and the town began to show signs of an active business. Since that time the population has more than trebled, and trade and commerce have kept pace. Owing to the absence of a bank all exchange is carried on through the money order department of the post-office. -This amounted during the year 1876 to $30,000. There are at present nine or ten stores, as many shops, two grain houses and two hotels. The village and township have an excellent war record. A large portion of Capt. J. A. Jordan's men of Company B, 37th Ill. Volunteer Infantry, were from this locality. It was this company that was promoted to Company A by an order given on the streets of St. Louis when passing in review towards Gen. Fremont's headquarters. They were on their way to aid Gen. Mulligan at Lexington, and received this sudden promotion on account of superior drill and skill in military tactics. The village is situated on a beautiful rolling prairie; a healthful location, and commanding a fine view of surrounding prairie lands, which, though tenantless forty years ago, are now covered with well tilled farms. THE SCHOOLS. In 1852 there were but five families living in Western Township. But knowing that "knowledge is power," they voted a tax upon themselves and the land speculators, and proceeded to erect a school building. These persons were Mr. Lloyd, H. B. Engle, Edward Blackfan, George Anderson and Elizabeth Blackfan. The school-house stood a short distance northwest of Mr. Lloyd's farm-house, almost within the present limits of the corporation of Orion. The building was erected by Charles Dean, who charged $140 for his services. In 1854 it was moved to Deanington (now Orion), and in 1855 the first school was opened by Charles Moon. In time the population grew to such an extent that it was found necessary to erect a more commodious edifice. It was built at a cost of $5,000 in 1873. There are now enrolled 125 pupils. The school is divided into three departments; the course of study embracing nine years. THE CHURCHES. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1853, in the district school-house near the village of Orion. The following persons were among its first members: John McHenry, Mary McHenry, Henry Kyle, Mary Kyle and Eliza J. McWhinney. The exact membership is not known. The first regular appointed minister to this class was Rev. G. W. Brown: then came H. J. Humphrey, James Sheldon, J. N. Bartells, John Grundy, J. W. Odell, G. M. Morey, T. Hoagland, T. Head, P. Warner, H. C. King, J. Q. Adams and E. N. Bentley, present pastor. They held their meetings in the school-house until the year 1867, when they erected a church costing about $3,500. The membership has increased to about sixty. The Sabbath-school numbers nearly seventy scholars. The following persons are trustees, arid have held their position since its first regular organization: J. A. Jordan, H. J. Jordan, Edmond Bell, John McHenry. Henry Kyle and Clawson States. The Rev. F. M. Chaffee is the first, resident presiding elder of the .M. E. Church of Henry County, residing in the district parsonage built at Orion in 1873, and valued at $3,000. The Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church was organized November 21.1843, at the house of V. W. Washburn, in Colona Township. This was the first Baptist Church organized in the county, and was the result of the missionary labors of Rev. Thomas Powell. At its organization the following persons united: Luke C. and Mrs. Mary A. Sheldon, from the Baptist Church of Sheffield, Connecticut, V. W. and Mrs. Elizabeth W. Washburn from the Baptist Church of Springfield, Mass. These four persons constituted the charge. Until 1856 the pastors were Rev. O. Adams, E. Fisher, J. W. Dennison, Robert Jordan, F. Ketehum and A. G. Eberhart. In 1856 Rev. William Talbott, from Cambridge, preached one-fourth of the time in the school-house about four miles northwest of Orion. Nine years after they commenced to hold services in Orion in the school-house. Rev. A. Edson was pastor. He was succeeded by Revs. T. Sheppard, C. T. Emmerson and the present pastor, Rev. J. C. Lewis. One year after coming to Orion they erected a house of worship, at a cost of $5,000. There are now about fifty members. The Sunday-school was organized about twenty years ago, and now enrolls about eighty scholars. The United Brethren (Eden) Church is located on section 16, in Western Township, and was organized in the year 1867. Meetings, however, had been held about a year previous under the charge of the Rev. St. Clair Ross and the Rev. D. F. Bair. At the organization twenty-eight persons united, and from these A. Norman, H. D. Keel and W. M. Cessna were chosen trustees. Shortly after the organization they erected their church at an expense of $2,000. Services are held here each alternate Sabbath. The names of the pastors of this congregation are as follows: Revs. St. Clair Ross, E. Godfrey. P. R. Adams, W. B. Shinn; Rev. S. P. Davis is the present pastor. The circuit of this minister includes this church and those of Plainfield, Swedona and a class at Oak Ridge. The Swedish Lutheran Church was organized May 26, 1870, with a membership of thirty persons, among whom were W. C. Snider, Jonas P. Petterson, A. P. Larson, Andrew Petterson, A. Rost, C. Ericson, C. M. Lindwall, J. P. Carlson, J. A. Petterson, G. Haglund, and others. Rev. Victor Setterdahl has been located here as pastor since its commencement. They now number two hundred and seventy-five communicants. They held their meetings in the Baptist Church until 1871, when they erected a commodious house costing $4,500. The Sabbath-school is generally well attended. This congregation, in addition to their church, own a parsonage and church-yard. CORPORATION OFFICERS OF ORION. President-Andrew McWhinney. Treasurer-S. H. Trego. Clerk-Delacy Michener. Councilmen-H. H. Long, William Smith, J. W. Crampton. Additional Comments: Extracted from: THE HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS, ITS TAX-PAYERS AND VOTERS; CONTAINING, ALSO, A BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY; A CONDENSED HISTORY OF THE STATE; MAP OF THE COUNTY: A BUSINESS DIRECTORY: AN ABSTRACT OF EVERY-DAY LAWS; WAR RECORD OF HENRY COUNTY; OFFICERS OF SOCIETIES, LODGES, ETC., ETC. CHICAGO: H. F. KETT. & CO., 15 LAKESIDE BUILDING. 1877. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/henry/history/1877/historyo/orion219gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 10.6 Kb