Henry County IL Archives History - Books .....Woodhull 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 3, 2008, 8:01 pm

Book Title: History Of Henry County, The

WOODHULL

Is the largest town in the southwestern part of the county. It was laid out by
Maxwell Wood hull of New York City, September 30, 1857. The original town was
platted east of Division Street, and in 1867, Mr. J. W. Horn, a resident of
town, laid out the portion north of the railroad and west of that street, except
so much as belonged to Hugh Russell, Esq., who had laid out his portion, the
northwest part, six years earlier, and on his plat the first buildings were
erected. In 1870, Mr. Horn laid out a second addition, which embraces that part
south of the railroad, west of Division Street, and including his residence. The
first house erected within the present limits of town was the Widney Hotel. It
was built for a dwelling, hut being purchased by Mr. E. A. Widney, was converted
into a hotel. This branch of the C. B. & Q. R. R. was surveyed in 1847, but
several years elapsed before the grading was finished. In 1868, it was sold to
the C, B. & Q. R. R. and by that company completed and put in running order.
Until that date it was known as the American Central Railroad. The buildings
were at first erected on the west side of town (west of Division Street), except
a few opposite the present post-office. By the time the cars commenced to run
over the railroad, there were a half dozen stores, as many shops, and quite a
number of carpenters and masons. The town has a growth peculiarly its own.
Almost every other village or city in the county received a sudden impetus from
the building of railroads, but this latter fact seemed to have but little effect
on Woodhull. The town has maintained a steady growth from the erection of the
first store and dwellings in the plat. Before the town was surveyed, a
post-office called Heathland was kept at Mr. F. Heath's house, a short distance
north of the village site. When the town was determined upon, it was thought to
name the office and town Leoti, and was called by that name some time. In
compliment to Mr. Woodhull, the present name was given them.

    Shortly after the first store was opened by M. N. Hurd, it was destroyed by
fire with all its contents. Again in 1871, a building owned by T. S. McConnell,
and containing a stock of goods owned by a Mr. Wright, was wholly destroyed by
the same element. At this time, the fire .also consumed an unoccupied building
near. These two have been the only serious fires the village has experienced.

    Probably no town of the size of Woodhull has commanded the grain and stock
trade in such dimensions. During the year 1876, more than a half million of
dollars were received at this place in exchange for produce, and in 1870-71 and
'72 more broom corn was shipped from Wood-hull, than from any point in the
United States. In 1869, a good brick block was erected by J. D. Bell and Andrew
Eason, and in 1876, a similar one was built, the upper story of which contains a
good lecture hall and the office of the Enterprise, a good local weekly paper.

    It was no uncommon affair, before the railroad was completed, to see wagon
after wagon filled with grain pass through Woodhull to Oneida, and returning the
owners would make all their purchases here. The firm of Elder & Skinner sold in
one year over $80,000 worth of goods. This trade is yet undiminished; what is
lacking in sales, is atoned for in purchases of the farm products.

    There are now about one dozen stores, a few more shops, three large
elevators, one lumber yard, three hotels, and a large number of mechanics. The
town has never granted a license to saloons of any kind, and steadily maintains
a firm temperance standing.

    Woodhull was incorporated in 1870, and the following board of officers
elected: B. Taylor, President; J. V. Kennagy, Clerk; W. O. Gamble, Treasurer,
and Rev. W. C. Wagner and James Walton, Trustees. There are now seven trustees,
instead of the original five elected. Their names appear elsewhere.

SCHOOLS.

    Until about the year 1869, schools were held in the district school house.
About that time they were graded, and the present building-erected. It contains
four rooms, three of which are occupied as schoolrooms, the fourth as a
recitation room. The report of the Principal, Mr. S. G. Mugrave, for January,
1877, shows 150 scholars enrolled, and an average attandance of 102.

CHURCHES.

    The largest church here is the Swedish Lutheran. It was organized on Oct.
15, 1868, with thirteen members, whose names were as follows: G. Lagergron, Y.
E. Carlson, E. Hawkinson, S. Hawkinson, T. M. Lindquist, C. Lindquist, S. T.
Petterson, Y. Grenborg, Y. Clas, N. T. Hulstrom, M. Olson, T. Olson and O.
Truedson. They were organized in the old Presbyterian Church, where they met for
divine worship for some time. In 1869, they built a house of worship costing
$2,000. It proving too small, they erected the present commodious house of
worship in 1876, at an expense of $5,000. The pastor is Rev. T. M. Sandquist.
The number of communicants is now 275. A good Sunday-school is regularly
maintained.

    The Catholic Church was organized about six years since, with six or eight
families. They, with the aid of other churches of their denomination more
wealthy, have just completed a very fine village church. The number of families
has not greatly increased since the organization. Services are held here by
priests from other places.

THE PRESS.

    In December, 1875, the Reporter made its first appearance. It was published
by Magner & Carlin, editors and proprietors. It was continued until December,
1876, when the office was purchased by J. J. McHose, who enlarged it from a
three-column page paper to a seven-column folio, and the name changed to the
Woodhull Enterprise. It is still continued with R. H. Magner and J. J. McHose as
editors, and is issued weekly. It is an excellent local paper, and is all its
name indicates.

    It would be well to mention here before closing the history of Woodhull.
that Gen. Schenck, late Minister to England, is largely interested in property
here and at Nekoma, and pays these villages a visit nearly every other year.

WOODHULL OFFICIALS.

    Pres., J. B. Ridenour; Clerk, Robt. Magner; Treas., S. W. Neely. Trustees,
William Templeton. J. E. Kellogg, J. W. Cox, S. W. Wiley, William Cornell.


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/woodhull225gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/

File size: 7.2 Kb