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line. This was the only lime kiln for miles around and drew trade from points as distant as Weathersfield, Galva, Rochester, Brimfield, Lawn Ridge and Chilicothe. They chopped and split the wood in the winter themselves and in the summer burnt the lime, occasionally having to hire an extra man to quarry stone. They continued in this business for nine years. Shortly after they quit, lime began to be shipped in, so that their business would have been gone from them had they continued.
In 1846 Mr. Benjamin Slane purchased an acre tract east of his log cabin, in Akron, and built a frame house, where he moved, Later he bought the acre north of it. extending to the north section line, This is in the vicinity of the present Hitchcock pond. These two acres he occupied as his homestead until November 22, 1865, when he moved to the southeast quarter of Section 23, where Mr. Thos. Slane now lives. Here Mr. Slane lived until his death on April 29, 1875. At one time he knew every man in the county. lie never sought office, but the people, having faith in his integrity, kept him justice of the peace for twelve years, and supervisor six years. lie made a good justice. He carefully considered the cases he had to decide, and as near as we can learn. not one of his decisions has been reversed by the higher courts. lie always advised litigants to settle, and every three out of five cases presented to him were settled before trial. He aided in the promotion of educational interests, and has been a school official. He aided in public improvements, when a benefit to the town, When he arrived at Fort Clark be had just one picayune in his pocket. By his own personal efforts he soon acquired money enough to purchase land, His life was a busy and eventful one. He was ever a friend to the cause of humanity, freedom of thought and speech, charitable to all, with malice towards none; ever loving the right, because of its justice; ever hating wrong because of his knowledge of its pernicious influences on the destinies of mankind.
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Mrs. Elizabeth Nixon died at Red Oak, Iowa, April 20, 1884, and her remains were brought to Cambridge, Illinois, and interred in the cemetery at that place by the side of her husband, Jonathan Nixon, She left one child, Mrs, M. H. Hewitt, with whom she lived at the time of her death. Mr. Hewitt was a lawyer, first at Toulon, then at Cambridge, and later he moved to Red Oak, Iowa, where he was elected Circuit Judge.
Of the children of Mr. Slane, Benjamin F. died eleven years ago, the father of six children, viz.: Ida, now dead nine years, Odillon, Oliver, Edgar, Elgie and Mina.
Samuel S. and Elizabeth A. Slane have never married.
Delilah J. in 1854 married William E. Root. They moved to Nebraska, residing at present at Fairbury, that state.
James T. married Margaret Green in September, 1860. To them was born one daughter, Eva.
John Z. Slane enlisted on August 9, 1862, in Capt. French's company, Co. K. Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He did hospital duty twice and in the spring of 1864 was sent home for a few months to recover from severe illness contracted from exposure near Knoxville, Tenn. In March, 1867, he was married to Mary Patton, a niece of Dr. R. F. Henry, and to them were born four children, Wilber P., Elzada V., and two who died in infancy.
Unlike many families, the children of Benjamin Slane have not scattered. Save for the one daughter now residing in Nebraska, all of them have remained in this community, without exception honest and upright in business, deserving success and obtaining it, and respected by all who know them.
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WILLIAM C. STEVENS, THE FOUNDER OF
PRINCEVILLE.
By Mrs, Mary E. Moody and Mrs. Hannah G. Hutchins,
1907.
Perhaps it will be interesting to the members of our organization to know somewhat of the early life and history of the founder of our little village as going to show how the training of the boy shapes the character of the man. William Chase Stevens was born at Plainfield, N. H., in May, 1797. There on a rocky New England farm in sight of the perpetually snow clad Mt. Croyden, he passed the first seven years of his life. Gifted with a remarkably retentive memory he often told his children of incidents that occurred in those early and trying days, for New Hampshire at that time was but a new and sparsely settled state. Among others, one extremely cold and snowy winter when the snow had lain for weeks five feet deep on the level, the roads were impassable and the wild deer and birds almost exterminated by the cold; as the snow began to melt off toward spring, the big, gray, half-starved wolves came down from the mountains in packs, devouring in their ravenous hunger all domestic animals that were not well housed.
One sunny day at this time, his father turned out their one cow to stand for the first time in many weeks in the sunshine on the south side of the barn where the snow had been cleared off for a small space. On coming to the house for a bucket of water (they had to melt snow for all water for stock as well as for themselves) a pack of wolves came after the cow, and she ran bellowing toward the house, but the wolves got her, five springing on her at one time, killing and devouring her before their eyes, though the old flint lock did good service in the process.
The faithful dog had fallen a prey long since, while the father with dog and gun was trying to protect his sheep from the voracious wolves. Mr. Stevens remem-
26
bered hearing his mother exclaim as the cow went down, ''Oh, what will my poor children do now,'' as the cow had contributed largely to their support during that terrible winter, This is only one of many incidents in the life of that sturdy New England boy.
In 1804 that irreparable loss (especially to a boy) came to him—his father died of pneumonia after an illness of only four days, leaving a widow with six young children on a rocky farm not wholly paid for. The widow (who some of you might be interested to know was a cousin of Bishop Philander Chase, founder of Jubilee College, and also of Kenyon College, Ohio,) finding it impossible to finish paying for the farm and raise her children, sold it, paid all debts and moved onto a much smaller farm in Cornish near the Connecticut River. Here, by the most economical management and incessant industry of all the family, they wrung from that little, hard New England farm, not only a good living, but means to give her family good school and church privileges and also to help others when needed, though the latter was always at great sacrifice, Thus was the boy's sturdy character being formed as well as his sturdy physique.
He went to district school winters, studying at home evenings and reciting to his older sisters, keeping them diligently studying as one of them said, to answer his many questions. At the age of 12 years he entered Meriden Academy, attending winters and working on his mother's farm in summer, During the winter he stayed at the home of his mother's cousin, Judge Short, paying his board by taking care of the horse and cow and cutting the wood for three, sometimes four fires, all the time studying evenings.
Thus in four years he finished his academy course with honor and returned to work on the farm, But he was uneasy, he wanted to go to college and his mother needed him at home. The occasional peep into his cousin s law books and library proved an inspiration to him and he longed to know more. There was so
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much to learn that he felt he could not content himself working from sunrise to sunset on the farm.
Gradually the mother learned of his ambition and aid, ''Well, William, I guess your sisters and I will have to buckle in and send you to college and you can still help in summer in haying. Elizabeth has her certificate and can teach school now—I will make the butter and cheese and help your other sisters in the spinning and weaving—we must manage some way to send you to college." His reply was, "Oh, mother! I don't want you to send me—if I could only have my time I can do all the rest and help in haying too"—and he did. So the boy of seventeen, thirsting for knowledge, full of pluck and energy, hating idleness, taught school because he could earn more money that way and have more time for study and besides read law in the summer with his cousin. Judge Short, But he did not forget to redeem his promise to his mother of helping her in haying. by hiring a good man to work in his place, with her consent.
It was an inflexible law with this good mother that everyone should keep his word, no matter at what sacrifice. The promise made or word given must not be broken, This was another lesson in life early and persistently taught by that mother and adhered to by her son through a long life.
By such self-sacrificing and persevering industry his course of study was completed and he had managed also to read a good deal of law. He was sent on a long horseback journey to Western New York to settle an estate and this done he taught for some time in Pennsylvania. In 1823 he turned his face southward where it was rumored were great opportunities for young men.
He taught for a time in Virginia and later was admitted to the bar at Richmond, and afterwards, in North Carolina. Finding the bar at Richmond well filled with distinguished legal lights and ambitious young southern politicians, he thought best for a young man who had his own fortune to make, to leave the charming circle where ease and refinement abounded
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and where he had been treated with all kindness and courtesy. So he located at Amelia Court House, establishing there a good practice which soon extended to the adjoining counties.
In 1827 he married a cultured young southern lady of Quaker parentage and after a time removed to Asheville, N. C., where he became preceptor of a flourishing academy, doing, as he said, some of the best work of his life as an instructor of youth—work that he could look back upon in after years with great gratification— work that proved to be of far-reaching and lasting benefit in that community. After spending several pleasant and profitable years at Asheville, and having now a young family, he became convinced that it was not right to bring up his children in a slave-holding community. He was a man of strong convictions and under any and every circumstance or condition, he lived up to those convictions. He was convinced that slavery was wrong in itself and that its influence on the white people was not for their improvement, therefore he would have none of it, With many inducements to remain in the South, easy life, good position, his love of the kindly, refined and hospitable people, his decision was unalterable: his children should not be brought up in contact with human slavery. So, notwithstanding the entreaties of friends, the home was disposed of and loading their necessary belongings into a two-horse, oil-cloth covered wagon, he with his brave wife and three little children started on their long journey to Illinois in February, 1834.
Hearing much about this time of the beauty and productiveness of this new state, of its broad and fertile prairies all cleared and waiting for the plow, he had corresponded with his unmarried brother, Amos, then teaching in Louisiana, who like himself had heard of the fame of the Illinois prairies and responded to the call. It was arranged that Amos should precede William to Illinois, select a location and have ready on their arrival as comfortable a house as possible.
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He came up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, thence by horseback to Peoria, as the brothers had agreed to make that their postoffice address and meeting place. He found Peoria a hamlet of three or four Families and no idle men that could be hired as helper guide. A Mr. Ewalt who had come into Peoria with an ox team from French Grove, acted as guide and gave advice as to the necessary proceedings for the erection of a cabin.
Amos located at the forks of the Kickapoo, the tract of land selected having both prairie and some good timber. Preparations for building proceeded without delay. Alone, he cut down trees and trimmed and snaked up hill with his one horse the logs for the cabin, lying at night on the ground, his horse picketed near, and faithful dog his only companions.
On the night of the third day during a fearful thunderstorm, his horse was killed by lightning, and Amos not returning to Peoria on Tuesday of the next week, as he intended, Mr. Charles Kettelle rode out the sixteen miles to see if harm had befallen him. Amos Stevens said there was never a more welcome sight to the shipwrecked mariner, than that friend as he came around the bend of the creek just at the going down of the sun. He had worked there eight days without seeing a human being, his slumbers disturbed at night by the howling of wolves, being obliged to keep fires burning to scare them away. With some help from Mr. Kettelle and the nearest neighbor, who lived nine miles away, the cabin was at last up. with chimney of mud and sticks at one end and openings for door and windows, no floor as yet.
This first home of Mr. Stevens was at the forks of the Kickapoo sixteen miles from Peoria and two or three miles nearly south from the present site of Jubilee College. To this crude, unfinished cabin he brought his family after a weary journey of more than three months, and here in this wild, unsettled new country they began their new life, a life of unknown hardships, privations and dangers.
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They straightway set about making the cabin more comfortable, but before it was completed, a hard rain coming on in the night showed them how unreliable was a roof through which you could count the stars, and openings for door and windows without either, and walls of logs with no plaster between. It was difficult to provide comfortable food with no cow, no chickens or eggs, no vegetables and no fruit, save a few wild strawberries which seemed like manna from heaven, Soon other settlers began to come in—the first one, David Combs, a bachelor, who proved a good neighbor. Soon after came James Harrison with wife and two little boys, John and Robert. Comforts were added to the primitive home as fast as possible, Mr. Stevens one day bringing home a new cupboard, and in it an old hen and her thirteen newly hatched chickens, which after much persuasion and many tempting offers he succeeded in buying lie rode long distances at different times to purchase a cow that his family might be supplied with milk and butter, luxuries that were impossible to procure at any price. Crops were coming on finely and giving promise of a good yield, and things generally looked more encouraging, when everything was changed by the death of his wife.
The pioneer life of this heroic wife and mother ended amid these strange and rude home surroundings, far from relatives and friends and the home of her girlhood where she had lived a life of ease and luxury. Her eyes had greeted the face of but one woman since her arrival, that of Mrs. James Harrison, During the sad weeks that followed, Mr. Stevens was confined closely caring for his very sick children and before they were wholly well, he fell sick himself.
At this time came what he always thought the Providential visit of Mr. Benjamin Slane and wife, the father and mother of our President, who had just settled a mile or two down the creek. Having heard of the sick, motherless children, they came to see if they could render any assistance. Finding Mr. Stevens prostrated with a high fever, wholly unable to sit up,
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they immediately set to work to make them more comfortable. Quickly as possible they killed and cooked a chicken for broth for the sick man, carefully showing the little six-year-old Mary how to dress and cut up a chicken, also showing her how to make and bake biscuit, thinking that the father might be a long time sick with no one more competent to cook. Mr. Slane hastened out to care for the horses and to start David Combs to Peoria for the doctor, That was a visit of mercy gratefully remembered.
As to Mr. Stevens' first impressions of the site of our village, we will quote his own words from a newspaper interview published in the Peoria Journal in December, 1884. He said: "In the fall of 1834 I was driving along through this part of the country with a view of selecting a future home. About a mile west of this place, on a clear, beautiful day, I was driving my team slowly, looking here and there at the landscape.
"When my eye fell upon this present site of Princeville, I said to myself, 'What a beautiful site '—situated as it was between two belts of timber, and admirably adapted to the needs of the early settlers. They will come here and want to build a town, will need stores, shops, meeting-houses, etc.
"The determination to own it took possession of me. Upon inquiry I was informed by Squire French that Governor Duncan had the title of it. I looked up Governor Duncan who lived at Jacksonville and purchased his right and interest in the property, in 1836. The south boundary of this quarter-section is now known here as Canton street, and as I wanted to lay out a town extending farther south, I tried to find the owners of that also, to buy it, After some difficulty I found them at Carthage and Rushville in this state. They had only a nominal title and refused to part with it unless I would make them partners in the enterprise. This I consented to do. Their names do not appear as owners in the town site but they were interested. On April 4, 1837, we laid out the town. Phillips was county
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surveyor at the time and his deputy, George W. McFadden did the work. When I came I found here Daniel Prince, after whom the groves nearby were called, He had been here many years among the Indians and was an old frontiersman"
There was at that time quite a settlement in and around the two groves. Stephen French had settled there some time before; there were a number of Morrows from Indiana, Mrs. Jane Morrow and her four sons, two with families, Thomas, James, William and John, Her daughter Bettie had married Daniel Prince. Doctor Watters and a widowed sister of Mrs. Jane Morrow, were all settled on their own farms, building in the edge of the timber, Mrs. Jane Morrow lived in a large hewed double log house with a porch the whole length of the house. This house was the palace of the neighborhood. There preaching was held, for these Morrows were godly people and had already organized a church, had preaching occasionally and soon hired a Mr. Babbitt to preach for them, who lived in a little cabin north of the grove where George I. McGinnis, Sr., lived later, Previous to this, in 1835, Mr. Stevens was again married to a lady from Massachusetts who was keeping school in Bureau County, and had removed his family from the Kickapoo cabin to Prince's Grove.
Not long after this, realizing that the education of the children was being neglected, a few fathers came together, talked the matter over, and built the log school house, At first it was merely a wall of logs with roof and openings for door and windows, and a dirt floor. The seats were of puncheons with two holes in the ends and sticks stuck in for legs (Miss Esther Stoddard taught the summer school, a short term attended only by the very little children, as the older boys and girls could not be spared during the summer—the former must work in the fields and the girls, too, when not preparing wool, carding, spinning and weaving). The first winter there were over thirty scholars, many nearly grown. Some came three or four miles, starting before daylight to get there before school was
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called, This school house was used as a church from the first for all denominations, making appointments so that they should not interfere, It was also the voting place at elections and for a number of years filled an important place in the community. Many of our prominent citizens whose education was mostly or wholly obtained there, have passed away.
Before this was built, Mrs. Morrow, Mr. Stevens and some others opened their cabins for religious services whenever a preacher could be secured. Mr. Stevens' home was a well known stopping place for preachers of all creeds, and if one could be induced to stay over two nights, he would get on his horse and ride around notifying people there would be preaching at his house tonight, asking all to come.
Hospitality was a virtue always practiced by the generous-hearted pioneers and Mr. Stevens was no exception. The poor man moving through the country with a tired wife and family of children was fed, warmed and sheltered, even if it meant great personal discomfort. He always held that hospitality depending on a person s convenience was not worthy the name. Some notables were among the wayfarers. Governor Duncan often stayed over night in the cabin. Bishop Chase made the home his headquarters when in the vicinity.
One evening just after sunset, five men on horseback rode up and one said. "We have been in the saddle since early morning and are cold, tired and hungry. We were told that we would get accommodations if we got to your place.'' He replied, "It is only a little cabin,'' but took the oldest of the men into the house and told his wife about the other four, After the old man got off his overcoat and turned to the blazing fireplace, she took the first good look at him and he at her, There was mutual and joyful recognition. It was Father Dickey with whom she had boarded when teaching school in Bureau County before her marriage. His traveling companions were surprised to find the old
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man with a cup of coffee and a doughnut, talking most sociably with the pleased looking lady of the house.
These men were returning from an important church meeting at Lewistown: Father Dickey, the venerable minister, his son Lyle Dickey (later Judge Dickey of Ottawa), Elder Eli Smith, John Bryant (brother of William Cullen Bryant, the poet), and Owen Lovejoy, all of Bureau County.
Four of the men slept in two beds, the mother and children in one bed and trundle bed, while Owen Lovejoy and Mr. Stevens lay on a buffalo robe before the fire, After an early breakfast they were started on their way rejoicing, each man with a carefully done up lunch in his overcoat pocket.
It was not an uncommon thing in those days for Mr. Stevens to go twelve, twenty, thirty or forty miles to mill—go with oxen and get mired down, have to carry the grist across the slough on his back, get the oxen and wagon out the best way he could, load up and go on. Nature furnished plenty of wild fruits, berries of all kinds, plums and crab apples, but our pioneer had to give two bushels of good wheat for one gallon of molasses for the children to cat on bread and pancakes. When wheat was 25 cents a bushel, it took a bushel of wheat to pay the postage on a letter. For hundreds of bushels of good wheat hauled to Peoria he got but 30 cents per bushel—later hauling wheat to Chicago and getting 50 cents, bringing back lumber, laths and all supplies, For corn in the ear they got 7 cents—almost no market for potatoes.
Soon after locating in Princeville Mr. Stevens set out an orchard and began preparations for building his frame house. The heavy timbers for the frame of this were hewed in the timber and the siding was sawed from the black walnut logs, hauled by oxen to Prince's mill on Spoon River, The flooring was also sawed from ash and oak logs at the same mill, The family moved into the house in 1839 and lived there for two years before it was plastered. Part of the materials for plastering were brought from Chicago, but as Mr.
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Coburn wanted to get his hotel in shape for business, Mr. Stevens let him have it. The next supply went to complete plastering the church. As Mrs. Stevens said, it would help more people that way.
From the first a liberal plan was pursued to induce those who would make desirable citizens to locate here, offering a lot of their own selection to build on to the first storekeeper; also to artisans of any kind. The first store was kept by a young man, Elisha Morrow. He not only got the lot, but Mr. Stevens cut and hauled for siding black walnut logs to Prince's sawmill on Spoon River, The water was too low to run the saw except a little while mornings, As was customary in those days all the men in the neighborhood were asked to come to the raising, and the dinner on this occasion, a good and bountiful one, was furnished by Mr. Stevens. He neglected, however, to pass around the demijohn, which was a very unusual and unpopular omission on such an occasion. He substituted for this hot coffee. The store completed, some boards supported by the sugar barrel at one end and the salt barrel at the other, did service as a counter. There was not a very large assortment of dry goods, though quite enough for the place and time. Nails, coffee, molasses, a little tea and sugar, files for the prairie plow, powder and shot and tobacco, were the principal articles needed in those days, as every woman spun, wove and made the clothing for her own family. Young Morrow kept store about four years, but trade was not rushing enough to suit him, He came a beardless boy of seventeen with a capital of less than $200.00 and went away four years later with $2,000.00. He was afterwards senator from Wisconsin and worth half a million dollars.
Ebenezer Russell, the first blacksmith, got a lot on which to erect his shop; a lot was given to William Coburn on which he built and kept a hotel, Lots were given to the Presbyterian, Methodist and Christian churches, the stone school house and others.
The brick oven built in Mr. Stevens' new frame house, proved a neighborhood convenience as well as a
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family comfort. Such savory, steaming, appetizing odors as used to come from that brick oven when Mrs. Stevens had her semi-weekly baking days! It was a combination of everything tempting to the palate. It furnished opportunity for baking for extra occasions to many neighbors, and Mrs. Greenfield and Mrs. Eastman, daughters of Stephen French, baked their wedding cakes in that capacious oven.
While active in securing home comforts and improvements, Mr. Stevens looked beyond the home and saw much to be done for the community and especially for the children. They must have schools—he had not forgotten the hunger for an education of his own boyhood, and later his activity in securing the means for building the first Princeville Academy was an expression of his interest in the education of youth. He believed that the church and the school should go hand in hand in the upbuilding of a community, and was always ready to contribute liberally for this purpose. He was always interested in the progress and prosperity of the people and especially desired that the ruling influences should be along intellectual and moral lines.
Patriotism was one of the cardinal principles of his own life and faithfully instilled into the minds of his children. He made it a part of his religion and when the supreme test of loyalty to country came, three of his sons responded "Here am I," serving in the Union army with credit and one laid down his life for the cause in the assault on Vicksburg May 22, 1863.
Of his seven children but two are now living; one daughter, Maria Foster, died in early womanhood. There are twenty-three grandchildren, forty-four great grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren, seventy-five in all.
It is due that what a man does well should be remembered to his credit. This is simple justice. May whatever of good was accomplished by this conscientious and faithful pioneer live long for the benefit of this community.
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A LETTER WRITTEN BY WM. C. STEVENS.
(Showing his careful English, and characteristic use of long words.)
Princeville, Nov. 18/53.
Miss M. Cutler
Dear Madam
Your very kind & unexpected letter to Mrs, S. was duly reed pr last mail. As you anticipated, it found her too much pressed with business to allow her a leisurable opportunity of answering you as promptly as she desires, and as she thinks you deserve. Agreeably, too, to your own suggestion, I therefore undertake the very agreeable office of responding to your very agreeable communication.
Add to the multiplicity of more than imaginary cares, or mere fancied duties, taxing the still assiduous attention of wife her health is perhaps not as good now as when you was last with us; at all events, she is now utterly unable to perform as much hard work as she was then in the habit of performing. Our daughter M. for the last 18 months, therefore, has had to relieve her mother of most the heavier work of the family, and which I am happy to say she had dispatched with very approveable resolution. Meanwhile, little Hannah, as I call her, has been kept pretty constantly at school, & is making gratifying progress in every branch of learning thus far taken in hand. Through this fall season the children have all been attending two evenings every week a very good & efficient Singing-school—they are in hopes of enjoying the privilege still on through the winter. The girls take lessons of the same teacher upon a melodion, which I have purchased for them. And although they have made as yet no advance towards a graceful skill in this pleasing Art, yet we think they already afford us some earnest of ultimate success.
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With regard to Wm. whether he has been the happy subject of a Saving Change, or not, we can hardly satisfactorily determine. We cherish some hopes—we indulge many fears.
There are noticeable among and around us very reconcileable material Improvements, In this respect we ourselves have measureably participated with our neighbours. During the past year our village has sustained & enjoyed the advantages of, two very satisfactory & constant schools—The Select or private, taught by a Miss Rogers sister of Elizabeth; the district, by a young gent. from O. Schools in neighbourhoods around, seem rather to have deteriorated than advanced—competent teachers are not now as numerous as when you was here. Should you return you have not signified whether it would be your desire to teach— We take it for granted, however, that you would not utterly decline this most useful vocation. Assuredly such services are much needed all around us. Others, incomparably less competent than yourself, readily find employment at good wages. It is true in this, as well as in other business, empiricks are sometimes best patronised.
Your proposition to Mrs, S. of returning to Ill. and making a home with us, rec d her favourable consideration, with the readily expressed hopes that on the one hand you would find it quite as comfortable and satisfactory as formerly, & on the other, she did not see but what you would have it in your power easily & satisfactorily to reciprocate the favor.
Should you intend coming right on this fall, please lose no time in advising us, & letting us know whether you want a school during the ensuing winter.
I have not time to write more—only to tender our cordial respects and that of family—wife in particular to you and yours.
from your obt Servt
Win. C. Stevens.
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REMINISCENCES OF WM. C. STEVENS.
Peoria Journal, Dec. 1, 1884.
From Scrap-book of Mrs. Esther R. Auten.
Early Reminiscences of the Founder of the Town—The
Origin of the Name—Facts of General Interest.
Princeville, Ill., December 1, 1884.—While strolling about this pleasant little town, viewing its busy streets and comfortable residences, it was the fortune of the Journal reporter to meet William C. Stevens, a prominent citizen and really the founder of the town. He was to Princeville what Romulus was to Rome or Queen Dido to Carthage. He is now a man considerably past four score years; yet he walks with a firm step, possesses a remarkable memory—especially in regard to names and dates, and is familiar with every detail of the earliest history of Princeville. When asked the origin of its euphonious name, and something about its first settlement, he replied: * * * (The part omitted is largely quoted a few pages back in the sketch written by Mrs. Moody and Mrs. Hutchins.) * * *
"I also went into business, keeping a general stock, and William Coburn started soon afterward. He soon got himself a farm a mile east of town, and became a permanent settler. His family still lives here, but he volunteered to go into the war at the age of 60 and joined Davidson's Peoria Battery. He died with smallpox in the latter part of 1863 at New Orleans, He was the second postmaster here, Stephen French being the first, I had to do most of the business of the office during Mr. French's term, and part of it for Mr. Coburn, as he was living on his farm and could not attend to it. I next became postmaster and performed the duties of the office for sixteen years, and in 1866 resigned voluntarily, feeling that I had done my part, and realizing that financially it was always an injury to me.
"The first teacher of winter school we ever had was Theodore F. Hurd, who subsequently became the
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representative from this district and Stark, He was then living at Lafayette, Ill. After him, Solomon S. Cornwell taught the school, He now lives about four miles west of Princeville and owns a farm of 800 acres. He is the father of Charlie Cornwell, a young lawyer of Peoria, An academy was built here in 1857—the building now known as Fuller's store, It was 24 x 36 and two stories, and considered a good building for those days. It ran successfully until silenced by the war. The ablest teachers Princeville ever saw were employed, boys being fitted for college in several instances. This was the first academy built in the county. I personally obtained every dollar of the money to build it with, by subscription, giving between two and three hundred dollars myself, besides furnishing the lots. The academy cost $1,600.00 in those cheap times, and $207.00 only remained due to the lumber firm of Anderson & Proctor, in Peoria, when the last nail was driven, This I became personally responsible for, asking that I might be notified six months before they wanted it, Nine years afterward I asked for the bill, which had then amounted to about $400.00, and paid it. Many have wondered that this place was not named Stevensville, and I'll tell you why it was not. I read in the scriptures that the worldling calls his lands after his own name, so I made up my mind not to do so. I wanted first a new name under the sun—one never heard of before; second, a name that would look well on paper; third, one that was easily spoken; and, fourth, one that would be connected with pleasant and agreeable associations. In the name of Princeville I fancied I had all of these qualifications, and consequently chose it above all others. Some other time I will tell you more of early days in this neck of the woods. You can't guess my age, so I'll tell you that I am nearer eighty-eight than eighty-seven, and feel very bright for a man so old."
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THE MOODY FAMILY.
By Miss Rie Henry, 1907.
Ira Moody was born in Sandisfield, Mass., October 18, 1795. His father, a sailor, died when on one of his voyages, leaving a wife and three children. Ira and his mother lived with his uncle, his mother's brother, a Presbyterian minister. Ira was in his fifth year and as he grew old enough to work, was employed on a farm near Sandisfield. When 21, or a few years after, he walked from Massachusetts to Ohio, in search of a better opportunity for making a start in life. Satisfying himself of the advantages of Ohio as a farming country, he returned to Massachusetts for his mother. He bought a tract of land in the forest, cleared it and became the possessor of a good farm of 100 acres.
In 1823 he was married to Ann Maria Reaves, a native of New Jersey. They remained in Ohio until 1839, when he brought his family to Illinois, traveling with horses and two wagons. Seven children were born in Ohio, Oliver, Amy, Henry, Ira, Julia, Talleyrand and Reaves.
They were not alone in their journey, for now and then a new wagon would be added to the train till there became a long line of them, When they reached the eastern part of Illinois the creeks were very wide, veritable swamps, and the only way to cross them was to hitch one team behind the other, The line was so long that when the first team had reached the farther side the last one was only starting. After a journey of five weeks they reached Peoria County where they located on Section 4, Princeville Township. He broke and improved eighty acres of land and remained there till his death in 1882, being 87 years old.
His wife died in 1861. She was known as a splendid nurse and would go anywhere when called upon to care for the sick, In these days we wonder how one with a large family, as every one had then, could
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think of losing one moment of her own time to help others, when we remember that besides the regular housework she spun and wove all the cloth needed for clothing and bedding.
Ira Moody was not a large man, of medium height and build but with a strong constitution and good health of which he was careful. He was temperate in all things; would rise at an early hour, work hard all day and in the evening enjoyed taking his chair out on the lawn where it was cool; but however warm the evening, he never neglected to add another garment, usually a jacket. He preferred to walk rather than ride if he wished to go to town or to a neighbor's. and he had a system in walking. He would say, "Never go from side to side of the road to find a smooth path. it takes time and strength, but walk straight ahead over rough places and through mud and water if necessary." He was a good marksman, could shoot a prairie chicken on the wing with a rifle when 70 years old. He took an active part in educational affairs, biding some of the school offices, and was township treasurer for some years.
He was the father of ten children, those before mentioned and Mary (Mattie), Charlotte and Nathan. The last two died in childhood and were buried in Princeville cemetery. Oliver, a prominent citizen of Princeville and vicinity, and often in public offices, afterwards lived in Chicago. His wife, still living, was Mary Stevens, and they had ten children. Sarah died in childhood, and Ella, wife of Dr, T. E. Alyca, died some fifteen years ago. The others, well known to many here, are Mrs. Fannie Tucker, Mrs. Julia Klinck, Oliver, Henry, John, Melville, Mrs. Maude Quinn and Miss Vinnie.
Oliver Moody's brothers, Henry, Ira and Reaves, better known as "Cap," were among those who went west in search of gold in 1847-51 with ox teams, their trip covering a period of three months. Henry and Ira married in the west, and there are some children
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of each living in the west. Reaves died in the gold country, a bachelor, while still young.
Amy married William Davis and died rather young, leaving five children, Her youngest son, Henry Davis, was raised by his Uncle Tall, and was here on a visit from Nebraska last winter, The other Davis children were Mrs. Lois Camp (now deceased), Mrs. Charlotte Cottrill of Missouri, and Theodore and George of Kansas.
Mary (or Mattie) went to Oregon to visit Henry and Ira, and while there met and married a Mr. Wm. H. James.
Julia (Mrs. John Henry) lives in Princeville, and her children are Albert in Houston, Texas, Bruce on the home place, Miss Rie, Mrs. Blanche Sheelor of Galesburg, Miss Julia, Sherman T. of Monica, and Mrs. Sadie Cornish. besides three, Emily. Carlisle and Mabel, who died when young.
Talleyrand or "Tall" has the distinction of having lived on the same section longer than any other man in Princeville Township, sixty-seven years. His children are Mrs. Miranda Graves of Duncan, Mrs. Anna White and Miss Stella.
Tall and Julia, Mrs. John Henry, are the only members of the original family surviving.
TWO LETTERS.
One from Ethan Moody (father of Ira Moody) written to his wife before embarking on his last sea voyage; and the other from Silas Jones, breaking to Mrs. Moody the news of her husband's death.
New London, Nov. 16th, 1799.
Dear M'am:
I avail myself of the opportunity of writing to you to let you know that I am in good health and spirits, hoping that you are all enjoying the same blessing, and that I like the business as well as I expected. We arrived in this harbor Saturday evening, having been a week from Middletown. The captain, second mate and all the hands are as agreeable companions as I
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could wish. (Here something referring to the first mate seems to have been written and then scratched out.) None escaped being dam'd by him, but we expect when his brother comes on board there will be an altercation. He is hated by all the ship's crew. We expect to sail the last of the week in company with the new ship Yankee of Middletown of sixteen six-pounders and several other vessels, as there is near twenty sail about ready for sea. In the sound we met Mr. Deming, he having made a good and short voyage.
Nov. 20, This day Mr. Robbins arrived and informs me that you are well which gave me joy. I am as hearty as I wish to be and my old heels haven't troubled me at all. I live very well, have tea or coffee twice a day if we have a mind for it, besides oysters and clams. We shall sail by Saturday I expect and perhaps by a Friday, This day seven vessels sailed for the West Indies. The ship Yankee will not be ready so soon as we are. Abijah Woodhouse is as big a scoundrel as ever lived, We had twenty-four gallons of rum put on board at Middletown for vessel's use and he has given most part away with what he has drinkt, but the owners are determined to have the second mate take his place. His name is Ebenezer Butler of Rocky Hill, as good a fellow as ever lived. The Captain did not come around with us. He is a nice man, I have sent an almanac by Robbins. The reason that Remington did not come was the ill usage he received from Woodhouse. You need not entertain fears concerning my treatment, for I have no doubt but that I shall be used well, and as for my return I must leave to that kind providence who is the protector of all mankind.
My compliments to all friends and I conclude subscribing myself
Your affectionate husband,
Ethan Moody.
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Baltimore, March 22nd, 1800.
Dear Madam:
I am very sorry that I have to inform you of the death of your affectionate husband, He took passage with me on board the Schooner Swan, at St. Thomas bound to Turks Islands, and from there to Boston, but after we arrived in Turks Islands he was taken down very sick with a putrid fever. The 17th day of Februarv we sailed from Turks Islands for Boston and then I thought he was in fair way for recovery. But after we got at sea he began to get worse and three days after we sailed he expired, which being the 20th day of February at five in the morning, I had his body buried in as decent a way as I could after I had read prayers over him, In his sickness we paid the best attention to him we could. Dear madam, I am very sorry for your loss, but I hope you will bear it with Christian fortitude and consider that we have got a great Being that rules over us that will never take us hence without he thinks it is right and then we must obey his summons. Dear madam, I hope you will not take it too hard but consider Mr. Moody is clear of a troublesome world and I make no doubt but he is much happier than he was here, for I never saw anything in him but what was upright and steady, and think he cannot be miserable hereafter. I hope this example of God's providence will put us all in mind that in a short time we must follow your affectionate husband. I and all my crew expected to have had to follow Mr. Moody when our vessel was sinking, but Providence ordered it so that we got relief at the last moment by a vessel taking us off. So I remain, dear madam, with respect and esteem.
Your friend and obedient servant,
Silas Jones.
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WILLIAM HOUSTON AND FAMILY.
By Henry C. Houston, 1907.
Among the names entitled to recognition as Princeville pioneers are those of William Houston and his wife Sarah (Chase) Houston, who left New Hampshire the latter part of September, 1843, arriving in Princeville on Thanksgiving day of that year. This journey of nearly 1500 miles, as the roads were then laid out, was made with team and covered wagon, requiring fifty-seven days to make the trip. The late Mr. and Mrs. Simon P. Chase were their traveling companions. Compare this journey, the time occupied, and discomforts, with the present day "Twentieth Century Limited" with its parlor, dining and sleeping car accommodations, which now spans this distance in a trifle over one day. William Houston was great grandson of Rev. Robert Houston, who emigrated to this country from Londonderry, Ireland, as pastor of a colony chartered by the King of England. This colony located upon a land grant from the King, which gave them a tract twelve miles square, somewhere on the East shore of the Connecticut River in what is now the State of New Hampshire.
Mr. Houston was born in Temple, N. H., February, 1815, being the ninth child of John and Ann Houston. At the age of 16 he started out into the world to earn his own living. For a few years he worked on a farm; later he worked in the stone quarries, getting out material for foundations of the great cotton mills of Lowell. Reports of the opportunities which the then far West offered to young men of limited means, led to a decision to emigrate to the Prairie State, On September 25th, 1842, he was united in marriage with Sarah Chase (she being a niece of the late Wm. C. Stevens) and a few days later they started on the journey Westward to the land that was to be their future home.
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Three years after coming to Illinois they bought the farm on which the Akron town house stands, which they improved and which was their home for over fifty years, the home in which both died. Mrs. Houston died May, 1899, her husband following her in December, 1901. Their bodies now rest from their labors in the beautiful cemetery Northwest of our Village. To them were born three sons, Henry C. residing half a mile from the old homestead; William A. living near Allerton, Iowa; and Charles S, who was born and has .spent his life thus far on the home farm, During the early years they experienced the usual hardships, privations and the practice of rigid economy incident to those times. Theirs was the experience of the average early settler,—nothing striking or of public interest, It was their effort to meet and discharge the daily duties or heroically to meet the disappointments and trials of pioneer life. Their hearts and homes were ever open to the belated traveler, and their sympathy and services were promptly and heartily given to any fellow pioneer in sorrow or distress. They were a part of that grand army whose strength of head, heart and hand was given to develop the territory now included in this association.
SIMON P. CHASE AND FAMILY.
By Mrs. S. C. Eldred, 1907.
The first paternal ancestor of Simon P. Chase in America, was Aquila Chase, who with his brother Thomas emigrated from Chesham, England in 1639 (a brother William coming nine years prior), settling first at Hampton, Mass., later removing to Newbury and Sutton; great-grandsons migrating to the Connecticut River settled on a tract of new land and laid out the town of Cornish, N. H.
The lineal descent of this branch of the family in America is as follows: Aquila (1), Moses (2), Daniel
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(3), Samuel (4), Samuel (5), Peter (6), Peter (7), Simon Peter (8) (the ancestry of Mrs. Sarah Chase Houston being the same). Simon P. (8) Chase was the son of Peter (7) Chase and Martha Stevens, his wife; he was born in Cornish, N. H., January 28th, 1812; was married at Orange, N. H., April 1st, 1838, to Miss Ann Houston, daughter of John Houston and Ann Moore, his wife, of Temple, N. H.
Mr. and Mrs. Chase and little daughter Martha in company with Mr, and Mrs. William Houston removed to Illinois in 1842 and shortly after bought land two and one-half miles East of Princeville and built a cabin home.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Chase. two daughters and a son; the daughters are Mrs. Martha A. Harbaugh of Red Oak, Iowa, and Mrs. Sarah C. Eldred of Roseville, Illinois; the son, Mr. Philander H. Chase, a well known citizen of this community, resided during his life on the farm where he was born; he died March 5, 1899. Mr. Simon Chase passed from this earthlife January 9, 1870, and his wife five years later, all of whom were laid to rest in the Princeville Cemetery.
Mr, and Mrs. Chase early united with the Presbyterian Church of Princeville, which at that time worshipped in the old log school house; they helped according to their ability in the building of the first. and also of the present church edifice, and joined heartily in the rejoicings on the completion and dedication of each. They were faithful in church attendance, and devoted to the interests of Christ's kingdom during life; Mr. Chase being elected to the office of Ruling Elder "ever used said office well." Mrs. Chase, who possessed a good voice for singing and had received training under the best teachers of New England in that day in harmony and sight-reading, used her voice in the service of song in the church, and taught the young people, sometimes meeting them in the "Singing School" held in the Morrow school house and sometimes in her home. A few years later a musical society
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was formed and "Sings" or in modern phrase ''Musicales" were held in the homes of music-loving families, which were a source of culture as well as social pleasure to the young people.
In 1852 Mr. Chase bought a piece of land near by on which was a more commodious house; into this the family moved from the cabin home, and in the vacated cabin the first public school in District No. 5, Akron Township, was held in the winter of 1852-3, Miss Sarah Farwell being the teacher.
The privations and difficulties incident to pioneer life of that day, such as failure of crops, prairie fires, bad roads, distance from markets, lack of legal currency or coin (most of the marketing being in the form of barter, a farmer with his produce might supply his family with sugar and shoes, but found it a poor medium with which to pay taxes or postage on letters); all these Mr. Chase encountered with manful courage and patience, saying in facing them, "Well, well, it will be better by and by."
Those early settlers saw many rewards for their privations and arduous toil, in the advancement and development of the country; and may we not say they, under God's guiding hand, helped to "Make the wilderness and solitary place glad for them, and the desert to blossom as the rose, and to rejoice with joy and singing."
THE CORNWELL FAMILY.
By Win. E. Elliott, 1907.
Solomon S. Cornwell was born in Duchess County, New York, July 8, 1808. His father, Job Cornwell, was a native of the same county, and was son of Jonathan Cornwell, also of Duchess County, and a grandson of Lot Cornwell, who was a soldier in the Revolution. The father of Lot Cornwell came from England as an officer
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in the English army; but in the beginning of the struggle between the colonists and the mother-country, he left the British Army and cast in his lot with the colonists and fought with them for their freedom. After the war he settled in Duchess County.
Mr. Cornwell obtained his education in the district schools and in a Quaker school at Mechanicsville, Duchess County. After leaving school he chose the profession of teaching and was engaged at it about twelve years in Duchess County, and after that taught in Long Island, and for three years was principal of the schools where he was stationed. In 1837 he went to Monroe County, New York.
In 1838 he came to Illinois, traveling by boat to Cleveland, Ohio, and by canal to the Ohio River to take a boat; but as there were none going down the river at that time, he hired a skiff. After proceeding a short distance, however, he decided he could make better progress on foot, so he walked to the next landing and waited there four days for a boat, and as one did not come he secured a seat on a stage to Indiana, and finally made his way to Springfield, this state. He then shouldered his bundle of clothes and made a trip to the Mississippi River, and back to Farmington in search of a school. All this trip was made on foot. At Farmington he was referred to Princeville. Here he was engaged to teach, which he did in a log schoolhouse (the one southeast of present Rock Island depot) with the most primitive furnishings, He found it hard work as there were among the pupils several large boys who could neither read nor write. He toiled faithfully and made a success of his teaching.
One story that he told, in after years, will interest one of the participants who is here to-day. One of the younger Stevens boys was untractable, when Mr. Cornwell "chucked" him into a barrel that was standing in the log school house, The boy made no disturbance there. After school Mr. Cornwell forgot all about him and was about to lock the door, and all the other scholars were gone, when Mary Stevens rushed at him
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like a bear, and said, "No you don't lock my brother in there." Going back they found the little fellow fast asleep in the barrel.
From Princeville Mr. Cornwell went to Fairview, Fulton County, and was engaged in teaching in the academy as its principal and occupied that position for three years.
Mr. Cornwell first settled in Princeville Township on the Northwest quarter of Section 16, where his oldest son was born January 14, 1844. That year he built a house and settled on the Southwest quarter of Section 21, which ever after was his home until, in 1872-73, the large house was built on Section 28. He drew the lumber for his first house from Ellisville, Fulton County, forty miles away, with an ox team.
Mr. Cornwell returned to New York and on May 24, 1842, was married to Miss Emily Munson, a native of Connecticut. To them were born four children:
William H. or "Hughes"; Charles A., for many years one of the useful attorneys of Peoria; Julia C. (Mrs. W. E. Elliott); and Adaline D. (Mrs. Hugh Crawford); of whom only Julia (Mrs. Elliott) survives.
Mr. Cornwell platted the Village of Monica on a part of his farm, and it was called "Cornwell" for a time; but later was changed to Monica, because of confusion in the mail with another town of a similar name. His ideals were for a town without liquor, and he inserted a clause in his deeds designed to effectually keep it out. Mr. Cornwell died Oct. 4, 1893, and Mrs. Cornwell on Feb. 3, 1895. Both are buried in the Princeville Cemetery.
THE BELFORD FAMILY.
By George Belford, 1907.
Margium Belford, the subject of this sketch, was born June 6, 1794, in Hampshire County, Virginia, He resided there with his parents until eighteen years of
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age when he enlisted in the war of 1812. After the war he settled near Columbus, Ohio, He was married in Ohio and later moved to Peoria, Illinois, with his wife and two small daughters in 1829. Soon after reaching Peoria death entered his family and he was called upon to give up his wife and one little girl. The other daughter grew to womanhood and married Abraham Frye of Richwoods. Mr. Frye died about twelve years ago, and his wife followed him to the "Great Beyond" about six years later.
In 1832 Mr. Belford enlisted in the Black Hawk War which was then threatening our people. After this war he was married to Miss Sarah Orr of Rich-woods in 1836. By his second wife he had four children, namely: William, residing on the old homestead; Mrs. Kate Carroll of Ransom, Kansas; Frank of Monica; and George of Princeville, He resided near Brimfield for some time and finally in 1848 he entered, at a dollar and a quarter per acre, from the government, an eighty acre farm three miles north of Brimfield, This is still in the family name, with no transfers except from the other children to William, the present owner, The farm has been his home for fifty-nine years.
It seems wonderful at this time to think of the changes that have taken place. The writer remembers well, when a little boy, going one or two hundred yards from the little sod house, with a dog along for company, and seeing several "buffalo wallows." Here the bleached bones indicated where the American bisons, possibly twenty or thirty years before, had got stuck in the mud, or been wounded, and died. The skeletons were undisturbed. Prairie fires had often gone over them—and speaking of prairie fires reminds us of times when a whole township would not sleep. The whole prairie from the Belford farm, which was in the Southeast corner of Millbrook Township, and two miles South of it, off to the Northwest—past where Laura now is, and clear to Rochester—was sometimes a roaring fire, burning off in a night. This was hard on
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fences. Back-firing was often resorted to, to save a house or a field of corn. Then speaking of the privations of the period, the writer is reminded of the winter nights shelling corn by hand. Mother had a piece of tin punched full of holes, rounded and tacked onto a slab of wood, over the rough side of which she would draw an ear of corn until two or three rows were shelled out. Then the little fellows took the cobs and finished the shelling, mother always keeping them busy. Quite a few bushels would be shelled in an evening and after a few evenings there would be a load for father to take to Peoria, When the first hand sheller came, it was a bonanza, and no one dreamed then of the modern sheller which the writer of this sketch has been propelling with a steam traction engine for twenty years past; not to speak of the horse power sheller which was in use for twenty years before that. On the same rough tin hand sheller or "grater" the new corn at this time of the year, used to be ground or grated into soft meal for mush.
Father Belford was a typical frontiersman, not educated as the present day goes, but rough and ready and always at home to the traveler, The house always had plenty of room for strangers or movers going across the country, although there was only one room in it, It made no difference if a blizzard kept a large family and horses on their hospitality for a week. No one in those days sent visitors or strangers to the hotel; neither did they send strangers to the livery barn, as horses were one time driven as far as Galesburg for the accommodation of some of these strangers.
Father Belford was accidentally killed by a horse falling on him on July 6, 1870. His wife lived quietly on at the old home for a number of years, but finally on June 8, 1878, she closed her eyes into the sleep which has no waking. Mr, and Mrs. Belford are both buried in the Princeville Cemetery Northwest of town.
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REV. ROBERT FINLEY BREESE AND FAMILY.
FIRST PASTOR OF THE PRINCEVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
By Charles Forrest Cutter, 1907.
The name of the Rev. Robert Breese first appears on the Minutes of Session, March 26, 1843, at, or about which time he entered on his labors in this church. He had as his particular charge the Church of Princeville and Rochester, between which he divided his time. In this field he continued to labor until the time of his death, which occurred September 2, 1851. This, so far as is known, was his first and only field of labor. He was in regular connection with the Presbytery of Peoria and in good repute with his Ministerial Brethren. During his ministry here he resided a part of his time in this village (Princeville), and part of the time in Rochester, where he died. His remains, as also those of his wife, repose in the Princeville Cemetery. A good head-stone of Italian marble marks their resting place. They sleep in Jesus.
''The graves of all his saints be blest.'' "They rest from their labors, and their works do follow them."
Mr. Breese was a man sound in the faith, zealous for the truth and faithful in his ministry, He has left behind him an enduring memorial.
Mrs. Breese, a woman highly respected and valued for her many ladylike and Christian qualities, devoted much of her time to the noble cause of Christian education in which work she was largely successful. The comparative high grade of education in this neighborhood is clearly traceable to her zealous and self denying labors, There are many who will rise up and call her blessed. She was a pupil of Misses Lyon and Grant at Ipswich, Mass., and seems to have caught much of their genial and high-toned spirit. Mr. Breese was a graduate of South Hanover College, Ind., and of the Alleg.