Astoria Township

Astoria Township

This excerpt was taken from the History of Fulton County, published by Chas. C. Chapman & Co. in 1879, pages 409-411.

The first settler of Astoria township was Parker McNeil. Soon after his arrival came David McNeil, his father, and David McNeil, his brother. After them came the father of Deacon McNeil. David McNeill was the first Justice of the Peace, and was, in all probability, elected in 1832. His successor was Stephen Merrill, from whom this sketch is obtained. Before entering upon the duties of his office Esquire Merrill proceeded to the cabin of as Esquire McNeil to get the docket; but much to his astonishment he made the discovery that no such legal article existed. ‘Squire McNeil had conducted the business of the office for some time without a "docket". Accordingly ‘Squire Merrill went to Lewistown, then a small struggling village of one or two hundred inhabitants. There he procure the necessary documents and became Justice of the Peace for all the townships of Kerton, Woodland and Astoria. Nor did he transact an extensive business, for at this time the voters of these townships numbered only twenty-one.

Among other pioneers of the township were William Carter, Rev. Abraham Brown, W. Melton, Wm. Tait, Robert McLellan, Thomas Garvin, Robert and Peter McLaren, John Williams, Miss Mary (Peggy) McClellan and James Carter. These were the early settlers. Soon, however, others came in, among them Jacob Sharp, Charles Gilbert, Zachariah Gilbert, Franklin Fackler, Jacob Derry, B. W. Lutz, S. P. Cummings and Joshua Matheny. The latter gentleman was almost a marvel. He never used liquors, nor tobacco, never swore an oath and never had a lawsuit or quarrel in his life, and he lived to the ripe old age of sixty-five, forty years of which time he was a member of the M. E. Church. He was good, generous and acted from principle. Could a higher eulogy be passed upon any man?

The first religious ceremonies were held at the cabins of the settlers, and afterwards the people met for divine worship at the schoolhouse in the old town of Washington. This building was used for a number of years as a place for holding religious services. Henry Summers was the first preacher for this township. Peter Brown was his successor. There are now in the township, outside of the town of Astoria, four churches.

In the early days Astoria township was literally a forest, and Mr. Stephen Merrill states that a wagon-load of walnuts could have been gathered where now stands the business portion of the town of Astoria.

The first school-teacher was, in all probability, Martin Fast. David McNeil also taught quite frequently, as also did John McNeil. Perhaps no settlers throughout this section were better known in pioneer days than the McNeil brothers. No stranger came from the south or east who did not inquire on his arrival in Illinois for the McNeills.

This township was all patent land. Two millions of acres through this part of Illinois, known as the Military Tract, had been deeded to the soldiers of the War of 1812. Accordingly, when the township was settled much difficulty was experienced among actual settlers in regard to procuring valid titles. The soldiers who held this land never realized the value of their grants, and frequently sold them for a trifle. Astoria is a full Congressional township and among the best in the county. It produces wheat superior to any, and, indeed, as an agricultural district, is surpassed by a few townships in the state.

The legal voters of this township were called together at the house of A. T. Robertson, on Tuesday, April 2, 1850, for the purpose of organizing said township under an act entitled "An act to provide for township and county organization," approved February 12, 1849. At this meeting Solomon Lybarger presided as moderator and H. A. Brown was clerk. The following township officials were chosen, being the first of the township: Supervisor, Robert McClelland; Town Clerk, Zachariah Gilbert; Assessor, Michael Engle; Collector, Jas. M. Carlock; Overseer of the Poor, Thomas G. Garvin; Commissioners of Highways, Jesse Walker, Cooper Farr and Elias Keach; Justices of the Peace, Amos Hipsley and A. T. Robertson; Constables, George W. Derry and Wm. Walker.

Town of Astoria

Astoria may truly be said to be one of the most flourishing towns in central Illinois and only few in the state of the same number of inhabitants excel it in the display of enterprise. In detail in the history of Astoria we shall begin at the very early date in pioneer history.

In what is now called McLellan's addition, in the eastern portion of the town, a small village called Washington was laid out in 1836 by Robert McLellan and Zachariah Gilbert, who kept a small store for the sale of general merchandize. This hamlet boasted of two cabins, one blacksmith shop and the store. The cabins were occupied by Nathaniel McLellan, sr., and Franklin Fackler. A rude school-house also nestled among the heavy timber and underbrush, where blackberries grew in such numbers during the summer of 1836 that wagon loads could easily have been gathered. The berries when fully ripe presented the appearance of a vast buckwheat field. Owing to the limited space allotted for the village here Zachariah Gilbert, Benjamin Clark and a Mr. Bacon, of St. Louis, in 1837, moved a quarter of a mile westward, where they laid out the present town of Astoria. Mr. Gilbert moved his store building and located upon the site now occupied by the store of Lovell & Smith, grocers. In a short time the new village boasted of a postmaster. This gentleman was a Dr. James Owen, who came from Ohio. The post office was kept in a small frame building that stood upon the west side of the square. This town was more fortunate than most frontier towns, for it was on the line of the daily four-horse stage-coach from Peoria to Quincy, from 1836 till 1843, and was the point at which dinner was taken.

The town grew very slowly for a number of years. Vermont was bitterly opposed to the infant village struggling for an existence, and proved a formidable rival for many years. The first log cabin upon the town site was built by B. W. Lutz. Zachariah Gilbert, as we have before stated, erected the first store building in the town of Washington, but at the platting and organization of Astoria a Mr. Moreland erected the first business building in the town. Mr. Gilbert, however, moved his store building from Washington to Astoria, and on the way carried on his regular trade. Jacob Sharp, who previously sold goods about a mile and a half from town on the road to the river, bought Moreland's building and moved his stock of goods to Astoria. John Bane built the second store building, in which he kept a stock of general merchandize. He also had a tavern, which, doubtless, was the first tavern opened in the town. William H. Scripps came in 1840 from Rushville. His means were limited at that time, but he rented a building from Dr. Owen, and began his successful career as a merchant, grain-buyer and pork-packer. Zachariah Gilbert was the first Justice of the Peace after each congressional township had been formed into an election precinct. The first physicians were Drs. James and Carrolton Owens, Dr. G. V. Hopkins, Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Walker.

Shortly after the town was organized John Boyd erected a tannery, and for a number of years carried on an extensive business. Jacob Derry was the first cabinet-maker to locate here. The first preacher was a Rev. Carter. The first saw and grist-mill was built by James Brown. Mr. Brown and others ran it for about twelve years, when it fell into the hands of H. L. Mooney. It was afterwards purchased by Cooper & Hamson and used as a carding-mill. This venture proved unsuccessful, and the old building, which stands in the western part of town, is rapidly going to decay.

Astoria was first named Vienna, and it went by that name for some time; but on account of another town in the state bearing the same name it was changed to Astoria, in honor of John Jacob Astor. It is not generally known, but it is true, that John Jacob Astor, the great fur-trader and New York millionaire, was interested in property in this county. He became the owner of a quarter-section of land, the site of the present town of Astoria. Owing to this fact, when the name was changed from Vienna, it was called Astoria.