Fairview Township

This excerpt was taken from the History of Fulton County, published by Chas. C. Chapman & Co. in 1879, pages 623-628.

Matthias Swegle was the first settler to locate in this beautiful township.  He came from New Jersey and settled at the head of Swegle creek in 1829. He was a very large man and of but little education. He attended school here after he located in the township. He was a pupil of Mr. Morris when he weighed 340 pounds. When he first started to school his oldest child was 22 years old. He was in the spelling class with his younger children and would take his place among the little fellows as they stood up to spell. He attended school about three months. He was a generous, public-spirited man, and as Peter Pumyea's house was the house of the average Jerseyman, so was Matthias Swegle's that of the itinerant Methodist persuasion. He made a wooden cannon during the Black Hawk war to frighten the Indians with. He was the first Justice of the Peace.

Among the early settlers were John Hall, who settled on section 7; Moses Johnson, who located on 7, east and adjoining Hall; Jerrod Lyons located on section 8; Wesley Cope upon 6; and others.

As the history of the town is so closely identified with that of the township we proceed to give a sketch of it:

FAIRVIEW.

The eldest son of Richard Addis (spoken of in the history of Canton, whose name was also Richard), lived for many years in Fairview tp., then only a wilderness, and induced his cousin, Peter Pumyea, through correspondence, to visit this State in 1835. This year was the beginning of the great internal-improvement system of the State and at a time when speculation ran rife, and also a year when the cholera prevailed. Then many persons were almost at the point of death from an imaginary contact, but being assured that the supposed infectious party had no real cholera, were almost immediately restored to health. Nevertheless the fever of speculation seized Mr. Pumyea, and he was induced to sell out and move West. In the spring of 1836, with four good teams and well filled wagons, started for Illinois, and after nearly two months of arduous travel arrived in Fulton county, where he purchased of S. Dyer the property long occupied by himself and family as the homestead farm. Upon this place at that time was erected a double staked and ridered cabin, one of the largest size and deemed by many of that day an extravagant mansion; and upon its being raised two logs all around to meet the requirements of the family and visitants, enabling a person to stand erect, the exclamation went forth that "Peter Pumyea was too proud for this country." And when he added improvements on the farm, among them a "horse rake," it was regarded as a great innovation. The early preachers would discourse valiantly upon the evils of pride, even to the exent that superfluous buttons upon the tails of coats could and should be dispensed with. This sort of preaching, however, soon proved to be unpopular and behind the age of progress and a better state of civilization. Too, all persons not in full sympathy with the dominant sect were styled "Campbellites." They were also often dubbed "Blue-bellied Yankees."

Through repeated correspondence with their friends in the East, although letter postage was then 25 cents, a desire was awakened in many to better their condition by coming West. To take advantage of the circumstances of that time, when immigration was large, Moses Hall and Benjamin Foster put their lands upon the market, by conceiving and coalescing with others in the laying out of a town. Accordingly in the year 1837 they laid out the original town of Fairview, which was added to upon the west by Peter Pumyea and Richard Davis. Jonas Rawalt did the surveying. The town was first called Utica, but as there was already a town by that name in the county, its name was changed to Fairview. The survey of the town was made by Jonas Rawalt, who now resides in Orion tp.

The town was started and the way was thus opened and every inducement given to mechanics and tradesmen to locate here. Lots were set apart for certain religions sects to occupy, and as Rev. A. D. Wilson was sent out in the year 1837 as a missionary in the interest of the Dutch Reformed Church, it secured a very nice location. In order to meet the anticipated growth that was expected to follow the founding of the Church, Rev. Wilson and Peter Pumyea were selected to go back East and solicit donations, and we find a credit upon Mr. Pumyea's book of $440 collected by him, mostly in small amounts; and through the strenuous efforts of Cornelius Wyckoff, sr., John G. Voorhees, Richard Davis, Rev. Wilson and many others, the plan of a building was carried out sufficient to meet every future contingency as to increase of population.

For a time the influx of immigration was considerable, and prior to the time of the era of railroads, Fairview was as good a business point as any town in the county. It then had several pork-packing establishments, and many stores and grain warehouses, which have long since been but little used; and what was once an incentive to capitalists to encourage and promote has long since lost its charms. Many claimed that this was the result of the selfishness of certain would-be aspirants and tenacity of some to hold and keep the offices and the Church ascendancy, and arrogating to themselves the embodiment of all good. That the preponderance of influence has been derogatory to railroads, is true, as it would necessitate a change of population and sentiment, and, as is claimed that many asserted, "its corrupting influence;" thus counteracting and overbalancing the zeal and energy of those who made every effort to obtain a railroad, and avert the present situation. But a better feeling now prevails, and Fairview will soon have a railroad, thereby opening up a way for capital and enterprise to come in and assist those already here in developing the resources, and opening up the vast mines of coal underlying this entire section.

While for a time the "Jersey element" was regarded with considerable jealousy and suspicion, and on the principle that "like begets like," the drawing of one imaginary State line would tighten that of another, and consequently there was for a time very little interchange of opinion and sentiment. Yet we find that as early as 1838 the "Jersey element" is recognized by the township choosing Richard Davis, Elijah Morton, Moses C. Johnson, Jonathan Markley, and Asa Shreeves School Trustees, and Peter Pumyea Treasurer. The latter retained the treasurership and other town offices until his death in 1850.

We find upon a school schedule a certificate by Joshua Cooper for two sessions in the year 1838, the following families represented in the Richard Addis neighborhood, viz: northeast of Fairview village—Foster, Leeker, Davis, Tipton, Williamson, Addis, and Martin. The teacher received for his services $13.95. In 1840 we find added to the above list Barlow, Denison, Hickman, Romine and Kelsey. In the Fairview District taught by Abraham Gulick there are represented in 1839, the following families: Groenendyke, Martin, Vorhees, Wilson, Wyckoff, Davis, Gilmore, Prumyea[Pumyea?], Darland, Hagaman and Polhemus. School commenced April 8, and ended Saturday, June 14, 1839, and the amount paid teacher was $28.91.

We find that the school in the west neighborhood, taught by Reuben F. Markham, commenced Dec. 7, 1840, and was closed April 22, 1841. There were five families sending children to this school: Therman, Hughbanks, Cope, Johnson and Green, and at $2 per scholar. The teacher's services amounted to $24.25, and the teacher's certificate was certified to by Edward Therman and Jacob Shellenherger, "employers."

In the Swegle district school, taught by Richard M. Jones, beginning July 23, 1838, the following families were represented: James, Swegle, Overman, Gray, Burnett, Drum, Shreeves, Johnson, Flowers, Dunn and Smith. The sum of $19 was paid for the services of the teacher during the quarter.

In the Fairview Academy taught by S. S. Cornwell, we find the following persons in attendance: Suydam, Voorhees, Davis, Martin, Sweeney, Pumyea, Gray, VanArsdale, Foster, Ward, Davis, Lamb, Wilson, Gilmore, Rockafellow, Mummerst, Foster, Ward, Sweeny, Teethworth, Hagaman, Voorhees, Darling, Wyckoff, Polhemus, Hickman and Addis. During the next term added to these were Gafney, Laturrette, Young, Weaver and Berger. A certificate was made out as due from each scholar the sum of $2, and signed by G. Groenendyke, Benj. Darling and Simon B. Suydam, Directors. Almost all of these names have become familiar over the county. The younger people have grown up any are to-day classed among the best and wealthiest people of the county.

Henry B. Evans kept the first store in the town. The first death that occurred was a child by the name of Hagaman. The town is beautifully situated.

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