HONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP.
The first permanent settler in Honey Creek precinct was Captain Redman. He was an officer in the second war with England, and became imbued with that daring spirit, dauntless resolution and match less strategy which are such necessary characteristics in the frontiersman and pioneer. His attachment for the wild and undeveloped led him to leave his eastern home where plenty seemingly held forth its hand. About 1825 or 1826 he landed here with his family, before a foot of the county's virgin soil had been polluted by the touch of man. He immediately built a small log house, which for many years was the home of the family.
We have nothing positive of the settlers until the coming of the Pence family in 1838. John Pence was a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in Lycoming county January 12, 1803. He was married to Hannah Pence in 1829, and with his family came here in 1838, landing at Shokokon on June 2, having traveled down the Ohio and up the Mississippi. They moved into an tuachinked log house, one end of which was occupied by a family by the name of Tull, who had preceded them a short time. This was on section 11.
During the first years they endured terrible hardships. The family were all taken with the fever and chills and were unable to help one another, and had it not been for the trusty rifle and unerring marksmanship of the husband and father, starvation would have pointed at them her shrunken and withered hands. The long, dreary winter wore away, and with the sunshine of spring came the hope of better days. The spring following they built a log house for themselves on section 15.
When the Pences came, Jonathan Nichols lived on section 22, Robert Crownover, a New Yorker, lived on section 14, Andrew Stice lived below, on Honey creek.
. During the autumn of the year in which the Pences came, Samuel Logan came from Fayette county, Indiana, and settled on the south side of the precinct.
Mr. Logan was a native of Pennsylvania, having been born there October 24, 1784. June 3, 1813, he was married to Susan Duffy, in what was then the Territory of Indiana. He enlisted in the war of 1812 for one year, and was honorably discharged from the service at the expiration of his time. As soon as he was discharged he bought a farm in Fayette county, Indiana, then an unbroken forest, which he cleared. But soon the people poured in, and the place lost the wildness of its frontier cast, and with that restless spirit so characteristic of men who have become inured to its hardships and fascinated with its exciting incidents, he could no longer enjoy his home. In 1838 he sold his farm and with his family moved to this county. There then was plenty of game, such as deer, turkey and grouse, and fishing was fine. This latter sport he followed up to the time of his death, December 28, 1859.
Among other early settlers was Noble McKim, who came into the southeast part of the precinct in 1838.
Captain Samuel Summers came from Marysville, Kentucky, to Nauvoo in 1833, where he remained for a short time, and from there he came to this county. He was here before there were any schools or churches. The first school was in what is now known as Snake Hollow. This was somewhere in the forties. The school was taught by a man by the name of John E. Coleman. The first preacher was a man by the name of . Booth. The services were held at Major Rose's residence.
The first school in the precinct was taught by a daughter of Major Rose in an old log building standing on section 15, and now used by Robert Pence as a granary.
George W. Logan was an early settler, coming here from Indiana in 1841, and staid a short time, returning to Indiana. He came a second time in 1853, and has since had his home here.
George W. Cartright, of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere, came in 1848 and settled near where he now lives.
John Paul, an old and respected citizen, came in 1844, settling on section 34, where he still lives.
Michael Crane, who was a prominent man here years ago, came in 1835. He was a native of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, emigrating from there by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He was at one time an associate justice of the county.
Joseph Kirby, one of the most successful men of the precinct, was born in Maryland in 1822. From there he went to Ohio, and from there to this vicinity in 1837, coming to Henderson county a few years later. He died in 1878.
Jacob Millman, who is now perhaps the oldest man in the vicinity, came here in. 1837. He is a native of Virginia, and was born 1797. His father was a Hessian soldier in the employ of the British, and was taken prisoner at Trenton. Subsequently he allied himself to the patriot band who were struggling for liberty. After the war he settled in Greenbrier county, where Jacob was born.
W. H. Gittings, a native of Kentucky, came to Hancock county in 1834, and to this county in 1838. He was one of the most successful men who have lived in the precinct. He died some years since, leaving a large family in good circumstances.
There are in the precinct three school-houses, known as Snake Hollow, Honey Creek, and Union. They are all in a flourishing condition ; the two former have good and. substantial frame buildings.
History of Mercer and Henderson Counties.
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Illinois Ancestors