Untitled Document

MORRISTOWN COLONY

In the winter of 1835-6, in New York city, a few citizens met in Congress Hall, corner of Bowery and Hester Street, and organized the " New York Colony." At this meeting some 60 families were represented, who became members, and appointed Colonel Charles Oakley—who afterward was Fund Commissioner of the State of Illinois—and Charles C. Wilcox, Trustees for the Colonists, with authority to proceed to Illinois, and locate lands for the Colony." The intention was to locate the lands in TazewellCounty; but the land they had in view had already been taken up by the " Tremont Colony."

On learning this the Trustees went on to Bureau County, and from thence to Henry County and located in what is now Osco, Western, Edford and Colona Townships, nearly 20,000 acres of land. In honor of Col. Morris, of New Jersey, one of the members, it was named the " Morristown Colony."

This was in June, 1836; and in the fall of that year Joshua Harper and Charles W. Davenport, Jr. (the latter a lad of 18 years), came to Henry County, and boarded with Mrs. George Tyler, at Cleveland, on Rock River.

The lands had all been entered in the name of Oakley & Wilcox as " Trustees " for the Colony; and in the fall of that year they were sold at auction, and the choice of the land sold to the highest bidder, who by themselves or agents selected their lands. Some $7,000 was realized from the preference money. This fund, by the terms of organization, was set apart, 1st, to build a colony house, to accommodate settlers until they could build for themselves; 2d, to build a saw-mill somewhere on Green River, and' also a school-house. Col. Oakley had charge of this fund.

A town was laid out on a part of sections 24 and 25, 17 and 18, and, by the terms of the organization, 8 town lots were given with each quarter-section of land. R. R. Stewart, in 1838, contracted for build ing the colony house, and with the help of George Brandenburg, a year or two later, the house was finished—a fine, large building of two stories; but it was never used by the Colonists, for reasons here after given.

A saw-mill was erected on Green River by Col. Oakley, but on land the title of which was in his own name. By an unfortunate clause in the articles of organization, the Colonists bound themselves to settle and build a home on these lands within two years, costing $200. If they neglected so to do, then their land should revert to the Colonists; but with this condition: That the Colonists had the privilege of paying $3 per acre, or double the cost of the land. The result was, that most of the Colonists, being city folks, concluded that the investment was good enough without settlement; but at the end of two, years there was no responsible party here to take these lands, and some of the owners, after paying taxes many years, sold them from 50 cents to $1 per acre.

The consequence was that out of some 60 families only a half dozen or so came to stay. Joshua Harper came on with Oakley and Wilcox, and was here when the lands were distributed, and was agent for many of his friends in New York, to bid in those lands. This man, as one of the oldest and most respected citizens, demands more than a passing notice.

Joshua Harper was born in Fairfax Co., Va., April 24, 1796, and died in Geneseo Feb. 23, 1882, aged 85 years. He served in the county in several offices of public trust, as follows: In 1837 he was elected Recorder, the first duly elected in the county, and his early records are marvels of neatness and accuracy; he was afterward County Judge of Probate, and was elected twice Representative and Senator in our State Legislature, and was also a member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1848. He was a splendid man physically tall, six feet high, straight as an arrow, and though afflicted with a slight tremor from a paralytic affection, dignified and easy in his manners. One who has known him for fifty years writes of him as follows: Joshua Harper was a fine representative of that now almost extinct class, the first families of Virginia. I never knew so perfect a gentleman." We doubt if the man can be found who ever heard him use an improper word. Strictly and scrupulously honest in all his dealings, just and kind to all his employees, humane and tender to man and beast.

Another says: " I well recollect, when stopping temporarily with him, on his farm at Morristown, that he always insisted that his hired hands should not work in the rain, no matter what was on hand. He said it ' never paid' to let a man or horse be uncomfortable, and never did farmer in Henry County have sleeker horses, fatter cattle, or more happy and contented laborers than this noble hearted gentleman on his prairie farm at Morristown. He was genial, pleasant and jovial, delighted in a good story, and could tell one with infinite zest indeed an Israelite, in whom there was no guile." We ne'er shall look upon his like again.

The boy, C. W. Davenport, went to work in the winter of 1836-7, and, with the help of Jerome and Frank Brittain, got out timber on Rock River, and in the spring put up a double log house, the first house erected " out on the prairie,"—a large, substantial, well built house, 16 x 44 feet, with three rooms, and probably at that time the best and most comfortable house in that section of the county. This was on sec. 31, 17 north, range 1, now owned and occupied by William Smith

June, 1837, Charles W. Davenport, Sr., moved out from New York city with the rest of his family and his wife's father, the venerable Thomas Fitch, who died in 1842, at the age of 80 years.

C. W. Davenport, Sr.,died in 1841. C. W. Davenport, Jr., now resides in Stonewall, Col.

Joshua Harper also erected his log house on his farm on section 24, adjoining Morristown. Nathan W. Washburne came out the same year, 1836, and located on section 29, township 17, range 1. Nathan was a famous hunter, and one of the drollest speci mens of a live " Connecticut Yankee " that ever came West, and there was always " music " when he was around. His daughter Mary was married to Alonzo Ayers, son of William Ayres, of Andover, now residing in Nebraska. Abisha Washburne, brother of N. W., came later.

Noah and Elijah Tompkins came the same year and located on section 33, but soon became dissatisfied and sold out and returned East.

Luke C. Sheldon came and settled on section 30 the same year. John Appleton came in 1837 and built on his 80 acres on section 32, and in 1838 sold out to Captain Joseph B. Brush;

In 1839 James G. Bolmer located and built a house on the 80 acres adjoining. He afterwards removed to Rock Island, and died there. His brother, George Bolmer, in the same year, settled on section 32, adjoining Appleton's, and died on his farm in 1840

. Joseph Turner, a very eccentric, jolly fellow, and a good cook, kept house for Joshua Harper, who was a bachelor in those days, and is well remembered for the innumerable pranks he played on his good natured employes and the neighbors. Joe afterwards bought a farm a few miles south, and from thence removed to Rock Island.

These were all the settlers that were on the colony lands for several years. About this time Crocker entered several hundred acres of limber and prairie at Crocker's Grove, on sections 3 and 4, and made one of the best farms in Henry County. This farm was afterwards owned by Ben Graham, who used it for a stock farm.

In 1838 a postoffice was established at Morristown and Joshua Harper was appointed Postmaster; but his house being off the regularly traveled road, the office was removed from Mr. Harper's, and C. W. Davenport was appointed Postmaster.

The mail carrier of that day was Uncle Billy Riley, a Kentuckian, residing at Henderson Grove, Knox County. The route was in three sections from Beardstown to Knoxville, from Knoxville to Albany, on the Mississippi River, and from Albany to Galena.

Uncle Billy carried the mail from Knoxville to Albany and return once a week. The next year a horseback mail was carried from Morristown to Geneseo by Captain J. B. Brush. This was the first mail route established in Henry County. Soon after a postofHce was established in Andover, and the mails became regular. There were no envelopes in those days, and the postage on letters was 25 cents, and it took about a week or ten days to get a letter from New York, and four or five days from Chicago.

In the fall of 1840 the county seat was located at Morristown, and Colonel Oakley, through Mr. Har per for the colony, donated the Colony House for the use of the Courts; also a quarter section (160 acres) of land, and $1,000 in cash for the county.'

In 1841 the first County Court and in 1842 the first Circuit Court was held in the Colony House, which had been rented to Thomas W. Corey and George Brandenburg, who agreed to furnish rooms for the Courts of the county until the court-house was built. They also had contracted for the building of the court-house and jail, to be built within two years. This court-house to be 18 x 24 feet, one and a half stories high; the jail to be similar to the one contracted for at Richmond. The court-house was built, and in 1844 was hauled to Cambridge across the prairie by a procession of some 35 yoke of oxen, amid the loud cheers and hurrahs of the boys from Sugar Tree Grove.

The question has often arisen, What became of the fund of $7,000 belonging to the Morristown Colony? It was said that some $3,000 was put into the Colony House and improvements at Morristown. This was conveyed to the county for county purposes, and by the act removing the county seat to Cambridge it was ordered to be reconveyed to the Colony. It seems that the house was sold by Colonel Oakley to Joel Wells. The saw mill was built on lands of Colonel O. and also sold. The school-house was never built.

We suppose very few of the Colonists who settled here ever saw Colonel Oakley. He has been dead many years. The only person who would be likely to know, Joshua Harper, is also dead. We do not suppose the question will ever be answered It is not supposed it will make any difference to any one now of the original settlers of Morristown Colony. It is believed all are dead except Captain Joseph B. Brush and Charles W. and T. F. Davenport.

There is not one left on the Colony lands. After the removal of the county seat to Cambridge, in 1844, most of the lands remained unoccupied for some 12 or 15 years, until the projection of the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad gave a new impetus to immigration, and after 1850 the Colony lands passed into new ownership. A number of thrifty Germans gathered around the Davenport, Brush and Bolmer farms and bought them all out, and these lands are now among the richest and most valuable farms in the county.

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