Untitled Document

EARLY SETTLERS.

A mill was built on Green River . Joshua Harper, N. W. Washburne, Luke C. Sheldon, Charles W. Davenport and a Mr. Tompkins were the total of the Colonists who were here and in possession in the fall of 1836

. In 1837 John Appleton and Charles W. Davenport, Sr., and their families came, and with them the venerable Thomas Fitch, the father of Mrs. Davenport. He died at Morristown in a short time after, aged 80 years.

For the next 14 years after the settlement of this Colony the families above named and a few others—in all 10 or 12 families—were all there were in the New York Colony or in this part of the county. These were widely scattered over Morristown Prairie ; and these pioneers worked their way in the wilderness, patiently awaiting the oncoming tide that the next wave of immigration would bring to them. Nothing really came until 1852, when commenced the memorable rush of people to this portion of the county.

Osco is almost exclusively a prairie township, less . than one per cent, of its surface being originally covered with timber. Its surface is beautifully undulating, with just sufficient declination to make perfect drainage, and with no level, wet or marshy areas to mar its beauty or excellence. The soil is a rich, black alluvium, of marvelous fertility, and varying from 10 inches to two feet in depth. In the early days of its settlement it was noted for the luxuriance of the grass and other vegetation that grew upon its broad prairies.

The first settlement within the limits of the town was made by Israel Crocker, who located on the north half of section 3, at a place which was known in those days as Crocker's Grove. Here, according to the traditions of the early settlers, the elder Crocker located in the year 1838, built a house of considerable size and enclosed with a sod fence about 160 acres of land, and imported and placed on his farm a large flock of sheep, out of which he intended to amass a fortune. Ill success attended the venture, and after eight or ten years struggling with bad luck with his sheep and poor health in his family, he finally succumbed to adverse circumstances and sold out to Ben Graham, who continued the business so mauspiciously begun by Mr. Crocker, with about the same results.

After the settlement of Mr. Crocker, in 1838, no further attempt was made until the year 1851, a lapse of 13 years. In May of that year, Albert Welton moved upon the Crocker Grove farm, which had been purchased by F. P. Brown; in June,

Willis Hinman settled in the south part of the township, and was soon followed by S. C. Welton and Benjamin Manning, Philip Emmert and John Weidlein. The next year came Francis Gerard and Hiram Woodward, and in a short time A. A. and E. M. Crane, Jared H. Smith and Lester C. Welton.

The first school district was formed May 24, 1852. The meeting was at the house of Willis Hinman. The first school house was built in 1853, on the northeast quarter of section 26. This was long known as the Hinman School house.

In 1854 the district was divided, and the north half became District No. 2. Two school-houses were built in this District,—one in the northeast corner, and known as the Van Order school-house, and one at Morristown , in the northwest corner.

In 1859, the town was divided into nine districts, each two miles square.

The first Board of School Trustees was elected in 1852, and consisted of Willis Hinman, Samuel Hamilton and S. C. Welton.

The school section was sold in 1857, and $13,958 was realized from the sales.

History of Henry County

Illinois Ancestors