EARLY SETTLERS

 

In the springof 1837 John F. Willard, H. G. Little, Nelson Simons, William Wheeler, W. T. Little, Sullivan Howard and Simeon B. Stoddard returned to Wethersfield . Willard built a cabin, and in 1836-7 he, in company with N. Butler and Joseph Goodrich, " bached" through the winter.

In the early part of 1837, Sullivan Howard put up a board cabin. He had hauled his lumber from Spoon River , seventy miles. Henry G. Little " raised " his cabin in March, 1837, and soon after William T. Little built another. In this last Abner B. Little and his family resided with his son's family. There were nine persons easy and comfortable in a single room 18 by 20 feet in dimensions.

Elisha Wolcott and Caleb Little arrived in April, Evan Wheaton in June and C. B. Minor in July.

Sylvester Blish and his son William, and also Selden Miner, came in August, and a little later Luther C. Sleight.

In 1838 David Potter and family, John H. Wells and Francis Loomis came. There were eight children in Potter's family; all still living, and all the boys becoming very prominent in the affairs of the county. David Potter planted the first orchard in the settlement and had the first fruit.

Champlain Lester came in 1839, in the spring, and Zenas Hotchkiss in the summer. Potter raised a family of eight children, four boys and four girls.

Col. Sylvester Blish, a son of Thomas Blish, of Glastonbury, Conn., married Rhoda Cheny, Jan. 1, 1811, and got his title of Colonel by promotion in the Connecticut militia. He was in the Legislature of that State in 1833. He brought his family in a wagon and landed here in August, 1837. He was the first Postmaster in Wethersfield and held that position from 1838 to 1849. He was one of the proprietors of Kewanee, and was Postmaster at that place, hold that position until he died. He is affectionately remembered all over the county as one of the best men that ever made the county his home. He settled on the northwest quarter of section 4, where he really lived until he died, Oct. 8, 1855 .

M. B. Potter has long been one of the leading and influential men of the county,.and nearly all his life since maturity has been spent in public effice. He was Sheriff, and arrested Root in a few minutes after he (Root) had shot Jansen. He was re-elected in 1852. He also served as County Judge , and now and for many years has been a leading member of the Board of Supervisors. Judge Potter is a liberal and largeminded gentleman, a man of great natural force of character and at the same time of liberal and broad culture, and full of those eminent qualities of head and heart that deeply impress themselves upon old friends and new acquaintances. He is one of those chosen few who contribute greatly toward making this world a bright and cheerful place to live in.

H. G. Little's father, Abner, came in 1837. He was from Salem , N. H. He was the father of ten children, all of whom came to Henry County . His wife, Nancy Little, nee Nancy Tenny, of Hollis, N. H., died July 7, 1847 , aged 66 years. Abner Little died Sept. 8, 1863 , aged 89 years.

The colonists built a mill, and the evidences of their lack of financial ability is given in the fact that they expended over $9,000 on it, involved themselves badly, and sold the whole concern to Jeduthan Hubbard for $2,000. Out of the long' array of colonists in the list of eager organizers, only four came West and personally aided the organization in killing off the horrid Pope of Rome, and thereby "brace up" the true God.

These were Col. Blish, Charles Richards, Sullivan Howard and Francis Loomis. Selden Miner sent his two sons, and Gardner Spring sent one of his sons. Ithamar Pillsbury had his hands full here at Andover .

James E. Carson opened a store in the settlement in 1839, but closed out in less than one year, leaving the people without a store until Garey E. Smith opened his in 1845. In 1849 Daniel McClure opened a store, and the next year William Blish commenced merchandising.

The first school-teacher was Parmelia Stewart, who taught in the Old Colony log church. She was the daughter of R. R. Stewart. She eventually laid down the birch, and married Dr. Hume of Geneseo.

Rev. Ithamar Pillsbury was the colonists' preacher. He contracted to give them one fourth of his time. No regular Congregationalist Church was organized until Oct 19, 1839 Pillsbury ministered to the faithful nearly all over the county. He antedated the " circuit riders," for the substantial reason that he " footed " it. Clothed and shod in enthusiasm mostly, armed with a pocket Bible only, he sallied forth and bared his breast to the pitiless elements and the swollen streams, where no bridges spanned their turbid waters, the " wild varmints " of the desolate plains, and everywhere proclaimed the solemn and divine commands of peace on earth, and down with the Papists

Pillsbury was an earnest, sincere and enthusiastic follower of Christ. His deep and solemn convictions of his faith and tenets never cooled, and there was but one road before him, the path of duty, and the more rugged and difficult that way became the more eagerly and earnestly did he push his course along it. For many years he was the leading and prominent figure in the religious movements in the county, and when he passed away from earth his flock sincerely mourned the loss of the Good Shepherd.

Rev. W. F. Vaill was sent as a missionary from Connecticut in November, 1838, and in the following vear the Church was fully organized, at the house of John H. Wells, with 15 members: Rev. Joseph Goodrich and wife, Rev. Vaill, Nancy T. Little, Mrs. Rhoda Blish, John H. Wells, Mrs. Julia Wells, L. C. Sleight, Hosea Buckley and wife, Deacon Zenas Hotchkiss and wife, and Francis Loomis.

The first election in Wethersfield precinct was held in the little log cabin of Henry G. Little, iri August, 1837. The one room was 16x18. Three families were living in this room—Mr. Little's, Col. S. Blish and W. H. Blish: the two latter had just arrived' in the county. There were two sick men in the roora— Hazelton Page and W. H. Blish. This was the state of affairs in the leading house of that part of the county at that day, and where the sovereigns met to cast their votes, talk over the prospects of the country, and cheer each other up in their new homes in the new country. It is said that even Henry G. Little.—now of Grinnell, Iowa, who loves to dwell on the good old times, and never ad­mits there were any hardships,seven he has been known in forgetful moments to admit that on that election day his cabin was " a little crowded!"

Rev. Vaill remained Pastor eight years. Meetings were generally held at Colonel Blish's, but sometimes in other residences. In the summer of 1838 a log church was built, and this served the worshipers until 1849, when a frame house was erected. A parsonage was built in 1851. When the Kewanee Church was organized many of the Congregationalists united with that Church, and in time about all went there.

Rev. Samuel Ordway succeeded Vaill, and he remained three years. He in turn was succeeded by Rev. Darius Gore, who remained about the same length of time, when R. S. Thrall came, who preached about 18 months. Then Rev. W. T. Bartle was Pastor for two years; then the next 18 months Rev. Thomas Snell, and he was succeeded by Rev. Robert Rudd—one year. Rev. B. B. Parsons was installed Aug. 17, 1859. He vvas followed by Rev. L. D. Pomeroy for four years, and then came Rev. Rider, two years. Then W. T. Bartie was again called and served them two years, and this practically ended the separate existence of the Wethersfield Church, and it became absorbed in the Kewanee congregation.

The Methodist Episcopal Church

It was organized in this settlement in 1841. Meetings were held in residences and the school-house until 1853, when a building was put up. The building of the church commenced in 1851, but was not completed until 1853. Again, the Kewanee Methodist Episcopal Church absorbed this church and it ceased to exist.

The Baptists

They commenced in 1843, with eight members : Elder Edward Otis, Charles B. Miner, Mary G. Miner, Edward Otis, Merrill Otis, Hileman Otis, Hannah and Sarah Otis. The first three above were from Connecticut,, and the others from Ohio.

The Church was too feeble for a regular Pastor, and Elder Otis, Jonathan Miner and others of the flock, and occasionally a preacher from abroad, officiated. Meetings were generally on the north side of the grove, and sometimes in a school-house at the west end, and often, when the weather was good, in the open air.

Elder Charles E. Tinker was secured to preach one Sunday in each mouth, in 1845. During his ministrations the Church gradually transferred its membership to Annawan. Another Church was then established at Wethersfield, in May, 1851, with eleven members: Ezekiel Cole, Mrs. Maria Cole, John Ewing, Mrs. Keziah Ewing, Mrs. Jane White, Mrs. Susan Ellenwood, Mrs. Caroline Purviance, Mrs. Maria F. Miner, Charles B. Miner, Mrs. Mary A. Miner and Austin Sykes. Elder J. M. Stickney commenced preaching for these in July, 1852. He was succeeded by J. S. Mahan.

The congregation dropped to nine members. In 1854 a revival added about 50 new ones. Mahan resigned in 1855. Dr. J. M. Winn for a short time, and then Elder S. P. Ives succeeded. In 1856 it voted to merge itself into the Kewanee Church.