CHESTNUT TOWNSHIP

Extract from the 1870 Atlas Map of Knox County, Illinois

(Extracted from the History of Knox County, Illinois by Albert Perry, Vol. I, pgs 445-446,
submitted by Janine Crandell)

Chestnut township is very rough portions. Brush Creek enters the township on Section 6, flows southeast to the central line of the township then again winding to the north east somewhat, finally flowing in a southerly direction, empties into Haw Creek in Section 12 and thence finds its way, through Haw Creek to Spoon River at west line of Section 24. There are numerous tributaries that flow into this creek, mostly from the south. Spoon River enters the township on Section 24, and winds in a southwesterly direction leaving the township at about the middle of Section 34. There is a divide that enters the township at the village of Hermon on Section 19, and this curves to the north and then quite abruptly to the south in Section 27. South of that divide there are also several quite good streams that flow south into Spoon River. This makes the northern part of the township quite rough and a portion of the southern part. The banks of the streams were originally heavy timber, most of which has been cut away. It is one of the southern rows of townships of the county and is the second township east of the principal meridian. The soil is fertile and more than half is prairie soil. It is crossed by two lines of railroad, one running from Lewistown in Fulton County northward to Galesburg, and the other the Iowa Central. The first railroad was formally known as the Fulton County Narrow Gauge, but it is now called the Havana branch of the C. B. and Q.

The earliest settler was Anthon Dolph from Kentucky. He came in 1833, and raised a crop, and in 1834 he became a permanent settler. The next year came John Terry from Virginia who was a justice of the peace, and performed the first marriage ceremony in the township, uniting a Mr. Gay and a Miss Cooke, who rode a long distance, to appear before the justice, upon the back of one horse. It is said that Squire Terry once united a couple who stood upon the opposite bank of the Spoon River, while he performed the ceremony on the bank, the water's been too high and too tumultuous for either party to cross. The next settlers were Robert Leigh and Archibald Long, in 1836. Mr. Long raised hemp and constructed a rude factory where he manufactured his own and his neighbor's hemp into rope. For a time it was profitable and he got to be well off. Mr. Long settled on Section 19, where, in 1842, he platted the village of Hermon.

Being a Methodist preacher, he soon organized a Methodist class which met regularly at his house for many years. Mr. O. P. Barton was also an early settler and was noted for his walking ability. On one occasion he walked to the Land Office at Quincy, one hundred miles distant, and arrived there ahead of several other parties who started on horseback at the same time. Mr. Herman Way was another pioneer and was noted as a hunter. Mr. Dolph built a house of logs in 1833, and Mr. Robert Leigh erected a brick house in 1845, which was the first brick house of the township. The old state road which ran from the southeast portion of the township in a northwesterly direction crossed Spoon River which was bridged in about 1846. It was a cumbersome affair, and was demolished and carried away by a flood in 1855.

A graveyard was started on section 3, which was used by the earlier settlers, but it is no longer use for that purpose. It is, however kept in good condition by parties living in the neighborhood.

A Mr. Howard build a mill in 1846. It was a combination mill designed for the manufacture of lumber and the grinding of corn. It was used but a few years and then abandoned. There was a sawmill on Littler's Creek, on Section 25, about the same time, which finally went the same road to destruction.

Wayside stores were established in Chestnut Township, one by John Terry on Section 16, and one by Mr. Moore on Section 15. Mr. Moore's venture was unsuccessful and soon abandoned. The stock carried by Mr. Terry was also very limited.

One of the earliest taverns was kept by Jonathan Potts, on Section 22, on the old state road.

Dr. Porter and Dr. Morse and Dr. Wilson, were physicians who, beginning with 1838, succeeded each other in the order named.

Dependence was placed upon the town named Troy, in Fulton County, and on Knoxville, Knox County, for postal facilities. Hermon was made a post office in 1848, the mail being brought from Knoxville. Mr. Massey was the first postmaster.

Township organization was not adopted until 1857{1853?}, at which time Samuel Collins was elected supervisor; John Terry and David Massey, justices of the peace; Mr. McCoy, clerk; and William Graves and Freeman West, constables. A town called Harrisonville was laid out on section 23 in 1852, by Andrew J. Parker. It was upon the right bank of Spoon River, near where the present bridge crosses that stream. It never grew and the place was vacated in 1869, by the act of the legislature.

 Hermon

The village of Hermon was laid out by Archibald Long in May, 1842. It was originally named Harrisonville but the name was changed to Hermon in 1848, on the establishment of the post office. For a number of years it was a stirring business place, but Knoxville and Abingdon grew so rapidly with excellent railroad facilities, that it put a stop to the growth of Hermon. It is now a small village located on the Iowa Central.