COPLEY TOWNSHIP

(Extracted from the History of Knox County, Illinois by Albert Perry, Vol. I, pgs 432-433,
submitted by Janine Crandell)

Copley Township was named after a prominent family who at one time resided within its limits. It consists of a fertile prairie sufficiently rolling to ensure a good drainage. The southern part is more or less broad, probably one-fourth of its area having been original timber. It is well watered by the branches of Walnut and Court creeks, and other small streams.

The first settler of the township was a Mr. Berry, who located near the present village of Victoria. Matthew Herbert and Larkin Robinson came the next year. In 1839, the Scotch began to come into Copley township and settled upon some of the best lands. This movement increase until there was quite a band known as the Scotch colony. The descendants of these men are, today, nearly all men of wealth and high moral standing and elsewhere in this history will be found a very interesting account of the Gordons, Cooks, McCornacks, McKies, Leightons, etc., and of their character as a people.

It has been the writer's privilege and pleasure to know many of these men and it is almost a matter of regret to note that their descendants are losing some of the racial characteristics of their forefathers. They are thrifty, critical, economical, industrious and law-abiding, the same as their ancestors; in fact, they are losing nothing whatever that is valuable to them as citizens, but there is a something which is indescribable, that the "Auld Scots" had, that the Americans have not, that made them a peculiarly interesting people, and it is this something that their descendants are gradually losing. When we say that they are becoming "Americanized," it probably tells as much of the story as can be told.

What is now known as Foreman's Grove, in the north limits of the Township, was inhabited by the Indians when the first settlers began to come in.

The first school of the township was taught by Miss Mary J. Smith, afterwards Mrs. John Becker, in a log schoolhouse, in the northeast part of the township.

Jeremiah Collinson owned a sawmill, that was operated by horsepower, which he put up in 1850.

ETHERLY

There are no large towns within Copley Township, as there are no important railroads there. In 1894, a railroad was built from Wataga, through nearly the center of the township, to a mining village called Etherly. It was supposed that there were extensive coal fields in Copley and Victoria townships, and these improvements were made in order to develop these mines.

The village was laid out on section 35, in 1894, by Samuel L. Charles.

For some reason the mines above mentioned have never paid, and the town of Etherly has practically disappeared, and the railroad has since been extended to the village of Victoria.

One of the most noted churches of the township was known as the John Knox Church, an account of which will be found under the articles of the Presbyterian Church.