ELBA TOWNSHIP

(Extracted from the History of Knox County, Illinois by Albert Perry, Vol. I, page 442,
submitted by Janine Crandell)

The surface of this township is beautiful and undulating. There is good natural drainage by French Creek and numerous small streams which flow into it. French Creek flows from northeast to southwest and there has been quite a growth of timber along its banks. Spoon River crosses the northwest corner. The soil is very fertile and adapted to the growth of grains and a large annual crop of wheat, corn and oats is harvested. Considerable hay, timothy, clover and bluegrass is also reaped. Some apples, peaches and a large variety of small fruits is grown here.

There is no railroad in Elba township, but the Santa Fe line at the north, and the Burlington in the south, afford very good shipping points.

The township was organized on April 5, 1853, and a full line of town officers were chosen.

The earliest settlers have their beginning in Thomas King, in the fall of 1836, who settled upon Section 2 of Elba township. John and Felix Thurman soon came, also Leonard and Darius Jones, from New York. Not long afterwards, Jacob Kightlinger with his wife arrived. Mr. Kightlinger had a large family of children and employed a private tutor to instruct them, thereby gaining time in not waiting for the establishment of a general school. He is credited also with been the builder of the first school house of the township. James Harrison Baird came from Pennsylvania in 1838. Among the later settlers came Josiah Nelson, Henry Oberholtzer, William H. Baird, Henry Potts, John Calligan, John Lindsey, Walter Bailey, Benjamin Pittman, James Catterton and others. R. G. Matthews was long a resident of this township, but finally moved to Galesburg where he held the office of sheriff for some time, and died in Galesburg. He was known as a very excellent man.