Untitled Document

EARLY SETTLERS

September 21, 1835, there started from Muskingum county, Ohio, George McPherren, who had buried his wife in Ohio. In his family were: Mary, James, Susanna, Easter, Daniel, Nancy, Fannie, Sarah and George; Benjamin Decker, the prospective husband of Miss Fannie McPherren; John Walker, husband of Easter McPherren.

Some of the family taking sick, a short stay was made at Washington, Illinois. George McPherren, Sr., accompanied by George Long and Matthew Finley pushed on to find a satisfactory location.

Mr. Long afterward located in Knox county, and Finley in Henderson. The family made another stay at Little York, where just previous Hughy Martin had been killed by the Indians. Leaving some of the party at the fort, Mr. McPherren, John Walker, Benjamin Decker, and Daniel McPherren came to Mercer county and built a log house on the northeast quarter of section 4, in what is now Ohio Grove township. This "lone mansion " of the country was about 16 X18, one story, one room. Some rough boards were hauled from Ebenezer Criswell's saw mill, on Eliza creek, at least fifteen miles distant. This was used for floor. The roof was of clapboards, the window of greased paper. Nails had been brought with them, but were used as sparsely as possible. When ready for "dobbing" the weather was so cold that water had to be boiled for mixing the "mud."

The following summer the mortar peeled off on account of its having frozen when put on. The new log "castle" was occupied by the family of eight on Christmas day, 1835. This house was furnished with the old "continental bedstead" of two poles, one leg and two sides of the house and clapboards, etc. Stools served as chairs for -a number of years. The other furniture, if it existed, was fashioned to correspond. The house stood close to the section line, one fourth of a mile from the township line. The small log cabin before mentioned, about a mile to the east, was occupied by part of the family in order to hold the claim to the quarter on which it stood. Thus were the first permanent settlers located after a journey of six weeks overland, with all the obstacles and hindrances incident

In the same year, 1835, it is thought George Smith, Richard Rice, James Moore, and "William Moore made their advent. John Moorehead, a native of Pennsylvania, but at that time resident of Muskingum county, Ohio, also settled in the McPherren neighborhood in 1835. He died in August, 1836, the first instance of mortality in this new settlement. He had lived on section 2. His wife survived him till 1862 or 1863. In their family were seven children, one of whom was buried in Warren county. The six were pioneers here. But two are living at this writing (May 12, 1882): Mrs. Ashford Hardy and Mrs. George Smith. Both are venerable ladies, examples of women of busy lives from the beginning to the present of this township's history.

Immigration continued steadily year by year. In 1838 William C. Brownlee came from New York , settling near Viola, Mercer county, and in the following year located in Ohio Grove township, buying 240 acres on North Henderson creek. Here he still lives, one of the few survivors of those early pioneers.

The Burnets must have arrived about this time or little later ; they owned land in the southern part of the township. In this year also came John Stephens, wife and six children : Edward, now of Keithsburg ; Peter, in Ohio Grove ; Hannah, then Mrs. James Trusler, now of Iowa ; James "W. (died about 1840); "William J., of Iowa; Catharine (Mrs. James Walters).

Mr. Stephens purchased the Vernon interest in the mill ; also 160 acres of land. He sold and in 1846 settled on the prairie, where his death occurred. His wife survived him, but is now dead. 1839 seems to have been a blank year. 1840, more fortunate, brought "William T. Patterson. He had purchased a few simple goods, as linen shirt bosoms, jewelry, etc., which he sold as he traveled to such as would buy, or would pay his lodging and board with his wares. He worked awhile for Capt. Bain in the distillery. The captain failing, he received nothing for his work. Before doing this he dug a cellar for Henry Kimel. Thus "he worked around." He soon purchased eighty acres of land, for which he largely paid by building a sod fence. He farmed four or five years where Norwood is. It was not till 1847 that he bought and located permanently in Ohio Grove township, where he became owner of the E. 1/2 of Sec. 24.

In 1842 Joseph Robinson came from Quincy, Illinois, and is yet a resident. In 1843 Hammond Webster settled the S. E. of Sec. 28. He died in 1845. In this year (1843) James Calhoun emigrated from Ohio. He brought his wife and nine children: David, William, John K, James H., Joseph C., Samuel C., Elizabeth, Franklin, and Alexander T. The family came via the river to Oqnawka. Mr. Calhoun died July 15, 1847.

James Emery and sons, James and Robert, must have come about this time.

In 1845 came Nathaniel Partridge, a carpenter, and probably Levi Butterfield. James Graham had settled in Warren county in 1842, but in 1845 he located on N W. of Sec. 35, T. 13, Mercer County. This place he improved, and here he was identified with township affairs till his death, November 25, 1879.

In 1848 John Seaton laid claim to the K W. 1/4 of Sec. 19, first " squatting on it," and then preempting and finally buying it. He had lived the two v'ears previous in Warren county. Mr. Seaton improved his farm building, the present residence, in 1861. He died July 21, 1881. The farm is now the property of George Seaton. 1849 brought William Pepper and Samuel Lafferty.

The latter came to Mercer county in 1842, but returned to Ohio till 1846, when he settled in North Henderson, then in Suez, and finally Ohio Grove township, Mercer county, Illinois. He is now old and feeble; he, too, looks back to the time when he shot deer, and wolves howled about the place.

In 1850, Thomas, Francis, and John McClellan made their advent. Thomas and John bought the Butterfield place, which afterward became the property of John alone. Jesse Mounts and family, John Smith and family, and others were early settlers; all cannot be found. Settlement became more rapid. The advent of another ceased to be a novelty. Some began to feel crowded and moved away. Several went to Oregon ; some to California.

In 1851 James Hobb, Jacob and Barnet TJnangst became residents. Barnet Unangst moved his family of wife and eight children from New Jersey, a distance of 1,100 or 1,200 miles, over the country, one team doing the work. They arrived after a journey of fifty-two days. They settled the N. E. of Sec. 13, entered for them a little before by Jacob Unaagst, who had preceded them. A shanty, 12x16, rough fencing lumber, one story, which was occupied January 2, 1852. The frame-work of this residence consisted of poles sunk in the ground in shed style. The furniture was: bedsteads of home make, blocks of saw-logs for stools, dry-goods box for table, and soon a table made of rough boards. Thus, even in 1851, did emigrants live and endure.

The country at that time was thinly settled, there being but one house between Ohio Grove township and Keithsburg. It must have been about this time that John Cameron settled in the southwest of section 19, where he improved a farm. He died about 1858. His daughter, Mrs. Mary Seaton, now occupies the place. James Cameron is in DeKalb county; John died about 1865; Sarah became Mrs. Samuel Criswell; Peter is in Mercer county.

In this year also came "William K. McCreight. He purchased a tarm of six acres of William M. Hayes. William M. Hayes became a resident here prior to this time, but the exact date cannot now be given. A biography of him may be found in the appropriate place. In

1852 came Thomas S. Kobb and others.

In 1853 Samuel M. Creighton, Joseph Lafferty, Col. Jonathan Duncan, the Kelloggs and Torbets arrived. Others, as the Findleys, Gilmores, Mclntires, McCutehans, Sprowls, Garrets, Shrulls, Chandlers, Shoemakers, Dittos, Rolands, Gustin, M. M. Cross, the Browns, Milligans, and a few others, may be considered as having become tolerably old settlers.

The History of Mercer and Henderson Counties

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Illinois Ancestors

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