Zuma

Donald Bush is the great great great grandson of David Dailey of Zuma township. Dailey came to RI county in the 1840s. He homesteaded a property in Zuma township. He was a farmer and from all accounts a good woodsman. This homesteaded property stayed in the family for well over one hundred years. Many generations were born and died in both the big and small houses on the property. All of Donald's grandmothers generation were born on that homestead. He has a load of information concerning this family from written histories of family members.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS

The beginning of Zuma township as a settlement was in 1835, when Hiram Walker, George Walker, Ira Wells, Nelson Wells, Josiah Carter and Perry Carter located here. These pioneers were followed in 1836, by D. K Beal, while Phil Michaels, Benjamin Shank, John Studivan came in 1837. They were followed by others, until all the available government land that was considered, according to the views in those days, tillable, was taken up. 1838.

When organized in 1857 the township was called Walker , but its name was changed the following year.

The first marriage was that of Nelson Wells and Harriet Dow, who were united in 1838.

OFFICIALS

The first officials of the township were: Rinnah, Wells, supervisor; J. L. Cox and B. B. Joslin, justices of the peace; Wesley Hanna, collector; D. N. Real, assessor; Gregory Brown, Nelson Wells and S. S. Knowlton, road com missioners ; A. H. Mead, clerk; David Dailey, poor master; Ben Worley, pound master.

The Officers For 1912

L. Hanna, supervisor; A. L. Mead, justioe of the peace; A. E. Wells, collector; W. Nold, assessor; George Olives, B. B. Osborn and Ed Noah, road commissioners; Alfred Mead, clerk; S. W. Mumma and D. Noah, constables; P. Whiteside, school trustee.

The Board of Supervisors for Zuma township from 1857 to 1912, have been as follows:

Rinnan Wells, 1857-8; Ambrose Searle, 1859; Wesley Hanna, 1860-61; Daniel Beal, 1862-63;

A. F. Russel, 1864; Daniel N. Beal, 1865-6; B.B. Joslin, 1867-8; Samuel Wainwright, 1869-70;
L. W. Beal, 1871; Madison Bowels, 1872-73;77; Wesley Hanna, 1874-75; George C. Wake,1876-77;

Fred Osborne, 1880-81; John G. Osborne, 1882; I. S. Knowels, 1883; J. McEniry,1884; John L. Noah, 1885-86; William Whiteside, 1887-89; Leslie Hanna, 1890-92; John C. Sweak, 1893-96; Win. Filbert, 1897-98; Fred
erick J. Whiteside, 1899-00; Win. Filbert, 1901-02; L. N. Dailey, 1903-06; Wm. Filbert, 1907-08;L. Hanna 1909-13.

In 1885 the assessor reported the following items : Improved land, 14,884 acres; unimproved land, 227 acres ; total value, $153,622. Of horses there were 369; cattle, 2,226; mules and asses, 19; sheep, 399; hogs, 1,431; carriages and wagons, 144; watches and clocks, 72 ; sewing and knitting machines, 61 ; pianos, 8; melodeons and organs, 13. The total value of personal property was $34,370.

Historic Rock Island

Sumitted by W. Caudell

Illinois Ancestors

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