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HALE TOWNSHIP.

The name given to this township when township organization was first voted on favorably was Sugar Grove, but it was found that this conflicted with the name of another township in the state and it was changed to Westfleld. Later, when township organization was an established fact, the committee appointed to name the townships gave this one the name of Hale, and it has so remained to this time.

Hale lies directly west of Monmouth Township. The .land is exceedingly rich and easily cultivated, being nearly all prairie and well adapted both for agriculture and stockraising. It is watered chiefly by Cedar creek and its branches. There are many fine homes, and a poor dwelling is rarely to be seen. The main line of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad crosses the southeast corner of the township, and the Iowa Central comes in near the center of the north line of Section 2, follows a little south of east, and passes out into Monmouth Township at the northeast corner of Section 36. There are no towns or villages in the township, and trading is done chiefly at Monmouth, Kirkwood and Little York.

The election for the organization of Hale Township was held April 4, 1854, at the schoolhouse in District No. 1. "William Nash acted as temporary chairman, and W. S. Weir as temporary clerk. The permanent chairman or moderator was William Cannon, and S. W. Rodgers was clerk. Fifty-nine votes were cast at the election, and the following officers were chosen: Supervisor, William Fleming; town clerk, William Clark; assessor, D. B. Findley; collector, J. C. Ward; highway commissioners, G. H. Smalley, Andrew Junkiri; justices of the peace, W. S. Weir, T. F. Lowther; constables, Ira Palmer, D. Vanfleet.

The present officers of the township are: Supervisor, Charles E. Torrence; clerk, W. B. Armstrong; assessor, O. A. Cavis; collector, James H. Shaw; highway commissioners, George Winebright, C. Stevenson, Robert Balmer; justice of the peace, R. H. McClanahan.

The men who have served the township as supervisor to the present time are:

William Fleming, 1854; John R. Graham, 1855; David Turnbull, 1856; John Brown, 1857; David Turnbull, 1858-60; Edward Burns, 1861; Newton Barr, 1862; David Turnbull, 1863-65; Leander Findley, 1866; Hugh Nash, 1867; David Turnbull, 1868-70; Newton Barr, 1871; H. G. Lord, 1872; John N. Carson, 1873; Newton Barr, 1874-75; C. M. Rodgers, 1876-80; Newton Barr, 1881; C. M. Rodgers, 1882; J. N. McKelvey, 1883-84; D. A. Turnbull, 1885-88; Joan Sprout, 1889; D. A. Turnbull, 1890-94; Charles E. Torrence, 1895-1902.

The assessment rolls for 1901 show that there were then in the township 1,101 horses, 3,437 cattle, 43 mules and asses, 215 sheep and 4,523 bogs. The total value of the personal prop erty was $335,875, and its assessed valuation was $66,825. The assessed valuation of lands was $249,980.

The population of Hale Township in 1900 was 776, a loss of twenty-nine from the census of 1890.

EARLY SETTLERS HISTORY CHURCHES SCHOOLS

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois

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