WILSON TOWNSHIP (Pages 333-334)
THIS township contains twenty-four sections, about one-eighth of which in timber-land, the remainder being prairie, and of the deep, rich soil peculiar to the character of this land in Central Illinois. The surface of the latter is gently undulating, while that of the timber is more or less broken. Sections 36, 25, and 24 are mainly timber, the soil being of a light grayish color, and more or less mixed with clay and gravel. For wheat, it is unexcelled in this part of the state. All the township lying west of the sections above mentioned is prairie. The north branch of Salt creek enters in the south-east corner of section 25, takes a south-westerly direction and passes out in the south-west corner of section 36. It is along, or near, this stream that the timber-belt lies The timber is light and scattering, but the appearances are that in a time antedating the settlement of the county, timber of a good quality grew on and near the banks of this stream. A small stream called Long Point creek cuts across the extreme north-west part of the township, but there is no appearance of timber. Indeed, this is one of the prairie townships of the county, and among one of the last settled; the first settlers always stopping in the timber-belts. Several fine springs abound in the western part of the township. There are two springs situated near each other about the center of section 13; one in section 25, on the farm of J. Walters; and another in the north-east of section 23. Artificial drainage, by means of tilling, is coming largely into vogue, and it can only be a question of time when Wilson township will stand among the first in the county. It is situated in the northern central part, and bounded on the north by McLean county, on the east by Rutledge township, on the south by Harp, and on the west by Wapella.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The first to settle in this township was a young unmarried man by the name of Fox. He was a native of Kentucky, and in the summer of 1834 he erected a small pole cabin in section 35, on the premises now owned by James A. Wilson, county treasurer. Fox was a mere squatter intending to take a pre-emption right to his land, but in the fall, John Lash offered him $60 for his improvement, which Fox accepted. He afterwards went to parts unknown. Joshua Dale came from Kentucky about the same time as Fox, and settled in section 36. He remained but a short time, when he moved further west. At this time—in the fall of 1834—there was quite a little settlement made as follows: Thomas Wilson and his brother Edward, Jacob Walters, John Lash, Michael Troutman, and John Guittman. Of these, there were but three heads of families among them: Thomas Wilson, Walters, and Lash.
The former was a native of Ohio, and moved his family here with a four-horse covered-wagon. The family then consisted of his wife and eight children; Joseph, Alice, John, Aaron, Mary, Asa, Sally and Peter. He settled in section 34, and the fall following entered the S. E. ¼ of the S. E. ¼ of the above section. Four other children were afterwards born to the family; Rachel, Harriet, Caroline and Andrew. But three of the family are now living; Asa, who resides in this township, and Andrew and Peter in Harp. Mr. Wilson, at his death, November 1862, owned about 1700 acres of land. Mrs. Wilson died about six years ago.
Edward Wilson, brother of Thomas, came a single man, but in 1837 married Miss Martha Vandeventer, settling in section 35. They reared a large family, there being nine children: James A., Thomas, Rachel M., Robert N., Sarah N., I. L., Mahala D., Ada L., and Mary; five of whom are residing in this township. James A., county treasurer, lives in Clinton. Jacob Walters was born in Pennsylvania. He moved with his parents to Ohio in 1804, when he was but four years old. At the age of 22, he married Phebe Batison, the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. He moved with his family to Illinois in the year before stated, and located in section 36. At this time his family consisted of his wife and four children; Alfred, Sarah, Mary and Jacob. Seven other children have since been born to them as follows: Susanna, Rachel, Eli, Melvina, John, Louise, and Phebe. Mr. Walters left his family at Randolph Grove, McLean county, until he had prepared a comfortable log-house to move into. Since which time he has lived on the old farm, but extending his acres and making improvements in keeping with the times. He is yet living, and is active for one of his years, being eighty-one years of age. Mrs. Walters died in 1870. Seven years afterward Mr. Walters married Martha Beard, who is yet living with him at the old homestead. Alfred Walters, the firstborn of Jacob, came here from Ohio with his father, and was then a mere lad. He married Nancy Lamb in about 1856. They are now residing in section 24, and have three children. John Lash also came from Ohio, and located in section 26. His family consisted of his wife and eight children. October 23d, 1835, he entered the W. ½ of the S. E. ¼ of the above section. He remained here until 1856, when he moved with his family to the state of Kansas. There is but one of his representatives now residing in the county, a grand-daughter, and the wife of Noah Wilson, who lives on the farm of James A. Wilson in section 25. Michael Troutman and John Guittman, both single men, were tramping West with packs on their backs and fell in with the Wilson pioneers in the eastern part of Indiana, and kept with them until their arrival in this township. The former lived a bachelor until he was about sixty years of age, but, in the meantime, had succeeded in amassing quite a property, at which time he married and had a family of three daughters. He died in 1875. His wife and daughters now reside in the township. Guittman was a native of Germany. He squatted in section 35, a part of which he entered in 1835. He afterwards married and brought up a family but, about 1856, sold his possessions to Troutman, and moved to Kansas. Another pioneer, William Palmer, came from Ohio in the spring of 1835, and entered in section 36, the E. ½ of the N. E. ¼. The fall following he moved here with his family and located on his land. He died in 1850, his wife preceding him. None of the family are residing in the county. Spencer Turner came to the county in 1834, and settled near Waynesville, and subsequently moved to this township. His wife's name was Nancy Hoblitt, daughter of one of the oldest families in central Illinois. Mr. Turner located in section 19. Both are living at the old homestead, and have reared a family of ten children; seven daughters and three sons, seven of whom now reside in the township. John L. Lewis was a native of Maryland, and migrated to Illinois in an early day. After leaving his native state he went first to Ohio, and from there came to this part of the state and settled in section 24. He was twice married, there being six children from the first marriage, and three from the latter. Only one of the children, Elizabeth, wife of Solomon Johnson, is now residing in the township. Two other children live in the county; G. W. resides in Rutledge, and S. E. in DeWitt.
Among other early settlers are Martha A. Livingston, Joseph K. Scogin, residing in section 41, and William T. Turner, born in the county and now residing in the same section. The first land entries were made in 1835, and are as follows: April 25th, W. Palmer entered the E. ½ of the N. E. ¼ of section 36. October 10th, Thomas Wilson entered the S. E. ¼ of the S. E. ¼ of section 34. Jacob Walters entered, October 8th, the W. ½ of the S. E. ¼ of section 36. John Lash, at the same time, entered the E. ½ of the S. W. ¼ of the same section. December 3d, John Guittman entered the S. W. ¼ of the S. E. ¼ of section 35. December 15th, J. Dale entered the S. E. ¼ of the S. E. ¼ of section 36. October 29th, 1836, Edward Wilson entered S. E. ¼ of the S. W. ¼ of section 35.
The experience of these pioneers with regard to early privations and hardships was similar to those of their neighbors of the adjoining townships and country. Their first milling could only be had by going several miles north of Wapella, at the edge of Rock creek timber. This mill was a little horse concern, and owned by Lewis Wilson. Every customer was obliged to furnish his own horse to grind with. The mill had the capacity of turning out only about ten bushels daily, and often parties would have to remain a day or two in order to get a sack of corn ground. Mr. Jacob Walters informed the writer that when he came in 1834, there were many buffalo skeletons scattered over the prairies and through the timbers; that the wolves were so plentiful and bold that they would come up to the very doors of the cabins and snatch up a pig, and successfully make off with it. The dogs could manage the prairie-wolves, but the big gray fellows from the timber were too much for them. In the language of one of the pioneers, "If one of their best and most conceity dogs tackled one of the timber wolves, he would be wooled all over and come out of the fracas looking as though he had passed through a flint-mill."
The first ground broken and the first crop raised was by Jacob Walters and John Lash; the former being in section 36, and the latter in section 35. This was in 1835. They raised only about ten acres of corn each, and this was a fair crop. Their nearest market was Pekin, but to purchase some articles they were obliged to go to Chicago. To make this trip it took twelve days with horses, and with oxen fourteen days, camping out in the meantime.
The first marriage rite solemnized was in 1837, the contracting parties being Edward Wilson and Martha Vandeventer—the parents of James A. Wilson, present county treasurer. The first child born was Amanda, daughter of John Lash, in the summer of 1835. The first death occured in the spring of 1839. It was that of Louisa, a young daughter of Jacob Walters. She was buried in section 26, on the land of Mr. Walters. This was the first interment, and established the cemetery in the township. Mr. W. has offered to donate an acre of ground to the public for this purpose. It has been surveyed, but at this writing the numbers or description of property have not been furnished the donor, hence no deed has been executed. Over a hundred persons have been buried here, and there are several good monuments, showing that thoughtful care has been given to the dead. There is but one other cemetery in the township, and it is situated at Rucker Chapel in section 24.
The first school was taught in 1837. The school house was a little frame building, built by Jonathan Farmer and Jacob Walters, and situated in section 35. It has passed away with the things that were. Rolla Richards preached the first sermon in 1835, at the log-house of Thomas Wilson. Rev. Watt was also a pioneer preacher. The first and only church built in the township was by the M. E. denomination about 1868. It is a plain frame building, 30x40 feet in size, and situated nearly in the center of section 24. William Walden was the first Justice of the Peace, and Charles Cain the second, both representative men of the township. Dr. Moran was the first to practice medicine. He then resided in McLean county, but afterwards moved to Springfield. The first blacksmithing was done by Isaiah Wilson, brother of Thomas and Edward. This was in 1837. His shop was a pole-cabin, and situated in section 35. He afterwards moved to McLean county, where he followed the trade until his death, which occurred about 1856. Jacob Walters was the neighborhood shoemaker and cobbler for many years, and manufactured the boots and shoes for the pioneers for several miles around. It was the custom for the person having the work done to furnish the leather, and the shoemaker to charge only for making. Each head of a family then purchased leather for his family's use, the same as he did salt or other necessities. The first fine cattle were introduced by Thomas Wilson in 1850, and were brought from Kentucky; they were the short-horn Durham breed. At this writing, James Walden and James A. Wilson are the prominent stock-raisers, The former is one of the leading stock-men in the county.
The following are the persons who have represented the township in the Board of Supervisors since its organization: Charles S. Cain was elected in 1859, and served one term. J. K. Davis was elected in 1850. Luther S. Hubble elected in 1861, and served two terms. John Johnson elected in 1863, and served three terms. J. K. Davis re-elected in 1866, served one term. W. M. Smith elected in 1867. James A. Wilson was elected in 1868, and served until 1872. J. A. Lemert elected in 1872, and served two terms. James A. Wilson was re-elected in 1874. C. S. Cain elected in 1875. James A. Wilson re-elected in 1876. Thomas Cain elected in 1877. T. W. Cain elected in 1878. Nicholas Foley was elected in 1879, and served two terms. Henry Brittin elected in 1881, and is the present incumbent.
Wilson, although not among the first settled, is making rapid strides towards competing in improvements with her sister townships. It contains six school districts, two miles square, and each is supplied with a good school-house. The roads are laid out, mainly on the section lines, and are kept in fair condition. The population for the last 20 years is as follows: 1860, 314; 1870, 640; more than doubled in one decade; 1880, 666. The farms are well improved, and the farm-houses and barns are in keeping with the times. The township received its name from the Wilsons, who were pioneers, and among the most prominent citizens.