1918 Annals - Indian Point Township
By Geo. L. Hagan
Every intelligent and patriotic citizen manifests a pardonable pride in the
achievements and progress made in this great state during the past century.
To understand these and appreciate them fully, a man must know something of
the history of his town, county and state. The origin of the different races
of people, who inhabited this country prior to the coming of the white man,
has always been a debatable question. To many there is a striking similarity
between the facial features of the Oriental type of mankind and the American
Indian. This similarity has lead them to believe that the Indian is of
Oriental parentage. Still there are others, who see peculiarities in his
physical structure that preclude the American Indian from common parentage
with the rest of mankind. In the absence of either history or tradition,
archaeologists have advanced many plausible theories relative to the
prehistoric races that inhabited this country prior to its discovery in
1492. Discussion of the question of their origin seldom enlightens and
frequently confuses. There is, however, one point, upon which all agree, and
it is the fact that when Columbus landed on the shores of America, he found
the Indians in undisputed possession of the continent.
Early events, affecting this locality, transpired long before Indian Point
township, or Knox county, or even the State of Illinois assumed its present
boundary. History records the fact that as early as 1673, the Indians had
well established trails running diagonally across Knox county, the oldest,
and perhaps the most important of which was the one leading from the
Mississippi River near Keokuk, to La Salle on the Illinois River. This trail
passed where Abingdon is located. There can be but little doubt that this
trail followed the same public highway now entering that city from the
southwest and extending in a northeasterly direction. It is believed by many
that it is the trail traveled by Father Marquette, a Jesuit missionary, on
his occasional visits to the Indians of this section of Illinois in 1673. It
is said "History hold in her iron hand no more picturesque story than these
trails could reveal were their guarded secrets known."
While the pioneer settlers in Indian Point encountered no Indians, they
found many traces of their occupancy. The remains of the wigwams, axes,
spears and arrow points, gave evidence that Indian Point was once their
"happy hunting ground."
History records the fact that Azel Dorsey came to this township in 1829. To
him is given the honor of being the first white man to enter Indian Point
for settlement. He came from Cedar, and remained but a few years. The first
permanent settlement in Indian Point was made on Section 16 in 1833, by John
B. Latimer, who came with his family from Tennessee. The following year came
John H. Lomax and Stephen Howard of Kentucky, John Howard, Isaac and
Alexander Latimer and John Crawford. In 1835, Daniel Meek and John Killiam
settled in Indian Point. The former purchased the home of Alexander Latimer.
This farm lies just east of the Indian Point school, and has for generations
been known as "the Meek farm."
Among the list of early settlers in Indian Point, who came shortly after the
above were: Silas Roe, Bartley Boydstun, Wm. Stewart, Seth Bellwood, Hugh
Lowry, Henderson Hagan, L. A. McKiearnan, Chas. Fielder, Geo. Hunt, David
and Benjamin South, Wm. Flannagan, Bry and Wm. Edmundson, James Martin, H.
Chrisman, Henry and Austin Mattingly, Martin Burke, Joseph Probasco, Robt.
Supple, Harrison and Thos. Immel, Dan Ryan, Jacob, Nathan and Zene Bradbury,
Jacob Dorman, George and Joseph Wheat, Francis Robey, George and Mortimer
Clements.
Owes Much To Pioneers
The present generation owes much to these sturdy pioneers who blazed the way
to civilization. With them must be shared the honor for the many blessings
we are enjoying today. Their lives were lives of privation, and oftentimes
of suffering. They lived not for themselves alone, but were mindful of the
happiness of future generations. When we consider the rigors of the long
winters on the open prairies, unprotected by trees, the deep snows that
often rendered transportation impossible, the great distances to the river
markets, the inconvenience of getting medical aid in times of accidents and
sickness, the lack of communication between the scattered settlers, their
meager stores of food and fuel, we realize then some of the privations and
hardships endured by those good people. Notwithstanding all this, they were
mainly happy and content. If they raised a surplus of grain or livestock, it
was marketed, usually at either Copperas Creek Landing or Peoria, the
nearest river markets. The prevailing prices of farm commodities in those
early days were not such as to prompt farmers to produce much in excess of
his needs. Dressed pork sold in those days at $2.00 per cwt., half cash and
half trade. Corn often sold at 6 cents per bushel. The good mothers then
spun, wove and made the garments worn by the family. Contrast conditions
then with those of today. This was long before the advent of the railroad.
The completion of the Quincy branch of the C, B. & Q. from Galesburg to
Quincy, in 1855, gave an impetus to farming and livestock operations in this
locality. Since that time land values advanced steadily. At that time the
government sold land at $1.25 per acre, which today commands from $300 to
$400 per acre.
The first white child born in Indian Point was Ann Frances Lomax, daughter
of John H. and Nancy Lomax, born Sept. 25, 1835. The first death recorded
was a Mr. Hibbard, in 1838.
Educational facilities in those pioneer days were very meager. The principal
studies were represented by the three R's, readin,' ritin,' rithmetic. The
first school house erected in Indian Point was on Section 16, near where the
Point school now stands. It was built of logs, with split logs for seats.
This was in the year 1837. It was first taught by Dennis Clark, who was
afterward elected and served many terms as County Judge of Knox County. He
too was an early settler here. The school district comprised all of Indian
Point and the eastern part of Warren county. The school year then was only
the fall and winter months. Thirty pupils were enrolled the first winter,
that of 1837-38. Today very few country^ pupils have more than two miles to
go to reach school. Aside from the country schools there are splendid
educational facilities within easy reach of the pupils of Indian Point to
complete their education in the high schools, colleges and academies of Knox
county.
The Religious Growth
Education and religion usually go hand in hand. They mark the beginning of
civilization. In Indian Point there are only two religious bodies, Catholic
and Christian. The later has two church organizations, one at Abingdon and
the other at St. Augustine.
Since 1836 Catholic services have been held at St. Augustine. The first
services were conducted in that year by Father Le Fevre, who afterwards
became Bishop of Detroit, Michigan. The first church was built in 1843, and
dedicated the following year by Bishop Kenrick of St. Louis. Among the
pioneer priests, who held services here were Fathers St. Cyr, Conway, Doyle,
Drew, Raho, Brady, Griffith, Kennedy, Edward and Thomas O'Neil, Fitman,
Meehan, Albrecht, Larmar and Mangon. In 1863, the present church was
erected, and five years later moved to its present location. Father Halpin
came in 1873, and was the first resident priest. Since that time the
following pastors have resided here: Fathers McMahan, Dalton, Howard,
O'Reilly, now auxiliary Bishop of Peoria, Fallihee, Dunne, Scheuren, now of
Providence, R. I.; Walsh, Kniery, now of Peoria; Kelley, Markey, now of
Loda, Ill. Since October, 1912, the present pastor. Father P. V. Egan, has
been carrying on the work inaugurated here more than four score years ago.
When completed, the interior decorations of the Catholic church here will
eclipse any church decorations, from an artistic standpoint, in the state,
outside of cities. The present membership is about 400.
The first Protestant services held in Indian Point, of which there is any
record, were conducted by Rev. John Crawford, a Cumberland Presbyterian
minister, at the home of John Howard in 1848. The Methodists effected an
organization at the Pleasant Valley School, under the leadership of Rev.
Williams. This was in the Sixties. Services were held occasionally, but the
organization did not continue long in Indian Point. The Christian church was
first organized at Abingdon in 1840, by Hiram Smith and Richard Johnston.
The first church was erected in 1849 at a cost of $1,000.00. The present
church edifice is a beautiful brick veneered structure. The interior
decorations are artistic and in keeping with the attractive appearance of
the exterior. The present pastor. Dr. A. M. Hale, is very popular with his
people, whom he has served many years. He is a booster for any worthy cause.
The present membership is about 300. At. St. Augustine, the Christian church
organization was effected in in 1868. The number of charter members was 104,
of whom only four are living, namely. Dr. P. Harrod, of Avon; J. E.
Edmundson of Houston, Texas; Nathan Harrod and L. B. Harrod, of Galesburg.
The first services were conducted here by Rev. Miller. In 1874, Rev. J. A.
Seaton held a revival here, and the membership was increased to 148. The
present membership is about 100. In 1870, the church was erected. Among the
resident pastors of the church were: Revs. Seaton, Kincaid, Stevens, Dillard
and Hiett. The following ministers served here at various times since the
organization of the church: Revs. Joseph Royal, J. S. Gash, F. M. Bruner,
Knox P. Taylor, W. B. Foster, John Hankins, M. Jones, W. Branch, W. J.
Burner, Fred E. Hagan, S. M. Thomas, H. G. Bennett, N. L. Collins, D.
Shanklin, Rev. Keefer, Davis, Brannie and Cook.
Its Name.
Indian Point took its name from a body of timber extending from Cedar Fork
to Section 16. Along the edge of this timber was a favorite camping ground
of the Indians, the remains of whose camps were extant long after settlement
by the whites. This, coupled with the fact that many axes, spears and
arrow-points were found here, gave rise to the name of Indian Point. By this
name of "Indian Point" the township was christened on Monday, January 14,
1850, when the township organization was perfected. Daniel Meek was elected
the first supervisor in 1853. The first meeting of the Supervisors was held
on April 5, 1853, at Knoxville, then the county seat of Knox county.
At the present time Indian Point has the following officials: Willard
Tinkham, supervisor; W. H. Clark, town clerk; Geo. L. Hagan, assessor; I. T.
Perry, single highway commissioner; W. L. Mills, K. R. Marks and A. C.
Fielder, school trustees; W. M. Clark and S. Gray, Justices of the Peace,
and S. D. Lomax, constable.
About St. Augustine
St. Augustine is the only municipality lying wholly within the boundaries of
Indian Point. It is the oldest town in this section of Illinois. It was
originally laid out a half mile south of its present location by Henry and
Austin Mattingly on May 6, 1835. The early settlers who located here were
principally from Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. For twenty years business was
transacted where the village was originally laid out. Upon the completion of
the C, B. & Q. Railroad from Galesburg to Quincy in 1855, the village was
moved to the present site, on account of the improved railroad facilities.
Business naturally drifted to the new location. The former location is now
known as "Old Town." Sebastian Pike was the first merchant, Isaac Rubart,
the first postmaster. Dr. A. Baldwin, besides being the first physician, was
also the first agent for the railroad company. Among the pioneer merchants
were Clements & Son, Thos. Terry, Hall & Carbon. Thos. Blake was the first
blacksmith. Clements & Smith owned and operated the first lumber yard in
1857. J. G. Gallett and P. H. Smith built the first elevator in 1857. Ten
years later the building and contents burned. The only grist mill ever built
in Indian Point was erected by Craighton & Ogden at St. Augustine in 1857.
Besides making flour and meal, a distillery was run in connection. A few
years later, a wool-carding machine was installed. This machine was operated
by Henry Livers. During the spring of 1879 the mill and contents burned.
While St. Augustine has had several fires, the most disastrous from a
business standpoint, was that of April 30, 1897. The fire had had its origin
in a vacant building. It swept all the business buildings on the north side
of Sixth street and left but three on the south side of the street.
Buildings of a more substantial nature have since been erected. In April,
1911, the Catholic parsonage burned. The fire was discovered at midnight. It
had gained such headway that nothing could be saved. Miss Elizabeth McKeon,
the house-keeper, was alone at the time and lost her life.
The merchants of St. Augustine are an energetic lot of business men, who by
close application to business, have turned the tide of trade their way.
Among them are Mills & Sons, Harrod & Fielder, James Tanney, S. H. Ryan,
Miss Kate Jennings and Neice & Co, In 1902, the Bank of St. Augustine was
chartered and began business the following year. Since that time the
business of St. Augustine has more than doubled. This being an agricultural
community any enterprise to succeed must have the patronage and support of
the farmers. Much of the success achieved is attributable to them. Geo. L.
Hagan, Assistant Cashier of the bank, was born and raised on an Indian Point
farm, and is familiar with the likes and dislikes of the farmers. He knows
that they appreciate courtesies extended them in business. For this reason,
he serves them from 6 a. m. to 9 p. m.
Saloons had a long lease of life in St. Augustine. This had a tendency to
drive the better element of trade away from town. However, in 1908 ''John
Barleycorn' 'was voted out for all time to come. Since that time many new
residences have been erected, and an improvement in business has been very
noticeable. Any history of St. Augustine, without mention of the trade
boosters, would be incomplete. For the past ten years, T. J. Sailer, Walter
Clark, Sherman Babbitt and later on G. L. Smith, have been instrumental
boosting the business interests of St. Augustine. These gentlemen are
extensive farmers, buyers of livestock and grain, feeders and shippers.
Frequently these gentlemen handle 12 to 15 carloads of livestock per week.
They also make a good market for all the surplus corn and hay of this
community.
Since 1903, the St. Augustine Eagle has kept the village in the limelight,
and has given it a prestige that it never enjoyed before. It is published by
Karl R. Haggenjos, and has for its local editor Geo. L. Hagan.
The City of Abingdon
This beautiful city enjoys many natural advantages, which tend to make it an
ideal location for a city. It is surrounded by broad and fertile prairies,
which have contributed much toward its prosperity. As only a small portion
of the city lies within the boundaries of Indian Point, it is my pui*pose to
write only of the institutions and enterprises located in this part of the
city, leaving the major portion of the city to the writer of the Annals for
Cedar Township, In May, 1846, "South Abingdon," as this part of the city was
formerly called, was laid out by Frederick Snyder. At that time it contained
only two and one-half blocks. The first school house was a frame structure,
20 by 40 feet, and contained but one room. Later the building proved too
small and several additions were added. It stood a few rods south of the
present Washington school, which was built in 1888. In 1853, P. H. Murphy
opened an academy in a frame building. For two years he lectured among his
people, and infused into them much of his own zeal and wishes, to such an
extent that they were ready to give his academy the rank of a college and
erect the necessary buildings. A plain three-story brick building was
erected, in which the college work was inaugurated in 1855. Mr. Murphy
became its first president. Ill health forced him to resign the position in
April, 1860, and he died the following August. He was succeeded by J. W.
Butler, who was elected in January, 1861. President Butler served until
1874, Dissensions broke out among the faculty a few years prior to this
time, which had a telling effect upon the influence and power the
institution formerly wielded. It was the beginning of the end. The college
building stood vacant many years, and was finally razed in 1917, to make
room for the new Community High School, which was erected at a cost of near
$75,000.
Foremost among the factories of this part of the city is the Abingdon
Sanitary Mfg. Co. This enterprise was organized under the law of State of
Illinois in August 1908. Prominent among the early promotors were: James
Simpson, Dr. Bradway, Orion Latimer, G. A, Shipplett, G. K. Slough, P. H.
Maloney and others. The first buildings erected were thought to be
sufficiently commodious to serve the wants of the company for years. The
popularity gained by the output of the factory was such that the company was
forced to make several additions to the original plant. They make not only
plumbers' earthenware, but many vitreous china specialties. At the present
time the company employs 130 men, and the annual production amounts to near
a million dollars. While much of the raw material is obtained from the
states of Maine, Delaware, New Jersey, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia,
great quantities are imported from England. The products are shipped to
every nook and corner of the Union, and many shipments are exported to South
America and Australia. J. E. Slater is president of the company.
Another factory that is rapidly forging to the front, is the Abingdon
Milling and Cattle Feeding Co. On October 24, 1913, the company was
incorporated under the laws of Illinois, and the manufacture of feed was
begun in May, 1914. The early promotors of this enterprise were I. L.
Reynolds, of Clinton, Iowa; Roy A. Johnson, of Taylorville, Ill.; D. E.
Kincaid, of Greenfield, Ill.; Carl S. Burnside, of Galesburg; L. H.
Robertson, E. I. Blevins and S. H. Whiteneck of Abingdon. The feeds
manufactured are "Malasso" for cattle and "Jumbo" hog feed. The raw material
entering these products are oil meal, tankage, cotton seed meal, bran,
hard-wood charcoal, corn, flax seed products and Cuban cane molasses. The
bulk of the small grain is bought at Minneapolis, the bran and corn in
Central Illinois, the charcoal in the State of New York, and the molasses in
Cuba. The products of this mill have grown in favor with feeders all over
the com belt. Shipments have been made to the Pacific coast. The demand for
the products has steadily increased until many thousand tons are
manufactured and shipped annually. The present board of directors are: L. H.
Robertson, E. I. Blevins, S. H. Whiteneck, L. M. Fralich of Abingdon, and W.
H, Gridley of Kirkwood, Ill. The officers are: L. H. Robertson, president;
C. B. Gaddis of Avon, vice-president; L. M. Fralich, secretary, and S. H.
Whiteneck, treasurer.
On March 8, 1882, the Abingdon Argus was launched by its present efficient
and talented editor, Hon. W. H. Clark. For near forty years he has been
untiring in his efforts to make the Argus a truly representative weekly
newspaper. He is regarded as an exceptional writer.
In reviewing what we are pleased to call the "Pioneer Days," we must not
lose sight of the fact that those good old-fashioned people had their sports
and pleasures, as well as their privations and hardships. For the men were
the wolf hunts, log rollings, political rallies and horse races. The ladies
had their quilting bees, rag tackings and social gatherings. The younger
people had their dances, singing and writing schools in the winter time.
Later on the spelling schools proved both interesting and profitable. Each
school took a particular pride in seeing its pupils win in spelling
contests. The literary and debating societies were a source of pleasure and
profit in their day.
It may be interesting to know that the biggest snow storm that ever visited
this county was during the winter of 1830-31. It continued to fall for
several days, and measured four feet deep on the level. In many places the
drifts were twenty feet high. It lay on the ground for months. Another heavy
snow fell during the winter of 1863-64. It drifted badly, and it was not an
unusual sight to see teams and sleds driven over hedges and fences.
The following are still living in this community, who were here prior to
1850, Hon. W. H. Clark, T. H. Roe, Miss Delia Bellwood, of Abingdon, Mrs.
Leah South, Mrs. L. D. Jennings, Wm. South and wife and Luke Filder. Those
who have spent three score year or more here are: Jas. W. Cox, J. E. Cox, J.
E. and W. F. Robertson, J. W. Lomax of Abingdon, David and George South,
Mrs. Laura Edmundson, Mrs. T. B. Bourn, Miss Josie Edmundson, Mrs. C, H.
Mason, Geo. L. and Albert Hagan and Mrs. Luke Fielder.
The future historian of Indian Point may look back to our times with the
interest that we now view what we are pleased to call pioneer days. If our
efforts in writing the Annals of Indian Point at the present time prove
helpful to him, we feel that our work has not been in vain.
Grateful acknowledgement is herebv made to T. H. Roe, Hon. W. H. Clark, L.
M. Fralich and J. E. Slater for valuable assistance rendered in compiling
these annals.
Extracted 14 Dec 2017 by Norma Hass from Annals of Knox County: Commemorating Centennial of Admission of Illinois as a State of the Union in 1818, published in 1921 by the Centennial Historical Association, Knox County, Illinois, The Board of Supervisors, pages 113-121.
