1918 Annals - Sparta Township
From Sketch by E. H. Goldsmith
This township was organized April 5, 1853, at the home of Thomas H. Taylor,
on Section 14, and the following town officers were elected: T. H. Taylor,
Supervisor; Asaph DeLong Clerk; Stephen Smith, Assessor; Charles R. Rhodes,
Collector; D. Reed, Stephen Russell and Peter Davis, Highway Commissioners;
Moran Baker and Hugh Ferguson, Justices of the Peace, and Marshall P.
Belong, Constable. Mr. DeLong afterwards served the town as Justice of the
Peace for twenty-five years. S. .G Dean served eight years, and John J.
Sutor for a number of years. William Robson served long continuously as
supervisor.
While Hezekiah Buford has the credit of being the first settler by building
on Section 23, in 1834, the Wilmots have a record for longest continuous
residence on the same land, for Amos Wilmot built a log cabin in June, 1836,
on Section 6, in which he lived for fifteen years. He then built a house,
where he lived until his death in 1878. Very soon after his arrival came
Reuben, Cyrus and Edward Robbins, brothers, and Levi Roberts, a cousin. The
first of these was about the last of the early settlers. To him we are
indebted for some of the information given in this sketch. From the fact
that Levi Robbins having raised a large orchard and other trees "Robbins'
Grove" was for many years a noted land-mark and people came long distances
for apples, as well as to hold picnics. In 1836, Asaph DeLong (who built the
first house between Knoxville and Heath timber), Luman Field and William
Heath settled on Section 31. The latter was married at Knoxville to Lucinda
Field in 1837, and "hung up" housekeeping in their log cabin, a picture of
which is still preserved. In a northeast direction they had but one neighbor
nearer than Victoria. Mrs. Heath was a member of the society of the
Daughters of the American Revolution, she being a granddaughter of Elisha
Field, Jr., and a great granddaughter of Elisha Field, Sr., both of whom
fought in the Revolutionary war. She possessed papers showing the entire war
history of her illustrious ancestors. Her grandchildren presented her with
the badge of the society, which is an old-fashioned spinning wheel with
beautiful surroundings and inscriptions.
James Neely settled on Section 30 in 1838, and Abram Neely on Section 5 a
few years later. Other early settlers were: B. Ely, Thomas and George W.
Faulkner, Booker Pickrel and C. C. West. Among those who came subsequently
and who, with those already mentioned, as well as those who will be noticed
hereafter, have been influential in the political and religious prosperity
of the township, are Solomon Lyon, J. V. R. Carley, Schuyler Goldsmith, A.
F. Adams, William E. Morse, Henry Rommel, L. W. Olson, Oliver Stream, Joseph
Masters, J. H. Merrill, James Paddock, Edmund Kennedy, James Barry, William
S. Patterson, William A. Lee, Jr., D. W. Nisley, R. W. Hulse, Vickrey
Nation, Ransom Babcock, F. Z. Wikoff, G. S. Hawkins and John Taylor. The
latter was assessor for over 30 years.
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy passes through Sparta in a diagonal line
from near the northeast to the southwest corner. In November 1894, the
Galesburg, Etherely and Great Eastern Railroad was opened, running twelve
miles east, to strike a great coal belt of some eighty-two sections, the
center of which is Etherely, where the company placed a shaft costing
$30,000. This company suspended railroad operations on September 7, 1895,
but resumed December 7, 1897, under the name of the Galesburg and Great
Eastern, with Edward J. Harms as manager.
Prairie fires in early days were beautiful to witness and oftentimes to be
dreaded. At one time a fire which is said to have started at Red Oak in
Henry county, threatened to devastate the farms of the new settlers, but
warning was given those in the southwest part of the township by Maria,
daughter of Luman Field, in time to avert the approaching catastrophe.
Sparta, both before and during the Civil War, contained quite a number of
abolitionists, among them was Abram Neely, a conductor on the underground
railroad. Some of the old citizens still remember his hiding fugitive slaves
at his home and taking them a night's ride to the next station.
The population of Sparta township has been: 1840, 113; 1870, 1,950; 1800,
1,682; 1890, 1,293. For later figures see elsewhere.
Wataga
Wataga was platted in the Spring of 1854 by J. M. Holyoke, Silas Willard and
Clark M. Carr, and was incorporated by a special act in 1863. The first
village election was held September 19, 1863. In 1874 it was
re-incorporated, under the general law, with Section 16 as the village
territory. J. M. Holyoke was the first resident and postmaster, and also
built the first store in conjunction with A. P. Cassel. This was operated by
Willard and Babcock. The first bank in the place was started in 1863 by H.
P. Wood. The depot was built in 1856, and in the same year the Wataga House
was erected and operated by Garrett Post for one year, when Loren Smith
bought and conducted it for one year, and for years it was the property of
C. H. Norton. The Wataga mill was built by William Armstrong in 1856, and
soon afterwards was damaged by an explosion in which John Armstrong was
seriously injured. George F. and David P. Niles, now extensive farmers and
fine stock-raisers, bought the mill in May, 1867, and ran it very
successfully for eight years, patrons coming long distances with their own
wheat and receiving entire satisfaction. Among those who have since owned
the mill are: William and M. O. Williamson, who introduced expensive modern
machinery and Frank Darst, who also put in improvements and did excellent
work.
The First Congregational Church was organized June 10, 1855, and the church
society October 27, 1856. The church organization was led by the Rev. S. G.
Wright. The first meeting was held in the depot, where the first sermon was
preached. Subsequent services were held in the newly completed school house
until 1860, when a substantial church, costing over $3,000, was erected, to
which in 1876, a parsonage was added at a cost of $2,000. The original
members were: A. P. Babcock, William S. Farnham, Mrs. Maria S. Farnham, Mrs.
C. F. Farnsworth, Benjamin Gardner, Mrs. Abigail Gardner, Miss Sarah
Gardner, Mrs. Minerva Holyoke, Charles W. Rhodes and Mrs. Jane Rhodes. Wm.
S. Farnham served as deacon for 30 years. James Hastie also served as deacon
until his demise in 1879 and was succeeded by Amos S. Fitch, the latter
holding the office until his death in 1882. Among the secretaries of the
society have been Hon. John Gray, of Jefferson Iowa; the late J. M. Holyoke
and E. H. Goldsmith, the latter of whom held that office twenty-four years
and was church clerk for thirty years. This church has had many pastors.
Among those who have faithfully served in that capacity may be mentioned the
Revs. Azariah Hyde, William W. Wetmore, Hiram P. Roberts, Prof. Willis J.
Beecher, of Auburn (New York) Theological Seminary, and William R. Butcher,
the last named serving six years. The Sunday school records show that on
December 26, 1869, the membership was two hundred and the average attendance
one hundred and forty-eight. John Hastie was the secretary and E. H.
Goldsmith the superintendent, the latter holding that office for twenty-five
years. The late George P. Holyoke and William M. Driggs, with their wives
rendered valuable assistance in former years.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1856 by the Rev. William M.
Clark, whose circuit consisted of Oneida, Wesley Chapel and Wataga. He made
his journeys on foot. Mr. Clark gave the site of Gilson camp ground to this
district. Arnong the early members were S. F. Spaulding, John Gaddis, B. W.
Foster, Lucius Vail and S. G. Dean, with their wives. Mr. Dean was the first
Sunday school superintendent, serving four years, and he was succeeded by S.
F. Spaulding who, for nineteen years, gave his best services to the school.
Among the pastors were: G. W. Brown, N. T. Allen, William Watson, D. Ayers,
N. G. Clark, G. P. Snedaker and C. F. W. Smith. The church was completed and
dedicated in 1867 under the pastorate of J. W. Coe, the presiding elder
being W. H. Hunter,
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1856, the first
pastor being the Rev. T. N. Hasselquist. In 1860 the society commenced
building a church, having formerly worshipped in private houses and school
buildings. This church was struck by lightning and burned in 1875, but in
the same year the present tasteful edifice was erected. The Rev. N.
Nordgren, served this people many years.
The Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1857 with the Rev.
V. Witting as the pastor. The keeping up of regular services and of the
Sunday School was largely due to the untiring efforts of Oliver Stream.
The Wataga Christian church, costing $2,000, was erected in 1875, but was
torn down in 1896 and the church organization no longer exists.
The Wataga Catholic Church was erected in 1877 at a cost of $2,000. The.
Rev. P. McGair was its first pastor.
Wataga lodge, No. 291, A. F. and A. M., was instituted August 17, 1858.
The Order of the Eastern Star was organized February 22, 1888, and being the
first chapter in the county it had many members from the surrounding towns,
there being at one time seventy-four names on the roll. Other chapters were
organized in every town from which this drew its followers.
Wataga Lodge, No. 509, I. 0. 0. F., was organized January 10, 1876, by A. W.
Berggren. Its first officers were: W. N. Thomas, N. G.; J. E. Thomas, V. G.;
L. C. Whitcomb, Secretary; P. A. Smith, Treasurer. Other charter members
were P. A. Smith and John McConchie.
Rebecca Lodge, No. 48 was organized October 20, 1891. The first officers
were: John Deming; N. G.; Mrs. Nancy Deming, C. G.; Oliver Stream,
Secretary.
Wataga Camp, No. 3229, Modem Woodmen, was organized September 24, 1895, with
eighteen charter members.
Extracted 15 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 174-177.
