1918 Annals - Truro Township
By David Cation
Next to Persifer, this is the roughest township in Knox County. Spoon River
enters it in Section 12 and flows out from Section 31, winding through out
it for fifteen or sixteen miles and touching sixteen sections. This river
and its branches, which liberally water Truro, pass through timber land
which formerly extended over half the township. Of late years, however,
almost all of this vast timber has been gradually disappearing, the land on
which it stood having been converted into almost treeless pastures, which
have proved a source of greater profit. North of Spoon River, the land is
mostly rolling, on the south stretches a broad level, fertile prairie. About
one-sixth of the township is underlaid with a good quality of coal which
with the timber affords an excellent supply of fuel.
The first settlement was made on Section 19, in 1832, by John Dill. The
first birth was that of Andrew Dill, in 1833. During that year Rev. John
Cummings performed the first marriage ceremony, uniting Jake Ryan and Miss
Stambaugh. In 1832, within Section 30, Malon Winans, a United States mail
carrier, was drowned while attempting to swim Spoon River with a mail bag
strapped to his back. This was the first death. Within this same section, in
1834, John Coleman started a ferry across Spoon River, at a point which was
long known as Coleman's Ferry, but afterwards came to be called Trenton.
Here the first postoffice was established during the same year.
On the northwest quarter of Section 31, the first white settlers found a
number of Indian graves. Logs had been split into halves and hollowed out
for coffins, and these were placed in the forks of trees, where they rested,
with their ghastly human skeletons projecting above their tops. In 1836,
pioneers took them down and gave them "white man's burial."
In 1834, Rev. John Cummings preached the first sermon at the home of Widow
Lambert, on Section 31. The first school house was built in 1848, on Section
33.
Rensselaer Johnson was the first Justice of the Peace.
April 5, 1853, the township was organized. The first election of officers
resulted in the choice of the following persons: Augustus Lapham,
Supervisor; J. P. Cadwell, Clerk; Benjamin Sweat, Assessor; Levi Seward,
Collector; Thomas Ross, Overseer of the Poor; Thomas Crawford, Luther Rice
and Joseph Wilder, Highway Commissioners; Thomas Ross and Joseph
Oberholtzer, Justices of the Peace.
The population in 1860 was seven hundred and thirteen, in 1870, eight
hundred and ninety-nine; in 1880, seven hundred and seventeen; in 1890,
eight hundred and sixty-five. For present population, see the population
table for county.
Truro township is inhabited by prosperous farmers. The land is well tilled,
and dotting the pastures are herds of well-bred hogs, horses, sheep and
cattle. The farms are well improved, and the people contented and happy.
The population is composed chiefly of American born citizens of English,
Irish, Scotch and Swedish ancestry. The hardy pioneers are fast passing
away, but they have left energetic and intelligent descendants. Although
thus sprung from various stocks, they are all intensely American in their
patriotism. Adorning the walls of their homes are to be found not only the
portraits of the heroes of their Fatherland, of whom they are justly proud,
but also those of Washington, Lincoln and other eminent Americans, who hold
no second place in their affections.
Here also is found a generous religious tolerance, Protestant and Catholic
joining in advancing charitable and educational enterprises. In such perfect
assimilation of different nationalities, and in such broad charity in the
matter of religious faith as are found here, lies one of the strongest
guarantees of the future grandeur and perpetuity of our country.
Williamsfield.
Until 1887, Truro was without a railway. In May of that year ground was
broken on the farm of Henry German in Section 21 for the main line of the
Santa Fe which was laid across the township, and on April 24, 1888,
Williamsfield was laid out by E. B. Purcell, on Section 23. Later, Galesburg
capitalists interested themselves in the project and promoted it with so
much vigor that within thirty-three years the town has become one of the
most prosperous in the county, and now boasts of about five hundred
inhabitants. There is a graded school, employing from three to four teachers
since the completion of the school building in 1890.
A Methodist church was erected early in 1890, under the leadership of Rev.
John Gunson, and dedicated on the first day of June of that year. In 1906,
the building was remodeled under the leadership of Rev. Franklin Rist and
the denomination has a good membership. Two years later the Catholics
erected an attractive house of worship.
The Williamsfield Times, an independent weekly, was established in 1889. Its
founder was C. D. Benfield. In October, 1890, the building in which the
Times was located was burned and Mr. Benfield lost his entire outfit. The
subscription list of the paper was purchased by Momeny and Benson and in a
few months they were enabled to continue the publication. Later they
dissolved partnership and J. M. Momeny assumed control of the paper. In the
fall of 1892 S. E. Boggess leased the plant from Mr. Momeny. In April, 1893,
it was purchased by M. Hugh Irish and in July, 1918, it passed into the
hands of W. G. Johnson the present owner.
On January 22, 1890, L. J. Baird and David Cation opened a private bank
under the title of Bank of Williamsfield and so conducted it until April,
1908, when they with Earl T. Main reorganized the Bank under a State Charter
in the name of First State Bank Company with a capital stock of $30,000.00
with L. J. Baird as first president. Earl T. Main was first cashier. The
first board of directors was L. J. Baird, David Cation, Earl T. Main, G. W.
Wallick, J. D. Doubet, Geo. W. Elliott and H. J. Butts. The bank has had a
steady growth and a loyal patronage from the community. In addition to its
semi-annual dividends paid the stockholders the bank has added $30,000 of
surplus and profits to its capital. It has also recently installed a new
burglar proof safe and a burglar proof vault that is said to be second to
none in the county at a cost of $7,500.00. The present officers and
directors are: David Cation, President; Jay Welsh, Vice President; William
Cation, Cashier; Miss Doris Pulver, Asst. Cashier, and Miss Marita Smith,
Asst. Cashier; J. J. Nelson, P. A. Sunwall, Burt Hurlbutt and Richard
Murphy.
Various lines of mercantile business are well represented such as general
stores, hardware store, meat market, lumber yards, undertaking
establishment, restaurant, barber shops, blacksmith shop and dry goods and
millinery stores, physicians and veterinaries. It has also a grain elevator
and has always been a great center for the shipment of grain and live stock.
Recently there was organized a Williamsfield Live Stock Shipping Association
with a membership of about one hundred. Its officers and directors were A.
L. Doubet, President; A, W. Gale, Vice President, B. L. Baird, Sec.-Treas.;
Taylor B. Johnston and Jas. L. Cation, Directors, and L. L. Nelson, Manager.
Under Mr. Nelson's leadership more than 120 cars the last year have been
sent out from Williamsfield, amounting in value to $292,000.00. This excels
any other point in the county.
In September, 1897, Williamsfield suffered a disastrous fire in which a
livery barn, two general stores, hardware store, two blacksmith shops,
lumber yard, paint and wall paper store, harness shop, two doctor's offices,
and one residence were all swept out of existence. From this catastrophe the
village soon emerged with better business houses and better equipped to
provide for the wants of the community in the several kinds of business
represented.
Again in Sept. 1920, more than twenty business houses in the heart of the
business district were swept out by fire. But the populace is not to be
outdone for within a short time foundations were laid for 3 new brick
buildings and other brick buildings are being contemplated.
World's War
The list of enlisted men in the army was: Glen Cole, John O'Brien, Cecil
Kimler, Roscoe Gibson, Dale Stemple, C. W. German, Clyde Tucker, Ernest
Hart, Bert Daniels, Isidore Daub, Fred Shultz, Grover George, Clyde Huber,
Eldred Mackie, Julius Shaw, Harrison Cole, Patsy O'Hern, Wiley Burch, Sidney
Cook, James Mahar, Albert King, Vance Chambers, Frank Stodgel, Vergil
Dudley, Raymond Wall, Lloyd Harmison, Edward Larsen, Harley Tucker, Harry
Bennett, Homer Larson, Harry L. Gibson, Arthur Carrigan, Edward D. Parker,
Harley Benjamin, Michael Phelan, Clarence Spencer, David Tucker, James
Larsen, Harry Harmison and James H. German. •
Of these soldier boys, John O'Brien and Grover George were gassed.
C. W. German, Lloyd Harmison and Homer Larson narrowly escaped with their
lives from the sinking vessel, "Otranto," on the coast of Scotland.
All of our boys returned home. Vance Chambers reenlisted and returned to
service in Germany where he was shot and killed while on duty.
The Neighborhood Committee through whom most of the war activities were
carried forward were as follows:
Executive Committee — G. E. Morgan, Chairman; M. H. Irish, Secretary; J. M.
Baird, C. H. Pulver, S. R. Tucker, David Cation.
District Committeemen — Fred Hurlbutt, T. Johnston, John Mackie, C. D. Rice,
A. W. Gales, W. — . Huber, E. D. Johnston, R. W. Morgan, Jay Welsh, Geo.
King, W. S. Potts, W. H. Machin, G. L. Doubet, L. L. Nelson, P. A. Sunwall,
E. S. Willard.
Mrs. Nellie J. Tucker, Mrs. Rhoda Philbrook, Mrs. Celesta C. Potts, E. S.
Moon, C. A. Caldwell and C. H. Pulver made up the registration board on the
bond subscriptions.
While very many did much to assist in the war work, it is fitting and proper
that special mention should be made of the very tedious, very exacting and
responsible work done by Miss Marita Smith in accounting for the many
hundreds of pieces of bonds amounting to more than half a million dollars.
Truro township went over the top on every quota asked and in one case
carried off the German helmet for being the second township in the county to
report.
The Williamsfield Branch Red Cross Association was organized Sunday
evening, April 22, 1917, as follows:
G. E. Morgan was elected General Chairman.
Rev. J. W. Pruen, Secretary.
David Cation, local Treasurer.
More than 250 members were secured.
Red Cross Shop
Mrs. Rev. Pruen was the first Chainnan and afterwards resigned and Mrs. Dr.
Cole was elected and carried the work through to the end.
Mrs. Ida Willard had charge of the knitting department.
Mrs. Nellie Irish had charge of the surgical dressing/ department.
Mrs. Eva Rice had charge of the Belgium Relief department.
Mrs. Lillie Wesner, Mrs. Kate Pulver and Mrs. Nettie Caldwell had charge of
the cutting department.
Mrs. Dr. Cole, Mrs. Nettie J. Tucker and Mrs. Eva Rice, constituted the
inspection committee.
In all these War Activities of Truro Township we have mentioned only those
who were officially connected, but there were scores of privates, many of
whom were well up in years, and some of whom were very young as well as the
intermediates, all of whose names we dislike to omit, but desire to say that
the loyal assistance they gave the work created a force that no enemy could
successfully combat.
Community High School
A Community High School was organized in 1916, comprising 56-1/4 sections of
land with an assessed valuation of $1,553,000. The first Board of Education
was as follows: M. H. Irish, President; C. H. Pulver, Clerk; F. J. King, Jay
Welsh, Loren Trowbridge, Otto Grohs, Mrs. Nellie J. Tucker.
Early in the summer of 1920 ground was broken for a new brick Community High
School building now (1921) nearing completion at a cost when furnished of
$75,000.00. The building will accommodate 160 pupils and is splendidly
located on six acres of land. The intention is to add Domestic Science,
Manual Training and Agriculture and make it a High School equal to the best.
W. H. Brown, of Abingdon, is the contractor.
The present Board of Education consists of: C. H. Pulver, President; Mrs.
Nellie J. Tucker, Clerk; Jay Welsh, Mrs. Minette Baird, G. E. Morgan, Otto
Grohs, F. J. King.
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 178-183.
