Knox County ILGenWeb

[The township name was changed from Liberty to Elba on June 8, 1853.]

From the 1870 Atlas Map of Knox County, Illinois, Andreas, Lyter & Co., Davenport, Iowa, 91 pages.  [Submitted by Bob Miller.]

"The first settler in Elba Township was John King, in 1835, on Sec. 2.  Soon after came Felix Thurman, on Sec. 34.  In 1837, L. A. Jones settled on Sec. 15, and Jacob Keightlinger on Sec. 27.  In 1840, J. H. Nickolson settled on Sec. 25, where he still resides, an honored and respected citizen.  First marriage was Moses Smith to Tobitha George, Jacob Keightlinger, Esq., officiating.  First birth was Tobitha Smith, on Sec. 35.  First death, Jno. King, on Sec. 2, 1836.  First Justice of the Peace was Jacob Keightlinger, commission dated Aug. 1839.  First sermon by John Crors, 1841, at the house of John Tucker, on Sec. 1.  First school house built by Jacob Keightlinger, on Sec. 27, in 1842.  First school was taught at the residence of Jacob Keightlinger by James West.  Coal was first discovered in this Township in 1847, on Sec. 15, by Jacob Keightlinger, Esq."

From the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman.  [Submitted by Bob Miller.]

"In the year 1835 or '36 John King erected a cabin on section 2 of this township.  This was the first attempt known to settle this section of beautiful country.  In 1836 came Darius Miller and his brother, who was familiarly known among the pioneers as King Miller.  Soon followed John Thurman, Jacob Kightlinger, L. A. Jones and J. H. Nicholson.

The first marriage in the township was that of Moses Smith to Miss Tabitha George, by Jacob Kightlinger.  The first death occurring was that of John King, the first settler, who died in 1836, the year after his arrival.  The first birth was Tabitha Smith, on section35.  Jacob Kightlinger was the first Justice of the Peace.  His commission was dated August, 1839.  Here lived the Rev. John Cross, who figured so prominently in the management of the Underground Railroad, and of whom some quite interesting sketches may be found in the chapter on that road in this book.  It is said he preached the first sermon at the house of John Tucker on section 1, in the year 1841, but we find Rev. S. S. Miles preached in April, 1839, two years before Mr. Cross preached in the township.  From the year 1837 to 1850 there had been a gradual increase of population.  During these years they began to think of the need of some educational facilities, and in 1842 a school-house was built.  Religious services were held in the school-house soon after its erection, the first being by the United Brethren denomination, with Mr. Cady as leader and preacher.

In 1867 a Good Templars' lodge was organized which met for some time at the house of Mr. Robert Jerman, then occupied by Mr. John Lewis.  The society flourished, and in 1869 built the Good Templars' Hall, a quarter of a mile west of the school-house.  It was a one-story wooden structure; and as the members of the order became scattered, and the lodge discouraged, it was sold in 1876, and removed by Mr. Jerome Curtiss and used as a dwelling.

A post-office was established in the southern part of the township, section 15, in April, 1870, under the name of "Spoon River."  In January, 1871, the name was changed to Elba Centre.  Miss Rebecca Boyce was selected as postmistress, and has retained the position to the present time.

In the spring of 1872, the old school-house was remodeled and modernized, and in the following year a hall was built opposite in which to transact township business.

Two churches were built in 1874, - one by the Methodists a mile west of the Centre corners, the other by the Presbyterians a mile to the north of the same point.  The first was dedicated in June by President Evans of Hedding College, Abingdon, and the latter in September by a minister from Galesburg."

From the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago.  [Submitted by Vicki Burton.]

Elba completed its township organization April 5, 1853. At the meeting for that purpose, N. S. Barber was chosen Moderator and P. J. Hines, Clerk. Forty-nine votes were cast, which resulted in the election of the following gentlemen to fill the respective offices: John B. Nicholson, Supervisor; James W. Hines, Clerk; H. L. Bailey, Assessor; Henry Smith, Collector; H. Oberholtzer, John West and K. Hines, Commissioners of Highways; John West and B. F. Johnson, Justices of the Peace; Wm. Series, Overseer of the Poor; Henry Smith, Constable. It was organized first as Liberty Township, but was changed the same year to Elba. This is in township 10 north of range 4 east, and is bounded on the north by Truro, on the east by Peoria County, on the south by Salem and on the west by Haw Creek Township.

The first settler in this township was John King, who came in with his family in the spring of 1836, settling on section 2, where he erected a log cabin. The Kings were not destined to dwell alone, for they were soon followed by Darius Miller and his brother (who was generally known as King Miller), John and Felix Thurman, Leonard A. and Darius Jones and J. H. Nicholson, with their families. The Joneses were from New York, and located on section 15, and the Thurmans on French Creek. They were from Ohio.

In the fall of 1837 Jacob Kightlinger, wife and 11 children - 9 boys and 2 girls - from Pennsylvania, added their force, which was by no means an insignificant one, to the settlement, locating on section 27. They came in a flatboat to Cincinnati, bringing with them timber for their house. Being unable to get it any further without great risk, they sold it. From Cincinnati they took a steamboat to Peoria, and with teams made their way to their new home.

In 1838, James H. Baird, the Lamberts, Vachel Metcalf and John and Samuel Tucker were added to the settlement. The Lamberts located on section 27, and Baird on section 2 on the Peoria and Knoxville road. Mr. Lambert did not live long after his settlement here, and his sons, Isaac and Martin, carried on the farm. Of these early settlers, the heads of families are all either dead or have moved away, except the Kightlingers. Jacob Kightlinger and his aged partner, the former 86 and the latter 80 years of age, are still living, but left their old home and located in Yates City.

The first couple married here were Moses Smith and Miss Tabitha George, in 1840. They were married by Squire Kightlinger. Mrs. Smith died at an early day, and her husband moved away. Mr. Kightlinger's children are all living but four, and all in the county but one, and this one is living in Peoria.

Jacob Kightlinger was the first man appointed to (settled) the legal disputes of his neighbors and to preserve the peace. The first post-office was opened at Kightlinger's house, where he officiated as Postmaster.

Felix Thurman put up the first saw-mill, which was located on French Creek. It was a small mill and run by water-power. Vachel Metcalf taught the first school in the township, in 1840, in a private house. The Kightlingers had a teacher come to their house to instruct their children before this. Her name was Antoinette Walker. The first school-house was built by Jacob Kightlinger in 1842, on section 27.

Rev. S. S. Miles, of the Methodist Church, preached the first sermon at Mr. Lambert's, in 1839. Preachers would come along and services would be held here and at other houses on any day. After the school-house was erected, services were held there. In 1874 the Methodists put up a house of worship, and the year following the Presbyterians erected one for their use. The Methodist Church was dedicated in June of the same year, by President Evans, of Hedding College. These edifices were fine-looking frame buildings, and were quite an ornament to this part of the township, known as Elba Centre. The Methodist Episcopal Church has regular services at present, Rev. William Soape, pastor, with a fair congregation. No regular services are held at the Presbyterian Church.

In this township resided for some time Rev. John Cross, who was a conspicuous figure in the Underground Railroad system of bygone years. This township was also quite noted for its temperance movement. A lodge of Good Templars was organized here in 1867. It flourished for several years and a hall was built for it meetings. Finally interest in this movement died out, members dropped off, and in 1876 the building was sold and converted into a dwelling.

During the earlier days the people did their trading mostly at Farmington, Fulton County; now Yates City gets most of the trade from this township. Elba is watered by French Creek and Swab Run, which empty into Spoon River; the latter stream also touches sections 6 and 7. Along these water-courses there is considerable timber, and the country is quite broken. About three-fourths of the township, however, is fine rolling prairie, with a rich, black, loamy soil. Fifty-two bushels of wheat to the acre have been raised here, and 75 bushels of oats. For the production of the cereals, Elba is one of the best townships in the county. Of later years more attention has been given to the raising of stock, which has been successful and profitable. In raising of hogs it ranks now the fifth. Most of the farms are attractive in their location, are well cultivated, and have good improvements. The roads through the township are well worked and kept in good order. Population in 1880 was 902. There has been but little increase since.

The School Superintendent‚s report for 1885 furnishes the following items : There are eight school districts, all of which are ungraded. The school property was valued at $4,700; all the school-houses were frame. Of persons under 21 years of age there were 365, of whom 228 were of scholastic age; 184 being enrolled. The highest wages paid male teachers were $50 per month, and the lowest $35; the highest wages paid female teachers were $30, and the lowest $25.

The township has been represented in the supervisorship by the citizens whose names appear below :

SUPERVISORS

James H. Nicholson 1853-54; J. W. Hines 1855-57; L. D. Shinn 1858; D. A. Jones 1859; M. S Barber 1860-61; H. H. Wood 1862-63; Walter Bailey 1864; J. H. Nicholson 1865; James A. Adams 1866; L. A. Lawrence 1867; H. H. Wood 1868; L. A. Lawrence 1869; H. H. Wood 1870; W. G. West 1871-72; James H. Nicholson 1873-74; W. G. West 1875-78; R. G. Mathews 1879-85 .