Knox County ILGenWeb

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

"Daniel Robertson, who now lives on Section 11, settled in Henderson Township, March, 1828, he being the first settler in Knox County.  The County of Knox was organized July 7, 1836, at the residence of Jno. B. Gum, on Section 32.  The seat of Justice was at his house until the county seat was permanently located in Henderson, now Knoxville, one year after.  First sermon was preached at the residence of Mr. B. Gum, by Jacob Gum.  Phillip Harsh was the first Justice of the Peace who performed the first marriage ceremony, in July, 1829, by uniting T. S. Harsh to Miss Elizabeth Razor, and Alexander Osborn to Miss Anna Hendricks.  The necessary licenses were obtained at Lewistown, in Fulton County.  The first hotel was kept by S. S. White, near the residence of John B. Gum.  Jacob Gum, son of Zepheniah and Jane Gum, was the first child born.  On the 9th day of January, 1829, the first death occurred, a young man named Phillip Nance, aged 17, died and buried on Section 16, as marked on the map."

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

"This township was the first in the county to have the home of a white man within its boundaries.  Here, in February of 1828, Daniel and Alexander ROBERTSON settled.  Many of the first incidences of the county occurred in this township, and, as a greater portion of the first chapter of this work is located here, and many other historical items given all through the book, we refrain from repeating.  Here, on sections 23 and 26, the Indians had their corn-fields and cultivated the soil for years.

In an early day, on section 30, near the creek, a well was dug.  On arriving at a depth of 60 feet the workmen came to what seemed to be an Indian camping-ground.  Ashes, stumps and general rubbish were there as fresh as though the fires had just gone out.  A red cedar log was also found.

H. M. SISSON, of this township, has done much to better the class of stock and deserves credit not only from the citizens of the township, but of the county.  He has, perhaps, the oldest horse in the county.  It has been in the family for thirty-six years, and he has plowed with it each year for thirty years.

The township has a fine body of timber known as Henderson Grove.  A beautiful stream of water passes through this delightful grove, which takes a southwesternly course, and, after receiving several branches, enters into the Mississippi.  The timber in this grove is large and lofty, and occupies an area of several square miles.  The prairie around is undulating, very rich, and dry.  Along the edges of the timber the first pioneers settled, and here, too, in Log City the Galesburg colony made their temporary quarters."

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

Henderson Township was organized April 5, 1853. The meeting was called to order by William McMurtry; S. G. Dean was appointed Moderator, and W. R. Jackson, Clerk; 155 votes were cast at this election, resulting in the choice of Peter Frans for Supervisor; Martin W. Gay, Clerk; James McMurtry, Assessor; G. G. Dean, Collector; Thomas McKee and Abraham Jackson, Justices of the Peace.

Henderson for Knox County is a historical and an interesting point, for it was here that the first settlement was made. In February, 1828, Daniel Robertson found his way into the township, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 15, and commenced his improvements. This was the first settlement made in the county. This land was subsequently claimed by a speculator, and Mr. Robertson, rather than to have any trouble, gave it up and located on the southwest corner of section 11. His brother Alex. and brother-in-law, Richard Mathews, came in soon after and made a claim on section 2. During the spring and summer of this year, Jacob Gum, John B. Gum, James Gum, Zephaniah Gum (sons of Jacob), Riggs Pennington, Stephen Osborn, Robert and Eaton Nance, B. Coy, A. Frakes, R. Greenwell, Thomas Sheldon and N. Voiles, with their families, and Jesse Gum, Alex. and Andrew Osborn, James Reynolds and M. D. Coy, unmarried men, all located along the eastern and southwestern skirts of Henderson Grove. Early in the fall Thomas McKee and Alex. Frakes joined the settlement, locating on the southwest quarter of section 9. Of these "twenty-eighters," only two are now living - Daniel Robertson and Maj. Thomas McKee, the former at his old homestead, the latter in Galesburg. Daniel Robertson married in the winter of 1830. Alex. Robertson died in 1853. His widow afterward married again, but is now dead. John B. Gum located on section 32, Zephaniah on section 14 and James on section 34. James in a later day moved to Oregon, and Zephania to Missouri. John moved to Knox Township and afterward to Oregon. Riggs Pennington moved to Texas in 1836.

The Nances located on section 9. Robert Nance moved to Menard County in 1831, where he died, and Eaton Nance moved to Missouri and died there. Stephen Osborn located on section 23; he raised a large family of children and died at Henderson village. His widow survived him for many years. He was the first Sheriff of Knox County. Alex. Frakes, who came with his wife and five children, moved to Oregon in 1853, with a part of his family. He died there a few years ago. He was from Indiana, but a native of Kentucky.

In 1829 William and James McMurtry and Philip Hash, with their families, formed a further addition to the pioneer settlement, locating on section 3. William became quite an active and prominent politician; was Lieutenant-Governor from 1848 to 1852. He died at the old homestead. His wife had preceded him to the other world. His son, James C., is living on the old place. His brother James still occupies the farm on which he first settled. Robert Greenwell located on the northwest quarter of section 15. After a few years he moved to Grand River, Mo., where he died. Thomas Shelden in the spring of 1829 moved to Rock Island, and went to work for Col. George Davenport. He died that year.

Maj. Thomas McKee was in the first and second Black Hawk Wars. He went to Schuyler County and lived for awhile. In 1830 he married Maria Rice at Henderson Grove. In 1830 Thomas Ferguson, the Roundtrees, Gos, William Lewis and Solomon Davis with their families came in, locating along the south side of the grove, and following them were the Brown brothers, filling up the gap with farms around to the old "Galena Trail."

During the last-named year that worthy old citizen Harmon G. Brown; from Kentucky, came in, locating about a mile south of Henderson village. He wintered there and the next year married Nancy Hogan, and also changed his location to the southwest quarter of section 30, where he and his good wife are still living, surrounded by children, grandchildren and loving friends. One of his boys - Henry Clay - was killed during the siege of Vicksburg.

Solomon Davis died May 2, 1862, but his widow, Lucinda, is still living at the old homestead, section 3, with her children, although in feeble health and in her 82d year. They had a family of nine children, six of whom are still living. Solomon Davis was in the Black Hawk War, in active service, and held the rank of Lieutenant. He left his wife and three children with Maj. McKee's family, who were then in Sangamon County.

Peter Bell, Thomas Maxwell, Squire Reed and James Reynolds also moved in in 1830. Peter Bell located on section 32, now the Frans place, and James Reynolds also on section 32.

The Indians were about here during the early settlement. The lived in their wigwams, helped the settlers in sugar-making and other work, and were friendly until the war broke out.

Harmon Brown went back to Kentucky, and when he returned, which was in the fall of 1831, he brought his sister, Mrs. Sally Frans, with him. She rode a horse all the way, carrying her two small children. Her husband, Peter Frans, followed some months later. He died in 1863. He was a strong sympathizer with the Rebellion, so much so that his life at one time was in some danger. His Union neighbors got a flag and forced him to put it on his house, and compelled him to keep it there. Sometimes they would find it down on the ground and then they would go and put it up, or compel him to raise it. Mr. and Mrs. Frans raised a large family of children, seven of whom are living. Mrs. Frans is also living on the old farm on section 33. There were quite a number of families who came in 1831-32, and among these were Olmstead and William Ferris.

Mrs. Zephaniah Gum received the hearty congratulations of her neighbors for presenting the first native citizen to the settlement in June, 1829. He grew up to useful manhood and died at about 21 years of age. Alex. Osborn and Ann Hendricks were the first two loving hearts to unite their fortunes for life, which was in the warm summer month of July, 1829. Alexander was obliged to go all the way to Rushville to procure the necessary papers to consummate this event. His good example was soon followed by Fielden Hash and Elizabeth Razor, who were united by Philip Hash.

The first death was that of Philip Nance, who died Jan. 7, 1829. His remains were interred on the southeast quarter of section 9. Maj. McKee placed a marble slab at his grave. Since then there has been an iron fence put around it.

The first school was taught by Franklin B. Barber in a log shanty near the grove, in 1830. There was another opened in 1833 on section 31, taught by Harmon G. Brown. It is now the 4th School District. Mr. Barber died in Texas.

Rev. Jacob Gum preached the first sermon in 1829. In the summer religious meetings were held in the woods, after the manner of the Apostles, and in the winter in the log cabins. Mr. Gum was a Baptist. The Baptists were the first to organize here, the Universalists next, then the Christians; now the Methodists and the United Brethren are in the ascendancy.

The first "corn-cracker" was put up in 1830, on Henderson Creek. This was quite an event to the pioneers, but when, in 1833, the Ferris brothers - William and Olmstead - put up a steam mill, the settlers felt that they had no more to ask for. This mill was located on the northeast corner of section 30, on Henderson Creek; at one time in an early day there were six mills within six miles of each other. There is nothing now to indicate that there was ever a mill here.

For the first few years the people went to Rushville for their mail. In 1833 a post-office was established in the township, and John G. Sanburn held the commission from the Government as Postmaster. This post-office was located on section 32, where Mr. Sanburn had a store, which he opened in 1832. Near here, on section 33, White & McCarver established a store in 1833.

The first court held in the county was in John B. Gum's house, on section 32, southeast quarter. He had a double log cabin, and the county rented a part of it. It was near Sanburn's store. Court was held here about two years. The building is now owned by the Davis family. Mary Ann and James Davis were young children in 1833, the former about three, and the latter one and a half years of age. They went out to play in the woods one warm spring morning, and not returning by noon their parents went out to look for them. Not readily finding them, they became alarmed and a general search was instituted. It became dark and they were not found. The whole neighborhood then turned out, and the hunt was continued until the next day without success. Along in the forenoon Harmon G. Brown discovered them near the edge of the prairie in a straw-stack. They were much frightened when Mr. Brown came to them, and tried to run away. They seemed to have become a little wild. It was supposed that they had gone down to the stream called South Henderson and followed it down. The girl had some sorrel in her apron, which they had been eating. When brought home they refused to eat at first. James in dead, and Mary Ann is living on the old place.

One warm spring day in 1832, Mr. Brown thought he would go hunting, a sport he was not only very fond of, but in which he was very successful. Becoming tired, he sat down on a log near the creek for a rest. While thus resting in his solitary seclusion, a large blue crane flew over and alighted on a tree near by, where it had a large nest near the top. Not particularly desiring the companionship of the crane, and wishing to test his skill, he drew his old and trusty rifle on the bird and fired. The crane sprang several feet up in the air, and coming down caught in the forked limb of the tree, where it remained. While gazing at the dead crane he heard a noise, and looking in the direction from which it came, he beheld a raven peeking out from a large hole in the trunk of the same tree that held the crane. Having been so successful in bringing down the crane, Mr. Brown concluded to drawn his bead on the raven. He fired, and the raven fell back into the hole. Looking up again, he saw another raven in the hole. He reloaded his rifle, and the raven still remained staring at him; he fired again, and the second raven disappeared into the hole. This hole seemed to be prolific in ravens, for no sooner had the second one passed down than a third put in an appearance. He was treated to another charge of lead from Mr. Brown's unerring rifle, with the same result. This practice was kept up, Mr. Brown entering enthusiastically into the sport, thinking that this was the land, or rather the tree of the raven, until seven had gone down the hole. He gazed long and wistfully for another to come out, but, none appearing, he shouldered his rifle with some disappointment and started for home. Arriving there, his brother and neighbors wanted to know what he had been firing at. He was loth to tell them, thinking they would not believe him, as ravens were not numerous and were among the wildest of birds and the most difficult to get a shot at. They replied that they were not disposed to doubt his veracity. When he told them, they asked for the birds. He replied that he would produce them if they would cut down what he believed to be the largest tree in Henderson Grove. They accepted the challenge, and agreed to meet the next morning with axes ground and proceed to the raven slaughter, and have ocular proof of what they considered the biggest raven story on record. At the appointed time they all met, and after a walk of some minutes they arrived at the tree. What was their great surprise when, on looking down at the foot of the tree, they saw the seven ravens lying there dead, instead of being down inside of the hole. The only solution to this raven mystery was that there were one or more live ones left and they had thrown the dead ones out.

Anticipating an Indian outbreak, the settlers came together and erected a fort. They then formed what was called a minute company of Rangers for home protection, and concluded that should there be an outbreak, they would send their families out of the county. But there was no trouble here. The fort was located on section 33, now the home of Mrs. Chas. Evans. The settlers lived happily, and some of those still living do not think there was so much hardship and suffering as is sometimes reported. They had then to go to Rushville, a distance of 75 miles, for their mail, which was a great inconvenience, and they felt some uneasiness on account of the Indians. But they had plenty of home-made clothes to keep them warm, plenty of wild game, pork and beans, and corn-bread and honey to eat, and after the first year of the settlement they had plenty of wheat-bread; this, added to what they believed to be a prosperous future before them, gave reasonable grounds for contentment.

Harmon Brown tells of a hunting expedition which be, in connection with Peter Frans and Benjamin Bruington (known by old settlers as "Governor" Bruington), had in the fall of 1833. They started out for a several days' hunt, going in a northeasterly direction., Late in the day they came to a grove, since known as Walnut Grove, some 15 miles from home, where they halted. Mr. Brown put out his bee-bait, the "Governor" went in search of a camping ground, and Peter Frans started out for a deer. Soon a bee came to the bait, and Mr. Brown had no trouble in following it back to its hive, which was in a large dead burr-oak tree. The report of Frans' rifle was heard echoing through the woods, and soon he came in with a large buck across his horse. They made their camp near the bee-tree. It was then growing dark, and they built a large fire to give them light while cutting down the tree. It was a large tree, and they had but one ax, which they used by turns. It was a late supper they had that night, but a good one, and was enjoyed by the hunters. It consisted of fried venison, bread and butter, honey and hot coffee. After their repast they went to work to get out their honey. The hole was full for some 12 feet, and they estimated that there was at least a barrel of honey, which was as pure and white as any honey they ever saw. They made a bag of the deerskin and had it about full, when, to their horror, they discovered that the prairie south of the grove, where Galesburg now stands, was on fire, and the wind was blowing toward their cabins. They hastily broke camp, took their honey and venison, and mounting their horses started for their homes. It was very dark, and they experienced some difficulty in crossing the prairie sloughs, but they arrived home in about two hours. The fence on Mr. K. Morse's place was on fire. They threw it down and put out the fire. From there they went to James Reynolds' place and threw down the fence for a mile, putting out the fire. Alfred Brown's fence was also on fire, which they treated the same way. They then went about three miles into Floyd Township, Warren County, where they found Edmond and Henry Adcock's fences on fire. Here they threw down a mile of burning fence and saved it from the flames. While fighting the fire here the sun arose. They breakfasted at the Adcock's and then returned to their homes, completely tired out. The fire caused them so much work in repairing fences that they never finished their hunt.

June 2, 1836, the first installment of the Galesburg Colony, 25 in number, arrived. They were soon followed by a second company. Others came singly and in groups. They all located south of the grove and built up what afterward became somewhat distinguished as Log City, on section 33. When the cold weather set in, there was in this "city" a population of 170 souls, living in cabins. As this settlement here was only temporary, and does not strictly belong to the history of Henderson Township, a further account of it will be given elsewhere.

In the spring of 1837 came the balance of the colony, among whom were S. W. Allen, wife and one child, who permanently settled in the township, at Log City, where he lived three years, when he moved into Galesburg and is now residing there. He was the first butcher in the county, opening his market in Log City. He supplied this settlement, Henderson, Knoxville and Galesburg. Mr. Allen raised a large family of children, one of whom, S. O. was the first male child born in Log City, and who is now living in Henderson Township, and is a thrifty farmer and one of the prominent citizens of the township.

An effort was made by the citizens of this township to secure the railroad line through here. Had they been successful, probably the principal city of the county would have been built somewhere within its borders. As it is, without a railroad, it has a fair growth. It contains a beautiful body of timber, known as Henderson's Grove. It is well watered by Henderson Creek and its tributaries, and much of the soil is rich. The western and northwestern portions are somewhat broken, but in the eastern parts there are some fine rolling prairies. There are many fine farms in the township and good, substantial dwellings. Most of the farmers are thrifty and in good circumstances. Some remain who can look to the days when this county was wilderness - to the time when the foundations for homes were laid, and to the struggles and privations which were necessary to complete those homes. They can contemplate now the realization of the hopes and the aspirations of their youth, and the progress and development that have been made during the first half century. The population of the township in 1880 was 1,454, which is about the figures now. Henderson village is situated in the township, but it is not a very thrifty town.

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