Knox County ILGenWeb

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

"The first settler in Salem Township was Alexander Taylor, who settled on Sec. 5, in 1833.  Benona Haskins and his sons Amson and James settled on Sections 33 and 34.  Wm. Kent, John Thurman, and Henry Dalton were also early settlers.  First marriage as near as we can learn, was Absolem Kent to Julia Sains, by Rev. Henry Summers, on Sec. 13, Nov. 4th, 1836.  First birth was Laura, daughter of Jno. Haskins, 1835.  First death was Mary Kent, 1839.  A Post Office was established and called Middle Grove, in Southwest corner of the Township, in 1832.  First Sermon was preached in 1835, by Henry Summers, at the house of Wm. Kent, on Sec. 13.  First school was taught by Abid Drew, in 1838, on Sec. 13.  First Justice of the Peace was Wm. Davis, in 1836.  Salem is one of the finest tracts of country in the west, its inhabitants are of the very best class, and its improvements unusually fine."

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

"Among the first settlers of this excellent township were Solomon Sherwood, Henry Dalton, Alexander Taylor, Felix Thurman, Avery Dalton, Benona Hawkins, John Darnell, Sala Blakeslee, William Kent, John Thurman, and John Haskins.  Taylor arrived first, and settled on section 5.  The first birth was Laura, daughter of John Haskins, in 1835.  The first marriage was that of Avery Dalton, to Delilah Dalton.  The first death was Anderson Corbine, in the summer of 1835.  The first sermon was preached by Rev. Henry Summers, on section 13, on the 4th of November, 1836.  Emeline Shinn was the first to die in the township, on the 9th of August, 1839.  The first postoffice was established at a place in the southwest corner of the township, called Middle Grove.  The first school was taught by Abid Drew, on section 13, in 1838.  The first Justice of the Peace was William Davis.  There are three towns in this township, and more miles of railroad than in any other township in the county except Galesburg.  The first frame building in Salem township was erected by Sala Blakeslee, in 1837.  It was a barn, 30 by 40 feet in size; and burned down the same year.  Mr. Blakeslee also brought the first timothy seed into the township, in 1834.  On his farm are ten chestnut trees, growing from seeds planted by him, in 1846.  They will now measure two feet in diameter.  He also has a rail fence, which is remarkable for its perfect state of preservation.  In 32 rods, which was built in 1844, there are not more than five rails but what are sound and good yet.  It has never been re-set.  He claims that the rails do not rot, for the reason that they were cut in August, and the fence laid while the moon was in its last quarter.  He has logs in a corn-crib that were cut in 1829, and gate posts that were cut in 1832.

This is one of the corner townships of the county, and joins Fulton county on the south and Peoria on the east.  The soil is fertile and the landscape beautiful.  Indeed, one of the finest views in Knox county is obtainable from Summit in this township."

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

Meeting was held for the organization of Salem Township, April 5, 1853, at a school-house near Michael Eagan's, which resulted in the election of S. S. Buffum for Supervisor; Wm. Gray, Clerk; J. R. Knable, Assessor; D. Waldo, Collector; T. A. Croy, G. W. Enke and J. Jordan, Justices of the Peace; M. B. Mason, A. Kent, J. E. Duel, Highway Commissioners; J. Taylor and D. Waldo, Constables, and G. Chrisman, Overseer of the Poor.

Alexander Taylor and family are credited with being the first settlers in the township, making a claim on section 5, in 1834, where he put up the first log cabin ever built here. Soon after Mr. Taylor came Felix and John Thurman, Henry and Avery Dalton, Solomon Sherwood, Benona Hawkins, Wm. Kent, John Darnell, John Haskins and Sala Blakeslee, most of whom came in with families.

In 1835, the population of this township was in creased by the advent of little Laura, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Haskins. The first persons to be joined in wedlock were Avery Dalton and Delilah Dalton in 1935. Andrew Corbine died the same year, which was the first death. These pioneers were quite religious and held their prayer-meeting soon after the first settlement. This attracted the attention of Rev. Henry Summers, who came and preached for them, delivering the first sermon in the township on section 13, November, 1836.

In 1837 the settlement became of sufficient importance to have a post-office, which was established at Middle Grove. Abiel Drew taught the first school in a log house on section 13, in 1838. The enterprising and progressive Sala Blakeslee erected the first frame building in the township in 1837, for a barn. It was quite a large barn, but it did not stand long, for it was burned the same year - a reproof, some of the neighbors said, for his extravagance.

William Davis was the first man to hold the scales of justice, and it is said of him that he did it with a fair but strong hand. On the farm located by Sala Blakeslee may be seen some fine old chestnut trees, grown from seed planted by him in 1846.

Salem was settled up by a good class of people, and after a beginning was made it population increased quite rapidly. Its lands lie fair and are rich and very productive, and easily drained by the little watercourses that meander through. A great portion of the township is beautiful rolling prairies, the southeastern and southwestern portions being somewhat broken. These sections at one time were liberally timbered. It is regarded as one of the best townships in the county; it ranks second in raising cattle and horses, and first in hogs. It has more miles of railroad than any other township, except Galesburg, and is third in population.

The Peoria Branch of the C., B. & Q. R. R., which was completed in December, 1856, passes through the northern part of the township, running nearly east and west; the Rushville & Buda Branch enters the township, forming a connection at Yates City, where the people of the township do most of their marketing and trading. summit, another town on the railroad, claims and gets some of the trade. This town was platted Oct. 17, 1856, by W. K. Ware, on the northeast corner of section 7 and the sough east corner of section 6. It is located on a high rolling prairie.

Uniontown, on section 19, was one of the earliest settled towns in this part of the county, and before the advent of railroads there was quite a trade done here. The railroad towns have taken the trade away, and there is nothing here now but a blacksmith-shop.

Salem is a great farming township, and is dotted over with fine dwellings. Its population, in 1880, was 1,794, and it is claimed that these figures have since been enlarged. From the School Superintendent's report for the year ending June 30, 1885, the following items were obtained:

There are ten school districts in this township, one graded school and nine ungraded. The school property was valued at $14,650. In the ten districts there are two brick and eight frame school-houses. Of the persons under 21 years of age there were 767 of whom 554 were of school age, 473 being enrolled. The highest wages paid male teachers were $100 per month; the lowest $33.33; the highest wages paid female teachers were $40, and the lowest $22.