Families -
Excerpts from the 1919 Latimer - A Brief History and Genealogy of George
Griswald Latimer by Madison C. Bates, published by the Wagoner Printing Co.
Galesburg, Ill. [Transcribed and contributed by Cynthia Nye.]
Page 29, Part Three. George Griswald Latimer was the seventh child of
Joseph and Anna Latimer. He was born Feb. 28, 1810, in Robertson County,
Tennessee. His father was a farmer, and he grew to manhood very much as the
ordinary farmer lad, receiving only such education as could be obtained in
the common schools of a new country.
Jonathan Latimer
He
was the oldest of the unmarried children at the time of the move from
Tennessee to Illinois, being then a young man of twenty. After the first
year, 1830, spent in Sangamon County, Illinois, the family moved to Knox
County, reaching there in 1831. Jonathan and Alexander, with their families,
had not yet left Sangamon County, so George was his father's main dependence
in conducting the moving, selecting the location and getting the family
settled. Upon him devolved the responsibility of attending to the legal
business connected with securing titles to the land and this necessitated
horseback journeys to Quincy and Vandalia, then the capital of the state. It
was on a trip to Vandalia, in the fall of 1831, that George Latimer spent
the night with Wm. Drennan, a prosperous farmer and citizen of Sangamon
County, where he was very acceptably entertained by Mr. Drennan's family,
especially his daughter Rebecca. Just a year later he went back to Sangamon
County and married Rebecca Drennan [the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
lists a George G. Latimer marrying a Rebecca Dennan in Sangamon County on
October 24, 1832], he being twenty-two and she eighteen. Their wedding
journey was taken on horseback from Sangamon County to the new home in Knox
County. With the romance of the journey was mingled the practical, for the
bridegroom and his brother, Jonathan, who, with his family, was at that time
making the move to Knox County, brought with them livestock, horses, cattle,
and hogs. In some recollections of her father, written by George's oldest
daughter, Martha, she says of this journey; "After they crossed the Illinois
River at Havana, their stock stampeded and were scattered through the heavy
timber, which at that time lined the river bottoms. They were obliged to
make camp and remain there until their stock could be again collected. I
have often heard my mother speak of this incident on her wedding journey.
And also of the fine wild honey which was given them by a settler on the
route, who told them to use as much as they desired, as she had a barrel of
honey on hand which was just as free as the spring water. In due time they
arrived at my grandfather's cabin and remained there until my father could
build one of his own, to which they moved early in the following March."
Previous to George Latimer's marriage, the settlers of Illinois, in the
northwestern part of the state, had been much annoyed by the depredations of
hostile Indians, led by the historic chief, Black Hawk. A military company
was formed, composed of men from Knox and Warren Counties, and these men,
armed with rifles from Rock Island, ranged the country north between the
Illinois and Mississippi Rivers and joining with troops from the other parts
of the state the famous warrior was defeated. At the formation of this
company, George Latimer was chosen lieutenant and was later given the title
of colonel. He was always called Colonel Latimer from the days of the Black
Hawk War. The defeat of Black Hawk and his warriors drove the Indians beyond
the Mississippi and freed Illinois ever after of hostile Indians, although
for some time scattering bands of friendly Indians were not infrequent
visitors at the homes of the early settlers. The pay for his services in the
Black Hawk War was used by Colonel Latimer in building and furnishing their
new cabin home.
From its beginning this home was one of marked happiness and influence.
Prosperity rewarded hard work as year by year the family grew. I quote again
from the written memoirs of Martha Latimer Cable: "My father was a very
persevering man in whatever he undertook. Early in the summer following his
marriage, he was obliged to take a journey on business which detained him
overnight. The next morning after starting to return home, he spied at the
roadside, a swarm of wild bees settled. Very much desiring to own some bees,
he returned to the place where he had spent the night, procured a box, went
back and succeeded in hiving the bees. Here a new difficulty presented
itself as he had nothing to cover the hive and prevent the escape of the
bees. He, however, quickly solved the problem by removing his shirt, which
he used to cover the hive. Then buttoning vest and coat, he mounted his
horse with his treasure and returned home. These bees, with their increase
and descendants, furnished honey for the family for forty years.
He was a man who always took a lively interest in everything calculated
to benefit community, church, or state. My father was instrumental in the
establishment of both the church and school at Cherry Grove, and gave
liberally of his means for the support of both. He was nearly always the
leader of the weekly prayer meeting and the unfailing support of the
minister. His house was always the home of visiting ministers, and the
temporary home of any pastor who ministered to the church and resided
elsewhere. He lived to see the school, small as it was at the beginning, a
power for good in the community. My sisters and I received our education
within its walls, while our brother, W. D. Latimer, after finishing the
course here, was sent to Galesburg and graduated with high honors from Knox
College in 1863."
His daughter Martha, may also tell of the sad circumstances connected
with his death: "His last sickness and death were particularly distressing
to his family and friends. His children, with the exception of one, were
stricken with measles. Also, two young men, who were boarding in his family
and attending school at Cherry Grove Seminary. On January 26th one of the
children died. The night following the burial of this child, the little girl
who had escaped the measles, was stricken with some disease which completely
baffled the physicians of that early day. She was violently ill from the
first, and was cared for almost entirely by my father. On the third day of
February, he went out with the physician, who was leaving the house. He
stood talking in the wind for a few minutes. The next morning he had a
chill. The doctor advised him to remain in bed that day and rest. About nine
o'clock in the evening of the same day another chill came on. My mother was
very much frightened. He spoke, telling her not to be alarmed, turned over
in bed and lost consciousness. He never spoke again, breathing his last the
following day at noon, Feb. 5, 1848, aged thirty-seven years, eleven months,
and seven days. Two little daughters were taken on February ninth and were
buried in one grave. Thus there were four deaths in our family inside of two
weeks, taking almost one-half of the family in that short time."
It is almost incredible to add, after what has just been narrated, that
within a few days, February though it was, the barn was struck by lightning
and burned to the ground. In the barn when it burned were several horses, a
bin of wheat and a supply of corn and hay. Nothing was saved.
REBECCA DRENNAN, like her illustrious namesake, Rebecca, the daughter of
Bethuel, left her father's home and people and went to live in a strange
country and to dwell among her husband's people. When she married George G.
Latimer and came with him to Cherry Grove, she said truly in the words of
another illustrious Bible woman: Whither thou goest, I will go, and where
thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my
God; where thou diest, I will die and there will I be buried.
After reaching the new country, she very soon won the confidence and
hearts of his people and of the neighbors, and they remained her friends and
admirers ever after. What now concerned Col. Latimer concerned Mrs. Latimer.
When he, with a few others, was planning and working to secure both church
and school privileges for the little colony, she was not only in sympathy
with their purpose, but was cheerfully aiding them in such practical ways as
were open to her. Students from a distance soon began coming to the Seminary
in greater numbers than was expected. This made it difficult to find
boarding places for them all. To such an extent was this true that it
threatened the success of the school. It was to help meet this need that
Mrs. Latimer consented to take students into her home, when it meant real
sacrifice for her to do so. It was when the cherished plans and hopes of
Col. Latimer were moving steadily toward realization that his death came. It
seemed ever after, in the light of her life at Cherry Grove, that she did
everything she could to make the church and the school fulfill their hoped
for mission, in loving remembrance of her husband.
After Mr. Latimer's death. she saw, in the midst of her sorrow, that she
must now put out of sight, as far as possible, her grief and resolutely take
up the increased responsibilities that were before her. Five children were
left her that must be comforted and trained. The home must be maintained and
this meant that the farm must continue to be successfully managed. Facing
these facts her courage rose and her resolution was made. There was no
faltering after. Mrs. Latimer took up the management of the farm. The land
was not rented out but was put into crops as formerly, but now under her
direction and management. She had the entire control of the finances, etc.
That she met these responsibilities with notable fidelity and success was
always the testimony of her neighbors. It was notably true, also, that
during those busy years Mrs. Latimer never for a moment neglected the
training and education of her children or her household duties. Though she
had more than ordinary business ability, it was in the family circle where
her strength and beauty of her character were best seen.
In the fall of 1857, it was the good fortune of the writer of this
sketch of family history to be a boarder in Mrs. Latimer's family and to
become somewhat acquainted, so that he had a good opportunity to know of
their manner of living.
Martha, the oldest child, was at that time married, and living in a home
of her own, with two little children. Drennan was nineteen, but much older
than that in practical knowledge of business and farming. Though he always
deferred to his mother's wishes and never failed to consult her, he was
largely in control of the farm and of the business. Everywhere about the
house and farm were evidences of good management and thrift. The girls Emma,
Myra, and Dulcena, were about eighteen, sixteen, and thirteen years old.
They were then living in a nearly new house, standing where the old one had
stood, almost in the center of the farm of a little less than two hundred
and forty acres. The house for its day was large and well arranged. It was
painted white as was also the yard fence. The public road ran north and
south, west of the house and between the house and barn. The house fronted
south but the entrance most used was the one on the north and opening into
the west porch of the ell. North of the house was the wood yard and east,
the garden, enclosed with a high picket fence. On the north and east sides
of the garden was a row of peach and pear trees, while the apple orchard was
across the road and north of the barn. The yard was ornamented with
shrubbery, flowering currant, flowering almond, lilacs, snowball, and rose
bushes and with evergreen trees. The gate in the center of the south yard
fence opened onto an open parkway eight rods wide and forty rods long. There
was no fence between this and the road and it extended from the front yard
south to the road which ran east and west past the Seminary grounds. This
gave an unobstructed view south from the house and by it the beauty of the
house was greatly enhanced.
The boarders that fall were were John and Joseph Hensley, cousins, from
Kentucky, and the one already mentioned. They had for their rooms a large
upstairs room and a small bedroom opening into it - in each room abed. In
the large room was the boarders' study room. Drennan generally studied down
stairs with the family. There were eight in the family and seven of them
were in school and losing no time from their lessons, and Mrs. Latimer with
no help except her girls. The fact was she did not seem to need other help.
The meals were on time and well served and there never seemed to be hurry
and confusion. One of the girls, at least, could be seen helping her mother
at meal time and all helped when needed. While saying nothing about order or
system, Mrs. Latimer was giving an exhibition of both orderly and systematic
living every day in her household management. There was always the most
perfect good understanding between herself and her children and between the
children themselves. This made it possible to apportion out every day's
tasks among the children so quietly that no one but themselves knew about
it. Each knew in the morning what her part would be for the day. The
children seldom received instructions as to their duties in the presence of
others. While anyone in the home could not fail to see the orderly and
efficient management of the household, yet Mrs. Latimer's speech was so
guarded and her manner so quiet as to leave one in doubt as to who was
responsible for it.
Mrs. Latimer's school education was of necessity only such as could be
had at the common schools of a new country, but she had in her home for so
many years people that were educated or that were seeking an education that
her correctness of speech was remarkable.
Busy family that they were, they did not neglect current reading. A
weekly secular paper and the church paper were deemed to be essential. At
that time the U.S. was fast approaching a mighty crisis. Mrs. Stowe's new
book," Uncle Tom's Cabin," the New York Tribune, and other radical papers
and books, such as Helper's "Impending Crisis," were playing havoc with old
party lines, while Lincoln was leading the forces that were shaping them
anew. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" had been read by the family as it appeared in
serial form in the National Era in 1851-52 and was later read as a book by
the younger children. On Saturday evenings, after the lessons for Monday
morning were prepared, the school books were laid aside, not to be opened
again until Monday morning. Likewise the secular paper was laid away until
Monday. The Sunday reading was the Bible, the church paper and books from
the Sunday School library.
On Dec. 28, 1859, Mrs. Latimer was married to William Allison [the
Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a Rebecca Latimer marrying a William
Allison in Knox County on December 25, 1859] of McDonough County, Illinois.
Mr. Allison was born in Virginia July 25, 1805, and died Aug 14, 1878. His
ancestors were from the north of Ireland. In religious beliefs he was a
Presbyterian. He served as elder in that church from his majority until his
death. He was in every way an excellent citizen. Of his four children living
at home when their father was married, Andrew, the eldest, married Miss
Louisa Russell in January 1860 and they were left in charge of the Allison
farm. Elizabeth married Capt. J. A. James in 1866. Since his death, Mrs.
James has lived with her daughter in Chicago, near her two sons and her
brother John. Austin and John attended school at Cherry Grove and were
members of the home circle for some years. Austin married Mary Jane
Campbell. They live at Good Hope, Ill. where her father is president of the
bank in Good Hope and his son John is cashier. John married Arta Brown and
their home is in Chicago.
The years which followed Mrs. Latimer's marriage to Mr. Allison saw her
other three daughters married. All four of her daughters were married in the
same parlor. It was in October of 1864 that the news was brought of
Drennan's death, the circumstances of which are recorded elsewhere.
Mrs. Allison outlived her husband by many years. Although crippled by
rheumatism, necessitating the use of crutches, she spent her old age happily
in Abingdon in the home of her youngest daughter, Mrs. Dr. Miller. Her death
occurred Jan. 24, 1895, and she was buried in the Cherry Grove cemetery
beside George Latimer.
Their children were as follows :
I. MARTHA JANE LATIMER was born at Cherry Grove, near Abingdon, Illinois,
Oct. 13, 1833. She died July 8, 1908, at her home in Monmouth, Illinois. She
was married to Ezra CABLE by Rev. J. M. B. Roach on April 26, 1854 [the
Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a Martha J. Latimer marrying a Ezra
Cable in Knox County on April 26, 1854]. Mr. Cable was born at Floyd, Oneida
County, N.Y. Feb 11, 1821. He died March 20, 1910. they lived on one farm in
Floyd Township, near Berwick, Illinois 48 years. In 1902 they sold the farm
and after that their home was in Monmouth Illinois, until their death. Six
children were born to them.
II. MARY A. LATIMER b. Feb. 12, 1837 at Cherry Grove, d. Feb 9, 1848
III. WILLIAM DRENNAN LATIMER was born Aug. 23, 1838, at Cherry Grove and
died at sea, Oct. 9, 1864. He was ten years old at the time of his father's
death. He was his mother's only son and grew up to be her main dependence on
the farm. He prepared for college at Cherry Grove Seminary and entered Knox
College, at Galesburg, Illinois, as a Sophomore in the fall of 1860. In the
summer of 1862 he joined Co. E, Illinois Volunteers, 71st Infantry, for
ninety days' service. He enlisted July 22, 1862, and was commissioned Second
Lieutenant by Gov. Yates. He was mustered out Oct 29, 1862. He resumed his
studies at Knox College and graduated with the class of'63. In the fall of
'63 he entered Albany Law School, Albany, N.Y., completing the course in one
year and receiving his degree in early summer of '64. Without coming home
from Albany he entered the Commissary department of the U.S. Army at
Fortress Monroe. From there, in the fall, he was sent to North Carolina on
board a transport. On account of the prevalence of yellow fever, the troops
were not landed but were at once returned. But in some way Drennan Latimer
had contracted the disease and died aboard ship Oct. 9, 1864. He was buried
at sea off Fortress Monroe.
IV. EMMA MINERVA LATIMER, born at Cherry Grove Jan 18, 1840. Died at her
home in Galesburg, Illinois, Jan 24, 1917. She received her education at
Cherry Grove Seminary. She was married to Madison Cauby Bates, May 16, 1861
[the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a Emma Latimer marrying a
Madison C. Bates in Knox County on May 16, 1861]. He was born in Morgan
County, Illinois July 7, 1836, and was educated at Cherry Grove Seminary and
Cumberland University. They lived in the Cherry Grove neighborhood after
their marriage for 34 years. In 1895 they sold the farm and moved to
Oberlin, Ohio. After a little more than four years' residence there, they
returned to Illinois, settling in Toulon, Stark County, near which town they
owned a farm. They made their home in Toulon about four years when in the
fall of 1903 they came to Galesburg, Illinois and built a home at 391 N.
Cherry Street, where they were living when Mrs. Bates died. They had five
children.
V. MYRA ELIZABETH LATIMER was born at Cherry Grove, Illinois Nov, 1, 1841;
died at Chichasha, Oklahoma, Nov. 15, 1915. Educated at Cherry Grove
Seminary. She was married Nov. 30, 1865 to William Gowdy PATTEN [the
Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a Lamira E. Latimer marrying a
William G. Patten in Knox County on November 30, 1865]. He was born at
Springfield, Ohio, April 14, 1828 and died at Emporia, Kansas, Jan. 15,
1899. He enlisted in the Union Army at Prairie City, Illinois Aug 4, 1861.
Made 1st Lieutenant, Co. C, Engineer Regiment of West. Was commissioned
Captain Co. C, Jan 6, 1862, and Captain Co. B Feb 4, 1864. Discharged at
Atlanta, Georgia, Nov. 12, 1864. They had one child Walter Glen Patton.
VI. SARAH A. LATIMER born Aug. 14, 1843, at Cherry Grove; died Feb 9, 1848
at Cherry Grove.
VII. DULCENA BORODEL LATIMER was born at Cherry Grove, March 1, 1845;
educated at Cherry Grove Seminary and was married June 10, 1874 to Dr. J.
Hartshorne Miller [the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a Dulena B.
Latimer marrying a J. Harts Miller in Knox County on June 10, 1874], of
Abingdon, Ill. He was born at Alexandria, Virginia, Sept. 9, 1839. Died at
Abingdon, Ill. July 12,1899. He enlisted in Co. B, 84th Regiment, Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, in 1862 and served as a private until mustered out in
1865. Mrs. Miller died March 10, 1917, at Abingdon. They had four children,
all born at Abingdon.
1. Mabel Miller, born July 17, 1876; died Dec. 1, 1880
2. Winifred Miller, born March 3, 1878. She was educated at Hedding College.
She is principal of Lincoln Public School in Abingdon.
3. Malcom Foote Miller, b. Jan 10, 1880. He graduated from Hedding College
in 1905 and from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1908. He married Ethel M.
Pease at Abingdon, Illinois June 17,1908. She was born Oct 23, 1885. He is a
Congregational minister and is now located at Armour S. D. They have four
children
4. Anna M. Miller was born Jan 29, 1882. She was educated at Hedding College
and is now engaged in bookkeeping
Winifred and Anna are now living in the Miller home in Abingdon, friends to
everybody and everybody their friends.
VIII. JULIA C. LATIMER, born Jan 31, 1847, at Cherry Grove, died Jan 26,
1848 at Cherry Grove.
Other interesting Latimer biographies.
GEORGE GRISWALD LATIMER BATES (son of Emma Minerva LATIMER and Madison
Cauby BATES) born on March 21, 1863; single. He graduated from Knox College
in 1855. His fondness for Natural History led him to make collections of
botanical specimens from the Dakotas to Key West, Florida. These he sent to
the Smithsonian Institute at Washington, D.C. Later it led him in 1895 to
West Central Africa. From there he sent to the British Museum, London, the
results of his work and his specimens. He is a member of the British
Ornithological Union. He is also a Corresponding Member of the Zoological
Society. In the Cameroon country of West Africa he was the first to put into
written form the spoken language of the Bulu people. The grammar and reader
and dictionary prepared and published by him are the books now used by the
Government officers and by the missionaries of the Cameroon country. Because
of the increasing demand he is now revising and enlarging these books. For
original work and discoveries he was honored in 1916 by Knox College with
the degree of Litt. D.
EULA GOODPASTURE BATES (daughter of Emma Minerva LATIMER and Madison
Cauby BATES) born May 28, 1865. She graduated from Knox College in 1887, and
went as a missionary to Central Turkey in 1889 where she remained for twenty
years. June 9, 1904 she was married to Rev. Lucius O. Lee, D.D., a
missionary of the American Board in Marash, Turkey, since 1880. Mrs. Lee is
now General Secretary of the Woman's Board of Missions of the Interior of
the Congregational Church. Her office is Room 1315, 19 S. LaSalle Street,
Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Lee had three daughters.
MARY DRENNAN BATES (daughter of Emma Minerva LATIMER and Madison Cauby
BATES) born Feb. 22, 1867. Graduated at Knox College in 1888. Taught home
school one year and was assistant principal of Warren High School for two
years. She was married June 25, 1896, in Oberlin, Ohio, to Alvah Isome
Sargent, a dentist, then located at Huntington, W. Va. He was born April 26,
1871, near Wyota, in Southern Wisconsin; studied at Beloit and graduated
from the Dixon Business College and Chicago Dental College. In December of
1897 they moved to Galesburg, Illinois, where they have lived since. Their
address is 418 N. Prairie St. They have two children - Constance Latimer
Sargent and Hubert Drennan Sargent.
SUSAN PAULINE LATIMER (daughter of Joseph Latimer b. Jan 8, 1766 and
Anna Dobbins b. May 10, 1776, and sister to George Griswald Latimer) was
born at Lebanon, Tennessee, July 19, 1817 and died at Farragut, Iowa on
Sept. 25, 1844. She married Urban David Coy at Cherry Grove, Nov. 21, 1833,
the first marriage in Knox County [the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
lists a Susannah P. Latimer marrying a Urban D. Coy in Knox County on
October 21, 1833]. He was born Sept. 14, 1810, in Nelson county, Kentucky,
and died Feb. 10, 1876 at his home in Farragut, Iowa. They had five sons and
six daughters. U. D. Coy enlisted in the Mexican War but too late to see
active service. He also sought to enlist in the Civil War but was rejected
because of age. He was in the Black Hawk War with Lincoln's Command. He had
one son and one son-in-law who served in the Civil War. The latter was
wounded in the second battle of Fort Donaldson, from the effects of which
wound he has ever since been lame. At one time while the Coys were living in
their log cabin Mr. Coy's business compelled him to be away over night,
leaving Mrs. Coy alone. She heard a scream of a panther and thinking it was
Mr. Coy, started to meet him. She met, instead, her brother, John, coming to
stay over night with her. He told her to go back into the house as it was a
panther that she heard.
An interesting fact in the life of Major Coy is told by his family. When
he was twenty years old he left Kentucky and started to go to Illinois. He
was traveling alone and on foot when he met Joseph Latimer's family on the
road and was hired by them to drive one of their ox teams. Major Coy sold
his farm to J. S. Latimer, a son of Alexander Latimer, and in 1867 the Coy
family moved to Southwestern Iowa. The next year they bought a farm where
later was located the town of Farragut. Here again Mr. Coy's lucky star
appeared. He received enough money from the railroad and from the sale of
town lots to buy 1,700 acres of fine Iowa land. Here Mr. and Mrs. Coy lived
the remainder of their lives. They are buried at Farragut. All their large
family of children, but one son, are now dead. This son, W. S. lives just
outside the town limits of Farragut.
Move to Illinois (page16)
It was about forty-one years after the Latimers came to Tennessee that
Joseph Latimer and family decided to move to Illinois. At the time the
settlement in Tennessee was made Joseph Latimer was twenty four years old
and single. He now had a family of above twenty, counting somewhat as
Jacob's family was counted when he moved down into Egypt. All the family
were included in the move except the Wiers. The first year, 1830, they came
as far only as Sangamon County, Illinois. Though this is an excellent part
of the state, the next year, 1831, the journey was continued, leaving behind
in Sangamon County, Jonathan and family and Alexander and family to follow
later, which they did, the former in 1832 and the latter in 1833. The
direction to the northwest was continued until the Illinois River was
crossed at Havana, and finally they had reached what later came to be known
as Cherry Grove, Knox County, Ill. So far as is known there was not the
least question among them but they had now found the location they were
looking for. If any one had gone in advance to spy out the land or to give
advice as to where to go there is no record of it. They had now found an
abundance of the very best prairie land just rolling enough to drain well,
and near by to the northwest lay a fine body of timber of the best varieties
Illinois produces, such as oak, hickory, black walnut, sugar maple and
cherry (the large trees of the latter that grew near the border of the
timber was what suggested the name, Cherry Grove), and with it all,
abundance of good water easily obtained. The question of markets at that
time was little more than a blind guess. They were on the divide between the
Mississippi and the Illinois Rivers, about equally distant from each, and as
it proved later right on the line of the first permanent railroad built in
the state. The choice of land was then to be had at government price, one
and one-quarter dollars per acre. Making selections and procuring titles was
doubtless done as quickly as possible, for they had no houses to shelter
them until logs were cut and cabins built. The land office was at Quincy, a
hundred miles away, Vandalia, the capital of the state, still farther off
and the quickest means of travel was on horseback. Many a swift ride was
taken in the saddle in those days when a rival claimant for the same piece
of land was suspected. Leaving now to the imagination what these real
pioneers were doing the first two years after their arrival it will be worth
while to note the situation at the end of two years.
In the first place the inclusive family that has been referred to as the
family of Joseph Latimer had now become eight separate families, each family
having its own home upon land of its own, Joseph, the father, was located on
Section twenty-nine(29), Township ten(10), North, one(1) East, Knox County.
Mrs. Sarah Boran on the same section eighty rods east of her father, George
G. on the same section sixty rods south of Mrs. Boran, Jonathan half a mile
southeast of George on section twenty-eight(28), Alexander one and a half
miles northeast of his father on section sixteen (16), and the Coys were a
mile and a half nearly east of the father on section sixteen (16), all in
Cedar Township. These six families were in what came to be known as the
Cherry Grove neighborhood and acted together in matters of school and
church. The Marshalls located on section thirty-two(32), Cedar Township, a
mile and a half nearly south of the father, and John C. was located about
two miles south-west of his father, on section six (6), Indian Point
Township. These two families were located south of Cherry Grove and not so
intimately connected with the Cherry Grove neighborhood in school and church
matters. Where they lived, however, in these matters they did their part
equally well with the others.
Cherry Grove School and Church
These eight families had in two years secured for their homes about
2,000 acres of this superb farm land and the making of their homes was well
under way. Already public and community questions were demanding attention,
other families were beginning to settle in or near the neighborhood and they
of course shared in whatever was done for the common good. It was true,
however, that for almost thirty years these six families were mainly
responsible for what was done to build up and keep up both Cherry Grove
School and Cherry Grove Church. All schools in Illinois at that time and for
many years after were kept up by voluntary contributions. Schoolhouses were
built and teachers were paid in this way; so it was that the kind of school
any community had was dependent on the enterprise of the people of that
community. As soon as the Latimers were housed in their log cabins a
schoolhouse was built of logs such as they used in building their own
cabins. This building was used for a short time for both the school and
church. It was the first schoolhouse built in Knox County and in it the
second school taught in the county was held. This was taught by Robert Bell.
In June, 1835, The Cherry Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church was
organized in the house of Joseph Latimer with thirteen charter members. Of
these seven were Latimers. The officers chosen were: for Elders, Joseph
Latimer, John Howard and Alexander Latimer; for Clerk, George G. Latimer.
Attention is here called to the fact that the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
was a branch that separated from the Presbyterian Church in 1810 because of
certain points of doctrine which seemed to them to teach Fatalism. They
organized what was called the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. This took
place near where the Latimers lived in Tennessee and not many years before
they came to Illinois. It is not strange that they had strong religious
convictions. It is worth while also to remember that in 1905 these two
churches were reunited; not, however, until in 1902, the mother church
modified or qualified the points of doctrine that had led to the separation.
In 1836 a plain frame church was erected. This was located in a
beautiful sugar maple grove about fifty rods west of the east line of
Section 29, along which runs the main road from Abingdon to Galesburg, and a
few rods south of the road running east and west and connecting with the
Abingdon and Galesburg road. The lot on which the building stood contained
about five acres. Evidently so large a lot shows that the intention was to
use it for school as well as church purposes. This building now became the
meeting place for church and school and community gatherings of various
kinds.
Regular preaching for a considerable time was not oftener than once in
two weeks; beside this, however, there were special services of great
importance. One of these was what was called Sacramental Meetings and lasted
nearly two days. They were sometimes called Two Days' Meetings. These were
held once or more each year. Another was the Annual Camp Meeting. The
camping ground was near the church and the meetings were held almost always
in the month of August and lasted about one week. Some of the people that
attended them and camped on the grounds came from as far as Schuyler County
on the south, and Henderson County on the west. Ministers from a distance
came also. Thus Cherry Grove people and Cherry Grove Seminary were
introduced over an extensive territory. George G. Latimer was clerk of the
church as long as he lived and the records he kept are still preserved. They
show that from and including 1835, the year that the church was organized, a
camp meeting was held every year for ten years. Through these various
agencies the church grew and prospered and Cherry Grove Seminary was widely
advertised.
It was in this new church building that Cherry Grove Seminary was
started, either in 1836 or 1837. The circumstances seem to indicate that it
was 1836. It is certain, however, that in 1838 it was known outside of the
neighborhood as "a boarding school;" and was called "Cherry Grove Seminary."
The need of such a school was very great at that time and from the start it
me with favor. An addition was soon built to the church so that the younger
classes in the school could have a separate room. In 1840 a charter from the
state was secured and in 1847 Rev. Cyrus Haynes became the principal of the
school. He was a college graduate and both a good preacher and a good
teacher. He was also well acquainted among the churches of the Central west.
From the church records we know that Mr. Haynes had frequently been at
Cherry Grove from the year that the church was organized in 1835. It is
believed that he had been counseled with regarding the school and had given
his approval and aid to the enterprise from the start. Under his
administration the school continued to grow in numbers and equipment. In
1846 ten acres were added to the grounds on which the church stood. The
official records show that in 1846 Jonathan and George G. Latimer each
deeded to the Trustees of Cherry Grove Seminary five acres of land. This ten
acres, taken together, was nearly square in shape and extended the grounds
on which the church stood east to the Abingdon and Galesburg public road.
This added ground, as also that on which the church stood, was part of the
south half and part of the north half of the southeast quarter of Section
29. Jonathan Latimer owned the south half and George Latimer the north half
of this quarter. Whatever of sacrifice and inconvenience it had been to
these brothers to have their land thus broken into they seem to have shared
it alike. (The record of these deeds and a plat of the Cherry Grove Seminary
grounds can be found in the Knox County Recorder's office.) The grounds now
consisted of about fifteen acres with a public road on the north and on the
east. There was now ample room for other buildings and for recreation and
play grounds.
In 1849 a two-story frame building, forty by fifty-six feet, was
erected. This also was intended for the use of both the church and the
school. It was well arranged and substantially built and stood about
twenty-five rods from the road on the east and thirty-five rods from the
road on the north. There were two outside doors... These were in the east
end. They opened into a vestibule ten feet wide and as long as the width of
the building. From the vestibule two doors opened into the two main aisles
in the chapel. In the west end was the platform and pulpit. They faced to
the east. In the vestibule was also the stairway. The upper story was
divided into three rooms, one large and two smaller ones. Every part of the
building was perfectly lighted and ventilated. As the number of students
increased some way was found to take care of them. The old church building
was moved to the south edge of the grounds and made into four rooms which
were fitted up for the use of young mend who wished to board themselves.
There was also a boarding house on the grounds, which is still standing.
Adjoining the grounds were at one time seven dwelling houses (some of them
yet there). Some of these were for the teachers; one, a neat little cottage,
was for the pastor of the church, and all of them were located there to be
near the Seminary. There were also within easy walking distance half a score
of houses that boarded students during school time. The price students paid
for board was small but other things in those days were cheap. Boarding
students was not done as a charity, though it was done sometimes to
accommodate. Boarding students came manly from Central Illinois and from
Iowa, Missouri, and Kentucky. The local attendance was large from the fact
that the school was designed to take all ages, which it always did. A
considerable number of students, in the earlier days before the colleges
were there, came from Abingdon. It is now not possible to know exactly the
average number of students that came to Cherry Grove Seminary during all the
years of its existence, but from what is known it is believed that,
including all ages, fully one hundred names, as an average, were annually
registered.
The teachers were usually the Principal and one or two assistants and a
teacher for the children of district school age. As to the men who served as
principals and were responsible for the management of the school, Rev. Cyrus
Haynes has already been mentioned. Who came before him is somewhat
uncertain. The Knox County History says that a man by the name of Seymour
taught the Cherry Grove School in 1836. It is supposed that this is the man
who taught first after the course of advanced studies was introduced and
that he also taught the following years up to the year 1840. Mr. Haynes
became Principal in 1840 or 1841. Following Mr. Haynes was Rev. J. M .B.
Roach and after him Rev. John C. Wagaman. These three ministers were all men
of fine character and good teachers. Their terms of service, taken together,
lasted up to 1860 and covered a period of twenty years. The men who followed
them were all likewise college graduates, acceptable men and capable
teachers. The school from that time on to the close lost somewhat in
attendance, caused mainly or perhaps altogether by the Civil War. However,
looking now at the conditions that then existed as to schools, the wonder is
that it kept up as well as it did. The principals that followed Rev. Wagaman
were Charles Caruthers, O. H. Baker, and J. M. Miller. As near as it is now
possible to know the facts, the teaching force was paid wholly from the
tuition fees paid by the students, supplemented in the later years by the
public school money available for common school children residing within the
local school district. There was no such fund until after 1847 and from 1847
up to 1855 it was very small.
The equipment, such as grounds and buildings, was provided for by the
local church. This seems to have been the method of procedure from the
start. It has been said that the school was in a sense under the advice and
patronage of the Rushville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
which was doubtless true, but it is not believed that any financial aid ever
came from that source, though it is quite certain that a good many students
were influenced by the ministers within the Presbytery to attend the school.
The Seminary was always a distinctly Christian school, though not narrowly
sectarian.
The following brief extracts are from the History of Knox County: "There
came to the school a fine class of young people, earnest and enthusiastic
and always loyal to the school. There was a successful Literary Society, The
Upsilon, and a semi-monthly paper, The Cherry Leaf, edited by the student.
Young men studying for the ministry and others having in view the law or
medicine, fitted themselves here to enter the best colleges of the time in
the Sophomore and sometimes in the Junior classes; a large number also
prepared for teaching."
In the year 1866 there was located at Lincoln, Illinois, a college by
the Cumberland Presbyterian Churches of the state. This school was intended
to take the place of two or three schools then in existence, similar to the
one at Cherry Grove, and make of all one strong college. This action
together with the fact that there were at that time two colleges in
Galesburg, Illinois, two in Abingdon and one or two in Knoxville, made it
apparent that there was no longer a demand for Cherry Grove Seminary and
accordingly in 1866 the school was closed. The library that had been
collected was sent with the good wishes of the trustees to Lincoln College.
Thus, after a career of marked usefulness for a period of thirty years,
Cherry Grove Seminary was closed."
The same year the church erected in Abingdon a house of worship. This
was dedicated in February, 1867. Also in the same year the Cherry Grove
District built the first school house ever built by taxation.
He
was the oldest of the unmarried children at the time of the move from
Tennessee to Illinois, being then a young man of twenty. After the first
year, 1830, spent in Sangamon County, Illinois, the family moved to Knox
County, reaching there in 1831. Jonathan and Alexander, with their families,
had not yet left Sangamon County, so George was his father's main dependence
in conducting the moving, selecting the location and getting the family
settled. Upon him devolved the responsibility of attending to the legal
business connected with securing titles to the land and this necessitated
horseback journeys to Quincy and Vandalia, then the capital of the state. It
was on a trip to Vandalia, in the fall of 1831, that George Latimer spent
the night with Wm. Drennan, a prosperous farmer and citizen of Sangamon
County, where he was very acceptably entertained by Mr. Drennan's family,
especially his daughter Rebecca. Just a year later he went back to Sangamon
County and married Rebecca Drennan [the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
lists a George G. Latimer marrying a Rebecca Dennan in Sangamon County on
October 24, 1832], he being twenty-two and she eighteen. Their wedding
journey was taken on horseback from Sangamon County to the new home in Knox
County. With the romance of the journey was mingled the practical, for the
bridegroom and his brother, Jonathan, who, with his family, was at that time
making the move to Knox County, brought with them livestock, horses, cattle,
and hogs. In some recollections of her father, written by George's oldest
daughter, Martha, she says of this journey; "After they crossed the Illinois
River at Havana, their stock stampeded and were scattered through the heavy
timber, which at that time lined the river bottoms. They were obliged to
make camp and remain there until their stock could be again collected. I
have often heard my mother speak of this incident on her wedding journey.
And also of the fine wild honey which was given them by a settler on the
route, who told them to use as much as they desired, as she had a barrel of
honey on hand which was just as free as the spring water. In due time they
arrived at my grandfather's cabin and remained there until my father could
build one of his own, to which they moved early in the following March."
