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 Chestnut Township was Anson Dolph, who settled on Section 17, in 1833, at which time he made his claim, broke ground and sowed wheat, but made no permanent settlement until the spring of 1834.  John Terry settled next on Section 16, in the fall of 1834, he was the first Justice of the Peace, and performed the first marriage ceremony by uniting Mr. Gray to Miss Cope, who came some distance riding the same horse.  Mr. Terry at this time went a distance of 70 miles to mill, and says "the grinding was poor at that."  The first child born in the Township was a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Shaver, on Section 17, in the fall of 1835.  The first death in the Township that of Jacob Harbord.  Chestnut Township is well timbered and watered, and is considered among the best Townships in the County."

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

"Spoon river enters this township neat the center of section 24 and flows west one mile, and south one mile, west again a mile and a half, then south, making its exit near the center of section 34.  For agricultural purposes Chestnut ranks among the best townships in Knox county.  The village of Hermon is in this township near its western line.

In 1833 Anson Dolf broke ground and sowed wheat on section 17, but did not make a permanent settlement here until the spring of 1834.  That year John Terry came and settled on section 16.  He was from Greenbriar county, Virginia.  William McFarland came in 1839.  He came from Loudon county, Va.  Both these pioneers now reside in Abingdon.  John Terry was the first Justice of the Peace and performed the first marriage ceremony, by uniting a Mr. Gray to a Miss Cope, both coming from a distance riding the same horse.  The first child born was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Shaver, on section 17, in 1835.  The first death was that of Jacob Harford."

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

Chestnut Township is located in the southern tier of townships and is numbered 9 north of range 2 east. It has for its northern boundary Orange Township, its eastern Maquon, on the south lies Fulton County and on the west Indian Point Township. It is quite liberally watered and fairly timbered. Spoon River enters the township on section 24, and, meandering in a southwest direction, passes out on section 34. Other little streams, tributary to this river, course through the township, which afford ample drainage. The surface of the land is mostly rolling prairie, and is very productive. In the southwestern part and along Spoon River, the land is broken and pretty heavily timbered. Chestnut was among the early settled townships of the county. In 1833 its beautiful prairies attracted the attention of Anson Dolf who came in and made a claim for a home on section 17. The following spring Mr. Dolf permanently located here and commenced the improvement of his farm. He did not dwell here long alone, for this same year came John Terry and settled on the adjoining section 16. Mr. Terry was a Virginian, and came from Greenbrier County. It was not long before William McFarland, another Virginian, came in. In the latter part of 1834 Mr. Shaver moved in, locating on section 17. From 1839 the township settled up quite rapidly, and with a sturdy, thrifty and an intelligent class of settlers. John Terry had the honor of serving the township as the first Justice of the Peace. Squire Terry also performed the first marriage ceremony, that of Mr. Gray and Miss Cope. The first natural increase to the population of Chestnut was through the agency of Mr. and Mrs. Shaver, in the birth of a daughter, in 1835.

Chestnut was organized as a township April 5, 1853. A meeting for the election of officers was held on this day. There is no town of any importance in this township, there being no railroad passing through it, and the people do their trading mostly at Abingdon. In 1840 a town was platted by Archibald Long, on section 19. It never grew to be more than a small hamlet. It was named Hermon. At this place at an early day a Christian Church was organized, the membership of which was at one time quite large. It is still in a good, healthy condition, and is presided over by a minister from the Abingdon Christian Church.

Chestnut is one of the best townships in the county, and ranks about third in stock-raising and is hardly excelled by any in the production of grain. Its farms are well laid out, intelligently cultivated, and adorned with good houses and farm buildings. Take it altogether, it is a very attractive township, and a man who has a home here can very easily be contented with this life.

The population according to the census of 1880 was 1,087, and it is estimated that there has been an increase since that time. From the County School Superintendent's report for the year 1885, the following items were taken: There are eight school districts, with no graded schools. The school buildings are all frame, with a valuation of school property of $5,800. There is one library. Of persons under 21 years of age there were 455, of whom 330 were of school age, 261 being enrolled. The highest wages paid male teachers was $50 per month, the lowest $25; the highest wages paid female teachers was $45, the lowest, $25. The tax levy was $3,566.07. From the Assessor's report for 1885, the following items are obtained : Number of acres of improved lands, 22,695; value of same, $288,495. Number of improved lots, 32; value of same, $3,045. Number of horses, 793; cattle, 2,423; mules and asses, 20; sheep, 782; hogs, 3,650; steam engines, 2; carriages and wagons, 221; watches and clocks, 51; pianos, 1; melodeons and organs, 35. Total value of personal property, $74,055.

SUPERVISORS

Samuel Collins, 1852-54; D. B. Routh, 1855; Samuel Collins, 1856; Daniel B. Routh, 1857-61; Thomas Newell, 1862-64; L. D. Ferris, 1865; Thos. Newell, 1866-67; Owen Betterton, 1868; Thomas Newell, 1869; Geo. Pickrell, 1870; Thos. Hopkins, 1871; Daniel Wainright, 1872-74; Samuel McFarland, 1875-80; Leon A. Townsend, 1881-86.