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 improvements in Ontario Township, were made by Alexander Williams on Section 30, which were purchased in 1836 by I. M. Wetmore.  Geo. W. Melton settled on Section 31 in the same year.  Both these Gentlemen still reside on the same farms, and their fine improvements show, that they have not been idlers.  The first school house was built on Section 32 in 1839.  Outside of Oneida it has 3 churches and 8 school houses.  Ontario Township is undoubtedly the finest Agricultural Township in the State, if not in the west.  It is rich, rolling prairie, with not a foot of untillable land.  Almost every farm has an artificial grove, with fine orchards and more than average improvements.  Its citizens are mostly of the moral order, and have been unusually prosperous.  Its farm improvements are unusually good.  And our many fine lithographic views, amply testify to some being very fine.  The Residence of James Hammond, Esq., in particular, is one of the finest in the state."

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

"This township was named Ontario at a meeting of its citizens in 1850, being assembled for that purpose, by order of the Commissioners appointed by the County Court.  Many of them were formerly from the State of New York, and they named the township after the beautiful lake which forms a part of the northern boundary of that State.  The first improvements in this township were made by Alexander Williams, in 1833, on the northwest quarter of section 30; which consisted in breaking and fencing 20acres.  This property was purchased by Isaac Wetmore, in 1836, who lived at that time on section 36, Rio township.  G. W. Melton settled on section 31, that same year.  A cabin previously erected on this quarter section, was the first building in the township.  Both of these gentlemen are still living on the same farms, and have proven themselves first-class farmers, as well as good citizens, as have many others in that vicinity.

As an agricultural township, Ontario is one of the very finest in the State.  Its groves and orchards, its dwellings, barns and out-buildings are among the very best; and its fine stone bridges are unsurpassed.  This township is without a parallel, in the regularity of its roads, although its highways are all parallel, or cross each other at right angles, and its roads are all on section lines, except one, a half mile in length, crossing the center of section 13.  The first settlers were largely from Oneida county, New York, among whom were the Wetmores, Chapmans, Cranes, Camps, Mosher, Hollister, Savage, Powell, and others.  Among the early officers of the township were Wikoffs, Hammonds, Brott, Butler, Haskins and others.  Before it was organized, April 3, 1853, Rio township was united with it, as a voting precinct.  The first Justice of the Peace in the precinct was Royal Hammond.  The election was held in what is now Rio township.  A warm time was had, and the merits of the Abolition candidate hotly discussed.  However, he was elected, and after the first case, which proved to be a dog case, - Thomas v. Maxwell, - in which the plaintiff was awarded the verdict, the Justice was declared "white" by his opponents.  The first child born in this township was Sarah Elizabeth Melton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Melton; and is now Mrs. Ralph Voris, of Oneida.  The first school-house was built on the northwest quarter of section 32, in 1839.  Ontario township was organized, and the first annual meeting was held in the school-house on section 32, April 5, 1853.  I. M. Wetmore was moderator and W. J. Savage clerk.  After adopting the order of business for annual meetings and the usual preliminary work was disposed of, the following gentlemen were elected as the first officers of the township: Supervisor, Edward Crane; Town Clerk, Wm J. Savage; Assessor, John Burt; Collector, E. C. Brott; Overseer of the Poor, T. F. P. Wetmore; Commissioners of Highways, G. W. Melton, James Hammond and John Powell; Constables, E. C. Brott and J. W. Crane; Justices of the Peace, Ezra Chapman and S. E. Mosher.  The following gentlemen have served as Supervisors of Ontario township, since 1853: Ed. Crane, the year 1853; James Hammond, 1854-5-6-7; W. B. LeBaron, 1858; James Hammond, 1859; W. B. LeBaron, 1860-1-2-3-4; A. S. Curtis, 1865; Orin Beadle, 1866-7-8-9-70-1; A. S. Curtis, 1872; O. B. Beadle, 1873; Ed. Crane, 1874; A. S. Curtis, 1875-6; Geo. L. Stephenson, 1877-8.  The present officers of the township are: Supervisor, G. L. Stephenson; Town Clerk, O. P. Cooley; Assessor, B. S. West; Collector, L. Burt; Commissioners of Highways, J. C. Burt, N. Fay and Wm. Smith; Constables, F. M. Doolittle and O. Powell; Justices of the Peace, E. Shedd and D. R. Drenkel.

Religious services of some kind were maintained by the early settlers in this neighborhood from the very first.  After the school-house on section 32 was built, preaching was kept up by ministers of different denominations, with considerable regularity.  Revs. Waters, Bartlett, Bremer, Moore and Gales were among the ministers who preached the gospel here then.  The first church organization was effected by the Presbyterians, in 1840, Rev. J. G. White officiating, at Henderson.  The services alternated between Henderson village and the school-house, in Ontario, then called the Camp school-house.  This church is now extinct.  There are now three church edifices in Ontario township outside of Oneida.

Several immigrants hailing from New York State about 1837 camped near the southwest corner of Ontario township, by a creek, during winter.  They split some rails, and in the spring launched out to the eastward on the prairie, put up a rail pen and moved in, and lived there during that summer, but erected a log cabin into which they removed before winter set in."

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

Ontario Township, at first, had the advantage in its topography over any other township in the county. Nature had done a good deal for it, and the early settlers, in making their improvements and laying out the roads, had the good sense to follow the suggestions of Nature. The result is that Ontario is one of the best improved and most attractively laid out townships in the State. Its public thoroughfares all run parallel, crossing each other at right angles, and following section lines, with one exception, which is in section 13.

The early settlers were from the State of New York, and the township was named after Lake Ontario, which forms a part of the northern boundary of the Empire State. Alexander Williams was the first settler and came in in 1833, locating a claim on the northwest quarter of section 30, where he commenced his improvements by breaking and fencing in a part of his claim. This claim was purchased in 1836 by Isaac Wetmore, of Rio Township. During that year another pioneer was added in the person of G. W. Melton, who located a home for himself on section 31, where the first cabin in the township was erected. These men were first-class farmers, industrious and thrifty, and soon had established comfortable homes for their families.

These pioneers were soon joined by the Moshers, Hollisters, Cranes, Camps, Chapmans, Powells, Savages, Hammonds, Haskinses, Wikoffs, Maxwells and many others. Of the first settlers, G. W. Melton and Ezra Chapman are still living on the old homestead. Royal Hammond, Isaac Wetmore and Alex. Williamson are dead. The Camps and Savages moved away.

The first child born in the township was Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Melton. This native young miss of Ontario afterward was married to Mr. Ralph Voris, of the same township. Ontario and Rio formed one voting precinct, and the first election was held in the latter town. Royal Hammond was the first Justice of the Peace elected. The first school-house was put up on the northwest quarter of section 32, in 1839, which was called the Camp School. At this institution of learning the Gospel was expounded by Rev. Messrs. Gale, Waters, Bartlett, Moore, Bruner and others. The Presbyterians were ahead in the formation of a church organization, which was in 1840, Rev. J. G. Wright officiating.

A Congregational Church was organized near this first settlement in August, 1848. It was located on section 31, and was called the Ontario Church. A good church building was erected, which was dedicated Nov. 4, 1851, and subsequently a parsonage. This society is still kept up and is a strong one, though at present they have no pastor, but expect one soon. Membership, 58. A Baptist Church was organized, in April, 1854, and a building was erected near the Congregational Church, on section 32, at a cost of about $3,000. Subsequently a parsonage was built, costing $1,500. This society has been generally prosperous since its organization. It has a good congregation, which is presided over by Rev. J. V. Cody. In 1853, the members of the Christian Church organized a congregation and erected a house of worship, on section 2, in 1866, at a cost of $2,000. Prior to this, they held their services in private houses and in school buildings. It became a thriving church, having a membership, at one time, as high as 70.

Ontario was organized into a township April 5, 1853. At the election J. M. Wetmore was chosen Moderator, and William J. Savage, Clerk. The following-named citizens were elected to fill the township offices: Edward Crane, Supervisor: W. J. Savage, Clerk; John Burt, Assessor; E. C. Brott, Collector; James Hammond, George W. Melton and John Powell, Highway Commissioners; Ezra Chapman and S.E. Mosher, Justices of the Peace; E. C. Brott, and J. W. Crane, Constables; T. T. Wetmore, Overseer of the Poor.

Ontario is fairly watered by Pope and Walnut Creeks and their little tributaries. Gently rolling prairies cover the township, relieved occasionally with beautiful groves. The soil is rich and very productive, and the assessed value of its lands is higher than that of any other township in the county, and in connection with agriculture it is considered the banner township of the State. The people do most of their trading and marketing at Oneida, located in the southeast corner, on section 36. This town is on the C. B. & Q. R.R., which was completed through here in December, 1854, and which passes across the southeast corner. Ontario had a population, in 1880, according to the United States census, of 1,657. Since that time, it is estimated, there has been a gain.

The County Superintendent, in his report for the year 1885, furnishes the following school items:

There are nine school districts, one graded and eight ungraded schools, with one brick and eight frame school-houses. There are four libraries, with 400 volumes; value of school property, $22,900. Of person under 21 years of age there were 719, of whom 525 were of school age, 431 being enrolled. The highest wages paid male teachers were $100 per month; the lowest $35; the highest wages paid female teachers were $40; the lowest $25. The tax levy was $3,625.

SUPERVISORS.