Essex Township

This division of the county was settled in 1829 by the Essex family, in whose honor the name was given to it in 1853, by Calvin Eastman, Henry Breese and T. F. Hurd, the commissioners under the act of 1851 for dividing the county into townships. Essex forms the center of the trio of Stark's southern divisions. It is a full congressional township; but owing to the fact that the vagrant Spoon river and rambling Indian creek selected it as a special section for their wanderings, the area under cultivation is not of equal extent. The population in 1880, including part of Wyoming village, was 1,452, the village claiming 434. The villages of Duncan, Slackwater, and Stringtown form the leading settlements. Moulton on its northern border, and Massillon on its western border long since passed away, and their sites were plowed over by the modern husbandman. Princeville township, adjoining on the south, was settled by Daniel Prince, in 1822, but the family of Stephen French was the first there. Miss Esther Stoddard taught the first school; Theodore F. Hurd was the first male teacher. Rev. Robert Stewart, a Presbyterian, was the first preacher, while the first death was that of Isaac Essex's father-in- law.  Princeville village was platted for W. C. Stevens, in 1837, where the Presbyterian church of 1834 was built. Monica is a new village. About the time the first settlers came into this district of Spoon river, the Indians were residents. Subsequently they moved some miles westward and did not return until 1830, when they remained a few years. At this time the forest presented its huge trees without underbrush, with Indian trails stretching out in every direction.

The largest log ever cut in Stark county was that cut in Abner Kerns' timber, just west of Thomas Falkner's farm, in 1876. It is known as the "Centennial Walnut Log." It measured 13 feet long, 5 7/12  feet in diameter, and 17 feet in circumference. Payne, Thomas, David, James, Richard and Abner Kerns assisted in hauling it to the depot at Wyoming for shipment to Chicago.

The original entries of lands in township 12, north range 6, east, together with the names of present owners, are given as follows:

Thomas Merritt, n. w. qr., sec. 33: Feb. 19, 1818. A. J. Scott, n. w. 160
James Coleman, s. w. qr., sec. 33, Nov. 5, 1818. B. S. Scott, s. w. 160
Wm. H. Haskill, s. e qr., sec. 33; Sept. 30, 1836. G. W. Springer, 80; J. M. Estep, 80
Consider Yeames, n. e. qr., sec. 34; Feb. 9, 1818. Martha L. Riner, J. Colwell, A. E. Gingrich, 159, n. e
S. Hodsdon, n. w. qr., sec. 34; Feb. 9, 1818
Ezra Hutchings, s. w. qr., sec. 34; Jan. 11,1818. Jacob and Joseph Graves, n. w., 160
John J. Dunbar, s e. qr., sec. 34; Jan. 6. 1818. J. Estep, 80; H. Springer, 80; s. w.; A. J. Scott, 153, s. e. qr
Francis Morrow, n. e. qr., sec. 35; Oct. 21, 1818. G. Shebell, 80; J. F. Fox, 80
Reuben Rowe, n. w. qr., sec. 35; Oct. 21, 1818. A. E. and D. H. Gingrich, 57; J. F. Fox, 56; and small lots
John Hyatt, s. w. qr., sec. 35; Jan. 1, 1818. Andrew J. Scott, s. w., 160
Charles Maynard, s. e. qr., sec. 35; Jan. 1, 1818. A. J. Lair, 94 1/2; B. H. Perkins, 65 1/2
Wm Goodman, n. e. qr., sec. 36; Oct, 6, 1817 G. Klepfer, n. e. 160
Richard Ford, n. w. qr., sec. 36; Oct. 6, 1817. F. Mahle, n. 80, J. Friedman, s. 80
Charles Frost, s. w. qr., sec. 36; Feb. 4, 1818. H. J. Adams, E. 105; J. Alyward, 55
Andrew Gott, s. e. qr., sec. 36; Feb. 4, 1818. Joseph Friedman, s. e. qr

There are no records now existing to point out the end of a large number named in the foregoing list; but to the majority many references are made in the previous and succeeding chapters, as well as in this one; for the early settlers of Essex spread out through adjoining townships, and as a rule aided in their advancement. Madison Winn takes us back to 1828, when Isaac B. Essex moved with his family from Virginia to Fort Clark, now the city of Peoria, and tarried there that winter, teaching school, and it lays between him and Hiram Currier as to which taught the first American school in that city. In 1829 he came to what is now Stark county, it being then an entire wilderness, and built a cabin on the south eighty of the northeast quarter of section 15. His nearest neighbor was Daniel Prince, one and one-half miles southwest of Princeville. Some time afterward he was appointed postmaster, the office being called Essex, the neighbors carrying the mail by turns from Hicks', on LaSalle Prairie, in Peoria county. 1832 he was appointed special commissioner by the legislature to sell school section of Essex township. A little farther east was Greely Smith and his father, who came from Ohio in 1830 and settled on a farm now owned by James Graves, and east of him was J. C. Owens, who was made the first Justice of the Peace in the county, being elected in August, 1831, at the house of Benjamin Smith, and held the office until 1834, when he moved to Canton, selling out to Moses Boardman. This is now the Thomas Graves estate. In August, 1834, Benjamin Smith was elected Justice, and in August, 1835, Major Silliman was elected constable to fill the place of John Dodge. Further up the river was Thomas Essex and David Cooper, who came from Virginia in 1830. Mrs. Cooper, later Mrs. Ennis, is still living in Wyoming, and is 89 years of age. The farm they settled on is now owned by Mr. Kerns. A little farther up the river and near where Mr. Kerns' house now stands lived Coonrad Leak, and still farther on was old man Leak, who moved from Tazewell county, this state, in February, 1832, and built a saw and grist mill on Spoon river, southwest of Wyoming, where you could get your clapboards sawed, corn cracked and wheat mashed. A freshet in 1836 washed the mill away, yet traces of it may be seen today. Still up the river and on the east side was Sylvan is Moore, on the place now known as the General Thomas homestead. Also Jesse Heath kept a little store near by. A little south of here lived John Dodge, on the place now owned by Simon Cox. Up and west of here, near the Methodist camp-grounds, lived Wesley and Peter Miner. /p>

In 1832 Samuel Seeley moved from Indiana, leaving his family at Mossville, Peoria county, came to Spoon river, made a claim and built a log cabin a few rods south of where Mr. Duckworth's house now stands, northwest of Wyoming. While himself and two other men were building this cabin it turned cold and they started for Mossville, and when they got to Camp run found it frozen over, and in attempting to cross on the ice with a yoke of oxen and span of horses, it broke through and let them in the water; the horses got tangled in the harness, and Seeley to save them, jumped in himself and had to be dragged out, and finally all got out and across. Mr. Seeley's clothes immediately were frozen stiff, when the men stripped off everything but his shirt, and rolled him up in bed quilts and straw, and drove in that condition, one walking and driving and the other rubbing Seeley, and save frozen hands, got through all right. /p>

One mile south of Toulon lived Samuel Merrill, B. Turner now owning the place. Further south was Major McClennehan, who lived where James Biggs now resides, and part of that house was built 54 years ago.

South of this lived Stephen Worley, on the farm now owned by Hopkins Shivvers. Mr. and Mrs. Worley are still living, having moved to Henry several years ago. Mr. Worley is over 80 years of age. Benjamin Essex came from Virginia in 1830, and settled a little to the west of where Joseph Cox now lives. Mrs. Essex is now living in North Wyoming, and is 85 years of age. Henry White lived on what is known as the Peter Sheets farm, and John Marrow on the James Ballentine farm. Charles Pierce settled here in 1834, erecting a log cabin a little north of the Sheets cemetery. Thomas Winn came from Switzerland county, Ind., in October, 1831, stopping near Peoria; in 1834 he came to Stark county, and built a cabin in the old Spoon river fort, on section 16, now owned by Samuel Adams. /p>

Jarville Chaffee came from Michigan in May, 1834, and stopped with Miner's until fall, when he built a cabin where C. H. Cox's fine house stands. Thinking to get up something extra he split the logs, whitewashed the inside, and had an upstairs reached by a ladder. This was the entire settlement on Spoon river and Indian creek from 1829 to May, 1834. Dr. Ellsworth came from Ohio in the fall of 1834, and was the first practicing physician in the county. Up to this time there was no school nor school house, and on the 4th of July, 1834, the people came together for the purpose of building one. /p>

In 1839 several families moved from Pennsylvania and settled in Wyoming, and while they did not particularly want the county seat, they thought themselves entitled to the postoffice, so got it changed from Essex to that place, William Godley being appointed postmaster. The Eastmans came from New Hampshire in 1838, and started a blacksmith shop in Moulton, a little south of John Letters. Here you could get anything done, from the welding of a knitting needle to ironing a wagon. It is claimed they ironed the first wagon and buggy that was made in the county, and that Calvin L. made the first plow that would scour in this soil. /p>

Up to 1835 most of the trading was done in Peoria. In August of this year the Essex and Cooper families ran short of groceries, so they filled two grain sacks with meat, saddled two horses. Cooper taking one and Madison Winn the other, and with sacks across the saddle, started for the city, taking an Indian trail, going through Princeville and crossing the Kickapoo at Dunlap, arrived at Thomas Essex's late in the afternoon. The day was exceedingly warm, and what had become of the meat in the sacks was a mystery. Winn was a mess of grease from his waist to his heels. They made the trip in three days. Henry Colwell came from Ross county, Ohio, in 1837, and was the first stock auctioneer in this county, and has now been an auctioneer for forty-nine years, being seventy-four years old. He is the father of nineteen children — nine sons and ten daughters. /p>

Other pioneers and old settlers of Essex are named in the pages devoted to biography in chapter 16, as well as in this part. /p>

Sheets Cemetery.— The interments in Sheets Cemetery are listed as follows: Lettice L. Smith, '62 ; Greenleaf Smith, '48 ; Benj. Smith, '47; David Cooper, '60; Argelon Graves, '56; Ann Boardman, '47; Moses Board(man), '47; Mary Bayley, '51; Charles L. Lake, '51; Nero W. Mounts, '47 ; Matilda Edwards, '59; Mary J. Timmons, '58; Nancy Mounts, '42; Ellen Drummond, '60; William Johnson, '56 ; Susannah Ely, '66; Eunice Johnson, '43; Mary Drummond, '65 ; Nathan Cox, '40; Ann Cox, '44; John Cox, '61; Abigail Cox,'77; Sarah Cox, '59; John Stewart, '53; Ealy A. Whitcher, '75; Jarville Chaffee, '46 ; John F. Leseur, '63; Elizabeth Cox, '56; Margaret Timmons, '75 ; Eliza Ackley, '57; Paulina Ennis, '72; Daniel Davis,'72; Elizabeth Cornish,'60; J. Elizabeth Graves, '75; George Umbaugh, '55; Avis J. Harris, '58; Francis M. Sollars, '64; Amanda Earhart, '64; Mary A. Drennin, '63 ; Henry Graves, '71; Alice Graves, '80; Malinda Simmerman,'47; Peter Sheets, '80; William Colwell, '63; Robert Colwell, '68; Esther Colwell. '57; Margaret Ballentine, '58: Mary Turner,'66; Andrew Turner, '49; Hannah Colwell, '54; Edman Dawson, '54; Elizabeth Colwell,'47; Jonas E. Ballentine, '83; Matilda Edwards, '47; Mary Edwards,'54; Isaac Edwards, '47. John Cox and F. M. Sollars are the only soldiers resting here. /p>

Pleasant Valley Cemetery.— The soldiers and old people interred in Pleasant Valley Cemetery are named as follows, the date of death being given: George Springer, '86 ; Eve Springer, '72; Jacob Newman, '79; Christian Gingrich, '76; Joseph Armentrout, '63; Susannah Honze, '70; Christian Gingrich, Sr., '39; Eliza A. Gladfelter, '63; Polly Gingrich, '49; Isabella Slaughter, '76; Reuben Colwell, '74; Catherine Smith, '84; Mary M. NichoIas, '68: Mary Coleman,'56; Martha M. Waldron, '71; David Waldron, '75; Calvin White, '70; Malon Cox, '83 ; Samantha Springer, '62; Amy Graves, '77 ; Clarinda Colwell, '80; Nancy Trickle, '81; Mary Huffman, '83; Sarah Huffman, '73; George Springer, Sr., '49; Henry Springer, '45; Eleanor  Graves, '71; Elizabeth Barr, '70; Elizabeth Barr, '67. The soldiers buried here are: Michael Springer, '63 ; Calvin Vulgamott, '65 ; William B. Barr, '64; Ezra Gingrich, '65; Noah Fantz, '64; John Gingrich,'65. In Shebel's cemetery are the remains of Elizabeth Eby, '85 ; Joseph Eby, '82; William Dawson, 85 ; Gottlieb Klepfer, '81; Sarah S. Smith, '85; Sewell Smith, 73; Edwin L. Smith, '62; Gottlieb Schultheis, '71. E. L. Smith served in the Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry.

Schools of Essex.—In 1832-3 the question of establishing a school in the Essex settlement was brought before the legislature, and on March 1, 1833, an act was approved creating Isaac Essex commissioner of the school fund and authorizing him to sell section 16. On February 4, 1834, this section was sold for $968.70. The day prior to this sale, the voters assembled at the Essex cabin and elected Sylvanus Moore, Greenleaf Smith and Benjamin Smith, trustees. Moses Boardman was elected in 1835. Madison Winn, in his paper of 1886, says: " On the fourth day of July, 1834, the people came together for the purpose of building one. The site chosen was near the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 15, in Essex township. The building was planned to be twenty feet square, and all went to work with a will, some cutting, some hauling, some making clapboard, and others building. By noon it was built up waist high; and there coming a shower, we arranged the clapboards over the wall and underneath ate our Fourth of July dinner.

The first day the walls were built up to the roof, which was soon covered, and from Leak's mill slabs were brought for seats. A post was driven into the ground and a slab laid on it for a teacher's desk, while mother earth was the floor. Adam Perry commenced school about July 15, with about thirty scholars, out of which number I am the only one living. (This Perry received $55.50 for teaching the winter school of 1834-5 for three months. Sabrina Chatfield, later Mrs. B. Hilliard received $13 for a three months summer school in 1835, and Mary Lake $6.31 1/4 for six weeks' teaching during the fall term.) In the fall the house was finished— a floor put in above and below, three windows sawed out, the east one having a light of glass in it, the other two covered with cloth, cracks plastered up with yellow clay, holes bored in the walls in which pins were inserted and slabs Laid on for desks, and a sod chimney built. Sabrina Chatfield, better known as Grandmother Hilliard (whose death is recorded elsewhere), of Lafayette, now taught, and was the first female teacher conducting a school in the county. Next was Jesse W. Heath, Mary Lake, Joseph R. Newton, William Samis, and James Dalrymple. At the close of Mr. Dalrymple's school, in March, 1839, he gave a school exhibition, the first in the county. C. L. and S. W. Eastman and Jarville Chaffee took part in this exhibition, C. L. speaking the first piece. All three are still living here today. Great credit is clue the Eastmans for the interest they took in this exhibition. The first Sabbath-school was organized in this building, by one Seigil, in 1837. The Methodists held meetings here for some years, coming from Lafayette and Princeville, bringing their dinners and staying all day. On June 30, 1840, twenty-three votes were cast in favor of organization for school purposes. In December, 1856, Cox's school-house, Essex township, was completed, on land donated by Joseph Cox. In April 1862, when the present record in possession of treasurer A. G. Hammond was opened by W. S. Bates, then treasurer, Sewell Smith presided over the board with Sylvester F. Otman and Henry A. Holst, trustees. In 1863 the board was similarly constituted. In 1861 Sewell Smith, Henry A. Holst and George Fautz formed the board. In February A. G. Hammond was appointed treasurer, vice W. S. Bates, resigned, prior to leaving for Iowa. He was a Universalist preacher at Wyoming and other places during his residence here, among his appointments being Sewell Smith's schoolhouse. In 1865 George Fautz was chosen president with Messrs. Hoist, Butler and Jefferson Trickle, and in 1866 the name of William H. Butler, with Messrs. H. A. Holst, Philip Earhart and Hammond constituted the board, with H. A. Holst, president. In 1867, 1868 and 1869 the same names appear on the record. In 1869 a petition to change the boundaries of districts 4, 5 and 6 was presented, but owing to a remonstrance the subject was adjourned. In 1870 Jarville Chaffee, Henry A. Holst, Philip Earhart and A. G. Hammond constituted the board. They also served in 1871 and 1872 until John Barr replaced Mr. Chaffee on the board. In April, IS72 the petition was re-presented for a change of school districts and on June 10th, that year, it was considered. In order to answer this petition favorably it was found necessary to change the boundaries of the majority of the districts in Essex Township, and this was accomplished after much delay and discussion, a plan and chart (formed and drawn by Mr. Hammond) was presented to the board by Mr. Holst. This provided for the ten districts as now known, and seemed so reasonable that its adoption settled this troublesome question. In 1873 the same board transacted school affairs here until the election of Perry Winn and William H. Butler, vice Philip Earhart and H. A. Holst, Messrs. Barr and Hammond being continued. In 1876, W. H. Butler's name appears as trustee, and in 1877, A. J. Sheets was elected, Mr. Hammond continuing as treasurer. In 1879, Augustus Bailey, C. F. Hamilton and Dr. N. B. Morse, were elected trustees, and in April appointed Rev. John W. Agard, treasurer, vice Mr. Hammond. In May following the old treasurer turned his books over to the new board, not however before obtaining an auditing and full business statement proving the accounts correct in every particular. In April, 1880, John Jordan and Royal H. Miller were elected to the vacancies occasioned by the removal of Dr. Morse from Essex, and C. F. Hamilton, term expired. This election brought up the legal use of length of term expressed on ballot, or decision on length of term by new board after election. The new board re-appointed A. G. Hammond treasurer vice Rev. J. W. Agard, who willingly turned over the records and accounts. The whole legality of the election of trustees was questioned, and the supercession of Mr. Agard by the appointee of the new board was tested in a case presented before Judge McCullough, in September, 1880, at Toulon. Messrs. Fuller and Shallenberger appeared for A. G. Hammond; Messrs. Decker and Wilson, for C. F. Hamilton, who had also been appointed treasurer by a minority of the board of trustees. This was decided in favor of the defendant, and Mr. Hammond retained the office. Messrs. Miller, Jordan and James R. Galvin formed the board in 1881. In 1882 C. P. McCorkle was elected trustee. In 1883 N. Monroe Cox  was elected, vice J. R. Galvin, Mr. Hammond being re-appointed treasurer. In 1884 Philip F. Earhart and N. M. Cox, were placed on the board. In 1885, J. R. Galvin was reflected. In 1886 P. F. Earhart, K M. Cox, J. R. Galvin and A. G. Hammond, constituted the board. In 1886 there were 310 males, and 315 females under twenty-one years, or a total of 625, nine ungraded schools, and one graded school attended by 193 males, and 186 female pupils, presided over by six male and seventeen female teachers, the former receiving $1,525.53, and the latter $3,636.98 as salary. The district tax, $3,636.98; value of property, $16,775; of libraries, $300; bonded debt, $3,000; total receipts, $12,529.16; total expenditures, $6,770.45. A. G. Hammond serving as clerk and treasurer.

Officials. — The names of all the supervisors of Essex from 1854 to the present time are given below. The name of the first appears in the organic chapter: '54, Samuel Dixon; '55-7, Josiah Moffitt; '57-9, Henry Colwell; '59, John Chaffee; '60, Samuel Dixon; '61, John Chaffee; '62, Jonathan NichoIas; '63-5, W. H. Butler; '65, Edward Trickle; 766, S. F. Otman; '67-9, Hopkins Shivvers; '69, Henry Colwell; '70, Philip F. Earhart; '71-4, John H. Ogle; '74, Timothy Bailey; '75-7, Jacob Graves; '77, P. F. Earhart; '78, James M. Rogers; '79, William H. Graves; '80-2, Philip F. Earhart; '82, John Jordan ; '83-6, Philip F. Earhart; '86, John Jordan.

Pioneer post-office.  *In 1833-4 there was a weekly mail route established from Springfield via Peoria to Galena. This route ran along the bluffs of the Illinois river, above Peoria up to Hennepin, to Dixon and on to Galena. Upon this the early settlers were entirely dependent for their mail matter. There was some sort of an office, or "hole in the bluff" just below the present town of Northampton in Peoria county, and a man by the name of Hicks was postmaster. In 1833 a post-office was established in the Essex settlement, and Isaac B. Essex was appointed the first postmaster within the present limits of Stark county. The mail was carried on the volunteer system, the settlers taking turns at carrying it once a week from the office under the bluff. It was usually carried in a meal bag, and could have been in the crown of a man's hat. "Galena Miner" (as Mr. Harris Miner was often called) generally carried it on foot. The office at this time was an old boot box, set up on pins driven into the wall, high and dry, and above the reach of children in the cabin of Mr. Essex. In 1833 only two newspapers were taken in the county, one by Mr. Essex and the other by Benj. Smith. At this date two weeks were required to get a paper from Springfield, and a proportionately longer time to get intelligence from Washington. This office was transferred to Wyoming, where Godley was appointed master. The coming of the railroad brought with it the village of Duncan, and with the village returned the post-office.

*From Mrs. Shallenberger's Work.

Churches.—The early history of Methodism in this township, like that of its first settlement is very fully treated in the general history and finds mention in the sketches of the Wyoming and Toulon churches. Its establishment is contemporary with the settlement of the Essex family here in 1829, although a class was not regularly organized until 1835. Rev. Wm. C. Cummings writes: "In 1835 I was appointed by Bishop Roberts from the Illinois conference of the M. E. church to (what was then) Peoria mission. It extended over a large territory — nearly all embraced now in Peoria and Kewanee districts, being parts of the following named counties, viz: Peoria, Fulton, Knox, Stark and Marshall. I preached at Father Fraker's, whose name is of precious  memory in the churches, and rode from there over the ground where Toulon and Lafayette now stand, though they probably had not then been thought of. Not far from the present site of Toulon lived Adam Perry, whom I appointed class leader of a small society in the Essex settlement, and where we held a quarterly meeting in 1835, at which W. B. Mack and Stephen R. Beggs were present. The circuit preachers who attended here from 1830 to 1839 are named as follows: S. P. Beggs, 1830; Rev. Wm. Crissay, 1831; Zadoc Hall, 1832; Joel Arlington, 1833; Leander S. Walker, 1834; J. W.  Dunahay, 1836; W. C. Cummings, 1835-7; A. E. Phelps, 1837; S. P. Beggs, 1839. Since Mr. Begg's last term, the history of Methodism in Essex is that of Toulon or Wyoming.

In church affairs, the Methodists were first on the field, but were soon followed by the Latter Day Saints, who made some converts here, and, it is said, led some members of the Essex family and others equally prominent, away from their allegiance to Methodism.

United Brethren Church, of Essex township, or Pleasant Valley Church was regularly organized in 1867, and the present house of worship erected that year. The pastors have been: 1867, B. C. Dennis; '68, J. L. Condon; '69, F. J. Dunn; '71, John Wagner; '72. P. B. Lee; '74, Geo. H. Varce ; '75, A. Norman; '77, J. K. Bradford ; '79, A. A. Wolf; '81, A. W. Callaghan and J. S. Smith; '83, J. Lessig; '85, E. O. Norvill; '86, W. E. Rose, the present pastor. The members are Geo. Fautz and wife, Noah Springer and wife, Christina Springer, Geo. W. Springer and wife, Jared Jones and wife, Henry Springer, Sarah Nickel, Eliza Colwell, Mary Sheets, Andrew and Geo. Sheets, Eliza Eby, Charles Eckley and wife, Peter Sheets, Mary Howell, Mahala Sheets, Geo. Williams, Amelia J. Motes, Cora Colwell, Arch Jones, Matilda Swanson and Peter Sheets, Jr. Pleasant Valley Church lot and cemetery were platted by Edwin Butler, in August, 1873, on two acres in the northeast corner of northeast one-quarter, section 32, township 13, range 7.

Duncan. The town of Duncan was surveyed by Edwin Butler for Alfred H. Castle in June, 1870. Monroe, Adams and Jefferson streets running north and south; Main, Washington and Galena streets running east and west, were represented; but block one forming the extreme northwestern part of the village and all Galena street with northern extensions of Monroe and Adams, have been vacated. The first purchasers of lots at Duncan were the Scotts, of Wyoming, in 1871; Davis Lowman, Albert D. White, F. F. Brockway, E. Berg, John T. Fox, in block one, W. O. Cox, Joseph Buck, J. H. Francis, Joab Graves, Rebecca Alford, Nancy Barber, Alex Ivens, Emmett Illingworth, Samuel M. Adams, Benj. F. Gharrett, John H. Slater, W. S. Brockway, and others in blocks two, three, four and five; Geo. Fautz, Peter Olson, Olof Bergguist, Geo. Colwell, Louisa Plummer, S. N. F. Westerfield in blocks four and five; C. M. Jacques, W. J. Alford, Wm. Hobbs, Chris. Gingrich, Jos. P. Paul, Day Bros. & Co, W. H. Nickerson, the  Dixons, Slaters, Gharretts, Scotts and Scott & Wrigley, Artemus W. Wheeler, in block six. Duncan business circle comprises F. F. Brockaway and John H. Slater, merchants; A. J. Scott, grain and lumber; Geo. Fautz & Co., hardware; Wm. Heath, grocer and hotel; T. C. Thomas, physician ; E. L.  Marvin, R. R. agent; John Barker, blacksmith, with H. G. Slater, postmaster. W. H. Miller was postmaster at Duncan in 1870.

In 1834-5 the Indians cultivated their corn-fields along Camping creek and near its mouth; but their old village on the borders of the Josiah Moffitt farm was then deserted, and their council-house in ruins. Even the mimic fortress built at the close of 1832, to commemorate the war, was then going to  decay. A new era was introducing itself, which, within fifty-four years effected a total change in the customs and manners of the people, as well as in the country which the pioneers found a wilderness. Throughout this State there cannot be found a more beautifully located township than this of Essex.  Within its limits many of the early settlers made their homes; there also, that natural locater, the Indian, built his wigwam, and squatted, so to speak, in the midst of plenty. The streams of the township offered the lazy red men their wealth of fish, the forest its game, and the soil its wild fruits, herbs, and in some cases corn.