Exploration and Occupation

When the illustrious Marquette was on his return voyage up the Illinois river, it is related that he met many of the original Indian occupiers of the valley, just returned from their trans-Mississippi exile, to which the Iroquois had driven them. When La Salle came here over two hundred years ago, he found the Peorias in full possession of the country, with their principal town at the outlet of the lake.

There a great trading post was founded by the French, and continued down to the war of 1812. At this time Governor Edwards ordered the destruction of the seventy dwellings constituting the town and the banishment of the inhabitants, owing to their known sympathy with the British. In 1814 Fort clark was constructed, then deserted, and four years later Abner Eads and Joshia Fulton settled there as the first white American pioneers. This was the actual beginning of settlement on the military tract in April, 1819d by the advance guard of the "Shoal Creek Colony."

Harvey L. Ross, in his youthful days, was fond of hunting and trading with the Indians. When but seven years of age he had killed wild turkeys, geese, and small game of almost every kind, and at twelve thought nothing of killing a deer. He says he also remembers catching twelve wolves in less than a month in steele traps placed near a dead horse. He relates some incidents of the first trading expedition in which he was engaged, which occurred in 1828. He started from Lewistown in company with Edward Plude, a Frenchman and Indian interperter, and "Bill" Eveland, son of John Eveland. Eveland was a large, powerful man, well acquainted with the country and familiar with the Indian character. They loaded a two-horse wagon at Lewistown with goods and traveled through what is now known as Knox, Stark and Peoria counties, where they found a large number of Indians and traded their goods to advantage. They returned home with their wagon loaded with furs and deer skins. They were gone three weeks and had traveleed about one hundred and fifty miles, meeting only with two white settlers after leaving the neighborhood of Canton.

Among the men who came about this time was Isaac B. Essex, who was appointed Indian teacher by Jesse Walker, the first Methodist preacher in the State. Although the school was for the benefit of the Indians, white children, what few there were, were permitted to attend. The names of the white scholars, as far as remembered by Captain Haacke, were Lawson Holland, N. Smith, Sally Eads, J. Sharp, J. and Robert Latham, D. Avery, Andrew Avery, John and James Dixon, William, M. C., and Warren Bogardus. Essex taught several terms and then moved to a claim a little below Bock Island. His claim was made on the top of a bluff overlooking the Mississippi river, where he attempted to build a city, which he called Quebec. But the attempt failed, and Quebec was lost. In later years he returned to Peoria, and in the fall of 1828 visited this county, staked his claim on the northeast quarter of section 15, Essex township, prepared the logs and siding for his future house, and, returning to "Shoal creek," remained there until April, 1829, when he set out to settle finally in the wilderness. With him were his wife and children, and accompanying him from Prince's Grove were Daniel Prince, Frank Thomas, Stephen French, Simon Reed, and Revs. Silliman and Allen, Baptist preachers. They formed the "Building Bee," who raised the first cabin in Stark county within twenty-four hours after arriving on the spot, where the first settler had prepared the lumber a few months before. Following the Essex family came John B. Dodge, a son-in-law of Benjamin Smith, and a relative of Elder Silliman. He built his cabin on section 14, near the Essex cabin, and took all the parts credited to him in other chapters, until killed at Rock Island by a desperado from Kentucky.

In March, 1830, Squire Benjamin Smith, William P. Sewell, and Greenleaf Smith arrived and erected the third building in the county, near that of Dodge, who left his cabin to John E. Owings in 1831. William D. Grant built a shanty on what was known as "The James Holgate Farm," in 1831, and in this year also came Thomas and Elizabeth Essex, parents of the pioneer settler, with their children, Thomas, David, William, and Joseph Essex, and Mrs. Cooper with her husband David. Harris W. Miner, mentioned at the beginning of the marriage record, Peter Miner, and Sylvanus Moore, named in the military, organic, legal and political chapters, and the quiet David Gregory, were all here.

In 1832 Major McClenahan came to Spoon river early in the spring, with nine of his children. He took possession of Peter Miner's cabin near Wyoming, and resided there for a few months until the first improvements were completed in Goshen township, known as the "McClenahan Settlement." The male adults of the family then were Elijah, Elijah, Jr., James and Robert. Within this and the succeeding two years came James Holgate, Miss Marsh, Thomas Winn, Hugh White, Lewis Sturms, Minott Silliman, John Love, James Morrow, John P. Hayes, Jesse Heath, John McClure, Jason Hopkins, Hugh Montgomery, Elias Love, Thorn. Leeks, A. Baker, Pardon B. Dodge, and Henry and Samuel Seeley, some of whom brought large families. Henry McClenahan came late in 1834, and the next year, Thomas Bradford and Geo. Parker.

In December, 1835, a party arrived at Osceola Grove under the leadership of Major Robert Moore. This party comprised the leader, with James Buswell, Isaac Spencer, Thomas Watts, Giles C. Dana, Peter Pratt, and Dr. Pratt, but all did not settle permanently there. In June, 1836, came William Hall, Mrs. William Hall, Robert and Mary Hall, Archibald Vandyke and wife, Charles Vandyke, Myrtle G. Brace, Brady Fowler, E. S. Brodhead, John Davis family, Henderson family, Thomas family, William Mahany, William Godley, the Dorrance family, William and Henry Dunbar, David and George Simmerman, Moffetts, Hodgesons, Dunns, Wyckoffs, Websters, Emerys, Chatfields, Trickles, Eckleys, Likes or Lakes, Barnetts, and Jacob Smith, Henry Butler, Jarville Chaffee, W. E. Buckingham (called by General Thomas the "Buke of Duckingham"), Simeon Ellis, Dexter Wall, Ira and Cyril Ward, S. G. Worley, William Ogle, Adam Day, Henry Sweet, Asher W. Smith, Lewis and Chris. Sammis, Ephraim Barrett, William Bowen, Adam Perry, Eliphalet Ellzworth or Ellsworth, Samuel Love, Peter Sharer, L. Townsend, Henry Breese, Samuel Butler, Henry Sweet, Hugh Frail, Joseph Newton, Israel Seeley, Daniel Dobbins, and Henry and Matthias Sturms. All may be said to be here prior to the close of the year 1836, with others younger and less prominent, whose names appear in other chapters. From the beginning of 1837 to the spring of 1831 many others joined the settlers here, completing the pioneer circle, and ready to accept the responsibility of the local government granted to them in the latter year. The following copy of the original assessment roll almost covers the whole list of the pioneers of Stark county:

The assessment of 1839, for the first district of the new county, was made by Isaac Spencer. In the following list the names of owners and values of personal properties are given, the figures denoting dollars: Avery, Zebulon, 344; Avery, Joseph, 600; Bayard, Ephraim, 164; Buswell, James, 304; Brace, Myrtle, 343; Currier, Asa, 229; Currier, David, 73; Carter, Timothy, 389; Cukes, Martin, 228; Davis, John, 364; Ferris, Sylvanus, 55; Fowler, Brady, 144; Gruthage, Thomas, 60; Greenfield, Charles, 123; Gray, Sarah, 100; Hall, Robert, 469; Hall, Thomas, 150; Hall, Langley, 43; Hall, William, 296 ; Harvey, Aaron, 311; Hamilton, John, 15 ; Lyle, John and Thomas, 736; Lyle, William, 152 ; Leeson, John, 460; Moore, James M., 216; Moore, William, 310; Moore, Robert, 229; Orsman, Morris, 30; Orsman, Bennett, 40; Oliver, Thomas, 273; Parks, William, 366; Pratt, Peter, 106; Ricker, Benjamin, 342; Sweet, Henry, 118; Sturm, Henry S., 340; Sturm, Samuel, 97; Sturm, Matthew, Jr., 97; Sturm, Nicholas, 295; Seeley, Israel, 59; Seeley, Henry, 327; Smith, Asher, 196; Sturm, Matthias, 257; Stone, Liberty, 112; Spencer, Isaac, 347; Sharer, Robert, 125; Turnbull, Robert, 155; Turnbull, John, 203; Van Dyke, Arch, 113 ; Whitaker, Oliver, 333 ; Winslow, Calvin, 312 ; Woodard, Daniel, 151; Woodard, Smith, 125; Winters, John, 265; White, Hugh. 60; White, Henry, 84; Whitcher & Vance, 135; Woodard, Alfred, 117; the total valuation being $3,094.

The list of personal property in district No. 2, in the county of Stark, with the names of the owners and value of the personal property, assessed by John W. Agard, for the year 1839, is as follows, the figures denote value in dollars: John W. Agard, 305; Moses Boardman, 710; Thomas Bradford, 115; Henry Breeze, 197; Henry Butler, 682; George Cargill, 375; Samuel Camp, 40; Lewis Davenport, 100; Lemuel S. Dorrance, 610; William W. Drummond, 88; Eliphalet Ellsworth, 359; Chauncy Fiellen, 306; Jesse W. Heath, 125; James Holgate, 775; Moses Jordan, 100; Samuel Love. 224 ; Elijah McClenahan, 444; Nehemiah Merritt, 310; Sylvanus Moore, 359; Benjamin Newton, 120; Benjamin Newton, Jr., 45; Joseph Newton, 257; George Parker, 25; Virgil Pike, 149; Christopher Samas, 4,110; Samuel Seely, 345; Peter Shafer, 104; Whitney Smith, 653; Benjamin Smith, 306; Sewell Smith, 148; Greenleaf Smith, 475; John Spencer, 236 ; Samuel Thomas, 1,159 ; Leman Thurston, 123; Thomas Timmons, 170; Horace Vail, 261; Dexter Hall, 274; John A.Williams, 75; Thomas Winn, 357 ; the total valuation being $15,916. The real estate in district No. 2 was also assessed by John W. Agard at $14,880. The names of the greater number of actual settlers are given in the list of original entries.

The assessment of Massilon precinct or district No. 3 was made in 1839 by J. H. Barnett. In the following list the names of owners and values of personal property are given: Arnold, Philander, 184; Brown, John, 278; Burfield, Benjamin, 243; Burfield, Carson, 106; Burfield, John, 75; Barnett, Ephraim, 755; Barnett, James H., 104; Clark, Thomas S., 280; Coldwell, Washington, 225; Coldwell, Thomas, 271; Coldwell, Presley, 135; Coldwell, Henry, 141; Cooley, Abraham, 442; Cox, Nathan, 308; Drummond, Benjamin, 419; Drummond, Zorih, 152; Davis, Daniel, 190; Dunn, Augustus A., 230; Eckley, George, 352; Emery, Fred W., 250; Finch, Lewis, 216; Finley, John, 299; Greenlee, Allen, 143; Greenfield, Bethuel, 75; D. and C. Gingrich, 326 ; Hanna, Robert, 250; Janez, Michel, 218 ; Moler, John, who moved to Iowa, 27; Matthews, Newton, 284; Ogle, Howard, 328; Powell, Colvin, 235; Porter, William, 258; Porter, Edward, 141; Mounts, Pero, 264; McClure, John, 808; Pratts, John, 395; Sheets, Peter, 970; Smith, William, 435; Smith, Jacob, 293; Shaw, Sumner, 188; Sturges, David, merchant, 325; Simmerman, Jacob, 75 ; Treekell, Jefferson, 677; Treekell, Stephen, merchant, 736; Treekell, Edward, 399; Treekell, Washington, 399; Thompson, Thomas, 90; Wyckoff, Nehemiah, 301; Webster, William W., 230; Wriggan, William W., 100 ; and John Whitzell, 135.

The list of property in district No. 4, in the county of Stark, with the names of the owners and the value of the property, assessed by Silas Richards for the year 1839, is as follows: Albright, George, 80; Bennett, Jeremiah, 210; Brink, James, 47; Cue, William, 360; Cundiff, John, 330; Coburn, William, 270; Dunbar, William, 693; Dunbar, Henry, 419; Driscoll, Luther, 615; Emery, Conrad, 538; Emery, Jacob, 571; Emery, Joseph ; 339; Emery, Jesse, 128; Eltgroth, Elijah, 40; Grant, Joshua, 145; Grant, Nelson, 155; Hodgson, Daniel, 425; Hodgson, Jonathan, 726; Hester, John, 440; Hays, Harry, 845; Ives, Henry, 220; Jackson, Barnabas M., 2,092; Jackson, George, 115; Lundy, John, 254; Lake, William, 144; Lake, Beuben, 179; Miner, Peter F., 485; Miner, Harris W., 460; Miner, J. & C. H., 1,336 ; Miner, Jesse, 35; Manning, Abiah, 50; McClenaghan, Henry, 455; Mason, William, 397; McWilliams, John, 238; Parrish, Samuel, 270; Parrish, Joel, 135; Palmer, Joseph, 320 ; Richards, Silas, 461; Richards, Milton, 392; Reed, Ira C, 50; Russell, John, 64; Simmerman, David, 535; Simmerman, George, 205; Sellen, Edward, 255; Stoddard, Israel, 315; Stoddard, Marcus A., 125; White, John, 562; Wheeler, William, 168; Pulhamous, Isaac, 24; Wilson, James J., 117. The total was $17,824. The list of lands in the fourth district, in the county of Stark, with the names of the owners and the value of the lands assessed by Silas Richards, for the year 1839, comprised the names of Daniel Frost, Thomas G. Williams and Isaac Foster.

At the close of the war between the United States and England in 1812, our government laid off a tract of land in Illinois for the soldiers who participated in that war. The land thus appropriated was embraced in the region between the Mississippi and the Illinois rivers, and extended as far northward as the north line of Bureau and Henry counties. To it the name "Military Tract" was given, and by that name this section is still known. Within this boundary is embraced one of the most fertile regions of the globe. Scarcely had Congress made the proper provisions to enable the soldiers to secure their land ere a few of the most daring and resolute started to possess it. There were only a few, however, who at first regarded their "quarter section" of sufficient value to induce them to endure the hardships of the pioneer in its settlement and improvement. Many of them sold their patent to a fine "prairie quarter" for one hundred dollars, others for less, while some traded theirs for a horse, a cow, or a watch, regarding themselves as just so much ahead. This was a source of no little trouble to the actual settlers, as shown further on in this volume, for they could not always tell which quarter of land belonged to a soldier, or which was "Congress land" and could be preempted. Even when a settler found a suitable location known to be "patent land," with a desire to purchase, he experienced great difficulty in finding the owner, and often did not find him until he had put hundreds of dollars' worth of improvements on it, when the patentee was sure to turn up. It was seldom that a "patentee " could be found at the time of settlement, and many of the early settlers presumed that the owner never would be known; but in many instances, after a patent quarter section was made valuable by improvement, the original patent would be brought on by someone, who would oust the occupant and take possession, sometimes paying him something for his improvements and sometimes not. Many holders of patents had no pity. This condition of affairs presented a temptation to merciless "land sharks," who would come into this section and work up cases, ostensibly for the original patentees, but really for their own pockets. The most notorious of these was one Toliver Craig, who actually made it a business to forge patents and deeds. This he carried on extensively from 1847 to 1854, especially in Knox and Fulton counties. He had forty bogus deeds put on record in one day at Knoxville. He was arrested in New York State in 1854, by O. M. Boggess, of Monmouth, and taken to the jail at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attempted suicide by arsenic; but at the end of a year he was released on bail. The settlers around Osceola Grove, with men from other townships, organized an anti-claim jumpers' society, which checked, effectually, the operations of the claim jumpers, and enabled them to hold their lands until purchased from the government.