HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
MONA TOWNSHIP
The townsliip of Mona was set off from Rogers March 2, 1870, being the
last township organized in the county. When first created, it was called
Delhi, at the suggestion of Supervisor Bishop, of Brenton township, but
several months after was changed to Mona, at the request of the citizens of
the township.
It was so named because many of the inhabitants of said township were
natives of the Isle of Man. Through the kindness of David Keighin, we will
give a brief sketch of that lonely island:
The Isle of Man is situated in the Irish sea, nearly equi-distant from the
three surrounding countries. Its area is about two hundred and twenty square
miles. Two-thirds of the island consists of arable and meadow land, and the
remainder of heath and moor. The climate is highly salubrious, being exempt
from oppressive heats in summer and frosts in winter. The commerce is not
great; the chief article of export is fish (herring) bringing in a clever
revenue of forty thousand pounds a year. The language of the island is one
of the three dialects of Celtic, which still continues to be spoken there.
It is similar to the Irish; therefore, the natives of Ireland, the
highlanders of Scotland and the Manksman have little difficulty in
understanding each other. The island is divided into six manors, and these
subdivided into seventeen parishes. The island obtained its name from the
original founder and legislator of the island. Mannanan MacLer; the name
being contracted to Mannin, and in later years to Mann. Mona, with which
Mann is often confounded, is rather a description of the island, than a
name. Mona signifies isolated or lonely, and was doubtless applied to the
isle by the inhabitants of surrounding countries.
Mona township is bounded on the north by Rogers township, on the east by
Iroquois county, south by the township of Pella, and west by Livingston
county. It is a congressional township, being six miles square. The north
half is a fine body of undulating prairie land, settled by an excellent
class of intelligent farmers.
The southwest part of the township is low, level land with deep soil, and in
dry seasons capable of raising large crops of corn, while the remainder of
the township is covered over with a large marsh, called the Vermilion
swamps. A great part of this has been drained.
The first settler in Mona was Matthew Faddling, who came here a great many
years ago, and settled on section 5. Among the early settlers may be
mentioned Jacob Holderman, Louis Falter, Sr., Wright Kemp, M. C. Lewis,
Daniel Morrical, Thomas Kelly, John Looney, Thomas Heavysides, Robert Lewin,
Samuel Dowse, William Cowley, George Sherman, John and William Dancer and
Henry Benson.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Thomas Kelly, at which time
David Keighin was elected supervisor.
The first schoolhouse was built on the northwest quarter of section 32,
Belle Hose being the first teacher. Schools Nos. 3 and 5 were started about
the same time.
In the spring of 1867 fourteen new dwelling houses were being built in the
township at the same time.
The first postoffice was at the house of John F. Bute, named Sugar Loaf, the
mail coming from Clifton.
The first religious services in the township were held in school No. 3. The
Sunday school was started by George Sherman, who was the superintendent for
seven years.
The town hall on the southeast corner of section 8 was built for the purpose
of holding religious, political, social and literary meetings. In 1876, a
literary society was organized with John A. Scott, president; David Keighin,
vice president; A. Anderson, secretary; and M. A. Dinsmore, treasurer, the
central object being to cultivate a taste for literature among the residents
of the township. The exercises of the Mona Literary Society were somewhat
varied; the main object being the improvement of the social condition of the
community. Their efforts were ably seconded by other districts of Ford and
adjoining counties, and liberal donations were received from Paxton, Piper
City, Clifton and other towns.
The society flourished until the village of Kempton was started in the
northwest corner of the township, which drew away some of the citizens and
much of the interest that centered at the hall.
The first preaching in the township was at the Bute schoolhouse, by Rev. M.
C. Lewis, a Methodist preacher. The society then numbered fourteen members.
In 1881 the society erected a church in Kempton under the supervision of
Rev. Joe Bell, pastor, and A. Stuart, R. F. Bell and James Kemp, trustees.
The new church was dedicated the 28th of April, 1882, by Rev. B. F. Tallman.
R. F. Bell was appointed the first superintendent of the Sunday school.
KEMPTON
Kempton is the only village in the township, a station on the Kankakee &
Southwestern Railroad. It was laid out in 1878 by Wright Kemp. The railroad
company called their station Kempton, in honor of Mr. Kemp, who rendered
them excellent service in securing the right of way for the railroad across
the township.
J. W. Brown built the first frame house in the village.
J. E. Seyster was the first station agent.
The following is a brief mention of some of the early settlers and leading
men who lived in Mona township:
David Keighin, a native of the Isle of Man, came to Tennessee in 1848, and
to this township from Peoria in 1869. He became the owner of a fine farm of
four hundred and eighty acres on section 11. In connection with his farm,
he, with his son Charles, engaged in the grain business in Kempton. Mr.
Keighin was elected the first supervisor of Mona, which office he held for
several years.
Thomas Kelly came from the Isle of Man in the spring of 1849, in the same
ship with David Keighin. He moved to this township in 1867, coming from
Galva, Henry county. In reviewing the lives of successful men, how true do
we find in nearly every instance, that hard work, economy and industry have
laid the foundation of future prosperity. Mr. Kelly was no exception to this
rule, and after hard work, acquired six hundred and forty acres of land.
Joseph McKinney, a son of Archibald McKinney, is one of the early settlers
of Brenton township. Mr. McKinney came to Kempton in 1880, and bought out
the hardware store and lumberyard of John McKinney, who afterward engaged in
business in Piper City.
Samuel Dowse came to this township in 1868, settling on section 8. He became
the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of fine land, with good
improvements. He was assessor for six years, and also held the office of
justice of the peace.
Louis Falter, Jr., was born in Ohio. He came to Mona township in 1869. He
became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres on section 4.
John Looney, a native of the Isle of Man, became the owner of two hundred
and forty acres of excellent land.
John A. Scott, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, came to this
township in 1870, and settled on section 9.
Henry Benson left England in 1854 and came to Kendall county, Illinois, then
to this township in 1867, settling on section 1.
John and William Dancer came from Will county before the township was
settled, with large droves of cattle to herd on the Vermilion swamps during
the summer. They herded as many as a thousand head that were placed under
their care in a season. In 1873 they came here to live and became the owners
of four hundred and eighty acres of land. John Dancer was one of the
drainage commissioners of the special Vermilion ditch.
Frank Drendel was born in Germany in 1838. He came to the United States in
1865, and to section 21, Mona township, in 1868.
Robert Lewin, a native of the Isle of Man, came here in 1868, and became the
owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land.
Daniel Morrical was born in Laurel Hill, Virginia, in 1836. He moved to
Ohio, then lived in Indiana twenty-two years, and finally settled in Ford
county in 1869. He held the office of justice of the peace, and was school
director for several years.
George Essington, a native of England, came to this township in 1871,
settling on section 1.
John Sutton was born in England in 1835. He left there in 1858, settling
first in New York state, then moved to Grundy county, Illinois, where he
remained some ten years. He enlisted in the Ninety-first Illinois Regiment,
and was in the service three years. He moved to section 3, Mona township, in
1869.
John Thorndyke was born in England. He came to this township from Grundy
county, in 1882, becoming the owner of the northwest quarter in section 31.
James E. Farley was born in Pennsylvania, and came here in 1875, becoming
the owner of two hundred and forty acres on section 5. At one time he was
assessor.
James Kemp was born in Kendall county, Illinois, in 1853, being the son of
Wright Kemp who afterward moved to Kankakee City.
Extracted 06 Jun 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, Volume 1, pages 178-183.
