HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
BRENTON TOWNSHIP
This township was at one time a part of Stockton township, the latter
being organized when Ford was a part of Vermilion county, and at that time
comprised the present townships of Rogers, Mona, Pella, Brenton and Lyman.
The name of Stockton was changed to Brenton March 7, 1864, and embraced the
townships of Lyman, Brenton and Pella. As the country became more thickly
settled, Lyman and Pella were set off, leaving the present township of
Brenton, which comprises thirty-six sections of land.
In 1856, John R. Lewis, Mark Parsons and S. Standish were the first
permanent settlers of the township. Mr. Lewis built the first house in the
township, on the northwest corner of section 22. In the fall of 1856, Peter
Van Antwerp, George Benford, W. T. Reed, John E. Davis, T. W. Pope,
Frederick Chambers, the Jeffreys and A. J. Bartlett came. In 1857, came the
Cross and McKinney families, Ira Z. Condon, W. W. Wicks, Aaron Schofield and
Conrad Volp. In 1858, Joseph Davis, L. T. Bishop, Thomas Hahn, Jacob Titus,
Merritt Free, Peter Rouse and Benjamin Hobbis, settled here. In 1860 came
William L. Conrow, M. P. Sherwood, James Free, T. Jones, and in 1863, Jacob
Lippencott, W. S. Thompson, Henry Patterson, Robert Wilson, D. E. Middleton
and Joseph Carpenter.
The settlers of the township were nearly all eastern men.
The first birth in Brenton was Hattie B., daughter of A. J. Bartlett, on the
14th of June, 1857. The second birth was a son of John R. Lewis, August 4;
and, August 26, Mark Parsons was blessed with a son.
The first death was Captain Mack, who, with his young wife, came to Illinois
from the east in search of a better climate for his health, but, growing
worse instead of better, he sold out his property to W. W. Wicks and started
for his eastern home. He got as far as Onarga, where he died and was buried.
The first marriage in the new settlement was in 1859, between Charles Phelps
and Miss Mary A. Davis.
The first school was started by John R. Lewis, and taught by Miss Annie E.
Hobbis, of Onaraga, who remained a teacher for a number of years.
The first election after Brenton was organized was held at district
schoolhouse No. 1 (the Wagner school).
There were regular religious meetings held at settlers' houses every Sunday,
being conducted principally by A. McKinney, Robert Hall and Henry Atwood.
The following are the names of those who went from the Pan Handle to the
Civil war and returned safely: A. S. Bavouse. Fred Foot, Henry Phelps, R. A.
Pope, Robert Ferris, Jacob Brown, Ed Kent, Mr. Stoneback, James Feeley, H.
Eccleston, D. Kingsley, Morris Burt, John Haven, Ed Haven, Albert Holmes, B.
Lyman.
Killed or missing, Thomas Hahn and Joseph Law.
The first schoolhouse built was the Wagner schoolhouse, in the southeast
quarter of section 28.
The railroad through this township was built in 1857, first called the
eastern extension of the Peoria & Oquawka Railroad, afterward the
Logansport, Peoria & Burlington, then shortly after changed to the Toleda,
Peoria & Warsaw, and now the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad. It runs
in an east and west direction across the north tier of sections of this
township.
PIPER CITY
Piper City is the principal village in the Pan Handle, and the third village
in population in Ford county. It was laid out in section 4, Brenton
township, by H. J. Howe, county surveyor, for Dr. William A. Piper, of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Samuel Cross, of Chicago, in 1867. The
village lies on both sides of the Wabash Railroad.
John Allen and W. C. Jones opened the first store in the new village in the
summer of 1867.
Soon after Dr. Piper and J. A. Montelius opened a general store. The
postoffice was established in John R. Lewis' house, and he was appointed
first postmaster. The first station agent was John Allen. The station was
then called New Brenton. The United Presbyterian church was built in 1869.
The next one erected was the Presbyterian in 1872. The Catholic church was
built in 1880, and the Methodist in 1881.
Mrs. McElhiney taught the first school in Piper City in the building
afterward occupied as an office by Montelius & Brother.
The Piper City Dairy Association was incorporated in 1881, with Joseph
Burger, president; J. A. Montelius, secretary and treasurer; E. H. Brooks,
manager; and Joseph Burger, J. A. Montelius, E. H. Brooks, John McKinney,
Columbus Jennings, John Clark and B. F. Church, directors.
The following are sketches of the early settlers and business men who lived
in Brenton township:
John R. Lewis was born in Herkimer county, New York, June 6, 1828, where he
lived until April 16, 1850. He spent his childhood years upon a farm and
attending school. One of his schoolmates was the Hon. A. H. Prescott, at one
time judge of Herkimer county, New York. Mr. Lewis taught school several
winters, and then came west in 1856, and settled in this township, being the
first permanent settler. Mark Parsons came one day later. Mr. Lewis
practically sold most of the lands in Brenton and Pella townships as agent
for the Illinois Central Railroad lands. He was the first justice of the
peace, first police magistrate, third supervisor and first postmaster of
Piper City.
The second permanent settler of Brenton was Mark Parsons, who was born in
Bennington, Vermont, May 13, 1823, where he lived until seventeen years of
age, working on a farm in the summer, and attending school during the
winter. When about twenty-three years old, he married Miss Jane E. Crossett,
and with his young wife, moved to Will county, Illinois. In 1856, he came to
Ford county and settled in this township. He built his house on the
southwest quarter of section 34.
Archibald McKinney was born in Ireland May 2, 1802, where he lived until
1848, when he emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia. He worked in
a factory there for ten years. In 1858, he came to Ford county, settling on
section 20 of this township. Mr. McKinney was married in 1832.
John McKinney, son of Archibald McKinney, was born in Ireland in 1833. He
came to this country with his parents in 1848. Mr. McKinney learned the
carpenter's trade, and worked at it for many years. When Piper City was
started, he moved from his home in Brenton township and went into the lumber
business, and in course of time started a hardware store.
William Carpenter was born in Rhode Island February 22, 1811, where he lived
continuously for fifteen years; then moved to Herkimer county, New York.
Here he lived until 1867; then moved to Ford county, and settled in Brenton
township. In 1833 he married Ann Eliza Randall, a native of Rhode Island.
Abner McLaughlin came to this township in 1861, and settled on section 5. In
1865 he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret McKinney, daughter of
Archibald McKinney, an old settler of this township. Mr. McLaughlin used to
teach school in winter and work on his farm in the summer. He was school
treasurer for many years, and always took an active interest in all public
enterprises.
Samuel D. Culbertson, physician and surgeon, was born in Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, September 5, 1839. Here he lived for twelve years, attending
school and helping on a farm. When eighteen years old, he began teaching
school, and taught until the Civil war broke out, when he joined the army.
After the war, he began the study of medicine, and in 1866 graduated from
the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He came to Piper City in
1867, and began the practice of his chosen profession, in which he met with
success. He also engaged in the drug business. Dr. Culbertson was married in
1866 to Miss Clara Kate Culver.
Joseph Burger was born in Baden, Germany. He came to this county in 1868,
settling on section 2, this township.
John C. Culver was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in May, 1848. In
1865, he went to Cincinnati, thence to Leavenworth, Kansas, and to the
Indian territory, riding pony express from Fort Wallis to Denver; then was
government scout through southern Kansas, Indian Territory and New Mexico.
He served under William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) he being the chief scout.
After being there several years, he came back and settled in Piper City, and
went into the drug business. In 1880 he sold out and engaged in the grain
business in this village. Mr. Culver was coroner of Ford county for two
years. In 1872, he married Clara D. Fairley, of Lyman township.
James P. McDanel was born in Butler county, Ohio, where he lived until ten
years old; then he came with his parents to Illinois. In 1862, he married
Miss Kate Huddleson, of Randolph county, Illinois. When he came to Piper
City, he engaged in the hardware and furniture business. He soon sold out,
and began farming and teaching. He was town clerk for many years.
Henry Allnutt, a native of England, was publisher and proprietor of the
Piper City Advertiser. He came to Ford county, and located on a farm in
Pella township in 1869. In 1873 he moved to town, and soon started the
Advertiser. He married Adda, daughter of Joseph Carpenter.
Ephriam H. Brooks was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1837, where he
lived for eleven years; then moved to Livingston county. New York, where he
attended school and helped in his father's store until 1857, when he came to
Woodford county, Illinois. In the spring of 1861 he settled in Brenton
township, section 6, and began farming. When he came to Piper City he began
work in the creamery, and afterward was manager. He was married to Miss
Elizabeth Russell in 1868.
Conrad Rohrback, a native of Germany, where he was born February 27, 1821.
He lived there until thirteen years old, then came to this country and
settled in Tazewell county, Illinois, where he remained for about fifteen
years. In 1859, ho located on section 26, Brenton township. In 1843 he
married Annie May Dingledine.
James McBride, farmer, was born in Ireland in 1842; soon after, he came with
his parents to Belmont county, Ohio, where he lived until the breaking out
of the Civil war, when he enlisted and served until its close. He was
honorably discharged at Washington, District of Columbia, and returned to
the peaceful pursuits of a farmer's life. In the spring of 1869 he came to
Ford county, and settled on section 31, on a fine farm of four hundred
acres. In 1869 he married Miss Clara Strank.
Michael Cross was born in England in 1830. He remained there for twenty-four
years, working at the blacksmith trade. In 1854 he came to America, and two
years later settled in this township, residing on section 18. He was married
in 1867 to Catharine Mitchinson.
William Corey, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in Washington county, Rhode
Island, in 1824. He came to La Salle county in 1865, and to Brenton township
in 1867, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 17. In 1859 he
married Miss Ruth Wilcox.
Thomas Cue, a native of England, where he was born August 12, 1836. In 1853
he came to America, and settled in Woodford county, Illinois. He lived there
until 1870, when he came and settled in Brenton township. In 1871 he was
united in marriage with Victoria Arrowsmith.
John C. Steen was born in Adams county, Ohio, in 1837. In 1863 he moved to
La Salle county, Illinois, where he remained several years; then moved to
Chatsworth, and in 1873 came to Brenton township, and settled on section 15.
John Goodman was born in Huntingshire, England, July, 1818. He came to this
country in 1852, and settled in Erie county, Ohio; after living there four
years, he moved to Ford county, Illinois, and settled on section 30. In
1852, he married Sarah Bellamy, of England.
Banks
John A. Montelius established his bank in Piper City in 1870. The personnel
of the bank's directory was as follows, with no change up to this time: John
A. Montelius, John McKinney, J. K. Montelius, R. A. Jennings, James McBride,
J. A. Cook, D. A. Boal, Abner McLaughlin, W. O. McKinney. Capital, fifty
thousand dollars; surplus, ten thousand dollars.
J. C. Culbertson established his bank in 1901. Capital, fifteen thousand
dollars.
Recently, a new graded school building was erected, at a cost of twelve
thousand dollars.
Piper City has one hotel, much praised by the traveling public. The host is
A. C. Miller.
In 1891 the electric light plant was built by A. A. Blair. It is now owned
and conducted by Charles and David White.
The Piper City Telephone and Telegraph Company got its start from a private
line. It now covers the county, and has connections with the county seat.
Lodges
Piper Lodge, No. 608, A. F. & A. M.; I. O. O. F., Piper Lodge, No. 471; M.
W. A., Piper City Camp, No. 718, instituted in 1888.
Churches
Piper City has four churches: United Presbyterian, First M. E. church,
Catholic and German congregation.
Railroads
The Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad is Piper City's means of transporting
its products.
J. D. Tieken, C. S. Mellen and S. D. Culbertson are the practicing
physicians of Piper City.
Piper City has one lawyer and his name is M. H. Scott.
Extracted 06 Jun 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, Volume 1, pages 197-204.
