Pgs 412-686 - Illinois Ancestors

CHAPTER XVIII.
ESSEX TOWhTSHIP.
IIIS 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 ancl T. F. H~~rcl, the commissioners
under the act of 1851 for dividing the county
into to~vnships. Essex forins the center of the trio of
Sta~k'southern clivisions. It is a full congressional township
; but owing t.o the fact that the ragrant Sroon river
ancl rambling lnclian creek selected it as a special section
for their wanderings, the mea under cultivation is not of
extent. The population in 1880, inclncling part of
voining village, was 1,452, the village claiming 434.
The villages of Duncan, Slackwater, and Stringtown forin
I the leacling settlements. Moulton on its northern border,
ancl &llass~llon on its western border long since passed
away, nnci their sites mere p1.omed over by the modern husbandman.
Princeville township, adjoining on the south, mas settled by Daniel
Prince, in 1822, but the Family of Stephen French mas the first there.
Miss Esther Stodclarcl taught the first school ; Theodore F. Hurd was
the first 111ale teacher. Rev. Robert Stewart, a Presbyterian, was the
first preacher, while the Erst cleath was that of Isaac Essex's father-inlaw.
Princeville village was platted for W. C. Stevens, in 1837, where
the Presbyterian church of 1834 mas built. Monica is a new village.
About the time the first settlers came into this district of Spoon river,
the Inclians were residents. Subsequently they nioved some miles
~~rest~varcl and clicl 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 Starli county was that cut in Abner
Icerns' timber, just ivest of Thonlas Fallmer's farm, in 1816. It is
known a.s the " Centennial Walnut Log." It measured 13 feet long,
53~; feet in diameter, and 17 feet in circumference. Payne, Thomas,
David, James, Richarcl 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 giren as follolvs :
Edmin Hutchinson, e. hf., n. e. qr., sec. 1; Aug. 12, 1836. G. and D. Kerns, 78; A.
D . Gilchrist, 37, and E. Hartley, 20 acres.
Whitney Smith, w. hf. n. e. qr., and e. hf. n. w. qr., sec. 1; April 11, 1836.
Whitney Smith, w. hf, n. w. qr., sec. 1; Feb. 9, 1836. A. P. McVicker, 38; J. C.
Decker, 28%; T. Fox, 434; B. Drummond, 4; R. Hi ht, 4%.
John Trask, s. ur. qr., sec. 1; Oct. 6, 1817. W. fi . Cooke, 41; P. Stancliff, 110.
William Ely, s. e. qr., sec. 1; Oct. 6, 1817. James Hartley, 98; E. Hartley, 60.
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