Edgar County History Page

The History of Edgar County, Illinois

Transcribed and contributed by
Jane A. Fullington
jgeick@sprynet.com

This history of Edgar County is taken from the book, "The History of Edgar County, Illinois", published in 1879 by Wm. Le Baron, Jr. & Co., 186 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill. It was compiled by historians, W. H. Perrin, H. H. Hill, and A. A. Graham.

PIKE PRECINCT.

This precinct, or civil township, embraced the present territory of Elbridge Township, with the exception of the north tier of sections which belonged to the division just described. It was scarcely one-fourth the size of Wayne Precinct, but for a time had nearly as great a population as the whole of that district. Among the early settlers of this township, were some of the roughest characters that, perhaps, Edgar County ever knew. We do not wish to be understood to say, however, that all there were of that character; for Pike had many who were of the very best and most honorable citizens, and who succeeded, in a few years, in getting rid of the turbulent ones, until, at present day, this section compares favorably with any portion of the country.

One of the first settlers in the original Pike Township or Precinct, was John Ray, who came from Tennessee in 1818, and settled in the southern part of it, but a short distance from the present line of Clark County. While he is supposed to have been one of the first, it is not altogether certain that he was the very first settler in that section. And there still exists some doubt upon the point, many believing that the Elliotts, Ewings and Rhoadeses came about the same time. Hal Sims, now living in this district, but who settled in what is now Sims Township, says when he came to the county in 1821, he found John Ray, Alexander Ewing, Thomas Wilson, Thomas Rhoades, James Love, James Eggleton, James Knight and Arthur Foster living in what was known as Pike Township. Wilson, Rhoades, Eggleton and Foster were from Kentucky, and settled here between the years 1818 and 1821. Ewing was from Tennessee, as well as the Rays. Knight was likewise from Tennessee, and is said by some to have been a Revolutionary soldier. We are inclined to doubt that fact, however, and think that if a soldier at all, it must have been in the war of 1812. Love was a pretended doctor, but seems to have been of rather questionable standing in the community, and remained but a few years. Where he came from, no one now can tell, nor seems to care whither he went. He figured in the early courts of the county in a manner not in the least to his honor or credit.

In 1822, Eleven Tucker and David Role came to the settlement from Ohio. Tucker came at the same time as the Meanses and Beard, who settled first in Vermilion County, and afterward in Paris Township, in this county, where their history is given. Andrew B. Ray was from Tennessee, and settled in Pike in 1823, and served in the Black Hawk war of 1832. Abner Lamb settled in the neighborhood in 1823, and was from Kentucky. Thomas Hicklin was also from Kentucky, and came to the settlement the next year after Lamb. John Elliott came in 1825, and Solomon Trogdon in 1826. The latter was the father of Judge Trogdon, of the County Court, and settled here upon coming to the country, but later, moved into Stratton Township. William Hanks, James W. Parrish and George Mack came to the county in 1829. Hanks hailed from Kentucky, Parrish from Tennessee and Mack from North Carolina. I. Cummins, J. D. Marley and other members of the Ray family came in soon after the last names above. This embraces all who came prior to the Black Hawk war, whose names we have been able to learn. Next in the settlement of the county comes the original FAIRFIELD PRECINCT.