The History Of Harristown Township
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This is the history of the town that I live in.
This is not an official site of Harristown, Illinois.
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William Hanks, relative of Abraham Lincoln, was the first man to locate in Harristown township. He came in 1828, and built his cabin and made other improvements in Section 23.
The same year Christopher Miller came from Kentucky, and located in Section 14. His sons, Samuel, William, and John, came with him and located homes nearby. James Miller came from Kentucky in 1829. James Harrell, another Kentuckian arrived in 1834. In the year of 1835 Jacob Hosetetler located in Section 14. J.W. Gouge came in 1836 from New York.
John Miller was the first to enter land in the township. On December 2, 1828 he entered 80 Acres in Section 13.
As early as 1830 a school was taught in the eastern part of the township by William Miller. About 1841 a school building was erected in Section 13. It served school and church purposes for many years.
The townships most distinguished resident was Abraham Lincoln, who came to Macon County in 1830. The Lincoln cabin home, which Abraham helped to build , was located on a bluff along the Sangamon, in Section 28.
The land on which the Lincoln cabin stood was afterwards owned by the Whitley family. Shelton Whitley came to Macon county in 1831 with Dr. Speer and Snyder families. He was a carpenter/ Mr. Whitley erected a mill in the Sangamon in Harristown township, this being one of the earliest mills in the county. Often the mill wheel was clogged with fish. Shelton Whitley bought this land in Section 28 in 1843 from Perry Strickland, who had entered it from the government on May 31, 1836. It afterward passed to his brother, James Whitley, and is still possession of latter's descendants.
In 1837, Samuel and James Miller built a mill on Sangamon in Section 24. They also had a blacksmith shop there.
After the Wabash railroad was built through the township, the village of Harristown was laid out. It was platted in 1856 by Jerden Burkey in Sections 9 and 10. The first house in the village was built by Jacob I. Hobbs in 1856. The first postmaster was David Masters. The first store was opened by Samuel Cox in 1859. The first blacksmith was H.C. Masters. Summit lodge, No. 431, A.F. and A.M., was chartered October 4, 1865.
A schoolhouse was erected in Harristown in 1863, and the school as taught by John S. Randle, who had been teaching in the neighborhood since 1861.
The Christian Church was organized March 15, 1861. Services were held in the old church building, which had been moved the year previous from a few miles southeast of town. Rev. W.A. Mallory led in organization of the church, and was the first preacher. In 1917 the congregation erected the handsome brick edifice in use today. It was dedicated December 23, 1917.
The Methodist Church was organized in 1863, and erected a building the following year. W.C. Lapham was the first pastor.
In 1865 an elevator was built by O.Z. Greene.
In 1876 a tile works was erected in Section 21 by J. Traver.
The first Justice of the Peace in Harristown was Nathan Averitt. The first Physician was Dr. Greeley. The first supervisor from the township was Abraham Eyman. Other early supervisors were J.H. Pickrell, J.B. Hanks, M.G. Camron, W.E. Gouge and J.N. Hoyt. J.H. Pickrell became widley known as a breeder of fine livestock.
Among the Prominent early settlers who came in the in the '50's were J.G. Willard, C.E. Hunsley A.B. Camp, and J.D. McGuire. Jeremiah Freeman, a native born a Macon county resident, was another. Daniel Stookey came about 1860.
One of Harristown township's most widley known long time residents was T.J. Scroggin, who settled in the township about 1864, and lived there until his death in 1911. Mr. Scroggin was an extensive land holder, owning more than 1,600 hundred acres. He was known particularly as a most successful breeder of fine cattle. Mr. Scroggin's fondness for animals resulted in his maintenance for a long time of deer park, where he kept a big heard of deer.
The village of Harristown is known for its beautiful cemetery and attractive homes. The Illinois Traction System line passes through the village and the State Route 10 hard road gives it connection with other points for automobile traffic.
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