Knox County, Illinois
Genealogy & History

[The township name was changed from Richfield to Copley on June 8, 1853.  The township had also been listed as Prince Albert in an 1850 report.]

From the 1870 Atlas Map of Knox County, Illinois, Andreas, Lyter & Co., Davenport, Iowa, 91 pages.  [Submitted by Bob Miller.]

"Larkin Robinson is supposed to have been the first settler in the Township, he having settled on Section 18, in 1837.  Jno. McDowell, sen., settled on Sec. 16, in 1838, afterwards moved on to Sec. 14, where he died in 1867.  A son of Matthew Herbert was the first child born.  The north two-thirds of Copley Township is the very best of rolling prairie, unusually rich, and inhabited by a thrifty and industrious class of farmers, a number of whom are solid Scotchmen.  The improvements are unusually good and the spirit of content universally prevails.  Every farmer seems to have just the kind of a farm he desires, has it in the right place, and intends there to spend his days.  Stock raising is the attention and business of the farmer.  The south one-third of Copley is timber.  The views we show are the best in the Township, and show that they are verily homes, where peace, harmony and prosperity reign."

From the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman.  [Submitted by Bob Miller.]

"There was raised in this township last year (1877) 7,695 acres of corn, which yielded 199,203 bushels.  But 187 acres of wheat were sown, which produced a crop of 2,434 bushels; 1,136 acres were devoted to oats, with a yield of 29,810 bushels.  There were 308 acres of rye, from which were harvested 5,433 bushels.  On the whole, in the production of these cereals, Copley ranks favorably with any other township in Knox county.  Its lands are mostly prairie.  There are, however, some fine tracts of timber in the southern portion of the township.  It is supposed that Larkin Robinson was the first pioneer, he having settled on section 18, in 1837.  John McDowell settled on section 16, the following year.  He afterwards removed to section 14, where he died in 1867.  His son, John McDowell, Jr., resides in the township at present.  A son of Matthew Herbert was the first child born in Copley.

The number of acres of improved land in this township is 21,360; of unimproved lands, 1,183; total valuation of both $399,214.  Of corn grown in 1878 there were 8,229 acres; wheat, 234 acres; oats, 1,523 acres.  Of meadow there are 2,311 acres; of orchard, 184 acres; of woodland, 1,866 acres.  Value of town lots, $7,920.  There are 781 horses in this township, valued at $29,501; cattle, 1,680, valued at $22,401; of mules there are 21, valued at $1,065; sheep, 666, valued at $1,162; hogs, 3,180, valued at $7,931; carriages and wagons, 303, valued at $6,263; piano-fortes, 3, valued at $190.  Total value of farming implements and machinery is $6,843.  Total value of personal property in the township is $130,988."

From the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago.  [Submitted by Vicki Burton.]

Copley Township was organized April 5, 1853. A meeting was held in the schoolhouse for the election of officers, and was presided over by Isaac Copley. John O. Stanley was chosen Moderator and Ira B. Copley, Clerk. There were 50 votes cast, resulting in the election of the following named officers: John O. Stanley, Supervisor ; Norton Kelsey, Clerk ; J. M. Perkins, Assessor ; Austin Gaines, Collector ; Isaac Copley and A. W. Buckley, Justices of the Peace ; Aaron A. Smith, S. McCornack and Joseph Airie, Highway Commissioners ; Jeremiah Collison, Overseer of the Poor.

Copley is numbered 12 north of range 4 east, and is bounded on the north by Walnut Grove, on the east by Victoria, on the south by Persifer, and on the west by Sparta Townships. It is very well watered by Court Creek, which runs southwesterly, and then southeasterly, emptying into Sparta River, Foreman Creek, which runs northeasterly, and a branch of Spoon River, running southerly. The northern portion is fine, rolling prairie, and the southern broken and very well timbered. It is especially adapted for raising the cereals, oats, and corn being the best crop and in this production Copley ranks among the first townships in the county. Matthew Herbert was the pioneer settler in this township. He came with his family in the spring of 1837 and made a claim on section 14. He subsequently moved away and is now dead.

In 1838 there was quite an addition made to the Herbert settlement, George Foster and wife and children, viz. : John, William, Harriet and Nancy, locating in Copley.

Next Elias and Rachel Hurr, Alex. Stephens, John McDowell, Sr., David Ogden, John and Wm. E. Foster came into the township with their families. Stephens, McDowell and Ogden located on section 14. McDowell was from Scotland and Ogden from Ohio. The Fosters settled on section 1. John had seven children. He died on the farm in 1844 and his widow in September, 1866. Wm. Foster is still living in Nebraska. McDowell died on the old homestead in 1867. Ogden moved away, as also did Matthew Herbert. With Mr. Hurr came four children - I. E., Edward L. , Margaret, and J. B. Hulick, a stepson, locating on section 3. They were from Clermont County, Ohio. Mr. Hurr went back and died on his return to the township. His widow died in 1875, at the old place. All the children are living but Hulick, who died in 1863.

I.E. Hurr married, in 1867, Miss Mary M. Eckley, and is living on section 3. He is a good citizen, an industrious and well-to-do farmer, but is more especially distinguished for the possession of a most remarkable and peculiar memory. (see biography, page 916) These settlers formed the nucleus from which, with additional incoming new settlers and the natural increase, the present fine population was derived.

A son of Matthew Herbert was the first child born in the township, in 1838. The first death was that of Harriet Foster, sister of John Foster, in 1842, on section 1 where she was buried. The first couple married were Mrs. Hurr and Charles Bostick, in September, 1840. The first sermon preached was by Rev. Charles Bostick, a Methodist preacher, in a school-house, in 1840. About that time a Methodist class was formed. Mary Jane Smith was the pioneer teacher, gathering her little flock about her in a log school-house on section 1 in 1842. Miss Smith was married to John Becker, Oct. 12, 1845, and they are now living in Galesburg.

The first saw-mill put up was in 1850, on the farm of Jeremiah Collison, and was run by horse-power.

In the early day the people bought and sold their goods at Peoria, Knoxville and Chicago.

The Indians had been living about the township before the whites came in, but they "left the country" - so to speak - after the incoming of the pioneers. Samuel Berry is credited with erecting the first frame building, in 1840, on the northeast quarter of section 9. Mr. Berry died in 1881.

The Swedish Methodist Society was the first to erect a church building, which was in 1854. The Methodist Episcopal Church building was erected in 1855, and was dedicated the 9th day of September, same year, by Rev. S. Bowles, of Chicago. Rev. Mr. Falkenburg dedicated the Swedish Church.

The Scotch Presbyterian Church building was erected in 1862, and dedicated June 11, 1862. It was called the John Knox Church. Services are held there every Sunday, Rev. E. H. Post being the pastor, with a flock including about 50 persons.

Services are held at the Swedish Church by Rev. Mr. Anderson.  Rev. W. A. Cumming is pastor of the Methodist Church, with services regularly every Sabbath.  Its membership is about 100.

The Second Swedish Methodist Church, which is located on section 33 is presided over by Rev. S. Westergreen.

A part of the village of Victoria lies in this township, on sections 12 and 13. Here, and at Oneida and Wataga, the people do most of their marketing and trading. Copley is a good township to live in ; the general outline is attractive, the soil fertile and the location fine. Its farms are well cultivated, and its farm buildings comfortable and homelike. Its population in 1880 was 1,071, and it is estimated that there has been a slight increase since that time.

From the County Superintendent‚s report the following school items have been obtained : There are nine school districts in this township with nine ungraded schools and nine frame school-houses. The school property was valued at $4,000. Of persons under 21 years of age there were 390, of whom 289 were of school age, 227 being enrolled. The highest wages paid male teachers were $35 per month, which were also the lowest ; the highest wages paid female teachers were $37, and the lowest $25. The tax levy was $1,675.

SUPERVISORS

Below are appended the names of the Supervisors elected for 1853 to 1885:

John O. Stanley, 1853-55; S. McCornack, 1856-62; J. M. Balthis, 1863; S. McCornack, 1864-65; James Johnston, 1866-69; Wm H. Leighton, 1870-72; J. L. McCornack, 1873-74; J. W. Temple, 1875-77; Wm. H. Leighton, 1878-85.