Knox County, Illinois
Genealogy & History

[The township name was changed from Ohio to Haw Creek on June 8, 1853.]

(See also Gilson.)

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

"In September, 1829, Parnach Owen, his mother and two sisters settled on Sec. 18.  In March, 1831, Miss Owen was married to Dr. Rice, of Lewiston.  Soon after the other sister was married to Jno. G. Sanborn, who built a house in Knoxville, where Mrs. Sanborn still resides.  First birth was a son of James Nevitt, in 1832.  First death was that of Elenor Jarnagan, in the winter of 1834, on Section 17.  First Justice was James Nevitt, 1832.  First school house was built on Sec. 8, 1836, Susan Dempsey was the first teacher.  The first church was built in 1864, on Sec. 17, by the Methodist denomination.  The noted Peter Cartright preached a sermon in Haw Creek about the year 1831, which was the first sermon delivered in the Township.  Lineus Richmond came into the Township in 1834, and settled on Sec. 17, where he now lives.  He was the second Justice of the Peace in the Township."

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

"The prairie and timber land of this township is finely proportioned.  Spoon River enters the township at section 1, flowing south makes its exit at Sect. 35.  The C., B. & Q. railroad makes its entrance at section 7, running southeast, converges with the river.  The town of Gilson is in the township.  This was the second township settled in the county, Henderson being the first.  In 1829, Parnach OWEN then a young man living with his widowed mother in Ohio, had a strong desire to go westward.  He was strongly urged to stay within the bounds of civilization, but without avail.  His mother, seeing his determination to emigrate to a new country, concluded to accompany him.  Accordingly she with her two daughters prepared for this western journey.  Knox county was their destination, and in September of that year they arrived in this township, where, on section 18, they erected their log cabin.  When we reflect that the first white persons inhabiting this vast region of country were a widow lady and her children, it would seem that she possessed bravery unequaled, patience untiring, and a devotion and love for her son that would permit no separation but that of death.  Could we give a detailed account of the life of this noble woman, of the trials and hardships and sufferings endured, it would be read with great interest.  Mrs. Owen and family moved into Knoxville soon after that city was laid off, her son doing the surveying.  Parnach Owens took an important part in organizing the county.  He was a land dealer and speculator, and we are told that he owned more land in Knox county than any other man.  He died in Iowa, Mrs. OWEN in Knoxville, and the two daughters are still living.  One is the wife of Dr. RICE, of Lewiston; the other the widow of the late John G. SANBURN and residing in Knoxville.

James NEVITT came to the township in the early part of 1832.  The first child born in the township was his son, Charles NEVITT, in 1832.  The first death was that of Eleanor JARNAGAN, in the winter of 1834.  The first school-house was built on section 8 in 1836, and the first school was taught by James or Susan DEMPSEY.  The celebrated Peter CARTWRIGHT preached the first sermon in the township about 1831.  Linneus RICHMOND and W. W. DICKERSON came into the township at an early day.  Mr. DICKERSON came in 1827.  He remembers having to go to Chicago for salt one winter, to Peoria to mill, and many other inconveniences.  Walter BELL, an aged resident of the township, came into the county 25 years ago.  He was 85 years old on Aug. 2, 1878.  He is one of the few surviving veterans of the war of 1812.  He also served in the regular army.  He rode on the first horse car and the first steam car ever run in the United States, and saw the first steamboat run on Chesapeake Bay.  Mr. Bell enjoys good health, is able to be up and around, and will probably live several years longer."

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

An election was held for the organization of this township April 5, 1853, which resulted in the choice of the following named citizens for township officers: Wm. M. Clark, Supervisor; Woodford Pearce, Clerk; Isaac Lotts, Assessor; Joseph Harshberger, Collector; John S. Linn and Enoch Godfrey, Justices of the Peace; Benson Simpkins, A. L. Rambro and Milton Lotts, Highway Commissioners; Geo. Wolf, Overseer of the Poor; Geo. Pickeral and Wm. Lewis, Constables.

Haw Creek is a very evenly proportioned township as regards timber and prairie lands. It is watered by Spoon River, which meanders through the eastern portion, entering in the northeast corner and passing out on section 35, and several small water-courses.

Its railway facilities are good, having the Peoria Branch of the C. B. & Q. R.R., which runs about northwest and southeast across the western portion, entering from the north, on the southwest corner of section 6, and goes out on the southeast corner of section 33.

Parnach Owen, his widowed mother and two sisters, from Ohio, were the first settlers in this township, who arrived in September, 1829, location on section 18. By a person settling down now in the midst of advanced civilization, with all the modern conveniences of travel, this journey can hardly be appreciated. But this widow, to start out on this long journey with her little family, with all the inconveniences and hardships attending the traveler into a strange and unsettled country, must have possessed the courage of a commander. The only other settlement then in this county was at Henderson. After Knoxville was laid out, and a settlement was made, this family moved there. Parnach Owen took a prominent part in the early affairs of the county. He was an extensive land dealer and speculator, and at one time owned large tracts of land in the county. He moved to Iowa, where he died. His mother died at Knoxville. One of his sisters married Dr. Rice, of Lewistown, and the other John G. Sanburn. About the next settler to locate in Haw Creek was James Nevitt, in the early part of 1832. Among the early settlers were Woodard Pearce, David Teal, David Housh, Joshua Burnett, Jacob Harshberger, Linneus Richmond and W. W. Dickerson. Pearce settled on section 12 and is now residing in Gilson. Teal located on section 8. He afterward moved to Jasper County, Mo., where he died. Joseph Godfrey, from Ohio, with family, came in 1834 and located a claim. He and his wife died some years ago. Housh entered a claim on section 19; at one time he was in business in Maquon. He died in this township. Burnett also entered a claim on section 19, where he lived and died. Harshberger settled on section 15, where he lived and died.

The first child born in the township was a son to the wife of James Nevitt, who was named Charles, in 1832. Eleanor Jarnagin died during the winter of 1834, which was the first death. That distinguished divine, Peter Cartwright, gave the pioneer settlement its first sermon, in 1831. A school-house was built on section 8, in 1836, and the first school taught here the same year by Susan Dempsey. They were not very early in erecting a house of worship in Haw Creek, the first one being put up by the Methodists in 1864, on section 17.

Haw Creek is a fine township; the lands are rich and generally well cultivated, and the majority of the farm buildings are good. It is a large stock-raising township, being the first in the raising of sheep and third in cattle and horses. Most of the trading and marketing is done in Maquon and Gilson. In 1880 the population, according to the United States census, was 1,049, and it is about the same at the present time.

According to the County Superintendent‚s report for 1885, Haw Creek has eight school districts, with one graded and seven ungraded schools, and the school property was valued at $6,540, all the school-houses being frame. Of persons under 21 years of age there were 451, of whom 319 were of school age, 275 being enrolled. The highest wages paid male teachers were $50 per month, the lowest $25; the highest wages paid female teachers were $40, and the lowest $25. Tax levy was $2,480.

From the Assessor‚s report for 1885 the following items are obtained : Number of acres of improved land, 22,737; value of improved lands, $321,643; value of lots $10,699; number of horses, 950; number of cattle 2,579; number of mules and asses, 94; number of sheep, 1,057; number of hogs, 2,392; number of steam engines, 10; number of carriages and wagons, 210; number of clocks and watches, 10; number of pianos, 5; melodeons and organs 36; total value of personal property, $79,593.

SUPERVISORS.

W. M. Clark 1853-54; R. Godfrey 1855-58; Wm. Swigart 1859; H. P. Libolt 1860; Milton Lott 1861-62; P. Lacy 1863; James Pickeral 1864-65; Wm. P. Keller 1866; Wm. Swigart 1867; Peter Lacy 1868; Wm. Swigart 1869; Chas. W. McKowan 1870; Peter Lacy 1871; Wm. Swigart 1872-77; D. W. Aldrich 1878-79; James Robstalk 1880-85.

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

"Gilson was laid out, July 10, 1857, by Lenneus Richmond.  It is an old settled and very productive locality and does a good local trade."

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

This little hamlet is located on the northwest corner of section 7, Haw Creek Township, and was laid out by Linneus Richmond, July 10, 1857.

It is on the Peoria Brach of the C., B. & Q. R. R. and the station was built very soon after the road was completed. Around this town the first settlement of the township was made. There are some fair business houses here, which are supported by the local trade of the township, and also by some parts of Orange and Persifer Townships. The population of the place is about 250.