Big Bend Veteran Reunion - 1896 booklet

While it is not our purpose or mission to enter into minute details concerning the early settlement and history of Minonk, it is, nevertheless, proper for us to embody in a work of this character a brief sketch of the more noticeable facts in the developments of this populous locality from the trackless prairie it once was, and that, too, within the memory of those who are still among our most honored citizens.

Minonk is located in the northeastern part of Woodford County, and is 29 miles north of Bloomington, 20 miles southwest of Streator, about 25 miles northeast of Peoria, and 113 miles southwest of Chicago, on the Pekin branch of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and on the Freeport division of the Illinois Central R. R. The Middle Division of the Illinois Central has its terminus here, connecting with the main line at Kankakee for Chicago. The shipping facilities enjoyed by the businessmen and citizens of Minonk are of the very best and most satisfactory character. The location of the city is truly charming, and no one who has the slightest spark of admiration for the beautiful in nature, can help but admire the place and its entire surrounding. Its entire tributaries are a vast expanse of level prairie land, which is universally recognized as the finest and richest farming country in the world. Corn, wheat, oats and other cereals are nowhere more prolific and nowhere do they grow with more thrift and vigor, while the quality becomes nowhere finer or richer. If there is one spot in the whole state of Illinois which is more desirable as a farming country than another, that spot is in the vicinity of Minonk, and if there is a place on earth, where farmers can make money, and where everything is generally favorable to the health, comfort and well-being of man, that place is Woodford County. But let this not be understood as saying that this is the only good place on earth, nor the only place that comes so near perfection-far from it. On the contrary, it is freely admitted that there are plenty of other localities, even in this state, that are just as good in all, or nearly all respects-which offer just as good inducements as this locality does-but one thing is certain, Minonk and its surroundings are in no way inferior to any locality that the foot of man has trod, so far as the possibilities of livelihood and general health and comfort are concerned.

The farmers in the neighborhood of Minonk, who are the principal supporters of the town, are comparatively in good circumstances, and rank among the finest class of people to be found in the west. They are mostly Americans, Germans and English, and are a thrifty, progressive, hardworking and intelligent class of inhabitants. They live well, dress well, drive good horses and vehicles, and are abundantly able to pay for what they buy, while their credit is practically unlimited. As a grain and produce market Minonk is regarded as being far ahead of all competitors. Its seven big elevators are kept busy taking care of the vast amount of grain brought here during the grain marketing season of the year, and it is doubtful if it is possible to find a town in the state where more grain is marketed year after year, and where better prices are paid for grain and stock than in Minonk. But this is not all that can be said in praise of Minonk and its peculiar environments. A large part of the city's prosperity is due to the enterprising and social proclivities of its people. The businessmen of the town, with few exceptions, are an enthusiastic, enterprising and progressive spirited class of men and women, and are all in favor of extending all possible aid to the up-building of manufacturing enterprises.

In social circles of the city there is not a place in the state which is more free from disagreeable scandals and annoying gossip as is the city of Minonk. The people here, are for the most part, quiet, industrious, honest, God-loving class, having high regard for purity in the home, the church, in society and in the busy marts of trade and traffic. The social intercourse of the town, while dignified and fastidious to all that is clean and respectable, is maintained upon a broad and liberal basis. In short, the social standard of the city is maintained upon the principles expressed in Longfellow:

From a mere hamlet in the fifties, Minonk has grown to be a hustling, thriving city of nearly 3,000 inhabitants and offers excellent openings for quite a number of manufacturing establishments. Our cheap coal, water and railroad facilities are nowhere excelled. We have an excellent electric light system-both incandescent and arc. We have three brickyards, which manufacture millions of fine building and paving bricks every year. We have good schools, which afford ample opportunity to children to obtain a splendid education.

In this section all roads lead to Minonk. It always has been, and always will be a progressive place, a city of wealth, of business, of enterprise, of homes, of schools, a city with a prosperous past and a promising future. The natural resources are here; it requires only well-directed energy to develop them.

If you are a producer with progressive principles you will be suited. If you are a capitalist seeking investment you will be pleased. If you are a manufacturer looking for a new location this offers you the greatest advantages. If you are a laboring man and willing to work and obey the laws your opportunity is here where you will be paid according to your efforts and where your home expenses will be the lowest in the land. If you are simply seeking a home, turn your eyes to Minonk where you will find every attraction, every advantage that is necessary to happiness, enjoyment and prosperity.

You cannot get lands and lots and stocks without money; you cannot get money without well-directed effort; but with brain and brawn and industry you may win all these desirable acquisitions, and you can get them here if anywhere on earth. Desirable citizens with money or brains or industry will here find a welcome, but it is not the place for those with neither capital, energy nor perseverance and they are not wanted.

The settlement of Minonk dates back to the time the Illinois Central railroad was built through this section of Illinois. The road was completed in 1854. Samuel Work came here to act as station agent, and he was the first actual settler in the town and township.

The location of the town was secured by David A. Neal of Salem, Mass. A plat of the village 780 feet wide on each side of the Illinois Central railroad, and extending along its 4,690 feet, was recorded in the office of the Recorder of Woodford County, November 7, 1854. This plat was laid out and surveyed, from Section 7, of the township, by Peter Folsom, deputy surveyor of Woodford County, for David A. Neal, assignee of John C. Dodge, whose letters patent to Section 7 was given by Millard Fillmore, President of the United States of America, under date of November 1, 1852. The patent was granted upon a cash entry under the Act of Congress of April 24, 1820. The entry having been made at the Danville Land Office. In the dedication of the plat there is a reservation to the I.C.R.R. "100 feet on each side of the center line of said road, and reserved for its occupancy and subject to its entire control; and that no hindrance or obstruction shall ever be permitted, within said bounds, to the running or operation of its engines and cars; nor shall any street or crossing from one side to the other ever be made, for the distance of 570 feet on either side of a point in the track opposite the center of the passenger house, or between North Second street and South Second street."

When it became known that a town was to be established, settlers began to come in. The first building erected was a boarding house for the railroad men. Charles Dobson came from near Pattonsburg, and built a residence west of the Illinois Central R. R. near the present residence of Geo. Hindert, and moved to town on August 24, and in partnership with Jackson Parker and Americas Pogue, opened up a store. They put up a store building on the corner now occupied by the bank building of C. R. Danforth & Co. The original building now belongs to the Schlitz Brewing Co., and stands on the corner across the street west of the lumber office of Frank Goodrich. Messrs. Dobson, Parker and Pogue sold dry goods, groceries, nails, etc. and sold their first dress pattern to Adley Brock. They bought their lumber in Chicago and Mr. Parker occupied the upstairs of the store.

In December 1854, Charles Dobson was appointed postmaster.

C. W. Goodrich and family arrived in Minonk from Oneida County, New York, May 29, 1855. He erected the second dwelling. Mr. Goodrich entered into partnership with James Parker, and they engaged in selling lumber and shipping grain. At that time all grain was sacked for shipment. They built a long warehouse for grain, which stood between where Stoddard and Simpson's elevators now stand.

Jonathan Macey came from Indiana and had a hotel erected. This building now stands unoccupied east of the Illinois Central R. R. and is known as the old Webber House.

Samuel and Joseph Wiley commenced farming on Section 5 about this time.

In the spring of 1856 Thornton Taylor and family moved here, and their son, Lafayette received an injury soon after, resulting in his death. This was the first death in the town.

H. A. Christians came here in 1856 and opened up a blacksmith shop. His daughter, Clara, was the first child born in Minonk.

Isaac Garrison, a physician, located here during that summer, and was the first of his profession. L. G. Keedy came soon afterwards.

A school was established in the winter of 1856-57, with Francis Reeder, as teacher, at a salary of about $20 per month.

The first religious service was held in the hotel in the fall of 1856 by Rev. Frost, a Presbyterian evangelist.

The first marriage celebrated was that of Geo. W. Simpkins and Mary Sutton. The ceremony was performed by Samuel Work, justice of the peace.

The first Sunday school was organized in the summer of 1856 by A. H. Danforth, who at the time was farming southwest of town. Mr. Danforth was also Superintendent of the Sunday school. Services were held in the old depot building.

Reuben and Alonzo Stiles and family moved to Minonk, in 1858 from Glouster City, New Jersey. They lived here until 1878. Thomas Sutton, Sidney Kidder, Squire Reeves, A. H. Todd, H. K. Ferrin, Andrew Worst, Daniel Hollenback, Dr. E. A. Wilcox, George Foote, Philander Welch, Dr. Stonier, Fred Holmes, Reuben Bell and many others came in during these early days.

Fred Melhorn established the first meat market.