MAROA TOWNSHIP

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In the northern part of the county, occupying the Congressional township, 18 N., R. 2 E. is situated Maroa township. There are also included within its borders, six sections in the north-western part of T. 18 N., R. # E., viz:--Sections six, seven, eight, seventeen and eighteen. It comprises and area of forty-two square miles, or twenty-six thousand six hundred and eighty acres. The soil is a rich prairie lozm. The surface is generally level, with but little or no timber, except a few artificial groves. It is well drained by Lake Fork of Salt creek in the north-west, Jones' Fork in the west and Stevens' creek in the southern and central parts. The Illinois Central Railroad passes from North to south through the township, entering it in section two, and leaving it on section thirty-five.

The honor of first settling this township belongs to James Pettyjohn, who came from Kentucky and settled on section five in the year 1839. Garrett J. Schenck, an Ohioan, located on section nine. William Cooper from Indiana, and Joseph Hilt from Ohio, settled on section nine. George Gray, John Gray, Robert Gray, and Milton Funk, emigrated from Kentucky, and settled on section five.

The first marriage in this township was that of Josph Garrett and Mary A. Pettyjohn, at James Pettyjohn's house, by the Rev. George Clifton, in the year 1856. The first birth was that of Charlotte Pettyjohn, which occurred on the 10th February, 1852. John H. Pettyjohn, who died August 15th, 1852, was the first person who died in that township.

The frist school was taught by Thomas Shaw, about the year 1852. The first school-house was a frame one built by a Mr. Clough. Rev. Thomas Davenport preached the first servon at the residence of James Pettyjohn, at an early day. Some of the early preachers were Rev. Robert Hensen, Rev. George Clifton, and Rev. Peter Garrett. Milton Funk was elected the first justice of the peace about 1855. Esquire John Crocker and Esquire Ross were also early justices. The first blacksmith shop was established by David Schenck in 1855, in the present town of Maroa. The first resident physician, was Dr. Smith, who settled in 1850. Doctors Thayer and Brown were also among the early physicians.

The following are the first three land entries made in township, No. 18 North, Range 2 East of the 3d principal meridian. Alfred Downen entered section seven, 30-58 acres. This entry was made September 6th, 1836. Thomas M. Geddis entered September 16th, 1836, 112.63 acres in section 6, also 30.45 acres in same section, township, and range.

The following are the supervisors since township organization:--William Crawford, elected in 1860, and by re-election served until 1865, when Anderson Franklin was elected. John Crocker was elected in 1866, R. Gray in 1867, John Lyons in 1868, and held the office by re-election to 1872. Jason Rogers elected 1872, John Orr elected 1873, and re-elected in 1874 and 1875. John Longstreet was elected in 1876, and re-elected each succeeding year, and is the present incumbent.

The Town of Maroa--This is the largest town in point of inhabitants, except the county seat within the limits of Macon county. It is located about thirteen miles north of the city of Decatur, at the junction of the Illinois Central and Illinois Midland railroads. The town plat is laid out at the point where the section lines of 2, 3, 10, and 11 intersect, and occupies a portion of each of the sections named. It is situated in the very heart of the finest cultivated, and richest agricultural region in central Illinois, and large shipments of grain and stock are annually made.

The original plat of the town was jointly laid out by the I.C.R.R. Do., and the Associate Land Company; the former then owned the land now occupied by the northern portion of the town, and the latter, the southern portion; the line dividing the two sections passing between the Illinois Central depot and water-tank, and on a line with the two roads that enter the town east and west. The Associate Land Company consisted of some of the officers of the I.C.R.R. CO., and other individuals, organized for private financial speculation in lands. They purchased the alternate sections of government lands, not already controlled by the railroad company, wherever they desired to locate a town, and then divided the sections into town lots and sold them at a great advance over the original cost. The Illinois Central Railroad was surveyed in 1851, but the road was not completed at this point until the sping of 1854, in which year the depot was built by the company, and John Crocker appointed agent, which position he filled for twelve consecutive years, or until 1866.

The first building, after the depot was erected, was by G.J. Schenck, in the fall of 1855, and is still standing. It was a dwelling-house, but for some time, a part of it was used as a store, where a small variety of general goods were retailed. The second dwelling-house was erected in the fall of 1856, by Mr. Schenck, for Samuel Barndt, who built the first blacksmith shop in the following spring. In the fall of 1857, M. Friedman built a dwelling and a store-house. This was the first regular store in Maroa, and Mr. Friedman has continued in business ever since, and is the oldest merchant in the place. The Prairie Hotel, built in 1858, was the first public house erected, though prior, and even since then, Mr. Schenck's residence was always a welcome place for the weary traveler. During the year 1858, a small school- house was built on the site of the present school-building, and Robert Collins taught the first school. The present fine brick school edifice was erected in 1866, at a cost of about $7,000. It contains four rooms, well furnished, and has accommodation for two hundred pupils.

The town now contains four churches, viz: Prebyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Christian, and Methodist Protestant. The Presbyterian Church was organized January 30, 1859, at the I.C.R.R. depot, and their house for religious worship was built in 1867. Rev. A.T. Norton, Secretary of the Church Extension Society, was the founder. The depot was used as a place of worship, until the school-house was erected, when that was occupied until the building of their church. The Methodist Episcopal and the Methodist Protestant are in good condition, and each have good churches. The Christian church was organized by A.N. Page, May 4th, 1868, and their church was erected during the same year.

The Maroa Lodge, No. 454 A.F. and A.M., was chartered Oct. 4, 1865. The first officers were:

J.H. Crocker, W.M.
Rufus C. Crocker, S.W.
Oliver J. Harlan, J.W.
Samuel Lowe, Trease.
T.S. Collins, Sec.
A.C. Keever, S.D.
Jacob Cooper, J.D.
J.F. Flount and A.D. Wysong, Stewards
Mayer Friedman, Tyler

These, together with J.H. Axton, C.F. Emery, Joseph Lingle, W.L. Webb, G.W. Conover, H.S. Tisdale and G.A. Milmine, constitute the charter members. The present officers are;

W.M. Phares, W.M.
J. Longstreet, S.W.
J.A. Hartman, J.W.
M. Friedman, Treas.
W.H. Austin, Sec.
F.M. Smith, S.D.
E.Friedman, J.D.
S.C. Crowell and E.J. Carter, Stewards
H.S. Bennett, Tyler

The Maroa I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 34 was organized and first installation of officers held on the night of May 3, 1865. The following were the first officers:

Thomas Hunter, M.G.
M. Friedman, V.G.
O.G. Harlan, Sec.
James Huff, P. Sec.
Jonah Lingle, Treas.

Maroa Grange No. 102 of the order of P. of H. was organized Jan 20, 1873, with twenty-seven charter members. The following are the first officers:

J.B. Garvin, M.
Henry Jones, O.
T.B. Gardner, L.
J. Longstreet, S.
A. Wykoff, A.S.
J.B. Parkhurst, C.
M.P. Funk, T.
J. Jones, S.
W.O. Williams, G.K.
Mrs. Emma Williams, C.
Miss Mary A. Farver, F.
Mrs. Kit Cooper, P.

There is also a Lodge of Good Templars, and a Library Association, both in a flourishing condition, but we were unable to get the material to give any of their history.

This town was incorporated by special act of Legislature, March 7, 1867. The first board of Trustees were: Job A. Rice, John B. Carey, Henry Stauffer, Joseph Wilson and Henry Jones. Mr. Rice was the first president of the board and J.B. Carey was the first clerk.

The earliest newspaper published in Maroa was the Times, started by T.J. Sharp in 1867. Another weekly paper, the Tablet, appeared in 1867, and still later the Maroa Tribune, which was succeeded by the Weekly News, an eight page, forty column paper, which is at present published by T. O'Banion & Co.

The steam elevator was built in 1867 by J.W. Richards & Co. of Chicago, at a cost of about $15,000, and is at present owned and operated by Crocker & Co. It is constructed for handling all kinds of grain, and has a capacity of 14,400 bushels. Emery & Co. also have a similar elevator in operation.

The following is a list of the leading business houses in Maroa:

Banks--Crocker & Co.; Emery & Co.
Dry Goods--M. Friedman & Son; D.E. Wagner; M. Grady
Hats, Caps and Groceries--J.D. Smith
Groceries--David Bennett
Drugs and Boots--John Smelz; Austin Gault; Axton & Phillips
Hotels--Central House, Sherman House
Livery--J.T. Holt; Sherman Livery
Furniture--H.E. Kent
Hardware--Pursinger, Adams & Co.; B.T. Jamison; Hines & Thompson
Hardware and Tinware--W.H. Hartman
Millinery--Mrs. C.M. Thayer; H.E. Kent
Bakery--G.W. Mumaugh; J.W. Cawrey
Restaurants--W.O. Buck; Wm. Golge
Photographer--J.W. Smith
Harness Shop--Beatty & Pursinger
Watches and Jewelry--P.C. Tryner; Austin Gault
Merchant Tailor--Theo. Schaffer
Meat Market--J.G. Dix; Hoover & Camp
Shoe Shops--J. Kemphall; C.P. Frus.
Blacksmiths Shops--S.S. Burnett; E.P.Kent; F.K. Bohrer; Thomas Hackney
Wagon Shops--Robert Stroud; J. C. Stevenson; M.M. Thomas; G.T. Schenck; Walter & Reed
Lumber and Coal--T.M. Leavitt; B.T. Jamison Planing Mill--Besbit Bros.
The Tile Works of W.H. Long are one half mile east of Maroa, situated on section 12, and were built by Long & Stoutenborough in 1878. They have a capacity of 250,000 feet per annum.
The Tile Works of W.H. Stoutenborough are also the same distance east of Maroa, and were built in 1879 by Stoutenborough & Co. The capacity of their factory is 250,000 feet per annum.

Maroa, being surrounded by one of the best farming sections in the state, has become one of the largest shipping points on the Illinois Central R.R. in Macon county, except Decatur. The merchants have been men of energy and enterprise, who have spared no pains in advancing the business interests of the town. The citizens are of an intelligent and industrious class, who have used their united efforts in keeping pace with the van of progress. Maroa is well supplied with all the modern improvements usually found in places of its size. All the principal streets have sidewalks, which are shaded with trees of various kinds, which also add much to the beauty of the town. The town has been of steady growth, and with the increasing business interests of the place, there is no reason why Maroa should not in some future day decome a city of some magnitude.

Partial List of Patrons

NAME	RESI'D	OCCUPATION	NATIVITY	SET'D
BENNETT, Peter	Maroa	Retired Farmer & Capitalist	Wash'n Co MD	1855
Frances Williams	Maroa	Present wife of Peter Bennett	Frank'n Co OH	1870
Susan Gongwer	Dec'd	First wife of P. Bennett, Died 1868	Rich'd Co OH	1855
Elizabeth Gongwer	Dec'd	2d wife of P. Bennett, died 1872	Westmor'd Co	1871
BRADEN, D.F.	Sec 19	Farmer & Twp. Assessor	Rich'd Co OH	1856
Annie Myers	Sec 19	Wife of D.F. Braden	Lanc'r PA	1856
BILLINGS, M.	Sec 16	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Ross Co OH	1851
Asthalinda Callen	Sec 16	Wife of M. Billings	IN	1836
BEACH, H.P.	Sec 31	Farmer & Stock Dealer	Madi'n Co NY	1865
Elizabeth A. Harpole	Sec 31	Pres. wife of H.P. Beach	Madison Co OH	1865
Martha Slaughter	Dec'd	First wife of H.P. Beach, Died 20 Dec 1859	Madison Co OH	?
BISHOP, M.W.	Sec 35	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Frank'n Co OH	1862
Ann M. Race	Sec 35	Wife of M.W. Bishop	VA	1862
BOWER, G.M.	Emery	P.M., Sta. Agt., & Grain Dealer	Scott Co	1855
Minerva J. Thrift	Emery	Wife of G.M. Bower	St Clair Co	1864
BURROWS, Benjamin	Sec 12	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Kent Co DE	1868
Sarah Covey	Dec'd	First wife of B. Burrows	Wash. Co OH	1868
Eliza Jaynes	Sec 12	Present wife of B. Burrows	Adair Co KY	1871
BARGER, Henry	Sec 6	Farm. & Breed Poland China Hogs	PA	1858
Martha J. Pierce	Sec 6	Wife of Henry Barger	Fayette Co	1862
BENNETT, Joseph	Sec 6	Farm & breed Ploand China Hogs	Ashland Co OH	1867
Iva Cross	Sec 6	Wife of Joseph Bennett	DeWitt Co	1867
BATES, A.H.	Maroa	Minister	IL	1876
CAMP, Samuel	Sec 6	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Berks Co PA	1852
Emma J. Long	Sec 6	Wife of Samuel Camp	Piqua Co OH	1835
COMPTON, W.J.	Maroa	Grain Dealer	Morgan Co	1865
Mary Conover	Maroa	Wife of W.J. Compton	Shelby Co	1865
CLINE, Daniel	Sec 16	Farmer & Gardner	Fayette Co IN	1868
Amanda Barger	Sec 16	Wife of Daniel Cline	PA	1868
CRAWFORD, Wm. F.	Sec 22	Farm. & breed cattle & hogs	Fayette Co PA	1856
Sarah McCann	Sec 22	Wife of Wm. F. Crawford	Musk'gun Co OH	1857
COOPER, Alex	Dec'd	Late husb. of Eliza. Cooper, Died 27 Jan 1873	Butler Co OH	1870
Mrs. Elizabeth Cooper	Sec 8	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Warren Co OH	1870
DAVIS, John T.	Sec 20	Farm. & breeder Poland China Hogs	Scott Co	1855
Sarah Malony	Sec 20	Wife of John T. Davis	Menard Co	1855
Emery, C.F.	Maroa	Banker, Grain & Real Est. Dealer	NY	1856
FUNK, M.P.	Sec 5	Farm. & breed Poland China Hogs	Morgan Co	1855
Melissa Smith	Sec 5	Wife of M.P. Funk	Effing. Co	1875
FAWKES, J.W.	Sec 12	Farmer & inv. Fawks' St. Plow	Lanc'ter PA	1862
A.E. Baughman	Sec 12	Wife of J.W. Fawkes	Lanc'ter Co PA	1862
FAWKES, Howard B.	Sec 12	Farm & breed Poland China Hogs	Lanc'ter Co PA	1862
Mattie H. Gardner	Sec 12	Wife of H.B. Fawkes	Peoria Co	1876
FOULKE, Edward	Sec 26	Farmer	Hamilton Co OH	1857
Adelide Colladay	Sec 26	Wife of Edward Foulke	Phila. PA	1858
FARREN, Geo. T.	Sec 5	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Jeff. Co, IN	.
Triphena Grady	Sec 5	Wife of Geo. T. Farren	DeWitt Co	1877
FARREN, William	Sec 6	Farmer & Stock Raiser	OH	1869
Eliza Jane Dunn	Sec 6	Wife of Wm. Farren	Bourbon Co, KY	1869
GEPFORD, Jacob	Sec 28	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Dauphin Co, PA	1855
Anna McCurdy	Sec 28	Wife of Jacob Gepford	PA	1855
GRADY, Thomas D.	Sec 6	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Hunt. Co, PA	1879
Maria S. Milburn	Sec 6	Wife of Thos. D. Grady	Wayne Co, OH	1879
HILL, Jas. D.	Sec 25	Farmer & Stock Raiser	NC	1870
Sarah L. Adams	Sec 25	Wife of Jas. D. Hill	MO	1870
HOLT, J.T.	Maroa	Prop. Liv & Feed Stable	Knox Xo, OH	1876
Mary J. Tozer	Maroa	Wife of J.T. Holt	Minn.	?
JAMESON, B.T.	Maroa	Deal. in Luber & Coal	Linc. Co, MO	1869
Amanda A. Oglesby	Maroa	Wife of B.T. Jameson	MO	1869
JONES, Sylvester	Sec 27	Farmer & Breeder Hogs	Green Co, OH	1869
Susan B. Jones	Sec 27	Wife of Sylvester Jones	Cuyaho. Co, OH	1869
KEISTER, John	Sec 32	Farmer & Stock Dealer	York Co, PA	1850
Nancy Weaver	Sec 32	Wife of John Keister	Cumb. Co, PA	1850
LEAVITT, Thomas N.	Maroa	Post Master & Dealer in Lumber & Farm Imp.	Rock. Co, NH	1861
Catherine A. Crowell	Maroa	Wife of Thomas N. Leavitt	Warren Co, OH	1861
LONGSTREET, John	Sec 12	Farmer & Supervisor	Butler Co, OH	1862
Vashti Wycoff	Sec 12	Wife of John Longstreet	Butler Co, OH	1862
LAZELL, E.S.	Sec 14	Farmer & Breeder of Hogs	Tazewell Co	1878
Eva Hoffman	Sec 14	Wife of E.S. Lazell	?	?
LEHN, Samuel	Sec 30	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Cumber. Co	1855
Sarah J. Wetzell	Sec 30	Wife of Samuel Lehn	Cumber. Co	1855
MILLER, F.W.	Sec 11	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Jackson Co, IN	1863
Sally Mothby	Dec'd	First Wife of F.W. Miller Died 6 Mar 1865	Harrison Co, KY	1863
Lydia M. Stewart	Sec 11	Pres. Wife of F.W. Miller	Harrison Co, KY	1865
McGUIRE, Wm.	Sec 26	Farmer & Stock Raiser	St Clair Co	1864
Nancy Caroline Carr	Sec 26	Wife of Wm. McGuire	St Clair Co	1864
MADDEN, Edward	Sec 18	Farmer & Breeder of Thoro. Horses	Antrim Co, Ire	1857
Margaret Welch	Dec'd	First Wife of Edward Madden Died 7 Dec 1873	Tipperary, Ire	1861
Angie Hickey	Sec 18	Pres. Wife of Edward Madden	Wexford, Ire	1872
OGELVIE, David P.	Sec 8	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Lincoln Co, MO	1865
Annie Smith	Dec'd	Late wife of D.P. Ogelvie	Lake Co, OH	1866
Mary Letta Baber	Sec 8	Pres. Wife of D.P. Ogelvie	St. Louis Co, MO	1879
PARKER, John S.	Sec 4	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Preble Co, OH	1860
Mary A. Pape	Sec 4	Wife of John S. Parker	England	1857
PETTYJOHN, James	Sec 5	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Russel Co, KY	1848
Angeline Cross	Sec 5	Wife of J. Pettyjohn	Russel Co, KY	1848
SCHENCK, Garret J.	Maroa	Prop. of Schenck's Hotel	Butler Co, OH	1854
Alice Sill	Maroa	Wife of G.J. Schenck	Monm. Co, NJ	1854
SCHENCK, John	Maroa	Salesman	Warren Co, OH	1854
Eva Herrstine	Maroa	Wife of John Schenck	IL	1877
SWIGART, W.B.	Sec 21	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Coshoc. Co, OH	1865
Caroline Bowlby	Dec'd	First Wife of W.B. Swigart Died 11 July 1879	Williams Co, OH	1863
Carelda Edmiston	Sec 21	Pres. Wife of W.B. Swigart	Logan Co, OH	1880
STOUT, James P.	Sec 28	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Schuy. Co, PA	1865
Margaret A. Repman	Sec 28	Wife of J.P. Stout	York Co, PA	1867
SHORT, George B.	Sec 36	Farmer & Breeder of Hogs	St Clair Co	1863
Mary E. Stookey	Dec'd	First Wife of G.B. Short Died 22 March 1852	St. Clair Co.	?
Sarah E. Thrift	Dec'd	2d Wife of G.B. Short Died 30 Sept 1877	St. Clair Co	1863
STOUTENBOROUGH, W.H.	Maroa	Manufac. Drainage Tile	Warren Co, OH	1866
Catherine Schenck	Maroa	Wife of W.H. Stoutenborough	Butler Co, OH	1853
THRIFT, Andrew J.	Sec 36	Farmer & Breeder of Hogs	Christ. Co, KY	1864
Anna C. Peter	Sec 36	Wife of A.J. Thrift	Carlisle, PA	1864
WARBURTON, Joseph	Sec 16	Farmer & Stock Raiser	Lancas., Eng	1870
Sarah Emma Ellis	Sec 16	Wife of J. Warburton	Morgan Co	1870
WICKS, Francis	Sec 17	Farmer & Minister	Wiltshire, Eng	1868
Levina Atkinson	Dec'd	First Wife of F. Wicks Died 26 Aug 1871	Westm. Co, PA	1868
Alice Rife	Sec 17	Pres. wife of Francis Wicks	Macon Co	1852
WICKS, John F.	Sec 17	Teacher	Edgar Co	1870

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