OKAW TOWNSHIP
(Shelby County)

OKAW TOWNSHIP (Shelby County)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OKAW TOWNSHIP. (SHELBY COUNTY.)

THIS township is comprised within the boundaries of town 12, range 4, Shelby county. It has an area of thirty-six square miles, bounded on the north by Moultrie county and Todd's Point township, east by Windsor, on the south by Shelbyville township , on the west by Ridge. Drainage. -- It is drained on the east and south by Okaw river, Coon and Sand Creeks, furnishing an abundant supply of water for stock and other purposes. The greater part of this township was covered with a heavy growth of timber, the only place the early pioneer thought a man could exist in, therefore we find settlers here in 1823. Daniel Francisco, a native of Alabama, in the 1832 came and settled on Section 33, on the east side of the Okaw; the cabin stood a little south of the mouth of Coon Creek, on the hill side; about four years after he bought the Ledbetter property, on the Okaw or Kaskaskia river, where the Ledbetter mill stood; this mill was washed away in one of our old time freshets, and Francisco built another on the same site; that was the first watermill built in this part of the county, and was considered an excellent mill for those times. The lumber used in the building of this mill was sawed out by hand. It was a saw and grist mill combined and the chests were ru n by hand for a number of years. Francisco sold the mill to Hadley Brothers, who built an addition to the same and fitted up a distillery, and ran it some five or six years when it was burned down, and as Mr. F. failed to secure his pay, he was obliged to take back the property and again rebuild the mill, which he ran for several years. He raised a family of ten boys; nine are now living in this township, all born in Shelby county; the oldest 56 years of age, the youngest 32. Eight of

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them served in various regiments through the war of the Rebellion, one as sutler of the 126th Infantry Regiment. Mr. Francisco died in 1859. At the time of his death he was possessed of about 2,230 acres of land, and quite an amount of personal property.< P> Daniel Dawdy settled in the edge of the timber in what was called Lakey Bend, in the year 1827, also James E. Rose, who settled on Section 11, and has been a resident of this county since the year 1827. His father, Sherman Rose, was one of the first settl ers on the Vandalia road, in what is now Rose township. John, William and James Ward, three brothers from Kentucky, settled in the county in the year 1830. John settled near where his son John W. now lives. William settled in what is now known as Todd's P oint. They have all passed away to that " undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns." Simon Earp, a native of Kentucky, settled on Section 2, in 1828, the place now known as the Spicer estate; he purchased the improvements from the widow Kinsey, who had built a log cabin. Earp lived upon this place until his death in 1841. Four of his children reside in the county; one in Moultrie, one in Macon and two in Indiana. William Sandusky and William Dazey came about the same time from Kentucky. Dazey bought the improvements of Nathan Rice, Section 26, near Todd's Point, where he lived about one year; he then moved south and began the improvements where J. L. Walters now resides; he also started the place where James Earp now lives, who purchased them and afterward entered the land.

Sandusky settled on the north-west quarter of section 2; he only lived here a short time after his arrival. In 1832 came Reuben Terry and Bushrod Henry. Terry settled near what is now the center of the township. Henry settled the place where James Tolly n ow lives. John L. Walters, who was a native of Virginia, came to this state from Kentucky, where he had resided a few years, married, and in 1827, came to Illinois and settled at Brook's Point, five or six miles from Danville, Vermillion county. He lived there seven years, then came to Shelby county, and settled in what is now Okaw township, section 14. When he first settled in Illinois, quite a number of the native Red Men were to be seen. He has been twice married, is 80 years of age, hale, hearty, full of life and energy.

Whitfield Turney and William, his brother, natives of Kentucky, came and settled here in 1833. William returned to Kentucky in 1835; Whitfield settled on section 16; he died in 1874. F. G. Turney from Kentucky settled here in 1835, on section 11. David F. , son of Whitfield, resided on section 16, and is one of our foremost farmers and a breeder of Cotswold sheep. Lemuel Dazey, father of William, came from Kentucky in 1833, and bought a cabin and improvements of Samuel Hall, situated on section 11, where h e lived until his death in 1842. After his demise, William his son resided on the old place until his death.

Littleton Fruit, a native of Maryland, settled here in 1830, on Coon creek, section 21. He improved a farm, raising a family of nine children, five boys and four girls. Two of his sons are prominent farmers of the township. L. W., who was born in what is now Okaw township in 1831, resides on the old homestead.

John Claridge, who settled here in 1830, was the Methodist preacher of early days, who instructed us in the road we ought to travel to the world hereafter, -- a good man and much respected; his son William's widow resides on the old homestead. Randolph Ma hony, who settled here in 1835, was a brother, in the name of the Lord, who inclined to the doctrines of Methodism and taught the same to the early settlers, going from house to house, so that none could complain or find an excuse for waywardness. P. Spic er settled here about 1835; he was a native of Kentucky. He came to this county from Danville, Illinois. Other early settlers, were Jacob Meyer, on section 30, from Pennsylvania; R. Inman, Allen Francisco, Samuel Hall, John R. Shanks, who was a shoemaker; Thomas Hendricks, Richard Little, Green Wamock, Len Mosely; and Allen Smith settled the place John Ward bought and sold to the widow Freyburg. E. Bryson settled here in 1836, on the Okaw, where he resided until his death. George Hendricks, a native of No rth Carolina, settled in 1830, near where his son Samuel now lives, he living about seven years after coming to the county. His widow raised the five children on the old place; she died in 1871.

First Land Entries. -- Asa Ledbetter, on the 24th of August, 1826, entered the W. 1/2 N. 1/4 Sec. 34, eighty acres; John Wheatley, sr., on the 20th of December, 1826, entered the E. 1/2 N. E. 1/4 Sec. 33, eighty acres; W. and F. Jordan, jr., on the 26th of January, 1828, entered the E. 1/2 S. E. 1/4 Sec. 34, eighty acres.

The first school-house built was a log structure, erected a short distance south of the Bushrod Henry place; it was a small house, and B. Henry was the first teacher -- this was in 1832. Game was abundant, and fish enough in the streams to entice the old and young to while away their hours of leisure.

Supervisors. -- A. Francisco, elected in 1860, re-elected in 1861; J. Dazey, elected in 1862, re-elected in 1863 and 1864; William Fruit, elected in 1865 : M. Freyberger, elected in 1866, re-elected in 1867; J. Dazey, elected in 1868 ; re-elected i n 1869; E. K. Schwartz, elected in 1870; J. Dazey, elected in 1871, re-elected in 1872, 1873 and 1874 ; W. J. Boone, elected in. 1875; J. Dazey, elected in 1876; J. Francisco, elected in 1877; H. G. Smith, elected in 1878 ; R. Teny, elected in 1879; J. Da zey, elected in 1880, and is the present incumbent.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

ALLEN FRANCISCO.

THE subject of the following sketch, is the oldest born citizen now living, of Okaw township. The date of his birth was May 30,1825. The place of his birth was on Robinson Creek, Shelby county, Illinois. His father, Daniel Francisco, was a native o f Alabama; he came to Illinois in 1813, and stopped in Greenville, at the Fort; he was but a mere lad then; his father and mother were both dead. Some trouble arose among the members of the family as to the division of the property of the deceased; said p roperty consisted of six dollars in money and a gun. In the dispute Daniel picked up the gun, shouldered it, walked out of the house, came to Illinois direct, and never heard or saw any of the family afterward. How the assets were divided is yet unknown. He left the Fort and went to Montgomery county, and about the year 1818 settled on Robinson Creek, in what was afterwards Shelby county, and from that moved out on the Okaw river, then to Todd's Point township, and died there in 1859. He built a saw and g rist mill on the Okaw, which he afterwards sold to some Yankee from Michigan, who converted it into a distillery, which was soon after consumed by fire. He afterwards rebuilt the grist and saw mill and sold it again, and then went back to farming. He was an energetic, business man, and dealt a great deal in stock, which he drove to Chicago and St Louis markets.

He married Charity Virden; she was born in Virginia, but was a resident of Illinois at the time of her marriage. She died in 1854. By this marriage there were fourteen children, twelve sons and two daughters; nine sons have survived the parents, and are s till living. The daughters died young. The subject of this sketch is the third in the family and the oldest living. He assisted his father in the saw and grist mill, and took charge of the business in the absence of his father, who was away on business a great portion of the time. He remained at home assisting his father till the spring of 1846, when he went to farming for himself. On the 8th of January, 1846, he married Miss Mary Terry; she died in 1851. By this union there were three children, two of wh om are yet living; their names are William H. and Charity Elizabeth, wife of Achilis Spicer. On the 19th of November, 1851, he married Miss Ellen Waller; she was born in Hamilton county, Illinois. Her parents were natives of Tennessee, and came to Illinoi s and settled in Hamilton county. In 1828 the family moved to Okaw township, Shelby county, where Mr. Waller died November 8, 1857. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was in Gen. Coffee's division under Gen. Jackson, and was present and participated in the battle of New Orleans. His wife, and mother of Mrs. Francisco, died November 4, 1861. By the latter marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Francisco there were seven children born to them; the first child died in infancy; Daniel died in 1879, in his twenty-fift h year; he married Elzina Lesley, by whom he had four children. Eli, the third, is a farmer in Okaw township; Alfred, Franklin, Levi and Willis, at home; Mary Ellen died in her twelfth year. After Mr. Francisco's marriage he moved to the place where he no w lives, and rented the farm and remained a tenant for thirteen years; he then purchased the place, and here he hopes to continue the rest of his days. All the improvements on the place he has made since his residence there. In August, 1862, he enlisted a s a private in company "K," 126th Illinois Volunteers, and on the organization of the company and regiment he was elected second-lieutenant. There were six brothers in the same company. All enlisted at the same time for three years. Alfred was elected cap tain of the company. The seventh brother was a sutler in the same regiment. Lieutenant Francisco remained in the service for eleven months, when he lost his health, and upon the advice of his surgeon and the officers of the regiment, he resigned and came home. His son William H. then enlisted in company "C," 54th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and remained in the service until the close of the war. Mr. Francisco engaged in farming and stock raising, in which business he has been very successful. Politicall y, he was originally, and for many years, a democrat; his first presidential vote was cast for Lewis Cass, in 1848; he voted the democratic ticket at all subsequent elections, and for Horace Greeley, in 1872. At the time he voted for Greeley he doubted th e soundness of his course, and then resolved that thereafter he would exercise his judgment, and vote for the man of his choice regardless of party ties or affiliations. In 1876 he voted for Peter Cooper, and in 1880 for Gen. Weaver for president. He is a n advocate of the greenback theories and principles. He has been assessor for his township for four terms. He is a member of the Christian church; his wife is a member of the M. E. church. On the subject of temperance he is liberal. As a man and citizen Mr. Francisco is much respected; in his home he is hospitable, kind, and generous, and few men in the county have more friends than Allen Francisco.

THE TURNEY FAMILY.

THE Turney family are of German ancestry. Four brothers came to America prior to the Revolutionary war, and settled in Maryland, and from them have sprung the present family of Turneys. One branch of the family removed to Pennsylvania. Peter Turney , the grandfather of the present family, removed to Bourbon

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county, Kentucky, and remained there until his death. He married a Miss Collins. By this marriage there were thirteen children that reached the age of maturity.

Whitfield Turney, the father, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, May 4th, 1810. He remained in Kentucky until 1832 when he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Okaw township, Shelby county, where he purchased eighty acres of land, and there he remaine d until his death, which took place September 25th 1874. On the 13th of October, 1836, he married Miss Margaret Townsend. She was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, Oct. 13th, 1816. Her mother died when she was five years of age. She came to Illinois in 1 830 with the Truitt family, who settled in Okaw township. She remained with that family until her marriage. She is still living, and is a resident upon the old homestead where she settled when married. She is a woman of strong, vigorous intellect and poss essed of much business capacity. Her husband was an invalid for many years, and the cares of the family and the general management of the farm devolved upon her, and right nobly she did her duty. That the family have grown up and become worthy men and goo d members of society, is due to her wise counsel and judicious training.

By this marriage of Whitfield and Margaret Turney there were seven children, five of whom are still living. Six of these children grew to manhood. James W. Turney was a member of the 7th Ills. Cavalry, and died January 13th 1862, at Mound City, near Cairo , Ills. He was in the nineteenth year of his age at the time of his death. William F. is the oldest son. He was born in Okaw township, Shelby county, Illinois, August 28th, 1837. In the summer of 1861, he assisted in raising a company under the call of Pr esident Lincoln for 300,000 more soldiers, and on the 5th of September of the same year was mustered into the service. On the organization of the company he was elected 2d Lieut. of Co. H. 41st regiment Illinois vols. The regiment was ordered to St. Louis , and from there to Bird's Point, and then to Paducah, where he was taken sick. He resigned his commission and returned home, where he remained several months. After his recovery he rejoined his regiment, and at the capture of Fort Donelson he went into t he fight with his regiment and company as a private. After the battle he acted as orderly sergeant for company " H." in place of his brother, Daniel M, who held the position, but who was at home on a furlough. We may here add that Daniel M. Turney remaine d in the service for three years, or until the expiration of his term of service, and was mustered out and honorably discharged, as 1st Lieut. of company " H." 41st regiment Illinois infantry. William F. was orderly sergeant from the 16th of February unti l the 5th of April. At the battle of Pittsburg Landing he was elected 1st Lieut. and was placed in charge of the company. On the death of Capt. Wilbur, which occurred on the 29th of April, he was elected Captain of company "H.," but was not commissioned u ntil September of the same year. He participated in all of the sieges and battles in which the 41st reg. was engaged, until the battle of Jackson, when in the charge with the brigade upon the works at that place, his right arm was shattered by a minnie ba ll, and he soon after suffered amputation above the elbow. He returned home, and remained there until his wound healed, when he rejoined his regiment. He was sent back home on recruiting service, and then went to Memphis in charge of the company. He was a fterwards in charge of the non-veterans at Bird's Point. He remained in the service, and was mustered out at the expiration of his term of enlistment, which was August 20th, 1864. On the 5th of September, 1865, he married Jane Casey, nee Golher, a native of Ohio, but raised in Shelby county, Illinois.

Charles C. Turney was also born in Okaw township, and is a farmer. He married Miss Rebecca Hendricks of Shelby county. Three children have been born to them; two of whom are living. Thomas Jefferson Turney, another son, was also born in the same township. He married Elizabeth Wright, of Moultrie county. She died in 1879, in Pueblo, Col. One child, a daughter, survives her. Thomas J. is now a resident upon the old homestead. David F., the youngest member of the family, was born December 20th, 1833, in Oka w township, is unmarried, and at home, farming the old place.

The family is republican in politics. A portion of them belong to the Christian Church.

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