Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-07-10
CONCERNING CANOE CREEK
Some Interesting historical Facts
About one OF Rock Island County's
Oldest TOwnshiDs

Oldest Townships.
HILLsDALE, July S.-We commence
here with a series of papers devoted TO
the history of Canoe Creek township. 1t
will be our aim to make the same as
brief as possible and to subsequently
present number of biographical sketches
of some of the pioneers and representa>
tive citizens.
The township of Canoe Greek frac-
tienal, containing only about eleven
sections. 1t is about eight miles long by
about one and half miles wide. On an
average the greater part of it is level
land, some of which is very wet, andean
be used only for hay land apd grazing
purposes. The earlier Settlements were
made along Canoe Creek, a small Geek
so called by the Indians, as irwas Used
as harbor for Aheir canoes. TheSrst
settlements were made about 1884, among
them were Moses Hnbbafa, Jones Carter,
j M. Walker and Jas. Martin.
RELIGIOUS meetings..
The first religious meetings were held
in the houses of the settlers, and were
conducted by the Rev. Herman Scott, a
pioneer preacher OF limited education, but
of indomitable character and energy.
The results of his labors may be seen yet,
| as those of the old settlers still living,
who are members of the u B. church.
were converted at the meetings held by
him. The first church was built about
one mile below Canoe Creek on the
farm of George Walker. 1t was sup
ported by the United Brethren
denomination. In 1868 the church was
| deemed inadequate for the comfort of the
congregation that assembled, so an sddi-
| ton was built, which was raised a short
| time afterward and much larger build
| ing erected, which stood until 1888, when
it was torn down and built after a more
modern pattern on the farm of J. M.
Walker. three miles northwest of Hills
dale. 1t is provided with steeple and
belfry and has a seating capacity of about
two hundred and fifty. There is hand
some organ and upholstered furniture
The Rev. Brosdfoot is the presiding pass
tor. Next after the Canoe Creek church
was that of Bethesday. which was built
about 1858 by the Nj. E. denomination.
The church is surrounded by spacious
cemetery, which has some very imposing
monuments and is well supplied with
shrubbery and trees. The Mount Maria
cemetery on the farm of Jno. A Liphardt
is not so large as Bethesday. but is con-
veniently located two miles northwest of
Hillsdale. 1t was opened only few.
years ago and is always kept in very
nice and presentsble condition.
THE SCHOOLS.
There are four school houses in the
township with good average attend
ance. and at the annual examination they
stood well up in the average. Within
the past few years several teachers have
started in life with no other education
thsn that of these country schools.
IN THE WAY OF LITIGATION.
The township has never had any very
notorious sensations in criminal point
of view. and but one suicide-that of old
man Mason, who hung himself in 1888 in
Gerhardts hall from the effects of heavy
drink. The McEniry case is known by
all residents of this vicinity, but for the
readers abroad we will give brief review
of the case. 1t was begun about six
years ago. The township sued the Nc
Entry brothers for damage done to a road
in the lower end of the town by an ems
bsnkment which said EcEniry's had
thrown up in order to protect their farm
from the frequent floods. The case was
first tried before a justice of the peace, and
a verdict was rendered for the town. The
case was appealed to the circuit court
where the jury disagreed; at the second
trial the town was defeated. The appe-
late court then reversed the decision, and
at the third trial in the circuit court the
town was successful. The McEuiry s
then appealed TO the appellate court, when
a decision was rendered in favor of
them upon the technical point of
one of the boys not being a defendant.
The case was last spring settled, the de-
PENDANTS paying the costs of suit and taxi
ing out the embsnkment. For this set
Element the town paid said defendants
$500. it being considered that would be
cheaper than another trial. The case has
cost the town for attorney fees alone
about 81 500; the costs aggregate near
before u Jtissae the case was first tried
costs would only have been apaa. total
where the attorney fees and costs will
now amount to about 81 900. The case
is almost equal 20 the Jones county, Iowa,
calf case.
For thirteen years
THE COUNTY FAIR
was held on the farm of ID. NJ. Martin
and was in fiourishing condition. al
though the burden had become irksome
to the society, and in 1886 by mutual
agreement the company disbanded.
But little more remains TO be written
about the township. Next week we will
furnish brief history of the village of
Hillsdale and the business thereof.
New Law.