Harp Township, DeWitt County, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Harp Township is one of thirteen townships
in DeWitt County, Illinois
, USA
. As of the 2000 census
, its population was 335.
to settle in Harp Township was Solomon Cross who erected a log cabin
deep in the solitude
of a forest
of oak
trees in 1830. The cabin was 16'x18', square and built of rough unhewn logs. The cabin stood fifty years before it was destroyed.
At about the same time as the Cross family, Jesse Mulkey and his brother-in-law
Baltus Malone located in the township after a long journey from Kentucky at what would become known as Mulkey's Point. Mulkey and Malone's stay in the area would be short, abandoning their cabin after just over a year's time. Soon however, Felix Jones would take possession of the old Mulkey cabin and constructed the first orchard in the township. Mulkey's Point also contained significant evidence of Indian camps and hunting grounds. Many of the trinkets and items found were shown to visitors of another early township resident, J. W. McCord.
1831 brought many new faces to the township including Isaac Davidson who came from Tennessee
, but his life in the township would be very short as he died that same year. Davidson became the first burial in the township. The exact date is lost to history, but it occurred in the month of October, 1831. Soon after that same month, William Cross became the second resident to pass on. William was a brother to Solomon Cross and was buried on section thirty-two. In 1832, Harp township had a happier first as it celebrated its first marriage
in the township. Mary Cross accepted the proposal of Martin Dale despite her parents opposition, and the couple were married in 1832.
Tyre Harp and Joseph Harp located their families on section twenty-nine in 1831. They came to the township from Overton County, Tennessee, but had lived a brief time in Waynesville, Illinois
prior to settling in Harp Township. The first school in the township was taught from the home of Tyre Harp in 1836. The following year, Tyre Harp, Pleasant Smith and Dudley Richards contributed $110 towards paying for a six months school
and erected the first schoolhouse
, a 16 ft (4.9 m) x18ft foot cabin where Edom Shugert from Tennessee (who had also taught in Tyre Harp's home) took charge of the school. Tyre was also a shoemaker, crafting all of the shoes for his family. The Harp family was very prominent in the township, which is in fact named after their family. They are also credited with being one of the few families of the early settlers to remain permanent residents of the township.
The first land entries recorded in the township are as follows:
Among the earliest camp-meeting
grounds was on section 25 where Winding Clark held services in 1835. Families came from miles around to enjoy the village of cabins erected here. A platform was constructed for the preachers and benches arranged of logs, partially hewn helped to offer good cheer and spiritual inspiration. Reverend John St. Clair was also present during this time.
Jefferson Cross became the first justice of the peace elected to office in the township and Solomon Despain who located in Waynesville in 1830 before locating in Harp Township in 1837 became the first blacksmith
to set up shop. Despain was also a Baptist preacher. Despain built his smithy on land owned by William Garrison Wright who had married Tyre Harp's daughter Leah in 1834. A second smithy would later be built near Wilson's mill in 1860 by a man named Leonard.
The first road
in the township lead from Clinton, IL to Marion and was cut by Hugh L. Davenport. By this time the U.S. mail
delivered to Clinton where township residents would commute
, which was preferable to the longer trip to Bloomington, Illinois
to the north. The Gilman branch of the Illinois Central Railroad
passes through the township from east to west, entering on section 24, and leaving on section 30. Much litigation surrounded the railroad from people refusing to honor bonds because of non-compliance by the railroad company, one such matter brought by Thomas Snell on section 20 leading to the construction of a switch in the winter of 1882.
Township veterans served in the Mexican War
and in the Black Hawk War
. William Harp, Charles Harp, Calvin Paine, Isaac M'Cuddy, David Beebe, Isaac Strain and Joshua Jackson all served in the Mexican War and William Garrison Wright served in the Black Hawk War.
, Harp Township covers an area of 34.74 square miles (90 km²); of this, 31.18 square miles (80.8 km²) (89.75 percent) is land and 3.56 square miles (9.2 km²) (10.26 percent) is water. This township includes part of Clinton Lake
and Clinton Nuclear Generating Station
. The North Fork of Salt Creek
and Illinois Route 54
pass through the township as well.
(This list is based on USGS data and may include former settlements.)
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
in DeWitt County, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, its population was 335.
History
The earliest known pioneerAmerican pioneer
American pioneers are any of the people in American history who migrated west to join in settling and developing new areas. The term especially refers to those who were going to settle any territory which had previously not been settled or developed by European or American society, although the...
to settle in Harp Township was Solomon Cross who erected a log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
deep in the solitude
Solitude
Solitude is a state of seclusion or isolation, i.e., lack of contact with people. It may stem from bad relationships, deliberate choice, infectious disease, mental disorders, neurological disorders or circumstances of employment or situation .Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one...
of a forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
of oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
trees in 1830. The cabin was 16'x18', square and built of rough unhewn logs. The cabin stood fifty years before it was destroyed.
At about the same time as the Cross family, Jesse Mulkey and his brother-in-law
Brother-in-law
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, or the husband of one's spouse's sibling.-See also:*Affinity *Sister-in-law*Brothers in Law , a 1955 British comedy novel...
Baltus Malone located in the township after a long journey from Kentucky at what would become known as Mulkey's Point. Mulkey and Malone's stay in the area would be short, abandoning their cabin after just over a year's time. Soon however, Felix Jones would take possession of the old Mulkey cabin and constructed the first orchard in the township. Mulkey's Point also contained significant evidence of Indian camps and hunting grounds. Many of the trinkets and items found were shown to visitors of another early township resident, J. W. McCord.
1831 brought many new faces to the township including Isaac Davidson who came from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, but his life in the township would be very short as he died that same year. Davidson became the first burial in the township. The exact date is lost to history, but it occurred in the month of October, 1831. Soon after that same month, William Cross became the second resident to pass on. William was a brother to Solomon Cross and was buried on section thirty-two. In 1832, Harp township had a happier first as it celebrated its first marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
in the township. Mary Cross accepted the proposal of Martin Dale despite her parents opposition, and the couple were married in 1832.
Tyre Harp and Joseph Harp located their families on section twenty-nine in 1831. They came to the township from Overton County, Tennessee, but had lived a brief time in Waynesville, Illinois
Waynesville, Illinois
Waynesville is a village in DeWitt County, Illinois, United States. The population was 434 at the 2010 census.-History:Waynesville is one of the oldest settlements in central Illinois. The area was first settled around 1825, by Prettyman Marvel and his wife, Rebecca Marvel...
prior to settling in Harp Township. The first school in the township was taught from the home of Tyre Harp in 1836. The following year, Tyre Harp, Pleasant Smith and Dudley Richards contributed $110 towards paying for a six months school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
and erected the first schoolhouse
One-room school
One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...
, a 16 ft (4.9 m) x18ft foot cabin where Edom Shugert from Tennessee (who had also taught in Tyre Harp's home) took charge of the school. Tyre was also a shoemaker, crafting all of the shoes for his family. The Harp family was very prominent in the township, which is in fact named after their family. They are also credited with being one of the few families of the early settlers to remain permanent residents of the township.
The first land entries recorded in the township are as follows:
April 6, 1831, John Norfleet, entered W 1/2, N.W 1/4 Section 23, 80 acres.
June 16, 1831, William Kincaid, entered, 240 acres, Section 24.
July 8, 1831, William H. Brown, entered W 1/3, S.W 1/4.
August 2, 1831, Parmenius Smallwood, entered W 1/2, S.W. 1/4, Section 33, 80 acres.
July 17, 1833, Tyre Harp, entered E 1/2, S.W. 1/4, Section 29, acres.
April 21, 1834, Gabriel Watt, entered N.E 1/4,S.E 1/4, Section 24, 40 Acres.
January 3, 1835, J. Pue, entered S 1/2, S.E. 1/4, Section 36, 80 acres.
Among the earliest camp-meeting
Spiritual (music)
Spirituals are religious songs which were created by enslaved African people in America.-Terminology and origin:...
grounds was on section 25 where Winding Clark held services in 1835. Families came from miles around to enjoy the village of cabins erected here. A platform was constructed for the preachers and benches arranged of logs, partially hewn helped to offer good cheer and spiritual inspiration. Reverend John St. Clair was also present during this time.
Jefferson Cross became the first justice of the peace elected to office in the township and Solomon Despain who located in Waynesville in 1830 before locating in Harp Township in 1837 became the first blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
to set up shop. Despain was also a Baptist preacher. Despain built his smithy on land owned by William Garrison Wright who had married Tyre Harp's daughter Leah in 1834. A second smithy would later be built near Wilson's mill in 1860 by a man named Leonard.
The first road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
in the township lead from Clinton, IL to Marion and was cut by Hugh L. Davenport. By this time the U.S. mail
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
delivered to Clinton where township residents would commute
Commuting
Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations when not work related.- History :...
, which was preferable to the longer trip to Bloomington, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
to the north. The Gilman branch of the Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
passes through the township from east to west, entering on section 24, and leaving on section 30. Much litigation surrounded the railroad from people refusing to honor bonds because of non-compliance by the railroad company, one such matter brought by Thomas Snell on section 20 leading to the construction of a switch in the winter of 1882.
Township veterans served in the Mexican War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
and in the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
. William Harp, Charles Harp, Calvin Paine, Isaac M'Cuddy, David Beebe, Isaac Strain and Joshua Jackson all served in the Mexican War and William Garrison Wright served in the Black Hawk War.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Harp Township covers an area of 34.74 square miles (90 km²); of this, 31.18 square miles (80.8 km²) (89.75 percent) is land and 3.56 square miles (9.2 km²) (10.26 percent) is water. This township includes part of Clinton Lake
Clinton Lake (Illinois)
Clinton Lake is a reservoir located near Clinton, Illinois. The lake is a part of the Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, which encompasses . Clinton Lake is located in the central part of the state. It was built in the 1970s as a cooling source for Clinton Nuclear Generating Station. The lake...
and Clinton Nuclear Generating Station
Clinton Nuclear Generating Station
The Clinton Power Station is located near Clinton, Illinois, USA. The nuclear power station has a General Electric boiling water reactor on a site with an adjacent cooling reservoir, Clinton Lake. Due to inflation and cost overruns, Clinton's final construction cost exceeded $2.6 billion...
. The North Fork of Salt Creek
Salt Creek (Sangamon River Tributary)
Salt Creek is a major tributary to the Sangamon River, which it joins at the boundary between Mason and Menard County, Illinois. There are at least two other Salt Creeks in Illinois, Salt Creek , and in Effingham County, Illinois....
and Illinois Route 54
Illinois Route 54
Illinois Route 54 is an east–west highway in east-central Illinois. It passes through the cities of Clinton , Gibson City, and Onarga. Its western terminus is at Interstate 55 in Springfield. Its eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 45 at Onarga, one mile east of Interstate 57...
pass through the township as well.
Unincorporated towns
- BirkbeckBirkbeck, IllinoisBirkbeck is an unincorporated community in DeWitt County, Illinois, United States. Birkbeck is located along Illinois Route 54 east-northeast of Clinton....
at 40.1769806°N 88.86841°W
(This list is based on USGS data and may include former settlements.)
School districts
- Blue Ridge Community Unit School District 18
- Clinton Community Unit School District 15
- Deland-Weldon Community Unit School District 57
Political districts
- Illinois's 15th congressional district
- State House District 87
- State Senate District 44