Firsts of Lincoln Township
The first marriage, the date of which memory has
kept green, was that of Miss Maria Seats to Samuel Haves. The
nuptial ceremony was performed at the house of Joseph Everly in the
month of December, 184:0, by the Rev. William Mikels. The young
couple started out with a host of friends and their well wishes, and
had bright anticipations of their own happiness.
The first child was William H., son of Peter and Lucy Bear, who was
born April 15, 1839; the next was G. W. Williams.
The first girl born in the township was Hannah J. Mikels, daughter
of John and Catherine A. Mikels.
The first death of record is that of the infant child of Peter and
Lucy Bear, who died in the spring of 1841. It was buried on John
Mikels's place on section thirty-one.
The Rev. William Mikels, a Baptist divine, was the first preacher of
the gospel in the township. He preached at the house of Joseph
Everly in the year 1839 and at other places, and organized. what has
since been known as the Pilot Grove Baptist Church in the year
1840. He has always been am earnest and consistent worker in the
church.
The first school was taught by James Jefferies in the year 1844.
This was in a log school-house on section thirty, put up by 'the
surrounding neighbors, primitive in style but fully up to houses of
education erected in those days. This school numbered from ten to
fifteen scholars and being a subscription school, the teacher
received a salary of fifteen dollars per month. Mr. Jefferies is
now, or was when last heard from, a minister of the gospel, and was
preaching in Iowa.
The first regular school-house was built in 1855, and was erected by
Alexander Gillilan at a cost to the district of $140. It was a frame
house and was at that time considered one of the finest in the
county. It was known as the Brown school-house. The first school
taught in it was by Caleb Smith, who still lives an honored citizen
with a large family of children and grandchildren growing up around
him.
Dr. D. B. Hill has the honor of being the oldest permanent physician
in Lincoln township. He came from Adams county, Illinois, and
settled near Bancroft, at which place lie now lives. He belongs to
the homeopathic school of medicine and still enjoys a large practice
and is respected and honored by all.
In the industrial arts, Mrs. Hannah Everly wove the first cloth in
the township, one of those early pioneer women whose strong sense
and active hands were the groundwork of success of pioneer life.
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