Walnut, Illinois 1872-1972 Centennial Book: Part 3
In 1828 the state established the Peoria Galena road which ran through Walnut Township. During that summer the Ament brothers, Edward, Justus, and John L. built a cabin on the east end of Red Oak Grove where they could furnish food and lodging for the travelers who were taking supplies to the fast growing lead mining area of Galena. This was the first settlement in Walnut Township and the second in Bureau County. The Ament cabin was the only house built in the township for 12 years. The Aments were Kentuckians and first heard of Northern Illinois from Gen. George Rogers Clark. They sold part of their claims to Dad Joe Smith, and the road eventually changed, passing by the Smith's cabin. because the travelers soon heard that Mrs. Smith and her family provided better meals and a more comfortable atmosphere than the three young men.
In 1831 they sold their claim to James Magby, who with his wife and large family of children occupied it for a short time. One day while Mr. Magby was away from home, two of his daughters were on the prairie gathering wild flowers and saw a large body of Indians approaching them. Believing that they were about to be murdered, they fled to the Dad Joe residence, stating that the Indians had killed their mother, brothers and sisters. The Indians, about 300, were Potawattamies from Bureau, and were on their way to a country west of the Mississippi. When they saw how they had frightened the Magby family, they went on their way without stopping.
James Claypoll occupied the cabin from 1833-1836. In 1838 Luther Denham settIed here intending to have a stock farm, specializing in the raising of improved sheep. This was the first attempt in the county to propagate improved stock of any kind. The country was too immature for this scheme to develop, but was probably the beginning of later progress in the development of better livestock in the area.
O. Denham was the first to purchase this land in 1864 from the government. It has been owned by Verner Heaton until recent years.
Several small cabins, or shelters, were erected in the early years by squatters who stopped for a few years to live along the edge of the grove. They planted gardens, grazed a few animals, and used the convenient wood for fuel. As the land was purchased and cultivated, these people gradually left the area. The Red Oak German Evangelical Church was built in 1863 west of the cemetery on land donated by Henry Guither, and in 1880 was moved to its present location. It was always the center of community life for the early pioneer settlers of the area. In 1968 it merged into the United Methodist Church.
The Red Oak School house was first located on the corner north of the John Bacorn home, and was later moved to the south edge of the grove where Raymond Anderson now lives. School was held in three sessions during the year, often with three different teachers. Many of the farm boys only attended the winter sessions after they were old enough for farm work, and would continue attendance until they were sometimes as old as their teachers. Sam Pope and John Winger were two men who often taught winter sessions. Women usually taught during the spring and fall. Nellie Ross, Georgia Mayhall Snyder, Blanche Chase, and Millie Nauman are remebered as some of the early teachers. One favorite winter sport for the boys was sledding down the hilIs on the road sorth of the school hill which took them at a fast pace for about half a mile before coming to a stop. This was often forbidden at recess time as they would be late getting back. The school was consolidated with the Walnut Community Consolidated Grade School in 1947, when the school house was sold and remodeled for a home.
A brick yard, the only industry besides farming in the area, was located on the south side of the grove west of the school. Here bricks were made for many of the local buildings including the Shearburn building, except for the front which had a better quality of brick. Casper Yepson owned the brick yards. His daughter, Bennie Odell's mother, hauled the brick to town for the opera house.
Picnics and revival meetings were held at various locations in the grove. Sunday church picnics would close with a service, eliminating the need for an evening service. ShortIy after the Civil War, a July 4th picnic was held at the east end of the grove. During the afternoon some of the veterans fought a sham battle with the front lines on opposite sides of the creek. One summer the community planned a chautauqua on the ground south of the school. Four groups were hired for the four nights' entertainment, but only one group of the company arrived to put on the program, while the others mistakingly went to Red Oak, Illinois in the northern part of the state. Advance tickets had been sold, the money was refunded.
Land was broken and farmed mostIy on hills until tilling gradually brought more land into cultivation. There were few fences, and cows were sought and separated from their neighbors at milking time. During the summer, local farmers went north to the swamp to cut grass for hay. They protected the horses from the huge mess by completely covering them with gunny sacks, and themselves with gloves and handkerchiefs over their faces. The swamp was a beautiful place in the spring and fall, with thousands of geese and ducks feeding and mating. Wolves were plentiful and their howls were hard to endure.
Red Oak Grove played a colorful part in the early history of Illinois and the western settIement of the United States. The first settIers lived in constant fear of Indian attacks, and the pioneer farm families worked hard to bring the land into cultivation and raise their families with only the bare necessities of life. Even with all the hardships these people bore, they still found time for the simple pleasures of family and community life. These hardy pioneers were typical of the settlers of the midwest, and their descendants honor them with pride for their courage and strength.
Ione Guither