Brooklyn
On the south bankof Crooked creek, on a rolling piece of ground sloping gradually towardsthe stream, is the little village of Brooklyn, with pleasant homes nestledbeneath the shade of elm and maple. The well-kept lawns and beds of flowers,surrounded by neat fences, bespeak the good taste of its inhabitants. Itis situated in the western part of the township and occupies the southeastquarter of section 20; and was laid out by William C. Ralls, October 26,1836, and surveyed and platted by Allen Persinger, the county surveyor.It was named by its founder in honor of the city of Brooklyn, N. Y. Ithas never had a corporate existence. The first house, a rude log cabin,was built in the early part of 1832 by William C. Ralls, who soon afterwardbuilt several more for the accommodation of his hands engaged in buildingthe mill. Mr. Ralls also kept the first store as early as 1832. The postoffice was established about the year 1840, and William Horney was thefirst postmaster. The first blacksmith was a man named Redfield who workedat the trade as early as 1832, and a few years later Samuel Holloway openeda shop in the town. The first mill was built and operated by William C.Ralls, and has been as fully described as the facts in our possession willpermit. The first physician in the village, as well as in the township,was Dr. James Blackburn. William Lewis was the first Justice of the Peace,not only of the village but of the township. A Miss Dodds was the firstteacher in the village. She taught in a small frame building in the summerof 1844, and was employed by Mr. William Lewis. The first church builtin the village was the Methodist, in 1866, and is still used by the congregation. The present pastor is Rev. N. H. Kane. There was formerly a cooper shopcarried on by David Shanks, but he has long since passed away.
Present Business.–Churchesand Schools
Flouring Mill.–Thismill was built in 1842, on the south bank of Crooked creek, near the siteof the old mill of William C. Ralls, by William Lewis and George M. Wells.It is a good, substantial, three-story frame building, being furnishedwith three run of burrs, two used for wheat, and the third for corn. Agood dam spans the creek and furnishes a water supply sufficient to runthe mill at all seasons of the year. It is strictly a custom mill, andhas been sold for $16,000. It is undergoing repairs, being refitted andfurnished with all the latest improvements. Mr. John Glandon, one of theenterprising citizens of the township, bought it recently, and is havingthe changes made. It will be worth at least $10,000 when the comtemplatedimprovements are made. It is the most important industrial establishmentin the township.
General Store.–Taylor& Hite, Blackburn & Bissell.
Drugs.–W. H. McCamish.
Physicians.–GeorgeWillis and J. E. Camp.
Blacksmith.–O. P.Jackson.
Wagon Maker.–J.C. Strong.
Carpenters.– OrvilleBlackburn and Bryson Blackburn.
Undertaker.–Jackson& Pelsor.
Cabinet Maker.–GeorgePelsor.
Barber.–Thomas Atchley.
Milliner.–Mrs. MaryBrickman.
Dressmaker.–Mrs.Sarah Mullen.
Watchmaker.–C. L.Bissell.
The Presbyterian Churchhas a neat frame edifice, with a spire, and enjoys the services and companyof a resident pastor, Rev. D. T. McAuley. Their building was erected in1866. A public school is maintained eight months in the year, in a neatand commodious frame building. No liquor is sold in the village, and peaceand good order are leading characteristics of its inhabitants.Excerpted from The CombinedHistory of Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, 1882
Transcribed by Carol LongwellMiller for Schuyler County ILGenWebCopyright 1999-2006 Judi Gilker; all rights reserved. For personal use only. Commercialuse of the information contained in these pages is strictly prohibitedwithout prior permission. If copied, this copyright must appear with theinformation.