This is part three of three parts.
This is an essay about Johnson Township dating from 1925. About
two-thirds of the way through, about farming it refers to "tiptops".
Does anyone know what they are?
Stock raising and dairying are the two industries of note in Johnson
township.
Decker is the leading town of the township. It was laid out in 1869
and was named in honor of Isaac Decker, upon whose farm the town was
formed. Decker has had the telephone exchange convenience since 1893.
The town was incorporated in 1923. Since that time the streets have
been improved, electric lights have been installed. There is a bank in
Decker owned and patronized by the farmers and merchants of this
township and vicinity.
There has been a great improvement since the time of the stage coach
and the flat boat. The buggy and carriage replaced the stage coach,
only to be replaced by the automobile.
There is a telegraph station. Many homes have radios and news is
received first hand from places in the United States and some foreign
countries.
Decker has the distinction of being the home of the man who
originated the idea of the player piano, one Henry Richards. Mr.
Richards model was a very crude one but has been improved to its
present state of perfection. At one time he was offered $2,500 for it
but refused the offer, later he received an invitation to bring his
model to the Southern Pacific Company at Los Angeles, California.
Instead of taking his model he sent it. It was taken apart, examined
and sent back. Mr. Richards received nothing for the model and the
Southern Pacific Company improved the idea and profited thereby. The
original model is now in the possession of Bowman Varon.
In the southwestern part of the township is a row of bald knobs known
as "Chimney Pierre Hills."
They take their name from a natural stone curiosity, a perpendicular
stone formation, some thirty feet in height closely resembling a
chimney. The early French citizens called it St. Peters or St. Pierres
chimney, hence the name Chimney Pierre Hills.
A matter greatly to be regretted is the wanton destruction of this
natural curiosity which was torn down to secure stone with which to
build a well. Had Chimney Pierre Hills been allowed to stand as nature
formed it, it would rival the former jug rock of Martin county in
interest.
The railroad was built in 1850 by the Evans-ville and Terre Haute Co.
Later this railroad was purchased by the Chicago and Eastern Illinois
Railroad Company and the name was changed from the E. & T. H. to the
C. & E. I.
Iona in the eastern part of the township is a small village
consisting of a church, a store, a school house and a few houses.
Nearly all of the inhabitants are farmers.
St. Thomas, located in the northwestern part of the township, is a
small hamlet consisting of a store, a church, a parochial school and a
few houses. Most of the inhabitants are of the Catholic faith.
Vollmer and Purcell stations are two stops that the trains make in
case passengers want to get off or on at either of these places. They
are located north of Decker on the C. & E. I. railroad. Vollmer being
nearest to Decker is west of the Plass farms.
The people of Johnson township have been bound together by ties of
friendship and brotherly love since the formation of the first church.
This was augmented by the different lodges of which many of the people
are members. Stronger ties have formed by the Farmers Federation. It
is a movement to protect the interests of the farmer.
The county agent is the propelling force of the local organizations.
Knox county's present plan of entertainment, originated by Benson, is
said to be unique in organizations of this kind. It is attracting
national attention. While attending the national stock show in
Chicago, Ill., Mr. Benson was invited to give the details of his
entertainment plan over the radio. This organization is back of
cooperative marketing, wheat pooling and the breeding of better stock.
Johnson township never had a newspaper until 1921 when the Sandy Grit
was started. It is the school paper put out by the students of Decker
high school. It was introduced here by Lloyd A. Allen, principal of
the school and has for its object closer cooperation of the parents,
pupils and teachers.
Another small paper worthy of note is the Decker Methodist, edited
and published by Rev. J. Ord Cresap.
The leading business men are Daniel N. Lane, farmer; Dr. Royse Davis,
retired physician; Ray S. Sisson, druggist; S. A. Jordan, merchant;
Dr. Floyd Gillett, veterinary surgeon; Frank Plass, farmer; Harvey
Williams, farmer; Dr. Loren Hoover, physician; Oscar Frederick,
teacher; J. E. McCormick, farmer; Daniel Jordan, farmer; Dr. Emory F.
Small, physician; Elmer E. Johnson,
farmer; C. C. Campbell, merchant; N. Y. Yates, farmer; George
Turbett, farmer; N. S. Wallen, trustee; Ed Holtman, farmer; Carl
Jording, farmer; Louis Shultz, farmer; Fred Prusser, farmer; Wm.
Moore, farmer; H. G. Ehlers, harness dealer; August Bobe, farmer;
Walter Oexmann, farmer; William Hobson, farmer; Father Joseph Hass,
priest; Mat Keller, farmer; Edgar Thompson, farmer; Rev. J. Ord
Cresap, minister; Henry Oexmann, farmer; John G. Johnson, farmer; J.
M. Bailey, farmer; Sherman Sullivan, farmer; Roy Pea, farmer, George
Deem, farmer; Henry Jording, farmer; and others.
Johnson township is facing the future with brighter prospects, than
she has ever had before, with her up to date methods of farming, her
scientific knowledge of breeding, her working capital of both
financial resources and intellectual capability, she should reach a
goal not attained by any other township in the state.
Recopied by Henry Lauber May 27th, 1999.