INFORMATIONAL

Veterans War    Memorial                                            

Located at 3rd and Lincoln in Riverton

 

 

The Veteran's War Memorial is located at 3rd and Lincoln in Riverton. The memorial was dedicated in 1950 by the township and has had some minor renovations through the years. The township had to look at adding more members of the military on the memorial. With no more room, a renovation to reface the memorial began. On Saturday, November 11, 2006 the memorial was rededicated after the completion of the renovation which took about 18 months.

Renovations included two Howlitzer cannons to each side of the memorial along with the refacing of the monument. New sidewalks, landscaping, flag poles and lighting were also added.

Each year the Riverton Fraternal of Eagles hold an annual Veteran's Day Service at the Memorial.

The township accepts additions of our veterans once every four years. They must be a resident of the township at the time of entrance or discharge from the army. Documentation must be supplied for verification. This open enrollment is advertised in the newspaper to advise residents. Questions can be address to the office at 523-4210. New additions of veterans names will next be open in the year 2014.

          Clear Lake Township History

 

CLEAR LAKE TOWNSHIP

SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS

ORGANIZED IN 1861

 

Location:  The Township of Clear Lake comprises all of township sixteen north, range four west, and is so named from the lake of that name, in section twenty two.  The Township of Clear Lake lies in the second tier of township from the county line on the north.  It is bounded on the north by Williams, on the west by Springfield, on the south by Rochester and on the east by Mechanicsburg.  The Township receives its name from a body of water called Clear Lake on the banks of the Sangamon River.

Topographical:  The township is almost equally divided between timber and prairie, and is quite rolling.  The soil is of good quality, and large crops of corn and wheat are raised.

Water Courses:  Clear Lake Township is well supplied with streams of living water.  The north fork of the Sangamon river enters on section thirty six, and the south fork enters on section thirty-three, the two unites on section twenty seven, and flows northward, emerging from the township from section five, but returns within a quarter of a mile, flows westward, and enters Springfield Township from section six.  Sugar creek enters the township on section thirty-one, and flowing in a north-easterly direction, unites with the Sangamon River on section twenty-eight.  Clear Lake was a beautiful sheet of water, about one half mile in length and an average width of two hundred yards.  On the bank of this lake, many picnic parties were held in the summer, and boats were provided for sailing and rowing upon the lake during the turn of the century.

Early Settlement:  HUGH MCGARY- was the first settled in 1820 upon the banks of Clear Lake.  He was an old soldier and was a man highly respected, being a high-minded honorable man.

HARRISON MCGARY- brother of Hugh, came about the same time and settled upon a farm.  He was dissatisfied and return to Indiana, from whence he came.

 

 

 

SAMUEL DANLEY- settled about a mile from McGary.  He was a rough man, but with a large heart.  He became a Christian some years before his death and lived conscientiously up to his profession.

 JOHN SMITH- Was possessed of considerable wealth, but ran through it all and sold out to Thomas King.

 BENJAMIN CHERRY- came from Tennessee.  He was considered a good man.

 THOMAS J. KNOX- came and settled on the farm owned by J.F. King.  He was County Treasurer and Collector for one or two terms and justice of the peace for several years.  He died in Springfield.

 SAMUEL MCDANIELS and PHILIP SMITH-  early settlers

 JOHN WILCOX- settled in the fall of 1819, between the mouths of Sugar Creek and the south fork of Sangamon River.

 ARCHER G. HERDON- arrived in the spring of 1821, settling on what was called German Prairie, five miles northeast of Springfield.

 ARCHER G. HERDON, SR.- was engaged in mercantile pursuits, from 1825 to 1836, in Springfield, and during that time erected the first regular tavern in town.  He was one of the “Long Nine” who were instrumental in having the Capital removed from Vandalia to Springfield, having been elected State Senator in 1836.

 LARKIN BRYANT- settled five miles northeast of Springfield.

 JOHN SHINKLE- arrived December, 1826.  Less than a year of arriving he died in August, 1827.  His widow Mary raised her family on the farm where they settled.

 VALENTINE R. MALLORY- was a soldier in the War of 1812.  He moved in with his wife’s brother, John Dawson and arrived October 22, 1927.

 

 

 

JOHN DAWSON-  settled in 1827.  He married Cary Jones and settled here on October 24.  His widow resided on the

farm after his passing.  He was a Captain of a company from Sangamon County in the Black Hawk War of 1831.  He was a representative of the “Long Nine”.  He was also a member of the convention that framed the State Constitution of 1848.

SAMUEL RIDGEWAY- arrived in November, 1929 with wife Elizabeth.  He came after his marriage, packing up his worldly goods on one horse.  They lived west of the Sangamon River, and five miles northeast of Springfield.

JOHN BLUE- came from Ohio in the fall of 1830 with his wife Elizabeth.

WILLIAM FAGAN- emigrated from Kentucky with four children to southern Illinois.  They arrived in Clear Lake Township in 1920.  They settled on a farm three miles northwest of Springfield.

URIAH MANN- Moved from Kentucky with his sister Anna, and her husband, Thomas A. King, arriving the first Sunday in October, 1831.  He later became one of the most successful farmers of the county.

JAMES FRAZIER REED- settled on the south side of the Sangamon River in 1824 or 1825.  They were of German descent, and gave to the neighborhood the name of German Prairie.  He worked in the mines of Illinois.  He served in the Black Hawk War.  For several years he engaged in manufacturing cabinet furniture at a point on the Sangamon River.  He employed a large number of men, and a village grew there, which, in honor of his first name, was called Jamestown.  It has since been twice changed, first to Howlett and then to Riverton, the present name.  Mr. Reed was the founder of the infamous Donner-Reed party that traveled to California.

EDUCATIONAL:  The recollection of the first school in what is now Clear Lake Township, by the “old settlers” of 1881, dates back to 1828.  There were two school houses built, one on the north, and the other on the south side of the river.  The schools built were made of logs.

 

 

 

RELIGIOUS:  The first house of worship erected in the township was by the Baptists, in 1829, though the denomination was not the first to be represented in the preaching of the gospel.  The Methodists were here previously.  Aaron Vandever was the first Baptist minister.  Others were Peter Cartwright, James Sims and Rivers Cormack.

MINERAL:  Coal was first discovered in this township at a very early date, and for many years surface mining was carried on, though none of the early settlers, and few of those that came at a later date, ever imagined that underneath their feet.  P.L. Howlett, an enterprising citizen of the village, that for some years bore his name, conceived the idea that there was an immense bed of superior coal at a great depth below the surface.  In the spring of 1866, he sunk a shaft from which he began to take a superior coal to any heretofore mined.  This was the first attempt at mining coal in Sangamon County.

VILLAGE OF RIVERTON:  The Village of Riverton was laid out and platted by John Taylor, December 1, 1837.  The village grew but slowly for some years until Mr. Howlett came and erected the distillery and mill adjoining.  Up to this time, the village bore the name of Jamestown, but soon after it was changed to Howlett, which name it retained until it changed to Riverton.  The first postmaster was Jesse Sweatman. He handled a large correspondence of mail due to the distillery.  In 1865, P.L. Howlett opened the distillery, being the largest in the State, with a capacity of 2,400 bushels of grain per day. 

BRIDGES:  The township boasted an old covered bridge established in 1884. It was a single span, wooden arch type and about 150 feet long.  It was fastened together with wooden wedges and pegs instead of with nails.  It crossed the South Fork of the Sangamon River about six miles east of the city on Clear Lake Road.  It was abandoned when the new structure, located about 1000 feet upstream to the south, was completed.  This new bridge, at the time, was the third largest bridge running across a running stream in Sangamon County.

 

 

 

LAKES - PARKS:  Many memories of Clear Lake are from the fine picnics at the Clear Lake Park which was located east of Springfield.  It was a very popular spot around the turn of the century. 

CAMP BUTLER CEMETERY:  The cemetery was established in 1862 and was re-dedicated on Memorial Day in 1948.  It is located about six miles east of Springfield.  The original cemetery contained about six acres.  The remains of 729 Union and 866 Confederate soldiers lie buried there.  Recently additional ground was donated to the cemetery for expansion.

MEMORIAL:  The Township dedicated a War Memorial on May 30, 1974.  The memorial is located at Third and Lincoln in Riverton.  The Memorial is dedicated to Township residents who served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm.

ADDITIONAL INTERESTING FACTS:  Abraham Lincoln is reported to have stopped at Judy’s Ferry in the Spring of 1831 on his way down the Sangamon River.  Judy’s Ferry was located just south of Riverton on the Sangamon River.  In late August 1876, Jesse James and his gang stayed overnight in Riverton at a house on the south side of the railroad tracks.  The gang was on their way to Minnesota where they robbed a bank on September 17, 1876.  At this time the reward for Jesse was $10,000, dead or alive.

CURRENT TOWNSHIP FACTS: In  June, 2004 the new building was completed.  It now houses the Township office, General Assistance office, Assessors office and Road Commissioner’s office and garage.  The building will allow the township to better serve the residents with all services located in a centralized location.

The township maintains over 60 miles of roads.

2000 Census  population of 8115 which includes 3048 being within the Village of Riverton

 

 

Voters Registration

 

 

New Registration

• May register at the Township office or the Elections Office
• 2 Forms of ID Required

 

Change of Address

• Forms are available at the Township office or the Elections Office.  Voters also may fill out there change of address on the back of their current voters card and mail to the Elections Office.

 

Veterans Cemetery

Erected in 1932 by the citizens of Clear Lake Township in honor of their soldiers and sailors of the World war, Oak Hill Cemetery is home to a reserved area for burial for veterans and their spouses.  Oak Hill Cemetery of Clear Lake is located just east of the township office and garage at 4688 Old Route 36.  The site is centrally located within the cemetery and indicated by a monument with a large beautiful eagle resting on top.

 

Little information is of record, but the engraved monument shows this area was dedicated in 1932.  Originally erected for veterans of the World War, it was later amended by the township board to allow veterans of all conflicts.

 

The township does not charge for a final resting place.  There are charges for burial with the cemetery.  If you are interested and need further information, please call Oak Hill Cemetery at 528.2448.

Korean & Vietnam Dedication,1974

Memorial Rededication, Veterans Day, 2006