This vicinity was first settled in
1829, and was among the earliest in this county.
Among those who first came here were: Matthew D.
Ritchie, Otho W. Craig, William McCoy, Hugh Martin, Sr.,
and others. Much fear and some trouble was experienced
from the Indians by the early settlers. A roving band
of those desperadoes were skulking along the timber on Cedar
Creek, on the 9th day of August, 1832, when five of their
number rushed out, shot and scalped William Martin,
who was at work alone putting up hay. A block house
had been built as a kind of fort, where persons and families
resorted in time of supposed danger. Several women and
children were at the fort at this time, and heard the shots,
saw Martin fall, and the Indians run to him, shoot
again, and scalp him. The news spread rapidly, and
caused great alarm among the inhabitants. Martin had
been at the fort but a short time previous, was cautioned by
the women about working alone, though it was not known that
any Indians were in the vicinity. He returned to his
work singing a favorite tune.
The block house stood a few rods east from where now
stands the pleasant residence of Hugh Martin,
brother of William, and he was killed about eighty
miles north. His body was not recovered until the next
morning,[Pg. 168]
and when examined, it was found that the last shot was made
so near as to burn his clothing.
A company of Rangers followed the trail of the Indians
as far as New Boston, where they were just in time to see
them in their canoes, nearly across the Mississippi river.
They fired upon them, but did not avail to stop them.
An account of the trial of these murderers is given in
another part of this work.
The village of Little Rock was laid out in 1835 by
William McCoy and M. D. Ritchie.
James Kendall opened the first store in this vicinity,
at the block house in 1833, and after his death, in the next
year, his widow moved the goods to a building on the site of
the village, and continued in the trade. This she sold
to Arthur McFarland, who soon sold to J. F.
Pollock, and he had a prosperous trade there for many
years. He was the first P. M. for nearly twenty years.
The first school was in 1837, taught by Peter
Turpening. At the present time there is a good school
house and a good bell, with pleasant grounds ornamented with
trees.
The principal merchants are Messrs. Wallace
& Morrison, general merchandise. There are two
harness shops, three blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, and a
boot and shoe shop.
This village is located in a thriving and industrious
farming community, and is in Sumner Township, twelve miles
northwest from Monmouth.
The U. P. Church of Little York was organized April
19th, 1863, by Rev. John Scott, D. D., of the
Presbytery of Monmouth. At the formation of this
church there were forty-one members from the U. P. churches
of Cedar Creek and Henderson. The first pastor was
Rev. Wm. H. McMillan, ordained and installed Oct. 4,
1864, who continued his labors for six years. The next
pastor was Rev. W. T. Campbell, ordained and
installed June 13, 1871, and continued four years. The
present pastor is Rev. David Anderson,
who began his work here in October, 1875. This
congregation own a pleasant and commodious house of worship,
which cost $4,000, and a convenient parsonage, recently
built at a cost of $2,000. The present number of members is
130. |
