Previous to the year 1866, there had been a
switch and a water-tank about two miles east
of where Weston now stands, which was on the
west line of Livingston County, three miles
from Fairbury. This watering place was, for
this or for some other reason not known to the
oldest inhabitant, called Weston. When, in tie
year above mentioned, the switch and town plat
were laid out on Section 3 of Yates, westward
the name of Wesson took its way, and became
attached to this place. The plat and its
surroundings embrace about 120 acres in the
southeast quarter of Section 3, which the
abstract of title shows passed from the United
States to Horatio N. Wheeler, of Peoria, and
from Wheeler and wife to W. F. Bryan, of
Peoria, so that there is no trouble in regard
to the title of all town property. It was
understood that Mr. Cruger, the Vice President
of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railway, was to
be a partner in this town speculation, but no
such arrangement was made, and Mr. Bryan
continued sole owner.
The town was surveyed by the late Nelson Buck,
of Pontiac, and embraced twenty-three blocks
besides the public common, lying between the
depot-grounds and the blocks, and one square
which has been set apart for a public square,
and set out to trees. For some years, there
was no depot-building or freight-house. Mr. H.
D. Legerwood was agent, and Dr. H. E. Johnson
was Postmaster, and kept a few groceries for
sale. J. 0. Exley came here in 1868, from
Philadelphia, and built the large store which
he still occupies for a residence and store,
and put in a stock of goods. About the same
time, Mr. McKee, a carpenter by trade, built a
store and rented to Henry Culp for mercantile
purposes. Dr. Holderness, Dow of Chenoa, also
built, and opened a small stock of drugs and
medicines. The grain trade, by this time,
demanded better accommodations than shovel and
apron, and John Boland built the elevator now
standing. Boland soon after sold it to Exley,
who put in a run of stones to grind corn, and
put in steam power. George Hancock put up the
first blacksmith-shop, and G. W. Allison the
first wagon-shop, the same year. A. W. Howard
and C. C. Enslow, under the name of A. W.
Howard & Co., soon after this commenced the
grain business here and built the western
elevator. The firm carried on a large business
here, buying grain and selling goods, for ten
years.
In 1871, Mr. Boyd built the eastern elevator,
24x45 feet, 30 feet high to the top of the
square, and has a capacity of 15,000 bushels.
He remained in trade only about a year, since
which Haynes, Jorden & Co., of Chenoa, have
occupied it; three years later, Mr. A.
Rakestraw entered into partnership with them
and carried on a large business in the firm
name of Rakestraw, Haynes & Co. In 1872, John
Pool left his farm and came to Weston to
engage in the mercantile trade. He has built a
large and lucrative trade, carrying the
largest stock of goods in the village. The
same year, Edgar Blaisdell came from Chenoa,
where he had been in trade six years, and
became business manager for Haynes, Jorden &
Co. Three years later, be purchased the
western elevator, a fine building 24x32, feet,
40 feet to the top of the square, which,
together with the old building, 24x30 feet, 18
feet high, has a capacity of about 25,000
bushels. He is a business man of large
ability, and, besides his large grain trade,
is agent for Mr. Bryan, Postmaster, and, in
partnership with Mr. Purdy, is interested in
the store. A good idea of the business of
Weston can be got from the following figures:
Of the crop of 1878, there have been purchased
here 83,000 bushels of corn, 38,000 bushels of
oats, 8,000 bushels of rye. Grain is usually
shipped from here to Philadelphia,
occasionally to Peoria and to Chicago. There
are now twenty-five residences in Weston,
three churches, three elevators, eight stores,
and a dozen shops, offices, etc.
The Methodist Church was built in 1873; is a
plain, four-walled structure, without
ornament, 32x46, and cost $1,700. Since its
organization, the Weston Church has been a
part of Chenoa Circuit, and has been regularly
supplied by the pastors of that charge, whose
names appear in the history of that place. It
has about fifty members, and begins to feel
the need of a pastor for full time.
The Christian Church was built the same year;
is 30x40, plain, like the other, and, like it,
is kept nicely painted; cost, $1,400. Elder H.
D. Legerwood was the earliest and is the
present Pastor of this church, and it is
through his faithful labors. in a great part,
that this comfortable house was built and
religious services kept up.
By far the sightly church edifice is Zion
Church, the building of the German Evangelical
Church, which was built in 1875 and 1876, and
dedicated to religious worship in February,
1876. The building is 24x36, twenty feet high,
with a spire sixtyfive feet high, from in
front of the centre. The trustees who had this
building in charge, and who so faithfully did
the important work, were Messrs. Anton Adam,
.Joseph Adam, Kiradan Raedle, John Nagel and
J. Jikadanz. The building cost about $1,800.
This church belongs to the Illinois
Conference, and is in the Pontiac Circuit, the
other appointments being Sand Ridge, Owego,
Ocoya and Rooks' Creek. Rev. George Eichenlaub
is Pastor.
The Weston School is in charge of Mr. David
Vance, Jr., who is doing faithful work in
behalf of education ; number of pupils
enrolled, 50; average attendance, 39. Pupils
are taken through the statutory studies.
The persons and firms now engaged in business
here are: Dry goods, etc., John Pool, H. C.
Purdy S, Co., R. R. Grady, J. 0. Exley, J. W.
Finley; grain, Rakestraw, Haynes & Co.,
Blaisdell & Leeret ; blacksmiths, W. H. Loper,
Warren Chamberlain ; wagon maker, G. IV.
Allison ; restaurant, J. W. Finley;.
physician, - ; station agent, H. E. Lamb;
baggage and trackmaster, James McNally.
The Postmasters have been H. E. Johnson, A. W.
Howard, H. C. Purdy and Edgar Blaisdell.