George P. Lyman, of Lyman Township, says that his father built the first permanent house in that township on Section No. 2.
This house was raised July 4, 1856. There were several temporary or pre-emption shanties built the year previous. He thinks his father's was the only house at that time between Spring Creek and Oliver's Grove, the only road or trail running through his farm. Land seekers and travelers came in great numbers, stopping over night at the Lyman homestead. This same year, a colony from Connecticut took up several thousand of acres in this immediate vicinity. This event was hailed with grate joy by the Lyman family. Among these colonists were S. K. Marston, who afterward taught the first singing school, and his estimable wife was the first public school teacher in that township; E. L. Havens, Capt. A. C. Maxon, S. C. Burt, John T. Forbes, Lyman Peck, J. M. Wyman; later came G. H. Thompson, G. B. Winter, H. J. Gamble and others. The first Sunday school was held at the house of Mr. Peck. First preaching was by Rev. Bishop Hall, Methodist, and Rev. Lemual Foster, Congregationalist, and then Rev. Mr. Needham. These services were held at the various homes of the farmers. A series of meetings were held a year or two later, by Revs. Foster and Needham, and many, including nearly all the young people, united with the church. A union church was organized and continued several year, but finally merged into a Congregational Church.
--Historical Atlas of Ford County, 1884. Page 13.
--Atlas of the State of Illinois. Chicago. 1876.
--Paxton Record. 4 April 1878.
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On Tuesday last we paid our compliments to the village of Roberts, whither we ?? our ?? for the purposes of renewing old and forming new acquaintances with her business men and citizens generally, and found it a very pleasant occupation with G. H. Thompson and P. S. Gose as guides and chaperons among the sights and scenes of the city.
The village has grown well and is a healthy and well-developed two-year old, considering that she possesses no extra or ?? advantages, and that no special efforts have been made to expedite her growth. We have no data further than our own judgment from which to estimate her population, but would place it at from 150 to 200. She possess a fine school building 24 by 32 feet, surmounted by a cupola in which swings a bell whose duty it is to quicken the tardy steps of dilatory youth on the road to the temple of learning, as well as to summon the worshipers on Sabbath mornings to listen to the preaching of the gospel, for it has thus far served the double purpose of school and church. The deficiency in church accommodations, however, are about to be supplied, as we found the German Methodists with an edifice well under way, which will be pushed forward to immediate completion. The building will be ?2 by 48 feet, with height proportionate, and a tall graceful spire.
The temperance settlement of the community is manifested in the existence of a flourishing lodge of Good Templars with a membership of 50, officered by G. H. Gerden, W. C.; Mrs. Mary Thompson, W. V. T.; W. C. Thompson, Marshal; J. V. Riggs, Chaplain; G. P. Lyman, sec'y; J. B. Meserve, P. W.
--Paxton Record. 12 June 1873.
EMMA BELLE MATTHEWS
--Gibson City Courier. 30 September 1876. Page 1.
In 1874 election was held in the school house and the following officers were elected. Supervisor H. B. Furgerson, Town Clerk G. P. Lyman, Assessor J. L. Smith, Collector W. H. Thompson, Commissioner of Highways James Bond, School Trustee A. B. Graham, Overseers of Highways B. G. Hersperger, E. T. Havens, H. N. Hawk, John Miller, J. N. McNeil, A. T. Light, W. R. Kennedy, W. Wilson, J. B. Meserve, A. Shaffer, J. Landel.
--Roberts Herald. 15 May 1935. Bela Foster.
