The Farm (Before the Polley's)

The 80 acres came into the Polley name in 1964. The 50 acres came into the Polley name in 1971. But families had been farming this land for years. Below shows a history of the soil before we Polleys came to know the land ourselves...

Just after the Civil War, the Polley Farm was not set up exactly as we know it today.  The current 80 acres was in fact as we know it and was owned by H. Joseph (underneath the bold 27 in the map).  However, the 50 acres was actually part of a much larger land tract owned by J. Howser.  He is shown owning 250 attached acres.  It is not until years later that this tract will be subdivided into the tracts we know today.

Of particular interest is the road from Lawndale coming up north over Kickapoo creek.  The road would be dirt in this time, but the four-way stop to the east of the farmstead is actually not a four-way intersection at all!  What we now know as the first little sharp curve to the south of Lazy Row Road was actually originally two 90-degree turns, first to the west, then to the north!  Later maps indicate the curve (still exists), but this map shows a 90-degree turn at the southern end of J.B. Adams' property, resulting in a "T" rather than a four-way stop when it meets Lazy Row road (east of the current farmstead).  The eventual paved road will end up providing the divider between the 80-acre tract and the 77-acre tract (most likely the reason for moving the road).  But because these properties were owned by the same individual in 1873, the road simply cut that property in two, and it mattered not where that cut took place.

Of even more interest is the house located on the north section of H. Joseph's 80 acres.  This is most likely the same farmhouse (aptly called the "old farmhouse" by our family!) puchased nearly 100 years later by Robert Polley in 1964 when he bought those 80 acres.  The History of Logan County (1878) tells us that the man who owned the farm is Joseph Harvy, a republican, from Ohio [page 493].

Also note that no Route 66 exists.  Interstate 55 is 100 years away!  However, unbeknownst to all, the land is already set up to hold these roads, as the Chicago-Alton St. Louis Railroad has already laid its tracks (Alton to Springfield was finished in 1852, then extended to Bloomington in 1854).  As with much of the rest of the United States, the paved roads would eventually come after the automobile and simply parallel these tracks already in place.





1873 Logan County Plat Map

In 1893, much of the land has already changed hands.  Note that the 250 acres from 1873 has been divided up into three tracts (129 acres, 70 acres, and 50 acres). Of course, that's just an acre shy of the 250 acres in 1873 (most likely due to partial acres in each tract).  The 80 acres as we know it is now owned by Maggie Houser (another Houser owns the 70 acres north of the 50 acres as we know it).  W.J. Horrum is shown owning the 50 acres.  The north-south road still does not line up with the four-way-stop yet, and Rose Hill School is shown on the north side of Lazy Row Road.  Also note that the Chicago and Alton Railroad still shows no road alongside it.

In 1887, a business directory is printed for all of Logan County, and we learn a little bit about the owners of the land.  W.J. Horrum works in hardware in Atlanta.  The number 3 next to his name denotes he owns less than $1000 in real estate.  His (most-likely) relative Joseph N. Horrum is a farmer and works the field to the south of the 50 acres (see plat map below).  He owns real estate worth between $1000 and $5000.  We do not see Maggie Houser's name listed, but several Houser's appear in Logan County at this time.

We also see Osa Howser as a farmer with more than $5000 in land value.  Osa is the wife of John A. Howser who died March 26, 1883 (we learn elsewhere that Osa kept the 117 acres in her name).  She is the daughter of John and Mary Chowning...and a brother to Elet Houston Chowning.

1887-1888 Logan County Business Directory (W.J. Horrum, Houser, Howser)

The (future) 50 acres is in great hands.  According to the 1886 Logan County History Book, the caretaker of this piece of land is quite the farmer.  From the history book:  "William J. Horrom, a prominent farmer of Eminence Township, was born December 6, 1848, in Cass County, Illinois.  He is a son of John and Susan Horrom, who were natives of New York State and Pennsylvania, respectively, and among the early settlers of Cass County.  He was reared on a farm in his native county, and there educated in common schools.  November 16, 1870, he was married to Sarah Goodpasture, by whom he had seven children, six of them still living--Leona N., Eugene L., William A., Bessie, Pearl and Gertrude.  In 1877, Mr. Horrom moved with his family to Logan County, Illinois, and settled on the farm where he has since resided.  He is a successful and enterprising farmer and is the owner of 250 acres of good land.  In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.  He is at present serving his second term as road commissioner of Eminence Township." [page 733]  That "250 acres of good land" contains the 50 acres that will soon fall into the Polley's ownership.  (Is it possible that he divided his land in order to buy/begin a hardware store in Atlanta?)

Note the more than 1000 acres owned by S.A. Foley. (I guess that comes with being elected judge of Logan County in 1877, being elected President of the Lincoln Savings, Loan, and Trust in the same year, being owner of the Lincoln gas plant from 1878-1884, being a major stockholder of the Citizen's Coal Shaft, being President of Lincoln Gas and Electric in 1884, and being founder-owner of Lincoln Rollings Mills in 1885. The famous Foley House in Lincoln, Illinois [also known as Harts Hall] still resides on Tremont Street).

1893 Logan County Plat Map

In 1910, the land has changed hands yet again.  As for the future Polley Farm, Maggie Houser still owns the 80 acres, and J.H. Parker (later identified as a Mrs.) now owns the 50 acres.  The residence is no longer shown, though this could be a cartographist's oversight (the house is not shown in some later maps, either).  Or quite simply the house is gone.



1910 Logan County Plat Map

In 1922, the Polley Farm is still very much a future endeavor, as owner Robert Polley would not be born for another two years!  However, the land is already affecting Little Robert before he could even know it.  His future boss Fred Zollers has already acquired his 200 acres where Robert would be working on in just another several years (see Robert Polley's life story).  As for the farm as we know it, Maggie Houser still owns the 80 acres, and Mrs. J.H. Parker still owns the 50 acres.  Also note the school house across from Fred Zollers' property.



1922 Logan County Plat Map

The farmland doesn't change hands in the next eight years.  Maggie Houser is still shown as owning the 80 acres, and Mrs. J.H. Parker still owns the 50.  The automobile has taken the country by storm, however, and the huge Route 66 project has begun.  This map sometime in the 1930's shows the new 66 to the east.

1930's Logan County Plat Map

In 1940, the Polley's are still another 24 years before purchasing the land.  However, with the excitement of the Route 66 having been built to the east, the government commissions a fly-over of the land from 20,000 feet.  The (eventual) Polley farm is included in the aerial photos.  Here is the land as seen in 1940:

The farm as seen in 1940.  (Note:  This map angle differs from the plat map angles).

The farm in 1940.  Notice the various uses of the land.

 

The 50 acres as seen in 1940.  Notice the trees on the western portion!

Here in 1965, the land has come under the Polley name.  Sort of.  In 1964, Robert Polley took out a $50,000 loan from A.J. Engelbrecht in order to purchase the 80 acres.  So although the farm was now under the Polley activity, the deed was under the name of A.J. & Edna Engelbrecht (see plat map).  It is also fun to note that Eleeta Kindred is shown owning the 50 acres...several years before it would even cross Robert Polley's mind.  [For reference, the 80 acres is just underneath the 27 in this map].

The Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio Railroad also now owns the railroad (they bought the Alton R.R. in 1947).  Notice, too, that the 90-degree turns are now gone, replaced by a little sharp curve so that the intersection now comes to a four-way-intersection (and Fred Laur's 80-acre and 77-acre fields are now separated by a road acting as the boundary line).  And Route 66 now exists!  From the 1965 Logan County Plat Map:



1965 Plat Map

The following shows our neighbors and the house locations in 1970.  The farm house is shown, but the name is not.  This is because Robert Polley rented out the old farm house.  Maps of the day did not show the owner's name unless he actually lived in that house.  Our old farm house is the black square just to the east of our neighbor Galen Lessen (under the number 27 in the map).  From 1970:

Our Neighbors in 1970

In 1971, Robert Polley took out a loan from the Atlanta Federal Bank and purchased 50 acres for $25,000.  For the first time, the Polley name is shown in the Logan County plat book.  The Polley's now officially own land!!!  Robert & Betty Polley are shown owning 50 acres.  The railroad tracks are now owned by the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad (merged with the above Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio R.R. in 1972).

1971 Logan County Plat Map

In 1973, Robert Polley is the only name listed on the 50 acres with A.J. & Edna Engelbrecht still listed on the 80 acres.  Robert Polley and family are hard at work on the farm, paying off the loans, watching Ricky graduate from high school, and most likely curious about the "Proposed Interstate 55" being pursued just a few miles to the east.  The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad now runs the tracks.

1973 Logan County Plat Map

In 1977, the Polley name is finally listed on the 80 acres for the first time.  The loan is still in existence with the Engelbrecht's, however, as that name is listed first.  However, A.J. has been taken off the map, and Edna is the only remaining (possibly due to A.J.'s death?) .  Also note Interstate 55!



1977 Logan County Plat Map

It's interesting to note the occupant of the farmhouse in 1979:  Robert Polley II.  Before the building of the current farmhouse in 1980, Bob lived in the old farmhouse.  Our neighbors in 1979:

1979 Logan County Residences

No more loan!!!  Sometime between 1979 and 1980, the 80 acres was paid off!!!  The Engelbrecht's are forever removed, and the 80 acres now shows sole ownership by Robert and Betty Polley.  The 50 acres still shows ownership by Robert Polley.

1980 Logan County Plat Map

Our neighbors in 1988:

The Polley Farm has now officially been in existence for 48 years.  The abbreviation "etux" behind Robert Polley's name simply means "and wife."  Note the very important addition, as well.  The farm is now a Trust.  Here is the farm as shown in 2007:



2007 Logan County Plat Map

And our neighbors in 2007:



2007 Logan County Neighbors

The land has been worked for years and years providing sustenance for an untold number of families.  Memories are made, families are raised, bills are incurred and paid.  Here's a before and after shot of the farm from 1940 and 2012.

 

The Polley Farm continues to this day.