;^?>^^:^;-s■ r^-^ ■ ""■ ^^fr* ^^~> ^3>>>:>^^' :5> T^^' ^ ::>■ :z> »i>^>> ^e^ ■■>\^ 5 :^1X^ ■ '^-^..23^ j:^-^ ^>^>^^f- 3^ - :^ > >> > :3» > >> - > ^> :::> 2s>!-t> t:>. ^i. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. PRESENTED BY '' UlTITED BTATES 01 AMEEIOA. -m j> ^ »• :>-j& ^ — ^ ■ ":2^ »!>■■■::>» SI* 5": ,-;^ ->..2> :»:2> _j>y^_ > > ^^*>^ ^fe^ :>-n^.i> >^ ^>::::^*>j'j> >•■>, ■» ■..■ >)■■■•> "^ >> j> :>> >.v>j» ~» '■> ,.^-> ja»> . >s- j>> >;>/ -^ _ , . . __ -^'Tjo T>^ ''»:>>"" ^^ .~^^ :?* •>''■> > -'•.,>> "^ >»>>:->^ ?> -£>. ■> --> '-■>>■■:?>. -x^/> 1 ^"3* >3>T(»> >?>■?» :>x>v> >■>-> • • ;ui> ^ -oy ^ > _ ■•>>3> :> ^^- ^--^^^ ^->.::>> ::>.j> \2»>.>3:] >> :> » > >^ > "»> !>>>=? ^2^H^ »^>:> :>-> " ._' j>,:2> 1 ''tap*- -J- -^ -- — , »^ a H I S T O T^ -OF- PUTNAM COUNTY, G^To the Year 1876.^^ -:o:- -BY- REV. H. VALLETE WARREN, OF GRANVILLE, ILLINOIS. Heitnepin, Illlinois: THE RECORD JOB PRIJVTIJVG OFFICE. 1877. Wi > HISTORY OF PUTN.'\M COUNTY. T O Z-i?.. "^ — OF— From its Earliest Settlement to the Year 1876. The following liistory of Putnam County was prep:ired by llev. II. V. Wakren of Granville, and read by him at the Centennial celebration at Hennepin, July 4tli, 1876. REASONS FOR WRITING. WuEREAS, Uly:-C'8 S. Grant, Presideut of the Uuitecl States and J. L. Bcveridfrc, Governor of the State of Illinois, having recommended that the people of the j?everal counties and towns of tlie State and Nation, cause a history of their resjiective localities to be prepared and read on the 100th Anniversary of our National Independence, and this method ot ol)serviug the day being, in our view, eminently appropri- ate : Therefore we. citizens of Putnam County, Illinois, have procured the preparation of this History of our Coiiuty. AUTHORITIES. The s-mrces wlieace this history is derived, and first and chietly the testi- mony of living' witnesses wJio ])artic- ijiated in the events described, origin- al records, written n irratives sid)mit- ted to tlie histoi'ian by their autliors or custodians, and "Ford's History of Putnam aMdMarsliall Counties." puli- lislied in i860, at Laeon, Illinois. 1LLIN(HS IX 182."). l!i tlie year 1825 Illinois contained a jHjpulatioii of less than one lumdred th(njsand, located almost wholly in the soulliern portion. The northern part, embracing from one-half to two- thirds of its area, was a vast wilder- ness, its only population the roaming Winnebago, Potawotoinie and other tribes of Indians, its only roads Indi- an trails, its only arts those of hunt- ing and savage war, its only trade the barter of hatchets and trinkets for skins, by French adventurers. The lead mines in the extreme north- western corner had attracted a few miners and Chicago was an insignifi- cant village of less than twenty houses and not over seventy-five inhabitants on what was then known as Chicago creek. SURVEY OF THE MILITARY TRACT' Ten years before this date, 1815, Congress had ordered the survey of the "Military feounty Land Tract" located ])ct\veen the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, extending due north 169 miles from the mouth of the Illinois to its great bend below Peiai, thence west to the Mississippi. This tract contained five million three hundred and sixty thousand acres, of which three million live-hun- dred thousand were appropriated to soldier's bounties thereby attracting a rapid immigration to tliis part of the state. ORGANIZATION OF COFNTIES. As the population increased county organizations be(,'ame necessary and were furnished by legislative author- ity, twelve counties being formed du- -ing the first tiveyears atter the admis- sion of the State to the Union iu 1818. In Janury (the 13th) 1825 an act was passed whicli provided for the formation of eight counties bearing the names of Schuyler, Adams, Han- cock, Warren, Md'rcer, Henry, Knox, and Putnam — bright names, all in the annals of revolutionary fame. BOUNDARIES. By this act the boundaries of Put- nam county extended Irom the north- ern limit of Peoria ciunty, along the Illinois and Kaskaskia rivers to the Indianaline, lakeshoreand Wisconsin l)oundary to a p!)int only tlnrly-five miles Ircnn the Mississipi) and tiieiice south 105 miles to the Peoria county line, includingnearly eleven thousand square miles, or tlie greater part of twenty-fouv counties as now organiz- ed. C^hicago was the only village iu Putnam county. In 18:'>o. five yi^ars f roin the passage of this acl, Peoria, and Putnam coun- ties contained but one tliousand threa hundred and ten w'aite inhabitants, of which iiuinber it was estimated that seven hundred only were within the wide limits of Putnam. So great an area, with so sparse a population rendered a reorganization necessary, hence, at the Legislative Session of 18:30-1 an act was passed whereby Cook and La Salle counties and a new Putnam was created. HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY. By'this act the boundaries of Put- nam were defined as beginning at the south-west corner of town twelve, range six east, running east to tlie Illinois river, thence down themi ld!e of said river to the south line of town twentj'-nine nortli, thence east with said line to the third principal meridi- an, thence north witli said meridian line forty-two miles, thence west to a point six miles due nortli of the north- west corner of town seventeen of range six east, thence south in a right line to the place of beginning. These boundaries included nearly all of what are now Bureau, Putnam, Marshall, and Stark counties, compris- ing thirty-eight full and thirteen frac- tional townships, or 15-i8 square miles. FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. By the same ;ict Joel Wright of Canton, Isaac Perkins of Tazewell county and John Hamlin of Peoria were appointed commissioners to se- lect the county seat. LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT. On the sixtli of June they reported to the county Commissioner's court then in session that tliey had perma- nently located the seat of j ustice where it now is. Naming it Hennepin in obediance to instructions, thereby linking the name of one of tlie earliest French explorers with the goodly land whose wilds he was the. first to penetrate. FIRST ELECTION. The first election, as provided for by the act of legislature, was held at the house of William Ilaws, near Magnolia, on the first Mon(lay in March ensuing, for three county Com- missio'-.ers, a Sheriff and Coroner. The day was so inclement and the state of the roads so Invi as to permit the casting of but a single vote. Thomas Ilartzell and Thomas Gal- lalier served as .Judges of the Flection and -lames W. Willis as Clerk. Tlie election resulted in the choice of Thomas (iallaher, (icorge Isli, and John M. Gay, county Commissioners, ira Ladd, Sheriff, and Aaron Pain''or- oner. James W. Willis was appointed county Treasurer in June, giving a bond for one thousand dollars. Hoop- er Warren held the oflice of Clerk of the Circuit Court, Recorder, and Clerk of the county court. He was also Justice of the Peace. Bradstreet M. Hays was tiie first Surveyor appoint- ed, luidNathanial ('hainberlain the first S;'liool Commissioner. JUDICIAL DISTRICT. Putnam county had been assigned to the fifth judicial district which ex- tended from the mouth of the Illinois to Chicago and Catena. Hon. Richarurrow, Jolm Myers, Kzekiel Thomas, Eli Red- mon. Mason Wilson. Smiley Shejilierd, Justin Ament, and AVilliam JNIorris, one of whom, Smiley Shepherd, still lives. HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY, At this term of Circuit Court the Grand Jury held its sessions upon u log under the sh;tde of a tree. The only indictments found were against certain parties charged with bigamy, '•a grave offence" a chronicler remarks, "in the eyes of a jury composed almost wholly of bachelors," one of whom declared that "a man ouglit to be in- dicted for having two wives when most of them had not been able to get one." No business came before the Court at that term. It lasted but one day and adjourned to the September term, which was lield in a house owned by George B. Willis, opposite the moutli of Bureau Creek. FIRST COURT HOUSE. The tirst Court House was a large building of wood erected in 1833, which continued in use until 1838 when the present building was con- structed, at an outlay of fourteen thousand dollars, its cost being great- ly enhanced by the monetary con- vulsions of that day. EIRST MEMBERS OF THE BAR, In connection with the early legal procei^dings of this covinty the old settlers remember Judge David Davis, now of the Supreme Court of the Uni- ted States, who often rode on horse- back from Bloomington to attend court at Hennepin, receiving as his fee the sum of live dollars. Judge John B. Caton also came from Chica- go on an Indian pony, and Judge B. R. Sheldon, now one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Illinois, and Thomas xitwater were among those who in like manner participated in the first administration of justice and law. FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT. The first County Commissioner's Court was held in the house of Thom- as Hartzell on the 9th day of April 1831. At theJune term viewers were appointed to mark a road from Henne- pin to the county line of Tazewell in the direction of wliat is now Washing- ton in that county. FIRST TAX. A tax of one-half of one per cent was levied on all personall property for the current year for county expen- ses. The first tax of one citizen was thirty-seven cents — his hist in 1875 was over tJiree hundred dollars. Eith- er taxation has increased enormously or he is richer than lie was ; perhaps both are true. DIVISION OF COUNTY INTO FOUR PRECINCTS. At this term of Court the county was divided into four precincts for the election of county ofiicers, viz : Sandy Precinct, Hennepin Precinct, .Spoon River Precinct and JJureau Precinct. The following is "An abstract of the votes for representative to the Congress of the ITnited states, given in the several precincts in Putnam county, Illinois, on Monday, the first day of August 1831, as returned to the Clerk 01 the county C^omuiissioner's Cotirt by the Judges and Clerks of election in the respective precincts. In Hennepin precinct, Joseph Dun- can had 18 votes ; Sidney Breese had 14 votes; Edward Coles had 6 votes. In Sandy precinct. Ex Gov. Coles had 26 votes ; Soseph Duncan had 13 votes ; Sidney Breese had 2 votes. In Bureau precinct, Joseph Duncan had 10 votes; Edward Pool had 6 vot's; James Turney had 2 votes; Sidney Breese had 1 vote. In Spoon river precinct, Joseph Duncan had 10 votes; Sidney Beese had four votes." FIRST JAIL. In December 1831 two of the Com- missioners were authorized to con- tract for the building of a jail twelve feet stiuare and seven feet high in the clear, with a window a foot square to be constructed, walls, upper and lower floors, wholly of hewn logs. The first prisoner confined in tliis structure made Ids escape, he being assisted by friends outside who re- moved one of the logs. This log jail, wdiieh cost eighty dollars, gave place, in 1833, to a laiger one costing three hundred and thirty-four dollars,which in turn was pulled down wlien the present building of brick was erected. FIRST PROBATE COURT. Tlie first Pro!)ate Court was held in August 1831, Colby T. Stevenson be- ing Probate Judge. The next term HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUXTY. was held iu March 1833, John P. Bhike lining tlie ixKsitioii of Pr()l)at(i Judge, in wiiicli office he continued several j-ears. DIVISION OF COUNTY. As the population ot Putnam in- •creased and new centers of influence were formed, movements were made toward a division of tlie county. In liie winter of 183(5-7 Ikireau was set off, and in .January 183!) Marsliallwas carved from our soutiiern hall', while in Marcli of the latter year Stark was formed of tlie part rem lining west of Marshall, thus reducing Putnam from one of the l,u-gest to one of the smallest couuties ol' the State, with an area of four townships and some fractions, embracing one liundreil and sixty square miles. This is tiie Put- nam county of to-day cromprising the townsliips of Hennepin, Granville, Magnolia and Seuachwine as organ- ized under tlie township law in l8.").j. IIENNKPIN PliAIRIE. On the eastern side of tiie great bend in tlie Illinois, where it changes from a western to a southern course lies a beautiful expanse of rolling land, several miles in extent, bounded on the west liy the river and on the east by the thickly wooded bluff, ;md now known as Hennepin Prairie. At a point on this Prairie, opposite the upper end of the island, in tlie river, was erected tlie first building in this region by other than Indian hands. FIKST TllADING llOrSK. It was a Tialing House built in 1817 and first o(!cupied by one Beau- bean, a Frenchman in the employ of the American Fur Comi)any. In the year 1818 (lordon S. Hubbard, then 10 years of age was employed by this trader as his clerk. Beaul)eaii bi'ing unable to i-ead or wi-ite. besides, suffering further incai>acity from age and sickness. Mr. 11 ubba'.d still lives, his residence being at Cliicago, anil gives by letter many interesting pai- ticulars of tlie time and place. He says: "Thomas Hartx.ell, who was a Pennsylvanian by birth, was at that time trading in the rivei' below', in opposition to the American Fur Com- pany. In 1824 t)r lS-2r) he succeeded Jieaubean in the employment of tlie Company. There was a housejust ije- ]i)W, a,<;ross the ravini',l)uiltby Antonie Bourboiivis also an o])[)osition trader, but who, like Ilart/.ell, went into the employ of the .American Fur Compa- ny, under a yearly salary. My trading post after leaving lieaubean was at the 111 luth of Crooked Creek, till 182(5, when I located on the Irotjuois River, still in Iheemiiloy of the Conii)any and so continued till 1830, when 1 bought them out. The last time I visited the place where tiie old trading house stood the chimney w,is almost all that re- mained. It w ears belong this the Buffalo was very abundant on both sides of the Illinois. Passing boats on the river HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY. were often delayed for lioars by vast lierds crossing from side to side, among wliicli it was dangerous to venture. Indian tradition accounts for their disappearance in consequence of snow to an extraordinary deptli. Deprived of sustenance the lievds perislied. The fact that tlielirst settlers found patch- es of prairie white witli Buffalo bones, and also the bones of deer and elk, tends to corroborate the tradition. The tradition receives further con- firmation from noiices of damages sustained at the French settlement at St. Louis, from unprecedented floods caused by the sudden melting of the vast body of snow. According to Indian autliority the bottoms, from blult' to bluff, were one broad expanse of water. Since the occupation of the country by white men no JJuffalo hiive been seen east of tlie Illinois. FIKST SETTLEKS. In addition to the traders mention- ed, permanent settlers had located in the vicinity of Hennepin as early as 182S, in which year Smiley Slieplierd arrived, and a year later brought iiis wife, Mrs. Catherine Sheplierd, wlio was the first white woman to set foot on Hennepin Prairie, which she did, •June 1829. Their son, Augustus Shepherd, was born February 7th 1830, lieing the first white child born in Hennepin township. ■ Patterson and Nathan Sl^eel were also among the first on the ground. The f (allowing summer, that of 1830, witnessed the appearance of six steam boats on the Illinois. FIRST STORE. In 1831 James and Williamson Dur- ley rented a cabin of George Willis, on the Illinois river, cme mile above Hennepin, and opened a store — the first business house to succeed the system of biuter carried on by the American Fur Company, and other adventurers, whose transactions were wlioUy with tlie Indian tribes. SURVEY OF HENNEPIN. It appears from the records that Hennepin was surveyed in the fall of 1831, twelve blocks being laid off, while portions were reserved for the public buildings and a center square. Lots were offered for sale in Septem- ber of the same year, the first on Front Street being bid off by James and Williamson Durley at $60, the higliest lot sold, where they built and opened their store in November of that year. William M. Stewart and James Dunlavy built the first house in Hennepin. Other buildings went up, mostly of logs, and generally small, and the county seat of Putnam was fairly be- gun. The population of Hennepin in 1875 was 2144. GRANVILLE, FIRST SETTLER. Granville was so called from the town of that name in Massachusetts, from which its first settler, Mr. Tiios. Ware, came. The survey of the place was made in April 1836, Felix Mar-r. : I rave being the proprietor. Lots were sold, and the same year Mr. Ware and Jas. Laughlin built the first house in the town. James and Hugh Warnock, lioswell Blanchard, a Mr. Christwell, and George Ish, were the earliest set- tlers in this vicinity, the latter having located in 1829. The situation of Granville was very attractive, being on the rolling prairie land, bordering the belt of timber that skirts the Illinois on the north and west of the town, and the vast expanse that stretches away to the east and south beyond the reach of sight. Being a magnificent farming region the land was soon occupied, and the village enjoyed a healthy giowth.- Provision was made for education,' and churches were founded. On the I7th of March 18.59 the town was incorporated, its limits, originally forty acres, being at the same time ex- tended so as to include an entire sec- tion. Population in 1875, 1668. MAGNOLIA. Magnolia, called after the well known tree of that name, was explored as early as 1826, bv William Haws, James W. Willis and Stephen D. Wil- lis, who made claims in that locality. It was at the house of Mr. Haws that the Commissioners met to locate the county seat of Putnam county. John Knox and Aaron Payne were the ear- liest settlers, the former locating at Magnolia in 1827, making that place tiie' first settled in the present Putnam county. The rich rolling fa^rming lands were soon taken apt and the HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY. population of village and country around rapidly increased. Schools and Churclies were founded. In 1859 the village was incorporated. Popu- lation in 1875, 1607. UNION GROVE. Unicjn Grove possesse»l rare attrac- tions to the seeker of a western home. An outlook over green swells and gentle depressions, more beautiful tlian the prairie's dead level, shaded by charming natural groves of oak, bounded by thick timber on the west and the boundless grassy plain on the east, could not fail to win recognition as a spot of rare promise. Stephen D. W^illis and Thomas Gal- laher were its first settlers and here the first church in tliis region wjis formed which became the religious center of the surrounding settlement. SENAC'HWINE. Senachwine received its name from an Indian chief whose home and hunt- ing grounds were in tluit township, on a stream also bearing his name. He was buried on a hilly point that juts out into the valley commanding a view of the scene of hisearthly career. The town originated from a station on the Peoria and Bureau Valley Rail Road, upon the opening of that road the place was laid out, stores, shops and dwellings were erected, schools and churches followed, and it bids fair to become an important point, it being the oidy Rail Road station at this date in tlie iiiuits of Putnam county. John and Curtis Williams and James R. Taliferro were the first settlers. Population in 1875, 801 KLOKID. The town of Florid originated through the agency of Wm.M. Stewart and Aaron Thompson, in 1835. In its early history its future ap- peared promising but it has since fal- len into decay. Several shops, stores, churches, a school house and Post office, grooped among a cluster of dwellings, the whole surrounded by inviting farms is all that comprizes the Florid of to-day. BLACK HAWK WAK. These early settlements met with a serious clieck, and were subjected to great inct»nvenience and h.ss by the Jilack Hawk War. The lands on Rock river and else- where had been ceded to the general government by treaty in 1804, at St. Louis, a treaty twice ratified subse- quently. Black Hawk, a brave and powerful chief, was dissatisfied, charg- ed that the treaty was a fraud, and in the spring of 1881 crossed the Missis- sippi to repossess and maintain his hold on his old hunting grounds. In the following year, 1832, the conflict came on. The settlers were driven away, their stock'was killed and sto- len, and their improvements were de- stroyed. ALARM. The alarm spread, homes were aban- doned, the plow was left in the furrow, all kinds of property was forsaken, the people fleeing from the murderous rifle and tomahawk. All the inhabit- ants on the west side of the Illinois crossed over to the east side where they fixed the frontier and made a stand. CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS. Runners were sent in all directions calling for volunteers for the defence. Hennepin was the place of rendezvous for the Putnam county rangers, where fifteen hundred men were organized and from which point they took field. To provide for the defence of the non-combatants, block houses were built of thick timbers, provided with loop holes through which to fire on aii attacking enemy, and into these de- fences the women and children were gathered. One was erectetl on the east side of Front St. in Hennepin, the timbers of Hartzell's Trading house being used in its construction. Fort C!ribs was near Florid on the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Shering. (Sec. 19, 32 north, 1 west.) Some of its old tiuibers still remain in the barn which occupies its site. It took its nanie from the corn cribs which it enclosed. Warnock's Block House wjus on land now owned by James Moore (E. % N. E. 1^ sec. 8) near (Jranville. At Cah'donia also, and otlier places, houses were fortified for the protec- tion of groopsof familie'smore remote from the thicker settlements. SHAB-BA-NEE. In these times of alarm and danger HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY. Shab-ba-nee a friendly Indian chief secured the lasting gratitude of the white settlers by giving timely warn- ing of the approach of war parties on their errand of death. Some of the settlers were over-bold and incredu- lous, and were almost driven from their exposed position by this faith- ful man. May the name of Shab-ba- nee be held in greatful remembrance. DEATH OF PHILLIPS. A party of men going from Henne- pin to Dover, 16 miles distant, to se- cure tlieir cattle were followed and watched all night by Indians,and in the morning one man named Pliillips was shot as lie cauie out of the cabin in which they had passed the night. The Indians then fled, a boy named Dim- mick rode to Hennepin and gave the alarm. It was the day of the disband- ing of the rangers, many of whom were there. About thirty of them, as many as could be gotten over the river in time, responded and hastened to Dover where they found the body of Phillips lying as lie fell and liis com- panions still in ihe cabin. The Indi- ans were followed but not overtaken. The company returned to Hennepin, bearing the remains of the unfortunate man, and Thomas Hartzell, J. S. Simp- son, H. K. Zenorand Williamson Dur- ley, selected a burying place, and as- sisted in burying the only man who fell by Indian hands within the limits of Putnam county, and the first to fill a grave in the burying ground of Hennepin. END OF WAR. Black Hawk met his final overthrow in .) uly 1832, and from that time the Indian war-cry dusturbednomorethe growing settlements of the frontier. The people returned to their deserted homes, the weapons of war were laid aside for the implements of peaceful industry, and tlie work of subduing the wilderness went on. EDUCATION. In the earliest days tlie people of Putnam were so widely separated that the maintainaiice of schools was diffi- cult, yet education received early at- tention. Ill the winter of 1830-1, George H. Shaw taught a school in a log house in the timber near Magnolia. The accommodations were very rude. The fire place occupied one entire end of the room. Writing desks were made by placing puncheons on pins driven into the wall. Windows were of cloth or oiled paper. "The teacher made his own fires, swept his house, pounded corn for his own bread and taught all day." As no school laws existed the get- ting up of a school was wholly volun- tary, a man who desired to teach went around with a subscription paper to get signers, each one agreeing to pay a certain ^um for each scholar sent for the specified time, and the test of the man's fitness to teach was his abil- ity to write his own subscription paper. FIRST LADY TEACHER, In the year 1830 Mrs. Ramsey taught in the log church at Union Grove, shebeingthe first lady teaclier employed in Putnam county. GRANVILLE ACADEMY. At Granville, in the year 1836, steps were taken towards establisliing an Academy. A building costing two thousand dollars, the money being obtained by voluntary subscription, was erected in that and the following years. Rev. Otis Fisher was the first teacher, which position he occupied five years. In conseciuence of a lack of support tills institution was soon made a public school, still retaining its high reputation. In its earliest days students were attracted from the towns on Rock and Fox rivers from Lacon and Chi cago to enjoy its advantages. Among those who pursued thier studies here may be named J. L. Bev- eridge. Governor of Illinois, Revs. Daniel Wiiitaker and Thomas Allen, both missionaries to Burma; Rev. Charles Button, Champlain of a regi- ment of Illinois volunteers, and Judge John Burnes and Berton C. Cook. MT. PALATINE. Mt. Palatine gave early promise of being a center of learning. Eighty acres of land were given by Christo- pher Winters, in 1839, to found an Academy. Upon a part of this land the village of Mt. Palatine was loca- ted. Lots were sold and the town had a promising growth. A building costing three thousand dollars was erected in 1845-6, and the HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY school, un enteiprist^ of the Baptist Deiiuiiiinution, opened in Decenil>er of tlie hitter year. In the winter of 1S50-1 a charter grantiiif? colle.uiate privih'j^es, was obtained, at vvliich time tlie institution took the name of Judson College. It soon met with ditliculties, a fate (Mjnunon to new en- teriirizes, particuhirly at the west, and was soldtosatisliy pecuniary demands. From tiiat time it has been owned by the Catholics. A people so imbued with educational aspirations, would be sure to take advantage of any privileges or i)o\vers whicii the law might give them for the furtherance of tlieir desires. Hence the general school law of the state was quickly applied to the edu- cational problem in Putnam county, and as a result of its woikings the county Superintendent reports for the year 1875, the enrollment of 1790 chil- dren between the ages of and 21. Of these 1424 are repoi'ted at attend- ants at .school. The county contains 84 School Districts and the same.num- ber of School Houses and Schools, of wiiich three are graded. Tlie average wages paid to teac'hers iiermontii was .$40,80 — tlie number ol' months taught in eacii district u;^. Tiie total school fund derived from taxation and all other sources was !$22,2(i."),7U, and the expenditures 817,;5:W,25. BUEL INSTITUTE. For tlie jiuriiose of fostering Agri- culture* IJuel institute \v;is organized in 184(j, thirty years ago. Tliis is the oldest Agricultural organization in the state tliat lias conlinued its opera- tions from tiie date of its origin, oft- en iioldiiig annual fairs in various lo- calities. A permanent location was se- cured at llennepin in isi;7, by the pun-hase of nineteen acres of laiul sitiiau'd on the b;ink ol the Illinois, extending to the water's edge, and beautifully siiaded by a young growth of forest trees, most admiral)ly adapt- ed in every way to tiit desiieil puipose. Tliese grounds liave been litted uj) in the most attractive manner, every year adding some new improvement and furnisidng annually line exhibi- tions of tlie i>roilucts of our farms and homes. The present value of these grounds is §oU00. The leading minds in tliis organiza- tion, set in operation tlie train of caus- es which produced the system of Agri- cultural Colleges througliout the United States. Pv invitation of Ilal]»h Ware, Leon- aixrUullock, and others. Prof. J. B. Turner delivered an address at (iran- ville, in November 18.j1, in the inter- est of Agriculture and labor, a ctm- vention for tlu; consideration of those matters being then and there assem- bled. Sixteen years later, at the inagura- tion of John M. Gregory, llegent of Illinois Industrial University, Cham- l)aigii, March 11th 1808, Dr. Newton Jiatcnnan twice referred to that con- vention using in the latter instance this language. "I observe that the lirst tangible result of the widespread and extraordinary agitation of the subject of industrial university edu- cation, whicli liegan with tlie(iranville convention of 18.")1, and soon pervaded the whole state * * * was a memori- al to theCJeneral Asseml)ly of Illinois, praying that body to invoke the pow- erful aid and resourctis of the Nation- al (rovernment itself in furtherance of the oOjecl." (First an. rep. of the Ills. Indus. Univ. 1868. Page ir)8-;re<;a- tioiial Cliurcii of Mt. Palatine in ISGit. Con^reL-atioual Churcli of lleiiiiei)in in 1874. Tliere is also a Cliiistian and a .Metlioilist Cimrcli atSenaciivvine, two eluuflies at Florid, ;.'.nd a Catholic Cliurch at Hennepin, formed in I8r>l. 'J'he Society of Friends held their lirst meetinfj;- in the year 18;i7 and in tlie year 1841 established a monthly meet- ing, making sixteen church orL',aniza- tions in the county, at this date. FIRST NEWSPAPKU. The tirst newspaper published in Putnam county was "The Hennepin .journal," by l)v. Wilson Everett, from 18;)7 to l8;Jt). "Tiie (ienius of Uni- versal Emancipation" was published at the same place, by Warren and Eastman, edited by lienjamin Lundy, in 1842. Tills was followed by "Tne Hennepin tierald," Pliiiip i^yncii, from 1S4."> to 1848. Then came "The Hen- nepin Tribune," iiurney and JJuncan, from 185t) to 18.5'J. "The Putnam County Standard," -I. F. Grable, Dr. Thomas Stanton editor, 18t)0. "The Putnam Standard," W. H. G. Barney, 1«()1, and by Jerry. S. (Jrable in 18tiy, AND "THE PPTNAM KECOKD," by 1. H. Cook, 1808, which still lives to recoril tiie proceedings tjf this day, ] laving shown a vitality far more tena- cious than any of its predecessors. JJesides tliese home eiiterprisrs, the phui that linally resulted in the starl- ing at Chicago "The Herald of the Frairie," afterward "Prairie Herald," later and better known as the "Wes- tern Citizen," w'as tirst discussed and settled by Zabina Eastman, Hooper Warren, and James (i. Dunlavy, in the log cabin of the latter at Ihiion Grove. Tills was liefore 1844. H ap- pears from the facts liere gathered that from 18;;" to 1870 inclusive a paper has been sustained eighteen out of tliirty-nine years. 'j'he ciianges that have come over i'utiiam in that lime, the crui-1 des- poiling of her territory which siie has sulfered, and tlii' springing up of rival centers of influence, have been disas- trous to newspaper men. It is not easy to estimate the amount of faith, energy, labor, study andcai)ital expcn- iled on these ventures, which we may Judge paid so poorly on the invest- ment. Patriotic home feeling ought to give such a supiiort to a county pa- per as to enable it not only to survive, l)ut we a vigorous gathei'er, recorder and preserver of the facts that express our liistoric life. PATltlOTISM. 'i'lie Pati'iotism of our county has never been appealed to without meet- ing a worthy response. ^Laiiy of the IMoneers were men who had parlici- liated in the dangers and privations of the war of 1812. In the Plack Hawk troubles they rushed to the de- fense almost to a man. In the great rebellion that shook the nation in the closing yearsof the century, with con- vulsions as tei'ril.'le as those through which it i>assed at tlie beginning, the records sliow that seven hundred and seven men responded to their coun- try's call. The population of Putnam coujity in 1800 was live thousand Ave hundred and seventy-nine, showing that one man to every 788 of tiie pop- ulation entered tiie held. A portion of these vetrans re-enlisted, and so twice counted, but they are oltsct by an equal number wiio joined regi- ments n cruited in other counties, to whicli counties they were credited. The tattered remains of the Hag car- ried to the held by Co. E 4th Illinois Cavehy. now hangs in the Court House — the only Hag brought iionie by tlie llegimcnt. AKTESIAN WELL. The artesian wx'll, an enterprise not yet appreciated as its importance de- mands, but surely destined to a better recognition, deserves mention here. While tlu^ work was prosecuted by the corporation of Hennepin at a cost of .$2,500, its existence is mainly due to the persistent energy of Jefferson Hurley, who, more than any otlier man foresaw its value and believed in its practicability. The work was begun in September 1875 and iinished HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY. 11 after three months labi>r, it heing in- terrupted by dehiys ;uid accidents in- cident to such undertakino's. The drill passed through the following strata: — Soil three feet, conglomerate 70 feet, tine sand 42 feel, coarse gravel 1 foot, bine clay (;2 feet, soapstone 185 feet, limestone 440 feet, total 800 feet. Specimens of these strata Jiave been carefully preserved in the order in which they were laken from the well, witli their respective tliicknesses marked, by A. T. Purviance Esq., at his office in the Court House, where they will be an interesting study to the geologist. At a depth of 2;^0 i'eet water flowed at the rate of .5 gallons per minute, at 555 feet the flow in- creased to 15 galls, per minute, at 7G5 the flow was ;^>0 gallons, and at 800 it rushed up at the rate of 80 gallons showing as yet no sign of variation. The water rose 05 feet in a pipe affix- ed perpindicularly to the tubing, and ran over. It is slightly impregnated with sidiiu^ and mineral sulistances and is considered by some medicinal in effect. PUKSUITS OF PEOPLE. The people of Putnam county have been almost exclusively devoted to agricultural pursuits from the begin- ning, few nuinu;;vi'tures having obtidn- ed a fodthold among them except such as local wants require. Sliops for blaci'.smithing, wagon and harness making, carpenter, joiner and cabinet work, coojjering, tin and slieet iron W(n-k, shoe making and tailoring, manned by skillful workmen, are con- veniently ilistriiaited throughout the county. Nurseries of fruit bearing and ornamental shrubs and trees are car- ried on at Florid. Flouring mills exist in sufficient capacity for the de- mand. The staple productions of the coun- ty are from the farm, consisting of liorses, cattle, sheep, hogs and grain. Since the tii'st phuiting of corn by William Haws at Magnolia, in the year 1820, 20103 acres of land have been brought under cidtivation. Of this area 3080 acres were last year in wheat, 7047 acres in corn, 0494 acres in oats, 765.0 acres in meadow, and 1877 acres in other farm products. In addition to this 1175 acres were in orcharding, leaving 28932 acres still occupied by timber. Of very many of our farm houses it may be said : Homes of greater comfort or containing more bountiful supplies of all the products of a prolific S(ul and genial climate need not be desired. The tendency toward order, neatness and ornamenta- tion notical)Ie among our farmeis, au- gurs well for the future of intelligent, happy and pr(;sperous people. These are such histo)ic notes as we have been able to gather concerning the formative period of our existence. The men who were actors, their plans and purposes respecting themselves and their posterity, the scene of their activities and the circumstances of their day must ever be an interesting study to those who come after us, auu all the more as these events recede in the distant vistas of time. We pass no sentence of approval or disapproval upon their doings, and pronounce no eulogies upon their names or characters at this early date. We simply set down the things that were done,our object being to preserve the germs of a christian civilization as heie planted, and oljserved in their first upspringing, for use in times wlien the i)eginnings of things shall more than now engage tlie attention of the student, the statesman, the philosopher and tlie christian. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PEOPLE. A people characterized by an adven- turous enterprise that chose its field of action on the uncertain frontiei-, a spirit of endurance that could court the self-denials of pioneer life, at the same time not contented with barbar- ism but aspiring to the ripe attain- ments of j'.ncient communities; these (luaiities, joined with patriotism and valor in danger's hour, with patient labor in developing the resources of nature ; with social instincts taking shape in well organized society found- ed upon intelligence and morality; the whole molded and directed by' a religious life drawn from and con- formed to the word of God ; surely concerning such a people we need have no solicitude. 12 HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY. Tlie considerate juducenient of the future in their case we can safely trust. Mav coming years witness the de- veloimient of industrial, intellectual and religious life from these bejiin- ninf,'s, on a scale in worthy keepinj^ with the inexhaustible resources of this favored land, the boundless realms of knowledge so free of access and the l)urity and granduer of character at- tainable bv men transformed and guided by the word and spirit of God THANKSGIVING. We place on record our devout thankfulness for our God, our fathers' Gud, the God of the Bil)le, for the manifold and abounding blessings \ve enjoy to-day; for a fertile land, fruit- ful in all that necessity can demand or luxury enjoy ; for a climate stimu- lating aud healthful to all who obey its behests; for a government the freest on earth, with the lightest burdens for society, peacel'ul, law- aliiding, and secure; for intelligence ditl'usrd through schools, open to the humblest child; lor religious freedom, permitting every faith unconstrained development, and we rejoice to utter it, a good hoi)e in the stability and perpetuity of our instituti(ms, substan- tially as planted by tlie fathers, until coming centennials shall usher in a day of rejoicing over results before which the gU)ries of the present shall be only as day-break compared with noon-day. Standing as we are now, on the di- viding line which separates a century past fnmi a century to come of our nation's history, we are impelled by our ovvnprofoundestconvictions tore- peat as our own the words of Pres- ident Grant to the youth of our land this centennial year. To all who in- lierit us we say: "Hold fast to the Bible as to the sheet anchor of your liberties : write its precepts in your hearts and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this book we are indebted for all the progress we have made in true civilization, and to this we must look as our guide in the fu- ture." "Righteousness exalteth a na- tion but sin is a reproach to any peo- ple." To the loving care and tender mercy of our God we commit ourselves, our children and all who succeed us to the end. Done bv H. Yallette Wauuen,^^, at t'.ie solicitation of the Putnam Gouiity Centennial Committee, July 4th 187t>, and of the Independence of the United States of America the One Hundredth. ^9:>^x>^^ yxyf>y':y> j>;^^ _;>^^ ^3^:i^ . ^^>":g>T> .>^>3>-^ 3> I>.».ji ^^:>^»^a > ^^ !>>> 3y> r^> ) » i> T* !>-■> ^ >^-^ . ;^^^^£^ ^>035 ..^o ^ ^:>>> ^^ ^^<» -^T) 0:> ^ >J> > -j-.^ .>»> .>^^ ;:>^ ^^ ^s^Tm j)3> 2> ^^ ''~if^:>^,<^:^->^Jmt »5> 1C>>' :>o.-v>:> -^>^ «>i> ^> > ^ ^)> ^ »^ ^ DS>1> > >i^ ^ ^2» ^ ^^ » ^ i>ry »>Z> PT^H* LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 016 095 262 3