Yale University Library 39002013663969 :.» fY^ GRUNDY COUNTY '-^^^igT?'^'^^^'""^^^^^"'^ ^^?NO^^^ t'^j YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 1943 HISTOET GRUNDY COUNTY ILaIaINOIB. Containing a History from the earliest settlement to the present time, embracing its topographical, geological, physical and climatic features ; its agricultural, railroad interests, etc. ; giving an account of its aboriginal inhabitants, early settlement by the whites, pioneer incidents, its growth, its improvements, organization of the County, the judicial history, the business and industries, churches, schools, etc. ; Biographical Sketches ; Portraits of some of the Early Settlers, Prominent Men, etc. IIaLUSTR ATRD . CHICAGO ; O. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS, Lakeside Building. PREFACE. TN this volume the publishers present the results of their efforts to secure a creditable com- -*- pilation of the History of Grundy County. In recounting the " short and simple annals " of a community founded in the " piping times of peace," and more in the midst than ou the front ier of new settlements, there is little material for a thrilling narrative or a record of interesting exploits, but the authors of this enterprise believe that the essential facts of the early history are here set forth with substantial accuracy. No effort has been made to draw upon the imagina tion to embellish the story, but as it has been found, it has been given, in a plain, unvarnished tale. The historical matter has been revised by L. W. Claypool, Esq., whose thorough knowl edge of the history and wide acquaintance with the people of the county assures its accuracy, and has largely contributed to its completeness, and the publishers take this occasion to acknowledge their indebtedness to him for his vjiluable assistance in the prosecution of this enterprise. The chapters on Morris were contributed by the Hon. P. A. Armstrong, with whom the undertaking was largely a labor of love, and to his cordial indorsement of the work and interesting contri butions to its pages is due much of its success. The chapters on G-ardner were contributed by Dr. C. M. Easton, to whom the publishers and patrons are greatly indebted for the intelligent and persevering zeal with which he has discharged the duty Imposed upon him. The publishers also desire to thank the people everywhere in the county for the uniform courtesy and assistance tendered bur corps of writers, and trust the general accuracy of the work will in some part re pay the favors they have shown. 0. L. BASKIN & CO. Publishers. CHICAGO : CULVER, PAGE, HOTNE & CO., FKINTEBS, CONTENTS, PART I. HISTORICAL. PAGE. The Northwest Territory 11 Early History of Illinois 67 GR1JNBT COUJ^ffTT. CHAPTER I.— Topography— Post- Tertiary Formations— Rock- FormatioDB — Carboniferous Fossils— Economic Geology... 100 CHAPTER II.— Pre-hiBtoric Races- Earliest Traces of Man- Hound -Builders and their Remains — Indian Tribes — Re lations with the "Whites — WaupoDsee — Shabbon*— Nuc- quette 113 CHAPTER III.— Early French Settlements- Frontier Settle ments in La Salle and Grundy Counties — Civilized Life in a New Countrj' — Political Organization— Formation of Grundy County — County Buildings 132 CHAPTER IT.— Social Development— Early Society— Rise of Churob and School — Indian Trails and Early Roads — Railroads and the Canal — The Newspapers 148 CHAPTER v.— Grundy County's Share in the War of the Re bellion—The Loyalty of Her Men — The Devotion of Her Women — The Representatives in the Field 164 CHAPTER VI.— Morris City— Introductory— Its Location- First Beginnings — Origin of Name — County Honors- Early Community — Biographical 183 CHAPTER VII.- MoiTis City— The Second Period— Growth of the Corporation— Official Records — Internal Improve ments— 1842 to 1850 203 CHAPTER Till.— Morris Township— Its Organization, Boun daries and Changes — The New Court House — Schools of Morris— Early Teachers— The Board of Education 222 CHAPTER IX.— Morris City— Churches— Early Ministers— The Legal Profession — Business— Pioneers— Secret Fra ternities 248 CHAPTER X.— Greenfield Township— Surface— Streams— Tim ber— Origin of Name — Township Organization — Going to Mill — lirst Settlers — Incidents — Wolf and Deer Hunting FAQE. — Elections — OflBcers — Improvements and Prospect^! — What We are To-day, etc., etc 264 CHAPTER XL — Gardner— Town Platting— Naming— First Buildings— Inhabitants — Improvements — Coal and Min ing Interests — Societies — Schools — Churches — Business Firms and Individuals, etc 275 CHAPTER XII.— Nettle Creek Township— First Settlers— Life in a Prairie Country — Schools, etc 285 CHAPTER XIIL— Au Sable Township- Location and Physical Characteristics— Its Early Settlement — Its Natural At tractions — Dresden — Minooka— Churches and Schools 290 CHAPTER XIT.— Saratoga ToT^nship- Physical Features— The Early Settlers — The Norwegian Emigration— The Houges Meneghed 297 CHAPTER XT.— Wauponsee Township— Its Material Resources — Early Settlers — Pioneer Life on the Prairie — The Church and School 302 CHAPTER XTL— Felix Township— Its Topographical Feat ures — Pioneers — Floods — Sickness — Jug-Town^The Si lent City 312 CHAPTER XTII.— Erienna— Township 33 Nonh, Range 6 East — Changes of Boundaries — Early Settlement — Horrom City — Clarkson — Norman— Surface Features — Pioneers — Churches and Schools 321 CHAPTEB XTIII.— Mazon Township— Early Topographical Features — Its Pioneers- Growth and Development of the Settlement — New Mazon — Churches and Schools 328 CHAPTER XIX.— Vienna Township— Pioneers of the Prairie — The Changes of Fifty Tears — Illinois City — Verona— The Church and School 340 CHAPTER XX.— Braceville Township— Coal Measures— Early Settlement — The Open Praitie 346 CHAPTER XXI. — Goodfarm Township — "The Lay of the Land " — Early Settlement — Pioneer Experiences — Schools — Churches 354 CHAPTEB XXII.— Highland Township— Topographical Char acteristics — Prairie Bandits — Lawless Law — Settlement of the Township — The Catholic Church 395 VI CONTENTS. PART II. BIOGBAPHIOAL. Ti.ai. Morris City and Township 3 Au Sable Township 41 Mazon Township 62 Wauponsee Township 76 Greenfield Township 82 Braceville Township 105 Eelix Township 122 Saratoga Township 124 Nettle Creek Township 132 Erienna Township 134 Norman Township 136 Vienna Township 139 PAGE, Highland Township 161 Uoodfarm Township 154 POKTEAITS. S. B. Thomas 45 L. W. Claypool 81 P. A. Armstrong 117 J. 0. Lurtz ; 16S 0. J. Booth 189 J. N. Beading 225 Dr. C. M. Easton 261 G. P. Augustine 297 William Stephen 333 ii^ THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY, INCLUDING A BRIEr HISTORY OF ILLINOIS GEOGEAPHICAL POSITION. "Y'TT'HEN the Northwestern Territory VV was ceded to the United States by Yirginiain 1784, it embraced only the terri tory lying between the Ohio and the Missis sippi Kivers, and north to the northern lim its of the United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of Minnesota lying on tho east side of the Mississippi Hiver. The United States itself at that yjeriod extended no farther west than the Mississippi Kiver; but by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary of the United States was extended to the Rockj' Mountains and the Northern Pacific Ocean. The new territory thus added to the National do main, and subsequently opened to settle ment, has been called the " New North west," in contradistinction from the old "Northwestern Territory." In comparison with the old Northwest this is a territory of vast magnitude. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles; being greater in extent than the united areas of all the Middle and Southern States, including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory liavebeen erected eleven sovereign States and eight Territories, with an aggre gate population, at the present time, of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearl}' one-third of the entire population of the United States. Its lakes are fresh-water seas, and the larger rivers of the continent flow for a thousand miles through its rich alluvial val leys and far- stretching prairies, more acres of which are arable and productive of the highest percentage of the cereals than of any other area of like extent on the globe. For the last twent}' years the increase of population in the Northwest has been about as tliree to one in any other portion of the United States. EARLY EXPLOEATIONS. In the year 15il, De Soto first saw the Great West in the New World. He, how ever, penetrated no farther north than the 35th parallel of latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. De Soto founded no settlements, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were 12 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. that he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and disheart ened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by De Soto's defeat. Tet it was more than a century before any adventurer took advan tage of these discoveries. In 1616, four years before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the wild New Eng land shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had penetrated through the Iroquois and and Wyandots (Hurons) to the streams which run into Lake Huron; and in 1634-, two Jesuit missionaries founded the first mission among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from the discovery of the Mississippi by De Soto (1541) until the Canadian envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary, be low the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent result, yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders attempted to spend a winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes, nor was it until 1660 that a station was estab lished upon their borders by Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude Allouez built the earliest lasting liabitation of the white man among the Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two years after ward, Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor General of Canada, ex plored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following spring, where they were taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of town of Michilli- mackinac. During M. Talon's explorations and Mar quette's residence a't St. Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied — as all others did then — that vrpon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come. Filled with a wish to go and preach to them, and in com pliance witli a request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expedition, prepared for the undertaking. On the 13th of May, 1673, the explorers, accompanied by five assistant French Can adians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade them from their purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But, nothing daunted by these terrific de scriptions, Marquette told them he was willing not only to encounter all the per ils j)f the unknown region they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which the salvation of souls was THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 13 involved; and having prayed together they sepai'ated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here Marquette was delighted to find a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the town, ornamented with white skins, red gir dles and bows and arrows, which these good people had off'ei-ed to the great Man- itou, or God, to thank liim for the pity he had bestowed on them during the winter in giving them an abundant " chase." This was the fai thest outpost to which Dablon and Allouez had extended their missionary la bors the year previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake. He assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to Joliet, said: " My friend is an envoy of France, to discover new conn- tries, and I am an ambassador from Goil to enlighten them with the truths of the Gos pel." Two Miami guides were here fur nished to conduct them to the Wisconsin Kiver, and they set out from the Indian village on the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to witness their dej^arture into a region where no white man had ever yet ventured. The guides, having conducted them across the portage, returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin which they descended to the Mississippi and pro ceeded down its unknown waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they struck out into the broadening cur rent and became conscious that they were now upon the bosom of the Father of Wa ters. The mystery was about to be lifted from the long-sought river. The scenery in that locality is beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have been clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of Nature. Drifting rapidly, it is said that the bold bluifs on either hand " reminded them of the castled shores of their own beautiful rivers of France." By-and-by, as they drifted along, great herds of buffalo ap peared on the banks. On going to the heads of the valley they could see a coun try of the greatest beauty and fertility, ap parently destitute of inhabitants yet pre senting the appearance of extensive man ors, under the fastidious cultivation of lordly proprietors. On June 25 th, they went'ashore and found some fresh traces of men upon the sand, and a path which led to the prairie. The men remained in the boat, and Marquette and Joliet followed the path till they dis covered a village on the banks of a river, and two otlier villages on a hill, within a half league of the fii-st, inhabited by Indians. They were received most hospitably by these natives, who had never before seen a white person. After remaining a few days they re-embarked and descended the river to about latitude 33°, where they found a village of the Arkansas, and being satisfied that the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, turned their course up the river, and ascending the stream to the mouth of the Illinois, rowed np tliat stream to its source, and procured guides from that point to the lakes. " No where on this journey," says Marquette, " did we see such grounds, meadows, woods, stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards, swans, ducks, par- 14 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. roquets, and even beavers, as on the Illinois River." The party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay in September, and re ported their discoveiy — one of the most important of the age, but of which no record was preserved save Marquette's, Joliet losing his by the upsetting of his canoe on his way to Quebec. Afterward Marquette returned to the Illinois Indians by their req.uest, and ministered to thein until 1675. On the 18th of May, in that year, as he was passing the mouth of a stream — -going' with his boatmen up Lake Michigan — he asked to land at its mouth and celebrate mass. Leaving his men with the canoe, he retired a shore distance and began his devotions. As much time passed and he did not return, his men went in search of him, and found him upon his knees, dead. He had peacefully passed away while at prayer. lie was buried at this spot. Charlevoix, who visited the place fifty years after, found the waters had retreated from the grave, leaving the be loved missionary to repose in peace. The river has since been called Marquette. While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in the West, two men, differing widely from him and each other, were preparing to follow in his footsteps and perfect the discoveries so well begun by him. These were Robert de La Salle and Louis Hennepin. After La Salle's return from the discovery of the Ohio River (see the narrative else where), he established himself again among the French trading posts in Canada. Here he mused long upon the pet pi-oject of those ages — a short way to China and the East, and was busily planning an expedi tion up the great lakes, and so across the continent to the Pacific, when Mar quette returned from the Mississippi. At once the vigorous mind of La Salle received from his and his companions' stories the idea that by following the Great River northward, or by turning up some of the numerous western tributaries, the object could easily be gained. He applied to Frontenac, Governor General of Canada, and laid before him the plan, dim but gigantic. Frontenac entered warmly into his plans, and saw that La Salle's idea to connect the great lakes by a chain of forts with the Gulf of Mexico would bind the country so wonderfully together, give un measured power to France, and glory to himself, under whose administration he earnestly hoped all would be realized. La Salle now repaired to France, laid his plans before the King, who warmly ap proved of them, and made him a Chevalier. He also received from all the noblemen the warmest wishes for his success. The Chev alier returned to (Janada, and busily en tered upon his work. He at once rebuilt Fort Frontenac and constructed the first ship to sail on the.se fresh-water seas. On the 7th of August, 1679, having been joined by Hennepin, he began his voyage in the Griffin up Lake Erie. He passed over this lake, through the straits beyond, up Lake St. Clair and into Huron. In this lake they encountered heavy storms. They were some timeatMichillimackinac, where La Salle founded a fort, and passed on to Green Bay, the « Bale des Puans " of the French, where he found a large quantity of furs collected for him. He loaded the Griffin with these, and placing her under the care of a pilot and fourteen sailors, started her on her return voyage. The ves- THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 15 sel was never afterward heard of. He re mained about these parts until early in the winter, when, hearing nothing from the Griffin, he collected all his men — thirty working men and three monks — and started again upon his great undertaking. By a short portage they passed to the Il linois or Kankakee, called by the Indians, " Theakeke," wolf, because of the tribes of Indians called by that name, commonly known as the Mahingans, dwelling there. The French pronounced it Kiahiki, which became corrupted to Kankakee. " Falling down the said river by easy journeys, the better to observe the country," about the last of December they reached a village of the Illinois Indians, containing some five hundred cabins, but at that moment no in habitants. The Seur de La Salle being in want of some breadstufFs, took advantage of the absence of the Indians to help him self to a sufficiency of maize, large quanti ties of which he found concealed in holes under the wigwams. This village was sit uated near the present village of Utica in La Salle County, Illinois. The corn being securely stored, the voyagers again betook themselves to the stream, and toward even ing on the 4th day of January, 1680, they came into a lake, which must have been the lake of Peoria. Tiiis was called by the Indians Pin-i-te-wi, that is a place where there are many fat beasts. Here the na tives were met with in large numbers, but they were gentle and kind, and liaving spent some time with them, La Salle deter mined to erect another fort in that place, for he had heard rumors that some of the adjoining tribes were trying to disturb the good feeling which existed, and some of his men were disposed to complain, owing to the hardships and perils of the travel. He called this fort '¦^ Orevecmur" {hvokQn- heart), a name expressive of the very nat ural sorrow and anxiety which the pretty certain loss of his ship. Griffin, and his con sequent impoverishment, the danger of hostility on the part of the Indians, and of mutiny among his own men, might well cause him. His fears were not entirely groundless. At one time poison was placed in his food, but fortunately was discovered. While building this fort, the winter wore away, the prairies began to look green, and La Salle, despairing of any rein forcements, concluded to return to Canada, raise new means and new men, and embark anew in the enterprise. For this purpose he made Hennepin the leader of a party to explore the head waters of the Mississippi, and he set out on his journey. This joui'- ney was accomplished with the aid of a few persons, and was successfully made, though over an almost unknovfn route, and in a bad season of the year. He safely reached Canada, and set out again for the object of his search. Hennepin and his party left Fort Creve- coeur on the last of Februar^r, 1680. When La Salle reached this place on his return ex pedition, he found the fort entirely desert ed, and he was obliged to return again to Canada. He embarked the third time, and succeeded. Seven days after leaving the fort, Hennepin reached the Mississippi, and paddling up the icy stream as best he could, reached no higher than the Wis consin River by the 11th of April. Here he and his followers were taken prisoners by a band of Northern Indians, who treat ed them with great kindness. Hennepin's comrades were Anthony Anguel and Mi- 16 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. chael Ako. On this voyage they found sev eral beautiful lakes, and " saw some charm ing prairies." Their captors were the Isaute or Sauteurs, Chippewas, a tribe of the Sioux nation, who took them up the river until about the first of May, when they reached some falls, which Hen nepin christened Falls of St. Anthony in honor of his patron saint. Here they took the land, and traveling nearly two hundred miles to the northwest, brought them to their villages. Here they were kept about three months, were treated kind ly by their captors, and at the end of that time, were met by a band of Frenchmen, headed by one Seiir de Luth, who, in pur suit of trade and game, had penetrated thus far by the route of Lake Superior; and with these fellow-cuuntrymen Hennepin and his companions were allowed to return to the borders of civilized life in November, 1680, just after La Salle had returned to the wilderness on his second trip. Hen nepin soon after went to France, where he published an account of his adven tures. The Mississippi was first discovered by De Soto in April, 1541, in his vain endeav or to find gold and precious gems. In the following spring, De Soto, weary with hope long deferred, and worn out with his wan derings, fell a victim to disease, and on the 21st of May, died. His followers, re duced by fatigue and disease to less than three liundred men, wandered about the country nearly a year, in the vain endeavor lo rescue themselves by land, and finallv constructed seven small vessels, called brio-- antines, in which they embarked, and de scending the river, supposing it would lead them to the sea, in July they came to the sea (Gulf of Mexico), and by Septem ber reached the Island of Cuba. They were the first to see the great out- letof the Mississippi; but, being so weary and discouraged, made no attempt to claim the country, and hardly liad an intelligent idea of what they liad passed through. To La S die, the intrepid explorer, belongs the honor of giving the first account of the mouths of the river. His great desire was to possess this entire country for his king, and in January, 1682, he and his band of explorers left the shores of Lake Michigan on their third atlempt, crossed the portage, passed down the Illinois Riv er, and on the 6th of February, reached the banks of the Mississippi. On the 13th they commenced their down ward course, which they pursued with but one interruption, until upon the 6th of March they discovered the three great pas sages by which the river discharges its waters into the gulf. LaSaile thus narrates the event: " We landed on the bank of the most western channel, about three leagues (nine miles) from its mouth. On the seventh, M. de La Salle went to reconnoiter the shores of the neighboring sea, and M. de Tonti meanwhile examined the great middle chan nel. They found tho main outlets beau tiful, large and deep. On the Sth we reas- cended the rivej,a little above its conflu ence with the sea, to find a dry place be yond the reach of inundations. The el evation of the North Pole was here about twenty-seven degrees. Here we prepared a column and a cross, and to the column were affixed the arms of France with this inscription: Louis LeGrancI, Roi De France et de Navarre, regne; Le neuvieme Avril 1682. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 17 The whole party, under arms, chanted the Te Deum, and then, after a salute and cries of " Yive le Roi" the column was erected by M. de La Salle, who, standing near it, iiroclaimed in a loud voice the au- ' J. thority of the King of France. La Salle returned and laid the foundations of the Mississippi settlements in Illinois, thence he proceeded to France, where another ex pedition was fltted out, of which he was commander, and in two succeeding voy ages failed to find the outlet of the river by sailing along the shore of the gulf On his third voyage he was killed, tlu'ough the treachery of his followers, and the ob ject of his expeditions was not accom plished until 1699, when D'Iberville, un der the authority of the crown, discovered, on the second of March, by way of the sea, the mouth of the " Hidden River." This majestic stream was called by the natives '¦'¦ Malbouchia," and by the Spaniards, "l.a Palissade, " from the great number of trees about its mouth. After traversing the several outlets, and satisfying himself as t'o its certainty, he erected a fort near its western outlet and returned to France. An avenue of trade was now opened out, which was fully improved. In 1718, New Orleans was laid out and settled hj some European colonists. In 1762, the colony was made over to Spain, to be regained by Fi'ance under the consulate of Napoleon. In 1803, it was purchased by the United States for the sum of fifteen million dollars, and the territory of Louisiana and com merce of the Mississippi River came under the charge of the United States. Although La Salle's labors ended in defeat and death, he had not worked and suffered in vain. He had thrown open to France and the world an immense and most valuable coun try; had established several ports, and laid the foundations of more than one settle ment there. " Peoria, Kaskaskia and Ca- hokia, are to this day monuments of La Salle's labors; for, though he had founded neither of them (unless Peoria, which was built nearly upon the site of Fort Creve- coeur,) it was by those whom he led into the West that these places were peopled and civilized. He was, if not the discoverer, the first settler of the Mississippi Valle}', and as such deserves to be known and honored." The French early improved the opening made for them. Before the year 1698, the Rev. Father Gravier began a mission among the Illinois, and founded Kaskaskia. For some time this was merely a missionary station, where none but natives resided, it being one of three such villages, the other two being Cahokia and Peoria. What is known of these missions is learned from a letter written by Father Gabriel Marest, dated "Aux Cascaskias, autrement dit do I'Immaculate Conception de la Sainte Vierge, le 9 Novembre, 1712." Soon after the founding of Kaskaskia, the missionary, Pinet, gathered a flock at Cahokia, while Peoria arose near the ruins of Fort Creve- coeur. This must have been about a year 1700. The post at Vincennes on the Oubache river, (pronounced Wa-ba, mean ing summer cloud moving swiftly) was es tablished in 1702, according to the best authorities.* It is altogether probable that * There is considerable dispute about this date, some asserting!- it was founded as late as 1742. When thf new court house at Vincennes was erected, all authorities on the subject were carefully examined, and 1702 fixed upon as the correct date. It was ac cordingly engraved on the cornet-stone of the court house. 18 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. on La Salle's last trip he established the stations at Kaskaskia and Cahokia. In July, 1701, the foundations of Fort Pon- chartrain were laid by De la Motte Cadillac on the Detroit River. These stations, with those established further north, were the earliest attempts to occupy the Northwest Territory. At the same time eftbrts were being made to occupy, the Southwest, which finally culminated in the settlement and founding of the City of New Orleans by a colony from England in 1718. This was mainly accomplished through the eflbrts of the famous Mississippi Company, estab lished by the notorious John Law, who so quickly arose into prominence in France, and who with his scheme so quickly and so ignominiously passed away. From the time of the founding of these stations for fifty years the French nation were engrossed with the settlement of the lower Mississippi, and the war with the Chicasaws, who had, in revenge for repeated injuries, cutoff the entire colony at Natchez. Although the company did little for Louis iana, as the entire West was then called, yet it opened the trade through the Missis sippi River, and started the raising of grains indigenous to that climate. Until the year 1750, but little is known of the settlements in the Northwest, as it was not until this time that the attention of the English was called to the occupation of this portion of the New World, which they then supposed they owned. Yivier, a mis sionary among the Illinois, writing from "Aux Illinois," six leagues from Fort Chartres, June 8, 1750, says: "We have here whites, negroes and Indians, to say nothing of cross-breeds. There are five French villages, and three villages of the natives, within a space of twenty-one leagues situated between the Mississippi and another river called the Karkadaid (Kaskaskias). In the five French villages are, perhaps, eleven hundred whites, three hundred blacks and some sixty red slaves or savages. The three Illinois towns do not contain more than eight hundred souls all told. Most of the French till the soil ; they raise wheat, cattle, pigs and horses, and live like princes. Three times as much is produced as can be consumed ; and great quantities of grain and fiour are sent to New Orleans." This city was now the seaport town of the Northwest, and save in the extreme northern part, where only furs and copper ore were found, almost all the products of the country found their way to France by the mouth of the Father of Waters. In another letter, dated No vember 7, 1750, this same priest says: " For fifteen leagues above the mouth of the Mississippi one sees no dwellings, the ground being too low to be habitable. Thence to New Orleans, the lands are only partially occupied. New Orleans contains black, white and red, not more, I think, than twelve hundred persons. To this point come all lumber, bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins and bear's grease ; and above all, pork and flour from the Illinois. These things create some commerce, as forty vessels and more have come hither this year. Above New Orleans, plantations are again met with ; the most considerable is a colony of Germans, some ten leagues up the river. At Point Coupee, thirty-five leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here, within five or six leajjues ^are not less than sixty habitations. Fifty leagues farther up is the Natchez post, THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 19 where we have a garrison, who are kept prisoners through fear of the Chicasaws. Here and at point Coupee, they raise excel lent tobacco. Another hundi'ed leagues brings us to the Arkansas, where we have also a fort and a garrison for the benefit of the river traders. * * * From the Ar kansas to the Illinois, nearly five hundred leagues, thece is not a settlement. There should be, however, a fort at the Oubache (Ohio), the only path by which the English can reach the Mississippi. In the Illinois country are numberless mines, but no one to work them as they deserve." Father Marest, writing from the post at Yincennes, in 1812, makes the same observation. Vi- vier also says: "Some individuals dig lead near the surface and supply the Ind ians and Canada. Two Spaniards now here, who claim to be adepts, say that our mines are like those of Mexico, and that if we would dig deeper, we should find silver un der the lead ; and at any rate the lead is excellent. There is also in this country, beyond doubt, copper ore, as from time to time large pieces are found in the streams." At the close of the year 1750, the French occupied, in addition to the lower Missis sippi posts and those in Illinois, one at Du Quesne, one at the Maurnee in the country of the Miamis, and one at Sandus ky, in what may be termed the Ohio Val ley. In the iKS'thern part of the North west they had stations at St. Joseph's on the St. Joseph's of Lake Michigan, at Fort Ponchartrain (Detroit), at Michillimack- anac or Massilliinacauac, Fox River of Green Bay, and at Sault Ste. Marie. The fondest dreams of La Salle were now fully realized. The French alone were possess ors of this vast realm, basing their claim on discovery and settlement. Another na tion, however, was now turning its atten tion to this extensive country, and hearing of its wealth, began to lay plans for oc cupying it and for securing the great profits arising therefrom. The French, however, had another claim to this country, namely, the DISCOVEEY OF THE OHIO. This " Beautiful " river was discovered by Robert Cavalier de La Salle in 1669, four years before the discovery of the Missis- sip])i by Joliet and Marquette. While La Salle was at his trading post on the St. Lawrence, he found leisure to study nine Indian dialects, the chief of which was the Iroquois. He not only de sired to facilitate his intercourse in trade, but he longed to travel and explore the un known regions of the West. An incident soon occurred which decided hiin to fit out an exploring expedition. While conversing with some Senecas, he learned of a river called the Ohio, which rose in their country and flowed to the sea, but at such a distance that it required eight months to reach its mouth. In this statement the Mississippi and its tributa ries were considered as one stream. La Salle, believing, as most of the French at that period did, that the great rivers flow ing west emptied into the Sea of Califor nia, was anxious to embark in the enter prise of discovering a route across the con tinent to the commerce of China and Japan. He repaired at once to Quebec to obtain the approval of the Governor. His elo quent appeal prevailed. The Governor and the Intendant, Talon, issued letters 20 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. patent authorizing the enterprise, but made no provision to defray the expenses. At this juncture the seminary of St. Sulpice decided to send out missionaries in connec tion with the expedition, and La Salle ofifer- ing to sell his improvements at La Chine to raise money, the offer was accepted by the Superior, and two thousand eight hundred dollars were raised, with which La Salle purchased four canoes and the necessary supplies for the outfit. On the 6th of July, 1669, the party, num bering twenty-four persons, embarked in seven canoes on the St. Lawrence; two ad ditional canoes carried the Indian guides. In three days they were gliding over the bosom of Lake Ontario. Their guides con ducted them directly to the Seneca village on the bank of the Genesee, in the vicinity of the present City of Rochester, New York. Here they expected to procui-e guides to conduct them to the Ohio, but in this they were disappointed. The Indians seemed unfriendly to the enterprise. La Salle suspected that the Jesuits had prejudiced their minds against his plans. After waiting a month in the hope of gaining their object, thev met an Indian from the Iroquois colony at the head of Lake Ontario, who assured them that they could there find guides, and oflered to conduct them thence. On their way they passed the mouth of the Niagara River, when they heard for the fii'st time the distant thunder of the cata- i-act. Arriving among the Iroquois, they met with a li-iendly reception, and learned from a Shawanee prisoner that they could reach th.e Ohio in six weeks. Delighted with the unexpected good fortune, they made ready to resume their journey; but just as they were about to start they heard of the arrival of two Frenchmen in a neigh boring village. One of them proved to be Louis Joliet, afterward famous as an ex plorer in the West. He had beeu sent by the Canadian Government to explore the copper mines on Lake Superior, but had failed, and was on his way back to Quebec. He gave the missionaries a map of the country he had explored in the lake region, together with an account of the condition of the Indians in that quarter. This in duced the priests to determine on leaving the expedition and going to Lake Superior. La Salle warned them that the Jesuits were probably occupying that field, and that they would meet with a cold reception. Nevertheless they persisted in their pur pose, and after worship on the lake shore parted from La Salle. On arriving at Lake Superior, they found, as La Salle had pre dicted, the Jesuit Fathers, Marquette and Dablon, occupying the field. These zealous disciples of Loyola in formed them that they wanted no assistance from St. Sulpice, nor from those who made him their patron saint; and thus repulsed, they returned to Montreal the following June without having made a single discov ery or converted a single Indian. After parting with the priests, La Salle went to the chief Iroquois village at Onon daga, where he obtained guides, and passing thence to a tributary of the Ohio south of Lake Erie, he descended the latter as far as the falls at Louisville. Thus was the Ohio discovered by La Salle, the persevering and successful French explorer of the West, in 1669. The account of the latter part of his journey is found in an anonymous paper, THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 2^ which purports to have been taken from the lips of La Salle himself during a subsequent visit to Paris. In a letter written to Count Frontenac in 1667, shortly after the discov ery, he himself says that he discovered the Ohio and descended it to the falls. This was regarded as an indisputable fact by the French authorities, who claimed the Ohio Valley upon another ground. When Wash ington was sent by the colony of Virginia in 1753, to demand of Gordeur de St. Pierre why the French had built a fort on the Mo- nongahela, the haughty commandant at Quebec replied: " We claim the country on the Ohio by virtue of the discoveries of La Salle, and will not give it up to the Eng lish. Our orders are to make prisoners of ever}' Englishman found trading in the Ohio Valley." ENGLISH EXPLOEATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS. When the new year of 1750 broke in up on the Father of Waters and the Great Northwest, all was still wild save at the French posts already described. In 1749, when the English first began to think seri ously about sending men into the West, the greater portion of the States of Indi ana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were j-et under the domin ion of the red men. The English knew, however, pretty conclusively of the nature of the wealth of these wilds. As early as 1710, Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, had commenced movements to secure the country west of the Alleghanies to the Eiiglisli crown. In Pennsylvania, Gover nor Keith and James liOgan, secretary of the province, from 1719 to 1731, represent ed to the powers of England the necessity of securing the Western lands. Nothing was done, however, by that power save to take some diplomatic steps to secure the claims of Britain to this unexplored wilder ness. England had from the outset claimed from the Atlantic to the Pacific, on the ground that the discovery of the seacoast and its possession was a discovery and pos session of the country, and, as is well known, her grants to the colonies extended "from sea to sea." This was not all her claim. She had purchased from the Indian tribes large tracts of land. This latter was also a strong argument. As early as 1684, Lord Howard, Governor of Virginia, held a trea ty with the six nations. These were the great Northern Confederacy, and comprised at first the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. Afterward the Tus- caroras were taken into the confederacy, and it became known as the Six Nations. They came under the protection of the mother country, and again in 1701, they repeated the agreement, and in September, 1726, a formal deed was drawn up and signed by the chiefs. The validity of this claim has often been disputed, but never successfully. In 1744, a purchase was made at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, of certain lands within the "Colony of Virginia," for which the Indians received £200 in gold and a like sum in goods, with a 'promise that, as settlements increased, more should be paid. The Commissioners from Virginia were Colonel Thomas Lee and Colonel William Beverley. As settlements extended, the promise of more pay was called to mind, and Mr. Conrad Weiser was sent across the mountains with presents to appease the savages. Col. Lee, and some Virginians accompanied him with the intention of 22 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. sounding the Indians upon their feelings regarding the English. They were not satisfied with their treatment, and plainly told the Commissioners why. The English did not desire the cultivation of the country, but the monopoly of the Indian trade. In 1748, the Ohio Company was formed, and petitioned the king for a grant of land beyond the Alleghenies. This was granted, and the government of Virginia was or dered to grant to them a half million acres, two hundred thousand of which were to be located at once. Upon the 12th of June, 1749, 800,000 acres from the line of Canada north and west was made to the Loyal Company, and on the 29th of October, 1751, 100,000 acres were given to the Greenbriar Company. All this time the French were not idle. They saw that, should the British gain a foothold in the West, especiall}'- upon the Ohio, they might not only prevent the French set tling upon it, but in time would come to the lower posts and so gain possession of the whole country. Upon the 10th of May, 1774, Vaudreuil, Governor of Canada and the French possessions, well knowing the consequences that must arise from allow ing the English to build trading posts in tlie Northwest, seized some of their frontier posts, and to further secure the claim of tho French to the West, he, in 1749, sent Louis Celeron with a party of soldiers to plant along the Ohio River, in the mounds and at the mouths of its principal tributaries, plates of lead, on which were inscribed the claims of Finance. These were heard of in 1752, and within the memory of residents now living along the "Oyo," as the beauti ful river was called by the French. One of these plates was found with the inscrip tion partly defaced. It bears date August 16, 1749, and a copy of the inscription with particular account of the discovery of the plate, was sent by DeWitt Clinton to the American Antiquarian. Society, among whose journals it may now be found.* These measures did not, however, deter the English from going on with their explora tions, and though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was gathering, and it was only a question of time when the storm would burst upon the frontier settlements. In 1750, Christopher Gist was sent by the Ohio Company to examine its lands. He went to a village of the Twigtvi'ees, on the Miami, about one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth. He afterward spoke of it as very populous. From there he went down the Ohio River nearly to the falls at the present City of Louisville, and in November he commenced a survey of the company's lands. During the winter. General Andrew Lewis performed a similar work for the Greenbriar Company. Mean while the French were busy in preparing their forts for defense, and in opening roads, and also sent a small party of soldiers to keep the Ohio clear. This party, liaving heard of the English post on the Miami * The following is a translation of the inscription on the plate: " In the year 1749, reign of Louis XV., King of France, we, Celeron, commandant of a de tachment by Mo sieur the Marquis of Gall isoniere, commander-in-chief of New France, to establish tran- quiUty in certain Indian villages of these cantons, have buried this plate at the confluence of the Toradakoin, this tvventy-ninth of July, near the river Ohio, otherwise Beautiful River, as a monument of renewal of possession which we have taken of the said river, and all its tributaries; inasmuch as the preceding Kings of France have enjoyed it, and maintained it by their arms and treaties; esp cially by those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and Ais. La Chapelle." THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 23 River, early in 1652, assisted by the Ottawas and Chippewas, attacked it, and, after a severe battle, in which fourteen of the natives were killed and others wounded, captured the garrison. (They were pi'ob- ably garrisoned in a block house). The traders were carried away to Canada, and one account says several were burned. This fort or post was called by the English Pickawillany. A memorial of the king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawillanes, in the center of the territory between the Ohio and the Wabash. The name is probably some variation of Pickaway or Picqua, in 1773, written by Rev. David Jones, Pick- aweke." This was the first blood shed between the French and English, and occurred near the present City of Piqua, Ohio, or at least at a point about forty-seven miles north of Dayton. Each nation became now more interested in the progress of events in the Northwest. The English determined to purchase from the Indians a title to the lands they wished to occupy, and Messrs. Fry (afterward Clommander-in-chief over Washington at the commencement of the French War of 1775-1763), Lomax and Patton were sent in the spring of 1752 to hold a conference with the natives at Logs- town to learn what they objected to in the treaty of Lancaster already noticed and to settle all difficulties. On the 9th of June, these Commissioners met the red men at Logstown, a little village on the north bank of the Ohio, about seventeen miles below the site of Pittsburgh. Here had been a trading point for many years, but it was abandoned by the Indians in 1750. At first the Indians declined to recognize the treaty of Lancaster, but, the Commission ers taking aside Montoui-, the interpreter, who was a son of the famous Catharine Mon tour, and a chief among the Six Nations, induced him to use his influence in their favor. This he did, and upon the 13th of June thev all united in sio'iiing'a deed, con- firming the Lancaster treaty in its full ex tent, consenting to asettlement of the south east of the Ohio, and guaranteeing that it should not be disturbed by them. These were the means used to obtain the first treaty with the Indians in the Ohio Valley. Meanwhile the powers beyond the sea were trying to out-inaneuver each otlier, and were professing to be at peace. The English generally outwitted the Indians, and failed in many instances to fulfill their contracts. They thereby gained the ill- will of the red men, and further increased the feeling by failing to provide them with arms and ammunition. Said an old chief, at Easton, in 1758: "The Indians on the Ohio left you because of your own fault. When we heard the French were coming, we asked you for help and arms, but we did not get them. The French came, they treated us kindly, and gained our affections. The Governor of Virginia settled on our lands for his own benefit, and, when we wanted help, forsook us." At the beginning of 1653, the English thought they had secured by title the lands in the West, but the French had quietly gathered cannon and military stores to be in readiness for the expected blow. The English made other attempts to ratify these existing treaties, but not until the s iinmer could the Indians be gathered together to discuss the plans of the French. They had sent messages to the French, M'arning them away; but they replied that they intended 24 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY, to complete the chain of forts already be gun, and would not abandon the field. Soon after this, no satisfaction being ob tained from the Ohio regarding the posi tions and purposes of the French, Governor Dinwiddle of Virginia determined to send to them anothe^ messenger and learn from them, if possible, their intentions. For this purpose he selected a young man, a surveyor, who, at the early age of nineteen, had received the rank of major, and who was thoroughly posted regarding frontier life. This personage was no other than the illustrious George Washington, who then held considerable interest in Western lands. He was at, this time just twenty-two years of age. Taking Gist as his guide, the two, accompanied by four servitors, set out on their perilous march. They left Will's Creek on the 10th of November, 1753, and on the 22d reached the Monongahela, about ten miles above the fork. From there they went to Logstown, where Washington had a long conference with the chiefs of the Six Nations. From them he learned the con dition of the Fi-ench, and also heard of their determination not to come down the river till the following spring. The Indi ans were non-committal, as they were afraid to turn either way, and, as far as they could, desired to remain neutral. Wash ington, finding nothing could be done with them, went on to Venango, an old Indian town at the mouth of French Creek. Llere the French had a fort, called Fort Machault. Through the ruin and flattery of the French, he nearly lost all his Indian followers. Finding nothing of importance here, he pursued his way amid great priva tions, and on the 11th of December reached the fort at the heal of French Creek. Here he delivered Governor Dinwiddle's letter, received his answer, took his observations, and on the 16th set out upon his return journey with no one but Gist, his guide, and a few Indians who still remained true to him, notwithstanding the endeavors of the French to retain them. Their home ward journey was one of great peril and suftering from the cold, yet they reached home in safety on the 6th of January, 1754. From the letter of St. Pierre, commander of the French fort, sent by Washington to Governor Dinwiddle, it was learned that the French would not give up without a struggle. Active preparations were at once made in all the English colonies for the coming conflict, while the French fin ished the fort at Venango and strengthened their lines of fortifications, and gathered their forces to be in readiness. The Old Dominion was all alive. Vir ginia was the center of great activities; vo - unteers were called for, and from all the neighboring colonies men rallied to the conflict, and everywhere along the Potomac men were enlisting under the governor's proclamation — which promised two hun dred thousand acres on the Ohio. Along this river they were gathering as far as Will's Creek, and far beyond this point, whither Trent had come for assistance for his little band of forty-one men, who were working away in hunger and want, to for tify that point at the fork of the Ohio, to which both parties were looking with deep interest. "The flrst birds of spring filled the air with their song; the swift river rolled by the Allegheny hillsides, swollen by the melting snows of spring and the April THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 25 showers. The leaves were appearing; a few Indian scouts were seen, but no enemy seemed near at hand; and all was so quiet, that Frazier, an old Indian scout and trader, who had been left by Trent in command, ventured to his home at the mouth of Turtle Creek, ten miles up the Monongahela. But, though all was so quiet in that wilder ness, keen eyes had seen the low intrench- n;e it rising at the fork, and swift feet had borne the news of it up the river; and upon the morning of the 17th of April, Ensign Ward, who then had charge of it, saw upon the Allegheny a sight that made his heart sink — sixty batteaux and three hundred canoes tilled with men, and laden deep with cannon and stores. * * * That evening he supped with his captor, Contrecoeur, and the next day he was bowed off by the Frenchman, and with his men and tools, marched up the Monongahela." The French and Indian war had begun. The treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748, had left the boundaries between the French and English possessions unsettled, and the events already narrated show the French were determined to hold the country wa tered by the Mississippi and its tributaries; while the English laid claims to the country by virtue of the discoveries of the Cabots, and claimed all the country from New foundland to Florida, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The first decisive blow had now been struck, and the first attempt of the English, through the Ohio Company, to occupy these lands, had re sulted disastrously to them. The Frencli and Indians immediately completed the fortifications begun at the Fork, which they had so easily captured, and when completed gave to the fort the name of Du Quesne. Washington was at Will's Creek when the news of the captureof the fort arrived. He at once departed to recapture it.. On his way he entrenched liimself at a place called the " Meadows," where he erected a fort called by him Fort Necessity. From there he surprised and captured a force of French and Indians marching against him, but was soon after attacked iu his fort by a much superior force, and was obliged to yield on the morn ing of July 4th. He was allowed to return to Virginia. The English Government immediately planned four campaigns; one against Fort Du Quesne; one against Nova Scotia; one against Fort Niagara, and one against Crown Point. These occurred daring 1765-6, and were not successful in driving the French from their possessions. The expedition against Fort Du Quesne was led by the famous General Braddock, who, re fusing to listen to the advice of Washington and those acquainted with Indian warfare, suffered such an inglorious defeat. This occurred on the morning of July 9th, and is genei'ally known as the battle of Monon gahela, or " Braddock's Defeat." The war continued with various vicissitudes through the years 1756-7; when, at the commence- of 1758 in accordance with the plans of William Pitt, then Secretary of State, afterward Lord Chatham, active prepara tions were made to carry on the war. Three expeditions were planned for this year: one, under General Amherst, against Louisburg; another, under Abercrombie, against Fort Ticonderoga; and a third, un der General Forbes, against Fort Du Quesne. On the 26tli of July, Louisburg surrendered after a desperate resistance of more than forty days, and the eastern part 26 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. of the Canadian possessions fell into the hands of the British. Abercrombie cap tured Fort Frontenac, and when the ex pedition against Fort Du Quesne, of which Washington had the active command, ar rived there, it was found in flames and de serted. The English at once took posses sion, rebuilt the fort, and in honor of their illustrious statesman, changed the name to Fort Pitt. The great object of the campaign of 1759, was the reduction of Canada. Gen eral Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec; Am- lierst was to reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and General Prideaux was to cap ture Niagara.. This latter place was taken in July, but the gallant Prideaux lost his life in the attempt. Amherst captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point without a blow; and Wolfe, after making the memor able ascent to the plains of Abraham, on September 13th, defeated Montcalm, and on the 18th, the city capitulated. In this engagement Montcalm and Wolfe both lost their lives. De Levi, Montcalm's suc cessor, marched to Sillery, three miles above the city, with the purpose of defeat ing the English, and there, on the 28th of the following April, was fought one of the bloodiest battles of the French and Indian It resulted in the defeat of the war. French, and the fall of the city of Montreal. The Governor signed a capitulation, by which the whole of Canada was surrendered to the English. This practically conclu ded the war, but it was not until 1763 that the treaties of peace between France and England were signed. This was done on the 10th of February of that year, and un der its provisions all the country east of the Mississippi and north of the Iberville river, in Louisiana, were ceded to England. At the same time Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain. On the 13th of September, 1760, Major Robert Rogers was sent from Montreal to take charge of Detroit, the only remaining French post in the territory. He arrived thereon the 19th of November, and sum moned the place to surrender. At first the commander of the post, Beletre, refused, but on the 29th, hearing of the continued defeat of the French arms, surrendered. Rogers remained there until December 23d, under the personal protection of the cele brated chief, Pontiac, to whom, no doubt, he owed his safety. Pontiac had come here to inquire the purposes of the English in taking possession of the country. He was assured that tlie^' came simply to trade with the natives, and did not desire their country. This answer conciliated the sav ages, and did much to insure the safety of Rogers and his party during their stay, and while on their journey home. Roiiers set out for Fort Pitt on Decem ber 23d, and was just one month on the way. His route was from Detroit to Mau- mee, thence across the present State of Ohio directly to the fort. This was the common trail of the Indians in their jour neys from Sandusky to the Fork of the Ohio. It went from Fort Sandusky, where Sandusky city now is, crossed the Huron river, then called Bald Eagle Creek, to "Mo- hickon John's Town" Creek, on Mohikon Creek, the northern branch of White Woman's river, and then crossed to Bea ver's town, a Delaware town on what is now Sandy Creek. At Beaver's town were probably one hundred and fifty warriors, and not less than three thousand acres of Missing Page Missing Page THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 29 cleared land. Fi'om there the track went up Sandy Creek to and aci'oss Big Beaver, and up the Ohio to Logstown, thence on to the fork. The Northwest Territory was now en tirely under the English rule. New settle ments began to be rapidly made, and the promise of a large trade wasspeedil}' mani fested. Had the British carried out their promises with the natives, none of those savage butcheries would have been perpe trated, and the country would have been spared their recital. The renowned chief, Pontiac, was one of the leading spirits in these atrocities. We will now pause in our narrative, and notice the leading events in his life. The earliest authentic information regarding this noted Indian chief, is learned from an account of an Indian trader named Alexander Henry, who, in the spring of 1761, penetrated his domains as far as Missillimacnac. Ponti ac was then a great friend of the French, but a bitter foe of the English, whom he considered as encroaching on his hunting grounds. Henry was obliged to disguise himself as a Canadian to insure safety, but was discovered by Pontiac, who bitterly reproached him, and the English for their attempted subjugation of the West. He declared that no ti-eaty had been made with them; no presents sent them, and that he would resent any possession of the West by that nation. He was at the time about fifty years of age, tall and dignified, and was civil and military ruler of the Ot tawas, Ojibwas and Pottawatomies. The Indians, from Lake Michigan to the borders of North Carolina, were united in this feeling, and at the time of the treaty of Paris, ratified February 10, 1763, a gen eral conspiracy was formed to fall suddenly upon the frontier British posts, and with one blow strike every man dead. Pontiac was the marked leader in all this, and was the commander of the Chippewas, Otta was, Wyandots, Miamis, Shawanese, Dela- wares and Mingoes, who had, for the time, laid aside their local quarrels to unite in this enterprise. The blow came, as near as can be ascer tained, on May 7, 1763. Nine British posts fell, and the Indians drank, "scooped up in the hollow of joined hands," the blood of many a Briton. Pontiac's immediate field of action, was the garrison at Detroit. Here, however, the plans were frustrated by an Indian woman disclosing the plot the evening pre vious to his arrival; Everything was car ried out, however, according to Pontiac's plans until the moment of action, when Major Gladwyn, the commander of the post, stepping to one of the Indian chiefs, suddenly drew aside his blanket and dis closed the concealed musket. Pontiac though a brave man, turned pale and trembled. He saw his plan was known and that the garrison were prepared. He endeavored to exculpate himself from any such intentions; but the guilt was evident, and he and his followers were dismissed with a severe reprimand, and warned never to again enter the walls of the post. Pontiac at once laid siege to the fort, and until the treaty of peace between the British and the Western Indians, conclud ed in August, 1764, continued to liarass and besiege the fortress. He organized a regular commissariat department, issued bills of credit written out on bark, which to his credit, it may be stated, were punctu- 30 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. ally redeemed. At the conclusion of the treaty, in which it seems he took no part, he went farther south, living many years among the Illinois. He had given up all hope of saving his country and race. After a time he endeav ored to unite the Illinois tribe ahd those about St. Louis in a war with the whites. His efforts were fruitless, and only ended in a quarrel between himself and some Kaskaskia Indians, one of whom soon after ward killed him. His death was, however, avenged by the northern Indians, who nearly exterminated the Illinois in the wars which followed. Had it not been for the treachery of a few of his followers, his plan for the ex termination of the whites, a masterly one, would undoubtedly have been carried out. It was in the spring of the year follow ing Rogers' visit that Alexander Henry went to Missillimacnac, and everywhere found the strongest feelings against the English who had not carried out their promises, and were doing nothing to con ciliate the natives. Here he met the chief, Pontiac, who after conveying to liim in a speech the idea that their French father would awake soon and utterly destroy his enemies, said: "Englishman, althouirh you have conquered the French, you have not yet conquered us ! We are not your slaves! These lakes, these woods, these mountains, were left us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance, and we will part with them to none. Your nation supposes that we, like the white people, can not live without bread and pork and beef. But you ought to know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided food for us upon these broad lakes and in these moun tains." He then spoke of the fact that no treaty had been made with them, no presents sent tlrein, and that he and his people were yet for war. Such were the feelings of the Northwestern Indians immediately after the English took posses sion of their country. These feelings were no doubt encouraged by the Canadians and French, who hoped that yet the French arras might prevail. The treaty of Paris, liowever, gave to the English the right to this vast domain, and active preparations were going ou to occupy it and enjoy its trade and emoluments. In 1762, France, by a secret treaty, ceded Louisiana to Spain, to prevent it falling into the hands of the English, who were becoming masters of the entire West. The next year the treaty of Paris, signed at Fontainbleau, gave to the English the do main of the country in question. Twenty years after, by the treaty of peace between the United States and England, that part of Canada lying south and west of the Great Lakes, comprehending a large terri tory which is the subject of these sketches, was acknowledged to be a portion of the United States; and twenty years still later, in 1803, Louisiana was ceded by Spain back to France, and by France sold to the United States. In the half century, from the building of the Fort of Creyecoeur by La Salle, m 1680, up to the erection of F(n-t Chatres, many French settlements had been made in that quarter. These have already been noticed, being those at St. Vincent (Vin cennes), Kohokia or Cahokia, Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rojher, on the American THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 31 Bottom, a large tract of rich alluvial soil in Illinois, on the Mississippi, opposite the site of St. Louis. By the treaty of Paris, the regions east of the Mississippi, including all these and other towns of the Northwest, were given over to England, but they do not appear to liavebeen taken possession of until 1765, when Captain Stirling, in the name of the Majesty of England, established himself at Fort Chartres bearing with him the procla mation of General Gage, dated December 30, 1764, which promised religious freedom to all Catholics who worshipped here, and a right to leave the country with their effects if they wished, or to remain with the privileges of Englishmen. It was shortly after the occupancy of the West by the British that the war with Pontiac opened. It is already noticed in the sketch of that chieftain. By it many a Briton lost his life, and many a frontier settlement in its infanc}' ceased to exist. This was not ended until the year 1764, when, failing to capture Detroit, Niagara and Fort Pitt, his confederacy became disheartened, and, receiving no aid from the French, Pontiac abandoned the enterprise and departed to the Illinois, among whom he afterward lost his life. As soon as these difficulties were defi nitely settled, settlers began rapidly to sur vey the country, and prepare for occuoa- tion. During the year 1770, a number of persons from Virginia and other British provinces explored and marked out nearly all the valuable lands on the Monongahela and along the banks of the Ohio, as far .as the Little Kanawha. This was followed by another exploring expedition, in which George Washington was a partj'. The latter, accompanied by Dr. Craik, Capt. Crawford and others, on the 20th of Octo ber, 1770, descended the Ohio from Pitts burgh to the mouth of the Kanawha ; as cended that stream about fourteen miles, marked out several large tracts of land, shot several buffalo, which were then abun dant in the Ohio valley, and returned to the fort. Pittsburgh was at this time a tradinc; post, about which was clustered a village of some twenty houses, inhabited by In dian traders. This same year, Capt. Pitt- man visited Kaskaskia and its neighbor ing villages. He found there about sixtj-- five resident families, and at Cahokia only forty-five dwellings. At Fort Chartres was another small settlement, and at Detroit the garrison were quite prosperous and strong. For a year or two settlers con tinued to locate near some of these posts, generally Fort Pitt or Detroit, owing to the fears of the Indians, who still main tained some feelings of hatred to the Eng lish. The trade from the posts was quite good, and from those in Illinois large quan tities of pork and flour found their way to the New Orleans market. At this time the policy of the British Government was strongly opposed to the extension of the colonies west. In 1763, the King of Eng land forbade, by royal proclamation, his colonial subjects from making a settle ment beyond the sources of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean. At the instance of the Board of Trade, measures were taken to prevent the'settlement with out the limits prescribed, and to retain the commerce within easy reach of Great Britain. The commander-in-chief of the king's THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. forces wrote in 1769 : " In the course of a few years necessity will compel the colo nists, should they extend their settlements west, to provide manufactures of some kind for themselves, and when all connection upheld by commerce with the mother coun try ceases, an independency in their gov ernment will soon follow." In accordance with this policy. Gov. Gage issued a proclamation in 1772, com manding the inhabitants of Vincennes to abandon their settlements and join some of the Eastern English colonies. To this they strenuously objected, giving good reasons therefor, and were allowed to re main. The strong opposition to this pol icy of Great Britain led to its change, and to such a course as to gain the attachment of the French population. In December, 1773, influential citizens of Quebec peti tioned the king for an extension of the boundary lines of that province, which was granted, and Parliament passed an act on June 2, 1774, extending the boundary so as to include the territory lying within the present states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. In consequence of the liberal policy pur sued by the British Government toward the French settlers in the West, they were disposed to favor that nation in the war which soon followed with the colonies; but the early alliance between France and America soon brought them to the side of the war for independence. In 1774, Gov. Dunmore, of Virginia, began to encourage emigration to the Western lands. He appointed magistrates at Fort Pitt, under the pretense that the fort was under the government of that commonwealth. One of these justices. John Connelly, who possessed a tract of land in theOiiio Valley, gathered a force of men and garrisoned the fort, calling it Fort Dunmore. This and other parties were formed to select sites for settlements, and often came in conflict with the Indians, who yet claimed portions of the valley, and several battles followed. These ended in the famous battle of Kanawha, in July, where the Indians were defeated and driv en across the Ohio. During the years 1775 and 1776, by the operations of land companies and the per severance of individuals, several settle ments were firmly established between the Alleghenies and the Ohio River, and west ern land speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a council held in Kaskaskia, on July 5, 1773, an association of English traders, calling themselves the " Illinois Land Company," obtained from ten chiefs of the Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lyiiiij on the east side of the Mississippi River south of the Illinois. In 1775, a merchant from the Illinois country, named Viviat, came to Post Vincennes as the agent of the association called the " Wabash Land Com pany." On the Sth of October he obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs, a deed for 37,497,600 acres of land. This deed was signed by the grantors, attested by a num ber of the inhabitants of Vincennes, and afterward recorded in the office of a notary public at Kaskaskia. This and otlier land companies had extensive schemes for the colonization of the West; but all were frus-' trated by the breaking out of the Revolu tion. On the 20th of April, 1780, t!ie two ¦companies named consolidated under the name of the " United Illinois and Wabash THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 33 Land Company." They afterward made strenuous efforts to have these gra.nts sanc tioned by Congress, but all signally failed. When the War of the Revolution com menced, Kentucky was an unorganized country, though there were several settle ments within her borders. In Hutchins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated that at that time "Kaskaskia contained 80 houses, and nearly 1,000 white and black inhabitants — the whites being a little the more numerous. Caho kia contains 60 houses and 300 white in habitants and 80 negroes. There were east of the Mississippi River, about the year 1771 " — when these observations were made — " 300 white men capable of bearing arms, and 230 negroes." From 1775 until the expedition of Clark, nothing is recorded and nothing known of these settlements, save what is contained in a report made by a committee to Con gress in June, 1778. From it the follow ing extract is made: " Near the mouth of the River Kaskas kia, there is a village which appears to have contained nearly eighty families from the beginning of the late revolution. There are twelve families in a small village at la Prairie du Rochers, and near fifty families at the Kahokia Village. There are also four or five families at Fort Char tres and St. Phillips, which is five miles farther up the river." St. Louis had been settled in Februarj'', 1764, and at this time contained, including its neighboring towns, over six hundred whites and one hundred and fifty negroes. It must be remembered that all the coun try west of the Mississippi was now under French rule, and remained so until ceded again to Spain, its original owner, who afterwards sold it and the country includ ing New Orleans to the United States. At Detroit there were, according to Capt. Carver, who was in the northwest from 1766 to 1768, more than one hundred houses and the river was settled for more than twenty miles, although poorly cultivated — the people being engaged in the Indian trade. This old town has a history, which we will here relate. It is the oldest town in the Northwest, having been founded by Antoine Lade- motte Cadillac, in 1701. It was laid out in the form of an oblong square, of two acres in length and an acre and a half in width. As described by A. D. Frazer, who first visited it and became a permanent resident of the place, in 1778, it comprised within its limits that space between Mr. Palmer's store (Conant Block) and Capt. Perkins' house (near the Arsenal building), and extended back as far as the public barn, and was bordered in front by the Detroit River. It was surrounded by oak and cedar pickets, about fifteen feet long, set in the ground, and had four gates-east, west, north and south. Over the first three of these gates were block houses provided with four guns apiece, each a six pounder. Two six-gun batteries were planted fronting the river, and in a parallel direction with the block houses. There were four streets running east and west, the main street be ing twenty feet wide and the rest fifteen feet, while the four streets crossing these at right angles were from ten to fifteen feet in width. At the date spoken of by Mr. Frazer, there was no fort within the enclosure, but a citadel on the ground corresponding to 34 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. the present northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Wayne Street. The citadel was inclosed by pickets, and within it were erected barracks of wood, two stories high, sufficient to contain ten officers, and also barracks sufficient to contain four hundred men, and a provision store built of brick. The citadel also contained a hospital and a guard-house. The old town of Detroit, in 1778, contained about sixty houses, most of them one story, with a few a story and a half in height. They were all of logs, some hewn and some round. There was one building of splendid appearance, called the " King's Palace," two, stories high, which stood near the east gate. It was built for Governor Hamilton, the first governor commissioned by the British. There were two guard-houses, one near the west gate and the other near the Govern ment House. Each of the guards con- • sistfed of twenty-four men and a subaltern, who mounted regularly every morning be tween nine and ten o'clock. Each fur nished four sentinels, who were relieved every two hours. There was also an offi cer of the day, who performed strict duty. Each of the gates was shut regularly at sunset ; even wicket gates were shut at nine o'clock, and all the keys wei-e deliv ered into the hands of the commanding officer. They were opened in the morning at sunrise. No Indian or squaw was per mitted to enter town with any weapon, such as a tomahawk or a knife. It was a standing order that the Indians should de liver their arms and instruments of every kind before they were permitted to pass the sentinel, and they were restored to them on their return. No more than twenty-five Indians were allowed to enter the town at any one time, and they were admitted only at the east and west gates. At sundown the drums beat, and all the Indians were required to leave town in stantly. There was a council house near the water side for the purpose of holding council with the Indians. The population of the town was about sixty families, in all about two hundred males and one hundred females. This town was destroyed by fire, all except one dwelling, in 1805. After which the present " new " town was laid out. On the breaking out of the Revolution, the British held every post of importance in the West. Kentucky was formed as a component part of Virginia, and the sturdy pioneers of the West, alive to their inter ests, and recognizing the great benefits of obtaining the control of the trade in this part of the New World, lield steadily to their purposes, and those within the com monwealth of Kentucky proceeded to ex ercise their civil privileges, by electing John Todd and Richard Calloway, burgess es to represent them in the Assembly of the parent state. Early in September of that year (1777) the first court was held in Harrodsburg, and Col. Bowman, afterward major, who had arrived in August, was made the commander of a militia organiza tion which had been commenced the Mar-ch previous. Thus the tree of loyalty was growing. The chief spirit in this far-out colony, who had represented her the year previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move nneqnaled in its bold ness. He had been watching the move ments of the British throughout the North west, and understood their whole plan. He saw it was through their possession of THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 35 the posts at Detroit, Vincennes, Kaskaskia, and other places, which would give them constant and easy access to the various In dian tribes in the Northwest, that the Brit ish intended to penetrate the country from the north and south, and annihilate the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic man was Colonel, afterward General, George Rogers Clark. He knew the In dians were not unanimously in accord with the English, and he was convinced that, could the British be defeate I and expelled from the Northwest, the natives might be easily awed into neutrality ; and by spies sent for the purpose, he satisfied himself that the enterprise against the Illinois set tlements might easily succeed. Having convinced himself of the certainty of the project, he repaired to the Capital of Vir ginia, which place lie reached on November 5th. While he was on his way, fortunately, on October 17th, Burgoyne had been de feated, and the spirits of the colonists greatly encouraged thereby. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at once entered heartily into Clark's plans. The same plan had before been agitated in the Colonial Assemblies, but there was no one until Clark came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition of affairs at the scene of action to be able to guide them. Clark, having satisfied the Virginia lead ers of the feasibility of his plan, received, on the 2d of January, two sets of instruc tions — one secret, the other open— the lat ter authorized him to proceed to enlist seven companies to go to Kentucky, sub ject to his orders, and to serve three months from their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him to arm these troops, to procure his powder and lead of General Hand at Pittsburgh, and to proceed at once to subjugate the country. With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburgh, choosing rather to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed in the colonies in the confiict there. He sent Col. W. B. Smith to Holston for the same purpose, but neither succeeded in raising the re quired number of men. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to join the proposed expedition. With three companies and several private volunteers, Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he navigated as far as the Falls, where he took possession of and fortified Corn Isl and, a small island between the present cities of Louisville, Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. Remains of this forti fication may yet be found. At this place he appointed Col. Bowman to meet him with such recruits as had reached Ken tucky by the southern route, and as many as could be spared from the station. Here he announced to the men their real desti nation. Having completed his arrange ments, and chosen his party, he left a small garrison upon the island, and on the 24th of June, during a total eclipse of the sun, which to them augured no good, and which fixes beyond dispute the date of starting, he with his chosen band, fell down the river. His plan was to go by water as far as Fort Massac or Massacre, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. Here he in tended to surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to Cahokia, then to Vincen nes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, , he intended to inarch directlv to the Miss- 36 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. issipiji River and cross it into the Spanish country. Before his start he received two good items of information ; one that the alliance had been formed between France and the United States ; and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois country and the inhabitants, at the various frontier posts, had been led to believe by the Brit ish that the "Long Knives" or Virginians, were the most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped a foe. With this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from gratitude would become friendly if treated with unexpected leniency. The march to Kaskaskia was accomplish ed through a hot July sun, and the town reached on the evening of July 4. He cap tured the fort near the village, and soon after the village itself by surprise, and with out the loss of a single man or by killing any of the enemy. After sufficiently work ing upon the fears of the natives, Clai-k told them they were at perfect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take which ever side of the great conflict they would, also, he would protect them from any bar barity from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect, and the inhabitants, so unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlooked-for turn of affairs, at once swore allegiance to the American arms, and when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accompanied him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place surrendered, and gladly placed themselves imder his protection. Thus the two important posts in Illinois passed from the hands of the English into the pos session of Virijinia. In the person of the priest at Kaskaskia, M. Gibault, Clark found a powerful ally and generous friend. Clai'k saw that, to retain possession of the Northwest and treat successfully with the Indians within its boundaries, he must establish a govern ment for the colonies he had taken. St. Vincent, the next important post to De troit, remained yet to be taken before the Mississippi Valley was conquered. M. Gib ault told him that he would alone, by per suasion, lead Vincennes to throw off its connection with England. Clark gladly accepted his offer, and on the 14th of July, in company with a fellow- townsman, M. Gibault started on his mission of peace and on the 1st of August returned witu tYie cheerful intelligence that the post on the "Oubache" had taken the oath of allea:i- ance to the Old Dominion. During this interval, Clark established his courts, placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, suc cessfully re-enlisted his men, sent word to have a fort, which proved the germ of Louis ville, erected at the Falls of the Ohio, and dispatched M. Rocheblave, who had been commander at Kaskaskia, as a prisoner of war to Richmond. In October the County of Illinois was established by the Legis lature of Virginia, John Todd appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Civil Governor, and in November General Clark and his men received the thanks of the Old Do minion through their Legislature. In a speech a few days afterward, Clark made known fully to the natives his plans, and at its close all came forward and swore allegiance to the Long Knives. While he was doing this Governor Hamilton, having made his various arrangements, had left Detroit and moved down the Wabash to THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Vincennes intending to operate from that point in reducing the Illinois posts, and then proceed on down to Kentucky and drive the rebels from the West. Gen. Clark had, on the return of M. Gibault, dispatched Captain Helm, of Fauquier County, Virginia, with an attendant named Henry, across the Illinois prairies to com mand the fort. Hamilton knew nothing of the capitulation of the post, and was greatly surprised on his arrival to be con fronted by Capt. Helm, who, standing at theenti-anceof the fort by a loaded cannon ready to fire upon his assailants, demanded upon what terms Hamilton demanded pos session of the fort. Being granted the rights of a prisoner of war, he surrendered to the British General, who could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw the force in the garrison. Hamilton, not realizing the character of the m3n with whom he was contending, gave up his intended campaign for the winter, sent his four hundred Indian war riors to prevent troops from coming down the Ohio, and to annoy the Americans in all ways, and sat quietly down to pass the winter. Information of all these proceed ings having reached Clark, he saw that immediate and decisive action was neces sary, and that unless he captured Hamil ton, Hamilton would capture him. Clark received the news on the 29th of January, 1779, and on February 4th, having suffi ciently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Cahokia, he sent down the Mississippi a " battoe," as Major Bowman writes it, in order to as cend the Ohio and Wabash, and operate with the land forces gathering for the fray. Ou the next day, Clark, with his little force of one hundred and twenty men, set out for the post, and after incredible hard marching through much mud, the ground being thawed by the incessant spring rains, on the 22nd reached the fort, and being joined by his "battoe," atonce comraeneed the attack on the post. The aim of the American backwoodsmen was unerring, and on the 24th the garrison surrendered to the intrepid boldness of Clark. The French were treated with' great kindness, and gladly renewed their allegiance to Vir ginia. Hamilton was sent as a prisoner to Virginia, where he was kept in close con finement. Daring his command of the British frontier posts, he had offered prizes to the Indians for all the scalps of Ameri cans they would bring to him, and had earned in consequence thereof, the title "Hair-buyer General," by which he was ever afterward known. Detroit was now without doubt within easy reach of the enterprising Virginian, could he but raise the necessary force. Governor Henry being apprised of this, promised him the needed reinforcement, and Clark concluded to wait until he could capture and sufficiently garrison the posts. Had Clark failed in this bold undertaking, and Hamilton succeeded in uniting the western Indians for the next spring's cam paign, the West would indeed have been swept from the Mississippi to the Allegheny Mountains, and the great blow struck, which had been contemplated from the commenceraent, by the British. "But for this small army of dripping, but fearless Virginians, the union of all the tribes from Georgia to Maine against the colonies might have been effected, and the whole current of our history changed." 38 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. At this time some fears were entertained by the Colonial Governments that the In dians in the North and Northwest were in clining to the British, and under the in structions of Washington, now Commander- in-Chief of the Colonial army, and so bravely fighting for American independ ence, armed forces were sent against the Six Nations, and upon the Ohio frontier. Col. Bowman, acting under the same gen eral's orders, marched against Indians within the present limits of that State. These expeditions were in the main suc cessful, and the Indians were compelled to sue for peace. During the same year (1779) the famous 'Land Laws " of Virginia were passed. The passage of these laws was of more con sequence to the pioneers of Kentucky and the Northwest than the gaining of a few Indian conflicts. These laws confirmed in main all grants made, and guaranteed to all actual settlers their rights and privileges. After providing for the settlers, the laws provided for selling the balance of the pub lic lands at forty cents per acre. To carry the Land Laws into effect, the Legislature sent four Virginians westward to attend to the various claims, over many of which great confusion prevailed concerning their validity. These gentlemen opened their court on October 13, 1779, at St. Asaphs, and continued until April 26, 1780, when they adjourned, havin-j' decided three thou sand claims. They were succeeded by the surveyor, who came in the person of Mr. George May, and assumed his duties on the 10th day of the month whose name he bore. With the opening of the next year (1780) the troubles concerning the naviga tion of the Mississippi commenced. The Spanish Government exacted such measures in relation to its trade as to cause the over tures made to the United States to be re jected. The American Government con sidered they had a right to navigate its channel. To enforce their claims, a fort was erected below the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky side of the river. The settlements in Kentucky were being rapidly filled by emigrants. It was during this year that the fir-st seminary of learning was established in the West in this young and enterprising Commonwealth. The settlers here did not look upon the building of this fort in a friendly manner, as it aroused the hostility of the Indians. Spain had been friendly to the Colonies during their struggle for independence, and though for a while this fi-iendship ap peared in danger from the refusal of the free navigation of the river, yet it was finally settled to the satisfaction of both nations. The winter of 1779-80 was one of the most unusually severe ones ever experienced in the West. The Indians always referred to it as the " Great Cold." Numbersof wild animals perished, and not a few pioneers lost their lives. The following summer a party of Canadians and Indians attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possession of it in consequence of the friendly dispo sition of Spain to the revolting Colonies. They met with such a determined resist ance on the part of the inhabitants, even the women taking part in the -battle, that they were compelled to abandon the con test. They also made an attack on the settlements in Kentucky, but, becomino- alarmed in some unaccountable manner, they fled the country in great haste. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 39 About this time arose the question iu the Colonial Congress concerning the west ern lands claimed by Virginia, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The agi tation concerning this subject finally led New York, on the 19th of February, 1780, to pass a law giving to the delegates of that State in Congress the power to cede her western lands for the benefit of the United States. This law was laid before Congress during the next n;)onth, but no steps were taken concerning it until Sep tember 6th, when a resolution passed that body calling upon the States claiming west ern lands to release their claims in favor of the whole body. This basis formed the union, and was the first after all of those legislative measures which resulted in the creation of the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minne sota. In December of the same year, the plan of conquering Detroit again arose. The conquest might have easily been effected by Clark had the necessary aid been furnished him. Nothing decisive was done, yet the heads of the Government knew that the safety of the Northwest from British invasion lay in the capture and retention of that important post, the only unconquered one in the territory. Before the close of the year, Kentucky^ was divided into the Counties of Lincoln, Fayette and Jeff'erson, and the act estab lishing the Town of Louisville was passed. This same year is also noted in the annals of American history as the year iu which occurred Arnold's treason to the United States. Virginia, in accordance with the resolu tion of Congress, on the 21 day of January, 1781, agreed to yield her western lands to the United States upon certain conditions, which Congress would not accede to, and the act of Cession, on the part of the Old Dominion, failed, nor was anything fur ther done until 1783. During all that time the Colonies were busily engaged in the struggle with the mother country, and in consequence thereof but little heed was given to the western settlements. Upon the 16th of April, 1781, the first birth north of the Ohio River of American par entage occurred, being that of Mary Heck- ewelder, daughter of the widely known Moravian missionary, whose band of Chris tian Indians suffered in after years a hor rible massacre by the hands of the frontier settlers, who had been exasperated by the murder of several of their neighbors, and in their rage committed, without regard to humanity, a deed which forever afterward cast a shade of shame upon their lives. For this and kindred outrages on the part of the whites, the Indians committed many deeds of cruelty which darken the j'ears of 1771 and 1772 in the history of the North west. During the year 1782 a number of bat tles among the Indians and frontiersmen occurred, and between the Moravian Indi ans and the Wyandots. In these, horrible acts of cruelty were practiced on the cap tives, many of such dark deeds transpiring under the leadership of the notorious front ier outlaw, Simon Girty, whose name, as well as those of his brothers, was a terror to women and children. These occurred chiefiy in the Ohio valleys. Contempo rary with them were several engageuiants in Kentucky, in which the famous Daniel Boone engaged, and who often, by his skill and knowledge of Indian warfare, 40 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. saved the outposts from cruel destruction. By the close of the year victory had perched upon the American banner, and on the 30th of November, provisional arti cles of peace had been arranged between the Commissioners of England, and her unconquerable Colonies. Cornwallis had been defeated on the 19th of October pre ceding, and the liberty of America was as sured. On the 19th of Api-il following, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, peace was proclaimed to the army of the United States, and on the 3d of the next September, the definite treaty which ended our revolutionary struggle, was concluded. By the terms of that treaty, the bounda ries of the West were as follows: On the north the line was to extend along the cen ter of the Great Lakes; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long Lake; thence to the Lake of the Woods; thence to the head of the Mississippi River, down its center to the 31st parallel of latitude, then on that line east to tlie head of the Appalaehicola River; down its center to its junction with the Flint; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and thence down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean. Following the cessation of hostilities with England, several posts were still occu pied by the British in the North and West. Among these was Detroit, still in the hands of the enemy. Numerous engagements with the Indians throug'iout Ohio and In diana occurred, upon whose lands adventur ous whites would settle ere the title had been accpiired by the proper treaty. To remedy this latter evil, Congress ap pointed commissioners to treat with the natives and purchase their lands, and pro hibited the settlement of the territory until this could be done. Before the close of the year another attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however, not pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in the Northwest she had formerly done, withdrew her troops, having on the 20th of December preceding authorized the whole of her possessions to be deeded to the United States. This was done on the 1st of March following, and the Northwest Territory passed from the control of the Old Dominion. To Gen. Clark and his soldiers, however, she gave a tract of one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situated anywhere north of the Ohio wherever they chose to locate them. They selected the region opposite the falls of the Ohio, where is now the dilapidated village of Clarksville, about midway be tween the Cities of New Albany and Jeffer- sonville, Indiana. * While the frontier remained thus, and Gen. Haldimand at Detroit refused to evacuate, alleging that he had no orders from his King to do so, settlers were rap idly gathering about the inland forts. In the spring of 1784, Pittsburgh was regu larly laid out, and from the journal of Ar thur Lee, who passed through the town soon after on his way to the Indian council at Fort Mcintosh, we suppose it was not very prepossessing in appearance. He says: " Pittsburgh is inhabited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who live in paltry log houses, and are as dirty as if in the north of Ireland or even Scotland. There is a great deal of trade carried on, the goods being brought at the vast expense of forty- five shillings per pound from Philadelphia THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 41 and Baltimore. They take in the shops flour, wheat, skins and money. There are in the town four attorneys, two doctors, and not a priest of any persuasion, nor church nor chapel." Kentucky at this time contained thirty thousand inhabitants, and was beginning to discuss measures for a separation from Virginia. A land, office was opened at Louisville, and measures were adopted to take defensive precaution against the In dians who were yet, in some instances, in cited to deeds of violence by the British. Before the close of this year, 1784, the military claimants of land began to occupy them, although no entries were recorded until 1787. The Indian title to the Northwest was not yet extinguished. They held large tracts of lands, and in order to prevent bloodshed Congress adopted means for treaties with the original owners and pro vided for the surveys of the lands gained thereby, as well as for those north of the Ohio, now in its possession. On January 31, 1786, a treaty was made with the Wa bash Indians. The treaty of Fort Stanwix had been made in 1784. That at Fort Mc intosh in 1785, and through these much land was gained. The Wabash Indians, however, afterward refused to comply with the provisions of the treatv made with them, and in order to compel their adhe rence to its provisions, force was used. During the year 1786, the free navigation of the Mississippi came up in Congress, and caused various discussions, which re- suited in no definite action, only serving to excite speculation in regard to the western lands. Congress had promised bounties of land to the soldiers of the Revolution, but owing to the unsettled condition of affairs along the Mississippi respecting its navigation, and tlie trade of the Northwest, that body had, in 1783, declared its inabil ity to fulfill these promises until a treaty could be concluded between the two Gov ernments. Before the close of the yenr 1786, however, it was able, through thj treaties with the Indians, to allow some grants and the settlement thereon, and on the 14th of September, Connecticut ceded to the General Government the tract of land known as the " Connecticut Reserve," and before the close of the following year a large tract of land north of the Ohio was sold to a company, who at once took meas ures to settle it. By the provisions of this grant, the company were to pay the United States one dollar per acre, subject to a de duction of one- third for bad lands and other contingencies. They received 750,000 acres, bounded on the south by the Ohio, on the east by the seventh range of townships, on the west by the sixteenth range, and on the north by a line so drawn as to make the grant complete without the reservations. In addition to this. Congress afterward granted 100,000 acres to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as array bounties under the resolutions of 1789 and 1790. While Dr. Cutler, one of the agents of the company, was pressing its claims before Congress, that body was bringing into form an ordinance for the political and social or ganization of this Territory. When the cession was made by Virginia, in 1784, a plan was offered, but rejected. A motion had been made to strike from the proposed plan the prohibition of slavery, which pi-e- vailed. The plan was then discussed and altered, and finally passed unanimously, 42 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. with the exception of South Carolina. By this proposition, the Territory was to have been divided into states by parallels and meridian lines. This, it was thought, would make ten states, which were to have been named as follows — beginning at the north west corner and going south wai'dly: Savly- nia, Michigauia, Chersonesus, Assenisipia, Metropotamia, Ulenoia, Saratoga, Wash ington, Polypotamia and Pelisipia. There was a more serious objection to this plan than its category of names, — the boundaries. The root of the difficulty was in the resolution of Congress passed in October, 1780, which fixed the boundaries of the ceded lands to be from one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles square. These resolutions being presented to the Legislatures of Virginia and Massachusetts, they desired a change, and in July, 1786, the subject was taken up iu Congress, and changed to favor a division into not more than five states, and not less than three. This vi^s approved by the State Legislature of Virginia. The subject of the Govern ment was again taken up by Congress in 1786, and discussed throughout that year and until July, 1787, when the famous "Compact of 1787" was passed, and the foundation of the government of the North west laid. This compact is fully discussed and explained in the history of Illinois in this book, and to it the reader is referred. The passage of this act and the grant to the New England Company was soon fol lowed by an application to the Government by John Cleves Symmes, of New Jersey, for a grant of the laud between the Miamis. This gentleman had visited these lands soon after the treaty of 1786, and, being greatly pleased with them oflered similar terms to those given to the New England Company. The petition was referred to the Treasury Board with power to act, and a contract was concluded the following year. During the autumn the dii-ectors of the New England Company were preparing to occupy their grant the following spring, and upon the 23d of November made ar rangements for a party of forty-seven men, under the superinteiidency of Gen. Rufus Putnam, to set forward. Six boat-builders were to leave at once, and on the first of January the surveyors and their assistants, twenty-six in number, were to meet at Hart ford and proceed on their journey westward; the remainder to follow as soon as possible. Congress, in the mean time, upon the 3d of October, had ordered seven hundred troops for defense of the western settlers, and to prevent unauthorized intrusions; and two days later appointed Arthur St. Clair Gov ernor of the Territory of the Northwest. AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS. The civil organization of the Northwest Territory was now complete, and notwith standing the uncertainty of Indian affairs, settlei's from the East began to come into the country rapidly. The New England Company sent their men during the winter of 1787-8 pressing on over the Alleghenies by the old Indian path which had been opened into Braddock's road and which has since been made a national turnpike from Cumberland westward. Through the weary winter days they toiled on, and by April were all gathered on the Yohiogany, where boats had been built, and at once started for the Muskingum. Here they arrived on the 7th of that month, and unless the Mo ravian missionaries be regarded as the pio- THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 43 neers of Ohio, this little band can justly claim that honor. General St. Clair, the appointed Gover nor of the Northwest, not having yet ar rived, a set of laws were passed, written out, and published by being nailed to a tree in the embryo town, and Jonathan Meigs appointed to administer them. Washington in writing of this, the first American settlement in the Northwest, said: "No colony in America was ever settled under such favorable auspices as that which has just commenced at Muskin- gu;n. Information, property and strength will be its characteristics. I know many of its settlers personally, and there never were men better calculated to promote the •welfare of such a community." On the 2d of July a meeting of the di rectors and agents was held on the banks of the Muskingum, "for the purpose ot naming the new-born city and its squares." As yet the settlement was known as the " Muskingum," but that was now changed to the name Marietta, in honor of Marie Antoinette. The square upon which the block-houses stood was called '¦'¦Campus Martins f square number 19, '¦'¦Oapito- liumf square number 61, '•Ceciliaf and the great rough road through the covert way, '•'¦Sacra Via." Two days after, an oration was delivered by James M. Var- num, who with S. H. Parsons and John Armstrong had been appointed to the judicial bench of the Territory on the 16th of October, 1787. On July 9, Gov. St. Clair arrived, and the Colony began to as sume form. The act of 1787 provided two distinct grades of government for the Northwest, under the first of which the A^hole power was invested in the hands of a governor and three district judges. This was immediately formed upon the g(jver- nor's arrival, and the first laws of the Colony passed on the 25tli of July. These provid ed for the organization of the militia, and on the next day appeared the Governor's proclamation, erecting all that country that had been ceded by the Indians east of the Scioto River into the County of Washing ton. From that time forward, notwith standing the doubts yet existing as to the Indians, all Marietta prospered, and on the 2d of September the first court of the Territory was held with imposing cere monies. The emigration westward at this time was very great. The commander at Fort Ilarmar, at the mouth of the Muskingum, reported four thousand five hundred per sons as having passed that post between February and June, 1788 — many of whom would have purchased of the "Associates," as the New England Company was called, had they been ready to receive them. ' On the 26th of November, 1787, Symmes issued a pamphlet stating the terms of his contract and the plan of sale he intended to adopt. In January, 1788, Matthias Den- man, of New Jersey, took an active inter est in Symmes' purchase, and located among otlier tracts the sections upon which Cincinnati has been built. Retaining one- third of this locality, he sold the other two-thirds to Robert Patterson and John Filson, and the three, about August, com menced to lay out a town on the spot, which was designated as being opposite Licking River, to the mouth of which they proposed to have a road cut from Lexing ton. The naming of the town is thus nar rated in the "Western Annals": "Mr. 44 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Filson, who had been a schoolmaster, was appointed to name the town, and in respect to its situation, and as if with a prophetic perception of the mixed races that were to inhabit it in after days, he named it Lo- santiville, which being interpreted, means: ville, the town; anti, against or opposite to; OS, the mouth; L. of Licking." Meanwhile, in July, Symmes got thirty persons and eight four-horse teams under way for the West. These reached Lime stone (now Maysville)in September, where were several persons from Redstone. Here Mr. Symmes tried to found a settlement, but the great freshet of 1789 caused the "Point," as it was and is yet called, to be fifteen feet under water, and the settlement to be abandoned. The little band of settlers removed to the mouth of the Miami. Before Symmes and his colony left the "Point," two settlements had been made on his purchase. The first was by Mr. Stiltes, the original projector of the whole plan, who, with a colony of Redstone peo ple, had located at the mouth of the Miami, whither Symmes went with his Maj^sville colony. Here a clearing had been made by the Indians owing to the great fertility of the soil. Mr. Stiltes with his colony came to this place on the 18th of November, 1788, with twenty-six per sons, and, building a blockhouse, prepared to remain through the winter. They named the settlement Columbia. Hei'e they .were kindly treated by the Indians, but suffered greatly from the flood of 1789. On the 4th of March, 1789, the Consti tution of the United States went into op- ei'ation, and on April 30th, George Wash ington was inaugui'ated President of the American people, and during the next summer, an Indian war was commenced by the tribes north of the Ohio. The President at first used pacific means; but these failing, he sent General Harmar against the hostile tribes. He destroyed several villages, but was defeated in two battles, near the present City of Fort Wayne, Indiana. From this time till the close of 1795, the principal events were the wars with the various Indian tribes. In 1796, General St. Clair was appointed in command, and marched against the In dians; but while he was encamped on a stream, the St. Mary, a branch of the Mauinee, he was attacked and defeated with the loss of six hundred men. Genei'al Wayne was now sent against the sat^ages. In August, 1794, he met them near the rapids of the Maumee, and gained a complete victory. This success, followed by vigorous measures, compelled the Indi ans to sue for peace, and on the 30th of July, the following year, the treaty of Greenville was signed by the principal chiefs, by which a large tract of country was ceded to the United States. Before proceeding in our narrative, we will pause to notice Fort Washington, erected in the early part of this war on the site of Cincinnati. tTearly all of the great cities of the Northwest, and indeed of the whole country, have had their nuclei in those rude pioneer structures, known as forts or stockades. Thus Forts Dearborn, Washington, Ponchartrain, mark the orig inal sites of the now proud cities of Chi cago, Cincinnati and Detroit. So of most of the flourishing cities east- and west of the Mississippi. Fort Washington erected by Doughty in 1790, was a rude but highly interesting structure. It was composed of f -fi fe ^'~^-c<^e>-^ THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 47 a number of strongly-built hewed log cab ins. Those designed for soldiers' barracks were a story and a half high, while those composing the officers' quarters were more imposing and more conveniently arranged and furnislieJ. The whole were so placed as to form a hollow square, enclosing about an acre of ground, with a block house at each of the four angfles. The logs for the construction of this fort were cut from the ground upon which it was erected. It stood between Third and Fourth Streets of the present city (Cincinnati) extending east of Eastern Row, now Broadway, w'.iich was then a narrow alley, and the eastern boundary of the town as it was originally laid out. On the bank of the river, immediately in front of the fort, was an appendage of the fort, called the Artificer's Yard. It contained about two acres of ground, enclosed by small contiguous buildings, occupied by workshops and quarters of laborers. Within this enclosure there was a larsre two-story frame house, familiarly called the " Yellow House," built for the accom modation of the Quartermaster General. For many years this was the best finished and most commodious edifice in the Queen City. Fort Washington was for some time the headquarters of both the civil and mil itary governments of the Northwestern Territory. Following the consummation of the treaty, various gigantic land speculations were entered into by different persons, who hoped to obtain from the Indians in Mich igan and northern Indiana, large tracts of lands. These were generally discovered in time to prevent the outi-ageous schemes from being carried out, and from involving the settlers in war. On October 27, 1795, the treaty between the United States and Spain was signed, whereby the free navi gation of the Mississippi was secured. No sooner had the treaty of 1795 been ratified, than settlements began to pour rapidly into the West. The great event of the year 1796 was the occupation of that part of the Northwest including Michigan, which was this year, under the provisions of the treaty, evacuated by the British forces. The United States, owing to certain conditions, did not feel justified in addressing the authorities in Canada in relation to Detroit and other frontier posts. When at last the British author ities wei-e called to give them up, they at once complied, and General Wayne, who had done so much to preserve the frontier settlements, and who, before the year's close, sickened and died near Erie, transferi-ed his headquarters to the neighborhood of the lakes, where a coun ty named after him was formed, which included the northwest of Ohio, all of Michigan, and the northeast of Indiana. During this same year settlements were formed at the present City of Chillicothe, along the Miami from Middletown to Piqua, while in the more distant West, settlers and speculators began to appear in great numbers. In September, the City of Cleveland was laid out, and during the summer and autumn, Samuel Jackson and Jonathan Sharpless erected the first manufactory of paper — the " Redstone Paper Mill " — in the West. St. Louis con tained some seventy houses, and Detroit over three hundred, and along the river, contiguous to it, were more than three thousand inhabitants, mostly French Can- 48 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. adians, Indians and half-breeds, scarcely any Americans venturing yet into that part of the Morthwest: The election of representatives for the Territory had taken place, and on the 4th of February, 1799, they convened at Lo- santiville — now known as Cincinnati, hav ing been named so by Gov. St. Clair, and considered the capital of the Territory — to nominate persons from whom the mem bers of the legislature were to be chosen in accordance with a previous ordinance. These nominations being made, the Assem bly adjourned until the 16th of the follow ing September. From those named, the President selected as members of the council, Henry Vandenburg, of Vincennes, Robert Oliver, of Marietta, James Findlay and Jacob Burnett, of Cincinnati, and David Vance, of Vanceville. On the 16th of, September the Territorial Legislature met, and on the 24th the two houses were duly organized, Henry Vandenburg being elected President of the Council. The message of Gov. St. Clair was ad dressed to the Legislature September 20h, and on October 13th that body elected as a delegate to Congress, Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison, who received eleven of the votes cast, being a majority of one over his op ponent, Arthur St. Clair, son of Gen. St. Clair. The whole number of acts passed at this session, and approved by the Governor, were thirty-seven — eleven others were passed, but received his veto. The most important of those passed, related to the militia, to the administration, and to taxa tion. On the 19th of December, this pro tracted session of the first Legislature in the West was closed, and on the 30th of December, the President nominated Charles Willing Bryd to the office of Sec retary of the Territory vice Wm. Henry Harrison, elected to Congress. The Sen ate confirmed his nomination the next day. DIVISION OF THE NORTHWEST TEEEITOET. The increased emigration to the North west, the extent of the domain, and the lu- convenient modes of travel, made it very difficult to conduct the ordinary operations of government, and rendered the efficient action of courts almost impossible. To remedy this, it was deemed advisable to divide the territory for civil purposes. Congress, in 1800, appointed a committee to examine the question and report some means for its solution. This committee, on the 3d of March, reported that: " In the three western countries, ther'e has been but one court having cognizance of crimes, in five years, and the immunity which offenders experience attracts, as. to an asylum, the most vile and abandoned criminals, and at the same time deters useful citizens from making settlements in such society. The extreme necessity of judiciary attention and assistance is ex perienced in civil as well as in criminal cases. * * * * To minister a remedy to these and other evils, it occurs to this committee that it is expedient that a divis ion of said territory into two distinct and separate governments should be made: and that such division be made by a line be ginning at the mouth of the Great Miami River, running directly north until it in tersects the boundary between the United States and Canada." The report was accepted by Congress, and, in accordance with its suggestions, that body passjJ an act extinguishing the THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 49 Northwest Territory, which act was ap proved May 7th. Among its provisions were these: "That from and after July 4th next, all that part of the territory of the United States, northwest of the Ohio River, which lies to the westward of a line beojinning at a joint on the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the Kentucky River, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north until it shall intersect the territorial line be tween the United States and Canada, shall, for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a separate territoi'y, and be called the Indiana Territory." After providing for the" exercise'' of the civil and criminal powers of the Territories, and other provisions, the act further pro vides: " Tb.at until it shall otherwise be ordered by the Legislatures of the said Territories, respectively, Chillicothe on the Scioto River shall be the seat of government of the Territory of the United States north west of the Ohio River; and that St. Vin cennes on the Wabash River shall be the seat of government for the Indiana Terri tory." Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison was appoint ed Governor of the Indiana Territory, and entered upon his duties about a year later. Connecticut also about this time released her claims to the reserve, and in March a law was passed accepting this cession. Settlements had been made upon thirty- five of the townships in the reserve, mills had been built, and seven hundred miles of road cut in various directions. On the 3d of November, the General Assembly met at Chillicothe. Near the close of the year, the first missionary of the Connecticut Reserve came, who found no township con taining more than eleven families. It was upon the first of October that the secret treaty had been made between Napoleon and the King of Spain, whei'eby the latter agreed to cede to France the province of Louisiana. In January, 1802, the assembly of the Northwestjirn Territory chartered the college at Athens. From the earliest dawn of the western colonies, education was promptly provided for, and as early as 1787, newspapers were issued from Pitts burgh and Kentucky, and largely read throughout the frontier settlements. Be fore the close of this year, the Congress of the United States granted to the citizens of the Northwestern Territory, the forma tion of a State government. One of the provisions of the "compact of 1787" pro vided that whenever the number of inhab itants within prescribed limits exceeded 45,000, they should be entitled to a sepa rate government. The prescribed limits of Ohio contained, from a census taken to ascertain the legality of the act, more than that nuraber, and on the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed the act defining its limits, and on the 29th of November the Constitution of the new State of Ohio, so named from the beautiful river formina: its southern boundary, came into existence. The exact limits of Lake Michia'an were not then known, but the territory now included within the State of Michigan was wholly within the territory of Indiana. General Harrison, while residing at Vincennes, made several treaties with the Indians, thereby gaining large tracts of lands. The next year is memorable in the history of the West for the purchase of 50 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Louisiana from France by the United States for $15,000,000. Thus by a peace ful mode, the domain of the United States was extended over a large tract of country west of the Mississippi, and was for a time under the jurisdiction of the Northwest government, and as has been mentioned in the early part of this narrative, was called the "New Northwest." The limits of this history will not allow a description of its territory. The same year large grants of land were obtained from the Indians, and the House of Representatives of the new State of Ohio signed a bill respecting the college township in the district of Cincinnati. Before the close of the year. General Harrison obtained additional grants of lands from the various Indian nations in Indiana and the present limits of Illinois, and on the 18th of August, 1804, a treaty at St. Louis, whereby over 51,000,000 acres of lands were obtained from the aboriffines Measures were also taken to learn the con dition of affairs in and about Detroit. C. Jouette, the Indian agent in Michi gan, still a part of Indiana Territory, re ported as follows upon the condition of matters at that post: "The Town of Detroit.— The charter, which is for fifteen miles square, was granted in the time of Louis XIV of France, and is now, from the best infor mation I have been able to get, at Quebec. Of those two hundred and twenty-five acres, only four are occupied by the town and Fort Lenault. The remainder is a common, except twenty-four acres, which were added twenty years ago to a farm belonging to Wm. Macomb. * * * * A stockade encloses the town, fort and cit adel. The pickets, as well as the public houses, are in a state of gradual decay. The streets are narrow, straight and regu lar, and intersect each other at right angles. The houses are for the most part low and inelegant." During this year Congress granted a township of land for the support of a col lege, and began to offer inducements for settlers in these wilds, and the country now comprising the State of Michigan began to fill rapidly with settlers along its southern borders. This same year, also, a law was passed organizing the Southwest Territory, dividing it into two portions, the Territory of New Orleans, which city was made the seat of government, and the District of Louisiana, whipoint a peace commission, who, after repeated attempts, in 1864, made a treaty with the Modoes, Snakes and Kla- maths, in which it was agreed on their part to remove to a reservation set apart for them in the southern part of Oregon. With the exception of Captain Jack and a band of his followers, who remained at Clear Lake, about six miles from Klamath, all the Indians complied. The Modoes who went to the reservation were under chief Schonchin. Captain Jack remained at the lake without disturbance until 1869, when he was also induced to remove to the reservation. The Modoes and the Klamaths soon became involved in a quarrel, and Captain Jack and his band returned to the Lava Beds. Several attempts were made by the In dian Commissioners to induce them to re turn to the reservation, and finally becom ing involved in a difficulty with the com missioner and his military escort, a fight ensued, in which the chief and his band were routed. They were greatly enraged and on their retreat, before the day closed, killed eleven inoffensive whites. The nation was aroused and immediate action demanded. A commission was at once appointed by the Government to see what could be done. It comprised the fol lowing persons: Gen. E. R. S. Can by, Rev. Dr. E. Thomas, a leading Methodist divine of California; Mr. A. B. Meacham, J udge Rosborough, of California, and a Mr. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 59 Dyer, of Oregon. After several interviews, in which the savages were always aggres sive, often appearing with scalps in their belts. Bogus Charley came to the commis sion ou the evening of April 10, 1873, and informed them that Capt. Jack and his band would have a " talk " to-morrow at a place near Clear Lake, about three miles distant. Plere the Commissioners, accom panied by Cbarle}', Riddle, the interpreter, and Boston Charley, repaired. After the usual greeting the council proceedings com menced. On behalf of the Indians there were present: Capt. Jack, Black Jim, Scliac Nasty Jim, Ellen's Man, and Hooker Jim. They had no guns, but carried pistols. After short speeches by Mr. Meacham, Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas, Chief Schonchin arose to speak. He had scarcely proceeded when, as if by a preconcerted arrangement, Capt. Jack drew his pistol and shot Gen. Canby dead. In less than a minute a dozen shots were fired by the savages, and the massacre completed. Mr. Meacham was shot by Schonchin, and Dr. Thomas by Boston Charley. Mr. Dyer barely escaped, being fired at twice. Riddle, the interpre ter, and his squaw escaped. The troops rushed to the spot where they found Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas dead, and Mr. Meacham badly wounded. The savages had escaped to their impenetrable fastnesses and could not be pursued. The whole country was aroused by this brutal massacre; but it was not until the following May that the murderers were brought to justice. At that time Boston Charley gave himself up, and offered to guide the troops to Capt. Jack's stronghold. This led to the capture of his entire gang, a number of whom were murdered by Ore gon volunteers while on their way to trial. The remaining Indians were held as pris oners until July, when their trial occurred, which led to the conviction of Capt. Jack, Schonchin, Boston Charley, Hooker Jim, Broncho, alias One- Eyed Jim, and Slotuck, who were sentenced to be hanged. These sentences were approved by the President, save in the case of Slotuck and Broncho whose sentences were commuted to impris- onln^'nt for life. The others were executed at Fore Klamath, October 3, 1873. Tltese closed the Indian troubles for a time in the Northwest, and for several years the borders of civilization remained in peace. They were again involved in a conflict with the savages about the country of the Biack Hills, in which war the gallant Gen. Custer lost his life. Just now the borders of Ore gon and California are again in fear of hos tilities; but as the Government has learned how to deal with the Indians, they will be of short duration. The red man is fast passing away before the march of the white man, and a few more generations will read of the Indians as one of the nations of the past. The Northwest abounds in memorable places. We have generally noticed them in the narrative, but our space forbids their description in detail, save of the most important places. Detroit, Cincinnati, Vincennes, Kaskaskia and their kindred towns have all been described. But ere we leave the narrative we will present our readers with an account of the Kiiizie house, the old landmark of Chicago, and the discovery of the source of the Missis sippi River, each of which mav well find a place in the annals of the Northwest. Mr. John Kinzie, of the Kinzie house, 63 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. established a trading house at Fort Dear born in 1804. The stockade had been erected the year previous, and named Fort Dearborn in honor of the Secretary of War. It had a block house at each of the two angles, on the southern side a sallyport, a covered way on the north side, that led down to the river, for the double purpose of providing means of escape, and of pro curing water in the event of a siege. Fort Dearborn stood on the south bank of the Chicago River, about half a mile from its mouth. When Major Whistler built it, his soldiers hauled all the timber, for he had no oxen, and so economically did he work that the fort cost the Govern ment only fifty dollars. For a while the garrison could tret no grain, and Whistler and his men subsisted on acorns. Now Chicago is the greatest grain center in the world. Mr. Kinzie bought the hut of the first settler, Jean Baptiste Point au Sable, on the site of which he erected his mansion. Within an inclosure in front he plante 1 some Lombardy poplars, and in the rear he soon had a fine garden and growing orchard. In 1812 the Kinzie house and its sur roundings became the theater of stirrine' events. The garrison of Fort Dearborn consisted of fifty-four men, under the charge of Capt. Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant Lenai T. Helm (son-in-laAv to Mrs. Kinzie), and ensign Ronan. The sur geon was Dr. Voorhees. The only resi dents at tlie post at that time were the wives of Capt. Heald and Lieutenant Helm and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and a few Canadian voyageurs with their wives and children. The sol diers and Mr. Kinzie were on the most friendly terms with the Pottawatomies and the Winnebagoes, the principal tribes around them, but the}' could not win thein from their attachment to the British. After the battle of Tippecanoe it was observed that some of the leading chiefs became sullen, for some of their people had perished in that conflict with Ameri can troops. One evening in April 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing his violin and his children were dancing to "the music, when Mrs. Kinzie came rushing into the house pale with terror, exclaiming, "The Indians! the Indians!" "What? Where?" eagerly inquired Mr. Kinzie. "Up at Lee's, kill ing and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who, when the alarm was given, was attending Mrs. Burns, a newly-made mother, living not far off. Mr. Kinzie and his family crossed the river in boats, and took refuge in the fort, to which place Mrs. Burns and her infant, not a day old, were conveyed in safety to the shelter of the guns of Fort Dearborn, and the rest of the white inhabitants fled. The Indians were a scalping party of Winnebagoes, who hov ered around the fort some days, when they disappeared, and for several weeks the in habitants were not disturbed by alarms. Chicago was then so deep in the wilder ness, that the news of the declaration of war against Great Britain, made on the 19th of June, 1812, did not reach the com mander of the garrison at Fort Dearborn till the 7th of August. Now the fast mail train will carry a man from New York to Chicago in twenty-seven hours, and such a declaration might be sent, every word, by the telegraph in less than the same number of minutes. XHi: .SUiriKWEST TERRITORY. 61 PRESENT CONDITION OF THE NORTHWEST. Preceding chapters have brought us to the close of the Black Hawk war, and we now turn to the contemplation of the growth and prosjierity of the northwest under the smile of pea:e and the blessings of our civilization. The pioneers of this region date events back to the deep snow of 1831, no one arriving here since that date taking flrst honors. The inciting cause of the immigration which overflowed the prairies early in the '30s was the reports of the marvelous beauty and fertility of the re gion distributed through the East by those who had participated in the Black Hawk campaign with Gen. Scott. Chicago and Milwaukee then had a few hundred inhab itants, and Gurdon S. Hubbard's trail from the former city to Kaskaskia led almost through a wilderness. Vegetables and clothing were largely distributed through the regions adjoining the lakes by steam ers from the Ohio towns. There are men now livino; in Illinois who came to the State when barely an acre was in cultiva tion, and a man now prominent iu tho bus iness circles of Chicago looked over the swampy, cheerless site of that metropolis in 1818 and went southward into civilization. Emigrants from Pennsylvania in 1830 left behind them but one small railway in the coal regions thirty miles in leni^th, and made their way to the Northwest mostly with ox teams, flriding in Northern Illinois petty settlements scores of miles apart, although the southern portion of the state was fairly dotted with farms. The water courses of the laki!s and rivers fur nished transportation to tho second great army of immigrants, and about 1850 rail roads were pushed to that extent that the crisis of 1837 was precipitated upon us, from the effects of which the Western country had not fully recovered at the outbreak of the war. Hostilities found the colonists of the prairies fully alive to the demau.is of the occasion, and the honor of recruit ing the vast armies of the Union fell largely to Gov. Yates, of Illinois, and Gov. Mor ton, of Indiana. To recount the share of the glories of the campaign won by our Western troops is a needless task, except to mention the fact that Illinois gave to the nation the President who saved it, and sent out at the head of one of its regiments the general who led its armies to the final victory at Appomattox. The stru,''gle, ou the whole, had a marked effjct for the bet ter on the new Northwest, crivino; it an im- petus which twenty years of peace would not have produced. In a large degree this prosperity was an inflated one, and with the rest of the Union we have since been compelled to atone therefor. Agriculture, still the leadino; feature in our industries, has been quite prosperous through all these years, and the farmers have cleared away many incumbrances resting over them from the period of fictitious values. The pop ulation has steadily increased, the arts and sciences are gaining a stronger foothold, the trade area of the region is becoming daily more extended, and W3 have been largely exempt from the financial calam ities. At the present period there are no great schemes broached for the Northwest, no propositions for government subsidies or national works of improvement, but the cipital of the world is attracted hither for the purchase of our products or the expan sion of our capacity for serving the nation 62 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. at large A new era is dawning as to transportation, and we bid fair to deal al most exclusively with the increasing and expanding lines of steel rail running through every few miles of territory on the prairies. The lake marine will no doubt continue to be useful in the warmer season, and to serve as a regulator of freight rates; but experienced navigators forecast the decay of the system in moving to the sea board the enormous crops of the West. Within the past few years it has become quite common to see direct shipments to Europe and the West Indies going through from the second-class towns along the Mississippi and Missouri. As to popular education, the standard has of late risen very greatly, and our schools would be creditable to any section of the Union. More and more as the events of the war pass into obscurity will the fate of the Northwest be linked with that of the Southwest. Our public men continue to wield the full share of influence pertaining to their rank in the national autonomy, and seem not to forget that for the past sixteen years they and their constituents have dictated the principles which should govern the country. In a work like this, destined to lie on the shelves of the library for generations, and not doomed to daily destruction like a newspaper, one can not indulge in the same glowing predictions, the sanguine stateraents of actualities that fill the col umns of ephemeral publications. Time may bring grief to the pet projects of a writer, and explode castles erected on a pedestal of facts. Yet there are unmistaka ble indications before us of the same radical change in our great Northwest which char acterizes its history for the past thirty years. Our domain has a sort of natural geographical border, save where it melts away to the southward in the cattle raising districts of the Southwest. Our prime interest will for some years doubtless be the growth of the food of the world, in which branch it has already out stripped all competitors, and our gi-eat rival in this duty will naturally be the fertile plains of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, to say nothing of the new empire so rapid ly growing up in Texas. Over these regions there is a continued progress in agriculture and in railway building, and we must look to our laurels. Intelligent observers of events are fully aware of the strides made in the way of shipments of fresh meats to Europe, many of these ocean car goes being actuallj^ slaughtered in the West and transported on ice to the wharves of the seaboard cities. That this new enterprise will continue there is no reason to doubt. There are in Chicago several factories for the canning of prepared meats for European consumption, and the orders for this class of goods are already immense. English capital is becoming daily more and more and more dissatisfied with railway loans and investments, and is gradually seeking mammoth outlays in lands and live stock. The stock yards in Chicago, Indianapolis and East St. Louis are yearly increasing their facilities, and their plant steadily grows more valuable. Importations of blooded animals from the progressive coun tries of Europe are destined to greatly im prove the quality of our beef and mutton. Nowhere is there to be seen a more enticin-^ EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 83 She is fourth in population, in children enrolled in public schools, in law schools, in butter, potatoes and carriages. She is fifth in value of real and personal property, in theological seminaries and colleges exclusively for women, in milk sold, and in boots and shoes manufactured, and in book-binding. She is only seventh in the production of wood, while she is the twelfth in area. Surely that is well done for the Prairie State. She now has much more wood and growing timber than she had thirty years A few leading industries will justify emphasis. She manufactures $205,000,000 worth of goods, which places her well up toward New York and Pennsylvania. The number of her manufacturing establish ments increased from 1860 to 1870, 300 per cent. ; capital employed increased 350 per cent., and the amount of product in creased 400 per cent. She issued 5,500,000 copies of commercial and financial news papers — only second to New York. She has 6,759 miles of railroad, thus leading all other States, worth $636,458,000, using 3,245 engines, and 67,712 cars, making a train long enough to cover one- tenth of the entire roads of the State. Her stations are only five miles apart. More than two- thirds of her land is within five miles of a railroad, and less than two per cent is more than fifteen miles away. The State has a large financial interest in the Illinois Central railroad. The road was incorporated in 1850, and the State cave each alternate section for six miles on each side, and doubled the price of the re maining land, so keeping herself good. The road received 2,595,000 acres of land. and pays to the State one-seventh of the gross receipts. Add to this the annual receipts from the canal, $111,000, and a large per cent, of the State tax is provided for. THE EELIGION AND MOEALS of the State keep step with her productions and growth. She was born of the mission ary spirit. It was a minister who secured for her the ordinance of 1787, by which she has been saved from slavery, ignorance, and dishonesty. Rev. Mr. Wiley, pastor of a Scotch congregation in Randolph County, petitioned tho- Constitutional Convention of 1818 to recognize Jesus Christ as king, and the scriptures as the only necessary guide and book of law. The convention did not act iu the case, and the old covenanters refused to accept citizen ship. They never voted until 1824, when the slaver}' question was submitted to the people; then they all voted against it and cast the determining votes. Conscience has predominated whenever a great moral question has been submitted to the people. But little mob violence has ever been felt in the State. In 1817 regulators disposed of a band of horse-thieves that infested the Territory. The Mormon indignities finally awoke the same spirit. Alton was also the scene of a pro-slavery mob, in which Love- joy was added to the list of martyrs. The moral sense of the people makes the law supreme, and gives to the State unruffled peace. With $22,300,000 in church property, and 4,298 church organizations, the State has that divine police, the sleepless patrol of moral ideas, that alone is able to secure perfect safety. Conscience takes the knife 84 EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. from the assassin's hand and the bludgeon from the grasp of the highwayman. We sleep in safety, not because we are behind bolts and bars— these only fence against the innocent; not because a lone officer drowses on a distant corner of a street; not because a sheriff may call his posse from a remote part of the county; but because conscience guards the very portals of the air and stirs in the deepest re cesses of the public mind. This spirit issues within the State 9,500,000 copies of religious papers annually, and receives still more from without. Thus the crime of the State is only one fourth that of New York and one half that of Pennsylvania. Illinois never had but one duel between her own citizens. In Belleville, in 1820, Alphonso Stewart and William Bennett arranged to vindicate injured honor.' The seconds agreed to make it a sham, and make them shoot blanks. Stewart was in the secret. Bennett raistrusted something, and unobserved, slipped a bullet into his gun and killed Stewart. He then fled the State. After two years he was caught, tried, convicted, and, in spite of friends and political aid, was hung. This fixed the code of honor on a Christian basis, and terminated its use in Illinois. The early preachers were ignorant men, who were accounted eloquent according to the strength of their voices. But they set the style for all public speakers. Lawyers and political speakers followed this rule. Gov. Ford says: "Nevertheless, these flrst preachers were of incalculable benefit to the country. They inculcated justice and morality. To them are we indebted for the first Christian character of the Protest ant portion of the people." In education Illinois surpasses her ma terial resources. The ordinance of 1787 consecrated one thirty-sixth of her soil to common schools, and the law of 1818, the first law that went upon her statutes, gave three per cent of all the rest to EDUCATION. The old compact secures this interest forever, and by its yoking morality and intelligence it precludes the legal interfer ence with the Bible in the public schools. With such a start it is natural that we should have 11,050 schools, and that our illiteracy should be less than New York or Pennsylvania, and only about one half of Massachusetts. We are not to blame for not having more than one half as many idiots as the great States. These public schools soon made colleges inevitable. The first college, still flourishing, was started in Lebanon in 1828, by the M. E. church, and named after Bishop McKen- dree. Illinois College, at Jacksonville, supported by the Presbyterians, followed in 1830. In 1832 the Baptists built Shurt- leff College, at Alton. Then the Presby terians built Knox College, at Galesburg, in 1838, and the Episcopalians built Jubilee College, at Peoria, in 1847. After these early years, colleges have rained down. A settler could hardly encamp on the prairie but a college would spring up by his wagon. The State now has one very well endowed and equipped university, namely, the Northwestern University, at Evanston, with six colleges, ninety instructors, over 1,000 students, and $1,500,000 endowment. Rev. J. M. Peck was the first educated Protestant minister in the State. He settled at Rock Spring, in St. Clair County, EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 85 1820, and left his impress on the State. Before 1837 only party papers were pub lished, but Mr. Peck published a Gazetteer of Illinois. Soon after John Russell, of Bluffdale, published essays and tales show ing genius. Judge James Hall published The Illinois Monthly Magazine with great ability, and an annual called The Western Souvenir, which gave him an enviable fame all over the United States. From these beginnings, Illinois has gone on till she has more volumes in public libraries even than Massachusetts, and of the 44,- 500,000 volumes in all the public libraries of the United States, she has one thirteenth. In newspapers she stands fourth. Her increase is marvelous. This brings us to a record unsurpassed in the history of any age. THE WAE EECOED OF ILLINOIS. I hardly know where to begin, or how to advance, or what to say. I can at best give you only a broken synopsis of her deeds, and you must put them in the order ol glory for yourself. Her sons have always been foremost on fields of danger. In 1832-33, at the call of Gov. Reynolds, her sons drove Blackhawk over the Mississippi. When the Mexican war came, in May, 1846, 8,370 men offered themselves when only 3,720 could be accepted. The fields of Buena Vista and Vera Cruz, and the storming of Cerro Gordo, will carry the glory of Illinois soldiers long after the causes that led to that war have been forgotten. But it was reserved till our day for her sons to find a field and cause and foemen that could fitly illustrate their spirit and heroism. Illinois put into her own regiments for the United States government 256,000 men, and into the army through other States enough to swell the number to 290,000. This far exceeds all the soldiers of the Federal government in all the war of the Revolution. Her total years of service were over 600,000. She enrolled men from eighteen to forty-five years of age when the law of Congress in 1864 — the test time — only asked for those from twenty to forty-five. Her enrollment was otherwise excessive. Her people wanted to go, and did not take the pains to correct the enrollment. Thus the basis of fixing the quota was too great, and then the quota itself, at least in the trying time, was far above any other State. Thus the demand on some counties, as Monroe, for exaraple, took every able-bod ied man in the county, and then did not have enough to fill the quota. Moreover, Illinois sent 20,844 men for ninety or one hundred days, for whom no credit was asked. When Mr. Lincoln's attention was called to the inequality of the quota com pared with other States, he replied : " The country needs the sacrifice. We must put the whip on the free horse." In spite of all these disadvantages Illinois gave to the country 73,000 years of service above all calls. With one thirteenth of the popula tion of the loyal States, she sent regularly one tenth of all the soldiers, and in the peril of the closing calls, when patriots were few and weary, she then sent one eighth of all that were called for by her loved and honored son in the White House. Her mothers and daughters went into the fields to raise the grain and keep the children together, while the fathers and older sons went to the harvest fields of the world. I knew a father and four sons who 86 EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. agreed that one of them must stay at home ; and they pulled straws from a stack to see who might go. The father was left. The next day he came into the camp, saying : " Mother says she can get the crops in, and I am going, too." I know large Methodist churches from which every male member went to the army. Do you want to know what these heroes from Illinois did in the field ? Ask any soldier with a good record of his own, who is able to judge, and he will tell you that the Illinois men went in to win. It is common history that the greater victories were won in the West. When everything else looked dark Illinois was gaining victories all down the river, and dividing the Confederacy. Sherman took with him on his great march forty- five regiments of Illinois infantrj'-, three companies of artillery, and one company of cavalry. He could not avoid GOING TO THE SEA. If he had been killed, I doubt not the men would have gone right on. Lincoln answered all rumors of Sherman's defeat with, "It is impossible; there is a mighty sight of fight in 100,000 Western men." Illinois soldiers brought home 300 battle- flags. The first United States fiag that floated over Richmond, was an Illinois flag. She sent messengers and nurses to every field and hospital, to care for her sick and wounded sons. She said, " these suffering ones are my sons, and I will care for them." When individuals had given all, then cities and towns came forward with their credit to the extent of many millions, to aid these men and their families. Illinois gave the country the great general of the war — Ulysses S. Grant — since honored with two terms of the Presi dency of the United States. One other name from Illinois comes up in all minds, embalmed in all hearts, that must have the supreme place in this story of our glory and of our nation's honor; that name is Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois. The analysis of Mr. Lincoln's character is difficult on account of its symmetry. In this age we look with admiration at his uncompromising honesty. And well we may, for this saved us. Thousands throughout the length and breadth of our country, who knew him only as " Honest Old Abe," voted for him on that account; and wisely did they choose, for no other man could have carried us through the fearful night of the war. When his plans were too vast for our comprehension, and his faith in the cause too sublime for our participation; when it was all night about us, and all dread before us, and all sad and desolate behind us; when not one ray shone upon our cause; when traitors were haughty and exultant at the South, and fierce and blasphemous at the North; when the loyal men here seemed almost in the minority; when the stoutest heart quailed, the bravest cheek paled, when generals were defeating each other for place, and contractors were leeching out the very heart's blood of the prostrate republic; when every thing else had failed us, we looked at this calm, patient man, standing like a rock in the storm, and said : " Mr. Lincoln is honest, and we can trust him still." Holding to this single point with the energy of faith and despair we held together, and, under God, he brought us through to victory. His practical wisdom made him the EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 87 wonder of all lands. With such certainty did Mr. Lincoln follow causes to their ultimate effects, that his foresight of con tingencies seemed almost prophetic. He is radiant with all the great virtues, and his memory shall shed a glory upon this age, that shall fill the eyes of men as they look into history. Other men have excelled him in some point, but, taken at all points, all in all, he stands head and shoulders above every other man of 6,000 years. An administrator, he saved the na tion in the perils of unparalleled civil war. A statesman, he justified his measures by their success. A philanthropist, he gave liberty to one race and salvation to another. A moralist, he bowed from the summit of human power to the foot of the Cross, and became a Christian. A mediator, he exer cised mercy under the most absolute abey ance to law. A leader, he was no partisan. A commander, he was untainted with blood. A ruler in desperate times, he was unsullied with crime. A man, he has left no word of passion, no thought of malice, no trick of craft, no act of jealousy, no pur pose of selfish ambition. Thus perfected, without a model and without a peer, he was dropped into these troubled years to adorn and embellish all that is good and all that is great in our humanity, and to present to all coming time the representa tive of the divine idea of free government. It is not too much to say that away down in the future, when the republic has fallen from its niche in the wall of time; when the great war itself shall have faded out in the distance like a mist on the hori zon; when the Anglo Saxon language shall be spoken only by the tongue of the stran ger; then the generations looking this way shall see the great president as the supreme figure in this vortex of history. CHICAGO. It is impossible in our brief space to give more than a meager sketch of such a city as Chicago, which is in itself the greatest marvel of the Prairie State. This mysteri ous, majestic, mighty city, born first of water, and next of fire; sown in weakness, and raised in power; planted among the willows of the marsh, and crowned with the glory of the mountains, sleeping on the bosom of the prairie, and rocked on the bosom of the sea; the youngest city of the world, and- still the eye of the prairie, as Damascus, the oldest city of the world, is the eye of the desert. With a commerce far exceeding that of Corinth on her isthmus, in the highway to the East; with the defenses of a continent piled around her by the thousand miles, making her far safer than Rome on the banks of the Tiber; with schools eclipsing Alexandria and Athens; with liberties more conspicuous than those of the old republics; with a heroism equal to the first Carthage, and with a sanctity scarcely second to that of Jerusalem — set your thoughts on all this, lifted into the eyes of all men by the miracle of its growth, illuminated by the fiame of its fall, and transfigured by the divinity of its resurrec tion, and you will feel, as I do, the utter impossibility of compassing this subject as it deserves. Some impression of her im portance is received from the shock her burning gave to the civilized world. When the doubt of her calamity was removed, and the horrid fact was accepted, there went a shudder over all cities, and a quiver over all lands. There was scarcely 83 EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. a town in the civilized world that did not shake on the brink of this opening chasm. The flames of our homes reddened all skies. The city was set upon a hill, and could not be hid. All eyes were turned upon it. To have struggled and suffered amid the scenes of its fall is as distinguishing as to have fought at Thermopylte, or Salamis, or Hastings, or Waterloo, or Bunker Hill. Its calamity amazed the world, because it was felt to be the common property of mankind. The early history of the city is full of interest, just as the early history of such a man as AVashington or Lincoln becomes public property, and is cherished by every patriot. Starting with 560 acres in 1833, it em braced and occupied 23,000 acres in 1869, and having now a population of more than 600,000, it commands general attention. The first settler — Jean Baptiste Pointe au Sable, a mulatto from the West Indies — came and began trade with the Indians in 1796. John Kinzie became his success or in 1804, in which year Fort Dearborn was erected. A mere trading-post was kept here from that time till about the time of the Black- hawk war, in 1832. It was not the city. It was merely a cock crowing at midnight. The morning was not yet. In 1833 the settlement about the fort was incorporated as a town. The voters were divided on the propriety of such corporation, twelve votino- for it and one against it. Four years later it was incorporated as a city, and embraced 560 acres. The produce handled in this city is an indication of its power. Grain and flour were imported from the East till as late as 1837. The first exportation by way of experiment was in 1839. Exports exceeded imports first in 1842. The Board of Trade was organized in 1848, but it was so weak that it needed nursing till 1855. Grain was purchased by the wagon-load in the street. I remember sitting with my father on a load of wheat, in the long line of wagons along Lake street, while the buyers came and untied the bags, and examined the grain, and made their bids. That manner of business had to cease with the day of small things. One tenth of all the wheat in the United States is handled in Ohicao^o. Even as long ago as 1853 the receipts of grain in Chicago exceeded those of the goodly city of St. Louis, and in 1854 the exports of grain from Chicago exceeded those of New York and doubled those of St. Petersburg, Archangel, or Odessa, the largest grain markets in Europe. The manufacturing interests of the city are not contemptible. In 1873 manufac tories employed 45,000 operatives; in 1876, 60,000. The manufactured product in 1875 was worth $177,000,000. No estimate of the size and power of Chicago would be adequate that did not put large emphasis on the railroads. Be fore they came thundering along our streets, canals were the hope of our coun try. But who ever thinks now of traveling by canal packets? In June, 1852, there were only forty miles of railroad connected with the city. The old Galena division of the Northwestern ran out to Elerin. But now, who can count the trains and measure the roads that seek a terminus or connection in this city? The lake stretches away to the north, gathering into this center all EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 89 the harvests that might otherwise pass to the north of us. If you will take a map and look at the adjustment of railroads, you will see, first, that Chicago is the great railroad center of the world, as New York is the commercial city of this continent; and, second, that the railroad lines form the iron spokes of a great wheel whose hub is this city. The lake furnishes the only break in the spokes, and this seems simply to have pushed a few spokes together on each shore. See the eighteen trunk lines, exclusive of eastern connections. Pass round the circle, and view their numbers and extent. There is the great Northwestern, with all its branches, one branch creeping along the lake shore, and so reaching to the north, into the Lake Superior regions, away to the right, and on to the Northern Pacific on the left, swincr. ing around Green Bay for iron and cop|>er and silver, twelve months in the year, and reaching out for the wealth of the great agricultural belt and isothermal line trav ersed by the Northern Pacific. Another branch, not so far north, feeling for the heart of the Badger State. Another push ing lower down the Mississippi — all these make many connections, and tapping all the vast wheat regions of Minnesota, Wis consin, Iowa, and all the regions this side of sunset. There is that elegant road, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, running out a goodly number of branches, and reaping the great fields this side of the Missouri River. I can only mention the Chiciigo, Alton & St. Louis, our Illinois Central, described elsewhere, and the Chi cago & Rock Island. Further around we come to the lines connecting us with all the Eastern cities. The Chicago, Indian apolis & St. Louis, the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, and the Michigan Central and Great Western, give us many highways to the seaboard. Thus we reach the Mississippi at five points, from St. Paul to Cairo and the Gulf itself by two routes. We also reach Cincinnati and Baltimore, and Pittsburg and Philadelphia, and New York. North and south run the water courses of the lakes and the rivers, broken just enough at this point to make a pass. Through this, from east to west, run the long lines that stretch from ocean to ocean. This is the neck of the glass, and the golden sands of commerce must pass into our hands. Altogether we have more than 10,000 miles of railroad, directly tributary to this city, seeking to unload their wealth in our coffers. All these roads have come themselves by the infallible instinct of capital. Not a dollar was ever given by the city to secure one of them, and only a small per cent, of stock taken originally by her citizens, and that taken simply as an investment. Coming in the natural order of events, they will not be easily diverted. There is still another showing to all this. The connection between New York and San Francisco is by the middle route. This passes inevitably through Chicago. St. Louis wants the Southern Pacific or Kansas Pacific, and pushes it out through Denver, and so on up to Cheyenne. But before the road is fairly under way, the Chicago roads shove out to Kansas City, making even the Kansas Pacific a feeder, and actually leav ing St. Louis out in the cold. It is not too much to expect that Dakota, Montana, and Washington Territory will find their great market in Chicago. 90 EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. But these are not all. Perhaps I had better notice here the ten or fifteen new roads that have just entered, or are just entering, our city. Their names are all that is necessar}^ to give. Chicago & St. Paul, looking up the Red River country to the British possessions ; the Chicago, At lantic & Pacific ; the Chicago, Decatur & State line ; the Baltimore & Ohio ; the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes ; the Chi cago & La Salle Railroad ; the Chicago, Pittsburgh & Cincinnati ; the Chicago and Canada Southern ; the Chicago and Illi nois River Railroad. These, with their con nections, and with the new connections of the old roads, already in process of erection, give to Chicago not less than 10,000 miles of new tributaries from the richest land on the continent. Thus there will be added to the reserve power, to the capital within reach of this city, not less than $1,000,000,- 000. Add to all this transporting power the ships that sail one every nine minutes of the business hours of the season of naviga tion; add, also, the canal boats that leave one every five minutes during the same time — and you will see something of the business of the city. THE COMMEECE OF THIS CITY has been leaping along to keep pace with the growth of the country around us. In 1852, our commerce reached the hopeful sum of $20,000,000. In 1870 it reached $400,000,000. In 1871 it was pushed up above $450,000,000, and in 1875 it touched nearly double that. One half of our imported goods come di rectly to Chicago. Grain enough is export ed directly from our docks to the old world to employ a semi-weekly line of steamers of 3,000 tons capacity. This branch is not likely to be greatly developed. Even after the great Welland Canal is completed we shall have only fourteen feet of water. The great ocean vessels will continue to control the trade. The schools of Chicago are unsurpassed in America. Out of a population of 300,- 000, there were only 186 persons between the ages of six and twenty-one unable to read. This is the best known record. In 1831 the mail system was condensed into a half-breed, who went on foot to Niles, Mich., once in two weeks, and brought back what papers and news he could find. As late as 1846 there was often only one mail a week. A post-office was established in Chicago in 1833, and the post-master nailed up old boot-legs on one side of his shop to serve as boxes for the nabobs and literary men. The improvements that have character ized the city are as startling as the city itself. In 1831, Mark Beaubien established a ferry over the river, and put himself un der bonds to carry all the citizens free for the privilege of charging strangers. Now there are twenty-four large bridges and two tunnels. In 1833 the government expended $30,- 000 on the harbor. Then commenced that series of maneuvers with the river that has made it one of the world's curiosities. It used to wind around in the lower end of the town, and make its way rippling over the sand into the lake at the foot of Madi son street. They took it up and put it down where it now is. It was a narrow stream, so narrow that even moderately small crafts had to go up through the wil- EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 91 lows and cat's tails to the point near Lake street bridge, and back up one of the branches to get room enough in which to turn around. In 1844 the quagmires in the streets were first pontooned by plank roads, which acted in wet weather as public squirt-guns. Keeping you out of the mud, they com- ]iromised by squirting the mud over you. The wooden-block pavements came to Chi cago in 1857. In 1840 water was delivered by peddlers in carts or by hand. Then a twenty-five horse-power engine pushed it through hollow or bored logs along the streets till 1854, when it was introduced into the houses by new works. The first fire-engine was used in 1835, and the first steam fire-engine in 1859. Gas was util ized for lighting the city in 1850. The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1858, and horse railroads carried them to their work in 1859. The alarm telegraph adopted i'n 1864. The opera-house built in 1865. The city grew from 560 acres in 1833 to 23,000 in 1869. In 1834, the taxes amounted to $48.90, and the trustees of the town borrowed $60 more for opening and improving streets. In 1835, the Legislature authorized a loan of $2,000, and the treasurer and street com missioners resigned rather than plunge the town into such a gulf. One third of the city has been raised up an average of eight feet, giving good pitch to the 263 miles of sewerage. The water of the city is above all competition. It is received through two tunnels extending to a crib in the lake two miles from shore. The first tunnel is five feet two inches in diameter and two miles long, and can deliver 50,000,000 of gallons per day. The second tunnel is seven feet in diameter and six miles long, running four miles under the city, and can deliver 100,000,000 of gallons per day. This water is distributed through 410 miles of watermains. The three grand engineering exploits of the city are : First, lifting the city up on jack-screws, whole squares at a time, with out interrupting the business, thus giving us good drainage ; second, running the tunnels under the lake, giving us the best water in the world ; and third, the turning the current of the river in its own channel, delivering us from the old abominations, and making decency possible. They re dound about equally to the credit of the engineering, to the energy of the people, and to the health of the city. That which really constitutes the city, its indescribable spirit, its soul, the way it lights up in every feature in the hour of action, has not been touched. In meeting strangers, one is often surprised how some homely women marry so weU. Their forms are bad, their gait uneven and awkward, their complexion is dull, their features are misshapen and mismatched, and when we see them there is no beauty that we should desire them. But when once they are aroused on some subject, they put on new proportions. They light up into great power. The real person comes out from its unseemly ambush, and captures us at will. They have power. They have abil ity to cause things to come to pass. We no longer wonder why they are in such high demand. So it is with our city. There is no grand scenery except the two seas, one of water, the other of prairie. Nevertheless, there is a spirit about it, a push, a breadth, a power, that soon makes 92 EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. it a place never to be forsaken. One soon ceases to believe in impossibilities. Ba laams are the only prophets that are disap pointed. The bottom that has been on the point of falling out has been there so long that it has grown fast. It can not fall out. It has all the capital of the world itching to get inside the corporation. The two great laws that govern the growth and size of cities are, first, the amount of territory for which they are the distributing and receiving points ; second, the number of medium or moderate dealers that do this distributing. Monopolists build up themselves, not the cities. They neither eat, wear, nor live in proportion to their business. Both these laws help Chi cago. The tide of trade is eastward — not up or down the map, but across the map. The lake runs up a wingdam for 500 miles to sather in the business. Commerce can not ferry up there for seven months in the year and the facilities for seven months can do the work for twelve. Then the great re gion west of us is nearly all good, productive land. Dropping south into the trail of St. Louis, you fall into vast deserts and rock}^ districts, useful in holding the world together. St. Louis and Cincinnati, instead of rivaling and hurting Chicago, are her greatest sureties of dominion. They are far enough away to give sea-room — farther oft' than Paris is from London — and yet they are near enough to prevent the spring ing up of any other great city between them. St. Louis will be helped by the opening of the Mississippi, but also hurt. That will put New Orleans on her feet, and with a railroad running ove* into Texas and so West, she will tap tlie streams that now crawl up the Texas and Missouri road. The current is East, not North, and a seaport at New Orleans can not permanently help St. Louis. Chicago is in the field almost alone, to handle the wealth of one fourth of the ter ritory of this great republic. This strip of seacoast divides its margins between Port land, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Savannah or some other great port to be created for the South in the next decade. But Chicatyo has a dozen em- pires casting their treasures into her lap. On a bed of coal that can run all the ma chinery of the world for 500 centuries; in a garden feed the race by the thousand years; at the head of the lakes that give her a temperature as a summer resort equaled by no great city in the land; with a climate that insures the health of her citizens; surrounded by all the great de posits of natural wealth in mines and forests and herds, Chicago is the wonder of to-day, and will be the city of the future. MASSACEE AT FOET DEAEBOEN. During the war of 1812, Fort Dearborn became the theater of stirring events. The garrison consisted of fifty-four men under command of Captain Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant Helm (son-in-law of Mrs. Kinzie) and Ensign Ronan. Dr. Voorhees was surgeon. The only residents at the post at that time were the wives of Captain Heald and Lieutenant Helm, and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and a few Canadian voyageurs, with their wives and children. The sol diers and Mr. Kinzie were on most friendly terms with the Pottawatomies and Win- EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 93 nebagoes, the principal tribes around them, but they could not win them from their attachment to the British. One evening in April, 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing on his violin and his children were dancing to the music, when Mrs. Kin zie came rushing into the house pale with terror, and exclaiming: "The Indians! the Indians!" "What? where?" eagerly in quired Mr. Kinzie. " Up at Lee's, killing and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who, when the alarm was given, was attending Mrs. Barnes (just confined) living not far off. Mr. Kinzie and his familv crossed the river and took refuse in the fort, to which place Mrs. Barnes and her infant not a day old, were safely con veyed. The rest of the inhabitants took shelter in the fort. This alarm was caused by a scalping party of Winnebagoes, who hovered about the fort several days, when they disappeared, and for several weeks the inhabitants were undisturbed. On the 7th of August, 1812, General Hull, at Detroit, sent orders to Captain Heald to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and to distribute all the United States property to the Indians in the neighborhood — a most insane order. The Pottawatomie chief who brought the dispatch had more wisdom than the commanding general. He ad vised Captain Heald not to make the distribution. Said he: "Leave the fort and stores as they are, and let the Indians make distribution for themselves; and while they are engaged in the business, the white people may escape to Fort Wayne." Captain Heald held a council with the In dians on the afternoon of the 12th, in which his officers refused to join, for they had been informed that treachery was designed — that the Indians intended to murder the white people in the council, and then destroy those in the fort. Captain Heald, however, took the precaution to open a port-hole displaying a cannon pointing di rectly upon the council, and by that means saved his life. Mr. Kinzie, who knew the Indians well, begged Captain Heald not to confide in their promises, nor distribute the arms and munitions among them, for it would only put power into their hands to destroy the whites. Acting upon this advice, Lleald resolved to withhold the munitions of war; and on the night of the 13th after the dis tribution of the other property had been made, the powder, ball and liquors M^ere thrown into the river, the muskets broken up and destroyed. Black Partridge, a friendly chief, came to Captain Heald and said: "Linden birds have been singing in my ears to-day; be careful on the march you are going to take." On that night vigilant Indians had crept near the fort and discovered the destruction of their promised booty going on within. The next morning the powder was seen fioating on the surface of the river. The savages were exasperated and made loud complaints and threats. On the following day when preparations were making to leave the fort, and all the inmates were deeply impressed with a sense of impendingi danger, Capt. Wells, an uncle of Mrs. Heald, was discovered upon the Indian trail among the sand hills on the borders of the lake, not far distant, with abandof mounted Miamis, of whose tribe he was chief, having been adopted by the famous Miami warrior, Little Turtle. 94 EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. When news of Hull's surrender reached Fort Wayne, he had started with this force to assist Heald in defending Fort Dearborn. He was too late. Every means for its defense had been destro3'ed the night be fore, and arrangements were made for leav ing the fort on the morning of the 15th. It was a warm, bright morning in the middle of August. Indications were posi tive that the savages intended to murder the white people; and when they moved out of the southern gate of the fort, the march was like a funeral procession. The band, feeling the solemnity of the occasion, struck up the Dead March in Saul. Capt. Wells, who had blackened his face with gun-powder in token of his fate, took the lead with his band of Miamis, followed by Captain Heald with his wife by his side on horseback. Mr. Kinzie hoped by his personal influence to avert the impending blow, and therefore accompanied them, leaving his family in a boat in charge of a friendly Indian, to be taken to his trading station at the site of Niles, Michigan, in the event of his death. The procession moved slowly along the lake shore till they reached the sand hills between the prairie and the beach, when the Pottawatomie escort, under the lead ership of Blackbird, filed to the right, placing those hills between them and the white people. Wells, with his Miamis, had kept in the advance. They suddenly came rushing back. Wells exclaiming, "They are about to attack us; form instantly." These words were quickly followed by a storm of bullets which came whistling over the little hills which the treacherous savages had made the covert for their mur derous attack. The white troops charged upon the Indians, drove them back to the prairie, and then the battle was waged be tween fifty-four soldiers, twelve civilians and three or four women (the cowardly Miamis having fled at the outset) against five hundred Indian warriors. The white people, hopeless, resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. Ensign Ronan wielded his weapon vigorously, even after falling upon his knees weak from the loss of blood. Capt. Wells, who was by the side of his niece, Mrs. Heald, when the conflict began, behaved with the greatest coolness and courage. He said to her, "We have not the slightest chance for life. We must part to meet no more in this world. God bless you." And then he dashed forward. Seeing a young warrior, painted like a demon, climb into a wagon in which were twelve children, and toma hawk them all, he cried out, unmindful of his personal danger, " If that is your game, butchering women and children, I will kill too." He spurred his horse towards the Indian camp, where they had left their squaws and papooses, hotly pursued by swift-footed young warriors, who sent bul lets whistling after him. One of these killed his horse and wounded him severely in the leg. With a yell the young braves rushed to make him their prisoner and re serve him for torture. He resolved not to be made a captive, and by the use of the most provoking epithets tried to induce them to kill him instantly. He called a fiery young chief a sguaw, when the en raged warrior killed Wells instantly with his tomahawk, jumped upon his body, cut out his heart, and ate a portion of the warm morsel with savage delight ! In this fearful combat women bore a EAELY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 9.5 conspicuous part. Mrs. Heald was an ex cellent equestrian and an expert in the use of the rifle. She fought the savages bravely, receiving several severe wounds. Though faint from the loss of blood, she managed to keep her saddle. A savage raised his toma hawk to kill her, when she looked him full in the face, and with a sweet smile and in a gentle voice said, in his own language, "Surely you will not kill a squaw !" The arm of the savage fell, and the life of the heroic woman was saved. Mrs. Helm, the step-daughter of Mr. Kinzie, had an encounter with a stout In dian, who attempted to tomahawk her. Springing to one side, she received the glancing blow on her shoulder, and at the same instant seized the savage round the neck with her arms and endeavored to get hold of his scalping knife, which hung in a sheath at his breast. While she was thus struggling she was dragged from her antag onist by another powerful Indian, who bore her, in spite of her struggles, to the margin of the lake and plunged her in. To her astonishment she was held by him so that she would not drown, and she soon per ceived that she was in the hands of the friendly Black Partridge, who had saved her life. The wife of Sergeant Holt, a large and jiowerful woman, behaved as bravelj^ as an Amazon. She rode a fine, high-spirited horse, which the Indians coveted, and several of them attacked her with the butts of their guns, for the purpose of dismount ing her; but she used the sword which she had snatched from her disabled husband so skillfully that she foiled them; and, sud- denlv wheeling her horse, she dashed over the prairie, followed by the savages shout ing, " The brave woman ! the brave woman ! Don't hurt her!" They finally overtook her, and while she was fighting them in front, a powerful savage came uj) behind her, seized her by the neck and dragged her to the ground. Horse and woman were made captive. Mrs. Holt was a long time a captive among the Indians, but was afterward ransomed. In this sharp conflict two thirds of the white people were slain and wounded, and all their horses, baggage and provision were lost. Only twenty-eight straggling men now remained to fight five hundred Indians rendered furious by the sight of blood. They succeeded in breaking through the ranks of the murderers and gaining a slight eminence on the prairie near the Oak Woods. The Indians did not pursue, but gathered on their flanks, while the chiefs held a consultation on the sand-hills, and showed signs of willingness to parley. It would have been madness on the part of the whites to renew the fight; and so Capt. Heald went forward and met Blackbird on the open prairie, where terms of sur render were agreed upon. It was arranged that the white people should give up their arms to Blackbird, and that the survivors should become prisoners of war, to be ex changed for ransoms as soon as practicable. With this understanding captives and cap tors started for the Indian camp near the fort, to which Mrs. Helm had been taken bleeding and suffering by Black Partridge, and had met her step-father and learned that her husband was safe. A new scene of horror was now opened at the Indian camp. The wouuded, not being included in the surrender, as it was interpreted by the Indians, and the British 96 EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. general. Proctor, having offered a liberal bounty for American scalps, delivered at Maiden, nearly all the wounded men were killed and scalped, and price of the trophies was afterward paid by the British govern ment. This celebrated Indian chief, Shabbona, deserves more than a passing notice. Al though he was not so conspicuous as Tecumseh or Black Hawk, yet in point of merit he was superior to either of them. Shabbona was born at an Indian village on the Kankakee River, now in Will County about the year 1775. While young he was made chief of the band, and went to Shab bona Grove, now De Kalb County, where they were found in the early settlement of the county. In the war of 1812, Shabbona, with his warriors, joined Tecumseh, was aid to that great chief, and stood by his side when he fell at the battle of the Thames. At the time of the Winnebago war, in 1827, he visited almost every village among the Pot tawatomies, and by his persuasive argu ments prevented them from taking part in the war. By request of the citizens of Chicago, Shabbona, accompanied by Billy Caldwell (Sauganash), visited Big Foot's village at Geneva Lake, in order to pacify the warriors, as fears were entertained that they were about to raise the tomahawk against the whites. Here Shabbona was taken prisoner by Big Foot, and his life threatened, but on the following day was set at liberty. From that time the Indians (through reproach) styled him " the white man's friend," and many times his life was endangered. Before the Black Hawk war, Shabbona met in council at two different times, and by his influence prevented his people from taking part with the Sacs and Foxes. After the death of Black Partridge and Senachwine, no chief among the Pottawat omies exerted so much influence as Shab bona. Black Hawk, aware of this influ ence, visited him at two different times, in order to enlist him in his cause, but was unsuccessful. While Black Hawk was a prisoner at Jefferson Barracks, he said, had If not been for Shabbona the whole Potta watomie nation would have joined his standard, and he could have continued the war for j^ears. To Shabbona many of the early settlers of Illinois owe the preservation of their lives, for it is a well-known fact, had he not notified the people of their danger, a large portion of them would have fallen victims to the tomahawk of savages. By saving the lives of whites he endangered his own, for the Sacs and Foxes threatened to kill him, and made two attempts to execute their threats. They killed Pypeogee, his son, and Pyps, his nephew, and hunted him down as though he was a wild beast. Shabbona had a reservation of two sec tions of land at his Grove, but by leaving it and going West for a short time, the Government declared the reservation for feited, and sold it the same as other vacant land. On Shabbona's return, and finding his possessions gone, he was very sad and broken down in spirit, and left the Grove forever. The citizens of Ottawa raised money and bought him a tract of land on the Illinois River, above Seneca, in Grundy County, on which they built a house, and supplied him with means to live on. He lived here until his death, which occurred on the 17th of July, 1859, in the eighty- EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 97 fourth year of his age, and was buried with great pomp in the cemetery at Morris* His squaw, Pokanoka, was drowned in Mazon Creek, Grundy County, on the 30th of November, 1864, and was buried by his side. In 1861 subscriptions were taken up in many of the river towns, to erect a monu ment over the remains of Shabbona, but the war breaking out, the enterprise was abandoned. Only a plain marble slab marks the resting-place of this friend of the white man. Missing Page Missing Page HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. OHAPTEE I.* TOPOGRAPHY— POST-TERTIARY FORMATIONS— ROCK-FORMATIONS— CARBONIFEROUS FOS SILS—ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. THE relation of the physical features of a country to its development is an im portant one, and he who would learn the hid den causes that make or mar a nation at its birth must seek in these " the divinity that shapes its ends." Llere is found the elixir vitas of national life ; the spring from whence flow those forces that on their broader current wreck the ship of state or bear it safely on to its appointed haven. It is in these physical features that are stored those potent industrial possibilities that make the master and the slave among the nations. From the fertile soil comes fruit-laden, peace-loving agriculture; from the rock-bound stores of mineral wealth springs the rude early-time civilization of the Pacific slope, or the half savage clashing of undisciplined capital and labor in the mining regions ; from the rivers rises, fairylike, the commercial metropolis, which " crowned with the glory of the mountains," and fed with the bounty of the plains, stands the chosen arbiter be tween the great forces that join to make a nation's greatness. The influence of this subtle power knows no bounds. Here it *ByJ.H. Battle. spreads the lotus plant of ease and binds the nation in chains of indolent effeminacy; here, among the bleak peaks of a sterile land, ' ' The heather on the mountain height Begins to bloom in purple light," type of a hardy and unconquered race ; here it strews the sand of desert wilds, and man without resource, becomes a savage. The manifestations of this potent factor in human economy are scarcely less marked in the smaller divisions of the State, and in them is found the natural introduction to a consideration of a county's social, po litical and military history. Grundy County, situated in the north eastern part of the State of Illinois, is bounded on the north by Kendall, on the east by Will and Kankakee, on the south by Livingston, and on the west by La Salle. It includes twelve townships, or about 420 square miles, forming a rectangle of twenty-four miles long and about seven teen and a half miles wide. Of this, about two thirds is slightly rolling prairie, and the balance mostly well timbered creek banks and river bottoms. The Illinois River divides the county near the middle of its northern half, running HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 101 a W. S. W. course, with but little variation. Its principal affluent on the south is Mazon Creek, which drains fully one third of Grundy, and portions of Livingston, Kan kakee and Will Counties. Its principal water supply is from surface drainage, but few springs being found along its course. From this character, one would readily predicate the truth that a very wet season often causes it to overflow its banks, though twenty feet or more in height, while a dry one leaves its bed bare, except where deep pools have formed. A few miles west of the Mazon is the Waupecan, draining a comparatively small extent of country ; but in an ordinary sea son, carrying nearly as much water, the product of several strong springs on the lower part of its course — some of them from the drift, others from the sandstones and shales of the Coal Measures, which show a small outcrop here. Still farther to the westward, are Billy Run, Hog Run, and Armstrong Run, which are simply jirairie drains, and show no outcrop of rocks. Nettle Creek, on the north side of the river, is principally of the same character ; but in the lower part of its course, there are a few springs, and two or three outcrops of the shales and sandstones which overlie the lower coal. Finally, in the northeast cor ner of the county is the Au Sable Creek, with a comparatively large amount of water, partly derived from springs and partly from drainage of this and Kendall County. Of the post-tertiary formations, the beds of the alluvium formation are very largely developed in the terraces of the river valley and the beds of the smaller streams. From the west line of the county nearly to Au Sable Creek, the Illinois and Michigan canal follows the north bank of the present river valley pretty closely, while the second ter race varies from half a mile to two miles to the northward. On the south side of tho river the high, gravelly banks of the second terrace hug the river banks very closely, as far as the Waupecan Creek. Here they lose much of their elevation, and have as their continuation a low ridge about a mile distant from the present bank. East of Mazon Creek this declines still more and becomes the heavy sand ridge which bears still farther southward and then eastward, south of Wilmington into Kankakee County. This sand ridge forms the water shed between Mazon Creek and Kankakee River, so that, where it strikes the bank of the latter stream, to the southward of Wil mington, the water flows from within two hundred yards of the river, through swamps and sloughs and finds its way through the Mazon, into the Illinois, opposite Morris. The fiats of the old river valley, back of the present banks, show in many places plain evidence of the comparatively recent date of their formation. On section 11, (in Erienna) town 33 north, range 6 east, a layer of thin slabs of fissile sandstone of the Coal Measures is found a short distance below the surface. They were evidently distributed here by the current of the river, not long before it became so con tracted as to leave this level dry. When this old channel was the outlet of Lake Michigan, a large body of water must have fiowed through here, and appearances seem to indicate that its diversion toward Niag ara must have been sudden rather than gradual; otherwise the present valley would probably have been wider, and the descent to it less abrupt. 102 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. A topographer would take peculiar pleas ure in studying the various islands of the old valley, especially at the confluences with the Illinois of the Au Sable and Nettle Creeks, both of which streams, apparently, were much larger than at present. Upon one of these islands stands Morris, the county seat. Another, and far the largest in the county, is the high land lying be tween the head of the Illinois, the lower part of the Kankakee, and the slough which contains Goose Lake, and runs thence to Pine Bluff, near the embouchure of the Mazon, upon the Illinois valley. The following level points within this county, are gathered principally from the notes of the Illinois River Survej'. The figures indicate distances below the estab lished "datum of six feet below the lowest registered water of Lake Michigan " : Feet. Bluffs at^Morris, nortti side (level of town) 55.938 " " south " , 59.48 " " " " lower terrace 78.00 Level of river, at head of the Illinois 87.809 " " " mouth of Au Sable creek 92.664 " " " Morris, under roadhridge 95.13 ** " " Marseilles, La Salle Co., above dam 99.808 " " below " 103.256 " " " Goose Lake, about 60. " " " Minooka, as per railroad survey, above datum 35. These levels show that the elevation of first terrace above the river, opposite Mor ris, is a little over seventeen feet, and that the elevation of the second bluff or gravel ridge above the first terrace is about eight een and one half feet. The coarser portion of the beds of river gravel consists mostly of fragments of the Niagara group limestone, which forms so heavy beds, from below Joliet to Chicago and beyond. Much of the sand is probably due to the disintegration of the Coal Measure sandstones, while some of it may have come from the northward. There is, however, in these beds, but a very small proportion of the metamorphic material from Canada, which forms so large a part of the true drift, but upon, the su/iface of the soil, and often partially buried, are great numbers of small boulders of quartzite, gneiss, granite and trap, unquestionably of northern origin. These are especially abundant south of Goose Lake, over the surface of the valley which starts from the Kankakee, near the county line, includes Goose Lake, and joins the Illinois valley near where the Mazon first strikes the bot toms. This was probably a shallow chan nel, in which fioating fields of ice lodged, melted and dropped the loads of stone which they had brought from the north ward. Similar aggregations of boulders occur in the adjacent parts of Will County, at points where eddies would have been likely to detain the ice floes. It is sus pected that this Goose Lake channel was formerly the main channel of the Kankakee, which there met the Des Plaines only four miles above Morris. The bed of " potter's clay," worked near the southwest bank of Goose Lake, and ly ing " near the level of the fire clay," owes its origin and deposition to river action, though principally consisting of the decom posed shales and fire clays of the Coal Meas ures. • During the autumn of 1868 the remains of a Mastodon were found at Turners strippings, about three miles east of Morris, under eighteen inches of black mucky soil, and about four feet of yellowish loam, and resting on about a foot of hard blue clay, which covered the coal. The bones were badly decayed, and most of them were HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 103 broken up and thrown away by the miners; a portion were saved, however, of which a fragment of a lower jaw, a part of a thigh bone, three teeth, and a few small bones were presented to the State Cabinet. The locality is a portion of the old river bottom, but it is uncertain, from the lack of scien tific investigation at the time, whether to believe that the presence of the bones indi cates that the animal was mired and died here, or to suppose that the carcass was de posited here by the river. The Coal Measure rocks of this county are too soft and too readily disintegrated to allow of the preservation of any scratches that may, at any time, have been impressed upon their surface; so that, although we find in the gravel very numerous scratched and polished pebbles and boulders, it is within only a very small area that striated and polished rock surfaces have been notic ed. In the S. E. quarter of Sec. 23, town ship 34 north, range 7 east, (Saratoga) at Walter's quarry of Trenton limestone, smoothly polished surfaces have been fre quently met with; so in one or two other lo calities. As these localities, however, are all within the old river valley, we can not, with certainty, predicate upon these facts the con clusion that those scratchings and polishings are attributable to glacial action. In fact, these and some other circumstances give some reason for assuming that they are re sults of river action alone. At Petty's shaft, the outer portion of the shale next to the creek banks, is found broken up for sev eral feet, and thoroughly mingled with the drifted materials which here form an over lying bank of about fifteen feet. This dis turbance, as well as the grinding of the sur face, may fairly be attributed to the action of the creek while at its former level. But, while allowing that, in these particular cases, river agencies are sufficient to account for all observed phenomena, the frequent occurrence in the Drift of gravel of large and small boulders unquestionably planed and striated by glacial action must also be recorded. These are especially abundant along the Mazon. The True Drift, in the western part of the county consists, mainly, of the tough blue " boulder clay," with pebbles and boulders, sometimes also including frag ments of wood, overlaid but slightly, or not at all, with gravel, and underlaid, so far as known, with a bed of " hard-pan," and a water-bearing quicksand which has thus far prevented any knowledge of the under lying materials. The eastern part of the county, on the contrary, shows but little boulder clay, this being replaced by a heavy layer of sand and gravel. Township 34 north, range 6 east, (Nettle Creek) has no known outcrop of rock, and wells near its south line have reached depths of forty- eight, fifty and fifty-two feet, before meet ing the quicksand. Townships 31 and 32, (Highland and Vienna) of the same range, and so much of 33 as lies south of the river, (Norman) together with townships 31 and 32, range 7 east, (Goodfarm and Mazon) possess no outcrop of rock, but the depth of the Drift is not known. At Gardner, in section 9, township 31 north, range 8 east, (Greenfield), the Drift is said to be one hun dred feet deep at the coal shaft. At Brace ville, section 25, township 32 north, range 8 east, it was found to be forty- four feet deep. Going northv.-ard into township 33, in ranges 7 and 8, (Wauponsee and Felix.) it rapidly thins out, owing partly to the 104 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. downward slope of the surface, partly to the upward slope of the underly ing rocks, -Tvhich come to the surface in the northern part of these townships. Much of the " coal land " in the immediate neigh borhood of Morris is bare of drift, having been stripped by the old river. To the northward, however, through township 34 north, range 7 east, the gravel and boulder clay lie, in some places, forty feet deep. Township 34 north, range 8 east, is deeply buried in Drift; at Minooka, on the line between sections 1 and 2, a well-boring found one hundred feet of gravel overlying the shaly limestone of the Cincinnati Group. Of the rock formations, the beds of the coal measures occupy far the larger part of the surface of the county. The outcrops, however, are so disconnected, and the beds so irregular, that it has been found practi cally impossible to construct any general section to represent connectedly all the outcrop. Apparently the higher beds ex posed in the county are those which out crop near the old coal openings on the Waupecan, in the southeast quarter of sec tion 20, township 33 north, range 7 east, (Wauponsee). No outcrop of beds above the coal has been discovered, nor has any been seen in the deeper parts of the mine. Near the outcrop a foot of coal was left as a working roof. The seam is now five feet thick, resting on a bed of fire clay. It is coal No. 4 of the Illinois section. The connection below is not exposed, but at a short distance from the fioor of the seam, not over ten feet, there is a coarse, ferrugi nous, shaly sandstone, filled with fragments of Lepidodendron, Catamites, Neuvopte- ris hvrsuta, etc., with an occasional streak of coaly matter. Of this bed, there is a low, nearly continuous outcrop for a mile up the stream, the last spot observed being at " Hog-grove quarry," in the southwest quarter of section 28. At the road cross ing, about half a mile down the creek from the coal mine, the sandstone rises a little, and exposes about six feet of blue and black shales filled with a variety of small mol- lusca. The lower part of the blue shale holds two thin layers of rusty brown nodules of carbonate of iron, which often, partially or wholly, include shells of these mollusca. The upper part of the black shale also con tains nodules of the same material (with probably some phosphate of lime) but small er and less evenly distributed; the smaller of these contain comminuted scales and bones of fishes, and judging from both form and contents, are probably the fossil excrement of larger fishes. These beds, with others, outcrop at intervals for about a mile along the right bank of the stream ; and the fol lowing section will fairly represent the whole: Peet. 1. Sandy shale 5 2. Blue clay 3 3. Fissile sandstone 15 4. Blue clay shale, with iron nodules 2to6 5. Black shale, top slaty, with small nodules, bottom very fragile 2 to 3 6. Cone-in-cone, locally becoming solid sandstone... \i to \\i 7. Soft olive shale \y^ 8. Solid gritty sandstone 1 Another outcrop, on nearly the same horizon, occurs on Mazon creek from the center of the south line of southwest quarter of section 6, township 32 north, range 8 east (Braceville), to near the center of the south line of section 25, (Wauponsee). The strata are here very irregular in thickness, but the following section gives an average representation of the exposed outcrop: HISrORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 10c Feet. Inches. 1. Ironstone conglomerate, (local) 6 2. Sandstone 8 3. Black shale, some slaty, with large ironstones 3 to 4 4. Cone-in-cone running into massive limestone 2 to 6 5. Olive shales, changing into concretionary argUlaceous limestone 5 to 7 : 6. Soft black shale 2 to 3 ! 7. Blue Clay shale 9 8. Coal No. 3 2 9. White fire-clay ? Small quantities of coal have been mined at this seam at several points along the limited outcrop. The coal is said to be good house-fuel, but rather soft. The argil laceous limestone of No. 5, of this section generally contains numerous shells of the genera Productus, Athyris, Terebratula, etc., and some fragments of criniods. The coal apparently holds the position of the thin coal which locally underlies No. 56 of the La Salle County section. The outcrop along the Mazon appears nearly continuous, but still I have not been able to satisfy myself as to the connection of the above beds with those of the lower part of the stream. The strata, there de veloped, consist of very variable sandy clay shales and sandstones, in some places be coming nearly pure clay shales, but con taining many nodules of carbonate of iron. Pine Bluff, at the lowermost crossing of the Mazon, is composed of about forty feet of heavily bedded, but rather fissile sand stone, partly nearly white, partly highly ferruginous. Less than a mile up the creek the lower part of this bed changes to highly argillaceous sandy shales with occasional streaks and nodules of sandstone. The section is not quite continuous, but there is no distinct line of demarcation to separate these latter beds from the ferruginous sandy shales, twenty to thirty feet thick, of sec tion 24, of township 33 north, range 7 east (Wauponsee), which contain large numbers of fossiliferous nodules of carbonate of iron. for which this locality has become famous. Besides a large variety of ferns mentioned in the State Geological report, these nodules also contain a large number of fossil insects, marking this as one of the richest deposits of Carboniferous Articulates ever discov ered, if not the richest. These nodules range from about two to about ten feet above the main coal seam of all this region, the intervening space being occupied by the soft, blue clay shales, filled with fossil plants, which, at most points, overlie this seam. About a mile farther up this stream coal has been dug in the beds and banks of the stream, but is now abandoned. Still further south, near the southeast corner of section 19, township 33 north, range 8 east (Felix), a shaft was sunk upon the creek bottom, starting at about twenty-five feet below the general level of the prairie. The section is as follows: Feet. Inches. 1. Blue clay and sandy shale, with ferns 20 2. Coal 20 3. Soft black shale 6 to 8 4 Fire clay with rootlets 6 to 8 5. Hard, sandy clay 8 6. Fire clay 2 6 At this place the coal is about eight feet below the bed of the creek. Near the water level, an offshoot from the main seam, abont seven inches thick, is exposed in the bank; the shales immediately over it af forded a few plants. Near the center of section 18, township 33 north, range 8 east (Felix), Mr. John Holderman's artesian well furnishes the following section: ¦ Feet. 1. Gravel IS 2. Sandstone 34 3. Coal 3 4. Sandy shale... ...t S8 5. Limestbtt'e • 103 106 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. It will be noticed that this section gives the sandstone as immediately overlying the coal. This condition of the seam has been elsewhere noticed, so far as I can learn, only in a shaft sunk near the southeast corner of section 9 of the same township, and in one shaft in the adjoining part of Will County. On the north side of the Illinois River, in the neighborhood of Morris, the coal out crops in the bank of the canal, and in the stre'ch of low land, about one mile to the northward. The overlying beds are here mostly blue clay shales, with occasional ir regular layers of sandstone. The iron nodules, above mentioned, occur here at the same level, but not in so great numbers as at the Mazon locality. The shales immediately above the coal frequently yield magnificent specimens of fossil ferns and other plants. In the north part of township 33 north, range 6 east (Erienna), the shaly sandstones overlying this seam are exposed in the bottom of every little run which cuts away the soil from the edge of the second terrace, and fragments of them are found scattered just below the surface over the whole lower fiat. It has long been a favorite theory with miners that another seam of coal could be found by sinking shafts in the bottom of the present working. This is not impossible, at points distant from the outcrop; but at Morris, and to the eastward, the coal lies directly upon lower Silurian rocks, with only four or five feet of firm clay to sepa rate them. This is shown at several points. It was supposed that the coal seam ex tended, in its full thickness, much further northward ; but two wells, one in section 27, and the other in section 13, township 34 north, range 7 east, (Saratoga) after passing through fossiliferous shales which overlie the coal, met with only about ten inches of soft coaly shale, underlaid by a few inches of greenish clay shale, with small rounded grains of calcareous (?) matter, (probably belonging to the Cincinnati group) which rested upon the solid limestones of the Trenton. From these and similar facts is derived the conclusion that the present line of workings corresponds very nearly with the original outline of deposit of the true coal seam, while beyond this line, only occasional small outlying patches will ever be found, though thin layers of coaly shale may be met with some miles further north ward. On the Au Sable Creek, a few miles north of the county line, small quantities of coaly shale and cannel-coal have been found, but they are probably of no practical value, and have no direct connection with the Morris seam. Upon the lower part of the Au Sable, however, in the southeast quarter of section 19, township 34 north, range 8 east (Au Sable), there is a peculiar outcrop of prob ably the lower seam. We have here a seam of coal twenty-eight inches thick, with a floor of fire clay at least six feet thick, and a roof of black shale, which is, at the outcrop, quite solid and a foot thick, but at the shaft, perhaps fifty yardsdistant, it thickens to between five and six feet and becomes quite soft. This shale has yielded a few small Discince LingulcB, and a few fragments of fish scales; but these are not sufficient to determine its position in the series. The bed seems to be but a small outlier, covering only a few acres, as borings to the southward and westward have failed to find any continuation of the bed in these HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 107 directions, while to the northward and east ward the shales and limestone of the lower Silurian outcrop within a few hundred yards. It seems to be still uncertain whether this is a locally peculiar condition of the main seam, or lies above or below it. If it be the main seam, the black roof shales are probably the equivalent of the bed mentioned in the La Salle County section, as lying there about eighteen feet above the coal; but no other outcrop of it has been seen in this part of Grundy, though it appears in a shaft in the southeastern corner of the county. Another peculiar outcrop of uncertain connections is along the Kankakee, from the east line of the county to the " Head of the Illinois," in section 36, township 34 north, range 8 east (Au Sable), where the river has cut through some fifty feet of shales and sandstones of the coal measures, including a thin seam of coal, and has reached the underlying shaly limestone of the Cincinnati group. A few in distinct plants have been met with in the sandstone, but in too poor condition for specific determination. In conclusion, the outline of the Coal Measure in Grundy Count}'- may be roughly stated as a line running from near the northwest corner of the county, with some variations in an east-southeast course to the mine on Au Sable Creek, just above the railroad; thence southeasterly to the Goose Lake slough, and easterly to the east end of the lake; thence northerly to the mouth of the Kankakee. The shales and shaly limestones of the Cincinnati group outcrop in the north eastern part of the county, showing most prominently upon the high ground between Goose Lake and the head of the Illinois. This outcrop consists of coarse granular, highly fossiliferous, ferruginous limestones, readily disintegrated by the weather, which have been used, to some extent, for fences. This outcrop continues southward for about a mile, and forms the bottom of the north half of Goose Lake, the south half being underlaid with coal. At the ford of the Kankakee, in the northwest quarter of sec tion 36, in Au Sable township, beds of soft blue shaly limestone, which probably lie near the base of this group, outcrop in the bed of the river, but show little upon the bank, and contain but few and indistinct fossils. From the bed of the canal, a half mile west of Dresden, there were thrown out considerable quantities of a heavy, but rath er cellular ferruginous limestone, in heavy layers, probably belonging below., the beds mentioned. The outcrop at this jjoint did not quite reach the surface. Over most of the country, north of the Illinois, the al luvial and drift deposits cover the country so as to allow of outcrops only along the streams. In ascending the Au Sable Creek from the railroad, the scattered fragments of the shaly limestones of this group are frequently seen, but no outcrop is met until the middle of section 3 in Au Sable township is reached, where small quanti ties of stone have been quarried for wells and foundations. From this point there is a nearly continuous outcrop to some dis tance above the county line. A small outcrop of rock of this age is exposed in the bed of Collins' run, a branch of the Au Sable, in the southwest quarter of section 18, of the same township. The rock here is a rather more solid limestone, breaking irregularly, and containing but 108 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. few fossils. It is reported that similar small outcrops occur further up this run, but they have not been opened, so as to know whether stone of any value can be obtained. Similar outcrops were observed in the bottoms of ditches near the middle of the north line of Saratoga township. In the borings about Morris, only a few feet of beds which can be referred to this group are found between the Coal Measures and the underlying Trenton limestone, and to the northward of that place no such beds have been found. The two remaining outcrops of rock in this county are limestones of the Trenton group, probably near its top. The principal one is near the center of section 24, township 34 north, range 7 east (Saratoga); this rock has been quarried for building purposes and for making'lirae. Thetoplayersof theqnarry are thin, and somewhat stained with iron. Below these, the rock is heavily bedded, gray or light drab, fine grained, clinking limestone, not very rich in fossils, but yield ing some good specimens of several varie ties. This rock has been penetrated to the depth of twenty feet without exposing any other layers; but it is said thatat onepoint the drill passed into a pocket of a softer black material. Possibly this may have been a small deposit of carbonaceous mate rial analagous to the petroleum which this rock has yielded in small quantities in the adjoining county of La Salle. These beds contain small portions of pyrite {stilphide of iron) disseminated through the whole mass. There were also occasional streaks of soft clay. The quarry has exposed two sets of crevices, one trending south 45° west and the other south 35° east. These crevices are filled with a fine clay of very nearly the same color as the limestone, through which are sparsely disseminated small crystals of blende {sulphide of zinc) with occasional pyramidal crystals of pyrite; no galenite has been observed. The remaining out crops of this rock are in the bed of the Au Sable, on the two sides of the yoke-like bend of the stream, in the east half of the northeast quarter of section 19, in An Sable township, and consists of small patches of a thin bedded, fine grained limestone, con taining but few fossils. In the Morris bor ing, the Trenton limestone is two hundred feet thick. St. Peter's sandstone has been struck at the railroad station in Morris, at a depth of 370 feet, and here, as elsewhere in this re gion, has furnished a constant and abundant supply of artesian water. The economic geology of this county is quite an important feature, coal, brick and potters' clay, building stone and sand, lime and water being found in abundance, be side hydraulic lime and iron ore in smaller quantities. Coal underlies fully three fourths of the county, the seam averaging about three feet, except on the borders of the field. It has been very largely worked in the immediate vicinity of Morris, upwards of one hundred openings having been made, though a larger part of them at this writing have been abandoned. These are princi pally shafts from thirty to sixty feet deep, though there are several extensive strippings. Some'of the latter uncover coal thirty inches thick, which is about the average thickness in this neighborhood; while others on the borders of the outcrop, find not more than eighteen inches. A smaller cluster of shafts and strippings is found to the south and west of Goose Lake, with average thickness of full HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 109 thirty inches. At a stripping in the south west corner of section 12, in Felix town ship, the bed is locally thickened to over four feet, but contains, near its center, a heavy band of crystalline carbonate of iron and lime, with much disseminated pyrite. This seam is also worked at Braceville, by a shaft ninety-eight feet deep, and in section 26, of the sarae township, by a shaft of 110 feet. At Gardner, it is worked by a shaft 160 feet deep. In the southeast corner of this township, three or four shafts, of about sixty feet each, work this seam in its usual condition; but one in the northeast corner of section 25, finds a roof of black slaty shale, with heavy ironstone concretions cov ering about three feetof a very pure " block coal," with much mineral charcoal in the partings. Both the coal and the accom pany- ing beds, at the mine on the Au Sable Creek, closely resemble the conditions found here; and at both points the indications leave it uncertain whether they represent a local change of the main seam, or are por tions of a lower seam which is only occa sionally present. The weight of opinion seems to favor the former view. The upper seams, which have been worked upon the Waupecan Creek, and upon the Mazon, near the month of Johnny run, ap parently occur over only small areas at either locality; and elsewhere, wherever met with, they have proved to be irregular seams, locally quite thick, but of the running out to a mere streak of coaly matter, and even disappearing altogether. The Mazon seam is, apparently, the equivalent of a stream, which, on the eastern side of the coal field, in the Wabash valley, is usually too thin to work, except at a single point, where it reaches twenty-two inches. The outcrops are not sufficient to give any exact data as to dips, but there seems to be no reason to believe that the main seam lies at a greater depth than 250 feet in any part of the county, if indeed it be anywhere so deep. Whenever, therefore, any portion of the southern part of the county becomes so thickly settled as to cre ate any considerable demand for coal, it can be obtained on the spot without much diffi culty. This seam is of pretty constant thickness, at every point where it has been opened, and the miner can rely upon find ing a paying thickness of coal at almost any point in this part of the county. At many points, also, one or more of the upper seams would be found much nearer the surface, with from two to nine feet of coal. In the openings of this county,' as else where, the miner is often troubled with "faults" and "rolls," which interrupt the regularity and even the continuity of the seam. Upon the outer edge of the field, near Morris, and to the eastward, the dip of the seam is very variable and irregular, which greatly interferes with the drainage of the mines in many cases. Much of this seems to have resulted from the irregulari ty of the denuded surface of the Silurian rocks upon which the coal was deposited ; but in one or two cases, the indications seem to prove that these contortions are the result of the removal of the subjacent limestone by solution in subterranean streams after the deposition of the coal. This seems to be the only explanation of the condition of the seam, in a shaft a short distance east of the Jugtown pottery. In this neighborhood, the seam is generally about twenty feet below the surface; but in the shaft referred to, it was found forty 110 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. feet down, and after yielding about 300 bushels, the coal ceased abruptly, on all sides. So far as known, all coal mined in the county contains more or less pyrite — "sul phur" of the miners — and streaks of calcite; but this is so variable, even in neighboring portions of the same mine, that it would be useless to attempt to discriminate between the products of the various localities. As a whole, the product of the main seam is a tine steam and grate coal, and is largely shipped to the Chicago market, the distance being jonly sixty-two miles. The best clay for brick making is not found here, though there are several large brick yards in the county. The materials used are the decomposed shales which over lie the lower coaL As these beds contain considerable calcareous matter, the brick are not very firm and do not stand the weather well. It would appear probable that the fire clay below the coal would make a better article. This has been tried with some suc cess at Gardner. The fire clay, and soft clay shales underlying it, are said to be thirty-five feet deep and so much of these beds as may be convenient, in mining the coal, is dug out and used promiscuously. Without thorough grinding, therefore, in the pugmill, the bricks are variable in char acter and irrejjular in burninar. The only bed of Potter's clay known and worked is that near the west end of Goose Lake, and extensively used at Jugtown, in the manufacture of a fair grade of domestic earthcrnware, together with drain tile and sewer pipes. The bed consists of more or less thoroughly decomposed clay shale and fire clay of the Coal Measures, containing many fragments of coal, thoroughly mingled and deposited in a low part of the old river channel, which contains Goose Lake, by the current of the river which formerly flowed there. The bed has been worked to a depth of fifteen or twenty feet, but the mixed character of the materials has given much trouble to the potters. The principal source of building stone in this county is the quarry of Trenton lime stone in Saratoga township, about four miles northeast of Morris. This yields an abun dance of light gray or drab massive lime stone, which has been extensively used for foundation walls, and in a few cases also for the superstructures. It appears fitted to stand the weather as well as any ordi nary stone, and is said to dress well. The Cincinnati group along the Au Sable Creek near the county line, yields small quanti ties of stone for wells and foundations, but nothing suitable for superstructures. Beds of the same group upon the northern side of Goose Lake, have been quarried slightly, for similar purposes. Upon the bank of the Waupecan Creek in the southeast quar ter of section 18, in Wauponsee township, small quantities of a very solid limestone — No. 6, of the Waupecan section — have been quarried. A sandstone, representing Nos. 1 and 3 of the same section, has been quarried to some extent for foundations on the upper part of the stream, at "Hog Grove Quarry," and has given good satis faction; though when exposed to the weather it crumbles rapidly. The same defect exists in the sandstone of Pine Bluff. Lime is obtained from the Saratoga quarry, where considerable quantities of the stone are annually burned, though some care has to be exercised to exclude from the kiln the ferruginous layers. The HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Ill only hydraulic . limestone found in the county occurs in nodules along the Kan kakee River, and in small quantity. The abundant supply from an adjoining county renders these deposits of no commercial value. Builders' sand is obtained in unlimited quantities from the sand ridges of the river valley. From one of these ridges, about one mile south of Morris, large quantities of road gravel are also obtained. Iron ore is found in form of ironstone nodules (carbonate of iron) on the Mazon and Waupecan Creeks, but not in sufficient quantities to supply a furnace. Bog ore is found near the quarries in Saratoga, but its quality or quantity has not been tested. The natural supply of water through this county is quite variable. In a dry season, large portions are very scantily sup plied. In ordinary seasons,. however, wells running ten or fifteen feet into the top of the drift in the eastern part, supply all needs. In the western part of the county, reliable wells can be obtained only by pass ing through the boulder clay to the under lying quicksand. The lower seam of coal is everywhere accompanied by an abun dance of water, which is pure and good, until the working of the coal exposes the accompanying pyrite to decomposition. A well bored at the tile factory in Jugtown some years ago, struck coal at about thirty feet, and gave exit to a strong stream of water, highly charged with sulphurated hydrogen. Small springs of similar char acter are said to accompany the supposed line of outcrop of this coal seam, along the foot of the first terrace, from Mazon Creek, nearly to the Morris bridge. A very strong spring of this character flows from beneath the drift gravel, over the black shale. No. 3, of the upper Mazon section, in the south west quarter of section 6, in Braceville township, leaving a heavy white deposit of sulphur on the surface of the shale. The artesian boring on the northeast quarter of section 3, in Felix town ship, brings to the surface a small but constant supply of slightly sul phurous water from the upper part of the Trenton limestone, at a depth of about 137 feet. On section 18 of the same town ship, a boring of 325 feet failed to secure flowing water, after penetrating 185 feet of the Trenton limestone. The boring for the railroad well at Morris, shows this lime stone to be 200 feet thick, and that in this county the underlying St. Peter's sandstone is full of pure water, which is ready to flow to the surface wherever it is tapped. This abundant supply can be reached anywhere in the northern part of the county at about 400 feet, and in the southern part, at prob ably nowhere more than 600 feet, and in part of it much less than that. " Gas" wells in the boulder clay are known at two localities. Near the north east corner of section 3, in Yienna town ship, a well at twenty feet, gave off so much carbonic acid gas, as to prevent farther ex cavations. Probably this flowed from some ancient soil, like the muck beds encoun tered in Livingston and other counties. On section 35 in Nettle Creek township, a well at forty-seven feet, gave off light car- buretted hydrogen with so much noise as to be heard at a considerable distance, and in such quantity as to blaze " as high as the house," for some minutes after being approached with a lighted candle. The gas still flows freely, though it is several years 112 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. since the well was dug, and a load of gravel has been thrown in, to act as a filter for the water, which was at first filled with quick sand, brought up by the ebullition of the gas. Similar phenomena have been ob served in other wells in this vicinity. A large spring on section 22 of the same township, constantly gives off bubbles of this gas. Springs of similar character have been found along the outcrop of the lower coal seam in the adjoining county of La Salle, and it is generally accepted as a partial indication of the coal outline, when the depth of drift prevents actual observa tion. CHAPTEE II. PREHISTORIC RACES— EARLIEST TRACES OF MAN— MOUND BUILDERS AND THEIR REMAINS— INDIAN TRIBES— RELATIONS WITH THE WHITES— WAUPONSEE— SHABBONA— NUCQUETTE. ROBINSON CRUSOE'S unexpected discovery of a human footprint upon the sands of his solitary island, was hardly more startling than have been the discover ies of antiquarians in Europe within the past twenty-five years. Scientific followers of Usher and Petarius, had placed the vari ous migrations of men, the confusion of tongues, the peopling of continents, the de velopment of types — the whole evolution of human society, within the narrow compass of little more than four thousand years, when the discoveries of the geologist and ethnologist developed the trace of human existence dating back to a possible period, 30,000 years ago. Nor are confirmatory evidences to the truth of these discoveries entirely wanting in the new world. The gold-drift of California has supplied abun dant testimony to the high antiquity of man, and notably the " Pliocene Skull," the pop ular conception of which is derived more widely, perhaps, from a characteristic poem by Bret Harte than from scientific publications. Explorations in Illinois, Mis souri and South Carolina, have yielded simi lar testimony, and while it should be stated, that in many cases these evidences rest upon the testimony of single observers, and that there is not that recurrence of "finds" *By J. H. Battle. which would render "assurance doubly sure," yet there seems to be no doubt in the minds of scientists that the "elder man" was also an inhabitant of this new world. Descending to a later time and one prob ably falling within the historic period,* we find the more tangible traces of an early race of men. Of this race, named from the character of their remains, the Mound Builders, we find the evidences vastly mul tiplied, and of such character as to aftbrd means of forming a reasonable conjecture as to their mode of life, their advancement in civilization, and final destiny. These evidences, though first accepted with great distrust, have been so amplified and con firmed by more recent researches, as to leave no room for reasonable doubt as to the former existence of this race. The remains upon which this conclusion is based, " consists," says Mr. Foster, " of tumuli symmetrically raised and often en closed in matliematical figures, such as the square, the octagon and circle, with long lines of circum vallation; of pits in the solid rocks, and rubbish heaps formed in the prosecution of their mining operations, and of a variety of utensils, wrought in stone or copper, or moulded in clay."f To the * Fo-ter's "Prehistoric Races of the United States." t " Prehistoric Races, etc." 114 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. uninstructed mind these mounds doubtless seem a very slight foundation upon which to construct the fabric of a national exist ence, and yet to the archaeologist they fur nish " proof's as strong as Holy Writ; " in them they find as distinctive characteristics as mark the prehistoric remains of the Pelasgi, the " wall-builders " of Europe, a not dissimilar race in many respects, and one who long ago found a place in the realities of history; and while they differ in external form and are scattered over a wide scope of territory, — characteristics in marked contrast with those of the abo riginal race found here in possession of the country, yet the scientist finds in each mound the never failing marks of a race peculiarity. The widest divergence from the typical mound is found in Wisconsin. Here in stead of the circular or pyramidal structure are found forms, for the most part, consist ing of rude, gigantic imitations of various animals of the region, such as the buffalo, bear, fox, wolf, etc. ; of the eagle and night hawk, the lizard and turtle, and in some instances the unmistakable form of man. These, though not raised high above the surface, and even in some cases represented intaglio, attain the largest dimensions; one representing a serpent extending 700 feet and another representing a turtle, had a body 56, and a tail 250 feet long. The significance of these peculiar forms has not been determined, but unmistakable evidences have been discovered which mark them as the work of the same race whose structures are found elsewhere, so numer ous throughout the Mississippi valley. Typical structures are sometimes classi fied with reference to their purpose as "Enclosures — 1. For defense; 2. Sacred; 3. Miscellaneous. Mounds — 1. Of sacrifice; 2. For temple sites; 3. Of sepulture; 4. Of observation." Of the first class, the enclosures for defense seem to have been constructed simply for protection against hostile attack. The locations chosen are those best adapted naturally to repel a military attack. The only approach is generally by a steep and narrow way, re quiring the assailant to place himself at immense disadvantage, while the garrison provided with parapets often constructed of rubble stone, could fight under cover and may be found in these stones, his store of amraunition. The "sacred" enclosure included within its lines, the mounds of the three leading classes, as the uses to which they were put, were all sacred to this people, and yet in the " American Bottom " in Illinois, where the mound system reaches, perhaps its highest devel opment, the mounds of these classes are not enclosed. The mounds of sacrifice or altars, as they are variously termed, are generally characterized by the fact " that they occur only within the vicinity of the enclosures or sacred places; that they are stratified; and that the}' contain symmet rical altars of burned clay or stone, on which were deposited various remains, which in all cases have been more or less subjected to the action of fire." * In relation to this latter characteristic it should be said, that it is not at all plain that the use of fire was intended for the purpose of cre mation. A thin coating of moist clay was applied to the body nude, or wrapped in cloth, and upon this a fire was maintained 'Squier and Davis' "Ancient Monuments," etc. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 115 for a more or less prolonged period, but in many cases the heat was not sufficient to destroy the cloth sometimes found in a good state of preservation. This evidently did not result from a lack of knowledge, as cremation and urn burial was also practiced. Temple mounds are described by Squier and Davis as " distinguished by their great regularity of form and general large dimen sions. They consist chiefly of pyramidal structures, truncated and generally having graded avenues to their tops. In some in stances they are terraced or have successive stages. But whatever their form, whether round, oval, octangular, square, or oblong, they have invariably flat or level tops," and upon these were probably constructed their temples, but which, constructed of perisha ble materials, have left no trace of their existence. This class of mounds are not found along the lake region or that line which seems to mark the farthest advance of this people. The principal structures of this class are found at Cahokia in Illi nois, near Florence and Claiborne in Ken tucky, at Seltzertown, Mississippi, at Mari etta, Newark and Chillicothe in Ohio, and at St. Louis, Missouri. Tlie mound at Ca hokia, "the monarch of all similar struct ures in the United States," may well serve as a type. When in all its integrity, this mound formed a huge parallelogram with sides at the base, respectively 700 and 500 feet in length, towering to the height of 90 feet. On the southwest there was a terrace 160 by 300 feet, which was reached by a graded way, and the summit was truncated, affording a platform 200 by 450 feet. This structure, upon which was probably reared a spacious temple, perhaps the principal one in the empire, covered an area of about six acres, while in close proximity were four elevated platforms, varying from 2oO to 300 feet in diameter. The great mound of St. Louis reached a height of thirty-five feet, and that at Marietta to about the same height. " Sepulchral mounds," says Mr. Foster in his volume on the Prehistoric Races, "con sist, often, of a simple knoll, or group of knoils, of no considerable height, without any definite arrangement. Examples ot this character may be seen at Dubuque, Merom, Chicago, and Laporte, which, on exploration, have yielded skulls differing widely from the Indian type. * * * The corpse was almost invariably placed near the original surface of the soil, enveloped in bark or coarse matting, and in a few in stances fragments of cloth have been ob served in this connection. Sometimes a vault of timber was built over it, and in others it was enclosed in long and broad fiags of stone. Sometimes it was placed in a sitting position, again it was extended, and still again it was compressed within contracted limits. Trinkets were often strung about the neck, and water jugs, drinking cups, and vases, which probably contained foi)d, were placed near the head. Over the corpse thus arrayed, a circular mound was often raised, but sometimes nothing more than a hillock." Otlier mounds have been found that favored the theory that many of these structures were used for miscellaneous burial. A notable example is the "Grave Creek Mound," in West Virginia, twelve miles below Wheel ing. This mound is something over 70 feet high, of circular form, with a circum ference at the base of about 900 feet. In the center of this mound, on a level with 116 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. the original surface, was found a vault with twelve human skeletons, and thirty-four feet above this was found a similar vault, enclosing a skeleton which had been deco rated with a profusion of shell-beads, copper rings, and plates of mica. In a mound at Yincennes "a bed of human bones, arranged in a circle eighteen feet in diameter, closely packed and pressed together." In another at Merom, three tiers of vaults were found, in each of which were found from five to seven human skeletons. Mounds of obser vation is a rather fanciful classification intended to mark mounds found on elevated points of land. The authors of this classi fication think that these may have been used as platforms on which to build signal fires, and such is their elevation and out look that such signals could have been seen at great distance. This theory of a special purpose, however, has not been accepted, as supported by any special evidence. They may have been so used, or simply as an eligible site for residence. There is in addition to these mounds a large number which are 'not embraced in this classification, which following Mr. F. W. Putnam, whom Mr. Foster quotes at length, may be called "Habitation Mounds." A large number of these are described as located at Merom, Indiana, and " a group of fifty-nine mounds" at Hutson ville, Illi nois, a few miles above the former place and across the Wabash River. These mounds were carefully examined " to ascer-, tain if they were places of burial," without discovering a single bone or implement of any kind, but, on the contrary, the excava tions " showed that the mounds had been made of various materials at hand, and in one case ashes were found which had prob ably been scraped up with other material and thrown upon the heap." In the an cient fort at Merom, in depressions found within the earthworks, were found striking evidences of food having been cooked and eaten there, and the conclusion drawn by Mr. Putnam is, " that these pits were the houses of the inhabitants or defenders of the fort, who were probably further pro tected from the elements and the arrows of assailants, by a roof of logs and bark, or boughs." Another writer,* in a paper read before the American Association for the Advancement of Science at their Boston meeting, August, 1880, says: " There is in this region a peculiar class of mounds that was for a long time a puzzle to me. They are usually found in groups of from two or three to twenty or thirty, and even more, and are generally on some pleasant knoll or rising ground in the vicinity of a spring or watercourse, especially in the vicinity of our prairies or level areas of land. These mounds are from one to three, and in a few instances, even four feet in height, and from twenty to fifty feet in diameter. One mound of the group is always larger than the rest, and always occupies the commanding position. Sometimes the group is arranged in a circle; other groups have no apparent design in arrangement. Numbers of these mounds can be seen in the cultivated fields. " Although I have made excavations in them, and dug trenches entirely through them, I have found nothing but ashes, char coal, decayed portions of bones of fishes and animals partially burned, shells from the adjacent streams, flint chippings, and * Hon. Wm. McAdams, Jr., of OtterviUe, Ills. '/^^a-.^ a HISrORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 119 in one or two instances a flint implement of a rude character. "After examining many of these structures I am induced to believe that they are pos sibly the remains of ancient dwellings, made by placing in an upright position the trunks of young trees in a circle, or in parallel rows, the tops of the poles inclining inward and fastened together, the whole being covered with earth and sod to form a roof, or in the same manner as many Indian tribes make their mud lodges; as for instance, the Mandansand the Omahas. Such a structure, after being repaired from time to time by the addition of more earth on top, would finally, by the decay of the poles, fall inward and the ruins would form a slight mound. " Conant and Putnam describe such mounds in Missouri and Tennessee, some of the largest of these ancient towns being provided with streets and highways. They are also found in Southern Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Putnam has described an en closed town in Tennessee, in which were many low mounds, or rather, as he calls them, earth circles, that he has pretty con clusively shown to be sites of the lodges or houses of the people." To which of these classes the mounds found at Morris shall be referred, is difficult to determine. There were nineteen of these mounds, circular in form, from two to four feet high, and from seventeen to thirty in diameter at the base. These were superfi cially explored and evidences of the intru sive burials of Indians found, but nothing bearing upon their ancient origin. The growth of the village has encroached upon these ancient relics and their site so oblit erated as to afford little inducement for any scientific investigation. There are mounds along the southern margin of the river that offer better prospects of reward to a proper ly conducted research, but at best such ex ploration is likely to develop little more than to connect their origin with this an cient people. These mounds, with the implements formed in stone, metal and pottery (of which the scope of this work allows no mention), form the data upon which is founded the historical speculation concerning this peo ple. Once having reasonably established the- former existence of this extinct race, the absorbing question presents itself — who were the Mound Builders? The limited space devoted to this subject, however, for bids any extended consideration of the in teresting scientific deductions made from this data, though the conclusion arrived at may be briefly stated in the language of Mr. Foster,* as follows: "Their monu ments indicate that they had entered upon a career of civilization ; they lived in sta tionary communities, cultivating the soil and relying on its generous yield as a means of support; they clothed themselves in part at least, in garments regularly spun and woven ; they modeled clay and carved stone, even of the most obdurate character, into images representing animate objects, even the human face and form, with a close adherence to nature; they mined and cast copper into a variety of useful forms; they quarried mica, steatite, chert, and the novac- ulite slates, which they wrought into arti cles adapted to personal ornament, to domes tic use, or to the chase; unlike the Indians who were ignorant of the curative proper- *" Prehistoric Races," etc., p. 350. 120 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ties of salt, they collected the brine of the sa lines into earthen vessels moulded in baskets which they evaporated into a form which admitted of transportation; they erected an elaborate line of defense, stretching for many hundred miles, to guard against the sudden irruption of enemies; they had a national religion, in which the elements were the objects of supreme adoration ; tem ples were erected upon the platform mounds, and watchflres lighted upon the highest summits; and in the celebration of the mysteries of their faith, human sacrifices were probably offered up. The magnitude of their structures, involving an infinitude of labor, such only as could be expended except in a coraraunity where cheap food prevailed, and the great extent of their commercial relations reaching to widely separated portions of the continent, imply the existence of a stable and efficient gov ernment, based on the subordination of the masses. As the civilizations of the old world growing out of the peculiar conditions of soil and climate developed certain forms of art which are original and unique, so on this continent we see the crude conception in the truncated pyramid, as first displayed in Wisconsin, Ohio and Illinois, and the accomplished result in the stonefaced foun dations of the temples of Uxmal and Palen- que. And finally, the distinctive character of the Mound Builder's structures, and also the traditions which have been preserved, would indicate that this people were ex pelled from the Mississippi Yalley by a fierce and barbarous race, and that the}' found refuge in the more genial climate of Central America, where they developed those germs of civilization, originally planted in their northern homes, into a perfection which has elicited the admiration of every modern explorer." The obvious inquiry suggested by these conclusions is, who succeeded this extinct race ? To this question science offers no an swer. Two hypotheses are entertained as to the origin of Mound Builders here, the one supposes them to be of autothionic origin, and that semi-civilization originat ing here fiowed southward and culminated in the wonderful developments of the Tol- tecs of Mexico ; the other supposes to have originated in the South American continent or in Central America, and to have emi grated northward from natural causes, and later to have returned to Mexico, driven from their northern empire by an irresist ible foe or by a powerful political irruption among themselves. Upon any theory, the line of their most northward advance is pretty clearly define!, and writers upon this subject generally agree that the Hue of defenses "extending from sources of the Alleghany and Susquehanna, in New York, diagonally across the country, through central and northern Ohio, to the Wa bash," accurately indicates the region from whence attacks were made or expected, and marks the farthest extent of the Mound Builders' empire. But what was the char acter of the foe, what his action on the retreat of the Mound Builders, and what his final destiny, is an unwritten page of science, and for which there exists no known data. It is a late suggestion, that the North American Indian may be a degenerate but legitimate descendant of the dominant race, but there is a broad chasm to be bridged before the Mound Builder or his successful assailant can be linked with these aboriginal tribes. With- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 121 out making any such attempt, however, the Indian naturally succeeds this people in reg ular historical order, and passing over the vexed question of his origin, it is sufficient for the purposes of this work that the whites found him everywhere in full possession of the country. With the advent of the white man in America, began an " irrepressible conflict" which was destined never to cease so long as the red man retained a vestige of power. In this struggle, the absence of national organization or affiliations on the part of the Indians, made the final success of the whites inevitable from the beginning. Taking each tribe or section of country in succession, the little band of adventurers conquered this vast country in detail, and planted here one of the mighty nations of the world. It was due to this lack of any bond of union that the Illinois tribes were allowed to rest so long undisturbed in their fancied security. Rumors of the confiict waging on the Atlantic border were borne to their ears by chance visitors from other tribes, and later by remnants of vanquished tribes who sought with them an asylum from their foes, but still no apprehension of impending disaster dawned upon their superstitions ignorance, while the reflection that the Iroquois, the enemy which their experience had taught them most to fear, had met an overpowering foe, gave them no little satisfaction. The great family to which these tribes were allied by language, physical and men tal peculiarities, was the Algonquin. Be fore the encroachments of the whites the numerous tribes of this family occupied most of the territory now embraced in the United States, between the 35th and 60th parallels of latitude, and the 60th and 105th meridians of longitude. According to Davidson,* the starting point in the wander ings of the Algonquin tribes on the conti nent as determined by tradition and the cul tivation of maize, their favorite cereal, was in the southwest. Passing up the western side of the Mississippi valley, they turned eastward across that river, the southern margin of their broad tract reaching about to the 35th parallel, while the center prob ably covered the present territory of Illi nois. On reaching the Atlantic coast thev seem to have moved northeasterly along the seaboard to the mouth of the St. Law rence; thence ascending this river and the shores of the great lakes, they spread north ward and westward to Hudson Bay, the basin of Lake Winnipeg and the valley of the upper Mississippi; and thence the head of the migratory column circling around the source of the great river, re- crossed it in a southeasterly direction above the Falls of St. Anthony, and passing by way of Green Bay and Lake Michigan came into the present limits of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Thus after revolving in an ir regular ellipse of some 3,000 miles in diam eter, they fell into the original track east ward. This extended course of migration induced by a variety of causes and circum stances, continued through a long period, the original stock probably receiving con siderable accessions from the nomadic tribes of the Pacific slope, and leaving be hind large numbers at each remove, until the head of the column came to rest from sheer lack of momentum or other moving influences. Thus scattered over a large *Davidson and Siueve's "History of Illinois." 122 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY, expanse of country, and broken into numer ous tribal organizations, they lost much of their family affiliations and characteristics, and the early whites found the Algonquins everywhere possessing the border lands, and waged with them their first and bloodiest wars. Situated within the ellipse above described, were the nations of the Iroquois family, who held together by circumstances and posted advantageously on the inner side of the circle, able at any time to mass their forces upon a single point of the cir cumference, soon proved a devastating scourge to the Indian world, and especially so to the Algonquins. Of the tribes of this latter family this history has to do only with the tribes of the "Illinois Confederation." This was made up of the Tamaroas, Michigamies, Kaskaskias, Cahokias and Peorias. The name of the confederation, as explained by Gallatin, one of the ablest writers on the structure of Indian languages, is derived from the Dela ware word Leno, and variously written Leni or mini, meaning " superior men." Its present termination is of French origin. The Algonquin family, so far as cranial in dications, were marked by a larger intellect ual lobe than their great adversaries, the Iroquois, and their whole history adds force to these indications. While not so ferocious or fiendish in their warfare, they exhibited no less bravery and skill in their savage en counters, and were rewarded with no less success when circumstances admitted an equal contest. In courageous resistance to the superior numbers and arms of the whites and in savage strategy and diplo macy, the history of our Indian wars bears ample testimony to their high mental and physical qualities. Of the Illinois Confed eration, however, this can not be said with out qualification. Exposed like the rest of the Algonquin family to the powerful at tacks of their ferocious enemy, though gain ing some notable victories, they had been forced to leave their earlier location near Lake Michigan and settle west of the Mis sissippi, from whence, about 1670-73, they migrated to the Illinois River. Here they seem to have stood in great fear of their hereditary foe, and while proving their warlike superiority to other tribes, their only sure defense against the Iroquois ap peared to be in flight. The early association of this confederacy with the whites was of an unusually peaceable and pleasant nature and did much to confirm their unwarlike character. As early as 1670, the Jesuit Mis sionary, Marquette, stationed at the western extremity of Lake Superior, mentions the visit of members of these tribes who ear nestly requested that missionaries might be sent among them. When, therefore, Joliet and Marquette, returning from their explo ration of the Mississippi, found the tribes on the banks of the Illinois in 1673, they were hailed with joy by- the natives, who from that day never wavered in their allegiance to the French. In 1675, Marquette re turned and established the " Mission of the Immaculate Conception " at their village, located near the present site of Utica. In December of 1679, La Salle * with his little band of adventurers found here a town of 460 lodges temporarily deserted, and passing on to where the city of Peoria now is, found another village of about eighty lodges,where he landed and soon established amicable and permanent relations. With the consent of the tribes. La Salle soon built the fort of * R€n(3— Robert Oavelier, Sieur de la Salle. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 123 Crevecoeur, a half a league below, and then early in March of 1680, set out for Fort Frontenac in Western New York, and thence to Montreal to repair the loss of his vessel, the Griffin. In the meanwhile the Jesuit faction, engaged in fierce competition with him in securing the peltry trade of the Indians, and jealous of La Salle's success, and the English of the Atlantic border, striving to overreach the French in securing both territory and trade,united in stirring up the Iroquois to assault La Salle's Illinois allies in his absence. "Suddenly," saysParkman, " the village was awakened from its lethargy as by the crash of a thunderbolt. A Shawanoe, lately here on a visit, had left his Illinois friends to return home. He now reappeared, crossing the river in hot haste with the announcement that he had met on his way an army of Iroquois approaching to attack them. All was panic and con fusion. The lodges disgorged their fright ened inmates; women and children screamed; startled warriors snatched their weapons. There were less than five hun dred of them, for the greater part of the young men had gone to war." Here Tonti, La Salle's able lieutenant, left in charge of the fort, found himself weakened by the early desertion of most of his force, and now an object of suspicion to his allies, in an awkward and dangerous predicament. Undaunted by the untoward circumstances, he joined the Illinois, and when the Iroquois came upon the scene, in the midst of the savage melee, faced the 580 warriors and declared that the Illinois were under the protection of the French King and the Governor of Canada, and demanded that they should be left in peace, backing his words with the statement that there were 1,200 of the Illinois and 60 Frenchmen across the river. These representations had the effect of checking the ardor of the attacking savages, and a temporary truce was effected. It was evident that the truce was but a ruse on the part of the Iroquois to gain an opportunity to test the truth of Tonti's statements, and no sooner had the Illinois retired to their village on the north side of the river than numbers of the invad ing tribes, on the pretext of seeking food, crossed the river and gathered in increasing numbers about the village. The Illinois knew the design of their foe too well, and, hastily embarking, they set fire to their lodges, and retired down the river, when the whole band of Iroquois crossed over, and finished their work of havoc at their leisure. The Illinois, in the meanwhile, lulled into a false security, divided into small bands in search of food. One of their tribes, the Tamoroas, " had the fatuity to remain near the mouth of the Illinois, where they were assailed by all the force of the Iroquois. The men fled, and very few of them were killed; but the women and children were captured to the number, it is said, of seven hundred," many of whom were put to death with horrible tortures. Soon after the retreat of the Illinois, the Iroquois discovered the deception of the Frenchmen, and only the wholesome fear they had of the French Governor's power restrained their venting their rage upon Tonti and his two or three companions. As it was, they were dismissed, and bidden to return to Canada. It was in the wake of these events that La Salle returned in the winter of 1680 and found this once populous village devastated 124 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. and deserted, surrounded by the frightful evidences of savage carnage. Disheartened but not cast down, he at once set about re pairing his fortunes. Discerning at once the means and object of his enemies he set about building up a bulwark to stay a sec ond assault. Returning to Fort Miami on the St. Joseph, by the borders of Lake Michigan, he sought to form a defensive league among the Indians whom he pro posed to colonize on the site of the destroyed village of the Illinois. He found ready material at hand in remnants of tribes fresh from fields of King Phillip's war; he visited the Miamis and by his wonderful power won them over to his plans; and then in the interval, before the tribes could arrange for their emigration, he launched out with a few followers and hurriedly ex plored the Mississippi to the Gulf. Re turning to Michillimackinae in September, 1682, where he had found Tonti in May of the previous year. La Salle, after directing his trusty lieutenant to repair to the Illinois, prepared to return to France for further supplies for his proposed colony, but learn ing that the Iroquois were planning another incursion, he returned to the site of the destroyed village and with Tonti began in December, 1682, to build the Fort of St. Louis on the eminence which is now known in history as "starved rock." Thus the winter passed, and in the meanwhile. La Salle found employment for his active mind in conducting the negotiations which should result in reconciling the Illinois and the Mi amis and in cementing the various tribes into a harmonious colony. The spring crowned his efforts with complete success. " La Salle looked down from his rocks on a con course of wild human life. Lodges of bark and rushes, or cabins of logs, were clustered on the open plain, or along the edges of the bordering forests. Squajvs labored, war riors lounged in the sun, naked children whooped and gamboled on the grass. Be yond the river, a mile and a half on the left, the banks were studded once more with the lodges of the Illinois, who, to the number of six thousand, had returned, since their defeat, to this their favorite dwelling-place. Scattered along the valley, among the ad jacent hills, or over the neighboring prairie, were the cantonments of a half score of other tribes, and fragments of tribes, gath ered under the protecting aegis of the French, — Shawanoes, from the Ohio, Abe- nakis from Maine, and Miamis from the sources of the Kankakee."* In the mean while, a party was sen t to Montreal to secure supplies and munitions to put the colony in a state of defense, which to the disappoint ment and chagrin of the sorely beset leader, he learned had been detained by his enemies, who by a change of Governors had come into official power. Devolving the com- *" Discovery of the Great West." Third part. Franquelin's map finished in 1684 and reproduced in part in this work, adds some further particular's which may be of local interest. From the location of the tribes on this map, it is ascertained that the In dian colony of La Salle, nuraberingr, according to his representation lo the French ministry, "about four thousand warriors or twenty thousand souls," occupied tlie country bordering both sides of the Illi nois, from the present site of Morris to the junction of the Big Bureau Creek. Of the tribes represented, the Illinois proper numbered 1,200 wan-iors; the Miamis, 1,300; the Shawanoes, 200; the Weas, 500; the Pepikokia, 160; the Kilatica, 300; Onabona, 70; the Piankishaws, 150; in all, 3,880 warriors. This latter tribe occupied the present site of Morris village, while ^lortheastwardly to the margin of the lake, the country was occupied by the Kickapoos, and other friendly tribes. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 125 mand of the enterprise upon his faithful lieutenant. La Salle set out in November, 1683, for Canada and France, where he hoped to thwart his enemies and snatch suc cess from the very jaws of defeat. Trium phant over his enemies, he returned to America in 1685, and after wandering inef fectually for two years in the inhospitable wilderness of Texas, fell dead, pierced through the brain by the bullet of a treach erous desperado of his own band. It was not until the latter part of 1688, that Tonti with grief and indignation learned of the death of La Salle. In 1690, Tonti received from the French government the proprie torship of Fort St. Louis on the Illinois, where he continued in command until 1702, when by royal order the fort was abandoned and Tonti transferred to lower Louisiana. This fort was afterward re-occupied for a short time in 1718, by a party of traders, when it was finally abandoned. Hitherto, the Indians, faithful to the French, found vent for their savage nature in warfare upon their fellows, but events were rapidly hurrj'ing forward the time when this state of affairs should be re versed. In turn the French power here gave way to the English, and they to the Americans; these momentous changes manifesting themselves to the Indian world in little more than the change of the na tional ensign on Fort Chartres. Upon the savages, however, a subtle change had been wrought. Unwillingly released from their fealty to the French, they became the fatal cats-paw of the warring whites. Incited hy the French to hostilities against the English, they easily turned against the Americans under the influence of British goods and gold. Other influences were powerfully moving them to fulfill their des tiny. The success of the American colo nies in their war with the mother countiy, brought them in contact with the natives of the "far west." The whole Indian world viewed their conquests with alarm, and when the restless tide of emigration reached the natural boundary of the Ohio, tribal animosities were forgotten in the united struggle to hold the insatiable pale faces at bay. In the meantime, the abandonment of Fort St. Louis followed by the removal of Kaskaskia and the erection of Fort Chartres had drawn the remnant which their savage enemies had left of the Illinois Confederation, to the southern part of the State, while their deserted lands were occupied by the Sacs and Foxes, Pot- tawattomies and other tribes which the success of the Americans had forced to find a new home. The first cession of territory demanded of the tribes here was made by the treaty of Greenville, O., in 1795, consisting of " one piece of land, six miles square, at the mouth of Chicago River, emptying into the southwest end of Lake Michigan, where a fort formerly stood;" one piece 12 miles square near the mouth of the Illinois Riv er; and one piece 6 miles square, at the old Peoria Fort and Yillage, near the south end of the Illinois Lake, on the said Illinois River."* In 1803 by a treaty at Yincennes the greater part of southern Illinois was ceded by the Illinois Confederation and other tribes; and by a treaty in the follow ing year signed at St. Louis, the Sacs and Foxes ceded a great tract of country on *At these points the National Grovermnent subse quently erectfed Forts. 126 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. both sides of the Mississippi, extending on the east bank from the mouth of the Illi nois River to the head of that river, and thence to the Wisconsin River. In 1816 a treaty was concluded with the "united tribes of Ottawas, Chippewas and Potta- wattomies," at St. Louis. The treaty recites: "Whereas, a serious dispute has for some time existed between the contract ing parties relative to the right to a part of the lands ceded to the United States by the tribes of Sacs and Foxes, on the third of November, 1804, and both parties being desirous of preserving a harmonious and friendly intercourse, and of establishing permanent peace and friendship, have for the purpose of removing all difficulties, agreed to the following terms:" etc. The boundaries established by this treaty are the only ones that have found a place upon the published county maps of the State. The territory ceded is marked by lines drawn from a point on Lake Michigan ten miles north, and south of the mouth of Chi cago Creek, and following the general di rection of the Desplaines to a point north of the Illinois on the Fox River, ten miles from its mouth, and similarly on the south on the Kankakee River. This treaty, it will be observed, ceded only that part of Grundy County north of the river. In 1818, however, the Pottawatomies ceded the larger p^rt of their remaining posses sions in Illinois, and with other territory, the balance of Grundy County. The Indians did not at once abandon the territory thus ceded, but under a provision of these trea ties lived and hunted here for years, while numerous reservations in favor of individuals and families made these rel ics of a peculiar race, like the dying embers of a great fire, a familiar sight for years to many of the present generation. The Indians found in and about Grundy County by the first settlers, were bands of the Pottawatomie tribe, and while owning but little allegiance to any chief, recognized in Shabbona and Wauponsee the represent atives of tribal authority. The band of the latter made their home at one time on the Illinois River, near the mouth of Ma zon Creek, in Grundy County, but in 1824 they moved to Paw Paw Grove. Waupon see is represented as a large, muscular man, fully six feet and three inches in height. His head presented an unusual feature for an Indian, being entirely bald save a small scalp lock at the crown. In manner he was markedly reserved and gave frequent evidences of an untamed savage disposition that needed only an opportunity to lapse into the cruel barbarity of earlier years. He was a war-chief and claimed to be one hundred years old, though this statement was but little credited by the whites. With the rest of his nation he was engaged in the battle of Tippecanoe and other Indian demonstrations in the following years. He is credited by some as being the Wauian- see who befriended the family of Kinzie after the massacre at Fort Dearborn, but while such action, inconsistent as it is with the part he would naturally take in the attack upon the retreating garrison, it is not without parallel in Indian history. However, the strong impression is that these are two individuals. He moved with his band to the government reservations in the "far West "in 1839, signalizing his departure with a deed of barbarous cruelty that characterizes his memory here. This occurred in October, 1839, and is described HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 127 by L. W. Claypool, who had ample facili ties for learning the -truth, as follows: "James McKeen residing on the north bank of the Kankakee River, a mile above the mouth, with a hired man, John Byers, had been burning logs in the afternoon. Some Indians asked the privilege of camp ing there for the night, which was readily granted. In the evening they gathered in to the camp to the number of some fifty, bringing a supply of whiskey. Soon Wau ponsee and his family came, liaving camped the night before near our place (S. W. i Sec. 20, 33, 7). My father and visited his camp, as he was leaving in the morning, and curiously observed their prep arations for moving. His family con sisted of one wife, of middle age — very attentive to his wants, adjusting pillows on his pack-saddle and assisting him on a stump to mount his pony; an old squaw — a wife evidently not in favor; a son, sixteen or eighteen years old; son-in-law with wife and two or three children ; and two slave squaws, poor, miserable, forlorn-looking wretches in every respect. " After supper McKeen and Byers went out to the fires where the Indians were having a drunken frolic. On approaching the Indians, they found a crowd of savages about a log heap, with one of the slave squaws lying on the ground near the fire, Wauponsee stooping over her and talking in a low voice. Immediately after he gave a signal when the other slave came up, and buried a squaw-ax into the brains of the unfortunate victim. The body was re moved to a pile of rails lying near, and being joined by other Indians the orgie was continued far into the night. In the morning the Indians broke camp and went on their way, when McKeen and Byers buried the unfortunate squaw on the banks of the Kankakee. " The prevailing opinion here as to the reason for the deed, was that Wauponsee, realizing the truth of the old adage, ' Dead men tell no tales,' and that as their new reservation in the west joined that of the Winnebagos, to which tribe the squaw orig inally belonged, fearing that her relatives might be moved to avenge her ill treatment received at his hands, ordered her execu tion, and thus ' took a bond of fate.' " Wau- bonsie is said to have been killed by a party of the Sacs and Foxes for opposing them in the " Black Hawk War." " His scalp was taken off, the body mutilated, and left on the prairie to be devoured by wolves. " * Shabbona, who shares with Shakespeare the distinction of having his name spelled in an endless number of ways, was born of Ottawa parents, on the Kankakee river in Will County, about 1775. In his youth he married the daughter of a Pottawatomie chief, who had his village on the Illinois a short distance above the mouth of the Fox River. Here at the death of Spotka, his father-in-law, he succeeded to the chieftain ship of the band, which soon sought a more salubrious spot, and settled in De Kalb County, where he was found by the early settlers. Shabbona seems to have lacked none of those qualities which were required to command the respect and confidence of his band and yet he was possessed of rare dis cernment and decision of character, which led hira early to see that war with the whites was hopeless, and that the only hope *" Memories of Shaubena," by N. Matson. 128 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. of the savage was to make the best terms possible with the inevitable. To this pol icy, he was one of the first of his people to give earnest support, and once ^committed to this line of action, he allowed no influ ence, however strong, to swerve him from it for a moment. He was easily influenced by the elo- quense of Tecumseh, and became an ardent admirer and devoted personal attendant of that celebrated warrior. He was absent from the battle of Tippecanoe with Tecum seh, and returned only to hear of the mas sacre at Fort Dearborn, and to assist in the defense of Kinzie on the following night. Believing that his nation would join the British in the war of 1812, he joined his hero-warrior, and acted as aid to Tecumseh until the latter was killed. In the general pacification of the tribes after this war, Shabbona seems to have imbibed his peace policy, to which he ever afterward adhered- While not gifted as an orator, his reputa tion for honesty, fidelity to his nation, and good judgment, gave him a wide influence among the more warlike of his people, and in 1827, he rendered valuable service to the whites in dissuading the Pottawatomie nation from joining the Winnebago war. In 1832, when Black Hawk strove to unite the Indian nations in a coinbined attack upon the whites, he met a fatal obstacle in the influence of Shabbona for peace. Not withstanding every influence and induce ment brought to bear upon him, the " white man's friend " stood flrm, and was largely influential in bringing the aid of the Pottawatomies to the white forces. Subsequently, when " Black Hawk was be trayed into hostilities, and the news of the Indians' first blow and success reached him he sent his son and nephew in different directions, while he went in still another, to warn the settlers jf the impending dan ger, thus saving the lives of many in the isolated settlements, a service for which he suffered the loss of his son and nephew at the hand of the enraged Sacs and Foxes years afterward. In the military opera tions which followed with Waubonsie, "Billy Caldwell" and a considerable num ber of warriors, he enlisted with the army under Gen. Atkinson, who at once placed him in command of the Indian contingent. After performing valued service, he retired with his band at the close of the war, to his village in De Kalb County, where thej' remained to the date of their removal to the West in 1836. In consideration of his services the nation al government, beside many other tokens of esteem, reserved a tract of land for his use at Shabbona's Grove, and granted him a pension of $200 per annum. In the summer of 1836, however, the Indian agent notified him that his band must go to the lands assigned them in the West, as none but himself and family could remain on the reservation. Much as he regretted to leave the scenes of his manhood, about which gathered his dearest memories, he could not consent to a separation from his band, and so in September, the whole band came to Main Bureau Creek, and camping at the crossing of the Peoria and Galena road, they remained here about six weeks hunting and fishing. The government pro posed to bear the expense of their removal as in the case of other tribes, but Shabbona rejecting this offer, set out one October day with his band of about one hundred and forty- two souls and one hundred and six- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 129 ty ponies, for their lands in Western Kansas. Not long after this the government moved the Sacs and Foxes from the reser vation in Iowa to lands adjoining the Pot tawatomies. These tribes entertained the bitterest hostility against Shabbona for the part he took in the Black Hawk War, and Neopope, a chief of these tribes, had sworn to accomplish the destruction of the " white man's friend," together with his son and nephew. In the fall of 1S37, Shabbona with his son and nephew and a few hunters went out on the plains to hunt buffalo, when without the slightest appre hension of danger they found themselves attacked by a band of the Sacs. Shabbona with his son Smoke and four hunters es caped, ' but knowing that a relentless Nemesis was on his track, he left his band and returned with his family to his reservation in De Kalb County; this consisted of 1,280 acres, most of which was fine timbered land. A clause of the treaty conveyed this, and other reservations granted them in fee simple, but the Senate struck out this clause making the property only a reservation. This fact escaped the notice of Shabbona, and in 1845 he sold the larger part of his land and re turned to Kansas to visit his band. It was soon discovered by designing persons that this transfer was illegal, and on the strength of representations made at Washington, the authorities declared the reservation vacant and the transfer void. On his return in 1851, he found his whole property seques tered and himself homeless. This grove had been his home for nearly fifty years; here he had made the grave of his first squaw and two papooses, and here he had expected to lay his own bones. It was natural that he should feel a deep sense of injury at this ungrateful requital of de votion to the white race; but this was a new generation, the reservation had been technically abandoned, and none were greatly wronged save t;he Indian, who had not yet excited the romantic or humanita rian interest of a later day, and broken hearted he went out to a retired place to implore the Great Spirit, after the fashion of his tribe. The case excited the interest of his early friends, who purchased a small tract of im proved land, with house, out-buildings and fencing, situated on the bank of the Illi nois near Seneca in Grundy County. Here he lived in a wigwam, his family occupy ing the house, until his death, at the age of eighty-four, on July 17, 1859. His re mains were laid in lot 59, block 7, in the Morris cemetery with elaborate ceremony and grateful regard of the whole county. Here rest also eight of his family, five of whom were his children or grandchildren. Shortly after his death his family re moved to their nation in the West, and while his land is held by the County Court in trust for the benefit of his heirs, there is no monument to mark the memory* of one whom General Cass oncfe introduced to a distinguished audience at Washington as, " Shabbona, the greatest red man of the *There is in the Court House at Morris, a fine hfe sized oil portrait of Shabbona, representing him stand ing and arrayed in a dress coat, presented to him at Washington supplemented by Indian finery, which gives him a picturesque but noble appearance. This picture is still the property of the artist, and it is to be regretted that the State or National authori ties do not see fit to place it in a position to which its artistic merit and the high character of the subject richly entitle it. 130 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. West." His grandson. Smoke, is supposed to be acting as chief of his nation at this time. An Indian relic which has given rise to many conjectures, is a cedar pole about six inches in diameter at the base, and from twenty to twenty-five feetin height standing in the center of the largest of the ancient mounds found in the village of Morris. The pole stands at the lower end of Wau ponsee street, its base protected by a close fitting piece of flagging, and surrounded by an iron fence. The universal respect on the part of the citizens for this monument of the past is, however, its surest protection. None of the Indians with whom the early settlers came in contact could give satis factory accounts of its erection (indeed they did not claim to know), until the engineers who surveyed the line of the canal made some investigations in this mound. Some members of this party made some unau thorized explorations, and were rewarded by the discovery of some interesting Indian remains. The engineering party was sub sequently joined by an Indian named Clark, who evidently belonged to the extinct Illinois nation, and of him Mr. A. J. Mat- thewson, the engineer in charge, obtained much valuable information, which he has embodied in a letter to L. W. Claypool, of Morris. By permission, the portion bear ing upon matters of interest to tuis county is given as follows: Speaking of Clark,"when asked, he said — ' Yes, the bones dug up at the cedar pole belonged to Nucquette, a celebrated chief who was killed upon the ground and buried in a dug-out' — a kind of rude trough which our boys found in 1837, and from which they took the bones, a bit of red rust which had once been a knife blade, and circular ornaments in silver. His squaw, who died years after, lay beside him, her blanket intact, with a profusion of silver brooches and silver rings with green glass sets, upon the bones of two or three fingers of each hand. The threads of the blanket would crumble upon touch, and yet the teeth and hair seemed nearly perfect. The pole, a red cedar, was very old, full of curious cuts and marks, giving in a rude way, as Clark said, the exploits of Nucquette. This brute had a story of his cruelties noted upon that pole, but the poor slave of a squaw lay there without a word being said of her. She was laid in her blanket, — nothing more. " I had found a curious mound at the west side of a small grove, north of the old river stage road and a little west of south from Seneca, and upon asking Clark about the stones carelessly thrown about it he said : ' Oh, yes, that was a very bad Indian! Steal horses, etc. They killed hira; put him in this old mound by himself,' and then when any Indian passed the mound he felt bound to show his contempt for the outcast who would not, or did not take scalps — but horses (he was a horse fancier), and before reaching the place they would pick up finger stones and cast them upon the mound and spit upon it, showing their utter contempt for his want of good taste while living. "Clark said Nucquette was killed in battle — that the fight began at Blue Island. The Illinois tribe retreated, and again had a fight three miles east of Joliet, at a vil lage on north bank of Hickory Creek, where Oakwood cemetery now is, then a retreat and a hard fight at Nettle Creek (Morris), the Indian name for which has escaped HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 131 me ; then a retreat and pursuit as far as Starve Rock, where Clark gave a descrip tion of the siege and the daring conduct of the devoted band, rushing up to the very edge of the cliff to challenge the foe to combat. Of course, these were the acts of a few men in a desperate situation, but when relating these things the eyes of Clark, usually mild enough, would assume a ferocious appearance quite shocking. He was evidently a friend of the weaker party. He gave also the exploits of a very few who escaped I down the-Illinois River in a skiff and were pursued for days, though finally escaping. Those left upon Starve Rock generally perished. * * * " In regard to the cedar pole, Clark told me the tribe or some of them came at times, as late as 1837-8, to replace the white flag upon the pole, when the winds had blown it away. Our men went on the sly to dig about the cedar pole in the mound, and upon their return to camp were told decidedly to go back and flx the mound and the pole, and to leave every thing as they found it or there would be trouble ; that the savages were then about, and that they would miss their top-knots by delay. I went back with them to see the order executed, and it was. We had no trouble with the Indians on account of the act."* * Mr. Matthewson adds : " The death of Nucquette was probably between 1680 and 1700, and the cedar pole may have been placed there at that time." This date is not probably derived from the narrative of Clark. The description of the series of Indian en gagements and the incident of Starve Rock corre sponds with the historical account of the exterminat ing war waged by the Pottawatomies and their allies against the Illinois to avenge the murder of Pontiac by one of the latter nation at Cahokia in 1769. It is possible that Nucquette fell in a series of conflicts with the Iroquois, and that Clark confused the tra ditions of these fights with those which terminated at Starve Rock. Even the later date gives the pole a respectable antiquity. OHAPTEE III.* EARLY FRENCH SETTLEMENTS-FRONTIER COUNTIES— CIVILIZED LIFE IN A NE TION-FORMATION OP GRUNDY ' ' TN southern Illinois near the Mississip- -*- pi, a hundred miles or more above the mouth of the Ohio, is situated the ancient village of Kaskaskia, supposed to be the oldest permanent European settlement in the valley of the Father of Waters,"j- but while thus attaining an unparalleled emi nence in one particular, it must not be sup posed that the whole State permanently shared in this distinction. Though thus promised with an early dawn of civilization in the latter part of the 17th century, the promise proved illusive before the march of greater events, and the bright flush of a hoped-for day paled into the darker obscu rity of a more savage barbarism. In 1700, the settlement of the French and Indians at old Kaskaskia was removed to the spot where the village of that name now stands; two years later followed the abandonment of Fort St. Louis on the Illi nois; and in 1718, the erection of Fort Chartres on the Mississippi, sixteen miles above the former village, conflrined the tendency of the white population to con centrate in the southern part of the State. About the fort, rapidly sprang up a village *By J. H. Battle. fPaper read before Chicago Hist. Soc, by Edward G. Mason, 1879. SETTLEMENTS IN LA SALLE AND GRUNDY W COUNTRY— POLITICAL ORGANIZA- COUNTY— COUNTY BUILDINGS. which was subsequently called New Char tres ; five miles away the village of Prairie du Rocher became a growing settlement, while all along the river between Kaskaskia and the fort a strong chain of settlements was formed within a year after the fort was finished. The erection of Fort Chartres, at this point, however, was dictated by na tional considerations rather than by fear of the savages. The colonization of Louisiana consequent upon the exploration of the Mississippi and the influx of colonists who found a home at Cahokia and Kaskaskia, made this section the key to the French possessions in America, the connecting link between Canada and Louisiana. Here the French settlers, but little disturbed by the forays of the Sacs and Foxes, pushed their improvements up to the Illinois, while lands were granted, though perhaps never occupied, some distance up this stream. The military force found occupation in sup porting the friendly Illinois tribes against the Iroquois and Sacs and Foxes, and in unsatisfactory or disastrous campaigns against the Chickasaws. In the meantime this " neck of the woods" was rapidly be coming a spot of national importance. From the southwest the Spaniards were jealously watching the French colonists, while the British gradually pushing west- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 133 ward were building forts near the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The European war of 1741-6, in which France and England were opposed, was echoed in these Western wilds, and it was found that the fort must be strengthened or abandoned. The former coarse prevailed, and in 1750 the old for tress of wood was transformed into one of stone, and garrisoned by a full regiment of French grenadiers. It was from this point that an important contingent went out to the capture of George Washington and his forces at Fort Necessity, July 4, 1754, and thus furnished to George II one of the causes for a declaration of hostilities and a beginning of the " Old French War." In the ensuing war a detachment burned Fort Granville, sixty miles from Philadelphia ; another party routed Major Grant near Fort Duquesne, but compelled to abandon that fortress, set it on flre and floated down the river in the light of its destroying flames ; again a large detachment aug mented by a considerable number of friend ly Indians, assisted in the vain attempt to raise the British siege of Niagara, leaving dead upon the field, the flower of the gar rison. The fort was no longer in condition to maintain the offensive, and learning that the British were preparing at Pittsburgh to make a hostile descent upon him, the commandant writes to the Governor-Gen eral : " I have made all arrangements, ac cording to my -strength, to receive the enemy." The victory on the Plains of Abraham decided the contest, but the little backwoods citadel, knowing but little of the nature of the struggle, dreamed that it miglit be the means of regaining, on more successful fields, the possessions thus lost to the French crown. The news that this fort, with all territory east of the river, had been surrendered without so much as a sight of the enemy, came like a thunder-clap upon this patriotic colony. Many of the settlers with Laclede, who had just arrived at the head of a new colony, expressed their disgust by going to the site of St. Louis, which they supposed to be still French ground. Though transferred by treaty to the Eng lish in 1763, the fort was the last place in North America to lower the white ensign of the Bourbon King, and it was not until the latter part of 1765 that the British formally accepted the surrender of Fort Chartres. Pontiac, the unwavering friend of the French, took upon himself, unaided by his former allies, to hold back the vic torious English. Major Loftus, Captains Pitman and Morris, Lieutenant Frazer, and George Crogan, sorae with force, some in disguise, and others with diplomacy, sought to reach the fort to accept its capitulation, but each one was foiled and turned back with his mission unaccomplished, glad to escape the fate of that Englishman for which Pontiac assured them, he kept a " kettle boiling over a large fire." Wearied out with the inactivity of the French, the In dian sought an audience with the com mandant, and explained his attitude. "Father," said the chieftain, "I have long wished to see thee, to recall the buttles which we fought together against the mis guided Indians and the English dogs. I love the French, and I have come here with my warriors to avenge their wrongs." But assured by St. Auge that such service could no longer be accepted, he gave up the struggle, and the fiag of St. George rose in the place of the fair lilies of France. 134 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Thus another nationality was projected into this restricted arena, a situation which was immediately afterward still further compli cated by the secret Franco-Spanish treaty, which made the west bank of the Mississippi the boundary of the Spanish possessions. " It is significant of the different races, and the varying sovereignties in that portion of our country," says a writer, "that a French soldier from the Spanish city of St. Louis should be married to an Englishwoman by a French priest in the British colony of Illinois." The effect of this political change upon the growth of the Illinois settlements was disastrous. At the first announcement of the treaty, the natural hostility of the peo ple to the English induced large numbers of the colonists to prepare to follow the French fiag, and a hegira followed which swept out of the colony fully one- third of its three thousand inhabitants. There was still a large number left, forming the larg est colony in the west; but there were forces constantly at work which gradually depleted its numbers. Under the British rule an abnormal activity among traders and land speculators was developed. The natives were constantly overreached in trade by unscrupulous persons, protected by the dominant power, and representa tives of land purchasing organizations were acquiring vast tracts of country from igno rant savages, who had little comprehension of the meaning or consequences of these transactions. These schemes and practices, though happily brought to naught by the Revolution, rendered the Indians, for a time, savagely hostile, and left their blight ing influence long after their removal. The lack of proper sympathy between the governing race and the governed, the hos tility of the savages in which they were involved with the British, induced many of the Old French colonists to leave theiV old homes as rapidly as they could make arrangements to do so. Unfortunately there was at this time no emigration to repair this depletion constantly going on; few English or Americans even visited this region, much less settled here. The British garrison had hitherto occu pied the old French Fort Chartres, but one day in 1772, the river having overflowed its banks, and swept away a bastion and the river wall, the occupants fled with pre cipitate haste to the high ground above Kaskaskia, where they erected a palisade fort. This was the principal achievement of the British forces, up to the beginning of the war with the colonies. In this struggle, removed from the scene of active operations, the commandant, resorting to the favorite means of the British during the entire early history on this continent, furnished supplies and munitions of war to the savages, and thus equipped, incited them to war upon the unprotected frontier settlements in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Yirginia. So disastrous in their con sequences, and distracting in their influ ence, were these attacks, that Col. George Rogers Clark early set about procuring the means to effectually check them. Rec ognizing the British post at Kaskaskia as the source of the Indians' supplies and inspiration, he directed his efforts toward the capture of this point, and enlisting the interest of Patrick Henry, governor of Yir ginia, securing such help as he could give, Clark was able on' June 24, 1778, to start from the falls of the Ohio with one Missing Page Missing Page HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 137 hundred and fifty-three men for lower Illinois. So skillfully did he manage his movements that he caught the garrison napping, and captured on the 5th of July, both force and fort without the spilling of a drop of blood. Cahokia fell in like manner without a blow, and in the follow ing October, the Yirginia Assembly erected the whole country secured by Clark's sev eral victories, into the county of Illinois; a territory now divided into five States. This county thus erected was at once placed under control of civil authority, John Todd representing the sovereignty of Yirginia as County Lieutenant. His in structions were broad enough to meet the whole case; he was to conciliate the French and Indians; to inculcate on the people the value of liberty, and to remove the griev ances that obstruct the happiness, increase and prosperity of that country. These cer tainly were the great ends to be achieved if possible, but in the nature of things their accomplishment was not possible. The French population were easily concili ated, but the education of a life-time, and the hereditary characteristics of the race rendered them incapable of appreciating the value of liberty. They had grown up under the enervating influence of the most arbitrary manifestations of monarchial gov ernment, and self-government involved too great a risk for this simple folk. The re sult was a lack of sympathy with the new order of things, more decided perhaps than under British rule. To this was added a business competition, to which they were unaccustomed; more frequent hostile in cursions of the Indians in which the sav ages gradually forgot the old-time love for the French, and repeated losses by the in undations of the river, made up a sum of discouragement which gradually deple ted this country of the French inhabitants. This loss was but imperfectly repaired by the immigration which came in from Yir ginia and Maryland. Notwithstanding the fertility of the soil had been widely pub lished, and a considerable nuraber had al ready found much better advantages here than the older colonies afforded, yet the Indian depredations that followed the Rev olutionary war, deterred others from fol lowing until the general pacification at Greenville in 1795. In 1787, the whole country northwest of the Ohio was erected into the Northwest Territory, and in February, 1789, General Arthur St. Clair arrived at Kaskaskia as first Territorial Governor. Among the earliest acts of his administration was the erection of the first county, including all of the present State extending north as far as the mouth of Little Mackinaw Creek (now in Tazewell County), and named St. Clair after the governor. May 7, 1800, Ohio was set ott' and the balance of the ter ritory called Indiana; on February 3, 1809, the Illinois territory was constituted, in cluding the present State with the State of Wisconsin, and on April 18, 1818, the present State of Illinois was admitted into the union. These dates are approximate indications of the advance of settlements in the State. The population in 1809 was estimated at 9,000; in the census of the fol lowing year a total population of 12,282 was returned. The frontiers had been steadily advanced by the adventurous pio neers. To the north, the settlement had extended to the Wood River country, in the present Madison County; eastward on 138 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Silver Creek and up the Kaskaskia River; south and east from Kaskaskia, some fif teen miles out on the Fort Massac road; a family had also located at the mouth of the Ohio, and at old Massac and Shawneetown were the remains of old colonies. The new settlements were very sparse and all feeble, and from 1810 to the close of the war, four years later, immigration was almost at a standstill.* With the close of hostilities, however, and the cessation of Indian ag gressions, stimulated by the passage of the act granting the right of pre-emption to settle upon the public lands, the tide of emigration set in toward this State with unequaled volume. At the time of the admission of the State, fifteen counties had been organized, em bracing about one fourth of the territory of the State. The settled portions were all south of a line drawn from Alton via Car- lyle to Palestine, on the Wabash, but within this area were large tracts of unset tled country, several day's journey in ex tent. At this time there were some 40,000 inhabitants, of whom scarcely a twentieth part were descendants of the old French colonists. Nineteen-twentieths of the bal ance were Americans from the Southern states, with the exception of some from Pennsylvania. In 1820, the population was returned at 157,447, while the political organization represented fifty-six counties, though some of the northern ones were large and thinly settled. The territory lying between Galena and Chicago, extend ing southward to the Kaskaskia, the head waters of the Yermillion, along the Rock River, and far down into the " Military *Hist. of 111., Davidson & Stuv«, pp. 24.5-246. Tract," was a trackless waste occupied by various Indian tribes. The results of emi gration had been shown in the interior of the southern part of the State, and the country bordering the Embarrass, the San gamon and their tributaries, where the hitherto unoccupied wilderness had been made to blossom with the harvest of the frontier farmer. The advanced settlements still clung to the edge of the timber lands that fringed the streams, and along the Illinois to Chicago — which was just then beginning to attract attention — were found at this time a few scattered settlements, weak in numbers and situated long dis tances apart. The tide of emigration which continued to sweep into the State — some what changed in character — coming largely from the Eastern States, and comprising a considerable percentage of foreigners, fol lowed the old channels, and gradually spread over the northern part of the State until it met the tide which came latterly by way of the lake region. Tlie rapidly increasing demand for the organization of new counties at this period, gave sure indi cation of this rapid development of the State. Up to 1812, St. Clair and Randolph Coun ties had sufficed, but for the purposes of better representation in the territorial coun cil, three more counties were added at this time. In 1816, two more were added; in 1816, five; in 1818, three; and in 1821, seven. Of the latter were Sangamon and Pike, the latter including all of the State north and west of the Illinois, and what is now Cook County. Sangamon included the territory east of the river to the boun dary of Pike on the north. In 1825, the county of Peoria was formed of the north- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 139 ern part of Sangamon, and in 1831, Peoria was divided and La Salle formed, which then included what is now Grundy County, and the larger part of Kendall. The advancing tide of emigration coming up along the river made its first permanent settlement on the territory of the present county of La Salle, near the present site of South Ottawa, in 1823-4^5. As early as 1821, Joel Hodgson came in the interest of several families resident in Clinton County, Ohio, to seek a place suitable for the found ing of a colony. Crossing Indiana, he en tered the State of Illinois near the present site of Danville, and guided only by his compass and an occasional Indian trail, he reached the Illinois, near the mouth of the Kankakee, and following the larger stream down to the mouth of the Fox River, he, for the first time since he entered the State, rec ognized his position on the map with which he was provided. He carefully explored the land along the Illinois and its tributa ries in this region, making his way finally to the settlement at Dillon's Grove, where he met the first white men after leaving Danville. It is not a fiattering considera tion to those who now rejoice in pleasant homes and fruitful farms in this section, to recall that this explorer returned to his principals only to report that there was no land here suitable for the purposes of the proposed colony. But there were not lack ing those who could see beyond the present forbidding aspect, and who had the courage to dare and do. In 1827, there'were some fif teen or eighteen families within the present territory of La Salle, situated some distances apart on both sides of the river. The col ony located south of the river, included a considerable part of this number, and when the news of the Winnebago outbreak reached them, although the scene of action was a long distance off, they realized that they were on the frontier, and at the mercy of a horde of savages whose motives and impulses could not safely be conjectured, and they at once set about building a fort , which served as a rallying point for the pio neers in this section. The speck of war, however, soon vanished, and emigration, temporarily stayed, began again to push its way up the Illinois. In 1828, the first settler on the present territory of Grundy County made his appearance in the person of Will iam Marquis. He came untrammeled by contingencies, and upon no uncertain mis sion; he came here to stay, and settling on the banks of the Illinois, above the mouth of Mazon Creek, he reared his cabin and was found here by those who reached this country after the Black Hawk War. Dur ing these hostilities, the brunt of which fell upon the settlements of La Salle Count}', Marquis, although a trader and on the best of terras with the natives, found greater security in the protection of the fort at Ottawa than in the friendly dispo sition of his patrons, and spent the interval at the settlement. He did not return to his place on the Mazon, but settled fur ther north in the county, and later left for the more unsettled parts, where trading with the Indians was more profitable. The second family in the county was that of William Hoge, who settled north of the river in what is now Nettle Creek town ship, in the fall of 1831. Here the lirsi white child of the county, James B. Hoge, was born, May 6, 1834. In 1833 a number of families came in and settled on both sides of the river; John Beard, Sr., and his 140 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. son-in-law, James McKeen, settled near the Kankakee north of the river, the latter building the first house in Morris, a log structure, for John P. Chapin, in May, 1834. Col. Sayers built a cabin in Wau ponsee, which was occupied in the following year by W. A. Holloway; W. H. Perkins built his cabin in Au Sable; Zachariah Walley settled iu fhe same township, and A. K. Owen in Mazon. The latter in a pniblished autobiography says: "At the close of the war (Black Hawk) I sold my claim on Corille Creek to a man by the name of Moore, and in the following spring Edwin Shaw, Dr. S. S. Robbins, Sheldon Bartholomew, John Hogoboom and myself fitted out an exploring expedition, and on the second day arrived safe and sound at the celebrated Sulphur Spring on Mazon Creek, and proceeded to make claims as follows, to wit: Dr. Robbins at the Sulphur Spring, John Hogoboom at John Grove, Shaw and Bartholomew at Parers' Groves, and myself on the south branch of the Mazon, one mile below Mazon Town. "While we were exploring we made head quarters at Johnny Grove, and on leaving we organized a meeting for the purpose of naming the different points selected. Dr. Robbins proposed that from its location, it should be called Center Grove, but I pro posed that it should be called John Grove, in honor of John Hogoboom, the wealthy proprietor, and ray name was adopted, so the name is John Grove in place of Johnny Grove. Wauponsee — tradition had it that the old chief had, in a drunken fit, taken his butcher knife and killed six wives in one day, so from this and the fact that he had lived here during the Black Hawk War, we gave the name of Wauponsee Grove. Pa- rer's Grove was christened Spring Grove, in honor of a big spring I found just at the foot of the grove, but as these claimants failed to put in an appearance, it was sub sequently claimed by an Englishman by the name of Parer, hence the name. Sul phur Spring was called Robbins' Sulphur Spring, and my claim Owen's Spring, with reference to a spring at the top of the bank and a small point of timber running into the prairie, which I subsequently cleared off. I think this was in the spring of 1833." In the following year Robbins alone moved onto his claim. Early in the sarae spring also carae Jaraes McCartj', an old bachelor, who took two or three acres in Wauponsee Grove. He built him a little camp and raised a crop of corn which he put in with a hoe. In the fall he erected a shelter out of the stalks, in which he passed the winter. About this time came also the families of Claypool, Collins, Cryder, Tabler, Chapin, Cragg, Hollands, Kent, Millers, Griggs, Ewing, Adkins, Newport, Taylor, Robbs, Eubanks, Snowhill, Samuel and Isaac Hoge and others. These were the principal fam ilies here before the government land sale of June 15, 1835. The early settlers here found the public lands in a very unsatisfactory shape. Congress, in 1827, had granted to the State in aid of a proposed canal, the alter nate sections found in the space of five miles on each side of the proposed line of its construction. These lands were resur- veyed by the State in 1829; the "odd sections " selected, Chicago and Ottawa laid off, and in 1830, some lots brought into market. Under this sale, the only property bought in Grundy County, was the purchase of Mr. William Hoge on HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNT'j ]41 Nettle Creek. Up to 1834, the Congress lands were subject to pre-emption, and those who came prior to that date found no difficulty in securing the property upon which they had made improvements. The larger number of Grundy County's pioneers, however, came subsequent to 1833 hoping that the privilege of pre-emption would be extended. This, the government did not do, but ordered a sale of the lands. In the meanwhile, considerable improve ments had been made; each man striving to include all the land that the old pre emption law would allow. In February, 1835, the lands were advertised to be sold; Ranges 1, 2 and 3 east, and all west of them from the southern line of township 13, to the northern boundary of the State, at Galena; and from range 3, to the eastern border of the State, at Chicago. The sale began at Chicago, on June 15, the land being oflered at auction, and sold to the highest bidder above $1.25 per acre. The sale at the latter ' place was the one in which the settlers of this county were interested, and they soon found their worst fears realized. The town of Chicago was full of land speculators, who were ready to bid against the settlers for lands upon which they had " squatted " and improved. The sale was made by ranges, and matters went quietly forward until a spirited con test arose over some land at Marseilles, on which Ephraim Sprague had erected a saw mill- That night there was a meeting of settlers and speculators, and finding that the land-holders were bound to assert their prior claim by force if need be, the speculators made a virtue of necessity, and agreed that the actual settlers should have the privilege of purchasing, a quarter- section without competition. To carry out this arrangement, a committee of three from each township was appointed, who should certify to the actual settlers, and appoint a man who should bid off the property. Instead of several persons, Dr. Goddard was chosen to bid off the property in the region covering La Salle County, as then constituted. This arrangement greatly discouraged the foreign land speculators, and it is said $500,000 left thj town on the following morning. Thus weakened and discouraged, the speculators conceded to the settlers the privilege of peaceably bidding off more than a quarter- section, provided their improvements cov ered more land, and on reaching range 8, Salmon Rutherford claimed the right to bid off in this way, all he had money to buy, and this being conceded, became the rule of the sale. This land auction, which continued for upwards of two weeks, was held for a day or two on the steps of a store which stood where 121 Lake street now is, this spot proving to be too muddy for comfort, the sale was adjourned to Garrett's new auction rooms near South Water street, where the weight of the crowd, breaking down some part of the structure, the sale was finished in a store room on South Water street. On the second of August following, the books were opened for entries and then the speculators, having little opposition, bought every available piece of timber in the northeast part of 'rie State. As this section of the country gradually became settled and less dependent upon the older settlements, the county seat at Ottawa was felt to be at too great distance from the northern limits of the county. The deraands of a frontier farm rendered the loss of 142 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. several days on the occasion of every nec essary visit to the county capital a serious burden, while the tedious character of traveling facilities aggravated the burden by the discomfort of the journey. In addition to this it was felt that those por tions of the county which had readier access to the county seat had an undue influence, which acted to the prejudice of the less represented limits. These motives, what ever else may have entered into the movement, were sufficient to create a desire for a division of the county. Jacob Clay pool, in settling in Wauponsee, with shrewd forecast, had satisfied his mind that the distance between Ottawa and Joliet — the latter not then a county seat, but of such growing importance that he believed it could not be ignored in the formation of a county — left space for another county with its center near the present location of Mor ris. The natural discontent of this section of the county was therefore first crystallized by the efforts of Mr. Claypool and G. W. Armstrong, who, though not so far distant from Ottawa, became interested in the movement. It was a year or two before the idea secured supporters enough to challenge the serious attention of the lower part of the county, but when it did there was consider able opposition manifested. However, the unwieldy size of La Salle was manifest, and the opposition finally addressed itself to the effort to confine the surrender to as small a territory as possible. The supporters of the proposition for a new county, while united against those who opposed the divis ion, were by no means united as to the line of division. The friends of the Grundy County plan were surrounded by those who desired a different division with reference to other interests, giving rise to a confiict of interests that afforded scope for diplo matic management and rendered the issue by no means certain. The supporters of the Kendall County division, having " pooled their issues " with those of Grundy, the prospects of success visibly brightened. In the fall of 1840, Wm. E. Armstrong, a man of energy and ability, seeing that the for mation of Grundy might be turned to speculative account, interested himself in the project, and securing in addition to others a numerously signed petition for the two counties, presented it to the General Assembly in the winter of 1840^1; by which bills erecting the counties of Kendall and Grundy were passed, the latter being approved by the Governor Feb. 17, 1841, and the Kendall bill two days later. At this time the public interest was cen tered in the building of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, the construction of which was being delayed by lack of funds, and all public measures were made more or less subsidiary to this object. It was therefore required in the act erecting Grundy County, that the " Seat of Justice" should be locat ed " on the line of the Illinois and Michi gan Canal, on canal lands," of which terri tory, not to exceed ten acres, was to be laid off " as a town site, embracing lots, streets, alleys and a public square;" the lots thus formed to be assigned one half to the State and one half to the county, " in alternate lots of equal value." For the lots assigned to the State, the county was to pay ten dol lars an acre, and this revenue devoted by the Canal Commissioners to the purposes of the canal. A board to carry out these provisions of the act was constituted, to be composed of the Canal Commissioners, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 143 Hon. Newton Cloud and Gens. Thornton and Fry, and William E. Armstrong, R. S. Duryea and Gen. W. B. Burnett, the latter an engineer on the canal. A glance at the situation demonstrated the fact that to se cure anything near a central location, the county seat would necessarily be placed on section 7 or 9, in township 33, range 7. Section 9, was objectionable to the Canal Commissioners, as there was but a frac tion of its northeast corner north of the river, and this was the only portion suitable for a town site. Section 7 was objection able to the local members of the board, principally because their lands were locat ed in the vicinity of the other position, and that the approach to the site from the south, would be over the low bottoms which would oblige travel to make a con siderable detour. Such a conflict of inter ests left no room for compromise, and the result of a vote was a dead-lock," Gen. Burnett voting with the local raerabers. Under the organizing act an election was held at the cabin of Columbus Pinney, May 24, 1841, with Perry A. Claypool, Robert Walker and John Beard, Sr., as judges of election. One hundred and forty-eight votes were cast, which, as there was a spirited contest over these first of fices, represented the entire population. It should be noted, however, that about one third of these votes represented an Irish element brought here by the work on the canal, and stayed here but a short time. In this election, Henry Cryder, Jacob Clay pool and James McKeen were made county commissioners; James Nagle, clerk; L. W. Claypool, recorder; Isaac Hoge, sheriff,* *Mr. Hoge refused to qualify, and at a special election held Sept, 25, 1841, William E, Armstrong was elected. Joshua Collins, probate justice; f and J. L. Pickering, treasurer.^ On June 14, 1841, the commissioners elect with Jaraes Nagle as clerk, met at the house of William E. Arm strong, and after attending to the prelim- inarjr duties in relation to oaths and bonds, proceeded to organize the county. On the organization of La Salle County ranges 1 and 2 constituted Yermillion Precinct; ranges 3 and 4 Ottawa Precinct, and ranges 5, 6, 7 and 8 the Eastern Precinct. In June, 1834, a "Northern Precinct" was erected includ ing Au Sable Grove and vicinity, and a year later, in June, 1835, Wauponsee was erected, embracing the wliole of what is now Grundy County. In the following December that part of Wauponsee and the county north of the river was divided into two precincts, tiie dividing line starting at the river on the line between sections 3 and 4, township 33, R. 7, and going to section 21, 36, 7. The territory east of this line was known as Franklin, and west of this line as Grafton. The newly formed county was in this shape when the first Board of Commissioners sat down to arrange its political divisions. At their first session they formed the first precinct, composed of all of township 34, in range 8, north of the Illinois and Desplaines Rivers, and called it Dresden; the second, composed of all territory north of the river in ranges 6 and 7, they called Jefferson; the third composed of all territory comprised in range 6, and the west half of range 7 south of the river, they called Wauponsee; and the fourth, composed of all territory south of the river, and east of the middle line of fL. S. Robbins was elected subsequently, in place of Mr. Collins who failed to qualify. ifSidney Dunton was elected first treasurer but failed to qualify. ' 144 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. range 7, they called Kankakee. Subse quently, on December 6, 1841, Grundy Precinct was erected out of the east side of Jefferson, and comprised all of range 7, north of the river. On September 8, 1847, Mazon Precinct was erected out of the Territory of Kankakee, lying south of an east and west line drawn through the mid dle of sections 25 and 30, in township 33, range 8, and continued through sections 25 and 27, in township 33, range 7. There were no further changes until March 2, 1850, when under the new Constitution, the Board of Supervisors through George II. Kiersted, Phillip Collins and Robert Gibison acting as commissioners, made the precinct lines to coincide with the township lines, save where the rivers made a devia tion necessary. The present names and lines are those fixed at that time save in the case of the boundaries of Felix which was attached to Wauponsee, and was named and given a separate existence Nov. 22, 1854. The present boundaries between the two townships were arranged on peti tion of their citizens, September 9, 1856. The original names of Fairview, Addison and Dover were changed by the request of the State auditor, respectively to " Ari- anna," Braceville and Goodfarm. One of the first duties imposed upon the County Commissioners by the act cre ating Grundy County, was to " prepare a place for holding courts in said county." The county at this time possessed neither buildings nor land, and it was ordered that the house of Wm. E. Armstrong be used for the court. This seemed to be the most available place for the purpose, and con tinued to be so used, notwithstanding a formal protest by Mr. Cryder, until the May term in 1843, when Mr. Armstrong, having erected a frame wooden building 20 by 40 feet and two stories high, on the northwest corner of the present court house lot, the court was transferred to this new temple of justice. In the meanwhile the "dead-lock" on the question of locating had been broken, and the matter decided in favor of its present location. The com missioners, therefore, finding this buildino" suitably located, bought the building which, after having it " lathed and plastered," cost a total of $485.36. The county offices were in the upper story, the east room being as signed to the Clerk, and the southwest room to the Recorder. As the court room was the most available hall in the town, it found considerable demand for this object other than that to which it had been devot ed, and its use was finally restricted to re ligious, political and court purposes. This modest edifice survived until the erection of the present courthouse which cost $22,- 760, and was accepted April 26, 1858. The " Commissioners' Court," as it was called, rivaled the Circuit Court in importance. It provided for court and jury, for prisoner and pauper; it ordered roads and licensed ferries, regulated the early tavern's bill of fare and laid its paternal hand on trade; it was in that day the sole arbiter of the coun ty's destiny. The difficulties under which this executive board of the county labored haAC been long forgotten and now find ex pression only in the musty records of that time. The oft recurrence of the same names in the list of juries, the claims made for " guarding prisoners," and sums paid for the care of paupers, suggest a lack of resources in both means and men, which was characteristic of pioneer days. An HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 145 incident, published by Mr. Perry Arm strong, "points the moral." Michael D. Prendegast, a man of fair scholastic acquire ments, but of inordinate self-esteem, in August, 1847, was elected Probate Justice of the Peace by the large Irish vote which was then an important element in county politics. His success stimulated his vanit}', which he betraj'ed by signing his name " Michel De Prendegast," and adorning his person with a Catalonian cloak, stove- pipe^hat and a fancy ivory headed cane. His wife expressed the family pride by reraark- ing to a friend: " My husband is none of your common justices like Pat Hynds; he is the reprobate justice of the peace." The greatness thus thrust upon him could not satisfy all the demands of his earlier tastes, and the " De Prendegast" was found, one Sunday evening, wending his way to one of the saloons with his judicial cloak about him. Ilis entrance was greeted by a numerous and noisy crowd, and as he produced a bottle from the folds of his cloak, ordering it filled with port wine, Owen Lamb, noted no less for his strength and size than for his love of fun and adven ture, stepped up to the justice, saying: " Judge, we will all drink with you, and I'll have the best in the house; give me some brandy." This was too much for the self-complacent dignity of the "judge," and he burst out with : " The likes of you, Owen Lamb, insulting me! Why, I'll blow your brains out on the spot; "and carried away with his anger, he instantly presented an old horse pistol to carry out his threat. The weapon was instantly knocked to the other side of the room, when the judje precipitately left the field. The wits saw fun in this incident, and at the suggestion of Wm. Armstrong and George Kiersted, Lamb brought action against Prendegast for assault. The insti gators of the action represented the prose cution, and the defendant, aided by the only lawj'^ers in the place, E. H. Little and C. M. Lee, appeared on the part of the defense. The proofs in behalf of the prosecution were positive, clear and unquestioned, hence the defendant confined his efforts to prove his good character. Among other witnesses, L. W. Claypool, deposed substantially that he had known the defendant a long time; his reputation as a law abiding citizen was good; he did not consider him a willful or malicious man; not half so dangerous as a little black dog the judge owned. Dr. Curtis testified that he had never consid ered the judge a malicious or dangerous man, but rather as a d — d fool. This was the tenor of the testimony for the defense. In the meanwhile, news of the trial had come to the ears of the devoted wife as she was engaged in " wiping the dishes." Her impetuosity knew no method, but rushino- out with a cup and towel in her hand, she entered the court room, just as Kiersted was addressing the court. Without a word of parley or protest she rushed up to him say ing: " So you have turned lawyer, Mr. Kiersted, take that!" at the same time ac companying her words with a blow of the teacup on his breast, which shivered her missile to atoms. Utterly surprised by the attack he drew back his fist to strike, when he recognized his assailant and gallantly apologized for threatening a woman. During the progress of the trial, the de fendant was pelted with eggs and subjected to other personal indignities. As he rose to "sum up" the evidence, an egg struck him 146 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. squarely in the ear. Throwing his hand up to the smitten organ, he exclaimed: "I'm kilt! I'm kilt!" and instantly feeling the soft material oozing out of his stunned ear, he displayed his hand covered with the meat of the egg, and with a horrified ejac ulation, "See me brains!" broke with the speed of a quarter horse for his residence, declaring as the hope of a longer existence dawned upon his mind, " I '11 demand pro tection from the Governor and his posse coraitatus." Esquire Barber, before whom the trial was had, discovered the whole matter was intended for a joke, and dis charged the defendant. The first jail was built on or near the site of the old brick structure south of the court house. There is no record of this, but tradi tion has it that it was a two-story log house with a square excavation in the ground, with an entrance in the center of the lower apartment. The prisoner was dropped in and secured by an iron grate over the open ing and shielded from the bare earth walls by hemlock logs. From the numerous "claims for guarding prisoners" it is sur mised that this jail was not much used. Indeed the early sheriffs declared it unfit for human beings, and occasionally employed the prisoners in the business affairs of the jailor. It is said, but not fully credited, that Wm. Armstrong fastened one Cottrell, arrested for numerous thefts, with a chain and padlock .to a whisky barrel. At any rate, the prisoner served the sheriff as bar tender and ferryman for some time, and served himself so good a turn that on com ing to trial the jury acquitted him in the face of the most explicit evidence of his guilt. So marked was this action of the jury that it was. for some time afterward sufficient to show that a man had been on the Cottrell jury to exclude hira from the jury box. The old jail was subsequently sold for fourteen dollars, when the brick was erect ed. This was built at a cost of §3,- 237.13, and accepted April 17, 1855. On July 14, 1875, after the brick jail had been officially and repeatedly called a nui sance the Board of Supervisors decided to build a new one, the result of which decision is the present stone structure, erected at a cost of $16,190.60, and accepted Sept. 14, 1876. The last, and perhaps the least satis factory of the county institutions is the " Poor Farra." The first farm consisted of 160 acres (the N. E. quarter section No. 24, 33, 6), in Norman township. This land cost $2,400; was high land, and while not presenting its greatest attractions to the road, was considered well adapted to the purposes for which it was bought. It was found to be too large for practical purposes, and portions of the farm were sold. Later it was thought a smaller farm could be made nearer self-supporting, and another farm was finally bought October 27, 1879; eighty acres (the south half of S. W. quar ter, section No. 33, 7) in Wauponsee were bought at forty-five dollars an acre. This selection was very much opposed, and a special committee appointed by the Board after examining the property reported as follows: " It is too low and flat, with no building place above level of prairie, and no drainage suitable for such a cellar as the wants of a poor-house require — wholly unfit for the erection of such buildings as this county will require in after years." The purchase was persevered in, however, and HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 147 subsequently a brick building erected at a cost of $3,800. What remained of the old farm was, sold for $2,510. Under the statute of 1849 the probate business was transferred to the county judge, while that of the commissioners was transferred to a county court composed of a county judge and two associates. At the election in April of the following year the township organization was adopted by a vote of the people, and under this arrange ment the first Board of Supervisors organ ized June 12, 1850. OHAPTEE lY.* SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT— EARLY SOCIETY— RISE OF CHURCH AND SCHOOL— INDIAN TRAILS AND EARLY ROADS— RAILROADS AND THE CANAL— THE NEWSPAPERS. heavy showers for several days, and the low prairie around Chicago was more like a lake than dry land. For seven miles before reaching Berry's Point, the water was from three to fifteen inches deep, through which we worked our weary way. When within about two miles of dry land, one of our companions gave out, and two of us, one on either side, placed our arms around and under his opposite arm, while he placed his on our shoulders, and thus we bore him through. " The next day we walked about forty miles to Plainfield. It gave us our first view of a rolling Illinois prairie. We strained our eyes to take in its extent, till the effort became painful. We descanted again and again upjn its beauty and rich ness, and wondered why such a country had remained so long in the hands of the sav age. It was a wonderful country. All was new. Strange sights and sounds greeted us. The piping note of the prairie-squirrel, as he dropped from his erect position, and sought the protection of his hole close by our path; the 'shrill notes of the plover, scattered iu countless numbers, fitfully starting and running over the prairie; the constant roaring of the prairie cock; the mad scream of the crooked-bill curlew, as we approached its nest; the distant whoop of the crane: the pump sounding note of ^piIE pioneers of Grundy County came -*- principally from southern Ohio, with a number from the southern States, and later, a few from Pennsylvania and other more eastern States. Most of these families had been pioneers in older settlements in the States from which they came, or had grown up in frontier colonies which their fathers had founded, and had been trained in the stern school of experience to meet and conquer the difficulties of a new country. But the problem here, nevertheless, pre sented features and difficulties entirely different from that with which their earlier experience had acquainted them. The timber that skirted the raargin of the river and sent out spurs here and there along the banks of the creeks and ravines, divided the vast open sea of grass and fiowers into two great divisions. On either side the broad expanse of verdant meadow, marked here and there by a stray clump of under sized trees, stretched away frora the river, unbounded save by the horizon, and the pioneer with his little retinue of wagons was lost in this luxuriant wilderness like a convoy of sloops in raid ocean. A party of pioneers carae on foot byway of Chicago, in May, 1835, and one of thera presents this picture: f " There had been *By J. H. Battle. tElmer Baldwin's Hist, of La Salle County, p. 124. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 149 the bittern ; the lithe and graceful forms of the deer, in companies of three to five, lightly bounding over the swells of the prairie; — it seemed a new creation that we had entered." Every immigrant supplied his own means of reaching his destined home. The pioneer from Pennsylvania, Ohio, or the Southern States, betrayed his nativity and prejudice in the schooner-shape wagon box, the stiff tongue, the hinder wheels double the size of the forward ones, and closely coupled to gether, the whole drawn by a team of four or six horses which were guided by a single line in the hands of a teamster riding the "nigh wheeler." His harness was of gi gantic proportions. What between the massive leather breeching, the heavy hames and collar, the immense housing of bear skin upon the liaines, the heavy iron trace chains, and the ponderous double-tree and whiffie- trees, the poor beasts seeraed like humanity in a chain gang, or some terrible monsters that human ingenuity could scarcely fetter securely. The eastern immigrant, from New York or farther east, was marked as far as his caravan could be seen, by a long coupled, low boxed, two horse wagon, pro vided with a seat, from which with double lines the driver guided his lightly harnessed pair of horses. There was about each part of the outfit, evidences of the close calcu lation of means to an end, and an air of utility which left no room for doubt as to the purpose of the maker in every part of it. This strange contrast in these early outfits suggests that they may not unfitting ly be taken as types of two civilizations that met here on this middle ground, and in many a sterner contest waged an "irre pressible confiict." In the end, these "wooden-nutmeg Yankee wagons," as they were called, prevailed. This prairie country undoubtedly of fered opportunities to the pioneer occupant, far superior to those of a timbered country, but the early settlers, imbued with the log ical deductions of their early experiences, looked with distrust upon the open prairie. The general impression was that only the timber belts would ever be inhabited; tlie prairie swept by the fires of summer, and by the piercing blasts of winter, seemed little better than a desert, and for several years there was not a cabin in Grundy County built more than one hundred yards from the timber. Tho necessity of the early cabins similar in size, style and ma terials, confirmed this impression, and made it a conviction. The pioneer having selected a site on some prospecting tour, or being attracted to a certain region by the report of friends, came with all his worldly possessions on wagons, and making selection of a farm, chose a site for his cabin, and set at once to build it. Trees were felled; logs of the proper length chopped off and drawn to the chosen site, and willing neighbors for miles about invited to the raising. Rude as these structures were it needed no little handicraft to rear them, and it was not long before the special ability of each mem ber of the community, entailed upon him his special duty on these occasions. The logs trimmed, " saddled," and properly as sorted, were placed in the pen shape of the cabin; the gable ends were run up with regularity, shortening logs sha])ed at the ends, to allow for the slope of the roof; on these the long roof poles two feet apart, stretched from end to end, served as foun- 1.50 HISTORY^ OF GRUNDY COUNTY. dation for the roof, which was made up of clapboards, riven by the froe from bolts of oak laid in place and held secure by " weight poles" made firm by pegs or stones. Then followed the sawing out of the door-way and windows, the chinking of the cracks with pieces of riven timber; the caulking with a mixture of mud and chopped hay; the construction of fioors and a door from puncheons, and the build ing of the chimneys of " cat and clay." Hinges were supplied from rawhide, and the wooden latch, reached from the outside by means of an attached leather latch- string passing through a hole in the door, was often the only protection against for cible entrance. Later experiences intro duced the use of heavy wooden bars, but the proverbial expression of early hospital ity was the hanging out of tlie latch-string. The local characteristics of the early settlers found their expression in the construction of the chimneys. Few early cabins were more than one story high, and the chim ney placed on one side, was constructed in the case of the southerner or the Indianian on the outside of the cabin, while the rest built inside, the top in all cases scarcely reaching the height of the ridge. The interior of the cabin was marked by the same general similarity. In each the wide fire-place shed abroad its genial warmth of hospitality or aided in the preparation of the table's cheer. The " crane," hung with iron pots and kettles, and the Dutch oven, half submerged in coals, were in all cabins the "evidence of things not seen," and furnished forth, under the guidance of the deft housewife, a meal which is still sighed for as the "grace of a day that is dead." The "corn pone," or when so ex ceptionally fortunate as to be able to use fiour, the hop-yeast or salt-rising bread, the "chicken-fixings," the garae, the fresh, lus cious vegetables, — are meraories that more pretentious daj's have not dimmed in the hearts of the pioneers. The latter-day in ventions of saleratus and baking powder had their prototype in the pearlash, which was prepared by burning the potash, so common then, upon the lid of the "bake kettle;" the sputtering, greenish flame produced by the process, in the meanwhile enforcing upon the childish minds of the household the stern doctrines of the here after. The frontier cabin, as a rule, con tained but one room, which served all the domestic and social purposes of the family alike, unchanged. Curtains arranged about the beds suggested the retirement of sleep ing apartments, while the cheerful blaze of the flre-place afforded an unstinted glow to the whole establishment. The women of those days ate not the bread of idleness. They were indeed the helpmates of father, brother and husband, and nowhere iu the world did man prove such an unbalanced, useless machine as the unmarried pioneer in this western wild. While the man, with masterful energy, conquered the difficulties of a new country and asserted his sovereignty over an unsub dued wilderness, it was woman's hand that turned its asperities into blessings, and made conquered nature the handmaid of civilization. The surplus product of the frontier farm sufficed to supply a slender stock of tea, coffee, sugar and spices, with an occasional hat for the man and a calico dross for the woman; — all else must be de rived from the soil. How this was accora- plished, the occasional relics of a flax- wheel, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 151 brake, spinning-wheel or loom, suggest. To card and spin, to dye and weave, were accomplishments that all women possessed. Housekeeping was crowded into the small est possible space, and the preparation of linen, of " linsey woolsey," and stocking yarn, with their adaptation to the wants of the faraily, became, to vary the catechism, the chief end of woman. About these homely industries gathered all the pride of womanly achievement, the mild dissipations of early society, and the hopes of a future competence; a social foundation, of which the proud structure of this great common wealth bears eloquent testimony. But with all this helpful self-reliance indoors, there was plenty to engage the vig orous activity of the male portion of the family out of doors. The exigencies of the situation allowed no second experiment, and a lifetime success or failure hung upon the efforts of the pioneer. The labor of the farm was carried on under the most dis couraging circumstances. The rude agri- cultural implements and the too often inadequate supply of these, allowed of no economical expenditure of strength, and for years rendered the frontier farmer's life a hand to hand struggle of sheer muscle and physical endurance with the stubborn difficulties of nature. The location of the cabins along the lowlands that formed the margin of the streams, exposed the early settlers at their most vulnerable point. During a considerable part of the year the almost stagnant water of the sluggish streams filled the air with a miasmatic poi son that hung in dense fog over stream and grove like a destroying spirit. The diffi culty experienced in securing good water often rendered it necessary for the farmers to drink from stagnant pools, " frequently blowing off the scum and straining the wigglers frora the sickening, almost boiling, fluid through the teeth." That the " fever and ague" should stalk through the land, a veritable Nemesis, was inevitable under such circumstances, and many a hardy pioneer was cowed and fairly shalien out of the country in the chilly grasp of this grim monster. But having withstood these dis couragements and secured a harvest, the greatest disappointment came in the utter lack of markets. After a year of labor, privation, and sickness, the moderate crop would hardly bear the expense of getting it to market. How this country was setticd and improved under such circumstances can be explained upon none of the settled principles of political economy. Retreat there was none; and that homely phrase, " root, hog, or die," was borne in upon the pioneer by his daily experience with a be numbing iteration that must have wrought ruin to any class of people of less hardy mental and physical health. In such a community where " The rich est were poor and the poor lived in abun dance," there was no chance for the growth of caste, and families for miles around were linked together as one neighborhood, by the social customs of the time, which in the spirit of true democracy, drew the line at moral worth alone. The amusements of a people taking their character from the natural surroundings of the community, were here chiefly adapted to the masculine taste. LIunting and fishing were always liberally rewarded, while log cabin raisings, the opening of court with its jury duty, and the Saturday afternoon holiday with its scrub horse race, its wrestling match, its 152 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. jumping or quoit pitching, and perhaps a fight or two, afforded entertainments that never lost their zest. It was a common re mark, however, that " Illinois furnished an easy berth for men and oxen, but a hard one for women and horses."* Outside of " visiting" and camp meetings, the diver sions in wRich women participated at that early day were very few; husking and spinning bees, and " large" weddings where the larger part of the night was spent in dancing, did not have the frequent occur rence so characteristic of the Eastern States, and nothing here seeraed to offer any substi tute. So long as the community gathered here lacked eas}' communication with the outside world this state of things contin ued. There was a market at Chicago at this time, where a fair price could be had for the surplus crop, and the growth of the older settlements further south brought the advantages of civilization nearer to t!iese outlying communities, but the lack of roads prevented the early enjoyment of these privileges. The early lines of travel were along the Indian trails. These were clearly defined paths about a foot or eighteen inches wide, cut into the sod of the prairie, sometimes to the depth of ten or twelve inches. A portion of one of these trails can be seen now on the farm formerly belonging to Jacob Claypool, where it has been carefully protected by a furrow plowed up on either side of it. There were three of these fol lowing the general course of the river through the county, and terminating at Chicago, which was atan early time a great resort of the Indians. One of these ran along the north side of the river, between *History of La Salle County it and the present site of the canal up to near the five mile bridge then passing north of the line of the canal, but south of the Catholic cemeteiy, it crossed both branches of Nettle Creek near where the stone bridges now stand, thence recrossing the canal line near the Peacock bridge, and passing on the ridge through to the Protest ant cemetery, it crossed the Au Sable be low the aqueduct, and thence through Dresden it took its course over the bluffs toward Clianuahon. Another on the bot toms south of the river crossed the Wau pecan Creek at the quarter corner of the east line of section 18, in Wauponsee township, thence nearly in a straight line, passing twenty rods north of the center of section 17, it continued to Spring Creek which it crossed at its mouth, and thence it led across the Mazon on section 1 6, and up the river, crossing the Kankakee one half mile above its mouth. There was a second trail on the south side of the Illi nois river, which skirted the points of tira- ber, passed a little north of the present res idence of Jonathan AVilson on section 4, 32, 6, and entered Wauponsee about the center of the west line of the southeast quarter section 20, continuing thence in a direct line and intersecting the first trail at the crossing of the Mazon River. There was a " high prairie trail" through Ilolder- inan's Grove north of Grundy County, which came to be an important line of travel. There were of course no fences at first to interfere with the choice of road or to serve as guides, and these trails were followed until a wagon path, pretty clearly defined, made traveling between well established points no very difficult matter in the day- Wi. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 155 time, or on moonlight nights. But the belated traveler on a dark night, or one a little unfamiliar with the fords, found it advisable to make an unexpected bivouac on the open prairie. Even some of the older settlers, when near at home, had sorae experience of this, as an incident related of Mr. Jacob Claypool, very forcibly illus trates: He and his boys. Perry A. and L. W., had husked corn for Holderraan, for one and a half bushels per day. Late in No vember (1834) they set out from home with two teams, one of horses and the other of oxen, to bring home their hard earned corn. On their return they reached the Indian trail near the west line of section 7, 33, 7, just about dark. To add to the difficulties of the situation, a heavy fog arose as night set in, and knowing that there was no escape from an open air camp, they made the best of their situation by carefully feeling their way along the trail to a point near the present residence of Isaac Hoge, where there were some hay-stacks. Here the party remained until about four o'clock in the morning, when the fog rising and the moon coming out, they started for the ford of the Illinois River, on the west line of section 8. Perry Claypool with the horses led, and fortunately striking the right place passed over safely, but the ox team failed to follow closely, and becoming unmanageable, began to swim out of the difficulty with the wagon and passengers. By daylight the party reached their cabin home wet, cold and hungry, and worst of all, with one load of their hard earned corn floating down the river. Such experiences were not uncommon and stimulated the pioneer to the earliest possible efforts to secure roads and bridges. The northern part of the State had set tled up so slowly that there was no thor-. oughfare through Grundy County at all until about 1833. About this time the Bloom ington and Chicago road began to be outlined by the droves of live stock going to market, and the return teams hauling salt and supplies. This soon be came the principal route of travel, and crossed the county through the northern part of Highland, passed old Mazon and crossed the Mazon River at Sulphur Springs, on section 6, Braceville. From this point it led to the Kankakee River at " Cousin John Beard's ford," about a mile and a half from its mouth. This road was not officially laid out or worked until after the county of Grundy was formed, when the commissioners at one of their earliest meetings ordered it run out from " Lone tree point to Cousin John Beard's ford at the crossing of the Kan kakee." It was subsequently worked, and in 1843 a bridge was erected over the Mazon, where the road crossed, but it was soon destroyed. - It was the earliest and greatest thoroughfare of its time, but it did not reach the dignity of a mail route, and has long since been abandoned. In December of 1834, the commissioners of La Salle County appointed Henry Green, Benjamin Bloomfleld and Sam'l S. Bullock to lay out a road frora Marseilles toward Joliet. This was laid out as near as prac ticable along the Indian trail nearest the north bank of the river. This was after ward divided into three divisions, and Wra. Ruhey appointed supervisor of the western division, Wm. Hoge, of the middle division, and Joshua Collins of the 156 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. eastern. On July 3, 1839, the " Shaking Bridge " was erected near where the pres- -ent stone bridge spans the west branch of Nettle Creek on Jefferson street in Morris. To raise this early bridge required the united energies of most of the men in the country about, and was probably the first bridge erected in the county. It was hoped that this road would prove to be the route for the north and south travel of the State, and upon such expectations Lovell Kimball of Marseilles laid out the village of Clark- son on the southeast quarter 12, 33, 6, with a double log cabin hotel as a nucleus about which to gather the expected city. This village aspired to county honors, until the construction of Grundy blighted all such hopes, and remained even then the princi pal village in this region until the location of the county seat at Morris, when it rap idly went to decay. At Dresden, on the other end of this road in Grundy County, Salmon Rutherford erected a large " framed " hotel, where, by license of the court he was allowed to charge the follow ing scale of prices: "For each meal, common 25 cents. , " " " extra 37}^ " " " lodging _ 121^ " ; " " horse or ox, hay over night 123^ " " 8 quarts corn or oats 25 " " each glass of spirits 6!^ " *' " " " extra spirits 123^ " For this privilege he paid $6 and gave a bond of $100 for the faithful performance of his obligations. Another of these early hostelries was erected about this time on the west fork of the Mazon, and was kept by James McKean, and was for a consider able time the resort of drovers on their way to market with stock. The division of the large northern coun ties and the demands of the local commu nities led to great changes in these early highways. Roads were run with some reference to the farmers who lived along the lines of these " through routes," which led, not without an occasional serious struggle, to their abandonment. The result of these changes was to establish the main line of through travel along the high prai rie trail by way of Holderman's Grove, etc., on which Frink and Walker subsequently established a line of coaches running be tween Chicago and Peru. From four to eight four-horse coaches left each terminal point daily, connecting at Peru with a steamboat from St. Louis. Neil, Moor & Co., an Ohio firm, ran a line of coaches between the same points following a route south of the river, but it proved but a short-lived competition, though vigorous while it existed. The latter firm failed and withdrew its coaches in a short time. But with all these improvements, Chicago, which had become the market for this section, was too far off for the means of transportation possessed by the farmers. Everything was hauled in wagons and the roads were stern autocrats of the pioneer's destiny. The treacherous sod that covered the long stretch of swamp about the city would bear up only a moderate load, and thus restricted the amount of produce to be taken by a single wagon. Add to this the rude construction of the best roads and there is a sense of discouragement that might have worked despair if it had not incited to improvement. It may be noticed here that the civilization of tho broad tread wagon and that of the narrow- tread, met at the eastern line of Grundy County. With all the other inconven iences, the farmers of this section found that their wagons had a hard road to travel HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 157 "even where it was well constructed, one wheel being ]on the unbroken or unsettled roadway all the time. This was soon remedied by the adoption of narrow tread wagons, but the other difficulties still re mained. The project of connecting the waters of Lake Michigan with the navigable waters of the Illinois River had been talked of since 1812, and urged^ from time to time on the ground of its military as well as its commercial importance, but it was not until July 4, 1836, that ground was first broken for its construction. The line sur veyed for its construction, connecting with the eastern arm of the south branch of the Chicago River, followed the general line of the Desplaines and Illinois Rivers to Peru, where it was proposed to pass by locks into the river. The estimate of its cost varied frora $640,000 to $10,000,000, the latter being nearer the actual cost when con structed, 'ij^here was an urgent deraand for greater transportation facilities, and scarcely a year passed without a recommen dation on the subject by State or national official, but here the matter seemed to end until 1825. In this year the "Illinois and Michigan Canal Association" was formed with a capital of $1,000,000, which received a charter granting most extraordinary priv ileges. At this time Daniel P. Cook, the only Representative of the State in the lower House of Congress, was earnestly seeking to secure a grant of public lands in aid of the canal, and he felt that this charter would defeat his plans. He there fore used every effort to have it annulled, publishing an able argument against the association scheme and sending it through out the State. The " Association" did not seem to prize its privileges ; no stock was ever subscribed, and the charter was volun tarily surrendered soon after its receipt. In 1827, came the grant of public lands, but this was not easily turned into money, and in 1833 the advisability of devoting the grant to the building of a railroad between the terminal points was seriously discussed. "Up to January 1, 1839, the gross expendi ture on the canal, derived from the various sources of loans, lot and land, amounted to $1,400,000. All of it, but about twenty- three railes between Dresden and Mar seilles, was contracted, and the jobs let were roughly estimated at $7,500,000."* In the meanwhile the public and Legislature had been carried away with a vast scheme of public improvement, and the State involved in great financial embarrassment. After negotiating several loans on account of the canal which involved the State's finances without proportionately aiding the canal, there was a general collapse. The breaking of the State bank in 1842 added to the general distress, and gave rise to an agitation in favor of repudiating the State debt, which then amounted to $14,000,000. It was about this time that the unlet section of the canal was contracted, Jacob Claypool taking section 126 about where the aque duct is placed. The failure of funds, how ever, brought the work here to an early close. The effort to secure a loan of $1,- 600,000 to finish the canal was protracted through some three years, in which the work came to a standstill, but in 1845 its construction was renewed, and " finally, by the opening season of 1848, the Illinois and Michigan canal, a stupendous public work, * Hist, of Illinois, Davidson and Stuve. 153 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. urged for thirty years, and in course of actual construction for twelve, after many struggles with adverse circumstances, was completed." The infiuence upon Grundy County was felt at once; warehouses were erected, and a good market for grain of all kinds was brought within easy reach, while goods and supplies of all sorts were as easily secured. Its effect in another way was quite as marked. When the work ceased in 1843 a large number of those employed on the canal, thrown out of work, took up land here,and, industriouslyengagingin farming, have become well-to-do, and are still here, or represented by their descendants. During the progress of the work the transient Irish element outnumbered the residents of the county, and worked their will for a year or two at the polls. The village of Morris suddenly changed from a rather quiet town to a place " where whiskey and Irish were plenty," together with what such a combi nation implies, but with the completion of the canal this element passed away, leaving Morris and Grundy County to workout its own destiny untrammeled by outside in- fiuences. Closely related with the canal was a scheme for tiie construction of a railroad from Chicago to the mouth of the Illinois. But the completion of the former and its being placed in trust with all its property and revenues to secure the payment of the -English capitalists who had loaned the $1,600,000, discouraged the granting of a charter for the upper part of such a road. The slight dependence to be placed upon the river for through transportation had been demonstrated, and had proved very disappointing to the great expectations entertained of the canal. Through freight shipped by the canal was occasionally seriously delayed because of the inability of boats of ordinary draught to come up the river far enough to make connections. A charter had therefore been granted for a railroad from La Salle to Rock Island. The country through which it was proposed to build this road was not thickly settled, and capital was therefore slow in taking up this enterprise. In the meanwhile, as it languished. Senator Douglas, impressed with the advantage of a railroad from Chi cago to Rock Island, began urging his views upon others, and among the rest upon N"or- raan C. Judd, who then represented Cook County in the State Senate. He suggested that the charter for the La Salle & Rock Island road be amended, so as to allow an extension of the road to Chicago. Mr. Judd entered into the project at once, and had no difficulty in enlisting the interest of Wm. Reddick, State Senator from ia Salle, Bu- rea, Livingston and Grundy Counties, and the late Governor Matteson, Senator from Will County. The citizens along the route of the proposed extension were easily en listed in the cause, and frequent consulta tions were had. At a conference of the supporters of this scheme, held in the old American House in Springfield, Senators Judd, Reddick, and Matteson, with P. A. Armstrong as clerk, were appointed a com mittee to prepare a bill for the purpose of amending the charter. This was imme diately done, Armstrong drawing up the bill at Mr. Judd's dictation, which was then put upon its passage on the next day. It was obstinately contested by the English inter est, but notwithstanding the apparent demands of equity, the bill passed both HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 159 houses, and went to the Governor for his approval. This was the critical point, as it was understood that Governor French had assured the canal trustees that he would veto the measure. Mr. Reddick, who had been of considerable service in the pa-sage of a bill championed by a brother of the Governor's wife, at once proposed to see Mrs. French, who had the reputation of being a good deal of a ]iolitician, and no mean power behind the Governor's throne. The bill was already in the hands of the Governor, and a veto was feared in the morning. So, late as it was in the evening, Mr. Reddick proceeded to the gubernato rial mansion. The Governor's salary was then $1,500 a year, and Mrs. French was her own door-girl. Recognizing her guest, she congratulated him on the passage of his railroad bill. " I am afraid we are not out of the woods yet," he responded. " Why so?" said Mrs. French, "I read in the Register this inorning that your bill had passed both houses and gone to the Gover nor for his approval." "True," replied Mr. Reddick, " but we are informed that Gov ernor French will veto it." Springing to her feet, and looking Mr. Reddick straight in the face, she said, stamping her foot to enforce her words, " But Governor French shall not veto' this bill! " The next morn ing the bill was returned approved. The provisions of this charter which authorized the construction of a railroad from Rock Island " by way of Ottawa and Joliet to Chicago," and changed the name to " Chicago & Rock Island R. R. Com pany," were peculiar, and explain its success in the Assembly. It was skillfully drawn to " catch votes" and served its purpose. It provided: 1. That the road should pay toll to the canal board upon all freights carried, with the exception of (a) all live stock; ^ fb) on freight carried after the close of canal navigation ; (c) on freight carried during the cessation of canal navigation caused by any casualty or otherwise; (d) on freight received frora or destined to a point on said road twenty miles west of the southern terraination of the canal. 2. These tolls should cease when the interest and payment of the $1,600,000 should be paid. 3. That the canal trustees should grant the right of way free of cost. 4. If the trustees should refuse their assent to this pro vision on the first Monday in June after the passage of the act, the tolls imposed should be reraitted, and the company have the right to construct the road untramraeled. It was further required that the road should be built within a year. It is needless to add that the canal board raade a virtue of necessity and yielded. The act was passed February 7, 1851, and the work begun with energy. The route was surveyed in the early suraraer and before the following January the whistle of the locomotive was heard in Grundy County. At the time this charter was granted, there were only about one hundred miles of railroad in the State, and the " Kingdom of Grundj'," as it was jocosely called, considered itself on the royal road to prosperity and fame. This road follows the general line of canal through the county, and has 106,747 feet of maiu track, 106,747 feet of second main track, and 8,015 feet of side track in the county. The Chicago & Alton road is the second railroad of the county in importance and in the order of construction. It was built in response to a demand for a closer cotinec- 160 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. tion between Chicago and St. Louis. It crosses the southeast corner of the county, and affords an outlet for the coal found in that region, which, however, was discovered subsequent to the construction of the road. It was opened in 1854 ,and has 106,737 feet of main track, 63,641 feet of second main track, and 15J102 feet of side track in the county. In 1874 the Chicago & Illinois Yalley Railroad was laid to within a few feet of the Mazon Creek in Braceville Township, and in the following year it was continued through the county by the Chi cago, Pekin & Southwestern Company. These roads are separate in their organiza tion and are likely to become the prey of more important roads. The former has 39,230 feet of track, and the latter 76,992 feet. The Kankakee & Seneca Railroad is one of local interest, connecting these two points and crossing the county diagonallv through the southwestern part of the coun ty, having about 107,000 feet of track in the county. The Wabash, St. Louig & Pacific Railroad appears on the tax dupli cate as having 26,740 feet of track in Green field Township, the Wilmington Minino- & Manufacturing Company some 6,000 feet of track, used to reach the mines of this company in Braceville Township, and the Milwaukee & St. Paul about a mile of track for the same purpose. The railroad inter est of Grundy County, however, centers in the two leading roads. Closely following the advent of the first railroad in Morris canie the pioneer news paper, the harbinger of democratic civiliza tion. This was in 1852; arriving in the village on the verge of winter, accompa nied with an almost helpless wife, and pos sessing barely enough material to answer the requirements of his modest office, J. C. Walters began the publication of an anti- slavery paper, the Morns Yeoman. The citizens recognizing the value and impor tance of having an "organ" contributed such support as they could, and about Oct. 1, 1852, the first number appeared. It was a seven column folio, printed on a sheet 24 by 36 inches in size, and dealt in general topics of news and politics. The " office " was in an adobe hut (an old mud-house is the name by which it is referred to now); the stands and other furniture were home made, and the old " Franklin press," shipped from Ann street. New York, struck off the edition. The editor was unique in appear ance, surroundings, and in his literary style. He wore longhair and a cadaverous counte nance emphasized by a pair of very dark eyes; his old fashioned press was surmount ed, it is said, by an Indian's skull, the eye socket of which served to hold a tallow can dle; and his editorials — "philippics" his friends called them — were full of such per sonal attacks as only the untutored taste of that day could admire. In 1854, the paper passed into the hands of Buffington & South ard and the name changed to the Herald. Subsequently, Mr. Buffington retired and Mr. Southard continued its publication un til March 30, 1864, when he was called away and sold the paper to C. G. Perry, who subsequently took Mr. Turner in partner ship. On Southard's return after about a year's absence, the proprietors of the Her ald, having accomplished some political ends in which they were interested, offered to sell the paper to him again. This was agreed upon, but when the transfer was about to be made, a political consideration was attached to the bargain which defeated HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 161 the sale. Angered at this turn of affairs, some of Mr. Southard's friends insisted on his starting up a new paper, and the Morris Advertiser was started with Southard as editor and proprietor. It did not take long to demonstrate which was the " fit test," and in accordance with Darwin's formulation of a natural law, the Herald sold out, and the two consolidated were con ducted by Mr. Southard under the name of Herald and Advertiser. It had in the meanwhile been enlarged to a nine column folio, and its name simplified to the Herald alone. In (October, 1874, the paper was fturchased by General P. C. Hays, an Ohio editor of ability, but a native of an adjoin ing county, who conducted it alone until July 1, 1876, when Mr. Fletcher was added to the firm. It is now a seven column quarto. The Morris Gazette was a six column folio printed on a sheet 21 by 29 in size. It was begun by Andrew J. Ashton in July, 1853. It was Democratic in politics, and of a sharply personal character in all its ef fusions. The projector of the paper had little or no means, and depended upon party friends to establish the paper. The paper did not succeed, but in 1855, the material was sold to the Herald, leaving a deficit to be paid by those who had aided in its es tablishment. Another paper of the same political faith was established about 1860 by Matt. Parrott, but it was not a success, and failed in a few months. The next pa per was the Reformer, started in 1872, by " Joe " Simpson. This paper was anti- Republican, principally Democratic, but considerably tinctured with green backism. In 1876, this paper passed into the hands of A. R. Barlow, but soou coining back to Mr. Simpson it was closed out. Again, in March, 1880, Col. Blackmore revived Dem ocratic journalism in Morris by issuing the Morris Democrat. The paper added a con siderable vigor to the campaign of that year, but its energies were soon spent and it died before the issue was decided. It seems to be simply a question of demand and supply, and there being no demand, any paper of pronounced Democratic tendencies gluts the market and necessarily fails. The Independent is a semi-weekly pa per, independent in matter as well as in name. ' Its first number was issued March 1, 1878. It was established by Messrs. Perry, Crawford & Kutz, who leased the material of the Edwards'* Directory office, Morris. It started as a seven column folio, but was increased one column in March, 1881. The business has fallen into the hands of J. A. Kutz, the other members having dropped out. It is the only semi- weekly paper in the Congressional district. The other papers of the county are the Gardner Weekly News, Braceville Miner, and The Independent. The first named is a weekly paper published at Gardner, an 8-coluran folio, printed on a sheet about 26 by 40 inches. It was established Sep tember 29tli, 1881, by C. M. King, when the " boom " in coal promised a rapid growth to the village. Mr. King, the editor and proprietor, is a busy, energetic man, and publishes editions of his paper adapted to the locality where issued, for Essex, Reddick and Braceville. The Braceville Miner is one of these editions, and was begun in 1882. It is the same size of The News, but is devoted especially to the interests of the miners, who form the leading part of the paper's patrons. It is 162 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Republican in sentiment upon all political matters, but aims more particularly at fur nishing the families of this part of the county with the county news. The office of these publications at Gardner is well equipped with material and presses. The Independent, a 6-column folio, printed on a sheet about 22 by 32 inches, is published at Gardner by J. H. Warner. It was es tablished about 1880, as an edition of the paper at Braidwood, in the adjoining coun ty. It aims at local news, and serves its purpose with success. But deeper than all these elements, more iraportant than markets, or railroads, or newspapers, the foundation of social prog ress, is the church and school. Whatever success the individual lacking these infin- ences, may achieve, a community can never prosper without them, and much that Grundy County may be proud of is due to these benign forces. The early settlements were considerably scattered, and it was for years a difficult matter to get more than two families together for religious services. The pioneer preachers were men of slender education and homely address, but were wonderfully effective in their self-denying earnestness. They visited from cabin to cabin, exhorting, counseling, reproving, as the occasion might demand; they became in every house a welcome guest, and many a weary heart and feeble hand was stayed by these simple hearted servants of the cross. Among the earliest names familiar to this vicinity were those of Adam and Aaron Payne, Stephen Beggs, William Royal and Isaac Scarrett. These were all of the Meth odist church which established an early mission at the mouth of Fox River, in La Salle County. It was from this point that the Rev. Scarrett was brought to solemnize the first wedding within the present bound aries of Grundy County — that of James Galloway to Martha Matilda Stype, at the house of Mr. Isaac Hoge. The introduc tion of a considerable Irish element here brought with it the Catholic church and its earliest representative, Father Duponta- ris, who was a worthy man and proved him self an efficient shepherd of a wayward flock. He was at any time ready to administer " extreme unction" or quell a riot, and did either with equal skill. The Mormons were also represented by their itinerants, but the people of Grundy did not seem to take kindly to their peculiar doctrines and gave them little encouragement. In the meantime, while the country part of the county was being molded and modified by these influences, the principal vil lage was rapidly gaining an unenviable notoriety for its boisterous incivility and it required no little moral and physical cour age for the first ministers to attempt to hold services in the old Court House. Sev eral ministers were broken down by the rude participation of the audience in the proceedings of the meeting and left in dis gust. The Rev. James Longhead, who founded the first Protestant church in the county, was attracted to Morris, principal ly by a missionary spirit. On his first en trance into town his vehicle was assailed by a huge foot-ball kicked into it by a boister ous crowd of men and boys who occupied the main street for their game, while ruder oaths from every side assailed his ears. It was the roughest town he had met on his travels from the East, and most in need of gospel influence. Thirty-five years of such influence have wrought great changes ; "this HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 163 was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our ej'es." Lland in hand with the church is found the school. The early library was made up of the Bible, Pilgrim's Progress, the Columbian Orator and Webster's Speller. Out of these the members of the faraily too young for service in or out of doors drew, mild draughts of mental exhilaration. Reading came by the devotion of odd mo ments from the mother's otherwise crowd ed life, and once in possession of this magic power, the trials and triumphs of Christian with the eloquence of the " Orator" proved both entertainment and instruction. There were very few private schools in the county before the estal>lishraent in this county of the " District Schools," about 1851. Since then there has been a rapid development of school facilities and Grundy County with the rest of the State may pride itself on the possession of educational advantages second to none. OHAPTEE Y* GRUNDY COUNTY'S SHARE IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION— THE LOYALTY OF HER MEN— THE DEVOTION OF HER WOMEN— THE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE FIELD. THE war ! What memories, at magic word, crowd the mind ! that " Of most disastrous chances. Of moving accidents by flood and field; Of hair-breadth 'scapes i'the imminent deadly breach ; Of being taken by the insolent foe!" of woman's devotion, and of all the nation's sacrifice during those woeful years ! And yet, how our fancy fails. Time's kindly touch has dulled the anguish of those days ; fame's "ineffectual fire" is but a misty halo in the intervening shadows, and children read with proud surprise of gallant deeds on unfamiliar fields. The Senatorial campaign of 1858, with the succeeding Presidential contest in 1860, in which the great citizen of Illinois had been the prominent figure, served to fix the undivided attention of this county, with the rest of the State, upon the political storm which seemed to be gathering with portentious inutterings over the southern portions of the country. It is doubtful whether hope or fear predominated in the minds of the people as the day approached when Lincoln was to be inaugurated, and the universal hope and expectation was that in his grasp the serpent of secession would be strangled, as Jackson had done before in the case of the " nullifiers." It was in this state of vacillation between hope and fear » By J. H Battle. that the reverberations of Fort Sumpter's guns assailed the ears of the eager North. It was this explosion, echoing round the world, that united the various elements and made men Union or non-Union. Niceties of political distinctions were lost sight of at once, and to the credit of Grundy County be it said, there was but one party here, and that for the support of the Union. Fort Surapter capitulated on Saturday, April 13, 1861, and on the 15 th, the Secretary of War telegraphed to the Governor of Illinois, the apportionraent of that State under the Pres ident's call for 75,000 men to put down the insurrection at Charleston. The call was made under the authority granted to tho President of the United States to call out the militia when the laws of the general government were opposed and the execution thereof obstructed, and required the Gov ernor of Illinois to " detach from the mili tia" 225 officers and 4,458 men. The mili tia thus called upon had no actual existence in this State. Here and there through the State were half-filled companies of holiday troops, but even these in a majority of cases had no efficient organization or equipment. On the 15th, the Legislature was called to convene on the 23d inst, and an order issued frora the Adjutant-General's office to the various militia officers to hold them selves in readiness for actual service. On the following day an order was issued for HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 165 the immediate organization of the six regi- ments called for by the general government. The response from every part of the State was prompt and unanimous, and in ten days over ten thousand men tendered their services to the government for the defense of the Union. In the meanwhile such companies as had an organization and par tial equipment were hurried forward, un der General Swift, to Cairo. This force amounted to 908 officers and men, includ ing among others. the Ottawa Light Artil lery from this section of the State. Of the ten thousand men that gathered at Spring field in response to the Governor's call, the majority were in company organization, clothed and equipped by the comraunities which sent them forth. Of these Grundy County sent out the " Grundy Tigers," with W. T. Hopkins, Capt. ; Sam'l Elton, 1st Lieut. ; G. S. Doane, 2d Lieut., and Capt. Hulburd's Company which was mustered in June as Company E. of the Twenty- Third Regiment of Infantry. The response from this county to the governor's call, was prompt and enthusias tic. On the 20th inst., the Board of Su pervisors voted $5,000 for the equipment of volunteers and the aid of their families, while ladies very soon after organized a "Soldier's Aid Society" which enlisted for the war. The record of the disbursement of the fund thus provided by the Supervis ors, is quite amusing in the light of sub sequent events. The people here, as everywhere else, were impressed that the war would be over in sixty days, and that the business in hand was little more than a squirrel hunt in which there might be accidents, or at worst not more serious than putting down a mob. With this view the country and town was scoured for guns, the men were provided with boots, and the ladies prepared such additions to a soldier's bill of fare, as would make his temporary absence from home less irksome. But the war did not end in sixty days, and the first draft carae and found the people of Grundy County relying on their first effort. This was a rude awakening, and frora that time to the end of the war, the county was alive to the exigencies of the occasion. In August, 1862, a bounty of $60 was offered, of which one hundred and seventy-six men availed themselves. On December 30, 1863, the Board offered to pay $110.00 ($100 with interest at ten per cent, in bonds payable in one year) to all soldiers " who now, have been, or hereafter may be regularly mustered into the service of the United States, as Grundy County volunteers." Under this resolution eighty- five men were paid as new volunteers, and in 1881, under this resolution, $2,750 addi tional was paid on old claims. In May, 1864, under the call for " one hundred days" men a bounty of twenty-five dollars was offered and paid to sixty- four volun teers. The war had by this time be come a very serious business, and while there was no lack of loyal regard for the cause of the Union, the burden began seri ously to be felt, and there was less alacrity manifested in volunteering. Those who had lighter claims upon them at home, had either felt sorae of the severities of soldier life, or were disposed to take their chance of be ing drafted, while those whose families and business seemed to demand their staying at home were anxious to avoid the necessities of a draft. There was in addition to all this, an unselfish desire to avoid the draft as a reflec- 166 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. tion upon the county's loyalty to the cause, and in September, 1864, the Board of Su pervisors impelled by these various motives, offe.t-ed a bounty of $300 to each volunteer under the call of July of that year. Under this action of the Board one hundred and ninety-five persons were paid this bounty at a gross expense of something more than $64,000. The revised enrollment of per sons in the county subject to military duty, made January, 1865, placed the number at 1,622. The total quota under the various calls during the war was 1,364 raen, of which 1,343 were credited to the county. This would leave a deficit in the number of men required of the county, but in such a vast undertaking, with the necessary official machinery to originate and put in motion, it was impossible to avoid all errors; and while Grundy County appears to have fallen short of her quota by the official records, it is susceptible of proof that she furnished many more than her quota, which were unfortunately credited elsewhere.* In the matter of bounties it is equally difficult to get an accurate statement of all the county expended in putting troops into the field. The records show, however, that the county authorities expended §112,- 175, and the various townships, in their separate capacity, over $27,000, to which should be added private subscriptions and subsequent payments by the county, which *In October, 1862, a list of volunteers furnished by the different townships of the county was as follows: Erienna, 13; Au Sable, 76; Braceville, 53; Felix, 20; Goodfarm, 52; Greenfield, 51; Highland, 68; Mazon, 91; Morris, 1; Nettle Creek, 63; Norman, 24; Sara toga, 68; Vienna, 38; Wauponsee, 52; City of Mor- ris- 1st ward, 38; 2d ward, 43; 3d wajd, 78; 4th ward, 17; a total of 855. — would bring the total up to the amount of $145,000. The Soldiers' Aid Society of Morris was auxiliary to the society in Chicago over which Mesdames Hoge aud Livermore pre sided with such efficiency. Every expedient which would bring an honest dollar into the treasury was successfully tried, and the fund thus accumulated was religiously ex pended here, or sent to the society at Chi cago for the benefit of the boys in the field. It would be a tedious recital to recall the various expedients resorted to by the ladies to extort the last dollar in aid of their en terprise. The regular plan was to collect gifts of money, under-clothing, etc., make up a box and send it to some company or hospital. To vary the monotony of this plan, and to approach the public on a more susceptible side, balls were given and fairs held. One of the most important of these was the " Sanitary Fair," held on the grounds, and in connection with the Agri cultural Society of this county. In a spacious dining hall, one hundred feet long, dinner was served to large crowds on each day of the fair. The supplies were contributed by the various townships in terested in the Agricultural Fair, and the proceeds, beside a large number of the entries, were contributed to the purposes of the society. Canned fruits, vegetables and pickles, were among the donations from the farmers' wives — one lot of twelve half-barrels of pickles coming from the ladies of Minooka. Others gave hay, coal and cattle, which were sold, free of charge, on the grounds, and we may believe the bidding was not less spirited because it was known the proceeds were to be devoted to the army hospitals. But this dry recital does HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 1G7 woman's work during the period of the war scant justice. The value of her moral sup port aud courageous self-sacrifice can never be adequately estimated, nor its apprecia tion placed too high. " The wife who girds her husband's sword, 'Mid little one^ who weep or wonder, And bravely speaks the cheering word. What though her heart be rent asunder, Doomed nightly in her dreams to hear The bolts of death aronnl him rattle. Hath shed as sacred blood as e'er Was poured upon the field of battle." The law provided that in token of re spect to the Illinois regiments in the Mex ican war, the six regiments organized under the first call of the President should begin their designating number at seven, and that these regiments when organized should constitute the "First Brigade Illinois Yol- unteers." The Eleventh, therefore, was the fifth regiment organized, of which the Grundy Tigers constituted Company F. This regiraent was mustered in at Spring field, April 30, 1861, and on May 5th was ordered to Yilla Ridge, in this State, in the vicinity of Cairo, In the following month the regiment was ordered to Bird Point on the other side of the river, where the regiraent served out its terra of enlist ment in garrison and field duty. While not seeing any active service during this time the regiment, with others assembled at this point, did excellent duty in warding off the danger which the overwhelming forces of the rebels on the river below threatened, and at the same time gained that discipline which made thein such efficient soldiers dur ing the war. On July 30th, its term of en listment having expired, the regiraent was mustered out of service, and having re-en listed for three years, it was on the follow ing day mustered in for three years. The old number was retained, but the ar rangement of companies was considerably changed, the Grundy County Company taking the letter C. The membership of the regiment was greatly changed as well. Out of 916 mustered out only 288 were mustered in again on the following daj'', but during the months of August, Sep tember, October and November, it was re cruited to about 801 men. During this time the regiment doing garrison and field duty, participated in several unimpor tant expeditions, among others, the one to Charleston, Mo., where they got into a spirited skirmish with the enemy. Feb ruary 2d, the regiment embarked on trans ports for Fort Henry, participating in the campaign against that place, and on the 11th inst. moved toward Fort Donelson. Here the regiment got their first "bap tism of fire." The regiraent came in sight of the fort about noon of the 12th, and here Wallace's brigade, composed of the 11th, 20th, 45th and 48th 111. Yolunteers, Taylor's and McAllister's batteries of light artillery, and Col. Dickey's cavalry, halted and drew up in line of battle. Col. Ogles- by's brigade took up its position on the right of Wallace, and in this jiosition but little occurred save occasional shots at the enemy and a change of position, until the 15tli. Grant had in the meanwhile strength ened his line of investment, so that but little hope of escape remained to the gar rison. On the morning of the 15th, there fore, the enemy, to the number of 7,500, eme'rged from his works and in separate columns hurled himself on the right of the federal line, seeking to break through and escape. The first blow dealt upon Ogles- 168 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. by's brigade, was followed by a second on Wallace's brigade and then upon Morrison's and McArthur's brigades constituting the extreme right. One of the " Grundy Ti gers" writes as follows of this engagement: " The rebels fought well but not fairly — like Indians, they sought shelter of stumps and trees. The first attack on the 11th regi ment was made by a re:^iraent of Missis sippi rifiemen. We suffered thera to ad vance to within 100 yards, when we opened upon them with terrible effect and drove them back to their trenches, where they were reinforced and advanced again, this time within fifty yards, but were again forced to retire. We suffered severely, but not a soldier fell back unle.is wounded. At this time We had lost about eighty men, killed and wounded. The rebels withdrew their troops frora our front and concen trated them on'our right, and very soon we knew by the firing that Oglesby's brigade was giving way. It proved worse than we expected. First came the 18th in full re treat, followed by the rest of the brigade. By great exertion Col. Logan rallied the 31st on our right, forraing two sides of a hollow square, and here for half an hour these two regiraents held the enemy in check, the 31st giving way and rallying twice, only to retreat in utter confusion at last. Thellth still held its own, Lieut.. Col. Ransom, though wounded, remaining cool and firm. We changed our front by the right fiank, where the 31st had been under a most galling fire, firing as we moved around by the side step, until ordered to halt. The rebels, exultant at the retreat of the 31st, pressed forward to within forty yards of our line, but they were mistaken in their men, and soon fell back to a ridge, 150 yards distant, leaving the ground strewn with their dead and wounded. "There, by a little ravine, we remained for half an hour, fighting three times bur number, outflanked on either side, waiting for reinforcements, which did not come. Suddenly a body of rebel cavalry charged across the ridge, on our left, and gained our rear. There was but one way of es cape, and that lay through the body of cav alry, and through we went, the bayonet opening the way. Two hours afterward, the remnant of our regiment drew up to receive Col. Wallace, who, being in com mand of the brigade, had seen us but once since the battle began. It was no fault of his that we were left unprotected. When Oglesby's brigade gave way, he sent an order to Col. Ransom to fall back on the 20th, but the messenger was killed. The tears streamed down Col. Wallace' face as he scanned his regiment. Over 600 had engaged the enemy, and 115 muskets were all we had left to show. Our flag still waved over us, though shot to ribbons. Earlv next morning we marched into the fort, the 11th being allowed to lead the van, on account of its having sufl'ered the most severel}'. The loss in this regiraent, so far as we can learn, is 329 killed, wound ed and missing. Of the Grundy Tigers, but one is missing." In this battle, Grundy County suffered severely. Out of sixteen men who enlisted from the sonthern part of the county in another company, every man was wounded. Early in March, the regiment went by Fort Henry to Savannah, Tenn., and thence to Pittsburgh Landing, where it took part in the bloody battle of Shiloh, of April 6th and 7th. The 11th, incorporated in HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNT'j 169 the division of McClernand, was on the right of the federal line, near where the line touched the lower point of the river, and with its division supported Sherman in the first onset of that memorable battle. Here the regiment sufl'ered cruelly, as they did in the second day's fight, losing 27 killed and wounded out of 150 engaged. After participating in the protracted siege of Corinth and in the engagements near Trenton, Tenn., the regiment was finally ordered back to Cairo to recruit. In the latter part of August the 11th pro ceeded once more to the front, taking part in various expeditions, reporting in the latter part of November to Gen. McArthur, at Lagrange, Tenn., when it was assigned to the 13th Army Corps. During the early part of 1863, the regiraent took part in the carapaign in northern Mississippi; later, resting for a time in Meraphis, it was assigned, in February, to the 17th Army Corps, reinforced by a consolidation with the 109th 111., and ordered to Yicksburg, where it arrived May 18th. On the 19th and 22d, the regiment was engaged in the assaults upon the eneray's works; then in the advance siege works up to July 4th, when the city surrendered. In these en- gageraents the regiment lost its colonel, three line officers, and forty men. The regiraent subsequently took part in the Natchez expedition, returning to Yicks burg in October, where it remained till the latter part of July, 1864, engaging in vari ous minor expeditions from that point. At this time, the 11th was assigned to the 19th Army Corps, and after taking part in several minor expeditions, took part in the reduction of Mobile, Ala., participating in the investment and siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, and in the assault upon the latter. This ended its active service, and, moving from one point to another, it was mustered out of the service, July 14th, 1865, at Alexandria, La., when the regi raent left for Springfield, 111., for payment and final discharge. Among tlie early volunteers from Grundy County was Capt. Hulburd's company. This company was among those that were crowded out of the earlier regiments, but was accepted by the State, and finally authorized by the Secretary of AVar during the month of June and on the 15th was mustered into the service as Company E of the 23rd regiment, but better known as the " Irish Brigade," under command of Col. Mulligan. The regiment enlisted under the call for "three months" volunteers, and spent an uneventful career, first at Quinc}', 111., and then at the St. Louis arsenal, until the latter part of July, when the regiment was moved to Jefferson City, Mo. In the latter part of August the regiment 'was re- enlisted, a large part, however, returning to Chicago and being mustered out. In the reorganization which followed the re-enlist ment of the regiment, 21 raen of Company E., 52 men of Company G., and 25 men of Company H, were consolidated and called Company G, which, by an order of Jan. 3, 1865, was changed to Company C. The movement of Gen . Price toward Jefferson City caused Col. Mulligan, who had been engaged in several minor expeditions, to move to Lexington as soon as possible after the reorganization, and arriving at the place on the 9th of September he set at once to fortifying his position. His com mand consisted of the 23d 111. infantry, 1st 111. cavalry, and about 1,200 Missouri 170 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. " home guards," the entire force numbering less than 3,000 men. Gen. Price set down before the works on tlie 11th, with a force estimated at 20,000. An assault was made on the following day, but so determined was the resistance that the rebel General was forced to undertake a siege. The nature of the works, however, left no room to doubt the speedy result of such an attack, unless relieved by reinforcements. The besieging force saturated bales of hemp to prevent their ignition from the hot shots of Mulli gan's guns, and rolled them in front of the intrenchments, and quietly mounted his guns. Price, who had been waiting for ammunition, on the 18th opened with thir teen guns, posted in commanding positions. Col. Mulligan Jiad but five small brass pieces with which to reply to this fire, and these were charged with rough shot manu factured for the occasion at a neighboring foundry. These pieces were worked, how ever, with great gallantry, and served to command very considerable respect from the besiegers. Price had previously seized the boats on the river, and fortified the adjacent bluffs, so that the federal troops were entirely cut off from water, and suf fered the most intense agonies of thirst. It raiued, however, at intervals, and the thirsty men, by spreading their blankets till they became saturated with water, and then wringing them into carap dishes, were enabled to prolong the siege until the 20th. when they surrendered. The Missouri troops, " invincible in peace and invisible in war," left the burden of the defense with the Illinois troops, constituting scarcely more than half of the whole number. A writer in the Chicago Post spoke of the 23d regiment as follows: "On the 17th the enemy commenced erecting breastworks of hemp bales, from behind which they con tinued to fire as they rolled them toward us. About tliree o'clock of the sarae day they charged over our entrenchments, upon Col. Peabody's home guards, and planted their flags on the top of our breastworks. The Irish Brigade was ordered to leave its position on the opposite side, and to retake the ground which Peabody had lost. We flred on the run, and continued on the double quick. The rebels scattered and fled like a flock of sheep, but left the top of the breastworks covered with dead and wounded. In this single charge we killed and wounded 55 and lost about 30 killed and wounded." An officer in the rebel service wrote of the capitulation: " This surrender does not cast the slightest discredit upon Col. Mulligan, his officers and men. After having ex hausted all their means against an enemy three times their strength they had no choice but capitulation." The regiment was paroled, and by order of Gen. Fremont mustered out of the service in October, but was restored in December by order of McClellan. After remaining at Camp Douglas, near Chicago, guarding prisoners and recruiting until June 14, 1862, the regiment was moved to Western Yirginia. Here the regiment found plenty of service, and had repeated encounters with rebel detachments, Company G being captured April 25, 1863, aud sent to Richmond. The regiment was mustered out at Rich mond, Ya., July 24, 1865, and arrived in Chicago six days later. Grundy County was also represented in the Thirty-sixth regiment by Company G, of that organization. This regiment, like the 23d, was made up of those volunteers Missing Page Missing Page HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 173 who tendered their services just too late to be accepted under the flrst call of the Pres ident. "A meeting of persona interested in the organization of a 'Fox River Regi ment' was held at Geneva on the 29th day of July, 1861, and preliminary steps taken for its organization. Fifteen companies, either complete or in an advanced state of formation, were represented and tendered for acceptance, twelve of which were select ed, including two cftvalry companies."* This regiment was duly authorized by the proper authorities, and Col. N. Grensel was appointed to the command of the "Fox River Regiment," under date of August 14, 1861. The regiment went into camp near Aurora, was mustered into the three years' service September 23d, and uni formed, and on the following day started for St. Louis, where they were armed. The regi ment was at once ordered to Rolla, Mo., remaining there until January, 1862, when it took part in the campaign against Price, resulting in the series of engagements end ing with the battle of Pea Ridge. In this battle, especially, the 36th took a conspicu ous part. It was a part of the Second bri gade of Osterhaus' division, and occupied a position on the left of the Federal line. Company G. was the most severely han dled, losing thirteen men while in skirmish line. Col. Grensel's report of his part in the engagement describes this action as follows: " My attention wa? now called to several regiments of infantry in our front, and imraediately opposite the 36th Illinois Yolunteers, whereupon I threw out Com panies B and G of that regiment as skir mishers. These companies crossed the field, *Bennett & Haight's Hist, of 36fch Regt. and on entering the timber discovered the enemy in ambush — three regiments drawn up in line and others formed in square, evidently expecting another attack from our cavalry. A rapid fire was opened up by the enemy and returned by the skir mishers, which was kept up for fifteen min utes. Finding that they were wasting am munition to no purpose, the skirmishers retired in good order, with a loss of twenty wounded — thirteen in Company G, and seven in Company B." The regiment was subsequently trans ferred to the Department of the Mississippi and marched to Cape Giraudeau, Mo., and on their arrival was transferred to Gen. Pope's command. September 6, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Cincinnati, 0., to defend the city against Gen. Bragg's raid across Kentucky, and joined in his pursuit when that general was forced to retreat. In the battle of Perry ville, which followed, the 36th regiment, which formed a part of Sheridan's division, occupied an advanced position in front of Barrett's battery near the center of the federal line. Here the regiment was the object of a fierce attack by three regiments of Hardee's famous troops, and maintained a sharp fight until the ammunition being exhausted, the 36tli was retired, losing 75 men. They were ordered subsequently to the support of another battery, but did not again become engaged with the enemy. With the rest of the army the 36th went forward to Nashville, where it remained until the lat ter part of December, 1862, when it moved out with the army under Rosecrans to the bloody encounter of Stone River. In this battle McCook's corps occupied the right of the Union line, Sheridan's division being 17-1 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. on the left of this corps. Of the 36th reg iment's part in this action Col. Grensel reported: " At daylight on the 31st (De cember, 1862) the regiment was assaulted by a rebel brigade, under Gen. Weathers, and being supported by the 88th Illinois, on its left, the enemy was soon driven back to the woods; but again and again they were rallied, every time meeting the same fate, until thirty-eight of that fine brigade were all that were left to tell where their rebel comrades had fallen. The 36th charged them at the point of the bayonet twice in succession, driving them back. Forty-one of the poor boys lay dead on their faces on less than an acre of ground. The number of wounded is large, and, in fact, the killed and wounded are the larg est in the whole division." Out of this fight the regiment brought only 200 men. Company G losing three men killed and thirteen wounded. After the battle of Stone River, suc ceeded a period of more or less inactivity, in which the regiment recruited its wasted energies, losing its colonel in the mean while by resignation, his place being sup plied by Col. Silas Miller. In September, however, the 36th was called again to face the enemy at Chickamauga. On the 19th, the regiment marched ten miles, from Pond Springs to Gordon's Mills, Sheridan's di vision occupying at that time the extreme right of the federal line. The attack upon this portion of the line was especially severe. Lieut. Col. Olson's report of this engagement is as follows : " At 2 P. M. went into position near Gordon's Mills with one company thrown forward as skirmishers. At 5 P. M. fell back to the timber, about 200 yards, and remained dur ing the night. At 4 A. M., 20th, inarched two miles and a quarter to the left and formed in the second line. At 11 A. M., after some skirmishing, was ordered for ward to the support of the center. Formed on the brow of a hill, under a most ter rible fire, but in perfect good order, and engaged the enemy fiercely, checking his advance. At this juncture, the enemy ap peared on the left, and, turning the flank, subjected us to a itaurderous, enfilading fire, against which we could offer but little resistance. The regiment was ordered to fall back. Here the regiment made another stand, but was overwhelmed by numbers, and compelled to fall back." At this juncture, Sheridan's division was relieved, and ordered to Rossville to rescue a train which was in danger of falling into the hands of the enemy. This was skillfully done, the troops going silently within rifle shot of the enemy, securing the train with out discovery, and going into camp five miles away. On the 22d, the regiment took up its line of retreat to Chattanooga. In this engagement. Company G lost twenty-two men. On the following day, the siege and de fense of Chattanooga began, the 36th be ginning the construction of rifle pits, by five o'clock next morning. Here some two months were spent in watching the enemy on the heights about tlie city, living on half or no rations," and wondering whether the issue would be starvation or retreat. In the meanwhile the army had changed lead ers, the line of supplies had been opened, and Sherman's and Hooker's forces added to the arm}', which was now under the im mediate command of Gen. Grant. About noon of November 23d, 1863, the order HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 175 was given to the 36th to " fall in," and with Sheridan's division it supported Wood's division, in what was intended as a recon- noisance of the enemy on Orchard Knob. The slight resistance of the enemy changed the character of the movement, and the troops, reinforced by Howard's division, occupied the position gained and fortified, the 36th holding a position on the hill just south of Orchard Knob, where is now the National Cemetery. In the meanwhile. Hooker had taken Lookout Mountain, but his troops, out of aininunition, were forced to remain inactive until their cartridge boxes were replenished, and so passed the day. On the 24th, Sherman renewed his attacks upon the northern summits of Mis sion Ridge, but finding it irapossible to make rapid progress, and Hooker being delayed on the left. Grant determined upon a movement from the center. The plan was to take the rifle pits at the foot of the ridge, by the skirmish line if possible, and the 36th furnished three companies for this service. This was accomplished. From this point a hill rose eight hundred feet out of the valley, swept by a storm of bullets, shot and shell. Along its face, half-way up, stretched a line of works, then 400 feet further up, with the steepness of a gothic roof, rough with rocks and strewn with fallen trees, the summit frowned with all its terrible enginery of war. To stay in the rifle pits already gained meant death, to retreat was as certain destruction; and so without orders tlie troops struggled up through the deluge of death-dealing missiles. In this fight Company G did not lose a man, though the regiment lost some twenty. In January, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted, and arrived in Chicago on " veteran furlough," at midnight of Feb- ¦ruary 2d. After partaking of the hospital ities of the city, the various companies separated for the localities of their homes. Com pany G being received at Morris with enthusiastic demonstrations, which was re peated during their six weeks' stay, at the various points where the friends of the regiment resided. During the furlough of the regiment every effort was made by the members to recruit its numbers. Com pany G took back twenty veterans and eleven recruits. March 19, 1864, the regi ment took the cars for Chicago, on their way back to the field. The regiment proceeded at once to Chattanooga, and from thence took part in the actions of Dalton, Resaca, Kenesaw, Atlanta, Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville. After the pursuit of Hood, which took the regiment to Lexington, Ala., it returned -to Nashville, where it remained until the 15th of June, when orders were received to proceed to New Or leans. Here the 36th was retained for headquarter and special duty until October 8, 1865, when it was mustered out of the service. In Company I of the 55th'regiment, this county was represented by some fifty men, the balance of the company being drawn from La Salle County. The regiment was mustered into the three years' service Octo ber 31, 1861, at Camp Douglas. The 55th was ordered January, 1862, to Paducah, Ky., where they remained till March 8, when they were ordered to the Tennessee River to take part in the movements about Cor inth. This regiment was finally taken to Pittsburgh Landing, where it was placed on the left of the federal line in that mem orable fight. Out of 873 men taken into 176 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. the fight, 102 enlisted men were killed, and 161 wounded and taken prisoners. It ' took part in the siege of Corinth, and its colors were the first in the captured city; with Sherman's division the 55th partici pated in the expedition to Holly Springs, Miss., thence to Memphis; thence to take part in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Dec. 29, 1862, losing in this engagement ten men. From this point having re-embarked with the army, it took part in the battle of Arkansas .Post; thence to Young's Point early in 1863, and in April joined the army about Yicksburg, taking part in several ex peditions against the eneray's outlying ]!)OSts and in the assaults, 19th and 22d May, upon the main works. Following the for- 1>unes of Sherman's division, the regiment found its way to Chattanooga in Novem ber, 1863, and took part in the prelimi nary movements of the battle of Mission Ridge. In the following winter it re-en listed and was home on a veteran furlough of thirty days. On its return it rejoined Sherman, took part in the engagements of Kenesaw Mountain, losing 48 men; again in July losing 33 men; in the siege of Atlanta losing 25 men; and in the fight of Jonesboro, losing 23 men. It subsequen tly joined in the pursuit of Hood through northern Alabama, when it returned to Atlanta, and later with the 15th Army Corps went to Savannah. Marched frora Richmond to Washington, took part in the grand review, then moved to Louisville; thence to Little Rock, Ark., where it was mustered out of the service August 14, 1865. Company I of the 69th regiment was made up principally from Grundy County. This regiment was organized under the call for three months men in 1862, and was mustered into the service June 14, 1862, at Camp Douglas. They were assigned duty of guarding prisoners at this camp aud served out their term of enlistment here, being mustered out Sept. 27, 1862. Company C of the 76th regiment was raised entirely in Grundy County. This company was organized in the summer of 1862, went into camp at Kankakee and was mustered into the service August 22, 1862. The 76th was ordered as soon as mustered to Columbus, Ky., and from thence to Bol ivar, Tenn., October 3d. Late in Novem ber the regiraent joined Grant's forces in the campaign along the Mississippi Central Railroad, and in February, 1863, proceeded to Mempliis and thence to Yicksburg, where it took part in the assault of May 22d. This regiment subsequently took part in the movement against Jackson, Meriden, and the expeditions of February and May, 1S64, up the Yazoo River. In July, 1864, it was in Slocum's expedition against Jackson, and bore a prominent part in the battle of July 6th and 7tli. On the latter day it was cut ofl' from the balance of the command, but cut its way out, losing ninety-eight men. Took part in various minor move ments in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Ar kansas, and joined in Steele's expedition from Pensacola to Blakely, Ala. May 9, 1865, engaged in the assault and capture of Fort Blakely, losing seventeen killed and eighty -one wounded, but succeeded in being the flrst to plant the national colors upon the enemy's works. After long marches and tedious encampments at Seldeii, Mo bile and Galveston, the regiment was mus tered out and ordered home, July 22, 1865. In the 91st regiment of Illinois infantry. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 177 Grundy County was represented by Cora- pany D. This company was raised in August, 1862, and going to Carap Butler was mustered into the service Sept. 8, 1862. In the following month the regiment was ordered to Louisville and was assigned to duty guarding the Louisville and Nasliville railroad. The regiraent formed a part of the large force guarding the Louisville and Nashville railroad, and occupied seven de tached posts on thirty miles of the line of that road. Three companies were stationed at each of the trestles at Big Run and Sul phur Fork, which are about a mile apart, and seven or eight railes north of Elizabeth- town ; one company, Capt. Foslm's (Co. D), occupied a stockade at this place ; por tions of one company, Capt. Ilanna's (en listed in Kendall County), were stationed at two bridges about a mile apart, and nearly two miles south of Elizabethtown ; one company at Nolin's Fork, nine railes, and one at Bacon Creek, twenty railes south of Elizabethtown. These detachraents had all received orders not to leave their different positions for any cause whatever, but to hold and defend them to the last extremity. For some days before the attack of Gen. Morgan, reports were constantly' received at the different stations that the rebels were ajiproaching in large force, and the impression was universal throughout the regiment that under the orders they had received, the small detachments at the different posts would be gobbled up, one after the other, by superior n umbers. These reports and ¦ impressions were fully con- flrmed late on Friday night, by thi arrival at Elizabethtown of two negroes who had escaped from the companies at Bacon Creek and Nolin's Fork bringing intelli gence that both of tlrese companies had been attacked that day by the rebels and compelled to surrender. Capt. Fosha im mediately sent a messenger to headquarters at Big Run Trestle, informing Lieut. Col. Smith of the intelligence he had just received by the escaped negroes. "During the night the rebel scouts were quite active and bold, but our pickets were watchful and alert, and no advantage was obtained. Early in the morning skirmish ers were sent out to feel the enemy and re tard their advance, and about eight o'clock the six companies at the Trestle," having been relieved by the 71st Indiana volun teers, arrived at Elizabethtown under Lieut. Col. Smith, who immediately ordered Capt. Hanna's company at the bridges below to join him. The coraraand then consisted of eight companies, mustering about 450 effective men, which Col. Smith drew up in line of battle on the west side of the rail road, close by the stockade in which Capt. Fosha's men were left, with orders to hold it. Up to this time, neither the rebel forces nor their commander was known. To ascercain these facts Col. Smith sent out a flag of truce, demanding their iraraedi- ate surrender. The deraand was of course refused, and in about half an hour Col. Smith received a reply signed by John H. Morgan, stating that he had Col. Smith's forces surrounded, and that in ten minutes his batteries would be in position to open upon him, and demanding the surrender of his command. To this Col. Smith replied that it was the duty of United States soldiers to fight, not to surrender. In less than ten minutes allowed by Gen. Morgan, one of his batteries had taken position on sorae high bluffs to the right of the Nasliville 178 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. pike, and within a thousand yards of the town, and opened fire upon Col. Smith's forces; at the same time, heavy columns of the enemy were observed moving to the right and left of the town, with the evi dent intention of surrounding our troops. To avoid this it became necessary to change the position of the regiment, which Col. Smith did by moving his men into the town and taking possession of the court house and buildings on the square. On the re tirement of the outside forces and before the enemy had advanced on the stockade, Capt.Fosha withdrew his forces and followed the retreat of the rest of the regiment into the town, and occupied a building on the south side of the square. It was now ten o'clock and Col. Smith had determined to hold the buildings to the last extremity. The enemy opened fire upon the town with his artillery, the building from which the regimental colors were flying being strnck seventeen times and badly riddled. The men, however, were maintaining their dis cipline, though several were killed and oth ers wounded, and were returning tho mus ket firing with some effect. As the enemy approached the suburbs of the town, and were dismounting with the evident inten tion of making an attack upon the regi ment's position, numbers of saddles were unceremoniously emptied by the accuracy of our fire, which made the rebels hesitate to advance. The firing had been main tained upward of three hours, and the Un ion forces were expecting an assault which they confidently expected to repel with heavy loss to the enemy, when a white flag was thrown out of a window in the build ing occupied by Capt. Fosha's company. It was immediately ordered to be shot down, and when fired upon was withdrawn, but another immediately appeared on the street, and Capt. Fosha's men were seen coming out of the building and throwing down their arms. The firing ceased at once, and the rebels rushing in from the alleys and cover of the houses, captured the whole regiment." * The forces under Morgan numbered some eight or ten thou sand with thirteen guns, and the capture of the regiment was a foregone conclusion from the first, but the spirited resistance offered by our troops delayed the rebel ex pedition and forced them to lose valuable time. When paroled, the regiment was ordered to Benton Barracks, Mo., and in January, 1863, were sent home on furlough. In February, they were ordered back, and subsequently ordered to Yicksburg where they arrived July 14th. They took part in the movements to Port Hudson, CarroUton, La., and Atchafalaya River, arriving at Morganzia, 10th of October. Transferred to the 13th army corps, they went to New Orleans, going into camp October 12th. Later in the month the regiment was ordered to Texas ; took part in several minor engage ments, and in July, 1864, occupied Brazos Santiago as part of the garrison. About the last of December, the 91st was relieved and transferred to New Orleans and placed on provost duty. In February, it joined the forces at Fort Morgan and subsequently took an active part in the campaign which resulted in the capture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. Following np the retreat of the rebels, the federal forces overtook the enemy at Eight-mile Creek, where a sharp engagement took place, the 91st leading a * Grundy County Herald, Januaiy 14, 1863. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 179 bayonet charge, which cleared the field. This was the last engagement of the war east of the Mississippi. The regiraent was mustered out of the service, July 12, 1865, at Mobile, and reached Carap Butler on the 22d of the same month. The 127th Illinois infantry contained nearly a full company from Grundy Coun ty, Company D, which was organized about August, 1863, and was mustered at Camp Douglas in September, though the regiment was not organized until October. Early in the following month the regiment was ordered to the field, going by rail to Cairo, and thence by steamboat to Mem phis. Taking part in the Talahatchie River expedition, the 127th, on its return to Memphis, was ordered to Yicksburg. The regiment was in Blair's division under Sherraan, and after taking their turn at ditching in the various bayous (a line of op erations soon abandoned), and the trans ports having successfully passed the Yicks burg batteries, the 127th, with the rest of the division, stearaed up the Yazoo River to divert the attention of the enemy from Grant's real object of crossing the Mississippi. The main array having crossed the river and beaten the enemy back from Fort Gibson and Grand Gulf, a feint was made iu the direction of Yicks burg while waiting the return of Sher man's corps, which was ordered to join the main force by a march across the country. Gen. Johnson, who commanded the rebel force in the West, had been apprised of Grant's movements, and was gathering an army to reinforce Pemberton at Yicksburg and to guard against being assailed in the rear. Grant, refraining from moving on the city, attracted Pemberton's attention by a feint, and directed Sherman to fol low the eastern side of the Black River to Edward's Station on the Yicksburg rail road, and McPherson to make a detour far ther eastward, destroying rebel stores and lines of communication. At Raymond, a few miles south of Edward's Station, a force of the enemy was struck by McPher son, when a short and sharp engagement ensued. The rebels were forced to a sec ond position, and after a severe struggle were driven frora the field in disorder, re treating toward Jackson. Fearing the enemy under Johnson at Jackson might prove too numerous for McPherson's force, Sherman and McClernand were directed to follow to Jackson, where, in company with McPherson, they fought the battle of Jackson, forcing the rebels to retreat. Leaving Sherraan to destroy bridges, arse nals and other public property, the rest of the army faced about westward to close in upon Yicksburg. Pemberton had moved out to Edward's Station in the meanwhile, and thinking to cut Grant off frora his base of supplies, which had been at Grand Gulf, he pushed down toward Raymond, when he found by the Union pickets advancing from the east that Grant had changed his base, and his was a fruit less errand. He now proposed to follow the orders of Johnson, and by retracing his steps to escape by a northeasterly route through Brownsville and join the latter's defeated forces. But his resolution came too late, for the Union forces had oc cupied this town and were prepared to dis pute his advance. As the only alternative the rebel forces were hastily drawn up for action, aud then followed the battle of Champion Hills. A courier was sent to 180 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Sherman at Jackson with orders to bring his troops to the scene of conflict. The battle was fought by the troops of Mc Pherson's and McClernand's corps, and the rebel army retreating, these troops pressed rapidly forward in their wake, while Sherman advanced in the direction of Bridgeport, higher up the river, with the intention of crossing at that point. On the following morning, finding the enemy disputing the passage of Black River, McClernand's troops proceeded at once to the attack and soon had the enemy fiying. Bridges were placed across the river that night, and Sherman, still on the right of the line, took possession of Haine's Bluffs, while McPherson and McClernand completed the investment of the city. In these operations the 127th, while in active service, enduring severe marching and performing valuable service, was not called upon to do any heavy fighting, though losing a number of men in a num ber of severe skirmishes. In war, how ever, there is more drudgery to be done than glory to be gained, and " He also serves who only stands and waits." The enemy's forces, rapidly driven into their works about the city, were consider ably demoralized, and though the works were skillfully constructed and located, in a naturally strong position, the necessities of the situation seemed to demand quicker results than could be secured by sieo-e. A general assault was therefore made on the afternoon of May 17th, and while no ad vantage was gained, the 127th had op portunity of showing its metal; this regi ment and the 83d Indiana alone succeeding in placing their colors upon the outward slope of the enemy's works. On May 22d the}' again joined in the general assault, but the works proved too strong and the army sat down to a laborious siege. On July 4, this stronghold capitulated, and on the following day Sherman's corps moved out to Jackson where a force of the enemy had intrenched to dispute the further ad vance of the victorious federals. In the meantime the Chattanooga cam paign had been fought, ending in Chicka mauga and the close surveillance of Chat tanooga. Grant had been placed in general command of the west, while Thomas had superseded Rosecrans. After the Jackson expedition the 127th with its corps re turned to Yicksburg; in September took transports to Memphis and thence by way of Corinth, Inka and East Point went to Chattanooga, arriving at the latter place September 23d. After taking part in the movements culminating in Mission Ridge, the regiment made the forced march to Knoxville and having relieved the troops besieged there, returned to Chattanooga. Grant having been made Lient. General and put in command of the whole field, east and west, Sherman succeeded him in command of the Department of the Mis sissippi, and at once commenced the cam paign of Atlanta. Johnson having suc ceeded Bragg in command of the rebel forces, had taken a strong natural position at Dalton and greatly strengthened it by fortifications. Here, Sherman finding the position too strong to take by an attack in front, diverted the attention of the enemy by a feint attack and began the fiank movements for which he became so famous. The 127th was of the flanking forces, and making a detour to the westward came upon the enemy at Resaca. Here the HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ISl bearing of this regiment was especially marked by its gallant fighting. On one occasion our men had been ordered back, a movement which evoked exultant shouts from the enemy who supposed we were re pulsed. The color bearer of the 127th, becoming exasperated and regardless of danger, returned to an embrasure and defiantly flaunted his flag in the face of the enemy. His life paid the forfeit of his temerity, and others who attempted to regain the colors were shot in the attempt. Then followed the maneuvers ending in the battle of New Hope Church, rapidly fol lowed by that of Kenesaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek. McPherson's division, to which the 127th was assigned, from this point made a wide detour eastward by way of Decatur, and approaching Atlanta from the east sustained an assault from the whole rebel force. Here the fighting was very se vere, the 127th doing its share manfully. Then followed the fiank movement by the right, the battle of Jonesboro and the conse quent evacuation of Atlanta. From this point Hood, then in command of the rebel forces, went on his ill-starred campaign to Nash ville, before whom Thomas retreated, gath ering the forces that were destined to crush him in the end. Returning from his pur suit of Hood, Sherman, with the balance of his army, reorganized and rested, set out for his march to the sea, the 127th beino- in the right wing. From Atlanta to Sa vannah, thence to Columbia, S. C, Fayette- ville, N. C, and Ben ton ville, to the end, the regiment marched its way through the rebellion, taking part in the " Grand Re view," and was one of four regiments com plimented by Gen. Sherman for their fine soldierly bearing. The regiment was mustered out of the service May 31, 1865. The "Mechanical Fusiliers" was a com pany of mechanics enlisted to aid in the construction of barracks, bridges, etc., for the use of the army. They went out in coraraand of Capt. James Miller of Joliet, assisted in the construction of barracks at Camp Douglas, and were then lost sight of so far as any record exists in this county. The best information to be had is to the effect that this company was organized with others into a pioneer regiraent, but of their subsequent career there is unfor tunately no information at hand. In the 60th Infantry, Grundy County was represented by a few men in Company I. This regiraent was organized in Febru ary, 1862, and took part in the operations of the army of Tennessee. Was at the siege of Corinth, Nashville, Chattanooga, in the campaign about Atlanta, and the battle of Jonesboro. Was a part of the garrison left at Atlanta, and subsequently followed Sherman's array to Savannah and subsequently took part in Sherraan's cara paign in the Carolinas. Took part in the grand review at '^Washington; did provost duty at Louisville for a little more than a month and was mustered out July 31, 1865. The 90th Infantry was organized at Chi cago in September and October, 1862. In Company H. of this regiment this county was represented by some fourteen men. The regiment was ordered to Tennessee, arriving at Lagrange December 2d, and on the 4th went to Cold Water, Mississippi. On the morning of the 20th, a detachment of the 2d Illinois Cavalry arrived at Cold Water, having cut their way through Yaii Dorn's forces, out of Holly Springs. Soon 182 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. after four companies of the 101st Illinois came in, and were followed by the enemy to our lines. The demonstration made by the 90th deterred the enemy from making any severe attack, although he was 4,000 or 6,000 strong. The regiment was mustered out of service June 6, 1865, at Washington, D. C. Company B of the 129th Infantry^drew some men from Grundy. This regiment was organized at Pontiac, 111., in August, 1862, and was sent at once to Louisville. After the Buell and Bragg race across Kentucky, the 129th joined in the pursuit via Frankfort and Danville to Crab Or chard, when it returned and did garrison duty at Mitchellsburg, Ky. The regiment was mustered out June 8, 1865, at Washing ton, D. C. Company H. of the 138th Infantry also contained some Grundy County men. This was a •' hundred day " regiment, organized June 21, 1864. It was assigned to gar rison duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where it served out the term of its en listment. The regiment was mustered out October 14, 1864, at Springfield, Illinois. Other organizations that numbered one or two men from Grundy County, were Companies E and H of the 144th; Compa nies C and K of the 147th ; Company E of the 153d; Company A of the 156th; Com pany E of the 2d Cavalry; Naugns Battery, and twelve men in the naval service. In the above brief survey no attempt has been made to do exact or equal justice to the military career of those who went out from Grundy County to the service of their country. Any such attempt must have failed in the very nature of the case. Such facts as have been given, have been gleaned frora various sources of informa tion generally accepted as correct, yet often proving contradictory in essential particu lars, and may prove in many instances to fall short of the merits of the case. But however much this sketch may fail of ex cellence, it will at least serve to show that Grundy County's patriotism found expres sion " where duty called and danger," and was " never wanting there," and so answers the purpose for which it was conceived. OHAPTEE YI.* MORRIS CITY— INTRODUCTORY— ITS LOCATION— FIRST BEGINNINGS— ORIGIN OF NAME- COUNTY HONORS— EARLY COMMUNITY— BIOGRAPHICAL. HE who would attempt to " revive the memories of the past and with feeble pen portray them" in the hope of giving such a chronicle of events as will meet the approval of all, will find his undertaking is a difficult — indeed an impossible one, especially so, if he atterapts to write up cotemporary history. What to one seems of importance, to another seems trivial, whilst others are born chronic fault-finders. Fully appreciating these difficulties, and with a desire to show charity to all — malice to none — we shall endeavor to give a faith ful narrative of the leading events and inci dents connected with the township and city of Morris from their inception down to the present as we now remember them. In our effort we may, indeed we must from the nature of human events and human weak ness, omit many, many important incidents and events, and mate many mistakes in dates and coloring of those we attempt to describe. We are relying largely upon our memory, indeed we have little other re source to draw frora ; and as our recollec tions are most vivid on those events with which we were personally interested, our readers will be charitable enough to excuse what may smack of egotism. Should any of the living who have been participants in the events we shall describe, feel themselves * By Hon. P. A. Armstrong. aggrieved at our omission to favorably mention what part they performed, or should the descendants of any of the early settlers of Morris who have "gone before" feel that we have wounded their sensibili ties by statements that may be construed to reflect upon the character or habits of the deceased, we in advance disclaim any malice or intention of injuring the repu tation of any one. Nor shall we fail to give the habits, customs and characteristics of our early inhabitants, nor " spoil a good tale for relationship." In this way only can we write history whose use, according to Tacitus, "Is to rescue virtuous actions from the oblivion to which a want of records would consign them, and that men should feel a dread of being considered infamous in the opinions of posterity, from their de praved expressions and depraved actions." Morris (for such is the name given to the county seat of Grundy County), is located ou the north or right bank of the Illinois River, some twelve miles below the junction of the Kankakee and Desplaines Rivers, which form the Illinois. Nettle Creek, a considerable stream of pure water approach ing from the north, passes through the city and flows into the river about a half mile southwest of the court house. From the south approaches the Mazon, which, in the Algonquin or Indian language, means " River of Nettles," and empties into the 181 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Illinois directly south of the public square. The Mazon is sometimes called a creek and other times a river. It is a short stream, with decidedly uppish notions. In times of drouth it is an humble creek, but in the spring and fall it is a roaring- river. The Illinois & Michigan Canal passes through between the city and the river, at a distance of about forty rods from the river, and runs nearly parallel with it, the general course (if the river at this point being nearly from east to west. Frora. the bank of the river, running north to the distance of about one half mile, the surface of the land in Morris gently rises — the apex being some forty feet above the river bank, thus forming a natural drainage into the canal. From tho apex north the surface descends for a distance of about one hundred rods to a ravine running southwesterly into Nettle Creek. Sandy loam is the predominating soil, which is admirably adapted to garden ing purposes and the raising of fruit, espe cially grapes. Originally, nearh' the entire plat of Morris was studded with forest trees, oak and hickory predominating, with here and there a hazel or plum thicket. Notwithstanding the timber, and many of the trees were giant oaks, there were bowl ders scattered over the surface, mute wit nesses of the glacier period, and of its great antiquity. Morris is located midway be tween the cities of Joliet on the east and Ottawa on the west, and sixty-one railes southwest of Chicago. It spreads over parts of four sections of land, viz. : three, four, nine and ten, in township number thirty- fhree north, range seven, east of the third principal meridian. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad, which is one of the foremost railroads of the continent, passes through Morris a half raile north of the court house, thus giving both rail and ¦water |highways for the transportation of grain and stock. With our facilities of travel, Chicago is but two and a half hour's ride from Morris by rail. Few cities are more pleasantly located than Morris. Sheltered on the south and west by heavy groves of timber, with an undulating surface, in the midst of a fine agricultural country, it is no wonder that the Mound Builders, that mysterious yet intelligent prehistoric race, selected the site of Morris for their principal city and ceme tery, away back of the historic period. That here was the abode of a large number of these wonderful people is attested by nineteen separate, distinct mounds or cem eteries, for each mound is but a cemeter}', pyre, or charnel house, at the center of whose base lie the cremated ashes of their dead. These mounds were constructed in a line on the second rise from the river, aud some forty rods to the north of the river bank. The largest of them was located near the south east corner of the present court house square, and was about fifty feet in diameter and ten feet high. There were no moats or ditches surround ing these mounds, hence the material used in their construction must have been carted or carried from a distance. They were con structed of sandy loam, free of clay or gravel. From whence the Mound Builders came, the period of their existence and the cause or causes of their extermination have not yet been satisfactorily settled. Enough of their history has been delved out of their mounds to establish many very inter esting facts, and the ever restless spirit of inquiry and research may yet fix the date HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 155 of their existence and account for their disappearance. From the knowledge we now have relating to these mysterious peo ple, we deduce among other things : First: " They were a very numerous people as evi denced by the great number of tumuli or mounds found in the United States, reach ing far beyond a hundred thousand already discovered. Secondly: They built cities and surrounded them with fortifications. Third ly : They were a religious people and offered up sacrifices. Fourthly: They were an intelligent people and well skilled in some of the arts. Fifthly: They had.a knowledge of the use of metals, especiallj- copper, and to sorae extent of iron and steel. Sixthly: They were experts in the raanufacture of earthenware and brick, and used the latter in walling in their cities and in the erection of fortifications. Seventhly: These people must have been as numerous throughout the valley of the Mississippi as the inhabit ants along the banks of the Nile or Euphra tes in biblical times, with cities rivaling those of Mexico in the days of the Montezu- nias. Eighthly: They must have been an agricultural and pastoral people, as their cities were too large to subsist on fish and wild game. Ninthly: They well understood the arts of war and civil engineering. Tenthly: They were a wealthy people as well as nuraerous, or they could not have built the mounds and fortifications which mark their existence and bear testimony to their skill and wonderful works, like those on the Muskingum in Ohio, and Cohokia in Illinoi.-^ — works in whose construction 3'ears of labor and millions of treasure would be required even with the art and skill of the nineteenth century. Eleventhly: They understood and. appreciated the pre cious raetals in ornamentation, if not as a cir culating medium. Twelfthly: There were at least three separate races of them, Lilli putian, Medium and Giant. Thirteenthly: They were fine judges of soil and natural advantages of locality ; always selecting the best lands and most eligible sites for their cities, with a view to natural drain age, abundance of wood and water, and pointe which could be readily fortified against the attack of an enemy. Four- teenthly: They were probably the descend ants of the Israelites, possibly of the lost tribes described by Esdros. Fifteenthly: They were cremators and buried the ashes of their dead, and erected over thera tumuli instead of monuments of marble — grand landmarks to point out where their eternity began. Some of them as in Licking County, Ohio, and St. Clair Countj', III., covering acres in area, and rising to the astonishing elevation of one hundred feet ; and lastly, and most strangely, they were speculative Masons, as evidenced by finding in their mounds miniature squares, comjiasses, levels and plumbs cut out of sea shell or imprinted on pieces of pottery. (This last discovery is but quite recent and raay not prove general. Lion. William McAdams of Jersey County, 111., and the writer, vouch for the correctness of the last statement frora personal discoveries near Naples, 111., and Glen-Elder, Kansas.) But as the editor, Mr. Battle, has dwelt at some length upon this subject, we shall simply add that tliei'e can be no reasonable doubt but the pr.'s- ent site of the city of Morris was once the site of a great city of the vMound Builders, and from specimens of their handiwork found beneath the surface of the prairies we are led to the conclusion that the vast 186 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. prairies of Illinois were at one time the grow ing fields of this wonderful race of people whom we only know as Mound Builders. The numerous human skeletons we find near the surface of these mounds are those of Indians, deposited there probably thou sands of years after the mounds were built. The Indians utilized these mounds because they were dry, as burial places for their dead. How many different tribes of In dians have made this their principal village sites is not and never will be known. La Salle found a large one here, on liis first trip up the Illinois, in 1679. Prior to the organization of Grundj', La Salle County embraced, in addition to the present large territory, all of Grundy and a portion of Kendall Counties. Ottawa, the county seat of La Salle, is located on Sections 3, 4, 9 and 10, T. 33, R. 3, or just twenty-four miles west of Morris; and as Morris is twelve miles west of the east line of Grundy County, persons living on the eastern side of La Salle County yjrior to the formation of Grundy would be compelled to travel about forty miles to the county seat; these people soon became dissatisfied, and dis cussed the feasibility of the division of this monster county as far back as 1836, and in 1839 petitions for the organization of anew county were prepared, and circulated for signers by L. W. Cla^'pool and others, and were very generally signed by the inhabit. ants of the territory of the proposed new county. The General Assembly (under the State Constitution, adopted Aug. 26, 1818) convened on the first Monday in December in each even numbered year, hence the first session after the commencement of obtain ing signatures to said petition would be the first Monday in December, 1840. During the summer of that year the new county movement received the aid of Hon. Geo. W. Armstrong and his brother, Will- ¦ iam E., the former then living where he now resides, near the dividing line between La Salle and Grundy, with part of his farm in each county; the latter residing in Ottawa. Wm. E. was a man of great energy and positive character — quick to perceive and prompt to act. Whatever he attempted to do he did, if good manage ment and well-directed efforts could accom plish it. In this movement he saw the necessity of a division of La Salle County, and the erection of a new one, and beyond this he saw an opportunity of making money. Having first surveyed the general topography of the country, out of which the new county was proposed to be organized, his mind settled upon the place where Mor ris is located, as the most eligible point for the seat of justice. He next conferred with the late John P. Chapin, who then owned the southeast quarter of Section four, T. 33, R. 7, which eventuated in the purchase of an undivided half interest in the south portion thereof, contingent upon the or ganization of the new county. This done, he pressed forward the petition for the division of La Salle County, with energy and success, and when the Legislature met that fall he went in person to press through his bill for a new county, suggesting the name of Grundy in honor of Tennessee's greatest criminal lawyer and statesman, Felix Grundy. This bill became a law Feby. 17, 1841. Among its provisions are the following: "That all that tract of country lying and being in the county of La Salle, in town ships thirty-one, thirty-two, thirty-three, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 187 and thirty-four north, of ranges six, seven, and eight, east of the third principal me ridian, shall constitute a new county to be called Grundy. "An election shall be held at the house of C. Piney, on the fourth Monday of May next for the purpose of electing one sheriff, etc., etc., and the said county of Grundy shall be organized so soon as the said officers shall be elected and qualified. " Ward B. Burnett, Rulief S. Durwyea, and William E. Armstrong be appointed in conjunction with the commissioners of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, to locate the seat of justice of the said county of Grundy. " It shall be the duty of the said commis sioners to locate the said seat of justice on the line of the Illinois & Michigan Ca.nal, on canal lands, and they shall set apart for this purpose any quantity of the canal lands, not exceeding (10) acres, and after doing so shall proceed to lay off' the said land as a town site, embracing lots, streets, alleys, and a public square', in such manner as they shall deem proper. They shall divide the said lots in equal nuraber be tween the State and the said county, and shall allot to the State and the county alter nate lots of equal value, or as nearly so as may be practicable. "It shall be the duty of the canal com missioners to require of the said county, and the inhabitants thereof, in their cor porate capacity, shall be liable to them for the payment of a sum equal to ten dollars per acre for one-half of the whole quantity of land to be located as aforesaid, upon the payment of wliicli sum the canal commis sioners shall certify the fact to the Gover nor, who shall thereupon issue a patent to the county commissioners of said county for that portion of the lots by number, which shall be allotted to the county; pro vided always, that the moneys to be received by the canal commissioners by virtue of this section of the act, shall be applied in aid of the construction of the Illinois & Michigan Canal." The seat of justice should be located on the line of the canal and on canal land, thus restricting the location virtually to ¦ two land points, viz.: Section 7 or 9, T. 33, R. 7; section 9 is centrally located be tween east and west lines of the county; section 7 is two miles west of the center; both lie on the Illinois river; only a small fraction of 9 lies north of the river, whilst nearly all of 7 does. The lay of the land on the north side of the river at both of these points is high and well adapted for village or city location, and on the south side, low, flat, and subject to overflows in the spring and fall. Only ten acres were to be laid out for the seat of justice, of which the country was to have one half upon the payment to the canal fund of the sura often dollars per acre, or fifty dollars for one half of the county seat. But this was not the real consideration on the part of the State. It was the expectation that the locating of the county seat on canal land would enhance the adjacent land in price. Here, then, were two confiicting interests. The one in favor of section 7, the other for section 9. The canal commis sioners having the interest of the canal fund only in view were strongly in favor of sec tion 7, whilst the great mass of the people of the county and the other three commis sioners were in favor of section 9. The people, however, could not vote upon 1S8 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. this question, hence the vote upon the loca tion was a tie, and a dead-lock ensued.. Great credit is due to General Ward B. Burnett for the stand he took on this ques tion. He was chief engineer of the con struction of the canal, in the employment of the State, and subject to removal by the canal commissioners; but he was too much of a man to be swerved or controlled in his action as a commissioner to locate the county seat by fear or favor, hence he stood manfully with Messrs. Durwyea and Arm strong for section 9 first, last and all the time until it was accomplished. Yet, be it said, with shame, that not even a street in the entire city of Morris bears the honored name of Burnett, the gallant soldier and finished gentleman. From the time of this disagreement between the commissioners on the county seat question, which was probably in the forepart of June, 1841 (we have no record of their meeting), up to April 12, 1842, when the plat of Morris was acknowledged by Isaac N. Morris, Newton Cloud, R. S. Duryea and Wm. E. Armstrong (See Book "B," page 39, of Deed Records of Grundy County), Grundy County pre sented the anomaly of being a fully organ ized county without a county seat. Mr. Armstrong moved his faraily frora Ottawa, Ills., soon after the passage of the act cre ating the county, and occupied the log cabin erected by Cryder and McKeen for John P. Chapin in 1834. .This cabin stood near the spot where the residence of Judo-e A. R. Jordan now stands, and contained but one room 16x20 feet. On the 14th of June, 1841, the Board of County Coramissioners, consisting of Henry Cryder, Jacob Clay pool and Jaraes McKeen, held the first meeting for the transaction of county busi ness at this cabin. Among other business transacted at this meeting they approved the official bonds of L. W. Claypool, re corder of deeds; James Nagle, clerk of the county commissioners' court; and Joshua Collins, probate justice of the peace. When this meeting of the board was through with their business they adjourned to meet "at the house of Wm. E. Arm strong, on section 4, July 21, 1841." At this meeting it was "ordered that the Cir cuit Court be held in the house of Wm. E. Armstrong." Mr. Claypool resigned his office as one of the county commissioners, and Salmon Rutherford was elected to fill the vacancy; and the next meeting was held at the house of Mr.- Rutherford, at the village of Dresden, nine miles east of Mor ris. This was held Sept. 6, 1841, and ad journed to meet at the house of Mr. Arm strong, on section 4, T. 33, R. 7. At this meeting the precinct of Grundy was formed, which embraced what are now the towns of Morris and Saratoga. In the meanwhile Messrs. Chapin and Armstrong proceeded to lay off a village plat, embrac ing what is now known as Chapin's addi tion to Morris, but gave it no name, nor did they file it for record. It was, how ever, generally known as Grundyville, or Grundy, and Mr. Armstrong erected a large frame building upon the spot where the Hopkins House stands and opened it as a hotel under the name of " Grundy Ho tel." A petition for a post-office at this point, with the signatures of fully half of the voters of the county, had been forward ed to the Post-Office Department in the fall of 1841, under the name of the " Town of Grundy," but the prayer was not grant ed because it was not a county seat, and 5>i. *^, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 191 the receipts of the office (though postage was then 25 cents per letter), would not de fray the expenses of carrying the mail. In the spring of 1842, General Wm. F. Thorn ton, one of the canal commissioners, was succeeded by Hon. Isaac N. Morris, of Quincy, 111., when another conference of the County Seat Commission was held — prob ably abont the 1st of March. After inspect" ing the two competing points, Grundy, on Sec. 9, and Clarkson, ' n Sec. 7, and confer ring with the county officials and people, Mr. Morris cast his vote in favor of Grun dy, or Sec. 9. The vote standing as fol lows: For Sec, 9, Messrs. Morris, Burnett^ Durwyea and Armstrong, 4. For Sec. 7, Messrs. Cloud and Fry, 2. Pleased at the independent and manly action of Mr. Mor ris, and wishing to honor hira, the name of the Town of Grundy was changed, first to Morristown, but it was found that there was already a town of that name in the State; Morris ville was then suggested, but to this name Mr. Morris objected, as it sug gested a mere village. It was finally named MoEEis, and the survey was begun (accord ing to the diary of L. W. Claypool, Esq.) March 7, 1842, by Leander Newport, sur veyor, with Perry A. Claypool and George W. Armstrong, chainmen. Thus did Grundy County, after months of doubt and uncertainty, obtain her county seat and give it a name. Soraetirae afterward the Board of County Commissioners attempted to change the name to Xenia, but could not agree upon the orthography of the word ; hence they did not make the change. That the log cabin before referred to as the residence of Mr. Armstrong in 1841, was the first building within the present corpor.ate limits of Morris, there is no doubt, but whether it was built by Mr. Jaraes McKeen, who died here only last year, or by John Cryder, who occupied it immediately after it was erected, seems to be in doubt. That it was built for Mr. John P. Chapin, now deceased, is conceded by all, as he was the owner of the land, al though the title thereto was then in Mr. Julius Wadsworth, who held it for Mr. Chapin, and for whom John Cryder ob tained a pre-eraption. Mr. McKeen has fre quently told the writer that he built it while Mr. Zachariah Walley, who still sur vives, is equally positive that Mr. John Cryder built it. We deem it safe to say that both are right, i. e., that each assisted in its erection in the spring of 1834. Mr. Crj'der, after moving into said cabin, fenced and broke some ten acres of land lying west of the present Wauponsee street and north of Washington street. He resided there until the fall of 1838, and then went to Beardstown, Cass County, Illinois. The next residents of the town of Morris were John and Thomas Peacock, Englishmen and brothers. They built a small cabin on the north front of S. ^ of section 2, just west of the present Morris cemetery, and kept "Old Bach " during the winter of 1834-5. They purchased this land at the land sale in 1835, married and raised families. Many of their descendants are still living there and elsewhere in this county. In the early spring of 1838, Peter Griggs erected a cabin near where the aqueduct now is and moved into it. His widow still survives and is a second time a widow. He left several children who are still living: Ja cob, John, Mary, Priscilla and Wilson. Jacob is the only one now living in Mor- 192 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ris. On the 3d of July, 1839, all the available force of this section of country assembled at the west branch of Nettle Creek on the west side of the city, to raise what has ever since that time been known as " shaking bridge." The territory, now in Grundy County, was at that tirae very sparsely settled. The bridge was con structed of green oak logs, and hence they were extreraely heavy. Nearly every able- bodied man then in the limits of this county was there. Hayes, Peacocks, Clay- pools, Warren, Holloway, Tabler, etc. In bridging this stream the people were in liopes of inducing Frink & Walker, who ran a line of stages from Chicago to Ot tawa, via Lisbon, to change the line so a^ to follow the course of the Illinois river, and pass through this locality. That object was not accomplished, however, until 1846, when O. Husteed & Co. became the succes sors to Frink & Walker in the mail con tract between Chicago and Peoria. Dur ing the summer and fall of 1841, several new buildings were erected here, but as pine lumber could not be obtained short of Chicago, the greater portion of them were merely log cabins. The first one was probably built by James Nagle, Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court. It was a large sized, heavily built log cabin, and stood near the old Kinsted homestead, on the S. W. i, section 3, near the N. W. corner thereof In this cabin Mr. Nagle kept his office containing the books, papers aud archives of the county. He was a highly educated Irishman, which means one of Nature's noblemen, for as a general rule, an educated Irishman is a finished gentlerrMn. He was a most splendid pen man and very agreeable man. An invalid, he fell a victim to that fell destroyer — con sumption — in the spring of 1843. James Hart, father of John Hart, Esq. and widow Reynolds, of this city, built a small house near the Indian pole, and occupied it for a residence and saloon. He was a partner with Mr. Armstrong in one or more con tracts to dig the canal. Andrew Kinchella, a man of energy and means, built and occupied a log cabin near the present resi dence of L. P. Lott, Esq. He afterward purchased and improved a farm near Mi nooka, and died several years since, leaving quite a property. Anthony Horan, who always appeared in white pants and vest on St. Patrick's Day, no matter what the weather was, built and occupied a cabin near where the present fine residence of L. W. Claypool stands. In a fit of anger at his wife he is said to have set fire to it in 1846. Whether this was true or not, the cabin was burned, and he was arrested for the incendiarism, but as we had no suitable jail. Deputy Sheriff P. Kelly started with him in a buggy for the Ottawa jail. On reaching a point this side of Marseilles where the road approached the Illinois River, he complained of being thirsty and asked permission to get a drink. Having the darbies on, Mr. Kelly deemed it safe, and accompanied hiin to the river's edge. Horan laid down and drank heartily, but while lying there he worked his hands through his hand cufts, and as he rose to his feet he sprang into the river, swam across to the other side, and made good his escape, and stayed away until after the next term of court, at which no indictment was found, as his wife refused to go before the Grand Jurj' to testify against hira. She died soon afterward, and Anthony returned HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 193 to Morris, where he remained until some years afterward, when he went to the State of Pennsylvania, and was living at last advices. Perry A. Claypool built a cabin about where Ray's store now stands, in 1842, and occupied it with his faraily for about a year, when Sarauel Ayres and fara ily took possession of the cabin and kept boarders. During the residence of Mr. Ayres here he held the office of cor oner and deputy sheriff. He was a capital good fellow and had an interesting family- He left about the year 1848 and went to Tex as, much to the regret of our people. With full confidence that this point would ulti mately be the county seat, Mr. Arrastrong, of his own volition and at his own expense, comraeneed the erection of a frame build ing near the northwest corner of the pub lic square, for a court house, in the win ter of 1841-2. This building was probably 20x40 feet, two stories high. As there was no pine lumber to be had short of Chicago, and then it would have to be hauled by teams, he used hardwood lumber. It was an old fashioned heavy frame, thoroughly braced, with oaken floors and siding. The siding was undressed and hence could nev er be painted. This siding was sawed frora a very independent kind of trees and had a decidedly snarlish disposition, and little re gard for the confining influence of nails; hence, the clapboards or siding turned up their noses or heels in the most provoking manner — resembling somewhat the bristles of the hedgehog. This building was virtu ally accepted by the county commission ers as and for a court house in the fall of 1842, and forty dollars were paid to Mr. Armstrong as part pay, and in June, 1843, the}' j)aid him another county order for $310.06, making a total of $350.06. This was for the building, before it was lathed and plastered. That cost $175.30, making the total cost of the court house $525.36. Rather a cheap building for such a pur pose, yet it served the purpose for which it was erected until superseded by the pres ent fine stone one in 1856, a period of thir teen years. The lower story was done off for a court room, with a door on each side near the center and opposite each other, for ingress and egress, and the upper story was divided into three rooras of nearly equal size, with stairway at southeast corner. In the upper story were the offices of the clerks of the Circuit and County Commis sioners' Courts and recorder's office, but not used as such. — L. W. C. Our sheriff. Mr. Armstrong, had charge of the court room, and being a very liberal man in his religious views, this court room was always free for religious services, no matter of what denomination. It was equally free for tem perance meetings, singing schools. Sabbath schools, lectures, legerdemain, or for the exhibition of learned pigs, bears, natural monstrosities, or that greatest of humbugs, mesmerism. During the winter and spring of 1841-2 Robert Peacock- erected a small frame building for a hotel on the spot where the Clifton House now stands and christened it the "Plow Inn." His sign was the rep resentation of a plow painted upon a board, and underneath the letters " Inn." Mr. Peacock was a man of fair education, honest and fair but slightly addicted to gossip; hence he was very liable to be occasionally duped. He was a justice of the peace and a good one. In the absence of the coroner, a justice of the peace of the precinct where 194 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. a dead body may be found was required to hold an inquest. In the summer of 1842 P. P. Chapin (a natural wag) was running a brick yard near where the Gas Factory is located on the bank of East Nettle Creek. An English family, of the name of Bandly, with three or four daughters, ranging from six to fourteen years of age, lived near by his brick yard. These little girls had an enormously large rag doll baby, and while playing on the bank of the creek which is very abrupt and high, either by accident or intent, they let this doll fall into the creek, and as they could not reach it to pull it out, they left it fioating down stream. Mr. Chapin rescued it from its watery grave and carefully laid it out to dry upon a large stump close by. Here was a rare chance for "Pete" (as he was called, although his Christian name was Paschal) to gratify his ever ready wit and propensity for fun, even at the expense of friendship. A couple of elderly maidens lived " all alone " in a cab in near by, with whose reputation the busy tongue of scandal was dealing insidious in- uendoes — though in all human probability very unjustly. It was therefore an easy mat ter to start the inference of infanticide in that locality, and Squire Peacock — good, honest soul, would be among the very first to jump at a conclusion frora the most obscure hint or gesture. With a serious countenance he approached the Squire, and in a soleran voice informed him of the corpus delicti. How his attention was attracted to the creek by the high bluff, near the residence of these old maidens; how he saw the dead body of a babe in the water; how he had carefully drawn the body out all dripping with water, and carefully laid it on a stump awaiting an inquest. All confidingly the Squire was entrapped, exclaiming, " I told you nothing good would come of those two women living there alone." He consulted the statute relative to holding inquests, and then proceeded to summon a jury. L. W. Claypool and Samuel Ayers had been let into the secret by Chapin. The former declined to serve on the jury, but the latter wanted to see the fun. Having obtained his jury of twelve "good men and true," he repaired to the stump to examine the corpse, when lo! there was nothing there but a bundle of rags. The Squire laid up a hickory in oil for Chapin's use, but really never got quite even with him. On tho 15th of April, 1842, having reached the age of nineteen, with all our worldly goods and possessions, consisting of a few home-made clothes and Blackstone "done up in two volumes," all ensconced in a "cotton bandana," with two Spanish quarters in our pocket like " Japhet in search of a father," we struck out frora the paternal nest in the town of Deer Park, La Salle Countj', Illinois, and " on foot and alone like the girl that went to get married" we wended our way to the new town of Morris, with great expectations of achiev ing a fortune and of building up a name that would be the envy of the old and the emulation of the young. We toiled along cheerilj' and manfully for the first half of the road — some fifteen miles. From thence on, those ponderous words of Blackstone, or the amount of paper used to print them, grew in weight step by step until each seemed to outweigh a common sized anvil. Night spread her sable wings over wood land and prairie long ere we reached our goal. On striking the point where Messrs. Kenrick & Kennedy now live we gave com- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 195 pletely out. The roads were in a horrid condition and the mud was half leg deep. The arguments of the legal sage were too heavy for us and hence we deposited them in a hollow oak tree and covered them over with leaves and mud, to be exhumed at a more convenient season. At about nine p. M., we reached the Grundy Hotel, though it was then far frora being finished. Here we received a hearty welcorae, with raany proffers of a drop of whisky, with the assur ance that it would do us good. We received the welcome without the whisky. Mor ris had been located and christened just three days before we cast our lot within its precincts. We have been inseparable com panions since that time and have grown old together. It has grown larger, stronger and better. We, too, have grown larger, but alas, weaker and more wicked. Hope deferred for forty years, and still our expec tations seem no nearer realization than when we carae. Some days after our arri val here we returned to the hollow tree for our books. They were safe and uninjured. Our first day in Morris as a citizen was full of adventure and decidedly discouraging. We carae here ostensibly to keep the books of account of the firm of Armstrong & Hart, who were canal contractors and built the canal through Morris, but our main object was to study law, and as we were informed before coming that the book-keeping would occupy but a small portion of our time, we expected to literally absorb the contents of Blackstone. We were to board at the Grundy Hotel, of which Mr. Arrastrong was proprietor. On the day after our ar rival we were placed in charge of said hotel as well as of the books of the firm, while Mr. Armstrong and family started to Ottawa for a short visit. Early in the day we were informed by the cook of the boarding house for the canal hands that he was "out of meat," and as none could be obtained short of Dresden, we mounted a horse and went thither and made a purchase of sever al barrels of pork from Antoine Peltier and returned towards evening. There was a cubby-hole under the stairway of the hotel in which was stored a barrel of cheap brandy, the door to which we locked aud put the key in our pocket. During our absence some thirsty soul broke open this door to get at the brandy. Having taken a few drinks he imagined that he was the owner of the entire barrel. Soon it was known all over the village that brandy was free at the Grundy Hotel. Once fairly started, brandy was carried in pails, dip pers, pitchers and tin cups to the men on the work, and as a natural result a sober man was the exception and fighting .was general. As we approached the hotel the engineer in charge of the construction of the canal and the boss carpenter on the erection of the court house were stripped for a fight, each insisting that he would knock the other over the Alleghany mountains if he could only get a fair lick at him. They had a scratch across the road, which they vainly endeavored to toe, but were so drunk that when they attempted to straighten up, they lost their equilibrium, and were forced to step back, so a collision was irapossible, so long as they respected the road mark. We had seen but little drunkenness thus far, and were horrified and pained at the sight. Llere was a man of intellect and education, a first-class gentleman, so muddled with the accursed liquor that he forgot who he 195 HI.STORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY was and what he was trying to do. By the joint use of persuasion and physical strength we got the engineer in bed, when he soon went to sleep, and came out the next day humiliated and humble and es chewed cheap brandy ever after, as a bev erage. Having thus disposed of the engi neer, we started in search of a sober man, but failed in the effort. As we left the ho tel a fight was in progress between Mat Catlin, the plasterer, and Johnnie May, a teamster. They were of the banty order and fought lively with the advantage in fa vor of May, who soon got Catlin down and was pummelling him in the most approved style. We went to the rescue of Catlin and released hira from his perilous condition, and for this kindly act he became highly in censed at us and turned the vials of his wrath upon our poor head. The result was a slight confiict, with a pair of badly-dam aged eyes to the plasterer. We then went into the office to post up books when Kurtz, the carpenter, came in and demanded more brandy. We had none to give him if we had wished to do so, as the barrel had been completely emptied before our return from Dresden, and had we had it to give we should most certainly have declined to give him any, as he was still quite tipsy. Our refusal roused hira to a towerino- rao-e. We ordered him out of the room, to which he replied: "I know you are the boss here, but you are too small for a boss. I will go out if you can put me out, but not other wise." We thereupon went for him and rushed to the door when he caught hold of the door jambs with his hands. This we ex pected, but were in no way disconcerted by it. We had seen such tricks before and well knew how to defeat them. We seized hira around the legs and ended him over, when he fell on the flat of his back into the bar room. He sprang quickly to his feet and carae at us for fight, striking out with both fists wildly. We dodged tho blows and gave hira a hip lock, land ing him across the flared edge of an old- fashioned Franklin stove, which settled him, and at the same time broke one of his ribs, when he was ready — ^yes, anxious, of being put in his " little bed." Oilman, the teamster, was the next to make trouble. He got up in the night to interfere with the cook whose room was down stairs. We heard him getting up and knew his design. Stealing to the head of the stairway in the dark hall we were ready for action. As he reached the first step we gave him a violent push. He had no time to count the steps or open the door at the foot of the stairs. He stopped very suddenly with his head in the bar room and his body in the stairway. The stairway door, however, was demoralized, and minus a panel. He was satisfied that " the way of the transgressor is hard," and very willingly returned to his bed. When Mr. A. returned from Ottawa, he found the work on the court house suspended and his team idle for want of a driver. Upon in quiring the cause of Mr. Catlin, he was informed that " we got on to a bit of a tan trum, when Picayune like to have kilt the whole of us." This was the way a new name was given to us. Not a very elegant one, but one that stayed by us for several years. Thus we had a busy day, even though it was our first day in Morris. We established our reputa tion as a '¦'¦fighter'''' and have rested since. William E. Aemsteong, the founder of Morris, was born in Licking County, Ohio, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 197 Oct. 25, 1814, and died Nov. 1, 1850. With his mother's family he moved over land frora Ohio to Illinois in the spring of 1831, and V located near where Lacon now stands, in April of that year. In August, of the sarae year, the faraily moved to the pres ent town of Deer Park, La Salle County. A man of great mental and physical strength, he was a born leader of men. In Septem ber, 1841, he was elected sheriff, and was re-elected several times thereafter. So great was his influence that he was gener ally called " the emperor of Grundy." He always had a host of friends, who looked upon him as their leader. Yet he never appeared to seek their leadership. It was accorded him. In energy, persever ance and business tact, he had few equals. He could plan and execute great under takings, where the common man aud inind could see nothing to do. He was probably the ablest man Grundy County ever had. He with his wife and two daughters moved from Ottawa here in March, 1841, and took possession of the Chapin log cabin before described. With him cameGEOEOE H. KiEESTED, a graduate of South College, Kentucky. Mi. Kiersted was a man of lib eral education and magnificent physical form, a man who would attract attention and admiration among a crowd of hundreds of fine looking men. There was a peculiar dignity — yea, majesty in his very step, whilst every motion of his fine form was graceful and easy. About six feet in height, with broad shoulders and powerful limbs, yet he was as active as a cat; even up to the time of his death, which occurred but a few 3'ears since, he could turn a hand spring on the barn floor. ^Vitli clear blue eyes, finely shaped head and remarkably pure complexion, he was a very handsome man. Fond of music, poetry and flowers, and a poet himself of no comraon type, yet too modest to let his poetry see the light of publication. Possessed of a fine tenor voice, and master of the flute, and of great conversational powers, he was a wel come guest and leader of society. His life and history here are parts and parcels of the history of Morris. Hs was generous to a fault, and acquired money only for its use. Next to Mr. A. no man ever excelled him in influence in Grundy County. He was defeated for the office of recorder by Mr. L. W. Claypool, May 24, 1841, and then accepted a position as assistant engi neer on the canal, making his home still here. He married Miss B. Kelley, the ac complished sister-in-law of Jaraes Nagle, and upon the death of Mr. Nagle succeeded hira as clerk of the county commissioners, court, June 5, 1843, which office he con tinued to hold until the office was changed to county clerk, in 1849. He also held the office of clerk of the circuit court from 1842 to 1853, and postmaster a short tirae under Polk's adrainistration, but resigned it in favor of the writer in the spring of 1864. He died poor, leaving a large family — all daughters. The eldest, Anna, is the wife of D. C. Huston, Esq.; the second, Abbie M., is the wife of Alex- ¦ ander Burrell, Esq., both of Morris. Both are ladies of flne physique and intelli gence. Paschal Paola Chapin, before mentioned, was a brother of John P. Cha pin, one of the proprietors of Morris and came here in 1842 to look after his brother's interest. A natural wag, yet handsome and accomplished. We find hira acting as, clerk pro tern, of the county commissioners 198 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. court in the fall of 1842. He was the first clerk of the circuit court of the county and " a hale fellow well met," in all the public gatherings of the time. He wont by the name of P'Flora P'Nellie or P. Chapin, and left here about the year 1845 and died in Wisconsin lately. He was " agay and fes tive old bach," ever ready for sport and fun. Of medium size, dark complexion, jet black hair and whiskers, he was decidedly handsome. James Haet carae here with his faraily in the fall of 1841 and located his cabin near the Cedar Pole on Wauponsee street. He was a giant in size and strength and possessed of good executive ability. In company with Mr. Armstrong he took one or two contracts on the canal, one of them being that portion which passes through Morris. Teams and scrapers in digging canals had not come into use at that time, and if they had, they could not have been obt-ained, for they were not in the country. The work was done with the shovel and barrow, a very slow and expensive mode of digging a canal. In this slow mode of canal building, Mr. Hart was well educated, aud would have made money on their con tracts if the State had not gone into prac tical bankruptcy and paid their estimates in scrip, worth only about 33^ cents on the dollar. Notwithstanding this ruinous depreciation in the funds, Messrs. Arm strong & Hart finished up their contracts at a heavy financial loss. At the regular election, Aug. 7, 1843, Mr. Hart was elect ed school commissioner of the county and qualified as such Sept. 4th, giving a $12,000 bond, which office he held to the time of his death, which occurred in 1844. He left quite a family, of whom Mrs. Thomas Reynolds, Mrs. Wm. Telfer and John Hart, our popular blacksmith, still reside in Morris. Michael DePeendegast came here from Ottawa in the winter of 1843-4 and built a double log cabin where the First National Bank of Morris now stands. Elected to the office of justice of the peace soon after coming here, he held that office up to August, 1846, when he was elected probate justice of the peace. For hini nature did but little, education much. He made a good justice of the peace and by no means a bad probate judge. He had been admitted to the bar, but never practiced as a lawyer. A man of inordinate vanity, he was extreraely susceptible to flattery, but his honesty and integrity were never ques tioned. He built the fine brick block at the corner of Washington and Wauponsee streets, known now as the Bank Block, but during his life-time as the " Pendegrass Block." It was asserted by some that his name when he came from Ireland was Pen degrass and that for style he changed it to "DePrendegast" to make it Frenchy and aristocratic. Lie died about the 3'ear 1870, leaving his widow aud one son surviving; both of whom died shortly after, leaving an estate for litigation without direct heirs. Luther S. Robbins, M. D., moved to Mor ris from the Sulphur Springs, south of this city, in 1842, and took possession of the Chapin cabin when Mr. Armstrong moved to the Grundy Hotel. Dr. Robbins was doubt less the first regular physician of Grundy County, having located at the Sulphur Springs, now owned by George Harold, in 1834. He was elected probate justice of the peace in 1843 which he held to the time of his death, April 1, 1845. He was a man of good acquirements with considerable skill as a physician. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY". 199 Bartholomew McGeath came here from Dresden and built the " Morris Hotel " in 1843, which stood at southwest corner of Main and Liberty streets where the Gib- bard brick block now stands. A natural mathematician and fine business man, he had been engaged for several years preceding as a canal contractor, and was elected one of the county commissioners to succeed Henry Cryder, Esq., Aug. 7, 1843. This office he filled with credit to himself, and satisfaction to the county for several years, and died of consumption, very generally regretted, in 1846, leaving a widow and three children, two of whom now survive, viz.: Thomas E. and Samuel D. McGrath, the former of this city, the latter a com positor on the Chicago Times. His widow became the wife of Col. James H. O'Brien, and died here in 1850. John McNellis, or black Jack, as he was sometimes called, came herefrom Ottawa in 1844, and built a frame house, on the spot now occupied by Brown's drug store, for a boarding house and saloon. Unable to read or write, yet nature supplied this defect by giving him a large, well balanced and active brain. He did a good business, and accumulated some means so that when the canal was opened in 1848 he was able to purchase a fine canal boat, and chris tened it the General Shields. With this boat and the exercise of good judgment in the purchase and sale of grain, he made considerable money. What would have seemed to others a misfortune not unfre- quently proved to him fortunate. For in stance, on one occasion he bought several thousand bushels of wheat, which were shipped on the General Shields for the Chicago market; while on its way a break in the canal detained the boat some fifteen days, during which time the price of wheat went up several cents per day, so that he nearly doubled his money on this venture. When the canal trustees held their public sale here, Mr. McNellis purchased sixty acres of land, all now within the corporate limits of the city of Morris. He also purchased at that sale several other tracts of land. Honest in his dealingswith the farmers he gained their con fidence and good will to such a degree, that, other things being equal, he got their grain. Erecting a warehouse where the McEwen warehouse now stands, he did the leading grain business for many years. Having purchased the fine farra lying northwest of Morris, now owned by William Stephens and occupied by his son Charles, he built the fine brick dwelling thereon, and other wise improved the place so as to make it one of the best farms of the county. A devout Catholic in religion, and feeling the want of education himself, he erected afine four story brick building, and with ten acres of land surrounding it, he donated it for a " Catholic School forever." Thus was St. Angela's Convent, which is an honor to our city — founded. It was the munifi cent gift of John McNellis. Nor were his church donationscontined to his own church; having also given to the Catholic church two acres of land for a church building and parsonage, he also subscribed and paid $3,000 toward the erection of the splendid Catholic Church edifice, and then gave $250 to the Congregational, $100 to the Presbyterian, $100 to the Baptist,and $250 to the Episcopal Churches of Morris. Dona tions whose aggregate amount would make a moderate fortune to any individual. Bu'; 200 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. fae raet with reverses and is now old and poor. Highwines, at one tirae during the war, went up to a high figure, which in duced him to erect a distillery at the Au Sable, some six miles east of Morris. This proved his downfall. Of the practical working of a distillery he had no knowl edge whatever. He tried to operate it awhile, but finding it was proving a heavy loss, he then leased it to parties who ran " crooked," when his property was seized by the government and virtually confisca ted. What, between litigation and hope of the property being restored to him by the government, he has become broken down, mentally and physically, and is compelled to live on small raeans and cheaply. No man has done more toward the material prosperity of Morris, than John McNellis. Ilis brother-in-law. Judge Pateick Hykds, came here also in 1844, built and started a blacksmith shop (the first in the place) on the lot just north of the present residence of his widow. He was elected Justice of the Peace soon after coniiug here, and such was his fine sense of even- handed justice that he gave very general satisfaction as such. Indeed, his decisions were seldom if ever reversed on appeal. His fine judgment pointed hira out as a suitable person to fill the vacancy in the office of County Judge on the resignation of Judge Henry Storr, in 1851. In that year he was elected County Judge at a special election and re-elected in 1853 at the regular election. Notwithstanding the County Court had a common law jurisdic tion to the amount of $1,000, and ex ercised certain chancery jurisdiction, he discharged the duties thereof very satisfac torily to the bar aud the people, though he was not a lawyer, nor indeed had he ever read law. He die 1 of consumption in 1860, leaving a widow and three children, all of whom are still living. Judge Hynds was in many respects a remarkable man. He was a warm true friend, of positive charac ter, generous impulses and high-toned honor. What he promised, that he did. There was no halfway business in his com position. His rule of life and conduct were based upon this thought : Whatever is honest must be right — whatever is dis honest is a crime that should be punished. Mahlon p. Wilson, whose adz and driver have been heard from early morn to dewy eve for nearly forty years, was the first cooper of Morris. Indeed, we may say the only one, except his brother Alex ander, who came many years later. On the loth of May, 1844, Mahlon P. with his wife and one child moved into the double log cabin erected for a boarding house for canal hands, on the spot now occupied by the fine residence of S. S. Strong, Esq. Here he opened his shop and commenced the manufacture of barrels, firkins, etc., which he has carried on continuously in Morris for over thirty-eight years. In 1845 he erected a small frame house on the spot now occupied by the McCann brick build ing on Washington street, and moved his family into it and opened a boarding house. This building was but 16 by 24 feet, if we remember aright. When Messrs. LeRoy & Hannah built the brick building, this house was removed and is still standing as a part of the Clifton House (forming the kitchen, we believe). For manj' years past, his shop has been on Canal street, east of the court house, where from morn till late at night his driver and adz are in constant motion. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 201 Industrious, and by no means extravagant, yet he never made a fortune. He, however, succeeded in keeping out of debt, raising and educating a large family. He is now sixty -five years of age, hale and hearty and as slim as a shad, yet tough as sole leather. Though not an Episcopalian, he is decidedly neutral in politics and religion. He never sought nor held an office, and seldom at tended a church, but for all that he is a moral man and a good citizen. Patrick Kellet, a man of large size and great physical strength, opened a saloon — or grocery as then called — in a shanty on the corner of Main and Wauponsee streets. He was deputy sheriff under Mr. Arm strong, and at the election of 1846 he was elected recorder over Henry Storr, although he received few or no votes outside of the laborers on the canal. In those days the canal vote was by no means an uncertain or doubtful element in elections of county officers in Grundy County. They consti tuted a clear majority of the legal voters of the county, and when united they " licked the platter clean." In 1846 the canal vote swept the boards, except for sheriff. Mr. Arrastrong succeeded in diverting a part of their vote, and was re-elected. Mr. Kelley, by the assistance of Dr. A. F. Hand, man aged to do the recording passably well. The doctor in those days was slightlj' given to the spread eagle, and decorated several pages of the records with counterfeit pre sentments of that famous bird. Mr. Kelley was a mason by trade and a good one. He died in this city some years since, leaving two highly educated and accomplished daughters. Adam Lamb, or more generally known as Scotch Lamb, was a caual contractor and came here in 1844 and built what was known as the " Mud House," for a store. This house stood on Washington street nearly opposite the present Normal School building. It was merely an adobe build ing — ^the first and last of its kind. The clay would not resist the rain; it simply melted. To protect it a coat of lime and sand mortar had to be spread outside. The cohesion of the raud was insufficient to hold the raortar, hence the latter fell off in patches, leaving the surface irregular and decidedly resembling a clear case of small pox. It stood, however, for many years and was the regular " catch basin" for new comers to tarry in for a time until they could do better. Its last use was for the printing office of the Morris Teaman, the first newspaper published in Morris. This was too weighty and the poor old adobe caved in and its debris was hauled away. Mr. Lamb was not only a ripe scholar but a finished Scotch gentleman; at onetime a member of the club of Edinburgh critics. He was a bachelor with jet black hair and whiskers, with fair complexion and symmet rical form; he was remarkably handsome. He left here for Chicago on business, and never returned, leaving a large amount of property and unsettled business. He was free frora debt and had considerable raouey on his person when he started to Chicago. He was heard frora in New York city, where all trace of hira ceased. It was sup posed that he took a sudden notion to re turn to "Bonnie Scotland" for a visit, but he never reached there; he was probably killed and robbed in the city of New York. This was in 1846, and his brother closed up his business here and sold out the store to the writer. We are uncertain whether this 202 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. stock of goods or that of Col.Wm. L. Perce, was the first brought to Morris. They were both opened in 1845 and were mere supply stores for the accommodation of the canal hands. Col. William L. Perce took the con tract of building the aqueduct across Net tle Creek on the west side of the city, and came here with his family in 1845, occupy ing a frame house built by Geo. H. Kiersted where the residence of John F. Hamilton now stands. He was an elderly man of considerable means and large experience as a contractor. With hira carae Charles H. Goold, now president of the Grundy County National Bank, as book-keeper, and Alex ander Morrison, now a member of the State Senate of Michigan and a leading capitalist of that State, as foreman. The stone for this aqueduct was quarried sorae seven miles below Morris, near the river bank and hauled by teams. It was a red dish sandstone of inferior quality and dis integrated so that the aqueduct had to be rebuilt. Col. Perce opened a stock of dry goods in a room in the American House, with C. H. Goold as manager, in the fall of 1845, which was probably the first store in Morris. He left here when the canal was finished and has been dead raany years. Passionately fond of euchre he was a good partner if you understood his signs, and a dangerous rival in a four-handed game. He was bald headed and had large ears, which he could move forward or backward at will, and by means of his ears he could indicate to his partner whether he had one or more trumps, and in case the dealer turned down the trump card he told his partner what he desired for trump, by the motion of his ears. To those who did not know of this peculiarity his playing and luck were marvelous. Elijah Walker opened a boot and shoe shop in a log cabin where Alex Miller's residence now stands, in 1841. He was the first president of the board of trustees, under the special charter of the town of Morris in 1853, and served one term as sheriff of the county and was supervisor of the town iu the county board. Defeated for re-election as sheriff, by John Galloway, in 1856, he became disgusted with politics and went to Iowa. OHAPTEE YIL* MORRIS CITY— THE SECOND PERIOD— GROWTH OF THE CORPORATION— OFFICIAL RECORDS- INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS— 1842 TO 1850. FROM April 12, 1842, to August 15, 1850, Morris was a kind of go-as-you- please town organization, under general act and special charter. As before shown, the county seat of Grundy County was lo cated and named April 12, 1843. It re mained without being incorporated into a municipality a little over thirteen years. On the 15th of August, 1850, an election in conforraity with chapter 25 of the stat ute then in force, was held at the old court house in Morris, to vote upon the question of incorporation, under the section of the statute referred to: " the free white male residents of lawful age, * * who may have resided six months in said proposed incorporation, as a freeholder therein," were entitled to vote provided that said town or village contained 150 inhabitants. At this election L. P. Lott was chairman or president, and P. A. Armstrong, clerk of said election, who certify that " there were in favor of incorporation forty-nine votes, and against it no vote; a beggarly vote for a city, but it was all that were cast. On the 22d day of that month an election was held for five trustees, with the same elec tion board, when there were seventy-six votes cast. As party lines were drawn at this election, this vote was very nearly a full one. Orville Cane, Ezra P. Seeley,Win. * By Hon. P. A. Armstrong. S. Woolsey, Jacob Jacoby and Robert Kel ley were the successful ones, each receiving about fifty votes, while their opponents re ceived only about half that number. On the 2d of September of that year, the first village council met and organized by the election of E. P. Soeley, President of the Board of Trustees, and Henry Storr, Clerk. Beyond being sworn in and organ izing the board, and defining the boundaries as follows: " Ordered that the jurisdiction be extended over and embrace the follow ing territory, viz.: The southwest quarter of section 3; S. E. J of Sec. 4; N. fr. of N. E. i Sec. 9; N. fr. N. W. \ Sec. 10, in town 33, R. 7 east, 3d P. M., and also that por tion of the Illinois River lying opposite to the N. fr. N. E. \ Sec. 9, and the N. fr. N. W. J Sec. 10 as aforesaid, and extending four rods on the raargin of the south bank of said river, to be raeasured frora the top of the bank," no business was transacted at this first meeting of the Town Council of Morris. Of these five trustees Mr. Cane only sur vives. Old, yet hale and hearty. He has retired from business and is spending his time in reading and conversing with his olden time friends. An old settler of the county, he was its second sheriff, and has lived on his farm, a few miles west of the city, for many years past, and returned to Morris some two years ago. 204 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. The second meeting of the Board of Trustees was held at the court house Janu ary 13, 1851, when they passed an ordi nance establishing the boundaries of the board as in the previous order, and fixed the regular meeting of the board for second Monday of each month at 6 p. m., creating the appointive officers of the board as fol lows: One constable, pound master, street commissioner, fire warden, clerk and treasurer, defining their duties, and then appointed George Gillett, constable, Charles L. P. Hogan, street commissioner, A. W. Newell, treasurer, and Robert Peacock, fire warden. At this meeting they passed a general code of ordinances for the police regulations of the town, many of which are stil! in force with but little alteration, and ordered thera published by posting up three copies in public places in Morris. The next meeting of this board was held at the court house February 10th, 1851, when Capt. Charles L. Starbuck was elected clerk of the board, to fill the va cancy of Henry Storr, resigned. Under the impression that the charter granted by the Legislature to the late Wm. E. Arrastrong, February 27, 1841, to estab lish a ferry across the Illinois River on sec tion seven or nine, T. 33, R. 7, and grant ing hira, his heirs and assigns the exclusive right to cross said river within a mile of the point where he may establish said ferry for ten years, was either inoperative or had expired, the board passed an impracti cable, long ordinance to license and regu late the running of a ferry across the river here. There are seven sections in this or dinance prescribing the duties of ferrymen, and the running of the boats, their kind and size, and giving precedence to physi cians, surgeons and midwives, prescribing fines and penalties for the violation of any provisions of said ordinance. Upon the passage of this ordinance. Col. Eugene Stanberry, Byron Stanberry and George H. Kiersted, submitted to the incip ient city fathers a proposition to pay iuto the town treasury for a license to run a ferry across the river at Morris during the period of three years, $305, viz. : for the first year $100, second $101, and third $104, subject to the terras and conditions of the ordinance on that subject. For the consideration of this proposition a special meeting of the trustees was held March 1, 1851, when the offer was accepted, and peti tioners executed and delivered to the board a $500 bond for the faithful observance of the ordinance and performance of the duties therein prescribed. Big with expec tation of golden rewards from this ferry li cense. Col. Stanberry ordered La Salle County's popular rope maker, Ole Johnson, to make him a ferry rope, some 700 feet in length, at a large cost, purchased an old fiat boat and started his ferry. They kept it running just three days when they dis covered that they had one lawsuit on their hands with a fine prospect for several oth ers. Geo. W. Armstrong as the adminis trator of Wm. E. Armstrong, brought suit against the firm of Stanberry & Kiersted, for damages for intruding upon his " 'tater patch," and received judgment; while several parties whom the company had ferried over and charged the regular rates of toll allowed under the Armstrong char ter, when the license only allowed them to charge one fifth of that toll, were threat ening to bring suit for extortion. Indeed, the Colonel carae to the conclusion that HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 205 five cents for ferrying a double team and wagon, and taking them back free on the same or succeeding day, was rather too small a business to ever be remunerative. He and his company became sad, melan choly, disheartened, and abandoned it. Thus was Morris robbed of the services of three Charons, and the ferry license was " consigned to the tomb of the Capulets." It died of neglect and was buried without a mourner, and the Board of Trustees never after attempted to run a ferry. At the April meeting of the board sev eral licenses to vend spirituous and vinous liquors were granted, the price being $25 per year, with a $500 bond. Four saloons were granted licenses at this meeting. An election for trustees was held August 22, 1851. At the meeting of the board August 11, each member of the board had been paid three dollars for his services as trustee for one year preceding. An exceedingly modest board was this. At this election the old board (except that Jaraes B. Jones was elected in place of Mr. Kelley) was re elected, and Mr. Seeley was elected presi dent. The treasurer's report for the pre ceding year showed the sura of $160 col lected as grocery and circus license, and $74.30 paid out as the expenses of running the "cit}' govern raent" per year. A cor poration tax of fifteen cents on each $100 worth of taxable property was levied at their raeeting Sept. 8, 1851, "for establish ing a grade of the town and defraying the other expenses of the corporation." Oliver S. Newell was re-appointed treasurer on bond of $200. Dr. Newell died a few days later, and L. P. Lott was appointed his successor Nov. 10th, and the bond raised to $300. The board did not meet again until January 27, 1852, when the only business transacted was the drawing of the per diem of the board and town officers, amounting to $17. This was rather a cheap town board. The next meeting was held April 7th, when printed hand- bills were or dered to the value of $1.50, " cautioning all persons against the danger of small-pox at the Franklin House in Morris." Only this and nothing more was done. The first sidewalk ordinance was passed April 17, 1852. At this meeting Mr. Kiersted raade a written proposal " to establish grades on all the streets and alleys of the town of Morris, and additions placing stones of grade at the intersection of the several streets, and raaking profiles and a, map of the same for $50." The record says: "After mature consideration the above proposition was accepted and a contract entered into," etc., and an order was drawn on the treasurer iu favor of Mr. Kiersted, as an advance payment, for $6. But as Mr. K. was rather backward in coming forward with his grade, this contract was rescinded August 9, 1852. At this raeeting the salaries of the town officers for the past six raonths were ordered paid, amounting to the sura of $13. Thus the total expense of the raunicipal government of Morris for one year was just $30. The clerk of the board received $7 for his year's salary, whilst the street commissioner and fire warden were paid by the honor conferred by the title. The election for a new board was held Au.,'. 23, when George Fisher, Eugene Stanberry, Henry Benjamin, Orville Cane and James Barrett were elected trustees — a new board except Mr. Cane. Mr. Fisher was raade President, and Wells F. Stevens, Clerk. We do not now remember what were the 2Q6 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. issues in this election, but from the clean sweep of the old board, there must have been some cause of complaint. Sorae po litical petard or bomb which over-slaughed and retired thera to private life. This new board held its first meeting Sept. 21, 1852, and appointed a coinniittee, consisting of Messrs. Fisher, Cane and Stanberry, " to prepare and report an ainendraent to the charter raore fully defining the limits of the corporation of the Town of Morris." Messrs. Fisher, Stanberry, Cane and Bar rett were appointed as a committee to pro cure a " baring " ground. The latter com mittee reported an ordinance for the pur chase of the E. i, S. W. i, Sec. 27, T. 34, R. 7, on ^Sept. 27, which was passed. At this meeting Geo. Parraelee was appointed fire warden, and John Galloway, town constable; and a tax of fifteen cents on each $100 of taxable property for raunicipal purposes was levied. The treasurer's report submitted and approved, showed $180.28 received the past year from all sources, and $31.50 paid out on orders drawn. Surely these were econoraical times. Up to this date not a dollar had been expended to en force police regulations or for assessing or collecting revenue. At a special meeting of the board, Oct. 2, 1852, James Jacoby in company with the street commissioner and town constable were a]ipointed to kill and destroy all doo-s running at large contrary to the form and effect of this ordinance. This committee were probably inefficient, as no pay was provided for their services, nor were the kind of dogs to be "killed and destroyed" very clearly defined — whether biped or quadruped. On the 23d of October Thomas Reynolds was appointed street commis sioner, and it was " ordered that the fees of the street commissioner be the same as those of town constable for like service." Now what similarity there could be between the duties of street commissioner and con stable we will not attempt to point out. If it is meant to apply to the amount of fees or salary paid to the town constable then the whole thing "is clear as mud," for from Sept. 13, 1850, to the date of this meeting the town constable worked for nothing and boarded himself so far as drawing any money from the town treasury is concerned. At this meeting the town clerk's salary was fixed at one dollar per meeting for record ing the proceedings and ordinances. At a special meeting, Dec. 13, 1852, Eugene Stanberry was appointed street commis sioner (Mr, Reynolds not qualifying), and was paid by an order of the treasurer $15 for services, cleaning streets, etc. This was the first money paid by the board for work on the streets of Morris. At this meeting the land purchased for a cemetery (being what is known as the Old Catholic Cemetery, north of Morris) was ordered sold and $29 was appropriated toward a hook and ladder for the Fire Company. In February, 1853, there was a mad dog scare, and a proclamation issued on that subject. This appears to have been the first scare of that kind. Liquor licenses were raised to $50 at the March meeting of the board, 1853, and four licenses granted. On Feb ruary 12, 1853, a special charter, incorpo rating the town of Morris, -was passed, sub mitting the sarae to the people of Morris for adoption. This election was held May 2, 1853, and the record says "Eugene Stanberry was luge, and W. F. Stevens, Clerk," who certify that there were 141 Missing Page Missing Page HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 209 votes cast at said election, of which 101 were for and 40 against said charter. This new charter did not change the name or style of the corporation, but in creased the number of trustees to six instead of five, and cut off their per diera. It divided the town into three wards. All south of Washington street constituted the First; north of Washington and west of Liberty, the Second; and north of Wash ington and east of Liberty, the Third ward; each ward to have two trustees, the presi dent to be elected on general ticket; so the council would consist of seven instead of five members. Under this charter the treas urer and town constable were elected by the people. The treasurer was ex-officio assessor, and the town constable was col lector. The old board, however, remained in office until Sept. 26, 1853, when they canvassed the votes cast at an election held Sept, 24th under the new charter, and de clared Elijah Walker elected president, Geo. E. Parraelee, treasurer and assessor; James B. Jones, constable and collector; L. P. Lott and George Turner, trustees of the 1st ward; Geo. W. Lane and Charles H.^ Goold of the 2nd; David LeRoy and John Antis of the 3rd. The retiring board, not one of whom had been re-elected, audited their own accounts for services for the past year at $5 each, and a like sum to their clerk for his year's services. The record book of the board of trustees, in which were kept the proceedings and ordi nances of the board for three years, was a two-quire paper-back ledger, costing as per price mark 75 cents, and the record covers 42 pages, while the entire cost of running the municipal government for the three years was less than $100, all told. One of the last official acts of this old board reads as follows: " Ordered, that an order for three and /o^o dollars be drawn in favor of L. P. Lott for paper and candles furnished the board." This was before the days of kero sene or gas, or indeed of caraphene, and yet but twenty-nine years have elapsed. At the first election under the new char ter there were only 136 votes cast, all of which Mr. Walker received. Indeed there was little or no opposition to those elected frora president to constable. The new board met at the office of C. H. Goold Sept. 27, 1853, and elected Nathan B. Dod- son, clerk, and Messrs. Lott, Lane and Goold were appointed a committee on "Rules of Order." Messrs. Goold, Lott and Lane were appointed as a committee to receive the books and papers of the former board, examine the same, and make a condensed report thereon." Their first regular meet-, ing should have been held Oct. 10, 1853^ but there was not a quorum present, and they adjourned to Oct. 15th to meet at the office of Drs. Hand & LeRoy. No quorum present at that tirae, and adjourned to the 17th, when a full board were present, when Mr. Lott, from committee on rules of order, reported a series containing twenty-four rules of order, which was adopted. Messrs. Lott and Lane, from the committee to receive and examine the books of the late board of' trustees, submitted a report accompanied with a resolution, which was also adopted, Among the suggestions of this report they say, " We carefully inspected said books, etc., and find nothing contained therein that will need any action of this board for the present. The books and papers have been kept in a somewhat careless and loose manner," etc. Mr. Lott, as late treasurer, 210 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. submitted his report of receipts and dis bursements, showing total receipts from January 15, 1852, to Sept. 28, 1853, to be 8473.71, with the sum of $420.61 paid out, leaving a balance of $53.10. He also re ports the receipt of notes from Patrick Terry (now Dean Terry, of Chicago) araounting to $162.59, for sale of forty acres of cemetery land sold him, and a note for $25 given by Dominic Henry for liquor license. Here the old board was very obliging to the liquor vender, granting a license "on tick." At a meeting of the board Nov. 28th an ordinance was passed selling the west half of the southwest ^ of township 27, 3, 4, and 7, to Patrick Terry, for $300, and the money to be derived there from was appropriated to the purchase of a Potter's field to bury the poor in the Morris cemetery. They also passed two other ordinances at this meeting, the one entitled " Hogs," the other " Dogs." Though a body politic, the town of Morris had no official seal until the spring of 1854. Nor did the Board of Trustees have a finance committee until Jan'y, 1854. Messrs. Lott, Antis and Le Roy being the first. It would seem that absenteeism in the board was becoming a serious question about this time, and at a raeeting Jan'y 12 the record says: " Mr. Lane oflered his excuse for absence at last meeting; Mr. Goold carae in; Mr. Turner was, by order of the president, summoned to appear be fore the board immediately; John Antis was deputized to serve the summons." At this meeting an ordinance entitled " Com pensation of Town Officers " was passed containing nine sections. Messrs. Goold, Lott and Lane were also appointed to suggest amendments to the charter. At the next meeting Feb'y 13, this committee reported " that they had taken legal advice, and got Col. Bennett to draw up a code of amend ments, and submitted the same to our member. Captain Starbuck, who had re quested to have the whole matter left to him." This report was adopted and com mittee discharged. At this meeting one " Henry Fay applied for a license to sell liquor by the small, which was unaHiinously refused." The clerk presented his bill for services, $38.53 — a sum larger than any previous year's entire expenses of the offi cers of the corporation. At the March meeting, on motion of Mr. Lane, the board purchased blocks nine and twelve, in the Morris Cemetery for the sum of $200 for " burial purposes." J. M. Goold was paid "fifty cents for killing a dog." Mr. Le Roy moved that the president and clerk be authorized to provide a supper to be given to the present board, and the new members elected at the coming election, and that an order be drawn on the treasurer for the cost thereof." But the board sat down on the motion instead of sitting down to the supper. On the 1st of March, 1854, the charter of the town of Morris was amended by the General Assembly, fixing the tirae of elec tion on the first Monday in April. At this election the following were elected: B. M. Atherton, president; Levi Hills, assessor and treasurer; Alban Bennett, police magistrate; John Galloway, constable and collector; N. B. Dodson, clerk; and the old aldermen, Lott, Turner, Lane, Goold, LeRoy, and Antis. At a meeting of the board April 10th, for the organization of the new board, six standing committees were appointed as follows: Finance and claims, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 211 L. P. Lott; Fire department, G. W. Lane; Streets and alleys, George Turner; Health, David Le Roy; Judiciary, C. H. Goold; License, John Antis. These were the first set of standing com- raittees in the town C(mncil of Morris. There were one hundred and sixty-nine votes cast at this election, and in the 3d ward David Le Roy and E. P. Seeley each received thirty-two votes for alderraan. Instead of deciding which was elected, by drawing cuts, it was referred to the board, and by the board referred to its president. At the second meeting of this new board April 17, 1854, the record says: "The president issued an order for the attendance of Antis, Turner and Goold, served by E. Stanberry, who reported Mr. Goold sick, Mr. Turner absent from town, and Mr. Antis present, which formed a quorura." Whether this order was a suranions, notice, attachraent, or capias ad respondendum, the record fails to show. At this meeting President Ather ton submitted a long report upon the tie vote between Messrs. Le Roy and Seeley, finding in favor of Le Roy on the ground of a failure to elect his successor. This re port was laid on the table on motion of Mr. Lott, and no further action seems to have been taken on the subject. Mr. Le Roy continued in the council during the year. At this meeting C. R. Parraelee, Patrick Hynds and H. P. Gillett were elected street commissioners, and P. A. Armstrong, city surveyor. This was a soraewhat noted board in the introduction and pas sage of ordinances, and then enforcing or suspending thera by resolution, they were never excelled if equaled. Indeed, this board assumed legislative jurisdiction over everything animate or inanimate within the limits of the corporation, and put on more style, "than a country school ma'm." Let us give a little copy from their record, viz. : " Mr. Le Roy asked leave to present a bill. On motion of Mr. Lott the bill was read by its title, and referred to the last named coraraittee. The committee ap pointed to draft an ordinance on revenue reported with a bill which was read for the first tirae. On motion, the second reading was by its title. The bill was then referred to a committee of the whole, and made the order of to-morrow." We suppose to morrow meant the next regular meeting of the board, but can only guess at it. It was a monster ordinance covering 21 sections, and was passed April 24, 1854. At a special meeting April 29, the board by a vote of five to one refused to grant liquor licenses; what was the effect of that action we do not retneraber, but are inclined to the belief that whisky was about as free as usual that year. At the May meeting the record says : " It was ordered by the board that Mr. Turner be fined for absence at the meeting of May 6th; Mr. Turner carae in quarter to nine o'clock." But we are giv ing too ranch in detail, and must hurry along with our chronicle. A corporate seal was not adopted until May 29, 1854. The revenue collected this year was $1,274.97. The city surveyor completed a general systera of trade, and an ordinance establish ing the same was passed July 10, 1854. There seems to have been a coolness about this time between President Ather ton and the trustees, and at the August meeting " President Atherton tendered his resignation. Mr. Antis called for ayes and nays. Messrs. Le Roy and Lane voted aye, Messrs. Lott, Antis and Turner nay, where- 212 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. upon the president- withdrew his resigna tion." At the October meeting Chapin Park was ordered to be inclosed. It is now known as the Public Park. Mr. Dodson resigned and Alban Bennett was elected clerk, Nov. 13, 1854. At the April election, 1855, there were 227 votes cast, and the following were elected: Wm. T. Hopkins, president; B. F. Hall, A. H. Bishop, Robert Long- worth, Nathan B. Dodson, James N. Read ing and E. B. Hanna, trustees; H. B. At- water, clerk; Geo. E. Parraelee, assessor and treasurer, and Abel Longworth, con stable and collector. This was another clean sweep of the old board and a new deal throughout — except assessor and treasurer. Mr. Atwater, however, did not accept the office of clerk and Mr. Bennett held over. Before the next election a new charter had been granted by the Legislature, creating another ward. The election was held April 7, 1856, and resulted in the election of the following: W. T. Hopkins, re-elected president; L. P. Lott, B. F. Hall, S. C. Bliss, Geo. W. Lane, J. B. Jones, Patrick Hynds, A. Kirkland and Sarauel Fatsinger, trustees; J. W. Woodrow, clerk; W. S. Gibson, constable and collector, and Hirara Mallory, assessor and treasurer. Another clean sweep except on president. This retir ing board had learned to vote aye on ap propriations and salaries, the clerk's fees allowed being $128.64, for the year; the treasurer reported receipts for the 3'ear, $2,877.29; disbursements $2,456.25, and his fees for collecting and paying out the same, $53.33. During this year another charter was obtained, creating Morris a city with a mayor and common council, a police magistrate, street commissioner, etc. At the April election, 1857, the following officers were elected: F. S. Gardner, mayor; Elijah Walker, marshal; Patrick Hynds, treasurer; Wm. Skehan, collector, T. A. Henry, street commissioner; A. Clark, J. B. Davidson, Wm. B. Grenell, S. W. Harris, Philip Hart, S. Fatsinger, L. P. Lott and L. Ashton, aldermen. This council elected J. M. P. Butler, clerk. At the April election, 1858, the following of ficers were elected: C. R. Parmelee, mayor; F. S. Goold, marshal; George Selleck, treasurer; H. P. Gillett, collector; J. L. Dow, street commissioner, J. P. South- worth, police justice, and one alderman from each ward, viz.: Miles Gordon, C. H. Goold, Geo. F. Brown, E. S. Webber and C. Storr were elected; Jno. W. Woodrow, was elected city clerk; Oscar Baugher, city attorney. The collector collected $3,588.19 of taxes this year. At the next election, April, 1859, the following were elected: J. W. Newport, mayor; F. S. Goold, mar shal ; F. K. Hulburd, treasurer; J. L. Dow, street commissioner; John Barr, collector; H. C. Goold, J. W. Massey, Jno. G. Armstrong and David Pratt, aldermen. The taxes collected this year were $3,777.70. L. P. Lott was elected city clerk by the council. At the April elec tion, 1860, the officers elected were Wm. C. Hammill, mayor; Alex Bushnell, marshal; James McWilliams, collector; Geo. W. Lane, treasurer; James H. Oliver, street commissioner; E. B. Hanna, Hiram Plimp ton, Daniel Matteson, Wm. A. Kiersted and C. Storr, aldermen. Messrs. James Rear- dan, H. C. Goold and J. W. Massey, hold ing over. The council at their meeting of April 23d elected L. P. Lott, city clerk; David Le Roy city attorney ; Nathaniel McBride, survey- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 213 or ; and C. H. Goold, assessor, who declined, and H. P. Gillett was elected in his place. Sarauel B. Thoraas and Calquhann Grant were designated as police justices. George Fisher was appointed health officer. Drs. Mathews, Hand and Antis, health coinrais- sioners, and James Miller, chief of the fire department, and for the first time in the history of the municipal government of Morris, standing committees of three mem bers each were appointed. May 14, 1860: six standing committees were established, finance and claims, streets and alleys, licen ses, judiciary, fire and water, and health. The fiscal report of the finance committee shows total receipts for the year ending April 15, 1860, were $4,098.68, of which $855.00 was for liquor licenses, and $80.00 for billiard table licenses. The expendi tures were fire dep ntment, $311.26 ; streets and alleys, $827.05 ; street commissioner's services, $256.29 ; city marshal, $66.00 ; city clerk, $212.34 ; printing charter ordi nances, etc., $364.32, etc. The samecommit- tee reported $1,476.81 in hands of the late treasurer. This city council seem to have gotten down to business and reduced every thing to rule, while their records were well kept, and are very full. Alderman H. C. Goold having moved out of his ward, L. B. Ray was elected in June of that year as his successor. The late treasurer's bond, if any he ever gave, could not and never has been found. The city, however, ob tained some Iowa land for the $1,476.81 in his hands, but were the losers. In the early spring of 1861 a new charter for the city had been obtained. It was very long, and indeed a copy of the charter of Chicago. It was, however, submitted to a vote of the people March 23d, and literally snowed under, there being 224 votes against and only 26 for its adoption. At the city election, April 2, 1861, there were -440 votes cast. This was by far the largest vote ever cast before that time and re sulted in the election of John Antis, mayor; Geo. W. Lane, treasurer; F. M. Robinson, (now member of the Legislature) marshal; Wm. A. Rogers, .street commissioner; William McFarland, Jr., collector; and L. P. Lott, Eli F. Johnson, Charles Comer- ford, and C. G. Conklin, aldermen. The fiscal report for the year ending April 16, 1861, shows total receipts, $4,667.83, of which liquor licenses furnished $1,385; show licenses, $61; ball alley licenses, $48; billiard tables, $40, and fines, $76. Total liabilities of the city, $4,422.19, with assets of $10,943.05, which was certainly a fair showing. Charles Turner was elected city clerk; John P. Southworth, city attorney ; H. P. Gillett, assessor, and C. Grant and Samuel B. Thomas were designated as city justices; Jaraes Miller was elected chief engineer of the fire departraent, with Daniel Matteson and John Barr, as sistants. On the 1st of April, 1862, there were 462 votes cast and Uri B. Couch was elected maj'or; Geo. F. Brown, treasurer; John C. Jones, marshal; Jacob Gorich, street com missioner; John Yesly, collector; with the following alderraen: E. B. Hanna, Hirara Plimpton, M. K. Keller, and Alex. Bush nell. The receipts for the year were $4,300.77 of which liquor licenses were but $660.00, a falling off of one half frora the previous year. The city clerk got $169.30 for his year's service, an income of $162.30 over Capt. Starbuck for like duties ten years before. Charles Turner was re- 214 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. elected clerk; William Grant, city at torney; A. M. Cleveland, surveyor, and Thomas Reynolds, assessor; Jno. W. Wood- row was elected chief engineer of the fire department, with David Conlongand John Gunlock, assistants. The officers for 1863 were Geo. F. Brown, mayor; Wm. McFar- lan, Jr., collector; Jacob Gorich, street com missioner; Geo. W. Lane, treasurer; Wm. Zirainerraan, marshal; and S. B. Thomas, D. O. Goodrich, Geo. Fisher and Charles Coraerford, aldermen. The retiring Coun cil for the first time in the history of the corporation tendered a vote of thanks to retiring Mayor Couch "for the impartial, prompt and efficient manner in which he has presided over the deliberations of the Council during the past year." C. Turner was re-elected city clerk; Hiram C. Goold was elected assessor; James N. Reading, city attorney, and Jno. W. Woodrow chief of the fire department, with David Conlong and Charles B. Ingersoll, as sistants. B. M. Atherton and Thomas Al- ford were designated as city justices. This new council seem to have been one of great ability in auditing accounts and drawing orders on its treasurer. It was also pretty heavy on dogs, as a large number of bills were presented for " burial of dogs," and allowed at fifty cents each. At the next election, April 5, 1864, E. B. Hanna was elected mayor; Charles Sparr, treasurer ; E. T. Hopkins, marshal ; J. H. Oliver, collector ; Wm. H. Rogers, street commissioner, and H. E. Reinhart, W. H. Parmelee, N. C. Petteys and T. Donnovan, aldermen. The finance committee report re ceipts by the treasurer for past year $4,687- .82. Expenditures $4,502.84. The amount received for liquor licenses was $1,055 ; shows $83.00. Bridge stock dividends, $441.00; fines, $75.00. This was a good year for the city attorney, as he got $212.00 ; city clerk, $151.57. The fire department cost $323.72, and the sum of $1,254.49 was expended on street repairs. The adminis tration of justice this year was expensive. In addition to the $312.00 paid to the at torney, there were $331.70 paid to justices and constables for fire and police services. W. H. Parker was elected city clerk ; T. B. Rice, attorney ; J. W. Masse}', assessor ; Jno. W. Woodrow, chief of the fire depart ment, with D. Conlong and Jacob Meyer, assistants, and Nathaniel McBride, in spector of weights and measures. Whether Mc ever performed service in this office or not the record fails to state. George H. Kiersted was elected surveyor. Mr. Par ker, the new clerk, kept a very full and well-arranged record of the council pro ceedings. At the meeting of the council, Dec. 19, 1864, a bill of two dollars and fifty cents was paid for " removing" five dogs, and one dollar for hauling thein to the boneyard. Did the assassin Guiteau steal this term frora the common council of the city of Morris ? Page 358 of the record is as follows : " To the memory of Timothy Donnovan, who received injuries from the explosion of an anvil while firing a national salute on the 22d Feb'y, of which injuries he died Feb'y 26, 1865." Mr. Donnovan was an alderman, and while endeavoring to fire off an anvil on the news of the evacuation of Richmond, on the 22d of Feb'y, he was fatally injured, and John P. Mannaban, one of our best business men, was instantly killed by the bursting of the anviL Many other people stood near the spot, but fortunately no others were injured^ HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 215 The writer stood within a few feet of Man naban when he was instantly killed by a piece of the anvil striking his head. Mr. Donnovan was a blacksmith, and it was his own anvil that killed him. The total receipts by the city treasurer for the year were $5,450.10. Of this sura $1,275 were frora liquor licenses, $215.44 frora fines and judgments. The clerk's salary was $195.32; attorney's, $163; marshal's, $170.21; fire departraent cost $556.14, and police $188.04. At the April election, 1865, E. B. Hanna was re-elected raayor, and Geo. W. Granby, Geo. W. Lane, Geo. Fisher and C. G. Conklin were elected alderraen. Colqiihann Grant was elected clerk; J. W. Massey, assessor; J. N. Reading, attorney; and Geo. H. Kiersted, surveyor. Judge Grant raade an excellent city clerk. David Conlong was elected chief of the fire departraent, with Miles Gordon and Jacob Geisen, assist ants. Our friend Geisen must have been many pounds lighter then than now. He would make a decidedly weighty fireman now. Deacon Bross was elected collector. The assessor, Mr. J. W. Massey, gave a bond in the sura of $10,000, conditioned that he would well and faithfully perforra the duties of assessor, etc. Under no cir cumstances could the assessor handle the money of the city, — not a dollar came to his hands, — hence we fail to see any reason, good or bad, requiring a $10,000 bond frora a town assessor. At the next city election, April 3, 1866, E. B. Hanna was again elected raayor; E. T. Hopkins, mar shal; Charles Sparr, treasurer; J. R. Combs, collector; Abrara Bogart, street commis sioner; N. McBride, police magistrate; and James Miller, Edward Sanford, Wm. Shee- han, alderraen. This council elected F. C. Mayo, clerk; A. Bennett, attorney; Thomas Reynolds, assessor; and Joseph Hicks, health officer. Total receipts of the treasurer for past year were $9,436.51; disbursements, $8,167.30; liquor licenses, $1,150; ex pended on streets, $2,380.89; gutters, $2,- 339.41. This was a year of taxes and im provements. Mr. Mayo did not qualify as city clerk, and Judge Grant seems to have held over. The receipts for the year ending April, 1867, were $10,240.80, and expenditures, $9,717.10. The liquor license money this year was $1,614.30. The total assets of the city were reported as follows : In hands of Treasurer 1523 70 Bridge stock 6,300 GO S. W. Harris' note 4 33 Fire Kiug engine,.liose and carriage 2,500 00 Niagara do do 1,200 00 Lots in Morris Cemetery , , 200 00 Furniture in Council room 30 00 Tools in Street Commissioner's hands 60 00 Real estate — Iowa lands, 160 acres 800 00 Engine building and lot 700 00 Total $9,308 03 Liabilities were stated at " outstanding orders, $209.50." This was surely a fine showing. The city clerk received for his year's services $299.75. At the election April 2,1867, S. B. Thomas was elected mayor; E. T. Hopkins, mar shal; C. Sparr, treasurer; J. R. Combs, collector; and A. Bogart, street com missioner; with Wra. B. Field, Charles H. Goold, D. R. Holraes, Jaraes B. Jones, Joseph Hicks, Wra. Selleck, and Sarauel Jordan, alderraen. A fifth ward having been added, thus increasing the number of aldermen to ten — Mr. Holmes having been elected to fill a vacancy in tho 216 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. second ward, — Judge Grant was unani mously re-elected clerk; Charles Turner Was elected attorney; L. Whitney, assess or; A. M. Cleveland, surveyor; and E. T. Hopkins, health officer. At this city election nearly 500 votes were cast. The total re ceipts of the 3'ear ending April, 1868, were reported to be $12,839.50; expenditures, $8,111.27; leaving a balance in treasury, $5,251.93. Total assets are given at $9,- 141.26, with liabilities for outstanding or ders, $80.03. At the election April 7, 1868, E. B. Hanna was again elected mayor; John Unfi'ed, marshal; Nelson Carpenter, col lector; Abram Bogart, street commission er; and L. P. Lott, George Galloway, and B. Olin, aldermen, with a tie between E. Pyle and B. F. Hall in the second ward, and between John Yesley and Jacob Gouch in the third ward. These gentlemen " cast lots" for the position, when Pyle and Gouch were the successful ones. This council elected Lucius Whitnev clerk; Gen. Wra. Birney, city attorney; Thomas Reynolds, assessor. The total re ceipts of the treasurer for the past year were $12,843; disbursements, $8,246.21. The sura of $1,937.08 was expended on street repairs, and $736 for night watch ser vices. The amount received from liquor licenses was the large sum of $3,126.47. The amount of fines collected was $473- .56, which was probably the largest amount ever collected in one year in Morris. On the 10th of August, 1868, Alderman Olin resigned, and Edward Sanford was elected to fill the vacancy. Mr. Unfred, tlie city marshal, resigned in October of that year and E. T. Hopkins was appointed by the council to fill the vacancy. At the council meeting of the Sth of March, 1869, the committee on fire and water submitted a long report on the expense of the fire department, from which we glean the following items. That Shaboneh steam engine cost $4,500; nec essary hose, $2,925. That the city hall building together with engine, hose and fire apparatus cost $14,927.82. This committee was composed of Alder men Lott, Selleck, Field and Jones, with Mayor Hanna. To raise the means to meet these expenditures, interest-bearing bonds to the amount of $9,260 were issued and sold. At the election of April 6, 1869, E. B. Hanna was again elected mayor; E. T. Hopkins, marshal; Joel W. Ellis, col lector; Jacob Geisen, treasurer; Alex. Bush nell, street ctunmissioner, and the follow ing named aldermen: Oliver Hanlen, A. M. Cleveland, J. S. R. Scovill, and Charles Wilkins. There being a tie in the 3d Ward, between James Honie and George Baum, lots were cast and Honie won. The financial statement shows the total receipts for the past year were $16,576.66, of which " spirit licenses " were $2,625.68, and show licenses $309.00 with $5,251.93 in the treasury at commencement of the year, making a total of $21,837.69, with disbursements of $20,408.70, leaving in the treasury $1,430.89. This was a large sum of money for one year's municipal transactions. J. H. Pettit was elected clerk; A. R. Jordan, attorney; H. Plimp ton, assessor. The city election of April 5, 1870, was a warm one, and nearly 600 votes were cast, resulting in the election of David D. Spen cer, of State Savings notoriety. Major E. T. Hopkins, marshal; C. W. Card, collector; Jacob Geisen, treasurer; Wm. Mason, Jr., HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 217 street commissioner; N. McBride, police magistrate, with E. Gifford, A. P. Buckley, A. F. Hand, Geo. W. Rossitei and E. San ford, aldermen; J. H. Pettit was re-elected clerk; A. R. Jordan, attorney: Thos. Rey nolds, assessor; E. Ridgeway, chief en gineer of the fire department, with H. L. Miller and Geo. Green, assistants. The fiscal report of the year ending April 11, 1870, shows receipts, $11,189.91, with amount in treasury at commencement of the year, $1,430.89, making a total of $12,- 620.80. The liquor licenses for the year were $2,706.99; show licenses, $334.33. The disbursements were $9,491.07, leaving $3,129.73 in the treasury. Among the ex penditures were $956.75 for repairs on Lis bon road, and $350 for Wauponsee road, south of the bridge across the Illinois river, and $1,107.82 on street repairs. At the next election, April 4, 1871, John S. R. Scovill was elected mayor; E. T. Hopkins, marshal; C. W. Card, collector; Leander Irons, treasurer; Alex. Bnsh- nell, street coraraissioner; with D. W. Burry, Jaraes McKeen, George Baum, Wm. M. Collins, and Wm. Mason, aldermen.- This was the most hotly contested elec tion our little city ever had, and the judi ciary committee assumed judicial functions in canvassing the aldermanic vote, and re ported that neither Mr. Burry nor Mr. Mc Keen, alderraen elect, was eligible to the office — Mr. Burry, " because he is not a nat uralized citizen. The papers under which he claims citizenship, were issued about the last days of March, 1871, by the coun ty court of Grundy County, Illinois," cit ing Mills etal. V. McCalie,4A: 111. Reports, 195, which, upon examination, it will be found, has no sort of bearing upon the case whatever. Hence, the opinion of the ju diciary committee of the common coun-. cil of the city of Morris, that county courts under the statute laws of Illinois, have no jurisdiction over naturalization of aliens, was a little "too previous." In the case of Mr. McKeen, the committee say he has not resided in the city limits one year next preceding his election as required by the city ordinance. Now, it so hap pened that Mr. McKeen had been a resi dent of the county nearly forty years, and of the second ward in the city, from which he was elected, several years, having pur chased a lot and built a nice residence there, but had been temporarily absent with his wife visiting his son in the town of Mazon, on his old homestead. This report was however, adopted by the old council, and Aldermen-elect Burry and McKeen, by a vote of five to four, were declared ineligible, and Messrs. Coy and Bliss, by a like vote, were declared elected, though both were defeated at the polls. Ma3'or Scovill, having qualified as such, called a special meeting of the council April 17, 1871, for the purpose of electing city clerk, attorney, assessor, etc. The rec ord of this raeeting, as kept by the clerk, shows a want of accord between the mayor and the clerk. We give one extract to show the general tenor. It says: "The raeeting was called to order by J. S. R. Scovill, mayor, who immediately commenced call ing the names of individuals, some of whom, as appears from the record, are al dermen, and others not, omitting the names of Aldermen Hamlin and Bliss, and sub stituting the names of Messrs. Burry and McKeen. The raayor proceeded to read a paper, no copy of which has been handed 218 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. the clerk, and then proceeded to read the .appointments of certain persons as the several committees, some of whom appear frora the records to be alderraen, and some do not, but no copy of said appointments has been filed with the clerk." The record of this meeting shows a first-class wrangle covering two full pages, and at a meeting of the council. May 15, 1871, the entire record of this meeting was ordered to be expunged, and the words, "Ex punged by resolution passed by the com raon council of the City of Morris, May 16, 1871. George W. Howard, City Clerk." Mr. Howard gives his version of that cele brated raeeting of April 17th on the follow ing page of the record. It is a very dif ferent record. At this raeeting Messrs. Burry and McKeen were admitted to their seats, and Geo. W. Howard was elected clerk, W. T. Hopkins, attorney, and Thomas Reynolds, assessor. The fiscal report for year ending April, 1871, shows receipts of $10,279.75, with balance over frora previous year, $3,129.73, raaking to tal of $13,409.48. The spirit licenses amounted to $2,724.00; shows, $322.50; ex penditures, $12,679.78; leaving in the treasury, $729.70. Mayor Scovill was re elected April 2, 1872, E. T. Hopkins was elected marshal'; Yalentine Zimmerman, collector; Jacob Geisen, treasurer; Alex. Bushnell, street commissioner; and Henry Rutherford, L. Irons, A. F. Hand, Geo. W. Rossiter and A. Harrison, aldermen. Mr. Howard was elected clerk; P. A. Arm strong, attorney; T. Reynolds, assessor. The receipts for year ending April 8, 1872, were $8,661.62, including amount from former treasurer ($729.70); disbursed $8,648.71, leaving $1,291 in treasury. On April 1, 1873, Mayor Scovill was re elected; Mr. Hopkins was also re-elected marshal; Geisen, treasurer; Bushnell, street coraraissioner, and L. P. Lott, T. W. Tnpper, J. C. Carr, Win. Handwork and Michael Gormley were elected alderraen; F. B. Handwork was elected clerk; P. A. Arrastrong, attorney. The financial report for year ending April 7, 1873, shows re ceipts $7,649.18, of which spirit licenses furnished only $1,500.00. The expendi tures were $6,917.61, leaving $631.67 in the treasury; the total assets of the city are given at $20,847.39, with liabilities for outstanding orders, $1,009.10; Mr. Hand work raade a very fine clerk; his record is clear and full. At the April election, 1874, Mr. Scovill was again elected mayor, and E. T. Hopkins, marshal; Thomas Mernan, treasurer; T. Reynolds, assessor; Yal Zim merman, collector; Alex. Bushnell, street coraraissioner; N. McBride, police magis trate, and the following aldermen: H. Rutherford, H. C. Gifford, J. Gorich, G. A. Acton and A. Harrison; F. B. Handwork was elected clerk, and A. R. Jordan, attor ney. The fiscal report of the clerk shows total receipts, including $631.67 on hand, at beginning of the year, $33,535.81, of which liquor licenses furnished $1,716.16; other licenses $390.00; expenditures, $28,- 940.57, leaving balance in treasury, $4,086- .14; among the items of expenditures are two entries of permanent improvements amounting to $18,200.00; this was for investment in the Sherwood School Furni ture Manufacturing Company, and bonus to obtain its location here. We find there were expended this year upon street repairs, $3,216.41, and $990.60 in the fire depart ment. The assets of the city are given HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 219 at $24,815.01, and liabilities $20,049.49; among the assets are engine house, $5,786- .43; fire department, $10,961.95; real es tate, $1,301.50, and $4,086.14 in the treasurer's hands, and $877.16 in hands of F. K. Hulburd, late treasurer; outstanding bonds, $18,000.00, the last eight of which ($4,000.00) mature Feb'ry 1, 1884. Alder man Carr having moved out of the 3d ward, P. A. Arrastrong was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy in November, 1874. At the next election of city officers in April, 1876, Mayor Scovill was re-elected ; E. T. Hopkins was again elected marshal; Alex. Bushnell, street commissioner; Thos. Mernan, treasurer; T. Reynolds, assessor, and Geo. M. Jones, collector, with the fol lowing named aldermen: John W. Miller, Ono Earnshaw, Geo. Baum, J. O. Levitte and John Barr; M. S. Prindle was elected clerk; P. A. Armstrong, attorney; Dr. E. Ridgeway, who had been for several years chief engineer of the fire department, was again appointed to that office, with H. S. Reading and James Johnson, as his assist ants. Mr. Handwork, the retiring city clerk, submitted an elaborate trial balance of the books; from this and the report of the finance committee, a very clear state ment of the financial standing of the city is made; the total receipts were $12,474- .24, expenditures, exclusive ofperraanent iraprovements and interest on bonds and loan orders, $9,073.70. The assets of the city are given at $22,136.24, and liabilities at $21,169.03; of this latter amount city bonds make the sum of $19,000.00, and outstanding orders, $2,169.03. Amount in the treasury $1,357.72; again was Mayor Scovill re-elected at the April election, 1876; E. T. Hopkins, marshal; T. Mernan, treasurer; Geo. M. Jones, collector; Thomas Reynolds, assessor, and Geo. Tay lor, street commissioner, with R. L. Scho- field, C. J. I. Murray, Henry Fey, Thomas Owen and Wm. Rolley, alderraen; Mr. Prindle was re-elected clerk; Armstrong, attorney; E. Ridgeway, chief engineer of the fire departraent, with H. A. Cleveland and .L. Irons as his assistants. Mr. Prindle pre pared and subraitted a full and detailed state ment of the fiscal year, showing receipt for the year $17,879.86, with araount in treas ury at close of previous year, $1,357.72, total, $19,237.58; paid out on orders, $17,865.02; leaving on hand, $1,372.56. The saloon licenses amounted to $2,117; other licenses, $471.10. The expense of the fire depart ment this year was $2,496.30, and for street repairs, $640.47. The city assets are given as $23,181.52, and liabilities at $19,107.09; being for city bonds, $19,000; orders out standing, $107.09. At the next election, April, 1877, Dr. John Antis was elected mayor; Timothy Rodd, marshal; Win. Jones, treasurer; and Fred Johnson, street commissioner; with Wm. Humble, James McHoran, Dr. A. E. Palmer, O. J. Nelson, J.McCambridge and Wra. Mason, alderraen. The fiscal report shows receipts, $18,- 198.20; with araount frora forraer treasurer, $1,372.56; total, $19,570.82. Disburse- raents, $18,659.27, leaving a balance in treas ury of $911.56. Total assets, $24,503.48; liabilities, $16,183.97; outstanding city bonds, $16,000. This was a discordant council. L. Irons was appointed and confirmed as chief engineer, with H. S. Reading and James W. Willard, assistants. His Honor the mayor's appointments of clerk and attorney were not concurred in, whereupon he issued a manifesto to the 230 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. council, whereupon the council adjourned without action. Geo. W. Lane was finally confirmed as clerk, and C. Grant as attor ney, when matters moved along smoothly. At the November meeting a petition signed by 99 legal voters of Morris was presented to the council, praying that an election be called to vote for or against abandoning the special charter and organizing under Chapter 24 of the Statute entitled "Cities, Yillages and Towns." The petition was granted, and an election held for that pur pose on the 18th day of December, 1877. The vote resulted in favor of the reorgan ization under the general law by sixty ma jority in a light vote cast. Minority rep resentation in the council was defeated by a larger majority. At a special meeting of the council Jan'y 21, 1878, Aldermen Rolley, Humble and Fey, a committee to divide the city into wards as required bylaw. This committee reported to the council at their next regu lar raeeting Feb'y 11, 1878, dividing the city into four instead of five wards, when an ordinance was passed entitled "An or dinance dividing tire city into wards," as follows: "All that part of the said city which lies south of the south line of Main street and east of Nettle Creek shall con stitute the First Ward. " All that part of the said city which lies west of Liberty street, south of the Chi cago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad, and included in the First Ward, shall constitute the Second Ward. " All that part of the said city which lies east of Liberty street, and between the south line of Main street and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad, shall constitute the Third Ward. " All that part of the said city which lies north of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pa cific railroad shall constitute the Fourth Ward." At the regular March raeeting of the council, an ordinance was passed making the marshal and superintendent of streets (as called in the statute) elective by the people annually, on the third Tuesday of April, being the time filed under the statute for city elections. By the reorgan ization Mayor Antis held over another 3'ear while an entirely new council had to be elected. At this election, April, 1878, N. McBride was elected police magistrate; Fred Johnson, superintendent of streets; E. T. Hopkins, marshal; and Geo. M. Jones, Francis Hall, Wm. Mason, L. W. Claypool, O. J. Nelson, Henry Fey, T. Owen and J. 0. Levitte were elected aldermen. The fiscal report of the preceding year shows receipts including amount frora for mer treasurer, $12,839.32, disbursements, $11,897.86, leaving balance in treasury $941.47. During this year there was a general revision of the ordinances made, so as to conform more nearly to the provis ions of the statute. At an adjourned meeting of the council April 21, 1879, an ordinance was passed fixing the salary of the mayor at $100 per year paj'able quarterly and allowing alder men $2.50 for each meeting actually at tended by them. At the election April 15, 1879, John Barr was elected mayor; Geo. W. Lane, clerk; Wm. Jones, treasurer; Thomas Mur ray, marshal; Fred-Johnson, superintendent of streets; A. L. Doud, attorney, and A. E. Palmer, Wm. Masou, O. J. Nelson and Charles Canahan, aldermen. At a meeting HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 221 of the council April 30, 1879, Mayor Antis read a veto of the ordinance allowing the mayor and aldermen compensation for their official services. Thereupon the vote by which said ordinance was passed at the last meeting was reconsidered, and the or dinance again put upon its passage not withstanding the mayor's objections. But it failed to pass, ayes 5, noes 3. Not a two- thirds vote, as required to pass an ordinance over the mayor's veto. The receipts for the year were $13,459.15, disbursements $11,604.07, leaving $1,855.08 in the treasury. The expense of the police were unusually heavy, being $686.25. Geo. W. Lane was re-appointed clerk, and Henry S. Reading chief of the fire department, with LI. L. Miller and Wm. Gibhard assist ants. This city council was a " go-as-you- please one." It was harmonious, though by no means orderly or dignified. At the next election Fred Johnson was re-elected superintendent of streets, Thomas Murray marshal, and Geo. M. Jones, Wra. Stephens, Henry Fey and R. M. Wing, aldermen, the mayor holding over (under the law the mayor is elected for two years). The mayor re-appointed Mr. Lane clerk, H. S., Reading chief, and H. L. Miller and Wra. Gibhard assistants of the fire departraent. The receipts of the year were $9,993 59, of which spirit licenses furnished $2,258.70; billiard tables $150.00. The expenditures were $8,880.16. Of this the police depart raent cost $1,127.20. An araount which is startlingly large, and raakes a bad showing for the peace and order of our really quiet and orderly city. This brings us down to the election of our present mayor, Hon. John S. R. Sco vill in April, 1881, who is now on his ninth year's service in that capacity. We close this branch of our history with an apology for its length. Indeed, we bit off a larger slice than we intended, when we started on this subject. It was rather more than we could chew. Quite too much to be easily digested or profitably swallowed. Mr. Prindle is again the clerk, and is one of the best the city ever had. OHAPTEE YIIL* MORRIS TOWNSHIP— ITS ORGANIZATION, BOUNDARIES AND CHANGES— THE NEW COURT HOUSE— SCHOOLS OF MORRIS— EARLY TEACHERS— THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. TURN we now from the noise, bustle and confusion, of the city to the country. The question of adopting township organi zation having been submitted to a vote of the people and carried by a large majority, the county court at its December term, 1849, appointed George H. Kiersted, .Philip Collins and Robert Gibson, commissioners, to divide the county into towns or town ships. This committee submitted their report in writing to said county court at its March meeting, 1850, which report was approved by said county court, March 4, 1860. Under and by virtue of this report, and its approval, the township or town of Morris embraced the following territory: "The whole of the north fraction of Con gressional Township No. thirty- three (33) north, of Range No. seven (7) east, to gether with that portion of Section No. six (6) in Township No. thirty-three (33) north, Range eight east, lying north of the Illinois River; also the island in said river, with the exception of that portion of Waupecan Island lying on the south half of Section No. seven (7) in Township No. thirty-three (33) north. Range No. seven (7) east, eta. to constitute one division to be known by the name of Morris." The territory embraced in the township of Morris, as established by the commissioners, contained about *By Hon. P. A. Armstrong. 4,000 acres of land as follows: All that por tion of Sec. 6, T. 33, R. 8, lying north of the Illinois River; also so much of Sections 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10, as lie north of said river, with Sections 3, 4, 6 and 6 entire. But since then Morris has been badly shorn of her territory by taking frora the Sections 5, 6, 7, and 8, and attaching or adding thera to the town of Erienna, leaving Morris but a small town in point of territory. The fraction on Section 6, T. 33, R. 8, and the north fractions of Sections 1 and 2, and a part of the east half of Section three, compose, with the lands embraced in the city, our entire ter ritory as a township. The town of Morris was fully organized by the election of town officers, on the first Tuesday in April, 1850. At this election P. A. Armstrong was elected supervisor; E. W. Hulburd, town clerk; Thomas Reynolds, assessor, etc. The first board of supervisors of the county convened at the old court house in Morris, June 12, 1860, and organized by the election of Philip Collins, chairman. At this meeting of the county board, George H. Kiersted and Robert Gibson were each paid $11.00, and Philip Collins $1.25, for their services as commissioners in dividing the county into towns. Why the services of Messrs. Kiersted and Gibson were worth so much more than those of Mr. Collins the record fails to disclose. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 223 This was a very econo^iical board. At their November meeting they appointed a coraraittee consisting of P. A. Arrastrong, Geo. H. Kiersted and L. W. Claypool " to count the assessment rolls and carry out in appropriate columns the several amounts of taxes in dollars and cents, and also to prepare the collector's warrants for the dif ferent towns of this county," fixing the compensation at one dollar and a half per day. Thus the board took fVom the county clerk, Mr. E. W. Hulburd, about the only paying work of his office. The books used by this committee for collector's books are a curiosity. They are small sized account books costing about twenty-five cents each, and are laid away among the archives as a witness to the over zealous disposition mani fested by this-first county board to be very economical. They never repeated the ex periment. This board also attempted to make each town maintain its own paupers, and passed a resolution to that effect; but as it was diametrically opposed to the stat ute, the resolution was " more honored in the breach than in the observance." At the November meeting, 1850, Mr. Armstrong presented a petition of Jacob and L. W. Claypool for a license to establish a ferry across the Illinois river at Morris, accom panied with a resolution granting the sarae for a period of five years, upon condition that they execute a bond in $500, to keep the sarae iu accordance with the statute, and pay into the count}' treasury ten dol lars per year as tax, establishing the rates of toll at fifteen cents per teara over and back the sarae day, and ten cents for cross ing one way. For man and horse over alone on the flat boat, ten cents, all owing double ferriage after 8 p. m., etc., which was, after various attempts were made to raise the araount of tax payable to the county, adopted, without amendment, by a vote of six to three. Fearing that the county officers might be extravagant in the purchase of stationery, ou motion of Supervisor Jacob Claypool, Mr. Arrastrong was appointed "special agent to purchase and provide stationerj'- for those officers entitled to the sarae, and that the board would audit no bills for sta tionery presented by any other person." Mr. Jacob Claypool, a raeraber of the first County Board in 1841, and the first Board of Supervisors in 1850, has been d .'ad sev eral years, but his grandson, Henry C. Claypool, now wears the toga and repre sents the town of Wauponsee so long rep resented by his grandfather in the Board of Supervisors. What, between Jacob Claj'pool, L. W., his son, John and Henry, his grandsons, Wauponsee has been repre sented in the County Board by a Claypool, the greater portion of time, for thirty-two years past. At the fall election, 1853, P. A. Armstrong was elected county clerk, and as in his judgment the old court house had no suitable place to keep the books and papers of the office, or afford comfortable quarters, he rented the north room on the second story of a frame building standing where the Claypool block now stands, and then known as Goold's bank building, and moved the office to that room. This was a severe shock to the nerves of the economical Solons of the County Board. There was a special raeeting of the board April 17, 1854. They met at the old court house instead of the county clerk's office. The clerk alone had the right to organize them. After some parleying the mountain 224 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. went to Mahomet, and held their meeting, as the motion was " to Mr. Armstrong's office." When the rent for the use of the office fell due, they paid it, however. At the September meeting that fall, Mr. E. Walker, supervisor of the town of Morris, offered a resolution declaring in favor of building a new court house. On the pas sage of which, the ayes and nays were called, and it was adopted, ayes, 9, nays, 2. Messrs. Augustine, Walker and Renne, were appointed a committee to prepare plans, etc., who reported in favor of building a court house forty by seventy feet, at a cost not exceeding $8,000. On motion of Supervisor Justice Renne, " the clerk of the board was appointed to pro cure from sorae good architect a plan and specifications of a building for a court house, of nearly the dimensions of the one pro posed by the building committee, to be presented for action at the next meeting of the board." But the clerk enlarged the plan or size of building to fifty-four by eighty-four, and obtained frora J. M. Yan Osdell, of Chicago, the plan of the present court house, which was adopted by the board, April 17, 1855, and a loan of $5,000 was ordered to raise funds to help build the same. The building coraraittee, having advertised to let the contract to build such a building of brick, found the lowest bid was over $18,000.00, and therefore was afraid to let the contract. A special meeting of the board was called June 15, 1855, when Supervisor L. W. Claypool offered a resolution, limiting the araount to $18,000, exclusive of superin tendence. Supervisor Walker offered an amendment to strike out $18,000 and insert $20,000, which amendraent was carried by ten to four, and the resolution of Mr. Clay pool, as amended, was adopted by a like vote. The old court house was ordered to be sold ; the log jail had already been sold for $14. Mr. Miles Hills having resigned, as a raeraber of the building committee, Mr. L. W. Claypool was appointed in his place, which committee consisted of Super visors C. Grant, E. Walker, and L. W. Claypool. This committee awarded a con tract, to build said court house of brick, to R. J. Cunningham & Co. for $19,360, who built the foundation and commenced on the brick walls. The brick were of an infe rior quality. The clerk becoming disgusted with the appearance of the work, called a special meeting of the board Oct. 9, 1865.* *Mr.L. W. Claypool adds: "After various pre liminaries, the board decided on building the court house of brick with stone trimmings; and in June, 1^55. the building committee, consisting of C.Grant, Miles Hills and E. Walker, let the contract to Cunningham, Foster and Williams for $19,360 ($20,000 being the Mmit). At the September meeting, 1855, Superintendent Grant tendered the resignation of Miles Hills, and L. W. Claypool was elected to fill the vacancy. At this time the foundations were all built to the top of the water table, and the brick were being de- Uvered for the main walls. Mr. Claypool at once declared that he would have nothing to do with the building if such brick were to be used, and being ably assisted by County Clerk Armstrong, Superin tendent Watkins, E. P. Seeley, and particularly Mr. Dubreil, one of the contractors for, and then engaged in building the piers for the Morris bridge, being an expert in stone work, in computing the diiference in cost between stone and brick, on a careful estimate, found that the ^additional cost of stone would not exceed $3,400. The board was called together by the clerk, with the advice of the building committee, no doubt, to meet Oct. 9, 1855, when Superintendent Claypool offered the following resolution: Besolved, That the court house building commit tee be, and they are hereby authorized, to change the plan of the court house with the contractors thereof, so that said building shall be built of stone on exterior walls, after the manner and of similar stone and dimensions as the Joliet court house ; provid ed, however, that the cost thereof shall not exceed f 3,- 400, the original contract price, and that any order oi ¦» 1 '" 1 -V \ ¦ # ^^^^^^^ HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 227 The record reads as follows: "Tuesday, October 9, 1855. The Board of Supervisors met at the county clerk's office this day pursuant to a call from the county clerk, for the purpose of considering the propriety and expediency of using stone entirely in lieu of brick in the construction of the court house." Mr. L. W. Claypool offered a resolution for such change, " provided the cost should not exceed $3,400 over the orig inal contract price and that any order of the board previously passed limMing the cost of the court ha^ise to $20,000 be and the same is altered to $23,400, to suit the above pro posed change, if made by the coraraittee" — the board heretofore passed, limiting the entire cost of court house to $20,000, be, and the same is altered to $23,400, to suit the above proposed change, if made by the committee; and if not made, the committee are hereby instructed to have the exterior walls of said court house built of first-class common brick, such as are, or should be used, in constructing build ings of that dimension and cost, being in accordance with plan and specifications now on file. And should said committee make such change, the con tractors are hereby allowed until the 25th of Septem ber (next) to complete said building." Adopted without division. At this time no good brick were being made in or near Morris; the contractors would be obliged to ship them quit« a distance, at great expense; hence were quite willing to accept the proposition of the committee, to construct of stone attheeostof $3,400. Nov. 19, 1855, board met. E. Walker resigned as member of the committee, and F. S . Watkins was elected to fill the vacancy. Nov. 20, Superintendent Walker moved to retire Grant from the building committee, on account of ill health, and nominated Superintendent Renne in his place; adopted. April 22, 1856, Mr. Renne was retired, and L. P. Lott substituted. The building committee, now consisting of Clay pool, Watkins and Lott, completed the building, and March 6, 1858, made final settlement with contractors, and accepted the building; entire cost, $22,760; and as the contract was missing, it was stipulated in the settlement that if found at any time thereafter, all errors should be corrected, and money over-paid to be refunded, the committee Vielieving that the con tract price was $22,360. The contract was never found, and no money refunded. Miles Gordon assisted the committee as supenn- terident, and his bill was $44.50." which resolution was adopted by the board, and the building committee succeeded in effecting a change from brick to Joliet stone in the contract without increasing the cost but three thousand four hundred dollars. Thus, by the action of the county clerk, Mr. L.W. Claypool, aud a few other liberal men, did Grundy County obtain a building 64 by 84, instead of 40 by 70, and at a cost of $22,760, instead of not exceeding $8,000 and lastly, a permanent stone building, in stead of a tun b'e-down soft brick struct ure — for at that time no good brick had ever been made at or near Morris. We confess that it required a good deal of finessing and skill to work the country So lons up to the liberal point required to vote for so large an appropriation at that time. An appropriation equal to $100,000, now. It was accomplished, however, and the county has a court house that will serve all the purposes required for half a century. The old court house was in the way of building the new one, hence it had to be taken away, leaving the countj' with no place to hold courts. The clerks of the circuit and county courts had taken possession of the two offices of the brick jail, which had been built in the fall and winter of 1864, at a cost of $3,180. The Court House Committee had sold the old court house to Messrs. Foster & Williams (who had the contract for the carpenter work of the new court house) for $255, and they had sold it to H. L. Smith (better known as Husband Smith), who had moved it to his farm, W.^, S. W. I, S. 31, T. 34, R. 7, some three miles northwest from Morris, when after re-clothing and paint ing, it presented quite a respectable ap pearance as a farm dwelling, and where it 228 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. still stands as a painted ghost of former times. The building committee rented the carpenter shop, now occupied by the Mor ris Cutlery Company, for the purpose of holding the fall and spring terms of the circuit court, and said court was there held. The first jail of the county was ordered built by the county commissioners at their December raeeting, 1843. Jacob Claypool and George H. Kiersted were ap pointed as a special committee to prepare plans and specifications, and let the contract to build a jail to be located on the south east corner of the court house square. They were men of genius as well as ability, with a keen sense of the ludicrous. They knew that the county board expected a jail to be built which would cost not to exceed §200 when completed. Both had a strong prejudice against building a jail inde pendent of a court house, or before building a court house. Hence they de cided to make the thing as ridiculous as they conveniently could, and accord ingly decided to build a jail of green logs, with the bark on. The size, as we now remember, was 14 by 16. The bottom logs were placed some ten feet be low the, surface, a hole having been first dug and the bottom covered with logs, as nearly straight as possible, so that they could be placed closely side by side. Then the log walls were carried up to the surface, when another log fioor was laid and then extended up sorae ten feet above ground. A trap-door (iron lattice work) was placed in or near the center of the upper fioor, hung at one side with heavy iron hinges and a heavy staple and clasp on the opposite side, to be fastened by a raaminoth pad lock. The underground corapartment was to form the cells, where the prisoners were to be put at night, and the upper part was for corridors. To put the prisoners in the cell, the jailor, after throwing back the trap door, would cause the prisoner to let him self down by suspending hiraself through the trap hole the length of his arms, and then letting go, alighting on his feet. To get them out in the morning, the jailor, who was physically very powerful, would reach down, and taking hold of their wrists, pull them up by main strength. True, they had a ladder, which, however, was sel doni used. This jail was let to the lowest bidder, and our old friend, Dominic Mc Grath, was the successful one. His bid was $202.60, just $2.60 more than the county commissioners felt like investing in the jail business. But as it was so near to it, the committee let the contract, to be paid for in county orders. Mr. McGrath used hickory logs in the construction of the jail, and soon had it completed, but when he applied for his county order, the county board cut him down to $162.60, simply on the ground that the contract price was too high. Rather than go to litigation, " Old Dom." accepted this price and was paid in county orders, worth about 76 cents on the dollar. This jail was sold for $14 in 1855. As a place to keep prisoners, this jail was a dead failure. Capt. Jeremiah Cottrell, who had been charged with the larceny of almost everything, from a trace chain to a threshing machine, in Cook county, took a change of venue to this county. Com plaining of rheuraatisra. Sheriff Armstrong was too humane to put him down in the un derground cell, where there war. no light, save that which came through the grated trap-door, hence he was put in the corridor HISTORY OF GRUKDY COUNTY. 229 or upper part. He soon managed to get out aad report himself for duty at the ferry across the river at Morris, telling the sheriff that he was an old and experienced boat man and could and would, if permitted, make himself useful in that capacity. Struck with the impudent boldness of the man, and his unquestionable desire to be of use, the sherift" trusted hira, not only with his entire liberty, but soon entrusted the entire raanagement and control of the ferry to him. This trust he never attempted to betray, but he used his position as the trusted agent of the sheriif to manage the ferry, in making friends, and jjrotesting his innocence of the crime charged against him, so that when his trial carae off he was acquitted, notwithstanding the proofs of his guilt were clear and overwhelming. Hon. B. C. Cook was the prosecutor, and ever after held that the fact of a juror being on the Cottrell jury was a better cause for challenge than any defined in the statute. His first question to a juror was, " Were you a juror on the Cottrell trial?" If the answer was in the affirmative, Mr. Cook's reply was, " stand aside." And this he kept up as long as he practiced law iu our court. THE SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES OF MOEEIS. ' 'That Mrs. Ann Nagle, widow of Jaraes Nagle, the first clerk of the coraraissioners' court of Grundy County, opened and taught the first school in Morris, there is no doubt. After the death of her husband in 1843, she opened a private school (for in those days we could have no other as we had no school fund) in her double-log cabin, which stood a little southeast of the present depot of the C. R. I. & P. R. R. in Morris. Of her scholars several survive, araong whom are Thomas Mernan, John Hart, widow Reynolds, Jacob Griggs, John Claypool, etc., all living now in Morris. She continued her school for a year or over. The next school was taught by Miss Ade- lia Wilkes, now the widow of E. P. Seeley, deceased, and residing on Washington street. The next was Miss Mary Hyslap, now Mrs. J. Blanding, and also living on East Washington street in this city. The next was Charles M. Lee, afterward coun ty judge of Livingston County, Ills. The next was Charles R. Starr, who has since been judge of the circuit court of Kanka kee County. All of whom, except Mrs. Nagle, occupied the old court house. Of course, there was a school vacation during court weeks. The first record we can find of any school board bears date Dec. 21, 1843, when Peter Griggs, Perry A. Clay pool and William Brown (who signed his iiarae by making a cross) raet at the record er's office in Morris, and divided township 33, R. 7, as follows: " Ordered, that the E. i of T. 33, of R. 7 E. 3d P. M., on the south side of the Illinois River, shall cons- pose one school district to be known and designated by the name of the Mazon Dis trict, and that the west ^ of said township on south side of the Illinois River shall corapose one school district, to be known and designated by the narae of the Wau pecan District, and all that portion of said township lying north of the Illinois Riv er shall compose one school district, to be known and designated by the name of Net tle Creek District. Ordered, that William White, Sen., Barton Halderman and Ed mund "Brown be appointed trustees of 230 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. schools in the Mazon District. Ordered, that Jaraes Robb, William Patteson and James Thompson be appointed trustees of schools in Waupecan District." In Janu ary, 1844, E. Warren was appointed "Treas urer of School Lands," on bond of $200. The first school money received by the treasurer of the board of trustees, seeras to have been a warrant issued by the Aud itor of Public Accounts on the State Treas ury for $18.12, which the treasurer was " directed to sell at ten per cent, discount, and pay Waupecan District $4.89, Mazon District $4.46, Nettle Creek District $8.27, in auditor's warrants or cash, if sold at ten per cent, discount, and that he retain 50 cents auditor's warrants to purchase a book for the use of the treasurer." It would seera from this that auditor's war rants on the State Treasury were divisible ad infinitum. At the regular raeeting of the board, Oct. 5, 1846, we find the follow ing entry: "Whereas it appears that no returns were raade in said township except in Waupe can district for the year 1845, and the treas urer reporting $35.34 auditor's warrants, therefore ordered that Waupecan district receive the sum of $35.34, and the treasurer is ordered to pay out the money to school teachers in said district, entitled to it ac cording to law, and that the treasurer sell the auditor's warrants on hand at not more than 20 per cent, discount." This, then, was the condition of the obligations of the great State of Illinois thirty-seven years ago. Twenty per cent, discount. On the 8th of January, 1848, at a regu lar election held at the house of James Berry, P. A. Arrastrong, John Antis and A. G. Barber were elected trustees. This board selected L. W. Claypool as their treasurer. This board changed the names of the three school districts frora Nettle Creek to District 1 ; Waupecan to District 2, and Mazon to District 3, Jauy. 11, 1848. At the April meeting, 1848, the treasurer, Mr. Claypool, reported the receipt " from the school coramissioners, the school, college and seminary fund appropriated to town 33, R. 7, for 1S47, in cash $16.34, auditor's warrants $5.90. Also same fund for $18.45, in auditor's warrants $1.91; total $24.15." He was ordered to sell the auditor's war rants at not more than ten per cent, dis count, and distribute the sarae in direct ratio on returns of Dist. No. 1, filed Jan'y 20, 1848-95 scholars; Dist. No. 2— 22 scholars; Dist. No. 3 — 48 scholars," total nuraber of scholars in the township, 165. This embraced Morris, Wauponsee and part of Erienna. One hundred and sixty- five persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years. The apportionment of the school fund was made April 5, 1848, as follows: To District 1, $16.68; District 2, $3.17; District 3, $6.91. At the January (1849) meeting of the board, Mr. Claypool, as treasurer, reported that he had on hand eighty-four cents, being one year's interest on Thompson's note. Ordered, that it re main on hand until next meeting. This note seems to have been for ten dollars aud eighty-four cents. At the March meeting, 1849, the treasurer reported the receipt of $19.60 in auditor's warrants, which he sold at ten per cent, discount. This with other funds on hand amounted to $31, for the year, and was apportioned as follows: Dist. No. 1, $17.85; Dist. No. 2, $4.14, and Dist. No. 3, $9.01. At the March raeeting, 1860, Dist. No. 1 reported 123; No. 2, 20; HISTORY^ OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 231 No. 3, 42 school children, and the sura of $14.51 was apportioned. Morris got $9.20 of it. Dr. Antis went to California, and Mr. C. L. P. Hogan was elected to till the va cancy. In 1861 L. W. Claypool succeeded Mr. Barber as trustee, and there were $29.07 distributed to the various school districts, of which Morris got $18.32. L. P. Lott succeeded Mr. Claj^pool as treas urer. There is no record in 1852 to be found. In 1853 the araount distributed was $140.65, of which Morris got $93.90, on 227 school children. In 1854 Messrs. Hogan, Claypool and C. H. Goold were the trustees, with Mr. Lott as treasurer. We find a plat of a subdivision of Sec. 16, T. 33, R. 7, being the school section do nated by Congress to each township for the support of schools posted in the record as of May 10, 1864, certified by Geo. H. Kiersted, county surveyor; by P. A. Arm strong, deputy. A Mr. Jenkins did the surveying. He was afterward killed by Gen. Jim Lane, in Kansas, over a claim difficulty. By this plat said school section was divided into fourteen lots, containing in the aggregate 642 21-100 acres, which were sold by Geo. Fisher, then school com missioner, for $9,470.08. This was the foundation of our fine schools of Morris. In October, 1854, the number of school children in Dist. No. 1 (Morris) was 711, and the araount distributed for the year ending Oct. 1, 1854, was $79.67, of which Morris got $59.95. In 1855 the distribu tion was $419.96, of which $315.97 went to Dist. No. 1. The law was changed in 1855, so the distribution was made upon the actual school attendance. At the Oc tober meeting of that year $520.19 was apportioned, and Morris got $433.35 of this amount. In January, 1856, Messrs. Claypool, Goold and C. R. Parmelee were elected trustees, who re-elected Mr. Lott, treasurer. In 1856 there were $2,013.65 apportioned or distributed, and Morris got $1,661.93. In 1857 the amounts were about the sarae as for 1865. The school census for 1858 showed that the total num ber of children between five and twenty-one years was 701; under five years, 419; total, 1,120. School Dist. No. 1 was divided in 1849, forraing Dist. No. 6, composed of Sections 6, 6, 7 and 8, which now are at tached to and form part of the town of Erienna, or Aerienna, as raore generally spelled. Hon. L. B. Ray was elected treasurer Jan'y 21, 1864, and has continued in office ever since, except the years 1876 to 1878, when L. F. Beach was treasurer; Mr. C. H. Goold was one of the trustees frora 1854 to 1878, a period of twenty- four years of continuous service. The increase of school children in the county frora 1856 to 1868, was 774; at the March meeting of the Board of Supervisors, 1858, Supervisors L. W. Claypool, L. P. Lott and Wra. Pierce, special committee to settle with the school commissioner, subraitted a re port in which they use the following lan guage in relation to the increase of school children in T. 32, R. 8: " Your coraraittee are also of the opinion that there must, from the nature of the case, be some errors in the returns of the children as returned to the school coraraissioner; the raost glaring of which is in town 32, 8; in their return of 1854 there appears but 192 chil dren, whereas in 1856 it is 492; this is an alarming increase in the short space of two HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. years, and if it continues in the sarae ratio for a few years longer, it will make this town one of the most thickly populated towns in Illinois." We are inclined to the opinion that friend Claypool had not read Fox's Book of Martyrs, or if he had read it he had forgotten John Rogers with his " nine small children, and one at the breast." Braceville may have been settled by the descendants of this self-same John Rogers, which would explain the " alarm ing increase." Indeed this town of Brace ville (32,8) is in raany respects a wonder ful one; it has more high priced poor land, more railroa.ds, more coal and more chil dren to the acre than any other town in the county, and is ready to take a contract to double discount 492 children on short no tice, but we are drifting from our subject, THE MOEEIS SCHOOLS. Unable to find the early school records we must depend on our memory largely for facts up to 1859. The last teacher mentioned by us was Judge Starr. Mrs. W. S. Woolsey, who still lives in Morris, taught a private school at the court house for several months. Mr. Oliver E. Parmelee, a druggist (aud who was drowned in the canal here while bath ing in June, 1850), erected the building now occupied by Francis Hall, as a saloon, in 1849; the upper part was in one room, known as " Parmelee Hall;" this room was rented by the school board, and B. M. Ather ton, the father-in-law of Mr. Parmelee, was engaged to teach school in this room; he was a man of education aud talent; one leg was several inches shorter than the other, hence housed crutches; naturally of a dora- iueering disposition and irascible temper. he was anything but a pleasant man, yet his fine intelligence and legal ability (:br^ he was a lawyer by profession) g.-ive him a good standing in the cominunity; barring his severity of manner, he was a very fine teacher, and did much in " teach ing the young ideas how to shoot;" indeed, his school was a sort of Countj' Normal, to which pupils from all over the county came. Parmelee Hall was used as a school room from 1850 to the fall or winter of 1853, when the district erected the main part of what is now known as the Old. Center School House. In August, 1851, a vote of the district was taken upon the question of building a school-house and purchasing lots 1 and 2, B. 11, Chapin's addition to Morris, as a school-house site, which resulted favorably to both propositions, aud on the 3d of September of that year, said lots were purchased from Geo. W. Armstrong for $175, and a deed was executed by Mr. A. to School District No. 1, T. 33, R. 7. A contract for the erection of a school-house was awarded to R. S. Jones (as we remem ber) to build a school-house on said lots thirty by sixty feet, two stories high. There was a deal of fault finding at what was then considered by sorae the enormous size of this building. So general was this feeling that the people refused to \'ote the necessary amount of tax to complete the building the next j^ear, so that work wa^ suspended. But at the next vote upon the subject the appropriation or tax was car ried and the building completed. If our memory is correct a Mr. Brooks — better known as Bully Brooks — a young man with very red hair and prominent nose, taught, or tried to teach, school in the then HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. new school-house in the winter of 1853-4, but was forced to abandon the enterprise by the big boys before his terrh was out. Miss Sarah Parraelee, or " Aunt Sarah," as she was called, taught a school in one of the rooms in the spring of 1854. In Septjiuber of that year Edward San ford, A. B., a graduate of old Yale, was induced to accept the position of principal of the Morris public school. A man of magnificent executive ability and a perfect model of systematic order, he made a great success of the school. However, he could not be induced to teach but two years, and closed his duties as such principal July 31, 1856, to enter the law office of E. P. Seeley, since deceased, as a law student. Having been admitted to the bar he became the law partner of Mr. Seeley, and remained as such until the death of the latter. Lie is now one of our wealthiest citizens. A little fussy fellow bj' the name of Smith, frora somewhere in Wisconsin, succeeded Mr. Sanford. He had as an assistant a woman, supposed to be his wife, but Dame Rumor said she was some other man's wife, and like the " Heathen Chinee, they had to go." In 1859 H. K. Trask, A. B., was princi pal, with John Trask, Anna Trask, Eliza Baldwin, Sarah Parmelee, and Kate Grant, assistants. Their salaries were as follows: H. K. Trask, $900; John Trask, $750; and $270 to each lady. The same corps of teachers had charge in 1860 at the same salaries, with Gertrude Vincent as an additional assistant. In August, 1860, the people voted down the proposition to levy a tax to extend schools beyond six months the ensuing year. This caused Mr. Trask, who was, besides being a first-class teacher, a first-class gentleman, to decline a re-appointment here. • He left Morris, and went to Wisconsin, where he has remained ever since, and is president of a college there. At a raeeting of the directors, Sept. 14th, it was ordered to have six months school with seven teachers, fixing the salary of the principal at $400 for the six months, and placing the assistants' pay at $25 per month. School to commence Oct. 7, 1861. John Trask was made principal, Kate Frame, Anna Trask, Sarah Parmelee, Kate Grant, Fannie A. Hale and Celia Frary were selected as assistants. B. H. Streeter and B. F. Matteson, two of the directors, resigned April 2d, 1862. Robert Long- worth and C. G. Conklin were elected to fill the vacancies April 14, 1862. Mr. Trask was re-engaged with Kate Frame, C. Vanvalkenburgh, S. Wright, K. Morley, C. Frary and A. A. Hennessey, assistants. School commenced Oct. 6, 1862. Andrew Kirkland succeeded Mr. Conklin as director this year. In 1863, Mr, McVay was prin cipal, but the record fails to show what his initials or first names were, what wages he received, or who were his assistants when the school began or closed, or indeed that we had any school. We find under date of Nov. 16, 1863, Mr. Longworth moved to increase the salary of McVay five dollars per month; whether the motion was carried or lost, the record fails to state. In 1864, W. T. Hopkins succeeded Mr. McBride as director and clerk of the board. This board selected L. B. Searles, principal, on salary of $900, with Misses Morley (now Mrs. Hamilton), Longworth, Llennes- sey, Wright, Hale, Bross and Vincent, at $30 per month each. On April 1, 1865, a petition signed by C. Grant, G. W. Lane, 234 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. D. D. Spencer, and thirty others was pre sented to the school board praying the re moval of Mr. Searles. The record says: " After hearing the defenses, it is ordered that Mr. Searles be discharged." This dis charge was clearly irregular and illegal. He left but collected his salary. It appears that a Mr. Fisher was em ployed to finish the year's school as princi pal. There is no record of if except of the payment of schedules, July 16, 1865, when " Fisher and Miss Morley were allowed $440, Misses Tinkhara, Bross, Bean, Harri son, Hale and Wright, each $120. Mr. Kirkland resigned, when at the election to fill vacancy, and elect a successor to Mi-. Longworth, E. B. Hanna and L. P. Lott were elected. Of this board. Judge Hop kins was raade president, and L. P. Lott, secretary, and this was the starting point of keeping a record of the board. Zorodus Trask of Beaver Dara, Wisconsin, was se lected principal at $1,200 per annum, with Misses Bross, Bean, Harrison, Tinkhara and Hale, assistants, at $300 per annum each. The school-house now was too small to accommodate the scholars, and outside rooras were engaged, with Miss Riordan as an additional teacher. In December of that year, the wages of the feraale teachers were raised to $360 per annum. We find by the schedules paid, that a Miss Wheaton was Mr. Trask's first assistant. We have no personal recollection of the lady. Additions were built to the main building this year. E. B. Hanna was again elected director in 1866. It was also voted to build a brick school-house in the 3d ward. At the Au gust meeting, 1866, of the board the school year was fixed at forty weeks. This has been the rule ever since. Henry K. Trask was elected principal, with Misses Jennie Bross, Belle Grant, Sarah Tinkhara, Alida Bliss, Fannie Hale, Alice Rioi-dan aud Gertrude Vincent, assistants, lor year com mencing in Sept., 1866. The school rooms were so crowded that on the 13th Oct., 1866, the board made a contract with Mrs. Bailey, wife of Rev. G. S. Bailey, to teach from forty to fifty small scholars at their residence, for $400 for forty weeks. Mr. H. K. Trask declining to accept the offer of principal, Mr. Stet- raan E. Massey was selected as such at $1,000 per annum. Miss Riordan did not accept the position offered, and Miss Mary E. McQueston took her place. Miss Vin cent also resigned in March, 1867, when a Miss Fitch was appointed to the place. Aug. 5, 1867, C. Grant was elected to suc ceed Judge Hopkins. It was also voted to build a brick school-house in the 4th ward north of the railroad. The site for 3d ward school was purchased Aug. Sth, 1867, for $850. The board also bought from Thoraas Hynds ninety feet south end of lot 3, B. 11, Chapin's addition to Morris, adjoining the old school-house, for $200 at this raeeting. The school was opened again in Sept., 1867, with S. E. Massey, principal. Belle Grant, Jennie Bross, Fannie Hale, Alida Bliss, Sarah Tinkhara, Mary McQueston and E. B. Fitch, assistants. Gouch & Smith re ceived tlie contract to do the mason work on 3d ward school for $1,250. F. H. Will iams & Co., the carpenter work for $1,500, selecting the Oliver brick as the material. At a meeting of the board July 11th, 1868, lots 6 and 7, B. 9, in Edwards' addition to Morris, were purchased for a school-house site for a brick school-house in the 4th wai-d at the sum of $600. The first mis- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 2,35 take we note in the action of this board, one of the very ablest the city ever had, is in ordering the building of "a one story brick school-house 30 by 40 feet." On the 3d of August, 1868, Geo. W. Lane was elected to succeed Mr. Lott as director. It was also decided to purchase a site, and erect a brick school-house, in the then 5th, now 2d ward. At a meeting of the new board August 12, 1868, Mr. Grant was elected president and Mr. Hanna secretary, and Mr. Massey was reappointed principal of the schools, with Misses Bross, Bliss, Hale, McQueston, Grant, Hennessey, Har rison, Barstow and Mrs. Phillips, assistants. The principal to be paid $1,000, and each assistant $300. At this meeting the board ordered that the proposed school-house in the 4th ward be of brick and one story high and 30 by 40 feet in size; and the contract was let to Messrs. Kutz and Storr for the carpenter work at $960. The brick and stone work was let to Wm. Stage at $679. At a meeting of the board September 7, it was decided to make the 4th ward school building two stories instead of one. The lower story 14, the upper 12 feet high. The old teachers were re-employed for en suing year at same salaries. Mary Grant was added to the list of teachers at the next meeting of the board. On the 28th of July, 1870, Prof H. H. C. Miller was elected principal, on a sala ry of $1,300. His selection proved a very good one. He is a man of fine executive ability and scholastic acquirements. On the 1st of September the clerk submitted a sys tera of grading the schools, which was adopted, and has been but slightly changed since, strange as it may seem, yet it is true that this was the first effort ever made to establish graded schools in Morris, so far as appears of record. At a raeeting of the board Sept. 3d, 1870, on raotion of the clerk, the salaries of the assistant teachers were raised from $300 to $340, and the following were selected and assigned : Center School. Room No. 2 — Miss Emma Green. " " 3 — " Carrie Barstow. " " 4 — " Dora Schoonmaker. " " 5 — " Jennie A. Bross. " " 6— " Jennie Wing. " " 7 — " Myra Massey. In 3d Ward Brick School House. Room No. 1 — Miss Mary Hubbard. " " 2 — Miss Lizzie Hennessey,prin' cipal. 4th Ward Brick. " " 1— Miss Carrie Bullis. " " 2— Miss M. A. Rippan, princi pal.- 6th Ward Brick. « « 1— Miss Alida C. Bliss. " " 2 — Miss Minnie Barstow, prin cipal. Much feeling sprang up over this assign ment of teachers, but it proved a very ju dicious one, and never did the Morris pub lic schools do better than this year. Prof. Miller proved to be " the right man *in the right place," while he was ably assisted in all the departments. This school board adopted the single seat system and render ed the principal active support in building up a first-class graded public school. In January, 1871, Mr. Brown resigned, and Mr. F. Caspori was elected his successor. At the regular April election of that year, Mr. Lane was re-elected director without opposition. - 236 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY". On the 21st of June, 1871, " Prof Miller submitted his annual report of the work ings of the several schools under his charge, which showed a very flattering condition, and, on raotion, it was ordered that said report be published in pamphlet form and that 300 copies be printed for distribu tion." This was the first report of the Morris public schools ever printed. On the 23d of June, 1871, on motion of Mr. Caspori, Prof Miller's salary was raised to $1,500 per annum, and on motion of Mr. Armstrong, the following assignment and salaries of the assistants were made: Miss Bliss, assistant to principal, $375 Center School. Miss Jennie M. AVing, Room 6, 376 " Myra Massey, " 6, 375 " Dora Schoonmaker, " 4, 375 " Emma E.Green, " 3, 340 " Gracie Peirce, " 2, 300 3d Ward School. Mrs. L. Thayer, principal, Room 2, 375 Miss Mary L. Hubbard, " 1, 340 4tli Ward School. Miss Ella C. Harrison, No. 2, princi pal, 340 Only one room ready for use. Sth Ward School. Miss Minnie Barstow, No. 2, principal, $375 " Jennie A. Bross, " 1 " 376 The teachers' salaries paid for previous year was $5,253. The total cost of the year's school was $7,828.17, as appears from the clerk's report. The whole nuraber of persons under 21 years residing in the dis trict was given at 1,730, and those between 6 and 21 were 1,200, of whora 18 were col ored. The whole number of enrolled schol ars was 852; number of teachers, 13 — 12 females and 1 male; with 4 graded schools, with 112 volumes in the public school li brary. This was truly a fine showing. But we are extending this article too long. The teachers selected for the year coramencing in September, 1871, were Prof. Miller, princi pal, Ada Bruraback as his assistant, and Misses Bross, Bliss, Green, Peirce, Harri son, Mary Foster, Mary J. Henry, Emma Card, Schoonmaker, Hubbard, and Mrs. M. L. Thayer. In March, 1872, Miss Card re signed on account of poor health, and Miss Julia McFarland succeeded her as a teacher. At the April election, 1872, Mr. Armstrong was unanimously re-elected director. On the 15th of June that year, the salary of the teacher of the gramraar school was raised to $400. Prof. Miller was again chosen as prin cipal at $1,500; Miss Lizzie Winters, %as his assistant, $400. The salaries of the other teachers were not changed. The old teach ers were re-engaged except Misses Bruin- back, Greene, Hubbard, M. J. Henry, and Mrs. Thayer, who declined to re-engage. Misses Irene Henry and Elsie F. Hare were employed in their stead. The wages were substantially the same as the prior year. On the 3d of April, 1869, Lot 3, B 2, C. H. & H. C. Goold's addition to Morris, was purchased of Mr. Caspori for the site for 6th ward school at $1,030, and contracts were awarded for the erection of a two- story brick building, 30x46 feet, to Messrs. Massey & Jackson, carpenter work and blinds $1,600; Wm. Stage, brick, stone and plastering for $1,878.50. The following teachers were selected Sept. 13, 1869: S. E. Massey, principal; Myra Massey, Susan A. Phillips, Carrie Barstow, Mary Mc- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Queston, Emma Harrison, Minnie Barstow, Jennie A. Bross, Alida C. Bliss, Lizzie Hennessey, Nellie Hall, and Ada Harrison. Their salaries were fixed at $1,000 to prin cipal, and $300 to the assistants. On the 1st of Jany., 1870, Mrs. M. W. Loyd was made principal of 5th ward school, and Mrs. Harrison was selected to take the place raade vacant by the resignation of Miss McQueston, Miss McQueston having elected to take a school of one scholar for better or for worse — for life. The school law having been amended or altered so as to bring the election in April instead of August, the election was held April 4, 1870, for two directors. This was an ex citing election, and resulted in the election of Messrs. John Brown and Benjamin Olin to succeed Messrs. Hanna and Grant. This new board organized by electing Mr. Lane, president, and Olin, secretary. Miss Kate Prideaux was selected April 9, 1870, to succeed Mrs. Harrison who had resigned in Center School. Judge Olin resigned June 1, 1870, and moved to Joliet, and at a special election June 7, 1870, P. A. Arm strong was elected to fill the vacancj', and was elected clerk of the board. The total nuraber of scholars attending the public schools at this time was 601. While the total number of males under the age of twenty-one years was 786, females, 787: total 1,573. The division of the sexes was close — one majority for the girls. Between 6 and 21 years there were 1,052. The school law again being changed, re quiring the election of a board of educa tion, of six members, at the election held April 5, 1873, Wra. A. Jordan, John Duck worth, J. C. Carr, F. Caspori, Geo. W. Lane and P. A. Armstrong were elected as such board. Messrs. Lane and Arrastrong drew the short term of one year, Messrs. Jordan and Carr the middle term of two years, and Messrs. Caspori and Duckworth the long term of three years. Geo. W. Lane was elected president of the board, and Mr. Armstrong, secretary. In May, 1873, Miss Lizzie Winters having married, resigned, and Miss T. H. Briggs was appointed to the vacancy, as principal of the gramraar school, at $45 per month salary. At the June raeeting of the board. Prof Miller was again appointed principal, on the same salary as before. Miss Dora E. Schoon maker was appointed as assistant principal at $500, Misses Bliss, Bross, Hare and Gill at $400, Misses Harrison, Foster aud M. E. Hare, $375 each. The census report showed the whole number of persons under 21 years of age, 1,715, of whom 11 v/ere colored. Whole nuraber of jaupils enrolled in the Morris public school, 858. It also showed an excess of 102 females. Miss Gill de clined and Miss E. F. Hare was raade prin cipal of the graramar school, and Miss Julia Pomeroy was placed in 3d ward brick in place of Miss Hare, and Miss Alice A. Conlong was also employed as a teacher that year; also Miss Lizzie A. Hock as as sistant in 4th ward school, at $300 per year. On the 3d of January, 1S74, Miss Maggie Brown was assigned to the 4tli ward school in place of Miss Hock, re signed, and jMiss Damon to the 3d ward school in place of Miss Foster. On motion of the secretary, the following was adopted as an additional rule, viz. : " Those teachers who are most successful in governing their pupils without resorting to corporal pun ishment, other qualifications being suffi cient, shall be awarded by the board a 238 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY". higher degree of appreciation, and receive the preference over all others in promotion and appointraents." Miss Damon, being unable to manage her school, was transferred to Center school, and Mrs. Dukes was em ployed as principal of 3d ward school, in February, 1874. At the April election, 1874, for two members of the board of edu cation, Stilman E. Massey and Mr. Arm strong were elected (Mr. Lane refusing to serve any longer). Mr. Jordan was elected president, and Mr. Armstrong secretary of the board. In June, Prof. Miller was again selected principal, on salary of $1,600. Lizzie Royce, assistant, $500. Miss Bliss, gramraar school, $450. The older teachers were allowed $400 each and the newer ones $300 to $340. The new teachers were Misses Lizzie Massey and Mary J. Noble. The fiscal report of the clerk for year ending June 30, 1874, shows total receipts, $7,70 7- .64. Expenditures, $8,203.54. The num ber of teachers employed, 13—1 male; 12 females. On the 7th of January, 1875, Prof. Miller tendered his resignation as principal, to take effect at the close of the school year. The board assured him that if the only reason for his leaving the school was insufficiency of salary, that should be raised. At a meeting of the board, June 9, 1875, Prof. Miller was again elected prin cipal by a unanimous vote, and his salary increased to $2,000 per year. But he had already agreed to take charge of the public schools of Pittsfield, 111., and declined the position here. By the secretary's fiscal report, the re ceipts from all sources, frora June 30, 1874, to June 30, 1875, were $10,066.70. Dis bursements, $9,001.33. Balance in treasury $1,065.37. The board of education, in parting with Prof. Miller, say among other things, June 19, 1875: " As an organizer of a thorough system, both of studies and discipline, and a thor ough educator, we consider him second to no man in the State. * * He adds to a thorough classic education a fine under standing of the law as well as a practical education. A man of sound judgment, quick discernment and admirable tempera ment." He is now practicing law. in Chi cago. At the same meeting the old corps of teachers, except principal and assistant, were re-elected with a slight increase iu salaries. On the 6th of July, 1875, Prof. Mathew Waters was unanimously elected principal on a salary of $1,500. On the 25th of June, a petition signed by C. H. Goold and sorae sixty tax p.ayers of the district was presented to the board, praying the erection of a new school-house which had been referred to the committee on grounds and buildings, and at the July meeting this committee by Mr. Caspori made a verbal report relative to eligible sites, etc., when it was ordered to submit the question of building a new school-house to a vote of the people. Miss Flora Trum bull was elected assistant principal, at $600, July 20, 1875. On the 2d of August, 1875, on motion of Mr. Carr, the series known as the " Independent series," published by A. S. Barnes & Co., were adopted to be intro duced, as classes were formed, etc. This, in the opinion of the writer, was the most foolish act of this Board of Education, not withstanding we voted for it. We con sider the Independent series the poor est of all the recent series of school books published. Bnt there is aud always HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 239 will be serious objections to frequent changes in school books; with all their pre tended improvements, we have not been able to find among the vast nuraber of new Readers any one that equals the old tirae " Columbian Orator," or " National Read er." On the 23d of August, a vote was taken on the new school-house proposition, the new school-house to cost not exceeding $30,000, which resulted in favor of such new school-house 193 votes, and 120 votes were ca-st against the proposition. The law simply requiring a majority of the votes cast to make it obligatory on the board to act, said proposition was declared carried. In October of that year the schools were so full that two rooms in the city hall were procured, and schools opened there. On the 30th of October, a vote of the people was had upon the proposition to purchase the east half of block eighteen, Chapin's 2d addition to Morris, for $7,000, which resulted 191 for, and 61 against said prop osition; this resulted in the selection of the present beautiful site of the best and among the finest public school buildings of this State. The committee on grounds and build ings having visited many of the best school-houses in the State, reported ver bally to the board, Nov. 20, 1876, recora- mending the plan of the new Jones school- house of Chicago, with slight changes. Mr. Bigelow, who was the architect of the Jones school-house, came before the board with the plans and specifications of said Jones school, and fully explained the same. On Dec. 1, on motion of Mr. Carr, the committee on grounds and school- houses were instructed " to procure plans. specifications, and working drawings for a building nearly similar to the new Jones school of Chicago as to internal arrange ments, with exterior something like the Rochelle school building." Mr. Duck worth moved, " that the new building be constructed of brick with stone trimmings." Mr. Armstrong raoved to amend this mo tion by striking out the words " brick with stone trimmings," and insert the words "Au Sable stone," upon which motion the ayes and nays were called; those voting aye were Messrs. Massey and Armstrong, two; those voting nay were Messrs. Caspori, Carr and Duckworth, three; hence, tho amendraent was lost; the vote recurring on the original motion of Mr. Duckworth, it was carried; Mr. Armstrong alone voting nay; Mr. Jordan, the president, was in favor of a stone building, but could not vote ex cept upon a tie vote, which never can occur with a full board of six. Bonds bearing not exceeding ten per cent, interest were ordered to be issued to pay for the school-house site, at this meet ing, to the amount of $7,000, the purchase price thereof. The next raeeting of the board was on the 5th of January, 1876, when J. H. Bigelow, the architect, pre sented plans and specifications which were accepted. It was also decided to advertise in the Morris papers for sealed proposals up to the first Monday in February, 1876, to furnish material and perform the labor in the erection of a school-house in con formity with the plans and specifications prepared by the architect, now in the of fice of the secretary. The first plan pro vided for a slate roof. Bids- were solicited for a brick building with stone trimmings, and also for a stone building. On Mon- 210 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY". day, February 7tli, the board met, opened and examined the bids, thirty-three in aU, and as there were many bids for some special parts that required tirae to arrange and compare, the b )ard adjourned to the 9th of February, 1876. At this meeting it was found that the lowest bid, even for a brick building, was $31,000, which was above the limit of the appropriation. The board having reserved the right to re ject any or all bids, by their advertisement, on motion of Mr. Arrastrong it was: ^'Re solved, That each and every bid submitted to this board on the 7th inst., pertaining to the erection of the new school-house in said District No. 1, be and are hereby rejected; that the roof of said proposed building be changed to near an eighth pitch, and stand ing groove iron be substituted for slate; and that tin be substituted for galvanized iron for the vallej's and gutters; and that the architect be, and hereby is required to make such alterations in the plans and spec ifications as he may deem necessary to fully carry out the above named changes and alterations; that the board re-advertise for sealed proposals, to be opened Feb'y 21, 1876; that bids be invited for the erection of a brick school-house with stone trim mings, also for a stone school-house, etc. On the 21st of February there were some thirty-five proposals opened and examined. The difference between the cost of a stone building and a brick one as shown by the bids, was less than two thousand dollars. The bids of Messrs. Gordon, McGaveny, Boyer, Stage, and Gorich, who were finally awarded the contract, made but $1,650 dif ference in their bids between stone and brick. Their bids were for stone $28,977, for brick $27,327. After comparing the bids and discussing the question as to whether the building should be of brick or stone, the board adjourned to February 22d, when Mr. Ann strong subraitted the fol lowing resolution upon the passage of which he called for the ayes and nays : " Resolved, That the action of this board at their meet ing of December 1, 1875, relative to the material for the outside walls be and the same is hereby amended by striking out the words 'brick with stone trimmings,' and inserting in | lieu thereof the words 'An Sable sandstone,' in accordance with the plans and specifications prepared by the architect," which was carried. Those vot ing aye were Messrs. Jordan, Duckworth and Armstrong, and Messrs. Carr and Cas pori voting no. Mr. Armstrong had induced the architect to make plans for a stone building, pledging hiraself to pay for the extra labor the sura of $35, if the board should not finally adopt stone. Messrs. Jordan and Massey were in favor of stone all the time. The contract for a stone building was awarded to our fellow townsmen Miles Gordon, Andrew J. Boyer, Tiios. G. Mc Gaveny, William Stage and Jacob Gorich, together with two wooilen privies, for the sum of $28,977.00. They furnishing all materials and keeping an insurance on the building as it progressed. The work was well done. Indeed, every one of the con tractors lost their time and some of them considerable money on their parts of the contract, but they did their work and did it well, and the best school house in the State stands a monument to the skill and perse verance of the builders. The entire cost of this building which is a stone building 74 by 84, three stories and basement, includ- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 241 ing superintendence, was $30,030, with $7,000 for site, making a total of $37,030, which is probably the cheapest school-house, in proportion to its real value, in the State; it has 12 rooms large enough to accommo date 63 scholars each, with a single desk; well may our people feel proud of our pub lic school building and of our public schools. At the April election, 1877, John Duck worth and George Woelfel, were elected raerabers of the board. Prof Waters with Miss Mosier as his assistant, and very nearly the same corps of teachers, were se lected for the school year commencing Sejit. 3, 1876; Miss Mosier's salary was raised to $700; she was a very fine teacher and an accomplished young lady. The new teach ers were Misses Hattie Hall, Carrie Rog ers, Hettie McFarlane and Abbie M. Kier sted; Miss Irene Henry, being the only old teacher, dropped out; she preferred a school of one scholar, and changed her name to Putt; the lowest wages paid this year was $340, and the total aggregate of the fifteen teachers' salaries was $7,280. The census report for this year shows whole number of males under 21, 876; whole number of females under 21, 914; between 6 and 21, males, 584; females, 655; males between 12 and 21 who can not read and write, 12; females, 6. The winter term was opened Jan'y 8, 1877, in the new building; MissM. E. Hare having resigned, her place was filled by the selection of Miss Myra Woods, Dec. 27, 1876; Miss E. F. Hare resigned April 2, 1877, and her sister, Sarah A., was selected in her place, and on the next day Miss Liz zie Massey resigned, and Miss Anna E. Harvey succeeded her; at the April election for members of the Board of Education, Messrs. Lott, Coraerford and Stephen were elected to succeed Messrs. Armstrong, Mas sey and Jordan, the latter having resigned, and Mr. Wm. Stephen was elected to fill the unexpired term; Mr. Stephen was elect ed president, and Mr. Carr secretary of the new board. On the 31st of August, 1877, the old corps of teachers, except iliss- es Mosier, Woods, Kiersted and Rogers, all of whora declined a re-engagement; the new teachers were Misses AlForetta Clute (assistant principal), Lillie II. Fyf'e, Sadie T. Hall, Ella M. Pasegateand Lizzie E. Cody; their salaries were slightly reduced, but not materially so; at the April election, 1878, Messrs. E. Ridgeway, L. W. Claypool, and R. B. Strong, were elected members of the board vice Mr. Carr, (who declined a re-election), Mr. Stephen and Mr. Duck worth wlio "got lost and never was found ed." This new board organized by electing Mr. Lott president and Mr. Claypiool sec retary, who still hold their positions re spectively; Miss Clute "all the way from York State," a maiden lady of uncertain age, assistant principal on a salary of $600 per year, proved to be much abler in teach ing the arts of wooing than the sciences; this compelled Prof. Waters to do a large amount of extra labor; a fine teacher aud ambitious, he neglected his health, and finally broke completely down during the spring term, 1878; his nervous system was de^troyel; he was confined to his bed here all that summer, and is now an inmate of the Home of the Incurables in Chicago; his lirabs are all drawn up into a rigid, crooked shape; unable to feed hiraself, yet his raind and memory are as strong and active as they ever were, but there is abso lutely no hope of his recovery. S. E. Mas- 242 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. sey, A. M., took his place as principal for the unexpired year for Mr. Waters, whose salary was paid him in full by the board, June 24, 1878. The Morris high school graduated nine scholars this year, which, in addition to the former graduates, made the full num ber of twenty-eight. In the class of grad uates for 1873 were Miss Alice A. Con long, who has been for many years a pop ular teacher in the Morris public schools, and Miss Maggie Brown, now the wife of Henry C. June, Esq., of Oak Park, Illinois. In class of 1874, Miss Mary J. Noble, also for many years last past a popular teacher in the Morris schools. Miss Hattie Coy, since married. Miss Emma E. Jones, now wife of F. Starr, Esq., of Streator, Illinois, and Miss Carrie E. Rogers, for awhile one of the teachers in Morris school. In class of 1876, Miss Kate A. Horrie and Miss Eliza Jones, now the wife of Benedict Zens, Esq., of this city. In class of 1877, Misses Delia Robinson, Ettie F. Johnson, Mary H. Shaffer, Lizzie E. Coraerford (now a teacher in the school), Lizzie E. Cody, now the wife of E. H. Quigley, Esq., railroad agent at Mor ris, Mary Coraerford, Fannie Lane (since married), Gertie Nelson, Susie C. Brown, Nora Marshall (now one of the teachers), and Charles J. Reed, since then a graduate of the Ann Arbor University, and now principal of the Princeton (Illinois) schools. In class of 1878, Miss Nellie Barr, Hat tie E. Parker, Lulu Ross, now Mrs. T. P. Bailey, Nellie F. Cody, now wife of Mr. Davis, of the firm of Cody & Davis, Em ma E. Leacock, Abbie C. Woods, Minnie D. Porter, Ida Caspori and Wm. J. Lea- cock. In August, 1878, Prof. L. T. Regan was elected principal, and has continued as such up to the present, and has been en gaged for the ensuing year; and the only changes in the board of education are, Mr. Wm. Stephen and J. S. R. Scovill have succeeded Messrs. Strong and Coraerford. This brings the public school history down to the time when the memory of our peo ple is fresh, and as our chronicle is growing too long we stop here with our history of the Morris public schools, of which we feel a just pride. ST. Angela's ACAOEMr. On the 12th of March, 1858, John Mc Nellis and wife executed a conveyance of out lot 8, in the Canal Trustees' subdivis ion of the S. W. I, Sec. 3, T. 33, R. 7, containing ten acres (less the streets), with a large three story brick building at a con sideration expressed at one dollar to "Rev. E. Sorin, Provincial, of the congregation of the Holy Cross, resident of Notre Dame TJniversity, of the county of St. Joseph, .and State of Indiana, and to his successor in office * * on condition that a Catholic school shall be kept ou said premises for ever." Father Sorin imraediately estab lished and opened thereon and therein St. Angela's Academy, with Mother Frances — a sister-in-law of Senator John Sherman of Ohio, as Mother Superior, for the thorough and practical education of young ladies. This school is second to no academy in this State. Its attendance has been large from its inception up to the present, and we can commend this school to all persons wishing a first-class boarding school for young ladies, whether Catholic or Protestant, as no effort is allowed to be raade toward proselyting. It is a model of good order. Missing Page Missing Page HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 245 and is supplied by the very best of teachers. Of course the teachers are all nuns; Mother Francos was taken further West to open other convents, but a competent Lady Su perior has taken her place. This convent has been much enlarged, and the Sisters of the Holy Cross are doing their -good work as silently as the dew falls, yet thoroughly and intelligently. The only effort they make at public notoriety is their annual comraencemenfs. They have students frora all over the northern part of the State. Being an ad junct of Notre Dame, it is essentially a preparatory department to that leading Catholic University. In painting and music St. Angela's Academy stands high, while its curriculum is practical and well selected. With commodious buildings and extensive grounds highly cultivated and adorned with exotics, plants and flowers, St. Angela's is a very pretty place as well as a pleasant one. THE MOEEIS NOEMAL AND SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL is the outgrowth of the " Morris Classic Institute," started by N. C. Dougherty, A. M., over the office of Mr. Sanford, in 1S69. Mr. Dougherty, now principal of the Peoria schools, came here an entire stranger, rented a room and opened a private school under the above title, and made a decided success of it. A man of push and energy, with a large degree of self-confidence, he soon es tablished the Morris Classic Institute upon a firm basis. So rapid was its growth that his quarters were too small. He then rented a portion of the present Normal School building, and employing assistant teach.ors, transferred the Institute to that building where he soon established a fine reputation as an educator. He, however, did not remain long at his new quarters. Having received many offers of positions in other schools, he finally accepted the position of principal of the Mount Morris Seminary, and sold his interest in the Mor ris Classic to a Mr. Ross, who proved a failure. He in turn sold out to a Rev. Mr. Sloat, who imagined himself a natural-born Demosthenes and Spurgeon combined. But with all his supposed ability, the Morris Classic went into a rapid decline. It had a consumptive cough; hollow-eyed and feeble it lingered a short time and " gave up the ghost." Several efforts were made to revive the " Morris Classic Institute," but they proved unavailing or spasmodic. In October, 1875, J. J. Kinkaide, A. M., of Oil City, Pa., rented the building aud tried to resuscitate it. Although a teacher of raany years experience, he found he had undertaken a difficult task. He succeeded in injecting sorae little life into the de funct institute, but did not restore it to full life and vigor. He was succeeded in his efforts by A.W. Bulkley, A. B., and he in turn by Prof. Beatie, with about the sarae result — a sickl v kind of disappointraent. In the fall oi 1878, Messrs. Cook & Stevens rented the entire building and changed the name to " Morris Normal and Scientific School." Comparatively young raen, full of energy and push, with unbounded confidence in their own ability as organizers and educa tors, they soon coramanded success and placed the Morris Normal on a sure foun dation as one of the very best preparatory schools in the State. This school brings to our city talented young gentlemen and ladies frora all over the country — not only 21 J HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY'. from Illinois but from other States. The curriculum is a judicious one, whilst the energy and perseverance of the entire corps of teachers have been such as to win the confidence and command the respect of all. We notice the sale of the interest of Messrs. Cook & Stevens to Messrs. Kean & For- sythe. They are no strangers here. Prof. Kean has been a successful teacher for many years, and for over a year past he has been one of the principal teachers in this school, while Mr. Forsythe has also had considerable experience as a teacher, and was one of the regular teachers of the school before purchasing. And whilst many raay regret that Mes.«rs. Cook & Stevens have sold out their interest in the school, none need fear of its complete suc cess under the new management. With four separate fine brick and stone public school buildings, with fifteen school rooms, well filled with scholars, under a compe tent superintendent, with fifteen assistants, with a population of 4,200 people, Morris is well prepared to educate her own chil dren. Add to this St. Angela's Academy and the Morris Normal and Scientific School, we may well be proud of our edu cational facilities. No city in the State can excel Morris in that line. We now turn to our SABBATH SCHOOLS. The first Sabbath school of Morris ante dates the organization of the first church here. About the 30tli of June,1847, Messrs. E. P. Seeley, A. F. Hand and P. A. Arm strong posted up written notices for a Sab bath school, to be held at the old court house in Morris, on the following Sabbath. Dr. Hand and Mr. Armstrong were on hand at the time designated, but the other signer failed to put in an appearance. The court house was filled, literally packed, by the most heterogeneous crowd imaginable. Old and young, rich and poor, gray headed men and women, barefooted and hatless ur chins, county officials, canal contractors, pro fessional men, mechanics and common labor ers; while the ladies, ever first in sympathy and ready to do battle in the cause of re ligion and reformation, were there in force, ready, yea eager, to assist in so laudable an enterprise. Previous to this time the chil dren had run riot in the streets and woods, the older boys spending their Sunday's in hunting, fishing and ball playing, while the lesser boys and girls raade raud pies or played blackmail, with no one to teach thera to " remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy." Prominent among the good ladies who favored this enterprise were Mrs. Abigail Hull, now the widow Atwater, Mesdames Wm. E. and P. A. Arm strong, both deceased and Mrs. Alex. Peacock, still living. It was a trying situation for the originators, Messrs. Hand and Armstrong; neither of them were professed Christians. Pro priety demanded that the exercises should be opened with prayer; no minister of the gospel or professed Christian gentleman was present. A prayer had to be offered up to the Infinite, to keep up at least the semblance of piety. Mr. Arrastrong with fear and trembling called on the doctor for a short prayer. To the great relief of the expectant crowd Dr. Hand was equal to the occasion, and made, if not his only, at least his first public prayer, and it was a good one. A prayer that was fine in con ception and impressively delivered. This HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 247 broke the ice and the Sabbath school was inaugurated. This was the nucleus of our present magnificent system of Sunday schools. Having inaugurated this school Messrs. Hand and Arrastrong rested upon their laurels and gave place to the ladies and professed Christian gentleraenas managers. The Congregational church was organ ized about that tirae, and assumed the charge of this embryo Sabbath school. Whether the Sabbath school records con tain any reference -to the organizers or not we are not advised, but that this was the origin of the school is true beyond a ques tion. Nor was there any hypocrisy on the part of these men in organizing this move ment. They were both sons of pious moth ers, who taught thera while "little toddlers," to keep the Sabbath day holy. That in fiuence had not deserted thera, and we trust, never will. Our only religious books were the Bible and John Bunyan's Pil grim's Progress. Sabbath school books had not yet reached this locality. Those capi tal singers, Geo.H. Kiersted and Thoraas A. Henrj', led the singing in fine style. Which of us acted as superintendent we do not now remember, but are inclined to the be lief that we yielded the leadership to the ladies, and that either Mrs. Hall or Mrs. P. A. Armstrong took the lead as teachers. We are quite certain that we left the field early and ceased frora our labors in that noble cause. OHAPTEE IX.* MORRIS CITY— CHURCHES- -EARLY MINISTERS— THE LEGAL PROFESSION- NEERS-SECRET FRATERNITIES. -BUSINESS-PIO- THAT the first religious services in Morris were held by the Catholics there is no question, and that Father Du- pontaris was the first to celebrate Mass at this place, is equally true. He was in charge (as we now remember), of the Cath olic churches at Ottawa and Dresden (the latter being then by far the largest village in Grundy County, having a Catholic church, two good-sized hotels and several dry goods stores). Ho commenced to cele brate Mass here in the fall of 1841, ere Morris had a narae. He was a Frenchman orof French descent; rather small in stature with fine physical form, dark complexion, and a very fine orator, with ability equal to any emergency. He was peculiarly well suited to the times and circumstances sur rounding him. With the patience of a Job and energy of a Caesar, which were so admirably combined that he was able to meet and overcome every obstacle in his way. And when physical force was re quired to quell or disperse a mob, he not only had it, but used it. He was equally brave and humane. His charge extended frora Ottawa to Dresden — a distance of over thirty miles, and as we had neither canal, railroad or stage route, he had to travel overland — raostly on horseback; hence, he was forced to labor long and hard. This he *By Hon. P. A. Armstrong. did uncomplainingly and successfully. From here he went to St. Louis, Mo., and died oi cholera in 1848, contracting the disease while visiting and shriving the dying of his parish. Deeds he did worthy of being perpetuated in monuraeiits of gold. We believe he was succeeded here by Father O'Donnell. Dean Terry carae later and built the present magnificent Catholic church, which is the largest in our county, and assisted in inaugurating St. Angelas Academy. The Catholics of Morris are the most numerous of any of the churches and have the largest and finest church edi fice. PEOTESTANT CHUECH SBEVICES. Next to the Catholics came the Metho dists in holding religious services in Morris. In the winter of 1842-3, John F. Devore, a tall, spare young man, with far more zeal than brain, and who was on his first charge as a Methodist minister, his circuit embrac ing what was then called South Ottawa Circuit, extending from South Ottawa to Wash. Halliday's, being the late " Sam " Halderman farm, comraeneed and carried on religious services in the court house iu Morris. ILis meetings were held about once in four weeks. He had some tough cases among his Morris audience, and though he was quite a revivalist, he could not revive the Morrisites worth a cent. What between P. Chapin, Bill Armstrong HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 249 and Sara Ayres, he had a tough tirae of it, and concluding that "Ephraim was joined to his idols," gave them up as a stiff-necked and hopeless people, and turned his at tention to a more susceptible coraraunity. The next effort raade by this church was by a Mr. Humphrey, who was also the minister in charge of South Ottawa cir cuit. He made an effort at the court house about the 10th of January, 1846. There were but few professed Christians here of the Protestant faith — not even a " baker's dozen." In view of this fact the effort of Rev. Humphrey was looked upon as an at tempt to " beard the lion in his den, the Douglas in his hall." Indeed, the few Protestant Christian men and women looked forward to this effort with fear and trembling, the ungodly with curiosity rath er than interest, whilst others were not all serenit}^ in their feelings. There was a silent monitor tugging away at their con sciences, which said or seemed to say, " You have not kept my corainandnients and lived holy lives." To others this unseen raonitor said, "Unless ye repent of your sins ye shall not enter the Kingdora of Heaven," whilst the garains and urchins anticipated lots of fun frora going to hear a serraon — a some thing the meaning of which had never en- tered their heads. Thus matters stood in feverish ^excitement on the arrival of the eventful Sabbath on which Mr. Humphrey was to preach at the court house. At that time there was no law upon our statute against keeping tippling houses open on Sunday. About three-fourths of our inhab itants were canal laborers. Sundays were their holidays, and above all otlier days this was their drinking and gambling day. All the saloons were open and running at full speed. On the Sabbath iu question all the drinking hells in Morris were run to their utmost capacity to get ready to hear what Rev. Humphrey might have to say that eveniug. Indeed the proposed sermon was often mentioned during the day in ribaldry and ridicule. When the time carae for the raeeting the court house was lighted up with " tallow dips " and was densely filled by the raost incongruous raass of liuraan beings possible to imagine, raany of whom were maudlin drunk. The preacher was rather a weak cistern to hold much Metli- odism, yet he had zeal and was promptly on hand with Bible and hymn book. Standing' fully six feet, straight and slen der, in faltering voice he announced his hymn commencing, " 0, for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer's praise," followed by the request: " Will some brother start the tune?" But alas! no brother was present, and no outsider volunteered, so the singing had to be abandoned, and prayer followed next. But there were too raany inopportune "Araens " and " bless Gods," to suit his invocation. He then announced his text: "Walk about Zion, raark well her bulwarks, and tell the towers thereof" But the fellows felt more like walking about Morris, finding the saloons and testing the whisky thereof, and hence they kept interjecting: "It's time to splice the main brace," " Cut hira short, young fellow " ; " We are all get ting dry," etc. He did cut it short, and dismissed his hearers, or such of them as had not already gone, without the bene diction. Bro. Humphrey was very much discouraged. This, we believe, was his last effort at missionary work— certainly it 2.30 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. was his last effort among the heathen of Morris. What his report was to the church we were never able to learn, but doubt not that it was graphic, if not glowing. About this tirae the Rev. W. S. Strong, a lead ing minister of the Protestant Methodist Church, was en route for Joliet frora Prince ton, 111., and traveled overland in his own conveyance, and reached Morris in the evening, and stayed over night with us. We had heard him preach many times in Put nam County, 111., and knew him to be a man of towering ability. Before leaving here we got his promise to preach for us at the court house on his return trip. Due notice was given of the time and place of the meeting, and when the time came, the court house was crowded. But when, in stead of a gawky looking young fiedgling, a man of giant size, middle age, and com manding presence, rose, and with a fine, full voice read his hymn, and asked the congregation to help him sing, all mirth was hushed, and a profound stillness, if not awe, settled over the audience. Indeed, if any there were " who carae to scoff " (and there doubtless were many such), " they remained to pray." From this time on there were no efibrts made to interrupt re ligious services in Morris. The next Methodist preacher to try his hand was Alonzo Kenyon, also of the South Ottawa circuit. He succeeded in organizing a class, and preached in the court house once a month for several months. He was, or is, for he is still liv ing, a man for whora nature did much, but illiterate. He abandoned the pulpit, went to California, made sorae raoney and then turned lawyer and went to the Legislature frora Lee County, 111., and afterward wat elected judge of the city court of Araboy, Illinois. In the suraraer of 1846 Rev. James Langhead, deceased, a Congregational min ister of the Gospel, eoraraenced to preach at the court house — a man of fair ability and practical common sense. He con tinued to preach about twice a month for sorae tirae. The canal was finished in 1848, when a better class of people took the place of the canal laborers. In July, 1S4S, a society of nine raerabers was formed, known as the " Congregational Society," yet its merabership was coraposed of other Protestant denorainations, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist. The organization of the Congregational Society was of the raost liberal character and upon an accom modating plan. It was only intended for temporary purposes, and left its raerabers free to unite with an organization of their own churches when formed. Thus did Mr. Langhead organize the first Protestant church society in Morris. He became the pastor and moved his family to Morris, where he died sorae years later leaving a widow, since deceased, and a daughter, now Mrs. L. Whitney. We are not sure whether his son Storrs was killed in the army before or after his death. About the year 1850 this society erected a small church edifice just north of the present fine stone church, and called Rev. A. W.Henderson, a Presbyterian minister, as its preacher. Thus we had the anomaly of a Congregational church with a Presby terian pastor, for several years. Mr. Hen derson finally resigned his position and accepted a call elsewhere. He was suc ceeded by Rev. E. B. Turner. This society has for its pastor Rev. Montgomery, one of HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY^ 2.51 the very ablest raen ever in the ministry here, and embraces in its membership a large nuraber of our best and most influen tial citizens. In the short space we can possibly give to the different churches of Morris, we can not take tirae to consult the church records and must speak of thera in a general way only, and will not attempt to give the names of the various good men who have endeavored to point the way to heaven and God. THE METHODIST CHUECH. Following close upon the Congregational church came the Methodist church edifice, on the corner of Jefferson and Kiersted streets, now occupied by the Reformed Lutheran church. In 1849 Morris was at tached or united with Lisbon, nine miles north of Morris, as a circuit, with Rev. J. W. Flowers — afterward a presiding elder — as the minister in charge. He was a man of fine forensic ability and a good organizer. Hnder his able raanagement the member ship increased so rapidly that in 1850 steps were taken to erect a church. This was pressed to speedy completion and was at the tirae of its erection the raost spacious church building of the place. Morris was established as a station or circuit in Au gust, 1850, with a settled minister. We do not reraeraber the order of the Methodist ministers, but the early ones were Denning, Linn, Adams, Prince, Davidson, Reeder, Stover, etc. This society grew to such pro portions that before the year 1868 their church was too small, when steps were taken to erect their present line church on Jackson between Liberty and Wauponsee streets, which is the raost commodious church edifice in Morris, except that of the Catholics, and its membership is much larger than either of the other Protestant churches of Morris. Among its many pastors some were men of fine pulpit talent. Notably so were Revs. W. P. Gray, J. W. Phelps, J. H. Ailing and Geo. S. Young. As a popular preacher none have surpassed Mr. Young. The manageraent of this church has been liberal, indeed. In point of courtesy and Christian fellowship the minis ters and members of the various Protestant • churches of this city have been a model, well worthy of imitation and commenda tion. No spirit of jealousy or improper rivalry has ever existed among them, and when the Methodist church was partially burned a few years ago, the other churches so arranged their services as to give that congregation the free use of their churches to hold their regular worship in, thus man ifesting a beautiful Christian spirit of kind ness and good will. THE PEESBYTEEIAJr CHUECH. As early as 1855 a goodly nuraber of raerabers of the Presbyterian faith had settled here, and in that year they extend ed a call to Rev. W. T. Paterfield, who then resided in the State of Ohio. He came here and held services at the court house, Parraelee Hall and other places. Iramediate steps were taken for the erec tion of the first brick church of Morris, now standing at the corner of Jackson and Franklin streets, of which Rev. Mr. Killen is the present pastor. This congre gation embraces quite a membership, and its pulpit has been filled by many able men, none more so than the Rev. McLeod, now in charge of a wealthy church in the State.of New York. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. THE BAPTIST CHUECH is a fine frame edifice also on Jack son street, at the intersection of Division street, and was erected about the year 1858. This denomination is rather smaller in numbers than either of the others men tioned, yet it contains many of our good citizens. Their pulpit has been supplied by several men of talent, araong whom were Revs. Faslett and De Wolfe. THE GEEMAJSr LUTHEEAJST CHUECH purchased and occupy the old Methodist church building. They have but a small following, but are good people and devout Christians. THE EPISCOPALIANS have made many efforts to build a church, but have failed. At one time they seeraed in a fair way to build a fine stone edifice on the corner of North and Divis ion streets. This was commenced at the breaking out of the war. The walls were run up one story and work was then stopped and has not since been resumed. Notwithstanding they never had a church edifice here, yet have they had regular service during several years. Some of the clergymen officiating here have gained reputations elsewhere. Among them are Doctor Clinton Locke, of Grace Church, Chicago, Doctors E. A. Gilbert, Benedict, etc. We now turn to the DOCTOES, OE PHYSICIANS. Dr. Luther S. Robbins, before mentioned, was not only the first physician of the county, but also of Morris. He moved to Morris from Sulphur Spring some eight miles south of Morris, in the fall of 1S42, and died here a year or so later. Dr. S las Miller was the next one. He settled here in 1S43, but found the place too pain fully healthy for his financial prosperity. Dr. John Antis was the next. He came here in May, 1845. Dr. Thomas M. Reed was the next. He moved here frora Wau pecan Grove, south of the Illinois River, and was elected sheriff in 1847, and died here before qualifying as sheriff. Dr. A. F. Hand was our next disciple of the pill bags. Drs. David Edwards and Oliver S. Newell carae next and at about the sarae time. Dr. Edwards was well advanced in years, and did bnt little in his profession. Dr. Newell entered into partnership with Dr. Hand. He was a fine physician and most estimable citizen. He was a charter mem ber of Star Lodge No. 75, L O. O. F., and its first presiding officer. He died in 1852 and was buried in the Odd Fellows' lot in Morris cemetery. His death was very gen erally lamented. Dr. Edwards left here some time about 1856, when Dr. Luke Hale purchased his property here, and practiced medicine up to the time of his death, in 1865. Dr. B. E. Dodson came here about the year 1850 and remained several years, and then moved to Elgin; thence to Mc- Leansville, where he died a few yeare ago. Dr. Roscoe L. Hale, son of Luke Hale, came here about the year 1858, and re mained here until after the war, and then moved to Sedalia, Mo., where he still re sides. Dr. H. H. De Hart came here in 1852, soon after the death of Dr. Newell, and went into partnership with Dr. Hand, but he soon became tired of so small a town and left. Dr. David Le Roy, a raan of some means, now living at Streator, 111., came HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 253 here about the year 1855, and entered into partnership with Dr. Hand. He soon em barked in the dry goods business quite ex tensively with E. B. Hanna, under the firm narae of Hanna & Le Roy. They built the brick store building on Washington street, now occupied by Messrs. Levitte & Hughes as a saloon. They afterward built the large brick block now occupied by the Norraal school, besides speculating in real estate to a considerable extent. They had just cora- pleted this large building when the war broke out, in 1861. But as the war paralyzed business, for a while at least, they were un able to rent the stores to any advantage, or to raake any disposition of any part of this immense building, so as to realize from it; together with other bad investments, they were forced to suspend business and make the best compromise they could with their creditors. Their failure was a severe blow to the interests of Morris, for they were our most active and influential business men. Their home creditors were protected. Our next physician was Dr. John N. Freeman, who came here about the year 1857, and remained some ten years, and raoved to Rochester, N. Y. Dr. E. Ridgway carae here soon after Dr. Freeman, and went into the drug store of Longworth & Ridgway- In 1862, he entered the army as surgeon in the 76th 111. Vols., and on his return he opened an office and entered into active practice, but has again gone into the drug business with Mr. Enslee, the firm being Ridgway & Enslee. Dr. A. E. Palmer carae here from Mazon in 1876, and opened an office, since which time he has had a very large and lucrative practice. Dr. Oaks, his present partner, carae here from Minooka this summer. Dr. S. D. Fergu son came here frora Minooka sorae two years ago, and has a fair practice. He had practiced at Minooka many years before coming here. These are all allopathies. Dr. Antis turned homeopathic in 1847, but has not confined his practice to that branch of physics. Dr. A. M. Pierce and Dr. Stur- tevant are homeopaths, with a fair practice. And now, "since the law is full of points, we will turn to the points of the law," and briefly mention the LAWTEES OF MOEEIS. The first was E. H. Little, who came here and opened an office in one of the little upper rooms of the old court house, in the spring of 1845. He accidentally shot hiraself while gunning near the resi dence of A. R. Newport, in July, 1847. A whole charge of small shot passed throuo-h his left arm, passed into his body, and lodged in his lungs. For all this he lived, and was still living at Montrose, Pa., a short time since. He was a .young man of good habits and character, with fair ability. Charles M. Lee read law with Mr. Little, and was admitted to the bar in 1847. Hon est and upright, but by no means brilliant, he succeeded in finding out that the " laio and the Profits did not agree," as he ex pressed it, so he gave it up and turned ped dler for Geo. Turmeyer. The gallant Capt. W. P. Rogers, son of Com. Rogers, came here and stuck out his shingle in the sprino- of 1847, but only remained a year, and then went to California, where he built up a narae and fame worthy of his distin guished father. Ezra P. Seeley was our next limb of the law. He was decidedly a bookworm, and well learned in the law. As an advocate he was not successful. He 254 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. died, we think, in 1862, leaving a widow and two daughters, still living in Morris. Capt. Charles L. Starbuck was our next disciple of Blackstone. He came here in 1851, and died about the year 1857, leav ing a widow and two children. He served one term in the Legislature frora Grundy and La Salle. A small, dark coinplexioned, wiry raan, of fine legal and forensic abil ity. Henry Storr carae here about the same tirae Capt. Starbuck did. He was elected the first county judge, and re signed in 1851, and moved to Sacramento, Cal., where he still lives, and is a promi nent California lawyer. Judge AV. T. Hopkins carae here from Maine in 1849, and has remained here. He was elected captain of the " Grundy Tigers " in 1861, and served out the terra of enlistment, and on his return he was elected county judge. He was afterward appointed supervisor of internal revenue — a man of great energy and fine scholastic acquirements. He built the Hopkins House which bears his name. He also first conceived the idea of a bridge across the Illinois River at this place. He procured a charter from the Legislature Feb. 13, 1855, to incorporate the Morris Bridge Company, with W. T. Hopkins, L. W. Claypool, Samuel Hoge, Geo. W. Arrastrou.g and E. P. Seeley, incorpo rators, and inaugurated steps for the con struction of the present bridge. Messrs. Hoge and Seeley did nothing in the matter. But Messrs. Hopkins, Claypool and Arm strong took hold of the matter and pushed it forward to completion in 1856. Mr. Arm strong, we believe, was made president of the organization, and Mr. Claypool, secre tary. Judge Hopkins is now, by many years, the earliest lawyer at our bar. He served one terra in the Legislature. Judge Jaraes N-^. Reading was the next lawyer here. Lie carae frora Missouri in 1865. He too served one terra in our State Legis- lature and two terms as county judge — a gentleman of finish and ability. Being ad vanced in years, he has practically with drawn from the profession. Judge Sidney W. Harris carae here frora Cincinnati, 0., about the time Judge Reading came. He was a fine lawyer and powerful advocate, and was elected judge of the circuit court in 1861, and died here about the year 1869. Edward Sanford read law here with Mr. Seeley and entered into partnership with that gentleman. After the death of Mr. Seeley, Mr. Sanford opened an office and turned his attention more especially to boun ty and pension claims, and then to the loan business, in the latter of which he has had great success, and has acquired a handsome fortune. Geo. W. Watson, John P. Southworth, T. B. Rice and Charles Turner all came here before 1860, and after remaining here awhile left. Judge B. 'Olin came here in 1863, and in 1865 entered into partner ship with the writer under the firm name of Olin & Arrastrong. He left here in 1870 and located in Joliet, where he has served nearly nine years as county judge. Judge A. R. Jordan read law with Judge Olin, and was admitted in 1865. Next to the writer, he is the next lawyer in point of time at the Morris bar. Messrs. S. C. Stough, A. L. Doud, county attorney, R. M. AVing (his partner), S. P. Avery, 0. N. Carter and J. II. Sampson are of recent date. Judge C. Grant was admitted to the bar in 1861, and died here January 10, 1881. He was a very scholarly man and HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 255 had served one term as county judge and raany years as register in bankruptcy. Leaving the lawyers to plead their own cases, we " go for the " MEECHAXTS. As early as 1845 Col. AVra. L. Perce and Adam Lamb each had a small stock of goods for the accommodation of their canal hands. In the fall of that year P. A. Arrastrong opened a general store in what had been the bar-room of the Grundy Ho tel, which then stood where the Hopkins House now stands. He yjurchased the stocks of goods frora Col. Perce and Mr. Larab, and united thera to his other stock, and not having room in his then store room, he built the main part of Dr. Hand's residence for a store, and occupied it for a couple of years for a store and post-office. Gov. Mattison having opened a store in the Llarvey building, which stood where the Washington House now stands, after operating it about a year with Henry Fish, manager, and, Ave believe, partner, Mr. Armstrong bought out the goods and moved his store to that buildino- in 1847. He then built the building now occupied by R. Petty, then located where the Geo. M. Jones furniture store stands, and moved his store and jjost-office to that building. In 1^48 Messrs. Hulburd & Lott opened a dry-goods store here. John P. Chapin and C. H. Gould opened a dry- goods store in the Harvey block when Mr. A. left it. But we find that we have un dertaken a herculean task and will trace this branch no further. OUE FIEST WAEEHOUSE. What is known as the Lane Warehouse, just west of the canal bridge, was built by John P. Chapin in 1847, ready for the opening of the canal in 1848. Capt. Hull also built the warehouse now occupied by Messrs. Barr & Philips in the early spring of 1848. E. M. Ross built what is known as the Red Warehouse in 1849. OUE FIEST GEOOEE was Leonard Ashton, deceased. Our next, and, as Samie Reinhart would say, " old reliable," was Miller K. Keller, who has sold raore groceries than any man, living or dead — in Morris. For a quarter of a century he has been behind his coun ter frora early raorn until late at night, always accoraraodating, pleasant, and strictly honest. He has been a great bless ing to the poor and a comfort to the rich. Indeed, so absorbed is he in his business that he finds no tirae for pleasure trips or recreation. H. F. Mallory has been very successful in the grocery line and has ac cumulated quite a fortune at it. Our ar ticle is assuming such length that we raust pass on without further mention of oiir merchants. IN BANKS AND BANKING we have had a varied and by no means a pleasant experience. As early as IS.jl) Messrs. C. H. & II. C. Gool I opened a pri vate banking institution in a buildino- standing where the Claypool Block now stands. This they ran until 1860 when they closed it. They did not fail, but the business ceased to be reraunerative. In 1854 Geo. Selleck (deed.) opened a pri vate banking and exchange office in Morris and did a very large business, but failed badly in 1860. In July, 1857, E. W. & F. K. Hulburd opened a private banking and exchange office under the firm name of E. 256 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. W. Hulburd & Co. They too did quite a business, but were forced to the wall in 1861 to the injury of their friends as well as others. In 1858 Alessrs. F. S. Gardner and C. B. Crumb, without capital or experience, opened a banking and exchange office, but it was " no go." Weak at its birth, it did not grow strong, and died in a few short mouths. Nobody had confidence in the concern, hence their deposits amounted to nothing or substantially so. AVe never held their checks ovor night. The next were T. Hatten & Son, who succeeded C. H. & II. C. Goold, in February, 1860, and failed the next 3'ear leaving raany mourners. Then came D. D. Spencer, of State Savings notoriety, who in company with Mr. W. C. Hammell opened an exchange and deposit bank, which eventuated in the Grundy County National Bank. The bank opened a branch bank at Seneca, the stock of which was purchased by the Cunneas and the bank raoved to Morris under the name of the First National Bank of Morris. These two banks proved to be "solid Muldoons." From banks we turn to GEAVETAEDS. For many years the question of a suita ble spot for eeraeteries was a serious one. Our first dead were interred on the ele vated ground near the residence of R. M. Wing, but the subsoil proved to be clay, and the graves would fill with water so that the coffin was deposited in raud and water. AVe next tried the bank of Nettle Creek near the residence of Judge Hopkins, but found the sarae difficulty there. An other attempt was made on the A. W. Telfer farm, late Oliver farra, west of the canal and east of Morris, with like result. ' The board of trustees of Morris then pur chased, in conjunction with Father Terry, of the Catholic church of Morris, the E. J of the S. W. i of Sec. 27, T. 34, 7, where the old Catholic cemetery is located, but the same difficulty was found there and it was abandoned by the city and their interest therein was sold, as before shown, to Father, now Dean, Terry in 1853. He located a cemetery there but it has been abandoned and the greater portion of the remains deposited there have been exhumed and reburied in the beautiful new Catholic cemetery near the residence of Messrs. Kennedy and Kenrick. Ou the 12th of February, 1853, The Morris Cemetery Association was chartered by the Legis lature with Geo. Fisher, Geo. AY. Lane, Charles H. Goold, L. P. Lott and Eugene Stanberry, incorporators. On the 25th of August of that year this association purchased frora Thomas Pea cock, since deceased, about five acres, and from John Peacock, now deceased, about five acres of land, on the N. fr. of Sec. 2, T. 33, R. 7, lying nearly two miles east of Morris, and adjoining each other, for a cemetery, and on the 14tli of September fol lowing, authorized and appointed P. A. Armstrong to survey and subdivide said land into suitable sized lots with appropri ate drives, alleys, etc. Owing to the course of the public road running along the north side of the land, the ten acres so purchased, while a parallelogram in shape, the long side being from east to west, it does not lie with the cardinal courses of the compass, hence there are raany triangular lots, but this adds beauty to the general features of the cemetery. The subsoil is gravel, whilst the general lay of the surface is high HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 257 yet undulating. The work of subdividing and driving the stakes was done with great care and precision, Mr. Armstrong driving every stake with his own hands, to the end that they should be in their exact place, and driven in the ground peqiendic- ularly. Originally free frora tree or shrub, the directors caused evergreens and other nice shrubs and trees to be planted so that it is now a raost beautiful "silent city of the dead." Additional land has been purchased by the association. " God's half acre," the Potter's field, has proved insufficient to bury the poor. The number of unknown dead huddled side by side with naught but a rough unlettered stone to mark the place is surprising. A new and larger plat will be assigned to bury the poor. Many fine monuments have been erected there, and the Morris cemetery is one of the finest in the country. Among other distinguished dead slumbering here, is Shaube-nay, the great Sauzanath, or white man's friend. By his side lie the remains of his wife, one daugh ter and one grandchild. No stake or stone marks the spot where slumber the remains of this once mighty king of the red men — 9. triple chief — on whose will hung the destinies of three great Indian tribes — Chip pewas, Ottawas and Pottawatomies. Will the descendants of these early white settlers, whose lives were saved during the Black Hawk War, do anything to honor the mem ory of the man who ri.sked life and stand ing with his own people to befriend and protect their ancestors? But this is a grave question and we turn to OUE MANUFACTUEEES. The first manufacturing establishment of Morris was the Morris Plow Factory, in 1857. They made an excellent plow, and why it was abandoned we never could learn. The large brick building west of the court house, now carried on by II. L. Miller as a blacksmith and carria:^e shop, planing mill, etc., was the building occu pied as the plow factory. In 1S73, the city gave a bonus to encourage manufact ures. There were sorae $19,000 invested by the city within a couple of years which eventuated in the establishment here of the Sherwood School Furniture Company's AVorks near the canal on the west side of the city, which has since been converted into the Ohio Butt Company. The build ings and machinery of this concern are large and valuable and give employment to about 150 hands. The Anderson Pa].)er Car AA^heel Manufacturing Company on the east side of the city, have fine buildings and splendid machinery, and while they do not employ many hands to run it because nearly everything' is run by machinery, yet they furnish a ready market at a high price for all the rye and oat straw of the county. The Morris Cutlery Company's Manu factory stands at the corner of Wauponsee and Fulton streets. The building is the one mentioned as being used for a court room while building the new one. This is a new enterprise here; indeed, but few of the people of Grundy County know of its exist ence. It is a regularly incorporated cora- pmy under the statute with $15,000 capi tal stock. The stockholders are men of action, not of boasting. They are practical business raen with raeans and energy. M. W. Steiner, Geo. Riddle, L. F. Beach, Drs. Palmer and Ferguson, M. K. Keller, J. II. Pettit, A. W. Crawford, Albert and Williara Sraith, are the stockholdei-s, the 258 HISTORY OF GRUNDY^ COUNTY. latter two being thoroughly educated cut lers frora Sheffield, England. The officers are Geo. Riddle, president, Albert Smith, superintendent, and AI. AY. Steiner, secre tary and treasurer. They have the very best of machinery, and can eraploy and suc cessfully operate 150 hands. They already have twenty-one skilled laborers in their es tablishment, and have up to the present manufactured eighty-four varieties or kinds of pocket knives, equal in style and finish to the celebrated AVostenholm and Sons of England. No better finished knife is made in the United States, if indeed in the world, than by the Morris Cutlery Com pany. So fine is their work that they have more orders than they can possibly fill with the force of workmen they now have. They employ none but skilled workmen, hence they experience some difficulty in obtaining all the workmen they need. They intend to do none but first class work. This is made apparent upon inspection of their goods. To all who wish a first class pocket-knife either for orna ment or use, we commend them to try one of home raanufacture. Try a Morris knife. IN THE BEEWEET LINE. Louis Gibhard, at his large brewery at the foot of Washington street on the east bank of Nettle Creek, raanufactures a first class article of lager and ale and in large quantities. AVe have sorae three or four raanufacto- ries of cigars, besides boot and shoe makers, etc. THE MOEEIS ACADEMT OE SCIENCE occupy the room over the court house, where they have a large collection, espe cially so of fossil botany, of which this lo cality is the raost prolific of any yet dis covered in the civilized world. The Mazon fossils are known and readily recognized in every civilized country. This fine collec tion is open to inspection at all times. The officers are, P. A. Armstrong, presi dent; F. T. Bliss, secretary; J. C. Carr, treasurer; Prof Kern, corresponding sec retary. In addition to the fine collections in geology, there is a fair display in nat ural history, engravings and pre-historic relics, etc. OUE SECEET BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. Star Lodge, No. 75, I. O. 0. F. was in stituted by the late James T. McDougal, of Joliet, under a dispensation from the R. W. Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, October 17, 1851. L. P. Lott, N. G.; E. M. Ross, V. G.; O. S. Newell, de ceased, T., and A. H. Bishop, also deceased, secretary. On that night several of our best citizens were initiated, among whom were Geo. AV. Lane, Henry Benjamin, de ceased, AV. S. Woolsey, deceased. Miles Gordon and P. A. Armstrong. This lodge still exists, and is in a very prosperous con dition. It has never failed to hold its reo-- ular weekly meetings, or in visiting t'.ie sick, comforting its widows, educating its orphans or burying its dead. Shaboneh Encampment was organized in 1871, with P. A. Armstrong, 0. P., F. B. Handwork, H. P., etc. It, too, is in a flourishing con dition. Cedar Lodge No. 124, A. F. and A. AL, was instituted Feby. 26, 1852, with B. M. Atherton, W. M.; C. L. Starbuck, S. W.; John Gibson, J. W.; Geo. Fisher, T.; James Gibson, sec'y; Leonard Ashton, S. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ::.50 D.; and Lawrence Wilkes, J. D. ; all of whora are now dead, except Jaraes Gibson who now resides in San Francisco, Cal. A charter was granted Oct. 3, 1853; L. P. Lott was one of its first initiates, and has serv'ed as Master over a dozen years in all. Cedar Lodge erabraces in its membership a very large portion of our leading citizens, and has been a prosperous and harmonious organization. OEIENT EOTAL AECIT CHAPTEE, NO. 31, was constituted Oct. 23, 1856; the charter members were Franklin K. Hulburd, L. P. Lott, B. M. Atherton, Nathan B. Dodson, E. AV. Lusk, C. R. Parmelee, Leonard Ash ton, Geo. Riddle and Geo Fisher; of these nine charter members. Companions Lott, Dodson, Riddle and Parmelee alone sur vive. Companions Hulburd and Lusk lost their lives in the Union service; F. K. Hul burd was High Priest of this chapter up to the time of his death; .since that tirae Messrs. Lott, Armstrong and Irons have filled that position. Companion Irons being' the present chief officer. Up to the year ISoS^ there were but three Corarnandcries of Knights Templar in this State, viz.: Apollo, No. 1. at Chicago; Belvidere, No. 2, at Alton, and Peoria, No. 3, at Peoria. F. K. Hulburd had taken the orders of knight hood in Alt. Vernon Cominandery, No. 1, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Com inandery of Ohio, before coming here to live. E. W. Lusk had also taken the or ders in Kalamazoo Comraandery, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Coramandery of the State of Michigan. These two Sir Knights conceived the idea of establishing a Comraandery at Alorris, being midway between Joliet and Ottawa, so as to render the chapters of these two cities tributary to the Morris Cominandery; but there were serious difficulties to encounter; it either required nine Sir Knights of the jurisdiction of Illinois, or three Sir Knights hailingfrom different jurisdictions, to open a Cominand ery for work; they had neither, but they had two hailing from other jurisdictions, aud must have a third; this they obtained by procuring Rt. Erainent Sir Hosmer A. Johnson, of Apollo, No. 1, and since R. E. Grand Commander of the Grand Com raandery of Illinois. They were extreraely anxious to keep the matter a profound se cret from the resident Sir Knights at Joliet and Ottawa, at-both of which places there were a few Sir Knights, and right here another difficulty arose; they were com pelled under the rules and regulations of the Grand Com m an dery, to obtain the con sent and recommendation of the nearest Comraandery; this was Apollo at Chicago, of which some of the Sir Knights of Joliet were members, aud in that way the secret got out, and immediate steps were taken by Sir Knight Nelson D. El wood and others, of Joliet, to counteract and check the Morris raovement; they, with equal secrecy, prepared a petition for a dispensa tion to open and organize a Coramandery at Joliet, aud like the Morris Sir Knights, they, too, were short of the requisite num ber of Sir Knights resident there; to obvi ate this they passed by Alurris and went to Ottawa and procured the signatures of Sir Knights Oliver C. Gray and J. AV. Stone, and then procured the consent and recom mendation of Apollo to open and organ ize a Comraandery at Joliet, and when Sir Knight Hulburd presented his petition and recommendation for a Coramandery 260 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY". to be established at Morris, to Grand Com mander James A". L. Blaney, on the 17th of February, 1S5S, he found Sir Knight Elwood there with his petition in favor of Joliet; the secret then became an open one; the result was that Grand Commander Blaney decided to grant a dispensation to both, when it was agreed by and between Sir Knights Elwood and Hulburd, that the former should take precedence in number, and the latter in the name when in power of the decision of the Grand Commander. Sir Knight Hulburd selected Blaney as the name; hence, dispensations were granted on the same day to open and organize Joliet Comraandery, No. 4, at Joliet, and Blaney, No. 5, at Alorris; these two Com- manderies having been born on the same day, were not inaptly called twin sisters; the kindliest feeling has ever existed be tween these Comraanderies; a rivalry has existed between them, but it has only been a rivalry of courtesy and good will. Joliet Comraandery was constituted by Grand Coraniander Blaney, Alarch 18, 1858, and Blaney on the following day. Grand Com mander Blaney was assisted in constitut ing BLANEY COMMANDEEY, NO. 5, by the following Sir Knights: N. D. Elwood (deceased), T. Hatton, Jr., W. AV. Mitchell (deceased), E. AV. Lusk (deceased), E. Wilcox, C. E. Munger (since G. C), ^ F. K. Hulburd, E. Bean, James H. Aliles, ' T. Hatton, Sr., and E. J. Higgins. On the day of the constitution of the Cora mandery the following Companions of Ori ent R. A., Chapter No. 31 received the orders of Christian Knighthood conferred in said Comniandery: Geo. Fisher (deceased), E. \V. Hulburd, L. P. Lott, P. A. Armstrong, AVra. B. Grenell, J. ^Y. Massey, Charles H. Goold, Uriah B. Couch (deceased), Geo. Diraon, Charles R. Parraelee, John Gib son, Jr. (deceased), and B. M. Atherton (deceased). Sir Knight F. Hulburd was installed as Coraraander, which office he held to 1861, when P. A. Arrastrong suc ceeded him. He was succeeded by Arnold AI. Cleveland, and he by P. A. Armstrong ai^ain, who held the office some ten years and was succeeded by Charles H. Goold, who served sorae five years and was suc ceeded by L. F. Beach, present Commander, who is on his third year. During the war Blaney Comraandery (having received its charter Oct. 28, 1858, it having worked under a dispensation up to that date) had a hard struggle for existence, and was kept alive by a few of the surviving Knights, P. A. Arrastrong advancing Grand Comraand ery dues for eight years; but it is now in a very prosperous condition, and occupies an enviable position in Templar Masonry. In addition to those recei\'ing the orders Alarch 19, 1858, the following named Tem plars received the orders during that year, viz.: N. B. Dodson, April 26; A. M. Cleve land and AVm. Stanhope (deceased), April 27; Rev. W. G. Johnson, May 18; Miles Gordon, Alay 28; Gen. AVm. H. L. Wallace (deceased), June 1. (It will be remembered that this gallant oflicer lost his life while leading his brigade in the battle of Shiloh.) Hiram Malloiy (dec'd) and Sarauel Jordan, June 8; F. C. Mayo and J. P. M. Butler, June 11; J. S. Dyke (dec'd), June 30; Job Antis and A. J. Hutchinson, Dec. 30; and in 1859, S. E. Massey, March 7; B. H. Streeter ^dec'd), June 7; in 1860, E. C. Hol lands, Aug. 29; Rev. Seaman Stover, after ward Grand Prelate, Dec. 13; C. S. C. -/f HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 263 Crane, Dec. 20. In 1861, Q. D. AVhitman, S. E. Miner, R. N". Goodsell and Daniel H. Ashton, Jan'y 29. This was the last work done until 1870. E. T. Hopkins (killed while performing his official duty, by the ruffian Miller), June 14; II. D. Hitchcock (dec'd), Oct. 31. In 1871, Geo. AY Ashton and R. L. Tatham, Feb'y 8; H. H. Holt- zuui and A. W. Telfer, Feb'y 27; Edward Sanford and Ii. H. C. Miller, May 10; Judges. B. Thomas (dec'd) and Dr. W. P. Pierce, May 18; R. B. Horrie and W. W: Phillips, May 25; F. Caspori and A. J. Boyer, June 9; Geo. Mann and J. H. Pettit, June 15 ; in 1872, John Jacob Gorich, Alarch 11; John, Geo. and Charles Woelfel, March 18; Leander Irons, Alarcli 25; Geo. R. Beach, April 18; Charles K. Charlton, Oct. 11 ; C. E. Daniels, Oct. 18; Dr. A. E. Palmer, Oct. 28; H. B. Ellijtt, Nov. 25. In 1873, F. Dirst, Feb'y 20; Geo. Gaskill, Feb'y 24; J. W. Tatham, June 9; C. S. Beach, June 16. In 1874, C. E. Halbert, Jan'y 15; Jacob Geisen, Jan'y 15; A. Van Riper, April 6; Israel Cryder, May 4th ; A. F. Rodgers, May 7th; G. bahlem. May 15tli; E. W. Weis, May 22(1; A. K. Knapp, June.lOth; E. L. Stevens, Oct. 26th; A. Stauffer, Nov. 30th; A. F. Mallory, Dec. 7th. Ina875, Dr. S. T. Ferguson, Jan'y 18th; Geo. Mason, May 17th; L. E. Daniels, May 24th; John Vandyke, May 31st; O. AV. Weston, June 10th; David Nickel, June 14th. In 1876, Daniel Sliaide, April 24th; J. F. Peck, Alay 1st. In 1877, Geo. Riddle, Jan'y 29th; Geo. N. Widney, Feb'y 5th; AVm. B. Cogger, Feb'y 27tli; A. W. Crawford, Sept. 8tli; Henry G. Gorham, Oct. 29th; C. D. Ferguson, Nov. 12th; Nicholas Quadland, Nov. 26tli. In 1878, H. C. June, Nov. 18th; Henry Long, Dec. 2d; A. Kiraple, Dec. 9th; J. F. Cobleigh, Dec. 16th. Non,e in 1879. In 1880, C. H. Overocker, Feb'y 16th; J. J. Widney, Feb'y 23d; T. H. Ross, March 16th; Nathan Small, July 15th; C. O. Barker, July 22d. In 1881, J. G. Colleps, April 25th. Ill 1SS2, AVra. Mason and D. W. McEwen, May 1st; John A. Gouch, May 15th; AVra. Gebhard, Alay 29th; and John Ray, Oct. 6tli. The present Coraraander E. Sir Knight L. F. Beach, united by card, March 27th, 1871, and Sir Knight R. C. Auld, Dec. 26th, 1881. These are the raen who compose the membership of this higher branch of masonry in Morris. Good men, and true to their obligations. "For a chain sweetly twined by humanity's hand, Is bound like a circlet of diamonds around them, And fearless and strong as a, legion they stand In the battle of life when the chain hath been there. For its love knotted links have a magical charm. Earth's trials to meet and its woes to disarm; Every stranger finds a friend his soitows to share, AVhile no heartbeats alone where Knight Templars are." Having spent several weeks in collecting reliable dates and facts for the history of Morris, we confess that we are tired and weary. Many things have been omitted that might have proved of interest, while other matters have received but a lick without a promise. If we have succeeded in laying the foundation for a more able pen than ours at sorae future day to write a fuller history pf our town, then we shall have accomplished much. OHAPTEE X.* GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP— SURF.ACE— STREAMS— TIMBER— ORIGIN OF NAAIE— TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION— GOING TO .MILL— FIRST SETTLERS— INCIDENTS— WOLF AND DEER HUNTING— ELECTIONS— OFFICERS— IMPROVEM ENTS AND PROSPECTS— WHAT WE ARE TO-DAY, ETC., ETC. Greenfield! the land of grass and flowers, Of pleasant homes and happy hours; Where richest lands her treasures yield, To every tiller of the field. Here hill and vale are never seen. But an endless plain forever green; No rivers here go rushing o'er A rocky bed with ceaseless roar. No lakes are here extending wide. Inviting travelers to their side; But those who came could easy tell. That with earnest work they might do weU. Wealth was here for all who'd come. To till the earth and make a home; So here we write this story, true. Of what our fathers used to do. FOR several years before the dividing of the county into townships, the territory, afterward called Greenfield, be longed to Alazon Precinct. In the vear 1850, a township organization was effected, the first "town meeting" being held the first Tuesdaj'^ in April of that year. In or der of business carae the "naming of the township." Seventeen voters were present and nearly every one had a narae for his new home — a name dear to him because it belonged to " the old home in the East." Each pressed his claim with all the enthu siasm at command; but after a noisy can vass and several ballots, a choice was not made. Finally a committee of three — * By Dr. C. M. Easton. Robert AA'ood, Robert Finley and Milo Wil cox, was appointed to choose aname. AVil- cox proposed " Greenfield '' after Thomas R. Green, a land speculator of Chicago, who then owned several tracts in the town ship. The name was sent in and adopted with a hurrah ! Greenfield township occupies the south east corner of Grundy County, and includes an area bf six railes square. Braceville township bounds it upoiAlie north. Good- farm upon the west. Round Grove (Living ston Co.) upon the south and Es sex (Kankakee Co.) upon the east. The surface is very level, with gentle undula tions along the banks of creeks and sluices. The highest land is in the southern part with a gradual descent as you go north ward. Unfortunately for drainage, the banks of the streams are generally a little higher than the lands sorae distance back; so in order to get rid promptly of the su- pierfiuous water, it is needful to cut drains through these rolls. The soil is a rich black loam frora one to two feet in depth, and with proper drain age and cultivation, its productiveness can not be excelled. The timber originally consisted only of a few groves, scattered along the banks of the Mazon. One of these on the south line of the township, known as Currier's Grove, was HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 265 widely known among the early settlers, re ceiving its name from a family who set tled in the immediate neighborhood dur ing the early years. As we go down the 8' ream we find another fine timber lot on section fourteen, now the premises of L. C. Fuller. On sections one and twelve was another grove of considerable size, probably the largest in the township. The varieties were such as were indigenous to this part of the State, namely; oak, hickory, walnut, elm, basswood, etc. The Mazon Creek, the largest of our wa ter courses, has its origin in Broughton, Livingston County, and running north en ters Greenfield upon the south line, a half raile east of the center. Bearing to the northeast to the south line of section one, on the farra of F. 0. Andrews, it turns to the northwest, and runs out on section two. Cranery Creek, a streara of considerable size, draining a portion of Essex, comes into our town from the east and unites with the Mazon on section one. Another creek coming from the south, and draining a goodly portion of the southeast part of the town, empties into the Mazon a little farther up, near the residence of the late Rbbert Wood. Two creeks rising in Round Grove enter Greenfield, one near the south west corner, the other a raile farther east, and running to the northeast, coalesce on section twenty-two, and on section fourteen, pour their united waters into the Mazon. These streams, like all others dependent en tirely for supplies upon surface water, get very low in dry seasons, and, perhaps, all except the Mazon, at times go dry. Though insignificant at low water, when swollen with heavy rains they are very torrents; and in the years gone by, when bridges were not, they were sources of embarrass ment and often danger to the inhabitants. "how we went to MILL." The winter of 1858-9 was one of those wet, open winters that has always wrought ruin to Illinois roads, and ruffied the sweetest tempered souls that tried to travel tliein. The streams were full and covered with ice, but not strong enough to bear a team. Then fiour was not kept in the markets as it now is; but fanners grew their own wheat and got it ground as needed. In our neighborhood we had been borrowing one of another, waiting for a "harder freeze," ^ until all were out and something must be done. D. R. Doud, still living four miles northwest, started to Wilmington to mill, but striking one of these treacherous streams, his horses broke through the ice and went down, wagon fol lowing. With considerable difficulty he got his horses out and across; carried the sacks of wheat — about fifteen — across; took off the wagon box, slid it across; uncoupled the running gears and tugged them over; so after long hours of fearful labor and ex posure, he found himself again upon terra firma, and on his " way to mill." After reaching Wilmington he found he could not get his grinding done and must at last return home empty. The novel part of our story remains to be told. Governor Madison at that time held control of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and for some reason no trains were run for several days, coming to Gardner. Doud secured a hand car, a dummy without gearing, with plat form about four by five feet, and he and Allen Slyter, a local preacher, and the writer, got aboard. Holding aloft a couple 266 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY^ of boards to catch the southwest breeze, we rattled down the track, and across the rag ing Mazon. Here we were joined by John Booth, now in Kansas, riding a little bay mare owned by Doud and known as " Queen." As our story proves. Queen was one of the most sensible aud docile of her race. The old mare was hitched to the car by a long rope and away " we all went to mill." To get old Queen over the cattle-guards and bridges, all we had to do was to lay down our boards and lead her over. Upon the return trip to make room for grist and pas sengers, we laid the boards upon the sides of the car, stood the sack^ thereon, while the passengers stood between the rows of bags, or perched on top. Coining home we had about fifteen hundred pounds of flour and bran, and two extra passengers — one a woman who left the car at the first station. We pushed thedumniy across the Kankakee River, and then attached our lo comotive (old Queen) with plenty of steam and a wide "open throttle" we raade good tirae for home. AV^hen we reached the first cattle-guard, we were for a little time nonplussed; Our sacks were upon the boards that had served for a bridge going over, and could not well be moved. Between the sacks was a space, when the " train hands " were ofl', the length of the car, some five feet in length by one foot and a half in width. Llere was just barely room for a horse to stand, and at Doud's word. Queen took and was pushed over. This was repeated again and again, until we reached the Mazon; here we halted for a hasty council. The bridge was 280 feet in length, and some 25 feet above low water; to undertake to cross it as we had the small ones seemed peril ous; to swim the faithful mare through the stream full of running ice would be cruel indeed. Queen stepped " on board " with her usual promptness and was safely wheeled across the eddying mass of ice and waves. The old bridge long since went down under a freight train, and a fearful wreck was the result. AVithout further adventure we reached home "in good order," with an abundance of "stuff" to make the " staff" upon which to lean for raany weeks. The first to settle in this part of Mazon Precinct (two years later named Greenfield) were Dr. James Miller and Nelson La Force,' who.moved here frora Chicago, April 8, 1848. They bought the northeast quar ter of section three and put up a house on the north line. This was the first building ou the thirty-six square miles of which we write, and is yet standing, sheltering a ten ant. In this house the Doctor with his fara ily lived for raany years, and here George Miller, now in Florida, was born, the first birth in our territory. Doctor Miller had a crippled leg and always went on crutches; , yet during the early years he attended to quite an extensive practice araong the pio neers besides overseeing the farra. After a time he moved to Gardner and kept a drug store on the west side; here he ministered in raedlcine until about four years since, when he closed out and raoved to Florida; here, in unending summer, amid the orange groves and everglades, we leave him to while away his declining years. The old farm is now owned by J. C. Lutz, who bought it a year ago of Miller, paying $60 per acre. Nelson La Force was born in New Jer- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 2(i7 sey and drifted to New York city in his youth, frora [there to Chicago, which was then only a sraall town without a railroad. Stopping there for a couple of years he concluded the quickest way to fortune would be over sorae "government land," and so persuaded Dr. Miller to come onto this prairie with him; when the quarter section was divided he (La Force) took the south half. He went back to New York and was married in 1852; a year later re turned with his wife and settled down on the little farm in the west. Here was their home until a year ago when he sold to Taylor Williams of Sterling, and moved to Gardner. Here, fixed in a pleasant home, although bearing down the "shadowy side of fife," they are enjoying well the fruits of their labor. Taylor Bradfield built the second house in our precinct in the spring of 1849, near the northeast corner of section ten, for many years the home of Robert Glass. He came here frora Trumbull County, Ohio, remained here a few years on section ten, sold out to Joseph Robinson and built a new house on the farra now owned by F. 0. Andrews, on the Mazon. The house was afterward raoved to Gardner, Jackson street, and is known as the Blake place. Bradfield raoved from here to Iowa. Robert Glass moved here from Guernsey Co., Ohio, in April, 1849, and bought the northwest quarter of Sec. ten, and erected a cabin on the west line, opposite the Field er place. He afterward bought the north east quarter of the same section, built a good house and continued to reside there until the spring of the present year (1882) when he sold to Mr. Taylor Williams and moved to Sedgwick County, Kansas, where he now lives. Air. Glass sojourned here for a third of a century, and through all these years he enjoyed the full confi dence and esteem of all who knew him. A son, Frank Glass, is at this writing, a resident of Braceville. The old farm has this summer been tested for coal and is found to be underlaid with a valuable vein of the dusky diamonds, varying iu thick ness frora two feet ten inches to six feet. Three drillings gave each three feet and a half. Robert Finley, another of the pioneers, came here frora Guernsey Co., Ohio, in June, 1849, and settled upon the north east quarter of section nine, having a land warrant. The tract cost hira $134. A little later he bought the northwest quarter for $175. During the building of the Chicago & Alton railway, in 1854, one of the team sters employed jestingly told Mr. Finley that his " land would some day be worth $200 per acre." Since tlu't Gardner vil lage has spread over quite a proportion of the original purchase, and he has lived to see small lots of less than one-fourth aero sell for more than the raoney named. Mr, Finley built his first cabin a little west of where Mrs. Purvis now lives, on Jackson street. It was constructed of slabs cut at a horse saw-raill, on the West Alazon. Later, he put up a frame house on the site where John Allison now lives. The old farm (N. E. qr.) has long since been divided — the north half laid off into town lots and decked with corafortable dwellings, while here and there a residence of costly and elaborate finish varies the scene. Father Finley is now in his eighty-sixth year, and is living near where he built his first rude cabin, thirty-three years ago. Sickness and 268 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. financial reverses have years since robbed the pioneer of his broad fields, aud forever blighted the hopes of his early manhood; but, for bread he wanteth not, till the last inn is reached, where all must lie down and forever sleep. Daniel Fuller carae frora the State of New York in 1849, and first located on the northeast quarter of section six. After a little tirae he moved onto the southwest quarter of section eight, now owned by Mike Bookwalter. He sold out here in 1854 and raoved to Iowa, from there to Nebraska. He is represented as being a shrewd fellow and a skilled hunter; that the timid deer, which were then plenty upon the prairies, fell before his unerring rifie at long range. Robert Wood, one of our first settlers, was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., moved from there to Quincy, Michigan, frora there to Illinois; carae here in 1849, or the earl^' part of 1850, and located on the southwest quarter of section 22, now owned by Thos. Crooks. He lived here five or six years, and sold out to C. K. Snyder and his brother, and moved to Missouri; soon tiring of that country, he came back and bought out John Kelso, on the east bank of the Alazon, sec tion 12. Here he resided until three years since, when, ripe in years, rich in experience, his brow furrowed with many cares, his hair whitened by the frosts of seventy winters, he lay down " to sleep with the Eternal." Another to anchor upon this prairie in the early years was George AVillis. lie arrived here from Guernsey Co., Ohio, Alay 10th, 1860, and bought the southwest quarter of section four, built a cabin out of split logs on the site where J. AV. Hull now lives, on Main street. He lived in the little house the first summer without a floor; in the fall he went to the timber aud split out slabs and put one down. Mr. Willis lived here about ten years, when he sold out and moved back to Morrow Co., Ohio. From there he went to Lynn Co., Kansas, where he now lives. S. V. Hart ley, a well-to-do farmer living a mile west of Gardner, came here with George AVillis in 1850. He (Hartley) was then a lad of eleven summers. (See biography.) The east half of Mr. Willis' old farm has been divided and subdivided, and now a score of village lots have taken the place of the old wide fields. The west half still serves the purposes for which intended, and is owned and cultivated by A. M. Bookwalter. Franklin Morgan came here from the State of New York in April, 1849, and bought the southeast quarter of section five, now owned and cultivated by B. D. Parker, and the northeast quarter of section eight, now owned by Airs. Arnold, west half, and A. Easton, east half Mr. Morgan built his house — probably the second one in our territory — upon the place where Mrs. Ar nold now lives, but just on the east side of the sluice. He remained here until 1854, when he sold out, and after several moves brought up at Plymouth, Indiana, where he now lives. Mr. Alorgan was quite a schol arly fellow, and much given to putting up jokes upon his neighbors. Joseph Elliot came to Illinois frora near Boston, Mass., and for a tirae stopped in Du Page County. He carae to Mazon Pre cinct, and in 1849, took up a quarter sec tion — one eighty on section 24, and the adjoining eighty on section 23. He lived for awhile in a rough shanty upon the farra now owned by Airs. Henrietta Dodge. His shanty experience was unpleasant; tho HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTA". 269 winter was exceedingly cold, and the bleak unbroken winds of the prairie whistled through every crevice of the rude dwelling, raaking a music for the benumbed occu pants not at all inviting. He afterward built a house upon his own preraises, where he lived for about twenty-five years, when he sold out and raoved with his son — Henry Elliot — to California. Two years since he contracted small pox and died, and his sacred dust forever sleeps on the slope be yond the mountains. Henry Leach now owns and cultivates " the old farm " and it is one of the best kept places in Green field. Upon an unlucky day some four years since, the humble cottage, for a quar ter century the home of "Uncle Joe" El liot, went up in flame and smoke, and the imposing farm house of Mr. Leach now marks the spot. John Kelso, one of the early settlers, carae here frora Indiana in 1849, and located on the east bank of the Mazon — on section 12. After a few years he sold to the late Robert Wood and raoved to South eastern Kansas, where he died sorae ten 3'ears ago. The farm was sold a year since to James Mix, a speculator in coal lands from Kankakee. Milo Wilcox carae to this county at an early date, and for a few years lived near the West Mazon ; in 1849 he took up the southeast quarter of section 15, and put up a little house on the bank of the creek. He lived here but a short time when he sold to Charles Roe, a Methodist preacher. Mr. Wilcox finally moved down onto the north east quarter of section 12, now a part of the AVilson estate, where he died. George Wilcox, a son, is now a well-to-do farmer in Pilot township, Kankakee County. My ron, another son, was married three years since in Chicago, to quite a noted woman, and taking his wife he went to China as a Methodist missionary. With all that vital force begotten by early life and training upon these Western prairies, he now pours salvation into the untutored ears of the " heathen Chinee." George F. Spencer came from Monroe County, New York, and located upon the southeast quarter of section one, putting up a house on the east bank of Cranery Creek, where he still lives. Mr. Spencer brought with hira frora the East a good constitution and good habits; these were his stock in ' trade, and these have won hira a corapetency. He had an other quality and a virtue too, a contented raind. Of the sixteen tax paj'ers that were here when Mr. Spencer carae, he is the only one now residing upon the original purchase, and one of three, to remain in the township. Mr. Spencer has raade hiraself a fine horae, large orchard, fine shade and ornaraental trees, good fences, good build ings and all that belong to a well-ordered farra. He has lived here through thirty-two eventful years; thriving villages have sprung up around him, railroads have been built on every side. The rank grasses of the early years have given way to golden grain; where the wild deer roamed una- larmed and the wolf dug his hole unscared, he sees a harvest of ripening corn. The lonely hut of the pioneer has been replaced with homes of luxury and splendor, and Lazarus with his rags has raade roora for Dives in his golden armor. School-houses have been built around him, and the chil dren of education are pressing back the tribes of the ignorant. Missing Page Missing Page 272 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. this election. During this year La Force concluded to go back to New York — think ing, no doubt, that the pleasure that a wife could give was preferable to the honors of office. Oliver Williams was appointed his successor and held both offices (clerk and collector) until April, 1853. A. J. Brown was elected clerk to succeed Williams, but failing to qualify, James W. Snyder was appointed. In addition to those mentioned who officiated during the early years, were Dr. James Miller, supervisor and, later, justice of the peace; AVilliam B. Royal, supervisor; Chester K. Snyder, town clerk; Milo Wilcox, justice of the peace; D. B. La Force, assessor. The present town offi cers are: Louis Germain, supervisor; John H. Coles, town clerk; Henry Leach, assess or; II. K. Lovejoy, collector; C.K.Snyder, G. AV. Alelbourn, and A. W. Root, com missioners of highways; Isaac B. McGin- nis and J. H. Coles, justices of the peace; Isaac C. Persels and Fred, G. Thompson, constables; J. H. Coles, B. D. Parker and Wra. Kewin, school trustees. Frora seven teen voters in 1850, we have increased to about 325 in 1882. At the last Presiden tial election we cast 305 votes. Politically Greenfield is raost emphatically Republican — at the election of the lamented Garfield the "tally-sheet" showed 39 Greenback tick ets, 41 Democratic and 225 Republican. Our township residents of to-day are, as regards place of birth and nationalitj', thor oughly mixed. The "Scully prairie" in the southwest, embracing over two thou sand acres, owned by Wm. Scully in Ire land, is cultivated almost entirely by Danes and Norwegians. The northern and cen tral parts are generally settled with people from the New England and Middle States. In the southeast are quite a number of well-to-do Irish families. Every State east of us to the Atlantic has sous and daughters upon the prairie. They have come frora the classic towns of Massachu setts and the " back woods ",of Ohio, from the malarious bottoms of the AA'abash and the Dominion across the lakes, from the White mountains of New Ilainpshire and the fruitful gardens of little Jersey, frora the green hills of Vermont and the historic valley of the Mohawk. Nor is this all: many countries across the sea are repre sented here. Out of Scandinavian snows they have come, and frora the shores of the Baltic; from the busy marts of old England, and Scotland's Grampian hills; from the bogs of the Emerald Isle and the slopes be- 3'ondtlie Rhine. These are the people that are here to-day. They carae with little means — poor in purse but rich in hope. In the bosom of our virgin soil they plowed deep furrows and scattered good seed, and the yield has been " an hundred fold." In the settleraent of every new country there is commonly more or less of the "eventful;" some "wonderful adventures" and "hair-breadth escapes " that enter into the warp and woof of its history, that give spice and aroma to what raust otherwise be a dry and insipid literature. Unfortu nately for the writer, and for the reader who has a taste for tragedj', our chronicles reach not b;ick to the remote past. Our first settlements are within the memory of the middle aged. The cruel wars with the Black Hawk chief and his allies had years been over. The death song of the relent less savage and the wail of his helpless victim were forever hushed. The smoke of peace had curled up to heaven, and HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 273 quiet reigned throughout the border. T'le council fires had gone out upon the shores; the cabins of the red raen were in the dust, and their war-cry had faded away in the untrodden AVest. The prairie wolves were here, and while no one was ever injured by thera, many a belated traveler was badly scared. They howled in the darkness along the lonely pathways, and men of good courage were startled by their unwelcome nearness, and were only too glad to reach horae and shut back their noisy company. Plenty of deer were here in the early years, and venison at the farmer's board frequently figured largely in the bill of fare. In those days a drove of a dozen were sometimes seen in close proximity to the settler's cottage. At night in winter they would seek the groves along the creeks for shelter. C. K. Snyder relates how he and his cousin, a young Wood, hunted them one cold winter's night. A drove was known to come every night to a certain clump of trees for slielter. Wood having had more experience was master of ceremonies. He proposed that each climb a tree, a little dis tance apart, and keep breathlessly still until the wild ruminants should seek their accus tomed retreat, when they would fire upon thera frora their elevated positions. Snyder climbed his tree, fixed hiraself astride alimb, and Wood passed up his gun, telling him under no consideration raust bespeak, but if likely to freeze he might whistle. S. found his perch a desperate cold one, but being " garaey " and after garae he proposed to wait. The night being bitter cold and his posi tion such that he could not move, he was soon chilled to the bone and thought to whistle; but he could not, his mouth would not pucker! his lips were mute. His tongue, however, loosened lively! Wood came to his rescue. The deer that were afar off heard his voice and stood well aloof. Mr. S. was often afterward reminded of his tree top experience, and the little episode is still fresh in his nieraory. The first mmvvibg machine ever used in Greenfield was made in Ottawa, and was brought by Alexander and Kennedy Brown in the fall of 1852. The first tile draining was done last year by C. K. Snyder, upon the Nason farm S.E. I, Sec. 7, and by J. C. Lutz on N. AV. J, sarae section. Mr. Lutz has laid this season over three miles of drain and will add to it as fast as tile can be procured. George Goodson will put in two car loads upon his farra this year; J. S. Small one car load and Dr. Taxis one car load each. This is the extent of underdraining iu Greenfield up to date; so far as tested it has proven eminently satisfactory; so much so that doubtless hundreds of miles will be laid in the near future. For these low lands, by nature so poorly drained, stigma tized "frog ponds" and "mortar beds," de spised by many and forsaken by few, tile draining is our hope. No enterprise in which our farmers can engage promises so well. With this well done, we have noth ing to wish, nothing to fear, no country can bear our laurels. Our fields will blos som like the rose, and our granaries will be the pride of our commonwealth. A wolf hunt in which one of the best of our early settlers very nearly lost his life, will be of sufficient interest to warrant its publication here. Although our hero was a little outside of our precinct, we are in 274 HISTORY^ OF GRUNDY COUNTY. possession of the facts which will not likely reach the ears of the other historians, and hence we take the liberty to write them. John Wheeler, with his family, came to Mazon Precinct from Pennsylvania in 1846 and located in what was, four years later, named Goodfarm, — northeast quarter, sec tion two, now Goodrich estate. At the time of which we write his place was upon the outskirts of the settlement. To the south there was not a mark of civilization short of the Vermillion River, a distauce of twenty -five miles. In December,'47, there having been a fall of snow, Mr. AA^heeler and one or two others started out to hunt wolves which were plenty. Being well mounted they struck out boldly to the south, across the snowy plain. After go ing quite a distance they struck a wolf track which they continued to follow for several miles, when all but Wheeler were tired of the chase and turned about and rode home. He, being more determined than the others, rode on in pursuit of his garae, but by this time snow was falling thickly, the tracks were obscured and he, too, thought to return. He was now raany miles frora home, the winds were sweeping wildly about hira and cheerless darkness was coraing on apace. Chilled by the cold and storm he alighted frora his horse, think ing to warra a little by walking. The horse was startled at something, and with a bound pulled the rein through Wheeler's benumbed fingers, and sped away like an arrow through the storm. The unfortunate man following the tracks of his steed. pressed on as fast as he could through the heavy drifts. However it was to no pur pose; soon every footprint was obliterated; night closed in around him her sable pall, and in a desert of shifting snows, he was alone. Through the pitiless storm he plodded his weary way, knowing not whither he was tending. On and on, breasting the huge drifts, until his very vitals seeraed frozen within hira. Exhaust ed with ceaseless effort he sank down in the snow. Digging for hiraself a little pit in the drift, he found the cold was less severe, and getting a little rest he raised hiraself up and raade another struggle for horae. Again his chilled and weary limbs succumbed; again he pitted his body in the drift. This process was repeated eight or nine times; as the night wore on .the cold increased; at last he could not stand. He planted his rifle in the drift, pressing the snow about it, that it might stand erect, and serve as a guide to those who might come in search. His very blood seemed frozen in his veins, the last ray of hope had fled his breast, and with a prayer for wife and babes upon his mute lips he lay down to die. He did not die; with the morning light he spied the cabin of John Brown, and began crawling toward it. Mrs. Brown was the first to see him; his clothes frozen and covered with snow alarmed her. Mr. B. helped him to the house and when suf ficiently recovered, to his own home, about five miles west. Brown lived where H. Jackraan does now — center sec. 33, Brace ville. CHAPTEE XL* GARDNER— TOWN PLATTING— NAMING— FIRST BUILDINGS — INHABITANTS — IMPROVE MENTS— COAL AND MINING INTERESTS— SOCIETIES-SCHOOLS— CHURCHES- BUSINESS FIRMS AND INDIVIDUALS, ETC. as AVillis' addition to Gardner. The south (^ A.RDNER was laid out iraraediately ^ after the completion of the Chicago ife Alton railway in 1854. The first town plat covered an area of 160 acres, naihely: The southeast quarter of section four, Greenfield. The original town site belong ed to Henry A. Gardner, J. C. Spencer and C. H. Goold. Gardner was chief engineer of the C. & A. railroad company during the construction of their line. He did the surveying of the original town, and for him the village was named. Gardner did a great deal of engineering afterward upon lines running in and out of Chicago; died some five years since. Goold and Spencer, who was also a railroad engineer, were then dealing in lands and town lots; the former is still a resident of the county, residing in Morris. The territory first platted was di vided into blocks, twenty-seven in nuraber; but owing to the railroad running diago nally across the site, they were not uniibrm in shape nor size. About ten years later the town had reached such proportions that more room was in deraand, and a part of the north half of section nine was laid out in lots and described as Price's first and second addition. Peck's addition, Hy att's addition and Finley's addition. The east part of the southwest quarter of section four was quite early platted and is known *By Dr. C. M. Easton. half of sec. 4 and the north half of 9 — one raile square, is the territory now incorpo rated. Gardner was incorporated in February, 1867, containing at that time about four hundred inhabitants. The first village trustees were John H. Coles, Amos Clover, W. W. McMann, F. Lathrop and Louis Germain. George Milner, the village school master, was the first clerk of the board, and J. H. Coles the first president, and also first police magistrate. The first dwelling house built in town was the horae of the " section boss " on the east side of the C. & A. track. The house has undergone some repairs and still serves the purpose for which erected. The build ing in the north part of town, known as the " barracks," was the second house in order of construction. It was built by Absalora Gleason, the first postmaster, and served as the first post-office. It has served the town as post-office, store, dwelling and boarding house, paint shop, etc. The old house still stands, but tenantless; the marks of advancing years are clear, and speedy decay is sure. Gleason is now living in Rose County, Kansas. lihe first hotel was the "Eagle," 18x36, a story and a half high, built by G. R. Taxis and Scott Armitage during the sum- ' mer of 1855. While building, the carpen- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY'. ters slept on shavings in a box car, on the C. & A. side track; this was the best the young town could give. During the night they were bunted hither and thither by passing trains; never knowing when retir ing, where they would find themselves in the morning. The builders. Taxis and Armitage, have laid away the jack plane and hammer — the former is now circuit clerk, and the latter for many years has served the U. S. Express company as their Gardner agent. George Allen, for whom the little tavern was built, and who pro vided the first menu, now lives in Che- baiise, Iroquois Countv. Allen, as caterer, was succeeded by J. AV. Hull, he by Chas. Royal, and he by S. N. Underwood, who conducted the business for many years. Four or five years ago the hotel was remod eled and more than doubled in size; the name was changed to the " Gardner House " and James Cook entered as proprietor. Air. and Mrs. C. still provide the " bill of fare." The first store was kept by Chas. & AA^ra. Royal, opened in 1855, in a little building on the AVest side, where O. P. Stumph's building now stands. The store roora was a diminutive affair and the stock of goods never exceeded the capacity; upon nail kegs and shoe boxes were seated a nuraber of the "first settlers," who in point of gossip have not been outdone in these later years. The Royals are now living near Portland, Oregon. They were succeeded in the store by Chas. E. Gardner, who looked after the trade for a nuraber of years, and was finally elected sli.eriff of the county. He died at his horae in Gardner in 1866. I. F. Ben son was one of our first raerchants, coraino- here and going into business in the fall of 1856. He coramanded quite a trade here for several years, but financially was not successful. During his last years he spec ulated considerably in coal lands. He died suddenly two years ago in Chicago, in the bath -roora of his hotel. He put up the brown building on the AVest side, which is known as the " Benson store." The first warehouse built in town was put up by Charles Booth, east side of C. & A. track, where Atkinson's elevator lately stood. It was built in 1857, Taxis & Armitage doing the carpenter work as usual. A. V. Ever soil bought the building and moved it up the track to where it now stands. It was afterward fitted up for a grist-mill, and for a few years did considerable grindino-. Corn is still ground there in considerable quantities. A few years since it was gen erally overhauled and converted into an ele vator, while the milling apparatus was improved. It is now owned by Snyder & Son, who are running it to a good purpose. Charles Johnson, a tinner, from Ken tucky, built the first sidewalk in Gardner, on the north end of Liberty street. Joseph Hall built the first garden fence, and Vir ginia AI. Hawley planted the first flowers, on AVashington avenue, where Henry Don aldson now lives. The countrj' being sparsely settled, the growth of the town was slow up to the time of the sinking of the Gardner coal shaft in 1864, when it started up with new life. At that tirae Alorgan ct Hart put up a store on the AVest side, now owned by John Allison, occupied by Truesdell & AVylie, and put in quite an extensive stock of gen eral raerchandise. Business was entirely confined to the AVest side until the spring of 1867, when Lutz & Foote opened up a general store on the East side, in the build- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 277 ing now occupied by H. C. Goold as a drug store. Tlip first hr'ick building put up in town was xj-. AIcAlann's drug store in 1869. The Commercial House, 50 by 60, three stories, was begun August 2d of the same year and completed the winter following. R. R. Stone was the first landlord. Lie was suc ceeded by Wra. Sraith, John Southcorab, A. K. Stiles, Rowland Price, Jaraes Wilson and one or two others. Airs. Nancy A. AVilson, widow of Jaraes Wilson, is now owner of the property and provider of the menu. The hotel was built, and for some tirae owned by A. K. Stiles and Rowland Price. No. 3 Commercial block was built a year later. In 1872 the brick row, num bers 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 Comm.ercial block was built by Jones, Price, McClure and Kloft. The five stores were destroyed by fire Christmas night, 1878. This was the most destructive fire the town has known; be sides the loss of building, the destruction of goods amounted to many thousands of dol lars. The losers on stocks were: 0. P. Stumph, No. 4, drugs; R. B. Huss, No. 5, dry goods and groceries; C. E. Parker, clothing, and T. F. Lippengood, boots and shoes. No. 6; Pratt, Martin & Phelps, dry goods and groceries, No. 7; Wm. Kloft, saloon fixtures. No. 8. The " city hall" was built by A. S. Alar- tin and Louis Germain in 1868, and was first occupied by Lebrecht, a Jew, with boots, shoes and groceries. The elevator in front of the Commercial House was built in 1869 by E. W. Cole, of Chicago, and is one of the best buildings of its kind in this part of the country. It is now owned and operated by Lutz & Germain. The brown elevator, which is now being moved to the north part of town onto the line of the K. & S. railroad, owned and operated by Robert Atkinson, was built in the winter of 1872-73 by R. Turner. EAILEOADS. Gardner has two railroads, the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis and the Kankakee ct Seneca. The first was built in 1853-54, the first passenger train over the line, pass ing through Gardner upon the morning of the 24th of August, 1854. The line through here is double tracked; runs five passen ger trains each way daily and takes rank with the best thoroughfares in the State. The second was built last year, 1881, and the first regular trains were put on the 1st of February of this year. The K. & S. is a short line connecting the Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Chicago, with the Chicago & Rock Island. It is a well constructed road, now running two trains daily each way. The people of Gardner and irame diate vicinity gave $3,000 for right of way. C. K. Snyder was the first ticket agent of the Chicago & Alton at this station, receiv ing his appointment about two weeks after the completion of the road. The company provided no building for an office, but gave Snyder a tin trunk in which to carry his tickets, books and valuable papers. Gard ner was then a " town without houses " and the agent boarded with his uncle, two miles south. Going home at night after the " eleven o'clock train," on foot and alone, wading through wet grass breast high, hear ing the bark of tho prairie wolves almost within reach of a walking stick, was the experience of the "first agent." B. N. Haslett was the first agent of the Kankakee & Seneca road. 27S HISTORY OF GRUNDA' COUNTY'. CO.\L INTERESTS, SHAFTS, ETC. In 1802 the Gardner people began to take interest in the c.kiI proiliict, with Avhich the town and vicinity were thought to be under-laid, and by subscriptions, money was raised and drill tests made. These were satisfactory, but it was some tirae before arrangeinents could be raade for sinking a shaft. December 1, 1863, James Congdon and Win. H. Odell leased of H. A. Gardner, J. C. Spencer, J. R. Reese, T. C. Meyer and C. H. Goold, the north part of the village plat, narael)': Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 25, also lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in block 26, for mining purposes. By the terras of this lease, Congdon and Odell were to have what coal they could raise during the first seven years free, after which the}' were to pay a royalty of six cents per ton. The Gardner people raised $2,000 by subscriptions for Congdon and Odell, as an inducement to undertake the enterprise. The work of sinking the shaft was begun about the first of January, 1864, but owing to some misinanagenient, when down sixty feet, the sides caved in, the hole was abandoned and another begun. The work went on slowly, Congdon sell ing out his interest to Odell before the coal was reached, which was in the fall of 1864. July 1,1865, Odell sold to Wm. A. Steel and Thoraas Kerr. Deceraber 1st, of the same year. Steel sold one half of his inter est to D. G. AVells for $7,000. On the 22d day of January, 1867, Steel, Kerr and Wells sold out to Aaron K. Stiles for $25,000. Stiles sold out to the Gardner Coal Company April 17, 1872; it soon after fell into the hands of the C, W. & A^. Conq^any, who continued to operate it until the summer of 1874, when they closed it up. The quality of the coal mined at this shaft was pronounced by experts to be fully equal to any in the State. While Stiles had control of the shaft he started the manufacture of brick out of the fire clay, giving employment to quite a number of men. The most of the brick buildings in town now were raade from the brick there and then molded. They were generally rough, but for "staying" quali ties they were excellent. The life of this shaft was ten years. The distance frora the surface to the top of the coal 180 feet. Thousands of tons of the "dusky diaraonds" were brought to the surface and sent to Chicago and other markets. The mining gave employment to lots of hands, and business of all kinds was brisk. An acci dent at the shaft which cost the lives of two employes, Avill be of sufficient interest to justify its record. E. L. Sutton, Alex. Mc- Kinzie, AVm. Harwood and Harry Watts had just stepped upon the cage to go be low when the rope broke and all went crash ing to the bottom, a distance of two hun dred feet from the landing where they started. It was in the evening, dark and gloomy, but the knowledge of the accident soon spread through the village, and soon quite a number had gathered at the top of the fatal pit. It was sorae time before things could be fixed, so the unfortunate men could be hauled up. Those that were at the top were appalled at the moans of distress that carae up through the darkness frora the helpless victims below. Harwood received internal injuries, from which he died that night; Watts had his spine lacer ated; lived twenty days; Sutton got a badly fractured leg, and McKinzie received a dis- Missing Page Missing Page HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 281 located ankle and other injuries. Sutton aud McKinzie recovered with slight lame ness. In 1865 a company was organized, called the " Joint Stock Coal Alining Company of Gardner," and on the 8tli of June began the sinking of a shaft a little southwest of town, on the line of the C. & A. railway. They got down only forty or fifty feet when they struck a powerful vein of water, and after spending all the raeans at command, in the vain endeavor to get rid of it, that enterprise was abandoned. In 1874 the rail way company laid a pipe underground frora this shaft to their tank iu town, since which the iron horses have never wanted for drink. Last fall Taylor Williaras, of Ster ling, commenced sinking a shaft a mile east of town, was very much delaj-ed by the water, and did not get down until this spring, and when the work was completed all were dismayed in learning that there was no coal there. After spending a large araount of money it, too, was abandoned, and the buildings moved south to near the center of section ten, where, at this writing a shaft is being lowered. We have good reasons for believing that this shaft will not be lowered in vain. Five drill tests have been made near by, showing, at a depth from 156 to 200 feet, a coal vein from two feet eight inches to six feet in thickness. SCHOOLS and school-houses. The first Gardner school was taught in a shanty east of the "section house," by Liz zie Russell ; the next was in a little house west of the mill, by a Mrs. Brown ; after that, school was taught iu a little shanty west, across the street from where the Bap tist church now stands. Stephen Gray moved the shanty down near the stock yards, and lived there for raany years. The first school-house proper, 22 by 36, was built by Taxis and Armitage on the site where J. O. Edmunds now lives, in 1857. J. H. Armitage taught first school; he was succeeded by David Bookwalter, and he by Virginia M. Hawley, who a lit tle later oecame the wife of Dr. J. B. Tax is. In 1867 a new school-house was built on the east side of town, 28 by 60, two stories, the town having outgrown the first — Peter Hyatt, builder. By 1872 this was found too small and a two story addition, 28 by 44 was put on the rear by J. F. Peck. In February, 1875, the building caught fire frora the furnace, and burned to the ground. That summer, the present school building , 52 by 1872, two story brick was erected at a cost, exclusive of furniture of $8,044. J. F. Peck, architect and build er. Five teachers are now employed, and about 236 pupils enrolled. Miss Elizabeth Bauragardner is principal; Misses Mary A. Bush, Lettie J. Smiley, Mary E. Parker and Belle Overman, assistants. SECEET SOCIETIES. Gardner Lodge No. 673, A. F. and A. M. was organized May 24, 1866; received its charter Oct. 6, 1868. The first raera bers were I. F. Benson, W. H. Schooraaker, Ed. Crane, J. W. Hull, Amos Clover, W. W. McMann, Wm. Hart, A. DeNormandie, Henry Elliott and H. V. Whalen. Its present membership is 68, with the fol lowing officers: W. M., H. V. Whalen; S. W., Henry Leach; J. W., C. G. Collins; S. D., J. F. Peck; J. D., F. A. Pagle; Treas., James Savage; Sec'y, John McGinnis; Ty ler, J. W. Hull. Meetings every alternate 2S2 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY". Saturday evening; hall over Dr. AIcMann's drug store. Gardner Lodge No. 515, I. 0. of 0. F., organized Oct. 15 li, 1873; meetings every AVednesday evening in hall, Jones building. Present merabership, 50; officers: N. G., F. P. Sickels; V. G., F. A. Pagle; Sec'y, R. O. AVood; Treas., C. II. Cotton. METHODIST CHUECH. The first preachers in these parts were Methodists, and held services at private houses fifteen years before Gardner was known. Charles Roe was a Methodist preacher; lived on the southeast corner of section 15, wlieie C. H. Cotton now lives. He used to have raeetings at his own house and at Daniel Abbot's on the west side of Sec. 6, where Benjarain Bookwalter now lives. Abbot was a Methodist preacher also; he would some times preach at home and sometimes at Cotton's. Those who attended these ser vices beside the families of the ministers, were the Bradfields, McCartneys, Browns and J. W. Hull. Abbot moved from here to Iowa, and Roe went back to New Yoi'k where he died. The Gardner AI. E. society was organized in the spring of 1858, and attached to the Mazon circuit, of which Rev. Thomas Watson was minister in charge. The first raerabers were AVm. B. R)yal and wife; J. II. Coles and wife; AVm. Hart and wife; Robt. Glass and wife; Joseph Hall and wife, and Mrs. Cynthia VV. Hastings. AVm. Hart was appointed the first leader. The pastors in order of suc cession after AA^atson, were: John Grundy, J. B. Dillie, A. E. Day, John Cosier, Sam uel Hart, H. Tiffany, Wm. M. Collins, D. H. Cridler, A. C. Price, Matthew Evans, B. F. Wonder, J. W. Denning, A. D. Aloore, M. C. Eignus, A. Bower, D. AV. Brown, T. R. McNair and C. W. Green. " Gardner Circuit" was formed in 1867. The first church edifice was built by the Protestant Methodists in 1856, corner of Jackson St. and Washington avenue. Fav- ' ette Doud, a local preacher, did the carpenter work and furnished a large amount of the raoney used in construction. Doud held a lien on the building for $500, which the Protestants were unable to pay; accordingly in Feb'y, 1864 he sold the build ing to the M. E. Society for the ainoinit of his claim. Under the able ministry of Rev. Eignus in 1875, the congregation out grew the building, aud anew one 34 by 56, was comraeneed corner of Jefferson and Monroe Sts. The church was dedicated Jan. 9th, 1876; cost about $3,000; Wm. Hastings, contractor and builder. The society now numbers seventy -five members, and our meeting house is free from debt. The old building was sold and moved to Depot St. and converted into a saloon, showing how sometimes a good thing is put to a bad use. It is now used for har ness shop and tin shop. PKESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. This society' was organized September 5, 1858, under tlie ministry of Rev. L. II. Loss and Rev. S. H. Waldo. The meet ing at which the organization was effected was held in the school-house. The society started with six ladies, no gentlemen join ing; their names were Mrs. Abbie La Force, Airs. Phebe Ann Wheeler, Mrs. Sarah M. Wright, Airs. Susan Sawyer, Mrs. E. C. Benson, Miss Virginia M. Hawley. Rev. Waldo was the first minister in charge. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 283 Of the six original raerabers only two are now known to be living, namely: Mrs. Ta.'iis nee Miss Hawley, and Mrs. Wheeler. The pastors, after Rev. Waldo, in order of succession wore: Revs. Alvali Day, E. G. Moore, Sextus E. Smith, F. B. Ilargraves, J. G. Lyle, Joel Kennedy, S. H. Stevenson and Robert AVatt. The school-house served the society for a chapel for several years, and after the school out-grew it and went to new quarters, it was rigged over and still used. After a time this building was moved to Depot street, and converted into a store, and occupied by McClure & Tol- man for hardware; then the society used the Methodist church and the city hall. In 1871, under the able pastorate of Rev. Sraith, they began the erection of a church edifice, brick, 32 by 56, corner of Elra and Main streets. It was completed and dedi cated in the spring of 1872, and is now the society's place of worship. Many of the early members have passed to "the other shore." The number now on record is 35. BAPTIST CHUECH. Under the ministry of Rev. W. II. Card this societj' was organized in 1864 with seven members, namely: W. H. Card, Phil lip Spaulding, Albert W. Willard, David M. Griswold, Airs. L. E. Taxis, Robert Ilnston and II. J. Edmunds. The names of the ministers, so far as could be learned, are, beginning with the first: Revs. W. H. Card, — Colby, J. Gordon, John Higby, E. G. Sage and F. M. Mitchell. The society built a church 36 by 60 in 1868; in Feb ruary of 1871 the building took fire in some way unknown, and burned to the ground. The sarae year a new brick church was begun on the same site, the same in size, with a conference room 24 by 30 added to the rear end, and was dedicated to the service of God, May 11, 1872. The construction of this building plunged the society into debt, and by which they were much embarrassed until Rev. Sage's min istry, two years since, when the obligations were generally paid. The present number of members is sixty-four. Each of the so cieties supports a Sabbath school with a fair attendance. THE VILLAGE AS IT IS TO-DAT ITS TEADE AND TEADERS. Gardner has thus far achieved very little notoriety as a manufacturing town; its life and business have depended mostly upon the farming country surrounding it. As a grain market, especially for corn, it stands well with other railway towns. During the year 1880 nearly half a million bushels of corn and oats were shipped frora this station; the nurabers of fat cattle and hogs shipped, were they known, would raake a good showing. The census of 1880 gave us a population of 788, which in the two years since has somewhat in creased, so that now we number, likely, about 900. The, business of to-day is raostly represented by the following gen tlemen and firms, carrying stocks of dry goods and groceries: Lutz & Eldred, R. B. Huss, Phelps & Lewis, Truesdell & AVylie — four stores; restaurants, D. L. Strahl, George Hader; grain buyers, Sny der & Son, Lutz & Germain, Robert Atkin son; buyers and shippers of live stock, Germain & Clover; hardware dealers and blacksraithing. Smith & Rogers; black- sraithing, Atkinson & Erwin; hardware, Chas. V. Hamilton; dealer in farra imple ments, A. S. Martin; ready-made clothino'. 284 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Oh3. E. Parker; banks — Exchange Bank. John Allison; Bank of Gardner, J. C. Lutz; meat markets, Ilarphain & Gray, E. I. Briggs; harness makers, Thos. Spiller, H. A. Eversoll; drugs, C. H. Goold, W. W. McMann; Harvey Eldred, dealer in furni ture and undertaker; saloons, Mike Kern, E. D. Evans, Andrew Burt, John Scliumm, Joseph Houghton; physicians, J. B. Taxis, W. W. McMann, C. M. Easton and J. Underbill. Dr. Taxis has resided here since 1859, Dr. McAIann since 1863; Dr. Underbill came later; Dr. Easton came iu 1874. Notaries public, Isaac B. McGinnis and John Coles; attorneys at law. Clover & Clover. The present village trustees are: Harvey Eldred, George Smith, W. W. McMann, R. B. Huss, D. R. Keepers, Ar nold Edmunds. Eldred is the president; H. A. Crawford, clerk. OHAPTEE XII.* NETTLE CREEK TOWNSHIP— FIRST SETTLERS- FETTLE CREEK is the name aqjplied -L^ b}' the settlers to the principal strcain in this township, and from the streara theprc cinct takes its narae. The Indians named the streara Little Mazon, from the number of nettles which were found growing lux uriantly upon the rich bottoms. The town ship which bears this name, forms the northwest corner of Grundy County, and originally consisted almost entirelj' of level prairie land. Along the creek from the eastern line of the township to the western line of Section 23, there was a considera ble growth of oak and black walnut, but the rest was open prairie. A number of prairie runs, tributary to the main stream, cross the township in a southeasterly direc tion, but they have no valleys, and fanners till the land right up to the raargin of the streams. The population is quite cosmo politan in its character, Scotland, England, Ireland and Norway, of the European States, being represented, while no State of the Union can claim great preponderance in the nuraber of her sons and daughters here. The first pioneer was Williara Hoge. He was of Scotch descent, but was born in Loudoun County,Virginia; married in 1826. He found hiraself with a faraily to support and the prospect of acquiring a home in his native State verj' poor indeed. He re- *By J. H. Battle. LIFE IN A PRAIRIE COUNTRY— SCHOOLS, ETC. solved on a trip to the West in 1829, and attracted to this regioio of the country by the canal lands, bought 960 acres in that year. He returned to Virginia, and two 3'ears later, with his family and goods in a Winchester wagon, made the tedious journey over hill and streara to what is now Nettle Creek township. His first cabin, which is still pointed out, was a log structure situated within a few rods of his present residence, which was erected in 1845. Here he lived with his family, con sisting of his wife and three children, with but one other faraily in what is now Grundy Count}^ The nearest village was Ottawa. Here he got his mail and bought such sup plies as could not be dispensed with and the country did not afford. When tho insurrection of Black Hawk's band oc curred, alarmed for the safety of his faraily, Mr. Hoge fled to Pleasant Grove, opposite the present village of Pekin. Happily the Indian trouble was soou over, and in August of 1832 the faraily returned to their frontier home. Samuel Hoge had come West in 1829 and started a store in Belmont County in company with Ills brother-in-law, Hendley Gregg, but after the Black Hawk war, selling out to his partner, he joined his brother in Nettle Creek in 1833. AVilliam Hoge located his land on Section 25, and later, as he was able, bought Sec tion 24 and other land until he now owns 286 HISTORY OF GRUNDY' COUNTY. something over 3,000 acres of land. Sam uel first took up a claim in Erienna, but in 1835 came into Nettle Creek and bought Sections 21 and 22 and lands adjoining until he died in possession of something over 3,000 acres. In the fall of 1837 John Gray, a Scotch man, and George Brouse, an Englishman, carae into Nettle Creek together, the forraer locating on Section 20 and the latter on Section 17, their lands joining. Gray carae on to his land in the following season and began his iraprovements, but Brouse, who was a bachelor and never married, did not come on for a year or two. In 1837 William Stephen came. He was a young unmarried man, and a native of Scotland. He had known Gray in the old country, and it was through him that he was led to take up his home in Nettle Creek. He was led to emigrate to America, however, by the glowing descriptions of the country, given by a Mr. Smith, Chicago's pioneer banker. Smith had gone to Scotland, his native land, to enlist capital in the forma tion of a stock company to invest in Illinois land, but while prosecuting this SLhenie the panic of 1837 was precipitated, and he was hurriedly called back to look after his affairs here. Air. Stephen had intended to accompany Smith on his return, but the latter was obliged to leave so early that Mr. Stephen was obliged to raake the trip later and alone. He carae to Chicago, but found the banker absent on business, and beino- free to go where the inclination of the moment prompted, sought out his old friend Gray in Nettle Creek. He took up sorae land and stayed about oneyear, when, disgusted with the peculiar disadvantages of the place, he went into Kendall Countv. He carae right frora the civilization of the city to a frontier community without the semblance of a village, and after breaking sod for a day or two, gave up the business here in disgust. He' finally bought and improved a fine farm in Kendall County, but has been most of his time identified with Grundy County. About this time George Bullis carae from New York and settled on Section 8, where he lived until about 1870, when he moved to Ford County, leaving no descendants here. About 1840, a Air. Coup came to Nettle Creek. He had bought a quarter section of land near Chicago, for which he had given his notes. He found it a hard mat ter to raise the money to make his pay ments, and his creditors seizing upon some property left on the place, took possession of his land. Giving up hopeof prospering in that region he carae to this township, en tered into contract with Brouse to dio- a division ditch, about a quarter section of land for another quarter section. To the fulfillment of this contract he brought an untiring energy, digging when the season permitted until far into the night, and in the meanwhile living in a sod house and practicing all sorts of economy. He achieved his task and started in the nursery business, with a fair prospect of success, but his old tirae creditors still holding his notes, learned he had got some property here, were about to levy on his land to sat isfy his notes, and he was obliged to sell out to one of his neighbors to save anything out of his hard won property. In 1841 or '2, Thomas Loughhead came in from Aler- cer County, Pennsylvania. He was born of Scotch parents, in the north of Ireland, and emigrated to Canada during the Na- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 287 poleonic wars. The vessel in which he embarked fell in with a French privateer and barely escaped capture, losing his chest of clothes and the hat from his head. He soou afterward met Mary Donley and married her, a little later coming to Penn sylvania. His wife was the daughter of a lady, the daughter of an Irish nobleman, who had eloped to this country with an Irish teacher. In the war of 1812, Mr. Loughhead was drafted, and served through out the struggle as a private. His wife died before his coming into Illinois, but he brought a family of two boys and four girls, none of whom were then married. For three or four years he rented the farm of George Brouse, which he bought in 1847. The boys subsequently bought farms near by, and the girls engaged in teaching school. They enjoyed the ad vantages of liberal study, having- attended the seminary at Hudson, Ohio. Another son, James, came to Nettle Creek subse quently, and stayed there about two j'ears, buying the interest of the other heirs in the paternal estate, and finally selling it to a Mr. Moody. A year or two later, James P. Thompson, who had married one of the Loughhead daughters, followed his lather- in-law to Illinois, and settled on the north east quarter of section 19. The head of the Loughhead family died about 1855, and the different raerabers have one by one gone to different parts of the country, leav ing no descendants here. Oliver Dix carae here in 1844, from Oneida County, New York, and settled on section 8, and about the same time came Minard Waterman from the sarae State and settled on land which his father bought of Air. Stephen, on section twenty. In the following year the Alossmans came in to the township, AVilliam settling on the southeast quarter of section 17, and Hugh ou the northeast quarter of section nine. About the same -time came Simon Fry, from Maryland, and settled on section 7, where he is still living. In or about 1848, came Thomas and John Agan, buying land on section 31, where they now reside; in 1849, Isaac N. Brown came from Sara toga County, New York, and settled on section 4, and soon after him David Jami son, frora Pennsylvania, and settled on the northwest quarter of section eighteen. About 1845, the Norwegian element be gan to come into the township and it is astonishing to observe how rapidly they have supplanted the original settlers. Among the earliest of this class of foreign- ers were John Peterson, Ben Thorn ton, Ben Hall, Lars and Erasmus Sheldall, John Wing, G. E. Grunstead and others. In 1849, the population of the township was divided as follows: Ou section 1, H. A. Fv.>rd; on section 3, Baker Knox and R. Carpenter; on section 4, Isaac N. Brown, Lars and Erasmus Sheldall, John Wing o and G. E. Grunstead; on section 7, John Peterson, Ben Thornton and Simon Fry; on section 8, Lars Likeness, Ben Hall, Edson Giftbrd and George Bullis; on sec tion 9, Hugh Mossman; on section 10, Morgan Lloyd and S. IL Rider; on section 12, John Gibson, Alex. Bushnell, Ben Sears and Daniel David; on section 14, Charles AlcCann; on section 17, John and Thomas Loughhead, Oliver Dix and AVill iam Mossinan; on section 18, David Jam ison; on section 19, James P. Thompson; on section 20, John Gray and Minard AVa- terman; on section 22, Samuel Hce; on 283 HISTORY OF GRUNDY' COUNTY. section 25, William Hoge; and on section 31, Thoraas and John Agan. The first settlers of Nettle Creek were almost to a man of very limited means and cut off by the natural situation from any prospect of a village. The Hoges and Mr. Holderman early went into cattle raising, feeding them on the public lands, where- ever water and grass afforded the most ">• eligible site. The scarcity of timber here made fencing an expensive burden to the already sufficiently handicapped farmer, and sorae quite serious differences arose out of this combination of circumstances. The gradual development of the country, how ever, has long since removed these causes of irritation. Messrs. Hoge and Holder- man still make cattle raising their princi pal occupation, some of this stock being high grades. Sarauel Hoge carae to the township rather "full handed," and has given more attention than others to the growing of fine blooded stock. During the early history of this commu nity, the nearest store and post-office was at Ottawa, and the nearest market at Chi cago. As the country settled up, Morris was founded, and with Alarseilles on the southwest divided tlie local trade so that Nettle Creek could not afford sufficient patronage to justify a store here. A loo- saw-mill was constructed by William Hoo-e on Nettle Creek, about six rods frora his house, which did a moderate business for some ten years, but the dam washed out one winter and the mill was allowed to rot down. Later, during the construction of the canal, a steam mill was erected on canal lands in section 23, which furnished mate rial to the contractors, but passed away with the occasion that brought it. The only approach to a store was attempted in 1876, when Zach. Severson added to his boot and shoe shop on section 8, a small stock of gro ceries. This was too late a date for such a venture to succeed, and it has been discon tinued. The leading social event which may be noted, is the first white birth in the town ship, that of Jaraes, a son of William Hoge. He is probably the first white child born in the county, and is now living in Sarato ga township. The first death in Nettle Creek was a child of Warren Chapin, who lived on section 8, and wliere in the ab sence of any cemetery, the child was buried. In 1836, the Hoge brothers feeling the necessity of a school for their children, built a split log house for the purpose, on the land of AVilliam Hoge. It was a neat structure -for the tirae, the roof formed oi shakes, the floor of sawed planks, and plank desk and benches. The first teacher here was Maria Southworth, from the Fox River settlement at Milford. She taught two winters and had about nine scholars, re ceiving for her compensation $2.50 per week, which was paid by William Hoge. The building is still standing about 125 yards from Mr. Hoge's dwelling. Schools were held here until about 1857. The sec ond school-house was erected on section 16. It did not serve long as it was not conven iently located. The next one was built near Air. Brown's present residence, and this was subsequently abandoned and the single school of the township was taught in the town house, by Oliver Dix. In 1849, the township was divided into four school districts which have been since increased to seven. HISTOTvY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 289 The first start for church organization was about 1849 by the Congregational so ciety under the labors of Jaraes Loughhead. He carae to Illinois in 1845, on a call to the Big Grove church. He was a gradu ate of the Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio, and for several years after his graduation, took part in the slavery ag itation, lecturing in favor of eraancipation. He subsequently studied theology and preached several years in Ohio, when he accepted the call to Big Grove. Here he preached for two years, but in the mean- tirae acting as an appointee of the Horae Missionary Society, and establishing churches in various parts of the county. He had brought his father to Nettle Creek some years before; and was well ac quainted with the character of the work needed to be done here. He was a raan of great force of character and good practical judgment, and was the originator of the Congregational influence in Grundy Coun ty. On his first coraing in 1845, he was impressed with the great need of evangelical work in Morris, and determined at the first opportunity to open up a field of labor here. He seems never to have lost sight of this determination, and in 1847 he raoved to Morris and began by organizing a church here. While located here he preached in other parts of the county, and was instrumental in establishing churches in Alazon, Au Sable and elsewhere, beside in Nettle Creek. The church in this town ship was organized by members from Big Grove church, araong whom were his brothers and sisters, John, Thoraas, Marga ret and Hannah, and Mr. and Airs. J. W. Washburn. The church never built a place of worship, using the school-houses for this purpose until about 1868, when it became extinct as an organization. The church organized a Bible Society, and did good service for years. The Methodist Church organized a so ciety here about 1850, in which the three Mossman families, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Thompson, Mrs. Fry and Reuben Ayles- worth were leading members. The church used the residence of Oliver Dix as the first place of worship, and later held their meet ings in the school-house as they now do. The membership now numbers about thirty persons, and holds services once in each fortnight, depending upon a " supply" from tiie Rock River Conference. OHAPTEE XIIL* AU SABLE TOWNSHIP— LOCATION AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS— ITS EARLY SETTLE MENT—ITS NATURAL ATTRACTIONS— DRESDEN— MINOOKA— CHRUCHES AND SCHOOLS. with a black swamp soil, with murky tend- AU SABLE township forms the north. east corner of Grundy County, and presents some of the finest natural scenery in this region. It is principally a fine rolling prairie, with a fringe of timber along the Au Sable Creek and the Illinois River. The eastern line is marked by a high rise of ground, which forms a watershed of limited extent, the drainage flowing in an easterly and westerly' direction from this line. The termination of this ridge at the head of the Illinois is well worth going sorae distance to see. The high land continues almost to the river brink, affording an outlook over the low land of Felix and the country south for railes. The scene here presented, with its picturesque views along the river and the low meadows dotted with grazing herds, is found nowhere else in this county, and forms the object of many a pleasant drive. The northern tier of sections has a good elevation also, and that part of the town west of the Au Sable Creek. The valley of this creek, which flows a southwesterly course through the township to the north ern line of section 30, and then makes a sharp turn to the east and another south to the Illinois in section 32, is low and wet. The soil of the upland is considerably mixed with sand and with a clay substra tum, wdiile the lowlands are characterized *By J. H. Battle. encies. It is a fine grazing country, and is largely used for this purpose, though the staple grains of this section are not over looked by the farmers. It was here that some of the earliest settlers made their home. The natural attractions (>f this township were such as to draw any who might be in the vicinity. It was a favorite winter resort of the Pottawatomies, and the favor ite hunting ground of both white and red man. Marquis, though having his cabin at the mouth of the Mazon, could not resist the attractions of this side of the river, and partly to utilize a high and clear piece of ground, and partly to be nearer the natives, spent his summers at the mouth of the Au Sable Creek. In the winter he found the sheltered nook on the Mazon more comfort able. But Marquis could not properl3' be called a settler, as his purposes in the county were temporary, and he made no permanent improvement in either place. W. H. Perkins, although not the first set tler, was one of the earliest to explore the township with that in view, and so well did he like it that as soon as he sought to build up a home of his own, he carae back and took up his claira. He was a native ot Oneida County, New York, and recognizing that the West was the only place for a young man without capital to get a start, came HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 291 out, after some delays, to Chicago, in 1833. He was accompanied by Levi Hills, and arrived there September 23, 1833, and found characteristic evidence of the newness of the country, in a camp of five thousand Indians, who , had been gathered on the west side of Chicago. That night these travelers rested at Beaubien's hotel, which, as he expressed it, was kept "like one hell, and raade money like dirt," and his guests had no reason to doubt the correctness of the statement in either particular. In the town Perkins raet J. D. Caton, Jaraes H. Collins and a Mr. Snell, all from Oneida County, New York. On the next day Snell and Collins accompanied Mr. Perkins, all proceeding on foot, to explore the country. On noon of the 26th they reached the cabin of Chester House, located where Seward now is, in Kendall County. Here Mr. Per kins found an old acquaintance of his father, who had come out and settled in the previous May, and gladly volunteered to take his team and pilot the party in a prospecting tour of the vicinity. Under the guidance of Mr. House the party went south across sections 4 and 9, township 34, range 8, and returned. The next day they took the sarae route, going further south, but finally making an abrupt turn to the west, went to Holderman's grove. Here Mr. Perkins entered into an arrangement with Mr. Holderman to work some of his land. Here for two years, with no com pany but his three yoke of oxen, he plowed and planted. In 1835, having secured a wife, he carae to Au Sable and settled on the northeast quarter of section eight. The first actual settler was Salmon Rutherford, a native of New York. He came in May, 1833, and settled on section twenty-six. He was a man of an irapulsive and deter mined disposition, and became a leading spirit in this township. He built an early hotel, the first one in the county, and gave its location the name of Dresden. An early stage line made this spot of sorae impor tance for a tirae, but it soon died out, the withdrawal of the stages giving a final blow to any pretensions it may have had. Following Mr. Rutherford, came three families frora Delaware County, Ohio, Henry Cryder, Zach. Walley, and N. II. Tabler. Mr. Cryder was a native of Vir ginia and carae early to Ohio, frora whence he came with AValley and Tabler, his son- in-law, and a family of unmarried children. Their goods were packed on a large wagon dra-H'n by three j'oke of oxen, while two two-horse wagons furnished the conveyance for the three families, and with these and eight or ten head of cattle, they made the journey across the country. They were not unacquainted with the exigencies of frontier life, and made little difficult)' in performing the journey. The attractions of the " Au Sable country" were known for railes around, and its praises began to be sounded as soon as they reached the " Wa bash country." Of course one wagon, how ever large, could bring only the barest household necessities for three families, but among these were the carpenter's tools of Mr. Cryder who was a mechanic. Arriv ing on the ground the raen lost no tirae in erecting a teraporary shelter. Logs were cut and a shed of three sides put up and covered with shakes, while along the open side a huge fire was raaintained. These families reached their chosen home in Oc tober, and though late in the season for such rude accommodations, they found no 292 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. trouble in raaking themselves comfortable with leaves for beds aud logs for chairs and tables, (yabins were put up at once for each of the families, Crj'der's on the south east quarter of section eight, Tabler's on the north half of this quarter, and AValley's on section seventeen. This latter location proved unhealthful, and was subsequently changed for a site ou the noi-thwest quar ter of section eight These cabins were made iu the usual style, with shake roof, puncheon floors and stick and clay chim neys. The floor of the loft was made from lumber which had to be procured at, and hauled across the prairie frora Plainfield. The furniture was the product of such skill as the raen possessed, and the timber of the basswood trees found here. A section of a good sized log, smoothed with a broad ax and furnished with a rough back and legs, supplied the absence of chairs. Rude bed steads with the cords brought from Ohio, and " ticks" filled with leaves made a cora fortable place to sleep. The manufacture of these household belongings occupied the small part of the fall, which remained after the cabins were completed. The winter proved a remarkably mild, open one, aud very favorable for the new settlement. About the same time with these families came John Beard* and settled on section thirty, where he was soon afterward joined by his son-in-law and his family. In the spring of 1834, Rodney House located on the northeast quarter of section nine, and in the same year three men by the name of McElroy came frora Washington County, Vermont, and located on the southeast quarter of the sarae section. A.bout this * His city at the head of the Illinois River is noted in thei chapter on Felix township. time D. AI. Thomas came here from Ohio, and Leander Goss, marrying a daughter of Chester House, settled on the northeast quarter of section thirteen. AVilliam Lewis and liis brothers were the next settlers, coining very soon after Thomas. Of the three brothers, William was a ph\-sician and located his claim on section twenty-five, Joseph on the southeast quarter of section thirteen, and Samuel on the southeast quar ter of section fourteen, now owned and oc cupied by AVilliam AA^alter. In 1835. I. W. Rutherford, a physician, settled on the northeast quarter of section twentj'-two, and commenced his improvements in the following year. Samuel Randall was an earlj' settler, coining in with Salmon Ruth erford as a young man. He afterward married and raade a home here where he died. Thomas Carl was another settler who came in about 1836. The townsliip was not slow in filling up. The work ou the canal attracted a good man}- to this vicinity, and when the work stopped many without other resource took up the land which was unoccupied. These were chiefly natives of Ireland who had come from Canada in the eraploy of a canal contract or, and who now hold the political control of the township. The land here was one literally "flowing with milk and honey." The great sweep of prairie which extended toward the north east to the verge of the horizon was the resort of thousands of deer, chickens, and wolves ; the ri^er furnished fish in abun dance, and the timber echoed with the lively clatter of the small game to which it gave a precarious shelter. The honey bee, the harbinger of civilization, preceded the early settlers here sonio six or eight HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 293 years, and had made the river bluffs famous lor the stores of sweetness found in hollow trees along the streams. The Indians were very fond of this delicacy, and never failed to rifie a bee tree of its contents when they discovered it, but from the lack of proper facilities or the number and industry of the bees, vast stores of honey were accumu lated to garnish the homely fare of the pioneer. The winter of 1833-4 was very mild, and in January the weather carae off warm and spring-like during the day, but with sharp cool weather at night. ' The bees deluded by the, inviting warmth of the sun sallied from their hives, and becoming chilled, fell dead upon the light covering of snow which lay upon the ground. The new-comers were not at loss to read the meaning of this sign, and the Cryder settleraent alone found thir ty-three trees and secured their contents. There was, of course, nothing about the e pioneer establishments in which to store this vast araount of honey, and great bass- wood troughs were made for the pur pose and filled. While this raid did not exterminate the bees of this section, the continued ravages of the settlers soon made these "rich finds" much less frequent, and those who enjoyed the sport united pleasure and profit in bee-hunting. An experienced hunter would go out in bright warm day in winter or late fall, and burn some honey comb, which seldom failed to attract the garae to the honey which was provided for them. Loading up with this, the bee would rise circling into the air and then fiy straight to its tree, and it was the hunter's business to follow the fleet-winged insect closely and thus discover its secret. To do this requir ed an expert, and there were but few who were marked for their success. Sometimes a nuraber of bees from a single tree are at tracted, and the going to and from the bait by these insects raakes the line plain enough to be easily followed, but this is rare. In oilier cases, the best that can be done is to discover the direction of the bee's flight, and taking this — against the sun if possible — to sturable along with upturned gaze, scanning every tree for the tell-tale knot hole or crack in the tree. But when the tree was found, the battle was but half M'on. The tree raust be felled and the occupants were often found to be no feeble folk. When the hollow of the tree extended down to the point where the ax raust penetrate it, the hunter was often obliged to decamp in hot haste as soon as the blows had aroused the swarm. David Bunch, of Norman, was noted for his success as a bee-hunter, and was greatly assisted by a dog which, in some incomprehensible way, had learned the se cret of bee-hunting. Indeed, so keen was the animal's interest in the sport, that he occasionally found a tree entirely alone call ing his master to the spot by his barking. The bee was easily domesticated, and many of the settlers captured swarms, placed them in a section of a hollow tree, and in a short time had a constant source of supply for the table and the market. In many cases this was the principal re source for the sweetening used in the culi nary work of the cabin, and was the basis of a favorite drink. " Metheglin" was made of steeped honey comb and honey ferraent- ed. It was counted an excellent drink and ranch preferred to cider, and when strength ened by age, became a powerful intoxicant. This, however, has passed away with many other of the homely joys of pioneer days. 29-1 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. The bees, too, have suffered by the advance of the civilization which they seem every where to usher in. The destruction of the prairie flowers and the ravages of the bee moth have almost resulted iu their aiinihi lation, and it is only by the strictest care that domestic swarras can be profitably maintained. The earliest settlers in Au Sable found themselves completely isolated, and though in a country abounding in the richest pro vision of nature, found it necessary to go long distances for such things as the coun try did not provide. Their first fiour was secured at Reed's Grove. A small settle ment had been raade here a year or two be fore, and flour had been brought frora the Wabash country. Here the Ciwder settle raent sent for the winter's supply. For their stock they bought sorae thirty bushels of corn of Marquis, but the open winter allowed the cattle to feed on the prairie most of the season. There was a fall of snow which lay on the ground frora early in January to the 10th of February. The cattle had found a choice piece of pasture south of the ox-bow bend of the Au Sable Creek, which they refused of their own will to leave during this snow. They were driven up to the cabins and fed some corn, with the hope that this would reconcile them to the prairie hay which had been provided the previous fall, but in the morn ing they were found again at their old feed ing ground. A considerable band of Indians was encamped at the mouth of the Au Sa ble, and the cattle feeding in the track of their Indian ponies found plenty to eat where they had pawed off the snow. About 1835 or '6, a log flouring mill was put up on the Desplaines River, near Channahon. The buhrs were raade from "nigger-heads" and turned out very acceptable flour. The point at which Salmon Rutherford settled early took on the importance and name of a village, though there was little to warrant these pretensions. His log house was very early replaced by a large framed structure, and Rutherford took out the first license for keeping an inn. The stage line which ran in opposition to Frink & Walker's line made this a point for changing horses, and gave Dresden the prestige of a post-office and an occasion al glirapse of the outside world. The sharp competition between the rival stage lines, however, diverted the route to a shorter line further north, and the final withdrawal of the stage altogether, left this point with a hotel and a name only. During the con struction of the canal, a few temporary buildings gathered about the old hotel and kept it company for awhile, but these passed away with the laborers, and the place lapsed into its original rural simplicity. The building of the Rock Island & Pacific railroad confirmed this decree of fortune, and built up a substitute in the northeast corner of the town. The village of Alinooka was laid out by Ransom Gardner in 1852. Lie owned some five hundred acres of land at this point, and labored assiduously to secure the location of the line near his property. The little town grew slowly for a year or two, and business was not attracted here until about 1858. Three years previous to this Christopher Tucker put up a store build ing and brought in a stock of general mer chandise, but the venture proved a losing one, and he left the place in the following spring. The raost convenient place for HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 295 making purchases at this tirae was Channa hon, and when, in the fall of 1856, Joseph Lewis rented the old Tucker store, he found the people nuraerous and willing enough to raake a profitable bu-iiness. In the spring of 1857, Leander Smith, a brother- in-law of Gardner's, carae to Minooka and erected the second store in the village. This was located on the corner and is now- occupied by Martin Kaffer. In the follow ing year C. V. Harailton put up a nuraber of business buildings which are now owned by George Comerford and occupied by Wheeler & Saddler, and Barker & Stauffer. Hamilton at the same tirae erected the fii-st hotel which was known for some tirae as the Hamilton House, but is now owned by Thomas Sheick. In 1858 a grist-mill was also erected, Gardner & Heiner origi nating the enterprise. This was a good structure with three run of stone, and proved a great convenience to the farmers about, who gave it a liberal patronage. It stood until 1866 when it was destroyed by fire, and its site subsequently occupied by the elevator which is now the chief business attraction of the place. The first elevator was built in 1868 by Knajjp & Griswold, which was burned down in 1880. In the following j'ear A. K. Knajip built the present fine structure, which has a ca pacity of 100,uOO bushels, at a cost of $15,- 000. Its diraensions are 36 by 70 feet foundation, with an altitude of seventy feet; has a car shed and is provided with all the modern improvements. It is now leased by Henry McEwen, of Alorris, who has handled upward of 450,000 bushels of grain. In connection with this business, Mr. McEwen carries on a lumber yard where he has sold sorae 500,000 feet of luraber in the past year. Connected with the lumberyard is a planing mill, built in 1873 by A. K. Knapp & Griswold, run by AIcEwen. A hay press is also run by the p )wer of the mill, where about a thousand tons of hay have been handled iu a single season. Tuis combination of en terprises raakes Minooka a busy little town in the proper seasons, and raakes a con venient market for a good many railes around. The village was incorporated De ceraber 14, 1869, and now claims about six hundred inhabitants. In the fall of 1870 a considerable fire destroyed four or five business buildings which were replaced during the following winter and spring, improving the appearance of the business quarter. Minooka bears a quiet air of prosperity, which betokens a steady and profitable patronage, if not a large one. The business part of the town is consider ably diversified, and numbers three general stores, a drug store, grocery, market, bar ber shop, pump shop, two blacksmith shops, two wagon shops and two church edifices. The Catholic church of St. Mary's par ish is the stronger organization in Minooka. It was early organized at Dresden wliere a building was erected and services held for some years. In 1862, the church decided to follow the tendency of business and pub lic interests and removed to Alinooka. The Comerfords, Kinsellars and George T. Smith were the leading members who took an active part in the re-establisJinient of the church. The merabership at that time was about fifty, which has since been nearly doubled. The church edifice is a neat wooden structure 40 by 100 feet foundation, with an altitude of 100 feet, and was erected at a cost of about $6,000. 293 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. The first Alethodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1856 with some nineteen members. Araong these were J. G. Smith, Henry Pendleton, S. aud A. C. Worthing, Michael Ketchain and their wives. The first sermon was preached in Ferguson's store by Rev. T. L. Olmstead. After this, meetings were held in the school-house until the present place of worship was erected. Mr. Henry Pendleton was an active worker in securing the new church horae, which is a pleasant wooden building, 26 by 56 feet. The Sunday school was early established and is still maintained the year round, and has an average attend ance of fifty pupils. The church now nura bers some fifty raerabers. The Au Sable Methodist Episcopal Church, whose place of worship is situated on section seven, is really the older organ ization of the two Methodist churches. It was early organized by Rev. John Devore, an itinerant frora the Fox River Alission, at the residence of Henry Cryder. Meet ings were held at first in private houses, and later in the school-house as soon as it was built. In 1878 the neat wooden struct ure on the northern line of section seven was erected at a cost of sorae $2,500. It is a little out of the ordinary style of rural church architecture, has stained glass win dows, and is in every way a credit to the organization to which it belongs. Sorae of the early raerabers were Henry Cryder, Z. Walley, and their wives, John Craig, D. M. Thomas and others. The church now has a raerabership of sorae seventy mem bers. The first school-house was built about 1837, on section eight, for which the community was largely indebted to Henry Cryder's energy. The first session was taught by a daughter of Rev. Mr. Ashley, frora Plainfield. This sufficed for the de raands of the little coraraunity for some eight or ten years, when a second school house was erected on land belonging to Israel Cryder. This was a log building, and served as a meeting house for some time. Minooka Lodge of F. and A. Masons, No. 628, was organized in the winter of 1867, and worked under dispensation until the fall of 1868, when the lodge was char tered, with G. Dahlem, A. K. Knapp, G. C. Griswold, Jno. T. Van Dolfson, G. S. Cor- rell, Sam'l Adams, W. H. Smith, E. W. Weese, Jacob Gedelman, John Colleps, Phaley Gedleinan, J. E. McClure, C. V. Harailton and W. A. Jordon as charter members. The first officers were G. Dahl em, W. M.; A. K. Knapp, S. W.; G. C. Gris wold, J. W., etc. The lodge is now in a fiourishing condition, and holds its meet ings on the first and third Wednesdaj's of each month, in their hall in the third story of Coinerford's block. An effort was made in the fall of 1881 to organize the temperance sentiment of the township for effective work against what was felt to be a growing evil. William AValley was prominent in this movement, and is president of the organization. Mem bers were not required to be residents of the township, and many from Saratoga joined the movement. Since its inaugu ration, however, the society has taken on a political character, and become pledged to the prohibition party. This organization holds regular meetings in the Alethodist meeting house, and nurabers about 120 members. m"^' •fSlSK, *?¦•-> «»-»\ 'irS^ '•¦ti'v **&. ^, ^JHMU^d^^Uv^ . OHAPTEE XIY.* SARATOGA TOWNSHIP- -PHYSICAL FEATURES— THE EARLY SETTLERS— THE NORWEGIAN EMIGRATION— THE HOUGES MENEGHED. IT was Montesquieu who declared that nation happy whose annals were tire some; but while this speaks for the peace ful prosperity of a people it furnishes no glowing periods to the historian nor patri otic panegyrics for the citizen. This is es pecially true in the case of Saratoga. Timber lands were originally very little found here, and Nettle Creek on the west and Au Sable on the east, with pleasant union of timber and prairie, attracted the earlier settlements. Later, as the original location proved unhealthful, or as nearer settlers failed to find eligible timber sites, the prairie land of Saratoga was invaded frora either side. The country erabraced within the limits of this township was of the most attractive character. Save a spur of timber on the elbow of Au Sable Creek, which crosses the eastern border of Saratoga, and that on Nettle Creek in the southwestern corner of the township, the eye met only a broad expanse of undulat ing prairie which ended only with the line of the horizon in the north. Through the central portion the Saratoga Creek flowed an easterly course through the township, and the east fork of Nettle Creek, draining the southwestern part, joined the main stream in Morris. There is but little low land here, the most of the township lying * By J. H. Battle. north of the second " bench." The south eastern corner, however, is characterized by the low lands which are found between the first and second rises from the Illinois River. The diagonal road which enters the township near the middle of the east ern line of Saratoga, follows upon the mar gin of the second bench, leaving it at the Concklin road. Frora this point the line of high ground continues the sarae general southwesterly direction, deflecting slightly to the west, and passing the southern line of the township about a raile east of Net tle Creek. The rest of the township is admirably situated, and one would expect to flnd a dry friable soil were it not of prairie origin. As it is, the township is noted for its bad roads, resulting chiefly from the character of the soil, which seems to have a special affinity for water, and the highways, piked never so high, become in the rainy season one quaking bog of im passable mud. This question of roads is a very serious one throughout the county. Considerable expense is annually laid out in "piking" and ditching, bnt the charac ter of the soil renders these expedients but partially successful even for a twelve month. There is plenty of accessible limestone which could probably be used profitably in making permanent improve ment upon the highways, but the tax payers have not yet learned that the an- 300 HISTORY OF GRUNDY" COUNTY. nual mud blockade costs the people at large enough to macadamize every princi pally traveled road in the county. Saratoga was originally settled by emi grants frora New York, who crystallized the meraories of their old home in the name which the township bears. The first settle raent in this precinct was made by Joshua Collins, in the spring of 1814. His father came from Oneida Couiitj-, New York, in 1834, following the lead of the Walleys, Tablers and Cryders to Au SaWe town ship. Here he lived and died. His son Joshua married a daughter of Mr. Cryder, and in the folluwing spring set up a home of his own, where his widow now lives. In the same year Phillip Collins came to Saratoga, and Alexander Peacock. Tiie latter was an Englishman, and made his claim on section 33, including in his selec tion the present Fair Grounds, which he bought some time later. In the southern part also carae another Englishman, H. AI. Davidson, about the same year. James Cronin, an Irishman, whom the canal work brought to this region, was associated with Peacock on section 33, in the year of 1844. In the northeastern corner a considerable tract of land was secured as early as 1842 or '3, by John B. More, whose cabin, how ever, was built north of the Grundy County line. Early in 1844, Carpenter Concklin, in whose honor the central road of the township was named, took up a claim on section 9, and was followed very soon bv Elias Bartlett, who knew the Concklin faraily in the State of New York. Bartlett was an unmarried raan, and followed school teaching very early. Concklin's daughter had remained behind her father's family engaged in teaching, and after being here a short time, Bartlett, struck by the sim ilarity of their tastes went to Xew A'ork and brought back Aliss Concklin as his wife. They subsequently engaged in teach ing, and foratime conducted the Seminary at Ottawa. Daniel Johnson was another early settler, as was Gersham Hunt. iVbout 1847or'8, the immigration of Nor wegians began to appear in this township. The first came frora La Salle County, with one or twi.)froni other sections. They were in poor financial circumstances, but they brought hardy constitutions and abun dant energy, and were not long in getting upon an equal footing with their more favored neighbors. Their native tastes inelined them to prefer the timber lands, and here and tliere, where they could buy an acre or two of timber, their sheepskin coats and calfskin vests could be seen all through the northern and middle part of the county. " The first emigration from Norway to the United States was in 1826. Cling Pearson, of llesthainer, in Norwa}--, carae over in IS22, and on his return to his native coun try, gave a glowing picture of America. He found the people of Starvinger, a small town ill his neighborhood, dissatisfied with their ininister appointed by the govern ment, and desirous of changing tlieir loca tion, and soon persuaded them to ©migrate to the new country. They purchased a small vessel, a two-masted fishing sloop, for $1,800, and fifty-two emigrants set sail in their little craft for theAVestern Continent. They sailed through the North Sea and English Channel to Aladeira, where, get ting short of provisions, they picked up a pipe of wine, and laid in a stock of supplies. They left Norway July 4th, reached HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 301 Fuiiclial A ugust 18th, and New York on the last day of October, 1825, their number hav ing received one accession on the journey. " In New York they sold the vessel for $400, and the company divided, twenty- eight going with Cling Pearson, who had secured for them a free passage to Orleans County, New York. Here the colony bought land and formed a settleraent, the first Norwegian community in America. But the leader of .this hegira was a restless spirit, and soon set off to explore the far West. He reached Illinois and struck with its attractions, fixed upon La Salle County as the site for a new settleraent of his fellow- countrymen. Cling said that when explor ing the country afterward occupied by the Norwegians, that he laid down under a tree to sleep, and in his dreams saw the wild prairie changed to a cultivated region, teeming with all kinds of grain and fruits ; comfortable houses and spacious barns dotted the land, which was occupied by a rich, prosperous and happy people. He woke refreshed, and with renewed enthusi asm returned to his countrymen in New York, and persuaded them to eraigrate to Illinois. The dreara was a natural one and might have been conceived when awake, but however it originated, its most san guine expectations have been fully realized. The early days of the Norwegian settle raent in this country were full of poverty and toil, to which was added the terrible ravages of Asiatic cholera. Happily these days are past, and these difficulties sur mounted ; those people are now found a wealthy, prosperous and happy people. " The first Norwegian colony from New York came to La Salle County in 1834, and included some of the original fifty-three who arrived frora Norway in 1825. Since that others have followed frora the Father land, and the raerabers of the original col ony have welcomed many of their old neighbors to the land of their adoption. Many of them still adhere to the Lutheran, the national church of Norway, but many are Methodist, and the Mormons have made sorae converts araong thera." * The only church in the township is the Ilouges Meneghed. This is a Norwegian Lutheran church, and was organized about 1876. The society proceeded at once to build a place of worship on the land of H. Osraonson, which was erected that fall at a total cost of about $4,000, including the price of the lot. * Hist, of La Salle County. 'k:^-j^ CHAPTER XY.* WAUPONSEE TOWNSHIP— ITS MATERIAL RESOURCES— EARLY SETTLERS— PIONEER LIFE ON THE PRAIRIE— THE CHURCH AND SCHOOL. line of the highlands, which reach almost to the altitude of bluffs in the northwest corner, gradually recedes frora the course of the Illinois as it proceeds eastward, leav ing a space of nearly two railes occupied by the first and second bottoms. These are subject to annual overflows which are not an UU mixed evil. Skiffs owned and kept by farmers at their residences a raile or two away are suggestive of the inconven iences of a flood, but the luxuriant crops which are annually produced on these lands give sure token of the blessing which coraes in this guise. Occasionally a late flood or one accompanied with fioating ice does considerable damage, but on the whole these inundations are not unwelcome to the farraers. Along the bottoms the soil is a rich and most alluvial deposit, fertile and of inexhaustible richness. The first and second rises or " benches " are marked by a preponderance of sand, forming a pro ductive loamy soil especially adapted to gardening and certain fruits. The high plateau beyond is more of a clay soil ad mirably calculated for go'bd results in corn and grass cultivation. Here the timber is principally oak, while in the lower portions of the township black and white walnut, blue ash, hackberry and some maples are found. The original supply of timber was ranch less than now appears, and dif ferently distributed. Along the margin of NEAR the center of Grundy County, abutting on the south bank of the Illinois River, lies Wauponsee Township, or in the technical language of the con gressional survey, township 33 north, range 7, east. The name immortalizes that prosaic warrior, better characterized by the closing tragedy on the Kankakee River than the sentiment of the "leather stocking " tales, who once raade his horae near the western line of the township. This narae was early applied to what is now Grund}^ County, but these extended territorial limits have been curtailed from time to time, until now it contains bnt lit tle larger area than that assigned to a reg ular congressional township, six miles square. The surface, considerably broken in the northwestern comer, is generall}' a rolling prairie, sloping gradually toward the northwest. The natural drainage is fair, the Mazon River, fiowing along the eastern border and taking a short turn westward near the northeastern corner and emptying into the Illinois near the middle part of the town; and the Waupecan Creek, entering west of the middle of the south ern line of the township, passing in a northwesterly direction to the northwest corner into the Illinois, affording an outlet for the surplus rain-fall. The out- * By L. W. Claypool. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 303 the streams, in the bottom and northern sides of ravines there was a considerable growth of trees, which by judicious hand ling, and the absence of prairie tires has spread, so that the lack of timber is now ob servable only to the practiced eye. The na tive prairie grass is yet to be seen here and there, and is prized for hay equal to the finest timothy. The attention of farmers in this township is chiefly devoted to the cultiva tion of sraall fruits and vegetables upon the sand ridges, large numbers of melons being shipped from this point, annually. Else where the cultivation of corn, with stock raising, and some dairying, absorbs the farmer's efforts, the product finding a ready and profitable market at Chicago. The first settleraent of the county was made in this township, in 1828, by Wm. Alarquis. He carae across the country in a wagon frora the vicinity of the Wabash. He was of French extraction, of a roving disposition, and being something of a trader, was probably attracted hither by the advertisement of the canal lands and the near location of the Indians. What ever the reason, he carae here and halted his wagon on the south fraction of section 2, 33, 7. Here he erected a building near the banks of the river, of such timber as lie could handle, aided only by his wife, children and team. He was raore trader than farraer, and raade very slight iraprove- raents. He cultivated the acquaintance of the Indians that lived and hunted through the contiguous country, and through thera sorae stories of Marquis have corae down to a later day. It is said, in dealing on one occasion with Wauponsee for some wild geese feathers. Marquis insisted on paying him in pumpkins, at the rate oi p>oundfor pound. This was too much for even the indolent credulity of an Indian, and the enraged old chief drove him into his cabin, smashing the pumpkins after him. Alar quis threatened to report his actions to the whites — with whora the chief was not in good repute — but the Indian, undaunted, replied, " Whites like Indian raore than he like Marquis; he talk nice and smooth, but he (I — d rascal." This is said to be not an unfair estimate of his dealingswith the In dians, by whora he was not greatly liked. The whites who carae to the township sub sequently, found in him a good neighbor, but a cunning and dangerous opponent. Here he lived for several years completely isolated, trusting for subsistence upon his own resources alone. Tlie story of the death of his son, about twelve years old, in the winter of 1834-5, and the funeral, gives some idea of the early privations. The father, after placing the body of his child on a scaffold out of doors where it would be safe from the attack of marauding ani mals, left his family sick in the cabin and walked several miles to get help from the neighbors for the burial. Three of them responded, Jacob and Perry Claypool and Williara Robb. For a burial case they cut off an old canoe, closing the open end with a piece of board, dressed the body in a clean shirt, and placing it in the exteraporized coffin, covered it with a board. To remove it to the place of burial, in the absence of any sort of vehicle, a yoke of oxen was at tached to the aflair, and the j ioneer cortege proceeded in this unceremonious manner through the snow to a ridge at some dis tance, where the grave had been prepared. The young team, not impressed with the solemnity of the occasion, made a nearly 804 HISTORIC OF GRUNDY COUNTY. successful attempt to run away, and though the burial was accomplished without any unseemly accident, there was painfully lacking that careful tenderness which so mitigates the pain of the funeral ceremony. This was the first white man's funeral in Grundy County, and is typical of the pri vations of frontier life — an experience rigor ous enough with health and good fortune to support it, but sad beyond expression when sickness and death are added to its miseries. In 1835 Marquis sold out to A. Holderraan and reraoved to the mouth of the Au Sable, where he bought some land and lived a number of years. He subsequently lost the principal part of his property, and left for Texas in 1850. In 1833 Col. Sayers came from the lower settlements to Wauponsee, and made a claim on the east half of the northeast quar ter of section 14, building his cabin near the present residence of J. H. Pattison. He never came here to live or to raake fur ther iraprovements, but sold the claira to W. A. Holloway, who raoved into the cab in in March of the following year. The latter was not a long resident of this town ship, selling his place next year and buying land in what is now Felix township, where he was the first settler. Mr. S. Crook, who succeeded Hollowaj' in the Saj^ers cabiu in 1836, was a New York merchant. The notoriety which the " canal lands" got through the State agents was such as to create the belief in many minds that there were fine opportunities here for successful speculation in lands, and attracted raany who found theraselves mis taken, and soon moved elsewhere. Among this number, perhaps, should be placed Mr. Crook. He brought with him several trunks filled with goods, with which to trade with the natives. He never forma'ly opened a store here, but found ready access to his goods when an occasion offered op portunity for trade. He left Wauponsee in the following year, and established a store at Ottawa, where he continued in business for a long time. The next family to join its fortunes with the little colony in this township was that of Jacob Claypook He was a Virginian by birth, and moved with his father to Ohio, settling near Chillicothe, in 1799. In the war of 1812 he served in a rifle corapany which was a part of the first regiraent, and in a diary, now in the possession of his son, L. W. Claypool, has left an interesting his tory of the movements and experiences of that part of the array to which he was at tached. He was in the campaign about Detroit, was captured with Gen. Hull and paroled. His observation of the Lake re gion made a deep irapression upon his mind; and when the canal lands were ad vertised he became possessed with a desire to make his home near the lake on these lands. Air. Claypool had something of the true spirit of the pioneer, and preferred the isolation and freedom of the frontier to the crowded settlements. On arriving at his majority his fir-t move was to go, with others, to the east fork of the Alianii Rircr, in Brown County, Ohio, to establish a new settlement. Lie was therefore, iu 1833, anxious to leave his farra and go further west, and determined, whether he sold his place or not, to go to the lake region ; and started this year for the northern part of the State of Ohio. He was forced to re turn, however, after getting to Dayton, by the sickness of his horse. In the follow- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ing year, having an opportunity to sell his Ohio farm, he started for the canal lands in Illinois, taking his son, L. W. Clay])ool, with him, on a prospecting tour. His de sign was to follow the Illinois River by boat to Peru, and thence to walk to Ch'cago, the aim of his journey. At Cincinnati they took a boat "bound for the Illinois River," on which they made the journey' to Beards- town, where the boat eiidod its trip. Dis appointed, bnt undaunted, the two started out on foot, and made their way finally to the residence of James Galloway, near Alar seilles. Here Air. Claypool rested for the night, and was advised in the morning to go to Hollowa3''s cabin. Here, tired with his journey and pleased with the prospect, he selected the southwest quarter of section 20 as his future home, and with his son then struck out for home, following the course of the river, determined to take the first boat they could get. They were for tunate enough to find one at Pekin, on which they made the trip to Cincinnati. Mr. Claypool set about preparing for the removal, and in making up a party to ac com ]"any hira. In the fall of this year (1834) Air. Clay pool returned with his goods on wagons, accompanied by his family, James Robb and his family, AVm. Brown and family, John Snowhill and AVra. Eubanks. The little company came over the countrj^ and getting into the Chicago trail, Mr. Clay pool was then anxious to go to Chicago, notwithstanding he had selected another place. At the point where the road branched oft' toward AVauponsee the cara van was brought to a halt, and the question of going to the lake was put to a vote, and Air. Claypool being in the minority. carae with the rest to his chosen spot. James Robb located on the southeast quarter, section 18, but subsequently sold out, raoved out of the township, and later. returned to his homestead on section 28. AVilliam Brown erected his cabin on the northwest quarter, section 30, 33, 8, but in 1842 he sold this place, moved to section 13, 33, 7, where he died. In 1835, Richard Griggs settled on the southeast quarter, section 33, built his cabin and fenced a few acres, but soon sold out and left for parts unknown. In the same year the oldest son of Jacob Claypool, Perry A. Claypool, put up a cabin on the east half of northeast quarter, section 28. He had returned the previous year to Ohio to consummate his marriage to Aliss Alary Hollsted, and then brought his bride to Wauponsee to begin life upon the Illinois prairie. The year following, Geo. W. Armstrong, an early settler of La Salle County, and of a very prominent family there, carae to AVauponsee, and erected a cabin on the southeast quarter of section 18, and began immediately afterward to erect a saw-mill on the Waupecan Creek, finishing it the next year. He added to this business a few pieces of dr\' goods and a stock of groceries, which constituted the first regularly opened store in the town ship, and ]irobal)ly the first in the county. There was but little business in so sparse a settlement, and the venture probably did not yield great returns. The scarcit}' of timber operated unfavorably to the interests of the mill, though it undoubtedly proved a great convenience to the settlers, who otherwise were forced to split and hew out puncheons as a substitute for boards. The mill changed hands several times, and 306 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. finally so completely disappeared as to leave no trace by which its actual site can be identified. Mr. Armstrong did not stay long in Wauponsee, returning to his former home in the adjoining county, in a year or two. Ezekiel Warren, who came to La Salle County in 1832, and where he took part in the Black Hawk War, moved into Arm strong's cabin in 1839. Here he lived two or three years, and then located on the east half of the southeast quarter, section 17, 33, 7. James Thompson and James Berry came into the township about 1841. Both were Irishmen, brought here by interests of the canal, and have proven a valuable acquisition to the growth of the town ship. The pioneers who thus formed the little colony that early gathered in this township were familiar with the isolation, and inured to the hardships and privations of frontier life. But with all this, the open prairie presented difficulties to which they had hitherto been strangers. Frora this point of view, when the adaptability of the prairies has been so abundantly proven, it seeras unfortunate that the early ex periences of these pioneers led thera to cling to the timbered portions of the land, where foul water and raiasraa aggravated the inevitable discomforts of frontier life. The cabin built, many turned their attention at once to building tight, ex pensive fences. The Claypools enclosed eighty acres with a stout Virginia fence, "staked and ridered," and others fenced sirailar fields, but they soon learned that this was an unnecessary expense here. Most of the settlers brought in horses and cows, but the former pretty generally gave way to oxen for working purposes, and hogs were soon introduced from the older settle ments on the lower part of the river, as the most available way to supply the table. These preliminaries accomplished, the most urgent necessity was to secure a crop. The plows were crude affairs, strong and serviceable, but requiring great teara power and considerable mechanical skill in the plowman. The sod was found tough, not easily "tamed," and very uncertain in pro ducing a first crop. So tenacious was it, that the furrow turned out one unbroken strip of sod, and occasionally, when not especially careful, the plowman had the dis appointment of seeing yards of this leath ery soil turn back to its natural position, necessitating the tedious operation of turn ing it all back by hand. The result of all this labor was generally well repaid the first 3'ear, if the sod became thoroughly rotted, though it produced but a small crop. Oftentimes the second and third plowing showed the soil still stubborn and unkind. Few, even among farmers, know much of the labor involved in "breaking prairie," unless they have experienced its obstacles and overcome them. Corn was the only crop planted at first, and this furnished food for man and beast, and a few years later it was a mark of unusual prosperity to be able to furnish wheat bread to especial guests. When these difficulties had been surmounted; when rude barns and stacks of grain began to mark the home of the thriving frontier farmer, his very prosperity made him the readier victim of the desolation that stalked abroad in the prairie fire. Against this evil there was at that time no sure defense, but eternal vigilance. Mr. Baldwin, who HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 307 has described this so well in his history of La Salle County, says: "From the time the grass would burn, which was soon after the first frost, usually about the first of October, till the surrounding prairie was all burnt over, or if not all burnt, till the green grass in the spring had grown suf ficiently to prevent the rapid progress of . the fire, the early settlers were continually on the watch, and as they usually expressed the idea, ' slept with one eye open.' When the ground was covered with snow, or dar ing rainy weather, the apprehension was quieted, and both eyes could be safely closed. A statute law forbade setting the prairie on fire, and one doing so was sub ject to a penalty, and liable in an action of trespass, for the damage accruing; but convictions were seldom effected, as proof was difficult to obtain, though there were frequent fires. These, started on the lee ward side of an improvement, while very dangerous to property to the leeward, were not so to the windward, as fire progressing against the wind is easily extinguished. The apprehension, therefore, of a frontier farmer raay be readily imagined. Alone, in a strange land, he has made a comfort able home for his family; has raised and stored his corn, wheat, oats, and fodder for his stock, and sees about these, stretching away for miles in every direction, a vast sea of standing grass, dry as tinder, waving in threatening movement as the fierce prairie wind howls a dismal requiem, as over fair hopes doomed to destruction. " Various means were resorted to for protection. A coraraon one was to plow several furrows around a strip, several rods wide, outside theiraproveraents, and then burn out the strip; or to wait until the prairie was on fire and then set fire outside of this furrowing, reserving the inner strip for a late burn, i. e., until the following suraraer, and in July burn both old grass and new. The grass would start iramedi- ately, and the cattle would feed it close in preference to the older grass, so that the fire would not pass over it the following autumn. This process repeated would soon, or in a few years, runout the prairie grass, and in tirae would be replaced by blue grass, which will never burn to any extent. But all this took time and labor, and the crowd of business on the hands of a new settler, of which a novice has no conception, would prevent him doing what would now seem a sraall raatter; and all such effjrt was often futile. A prairie fire driven by a high wind would often leap such barriers and seera to put human effort at defiance. " A prairie fire when first started goes straight forward with a velocity propor tioned to the force of the wind, widening as it goes, but the center keeping ahead; it spreads sideways, but burning laterally, it makes but comparatively slow progress, and if the wind is moderate and steady, this spreading fire is not difficult to man age; but if the wind veers a point or two, first one way and then the other, it sends this side fire beyond control. The head fire in dry grass and a head wind is a fear ful thing, and pretty sure to have its own way unless there is some defensible point from which to meet it. A contest with such a fire requires such skill and tact as can be learned only by experience, and a neighborhood of settlers called out by such an exigency at once put themselves under the direction of the oldest and most ex perienced of their number, and go to work 308 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. with the alacrity and energy of raen de fending their homes and property from destruction. " The usual way of raeeting an ad vancing fire was to begin the defense where the head of the tire would strike, which is calculated by the sraoke and ashes brought bj' the wind long in advance of the fire. A road, cattle path or furrow is of great value at such a place; if there is none such, a strip of the grass is wetted down if water can be procured, which is, how ever, a rather scarce article at the tirae of the annual fires. On the side nearest to the coming fire, of such road or path, the grass is set on fire, which burns slowly against the wind until it meets the coraing conflagration, which stops of course for want of fuel, provided there has been suf ficient time to burn a strip that will not be leaped by the head fire as it coraes in. This is called back-firing; but in this method, great care raust be exercised to prevent the fire getting over the furrow path, or whatever is used as a base of oper ations. If it gets over and once under way, there is no remedy but to fall back to a more defensible position. The head of the fire successfully checked, the forces divide, part going to the right and part to the left, and the back-firing continued to meet the side fires as they corae up. This raust be continued until the fire is checked along the entire front of the premises endangered, and the sides secured. "Various implements were used to put out a side or back fire, or even the head of a fire in a moderate wind. A fence board, four to six feet long, with one ^end shaved down for a handle, was very effective when struck flat upon the narrow strip of fire. A bundle of hazel brush, a spade or shnvel were o!teii used with effect. The woineii frequently lent their aid and dexterously wielded the mop, which, when thorough'y Avet, proved a veiy efficient we ipon, espe cially ill extinguishing a fire in the fence. When the fire overcame all opposition, and seemed bound to sweep over the settlement, a fear of personal loss would paralyze, for the monient, every faculty, and as soon as that danger seemed imminent, united effort ceased, and each one hastened to defend his own as best he could. It is due to histor ical truth to say that the actual losses were much less than might have been expected, though frequently quite severe. The phys ical efforts made in extinguishing a dan gerous fire, and in protecting one's home from this devouring element were of the most trying nature, resulting fatally iu more than one instance. " The premises about the residences aud yards being trampled down by the family and domestic animals, after a ye-a.r or two became tolerably safe from fire, but the fences, corn aud stubble fields were fre quently burned over. AVhen Ihe prairie was all fenced and under cultivation, so that prairie fires were a thing of the past, the denizens of the prairie were happily re leased from the constant fear and appre hension which for years had rested like a nightmare on their quiet and happiness, disturbing their peace by night, and caus ing anxiety by day. The early settlers will ever have a vivid recollection of the grand illuminations nightly exhibited in dry weather, from early fall to late spring, by numberless prairie fires. The whole horizon would be lighted up around its en tire circuit. A heavy fire six or seven HISTORY' OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 309 miles away, would afford sufficient light on a dark night to enable one to read fine print. When a fire had passed through the prairie, leaving the long lines of side fires like two armies facing each other, at night the sight was grand ; and if one's premises were securely protected and he could enjoy the fine exhibition without a].)prehensiou, it was an awe-inspiring sight well worth going far to see." The isolation of the Wauponsee commu nity, while not that of many a frontier col ony, was such as to command the greatest respect for the patient endurance of the pioneers of this county. The nearest post- office was at Ottawa, while the only " grist mill" was that of a Mr. Green at Dayton. Here the farmers took a wagon load of corn or a year's supply of wheat and often waited a week for their turn, camping out in the vicinity in the meanwhile. This lack of milling facilities led to the adoption of raany substitutes, such as grating the corn on a perforated tin or iron, parching and grinding in a coffee mill, or more com monly pulverizing it with a huge wooden raortar and pestle. Sometimes a conven iently placed stump furnished the material for the raortar, otherwise a section of log was hollowed out to forra a bowl-like recep tacle in which the corn was placed and plied with a heavy wooden pestle. The finest of the product was used for the " corn pone" or " slapjack," while the coarser part furnished forth the characteristic "hom iny." Garae consisted principally of wild hogs and wolves. There were sorae deer to be found in the tiraber, and smaller game such as squirrels, woodchucks and prairie chickens on the prairie, but the first named animals fnrnished the principal sport. Wild hogs were such as had wandered off from the older settlements and gone wild in the course of nature. They were of a long- legged, gaunt species, and kept the timber pretty closely. They were no particular damage or annoyance to the early settlers, but furnished capital hunting sport, though of not very long duration. The wolves were of the coyote species and haunted the open prairies. These were of more annoyance to the settlements, and a bounty was early offered by the county for their scalps, and is still paid when claimed by hunters. They were a small undersized breed, and would make the night dismal with their howling, though they never attacked full- sized animals or persons. There were no sheep in the township, but young calves often fell an easy victim to these insatiable beasts, and young pigs when alone or ac companied only by the mother sow were often captured. They were hunted with dogs, and when run down would fall on their backs and fight very much like a cat. On frozen ground and when filled by a recent meal they were run down without much difficulty on horseback, as they seeraed to avoid the timber and would risk capture rather than go into it. An in stance is related where a wolf was thus run down and suddenly seized by the hinder leg as he lay on the ground ready to fight, was whirled about the hunter's head and killed by bringing him forcibly on the ground. Their nature of late years, how ever, seeras to have undergone a decided change. They now attain a much larger size and inhabit the tiraber almost exclu sively. Occasionally one is still shot and exhibited as quite a curiosity. Prairie 310 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. chickens are still found, though in decreas ing numbers, and serve to attract sports men from less favored localities. Wauponsee was in the line of early trav el — one of the principal traveled routes passing through its territory — and the old hotel on the Mazon was for sorae tirae a point of considerable importance. But the regulation of the roads, the building of railroads and the location of the county seat so near at hand, have all conspired to discourage the growth of any village with in its borders. Its only centers of attrac tion are the school-houses and a church building, situated rather southeast of the center of the township. There was occa sional preaching in the cabins by passing ministers as early as '34 or '35, but the first regular services were held in Wauponsee Grove, just over the township line, in 1837 or '8, by a Rev. Mr. Rogers, of the South Ottawa circuit. In 1839, Harvey Had- ley, of the same circuit, officiated, fol lowed by Jno. F. Devore, who was the means of a great revival in 1842 or '3. The Mormons were also early in the field, and had their preachers out quite regularly until 1844. Elder Pratt is especially re membered as one of these Evangelists of the Latter Day Saints. They made several converts to their peculiar doctrines, some of whom left for Nauvoo, but the majority lost their faith and "slid back." The first church organization in the township, however, was the Wauponsee Methodist Episcopal Church. J. W. and J. P. Riding, though of Congregational proclivities, were prom inent in its early organization, but subse quently withdrew. For nearly ten years it held its meetings in the cabins around un til about 1872, when, under the lead of Mr. Morgan Button, an effort was put forth for a regular place of worship. The result of these eftbrts is the neat wooden edifice in which the cliurch now worships. It was dedicated in August, 1873, and cost some $3,000. Schools were not established until after the formation of the county. The com munity was small, and there were but few scholars to attend if such had been started. But in 1843 a school was opened in a log cabin erected in the center of section 20, and was kept by Amanda Pickering. This was not a public school, but supported by the patrons, who " swapped " pork, corn, etc., with a little money, for the less mu- torialistic benefit received by their children. This was one of the earliest schools in the county, and the cabin is still pointed out. The second school-house, which was known as the " Satterly School House," was con structed of logs on the east line of section 16, about 1848, where its site is now marked by a modern structure, in which the chil dren of to-day go to school. This old school- house was for years used as town hall for the regular town meetings and occasional religious services. But since then how marked the change! Neat school-houses are found in every quarter of the township, where advanced methods and improved means unite to fit the rich and poor alike for the duties and dangers of life. Note.— The Cicada, or Seventeen-year Locust, has been a visitant of this country, as elsewhere, and since first noticed has been regular in its coming. It was first noticed in 1837, and in June of that year hegan to attract very general attention. They came out of the ground about the last of May, and by the middle of June seemed to have taken possession of the country. A sudden jar on a small bush would put to flight as many as could be put into an ordinary HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 311 pail, and during the middle part of the day their noise would drown the tones of a cow-bell a hundred yards away. They took every green thing in their way, and it was estimated that fully one-third of the leaf-bearing twigs on the oak timber on the eastern banks of the Mazon was destroyed by their "prod ding' ' to deposit eggs. In 1854 the locusts began to appear about the 28th of May. They came out of the ground a large bug, which fastened itself to a twig for an hour or two, when its encasing shell parting along the central line of the back, disclosed the ravaging locust. In a few days the country began to resound with their noise, but a heavy rain early in' June seemed to destroy large numbers. By the middle of June they began to deposit their eggs, and becoming fat and enerva ted by their gorging, fell an easy prey to the birds, which destroyed large numbers. They went away as rapidly as they came, and by July Ist nothing but dried frasnients of the insect could be discovered. In 1871 farmers were expecting the return of the locust invasion, and kept a keen watch for the first appearance of the scourge. On the 20th of May the bug was plowed up, and by the 25th they had be come quite numerous above ground. On June 7 these insects killed sixty apple trees for L. W. Clay pool, though they had been planted three years. By July 2nd there could be heard now and then one in the woods, but all the rest had gone. In the later visits the locusts were much less numerous than in 1837. CHAPTEE XTL* FELIX TOWNSHIP- -ITS TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES-PIONEERS— FLOODS— SICKNESS— JUG TOWN— THE SILENT CITY. >?" Certainly, ' would have been impressions derived "TTT"HAT'S in a names ,, V V not very much when it stands for a designating mark only; as country hos tlers are wont to chalk numbers on vehicles to identify them in the payment of the reckoning. " Infelix' raore suggestive of from an early experience in this section of Grundy County; but the early "powers" held Felix Grundy, Tennessee's brilliant advocate, in high esteem, and this precinct, the youngest of the fourteen, was selected to bear the Christian name of hira whom the county honored. There was little ap propriateness in this selection and the name serves rather to emphasize the unpleasant peculiarities of the precinct than to do honor to its namesake. This township lies in the eastern tier of the county; is bound ed on the north by the Illinois River, on the east by AVill County, on the south by Brace ville Township, and on the west by the meandering line of the Mazon River and Wauponsee Township. Its outline is quite irregular, and measures seven railes in its widest part, and frora the raost northerly point on the river to the southern boundary, it stretches out sorae seven and a half railes. The general surface is low. In the north east corner the high land abuts upon the river, and from this point gradually recedes, *By J. H. Battle. forraing bottom lands, nearly two railes in width in sorae places; the road which fol lows the general course of the river, raark- ing the general line of the high lands. Im- raediately south of this line the land sinks somewhat into what was originally low wet meadows, marked by broken outcroppings of liinerock and bowlders. On the north ern half of sections 9, 10, and 11, is Goose Lake, a relic, probably, of the great water course that once overfiowed this region and carried the waters of Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. This body of water is a sedgy lake of swampy tendencies, measuring some three miles frora east to west, and little raore than a half raile wide. In seasons of high water this lake finds an outlet into the Kankakee. South of this is a ridge extending east and west through the central part of the township, originally covered with a considerable growth of tim ber; and again, south of this, another space of swamp land succeeds, which in turn is bounded on the south by a sand ridge. Clay pool Run drained this swamp into the Ma zon, and more recent cultivation has length ened this run and improved the lands. The natural drainage is slight, the various runs finding their wa}' into the Mazon from the western end of Groose Lake, and the swamp lands, in the southeast corner, and another draining the eastern middle portions of the township into the Kankakee River. These HISTORY OF GRUNDA" COUNTY. 813 runs are but sluggish streams, and scarcely do more than to raark the lowest portion of the low grounds. The soil is principally a low wet clay, a deposit near the western end of the lake proving admirable material for the man ufacture of coarse pot tery . AVhi le a considerable part of the township is unJer a good degree of cultivation, the greater jiart is devoted to grazing, Mr. Holderman giving especial attention to stock raising. Araong those earliest identified with the interests of this township, was Peter Lamp- sjtt. tie was a "character" in his way and was a relic of that large and at one t me infiuential class of pioneers, the Cana dian voyageur. He trapped through this country as early as 1820, and this location especially suiting his pursuits, attracted and held him here long after the rest of his class had moved further north. He was known among the earliest settlers as " Specie," a name given him by the resi dents of the county, bcause he invariably refused to accept paper money in his deal ings, lie seeras to have accepted this name good-naturedl}', and his descendants, still found in this region, have adopted it as their surname. " Specie Grove" in DeKalb County was named for him, and is likely to prove his most enduring monument. lie lived on the Mazon, but never owned any land there, maintaining a homestead by right of his squatter sovereignty, and cultivating only a small patch for garden ing purposes. He first discovered coal in the county and picking out such as showed itself where the Mazon uncovered it, sold it to the blacksmiths of the vicinity. W. A. Holloway came into the township from Wauponsee in 1835, bought land on section V2 near where the wooden bridge was put across the Mazon. He was not satisfied with the country here, however, and in 1840 left this county for Blooniington, AVis. Air. Abrara Holderman bought land in the noi-thern part of the township about 1835. He p'aced his son Henry on the farm, but he stayed only a year or two when he became tired of the place and went further west. Then another son. Bar ton, took possession, but in a short time he left for Alissouri in search of brighter for tunes, and in 1847 or 1848 Samuel Holder- man took possession. He found here the materials for building up a fine fortune, and graduall}' added raore land to his place until he owned some five thousand acres on which he pastured droves of some of the finest cattle in the country. This large farm has but recently been sold to Air. Jerry Collins. In 1839, Abram AVliite, from the Fox River settlements. Air. Kelso and Mar tin Luther, carae to the township. Araong the earliest settlers of the county, though not so early in Felix, was John Beard. He was a southerner by birth and early emigra*ed from Maryland toPennsj'l- vaiiia, thence to Indiana, and later to the mouth of the Au Sable. He was a man of abont fifty-five years of age when he came to this country, and was probably in duced to come here by the bright prospect for speculation which the canal lands prom ised. To these early pioneers the lands along the route of the proposed canal of fered inducements similar to the western lands which nov/ lie along the rapidly con structing railroads in the west. The gov- ernraent sections were no sooner in the market than they were taken up by settlers and speculators, and real estate in this re gion early rose to fabulous prices for the 314 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. tirae and place. The lands were known far and near among moneyed men and raany who had means and a taste for pioneer life, put both funds and personal comfort into the speculation. Air. Beard had a large faraily, several of his children being raar- ried, and though there were few considera tions urging hira at his age to take upon hiraself the further privations of frontier life, he could not resist the temptation to try his fortune here. He came overland in a three-horse wagon, without incident, and settled at the mouth of the Au Sable River about 1833. Here he remained one or two years, when he conceived the idea of founding a city at the head of the Illinois between the Desplaines and Kankakee Riv ers. This it was hoped would be the head of navigation, and here, situated on a hill with admirable natural advantages, was destined to grow a bubble similar in kind to the South Sea and Great Mississippi schemes. In the meantime Mr. Beard had been joined at the mouth of the Au Sable by his son-in-law, Jaraes AIcKean, with his faraily. They came frora Penn sylvania with a wagon drawn by three yoke of oxen, and driving several cows and 150 hogs. The progress of such a caravan was necessarily slow, raaking about fifteen miles per day. The Indians were found in large numbers all along their journey, but always friendly and frequently render ing valuable assistance in getting the herd of swine out of the bushes. As it was, some forty were lost on the journey, and it is probable that while the "noble red man" would not steal a hog before the eyes of the owner, these estrays generally turned up in an Indian carap, and furnished a sat isfactory meal to the savages. Afterliving at the mouth of the Au Sable for several years, McKean joined his father-in-law on the Kankakee. Here about 1839, the uni ted families put up a large saw-mill, the machinery for which was bought in New York, shipped to Chicago and brought thence with infinite trouble to its destined location. About 1838, William White with two sons, J. L. and William, came from Mari etta, Ohio, and settled in Felix. Mr. White was a soldier in the war of 1812, and now draws a pension. He is still a vigor ous old veteran of ninety- four years of age. The early settlers in this township came into close relations with the Indians, who were here in considerable numbers. The abundance of game attracted thera, and the settlers finding thera well disposed, encour aged their stay by numberless little courte sies. The earliest families would have found it quite difficult, if not impossible, to put up their log cabins if it had not been for the help of these natives. When hogs or cattle straj'ed, the Indians could always be trusted to give reliable informa tion concerning thera, and would frequent ly go long distances to bring them back to a favorite white man. McKean seems to have been especially favored in this way. It is related that one day he missed some fifty of his large herd of swine. On in quiry of the Indians he learned where they were. Finding the hogs were his, the na tives proposed to go and get them, but wishing to identify them himself, they ac companied hiin and helped to drive the an imals horae, for which assistance McKean gave them one of the animals. Subse quently, when the final treaty was made with them, and before their removal, Mc- Missing Page Missing Page HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 317 Kean's cabin was thronged with Indians, to whom his wife furnished breakfast every morning as regularly as to her own family. At the payment of the sura stipulated in the treaty, the Indians urged AIcKean to present his bill for their entertainment, but, being satisfied with the return they had made him, he refused altogether. Mar- quis, of AVauponsee, was more willing to do this, and preferred a claim of $500, which the Indians, who disliked him very much, refused to acknowledge, saying they had paid hini for everything they got, and so the commissioners allowed him nothing. Deer, squirrels, otter, raccoons, musk- rats, inhabited the woods and marshes, while prairie chickens, quails and wolves were found in the open country. Deer were unusually plentiful here, and men go ing out after their cows and taking their guns, seldom failed to bring back the haras of a fine animal as trophies of their marks manship. It very early became the habit of the pioneers to take only the haras of venison, leaving the rest of the carcass to the wolves and dogs, and it was no unusual thing to see twenty-five haras curing in the smokiug-house at once. This abun dance of game was a great relief to raany of the pioneers. Easy as hogs were kept, and nuraerous as they became in later years, McKean, who kept a large herd, found ample market for all he could raise among the farraers in this region. Many who could not buy, lived on this abundant garae, though it soon becarae tiresorae to the taste and proved a poor substitute for beef and pork. But there was soraething to be done be side hunt. This would sustain life, but would not subdue the wilderness nor bring in the happy reign of civilization. The earliest effort was raade to get a crop of corn. The first crop was planted by cutting a gash in the inverted sod with an axe, drop ping the corn and closing it by another blow beside the first. Or it was dropped in every third furrow and the sod turned on it; if the corn was so placed as to find the space between the furrows, it would find day light; if not, the result of the planting was extremely doubtful. Of course cultivation in this case was impossible, and if the squirrels and crows gave the crop an oppor tunity to mature, it generally proved a sat isfactory return. At first there was no market for the surplus product, and there was only the household and the liraited amount of stock to provide for. Wheat was not cultivated here to any extent; the location was not suited to it, and farmers preferred to buy what they needed for their own use, while giving their whole attention to grazing and corn. The lack of milling facilities was another inconvenience that amounted to a hardship. The nearest place where corn or wheat could be ground was at Green's mill, in Dayton. Here, when the roads were passable, the people brought their corn or wheat, and waited with such patience as they could coraraand until they could be served. This waiting frequently cousumed a -week, and customers of this raill always went prepared to stay until they got their " grist," as the journey hither was not one to be undertaken lightly. But raore discouraging than these were the annual fioods which regularly visited this township, and brought in their train de struction and disease, harder to bear than any amount of difficulties which energy and pluck might surraount. 318 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Life, in a new country, is every svliere subjected to the misery of malarious dis eases. The clearing off of tiraber or the breaking up of prairie sod, involving the rapid decay of large quantities of vegeta ble matter, gave rise to the inevitable rai asraa, which wrought its sure work upon the human system. "Such sickness was generally confined to the last of the sum mer and fall. There was .but little sick ness in winter except a few lingering fall cases that had become chronic; there were but few cases after severe frosts, and the spring and early summer were perfectly healthy. It was commonly remarked that when the bloom of the resin weed and other yellow flowers appeared it was time to look for the ague. The first spring flowers on the prairie were raostly pink and white, then followed purple and blue, and about the middle of August yellow predominated. "High water in spring, flooding the bottoms and filling the lagoons and low places along the streams, and then dry ing oft' with the hot sun of July and Au gust, was a fruitful cause of disease, and in such localities it was often quite sickly, while the high prairie was comparatively exempt." * Felix was especially exposed to these inundations, and hardly a year passed without an extensive overfiow. The one of 1837 is especially remembered. In the early spring of this year, a sudden fiood broke up the ice, which, forming a gorge, held back the waters until their weight raade the ice give way, and the flood of water and ice raade its way down the Illi nois, subraerging the islands in its course and flooding its banks until even the high- *Hist. of La Salle County — Baldwin. lands were reached, threatening destruc tion to horaes and stock which were sup posed to be out of the reach of anything save another deluge. liuge raasses of ice were lodged upon the banks in every con ceivable shape, which, gradually melting in the spring suns, kept the soaked earth sat urated until the middle of summer, when the hot stifling weather of August gave rise to an unusual amount of sickness all along the river. "That season, exagger ated and fearful stories were sent over the countr3' in relation to the sickness. A cor respondent of an Eastern paper stated that he saw in a cemetery at La Salle, 300 graves that had never been rained on, and that in a new country where a settleraent was but just comraeneed. This might have been true, but the cemetei-y belonged to the Catholics, and was the only one this side of Chicago, and thousands of men were there at work on the canal, and they nearly all came to La Salle for burial; and this was late in the fall when there had been no rain for nearly six raonths." * Although there was but little to attract eraigration to Felix, and later years have demonstrated its ineligibility as a site for a city, yet two very considerable towns have found a place and varied ex perience within its limits. Jugtown was what its narae iraplies, a place where pot tery interests centered. A bed of good ])otter's clay was found near the western end of Goose Lake, and in 1853, William AVhite, of Chicago, put up the necessary buildings and machinery for the raanufact ure of drain tile especially for the Chicago market. Such clay was not to be found * Baldwin. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 319 readily, and there seemed to be a bright prospect for the enterprise. The business expanded, sorae forty or fifty raen were employed, and gathering about the works with their families raade quite a town of their settlement. A great difficulty was raet at the very outset in the lack of ship ping facilities. The roads 'were poor at best, and the product of the works had to be hauled to Morris for shipraent, though considerable effort was made to utilize the Kankakee- feeder to obviate this distance. This did not prove successful, and the en terprise gradually went to decay, and with the business went the town, leaving little but the scarred earth to mark its site. Kankakee City was a more pretentious aggregation of houses, though hardly so well established in fact. The projected canal was the subject of the most absurd speculations. Its leading advocate in Con gress, Daniel P. Cook, declared in a doc ument addressed to his constituents, " that in less than thirty years it would relieve the people frora the payment of taxes, and even leave a surplus to be applied to other works of public utility." Such estimates were industriously circulated by the friends of this great scheme araong the capitalists of the East, ahd so little experience was had in such matters then, and so prone were people to believe in the existence of an "El Dorado" in the little known West, that capital forgot its traditional caution, and seemed to struggle to reach its fate. When the government put up its share of these lands for sale there was an excited struggle between the actual settlers and the speculators, which resulted in the victory of the settlers who secured the land which they had improved, and what they could pay for adjoining them. But when these purchasers were satisfied there was a great deal of land left which was subsequently picked up by speculators, who held it at five and ten dollars per acre. These prices were so high as to discourage immigration, and land dealers resorted to every device to stimulate the rage for speculation. The infatuation seemed to be contagious; cor ner lots, claims, pre-emptions and floats, were the chief subject of conversation. Mr. Baldwin thus describes the situation: " A lodger at any of the rickety hotels at that day, would have to sleep in a roora containing four or flve beds, and frora the bargains and contracts made by the lodg ers before going to sleep, might well im agine himself on 'Change, or in Wall street, New York, and his companions all mil lionaires. The writer called at a log cabin toward evening of a rainy day, where some half a dozen farmers were assembled, who had evidently engaged in high speculation during the day. One of the nuraber, ad dressing hiraself to rae, said, as he slapped his hand very complacently on his thigh ; ' I have made ten thousand dollars to-day, and I will make twice that to-morrow; ' and I learned from further conversation with his companions, that he had been the least successful one in the corapany. Towns and villages were laid out at al- raost every crossroad, and sorae, where there had never beeu any road. I set out some small apple trees on ray farra, the only ones to be procured, and stuck a stake by each; a stranger coming past, inquired the name of the town I had laid out." Kankakee City was an outgrowth of this speculative mania and was pretentious enough to satisfy the most exaggerated an- 320 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. nouncements. In its palmiest days its pop ulation did not reach seventy-five souls, yet it had ten public squares, with public parks and broad streets enough to have formed a nucleus for another New York City. The plat with its nuraerous ad ditions covered about two thousand acres, and lots were sold at auction in Chicago and New York City, and thousands upon thousands of dollars were invested in this midsummer night's dream. In all the prominent real estate centers were seen highly ornamented plats of this city, beau tiful with magnificent buildings, and busy with the traffic of capacious warehouses, and crowded steamboat wharves. In its early history, Mr. Beard, the projector of this city, was offered $35,000 for his prop erty, which he rejected. But the crash of 1837 came, and all this paper prosperity passed away like morning dew. Emigra tion almost entirely ceased; the work on the canal, which had brought a certain fic titious prosperity to this region, barely struggled on, supported by State scrip. Wheat went down from two dollars per bushel to fifty cents; pork from twenty- five dollars per barrel to one dollar per hundred; corn to ten cents per bushel, and all this in depreciated scrip or store goods at a profit of one hundred per cent. For raany j^ears the large territory era- braced in the limits of Kankakee City was assessed as lots and thousands of dol lars were loaned upon this property as security, but the burden became too great and the land was finally sold for the ac cumulated taxes, and whatever titles are now held to this property are based upon tax sales. This famous city has long since reverted back to rustic uses, and serves the purposes of the farm, none the less sedately for having at an early day put on city airs. Note.- The site of Kankakee City, between the forks of the Illinois River, is now apart of Au Sable township, being assigned to that township because the facilities for crossing the Desplaines River ai-e better than for crossing the Kankakee. CHAPTEE XYII.* ERIENNA TOWNSHIP, 33 NORTH, RANGE 6 EAST— CHANGES OF BOUNDARTES—EARLY SET TLEMENT— HORROM CITY— CLABKSON—NORMAN— SURFACE FEAT- ^^ ,, URES— PIONEERS— CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. ry^HE Congressional township 33 north, -L range 6 east, is divided into nearly equal parts by the Illinois River, which en ters the township a little north of the mid dle point of its eastern boundary, and fiows southwestwardly through its territory. The difficulty of passing the river for the pur poses of township business, has enforced the natural division by political separation, and though one township by the original survey, these portions have always been in difterent precincts and borfie different naraes. Erienna is the elder of these twin town ships, and is situated north of the river. The northwest corner is a high plateau, ending on the river front near the western boundary, in an abrupt descent of sorae eighty feet. From this point the second bottom or bench approaches nearly to the river brink, leaving space for barely two or three hundred acres of alluvial bottom lands. The margin of the plateau frora the western line of the precinct follows the trend of the river bank, its raargin being marked by the comraon road north of the railroad till it reaches the eastern line of section 10, where it curves northwardly out of the precinct. South of this line of the highland, with the exception of an oval ridge on which Mr. * By J. H. Battle. Hoge's residence is placed, the surface of Erienna is principally a fiat sandy soil, un derlaid with a coal deposit. Long Point Creek rising in the northwest corner of the precinct, furrows through the plateau and fiows to the canal, the course of which it follows out of the precinct under the narae of Rat Run. Nettle Creek — the English for Little Alazon of the Indians — rises in the lower ground of the eastern part of the pre cinct, and takes an eastern course into Alor ris, where, with a sudden turn south, it joins the Illinois. Along the stream the surface is considerably broken and clothed with some of the finest walnut tiraber, be sides other varieties, to be found in the county. On the highlands the timber was of a scrubby character, a certain indication of the stiff clay soil found here. The greater part of the farraers devote their lands to the cultivation of corn, though Messrs. Hoge & Holderraan, who own very extensive farras here, pasture large herds of cattle. The first settler in Erienna, and one of the earliest in the county, was Isaac Hoge. He was a native of Fauquier County, Vir ginia, and shrewdly foreseeing that raoney early invested in Illinois lands would raake a large and sure return for the investraent, carae here very early and bought his lands in this township at the first sale before £22 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. there were any other settlers save Marquis, perhaps. He was a young unmarried man, with considerable capital and impressed with the general belief that the prairie would be taken up only where tiraber was to be had, entered the raost of his lands in the timbered section along the Nettle Creek. Other members of his fam ily settled in Nettle Creek township and for some time after his purchase there was no cabin in Erienna to indicate the pres ence of the white man. Soon afterward he married and moved onto his land here, and adding to his possessions by further purchase frora tirae to time has now one of the large farms of the county. An other large farm owned by A. Holderraan occupies the larger part of the central por tion of the precinct, which with that of Mr. Hoge's is devoted largely to pasturage for cattle. The large herds owned by Mr. Holderraan at an early date were as remark able a sight as a herd of buffaloes, and their trails to the watering places during the suraraer were said to be as conspicuous as those of the buffaloes on the plains. Mr. Holderraan, however, was an early settler in Kendall County and bought land here soraewhat later. Columbus Pinney was perhaps the first actual resident of Erienna. He was a native of New York State and came out by the lakes to Chicago and frora thence to Marseilles. In the Spring of 1836, he came to section 12, where Datus Kent had put up a log house and barn for Kimball of Marseilles. Here Pinney kept the stage change and hotel which is now known as " Castle Danger." The cabin is destroyed but the stable still serves the purposes of a barn, though it stands on a new location. The origin of its later narae is very ob scure. After staying here three years Pin ney removed to Aurora and the cabin was empty for awhile. It was subsequently inhabited for a short time when it was left untenanted again. It was used occasion ally hy wayfarers, and perhaps horse thieves and prairie bandits found it a con venient place to stay for a night, but no authentic incident can be learned in which the name could take its rise. Its name is well fixed, however, and generally used, and is probably the outgrowth of the natural respect for the mysterious. In 1840, O. Cone, a native of Jefferson County, New York, came by the lakes to Detroit. From that point, with his family, he came in wagons across the country to Marseilles, where his brother-in-law, Kim ball, was engaged in superintending sorae public iraprovements. Cone remained here until 1840, when he rented a farm of Mr. Hoge, on section 6, 33, 7. He was subse quently elected sheriff of the county, and afterward retired to a farra which he pur chased on section 2, 33, 6. Messrs. Ken nedy and Kendrick were attracted from Ohio by the canal work, and on the stop ping of operations, settled, in 1842, on sec tion 7. About 1846 or '6, Peter Griggs settled on section 3, and about the sarae tirae Abram Holderraan carae into the precinct. In 1848, Charles Moody came in from Marseilles and settled near where the road crosses the canal on section 16. After this the settleraent of the precinct rapidly increased. The completion of the canal brought in a large number of persons seeking a home, speculators, tired of hold ing property which did not appreciate fast enough to more than meet the expense of HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 323 taxes and other charges, began to sell, and the settlement soon became general. Horrom City was the name of an ambi tious plat of ground which was staked out in 1836, by Dr. Horrom, who originally settled south of the river. It did not prove a failure, because it never had any promise of success. A short-lived stage route passed near it, but beyond the imagination of its projector, the location had no relation to it, or anything tangible. Clarkson was the original narae of the location of Castle Danger. Kimball, who was interested in the stage line, hoped through the infiuence of this enterprise to build up a village which should become the county seat, but fate de cided in favor of Morris, and Clarkson did not raature. During the construction of the canal a nuraber of temporary shanties gathered about the old log cabin, but they soon passed away, leaving it solitary. In the precinct was extended on the east side to the corporation limits of the county seat. This was done through the infiuence of the farmers in this part of the county, to avoid the taxation which the ex tension of the city limits in that direction would involve. This does no injustice to Morris, as there is land remaining in that precinct on which the county capital may expand into a very considerable town. NOEMAN. This precinct, abutting upon the south margin of the Illinois River, is probably the best timbered and most broken portion of Grundy (Jounty. The high land ap proaches very close to the river bank, leav ing not raore than five hundred acres of bottom lands on the whole river front. The high, broken land iu the northwestern cor- nerof AVauponsee extends into the eastern border of Norman, and forms in this pre cinct quite a picturesque landscape along the road that enters it from the northeast. A peculiar elevation on Bills' Run at this point is a striking freak of nature, or, as some of its peculiarities suggest, an im portant relic of the Mound Builders. It is a circular mound, about seventy-five feet high, and sorae two hundred feet diameter at the base. It stands at the head of a little bayou, isolated from the line of sur rounding bluffs, save for the connection of a narrow causeway, which by a gentle de scent and ascent bridges the intervening valley. It is entirely bare of trees, save an oak which grows out of the side, half way toward the summit. No excavation has been attempted in this mound, and it is doubtful wiiether its peculiarities would warrant any considerable expenditure of time and money with the hope of making valuable discoveries, but the difficulty of assigning a plausible theory for its natural construction, has given rise to considerable speculation in regard to it. This is known as " Devil's Mound," and others of less note have a sirailar nomenclature, though with what appropriateness is perhaps diffi cult to determine, unless one accepts the statement of the young man who suggested, " because we wonder how the devil it came here." The middle portion of the river front is less broken, though the ground rises to the final "bench" quite abruptly, until the western third of the river line, where is found the roughest country in the county. Bills' Run, rising near the southern line, in the eastern part, flows north through this precinct and loses itself in the low 324. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ground which borders the river. Hog Run takes a westerly course from the center of Norman and fiows into the Illinois; and further west Armstrong Run, taking its source near the southern line, flows nearly direct north, and empties into the Illinois a little west of Hog Run. These streams are little raore than prairie water-courses that serve to carry off the surplus water of the surface, and are dry a large part of the year. Their names are suggestive of their own origin. The tiraber is oak, hackberry, walnut and maple. The broken character of the country naturally protected the tira ber, and the early settlers found here a good field for " foraging," which was largely in dulged in at an early date. The soil is largely the black prairie raold, free frora bowlders, and rather low and wet in the central parts, with rather strong clay lands on the high ground. The farmers are largely des'oted to the exclusive cultivation of corn, and feed more of it to hogs than in other parts of the county. There is some stock-raising, Mr. E. B. Jaraes having given considerable attention to the breed ing of horses. The first settler in this precinct was David Bunch, on the southeast quarter of section 21. He was a native of North Car olina, but moved to Tennessee, and from thence carae to Illinois, coraing to Norman in the winter of 1834-6. It is probable that he was attracted thither by the fine tiraber here, which had been bought up by the speculators. There was a good market for logs or hewn timber at Ottawa and other points on the river, and as there was none to protect it, large quantities of it were stolen by early settlers, who felt justi fied in these depredations by the fact that their holding this land prevented the settle ment of the county. Mr. Bunch made the cutting and rafting of this timber to market his principal business, and for sorae years raade no effort to make a home here. He afterward cleared up a good farm, on which he lived many years. In the same year Datus Kent joined him here and went into the timber business on the sarae basis. He had his cabin on the south fraction of section 15, and built the log hotel across the river, which is now referred to as Cas tle Danger. Kent was from the South, and a winter or two was enough to satisfy him that he was out of his element, and left for Arkansas in 1837, leaving no farm ini- proveraents. Henry Norman was another prominent settler, and came in about 1839. He carae frora Brown Count}', Ohio, frora where he carae first to Braceville, about 1836, but subsequently came to Norman and put up his cabin on the east half of the southeast quarter of section 26. Here he stayed until 1842, when he reraoved to Alorris. His son, Thoraas J. Norraan, re- raained at the homestead, and was the first supervisor of the precinct under the action of the county in 1850. It is from him that the precinct takes its name. Dr. Timothy Horrom was an early settler here. He was one of that large class of persons who be came infected by the speculative mania. He settled on section 20, and with a large family of boys began to make a home. He was a peculiar man; had a taste for whis ky, which was not uncommon in that day, but which led him into a great many escapades, and gained for hira quite a rep utation in the county. His mania for speculation led hira to found Horrom City, on the other side of the river, a paper me- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 325 tropolis, which passed through the common experience. He finally moved over to Erienna, where he died about 1860. John Sullivan, an Irishman, who was brought here by the work on the canal, carae into Norraan about 1841. He carae here with no capital but his hands and plenty of pluck, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 13, and has since improved a fine farm. In July, 1847, E. B. Jaraes came in frora Kendall County. He was a native of Ohio, and carae to Kendall County aj'oung man. Here he married, and a little later came to Norman and settled on section' 25. In 1848, the canal being finished, the lands rapidly came into market, and Norman shared in the tide of emigration which rap idly filled up the county. In forming any conception of frontier life, one is apt to be infiuenced by some preconceived arbitrary standard. The pioneer of to-day goes not into an unknown and unexplored wilderness. The enter prising newspaper has been before him; the soil, the climate, the raineral resources, the agricultural advantages — the whole situation has been exhaustively mapped out, while railroads carry him forward with speed and comfort to the scene of his frontier labors. Nor do the modern ad vantages cease here. Having fixed upon his field of operations, material ready framed to form his dwelling, improved ma chinery to till the soil, and a century's ex perience, unite to rob his experience of much of its difficulties, and to insure a speedily successful outcome of his venture. In ten years he has surrounded himself with more of the luxuries of civilization than the pioneers of Illinois possessed after twenty-five years of effort. And these rapid strides of progress, it should be reraera- bered, have been principally made within the last twenty-five years. While the pioneers of Illinois profited by the momen tum acquired in the advance of the previ ous century, it should not be forgotten that they have placed the weight of their expe • rience and achievement with the forces that now accelerate the advance of the star of empire westward. The large purchases of timber lands by speculators in 1835 greatly retarded the settleraent of this section of the State, and Grundy County was as un developed and bare of civilizing resources in 1847 as many parts of the State ten years earlier. When Air. James came toNoi- man, in this year, there were but five fam ilies within its limits, and the general char acter of the country was that of an untaraed wilderness. The completion of the canal, however, was the signal for a mighty change, and frora that time forward the county took on a rapid change. The early settlers brought nothing with them but what the necessities of the situa tion demanded. One wagon generally suf ficed to bring the faraily, household furni ture, farming implements, and frequently one or two months' supplies. It requires no great amount of consideration to be lieve that luxuries, or even comforts, could find no place in such an outfit, and so the pioneer, after constructing a shelter for his faraily, found his skill and ingenuity taxed to their utmost to supply this deficiency. It was necessary to manufacture tables, chairs and bedsteads before they could be used, and some of the most striking inci dents of frontier cabin life are founded upon this universal dearth of ordinary comforts. The early years of a new settle- 326 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ment were occupied in supplying these wants and in subjecting the land to the payment of its annual tribute. This ac complished, the pioneer, ever mindful of the prosperity of his children and the con servation of society, suraraoned the church and school to his aid. The Fox River settleraent was early made a base of operations by the Methodist church, and from a missionary plant estab lished here, sent out its itinerants through out the settlements on the upper part of the Illinois River. The first church organ ization in Norman was a Protestant Meth odist Church, which was built up under the administration of a Rev. Mr. Fowler. John Piatt and E. B. James, with three or four others, constituted the membership, which held its meetings in the different cabins about the neighborhood. About 1854, a Methodist Episcopal church was organized here, which gradually dispilaced the older society and held its meetings in a school- house which had been erected in the mean- tirae. The church subsequently held its meetings in the Baptist church building until 1870, when it erected a place of wor ship on the southeast corner of section 36. This is a neat frame structure erected at a cost of about $2,800, and reflects credit upon efforts of the church and the management. Rev. J. W. Odell and Mr. E. B. James, who were prominent in securing it. The Baptist church was organized here about 1854, and found its main support in the families of Messrs. Haymond, Winters and Mauley. This church used the one school-house in the precinct, alternating its services with those of the Protestant Meth odist and the Methodist Episcopal churches, until about 1862. Mr. Thos. Haymond, Lewis Winters and the Rev. Mr. Fosket, were prominent in securing a church build ing at this time, and the frame building, thirty by fifty feet, situated on the south east quarter of the northeast quarter of sec tion 26, is due to their labors. It was erected at a cost of about $2,700. The first school-house was a log struct ure, built in 1853, at Bills' Point. The spot thus designated is a " point of timber" near the center of section 25, the name of which, it is said, originated with Jacob Claypool. Mr. Haymond relates a characteristic story of those times to the effect, that going to Mr. Claypool's on business one day he was accompanied by a friend from the East who was here on a visit. His friend naturally wore his " store clothes," and a linen shirt and collar. This was a remarkable innovation upon the custom of Grundy County at that time and made a decided impression upon Mr. Claypool's mind. Business took the three persons to Bills' Run, when. Air. Hayraond being a new comer to Norman, inquired the origin of the name of the run. His reply was, that some years before a Mr. Bills who had been there, created such a sensation by his civilized attire, that his advent had been commemorated by giying his name to a ford, a stream, and this point of timber. In describing this hero, Mr. Claypool, pointing at Mr. Haymond's friend, said: "He wore a white shirt and collar, and was just such a dandy as he." It may therefore be accepted that the name of Bills' Run and Bills' Point is a frontier compliment to a white shirt and collar. It is certainly appropriate, if not signifi- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 327 cant, that the first school-house was erected at this point. Here Aliss Renift' taught the first school and was succeeded by Mrs. Stoutemyer. This primitive building hao been succeeded by a modern structure and the number multiplied, so that whether through the increase of education or the breaking down of frontier isolation, white shirts and collars are now by no means a rarity in Norman Precinct. CHAPTER XYIIL* MAZON TOWNSHIP— EARLY TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES— ITS PIONEERS— GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SETTLEMENT— NEW MAZON— CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. TOWNSHIP 32 north, range 7 east, is situated as near as may be, in the cen ter of Grundy County. Its name, Mazon, was derived from the stream which bears this designation, a branch of which crosses a corner of the township. The Indian signi fication of the word is nettle, and finds its appropriateness as a name for the town ship in the fact that this plant was found in considerable nurabers on the rich tiraber bottoras of this section. The Indians and early settlers turned this plant to a useful account, taking its fibre, in the absence of hemp, for twine and a coarse thread.' The general surface is very level, with hardly variation enough to afford drainage for the surplus water. The soil is good, strong, black muck, and will prove, when properly drained and cultivated, as good land as there is in the county, but it is readily affected by moisture, which it seems to hold for a long time. This characteristic is the bane of travelers and road-makers, and often causes the farmer expensive delays. The general drainage is toward the northeast, the township being marked by six water courses running about a mile s^part, in a generally parallel course. The principal ones are the Waupecan Creek, Johnny Run, Murray Sluice, and the West Fork of the Mazon. These are all insignificant streams * B.y J. H, Battle. now, generally drying up in the hot raonths of the summer and assuming a short-lived importance in the spring or on the occasion of a freshet. Their early history, however, was not quite so tame, when frora various causes, the water passed off less readily, and swollen with the spring freshet, these streams overfiowed their low banks, unit ing their waters and giving a large part of the township the appearance of a lake from six inches to two feet deep. The timber was originally found along these streams, the principal bodies being known as Wau ponsee Grove, Johnny Grove, and Owen's Spring, on section 24. The farmers give the most of their attention to raising corn, though this is alternated largely with stock- raising, as the corn market proves more or less profitable. There is a gradual increase in the araount of corn fed from year to year, and many of the best farmers believe this to be the most profitable disposition to make of the corn crop. Dairying is becoming a more marked feature here also, the cream ery established in Mazon giving quite an impetus to this branch of farraing industry. The first settleraent of the township was begun in 1833 by A. K. Owen, who, in company with Dr. L. S. Robbins, John Hogoboom and others, carae into the pres ent territory of Grundy County on a pros pecting expedition. To this party of ex plorers the southern portion of the county HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 329 is principally indebted for its early settle ment, and it will doubtless be found inter esting to learn something of the history of the leader of this party and at the same tirae gain sorae knowledge of the contem poraneous history of the northern part of the State. Mr. Owen has left an autobiography from which the following is taken: "My first visit to Illinois was in the suraraer of 1819. I made my way from Syracuse, N. Y., which then contained a population of one family engaged in public entertain ment. The next town of any note was Buftalo, which was then being rebuilt after the burning by the Indians and Canadians during the war of 1812-15. The next town was Cleveland, coraposed of one store, three or four raechanical shops and eight or ten farailies; next was Columbus, Ohio, containing 300 inhabitants. The first mill was then being built on the Scioto River. The next town was Dayton, composed of about a dozen farailies; next Eaton, of six or eight farailies; Conersville, of one fam ily; then two days' journey to Terre Haute, through a wilderness, guided by a blazed trail, but where no wagon had ever passed. The population of Terre Haute consisted of about a dozen farailies, and here two fiat- boats had been launched and loaded with goods for trade lower down on the river. From Terre Haute the route lay to Ed- wardsville. 111., where a population of 250 or 300 was found. Here I attended a trial for murder — People v. Edwards — for the killing of Daniel D. Smith, the U. S. land agent. After a three days' trial, in which the accused was ably defended by Felix Grundy, of Tennessee, Edwards was ac quitted, and Grundy, mounting his horse. took his fee, in shape of a thousand dollar negress, behind him on his horse and paced oft" for home. " North and west from Edwardsville there were no settlements whatever. My object had been to hunt up two quarter sections of land upon the bounty tract, but the land agent having been killed and his place not yet supplied, all I could do was to take on a full cargo of fever and ague and return to New York. ""My next visit to Illinois was in the spring of 1827 or 1828. I journeyed from Ilazlegreen, Alabama, on horseback to Quincy, 111. It was a very wet season, and I had creeks to swim more or less every day, carrying my saddle bags on my shoulders. I ferried the Missi^sippi at Golcondee, six miles from the mouth of the Illinois, there being very little settle raent thereabouts. The whole of the mili tary tract was then included in Pike County. Some fifteen or twenty railes above the mouth of the Illinois, under the Mississippi bluff, was a little town called Atlas, settled by two Ross farailies. Frora there to Quincy were two farailies, Harrison and Thomas. At Quincy were also two fami lies. Woods and Keys, and one single man, H. H. Snow. The first county election took place a few days after my arrival. Snow was elected circuit and county clerk, recorder and justice of the peace; Wood and Keys held the balance of the offices with the exception of sherift" and constable, which were bestowed upon me. In Au gust of the sarae year I accompanied the first wagon from Quincy to Galena. The Sac and Fox Indians inhabited Rock Island with two military companies on the island. There were no other whites on the route. 330 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. At Galena there were two small trading posts, a few miners, but not a white woman above Quincy. In August of the next year I was again in corapany with the first wagon frora Galena to Chicago, crossing Rock River above Rockford. The popula tion of Chicago was then about 900, with two corapanies of troops at Fort Dearborn. " In 1829, we obtained permission to or ganize a county. At a meeting held for this purpose the narae of Daviess was sug gested for the new county, but it was ob jected that there was then a county by that name in the State. At this, John Arm strong jumped up and suggested Jo Da viess, which was accepted. I remained at Galena until the fall of 1830, when I took what was called "the sucker shoot;" went down the river to winter, which was a very common thing with the miners. I put up for winter quarters on Fancy Creek, eight miles north of Springfield, which then con tained just four farailies and a tread-mill for grinding corn. " In the spring of 1831, I found myself the wealthy owner of two horses and har ness, but no wagon, so I cut a couple of poles for thills, put cross pieces behind the horse, set on my clothes trunk, hitched ray other horse in front, and then, whip and single line in hand, set ray face north ward to seek ray fortune. The first good fortune I met was in the person of Chloe, only daughter of Ezekiel Stacey, living on Oxbow prairie. Just there and then we made a life-long contract, got consent of her parents, and next morning I proceeded on my northward journey to locate and prepare a home. That night I reached the cabin of a Mr. Long, three railes south of Ottawa on Coville Creek. Mrs. Long was very low with dyspepsia and had to be fed every half hour. Her husband being exhausted by his unreraitting attention, I volunteered to care for her through the night and did so, and the next morning while harnessing my horses, George AValk- er, the first sheriff of La Salle County, summoned rae to appear forthwith to serve on the grand jury, it being the first session of the circuit court of this county. Of course I pleaded non-residence, but the sheriff informed me that he had summoned every eligible man in the county and still lacked one, and I must serve. So I went to Ottawa and was appointed foreman of the jury. For want of a better place we held our deliberations undjr two maple trees on the bank of the river, situated about ten yards apart. Our constable was Aloses Booth, and he was kept busy run ning frora one tree to the other to keep the hogs out of hearing distance of our deliber ations. The only complaint before the jury was for breach of promise, but the jury brought in no bill. On presentation of this report, the judge complimented the good people of the county as a law-abiding community, from the fact that they had nothing for the grand jury to do. At din ner time we sent the constable to David Walker's, the only cabin in the place, to en gage our dinners, and got answer that he had but two rooms, one for the court and one for the kitchen, and that the judge and attorneys had monopolized these accommo dations. AVe got some crackers and cheese, however, at a little trading post kept by George AValker, and was allowed to enjoy this frugal raeal only through the indefati gable energy of our constable who kept the hogs at bay. On being dismiss-jd frora the HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 331 grand jury, I returned to Mr. Long's, and at his earnest solicitation bought his claira, giving hira one of my horses and two months' work. "On the 17th of July, 1831, I bor rowed a horse and six dollars in cash from Mr. Long, and went to Oxbow prairie and redeemed my vow; then returned and paid ray two months' work due on ray claira, and on the first of October following, went after ray wife. I borrowed a yoke of oxen and wagon of Mrs. Arrastrong, living near the raouth of Coville Creek, attached a rope to the horn of the ' near ox,' and went to Oxbow prairie, returning soon af ter with my wife and little household ef fects, and set up housekeeping on Coville Creek. The next spring the Black Hawk AVar broke out, and at its close, I sold my claim, and in the following spring came on an exploring expedition to Sulphur Springs." This party raade their head quarters at Johnny's Grove, and clairas were raade in what are now the townships of Vienna, Braceville and Alazon. Owen was the only one who settled in Alazon, choosing a site on the West Fork of the Mazon Creek, a little below old Alazon Village. This was in the spring or sum mer of 1833. By the help of one man he succeeded in erecting a log cabin fourteen feet square, into which he moved the fol lowing May, and began housekeeping with out door, window or fioor. For a short time his most accessible neighbors were one faraily at Ottawa, one at Pontiac, and one at Joliet, each frora twenty-six to thirty miles away. But this state of af fairs continued but a short time. In this year quite a nuraber of settlers came info Wauponsee and other townships of the county. None carae to Alazon until the following spring, when James McCarty moved frora C>ttawa and took up his abode upon AVauponsee's little corn patch of three or four acres on section five. He was a bachelor, had served in the carapaign against Black Hawk, and found no trouble in caraping out while he put in his first crop of corn. This he did with a hoe, and in the fall the stalks furnished hiin the ma terial with which he built his winter quar ters. In June of 1835, he bought his land at the " land sale " and lived here until 1845, when he died and was buried in the Clay pool burying ground, the first one to oc cupy it. Following AlcCarty late in the fall carae Jesse Newport, from Belmont County, Ohio. He settled on the south west corner of section six, secured his land at the public sale in 1835, and impi-oved his place until 1839, when he rented it to Air. Dewey, an English imraigrant, and went to Hennepin where he died in 184t). In the same fall, James C. Spores built a cabin on the east half of the southwest quarter of section five, and improved his claira here for three or four years when he sold out to John L. Pickering, and moved to the " far West." James P. Ewing carae to Mazon in the spring of 1835, building his cabin on the west half of the northeast quarter of sec tion six. The land here was very wet, and greatly discouraged his efforts at making a home. He lived here two or three years, following at times his trade of shoemaker. He finally sold out to Jesse Newport, though not before he had lost a child by the ravages of the miasmatic climate. Pickering, who bought out Spores, was of Quaker extraction, and came from Belmont 332 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. County, Ohio. He was one of the early county officers and lived here for many years, but subsequently moved to Blooni ington in this State. Tlie marriage of his daughter Sarah to Gales Austin, bj^ Jacob Claypool, J. P., was probably the first wed ding in the township. About the sarae time with Ewing came John Ridgway, who bought land on the northwest quarter of section five, and built his cabin there. He improved this place until about 1837, when he sold out to Nicholas Summers and went to Indiana. David Spencer becarae a settler here about this time also, built his cabin just above Pickering, and subsequently married a daughter of Air. Summers aud went to In diana. In the fall of 1835, Augustus H. Owen, a lawyer, came from New York and took up his residence in the Hogoboom cabin. This was the first lawyer iu Grun dy County, but he soon discovered that he was considerably in advance of his a^j-e, and finding no demand for his legal abili ties, he moved in 1836 to Ottawa, where he followed his profession for a year or two and was subsequently drowned in Rock River. In the suraraer of 1835, J. C. Murray came to Mazon frora Oswego County, New York. He was a brother-in-law of A. K. Owen, and being desirous of getting more land where his growing faraily could find opportunitj' of securing horaes for thera selves, he was induced to corae to Mazon on the representations of Mr. Owen. He carae with his family by the lakes to Chi cago, and was just forty-nine days on the water. He brought with his liousehold ef fects two new wagons, but of course, no teams, and leaving his faraily at Chicago he carae to Owen's on foot. The latter at once returned to Chicago with his brother- in-law, taking his own team and hiring another to bring the Murray family to their new home. Owen went to Hennepin subsequently, and Alurraj'^ rented the farm for awhile, in the meantime looking up an eligible site for a permanent horae. He then bought land on the old Chicago and Blooniington trail near the Murray sluice on section 33. His cabin was called the " Half AVay House," it being situated about an equal distance — sixty-eight railes — from either terminus of the road. This cabin was one of the earliest m the town ship to be built out on the prairie. The family was moved in before completed, and a blanket for some time served to close the doorway. There was no floor save the earth, and the onl^^ board to be got was finally sawed and spliced so as to furnish a suitable door. Mr. Alurray was drowned in Johnny Run in June of 1844, an accident which aftbrds a striking incident in the life of the early times. Mr. Murray was then on the grand jury, which was in session at Alor ris, and was a guest of Mr. Arrastrong, the pioneer hotel keeper of that place. There had been quite a freshet, and frora various causes the landlord found himself out of raeat for the morning meal. Alurray, who had several pieces of smoked meat at horae, volunteered to go in the night and get thera to supply the deficiency. He started out on horseback and got home safely, bnt on his way back to Alorris, he missed the ford and was drowned. Jaraes McKeen, an early settler in the county and identified with the early history of several townships, was also an early res- .^^^^. '- • 4^ fp ^^C^MyC/Z^PTL ^U4^J HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 335 ident of this township. He first rnoved to the mouth of the Au Sable, thence to the old " Kankakee city," and later to the old Clover Place near the through trail. Here he kept hotel for awhile, when about 1840, he located on section 23, near the old village of Mazon. Hirara Fuller, a relative of A."K. Owen, carae from New York about 1839 and settled in Mazon. In 1840 or 41, the Gibson faraily carae to Mazon frora Wau ponsee township ; the faraily consisting of Robert and Silas, and two sisters, Ann and Bathsheba, came to Norman township about 1837 or 8. The boys were coopers by trade and found the quality and quantity of speculators' timber a profitable source of supply. The sisters married and Silas died before Robert came into Mazon. He first settled in AVauponsee Grove, but subse quently bought land in sections 10 and 11, on Johnny Run, where he improved a large farm. Of the early experiences of this settle ment there is nothing peculiar to this town ship to be noted. The nearest post-office was at Ottawa, then Dresden, and later at Morris. The nearest mills were those at Dayton, Wilmington, and Milford, or Mill- ington. In some respects the community in Mazon were less favorably situated than some others in the county. The nuraber of streams across the surface of the township indicates the slow natural drainage, and it was no unusual occurrence for these to join by overfiowing their banks. Under these circumstances all traveling was out of the question. Mr. A. O. Murray relates, on such an occasion, his father's faraily found theraselves with a very slender supply of provisions in the house. A raan had been engaged to go to mill at Dayton, but the sudden rise of water had cut off his re turn. The neighbors who were accessible were in nearly as bad a plight, and there was no resort save to take account of stock and wait for the subsidence of the waters. They found their whole stock consisted of some beans and salt, and on these, of which there was no great supply, the family prepared to subsist for an indefinite time. Fortunately they had a new-milch heifer which supplied the faraily with milk and butter, the latter serving to render more palatable the slip pery elm bark which was fried to eke out the meager store. A sharp freeze which rendered a passage through the submerged territory more diflicult, protracted this ex perience for three weeks. This difficulty in getting to mill was felt to be a serious drawback in this section for years, and was not obyiated until the county was formed, and bridges built across the principal streams. Mr. Charles Huston relates a tedious experience of this sort as late as 1845. The community in the southern part of the township had been travel-bound for sorae tirae, and while each farmer had plenty of wheat and corn, their farailies were using boiled wheat or grated corn as a substitute for flour. Huston, a new comer, had neither, and proposed to earn some flour by taking a load to mill for the cominunity. His wagon was soon filled with wheat, and he set out on his journey. He found but little difficulty in getting across streams by ferry or ford, but the fre quent sloughs that blocked his way were not so easily surmounted. Four times each way he was obliged to unload his wagon and carry its contents around, while his team used their utmost powers to drag the empty wagon through the quagmires. On 336 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. his return, his team worn out with the tedious journey, he was obliged to get as sistance to get his empty wagon out of one of these places. There was but little stock in the township save the horses and oxen which served as tearas to the fanners. A few cows and hogs were kept, but there was little market :'or them, and a good cow could be bought for six or eight dollars. The abundance of game relieved the settler of the necessity of buy ing meat or of using such animals as they had, save for a change ^r steady supply. Deer, prairie chickens, and wolves were found in great numbers. The latter some times proved troublesome to young stock, but the price which the county paid for their scalps raore than compensated for their depredations. The through trail which passed along the southeastern corner of this town ship gave this section some prestige. A great deal of teaming was done on this trail from as far south as Springfield, while considerable stock was driven along this route to Chicago. The tearasters as a rule were a rough class. They slept under their wagons at night, brought their own pro visions and did their own cooking. Their tearas were generally turned into the near est corn -patch, a liberty which settlers learned not to resent. The corn was of but little value, and unless the owner was of a muscular build and willing to take his ¦pay " out of the hide " of the offender there was little chance of redress. Thus the pro fessional teamster, though he got compar atively very little pay, continued to make his trip to Chicago from the south with wheat, and return loaded with salt and store goods, a favorable trip consuming from two to three weeks. Mr. Huston relates a trip to Chicago, which illustrates a comraon experience of the tirae. Sorae drovers had found it nec essary to slaughter sorae hogs which were unable to travel further, and engaged Mr. Huston to take a load to Chicago for twelve dollars. It was in January, and in com pany with another team he started on his trip by way of Morris. As they crossed the ice on the river at this place, the rain began to fall with the temperature. The roads gradually became heavier, and little raore than half way to the city it was found necessary to leave a part of each load, buried in a hay stack, to prevent the pork frora thawing out, and proceed to the city with half a load, which was accomplished only after almost superhuman exertion. On discharging their load, the teams were obliu'ed to get the remainder, aud deliver it in Chicago. In the meanwhile the mud of the roads was gradually getting deeper until the last trip was raade with the wheels sinking to the hub most of the way. The return trip Mr. Huston utilized by bring ing a thousand feet of pine luraber for his building then going up at Mazon. As fre quently occurs in an open winter, the weather changed to a cooler teraperature as suddenly as it had warmed to a thaw, and the return trip was made through mud, gradually stiffening with the cold, which greatly retarded the progress homeward. On arriving at Alorris, the river was found banks full and impassable, and to save tirae the wagons were loaded with coal from Goold Ridge, and taken to Kendall County where it was disposed of to blacksmitlis. On HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 387 their return the river was found still im passable. Ice had formed in the center of the river, but at either margin was a space of running water which defied passage. After waiting sorae tirae and becoming impatient with delay, Mr. Huston con ceived a plan to cross the streara. Using his luraber to bridge the margins on either side and after testing the strength of the ice by pushing his wagon on it by hand, and subsequently leading a horse on, he pro ceeded to cross. Hitching one horse on the end of the tongue of the wagon, and leading the other in the rear, the weight was so distributed as to promise a safe pas sage. Unfortunately the bridge on the south margin proved defective, and wagon and horses were precipitated into the freez ing water. The leading horse proved true, and swam out, bringing the wagon on to solid ground. The led horse, however, re fused to swim, and it was only with great exertion and the strength of the other an imal, that he was brought to shore. In the meanwhile Mr. Huston had spent an hour or two, waist deep in water getting his teara in shape and saving his hard earned lumber. The latter he piled up in a safe place on the bank and reached home. nearly frozen after just three weeks' absence. The early traffic on the Blooraington and Chicago road was very large and seeraed to warrant the belief that the canal would not greatly interfere with it. Mr. Charles Hus ton who had come from Syracuse, N. Y., in 1845, had kept hotel there and doubtless could see no good reason with such advantage as the trail afforded, why a city should not grow up here as readily as elsewhere. At any rate in 1848, urged by a Mr. Hall of Ottawa, who agreed to open a store, he bought land of McKeen and laid out forty acres in streets, squares and lots. The store was started but subsequently was sold out to Wm. B. Royal As the country developed all enterprises based on the permanency of trail traffic failed. The railroad and canal put an end to teaming and " droving," and the store here languished. A co-operative store was inaugurated, but this finally failed, passing into private hands and being eventually closed out by fire about 1854. Some years later a temper ance society put up a building, renting the under part for a store, but the railroad put a finishing stroke to the declining prosperity of the town and the metropolis was trans ferred to the " center." The building of the Pekin, St. Louis & Chicago railroad gave a new impetus to the yillage growth of the township, but transferred it to the location of the depot. A store was begun here about 1875, by AfcAfee, who was suc ceeded by Gifford and later by M. Isham. A church, a school-house, a half dozen stores two grain elevators, and a cluster of rather new looking wooden buildings, represent a village of some 500 inhabitants, which is known by the post-office and railroad au thorities as Mazon, but is popularly desig nated by the addition of " New town" in parenthesis, to distinguish it from old Mazon. An enterprise which does much to build up the village is a creamery which was established at the Miller cheese factory in 1880. In the following winter it was brought to the village and now occupies a building devoted exclusively to its pur poses. The project was conceived and put in force by T. Rankin, who found it impos- 338 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. sible to profitably handle farmer's butter, which he bought in the course of his bus iness. In starting the creamery he revolu tionized the cheese business which had a fair start here, aud greatly extended the business of his general store. Nine teams are maintained, each of which makes a -daily circui-t of twenty -five or thirty miles, skimming the milk of patrons and bring ing in the cream to the factory, at the same tirae taking orders and delivering goods frora his store to any who may de sire them. The cream is bought by the inch ; the milk being placed in cans of a foot in diameter, the thickness of the cream is noted through a graduated glass inserted in the side of the can. An inch of cream is calculated to make a pound of butter, and varies in the price paid with the gen eral changes of the butter market. The capacity of the factory is 1,100 pounds of butter per day, and at certain seasons of the year is crowded to its full capacity, in. volving an annual outlay of from $25,000 to $35,000 for cream alone. The Methodist church was the earliest religious organization to gain a foothold in this coraraunity. Missionary agents of the. Congregational society were early in the township, especially in the southern ])art, but for various reasons their efforts did not result in any raarked permanent achieve ment. In William and Charles Royal, who came into Mazon about 1847, the Alethodist organization had zealous work ers, and a society was formed which erected a place of worship at Old Mazon, about 1861. When the new town sprung up, this building was sold, and now serves as a granary, not far from its former site. The ])resent neat, wooden structure at Mazon, was erected about 1877, at a cost of $2,400, and is the only one in the village. The AVauponsee Grove Congregational Church is a society in the northwestern corner of the township. This church wa.=i organized May 6, 1864, with seventeen members, araong whom were H. B. Good rich, William Hotchkiss, F. T. Benton, Ab bott Barker, John Sample, and their wives. Rev. Jaraes Longhead, of Morris, had been holding Sabbath services here before this, and continued to supply this point and another neighborhood with alternate serv ices. In 1808, a resident pastor was se cured, the church holding its services in the school-hoiise in the meanwhile. May 27, 1869, a site was selected, and one acre of land donated for the erection of a church building, and being the jubilee year, the effort to secure a church home was greatly assisted by the enthusiasm evinced hy the Congregational membership at large. Alemorial offerings were received from various persons and churches abroad, to which was added the enthusiasm of the ladies of the society here, who pledged a thousand dollars toward its erection. The building was erected, dedicated June 3, 1871, and in Ai arch of the following year, the church voted itself self-sustaining, hay ing received aid frora the American Home Alissionary Society since its organization. It has now a raerabership of some sixtj-- two members, and a Sunday school of about 106 attendants. The earliest school-house was probably on section 24, and was built in 1837. In its time it was the finest cabin in the set tlement. It was a square structure, built of logs, with windows raade of six panes of glass placed in a single horizontal line in an HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 339 enlarged crack between the logs. Against the log just below this window, supported by pegs driven into the side of the struct ure, was a rough puncheon which by court esy was called the desk. Before this, on rude slab benches, the scholars sat and faced abont as they copied the epigram matic wisdom which adorned the top line of the copy-books of a quarter century ago. This cabin had a floor of riven planks, trimmed to lay reasonablj'^ still when trod upon, and was the admiration of the cora raunity. Mr. Axtell was the first wielder of the birchen scepter. No trace of these primitive times now greet the eye; the raen and woraen of that early day, with all their toil and privations, have gone and raade no sign; they labored, and the present generation has entered in to their labors; the present stands upon the shoulders of the past; and, if manfully meeting the duties of the present hour, we lift the world higher by the full stature of a man, the pioneers of this land will not have toiled in vain. OHAPTEE XIX.* VIENNA TOWNSHIP-PIONEERS OF THE PRAIRIE— THE CHANGES OF FIFTY YEARS— ILLI NOIS CITY— VERONA— THE CHURCH AND SCHOOL. IN following the arbitrary distinctions of township lines<» the historian of the early settleraent finds hiraself placed in an unnatural position. The events to which this county was indebted for its first in habitants, recognized no such liraitations. The broad expanse of prairie, radiant with the beauty ofthe early sura mer's flowers, or brown with the ripened food for a thou sand herds, was unmarked to the pioneer, save by distant groves that indicated the water-courses. The adventurous settler, attracted by the fiattering report of friends, or lured on by his love of frontier life and adventure, placed his family and goods in a wagon, and casting oft" his moorings, be came a wanderer, knowing no home but the canvas that served him as shelter by night. His choice of land was dictated by caprice, and generally resulted in an un fortunate selection, though it often took years of sickness, and even bereavement by death itself to convince him of his error. The points of timber were generally chosen, or sorae spring of water, both of which, ex perience has proven to be the most insalu brious locations open to choice. But here, patiently enduring toil and privation, tlie pioneer surmounted the difficulties of his situation, and has left an enduring monu ment to his memory in these fruitful fields * By J. H. Battle. and thriving towns. There seera to have been few indications in that early day as to the points to which subsequent growth would accrue with the greatest advantage. Choice was determined by the most frivo lous chance; expectation was at a dead level. This situation was not inconsistent with an almost feverish excitement over the effect which the construction of the canal was ex pected to have on this whole region. The great consideration which "puzzled the will," was where the " bonanza's " lightning would strike. It is not strange, therefore, that the early settlement of this county, molded by such motives and influences, should be characterized by no definable method. But the later growth of society has long since modified these early tradi tions. Years of association in the capacity of a political precinct have given rise to a coraraunity of interests, out of which have sprung policies and practices plainly ap parent even to the stranger, and town ship lines now bind the country population with as strong a tie as national bounda ries. Vienna lies just west of Mazon, and in its topography and early history ,is closely related. It is rather of a higher elevation, parts of it being considerably broken and all of it soraewhat rolUng. It is traversed diagonally in a northeasterly direction, by five unimportant streams, Hog and Bills' HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 341 Runs flowing into Norman, the Waupecan and a nameless stream passing into Mazon, and ThunderCreek joining Johnny Run in the latter township. The character of these water-courses, of the soil and tiraber is sirailar to those noted in Alazon. The pur suit of the fanners is sirailar, save that Mr. Harford, who has given considerable atten tion to cattle raising, is now turning his effort to breeding horses of the Norraan blood. The first claira made in this township was in 1833. In that year Edwin Shaw and Sheldon Bartholomew came to this section with A. K. Owen, who settled in Mazon. These men selected farms at the point now known as " Parer's Grove," but beyond naming the place " Spring Grove" from a large spring found at one end or it, no attempt was made by thera to take permanent possession of it. Not long after the visit of these persons an English family by the narae of Grove, took up a claim on section 4 at Hog's Point. Here they built a cabin and cultivated thei ground until the fall of 1836, when Jonah C. Newport, a native of Belmont County, Ohio, bought them out. About 1834, or perhaps a year earlier, Gejrge W. Arm strong settled on the northwest quarter of section 6, where he resided two years. He then moved to Wauponsee, frora whence he subsequently returned, and bought the northeast quarter of section 1, township 33, range 6 (now in La Salle County), where he built a cabin and where his raodern res idence now is. About the sarae season, Ch»rles Parer, from Ottawa, came to this region, made a claim near the present res idence of Mr. Harford at " Spring Grove." He cut considerable hay for his stock, and built his cabin, but unfortunately the fire caught in the diy prairie grass and con sumed the hay, cabin and fixtures. It is not clear how this accident occurred. It is said, however, that the whole faraily had gone to Ottawa and in their absence the conflagration took place. On Mr. Parer's return, finding nothing left but blackened ruins, he abandoned the place, his family never coraing back to the township. This was the extent of the population in this community until the coraing of John Dewey in 1841. Mr. Dewey was an English raechanic, and attracted by the reports frora friends who lived at Vermillion, sent his wife and two children to his American relatives, to spy out the land while he kept his situation. They came in 1837, and sent back so favor able a report, that he came in the follow ing year aud decided to cast in his for tunes with this new prairie country. He came to Jesse Newport's in Wauponsee that year and rented the place, bringing his family forward the year following Here he staj'ed until 1841, when he came to Vienna and rented the farm of Jonali Newport at Hog Point. Three years later he came to " Parer's Grove." About the sarae time with Dewey, carae John B. Moore, and settled on the southeast cor ner of section 5. He carae from Philadel phia with a young family, made a home here but moved away some years since. About 1845, Henry Hyslop settled on sec tion 22, and his was the pioneer cabin on the prairie. He was soon followed by the Wilks, Curtis and Antis farailies. The canal also made its contribution to this set- 342 HISTORY OF GRUNDY" COUNTY. tleraentin theperson of Anthony Maloney, who settled on section 7, where he lived many years. It will be noticed that that part of Grun dy County not lying contiguous to the canal, settled very slowly during the first ten years. This is to be accounted for, not so much because of its less desirable character as of the action of speculators. Most of the earliest claims were made on the margin of the river, and the claimants were on the ground to purchase their land at the public sale in 1830. After this sale, specu lators bought large tracts in the interior of the county, especially the timbered por tion. The price was at once' raised above governraent prices and of course found but little sale. There were here and there sec tions which were supposed to be less de sirable or had been overlooked by gen eral land buyers, and these were gradually picked up. As soon as the settlement grew large enough (and the legal require ments were not severe) a township or pre cinct organization was effected and after the five years of release, taxes were laid as to force non-resident land owners to pay at least their full share. Their timber was considered free plunder and so little sympathy was felt in any settleraent for this class of property holders, that it be came, unpopular for any one to assist in lo cating lands for thera. This policy, raain tained for several years, soon convinced cap italists that the land was not a good in vestraent, and becoming tired of paying comparatively exorbitant taxes, and get ting very little protection for what they did pay, they were glad to put the land in the market, getting merely enough to reira- burse them for their outlay, and not always getting off so well as that. The result was that up to about 1850, the county was only sparsely settled, but subsequently filled up with remarkable rapidity. Another feature of the settlement here iu contrast with the experience of pioneers of Ohio and the Middle States, may be noted: there seems to have been far less demand here for that invention which is the offspring of necessity. Machinery for mills, though transported over long dis tances, could be secured; in the older States they were rudely manufactured on the spot. Here the larger part of personal apparel was purchased at stores twenty or thirty miles distant; there everything, from the hat to the shoe, was manufactured at home. Here, though timber was scarce and the country sparsely settled, glass windows were the rule, house hardware not difficult to obtain, and "frame" dwellings early ap peared; there these things were the mark of wealth and distinction, and appeared only after the settlement had considerably grown. But history, in early settlements, does not exactly repeat itself. Experience must be taken into the account, and what one generation achieves raust accrue to the advantage of its successor. The pioneer experience ofthe Pilgrims was unique and could not be reproduced in a later day; that of the Middle States modified the early settlement of this western land, and the far West of to-day resembles more the " roy al road to fortune " than the " hard road to travel," which the pioneers of other genera tions found. But with all this modification of the stern experience of pioneer life, the trials of the first settlers were anything but easy to be borne. The community settled here HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 343 found the only accessible mills at Vermil- lionville, Wilmington and Dayton. Here the soil was found to yield fine crops of winter wheat, and flour was not so great a luxury. Fruit did finely, especially peaches, and there was no dearth of or chards, though apples, taking longer to mature, did not yield early, and the change of late years has never made apples so prominent in the county. The severe win ter of 1853 or 1854 killed the larger part of the peach trees, and fruit interests have languished here ever since. The ready tact of the pioneer housewives and the unpara- pered tastes of that early day found a good substitute for fruit in the pumpkin. When frozen they were prepared and stewed down to a syrup, which furnished the sweeten ing for most of the culinary purposes of the cabin, and mixed with fresh stewed pumpkin formed the coveted sweetmeat. They were planted in large nurabers and stored in a yault constructed underneath the hay-stacks to be fed to the cattle during the winter. Well may this "fruit loved of boyhood," be apostrophized by the poet and be honorably placed in a State's coat- of-arras. There was but little weaving done by the woraen of this township, not a single loom to be found here and only one field of fiax. Mrs. Dewey did try to raise silk-worms, and succeeded in securing some return for her efforts, but it was pur sued raore as a pastime than a means of profit and was soon abandoned. In her early efforts to assist her husband she learned, in Verraillionville, the tailor's trade, and became quite noted in a small circle. In this way she acquired considera. ble stock. Cattle were cheap, and when a settler was able to have Sunday clothes he was glad to trade off a heifer or yearling for the making of a coat. The other parts of the suit could be made at home, but the outer garment required more skill, and Mrs. Dewey turned her ability to good ac count. Garae was found here in the usual abun dance. Deer passing from one point to another have been counted traveling in sin gle file to the number of one or two hun dred, while lynxes and wolves, especially the latter, were " too numerous to mention." An incident is related of the latter animal which, though it occurred outside of the limits of this township, is vouched for by present residents as having happened "just across the river." A country dance had called a knight of the bow some distance from his home and detained liini till the early hours of the morning. On hfs return he heard the hungry howling ofthe wolves, which seeraed to be following on his trail and coraing unpleasantly nearer hira. Soon convinced that he was in danger, he scrara- bled, fiddle box in hand, into a tree which stood near by, and was soon surrounded by those miscreants of the prairie. Safe, but annoyed at his detention, the weary musi cian whiled away the time and " soothed the savage breast" with strains that had served a pleasanter occasion earlier in the night. The dawn released him. If this be true it is not less strongly authenticated that this was the only case of such boldness on the part of the prairie wolves of this reo-ion. They were found troublesome in the de struction of young stock, but otherwise quite harmless. Prairie chickens were found in great abundance, and furnished rare sport as well as a generous supply for the larder. But these, with the deer, have 344 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. pretty generally disappeared. Many be lieve the latter left the country about 1845, when it is said vast herds migrated across the Mississippi. Vienna was rather out of the principal line of through travel, and had little in the circumstances of her business activity or location to encourage the growth of a vil lage, but the mania for founding cities seized a Mr. Bullock, and in 1836 he laid out Illinois City, north of the Waupecan, with a great public square, and streets enough to satisfy a ver}"^ thriving village. Its only remains is the worn-out plat in records of the county. Verona was an outgrowth of the Pekin, Chicago and St. Louis railroad. It was laid out near the center of section 26, by Martin Finch and Ambrose Kinley. The ground was platted in February, 1877, and in fTbout a year grew to its present dignity. There is really no demand for a large village here, and even now has the appearance of being overgrown. Three or four stores are now doing more or less busi ness, which, with the usual blacksmith and wagon shop, two churches, and some hun dred dwelling houses, constitute the village of Verona. Its name may have found its suggestion in the title of the play, as its founders may not inappropriately now be called the "two gentlemen of Verona." Schools played an early part in this town ship. Mrs. Dewey was a woman of con siderable education, and anxious to turn her various accomplishments to a money account in aid of her husband, began teach ing school during her temporary stay at Verinillionville. On coming into Vienna, she opened up in her cabin the first board ing school in the county. She had but a few pupils, and proposed only to teach the rudiments, but children were then so few that they carae frora five railes away. They stayed during the week, going horae Saturday to stay over the Sundav and holi day. This school was not long maintained. The first school-house was soon built near Hog Run, and the pioneer school taught by A. Warnock. The efforts of the church on the frontier were generally almost as early as the first pioneer. The Methodist church had a sta tion on the Fox River, and no sooner were two or three families gathered in each other's vicinity than a missionary itinerant discovered and preached to them. The size of the audience did not seera to detract frora the interest of the occasion, and many an effective sermon has been delivered in a little cabin before two or three auditors. The earliest of these preachers were many times quite illiterate, and others, though scarcely less so, were remarkably success ful. The Mormons were here early, but found the people possessed of an independ ent judgment which was not to be swayed by a latter day revelation. The earliest organization effected, however, was by the Baptist denomination, in 1850. The Fell- ingham family were araong the settlers of this tirae, and were earnest members of this church. Mr. W. M. Fellingham was a minister, and served the Ebenezer Bap tist Society in this capacity until his death, his brothers, George and John, acting as deacons. Until about 1862, services were held in the school-house, but at this time a raodest frame building was erected on the northwest corner of section 25, at a cost of about eight hundred dollars. The mera bership does not now exceed ten members, and services are held only once a month. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 345 The Presbyterian Church of Vienna was organized February 27, 1868, by the Rev. S. H. Loss, a missionary agent of this church, with some fourteen raerabers. For sorae years they held their services in a school-house, but in 1 870 a good frame building was erected as a place of worship. The edifice cost about $3,300, and was placed on the northwest corner of section 36. In 1877, when the town of Verona sprang up, the building was reraoved to the village, where it now stands. The church has suffered severely from removals, so that it now numbers only sorae fifteen or six teen raerabers. The only other church in Vienna is the Methodist Episcopal. This was organized in 1876, and in the following year erected their present place of worship at a cost of about $2,800. The leading spirits of this church were I. C. Tilden, M. Dix, and J. Kendall. Its membership now reaches about fifty. CHAPTER XX.* BRACEVILLE TOWNSHIP— COAL MEASURES BRACEVILLE lies just east of Mazon township, and continuing the gradual rise of land in the eastern part of that precinct, becomes quite broken and pictur esque along the branch of the Mazon creek. East of this streara the land gradually sub sides to a generally level character, and stretches out along the eastern part in an expanse of wild prairie. The trend of the water-courses indicates an elevation in the central part, though it is but slight, and of the character of a plateau. The Mazon Creek enters from the south, a little east of the middle line of the township, and, cir cling to the west and north, follows the gen eral direction of the western boundary, passing into Mazon and between Waupon see and Felix at the northwest corner. The soil along the river is good farming land, but in the interior and eastern parts the light covering of sod rests upon a nearly pure, sandy soil, which is profitably available for little raore than grazing. The eastern portion, however, is richly underlaid with coal, which more than compensates for the meager productiveness of the sur face. This deposit, extending into the ad joining counties of Will and Kankakee, has given rise to considerable business activity in this vicinity, and a number of brisk mining villages have sprung up within some six miles of each other. * By J. H. Battle. -EARLY SETTLEMENT— THE OPEN PRAIRIE. The earliest development of coal was made in the counties east of Grundy, but about 1858 sorae miners opened a co-oper ative shaft on land belonging to N. Cotton. Water proved a great hindrance and ex pense here, and the project was about to fail, when some others were induced to give the enterprise assistance. They brought to the work more enthusiasm than capital, however, and the effort was about to prove an entire failure, when Mr. Mehan was en listed in the work and the shaft pushed down to the coal. At this point Mr. Boyer bought the shaft, and did some mining. Some four or five years later, Mr. Augus tine put down a shaft on his land, but the business, crippled by the lack of capital, languished until about 1880, when foreign capital took up the matter and has made this part of the county a busy, thriv ing section. The principal coal lands are owned and worked by large corporations, of which the Wilmington Coal Mining & Manufacturing Company and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company are the leading ones. The Chicago Trib une last year gave an interesting sketch of these coal-fields in December of 1881, from which the following extract is taken: " The finest and richest of these coal fields are now being worked with all the most improved facilities which unrestricted capital can supply. Strange as it may ap pear, the best veins lie nearest the surface, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 347 in marked contrast with the vaunted coal fields of England, where none of the mines are less than 500 feet, and some as low as 3,800 feet below the surface. The coal here is in veins of three feet thickness, much of it not over fifty feet below the surface, and of unexcelled quality; in raany respects, excepting for gas and coke purposes, per haps, excelling the famous Pittsburgh bitu minous coal. Here the mineral is found free of clinkers, sulphur and iron, raaking a charraing grate]coal, and, for blacksraithing purposes, without equal. " I began my inspection with the Fair banks mine in Essex township, of Kankakee County. This mine is twenty miles west of Kankakee, four railes southeast of Gard ner, and five railes south of Braceville. At Fairbanks, I found a party of surveyors engaged in running out a line for a railroad from Buckingham to Braidwood, a distance of fifteen miles. At Buckinghara this road will connect with the Southwestern Branch of the Illinois Central Railroad, thence crossing the Indiana, Illinois & Iowa Rail way, the Walmsh, St. Louis & Pacific, the Kankakee & Seneca, and the Chicago, Al ton & St. Louis, raaking three direct lines to Chicago, and three east and west. The narae of the new road is the AVilniington Coal-fields Railroad, with which it is de signed to forra a belt around the coal-fields. It is the intention of the managers of the enterprise to construct this road in a first- class manner, and when it is completed, to transport coal, farm products and passen gers. " The lands owned by the Wilmington Coal-fields Company comprise sorae 2,600 acres in Grundy and Kankakee Counties. At the invitation of the mining boss I de scended into the mine. The surface soil this year yielded a corn crop averaging from forty-five to sixty bushels to the acre, and the grass lands over two tons of hay. The shaft is six by fourteen and a half feet, divided into two compartments of six feet each, two feet and a half being utilized as an air shaft, and a double cage kept run ning. It is down ninety-five feet. For fifty-six feet two inches, it is built of tim bers solidly spiked together, and below that it is made of two by four inches scantling, placed on edge and spiked together, forra ing the wall casing. This was built in twenty-eight days, and is sufficient for hoisting 1,000 tons of coal per day. "At the bottora I found no water. The roof was as dry as the interior of a house. The only water which was in sight, and that was very little, was that which carae down from the top of the shaft. Below was laid a double track for the cars, which are used in hauling out the coal. There were four rooms being worked, and the weird appearance of the miners digging at the solid coal was a sight to be remembered. The mine ceilings are held in place by tim bers, twelve inches square. There is ten feet of solid tiraber frora the lip of the shaft out each way, three feet from the center and two feet space between each. The roof overhead is formed of two-inch planks. All the digging is done with picks, the coal being undermined and dropping down of its own weight, thus obviating the use of gunpowder. The roofing overlying the coal is what miners terra ' soapstone,' but is really shale clay, and is impervious to water. Below the coal is a bed of fire clay, which would doubtless make good fire brick. -.__.. - 348 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. " Having looked through the new mines, I started over the country to Braceville. This little town is on the Chicago and Alton railroad, and is inhabited by about 1,000 people. Last summer, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company purchased the old Bruce mine, which it is now working. It also bought of Jaraes AVhitton, 1,680 acres of coal land, paying $168,000 in cash. This land is underlaid with coal of a quality not nearly equal to that of Fairbank. The Milwaukee and St. Paul corapany is now getting out from 275 to 300 tons of coal per day from the old shaft, which is about the measure of its capacity. The company has a second shaft down now, and is working twenty-five rooms in it. But water is found very troublesome here, and often prevents work ing the mine to its full capacit3^ When I was there. No. 2 shaft was working but six rooms out of the twenty-five, and these were not entirely dry. They employ sev enty-five miners, but only eighteen of thera could work because of water. At present there are four pumps at work in this shaft getting out the water, and they have not succeeded in clearing it out. They run three, four and five-inch pipes to the sur face, and the volume of water that is raised can scarcely be computed. In No. 3 shaft, when the company was sinking it, an acci dent occurred to the pump, and the mine was literally drowned out. The shaft is 117 feet deep, and the water rose to within thirty-five feet of the surface. In this sec tion water overlaps the coal at every point, and strearas of it run through the mineral at a nuraber of places. " In Godley, which is a little east of Braceville, Baird and Hickox have a mine running, and miners told me that there were few dry places there. The standard price paid for mining is $1.06 per ton in winter and 95 cents in summer, but at Godley they are obliged to pay from $1.25 to $1.30, which is from ten to twenty-five cents above the ruling price on the prairie, simply on account of water. The depth of the old Bruce shaft costs the company working it to pay as high as $1.50 per ton for raining in sorae spots." The shafts opened along the western border of this township are all of this char acter, but notwithstanding this drawback, raining in this vicinity is being pushed with renewed vigor of late years. At Coal City, and the Diamond, in the northeast corner, are larger coal interests, and riding along the central part of the township one raay imagine the lake not far away, and the distant columns of smoke rising at pretty regular intervals on the eastern horizon to indicate the passage of a fleet of steamers. Alany experts believe the coal to be found west of the Mazon will prove a finer quality and much more cheaply mined than at the present scene of operations. The first settleraent of this township was closely allied to that of Mazon, Dr. L. S. Robbins, one of the Owen part}' of 1833, coraing to Sulphur Springs in 1834, and building his cabin on the land he had se cured by claira the year before. In the following 3'ear the Eslinger faraily settled north of the Mazon, below the Chicago and Alton railroad. The head of this faraily was a Methodist preacher, and had a large faraily of boys. They stayed here some three or four years, made sorae improve ments, but for some reason left for other HISTORY OF GRUNDY' COUNTY. 349 p irts. Soon after, the place was burned over and the buildings and fences destroyed. About 1836 the " West Colony " settled on the Mazon Creek, toward the southeast corner of the township. But little raore than this is known of this settleraent. AVhat the origin ofthe enterprise, or narae was, is not known, and of their existence but few persons have any reinembrance. It is certain, however, that several cabins were built here, and considerable improve ment raade, but the scherae, for some reason, proved a failure, and the place en tirely abandoned after a short time. In the winter of 183-1-5 John Cragg came to Braceville and settled on section 19, where he remained until his death. Cragg was a pattern maker by trade and a fine workman. He was following his trade at Patterson," N. J., when he heard the fiat tering stories of the Illinois country. But the long journey andthe unknown experi ence to be expected on a frontier farm made him hesitate to corae alone. He talked the matter over with his friends and associates, Edward Holland and a Mr. Gates, and with thera made a compact to go to the West and settle near each other, agreeing that each should forfeit fifty dollars should he fail to carry out his part ofthe agreement. Cragg was married and had his wife with him. The others were less fortunate, for wiiile married, their wives were j-et in the old country. It was arranged that Cragg and his wife should come on and make a claira for hiraself and Holland, while Gates re turned across the ocean for his own and Holland's wife. Gates found his task a more difficult one to accomplish than was anticipated. His own wife and Mrs. Hol land, urged by their family friends, refused to face the perils and privations of the frontier, and Gates, choosing the less of two disoppointraents, remained at his old home, while Holland, after waiting for his wife in vain for a tirae, acting on the same princi ple perhaps, carae to Illinois and settled just over the line in Mazon, and set up a blacksmith shop. He was never joined by his wife, and afterward solaced his lacer ated feelings with another less afraid of frontier life. On his journey West, Cragg came by way of St. Louis, where he stayed sorae time. Here he rast a faraily who had left the vicinity of Ottawa during the Indian troubles of 1832, and who offered hira the use of half of a double log cabin they had tliere. This faraily was about to return to their claim overland, while Cragg and his family came by the river. It was agreed that when the overland party reached the vicinity of their cabin they should sound a horn, when Mrs. Cragg was to reply with a similar signal. The latter family had been ensconced in their new quarters sev eral days when the expected blast was heard, and had experienced just enough of the isolation of their position to learn of the arrival of companions with no little satisfaction. Mr. Cragg had busied him self in prospecting the country about for a location, and soon fixed upon his place on the Mazon, and after building his cabin moved into it. The log cabin which is still standing was situated near the trail which was principally followed by the travel toward Chicago frora the south. In this small building, hardly large enough for the family, they dispensed the courtesies and comforts of a frontier inn. The guests were not less rough than squeamish, and 350 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. are represented as hardly superior to the Indians in their social accomplishinents. In 1846, carae John Kerns frora New York and settled in the southern, and E. R. Booth, who settled in the southwestern part. In 1848 came D. R. Dowd, from Trumbull Countj', Ohio, and settled on the western line of the township near Mr. Booth. He was the first supervisor and gave the name of his Ohio home to this new township. In 1849 came Thomas Martin and Robert Huston. The latter was a weaver by trade, and came frora New York by the Erie Canal, the lakes and the Michigan and Illinois Central to Morris. He was from May 1st to 21st in getting to Morris. During the trip the weather had been propitious, but no sooner had he set foot on Illinois soil when a discouraging rain set in. A team was hired to take his goods and family to their destination near where the ^ iliage of .Braceville is located. The rain came down rapidly and they just. succeeded in fording the Johnny Run be fore it becarae impassable. They reached a deserted cabin near their place that night, though they were obliged to travel much of the way in water frora a few inches to two feet deep. Here the teara was blockaded, and was forced to wait three weeks before it could return. This sort of an introduc tion to the new country brought on the usual attack of the fever and ague, and for nine raonths Mr. Huston was not able to do anything toward putting up a house of his own. In the raeantirae he located his soldier's warrant, which he had purchased at a cost of $165, and began to invest the balance of his raoney in getting hira a house. After getting a teara he raade trips to Chicago, teaming for others and bringing a load of lumber back for his house which he erected on the prairie. This was per haps the first frame building in the town ship. Other early families were those of B. A. Crisler and H. Cassinghara, Mdio set tled on the western side of the Mazon. TJie larger part of this township was originally prairie land, and enough of it still remains in its natural condition to give one a fair idea of what the whole countrj' once was. The wild grass of these lands raade excellent pasture and hay. With the range the early settlers had, their cattle would put on raore fiesli and in less time than on any other pasture. The sedge which grew along the sloughs was the first to start in the spring, and fur nished the earliest pasture. The bent or blue-joint, which was principally found along the sides of the slouL^hs, or, in the vernacular of the pioneer, " between the dry and wet land," was preferred by stock to all other varieties, especially when mixed with the wild pea vine. This made the best hay, and as its yield was very large, was generally selected for this pur pose. But the combined ravages of stock and scythe rapidly exterminated it, so that in many cases the ground where it grew became almost bare of vegetation. The stock and the farmer then resorted to the upland grasses, but before the settlers mul tiplied so as to limit the range of the stock, the older and more experienced of the herd would go long distances to find their favorite pasture, necessitating on the part of the pioneer a hunt of several days to recover them. The native grasses were not less raarked for their medicinal qualities. Cattle and horses seemed to be remarkably free from Missing Page Missing Page HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 353 diseases so long as they could find plenty of wild hay or grass to feed upon. Horses raised upon the prairie were said never to be afflicted with the heaves, while horses brought here, suffering with this malady, were speedily cured by simply feeding on the native grasses. This advantage, how ever, was somewhat oflfeet by the colic which this rank feeding frequently pro duced in horses with fatal effect. The in troduction of tame grasses has largely remedied this evil, and most farmers are now able to supply their stock with a mix ture of the two kinds. But the wild grass of the present is not found in all its virgin purity. The pea vine is almost if not en tirely extinct, while the grass itself is very much modified, and is not valued in the markets equal to good timothy. The yillage growth of Braceville town ship is the result of the mining industry found here. Braceville village was laid out in 1861 by N. Cotton, who did the work himself, using a sixteen foot pole. It may be imagined that as the village grew it was soraetiraes rather difficult to adjust con flicting clairas with the claims of the plat, but that has been regulated, and a village of 1,800 inhabitants is now found here. The recent increased activity among the mines in this vicinity has added a consid erable number to the population in the past year. But the large number of cheap, poorly constructed dwellings does not be token solid prosperity, especially when this is taken in connection with the large num ber of vacant stores, and lack of public im provement. The Diamond, in the extreme northeast corner, and Coal City, located a little south and west of Diamond, are simi lar towns but of smaller size. CHAPTEE XXL* GOODFARM TOWNSHIP— " THE LAY OF THE LAND"— EARLY EXPERIENCES— SCHOOLS— CHURCHES. SETTLEMENT— PIONEER GOODFARM, like raost of the town ships south of the river, is well sup plied with prairie water-courses. It lies just south of Mazon township, and contrib utes to the streams which have been noted there, viz.: Murray sluice, Alazon Creek, Brewster and Wood sluices. The two lat ter are the most important here, and join the " West Fork of the Mazon " in the township which bears the same narae. The direction of these strearas are nearly due north, and the general aspect of the land is that of a rolling prairie very liberally supplied with groves. Much of the land is in sufficiently drained and has a low wet appear ance, though the narae ofthe township pretty correctly characterizes its soil as a whole. Jaraes McKean was the first settler in this township. He seeras to have delight ed in the isolation of the frontier and to have moved frora a neighborhood as soon as it became generally settled. He was here as early as 1841. About 1844, J. M. Clover came from Indiana and bought his place, on section two, in the northern edge of the township. Two or three years la er Elijah Saltraarsh came and settled on sec tion five. He was of southern birth and had been a flatboatraan on the Ohio River. His life on the river at a time when boat ing involved a rough, boisterous experi- * By J. H. Battle. ence, developed him into a decisive, ener getic raan, and he becarae a leading spirit in the township. He had a large faraily and raade a good farm, but in his later years, unsatisfied with this settled country he went to Oregon wliere some of his fam ily had preceded him. Elnathan Lewis, a native of Vermont, next followed into this township. He had emigrated to New York and frora thence to McIIenry County in this State, frora whence he carae to Good- farm. Other settlers about this time were Elijah Lewis, David Gleason and E. F. Brewster. In 1849, E. B. Stevens came from Kala mazoo County, Alichigan. His route was across the country and his conveyance, a wagon. Michigan was then an old set tled State, and the cheap lands of Illinois presented quite an attraction to those of limited means. He came to this present loca' ion on section thirty, and bought the claim of Henry Brown who had been here a 3'ear or two. Here Stevens found a log cal)iu, a straw barn and some Lombardy poplars set out, but the rest was left for him to accomi)lish. After buying his land, a barrel of flour and ten bushels of oats, he had no money left. He came in the spring, and making a good garden he managed to sustain his family until the fell when he got his wheat threshed, and a start for another year. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 355 About 1850, a tide of German emigra tion began to flow into the township, which continued until this nationality constitutes fully one-half of the population. The first of this German element was Leonard Fisher, a native of Bavaria, who carae in 1851. In 1852, carae Jno. L. Meier, followed by Hoffraan Hoag, Pfeiffer and Buckhard • Most of these people came from the same section of Bavaria and settled near each other here. They are good farmers and thrifty both in public and private. The town house is one of the neatest in the county, and has near it a neat tool-house for the protection of the township road ira- pleraents. There was but little variety in the early experiences of the first settlers in the dif ferent parts of the county. Those who carae later, as in Goodfarra, found railling facilities better but no more accessible; stores better supplied with frontier necessi ties but not much easier to purchase; more neighbors but no better means of coram u- nication. Their lives, like those of their predecessors, were a continual struggle with the stubborn, natural difficulties which surrounded thera, and none were so com pletely isolated as to make a few years' later settlement of any appreciable advantage. Those who came after the completion of the canal, enjoyed the benefit of a nearer market than Chicago, and perhaps an in crease in the value of farra products, but the roads were not improved and the open prairie wilderness still interposed its dif ficulties. These obstacles were perhaps the raost difficult which the pioneers of this county were called upon to surmount. So long as the paucity of settlements aL lowed a pretty free selection of route, mud- holes could be evaded, and a worn track . avoided. But this practice had also its disadvantages. In a country without con tinuous fences, and few landmarks save the groves, it required some considerable skill and an intimate knowledge of the county to successfully cross even a small prairie in broad daylight. Mr. Baldwin relates an incident of " a gentleman, fresh from New England, who was viewing the country on the Vermillion and proposed to take a bee line to Ottawa across the prairie on foot. He was advised to take the road, as being easier traveling and decidedly safer; that without any track he might get benighted on the prairie, for although the day was clear he would, for part of the distance, be out of sight of timber, and he might mis take his course and be lost. He foolishly rejected this advice with some indignation, and at noon set out on his journey of some six miles. About twelve o'clock that night, exhausted and nearly famished, he got to a settlement on the Vermillion five miles further from Ottawa than the place from whence he started. In the morning he was willing to follow the road."* Crossing the uncultivated prairie at night was a very uncertain venture even to the most expert. If the night was clear the stars were a reliable guide and the pio neers became quite proficient in the simpler rudiments of astronomy. In a cloudy night and a snowy or foggy day their re- sources were less sure. A steady wind often proved the only guide. The traveler, getting his bearings, would note how the wind struck his nose, the right or left ear, and then, keenly alive to these sensations, ?History of La Salle County. 356 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. would so maintain his course as to keep the bearing of the wind always the sarae, and regardless of all other guides would generally reach his destination without dif ficulty. To do this required no little skill and a steady wind. If the latter changed gradually, the better the skill the wider the traveler diverged from home. Without these guides it was a mere accident if a person succeeded in crossing even a small prairie. The tendency is to move in a cir cle, and when once this is begun and ob served by the traveler, the only resource is to camp in the most convenient place and manner and wait for raorning. Each family had its signal light which was read ily recognized by its members. It was a frequent practice to erect a pole by the chimney of the cabin and place a lighted lantern at the top. Others had a light in the window, which often saved a dreary night's experience on the prairie. The liistory of every township is full of raisadventures of this sort. A gentleman and his wife were belated on their return home on a cloudy night, and though hav ing some clue to the way, sought in vain for sorae gliramer of his horae signal. His horses seem to have become completely be wildered, and after having urged them forward for sorae time, the travelers be came convinced they were journeying in a confused circle, and were preparing to camp out in their wagon, when a weak flash of light betrayed the location of a residence in the near distance. Getting the direction at the instant, the house was gained in a few minutes, and they found it to be their long sought horae. The children had gone to bed, and carelessly removed the light from the window, but a brand falling out of the fire-place had flashed the signal, which saved them from an unpleasant pre dicament. A gentleman and his wife, on another oc casion, went across an eighty acre field to visit a neighbor. On returning, about eight o'clock in the evening, they lost their way, and notwithstanding there was a fence on one side of this field, the couple becarae hopelessly bewildered, and would have been obliged to remain out all night, had not their daughter, anxious at their staying so late, opened the cabin door to listen for some evidence of their coming. The light thus flashed out into the darkness, revealed to them their position, which was within calling distance of their home, and where they had been vainly wandering some two or three hours. Such experiences, unpleasant in the warm weather, were too often fatal in the winter season. The trackless prairie, covered with a deceptive expanse of snow and swept by a fierce blast which pierced the most ample clothing and the hardiest frame, made the stoutest heart waver. Journeys upon the prairie were never undertaken under such circumstances, save under stress of the raost urgent necessity. But nearly every early settler can reraember some experience in winter season traveling, while some never reached the horae they sought, or the end of the journey reluctantly begun. With the settlement of the prairie, and the regular laying out of roads, traveling became less dangerotis, though scarcely less difficult. The amount of labor which could be devoted by the few people in the scattered settlements, made but little effect upon the roads of a country which seemed particularly exposed by the character of th« HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 357 soil, and the conformation of its surface to the unfavorable action of rain. Even now the farming coraraunity pays a heavy annual tribute to muddy, impassable roads. Thirty-five years ago, a man caught by high water away from horae, was detained for two or three weeks, and raany a trip about the county was made raore in a boat than in a wagon. Matthew Johnson, who came frora Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1852, landed in Morris in April of that 3'ear. He had relatives in Felix, and started over to see thera. He found a wagon totally in adequate for the undertaking, and had to resort to a boat to reach his friends' house. The natural outgrowth of a low, wet country, with the "breaking" of a rank soil, was miasmatic disease. During the first forty years of the settleraent in Grundy County, the fever and ague reigned su preme, and seeraed to raock at quinine and infusions of barks. Doctors were scarce, and the settlers, brought up with a pro found belief in the medicinal virtues of sassafras and boneset, preferred to save the expense of a professional visit. Nor did they suffer greatly by this practice. But in the case of accident, the lack of talented surgeons proved a terrible misfortune, re sulting in many a raisshapen limb, or the loss of it altogether. An incident is re lated of an early settler, who was accidentally shot by another in handling a gun. A heavy load of shot shattered the bone just below the shoulder. The artery fortunately escaped injury, and the wound was done up to await the arrival of the only two doctors in the county. On coming to Vne wounded raan the doctors disagreed. One declared amputation necessarj', but the other refused to consent to an opera tion, and in the utter lack of any proper instrument for the purpose, the arm was allowed to hang. In this way the wound was left to nature and the simple care of the women folks. A nuraber of pieces of bone were taken out in the process of dressing the wound, but one large piece remained obstinate, and kept the wound unhealed for a 3'ear. In the raeantirae the wounded raan, with his arm in a sling, handled his teara alone, hauling timber, lumber and farm product. Finally, taken with a throat disease in Chicago, he consulted a ph3'si- cian in the Medical College, when his arm came under observation, and was subse quently gratuitously treated before a class in the college. Similar cases were by no means rare, and serve to indicate some of the unwritten hardships of pioneer life. The happy coniiningling of grove and plain raarked by numberless streams, made this township a favorite resort of game. The buffalo had left this region before the advent of the settler, but the high prairie bore abundant evidence of his former pres ence here. Here and there, all over the plain were found skeletons of this animal lying where the hunter's missile had over taken hira or, if Indian tradition is to be believed, where a heavj' snow had irapris- oned and starved him. There are found in frequent numbers upon the prairie, rings of especially thrifty grass which are explained upon various theories. The Indians repre sented that in a certain winter long ago, a great fall of snow found the buffaloes scat- tered about on the prairie. These aniraals, unwilling to venture out into the untracked deep, kept up an incessant tramp in a lira ited circle until starvation and death ended the march. Whatever truth there may be 358 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. in this tradition, it may be said that the position of many of these skeletons favor it very strongly. Deer were found here in great abundance, and to the skillful hunter fell au easy prey. During the wet season when water was to be found in abundance upon the open country, the deer were found here. Getting on the windward side of the animal the hunter found ample shelter in the long grass to approach within easy shot. In the dry hot season the deer frequented the groves. Then the hunter, proceeding against the wind, followed up or down the course of one of the water-courses along which the groves were located. The deer are troubled by a fiy at this time of year which attracts so much of their attention that they are easily approached from the proper side. The animal stands feeding for a few minutes until, driven to fury by the insect, it suddenl3' drops close to the ground to elude its tormentor. Then sud denly rising again it feeds a short time and again as suddenly sinks to the ground. This action gives the hunter peculiar advantages which were never thrown away upon the pioneers. Wild turkeys, wolves, wild bees, and the smaller game that still throng the tiraber, not only supplied the table and fur nished rare sport to the hunter, but often proved a valuable source frora which to eke out the meager income derived from the farm crops. One farmer sold wild turkeys and deer-skins enough in Chicago to buy his wife a good winter cloak, at a time when his crops had proved an utter failure. After the first few years the pioneer had time to plan for something more perma nent than present necessities, and the school-house with its molding influences became an institution in every community. In Goodfarra the first school-house was erected in 1860, on the east half of the northeast quarter of section ,18. It was built by subscription, some giving luraber, others giving work, and six persons giving one dollar each. The lumber was drawn from Horse Creek in Will County, and with the six dollars was bought all that the country and the labor did not furnish. Elvira Lewis was the first teacher here. About 1866 a second school-house was built near the German cemetery, and the first session of school taught by Philip Gauzert. The first church organization was of the Free Will Baptist denomination. This soci ety was formed at the cabin of David Glea son, February 6, 1850, with David Glea son, Elnathan Lewis, and their wives, Ad dison Gleason and Lavinia Brown as mem bers. The church held its meetings in the school-house until about 1868, when the or ganization was finally abandoned. The Methodist Episcopal church has an appoint ment here now. About 1859, the Lutheran church was organized and erected a parsonage on sec tion 27, to which was subsequently added the present church building. Salem Evan gelical church was organized about 1857, with Buckhardt and Hoag, Pfeiffer and Hoffman as leading members. In 1877 they built a new place of worship on sec tion 22, at a cost of about $2,400. The " Church of God," is a recent organ ization which has a place of worship on the northern line of the township. OHAPTEE XXII.* HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP— TOPOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS— PRAIRIE BANDITS-LAWLESS LAW— SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP— THE CATHOLIC CHITRCH. HIGHLAND Township, occupying the southwestern corner of the county, is what its name implies, high land — the highest, perhaps, in the " little kingdom of Grundy." The general slope of the sur face, similar to most of the southern part of the county, is to the northeast. Johnny Run and Murray Sluice cross the township diagonally in nearly parallel directions, passing out of the township near the north east corner. The Waupecan crosses the northwest corner and the Mazon the south east, in the same general direction. The general elevation of the land raakes it in this respect, especially in the southern part, araong the raost desirable for farraing pur poses. Along the streams, the land is of a decidedly rolling and almost broken char acter. With the exception of several thou sand acres belonging to Wm. Scully, an Irish Lord, the farms are generallj' sraall, and the acreage of the township better divided up than elsewhere in the county. The earliest people who took possession of Highland were some nameless roughs, generally supposed to be connected with a class of thieves and highwaymen, who were known as Prairie Bandits. This part of the State became infested with these des peradoes about 1836 or '7, and while they scrupled at the commission of no form of * By J. H. Battle. crirae, they were especially annoying in their principal business of horse stealing. The principal scene of their operations was on the Fox River, but no locality in the northern part of the State, where good horses could be had for the stealing, was exempt from these marauders. Their plan was to take the lighter horses of this region to Indi ana and sell thera, raaking the return trip with heavy draft horses, which were dis posed of in Iowa and Michigan for work in the pineries. For a tirae these depreda tions were carried on with impunity. The population, scattered at considerable dis tances apart, was principally confined to the edge of the timber, leaving the prairie a broad highway for these bandits to pass frora one end to the other of the country undiscovered. The early settlers did not submit to this state of affairs without some effort to bring these persons to justice and to recover their property, but singly, the pioneers proved but poor trappers of this game. The bandits were known to be des perate characters and adepts in the use of weapons and in traveling the open prairie, and it often happened that when a party- got close upon the thieves, discretion seemed the better part of valor, and the chase was given up. Their success emboldened these robbers, and the early stock and land buy ers seldom traveled alone, and never un armed. 360 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. A good horse caused man3' persons to be waylaid and killed, and a large amount of money in the possession of an unprotected traveler, alraost inevitably brought hira to grief. Burglary soon followed their suc cess on the road. Fanners became more cautious and evaded these foot pads. In this case the cabin was entered andthe money taken while the faraily were kept discreetly quiet hy a threatening pistol. The open handed hospitality of a new country raade the settlers an easy prey to those who lacked even the traditional respect of the Bedouin freebooter. It was irapossible to discrirainate between the worthy stranger and the bandit of the prairie, and the stran ger taken in was more likely to prove a robber than an angel in disguise. Civil authority seemed hopelessly incapable of remedying the evil. Occasionally a despera do would be apprehended. Legal quibbles would follow and the rascal get free, or jus tice be delayed until a jail delivery would set him loose to prey upon the public again. This occurred with such monoto nous regularity and unvarying success, that the scattered pioneers lost confidence in each other and anarchy seeraed about to be ushered in. This general distrust gave rise to raany unfounded rumors, and may have been 'the origin of the general belief in>egard to the first inhabitants of High land. But these people were known to be rough, boisterous persons, who did nothing toward making a permanent horae, and enough had been stolen in the county to raise suspicion. Of course such a state of things could not long continue. Deep mutterings of vengeance, portentious of a storm of wrath, were heard, and vigilant societies came into existence at several localities. One of these societies, formed in the northern part of the State, was captained by a man named Campbell. He was a Canadian, and a man of great energy and decision of character. The bandits wei-e alarmed, and resolved to depose him. One Sunday afternoon, two men by the name of DriscoU, called at Campbell's gate and inquired of his daugh ter for her father; Campbell came to the gate, when, without saying a word, the visitors shot hira through the heart, and coolly rode off. The next day the people assembled en masse,to6k three of theDris- coUs, tried them by a jury of their own, found two of them guilty, gave thera an hour to prepare for death and shot them. The3' then resolved to serve every thief they caught, in the same wav'.* The effect of this summary reprisal was salutary in its effect. The gang that had infested this part of the State were struck with terror, and left for a less determined community, and this region was happily relieved ofthe incubus which had rested heavily upon it. This was about 1836 or '7. Grundy Coun ty, as an organization, was unknown, and the community but barely established, did not take an active part in these movements, though sympathizing with and profiting by them. But no communities found diffi culty in organizing for its own defense when occasion demanded. Two fellows were suspected of horse-stealing, in the southern part of the county. They were observed to stay at their father's house at day time, and to be abroad at night, and occasionally to be gone for several weeks without any ostensible business. A com mittee advised them to leave- and not re- * History of La Salle County — Baldwin. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 361 turn, but disregarding this warning they were visited and severely whipped, and the father ordered to move out of the neighbor hood, which was a short distance south of the present line of the county. Other or ganizations were known as " Claim Asso ciations," which did not have so good a reason for their existence. These were combinations by settlers to resist the en croachments of speculators, though their power was exerted against any interloper or new-comer. Certain lands were bought and located near other sections, which the settler intended, as he got the means, to take up. A new-comer was informed that certain sections were open to hira, and that others had been assigned to those already on the grounds. The new-comer some times saw fit to disregard this intimation, made his own choice and began his im provements. In one such case a large pile of rails, which had been prepared at a con siderable expense of tirae and labor, and drawn to the place where the fence was to be built, was found entirely burned, and a few days later, the wagon left loaded with rails, was found consnraed with its load. Such incidents were not frequent, but oc curred here and there, and served to illus trate the tendency of very good citizens when the established restraints of society are somewhat relaxed. A more recent exhibition of the crude ad ministration of justice occurred about 1867, in an adjoining township. Two men were paying attentions to a woman; one was afterward found shot dead, lying in the road near his teara. Suspicion was directed toward the rival of the dead raan, and he subsequently acknowledged to the grand jury that he had hired his brother to shoot the unfortunate victim for fifty dollars. The mui'derer was apprehended and brought to trial, but the witness before the grand jury took refuge behind the plea that his evidence would crirainate hiraself, and the prisoner was discharged, though there was no doubt entertained of his guilt. The two conspirators returned to their homes and conducted themselves in such a way as to inflame the general feeling against them, until the public sentiment crystallized into a " vigilance committee" and an order to leave the country. The one who did the shooting fled, but his brother gave himself to the sheriff for protection. On the fol lowing day some two or three hundred men assembled at Morris, forced the jail, and hung the raan to a tree on the south side of the river. The first permanent settleraent was made in Highland by Jaraes Martin in 1845 or '6. He carae from Indiana and located his land in the southeast corner of the township. He was soon fbllowed by his brothers-in-law, John and William Scott, who settled near him. But little more is known of these persons, as they stayed only a short time here. Jaraes Funk was the third settler, and Williara Pierce came soon afterward, taking up land in the northern corner. About 1851 Alvin and Cushman Small, John Empie, and a Mr. Kline came into the northeastern section of the township. In this year also came Paddy Lamb, an Irishman, from New York. He made a claira on section 17, and returned to his horae in the East. In 1855 he came back and settled. While at his old home, his project of turning farmer in Illinois was freel3' discussed among his associates and fellow countiyraen, and quite a number 362 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. were induced to eraigrate to this township. A faraily by the narae of Wier, in Vienna Township, had an extensive acquaintance with their countrymen, and it was largely through their influence that the settlement of Highland took its exclusive character. John Weldon, a resident of Vienna, also was an influential factor in the Highland settleraent. New-comers were referred to hira for advice as to choosing lands, and he soon becarae known to the Highland people as "Daddy Weldon," a title of respect which still clings to him. With such a be ginning, the tendency was to build up a community which was almost exclusively Irish. The settlement was a comparatively late one, there being but fifteen votes in 1856. Of these it is said fourteen were cast against, and only one for, Buchanan for Pres ident. Paddy Lamb was the single-handed champion of the successful candidate, and it is said, his was the first Irish or Democratic vote cast in the township. It may be said that the first case of " bulldozing" occurred in the township on this occasion. The ma jority desired to make the ballot unani mous, and indulged in a good deal of good- natured effort to convert Lamb to the opposition, but he would have none of it, and still glories in the firmness of his con victions. There is neither village nor post-office in the township. A somewhat pretentious but considerably neglected town-house marks the "center," and a Catholic place of wor ship, in the northwest corner of section 4, attracts the devout of this township. The latter building was erected in 1868, at a cost of about $2,400. PART II Biographical Sketches. MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. PERRY A. ARMSTRONG, Morris. The publishers have requested us to write a sketch of our life — a difficult and delicate thing to do. We are like the boy who said he was not used to having his teeth pulled and was afraid it would hurt. We have written many obituaries (not our own), but have never written a biog raphy and are afraid it will hurt. But we promised to do it, and therefore make the effort. As all things must have a beginning and should have an ending, we shall endeavor to begin with the beginning whether we suc ceed in ending or not. We meet with difflcultj-, however, at the start, because we were born at a tender age, a long time ago, and a long ways off. We had no scratch-back and pencil to make memoranda, and were too much engaged in admiring the wonderful things of this won derful world to give special attention to our birth, hence, we are remitted to the family tra- •dition for the date, place and surrounding cir cumstances of our birth. Relying upon that family tradition — and what well-regulated fam ily would be without a tradition, as thej' are a very handy thing in a family. We were born on the ides of April, 1823, at the homestead of Joseph and Elsie Armstrong, on the East Fork of Licking, in McCain Township, Licking Co., Ohio. Julius Caesar we believe was born on the same day, A. C, 98. The difference be tween us was but 1921 years. He became famous from the expression " Et tu, Brute," whilst we have our fame yet to win, hence we have something to do. Our advent to this mundane sphere was not hailed with demon strations of delight as we have been informed. (Personally, as we said before, we have no dis tinct recollections on the subject, because we were onlj' a hoy when thej' were looking for a girl) They made two more efforts — two more boys. It was too discouraging — they quit. We are told that we came to this world with an empty stomach, wry face and crabbed dis position. To the flrst count we plead guilty, and admit that we have labored assiduouslj' to fill that self-same empt^' stomach with indiffer ent success, lo! these fifty-nine years. To the second count, we enter a special plea of con fession and avoidance, admitting that it is true, but allege that they pinched us. We always make a wry face when pinched. To the third count, we would enter a plea of not guiltj' were we not afraid they will call our wife as a wit ness against us. If they should do that, we are a gone copn, so we have concluded to enter a plea of guilty, and throw ourself on the mercy of the court. Before coming to this conclusion, we tried to remember whether we had not been called a little angel or cherub some time in our life, but failed, and consoled ourself with tlie reflection that the good die young, or, in other words, angels are short-lived BIOGRAPHICAL: and ephemeral and we're glad that we never tried to be one. We are told that thumb-suck ing was our special delight. No wonder we never got on in the world; this early habit stuck to us hke a brother, and has kept us poor all our hfe. We have also been informed that we took our gruel and catnip like an old soldier at the business, and were intimately acquainted with wind colic, and have been windy ever since, that we were an adept at that other youthful accomplishment^drooling. That our hair was white, eyes hazel and face green look ing. The former stuck to us till in our teens, and "tow-head" was our pet name; the latter com menced to sprout when about twenty, and has sprouted ever since. Our complexion was fair but for a multitude of freckles, which grew into speckles like unto a turkey's egg. The Seventh Son, common report said we were the doctor; Dame Nature had endowed us with the healing art by the " laj'ing on of hands.'' We always thought Common Report was a common liar, so we took no stock in the doctor theory, but others did, and came from far and near for the removal of warts, wens and other excres- ences which rumor said would flee at our ap proach. We approached, but they didn't flee; they stayed. The days of miracles had passed, and we declined to revive them; hence we worked no miracles. We attended school at a proper age and earned many laurels as a good fighter — few as a good scholar. In 1831, our mother and brother determined to go West. This was before Greeley's advice, " Young man, go West," was made public. One brother had already gone West, another had crossed the " silent river," leaving seven still at the old homestead. We could not make up our mind to be left like poor Joe all alone, so we concluded to " move on " with the rest of the family. In arriving at this decision, we were not aided by a desire to rival Buffalo Bill in slaying buffalo, or Donald McKay as an In dian-killer, as we had not then read their ex ploits. Strange as it is true, we had never read a dime novel and were entirely free of sentimen- talism. ''The household gods " being stowed to the best advantage in the capacious wagon- box of a prairie schooner, with four horses for motor-power, we folded our tent, and " like the Arab, silently stole awaj'," following the Star of Empire westward ho! What between mud and mire, rain, hail and sleet, our four weeks' journey overland were tedious, j'et we enjo3'ed it well, from the fact that our cousin, who was a few months our junior, accompanied us, and we took solid pleasure in trouncing him several times per da3' just for fun. Occasionally, however, he turned the tables, and trounced us. This was less agreeable. We reached our land of promise — Sand Prairie, near Lacon, 111., April 28, 1831. Stopping the first night with a pa ternal uncle. Gen. John Strawn, we got into a bit of an argument ere we had been there flf teen minutes. A controversy arose between our new-found cousin Enoch and myself as to which was the best wrestler. Although 9 P. M., and quite dark, we proceeded at once totrj' conclusions, which resulted in a fight, and we were banished early the following morning to the shanty on our brother's claim on the prairie^ A good fighter was not then appreciated. The family did not take to sand3' land worth a continental, so in JUI3' of that year stakes were again pulled, and we migrated north to La Salle County, and located some seven miles southwest of Ottawa. Here we took the ague, or the ague took us, and shook us lively like for six consecutive weeks, despite of all the bone- set and waughoo teas we could swallow. Qui nine was a luxury not to be had, if, indeed, it had yet been discovered. On the day we had our first shake, we ate heartily of mutton and worty squash — our last meal of that kind of fodder. We acquired a distaste, yea, horror, for them, and have never eaten sheep or squash since. The darned ague shook itself weak, and finally abandoned our poor, emaciated anatf M01U{1S CITY AND TOWNSHIP. om3', and has given us a wide berth ever since. True, it has come round occasionally to let us know it still lived, but has never tackled us in real earnest. There was no salt to be had in that vicinity that fall, hence the prospect for meat was like the boy's ground hog. We had to have salt or no meat. Chicago, 100 miles away, was the nearest point where it could be obtained. We had no correspondents there from whom to order it by telegraph or tele phone, nor had either of them been invented. We had no railroa'd, canal or stage Une, nor freighter's line, aud lastl3', we had no roads but Indian trails. Salt must be had aud we deter mined to have it. So, taking an older brother, WiUiam E. (or he taliing us), we yoked up two yoke of oxen and hitched them to a sled on which was placed the schooner-shaped wagon box, with old Watch, the faithful dog for com pany and guard, we started for Chicago De cember 23, 1831, and reached there in four days. We were much surprised at Chicago. Instead of being a respectable village, there were but two white families there (Kinzie and Miller). The soldiers had been ordered from Fort Dearborn, so the place seemed deserted. We got our salt and returned home to rejoice the hearts of all our neighbors, all of whom were, like us, without salt, and must have it. After all this, one of our neighbors, with whom some of oar older brothers had difl3cult3' about claims on the Government laud, had our mother arrested for selling salt without license. But as no law could be found in the statute " agin it," she was honorabl3' discharged. Having procured salt, the wild hogs — with which the river bottom was well supplied — had to suffer. How these hogs came there, and in such large quantities, it would be difficult to tell, but we found them there and were glad of the flnd. Sod corn we had by purchase of a small field of it from T. J. Covell, for whom Covell Creek was named. Too small to use the ax or maul to advantage, to us was assigned the pounding of corn in a wooden mortar during the winter of 1831-32. The finest of the " mash " was sieved tlirough the sieve and made into corn-dodgers. The rest was boiled for hominy or samp. Thus we fared sumptuously on hog and hominy. For " Sab- baday " we ground a little wheat (of which we had a two-bushel bagful) in a coffee-mill, and bolted it through a jaconet cape of our mother's, and made "slapjacks." They were bully. In May, 1832, the Sac aud Fox Indians got ou a rampage, and did some indiscriminate scalping of women and children, not far distant from our home, hence we emigrated to a fort in Putnam County, and remained until the Indi ans were tamed. We did not volunteer to as sist in their taming. We let our older brothers, Wash and Bill, take our place in that gentle amusement. In the winter of 1832-33, we attended, as we believe, the first school for " pale-faced " children ever opened in La Salle Count3'. The teacher was a IMiss Farnam from away down East. This school was taught in a log schoolhouse, 14x16 feet, some four miles southwest of Ottawa, which we believe was the flrst schoolhouse built in La Salle County'. In the summer of 183o, we tried to sell goods at Hidalgo, on the Waupecan, near the road cross ing, three miles southwest of Morris. Hidalgo was then the leading village of the couutj-. It boasted a saw-mill, blacksmith-shop and dry goods store, all belonging to G. W. Armstrong. But the Waupecan went dr3- more than half the 3'ear, hence the mill proved a failure, and Hidalgo was deserted. In that winter, we were at school in Ohio. In 1838, we clerked for George W., and tried to keep his books at Utica, 111., where he had a contract on the canal, and in the winter of 1838-39 we attended school four miles southwest of Utica, and had to cross the Illinois and Big Vermillion Rivers to get there. Gen. WiUiam H. L. Wallace, who fell at Shiloh, was our classmate at this old log schoolhouse on the bluff. This was the best BIOGRAPHICAL: school we ever attended, especially in the study of arithmetic. In 1841, we taught our flrst school at HoUenbeck's Grove, in Kendall County. Hon. George M. Hollenbeck, James L. Haymond and others now living were among our pupils. In April, 1842, we came to Morris on foot and alone — as the girl went to get mar ried — big with expectations. We were to keep books for the Emperor, Bill Armstrong, for our board, and literally chaw old Blaokstone. We failed, on account of t3'phoid fever, and left him in August for our mother's farm in La Salle County. We then entered Granville Academ3' and prepared to enter Illinois College in Sep tember, 1844. But trying to carry the studies of freshman and sophomore together, we broke down in health and returned home in JUI3', 1845, and opened a select school in Mechanic's Hall, ill Ottawa, which we sold out to Mr. Hamp den, and returned to Jlorris in October of that year, and have remained here ever since. Immediately on our return, we opened a gen eral store in the southwest room of the Grundy Hotel, then standing, but was burnt down in 1851 and the Hopkins House erected on the spot. We then built what is the main part of Dr. Hand's residence, in 1846, for a store and post office. There were two other small stocks of goods here, which we purchased and united with our other stock. In the early part of that year, we were appointed Postmaster of Jlorris, under Polk's administration, and was suc ceeded by C. H. Gould, under Taylor's admin istration. December 22, 1846, we married Miss Mary J. Borbidge, of Pittsburgh, Penn., a highl3'-accomplished and elegant lady, who died of consumption in 1862, leaving three sons — Charles D., Elwood and William E. — all of whom survive and are married. In the Mexican war, we raised a compan3', and were elected Captain, but the quota being full be fore our report reached the Governor, hence our company was not received, and we did not go a-suldiering. Owing to a too free use of our name on other people's paper and official bonds, we were forced to the wall financiall3- in 1849, and were elected a Justice of the Peace but did not like the business. We had lots to do, but never had a heart for badgering and brow-beating. In the spring of 1850, we were elected Supervisor of Morris. In the winter of 1851-52, we went to Springfield to get relief on a Collector's bond, and succeeded. While there, we got a position in the State Auditor's office, and selected the lands of the Illinois Central Railroad, and under the dictation of Gov. Bissell and Robert Rantoul, Jr., we drew the charter of that road, forever securing to the State 7 per cent of the gross earnings of said railroad. We also drew the charter of the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad, and when its construction was begun, in the spring of 1852, we secured the position of Assistant Engineer, and ran the transit line from Joliet to Ottawa, and the bench levels over the same line, and also the level from Tiskilwa to Gene- sco. Receiving tlie offer of better wages on the survey of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, we resigned our position on the Rock Island Railroad and accepted the other, and reported to Capt. Whittle at Gales burg for duty. We run experimental levels on that road until we found they had no mone3' in their treasury, when we quit and came home. We then entered the store of Judge Hopkins as general manager and book keeper, where we remained until the spring of 1853, when we called the attention of Judge Hynds (County Judge) to the necessity of selecting the swamp lands of the county under the act of Congress of September 28, 1850, and was appointed to survey and select the swamp lands of the county. Under this ap pointment, we surve3'ed and selected the swamp lands at the salary of 83 per day, " to be in full for all expenses of whatsoever kind," says the law. Our team and driver cost $2 per day, while the law aUowed but $1. We MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. did the work and never asked for extra pay. We then prepared and procured its passage by the Legislature a special law authorizing the sale of these swamp lands without draining them, and, being appointed to make sale, we sold them in 1865 for the sum of $23,724.92, and collected from General Government for cash sales made between the passage of the act September 28, 1850, and tirae of selection in 1853, $1,700, all of which was paid into the county treasury, making a total of $25,424.92 realized from the so-called swamp lands of the county, with a claim on the General Govern ment for soine thirteen thousand acres of land entered by individuals b3' land warrants after the act of 1850, and before their selection in 1853. These swamp lands were selected in the wettest season we have had for a quarter of a century, hence the selections and confirmations were ver3' large. We were the flrst Supervisor of the town of Morris, and again held that office in 1853, when we were elected Count3' Clerk. Our parents were Dem ocratic, and we followed their prejudice politi cally and became the same, easting oar flrst vote for Polk, in 1844 ; Cass, in 1848 ; Pierce, in 1852 ; Buchanan, in 1856 ; Douglas, in 1860 ; McClellan, in 1864, and was on the electoral ticket for Seymour in 1868 ; Greeley- ized in 1872 ; for Tilden, in 1876, and Han cock, in 1880. We were re-elected County Clerk in 1857, although Buchanan received but 600 votes to Fremont's 900 in 1856. When Fort Sumter, was attacked b3' the Confeder ates in April, 1861, we made the first war speech, of the count3', and, as Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, we introduced the first resolutions denouncing secession and in favor of coercion. W^e were offered the Colonelcy of the Sixty-fifth Illinois Regiment by Gov. Yates, but, owing to the \'ery delicate health of our better half, we were compelled to stay at home. In the fall of 1854, we were elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, I. 0. 0. ¥., and in 1857, Grand Repre sentative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United States for two 3'ears. In the fall of 1861, we were elected without opposition a delegate from La Salle, Livingston and Grun dy to the State Constitutional Convention of 1862. In 1863, we were elected to the State Legislature from Grundy and Will without op position, and, in 1872, from Gund3', Kendall and De Kalb without opposition, and were placed on the Judiciary, Railroad and Judicial Department Committees. At this session, the statutes were revised, in which we took an active part. We were the author of several important laws now in force, among which are the jury law, county court law and escheat law, besides materially amending the criminal code and the road and bridge law. Admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court of Illi nois February 3, 1865, and by the United States Court June 3, 1868, we entered into a law partnership with B. Olin (now Judge of the County Court of Will County) in 1865, which lasted flve years. On the 25th of Aug ust, 1803, we married our second wife, Malina J. Eldredge, at Piano, 111. From this connec tion, we have two sons — Frank, aged sixteen. Perry, aged eight years. In 1876, we were appointed Master in Chancery, and, in 1877, Trustee of the Illinois Charitable Eve and Ear Inflrmary, which position we still hold. In 1870, we were elected to the School Board, and served seven 3'ears. During that time, the present fine stone building was erected. We took an active part in building this school- house as Clerk of the Board of Education and agent to negotiate the school bonds. We have spent much time and considerable money in developing the geology of Grundy County, and as the result we have a fine coUection, especially iu fossil botany. We deposited for safe keeping a carload of fossil trees, or their impressions upon the shale overl3'ing the coal, in the new State House at Springfield some 8 BIOGRAPHICAL: eight years ago, while our home cabinet at the Academ3' of Sciences in Morris is large and valuable. Tiring of the hard labor required in collecting geological specimens, we have more recently directed our investigation to Indian history, legends, traditions, customs, habits and social relations, occasionall3' scrib bling poetr3' — a habit we contrauted (when we went to see our girl) in our 30uth, the greater portion of which has been published in the local papers here and at Ottawa. Our last effort, entitled, A child's inquiry axd mother's reply. (Suggested by ihe question of our little son Perry when some ! five years of age, to his mother, " What is heaven, mother? ") ! CHILD. Tell me, mother, what is heaven ? i A mysterious retreat, Where our sins will be forgiven, ' And the angels we shall meet ? MOTHER. Yes, my child, it is the dwelling Of onr Savior and the bless'd, " Where the wiclved cease from troubling, And the weary are at rest." child. Is its beauty in the clothing Of the brilliant colored sky ? And beyond that is there uotliing Of more awful majesty 'Z MOTHER. No, my child, that beauteous clothing Are but curtains round the throne Of our Father, ever-living, Of the Godhead— Three in Ore. child. Is the sun in glory sliining, Mighty monarch of the day? Or our Father kindly smiling On His people liereaway ? MOTHER. He's the agent sent from heaven To bring light and life to earth ; To jnaugurate creation, And give vegetation birth. And the moon, whose silent gleaming Silvers every house and tree — Is't the Savior's visage beaming Fondly on mortality? ; MOTHER. No. my child, 'tis but the emblem Of His precious love and care For the faithful little children Of His vineyard everywhere. ClIILD. And the stars, which silent creeping, Spring each night to glorious birth. Are they angels' eyes a-peeping At the dwellers of the earth? MOTHER. Oh, no, my child, each shining star The heavenly skies unfurl, Though distant from this world afar, Is another living world. child, Then where is heaven, mother dear? Where is this heaven of love, If not within the starry sphere. Nor in the skies above ? MOTHER. Heaven," my child, is everywhere; On land and sea, field and grove; Pervades creation, fills the air — Heaven, indeed, is only love. — P. A. Armstrong. S. P. AVERY, attorney, Morris, was born iu Kendall County, 111., .January 13, 1850; son of S. K. Avery, a native of Oneida County, N. Y., born in 1810, a farmer by occupation; he was born, raised and lived on the same farm in New York till 1847, then came to Illinois that fall, and in the spring of 1848, purchased a farm in Kendall County, where he lived till tiie time of his death, which occurred December 15, 1880. He was a prominent nurseryman and fruit grower, during the latter part of his life in Illi nois. His wife, Asenath (Wilder) Avery, was born at Verona, N. Y., December 16, 1814. and married S. K. Avery, January 20, 1836. MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. They moved to Kendall County, 111., in 1847, where Mrs. Avery died November 26, 1874. They raised seven children, six of whom are now living, five sons, of which subject is the fourth, and one daughter. Subject was edu cated at the common schools of Kendall Coun ty, and at Fowler Institute at Newark; he read law two years in Rochester, N. Y., with Jesse Shepard, then one and a half years in. Chicago with A. W. Windett. Mr. Aver3' was ad mitted to the bar in June, 1876, came to Morris September 13, 1876, and began the practice of his profession; there he has con tinued since. Mr. Avery was married, in Ladd- onia, Mo., March 10, 1882, to Kate Wilder, born October 20, 1856, daughter of Judge B. H. Wilder, of Audrain County, Mo. Mrs. Avery is a member of the Baptist Church. Subject was with Judge C. Grant, Register in Bank ruptcy, from December, 1877, to Januar3', 1881, when .Judge Grant died; from that time, sub ject has been Acting Register. Mr. Avery is a Republican. GEORGE BAUM, clothier, Morris, was born in Germany January 20, 1828; son of George Baum, who was born and raised in Germany, and also died there. Subject emigrated to the United States in 1853, landing in New York City on the I6th of August. He was educated in the common schools of Germany, and when twenty-one 3'ears of age was put into the regu lar army, by a law of that country, which com pelled all able-bodied 3'oung men, to serve six years. Our subject, by good deportment while in the service, was enabled to procure a recom mendation from the principal officers over him, which gave him an honorable release two years prior to the expiration of the time for which he had enlisted. From the date of his landing in the United States in 1853 to 1856, he oc cupied his time principally in laboring as a farm hand in the States of Connecticut and New Jersey, having had but a meager supply of means when he landed. After reaching Morris on the 4th of April, 1856, he began as before in laboring at any kind of work that presented itself, by which he could earn fair wages, and continued in this way some seven or eight years. He and his brother Henry then began in the saloon business, which he followed untU 1877. September I of that year, he began the clothing business on his own responsibility, and at present is thus engaged, and doing a satisfactory business. He has been Alderman in Morris for seven years, and has been Director for several years for the Cemetery Association. Mr. Baum was married, in Germany, in June, 1853, just before starting for this country, to Elizabeth Keiser. They have raised three children to maturity and lost two sons, one dying in infancy and the other in his thirteenth year. Those living are one son, Henry, and two daughters, viz., Eliza (wife of John Schobert) and Annie. Mr. Baum and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, aud he is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. Mr. Baum owns a handsome and commodious two-story brick residence in Morris, good store-room, a tenement house, and some vacant lots; he is a Democrat. HENRY BAUM, dry goods and miUinery, Morris, was born in New Jersey April 4, 1855, son of George Baum, whose sketch appears in another part of this work. There were three sons, of whom our subject is the eldest, and the only one living, and two daughters. Henry was educated principally at the public schools of Morris, and took a commercial course at Bryant & Stratton's College of Chicago, grad uating in that course in the spring of 1872. He began business by clerking in the dry goods establishment of L. F. Beach & Co., of Morris, remaining there nearl3' two 3'ears, then in part nership with Mr. Schobert opened a similar store in 1874, the firm name being Baum & Schobert. This firm continued together till 1881, at which time they divided, and siiice each of them has run a separate store. Mr. 10 BIOGRAPHICAL: Henry Baum is a member of the Masonic order at this place, has taken all the degrees of lodge and chapter, and will likely go through the commander3' at an early date. Subject has one of the finest stores in the city, and does a good business. He owns a block of tenement houses near the High School building in Mor ris, and a couple of vacant lots on Main street ; he is also interested in several mines in Colorado, prominent among them is the one owned by the Grundy Mining Com pany. HENRY BAUM, Sr., saloon, Morris, was born in Lauchroeden, Saxe-Weimar, Germany, October 26, 1834. He was raised and educated in his native country, receiving special training in music. He served three 3'ears as apprentice in general masonry. Came to the United States in the fall of 1857, by way of New Orleans. Settled in Morris, where he engaged at his trade, combined with music-teaching, for eight een months. In 1859, he went to Louisville, Ky., and gave musical instruction, working at; his trade, meantime, for one year. Afterward, made a specialty of music, going south with a troupe, and located in Baton Rouge, La., until the breaking-out of the war in 1861, when he returned to Morris, and enlisted in the Thirty- fourth Illinois Volunteers as a member of the regiment band. Served until the band was discharged in 1862. Since his discharge, he has been engaged in keeping a saloon, located on Washington street. He was married, Janu ary 14, 1864, to Miss Elizabeth Zeermann. She is a native of Prickenfelt, Bavarian Rheinfels, Germany, born May 16, 1844. They have two children buried and two living — Louise, born in Morris December 9, 1864, died January 31, 1873 ; Henry B., born January 27, 1865, died September 13, 1873 ; Wihie L., born May 11, 1866; and Birdie, born November 23, 1874. Subject is a member of I. 0. 0. P., and a Re publican. Residence on corner of Washington and Cedar streets, Morris, III. HENRY BURRELL, miner, Morris, is the oldest of three sons of Archie Burrell, of Scot land, and was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sep tember 30. 1843. When he was nine 3^ears old, his parents removed to the United States, and located in Chicago, where his father died of cholera in 1853. In the fall of 1854, his mother and the three sons came to Morris, Grundy Co., 111. Here the subject ahd brothers were emplo3'ed variousl3f for some years by their uncle, Alexander Telfer, a coal merchant. As soon as old enough, they began digging in the mines for support for themselves and mother. At this time (1866), our subject formed a partnership with others, under the firm name of H. Burrell & Co. He is now alone in the coal trade. The mines are one and one-half miles northeast of Morris, between the railroad and the canal. He is also asso ciated with A. W. Telfer in brick-making. The Burrell heirs have a tract of 317 acres of land, which the subject is farming. He was married, May 31, 1870, to Miss Maggie West, then of Morris. She was born in Scotland June 17, 1851. They have a family of four children — two sons and two daughters — Mary B., born May 19, 1871 ; Lizzie T., April 4, 1874 ; Henry A., September 19, 1877, and William 0., August 29, 1880. Mr. Burrell is a member of the A., F. & A. M. and of the I. 0. 0. F.; politics. Republican. ALEXANDER BURRELL, collier, Morris, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, January 14, 1850. He came with his parents to the United States in 1852, and settled in Chicago. There his father, Archie Burrell, died in 1853. In 1854, his mother, Eliza Burrell, and family, consisting of three sons, removed to Morris, Grundy Count3', where they have since lived. Subject was married, April 8, 1879, to Miss Abbie Kiersted, daughter of George H. Kier sted, one of the pioneers of Grundy County. They have two children — George, born Janu ary 2, 1880, and Alexander, born February 26, MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. 11 1881. Mr. Burrell is a member of the firm of Gould, Buchanan & Burrell, coal-miners. They have two shafts, situated near the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad, within the city limits ; office on Liberty street. Mr. Burrell is a Re publican. JOHN BROWN, druggist, Morris, was born in England September 1, 1825, son of Will iam Brown, who was born in England about 1785. He was a soldier in the English Army the greater portion of his life, and died in 1864. His wife was Margaret (Blease) Brown. The parents had eight children born to them and raised six to maturity — three sons, of which subject is the third, and three daughters. Sub ject emigrated to the United States in 1851, and settled in this county, where he has lived since. He was educated in the common schools of England, where he began life in the drug business. When he first came to Illinois, he engaged in farming for about flfteen 3'ears, and then engaged again in the drug business, and has followed it since. Mr. Brown has been Supervisor for Au Sable Township, and School Director for Morris, besides filling other minor offices not necessar3' to mention. He bought the hotel known as the Hopkins House, in Morris, in 1875, and ran the hotel business there, in connection with his other affairs, for about five years. He then sold the hotel, and gave his entire attention to his present busi ness. Mr. Brown was married, in England, in 1850, to Ann (Brown) Brown. She was born in 1826. They have nine children, four sons and five daughters. Subject owns a comforta ble residence in Morris, and a good store build ing ; carries a large stock and lias a very satis factory trade. He is a Republican. GEORGE F. BROWN, grain dealer, Morris, was born June 6, 1828, in Madison County, N. Y. In the 3'ear 1830, his father removed to the State of Ohio, where he lived eleven years. In 1841, he again moved, and lived two years in Wisconsin. In 1843, he located in Chicago, where he embarked in the mercantile business for eleven years. He then, in 1854, went to Freeport, where he is still engaged in business. George F. was educated principally at Norwalk, Ohio, and Chicago, 111. In April, 1855, he came to Morris, Grundy Co., 111., where he has since done an extensive business in grain and lumber. On the I5th day of October, 1855. he was married to Miss Emma Heald, of Free- port, III. She was born in Darien, N. Y., on the 1st day of April, 1832, and came to lUinois in 1853. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Their family consists of six children, only two of whom are living— Anna H., Emma, George P., Everett R., IsabeUa G. and Georgie. Mr. Brown is a stanch Republican, and has held several responsible offices in the city and county. E. L. BARTLETT, musician, Morris, was born in New York September 19, 1821. When he was twelve years old, his father moved to Western New York, where he worked a farm three years. Our subject entered Hamilton College in 1839, from where he graduated in 1843. He was married October 26, 1843, to Miss Rachel A Conklin, daughter of C. J. Conklin, now living with his daughter, Mrs. Bartlett, in Morris. In July, 1844, they set tled in Lisbon, Kendall County, where Mr. Bartlett was for five years Principal of the Long Grove Academy, after which he taught one year in Oswego, Kendall County ; he was also called to the Principalship of the Plainfield Academy, of Will County, just then erected, at which place he taught three years. Mr. Bart lett loolis with pride upon many of his former pupils, now filling very honorable positions. In 1854, he purchased a farm in Saratoga Township, upon which he lived ten years. At this period of his history, he enlisted in Com pany G, One Hundred and Forty-six Illinois Volunteers, as Musician, in Hentzleman's West ern Division Band, serving till the close of the war. Returning home, he sold his farm and 12 BIOGRAPHICAL: settled in Morris, where he has since lived. He owns a store building on Washington street, where for some years he conducted a music store. Their famOy numbers ten children — Napoleon B., born in 1846, killed November 11, 1864, at the battle of DnvaU's Bluff ; Fran cis E., born in 1848, is a merchant in Morris ; Leroy, born in 1850, is a merchant in Chicago ; Arabella, born in 1852, and died December 28, 1874 ; Jessie, born in 1854, married to William J. Davis, of Chicago ; Josephine, born in 1856 ; Lincoln, born in 1859 ; Sherman, died in in fancy ; and Stella, born in 1869. Mr. Bartlett has attained an enviable reputation as a musi cian, having traveled over Illinois and Iowa with a concert company composed of his own famil3'. JOHN BUCK, coal and tile, Morris, was born in Cork, Ireland, February 1, 1827. When he was three years old, his parents moved to Canada, where he was raised and educated. He came to Illinois in 1849, and to Grundy County in 1850, where he purchased a tract of land of about nineteen acres in the northwest part of the cit3' of Morris, on which he now lives, engaged in the manufacture of drain-tile ; he also operates a coal bank on the same site. He was married, December 3, 1861, to Miss Isa bella McMinn, of Pennsylvania. Sha was born November 20, 1832, and died December 29, 1862. Our subject was again married, March 16, 1865, to Miss Susanna Hutchins, of IMor- ris. She was born in Canada September 24, 1843. They have seven children, one of whom is the result of the first marriage — John T., born December 22, 1862. The children of the second marriage are George H., born January 6, 1866 ; Herbert E., born March 10, 1867 ; WiUiam F., born November 10, 1869 ; Richard R., born April 29, 1873 ; Mary E., born Novem ber 16, 1874 ; and Martha, born January 9, 1882. The famil3' residence is on Lincoln street. Mr. and Mrs. Buck are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Morris. OTIS BAKER, livery, Morris, was born in Orleans County, N. Y., June 11, 1834, and edu cated in the common schools of New York. He was married, June 2, 1855, to Miss Sarah D. Gregor3^, who was born in New York Janu ary 20, 1835. In the fall of 1856, they came to Grundy County, 111., and settled in Morris, but soon after bought an eiglity-acre farm, four miles north of Morris, where the3' lived until 1866, when they sold their farm a,nd bought another in the same township (Sara toga), where they remained ten years. In 1876, our subject moved to the town of Morris and engaged for two or three years in the dairy business, since which time he has kept a farm ers' feed yard. The family consists of two daughters — Minnie G., born Februar3' 26, 1857; married, December 1, 1881, to Charles W, Pot ter, of New York; and Hattie M., born March 24, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Baker and their oldest (Jaughter are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Baker is a Republican, and has been repeatedl3' elected to offices of trust in the community, in which he has lived. His mother, Laura Baker, is a native of Bristol, Vt., born March 16, 1799, and is now living with her daughter, in Milwaukee, Wis.; his father, Otis Baker, was born in Massachusetts November 10, 1795, and died in Orleans Coun ty, N. Y., September 23, 1879. L. F. BEACH, dealer in dry goods, boots and shoes, etc., Morris, was born in North Dans- ville, New York July 9, 1841; son of Aaron W- Beach, who was also a native of New York, born in December, 1797, was a farmer by oc cupation, and now in (1882), Hves in Chicago in his eight3'-fifth year. His wife, Mary A. (Baker) Beach, was- also of New York, born in 1802, and died in Chicago, in June, 1882. The parents raised flve children; three sons, of whom the subject is the youngest, and two daughters. Mr. Beach was educated in^teuben County, N. Y., and began life as a farmer in his native State. He came to this State in MORRIS CITY' AND TOWNSHIP. 13 1869, having merchandized four 3'ears before he came; he settled in Morris when he first came to the Stale, and began merchandising, which he stiU follows. Mr. Beach is a member of the Masonic order, and has taken all the de grees from B. A. to Knight Templar; he was School Treasurer for this township for two years, and is now a member of the City Coun cil. He was married, in Erie, Penn., in Feb ruary, 1870, to Amelia A. Hennesse3', who was born July 11, 1846. Tliey have four children — three sons, viz., Layton Fayette, Joseph Al len Hunter and James Blaney; one daughter, Maud Amelia. Mrs. Beach is a member of the Episcopal Church. Subject has built up a good trade, carries a large stock, and besides runs a store of general merchandise at Council Grove, Kan.; he is a Democrat. L. W. CLAYPOOL, whose portrait appears in this work, is a descendant of an old English famil3'. About 1645, Sir James Claypool, of England, married a daughter of Oliver Cromwell. This is the earliest record of the family obtainable. Some 3'ears later, two brothers of the same fam ily emigrated from England to America, and settled in Virginia. One subsequently left for Philadelphia, and joined his fortunes with WiU iam Penn, and he or his descendant, -James C. Claypool, was a signing witness to Penn's char ter in 1682. The other brother remained in Virginia, where his son, William Cla3'pool, was born about 1690, and lived to the ex traordinary age of one hundred and two years. William Cla3'pool was the father of three sons— George, John and James, the latter born abont 1730, who died leaving three sons — Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The first, born April 21, 1762, died in May, 1845. He had six sons and flve daughters. Of these sons, Jacob was born August 23, 1788, in Randolph Count3', Va., and died August 17, 1876. His son, Abraham C, moved from Virginia in 1799, and took up his abode in the Northwest Territory, where Chillicothe, Ohio, now is. The son of Abraham C. and the father of the subject of this sketch, Jacob C, married Nanc3' Ballard, a lady of Quaker parentage from North Carolina, and had two sons — Perry A., born in Brown County, Ohio, June 5, 1815, and died in Morris, 111., October 15, 1846; and L. W., born in the same place June 4, 1S19. Mr. L. W. Claypool spent his early years in a new settlement, going with his parents to In dianapolis, where the ague assailed them with such vigor as to drive them back to Ohio. In March of 1834, he set out with his father to explore the canal lands of Illinois for a new home. He was eager to get an education, and, with the meager facilities afforded in frontier settlements, he managed to master the multi plication table and the elements of writing, and he still has in his possession a radely-con- stracted diary with the incidents of this jour ney noted down in his boyish chirography. The story of this trip andthe subsequent removal of the familj' to Wauponsee Township, in Grundy County, III, has been told elsewhere in this volume. His life here was one of great ac- tivit3', but he managed in the meantime to get quite a knowledge of arithmetic by improving da3'S too wet or cold to work out of doors, and he exhibits with some pride a curious record of the days or half days which he devoted to the study of the elements of mathematics. At the flrst election held in Grundy County, on May 24, 1841, .Mr. Claypool was elected County Re corder, a position he held until 1847, in the meanwhile being appointed the flrst Postmaster in Morris. In 1848, he was appointed b3' the Canal Trustees Assistant Agent of the canal lands, having in charge the lands situated in La Salle and Grund3' Counties. His duties called him to assist in laying out that part of Chicago in and around Bridgeport, and continued until the last of the land was closed out in 1860. Mr. Claypool has always taken a prominent 14 BIOGRAPHICAL: place in the community in which he has lived so long. He was for years -the Supervisor of Wauponsee Township, and is now acting in this capacity for Morris Village. November 15, 1849, he contracted marriage with Caroline B., daughter of John Palmer, of Ottawa, a pioneer of La Salle County, who came overland from Warren County, N. Y., in June, 1834. Mrs. Claypool was born March 12, 1831, before the family left New York. Two sons of the family born of this union are living — H. C, born March 31, 1852, and L. W., Jr., born October 13, 1866. 0. N. C iRTER, County Superintendent of Scliools, Morris. JAMBS CUNNEA, banker, Morris, was born in Ireland January 6, 1810, and is a son of Patrick and Isabella (Brown) Cunnea. Patrick Cunnea was born in Ireland in 1783, was a farmer and merchant b3' occupation, merchan dized largely, and died in Ireland in 1840, hav ing beeu sick but six days; his wife died the same year. The parents had sixteen children born to them, twelve of whom were raised to maturity — six sons, of whom subject is the old est, and six daughters. Onr subject received a limited education in the common schools in Ire land. He began for himself by keeping store and farming, which he continued about six years, and then, iu 1846, times getting a little hard there, he said to his wife, "We will go to America," and at once sold out his effects and emigrated to the United States, stopping about two years in New York; then he came to Il linois (1848), and, purchasing a large tract of land in Will County, began farming and stock- raising, which he followed in connection with his sons till about 1866; from there he came to Morris, and opened a loan office for a few years, and, in 1872, purchased the First National Bank of Seneca, and removed the same to Morris, changing the name to First National Bank of Morris. From that time to the pres ent, he and his sons have run a general bank ing business here. The oflScers of the bank are as follows : James Cunnea (subject), President aud Director; John Cunnea, Cashier and Di rector; John McCambridge, Director; George A. Cunnea, Director; James Cunnea, Jr., Di rector. Subject and sons also own considerable land in this and other Slates, besides other valu able property. Subject is a Democrat in polities. He was married in Ireland, March 4, 1834, to Ann Glaokin, a daughter of Dennis and Cath arine (McHugh) Glackin; his wife was born in March, 1817. They had twelve children' born to them; eight raised to maturity, one of whom, Thomas, died at the age of twenty-three years. Those living are three sons — John, .James and George A., and four daughters, viz., Isabella, Maria (now the wife of John McCambridge), Catharine and Anna. Mr. Cunnea and wife and all the family are members of the Catholic Church. James Cunnea, Jr., was married in 1876, to Estella Smith, daughter of Patrick Smith, of Cleveland, Ohio. JOHN CUNNEA, banker and cashier, Mor ris, was born in Ireland, July 22, 1840 ; is a son of James Cunnea, whose biography appears elsewhere in this history. Our subject came to the United States in 1846 ; stopped two years in New York City, then came to Illinois, and soon afterward settled in WUl County, at what is now called Braidwood. There he attended school, and afterward completed his education at Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Chicago, Mr. Cunnea purchased a considerable tract of land at Braidwood, and remained there engaged in farming for seventeen years. He came to Morris in May, 1866, and about a year afterward, in connection with his brothers, opened a loan office, which they continued till August, 1872, when they purchased of D. D. Spencer his banking business at Seneca. All the appurtenances of the bank they removed to Morris, where they still carry on a general banking business. The bank is known as the First National Bank of Morris, the proprietors MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. 15 being James Cunnea & Sons. September 1, 1875, our subject was married to Jennie A. Hoge, daughter of Samuel and Matilda (Holderman) Hoge. This union has resulted in two children — Samuel James and Charity Isabella. Mr. Cunnea and wife are members of the Catholic Church. He is a Democrat. DAVID M. COOK, grocer, Morris, was born in Perr3' County, Penn., January 13, 1837. His father, James Cook, died in Pennsylvania when David was nine years of age, and his mother moved with her family to Miami County, Ohio. Here his mother and one brother died. The three remaining brothers came to Warren Coun ty, 111., in the spring of 1855. In the fall of 1856, they moved to Morris, Grundy Count3'^, where he and his brother, John W., established a restaurant and provision store on Washing ton street. Our subject was married, November 2, 1860, to Miss Jane Claypool, daughter of Perry A. Claypool ; she was born in Grund3' County, March 7, 1842. The family consists of four children, two of whom are living, viz., Nellie M., born March 25, 1864 ; Samuel D., December 4, 1870 ; William M., born December 23, 1875, died July 23, 1880 ; and John P., born April 5, 1877, died March 18, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are members of the Presbyterian Church of Morris. Mr. Cook is now proprietor of a grocery and provision store on Liberty street, in a building erected by him in 1861. He is a Republican. WILLIAM R. CODY, furniture dealer, Mor ris, was born in Oneida Count3', N. Y., Decem- lier 1, 1825, and received his education in his native State. He came to Illinois when eight een years old, and settled in Lisbon, Kendall County, where lie lived for six years, teaching school in various places in the county. He was first married to Miss Martha Hobson, of Naper- viUe, 10.; October 10, 1854 ; she died June 28, 1855, and is buried in her native town. Septem ber 10, 1856, Mr. Cody was again married, this time to Miss Sarah M. Conant, a native of New York, born December 17, 1835. They have had six children, two of whom are dead — Caroline, born August 24. 1857, died October 5, 1857 ; NeUie F., born December 21, 1858, married to N. C. Davis, of Morris ; Susan E., May 21 1861, married to B. H. Quigley, of Morris ; Ed die, July 24, 1843, died November 5, 1870 ; Annie, born May 7, 1867 ; and Grace, Septem ber 12, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Cod3' are members of the M. E. Church of Morris. He is now en gaged in the furniture business, in partnership ship with N. C. Davis ; place of business Nos. 94 and 96 Libert3' street. WILLIAM H. CURTIS, retired, Morris. The subject of this sketch is a native of Rutland. Vt., born December 24, 1817, son of Thad- deus and Charlotte (Kimball) Curtis, who came to Grund3' Count3', 1848. His father died iu Grundy County, September 3, 1857, in his sixty-sixth 3'ear. The mother died in G rundy .County, January 9, 1862, in her sevent3'-fiftli year. Subject came to Grundy County in 1846, and bought land in Vienna Township, where he made his home until coming to Mor ris, January, 1880. Raised and educated in Vermont. Mamed June 12, 1860, to Mrs. .Jane A. Hollenbeck, widow of Abraham Hol lenbeck. She is a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., February 13, 1817, and came to Grundy County about 1850. Mr. Curtis is now retir^ed and is living in a beautiful residence on corner of Benton and Spruce streets. Besides his large landed interest in Vienna Township, of this county, he owns a farm of 112 acres in Sec tion 25, of Brookfield Township, La Salle County. "Wolves!" said Mr. Curtis, "I can tell you a big one, but nobody wiU believe it." "Let us have the benefit of the story," said the interviewer. " I was aroused one morning to find a wolf with a chicken. I had no dog of my own, but Dr. Antis' dog happened to be under ray shanty. He gave chase, and was soon joined by William Hinchman's dog. In order to encourage the dogs, I got on a horso. Irt BIOGRAPHICAL: not stopping to put on a bridle, and followed after. The3' overhauled him on a pond which had a considerable thickness of ice. but the3' were not equal to the wolf, not being used to his method of defense. Thinking to help the dogs, I got off m3' horse and caught the wolf by the tail. No sooner had I done so than the dogs left me to engage the wolf while the3' in dulged in a fight with each other. In this dilemma I conceived the idea of killing my game by swinging it over-handed and bring ing its head in contact with the ice. This proved a failure, for the first impression broke the ice, letting us into three feet of water. Now m3' onl3' chance was to drown him, and after several attempts, coupled with the pitchfork in the hands of a bo3', the wolf was numbered with the slain." JOHN B. DAVIDSON, broker, Morris, was born in Beaver Count3', Penn., Januar3' 28, 1815, and spent his bo3'hood in Eastern Ohio. He resided about t\vent3' 3'ears in the towns of Middleton, Poland and Lowellville, fifteen years of which time he was engaged successf'aU3- in tlie dry goods trade, and was five years Post master of Lowellville. In 1845, he married Miss Kate Butler, daughter of Mrs. Julia Al- ford, of the city of 31orris ; she died April 13, 1858. Before his arrival here in 1854, Mr. Davidson had invested extensivel3' in cit3' real estate and farming lauds of the surrounding t-ountr3'. The flrst year, he engaged in clerical work until he could arrange to go into business. In 1855, he, in connection with Walker and Alford, established the first boot and shoe house in Morris ; he soon after bought the in terest of 3Ir. Walker. This store was located where Goold's drug store now is, and in 1858 .Mr. Davidson aud his partner sold to Edwards & Galloway. Mr. Davidson was elected Alder man of the Second Ward in 1S57, and in 1860 was elected Circuit Clerk, which office he held until 1868, declining another term. He was married again. May 28, 1861, to a daughter of the Rev. Reuben Frame, at the time pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Morris. Our sub ject is now engaged as a banker and broker, being among the leading capitalists of the count3'. He is a Director and stockholder in the Morris Bridge Company, the Grundy Coun ty Bank, and the Morris Gas Company, and is justly regarded as one of the cit3''s leading benefactors. He is a Republican. PHINBAS DAVIS, retired farmer, P. 0. Morris, Mr. Davis was born in Livingston County, N. Y., January 24, 1827. He came to Illinois in 1847, and settled in Kendall County, where he purchased a farm and lived for twen ty-seven years. In March, 1874, he moved to Morris, Grundy Count3', and bought a beautiful location on the corner of Liberty and High streets. He was married, Januaiy 22, 1848, to Miss Maria L. Phipps, of New Jersey. She was born in 1822, and died Januar3' 29, 1879. The famil3' consists of two sons— James L., born March 28, 1849, married to Elizabeth J. Bo3-er ; and Uriah C, born November 15, 1851, married to Miss Nellie Cody. Our sub ject was married the second time, February 24, 1881, to Sallie C. Frasee, widow of Barnard Frasee. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Morris. OLE ERICKSON, dry goods, boots and shoes, Morris, is a native of Norwa3' ; was born October 6, 1850, and came to the United States in 1866. He is a son of Erik Erickson, of Norway, born iu 1803 ; the latter came to the United States July 20, 1880, and settied in Minnesota as a farmer, that being his occupa tion ; he still resides there. His wife, Marit (Svarthaugen) Erickson. was born in Norway in 1812, and died there November 29, 1879. They were the parents of three children, one son, who is the subject of this sketch, and two daughters. Subject was eJucated at the com mon schools in Norway ; was raised on the farm, and worked at that pursuit a short time after starting for himself, but soon went into a MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. IT store. When he first came to the Unites States in 1866, he began as clerk at Chicago in a gro- ery store, where he continued some three years ; from there he came to Morris, May 17, 1869, and started a dry goods business with a part ner. This he continued for three years, when he sold out, and again engaged as clerk, which he followed about eight years. On the 12th of November, 1880, in partnership with W. B. Hull, he opened a full store of dry goods, boots and shoes, and the3' are now doing a livel3' business. Mr. Erickson was married in Mor ris, September 10, 1871, to Mary M., daughter of William Frey, of this place ; she was born November 23, 1851. They have two children, one daughter, Anna M., born November 1, 1872 ; and one son, Albert E., born March 19, 1875. Subject is a Lutheran, and his wife a Methodist. Mr. Erickson has been Town and City Collector for two years. He is a Republican. DR. S. T. FERGUSON, Morris, was born in Auburn, N. Y., March 7, 1845, and came to Grund3' Count3' in 1854 ; son of Daniel Ferguson, who was also a native of New York ; of Scotch parentage, born about the 3'ear 1800 ; was a blacksmith by occupation, and died of cholera in 1854. Immediately after his death, his wife, Parmelia Fowler, also a native of New York, born in 1802, came to Grundy County with her children, and died in Morris in 1875. The parents raised five children — two sous — of whom our subject is the younger, and three daugh ters. Mr. Ferguson was educated at the com mon schools at Morris, afterward taking a medi cal course • at Ann Arbor, Mich., and Chicago, 111., graduating at the last-named place in the class of 1865. He began business for himself as clerk in a drug store in Morris, which he followed about seven years ; thence to Ann Arbor, where he attended the medical school one term, and then to Seneca, in La Salle County, and practiced medicine about one year ; next he went into the army, where he was Surgeon of the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry for four months. He was then ap pointed United States Surgeon, and sent to To- peka, Kan., where he remained about a year, including what time was spent at Lawrence. From Topeka, he came back to Morris, and en gaged in the drug business ; next went to Mi nooka, and entered into partnership with Dr. WiUiam P. Pierce in a general practice, where he remained about thirteen years ; from there, subject again returned to Morris, and resumed the practice of his profession. He has had now nearl3' twenty 3'ears practice. While at Mi nooka, Dr. Ferguson spent two winters at Chi cago studying gynecology, which he now makes a specialty of Dr. Ferguson was married at Seneca, August 2, 1863, to Emma, daughter of Joseph R. Obdycke, of Grundy County. She died April 15, 1881. The Doctor is a Masou, and has taken all the degrees, from E. A. to Knight Templar. He is a Past Master of Minooka Lodge, No. 528, and has filled different offices in the Chapter and Cominandery. Subject owns some farm lands in this and Kendall Counties. He is a Republican. CHARLES D. FERGUSON, Sheriff, Morris, was born near Rochester, N. Y., May 31, 1839, and is a son of Daniel Ferguson, who was also a native of New York, born in 1809, a black smith by occupation, who came to Grundy County, 111., in 1854, and purchased a tract of land, but was taken with cholera and returned to New York, and died in 1854, only living about twenty-four hours after reaching home. His wife, Amelia (Fowler) Ferguson, was born in New York in 1804, and came to Illinois in 1854, shortly after her husband's death, bring ing her famil3', and settling in Morris, where she died in 1874. The parents raised two sons — subject is the oldest — and three daughters. Subject was educated in New York ; began business as a blacksmith, which he followed about twenty-five years. In the fall of 1880, he was elected Sheriff of Grundy County, an office he now holds. He has had charge of the 18 BIOGRAPHICAL: steam fire engine for eleven years — from 1869 to 1880. Mr. Ferguson married first in Geneseo, N. Y., April 9, 1861, to Louisa Hall, daughter of John Hall of that place. She died Novem ber 24, 1861. His second marriage was in this county, March 25, 1865, to Elizabeth A. Ent, born March 25, 1844, at Stockton, Hunterdon Co., N. J., and is an only daughter of Asa Ent, of New Jersey. The children are as follows : Fred C, born March 31, 1866 ; Harry M., born September 19, 1870, and Eugene Ray, born January 24, 1 874. JOSEPH FESSLER, saloon, Morris, is a native of Germany, born December 16, 1850. When our subject was two years old, his mother emigrated to the United States, and settled in Chicago, his father having died in Germany in 1851. In 1861, Mr. Fessler went to Minooka, Grundy County, and lived there with his uncle {John Schroeder) until the fall of 1866, when Mr. Schroeder was elected Sheriff of the county, and moved to Morris, where Mr. Fessler has since lived. He was Assistant Warden at the time of the lynching of Alonzo Tibbits in 1868. December 8, 1872, he married Miss Eva Becker, of Morris. She was born in Indiana November 25, 1852. They have three children —Carrie L., born February 14, 1875 ; Bertha M., July 5, 1878, and Ernest J., May 4, 1880. Subject engaged in the saloon business in 1873, with Charles Wagner, which he continued until April, 1875, when he purchased the interest of Mr. Wagner, and has since conducted the busi ness alone. His saloon is located on Liberty street ; his residence on Jefferson street. He is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. HIRAM C. GOOLD, druggist, Morris, IU., was born in Orleans County, N. Y., October 23, 1821, but moved to Ontario County, N. Y., at three years of age, where he attended the com mon schools during his early childhood. His education was completed at the Wesleyan Uni versity, at Lima, N. Y. When twenty years of age, he began teaching, which occupation he followed several years. Came to Illinois in 1845, and located in Putnam County, where he taught one year in the Granville Academy. Went to Michigan and taught two years, and then came to Morris, Grundy County, in 1848. Was in a dry goods store two years as clerk. Then went to California by the Overland route, being 100 days on the road. Was engaged in Northern California in mining three years. Then returned to Morris and engaged in the real estate business, and where he eventually went into the drug business. Was elected County Superintendent of Schools in 1852, and filled the office three consecutive terms or ten years, the duties of which office he filled credit ably to himself and to the full satisfaction of the people. He was married, at Morris, in the fall of 1853, to Clementine L. Baker, born in Genesee Count3', N. Y., in 1824. They have one son, Hiram B., who is his father's assistant in the drug business. Mr. Goold has been a member of the Congregational Church since seventeen years of age. Has always taken an active part in the temperance movements of the county, and was one of the charter mem bers of the Sons of Temperance of Morris, or ganized in 1848. Has been a life- long worker in the Sunday school, and since his residence in Morris has been identified with the Sunday schools of that place, the principal part of the time as Superintendent of the Congregational school. JACOB M. GRIGGS, farmer, P. 0. Morris, is a native of Pennsylvania, born April 12, 1829. He came to the site of Morris in 1837, with his father, who built the second house in the place, in 1838. The father died in Morris in April, 1849. Our subject attended the first school ever organized in Morris. He was mar ried, January 13, 1862, to Miss Emma Coch ran, daughter of Samuel Cochran, of Morris, born February 28, 1840. The family consists of seven children, viz., Sigel A., born January 25, 1863 ; Henry B., February 5, 1866 ; Helen MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. 19 J., March 1, 1868 ; Minnie M., November 14, 1871 ; Birdie W., September 10, 1875 ; Archie E., June 2, 1877 ; Gracie G., November 6, 1879. Mr. Griggs has about seventy-five acres of farm land in Section 9 of Morris Township, and one hundred acres in Section 16 of Sara toga Township, valued at $60 per acre. He is associated in the brick and tile business with Messrs. Martin and Steep, the firm known as Griggs, Martin & Steep. Mr. Griggs is a per sistent temperance worker and a Republican. MILES GORDON, joiner, Morris, was born in Franklin County, Me., January 22, 1820. He came to Morris in 1843, and has been a leading contractor in his line of business dur ing all the years of his residence here. In August, 1844, our subject was married to Miss Betse3' Judkins, of Maine ; this union has been blessed with five children. DR. A. F. HAND, Morris. The subject of this sketch may be classed among the early settlers of Grundy County, having come to Morris in the spring of 1847, and re. sided here ever since. He was born in 1816 in the town of Shoreham, Vt, on the eastern' shore of Lake Champlain, directly opposite Fort Ticonderoga, and within a stone's throw of where Ethan Allen embarked to cross the lake in that famous surprise of his on the British forces. At the age of eighteen, he left the home of his parents and came West, stop ping for a short time at Logansport, Ind., at the residence of his half-brother, Rev. Martin Post. He next found his way to Jacksonville, 111., and two years later, entered the Freshman class as a student in Illinois College, gradu ating in the scientific course of that institution four years afterward. We next find our sub ject at LouisviUe, Mo., where he taught school two years, and returning to Jacksonville again, entered the medical department of Illinois College, and three years later obtained his -diploma as Doctor of Medicine. He now be gan the practice of his profession, and spent two years with the distinguished Dr. Charles Chandler, of Chandlerville, 111. In the spring of 1847, through the influence of Hon. Perry Armstrong, subject was induced to come to Morris, where he has since resided and prac ticed medicine. Now, at the age of sixty, with a moderate competence in store, he has de clared his intention of retiring from the active pursuit of his profession, and enjoying the fruit of his labors. Dr. Hand was married May 1, 1850, in Morris, to Sarah E. Clark, born March 17, 1827, in Philadelphia, a daughter of Job Clark, a boot and shoe merchant of Mil ford, Conn. They have three children — Edu- ella Clark, Truman A. and Oliver H. Dr. Hand is a United States Surgeon for examining pensioners. He is a Republican in politics. C. H. HANSEN, boots and shoes, hats and caps, Morris, was born in Denmark April 1, 1851, son of Hans Christen. Subject em igrated to this country in the spring of 1868 and traveled for two or three years through Southern Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, lUi- nois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and finally settled in Chicago. He began business there in 1870, in partnership with his brother, and in 1873 came to Morris and opened a store, which the brothers have continued since. In 1875, our subject took a trip to Europe, and spent six months, travehng through Germany, Denmark, Sweden and England. In the spring of 1877, he went to the Black HiUs, and spent about three 3'ears, running a mine and store. After ward, was in Montana and Wyoming Territo ries. He came back to Morris in the fall of 1880, and after taking a business trip back to the Territories in the spring of 1881, again, re turned to Morris, where he has since remained. He was married in Canada, January 25, 1882, to Susan E. Mason, who was born in Canada in 1861. Subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias ; has a good stock of goods and a sat isfactory trade. R. H. Hansen, brother of our subject, was born in Denmark March 5, 1848, 20 BIOGRAPHICAL: and came to this country in 1867. After trav eling for some time, he finally settled and spent one summer in Minnesota. From there, he came to Cook County, III, where he was on a farm for some time. He next engaged as clerk at Chicago in a boot and shoe store, where he remained tUl 1870, and then started a store in that city for himself This he con ducted for six years, and in 1874, opened a branch store in Morris. In 1876, he gave up the store entirely in Chicago and came to this place. He is non-partisan in politics. WILLIAM T. HOPKINS, attorney, Morris, was born in Maine October 5, 1819, son of David Hopkins, also a native of Maine, born in 1779 ; he was a farmer by occupation, and died in Maine in 1860 ; his wife, Esther (Trask) Hopkins, was born in Maine in 17&1, and died in 1872, at the old homestead in Maine. The parents raised fourteen children — nine sons, of which subject is the sixth, and five daughters. Subject was educated in the State of Maine, and read law at Bangor, that State. Was admitted to the bar at Morris, 111., in 1850, and at once began the practice of his profession, which he still continues. Mr. Hop kins was engaged in the mercantile business in Morris from 1853 to 1855. He has been Superintendent of Public Instruction for one term ; was elected Judge of the Grundy County Court in 1861, and served one term ; in 1864, he was elected Representative to the Legislature from this county for two years ; he was also one of the Electors the same year on the Republican ticket, which cast the vote of this State for Abraham Lincoln for President. In 1865 and 1866, Mr. Hopkins was one of the general agents of the Internal Revenue De partment of the United States. Was in the three-months service in the late war, and raised a compan3', of which he was Captain. In 1863-64-65, he was President of the Sanitary and Christian Commission for this district. Subject was married in Maine, in 1846, to Clara H., daughter of Simon Prescott ; she was born September 20, 1824. Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins having no children of their own, raised two nieces — Hannah Hopkins, who is now the wife of Allen F. Mallory, and Nora J. Abbott, who is now an invalid at her adopted home with her uncle. Mr. Hopkins is a Mason ; has filled most of the offices in Lodge and Chapter, and is at present (1882) Master of the Lodge at Morris. He was a member of the flrst convention that formed the Repubhcan party in this State. Self and wife are mem bers of the Baptist Church. Subject was an intimate friend of President Lincoln from 1850 to the time of his death, and was at the convention at Chicago that nominated Mr. Lin coln for the Presidency. Mr. Hopkins is still a Republican. D. C. HUSTON, restaurant and photogra pher, Morris, was born in Grundy County, III., July 13, 1850. Son of Charles and Jane (Bnos) Huston, natives of New York State, he born about the year 1809. His parents raised five children — two daughters, one of whom died in her teens, and three sons, of whom our sub ject was the second. He commenced his edu cation in the country schools, and finished it in the State Normal Institute at Bloomington, 111. His first work was farming, but after finishing his schooling he began clerking in a dry goods establishment at Gardner. This occupation he continued in different places until in 1874. After clerking again in Gardner for a few months, he began traveling for the Sherwood School Furniture Company, with which firm he continued for about two and one-half years, when he began the photograph business, which he stiU follows. February 18, 1882, he opened a restaurant, which he still carries on. April 8, 1879, in Ottawa, IU., Mr. Huston married Annie C. Kiersted, born May 3, 1854, daughter of George Kiersted (deceased), one of the early settlers of this county. This marriage has re sulted in one child — Mabel C, born Jlay 9, MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. 21 1881. Mr. Huston is a member of the Masonic fraternity ; has taken the degrees of the Lodge and Chapter ; he is a Republican. H. H. HOLTZMAN, stationery and news de pot, Morris, was born in the District of Colum bia November 3, 1837, son of James H. and Sophia (Shell) Holtzman, both natives of the District of Columbia. He, born December 7, 1815, was a merchant, and died Novembe'r 12, 1868; she, born May 22, 1816, died May 28, 1868 ; they had five sons, of which our subject was the oldest, and six daughters. Mr. Holtz man was educated in the District of Columbia, and, with his father and the famil3', came to Morris in 1855, where our subject engaged in the same business he follows at present, ex cept that it was on a very limited scale. He has increased his business from year to 3'ear until he now has a large and commodious store room well filled with goods and controls a good trade. He is no partisan in politics ; is a mem ber of the Masonic Order, and has taken all the degrees from E. A. to K. T. Mr. Holtz man was married, in this county, May 9, 1869, to Lucy Hollands, born March 10, 1847. She is a daughter of Joseph and Jane (Smith) Hol lands, both born the same year, 1813. She died January 27, 1881. He still lives in this county. Mrs. Holtzman is a member of the Presbyterian Church. SAMUEL HOLDERMAN, Morris, was born in Marion, Marion Co., Ohio, October 9, 1828 His parents were among the first settlers of Grundy County, settling in Holderman's Grove, then La Salle County, in 1831. The foUowing year (1832), they were compelled to flee to the settlement where Pekin now stands for secur ity from the Indians, then on the war-path. In July, 1852, our subject was married to Miss Martha H. Coke, daughter of Charles H. Coke, of Grundy Count3'. She was born in England September 15, 1830, and died iu Felix Town ship, Grundy County, on the 29th of April, 1866. The result of this union was six chil dren — Charles II., born January 19, 1854, mar ried to Miss Elizabeth Peacock, of Morris ; Mary B., born May 22, 1855, died December 25, 1877 ; Charlotte M., born January 19, 1857, married T. Furgeson in April, 1880 ; William E., born December 22, 1858 ; Caroline M., Octo ber 22, 1860, and OrviUe S ., December 5, 1863. During the life of his first wife, Mr. Holderman lived on a farm in Felix Township, Grundy County. In .January, 1872, he mar ried Mrs. Elizabeth King, widow of Alondas King, and sister of his forraer wife. Mr. Hol derman has, by his enterprise, assisted largely in giving character to the business of his county. He is now engaged, in connection with his two sons, Charles and Williara, in the stock business in W3'oming and Utah. He also has an inter est in three gold and silver mines in Southern Utah. With these, his son-in-law, Furgeson, is connected. Mr. Holderman spends the greater portion of his time in the West, where his bus iness interests call him. His residence is on Fremont avenue, Morris. His politics are Republican. W. D. HITCHCOCK, County Clerk, Morris, born in Champlain, Clinton Co., N. Y., August 16, 1857 ; son of H. D. Hitchcock, born at same place in 1827. The father came to Morris in November, 1867, and was Deputy Clerk four years. In 1877, was elected Clerk, in which capacity he served till the time of his death, which occurred April 7, 1880. His wife, ;\Iary J. (Cutting) Hitchcock, was a native of West- port, Essex Co., N. Y., born in 1833. She now lives with her son (subject) in 31orris. The parents raised three children— one son (subject), and two daughters. Our subject was educated at the High School at Morris, and began life in the dry goods business as salesman, which he foUowed some six years. From there, he came into the Clerk's office as Deputy under his father, and after his father's death he was elected to fill the unexpired terra. Republican in poli ties ; belongs to the Masonic order. 22 BIOGRAPHICAL: FRANCIS HALL, saloon, Morris, was born in Clackmannan, Scotiand, xVugust 16, 1830. He was raised and educated in Scotland, and came to the United States in June, 1855 ; set- tied in Pennsylvania for about one year, then in September, 1856, he came to Morris, Grundy Co., Ill, where he has since resided. He en gaged in the coal trade for several years untU 1868. In 1861, he sunk the first shaft made on the Conklin road. Since 1868, he has been proprietor of the saloon, corner of Washington and Wauponsee streets ; residence on Washing ton street. He was married, February 3, 1862, to Miss Margaret Rankin, of De Kalb County, IU. Mrs. (Rankin) Hall was born January 24, 1841. They have a family of nine children, four of whom are dead. They are Thomas Hall, born December 17, 1862 ; Margaret J., born April 5, 1865, and died July 31, 1866 ; Chris tina M., born June 26, 18G7, and died October 17, 1868; Francis, born September 11, 1869 ; Jennie, born February 19, 1872, and died Octo ber 22, 1875 ; Lillie, born August 3, 1874, and died September 30, 1875 ; Edward, born August 13, 1876; Jessie, born May 27, 1879; Isabel, born June 18, 1882. JOHN K. HARRISON, mechanic, Morris, is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., born July 7, 1828, and raised in Montgomery County, N. Y. He learned the carpenter trade under his father, serving five years, and afterward served a two- year's apprenticeship as millwright. He was married, December 31, 1847, to Miss Phila Jones, of New York. She was born March 2. 1830. Mr. Harrison came to Morris in 1852, since which time he has been engaged mostly at liis trade. August 7, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Seventy-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, to which regiment he belonged till 1864, when he was transferred to the Sixty-fourth U. S. C. I., acting as Commis- sar3' Sergeant. He continued in this regi ment until Januar3' 1, 1866, when he was discharged. During his entire service, he was employed in the Quartermaster and Commissary Department. After the war, he came home, and remained about eighteen months, when he went South, and engaged in raising cotton in its season, and working at his trade in the win ter. The family consists of eight children — only three living. They are William Henry, born in 1854 ; Thomas Jefferson, born in 1858, and Ida Isabel, born September 23, 1862. Those deceased are Adelph3' A., born in 1847 ; Mary, born in 1849 ; both died in New ITork in December, 1857 ; John J., born in 1863, died in Grundy County in 1863 ; Josephine, born in 1852, died in Grund3' County in 1853, and Eugene M., born in 1867, and died in Mississippi in 1875. Mrs. Harrison is a Methodist; Mr. Harrison is a Democrat. RICHARD HUGHES, saloon, Morris, is a native of County Mayo, Ireland; was born in June, 1835. His parents emigrated to the United States in 1846, and settled in Ports mouth, Va., where our subject was principally educated. He served an apprenticeship of three 3'ears at the trade of confectioner. About 1855, he came to Morris, Grundy Co., 111., and engaged in farming until the breaking-out of the war. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Com pany C, Sevent3'-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infan try. He was appointed Second Lieutenant at the organization of the company ; was pro moted to the post of First Lieutenant in 1864, and was mustered in as Captain of Com pany C in 1865, at Blakely, Ala. He partici pated in about twenty-seven engagements, in cluding the siege of Vioksburg, siege of Blakely, Jackson Cross-Roads, etc. He had six broth ers also in the war, all younger than himself ; one of them was killed in the battle of Shiloh; three of them, including himself, were wounded at Blakely, Ala., subject receiving two wounds. Since the war, he has been engaged in busi ness in Morris; is now associated with Mr. J. 0. Levette, on Washington street ; his resi dence is on the corner of Division and North MORRIS CITY AND TOAVNSHIP. 23 streets, Morris. He is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. EBENEZER HYDE, retired merchant, Morris, was born Februar3' 21, 1811, in Berk shire County, Mass., where he was raised and educated, and where he lived until 1852, with the exception of two years spent in Connecti cut. During the years 1852-53, he was in Aurora, IU., in the lumber trade. The 3'ear 1854, he spent in Chicago. In the spring of 1855, he moved to Morris, Grund3' County, where he has since resided, and for eighteen years engaged in the lumber business, from which he has now retired. He owns a farm ten miles south of Morris, which he rents; his resi dence is at the corner of Main and Calhoun sti'eets. His sister, Mrs. Louisa Bulkley, widow of A. P. Bulkley, resides with subject ; A. P. Bulkley was born October 15, 1812 ; died Au gust 15, 1872. They have one daughter — Mary L. (Bulkley) Gore born March 29, 1858, mar ried to William H. Gore February 2, 1882. ¦William H. Gore was born in Saratoga Town ship, Grundy County, July 12, 1851. Is now engaged in the drug business at Chicago. Mr. Ebenezer Hyde, our subject, is a Republican. PHILLIP HART, grocer, Morris, is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, born December 17, 1827 ; received a common school education in Germany and came to the United States in 1846; worked in New York City at the barber business for about six years. In 1850, he re moved to Buffalo, where he kept hotel until 1853. In 1854, he settled iu Morris, Grundy County, where he has engaged in various kinds of business, principally as proprietor of the American House, and afterward in the grocer3' business, in which he is now engaged, in Hart's Block, Liberty street. He was married, m May, 1818, to Miss Elizabeth Goering, of Germany ; she was born March 7, 1826. They have had six children — Catharine, born February 12, 1851; and Lena, born September 11, 1854; both died in infancy; Mary, born February 16, 1861, died January 16, 1863; Eliza, born September 16, 1857, married, May 31, 1881, to Frederick Harmening ; George, born December 22, 1858, married to Miss MoUie H3'nds; and William, born July 10, 1867. JOHN HART, mechanic, Morris, was born ou the I7th of March, 1838, in Elizabeth, Penn. His parents, James and Rebecca Hart, came to Grund3' County, his father in 1839 and his mother, with the family, in 1840. His father died in Morris on the 1st of January, 1844. His mother, Rebecca (Simpson) Hart, was born in Ireland in 1803 ; died in Morris November 8, 1846. John, being left an orphan at the age of nine 3'ears, earl3' acquired habits of indus- tr3'. At the age of sixteen, he began thejtrade of blaclismithing, under Martin Hines, serving as an apprentice three years, since which time he has worked at his trade in Morris, v,-ith the exception of three 3'ears, from 1859 to 1862, spent in Sacramento, Cal. He is now located on Canal street, between Falton and Calhoun streets, where he has run a shop for the past fifteen years. He was married, on the 6th of .^larch, 1859, to Miss EUeu Ward, a native of Ireland. They are members of the Catholic Church of Morris. Mr. Hart is among the very first inhabitants of Morris, and attended the flrst school ever conducted in the town. In politics, he is strictl3' independent. Residence on the corner of Fremont avenue and Oak street. JAMBS HORRIE, carriage- maker, Morris, was born in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, Sep tember 27, 1827, and was raised and educated in the home of his nativity, where he served an apprenticeship of four 3'ears at the blacksmith trade, which he still follows. He came from his native place to Grundy County, IU., aud settled in Morris in 1848. August 20, 1850, he mar ried Miss Catharine Anderson, of Scotland. She was born February 26, 1828. The family consists of eight children^Jane, born June 16, 1851, married to William Handwerk January 24 BIOGRAPHICAL: 11, 1876; James A., born July 16, 1853, mar ried to Miss Nina Roily November 24, 1875; Robert C., born November 7, 1855, married to Miss Mary Baird November 7, 1877; Joseph W., born February 13, 1858; Catharine A., born April 5, 1860; WiUiam .J., born January 15, 1863; John C, born January 23, 1865, and Minnie, born September 17, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Horrie are members of the Presbyterian Church of Morris. He is a Republican, and served as Alderman one term. Residence on Main street; carriage manufactory on Canal street. C. F. HARMENING, tailor, Morris, was born in Germany May 17, 1854, and was there edu cated; he is the son of Fred Harmening, who was also born in Germany. Our subject emi grated to the United States December 16, 1871, and stopped in New York City for two years, where he followed the tailoring business; from there he went to Rock Island, 111., where he continued liis business about two years; thence to Geneseo, where he remained about three years; then to Morris, in October, 1878, where he has been ever since, and where he controls a good trade. Mr. Harmening was married in Morris, May 31, 1881, to Eliza, daughter of Phil Hart, of this place; she was born in De cember, 1857. IMr. Harmening and wife are members of tlie Presley terian Church; he is a Democrat. LEANDER IRONS, hardware merchant, Morris, was born in Rhode Island April 4, 1840; son of James Irons, a native of that State, born in 1793, and is now living (1882) in the town of Mazon, in this county. His wife Phebe (Steere) Irons, was a native of the same State; was born about 1800, and died in 1850. Subject came to this State in the summer of 1861, and was educated at the common schools of Rhode Island; was apprenticed to a jeweler for flve years, which time he served out. When he first came to this county in 1861, he taught school one term south of Morris. After return ing from the arm3', he began in the express office, where he remained nearl3- a year; then began clerking in the hardware establishment of B. C. Church & Co., at Morris; remained there till Church sold out to John Gross, the firm name changing to Geisen & Gross, subject remaining with them a short time; from there subject and Mr. Church, his former employer, purchased the stock of H. C. Pettey's hardware store, and began for himself This flrm changed its name several times afterward, but our subject was a member of each new flrm. At the last change, Mr. Riddle bought out J. H. Pettit, the firm name now being Irons & Riddle. They have a ver3' satisfactory trade. Subject has been City Treasurer one term. Alderman two years. Chief of Fire Department one term. jMr. Irons enlisted in the Federal army in July, 1862, in Company C, Seventy-sixth Illinois In fantry; was disabled the following November at Boliver, Tenn., and was discharged in AprU, 1863, at St. Louis; he enlisted as a private, and was Quartermaster Sergeant of the regiment when discharged. Our subject is a member of the Masonic order, and has taken all the de grees from B. A. to Knight Templar. Has filled the Master's place of his lodge, and has been H. P. of his Chapter for the past six years; also fills prominent offices in the Comraandery. He was married in Morris, June 6, 1866, to Mary Stanberry, daughter of Eugene Stanberry, of this place. They have two children— Byron L. and Willie T. Mr. Irons is a Republican. WILLIAM A. JORDAN, Postmaster and dealer in agricultural implements, Morris, was born at Hudson, Columbia Co., N. Y., July 17, 1829, son of Allen Jordan, a prominent lawyer of that place, who was born February 3, 1798. He came to Illinois with his family in May, 1847, and settied at Plainfield, Will County; frora there came to Kendall County, and, after spending quite a number of years in that county, he again returned to . Will County, where he now resides. His first wife, Catharine MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP, 25 Dayton, who was the mother of our subject, was born in Rhode Island about 1808, and died in February, 1834, at Hudson, N. Y. There were but two children by the first wife — sub ject and one sister; she was born in 1831, and died in 1838. Subject was educated at the Hudson Academy. He began life as a farmer in Kendall County, 111,, in 1848, continuing in this till about 1865; then sold his farm and en gaged in the agricultural implement business at Minooka, Grundy County, where he carried on a very large trade in this line for quite a num ber of years. He came from Minooka to Mor ris in the fall of 1870, and resumed the agricultural business, and is running the lead ing business in that line at this place, known as the Grundy County Agricultural Warehouse. He was a member of the Board of Education for several years. Was appointed Postmaster at Morris January 19, 1882, by President Arthur, a position he now fills very acceptably. He is Republican in politics. Is a member of the Masonic fraternit3'. He was married, No vember 1, 1853, at Ottawa, La Salle Co., 111., to Annie B. Wing, daughter of Capt. Clifton Wing, of Sandwich, Mass. She was born January 26, 1834. They have had seven children born to them, only four of whom are living — two sons — Clifton and Frank, and two daughters — Kate and Annie.. ' ALVAH R. JORDAN, lawyer, Morris, is a native of Kennebunk, Me., and was born De cember 13, 1844. He received a classical edu cation in Schenectady, N. Y. In 1861, he enhsted in Compaiiy G, Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and served about six months, when he was discharged in consequence of injuries received at Raleigh, Mo. Soon after recover ing, he again enlisted, this time in Company I, of Sixty-ninth Illinois Infantry, holding the commission of Second Lieutenant, and serving the full term of its enlistment. He began the practice of law at Morris in 1869, and has succeeded in building up an enviable reputa tion in his profession. He is a standard Republican, and has served his county in the capacity of State's Attorney for nine continu ous years. He was married, June 18, 1869, to Miss Sarah D. Parmelee, daughter of Charles R. Parmelee, of Grundy County. She was born in Du Page County, IU., March 20, 1845. E. F. JOHNSTON, restaurant, Morris, is a native of Pennsylvania, born August 28, 1830, son of James Johnston, who was one of the old settlers of Western Pennsylvania ; he was born in 1803 ; was a farmer by occupation, and died in Pennsylvania in 1876. His wife, Elizabeth (Rigb3-) Johnston, a Quakeress, was born in 1806, and died about 1865. The par ents raised seven children — five sons, of whom subject is the eldest, and two daughters. Sub ject was educated in the common schools of Penns3'lvania, and began in the nail-cutting business, which he followed about three years, when he was forced to leave it on account of failing health. He then learned the mason's trade, which he followed twelve years. He came to Morris in 1855. Mr. Johnston did the mason work of many of the best buildings of Morris, including the court house. He began in the restaurant business in 1860, which he has followed to the present time. He has a good trade, and runs the leading house of its kind in the city. He was married in this place, December 31, 1857, to Jennie M. Wallace, born in Ohio February 27, 1837, daughter of WiUiam Wallace, of Scotch de scent, born in Pennsylvania in 1812 ; he is now living in Texas. Alethea Gundy, his wife, was born in Pennsylvania in 1815, and died there in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are the parents of two children — Ettie F. and Carrie M. Mr. Johnston is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., and a Republican. GEORGE M. JONES, furniture and under taking, Morris, born at Morris November 25, 1846, son of J. B. Jones (who was born in Pennsylvania about 1816) and Mary (Tyrrell) 26 BIOGRAPHICAL: Jones, a native of Canada. J. B. Jones was one of the first settlers of this place. He raised two sons, of whom our subject is the older, and one daughter. Subject was prin cipally educated at -Morris, finishing, however, at Aurora Seminary. Graduated in the class of 1868. Subject spent his bo3'hood days in the store which he now occupies, with his father, who was then proprietor. After arriv ing at the age of maturity, he, in connection with J. W. Lawrence, bought his father out in 1877, and from that time they have carried on the business under the firm name of Jones & Lawrence. Mr. Jones has been Town and Cit3' Collector two 3'ears, and Alderman four years. He was married in this city, October 29, 1872, to Sophia Hazleton. She was born in Milwaukee June 17, 1853, and is a daughter of C. P. Hazleton, now of Morris. Subject has two children, both girls, viz., Mamie and Bertie, lur. Jones is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. and a Democrat. T. J. KELLY, liquors, grocery, etc., Morris, born in Morris May 8, 1856 ; son of Patrick Kelly, who was born in Ireland ; emigrated to the United States and settled in this town, where he died. There were three children — one son (subject), and two daughters. Subject was educated at the public schools of Morris. Started for himself in 1873, as grocery clerk for N. K. Keller, and was with him seven years. In 1880, he engaged to N. Hanna, as clerk in the same store, in which he now sells goods ; was with him two years. On the 4th of April, 1881, he, in partnership with Thomas P. Rey nolds, opened a grocery store on Liberty street, where they continued till October 5, 1881, at that date raoving to the corner of Washington and Fulton streets, where they now have a flourishing trade. Mr. Kelly was raarried, at Eureka, HI, August 14, 1880, to Annie O'Hara, daughter of John O'Hara. She was born in August, 1863. They have one child— a daugh ter—Mary Theresa. Mr. Kelly is non-partisan in politics. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church. LEWIS P. LOTT, retired merchant, Morris, was born in 1813, in Covert, Seneca Co., N. Y. ; is a son of Zephaniah and Permilla (Phelps) Lott. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1775 ;. pursued farming for sixty years on the same farm in Covert, N. Y., and died July 5, 1855. She was born in Connecticut in 1780 ; died at Covert, N. Y., April 13, 1863. The parents had thirteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity. Our subject attended the common schools of New York until thirteen years of age, and then went to Canandaigua where he learned the printer's trade. He worked as a journeyman at Cleveland for about two years, and then, forming a partnership with a friend, commenced a general book business, which he continued at Cleveland for twelve or flfteen years, and then removed to Kirtland, Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacturing busi ness for two and a half years ; then for two or three 3'ears in the general merchandising busi ness at Warren, Ohio. He next went to Racine, Wis., where he again engaged in t;he mercantile business for several years ; and, in March, 1848, moved to this place, where he still resides. Mr. Lott was married, at Cleveland, Ohio, February 22, 1844, to Delia Lloyd Clark, born in Phila delphia September 29, 1821, a daughter of Job and Sarah Humphrey (Chilcott) Clark. He was born in Connecticut in 1787, and died at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1839. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1787, and died in Ohio in 1849. This union resulted in four children, two of whom died in infancy ; one son, Frank Clark, died in his fourteenth 3'ear. The eldest sou, Edward L., only survives. Mr. Lott owns 200 acres of improved land, besides good town pro perty. He was Deputy Clerk for eight years, and has been Supervisor, Alderman, Superin tendent of Public Schools, School Treasurer ; for a number of years Chairman of the Board of Supervisors and Justice of the Peace ; Mas- MORRIS CITY^ AND TOWNSHIP. 27 ter of the Masonic Lodge, and H. P. of his Chapter. Is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., in which he has passed through the different offices. Mrs. Lott is a Baptist ; Mr. Lott is a Repub lican. GBORGB W. LANE, retired grain dealer, Morris, was born in Maine April 19, 1817, son of Joshua Lane, born in New Hampshire, Feb ruary 6, 1788, was a farmer by occupation, a good classical scholar, a zealous member of the Baptist Church, and died December 15, 1859, in Morris. Parents raised two children, one son, our subject, and one daughter. The sub ject of this sketch was educated in the State of Maine flnishing at Kent's Hill Seminary, in Kennebec County. He was raised on the farm. CHARLES C. MARTIN, molder, Morris, was born October 19, 1848, in Fa3'ette County, Penn., and is a son of J. B. and Sarah (Hamil ton) Martin, the latter of whom died in the spring of 1 859, in Penns3'lvania. In the spring of 1861, the father of our subject removed to Morris, Grundy County, and engaged in brick- making ; he now resides in Ottawa, 111. Our subject received the greater part of his school ing in Morris. In 1864, when less than sixteen years of age, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Regular Illinois Volunteers, in which he served several months. He is now engaged with Messrs. Griggs and Steep in the manufacture of drain-tile and brick, the flrm being known as Griggs, Martin & Steep. May 5, 1869, Mr. Martin raarried Miss Lydia A. Hart, a native of Belmont County, Ohio, born January 23, 1848. She is a daughter of Rev. Samuel and Rachel (Thomas) Hart ; he was born June 17, 1817, died Janu ary 26, 1882 ; she was born August 28, 1813^ and is now living in Odell, Livingston Co., IU. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have five children — Leon- idas A., born December 19, 1870 ; Lillie May, August 2, 1872 ; Charles WUford, April 11, 1875 ; Grace M., December 19, 1877 ; and James Garfield, born May 29, 1880. Mrs. Mar tin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; Mr. Martin belongs to the I. 0. 0. F. T. R. MINKLER, agricultural implements! Morris, was born in New York January 12, 1832 ; son of Peter Minkler, born in New York in 1788. The latter moved to Illinois, in 1833, with his family, and settled in Specie Grove, Kendall County, where he took a claim of between two hundred and three hundred acres ; there he lived till just before the war. He then sold out and moved to Ogle County, where he again bought land, settled on it, and lived there till the time of his death, which occurred in 1881, in his ninety -third 3'ear. There were eight children, flve bo3's, of whom our subject is the youngest, and three girls. The subject of this sketch was educated at the common schools of Kendall County, and spent his early life on the farm, which occupation he continued till 1860, since that time he has been engaged in the agricultural implement busi ness, in Morris. For twenty-one years he act ed as salesman in this business, and in the fall of 1881 opened an impleraent warehouse for himself, where he does a satisfactory business. August the 9th, 1863, our subject, while out on a hunting expedition with sorae friends from Chicago, accidentally let his gun go off, fearfully fracturing his right arm between the elbow and shoulder, rendering it necessary to have the same araputated near the shoulder, which was very successfully done. Mr. Mink ler was married first in Saratoga, Grundy Coun ty, in 1853, to Sarah A. Conklin, daughter of C. G. Conklin ; she died in 1856. He was married the second time to Elizabeth Conklin, a sister of his flrst wife ; she died in 1874. He has one son by his flrst wife — Henry — and flve chUdren by the second wife, viz., one son Horace, and four daughters — Larissa, Carrie, Hattie and Louise. Mr. Minkler is a Democrat in politics. N. McBRIDE, insurance and surveying, money leaner, etc., Blorris, was born in Florence, 28 BIOGRAPHICAL: Pennsylvania, June 13, 1824 ; son of James McBride, a native of Pennsylvania, born July 20, 1790 ; the latter was a farmer by occupa tion, and died in 1857. His wife, Jane (Wick) McBride, was born in New Jersey in June, 1800, and died in 1859. The parents raised six chUdren, three sons, of whom our subject is the oldest, and three daughters, one of whom is now dead. The subject of this sketch was educated at Mercer, Penn., at Mercer College, and began life as a surveyor, also engaged in engineering and general speculating business. He came to Illinois in 1855, and settled in Mor ris ; has been in the insurance business twent3'- seven years. Police Magistrate twenty years, and was County Surveyor ten years. In Janu ary, 1881, our subject purchased, in company with several prominent men of Chicago, Mor ris and other places, what is known as the Keystone Mine, style of the flrm being " Key stone Consolidated Mining Co." This mine is located in Suramit County, Colo., and promises to be very rich. Mr. McBride was flrst mar ried in Ohio, to Lydia Davidson, April 29, 1846 ; she died in 1876, in Morris. His second marriage was May 2, 1877, to A. F. English, of Chicago, daughter of Jacob BngUsh, of Lycom ing County, Penn. Our subject had by his flrst wife five children, four of whom are now living, three sons— J. W., T. C. and N. B., the last two hve in Chicago, and the flrst in Colorado, and one daughter, Maggie, wife of H. A. Cagwin, of Gardner, this county. Mr. McBride owns a residence in West Side Morris. He has been a pension and claim attorney, and has given to ex-soldiers $4,000 or $5,000, in reduction of of fees. He is a candidate for County .Judge, and a Republican. DAVID NICKEL, iron molder, Morris, was born in Mercer County, Penn., August 28 1851. His parents removed to Mt. CarroU, Carroll Co., Ill, when he was two years old! Here they remained one year, then moved to Sabula, Iowa, and engaged in miUing for flve years. In 1859, the father went with his fam ily to Stephen's Point, Wis., where he worked at his trade (iron molder). Here our subject received his education. At the age of fifteen he began the trade of iron molder, serving an apprenticeship of three j'ears, from which time he followed this work as journeyman until 1880. He has been in the employ of the Sherwood School Furniture Company (now the Ohio Butt Company) since 1874. In August, 1880, he was promoted to the position of fore man of the foundry department. la May, 1881, he was given the position of Assistant Superintendent, and in August, 1881, pro moted to General Superintendent of the entire establishment, which position he now hoHs. December 27, 1876, he was married to Miss Julia McFarlane, daughter of William McFar lane, of Ohio. She was born in Ohio March 6, 1851, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Nickel is a Republican. His parents are still living, and are among the hon ored members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Morris. N. J. NELSON, grain merchant, Morris, was born in Skaanevig, Norway, on June 24, 1849. In the summer of 1858, his parents emigrated to Canada, and in the same 3'ear came to Grundy County, IU., and settied on the farm on which they lived for seven 3'ears, during which time, our subject received a common- school education. In 1869, he came to Morris, where he worked at clerical work and book keeping until 1872, when he and 0. J. Nelson purchased the stock of Undum & Co., Liberty street, where they conducted business until the fall of 1875, when they closed out. Since 1875, he and his brother 0. J. have engaged in the grain trade. They have an elevator on Canal street, and, in connection with Mr. M. N. Hull, have an elevator near the railroad depot. In October, 1879, Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Linda Osman, of Grundy Count3', IU. She was born December 2, 1856, and died in MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. 29 Morris January 9, 1881. Joseph Nelson, father of N. J. Nelson, was born in Norway in 1815, and died in Kendall County, 111., July 22, 1879. Anne Nelson, the mother, was born in Norwa3' in 1822, and is now living in Ken dall County, on the old homestead. Besides N. J., there are six children, two older and four younger than himself JOSEPH H. PETTIT, Deputy Circuit Clerk, Morris, was born in Hunterdon County, N. J., February 6, 1842 ; son of Mahlon Pettit, also a native of that State, born in 1 803 ; was a farraer b3' occupation, and died in 1849. His wife, Amanda (Higgins) Pettit, was born in the same State in 1812, and is now living, adjoin ing her son, in Morris. The parents raised but one child, our subject, who was ^educated in the common schools of 2^ew Jerse3'; and came here April 19, 1856, with his mother. He began business as clerk in a general store, where he continued for about fourteen years. He was Cashier of the Grundy County Na tional Bank nearly two years ; was in the hardware business here four 3'ears ; was ap pointed Circuit Clerk to flU a vacancy for about one year, and since that has acted in the capacity of Deput3' Clerk. He enlisted in the Federal army in 1861, and served three months. Was Quartermaster's clerk at Gen. Sherman's headquarters for eight months. Jlr. Pettit married in this town, January 30, 1873, to Myra S. Massey, born in La Salle County June 1, 1845, and is a daughter of Jonathan and Nancy B. (Dow) Massey. Mr. and Mrs. Pettit have two children — -one daughter, Muriel, and one son, Ra3'mond J. Mr. Pettit and wife attend the Congregational Church. Subject was City Clerk two years in Morris, and was one of the corporators of the Library Associa tion of this place. He is a Mason and a Knight Templar ; also a member of the Re publican party. MARSHALL B. PIKE, retired farmer, P. 0. Morris, was born in Maine March 25, 1834. He was raised and educated in Maine, coming to Morris when twenty-three years old (1857). He owns a farm of 160 acres of cultivated land in Saratoga Township. He has retired from active labor, and, is now living on the old home property of Mrs. Pike's parents, John and Hannah Porter; this property is situated on Main street, between Price and Pine. Our subject was married to Miss Anna Porter March 4, 1858. She was born in Chester County, Penn., March 15, 1829, and came to Grundy County in 1849. The family consists of four children — Lillie B., born March 13, 1859, died May 1, 1862; Edward W., born June 21, 1863; John P., born September 26, 1866; and Cliflbrd L., born AprU 11, 1873. Joshua Pike, the father of our subject, was born near Portland, Me., Februaiy 1, 1809, and came to Grundy County in 1857. He is now living on his farm in Saratoga Township. Caroline (Barker) Pike, mother of M. B., was born in Portland, Me., in June, 1812; and died May 2, 1875, in Saratoga Township. John Porter, father of Mrs. Pike, was born June 2, 1794, in Morris, and died September 14, 1850. Her mother, Hannah Porter, was born January 18, 1793, died in Morris September 8, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Pike are members of the M. E. Church. Mrs. Pike owns the lots upon which is situated the Goold Block. Mr. Pike has three residence houses on Washington street, east of the court house, and owns the entire eastern frontaga of court house square, besides several lots in the southwestern part of the city. J. H. PATTISON, County Treasurer, Mor ris, was born in Ohio August 22, 1840; son of WiUiam Pattison, also a native of Ohio, born in 1805; was a farmer by occupation; came to this State in 1842, and died in this county March 14, 1882. His wife, Martha (Halsted) Pattison, was born in Ohio, about 1815, and died in this county about 1850. There were ten children, flve sons and five daughters, the 30 BIOGRAPHICAL: subject is the third son. He was educated at the common schools in the county. His ad vantages in this direction were very limited. He began life as a farmer, and has followed that occupation the principal part of his time. In the fall of 1877, he was elected County Treasurer, and took possession of the office in December of that year; he was re-elected in 1879, and stiU holds the office. He was mar ried in December, 1867, in this county, to Jen nie Struble; she was born in New Jersey in 1840, and is a daughter of Elias Struble. Sub ject has three children, viz., Alice, Mary and Hettie. Mr. Pattison owns a small farm in Wauponsee Township; he is a Republican. M. S. PRINDLE, book-keeper and City Clerk, born in La Fayette, Ind., January 15, 1846, son of WiUiam Prindle, who moved here in 1848, and built the first hotel in 31orris, known as the Franklin House, which burned in 1854. Mr. Prindle then built what is now called the Rock Island & Pacific Hotel ; ran that several years, and in 1863 retired from the business and never afterward engaged in active busi ness. He died June 20, 1875. His wife, Abi gail (Scranton) Prindle, was born in Connecticut June 20, 1812, and is now living with her son, our subject, in Morris. The parents had six children, three sons, of whom subject is the youngest, and three daughters. Subject was educated at the high school in Morris. He be gan his business life as a book-keeper, which he has followed since. He worked for John Barr for about seven years, and about five years for McEwen & Bros.; was appointed two consecutive terms as City Clerk, and was then elected a third term for some other office. Be ing a Democrat in politics, and elected to this office in a city that has a Republican majorit3', speaks well for his popularit3'. Mr. Prindle was married in this city, July 10, 1870, to Electa A. Lindsay; she was born January 1, 1846, in Wilmington, Ind., and is a daughter of William D. Lindsay, of Wilmington. They have two children, one son — George E., and one daughter, Gracie May. Subject is a mem ber of both Masonic aud I. 0. 0. F. orders and is now filling his second term as Noble Grand in latter order. WILLIAM A. PARKER, book-keeper, Mor ris, was born in the State of New York April 3, 1851. His parents came West when he was about one year old, and settled in La Salle County, III., where his father engaged in farra ing for three 3'ears, at which time he engaged in mercantile business. In 1860, they removed to De Kalb County, where they remained until 1871. The subject of this sketch was educated at Sandwich, De Kalb Co., 111. Leaving school at the age of seventeen, he taught school for three years, after which he occupied himself in various employments until 1874, at which time he was employed by the Sherwood School Fur niture Company (now the Ohio Butt Company) of Morris. He occupies the position of fore man of the warehouse departraent, which com prehends the office work of the entire establish ment. His father, Andrew Parker, was born August 10, 1822, in New York, and died in Kansas in 1879. The mother, Harriet M. Par ker, was born in New Y^ork September 22, 1824, and is now living with her son, our sub ject. Besides William, there are two children — Helen L., born in New York November 3, 1844, married to S. C. Lincoln, of Sandwich, De Kalb County (he is distantl3' related to Abraham Lincoln) ; and Harriet E., born in Illinois No vember 5, 1860, and is living with her mother and brother William. The entire family are members of the Regular Baptist Church. Mr. Parker is a Republican. E. H. QUIGLEY, railroad agent, Mor ris. E. H. Quigley was born in Crawford County, Penn. He received a common school education in his native State and in Morris, after which he took a course in the business college of Davenport, Iowa. Came to Grundy County at the age of thirteen. His father, MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. 31 Henry Quigley, was born in Pennsylvania in December, 1814, and died iu Penns3'lvania June 3, 1866, Matilda Quigley, mother of subject, was born in January, 1826, and is now living with her son, E. H. Quigley. Mr. Quig ley was married, May 21, 1879, to Miss Lizzie S. Cody, daughter of William R. Cody, whose biography appears in this work ; she was born in Grundy County May 21, 1861. They have had two children — ^Freddy W., born March 10, 1880, died August 6, 1881, and Harry H.,born September 19, 1881. Mr. Quigley has been in the employ of the Rock Island & Pacific Rail road Company for ten 3'ears, as operator, ticket agent, and is now station agent. He is a Re publican. JAMES N. READING, lawyer, Morris, whose portrait appears in this work, was born at the homestead of his maternal grandfather. Dr. John F. Grandin, at Hamden, N. J., where his son, John Grandin, now resides. He was named after his grandmother Grandin's father. Dr. James Newell, whose wife was a Lawrence, and sister of the father of Commodore Law rence. James N. Reading is the son and eldest child of Joseph Reading, who was the 3'oung- est child and only son of John (3), he being the eldest of John (2), who was the eldest son of Gov. John Reading. He commenced his academic course at Flemington, under Charles Bartles, Esq., who then had charge of the academy. He was prepared for college at the Princeton Academy, then entered Nassau Hall in 1827, and graduated in 1829, taking the fifth honor in a class of twent3'-six ; studied law with Samuel L. Southard in Trenton ; was ad mitted to the bar in 1832, and became a coun selor at law in 1836. He married, February 10, 1835, Sarah C. A. Southard, a niece of the Governor. From 1832 to 1850, he practiced law in Flemington, fifteen of which years he was Prosecuting Attorney for Hunterdon County. During his residence in Hunterdon County, he took considerable interest and quite an active part in the military affairs. His first appointment was to the office of Brigade In spector ; resigning that after two years' serv ice, he was appointed Colonel of the Third Regiment of the Hunterdon Brigade, which, with the office of State's Attorney, he held un til he moved to the West. In 1850, he removed to Jefferson County, Mo., and for two years was President of a lead mining company. He re turned to New Jersey, settied up his private business, and in the fall of 1858 moved to Morris, Grundy Co., 111., which has since been his place of residence, with tlie exception of the years 1859-1861, when he resided in Chi cago aud practiced law, in copartnership with Mr. (afterward Judge) Wallace. He was elected a member of the State Legislature of Illinois in the fall of 1856, and filled the position nntU the fall of 1858, when he officiated as Clerk of the Circuit Court, filling a vacancy. In June, 1861, his partner having joined the Union army as a Major of the cavalry branch of the service, Jlr. Reading closed his law office in Chicago, and returned to Morris. During the war, he was Deputy United States Marshal for Grund3' Count3', and also United States Com missioner, at the sarae tirae continuing his legal business. In 1865, he was elected County Judge, which position he held for three suc cessive terms — twelve 3'ears — and then declined a re-election. He is an indefatigable worker, having, in addition to his legal practice and official duties, been largely engaged in the real estate business ever since his removal to Illi nois. He is an able lawyer and jurist. GEORGE RIDDLE, hardware merchant, Morris, was born in Blair County, Penn., March 7, 1833, son of John and Jane (McKillip) Rid dle, natives of Pennsylvania. He was a farmer by occupation, and died in his native State ; she died in Penns3'lvania, in 1856. They raised six children, four sons, of whom our subject is the second, and two daughters. Our subject was educated in the coramon schools of Penn- 32 BIOGRAPHICAL : sylvania, and at the age of sixteen began clerk ing in a dry goods store, in New Castie, where he remained three years. After spending three years more in Mercer County, Penn., he came to lUinois in 1855, and began the foundry bus iness, buUding the flrst foundry of this place. He carried on this business two 3'ears, and then went into the coal business for three years, af ter which he pursued farming untU 1876, when he opened a hardware store in partnership with Mr. Irons; this flrm still continues, and does a good business. Mr. Riddle was married in Morris, November 4, 1856, to AmeUa Fer guson, daughter of Daniel Ferguson, spoken of in another part of this work. Our subject has been School Treasurer for fourteen years, in Mazon Township ; is a raember of the Masonic order, in which he has taken all the degrees from Entered Apprentice to Knight Templar, and is one of the oldest members of the order at Morris. He is President of the Forest City Mining Company, in Summit County, Colo., considered one of the richest mines in that State ; he is also Superintendent ofthe Grundy County Mining Company ; President of the Morris Cutlery Company, and a member of the Republican party. DR. EMANUEL RIDGWAY, physician and druggist, Morris, is a native of Ohio, born October 22, 1831; son of Joshua Ridgway, also of Ohio, where he was occupied in farm ing until he came to Illinois in 1834, and set tled in Grundy County, about six miles north east of Morris; he died in Channahon, Will County, in 1839. His wife, Sarah (Cryder) Ridgway, was born in Ohio about 1811, and died in 'this county in 1835. They raised two children, both sons, of whom subject is the youngest: He attended the common schools in Grundy County, from 1835 to 1839, but after the death of his father, in 1839, he was taken back to Ohio in 1840, by his mother's people, and flnished his education at South Salem Academy. He began reading medicine with Dr. Wills, of Chillicothe, Ohio, and attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, from which institution he graduated in the class of 1855. In 1878, he received an hon orary degree of the Chicago Medical College. In April, 1855, he began the practice of his profession at Morris, where he has continued ever since. There he engaged in • the drug business in September, 1880; this he stiU fob lows, in connection with his practice; he car ries a good stock and has a flne trade. He has been Coroner for Grundy County the past sixteen years. Chief Engineer of the Fire De partment six years, and has been a member of the Board of Education for the past four years. He enlisted in the Federal army, Seventy-sixth Illinois Regiraent, as Assistant Surgeon, in August, 1862, and returned home in August, 1865. Dr. Ridgway was married in this coun ty, in 1869, to Alcinda B. Hoge, born in 1842, daughter of WiUiam Hoge, one of the oldest settiers in this county, b9ru July 5, 1801, in Virginia, and is stUl living at his old home stead in this county. His wife, Rachel (Bowles) Hoge, was born in Virginia in 1807, and died in this county in 1843. Subject has six children, four sons — Frederick WiUiam, Henry A., George M. and Franklin S., and two daughters — Mary H. and an infant. Subject is a Presbyterian and a Repubhcan. THOMAS H. ROSS, miner, Morris, was born in Stark Co., Ohio, May 27, 1845, and here he lived until twenty years old, at which time, be ing a member of the Ohio National Guards, he, with his regiment, was called into active serv ice. In this enlistment, he served four months in Kentucky and Tennessee, after which he en listed in Company A, ofthe One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infan try, remaining in the field until the close ofthe war. He came to Grundy County, III., iu 1870, and worked in the coal mines of Brace ville Township until 1876, when he came to Morris, and associated himself with Mr. John- MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. 33 son in the mining business, the firm known as Johnson & Ross. He subsequently became owner of the entire mine, but soon sold a half- interest to A. F. Mallory. The partnership continued one year, when Henry Burrell be came the successor of Mallory. Since then the firm has been known as Burrell & Ross, now operating on the line of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. On the Sth of Sep tember, 1875, Mr. Ross was married, to Miss Bell Peacock, daughter of John Peacock, one of the first settlers of the county; she was born in Morris September 19, 1844. They have two daughters — Gertrude I., born December 30, 1876; and Lizzie H., born June 4, 1881. Mr. Ross is a member of the Masonic fraternity; his wife is a member of the Episcopalian Church. They own thirty acres of valuable propert3' in the eastern part of the city, adjoin ing the paper car-wheel manufactory. Their residence is on Fremont avenue, west of Nettle Creek. HON. J. S. R. SCOVILL, jeweler and Mayor of Morris, was born in Johnstown, Fulton Co., N. Y., May 18, 1832 ; son of Rev. John Sco vill, who was also born in New York, in 1804, and in the same house that our subject was born in ; the mother, Clarissa (Young) Scovill, was also born in the same towu in 1806. The Rev. Mr. Scovill was a clergyman of the Epis copal Church, and died in December, 1861, and his wife died in 1870. The parents raised four children to maturity — one son, our subject, and three daughters. Subject was educated at Johns town, common school and academy. He began in the jewelry business in L3'ons, N. Y., with a cousin, with whom he learned the trade. He left New York in 1855, and went to Waukegan, IU., and two years afterward to La Porte, Ind., where he remained five years ; thence to Chi cago, and remained there till 1866, at which time he came to Morris, and has followed the jewelry business ever since. He now owns not only the leading jewelry establishment of Mor ris, but of any of the small cities of this part of the State. Mr. Scoville was married at Keno sha, Wis., in January, 1856, to Blmira H. C. Cole, who was born in New York July 20, 1834, and is a daughter of John and Lucy (Hicks) Cole. Mrs. Cole now lives with her son-in-law, our subject, at this place. Subject has four children — two sons, J. S. R., Jr., and De Laucy T. W., and two daughters, Nellie Z. Y. and Fann3' Belle Wallace. Mr. Scovill has been Alderman two years ; is a member of the Board of Edu cation, and has been elected Mayor seven times, notwithstanding that he is a Democrat, and in general elections the city goes Republican by a handsome majority ; this shows the popularity of our subject. He has two maiden sisters living in a house built by his grandfather in New York more than one hundred 3'ears ago. Our sub ject has followed four generations to the grave from his place ; first, his great-grandmother, at the age of ninety-two 3'ears ; next, his grand father and grandmother ; next, his father and mother : and next, a brother and a sister. CHARLES SPARR, harness shop, boots and shoes, Morris, was born in Germany, April 5, 1836 ; is the son of Nicholas Sparr, a native of Germany, born in 1800, a harness-maker by trade, died in German3' about 1870. Our sub ject attended school in his native place until sixteen years of age, when he came to this countiy ; the voyage, which took twent3'-eight da3's, he made alone. He spent two 3'ears at Columbus, Ohio, working at the trade of har ness-making ; from there he came to Oswego, Kendall Co., 111., where he remained from 1854 to 1856, when he came to Morris, and continued the harness business. In 1868, he formed a partnership with George Woelfel, in the tannery business. This he continued for twelve years, or until January 1, 1880, when he dissolved the partnership, Mr. Sparr taking the harness and boot and shoe departments, and Mr, Woelfel the tannery business. Mr. Sparr does a thriv ing business ; owns several store rooms and a 34 BIOGRAPHICAL: good brick residence at Morris. He was mar ried at Oswego, Kendall County, in 1856, to Catharine Wolf, who was bora in Germany in June, 1836. They have had eleven children born to them, ten of whom are still living, viz., Joseph, William, Harry, Frank, Mary, Kittie, Carrie, Hattie, Birdie and an infant. Several years ago, Mr. Sparr was City Treasurer for two years ; he also acted as Supervisor for two years. He is a Republican. WILLIAM STEPHEN, retired . farmer, P. ¦0. Morris, is a native of Scotland; was born May 26, 1817, and came to the United States in 1837; he is a son of Williara and Elizabeth (Cruickshank) Stephen, both natives of Scot land. Subject left Scotland the 24th of April, 1837, and reached New York City some time in the following June, having been on the sea -some six weeks. He reached Chicago July 1, 1837; left there the 4th of the same month, ar riving at Lisbon, La Salle County, 111., on the 7th; thence to what is now Nettle Creek, Grun- d3' County, where he made his first purchase of land, one-fourth section, in Section 20. The 22d of Noveraber, 1837, Mr. Stephen was caught out in a severe snow storm, and was so badly frozen that it was necessary to amputate two of his toes, and the ends of his fingers were so frozen that they bear the scars to this da3' ; he lived on the aforesaid farm about one year and afterward settled near Lisbon, Kendall County, where he lived with the exception of two years, till 1869; one of these years was spent in Grundy County, and the other in La SaUe County. He next moved on a farm which he purchased near Morris in 1869, where he re mained about six years, and in December, 1875, moved to the city of Morris, where he still re sides. Subject owns at present about 1,400 acres of good farming lauds in this and Ken dall Counties, besides city property in the su burbs of Chicago, consisting of about ninety Jots, and two good residences in Morris. After his misfortune of getting frozen, when a young man, Mr. Stephen found himself without any means whatever, and what propert3' he now owns is the result of his own efforts, showing what can be accomplished by well directed dili gence. Mr. Stephen was married in the town of Big Grove, Kendall County, February 27, 1843, to Margaret Waterman, daughter of Isaiah and Hester (Van Vrankin) Waterman. Mrs. Stephen was born December 16, 1825. They have had ten children born to them, seven liv ing, four sons, viz., William I., Merritt J., Charles M. and Fred L., and three daughters, viz,. Ella, wife of Charles B. Collins; Helen, wife of Albert E. Cogwin, and Hettie J., wife of Frederick Page. Mr. Stephen, wife and one son are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Subject has been Justice of the Peace for two terms. Assessor eleven years for the town of Big Grove; is now a member of the Board of Education here, and also Superintendent of Grundy Count3' Poor Farm; he is a Republican. M. W. STEINER, dentist, Morris, is a native of Pennsylvania; born April 12, 1855; son of Andrew Steiner, born in Pennsylvania in 1822; a bridge-builder by occupation, and is still liv ing in Penns3'lvania; his wife, Henrietta (Wile3') Steiner, was born in Pennsylvania in 1824, and died in 1878. The parents had twelve chil dren born to them, nine of whom are living four sons, of whom our subject is the third, and flve daughters. Mr. Steiner was educated prin cipally at Morris; graduated in dentistry at Philadelphia Dental College in 1876. Subject came to this place when eleven years of age, all alone, to visit his married sister, Mrs. Dr. Murray, with whom he made his home till Oc tober, 1879. He began the practice of his pro fession in 1876, and by industry and close at tention to business, coupled with a thorough knowledge of his business, he has built up a flne practice. Mr. Steiner was raarried in this city October 2, 1879, to Miss Lilly Grant born January 15, 1856, daughter of Judge C. Grant, of this place. He was a native of Scotiand, MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. 3.5 born in 1821, and died here in January, 1881. Mr. Steiner is a member of the Congregational Church; subject is a member of the Masonic order, and Secretary of the Morris Cutlery Cora pany ; he was City Clerk in 1880 ; is one of the officers of the fire department, and a Republi can in politics. JOHN SCHOBERT, dry goods, etc., Morris, was born in Germany, July 11, 1847, and came to the United States in June, 1855, with his parents. His father, John William Schobert, was born in Germany, November, 13, 1815, and his mother, Margaretta C. (Zeitler) Schobert was born in Germany, February 16, 1822. The parents raised five boys and three girls, one girl dying when but ten years old, and another when twenty-one years old. Our subject, the eldest son, was educated principally at the public schools in Ottawa, this State, that be ing the place where his parents settled on their arrival in this country, and where the3' still reside. Mr. Schobert began business for himself by learning the harness trade, at which he worked at Pontiac, 111., for about four years, and three years at Ottawa. He next began in the dry goods business, in 1868, as clerk, in Ottawa, which he continued about six 3'ears. He came here in September, 1874, and began in the same business, in partnership with Mr. Baum, the flrm name being Baum & Schobert. In March, 1881, this flrm dissolved, each mem ber opening a store in his own name, in which manner they have continued since. Mr. Scho bert is doing a good business at Morris ; he is also interested in a store at La Salle, in La Salle County, the flrm known as Breuning, Kilduff & Co., which is doing a fine business. Mr. Schobert enlisted in 1863, in the Federal army. Company D, Twentieth Illinois Infantry, and was mustered out in July 1865. He was with Sherman in 1864, when he went through Miss issippi. His regiment then carae home on thir ty days furlough, at the end of which time Mr. Schobert took a trip through Middle Tennessee and Alabama, and joined Sherman at Aeworth, Ga. He was in several minor engagements on these raids, and ou the 21st of July, 1864, par ticipated in the battle at Atlanta, Ga., where he was severely wounded in the right ankle, from which he still suffers. He was married in this city, January 29, 1878, to Elizabeth Baum, sister of his former partner in business. She was born September 11, 1857, at this place. They have had had two children born to them, but one of which is living, a daughter — Jessie B., born October 7, 1880. Mr. Schobert is a Mason and a Republican. DR. A. D. SMITH, Morris. Mr. Smith was born in Jefferson County, near Watertown, N. Y., August 2, 1847 ; son of Eleazur Smith, a native of Vermont, born at Rutland Septem ber 21, 1807, and was a farmer by occupation. He left Vermont when a 3'oung man, and went to New York, where he ran a farm and dairy till 1854, at which tirae he carae to Illinois, selling his property in New York, and purchas ing a farm, in 1855, in Saratoga Township, this county, where he still makes his home. His wife, Maria (Darb3') Smith, was born in Huntington, Vt., August 24, 1815. The par ents raised ten children ; eight sons, of whom our subject is the sixth, and two daughters- Dr. Smith was educated in this county, princi pally, and took a medical course at the univer sity of New York City, from which institution he graduated in 1870. He began life as a tel egraph operator, which he foUowed some three 3'ears prior to taking his medical course. Im mediately after graduating, our subject began the practice of his profession, in his native county, with an uncle ; he remained there but a short time. In the fall of 1870, he came to Morris, where he now enjoys a very lucrative practice. He owns some town lots in Mitchell, this county ; he is a Mason and a Republican. EDWARD STEEP, molder, Morris. Mr. Steep was born in Clinton, Canada, July 5, 1852. His parents, Peter and Mary A. Steep, 36 BIOGRAPHICAL: came to the United States in 1851, and settled in Da3'ton, Ohio, where his father worked six years at the shoe-maker trade. In 1857, they returned to Canada, where they lived until they came to Gruud3' Count3', which they did in 1867. Parents hved in Morris from that date till time of death. The father died in the fall of 1866 ; the mother died on January 11, 1879. Our subject was principally educated in Mor ris. Married January 1, 1875, to Miss Marga ret A. Longacre, of Morris. She was born Feb- ruar3' 19, 1857. They have two daughters — Maud W., IsabeU, born July 30, 1882. Both Mr. and Mrs. Steep are members of the Aleth odist Episcopal Church at Morris. Our sub ject is associated with Messrs. Griggs and Mar tin in the manufacture of drain-tile. Yard is located in northwest part of city ; residence on Liberty street. Henry C. and Hannah Longacre (parents of Mrs. Steep) are living, and among the respected citizens of Morris. SAMUEL BARBER THOMAS was a na tive of Pennsylvania, and the second son in a famil3' of five sons and four daughters born to William and Margaret (Evans) Thomas. His father, though born in Chester County, in the same State, was of Welsh descent, and his mother a native of Wales. Until eight years of age, Mr. Thomas lived in Chester County where he was born, when he went with his par ents to Center County, in the central part of the State. Here he finished a common school education, and with this capital began life for himself as a clerk in a mercantile establishment at Jacksonville. He followed this line of oc cupation at various places until about twenty- six years of age, when he entered in partner ship with L. W. Irving in a milling and mer chandising business. He subsequently went to Clearfield County, and went into the lumber business untU 1852, when he removed to Peru, Ind., and for a year and a half engaged with that old-time railroad prince, Andrew DeGraff, in railroad construction. While here at work on the Indianapolis & Peru Railroad, a letter from his friend and former clerk, E. B. Hanna, reached him, urging him to accept a position in Morris, III. He at once accepted this offer, and entered the employ of Mr. Hanna as clerk in the mer cantile business. Here, as in every position in life, Mr. Thomas formed a wide circle of friends, and paved the wa3' for the long and successful political career which soon followed. In the spring election of 1858, he was elected Justice of the Peace for the town of Morris, and on the 12th of April qualified, and assumed the duties of his office. For four years he amply justified the confidence bestowed upon him by his fellow-citizens, and at the same time so strengthened himself in the regard of a wider circle of friends, that, before the expiration of his term of office, he was called by the popular vote to the position of County Clerk. From 1861 to 1878, he filled this position continu ously, and with such satisfaction to the people of the count3', that he was elected in Novem ber of the latter year to the position of County Judge, a position he held until his death. Dur ing his nearly twenty-one years of public serv ice, he held his high place in the public esteem unchallenged, and so marked was hia eminent fitness for the position he occupied, that the pub lic voice proclaimed him his own successor so long as he would consent to forego the pleasures of private life. In the fall of 1882, he was urged by various private considerations to refuse the use of his name as candidate for another term as County Judge, and, though persevering in this determination until the near approach of the nominating convention, he was at last over borne by the importunity of friends, and gave a half-hearted assent to his nomination. The convention was held on the 12th of September, and on Monday, the 14th, at 7:15, death inter vened. On Saturday evening, he had gone home apparently in good health, although con siderably fatigued by the bustle of the con vention. A littie after 9 o'clock, a physician was MORltlS CITY .VND TOWNSHIP. 37 summoned, but the patient had passed into an unconscious state from which he never rallied. Shortly after coming to Morris, Mr. Thomas met and married Miss Amanda Ferguson. She was a native of New York; was a daughter of Daniel and Amelia (Fowler) Ferguson, and born October 5, 1828. No children resulted from this union, but devoted entirely to each other their lives so blended that death seemed onl3' partially successful in rending them asunder. The following account from the Morris Her ald voices the public grief: DEATH OF SAJIDEL B. THOMAS. Samuel B. Thomas is dead. Hardly can we rea lize the truth of this statement, and so sudden was his demise that we cannot reconcile ourselves to the belief that it can be true. On last Saturday at .5:30 o'clock we were in conversation with him, and on Sunday morning came the announcement that he was dying. On Saturday evening, about 6 o'clock, Mr. Thomas went home and complained of not feeling well, at tributing his condition to having been exposed to the heat of the sun too much during the day. His head troubled him. Home remedies were applied, but instead of receiving relief, he grew worse, until it was thought best to send for a physician. At a little after 9 o'clock Dr. Ferguson was summoned, but before his arrival Mr. Thomas had passed into an unconscious state, from which condition he was never aroused. Dr. Ferguson remained with him throughout the night, and the aid of other medical skill was summoned, but without beneficial results. He never spoke after first becoming unconscious. Gradually he sank to rest, and at 7:15 Monday morn ing he passed away. Words avail nothing at such a time as this. His life has been an open book, read of all men who have looked upon him or came under his influence. He was a true man, devoid of every thing unbecoming a gentleman. For over twenty years he has been connected with the political and social history of Grundy County, in that time com ing in contact with all of our people, and we have yet to hear of a single person, regardless of his po litical opinion or social standing, who had ought to say against Samuel B. Thomas. He was the friend of every man, woman and child in the county, and his demise brings mourning to every household. Samuel B. Thomas was born at St. Marys, Ches ter Co., Penn., October 20, 1820. At the age of eight years, with liis parents he moved to Centre County, where after lie arrived at the age of matu rity, he was engaged in tlie lumber business and mer chandising until IS.'i'J, when he moved to Peru, Ind., and for a year and a half was engaged witli xViidrew DeGraff in railroading. While there he contracted fever and ague, from wliich his system was never entirely freed. While at Peru lie received a letter from an old time friend and former. clerk, Mr. E. B. Hanna, inviting him to a situation in Morris. In 1854, Mr. Thomas came here and entered the employ of Mr. Hanna, who was then in the mercantile bus iness in tills city. April 6, 1858. deceased was elected to the position of Justice of the Peace for tlie town of Morris, and on the 12tb of that month he qualified and assumed the duties of his office. From this time commenced his political career. On tlie 15th of November, 1861, before the expiration of his term of otflce as Justice of the Peace, Mr. Thomas was elected to the office of County Clerk, which position he filled continu ously until December, 1877, when he qualified for the position of County Judge, to which office he had been elected at the November election preced ing, his term of office expiring in December next, and would have completed a continuous service of twenty-one years in the court house. What better record could be given to any man. Faithful to every trust, competent for every duty, affable, genial, whole-souled, he won and held the confidence of all people. So strong was his hold upon the people, that when he had declared his intention of retiring from public life, old-time friends would not listen to his protest, but compelled him to signify his willing ness to again accept the po.sition of Judg?, should the convention which assembled in this city on last Saturday tender him the nomination, with the un- standing always, that he would do no personal work to secure the nomination. At no time did he think seriously of receiving the nomination, and we Itnow from him that he did not want it, aud would not have accepted it had he been nominated only as above stated, for the satisfaction of his friends. Shortly after coming to Morris, Mr. Thomas made the acquaintance of Miss Amanda Ferguson, sister of Sheriff and Dr. Ferguson, of this city, and during his flrst year's residence here they were married, and for twenty-eight years have lived happily together. The parents of Mr. Thomas have been dead several years, and are buried in Centre County, Penn. Three brothers are living in Penns3'lvania, and onfr sister in Kansas. 38 BIOGRAPHICAL: August 13, 1856, Mr. Thomas was inducted into the mysteries of Freemasonry, and was raised from time to tirae until he reached the Knight Templar degree. He was a devoted member of the order, and filled various offices in the sever.al branches. At the time of his death he was second in rank in the comraan dery. The court house and city buildings were clothed in mourning. The flag at the Republican pole, which had proudly flaunted to the breeze, betoken- ening victories in which the deceased had taken an active part to achieve, was hung at half-mast, now the emblem of sorrow for one who had been its friend and defender. Other flags in the city were placed at half-mast, and during the time of the funeral and services, at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon the business houses were closed Prior to the death of Mr. Thomas, the Knight Templars of this city had been in constant attend ance upon him, and after his death they took charge of his remains, and made all arrangements for the funeral services at the request of the widow. Rep resentatives of the fraternity were present from all of the neighboring towns, which together with the county officials and the vast concourse of people from all parts of the county made up one of the largest gatherings for such an occasion ever held in the city. The floral tributes were profuse and exceedingly appropriate. From the German society of this city came a pillow inscribed " Unaer Freund." From the court house an anchor, surmounted by a star; from the Templars, aJIaltese cross; from the family, a siclde and sheaf of wheat. There were many handsome bouquets. The funeral service was held at the residence. Rev. Young, of the M. E. Church, officiating, con cluded at the grave by the Blue [Lodge of Masons, followed by the Comraandery. And then was deposited all that was mortal of Samuel B. Thomas, a specimen of God's noblest work — an honest man. The following resolutions were adopted by Cedar Lodge, A., P. & A. M., of this city: Worshipful Master, Warden and Brothers: One of the most perfect columns of our super structure — Past Master Samuel Barber Thomas — has been stricken to earth by that insatiate archer — Death, whose sable wings spread a gloom over this Lodge of Sorrow. Well has it been said that " the good die young," but our deceased brother was an exception to this rule. He possessed all the elements of a truly good man. Benevolence, courtesy and kindness were his companions; justice, integrity and morality were his rules of action. Therefore be it Besolved, That in the death of Brother Thomas, Cedar Lodge, No. 124, A., F. & A. M., has lost a just and upright Mason, society an exemplary cit izen, his wife a kind and affectionate husband and Grundy County a faithful public servant. That to his beldved wife we extend onr heartfelt sympathy, and commend her to Him who doeth all things well, with the assurance that she will some day go to him in that haven of rest, where all is peace and perfect joy. That a page in our record book be set apart as sacred to the memory of Past Master Samuel B. Thomas, on which shall be inscribed his Masonic record. That a copy of the preamble and resolutions be certified and presented to the wife of our deceased brother. Perry A. Armstrong, L. P. Lott, Leander Irons, Committee. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1882. Board met pursuant to adjournment; called to or der by the Chairman; present, a full Board, except Superintendent Ayers. Minutes of yesterday's proceedings read and ap proved. A motion by Superintendent Germain that the matter of fixing compensation of county officers be set for hearing at 11 o'clock, was carried. The committee appointed to draft resolutions of respect to the memory of the late Hon. S. B. Thomas, deceased, presented their report as follows, to wit , Your committee to whom was referred the matter of the death of the Hon. S. B. Thomas, County Judge, would beg leave to submit the following re port on the matter before them: Whereas, Death has removed from this com munity the Hon. Samuel B. Thomas; and, whereas, it is but fitting that we, members of the Grundy County Board of Supervisors, who have known him personally and officially for many years, should ex press our respect for him as an officer and a man. Be it resolned, That, in the demise of Judge S. B. Thomas, the 'people of the county have lost the presence and [counsel of a man whose daily life was pure, and whose kindly nature endeared him to all, of an officer who always did his duty fairly and justly, whose sense of justice and equity was strong and constant, and whose memory will long be held MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP. 39 in respect and venerance as that noblest work of God, an honest man, and further Be it resolved, That a page of the record of the Board be dedicated to his memory, and that a copy of these resolutions be certified by the clerk to the widow of the deceased. All of which is respect fully submitted. Orbn Gibson, Chairman. THOMAS TETLOW, mechanic, Morris. The subject of this sketch was born in England February 19, 1832, and was raised and edu cated in his native country. Having married, July 18, 1852, Miss Sarah A. Haywood, they came to Illinois and settled in Morris in the faU of 1855. Mrs. (Haywood) Tetlow was born March 15, 1825, in Yorkshire, England. In Grundy Count3', Mr. Tetlow engaged in farm ing from 1855 to August, 1862, when he en listed in Company I, One Hundredth lUinois Volunteer Infantry (Capt. Gardner). He con tinued in this regiment until the battle of Murfreesboro, when he was confined to the hospital for eleven months continuously; when able for duty, he was attached to an invalid corps, Seventeenth Regiment Veteran Re serve, where he remained until discharged, July 1, 1865; his term of service was about three years. He took part in the battles of Perryville. Murfreesboro and others. After the war, he learned the trade of blacksraithing under Oscar Tompkins, of Morris, and he has been running a shop of his own for the past nine years. His shop is situated on the cor ner of Liberty and Jefferson streets; residence on Jefferson street. Jlr. and Mrs. Tetlow have a family of four chUdren — Eliza H., born Au gust 4, 1854, died on shipboard about the 1 5th of September, 1855; Frances L,, born July 22, 1856; Charles S., born July 20, 1858, died Au gust 31, 1861; Joseph E., born July 14, 1860, died September 7, 1861. Mrs. Tetiow is a member of the Congregational Church, of Morris. Frances L. (one of our subject's daughters), was married, December 29, 1875, to Frank W. Edson, of New York, later of Wauponsee Township, and they have three children — Gertie B., born November 21, 1876; Clara B., born July 13, 1878, died November 29, 1879; and Frank T, born June 13, 1881. Thomas Tetlow is a Republican. A. G. WOODBURY, real estate, loan and in surance agent and Police Magistrate, was born iu Putnam County, this State, November 8, 1842;. son of A. 0. Woodbury, who was born in Franklin County, Mass., August 2, 1813, and came to Illinois first in 1834, and settled in 1836, in Putnam County. He is a farmer by occupation, and came to Grundy County in 1852, remained there till 1875, then moved to Nebraska, where he still lives. His wife, Lydia S. Winters, was born in Miami Count3', Ohio, Noveraber 28, 1812, and is still living. The parents had six children, born to them, but three of thera living, two sons and one daugh ter; one of the sons died at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., during the war. Subject was educated in Grund3' County, and began life as a farmer, which he followed from 1866 to 1876, then en gaged in his present business, vvhich he has continued since. While living in the countr3', our subject was Supervisor of his Township, Collector, Township School Treasurer, Asses sor, and was elected Magistrate the past spring (1882). Mr. Woodbury enlisted in the Federal arm3', August 8, 1862, and served tliree years, lacking a few days; was Sergeant in Corapany D, Ninet3'-first Illinois Infantr3'; participated in man3' warm engagements; was captured by Gen. Morgan in December, 1862, with the balance of his regiment, at Elizabethtown, K3'., and was exchanged in July, 1863. He was in the Department of the Southwest, operating against Dick Taylor; he was at the siege of Spanish Fort, and at jMobile, Ala. Mr. Wood bury was married in this count3', Januar3' 4, 1866, to Merinda Mecham, born September 6, 1843, daughter of Sylvester and Delilah (Bunch) Mecham; he died in 1848, she in 1874. Sub ject has two children, viz., Susie D. and L. Adella. Mr. Woodbury and wife and older 40 BIOGRAPHICAL: daughter are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Woodbury owns a comfortable residence in town, and a good farm in the country. Mr. Woodbury is a Republican. GEORGE WOELFEL, tanner, Morris, was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 25, 1831, and was educated in his native town. At the age of fifteen, he began an apprenticeship as tanner and currier, serving three years. Ac cording to the laws of Germany, he traveled and worked at his trade for four years, when, in 1853, he came to the United States, landing in New l^ork, December 1. He worked in Newark, N. J., Pittsburgh, Penn., and Joliet, 111., asa journeyman workman. Was in business for himself for a tirae in Lockport, IU. From 1861 to 1863, he ran a leather store in Ottawa, 111. In 1863, he settled in Jlorris and formed a partnership with Fred Caspari, in the Morris tannery ; in 1864, they bought a boot and shoe store which the3' ran in connection with the tannery until October 15, 1865, when the tan nery burned. They rebuilt it in the winter of 1865-66. In the faU of 1866, Caspari sold his interest to Charles Sparr, when the new firm added a harness shop to the other business. In this relation, the3' remained until 1880, when they dissolved partnership, Sparr becoming sole owner of the boot aud shoe and harness store, and Woelfel of the tannery. In 1881, our subject erected a large brick building on the site of the old one, at a cost of $5,000. The establishment has a working capacity of thirty hands. Our subject was married November 29, 1861, to Miss Margaret Fleck, who was born in German3' February 12, 1838, aud came to the United States in 1851. The family now consists of six children— Edgar H., born October 28, 1862 ; George L., July 11, 1864 ; Annie L., August 12, 1867 : Albert, October 19, 1871 ; Ernest, September 3, 1874 ; and an infant, born June 17, 1882. H. T.WARNER, Deputy Sheriff, Morris, was born in Chicago, February 16, 1853 ; son of Hiram Warner, who is a native of New Y'ork State, born about 1813. He came to Chicago when a young man, and engaged in the grain business, which he followed some twenty years, and has since engaged in various other occu pations, but mainly farming, which he has pur sued for the past twenty years in this county, where he still resides. Sarah F. (Taylor) War ner, the mother of our subject, was also born in New York, about the year 1824, and is still liv ing in this county. The parents have six chil dren, three sons, of whom our subject is the youngest, and three daughters. Our subject was educated in Chicago, and after roving around for a few years, sowing his wild oats, he finally settied in Morris, and served on the police force. In June, 1881, he was elected Deputy Sheriff of Grundy County, an office he holds at the present time. Mr. Warner was married in Morris, November 12, 1875, to Jeanie M., daughter of H. 0. Ward ; she was born in 1854. They have four children— one son and three daughters. Mr. Warner is a Re publican. JOHN WINTERBOTTOM, machinist Mor ris. John Winterbottom was born in Lanca shire, England, June 30, 1842. He came to the United States in 1859, landing at Morris AprU 12. He is a machinist by trade, at which trade, together with engineering, he worked for several years in Morris. In 1870, he es tablished a gunsmith shop on Liberty street, where he is still engaged. Mr. Winterbottom was married December 20, 1876, to Miss Mary WUliams of Grundy County, 111. She was born December 20, 1850. They have two sons —William R., born October 3, 1877 ; and Rus sell W., born August 30, 1880. Our subject enlisted in Company I, Sixt3'-ninth Illinois Vol unteers, and when his term of service expired, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty- eighth Illinois Volunteers. Jlrs. Winterbottom is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Winterbottom was raised by Quaker par- AU SABLE TOWNSHIP. 41 «nts. William Winterbottom, father of John, was born in England in 1821, and died in Olathe, Kan., in 1874. Martha Winterbottom, his mother, was born in 1821 in England, and is now living in that country. Jacob Williams, father of Mrs. Winterbottom, was born in Wales August 23, 1820, and is now living in Grundy County. Anne Williams, mother of Mrs. W., was born in Wales August 20, 1819, and died in this county, April 21, 1873. Mr. Winter- bottom is a Republican. FREDERICK A. WILLIAMS, house car penter, Morris, is a native of New York, born February 13, 1847. At the age of nine, his parents moved to Illinois, and settled in Mor ris, Grundy Count3', where he was principally ¦educated. His father, F. H. Williams, was a building-contractor, in which business he es tablished himself, and followed it until his -death, which occurred at Morris. In 1870, Mr. F. A. Williams went to Kansas, and engaged at building and contracting for four 3'ears. Returning on a visit, in 1874, he found it to his interest to remain, and in 1875 he began his present business in Morris. He ran a planing-mill and a general carpentering busi ness, employing a large force of workingmen. He is having a very fair success. Mr. Will iams is unmarried, assuming the responsibility of the family, which ndw consists of the moth er, one brother and one sister. The children are our subject; Sarah L., born December 10, 1848, who is married to Thoraas Shaw, of Mor ris; Charles H., born October 3, 1860; and Ida B., born November 6, 1863. Cynthia T. WiUiams, mother of the subject, was born Sep tember 28. 1825, in Herkimer County, N. Y., and is a member of the M. E. Church of Mor ris. The father, F. H. Williams, was a native of Oneida County, N. Y., born January 1, 1823, and died in Morris June 1, 1875. Mr. F. A. Williams is a conservative Republi can. CHARLES F. WASHBURN, Morris, is a native of Otsego County, N. Y., born Novem ber 25, 1827, W.1S raised and educated in his native State. In the spring of 1855, he settled in Saratoga Township, Grundy County, where he bought a farm. Here he lost his wife, Mrs. Mary (Austin) Washburn, and his three chil dren. On the 7th of September, 1858, he was married to Miss Martha Lyon, of Jefferson County, N. Y. She was born August 22, 1830, and came to Kendall County in 1848. The family consists of three children — George, born December 16, 1859; Frank M., September 30, 1861; and Adelbert,May 22,1863. Mr. Wash burn was for several years engaged in the grocery business on Libert3' and Canal streets. He is now owner of a boat and team on the lUinois & Michigan Canal, spending much of his time on the line from Chicago to La Salle. Residence, northwest part of city. He is a Republican. AU SABLE TOWJ^SHIP. CHARLES W. BARKER, hardware and implements, Minooka, senior member of the firm of Barker & Stauffer, hardware merchants -and dealers in agricultural implements, the leading interest of the kind in the town. He was born in Lisbon, Kendall Co., 111., in March, 1851, eldest son of William M. Bar ker, who was born in Oneida County, N. Y., May, 1825, who was a son of Samuel and Susana (Rogers) Barker, he a native of Ver mont, she of Massachusetts, and of Scotch descent. Samuel Barker, the grandsire of our subject, was one of the first settlers in Kendall County; his son William came with 42 BIOGRAPHICAL : him when a young man, and succeeded his father on the homestead ; afterward purchased a farm in the same county, where he made his permanent location, and remained on the same until his death, September, 1858. Two sons were born him — Charles William, who bears his name, and George H., who resides in Iowa. His widow is now the wife of Jo seph Buckley, of this township. Charles W. came to this township in 1865; remained here three years, and, returning to Kendall County, lived there until the spring of 1876. In the fall of 1877, he associated in business with Adam Stauffer, under the firm name of Barker & Stauffer, which copartnership still exists. The3' keep a general hardware stock and handle farm implements, making a spe cialty of Weir and John Deere plows. Union and Deere planters, McCormick's harvesting machines, Webber wagons and Abbott's car riages. In 1872, he was married to Priscilla Coop, daughter of Samuel Coop, of this town ship; no children. He is a member of Mi nooka Lodge, No. 528, A., F. & A. M., Orient Chapter, R. A. M, and Blaney Commandery (Knights Templar). JOSEPH BUCKLEY, farmer, P. O. Mi nooka; emigrated from Lancashire, England, to this county in the spring of 1849; he was born February 3, 1831, son of John and Mary Buckley, bath natives of Lancashire, En gland. Mr. Buckley's early boyhood was spent in school and in the drug store of his father, who was an apothecary and who died in 1851 , at which time Joseph returned to England to settle up his father's estate, remaining there four years and a half. Upon his return to the State, he located in Kendall County, in Lisbon Township, and engaged in farming. August 11, 1862, he responded to the Nation' s call, and, although not a full- fledged citizen at that time, he promptly an swered to the call to arms, and enlisted as a private in Company H, Eighty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and continued in service and participated in all the engagements in which his regiment took part, beginning with Stone River and ending with that ol Kenesaw' Mountain, June 21, 1864, where he was shot through the shoulder, the ball passing down and out of the forearm. This ended his use fulness as a soldier, and, after several months in hospitals, was discharged, January 20, 1865, on account of disability, and re turned to Kendall County. In the spring of 1866, he located in this township, on the southwest quarter of Section 5, upon land that he had purchased in 1863, and has since remained here. He has a good farm of 100 acres, with excellent buildings thereon. February 23, he married Mrs. Mary Barker, relict of William M. Barker; she was born in Derbyshire, England, daughter of Samuel and Martha (Milner) Naden, the latter a daughter of John and Mary Milner. The Naden family emigrated from England in 1846, locating in Lisbon, Kendall County. Mr. Buckley has one son. Both he and wife are members of the Au Sable M. E. Chm-ch. PETER H. BRISCOE, farmer, P. 0. Minooka. Among the representative young men and farmers of this township is Peter H. Briscoe. He was born May 23, 1853, at Dresden, this township, youngest son o£ Nicholas and Mary (Byrns) Briscoe. Nicho las Briscoe was born in Kings County, Ire land, in September, 1795, and came to Amer ica in the spring of 1850. The family con sisted of himself, wife and nine children — Richard, Patrick, Allen, Maria, Eliza, James, John, Nicholas and Bridget. Those since born that lived are Peter H. and William. Nicholas Briscoe came to Dresden first, and lived there about two years; then moved to Section 24, whore he rented land, and, sev eral years after, purchased 360 acres, 160 AU SABLE TOWNSHIP. 43 acres on Section 13, balance on Section 24, and remained on the same until his death, which occurred August 1, 1882. He was a member of the Catholic Church and highly respected in the community in which he lived. His widow and five children now survive him, viz., Patrick, Ellen, Maria, Eliza and Peter H. Patrick resides in Will County, 111., in Channahon. Ellen is the wife of Thomas Daly, and resides iu Lynn County, Mo. Maria resides in this township, wife of James Mead, and Eliza resides in Minnesota, wife of William Harrison. Peter H. Briscoe, the subject of these lines, came to this farm with his parents, and remained with them until the year 1879, when, on November 3, that year, he married Margaret Burke, who was born in this township, daughter of Thom as Burke. After his marriage, he located on the farm he now owns, and has since remained there, engaged in farming, his farm consist ing of 200 acres, on Section 24. He has al ways been identified with the Democratic party; he served the township as Collector in 1878 and 1879, and served two terms and was re-elected Supervisor of the township in the spring of 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Briscoe have two children — John and Eliza. He is a member of the Catholic Church at Minooka. THOMAS BURKE, farmer, P. O. Minoo- ka. Of the highly respectable citizens of Au Sable Township, Thomas Burke ranks among the first. He was born December 22, 1824, in County Clare, Ireland, in the sam e house that his ancestors for three generations were born. His father, Garrett Burke, was born in 1804; his wife, who bore our subject, (Thomas, the only son), was Sarah Kleine. Garrett Burke, the youngest, was a son of Patrick, who was a son of Michael Burke, who settled in County Clare prior to the Revolution. In 1847, the subject of this sketch left the old country and came to America, landing in New York in the spring of that year. He lived in New York about one year, then came to Pike County, Ind.^ where he lived until the fall of 1851, when he came to this township, and, for about six years, rented land, after which he made a purchase of eighty acres of unimproved land, paying for it $9 per acre, and has since added to the same, and now has 160 acres and some timber. In 1851, he married Elizabeth \Velch, a native of Kings County, Ireland, daughter of William Welch; they have two children — Margaret and Elizabeth; the for mer is the wife of Peter Briscoe, of this township. MICHAEL BRANNICK, Channahon, was born October 17, 1825, in County Mayo, Ire land, fourth son of Patrick and Mary (Carey) Brannick. Patrick Brannick was the son of William Brannick. Subject was raised on a farm, and, in April, 1846, he landed at New York; came to this county and to Morris in May, same year ; worked awhile on the canal, then went out to Lisbon, Kendall Co., IlL, and stayed there four years, altogether, and, in the spring of 1850, he went the overland route to California; engaged in mining one year, then returned here, in 1851, and made a purchase of 100 acres, where he now re sides, which cost S9 an acre cash, there being some little improvement on the land, fifteen acres broken and small log house on the place. He has now 514 acres in this county, including eighty acres given his son, and he has made all he has by hard labor. He was married, November 10, 1851, to Mary Ann Sterling, who was born in York State, daugh ter of John Sterling, who came West prior to 1848. Mr. Brannick has ten children — John, Ambrose, William, Mary E., Michael, Thomas, Kate, Patrick H. and Margaret, all living. He carries on general farming and stock raising. He is a member of the Catholic Church. 44 BIOGRAPHICAL: GEORGE COMERFORD, farmer and general business, P. O. Minooka. Among the representative men of Au Sable Town ship, George Comerford stands among the first. He was born August 3, 1826, in Coun ty Wexford, Ireland, eldest son of William and Honora (Nolan) Comerford, both natives of same county. His paternal grandsire was Pierce Comerford, whose wife was Mary Roche. Our subject was reared at home to agricultural pursuits, and received a collegi ate education in the land of his birth, and, in the spring of 1850, emigrated to America, in company with his parents and family of six children, George being the first; then in or der came Pierce, Mary, Charles, Nicholas and William. The family arrived in April, 1850; the father purchased land soon after his arrival, in the northeast part of the town ship, his purchase amounting to 560 acres of land, which he subsequently divided up among his children. His death occurred Oc tober 11, 1866; his wife preceded him, No vember 1, 1854. Of the Comerford family, George is the only one residing in the coun ty; in fact, only one of the family is -yet living aside from George, and that is his brother Charles, who resides in Brule, Cham berlain Co., Dak. When our subject came to this county, he engaged in railroading and helped locate and survey the Rockford & Rock Island Railroad, which runs through this county, and helped lay the first rail that -was laid in the State. After the survey of the road, he assisted in building the same, and remained in the employ of the railroad com pany until 1856. He was the first railroad agent and the first Postmaster in' the town of Minooka. He served consecutively as Post master nine years, and was station agent sev eral years. He built some of the first busi ness houses in the place, and has, perhaps, contributed more toward advancing and build ing up the town than any other one man. Soon after the establishment of the place, he engaged in commercial business, keeping station, post office and store in one small building. Afterward, he built what is now ¦known as the Comerford Block and engaged in running a general store, and subsequently to this and other buildings, and did what he could to encourage the prosperity and the success of the town. During this time, he has been carrying on his farm, consisting of 160 acres, which is situated adjacent to the town on the west; the farm is well improved, its owner being a thorough, practical farmer. In justice to Mr. Comerford it can be said that he has been more prominently identified with the interests of this portion of the county than any other man living in the township. He has filled every office of trust in the town ship within the gift of the people, and served repeatedly in several official stations. In church matters he has borne a conspicuous part, assisting in the formation of the Catho lic Church, and giving liberally to the estab lishment of the M. E. society at this place, also. In school matters, he has been promi nently identified, being aware of the advan tages of education; he has done all in his power toward the advancement of the interests of the i^same in this township, and is now President of the Board of Education here. September 16, 1855, he was united in wedlock to Catharine Smith, who was also a native of the same county as himself, daughter of Thomas and Mary Smith, all of Wexford, Ire land. Four children have been born to them, three of whom are living — Thomas S. , Nicho las J. and Mary C, all of whom are receiving the advantages of a liberal education at the University at Notre Dame. In politics, Mr. Comerford is Democratic, and has proven true to its principles. He has recently re turned from a visit to the home of his birth, AU SABLE TOWNSHIP. 45 and was received by his friends and acquaint ances -with ovations of a flattering character. WILLIAM COMERFORD, Minooka, was born in this township September 15, 1859, eldest son of Pierce and nephew of George Comerford, of this township. Pierce Com erford was born January, 1828, in County Wexford, Ireland, and came to this country with his father, William, at the time of his settlement here. He settled on land given him by his father, and engaged in farming on Section 2, in this township, and remained on the farm until his death, which occurred in January, 1868. His widow yet survives him and resides on the homestead. She was born in County Kildare, Ireland, in 1832, daughter of Dennis Dempsey; she came to this county in 1855. To Pierce Comerford was born William, Honora. Nicholas, Mary E, and Anna, all residents of this township, living on the homestead of which William has had charge since 1881. February 11, 1881, he married Katie Kinney, who was born in Morris July 26, 1860, daughter of Patrick Kinney. They have one child — Mary E. EDWARD CANT WELL, farmer, P. O. Minooka; has been a resident of the county since 1850; he is the eldest son of Michael Cantwell, who was born in Kings County, Ireland, in 1816, son of Edward and Bridget (Hoolenj Cantwell. The paternal grandsire of Michael was Matthew Cantwell. Michael Cantwell, the father of our subject, came to America in 1836, landing in Albany same year, and, having nothing when he came to this country, hired out to work, and continued in and about the city for about four years. In February, 1839, he married Margaret Feehan, a native of Kings County, daughter of Cor nelius and Mary (Deegon) Feehan. About the year 1840, Mr. Cantwell removed to Michigan, where he had purchased land; there he remained until the spring of 1850, when he came to Chicago and engag-ed in the lumber business, but discontinued it and came to this township the fall of that year, and located here and since remained. He first bought forty acres of land at 83 an acre; afterward bought 160_ acres near the canal, now owned by the Boyle family. He has five children — Edward, John, Margaret, James and Thomas, all residents of the township. Margaret is the wife of William Woods. Edward, the eldest of the f a-mily, was born in Albany County in 1840, -removed with his parents to Michigan and returned with them to this county, in 1850. At the outbreak of the war, or soon after, he responded to the call to arms, and enlisted, in February, 1862, in Company I, Sixtieth Regiment Illi nois Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. His first engagement was at Stone River. Afterward, Chickamauga, Mission Bidge, Lookout and Kenesaw Mount ains, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro and all the engagements of the campaign. At Bentonville, he was taken prisoner, April 19, 1864, and was transferred from different points until he was finally dis charged, in June, 1865, having been a true and brave soldi er during his period of enlist ment. Upon his return home, he resumed work at home, where he remained until his marriage. Since then, he has been on his own land. He was married, August 15, 1875, to Josephine Gordon, a native of Mas sachusetts, daughter of George Gordon; they have four children — Edward, Thomas, Louisa and May. His farm is located on the north east quarter of Section 10. ISRAEL CRYDER, farmer, P. O. Mi nooka, born in Huntingdon County, Penn., March 11, 1835, fourth, child of Jacob and Elizabeth Cryder. Jacob 'Cryder was a son of Israel Cryder, whose wife was a Miss Car- 46 BIOGRAPHICAL: penter. Jacob Cryder was a]f armer by occu pation; he died in 1839, when subject was four years of age; he had six children, two sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to be grown, save one — Hannah M. , Henry, Amanda, Israel, Sarah A. Those living are Israel and Sarah A., now Mrs. James Rear- don, in Vienna Township, this county; all of the above came West and all first settled in this township. Hannah M. married N. H. Tabler. Henry died in November, 1872. Amanda married Jonas Bartlett; they set tled in Saratoga Township; she died about the year 1854. Our subject came West in the fall of 1844, with his mother and the family; they lived with Henry Cryder a few years. Mr. Cryder remained with his grand father until he reached the age of maturity, and engaged in farming. He bought 190 acres where he now lives, and has since lived here. September 14, 1862, he married Mary Hampson, born June 7, 1839, in Jefferson County, N. Y., daughter Pof George and Maria (Cash) Hampson, both of England, who settled in Jefferson County, then' re moved West, to Kendall County, in 1858, where the father yet lives; the mother died in 1867. Mrs. Cryder has four brothers and two sisters — Edward and Henry, in Kendall County; also, Hannah, wife of Thomas New- som; Thomas, in Decatur County, Iowa; Jane, in same county, wife of Thomas Rear- don, and Joseph, in Newark, '^N. J. Since Mr. Cryder located here, he has been a con stant resident, engaged in farming and stock- raising, keeping some fine Durham stock on the farm of 385 acres, on which he has put all the substantial improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Cryder have four children — Emma E. Edith M., Henry E. and Jessie B. He is a Republican and a member of the Masonic fraternity— Blue Lodge, Royal Arch, and Blaney Commandery. GEORGE COLLEPS, book-keeper, Mi nooka, was born March 16, 1848, in Buffalo, N. Y., son of John W. and Margaret (Schro der) Colleps, both natives of Hesse-Darm stadt, and who came to the United States the same year that our subject was born. When young, he removed with his parents to Michi gan, where they remained until 1853, when he came with them to this place. At the age of sixteen, he volunteered in the service of his country, enlisting in the spring of 1864, in Company G, Sixty-fourth Regiment of Il linois Volunteer Infantry, and, after partici pating in several of the engagements of the Atlanta campaign, was taken prisoner, July 22, at Atlanta, and taken to Andersonville Prison, where he was incarcerated for nearly ten months, and for nearly one month he stoodj and laid on the ground in the rain, ¦with no clothing or covering for his body but a shirt and pair of drawers At the time of his capture, he weighed 1 30 pounds ; at the time of his release, had dwindled down to fifty- six. His sufferings were indescribable, and the horrors of that den and the remem brances of the cruelties enacted there will ever remain vividly impressed upon his mind as long as reason holds her sway. Upon his release at the termination of the war, he re turned to Minooka and engaged as clerk in the dry goods and grocery store of R. Gardi ner, where he continued until 1870. Then, for three years, he was associated in the hardware business with W. A. Worthing, after which the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent; he then clerked again for R. Gardiner, continuing in his employ for two years, after which he was for two years and a half in copartnership with L. Smith in the grocery business; he then disposed of his interest to S. W. Smith, and remained with him as clerk until 1880, when he took charge of the books in the grain and elevator office AU SABLE TOWNSHIP. of A. K. Knapp, and has since served in that capacity. September 14, 1869, he married Jennie Van Horn, who was born in Essex County, N. J. , daughter of John and Mar- etha (Terhune) Van Horn; they have no children living. He is a member of Minooka Lodge, A., F. & A. M., Orient Chapter and Blaney Commandery. THOMAS CARROLL, farmer, P. O. Mi nooka. Of the representative men of this township who came from Erin's Isle, none are more highly esteemed or more deserving than Thomas Carroll, He was born August 15, 1814, in County Level, Ireland. His parents were Thomas and Mary (Tafe) Carroll, and to them were born the following children: Patrick, John, James, Thomas, William, Ed ward, Maria, Alice and Bridget. None of the family came to this county save Thomas, who emigrated "to America in June, 1837, landing in New York. When he came he had nothing but his hands and a willing heart, but he made good use of his opportu nities, though few they were. He hired out to work as teamster, and turned his attention to whatever employment was the most remu nerative to him. He remained in New York four or five years, then came to this State prior to the building of the canal. The first work he did upon b is arrival to this State was for Mr. Kimball, at Marseilles, where he stayed some two years or more. Then he worked about three years on the canal. Afterward went to Ottawa, where he worked on the canal, and afterward worked for William Armstrong about two years. Prior to 1850, he located on the land he now owns. Having accumulated some money, he invested first in forty acres of land, which cost him $7 per acre, the land being unimproved. He after ward purchased eighty acres in Will Count3-, for which he paid $13 per acre, and he has now 210 acres, all of which he has worked for and obtained by great industry. His wife before his marriage was Mrs. Mary Ann Preckleton, a native of County Tipperary, Ireland; her maiden name was Conn and her mother's maiden name was Ann Heakey, no-w eighty-eight years old; by this union, there have been born eight children, whose names, according to the order of births, are John, Thomas, Andrew, Michael, Edward, William, Maria and Mary A. Mr. Carroll is a Democrat and member of the Catholic Church. JOHN CASS, farmer, P. O. Channahon. Among the old settlers and self-made men of this township is Mr. Cass, who was born in Queen's County, Ireland, in 1828, only son of William and Bridget (Kenihan) Cass. Subject was raised on the farm; left home May 19, 1849, and after five weeks and four days' voyage, landed in New York, July 2, same year. When he came to Chicago, he had but 33 cents in his pocket, all he pos sessed. He worked a short time at Blue Is land, and came to Au Sable that harvest; worked through the season, then went to Iowa ; and worked on the public works until the ' spring, and returning here, he worked on the State boat until harvest. He then hired out at $10 per month on a farm about thirteen months, losing but one and one-half days in that time, for John Adams. He then took the farm and rented the same on shares for two years, after which he rented land of the Lewis heirs, on the land which Briscoe now owns, for about five years. After he had been here three years, he bought eighty acres, where he now lives, paying $30 per acre; no improvements on the land whatever. He re mained on the Lewis farm until December, 1856, when he moved on his eighty acres, and has since lived there, having now 220 acres of land with good improvements. April 3 1852, he married Nora Delaney, born in 4-^ BIOGRAPHICAL: Queen's County, Ireland, daughter of James and Bridget Lynch Delaney. Mrs. Cass came here in 1850. When Mr. Cass located on this farm, he had but little in the way of comforts. They had a hard time for several years, but by hard labor, diligence and great industry, they have acquired the home and property they now have. They are members of the Catholic Church. Islx. Cass also owns some projserty in Joliet. SAMUEL COOP, farmer, P. O. Minooka, born August 20, 1827, in Lancashire, En gland, second son of James and Mary (Birt- wistle) Coop. At the age of fourteen, he went to learn the machinists' trade, and served seven years in the shop. December 'J5, 1853, he married Ann, daughter of John and Mary (Holden) Bull. In the spring of 1855, he emigrated to this county and pur chased eighty-five acres of Mr. Longworth, on the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 5, paying SU per acre. There were no improvements on the same whatever when he located here, yet, by hard work and econo my, he has succeeded in making a good home and a competence for himself. He has but one child — Priscilla, wife of Charles W. Barker, of Minooka. Mr. Coop is a Repub lican, and has always voted that ticket. PATRICK CLENNON, farmer, P. O. Minooka, was born in Queen's County, Ire land, 1825, son of Patrick and Judah (Scott) Clennon. Mr. Clennon emigrated to Amer ica in 1849, landing in New Orleans in De cember the same year. From there he went to Payette County, Ohio, where he hired out among the farmers by the month, taking his pay in scrip, and remained there until the fall of Buchanan's election, when he located in this township, where he now resides upon land that he purchased two years prior to his leaving Ohio, said land being unimproved at the time of his purchase, and costing him $4.50. He has now a good farm, well im proved and plenty of stock, ail of which has been the fruits of his own earnings. He was married, in 1848, to Margaret Phalen, daugh ter of Daniel and Catharine (Campen) Pha len. This marriage has been crowned by the birth of one son — James Patrick, who re sides with his parents on the homestead. He was born in Fayette County, Ohio, and removed to this county with his parents and since remained. May 3, 1800, he maiTied Jennie Kinsley, who was born in this town ship, daughter of Andrew and Eliza (Smith) Kinsley; they have one son — James Patrick, born December 25, 1881. Mrs. Clennon, Jr. , is a grand-daughter of Andrew Kinsley, one of the pioneers of this township, who was prominently identified with this portion of the county; he was a contractor on the canal at the time of its building; was one of the founders of the Catholic Church at Dres den, one of the first Supervisors in the town ship and one of the leading and representa tive men of his time in Au Sable Township. He had three sons- — James, Michael and An drew, none of whom are now living in the county. Andrew Kinsley died in August, 1872; Eliza, his wife, in August, 1862; she was a daughter of Thomas Smith, of County Wexford, Ireland, who came to Lockport, N. Y. , in 1852, and there died in 1854. He has one son in this township — George T. , a mer chant in Minooka. Mr. and Mrs. Andi-ew Kinsley had two children — Jennie and Mary. GERHARD DAHLEM, Postmaster and store, Minooka The present efficient Post master of Minooka came to this township in 1855, and since that time has been a constant resident of the place and identified with its interests. He was born July 16, 1832, in Bavaria, Germany, son of John and Kate (Ruth) Dahlem. In 1852, Gerhard emigrated to America and spent three years in Lee AT SABLE TOWNSHIP. 49 County, Iowa, at a place called Denmark, where he worked in a cheese factory. In September, 1855, he came to this State and township, and engaged as a farm hand in the employ of R. Gardiner for one year, after which he worked on a railroad section one year; then was switchman two years, after which he was in charge of the section as fore man on the railroad for three years. August 29, 1862, he enlisted as private in Company D, Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and served until the close of the war; was advanced to Cor poral, then to Sergeant, and participated in many of the stirring and thrilling engage ments of the war, and was at times Orderly on Gens. Grant's, McPherson's and Thomas K. Smith's staff. After his discharge, in May, 1865, he returned to this place and resumed work for the railroad company, as switchman and baggageman, until the spring of 1867, when he engaged as clerk for Daniel Fergu son, one year after which he was appointed night store-keeper in the Au Sable distillery. In 1868, Daniel Ferguson having resigned as Postmaster, Mr. Dahlem was appointed in his stead and engaged in the grocery business, afterward adding dry goods. October 9, 1870, he was burned out, but rebuilt and as sociated in business with his nephew, Adam Stauffer, under the firm name of Dahlem & Stauffer, which copartnership lasted three years, when, owing to ill health, he sold out his interest to Samuel Persells, but retained the post office, where he continued. In Au gust, 1876, he engaged with William Shepley, in general merchandise business, which asso ciation has since been kept up, the firm name being Dahlem & Shepley, the post oflice being still kept by Mr. Dahlem; he has been twice married — first, in 1854, to Susan Webber, daughter of John and Mary (Ruth) Webber; she died August 18, 1862, leaving one child — Jacob J. ; his present wife is Mary Stauffer, daughter of Jacob and Catharine Stauffer; they were married October 28, 1865, and four children have blessed this union — Adam, Katie, Daniel and Mary. Mr. -Dahlem has a snug home, a good business and is well and favorably known throughout the entire county. He is a member of the Minooka Lodge, No. 528, A., F. & A. M., and served several years as the Worshipful Master of that lodge; is also a member of the Chapter at Morris, and of the Commandery at that place. Has always been a stanch Republican. FLETCHER DIRST, farmer and stock- raiser, P. O. Minooka, is one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers in Grundy County. He was born August 10, 1835, near the town of Galena, Berkshire Township, Delaware Co., Ohio; he is the eldest son of John and Caroline (Searles) Dirst. John Dirst was a son of Paul Dirst, a native of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Ohio in an early day, set tling near Chillicothe, Ohio, where he died. The father of our subject when a young man came to Berkshire Township, Delaware Coun ty, and there married and engaged iu farm ing. In 1858, the Dirst family came to this State, the family consisting of the parents and four children — Fletcher, Howard, Albert and Sylva. Fletcher began for himself at the age of twenty-two, and while he remained in Ohio was engaged in farming and stock- trading. Since he came to this county, he has given his attention to farming and stock- raising, and has done much to encourage the growth and introduction of fine stock in the county,. When he came here, he purchased 480 acres, part of which was in Seward Township, in Kendall County, adjoining. He has resided in the meantime in Au Sable Township, where he has a fine farm, well adapted for farming and general stock pur poses. He has given especial attention to thoroughbred Cotswold and Leicestershire 50 BIOGRAPHICAL: sheep, importing the same from Canada; he is engaged, also, in breeding Durham cattle, and in his business has been successful, be ing a thorough and progressive farmer. He was married, December 7, 1857, in Delaware County, Ohio, to Ann Dustin, a native of that county, daughter of Nathan Dustin, one of the early settlers and prominent men of that county; his wife was Almira Buzwell, both natives of New Hampshire. Mr. Dirst has now 240 acres of land; his residen, ''-•-fml ¦ J J fi K-r'. ^t,-*! i^,«l mi f«. ifmrn^rMf^rhM'' . ^ -. ,^, 'Sf •*