Yale University Library

3900203231068'

'Y^E=,IEc¥]Mn¥EI^Sinnf«

1933

HISTORY

Whiteside County,
ILLINOIS,
FROM ITS FIKST SETTLEMENT TO THE PKESENT TIME;

WITH NUMEROUS

BIOGRAPHICAL AND FAMILY SKETCHES.

Edited by OHAELES BENT,
FOR TEN YEARS EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR OF "THE WHITESIDE SENTINEL," OF MORRISON, ILL.

"TELL VE TOUE CHILDREN OE IT, AND LET YOUR CHILDREN TELL THEIR CHILDKEN,
AND THEIE CHILDREN ANOTHER GENERATION."

MORRISON, ILLINOIS.
1877.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year I877, by
Charles Bent,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

Cn5$.5\0

L. P. ALLEN,
Printer and Binder,
Clinton, Iowa.

To
The Pioneers,
Brave Men and Women,
Who have made the Prairies and Forests op Whiteside County
To " Blossom like the Rose, "
this Volume is
Respectfully Dedicated.

INTRODUCTORY.

History has an office to perform in the present by truly recording the events
of the past, and that Whiteside County has made a history worthy of preservation,
all admit. True, as measured by the lapse of years, the County is yet in its in
fancy, but its marvelous development from a wilderness, inhabited only by the
savage, to its present "proud estate," is a fitting subject for the chronicler; and
especially is it proper that the brave and earnest men and women who dared the
perils of field and flood, savage alarums, poverty and hunger, should have their
works preserved in printed form. The commonwealth they founded and devel
oped will be their monument, but their trials and triumphs is the province of
the historian to detail.
The task of preparing the History of Whiteside County was undertaken
after mature deliberation, with a full sense of its importance, and a knowledge
that such a work is demanded. A true history can only be written from "actual
facts." The time is opportune, as the pioneers are rapidly passing away, and the
few lips yet remaining to tell the story of the "times that tried men's souls" will
soon be stilled by the Destroyer of young and old. The difficulties to be overcome
in the preparation of the work were fully considered, but have proven even
more formidable than anticipated. Forty years has warped the memories
of the staunchest of the " Old Settlers"; fire, the ravages of time, and careless
ness, have destroyed many of the records kept in neighboring counties of the
very earliest events that occurred in Whiteside before its organization, or when
attached to other counties for judicial purposes. The early records of the
County proper are but fragmentary, the details of the offices at that time being
kept in a skeleton manner, or "carried under the office-holder's hat" — doubtless
in those days all that was absolutely necessary.
The archives of the State, at Springfield, were thoroughly examined, and the
meagre record of early Whiteside secured; the old books of the counties to
which Whiteside was attached previous to its organization, were investigated,
and all pertinent matter that had escaped fire and loss, carefully transcribed;
the old files of the newspapers of the County have been consulted for historical
facts; the official books of the different cities, towns, villages, and townships,
have also been examined, and all of general interest embodied in the work; the
early records of churches, incorporations, and benevolent and other societies,
were looked through, and many valuable items of history secured. Either my
self or assistants have penetrated every township in the County, and interviewed
scores of old settlers, and gleaned many facts and incidents from them. Dates

INTRODUCTORY. V
and occurrences are presented as accurately as possible, being confirmed by official
records, or comparison.
When the paucity of recorded matter, and the fact that so much depends
upon the unaided memory of the first settlers, is considered, it is hoped that the
History will commend itself to the reader for accuracy and minutiae. The work
is far from being above criticism. Doubtless errors will be discovered, but when
the critic and reader properly consider the difficulties under which the History
was prepared, their criticism will be mildly given. In the vast array of dates
given in the biographies alone, of which nearly five hundred appear in this vol
ume, it would almost be miraculous did not some mistakes occur. All errors
of importance that have been discovered previous to the publication and after
the printing of the book, are corrected in an "Errata" inserted at the close pf
this volume, to which the attention of the reader is particularly requested.
The plan and arrangement of the work can easily be ascertained by refer
ence to the table of contents immediately following this introductory. Matter
of general interest relating to the early history of the County is first introduced,
and arranged under appropriate heads. The general history of the County is
followed by a particular history of the several townships in alphabetical order.
A great advantage will be gained by at least one perusal, in course, of the entire
History. Many interesting occurrences therein recorded, might, without such
perusal, never come to the knowledge of the reader. A condensed history of
the State, and an abstract of laws of general interest to the people, immediately
follow the history of townships. Since the writing and printing of the precinct
history of Whiteside during its connection with Ogle county, and that
of the Old Settler's Association, facts have been secured in reference to them
which was then thought impossible to obtain, and will be found incorporated in
this work in a supplementary form, as will also the address of Hon. E. B. Wash
burne in October last, on the occasion of presenting to the County a portrait
of the "Prophet," a chief of renown during the Indian occupation of the County,
the address containing so much of historical interest that it is deemed advisable
to preserve it in this manner. As will be seen, biographical and genealogical
sketches form a prominent feature of this History. They will generally be
found in the historical sketches of the towns in which their subjects respective
ly resided, or now reside. It has been the aim- to give the biographies of those
who settled in the county before 1840, where it has been possible to secure the
facts from which to prepare them. If any have been omitted it has been from
this cause or from the fact that it has not come to my knowledge that they
were settlers prior to that date. In a few instances, in townships not settled at
that time, or if so by but two or three inhabitants, the biographies of those
prominent in developing the towns are given. It was found necessary to limit
these sketches to those who made settlement previous to 1840, as the influx of
population from and after that date was so extensive that to include those for
any number of years subsequent would have made it impossible to keep the
History within the prescribed limits. The Chapter on Geology, Mineralogy,

VI INTRODUCTORY.
Natural History, Botany, etc., was written by a highly educated and scholarly
gentleman, who, from his intimate and practical knowledge of these matters, is
eminently fitted for the task. The facts contained in that part of Chapter II
referring to Antiquities and Pre-historic Man, were furnished by persons specially
qualified to give correct and valuable information in relation to the subjects
therein treated. The part of the same Chapter relating to Indian History, and
the Chapter pertaining to the Civil War and History of Regiments, were com
piled from the official records, and particular pains taken to make them accurate
and detail the County's glorious share in the struggle of 1861-65. Especial
care has also been taken to make Chapter IV, which relates to the history of
Whiteside as a County, reliable and accurate.
Col. R. L. Wilson, of Sterling, an old settler, and well known in the
County, had for some years intended to publish a history of Whiteside. Of this
I was not aware until after I presented my prospectus to the public in March
last. Soon afterwards Col. Wilson and myself harmonized matters, and an ar
rangement was perfected whereby he was to furnish what historical matter he
had prepared, and devote himself to the interests of this work. He has fur
nished the facts and biographical data from which were written the histories of
Genesee and Jordan; a portion of the facts and biographical data from which
were written the histories of Hopkins, Lyndon and Sterling; the biographical
data incorporated in the history of Coloma, and a part of the biographical data
included in the histories of Clyde, Hume, and Mt. Pleasant. In this connection
it is but just to accord credit to Frank Cushing, Esq., of Portland, for provid
ing the facts and biographical data from which were written the histories of
Portland and Prophetstown. Grateful acknowledgements are due to George
Terwilliger, Esq., formerly editor of the Sterling Gazette, and Fulton Jour
nal, and to Dr. W. H. Boals, late local editor of the Whiteside Sentinel, for
their special and valuable aid in the preparation of this History. For the kind
ness and consideration met with from the many to whom I have applied for in
formation and material to engraft in the work, no words of mine can duly com
pensate. Upon all sides I have been greeted with well wishes and hopes for
success. If success has been attained, the greater part of it is owing to this
generous aid and appreciation.
I thank the citizens of the County for their generous patronage thus far
bestowed, and trust merit enough may be found within the book to repay them
for their confidence and support. Hoping that it will prove all that is ex
pected, and that errors from circumstance will be overlooked, I remain,
Respectfully,
CHAS. BENT.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.
Geology — Limestones— Peat — Mineral Springs — Artesian Wells — Mineralogy — Economical Geology —
Notes — Natural History — Botany  9
CHAPTER II.
Antiquities and Pre-historic Man — Indian History  31
CHAPTER III.
Civil War of jS6i-'65 — History of Regiments — Sth Cavalry — 13th Infantry— 34th Infantry— 46th Infan-
ti-y— 53d Infantry — 75th Infantry — 93d Infantry — 140th Infantry — 147th Infantry— 156th Infantry... 40
CHAPTER IV.
Name of County — Geographical Description — Early Organization — Precincts — Early Records — First
Officers — County Commissioners' Court — Township Organization — Board of Supervisors — County
Seat Affairs — County Buildings— Circuit Court — Probate and County Courts— Early Life of Pion
eers, and Incidents — Annexation to Wisconsin — Marriage Licenses — First Instruments Recorded —
Early Votes — Railroads — Claim Societies and their Objects — The Tornado of i860— Swamp Land
Matters — Agricultural Societies — Whiteside County Grange — Old Settlers' Association — Caledo
nian Club — County Bible Society — Sunday' School Association — Congressional Districts— Senato
rial and Representative Districts — List of County Officers — Statistics, Population, Etc— Public
School Affairs— Vote of 1S76  53
CHAPTER V.
History of Albany Township, and Village — Societies — Biographical  109
CHAPTER VI.
History of Coloma Township — Biographical— History of Rock Falls — Nurseries — Manufacturing Es
tablishments — Newspapers— Churches and other Organizations  126
CHAPTER VII.
History of Clyde Township — Biographical  140
CHAPTER VIII.
History of Erie Township — Biographical — History of Erie Village — Churches and Societies  147
CHAPTER IX.
History of Fulton Township— History of the City of Fulton — Newspapers— Churches and other Or
ganizations — Biographical  150
CHAPTER X.
History of Fenton Township — Pratt — Fenton Center — Biographical  193
CHAPTER XI.
History of Garden Plain Township— Biographical   205
CHAPTER XII.
History of Genesee Township— Biographical — Coleta  217
CHAPTER XIII.
History of Hahnaman Township— Deer Grove— Biographical  232
CHAPTER XIV.
History of Hume Township— Biographical  237
CHAPTER XV.
History of Hopkins Township— Como— Gait— Empire— Biographical  243
CHAPTER XVI.
History of Jordan Township— Biographical  257

VIII CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVII.
History of Lyndon Township — Biographical— Village of Lyndon  20fi
CHAPTER XVIII.
History of Mt. Pleasant Township— Biographical— History of the City of Morrison— Newspapers-
Churches and other Organizations — Biographical  2iJl
CHAPTER XIX.
History of Montmorency Township — Biographical  • • • • 320
CHAPTER XX.
History ot Newton Township— Biographical  333
CHAPTER XXI.
History of Portland Township— Biographical  341
CHAPTER XXII.
History of Prophetstown Township — History of the Town of Prophetstown— Newspapers— Churches
ana Societies— Biographical  363
' CHAPTER XXIII.
History of Sterling Township — Biographical— History ot the City of Sterling — Newspapers— Manu
facturing Establishments — Churches and other Organizations — Biographical  390
CHAPTER XXIV.
History of Tampico Township — Biographical— History of the Village of Tampico — Newspapers —
Churches and other Organizations  451
CHAPTER XXV.
History of Ustick Township— Biographical   462
CHAPTER XXVI.
History of Union Grove Township — Biographical  473
CHAPTER XXVII.
History of the State of Illinois  4S7
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Bill of Rights — Descent of Property — Exemption Law— Limitation Law — Organization of Corpor
ations — Fence Law— Estray Law — Lost Goods, Money, Etc — Weights and Measures — Marketing
Products — Game Law — Fish Law  501
SUPPLEMENT TO HISTORY.
Precinct Organization — Old Settlers' Association — Presentation by Hon. E. B. Washburne «f the Por
trait of nie Indian Chief " Prophet" to Whiteside County  509
Errata and Addenda  ,  533
Index  ^

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

Geology — Limestones — Peat — Mineral Springs — Artesian Wells-
Mineralogy — Natural History — Botany.

Geologv-.
No history can be complete without a notice of the geography and geology
of the region in which the events transpire. The occupation of a people, the
growth and prosperity of a community, the development of institutions all
depend in no small degree on the soil, climate and mineral resources of the
country. A country possessing neither coal, nor water-power, will be very un
likely to become a center of manufacturing industry. A land possessing a
sterile soil will not attract a colony of farmers. We may safely predict with
out fear of being charged with a claim to the gift of prophecy that the Desert
of Sahara will never be the seat of empire. The movement of armies, the
location of fortresses, the direction of great lines of travel, are all more or less
influenced by the position of mountain chains, rivers and plains, and not infre
quently these form the dividing line between different nationalities.
Geology describes the structure of our globe, the material of which it is
composed, the manner of its arrangement, and the causes which have operated to
give it its present form. It also embraces a- description of the minerals found
and of the organic remains entombed in the various strata. In the language of
geology not only hard material such as sandstone and limestone are called rocks,
but also clay, loose sand and gravel; hence the word rock must not be understood
to imply hardness or density of any certain degree. The surface of our. globe
is composed of a great variety of material, but by far the largest part of it in
Whiteside County is referable to one of three types, viz: sandstone, limestone
and clay, and indeed nearly all of the rocks of the globe, however different their
appearance, may be arranged under these three heads. The limestones are
often called calcareous rocks, the sandstones or those containing much sandy or
silicious matter arenaceous rocks, and those composed largely of clay, or alumina,
argillaceous rocks.
Rocks are divided into two great classes — stratified and unstratified, or
those found in layers or beds and those which occur in masses with- no appear
ance of beds. These layers or beds are called strata. The true unstratified
rocks are of volcanic origin, but in some cases immense masses of stratified
rocks have been changed by pressure and heat and have lost all traces of their
original stratification, Rocks are further divided into fossiliferous — containing

10

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.

fossils, remains of animals and plants imbedded in them and more or less per
fectly preserved; unf ossiferous— containing no fossils. The rocks are grouped
into'"aees," " periods" and ''epochs," distinguished from each other by the
fossils -which they contain, for the different strata differ very greatly one from
another in the character of these "Medals of Creation/' The following table
gives the names of the ages, periods and epochs, and the most prominent charac
teristics of each, as given by Prof. J. D. Daiui, in his Manual of Geology, second
edition, p. 142. the nomenclature being iu the main that of the New York State
Natural History and Geological Survey:

Ages.

Periods.

Epochs

CMracterhtics.

Represented in Whiteside.

Archean.

Archean.

Mostly crystalline rocks— j Of these strata there are
granite, gneiss, &c. I no outcrops in Illinois.

f Primordial, ("Acadian.
j or Cambrian. \ Potsdnm.
Calciferous.
Canadian. -{ Quebec.Chazy.

Sandstone.
Arenaceous limestone.
These strata vary in character
sometimes being limestones,
at others sandstones.

Trenton. Utica.Cincinnati.

Limestone.Shale. Shaly limestones.

/At Utica,
\ La Salle Co.
1 St. Peter's
"j Sandstone.

Present.
/At the bottom of Dr. Pcn-
{ nington's Quarry, Jordan.

Ni.igara.

I Medina.
-v Clinton.
( Niagara.

Sandstone in New Vork.
Limestone and shale.

Salina.

Lower Hclder-
berg.

Lower Helder-
berg.

Oriskanv.

Oriskany.

Sandstone.

r
I
¦{ Wanting.
I

be
<

Cornifcrous.

( Caudi G;iUi Grit. Sandstone.
-J i

' Schoharie.
[ Corniferous.

Limestone.

Hamilton.

Marcellus.Hamilton.Genesee.

Shale.

| All Wanting.

Chemung.

\ Portage.
j Chemung.

I, Catskill.

Sandstones and Shales.

I Sub Carbonif-
I erous.

Lower.
Upper. Millstone Grit.

Present.

, Carboniferous.
i Permian.

j Lower Coal Measures.
/ Upper '¦ "
Permian.

V3 if

| Triassic. The epochs of these periods are of no interest to
i Jurassic. tlie general reader.
I Cretaceous Largely developed west of the Mississippi, in
L Texas and Northern Alabama and Mississippi.

Age of
Mam
mals.

Tertiarv.

( Eocene.
< Miocene.
( Pliocene.

-{ All Wanting.

Age of
Man.

Quarlernary.

Glacial.
Champlain.Terrace.

Present.

GEOLOGY. 11
It will be seen from the above table that only a small part of the geological
series is represented in this county, and that the members present do not follow
one another closely in the order of time, but are separated by wide intervals —
mighty chasms of which we have no record. In no part of the earth is the
series complete. In some regions one part is fully developed, in others another.
Thus in New York the oldest formations up to the carboniferous are well rep
resented; in Florida only the last or newest strata appear; in Illinois but small
tracts are found of anything newer than the carboniferous. Why should this
be? At present deposits are going on only along the coasts of the continents
and some islands, and especially at the mouths of rivers and in the basins of
lakes. It is now known that in* the depths of the ocean only a very thin
deposit is forming, and that of a very peculiar character, such in fact as the
rocks of the globe show very little resemblance to. Sandstones are in all cages
as far as we know found in shallow water, bays, or on coasts where the sea
deepens very slowly. Limestones of the common type seem to be restricted to
a depth not exfeeeding 100 feet, while the work of calcareous sponges is probably
never actively prosecuted at depths of 1000 feet. Clays were probably in gen
eral comparatively deep water formations; that is, formed at depths of 200 to
500 feet. The lowest and oldest rocks exposed in Whiteside County belong to the
Trenton Period. It consists of 1st, the Trenton Epoch ; 2d, the Utica Epoch ;
and 3d, the Cincinnati, formerly called the Hudson River, Epoch. The Tren
ton limestone is the equivalent of the Galena beds of the Illinois Geological
• survey, and is slightly developed in the extreme northern part of Genesee and
Jordan Townships. There are some exposures of it, we are informed, but it
possesses little interest for us. The Cincinnati Group appears at the base of
the Rock River bluffs at Sterling, in the bed of the river, and in the banks of
some ravines and streams. Its most noted exposure is on the premises of Dr.
L. S. Pennington, section 32, Jordan, about four miles north of Sterling. Here
about twelve feet of soil and clay cover these beds, followed by some three feet
of soft, much broken, thin bedded rock. Below these the beds are thicker, but
generally not exceeding a few inches — six to nine — and make splendid flag
ging, it being possible to procure sheets of any size that can be handled. Passing
through about twelve feet of these beds we come upon a stratum of dark col
ored, very cellular, hard and heavy limestone, partially crystalline in structure,
and the cavities lined with small, amber colored crystals, probably a colored
calcite. This is about one foot thick. There is also a layer containing multi
tudes of small cavities, the inside of which are an iron rust red or ferrous color,
while the rock itself is a light buff. Below these is a blue shaly rock, the Cin
cinnati shales, rich in fossils, being almost entirely made up of strophomena,
orthis, chsetetes, &c. The upper beds in some of the strata abound in sea-weeds
or fucoids, but contain no other fossils. These fucoids seem to be of one spe
cies, but our examination was very superficial and there may be several species
represented. The Trenton Limestone is not known to be exposed except in the
northeast part of Jordan. It is said to contain few fossils. We visited none
of its outcrops. There is a quarry on section 3, Hopkins, also owned by Dr.
Pennington, in the Cincinnati rocks. The shales are of course of no value, as
they soon crumble into a shapeless mass when exposed to the action of the at
mosphere. The Niagara limestone is well exposed on sections 5, 8, 7, 13, Ustick, in
the Mississippi bluffs, and through this township, Garden Plain and Albany to
theMaraisde Ogee; in Pulton on sections 21, 27 and 28; in Newton on sections
22 and 25; in Mt. Pleasant on section 7; in Union Grove on section 12; in

12 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Clyde on section 13; in Genesee on section 34, at Lyndon and below Erie, on
Rock River. It also underlies in all probability the whole south eastern part
of the County; in Ustick, at Robertson's and Martindale's quarries, section 13,
and at other points in these townships, and also at Sterling in the banks of
Rock River, and on section 17, Portland, on the farm of Chas. Atwood. It
consists of two members: 1st, a thin-bedded, dark-colored, coarse-grained, im
pure limestone, exposed at Albany, at the steamboat landing, and abounding in
the heads of crinoids of several species; 2d, a thick-bedded, buff-colored, fine
grained, hard, cellular limestone, in parts abounding in corals, pentameri and
remains of crinoids, but much of it is entirely made up of undistinguishable
fragments of shells and corals, closely resembling the coral reef rock of the
Pacific Islands now in process of formation. There are many local differences.
In some places the strata are very cherty or flinty, as in Newton, a half mile
south of Center school-house; very white, as at a point two miles southeast of
Center school-house; thin-bedded and much broken, as in Mt. Pleasant; soft
and yellow, as in places on section 5, Ustick, and at Albany. On sec. 12, Union
Grove, and sec. 7, Mt. Pleasant, there is a band of shalyrock that may be capable
of being manufactured into water-lime, but the stratum is too thin to be valu
able. These rocks generally occupy a nearly horizontal position, the beds being
of a nearly uniform thickness, and differing over considerable areas in color,
structure and composition but slightly. It will be seen in our synopsis of the
strata given above that the Niagara Period is composed of three members —
epochs — the Medina, Clinton and Niagara; but these have not been satisfactorily
made out in the Mississippi Valley. In New York, the Medina is a peculiar
sandstone, the Clinton, sandstone and shales, and the Niagara a thick, dark-
colored limestone, well developed at Lockport, Niagara Falls and other points.
The distinction between these strata does not seem to exist in our territory, and
there is some reason to believe that between the Trenton Period and the
Niagara there was a time when the surface of our County was dry land. But
it may be that the conditions which gave origin to the differences noted in the
¦strata of New York did not exist here, and that the work of forming strata
went on continuously, or it may be that the record has not been as carefully
studied as it should be, and that more rigorous examination may reveal some
facts not yet noted that will enable us to mark out the limits of each epoch
here. It will be observed that the Geological map accompanying Warner & Beers'
map of Illinois does not correspond in the limits assigned to certain strata with
the map accompanying Volume vi of the Illinois State Geological Report, nor
does the latter exactly correspond with the treatise on the Geology of the
County contained in Volume v of the Report. These discrepancies indicate a
want of knowledge on the subject not at all creditable to the teachers of White
side. Moreover, we can learn of no extensive collection of the rocks and fossils
of the County. We hope some one will make an effort in this direction.
The Niagara in the bluffs of the Mississippi presents itself in a multitude
of picturesque forms, forming bold mural cliffs, frowning precipices, massive
cyclopean walls, lofty towers, huge pylons, rugged buttresses, grand arches, long
stretches of lichen covered, mouldering ruins, and along the Rock River at
Sterling, over-hanging cliffs of no great altitude — twenty-five to thirty feet.
Frequently some of the strata are much softer than others, and the gradual dis
integration of these soft beds gives the face of the bluff a most fantastic aspect.
By the joint action of water and frost some of the joints have been much.
enlarged, and in one case, we are informed that a considerable sized cave has
been formed. In another ease a fissure several inches in width has been filled

GEOLOGY. 13
Tvith stalactitic matter, forming a rock, beautifully banded with brown and
white and of -a delicate structure, forming most elegant cabinet specimens.
Limestone, as far as we know, is formed through the agency of organized
beings, the polyps and the mollusks being the great producers of this material,
which although existing in sea water is never deposited in beds from it except
through the instrumentality of these insignificant builders, and in the form of
coral or the shells of shell-fish.
Wherever mollusks like the oyster, elam, &c, live and flourish, vast deposits
of their shells are accumulated, in time forming strata which seem to be almost
exclusively made up of shells, generally of a single species. Where the shells
remain on the spot where they were formed they are generally entire, and if
the shells have decayed perfect casts, showing the internal structure, remain.
In such places corals are seldom found, they preferring a surf -beaten shore to
quiet waters. Where the shells have been rolled by the waves, they are more
or less broken and sometimes even ground to powder, not a fragment large
enough for identification remaining. In these exposed places, where the sea
rolls its waves continuously on the unprotected beach, and the temperature
never falls below 68 ° F., the coral grows most luxuriantly, forming vast reefs
which grow upward to a point about half way between low and high water mark,
as the polyps can live even when exposed to the rays of the sun for a couple
of hours at a time. The corals do not grow thriftily in water over one hundred
feet deep, and most reefs are formed in depths much less than this; conse
quently a coral formation cannot be over one hundred feet thick if the water
has remained of the same depth during its formation. But such reefs are found
over 1,000 feet thick, and we can conceive of no other method by which they
could have been built up except that the sea-bottom must have sunk about as
fast as the reef grew upward. Had the subsidence been more rapid the polyps
would have been drowned when the depth reached about 100 feet. Had it
sunk more slowly they would have built above the waves and been scorched by
the sun's rays. Corals also require clear water, mud-laden currents being fatal
to these delicate children of the sea. Mollusks of many species, on the con
trary, choose mud-banks as the place of their abode, and flourish in the turbid
waters of rivers and estuaries; but some species require clear water and a sandy
bottom, while some pass life attached to a rock or piece of wood, or to the shell
of another mollusk, but any one species is always found surrounded by the same
conditions. From the foregoing statements it will be seen that we have a key to the
physical condition under which a rock was formed. If it abounds in unbroken
shells we may conclude that it was formed in still water of no great depth, for
mollusks do not flourish at great depths, especially those living gregariously or
in groups. We should therefore conclude that the Albany beds were deposited
in still water which became turbid, destroyed the crinoids, and furnished the
earthy impurities contained in this rock. The upper beds were a great coral
reef along whose extended line many species of zoophytes flourished. Among
the species represented here Halysites catenulata, Halysites gracilis, Strom-
atopora of several species, Zaphrentis of four or more species, Chonophyllum,
Chaetetes, Ptilodycta, Aulopora and other genera are very abundant, the rock be
ing an aggregation of the remains of these frail architects. The Pentamerus beds,
and of these there are two certainly, perhaps three, were deposited in still water,
sheltered bays or coves. In some cases what may be a bed abounding in shells
in one place may be a coral reef in another, the coast at one point having been
sheltered, at the other exposed, or a river having entered the sea at one place,
while the waters were pure and clear at the other. As we examine the splendid

14 HISTORY OP WHITESIDE COUNTV.
exposures of the Niagara on sections 5. 8 and 7, in Ustick, we get a very good
idea of the changes that passed over this region, and can trace the passage
from one condition to another as well as if the change was taking place before
our eyes. The material of which the rocks are made up were deposited along
the shore, and as the Niagara forms the surface over much of this County, and
to the north and west, while to the south-west it is covered by newer beds,
we infer that the ocean lay to the south-west, and it may have been both
broad and deep. It may have been a vast congeries of islands in part as we
now find to be the case over much of the great coral growing zone of the
Pacific Ocean; but as far as the strata of Whiteside are concerned, it seems to
have been a continuous belt, perhaps a great barrier reef, such as to-day walls
in the north eastern coast of the Australian Continent. If the ancient Zoo
phytes were as sensitive as those of the present day they must have required a
temperature like that of Southern Florida — a climate in which there was no
winter and which knew no lower temperature than 68 ° F.; but we are not
justified in deciding that this region rejoiced iu so genial a climate, for the
fossil corals differ in structure from those now living, and they may have been
able to endure changes that would at once destroy the Zoophytes of the present
day. In the vast quantity of sea-weeds preserved in the beds of Pennington's
quarry, and quarries at Sterling, we have the best of evidence that vegetable as
well as animal life was well, very well represented in these seas. The chert
beds were no doubt, in part at least, the work of sponges; but as far as we know
no remains of these organisms have yet been described from these strata, and
while we suspect their presence we cannot confidently assert it.
In both Union Grove and Mt. Pleasant there are few fossils except at
particular horizons. In both places we find a stratum varying in thickness from
eighteen inches to two feet, almost wholly made up of a small shell not over a
fourth of an inch long. The shells have generally disappeared and only casts
remain, and the rock looks as open as a honey comb and has the appearance of
being scarcely strong enough to hold together. It is nevertheless very hard
and dense, and is said to make a good lime. Several other shells and a very
singular coral occurs at both Mason's and Cochran's quarries, in the former, in
the lowest bed worked. The following gives, as far as we have investigated
the subject, the names of all the fossils obtained from these strata:
1. Protozoons: Sponges of genus Stromatopara, Stromatopara concentrica.
2. Radiates: Polyps (corals), Favosites niagarense, Halysites catenulata,
Chonophyllum niagarense, Zaphrentes bilateralis, and two or three others,
Heliolites spinopora, Aulapora, Chastetes, Ptilodycta.
3. Mollusks: (a) Bryozoans; Fenestella — a delicate coral. (6) Brach-
iopods — Pentamerus oblongus, two forms, Atrypa nodostriata, Rhynchonella
cuneata, Orthis bilobus, Spirifer sulcatus, and probably Spirifer niagarensis. (c)
Lamellibranchs — probably Megalomus canadensis, Avicula emacerata. (d)
Gasteropods — Platyostoma niagarensis, Maclurea, one species, (e) Pteropods
— none known from these beds. (/) Cepholopads — Orthoceros, Ormoceros,
Phragmoceras. 4. Articulates — Some trilobites are said to have been found, probably
Calymene niagarensis.
Plants — Fucoids in some of the beds, especially at Sterling.
With the Niagara period closes the work of continent building for a long
period in Whiteside County. Not until the opening of the carboniferous age
does there appear to have been any change of which nature has made an entry
in her records. For ages its surface had been dry land. Had it been covered
by the waters there would have been some strata deposited to tell the story.

GEOLOGY. 15
But at the beginning of the Carboniferous Period a shallow estuary, bordered
by marshes, extended from Mineral Springs, Newton township, northeastwardly
to Unionville, and probably eastwardly from thence several miles into Hopkins.
In this valley some strata, in all about forty feet thick — irregularly bedded sand
stones varying much in hardness, color and composition, interstratified with
beds of quite pure clay were formed. These strata are sometimes len
ticular — thick at a given point and thinning rapidly each way until they are
but five or six inches thick, then rapidly thickening up to eighteen or twenty
inches again. Some of the strata are however of nearly uniform thickness
throughout. The clay beds are thin, but in places six to eight inches thick.
Lying on the sandstone is a thin bed of curious appearance, dark buff in
color, irregular in thickness, and quite hard. It seems to be formed of thin
layers alternately dark yellowish brown and light gray, is from two to five
inches thick, the upper surface very uneven and the body of the rock full of
cavities and what seem to be cracks. It contains many angular fragments of
sandstone and some small gravel. The surface of the sandstone below it is
generally comparatively smooth, and the fragments found in it are of the same
material as the beds on which it lies. Evidently at some time the upper beds
of the sandstone have been carried away by some force which tore them up
and ground much of them to sand and small pebbles. We are of the opinion that
this stratum is increasing in thickness at the present' time and is of narrow
extent. It is an argillaceous limestone. These sandstones were probably
formed in a marshy tract which received the drainage of the surround
ing country. At times there seems to have been very little vegetation
growing in this region, and we judge the sands formed banks which the wind
drifted, as some of the ripple marking is much more like that produced by the
action of the wind than that of water. These rocks are rich in fossils, but
wholly of plants; no trace of animals being found except the burrows of a
worm; but of plants many species occur. Most of the specimens are poorly
preserved, but some very fine ones have been obtained at Burr's quarry. They
consist of 1st, Sigillaria — huge trees — seventy feet long and two feet in diameter,
of at least four species, perhaps more; 2nd, Lepidodendra — also great trees as
large as the preceding, and also of two or more species; 3rd, Calamites — great
rushes — three or four inches in diameter and ten to twelve feet high; 4th, in
the clays are found what appear to be coarse grasses, probably Cordaites, and
also the fruit of some plant resembling Cardioearpus; a few fragments of ferns
have been found in the clay well preserved, but they are very uncommon.
There are no shells or other remains of animals as far as known to the writer.
Some of the strata contain numerous cavities filled with a soft, bluish, tenacious
clay. They form bands in the rock, being confined to certain strata and to a
particular part of them. They vary much in size, but are very generally of an
almond shape and quite regular in outline. There are also nodules of a hard,
red sandstone almost always filled with a fine white sand.
The fossils are most abundant in the upper stratum, and as they are very
generally quite imperfect, we believe them to have been transported to this
spot from some other locality. Those found below do not seem to have been
defaced by rubbing against rocks or each other, and probably grew near -the
place where they are now found. This formation was without doubt, at one
time, much more extensive than it now is, and we presume contained thin
seams of coal, as fragments of coal are found in the clays above, as well as con
siderable masses of sandstone, which evidently came from this deposit; while
much of the clay is of a black color, having a very decided bituminous look,
and we believe obtained this tinge from the coal contained in the strata, which

16 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
were at some time in the past destroyed. We presume that the subcarbonifer-
ous strata once extended much farther north, at least into Carroll County if not
farther. During the coal age we know from the evidence afforded by other
localities that the sea and land both swarmed with life. Corals, mollusks, fishes
and air breathing reptiles certainly existed, and some insects and spiders have
left proof of their presence. There were no birds, no mammals. The life
of the land was in its prominent forms wholly vegetable. The forests must
have been quite as dense as the tangled jungles of the Sunderbunds of the
Ganges, or the banks of the Amazon and Rio Negro. A warm, moist climate
must have prevailed, and polar and tropical regions could have differed but
little in temperature. But it must be borne in mind that we only infer this to
have been the case, and that New Zealand in Lat, 35 ° to 50 ° south is the
paradise of tree ferns which more nearly resemble the plants of the coal age than
any others now living. Hence a mean temperature of 50 ° F. and perhaps even
lower, may have been sufficient to give being to the giant forests of the car
boniferous age.
No true coal measures exist in Whiteside County, and all searches for
this mineral will, we are sure, prove in vain. The search for petroleum will
probably also prove a failure, and those who imagine that because these sub
stances are found in other places they must also occur here, will be disap
pointed in the search. The mere fact that rocks exist does not prove that they
are coal-bearing. There are certain strata to which certain minerals are almost
exclusively confined, and it is the maddest folly to look for these substances
outside the limits assigned them by nature. Hence in an economical point of view
the study of geology becomes of vast importance, and has not only a theoreti
cal but a pecuniary value.
Overlying the surface of the county is a deposit of clays, gravel and sand,
varying much in thickness — from five to fifty feet. They are often unstratified,
contain fragments of strange rocks, such as are found here only in rounded and
smoothed masses mixed with these materials, and always bearing evidence of
having been worn and almost polished by the attrition of other substances.
The sands and gravels indicate currents of water, for sand can be borne along
only by moving waters, and the coarser the material to be transported the
stronger must the current be. The clays were deposited in still waters, for
only in such are deposits of this kind formed. The great blocks must have
been carried along by some means other than the current of a river or the force
of waves, and we can conceive of no other agent except ice in the form of a glacier
that is capable of producing such results as the records of Nature's archives
declare were effected over vast tracts of country. The force producing these
results came from the north, for the blocks of stone scattered over the county,
and much of the material of the gravel beds came from localities 300 miles
north of this; and as we proceed south we find these strange rocks becoming
smaller and less numerous, and at last disappearing altogether; while if we
travel northward we shall find them becoming more numerous and larger, and
we may trace them to the very ledges from which they were torn. A great
glacier — an enormous mass of snow and ice — covering the whole northern part
of the continent down to this latitude and even farther, seems to be the only
agent capable of effecting such vast effects as we witness here. The center of
this glacial force we believe to have been at a point not far from west of the
southern point of James' Bay in British America, and northeast of Lake Supe
rior, for to this point the lines of travel pursued by the drift converge, the
courses being included between S. 40 ° E. and S. 40 ° W., the former course
prevailing in the eastern part of the country, the latter west of New York

GEOLOGY. 17
State. The course varied at different times, and where the glacier left its auto
graph in deeply engraved characters upon the rocks themselves in the shape of
a smoothed surface, grooves • as straight as a line and perfectly parallel, and
numberless fine lines known as scratches or strife, we find that there is some
times more than one set of them and that they cross each other at a high angle.
Lying well toward the base of this drift deposit is a stratum of leaves,
branches, and trunks of trees. On the farm of Dr. L. S. Pennington, of Jordan,
we were shown a place on the bank of Elkhorn Creek where a buried forest
has been partly exhumed. The trees seem to have been overthrown by some
force from the west, and to have been soon after covered with water and buried
in a deposit of marl which contains great numbers of fresh water shells. Some
of the trunks are eight inches in diameter. Where exposed to the air they do
not decay rapidly, although very soft. The grain is as clearly defined as if they
were just cut down, and in some cases the bark can yet be discerned. No
leaves or fruit have been observed. At several places in the county in digging
wells a similar deposit has been passed through. It is sometimes six feet thick,
and the leaves so well preserved that their outlines and venation can easily be
made out, and the wood" is often quite strong. Much of it seems to be derived
from cone-bearing species, but the leaves of trees closely related to our decid
uous forest trees also occur. In some cases the wood is much broken, and
seems to have been transported a long distance, or to have been floating about
for a long time; but it often presents few traces of abrasion and cannot have
been carried far from where it grew. This stratum is without doubt derived
from the Tertiary forests, and if our beds were only carefully studied additions
to our knowledge of fossil botany might be expected. We would suggest to
those who read this article that should they have an opportunity to gather up
and preserve some of these fragments, they do it and forward specimens to the
publisher of this work, at Morrison. In this way their examination and preser
vation may be secured. The material of which these strata are formed was
produced by the crushing and grinding action of the glacier as it slid slowly
forward over the surface, and the sorting and transporting of sand, gravel and
clay was effected by the water which always issues from beneath the icy mass;
but the greater part of this task was performed by the torrents that appear to
have deluged the land when the ice king resigned his scepter, and his gigantic
works melted away before the genial breath of a milder climate.
It is easy to theorize with regard to the causes that produced this change
that ushered in the glacial age. We know that the distribution of land and
water has much to do with climate, that the more broken up the land into
islands, the more equable the temperature, whereas great masses of land have
an extreme or variable climate- — a very cold winter and a hot summer, and that
great bodies of land extending far north seem to becorae vast reservoirs of cold.
Hence, it has been conjectured that in the eras when a mild climate seems to
have prevailed, the land was broken up into -small bodies, much as it is in the
region of mild temperature in the South Pacific. Another theory attributes
the change to the variability in form of the earth's orbit. It is certain that it
oscillates between the circle and an elongated ellipse, this oscillation requiring
for a complete revolution about 1,450,000 years. Its effect is to change the
relative length of seasons, to bring the earth nearer to the sun at one time than
at another, and to cause the time of nearest approach to the sun to occur some
times in summer, sometimes in winter. At present we are about 3,000,000
miles nearer the sun December 21st than June 21st, and our summer is about
eight days longer than that of the Southern Hemisphere, giving us a higher
summer temperature than is experienced by lands south of the equator, The
[A-2.]

18 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
more common opinion is that. the lands of the north polar regions became, about
the beginning of the drift period, both more extensive and higher than they
were previously or are at present, and that this caused a great change of climate,
extending over a great period of time. It will be observed that in the table
of periods we have three epochs, the Glacial, the Champlain, and the Terrace.
The first of these covers the period in which the glaciers covered the land; the
second was the period of the retreat of the glacier and the beginning of a
milder climate, and was probably an age of subsidence or sinking down of the
land; and the third covers the time in which the present valleys were cut and
the rivers began to pursue their present courses. Of course the latter process
may have been in progress at one point while the glaciers covered another, and
as the melting of so vast a body of ice must from necessity have occupied a
long time, the streams were of greater volume for a considerable period than
they are at present. As the drift deposits occur everywhere it is unnecessary
to enumerate localities, but one place deserves mention: About a mile and a
half southeast of Albany village is a considerable tract of low wet land on which
is found several large blocks, one of them the largest we know of. If our memory
is to be relied on the dimensions are about eighteen feet high, sixteen feet
long and twelve feet wide, containing about 3,000 cubic feet and weighing in
the neighborhood of 200 tons. Several blocks weighing from five to twenty tons
lie near this one, and a great many smaller ones are scattered about in the
vicinity. Along some of the streams is a deposit of sandy loam containing the shells
of the fresh water molluska now living in the streams. In the great Marais de
Ogee Slough flat covering a part of Erie township, and with the Cat-tail Slough.
bottom part of Newton and Fenton, this deposit is ten to twelve feet in depth.
In some places it is now a drifting sand as soon as the sod is broken, as is well
shown in the southwest part of Newton and near Erie village. In other places it
contains some argillaceous material and is more tenacious, supporting a luxuriant
vegetation of peculiar plants. In the west part of Garden Plain is a similar
tract where the warring winds have worked wonders, scooping out great hollows,
piling up fantastic hills, raising almost perpendicular walls of sand, and burying
trees almost to their topmost twigs. These loams and sands are alluvial for
mations, and were deposited by the streams along whose course they are found.
The peculiar clays and loams forming the upper part of the Mississippi
bluffs is by some considered to be the equivalent of the loess of the Rhine val
ley. At the time of its deposit the Mississippi could have laid no claim to the
name of river. It was rather a long, comparatively narrow lake if the relative
level of various points was then the same as at present. The Peat beds of
Union Grove township appear to belong to the alluvial period. They occupy a
part of the Cat-tail Slough bottom, are not far from a mile wide by over six
miles long and in greatest thickness over twenty feet. There arc other deposits
in the county, but this is by far the most important.
Limestones.
The composition of true limestone — carbonate of lime — is given by J. D.
Dana, Manual of Geology, 2d edition, page 7, as carbonic acid 44j lime 56. But
the limestone of the Mississippi Valley differs from this in being not a carbon
ate of lime but a carbonate of lime and magnesia. The lower magnesian of St.
Croix, Wisconsin, is made up of carbonate of lime 48.24, carbonate of magnesia
42.43, oxyd of iron, sand and alumina 8.84, moisture 0.40. It is therefore a
dolomyte or magnesian limestone. The composition of dolomyte as given by
the same authority, page 56, is, carbonate of lime 54.4, carbonate of magnesia

PEAT. 19
45.6. To this type, the precise amount of magnesia varying, all our limestones
conform. The hydraulic limestones, as will be seen from the following analysis,
from same work, page 75, also contains some magnesia, carbonic acid 34.2, lime
25.5, magnesia 12.35, silica (flint) 15.37, alumina (clay) 9.13, sesquioxyd of iron
2.25 — specimens from Rondout, New York, a locality noted for the manufac
ture of cements. It is claimed by some of the highest authorities that a certain
per centage of magnesia is essential to the excellence of water limes, those
containing it setting more readily, especially under water, than those in which
it is wanting, and also becoming harder in time. The Utica, Illinois, water
lime is composed of water 3.00, carbonate of lime 43.56, carbonate of magnesia
30.07, clay, alumina, 20.00, free silica 1.00, carbonate of iron 2.00, potash .18.
{Geological Survey of Illinois, Volume III, page 151.) The limestones of White
side are of very different quality, even the different strata of the same locality
possessing very different properties. Mr. Cochran informs us that he has at
least three grades of stone in his quarry about a mile north of Morrison, and that
they differ greatly as to the time required to burn them properly, their slacking,
&c. With one variety of it air slacking seems to be advantageous, as we were
shown a wall, the lime used in making which had been air slacked, which is
sound and hard, while another made of the same lime, not air slacked, is cracked
and soft. A study of the chemical composition of these rocks would probably
richly repay the owners and save them some expensive and unremunerative ex
periments. Mr. Cochran informed us that a stratum which another gentleman
had asserted would not make lime, makes an extra fine article, when properly
treated, an intense heat being required to prepare it. Lime is the oxyd of
calcium — a yellowish metal, harder than lead, melting at a red heat, and very
malleable. It soon tarnishes from its great affinity for oxygen and is seen only
as a chemical curiosity. With this oxyd carbonic acid very readily unites,
forming limestone — carbonate of lime. It is a widely diffused substance— one
of the most common in nature. It is the base of bone, coral and the shells of
Mollusks. It is found in the waters of the ocean, in most hard waters in com
bination with many other substances. Carbonate of lime subjected to a strong
heat looses its carbonic acid, which passes away as a gas and becomes the oxyd
of calcium, or lime.
Peat.
In the Cat-tail Slough in Union Grove Township, is found an immense de
posit of excellent peat. The bed probably occupies what was once a small lake
and is over six miles long by about a mile wide. A large part of this area is a
peat bog or " moss " over twenty feet deep, and a large area furnishes peat of a
superior quality. It has long been used as a fuel by the people of the vicinity
to a limited extent, and for some years efforts have been made to bring it into
the market by preparing it on a large scale. The old method of preparation —
cutting it into blocks like bricks and drying them in the air — does not fit the
article for carriage to any considerable distance, the bulk being much too great
in proportion to the combustible matter contained. It was therefore determined
to reduce the volume by pressure, and machinery was provided for the purpose,
but as the material of peat, partially decomposed vegetable fibre, is very elastic
and also absorbs a large quantity of water, it was found impossible to either re
duce it in bulk as much as was desirable or to deprive it of any considerable
quantity of the water held in combination. It was then determined to grind
it, and to press the pulp or mud thus formed into blocks. This plan was more
successful as the water was now more perfectly expelled, and the material was
turned out in a much denser form. But the cheapness of coal, the much greater

20 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTV.
amount of combustible matter a given bulk of it contains, and the consequent
ease of carriage have conspired, with the for years comparatively high price of
labor, to render the demand small, and to confine the use of peat to a small
territory. Peat is partially decomposed vegetable matter, derived from the mosses of
the genus Sphagnum, or in parts of our country of the genus Hypnum — spongy
mosses of rapid growth, common in wet lands which die below while growing
vigorously above. Their stems or roots, and' especially the last, are densely
matted together, and with grasses and other plants found in such localities form
in a comparatively short time, a large mass of material, and when partially
protected from the action of the atmosphere by water is slowly changed to a
semi-bituminous mass, a half coal so to speak, requiring only time and pressure
to become coal. We give below an analysis of peat and also of bituminous coal
from Dana's Manual of Geology, page 361, 2d edition.
Carbon. Hydrogen. Oxygen. Nitrogen.
Peat  59.5 5.5 33.0 2.0
Coal  81.2 5.5 12.5 0.8
Moss  49.88 6.54 42.42 1.16. This moss was a Sphagnum.
The change to peat it will be seen involves a loss of oxygen, in 100 parts
of almost 9 parts, so that the relative proportion of carbon is made to* appear
greater. The change to coal involves a further loss of 30 parts of oxygen in
100, and a consequently great increase in the relative quantity of carbon.
There is also some loss of hydrogen as well as of nitrogen.
The growth of peat is confined to temperate climates, as in tropical regions
the process of decay is so rapid as to render the change to the semi-bituminous
condition on the surface of the earth impossible, and if found under mud or
sand the pressure and time would produce a true coal. Hence peat bogs are
never found in warm regions.
As peat is essentially of the same composition as coal it possesses all its
heating qualities, and is only inferior to it in requiring a greater volume to pro
duce the same results, that is to heat or raise the temperature of a given quantity of
any substance, as of water, to a given degree. It is quite free from sulphur; hence
no sulphurous gasses are evolved. The combustion is perfect and very little soot
is produced. It is thus for household purposes a much more desirable fuel than
any ordinary bituminous coal, making much less dirt, and creating no unpleasant
smell. It burns freely either in an open grate or a stove, and makes a cheerful
hot fire. It is now manufactured at the point where the Albany road crosses
the Cat-tail, very powerful machinery being used to press it into blocks. Besides
the Union Grove deposit there are others in this low land tract, of less extent,
said to be of equally good quality. A deposit of small extent exists in the north
part of Sterling, another in the township of Portland. Others of limited area
are probably scattered about the sloughs not only of the lowlands but also of the
prairies, for peat is by no means confined to low lying lands — moderate tem
perature and abundance of water being the only requirements of its formation,
and where these conditions exist, whether in the valley or on the mountain,
there peat bogs are found. In many cases where it has been removed it has
been known to again accumulate to a depth sufficient to be workable. Its rate
of growth is slow and may of course vary with the conditions. Pieces of wood,
stems of trees, leaves, bones, human bodies, the works of man, are found in these
marshes. The waters of such morasses have the property of arresting the pro
cesses of decay and preserving substances, that under ordinary circumstances.
would soon perish, and from them many curious articles have been exhumed.

MINERAL SPRINGS. 21
In this County we are not aware that any relics of much importance have been
obtained up to this date, some bones of the Buffalo or Bison, as far as we can
learn, being the only vestiges of animal life revealed.
With a high price for coal, cheap labor and perfect appliances for com
pressing the peat, it must become an article of great commercial importance and
prove a source of wealth and prosperity.
The sphagnous mosses from which it has been formed yet flourish in these
marshes, forming thick, tangled, spongy masses of a greyish green color, inter
spersed with scattered blades of a coarse, light green grass or narrow sedge
about four feet high, and some orchideous plants, that at times enliven the
dreary plain with their brilliant and peculiar flowers. Some tracts are covered
with large dark green rushes — Juncacae — and the pools with a tall, somewhat
oval leaved — ovate, acuminate — grass. This great bed at any season, as seen
from the highlands bordering it, has a dreary, forbidding aspect, which the frosts
of autumn intensifies by stripping them of the little variety of color they possess
during the summer season. It is invisible to the traveler until he reaches its
very border and then bursts upon him, like the creation of a dream. The com
paratively narrow valley extending from near Fulton to the valley of Rock
River, in Fenton, has much the appearance of a great river of greenish water
sweeping with a slightly sinuous course toward the south east. It probably
was at one time the bed of a great stream, and the cliff on which Fulton now
stands and the mass forming a part of Albany, Garden Plain, Fenton and New
ton townships, were islands in its channel. The Mississippi we believe, at one
time, in part through this valley, in part through the Marais de Ogee or Meredosia,
flowed into what is now a part of Rock River, but was then the Mississippi,
until some convulsion shattered the rocky barrier that now forms the Rock
Island Rapids, and the great River worked out for itself a more direct but less
navigable channel. It seems to us that the rents in the rock of the Rapids
clearly indicate a forcible rupture, rather than the gentle, wearing action of
running water, and are themselves a record of their origin in nature's own
language, too often strangely perverted in meaning by her self-constituted in
terpreters. Mineral Springs.
The mineral springs of the county do not seem to have attracted much
attention. We have heard of but few, and these have no reputation as far as
we can learn for medicinal qualities. The most widely known is" located in
Newton township, and near it was bored a well in exploring for oil. A copious
flow of water, clear, cold and sparkling was obtained, the same as that of the
spring, charged with iron and sulphuretted hydrogen gas. The well is at the
bottom of a ravine, the rock of the bounding hills being a coarse-grained sub-
carboniferous sandstone, soft, friable and full of water. The well, we believe,
is about 70 feet deep. A greasy film often seen on the surface of such waters,
where they are collected in pools, led to the belief that oil was to be found here.
We advise our readers to leave the search for petroleum in this region to those
who have nothing else to do and money which they are anxious to get rid of.
A similar spring exists near Hough's mill in Clyde. These waters would prob
ably be found valuable in some diseases, but so far have been neglected by
health seekers. We are not aware that an analysis of either has ever been
made. About two miles east of Sterling there is a spring owned by Mr Albert-
son, the water of which is said to contain soda, iron, magnesia, potassa in the
form of bicarbonates — lithia and silica, and some chlorides and phosphates.

22 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTV.
Artesian Wells.
In several places in the county artesian wells have been tried, but the
results achieved have in several cases been much below the expectations of those
who projected them. An acquaintance with the conditions requisite for success
seems to have been wanting, and the thought given the subject to have related
only to the cost of the work. The reasoning adopted seems to have been much
as follows: "Wells are bored at Chicago, tind a plentiful supply of water is
obtained, therefore the same result may be obtained in the same way at Morrison,
or any other place." Water cannot rise above the level of the fountain that
supplies it, hence to make an artesian well a success there must be a head of
water higher than the place where the well is bored. Then below and above
the strata containing the water there must be strata through which water
cannot pass freely, as if it can it will flow away in springs, and not rise higher
than the point at which it escapes.
The character of the rocks, their slope or dip, and the source from which
they derive their supply of water, are, of course, very important features in the
problem, and go far toward enabling us to settle the question of success or
failure. In the valley of the Illinois, water is obtained at from 230 to 400 feet,
rising from thirty to fifty feet above the surface, while on the prairie to the
north of the river the only successful well is 2180 feet deep, while the boring
at Mendota, 2160 feet deep, is not a success. The deepest boring in the world
is that at St. Louis, Missouri, 3843£ feet deep. The water does not rise to the
surface. At Sterling, a well 1655 feet deep, owned by Joel Harvey, flows a
large quantity of water of good quality. The boring at Morrison, 1200 feet
deep, does not flow, the water not rising to within twenty feet of the top. Dr.
Pennington has bored near his residence, in Jordan, to the depth of 2200 feet,
the water rising to within thirty-five feet of the top. At Utica, La Salle County,
in the well of James Clark, there are three horizons of water-bearing rock in
about 200 feet. The well penetrates the Potsdam sandstone about seventy
feet, this being the water-bearing rock. Below are given the strata as pene
trated in several wells: Morrison Artesian Well.

Soil and Clays  50
Boulder Clay  60 first water at no feet.
Niagara Limestone  75
I Cincinnati Slates and Shales  295
Trenton Group. < Trenton Limestone, Whirc  100
( " " Gray  120
Chazy, St. Peter's Sandstone  200 ist rise of water, raised 50 feet.
( ( Gray Limestone  .'  120
Potsdam. I Calciferoll s. < Brown Sandstone  100 2d water raised to 35 feet from top.
t ( Grey Limestone  80
Total  1.200 feet.
Boring about 200 to 250 feet deeper would probably improve this well.
It should be carried into the Potsdam sandstone.
Dr. Pennington's, Jordan.
Soil and Clays  20
I Rock  30
Trenton < Cincinnati Limestone  100

( Trenton

55°

1 St. Peter's Sandstone  300 Chazy.
Potsdam J. Calciferous  500 Probably Quebec.
( Potsdam Sandstone  700
Total  2,200 feet.

MINERALOGY. 23
J. Harvey's, Sterling.
Earth, Clay, Sand and Gravel  30 First water 33.
Yellow Limestone   85
Brown Mineral  5
Blue Slate and Shale  195
Light Colored Limestone  '.  100
Grey or Dark Limestone  265
Light Sandstone  95 2d water 700 came within 18 ft. of top
Fine Limestone   90
"Vy^hite Sandstone  .,  *.  85
White Limestone  35
Hard Limestone  35 3d water 900 overflowed.
Medium Hard Limestone  120
Loose Hilly Limestone  40
Hard Limestone  270 4th water 1150 flowed Si above top.
White Sandstone  100
Shaly Limestone  '50
Brown Sandstone   ig
Blue Shale  50
Total  i,«sfeet.
Jas. Clark's, Utica, LaSalle Co.
Sand  17 water al 35, 70 and 200 feet.
Calciferous  170
Potsdam  70
This subject is well worthy of a careful study, the great outlay involved in
boring a deep well, demanding a tolerable certainty of success, before one is
justified in commencing so costly a work; and even when all is known that can
be ascertained, there is room for more than a reasonable doubt of the result.
Mineralogy.
Mineralogy describes and classifies the material composing our globe. The
system generally followed is that used by Jas. D. Dana in his Manual of Miner
alogy. The classification is based on the chemical composition, the proportions
of carbon, sulphur, oxygen, silica, &c, deciding the place of the species
in the arrangement. Hence some ores of metals being of one class and some of
another are found widely separated. The numbers occuring after each name is
the number of Dana's species as given in the Manual. •
The minerals of Whiteside County are not many nor of great interest, yet
of some species fair and of some fine specimens are easily obtained.
' Copper is found in the drift in its metallic state. It occurs in small quan
tities only. The largest fragment we have seen weighs about ten pounds, and
is now in the collection of the Academy of Sciences, Ottawa, Illinois.
Lead does not occur in the rocks of this county, but probably may be
found in the drift. The ore found at Galena is Galenite — 40 — sulphurate of
lead. It may possibly be found in fissures in the Trenton limestone in the north
part of the county.
Sphalerite — 56 — Sulphide of Zinc, black-jack of miners — is found in small
quantities at Dr. Pennington's quarry in Hopkins.
Iron has several important ores — the most valuable being hematite — 180 — ¦
red oxide, red ochre, specular iron, yellow clay iron stone; magnetite — 186 —
octahedrite, octahedral iron ore, magnetic oxide, black oxide; limonite — 206 —
brown oxide, bog ore; siderite — 736 — carbonate of iron, brown clay iron stone.
Hematite — 180 — occurs as a rather soft, easily cut, red stone, a half mile east
of Rock Falls, where it is quarried for the use of the Sterling Mineral Paint
Company. It is also found at Cochran's quarry near Morrison, and in small
quantities at many other places, being generally called red clay. Yellow clay
iron stone is quite common in most parts of the county. Limonite forms with
gravel a ferruginous conglomerate of a deep brown color. We found large
pieces of it in gravels in Ustick township, near the residence of J. M. Williamson,

24 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
and a considerable deposit of it exists a half mile east of Morrison station as a
ferruginous gravel or soft conglomerate.
Calcite — 715 — carbonate of lime, limestone, has been described and its
localities mentioned. By calcite is generally understood crystallized carbonate
of lime. It occurs as dogtooth spar, having the form of pyramids, generally
filling cavities or hollows in the rock; as spar having the form of cubes or
rhomboids, when transparent and possessing, as it commonly does, the power of
making objects seen through it appear double, it is called Iceland spar. Cavities
filled with crystals are called geodes. Calcite is generally white or colorless,
but is sometimes yellow, red, bluish, brownish, &c, and the crystals often con
tain small particles of other matter. We found some beautiful, but very small
crystals at Dr. Pennington's. They are often highly colored. Calcite is found
in all the limestones. We have obtained some good but small crystals in New
ton. A beautiful stalagmite is found in some of the crevices of the Niagara
limestone. Dolomyte — 716 — is very similar to calcite. It has a pearly lustre, however,
and is not readily attacked by sulphuric acid, while calcite is; that is if you
drop a little sulphuric acid — oil of vitriol — upon a piece of calcite, it will soon
foam and eat into the stone; poured on dolomyte there is little foaming and the
acid produces little effect on the stone. ,
Pyrite — 75 — bisulphide of iron, sulphur, fool's gold, might be classed and
really is a common ore of iron, but it is never used in the manufacture of iron,
being worthless for this purpose. It is very abundant in the coal measures,
being found in the form of scales and flakes of a golden yellow color in the coal
itself. It is sometimes found in large lenticular masses, very hard, heavy, and
when broken, of a yellowish gray. It also occurs in spherical masses from a
half -inch to several inches in diameter, appearing to be engraved on the outside
with geometrical figures, formed of a combination of triangles, and of a brassy
hue. Its crystals are cubes, very perfect, dodecagons, and many other forms,
the two named the most common. Some fine small crystals are found at Dr.
Pennington's, and on sections 5, 7, and 8, Ustick, and in the limestones of most
localities. It often decomposes when exposed to the atmosphere, sulphate of
iron, sulphurous acid and a sulphate of iron and alumina — an alum — being the
product. Clay. — Clay is the name given to a tenacious earth but sparingly dissolved
by water and almost impervious to it. It is of various colors, and its composi
tion varies greatly. Yet common as clay is, it is a substance of great value.
Brick, pottery and stoneware are manufactured from it and are impossible
without it. Clay is the oxide of aluminum, a metal in color resembling silver,
but bulk for bulk only half as heavy. This oxide is called alumina. Clay
however is seldom pure alumina. Iron, lime, and silica or sand, as well as
other substances are mixed with it and materially modify its qualities. When pure
it is almost impossible to melt it, but when mixed with sand and lime, it becomes
more fusible, and we often see the surface of bricks looking as if glazed, the
heat of the fire having fused the material of the brick, showing that the clay is
not pure. The red color of brick is owing to the presence of iron in the form
of red oxide. Mineralogically the clays belong to several species. Of these
kaolin is one of the most important. It occurs on an island in Rock River, in
Coloma township, belonging tp a Mr. McKenzie. Fire clay is found between
the strata of the Unionville sandstone in beds of from two to eight inches thick.
It is of good quality but limited in quantity; also at Cochran's quarry. Red,
yellow and blue clays are found in almost every township in many places, The

GEOLOGY. 25
red and yellow clays are colored by iron and some of them are real ores of iron.
They are true hematites, analagous to red chalk and red ochre.
Other minerals occur in the drift as hornblend, orthoclase, albite, mica,
quartz, &c, but they are not found constituting strata or parts of any strata
that have not been disturbed, and hence deserve no extended notice here.
The rocks have been described. Limestone of many varieties is found
over the county, generally magnesian, or dolomyte. Most of the limestone of
the Central Plain is dolomyte containing from one-eighth to one-half carbon
ate of magnesia. Sandstone is found in only a narrow tract of territory.
Granite, syenyte, gneis, doleryte, and hypersthenyte are common in the
drift in fragments of greater or less size — varying from small pebbles to huge
boulders weighing many tons, the largest about 200 tons.
Economical Geology.
The Niagara limestones of Whiteside County are an unfailing source of
wealth. They furnish an inexhaustible supply of excellent building stone, it
being generally easily quarried, not difficult to dress, of good color, and durable.
The quarries of Ustick, Fulton and Sterling have been extensively worked for
block stone, while at Albany, Newton and Morrison, stone for foundations,
rough work and lime is procured; and in Prophetstown it is also quarried.
Near Spring Hill the rock appears, but is soft, friable and worthless.
The Trenton limestone in Jordan, at Dr. Pennington's, and in Hopkins, is
extensively quarried. It makes a beautiful building material, being of pleasing
color, easily worked and very durable. The Doctor has several fine buildings
of this material, which fully demonstrate its capabilities as a constructive material.
There are three shades of it, all seeming to be equally well fitted for architect
ural purposes. Some of the strata furnish a very superior flagging, stone of
any dimensions being procurable. We saw some immense slabs ready for mar
ket, free from any trace of crack or flaw, and rivalling the best Berea or
Batavia flags. The lowest stratum both at the Jordan and the Hopkins quarries
is a very hard semi-crystalline stone, wholly unaffected by dampness or frost.
The Unionville sandstones supply an easily worked and tolerably good
material for foundations, and when pains is taken in quarrying, blocks of mod
erate size, 2x5x1-^- feet may be obtained, as well as good stuff for caps, sills,
water-tables, steps and small platforms. It varies much in color, but is gener
ally of agreeable tints and wears well. Burr's quarry furnishes from its lowest
beds a hard bluish white stone, from the middle beds a yellowish white, and from
the upper beds a reddish gray stone. The stone from this quarry is of very good
quality. Lime is burned at Cochran's quarry and at Mason's quarry north of Mor
rison. The lime manufactured here is of good quality, but the different strata
are of different composition and produce limes of different character. That
from one stratum seems to be improved by air-slacking. We were shown a wall
made of air-slacked lime which is remarkably hard and sound, and another wall
made of the same lime, not air-slacked, which is badly cracked, soft, and we
should say worthless. One of the beds seems to be a hydraulic lime, but the
quantity is too small to render it of value. We were told by a gentleman in
the lime trade that this rock would not make lime, but Mr. Cochran assures us
that when properly burned it forms a lime of the best quality. Lime is the
Oxide of Calcium, a yellow metal, which on exposure to the air soon becomes
tarnished and in a short time turns to the white substance which we call lime.
This oxide absorbs carbonic acid gas and then becomes limestone. Heating the
limestone drives off the carbonic acid as a gas, and the oxide of calcium re-
[B^3-l

26 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY,
mains. Air-slacking results from the lime absorbing moisture from the atmos
phere. Slacked lime is chemically speaking hydrated oxide of calcium, or a
combination of water and oxide of calcium. Calcium in its metallic state is
seen only as a curiosity, its great affinity for oxygen rendering it impossible to
preserve it from the attacks of that element whenever they come in contact.
Peroxide of iron is quarried near Rock Falls and is ground at Sterling by
the Sterling Mineral Paint Company. It is quite extensively sold and is well
liked by those who have used it. It is of a dark rich brown, wears well, and
from its composition must be incombustible and as near fire proof as a paint can
be. An analysis made by Prof. Mariner, of Chicago, gives as its composition:
Peroxide of iron, 68.; Silica, 15. ; Alumina, 11.; Water, 5. Eleven hundred
tons were quarried last winter and will be required to supply the demand for
the current year. It is used by railroad companies in painting cars and largely
for painting out-buildings, and in coating iron and tin roofs. The sales extend
to all parts of our country and there is a good prospect of a European market.
This is therefore one of the most valuable mineral deposits of our County.
Clays. — Red, yellow, blue and white clays are found in almost every neigh
borhood. The red is always an ore of iron resembling in general character the
Sterling Mineral Paint, but containing less iron and more silica and alumina.
The yellow contains some iron and it is this element that gives the red color to.
our bricks when burned. Very good brick are made at Morrison, Sterling, Ful
ton, Lyndon, and other places. Fire clay contains little iron and should be free
from lime, for while either silica — sand, alumina — clay, or lime taken separately
can be melted only in the most intense heat of a powerful furnace, when mixed
they are quite fusible, consequently the presence of lime in the clay renders it
more fusible, and therefore unfit for use where a high temperature is to be sus
tained. The clay found in beds of from two to eight inches in thickness between
the strata of the Unionville sandstone is a very good fire clay and has been used
in the manufacture of fire brick at Fulton, and also at the Morrison lime kilns.
It was used at Fulton in the manufacture of pottery and would answer a good
purpose but does not take glazing readily. It is somewhat difficult to get it out
free from arenaceous matter, and the quantity is too small to be of much value.
Near Cochran's quarry is a bed of clay that may prove to be of some importance.
He informs us that brick made from it stand the action of fire remarkably
well. It has not been tried on a large scale.
Sand. — Sand for mortar is found in all parts of the county. Moulding
sand (of good quality) is obtained at Lyndon, and a bed that seems to possess all
the qualities of a good moulding sand occurs at Cochran's quarry.
Gravel beds are found in the drift everywhere, but in many cases they are
deep down and practically inaccessible. South and west of Lyndon on the C. R.
I. & St. L. R. R., is a fair deposit of gravel.
Marl. — A calcareous clay or soft shelly limestone, is quite common, but is
usually called a clay. These marls where found in sufficient quantities are val
uable fertilizers and are worthy of much more attention than they have received.
The exuberant fertility of our soil has caused our people to neglect these sources
of wealth because deemed unnecessary, but the day is rapidly approaching when
a better system of farming will be inaugurated, and then the question of
manures will receive a more careful consideration. The deposit known as quick
clay is a marl. A bed of shell marl occurs on Dr. Pennington's land in Jordan,
but seems to be thin.
Such then are the mineral resources of Whiteside County. They are not
such as are calculated to startle and amaze the reader, and seem when com
pared with those of Jo. Daviess or La Salle Counties, scanty and mean, and when

NATURAL HISTORY. 27
contrasted with those of an equal area of Colorado or California to be of no
consequence; but we must not forget that these treasures are indispensable to
the welfare of a people, that without them progress must be slow and enterprise
continually embarassed. Besides they are of such a nature that the demand
must continue to increase with time, and the supply is practically inexhaustible.
They are therefore of great economical value, mines of wealth more necessary
and more conducive to our progress than the gems of Golconda, or the mines
of Nevada. Notes.
The Unionville Sandstone. — These strata seem to form isolated patches or
islands in a Niagara sea. As they now exist we believe them to be wholly<un-
connected. They are fragments of a once much more extensive deposit, most
of which has been torn up and scattered over more southern lands.
The Walled Well. — The story of a walled well — a work of aboriginal art —
has been heard by many who may read these pages. Mr. Jas. Shaw considers
it to be a pot-hole or hole worn out by the action of the water and gravel. The
porch of a house now covers it and investigation would be difficult if not impos
sible. It is to be regretted that this object has not been examined by competent
parties, as its character is yet doubtful.
Coal and Petroleum. — The search for coal and petroleum maybe pronounced
in vain. Neither are to be expected in this county. The coal-bearing strata
do not extend into the county, and as the shales that are the great reservoirs of
petroleum are all wanting we may assume that petroleum does not exist in any
quantity worth looking after. Natural History.
The Natural History of Whiteside County has not been studied with the
care the subject should receive. No collection of its animals, reptiles, birds,
fishes and insects exists as far as we now know. This is to be regretted, as
species once common here are becoming scarce and some not native here are
appearing year by year and taking the place of those that are disappearing.
The principal animals found in the county by the first settlers were the
Gray wolf, Prairie wolf, Lynx, Wild cat, Raccoon, Skunk, Mink, Weasel, Beaver,
Otter, Muskrat, Hare (rabbit), Gray squirrel, Fox squirrel, Grey gopher, Striped
gopher (Spermophile), Chipmunk (probably an emigrant), Mole of several species,
Mice of several species. The Bison or Buffalo (Bos Americanus) certainly at
one time visited this county as the bones are now found in the peat beds. The
bear was also probably an inhabitant of this region, although we have not seen
it mentioned as being found here by our first settlers. The elk and deer were
common and were found many years after the county was settled, although they
are now extinct.
The birds of Whiteside County are those of a large section of the United
States. Several species are only occasional visitors, many species go southward
during the winter, while a small number remain here the year round. Among
the birds of prey the Baldeagle (Halisetus leucocephalus), holds the first place.
He is probably not a resident of the county at this time. The Buzzard, Spar
row hawk, Goss hawk, Snowy owl, Barn owl, and Screech owl, Butcher bird or
shrike, King bird, King fisher, Blue jay, Wood pecker, Yellow-hammer, Meadow
lark, Snow bird, Wren, Redstart, Chipping bird, Blue bird, Brown-thresher,
Tomtit, Yellow bird, Baltimore oriole, Robin, Pewee, Phoebe bird, Cheewink
or Ground finch, Cuckoo, Plover, Snipe, Wild goose, Duck, Crane, Heron, Gull,
Brant, Swan, Partridge, Prairie chicken or Pinnated grouse, Quail, Turkey,

28 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Night hawk, Whipporwill, Swallow, Chimney swallow, Martin, Dove, Pigeon,
Crow, Bittern or Pump thunder, Black bird, Woodcock, Rail, Humming bird,
are found at some seasons of the year within our borders. Some of them are
now seldom seen while others are constantly met with. The practice of ruth
lessly shooting everything that has feathers and wings has tended to greatly
diminish the number of birds, and some species are verging on extinction as
far as this region is concerned.
Reptiles are neither large nor numerous. Of the turtles there are four
species, two of which attain a considerable size. The newts or Tritons are
represented by one, perhaps more species. The Mennobranchus inhabits the
still water of sloughs. Frogs are numerous and of several species. Toads are
common. The tree frog is often heard, if not frequently seen, and the cray
fish is a well known denizen of our low lands. Of the Ophidians — the serpents
— the number is not large, and most species are less common than they were a
few years ago. The rattlesnake was represented by at least three species, two
of them the yellow rattlesnake — Crotalus horridus, and the Prairie rattlesnake
now seldom seen, are large reptiles. The blow snake — a species of viper, blue
racer, garter snake, the most common of our snakes, the water snake, and the
ground snake, very scarce, comprise most of our species.
The fishes are quite numerous in all the streams of any size. The catfish,
pout, black and rock bass, sunfish, perch, buffalo fish, pickerel, pike, sucker,
sheephead, spoon fish, sturgeon, eel, shiner, gar, and minnow, are the principal
species. They are caught in considerable quantities, especially in the Missis
sippi and Rock Rivers.
The insects comprise representatives of all the great families. The Lepi-
doptera — moths and butterflies, has many species, varying greatly in size, from
the great Cecropia moth, five inches across the wings, to the tiny Tenia less
than a half inch in breadth. The Neuroptera are common, dragon flies of
several species being found along our streams. The Corydalis frequents the
same places, especially the woods of Rock River. Mosquitoes are over much
of the county, too abundant for comfort. The Coleoptera are numerous, and
many of them large and beautifully colored. The beetles, embracing the
troublesome and destructive borers of many species, belong to this class, as
also the carrion bug or scavenger beetle. Many of the borers are remarkable
for the length of their antennae and for the strangeness and elegance of their
forms. The beautiful and delicate lady-bugs also belong to this division. The
Hemiptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera are represented by the flies and bees, of
each of which there are several genera and many species: the humble bee,
wasp, hornet, yellow jacket, mason wasp, mining bee, and hornet are too well
known to require description. The spiders, Arachnida, are found everywhere,
many of them being highly colored and some of them of large size.
The molluska are represented by about forty species of Unio, varying
greatly in size, form, exterior surface of shell and internal structure. The
Viviparus, Melania, and Planorbis are also well represented in most of our
streams. Many of these shells are beautiful objects and they offer a fine field
to the naturalist, being easily obtained in great quantity. The land species,
Physa, Helix, &c. are found in the woods and marshy lands. We have seen no
living specimens of either genus in our researches this summer (1877).
Botany.
The botany of this county is rich in species both of Exogens — plants hav
ing a true wood and bark and increasing in size by the addition of layers on the
putside, and Endogens — plants having no true wood and bark, and growing from

BOTANY. 29
within. The Cryptogamia are also quite numerous, the Musci, Filices and Fungi
being quite plenty. A list of the plants alone would occupy several pages, and
for the general reader possess little interest. We shall therefore only enumerate
the principal species:
The forest trees and shrubs embrace the Cottonwood, Yellow Popal, Quak
ing asp; Oak — white, black, yellow, chestnut; Black Walnut; Coffee Bean —
Gymnocladus; Elms — Ulmus americana and Ulmus fulva; Willows, several
species; Mulberry, Morusrubus; Box Elder — Negundo aceroides; Soft Maple —
Acer rubrus; Hard Maple — Acer saccharum; Sycamore; Plane tree — Platanus
occidentalis; Ash — black and blue'; Baswood, or Linn tree; Honey Locust;
Three Thorned Acacia, Gledithschia tricanthus; Sassafras — Sassafras officin
ale; Plum; Crab Apple; Wild Cherry — Cerasus serotinus; Witch Hazel; Dog
wood — Cornus; Shadberry; Juneberry — Amelanchier canadensis; Thorn — Cra-
tegus tomentosus and Crategus crusgalli; Sumac — Rhus glabra,,Rhus typhina,
Rhus radicans, climbing; Staff tree; False Bitter Sweet — Celastrus scandens,
climbing; Birch; Hazel; Elder; Button Bush — Cephalanthus; Black Alder; Red
Cedar — Juniperus virginiana.
A noticeable feature of this list is that the finest timber trees of the east
are wanting here. Neither the Tulip nor Cucumber tree are present, and the
Linn is of less size. The Oaks are more scrubby and less valuable. The Hard
Maple is found in a few places only, the Beech not at all. Of the herbs
and small shrubs the number is very great, many of them worthy of
notice on account of the beauty of their foliage and flowers. From
early spring when the Anemone Nuttalliana appear on the sandy hillsides until
the chill wind of winter browns the foliage with its icy breath there is a con
stant succession of floral beauties. Several species of Ranunculus enliven pas
tures and roadsides and are known to all under the familiar name of crowfoot or
butter cups. Liverwort — Hepatica triloba; Spring Beauty — Claytonia; Cowslip
— Caltha palustris; Dutchman's Breeches — Dicentria cucullaria and canadensis;
Dentaria diphylla or pepper root; Cardamine rhomboidia, Arabis canadensis
or wild cress; Barbarea vulgaris or water cress; Viola pedata; Viola cucul-
lata; Dodecatheon media or prairie points, prairie pink or Mead's cowslip;
Thalictrum cornuti; Geranium maculatum or crane's bill; Sanguinaria cana-
dense or blood root; Oxalis violacea or purple sorrel; Spirea; Phlox, macu
latum, and several other species make up a constant succession of flowers
from spring to midsummer, while the compositae through the spring
are represented by but few species, dandelion — Leontodon taravensis and
Troximon with Cirsium pumilam, a large beautiful thistle. Lilies now
begin to appear, and two species, — L. superbum and L. philadelphicum, are
quite common. Rosin weed — silphium of three species, sunflowers — Helian-
thus of six species; Coreopsis of four species; Rudebeckia, four species, Soli-
dago — Golden rod of six species; Vernonia fasiculata; Liatris, four species;
Aster, ten or twelve species; Cirsium thistle, four species; Lepachys; Echin
acea purpurea, purple cone flower; Parthenium. Heliopsis lsevis; Erigeron,
three species; Eupatorium, boneset thoroughwart, four species; Dysodia, dog-
fennel; Cacalia; Cynthia Virginiana and several other genera make a splendid
display of composite flowers until frost. Lobelia — four species; cardinalis —
red cardinal flower; syphilitica — blue cardinal flower; leptostachys — slender
lobelia, inflata — lobelia; Campanula Americana; C. rotundifolium, in rocky
ground; Lysimachia stricta; L. longifolia; Gerardia auriculata; the curious and
beautiful Castilleja coccinea — painted cup; C. sessilifolia; Dasystoma flava;
Gerardia; Pentestemon grandiflorus; Mimulus ringens — monkey flower; Eryn-
gium yuccacefolium; Petalostemon violaceum; Dalea-alopecuroides; Lespedza

30 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
capitata — bush clover; Cassia chamascrista; Baptisia, two species; Lathyrus —
wild pea — three species; Desmodium, four species; Podophyllum peltatum —
may apple, mandrake, are some of the most common. Several species of
Asclepidiaceae or milkweeds, among them the lovely butterfly weed with its
large scarlet heads of flowers, is a very conspicuous object by roadsides and in
fields; the Calystegia sepium, commonly called morning glory — a great pest of
the farmers from its creeping roots and spreading vines of rapid growth; Ipomea
panduratus — man root, man of the earth — a splendid plant with large morning
glory-like flowers, having a purple tube and white border and a large fleshy root
very difficult to kill, are frequently met with and cannot fail to attract the
attention of the lover of nature. The curious Euphorbias are not generally
striking in foliage or flower, but E. carollata is very common in dry fields and
from its large white umbellate heads, is a very conspicuous object. The
remainder of the species common here are creeping plants and cover our
ploughed lands, if not frequently stirred, with a web of variegated green or red.
Of the Grasses we have not space to speak, and moreover have never made them
an object of study. The Filices or ferns, Musci or mosses, and Liverworts, must
for the same reason be omitted.
It will be seen from this meagre article that the botany of this county
offers a treasury by no means poor in its resources, to him who seeks a knowl
edge of the Creator's wonderful works. It is far from creditable to the litterati
of the county that no better collections illustrating Natural History exist. Our
teachers, especially those standing at the head of our High Schools, could very
easily awaken an interest in this subject in the minds of their pupils, and large
and valuable collections could readily be made, collections that would not only
be of value for illustration in teaching, but become standards of reference in
the future. Besides this knowledge has a value that cannot easily be estimated.
The man who goes out into the world having some acquaintance with Geology
will not spend his time and money in digging in Devonian and Silurian strata
for coal, or boring in Niagara Limestone for petroleum. He who has a knowl
edge of botany will not be liable to. be tricked by seedsmen and speculators into
buying worthless wonders in vegetables. The locust, the potato beetle, the
many borers all demonstrate the need of at least a passing acquaintance with
insects and their habits, and our teachers should take the lead in the work and
make an effort to impress on the minds of all (that such knowledge is of great
importance. The loss sustained annually by the farmers of Illinois from the
ravages of insects may safely be placed at more than $20,000,000 — a vast sum
in the aggregate — a tax of almost $7 per head on every man, woman and child
in the State, and most of it a tax levied by ignorance on those who despise
knowledge.

CHAPTER II.
Antiquities and Pre-Historic Man — Indian History.

Antiquities and Pre-Historic Man.
When Europeans first penetrated to the country beyond the Appalachian
mountains; they found it covered~with dense forests and presenting no evidences
of ever having been cultivated, but here and there were hillocks of regular
form, some of them of great size, usually occupying commanding positions on
the highlands overlooking streams. Besides these hillocks, evidently the work
of man, there were walls of great extent, some of them enclosing tracts of many
acres, in several cases of more than 100 acres in area. Of these works the
Indians, at that time living in the country, could give no account whatever, or
but a very vague and unsatisfactory one, and research has resulted only in theo
ries and conjectures and these often of the wildest and most improbable
character. In Whiteside County many mounds are found. On the high point south
west of Albany three or four are placed commanding a fine view of the Missis
sippi in both directions. They appear to contain only bones and these crumble
as soon as exhumed. In Fenton on the slope overlooking the Rock River Bot
tom were several. In Como a number are found. Some of these have been
lately examined, fragments of bone being discovered. In Carroll County, Mr.
J. M. Williamson informs us, is found a vast collection of flint chippings, the
material of several varieties as if brought from different localities, which are be
lieved to mark the site of an arrow and spear-head manufactory.
The articles found in mounds are of considerable variety, embracing arrow
and spear heads, stone axes, shaped and pierced fragments of stone, intended
either for ornament or as charms, earthen ware coarse and unglazed, but usually
ornamented with simple designs, earthen vessels of various sizes and forms,
beads, etc. Some pieces of copper and other minerals foreign to the locality and
evidently esteemed for their beauty and rarity have been obtained, and in a few
instances, tablets of stone have been unearthed covered with hieroglyphic char
acters, which seem from their grouping and arrangement to be designed as a
sort of record.
What was the design of these monuments? Many, most of them were un
deniably tombs, as they contain only bones and such articles as were buried with
the dead; others contain nothing and seem to have been designed as places for
lookouts; while others, no doubt, were at one time places a't which religious ex
ercises were held and where sacrifices were offered, and these we have reason to
believe were often of human beings. Are they of the same age? Certainly
not. We might as well assume that all the buildings in Whiteside County were
erected in the' same year. No people ever built all they ever constructed at
once and then ceased to work. Some of the mounds are probably of great age,
comparatively speaking, just as some of the ruins of Rome are much older than
others. Were they constructed by one or by different people? We see no rea
son to believe that any change of race took "place. The ruins of Roman origin
differ as much among themselves as the material found in mounds.

32 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Were the builders the ancestors of the present Indians? There is nothing
to prove that they were not, and some facts go to show that they were. If
skeletons are of any value as evidence, then we must admit that there is good
reason for assuming those ancient builders and the present Indians to be of the
same race. That the Indian of to-day knows nothing of the origin of these
monuments proves nothing. What does an Italian peasant know of the Coliseum
or a Thessalian Greek of the Parthenon? Yet this does not prove that the
blood of Cfesar does not flow in the veins of the one, or that of cotemporaries
of Leonidas in those of the other. Neither does this ignorance make the Coli
seum older than the Christian era or carry back the Acropolis to the age of
myth. We greatly doubt if a mound 2,000 years old exists in the United States,
and all necessity of asking for an age much greater than that of the Egyptian
pyramids vanishes when we consider the matter in the light of common sense
and fact. Nations under certain circumstances degenerate, a fact well estab
lished by history. Moors could not now build an Alhambra more than Egyptian
fellahs could erect the pylons of Karnak or hew the Sphinx. Yet we well know
that these are the works of their fathers. Investigators unfortunately gener
ally construct a theory and then search for facts to prove it, viewing each fact
captured through the microscope of prejudice and pre-possession, and of course
succeed in getting at everything but the truth.
So far the really ancient mounds have furnished but very few implements
except those formed of stone. But this by no means proves their extreme
antiquity, for all over North America at the time of the Spanish invasion of
Mexico — 1519-'21 — stone implements were used, and in some sections are yet.
That the Indians of to-day do not erect mounds, build fortresses and collect in
great cities is of no importance. It indicates a retrogression perhaps, but not
greater than has been observed among other races, and how much greater is the
change than what is observed among the Copts of Egypt? They have remained
agriculturists, because even their miserable mode of life could not be maintained
by hunting and fishing in that land. How readily has the white man taken to
this savage mode of life again and again? Moreover, the Indians of Central
America have most of them lost all traces of civilization and are now denizens
of the forest with which as with a veil Nature has covered the desolation.
The problem of the past of our continent is one of great difficulty. That a cer
tain civilization may have originated here, as Baldwin argues, is not, indeed,
impossible, but there is no evidence of its rise and growth. It is only conject
ured at best. At present the tendency of research seems to be to prove all
civilization to have come from a common source, and we think that at last we
shall find, if we are ever able to obtain decisive evidence, that this is the correct
opinion. The tale of Atalantis, Baldwin's notion of three or four successive
and almost independent growths of civilization, etc., may all be safely set aside
as so many ingenious dreams of no real value.
The flint implements, arrow heads and spear heads, that we have seen, are
of various grades of workmanship, some highly finished, others rough and clumsy.
The material differs from a fine semi-translucent horn stone to a dull oolitic chert
of two or more shades of color. The forms are very various from a kind of
spike shaped flint 1\ inches long by a \ of an inch wide with a head an inch
wide to a stout, ovate blade two inches long by 14; inches wide. It would be
easy to make out at least twenty types of these implements. The axes and
chisels are generally made of doleryte — a greenish, tough rock, or of syinite of
a grayish hue, and in a few cases of a fine flesh colored granite of great beauty.
These are in all cases beautiful specimens of workmanship. Tools apparently
used for skinning animals seem in most cases to be made of doleryte, as it retains

' ANTIQUITIES AND PRE-HISTORIC MAN. 33
an edge longer than most other stones that can be easily obtained. Pieces of
all of these are found in the drift gravels, and we believe the material used by
the ancient manufacturers was obtained from this source in a great measure.
A chert precisely like that from which some arrows are made is found in place
— that is in beds — at Utica, Illinois, and no doubt much of the flint or cherts used
here was obtained from the Niagara limestone. Mr. J. M. Williamson, of
Ustick, and W. C. Holbrook, of Genesee, have some fine specimens of these
tools in their collections.
The earthen ware is of various colors, some almost a cream tint, and from
this running through all shades to a dark brown. It is generally rough, coarse,
as to material, thick, clumsy in form, and ornamented in geometrical designs of
straight parallel lines, either of one or two series. Some specimens are how
ever of a higher type, of fine form, and skillfully modeled. It may be seen in
the collections named above. One specimen is an oblate spheroidal vessel hav
ing two mouths similar to the neck of a bottle. It is perfect, of a dark brown
color, smooth, and well made.
The beads are generally of bone or stone. They are of irregular forms,
of various sizes and were probably .worn for ornament. Circular and triangular
pieces of stone pierced with one or more holes seem to have been intended for
the same purpose, but may have been used as amulets or charms. They do not
appear to have been numerous, at least we have seen few of them.
The pieces of copper found in these tombs were probably collected from
the drift, but that at one time and for a considerable length of time it was
mined on Lake Superior cannot be doubted; and it may have been an article of
traffic among this people. Masses of it weighing several pounds have however
been obtained in the drift of both the Illinois and the Rock River.
W. C. Holbrook, Esq., of Genesee, who has thoroughly investigated the
labors of the mound builders in Whiteside County, presents his conclusions and
observations as follows: There are fifty one mounds near Albany; a large num
ber in the vicinity of Como. He has examined four mounds and two altars in
Clyde. Several groups of mounds and earthworks are to be seen on Rock River
above Sterling. Below the Sterling fair grounds are twenty-two mounds, one
of which is the largest in the county. The Albany mounds are rounded heaps
of loose sandy soil, from two to twelve feet in height, usually circular, of a
diameter five times the height. Several of the mounds are elliptical, their long
diameter parallel with the river. In these mounds have been found galena,
mica and fragments of pottery, the pottery bearing the impression of some kind
of woven or matted fabric, bone implements and various portions of human
skeletons. Dr. Farquharson, of Davenport, Iowa, by means of a comparative
table of the length of long bones, found that none of them belonged to a person
higher than six feet. In May, 1877, Mr. Holbrook examined a number of
mounds above the Catholic Cemetery, in the vicinity of Sterling, one of which
was a large mound, one of a number in a row parallel with the river. On mov
ing the clay it was found that this mound contained a Dolmen built of flat
pieces of fossiliferous limestone. The stones used were quite large. The wall
was a right angled parallelogram, twelve feet long and five wide, the foundation
laid upon clay, the wall built in an artistic manner, no cement having been
used. The inner surface was smooth and even, although the stones were
unhewn. The inside of the Dolmen revealed fragments of eight skeletons, the
bones badly decomposed. Apparently the bodies were cast into the sepulchre
promiscuously. The skulls found indicated that this people were acquainted
with the division of surgery known as " trepanning" — i. e. removing portions of
the bones of the skull, or portions of other bones, A thigh bone that had been
[C-4-]

34 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
fractured was found replaced and united in a manner that would do honor to a
surgeon of the present day. With the skulls were found a plummet, fossils
which are not found in this locality, finely black polished pebbles, and a number
of large teeth. In another mound was found an altar of burned rock, oval in
shape, long diameter six feet, short diameter four aud a half feet. The altar
was of fossiliferous limestone. Over the mounds were found a vegetable
growth of from one to ten feet and a decayed stump of a hickory tree, about
twelve inches in diameter. On and about the altars were usually found charcoal
and charred remains of human beings; also evidence of great and continued heat.
At Sterling the indications are that the body was placed upon the clay, covered
with black loam, and a great fire built over the whole. After the fire the mound
was raised. This is indicated by the thick strata of charcoal and ashes found.
As a rule the remains unearthed furnish unsatisfactory evidence. Great num
bers of perfect molar teeth are exhumed, thus certifying that pre-historic man
was unacquainted with the pangs of the toothache. In the Sterling mounds
were found stone scrapers, but very rude in design and execution. Fragments
of pottery were found, also implements made from the antlers of the elk and
deer. At Sterling is a work that many judges pronounce a fortress. The two
embankments are parallel, four rods apart, direction east and west. The south
embankment has two gateways. The north embankment is sixteen rods long
and has two gateways. The construction indicates a knowledge of the cardinal
points of the compass. This people evidently had a practical acquaintance with
astronomy, as the north star appears to have been a governing point with them.
The Mound Builders wore cloth, and dressed the hides of animals, carved
rude ornaments and engraved characters upon stone; ate food from earthen
dishes, and worshiped at altars erected upon high hills and in low valleys.
There is abundant reason for believing that human sacrifice was common with
them. Trepanned skulls are frequently met with on opening mounds, evidence
being presented that the operation was made prior to death. The superstition
of the Mound Builders seems analogous to that of the South Sea Islanders and
tribes of savages of the present day who trepan for vertigo, neuralgia, etc.,
believing that these complaints are demons in the head that should be let out.
Metal was worked in an imperfect manner by the people. Galena was a promi-
inent ornament. Mr. J. M. Williamson, of Ustick, says these charms are found
in the northwestern part of the county. Copper was apparently the king of
metals among the Mound Builders. Anatomically considered the Mound Builders
were no larger nor stronger than the men of the present day. Their skulls differ
widely from the Indian or Caucasian, and have been thus described: " The
frontal bone recedes backwards from a prominent supercilliary ridge, leaving no
forehead, or rather the eye looks out from under the frontal plate, very similar
to a turtle shell, and no more elevated." Their jaws were protruding, promi
nent and wide. The evidence is that the Mound Builders were a half-civilized
agricultural people, prominently differing from the Indians in manner of burial
and habits of life. The scientifically developed fact that bones undergo great
changes by age, as applied by Dr. Farquharson and Mr. Holbrook, prove the
great antiquity of the bones found in the mounds of this county. Lack of
space precludes the presentation of the interesting and conclusive table show
ing the results of their examination of the bones.
In relation to the Stone Age of Whiteside County, Mr. Holbrook says that
stone implements are occasionally found in all parts of the county. The num
ber of implements found in some localities indicate that primitive man lived in
villages, and that each village had at least one arrow maker. The men of the
Stone Age evidently admired the beautiful and sublime in nature, for the sites.

INDIAN HISTORY. 35
of their ancient villages are in the most picturesque and grand localities in the
county. In one of these villages in the south-western part of the town of
Genesee, eighty-four arrow heads and spear points were found while plowing an
acre of ground. A number of small, sharp and triangular pieces of. flint that
had perhaps been used for " teeth " of war-clubs were also found. In another
village, on the farm of Mr. Deyo in the town of Clyde, we find the number of
domestic implements to greatly exceed that of the weapons. More than one
hundred scrapers, a number of stone hoes, several corn pestles, and some imple
ments of doubtful or unknown uses, have been found here. Mr. _ Deyo plowed
up about twenty scrapers that had been carefully buried near the roots of a
large white oak; only a small portion of the decayed stump of the once vener
able oak now remains. Some of the scrapers found in this " nest " are very
interesting on account of being but half finished and revealing the method of
their manufacture. The implement maker — for some were undoubtedly devoted
to that business — found, or broke from some larger piece of flint or horn stone,
a flat piece of rock; he then began to break off small flakes near the edges on
one side, finishing it before he began to chip off the other side; when finished
these scrapers were oval in form, about four inches long and two and one-half
broad, one side convex resembling in shape a turtle shell, the opposite side
nearly flat or slightly concave. Stone hoes somewhat resemble the scraper in
form; they are, however, longer, less oval, edge upon one end instead of the
side, and the end opposite the edge smooth for the hand; they had no handles.
Pestles for crushing corn are about eight inches in length and two inches in
diameter. Fish spears are sometimes found among the pebbles in the bottoms
of the smaller streams; unfortunately many of these specimens are broken, so
it is not an easy matter to determine their prevailing form. Broken arrow
' heads and spear points are sometimes found. Arrow heads once broken and
chipped -into specimens of different forms have been found; others bear evidence
of having been broken at the point and afterwards repaired. Implements for
dressing hides have been found; a good specimen of this class of implements
was found by J. M. Williamson, in Ustick; it is a small oval boulder about eight
inches in diameter and two inches thick; on one side there is a flat and very
smoothly polished surface. The materials from which the implements of the
Stone Age are manufactured are all found in the drift of Whiteside County,
There are, however, several exceptions: a pipe of the Minnesota pipe-stone has
been found in Genesee, and a spear head of a peculiar quality of quartzite found
at Devil's Lake, Wisconsin, has been picked up in Clyde. Arrow heads were
made from almost every variety of horn-stone; a few were made of milky
quartz, and one in the collection of J. M. Williamson is pure yellow jasper.
Stone axes weighing from four ounces to thirteen pounds have been found. An
ax in the collection of Mr. Holbrook weighs eleven pounds, and is unfinished,
Large quantities of flint chippings are found in some localities; they prove that
the arrow-makers understood the conchroidal fracture and planes of cleavage
of the materials used. Some specimens are very rude and imperfect, others are
¦perfect and exhibit great skill; some appear to be very ancient, for their sur
faces are weathered or corroded by the tooth of time.
Indian History.
A part of a chapter devoted to the race of people who inhabited the lands
now embraced in Whiteside County, prior to and for some time after the advent
of the white man, is appropriate and necessarily connected with the subsequent
history, of the lands, settlers, etc., of the county. The history of the men,
savage and uncivilized though they were, who once peopled the lands now the

36 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
property of the white man, is of peculiar interest; a people who lived happily
on the banks of the gleaming Sinnissippi, its beautiful tributaries, and the roll
ing Mississippi, wandered at will through the magnificent forests and over the
boundless prairies, of whom but a miserable remnant now remain on distant res
ervations, where through the influences of disease, changed habits, and vices,
introduced by the civilized whites, they are rapidly passing away.
The Rock River Valley, with its forests and prairies abounding in game,
and streams teeming with fish, was always the favorite home of the red man,
and to it he clung tenaciously, the Sacs and Foxes in 1831-32 waging a fierce
war, known in history as the "Black Hawk War," before they would all consent
to leave their lands and villages and cross the Mississippi. Portions of the
Winnebago tribe remained as late as 1838, and for years afterwards straggling
parties of them occasionally appeared to once more view their old hunting
grounds. By the treaty of 1804, the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States all
the lands between the mouths of the Illinois and Wisconsin rivers. In 1816,
that portion of the territory lying north of a line drawn west of the southern
extremity of Lake Michigan, which would be on the line of the present south
ern boundary of Whiteside County, was retroceded by the Government to the
Ottowa.s, Chippewas and Pottawattomies. The Winnebagoes were not included
in the grant. Subsequently a war broke out among the tribes in regard to
boundaries, and the United States Commissioners interposed to adjust the
differences. • By the new arrangement the rights of the Winnebagoes were
recognized. They had been in the country for years, and firmly maintained the
land belonged to them.
The Sacs and Foxes who, under Black Hawk, refused to cross the Missis
sippi, and by other acts provoked a war, were originally of the Algonquin tribe,
turbulent and warlike. In early times they lived east of Detroit. They were
driven west and settled at Saginaw. Thence they were forced to Green Bay by
the Iroquois. Finally the latter tribe, and the Winnebagoes, forced them to
the Fox river. In the early part of the eighteenth century they made war upon
the French, who with the Monominees and Chippewas, drove them to the Wis
consin river. In 1804, several chiefs of the Sacs and Foxes sold lands, extending
700 miles along the Mississippi river, for $2,234.50 and an annuity of $1,000.
Black Hawk refused to recognize the arrangement, asserting the chiefs were
drunk when they signed the compact, and influenced by cheap presents. The
tribes sided with the British during the war of 1812, and in 1816 made peace
at Fort Armstrong, where Rock Island now is, by which large bodies of land
were ceded and the treaty of 1804 ratified. This treaty was signed by Black
Hawk. The treaty of 1804 had divested the Sacs and Foxes of their title to
the Rock River country. A treaty was again entered into in 1830, by which
they were ' to remove from the lands they had sold to the Government, and
peaceably retire west of the Mississippi, the treaty of 1804 provided that so
long as the lands remained the property of the .United States the Indians should
enjoy the privilege of living and hunting thereon.
In 1829 a few sections of land were sold near the mouth of Rock River,
apparently with the object of having the government title to the lands pass into
the hands of private individuals, thus furnishing a pretext for removing the
Indians westward. The settlers were guilty of many excesses toward the
Indians, and preferred grave charges against them. The site of the celebra
ted Indian village near the mouth of Rock River was surveyed and sold. All
this had its effect upon Black Hawk, and, inspired by his natural hatred of
the Americans, his love for his native village, and believing that he had been

INDIAN HISTORY. 37
imposed upon, he resolved upon war. He represented to his tribe that their
rights to the soil were inalienable, and the previous cessions and treaties null
and void. In 1831 Black Hawk re-crossed the river with his women, children and
three hundred warriors. The Chief by signing the treaty of 1816 had ratified
that of 1804, but he was bent upon war, and ordered the settlers away, killed
their cattle and otherwise injured their property. Gov. Reynolds called for
seven hundred troops from the northern and eastern counties of the State, and
sixteen hundred responded. This force soon appeared at Rock Island, and
Black Hawk and his band fled across the river. Upon a threat to pursue him
across the Mississippi the Chief and his braves sued for peace and then entered
into a treaty to forever remain on the west side of the river, and to never
recross it without permission from the President, or Governor of the State.
The ancient Indian village was burned to the ground.
Despite the treaty Black Hawk and the disaffected Indians recrossed the
river in 1832. The greater part of the nation remained on the west side, being
restrained by Keokuk, a friend of the whites, who was wise enough to for-
see that it would be ruinous to enter upon the plans of Black Hawk. Black
Hawk, after crossing the Mississippi, marched up Rock River into the country
of the Poftawatamies and Winnebagoes, hoping to induce them to unite in the
war with him. Previous to this the Chief second in command to Black Hawk,
had consulted Wa-bo-kies-shiek, or White Cloud, the Winnebago prophet, who
had informed him that the British, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawatamies and
Winnebagoes would assist his tribe in regaining their village and lands. This
prophet resided in a village named " Prophet's town," located near where the
town of Prophetstown now stands, and whieh gave the place its name. This
prophet had much influence. He was a shrewd man, and by his prophetic pre
tensions easily imposed upon his people. He is described in 1831 as being
about forty years of age, a stout, fine looking Indian. A full and flowing suit
of hair graced his head, which was surmounted by a fantastic white head-dress
several inches in height, resembling a turban, emblematic of his profession.
He claimed that one of his parents was a Sac, the other a Winnebago. This
prophet was captured with Black Hawk after the latter's defeat in Wisconsin.
He is believed to have been one of the chief instigators of the war.
Upon the second invasion of Black Hawk a large force of volunteers were
called out, and put under the command of Gen. Samuel Whiteside, after whom
this county is named. The regulars were under Gen. Atkinson. The volun
teers marched up Rock River and burned Prophetstown, thence continued their
march to Dixon. A slight engagement took place in Ogle County where the-
volunteers rendered themselves famous by the rapidity of their retreat. Dur
ing the summer two thousand volunteers were called for and sent to the fron
tier, making the whole volunteer force three thousand two hundred, besides
three companies of rangers. The object of the large force being to overawe the
Winnebagoes, who were disposed to join Black Hawk. This force steadily
pressed Black Hawk's party up the river, and through the present State of
Wisconsin, to near the mouth of the Bad Axe, on the Mississippi, when Gen.
Henry, in command of the volunteers, with the assistance of the regulars under
Gen. Atkinson, nearly exterminated the band about August 1st, 1832. Black
Hawk with about twenty followers, and the Winnebago Prophet, escaped and
fled. Gen. Street informed the Winnebago Chiefs that if they would pursue,
and bring in Black Hawk and the Prophet, the Government would hold them as
friends. The Winnebagoes had been treacherous to the whites, Winnesheik,
one of their chiefs, with his sons, participating in the battle of Bad Axe. A
small party of Winnebagoes and Sioux started in pursuit of the fugitives, and

38 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
soon captured them near the Dalles on the Wisconsin River. Black Hawk and
his son, Naapape, Wishick and the Prophet, were held as hostages for the
good behavior of the hostile Indians. The Chiefs were confined until 1833 in
Fortress Monroe, when by order of the President they were returned to their
own country. They passed through many of the principal cities and attracted
much attention. At the close of the war a treaty was made by which the Sacs
and Foxes ceded large bodies of lands for an annuity of $20,000 for twenty
years. They were removed to the neighborhood of Des Moines. By the treaty
of 1842 they were removed to the Osage River country in 1849. In 1859 and
1868 they ceded their lands in Kansas to the Government. In 1872 they num
bered four hundred and sixty-three. The tribes are scattered in Nebraska and
Kansas, there being a small number in Iowa who are partially civilized, raise
crops and stock, and are industrious farm laborers.
Black Hawk was a Sac, born at the ancient village of his tribe in 1768,
and died at an Indian village on the Des Moines in 1838. He refused to rec
ognize the cession of lands made in 1804, but ratified the treaty in 1816. He
declined to give up his village in 1831, and engaged in acts that caused the
war heretofore detailed. He always sided with the English interests, and he,
and his band, known as the British Band, received an annual sum- for many
years after the war of 1812 from the English Government. Black Hawk was
an intelligent and brave Indian, and caused the United States much trouble.
He was very patriotic and warmly attached to his home. His last speech con
tained the following words: " Rock River was a beautiful country. I like my
towns and my corn fields, and the home of my people; I fought for it; it is
now yours. It will produce you good crops." Black Hawk disregarded the
treaties, yet he suffered many grievous wrongs, and believed war was his only
hope of redress.
It is proper in treating of the Indian History in connection with that of
the County to briefly sketch the Winnebago tribe, the former occupants of
Whiteside County. The Winnebagoes were a tribe of the Dakota family, for
merly numerous and powerful, and ruled by terror over the neighboring Algon
quin tribes. Early in the seventeenth century a general alliance was formed of
other tribes, and they attacked the Winnebagoes who were driven into one town,
where their warriors suffered great slaughter. After this the tribe was small,
but haughty and turbulent. In 1812 they took sides with the English. In
1820 the Winnebagoes had five principal villages on Lake Winnebago and four
teen on Rock River. Treaties in 1826-27 fixed their boundaries, but their land
containing rich lead mines, which some of the Indians refused to sell, led to
white intrusion and murders, and Red Bird, with others, was seized and con
victed. In 1829, for $300,000 in goods and a 30 year annuity of $18,000 they,
under Heretshonsarp, ceded lands from the Wisconsin to Rock river.
The Winnebago Prophet, White Cloud, as will be seen by the sketch of
the Black Hawk war, supported the Sacs and Foxes, and projects were formed
for the removal of the Winnebagoes. By a treaty made September, 1832, they
ceded all lands south of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, 2,530,000 acres, the
United States agreeing to give them a reservation on the Mississippi above the
Upper Iowa, and pay them $10,000 for 27 years, maintain schools, etc. They
became unsettled and wasteful, and in 1837 made provision for a debt of $150,000
by ceding more land. In 1842 there were seven hundred and fifty-six of them
at Turkey river in Iowa, with as many in Wisconsin and smaller .bands else
where. All had become roving. By the treaty of Washington in 1846, they
surrendered their former reservation of 800,000 acres north of the' St. Peters
for $195,000. The site to which they were removed above the Wataub, west

INDIAN HISTORY, 39
of the upper Mississippi, was totally unfit, and they lost largely by disease, but
were kept there by force. In 1853 they were removed to Crow river, and by
the treaty of 1856 they were again removed to Blue Earth County, Minn.
Here the tribe was more settled, but when the Sioux war broke out the people
of Minnesota demanded their removal, and in 1863 they were disarmed and re
moved to Crow, Creek above Ft. Randall in Dakota. This place was utterly
unsuited, offering no means of livelihood, and surrounded by wild Indians.
Although troops tried to keep them there, 1,985 succeeded in reaching the
Omaha reservation where they appealed for shelter. They had lost largely by
famine and disease. In 1866 they were transferred to Winnebago, Nebraska,
where all had to be commenced anew. In 1869 they were assigned to the care
of the Friends, their chiefs deposed and others elected. Lands were allotted to
such as wished to take up farms. In 1874 there were in Nebraska 1,445 with
farms, cottages and stock; they had three schools and dressed like the whites.
The Winnebagoes left in Juneau, Adams and Wood Counties, Wisconsin, num
bered nearly 1,000. In the winter of 1873-74 they were mostly removed to
Nebraska, a smaller tract of 128,000 acres near the main reservation being
purchased for them, but most of them deserted as soon as they reached the
reservation. The Catholics and Presbyterians have tried at various times to
christianize them, but with poor results.

CHAPTER III.
Civil War of 1861-'65 — History of Regiments.

The Civil War of 1861-'65.
The History of Whiteside County would be incomplete without a chapter
upon the part borne by the county in the great struggle between the North and
the South. It is the duty of the Historian to chronicle the deeds of the brave
men in the field and of the patriotic women and men who, away from the din
and smoke of battle, assisted with money, and encouragement, to bring success
to the armies.
The gun fired upon Fort Sumter April 11th, 1861, was echoed in Whiteside
to the most remote farm house; the loyal blood of the citizens was stirred to
its depths, and they at once prepared to afford the State and National Govern
ments substantial evidence of their loyalty. Almost immediately the recruiting
of men was commenced. Meetings were held in the different towns, patriotic
speeches were made, strains of martial music floated upon the air, and every
where the National banner was displayed, and the people of Whiteside County
solemnly resolved to stand or fall by the principles of the fathers of the Gov
ernment. The following, resolutions, adopted in mass meeting of the citizens of
Morrison, Monday, April 21, 1861, will serve as an index to the popular feeling
at that time:
Whereas, It is understood that there are those in our midst who are disloyal to
the Union, and who are in league and sympathy with the traitors against the Govern
ment, therefore
Resolved, That we will hold all sympathizers with the traitors, whether North or
South, as enemies to our country, and will deal with them accordingly.
Resolved, That the citizens of Morrison are hereby requested to display the Union
flag as an emblem of their loyalty to the Government, and of their allegiance to its
authority. Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the Chairman whose duty it
shall be to wait upon any who do not comply with the above resolutions, and if such
individuals are found to be in sympathy with traitors or in any way engaged in aiding
or abetting treason, then it shall be the duty of said committee to give such individuals
twenty-four hours notice to leave the town.
Resolved, That in the case of the refusal of such person or persons to leave town
after such notice shall have been served on them, then the committee shall call to their
aid any assistance they may require to enable them to enforce said notice, and that the
citizens of this town will not be responsible for any violence or damage that may be
done them or their property.
Within two weeks after the firing upon Fort Sumpter Whiteside County
had companies fully enlisted, and the enthusiasm of the people was unbounded,
the all absorbing topic being "the war."
The Board of Supervisors of the county, in session at the April term, 1861,
unanimously adopted the annexed resolutions:
Whereas, This Board deems it proper in view of the distracted condition of public
affairs, the great peril which threatens our beloved country, and the new duties which
current events impose upon loyal citizens, to give public expression to the patriotic senti
ments of the people of this community, therefore be it

CIVIL WAR OF i86i-'6s. 41
Resolved, That over-looking and forgetting all past political parties and differences,
the people of Whiteside County renew their pledges of devotion and fidelity to the Gov
ernment of our fathers, and to the flag of our country consecrated by "the blood of
patriots, and hallowed by the thousand glorious recollections of the past.
Resolved, That the Government of our fathers inaugurated by the Declaration of
Independence, and consummated by the War of the Revolution was not made for a
day but for all time to come; that we will transmit the glorious inheritance to our pos
terity, to endure as long as patriotism and virtue are held in grateful remembrance, and
the blood of heroes runs in the veins of their descendants.
Resolved, That the Constitution of the United States having been adopted and
ratified by the people of the original States and accepted by those which subsequently
became parties to it, formed of many, one Sovereignty, vested in all the people of the
United States and binding upon all, and that all attempts by a portion of the people
against the will of the majority to throw off the common obligations of the Constitution
by an appeal to arms is unauthorized and unjust to all others, and all who engage in any
such measures are traitors to all Republican Governments and Democratic institutions.
Resolved, That the people of Whiteside County endorse and applaud the patriotic
stand taken by our Government, State and Nation, for the maintenance of the authority
of the laws and constitution, for avenging the insult offered to our flag at Fort Sumpter,
and for making traitors, degenerate sons of noble sires, feel the power of a brave and
free people, and they will sustain and support the constituted authorities in all measures
directed to those ends, with all the ability which Heaven has given them to do and to
suffer. Measures were promptly taken to provide assistance for volunteers and
their families, and to this end the Board of Supervisors adopted the following
resolutions; Resolved, That the people of Whiteside County do, without regard to party, unani
mously pledge to the Governor of this State the entire resources of our county for the
defense of our State and Uniqn, and that we will pledge the entire credit of our county
to furnish men or money as the Government may require.
Resolved, That we do hereby appropriate a fund of $20,000 to be placed in the
hands of five commissioners, to be appointed by our Chairman, to be used for the sup
port of needy families of volunteers while said volunteers are engaged in the service of
their country.
In 1861 the Legislature passed what is known as the "Ten Regiment
Bill." Under this aet the 13th Illinois Infantry was organized, the first three
year regiment from the State. Within two weeks two companies were recruited
in Whiteside County for the 13th: Company B. by Major D. R. Bushnell, of
Sterling, and Company G. by Captain Geo. M. Cole, of Morrison. As hostili
ties progressed the interest of the citizens grew apace and at a meeting of the
Board of Supervisors it was decided to pay the board of volunteers from the
date of their enlistment until mustered into the service. During the summer
of 1861 recruiting for the army went on briskly and companies were formed in
the county for the 34th Regiment of Infantry and the 8th Regiment of Cavalry;
also for the 46th Infantry. In 1861 a large number of citizens of the county
enlisted in the 2nd, 4th, 9th, 12th and 13th Cavalry, also fifteen or twenty men
in the 33d Infantry, and about the same number in the 39th regiment; Homer
A. Plimpton, of Sterling, was Major of the latter regiment. Soldiers from the
county also enlisted in the 12th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 27th, 37th, 50th, 51st, 57th,
58th and 64th regiments of Infantry in 1861. In the fall of 1861 Company F. of
the 52nd regiment, was recruited principally from Fulton and Albany townships.
The Sturgis Rifles, Fremont's Body Guard, Barker Dragoons, First and Second
Artillery, Cogswell's and Henshaw's Batteries, the Fusilleers, Gunboat and
Naval service and Iowa regiments contained a large number of men from White
side County. The women were equally as earnest and enthusiastic as their husbands,
fathers, sons and brothers. "Soldiers' Aid and Relief Societies " were organized
[D-5-]

42 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
in the towns and townships of the county, with proper officers and a systematic
plan for providing the volunteers in the field and hospitals with necessaries and
luxuries of life so urgently demanded. Clothing, bed-clothing, cots, slippers,
books, papers, writing paper, and hundreds of delicacies as well as thousands of-
dollars in money were sent to the army from Whiteside County. The ladies of
the county worked nobly and lent a mighty impulse to the men in the field. It
is impossible to fully estimate the force exerted by the women of the Nation in
crushing out the rebellion, and as a part of the women of the north, the women
of Whiteside County won undying honor worthy to be ranked with the glory
gained by the armies on the battle ground.
July 6, 1862 the President issued a call for 300,000 men to serve three
years, and at once the citizens of the county responded. Still later, in August,
300,000 additional men were called for, and it being believed a draft would be
necessary, the Secretary of War ordered an immediate enrollment of the militia.
Whiteside County determined to fill her quota by volunteers, and as it was
necessary to accomplish this before August 15th, work was earnestly com
menced. The Board of Supervisors was petitioned to pass an order paying each
volunteer $100.00 bounty. August 5, the Board resolved to pay each man who
should enlist under the call $60.00. War meetings were held in all parts of the
county and recruiting officers were indefatigable in their efforts to enlist men.
Stirring speeches were made and citizens at the meetings offered liberal pre
miums to the first, second and third man who should volunteer, while others
pledged themselves to pay a stipulated sum a month to the families of those
who should enter the service. A wave of patriotism swept over the county,
and in a few days the quota of 359 men was filled, and still men offered
themselves. The words of Adjutant General Fullei: apply perfectly to White
side County : "These volunteers must come from the farmers and mechanics of
the State. The farmers were in the midst of harvest, and it is no exaggeration
to say that inspired by a holy zeal, animated by a common impulse, and firmly
resolved upon rescuing the Government from the brink of ruin and restoring it
to the condition our fathers left it, that over 50,000 of them left their harvests
ungathered, their tools and their benches, the plows in the furrows, and turning
their backs upon their homes, before eleven days expired met the demands of
the Government and filled both quotas. Proud indeed was the day for
Illinoians, and when the Historian shall record the eventful days of August,
1862, no prouder record can be erected to the honor and memory of a free people
than a plain and full narrative of actual realities."
In 1862 the 75th Illinois Regiment was recruited in Whiteside and Lee
counties, the former county furnishing five companies which were rendezvoused
at Dixon. Company F. of the 93d Illinois Regiment was also enlisted in the
county during the summer of 1862. August, 1862 the county had furnished
1,600 men for the war, two-fifths of the voting population. During that
month a statement was published that Erie with a voting population never
exceeding 120 had furnished 70 volunteers. To provide for the bounties of
soldiers and meet the heavy expenses entailed by the war taxed the county to
its utmost, and at the September meeting of the Board of Supervisors resolu
tions were adopted by which a committee was dispatched to Chicago to effect a
loan of $40,000. Even the dogs were compelled to do their share, as the
revenue derived from the taxation was ordered paid into the "Relief Fund for
Soldiers' Families." Money was so stringent that in 1861-62 the merchants
issued their personal "script" in fractions of one dollar. This paper was known
as "shin-plasters," It served its purpose, and assisted in "tiding" over until a
more substantial currency came into circulation,

CIVIL WAR OF i86i-'6s. 43
In the latter part of 1863 and spring of 1864 large bodies of men were
furnished from Whiteside County to fill the thinned ranks of the regiments in
the field. In 1864 a large proportion of the men whose terms of service had
nearly expired re-enlisted for three years or during the war. In 1864 the
President issued a call for 100,000 men to serve one-hundred days in garrison
duty to relieve the volunteers who were demanded for a grand forward move
ment. The call fell principally on the west and northwestern states. The
County of Whiteside voted $25.00 to each man who should enlist under the call.
In a few days two full companies and nearly half of a third were recruited in
the county. Company A, 81 men, Company B, 83 men, and Company D, Fulton
Cadets, members of the college of that town. The companies were assigned to the
140th Regiment. The regimental officers from Whiteside County were M. W.
Smith, Lieut. Col., L.E. B. Holt, Adjutant, and W. A. Lipe, Chaplain. Officers,
Company A — J.A.Morgan, Captain; Charles M. Worthington and Benj. Gurtisen,
Lieutenants. Company B — Charles W. Hills, Captain. George H. Fay and
Erastus Fuller, Lieutenants.
At the September meeting of the Board of Supervisors it was decided to
pay all men who should enlist under the call for 500,000 men a bounty of
$200.00, and at the same meeting $10,000 was appropriated for the relief of
the families of volunteers. Up to 1864, the county had furnished one hundred
men for every 100,000 called for, and was drained of able bodied men to such an
extent that it was with difficulty that the crops were gathered. September 27th,
1864, the county owed 87 men and a draft was appointed for October 5th. To evade
this, subscription papers were circulated and large sums raised to be added to
the $200.00 bounty of the county. Mt. Pleasant subscribed $3,000 which was
apportioned among seven men owed on quota. Other towns were equally
liberal, and all escaped the conscription except Hahnaman, at that time a
sparsely settled and financially #poor township. Three citizens were drafted.
The only conscription suffered by Whiteside County during the long and ex
hausting war.
The last call for troops, 300,000, was made December 19th, 1864. The
quota of Whiteside County under this call was 250 men. It was thought to be
an impossibility to raise this number of men from the able bodied population of
the county, and a draft was considered inevitable, and so published by the
county press, yet the citizens resolved to honor the call of the Nation with
volunteers, and at the December term of the Board of Supervisors a bounty of
$500.00 to each man who should enlist was voted, and at the February term an
additional $100.00. The different townships also voted a tax sufficient to pay
each volunteer $1 00.00. Recruiting was vigorously prosecuted and by untiring
efforts the quota was filled and the conscription averted. In addition to the
men sent to the old regiments in the field 81 men were enlisted f or Company B,
147th Regiment, also a large number for Co. G, 156th Regiment, was recruited
in the county.
In 1865 the war closed, recruiting was ordered to cease, the armies were
mustered out, and the men returned to their homes and usual avocations. In
1860 the population of Whiteside County was 18,729. In 1863 the enrollment
was 3,328 ; in 1864, 3,338 ; and in 1865, 3,338. The quota of the county in
1861 was 525 men; in 1862, 359 men ; March 4, 1864, 726 men ; July 18,
1864, 519 men. Total quota prior to December 31, 1864, 2,129 men. Total
credits prior to December 31, 1864, 2,019 men. The county's deficit December
31, 1864, was 110 men. December 31, 1865, the assigned quota of the
county was 520 men ; Total quota of the county December 31, 1865, 2,539,

44 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Total credit under last call, 516. Entire credit during the war, 2,535 men.
Deficit under all calls during the war, 4 men.
The expenses of the war were enormous and taxation necessarily high.
The indebtedness caused by the Rebellion to Whiteside County was $529,402,17.
Fortunately it was resolved to pay the indebtedness at once, during the times
of high prices for produce, and abundance of money, as was the case at the
close of hostilities. September, 1867, 70 per cent of the debt of the county
was paid and every order of the county stood at par. In a few years the entire
indebtedness was paid, and the treasury plentifully supplied with money. To
the citizens of the county who urged and secured immediate payment of the
war debt, the tax payers owe a debt of gratitude.
To complete the narrative of Whiteside County's part in the great struggle
it will be proper to briefly sketch the salient points of the campaigns of the
regiments in which the county was represented by campaigns :
History of Regiments.

8th Illinois Cavalry.
This regiment was recruited in Northern Illinois, and organized at St.
Charles, Kane County, in September, 1861, and mustered the 18th day of the
same month. Company C. was raised for the regiment by D. R. Clendenin, then a
citizen of Morrison, who was afterwards Major and Lieutenant Colonel of the
organization and promoted Brevet Brigadier General. The Company was com
manded by Alpheus Clark, of Lyndon, until May 24, 1863, when he was pro
moted Major. He was wounded at the battle of Beverly Ford, Virginia, June
9, 1863, from the effects of which he died July 5, 1863. The Company com
manders, after the promotion of Captain Clark, were Daniel D. Lincoln and
Porteus J. Kennedy. The First Lieutenants were John C. Mitchell, Truman
Culver and Delos P. Martin. Second Lieutenants: Clarence N. McLemore
and Charles S. Gilbert. The latter officer was mortally wounded in the defences
of Washington and died July 12, 1864.
The entire county was represented in Company C. Whiteside also fur
nished men to Companies G. H. and I. In October the regiment proceeded to
Washington, where the men were subjected to drill and discipline for about
two months, then transferred to Alexandria, Virginia, where the winter was
passed. While lying here Company C. lost Asa W. Shelby, Joy T. Canfield,
W. J. Davis, John Porter and Rollin C. Sholes, by disease. March 10, 1862, the
Eighth, as a portion of Gen. Sumner's division, of the grand army, joined the
advance on Manassas, and saw its first fighting on the Rappahannock River in
April. May 4, 1862, the regiment was moved to Williamsburg, and assigned
to Gen. Stoneman's Light Brigade. The battle of Williamsburg was participa-
in by the Eighth. During the eventful days of the Peninsular Campaign, the
'•Big Abolition Regiment,'' as President Lincoln named the Eighth, nobly per
formed its duty. June 26, 1862, six companies met the enemy under Gen.
Jackson, at Mechanicsville, and had a stubborn fight. While on the Chicka-
hominy the regiment was complimented by Gen. Sumner. A New York officer
enquired of the General how far to the front he should go, and was answered —
" As far as you dare go, and you will find the Eighth Illinois Cavalry ahead
stealing horses." When the change of base was made by the army, the regi
ment did most important duty. At Gaines' Hill4, Dispatch Station and Malvern
Hill, the Eighth won new laurels. It was in the extreme rear of the army and
was engaged in an almost continuous skirmish with the advancing Confederate

HISTORY OF REGIMENTS. 45
cavalry. At the time of the second occupation of Malvern Hill the regiment
led the advance, and did heavy fighting. John Duggan, of Company C, was
killed in the battle, and Lieut. Col. Gamble severely wounded. When the Fed
eral army retreated from Barrett's Ford the Eighth hovered upon the rear and
were the last to cross the river. The " Peninsular Campaign" was a failure,
and the regiment, with other troops, was shipped from Yorktown and arrived at
their starting point, Alexandria, September 1st, 1862. September 4th, the
order to " march" came, and the Eighth filed across the Potomac. At Pools-
ville, Maryland, the enemy were again met, and a dashing fight resulted. At
Monocacy Church the regiment captured the colors of the Twelfth Virginia
Rebel Cavalry. The Eighth went through the hard fights of Barnsville, Sugar
Loaf Mountain, South Mountain and Boonsboro, winning new glory. At South
Mountain the fight was hand to hand between the Eighth and Fitzhugh Lee's
rebel troopers. In these engagements the regiment captured two guns and two
hundred prisoners. At Antietam the Eighth was engaged prominently, and
was in the advance of the Potomac army, and was engaged at Philemont, Union-
town, Upperville, Borbee's Cross Roads, Little Washington and Amesville.
The regiment arrived at Falmouth November 23, 1862. November 15, 1862,
Chas. F. Brauer, of Company C, accidentally shot himself while cleaning his
pistol. The Eighth was engaged at Fredericksburg and crossed the pontoons
under a heavy fire. It was on the left flank of the army across the Peninsula
and up the Rappahannock to Port Conway, when it was moved to Dumfries.
Loss, up to this time, twenty-seven killed, seventy-one wounded, twenty
missing. During the campaign of 1863, the regiment was actively employed, and
was engaged at Sulphur Springs, Warrenton, Rapidan, Northern Neck, Borstly
Ford, Upperville, Fairville, Pa., Gettysburg, Williamsburg, Md., Boonsboro,
Funktown, Falling Water, Chester Gap, Sandy Hook, Culpepper, Brandy Sta
tion, and in the raid from Dumphries to Falmouth, Pony Mountain, Raccoon
Ford, Liberty Mills, Manassas, Warrentown Junction, Roxleysville, Mitchell's Sta
tion and Ely's Ford. Loss in campaign, twenty-three killed, one hundred and six
teen wounded, thirty-seven missing. The Eighth commenced the campaign of 1864
with ranks recruited, and rendered good service in the defences of Washington,
at Frederick City, and on the Monocacy. A number of fights occurred with
Gen. Early and the guerrillas of Mosby. Many rebel prisoners were picked up
and property destroyed, and the regiment was actively engaged in the pursuit
of the assassin of President Lincoln. Col. Clendenin, of the regiment, was
appointed one of the court to try the conspirators. The Eighth was mustered
out of service at Benton Barracks, Missouri, July 17, 1865.
The Eighth furnished a large number of staff officers, twenty-two officers
for colored regiments, three colonels, two majors, two surgeons, and a number
of captains for other Illinois regiments; also two full Brigadier Generals and
five Brigadiers by Brevet. Officers from the Eighth also entered the regular
army at the close of the war, one of them being Gen. Clendenin, now major of
the Eighth U. S. Regular Cavalry. The ranks of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry
were generally well filled, and the aggregate strength was 2,412 men. The
men of Company C, in addition to those mentioned heretofore, who died in the
service, were Jas. E. Wilson, died of disease, 1862, Thos. Freek, died at Erie,
Illinois, 1865, Joseph Reed, killed at Piedmont, Virginia, October 9, 1864, Ezra
F. Sands, died of wounds at Stevensburg, Virginia, October 11, 1863, Adam
Cornrad, died of wounds July 11, 1863, H. B. Meyers, died at Union Grove,
Illinois, January 2, 1864, Alf. Beardsworth, died at Fairfax Court House, Vir
ginia, January 23, 1865, J. W. Heaton, died at Giesboro Point, April 27, 1864,

46 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Austin Martin, died at Frederick City, October 15, 1862, and T. W.Perkins, at
St. Charles, Illinois, April, 1864.
The original Company C. numbered ninety-seven men, every man of whom
was from Whiteside County. In 1864, forty-nine of the men re-enlisted.
Eighty-six men were recruited for the company during the war, in addition to
the original muster. The total enlistment for the company from Whiteside
County was 172 men exclusive of officers. The county was well represented in
other companies of the regiment. 13th Illinois Infantry
Was organized under the "Ten Regiment Bill," at Dixon, Illinois, and
mustered into service May 24th, 1861. The rebel disturbances called for prompt
action at St Louis and in Missouri, and the Thirteenth was ordered to Casey-
ville, June 16th, and July 6th to Rollo, Missouri, October 10th to Springfield,
Missouri, and November 10th, back to Rollo where it wintered. The regiment
was given but little opportunity to distinguish itself, but a detachment man
aged to get into the Wilson Creek fight. In March, 1862, the Thirteenth started
upon its "big march," going to Pea Ridge, Arkansas, thence to Batesville, thence
to Helena, Arkansas. Apparently the most circuitous routes were travelled,
and it is estimated that the soldiers "measured 1,200 miles with their legs."
December 22d, 1862, the Thirteenth left Helena for Vicksburg by steamer,
and December 26th,. landed on Yazoo River fifteen miles from its mouth near
Vicksburg and commenced skirmishing with the rebels. December 27th, ap
proached Vicksburg and met the enemy. December 28th, was in the hard
fought battle of Chickasaw Bayou, where Col. Wyman was killed. December
29th, the brigade to which the Thirteenth was attached made a terrible charge
upon the Confederate works and carried the first line, but being unsupported
were obliged to fall back. They lost 160 men killed, wounded and missing.
Company G went into the fight with fifty men and lost twenty-three, nine
killed, ten wounded and four missing. The killed of Company G were T. J.
Kennedy, John E. Hayes, Thomas Riley, LaFayette DeGroot, Thomas
Comstock, J. D. Sperry, Frank D. Johnson, John C. Richards and Alvin Bar
tholomew. The Thirteenth evacuated the Yazoo with other forces December
31st, 1862. Then went up Arkansas River and was engaged at Arkansas Post,
January 11th, 1863. Returning to Vicksburg, went on the Green River expedition
and had a running fight of four days with the rebel General Forrest. The reg
iment afterwards lay at Young's Point, opposite Vicksburg, until spring, working
upon the "famous canal," and when the fleet ran the blockade, with the army
marched down on the Louisiana side and crossed the river at Grand Gulf. May
13th, 1863, the regiment was specially selected to go on a secret expedition in
the night, to establish communication between the 13th and 15th corps ; in
this it was successful, although passing very near 1,400 confederates. May
14th, the 13th saw fighting at Raymond and Jackson, Mississippi, and at
Champion Hills. After returning to Vicksburg, engaged in assaults upon the
fortifications until the surrender. Was in the Jackson campaign when Joe.
Johnston was besieged two weeks, and then destroyed railroads from Jackson to
Bolton; afterwards laid in rear of Vicksburg during the summer. Thence pro
ceeded to Chatanooga ; at Tuscumbia, Alabama, fought General Forrest. By
the destruction of the pontoon the First Division of the corps was unable to
cross the river with the corps and thus fell under orders of General Hooker,
and was in the battle of Lookout Mountain, November 24th, 1863. November
25th, turned the enemy's left flank at Rossville, capturing a battery. Here the
13th captured the battle flag of the 18th Alabama Regiment. November 27th,

HISTORY OF REGIMENTS. 47
was in the bloody battle of Ringgold, where Major D. R. Bushnell, of Sterling,
was killed. The regiment went into the fight with 216 men and left 44 dead
upon the field and a number wounded. After Ringgold went into winter
quarters at Woodville,Alabama. In the spring of 1864 the decimated regiment
successfully fought 3,000 of Roddy's rebel cavalry at Madison Station. June
18th, 1864, the remnant of the 13th was mustered out, and the few survivors
whose time had not expired, were consolidated with the 56th Illinois as
Company I. Company B was recruited at Sterling and numbered 86 men.
During the term of service received 22 recruits — 97 of the entire membership
were citizens of Whiteside County. The officers of the Company were Captains:
D. R. Bushnell, afterwards Major, and George P. Brown, of Fulton. First
Lieutenants : N. C. Cooper, J. M. Patterson. Second Lieutenants : Wm. M.
Kilgour and John J. Russell. Company G. was recruited at Morrison by
Captain Geo. M. Cole, 77 strong. During service 29 recruits were received —
77 of the company were from Whiteside County. Captains, Geo. M. Cole
and Wm. M. Jenks; First Lieutenant, Silas M. Jackson; Quartermasters, Wm.
C. Henderson and John S McClary were also from Whiteside County.
The following deaths Company B : Gideon Brown died February 1, '63,
wounds; Henry C. Osgood, .March 22, '62; Alfred Carpenter, August 8, '63;
James Guild, died at New Orleans; Benj. Judd, September 21, '61; Homer.
B. Silliman, September 16, '61; John Stackhouse, May 25, '63; Wm. Cross,
July 14, '63; Henry Hansen, October 5, '61; Thomas Randall killed at
Helena, September 8, '62; Abaruthur Sutliff died August 8, '63. Company G
lost in addition to those killed at Chickasaw Bayou: Aaron B. Jackson, died
November 30, '61; Robert S. Anthony, December 19, '61; S. E. Austin,
January. 23, '63, wounds; Sylvester Baldry, February 12, '63; Leonard Chesley
July 30, '63; A. M. French, March 17, '64; Samuel Genung, April 3, '63, wounds;
Addison Jackson, December 1, '63, wounds; Daniel Nichols, February 26, '62;
Wm. Proll, December 27, '61 ; James S. Peck, drowned May 28, '62 ; John
Robbins died February 20, '63; Arlin E. L. Thurber, December 24, '61 ; Davi*
J. Whited, October 6, '61; H. O. Alden, November 5, '61; H. C. Frisbee,
September 25, '63; Isaac Skyman, October 13, '63.
34th Illinois Infantry.
The 34th Regiment was organized at Camp Butler, September 7, 1861, by
Col. E. N. Kirk of Sterling, Companies A and B and a portion of D, I and K
were from Whiteside County. Company A was enlisted at Sterling, and num
bered 98 men exclusive of officers; with but two exceptions the original members
of the company were all from this county. During the term of service the
company received 85 recruits, and January, 1864, 43 of the original company
re-enlisted as veterans. Of the entire membership of the company, 166
were citizens of Whiteside County. The company commanders were : " E.
Brooks Ward, Peter Ege and William C. Robinson. Captain Ege was after
wards Major and Colonel of the regiment. Ward resigned and Robinson com
manded the company to close of the war. First Lieutenants: Jonathan A.
Morgan, Lewis D. Wescott and R. J. Heath. Second Lieutenants: Edwin C
Payne and Edward Whitcomb. Company B was enlisted principally at
Morrison by H. W. Bristol, and was locally known as the "Whiteside Blues."
The company numbered 100 men, 98 being from Whiteside county; 35 of the
men "veteraned" and 68 recruits were received while in the service. White
side county furnished 130 of the entire membership of the company. The
company commanders were Hiram W. Bristol, afterwards promoted to be Major
and Lieutenant Colonel, John A, Parrott, killed at. Resaca May 14, '64, and.

48 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
David Cleveland. First Lieutenants : Cornelius Quackenbush, Leland L.
Johnson and David L. Eagle. Second Lieutenants : Thomas Marshall and
Phillip S. King. In Company K. Robert J. Thompson, Clinton B. Minchen
and E. P. Beardsley of Prophetstown held Lieutenant's commissions. Ad
jutants David Leavitt and Jesse H. Clements, and Quartermaster Jabez B. Rob
inson were from Whiteside county.
The 34th Regiment was moved to Lexington, Kentucky, October 2, 1861,
thence to Camp Nevin, Kentucky, thence to Bowling Green, and Nashville,
Franklin, Columbia and Savannah on the Tennessee river. April 7, 1862, the
regiment was hotly engaged at Pittsburg Landing, losing a Major and 15 men
and 112 wounded; also at Corinth. The 34th was also at Iuka, Florence,
Athens, Huntsville and Stevenson. The regiment was also in the race for Louis
ville via Pelham, Murfreesboro and Nashville. The marching qualities of the
regiment won for the soldiers the title of "McCook's Cavalry." October 1,
1862, started for Nashville and marched and skirmished the distance.' December
27, the regiment met the enemy at Triune and withstood severe fighting. Suf
fered severely at Murfreesboro, the loss being 21 killed, 93 wounded and 66
missing. Col. Kirk received a wound here from the effects of which he died
July, 1863.
On the 25th of June, 1863, the Second Brigade, Twentieth Corps, of which
the regiment formed a part, was ordered forward toward Liberty Gap, and with
out help, and in the face of a rebel brigade advantageously posted, drove the
enemy from his position — the 2nd Arkansas Infantry leaving their battle flag
on the hill, where they fought in front of the 34th. The regiment lost 3 killed
and 26 wounded. It afterwards moved to different points, sometimes acting as
Provost Guard, and others in guarding pontoon bridges, until November 25th,
1863, when it was ordered to join the Brigade on the battle field of Chatta
nooga, where they arrived at 11 o'clock, P. ji., meeting the retreating enemy
near Graysville, and engaged there for a short time. In December, 1864, the
Regiment was mustered as a veteran organization, and after receiving veteran
furlough, went back to Chattanooga, by the way of Louisville and Nashville,
arriving at Chattanooga March 7, 1864, from whence it joined the Second Bri
gade, then in camp near Rossville, Georgia, and took an active part in the war
until its conclusion. The 34th was mustered out July 12, 1865, at Louisville,
Kentucky, and arrived at Chicago, July 16, 1865, for final payment and dis
charge. 46th Illinois Infantry.
The regiment was organized at Camp Butler, December 28th, 1861, by
Col. John A. Davis of Stephenson County, who was mortally wounded at the
battle of Hatchie. Company E. of this regiment was a Whiteside company.
Wm. Lane, of Morrison, Wm. N. Haney, of Hopkins, Albert Seizick, of Morri
son and Sam'l V. Boyer, of Fulton, were Lieutenants in the company. The
regiment was at Fort Donelson and Fort Henry. Was assigned to Gen. Hurlburt's
Division, afterwards known as "Hurlburt's Fighting Fourth Division." The
46th suffered severely at Shiloh, losing one half of its men and officers, killed,
wounded and missing. The regiment was engaged at Corinth; at Hatchie won
new laurels; until the siege of Vicksburg was engaged in skirmishing and march
ing. In May, 1863, five companies were captured by the rebels while on picket
duty ; 70 of the men afterwards escaped. Hard fighting and marching was the
lot of the organization until January, 1864, when it was mustered as a veteran
regiment. Company E. numbered 31 men at expiration of term of service, and
of this number 30 re-enlisted. Until the close of the war the 46th performed

HISTORY OF REGIMENTS. 49
valiant service. Of the entire membership of the company, veterans and re
cruits, 74 were from Whiteside County.
The Company lost by death, Wm.' Morton, June 6, '62 ; John McClintock,
October 16, '62; D. D. Blodgett, March 6, '62; Henry Creighton, July 13, '62;
John W. Correll, May 7, '62 ; Columbus Dodge, May 4, '62 ; Jonathan Eads,
May 12, '62 ; John T. Frank, June 10, '62 ; David Hays, April 9, '62 ; Joseph
R. Kennedy, September 9, '63 ; Silas N. Lenhart, May 2, '62 ; Corlo Lenhart,
May 4, '62 ; Jas. S. Martin, May 16, '62 ; Joseph Pearl, June 27, '63 ; John F.
S. Wilbur, May 13, '62 ; Robert Imlay, July 7, '64 ; Ralph L. Carpenter, Jan
uary 9, '65 ; John Shumake, August 17, '65 ; Robt. W. Turney, October 20,
'64; Isaac N. Thorp, drowned January 3, '65; Chas. 0. White, July 22, '64.
All from Whiteside County. b2d Illinois Infantry.
In 1861, 66 men were enlisted in Whiteside County for Company F. of
this regiment, principally from Fulton and Albany. Nine recruits from the
county were afterwards received. Officers from the county — Captains: Nathan
P. Herrington and Oscar Summers; First Lieutenants: Lucien S. Kinney and
Luther A. Calvin; Second Lieutenants: John Dyer and Stephen Withrow.
The 52d Regiment mustered into the service November 19, 1861, with
945 men. Moved to St. Louis, thence to St. Joseph, thence to Cairo, thence to
Smithland. Arrived at Fort Donelson February 17, 1862, escorted prisoners to
Chicago. March 20th arrived at Pittsburg Landing. The regiment was prom
inently engaged at Shiloh losing 170 men; also at Corinth where 70 men were
lost; October 13th, moved to Hatchie river; December, 1862, went upon expedi
tion into Alabama and had an engagement near Little Bear Creek. December
19th, was on expedition to intercept Forrest and marched 100 miles in four and
a half days. January 2, 1863, moved to Tennessee river, January 26th to Ham
burg, Tennessee, February 25th to Jacinto, Mississippi, from thence to Corinth.
In April advanced into Alabama; April 20th, met the enemy; April 27th and
28th was engaged with the rebels and entered Corinth May 2, 1863. Nothing
of great importance in the history of the regiment transpired until January
9, 1864, when three-fourths of the men re-enlisted and returned home on fur
lough. February 24th the regiment was sent to Pulaski, Tennessee, and arrived
at Chattanooga May 2d. Was in the Atlanta campaign, particularly in the
battles of Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, Lay's Ferry, Rome Cross Roads, Dallas,
Kenesaw, Nickajack, Decatur, Atlanta and Jonesboro. The 52d was in the
"March to the Sea," in the Carolina campaign and at the battles of Bentonville
and Goldsboro; was in grand review at Washington; mustered out July 5,1865.
Ifyh Illinois Regiment,
This noted regiment was recruited in Whiteside and Lee Counties. Com
panies B, C, D, H and I being from Whiteside County. Company B was
recruited by Captain John Whallon, of Lyndon, Lieut. James Blean, of Newton,
and others. Company C at Morrison by John E. Bennett, E. Altman and Geo.
R. Shaw. Company D, was recruited under the auspices of the Chicago Board
of Trade, but owing to a misunderstanding jojned the regiment at Dixon. Com-
panyHwas enlisted by efforts of John G. Price and J. W.R. Stambaugh. Company
I, the "Reaper Company," was principally recruited in Sterling, Erie, Fulton
and Ustick, by efforts of Col. Kilgour and others. The regimental officers from
Whiteside County were Col. John E. Bennett, promoted Brevet Brigadier Gen
eral, Wm. M. Kilgour, Lieutenant Colonel, promoted Brevet Brigadier General,
Henry Utley, surgeon, and W&, H, Smith, chaplain, Captains of Company B;
[E-6.] '

50 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
John Whallon, C. B. Hubbard and Chas. R. Richards; First Lieutenant:
Albert M. Gillett; Second Lieutenants: James Blean and Elisha Bull. Company
C, Captains: Ernst Altman, Geo. R. Shaw; First Lieutenant: P. S. Bannister;
Second Lieutenants: Thomas G. Bryant and Henry C. Parrott, Company D,
Captain: Andrew McMoore; First Lieutenants: Joseph E Colby and Francis A.
Caughey; Second Lieutenants: Edward H. Barber, R. L. Mangan and John
Stauffer. Company H, Captains: John G. Price, Joseph W. R. Stambaugh and
Frank Bingham; First Lieutenant: John L. Newton; Second Lieutenants:
Abner R. Hurless and Flavius M. Wolf. Company I, Captains: Robert Hale
and Amos B. Segur: First Lieutenants: Joel A. Fife and Lewis E. Chubbuck;
Second Lieutenants: Ezekiel Kilgour and James H. Woodburn.
The regiment was organized at Dixon, September 2, 1862, and September
27th, ordered to Louisville, Kentucky. October 8th a little more than a month
after the organization of the regiment, it was engaged in the bloody battle of
PerryviUe or Champlin Hills. Loss 47 killed, 166 wounded and 12 missing.
The men of the regiment were fresh from their homes, but fought like veterans.
Gen. Mitchell officially said: "The 75th Illinois, having a reputation to gain as
soldiers, nobly did the work before them." In this battle Lieut. Blean was
killed, and Lieut. Col. Kilgour so severely wounded that it was supposed his wound
was mortal. The regiment with other troops pursued the retreating enemy into
Tennessee. December 31, 1862, the 75th was engaged at Murfreesboro and
lost heavily; also in the sanguinary struggle at Liberty Gap.
The winter was spent in inactivity, but the spring and summer brought
stirring times for the regiment. In September the 75th was at the battle of
the Chickamauga, and from thence moved to Chattanooga. The organization
bore an honorable part in the hard fought battles of Lookout Mountain, Mis
sionary Ridge and Ringgold. The winter was passed at Whiteside, the monot
ony being broken by a reconnoisance in front of Dalton. At Resaca the regi
ment was engaged and participated in the fights at Pine Mountain, Lost Moun
tain, Kenesaw, Adairsville, Gulp's farm, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro and Love
joy Station; also in the series of battles and skirmishes before Atlanta.
After the fall of this rebel stronghold the regiment moved hastily to Nash
ville, fighting Hood before that city,' and being engaged at Franklin and in the
defence of Pulaski. After the defeat of Gen. Hood went upon an expedition
in eastern Tennessee.
The 75th was in service two years and nine months. Lost 64 men killed,
31 died of wounds, and 91 of disease. 216 were discharged for disability; 184
men were wounded. Total casualties, 586. No regiment in the service has a
brighter or more deserving record. 93d Illinois Infantry.
The regiment was organized in September, 1862, 998 men, by Col. Holden
Putman, of Freeport, afterwards killed at Mission Ridge, November 29, 1863.
Company F: 99 men were recruited in Whiteside County, from Garden Plain,
Fulton, Mt. Pleasant, Newton, Albany, Erie and Fenton. Captains of the Com
pany: Alfred F. Knight, who died April 29, 1863, Wm. A. Payne and Wm. M.
Herrold; First Lieutenants: John Dyer and Henry M. Eddy; Second Lieuten
ant: Robert A. Adams, who died of wounds. Dr. C. A. Griswold, of Fulton,
was surgeon. The regiment was assigned to Gen. Grant's army, and went
through the Northern Mississippi campaign; went through on the " Yazoo Pass
Expedition." The next April commenced the Vicksburg campaign; was at
Jackson, Mississippi, May 14th, being in the advance at the battle. On the
16th participated in the fight at Champion Hills, and suffered severely. During

HISTORY OF REGIMENTS. '51
the same month was engaged in the assaults upon Vicksburg until the middle
of June. The regiment went from Vicksburg to Jackson and back, thence to
Helena, Arkansas, thence to Memphis, Chattanooga and Bridgeport, Alabama,
Was next engaged at Mission Ridge, losing a large number of men. Pursued
the rebels to Grayson. Moved to Huntsville, Alabama, and in December was
at Dalton. In the spring and summer of 1864 the 93d marched over much of
the soil of Alabama, and in the autumn moved to Allatoona. In October the
regiment was a part of the force of 2,100 that "held the Fort" against 7,000
confederates through a desperate fight, 'signally beating them. November 12,
1864, the regiment started upon the memorable "march to the sea," and reached
the enemy's lines before Savannah, Georgia, December 10, 1864. The 93d
skirmished with the rebels about the city until December 21st, when it marched
into the city, where it remained until January 19, 1865. Went through the
"Campaign of the Carolinas," and arrived at Columbia February 17, 1865.
From Columbia the march was continued to Raleigh, that town being reached
April 14th. The march was then continued via Petersburg and Richmond to
Washington, where the regiment participated in the grand review May 24th,
and was mustered out, receiving final pay and discharge July 7, 1865. The
93d was in service two years and seven months. The official report says:
" The casualties in battles of the 93d Illinois Regiment were 446 killed, and one
officer and 31 men accidentally wounded. The regiment has marched 2,554
miles, traveled by water 2,296 miles, by rail 1,237 miles. Total, 6,087 miles."
Company F lost by death: Joseph A. Wilbur, July 13, '63, wounds; Chas.
Doty, May 23, '63, wounds; Henry E. Allen, disease, July 13, '63; Edward P.
Bliss, May 17, '63, wounds; Francis M. Baird, May 23, '63, wounds; John H.
,Brightman, killed at Vicksburg, May 23, '63; Wm. Bennett, killed at Champion
Hills, May 16, '63; M. K. Booth, died, August 25, '63; Henry Hawk, October
5, '63, wounds; Henry Lewis, died, July 13, '63, wounds; Patrick Marren, killed
at Champion Hills, May 16, '63; John McCline, killed at Champion Hills, May
16, '63; Asa W. Mitchell, killed at Mission Ridge, November 26, '63; Ira A.
Payne, killed at Mission Ridge, November 26, '63; L. S. McAllister, died, Jan
uary 28, '63; Russell S. Park, killed at Allatona, Georgia, October 5, '64;
Thomas Say, killed at Champion Hills, May 16, '63; James M. York, died,
March 2, '63. 140th Illinois Regiment.
This regiment was enlisted in the Spring of 1864, under the call for
troops to serve one hundred days, to take the place of veterans, who were needed
for active service. Two whole companies and part of another were formed in
this county. For list of officers see the preceding part of this chapter. The
regiment was mustered into service at Dixon, Illinois, in June, 1864, and was
immediately sent to Memphis. From thence companies were sent to different
points on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, relieving veteran troops. The
regiment garrisoned these stations for several months, when it returned to
Memphis and proceeded to Chicago to be mustered out. At this time the rebel
General Price was in Missouri with a large force, and St. Louis feeling herself
endangered, troops were ordered to that place, among them the 140th Regiment,
After doing duty along the line of the Iron Mountain Railway for several weeks,
the regiment returned to Chicago and received its discharge October 29th, 1864.
The one hundred day troops served the purpose of the Government well in
a time of special need, and each member of these regiments received a handj
somely engraved certificate embodying the thanks of the President, signed by
President Lincoln and Secretary of State Seward.

52 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
147th Illinois Infantry.
This regiment was enlisted to serve one year, and mustered into the
service February 19, 1865. Company B was from Whiteside county, also a
large proportion of Company G. Company B was officered by George H. Fay,
Captain, and W. H. H. Jones and Charles Bent, Lieutenants. Company G was
commanded by A. C. Bardwell. Frank Clendenin, of Morrison, was Major of
the regiment. February 25th, the 147th arrived at Nashville, thence to Chattanooga and
Dalton, Georgia. March 13th, dispersed guerillas at Mill Creek. March 20th
was on Spring Place Expedition. March 28th, to Ringgold. In April had a
number of skirmishes with the rebels on the Coosawatchie river. June 26th,
moved to Marietta, thence to Macon, Andersonville, Americus and Albany,
Georgia. October 28th, to Hawkinsville, Georgia. November 25th, to Savannah
Georgia, where it remained until January 21, 1866. The 147th was mustered
out January 20, 1866, and returned to Springfield, Illinois, where it was
discharged in February, being one of the last Illinois regiments to be discharged.
156th Illinois Regiment.
Company G of this regiment was from Whiteside County, and numbered 100
men. Captain: Chauncey B. Hubbard; Lieutenants: William H. Shears and
Peter R. Boyd. The regiment was in service until September 20, 1856,
being engaged in garrison duty, watching guerillas and escorting prisoners.
The company lost a number of men by disease. The regiment served about six
months of the one year for which it was enlisted.

Twelve years have elapsed since the last of the foe laid down their arms-
the great armies called into being have been disbanded, and as good citizens,
in the quiet avocations of the merchant, the husbandman, artisan and pro
fessions, become as renowned in peace as in war. The weeds of the widow
mother and daughter have well nigh disappeared, yet thousands of hearts
sadly turn to the graves in Northern cemeteries, and unmarked trenches on
Southern battle fields, where the sod covers the clay once wrapped in the
blue. Hundreds of Whiteside's noble sons sleep upon the battle fields, where
with sabre and bayonet they wrote their title to glory in blood.
"On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their snowy tents are spread,
And glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead."

CHAPTER IT.
Name of County — Geographical Description — Early Organization —
Precincts — Early Records — First State Roads — First Officers
— County Commissioners' Court — Township Organization — Board
of Supervisors — County Seat Affairs — County Buildings — Cir
cuit Court — Probate and County Courts — Early Pioneer Life
and Incidents — Congressional Districts — Senatorial and Repre
sentative Districts — -List of Public Officers — Statistics, Popu
lation, Etc.

Name of County.
Whiteside County was named in honor of Gen. Samuel Whiteside, a brave
and distinguished officer, who participated in the Indian wars in this section
of the country from 1812 until the close of the Black Hawk war. During
the latter he was first Major, afterwards Colonel, then General of Volun
teers. In his pursuit of Black Hawk in 1832, he passed through this section,
and burned Prophet's Town. Gen. Whiteside was a native of Rutherford County,
North Carolina, and came to Illinois Territory about the year 1806, and settled
in what is now Madison County. Besides holding the positions severally of
Captain, Major, Colonel and General Commanding of forces against the hostile
Indians, he was frequently elected and appointed to civil offices of trust and
honor. He died in 1861, and was buried near the home of his daughter in
Christian County, Illinois. Gen. Whiteside participated actively in the affairs
of this State at an early day, was a man of unsullied integrity, great sagacity,
generous impulses, and was highly esteemed by the wide circle of people who
knew him. Geographical Description.
Whiteside County lies in the north-western part of Illinois, and is inter
sected by Rock river. It is bounded on the north by Carroll and Ogle Counties,
east by Ogle and Lee Counties, south by Henry and Bureau Counties, and
west by the Mississippi river. It embraces sixteen entire, and five fractional,
congressional townships, and contains 430,570 acres of land and 5,021 lots. Of
the lands 333,616 acres are improved, and 96,954 acres unimproved; 3,002 lots
are improved, and 2,013 unimproved. There are twenty-two townships in the
county, organized under the township organization laws of the State, as follows:
Albany, Clyde, Coloma, Erie, Fulton, Fenton, Garden Plain, Genesee, Hahna-
man, Hume, Hopkins, Jordan, Lyndon, Mt. Pleasant, Montmorency, Newton,
Portland, Prophetstown, Sterling, Tampico, Union Grove, Ustick. The north
western part of the county is hilly, consisting of a succession of ridges, some
of them quite sharp, rising to an elevation of more than 100 feet, separated by
narrow valleys; the central part is moderately rolling, while the south-eastern
part is quite level, a few sand ridges traversing the plain. Much of this part of
the county comprising a part of Prophetstown, all of Tampico, Hume, Montmo
rency and Hahnaman, was formerly regarded as swamp land, sloughs and marshes
covering most of the surface. Ithasbeen drained and is now mostly cultivated.

54 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
The general slope of the county is to the west and south. Its principal streams
are the Rock river, Elkhorn, Sugar, Grove, Spring, Rock, Lynn, Spring (west) and
Otter creeks. The Rock river — Sinnissippi of the Indians — rises in the southern
part of Wisconsin, flows south-westerly and falls into the Mississippi about four
miles south of Rock Island. It is a tortuous stream obstructed by many rapids
and furnishing an abundance of water power which is used at two points in the
county — Sterling and Lyndon. Its course within the county is about 50 miles;
its total length about 200 miles. It is too shallow for navigation except in
times of floods, and the current is through most of its course very strong.
Elkhorn creek rises in the east part of Carroll County and flows a generally
south-westerly course falling into Rock river about seven miles south-west of
Sterling. It has two branches — Sugar creek flowing from the east across Jor
dan township with a course of about seven miles, and Spring creek flowing from
Carroll County southerly into the Elkhorn with a length of about ten miles.
The Elkhorn is quite winding, has considerable fall, and furnishes some water
power; it is about forty-five miles long. Grove creek is a small stream rising
in the northern part of Hopkins township and flowing into the Rock river; it
is about ten miles long. Rock creek rises in the eastern part of Carroll County
and flows by a winding channel south-westerly into Rock river about a mile
east of Erie. It affords a tolerable water power at several points in its course.
It has a length of about fifty-five miles. It has two branches of some note —
Little Rock creek flowing from Carroll County south with a course of about
fifteen miles, and Lynn creek rising in the south-east part of Garden Plain
township and flowing south-east with a length of about twelve miles. West
Spring creek rises near the center of the southern tier of sections in Garden
Plain township, flows west to near the town line and then turns slightly to the
north-east and falls into the Mississippi; it is about ten miles long. Otter
creek is formed by a stream flowing from Carroll County and one rising in the
eastern part of Ustick. It flows west into the Mississippi; length about fifteen
miles. The highest lands in the county are in the north-eastern part and probably
attain an elevation of at least 800 feet above the level of the sea. The Mis
sissippi bluffs are from 90 to 150 feet above the river.
The soil of the county is in general highly fertile, and corn, oats, rye, barley
potatoes, and all kinds of vegetables are grown, and yield large crops. Wheat
is raised, but the yield is not large, nor is it a certain crop. Strawberries and
raspberries thrive, but apples, pears and other fruits bear irregularly and seldom
produce large crops. Hogs are raised in great numbers, and much attention is
given to rearing cattle and horses, some parts of the county being especially
well fitted for pasturage. There are some extensive areas of sandy land, on •
which the soil is thin, and when it is once broken through the tract becomes a
waste of drifting sand, spreading from year to year, and carrying ruin beyond
its original bounds. In Fulton, Garden Plain, Albany, Newton, Erie and
Prophetstown, these sandy wastes are found, their only products Euphorbia —
spurge of several species, and sand burs.
The climate is very variable, the thermometer ranging from 90 ° to 100 °
Fahrenheit in the shade in summer, and to 30 ° and even 40 ° below zero in
winter — an extreme range of 140 ° . The winter winds are sharp and piercing. Snow
falls very irregularly, but the ground is seldom covered long at one time. Occa
sionally there are heavy snow storms which are usually accompanied by strong
winds which drift it into huge piles rendering roads impassable and leaving a
part of the surface bare, In summer there is seldom a perfect calm, that
oppressive furnace-like heat and perfect stillness so often experienced farther

EARLY ORGANIZATION. 55
east being almost unknown. Even in the warmest weather the evenings and
mornings are cool and pleasant. The summers are usually somewhat dry after
the middle of July. The annual rainfall is about 42 inches, but it is very
irregularly distributed. Fierce storms occasionally sweep over the county, the
region from Albany east being the favorite theater for their exhibition. The
great tornado of 1860, one confined to a narrow area in Union Grove in 1869,
the Tampico tornado of 1874, and the storm of June, 1877, are probably remem
bered by many. The climate is healthy, the death rate low, and cases of acute
diseases uncommon and more generally arising from exposure and carelessness
than peculiarities of climate. Early Organization.
Previous to 1825 the whole northern part of the State, extending for a
considerable distance south of Peoria, was included in the county of Tazewell,
but on the 13th day of January, 1825, an act was passed setting off Peoria
County, which extended some distance south of the present city of Peoria, then
known as Fort Clark, and north to the northern boundary of the State. This
territory included the present large number of rich counties in Northwestern
Illinois, among them Whiteside. On the 17th of February, 1827, Jo Daviess
County was formed, and included within its boundaries the territory constitu
ting the present county of Whiteside, where it remained until January 16,
1836, with the exception of that portion of the territory embraced in the present
townships of Portland and Prophetstown, which had been set off to Henry
County by the Act organizing that county in 1836. That part of the act of
January 16, 1836, fixing and establishing the present boundaries of White
side, is as follows:
" Section 6. All that tract of country within the following boundary,
to-wit: commencing at the southeast corner of township numbered nineteen
north of range seven east of the fourth principal meridian; thence west with
the said township line to Rock river; thence down along the middle of Rock
river to the middle of the Meredosia with the line of Rock Island County to
the Mississippi river; thence along the middle of the main channel of the Mis
sissippi river to the point where the north line of township twenty-two inter
sects the same; thence east with said last mentioned township line to the south
east corner of township twenty-three; thence south with the line between ranges
seven and eight to the point of beginning, shall constitute a county to be called
Whiteside. " Sec. 16. The county of Whiteside shall continue to form a part of the
county of Jo Daviess until it shall be organized according to this act, and be
attached to said county in all general elections, until otherwise provided by law,
and that after the organization of Ogle County, the county of Whiteside shall
be attached to said county of Ogle for all judicial and county purposes, until it
shall be organized."
Ogle County was also organized under this act, and fully completed its
organization in December, 1836, at which time Whiteside became attached to it
for judicial and county purposes as provided by the act,
Precincts.
It was our intention to have given the names and boundaries officially of
the different precincts which were wholly or partly in Whiteside County after
the passage of the above act, and prior to the complete organization of the
county, but owing to the destruction by fire of the records in the County Clerk's
pffice of Ogle County, we find it impossible to dp go with certainty. Wehejieve,

56 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
however, we have them as correct as they possibly can be given without the
aid of the official records.
Three election districts were defined by the County Commissioners' Court
of Jo Daviess County, in the spring of 1836, which included within their
respective boundaries all the territory now embraced in Whiteside County, as
follows: The present township of Jordan was attached to Elkhorn Grove Precinct,
which comprised several townships in Ogle, Lee and Carroll Counties. Election
to be held at Humphrey's in Ogle county. John Ankeny, Isaac Chambers and
S. Humphrey, appointed Judges.
Harrisburg Precinct comprised the present townships of Sterling, Coloma,
Montmorency, Hahnaman, and the east half of Hopkins, Hume and Tampico.
Election to be held at the house of Hezekiah Brink, in Harrisburgh, as it was
then called, now Sterling, and Hezekiah Brink and Col. Wm. Kirkpatrick,
appointed Judges.
Crow Creek Precinct comprised all the rest of the county. Election to be
held at Wm. D. Dudley's, in Lyndon. Wm. D. Dudley, A. R. Hamilton, and
Jonathan Haines, appointed Judges.
The election of Representative to the General Assembly of the State, on
the first Monday of August, 1836, resulted as follows in the above named
precincts: .
Harrisburg Precinct, J. Craig, 24 votes; E. Charles, 14; J. Tierney, 13
L. H. Bowen, 15.
Crow Creek Precinct, J. Craig, 18 votes; E. Charles, 19; J. Tierney, 10
L. H. Bowen, 5; P. H. Hamburg, 4.
Elkhorn Grove Precinct, J. Craig, 36 votes; L. H. Bowen, 35; E. Charles, 1
On the 6th of September of the same year, the County Commissioners
Court of Jo Daviess County entered the following order of record: "Ordered,
that all that portion of the County of Whiteside lying south of township line
between towns 19 and 20, and west of line between ranges 4 and 5, be laid off
into an Election Precinct, to be called Burke's Precinct. Election to beheld
at Horace Burke's, and Joy H. Avery, Horace Burke,, and Lewis D. Crandall,
appointed Judges." At the Presidential Election held in November, 1836,
thirty votes were cast in this precinct, embracing the present towns of
Portland and Erie, of which 27 were given to Van Buren, the
Democratic candidate, and 3 to Harrison, the Whig candidate. On account of
the records of the election being missing it is impossible to give the number of
votes cast for Presidental candidates this year in other precincts in the county.
In 1837, the authorities of Ogle County, upon petition of different parties
in Whiteside County divided it into several precincts, and these so far as we can
learn, were as follows :
Van Buren Precinct included that portion of the county, now the town
ships of Fulton, Garden Plain, Albany, Newton, Erie and the western part of
Ustick, Union Grove, and Fenton, the bluffs in Ustick, and the Cattail in
Union Grove and Fenton being its eastern boundary.
Union Grove Precinct comprised that part of what is now Ustick, east of
the bluffs, Union Grove, east of the Cattail, and all of Clyde and Mt. Pleasant.
Little Rock Precinct included what is now Lyndon, and the greater part
of Fenton. Elkhorn Precinct comprised the present townships of Genesee, Jordan,
Hopkins and Sterling.
Portland Precinct embraced all of the territory in the county lying south
pf Rock river,

EARLY RECORDS, 57
Between this date and May 6, 1839, when the county elected its first
officers, and completed its organization, thereby severing its connection with
Ogle County, several changes were made in precinct names and territory,
as we find in the record book of the first County Commissioners' Court, now in
the office of the County Clerk, at Morrison, the names of the following pre
cincts recorded : Albany, Elkhorn, Fulton, Genesee, Little Rock, Portland,
and Union Grove. Early Records.
Before proceeding farther in the direct chain of the history of Whiteside
County, we take occasion to mention a few items of interest in reference to the
early times when we formed a part of Jo Daviess County.
The County Commissioners' Court of that county on the 6th of March, 1835,
ordered that "all hands within ten miles of the road from Plum river, to
Prophetstown Village, on Rock river, perform labor on the Galena
road." L. C. Melhouse was appointed Supervisor. It also caused an
order to be entered upon the same day "that each able bodied person
residing wherein- there is any road district in this county, over twenty-one and
under fifty years of age, shall perform five days labor on the public highways in
the district in which he resides."
It was thought necessary, as early as September 7, 1832, to confine
tavern keepers within reasonable bounds as to charges. The CountyCommissioners'
Court, therefore, ordered that on and after that date the rates for the bonifaces
should be as follows: For each meal of victuals, 25 cents; each horse feed, 25
cents ; each horse per day and night, 50 cents; each lodging, 12-J- cents ; each half pint
of brandy, wine, Jamaica spirits, or Holland gin, 25 cents; each pint of whiskey
12J cents; each quart of cider, porter, or ale, 25 cents. On the 11th of March,
1836, these rates are somewhat changed, and tavern keepers allowed to charge
for each meal of victuals, 37-J- cents; each lodging, 12^- cents; each horse feed,
25 cents; each horse per day, 75 cents; each pint of whiskey, 12-J- cents; each
pint of rum, gin, brandy or wine, 25 cents; each quart of cider, beer, porter or
ale, 25 cents.
On the 16th of March, 1836, the same court ordered "that a tax of one-
half per cent, be levied on the following described property for county purposes,
to-wit: onslaves; indentured and registered negro or mulatto servants; pleasure
and all other wheeled carriages, and sleighs; distilleries; all horses, mares,
mules and asses and neat cattle above three years old; watches and append
ages; clocks and household furniture, and all other property."
By this it will be see that even as late as 1836, slaves, and indentured and
registered negro and mulatto servants, were recognized as personal property, and
liable to tax as such, in the State of Illinois, notwithstanding the celebrated
Ordinance of 1787, adopted at the time of the cession of the Northwest Terri
tory to the United States by Virginia, prohibiting slavery and involuntary
servitude within such Territory. This fact will be new to many at this day, and
shows what a hold the system of slavery had upon the people and the laws up to
1836, and we may add for some years later.
The County Commissioners' Court in early days did almost all kinds of
business, as the following record, June 22-, 1835, shows: "Thomas and Polly
Bruce came into court and acknowledged the execution of a deed conveying a
certain tract of land lying and being in the State of Missouri, in the county of
Pike, all of which is described in said deed from said Thomas and Polly Bruce
to DeWitt Bruce, of the State of Missouri, Pike county." The record shows
that this was the only judicial act of the court on that day,

58 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
First State Roads.
The first State road running through the county of Whiteside was located
under an Act of the General Assembly of the State, approved March 11, 1837,
although several trails had been extensively used prior to that time, the most
noted of which was the Lewiston trail leading from Peoria and other southern
settlements to Galena, and crossing Rock river a little above Prophetstown.
Under this act A. H. Seymour, of Henry County, Asa Crook, of Whiteside
County, Israel Mitchell, of Jo Daviess County, Russell Toncray, of Schuyler
County, and G. A. Charles, of Kane County, were appointed Commissioners to
view, mark and locate a State Road leading from Galena, in the county of Jo
Daviess, by the way of Wappal's on Apple river, Savanna at the mouth of
Plum river, Prophetstown on Rock river, via Henderson and Knoxville in Knox
County, and Rushville in Schuyler County, to Beardstown on the Illinois river.
The Commissioners met at Galena in June, 1837, and proceeded to locate the
road in the manner pointed out by the act, and filed with the Clerk of the
County Commissioners' Court of each county through which the road passed, a
report and complete map of the road, which by the terms of the act were to
be preserved, and form a part of the record of the Court. In due time the road
was completed, and made a public highway.
In 1839 the General Assembly passed another act locating a State Road
which runs through a part of Whiteside. Under this act Neely Withrow and
Rufus Hubbard, of Henry County, and A. Slocumb, of Whiteside County, were
appointed Commissioners to view, survey and locate a State Road commencing
at New Albany, thence to Penny's Ferry on Rock river, near the west side of
range three east of the 4th Principal Meridian; thence taking the county road
to a bridge on Green river, and from thence to intersect the State Road leading
from Galena to Beardstown. The Commissioners met at Geneseo, and com
pleted their duties under the act.
During the same year the State Road from Galena to Beardstown was
re-surveyed and re-located for a short distance near Prophetstown, under the
supervision of John C. Pratt, John W. Stakes, and Lyman J. Rynders, Com
missioners appointed for that purpose by an act of the General Assembly.
First Officers.
As we have stated Whiteside County elected its officers, and thereby com
pleted its organization, May 6, 1839. At that election the following officers
were chosen: Nathaniel G. Reynolds, Elijah Worthington, and John B. Dodge,
County Commissioners; James C. Woodburn, Sheriff; Daniel B. Young, Probate
Justice; David Mitchell, County Treasurer; Charles R. Rood, County Surveyor;
Augustine W. Newhall, Recorder; Ivory Colcord, Coroner; Guy Ray, Clerk of
County Commissioners' Court.
County Commissioners' Court.
The first meeting of the County Commissioners' Court was held on the 16th
of May, 1839, at the house of Wm. D. Dudley, in Lyndon. Guy Ray appeared
as Clerk, and upon giving bond to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, took
the oath of office. The Sheriff and Treasurer elect, appeared, and were duly
qualified, the former by receiving certificate from A. R. Hamilton and C. G.
Woodruff, and the latter before John B. Dodge, Justice of the Peace.
The Commissioners met the next day at the school house near Wm. D.
Dudley's, and proceeded first to lay out road districts, and appoint Supervisors,
as follows: "Road District No. 1 to comprise that portion of the county south of Rock

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT. 59
river, and east of township line between ranges 5 and 6 east. Wm. W. Durant
to be Supervisor.
Road District No. 2 to comprise that portion of the county south of Rock
river, east of the west line of section 35, township 19 north, range 4 east, to
line of range 5 east. Erastus G. Nichols to be Supervisor.
Road District No. 3 to comprise all the territory south of Rock river, west
of section 35, township 19 north, range 4 east. James Row to be Supervisor.
Road District No. 4 to comprise all that part of Elkhorn Precinct north of
township line running east and west between townships 21 and 22. Joseph
Nelson to be Supervisor.
Road District No. 5 to comprise all that portion of Elkhorn Precinct lying
south of the east and west line between townships 21 and 22 north. Nelson
Mason to be Supervisor.
Road District No. 6 to comprise all that part called Genesee Precinct.
Ivory Colcord to be Supervisor.
Road District No. 7 to comprise all the territory east of the center of
township 20 north, range 4 east. David Hazard to be Supervisor.
Road District No. 8 to comprise all the territory west of the east line of
range 4 east. Arthur Putney to be Supervisor.
Road District No. 9 to comprise all the territory in Union Precinct. John
W. Stakes to be Supervisor.
Road District No. 10 to comprise all the territory in Fulton Precinct. John
Baker to be Supervisor.
Road District No. 11 to comprise all the territory in Albany Precinct. Gil
bert Buckingham to be Supervisor."
All persons were required to labor on the roads five days each, who were
subject to road labor.
The following gentlemen were appointed Assessors of the different pre
cincts: Union, Henry Boyer; Portland, Ebenezer Seely; Elkhorn, John W.
McLemore; Genesee, Wm. Wick; Fulton, Hosea Jacobs; Albany, Lewis Spur-
lock; Little Rock, Chauncey G. Woodruff.
The next meeting of the Commissioners was held June 4, 1839. John
Wick was appointed Assessor in Genesee Precinct, in place of Wm. Wick who
declined to serve. At this meeting the citizens of Round Grove and vicinity
petitioned that an Election Precinct may be established called Round Grove,
bounded on the east by Elkhorn river, on the north and west by the north and
west line of township twenty-one, range six east, and the west line of township
twenty, range six east to Rock river, and on the south by Rock river. Also
that the elections may be held at the school house in Round Grove. The peti
tion was signed by R. J. Jenks, Chas. C. Jenks, Wm. Pilgrim, N. P. Thompson,
Joel Harvey, Caleb Plumber, Wm. H. McLemore, John Wasby, Levi Gaston,
Joseph Jones, Samuel Higley, Thos. Mathews, E. A. Somers, Geo. Higley, W.
Morrison, John Van Tassel, F. Simonson and C. D. Nance. The petition was
granted after changing a part of the boundary so as to read " the precinct shall
be bounded by the east line of township twenty-one, range six east, and Elkhorn
creek." Geo. G. Dennis was appointed Constable, and commissioned pro tem

60 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
for the special purpose of serving all orders and notices issued during the sit
ting of the County Commissioners' Court at its June term, A. D., 1839.
The next day, June 5th, it was ordered that the first Circuit Court in
Whiteside County be held at Dr. Stickle's house in Lyndon. The same day the
first rates of toll for a ferry in Whiteside County, were fixed — the ferry being
across Rock river, and were as follows: one person, 12£ cents; wagon or car
riage drawn by two horses, 75 cents; for every additional ox or horse, 12-J- cents;
wagon drawn by one horse, 37£ cents; cart drawn by oxen or horses, 50 cents;
cattle, hogs and goats each, 64; cents; sheep, each 3 cents. The ferry was to be
free for all citizens of Whiteside County. It was afterwards ordered that the
county pay William Knox $40 for the ferriage of citizens of Whiteside
County during the season.
At the adjourned Commissioners' Court, held July 2, 1839, a number of
road petitions were presented, the first being for a road from Albany and Kings
bury to Crandall's ferry, L. D. Crandall guaranteeing that the viewers should
locate the road without expense to the county. Gilbert Buckingham, James
Early and James Hamilton were appointed viewers. The second petition asked
for a road from Fulton to Lyndon via Delhi. John Baker, C. G. Woodruff and
Wm. Farrington were appointed viewers; and the third asked for a road from
Fulton to Genesee Mills. John Baker, Hugh Hollinshead and John Wick were
appointed viewers. Several other petitions were presented, and accepted on the
condition that the viewers perform their duties gratis.
The Court ordered that the county taxes for 1839 be laid at fifty cents on
every hundred dollars assessed upon the property in the county, and that twenty
cents be levied upon the assessment for State taxes. John W. McLemore was
appointed collector of taxes for the year 1839. At the next day's session
Augustine W. Newhall appeared and took the oath of office as Recorder of
Whiteside County.
The following are the names of the petit jurors drawn to serve at the first
Circuit Court of Whiteside County, to be held at Lyndon on the second Monday of
September, 1839: Isaac H. Albertson, Jacob Whipple, Luther Bush, Geo. W.
Woodburn, Daniel Brooks, Nathaniel Norton, Horace Burke, Marvin Frary, Reu
ben Amidon, Samuel Johnson, C. S. Deming, Wm. L. Clark, James Coburn,
Henry Boyer, James J. Thomas, II. H. Holbrook, Anthony Hollinshead, Joel
Harvey, Duty Buck, Lewis Spurlock, Robert Booth, Wm. Ross, John W. Baker,
P. Bachus Besse.
The Grand Jurors drawn to serve at the same term of court, were: Jason
Hopkins, Wiatt Cantrall, Henry Burlingame, Jacob Sells, James Talbot, Jere
miah Johnson, James Row, Hiram Harmon, Jabez Warner, W. F. Van Norman
A. W. Newhall, Brainard Orton, John C. Pratt, Jonathan Haines, D. B. Young,
Wm. Wick, J. H. Carr, Nehemiah Rice, P. B. Vannest, David Mitchell, Hosea
Jacobs, Daniel Reed, Edmund Cowdrey, C. G. Woodruff.
The County Commissioners, Clerk of Commissioners' Court, Treasurer,
Recorder, Coroner, Probate Justice and Surveyor, elected at the first election
held in the county, May, 6th, 1839, served only until the regular county
election in August of that year, when the following officers were elected:
Hosea Jacobs, Elijah Worthington, Hiram Harmon, County Commissioners;
Guy Ray. Clerk of Commissioners' Court; David Mitchell, Treasurer; W. W.
Gilbert, Recorder; Ivory CoLcord, Coroner; Daniel B. Young, Probate Justice,
and Charles R. Rood, Surveyor. We append the returns of this election that
the people may contrast the vote of 1839, with that of the present time:

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT.

61

County Commissioners.

Clerk
Com'r's .
Court.

ProbateJustice.

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Coroner.

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At the term of the Commissioners' Court, held December. 3, 1839, orders
were entered of record as follows: "that the Clerk call on Jonathan Haines by
letter, to make a seal for the court of copper, if no copper, of brass, if no brass,
then to make it of silver;" "that Augustine Smith be paid $5 for the use of
his house to hold court in;" "that the county pay Simon S. Page $30, and
Edward P. Gage $65, for the use of ferry for the season past, and Wm. Knox
$20 in addition to what was agreed to be paid to him for use of ferry;" "that
EdwardS. Gage pay the county $10 for ferry license;" "that the Collector remit
the money he received of persons having paid on mill property on government
lands, and that the same be allowed him in the settlement with him at the June
term;" "that each and every person who by law, is subject to road labor, shall
work upon the highways three days in each year." The first public house
license in the county was granted at that term of court, to Caleb Clark, to keep
a public house in Fulton, the fee being $25, to be paid into the Clerk's office.
The following bills rendered to the Court show the expense of assessing
property in 1839: John W., McLemore, for five days service assessing in
Elkhorn Precinct, $10; Henry Boyer, three days in Union Precinct, $6; John
Wick, three and three-fourths days in Genesee Precinct, $7.50; Ebenezer
Seely, five days in Portland Precinct, $10; Hosea Jacobs, four days in Fulton
Precinct, $8; C. G. Woodruff, four and a half days in Lyndon Precinct, $9;
Samuel Mitchell, two and a half days in Albany Precinct, $5.
The first movement against granting license for the sale of intoxicating
liquor by the drink, was inaugurated by some of the citizens of Fulton in 1839,
by a petition to the County Commissioners' Court, praying that no license for
that purpose be granted in that Precinct. The petition is set forth in full, in
the history of Fulton township.
On the 22d of February, 1840, a special election was held, for the
purpose of electing a County Commissioner to fill a vacancy caused by the
-.death of Elijah Worthington. As the result of the canvass of the votes,
William Sampson was declared elected, Sterling not having reported her vote
when the canvass was made. The right of Mr. Sampson to hold the office was
contested by Simeon M. Coe. At their first meeting the Commissioners drew
for terms of office, as follows: Hosea Jacobs for the term to expire August
1st, 1840; Wm. Sampson for the term to expire 1st, 1841; and Hiram Harmon
for the term to expire August 1st, 1842.
The contested seat case of Coe vs Sampson came up, and evidence- therein
(52 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
was directed to be presented to Van J. Adams, Daniel Brooks and A. C Jack
son, Justices of the Peace. The Justices decided in favor of Mr. Coe, and Mr.
Guy Ray, the Clerk of the Court, was ordered to issue a certificate of election to
him. Mr. Coe thereupon took his seat, his term of office being the same as that
drawn by Mr. Sampson.
On the 2d of March, 1840, the Commissioners granted a license to Caleb
Clark to run a ferry across the Mississippi river at the town of Fulton, the fee
being ten dollars. The rates of toll were fixed at 25 cents for each footman;
man and horse, 75 cents; cattle, 25 cents per head; two wheel carriages, $1.;
yoke of oxen and wagon loaded, $1.50; additional ox or horse, 25 cents; hogs
and sheep per head, 12£ cents; one horse and wagon, $1. L. D. and J. Crandall
were licensed to run a ferry across Rock river, on section 19, township 19,
range 4 east.
The following financial exhibit of the county was presented to the Com
missioners' Court, on the 4th of March, 1840: To ajnount of orders issued, and
orders due at this date, $985,87. By taxes assessed in 1839, $585,49, and by
cash received for licenses for ferries, groceries, etc., $93.00 — total $678.49.
Indebtedness of the county, March 4, 1840, $307.38.
The bounty on wolf scalps was placed at this term, at fifty cents each, and
the first payments made to C. E. Walker, Charles Wright, and Peter Shuler.
N. G. Reynolds was appointed Marshal to take the census of the county,
but afterwards resigned, and Augustine Smith appointed to fill the vacancy.
At the June session of the Court, James McCoy entered a complaint
against Daniel Reed, A. M. Wing, and Caleb Clark, for neglect in keeping a
ferry boat running across the Mississippi river, at Fulton. On appearance before
the Commissioners' Court, the defendants' counsel made a motion to quash for
variance between the summons and complaint. The motion was overruled, but
after a hearing the case was dismissed. The tax levy, at this term of court,
was fixed at fifty cents on each hundred dollars of property assessed in the
county. Hiram Harmon was granted a license to run a ferry across Rock
river at the Rock River Company's Mills, and D. B. Young was appointed
School Commissioner of the county for the year. This appointment made Mr.
Young the first School Commissioner of Whiteside county.
At the December session Portland Precinct was ordered to be divided
into three Precincts, as follows: All the territory south of Rock river in
Whiteside county, and east of the line north and south through the center of
township six, east of the fourth principal meridian, to be known as Rapids
Precinct, the place of holding elections to be at the house of Edward
Atkins; all the territory south of Rock river and west of Rapids Precinct,
lying east of the center of a certain slough, between Hiram Underbill's and
Richard Potter's, on the south line of the county, thence northeasterly along the
center of said slough and its outlet into Rock river, to be known as Prophets
town Precinct, and the place of holding elections to be at the house of Asa
Crook; and all the territory west of Prophetstown Precinct, and south of Rock
river, to remain as Portland Precinct, the place of holding elections to be
at the house Ebenezer Seely. Wm. W. Durant, Daniel Brooks and L. H. Wood:
worth, were appointed judges of election of Rapids Precinct; Asa Crook, Jabez
Warner, and N. G. Reynolds, of Prophetstown Precinct; and Daniel Blasdell,
Wm. S. Crane, and Simeon Fuller, of Portland Precinct.
Guy Ray, Clerk of the Court, was allowed $7.80 for returning votes of
August election for Representative to Jo Daviess county. On the same day
Lyndon township was authorized to organize into a school district, and Edward
S. Gage licensed to run a ferry across Rock river at Prophetstown.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT. 63
At the March session a writ of ad quad damnum was issued upon applica
tion of Jason Hopkins, Esq., of Como, for calling a jury on Elkhorn creek, at
Como, " to appraise the damage that may be sustained by all persons owning
lands that may be flowed by the erection of a dam on said creek at Como."
The tax levy for 1841, was fixed at fifty cents on each hundred dollars worth of
property assessed. It was also ordered that each man liable to road labor be
taxed one day's labor, and that a property tax of ten cents be assessed for road
purposes on each hundred dollars assessed in the county. John Scott was
licensed to run a ferry across Rock river at Como.
Guy Ray tendered his resignation as Clerk of the Court, at the April session,
which was reluctantly accepted, and Theodore Winn appointed Clerk pro tem.
Mr. Winn qualified the next day, April 9th, before Benj. Coburn, Justice of
the Peace. The first session of the County Commissioners' Court, at Sterling, com
menced June 8, 1841, with Simeon M. Coe and Hosea Jacobs present as Com
missioners. The greater part of this session, as had been the case with those
of several of the previous ones, was -taken up with county seat matters. Royal
Jacobs was allowed three additional months'to complete the horse ferry boats
in progress of construction, at Fulton, and Nelson Mason allowed $38 for serv
ing notices on grand and petit jurors, and for five day's attendance at Circuit
Court. Hosea Jacobs and Daniel Blasdell were the Commissioners present at the
September session of the Court, Mr. Blasdell having been elected at the August
election. Mr. John Roy presented his oath of office, with required bond, and
assumed the position as Clerk of the Court. The Commissioners appointed
Jacob Whipple, Porter L. Chapman and Van J. Adams, trustees of school lands
in township twenty-one, range seven east fourth principal meridian, and Wat
son Parish, Ezra B. Hewitt, and Ivory Colcord, trustees of school lands in town:
ship twenty-two north, range 6 east of the fourth principal meridian.
At the December session A. R. Thomas, P. M. Dodge and James Knox
were appointed trustees of school lands in township twenty-one, range five east
of the fourth principal meridian; D. B. Young, J. T. Atkinson and Alfred
Brown in township twenty-four, range four east; S. M. Kilgour, David Parker
and Isaac Crosby, in township twenty-one west, range three east; Samuel Mitch
ell, Stephen B. Slocumb and G. Buckingham in township twenty-one west, range
two east; Robert Booth, J. Humphrey and James McCoy, in township twenty-
two west, range three east, and Allan Graves, Jesse Johnson and W. E. Graham,
in township twenty -two west, range four east. J. McLemore was allowed $3 for
shackles, and $12.50 for boarding a prisoner named Dolan and his guard from
Lee County. Col. Johnson was licensed to keep a grocery in Sterling upon
payment of $25 and giving proper bond. At the same session it was ascer
tained that Chas. R. Rood, County Surveyor, had been absent from the State a
sufficient length of time to make him a non-resident. The office of Surveyor
was, therefore, declared vacant, and a new election ordered. The Clerk was
authorized to ' issue grocery licenses in conformity with law to any person
requesting them until next session of Court.
At the March session in 1842, an order was made changing the place of
holding elections in Union Precinct, from the house of Jonathan Haines to the
school house in Unionville. The first bill for medical attendance on pauper,
was allowed at this session, Dr. John Bates being the happy recipient of $4 for
visits, medicine and attendance on Stephen O'Connell, a pauper.
The September session allowed a writ to summons twelve men to appraise
damages that any person might sustain by the erection of a mill dam, on

64: HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Johnson's creek, full account of which will be found in the history of Fulton
township. Wm. Nevitt, School Commissioner, was allowed $20 for ten days
time taken in going to, and returning from Springfield, for school funds.
Constables were allowed one dollar per day for attendance at court. An order
was also made "that the next December term of the County Commissioners'
Court and the next May term of the Circuit Court, be holden at Lyndon, and
all future courts until -otherwise ordered.'
The December session was accordingly held at Lyndon, commencing
December 7, 1842, with Daniel Blasdell, David Mitchell and Henry Boyer,
Commissioners, present, county seat matters as usual occupying most of the
time of the court. The County Treasurer was instructed to demand of R. L.
Wilson, Clerk of the Circuit Court, the docket and jury fees, according to an
act in the session laws of 1835. The County Collector, J. W. McLemore,
presented the Treasurer's receipt for$505, in full forthe taxes collected for 1841.
The sessions of the court during 1843 were almost wholly devoted to
matters pertaining to the county seat, and county buildings. On the first day of
the August session in 1814, tho clerk was directed to notify the Clerk of the
Circuit Court that an office was prepared for him at Lyndon, but two days there
after an order was entered "that the terms of the Circuit Court be holden
hereafter at the county building in Sterling, until otherwise ordered, and that
the Clerk and Sheriff be notified of the same." At this session James A. Sweet
was credited with $638,22 for taxes collected.
At the December session, 1844, a new precinct was ordered to be formed
from Lyndon and Albany Precincts, to be called Erie Precinct, and bounded as
follows: commencing at the southeast corner of section 34, in township 20, range
4 east of the 4th principal meridian, running thence north to the northeast
corner of section 15; thence west to the northwest corner of section 14, town
ship 20, range 4 east; thence south to the town line; thence west to the county
line; thence on said county line to Roek river, and thence up Rock river to the
place of beginning.
A special session of the court was held at Lyndon in February, 1845, for the
purpose of appointing a School Commissioner to serve until the following
August election. Charles S. Deming was appointed. At the regular March
term, 1845, it was ordered that a poor tax of five cents on every $100 worth of
taxable property be assessed. It was also ordered: "that the clerk send to the
Auditor of Public Accounts for the portion of money to which the county is
entitled under the 15th provision of the 18th section of an act to establish and
maintain a general system of internal improvements of the State of Illinois, in
force February, 1837."
In April, 1845, the court ordered that four /mills on every dollar's worth of
property assessed, be levied for county revenue, and 7£ mills levied upon every
dollar's worth of personal property assessed in the precincts of Sterling,
Rapids, Round Grove, Lyndon, Prophetstown and Portland, for the purpose of
improving the navigation of Rock river. At that time it was confidently be
lieved that Rock river could be made navigable to a point a considerable distance
above Sterling, by means of improving the channel of the river, and where that
could not be done to a sufficient extent, by canal around the shallow parts. The
effort, however, proved futile, and the stream is now used to drive the great
wheels which furnish motive power to the manufactories that line its banks, a
much better purpose than being navigated by boats.
At the June session John Roy, Clerk of the Court, was instructed to cor
respond with Judge Logan, of Springfield, as to the prospect of getting the pro
portion due the county of the $200,000 set apart by the Legislature of the

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT. 65
State to the several counties which were not benefitted by the internal im
provement system of the State, and if in his opinion the money could be
obtained, he was authorized to prosecute its collection in the name of the
county. At the March term, 1846, the tax to be levied upon property assessed, was
made the same as'in 1845. It was also ordered that one-half mill be assessed
for the support of the poor. In 1848 Henry Ustick was allowed $138 for
assessing the property of the county. In 1849 the Court appointed Commis
sioners to divide the county into townships.
The County Commissioners held their last meeting in December, 1849,
when the County Court transacted county business until the Boafd of Super
visors took control in September, 1852. The first meeting of the County Court
to transact county business was held in March, 1850, with N. G. Reynolds
County Judge and W. S. Wilkinson and Thos. Brewer associate justices, pres
ent. W. S. Wilkinson resigned in 1851, and J. B. Harding filled the vacancy.
On the 9th of February, 1850, Henry Ustick, P. Bacchus Besse andW.W.
Gilbert, Commissioners appointed by the Court to divide the county of White
side into townships in pursuance of an aet of the General Assembly of the
State of Illinois, entitled an act to provide for township and county organiza
tion, etc., made the following report:
Salem township to include all of township 22 north, range 4 east of the
4th principal meridian; Fulton, all of fractional township 22 north, range 3 east;
Garden Plain, all of fractional township 21 north, range 3 east; Albany, all of
fractional township 21 north, range 2 east, and all of township 20 north,
range 2 east, in Whiteside County; Greenfield, all of township 20 north,
range 3 east; Eden, all of township 20 north, range 4 east, lying north of Rock
river, also part of township 19 north, range 4 east, lying north of Rock river
in the northeast corner of said township, and all of said township 19 north,
range 5 east, north of Rock river, lying within the southeast corner of said
township, is attached to the township of Eden for judicial purposes; Union
Grove, all of township 21 north, range 4 east; Mt. Pleasant, all of township 21
north, range 5 east; Genesee, all of township 22 north, range 6 east; Waterford,
all of township 22 north, range 5 east; Jordan, all of township 22 north, range
7 east; Sterling, all the part of township 21 north, range 7 east, lying north
and west of Rock river, commencing on the east side of said township where
the river enters it, thence down the channel of said river so as to include Can-
trail's Island, and all the islands in said township, thence down the north chan
nel of said river to where it enters township 21 north, range 6 east; Rapids, all
of that part of township 21 north, range 7 east, south and east of Rock river,
commencing where the river enters said township on the east side, thence down
the south channel of said river to the lower end of Cantrall's Island, thence
down the north channel of said river to where it enters township 21 north, range
6 east, including all islands in the river below Cantrall's Island in said county;
Montmorency, all of township 20 north, range 7 east, the township to be attached
to Rapids for the time being; Hahnaman, all of township 19 north, range 7
east; Jackson, all of township 20 north, range 6 east, lying south of Rock river;
Tampico, all of township 19 north, range 6 east; Hopkins, all of township 21
north, range 6 east, the township of Hahnaman, and the east half of Tampico
to be attached to Hopkins for judicial purposes for the time being; Homer, all
of township 20 north, range 6 east, north of Rock river, divided on the north
and south line of half section line of section 4 of said township of Homer, the
east half to be attached to Hopkins for judicial purposes, and all west of said
line to be attached to Lyndon for judicial purposes for the time being; Lyndon,
fG-8.]

66 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
all of township 20 north, range 5 east, north of Rock river; Prophetstown, all
of township 20 north, range 5 east, north of Rock river; Washington,
all of township 19 north, range 5 east, south of Rock river, the town
of Washington, west half of Tampico, and west half of Jackson to
be attached to Prophetstown for judicial purposes for the time being; Jeffer
son, all of township 19 north, range 4 east, south of Rock river, also all of
township 19 north, range 3 east, south of Rock river, and all of township 20
north, range 4 east, south of Rock river; Erie, all of township 19 north, range
4 east, north of Rock river, also all of township 19 north, range 3 east, north
of Rock river.
At the March session, 1850, M. S. Henry, attorney for the county, was
directed to sue for and recover from W. W. Fuller or his representatives, or
the Rock River Commissioners, or in whose hands the same may be, the sum
or sums of money, or other property, to which the county was entitled by virtue
of the improvement act. It was also ordered that the court room be occupied
alternately on Sundays for regular preaching by the Presbyterian and Metho
dist societies. L. D. Crandall, Collector of Revenue for the county for 1849,
made his report at this session as follows:
For County purposes  $2,102.09
For Road "  525.51
For Poor "  I3I-37
$2,758.97
CREDIT.
By Treasurer's Receipts  $1,625.45
By Percentage  67 .46
Taxes uncollectable  29.68
Delinquent Road Tax .,  6.71
Treasurer's receipts for poor orders  109.83
Per centage on same  4 . 60
Delinquent poor tax uncollectable  2.15

$1,845.88
At the September session, 1850, M. S. Henry, attorney for the county,
reported $94.34 as collected for the county from the Rock River Commission
ers, and $10 to be collected from Wm. Pollock, he owing that amount to the
Rock River Commissioners. The precinct formerly called Round Grove was
changed to Como. At the December session $18 was ordered to be placed in
the hands of N. J. Nichols to be sold for the purpose of raising $13.50 in par
money to purchase a record book. The county tax for 1851 was fixed at four
mills on the dollar, road tax at three-fourths of a mill on the dollar, and poor
tax at one-fourth of a mill on the dollar.
The next session of the County Commissioners' Court of Whiteside County,
was held in June, 1851, when $150 was ordered to be paid to W. C. Snyder,
John A. Robertson, A. C. Jackson, D. Kier and Henry Boyer, to build a bridge
across Rock creek, near Robertson's mill. The whole cost of the bridge ($236)
was ordered to be raised by assessment in the county.
Township Organization.
An election was held in 1849 in the different precincts of the county for
the purpose of allowing the electors to vote for or against township organiza
tion. The vote cast was largely in favor of it, and townships were laid off as
previously mentioned. But it was soon ascertained that there was some illegal
ity in the matter which rendered the action taken void. In June, 1851, another
election was ordered for the same purpose, which was held November 4, 1851,
and resulted as follows:

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

67

_ . Whole No.
Precinct. Votes Cast. For_ Against.
Sterling,  s6 34 22
Albany  59 io w
Portland,  .'  f2 2\ %
Como,  46 3. ,
Union Grove,  85 80 5
Prophetstown,  67 52 14
Erie,  31 11 i»
*"ult°n  45 27 i7
Lyndon,  84 79
Genesee Grove,  38 10 Tg
543 376 144
L. D. Crandall, L. H. Woodworth, and Wm. Pollock were appointed
commissioners to divide the county into townships, and to give each its name
and boundaries, under the township organization law which had been adopted at
the election of November 4, 1851.
On the 24th of February, 1852, the commissioners reported the following
townships: Fulton, Ustick, Clyde, Genesee, Jordan, Sterling, Montmorency,
Coloma, Hahnaman, Hume, (formerly Jackson) Como, (formerly Homer)
Hopkins, Tampico, Volney, (formerly Washington, Prophetstown, Portland,
Erie, Fenton, (formerly Eden) Lyndon, Mt. Pleasant, Union Grove, Garden
Plain, Albany, and Newton (formerly Greenfield), twenty-four in all. Como and
Volney were afterwards dropped, the territory of the former being added to
Hopkins, and the latter to Prophetstown. Board op Supervisors.
The first town meeting under the township organization law, was held on
the first Tuesday of April, 1852, in the following towns: Albany, Coloma,
Clyde, Erie, Fenton, Fulton, Garden Plain, Genesee, Hopkins, Jordan, Lyndon,
Mt. Pleasant, Newton, Prophetstown, Portland, Sterling, Union Grove, and
Ustick. Election was not held in Montmorency, Hahanaman, Hume, and
Tampico, as they were not fully organized at the time. Through the kind
ness of Dr. W. C. Snyder, now of Fulton, who was the first Supervisor from Union
Grove, we are enabled to add the ages, occupations, and places of birth, to the
names of the first Supervisors elected. These were taken by Dr. Snyder per
sonally at the first meeting of the Board; the table is as follows:

Town.

Name.

Age.

Occupation.

Nativity.

Albany,

W. S. Barnes,

44

Hotel Keeper,

Vermont.

Coloma,

Richard Arey,

42

Farmer,

Mass.

Clyde,

W. P. Hiddleson, .

35

"

Penn.

Erie,

Chas. R. Coburn,

45

"

New York.

Fenton,

Jas. M. Pratt,

3°

a

New York.

Fulton,

Wilson S. Wright.

36

Hotel Keeper,

New York.

Garden Plain,

S. M. Kilgour.

60

Farmer,

Penn.

Genesee,

•" Ivory Colcord,

33

u

Maine.

Hopkins,

Simeon Sampson,

40

"

Mass.

Jordan,

J. Talbot,

5i

(I

Penn.

Lyndon,

R. G. Clendenin,

40

"

Penn.

Mt. Pleasant,

A. C. Jackson,

52

It

New Jersey.

Newton,

Joseph Miller,

5°

"

Penn.

Prophetstown,

O. W. Gage,

39

II

Vermont.

Portland,

P. B. Besse,

39

"

New York.

Sterling,

Jesse Penrose,

49

£<

Penn.

Union Grove,

W. C. Snyder,

31

Physician,

New Jersey.

Ustick,

John Mackenzie,

45

Stone Mason,

Scotland.

68 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
The first annual meeting of the Board was held at Sterling, September 13,
1852. On the ballot for Chairman W. S. Barnes received 9 votes, Simeon
Sampson 3, and S. C. "Kilgour 1. Mr. Barnes was declared duly elected Chair
man of the Board. Messrs W. C. Snyder, R. G Clendenin, and S. Sampson
were appointed a committee to ascertain the indebtedness of the county.
At the June term, 1853, Messrs W. Y. Wetzell, J. M. Pratt, and
W. C. Snyder were appointed a committee to enquire into the expediency
of purchasing a farm, and erecting suitable buidings thereon, for the purpose of
aiding and maintaining the county paupers.
At the September term, 1853, the Board ordered that all orders issued by
the county prior to 1846, must be presented before September 1, 1854,
otherwise they would not be received for taxes. The proceedings of the Board
were first ordered to be published at the February term, 1855, the Sterling
Times, and the Whiteside Investigator being made the official papers.
W. Pollock was appointed Drainage Commissioner at the March term of
the Board, 1855, and the -prices of swamp lands fixed as follows: For first
quality, $3 per acre; second quality, $1.50 per acre, and third quality, 50 cents
per acre. At the same meeting it was resolved that all the swamp lands lying
north and west of Rock river, all of township 21 north, of range 7 east, and
also of township 20 north, of range 7 east, be offered for sale on the second
Monday of October, 1855. The terms of sale were as follows: 1st, 25 per
cent, cash on all sales; 2d, a credit of one year to be given on all sales under
$100, with personal security; 3d, a credit of five years to be given on all sales
over $100, the security to be real estate mortgage; and 4th, the rate of interest
to be ten per cent, per annum, payable in advance. The Board also passed a
resolution ordering the Drainage Commissioner to pay over to the School Com
missioner of the county, all moneys arising from the sale of swamp lands,
after defraying all necessary expenses, the moneys so paid to the School Com
missioner to be loaned by him, and the interest applied as other school funds.
At this meeting the indebtedness of the county for 1854 was reported to the
Board to be $1,829.24.
AttheDecember term, 1855, the Sheriff was authorized "to make a diligent
search, and bring to justice all felons, murderers, and other convicts, and pursue
them as far as his judgment shall dictate," and present his bill for such services
to the Board of Supervisors. The School Commissioner was instructed to loan
the school fund to citizens of the county, in amounts not to exceed $500.
In 1856 the Board of Supervisors of Ogle county was asked to grant leave
for the withdrawal of the records and plats of roads, and to obtain certified
copies of deeds and conveyances in the Recorder's office of that county, belong
ing to Whiteside. The Committee on Poor Farm reported that owing to the
construction of a line of public works through the county, the pauper population
was large and on the increase. Under the present system, they said, the cost
of the paupers to the county was from $1,000 to $2,000 per annum, but that
by the purchase of a farm, and erecting suitable buildings;* these persons could
be cared for in a better, more systematic, and cheaper manner. They further
reported that after viewing the location of swamp lands belonging to the
county, and noticing their . manifest disadvantages in point of location, etc.,
they had come to the conclusion to select a farm in Union Grove township,
consisting of 240 acres, of which 120 acres were enclosed and under tillage.
On the farm were a good stone house, barn and out buildings, never failing
springs, etc. The land was prairie, with the exception of 30 acres of savanna,
and 7 or 8 acres of passable timber. The price was $25 per acre, the payments
to be one-half cash, and the balance in equal payments at one and two years

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 69
time, interest at the rate of ten per cent, per annum. The Board appointed a
committee to purchase the farm on the terms stated in the report, the farm to
be known when purchased as the "County Poor Farm."
At the September term, 1857, Wm. Prothrow, Chas. Wright, and Justus
Rew, a committee appointed to procure a loan to be applied in redeeming the
county bonds, reported that owing to the extreme scarcity of money, they had
been unable to procure the funds in the county, and had therefore sent Mr.
Prothrow to Chicago, where he had met with much difficulty for several reasons,
and among them, the stringency in the money market, and the fact that the
county had allowed the first bonds to mature and go by without making adequate
provision for their payment. This distrust placed the county paper in the sec
ond class. The agent, therefore, owing to the urgent demand for money,
coupled with the fact that the county was paying three per cent, a' month on
matured bonds, sold the paper at a discount of eighteen per cent. . The commit
tee stated it as their opinion that it was the only course left to save the county,
and prevent further repudiation, believing the latter to be more costly than the
sacrifice they had been compelled to make. At the same session the Drainage
Commissioner was ordered to pay in the proceeds of the swamp land sales to
assist in defraying the indebtedness of the county, the latter to give bonds to
the School Commissioner for the amount, to be paid in five years, with interest
at ten per cent, per annum, payable semi-annually in advance. The proceed
ings of the Board of Supervisors in this and succeeding years in relation to
matters pertaining to the county buildings, etc., will be found under the head of
" County Buildings."
The Board at the January meeting in 1858, resolved to sustain the town
collectors and the County Treasurer, in receiving good Illinois and Wisconsin
currency in payment of taxes. A committee was appointed at the same session
to establish, if practicable, the title of Whiteside County to certain swamp lands
lying near the original line between Rock Island and Whiteside Counties, at the
Meredocia, the lands being originally within Whiteside County, but owing to
the establishment of a new line placed in Rock Island County. The committee
decided that if the original line could be defined the land would be found be
longing to Whiteside County, but if not it would be bad policy to prosecute the
matter with Rock Island. M. S. Henry, Esq., attorney for the county being
present, stated that he believed the lands to belong to Whiteside. He also
stated that Whiteside County was entitled to receive from the general govern
ment the purchase money received by it for so much of the swamp lands under
the act of Congress, and which can be proved as such, that were entered at the
land office, and paid for in money. Also, that the county is entitled to receive
from the general government, land warrants for so much of said swamp lands as
were entered by land warrants from the general government. Mr. Henry made
the following proposition: " I will promise to recover, and collect "or prosecute
the claim this county has against the general government or State, such moneys,
land warrants or certificates, and pay all expenses of prosecuting, recovering and
collecting said money and land warrants, the county agreeing to permit me to
retain fifty per cent, of the amount of land warrants and money secured or re
covered as aforesaid, I to give bond with security for the performance of my part
of the agreement, and the payment to the county of its share of the moneys
and land warrants." The proposition was accepted, and the bond placed at
$20y000. At the September term, 1859, Hahnaman and Tampico were granted each
a separate organization under -the township organization law. In 1860, the
Board ordered that any sheriff, constable, or other officer arresting a horse thief

70 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
should receive a reward of fifty dollars, upon the conviction of the offender.
From 1861 to 1866 inclusive, the most important proceedings of the Board were
in relation to the war, and the erection of the county buildings at Morrison.
The sketch of these proceedings can be found under tlie heads of " The Civil
War" and "County Buildings."
At the April term, 1865, George C. Wilson was appointed Commissioner
to take the census of the county for 1865, and at the September term the assess
ment of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company for 1865 was raised
fifty per cent, above the valuation fixed by them for the year.
In December, 1865, the County Clerk was ordered to convey to Nelson
Mason the interest of the county in block 57, west of Broadway, in Sterling,
being the land donated by citizens of that city for county purposes, by quit
claim deed. At the same term the committee of the Board on Railroad Freight
to whom was referred the resolution in reference to freight and transportation
reported, that by reason of the want of shipping facilities heretofore afforded to
the people of the county, and the extortionate price of freight demanded by the
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, nearly amounting to a prohibition
of sending the products of the county to market by rail, they would recommend
that the citizens of the county interested in securing a reasonable freight in
sending their products to market, meet at Sterling on the third of January, and
at Morrison on the eighteenth day of January, 1865, to take into consideration
the improvement of the rapids of the Mississippi river, the construction of slack
water navigation on Rock river, and the connection of the Mississippi river with
Lake Michigan by a ship canal from Rock river to the lake by way of the Illin
ois and Michigan canal.
At the April term, 1866, the County Clerk was directed to draw an order
on the Treasurer for $800, that being the amount apportioned to Whiteside to
aid in the survey of Rock river with a view of making a water communication
between Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the Mississippi river by way of the former
river. In September, 1857, the fifty dollar bounty for conviction of horse
thieves was rescinded, and another adopted to pay $300 to the person or persons
securing the arrest and conviction of any one stealing a horse from a citizen of
Whiteside County. At the same term Hon. W. W. Heaton, Judge of the 22d
Judicial Circuit, was ordered to be paid $100 for each term of the Circuit Court
held in Whiteside County, so long as he remains Judge of the Whiteside County
Circuit Court, unless otherwise ordered.
At the December term, 1868, the Board adopted a resolution requesting
the Representative from the district of which Whiteside formed a part, to pro
cure the passage of an enabling act allowing Whiteside County to donate $20,000
to the Illinois Soldiers' College at Fulton, as an endowment fund. A resolu
tion was also adopted requesting the same Representative to secure the repeal
of the act of the General Assembly, of 1854, approving and confirming the
report of the single Commissioner, who, under the act of 1853, had the boun
dary line between Rock Island and Whiteside surveyed and located, whereby
Whiteside lost several thousand acres of land, and which caused great incon
venience as to schools, and the rights of franchise of citizens of Whiteside
County. The following resolution offered by Supervisor W. M. Kilgour, was adopted
at the December session in 1869:
Whereas, The subject of the removal of the National Capital to the valley of the
Mississippi is being agitated by the people of the United States, and Whereas, that
great river of the West with its navigable tributaries touches nearly every Southern and
Western State, and washes the western boundary of our county, and Whereas, the great
central route from the New England and Middle States by rail to the West and Pacific

COUNTY SEAT AFFAIRS. 71
States, and to the East by way of the West, crosses the great river on the western bor
der of Whiteside County, therefore
Resolved, By the Supervisors of Whiteside County, that said Board by and with
the leave of the State of Illinois, do hereby offer and agree to cede to the Federal Gov
ernment all authority of law held or exercised by said Board of Supervisors in or over
said county of Whiteside, provided said Federal Government locate said Federal Capital
within said county.
A copy of the resolution was ordered to be sent to the Hon. John A.
Logan, Member of Congress at Large, Hon. H. C. Burchard, Member of Con
gress from this District, and Hon. James McCoy, Member of the Constitutional
Convention then in session at Springfield.
Mr. Kilgour also offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Board take this occasion to express to Hon. W. S. Wilkinson,
the respected retiring Clerk of this Board, their high appreciation of his distinguished
services during his long continuance in office, rendered the more so by the fact that he
retires voluntarily to give room to one who, through misfortune in war, is incapacitated
for the hardest physical labor, and while we shall miss his genial face, able counsel and
thorough experience in the transaction of the business of the Board, we can but wish
him happiness and success in whatever line of life, private or public, he may see fit to
pursue, or be called upon to fulfil.
At the January term in 1872, the bounty for the arrest and conviction of
horse thieves, was reduced to $100, but in the April term following it was again
raised to $300, and each town in the county requested to form a society for the
prevention of horse thieving, and the arrest and conviction of all offenders.
At the July term of the same year the Supervisor of each town in the county
was appointed a Commissioner to use due diligence and dispatch in securing the
destruction of Canada thistles. In December, 1874, the resolution of the
Board authorizing the payment of $300 for the arrest and conviction of horse
thieves was rescinded, to take effect on and after January 1, 1875.
County Seat Affairs.
The first act of the' General Assembly of the State in relation to a county
seat in Whiteside County was approved February 21, 1839, by the Hon. Thos.
Carlin, the then Governor.
The act provided that the legal voters of Whiteside County should meet
at the respective places of holding elections, on the first Monday in May, 1839,
and vote for the permanent point or points for the seat of justice. In the
event of more than one place receiving votes, another election should be held
on the Monday four weeks next following, and on Monday of each succeeding
four weeks, until some one place should receive a majority of all the votes cast
at any one election. Under the aet any individual of the county could offer
donations in land whereon to locate the seat of justice, which offers or proposals,
after being posted up at three public places in each precinct, should become
binding on the individual making the same, and the person or persons offering
such donation at the place selected by the legal voters, execute a good and
sufficient deed to the County Commissioners of the county within four weeks
after a selection of the location. . The act also provided that the County
Commissioners cause public buildings to be erected without unnecessary delay.
In pursuance of this act an election was held on the first Monday of May,
1839, in the different precincts in the county, to locate the county seat, but no
place having received a majority of the votes, another election was held on
Monday four weeks following, the result being the same. Four more elections
were held, when finally at the one held on the 23d of September, 1839, Lyndon
received a majority of all the votes cast, and was declared duly elected the

72 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
permanent seat of justice of Whiteside County, by C. G. Woodruff and Adam R.
Hamilton, the Justices of the Peace named in the act for that purpose.
Lyndon was to all intents the county seat prior to that time, as the County
Commissioners' Court had held its sessions there since May 16, 1839. On the
11th of February, 1840, a contract was entered into between John Roy and
Augustine Smith, on the part of the people of Lyndon, and Thomas C. Gould,
by which the latter agreed to construct a good and substantial building, 26 feet
long, 17 feet wide, and one and a half stories high, on lot 51, in block 10, in
the town of Lyndon, to be used for holding courts, and other public purposes.
The building was erected, and used for county and court purposes whenever
required, until June 1841 when the county seat was moved to Sterling.
It appears that the proprietors of the town of Sterling had, on the 3rd of
May, 1839, under the provisions of the act of February 21, 1839, offered do
nations in land whereon to locate the seat of justice, consisting of eighty acres
of land bounded as follows: "Beginning at a point on Broadway and Fourth
street, being the center of the town; thence west 50 rods; thence north 120
rods; thence east 90 rods; thence south 120 rods; thence west 30 rods to the
place of beginning, containing sixty acres, and the balance, being twenty acres,
lying partly between the said sixty acres and the river, and to be bounded by
streets and alleys, and extending to the river, the 60 acres to be deeded to the
County Commissioners by the proprietors of the town formerly known as Har
risburg, and the 20 acres by those of the town formerly known as "Chatham."
Besides the donation of these lands the proprietors of the above places agreed
to pay to the County Commissioners $1,000 each for county purposes, in equal
payments in five, six, nine and twelve months from the date of the location of
the county seat, provided the public buildings for the county be placed on block
58, west of Broadway, that being a central position in the town.
It was not, however, until 1840 that Sterling made any public movement
toward securing the location of the county seat. Then application was made to
the County Commissioners' Court for a re-canvass of the vote cast at the
election of September 23, 1839, and the application was granted. At that
election the regularly appointed judges of one of the precincts of the county
refused to serve, and other judges were appointed in their places who received,
counted, and returned the votes cast. The returns from this precinct were re
jected by C. G. Woodruff and A. R. Hamilton, the Justices of the Peace
named in the act of February 21, 1839, to canvass the votes, as irregular, and
this rejection gave Lyndon a majority of the votes for the county seat. The
election of a County Commissioner on the 22d of February, 1840, however,
gave Sterling a majority of the members of the Commissioners' Court, and as we
have stated a recanvass was ordered, at which the votes of the rejected
precinct was counted, making the result in the county stand, 264 votes for
Sterling, 253 for Lyndon, and 4 for Windsor.
Upon this result being ascertained, the County Commissioners' Court, on
the 8th of April, 1841, caused the following order to be entered of record:
"Whereas, by virtue of an act of the General Assembly of the State of
Illinois, passed on the 21st day of February, 1-839, providing for the location of
the county seat, or seat of justice of Whiteside County and State aforesaid, to
the end therefore, we the County Commissioners in and for said county, from
a fair and impartial examination of the poll books, now in the Clerk's office of
the County Commissioners' Court, do verily believe that the people of said
county have placed the county seat at the town of Sterling, in said county, do
therefore order the Circuit and County Commissioners' Courts to be holden in and
at the town of Sterling, in said county, and do direct this, order to be put on

COUNTY SEAT AFFAIRS. 7.3
the record of this court, and that a copy of this order be served on the Sheriff of
this county, and also on the clerk of the Circuit Court. Passed and ordered by
the court. Theo. Winn, Clerk, April 8, 1841."
The donations offered hy Sterling were changed several times, but at the
December term, 1841, of the County Commissioners' Court, it was ordered "that
the county house and other county buildings be erected on the center of block
57, west of Broadway, or within forty feet of said center." The court house
building was ordered to be of the following dimensions: forty feet square, the
lower story nine feet high in the clear, with a passage ten feet wide, and the
upper story twelve feet high in the clear, the whole to be divided into suitable
rooms. The building was completed sufficiently to allow courts to be held in it
in 1844, butwas not wholly finished until later.
The first term of the County Commissioners' Court held at Sterling, after
the order placing the County Seat at that town, commenced June 8, 1841, and
the succeeding terms were also held there up to and including the September
term, 1842, when Lyndon having secured a majority in the Board of Commis
sioners, an order was entered removing the County Seat back to that place, and
the Commissioners accordingly met and held their court there at the December
term, 1842.
So uncertain, however, was the tenure by which either place could expect
to hold the coveted location, that the passage of an act was procured at the
session of the General Assembly in 1843, appointing G. W. Harrison and John
McDonald, of Jo Daviess County, Joshua Harper, of Henry County, Leonard
Andrus, of Ogle County, and R. H. Spicer, of Mercer County, Commissioners
to locate the County Seat of Whiteside. The act was approved February 28,
1843, and provided that the Commissioners, or a majority of them, should meet
at the town of Albany on the first Monday in May, 1843, or within thirty days
thereafter, and locate the County Seat at the place which would most conduce
to the public good of Whiteside County, and proceed to examine such parts of
the county as they might think proper to so locate it, and when the location
should be made, make out and return to the Clerk of the County Commissioners'
Court, a certificate of such location. The act provided that the Commissioners
should in no case locate the County Seat at a place where a donation of not
less than thirty acres of land for county purposes, could not be obtained. It
also provided that the County Commissioners should as soon as convenient after
the location of the County Seat by the State Commissioners, cause to be erected
a suitable court house, and other necessary buildings for public use, and all the
public officers required by law to keep their offices at the county seat were to
be notified to remove their offices to that location.
In accordance with this act, three of the Commissioners, Joshua Harper,
Leonard Andrus, and R. H. Spicer, met at Albany at the specified time, and
then proceeded to examine different locations in the county. They finally agreed
upon Lyndon, and on the 27th of May made the following report:
"We, the undersigned, Commissioners appointed by an act of the Legisla
ture of the State of Illinois, passed at its last session to locate the seat of justice
of Whiteside County, in said State, do hereby certify that we have performed
the duty enjoined upon us by said act, (having been first duly sworn as the law
requires) and have located the said seat of justice of Whiteside County upon
the south half of the southeast quarter of section 16, in township 20, north of
the base line" of range 5 east of the 4th principal meridian, believing the location
most conduciva to the public good of said county. Given under our hands and
seals this 27t^ay of May, A. D., 1843."
This apparently settled the question in favor of Lyndon as a permanent
[H-9-J

74 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
location for the County Seat. Lyndon donated forty acres of land adjoining"
the old town to the county for public purposes, being described as the southeast
quarter of the southeast quarter of section 16, township 20, north of range 5
east of the 4th principal meridian; but no county buildings were erected upon
it, the courts and county officers being provided for in buildings situated in the
village. Matters rested in this manner until April 14, 1846, when the County
Commissioners entered an order that the grand and petit jurors elected at their
March term to attend the May term of the Circuit Court to be held at Lyndon,
be summoned to attend at Sterling instead of Lyndon, at the May term of that
Court. This order was made by reason of Sterling claiming that under the
order of the County Commissioners' Court county buildings had been erected
and finished at that place, and had been accepted by the Commissioners, and
that therefore the seat of justice should be removed there. It was also claimed
that suitable buildings for county business had not been erected at Lyndon,
upon ground donated to the county. After this the terms of the Circuit Court
were held at Sterling, although the County Commissioners continued to hold
their sessions at Lyndon.
Lyndon, however, was determined not to yield to the order of the Commis
sioners without a struggle, and after the Circuit Court had been moved to Ster
ling under the order just mentioned, applied through Thomas W. Trumbull and
Augustine Smith, two of her citizens, for a mandamus compelling the Commis
sioners to make an order removing the Circuit Court back to the old location.
The principal grounds upon which the mandamus was asked, were that the se"at
of justice had been permanently located at Lyndon by Commissioners appointed
under an act of the Legislature of the State, and that there were suitable build
ings at that place for holding courts, and for county purposes. The Court, upon
hearing the case, refused to grant the writ, holding from the facts shown, that
the buildings used for county purposes at Lyndon were not upon the ground
donated by it to the county as was required by the statute. i
At the session of the Fifteenth General Assembly an act was passed
entitled "'An act declaring the town of Sterling the County Seat of Whiteside
County for a time, and under the conditions therein mentioned," which was
approved by the Governor, February 16, 1847. One of the conditions, and the
principal one mentioned in this act, was that the County Seat should be located
at Sterling until such time as the county paid a sum sufficient to compensate
the donors of lands and money in that town, for county purposes. This sum
amounted to several thousand dollars, which the people of the county felt illy
able to pay at that time. No steps were, therefore, taken to raise the amount.
Under this act the County Commissioners at their June term in 1847,
ordered the removal of the County Seat to Sterling, and held their next session
there on the 7th of September. The Court House had been finished and prop
erly fitted up for county offices, and for holding the courts, in the meantime, so
that comfortable and convenient quarters were afforded to all having connection
with court and county business.
It was now Lyndon's turn 'to obtain an act from the Legislature looking
towards a re-location of the County Seat at that place, and the efforts put for
ward to this end secured the passage of an act entitled " An act permanently
to locate the seat of justice of Whiteside County," approved February 6, 1849.
The first section of the act recites " that in pursuance of the fifth section of
the seventh article of the constitution, the southeast quarter of the southeast
quarter of section 16, in township 24, of range 5 east of the 4th principal mer
idian, in the county of Whiteside, is hereby fixed as the place to which it is pro
posed by this aet to remove the seat of justice of said county, as hereinafter

COUNTY SEAT AFFAIRS. 75
provided; and the said place so fixed upon is hereby called and named Lyndon."
The second section provided that the legal voters of the county should meet at
their respective places of holding elections, on the first Tuesday in April, 1849,
and proceed to vote according to law, as in other cases of elections, to perma
nently locate the seat of justice of the county, either at Lyndon or at Sterling,
the latter place being the then temporary seat of justice, and whichever place
should receive a majority of the legal votes given at the election, should there
after be the seat of justice of the county. It was also provided in the act that
any person capable of contracting, might make a written offer o.r offers of land,
money or other property at the March term of the County Commissioners'
Court, in 1849, to aid in the erection of public buildings in the county, and
that the offers should be entered of record, and be binding upon the person or
persons making the same, in case Lyndon should be selected as the" permanent
seat of justice. The act also repealed the act entitled " An act declaring the
town of Sterling the County Seat of Whiteside County for a time, under the
conditions therein mentioned," approved February 16, 1847, and revived and
continued in force the third and fourth sections of an act entitled "An act to
permanently locate the seat of justice of the county of Whiteside," approved
February 28, 1843, provided, that the first act should not be repealed unless the
seat of justice should be removed to Lyndon, under the provisions of this act.
In accordance with the provisions of this act James M. Pratt offered to
donate 13 64-100 acres of land, and Augustine Smith 36 36-100 acres, in
Lyndon, making together fifty acres, upon which to erect county buildings, and
the citizens of Lyndon $1,432 in aid of the same purpose, and these offers were
ordered spread upon their records by the County Commissioners at their March
term, in 1849.
The election was duly held under the act on the third day of April, 1849,
and resulted as follows :
Precincts. For Sterling. For Lyndon. Precincts . For Sterling. For Lyndon.
Sterling  134 3
Prophetstown,  4 7°
Portland,  8 73
Albany,  ioo 13
Genesee Grove,  57 7
Round Grove,  §3 33
For Sterling; 519 votes; for Lyndon 451; majority in favor of Sterling 68. \
This vote settled the location of the county seat at Sterling until 1857.
During the session of the General Assembly of the State that year an aet was
passed entitled "An act for the removal of the seat of Justice of Whiteside coun
ty," which was approved by the Governor on the 7th of February. The act ¦
provided that an election should be held in the several townships of the county,
at the time of holding the general election in November, 1857, at which time
the legal voters of the county qualified to vote for Representatives in the Gen
eral Assembly, should vote for or against the removal of the seat of justice
from Sterling to Morrison, in section 18 of township 21, range 5, and the re
turns made to the Clerk of the County Court in the manner provided by law
for the election of Justices of the Peace. In case a majority of the votes cast
were in favor of the removal, the seat of justice would then be declared located
in said section 18, in Morrison, provided, however, that the removal should not
take place unless a good and sufficient deed should be made conveying in fee
simple, free from all incumbrance, to the county, a certain tract of land not less
. than three hundred feet square in section 18, the deed to be executed and de
livered within a time to be fixed by the Board of Supervisors after they had
selected a site for the county buildings, and provided further that the proprietors

Fulton,  n 71
Erie,  i 34
Rapids,  9
Union Grove,  112 16
Lyndon,   125

Fenton, 
Newton,  77 2
Albany  no 6
Garden Plain  10S
Union Grove,  193
Mt. Pleasant  340 16
Clyde  62 7
Ustick,  in 1
Fulton,  199 116

76 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
of the town of Morrison pay to the county the sum of $3,000 tb be applied to
wards the payment of the county buildings. The selection was not to be con
fined to the village plat of Morrison, but might be made upon any part of sec
tion 18. The election under the act was held on the third day of November, 1857,
with the following result :
Towns. For Removal. Against. Towns. For Removal. Against.
Jordan,  I 136
Sterling,  II 711
Coloma,  '  69
Hume,  2 37
Hopkins  21 141
Genesee,  13 104
Lyndon,  60 101
Erie,  32 63
Portland,  85 54
Prophetstown,  209 8
For removal 1631 votes, against removal 1572 ; majority in favor of re
moval, 59.
At the November term, 1857, of the Board of Supervisors, Messrs. W. S.
Barnes, A. Hurd, H. C. Fellows, P. B. Besse and D. 0. Coe, were appointed
commissioners to examine and select the ground, at Morrison, upon which to
erect the county buildings, and procure the deeds for the same, and also to re
ceive the • $3,000 donated by the citizens of Morrison.
The Commissioners reported at the next meeting of the Board that they
had selected a tract of land in section 18, township 21 north, of range 5 east,
upon which to erect the county buildings, bounded as follows : beginning at a
stake bearing north 24 degrees east, two hundred and fourteen feet distant
from the northwest corner of block 1 of the town of Morrison, within section
18; thence south 160 feet; thence south 66 degrees east, 300 feet parallel
with the north line of said block one ; thence at right angles, north 24 degrees
east, 300 feet ; thence at right angles, north 66 degrees west, 364 feet ; thence
at right angles, south 24 degrees west, 152 feet to the place of beginning, being
the same land upon which the county buildings now stand. The Committee
also reported that they had received a deed for the land made and executed ac
cording to the provisions of the act of the General Assembly, together with the
three thousand dollars donated by the citizens of Morrison.
The county offices were moved to Morrison on the 3d of May, 1858, and
occupied temporary places until the present buildings were erected. The
County Seat since that time has remained fixed at Morrison.
County Buildings.
The removal of the county seat from Sterling to Morrison in 1858 necessi
tated the erection of new county buildings throughout, and the Board of
Supervisors set themselves at work with commendable energy to secure the
construction of adequate edifices at the earliest possible period, having in view
constantly the three great objects, beauty, safety, and durability. Previous to
the erection of the proper buildings the courts and county offices were provided
for at different places in the city. Court House.
The contract for building the court house was awarded to John A. McKay,
of Springfield, the work to be done under the superintendence of a committee
composed of E. B. Warner, R. G. Clendenin, and W. S. Wilkinson. The con
tract was let on the 26th of December, 1863, and the structure was to.be
completed by the first of January, 1865, at a cost of $14,000. The bidding for

COUNTY SEAT AFFAIRS. 77
the work was quite spirited, four of the bidders residing outside of the county.
In size the court house is eighty-five feet in length and fifty-five feet in width.
The court room is a circle fifty-five feet in diameter, with a gallery on the
second floor. On the first floor in the south wing is the Sheriff's office, the
main entrance hall, and stairs leading to the second story. In the second story
of this wing is the grand jury room, fitted up with necessary tables and seats,
in which the Board of Supervisors also hold their meetings. On the first floor
of the north wing is the law library, which is also used when required as a
consultation room for counsel and clients, and on the second floor of this wing
is the petit jury room. The heighth of the court room to the ceiling is twenty-
three feet. Height to the top of the observatory, seventy feet. The walls of
the building are of brick, with corners of cut stone. The structure occupies a
position on beautifully elevated grounds, and from the dome can be seen for
many miles around, one of the finest and most luxuriant agricultural sections of
the State. The diagrams and specifications of the building were drawn by Mr.
B. S. Foreman, Architect, of Morrison. The building was completed in the
spring of 1866, and at the April term of the Board of Supervisors of that year
the Committee on Public Buildings reported that John McKay, the contractor,
had been paid the sum of $14,000, being the contract price for furnishing
materials and labor, and erecting the structure, and that the work had been
done substantially in accordance with the plans and specifications. Mr. McKay
was also paid a further sum of $668.80 for extra labor and materials, making
the whole cost of the court house $14,668.80.
Clerks and Treasurer s Offices.
At the April term of the Board of Supervisors in 1862 an appropriation
of $1,200 was made for erecting a building for County Clerk's, Treasurer's and
Circuit Clerk's and Recorder's offices, the work to be done under the supervision
of E. B. Warner, R. G. Clendenin, and A. Farrington. The building is of stone
with iron shutters, fire proof, and divided into three rooms so as to accommodate
the different county officers who occupy it. It is situated on the western
part of the county grounds, on the same eminence with the court house,
and was completed during the year. County Jail.
The first resolution to erect a county jail was passed by the Board of
Supervisors at their January term in 1858, and the contract let to Charles
Neilson at the March term following, for $10,100. Thefirstcost of the jail was
limited to. $6,000, but that sum was found insufficient to erect an adequate
building for the need of the county. The additional sum of $4,100 became
necessary to construct it, and add to it the jailor's residence. Supervisors
W. S. Barnes, H. C. Fellows and A. C. Jackson were appointed a committee
to receive bids, award the contract, and also superintend the construction of
the building. The structure was fully completed under the contract in the
winter of 1858 and '59. For several years the building answered the purpose
as originally constructed, but in 1876 it became apparent that improvements
should be made to it, and at the September session of the Board of Supervisors
in that year, an appropriation of $4,900 was ordered for the purpose of repairing
and rebuilding the inside, the work to be done under the superintendence oil
Supervisors Besse, Pennington, Milnes, Spafford, and Wallace. The committee
let the contract to P. J. Pauley & Bro., of St Louis, who at once commenced
work, and in December of the same year it was completed and accepted by the
county. The improvements consisted in the substitution of eight iron eells,

78 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
capable of accommodating four prisoners each, in place of the illy ventilated
stone cells. The new cells are ten feet deep, six and one-fourth feet wide, and
seven feet high, with a steel corridor five feet wide and twenty-six feet long in
front. The jailor's residence is a fine two story brick building, with basement,
on the south front of, and connected with the jail.
County Poor House and Farm.
¦ At the June term of the Board of Supervisors, in 1853, a committee con
sisting of W. C. Snyder, Wm. Y. Wetzell and James M. Pratt, was appointed
to enquire into the expediency of purchasing a farm and erecting suitable
buildings for the purpose of helping and maintaining the county paupers, who
afterwards reported that they had selected a farm in Union Grove township
consisting of two hundred and forty acres, of which one hundred and twenty
acres were enclosed and under cultivation. The farm was reported to be prai
rie with the exception of thirty acres of savanna, and about eight acres of pas
sable wood land, and was watered by never failing springs. The buildings con
sisted of a good stone house, barn and outbuildings of wood. The cost of the
farm was $25 per acre, and the payments to be one half cash, and the balance
in one and two years' time with interest at ten per cent, per annum.. The report
was accepted, and a committee appointed to purchase the farm at the terms
reported, the farm to be known as the "County Poor Farm." This farm was
used for the purposes for which it was purchased, until 1869, when it was sold,
the right of occupation being, however, reserved until April 1, 1870.
At the April term in 1869, the Board of Supervisors appointed James M.
Pratt, L. S. Pennington and H. R. Sampson a committee to select another and
more suitable location for a poor farm, which should be near a railroad, the
committee also being authorized to erect upon it suitable buildings of stone or
brick. At the July term the committee reported that they had selected a farm
containing one hundred and eight acres belonging to Wm. Knox, on the Ster
ling and Morrison road, just north of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and
situated in section 23, township 21 north, range 5 east, the price to be $45 per
acre. Upon the presentation of the report the committee were directed to
purchase the farm of Mr. Knox, and proceed to the erection of buildings, the
cost of the latter not to exceed $15,000. Bids for the construction of the Poor
House upon the plan adopted by the committee were at once advertised for, and
at the September term, 1869, the contract awarded to Switzer & Kennedy, of
Morrison, for $11,600. They were also to receive an additional sum of $400 for
stone caps to doors and windows, and for grouting the bottom of the basement,
as their bid did not include these additions. The heating furnace, cisterns and
outbuildings were not included in the contract. The Poor House building and
the barn were completed in the summer of 1870, and at the September term of
the Board the committee reported that they had paid Switzer & Kennedy $11,-
900 for^-the construction of the former, and $1,548 for the latter, as provided
in the contract.
The Poor House is 72 by 50 feet in size and three stories high with base
ment. On the ground floor are the family kitchen, paupers' kitchen and dining
room, cellar, furnace room, two bath rooms, two pantries and the store rooms.
The first floor contains a large sitting room in the center of the building and
two bed rooms in the rear. On either side of the sitting room is a vestibule,
which on one side connects with an office, and on the other with a parlor. Back
of the parlor and office are four sleeping rooms, and two cells. The second
floor is divided into twelve apartments, in four of which are capacious closets.
The building is divided into two distinct portions, one intended for the use of

CIRCUIT COURT. 79
male, and the other of female inmates. In the front of the house are fine stone
steps with iron railings leading to an extensive porch, surmounted by an elabo
rately finished portico. The general architecture of the exterior, as well as the
interiorof the house from the basement to the attic, shows that the whole work
was done by master hands. The farm lies on both sides of the road, the land
being slightly rolling, and admirably adapted for agricultural purposes. There
is a fine apple orchard on'the place, besides a great variety of small fruits such
as grapes, raspberries, plums, currants, etc. Taken altogether the County
Poor Farm affords a home which equals that of many outside of its precincts,
who scorn the name of pauper, and the fact that a liberal and ample provision
is thus made for the poor of the county, reflects great credit upon the generos
ity and humanity of its inhabitants. County Insane Building.
It soon appeared after the County Poor House became occupied
that better and more ample accommodation was necessary for the care and
protection of the insane poor. The people of the county determined early that
this unfortunate class of the population should have the best care that could be
given them, and hence had assigned to them proper rooms in the old as well as
the new County Poor House. With the increase of population came an in
crease of the number of these persons, demanding more full accommodation
which could only be properly effected by the construction of a separate build
ing. At the September term of the Board of Supervisors, in 1874, it was
therefore recommended that an appropriation be made for the erection of a
building for this purpose on the County Poor Farm. The committee on paupers,
of the Board, was at the same time appointed a special building committee to
procure the necessary plans and specifications, and report them, with an esti
mate of the entire expense of erecting the structure, at a special meeting of the
Board to be held as soon as the report could be prepared. ' The special meet
ing was held in December, 1874, when the following plan of the building was
adopted. The building to be 32 by 44 feet, to stand detached from the main
county building at a distance of eighteen or twenty feet, running north and
south, and to consist of a stone basement ten feet in height, and two stories of
brick each ten feet high, containing sixteen cells, with ample hall and room on
each floor for recreation and exercise. The contract for constructing the build
ing was let to J. A. & A. McKay, of Morrison, at a cost of $5,995, to which
$100 was afterwards added for flues. James B. Mason was appointed Superin
tendent of the work, and Mr. Piatt, of Sterling, as arbitrator to whom all matter
of changes as to prices should be referred. On the 29th of November, 1875.
the committee reported to the Board of Supervisors that they had on that day
accepted the Insane Building as completed, and settled with the contractors, J.
A. & A. McKay, the total cost of the building being $7,429,47.
Circuit Court.
The first Circuit Court for the county of Whiteside was ordered to be held
on the second Monday of September, 1839, at Lyndon, but for some reason was
not held until the Thursday after the third Monday in April, 1840. At that
term there were present, Hon. Dan. Stone, Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit,
Erastus G. Nichols, Clerk, Shelton L. Hall, Circuit Attorney, and James C.
Woodburn, Sheriff. The following attorneys were also present: Harvey &
Woodruff, Edward Southwick, Hugh Wallace, J. M. Goodhue, James McCoy,
Knox & Drury, Isaiah H. Marshall, Isaac Hopkins, L. B. Knowlton, Mr. Fraser,
Mr. Evans, Mr, Davidson and Mr, Kellogg,

80 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.

The Sheriff returned in Court the following named persons as grand jurors:
Jason Hopkins, Wiatt Cantrall, Henry Burlingame, Jacob Sells, James Talbot,
Jeremiah Johnson, James Row, Hiram Harmon, Jabez Warner, W. F. Van Nor
man, A. W. Newhall, Brainard Orton, John C. Pratt, Jonathan Haines, D. B.
Young, Wm. Wick, John Wick, Erastus Allen, P. B. Vannest, David Mitchell,
Hosea Jacobs, Daniel Beed, Edmund Cowdrey and C. G. Woodruff. The Court
ordered the Sheriff to summon six other persons, having the qualifications of
grand jurors, from the bystanders, and the following were summoned accord
ingly: *Wm. Heaton, Ivory Colcord, A. J. Matson, Horatio Wells, Chas. R. Rood
and Hezekiah Brink. Wiatt Cantrall and C. G. Woodruff were afterwards dis
charged for cause. ,
Erastus G. Nichols resigned the position of Clerk, and R. L. Wilson was
appointed by the Court in his stead.
The first case entered upon the docket was entitled " William R. Cox vs.
Hutchins Crocker, Assumpsit." Upon its being called the plaintiff's attorney
appeared, and on his motion it was ordered that the suit be dismissed at plain
tiff's costs.
Isaiah H. Marshall, Joseph Knox and Isaac Hopkins were, upon motion,
admitted as attorneys and counsellors of the Court ex gratia.
Writs were issued against John Baker, A. M. Wing, Alfred Slocumb,
Henry Boyer, A. C. Jackson, Harry Smith, John Chapman, Isaac Merrill and
W. S. Barnes, for contempt of court in failing to attend as grand jurors, and also
against J. A. Reynolds, D. P. Brewer, Lyman Blake, H. F. Rice, J. T. Atkin
son, Joseph Town, Charles Clark, Ivy Buck, Chester Lusk, Van J. Adams and
E. Wick, for contempt in failing to attend as petit jurors.
At the May term of the Circuit Court, in 1841, the first divorce case of
which there is any record in Whiteside County, was entered upon the docket.
In that suit Mary Beeman prayed for a divorce <i, vinculo from her unworthy
liege lord, James Beeman. The first criminal trial in the county was also held
at this term of the Circuit Court, and was entitled " The People vs. Daniel
Dolan, rape." The case was tried on a change of venue from Lee. The jury
found Dolan guilty, and fixed his punishment at three years in the penitentiary.
The following are the circuits to which Whiteside has been attached,
together with the counties composing them, and the times fixed for holding
Court in Whiteside.
By an act of the General Assembly approved March 2, 1839, the 6th Judi
cial Circuit included the counties of Rock Island, Whiteside, Carroll, Stephen
son, Winnebago, Boone and Jo Daviess, and provided that terms of the Court
be held in Whiteside County on the second Mondays of April and September.
The act of 1840, however, changed the time to the first Thursdays after the
third Mondays in April and September.
The act approved February 23, 1841, gave to the 6th Judicial Circuit the
counties of Jo Daviess, Stephenson. Winnebago, Boone, Lee, Carroll, White
side, Rock Island, Mercer and Henry, and fixed the time for holding courts in
Whiteside on the second Monday of May, and the third Monday of September,
in each year.
By the act approved February 27, 1847, the counties of Lee, Whiteside,
Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Carroll and Jo Daviess were made to constitute
the 6th Judicial Circuit, with the terms in Whiteside to be held at Sterling on
the third Monday in April, and the fourth Monday in August of each year. In
1849 the Circuit was changed so as to include the counties of Jo Daviess, Ste
phenson, Ogle, Lee, Whiteside and Carroll, with the terms in Whiteside to be
held on the third Mondays in April and September, and was again changed in

PROBATE AND COUNTY COURTS. 81
1851 so as to include Henry, Rock Island, Ogle, Lee, Carroll and Whiteside,
with terms in the latter on the third Mondays in April, and the first Mondays
in October in each year. Between 1851 and 1857 the composition of the Cir
cuit remained the same, while the terms of Court in Whiteside were changed
twice, first in 1852 to the second Mondays in April and fourth Mondays in Octo
ber, and in 1855 to the second Mondays in April and the second Mondays in
October. The act approved February 5, 1857, provided that the counties of Lee,
Ogle, Whiteside and Carroll should compose a Judicial Circuit to be called the
22d Judicial Circuit, with the' terms of Court in Whiteside to be held on the
fourth Mondays in March and October. This act also provided for the election
of the Judge and a State's Attorney. In 1859 terms of Court were ordered for
Whiteside on the third Monday in January and May, and the sec'ond Monday in
August, and in 1871 the terms were increased to four, to be held on the fourth
Monday in August, first Monday in December and second Monday in March and
June. By the act of March 28, 1873, Whiteside, Carroll, Ogle and Lee were
made the 3d Circuit, terms unchanged; and by the act approved June 2, 1877,
Winnebago, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll, Whiteside, Ogle and Lee were con
stituted the 13th Circuit, with three Judges. The terms of Court in Whiteside
so far have not been changed.
Following is a list of the Judges of the Circuit Court to the present date;
also a list of the State's Attorneys in the Circuit to 1872, when the office was
abolished so far as it applied to Judicial Circuits, and a State's Attorney was
elected in each county in the State :
Judges:— 1840, Dan Stone; 1841-48, Thos. C. Browne; 1849-50, Benj.
R. Sheldon; 1851-'55, Ira 0. Wilkinson; 1855-'56, J. Wilson Drury; 1857-'61,
John V. Eustace; 1862-77, Wm. W. Heaton.
State's Attorneys for the Circuit: — 1840-42, Shelton L. Hall; 1843-44,
Jos. B. Wells; 1845, Jas. L. Loop; 1845-'46, Thos. L. Turner; 1847-'52,
Henry B. Stillman; 1853-'57, Wm. T. Miller; 1858-'60, Robt. C. Burchell;
1861-72, David McCartney.
County State's Attorney: — 1872-77, David McCartney.
Probate and County Courts.
By an act of the General Assembly, approved March 4, 1837, each county
of the State was authorized to elect one additional Justice of the Peace, "to be
styled by way of eminence and distinction, the Probate Justice of the Peace."
These Justices were vested with the same powers and jurisdiction in civil cases,
and were subject to the same rules of law, as other Justices of the Peace. In
addition to these judicial powers, they were vested with the following minister
ial powers: To administer all oaths or, affirmations concerning any matter or thing
before them; to issue and grant letters of administration, testamentary, and
of guardianship, and repeal the same; to take probate of wills, and repeal the
same; to determine the person or persons entitled to letters of administration,
or to letters testamentary, and in general to do and perform all things concerning
the granting of letters testamentary, of administration or. of guardianship; to
receive, file, and record inventories, appraisement and sale bills; to require
executors, administrators and guardians to exhibit and settle their accounts, and
settle for the estates and property in their hands, and for that purpose to issue
citations and attachments into every county in the State, to be executed by the
Sheriff of the county.
The first record pf this court in Whiteside County, was made on the 29th
[G-io.]

82 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
of October, 1839, where the will of Joseph H. Carr was admitted to probate.
Ivory Colcord and Wm. Wick were appointed administrators under the will,
and gave bond in the sum of $800. The first Probate Justice of the Peace
elected was Daniel B. Young, who was commissioned June 6, 1839, and held the
office until February 8, 1842, when Robert L. Wilson assumed the duties. Col.
Wilson continued in the position until 1849, when the powers and duties of the
office were transferred to the County Court which had been created by an act of
the General Assembly that year.
The act of the General Assembly approved February 12, 1849, provided
that there should be established in each county in the State, a court of record
to be styled the County Court, to be held by, and consist of one judge
styled the County Judge. The act also provided that the County Judge should
be elected on'the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1849, and every
four years thereafter, and that a clerk of the court should be elected in each
county at the same time and place of electing the judge, the term. of the clerk
to be the same as that of the judge. The County Court was vested under the
act with all the powers and jurisdiction of the Probate Court. The act further
provided that the County Judge, with two Justices of the Peace designated and
provided for, should, in all cases whatever, sit as a County Court, and have,
exercise, and possess all the power, jurisdiction and authority of the County
Commissioners' Court. And that terms for the transaction of county business,
be held on the first Mondays of December, March, June and September, in
each year. The terms for the transaction of probate business were ordered to
be held on third Mondays of the months when the County Court was held, and
on the first Monday of every other month. Under this act N. G. Reynolds was
elected the first County Judge.
By the law of 1871-72 County Courts in addition to their probate powers,
have concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Courts in all classes of cases
wherein Justices of the Peace have jurisdiction, where the amount claimed, or
the value of property in controversy, shall not exceed $500, and in all crim
inal offenses and misdemeanors where the punishment is not imprisonment in
the penitentiary, or death. No appeals, however, are allowed from Justices of
the Peace to the County Courts. The term of the court for probate matters
commences on the third Monday in each month, except the months provided for
holding law terms, which by the law of the last General Assembly were fixed for
Whiteside County, to be held on the second Monday of January, May and
October, in each year. Early Life of Pioneers, and Incidents.
The hardships, toils and privations endured by the early settlers of White
side County cannot be written in a chapter. Not that our pioneers encountered
more difficulties than usually fall to the lot of those who first push forward into
new sections of the country, but because words fail to adequately describe all
that these brave people are compelled to pass through in the establishment of
their homes in an unbroken and uncultivated landj let it be where it may.
Many of Whiteside's pioneers had been brought up where abundance prevailed,
and where every article of luxury, to say nothing of necessity, could be had
almost within the stretch of a hand. Markets were, convenient, help plenty,
and money easy of attainment. They knew nothing of the embarrassments of
isolation. All around them were cities, villages and hamlets. In distress there
were neighbors to assist; in prosperity hundreds came to congratulate them.
When they needed medicine the man of pills and potions could be found "right
around the corner," and when they got into a bad fix a learned counsellor could

EARLY LIFE OF PIONEERS, AND INCIDENTS. 83
be retained by going up "the very next stairs." The pastor was handy for a
marriage, and always at home for a funeral. Societies for raising money for the
conversion of the Hottentot and Hindoo, and for retailing neighborhood gossip,
met weekly at some good sister's house 'where spiced cake and strong tea were
dispensed. In short they were surrounded by all the elements of an advanced
civilization, and gloried in the fact that the land of their birth was a land, over
flowing with corn and wine, and where every man was a friend to his neighbor
and the "rest of mankind." But when they came to the broad prairies of the
West they found everything changed. For miles there was not a human
habitation. The great plains spread all around blooming in the spring time
with the beautiful prairie flowers, and swept in the autumn and winter by the
fierce winds which found no obstacle in their onward path save the dying grass.
To be sure the rains descended as they did at their old homes, and the soft
moan of the summer breeze sounded as familiarly as it did on fhe New England
Hills, or in the valleys of the Middle States, but all else was new, lonesome and
desolate. With brave hearts, however, they built their little cabins, and
plunged the shining share into the unbroken glebe, and that success crowned
their labors is well attested by the broad and fertile fields, and beautiful farm
houses, thrifty orchards, and .flourishing cities and towns, which now make
Whiteside County one of the wealthiest and most prosperous in the State.
When the earliest settlers came to Whiteside the methods of travel were
of the most primitive kind, and the way encountered with difficulties and
dangers. The great lines ¦ of railway which now intersect almost every nook
and corner of our great State, were unknown. In fact there were but few
known roads, and those but seldom traveled. Trails led here and there, and
these were followed as far as possible, and when one could not be found, the
sun during the day, and the north star at night, guided the pioneer toward his
destination. The first work of the settler, after making a claim, was to erect a shelter
for himself and family. These habitations were rude, but answered the purpose
until the advancing years brought the means to build others of ampler room, and
more imposing exteriors, yet we have it from those who now own their almost
palatial residences, that the happiest years of their western life were passed in
the prairie cabins. The hard work was to "break the prairie," for after that
was done the deep loose soil was easily tilled, and produced abundantly. The
trouble then was not in raising crops, but to find a market for them. For a
number of years grain had to be taken to Chicago before it could be sold, and
then the prices paid were very low, the entire proceeds of a load being hardly
sufficient to purchase the* actual "store goods" needed by the settler's family.
The journey to Chicago and return at that time for a Whiteside farmer,
took about twelve days. Horses and mules were not very plenty then in "this
neck of the woods," so the patient ox had to be yoked, and goaded on to the city
on the lake. The settler would start when the earliest beams of the coming
day streaked the horizon, and travel with all the rapidity he could until dark
ness closed in when he would be obliged to camp. This would be done by
tethering his team, preparing his meal which he had brought from home, and
then making his bed on the load, or if the ground was dry enough, under the
wagon. The roads, or rather the trails, were in many places indistinct, and the
passage, especially across the sloughs and streams, very laborious. In many in
stances the wagons would get mired in these sloughs, and the unlucky person
owning them, or having them in charge, be obliged to wait until help came be
fore they could be extricated from their imbedment, unless several settlers went
in company, when they could help each other. These occurrences were very

84 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
frequent, and occasioned a great deal of inconvenience and loss, but what could
the settler do ? He had a family to provide for, and the only way of procuring
some of the actual necessaries of life was by selling his wheat, and that wheat
could only find a market in Chicagov The price of wheat varied at that time
from twenty-five to sixty cents per bushel, so that the load, generally about
fifty bushels, would scarcely bring enough to purchase the dry goods and gro
ceries needed for the family. The nights on the journey home wereusually passed
in the same manner as those going in, as the surplus cash after the purchases
were made was very small in amount. The way-side inns were in most cases
of necessity passed by, much to the regret no doubt of the rubicund hosts.
The prairies and groves, however, were full of game, so that when the
meat barrel got low, the table could be bountifully supplied with venison, and
prairie chicken. In lieu of cloth hides of deer were sometimes dried, and made
into breeches and coats and the raccoon furnished oil for the lamps, and fur for
caps. The Indians were somewhat numerous at first, but as a general thing
were peaceable. They remained only a few years after the settlement of the
county, and then departed for their reservations at the far west. The peaceful
disposition of these Indians saves us recounting any of the fearful scenes of
border life which occurred in other localities.
Added to the other privations of the early settlers was the want of the
church and school. Most of them came from localities where the privileges of
both were abundant, and the utter lack of them at their new homes was a de
privation which was very severely felt. But with the energy charactistic of the
pioneer they set themselves at work as early as possible to secure the services
of the teacher and minister. Where they were not able to erect even a rude
school house, or ruder church structure, the cabin of the settler was thrown
open for both religious and educational purposes. The determination was
strong that the children should not grow up in ignorance, nor want the benefit
of moral and religious training. For quite a time religious services were con
ducted by some pious settler when a minister could not be obtained, and the
school kept by a man or woman of the neighborhood who had received a good
education at the schools of his or her early home. Educational and religious
matters were conducted in this way for several years, much to the advantage of
both the older and younger people. Now there are schools and churches all
over the county, and almost at the very doors of its citizens.
The wants of the early inhabitants of the county were few and simple as
compared with those of the present day. The coffee was neither Java, Rio nor
Mocha, nor even chicory, but a substitute made from wheat, rye, potatoes or
burnt bread, and when carefully manipulated by the "superior cooks of those
times, who were the wives and mothers of the household, and not the irrepres
sible hired girl of this period, the compound was claimed to be but little inferior
to the genuine article. Substitutes of this kind became a necessity, as the prices
of wheat, corn and pork ran very low, and money was scarce and difficult to
procure. Men's wages were only from 37^- to 50 cents per day, and women's
from 50 cents to $1 per week.
Many persons at that day followed transportation as an occupation, and it
is represented that those were the most successful who substituted oxen for
' horses. It was desirable for both farmer and transportation men to have as
many teams go together as possible, as difficulties would often occur between
different parties, and might was right when beyond the reach of a Justice of the
Peace, and a Constable. Parties engaged in hauling wheat to Chicago charged
from twenty to twenty-five cents a bushel, and loaded back with salt, iron, nails,
leather, and sometimes dry goods and groceries, for which they made a separate

EARLY LIFE OF PIONEERS, AND INCIDENTS. 85
charge. A horse team would make from twenty to twenty-five miles a day, and
an ox team from ten to fifteen miles.
Almost every State had its representatives in Whiteside in the early day's,
as well as at the present, but it was found more difficult to fraternize then than
now. In new countries it takes a little time for persons brought up under dif
ferent religious, social and political organizations, to freely associate with each
other, but being poor alike, and their needs of the same class, they soon became
accustomed to one another. As a rule our early settlers were intelligent, moral
and law abiding. For the first twelve years of our history the records of the
Circuit Court show that not a single person was convicted before it who had
committed a crime in the county. Social intercourse early became unrestrained,
the only tests being intelligence and moral honesty. If any were in distress
their wants were immediately relieved. In the spring and summer a favorite
amusement of those who lived in the vicinity of the rivers and creeks, was fish
ing with spears by a light made by burning hickory bark, and in the fall and
winter all turned out to hunt the deer and chase the prairie wolf.
The Second State Bank of Illinois was winding up its business, and its notes ,
were very much depreciated. The only good paper was a small supply of the
bills of the State Bank of Missouri. The bank stock of the State was the
Illinois State bonds, and they had run down to twenty cents on the dollar.
Shortly afterwards the General Assembly passed a law creating a system of free
banking, called the safety fund system, following the example of New York.
The bonds of the Southern and Western States were used as the banking capital,
and the result was a very unsafe instead of a safe system. Money became
plenty. Every individual or corporation that could, purchased State bonds, as
,they were abundant and cheap, and issued promises to pay thereon. Watering
stock became as common among statesmen and bankers, as watering milk among
dairymen. Banks grew up all over the State, like Jonah's gourd, in a night.
No one knew, or appeared to care whether the money was good or bad. This
pernicious inflation resulted in inflating prices. Wages advanced over one hun
dred per cent., and everything else in proportion. Money became so plenty,
and of such doubtful value, that to get rid of the shinplasters, as they were
called, land, merchandise, produce, in fact everything that would sell, ran up to
over double the former value. This state of things prevailed until a wiser sys
tem of legislation was adopted, and banks compelled to base their issue upon a
sound capital.
The settlers prior to 1840 had the pick of the land. All around them then
extended the broad prairies, and a claim could be made on the choicest sections.
These claims were generally "staked out," and some improvement made upon
them, in order that they might be held until the Government placed the land in
market, when some one or more of the claim owners were selected to go to
Dixon or Galena and bid in such parts as were wanted, or means could be raised
to pay for. Attempts were made in many instances to "jump" these claims by
parties who came afterwards, and the frequency and boldness with which this
was done, led to the organization of societies by the legitimate claimants for
protection against these second hand men. These claim fights, as they were
called, will be found fully described further along in this chapter. It is reported
that many selected their claims by going on an eminence and looking over the
surrounding prairie. When the eyes of one had fallen upon a point that suited
him he would say, "as for me and my house, I will dwell there," and in due
time the little rude cabin was erected, and the heavy sod broken and made to
produce a " sod crop."
The fame of Rock River Valley as an unsurpassed agricultural district

86 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
became known at quite an early day, the river itself being then a navigable
stream for boats of light draft. The first steamboat which plied the river as
far as Sterling, was the Pioneer, commanded by D. S. Harris, and came up in
1836. The N. P. Hawks, Gypsey and other steamers followed soon after.
They made landings at every point were there was the semblance of a town. In
1844 the Lighter went up as far as Janesville, Wisconsin. The boats were
mostly freighted with dry goods and groceries from St. Louis. About 1851 a
schooner, built at Kishwaukee, ran down the river and cut all the ferry ropes.
The master was prosecuted at several places, but defeated his prosecutors on
the ground that Rock river was a navigable stream.
By the act of the General Assembly, approved February 27, 1837, entitled
" an act to establish and maintain a general system of internal improvement,"
$100,000 was appropriated for the improvement of Rock river, and at the ses
sion of 1838, $50,000 was additionally appropriated, and operations actually
commenced, but owing to the hard times at that period, and the unskillful man
agement of the public funds by those who had them in charge, the great system
of internal improvements which had been inaugurated in the State, collapsed
before the work on any single portion, with the exception of the Illinois and
Michigan Canal, had progressed far. Evidences of the work under this system
can be seen in this county on the south bank of Rock river from Rock Falls up
around the rapids, in the shape now of a half filled canal. The design was to
have boats go around these rapids by way of the canal. This matter of internal
improvement, so far as it relates to Whiteside County, will be found more fully
sketched in the history of Coloma township. The idea of making Rock river
navigable, however, vanished long ago, and the waters of the stream are now
used for a much more profitable purpose.
While these schemes for the improvement of the navigation of the river
were going on, the valley was being rapidly settled, and a thriving and intelli
gent people improving farms which now have no superior in beauty and fertility
in Northwestern Illinois. The great Father of Waters washing the western
boundary of the county also early attracted settlers, in fact the earliest settler,
John Baker, established himself on its banks in 1833, as will be seen by reference
to the history of Fulton township. The high bluffs along the river for most of
the distance on the county line present a bar to agricultural industry to any ex
tent, but back of them extend the same rich prairies that are found in other
portions of the county. Before the era of railroads the Mississippi river was
the great thoroughfare for commerce and travel north and south, and along its
banks sprung up thriving towns. Fulton and Albany, in this county, are among
the earliest towns that grew up on the upper river. But with the advent of
railroads the latter especially has suffered heavily, yet retains a good share of
trade. Although Whiteside was not an unhealthy county even at an early day,
yet the disciples of Esculapius were around in fair numbers, and dosed out jalop
and calomel with an unsparing hand. Several bills of a physician practising in
Portland in 1838 have been resurrected, showing how medicine was dealt out
to the pioneers. One of the bills is dated November 1, 1838, and is as follows-
Benj. Smith to Dr. Wm. Price. Dr.
July 15, To cathartic pills  <» 2,
" 16, " two visits, cathartic pills, emetic, Dover's powders, etc  ' . . . ' ° . 1 . r0
" 17, " visit, oil, pills, etc  ' ' ' x 'qq
" 19, " calomel, jalop, and oil  /  ' p0
" 22, " 15 grains quinine and phial  ' I-0o

EARLY LIFE OF PIONEERS, AND INCIDENTS. 87
" 24, " calomel and medicine  50
" 25, " calomel and medicine, Dover's powders and oil  50
" 26, " oil and Dover's powders  50
" 27, " visit, oil, Dover's powders, and calomel  50
" 27, " calomel, oil  25
" 28, " calomel, oil and pills   50
" 29, " calomel and sulphur  .... 25
Aug. 28, " visit at night, calomel, jalop and laudanum  -.  1 .00
Sept. 1, " visit, pills and advice  75
" 2, " calomel, jalop, pills, laudanum, etc  75
" 3, " visit at night, laudanum and oil  1 . 00
" 6, " visit at night, calomel, oil and jalop  1 . 00
" 8, " three portions jalop and cream tartar  50
The bill shows that the doses were large, the medicine strong, and the
prices low, yet we think our readers would infinitely prefer the higher charges
and milder doses of the present day, rather than the heroic doses and smaller
prices of early times. Annexation to Wisconsin.
One of the leading questions which agitated the people of the county as
early as 1841, was that of setting-off to the then Territory of Wisconsin that
portion of the State of Illinois north of a line drawn from the southern bend or
extremity of Lake Michigan due west to the Mississippi river. It was held
that by the fifth article of the ordinance of Congress entitled: "An ordinance
for the government of the INorthwestern Territory," the southern boundary line
of the State which should "be formed must be on the line above mentioned, and
that it could not be changed without the'consent of the original States, and of
the people in the Northwest Territory. The line, however, had been changed
by act of Congress to where it now is without any such consent. Meetings
were held in all parts of Northwestern Illinois in favor of the line as originally
established by the ordinance, and means|taken'Jso far as the same were possible
to have Congress repeal the act fixing the northern boundary line of the State
of Illinois so far above it.
The feeling in favor of this change was intensified by the fact that a
corrupt and profligate Legislature was at the time entailing upon the people a
debt of millions upon millions of dollars by means of wild and extravagant leg
islation, known as internal improvements. The debt of the State of Illinois
was then about eighteen millions of dollars, with the State paper worth only
fifteen cents on the dollar. Under these circumstances it is no wonder that
the people desired to get out of the State, and the question of properly estab
lishing the northern boundary line afforded a good opportunity for making the
application. But thanks to the moral courage and honesty of the people of the
whole State, a new constitution was framed and adopted, which entirely changed
the constitutional powers of the Legislature, and closed the doors to the entire
horde of public plunderers. Means were also provided for an honest payment
of the public debt, thus doing away with these reasons for desiring to become
connected with another commonwealth. At the time of the agitation of the
question, however, there was apparently no chance for the accomplishment of so
worthy and honorable an object. Wheat was worth only twenty-five cents per
bushel, and pork from fifty cents to one dollar per hundred, at that time, and
these prices could only be obtained after a tedious voyage to Chicago with an
ox-team. Groaning under a heavy State debt, and almost unable to raise money
for their produce wherewith to pay for their land, and supply themselves with
actual necessaries of life, the people felt like adopting any method which looked
toward relief.

88 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Elections were called in the different counties which would be affected by
the change of the State line, for the purpose of allowing the people to express
their sentiment upon the matter at the ballot box. The election in Whiteside
was held in the year 1841, and resulted as follows as appears from the official
record of the County Commissioners' Court :
Precincts. For being set off. Against.
Fulton  :  41
Lyndon  69
Portland  49
Union Grove  46
Prophetstown  46
Total  3°8 3
The returns of the vote in the precincts of Round Grove, Rapids, Genesee
Grove and Sterling do not appear.
The same unanimity of feeling in favor of becoming a part of _ Wisconsin,
prevailed in the other counties, but notwithstanding it, and the active co-oper
ation of the people and authorities of Wisconsin, the object failed of being
accomplished. Had the boundary line been drawn as desired, the southern line
of Whiteside County would have formed a part of the southern line of the State
of Wisconsin. At this day there are but few in our county who know anything
of this project to sever its connection with the great State of Illinois, and become
a part of our neighboring State on the north.
Marriage Licenses.
The first marriage license issued under the county organization bears the
date of June 13, 1839, the certificate reading as follows : "State of Illinois,
Whiteside County, ss : Simeon Fuller, Esq., certifies by his certificate that he
joined in marriage Sanford C. March with ffucinda C. Smith. Guy Ray, Clerk
County Commissioners' Court. Recorded July 1, 1839." Eleven marriages were
recorded in 1839, one being that of Harvey Breston of Grant County, Wiscon
sin Territory, and Jane Hall, of Genesee Grove, Whiteside County, Illinois. In
1840 twenty-six licenses were recorded, signed Guy Ray, Clerk of County Com
missioners' Court, by A. Smith, Deputy. In 1841 twenty-three licenses were
recorded, a portion of them this year being signed John Roy, Clerk, by J. A.
Reynolds, Deputy. Twenty-five were recorded in 1842, signed John Roy, Clerk,
by J. E. Boy, Deputy, the latter gentleman now a prominent minister of Chi
cago. In 1843 only seventeen were recorded; in 1844, twenty-six; in 1845,
thirty-nine; in 1846, thirty-three; in 1847, thirty-seven; in 1848, fifty-six; in
1849, fifty-two; in 1850, fifty-six, the records of the marriages this year being
signed by numerous Justices of the Peace, clergymen and by N. G. Reynolds,
Judge of the County Court.
From 1851 to January, 1877 inclusive the number of licenses issued each
year are as follows : In 1851, 60; 1852, 72; 1853, 63; 1854, 114; 1855, 140;
1856,190; 1857,146; 1858,194; 1859,154; 1860,161; 1861,175; 1862,152;
1863,145; 1864,203; 1865,224; 1866,297; 1867,248; 1868,254; 1869,273;
1870, 264; 1871, 250; 1872,239; 1073,259; 1874,270; 1875,274; 1876,
287. First Instruments Recorded.
The first indenture recorded was executed on the 24th of September, 1838,
between Alfred Bergen and Samuel Mitchell, of Albany, Whiteside County, the
former in consideration of $2,000 conveying his undivided interest in the
Steam Saw Mill at Albany, on the Mississippi river, built in 1837 by Chas. S.

EARLY LIFE OF PIONEERS, AND INCIDENTS. 89
Dorsey and Alfred Bergen. The indenture was to secure a promissory note
given by Bergen to Mitchell in 1 837.
The following bond was recorded in October, 1839, being the first one of
the kind on record : "Know all men by these presents, that we Alfred Slocumb,
Wm. Nevitt, Gilbert Buckingham and Lewis Spurlock, of Whiteside County,
are held and firmly bound to Mathew Chambers and Pariah Owen, of Knox
County, and Erasmus D. Rice, of Fulton County, in the sum of $10,000 to be
paid to said parties. Whereas the above bounden obligors have agreed to enter
at the land office in Galena, the fractions of land upon which is situated the
town of Albany, for the benefit and in trust for the above named obligees. The
condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bounden Alfred Slo
cumb, Wm. Nevitt, Gilbert Buckingham and Lewis Spurlock, shall use all and
every lawful endeavor to buy and obtain in their names at the land sale in Galena,
on Monday, October 21, 1839, the southeast and southwest fractional quarters
of section 24, township 21 north, range 2 east, and after the said Alfred Slo
cumb et al. purchase the said fractions, then they shall make good deeds of
general warrantee to each of the above persons for their respective lots, ( des
cribed in the instrument) all in Albany, the deeds to be made and delivered as
soon as possible. Now, if the said Alfred Slocumb et al. shall deed all the lots
as heretofore described to the persons aforesaid, then this obligation to be null
and void; but if the said A. Slocumb et al. or either of them shall refuse to
deed as aforesaid after being paid as aforesaid, then this obligation to be in full
force and virtue. Alfred Slocumb, Wm. Nevitt, Gilbert Buckingham, Lewis
Spurlock. Dated October 17, 1839." Early Votes.
The following is the official vote of Whiteside County for county officers
and Representatives to the General Assembly, held on the 3d of August, 1840 :
For County Commissioner, Hosea Jacobs, 462 votes; For Sheriff, John W. Mc
Lemore 452 votes; For Coroner, Ivory Colcord, 352, and Brainard Orton, 77 votes;
For Representatives to the General Assembly, Thomas Drummond, 313, Hiram
W. Thornton, 306, Thompson Campbell, 222, and Thomas Van Valzah, 225
votes. At the election held on the 7th of August, 1843, the official count gave
Joseph P. Hoge 270, Cyrus Walker 297, and Mathew Chambers 20 votes for
Congress; Hiram Harmon 320, and Henry Boyer 253, for County Commissioner;
John Roy 296, and Albert Plympton 254, for County Commissioners' Clerk;
Robt. L. Wilson 321, and Erastus G. Nichols 236, for Probate Justice ; Wil
liam W. Gilbert 429, W. W. Gilbert 107, and Augustine W. Newhall 4, for Re
corder ; David Hazard 202, David Brooks 161, and Augustine W. Newhall 128,
for County Treasurer; Wm. Nevitt 382, G. Buckingham 128, and John C. Pratt
5, for School Commissioner ; W. S. Wilkinson 336, and James McCoy 220, for
County Surveyor.
The following is the vote by precincts in the county, cast at the Presiden
tial election, November 9, 1844: For the Whig candidate Lyndon cast 24 votes;
Fulton 32, Rapids 4, Union 36, Portland 24, Sterling 55, Albany 82, Round
Grove 18, Prophetstown 47, Genesee Grove 26; total, 348. Democratic candi
date: Lyndon 23, Fulton 18, Rapids 7, Union 45, Portland 32, Sterling 57,
Albany 30, Round Grove 30, Prophetstown 34, Genesee Grove 17; total, 289.
Abolition candidate: Lyndon 30, Fulton 2, Union 12, Portland, Sterling and
Albany 1 each; total, 47. But 684 votes were polled in the county at that
exciting and memorable contest, while at the last Presidential election a total
[H-i..]

90 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
of 6,115 votes were polled, showing the rapid growth of the population of the
county in thirty-two years.
At the election for a member of the Constitutional Convention, on the
19th of April, 1847, three candidates, Aaron C. Jackson, Jonathan Haines and
D. B. Young, were in the field, Jackson receiving 322 votes, Haines, 304 and
Young 53.
At the election for Senator and Representative, held August 7, 1848,
Whiteside gave Capt. H. H. Gear 422 votes, L. P. Sawyer 370, and A. W. Ben
ton 63, for Senator; Joseph Crawford 434 votes, Thos. J. Haines 355, and J.
Baker 63, for Representative.
At the election for District Judge on the 29th of April, 1851, James
McCoy received 202 votes, Ira 0. Wilkinson 191, John Wilson 92, and W. W.
Heaton 89. Railroads.
The railroad era for Whiteside County commenced in 1850 with the com
pletion of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad to Rockford. In 1852 the
road was finished to Freeport, these places being then substituted for Chicago
as market places. The next departure was when the Dixon branch of the
Galena & Chicago Union railroad, now the Northwestern, was finished to Dixon,
which point then became the shipping point and remained so for nearly two
years. The road was finally finished to Sterling and Morrison, and thence on to
Fulton, on the Mississippi river, in 1856. The construction of this modern
channel of commerce and civilization, did away at once and forever with the old
method of transportation by the ox and horse. The Rockford, Rock Island &
St. Louis railroad, running through the Rock river valley; the Western Union,
traversing the western part of the county; the Mendota and Prophetstown
branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, traversing the southern
part of the county, and what is now called the Rock Falls branch of the latter
road, terminating at Rock Falls, have been built since the year 1856. Upon
the lines of these different roads are thriving cities and villages, affording a sure
market for everything the farmer and producer can raise. They need no longer
undertake long journeys at cost of time and inconvenience, and then get starva
tion prices for their loads. But a few hours now, and over good roads at that,
will bring them to a market where the highest ruling prices are paid.
Claim Societies and Their Objects.
During the seasons of 1837, '38, '39, '40 and '41, claim disputes, or "fights"
as they were called, were of frequent occurrence in this county, and in their
nature not determinable by any recognized system of civil or criminal jurispru
dence, hence claim laws had to be enacted by each settlement. The first meet
ing for that purpose was held at the store of Barnett & Mason, in Chatham,
now Sterling, May 13, 1837, at which a constitution and by-laws were adopted
for protecting the claims of actual setlers against non-resident claim holders,
and claim " jumpers." Similar organizations were effected soon afterwards in
different parts of the county, and as all of them adopted about the same con
stitution and by-laws as the one at Chatham, we give the preliminary steps
taken, and the constitution and by-laws adopted at that place as a sample of the
whole. They are as follows:
" At a meeting of the settlers of Rock River Rapids and vicinity, held at
Barnett & Mason's store, to take into consideration the subjectof the protection
of claims to actual settlers, and to devise means by which the rights of the
same shall be respected and secured, it was moved and seconded that a commit
tee of five be appointed to draft a constitution agreeable to the instructions

EARLY LIFE OF PIONEERS, AND INCIDENTS. 91
given at this meeting. The following persons were chosen by ballot as said
committee: Jason Hopkins, John W. Chapman, Wyott Cantrall, Nelson Mason
and Elijah Worthington.
Instructions: 1st, This society to be known as the Association of the
Rapids of Rock River. 2d, Each settler shall be entitled to hold 640 acres of
prairie, and 120 acres of timber. 3d, A secretary shall be appointed whose
duty it shall be to record, on application being made by the owner of a claim,
the description of the claim, which shall be given to said secretary. 4th, The
book of the records shall be open to the inspection of any one requesting the
privilege. The secretary shall receive for each claim so recorded the sum of
twenty-five cents.
Meeting adjourned until the last Saturday in May at the same place, to
hear the report of the committee. Meeting met pursuant to adjournment. The
committee reported the following constitution, which was adopted:
We, the undersigned, inhabitants residing at and near the upper rapids of
Rock river, having formed ourselves into a society to be denominated the Rock
River Rapids Association, which has for its object the defense and protection of
individual claims upon government land, do adopt and establish the following
constitution as embracing the laws and regulations by which we pledge our
selves to be governed. »
Article 1. Each and every settler who has or shall hereafter become an
actual settler within the limits of this Association, and who shall have pre
viously subscribed his name to the constitution, shall be entitled to hold and
claim 120 acres of timber and one entire section of prairie.
Article 2. And it shall be the duty of every settler who has made or shall
make a claim upon government land, whether the same be more or less than the
amount above specified, to designate the same by plowing or staking a"round,
and if the latter, the stakes shall be permanently placed at least 80 rods apart;
and, further, the validity of any claim shall not be affected by being in detached
eighties or quarter sections, but on the contrary, the individual who makes his
claim on separate pieces shall be entitled to the same number of acres as though
the claim were in one tract. The boundaries of each tract must be definitely
described: Provided, nevertheless, that where the settler can make his claim
compactly, or in one body embracing the whole number of acres allowed by the
constitution, without trespassing upon the claims of others, he is compelled to
do so without taking advantage of this article of the constitution.
[Articles 3 to 12 are omitted, as not material here.]
Article 12. Immediately on the adoption of this constitution a secretary
shall be elected by ballot, whose duty it shall be to file and record all ac
knowledged claims within the limits of this society, and for his services thus
rendered he shall be paid the sum of twenty-five cents, to be paid by the person
having such claim recorded; and it is incumbent upon every person who claims
the protection of this Association to furnish a statement of his claim, contain
ing the number of acres of timber, also of prairie not exceeding in amount 640
acres, to the Secretary within sixty days after the organization of this Society
and the adoption of this constitution.
Article 13. If any member of this society encourages any person or per
sons to settle upon any claim, unless forfeited according to the constitution,
he shall be expelled and no longer receive the protection of this Society.
Adopted May 27, 1837. John D. Barnett, Sec'y."
Growing out of the enforcement of the claim laws, a great many "claim
fights" took place. The claims as a general thing were iarge, and often when a

92 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY;
stranger came into the country, and upon looking over the broad prairies selected
a place that pleased him, would find that his choice was the claim of some
other party, but as there was no person living on it, and often no evidence of
being claimed, he concluded to "jump it." The next thing would be an order
from the settler who had made the claim, and had it recorded in the books of
the Association in whose territory it was, for the jumper to depart from that
"neck of land" in double quick. Sometimes the order would be obeyed, but it
frequently occurred that the jumper had made up his mind to stay where he
had driven his stakes, settler or no settler, Association or no Association. In
that case he would not have to wait long for the peculiar writs of ejectment
used by the Association, to be served upon him. He might marshal his friends,
if he had any, and face the foe, but in nearly every case it was useless, for what
could one man, or a dozen men, do against the entire force of an Association
when it came swooping down upon him, or his party, with every conceivable
kind of weapon from a trusty rifle, to the old fashioned pitch fork? His family,
horses, cattle, wagons, farm implements, and household goods, were removed
from the claim, and the cabin taken away and either destroyed, or used for
some other purpose. Often these fights would partake of the ludicrous as well
as the terribly real. More than one Bull Run occurred on the prairies of
Whiteside, the fugitives from which are, like those of the famous Bull Run of
the late war, if living, undoubtedly running yet. The jumper would be brave,
and as he fondly congratulated himself even unto death, in the defence of his
cabin and claim, but no sooner did the warlike members of an Association, armed
to the teeth with flint locks, hay forks, and pot hooks, appear in the tall grass
than he would fly as though "Auld Sootie" was after him with a summons to
appear forthwith in the land of fire and brimstone. Others more stubborn would
make a lusty fight, and when defeated on the field, commence an action of
trespass in the Circuit Court against all the parties they knew who had been
engaged in ejecting them, but none were ever tried. At the first term of the
court held in this county quite a large number of these cases were on the
docket. These Associations undoubtedly answered their purpose well, and protect
ed many a worthy settler from being dispossessed of a claim which he had in
good faith made, and upon which he meant to build a home for himself and
family. Their existence terminated in 1839 in some parts of the county, and
in 1840 and '41 in others. In these years the land was placed in market by
the government, and sold either at Galena or Dixon. At these sales the proper
Association would have some one or more of its number on hand, who would
bid off the claim of each member in his own name, and immediately afterwards
execute a deed of the same to the claimant. After these sales there was no
further "jumping," and each settler could plant his vine 'and fig tree on his own
undisputed domain, and sit under them when they grew large enough, with none
to molest or make afraid. The Tornado of 1860.
Whiteside has been visited several times since its settlement by violent
tornadoes, but with the exception of the one commonly called the " Great Tor
nado," which occurred on the evening of Sunday, the 3d of June, 1860, their
ravages were confined to some particular locality, such as those at Tampico,
Portland, Garden Plain and Union Grove, descriptions of which will be found
in the histories of those townships.
The one on the 3d of June, 1860, swept a path over the whole county from
Albany to the southeastern line, carrying death and destruction throughout its

EARLY LIFE OF PIONEERS, AND INCIDENTS. 93

/

entire course. The storm commenced near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was described
at the time by those who saw it, as a gathering of the clouds in separate masses
with fearful outlines, and their opponent concussion and mingling together in
one rolling, sweeping mass, with accompanying terrible thunder and lightning,
more resembling a set battle and charging armies, than spirits of the air. These
mingling masses of clouds came to the earth in the shape of a whirlwind, cover
ing a strip of country about eighty rods wide. It appeared to be hollow in the
center, of transparent blood-red color, while the two sides were black and thick
with all conceivable sorts of floating matter which had been torn from its path.
Before crossing the Mississippi river into Illinois, the most fearful destruc
tion took place at Camanche, a village on the river almost opposite Albany. At
that place ninety dwelling houses, all occupied, besides a large number of stores
and business houses, with some churches and hotels, were totally destroyed.
Twenty-nine persons were killed and many badly injured, some of them being
maimed for life. The destruction of life and property at De Witt, and other
places in Iowa, was also great. In Camanche alone eight hundred and sixty
persons Were left homeless. As the tornado reached the river at the latter
place it struck a raft upon which were twenty-four persons, all of whom were
blown into the river and drowned.
At Albany, people were preparing to attend the Sunday evening services at
the different churches, and some had actually started from their homes. Look
ing over toward the Iowa side of the river, however, they saw a sight in the air
which struck terror to their hearts, and caused them to hasten back and attempt
to close the windows and doors of their houses. In many instances this precau
tion against the danger of a fierce wind had not been completed, before the ter
rible serial visitor took possession of the town, and with a remorseless power
and ferocity demolished the homes of the people, with their business houses,
churches and schools, and killed five of their number, besides seriously injuring
many others. Those who witnessed the scene next morning represent it as beg
garing all description. The town was literally blown to pieces and scattered in
every direction, not more than half a dozen houses remaining uninjured, and not
over fifteen or twenty left standing on their foundations. But one business
house was left in whieh business could be done at all.
Some of the effects of the tornado were very curious. Upon the roofs of
several buildings the shingjes were stripped off in fanciful shapes, leaving upon
some a single covered spot. Others were entirely unshingled. In some cases
every clapboard was torn from houses, and the sides of others literally perfora
ted with boards, splintered timbers and sharp stakes. The lower stories of
some were blown out entirely, leaving the upper story upon the ground.. Other
buildings slid from their foundations and were carried along for several feet.
One small frame house was lifted from its foundation and carried about a square,
around another building which was torn to pieces, and let down within six feet
of it without apparent injury. The bell from the brick church was swept out
of the belfry and taken near the corner of Union and Main streets, where it was
landed on the walk uninjured with the exception of a small piece which had
been knocked from the base of the rim. Heavy brick and stone walls were lev
eled to the ground with apparently as much ease as the lightest wooden struc
tures. Trees were torn from their roots and denuded of their branches, and in
some instances literally twisted to pieces. Horses, cattle and hogs were killed
on the spot, and chickens, geese and turkies either killed, or stripped of their
feathers, and left as bare as if ready for market. On each side of the path of
the storm -fiend the evidence of his power was visible in the shape of fragments
of buildings, lumber, goods from the stores, household furniture, valuable papejs,

94

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY

books, etc. Many of these were afterwards picked up but were found useless
for any purpose, save some of the papers and books.
It is wonderful when we consider the terrible and swift destruction of
buildings and other property by this tornado at Albany, that so few lives were
lost, there being, as we have mentioned, only five out of a population of eight
hundred. The storm gave no time for escape, not even to the cellar, a place to
which many flee at times of fierce winds. Their buildings were crashing around
their defenceless heads; timbers, stones, brick, and missiles of a hundred
descriptions were being hurled along the ground and through the air, and yet
nearly all of them escaped with their lives. Those killed were Duty Buck, Ed.
Efner, Mr. Sweet, Mr. Riley, and one other whose name we have been unable to
learn. All this destruction of property, injury to person, and death, was the
work of only a minute or two, and then the destroyer passed on to other parts.
The news of this direful calamity was soon carried by telegraph and mail to
all parts of the country, and created the most intense excitement, as well as
awakening in every heart the deepest feelings of sympathy and commiseration
for the sufferers. Open hands and warm hearts at once responded to their
needs, the offerings coming up from far and near. These contributions were
gratefully appreciated by the stricken ones at Albany, the remembrance of which
remains yet green in the memory of those living.
The following is a list of those who suffered by the tornado, with the esti
mated loss of each, and was prepared and published at the time, and then pro
nounced as correct as could possibly be made:

Wm. Slocumb  $ 600
Foundry  Soo
S. B. Myers  700
Steam Mill  S,ooo
Duty Buck  400
Jos. Miller  150
Mr. Bradley  800
Wm. Ewing  Soo
D. McMahan  950
Mitchell & McMahan  2,500
Br. A. T. Hudson  200
Riley's House  250
W. A. Chamberlin  3>S°°
Thos. Brewer  500
Mrs. Winans  150
Ed. Efner  1,000
M. E. Parsonage  500
Mr. Van Bebber  ipo
L. Sweet   500
Mrs. Crippin  400
Mrs. Lusk  700
Mrs. Yopts  100
Steam Planing- Mill  2,000
Chas. Lusk  5,000
Isaac Crosby  400
Walker Olds  500

B.S. Quick  $3,428
Mr, Stagg  400
Asa Lankford  700
Crow's Tin Shop  1,000
Mr. Bothwell  2,000
E. H. Nevitt  2,000
W. Y. Wetzell  2,000
S. Hoskins  600
R. C. M. Black  400
John Cook  50
James Clough  300
Boice, Ewing & Co  1,400
M. E. Church  600
Presbyterian Church  4,000
W. W. Durant  i, 1091
Happer, Nevitt & Co  7,000
Chas. Nevitt  600
C. G. Nevitt  700
Anson Williams  600
A. Slocumb  1*190
G. Buckingham  300
S. Porter  100
Ira Short  '  100
Jno. Adams  500
JE. G. Boyce  150
Mrs. Townley  175

S. Gillett  $ 100
John Q. Adams  300
Smith Cole  200
G. Langford  200
Moses Bishop  150
Jas- Hugenin  300
John Slocumb  , . . . 100
Cheney Olds  50
A. Mitchell  100
Mr. Robinson  100
Warren Olds  100
Henry Pease  500
Alfred Haines  ,  200
Mrs . Darrow  50
W. S. Barnes  600
Mcllvaine  70
Saml. Gilbert  400
Ezekiel Olds  150
T. Slaymaker.  50
Cyrus Wilson  1 ^ooo
Thos. Stage  250
Happer & Mcllvaine  1,5°°
Saml. Happer  600
J. D. Mcllvaine  600
D. S. Efner  100
Stockton & Booth  500

Total damage to houses, barns, etc., $73,715; to personal property, $10,000;
tofences, out buildings, etc., $6,000; to vegetables and fruit trees, $4,000. Total
$93,715. After leaving Albany the tornado passed through the county in a course a
little south of east, destroying trees and fences in its way, until it reached the
house of Mrs. Senior, on the Baird estate, in G-arden Plain, the upper story of
which it severed completely from the rest of the building, and scattered it in a
thousand fragments. The next house struck was that of E. C. Adams, also in
G-arden Plain, which was lifted bodily from its foundation, and moved a distance

EARLY LIFE OF PIONEERS, AND INCIDENTS. 95
of some four or five feet, racking it considerably. From there it passed along
without doing material damage to the line of Mt Pleasant and Lyndon town
ships where it played the serious prank of hoisting the large two story frame
residence of Thomas Smith from its moorings, turning it one-quarter around,
unroofing it, carrying it a rod from its foundation, and leaving it almost a wreck.
There were seven persons in the house, but strange to say all escaped unhurt.
The house of Draper Richmond further on met with a more serious fate, This
was a frame building of medium size, and could not have been more badly scat
tered had a barrel of gunpowder been exploded within its walls. After the storm
had passed Mrs. Richmond was found about twenty rods from the house so
badly injured that she died in an hour afterwards. Mr. Richmond was also
seriously hurt but recovered. George Digby's dwelling a little north of east of
Richmond's was carried at first south a short distance, then taken north-east
about fifty rods through a wheat field, when it was lifted high in the air and
whirled into fragments. An apple tree ten inches in diameter was torn from
its roots, stripped of its branches, and the body of the tree split into two nearly
equal parts. The residence of Mr. Digby's father was partially destroyed.
Further east the storm struck the house of Mr. Dow, removing it west several
rods, then raising it into the air shattered it to pieces, while the barn which
stood near by, was taken about the same distance east, and disposed of in
a similar manner. Neither of the families of these gentlemen suffered much
injury, the wind storm being content to demolish their habitations. From here
the tornado proceeded to the township of Montmorency, leaving only a few
traces of its passage on the way. The residence of Alonzo Golder was the first
one assailed in that township, and although not destroyed, considerable of it
was badly punished. A great deal of the furniture was destroyed, and in the
kitchen and dining-room nearly all of it. In the dining-room was a large, old
fashioned mirror, which amid the wreck of the other furniture was found un
broken, although carried completely across the room. Some of Mr. Golder's
family were injured, but not seriously. A little schoolhouse near Mr. Golder's
was literally blown into fragments. On its track eastward from here it turned
Joel Wood's house entirely around, besides unroofing and otherwise damaging
it. It was left in such a condition that it had to be rebuilt. A. J. Good
rich's dwelling was blown entirely to pieces, as were also Mr. Pike's and Capt.
Doty's. Levi Macomber's house was badly racked. At Mr. Pike's a young
girl had her leg broken. Capt. Doty's son had his collar bone broken, and
some of the rest of the family were slightly injured. Without doing further
damage the tornado passed out of the county, and pursued its eastward way.
Many of the calamities caused by this terrible visitation never reached the
public ear. The sufferers, whoever they were, either did not care to have their
misfortune appear in print, or in the hurry and excitement of gathering facts
were overlooked by the writers for the public press. Neither has there been,
nor can there be, a full and adequate description written of the frightful
scenes, the pain, the sorrow, and the loss occasioned by the ferocious storm as
it sped on its way on that memorable evening. Seventeen years have passed
since then, but its results remain. It is hoped that Whiteside county may
never see the like again. Swamp Land Matters.
Whiteside, together with other counties in the State, acquired title to the
swamp and overflowed lands within its limits by an act of the General Assem-

96 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
bly entitled "an act to dispose of the swamp and overflowed lands, and to pay
the expense of selecting and surveying the same," approved June 22, 1852.
The act provides that all these lands granted to the State of Illinois by the act
of Congress entitled "an act to enable the State of Arkansas and other States
to reclaim the swamp lands within their limits," approved September 28, 1850,
be conveyed to the counties respectively in which the same may be situated, for
the purpose of constructing the necessary levees and drains to reclaim them, and
the balance, if any there be, to be distributed in each county equally among the
townships thereof for tlie purposes of education, or applied to the construction of
roads and bridges, or to such other purposes as may be deemed expedient by the
Courts, County Judge, or Board of Supervisors, as provided in the act.
The second section of the act provides for the appointment of a Drainage
Commissioner, and specifically states that the proper authorities shall not dis
pose of more of the lands than shall be absolutely necessary to complete the re
claiming and draining of the same, and in all cases where any remain unsold
they should belong to the several townships in the County to be divided equally
between them, and should constitute a part of the school fund of each township,
and be disposed of by the School Commissioner of the county for educational
purposes in the same manner as the sixteenth sectiou in each township is by law,
provided, however, that any county may apply the remainder to the construction
of roads and bridges, or other works of internal improvement as may be deemed
expedient. Under this act the Board of Supervisors at their March term in 1855 ap
pointed William Pollock, Drainage Commissioner, and ordered a sale of so much
of the swamp lands as lie north and west of Rock River; all in township 21
north of range 7 east, south of Rock River, and all in township 20 north of range
7 east, to take place on the second Monday of October of that year, the price to
be $3 per acre for the first quality, $1;50 for the second quality, and 50 cents for
the third quality. The terms were fixed at twenty-five per cent, cash on all sales,
the balance to remain on credit as provided in the resolution. The second sale
took place on the second Monday in March, 1856, andincluded all the swamp land
lying south of Rock River, not having been offered at the first sale, and the
north tier of sections in township 20 north of range 7 east, and the third sale on
the second Tuesday of October, 1857, which included all the swamp land owned
by the county then remaining unsold. The largest of these sales was the one
in March, 1856. The whole number of acres disposed of at these different sales
was 63,414 and 57-100, and the total amount which came into the posession of the
county as the proceeds of these sales, $167,243,63, one quarter of which, to-wit,
$42,560,66 was cash, and the balance, $126,679,97 in notes. Some other sales
were afterwards made which consisted in part of lands that had to be resold, and
part of additional lands acquired under the act of Congress of 1854, making the
whole number of acres sold 70,153 and 26-100, and the entire amount realized
about $177,000.
At the December term of the Board of Supervisors, 1858, Dr. W. C. Sny
der, of Fulton, was appointed Drainage Commissioner, under whose superinten
dence the ditching of the swamp lands was conducted. One hundred and thirty
miles of these ditches were made at a cost to the county of $88,500. They
were no sooner constructed than a large portion of this hitherto waste land be
gan to be cultivated, and much of it now ranks among the most productive of
the county. These lands, as near as we have been able to ascertain, are situ
ated as follows :

EARLY LIFE OF PIONEERS, AND INCIDENTS.

97

Township Name. No. acres Town. Range Township Name. No. acres Town. Range

Albany 
Fulton 
Garden Plain 
Newton 
Erie and Portland.
Erie and Portland..
Fenton 
Union Grove 
Ustick 
Clyde 
Mt. Pleasant 

3Sr
2720 So
33204040 640
4120 2S13 538 160160

Lyndon & Prophetstown.
Prophetstown 
Tampico 
Hume and Lyndon 
Hopkins 
Genesee  .
Jordan 
Sterling and Coloma 
Montmorency 
Hahnaman 

No. acres

Town.

1 150

20

6920

19

12160

19

2900

20

200

21

none

22

none

22

80

21

9640

20

13800

19

Of the money received by Wm. Pollock, Drainage Commissioner, from the
sales of swamp lands, by order of Board of Supervisors he placed in the hands of
the School Commissioner $42,489.36. This sum the School Commissioner was
instructed to loan to residents of the county, at ten per cent, interest, with good
security. The money was so placed, the tfounty borrowing in September, 1857,
and January, 1858, $4,328.71 of the amount, giving its bonds therefor, which
were paid April 23, 1870.
The first distribution from the funds — arising from the sales of the swamp
lands — to the several Congressional townships for educational purposes, as pro
vided by the acts of Congress, and the General Assembly of the State, was made
April 1, 1860, by order of the Board of Supervisors at its September session,
1859. W. S. Wilkinson, County Clerk, Ed. B. Warner, County Treasurer, M.
R. Kelly, School Commissioner, and W. C. Snyder, Drainage Commissioner, be
ing appointed a committee to make the apportionment and distribution. The
amount distributed was $33,065.36 — $17,081.80 of the amount coming from the
hands of the School Commissioner, and $15,983.53 from the Drainage Commis
sioner. The apportionment was as follows:

Township Name.

Albany 
Fulton.... 
Garden Plain 
Newton 
Erie and Portland 
Erie and Portland 
Fenton 
Union Grove 
Ustick 
Clyde 
Mt. Pleasant 

Amount.

$ 9iz 3«
2110 16
1407 00
1324 00
97+ 45
2387 00
1275 00
>527 43
¦359 00
1300 00
2022 50

Town.

R.

20 & 21

2

32

3

21

3

20

3

19

3

19

4

20

4

21

4

32

4

22

5

21

5

Township Name.

Lyndon & Prophetstown
Prophetstown 
Tampico 
Hume and Lyndon 
Hopkins 
Genesee 
Jordan 
Sterling and Coloma....
Montmorency 
Hahnaman 

Amount.

$2050 00
1452 90
801 00
992 44
1900 00
2179 00
1760 00
3689 60
8*5 00
S86 zo

W. C. Snyder, Drainage Commissioner, at the September term, 1865, of
the Board of Supervisors, reported the following apportionment of $14,773.53
from swamp land funds in his hands:

Township Name .

Albany 
Fulton 
Garden Plain 
Newton 
Erie and Portland
Erie and Portland
Fenton 
Union Grove 
Ustick 
Clyde 
Mt. Pleasant 

$ 225 00
1610 16
707 00
724 oo
120 00
924 00
1 127 43
369 00
Soo 00
172 50

Town.

R.

Township Name.

Lyndon & Prophetstown
Prophetstown 
Tampico 
Hume and Lyndon 
Hopkins 
Genesee 
Jordan 
Sterling and Coloma 
Montmorency 
Hahnaman 

Amount.

452 90
801 00
292 44
1300 00
129 00
500 00
2939 60
855 00
724 50

Town.

[««-!.]

98

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.

At the December session, 1869, of the Board of Supervisors, W. S. Wil
kinson, and Supervisors W. M. Kilgour and D. S. Efner were appointed in
behalf of the county to settle with M. R. Kelly— whose term of office as County
Superintendent of Schools had expired— and apportion the funds in his hands
to the Congressional townships. This fund was so much of the proceeds of
swamp land sales as had been turned over to the School Commissioner by Wm.
Pollock, Drainage Commissioner, less amount distributed April 1, 1860. The
interest on this fund had been distributed each year as it accumulated, to the
different townships. The apportionment was made February 1, 1870, and
amounted to $25,088.05, distributed as follows: 

Township Name.

Albany 
Fulton 
Garden Plain 
Newton 
Erie and Portland.
Erie and Portland.
Fenton 
Union Grove 
Ustick 
Clyde 
Mt. Pleasant 

Town.

6S405

20 & 21

i+S1 90

22

94S 05

21

957 49

20

1334 63

19

1234 27

19

IOO9 22

20

10S5 Si

21

1039 S6

22

1 190 67

22

191S S_

21

a.

Township Name.

Lyndon & Prophetstown
Prophetstown 
Tampico 
Hume and Lyndon 
Hopkins 
Genesee 
Jordan 
Sterling and Coloma 
Montmorency 
Hahnaman 

$114590 SS7 S7
6S7 56
S71 40
I2§2 59
•353 27
I 1 lb 79
3237 32
S26 66
S21 Sy

Town.

1919

R.

At the annual meeting of the Board of Supervisors in September, 1870, a
committee was appointed consisting of Supervisors Jas. Dinsmoor, D. F. Cole
and G. L. Hough, to make an apportionment and distribution of the surplus
swamp land funds in the hands of W. C. Snyder, Drainage Commissioner. The
committee made the distribution March 1, 1871, to each political township,
instead of Congressional townships as had been done formerly, and made their
report at the March term of the Board, 1871.
The last distribution of swamp land funds was made February 6, 1872, by
a committee appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The Committee were in
structed to make a division to the townships of the funds in the hands of the
Drainage Commissioner not needed to meet current expenses. They made a
report of their action at the February term of the Board, 1872. This distribu
tion was also made to political townships.
The following table shows the two apportionments: 

Apportionment of April ist, 1S71.

Name of Township.

Amount.

Albany 
Fulton 
Garden Plain..
Newton 
Erie 
Portland 
Fenton 
Union Grove..
Ustick 
Clyde 
Mt. Pleasant. .
Lyndon, 
Prophetstown .
Tampico 
Hume 
Hopkins 
Genesee 
Jordan 
Sterling 
Coloma 
Montmorency. .
Hahnaman... ,

Total  $63095

$ 239000
2581 20
2946 33
2946 33
2581 20
2946 33
2946 33
2946 33
2946 33
2940 33
2946 33
29+6 33
2946 33
2946 33
2946 33
2946 33
2946 -53
2946 33
2946 33
2509 50
2946 33
2946 33

Apportionment of February 6th, 1S72,

Name of Township.

Albany 
Fulton 
Garden Plain.
Newton 
Erie 
Portland 
Fenton 
Union Grove .
Ustick 
Clyde 
Mt. Pleasant..
Lyndon. . . .
Prophetstown .
Tampico .
Hume 
Hopkins 
Genesee 
Jordan 
Sterling 
Coloma 
Montmorency.Hahnaman 

Total  $19374 19

733 87
792 5s
904 70
904 70
?J2 5S
904 70
904 70
904 70
904 70
904 70
904 70
904 70
904 70
904 70
904 7°
904 7°
904 70
904 70
904 70
770 56
904 7°
904 70

EARLY LIFE OF PIONEERS, AND INCIDENTS. 99
The total amount of these swamp land funds distributed to the townships
for school purposes, under the five different apportionments, was $155,396.97.
In addition to this amount was the interest on about $25,000, being the fund
in the hands of the School Commissioner after his first apportionment, and
which was distributed annually for about nine years. This will swell the en
tire amount which the townships have received to about $175,000.00.
At the September session of the Board of Supervisors in 1873, it was
stated that as the county owned but one hundred and sixty acres of swamp land,
there existed no further necessity for the office of Drainage Commissioner, and
it was, therefore, resolved that such office be declared discontinued. It was
also ordered that the Drainage Commissioner deliver within thirty days to the
County Clerk all the papers, books, documents, or other property in his pos
session belonging to the county, and relating to swamp land matters.
The grant of these swamp lands to the county was a munificent one, and the
proceeds of their sales have proved of incalculable benefit to the townships, not
only in bringing these lands to a proper condition for cultivation, but in adding
to their school fund such a large sum for educational purposes.
Agricultural Societies.
Whiteside County Agricultural Society: — The Whiteside County Agricul
tural Society was organized at the village of Union Grove on the 26th of
February, 1856, the following gentlemen being elected its first officers: Robert.
L. Wilson, President; A. R. Hamilton, Vice-President; Dr. L. S. Pennington,
Secretary; Luther Dodge, Treasurer. The annual Fairs of the Society were
held at Morrison until the year 1863, when the grounds were located at Ster
ling, where the Fairs have since been held. The grounds are situated on Rock
river, a little southwest of the city of Sterling, and are admirably adapted for
the purpose. The officers of the Society for 1876-7 are Samuel J. Baird, Presi
dent; M. S. Coe, Vice-President; C. M. Worthington, Secretary, and J. W.
Stewart, Treasurer. The Executive Committee are Joseph M. Patterson, Ster
ling, W. H. Colcord, Genesee, L. E. Rice, Lyndon, G. B. Quigley, Prophetstown,
George Davidson, Hopkins, Tyler McWhorter, Montmorency, J. C. Paddock,
Hume, E. Underwood, Portland, J. M. Wallace, Sterling. The Fairs held by
this Society are unequalled in the amount and variety of the exhibitions, and
are very largely attended.
Whiteside County Central Agricultural Society: — This Society was organ
ized on the 28th of May, 1872, at Morrison, the objects being to promote all
the industrial pursuits of the county, and especially the agricultural, horticul
tural, floricultural and mechanical interests, and also the fine arts and domestic
manufactures. The constitution adopted provided that the officers of the
Society should consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and
an executive committee of nine members, the latter to serve for three years,
their terms of service respectively to be so arranged that three members should
be chosen each year. The first officers elected were James M. Pratt, President;
A. M. Teller, Vice-President; Frank Clendenin, Secretary; E. G. Topping,
Treasurer. The executive committee consisted of Levi Fuller, James Wilson,
H. F. Kellum, Geo. W. Mackenzie, John F. Demmon, Delos J. Parker, M. M.
Potter, Joseph H. Marshall, and Lucius H. Pratt. The first Fair was held at
Morrison on the 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th of September, 1872, and was a suc
cess. The grounds are admirably located, being well shaded, and upon the
bank of Rock creek so that living water can be always at hand. The present
officers are James M. Pratt, President; Robert E. Logan, Vice-President;
Edwin J. Congar, Secretary; Chas. Bent, Treasurer. M. M. Potter, of Fenton,

100 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Lafayette Crandall, of Erie, Moses Lathe, of Lyndon, J. F. Demmon,of Clyde,
D. J. Parker, of Garden Plain, Cephas Hurless, of Genesee, A. M. Teller, of
Union Grove, D. F. Cole, of Portland, and P. B. Reynolds, of Prophetstown,
are'_the executive committee. The Society is entirely out of debt,_and their last
Fair held on the 4th. 5th, 6th and 7th of September, of this year, was very suc
cessful. S2>ri>ig Creek Union Agricultural Society: — This Society was or
ganized in the summer of 1875, at Albany, the object being the
same as the two other Agricultural Associations of the county. Unlike
the others, however, it is a local society taking in the towns of Albany, Garden
Plain and Newton, in Whiteside county, and some of the upper towns in Rock
Island County. Under the constitution as adopted in 1875, the officers are a
President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Executive Committee of
eight members, of which the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer
are e.c officio members. The officers of the Society are Daniel Nicewonger,
President; P. J. Kennedy, Vice President; J. F. Happer, Secretary, and
Warren Olds, Treasurer. The Executive Committee is composed of Chas. D.
Parker, James H. Booth, E. H. Nevitt, Charles George, D. J. Parker, Wm.
Rowland, E. R. Beckwith, and I. B. Williams. The Fairs are held at Booth's
Grove, one mile south of Albany. As a local organization it has been eminently
successful. Whiteside County Grange,
Whiteside was among the first counties in the State, or for that matter in
the Union, to organize subordinate Granges of the Patrons of Husbandry. In
no county was such interest taken in the Order, and in no county did subordi
nate Granges increase more rapidly. Nearly every township had its flourishing
Grange, and several had two or three. In the year 1873, when these subordi
nate Granges had reached thirty in number, a County Grange was organized,
called "The Whiteside County Grange." The requisite constitution and by-laws
were passed, and stated meetings appointed to be held quarterly. Charles R.
Rood, of Garden Plain, was elected its first Master, and L. E. Rice, of Lyndon,
first Secretary. Its present officers are: Master, Robert E. Logan; Secretary',
E. V. Lapham; Treasurer, Samuel Baird. The meetings are held regularly
every quarter, either at Morrison, Sterling, or Lyndon. These Grange organiza
tions from the National to the Subordinate have been widely influential for good
not only to the husbandman and producer, but to the people at laro-e.
Old Settlers' Association.
As early as January, 1858, several of the first settlers of the county met
at Wallace Hall, in Sterling, to enjoy a supper, and talk over the times and
incidents of their pioneer life in Whiteside. The meeting resulted in organiz
ing the Old Settlers' Association. All citizens of the county were entitled to
membership who were residents prior to 1840. Col. E. Seely had the honor of
being the first presiding officer. It is related that before the pioneers had half
finished rehearsing the tales of the olden time, they were compelled to take
their departure from the hall, so as to give their sons and daughters a chance to
trip the "light fantastic toe." They had, probably, no objection to being dis-
posessed by the young folks, had the latter waited until a reasonable time but
to be summarily ejected when in the very height of their discourse, was more
than they had been accustomed to endure. The result was that the meeting of
1859 was the last one held at Wallace Hall, Sterling, when they accepted
Deacon Hamilton s offer to occupy his grove at such time as they might deem

EARLY LIFE OF PIONEERS, AND INCIDENTS. 101
most agreeable to all concerned. Upon consultation, the first Thursday of
September, 1860, was selected for holding a basket picnic by the Old Settlers of
Whiteside, and as it passed off so agreeably and pleasantly to all, it was resolved
to hold an annual picnic thereafter, at the same place. Thousands of people
now attend these annual gatherings, all being determined to give the fathers
and mothers of Whiteside that consideration due to those who first opened up the
soil to cultivation, and reared our hamlets, cities and towns.
Whiteside County Caledonian Club.
Many of the sons of Auld Scotia made their homes in Whiteside County
some years ago, being attracted hither by its beauty, and the exceeding richness
and fertility of its soil. Naturally they sought to become acquainted, and to
revive in their new location the more important and interesting of the anniver
saries, customs and games of their native land. The first meeting looking toward
the formation of a society to carry out these purposes, was held at the Boynton
House, in Sterling, on the 24th of January, 1873, that being the one hundred and
fourteenth anniversary of the birth of the plowman bard, Robert Burns. After
duly celebrating the event so dear to the heart of every true Scotchman, a vote
was taken to ascertain whether the Scotchmen settled in Whiteside county were
ready and willing to organize a Caledonian Club. The sentiment was found to
be unanimously in favor of such an organization, whereupon a constitution was
adopted, and twenty-two attached their signatures to the document.
The meeting for the election of the first officers of the Club was held in
Morrison, on the 8th of March, 1873, and was organized by choosing John L.
Brown, of Clyde, chairman, and James Laing, of Fenton, secretary. Upon a
ballot being taken the following gentlemen were elected officers : Chieftain,
Robert McNeil, of Coloma; Second Chieftain, James Lister, of Morrison; Third
Chieftain, James Melville, of Ustick; Fourth Chieftain, James Laing, of Fenton;
Finance Committee, Alexander Matthew, James Borland, and John Jones; Com
mittee on Games, John Smith and John L. Brown. The two first meetings to
celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns were held in Sterling, and
the last three in Morrison, and at each the attendance was gratifying, the bonnie
lasses being largely represented, and the proceedings conducted in that spirit
and enthusiasm so peculiar to the Scottish nature. At the second meeting at
Sterling, Chief McNeil in an address stated the objects of the Club to be :
First, the preservation of the ancient literature and customs of Scotland, and the
encouragement and practice of her ancient games; Second, the establishment of
a library and a gymnasium, and the employment of lecturers for the association;
and Third, to foster charity which in its amount, character and mode of distri
bution, will be dependent upon the will of the majority of the association. These
purposes have been faithfully carried into effect. Commencing with the year 1873
the Club has held an annual basket picnic immediately after harvest, at which,
among other pleasing features, the ancient outdoor games of Scotland are prac
ticed. These now rank among the most pleasant occasions of the year, and are
largely attended by people of all nationalities.
The present officers of the Club are : Chieftain, Robert McNeil; Second
Chieftain, Alexander Ritchie; Third Chieftain, James Melville; Fourth Chief
tain, James Lister; Secretary, Benj. Matthew; Treasurer, Peter Durward; Li
brarian, John Calderwood. The library consists of over one hundred volumes,
many of which are choice Scottish works. It is kept at the store of John Cal
derwood, in Morrison, and is open free of charge to the members of the Club
and their families. Those not belonging to the Club who desire the use of books
are charged a moderate price for the privilege.

102 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Whiteside County Bible Society.
This Society was organized at Lyndon in August, 1847, and was recognized
by and became auxiliary to the American Bible Society in December of the same
year. There had been a local organization at Lyndon, and perhaps elsewhere in
the county, previous to that time, but no central society to combine the efforts
of the friends of the cause, and to connect them with the parent society. In
the summer of that year Rev. Geo. Stebbins, then pastor of the Presbyterian
church at Sterling, was in New York, and chanced to say to Rev. Dr. Prime,
editor of the New York Observer, that there was no Bible Society in Whiteside
county, and the latter at once proposed to solicit a donation from the American
Bible Society as a nucleus for an auxiliary. This was done, and a donation
granted. The books were forwarded to Rev. Mr. Stebbins, and the society soon
organized with Dr. A. Smith as its first President, Rev. Geo. Stebbins, Secretary,
and Deacon John Roy, Treasurer. This was the germ, but it proved a vigorous
one as the subsequent growth has evinced. Few more efficient and prosperous
societies are to be found, considering its resources, and the extent of territory
embraced. The Lyndon period of this society, embracing some sixteen years, seems to
have been in a measure lost track of, so far as records are concerned. In 1864
the headquarters of the society were transferred to Morrison, and on the 23d of
March of that year, its first annual meeting at that city, was held. The annual •
discourse was delivered by Rev. Mr. Webb, and the following officers elected for
the next year : A. 0. Jackson, President; 0. Cowles, Vice President; Dr. W.
L. Cole, Treasurer; F. C. Woodruff, Secretary, and W. M. Spears and Dr. A.
Smith, Executive Committee. This meeting is specially noted as being the first
one held after the removal of the society to its present center, and the first one
at which full minutes were kept, and some of the incidents are well remember
ed by those who were in attendance.
The total remittances of this auxiliary to the parent society up to the
present year, have been $15,337,19, or about $500 a year since its organization.
Of this amount $10,141,57 have been on account of books, and $5,193,62 as do
nations. Of the books obtained about $1,000 worth are on hand in the county
and branch depositories, and about $7,500 worth have been put into circulation
in the county, making an average of about $300 worth a year. There are about
twenty branch Bible Societies in the county.
The objects of the society are, to supply thoroughly, and keep supplied, the
entire population of the county with the bible; to see that not one family lives
within the boundaries of the county, without the bible, that can possibly be in
duced to take one; to see that all the youth and children have at least a testa
ment; that all the institutious of correction and charity have the bible; that
all the hotels be supplied with the bible so far as they wish it, and will aid in
the work, and that the railroad, steamboat, and depots and waiting rooms be also
supplied with the bible. It also aims to do its part in supplying the world with
the word of God.
The present officers of the society are : James Snyder, President; F. B.
Hubbard, Secretary, and Dr. S. S. Hall, Treasurer and Depositary.
Whiteside County Sunday School Association.
The first meeting to organize a Sunday School Association for the county
of _ Whiteside, was held at Morrison on the 1st of December, 1864, Rev. G. T. '
Crissman was called to the chair, and a committee consisting of Revs'. J. T. Mason'
J. W. Cass, J. W. White and Mr. W. F. Peters, appointed to recommend officers
for permanent organization, and order of the meeting. The committee after-

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

103

wards reported, recommending the following gentlemen for officers : President,
W. D. Webb; Vice Presidents, Rev. W. A. Lipe, and Rev. J. W. Davidson;
Secretary, J. R. Ashley; Treasurer, Dr. H. P. Roberts. The report was adop
ted. Reports were made by the schools represented at the meeting, when it was
resolved to hold the meetings semi-annually, and a committee consisting of Revs.
J. T. Mason, J. W, Cass, W, D, Webb,, and Messrs. Thomas A, Gait and J, R,
Ashley, was appointed a committee of arrangements for the same. In addition
to the Sunday School friends of the county, there were present at the meeting
D. L. Moody, whose fame as a revivalist has since become world wide, and Mr.
Harwood, of Chicago, and W. F. Peters, Sunday School Agent. The presence
of these gentlemen added much interest to the occasion.
The County Association is auxiliary to the District Association, and the
latter to the State Association, the object being to establish a complete and
harmonious system of effort in behalf of the Sunday Schools throughout the
State. The reports made by the representatives of the different schools in the
county, at each of the meetings since the organization of this Association, show
that a gratifying progress has been made in Sunday School work, and that to a
considerable degree this progress is owing to the effect of systematic labor in
augurated by the system of Sunday School Associations.
The last annual meeting of the Association was held at Sterling on the 7th
and 8th of May, 1877. The following officers were then elected for the ensu
ing year: President, D. J. Jenne, of Sterling; Recording Secretary, Payson
Trask, of Fulton; County Secretary, Dr. H. C. Donaldson, of Morrison; Town
ship Secretaries, David Parkhill, Ustick, Thomas Gulliland, Clyde, S. H. Kin-
gery, Sterling, James Snyder, Mt. Pleasant, G. F. Goodell, Union Grove, J. M.
Fay, Fulton, P. J. Kennedy, Garden Plain, E. Olds, Albany, Wm. Mitchell,
Newton, M. 0. Hurless, Fenton, Chas. W. Westervelt, Lyndon, L. E. Matthews,
Erie, L. E. Tuttle, Coloma, Rev. H. M. Corbett, Portland, Geo. B. Quigley,
Prophetstown, E. A. Hovey, Tampico, Chas. Toby, Hopkins, A. S. Ferguson,
Genesee. Congressional Districts.
By the act of the General Assembly approved March 1, 1843, establishing
seven Congressional districts in the State, Whiteside became a part of the
Sixth district. Previous to this time Whiteside formed a portion of the
district which included the whole northern part of the State, and was numbered
the Thitd District. The district of 1843 comprised the counties of Jo Daviess,
Stephenson, Winnebago, Carroll, Ogle, Lee, Whiteside, Rock Island, Henry,
Stark, Mercer, Henderson, Warren, Knox, McDonough, and Hancock, in all
sixteen counties. By the apportionment of 1852, Whiteside was placed in the
Second Congressional district with Cook, Du Page, Kane, De Kalb, Lee, and
Rock Island; in 1861 in the Thirteenth district with Jo Daviess, Stephenson,
Carroll, Ogle, and Lee; and in 1872 in the Fifth district with Jo Daviess,
Stephenson, Carroll and Ogle.
The following are the names of Members of Congress who have represented
the districts to which Whiteside has been attached, with the years when they
were elected:

1836— Wm. L. May.
l838-'40— John T. Stewart.
1S43-44— Joseph P. Hoge.
1846— Thos. J. Turner.
TS48— Ed. D. Baker.

1850 — Thompson J. Campbell.
1S52 — John Wentworth.
1854— Jas. H. Woodworth.
i856-'s8— John F. B'arnsworth.
i860— Isaac N. Arnold.

i862-'64-'66-'6S— Elihu B. Wash
burne.
1869- '70- '72- '74- '76— Horatio C.
Burchard.

Members State"aBoard of Equalization: — 1868, Leander A. Devine; 1872-
'76, Edward B. Warner.

104 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Senatorial and Representative Districts.
Previous to 1841, Whiteside was not included as a distinct county in the
formation of Senatorial and Representative districts, its present territory having
belonged at different times to other counties, but by the act of the General
Assembly, approved February 26 1841, it formed with Rock Island, Henry and
Lee, a Senatorial district, and with Lee a Representative district. By that act
12,000 white inhabitants formed the ratio of representation for a Senator, and
4,000 white inhabitants for a Representative.
By the act approved February 25, 1847, the ratio of representation was
increased to 19,000 white inhabitants for a Senator, and 6,500 white inhabit
ants for a Representative. Under this apportionment Whiteside, Lee, Rock
Island, Henry and Mercer formed a Senatorial district, and Whiteside and Lee
a Representative district.
Under the Constitution of 1847, in force April 1, 1848, the Senatorial and
Representative districts began to be numbered, the counties of Whiteside, Jo
Daviess, Stephenson and Carroll forming a Senatorial district, and numbered
the 23d, and Whiteside and Lee a Representative district and numbered
the 44th. By the act approved February 27, 1854, the counties of Whiteside, Lee,
Kane and De Kalb were made to constitute the Fifth Senatorial district, and
entitled to one Senator, and Whiteside and Lee the Forty-ninth Representative
district, and entitled to one Representative.
The act approved January 31, 1861, constituted the counties of Whiteside,
Lee and Ogle as the 20th Senatorial district, entitled to one Senator, and the
county of Whiteside as the 48th Representative district, and entitled to one
Representative. Under the Constitution of 1870 the districts in the State are termed
Senatorial, and each entitled to one Senator, and three Representatives, the
minority system obtaining in the election of the latter. The act approved
March 1, 1872, constituted Whiteside and Carroll as the 11th Senatorial
district. The following State Senators and Representatives have represented the
districts to which Whiteside has been attached:
Senators:— 1836,  Wight; 1840, Col. Buford; 1844, Silas H. Noble;
1848, Hezekiah H. Gear; 1852, Hugh Wallace; 1854, Augustus Adams; 1858,
Richard P. Adams; 1862, Daniel Richards; 1866, Daniel J. Pickney; 1870,
Winfield S. Wilkinson; 1872, Joseph M. Patterson; 1874, Henry A. Mills.
Representatives: — 1836, James Craig, J. Kent; 1838, Thomas Drummond ;
1840. Thomas Drummond, Hiram W. Thornton; 1842, Aaron C. Jackson; 1844,
Winfield S. Wilkinson; 1846, Hugh Wallace; 1848, Joseph Crawford; 1850, Van
J. Adams; 1852, Joseph Crawford; 1854, Miles S. Henry; 1856, John V.
Eustace; 1858, Wm. Prothrow; 1860, George Ryan; 1862-64, Leander Smith;
1866-68, James Dinsmoor; 1870, Dean S. Efner, Nathan Williams; 1872, Dean
S. Efner, James Shaw. James E.McPherran; 1874, Tyler McWhorter, Norman
D. French, Albert R. McCoy; 1876, Edward H. Nevitt, James Shaw, James M.
Stowell. Members Constitutional Conventions: — The following named gentlemen
have represented Whiteside County in the Constitutional Conventions of 1847,
1861, and 1869, viz: 1847, Aaron C. Jackson; 1861, Leander Smith; 1869,
James McCoy.

STATISTICS, POPULATION, ET C. 105
List of Public Officers,
The following is a list of the officers of the County from its organization
to the present time:
Clerk County Commissioners' Court: — 1839-'41, Guy Ray; 1841, Theodore
Winn; 1841-'49, John Roy.
County Clerk:— 1849-53, Norton J. Nichols; 1853-57, Rufus DeGarmo;
1857-'69, Winfield S. Wilkinson; 1869-'77, Edwin W. Payne.
Clerk Circuit Court:— 1839-40, Erastus G. Nichols; 1840-48, Robert L,
Wilson. Recorder:— 1839, Augustine W. Newhall; 1839-'48, W. W. Gilbert.
Circuit Clerk and Recorder:— 1848-60, Robert L. Wilson; 1860-68, Ad
dison Farrington; 1868-72, John N. Baird; 1872-76, William P. Squire;
1876-80, Addison Farrington.
Probate Justice:— 1839-42, Daniel B. Young; 1842-49, Robert L,
Wilson. County Judge: — 1849-57, N. G. Reynolds; 1857-59, James McCoy;
1859-60, Charles J. Johnson; 1860-61, W. Anderson; 1861-65, Christopher
C. Teats; 1865-'69, Ed. G. Allen; 1869-77, William Lane.
Sheriff:— l%39-'4<d, James C. Woodburn; 1840-'44, J. W. McLemore;
1844-'46, James A. Sweet; 1846-'48, J. W. McLemore; 1848-50, L. D. Cran
dall; 1850-'52, Perry L. Jeffers; 1852-'54, Charles Wright; 1854-'56, Wm.
Manahan; 1856-'58, R. G. Clendenin; 1858-'60, John Dippell; 1860-'62, R. G.
Clendenin; 1862-'64, Robert E. Logan; 1864-'66, John Dippell; 1866-'68,L. A.
Lincoln; 1868-78, Edwin A. Worrell.
Coroner:— 1839-44, Ivory Colcord; 1844-46, Gilbert Buckingham;
1846-'48, Clinton G. Taylor; 1848-'54, Ivory Colcord; 1854-'56, D. F. Millikan;
1856-'58, Daniel Reed; 1858-'60, Wm. L. Coe;1860-'62, John Eddy; 1862-'68,
Samuel Taylor; 1868-70, Wm. L. Coe; 1870-72, D. B. Seger; 1872-73, John
Riley; 1873-74, Merill Mead; 1874-76, David E. Dodge; 1876-78, Moses
Lathe. Treasurer:— 1839-41, David Mitchell; 1841-43, Daniel Brooks; 1843-47,
David Hazard; 1847-'50, Henry Ustick; 1850-'51, John B. Myers; 1851-'55,
David Hazard; 1855-57, Jesse Penrose; 1857-69, Edward B. Warner;
1869-77, William H. Thatcher.
Surveyor:— 1839-'42, Charles R. Rood; 1842-'47, W. S. Wilkinson;
1847-'53, Wm. Pollock; 1853-'57, W. S. Wilkinson; 1857-63, L. H. Wood-
worth; 1863-'65, Miles T. Woolley; 1865-71, John D. Arey; 1871-77, Silas
Sears. School Commissioner: — 1840-42, Daniel B. Young; 1842-45, William
Nevitt; 1845-55, Charles S. Deming.
County Superintendent of Schools:- — 1855— '57, Charles S. Deming;
1857-69, M. R. Kelly; 1869-73, Michael W. Smith; 1873-77, Orrin M. Crary.
Statistics, Population, Etc.
The following tables give the population of the county from 1840 to 1870
inclusive, as compiled from the Federal census, together with other valuable
statistics derived from the same source.
In 1840 the population of the county was only 2,514.
From the statistics of 1850 we gather the following;
' [<3-K.]

106

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.

Total population  5>361
Males  a»S63
Females-  2.49s
United States born  3>344
Foreign born  _  43"
Persons over 10 who cannot read or write. .. 13
No. of pupils in public schools  i,3°4
Total educational income  $ 3%H7
No. of farms  •—  4°4
No. of acres improved  35,992
No. of acres unimproved  55,i84
Value with improvements and implements. ..$767,552
No. of horses, asses and mules  1,460
No. of neat cattle  6,701
No. of sheep  5>372
No. of swine  3»°42

No. bushels wheat raised 
No. bushels rye and oats  ....•<
No. bushels corn 
No. bushels barley 
No. bushels buckwheat 
Butter and Cheese, pounds 
Hay, tons  - 
Flax, pounds 
Tobacco, pounds 
Wool, pounds 
Value of orchard products  . 
Capital invested in manufacturing-..
Hands employed 
Annual products 
Produced in families 

H 9,061
70,654
2 1 ! ,027 -^5
1.685 '
i58»9>7 ^950 75"505
H,445 i,o35
119,020 77
H4,Siq 4.7*5

The following table gives the population of the county by townships in
1860 and 1870:

Towns.

Albany 
Clyde 
Coloma 
Erie 
Fenton 
Fulton 
Garden Plain
Genesee 
Hahnaman ...
Hopkins 
Hume 

Population. 1S60.

62S
603 27S
630639
1507 S16
"57 11S
"'3 3i6

Population. 1S70.

$05
1093 856 6957SS
2l62 I09I
1271 624
1436 6;()

Towns.

Jordan 
Lyndon 
MontmorencvMt. Pleasant". .
Newton 
Portland 
Prophetstown
Sterling  -
Tampico 
Union Grove.
Ustick 

Population. 1S60.

10281149 22s
1695 007906
1144
2427 s4s647

Population. 1S70.

1196'039 66S
^553 SSo
9S6
1274
3998 634
1070

Total population in 1860, 18,737, of which 15,869 were native born, and
2,868 foreign born. In 1870 the population amounted to 27,503, of which
22,913 were native born, and 4,590 foreign born.
The statistics of 1860 show the following:

No. of acres improved land in county-
No. of acres unimproved 
Cash value of tarms 
No. of horses 
" asses and mules  ,
Lk milch cows 
" working oxen 
li other cattle 
" sheep 
" swine 
Butter, pounds 
Cheese, pounds 
Value real estate 
" personal 
No. families 

..$ 5,30!

,602,140,231

8.255 1,029
10,841 1,363
12,827 ,734.200 94960654S

527 57.
i 7.H3.

No. bushels wheat  £08,574
*' " rye  6,260
corn  793,713
oats  320,930

Tobacco, pounds
Wool, pounds 
Potatoes, bushels 
Barley, bushels 
Buckwheat, bushels 
Orchard products  $
No. tons of hay 
Home made manufactures  $
No. of churches 
Value church property  ft

1,382
3,5+5
62,840 i8,799 650
12,445
39.4S9 3,3i3 27
58,350

From the statistics of 1870 we gather the following:

No of acres improved land in county-
No acres unimproved  ,
Cash value of farms  -
Cash value of farm productions-
Orchard products 
Value of home manufactures 
Value of live stock 
No. of horses 
" mules and asses 
" Milch cows 
" working oxen  ,
" other cattle 
" sheep 
" swine 
No. church organizations 
No. bushels wheat. 

612,632, 3,oSc 38;
70S,
2,497, 13.

,809.823
,720 .329¦547 192
554
944 252 129

22,135

37
457

No. bushels rye  , 
" L' corn 
" " oats 
'* "¦ barley 
" " buckwheat 
" ** potatoes 
Tobacco, pounds 
Wool, " 
Butter, " 
Cheese. " 
Hay, tons 
No. scholars who attend school 
No. of people over 21 who cannot read or
write 
No. church edifices 
Value church property  ;

Public School Affairs.
We publish the following statistics from the annual report of 0. M.

31,65s
2,162,943 SS0.S38 89,07s 3,255
219,476 220
40,660
732,591 63,38154,833 6,781

35
11,250

Crary,

STATISTICS, POPULATION, ETC. 107
County Superintendent of Schools, for 1876, which will give our readers a cor
rect idea of the status of the public schools of the county:
No. of males under 21 years of age  7>7°5
No. of females under 21 years of age  7>27x Hi976
No. of males between the ages of 6 and 21  Si!98
No. of females between the ages of 6 and 21  41887 10,085
No. school districts having five months school, or more  141
No. school districts having less than five months school  1 142
No. Public Free Schools sustained  143
No. of months school sustained  1,167%
Average No. months school sustained  7.76
Whole No. male pupils enrolled  4475
Whole No. female pupils enrolled  4>H9 8,624
No. of male teachers  95
No . of female teachers  rc)5 290
No. of months taught by male teachers  509
No. of months taught by female teachers  999/^ 1,508^
No. of graded schools  11
No. of ungraded schools  131 142
No. of months taught in graded schools  265
No. of months taught in ungraded schools  1,055^ 1,320%
No. of private schools  2
No. of teachers in private schools  9
No. of male pupils in private schools  92
No. of female pupils in private schools  72 164
No. of school districts having libraries  22
No. volumes in school libraries  . . 696
No. of stone school houses in county  5
No. of brick school houses in county  13
No. of frame school houses in county. .  124 142
No. of school houses built during the year  2
No. persons between 12 and 21 unable to read and write  3
Causes therefor : idiocy 1; illness, and neglect of parents, 2.
; Amt. paid to male teachers for the year  ¦ •  $29,473.66
Amt. paid to female teachers for the year  37,203.81 $66,677. 47
Amt. paid for new school houses  $7,833.53
Amt . paid for sites and grounds  1,445.00
Amt. paid for rent of school houses  59.00
Amt. paid for repairs and improvements  11,451.91
Amt. paid for school furniture  1,867.93
Amt. paid for school apparatus  ,  290.30 $12,640.67
Total expenditures on account of schools for the year ending
September 30, 1876  $129,482.14
Estimated value of school property  $274,210.00
Estimated value of school apparatus  5>202.5°
Estimated value of school libraries  1,167.00 $280,579.50
Principal of township fund  $197,780.48
Amt. of township fund loaned on real estate  140,705.38
Amt. of township fund loaned on personal security  56,348.41
Average monthly wages paid male teachers  $51 .00
Average monthly wages paid female teachers  35 .67

OFFICIAL VOTE OF WHITESIDE COUNTY,
AT AN ELECTION HELD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, 1876.

TOWNS.

President.

3S

&a

Gover nor.

la
5&

Member ot Con
gress .

Mem. Board
of Equaliza
tion, Fifth
District.

5*

.2 S

Representatives from the
Eleventh Sen. District.

3„C

> I

rt S

uo

25

Clerk of
the Cir.
Court.

So Ma
rt w
5C

i- a

SherifF.

Coroner.

S£

- d ^s

7}

b£

Jordan 
Sterling 
Coloma 
Montmorency .
Hahnaman Tampico 
Hume 
Hopkins 
Genesee 
Clyde 
Mt. Pleasant .
Lyndon 
Prophetstown .
Portland 
Fenton 
Union Grove .
Ustick 
Fulton 
Garden Plain. .
Newton 
Erie 
Albany 

150

¦SO

IOS6

1 103

3'9*4

321

90

90

">tt

io>4

23 r

231

106 Vs,

103*4

219

216

240

240

H°%

i.T7*4

639

630

295*4

295*4

342

349*4

183W

1S3H

117

117

292*4

2»3*4

190'/,,

iooy,

269

271

333*4

172

io.V/4

158*4

IS7V4

i.57*4

333

15

206 sl>*4
249315 201 213 '32
$ 172
229 %
177
162

237
1451 154 117
276 5S
99
h;

9
24
212% 30

3
3 99
31J* 51 9
33 9

¦36
1 148
301

Total  3S51

133 38S3 22r3 3S26 2269 3895

128 5915*4 5432

3952

2574

445

45'9

3937

2157

3537

3S36

2273

CHAPTER V.
History of Albany Township, and Village — Societies — Biographical.

Albany Township.
The present township of Albany first formed a part of Van Buren Precinct,
remaining so, however, only a short time, when it was set off as a Precinct by
itself, and included within its boundaries the present townships of Newton and
Garden Plain. In 1852 it was made a township by the Commissioners appoint
ed by the County Commissioners' Court, and is described as fractional township
twenty-one north of the base line, range two east of the 4th Principal Meridian.
The township along the river until the Meredocia is reached, is made up princi
pally of high bluffs, thence along the Meredocia it is low with frequent sloughs.
The balance of the town is sufficiently rolling to render cultivation certain at
every season. The low lands have also been brought to a great degree under
cultivation. Besides the Mississippi River which flows on the north and north
west boundaries, the town is watered by the Meredocia on the west, and Spring
Creek in the northeast part. Upon the farm of W. S. Booth, situated on the
latter creek, about one mile south of the Village of Albany, the Spring Creek
Union Agricultural Society holds its annual fairs.
The Meredocia which borders the township partly on the west, and flows
through a portion of it, is of peculiar formation. The marsh or stream extends
from the Mississippi to Rock river, with a divide of high land in the center.
This high land divides the stream, the eastern part flowing to Rock river, and
the western part to the Mississippi river. In times of extreme high water in
either river the divide is overflowed, the highest stream passing into the other.
In 1849 at the breaking up of the ice in Rock river a gorge was formed below
the point where the Meredocia enters that stream, causing the ice and water to
flow through the Meredocia to the Mississippi with such force as to destroy the
bridge over the former near its confluence with the latter. Many years ago Capt.
H. H. Gear and others, of Galena, laid out a town at the Mississippi mouth of
the Meredocia, intending to cut a canal from river to river, the idea being to
avoid the rapids at Rock Island, and have steamers take the Rock river up to
this canal and then follow it back to the Mississippi; but after making a careful
survey of Rock river from its mouth up, greater obstructions were found there
than at the rapids, and the project was abandoned.
At the election held on the 4th of November, 1851, under the act of the
General Assembly of the State providing for township organization, Albany
cast 59 votes in favor of such organization to 19 against it.
The first town meeting under the new law was held at the public school
house in the village of Albany, on the 6th day of April, 1852. The name of
the Moderator does not appear in the record. M. S. Denlinger acted as Clerk
pro tem. The following officers were elected :
Supervisor, Wm. S. Barnes; Town Clerk, M. S. Denlinger; Justices of the
Peace, Gilbert Buckingham, Ivy Buck; Constables, Wm. Ewing, Chester Lusk;
Commissioners of Highways, Alfred Slocumb, A. B. Emmons; Assessor, Chas.

110 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Boynton; Collector, B. S. Quick; Overseer of Poor, Henry Pease; Overseer of
Highwavs, Samuel Happer; Pound Master, James Hugunin.
The following record made by the Clerk on the 21st of April, 1852, shows
that the then Commissioners of Highways were not very active in the discharge
of their duties :
"At a meeting held by the Commissioners of Highways at the Town Clerk's
office on Wednesday the 21st of April, 1852, they came to no conclusion about
anything, and in fact done nothing at all."
The following is a list of town officers from 1852 to 1877 inclusive :
Supervisors— 1852, Wm. S. Barnes; 1853, William Y. Wetzell. Mr.
Wetzell resigned his office in February, 1854, and Washington Olds was appoint
ed to fill the vacancy; 1854-'55, A. T. Hudson. Mr. Hudson resigned in Jan
uary, 1856, and Samuel Happer was appointed to fill the vacancy; 1856-'62, W.
S. Barnes; 1863-'70, Dean S. Efner; 1871-76, E. H. Nevitt. Mr. Nevitt re
signed on the 1st of January, 1877, by reason of being elected Representative
to the General Assembly, and Ezekiel Olds was appointed to fill the vacancy;
1877, Peter Ege.
Town Clerks :— 1852, M. S. Denlinger; 1853, W. W. Durant; 1854-'56, J.
B. Myers; 1857, Henry Pease; 1858, Thos. A. Slaymaker; 1859, S. L. Myers;
1860-'62, Henry Pease; 1863-'67, Charles Slocumb; 1868-'77, Henry Pease.
Justices of the Peace : — 1852, Gilbert Buckingham, Ivy Buck; 1854, Dean
S. Efner, W. W. Durant; 1856, J. J. Bolls; 1858, Dean S. Efner, Gilbert Buck
ingham; 1860,S.H. Slaymaker, J. C. Slocumb; 1863, Gilbert Buckingham; 1864
Dean S. Efner, Gilbert Buckingham; 1867, Joseph McMahan; 1868, Dean S.
Efner, Joseph McMahan; 1872, Dean S. Efner, James H. Ege; 1873, Dean S.
Efner, James H. Ege; 1877, Dean S. Efner, Joseph McMahan.
Assessor:— 1852, Chas. Boynton; 1853-'77, E. H. Nevitt. Mr. Nevitt re
signed soon after his election in 1877, and Wm. H. Fletcher was appointed to
fill the vacancy.
Collectors :— 1852, B. S. Quick; 1853, C. G. Nevitt; 1854-'56, A. B. Em
mons; 1857-'58, B. S. Quick; 1859, David Wray; 1860-'61, C. Knapp; 1862,
Ezekiel Olds; 1863, Wm. A. Chamberlain; 1864-'65, C. G. Nevitt; 1866, W. D.
Haslet; 1867, C. G. Nevitt; 1868, C. Knapp: 1869, Chas. Slocumb; 1870-71,
C. Knapp; 1872, C. G. Slocumb; 1873-75, Ezekiel Olds; 1876-77, W. D. Haslet.
The following record of an election held at the house of Wm. Nevitt in the
town of Albany, Precinct of Albany, on the 5th day of August, 1844, we were
premitted to copy from the original record now in the possession of Hon. E. H.
Nevitt :
For Representative in Congress : — Martin P. Sweet 68 votes; Joseph P.
Hoge 22; John Cross 1.
For State Representative : — Oliver Everett 67 votes; Winfield S. Wilkin
son 22. For Sheriff: — James A. Sweet 63 votes; James W. Noble 22; Daniel F.
Millikan 1.
For Coroner : — Thomas Vennum 51 votes; Gilbert Buckingham 30.
For County Commissioner : — Bacchus Besse 68 votes; Ebenezer Seeley
17 votes. For Constable : — Wm, Ewing 34 votes; John S. Lamb 32.
Samuel Slocumb, S. M. Kilgour and Ivy Buck were judges of election, and
Stephen B. Slocumb and E. H. Nevitt, clerks.
The Precinct of Albany then comprised the present townships of Albany
Garden Plain and Newton. The elections were always held at the village of
Albany, and were considered the most exciting days of the year. It will be se.en

VILLAGE OF ALBANY. Ill
that the Whigs were considerably in the majority in Albany Precinct at that
time. The assessment of Albany Precinct for the year 1839, the Precinct then in
cluding the present townships of Albany, Garden Plain and Newton, made by
Lewis Spurlock, Assessor, the original of which is on file in the County Clerk's
office, shows fifty-one persons assessed. The property assessed was only person
al, and consisted in the aggregate of 38 horses, valued at $2,025; 157 cows and
oxen, valued at $2,995; 390 hogs, valued at $1,201; 8 sheep, valued at $16; val
uation of wagons, $928; of household goods, $1,695; of mechanical tools, $265,
and of clocks and watches, $259. Total assessed valuation of all personal prop
erty, $9,384.
Albany township contains about 2,000 acres of improved lands, and about
4,000 of unimproved. From the Assessor's book for 1877 the number of horses
in the township is put down at 213; number of cattle, 488; of mules and asses,
3; of sheep, 75; of hogs, 1937; carriages and wagons, 92; sewing and knitting
machines, 90; piano fortes, 11; melodeons and organs, 29. Total value of lands,
lots and personal property $155,321; value of railroad property, $9,529. Total as
sessed value of a!l property in 1877, $164,850.
The population of the township outside of the village of Albany in 1870,
as appears by the census reports of that year, was 199, of which 147 were of
native birth, and 52 of foreign birth. The estimated population is now 350.
Village of Albany.
The earliest settlers in what is now known as the village of Albany were
 Mitchell arid'Edward Corbin, brothers-in-law, who came in 1835 from the

State of Ohio. Mr. Mitchell made claim to what is now known as Upper Albany,
and Corbin to Lower Albany. During that year the former built a small cabin
on a mound still to be seen in the present lumber yard of Hon. E. H. Nevitt,
and the latter put up a tent around a tree at the edge of the bluff near the cor
ner of Main and Maple Streets. The tree, being a large one, afforded consider
able protection to his improvised dwelling, and gave rise to the report, which is
still in circulation, that he lived in a tree. It appears that neither of these
gentlemen had any idea of becoming permanent settlers, and only made their
claims for speculative purposes, for no sooner did other parties come in with
the bona fide intention of making their homes in the town then they willingly
sold their interest in the lands, and hied to other parts. There was a great deal
of that kind of business done in Illinois and other Western States and Territo
ries at that day, many parties following it as their only occupation. Their method
would be to find "out first by exploration some locality which offered natural ad
vantages either for the location of a village or city like that at Albany, or by
reason of the fertility of the soil a home for the farmer and producer, and then
cause these advantages to be spread abroad as far as possible. They were usual
ly shrewd men, and could spot an advantageous position as soon as their eyes fell
upon it. Although simply speculators, considerable credit is due them for
opening up to settlement many a splendid commercial position at an early date
which otherwise might not have been noticed, or if noticed, not until at a much
later period and when other and inferior localities had been selected and were
well in their growth.
In the spring of 1836, Wm. Nevitt, father of Hon. E. H. Nevitt, and
Willis C. Osborne, the former from Knox County, and the latter from Fulton
County, came up and purchased the claim from Mitchell. About the same time
Charles R. Rood came from Washington County, N. Y., and Erastus and Isaac
C. Allen from Plattsburgh, Essex County, N. Y., and purchased the claim from

112 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Corbin. None of the land had been sold by the Government, the entry not
taking place until October, 1839. In that month Messrs. Nevitt, Rood and
Allen went to Galena, made an entry and purchased the land covered by these
claims, for themselves and others, Mr. Nevitt purchasing what is now known as
Upper Albany, and Messrs. Rood and Allen, Lower Albany. The deeds for
Upper Albany were made out to Wm. Nevitt, Lewis Spurlock, Alfred Slocumb,
and Gilbert Buckingham, making them the proprietors. Chas. R. Rood, S. M.
Kilgour, Randolph C. Niblack. Isaac C. Allen, P. B. Vannest, Oliver McMahan,
Erastus Allen, Samuel Mitchell, David Mitchell, Alfred Bergen, Chester Lusk,
and Samuel Searle, became the proprietors of Lower Albany.
It was contemplated by the proprietors of the land now covered by Upper
Albany to call that part of the place Van Buren, and it was known by that name
for some time, while the proprietors of the lower part determined to call their
portion simply Albany. It was soon, however, discovered that two municipal
corporations in such close contiguity would prove unnecessary, as well as annoy
ing, and finally under cover of some dispute about boundary lines, the matter
was amicably compromised, and the whole town called Albany. The two towns
were first platted in 1836.
In the month of December, 1839, the town or village was surveyed for the
proprietors by C. R. Rood, County Surveyor, and the plat recorded in the office
of the Recorder of Whiteside County on the 4th day of March, 1840. In the
plat the village is described as situated and laid out on the east side of the Mis
sissippi river on a part of sections No's 24, 25 and 26, in township 21 north,
range 2 east of the 4th principal meridian. The village is beautifully situated,
the ground rising from the river at an angle of some twenty to thirty degrees
until it reaches the height of the surrounding country. Some of the finest
building sites on the Upper Mississippi can be found along and upon these
bluffs, the view from them, especially from some in the lower part of the town,
commanding a long stretch of the noble river, the village of Camanche nearly
opposite, the cities of Fulton, Lyons and Clinton above, besides extended por
tions of bluff and prairie in the two States of Illinois and Iowa. The citizens
in many instances have taken advantage of these fine sites and built upon them.
The part of the town along the river bank and at the commencement of the
bluffs is admirably adapted for business purposes. The streets of the village
are broad and regularly laid out. Of the original proprietors of the village the
following are still living: Randolph C. Niblack, residing on his old homestead
in town, C. R. Rood and P. B. Vannest, in Garden Plain, Oliver McMahan, in
Lyons, Iowa, and Samuel Mitchell, in Davenport, Iowa.
Log dwellings were put up in Upper Albany in the spring and summer of
1837 by Alfred Slocumb and Gilbert Buckingham. These were the first dwel
lings built in that part of the town, with the exception of the cabin of Mr.
Mitchell mentioned in a preceding page. In the summer of 1838 Uriah Cook
erected the first frame building. In Lower Albany Randolph C. Niblack, Sam
uel Searle, Isaac C. and Erastus Allen, Samuel Mitchell, T. Wilcoxson, Chester
Lusk, and Oliver McMahan put up the first frame buildings 'in the spring and
summer of 1837. The one built by McMahan was used as a hotel, thus mak
ing it the first hotel in Albany. The first brick building in the town was put
up for a dwelling by Dr. W. H. Efner, father of Hon. D. S. Efner, in the sum
mer of 1840. It is still standing on the bluff, on Main street, adjoining the
Methodist church, and is owned by Mrs. W. S. Barnes, and occupied by Mt. J.
W. Dinneen. Oliver McMahan followed the same year with the second brick
building. This was built on Water street and faced the- river, and is still stand-

VILLAGE OF ALBANY. 113
ing. Mr. McMahan used it first for a dwelling and afterwards for a bank. It
is now unoccupied.
Ivy Buck opened the first grocery store in the fall of 1837, and a firm by
the name of Cox & Campton the second early in 1838. The store of Cox &
Campton stood on the river bank near where the stone house now stands, and
that of Mr. Buck on the bluff, back of the present W. U. R. R. depot. In 1840
Mcllvaine & Happer opened the first dry goods and general merchandise store
in a building near the river, now known as the old Fuller Hotel site. After
' that year stores of different kinds followed with considerable rapidity. Cox &
Campton remained in the store for about a year. Mr. Buck continued in busi
ness also about a year. Mcllvaine & Happer continued in the mercantile line
under the same firm name until 1854, when William Y. Wetzell, now of Fulton,
became a partner, and the name was changed to Mcllvaine, Happer & Co. Mr.
Wetzell withdrew in 1854, leaving the firm as it originally started, and under
that name it continued until the firm was dissolved. Mr. Happer is still in
business in partnership with his son, Joseph F. Happer, in the brick store cor
ner of Main and Union streets. Mr. Mcllvaine is now a resident of Chicago.
Chas. S. Dorsey built the first saw mill in the fall of 1837 and early part
of 1838, actually commencing to saw in the former year. He came from
Tazewell County in this State. The mill stood on the river bank in the lower
end of the town, and was run by steam. David Mitchell, Mr. Hurd and others
had an interest in the mill. It ran for about four years, and then burned down,
A great deal of lumber was sawed at this mill for Capt. Holt, of Rock Island,
who was extensively engaged then in building barges for use on the Mississippi
river and its tributaries. A chair manufactory was started in connection with
this mill shortly after it commenced operation, by Alvord & Buck, but was
burned with the mill, and the proprietors did not afterwards resume business.
William Clark put up the next steam saw mill, a small rotary one, on the
river bank in Spurlock & Garrett's addition, in 1851. He ran it about a year
when he died, and it was torn down.
• In 1853 Walker, Happer & Co., built a steam saw mill on the river in
Upper Albany near where the stone house now stands. This mill was built in
the modern style, having planing and lath machinery attached. The Co. was
composed of E. H. Nevitt and John D. Mcllvaine. In 1855 Walker sold his
interest to the other members of the firm, and the firm name was changed to
Happer, Nevitt & Co. The new firm ran the mill until 1858, when operations
ceased. The mill was destroyed by the tornado of June 3, 1860, and was not
rebuilt. A part of the present mill was built by Boice, Ewing & Co. in 1861. This
Company ran the mill until 1864, when it was sold to Langford & Hall, now
extensive mill owners and lumber dealers at Fulton. In 1866 David Heffel
bower bought an interest and the firm name was changed to Heffelbower, Lang-
ford & Co. In 1872 Mr. Heffelbower and Wm. McBride purchased the entire
interest in the mill and its surroundings, and the firm became Heffelbower &
McBride. The latter gentlemen are its present owners. New and important
additions to the building, machinery and yard have been added by the enter
prising proprietors from time to time as the occasion demanded, until now the
mill ranks among the first on the river.
As near as can be now ascertained the following persons were the settlers
in Van Buren and Albany, as the places were then called in 1837: Chas. R,
Rood, Erastus Allen and family, Isaac C. Allen, Randolph C. Niblack, Samuel
Searle, Chester Lusk and family, Alfred Bergen, Peter B. Vannest, Gregg
McMahan, Oliver McMahan, Jonathan Davis, Sajmiel Mitchell, Thomson Wil-
[4I-L-]

114 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
coxson and family, Ivy Buck and family, Duty Buck and family, and Jeremiah
Rice, in Albany; and Wm. Nevitt and family, Gilbert Buckingham and family,
Stephen B. Slocumb, Thomas Finch, John Slocumb and family, and Uriah
Cook, in Yan Buren. Of these, Chas. R. Rood, Wm. Nevitt, and Stephen B.
Slocumb properly came in 1836, but are classed as settlers of 1837.
Those who came in 1838 were: Cheney Olds and family, Dr. Bernheisel
and family, David Mitchell, Isaiah Marshall, and Edward Ewers, in Lower
Albany; and Granville Reid, Robert Kennedy, Daniel Bliss, Lewis Spurlock,
Amos Nichols, John Nichols, Bennett Spurlock, and Geo. Garrett, in Upper
Albany. In 1839 came Benj. S. Quick, W. S. Barnes and family, Dr. John I lark
and family, and James Hewlett and family, in Lower Albany, and Columbus C.
Alvord in Upper Albany. This year was known as the "sick year," and few
parties could be induced to settle anywhere along the Mississippi.
The first white child born in Albany was Josephine Davis, daughter of
Jonathan and Phoebe Davis. She was born May 18, 1838.
The first marriage was that of Randolph C. Niblack to Miss Amy Buck, on
the 11th of February, 1838.
The first death was that of Katie Allen, a child of Erastus Allen, aged
about eighteen months. She died in the winter of 1838, and was buried on her
father's premises. Following this was the death of Elijah H. Knowlton, who
died in March, 1838. He was the first one buried in the cemetery where so
many of Albany's citizens now sleep. His age was about thirty.
The first minister was the Rev. Mr. Bouton, a Presbyterian clergyman,
who settled in the town in the spring of 1840. He was not called to Albany
as a stated pastor, but preached whenever he was requested and in such build
ings as could be obtained for religious services, there being no church in the
town at that day. A donation of some lots was made to him by the proprie
tors of Lower Albany, but he did not build on them, and afterwards occupied a
farm a little out of the town.
The first physician was Dr. Bernheisel, who came with his wife in the
spring of 1838. The Doctor is represented to have been a somewhat peculiar
man, and as his wife, who possessed considerable beauty and spirit, attracted
considerable attention from the gay bachelors of the town, he became unaccount
ably jealous of her, and after remaining about a year carried her off to Utah
and joined the Mormons. To reward him for this heroic rescue of his wife
from the wiles of the bachelors of Albany, the Latter Day Saints elected him
their first delegate to the Congress of the United States. It is now said that
some of these erst while bachelors, married men to-day, would like to have
young gentlemen smile upon their wives so they could carry them to some Ter
ritory like Dr. Bernheisel, and go to Congress.
The first white women who settled in Albany were Mrs. Thomas Finch,
Mrs. Stephen B. Slocumb, Mrs. Erastus Allen, and Mrs. Chester Lusk, all of
whom came in 1837.
The first regular ferry between Albany and Camanche was run by David
and Samuel Mitchell under a license granted them for that purpose by the
County Commissioners, bearing date September 8, 1840. Their first boat was
propelled by horse power, and this motive power was continued until 1850 when
a steam ferry boat was purchased of a Mr. Gear, of Galena. One improvement
called for another, and after running the Galena boat for some time, the
Messrs. Mitchell had a larger and more commodious boat built for themselves.
Not long after this new boat was put on, David Mitchell sold his interest in the
ferry to Samuel. Still later, a Mr. Clayborne purchased an interest from

VILLAGE OF ALBANY. 115
Samuel, and the two ran the ferry until the great tornado in 1860, when the
boat was destroyed. Since that time a skiff only has been used. The ferry in
its palmy days was extensively patronized, a large number then seeking it as
their point of crossing over the Mississippi on their way to Iowa, and States
and Territories farther West. It was also largely used for transporting mer
chandise and produce over the river for points both east and west. Had the
railroad been built, for which a charter was granted by the General Assembly at
its session in 1851, the ferry would undoubtedly have given way in a short
time thereafter to a bridge over the river between Albany and Camanche. A
railroad would then have been' constructed from the latter place to a point on
the Missouri river, running through the heart of Iowa as the Chicago & North
western road now does. We are assured that such was the design of many of
the enterprising business men of that day. But by the failure to build the
railroad to Albany, the bridge project was abandoned.
The sickly season of 1839 retarded emigration to, and business in Albany,
but in 1840 everything began to revive, and thenceforward for a number of
years it was one of the most active business towns in this section of the country.
The stage route from Rock Island to Galena, and the one afterwards from
Chicago to Albany, were largely patronized and made regular runs, and the
river steamers brought their full quota of freight and passengers. Even what
were jocosely denominated "jerk water" lines of stages were doing a good
business. The winding of the stage horn on the arrival of the lumbering
vehicle into town, was sure to attract a large number to its stopping place, as
it not only always brought a full complement of passengers, but also the mails.
At this time, too, farmers from a long distance brought their grain and produce
into town, and carried lumber home for putting up their buildings. Many of
these came from as far east as Genesee Grove.
The opening of Frink & Walker's line of stages from Chicago to Albany
was one of the eras of the town. Before that time, this line ran by land to
Galena, and from thence to Albany by water. The proprietors, however, soon
saw that a direct line from the lakes to the Mississippi would be advantagous,
and in 1844 put their coaches on this route. It was the great influx of passen
gers by this line which induced Mr. W. S. Barnes to open his large building as a
hotel for the accommodation of the public. Very soon the Eagle Hotel became
known far and wide as one of the best hotels on the Mississippi river, and its
landlord one of the most courteous and genial of hosts. That reputation it has
kept up to the present day. The Washington Hotel, and the National Hotel,
were also first class hotels, and had a deservingly large patronage.
The passage of the act by the General Assembly of Illinois at its session
in 1851, granting a charter for the construction of a railroad from Beloit,
Wisconsin, to Rock Island, was hailed by the people of Albany as a project
which would open up to them quick and easy communication with the lakes,
and thence with eastern ports. Its construction would also demand the build
ing of a road from Camanche, directly opposite, through Iowa to the far West,
and of course the erection of a bridge over the river between the two points.
The general route of this road was to be in the Rock River Valley, running
from Beloit through Rockford, Byron, Dixon and Sterling to Albany, and then
from Albany down the river to Rock Island. A road from Beloit to Chicago
was already in operation. A meeting of the friends' of the Rockford & Rock
Island road was held in Sterling in the month of February, 1852, and by act of
this meeting the Aute was divided into four sections, the first to extend from
Beloit to Rockford, the second from Rockford to Dixon, the third from Dixon
to Albany, and the fourth from Albany to Rock Island. The following resolu*

116 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
tion was also adopted: "That out of the capital stock first subscribed, a sufficient
amount should be immediately applied for completing the third section of said
road." In compliance with the resolution that section was put under contract
to Henry Doolittle, of Dayton, Ohio, on the 16th of February, 1853. _ By some
means the books of subscription to the capital stock were not opened in time to
ensure the commencement of the work, before the Mississippi & Rock River
Junction Railroad Company, a rival organization, had so far got along with
their operations as to commence building their road to Fulton. This put an
end to the construction of the road to Albany, as the Galena & Chicago R. R.
Company had became identified with the M. & R. R. J. road, and the combina
tion ensured a direct road from Chicago to Fulton on the Mississippi river. A
rival line, it was seen, could not be made to pay. Could stock have been taken
at the Sterling meeting when all the villages along the line of the contemplated
road from Beloit to Albany were deeply interested in the enterprise, and
anxious that it should be pushed forward with the greatest rapidity, it is not at
all unlikely that Albany and Camanche would have been at this time, large,
thriving towns, with a bridge connecting them, over which would have rolled
heavy freight and passenger cars, the former ladened with the richest products
of the Orient and the Occident. Had this been the case it is easy to conjecture
what the condition of the cities at the Narrows would have been to-day.
Another road was also in contemplation at, or about that time, which was to
have been called the Camanche, Albany and Mendota Railroad. This project
had not been pushed to any great extent before it was abandoned, but it is safe
to say, that if the Rockford & Rock Island road had been completed, it would
have been built sooner or later thereafter.
The construction of the Western Union Railroad, however, affords railroad
facilities for Albany, but it being a north and south road does not meet the
requirements demanded, as the great lines of communication and transportation
run east and west. The first construction train on the Western Union road
came into the limits of Albany about the middle of November, 1865, on ties
laid down temporarily. About a month later the road was completed so far
that passenger trains came into town, and regular passenger and freight trains
have been running since.
The people of Albany have not been without their wars and rumors of
wars. A big fight came very near taking place on Beaver Island directly
opposite the town in the winter of 1842 and '43. Albany had what was called
a town claim on the Island, from which the inhabitants got a great deal of wood,
to the cutting and carrying away of which the people of Clinton County, Iowa,
finally strenuously objected, alleging that all the Island with the timber
growing thereon belonged to their county. Finally to prevent further depre
dations by the people of Albany, Deputy Sheriff Aiken, of Clinton County, came
to the Island one day during the above winter with a strong posse of men, fully
armed, determined to drive away the Albany wood choppers, and to take such
full and complete possession of the premises as would prevent their trespassing
again in the future. Word was immediately sent to Albany of this action on
the part of the Clinton County authorities, and it had no sooner got to the ears
of the people, than they began to gather for the purpose of devising means to
force the Clinton army back to their headquarters in Iowa, and "hold the fort,"
or in other words their claim, at all hazards. Soon forty men or more had
banded together, armed with rifles, muskets, pistols, swo^s, pitchforks and
other deadly implements, and in a few minutes landed on the Island. The
bravest marched boldly up to a big fire which had been built by the Clintonians
previous to their coming, and on one side of which the latter had taken position.

VILLAGE OF ALBANY. 117
The others, and the number was not inconsiderable, took to the brush, preferring
to act as scouts rather than face a fusilade from their enemies. Orders were
given in tones which reverberated far up and down the river for these scouts to
join the main army, but at this juncture a pistol was fired, or was accidentally
discharged, and neither orders, threats or coaxing could induce the scouts to
believe that their method of fighting was not the most effective. What the
result would have been it is hard at this late day to determine, had not flags of
truce been thrown out on each side, and the commanding officers of the two
armies delegated to consult over the situation of, affairs, and patch up a com
promise if possible. Long and vehement were the arguments on both sides,
but finally as night began to approach a compromise was effected by making a
division of the timber, Albany to get 400 acres as its share. This was no sooner
agreed to and hands shaken over it, than the scouts came out of their covert
with the air and mein of veterans, and in lofty words claimed that their superior
mode of fighting had driven the Clintonians to the wall and made them yield the
point, and the survivors to this day recount to admiring listeners the brave
deeds performed by them on that winter day in the Beaver Island brush.
Albany did no more fighting after that until the war of the rebellion called her
sons forth to fight for their country, and it is due to them to say that braver
men could not be found in the Union Army.
On Sunday evening, June 3, 1860, one of the most destructive tornadoes
that ever swept through the West visited the village of Albany, laying a large
part of the place in ruins, causing the death of several of its citizens, and
seriously injuring many others. The storm came from the Northwest, and after
doing terrible execution in Iowa, and particularly in the village of Camanche,
crossed the river, almost devastating Albany, as we have stated, and then pur
sued its way east through the county. A full description of its terrible work
will be found in the general local history of this volume.
The following is as nearly an accurate list of the business men, and houses,
prior to 1850, as can be obtained: James Hewlett, hardware and harness, about
1842; B. S. Quick, wagons and buggies; Pease & Wetzell, dry goods and
groceries; Delmar & Stevens, dry goods and groceries; Hoyt, Faxon & Durfee,
harness; J. J. Bolls, boots and shoes; Durant & Haines, dry goods and grocer
ies; 0. McMahan, Albany Bank; A. B. & J. B. Emmons, blacksmith and wagon
shop; Mcllvaine & Happer, dry goods and groceries; Washington Olds, notions;
Vannest & Stagg, blacksmiths; Charles Boynton, tin shop; W. S. Barnes, dry
goods and groceries; John A. Langston, saddle and harness maker.
The population of the village of Albany is now estimated at 500.
A Post office was established at Van Buren, now Upper Albany, in the
winter of 1837 and '38, and Willis C. Osborne appointed Postmaster. In 1839
the name of the office was changed to Albany, and Gilbert Buckingham appoint
ed Postmaster. In 1843 he was succeeded, by Samuel Happer, but was reap
pointed in 1846, and continued in the position two years. From 1848 to 1851,
Wm. Y. Wetzell was Postmaster, and from the latter year until 1854, Wm. S.
Barnes held the place. In 1854 Mr. Buckingham was again appointed, and
held the office until 1857, when Andrew B. Emmons secured the position, the
latter retaining the place until 1860 when he resigned, and was succeeded by
Cornelius Knapp. In 1863 W. W. Durant was appointed, and has held the
position to the present time.
In the spring of 1854 a newspaper called the Herald was started in Albany,
by Mr. McAuliffe, who ran it for a few weeks, and then gave the enterprise up.
In July following Mr. Chas. Boynton revived it, and issued the first number on
the 24th of that month. Mr. Boynton had his own press, material and office

118 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
in the village. The size of the Herald was 16 by 22, and its motto "Knowledge
is, in every country, the surest basis of public happiness." Its miscellaneous
reading matter was excellent, and local news as full as was given at that time
by weekly newspapers in the smaller towns. The advertising patronage was
much better proportionately than is given now to papers of considerably larger
size and circulation in such towns. Mr. Boynton, however, only continued the
publication of the Herald in Albany until December, 1854, and then moved his
office to Sterling, and commenced the publication of the Sterling Times. The
He.redd gives the information that in 1854 Albany had a population of about
1,000 inhabitants, with four forwarding and commission houses, six dry goods,
grocery and produce stores, one clothing store, two drug stores, one stove and
tinware store, one furniture store, one harness shop, two large steam saw mills
with planing and bedstead machinery, one sash, door and blind factory, and one
wagon and general blacksmith shop. The advertisers in the Herald were Mcll
vaine, Happer & Co., grocers, general merchants and produce dealers; Pease &
Durant, dry goods, groceries, clothing, boots and shoes, and produce; Durant &
Haines, groceries, dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes; Dennis & Lincoln, pro
duce and general merchandise; Prothrow & Bolls, dry goods, groceries, cloth
ing, boots and shoes; Washington Olds, dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes,
hardware, drugs and medicines; Kroh & Gordon, stove dealers, and tin and cop
per workers; W. A. Chamberlain, drugs and medicines; Buck, Olds & Co., sash,
blind and door manufactory; Quick & Gilbert, wagon makers and blacksmiths;
J. M. Adams, saddle, harness and trunk maker; Walker, Happer & Co., lum
ber, lath and shingles; Stagg & King, general blacksmiths; Walker Olds,
lime; Myers & Slaymaker, furniture and chairs; McMahan, Durant & Co.,
lumber yard; Sears & Barnard, dumber yard; G. Harris, clothing; H. C. Hullin-
ger, house and sign painting; Hudson & Willey, physicians; Harris & Somer1
field, clothing, dry goods, hats and caps; G. G. Dennis, dry goods, carpets and
clothing; Boice, Ewing & Co., lumber; E. H. Nevitt, insurance; W. D. Smith,
watchmaker; W. S. Barnes, Eagle Hotel; Alfred Slocumb, Washington Hotel;
Bolls & Myers, dry goods, groceries and clothing; Geo. A. Richmond, National
Hotel. Tho removal of the Herald to Sterling ended the publication of news
papers in Albany. Societies.
Congregational Church: — The organization of the Congregational Church
and Society of Albany, took place on the 13th day of February, 1842. The
meeting was held by members who had withdrawn from the First Presbyterian
church, together with some others. Rev. Mr. Hazard acted as Moderator at the
meeting, and Mr. Erastus Allen as clerk. After some preliminary proceedings,
the following certificate was drawn up and signed:
" This certifies that we, Messrs. James Bothwell, William H. Efner, Duty
Buck, Erastus Allen, William Bothwell, and Mrs. Hannah Allen, Mrs. Ruth
Bothwell, aud Mrs. Fannie Buckingham, members of the First Presbyterian
Church in Albany, Whiteside County, State of Illinois, being dissatisfied with
the principles of said church, and being desirous with others of forming our
selves into a Congregational Church, and having taken the preliminary steps,
assembled at the appointed place and hour on the 13th of February, A. D. 1842
for the purpose of completing our organization and acknowledgment as a
church of Christ, to be called the First Congregational Church of Albany,
Whiteside County, Illinois, with the Rev. Mr. Hazard, their counsellor and
moderator, and Mr. E. Allen, their scribe, the undersigned were now embodied,
by letter and profession, into an Evangelical church, according to Congrega-

SOCIETIES. 119
tional usage. Signed: James Bothwell, Erastus Allen, Duty Buck, William
H. Efner, William Bothwell, G. Buckingham, by profession, Mrs. Ruth Both-
well, Mrs. Hannah Allen, Mrs. Fanny Buckingham, Mrs. Dinah Bothwell, by
profession." The articles of Faith and Covenant were then adopted, after which Messrs.
Duty Buck and Wm. Bothwell were chosen deacons, and Erastus Allen, clerk.
Rev. 0. Emerson was the first pastor. On the 20th of July, 1844, E. Allen,
James Bothwell, Duty Buck, P. B. Vannest and Washington Olds were elected
trustees for five years "to control the building and use of the meeting house,"
and on the 1st of December, 1844, the new meeting house of the society was
dedicated. On the 12th of July, 1846, Dr. C. Abbott and James Bothwell
were elected deacons for three years. Two of the members died in 1847, James
Bothwell on the 31st of January, and Mrs. Lucy Howard on the 1st of March.
Rev. A. J. Copeland became pastor on the 1st of October, 1847, at a salary of
$400 per year, and on the 5th of December, 1849 he was succeeded by Rev. J.
J. Hill. P. B. Vannest and J. B. Crosby were elected deacons on the 6th of
July, 1850. The following pastors succeeded Rev. Mr. Hill up to 1870: Revs.
Nathaniel Pine,, S. N. Groat, James Quick, Samuel Hemenway, Robert Stuart,
Chas. Hancock, C. S. Cady, H. S. Hamilton, M. Ostrander, O. Emerson, and D.
R. Macnab. Rev. Mr. Chapman and other ministers filled the pulpit when
there was no stated pastor.
Mr. Duty Buck, a member of the church, was killed by the tornado of
June 3, 1860. His wife had only died during the March previous. Mr. Henry
Pease was chosen clerk of the church on the 31st of March, 1861, which posi
tion he still holds. On the 9th of April, 1870, a proposition was received from
the Presbyterian church for a union of the two churches " to the end that a
minister acceptable to both could be secured." No definite action seems to have
been taken in this matter. On the 6th of June, 1874, the members of the
church appointed P. B. Vannest, Ezekiel Olds, and S. B. Bliss a committee to
wait on a like number from the Presbyterian church at Garden Plain, with a
view of obtaining a minister whom both churches could agree to support as a
stated supply. This effort eventuated in the call of Rev. N. D. Graves as pas
tor for both congregations, and in July, 1875, he began his labors, Mr. Graves
still remains as such pastor, preaching each Sabbath at Garden Plain in the
morning, and at Albany in the afternoon,
Presbyterian Church: — The First Presbyterian church of Albany was or
ganized at the house of David Mitchell, in December, 1839, by Rev. Mr.
Prentiss, of Fulton. The original members were Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M.
Kilgour, Mr. and Mrs. David Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Miller, Mr. and
Mrs. John S. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Erastus Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Duty Buck,
Mrs. Ivy Buck, and Mrs. Francis Buckingham. The first elders were Samuel
M. Kilgour and David Mitchell.
From the church record it appears that the first regular meeting of the
Society was held on the 13th of December, 1841, Rev. Enoch Bouton, pastor,
when a portion of the members withdrew, and formed a Congregational Church.
In 1842 Mr. Bouton ceased to be pastor, and during the year 1842, and part of
1843, there was no regular pastor, Rev. Mr. Woodruff, of Rock Island, and Rev.
Mr. Waterbury, preaching occasionally. In June, 1843, Rev. Silas Sears be
came pastor, and remained until 1846, when Rev. Oscar Park succeeded him,
and continued in the pastorage until 1851. In that year Rev. W. C. Mason
became pastor, and upon his retirement in 1856 was succeeded by Rev. Louis
Gano. In 1856 and '57 a brick church edifice was erected by the Society in
Upper Albany, which was finished and dedicated in 1858. Rev. A. H. Lackey be-

120 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
came pastor in 1859, and on the 3d of June, 1860, the church building was
blown down by the tornado. Mr. Lackey went east shortly afterwards, and col
lected about $1,600 with which a frame church structure was built upon the
foundation of the brick one, and was dedicated in 1861. Mr. Lackey remained
pastor until 1862. In 1863 Rev. Jacob Coon officiated as supply, remaining
until 1870, when Rev. J. Giffin took charge, the latter being succeeded in 1873
by Rev. Josiah Leonard. In 1875 Rev. N. D. Graves was employed, who still
remains with the church in connection with the one at Garden Plain.
Methodist Episcopal Church:— Albany was first made a regular preaching
place by the Rock River M. E. Conference in 1840. It then formed a part of
Savanna Circuit. Previous to that time Revs. Phillip K. Hanna, Wm. Hobert,
and John Kilpatrick, had preached occasionally at private houses. In 1840
Rev. Philo Judson was pastor, but there is no record of the names of the mem
bers of the church. In 1841 Rev. Wm. W. Buck, assisted by Rev. G. L. S.
Stuff, were the pastors. In 1842 Albany became a part of Union Grove
Circuit, with Rev. C. Campbell as pastor, who also remained during 1843. Rev.
A. M. Early became pastor in 1844. The next year a small frame building
was erected for church and school purposes. Rev Isaac Searles, pastor. Then
followed Revs. James McKean, Charles Babcock, Wm. Haney, Mathew Hanna,
and Benj. Appelbee, until 1853 when the Circuit was again divided, and
Albany, Erie and Newton made a Circuit called Albany Circuit, Rev. Jesse B.
Quimby, pastor. The membership was then recorded as 172. In 1854, the
first parsonage was built in Albany, Rev. A. D. McCool, pastor. He also re
mained during the next year. 1856, Rev. A. D. Field, pastor. In 1857 the
church bought the school interest in the building and enlarged it, Rev. A. M.
Early, pastor. In 1858, Rev. Z. S. Kellogg, pastor. During the conference
year ending 1860 the tornado occurred in which the church and parsonage were
both destroyed. The Rev. Z. S. Kellogg lost his furniture, but none of his
family were seriously injured, and no member of the church reported hurt.
Rev. Mathew Hanna was pastor during the conference year following. In 1861
the present brick church edifice was erected by subscription obtained principally
from M. E. Churches at the East. It was dedicated the same year, Rev. John
Frost, pastor. Mr. Frost remained until 1864. From that time until 1868
Revs. J. W. Jacobs and C. Combs were pastors. In the latter year Rev. Bar
ton H. Cartwright became pastor, and loaned the church $600 to build a par
sonage, doing a large share of the work himself. From 1869 to 1876 Revs.
W. S. Young, Z. D. Paddock, A. C. Frick, M. C. Smith, and C. E. Smith, have
been pastors, the latter being still in charge. The number of members at pres
ent is 170.
Albany Lodge No. 556, A. F. & A. if.:— The Grand Lodge of the State of
Illinois in 1867 granted a dispensation to D. S. Efner, Wm. Prothrow, Henry
M. Booth, James Brewer, Ithamar Johnson, Peter Ege, Spencer Bennett,
David Cottle, Chas. F. Lusk, Cornelius Knapp, C. R. Rood, Isaac B. Emmons,
J. M. Eaton, Wm. T. Crotzer, George Miller, and J. J. Bolls, as charter mem
bers, to organize Albany Lodge No. 556, A. F. & A. M. The first meeting
under the dispensation was held on the 18th of May, 1867, the officers of the
Lodge then consisting of J. M. Eaton, W. M.; Henry M. Booth, S. W.; J. J.
Bolls, J. W.; Peter Ege, S. D.; Spencer Bennett, J. D.; C. R. Rood, Treasurer;
D. S. Efner, Secretary; James Brewer and C. F. Lusk, Stewards, and Ithamar
Johnson, Tyler. At the first regular communication petitions for initiations
were received. On the 9th of November, 1867, W. C. Snyder, of Fulton, by
virtue of his appointment by the Grand Master of the State, instituted the
Lodge, and installed its officers, being assisted in the work by D. W. Thomson, of

BIOGRAPHICAL. 121
Fulton. J. M.Eaton served as W. M. of the Lodge for eight consecutive years,
and D. S. Efner has been Secretary for every term save one, when he was a
member of the General Assembly of the State. The Lodge is in a flourishing
condition. The regular communications are held on Saturday evenings on or
before the full of the moon of each month, at their Lodge room in the brick
store building of C. F. Lusk, on Main street. The following members have been
buried with Masonic honors: W. S. Barnes, Thos. Brewer, J. J. Bolls,
Abram Mitchell and John Mitchell. The present officers are as follows: H. M.
Booth, W. M.; D. W. Lundy, S. W.; Ithamar Johnson, J. W.; W. D. Haslet, S.
D.; C. C. Bolls J. D.; Samuel Happer, Treasurer; D. S. Efner, Secretary; W, S,
Booth, D. Nicewonger, Stewards; C. F. Lusk, Tyler.
Biographical.
Hon. Edward H. Nevitt was born in Carmi, White county, Illinois, Janu
ary 6, 1822. When twelve years of age his father moved from White county to
a farm he had purchased near Knoxville, Knox County,'Illinois. Here the fam
ily remained until 1837 when they all came to Albany. Mr. Nevitt was married
to Miss Hannah Alvord at LeClaire, Iowa, on the 27th of December, 1855, Elder
Hartzell, of Davenport, performing the ceremony. Miss Alvord was born in
Ellicottville, Cattaraugus County, New York, May 26, 1826, Lizzie Blanche,
the only issue of this marriage, was born April 19, 1856, and died November
18, 1858. When Mr. Nevitt first came to Albany he settled in the part of the
town then known as Van Buren, now more particularly designated as Upper
Albany. During the first years of his residence he followed farming. In 1847
he engaged in the lumber business on the Mississippi river, and continued in it
about three years. In 1852 he became connected with the saw mill business,
and was so occupied until 1860 when the mill in which he had an interest was,
together with the lumber, machinery, etc., swept away by the Tornado. His
dwelling-house was also destroyed at the same time, thus entailing a heavy loss
upon him, and one from which it took several years to recover. In 1863 he was
appointed United States mail agent on the river from Davenport to Dubuque, in
which service he remained nearly a year, and then went into the lumber, insur
ance, and real estate business, in which he is still engaged. His fellow citizens
early discovered that he was peculiarly qualified for an able, prompt and faithful
discharge of the duties of a public trust, and in 1852, the first election after the
township organization, elected him Assessor of the town, and continued him in
that office at each succeeding election until 1877, a period of a quarter of a cen
tury. In 1870 he was elected Supervisor of the town, an office which he contin
ued to hold by re-election until January 1, 1877, when he resigned to take his seat
as Representative of the General Assembly of the State from the 11th District,
to which office he had been elected for two years ifl the fall before. During the
late long and arduous session of the Thirteenth General Assembly he was al
ways found active and vigilant in the discharge of his duties, rarely being out
of his seat during session hours, or away from committee work when it demand
ed his attention. He was chairman of the Committee on Engrossed and Enrolled
bills, one of the most important committees of the House, and also member of
several other committees. Mr. Nevitt was educated at Knox College.
William Nevitt, father of Hon. E. H. Nevitt, and one of the earliest
pioneers of Whiteside county, was born at Brownsville, Pa., in 1779. When a
young man he moved to Kentucky, and in 1805 married Miss Mary Edlin at
Beardstown, Breckinridge county, in that State. He moved from Kentucky to
White county, Illinois, in 1818, and in 1834 from the latter place to a farm
near Knoxville, Knox county, Illinois, where he remained until 1837 when he
['S-M._

122 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
came to Albany, arriving in August. Here he purchased a farm just back of the
present village of Albany, and also became one of the original proprietors of
Upper Albany. In 1821 Mr. Nevitt was appointed Justice of the Peace by the
House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State, and the ap
pointment afterwards duly confirmed by the Senate, and a commission issued to
him by Hon. Shadrach Bond, the first Governor of the state. While a resident
of White county he was several times placed in nomination by the Whigs of his
district as Representative to the Legislature, but as the latter were in the mi
nority his candidacy was unsuccessful. In 1831 he was appointed by the Gov-
cnor as one of the Commissioners to improve the Little Wabash river. He had
not long been in Whiteside when he was elected School Commissioner
of the county, Jabez Warner, Esq., being his opponent. This office he held
until his death which occurred in October, 1848. Mr. Nevitt had eleven chil
dren : John, James, Clement, William G., Allen, Edward PL, AVilson, Eliza,
Nancy, Maria and Susan. Eliza married Alfred Slocumb; Nancy married Asa
Langford; Maria married Noah Shelby, and Susan married Thomas Finch. The
children living are Clement, who resides in Knox county, Illinois; William G.
in Newton, Whiteside county; Edward H, in Albany; Mrs. Finch in Oskaloosa,
Jefferson county, Iowa, and Mrs. Slocumb in Mt. Vernon, Iowa.
Randolph C. Niblack was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, November 27, 1807.
He went when quite a lad to Sciota county, Ohio, where he learned the carpen
ter's trade, and remained quite a number of years, and then came to Albany, ar
riving April 14, 1837, and settled in Lower Albany. He at once commenced
working at his trade, and built and assisted in building some of the first houses
erected in Albany. On the 11th of February, 1838, he was married to Miss
Amy Buck by the Rev. Mr. Hazard, of Lyndon. At that time parties had to go
to Dixon for marriage licenses, and travel many miles of the distance without
seeing a human habitation. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Niblaek,
but both died in their infancy. Mr. Niblack made the first coffin needed in Al
bany, it being for a young child of Mr. Erastus Allen. He also painted the first
house in the town, the present Eagle Hotel building. He has frequently been
Commissioner of Highways for the town, and held other town offices.
Benjamin S. Quick was born in the town of Hopel, Hunterdon county,
New Jersey, on the 20th of December, 1815. When quite young he went to
Cayuga county, N. Y., and from thence to Louisville, Kentucky. From the lat
ter place he came to Albany, arriving July 17, 1839, and after clerking a time
for W. S. Barnes, engaged in wagon making, his original trade. On the 5th of
April, 1843, he married Miss Mary Ann Slaymaker at Cordova, Rock Island
county, Illinois. Miss Slaymaker was born at Williamstown, Lancaster county,
Pa., in June. 1817. Tb,ey have had four children, George D., born. July 3, 1847;
Margaret C. born July 15, 1850; Jane, born August 20, 1852, and Benjamin
H., born December 3, 1856. George D. married Miss Villa Booth, and resides
in _ Albany ._ Margaret C. married James H. Ege, and resides in Minneapolis,
Minn.,, and Jane married Edwin Beckwith, and resides in Albany. All of the
children are living. Besides wagon and carriage business Mr. Quick has been
engaged in merchandizing and in the grain and stock business during his long
residence in Albany, the latter of which he- still follows. Although averse to
holding any public position his fellow citizens have called upon him to hold
several town offices, as well as the School Directorship for the town. He has
always been an active, energetic business man.
Samuel Happer was born in Washington county, Pa., in April, 1813.
In May, 1840, he emigrated from his native State and located in Sterling, in
this county, where he remained about a year, and then came to Albany. Mr.

BIOGRAPHICAL. 123
John D. Mcllvaine came with him, and the two under the firm name of Mc
llvaine & Happer opened a store where the stone building, known as the old
Fuller Hotel, stood near the river in the upper part of the town. Mr. Happer
was married to Miss Sarah Curry, who was born in Alleghany county, Pa., in
July, 1816. Seven children have been the result of this marriage, viz : Mary
J., i Margaret A., Sarah J., Joseph F., Elizabeth L., John A., and Martha. Mary
J. married Dr. A. E. Stockton, and resides in Stockton, California. Joseph F.
married Alice Bennett, and resides in Albany. John A. is dead. Mr. Happer
has been in business continuously since his residence in Albany, and for a long
period of the time in partnership with Mr. Mcllvaine. In 1854 Wm. Y. Wet
zell became connected with the firm, but remained only a short time. Mr. Hap
per has been Supervisor of the town, and held other town offices. He is at
present engaged in the dry goods and general mercantile trade in connection
with his son, Joseph F., the firm name being S. Happer & Son. They own their
own store building which is a commodious brick one, standing on the corner of
Main and Union streets. Mr. Happer is also engaged in farming.
Hon. Dean S. Efner was born October 22, 1822, in what was then called
North Deerfield, in the county of Monroe, New York State. From this place
he emigrated in 1838 to Lacon, Marshall county, Illinois, and in March, 1841,
moved, with his father, Dr. W. H. Efner, to Albany where he has resided ever
since. About this time David Mitchell, Capt. Samuel Mitchell, Capt. Abram
Mitchell and Col. S. M. Kilgour also came to Albany from near Lacon, none of
whom now survive save Capt. Samuel Mitchell. Mr. Efner has been married
twice. His first wife was Miss Sarah S. Thompson whom he married March 2,
1843. She was a sister of John S. Thompson Esq., and Miss Margaret Blean,
of Newton. The only child of this marriage living is Wm. E. Efner, Esq., of
Coleta, in this county. Mrs. Efner died on the 2d of September, 1845. Mr.
Efner was married to his second wife, Miss Sarah Brewer, at Albany, on the
28th of August, 1848, by Rev. Father McKean. Miss Brewer was born in
England on the 8th of October, 1826. When she was but a child her father
emigrated to this country, bringing his family with him, and settled near Har
risburg, Pa., and in 1844 came to Albany. At the age of sixteen Mr. Efner
began to learn the mason trade, and this trade he followed more or less until the
year 1864. His fellow citizens both of the town and Legislative District have
frequently called upon him to serve them in a public capacity. For twenty-five
years last past he has held the. office of Justice of the Peace, with the single ex
ception of about one year. The person then elected died shortly afterwards, and
Mr. Efner was elected to fill the vacancy. He was a member of the
Board of Supervisors from 1863 to 1870, but resigned during the latter year to
take a seat as Representative in the General Assembly of the State, to which
he had been elected. So well pleased were the people of the District with his
services as Representative that he was re-elected in 1873. During these two
terms of the Legislature the' revision of the laws of the State were completed,
and made to conform to the new constitution of 1870. In this arduous and ex
acting labor Mr. Efner took a conspicuous part. In 1859 he was admitted to
practice law, going in person to Springfield to attend examination for that pur
pose. The examination was held by a committee of examiners selected from the
ablest members of the bar, by the Supreme Court which was then in session at
the State Capital. Mr. Efner has also served as clerk and attorney for the
Board of Trustees of the village of Albany, and at present holds these posi
tions. William S. Barnes was born in Woodstock, Vermont, May 11, 1808, and
settled in Lower Albany July 23, 1839, He was married to Miss Adaline Howe

124 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
at Lowell, Mass., in 1830. The children of this union have been Frances D., born
May 28, 1831; Lucia, born April 15, 1833, now dead; Sarah, born February 16,
1835, married and living in Vermont; Adaline, born April 1, 1839, married and
living in Iowa; William Henry, born September 12, 1841, living in Albany;
Mary, born September 20, 1842, now dead; Louisa, born May 20, 1846, now
dead; Charles S., born March 16, 1848, living in Albany. The next year after
Mr. Barnes' arrival in Albany he erected the present Eagle Hotel building,
using it for the first few years as a store and boarding house. In 1846 he
opened the hotel, and it very soon became under his able management one of
the best known and most popular hotels in all this section of the country. Mr.
Barnes was personally a very genial and popular man, and was honored by his
fellow citizens and by the General Government with different positions of public
trust. He was the first Supervisor of the township after its organization, and
was elected to the same position several times afterwards. During his lifetime
he was a prominent member of the Masonic Fraternity. His death occurred on
the 20th of July, 1872, and the funeral was attended by a large number of
his Masonic brethren.
William W. Durant is a native of Thomaston, State of Maine, and was
born May 27, 1803. Mr. Durant was married to his first wife, Miss Susanna L.
Marsh, at Roxbury, Massachusetts, June 1, 1827. She died at Rock Falls, in
this county, in October, 1839. In December, 1840, Mr. Durant married his
second wife, Miss Emily M. Martin. The children by the first wife were E. W.,
S. L., and W. W.; and by the second wife, Charles A., Helen Maria, Alfred H.,
and Augusta. E. W. Durant resides at Stillwater, Minnesota, and the rest at
Albany, Illinois. All are living except Helen M., wife of Joseph S. Green, who
died at Albany in April, 1876. Mr. Durant came first to Whiteside in June,
1838, and settled at Rock Falls, where he remained until August, 1844, when
he moved to and settled in Albany, and has since resided at that place. The
first few years of his residence in Whiteside was devoted to farming, and since
then he has been engaged in merchandizing. He was one of the first Assessors
appointed for the precincts by the County Commissioners, his district compris
ing Rapids precinct. He has also been Justice of the Peace, and since 1863
Postmaster at Albany.
Ivy Buck was born at Nassau, Rensselaer county, New York, March 22,
1801, and went at an early age to Ellicottville, Cattaraugus county, New
York, where he remained until 1837, when he moved to Albany, in this county,
and continued to reside there until his death which occurred a few years ago.
Mr. Buck married Miss Mary Pindar, a native of Scoharie, New York, at
Worcester, Otsego county, New York, June 6, 1827. She is also dead. The
children of this marriage are Melinda, born at Franklinville, N. Y., March 17,
1828; Stephen, born at Franklinville, N. Y., November 28, 1838, and Edwin H.
born at Albany, Illinois, October 9, 1844. Melinda married Stephen B. Slo
cumb, and resides in Newton, Whiteside county; Stephen married Mary Mitchell
and resides at Clinton, Iowa, and Edwin H, married Ella M. Rexroad, and re
sides at Fulton, Whiteside county. Mr. Buck was a captain of a militia
company, and held various town offices in Ellicottville, N. Y., and after
moving to Albany was elected a Justice of the Peace and served in that
capacity about eighteen years. He was a mason by trade, and put up quite a
number of buildings in Albany. He also kept a store for several years, and at
one time owned the ferry across the Mississippi river, between Albany and
Camanche, and ran a steam ferry boat. During his residence in Whiteside he
took an active part in advancing the interests of the county.
Lyman Bennett was born at Springfield, Mass., November 8, 1802, and

BIOGRAPHICAL. 125
came to Whiteside county in the fall of 1835. His route to the West was by
way of Lake Erie from Buffalo to Detroit, and thence by team to Rock River
Valley, where he lived for three months with John Stakes, near Prophetstown,
and then took a claim one mile below Portland, upon which he remained three
years. In the spring of 1839 he moved to Newton, and selecting a farm near
Kingsbury lived upon it until February, 1854, when he became a resident of
Albany where he has since made his home. His wife was Miss Susan Lathrom,
a native of Norwich, Connecticut. Their marriage took place at Cazenovia,
N. Y., October 31, 1827. The children are Elizabeth, Helen, and Emily, born
in Cazenovia, N. Y., and Jane, Harriet, Lewis, Sophronia, Alice, and Irene,
born in Whiteside county. Elizabeth married Charles H. Slocumb, and
lives in Newton; Helen married D. C. Hanks, and lives in Albany; Emily
married S. B. Hanks, and lives in Albany; Jane married A. T. Jenks, and died
some years ago ; Harriet married A. T. Jenks, and lives in Albany; Lewis
married Amy Chandler, and is a resident of Anamosa, Iowa; Sophronia married
Dr. Robert Hill, and lives at Dubuque, Iowa; Alice married J. T. Happer, and
lives at Albany, and Irene married Charles Paddock, and lives at Albany. Mr.
Bennett has followed the occupation of a farmer during his lifetime.

CHAPTER VI.
History of Coloma Township — Biographical — History of Rock Falls
— Nurseries — Manufacturing Establishments — Newspapers —
Churches and Other Organizations.

History of Coloma Township.
The township of Coloma lies south of Rock river, being a part of Con
gressional township 21 north, range seven east of the fourth Principal Mer
idian. It contains about 6,040 acres, embracing five entire and eight fractional
sections. The surface is diversified by irregular sand ridges and hills, and the
soil is a sandy loam — in some parts almost entirely sand. Along the river it is
somewhat broken. The southern part is very level and originally abounded in
sloughs, most of which have been drained, and now produce great quantities of
grass. It has few creeks — a small one in the eastern, and a somewhat larger
one in the western part, both flowing north into Rock river. It has only a
small tract of timbered land lying along the river. The soil is light, and not
highly productive, but all the grains and fruits grown in this section of the
State are produced, and it is well adapted to gardening and nursery culture.
It has an abundance of limestone along the river, but it is overlain by about
twelve feet of sand, and six feet of coarse glacial gravel, and the upper beds
are soft and worthless; after removing some twenty feet of material several
strata of excellent stone, making altogether a thickness of about six feet, are
obtained, when water prevents further working. There is also an extensive
deposit of Peroxide of iron — Hemetite — which is largely used in the man
ufacture of paint by the Sterling Mineral Paint Company. This substance
crops out in the river bank for a considerable distance, and as it softens quite
rapidly when exposed to the air, forming a tenacious red clay, the bank looks
as if drenched with blood.
The first permanent settlement in the territory now embraced in Coloma
township was made by Edward Atkins, a native of Ireland, and Isaac Merrill,
a native of Connecticut, early in 1837 — Mr. Merrill being the prior settler.
Before the close of the year they were joined by Noah Merrill and Daniel
Brooks, and Atkins, who was an energetic, enterprising man, had begun the
erection of a large frame house intended for a hotel. November 6, 1838, a
son — Nelson B., now a resident of Sterling — was born to Noah Merrill, be
lieved to have been the first white child who began existence in Coloma. In
February, 1839, there were living in what is now Coloma township, Edward
Atkins, Isaac Merrill, Noah Merrill, Daniel Brooks, Ira Sillaman, Zerah M.
Chapman, A. B. Wheeler, W. W. Durant, now of Albany, Samuel B. Cushing,
John J. Cushing and Frank Cushing. Herman Emmons and L. H. Woodworth
came into the settlement this year. W. W. Durant had a small store, the first
in this vicinity. In 1837 Edward Atkins, A. B.Wheeler, Isaac Merrill and Daniel
Brooks laid out the town of Rapids City on a scale commensurate with its imagin
ary future grandeur, hopes never to be realized. It was a mile square, occupying

HISTORY OF COLOMA TOWNSHIP. 127
the tract on which Rock Falls now stands. The State had entered upon an
extensive but insane system of internal improvements by which canals and
railroads were to be built to every hamlet, and under which paper towns mul
tiplied almost as rapidly as frogs in Egypt. Every man began to consider his
humble cabin the nucleus of a great commercial emporium, and in his dreams
he saw the day when extensive warehouses and vast manufactories should
crowd each other along the banks of the neighboring brook, when some yet to
be built canal should bear on its bosom the wealth of an empire, and when over
the projected lines of railroad should be borne a mighty tide pf traffic. It was
not for a moment considered that an uninhabited country could not in the
nature of things require a large amount of articles from abroad, and that it
could produce very little to send away. The wild schemes daily increased in
number. A reckless system of finance based on nothing, and professing to
create values where none existed, was relied on to raise funds and provide for
the expense of these needless constructions, until at last the end came —
bankruptcy — easily foreseen by prudence and moderate sagacity. This part of
the State was to share in the blessings of free communication with the rest of
the world, and as, if the rapids were removed, something that courtesy might
consent to call a boat might navigate Rock river as far as Dixon, and as such
obstructions were easily turned by a canal, and as, moreover, a canal besides
being a good thing gave a chance for fat contracts, it was resolved to construct
one arourtd the rapids at this point. The contract was let in 1839 to Ethan
Nichols. Mr. Nichols dying the same year his brother and Sanger and Gal-
breath, who had been contractors on the Illinois and Michigan Canal , took charge
of the contract. L. H. Woodworth, who came in 1839, was engineer in charge,
having previously practiced his profession in the East. Work was commenced.
Sanger and Nichols opened a large store, and for a time all went well and the
desert seemed to be about to "bud and blossom as the rose." About $40,000
was expended — a large sum for those times. The store did a heavy business.
The canal was nearly half completed, and the future seemed radiant with hope,
when the gaudy bubble burst and rudely dissipated the gorgeous mirage. The
State was bankrupt, loaded with debts of which the most sanguine could not
see a possibility of payment. Work ceased, and the only memorials of the
project are its history, an unsightly ditch, and some heaps of broken stone.
In October 1839 death made his first visit to the settlement, bearing beyond
the dark river Mrs. W. W. Durant. A marriage had been solemnized previous
to this time, William Hawkins and Luna Brooks being the contracting parties.
In 1844 Mr. Richard Arey came to Coloma and took charge of the property
formerly owned by Atkins, whose interest had been purchased by James E.
Cooley, of New York, in 1843. This property included an undivided interest
in the valuable water front on which the manufactories of Rock Falls are now
located. With the bursting of the internal improvement bubble, and the wide
spread ruin consequent thereon, business stagnation and hard times came, stores
were closed, public works suspended, and for a time but little progress was
made; when prosperity again visited the banks of Rock river, business en
throned herself on the north side of the stream. During the winter of 1844
about thirty Winnebago Indians camped in the vicinity. They are described as
very filthy, and most persevering beggars. The next spring they went north,
never to return, the last of the red men who made this pleasant land their home,
and since that time Indians have seldom visited this region. From this date
neither a store nor shop of any kind was found within the borders of Coloma
until 1867. Until 1857 there was no way of crossing the river except by ford
ing, although several attempts had been made to establish a ferry above the

128 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
rapids which had resulted in failure. In 1845 the first school was taught. In
1846 the first school house was fitted up, funds being raised by subscription; it
was used for the next ten years. In 1856 a new school house was finished, and
a bridge built by subscription nearly completed, a few plank being left out to
prevent its use until paid for. As some of the subscriptions were payable only
on its completion, they could not be collected, and it being carried away by a
freshet in February, 1857, it was never opened for travel. In the same year,
after the destruction of the bridge. B. G. Wheeler, a banker of Sterling, started
a ferry above the rapids, but as it was not adequate to the wants of the public,
being frequently out of order from the breaking of the chain by which it was
driven, James A. Patterson started another below the rapids. By act of the
Legislature dated February 12, 1857, Whiteside county was empowered to bor
row $2,000 to replace bridges over Rock river lost by floods or which might be
carried away during the present or next ensuing month. This was intended to
aid in replacing this bridge, but the money was never raised. No bridge was
again built until 1863, when the Sterling Bridge Co. erected one under a Legis
lative charter. In 1868 the Rock river attempted to declare its independence,
and carried away a part of the bridge, which was soon replaced. A Post. Office,
called Rapids, was established about 1847, with Artemus Worthington as post
master, and a mail route on the south side of the river from Dixon to Prophets
town was also established, but after a short time it was discontinued.
This township was organized in 1852. The first town meeting and election
to perfect the organization was held April 6, 1852, at the house of Richard
Arey. A hog law was enacted condemning these much coveted yet very
troublesome brutes to close confinement, and $5.00 was voted for incidental
expenses. In 1854 it was voted that a fence to be lawful must be four and
one-half feet high. In 1855 $50 was voted for incidental expenses, and $300
for highways. In 1856 the railroad was completed from Chicago to Sterling,
thus rendering the country more accessible, In 1857 the plat of Rapids City
was entirely vacated. The township did not, however, settle up rapidly, the
county map of 1858 giving the names of but thirty-one residents, and showing
the sites of two school houses. The location of roads was much the same as
at present. Nothing of special interest appears in the records for the next
three or four ensuing years. The discussions at the annual town meetings were
not very fully reported, or were very short and confined to few topics. There
is plenty of evidence that cattle were becoming more numerous, and also that
hogs, sheep, horses and mules constituted a part of the worldly goods of the
people, and that they were not a little troublesome. The pound and the pound
master were early established institutions and required a vast amount of legis
lation, and entailed some expense on the community, The location of the
pound appears to have been a very difficult task, as it was often moved, and we
should say that it was a very perishable structure as it required an almost yearly
appropriation to repair it or to build a new one. We are happy to say that no
charges of bribery or corruption in connection with it have come to our knowl
edge, but newspapers were scarce in those days and lawyers not plenty, which
may account for this want of social enterprise. In 1856 $25 was voted for
town expenses, and neat cattle were declared not "legal commoners" after
December 1st; sheep not at any time. In 1859 a fence "shall be considered a
lawful fence that shall be judged by the fence viewers to be sufficient to protect
the growing crops;" $50 was voted for town expenses. In 1862 but twenty-
three votes were polled. Through the war Coloma bore her share of the bur
dens and many of her sons were among those who rose up to defend the Union,
and jeopardized their lives in the high places of the field. In 1865 it was voted

BIOGRAPHICAL. 129
to raise a tax for paying the bounties to volunteers, by a vote of 24 to 5. In
1867 a new era dawned upon Coloma. A. P. Smith moved into the township,
purchased lands, laid out the town of Rock Falls, built a race, and awakened a
spirit of progress and improvement which has since built up a thriving village
on this long neglected site. July 26, 1869, at a special town meeting it was
voted to subscribe $50,000 to the capital stock of the Chicago & Rock River
Railroad Co., by a vote of 123 to 4. This year $80 was voted for township
expenses, and J. A. Patterson, K. Woodford and L. H. Woodworth were
appointed a committee to purchase grounds for a cemetery. The previous year
$200 had been appropriated for the purpose. They were instructed to purchase
two acres of a certain lot if the title should prove good. In 1872 the Chicago
& Rock River Railroad was completed, and it virtually passed into the hands of
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Co., which now operates it as a
branch line. ' This year there were three tickets for township officers in the
field, and a heavy vote was polled — 172 ballots being cast. In 1873 it was
charged that township bonds in aid of the Chicago & Rock River Railroad had
been unlawfully issued, and a committee was appointed to fight the claims. At
the annual meeting in 1874 the committee reported that they had engaged
Messrs. Bennett & Sackett to attend to the case on the part of the town; $380
was voted for township expenses at this meeting. January 28, 1875, a special
town meeting was held to consider the railroad bond matter, and it was resolved
to enjoin the tax for the payment of the bonds. At the annual town meeting
for 1875, $950 was voted for township expenses, — $300 of which was appro
priated to fight the bondholders with. The question of compromising the bond
cases was considered, and steps instituted in that direction. At a special town
meeting January 21, 1876, the Supervisor and Town Clerk were instructed to
sign an indemnifying bond and procure an injunction on railroad bond tax. At
the annual meeting in 1876, $1,000 was voted with which to carry on the bond
cases. September 11, 1876, at a special town meeting it was resolved by a vote
of 251 to 1, to issue $25,000 worth of bonds running until 1886 and bearing ten
per cent, interest, to raise money to pay interest on railway bonds, and costs.
These bonds were issued and sold, and the township had then outstanding:
Railroad bonds to amount of $47,500, township bonds to amount of $25,000 —
total indebtedness, $72,500. The total expense of the bond cases was reported
as $1,169.30. This township was originally a part of Portland precinct. It was then in
cluded in Rapids precinct, and was known by that name until organized as a town
in 1852. For the name Coloma no reason can be assigned. It was suggested
by a gentleman who had been to California and returned.
The following is a list of township officers :
Supervisor .-—1852, Richard Arey; 1853, L. H Woodworth; 1854, A.
W. Worthington; 1855-'57, Sidney Barber; 1858-'59, Frank Cushing; 1860-'67
L.L.Emmons; 1868, Jas. A. Patterson; 1869-70, L. L. Emmons; 1871-73,M.
R. Adams; 1874-77, H. F. Batcheller.
Town Clerks .-—1852, A. W. Worthington; 1853, D. F. Batcheller; 1854,
A. W. Worthington; 1855-'57, Herman Bassett; ?1858-'67, J. D. Arey; 1868,
Richard Arey; 1869-70, A. S. Goodell; 1871, J. D. Davis; 1872-73, James
McDonald; 1874, C. E. Doty; 1875-77, Henry P. Price.
Assessors .-—1852, L. H. Woodworth; 1853, D. F. Batcheller; 1854-'55,
Richard Arey; 1856-'59, L. L. Emmons; 1860, Herman Bassett; 1861-'64, L.
H. Woodworth; 1865, J. M. Wilbur; 1866-'67, J. W.Nims; 1868, JohnEnder-
ton; 1869, J. W. Nims; 1870-71, A. C. Hapgood; 1872,L.H, Woodworth; 1873,
J. W. Nims; 1874, C. H. Payson; 1875-77, J. W. Nims.
' [16— N.]

130 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
¦Collectors:— 1852, A. F. R. Emmons; 1853, Sidney Barber; 1S54, Samuel
Emnions; 1855, John Enderton; 1856-'57, Henry Aument; 1858, E. H. Barber;
1S59, H. F. Batcheller; 1860-'62, Richard Arey; 1863-'65, J. AY Nims; 1866,
Richard Arey; 1867-'68, N. C. Sturtevant; 1869- 70, Julius Smith; 1871, Chas.
Labrun; 1872, John D. Davis; 1873-76, Theo. P. Lukens; 1877, Timothy Bur
dick. Justices of the Peace : — 1852, Frank Cushing, Samuel Emnions; 1853, Rich
ard Arev; 1854, Josiah Sturtevant; 1856, C. C. King; 1857, L. II. AVoodworth;
1858. Alonzo Golder; 1859, Samuel Emmons; 1860, L. H. AVoodworth; Frank
Cushing; lS(i3, G. W. Hall, Richard Arey; 1864, L. H. Woodworth; 1865,
Richard Arev; 1866, J. M. Wilbur, L. H. Woodworth; 1867, J. D. Arey: 1867
J. D. Arey. L. II. AVoodworth: 1869, J. D. Arey; 1870, J. M. Scott, H. P. Price;
1872, C. G. Glenn, T. C. Loomis; 1873, J. D. Davis, A. S. Goodell; 1874, R. L.
Hamilton; 1.876, Janies Pettigrew; 1877, J. A. Kline, James Pettigrew.
The Assessor's books of Coloma township, for 1877, show 6,118 acres of
improved land, and 130 of unimproved. The total assessed value of all lands is
$280,630. The number of improved lots is 253, and unimproved, 78. Number
of horses, :!(>2; cattle, 650; mules and asses, 21; hogs, .1212; carriages and
wagons, 191; sewing and knitting-machines, 158; piano fortes, 9; melodeons and
organs, 50. Value of personal property, $184,101. Railroad property, $5,002.
Assessed value of all property, $812,570.
The population of Coloma township outside of the village of Rock Falls, in
1S70, was 386, of which 334 were of native birth, and 51 of foreign birth. The
estimated population of the township, outside of Rock Falls, in 1877, is 540.
Biographical.
Noah Merrill was born in Smithfield, Connecticut, June 8, 1809. His
early life was passed in New York and Ohio. In 1837 he settled near Rock
Falls, south of the river and opposite Kagle Island. He built a cabin 12x15 feet,
covered with bark and provided with a puncheon floor. Mr. Merrill and his
family first lived with Mr. Dan. Brooks who then resided where the portion of
Rock Falls, now called "Gopher Town" is. The united families numbered eleven
souls, and one bed and the floor furnished sleeping accommodations for all. As
the women were sisters the families lived upon peaceable terms. In 1838 Mr.
Merrill and family settled in their own cabin and broke several acres of prairie.
The same land had been claimed by Elijah Worthington of Harrisburg, his
claim having been made made by plowing around the land. The anti-claim jump
ers association upon the north side of the river through a committee notified
Mr. Merrill that he must abandon the claim under penalty of having his cabin,
himself and family thrown into the river. This gentle demand Mr. M. decided
to resist and in company with Mr. Dan. Brooks secured arms and awaited 'the
visitors, but they came not. Mr. Merrill sold his claim and afterwards owned
several farms in the neighborhood and worked at his trade in Harrisburg until
1S50, when he went to California, and suffered great hardships. After a stay of
four years on the Pacific coast he returned to Sterling where he now resides.
Mr. Merrill was married to Miss Amanda Lewis in New York, September 5, 1829.
Children: Almanza, born June 11, 1831; Seth R., born December 19, 1832;
Zelemma born October 24, 1835; Nelson B., born November 6, 1838. Mi-
Merrill died December 22, 1873, aged 63 years.
L. H. AVoodworth was born in Norwich, Vermont, October 20, 1806. He
resided in that State until he reached his majority, and attended the military,
scientific and literary school at Middletown, Connecticut. After completing his
studies he was a teacher in the military school at Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

BIOGRAPHICAL. 131
He was afterwards Assistant Professor of Mathematics in Jefferson College,
Mississippi. In the meantime he studied law. Failing eyesight precluded the
pursuit of his profession as he desired. He spent two years in the employ of
the State of New York as resident engineer upon the Black River Canal. In
the springof 1839 he removed to the west, and settled at the Upper Rapids on
the south side of Rock river, and bought the claim of Isaac Merrell, upon which
he now lives, at Rock Falls. He had charge as engineer of the contract to
build the canal, which was let in 1839. The work was commenced in 1840 by
Nichols, Sanger & Galbreath. Mr. Woodworth has divided a portion of his real
estate into lots, now embraced in the flourishing town of Rock Falls. He and
Dan. Brooks were the two first Justices of the Peace in Rapids Precinct. He
was also Swamp Land Commissioner, County Surveyor and Supervisor. He
married Parmelia Parks, May 14, 1834, in Saratoga county, New York. Mrs.
Woodworth died December 1, 1844. Children: Leonard H., born June 12, 1836;
George L., born December 1,1841. Leonard H. married Miss Hattie Jenkins,
and resides in Sterling. Geo. L. Woodworth enlisted in Company A., 34th
Illinois Regiment, and was killed at Stone river, December 31, 1852. Mr.
Woodworth married Mrs. Alice H. Goodell, October 24, 1845. Two children:
Clarence C, born October 22, 1853; Alice S., born June 12, 1859.
Asa F. R. Emmons was born in Kingston, Canada. His boyhood and early
manhood were passed in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New York City. In
the latter place he worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1839 he settled at
Sterling, making a claim in Coloma township, to which he moved in 1840, and
has been a resident of the county since then. Mr. Emmons has been engaged
in building almost continually, his taste not inclining him to farming. He was
married to Elizabeth Ann Bartlett, December 25, 1835, in Pennsylvania. She
died July 21, 1842. Mr. Emmons was married to Nancy A. Booth, January 31,
1843. Children: Harriet M., born April 1, 1838— she is the wife of Theo. H.
Mack. Wm. H, born May 10, 1840 — died in infancy. Ida U. D., born March
31, 1845 — she married Chas. H. Hewitt. Samuel, born November 11, 1848 —
died in infancy. Lucinda, born December 13, 1851 — died in infancy. Wm. L.,
born September 24, 1855. Nancy Cora, born April 3, 1858.
Isaac Merrell settled south of the river from Sterling in 1837, on the
claim where L. H. AVoodworth now lives, which he sold to him in 1840. He
then purchased Wright Murphy's claim, where he resided until 1849, when he
sold out to James L. Crawford and went to California. He was a shoemaker,
which occupation he pursued in connection with farming.
Daniel Brooks was born and reared in Conneaut, Ohio. Settled in the
territory now Coloma in 1837. He was one of the first Justices of Rapids Pre
cinct. A hardy pioneer, honest and manly, and esteemed by all who knew him.
He went to California in 1849, and died in San Francisco, after a few hours''
illneSs, of Asiatic cholera.
Ira Sillaman was born in Pennsylvania, married Miss Melissa Brooks in
Ohio, and settled in Coloma in 1838. He was a whole-hearted man, and es
teemed by all old and modern settlers alike. At the time of their deaths, he
and his wife resided in Como. Children: Homer, Rothmer, and Luna. Homer
died of disease contracted in the army. Rothmer married a daughter of Mr.
Numan's, of Genesee Grove, and resides in Nebraska. Luna is married, aud
lives in Wisconsin. W. W. Hawkins married Miss Sillaman's sister, went to
California, and was with Daniel Brooks when he died. He now, with his fam
ily, resides in Aurora, Illinois.
Edward Atkins was born and reared in Ireland. He emigrated to Cana
da, where he settled and was known by his family name of "Watson." Hewas
[IS-P.]

132 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
a miller by occupation, and engaged in the business. He left the province of
Canada in the year 1836, and came to the United States, leaving his wife and
children. In 1837 he settled where Rock Falls now stands. In company with
Isaac Merrill and Dan. Brooks he laid off the town of Rapids City, The plat
was vacated, and Rock Falls now occupies the site. In 1837 he built a large
frame house to be used for a hotel. Mr. Richard Arey has occupied the house
since 1843. Mr. Atkins, sometime after his arrival in the county, again mar
ried. When the gold discoveries were made in California, he went thither, and
engaged in trade and mining for about ten years. During his absence from
Whiteside, Mrs. Atkins secured a bill of divorce and married again. Mr. At
kins returned in 1860, and a reconciliation being brought about between himself
and first wife, they were married again, and lived happily until he left her. In
the meantime, his second wife was divorced, and, soon after the death of his
first wife, Mr. Atkins was married to her for the second time. He was engaged
in business in Sterling, and had an interest in a distillery in Fulton county.
The family that went by the name of "Watson" numbered seven children, and
the " Atkins" family also numbered seven children. These last were born and
brought up in Coloma, where many of them still live, and are worthy citizens.
The Watson family never resided in Whiteside, but are reputed worthy and en
terprising citizens of Wisconsin.
James Hawley was born in Oneida county, New York, March 8, 1809.
He learned the carpenter's trade. In 1830 he came west, and engaged in teach
ing school. After marrying he returned to New York, and in 1835, with his
family, again returned to the west via the lakes. He visited the lands along
Rock river from Dixon to Prophetstown, and across the country to Union Grove,
but found the lands all claimed. January 1, 1836, having compromised with
certain parties who claimed the land, he made a claim at Hawley's point, just
east of the limits of Coloma.. He was so closely identified with the early inter
ests of Coloma that we present this sketch. Mr. Hawley's father and family
settled in 1838. At this time all the lands between Dixon and Prophetstown
were claimed by actual settlers or non-resident speculators, who held the lands
at a high price. Sometimes the claimant's titles were disregarded, which usually
•caused trouble. A gentleman who resided in Harrisburgh had a claim in Mr.
Hawley's neighborhood, upon which an emigrant settled, erected a cabin, and
broke several acres of land. He was promptly notified from the north side of
the river to vacate, else upon a certain day a force would call on him and throw
his cabin into the river. The man gathered his available friends, from twenty-
five to fifty, and prepared to defend what he considered his rights'. At the
specified time an armed force of from one to two hundred men appeared. The
weaker force were made prisoners for a short time, but not roughly treated, and
the cabin consigned to the river.
Artemus W. Worthington was born in Colchester, Connecticut, in 1813;
married October 9/1837. Removed to the west, and settled in Harrisburgh,
July 3, 1839. About one year afterwards settled upon the south side of the
river. While picking up wheat sheaves Mr. Worthington was bitten by a rat
tlesnake, from the effects of which he died. Children: Isabella, born in 1839;
Robert, born in 1845; Alfred, born in 1846; Alice, born in 1848; Robert Eman
uel, born in 1853. Robert died in infancy; Isabella married E. B. Trowe; Al
fred married Miss F. E. Sherley.
Daniel F. Batcheller was born in Bethel, Vermont, September 8, 1803.
January 4, 1826, he married Miss Caroline Maynard. In 1831 he moved to
Medina county, Ohio, where he pursued the trade of a carpenter. In May,
1840, he settled in Sterling, Illinois, making a claim in Coloma, to which he re-

HISTORY OF ROCK FALLS. 133
moved in a short time. Mrs. Batcheller died in March, 1838, and he was married
to Elizabeth A. Warner. Children: Mary, born in 1826; Henry F., in 1834; and
Caroline. Mary married AVm. Lashell, January 19, 1847, and resides in Carroll
county. Henry F. married Mary McNeil, July 1, 1852; children, Addison M.,
born August 6, 1855; Imogene, born May 5, 1861, and Carrie F., born March
22, 1868; Addison M. married Ella Price, October, 18, 1877. Caroline married
Andrew Sherwood August 30, 1869, who died in California in 1873; in 1876 she
married Charles Best. Mrs. Elizabeth Batcheller died November 5, 1855, and
in 1857 Mr. Batcheller married Mrs. Jane McNeil. In 1858 Henry F. Batch
eller invented and secured a patent upon a hand corn planter, and with his
father immediately began its manufacture in a small way. Twelve were man
ufactured and sold the first year. Mr. Batcheller, Sr., retired in 1870, and in 1876
A. M. Batcheller became a partner, the firm name being H.F. Batcheller & Son.
Mrs. Susan Jarvis Cushing was born in Boston, Mass., in 1788. She
married Daniel C. Cushing, of Providence, Rhode Island, in 1809. In company
with the following children she settled in Coloma in the spring of 1839:
Samuel B., who died in Providence, R. I., in 1873; Daniel C, who died in Col
oma in February, 1843; Charles J., who died in Kentucky in 1867; Frank, now
living in Portland, Whiteside county; Dr. John J., who married Harriet Bar
low, and is now residing in San Francisco, Cal.; Edward J., who married Mary
Wild, and is now living in Providence, R. I.; Susan J., who married Frank Cheney,
and resides in South Manchester, Conn. Mrs. Cushing died in 1861.
Frank Cushing was born in Providence, R. I., in 1819. He came with
his mother to Coloma in the spring of 1839, and settled on section 30. No
vember 10, 1841, he married Miss Mary D. Breed, at Como, in Hopkins town
ship. Mr. Cushing has been an active citizen of the township. He was
Justice of the Peace for twelve years, and Supervisor of Coloma in 1858-59.
In 1868 he removed to Portland township, Whiteside county, where he has
since resided. Children: Benjamin F., who married Miss Addie Allen, and
resides in Iowa; Mary Ann, dead; Frank, now in California; Edmund J., who
married Miss Mary Pfulb, and resides in California; Duna F., John J., Henry
S., William L. B., Susan C, and Emma L. The latter six reside with their
parents in Portland. History of Rock Falls.
The town of Rock Falls is situated on the south side of Rock river, in the
north part of Coloma township; it stands on a sandy plain — sufficiently elevated
to be out of the reach of floods — rising toward the south into low sand ridges.
The location is free from surface water, and well calculated for the site of a
city. It embraces an area of about 300 acres. The original plat covered the
northwest fractional quarter of section twenty-seven and the northeast frac
tional quarter of section twenty-eight, in township twenty-one north, range
seven east of the fourth Principal Meridian. Several additions have since been
made, giving it the area stated above.
As has been mentioned in our sketch of Coloma, the great advantages of
this site were early noticed, and a town called Rapids City was laid out. But
the financial disasters of 1837-41, the unsettled state of business, the want of
capital, and the difficulty of obtaining money with which to make improve
ments, as well as the trouble in communicating with other parts of the coun
try, rendered the progress of the locality slow, and years passe/1 by before
another effort was made to call attention to the vast capabilities of this locality.
The Rock river flowed as free and bridgeless as when the Indians were lords of
its banks and the forests rang with the war-whoop of the savage Winnebagoes.

134 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
In 1857 the plat of Rapids City was entirely vacated, and a town was almost
unthought of. In 1854 the Sterling Hydraulic Company built a dam, and the
water power became available. In 1867 A. P. Smith, a native of New York —
a man of energy and sagacity — moved to this neighborhood from Sterling,
bought a tract of land, and laid out a town, to which he gave the name of Rock
Falls. Mr. Smith possessed the capital necessary to improve the property, and
at once began the construction of a race, connecting with the dam of the Ster
ling Hydraulic Company. This work was completed at a cost of $12,000, and
the work of building up a town began. A. C. Hapgood removed a store from
Como to Rock Falls, and began business this year. Messrs. Gait & Tracy
erected a machine shop, the nucleus of the Keystone works. Gideon Reynolds
and Mary Arey were married in December, the first wedding in the place. The
first death occurred in 1868, Byron C. Hunt being summoned to the world of
spirits in October of that year. A daughter was born to J. Barker about this
time, the first birth in the new town. A postoffice was established and opened
for business March 15, 1868, with Truman Culver as Postmaster. January
26th, at a public meeting held for the purpose, it was resolved to incorporate
the town under the general law of the State. Ffteen votes were polled, all in
favor of the step. An election for Trustees was held February 4th, and 48
votes were cast. The town government was immediately organized. The first
ordinance, entitled "An ordinance to prohibit the sale of malt liquors in the
town of Rock Falls in quantities of less than one gallon," bears date February
26, 1869. It was resolved that no licenses for saloons should be granted, and
Rock Falls started out on her onward and upward career as a temperance town.
In 1870 the license party carried the day, 83 votes being cast at the election.
The license party again prevailed at the annual election in 1871, at which only
60 votes were polled. During this year the Chicago and Rock River Rrailroad,
extending from Shabbona on the Chicago and Iowa Railroad to this place, forty-
seven miles, was built, passing through a rich agricultural district offering few
obstacles to the construction of such a work. Before its completion it passed
into the hands of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company, who
now operate it. In 1872 the license party again prevailed at the polls, 150
votes being cast. The Chicago and Rock River Railroad was formally opened
for business January 4th of this year. In 1873 the no-license party won the
election, 140 votes being polled. The town grew in population and wealth,
and was much benefitted by the increased facilities afforded for business by the
railroad. In 1874-75-76 and 77 a no-license Board was elected, the vote
polled being as follows: 1874, 155 votes; 1875, 171 votes; 1876, 230 votes;
1877, 171 votes. Manufacturing establishments have multiplied, the popula
tion increased, and from a town of 471 inhabitants in 1870 it has grown to be a
place of 1,200. The Trustees of the town have been as follows, the name of
the President appearing in italics:
1869:— IF. L. Smith,}. A. Bickford, Elias Geiger, Henry P. Price, W. H.
Shepard. 1870:— A. C. Hapgood, Joel Burdick, C. H. Payson, H. W. Johnson, E.
G. W. Parks.
1871:— E. G. W. Parks, A. C. Hapgood; C. H. Payson, C. Stewart, C. E.
Doty. 1872:— C. Stewart, C. E. Doty, J. D. Davis, F. E. Palmer, W. B. Brown,
J. McDonald, Clerk.
1873:— Almon Wheeler, J. D. Davis, Adam Kadle, E. L. Wilson, A. L.
Hemstreet, W. H. Shepard. W. H. Tuttle, Clerk.

MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS. 135
1874: — Almon Wheeler, J. D. Davis, Alpheus Fox, W. H. Shepard, A.
Kadle, T. P. Lukens. W. H. Tuttle, Clerk.
1875:— Almon Wheeler, J. D. Davis, F. E. Montenie, W. H. Shepard, T.
P. Lukens, George M. Titus. W. H. Tuttle, Clerk.
1876: — J. D. Davis, J. L. Newton, E. H. Kingery, James Pettigrew, H.
W. Johnson, T. P. Lukens. George W. Nance, Clerk.
1877:—^. E. Montenie, A. C. Stanley, Sidney Barber, S. F. Oliver, J. E.
Phillips, T. P. Lukens. Henry P. Price, Clerk.
Rock Falls has one dry goods store, four groceries, two millinery stores,
one tailor shop, two drug stores, one jeweler, two boot and shoe stores, one
harness shop, two butcher shops, three hardware stores, three blacksmith shops,
one barber shop, one lumber yard, one elevator, two coal dealers, one ice dealer,
one bank, one news depot, one real estate and surveyor's office, one real estate
office, one real estate and insurance office, four hotels, six physicians, two print
ing offices, one restaurant, two livery stables, the works of the Keystone Man
ufacturing Company, Eureka Manufacturing Company, E. C. Palmer, H. F.
Batcheller & Son, Phelps & Dyer, Utility Works, A. S. Todd, manufacturer of
pruning shears, a manufactory of barbed fence wire, Union Manufacturing-
Company, Rock Falls Manufacturing Company, a mitten factory, one merchant
flouring mill, one feed and meal mill. There are three churches, a lodge of I.
0. 0. F., two lodges A. 0. U. W., one hose company. The town has two school
houses, and a well-managed graded school is maintained nine months in the
year. The railroad company has a depot building, round-house, water-tank,
and turn-table here. Rock Falls is connected with Sterling by a bridge, and
a small steamer — the White Swan — runs between the two places above the
dam. Measures have been taken to erect a free bridge above the dam, and it
will probably be completed during the coming year; its estimated cost is about
$40,000; it will be of iron, connecting Mulberry street, Sterling, with Bridge
street, Rock Falls, passing over the Chicago and Northwestern Railway track.
Nurseries.
Mrs. M. C. Lukens has twenty acres in a nursery. She has under cultivation
about 20,000 apple trees and 200,000 evergreens, of all sizes; also one acre of
raspberries and one acre of grapes.
Warren Lukens has three acres of strawberries and four acres of raspberries;
also 4,000 evergreens.
Grove Wright commenced a nursery a short distance east of Rock Falls ten
years ago, and has made a specialty of fruit, and ornamental trees, small fruit,
and greenhouse plants. He has about $10,000 invested in his property and
business. Manufacturing Establishments.
First among these in capacity and extent of business is the Keystone Man
ufacturing Company. It was organized in 1870 with a capital of $150,000,
Thos. A. Gait, President. The works now occupy ten buildings having an area
of over 42,000 square feet, and a total floor area of over 125,000 square feet, or
nearly three acres. It employs 150 men in its different departments, and the
capital invested is at present about $300,000. It is. engaged in the manufac
ture of corn planters, sulky rakes, cider mills, corn shellers, stalk cutters and
broadcast seed sowers. Twelve thousand machines were turned out in 1876. It
used in their construction 40 tons of bolts, 7000 gross of screws, 1200 tons of
pig iron, 200 tons of bar iron, 100 tons of steel, 40 barrels of varnish, 50 barrels
oil, and 750,000 feet of lumber. It has branch houses at Columbus, Ohio, and

136 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Philadelphia, Pa. Its manufactures are sold all over the United States and in
Central and South America, and sustain an enviable character for excellence.
Its present officers are : President, Thomas A. Gait; Vice President and Super
intendent, G. S. Tracy; Secretary, J. B. Patterson.
The Eureka Manufacturing Company was organized in 1871 with a capital
of $50,000. It occupies five buildings with a floor area of over 13,000 square
feet, and a total floor area of about 35,000 square feet. It is engaged in the
manufacture of Eureka school seats, church and office furniture, chairs, Eureka
stalk cutter, check rower, road grader and the Becker brush grain cleaner.
Forty-five persons are employed. President, John M. Gait; Secretary, J. G.
Crawford. The Rock Falls Mitten Factory building was erected in 1869, by A. P.
Smith, at a cost of $4,000. The business has grown year by year until at pres
ent 80 persons, mostly women, are employed about eight months in the year,
and goods to the value of $100,000 are manufactured. Mr. II. P. Price has for
eight years cut out the work. Messrs. Hubbard, Ward & Clark are the present
proprietors. The Industrial Building. 300x60 feet, basement and two stories high, was
built by a stock company in 1872. It cost about $50,000. It is intended to be
let to parties desiring to engage in manufacturing, and is divided into six sec
tions, each 60x50 feet. It is in part occupied. \
The Enterprise Works, H. F. Batcheller & Son, proprietors, manufacture
the Eureka wind mill, hand corn planters, harrows, cheese-boxes. Twenty-two
hands are employed, and about 12,000 hand planters are produced, besides other
goods. Capital, $25,000. The building is of stone, 60x40 feet, two stories
high. The Utility Works, J. A. Patterson, proprietor, occupy section six of In
dustrial building, and manufacture the Sterling corn planter, portable tables, iron
ing boards, and other articles.
The Keystone Burial Case Company was established in 1874. It gave em
ployment to 20 persons. In 1876 it made an assignment. A reorganization has
taken place and the factory is now in running order under the name of the Rock
Falls Manufacturing Company, who turn out the same class of goods. They oc
cupy a section of the Industrial building.
The Union Manufacturing Company manufacture the . Rock Falls wagon.
These works have a capacity of ten finished wagons per day, and have given em
ployment to about 80 men. The officers are : John Wood, President; Fred.
Sheldon, Secretary; R. B. Witmer, Treasurer.
E. C. Palmer manufactures hand com planters, harrows, vegetable washers,
mouldings, brackets, etc. The works are in the Industrial building.
Phelps & Dyer manufacture three styles of corn planters, called the Cham
pion, Quadrant and Star. They also manufacture the Champion harrow and
Upham's reversible smoothing harrow, both very superior implements. They
made over 5,000 planters for the trade this season.
The Globe Mill, Jacob Zollinger, proprietor, is run as a grist and merchant
mill and has a capacity of about!30,000 barrels per year. About 30 tons of flour,
meal and feed are shipped weekly. Capital, $35,000.
Newspapers.
Rock Falls Progress : — The Progress was established by Messrs. W. H.
Cadwell and W. H. Tuttle in 1870, the first number being issued on Thursday,
August 4th, of that year, when Rock Falls could boast of only a few hundred
inhabitants. It is a five column quarto, published weekly, and has been from

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 137
its commencement a staunch Republican paper, a'nd ever devoted to the inter
ests of Rock Falls. In 1873 it became the official paper of the town. The
office is located in the upper story of No. 5, Industrial building, to which place
it was removed in 1873. The paper enjoys a fair patronage; and has an increas
ing subscription list.
Whiteside Times: — The Times is the lineal descendent of the Morrison
Independent which came into existence in August, 1872. It was edited by J.
W. Huett and Lewis Ward until 1873, when Elmer Searle, formerly of the
Reform Investigator of Morrison, assumed editorial charge. Genius could not
save the Independent and it was sold to A. J. Booth & Co., who changed its
name to the Morrison Times and published it at Morrison until July, 1876,
when they removed the office and paper to Rock Falls, and named the paper
the Whiteside Times. It is a six-column folio, well filled with reading matter,
and has a liberal support. The office occupies the third floor of No. 1, Indus
trial building. Churches and Other Organizations.
Methodist Episcopal Church: — This is the oldest religious society of Rock
Falls. It was organized in 1868 and its pulpit supplied by Rev. J. H. Ailing,
pastor of the Fourth Street Sterling charge, with which it was connected.
During the winter of 1868-'69 a revival was held by which many were added
to its numbers, and the permanency and prosperity of the church assured. A
lot was purchased, and in July, 1869, the foundation of the present church
was laid; in April, 1871, it was finished and dedicated. The first trustees were
J. L. Morrill, M. L. Coe, C. K. Brown, J. A. Bickford and R. H. Jenkins. Rev.
J. A. Stayt was sent to the charge in the fall of 1870, as the first resident
pastor. It was largely owing to his zeal and energy that the church was com
pleted and a parsonage erected. He was returned to this field in 1871. In
1872 Rev. Thomas Chipperfield came to the charge, then embracing Coloma,
Hume and Montmorency. About the 1st of December, 1872, it was decided by
the proper authority to make Rock Falls a station, and Rev. T. Chipperfield
was assigned to the charge. A revival occurred during this winter as the
result of which sixty persons united with the church. The conference of 1873
returned Mr. Chipperfield to this station. During his pastorate the number of
members was more than quadrupled and the church prospered greatly. In
1874-75 Rev. Lewis Curts was pastor, and in 1875-76 Rev. C. R. Ford. The
annual conference of 1876 assigned Rev. A. H. Miller to the charge, and he is
now the pastor. The church has a membership of over 200; one local preacher
— J. H. Backus; one exhorter — J. H. Boughman; eleven class leaders, and an
efficient corps of Sabbath School officers and teachers. The Sabbath School
numbers about 250 members. The church is 40x60 feet on the ground — a neat,
comfortable building. In 1876 it was tastefully frescoed and carpeted, through
the efforts of the ladies. The present board of trustees are Dr. J. L. Morrill,
M. L. Coe, J. A. Bickford, J. H. Phelps and O. A. Oliver.
Congregational Church: — The Congregational society was organized De
cember 28, 1875, with fifteen members. The trustees were A. M. Phelps, E. C.
Palmer, Almon Wheeler, Freeman Coleman, and J. D. Davis. The same gen
tlemen constitute the present Board, except Almon Wheeler, whose place is
filled by Enoch Long. The deacons are Richard Arey, H. R. Hand, and Charles
Saxton. The membership at this time — September, 1877 — is 80. A church
building 40x55 feet in size was erected in 1876 and dedicated the latter part
of that year. It is not finished, but services are regularly held in it. The
Bev. S. D. Belt is pastor, under whose care the church has greatly prospered,
[•7-Or]

138 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
There is connected with the church a flourishing Sabbath School of about 150
members. German Lutheran Church: — The German Lutheran Society was organized
in 1877, being the youngest religious association in Rock Falls. It is engaged
in building a church 40x50 feet in size.
Public Schools: — The Schools of Rock Falls being an outgrowth of those
of Coloma, we shall treat of both in one article. The early settlers were most
of them men of some education, men who felt that knowledge J is power, and
that to their children mental culture was almost as important as food.Henc e
schools were early founded and the school house and the teacher were almost
as necessary in the pioneer settlements as in the prosperous villages of to-day.
In 1845, Miss Anastatia Sturtevant, eldest daughter of Josiah Sturtevant,
taught the first school in an old store building in Rapids City. The next year,
1846, a small building — 12x12 — constructed for a corn house was bought from
L. H. Woodworth for the sum of $20, to be paid in produce, the amount being
raised by subscription. It was moved to where the brick school house now
stands, and a Miss McLaughlin was installed as teacher. The number of
pupils increased and in 1854 the erection of a brick school house — the present
structure — was begun, the old house having been sold to Thomas Robinson, of
whose residence it now forms a part. The new house was completed in 1856.
In 1858 there were two school districts in Coloma, one in the east part, the
other in the west part with the school house located on the east part of section
31. At present district No. two contains Rock Falls and all west of the town
to the west line of the township, district No. one east of the town with a school
house located in the south-east part of section 26. The Rock Falls school has
since the organization of the town been under the care of the following
teachers: Mr. Harris, C. Parks, C. G. Glenn, A. D. Tyson, Fayette Johnson,
Miss M. Howland, Mr. AAroodbridge and Harry A. Smith who is still in the em
ploy of the district. A second school house has been built and five teachers
are employed, school being sustained nine months in the year. The number of
pupils enrolled is 235. Number in attendance about 175.
Independent Order of Odd Felloios: — Advance Lodge No. 590 I. O. O. F.
was instituted Wednesday evening, September 22 ,1875. The charter members
were M. H. Culver, F. E. Montenie, A. C. Stanley, F. W. Wheeler, W. H.
Tuttle, J. B.Ralph, 0. N. Hazen, W.H. Cadwell, Fred. Babcock, F. A. Clewell,
Robert Nicol, Jr., S. S. Lukens. The first officers were W. H. Cadwell Noble
Grand; F. E. Montenie, Vice Grand; M. H. Culver, Recording Secretary; F. A.
Clewell, Permanent Secretary; J. B. Ralph, Treasurer. Present officers for
term ending December 31, 1877: A. C. Stanley, N. G.; S. S. Knee, V. G.; C. E.
Payson, R.' S.; T. P. Lukens, P. S.; J. H. Montague, Treasurer. Trustees: J.
M. Armstrong, G. R. Bent, B. W. Doty, J. E. Phillips, Samuel Wilson. Rep
resentative to Grand Lodge, W. H. Tuttle. The lodge has a membership of 58,
is out of debt and has a fair balance in the treasury.
Industrial Lodge No. 5, Ancient. Order United Workmen: — This Lodge was
instituted Saturday evening, June 12, 1875, by 0. J. Noble, D. D. S. M. W., of
Davenport, Iowa, assisted by the officers of No. 3 (Union Lodge, Sterling), with.
61 applicants, 28 of whom were present at the opening of the lodge. The fol
lowing officers were installed: E. C. Palmer, Past Master Workman; T. Cul
ver, Master AVorkman; B. F. Boynton, General Foreman; B. W. Doty, Over
seer; H. P. Price, Recorder; C. K. Brown, Financier; S. F. Montague, Receiver;
H. W. Stubbs, Guide; L. Hannan, Watchman. The officers of the present term
are: J. B. Ralph, P. M. W.; S. T. Shirley, M. W.; George W. Smith, G F • T J
Woman, 0.; H. P. Price, Recorder; D. L. McKenzie, F.; H. Roland, Receiver'

BIOGRAPHICAL. 139
H. F. Lundy, I. W.; G. 0. Deyo, 0. W.'j F. A. Clewell, G. Representatives to
Grand Lodge, E. C. Palmer, A. Edgerton. Past Master Workmen: E. C.
Palmer, A. Edgerton, T. Culver, J. B. Ralph, J. D. Davis. Present member
ship, 60.
Keystone Lodge No. 69, A. 0. U. W.: — This lodge was initiated on Monday
evening, April 23, 1877, byE. C. Palmer, G. M. W., assisted by the officers of
No. 5, with 45 applicants, 16 of whom were present at the organization. The
officers installed were as follows: Rev. S. D. Belt, P. M. W.; John A. Kline, M.
W.; A. H. Copp, G. F.; M. S. Hosford, 0.; Fred. Waller, Recorder; H. C.Cle
ments, F.; Enoch. Long, Receiver; E. D. Sprague, I. W.; A. Acker, 0. W.
Kendrick Clark, Guide. The present officers are: J. A. Kline, P. M. W.; A,
H. Copp, M. W.; F. Montenie, G. F.; A. Acker, 0.; Fred. Waller, Recorder
Heman Dyer, F.; Adam Kadle, Receiver; F. Hollis, I. W.; K. Clark, 0. W.
E. D. Sprague, Guide. Present membership, 26.
Hose Company: — Keystone Hose Company No. 1, of Rock Falls, was
organized Thursday evening, August 31, 1876, with 28 members. The com
pany have three hose carts and 1,600 feet of hose. The uniform is dark
pants, blue shirts with white Keystone front, blue caps with red and white
front, red and white belt. The officers are: J. L. Newton, Foreman; S. F.
Mingle, 1st assistant; C. E. Payson, 2d assistant; H. P. Price, Secretary; T. P.
Lukens, Treasurer. Present membership, 36.
Biographical.
The history of Rock Falls would be incomplete without a biographical
sketch of Augustus P. Smith, Esq., the founder of the place. Mr. Smith is a
native of Cobleskill, Schoharie county, N. Y., and was born February 2, 1831.
In 1848 he went to New York City, where he resided two years, and then
became a resident of Cherry Valley, Otsego county, New York, where he also
remained two years. From thence he removed to Gloversville, Fulton county,
New York, and in 1855 came to Illinois, and settled in Sterling in 1856, resid
ing there until his removal to Rock Falls, which is now his home. Mr. Smith
was married to Miss Elvira J. Champlin at Gloversville, New York, April 14,
1855. Their children are Florence May, born in 1859; Mabel E., in 1861;
Helen Marr, in 1863, and Gertrude, in 1868. In 1867 he founded Rock Falls,
a full description of which is given in the history of that place, and its rapid
growth shows more forcibly than words could possibly do, his foresight and
clear judgment in business matters, and his extraordinary energy in carrying
whatever he undertakes into effect.

CHAPTER VII.
History of Clyde Township— Biographical.

History of Clyde Township.
The Township of Clyde is situated in the north part of Whiteside county
and contains 22,925 acres. The land is rolling prairie and bluffs, interpersed
with numerous groves of timber, especially along the water courses. The soil
is a mixture of sandy and clayey loam, exceedingly fertile, and well adapted to
the production of most varieties of grain and vegetables, common to this
climate. The timber is now largely second growth. The pioneers found an ex
cellent quality of timber, but it has been largely cut off. The township is
well watered by Rock creek, which flows in a southerly and southwesterly
direction through the entire township. Little Rock creek also flows nearly
across the township. Numerous brooks and fine springs also afford unlimited
supplies of water. The farmers are now largely engaged in breeding stock and
raising corn. Formerly large quantities of wheat were produced, but this in
dustry has been abandoned for the more lucrative business of com and stock
raising. In Clyde, as in most other towns of the county, "Corn is King." The
first settlers produced magnificent winter wheat. This crop gave way for spring
wheat, and now neither, in point of quantity, compare with the production of
years gone by.
The township is now densely settled, since] 1860, in addition to] the
pioneers, a substantial class of farmers having made improvements upon the
rich prairie land. It was the rule for the pioneers to locate in the groves and
along water courses, thus leaving what has proved the finest lands, the prairie,
for more recent settlers; as a consequence the farms of those first to locate
are not so fine as the farms of those who followed when the way was broken.
Clyde was originally a part of Union Precinct, the voting place of the
people being at Unionville. When township organization was adopted Clyde
was formed, and is described as township 22 north, range 5 east of the 4th
principal meridian. The name was chosen from a postoffice of that name.
About 1844 a postoffice was established and the name agreed upon was
"Watertown," but there being a postoffice of that name in the State, the Post-
office Department conferred the name of "Clyde" upon the new office. This
office was at Milnes' Mill, and Thomas Milnes was the postmaster. An office
was subsequently established at Brothwell's Mill, and called "New Clyde."
The township was surveyed in 1839, and in 1842 the land came into market.
The town was originally settled by English and Scotch people, many of them
coming from Canada to Clyde. A few Americans made improvements in the
neighborhood of Brothwell's Mill, notable, Jesse Hill, his sons, and Mr. Wick,
natives of North Carolina, who were then settled in what is now Genesee town
ship. Probably the first claim was made in the northeast part of the township.
Mr. Jesse Hill carved his initials on the trees on a certain tract of land
in 1835, making a "Jack Knife Claim." Subsequently, Wm. Wick plowed
furrows around a body of land, claiming all the territory within its boundaries

HISTORY OF CLYDE TOWNSHIP. 141
This claim embraced the "Jack Knife" territory of Mr. Hill. The dispute
over the land was afterwards adjusted.
About 1838 settlers began to come into the town, among others Henry
W. Daniels and Hugh Hollinshead. A Mr. Wing of New York, and Dr.
H. H. Fowler of Indiana, then residents of Fulton, built a saw mill where the
Brothwell Mill now is. This was managed by Butler E. Marble and his son
Levi. Hugh Hollinshead, a millwright, and H. W. Daniels were engaged in
erecting the concern. In connection with it was a grist mill or "corn cracker,"
which worked so slowly that it is said a man waiting for his grist could eat all
but the toll while the grinding was being done.
In 1838 Wing laid out a "city" at the mill which was called "Genesee
City." The "city" was greatin its immensity. Lots were sold to eastern people,
and several came on to inspect the new metropolis. They found a magnificent
array of stakes, and but little else to speak of.
Butler E. Marble, the miller, went to Oregon where he died. The next
mill erected was by Wm. P. Hiddleson, who had a carding machine in connec
tion with it. The mill is best known as Hough's Mill. The mill now known
as the Little Rock Mill, and owned by Joseph Milnes, was the next built.
Early in 1840 some adventurous spirit put up an oil mill, and the general
opinion was that all would make their fortunes from castor oil. The castor
bean was extensively planted, but the early frost hurt the crop, and no great
amount of wealth was realized, and Clyde added but little to the general supply
of physic. The flax fever seized the settlers also, but proved no better specula
tion than the castor bean.
Among the first settlements was that of Samuel Wressell in the east
part of the town, on Section 14. He made his claim in 1838 and sold out to
Z. Dent. The same year H. W. Daniel made a claim and built a cabin. The
Hollinsheads came about this time. In 1839 Richard Beswick made a settle
ment in the south part of the township. Samuel Carrie made a claim the same
year on Section 30. In 1839 also came Wm. Wilson, Donald Blue and John
Wilson; the two last named gentlemen located pretty well north in the town
ship, on Section 17, and were for a long time the only residents of their part
of the town. Not until after 1850 did settlers begin to rapidly take up the
valuable lands in the parts of the township remote from the groves of timber.
The pioneers of Clyde experienced the incidents common to the pioneers.
Wheat and oats were threshed out with flails and the chaff winnowed by the prairie
breezes. Large sieves were made from tanned hides of sheep through which the
grain was also passed. The markets were at Albany, Fulton, Galena, Savanna
and Chicago. Bowman & Jacobs, at Savanna, purchased much of the grain.
Pork was sold at Galena. Religious consolation was obtained at Genesee Grove
where church services were maintained after a fashion. There were but few
claim fights, although an organization to prevent claim jumping was in exist
ence. The law of honor prevailed among the pioneers of Clyde, and but little
difficulty was experienced. All were neighbors, and the first settlers of the town
frequently refer to "the good times of old" that they enjoyed with the hard
ships. The first child born in Clyde was George R. Beswick, son of Richard and
Belinda Beswick; he was born February 10, 1840. Hiram Hopkins had a child
born to him about the same time.
The first marriage is supposed to have been that of Samuel Currie, who was
married September 17, 1840, to Julia Thomas. A. C. Jackson, Justice of the
Peace, performed the ceremony, it being the first marriage at which he of
ficiated.

142 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
The first deaths in the settlement were those of John and Margaret, chil
dren of Donald and Margaret Blue, both of which occurred in the fall of 1839.
The former was seventeen years old, and the latter eleven. The deaths occur
red shortly after Mr. Blue came to the settlement.
The first school in the township was taught by Miss Lucy A. Exley, at her
father's residence on section 28, in the summer of 1846. The first school build
ing was erected about the year 1848. At the present time there are eight school
districts in the township, each district having a good school house.
A Sunday School was organized in Clyde, in 1841, the exercises being held
at the residence of AVilliam Wilson. This was the first Sunday School held in
the township. The school was continued at the same place for several years.
The early settlers of the county were many of them professors of religion,
and brought with them deep-seated and lasting reverence for the Bible, the Sab
bath, and the ordinances of the church. Nor were they long without religious
services. The Methodist circuit riders — men who were full of zeal and faith,
pressed forward to the very outposts of civilization, preaching the word of life,
gathering the scattered settlers into churches, and administering the ordinances
of the church. The services were generally held in the cabins of the settlers,
and sometimes at a stated place. Those religiously inclined in Clyde, besides
their home meetings, generally attended worship at Genesee Grove, Unionville,
or at the grove where Morrison now stands. In 1869, however, a Methodist
Episcopal Society was organized in the town, and during the same year a church
edifice was built on section 7 at a cost of $2,500. Rev. L. C. Conant was the
first pastor to whom this charge was given. Rev. J. Kellogg is the present pas
tor. There are now twenty-five members belonging to this church, and the
Sunday School numbers about fifty members, with Thomas Gulliland as the
Superintendent. AVhen the Sunday School was first organized, J. M. Snyder
was the Superintendent.
A church building was also erected several years ago by the Adventists, in
the southeast part of the town, but was afterwards purchased by the Dunkards,
who refitted it, and now hold regular meetings in it.
The first annual town meeting in Clyde under township organization was
held April 6, 1852, with Thomas Exley as moderator, and Thomas Milnes, clerk.
Twenty-one votes were polled. Officers elected : William P. Hiddleson, Su
pervisor; Thomas Milnes, Clerk; Thomas Exley, Assessor aud Collector; Eli
Wick and William AVilson, Justices of the Peace; Commissioners of highways,
Eli Wick, William Aldritt and Robert Wallace; Constable, John McKinley.
Simon Stapleton and Joseph Milnes were afterwards appointed to the office of
Constable. The township was divided into four equal road districts, and Wesley
Robinson, David E. Brown, Richard Aldritt and W. P. Hiddleson, appointed
overseers. Richard Aldritt was appointed overseer of the poor. It was voted
that hogs should not run at large, and that a Pound should be provided, with
William Wilson as Pound Master. A lawful fence was defined to be five feet
high, with no space between boards of more than eight inches, except twelve
inches under the top rail or board, and fifteen inches at the bottom. In 1853 a
tax of $80,00 to pay township expenses for that and the preceding year was
voted. In 1854 $50,00 was voted for annual expenses. Town tax voted in 1855
— $75,00. A lawful fence was defined to be four and a half feet high with no
space between or under the rails larger than ten inches. Fifty-two votes were
polled. The Supervisor's office for 1855, becoming vacant, Thomas Milnes was
appointed Supervisor. Mr. Milnes dying soon after his appointment, the office
was then conferred upon William Wilson. Joseph Milnes was appointed Clerk
in the place of Thomas Milnes. In 1856 a tax of $200,00 was assessed for town-

HISTORY OF CLYDE TOWNSHIP. 143
ship purposes. Fifty-six votes were polled. In 1857 a fence four and a half
feet high of four rails or four poles was declared to be lawful. In 1858 $125,-
00 was voted for town expenses. In 1859 fifty-seven votes were pojled and $150,-
00 voted for township purposes. In 1860 sixty-three votes were polled, and
$200,00 voted for the annual township expenses. Appropriation for town ex
penses in 1861, $100,00; for 1862 the same amount. In 1863 a tax of
$100,00 was voted for township purposes, and $100 for building a bridge across
Rock creek near the west line of section 27. The town Auditors were asked
to levy a tax of $3.00,00 for the same bridge, and requested to lay the same be
fore the Board of Supervisors of the county. Fifty-one votes were polled. In
1864,104 votes were polled, and $100,00 appropriated for township expenses.
In 1865 it was voted to levy a tax of $300,00 to build a bridge across
Rock creek, near Hough's mill, also $100,00 for township purposes. In 1866
it was voted that the Supervisor be allowed one and a half per cent, on the amount
collected as a town bounty tax for 1865. Fifty dollars was voted to pay town
ship expenses in 1867. In 1869 a tax of $150,00 was voted to defray general
expenses of the town, and $150,00 for building a bridge across Rock creek be
tween sections one and twelve; also $400,00 to build a bridge on the road run
ning east and west past Steinmyer's mill. In 1870, 84 votes were polled, and
$150 voted for town expenses. In 1871 it was resolved that horses, mules, cat
tle, hogs, sheep and asses, should not be allowed to run at large. In 1873, $100,-
00 was voted for town purposes. The proposition to levy a tax of $300,00 to
build a bridge at Huffman's ford was lost. In 1874,-$200,00 was voted for town
ship purposes. In 1875, $250,00 was votedfor town expenses. In 1876, $250,-
00 was voted and 84 votes polled. In 1877, 94 votes were polled, and town ap
propriation placed at $250,00. Twenty-five cents was assessed upon each $100,-
00 of real estate and personal property for road purposes; also two day's labor
upon each man subject to road labor.
The following is a list of town officers from 1852 to date :
Supervisors: — 1852-53, Wm. P. Hiddleson; 1854, Joseph H. Brothwell;
1855, Benj. West, Thos. Milnes, Wm. Wilson; 1856, J. B. Van Court; 1857-
'58, Wm. P. Hiddleson; 1859-72, Richard Beswick; 1873-77, Joseph Milnes.
Town Clerks:— 1852-55, Thomas Milnes; 1855-63, Joseph Milnes; 1864,
J. B. Van Court; 1865-66, Joseph Milnes; 1867, P. J. Kennedy; 1868, W.
B. Roberts; 1869, Joseph Milness, 1870, Geo. F. Goodell; 1871-72, John B.
Piatt; 1873-74, Geo. W. Piatt; 1875, C. S. V. Millard; 1876-77, Geo. Jan-
vrin. Assessors: — 1852-'53, Thomas Exley, 1854, Zachariah Dent; 1855, Dan
iel Roberts; 1856-'57, Wm. P. Hiddleson; 1858-'62, Wm. B. Woolley; 1863-
70, Wm. P. Hiddleson; 1871, John S. Peck; 1872, Wm. B. Woolley; 1873-75,
John B. Piatt; 1876-77, R. M. Kennedy.
Collectors:— 1852-'53, Thos. Exley, 1854-'55, Joseph Milnes; 1856-
57, Thos, Exley, jr.; 1858, H. G. Salisbury; 1859, Lemuel P. Laybourne; 1860,
Joseph Wood; 1861, Howland Head; 1862, L. P. Laybourne; 1863, Benj. West;
1864, Wm. Roberts; 1865, Joseph Milnes; 1866, J. D. Law; 1 867, John Ken
nedy; 1868, W. P. Hiddleson; 1869, John B. Piatt; 1870-71, Frank Milnes;
1872, J. D. Law; 1873-75, Wm. Beswick; 1876, Frank Milnes; 1877, Wm.
Milnes. Justices of the Peace:— 1852, Eli Wick, Wm, Wilson; 1854, Wm. Wilson;
1856, Eli Wick; 1858, Wm. Wilson, William B. Woolley; 1860, Wm. Alldritt,
Wm. B. Woolley; 1864, J. B. Van Court, Wm. Alldritt; 1866, J. F. Demmon;
1868, Wm. Alldritt, J. S. Peck; 1869, Wm. B. Woolley; 1872, Wm. B, Wool-

144 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
ley, J. D. Law; 1873, Wm. B. Woolley, Geo. F. Goodell; 1875, A. A. James,
Chas. Demmon; 1876, Geo. Sawyer; 1877, Wm. D. Hayes, J. H. Carlton.
The books of the Assessor for 1877 present the following figures in regard
to Clyde township. Number of acres of improved land, 20,836; unimproved,
2,089; horses, 448; cattle, 1,141; mules and asses, 15; sheep, 113; hogs, 2,761;
carriages and wagons, 188; sewing and knitting machines, 71; melodeons, organs
and pianos, 23: assessed value of personal property, $57,381; assessed value of
all property, i?342, 1S5.
According to the census of 1870 the population of Clyde was 1,093, of
which number 884 were natives and 209 foreigners. At the Presidential elec
tion in November, 1S76, the township cast 146 votes. As nearly as can be
estimated without an actual enumeration, the population is now about 1,400.
Biographical.
The following, as near as we can ascertain, is a list of the pioneers of
Clyde township, they having settled within its limits previous to 1840: Sam
uel Wressell, Harmon Hopkins, John Hollinshead, Hugh Hollinshead, Henry
M. Daniel, Samuel Currie, Richard Beswick, William Wilson, Zachariah Dent,
Donald Blue, John Wilson, Butler E. Marble.
We present the following biographies:
Zachariah Dent was born in the village of Buckingham, Norfolk county,
England, July 26, 1806. In 1832 he settled in Canada, and clerked in a store
in New Market. He participated in the "Patriot War," and then left Canada
and settled in Clyde in June, 1839. He at that time bought the claim where
he now lives. The grove where he resides is known as " Dent's Grove." He
married Eunice Montgomery in 1843. She died in 1869. No children.
Henry W. Daniel was born in Norfolk county, England, and settled in
Canada. In 1838 he located in Clyde. Mr. Daniel married Lydia Hollins
head iu 1835. He was instrumental in the building and running of the mill
now known as "Brothwell's." It is said that a machine used in connection to
grind grain was stolen and carried off, a very extensive theft in those days.
Children: Robert, Hugh, Alfred, John, and Mary. John and Alfred are still
living upon the homestead. Robert is in Kansas City. Mary is in Iowa,
teaching school.
Samuel Currie was born August 15, 1810, in Roxburyshire, Scotland.
He, with his family, emigrated to Canada in 1829, and settled at a place called
York, near Toronto. He was engaged in the " Patriot War," and received a
wound which caused a permanent injury to his arm. In June, 1838, he came
to the United States, and settled in Clyde in 1839. He married. Jane Patrick,
June 15, 1833, in Canada. She died May 27, 1840. Mr. Currie was remarried
to Miss Julia Thomas. About twelve years ago Mr. Currie sold his farm in
Clyde, aud is now a resident of Morrison.
Richard Beswick was born in Yorkshire, England, September 12, 1810.
He emigrated to Canada in 1830, and followed the occupation of a farmer while
in that province. He was also a volunteer in the " Patriot War." In 1839 he
came to Clyde and settled on section 32 ; he remained there but a few months,
when he removed to section 30, where he has since resided. Mr. Beswick has
secured a fine property in Clyde, and has been well rewarded for the privations
of pioneer life. From 1859 to 1872, inclusive, he represented his township
upon the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Beswick married Miss Sarah Patrick,
near Toronto, Canada, in 1836. She died in 1844. In 1849 he married Mrs.
Anna E. Humphrey, of Fulton township, AVhiteside county. Children: Be
linda, born January 29, 1838 — married Richard Trye in 1860, and lives in Da-

HISTORY OF CLYDE TOWNSHIP. 145
kota; George R., born February 10, 1840 — died in the army at Rolla, Missouri,
January 18, 1862; William A., born January 1, 1850 — married Mary Wood,
January 1, 1875; Thomas L., November 15, 1852 — married Sarah Millard, De
cember 27, 1875; Lizzie, born March 31, 1855 — married William Milnes, Feb
ruary 4, 1875; Sarah A., born September 25, 1858 — died July 19, 1864; Carrie
E., born August 24, 1861. All the children reside in Clyde except Belinda.
Samuel Wressell was a native of Lincolnshire, England. After emi
grating, he first settled in Canada. In 1838 he located in Clyde township,
making his first claim on section 14. He afterwards took up the claim where
Mr. Z. Dent now lives, the latter gentleman paying $100 for it. Mr. W. died
at the age of eighty years. His wife died several years before him.
William Wilson was a Scotchman by birth. He first settled in Canada,
and became involved in the "Patriot War." He was taken prisoner, and ex
perienced the " pleasures of a Canada jail." In 1839 he settled in Clyde. He
was married in Canada. His wife died a number of years ago. When last
heard from Mr. Wilson was in California.
John Wilson was born February 9, 1812, in Renfrewshire, Scotland. He
emigrated from his native country in 1832. November 28, 1841, he was mar
ried to Jane Blue. In September, 1839, after the " Patriot War," in which he
was engaged, he came to Dent's Grove, in Clyde, and made his first claim on
section 17. He now has a fine farm on section 5. Children: Sarah, who mar
ried E. M. Bechtel; Thomas, who married Miss Elsey; John, who married Belle
Leggett; Alexander, who married Deborah Fletcher; Maggie, Kate, Lizzie, and
Charles — who all live in Clyde. Two children died in infancy.
Chester Millard was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, April
20, 1818. He first came west in the employ of S. M. Bowman, to attend the
mill in Jordan township, known as the "Wilson mill." This was in May, 1838.
In the fall he went to Milledgeville, and was employed in Knox's mill one year.
He then returned to the Wilson mill for seven months, and in 1839 assumed
the charge of the Cantrell mill, at Sterling, where he remained until 1842. He
then went to Pine Creek and worked in the Boardman mill until 1844. In
1847 he run Bryan's mill, where he continued until 1850, when he took charge
of the Brothwell mill, in Clyde, which he managed until 1867. Since then he
has conducted the Little Rock mill, owned by Joseph Milnes. Since the com
mencement of his apprenticeship, Mr. Millard has steadily followed milling —
over forty years. He married Anna Milnes, December 25, 1853. One child
was the fruit of the union, Sarah, now the wife of Thomas Beswick, whom she
married December 27, 1875.
Donald Blue was born in Argylshire, in the Highlands of Scotland, Jan
uary 18, 1799. He married Catharine McFarlain, January 15, 1815. She was
born January 1, 1801. Mr. and Mrs. Blue have lived together now over sixty-
two years. In March, 1820, Mr. Blue, with his family, emigrated to New
Brunswick, where he resided eight years, and then settled about thirty miles
from Toronto, Canada. After taking part in the " Patriot War" in Canada, in
1839 he settled and made a claim upon section 17, in Clyde. He was warned
to abandon. the claim, but replied to the committee that he was in peaceable
possession, and would hold it at all hazards. He was allowed to remain. In
1852 Mr. Blue went to California, where he remained three years, and then re
turned to his farm. For the past twelve years he has resided in Morrison.
Children: John, Jane (now Mrs. John Wilson), Alexander, Donald, Margaret,
Isabella, Charles, Catharine. Three children died in infancy; eleven children
in all. Charles and Alexander died upon the plains, from starvation, during
[iS-P.]

146 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
the Pike's Peak gold excitement in '59. John and Margaret died in Clyde in 183 9 .
Joseph Milnes was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, August 17, 1831, and
in 1842 came with his father's family to Clyde, where he has since resided. On
the 8th of March, 1860, he married Miss Jennie Mason, of Chicago. Their
children are: Thomas H, born March 25, 1861; Lizzie M., born April 12, 1862;
George S., born July 10, 1864; and Cora A., born April 18, 1866. Mr. Milnes
has held the position of Town Clerk of Clyde township for twelve years, Col
lector three years, and has been annually elected Supervisor of the township
since 1873. These public positions so repeatedly bestowed, show the high esti
mation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. During his residence in
Clyde he has accumulated a valuable property, lying in sections 21, 27, and 28.
As a member of the Board of Supervisors, he is active and vigilant in the dis
charge of his duties, and brings to the position a sound judgment, and an intel
ligent understanding of the needs of the county.
John Alldritt is a native of Armitage, Staffordshire, England, and was
born April 24, 1 814. While quite young he came with his parents to Lowell,
Massachusetts, where he remained until May, 1846, when he came to and set
tled in Clyde, Whiteside county. Mr. Alldritt married Miss Nancy Kingsley,
at Lowell, Massachusetts, in May, 1846. Mrs. Alldritt was born at Athens,
Summerset county, Maine, November 16, 1817. The children of this union
are: Ann, born February 23, 1847, now married; Mary, born May 16, 1849;
Thomas Jackson, born October 19, 1851; Isaac, born April 1, 1854; and John
Henry, born December 10, 1856. All the children live in Clyde.
Richard Alldritt was born at Armitage, Staffordshire, England, January
4, 1819. He came to America at the same time with his brother John, and
lived at Lowell, Massachusetts, until 1844, when he moved to Clyde, in this
county. Mr. Alldritt married Miss Orrilla P. Bosley, a native of Farmington,
Trumbull county, Ohio, on the 31st of December, 1848. The children of this
marriage have been: Emily C.,born January 17, 1850; Albert. October 5, 1851;
.Lucy A., August 11, 1853; Edward, June 2, 1858; Alonzo E., July 6, 1860;
Henry R, March 31, 1863; Orrilla B., April 9, 1865; Benjamin F., January 22,
1867. Of these, Lucy A. died September 14, 1859, and Edward, September 17,
1859. Mrs. Alldritt died March 21, 1875, aged nearly 47 years. Albert lives
in Friendville, Saline county, Nebraska, and the rest in Clyde.
William Alldritt was born October 6, 1824, in Braidley, Staffordshire,
England, and also came to Lowell, Massachusetts, with the rest of the family,
when quite young. In May, 1845, he settled in Clyde, and was married in that
township to Miss Mary C. Griffin, his first wife, in January, 1856. She died,
and in 1860 he married his second wife, Miss Julia A. Hiner. His children
have been: Charles J., born May, 1864; William R., born June, 1866; Benja
min F., born August, 1868; and Nathan G., born July, 1870; all of whom live
in Clyde. Mr. Alldritt has been Justice of the Peace of the township.
Thomas Alldritt is a native of Lowell, Massachusetts, and was bom Au
gust 27, 1831. His early years were passed in Lowell, and in May, 1845, came
to Clyde. He was married in that township to Miss Lavinia T. Heacoek, on the
13th of January, 1858, the children of this marriage being: Emma A, born Au
gust 13, 1859; Annie E., born May 9, 1862; Delbert T., born December 6, 1864,
and Samuel D., born February 22, 1868.
Wesley Robinson is one of the early residents of the county; Benjamin
West has been Supervisor of the township; J. F. Demmon is the largest farmer
in Clyde, and these, with A. Pcjddifoot, James and Simon Stapleton, Wm. J.
Trye, J. Wood, Fred. Wood, W. W. Horning, John Platt, and R. M. Ken
nedy, are among the active, influential citizens and farmers of the township.

CHAPTER VIII.
History of Erie Township — Biographical — History of Erie Village-
Churches and Societies.

History of Erie Township.
The township of Erie was formed from Erie Precinct under the Township
Organization Laws in 1852, and contains 14,392 acres. The village of Erie,
within the township, contains 195 lots. The township upon the south and east
is skirted by Rock river, the borders of the stream being fringed by timber of
a fine quality. The land is usually savanna, which by drainage is being rap
idly reclaimed, and is of unexhaustible fertility. Within the borders of the
township is a large body of sandy land, portions of which is not valuable
for agricultural purposes. Rock Island county borders the township on the
west and Newton and Fenton townships on the north. Erie Lake, a consider
able sheet of water, as fair as a picture, lies just north of the village of Erie.
Wells of living water are easily obtained.
The farmers of the township are principally engaged iu stock raising. The
luxuriant growth of grass making the breeding of cattle a desirable occupation.
Heavy crops of corn are also produced, and large quantities of pork. The
yield of cheese and butter is also considerable.
The first settlement made in the territory now Erie, was by Lewis D.
Crandall, Peter Gile and Mr. Hunt, in the fall of 1835. Mr. Crandall located
upon Section 18. The first farming done in the township was doubtless by him.
A large proportion of early settlers of Erie were from Erie county, N. Y., on
Lake Erie, and the name of the lake that washed the shores of their home
county was transferred to the fine body of water near their new homes.
Naturally and properly the Precinct when organized became Erie, which name
descended to the present township.
The following is a list of the first settlers of Erie and their nativity,
being as nearly complete as can be secured from memory. None are intended to
be enumerated who settled after 1840: John Freek, England; Joseph Fenton,
David Hunt, N. J.; George, Henry and Harvey Steele, Conn.; Peter Gile, Lewis
D., John and L. Crandall, Orville and Alvin Brooks, Wm. Teats, James
Hamilton, Charles R. Coburn, Samuel Carr, N. Y.; Arthur Putney, Ernest
Warner, Mass. Mr. Fenton is classed a settler of Erie, but more properly
belongs to Fenton, as very soon after locating in Erie he removed across the
line into what is now Fenton township. A biographcial sketch of him will
appear in the history of that township.
Erie Precinct was established by order of Commissioners' Court, December
1, 1844. The territory was formerly embraced in Lyndon and Albany Precincts,
The boundaries of Erie Precinct are described on the books of the County Com
missioners as follows: "Commencing at the town line in town 20 north, range
4 east 4th Principal Meridian, at the southeast corner of section 37, running
north to the northeast corner of section 15; thence west to the northwest
corner of section 14, township 20 north, range 4 east; thence south to the town-

148 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
ship line, thence west to the county line; thence to Rock river; thence up
said river to the place of beginning." This Precinct included all the present
township of Erie and portions of Newton and Fenton townships. When the
question "for" or "against township organization" was voted upon, November
4, 1851, Erie was one of two precincts to vote "against organization," casting
eleven votes "for" and seventeen "against."
Mr. Alvin Brooks, now of Clyde, Kansas, one of the original settlers of
Erie township, furnishes the following in regard to the early settlement of
Erie. His statements are confirmed by the surviving pioneers of Erie town
ship. He says: "The first man who crossed the river to make a claim com
menced cutting timber to erect a cabin and was frightened away by the Indians.
He was next followed by Lewis D. Crandall, Mr. Hunt and Peter Gile. Hunt
made a claim of the grove three miles below Erie, known as "Hunts' Grove."
Messrs. Crandall and Gile selecting the Erie Grove, Crandall choosing the
lower half and Gile the upper. The three men put up a cabin for Mr. Hunt,
it being the first house of any kind between Lyndon and the Marias De Ogee.
[This was in the Autumn of 1835.] Soon after, Mr. Gile went to work, being
anxious to complete his cabin so that his family could be with him, he in the
meantime boarding with Mr. Hunt. Giles' cabin was about 10x12, built on the
bank of the slough, under a spreading oak. The material used was of the
roughest, and the cabin most rudely built. Upon the completion of his dom
icile, Mr. Gile, accompanied by L. D. Crandall, started for Dixon to receive his
family and goods, having two canoes lashed together. The difficulty of rowing
against the "current to Dixon being at length overcome, the family — consisting
of Mrs. Gile and two children — and the goods were embarked and the voyagers
started upon their return. Their destination was almost reached, when night
having fallen, the canoes ran into a tree top and were overturned. The youngest
child was drowned. [Other settlers, in speaking of this incident, say dry
goods boxes were lashed between the boats, one of which floated away with two
children, whom Mr. Crandall found upon his return asleep in the box which was
drifting with the current.] Mr. and Mrs. Gile and Crandall saved themselves
by clinging to the branches of the tree in a half drowned and chilled condition.
Only Mr. Crandall could swim, and he resolutely set about swimming to the shore,
to a point from which he must travel several miles for a boat to remove the
other survivors. Every hour of his absence seemed a day to the sufferers in
the tree top, but at length he came, and the family were removed and taken to
the cabin. In the morning the body of the drowned child was rescued and
buried. Part of the goods were recovered, but the precious iron, as harrow
teeth and chains, probably lie at the bottom of the river to this day. Mrs. Gile
had but recently recovered from the measles, and her terrible experience of the
night threw her into a fever. There were no sympathetic neighbors nor phy
sician to assist or prescribe in her time of need. Her husband cared for her as
best he could, but in a few days death removed her from her trials and
suffering. Mr. Gile then taking his orphaned boy upon his back traveled about
five miles where he found assistance, and sent for Mrs. Cushman, who then
lived two miles west of Sharon. She came, and with her two other women, to
prepare the corpse for interment. A shroud was cutout, and then it was found
that no needle could be procured, but the best preparations possible were made
and the body was buried in the southeast corner of what is now Esquire
AYeaver's orchard — at that time prairie. Soon after this John Freek, Joseph
Fenton, Orville Brooks and AVm. P. Teats made claims. Mr. 0. Brooks built
the first house in the now village of Erie. His wife for three months did not
see the face of a white woman. I came to Erie in the fall of 1837. There

HISTORY OF ERIE TOWNSHIP. 149
was then three houses in Erie. George and Henry Steele came the same fall.
Samuel Carr had settled the year previous. Prior to this year, the nearest
postoffice had been at Dixon, but then one was established at Prophetstown. I
visited the Prophetstown postoffice about three months after I had been in the
country, and received two letters from friends for whieh I paid fifty cents.
The next spring, when five families had come in, a log school house was built
without bonds or subscription. A teacher was employed — Polly Ann Sprague,
afterwards Mrs. Reuben Hurd. She was the first teacher in Erie. My wife
died in the fall of 1840. and was the first person interred in the Erie Cemetery."
The second school teacher in Erie was Mr. Horace Cole. In 1840 a post-
office was kept at Crandall's Ferry by Lewis D. Crandall. He had charge of
the office until 1848 when Mr. L. Crandall became postmaster. In 1849 he
was succeeded by Judge C. C. Teats, and the office was removed to Erie village.
The sand burs now so common upon the sandy land of Erie, are "old
settlers," but strangely enough did not appear until some time after settlements
had been made. When the peculiar grass that bears the burs Was first seen the
settlers cherished it, presuming it might prove of value, but all familiar with
a sand bur will appreciate their mistake.
The settlers of Erie were very soon provided with religious instruction.
The mission preachers soon sought out the new settlement. Elder Carpenter,
a Baptist, preached at Crandall's house as soon as 1838, J. C. Hubbart stating
that he heard him at that time. The same minister preached the funeral
sermon of Mr. Hubbarts' mother at the Hamilton school house, in Lyndon, in
1839. He also preached in Arthur Putney's house. The Methodist minis
ters early made their appearance and in 1839 regular services were enjoyed by
this denomination. The first marriage in Erie was that of Oliver Olmstead and Electa Hunt,
and the next was that of James Hamilton and Lucinda Crandall.
The first white child born in Erie was Harriet Coburn, though many per
sons claim that Alfred Fenton was the first,. yet from the best evidence it
would appear that Mr. Fenton was over the line in Fenton township.
Among the early settlers of Erie was James Cassen, who traded a watch
to Levi Fuller, now of Erie, for a claim. Mr. Cassen returned to the east and
not coming back the claim was taken by David Martin. Claim jumping was
frequent in Erie, and a committee existed to regulate the matter. At the time
there was much bitterness, and in the neighborhood wars property was some
times destroyed, but at last the differences were adjusted, and now are only
remembered as incidents of pioneer life.
In 1844 a destructive tornado swept across Erie, the whirlwind having
crossed the Mississippi, pursuing a southeasterly direction. No lives were lost
in Erie, but several persons were killed in other parts of the county. Large
trees were twisted off like pipe stems, cattle blown a considerable distance, and
farm utensils and household furniture transported and never recovered. It is
said when the hurricane passed over the river the water was parted like the Red
Sea of old, and. fish and shells were afterwards found that had been carried some
distance out on land.
During the civil war Erie made a splendid record. With a voting popula
tion never to exceed 120 previous to the war, the town in August, 1862, had sent
70 men to the field. This fact was published in the Whiteside Sentinel of Au
gust 28, 1862. Mr. Samuel Orcutt, a soldier of the 75th Illinois regiment, from
memory recalls the names of 85 men from the township. Doubtless others vol
unteered later, which with re-enlistments would greatly swell the number. Seven
commissioned officers went from the town : F. A. Harrington, Colonel of the

150 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
27th Illinois, killed at Stone River; A. B. Seger, Captain company I, 75th Illi
nois, died of disease; Sherman Ferson, Surgeon 74th Illinois — killed in railroad
disaster in Tennessee; Thomas Maloy, Captain in 54th Illinois — killed at Mobile;
L. E. Chubbuck, Lieutenant company I, 75th Illinois; Thomas Rhodes and John
Rhodes, captains in United States colored regiments. A number of soldiers from
Erie were killed in action or died of wounds and disease, while a number
of the citizens of the town bear honorable scars made in the line of duty. Large
sums of money were raised by the citizens of the township to pay the heavy
bounties and otherwise assist in prosecuting the war.
In accordance with the act of 1851, and in pursuance of vote of the Pre-
cints of Whiteside county, Erie township was organized in 1852 and defined by
the Commissioners to divide the county into townships as "all of town 19 north,
range 4 east of the 4th Principal Meridian north of Rock river; and also all of
town 19 north, range 3 east of the 4th Principal Meridian, north of Rock river."
The first annual town meeting was held April 6, 1852, at the Erie school house,
James Early, Moderator, and Addison Farrington, Clerk. The voters were W.
W. Hubbart, N. K. Chapman, Daniel Morehouse, Charles R. Coburn, Charles W.
Case, Alvin Brooks, John Freek. M. G. Wonser, A. J. Osborne, Frank Campbell,
J. B. Goodrich, James McMillen, Nelson L. Rouse, Thomas Freek, A. Broad-
well, James Hamilton, Samuel D. Carr, George Steele, John McLay, John Pink-
ney, James Earley, C. C. Teats, A. Farrington, Thomas J. Phillips, Abner Bull,
Alfred AVood, L. Crandall, Hervey Steele, Orville Brooks. The following
officers were elected : Supervisor, Charles R. Coburn; Town Clerk, A. Farring
ton; Assessor, M. G. Wonser; Collector, James McMillin; Justice of the Peace,
Orville Brooks; Overseer of the Poor, John Freek; Commissioners of High
ways, James Earley, N. K. Chapman, L. Crandall; Constable, James McMil
lin; Overseers of Highways, Alfred Wood, T. J. Phillips.
The proceedings of the meeting were certified to by M. G. Wonser, an act
ing Justice of the Peace. The Commissioners of Highways met April 22, 1852,
and divided the township into two road districts, and defined them as follows :*"
All roads lying north of the north line of section 18 in Congressional township
19 north, of range 4 east, extending on said north line pf said section running
east to Rock river, and west to the Marias DeOgee, shall comprise district No.
one; and all roads lying south of said line in said township shall comprise dis
trict No. two.
At the second annual town meeting it was decided by vote that "every man
should be his own pound master;" also "that hogs taken up shall be proceeded
with as in Constable's Sales." Twenty-two votes were cast, and the appropria
tion for township expenses fixed at $25,00. In 1854, 39 votes were cast and
laws adopted regulating stock running at large. In 1855, 53 votes were polled,
and a lawful fence defined as "three boards, the fence four and a half feet high.
If of rails to number four, the lower to be not more than eighteen inches from
the ground, the top rail to be not less than four and a half feet from the ground."
It was also resolved "that each man should be fined $1,00 per head for each hog
allowed to run at large." In 1857, 62 votes were polled and a resolution adop
ted to raise $100,00 to refund money subscribed by certain persons to build the
Rock creek bridge. In 1858 the hog law was re-enacted and it was decided that
sheep should not run at large; $125,00 was voted for township expenses; num
ber of votes cast, 99. In 1860 it was resolved that bulls be free commoners,
and "that line fences be sufficiently built to protect hogs and sheep." A special
meeting was held the same year when Ralph Sage was elected Supervisor, and
James Collins, Justice of the Peace. In 1861, 109 votes were cast, and at a
special election the same year C. C. Teats was elected Supervisor. Votes of

BIOGRAPHICAL. 151
1866, 125; of 1870, 132. It was decided by vote in 1873 to build a town hall,
and in pursuance thereof a substantial frame building was erected.
Supervisors:— 1852, Charles R. Coburn; 1853-54, C. C. Teats; 1855, T.
B. Whipple; 1856-'57, Ralph Sage; 1858-'60, A. Farrington; 1861, F. A. Har
rington; 1862, C. C. Teats; 1863-'64, Wm. H. Allen; 1865, Thomas Freek;
1866, Samuel Orcutt; 1867, Thomas Freek; 1868-69, William H. Allen;
1870-71, A. M. Earley; 1872-73, C. C. Teats; 1874, M. H. Seger; 1875-77,
William H. Allen.
Town Clerks:— 1852-'54, A. Farrington; 1855, L. Barnum; 1856, M. G.
Wonser; 1857-59, Samuel Gordon; 1860, James Collins; 1861-62, L. Barnum;
1863, Porteus Barnum; 1864, 0. M. Crary; 1865, W. R. Davis; 1866, Seneca
Teats; 1867-'69, James 0. Brooks; 1870-74, H. K. Wells; 1875-77, L. E.
Matthews. Assessors:— 1852, M. G. Wonser; 1853, A. J. Osborne; 1854, D. B. Hen-
wood; 1855, A. J. Osborne; 1856, James C. Hubbart; 1857-58, L. Barnum;
1859-62, James Collins; 1863, George Paddock; 1864, James Collins; 1865
-'66, George Paddock; 1867, John Freek; 1868-69, John D. Fenton; 1870-73,
A. W. Capen; 1874-76, John D. Fenton; 1877, O. H Steele.
Collectors:— 1852-53, James McMillen; 1854, N. K. Chapman; 1855, A.
E.Thomas; 1856, James McMillen; 1857, B.F. Hubbart; 1858, William Frink;
1859, A. A. Matthews; 1860, Samuel Orcutt; 1861-62, Daniel Schryver; 1863,
Henry Paddock; 1864, Alexander Johnson; 1865, John D. Fenton; 1866, Alex
ander Johnson; 1867, Charles Smith; 1868-70, L. E. Matthews; 1871, A. M.'
Crary; 1872, L. E. Matthews; 1873-74, H. C. Fenton; 1875, O. S. Martin;
1876-77, G. G. Matthews.
. Justices of the Peace: — 1852, Orville Brooks; 1853, A. Farrington, M. G.
Wonser; 1854, A. Farrington, L. CrandaU; 1857, James Collins; 1858, A. Far
rington, Joseph Weaver; 1862, William H. Allen; 1864, Joseph Weaver, Wil
liam H. Allen; 1865, Samuel Orcutt; 1868, Samuel Orcutt, John Freek; 1873,
J. D. Fenton, M. H. Seger; 1877, M. H. Seger, Samuel Orcutt.
The population of Erie in 1870 was 695, and is, in 1877, estimated at 900.
The vote of the township in November, 1876, was 165. The Assessor's book
for 1877 shows 3,294 acres of improved land, and 11,098 acres unimproved. In
the village of Erie 195 lots are enumerated. Number of horses in township,
276; cattle, 927; mules, 22; sheep, 96; hogs, 990; wagons and carriages, 95;
sewing and knitting machines, 76; pianos, organs, and melodeons, 24. The
assessed value of the property for 1877, is $198,447.
Biographical.
Lewis D. Crandall was born in Erie county, New York, in 1816, and
settled in Erie in the fall of 1835, on section 18. In 1837, he establishod the
ferry still known as " Crandall's Ferry," it being one of the first on Rock river
below Dixon. Mr. Crandall was Sheriff of Whiteside county one term, and was
also engaged in business at Portland with Mr. Sol. Seely. He was also editor
and proprietor of the Sterling Times, now Gazette. His wife's maiden name
was Phebe Hunt. She died several years previous to Mr. Crandall, whose death
occurred in 1860.
Lafayette Crandall is a native of the town of Collins, Erie county,
New York, and was born on the 9th of April, 1822. He came to Illinois in
1835, and located first at Grand DeTour, then in Jo Daviess" county, now in Ogle,
where he remained until 1837, when he settled at Crandall's ferry, in the pres
ent township of Erie, his farm lying in section 18. On the 10th of February, 1847,
he was married in Portland township to Miss Lovina Rowe, the children of the

152 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
marriage being the following: Francis Marion, born April 27, 1849; Ida E.,
bom March 6, 1853; Alice A., born November 12, 1857; and George W., born
September 15, 1863. These children are all residing with their parents. Mr.
Crandall is one of the successful farmers of Erie. He has been Justice of the
Peace of the town, and is a member of the Executive Committee of the White
side County CentralAgricultural Society.
Samuel Carr was born in Vermont, May 27, 1815. Married Elizabeth
Emmins, February 22, 1843. He died June 22, 1861. Mrs. Carr married Mr.
James Collins. Samuel Carr settled in Erie in 1836. He commenced keeping
a "hotel" in a log cabin in 1843, when the Frink & Walker Stage Line was
carrying passengers and the mails. The " hotel" stood near the site of the pres
ent St. Nicholas House.
Arthur Putney was born in Goshen, Massachusetts, in 1799. While in
Massachusetts he was proprietor of the "Oldtown Stage Route." In 1831 he
was married to Lucinda Wood. In 1837 Mr. Putney settled in Erie. He was
one of the first Justices of the Peace in the new settlement; his death occurred
in 1842. His widow, now Mrs. N. K. Chapman, still resides in Erie, one of the
three oldest settlers remaining. The first bread she ate after her arrival in
Erie was made from green corn grated by hand. N. K. Chapman was one of
the first drivers on the Frink & Walker Stage Line.
Harvey Steele and his wife still reside in Erie, where they settled in
1836. Mr. Steele was born in New Hartford, Connecticut, in 1808. When a
young man he belonged to the ranks of the irrepressible and energetic " Yankee
peddlers," and sold clocks in New England and the British Provinces. Mr.
Steele was married to Elizabeth C. Wood, in July, 1841.
George Steele was born in New Hartford, Connecticut, in 1800; was
married, in 1832, to Miss Mary Ann Pingree, of Nova Scotia. Mr. Steele died
December 10, 1871. Mrs. Steele still survives, and is now one of the oldest re
maining settlers of Erie township. She has a vivid recollection of the pioneer
days. Mr. Steele was a peddler in his younger days, and sold clocks to the New
Englanders and Nova Scotia people. Judge Halliburton, the author of the fa
mous satire, "Sam Slick," spent many days riding on Mr. Steele's wagon, glean
ing from him incidents of his peddler's life, which he wove into his book.
Charles R. Coburn settled in Erie in 1839. He was born in Broome
county, New York, in 1804; married Hannah Maxwell in 1827. Mrs. Coburn
died in 1860; Mr. Coburn in 1865.
John Freek was bom in Yorkshire, England, in 1806; emigrated to Amer
ica in 1830, and settled at Geneva, N. Y., but subsequently went to New Jer
sey, where he was married. In October, 1835, he settled in Erie, with his
brother-in-law, Joseph Fenton. Their settlement was near the present town
line. He was instrumental in establishing religious services and Sunday schools
in Erie and Newton townships, and did much to develop the new country which
he found a wilderness upon his advent here forty-two years ago. His family
experienced the privations of pioneer life, having gone to bed after making a
meal of stewed pumpkins, their only food. The early settlers of Erie found
many Indians, but they were friendly, and traded with the settlers fish and
game. With the exception of their thievish habits, the Indians were not bad
neighbors. In 1875 Mr. Freek emigrated to Kansas, where he now resides.
Children: William, born March 10, 1834— died December 13, 1859; John, jr.,
born in Erie in 1837— resides in Kansas; Samuel, born January 13, 1839— died
January 17, 1860; Ann, born July 4, 1843— married Joseph Guthrie; Thomas
E., who was in the 8th Illinois cavalry regiment — died January 15, 1865.

HISTORY OF ERIE VILLAGE. 153
James 0- Hubbart is a native of the town of Sanford, Broome county,
New York, and was born October 12, 1822. In May, 1837, he started with his
parents for the then far West, stopping for nearly a year in Michigan, and on
the 20th of February, 1838, arrived at Lyndon, Whiteside county. The family
remained here only about four weeks, and then moved to a place half a mile east
of the present city of Morrison, finally locating on Delhi prairie, in Union Grove
township. ¦ Mr. Hubbart remained on the farm in Union Grove until the death
of his father in 1842, when he spent the following three years in traveling
through Wisconsin and New York States, and returned in August, 1845, again
taking possession of the farm. In 1855 he sold the farm, and purchased an
other in Erie township to which he removed and upon which he has continued
to reside since. October 14, 1855, he married Miss Mariah L. Putney, at Erie,
the following being the children of this union : Mary J, born February 15,
1857; Luella May, born June 22, 1861, and James, born February 11, 1866.
Mr. Hubbart is an active go-a-head business man, and to him the village of Erie
is indebted for the erection of a grist mill in 1870, store in 1871, and cheese
factory in 1873. He ran the store, keeping it stocked with goods, until 1877.
A few such men only are needed to build up a town — men who do not hold back
but push forward every enterprise that will aid the growth and prosperity of
the place. History of Erie Village.
The land upon which the village of Erie stands was entered by James Mc
Millen about 1850, and the old section of the town was laid out soon after
wards by Samuel Carr, M. G. Wonser, James McMillen, and George Marks.
Previous to the laying out pf the town there were several log cabins on the
site, among them the Brooks', Carr's tavern, and a school house. In addition it is
stated that on the present town site and the neighborhood, George, Henry, and
Harvey Steele, James Early, E. Warner, John Freek, A. Putney, Charles R.
Coburn, and William Teats had residences. The regular trips of the Rock
Island and Dixon stages enlivened the new village. About 1849-50 the post-
office was removed from Crandall's Ferry to the village, with C. C. Teats, Post
master. M. G. Wonser started the first store, he having a general assortment;
although it is represented that about the same time, or before, a man by the
name of L. Higley offered a small stock of notions for sale. Dr. Grover, now a
merchant in Erie, came next year with a considerable stock of goods. Wonser's
store, also used for a dwelling house, was the first frame building in the village;
the log hotel was next supplanted by a frame building. Frame structures were
next erected by Charles Coburn, Tyler Whipple, and Hiram Harmon. The first
church edifice was built by the United Brethren in 1854. Henry Bolton
started a blacksmith shop in 1850. C. C. Teats was the first lawyer, and Dr.
Fetters the first resident physician, he locating in 1849 or '50. Dr. Lord was
in Erie in 1852.
A. lively interest was taken in schools and churches, business increased,
and the town grew steadily until railroads began to multiply, running to other
towns in the county, Erie having none. In 1857-58 the Sterling and Rock
Island Railroad was projected, and graded in the latter year. There was much
excitement, and (Selling lots in Erie became an important business. Everybody
talked real estate and comer lots, and upon certain days lot sales were made. ,
The farmers along the line mortgaged their property to build the road, and all
were sanguine; but, like many other promising enterprises, the end was failure,
and ruin was the portion of many who generously and confidently gave mort
gages to assist in building the road. The bed was graded for a considerable
l'9-QJ

154 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
distance, and then the matter ended and Erie did not advance; but in 1869 the
desire of the village was gratified, for January 20th of that year the locomotive
steamed into Erie upon the Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis Railroad.
The town at once took a new lease of life, and general activity took the place
of apathy. Business houses began to multiply, and the trade of the wealthy
surrounding farming country that had gone elsewhere began to pour into Erie,
since which time the place has had a steady and substantial growth.
The first saw mill was built in Erie in 1855 by A. J. Osborne and Fain
Thompson; the mill was run by steam power. The first steam flouring mill
was erected and run by Simonson & Ritchie in 1868. The present grist mill
was put up by J. C. Hubbart in 1871. An excellent cheese factory was built
in 1873 by the same gentlemen. It is now managed by Robert Shelletto, and
does a good business.
The following is a list of business houses, etc., in Erie:
Three general stores, two hardware stores, two drug stores, two manufac
turers and dealers in boots and shoes, one furniture store, two hotels, two
saloons, one meat market, two harness shops, five millinery and dress-making
establishments, two grain elevators, one cheese factory, one steam flouring mill,
two livery stables, one barber shop, one cooper shop, two blacksmith shops, two
wagon shops, three carpenter shops, two paint shops, one windmill manufactory,
one agricultural implement house, two pump dealers, one photograph gallery,
one florist, two lawyers, three physicians, three churches, one Masonic lodge,
one- division of the Sons of Temperance.
Erie has also a fine public school of three departments — M. H. Hanna,
Principal. The best of teachers are employed; a lively interest is taken by the
citizens in the school, and by these combined influences the rising generation
of Erie and vicinity is afforded unusual advantages for acquiring an education.
Until 1872 Erie was not incorporated, but in that year the village incor
porated under an act of the Legislature, approved April 10, 1872. July 31,
1872, a number of the citizens of Erie presented a petition to Wm. Lane, Judge
of the County Court, praying that the village be incorporated, and August 20,
1872, an election was held to vote upon the question of incorporation, at which
53 votes were cast " for" and 21 " against." September 17, 1872, an election
was held, when six trustees were elected, viz: A. J. Osborne, James Collins,
John D. Fenton, Joseph Grover, W. L. Mitchell and M. S. Johnson. Since
organization the question of "license" or "no license" for saloons has annually
been the issue, as in other towns. At present licenses are granted to saloons
upon payment of $300.00. Churches and Societies.
Baptist Society: — The Baptist Church of Erie was not formally organized
until March 24, 1854, although Elder Carpenter preached in Erie prior to 1840;
but until the church organization the people of that denomination had worshiped
at other points, and with other churches in their own town, receiving an occa
sional supply. The council met March 25, 1854, Rev. Wm. Rutledge, modera
tor, and Rev. J. Van Vleck, clerk. The Baptist Church of Erie was formally
recognized the next day. Rev. L. L. Lansing, as the first pastor, served the
church one year; the church has since been supplied by Revs. Smith, Terwijli-
ger, Carpenter, Roney, Barden, Stott, Hanna, Burnham, and j Geo. H. Brown,
the present pastor. In 1869-70 a comfortable and pleasant house of worship
was erected, which was dedicated May 8, 1870. The present membership is
about 80.
Methodist Episcopal Society: — The Methodist Church of Erie has long
had an existence, dating back to 1839, when the first, regular preaching was

CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES. 155
commenced by Rev. Norris Hobart. Very soon after a SundayJjSchool was or
ganized with John Freek, Superintendent. Prior to that time the handful of
believers had enjoyed occasional services from the missionary preachers who tra
versed the new country. Thos. Freek, now residing near Erie, remembers the
following persons as composing the first class: John Freek and wife, Mrs. Hunt,
A. Brooks and wife, and Mrs. James Early. Among the first preachers he men
tions McMurtay, Kirkpatrick, Buck, Stuff, Campbell, McKean, Cartwright and
Philleo. Services were held in the old log school house. Since the first feeble
start the Methodist Church, has steadily grown, and now has a comfortable
church edifice, a membership of nearly 100, and a flourishing Sunday School.
A portion of the history of the Erie church, and the name of ministers who sup
plied the people, will be found in the history of the Methodist church of
Morrison, as Erie and Union Grove, formerly Morrison church, were long in
the same circuit
Sons of Temperance: — Erie Division, No. 999, Sons of Temperance, was
organized January 5, 1875, with 38 members. A. M. Early, W. P., Luther E.
Matthews, D. G. W. P. The Division has met with varying fortunes, but at
present is on a substantial footing and doing an earnest work in its proper field.
August 1, 1877, the membership was 100. In connection there is a Band of
Hope, No. 60, numbering over 100 members, and rapidly increasing in member
ship. Masonic Lodge: — Erie Lodge No. 667, A. F. and A. M., was instituted
October 18, 1870. Charter members: Benj. West, R. L. Burchell, A. M. Early,
S. C. Teats, Arthur McLane, C. C. Teats, C. M. Teats, J. A. Meighan, J. Meeks,
A. M. Crary, W. R. Davis, H. K. Wells, R. Sage, C. C. Smith, J. F. Dickinson,
P. Brake, A. Huffman. First officers: A. M. Crary, W. M.; B. West, S. W.; A.
McLane, J. W.; R. L. Burchell, Treasurer; H. K. Wells, Secretary; S. C. Teats,
S. D.; CM Teats, J. D.; W. R. Davis, Tyler. The lodge numbers 40 members,
and has lately incorporated under the State law, and purchased a substantial
hall. Present officers: Samuel Orcutt, W. M.; O. S. Martin, S. W.; Wm.
Ritchie, J. W.; A.- S. Round, Treasurer; G. G. Martin, Secretary; J. L. W.
Grover, S. D.; Geo. Fadden, J. D; W. R. Davis, Tyler.

CHAPTEE IX.
History of Fulton Township — History of the City of Fulton — News
papers — Churches and Other Organizations — Biographical.

History of Fulton Township.
Fulton was originally a part of Albany Precinct, and afterwards cre
ated a Precinct by itself, and so remained until 1852, when it was made a town
ship by the Commissioners appointed by the County Commissioners' Court. It
is described as fractional township 22 north of the base line of range 3 east of
the 4th Principal Meridian. Where a part of the city of Fulton stands, and
for a short distance to the north and northeast of it, the land is made up of
high bluffs, overlooking the river on one side and a wide expanse of country on
the other. The balance of the town is low land, and a part of it, lying along
the Cattail creek, subject to overflow during times of high water in the river.
Most of this land, however, is very fertile, and in favorable seasons large crops
are raised upon it. Some of the land, also, in the east and south parts of the
town is sandy. The township includes a portion of the large island north of
the city. Considerable quantities of wood are yet cut on this island, and
brought down to the city and sold. Besides the great river which bounds it on
the west, the town is watered by the Cattail and Otter creeks. Both city and
township are also supplied with abundance of excellent wells. In the northern
part of the city are some large quarries, from which an excellent quality of
stone for building and other purposes is taken. The bluffs in the eastern and
northern parts of the city also contain lead, but in rather limited quantities.
When the town was first settled there were evidences of works having been
used by the Indians for smelting the lead ore. A row of red cedar posts was also
found extending from the river bank, at the street now known as Ferry street,
all the way over the bluffs to the location of the present bridge over the Cattail
creek. These posts were from twelve to fourteen feet high. Their uses are
not known. The smelting furnaces just spoken of were situated in a slight
depression of land in the northern part of the present city of Fulton, about
two hundred rods from the river, and were made by excavating the ground about
six feet from the common surface. They were filled up when first discovered,
but upon the ground being removed large quantities of smelted lead and lead
ore in the natural state were found, besides Indian relics, such as spear heads,
rude knives, battle axes, and several brass pots. The land sloping south was
found to have been Indian corn fields, and the whole surface dotted with tumuli
made by the squaws, in which the corn was grown. Evidences of an Indian
town occupying the site of the present city of Fulton were also found, and from
the great number of them it is conjectured that the town was one of considera
ble size. The Narrows appeared to have been a favorite crossing-place for the
Aborigines. Leading to the river from the eastward was a path which had been
worn to the depth of two or three feet by the ponies. There were quite a large
number of Indians of the Winnebago, Pottawottamie and Fox tribes remaining
in and around Fulton when the early settlers came in, who mingled freely with
them. The Cattail slough was a great hunting ground for furs, and in the

HISTORY OF FULTON TOWNSHIP. 157
proper season the Indians would pitch their tents wherever they chose, over
this ground, and hunt and trap the fur-bearing animals. They were not troub
lesome to the settlers.
Some years ago the latitude and longitude of Fulton was taken by James
Haun, United States Government Surveyor. The place was found to be in lat
itude 41 deg., 52 min., 3 sec. north, and longitude 90 deg., 11 min., 3 sec. west
of Greenwich. The first settler in Fulton, and consequently father of the place, was Mr.
John Baker, a native of Queen Ann's county, Maryland. Upon arriving at his
majority he went to Washington City, but remained there only a short time,
and then went to New Orleans and entered into business with the full intention
of making that city his permanent home. He was driven from there, however,
in 1832 by that dreadful scourge the Asiatic cholera, which raged there with
fearful and fatal force during that year. On leaving New Orleans he concluded
to follow the Mississippi river upward until he found a place which appeared to
him to be favorably located for the foundation of a town, being fully impressed
that it was better to be a pioneer, and suffer the hardships of a pioneer's life,
than to dwell in a city whose very air was tainted with disease, although sur
rounded while residing there by all the conveniences and luxuries of life.
Borne on the noble stream by such craft as were in use at that day, he came
upward until he reached Rock Island, where he disembarked and pursued his
way by land to what is now known as the Meredocia, a few miles below Albany.
Here he was found in November, 1833, by Norman D. French (now of Carroll
county), who was assisting United States Government surveyors at that time in
running the meander line on the Mississippi river, and subdividing the fractional
townships on the east bank of the river from the mouth of Rock river to the *
northwest corner of Whiteside county. He remained at the Meredocia but a
short time, and then came further up the river, ahd made a claim and built a
cabin on the bank of the Mississippi, a short distance above the present village
of Albany. During his stay at this place he occupied his time in prospecting,
as he felt sure that not far from there he would find a location such as he de
sired for the establishment of a town. It did not take him long to find this
location, for his eye soon fell on the Narrows of the Mississippi, and his clear
judgment told him that at no distant day they would become an important point
in the commercial and business world of the great West. He consequently
remained but one season at his temporary quarters near Albany, and in the
spring of 1835 drew up a claim for the ground where the city of Fulton now
stands, and also for a quantity of land east of the town. Upon this land, near
the Cattail creek, he erected a small building, the site being now occupied by
the farm-house on Mrs. R. S. Sayre's farm. He lived alone at this place for
the first year, as he had done on his claims at the Meredocia and near Albany.
The Indians were quite numerous around him at the time, but, by his uniform
kindness to and courtesy towards them, he won them over to be his friends,
and they so remained until their final departure for their far-west reservation.
During his residence here he entertained numerous persons who were
seeking the Mississippi river or the Territory of Iowa, for even at that early
day the Upper Mississippi had become noted as possessing many advantageous
locations for business purposes, and Iowa for the exceeding richness and fertil
ity of its soil and the healthfulness of its climate.
The house, or cabin, as it was called, was a small one, boasting of only
three diminutive rooms; yet those who came there of an evening always found
a good supper, night's lodging, and breakfast in the morning. Mr. John W.
Baker, the second settler, as will be seen hereafter, informs us how very large

158 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
parties were entertained by Mr. Baker. We will give one instance. Late in
the fall of 1836 the steamboats became frozen in the rapids at Rock Island,
on their way to Galena, necessitating the passengers to take the land route.
One afternoon after this occurrence about twenty persons came to Mr . Baker's
cabin, and, being wearied, wanted to stay all night. He told them he would
keep them the best he could, and soon served them with a supper of beef,
potatoes and coffee, using tin cups for the latter; and as there were more cus
tomers than cups, some had to wait until their more fortunate companions had
finished quaffing their portion of the beverage. These parties had no sooner
been supplied than twenty more came, and, as it was dark, they could not go
any farther, there being no house nearer than Savanna, twenty miles distant.
The question arose, " What can we do with the last comers?" A supper could
be given them, but where were they to sleep, as the first twenty had the pref
erence of the house? It was finally decided to have John W. Baker go out into
the woods just north of the house and build a big fire by the side of a huge log —
for it was cold and there was snow on the ground — and by that fire the last
twenty were to encamp, with such blankets and other covering as the family
could afford. This was done, the first twenty being packed somewhere in the
house, and the other encamped Indian fashion around the fire in the woods.
At daylight in the morning all had their, breakfast, and soon after started on
their route as joyfully as though they had slept on "beds of downy ease," and
fared at the table of a Dement house. There are many persons yet living who
have pleasant recollections of Mr. Baker's hostelry near the Cattail. In 1850
Mr. Baker went to California to seek relief from the asthma, a disease with
whieh he had been afflicted for some time, and remained there for nearly three
years. On his return, however, the disease again became troublesome, and on
the breaking out of the gold excitement in Colorado he went thither, partly for
its relief, and partly to reap a rich reward in the "diggings " of the new Eldo
rado. He finally ended his wanderings by settling down in the city of Fulton,
where he built a brick house on Broadway, now occupied by Justice T. H.
Smith, in which he died in December, 1863, at the age of 63 years. Mr. Baker
was twice married. His first wife was Miss Maria Allen, whom he married at
Port Byron, Rock Island county, Illinois, in July, 1836. He was married to
his second wife, Mrs. Humphrey, at Elkhorn Grove, Ogle county, in the spring
of 1840. There was one child by the first wife, William Baker, who now lives
in O'Brien county, Iowa. His widow is still living, and resides with Mrs. John
Phelps, a daughter by her first marriage, in the city of Fulton. Although at an
advanced age, her recollection of early Fulton is still strong and vivid.
The second settler was John W. Baker, now a well to do farmer, and resi
dent of Garden Plain. John W. also came from Queen Ann's county, Maryland,
and was attracted to the Mississippi by the glowing accounts of his uncle, the
original John. He came in the fall of 1836, and brought with him his wife,
three sisters and a niece. At that time there were no houses in Fulton,
and for the first season all lived with John Baker in the little house near the
Cattail and helped entertain the travelers and land seekers who were then flock
ing "Westward, Ho." Edward Rolph and Thomas Dale came the same year.
Quite a large accession was made to the infant settlement in 1837, the fol
lowing being the arrivals : James McCoy, Henry C. Fellows, Dr. Daniel Reed,
R. J. Jenks, Jeremiah Humphreys, Alvin Humphreys, George W. Kellogg, John
B. Jenkins, Robert Booth, John Redfern, Henry M. Grinnold, John
Grinnold, Jesse Johnson, William H. Knight, David Ross, Hosea Jacobs,
Isaac Wickson, Lyman Blake, Enos Herdman, J. B. Rhodes, Moses Barlow,
Allen Graves, Jonathan Briggs, A. Briggs, Thomas Baker, Edward Cow-

HISTORY OF FULTON TOWNSHIP. 159
drey arid Alonzo Terrell. Among those who came in 1838 were Edward
Church, Royal Jacobs, Sen., Royal Jacobs, Jr., A. M. Wing, Caleb Clark,
and Rev. John Prentiss; and in 1839 Hollis Chenery, Augustin Phelps, Jacob
Baker and family, John G: Colin, H. H. Fowler, William Grant and Thomas Sey.
After 1839 the settlers came in more numerously.
Of those who came in the years above mentioned the following still reside
in Fulton : James McCoy, Henry C. Fellows, Dr. Daniel Reed, William H.
Knight, Lyman Blake and Caleb Clark. William Grant resides in Garden Plain.
The first white women who settled in the town were Mrs. John W. Baker,
Misses Rosena, Frances and Martha Baker, and Elizabeth Skinner. The latter
died in 1837 as mentioned elsewhere. Mrs. Baker is still living. Rosena Baker
married Jacob Parker, of Garden Plain; Francis Baker married Edward Rolph,
and Martha Baker married John Lashell, now living in the city of Fulton.
Mary and Ora Frost, and other white women, came soon after the above.
The first white child born in Fulton was a son of Robert and Phoebe Booth,
the birth occurring in the winter of 1838. He was named John Fulton Booth,
and died about three years ago in Decatur county, Iowa.
The first death and burial in Fulton was that of Miss Elizabeth Skinner,
the niece of John W. Baker who had come out with him from Maryland in 1836.
She died of consumption in January, 1837, at the age of 22 years. She had been
suffering with this disease for several years, and thought by a change of climate
the hand of the fell destroyer could be averted, but his grasp was too firmly
fixed ; and away from her old Maryland home and in the then far and almost
uncivilized West, she yielded up her young life. The funeral was a very prim
itive one, the coffin being made from an old wagon box, and the remains conveyed
to their last resting place in an open wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. There
was such a dearth of nails and other material for the proper construction of a
coffin that John W. Baker was compelled to sit in the wagon and hold it together,
while John Baker and Edward Rolph drove the oxen on the way from the house
to the burial place. The interment was made on the high bluff nearly opposite
where Culbertson, Smith & Co's. sawmill now stands, and on that bold point far
above the beautiful river, on a bleak, cold day in midwinter, over forty years ago,
the first white person in Fulton was laid to rest. The grave was made by the
side of a young Indian child who had been buried a short time before. Not long
after the burial of Miss Skinner a Dr. Fowler, and a little German boy who had
been drowned in the river, were buried there, and we believe the spot was used
as a burying ground until the present cemetery was laid out.
As faithful chroniclers we must not forget the first marriage which occur
red in the town. Although there were no marriage bells to merrily peal forth
an announcement of the happy event, yet we have no doubt the occasion was
one of as great rejoicing, and the twain as supremely happy as though the bride's
trosseau had been brought from Paris, the wedding presents costly and innu
merable, and a thousand bells had rung out their merry peals of joy from a
thousand towers. The fortunate couple were Edward Rolph and Frances Ba
ker, and the marriage took place at the house of John Baker in the fall of
1837, Moses Barlow, Justice of the Peace, performing the ceremony. Mrs Dan
iel Reed supervised the culinary department for the occasion, and made a bride's
cake which called forth the wonder and astonishment of all. So highly pleased
was the bride with its richness and ornamental beauty, that she called all of her
friends, as fast as they arrived, into Mrs. Reed's room to look at and admire it
with her. Those who were present at the wedding, and are now living, say they
could not conceive how Mrs. Reed could make such a cake with the limited ma
terial for so necessary an appendage to a marriage feast, then to be bad. They

160 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
can only account for it from the fact that Mrs. Reed possessed the skill of mak
ing the most toothsome viands from the scantiest larder — a skill which no other
lady then possessed in this section of the country, and probably none since.
Invitations to the wedding were extended to every man, woman and child for
miles around, and it is said that every one attended except a Mrs. Foote, who
was detained at home on account of illness. It was in every sense of the word
a pioneer wedding, and celebrated as only pioneers of that day could celebrate
an event of the kind.
The following facts of interest relating to the Precinct and Township of
Fulton are gleaned from the records on file at the County Clerk's office, in
Morrison :
At a meeting of the County Commissioners held at the house of William
D. Dudley, in Lyndon, May 16, 1839, it was ordered that Road District No. 10
shall embrace all the territory in Fulton Precinct, and that John Baker be ap
pointed Supervisor. At the same meeting it was ordered that Hosea Jacobs be
appointed Assessor of the Precinct. The books afterwards show that Mr.
Jacobs received $8 for four day's work in assessing.
On May 11, 1839, the following petition was received by the County Com
missioners from several of the citizens of Fulton :
Fulton City Petition vs. License and Ardent Spirits. To the County Com
missioners of Whiteside county : We, the subscribers, respectfully petition
your Honorable Court that no license be granted in Fulton Precinct for retailing
ardent spirits by the drink. Signed : Daniel Reed, William Ross, Richard L.
Mills, Elijah K. Webb, John K. Prentiss, Hollis Chenery, A. Phelps, W. H.
Knight, W. Y. Ives, Henry Bond, Lewis Graves, H. F. Rice, Moses W. Jenks,
Reuben S. Rhodes, Nathan Scott, John Morgan.
The presentation of this petition was the first public movement in White
side county against the sale of intoxicating liquor, and at that day it required
some nerve to battle against the almost universal custom of dealing in ardent
spirits, and more especially in pioneer settlements. Four of the signers to the
petition still reside in and near Fulton, to wit : Dr. Daniel Reed, W. Y. Ives,
William H. Knight and Henry Bond. The petition was not favorably received
by the County Commissioners.
On the 2d of July, 1839, the County Commissioners were asked to lay
out a road from Fulton to Lyndon, by the way of Delhi, and John Baker, C. G.
Woodruff, and AVilliam Farrington were appointed road viewers. The viewers
were to serve without pay to the county.
At the meeting of the Commissioners in December, 1839, it was ordered
that Caleb Clark be licensed to keep a public house in Fulton City by paying $25
into the Clerk's office.
On the 1st of June, 1840, James McCoy entered a complaint before the
Commissioners against Daniel Reed, A. M. Wing and Caleb Clark for neglect in
keeping a ferry boat across the Mississippi, at Fulton. Upon appearing before
the Commissioners' Court the defendants' counsel made a motion to quash for
variance between the summons and complaint. The motion was overruled, but
after a hearing the case was dismissed.
On the 8th of June, 1841, it was ordered by the Commissioners that Royal
Jacobs have three additional months in which to complete the horse ferry boat
then in progress of building at Fulton.
On the 7th of September, 1842, a writ was issued by Guy Ray, Clerk of
the County Commissioners' Court, by order of said court, to the sheriff of the
county, upon application of James McCoy, commanding him to summon twelve
good and lawful men of the. county to meet on the 30th day of September, 1842,

HISTORY OF FULTON. TOWNSHIP. 161
on the southeast^ of southwest i of Section 11, township 22 north of range 3
east of 4th principal meridian, the property of said James McCoy,* and then and
there set apart by metes and bounds so much land as will be sufficient to erect
a mill dam in the stream of Johnson's creek, on said land, to propel a saw mill
and such other mills or machinery as the said McCoy or his assigns may erect
thereon, and also view and assess the damages that others may sustain by reason
of the overflow of any land or lands of any other person or persons by reason of
the erection of said dam, and report the same to the County Commissioners'
Court at the next term thereof. The writ was duly served by Henry C. Fel
lows, Deputy Sheriff. The jury reported in favor of the writ, and proceeded to
set apart by metes and bounds land sufficient to build a saw mill, or such other
mills and machinery as James McCoy or his assigns may deem meet to erect;
also to erect a dam in the stream of Johnson's creek to propel such mill, mills
or machinery. The jury also allowed by their inquest that the dam be raised
twelve feet, provided it does not flow the water over the natural bank at the
junction of Otter and Johnson's creeks; but if it should do so, then it is not to
be raised higher than to raise the water to the top of said creek bank. It was
found that about six acres of the lands of Joseph Fowler, at the junction of the
two creeks, would be overflowed, and it was therefore adjudged that the sum of
$8 should be paid to said Fowler.
At the election held on the 3d of April, 1849, upon the question of the
removal of the County Seat, Fulton Precinct gave 11 votes for Sterling and 71
for Lyndon. The records of the Town Clerk show that the first meeting under the town
ship organization law was held at the house of Wilson S. Wright, on the 6th
day of April, 1852. Charles J. Johnson was chosen Moderator, and James F.
Booth, Clerk pro tem. Forty-one votes were polled, and the following officers
elected: Supervisor, Wilson S. Wright; Town Clerk, Orlando Sprague; Justices
of the Peace, Elias Sage and Charles J. Johnson; Collector, E. Humphreys;
Assessor, G. H. Rice; Overseer of Poor, James F. Booth; Commissioners of
Highways, G. H. Rice, John Masters, Elias Sage; Constables, Warren Bond,
N. R. Boon.
At that town meeting it was voted to let hogs run at large; that $100 be
raised by taxation to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year,
and that a lawful fence be four feet six inches high, the first two feet the
opening not to exceed four inches, and the next two feet not to exceed ten
inches. On the 29th of the same month Orlando Sprague resigned his position as
Town Clerk, and James McCoy was appointed by the Justices of the Peace to
fill the vacancy. Sterns Ostrander was appointed at the same time Commis
sioner of Highways, in place of John Masters who failed to qualify.
At the second town meeting held at the house»of Wilson S. Wright on the
5th of April, 1853, only 26 votes were polled.
The following is a list of town officers to date:
Supervisors:— 1852-'53, Wilson S.Wright; 1854-'55, A. W. Benton; 1856,
W. C. Snyder; 1857, H. C. Fellows; 1858, C. N. Wheeler; 1859-'60,H. C. Fel
lows; 1861-'62, I. G. Gates; 1863-'64, H. C. Fellows; 1865, John Phelps;
1S66, I. G. Gates; 1867, John Dyer; 1868-'69, B. Robinson; 1870, H. C. Fel
lows; 1871, Richard Green: Mr. G. resigned, and H. C. Fellows was appointed;
1872, H. C. Fellows; 1873-74, A. R. McCoy: Mr. McC. resigned during the
year, having been elected a Representative to the Legislature, and J. C. Mitch
ell was appointed; 1875, John Dyer; 1876-77, W. Y. Wetzell.
Town Clerks .-—1852, Orlando Sprague; 1853-'54, Jas. F. Booth; 1855, L.
[20-R.]

162 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
B. Warner; 1856, J. F. Booth; 1857-58, Geo. S. Phelps; 1859, N. F. Webb;
1860-'61, J. T. Wiswell; 1862, J. F. Booth; 1863, J. B. Peabody; 1864, W.E.
Bassett; 1865, Wesley West; 1866-'67, Daniel Reed; 1868-70, E. Summers;
1871, A. R. McCoy; 1872, AArm. C. Green 2d; 1873, John Exley; 1874-75,
Thos. H. Smith; 1876, L. F. Puffer; 1877, S. V. Boyer.
Assessors .—1852, G. H. Rice; 1853, E. Summers; 1854-56, H. C. Fel
lows; 1857, John Phelps; 1858, B. S. Gerrish; 1859, Orlando Sprague; 1860,
J. P. Jacobs; 1861, Orlando Sprague; 1862, H. C. Fellows; 1863, Daniel Reed;
1864, I. G. Gates; 1865-'66, D. E. Dodge; 1867, E. Summers; 1868-71, C.
B. Mercereau; 1872, G. W. Padelford; 1873-76, J. C. Mitchell; 1877, Fred. W.
Pearson. Collectors .-—1852, E. Humphreys; 1853, R. M. Rockwell; 1854, R. E.
Benton; 1855, AustinDavis; 1856, J. F. Booth; 1857-'59,W. C. Snyder; 1860,
John Dyer; 1861-'62, Richard Green; 1863-'64, W. West; 1865-66, E. Sum
mers; 1867-68, John N. Baird; 1869, J. C. Mitchell; 1870-72, J. W. Smith;
1873, Wm. C. Green 2d; 1874-76, E. D. Chapman; 1877, C. L. Marcellus.
Justices of the Peace : — 1852, E. Sage, Chas. J. Johnson; 1854, H. C. Fel
lows, E. Summers; 1856, J. M. Brown, R. Patrick; 1858, R. M. Rockwell, E.
Summers; 1859, H. C. Fellows, E. Summers; 1860, E. Summers, Wesley West;
1864, E. Summers, Wesley West; 1866, Daniel Reed; 1868, E. Summers, J. N.
Baird; 1869, A. W. Plumley; 1872, H. C. Fellows, John Dyer; 1873, Abner
Ustick, J. .C. Mitchell; 1876, Thos H. Smith, N. E. Wheeler; 1877, Thos. H.
Smith, George Terwilliger.
School district No. 2 is situated in the northeast part of the township, near
where Norman E. Wheeler resides. The school building is a large one, and sup
plied with good seats and apparatus. Being the only school district out of the
city, the attendance of scholars, especially during the fall and winter months, is
sufficient to demand the services of two teachers. The present teachers are
Mr. James Kirk, Principal, and Miss Jennie Linn, Assistant.
The township contains 4,191 acres of improved lands, and 7,936 of unim
proved. Of improved lots there are 360, and of unimproved 750. The number
of horses in the town as shown by the Assessor's book for 1877, is 324; cattle
619; mules and asses 14; sheep 8; hogs 524; carriages and wagons 190; sewing
and knitting machines 176; piano fortes 29; melodeons and organs 29. Total
value of lands, lots and personal property, $486,909; value of railroad property
$51,747. Total assessed value of all property in 1877, $333,368.
The population of the township outside the city in 1870, was 287, of which
196 were of native birth, and 91 of foreign birth. The present population out
side the city is estimated at 400.
History of the City of Fulton.
The city of Fulton is beautifully situated on the Narrows of the Mississip
pi River, 136 miles almost d»e west from Chicago. The business portion of the
town is mostly on ground of a sufficient height above the river bank to preclude
any danger from overflow. The bluffs, at the north and east of the business
part, present elegant sites for dwellings, and many of them are occupied. The
view from them is magnificent, embracing the Narrows of the river, the cities
of Lyons and Clinton on the Iowa shore, with the bluffs back of them, upon
which are many fine residences, as well as a wide stretch of country in the county
of Whiteside. Many of these residences are notable for their beauty and ele
gance. The streets of the city vary in width from 60 to 100 feet, many of the
resident ones being bordered by long lines of shade trees, giving them quite a
forest like appearance. Much attention has been given to render the business

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF FULTON. 163
center attractive, the buildings for the most part being large, handsome, and
built of brick. The general healthfulness of the place is a matter never contro
verted, and is accounted for by its favorable location, the excellence of the
water, and the enforced cleanliness of the city. The commercial advantages of
Fulton, it has been truly said, are not surpassed by any point on the Upper Mis
sissippi. Directly west of Chicago, and its nearest approach to the river where
one of the greatest railroads on the continent crosses, on the line to California,
it offers unequaled facilities for western traffic. The Western Union Railroad
running upon the eastern bank of the river opens communication north and south,
besides connecting with the coal beds in Rock Island county and throughout the
State. A branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad opens more
direct communication with the interior of the State. The bridge crossing a lit
tle, south of the city furnishes ready connection with the numerous railroads
traversing Iowa and the vast regions west of the Mississippi. Besides these
railroads the river furnishes great advantages for transportation, and during the
season is largely used. All the materials for building are abundant. Stone of
fine quality is conveniently found; the limestone furnishes an excellent quality
of lime; the brickyards make a superior order of brick, and in the lumberyards
are found huge piles of lumber. As a point for manufacturing and commerci
al purposes Fulton has no superior on the river.
The original owners of the real estate upon which the city now stands were
John Baker, Henry C. Fellows, James McCoy, Alvin Humphreys, George W.
Kellogg, John B. Jenkins, Daniel Reed, R. J. Jenks, Jeremiah Humphreys,
Lyman Blake, John W. Baker, Ed. Rolph and some others. The land was pur
chased of the Government in 1840. Fulton was organized as a village in 1855
and the first trustees were Henry C. Fellows, Dr. W. C. Snyder, Dr. A. W.
Benton, but we have been unable to get at any records showing the balance of
its officers under that organization, or other facts as to its municipal history. In
1859 it became a city under a special charter granted that year by the General
Assembly. The book of records, together with all documents, ordinances, etc.,
belonging to the city were destroyed by fire on the 26th of March, 1875, so that
but very few facts in relation to that part of the history of Fulton can be ob
tained. Through the kindness of Mr. John Phelps, however, we have been en
abled to obtain the names of the different Mayors, Aldermen and City Clerks.
They are as follows :
1859 — Mayor, James McCoy; Aldermen, Leander Smith, David E. Dodge,
Lyman Blake, Chas. A. Chace; City Clerk, Everett A. Ingalls.
1860 — Major, Irving G. Gates; Aldermen, Benj. S. Gerrish, George T.
Ford; City Clerk, Jerome T. Wiswell.
1861 — Mayor, George T. Smith; Aldermen, Edwin P. Welles, L. E. Duryea;
City Clerk, J. T. Wiswell.
1862 — Mayor, James McCoy; Aldermen, Charles B. Mercereau, David Mc
Cartney; City Clerk, J. T. Wiswell.
1863 — Mayor, David E. Dodge; Aldermen, H. P. Wiborg, R. H. Adams;
City Clerk, Wm. E. Bassett.
1864-'65 — Mayor, James McCoy; Aldermen, J. P. Rice, Michael Kennedy;
City Clerk, Wm. E. Bassett.
1866 — Mayor, W. C. Snyder. Dr. Snyder resigned soon after the election,
and C. N. Wheeler was elected to fill the vacancy. Aldermen, B. Robinson, S.
Needham, A. A. Wheeler, C. B. Benedict.
1867 — Mayor, J. P. Linn; Aldermen, John Phelps, C. W. Aylesworth,
George Eckert.

164 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
1868— Mayor, C. A. Griswold; Aldermen, David E. Dodge, Orlando
Sprague, A. A. Wheeler; City Clerk, George AAr. Padelford.
1869 — Mayor, C. N. AArheeler; Aldermen, Orlando Sprague, L. H. Potter,
C. A. Winslow, John Dyer, A. A. AATieeler, J. M. Fay; City Clerk, George W.
Padelford. 1870— Mayor, R. H. Adams; Aldermen, Z. M. Church, J. M. Startzman,
E. W. Dutcher, Peter Kitchen; City Clerk, George W. Padelford.
1871— Mayor, R. H. Adams; Aldermen, L. H. Potter, Wm. Kitchen, F. L.
Norton; City Clerk, George AAr. Padelford.
1872— Mayor, R. H. Adams; Aldermen, Charles E. Langford, Fred W.
Pearson, John Downs; City Clerk, George AV. Padelford.
1873— Mayor, Almon A. Wheeler; Aldermen, Thomas Taylor, A. D. Mitch
ell, J. M. Fay; City Clerk, L. F. Puffer.
1874 — Mayor, Wm. C. Green; Aldermen, Patrick Dorsey, James W. Smith,
Daniel Daly; City Clerk, George Terwilliger.
1875 — Mayor, William Y. Wetzell; Aldermen, Lucian S. Kinney, A. D.
Mitchell, John C. Mitchell ; City Clerk, George Terwilliger.
1876 — Mayor, William Y. Wetzell; Aldermen, John Stuart, James W.
Smith, Daniel Daly; City Clerk, George Terwilliger.
1877 — Mayor, James W. Smith; Aldermen, Robert B. Myers, A. D. Mitch
ell, Rheimer Kahler, John Downs; City Clerk, T. J. Pickett, Jr.
The first building put up within the limits of the present city of Fulton
was a small one of hewn logs, on the bank of the river a little north of where
Bachelder's pottery now stands. It was built in 1837, the work being done by
the men then in the settlement, although the ownership was claimed by John
Baker. It was erected originally for a store, but during the first summer was
used by James McCoy, Henry C. Fellows, George Kellogg, John B. Jenkins and
R. J. Jenks as a bachelor's hall. These bachelor halls were necessary institu
tions throughout the West at that period. Large numbers of those who sought
the then comparatively unknown wilds and prairies of the Upper Mississippi
Valley, were young men without families, and very many of them with limited
means, if any at all, and for the sake of economy, and in many instances of
necessity, banded together and occupied dwellings which could be the most
easily and cheaply obtained. In these they resided until by their labor and
industry, homes of their own could be procured. Many of them can now look
back to these old bachelor halls with feelings of the keenest pleasure. They
were young, hardy, and enthusiastic, and the difficulties and inconveniences of
pioneer life only added zest to the situation.
The first store in the place was opened in the building above referred to, in
the fall of 1837, by John W. Baker and Moses Barlow. It was a general
country store, and was kept by them until the next spring, when they sold to a
firm by the name of Church & AVing, who continued the business about a year.
Isaac Wicksom also put up a building, and opened a grocery store that year.
It was a frame building, and stood about four rods north of Mr. W. P. Hall's
present residence. He kept the store about two years.
The first frame building was erected by John AV. Baker during the summer
of 1838. It stood on the present premises of H. C. Fellows, Esq., on the
corner of Base and Ferry streets. Mr. Baker occupied this building for about
two years, and then sold it to Mr. Edward Cowdrey. The second frame building
was put up by Isaac Wicksom as a store, as mentioned above, and the third by
Rev. John Prentiss. The building of Mr. Prentiss stood near the location of
Mr. John Phelps' present residence. The next year, 1839, a dozen or more
buildings were erected, all of them in the same vicinity as those of the previous

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF FULTON. 165
year. In fact, for quite a period the village of Fulton was confined to that
locality, the streets which now almost wholly monopolize trade and other
business being then covered with a thick growth of brush interspersed here and
there with forest trees.
The first hotel was built and kept by Robert Booth, and was at the start a
very primitive concern. Mr. Booth commenced putting up, or rather putting
down the hotel in the spring of 1838. He first dug a hole in the ground and
sided it up with small logs, the upper part of which extended but a couple of
feet above the ground, and filled the chinks with clay, spaces being left here
and there above ground for lights. The room thus made, was then partitioned
into smaller ones, a roof placed over the (w)hole, some necessary furniture and
bedding brought in, and the underground hotel was ready for guests.
Almost from the start he had as many regular boarders and transient guests as he
could accommodate, and in a little over ayear, felt rich enough to build farther up
towards the clouds, and when he had finished was the possessor of a very nice
two and a half story hotel besides the original underground part. His excellent
table gave him popularity far and near. He kept the hotel for about five years, and
then sold it to Col. Johnson, Mrs. R. S. Sayre's father, who continued it as long
as he lived, and then it passed into the possession of Wilson S. Wright. A hotel
was also started in 1839 by A. M. Wing, in a building which stood on the bank
of the river, just north of the present pottery of Mr. Bachelder. This was run
about a year. In 1841 John W. Baker built a hotel near the cottonwood tree
now standing in the lumber yard of Langford & Hall, and kept it for a short
time, and then sold it to John Baker, who afterwards transferred it, together
with his other real estate interest in Fulton, to Augustin Phelps. These were
the original hostelries in Fulton.
The first dry goods, and general country store, was opened in the spring of
1839, by Chenery & Phelps, in a large building a little north of the present
pottery. They were both Massachusetts men. Chenery came out first in 1838
on a prospecting tour, and becoming satisfied that the point was a good one for
business, arranged with Mr. John Baker that if he would erect a suitable build
ing the firm would come out the next season and open a store. In accordance
with this agreement, Mr. Baker put up the building, and Chenery & Phelps
took possession of it at the time just stated, and filled it with goods. They
remained in it about four years, and then built one of their own a little to the
south of it. The firm continued until 1844 when Mr. Chenery disposed of all
his interest in the store, together with his other property in the place, to Mr.
Phelps, and went back to_Massaehusetts. Messrs. Chenery & Phelps did a large
wholesaling and retailing business, as well as dealing largely in grain, pork, and
produce. They paid good prices for whatever they purchased, and hence drew
to their establishment fawners and producers for many miles back in the
county. Smaller storekeepers could also buy from them at rates which made
it an object to go to Fulton instead of elsewhere for their supply of goods. In
1845 Mr. John Phelps became a partner of Augustin Phelps, and the two
continued the business until 1849, when the latter died suddenly of cholera at
the city of Syracuse, N. Y., while on his way to the eastern cities to purchase
stock. Mr. Chenery died the following February at his home in Montague,
Franklin county, Massachusetts. Both were men of great energy, admirable
business talents, social in their manners, strictly honest in their dealings, true
in their friendships, and broad and liberal in their views. Such men are an
advantage to any town.
The first brick building was put up in 1847, and still stands at the corner
of Base and Ferry streets. It was originally used for a blacksmith shop, E.

166 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Summers, Esq., occupying it for quite a period. It is now occupied by D. C.
Goble as a stable. The next brick was built for a residence in 1849 by a mason
named Quinlan, and stands on the northeast corner of Cherry and Biver streets.
It is now owned and occupied by Mr. D. E. Dodge as a restaurant and confec
tionery store. The third brick was erected by Messrs. McCoy and Phelps for a
printing office. It stands on the southeast corner of Short and Union streets,
and is now owned and occupied by Mr. Chas. D. Rose as a dwelling. The stone
school house, now the city calaboose, was put up in 1847.
The first mail from Dixon to Fulton was brought by Ezekiel Kilgour, by
the way of the Sterling, Morrison and Fulton road. From Dixon to Sterling
the mail was carried by an ox team, and from the latter place to Fulton by horse.
This primitive way of carrying the mail was continued for some years.
Fulton did not grow very rapidly until 1851, when the project of building
a railroad from the Lakes directly west to the nearest point on the Mississippi
river was broached. It was found that this nearest point was Fulton, and upon
that fact being declared the town started forth with new energy. A railroad
meeting was immediately held at Lyons. The Legislatures of both Illinois and
Iowa were then in session, but it was concluded to bring the matter first before
the Legislature of the latter State, and assure the members that if they would
pass an act for the incorporation of a railroad company to construct a road from
Lyons to Council Bluffs, a charter would be procured from the Legislature of
Illinois for a road to intersect the then contemplated Illinois Central Railroad,
at Dixon. The Lyons meeting was largely attended, and a committee appointed
to repair at once to Iowa City, at which place the Iowa Legislature was in ses
sion, and present the petition for an act of incorporation. This was done, and
the second day afterwards the act was passed, and had received the Governor's
signature. This was at once followed by an application to the Illinois Legisla
ture for the passage of an act authorizing the construction of a railroad east
ward from Fulton. Hon. James McCoy placed the subject before the Legis
lature, and procured before the adjournment of that body a charter for the Mis
sissippi & Rock River Junction Railroad. It was provided by the charter that
books of subscription to the capital stock should be opened within one year
after the passage of the act. In the month of January, 1852, they were accord
ingly opened, and nearly all the stock subscribed in a short time.
On the 1st of May, 1852, a meeting of the stockholders convened at Union
Grove for the purpose of electing a President and Directors, which resulted as
follows: President, James McCoy; Directors, J. T. Atkinson, Royal Jacobs,
Chas. Dement, Benj. Lake, Elijah Buell, John Phelps and A. W. Benton. In
the month of January, 1853, the Directors let the contract for building the
road, and on the 8th of February following the work was commenced. This
was an auspicious era for the young and struggling town, and many a heart
throbbed with gladness to note it. In April, 1853, the Michigan Central and
the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Companies came forward and took some
$400,000 stock in the road, thus placing it upon a firm basis. At the annual
election for officers of the road, held in May of that year, the following were
chosen: Chas. Dement, President, and John B. Turner, J. H. Burch, E. Peck,
J. Van Nortwick, James F. Joy, Chas. Dement, James McCoy, Bayard Fowler,
and Lewis D. Crandall, Directors.
About this time a railroad was projected from Chicago through the village
of St. Charles to the Mississippi river, called the St. Charles Air Line Railroad.
This, however, in a short time passed into the hands of the Galena & Chicago
Company, and whatever was really of avail in carrying on the road from Chi
cago to Fulton was adopted. The Galena & Chicago Company had at that time

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF FULTON. 167
become so far identified with the road, that it was carried on mostly under their
direction, assuming the name of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad and
eventually, the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.
In 1857 two other roads from Fulton were projected, one connecting with
the Racine & Mississippi Railroad, near Mt. Carroll on the north, and the other
with the so-called Camanche, Albany & Mendota Railroad at Prophetstown, on
the south. The first road was built, although considerably changed from the
original project, and is now known as the Western Union Railroad. The latter
project flashed in the pan. A road, however, now runs from Fulton through
Prophetstown, and is known as the Mendota & Prophetstown branch of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.
When the shovel first cut the prairie turf for the railroad track to Fulton,
there were probably not over 400 inhabitants within the limits of the corpora
tion, but within a few years thereafter there were at least six times that num
ber. A large number of stores of all kinds were built; hotels and dwellings
were erected, and churches and public and private schools started. The Dement
House was built by Chas. Dement in 1855, and at that day was the largest hotel
west of Chicago. The main building is 96 by 100 feet in size, and five stories
high including the basement. The walls are stone, 23 inches in thickness, and
substantially made. The wing was originally 70 feet in length and two stories
high. The dining room was a spacious one, and the hotel fitted with all the
modern conveniences known at the. time. For some time after it was opened it
was filled to repletion with guests, and many were the gay times held within its
walls. The building of the bridge at Clinton, the removal of the passenger
depot to its present position, and the building of the railroad shops at Clinton,
however, gave Fulton the severest' blow it ever had, and from which it has not
as yet recovered.
The first ferrying done between Fulton and Lyons was by a skiff, whieh
seems to have been used as required by the few citizens who then resided in
Fulton. The travel, however, soon increased to such an extent as to demand
much larger facilities, and in 1838 a company consisting of John Baker, Dr.
Daniel Reed, M. W. Jenks and A. and J. Humphreys, obtained a license to run
a flat boat ferry. This ferry, it appears, soon afterwards passed into the hands
of A. M. Wing, and then into those of Royal Jacobs, a nephew of Hosea Jacobs.
The latter ran it until about 1844, when it was purchased by Augustin Phelps,
who began for the first time to use horse power in propelling the boat across
the stream, building a boat especially for the purpose. In 1850 Wm. H. Kuight
bought Mr. Phelps' interest, and substituted steam power for horse muscle.
The steamer was called "The Sailor," and was purchased at New Albany, Indi
ana. It was a small craft, but answered the purpose very well. Mr. Knight
ran the ferry for five years, and then sold to John P. Knight and C. C. John
son, who in turn, after running it a few months, sold to Allen & White, of
Davenport, Iowa. The present owner is Capt. Bentley, of Lyons, and the
steamer used a large and commodious one. Opposition ferries started up sev
eral times, but did not maintain the contest very long at either time. On the
2d of March, 1840, Caleb Clark obtained a license to run a ferry between Fulton
and Lyons, his schedule of prices being fixed at 25 cents per footman; man and
horse, 75 cents; cattle, 25 cents per head; two wheel carriage, $1; yoke of oxen
and wagon loaded, $1.50; additional ox or horse, 25 cents; sheep, 12£ cents; one
horse and wagon, $1. Geo. W. Sayre got a license in February, 1857, to run a
steam ferry from Fulton to Lyons, and some others before that time tried to
make a fortune at the ferry business, but it is not recorded that any succeeded.
A ferry also ran for a short time between Fulton and Clinton,

168 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
The postoffice at Fulton was established in 1838, under the administration
of President Martin A7an Buren, and the original settler, Mr. John Baker, ap
pointed Postmaster. Mr. Baker held the position to the best information
received until 1841, when Hollis Chenery was appointed, and he in turn was
succeeded by Augustin Phelps, who retained the place until 1849, when a
vacancy was caused by his death, and John Phelps was appointed. The latter
held the office until 1853, when Franklin Pierce became President. He then
gave way to Wilson S. Wright. From that time until the appointment of Dr.
W. C. Snyder, in May, 1861, the following gentlemen respectively have held
the position: Geo. S. Phelps, John J. Jones, Octavius Leighton and E. P.
Welles. From the time Mr. John Phelps left the position until the appoint
ment of Dr. Snyder, the location of the postoffice was so frequently changed
that it gave rise to the expression that it was carried around on wheels, and
that the wheels were constantly moving, no one knowing where they could be
found the next morning. Dr. Snyder righted this public inconvenience by plac
ing the office in his own building, and fitting it up at his own expense in a man
ner to fully meet the wants of the community. The present office is admirably
arranged for the convenience of the public, and in all its appointments one of
the neatest and most finely constructed in this part of the country.
Fulton has been widely known for many years as one of the great lumber
points on the Upper Mississippi river. The1 product annually has been many
million feet, and this has been disposed of to purchasers for long distances
around. The quality has always been excellent, as experienced proprietors have
had charge of the mills — men who knew how to buy good logs, and how to saw
them. Parties desiring lumber in large or small quantities never missed of ob
taining at the Fulton yards just what they wanted, and at reasonable prices.
The beginning of the lumber business in Fulton, however, like other places, was
limited in extent. The first saw mill was built by John Masters on the Cattail
Slough quite a distance above Culbertson, Smith & Co.'s present mill, and was
run by water power.- It was built in 1845. Mr. Masters continued the busi
ness for a while, and then sold a half interest to a Mr. McKenzie, but the two
abandoned it after some unsuccessful efforts to make it pay. Finally a Mr.
Ritchie took hold of it and ran it for some time, when it was taken down.
The next saw mill was put up by Messrs. Sprague & Hamilton, and was
situated near Base street. It was run by horse power, and had a rotary saw,
and sawed some logs. It was principally used, however, for manufacturing
shingles. About the same time Sprague & Lamberton had a chair and bed
stead manufactory situated a little east of where the residence of Mr. E. Sum
mers now stands. In 1854 Chas. Dement put up the saw mill now owned by
Culbertson, Smith & Co. Mr. Dement ran the mill for four or five years, when
it passed into the hands of Col. Todd, and afterwards into those of Chas. Her
rick and others. In 1863 it was purchased by W. P. Culbertson and Dr. Lean
der Smith, the latter afterwards selling his interest to Ed. Welles. The firm
then became Culbertson & Welles, and the mill was run by them for about three
years. In 1869 Dr. Smith and J. Martin Fay bought the interest of Mr. Welles,
and a firm was then formed under the name of Culbertson, Smith & Co., and so
remained until 1876, when it was dissolved. The mill has a capacity of turn
ing out 25,000 feet of lumber, 12,000 shingles, and 8,000 lath per day. The
average per season is about 3,000,000 feet.
The first mill put up where Langford & Hall's large mill now stands, was
built by Chas. E. Langford in 1865. It was 24 feet by 60, and had one single
rotary and a muley saw to do the work. In the following year Warren P. Hall
became a partner, and the mill was increased greatly in size and capacity, so

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF FULTON. 169
that instead of turning out from seven to ten hundred thousand feet of lumber
annually, as the original one did, it turned out over three million feet. Yet
with that capacity it was found inadequate to the demands made upon the pro
prietors for lumber. In 1875 they commenced the erection of a new mill of
ample dimensions, and completed it in the latter part of 1876. We give a de
scription of this mill as it is one of the largest and most thoroughly furnished
upon the river. The main building is two stories high. The lower or first story
is 40 by 128 feet, and contains the shafting, friction and belt pulleys, and also
the planing, moulding and siding mills, with some small machines for resawing.
The upper or second story is 40 by 144 feet, with an addition on the north side
10 by 80 feet, and contains a fifty inch gang with thirty-two saws, and a double
rotary, the two having a capacity of 75,000 feet of lumber per day of ten hours.
Connected with these are a case of live rollers, a log transfer, board transfer,
Mcezinger edger, lumber trimmer, slab saw, and two edging cutter saws. In
the same story is also the lath mill with capacity for cutting 15,000 lath per
day of ten hours. On the southeast corner of the main building is an addition
22 by 26 feet, which contains the shingle mill. The shingles are sawed in the
second story of this addition, and then sent down to the first, where they are
jointed and packed ready for market. This mill has a capacity for cutting 20,-
000 shingles per day. Next to this addition on the west is the boiler room, 37
by 42 feet, constructed of brick, with iron roof. In this building are four boil
ers, 42 inches in diameter, and 20 feet long, set into an arch of brick. Over the
arch is a saw dust conveyer, running so as to bring the saw dust from the dif
ferent machines in the main building, and deposit it in the fire through iron
spouts. West of the boiler room is the engine room, 18 by 30 feet, also con
structed of brick, with iron roof. This room contains the engine, 22 by 30
inches, which gives power enough to drive all the machinery in the establish
ment satisfactorily, besides a fly or balance wheel 14 feet in diameter, and
weighing 11,300 pounds, and a lifting and force pump by which water is drawn
from the river and forced into the tank over the boilers, and also through pipes
to barrels on the main building for protection against fire. The engine room
also contains another pump by which water is forced through the Berryman
heater into the boilers. The cost of the mills and machinery complete was $30,-
000. Messrs. Langford & Hall employ a large number of hands in their mills
and yard, many of whom remain during the entire year.
The Fulton stoneware manufactory is situated on the bank of the river
just north of Langford & Hall's extensive steam saw and planing mills. The
manufacture of stoneware in this establishment was commenced in July, 1866,
by Edward A. Tolman. In the fall of that year J. Davis bought a one-half in
terest, and in February, "1867, Wm. Aikman a one-third interest, and the three
continued the business until August, 1867, when L. Bendle purchased the inter
est of Davis and Aikman, and the firm became Bendle & Tolman. Under this
firm the business was carried on until April 13, 1868, when C. B. Bachelder
purchased the interest of E. A. Tolman, and the firm name was changed to
Bachelder & Bendle, and so continued until September 20, 1868, when Mr.
Bachelder obtained the entire interest, which he has held ever since. Since
Mr. Bachelder has had entire control of the establishment an average of 100,-
000 gallons of ware have been manufactured annually, a large proportion of
which is sold in the vicinity, although considerable of it goes to Minnesota and
Wisconsin, each year gaining in celebrity for durability of make and beauty of
finish. The most of the clay used comes from Boone, Iowa, and the balance
from Illinois, the latter being also excellent in quality. Mr. Bachelder has been
for some time past making large quantities of flower pots of all kinds in con-
[2!-S.]

170 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
nection with his other ware. These are painted and ornamented in a beautiful
manner. His green glazed flower pots are the only ones manufactured in this
country, and are extensively sold. He is also making the best open lava spit
toons in the market. Altogether, the work turned out at this manufactory
ranks high in the market for its superiority, durability and beauty.
In addition to the manufactories and mills spoken of, we may add the large
carriage manufactory and blacksmithing establishment of J. & AAr. Stuart, Mr.
John Stuart, the senior member of the firm, commenced first in 1862 in a diminu
tive building on the ground where the establishment now stands. About eleven
years ago he put up an additional building, and soon followed that by others,
until there are now five in all. The carriages turned out at this establishment
are of great beauty, combined with strength and durability, and find a ready sale,
purchasers coming from all parts of the country. In 1873 AVilliam Stuart pur
chased an interest, and the firm became J. & W. Stuart. The Messrs. Stuart
keep a large number of hands constantly employed.
Mr. Robert B. Myers has also a carriage and wagon manufactory, doing
mostly custom work. His wagons and carriages are of excellent make and
finish. Mr. P. H. Cossman carries on an extensive machine and blacksmithing es
tablishment. He makes and repairs all kinds of machinery, excepting engines
and some of the larger kinds of work. He has several inventions of his own
which he uses to decided advantage in his business.
Gerten Bros, and the Messrs. Spark have each a good sized pipe manufac
tory, and each of them turn out annually a large number of boxes of pipes, which
find a market iu all sections of the country.
The Fulton Steam Flouring Mill was erected in 1874, and was first run by
Mr. W. H. Hoyt. Two years ago Mr. Geo. AV. Mathers purchased it, and con
ducted the business a short time alone, and then took in his brother as a part
ner, the firm becoming Mathers Bros. Both are practical and experienced mil
lers, and with an excellent mill and machinery, are manufacturing a fine grade
of flour, together with corn meal, feed, etc. Their custom work is very heavy.
In the fall of 1866 the managers of the then consolidated Chicago &
Northwestern Railway having at that time no track to the Upper Mississippi,
and being desirous of carrying to the Chicago market a portion of the pro
ducts of the teeming wheat fields of Minnesota, conceived the design of erect
ing at Fulton a suitable elevator for the transfer of grain from boats and barges
to their cars, thereby securing what was then, and what will probably continue
to be, the shortest rail route from the river to the lakes. The elevator is 40 by
70 feet on the ground, 90 feet high, and covered with iron, making it practically
fire proof. Attached is a fire brick engine room. It has a working capacity of
75,000 bushels. The enterprise has proved eminently successful, transferring
annually an average of 1,500,000 bushels of grain to the cars. It has handled
as high as 1.900,000 bushels ina season, and during the season of 1876, which,
it must be recollected, is since the company have had a continuous line of. their
own from the State of Minnesota to Chicago, the receipts at this elevator ag
gregated over 1,750,000 bushels. It will undoubtedly continue to be a pay
ing investment, for by this way the longest water route coupled with the
shortest rail route is secured, and no one needs to be told of the great economi
cal superiority of water over rail transportation. Although different steam
boat lines have from time to time brought grain to the Fulton elevator,
most of it has come by what is called the Diamond Jo. Line, owned and opera
ted by Mr. Joseph Reynolds, familiarly known as "Diamond Jo." The
Diamond Jo. Line was established at the time the elevator was built

NEWSPAPERS. 171
to run between Fulton and St. Paul and Stillwater. It has had uninterrupted
connection with the C. & N. W. Railway since that time, notwithstanding the
many changes of officers the road has experienced during the period. The down
freight consists principally of wheat and flour, while the up freight transferred
to the boats at Fulton consists of agricultural implements and general mer
chandise, consigned to all known points on the upper river, or points reached
by rail running back from the river landings. These advantages render Fulton
one of the best known and most convenient shipping points on the river. An
other feature of the grain trade here is to keep constantly on hand at the
elevator large supplies of Minnesota wheat, which the millers on the Dixon Air
Line and branches may purchase at any time for the supply of their mills.
The growth of the city at present is steady, and of a very substantial char
acter. The business buildings which have been erected of late years have been
nearly all brick, and many of the dwelling houses of the same material. The
number of stores, business places, manufactories and mills at present is quite
large, and is yearly increasing. The present population is estimated at 2,700.
Fulton is 7 and 9-100ths feet above Lake Michigan, and 590 and 9-100ths feet
above the level of the sea. These heights are obtained by taking the railroad
track as a standard. Newspapers.
Fulton has had its vicissitudes in newspapers in common with other western
towns. Early in the year 1853, Judge James McCoy and Mr. John Phelps
concluded that the business interests of the town demanded a representative
in the shape of a weekly paper, especially in view of the railroad enterprises
which were then in project, and acting upon that conclusion purchased in the
fall of that year at St. Louis a press and type, which together with some wood
type obtained at Galena, were to be the outfit for the new newspaper and
job office. The press, however, was sent on so late that the steamer which had
it on board had to go into winter quarters at Rock Island, on account of the ice,
and it was not until the next spring, 1854, that it arrived at its place of desti
nation. The next thing was to secure a practical printer to publish the paper,
and conduct the business of the office. The owners could have written the
editorials and local items if necessary, besides expounding the law and selling
goods, but they were not at home in setting type, correcting proofs, making up
forms, and working the press, and had any one came to them for a job, they
certainly would have made a, job of it. It therefore became a necessity to get
some one learned in the art, and the fortunate person proved to be Mr. A. Mc
Fadden, of Freeport. Mr. McFadden came on in obedience to call, and after
some delay succeeded in issuing the first number of the Whiteside Inves
tigator in May, 1854. This was the first newspaper published in Whiteside
county, and was a creditable sheet for that day, and to Messrs. McCoy and
Phelps great praise should be awarded for the energy displayed, and the means
expended in securing its publication. The Investigator was published in a new
two story brick building, erected expressly by these gentlemen for a printing
office, on the corner of Short and Union streets, and is now owned and occupied
by Mr. C. D. Rose as a dwelling. Soon after the commencement of the paper,
Mr. G. A. Laighton appeared- and purchased an interest in it, and the firm
became McFadden & Laighton, the former having previously purchased the
office from Messrs. McCoy and Phelps. Subsequently Mr. Laighton became
sole proprietor, and changed the name to the Fulton City Advertiser. He made
considerable improvement in its columns, and with an efficient editorial staff,
consisting of Dr. C. A. Griswold, and Messrs Groot and Lewis, new life and

172 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
interest was given to it. In the political campaign of 1856 the Advertiser
took a stand in favor of Buchanan, the Democratic candidate for President,
and the former editorial staff withdrew, leaving the duties to Mr. Greenleaf.
During the time Mr. Laighton conducted the paper, and was Postmaster, he
became considerably involved, and took leave of absence to see his eastern
friends, and did not return. The Advertiser office was left in charge of an
apprentice, and soon thereafter suspended.
In the summer of 1859 Messrs. G. J. Booth and B. C. Golliday leased the
establishment, and commenced the publication of the Fulton Weekly Courier.
At the end of six months this firm dissolved, and Mr. Booth continued the
Courier individually until the 16th of March, 1863, when he purchased the
establishment from Mr. Laighton, made considerable improvements, and
changed the name of the paper to the Fulton Journal, which name has been
continued to the present. In 1866 Mr. Adoniram J. Booth took a joint interest
in the office, and the business was thenceforward carried on under the firm
name of G. J. Booth & Son until March, 1872, when the establishment was
purchased by George Terwilliger. The Messrs. Booth conducted and main
tained the local press in Fulton for a period of nearly thirteen years, having
always at heart the best interests of the place and its citizens. In common
with other publishers they met now and then with parties who endeavored to
impugn their motives, and destroy their business, but both paper and publishers
prospered, and yet continue to live and prosper.
In March, 1872, the paper and office passed into the hands of George Ter
williger as editor and proprietor, and so continued until November 26, 1872,
when Dr. W. C. Snyder purchased a half interest, Dr. Snyder taking charge of
the publication and business departments, and Mr. Terwilliger of the editorial
department. This continued until March, 1876, when Dr. Snyder purchased
the whole interest, Mr. Terwilliger still remaining as editor. In November,
1876, Mr. Terwilliger retired, and Dr. Snyder leased the establishment to
Thomas J. Pickett, Jr., who is at present the editor and publisher of the paper,
with Miss Annie E. Snyder as assistant editor. In politics the Journal .has
been Republican from the organization of the party, and has always had a good
circulation in the city and country.
Other newspapers have been published at different times in Fulton. The
first was the Fulton Argus by the Messrs. Pratt in 1868. It was printed at the
Advocate office, in Lyons, and continued only a short time. In 1871, Mr. F. L.
Norton started the Whiteside Democrat, and published it until a short time
before his removal to New York State, in 1873. The Democrat was a spicy,
well edited, local paper. In the campaign of 1872, a paper called the Liberal,
advocating the election of Horace Greeley, was published by J. M. Finch.
Churches and Other Organizations.
Presbyterian Church: — The history of this church involves that of the
old and new School Presbyterian churches from which it was formed. The history
of the new school branch is blended with that of the Congregational church
under three successive titles, from which it sprang. On the 21st of December,
1839, Rev. John H. Prentiss, of Fulton, formed an organization at the residence
of Henry Ustick a few miles east of Fulton, called the "First Congregational
Church of Union Grove," several of the members of which were residents of
Fulton. The total membership was eleven. Their names were Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Ustick, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Town, Elijah Town, Miss Eliza Town, Mrs.
Eliza Prentiss, Mrs. C. A. Adams, Henry F. Rice, and Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Daniel
Reed. The First Congregational Church of Fulton and Lyons was organized at

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 173
the residence of John Baker, in Fulton, on the 13th of December, 1845. Rev.
C. Emerson had charge of the church for several years, the services being held
alternately in Fulton and Lyons. On the 22d of July, 1854, at the stone build
ing used successively as a school house, town hall, and a place for the
confinement of prisoners, the Rev. J. J. Hill formed an organization of persons
residing in- Fulton, called the First Congregational Church of Fulton. The
membership numbered eight, to-wit: Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Daniel Reed, Mr. and
Mrs. G. H. Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Bradstreet Robinson, Mrs. E. Sayre, Mrs. C.
Woodward, and Mrs. L. Bassett. Rev. S. N. Grout succeeded Rev. Mr. Hill in
charge of the church, and during his pastorate the services were held in Reed's
Hall, over Grinnold & Meeker's store. The first Sunday School of this church
was organized there in 1855, John Bally acting as Superintendent for five
years. In 1856 Rev. Josiah Leonard became pastor of the church, and con
tinued in this relation twelve years. A church edifice was erected during the
first year of Mr. Leonard's ministry, which was dedicated on the 20th of June,
1857. The edifice cost about $6,000. On the 26th of June, 1862, a change in
the organization was effected, and it was from that time known as the Second
Presbyterian Church of Fulton. Messrs. W. P. Culbertson, C. P. Pease, Pay-
son Trask, E. P. Welles, and J. L. Montgomery served as Ruling Elders during
the existence of this church. The First Presbyterian Church of Fulton was
organized in 1856 by Rev. W. C. Mason, in Brown's Hall, located over the
present site of Mr. Peter Kitchen's store. The membership was thirteen, to-
wit: Mr. and Mrs. David Miller, George Mackay, Mrs. M. McCoy, Mrs. B.
Exley, Mrs. J. Esterbrook, Mrs. L. Curtiss, Miss S. Vance, Misses Maggie and
Sarah Brown, Mrs. E. Sayre, and Mr. Sanford. The erection of a church ed
ifice was commenced by this congregation in 1856, but it was not completed and
dedicated until 1864. The cost of the edifice was about $16,000. In 1861,
Rev. J. B. McClure became pastor of the church, and continued in this relation
until the fall of 1865. In the spring of 1866, Rev. Albert Keigwin became pastor,
and remained until the union of the First and Second Presbyterian . churches which
occurred in March, 1868. George Mackay, David Miller, and William Porter,
served as Ruling Elders of this church during its history. At the time of the
union of the First and Second Presbyterian churches, Revs. Messrs. Keigwin
and Leonard resigned their respective charges, and assisted in the organization
of a new church called the Presbyterian Church of Fulton City. Its member
ship numbered 64. In June, 1868, Rev. Henry Keigwin became pastor of this
church, and continued in that relation until June, 1872. In October, 1873,
Rev. D. E. Wells became pastor, and has remained from that time until the
present. Messrs. Payson Trask, David Miller, Samuel Montgomery, W. P.
Culbertson, E. P. Welles, J. Martin Fay, and A. A. Wheeler have served at
different periods of the history of the church, as Ruling Elders. The original
trustees of the church were Messrs. Payson Trask, E. P. Welles, B. Robinson,
David Miller, and C. B. Mercereau. These gentlemen together with Rev. Wm.
Gay, Dr. D. Reed, Charles N. Wheeler, Almon A. Wheeler, J. M. Fay, Orrin
Cowles, W. P. Culbertson, and Dr. John Eddy, were the incorporators. Pre
vious to the current year, Messrs. C. N. Wheeler, John Hudson, B. W. Brown
C. A. Winslow, and Dr. Leander Smith have served as Trustees, besides those
already named. In June, 1868, the congregation voted to occupy the edifice
formerly owned by the First Presbyterian church, the other church edifice having
been sold to the Methodist church of Fulton. Improvements were added to
the edifice between the years 1868 and 1873, amounting to $3,200, including a
large bell, bell tower and spire. The latter to the height of ninety feet above
the belfry was blown off in a tornado in September, 1874, the top part of which

174 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
struck the residence of Mr. George Terwilliger, adjoining, causing great damage.
Fortunately no one was injured. The present membership of this church is 160.
Probably 200 members have been removed from the membership of these
several churches by death, change of residence, and other causes. The mem
bership of the Sunday School is 225. The most powerful revivals in the history
of this church occurred in the years 1869 and 1876. As the result of the for
mer 86 were added to the church, and of the latter 64. The early history of
the churches here sketched, was attended with great sacrifices, hardships and
trials, especially in connection with the erection of the church buildings.
These churches have contributed so largely to the welfare of the society in
Fulton and its vicinity, that they, and the pastors who have ministered to them,
are entitled to be held in grateful remembrance.
Methodist Episcopal Church : — Fulton was set off a circuit by itself in 1856,
Rev. M. Hanna in charge. The first mention of Fulton as a preaching place we
find in the year 1844, although local and occasionally circuit preachers had been
here before that time and held services. Previous to 1856 Fulton had been in
cluded in Savanna, Union Grove, and Albany circuits respectively. From 1842
to 1852 Union Grove circuit included all the appointments in the county.
Since the organization of the Fulton circuit the following have been the preach
ers : 1856, Rev. M. Hanna; 1857, Rev. H. C. Blackwell; 1858 and '59, Rev.
B. Close; 1860 and '61, Rev..W. H. Smith; 1862 and '63, Rev. M. H. Plumb;
1864, Revs. E. Brown and A. H. Schoonmaker; 1865, Rev. John Frost; 1866,
Rev. J. G. Cross; 1867 and '68, Rev. B. Close; 1869 and 70, Rev. C. R. Ford;
1871 and 72, Rev. G. W. Carr; 1873, Rev. C. Brookins; 1874, Rev. A. C. Frick;
1875-76 and 77, Rev. J. S. David. Among the first official members of the
church were Wm. B. McGovern, Leander and James Russell, Isaac Lathrop,
Gilbert Booth and S. P. Parker. In the first organization the names of Mrs.
McCoy, and of her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Russell, appear. On the
4th of May, 1869, the following Trustees on the part of the church, viz : Thomas
J. Burch, Cornelius Springer, Warren P. Hall, Abner Ustick, Charles A. Griffin,
Socrates C. Bates, Simon Stevenson, and William M. Herrold, sold the edifice
in which the society had been worshipping for some time, to William Y. Wetzell,
the church in the meantime having purchased the one in which they now wor
ship from the Second Presbyterian Society. A Sabbath School was early organ
ized by this church, and has continued in effective force under the management
of its different Superintendents, up to the present time. The membership of
the church is good, several having been added during the past year. The first
Sabbath School Library for Fulton was purchased for this church in the spring
of 1855 by Mr. Robert B. Myers, and brought from Chicago by him at his own
expense. The Baptist Church : — The Baptist Church of Fulton was organized at the
old stone school house, now city calaboose, on the 28th of July, 1855, the fol
lowing named persons being recognized as members, viz : Rev. A. H. Stark
weather, Mrs. A. B. Starkweather, Alfred McFadden, John Peterson, and Mrs.
Matilda Meeker, all of whom presented letters from other churches. Immedi
ately after the organization the following persons were received as members by
vote of the church, on relation of their experience and faith according to the
custom of the church in such cases : James F. Booth, Mrs. Maria Booth, and
Mrs. E. K. Webb, making nine constituent members. Rev. A. H. Starkweather
was called to the pastoral charge of the church, which relation he sustained
until June 5, 1858, when he resigned. The church immediately commenced
regular Sabbath services in Reed's Hall. A Sabbath School was also organized
which is still continued. The building of an edifice was commenced very soon

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 175
after the church organization, and the basement wall of stone, 36 by 70 feet,
finished in the following autumn. During the first nine months the church in
creased its membership to twenty-three by the addition of the following persons
by letter and baptism : John TenEyck, D. W. Thomson, Mrs. Mary S. Thom
son, Mrs. Charlotte Godfrey, Dr. John Eddy, Mrs. Mary Eddy, Mary J. Hubler,
Mrs. Sarah E. Lorn, Mrs. Priscilla Johnson, Jason Bennett, Mrs. Abigail Ben
nett, Mrs. Mary A. Booth, Mrs. Rachel Davis, John Smith, and Lucy J. Duncan.
On the 30th of April, 1856, a council of ministers and churches was called, and
met in Dement Hall, now College Hall, when the church was duly recognized and
took its place as a part of the Dixon Association. These ceremonies concluded, the
church elected James F. Booth, Deacon; A. McFadden, clerk, and James F. Booth,
A. McFadden and A. W. Ives, Trustees. During the following summer the house
of worship was so far advanced as to make the basement available for use, and
was dedicated to the worship of God in the autumn of 1856. The main part of
the church is of brick, and in dimension 36 by 70 feet. It was erected largely by
means of borrowed capital. On the 25th of May, 1857, the church, having suffered
some distraction by reason of the ill timed labor of an evangelist named S. D.
Symmons, concluded to reorganize, and change the name from The Fulton Baptist
Church to that of The First Baptist Church and Society of the City of Fulton.
The Trustees elected on the part of the church were D. W. Thomson, Gifford
J. Booth and Dr. John Eddy, and on the part of the Society, Dr. Leander Smith
and Wm. D. Meeker. Dr. John Eddy was also elected Clerk, and G. J. Booth,
Deacon, in place of Jas. F. Booth resigned. The church being burdened with
a heavy debt brought upon it by reason of building the edifice, decided to call
Rev. A. A. Sawin to the pastoral charge, and also to employ him as financial
agent to procure funds for liquidating the debt, and completing the building.
His labors commenced in the summer of 1858, and were crowned with such
abundant success that the debt was entirely paid, and the house finished in' its
present plain but substantial manner. The building cost six thousand dollars,
and was finally and fully dedicated on the 30th of March, 1860, the Rev. Dr.
Evarts of Chicago, assisting the pastor and other ministering brethren in the
dedicatory services. Soon after the dedicationRev. Mr. Sawin resigned his charge
and entered upon other fields of labor, and was succeeded by Rev. R. Evarts, of
Sycamore, who retained the charge until September 21, 1861. On the 26th of
April, 1862, Rev. John Zimmerman was called to the pastorate, filling the po
sition one year, and was followed by Rev. Wm. Storrs, who remained also one
year, when he resigned. On the 1st of December, 1865, Rev; Wm. Roney com
menced his labors as pastor and continued them until September 22, 1867.
Rev. E. C. M. Burnham next succeeded to the pastoral charge, commencing on
the 31st of March, 1868, and continuing until October, 1869, and on the 1st of
December of the same year, Rev. Henry Barden became pastor. Mr. Barden
remained until September 30, 1870, when he resigned, and on December 11,
1870, Rev. D. Connolly assumed the position, and continued in it until July 16,
1871. The latter pastor is represented to have been successful in scattering the
flock rather than sustaining and advancing their interests, and at the close of
his labors the church found itself so divided, as well as crippled financially, that
it did not feel able to meet further expense, and from that time to the present
has not been favored with regular pastoral labor, and but a portion of the time
with pastoral supply. Rev. Mr. Millard, and Rev. Mr. Burnham are deserving
the thanks of the church for a very liberal share of that kind of labor. The
church has now about thirty members, own their own house, free from
debt, keep up their organization and Sabbath School, and are waiting the favor
of Providence when they may again be able to have the stated ministration of

176 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
the gospel. The present officers are : G. J. Booth, Wm. Cosner, Deacons; Jason
Bennett, Clinton W. Jones, J. P. Jacobs, G. J. Booth, and Milo Jones, Trus
tees; G. J. Booth, Clerk, and Wm. Cosner, Treasurer.
Episcopal Church : — The first meeting looking toward the organization of
the present Christ Church in Fulton was held at the building formerly used as
a Methodist meeting house, on the 27th of May, 1869, the following persons
being present : Edward Wyatt, Mr. and Mrs. W. Y. Wetzell, Orrin Cowles, G.
W. Woodward, Dr. C. A. Griswold, Mrs. C. A. Griswold, W. H. Pratt, R. B.
Myers, A. J. Webster, W. Johnson, F. L. Norton, Mrs. R. S. Sayre, and Miss
Marie Aylesworth. On motion Mr. Orrin Cowles was called to the chair, and
F. L. Norton appointed Secretary. The chair stated the object of the meeting,
when Mr. W. Y. Wetzell moved that an Episcopal Church be organized by those
present, and the motion was unanimously carried. By request the chairman
read the canons of the church, after which a vote was taken upon a name to be
given to the church society, which resulted in selecting the name "Christ." Mrs.
C. A. Griswold, Mrs. R. S. Sayre and Miss Marie Aylesworth were appointed a
Committee to obtain signatures to a petition to the Bishop of Illinois for per
mission and authority to organize a church, which authority was shortly after
wards granted by the Bishop. On the 26th of July, 1869, a meeting was called
by Rev. Wm. Green, of Geneva, Illinois, for the purpose of electing wardens
and vestrymen for the year. The following persons were present : Rev. Wm.
Green, C. W. Feeks, 0. Cowles, W. H. Pratt, C. A. Griswold, Z. M. Church, G.
W. Woodward, E. Wyatt, W. Y. Wetzell, W. Johnson, A. J. Webster, and F.
L. Norton. Rev. Mr. Green was called to the chair, and F. L. Norton appoint
ed Secretary. The election resulted as follows : Senior Warden, C. W. Feeks;
Junior Warden, Orrin Cowles; Vestrymen, W. H. Pratt, C. A. Griswold, A. J.
Webster, Geo. W. Woodward, Z. M. Church, F. L. Norton, James McCoy. At
the meeting of the vestry held on the 2d of August, 1869, a letter was received
from the Bishop expressing his hearty congratulations for the successful organ
ization of the church, tendering his aid, and requesting that the parish do not
depend on Lyons and Clinton. Rev. Geo. Gibson was the first stated rector,
and remained about two years. On the 8th of July, 1871, the church purchased
the present house of worship from Mr. William Y. Wetzell. The following
have been officers since those elected at the organization of the church: 1870,
Senior Warden, C. W. Feeks; Junior Warden, 0. Cowles; Vestrymen, W. H.
Pratt, W. Y. Wetzell, A. J. Webster, G. W. Woodward, F. L. Norton, Dr. C.
A. Griswold, Z. M. Church. 1872, Senior Warden, 0. Cowles; Junior Warden,
P. S. Bibbs : Vestrymen, C. W. Feeks, W. H. Pratt, R. H. Adams, Dr. C. A.
Griswold, F. L. Norton. There has been no election of officers since the latter
year. After the resignation of Rev. Mr. Gibson the church has been without
stated services. During a part of the time Rev. J. Trimble, of Clinton, came
over and held services on alternate Sunday afternoons, but lately they have been
entirely given up, owing to the removal and death of members. Those still re
maining, however, are devising means for a renewal of services.
Immaculate Conception Church ( Roman Catholic ) ; — A church organiza
tion was formed denominated the Immaculate . Conception Church at an early
day, in Fulton, and services held by clergymen from parishes in Iowa. The
present church edifice was built in 1862, and services held in it the same year,
the parish of Fulton having received a stated pastor. The number of families
now attending worship is about one hundred and ten, and the number of mem
bers five hundred and fifty. Many of the families live at a distance in the
country, and come to church with their teams. More teams can be seen stand
ing at this church on Sunday, than at all the other churches in the city combined.

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF FULTON. 177
The church edifice stands on a commanding position, facing the south, and is a
handsome one both as to its exterior and interior. The names of the stated
pastors who have officiated at the Immaculate Conception Church are as fol
lows: Rev. T. Kennedy, Michael Ford, Wm. Herbert, John Daley, James
Govern, D. D., P. J. Gormley, and Rev. John Kilkenny, the latter being the
present pastor. Services have also been held by the pastors of this church at
the New Dublin School house, and at private houses, a short distance below Al
bany, for several years. During the present year a church edifice has been built
at Coffey's Corners, under the supervision of Rev. John Kilkenny, the pastor,
and a committee consisting of P. Ryan, Ed. Coffey, and James O'Neil, and is
called the St. Columbanus Church. The number of families belonging to this
church is 45, and the number of members, 225.
Reformed Dutch Church : — The membership of this church is made up of
natives of Holland and their families, a large number of whom reside in and near
Fulton. The church is one of the most flourishing in the city. The edifice is
a very neatly constructed one, and is situated near the Northwestern Railway
depot, at the southern limits of the city, and was built several years ago. The
pastor, Rev. Mr. Hazenburgh, resigned during the last summer, and the church
is now without stated supply.
Fulton Public School: — The first school within the present limits of the
city of Fulton was taught by Hon. James McCoy about the year 1840. During
the succeeding half dozen years independent schools were taught at irregular
intervals by the following named persons : Mr. Humphreys, Miss Eliza Town,
Mrs. G. H. Rice, Miss Sarah Jenks, Miss Sylvia Cobum, Martin Kibby, and
perhaps by some others. In the year 1847 the district was organized as school
district No. 1, and the stone building situated on the west side of Base street,
now known and used as the City Bridewell, was erected for a public school
house. This house was built under the personal supervision, and chiefly
through the instrumentality, of Hon. James McCoy, who was at that time
Chairman of the Board of Trustees. It was the first building erected for school
purposes in the city, and was considered the finest school house in the county.
The first teacher to occupy it was Martin Kibby, who, in addition to the com
mon English branches generally considered the only essentials, also taught the
elements of Latin. The successors of Mr. Kibby in the pedagogic chair at the
stone school house were Miss Nancy Jenks,. Miss Sarah K. Ford, Miss Mary J.
Bronson, Elias Sage, Miss Belinda Buck, D. P. Spencer, Mr. Horton, Leander
Martin, Rufus K. Blodgett, Emmet Benton, S. H. Baker, and Miss Soule. In
the winter of 1856 and '57, the school population having outgrown the capacity
of the " stone house," the high school was taught by H. H. Smith in Reed's
Hall. On the 11th day of July, 1857, the Board of Directors, consisting of
Bradstreet Robinson, John Phelps, and James L. Briggs, submitted to the legal
voters of the district the proposition to build a new school house which should
cost not less than $8,000. This proposition was carried with but one dissent
ing vote, and on the 15th of August, 1857, the contract for erecting the new
building, according to plans and specifications furnished by Supervising Archi
tect 0. S. Kinney, was awarded as follows : The masonry to William Price ;
the carpenter work to Horace Fuller; and the painting to N. Reynolds & Co.
Lot 2, block 11, range 5, was selected as the location of the new building,
although the grounds now include the whole block. Work was immediately
commenced, and pushed forward with such energy that early in January, 1858,
the lower story, though not fully completed, was occupied for school purposes.
The building was completed and formally dedicated in the summer of 1858,
Prof. Eberhardt, of Evanston, delivering the address on that occasion. The
[22-T.]

178 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
school, as at that time organized, consisted of three departments or grades — a
high school, an intermediate, and a primary. The first teachers were Prof. G.
G. Alvord — now Superintendent of Schools at Cairo, Illinois — as Principal,
assisted by Miss Ada Alvord, with Miss M. A. Millikan, as intermediate, and
Miss Mary Cowles, as primary teacher. The building is centrally located on
the verge of an elevated plateau, and commands a fine view of the surrounding
city and country, together with the majestic Mississippi, and the neighboring
cities of Lyons and Clinton. It is built of brick, and was constructed in accord
ance with the most approved style of modern school architecture. It is three
stories in height, exclusive of the basement, and contains seven school rooms,
together with the usual number of halls, recitation rooms, chemical and philo
sophical laboratory, etc. The entire structure was erected at a cost of
$14,643.45. The names of the principals who have succeeded Mr. Alvord are
as follows : Thomas Baker, George P. Wells, E. P. Scott, and H. S. Hyatt,
two years each; L. A. Stone, three years; S. M. Dickey, William E. Bradley, I.
T. Ruth, G. G. Manning, and J. Thorp, two years; J. R. Parker, one year; and
George C. Loomis, four years. The school, as at present organized, consists of
seven departments, with the following named teachers in charge: Superintend
ent and Principal of High School, Prof. George C. Loomis; Assistant Principal,
Miss Fannie H. Benson; second grammar, Miss Ida R. Pratt; first grammar,
Miss Hattie E. James; intermediate, Miss Hattie E. Green; third primary,
Miss Josie Knight; second primary, Miss Florence Myers; first primary, Miss
Anna Prohosker. The course of study for the High School embraces all
branches usually taught in other institutions of like character, and requires four
years for its completion. Non-resident pupils are received in this depart
ment at moderate rates of tuition. Pupils who complete the High School
course of study to the satisfaction of the Principal are entitled to and receive
from the Board of Directors the graduate's diploma. The class of 1876 was
the first to graduate, and consisted of the following members: Miss Matie
Green, Miss Laura Gerrish, Miss Etta Jones, and Miss Jennie Knight. The
whole number of pupils enrolled in 1877 was 487. Under the present efficient
management the school has attained a degree of excellence which ranks it with
the best graded schools of the State. The present Board of Directors are
Bradstreet Robinson, President ; William C. Green, Secretary; and William M.
Herrold. Northern Illinois College : — This institution was first established as the
Western Union College and Military Academy, by Col. D. S. Covert, and favor
ably opened in the present building in September, 1861. Col. Covert had pre
viously thoroughly refitted the building, and added by purchase one and a half
blocks to the grounds on the north side. He had also received from the United
States Government a full equipment of muskets and accoutrements for the use
of a cadet corps, and had employed a band of musicians to furnish music at
drills, dress parades, reveille, and other exercises of the military department.
The civil war had commenced, causing the military spirit to run high in the
community, and large numbers of, young men consequently flocked to Col. Cov
ert's Academy for instruction in military tactics. The institution was success
fully conducted for five years under the same plan and management. During
the war it answered nobly to the calls of the Government for troops, and many
well drilled and disciplined cadets went forth from its halls to take their places.
in the actual arena of military life " at the front." The Illinois Soldiers' Col
lege and Military Academy was organized March 30, 1866, and afterwards in
corporated by act of the General Assembly, approved February 26, 1867, as the
Illinois Soldiers' College, the object being tq enable the disabled soldiers, of the

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 179
Union army, belonging to Illinois regiments, to acquire an education, in cases
where application was made, so as to fit them for proper stations in civil life.
The benefits of the institution also applied to their children. The first Faculty
consisted of Col. Leander H. Potter, as President, and Professor of Natural and
Moral Philosophy ; Rev. 0. D. W. White, Professor of Natural and Agricul
tural Science; C. AV. Feeks, Professor of Mathematics and Commercial Science;
and Rev. George W. Woodward, Professor of Ancient and Modern Languages.
Rev. Mr. White resigned his Professorship after serving some time, and Olin F.
Matteson, A. M., filled the vacancy. Moses Soule, A. M., and W. H. Brydges,
A. M., served a part of the time as instructors. Upon the resignation of Pres
ident Potter in June, 1873, the question of changing the name of the college
came up, and on the 2d of September, 1873, a vote was taken by the stock
holders in pursuance of notice given, and the name changed to Northern Illi
nois College, which name is still retained. The first Faculty under the new
name consisted of Rev. W. D. F. Lummis, A. M., President and Professor of
Latin and Greek Languages ; Mrs. W. D. F. Lummis, Governess and Teacher
of Mathematics ; C. A. Griswold, A. M., M. D., Lecturer on Anatomy and Hy
giene ; Mr. and Mrs. Lummis, Instructors in Modern Languages and English
Branches ; Miss Carrie J. Culbertson, Teacher of Instrumental Music ; and
Prof. M. M. Jones, Teacher of Vocal Music. Mr. Lummis resigned in the
summer of 1875, and in the fall of that year Rev. J. W. Hubbard, A. M., be
came President and Professor of Languages and Belle Lettres. During his
Presidency the following ladies and gentlemen were connected with the Fac
ulty : Mrs. R. M. Hubbard, Principal of Ladies' Department ; Moses Soule,
A.M., Professor of Latin and Greek Languages ; L. B. Kuhn, Professor of
Mathematics ; Miss Mary Diefendorf , Professor of Modern Languages and Eng
lish Branches ; Miss Anna L. North, Instructor in Vocal and Instrumental
Music ; C. A. Griswold, A. M., M. D., Lecturer on Anatomy and Hygiene ; C.
H. Brake, Miss Ida 0. Taylor, and Miss Mary H. Goodrich, Assistant Instruct
ors. Mr. Hubbard remained as President until the close of the collegiate year
in June, 1877, when he resigned. The present Faculty consists of Prof. A. A.
Griffith, A. M., President ; Moses Soule, A. M., Professor of Ancient Lan
guages ; T. S. Abbott, Mathematics, Civil and Mining Engineering, and French ;
F. W. Wright, Natural Sciences ; S. W. Moses, Teacher of Violin and Guitar ;
Jane Amelia Griffith, Preceptress ; Miss Sarah E. Linn, History, English Lit
erature,- and Normal Studies ; Miss Ella F. Taylor, conservatory of Music —
Piano, Organ, and Voice ; Miss Mary E. Spencer, Painting and Drawing ; Al
len A Griffith, Jr., Librarian. The report of Orrin Cowles, Esq., Secretary of
the Board of Trustees, made on the 27th of June, 1877, showed that the en
dowment fund of the college consisted of loans to the amount of $16,869.75 ;
with accrued interest amounting to $2,683.36 ; cash on hand, $442.38 — making
a total of $19,995.49. The college building is one of the finest in the State,
costing originally $100,000. Conhected with it is a beautiful lawn of nearly
three acres. The building is heated throughout by steam, thus dispensing with
the smoke, dust, labor, and danger of nearly a hundred stoves. The rooms are
large and well ventilated, and with little trouble the students can surround
themselves with all the comforts of home. The endowment fund is large, en
abling the Trustees and Faculty to offer superior advantages to students at a
moderate cost. The locality is one of the finest and most healthy in the State,
and is easy of access by both rail and river. The courses of study have been
arranged with much care, and are designed to meet the wants of the youth of
both sexes. Ladies completing the full course, or its equivalent, receive a
diploma conferring the honors of the degree of Mistress of Liberal Arts (M. L,

180 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
A.) ; those completing the English studies, a diploma of Mistress of English
Literature (M. E. L.). Gentlemen completing the course receive the degree of
Bachelor of Science (B. S.). Those who complete the Normal course, and have
teaching in view, receive a teacher's diploma. Diplomas are also given to
graduates in the Commercial and Scientific departments, and to those who com
plete the course in elocution and oratory. The present Trustees are : L. S.
Pennington, Charles Spears, Orrin Cowles, Payson Trask, John Dickson, N. W.
Hubbard, Leander Smith, D. S. Covert, E. R. Allen, Jas. McCoy, B. Bobinson, E.
B. Warner. The officers of the Board are : Hon. E. R. Allen, President ;
Orrin Cowles, Secretary ; Leander Smith, Treasurer ; James McCoy, Chairman
Executive Committee ; Dr. N. W. Hubbard, Payson Trask, and Orrin Cowles,
members of the Executive Committee.
Fulton City Lodge No. 189, A. F. and A. M.: — In the fall of 1855 several
of the brethren of the Mystic Tie in the city of Fulton and vicinity, resolved,
after consultation, to make an effort to raise a Lodge of Master Masons. The
first meeting for this purpose was held in the hall over Dr. Benton's store on
the evening of September 17, 1855. There were present Messrs. D. W. Thom
son, James L. Briggs, Wilson S. Wright, Charles J. Johnson, James McCoy, S.
W. Johnston, Reuben Patrick, J. M. Brown, Wm. Pearson and J. J. Harrison.
A resolution was passed at this meeting to petition to the Grand Lodge of the
State of Illinois for a Dispensation for a working Lodge of Master Masons to be
called Fulton City Lodge, and the following brethren were recommended as its
first officers: D. W. Thomson, W. M ; James L. Briggs, S. W., and Wilson S.
Wright, J. W. Upon receiving the petition the Grand Lodge duly granted a
Dispensation, and on the 24th of December, 1855, the Lodge was organized with
the following petition members as officers: David W. Thomson, W. M.; James
L. Briggs, S. W.; Wilson S. Wright, J. W.; Reuben Patrick, Treasurer; J. M.
Brown, Secretary; James McCoy, S. D.; S. W. Johnston, J. D. The Lodge
worked under Dispensation until October, 1856, when a charter was granted by
the Grand Lodge of the State, and thereupon it was duly instituted as Fulton
City Lodge, No. 189, A. F. and A. M., and the following officers installed: David
W. Thomson, W. M.; James L. Briggs, S. W.; Geo. D. Van Horn, J. W.; E. A.
Ingalls, Secretary; John Phelps, Treasurer; C. L. Carleton, S. D.; Wm. H.
Knight, J. D.; R. Patrick, Steward; B. Snyder, Master of Ceremonies, and A.
D. McCool, Chaplain. The building of the present elegant and well appointed
Hall was commenced in the fall of 1868, and finished in June, 1869. The dedi
cation took place on Wednesday, the 30th of June, 1869, the officers of the
Lodge being: R. H. Adams, W. M.; Geo. D. Van Horn, S. W.; E. W. Dutcher,
J. AV., and W. C. Snyder, Architect. The Grand Lodge for the purpose of dedi
cation was organized in the new Hall, as follows: James C. Luckey, R. W. G.
M.; Geo. D. Van Horn, G. S. AV.; E. W. Dutcher, G. J. W.; A. Sallee, D. G.
AV., and G. W. Woodward, Chaplain. The ceremonies were opened by James
C. Luckey, Acting Grand Master, in a beautiful and appropriate speech, after
which the Hall was solemnly dedicated to Masonry in due and ancient form.
David AV. Thomson then presented to the Lodge in an excellent speech, a beau
tiful gavel of olive wood, made in Jerusalem, and a rough and a perfect ashler
made of stone from the great quarry under the city of Jerusalem, out of which
it is supposed the stone was taken for building the Temple. The gifts were
received by the Acting Grand Master in the name of the Lodge. Bro. Forres
ter, of Aurora, followed with an excellent and forcible address on the objects
and spirit of Masonry, which was well received by all present, including those
not members of the fraternity. The whole proceedings closed with a splendid
supper in the banqueting room, provided by the lady friends of the brethren of

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 181
the Lodge. Those who have visited the Hall of Fulton City Lodge are univer
sal in the expression of the opinion that in all of its appointments it is one of
the best in this section of the country. The following have been the principal
officers of the Lodge since its organization: Worshipful Masters: — 1856-'57 and
58, David W. Thomson; 1859, Charles A. Chase; 1860, H. B. Owen; 1861,
David W. Thomson; 1862, W. C. Snyder; 1863-'64 and '65, A. Sallee; 1866,
W. C. Snyder; 1867-'68-'69-70 and 71, Reuben H. Adams; 1872 and 73, A.
Sallee; 1874 and 75, W. C. Snyder; 1876, C. A. Griswold. Senior Wardens:—
1856, Jas. L. Briggs; 1857, H. B. Owen; 1858, C. A. Chase; 1859, N. S. Case;
1860, Geo. D. Van Horn; 1861, W. C. Snyder; 1862, Geo. D. Van Horn; 1863,
M. M. Messier; 1864, Jas. B. Peabody; 1865 and' '66, R. H. Adams; 1867, A.
Sallee; 1868, Geo. D. Van Horn; 1869, Wm. Reed; 1870, E. W. Dutcher; 1871,
Thos. Conaty; 1872-73 and 74, Jacob Brown; 1875, Wm. Stuart; 1876, S. E.
Seeley. Junior Wardens: — 1856, Geo. D. Van Horn; 1857, E. A. Ingalls;
1858, Nelson S. Case; 1859, Jas. B. Peabody; 1860, W. C. Snyder; 1861, Jas.
McMurchy; 1862, Wm. Reed; 1863, John Hess; 1864, Wm. Reed; 1865, M.
M. Messier; 1866 and '67, Geo. D. Van Horn; 1868 and '69, E. W. Dutcher;
1870, J. C. Martindale; 1871, Jas. W. Smith; 1872 and 73, Henry Yule; 1874,
Wm. Stuart; 1875, C. A. Griswold; 1876, G. W. Clendenin. Treasurers:—
1856-'57-'58-'59-'60-'61 and 62, John Phelps; 1863-'64-'65 and '66, Leander
Smith; 1867, John Phelps; 1868-'69-70-71-72 and 73, W. C. Snyder; 1874
and 75, Leander Smith; 1876, W. C. Snyder. Secretaries:— 1856, O. E. Page;
1857 and '58, Geo. S. Phelps; 1859, W. W. Ware; 1860, J. B. Peabody; 1861,
E. A. Ingalls; 1862, D. E. Dodge; 1863 and '64, John Phelps; 1865, Jas. B.
Britton; 1866-'67 and '68, Jacob Brown; 1869-70-71-72 and 73, John
Phelps; 1874 and 75, Oscar Summers; 1876, Thos. H. Smith. From the be
ginning Fulton City Lodge has been prosperous, and notwithstanding three
Lodges, the Albany, Dunlap and Thompson, have been formed from its terri
tory, its membership at present is large, numbering over eighty, and is- con
stantly increasing. Regular communications are held at Masonic Hall, on Mon
days, on or before the full moon in each month.
Fulton Chapter No. 108, R. A. M. : — On the evening of Wednesday, Jan
uary 30, 1867, Companions A. Sallee, W. C. Snyder, R. H. Adams, John Phelps
and I. T. Moulton, met at Masonic Hall for the purpose of organizing a Chapter
of Royal Arch Masons in the city of Fulton. A Lodge of Past Masters was
opened in form. Officers— A. Sallee, R. W. M.; R. H. Adams, S. W.; W. C.
Snyder, J. W. The R. W. M. stated to the meeting that he had a Dispensa
tion in his possession for the organization of such a Lodge, granted by Orlin H.
Miner, M. E. G. H. P., for the State of Illinois, to the following Companions :
Abraham Sallee, D. W. Thomson, Stephen Ives, C. W. Aylesworth, Cyrus Pratt,
Peter Holman, John Phelps, W. C. Snyder, R. H. Adams, and Geo. D. Van
Horn. At the next meeting held on Wednesday evening, February 13, 1867,
the following officers were elected : A. Sallee, H. P.; S. L. Beston, K,; John
Eddy, S.; I. T. Moulton, C. of H; R. H. Adams, P. S.; George D. Van Horn,
R. A. C; W. C. Snyder, M. 3d V.; C. W. Aylesworth, M. 2d V.; John Phelps,
M. 1st V. The Chapter worked under dispensation until October 9, 1867, when
it received a Charter from the M. E. Grand Chapter of the State, and was duly
instituted as Fulton Chapter, No. 108, R. A. M., and the following officers in
stalled : Abraham Sallee, H. P.; D. W. Thomson, K.; Cyras Pratt, S.; Reuben
H. Adams, C. of H; William J. McCoy, P. S.; George D. VanHorn, R. A. C;
William C. Snyder, M. 3d V.; Charles W. Aylesworth, M. 2d V.; Charles F.
Welles, M. 1st V.; W. C. Snyder, Treasurer; John Phelps, Secretary; John
Eddy, C; Oliver Baker, B. G. Baker, Stewards; Charles D. Rose, Tyler. The

182 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
following have been the principal officers of the Chapter since 1867 : High
Priest— 1868-69-70-71-72-73-74 and 75, Abraham. Sallee; 1876 and 77,
W. C. Snyder. King— 1868, John Eddy; 1869 and 70, George W. Woodward;
1871, Thomas Conaty;1872 and 73, J. M. Startzman;1874, Charles Bent; 1875,
J. J. Curley; 1876, David E. Dodge; 1877, Dr. H. M. Booth. Scribe— 1868,
Samuel W. Johnston; 1869, S. C. Bates; 1870, E. W. Dutcher; 1871-72 and
73, David E. Dodge; 1874, G. W. Sweet; 1875, Noah Green; 1876, David
Merritt; 1877, George S. Melendy. Treasurer — 1868 to 1877, inclusive, W. C.
Snyder. Secretary — 1868 to 1877, inclusive, John Phelps. The Chapter num
bers at the present time over eighty members, and holds its regular convocations
at Masonic Hall, on or before the full moon of the Lunar month.
Masonic Relief Association : — At the regular communication of Fulton City
Lodge, No. 189, A. F. & A. M., held on the 11th of April, 1870, it was recom
mended that a joint stock company or association be formed to liquidate the
debt of the Lodge, which had been incurred in building and furnishing the new
Masonic Hall, and in pursuance of that recommendation the following members
met at the Hall on Monday evening, July 18, 1870 : C. Summers, W. C. Sny
der, Thomas Conaty, A. Sallee, E. W. Dutcher, R. H. Adams, George D. Van
Horn, George W. Padelford, H. Downey, C. E. Langford, D. E. Dodge, S. C.
Bates, George Eckert, J. M. Startzman, S. Lyon, C. A. Griswold, W. H. Pratt,
O. Summers, M. L. Osborne, Peter Dull, A. L. Morey, and John Phelps. On
motion E. W. Dutcher was called to the chair, and John Phelps appointed Sec
retary. A resolution was unanimously adopted that a joint stock association be
formed for the purpose named in the recommendation, and a committee appoint
ed to draft a code of by-laws for its government. At a meeting on the 1st of
August, 1870, the following permanent officers of the Association were elected :
President, James McCoy; Secretary, John Phelps; Treasurer, W. C. Snyder.
At the same meeting it was resolved that the corporate name be the "Masonic
Relief Association," and that the seal of the Association be circular with the
following words around the margin : "Masonic Relief Association, Fulton, 111." —
the device to be an open hand in the center with thumb turned to the palm on
the plumb. The Association was afterwards duly incorporated under division
12, chapter 25, of the statutes of the State concerning corporations, and the
capital stock fixed at $6,000, divided into shares of $25 each. The books of
subscription to the capital stock were opened on the 6th of August, 1870, and
in a short time thereafter the whole amount was taken, and the Association pur
chased the hall and the rooms connected therewith, with their fixtures and
appointments, and paid the entire debt. More than half of the stock was taken
by members of Fulton City Lodge, No. 189, A. F. & A. M., and Fulton Chapter
No. 108, R. A. M., and the two Lodges now rent the Hall from the Association.
The present officers of the Association are Reuben H. Adams, President; Wil
liam Y. Wetzell, Vice President; W. C. Snyder, Treasurer; John Phelps, Sec
retary; C. B. Bachelder, A. D. Mitchell, and M. L. Osborne, Executive Com
mittee. Abou Ben Adhem Lodge, No. 148, 1. O. O. F. : — This Lodge was first known
as Portland Lodge, No. 148, I. O. O. F., and met at Prophetstown until May 24,
1861, when it surrendered its charter and effects to the Grand Lodge of the
State. In 1871 the charter was renewed by the Grand Lodge and granted, to
gether with the effects of the old Lodge, to Abou Ben Adhem Lodge, the
meetings to be held at the City of Fulton. The first members of the new Lodge
were George W. Woodward, A. J. Heberle, L. F. Puffer, Z. M. Church, and
Clinton W. Jones, and the first meeting held July 29, 1871. The principal of
ficers of the Lodge have been as follows : Noble Grand — G. W. Woodward, L.

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 183
F. Puffer, A. Marsh, Charles Kahl, A. Volkman, C. M. Church, J. H. Fritz, H.
V. Fritz, J. K. Richey, Joel W. Farley, G. Walter, Hervey Smith, R. B. Myers
and George M. Farley. Secretary— L. F. Puffer, G. W. Woodward, A. Marsh,
Hiram Noble, H. H. Hobein, Joel W. Farley, George M. Farley, E. B. Hoxie,
and C. C. Carpenter. The Lodge hold regular meetings on Monday evening of
each week. The present number of members is seventy, with almost constant
additions. Fulton Business Association:— This Association was first organized on the 25th
of April, 1874, the meeting having been called at the written request of a large
number of business men and property holders of the city. At this meeting Dr.
W. C. Snyder was called to the chair, and A. R. McCoy appointed Secretary. The
subject of organizing an Association which would aid in advancing the material
interests of the city, was fully discussed, and its necessity clearly shown.
At the conclusion of the discussion it was unanimously resolved to organize. A
constitution and by-laws were then adopted, and the following officers elected :
President, Dr. Leander Smith; Vice President, Albert R. McCoy; Secretary, Dr.
W. C. Snyder; Treasurer, C. N. AYheeler. The following Committees were also
appointed : On Manufacturing and Improvement Interests : — F. E. Marcellus,
William C. Green 2d, J. M. Fay; On Mercantile Interests — Charles B. Mercereau,
Charles E. Langford, A. Sallee; On Railroad and River Interests — Dr. L. Smith,
Dr. W. C. Snyder, W. J. McCoy; On Statistics — Payson Trask, W. M. Herrold,
George Terwilliger. The Association went actively at work, and through its influ
ence several industries were established in the city. The records however, were
burned in the fire which destroyed the Postoffice building on the 26th of March,
1875, and but very little was done by the Association until its reorganization on
the 27th of March, 1877. At that meeting F. E. Marcellus was called to the
chair, Dr. W. C. Snyder officiating as Secretary. The Secretary stated that all
of the books, records, by-laws, etc., of the Association had been destroyed by
fire, and that the time for the annual election of officers had passed. It was
then resolved to adopt a new constitution and by-laws, and elect new officers.
All persons who had fully paid their membership fees to the Association, and
still resided in the city, were to be considered members in good standing. The
following officers were elected: President, Thomas Ar-Hardin ; Vice President,
Wm M. Herrold; Secretary, Dr. W. C. Snyder; Treasurer, Charles N. Wheeler;
Executive Committee, J. M. Startzman, Wm. C. Green 2d, and J. P. Jacobs.
Committees were afterwards appointed as follows : On Statistics — W. C. Green
2d, Dr. C. A. Griswold, J. Martin Fay; On Publication— Dr. W. C. Snyder, E.
Summers, C. B. Bachelder; On Manufactures — N. W. McGee, W. J. McCoy, W.
P. Culbertson. These officers are active, energetic business men, and will make
the influence of the Association felt upon the business interests of the city.
Woman's Christian Temperance Union : — This Society was organized on the
first of September, 1875, with a membership of nineteen, composed of the fol
lowing ladies : Mrs. B. A. Congar, Mrs. A. B. Gay, Mrs. G. J. Booth,
Mrs. J. P. Jacobs, Mrs. C. Broadhead, Mrs. W. P. Culbertson, Mrs. J.
M. Fay, Mrs. T. A. Hudson, Mrs. A. R. McCoy, Mrs. J. C. Snyder, Mrs. S.
M. Trask, Mrs. J. E. Gates, Mrs. E. A. Linn, Mrs. B. W. Brown, Mrs. G. L.
Lyon, Mrs.W. J. McCoy, Mrs.G. Terwilliger, Miss Celia Eddy, Miss Sarah E. Linn.
The first officers of the Society were : President, Mrs. B. W. Brown; Vice
Presidents, Mrs. G. J. Booth, Mrs. W. P. Hall, Mrs. Payson Trask, and Mrs. J.
C. Snyder; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Marie McCoy; Corresponding Secretary,
Mrs. Fannie McCoy; Treasurer, Miss Celia Eddy. On the 7th of October fol
lowing, Mrs. Brown resigned the position of President, and Mrs. John Dyer was
elected to fill the vacancy, and on the 26th of November«Mrs. Fannie McCoy

184 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
resigned her place of Corresponding Secretary, and Mrs. J. E. Gates was elected
to fill the vacancy. At the annual election on the 8th of September, 1876, Mrs.
John Hudson was elected President, and the other officers of 1875 re-elected.
The total receipts of the Union for the year ending September 1, 1876, were
$301.92, and from that date to March 1st, 1877, $121,93, making a total of $323,-
85. This sum has been expended for lectures, rent, furnishing a free reading
room, and incidentals. Among the lecturers have been some of the most noted
of the day. The Free Reading Room was opened on the 18th of July, 1876,
and continued open until the spring of 1877, when it was temporarily closed.
It is contemplated to open it again soon. The Union hold weekly meetings,
the members being the most active and energetic temperance workers in the
city. It now numbers upwards of fifty members.
The R. C. T. A. B. Society: — The Roman Catholic Temperance and Benevo
lent Society of the city of Fulton was organized on the 14th of August, 1870.
The following gentlemen were its first officers : President, Patrick Bell; Vice
President, Joseph Dugan; Secretary, Patrick Dorsey; Treasurer, Dennis Con
nors. The object of the Society is not only to promote the cause of Temper
ance, but to have the members act as a union in all deeds of benevolence that
may arise in the organization, or to which by a majority vote they are requested
to lend a helping hand. Their motto is "Temperance and Benevolence." Reg
ular monthly meetings are held at Stevenson's Hall. The number of members
is forty-five, and the present officers are, President, John Downs; Vice President,
Patrick Considine; Secretary, J. P. Hooks; Treasurer, Daniel Daly.
Fulton Temperance Reform Club: — This Club was first organized at the
M. E. Church, on Monday evening, March 27, 1876. Mr. A. A. Wheeler
was called to the chair, and Miss C. Eddy appointed Secretary. The constitu
tion and pledge were then offered to those present for signature, and thirty-
seven subscribed their names. The following permanent officers were then
elected: President, A. A. Wheeler; Vice Presidents, Charles Hall, John Han-
naher, John F. Cosner; Secretary, Mrs. M. B. Terwilliger; Treasurer, Mrs. AV. P.
Hall; Chaplain, Rev. J. W. Hubbard. This Club continued in existence for some
time, and was succeeded by the present club, which was organized June 30,
1877. The officers are: President, E. W. Dutcher; Secretary, C. J. Cole;
Treasurer, A. A. Wheeler. The Club meets every Monday evening at the
basement of the Presbyterian church, and is increasing its membership Jrapidly.
There is also a Lodge of the Sons of Temperance in existence in the city, but
for the past year or two meetings have not been held regularly, owing to
withdrawal of members, and the removal of others from town. The charter is
still retained and the Lodge can be set into active operation again at any time.
A Red Ribbon organization has also been formed, made up of children and
young people, which meets at stated times at the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Fulton Cemetery Association: — On the 24th of July, 1874, Charles N.
Wheeler, Wm. J. McCoy, Wm. C. Snyder, John M. Fay, and F. E. Marcellus
filed a petition and statement, duly signed and acknowledged in the office of
the Secretary of State, at Springfield, for the organization of an association
under the Act concerning corporations, to be known and 'called the Fulton
Cemetery Association, with a capital stock of $500, upon which the Secretary
of State issued a License to them as Commissioners to open books for subscrip
tion to the capital stock. On the 20th of August, 1874, the Commissioners
filed in the office of the Secretary of State a report of their proceedings under
the License, and on the same day a certificate was issued by that officer making
The Fulton Cemetery Association a legally organized corporation under the laws
of Illinois. Previous to the issuing of the certificate of' incorporation, and on

BIOGRAPHICAL. 185
the 6th of August, 1874, the Commissioners met at the office of W. C. Snyder,
when it was moved and carried that a Board of Directors to consist of six mem
bers be elected to exercise the corporate powers of the Association, the Board
to be divided into three classes, those of the first class to hold office until the
next annual election of the Association; those of the second class to hold office
for two years, and those of the third class for three years. The following per
sons were then elected Directors: First Class — Peter Kitchen, W. Y. Wetzell;
Second Class — F. E. Marcellus, J. Martin Fay; Third Class — W. C. Snyder,
W. J. McCoy. The Directors afterwards met and elected the following officers:
President, W. J. McCoy; Secretary, W. C. Snyder; Treasurer, F. E. Marcellus;
Executive Committee, W. J. McCoy, J. Martin Fay, W. C. Snyder. The cap
ital stock was very soon taken, and the Association commenced active opera
tions under their charter. The fire on the 26th of March, 1875, which
destroyed the Postoffice and JbimiaZ building also destroyed the records, by-laws,
plats, deeds, seal, etc., of the Association, the Secretary's office being located in
the building, and at a meeting of the Directors subsequently held, the Secretary
was instructed to procure new certificates of stock, blank deeds, seal, etc., and
to record anew the names of stockholders, directors and officers, and also to
procure a copy of all the matter of record in the Recorder's office at Morrison,
and record the same into a book of record for the use of the Association. In
September and October, 1874, the new part of the cemetery, comprising five
acres, was purchased, and both the new and old grounds enclosed with a good
substantial fence. In 1858 the city built a fence around the old grounds, but
long prior to the organization of the Association it had got out of repair by
neglect and the ravages of time, so that it afforded but little or no security
against predatory animals. In fact citizens were ashamed of the cemetery on
account of its condition. The grounds had been well selected, the site being on
a bluff in the northern part of the town overlooking most of the city, the
Narrows of the river, nearly all of the city of Lyons, a part of Clinton, and a
wide stretch of country. In it had been laid large numbers of the citizens of
Fulton, over whose resting place in many instances, fine monuments had been
erected. But weeds and briars had been permitted to grow up everywhere, and
the swine of the neighborhood had full privilege to indulge in their rooting
propensities at all times. The Association has remedied all this, having ex
pended over $1,200 in the purchase of additional grounds, and the laying out,
beautifying, and properly enclosing the whole, so that the citizens can now point
to it with pride. These improvements are going on year by year. The present
officers are the same as those first elected.
Biographical.
Hon. James McCoy was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, on the 22d
of September, 1816. When near his majority he turned his face Westward
determined to seek a home in the Mississippi Valley, and on the 9th of May,
1837, stopped at Fulton City. The situation of the place, and its sur
roundings, so pleased him that he concluded to end his search here, and to take
his chances for fortune with those he already found on the spot.. There being
no ready opening for the practice of his profession, that of law, he engaged in
surveying and school teaching, until early in 1839, when he went east, and was
married on the 23d of April of that year to Miss Elizabeth Russell, of Cham
paign county, Ohio, formerly of Loudon county, Virginia. He returned to Ful
ton in October, 1839, and has remained a resident ever since. In 1840 he com
menced the active practice of law at the West, and has devoted his attention to
it, excepting when public duties demanded his time, up to the present. His
[23-U.]

186 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
practice has taken him to all the courts of this and other States, and to the
District, Circuit and Supreme Courts of the United States. When the question
of connecting the Mississippi river with the Lakes was brought forward in 1851,
he early took an active and conspicuous part in securing the Mississippi term
inus at Fulton, and was a Director and the first President of the Mississippi &
Rock River Junction Railroad, one of the roads having that object in view. It
was mainly due to his efforts that a law was passed by the Legislature of Illi
nois incorporating that company, as well as the one passed by the Iowa
Legislature incorporating a company to construct a road from Lyons to Council
Bluffs. When the Legislature of Illinois passed the act giving the County
Court of Whiteside county concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court, he
was elected Judge, and served in that capacity for two years, and until the law
was repealed. In 1868 he was elected one of the Presidential Electors on the
Republican ticket, and in 1869 a delegate to the Constitutional Convention
which framed the constitution of that year. In that convention he took a
prominent part, and by his knowledge of constitutional law rendered valuable
assistance in securing an incorporation into our State charter, of many of its
wisest and best features. He was one of the first Trustees elected for the
Illinois Soldiers' College, and continued in that capacity during the existence of
the College under that name, and also since, under the name of the Northern
Illinois College, always taking an active part in behalf of the best interests of
the Institution. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy have had eight children. Melinda, Wil
liam J., James, Albert Russell, Addison W., Augustin, Edward and Joseph H.
They are all living except James and Joseph H. Melinda married Robert E.
Logan, and is living in Union Grove Township; William J. married Marie
Aylesworth, and is living in Fulton ; Albert Russell married Fannie Congar, and
resides in Clinton, Iowa; Addison AY. married Georgiana Russell, and resides
in Fulton. Judge McCoy was one of the early settlers of Fulton, as will be
seen by the history of the town, and has been identified with its interests, as
well as those of the county, from that time to the present.
Henry C. Fellows was born in the town of New Lebanon, Columbia
county, New York, March 10, 1815, and came to Whiteside county in March,
1837, and settled in Fulton, being one of the very earliest settlers in the town.
On the 9th of November, 1843, he married Miss Lydia Baker, daughter of Jacob
and Elizabeth Baker, at Union Grove, in this connty. The children of this
marriage have been Robert J., Augusta, Ellen H., Florence A., Mary E.,
William H, and Frederick A. Of these Robert J. is married and lives in
Union Grove, and Florence, William H., and Frederick A., live in Fulton.
Augusta, Ellen H., and Mary E., are dead. Mr. Fellows was one of the original
proprietors of the present city of Fulton, and has been identified with its inter
ests from the very commencement. Together with the early pioneers he
suffered all the hardships and privations incident to such a life, as well as enjoyed
all the pleasures with whieh the people at that time were wont to season their
otherwise monotonous existence, fle early displayed capacities which fitted
him for public position, and was consequently called upon to fill offices of honor
and trust almost from the start. He was for a number of years Deputy Sheriff
of the county, and a police magistrate of the city, and Justice of the Peace of
the township of Fulton for fully twenty years. In 1857 he was first elected
Supervisor of the township, and was re-elected at seven different times afterwards,
making eight years service in all as member of the Board of Supervisors. He
has also held other township offices, and was one of the first aldermen of the
city. At the time when the project of connecting the lakes with the Missis
sippi river by railroads was being pushed, he took an active part in securing the

BIOGRAPHICAL. 187
western terminus at Fulton. In fact his influence has been felt in every project
gotten up in behalf of the interests of Fulton, and we may also say of the
county. By industry and prudence he has secured a large property, and bids
fair to enjoy it for many years to come.
Jessie Johnson was a native of Troy, N. Y., and was born April 2, 1798.
He came to Fulton in June, 1838, and remained until October of that year, and
then moved to the bluffs, five miles east of Fulton, where he had purchased a
farm, and upon which he remained, attending strictly to its cultivation, until
1853, when he returned to Fulton and made that place his home for the rest of
his days. Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Mary Webb, at Lowville, Lewis
county, New York, February 8, 1822. The following are the names of the
children of this marriage, according to date of birth : Mary, born July 28,
1823 ; Sarah R., October 6, 1824 ; Charles J., July 8, 1826 ; Harriet, February
10, 1828 ; John D., June 8, 1830 ; Edmund L., April 8, 1832 ; Cornelia, March
18, 1834— died when an infant ; Cornelia P., June 18, 1836 ; Henrietta, Au
gust 25, 1838 ; Anna M., September 23, 1840 ; Eliza N, March 22, 1842 ;
Caleb C, May 23, 1844. Mary married C. L. Ware, and lives at Fulton ; Sa
rah married W. H. Knight, of Fulton, and died January 12, 1864 ; Charles J.
married Mary Exley, and lives in Chicago ; Harriet married William C. Green,
and lives at Fulton ; John D. married Olive Abbott, and lives at LeClaire,
Iowa ; Edmund L. (deceased) married Mahala Wright, and was a resident of
Fulton ; Cornelia P. married Richard Green, and lives at Fulton ; Henrietta
married Charles Davidson, and lives at Bloomington,, 111.; Anna M. married
William Reed (now deceased), and lives at Fulton ; Eliza N. married Samuel
Dennison, and lives at Fulton ; Caleb C. married Josephine Worthington, and
lives at Sterling. The three sons living, Charles J., John D., and Caleb C, are
eminent lawyers. Mr. Johnson never held any public position, save that of
Road Commissioner for one term in the early days of Fulton. He died at his
residence in Fulton after a lingering illness, October 12, 1876.
Dr. Daniel Reed is a native of Onondaga county, New York, and was
born September 4, 1803. He remained in that county until he was thirty-two
years of age, during which time he studied medicine, for the most of the time,
in the office of Dr. Daniel T. Jones, at that time one of the ablest and most
successful physicians in the interior of New York State ; and upon being ad
mitted into the brotherhood of Doctors of Medicine, commenced practice at Am-
boy, in the same county. In 1835 he came West and settled in Chicago, where
he remained't-wo years, and then moved to Fulton, where he has resided ever
since. Dr. Reed married Miss Lucinda F. Meigs, a native of Bethlehem, Litch
field county, Mass., May 1, 1828. The children of this marriage have been as
follows : William, born May 15, 1829 ; Helen M., born October 28, 1831 ;
Athalie, born December 14, 1833 ; James H., born January 26, 1836 ; Cynthia
J., born March 26, 1838 ; Harriet E., bom May 15, 1841. Of these Harriet
died September 6, 1841 ; Helen M., November 6, 1857 ; and William, April 17,
1872. James H. is the celebrated photographic artist at Clinton, Iowa. The
Doctor's services as a physician, as well as those of his wife (for it is univer
sally acknowledged oy those who knew her in the early days of Fulton that she
was as good a doctor as the very best of them), were called into active requisi
tion during the first years or their residence in Fulton, and especially in 1839,
when almost everybody in this section of the country was sick. For days and
nights together during that year neither the Doctor nor Mrs. Reed found any
rest, the latter especially going from one bedside to the other in her efforts to
relieve the stricken ones, and many to this day gratefully remember her care
and kindness during their long and severe illness. Dr. Reed has been frequently

188 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
elected to public offices both in the city and township of Fulton, and was Cor
oner of the county from 1856 to 1858.
Ephraim Summers was born in Barnet, Caledonia county, Vermont, Sep
tember 4, 1812. He remained in his native State until 1836, when he came
West, and first settled in Portland, Whiteside county, where he worked at his
trade, that of a blacksmith, until the fall of 1841, and then moved to Sterling.
In 1848 he settled in Fulton. In 1850 he caught the gold fever and went to
California, where he remained two years, taking the overland route as he went,
and returning by way of the Isthmus. Mr. Summers was married to Miss Mary
L. Dixon on the 4th of February, 1834. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sum
mers have been: Clois, Sophia, Orilla, Morris, Cyrus, and Ida Morris. All are
living except the latter, who died in infancy. Since his residence in Fulton,
Mr. Summers has worked at his trade for part of the time, and has also been in
the hardware trade. He was justice of the peace and police magistrate for a
large number of years, and also held other town and city offices, and for several
years was United States Internal Revenue Gauger.
Dr. William C. Snyder was born in Haddenfield, Hunterdon county, New
Jersey, July 29, 1821, and was educated as a physician and admitted to prac
tice in his native State. In June, 1847, at the age of 26 years, he came to
Whiteside county and settled in Union Grove, where he practiced his profession
until June, 1854, when he moved to Fulton. During the Doctor's residence in
Union Grove he represented the town in the Board of Supervisors in the years
1852-53 and '54, being the first Supervisor of the town. From 1850 to 1853
he was Postmaster at Union Grove. In 1856 he was elected Supervisor of
Fulton, and in 1858 was appointed Drainage Commissioner for the county, and
held the office until 1872. This was a position of peculiar trust, and one of
great interest and importance to the county. The Doctor entered upon its du
ties with the full determination of discharging them with fairness, fidelity, and
to the best- interests of all concerned; and that he did so is the universal ex
pression of all conversant with his official acts. In the years 1857-'58 and '59
he was Collector of the township of Fulton. In 1866 he was elected Mayor of
the city of Fulton, but it being ascertained that he could not perform its func
tions by reason of holding a United States office, he resigned. In May, 1861, he
was appointed Postmaster at the city of Fulton by President Lincoln, and the
appointment unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. The term
was for four, years, and at its expiration he was re-appointed, and this has been
the case at the expiration of each term up to the present time, a 'period of six
teen years. Previous to his appointment the Postoffice had been moved from
one place to another in the city, as the convenience or opportunities of the dif
ferent postmasters seemed to dictate or demand, but upon "his assuming the
position he permanently located it in his own building on Base street, and fitted
it up in a manner to fully answer the requirements of the public. A more con
venient or more tastily arranged and fitted up Postoffice cannot be found in this
section of the country. The Doctor has always been a public-spirited citizen,
and whenever any movement in behalf of the interests, growth or pros
perity of the city of his home, or of the county, was projected, he was one of
the first to be consulted, and the first to act. He is at present Secretary of the
Fulton Business Association and the Cemetery Association, positions which he
has held from the organization of these bodies. He has also held the position
of Chairman of the Republican County Committee for quite a number of years,
and was for one term a member of the Republican State Central Committee.
Lyman Blake is a native of Chichester, Merrimac county, New Hampshire,
and came first to Whiteside county in the summer of 1839, and bought a claim

BIOGRAPHICAL. 189
in the Precinct of Fulton, now known as Blake's Addition to the city of Fulton.
After purchasing the claim he went back to New Hampshire~and_remained two
years, and then went to Boston, staying there over a year; thence to Buffalo,
New York, and from there to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lived twelve years. In
1854 he returned to Fulton, where he has remained ever since. In 1855 he sold
a large part of his land to the Railroad Company, and in 1856 his addition was
laid out into lots. The Addition originally covered seventy-five acres- of land,
and was the fractional 80 of section 28, township 22. Mr. Blake was Alderman
of the city during the years 1859-60. He has always been averse to holding
public positions, preferring to devote his time to his private interests. Mr.
Blake is a bachelor.
William Y. Wetzell was born in the city of Washington, and first came
to Illinois in May, 1836, locating first in La Salle county, and afterwards near
Oregon City, Ogle county. In 1848 he came to Whiteside, and settled in Alba
ny, and afterwards in Newton township, and in 1865 came to Fulton. He was
Postmaster at Albany from 1848 to 1851, and Supervisor of that town in 1853.
In 1875 and 76, he was Mayor of the City of Fulton, and in 1876 was elected
Supervisor of the town, and re-elected in 1877. Mr. Wetzell is a merchant,
and an enterprising, thorough, business man.
Dr. C. A. Griswold was born in Saybrook, Connecticut, November 24,
1830, and graduated at Yale College in the class of 1852. He took the degree
of Doctor of Medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in the city of
New York, in the session of 1855 and '56. In September, 1856, he located in
Fulton, and has since resided there, practicing his profession. The Doctor
served three years in the army, as surgeon of the 93d Illinois Volunteers, dur
ing the War of the Rebellion. Since that time he has been Examining Sur
geon for pensions. He was for two years a Director of the Public Schools of
Fulton, and Mayor of the city in 1868. The Doctor has also driven the edito
rial quill, having been for a time one of the editors of the Fulton Courier. He
was one of the victims of the Ashtabula horror, and came very near losing his
life. As a physician he ranks among the very best in this section of the 'State.
Ricrard Green came to Fulton from Bono, Lawrence county, Indiana, on
the 29th of September, 1849, and engaged in business as a merchant, opening
first in the old store building of Chenery & Phelps, just above the present Pot
tery, where he remained for two years and then sold out to Martin Knox. After
that he moved into a new brick store built expressly for him. This building
stood next to the present residence of Mr. W. P. Hall. He sold goods there for
four years, and then moved his store into his present dwelling house, and con
tinued business there for over three years, and closed out in 1860 to enter into
the grain trade, in which he remained until 1870. The store, however, was
again opened in 1866 in his dwelling house, and remained there for a year in
charge of his son, Wm. C. Green, 2d, and then moved to the present corner, his
son continuing in charge until 1870, the firm being R. Green & Son. This firm
continued until 1877, when another son, Nathaniel, entered the partnership,
and the firm became R. Green & Sons. The store now occupied by the firm is
a fine, substantial brick one, seventy-five feet deep, twenty-four wide, two stor
ies in height with cellar under the whole building, and was built by the firm in
1877. The largest stock of dry goods in Fulton is kept in this store. Mr.
Green has been one of the leading business men in Fulton ever since he became
a resident, and among other public positions has been Supervisor and Collector
of the town. He was also Postmaster at Bono, Indiana, before he came to
Whiteside. John Phelps is a native of Greenfield, Franklin county, Massachusetts,

190 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
and at the age of 17 went to Hartford, Connecticut, where he remained for eight
years as clerk in a store, and in 1844 came to Whiteside county, and settled in
Fulton. He at first entered the store of Augustin Phelps as clerk, and after
wards became a partner, the firm name being A. & J. Phelps. The firm contin
ued to do business until the death of the senior partner, when Mr. Phelps com
menced as a merchant upon his own account. In 1855 he disposed of his store
to Patrick & Hollinshed, and since that time has not engaged in business. Mr.
Phelps at an early day took an active part in behalf of the interests of Fulton,
and has been frequently called upon by his fellow citizens to hold public posi
tions, having been School Director, Township School Treasurer, Supervisor and
Assessor of the town, Alderman of the city, etc. He still resides on his old
homestead near the river.
David E. Dodge is a native of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, New York,
and in the spring of 1856 came to Fulton from Syracuse, New York, and has
made Fulton his home ever since. He was a merchant in Fulton for a long
time, and then retired, but commenced business again about two years ago, his
present store being on the corner of Cherry and River streets. He was a Trus
tee and Street Commissioner during the time Fulton was a village, and after it
became a city was Alderman in 1859 and '60, and again in 1868 and '69. In
1863 he was Mayor of the city. He has also held township offices at various
times, and in 1874 was elected Coroner of the county.
Dr. John Eddy is a native of Whitestown, Oneida county, New York; and
was born July 29, 1800. He came to Illinois in June, 1849, and first settled at
Naperville, Du Page county, and in 1855 came to Fulton. The Doctor was
elected Coroner of Whiteside county in 1860, and held the office two years.
He was made a Master Mason in 1823, making him one of the oldest Masons
in the country. He has also been a Knight Templar since 1848, and has held
the office of Chaplain in the Royal Arch Chapter for several years. On the 24th
of January, 1874, Doctor and Mrs. Eddy called around them their friends at
their golden wedding, an event which very few married couples in this western
country, or, indeed, in any other, are permitted to celebrate.
C. S. Lunt first came to Illinois in May, 1836, from Boston, Massachu
setts,. making his way by canal, stages and lake, and settled first in Chicago,
where he remained until the spring of 1838, when he came to Dixon, and started
down Rock river in a small boat, in company with Mr. J. Thompson, landing at
Rock Island in due time. Not being satisfied with the place, he embarked on
an up river Mississippi steamer and landed at New York, now Clinton, and then
walked to Lyons, crossing the river at that place in a large canoe, the only ferry
then running, to Fulton. In 1839 he bought the claim in Jordan where Dr.
Pennington's farm is now situated, and built a log house upon it, and in 1840
moved to Fulton, and purchased a house and several lots of Mr. Church, the lots
being situated where the college grounds are now. Here he continued to reside
until the fall of 1852, when he purchased his present farm in Fulton township,
to which he gave the name of " Cottage Grove Farm." Mr. Lunt has seen a
good deal of pioneer life, and his reminiscences of the early times are very in
teresting. Being of a naturally quiet disposition, he never entered into political
life, preferring to attend strictly to his private business, and devote his leisure
moments to literature. He is a man of broad culture, being well versed in both
the ancient and modern classics. The later years of his life have been passed
rather secludedly at his beautiful home on Cottage Grove Farm.
Col. Samuel Johnston was a native of Johnstown, Montgomery county,
New York, and came to Illinois in 1834, settling first in Dixon, where he re
mained until 1840, when he came to Sterling, and opened the second public

BIOGRAPHICAL. 191
house in that place. In 1842 he settled in Fulton, and engaged in the hotel
and merchandising business. Col. Johnston was married to his first wife, Miss
Hannah Watrous, on the 2d of April, 1799, the following being the children of
that union: Styres W., Mary Ann, Hannah, S. Watrous, and Elizabeth. Of
these, Mary Ann and Elizabeth are dead. Elizabeth married Dr. John Nash,
and moved with her husband to California, and both died there. Styres W,
lives near Council Bluffs, Iowa. Hannah married Dr. A. Benton, of Fulton,
and after her husband's death moved to Chicago, where she still resides. S.
Watrous, or as he is more familiarly known among his friends and acquaintances,
" Wat.", lives near Fort Scott, Kansas. Col. Johnston's first wife died October
4, 1818, and on February 28, 1823, he married Miss Rebecca Crawford atBetts-
burg, Broome county, New York. The only child of this marriage is Mrs. Re
becca S. Sayre, the popular proprietress of the Revere House, in Morrison.
Mrs. Sayre has been twice married, first to Augustin Phelps, one of the earliest
of Fulton's merchants, and after his death, to Geo. W. Sayre. During his life
time Col. Johnston was an active, thorough-going business man, and was one of
the best known hotel keepers of his day. His hotel in Fulton, called the Ful
ton House, was widely and extensively patronized. While a resident of Dixon
he materially aided in the organization of the first Masonic Lodge at that place,
and was also one of the first to organize a Masonic Lodge at Fulton. He was
enthusiastic in all that pertained to Masonic matters, and never missed attend
ing a communication of his own Lodge, or of a sister Lodge, whenever he was
within reaching distance. He died in September, 1854, at South Bend, Indiana,
and his wife at Fulton on the 23d of December, 1864.
Charles N. Wheeler is a native of Sharon, Litchfield county, Connecti
cut, and was born December 27, 1827. He moved from the " Land of Steady
Habits" in 1846, and located at Union, Broome county, New York, where he
remained until December, 1853, when he came to Fulton. In 1856 he, in com
pany with Charles B. Mercereau, built the brick store on the southwest corner
of Cherry and River streets, now owned and occupied by ex-Mayor William Y.
Wetzell, where the firm, then known as Mercereau & Wheeler, carried on the
grocery business. In 1865 Mr. Wheeler purchased the interest of Mr. Merce
reau, and continued the business about- a year, and then sold to Mr. Wetzell.
The following year he remained out of business, and in 1868 purchased the
hardware business of C. F. AA'elles, situated on Base street, and conducted the
business at that place until the building burned down in November, 1871. Not
dismayed by this disaster, he opened another store at the corner of Base street
and Broadway, now occupied by A. Volkman as a tailoring establishment, and
remained there until he built his present brick store, on the site of the burned
building, next door south of the bank. This building is 76 by 24 feet in size,
and two stories high, the first story being used as the hardware store, and the
second as a tinshop and storage room. Mr. Wheeler carries a very large stock
of all kinds of goods in his line, and has an extensive trade. In 1856 he built
the residence he now occupies. Mr. Wheeler has been an Alderman of the city
of Fulton, and was Mayor for two terms, being elected first in 1867 and again
in 1869. In 1858 he was Supervisor of the township. At present he is Treas
urer of the Fulton Business Association. This Association has for its object
the encouragement of all business enterprises in the city. Mr. Wheeler is one
of the leading business men of the county, public spirited, a good citizen, and
bears an excellent reputation.
John Dyer was born in the town of Orleans, Jefferson county, New York,
March 6, 1824, and upon coming west stayed in Wisconsin from May 1856, un
til November of that year, when he went to Clinton, Iowa, where he remained

192 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
until October 5, 1857, when he premanently settled in Fulton. He engaged in
the boot and shoe trade at first in Fulton in company with George S. Phelps,
the store standing on the site of Aid. A. D. Mitchell's present store. The part
nership existed about six months when Mr. Dyer went into business for himself,
afterwards in partnership with W. W. Curtis, and so remained until 1861, when
Mr. Curtis secnred a government position at Washington. In September, 1861,
Mr. Dyer enlisted in what was then known as the Lincoln Regiment, and be
came Second Lieutenant of Company F — a company raised mainly through his
efforts, and was mustered into service in November of the same year. The Reg
iment was afterwards known as the 52d Illinois Volunteers, fle was with this
Regiment in all of its duties until March 1862, when he was prostrated by
severe sickness brought on by an unusually heavy cold taken during the previous '
winter in northwestern Missouri, and compelled by reason of it to resign and come
home. He could not willingly, however, remain at home when his country de
manded the services of its loyal citizens in the field, and when the President
issued the call for more troops in July, 1862, although not fully recovered from
his late illness, again enlisted, this time being connected with the 93d Illinois
Volunteers. Company F. of that Regiment, was raised by him,' and Captain
Knight, of Albany, and he again had the position of the Second Lieutenantcy
conferred upon him. The Regiment went to the front in November, 1862, and
was with Gen. Sherman at Tallahatchie, expecting to do some severe fighting,
but when the rebels made the raid on Holly Springs, were ordered back to that
point, so that during the time Lieut. Dyer belonged to the Regiment, it did not
take part in any heavy battle. Sickness again overtook him in the spring of
1863, or in fact never had left him since his attack the year before, and in April
he resigned and came home. He was prostrated during the following summer
and fall; and did not resume business until December 1863, when he again be
came engaged in the boot and shoe trade, and has so remained, with exception
of a few months, until the present time. Mr. Dyer has been honored by his fel
low citizens with various offices since his residence in Fulton, having been
elected Collector of the township in 1860; Supervisor in 1868 and 1874, and
Justice of the Peace in 1871, serving four years. He was Alderman of the city
for the second ward in 1869 and 1870,- and in the spring of 1877 was elected
Police Magistrate of the city. To each of these offices he brought a faithful
and intelligent discharge of its duties.
Orlando Sprague was one of the earlier settlers of Fulton, and for sev
eral years was engaged in business in the city, but retired some time ago: Wm.
H. Knight, now a farmer in the township, was one of the first settlers of what
is now Ustick township, a biographical sketch of whom appears in the history of
Ustick. His brothers, John P., and Charles C. Knight came sometime after
him, and are still residents of Fulton. Carlos N. Ware, now a resident of
the township, was also one of the earlier settlers of the city. Caleb Clark
came at an early day, and was quite prominently connected with the ferry, and
hotel business at that time. For quite a number of years he has not been en
gaged in business in the city, although retaining his residence in it.

CHAPTER X.
History of Fenton Township — Pratt — Fenton Center — Biographical.

History of Fenton Township.
The township of Fenton comprises all of Congressional township 20 north,
range 4 east, north of Rock river, and also so much of section 1, township 19,
range 4 east, and section 6, township 19 north, range 5 east, as lies north of
Rock river. The territory now forming the township, formerly belonged to
Lyndon Precinct, and so remained until the Commissioners appointed by the
County Commissioners' Court, gave it its name and boundary in 1852. The
Commissioners appointed in 1849 to locate and give names to townships, but
whose acts proved to be void for illegality, named the town Eden, and for some
reason the people clung to that name even up to the township election in 1852,
after it had been named Fenton by the Commissioners of 1852, as the follow
ing record of that election in the books of the Town Clerk, shows: "Eden
Archives. Township 20 north, range 4 east, and fractional part of township
20 north, range 5 east, being on section 31 and west of the waters of Rock
river, and fractional parts of township 19 north of ranges 4 and 5, north of
Rock river and east of section 4 in township 19 north of range 4 inclusive.
Also that part of township 20 north, range 4 east, lying south of Rock river
inclusive. In accordance with the laws of township organization the inhabitants,
legal voters of the above named township convened at the house of James M.
Pratt, on the 6th of April, 1852, for the purpose of organizing said town, and
electing the proper officers in and for said town for the year ensuing, when
Joseph Fenton was elected Moderator pro tem of said meeting. The voters then
proceeded to ballot for Moderator, when on canvassing the votes Zera M. Emery,
was declared elected, and J. D. Odell, Clerk, viva voce, who being duly sworn,
the meeting was opened by proclamation, and' the electors proceeded to ballot
for town officers for the ensuing year." It will be seen by this record that
the electors of the town not only adhered to the name of Eden, but gave the
boundaries of the township differently from those of the Commissioners of 1852.
All this, however, was afterwards duly remedied. The name of Fenton was
given to the township in honor of Joseph Fenton, the first settler.
About one-third of the township was originally low, swampy land, but by
ditching has been reclaimed, and most of it is now under a high state of culti
vation. One county ditch runs through the town, coming in on section 24 on
the east side, and passing out on the north part of section 30 on the west.
This ditch empties into Rock creek from the east, and the part starting on the
west side of the creek runs down through Erie and Newton townships, and
thence to the Meredocia. There is also a county ditch running into the town
from the north, which empties into Lynn creek, a short distance from its con
fluence with Rock creek. These ditches have lateral ones running into them,
so that very good drainage is afforded. Among the unbroken parts of this low
land, there are about four hundred acres lying in a body, which is used for the
purpose of pasturage. This body of land is owned by some heirs living at the
East, and they refuse to dispose of it in parcels, preferring to retain it and pay

194 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
the taxes, unless the whole can be sold together. The price at whieh it is held,
we are also informed, is another bar to its sale. The Cattail, a broad slough
originally, runs into the town a short distance at the central part of the north
side. The northwest portion of the town is quite rough and hilly, sections
seventeen and eighteen particularly so, and for some time after the organization
of the town remained unsettled. They are now only sparsely settled. The
town is watered by Rock creek, which flows through it from north to south,
coming in on section one and passing out on section thirty-three. Upon this
stream, on the southeast quarter of section 15, a saw mill was built in the fall
of 1844, by Dexter Wood and Alfred Wood, and afterwards sold to Hiram Har
mon, and became known as Harmon's mill, but was abandoned some years ago .
Lynn creek comes into the town from the north, and empties into Rock creek,
on section three. On the south the town is bounded by Rock river, along whose
banks many of the farmers have wood lands. If in fixing the boundaries of the
political township those of the Congressional township had been followed, Rock
river would have passed through the southeast part of Fenton. Excellent water
is also obtained from wells in most parts of the town.
The first settlements were made along Rock river, in the south part of the
town, so as to be convenient to both wood and water. The first settler was
Joseph Fenton, who came with his family, then consisting of his wife and four
children, from Burlington county, New Jersey, in October, 1835. Mr. Fenton
first put up a rude cabin in the woods near the bank of Rock river, in Erie
township, in which himself and family lived from about the first of October,
1835, until the middle of January, 1836, meanwhile erecting a better one of
logs on the road near where the present residence now stands. Mrs. Fenton
relates that the first meal partaken of by the family after their arrival at their
new home, was prepared in the woods, using a tree that had been blown down
for a table, and this primitive way of cooking and eating was followed for some
time. During that fall and winter the family had about forty Winnebago
Indians for neighbors, and although they were peaceably inclined, yet caused
more or less trouble, and occasionally gave Mrs. Fenton and the children "a heap
big scare." They were on a hunting expedition, as Rock river in that vicinity
was then a favorite resort for deer, and other wild game, and its waters were
stocked with fish. They remained all winter, and were followed afterwards for
several years by similar parties of the Winnebago and other tribes. Some of
the deer paths in that neighborhood, leading from the prairie to the river, re
mained visible for a long time. It was not an infrequent occurrence at that
period for deer to pass up and down these paths every hour during the day.
The other early settlers were Lyman Bennett, who came in 1836, and is now a
resident of Albany; Charles Clark, John R. Clark, and Wm. L.Clark, in 1837, the
latter of whom died in 1855. Joseph James, 1837; Earnest Warner, 1837;
Theron Crook, 1838; Robert G. Clendenin, 1838; Reuben Thompson,
R. M. Thompson, Samuel A. Thompson, F. H. Thompson, James Hamilton,
and G. H. Peters and others, in 1841.
Alfred AY. Fenton, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Fenton, was the first white
child born in what is now known as Fenton township, his birth occurring on the
13th of May, 1837. Robert S. Fenton, by reason of having been a constant
resident of the township from 1835 to the present time, claims that he is the
oldest Fentonian of the male persuasion living in the town, and the palm has
been gracefully awarded to him by the citizens. The first parties to enter into
matrimony were Robert G. Clendenin and Miss Hannah Clark, the happy event
taking place October 3, 1839, and the ceremony performed by Rev. E. H.
Hazard, Mr, Clendenin was the father of. Frank CJendenin, Esq., Postmaster

HISTORY OF FENTON TOWNSHIP. 195
at Morrison, who was born in Fenton in 1840. The first death is thought to
be that of Miss Esther Peters, and took place in 1841.
The first road travelled was the one known as the Dixon and Rock Island-
stage road, and ran through the south part of the town. The celebrated Frink
& Walker stages used to run upon this road, and in its day it was probably the
best known highway in this part of the State. The proprietors of the Frink &
Walker line of stages were energetic and broad minded business men, and de
termined to please the public. Their horses and vehicles were the best that
could be procured, and their time table lived up to as near as horse flesh and
capable driving would allow. Before the era of railroads these stages carried
the mails and passengers from Chicago to different points west, and were con
sidered prodigies of speed and comfort. This old stage route is now known in
our southern townships as the Lyndon and Erie road, and passes by the farms of
Solon Stevens, M. M. Potter, J. M. Pratt, Samuel A. Thompson, and those of
the Fenton and Peters' estates in the township of Fenton. This road was also
the first legally laid out one after the township organization.
The first school was taught by Miss Arminta Lathe in a log house owned
by Mr. James M. Pratt, and situated near his present residence. This was in
the fall of 1848. The house had been put up some years before by Mr. Pratt,
and occupied by him as a residence. It was a double structure, and when Miss
Lathe taught school in it she occupied one part, and a Mr. Hendee and his
family the other. It did not furnish the kind of school accommodations Fen
ton has to-day, but the children who attended there look back with considerable
pride to the period when they mastered the rudiments of the English branches
in the old log house. The first public school house was built in District No. 1,
in 1857, and is known as the Pratt school house. It is a frame structure,
and Miss Mary Johnson had the honor of teaching young ideas how to shoot
therein, as soon as its doors were opened. Fenton has now eight school districts,
and each district has a commodious frame school building.
About the time Mr. Fenton and Mr. John Freek, until lately a resident of Erie,
made their claims on section thirty-three, a few persons at Lyndon, purporting
to be pioneers of a colony soon to emigrate from the Eastern States, claimed, in
the name of the colony, a right to all the land which could be discovered from
the tops of the tallest trees in the groves in and around Lyndon, and also the
right to determine the quantity which each man should possess. These pioneer
gentlemen made Messrs. Fenton and Freek an official visit, addressed them in
an official manner, and gave them lines and boundaries, limiting them to eighty
acres each, and forcibly implied that a strict compliance with these regulations
would be required, or a removal outside the Lyndonian claim would follow in
case of refusal. Mr. Freek yielded to these imperative demands, and removed
west of Rock creek into the township of Erie, built him a house at the head of
Lake Erie, where he lived a peaceful, honest, happy, and enviable life, with his
latch-string always out, and the poor never turned away empty. But Mr. Fen
ton, planting himself firmly on the common law of squatter sovereignty, repu
diated stoutly this agrarian law, which repudiation was couched in the pointed
and forcible language then in use on the frontier, and not yet obsolete, though
not sanctioned by Webster's Dictionary nor Dwight's Theology. It had, how
ever, the desired effect of repelling the Lyndonian invaders, and leaving Mr.
Fenton " alone in his glory " and the peaceable possession of his two hundred
and fifteen acres, for which the Government afterwards received its proper due
of $1.25 per acre. Soon after these Lyndonian-Fentonian troubles, a report
obtained East that the Indians had murdered and scalped all the inhabitants in
these parts, and consequently the settlement of the township, as well as of the

196 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
country around, was seriously retarded for several years. This report was evi
dently started for ulterior purposes, as there was no foundation for it, the In
dians then being peaceably inclined.
In 1836 Lyman Bennett, now a resident of Albany, made a claim north of
Portland ferry, and in 1837 Thomas Gould settled east of Rock creek, on land
now owned by James M. Pratt. In 1837 William Clark and in 1838 Robert
G. Clendenin settled in the township, the former on the farm now owned by R.
M. Thompson, and the latter on the farm now owned by M. M. Potter, Esq.
Mr. Clark was the father of Capt. Alpheus Clark, who was so highly esteemed
in this county, and who was mortally wounded June 9, 1863, at Beverly Ford,
Virginia, and died in the hospital at Georgetown, D. C, July 5, 1863. Mr.
Clendenin was a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and remained in Fenton
until 1844, when he removed to Lyndon. A full biographical sketch of Mr.
Clendenin will be found in the history of Lyndon township. In 1840 J. B.
Peters, now deceased, settled on the east bank of Rock creek, near Mr. Fenton's
place, and in 1841 his brother, George H. Peters, also now deceased, arrived
from Adams, Massachusetts, purchased a claim of one hundred and forty acres
from Theron Crook, and paid the Government price ($175), earning the amount
by laboring at the rate of fifty cents per day. Mrs. Peters states that in those
early days her husband used to sell his wheat in Chicago and his pork in Ga
lena, receiving for his wheat thirty cents per bushel, and for his pork, after de
ducting expenses for marketing, seventy-five cents per hundred weight.
As near as can be ascertained, the first export from Fenton was two thousand
pounds of beef, by Mr. Fenton, to Galena, in 1836, for which he received two
and a half cents per pound. He next exported to Sterling, then a Western
city of a few dwellings and a store, a load of pork, which he sold to the firm of
Barnett & Mason for six dollars per hundred. The reason assigned for the
high price then obtained was that the people of Sterling had been without meat
for some time, were " hungry for pork," and would have it at any price. Many
of the citizens followed his wagon as he drove to the store, earnestly request
ing him to let them have a piece, but he had sold it all to the storekeepers, and
to them they were compelled to go for the coveted morsel.
As a further illustration of the hardships the pioneers and their families
had to endure, it is related by Mrs. Fenton that when the family first came to
Rock creek they were compelled to live for several months in a little, cold hut,
part of the time with and part of the time without food ; getting their potatoes
from Rock Island, their corn meal from Henderson Grove, their venison and
wild turkey from the Indians (when they had meal to give in exchange) ; going
to bed without supper when no meal was on hand, the potatoes all gone, and
no kind Indian at hand to hold up his turkey and say " swap," or if one was at
hand the meal sack would be empty, and he would go away mealless and spirit
less, and Mrs. Fenton and the children retire with the setting sun to sleep the
sleep of the supperless. The want of money was felt in more ways than one,
not the least of which was the wherewith to pay postage upon letters received
from loved ones at home. Cheap postage did not then obtain, which added
another hardship to the settler. A letter now costing only three cents for mail
transportation, then cost twenty-five cents. As an instance of the difficulty of
getting letters out of the postoffice in early times, we give the one told to
Prof. M. R. Kelly, of Morrison, by the late George H. Peters, of Fenton. The
instance will answer for hundreds of others. Some time after the settlement
of Mr. Peters on the Fenton flats, it was reported that a letter had arrived for
him from the East, and was at the Lyndon Postoffice, awaiting his call. He
hastened to the office and called for it, when, to his surprise and disappoint-

HISTORY OF FENTON I OWNSHIP. 197
ment, he was told by the obdurate Postmaster that before receiving it he ¦must
pay the postage. " How much is it ? " tremblingly inquired Mr. Peters.
" Twenty-five cents," was the short reply. " Haven't got it," was the melan
choly response. Hastily departing, Mr. Peters sought work, found it, earned
the twenty-five cents, and with that amount of the coin of the realm released
the fond missive from the official bondage which held it from his embrace.
Among the reminiscences of the town is one related of an early settler who
resided near Rock river. At that period the lands thereabouts were liable to
overflow in times of high water, and the settler to guard his house from inun
dation built a sod fence around it, leaving only a space sufficient to drive in with
his team. This space was protected by bars. A heavy freshet came in due
time, and the settler was almost drowned out. When asked how it came that
his sod fence did not prevent the water from nearly carrying away his house and
family, the reason seemed so strike him at once, and he replied, "I declare, I
forgot to put up my bars !" The first constable in Fenton made out his bond in
the following^form, with the exception of the name which is a fictitious one : "I
John Smith, do solemnly swear that I will perform my duties as constable to the
best of my ability, so help me God." The Supervisor to whom this unique bond
was sent, returned it to the newly elected conservator of the peace with the re
mark, that while it might do well enough for an oath, it was hardly the square
thing for a bond. The constable went away pondering what new fangled notions
people would get up next as to officer's bonds and "other fixins." At the an
nual town meeting held in April, 1866, it was voted to make "every elector on
the poll list a pound master, clothed with the authority to impound all stock,
hogs, horses, mules and asses unlawfully running at large, and to advertise and
sell the same." This high honor was not very highly appreciated by many of the
voters, and the next year the vote was reconsidered, and a smaller and more
select number of pound masters appointed.
The following have been the Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessors, Collec
tors, and Justices of the Peace, from the organization of the town until -the
present time :
Supervisors :— 1852-55, James M. Pratt; 1856-57, Alfred Freeman; 1858,
Hiram Harmon; 1859-60, Alfred Freeman; 1861-62, Joseph R. Paul; 1863-
'64, Reuben M. Thompson; 1865, Arthur McLane; 1866-70, James M. Pratt;
1871-72, Arthur McLane; 1873, Reuben M. Thompson; 1874-76, James M.
Pratt; 1877, M. 0. Hurless.
Town Clerks .—1852, J. D. Odell; 1853-'54, H. M. Baker; 1855, Thomas
J. Olds; 1856-'60, James Wood; 1861, Thomas J. Olds; 1862-'63, James Wood;
1864, Thomas J. Olds; 1865, A. S. Pratt; 1866-72, George W. Wood; 1873,
H. L. Ewing; 1874-77, Joseph Pinkley.
Assessors :— 1852, Thomas W. Havens; 1853, H. W. Cushman; 1854,
Thomas W. Havens;. 1855, Thomas J. Olds; 1856-60, Joseph R. Paul; 1861,
Thomas J. Olds; 1862, James N. Bull; 1863, John D. Fenton; 1864, L. J.
Robinson; 1865, J. L. Showalter; 1866, L. J. Robinson; 1867, A. S. Round;
1868-70, Arthur McLane; 1871, A. B. Mahany; 1872-73, Henry Likes; 1874
-76, A. B. Mahany; 1877, L. J. Robinson.
Collectors :— 1852-53, Reuben M. Thompson; 1854-55, Morrill P. Carr;
1856, Henry Francis; 1857, C. D. Finney; 1858, C. E. Coburn; 1859, L. J.
Robinson; 1860-63, Leonard Cady; 1864-'66, A. B. Mahany; 1867, Jacob Mil
ler; 1868-69, Thomas J. Olds; 1870-77, John L. Showalter.
Justices of the Peace : — 1852-57, Hiram Harmon, Martin M. Potter; 1858
-'59, Martin M. Potter, Joseph R. Paul; 1860, Joseph R. Paul, George M. Cole;
1862, Martin M. Potter; 1864, Martin M. Potter, Joseph R. Paul; 1865, J. C.

198 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Train; 1868, Joseph Pinkley, Reuben M. Thompson; 1869, Martin M. Potter;
1872-77, Martin M. Potter, Joseph Pinkley.
A church edifice was erected on the northeast corner of section 17, in the
summer and fall of 1870, known as the New Lebanon church, and is owned by
the United Brethren Society. It was built under the superintendence of Rev.
Mr. Rogers, a minister of the United Brethren denomination, although persons
of all denominations residing in the neighborhood contributed to its construc
tion. The United Brethren Society had been organized, and held meetings in
Lynn creek schoolhouse sometime previous to the building of the church. Be
sides this Society, the Brethren in Christ hold monthly meetings in the edifice,
having Rev. A. Good, as their pastor, and also the Methodist Episcopal Society
whenever they have a pastor. At present the latter are without stated supply.
The building is situated on high ground, and commands a fine view of the sur
rounding country. The Dunkards hold monthly meetings in the Sand Ridge
schoolhouse. The members of other denominations residing in town attend
church either at Morrison, Erie, Garden Plain or Newton.
The Rockford, Rock Island & St Louis Railroad, now under control of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway Company, and the Mendota branch of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway, pass through the south part, the
latter almost diagonally from southeast to northwest. There are three depots
upon these roads within the town limits, one at Pratt on the R. R. I. & St Louis
road; one at Fenton Center on the C. B. & Q., road, and another on the same
road where the R, R. I. & St Lonis, and C. B. & Q. roads cross each other, a
short distance above Pratt. The latter depot is used principally for transfer of
freight from one road to the other. Since the R., R. I. & St Louis road has
come into the hands of the C. B. & Q. Company, freight coming from the south
and destined for Chicago is taken off at this depot, and transferred to the cars
on the other road, and when it comes down from Chicago or points east for Rock
Island and other points south and west, it is taken from the cars of the C. B. &
Q. road and placed upon those of the R., R. I. & St Louis road. By this means
freight-gathered along the line of the latter road can be taken directly to Chi
cago by the C. B. & Q. road.
Fenton township contains 11,475 acres of improved land, and 10,715 of
unimproved. The Assessor's book for 1877 shows the number of horses in the
township to be 443; the number of cattle, 1,483; of mules and asses, 40; of
sheep, 109; of hogs, 1,888; carriages and wagons, 149; sewing and knitting ma
chines, 79; watches and clocks, 99; pianofortes, 2; melodeons and organs, 13.
Total value of lands, lots and personal property, $328,192; value of railroad
property, $34,039. Total value -of all property in 1877, $362,150.
The population of the township in 1870, as appears by the United States
census reports of that year, was 758, of which 654 were of native birth, and
104 of foreign. The population in 1860 was 639. The estimated population
in 1877, is 1,000.
The elevation of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad track in Fen
ton township is 24 and 60-100ths feet above low water in Lake Michigan, and
607 and 60-100ths feet above the level of the sea.
Pratt.
Soon after the completion of the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Rail
road from Sterling to Rock Island, a station was established on the farm of
James M. Pratt, and Mr. Pratt appointed Station Agent. In November, 1869,
a Postoffice was also established at this place, and named Pratt by the Govern
ment, and James M. Pratt appointed Postmaster, which position he has since

BIOGRAPHICAL. 199
continued to fill. In 1870 the citizens in the vicinity built a new freight and
passenger depot, in which the Postoffice is kept. The place was platted a few
years ago, and is called the village of Pratt.
Fenton Center.
The village of Fenton Center was platted in 1872, by James Usom, who
owned the forty acres upon which it stands, immediately upon the construction
of the Mendota branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad through
the township. The railroad runs diagonally through the village, the land upon
which the track lies and the depot and water tank are built, ten acres in all, be
ing deeded to the railroad company by Usom. Before the railroad run through
it, the place was mostly covered with scrub timber, and the balance not even
broken up. The largest part of the plat covers quite a bluff, and upon this
bluff the buildings at present are nearly all situated. The business places are a
general merchandise store, a drug store, blacksmith shop, shoe shop, and har
ness shop, and one elevator, which, together with the dwellings and the railroad
depot, make sixteen building in the village. It has also a physician, Dr. M. D.
Allen. The elevator was built in 1872 and 73 by Geo. W. Wood, who com
menced buying grain in the spring of the latter year, and continued to do so un
til the fall, when he sold the building to Reuben M. Thompson, the present
owner. After his purchase Mr. Thompson leased the elevator to Mr. Brewer.
Abner and M. 0. Hurless succeeded Mr. Brewer as lessees, and at present M.
0. Hurless is the sole lessee. Mr. Hurless buys considerable grain, frequently
having the elevator full. It is said that the village acquired its name in this
manner: One morning soon after the elevator was erected, a board was found
nailed to the building, the work of some one during the night, upon which was
printed in bold letters, the words " Fenton Center," and as the name was so ap
propriate, the village being situated nearly in the center of the township, it was
determined then and there to adopt the name.
The Postoffice now at Fenton Center was established in 1870, and then
called Fenton. L. S. Burritt was the first Postmaster, and kept the office at
his house, a short distance south of the present United Brethren Church. Mr.
Burritt continued Postmaster until the railroad ran through the town, and a
depot and elevator were built at Fenton Center, when it was removed to that
place, and Geo. W. Wood appointed Postmaster. Mr. Wood held the position
about a year, and was succeeded by Wm. Miller, who continued in office only
six months, when he resigned, and M. 0. Hurless, the present Postmaster, was
appointed. Biographical.
Joseph Fenton was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, September
12, 1794, and came to Whiteside county in October, 1835, settling upon trie
farm in Fenton township where his widow and a part of his family still reside.
He was married to Miss Elizabeth Durell, at Burlington city, New Jersey, in
April, 1826. The children of this marriage have been: Elwood W., bom Jan
uary 23, 1827; Joseph R., March 27, 1829; Elizabeth H. July 9, 1831; John
D., November 10, 1832; Robert S., October 6, 1834: Alfred W., May 13, 1837;
Mary E., December 18, 1839; Sylvester H., August 27, 1841; Henry C, July
3, 1845. The only death in the family has been that of Elizabeth H, which
occurred at the old home in New Jersey, on the 25th of July, 1833.' Elwood
W. married Annette E. Wonser, and lives at Amidore, California; Joseph R.
lives at Oakland, California, and married since his settlement there; John D.
married Marcia Wonser, and lives at Erie; Robert S. married Josie Cross, and

200 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
lives at Fenton; Alfred W. is unmarried, and lives at Erie; Mary E. married
Elson Medhurst, and lives in Fenton; Sylvester H. married Amanda Medhurst,
and lives at Alphage, Henry county, Ulinois; and Henry C. married Amanda
Smith, and lives at Erie. Mr. Fenton was the earliest settler in what is now
known as Fenton township, and one of the earliest in Whiteside county. With
the pioneers he suffered all the privations incident to a new and unsettled
country, and with them grappled with all the obstacles in the way with an ener
gy and perseverance born of a conquering will. Men of less determination than
our pioneers might have given up in despair, and gone back to the homes where
they were reared, but not so with them. They had come to remain, and with
that view set themselves resolutely at work to overcome all obstacles. Many
of them became affluent in worldly circumstances, and among these was Mr.
Fenton. Those who knew Mr. Fenton in his lifetime speak of him as a man
of strict integrity, sound judgment, great industry, and of a peculiarly kind and
obliging disposition. He was averse to holding public positions, and only ac
cepted some of the minor offices of the township. His great delight was his
home. He died on the 28th of September, 1874, at the age of eighty years.
His widow, now 74 years of age, is still living at the old homestead.
James M. Pratt is a native of Aurora, Erie county, New York, and was
born April 7, 1822. At the age of fifteen he came to Lyndon, Whiteside coun
ty, with his parents, and has been a resident of the county ever since. His
father, John C. Pratt, visited Lyndon first in 1835, and made his claims, and
two years afterwards brought on his family. James M. remained in Lyndon un
til the fall of 1854, when he moved to his present farm in Fenton. On the 17th
of November, 1844, he married Miss Lucinda Emery, and the following have
been the children of this marriage : Beancy L., born August 19, 1845; Mari-
ette M., January 27, 1848; John C, February 11, 1851 ; Dora V., April 13, 1853;
Cyrus E., January 27, 1855; Allen M., November 12, 1856; Ella J., October 21,
1858; James C, October 21, 1860; Manson W., November 30, 1863; Richard
E., March 17, 1866; Volney P., and Viola J., twins, August 8, 1868. Of these
Beancy L., Richard E., Volney P., and Viola J., are dead. Mariette J. married
S. S. Chamberlin, and is a resident of Dunlap, Iowa; John C. married Susan
Mahany, and lives in Fenton; Dora V. married Wallace Thompson, and lives in
Fenton; Cyrus E. married Anna Reisinbigler, and lives in Fenton; Ella J.,
James C, and Manson W., are still with their parents at the homestead in Fen
ton. Mr. Pratt is a man of fine executive ability, clear judgment, ready tact,
and of unswerving integrity, and hence was early looked to as a proper person
to hold offices of public trust and confidence. At the first election after the
township organization he was elected Supervisor, and has held that office at dif
ferent times for a period of about twelve years. For some of the time he was
chairman of the Board of Supervisors. He has also been Commissioner of High
ways for the town of Fenton, aggregating fourteen years. When the Whiteside
County Central Agricultural Society was organized in 1872, he was elected its
first President, and has been re-elected every year since. To his energy and in
fluence the Society owes much of the success which has attended it. At the
establishment of the Postoffice at Pratt, in November, 1869, he was appointed
the first Postmaster, and has continued in the position from that time. Mr.
Pratt's farm consists of 1010 acres in a body, lying on sections twenty-two,
twenty-three and twenty-six, besides 60 acres of wood land on Rock River. A
large part of the former has been brought under a good state of cultivation, and
produces abundantly. The possession of this extensive tract of land makes him
next the largest land owner in the town, if not in the county. For several years
he has been devoting considerable of his attention to raising fowls, and now has

BIOGRAPHICAL. 201
the finest varieties and the largest number of any man in Whiteside. His fowls
have taken the premiums at every Fair where they have been exhibited. Mr,
Pratt is one of the self made men of the county, and travels on the broad gauge
in religious matters.
Martin M. Potter was born at Richfield, Otsego county, New York, Oc
tober 28, 1812, and came to Whiteside county August 11, 1837, settling first
at Prophetstown ferry, where he remained four years, and then moved to Union
Grove, where he also remained four years, and then returned to Prophetstown
ferry. Here he lived until 1851, when he settled on his present farm in Fen
ton. Mr. Potter married his first'wife, Miss Diantha D. Pratt, sister of James
M. Pratt, in Aurora, Erie county, New York, November 28, 1836. By this
marriage he had the following children: Eliza Jane, born October 17, 1837; De
Witt Clinton, July 25, 1839; Charles W., October 19, 1841, and James M., March
6. 1843. His wife died on the 2d of November, 1846, and on the 22d of July,
1847, he married his second wife, Miss Selina Perry. The following have been
the children by this marriage: George A., born May 3, 1849; Florence L., June 20,
1851; Henry C, September 22, 1853; Emory D., February 17, 1856; Sarah S.,
March 9, 1858: Frank M., September 5, 1860; John F., July 11, 1866, and
Mary, November 27, 1868. The eldest of the children by the first wife, Eliza
Jane, married David P. Perry, who died while in service during the late war,
leaving her a widow with two children. She afterwards married Geo. McKnight,
and died June 6, 1870. James M. died October 12, 1846, and Mary, December
26, 1868. De Witt C. married Harriet Brown, and is a resident of Shelby
county, Iowa; Chas W. married Harriet Shorrett, and also lives in Shelby county,
Iowa; George A. married Emma M. Thompson, and lives in Fenton; Florence
L. married Nelson W. Stone, and lives in Prophetstown; Henry C. married
Phoebe M. Richmond, and lives in Lyndon; Sarah S. married Caleb B. Smith,
and lives in Lyndon; Emory D., Frank M., and John F., reside at home. Mr.
Potter was one of the first Justices of the Peace elected in Fenton, and has
held the office almost uninterruptedly since. He has also frequently been School
Trustee, and School Treasurer of the town. When the project was started to
form an Old Settlers' Association, with an annual meeting and basket picnic, he
was one of the most active and energetic in its advocacy, and to him the success
which attended the effort is in a great measure due. His position at these yearly
gatherings of Whiteside's pioneers, is usually that of chairman of the commit
tee of arrangements, which not only involves a great responsibility, but entails
a very large amount of labor. These are met by a skill and judgment as cred
itable to him as they are advantageous to the occasion. Mr. Potter's farm lies
on sections 23, 24 and 25, and consists of 320 acres, all of which is in a body,
and is under a fine degree of cultivation. He has also twenty acres of wood
land on section 36.
Solon Stevens is a native of the town of Standing Stone, Bradford county,
Pennsylvania, and was born October 23, 1820. He came to Whiteside county
first in 1844, on a prospecting tour, staying one year, and then returned to the
East. Visions of the beautiful prairies and their almost unlimited productive
ness, however, when compared with the stubborn soil of the Pennsylvania hills
and mountains, were too vivid and enchanting to allow him to remain away from
them, and in 1851 he came back, and settled permanently in Fenton township.
Mr. Stevens was married to Miss Charlotte M. Smith, in Albany, Pennsylvania,
on the 17th of March, 1844, and the children have been: Charlotte A., Martha
E., John E., Ann C, Ettie M-, Emma A., and Susan. All are living excepting
Susan. Charlotte A. married Jesse W. Scott, and lives in Montmorency; Mar
tha E. married Charles S. Sage, and lives in Pottawatamie, Iowa; John E.
[25-w.]

202 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
married Lela Emery, and lives in Fenton; Ann C, Ettie M., and Emma A., are
unmarried and reside at home. When Mr. Stevens came to settle permanently
in Whiteside he was the possessor of only a little over one hundred dollars, but
by industry, energy and perseverance, combined with a clear judgment and keen
foresight, he is now the owner of several hundred acres of good land, with nearly
all of it under a fine state of cultivation. His farm consists of 340 acres on
sections 24 and 25, in Fenton, and 40 acres in Lyndon, adjoining Fenton, mak
ing 380 acres in all. He also owns 12 acres of wood land, on section 3. To such
indefatigable men as Mr. Stevens, a county owes much for its advancement and
prosperity. George H. Peters was a native of North Adams, Massachusetts, and born
March 12, 1812. In 1841 he came to Whiteside, and settled in Fenton, where
he purchased a large tract of land near Rock river. Upon taking possession, he
commenced work resolutely to bring it under a proper state of cultivation, and
in a few years had a fine farm. On the 6th of May, 1838, he married Miss
Charity Smith, at Petersburg, Rensselaer county, New York. The following
have been the children: Jerome Darwin, Minerva Jane, Esther H, and George
A. The eldest, Jerome Darwin, died while quite young. Minerva Jane mar
ried Levi Strunk, and died December 24, 1876; Esther H. married Frank Ham
ilton, and lives in Fenton; George A. married Mary A. Hamilton, and also re
sides in Fenton. Mr. Peters died September 8, 1873.
Joseph James was born in Bristol, England, on the 21st of April, 1814,
and emigrated to America in May, 1830, settling first at Flemington, New Jer
sey. In May, 1836, he came to Whiteside county, and located a homestead on
section 33, in Fenton township, upon which he resided until his death, October
9, 1875. He helped put up the first log cabin in Erie township, and at the time
of his decease was one of the ojdest settlers in the south part of Whiteside
county. On the 9th of March, 1843, he was united in marriage to Miss Jane
Medhurst, in Monmouth, Warren county, Illinois, who still survives him. Their
union was blessed with eight children, five of whom are yet living. Mr. James
was a kind and affectionate husband, an indulgent father, a genial and accom
modating neighbor, a patriotic citizen, and a whole-souled, upright man.
Reuben Thompson was a native of the State of Vermont, and was born
January 10, 1794. His parents moved to New York State when he was quite
young. He remained in that State until 1818, when he settled in the town of
Salem, Meigs county, Ohio, and in December, 1841, came to Whiteside county
and purchased a farm in section thirty-five in the present township of Fenton.
In 1816 he married Miss Philinda Kent, the following being the children of that
union: Mary, died in infancy in New York State; Elisha K., born March 18,
1822; Samuel A., born July 30, 1823; Reuben M., born December 27, 1825;
James I., born December 6, 1827. Mrs. Thompson died in 1827 at Salem, Meigs
county, Ohio, at the age of thirty-two years. On the 10th of January, 1828,
Mr. Thompson married his second wife, Mrs. Esther Robinson, widow of Fain
Robinson. She had three children by her first husband, to-wit: Linneus J.,
born June 24, 1822; Emily A., bom September 3, 1823, and William L., born
July 5, 1825. The following are the children of Mr. Thompson by his marriage
with Mrs. Robinson: Esther L., and Sarah T., twins, born November 1,1829;
Fain H., born March 4, 1832; Joseph M., born December 1, 1834; Eliza A.,
born January 6, 1836; Virginia R., bom December, 8, 1838; George W., born
March 26, 1842; Mary A., born April 22, 1844, and died October 14, 1845;
Helen M., born January 15, 1848. Elisha K. Thompson married Miss Nancy
Gilman, at Meigs county, Ohio, June 27, 1847, and has had five children, two
of whom are dead; resides in Lyndon. Samuel A. Thompson married Mrs.

BIOGRAPHICAL. &0S1
Elizabeth B. Bull, March 28, 1858; has two children; resides in Fenton; he is a
large land owner, and extensive farmer. Reuben M. Thompson married Miss
Matilda Dodge, December 25, 1850; has ten children; resides in Fenton.
Sarah T, Thompson married Dr. Clinton Pratt, February 23, 1852; has three
children; is now a widow, and resides in Morrison; Esther L. Thompson mar
ried Leonard W. Barker, July 4, 1854; has five children; resides in Erie.
Joseph M. Thompson married Miss Francis Wood November 16, 1857; has eight
children; resides in Shelby county, Iowa. Virginia R. Thompson married
Benj. F. Hubbart, February 11, 1857; has four children; resides in Erie.
Eliza A. Thompson married George W. Wood; has five children; resides in De
Kalb cpunty, Illinois. George W. Thompson married Miss Susan Farrar,
December, 1865; has five children; resides in Dunlap, Iowa. Fain H. Thomp
son married Miss E. A. Mills, December 23, 1867; has six children; resides in
Fenton. Helen A. Thompson married Lafayette Pace, November 25, 1871; has
one child; resides in Erie. Emily A. Robinson married Nelson Row, December
25, 1842; had three children; died in Scott county, Iowa, December 11, 1855.
Linneus J. Robinson married Miss Sarah Jeffers, May 17, 1852; has five
children; resides in Fenton. William L. Robinson married Miss Eliza McNeal,
November 16, 1849; has four children; resides in Anawan, Henry county,
Illinois. Mr. Thompson died May 30, 1850. The widow is still living in
Fenton. Reuben M. Thompson was born in the town of Salem, Meigs county,
Ohio, December 27, 1825, and came to Whiteside county in the fall of 1839,
stopping first at Union Grove mill. During the same fall he Vent to Iowa
and prospected for a year, and then returned to Whiteside and settled in what
is now the township of Fenton, where he has since resided. On the 25th of
December, 1844, Mr. Thompson married Miss Matilda S. Dodge, a native of Stark
county, Illinois. Their children have been: Esther Philinda, born January 16,
1851; John L., born March 26, 1852; James Amasa, March 13, 1854; Albert
Levi, July 13, 1857; Clara Lydia, December 8, 1860; Francis Eli, July 23, 1863;
Rhoda M., March 8, 1866; Eva Leona, July 5, 1868; Martin Ray, September
19, 1871, and Henry Clay, September 20, 1875. Of these, James Amasa died
August 17, 1859, and Francis Eli, December 28, 1866. Esther Philinda mar
ried H. L. Ewing, and resides in Fenton. Mr. Thompson owns 1,863 acres of
land, all of which is situated in Fenton township, constituting him the largest
land holder in the township, and without doubt in the county. A large portion
of this land he has brought under a good state of cultivation. He is also an
extensive stock raiser and dealer, owns the grain elevator at Fenton Center,
and is one of the go-ahead, intelligent, and successful business men of Fenton
township. Mr. Thompson has held the position of Supervisor for Fenton for a
number of terms, and has also been Constable, and Collector of the township.
Edward J. Ewers was born October 20, 1813, in Loudon county, Virginia,
and came to Albany, Whiteside county, in March, 1839, where he remained
until 1843 when he settled in what is now Fenton township. Mr. Ewers was
married to Miss Mary Davis on the 22d of May, 1842, in Plymouth, Richland
county, Ohio. Mrs. Ewers is a native of Killingly, Windham county, Con
necticut, and was bom March 27, 1815. The names of their children are:
George N., born March 7, 1843; Sarah A., bom April 12, 1844; Ellen E., born
December 18, 1845; William D.,born October 5, 1847; Mary E., born November
2, 1849; Amy V., born December 29, 1852; Edward F., born May 10, 1855, and
Jesse A., bom June 20, 1858. Of these Sarah A. died May 10, 1853. George
N. married Miss Jennie Hitt, and resides in Albin, Monroe county, Iowa.
William D. married Miss Kate Priestly, and resides in Fenton. Mr. Ewers has

204 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
always been an earnest advocate of public education, and has taken a com
mendable interest in the public schools of his township. To his efforts
in a great degree the citizens of the town are indebted for the facilities they
enjoy for the education of their children. He is at present the School Treas
urer of the township. Mr. Ewers owns a fine farm of three hundred acres, on
section twenty.

OHAPTEK XI.
History of Garden Plain Township — Biographical.

History of Garden Plain Township.
Although this township was first settled at an early day, reference being
had to the chronological history of the county, it never became a precinct by
itself, and only attained a distinct organization when the Commissioners ap
pointed by the County Commissioners' Court fixed the boundaries and gave
names to the different townships of the county, in 1852, under the township
organization law. Previous to that time it first formed a part of Van Buren
Precinct, and then of Albany Precinct, the village of Albany being the voting
place, and where for a long time grain and produce were taken, and marketing
done. The township includes all of township twenty-one north of baseline,
range three east of the 4th Principal Meridian. A range of bluffs extends
diagonally through the north part, commencing near the Mississippi river on
the west and reaching to the Fulton and Ustick line on the northeast, where it
connects with the range running through the latter town. North of this range
the land- is partly sandy, and partly of a deep loam, skirted along the river bank
by a growth of small timber. The western outlet of the Cattail runs through a
part of this low, loamy land. In this part of the town is situated' what is
known as the Holland Settlement, made up of thrifty, frugal families from the
land of dykes and canals. South of the bluffs the surface of the land is rolling,
the soil of peculiar richness, and the scenery, dotted as it is by finely erected
farm houses, ample orchards, and well arranged shade trees, is one great beauty.
A ride through the town when the harvest sun has ripened the waving grain
and given the towering corn its deepest hue of green, as witnessed upon the
broad fields which stretch far away on either hand, is one of infinite pleasure,
and never to be forgotton. The name of Garden Plain was rightfully and prop
erly given to this township. Nature and man have both made it a garden, and
he who owns a portion of its fertile acres can congratulate himself upon being
one of the favored few whose heritage is in a goodly land. The honor of naming
the town is attributed to Col. Samuel M. Kilgore. The township is watered by
Spring, Cedar, Lynn and Cattail creeks, and also by wells of unusual excellence.
In both the east and west parts are groves of forest trees, and the same kind of
trees are also scattered along the bluff.
The first settler in the town was Abel Parker, who came in the spring of
1836 from the town of Wells, Rutland county, Vermont, and made a claim and
built a cabin in what is now known as Parker's Grove, preferring, like nearly
all of the settlers of that day, timber land to the open prairie. A few years of
experience, however, drew them out of the groves to the broad, open expanse
which nature had endowed with unsurpassed fertility, and there in the luxuriant
prairie grass, and among the wild prairie flowers, they began to build their
homes. Soon after he made his" claim, Mr. Parker brought on his family, con
sisting of six sons, David, Jacob, Truman, Francis, Edwin and Hiram, and three
daughters, Clarissa, Eliza and Mina, all of whom are now living except David
and Mina. Mr. Parker died in 1840. Clarissa, the eldest daughter, married
Samuel Robbins in 1839, and Eliza married Henry M. Grinnold during the same

206 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
year. Mina married John Grant some years after. Both Mrs. Robbins and
Mrs. Grinnold are widows, the former living in Carroll county and the latter in
the city of Fulton. Mr. Grinnold died and was buried on the plains of Colora
do, while returning from the Rocky Mountains. The sons living are still resi
dents of Garden Plain. Previous to Mr. Abel Parker's coming, a Mr. Cook had
bought a claim on the bank of the Mississippi river, in the township, but as he
did not reside there long he is not classed by the people as an old settler. It
is supposed he purchased the claim of John Baker, the first settler of Fulton.
The place is now used for a pasture by Dr. H. M. Booth, of Albany.
Charles R. Rood also came in 1836, arriving in October, at Albany, where
he remained for three years. In 1839 he bought land on section 22 of the
present township of Garden Plain, and improved forty acres of it the next year.
In 1837 Ira Burch and Joseph Bacon bought claims on sections 12 and 13,
although they resided on lands adjoining in Union Grove township. The former
was the father of Messrs. Thomas J., Harrison D., and Ira S. Burch, and Mrs.
George Cluff, now residing in Garden Plain. He died previous to 1840.
Thomas Sey came in the same year, and settled on a part of what is now known
as the Ham farm. He died soon after, and in 1839 his widow married Stephen
Sweet. She died in the fall of 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Sey had an only son, named
Thomas, who was killed during the late war. John Redfern also came as early
as 1837, and settled near the Ham farm. Both Mr. Redfern and his wife are
now dead. Isaac Crosby and wife, with Elijah Knowlton, came from Massachusetts in
1838, and settled near Cedar creek, where they built a log cabin which stood on
the same site now occupied by the house of Mrs. John Kilgore. Mr. Knowlton
died in this cabin in 1838. Samuel Searle boarded with Mr. and Mrs. Crosby
while they lived there, and improved a part of the farm now owned by Thomas
Wilson. Mr. Crosby afterwards bought the farm, a little east of the Garden
Plain Corners, on which he now resides. In 1839 James A. Sweet came from
Seneca county, New York, and settled at Parker's Grove at first, and then pur
chased the farm at the Corners, where he still lives. Col/Samuel M. Kilgore
also came that year, and settled in what is known as Baird's Grove. Col. Kil
gore had a family of two sons and four daughters. The two sons, Ezekiel and
Samuel P., are both married and live in Iowa. The eldest daughter, now Mrs.
Barnes, lives at Lacon, 111.; the second, Mrs. Hugh Thompson, died in the win
ter of 1876; the third, Mrs. Susannah Grinnold, resides in Garden Plain, and
has been a widow for several years; and Margaret, the youngest daughter, be
came the wife of Ithamar Johnson, and died some years since. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Kilgore are dead, the latter dying only a few years ago at the age of 84
years. Mr. Stephen Sweet, uncle of James A. Sweet and William Minta, came
in the same year. He died some years ago. Mr. Alpheus Mathews was also
an early settler, arriving in 1837, and living near where the school-house now
stands, in the Holland settlement. He is now a wealthy farmer, residing in
the Lockhart district, After 1840 permanent settlers came in more rapidly, as
the exceeding richness and fertility of the soil, and the beauty of its location,
had become somewhat extensively spread.
The first white child born in the township was Mary Mathews, daughter
of Alpheus and Abylene Mathews, her birth occurring on the 20th of August,
1840. She married Samuel Montgomery, and died in 1872.
The first parties entering into wedlock were Mr. Samuel Robbins and Miss
Clarissa Parker, eldest daughter of Abel Parker. The happy event occurred in
1839, and was duly solemnized by Gilbert Buckingham, Esq., the then well-
known Justice of the Peace, of Albany.

HISTORY OF GARDEN PLAIN TOWNSHIP. 207
The first death occurring in the township was that of Elijah Knowlton.
He died in March, 1838, and was buried in the grave-yard near Albany, being
the first person interred there.
The first dwelling was built by Abel Parker, in Parker's Grove, soon after
his. arrival in 1836. It was of the usual pioneer size, and although room was
scarce it sufficed even for a large family, until, by perseverance and hard work,
a more commodious one could be erected. Joseph Bacon put up one of about
a similar size in the same year, in what is known as the Burch district. The
erection of frame houses commenced about 1842, although it was some time
after 1850 before they began to assume anything like the proportions of the
present spacious residences of the town.
The early residents of Garden Plain, coming as they did in a great degree
from the Eastern and Middle States, took an earnest interest in the cause of
education. Although there was no regular school house in town during the early
years, yet the few inhabitants clubbed together and secured a little log house
standing then a little north of David Parker's residence, and had a school opened
there, with Miss Susannah Boynton as teacher. Seymour Knapp was the sec
ond teacher in that house. This was as early as 1843. The first building put
up as a school house was the cement one now standing at Garden Plain Corners,
and was erected in 1850. There are six school districts now in the town, with
seven commodious and well furnished schoolhouses, the Cedar creek district con
taining two — one at Cedar creek, and the other at the Holland settlement. In
the latter school the scholars are children of Holland parents, yet the English
branches are exclusively taught, the parents desiring their children to obtain as
far as possible a good English education. Many of these parents are yet unable
to speak the English language intelligibly. The large building at the Corners
was built for a graded school, and will be very soon used as such. This school
house was dedicated February 9, 1869, at the occasion of the meeting of the
Mississippi Teachers' Association there at that time.
The first preacher who ministered to the spiritual wants of the inhabitants,
was Father McKean of the Methodist persuasion, living at Elkhorn Grove, who
traveled through that section of the county, and held services for the few in
habitants wherever an opportunity afforded. These pioneer ministers were men
of indomitable energy, of fervent piety, and great zeal in their calling, and no
dangers of either "field or flood" could deter them from fulfilling an appoint
ment. In Garden Plain he preached in the little log cabin used for school pur
poses. The earliest traveled road through the territory now comprising the town
ship was the Rock Island and Galena road, running along the river
bank, and was used as a stage route. This road was quite extensively
traveled before any of the present cities and villages along its route
were even thought of, much less laid out into lots and blocks. For many years
it was the only overland route from Rock Island to Galena, and competed
strongly with the river boats in the transportation of passengers. It is now
known in Whiteside as the Fulton and Albany road. The second road used ran
from Union Grove to Albany. In 1839 a company was organized to lay out and
construct a road across the Cattail, and subscriptions to the amount of $800 were
obtained for this purpose. For three-quarters of a mile across the slough rails
had to be laid side by side, and upon them was placed a thick layer of earth
taken from the bluffs on either side. As this wore down more earth was drawn
upon the road, until finally it became quite passable. Mr. C. R. Rood superin
tended the construction of that part of the road. Albany was then the large
town in the county, to which grain and produce were taken for a distance ex-

208 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
tending even to Sterling. Every road which could be opened to it was, there
fore, a material benefit to both the town and the farmer. After this road had
been built the proprietors of the Frink & Walker stages opened a direct line from
Chicago to Albany, thus connecting, as it may be termed, the lakes and the Mis
sissippi river by an air line stage route. The road is now known as the Albany
and Morrison road, and runs nearly through the center of Garden Plain town
ship. This was also the first legally laid out road after the township organization.
The Postoffice at Garden Plain was first established on the 13th of April,
1846, and Charles R. Rood appointed Postmaster. Mr. Rood continued to hold
the position until 1851 when he resigned, and James A. Sweet was appointed in his
place. The first mail was carried on a north and south route running from Peoria
to Galena, but in 1850 it was delivered by the Frink & Walker line of stages
running from Chicago to Albany and Rock Island. When this line gave way to
the Dixon branch of the Chicago and Galena Railroad, the office was discontin
ued. In 1862 it was re-established, and D. H. Knowlton appointed Postmaster,
who held the office until it was again discontinued in 1 864. In the spring of
1876 it was re-established the second time, and L. P. Hill, the present incum
bent, appointed Postmaster. The mail is now delivered by the Chicago, Bur
lington & Quincy Railroad.
The AVesleyan Methodists had the first religious organization in the township,
but it was discontinued a number of years ago. It is mentioned that this So
ciety were favored with preachers of much more than ordinary talent, among .
them being Rev. Mr. Cross, and Rev. Mr. Goodwin. Some local preachers and lay
men also officiated when the regular pastors were necessarily absent, and some
times astonished their hearers by the doctrines taught. One, for instance, said
"the doctrine of faith and repentance had become stale, so that it was necessary
to present other themes for contemplation," and thereupon proceeded to deliver
a regular old fashioned Anti-Slavery speech. But, notwithstanding this break,
the gospel was preached in those days in all its purity and power, very little of
the milk and water kind furnished so frequently now-a-days being dealt out.
Such men as Phelps, Cross, Sinclair, Judson, Goodwin, Mitchell, Emerson, and
Cartwright, would not have been at home in the pulpit without the privilege of
dealing sledge hammer blows at all unrighteousness. The United Brethren had
a standing in the township also at an early day, but like the Wesleyans have
ceased to exist as an organization.
The First Presbyterian Church of Garden Plain was prganized November
5, 1863, and the act of incorporation duly recorded immediately afterwards. At
that time James A. Sweet, C. S. Knapp and Alexander Wilson, were chosen
Trustees. This action was had by the counsel of Rev. Josiah Leonard, who
presented the preamble and resolutions which formed its basis. The Society
was organized, however, at a much earlier date. The first meeting for consulta
tion was held in the school house at Garden Plain Comers, on the first of March,
1850, and was presided over by Rev. J. J. Hill, Rev. H. L. Ballen acting as
Scribe. At an adjourned meeting, held March 16, 1850, Francis Parker, James
Delay, Samuel M. Kilgore and Mrs. E. Zoins, agreed to unite together in the
organization of a church, to be known as the First Presbyterian Church of Gar
den Plain. Articles of faith and a form of church covenant were then adopted,
and the meeting adjourned to Saturday, March 23, 1850, at which time S. M.
Kilgore was duly received as an elder, and entered upon his duties. The first
sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered by Rev. J. J. Hill, March 24,
1850. From that time to the present it appears that regular services have been
held, and the ordinances of the church enjoyed, except at short intervals. Rev.
W. T. Wheeler commenced his labors as stated supply in the fall of 1850, and

HISTORY OF GARDEN PLAIN TOWNSHIP. 209
continued regular services until the fall of 1851, when he was removed by
death. Rev. J. Walker was then engaged for one half of his time, commencing
December 1, 1851, continuing his labors for about one year, and was succeeded
by Rev. E. K. Martin, who in turn was succeeded by Rev. W. S. Johnson. After
Mr. Johnson closed his pastorate, the desk was irregularly supplied until Rev.
Nathaniel Pine was employed. Mr. Pine commenced his labors in January,
1856, and continued to preach until the fall of 1857. During this period there
were several additions to the church, and a good degree of interest manifested
in the Sabbath School, the meetings of the Society being still held in the school
house. In February, 1858, Rev. Josiah Leonard became pastor, and continued
with slight interruptions until the fall of 1871. The church was increased in
numbers, and greatly encouraged and strengthened during Mr! Leonard's pastoral
charge. In April, 1869, the following entry was made in the record: " The
past year there have been twenty-fcjir additions, twenty-one of which were by
profession. The church at the close of the year numbered fifty-six — four have
left without letters, and two were regularly dismissed. Seventeen adults have
been baptised." At the conclusion of the labors of Mr. Leonard, Rev.
E. E- Bayliss was invited to become the pastor of the church, and accepting,
entered upon his duties in October, 1871. He continued as pastor until the
spring of 1874, when the change of his views on the subject of baptism caused
his dismissal. After that the pulpit was in the main supplied by Rev. D. E.
Wells, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Fulton, until the middle of August,
1875, when arrangements were made for a union with the Presbyterian and
Congregational Societies at Albany, for the services of Rev. N. D. Graves, one-
half of whose time should be devoted to the charge at Garden Plain, and the
other half at Albany. Mr. Graves is the present pastor. It should also be
stated that the names of several other clergyman appear upon the record, be
sides those already named, as supply for brief periods, and among them honor
able mention should be made of Rev. J. Coon, of Albany, and Rev. Mr. Prime—
the former officiating at different times as supply in the intervals of no regular
pastoral service, and the latter as supply alternately for a year and a half. The
records show the following summary: Ten elders have been ordained; whole
number of members, 124; regularly dismissed, 30; died, 3; expelled, 3; dropped
from the roll, 3; total number now enrolled, 80. The records also show fifty
baptisms, about half of which were those of adult persons. Of the present
number enrolled, several have moved away without taking letters, leaving the
actual membership not far from seventy. As there is almost a total absence of
any record of benevolent contributions, and of items incident to the support of
preaching, it is impossible to approximate even the amounts given. Tbe church
edifice is located at Garden Plain Corners, and is a neat and commodious struc
ture. It was finished in 1870, and dedicated to the worship of God on the first
Sabbath in October of that year. The whole expense in erecting and furnish
ing the building amounted to $3,944,96. In addition to the church edifice the
Society have erected a beautiful parsonage at an expense, including the lot, of
$1,750. The parsonage stands a little to the south of the church. Ample
horse sheds have also been erected, which stand as witnesses of hopeful progress,
and receive, as they deserve, the commendation of passers by, as well as the
thanks of the horses that perform so important a service for the comfort of
those who weekly visit this place of prayer and solemn convocation. The pres
ent Trustees are James Burnett, Robert R. Murphy and Andrew Stowell.
The first M. E. Church society in Garden Plain was organized about 1848,
Elder Sinclair and Rev. Charles Babcock forming a class of twelve members.
The Society became connected with the Albany circuit. In 1860 the church
[26— X.]

210 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
edifice was built at a cost of about $2,000. It is centrally situated in the south
part of the town, is a well-finished building, and was the first church structure
erected in the township. Mr. William Minta, father of the late John Minta,
was the principal person who secured the erection of the building, and contrib
uted liberally toward its construction. It was built on his land. In 1862 the
Society was transferred to the Fulton circuit, and has remained a part of that
circuit until the present. Rev. W. H. Smith was then the pastor in charge of
the Fulton circuit. The present pastor is Rev. J. S. David. A Sabbath-school
is connected with the church. There is an M. E. Society also in the north part
of the town, at Cedar creek, which is supplied by the Fulton and Albany
preachers. Besides the Presbyterian and M. E. Societies, the Dunkards hold
meetings in Garden Plain.
The Temperance Reform Club of Garden Plain was organized at Lock-
hart's school-house, in the north part of the town, April 1, 1875, with Elisha
Lockhart as President, and William E. Smith, Secretary. The Club started
with only fifteen members, but the number increased afterwards very rapidly.
The present officers are : William Snyder, President, and V. B. Stowell, Sec
retary. It was here that the zealous and successful Garden Plain Missionaries,
Elisha Lockhart, John W. Baker, Francis Parker, and Thomas J. Burch, organ
ized for their work. These Missionaries started out in the spring of 1875, and
visited places throughout the entire surrounding country, holding meetings in
churches, school houses, or wherever they could, carrying the pledge with them,
earnestly exhorting all to sign, and organizing similar Clubs to the one at Lock-
hart's. Their manner of work is so devoid of pretension, their addresses so
pointed, fervent, and convincing, and their zeal so earnest, that they secure the
signatures of hundreds to the total abstinence pledge, which otherwise could not
have been obtained. Much of the good done by them becomes immediately ap
parent, but much of it, though none the less effective, is not publicly exhibited.
This latter is the case with the moderate drinkers who as yet do not show the
effects of liquor because of the small quantities taken, and that only at intervals,
but who are saved from becoming drunkards by the influence of the Mission
aries. Many a man, and many a family, blesses this noble band of men to-day
for the reformation that has been caused by their labors. Unlike the majority
of temperance lecturers they give their time and talents gratuitously to the great
cause in which they are engaged. It is only necessary to point out to them a
place where they can do good by holding a meeting, and they throw aside busi
ness and pleasure alike to attend. Such men are true reformers, and merit the
encouragement of the good and pure everywhere. A Division of the Sons of
Temperance was instituted at Lockhart's school house in 1875, by Dr. W. C.
Snyder, who also installed the first officers.
The Mendota branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad en
ters the town near the southeast comer, on section twenty-five, and ends on sec
tion four, near the Mississippi river, where there is a depot to which a regular
line of omnibuses run from Fulton. There is also a depot at Garden Plain
Corners. The one at the latter place is a very neat structure. The Western
Union Railroad enters the town in the northwest part, on section four, and fol
lowing the river passes out on section nineteen. The Chicago & Northwestern
Railroad also runs a short distance through the town, entering on section four,
and passing down to the bridge across the Mississippi river. This bridge, com
monly known as the Clinton bridge, abuts on the territory of the township of
Garden Plain. The Garden Plain and Clinton ferry starts on the east side of the
river, on section seventeen of the township. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad when first built through, the town, ran down to Cedar creek where a

HISTORY OF GARDEN PLAIN TOWNSHIP. 21 1
small depot was built. The old ferry, the first one started from Garden Plain
to Clinton, and known as the Aiken ferry, was then running from that point,
and upon this ferry the railroad transferred its freight and passengers to and
from Clinton. It was at this point the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Company
actually drove some piles in the river, and made other preparations to construct
a bridge to Clinton, a few years ago. The work did not progress far, however,
before it was abandoned. Whether the Company fully intended to build the
bridge, or simply commenced operations to induce the Chicago & Northwestern
Company to enter into an agreement allowing them to run their cars over the
present bridge at Clinton, the public were never informed. It was conjectured
at the time that the latter was the object in commencing the work, as the C, B.
& Q. Company had made several attempts to cross the bridge, but were at each
time frustrated by the vigilance of the Chicago & Northwestern people. That
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Company desire to cross the Mississippi at or
near the Narrows, there can be no doubt, and we predict it will be done in the
near future.
The first town meeting, after incorporation under the township organization
laws, was held April 6, 1852. The following is a list of town officers from that
date to the present :
Supervisors .-—1852, Samuel M. Kilgore; 1853-54, J. C. V. Baird; 1855,
C. S. Knapp; 1856, James A. Sweet; 1857-61, A. M.. George; 1862, C. R. Rood;
1863, A. M. George; 1864, C. R. Rood; 1865-'66, James A. Sweet; 1867, C.R.
Rood; 1868, D. B. Arrel; 1869, David Miller; 1870, J. M. Eaton; 1871-75,
David Miller; 1876-77, J. M. Eaton.
Town Clerks :— 1852-'54, D. C. Kilgore; 1855-'64, John Grant; 1865-'67,
Matthew Hanna; 1868, M. Eaton; 1869-74, Alexander Wilson; 1875-77, Hi
ram E. Sweet.
Assessors .-—1854, James A. Sweet; 1855, J. C. V. Baird; 1856, D. C.
Kilgore; 1857, C. S. Knapp; 1858, John Grant; 1859, J. C. V. Baird; 1860, D.
C. Kilgore; 1861, J. C. V. Baird; 1862, D. B. Arrel; 1863, J. C. V. Baird; 1864-
'65, John S. Kilgore; 1866, D. B. Arrel; 1867, J. C. V. Baird; 1868, W. W.
Parker; 1869, Ithamar Johnson; 1870, J. J. Higgins; 1871-74, J. C. V. Baird;
1875-77, P. J. Kennedy.
Collectors:— 1852-74, C. H. Park; 1875-76, R. R. Murphy; 1877, A. J.
Stowell. Justices of the Peace : — 1852, James R. Montgomery, Sr., Henry M. Grin
nold; 1856, E. D. Stone, J. C. V. Baird; 1860, J. C. V. Baird, J. H. Adams;
1864, D. H. Knowlton, A. Matthews; 1868,D. H. Knowlton, A. Matthews; 1872,
D. H. Knowlton, Alex. Wilson; 1877, D. H. Knowlton.
On Tuesday afternoon, May 11, 1875, quite a severe tornado swept through
Garden Plain, destroying considerable property, but fortunately without doing
any personal injury. The storm came from the southwest, originating as near
as can be ascertained in that portion of the towftship, and gathering strength as
it progressed destroyed trees, fences, and some out-buildings, and killed hogs,
cattle and poultry, until it reached the barn of Jacob Parker, part of which it
completely demolished, and unroofed the balance, so that Mr. Parker was obliged
to build almost entirely anew. Passing on toward the northwest it lifted the
windmill on John Hudson's farm from its foundation, carried it over the fence
a few yards, and then let it fall, breaking it into fragments. Mr. Parker and
Mr. Hudson were also sufferers to a considerable extent in hogs, poultry, fruit
and shade trees, fences, etc. Keeping its course to the northwest it carried away
more trees and fences, and cut up various 'other pranks, until it reached
Union Grove township, where it did considerable damage. • Then, as if satisfied

212 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
with its work, it ceased further destruction. The tornado of June 3, 1860
which did such terrible execution at Albany, and in some other parts of the
county, also passed through a portion of Garden Plain, a full description of which
is given in chapter IV of this History.
Garden Plain contains 17,430 acres of improved land, 1,692 of unimproved.
The Assessor's book for 1877 shows the number of horses in the township to be
676; number of cattle, 1,956; of mules and asses, 16; of sheep 373; of hogs,
3,231; carriages and wagons, 227; sewing and knitting machines, 86; watches
and clocks, 205; piano fortes, 6; melodeons and organs, 25. Total value of lands,
lots and personal property, $461,432; value of railroad property, $174,676.
Total assessed value of all property in 1877, $636,108.
The population of the township in 1870, as shown by the United States
census reports of that year, was 1091, of which 905 were native born, and 186
foreign. In 1860 the population was 816. The estimated population in 1877
is 1,200. Biographical.
Charles R. Rood is a native of Grandville, Washington county, New
York, and was born July 24, 1813. He came to Whiteside county in October
1836, and settled first in Albany where he remained three years. During this
time he located his present farm on section twenty-two in Garden Plain, then
a part of Albany Precinct, and in the fall of 1840 went back to the East, re
maining until 1844, when he returned with his wife and settled permanently
in his new home. Mr. Rood was married to Miss Sarah S. Churchill at Mooers,
Clinton county, New York, on the 27th of October, 1842. Mrs. Rood is a
native of Champlain, Clinton county, New York, and was born November 11,
1815. The following are the names of their children: Myra, born August 12,
1845; Albert Lawrence, born October 11,1847; Nellie, born November 12, 1848,
and Julia, born March 11, 1856. Albert Lawrence died January 3d, 1848.
Nellie married James Nimon, and is living in Leavenworth, Kansas. Myra and
Julia are residing at home. Probably no man in Whiteside took a more prom
inent part in the affairs of the county at an early day than Mr. Rood, or was
more thoroughly acquainted with its people. In 1837 he was appointed Deputy
County Surveyor by Mr. Crawford, the County Surveyor of Ogle county, White
side being then attached to Ogle for county purposes, and in 1838 received
the appointment of Deputy Sheriff from the Sheriff of Ogle county. Upon
the complete organization of Whiteside in 1839 he was elected its first County
Surveyor, the term being for four years, but vacated the office in 1842 during
his absence at the East. Soon after his return he was appointed Deputy Sur
veyor for the county, and holds that position at present. Mr. Rood surveyed
and laid out the towns of Harrisburg and Chatham (now Sterling), Lyndon,
Albany, and a part of Fulton, and has surveyed and located most of the lead
ing roads in the county. Besides these public surveys, his services have been
very frequently in demand since he first came to the county, to make private
surveys of lands, lots, and blocks. As a Surveyor he has no superior in this
section of the country. His knowledge of the profession, and his accuracy are
unquestioned. Of township offices he has been Supervisor several terms, also
Highway Commissioner, School Director and Township School Treasurer.
When the Postoffice was established at Garden Plain he was the first Post
master. He has always been an ardent friend of the Temperance cause, and as
early as 1837 assisted in forming a Temperance Society in Albany, which was
probably the first organization of the kind in the county. This Society was
organized in the spring, and by the following June it numbered over forty mem-

BIOGRAPHICAL. 213
bers, showing that the leaders were not only zealous, but effective in their
labors. Mr. Rood is the owner of one of the finest farms in Garden Plain
township — a town, if we may use the expression, running over with splendid
farms. The land is rolling, the soil rich and deep, and under his careful man
agement produces abundant crops. His talent and success as an agriculturist
are only equalled by those exhibited and attained in his profession. When the
Order of the Patrons of Husbandry came into being he took an active part in
organizing subordinate Granges, and was the first Master of the County Grange.
He is at present connected with the Farmers' Co-operative Manufacturing
Company, whose works are at Lyndon.
James A. Sweet was born at Fayette, Seneca county, New York, March 9,
1812, and is one of the earliest settlers of Garden Plain, arriving there on the
20th of September, 1839, and locating at Parker's Grove, fle afterwards
settled at his present place, at Garden Plain Corners. Mr. Sweet was married
at Lyndon, Whiteside county, February 29, 1845, to Miss Judith Greenborn, a
native of Greensborough, Vermont. This estimable lady, so long and so favor
ably known in Garden Plain and the surrounding towns, died on the Sth of April,
1877. Her excellence as a woman, and her devotedness as a christian, had
endeared her to all, and her death was widely mourned. The children of this
marriage are as follows: James L., born May 14, 1847; Sarah E., born March
24, 1849; Margaret, born September 20, 1850; Hiram E., born April 16, 1852;
Esther, born October 24, 1853; Edward S., born February 3, 1857; Emma, born
October 5, 1861; Willie, born July 19, 1863, and Ernest, born December 10,
1866. Of these Esther died January 22, 1864, and Willie, March 20, 1865.
James L. married Esther Emmons, October 19, 1869, and lives in Garden Plain;
Sarah E. married Lilburn Slocumb, July 2, 1873, and lives in Kansas; Margaret
married Freeman Hanna, September 20, 1872, and lives in Garden Plain;
Hiram E. married Mary George, December 29, 1875, and lives in Garden Plain.
Edward S., and Emma, reside at home. Mr. Sweet is one of the representative
men of Whiteside county. Active, clear headed, vigilant, and of undoubted
integrity, he was early selected by his fellow citizens to fill positions of public
trust. In 1844 he was elected Sheriff of the county, and held the office two
years. The duties of this important position were never more faithfully per
formed than by Mr. Sweet during his term. For nearly ten years he was
Postmaster at Garden Plain, and has also been Supervisor and Assessor of the
town for several terms each. He has always taken a deep interest in educa
tion, and has been a member of the School Board formany years. His residence
is at Garden Plain Corners, and most of his land lies in that immediate vicinity.
David Parker was born in Wells, Rutland county, Vermont, December
12, 1811, and came with his father, Abel Parker, to Whiteside county in 1836.
He was married to Miss Elizabeth Shurtleff, in Garden Plain, the children of
the marriage being: Charles D., Henry L., Lizzie, and Herbert. Charles D.
married Miss Amanda Sutherland, at Fulton, January 6, 1876, and lives on the
old homestead at Garden Plain Corners; Henry L. is dead, and Lizzie and
Herbert live at Fulton. At the death of Abel Parker, David, being the eldest
son at home, took charge of the estate. He was always a careful manager, a
thrifty, hard working man, and during his lifetime accumulated a large property,
owning at the time of his death four hundred and eighty acres of finely culti
vated farm land, and seventy-four of timber. Mr. Parker could not be induced
to accept office, preferring to attend strictly to his private business. He died
February 10, 1875.
Isaac Crosby is a native of Shrewsbury, Worcester county, Massachusetts,
and was born March 11, 1805. He came to Garden Plain, then Albany Pre-

214 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
cinct, Whiteside county, in May, 1838, and settled first on the farm now owned
by Mrs. S. M. Kilgore. Here he remained until 1844, when he purchased his
present farm, situated on section 14, on the Albany and Morrison road, a little
east of Garden Plain Corners. When he purchased the land it was all wild
prairie, and the hard work of breaking it was done by himself. He has now
one of the most beautiful farms in the township, and upon it one of the largest
and most thrifty orchards. Mr. Crosby was married to Miss Lury B. Knowl
ton, at the town of Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, December 2,
1830, the Rev. Otis Converse, a Baptist clergyman, tying the nuptial knot.
Mrs. Crosby is also a native of Shrewsbury, Worcester county, Massachusetts,
and was born January 31, 1810. There are no children to bless this union, as
there ought to have been, for a more amiable couple do not reside in Whiteside
county. Mr. Crosby has followed farming since his residence in this county,
and has held no office, always saying, when he was solicited to accept one by
his fellow-citizens, that he would rather pay a fine than be troubled with the
duties of a public position. It is needless to say that he has never been troubled
in that respect, nor been called upon to pay a fine, as office-seekers and office
holders are not rare birds in any community. He states that in going from
Albany to his first place on the Kilgore farm, he hitched a yoke of oxen to a
tree and had it dragged there, so as to make a trail by which he could return with
out getting lost. For three weeks, during the year 1839, he did not see a living
person, except his wife, and was on his bed sick at that. Mr. Crosby is one of
the hale, genial pioneers of Whiteside county.
John W. Baker is a native of Queen Anne's county, Maryland, and was
born on the 26th of April, 1812. He came to Fulton in December, 1836, being
attracted thither by the glowing accounts of the wonderful Mississippi Valley,
sent to him by his uncle, John Baker, the first settler in Fulton and in White
side county. These accounts were so seductive that he bid good-bye to " My
Maryland," and, with his wife, three sisters, and a niece, undertook the labori
ous journey to the then far West. Arriving in the winteT and finding only a
small cabin on the Cattail creek in which to place his family and household
goods, he made up his mind that " Uncle John " had drawn considerably upon
his imagination when he wrote about the beauty and delights of the great Mis
sissippi Valley. Added to his other troubles was the death of his niece during
the winter, an account of which is given in the history of Fulton township.
But with the advent of. spring things began to look more cheerful, and it was
not long before he, too, began to chant the praises of the beautiful valley.
Mr. Baker was married to Miss Mary H. Wright, in Queen Anne's county, Ma
ryland, on the 24th of December, 1833. Their children have been as follows :
Annie, died in 1836, in Maryland; John T., died in Fulton, in 1843; Albert J.,
married, and lives at Denver, Colorado; John W., Jr., living in Oregon; Ellen,
married, and living in Marshall county, Iowa; Thomas, living in California;
William H, living in Utah; Edward M., Ramsay M., Mary, and Lizzie E., all
living in Garden Plain. Mr. Baker remained in Fulton until 1843, when he
purchased his present farm in section 11, in Garden Plain township, where he
has since resided. He also owns land in sections 3 and 10 in the same town
ship. During his residence in Fulton he was one of the Constables of the Pre
cinct, and in Garden Plain township he has held different offices. He was
elected School Director in 1845, with David Parker and David Mitchell, the three
being the first School Directors of Garden Plain. Mr. Baker is one of the
famous Garden Plain missionaries, and is one of the most zealous and effective
temperance workers in the country.
AVilliam Minta was a native of England, and came to Garden Plain in

BIOGRAPHICAL. 215
1839, and settled on section 33. He had a large family of children, thirteen in
all, but all are dead except two sons, Dixon and Wesley, and one daughter,
Julia, who are in California. Mr. and Mrs. Minta both died of consumption, as
did the ten children. Those now living are afflicted with the same fell disease.
When the Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in Garden Plain, Mr. Minta
generously donated the land upon which it is built, besides donating freely
toward its construction. He was a fervent Christian, and a man of irre
proachable reputation.
Alpheus Mathews is a native of the town of Hector, Tompkins county,
New York, and was born January 12, 1812. He lived at his old home until
September 12, 1837, when he started for the West, and arrived in Whiteside
county in October of that year. In the spring of 1838 he commenced improv
ing a small farm in Garden Plain, which he sold in 1844 to Joseph Snyder, and
purchased his present farm on sections 2 and 11. On the 10th of November,
1839, Mr. Mathews married Miss Abyleen Bethea, in Lee county, Illinois. Their
children were: Mary, born August 20, 1840; William, born March 3, 1842;
Carrie, born May 27, 1843, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Mathews died
in October, 1844. Mary married Samuel Montgomery, and died in May, 1872.
Carrie married Daniel George, and died in March, 1877, in Kansas. In 1846
Mr. Mathews married his second wife. Mrs. Louise Patrick. Mr. Mathews was
Justice of the Peace of Garden Plain township from 1864 to 1872.
David Mitchell was born in Sciota county, Ohio, October 7, 1804, and
moved from his native place to Putnam county, Illinois, in September, 1835,
settling on what is called Round Prairie, six miles east of the town of Lacon,
on the Illinois river. In 1838 he came to Albany, being one of the earliest set
tlers of that place, where he remained until he purchased his farm in Garden
Plain. Mr. Mitchell married his first wife, Miss Harriet Murphy, in Sciota
county, Ohio, May 31, 1827. The children by this marriage were : Thurmuthie
Amanda, born May 6, 1828; Mary Jane, born December 12, 1829; William Lu
ther, born September 23, 1831; Abraham David, born January 10, 1834. and
John Calvin, born February 12, 1836. Mrs. Mitchell died December 21, 1837.
On the 25th of September, 1838, Mr. Mitchell married Miss Isabella Work, his
second wife, the children by this marriage being: Margaret Elizabeth, born Oc
tober 19, 1842, and Martha, October 21, 1844. Of the children by the first
marriage, Mary Jane died November 14, 1863, aged thirty-four years. Thur
muthie Amanda married John Hudson, at Lacon, Marshall county, Illinois, De
cember 12, 1848, and resides in Fulton; Mary Jane married Daniel F. George,
at Garden Plain, in September, 1851, and died as above mentioned. The hus
band and children are living in Garden Plain. William Luther married Miss
Margaret E. Blean, December 13, 1859, and resides in Newton. Abraham D.
married Miss Mary Murphy, at Garden Plain, December 11, 1867 and resides in
Fulton. John C. married Miss Carrie Van Etten, of Sidney, Iowa, August 22,
1864, and resides in Fulton. Of the children by the second marriage, Margaret
Elizabeth died August 19, 1845. Martha married Dr. Alex. Cozad, December
11, 1867, and resides at Andulasia, Rock Island county, Illinois. Mr. Mitchell
died December 27, 1850, and his widow in January, 1864. During his lifetime,
Mr. Mitchell took a very prominent part in the affairs of the county, being the
first County. Treasurer, serving from 1839 to 1841, and was afterwards for a
number of years a member of the County Commissioners' Court. In both Qf
these positions he displayed an ability of a high order, and in the latter,
especially, aided very much by his clear judgment and keen foresight in placing
Whiteside county in a condition to ensure the future growth and prosperity
which it has attained. Such men are needed at the helm at the incipient stages

216 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
of a municipality, county or commonwealth, to steer clear of the breakers into
which reckless or misguided hands are sure to run the governmental craft. Mr.
Mitchell was also engaged in connection wilh his brother Samuel, for quite a
period, in conducting the ferry between Albany and Camanche. His farm in
Garden Plain was situated on section 9, on the Fulton and Albany road, and is
now owned by his son, Aid. A. D. Mitchell, of Fulton. His death, occuring as
it did when he was in the prime of life, was widely mourned.
Jacob Parker, Truman Parker and Francis Parker, all sons of Abel
Parker, the first settler of Garden Plain, still reside in the township, and rank
among its most substantial farmers and citizens. P. B. Vannest, who settled
in Albany at an early day, has resided in this township for a good many years.
Capt. A. M. George, Joseph Snyder, Ithamar Johnson, Dr. E. D. Stone,
Richard Storer, Elisha Lockhart, Samuel Montgomery and David Mil
ler, are among the prominent citizens of the township.

CHAPTEK XII.
History of Genesee Township — Biographical — Coleta,

History of Genesee Township.
The township of Genesee comprises Congressional township No. 22 north,
range 6 east of the 4th principal meridian. Previous to Whiteside county com
pleting its full organization, Genesee formed first a part of Crow Creek Precinct,
then of Elkhorn Precinct, and afterwards was laid off as a Precinct by itself,
and called Genesee Grove Precinct, and in 1852 was made a township by the
Commissioners appointed by the County Commissioners' Court to divide the
county into townships, and give each its name and boundaries, under the town
ship organization law. The township is divided into timber and prairie land.
A grove in the northwest part, called Genesee Grove, is about six miles long
and three miles broad. The balance is a beautiful, rich, rolling prairie. It is
watered by Spring creek, which has its rise on the lands of W. Wetzell, on sec
tion 10, and also by branches of Rock creek on the west, and a branch of Otter
creek on the north. The government survey of the township was made in 1842,
by Mr. Sanderson, and now, in 1877, it is all in cultivated fields and pasture land.
The lands were brought into market and sold at public auction by the Govern
ment, at Dixon, in 1843.
Among the early settlers of Genesee, Jesse Hill, Sr., Adam James and
John James, came in 1835; John Wick, William Wick, Eli Redman, Mark Har
rison, Joseph Mush and Samuel Landis, in 1836; Ivory Colcord, Pleasant Stan
ley, Isaac Brookfield, James McMullen and Jacob Huffman, in 1837; Levi Mar
ble, Edward Richardson, Mr. Carr, Harvey Summers, John Thompson Crum,
Martin D. McCrea, William Crum and Henry H. Holbrook, in 1838; James Sco
ville, R. Tilton Hughes, Ezra R Huett, Rensselaer Baker, Israel Reed, Marvin
Chappell and Watson Parish, in 1839.
The first school taught in what is now the township of Genesee, was in the
house of William Wick, and the sessions held during the evening, Ivory Col
cord being the teacher. This was in the winter of 1837-'38. Some of the
young men of that time commenced there to learn their alphabet, and after
wards obtained sufficient education to enable them to conduct business. Fol
lowing this was a school taught by Dinsmoor Barnett, near the residence of Mr.
Wick. It is related that at this school, just before one Christmas, the scholars,
following the usage of primeval days, barricaded the door and kept the
teacher outside until he agreed to treat them with apples and pies.
After the compact had been entered into, the door was opened and the
teacher came in and resumed his authority, when the school work went on as
though there had been no interruption. At the appointed time the apples and
pies were forthcoming as per stipulation. Another instance of the same kind
occurred at a school near the Grove. Here the doors and windows were barred,
and the teacher denied admittance unless he would promise to furnish cake and
pies for a Christmas treat. Unlike the other teacher, he protested against the
extravagance of the demand, contending that he was unable to purchase the
pastry for the reason that his pay was only ten dollars per month. He finally
[>7-Y.l

218 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
effected a compromise, however, by agreeing to supply whisky and sugar. The
result was that some of the pupils became intoxicated, and had to be taken
home to their mothers in a lumber wagon drawn by oxen. A school was also
taught about this time by Nelson Fletcher, near Prospect Grove. Mr. Fletcher
afterwards resided in Carroll county, and for a portion of the time was County
Superintendent of Schools of that county. Log school houses were built in the
township as soon as four or five families settled near each other. In those early
days the school house was used for holding religious services, and was free to
all denominations alike. The first school house was erected in 1837, near the
creek north of William Wick's residence, and within a few rods of Walter
Doud's. Soon after another was built on the north side of the grove, near the
Hill residence. Genesee now boasts of- her fine, commodious structures for
school purposes.
The first church society organized in the town was that of the Methodists.
This was about 1838. The next was by the Christians, in 1839, and consisted
of twelve members. The first church edifice was erected by the United
Brethren. During' the winter of 1835-36, grists had to be taken to Morgan county,
one hundred and fifty miles south, to be ground, and all the other necessaries of
life had to be brought from that place. There were no bridges, and but few fer
ries across the streams, so that the crossings had to be mainly made by swim
ming or wading. Early settlers were, therefore, obliged to live frugally. Pork
was worth only from 75 cents to $1.50 per hundred; corn 8 to 15 cents per
bushel, and wheat 30 cents per bushel. Boots, shoes and clothing had to be
bought on long time, and paid for out of the products of the farm, and when
the prices were low, or the crops failed, the constable's fees would often be added
to the debt. Sometimes the store bills had to be closed up by giving promis
sory notes at a high rate of interest.
All the north half of the timber and the adjoining prairie of Genesee
Grove, were in early times claimed by the Hill family, and the south half by the
James brothers, and their assignee, William Wick, hence every settler who
came to the grove was compelled to purchase timber and prairie claims from one
or the other of these land jobbers. Some plucky settlers, however, refused to
buy claims. This being a violation of the claim laws, messengers, young men
mostly, were dispatched on swift horses to convene the members of the Claim
Association, and in great emergencies the members of other Associations. Upon
coming together the members would proceed to hear the proofs and allegations
on both sides, and then decide the matter by a vote. If the decision was in
favor of the "jumper," he was secure in his title, but if adverse a semi-military
organization, properly officered, would be effected, whose duty it was to proceed
at once to the cabin of the trespasser, and remove his goods and family there
from, and then either tear the building down or burn it. In all these contests
about claims the alleged trespasser always had friends, and sometimes they would
constitute the majority of the meeting. In such an event victory would perch
upon his banner. As an instance of how the matter worked at times, we give the
following which occurred in Genesee : Three brothers went to the land office at
Dixon, and entered claims upon which four of the actual settlers had built cabins and
made improvements. As soon as this was ascertained a meeting of the members of
all the adjoining Claim Associations was called, the number present being vari
ously estimated at from two to three hundred. The first thing decided upon at
the meeting was, to turn out with axes and wagons and cut and haul the timber
from the lands of these brothers to the land belonging to other parties. This
was done, but the "jumpers " did not budge. A subsequent meeting was then

HISTORY OF GENESEE TOWNSHIP. 219"
held, and the brothers arrested. This time a demand was made of them to con
vey the lands to the first claimants, but plucky still, they refused to comply.
The question then arose as to the kind of punishment which should be inflicted
upon them, three modes being discussed, to wit : drowning, shooting or
whipping. After mature deliberation the whipping method was adopted, and two
members of the Association were selected to carry the verdict into execution.
The decree was that two of the brothers should be punished, the third one be
ing let off as an innocent party. The number of blows was not to exceed thirty-
nine, and an umpire selected to decide as to the number each of the parties could
endure. Two stakes were driven into the ground, and the brothers tied to them.
The first one whipped exhibited pluck, and did not flinch, although he received
nearly all the blows before the umpire interfered, and prevented further pun
ishment. The second one received only a few blows when he was taken with
palpitation of the heart, and they were stopped. All the parties have long since
left this county. To prevent these claim disputes and their ' attendant conse
quences, the Legislature of the State, at the session of 1837-38, passed an act
limiting claims to one hundred and sixty acres of timber, and three hundred and
twenty acres of prairie, but order was not finally restored until the lands had
been purchased at the Government land sales.
The Winnebago Indians remained to hunt and fish in and around Genesee
until 1839, and were generally quiet and peaceful, although they would
occasionally steal horses and provisions. During that year, a party of them
borrowed some of the equines without consent, and were followed and overtaken
by the settlers. They were so indignant at this proceedure that they threat
ened to scalp every white person in the settlement before morning. The alarm
was soon carried to every family on the north side of the grove with the word
to hasten to the house of William Hill, where a general headquarters would be
made, and after all had assembled there, the men barricaded the doors and
windows inside and outside. After finishing the work outside, they entered
the house through the gable window by means of a ladder, and upon being
safely entrenched, drew the ladder up after them. Their weapons of warfare
included everything from a rifle to a pitchfork. One man, a Methodist minis
ter, was armed with a table fork, having heard that there was a tradition among
the Indians that a stab from such an instrument always proved fatal to them.
During the night one of the settlers in the neighborhood came home from the
mill, and, finding his cabin deserted, went to the residence of Mr. Hill, but was
unable to arouse the inmates. After laboring a long time he finally tore down
the barricades, entered the dwelling, and found the garrison asleep on their
arms. In the morning it was found that the Indians had all decamped during
the night, but their trail was followed by some of the more adventurous settlers,
and they were overtaken on an island in the Mississippi river, near Fulton, and
the stolen horses secured. When this had been effected they were promptly
punished by receiving a sound whipping.
In early times the prairie rattle snakes were plenty, and always expressed
a willingness to bite by rattling. On one occasion, when some of the pioneers
of the township were reaping wheat on the land of one of their number as was
the custom then, one of these "sarpints" was discovered, and sounding the
tocsin of war, threw itself into a coil ready for a strike. The reapers fell back
in good order, and suggested various modes of attack, but before a determin
ation was reached, Mr. Parish came to the rescue and cried out in a stentorian
voice "Boys, stand back, and I will show you how we kill snakes in Tennessee."
The order being promptly obeyed, he approached the enemy and when within
three feet of the snake sprang into the air with the intention of landing on it

220 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
with his feet close together, thereby crushing it, but he made his calculations
wrong and came down on the opposite side. In his attempt to save himself
he fell flat on his back across the snake, very much scared, as was also the
snake. The unengaged parties came to his aid, and separated the belligerents
without either having received any injury. The snake was finally killed with a
club. The first Postmaster in what is now Genesee township was Edward Rich
ardson, who received his appointment in 1839. Shortly afterwards a postoffice
was established at Prospect Grove, and called Prospect Postoffice, James Hank
ie, an Englishman, receiving the first appointment as Postmaster, who was suc
ceeded by Ira Scoville. This office has long since been abolished. The post-
office at New Genesee was established a number of years ago, William Taylor
being the present Postmaster.
The first birth in the township was that of a daughter of William Wick,
which occurred in 1836. She was named Louisa Wick.
The first prize obtained by the grim destroyer was the life of Mrs. James,
mother of George 0. James, now of Mt. Pleasant township. Mrs. James died
in 1838. The rider of the white horse commenced holding his fairs early in
Whiteside county, and tied the ribbon on the door of many a cabin. The doomed
ones were rudely, but sacredly, buried in the grove or on the prairie, and the
summer winds sang as soft a requiem over their lowly graves as it would have
done had the elegant tomb-stones and imposing monuments of to-day marked
their last resting-place.
Unhappily we have been unable to ascertain the name of the lady who first
shuffled 'off the coil of single blessedness and entered into the blissful state of
matrimony. The first marriage in a new settlement is always blissful, and for
miles and miles around the happy couple are congratulated. In more senses
than one it is an era for the neighborhood. The name of the fortunate groom,
however, is preserved, and it is written George Huffman. The hope at the
wedding undoubtedly was that many little Huffmans would grace the theater of
action, and that if of the male persuasion they would have more of the man
than the huff. Among the first marriage licenses issued after the organization
of the county in 1839, one was granted to Harvey Preston, of Grant county,
Wisconsin Territory, and Jane Hall, of Genesee Grove Precinct, who were mar
ried at that time.
The first town meeting, under the township organization law, was held on
the 6th of April, 1852, when the following officers were elected : Ivory Col
cord, Supervisor; .Abram H. Law, Town Clerk; John S. Crum, Collector; Will
iam Crum, Assessor; John W. Lowery and James D. Law, Justices of the
Peace. The following have been the Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessors, Col
lectors, and Justices of the Peace from 1852 to 1877, inclusive :
Supervisors :— 1852-'53, Ivory Colcord; 1854-'55, Andrew S.Ferguson;
1856-57, Charles Lineroad; 1858-59, C. W. Sherwood; 1860-63, Andrew S.
Ferguson; 1864-'66, Ephraim Brookfield; 1867, David Anthony; 1868-70,
Andrew S. Ferguson; 1871-72, Wm. H. Colcord; 1873-74, Cephas Hurless;
1875-77, Ira Scoville.
Town Clerks .—1852, Abram H. Law; 1853, John Yager; 1854. Abram
H. Law; 1855-58, William Crum; 1859, R. B. Colcord; 1860-62, William
Crum; 1863, David Anthony; 1864, R. B. Colcord; 1865-66, David Anthony;
1867-70, William H. Colcord; 1871-73, A. S. Ferguson; 1874, S. S. Cobb;
1875-77, A. S. Ferguson.
Assessors .-—1852, William Crum; 1853, R. B. Colcord; 1854-'56, J. M.
Griswold; 1857, James Rodman; 1858, John Clark; 1859, Cephas Hurless;

BIOGRAPHICAL. 221
1860, E. S. Colcord; 1861, John Yager; 1862, J. D. Lineroad; 1863, John
Tumbleson; 1864, 0. C. Sheldon; 1865, J. D. Lineroad; 1866, P. Hurless;
1867, Ira Scoville; 1868-70, John Tumbleson; 1871, Cephas Hurless; 1872-73,
John Tumbleson; 1874, Wm. H. Colcord; 1875, John Tumbleson; 1876, Wm.
H. Colcord; 1877, John Tumbleson.
Collectors :— 1852, William Crum; 1853-55, Darius Gould; 1856, Charles
W. Smith; 1857, Darius Gould; 1858, J. T. Crum; 1859, Darius Gould; 1860,
Pleasant Stanley; 1861, H. C. Parish; 1862, A. R. Hurless; 1863, J. N.
Springer; 1864, Isaac Lineroad; 1865, C. Overholser; 1866, J. D. Lineroad;
1867, William N. Haney; 1868, B. F. St. John; 1869, H. C. Ulmer; 1870,
James W. Fraser; 1871, E. J. Ferguson; 1872, Ephraim Brookfield; 1873, D.
C. Overholser; 1874, D. G. Proctor; 1875, Alfred Barnes; 1876-77, Abram
Calkins. Justices of the Peace : — 1852, John W. Lowery, James D. Law; 1855,
Thomas J. Stanley; 1856, Charles Sherwood, Abram H. Law; 1860, Abram H.
Law, Ephraim Brookfield; 1864, William Taylor, Ephraim Brookfield; 1866, S.
H. Kingery; 1868, C. Overholser, William Taylor; 1873, Cephas Hurless, W.
M. Law; 1877, R. T. St. John, Cephas Hurless.
Genesee township contains 18,683 acres of improved land, and 4,267 of un
improved. The Assessor's book shows that the number of horses in the town
in 1877 was 525; the number of cattle, 970; mules and asses, 10; sheep, 11;
.hogs, 3,364; carriages and wagons, 234; sewing and knitting machines, 129;
watches and clocks, 253; melodeons and organs, 37. Total assessed value of
lands, lots and personal property, $396,330.
The population of the township in 1870, as appears by the United States
census reports of that year, was 1,271, of which 1,081 were of native birth, and
190 of foreign birth. The population in 1860 was 1,157. The estimated pop
ulation in 1877, is 1,500. Biographical.
Jesse Hill, Sr., and family, originally came from North Carolina, and set
tled on the north side of Genesee Grove in the summer of 1835. Previous to
his coming he had lived a number of years in Indiana, but at the death of his
wife, desiring to have all his children settle about him, he sought a home in
the far West. When they came to the grove they could not cross Rock creek,
as the water was very high, so they stopped until the water had fallen. In the
meantime they reconnoitered the timber and the adjacent prairie, and concluded
that there was enough to supply the " Hill family," so they built themselves a
cabin. One day a party of Indians came to the cabin and told them that there
was a " smoky woman," meaning a white woman, on the south side of the grove.
A messenger was immediately dispatched, and he found the James family. A
treaty, offensive and defensive, was at one entered into, by the families stipu
lating that the James family should own the south half of the grove, and the
contiguous prairie, while the Hill family should occupy the north half, and the
adjoining prairie. They were to repel all who intended to "jump claims," and
all new settlers were compelled to purchase a timber and prairie lot from one of
the families, or their assignees, for the first few years. The Hill family con
sisted of Jesse Hill, Sr., and nine children, viz: John, Daniel, William, Zach.,
Jesse, Jr., and four girls. One of the girls married Nathaniel Moxley, one,
Samuel Seer, one, James Walker, and one, Ebenezer Huffman, now in Oregon, as
far as their whereabouts can be learned. Jesse Hill, Sr., died a number of years
ago at the Grove. John had six children; two are dead, one lives in Nebraska,
one in Michigan, one in Iowa, one in Wisconsin, and one, Jesse, in Illinois.

222 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
John Hill died in Hardin county, Iowa, in 1852; his wife died in Wisconsin, in
1859. Jesse Hill, Jr., lives in Oregon; Daniel in Kansas; William went to
Texas before the war and has not been heard from since. Zach. died at the
Grove in 1854, after his return from California. His wife and four children
are now in Oregon. Not having any teams, in the winter of 1835-'36, they went
to work and cleared up a field in the timber. The boys split the rails, and the
girls carried them on their shoulders to the place where the fence was to be
built. Shoes, boots, broadcloths, silks, worsted goods and calicoes were not in
the market, and if they had been there was no money to purchase them. So
they had to be contented with buckskin moccasins as substitutes for boots and
shoes. The women made linsey from the wool of the sheep, and dyed it with
bark. The fabric was called butternut. The girls also made a coarse fabric
from cotton by spinning and weaving. This was worn in the summer, the lin
sey in the winter. The dresses were cut, fitted and made at home, the fashions
being entirely ignored. An incident is related of a gentleman going to the Hill
cabin one day about noon, and finding the father, three sons, and three daugh
ters at their dinner, which consisted of potatoes boiled with the skins on. There
being no chairs nor any table in the cabin, the potatoes were turned out on the
puncheon floor, and the family were seated, tailor fashion, eating their frugal
meal. As soon as they saw company, the girls ran and hid, but when the sur
prise wore off they returned and finished their meal.
Riley*Hill was a Methodist preacher, who remained in Genesee Grove two
years, 1838-39, and then went to Warren county; after a time he returned,
but soon died.
Lester Hill lived in Genesee Grove about twenty-five years. He moved
to Minnesota, where he still resides.
James Family: — Adam and John James came to Genesee Grove in 1835,
and settled on the south side of the Grove. The mother of the James brothers
died in 1838; this was the first death in the Grove. Several Indians — Winne
bagoes — came to the James cabin one day while the men were from home. Be
ing unaccustomed to Indians, the two women fled, leaving them in peaceable pos
session of the premises, and went across the country to Union Grove, which
was then the nearest settlement. Night overtaking them, they slept in the
high grass. One of the women had an infant, and carried it in her arms all the
way. Neither mother nor child suffered any injury from the journey or the ex
posure of lying on the ground during the night. They reached Union Grove
the next day, very much pleased with the success of the adventure, and fully
determined not to be surprised again by the Indians. There was, however, no
mischief done during their absence. Adam James sold his claim to Wm. Wick
and others, and returned to Morgan county, Illinois.
John Wick was born January 26, 1793, in Fayette county, Kentucky; at
the age of five his family emigrated to Ross county, Ohio, where he spent his
boyhood. He married Elizabeth King, of Loudon county, Virginia, on the 14th
of April, 1814. Children : Margaret was born January 14, 1815; Eunice,
March 8, 1816; Azariah and Absalom — twins — April 16, 1818; John K., July
28, 1820, and Moses, September 8, 1822. Mrs. Wick died February 1823. John
K. and Moses are living, one in Genesee Grove the other in California; Mar
garet, the wife of Harmon Hopkins, is living in Iowa. Eunice the wife of  -
Howard, also lives in Iowa. Mr. Wick had been a farmer all his life. He came
from Ohio directly to Illinois, and settled in Genesee Grove in October, 1836.
He was a soldier in the war of 1812; he was drafted, and immediately mustered
into the service, and rendezvoused at Columbus, Ohio. His regiment was at once
ordered to upper Sandusky, to re-enforce General Scott, who was threatened with

BIOGRAPHICAL. 223
an attack by the British army. They reached headquarters just the night before
the battle — near enough to hear the cannon, but not to engage in the encoun
ter. General Scott won the battle, and Mr. Wick's regiment was detailed to
guard the prisoners.
William Wick was born in Fayette county, Kentucky. He was about two
years younger than his brother John and also went with the family to Ross
county, Ohio. He married Margaret Redman, a sister of Eli Redman, in Ohio.
He came to Illinois and settled in Genesee Grove in June, 1836. Children :
Nancy, Emeline, Charlotte, Louisa, an infant that died, Eli, and William. Eli
lives in Missouri and William in Iowa; Nancy married Wm. P. Hiddleson, and
now lives in Kansas; Emeline married AVilliam Crum, and died in about a year;
Louisa married John Moxley, and now lives in Missouri; Charlotte married Har
vey Summers, and also lives in Missouri. Mr. Wick died in 1858, and is buried
in Genesee Grove. He was drafted during the war of 1812, and served in the
same regiment as his brother John. He was an honest, unsuspecting man, and
often became the victim of designing persons; he was a member of the Metho
dist Episcopal Church. The pioneer ministers of that, and all denominations as
well, and indeed everybody found a cordial welcome at his house, No member
of his family now resides in this county. Mrs. Wick is still living, at a ripe old
agej with her daughter, Mrs. Moxley.
Eli Redman was born December 22, 1794, in Greenbrier county, Va.
AVhen young his family removed to Ohio, from thence to Tazewell county, Illi
nois, in 1827. He enlisted as a private in the war of 1812, in a Virginia regi
ment. He was afterwards Second Lieutenant in a company of Illinois Militia.
He came to Whiteside county with William Wick. He married Catherine Owen,
September 29, 1833, in Indiana. Children : W. H, born March 5, 1840; Phebe
J., January 5, 1842; Sarah E., born February 17, 1844; Nelson L., born No
vember 16, 1847; Eli M., born November 22, 1849; Margaret L., born May,
1854; Samuel C, born March 13, 1856, and Frank O., August 10, 1861. Mr.
Redman died October 29, 1862, and is buried in the Genesee Grove cemetery.
Sarah E., died February 21, 1874. Wm. H. enlisted in Company C, 12th Illin
ois Volunteer Cavalry; he served from January 1, 1862 to June 18, 1866.
For meritorious services, he was promoted Captain of his company; he was cap
tured once, and escaped from the enemy in Virginia; was in every battle in
which his regiment took part. He is now living at Montezuma, Poweshiek
county, Iowa. After farming two years, he studied law at the University at
Iowa City; since then he has been practicing his profession successfully at
Montezuma, Iowa. Nelson L. and Eli M. are farmers; Phebe J. married Ed
ward F. Scoville. The family now reside in Poweshiek county, Iowa. Sarah
E. was married and resided at the same place until her death. Eli Redman was
familiarly known in Whiteside and Carroll counties, from the very earliest set
tlement of the county up to the time of his death, as " Uncle Eli Redman."
He was liberal to a fault, as every one would testify. No man ever asked a fa
vor of him in vain. Mrs. Eli Redman is now living with her children in Iowa.
James Scoville was born February 21, 1810, in Washington county, New
York. He traveled on foot from home to Erie, Pennsylvania, then again on
foot across Michigan to Chicago, and then to Milwaukee in November, 1834.
At that time there were no bridges, and he was compelled to wade or swim all
the streams. He had left his family in New York while he was seeking work.
He was employed by Junot & Rogers, at Milwaukee, in the lumber business, at
$25 per month. When he was through with his work at this place, he walked
all the way back to New York. Mr. Scovile was married November 15, 1832.
Children: Ira, born May 24, 1834; Mattie, born March 12, 1836; Amelia, born

224 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
March 12, 1838; Mary E., born December 17, 1841; Sarah, born November 29,
1843; Paulina, born January 20, 1845; James, born March 30, 1848; Ettie,
born April 12, 1850; Emma, born January 17, 1852, and Ella, born December
12, 1855. Mr. Scoville made no claim on Government lands, but bought a tim
ber lot from Wm. Wick, built a cabin on a prairie lot in October, 1839, and
moved his family into it in November. He also held the claim of the grove
northeast of Genesee, which was then called Sight Grove, afterwards Prospect
Grove. When he settled in Genesee Grove his entire worldly possessions con
sisted of a span of horses and a wagon. The provisions for his family and the
feed for his horses had to be brought from Warren county, one hundred miles
south, for the first year's supply. In the second year the products of the farm
were sufficient. His first house was a log cabin 18 by 20 feet, all in one room,
and was used as a kitchen, dining room, parlor, sleeping room, granary, harness
room and wood house. In addition to all this, his cabin was the stopping place
for all strangers who passed that way. Mr. Scoville and his wife are now far
down the sunset side of life, and have secured not only the necessaries, but also
many of the luxuries of life. They are among the solid people of Whiteside
county. Edward Scoville the father of James, came to Genesee Grove in 1843.
His wife's maiden name was Susan Case. Children: Paulina, Augustine, Hiram,
Sanford, James, Stephen, Susan, Edward, Alexander, Sprague, and Jane. All
the sons are dead except James and Alexander. The daughters are all living.
The father and mother both died in Illinois, Sanford Scoville settled in
Genesee Grove in 1844, and died in 1874, from injuries received by being
thrown from a wagon. He left a wife and one child; his daughter married
Alexander Calkins. Steven Scoville died about twenty years ago, leaving a wife
and six children. Alexander Scoville is now living at Rock Falls. Sprague
Scoville died about thirty years ago at Genesee Grove; he was not married.
Ivory Colcord was born July 20, 1799, in Newflampshire, in which State
his wife was also born, June 27, 1805. They came to Genesee Grove on the
13th of October, 1837. On his route to the West Mr. Colcord shipped his
family and goods at Olean Point, New York, on a flat boat, and went down the
Alleghany river to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he took a steamer descend
ing the Ohio river, and thence up the Mississippi river to Fulton. At Fulton
he loaded his goods in a wagon, John Baker, Fulton's pioneer, furnishing the
team and acting as driver and guide. The family also took passage in the same
wagon, and the convoy crossed the sloughs and prairie to Genesee Grove. The
whole trip consumed six weeks. Mr. Colcord purchased a timber and prairie
claim of William Wick, paying for it $150 in gold. The claim consisted of two
hundred acres of timber land, and three hundred acres of prairie. Upon this
he built a cabin 12 by 12 feet in size, in the winter of 1837-'38. In this cabin
the family cooked, ate, washed, slept and kept hotel. A large part of their
goods was kept in the wagon, which stood in the door yard all winter. In the
summer of 1838, a house large enough to accommodate the family, and store
away all the goods, was erected. Mr. Colcord was a farmer, and an educated
man. After the labors of the day were over, he devoted his time in the even
ing to teaching a school at the house of William Wick, and afterwards one in
his own house. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and at
the organization of the Society in Genesee Grove, was chosen the first class-
leader. He was also elected the first Justice of the Peace in Genesee township,
Mr. Colcord died January 25, 1865. His children were as follows: Ethan S.,
born April 18, 1822; Abigail, born March 21, 1826; Ralph B., born June 8, 1828;
Lorena D., born October 5, 1830; John, born June 24, 1832; Rose Ann, born

BIOGRAPHICAL. 225
April 5, 1835; Ivory, Jr., born February 22, 1837; William H., born July 29,
1839; Elvira, born July 25, 1841; George W., born May 12, 1843; Mary Angel
ine, born November 22, 1847. Ethan S. married Miss Eliza Jane Law in
September, 1843, and died in August, 1863; children, Albert, Arthur, Royal,
and Artie. Abigail married Washington Law in 1844, and died in 1864;
children, Taylor, Joshua, Orland, Wright, and Hunter. Ralph B. married Miss
Mary A. Shirley, March 8, 1854; children, Emma L., Luella M., and Nora B.
Lorena D. married John Cummings in 1856, who died in 1864; children Emma
and 'May. Mrs. Cummings afterward married Washington Law. Rose Ann
married Caleb Burgess in 1855; children, Ophelia T., Florence V., Warner, and
Frederick. Ivory,' Jr., married Miss Charlotte Frazer; children, Willard, Irena,
Celine, Bertha, and Angeline. William H. married Miss Phianna Lineroad;
children, Alice C, Eustatia, Nettie A., Edith B., Ernest S., Clayton E., Nellie
L., and Elbertie E. Elvira married James A. DeGroff; children, Raymond,
Lettie, LeRoy, who died in infancy, and Herbert. George W. married Miss
Lucretia Lineroad; no children. Mary Angeline married 0. Terpenning;
children, Frank J., Harry, and Olia V. Besides the township and other local
offices held by Ivory Colcord, he was Coroner of the county from 1839 to 1844,
and again from 1848 to 1854. He was an active, energetic man, and took a
prominent part in helping to shape the affairs of the county in early days.
R. Tilton Hughes was born in Kentucky, June 17, 1812. When he was
twelve years old his father and family emigrated to Shawneetown, Illinois.
After remaining there a few years, they went to Jacksonville, Illinois. At that
time there was but one house where Jacksonville now stands. They remained
there until 1834, when they went north, and settled in Elkhorn Grove, which
was then in Jo Daviess county, but is now in Carroll county. They finally set
tled in Genesee Grove in 1839. After remaining a number of years,Mr. Hughes
sold out and bought Jonathan Haines' farm just west of the Jacobstown mill,
and two miles northwest of Morrison, where he still lives. By unremitting
labor he has laid up enough of this world's goods to make himself comfortable,
besides making provision for all his children, who have settled in his immediate
neighborhood. Mr. Hughes was married to Mary Jane Scoville, March 13, 1841,
children: James F., bom February 1, 1845; John N., born August 24, 1846;
Caroline F., born February 18, 1849; Oletha, born March 19, 1859. All are now
living except James F., who was accidentally drowned in Rock creek, aged ten
years. Mr. Hughes was in this county nine years before the lands were brought
into market by the government.
James A. L. Bunce was born in Rensselaer county, New York. He mar
ried Hester Lewis. Children: Delos, Delaney, Deborah, Demott, Delia Ann,
Darwin, Dunmore, Danforth, Delight, David, and Dewitt. All are now living,
except Darwin. Three are living in Illinois, one in Missouri, and one in Kansas,
and the others in Iowa. Mr. Bunce died in I860-, and Mrs. Bunce in 1876.
Mark Harrison was born in Yorkshire, England, May 6, 1804. He was
put on board a vessel, and became a sailor when quite young. He emigrated to
the United States in 1826, and remained in New York and Rhode Island until
1832, employed as a sailor. He afterwards went to Chicago, ahd was engaged
on a steamer in the Lake trade. In the spring of 1836 he settled in Whiteside
county, and worked for Mr. Brink in digging out the mill pit at Empire. He
made the claim of the Twin Grove property and the adjoining prairie, in part
nership with Joe. Mush, Tn 1837. He married Mrs. Mary Taylor. Children:
Elizabeth, born October 18, 1840; James H, born November 23, 1842;'Sarah Ann,
born March 31, 1847; Joshua K., born September 3, 1846; Joseph E., born
September 25, 1849. Joshua K., is dead; the others are living near their
[28-Z.]

226 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
parents. The grand children number twenty-seven. Mrs. Harrison was born
in North Carolina, September 10, 1803. She lost both her parents, and lived
with her brother, keeping house for him after the death of his wife. The brother
sold his property in North Carolina, and sent his two children, one nine, and
the other five years old to Illinois, under the care of their aunt. They walked
the whole distance — fifteen hundred miles. Her brother, remaining to dispose
of the rest of his property, died suddenly with the cholera, and so the children
were raised by their aunt. The niece became the wife of Edward Harris, and
died in Sterling several years ago; the nephew went to Oregon, and was
killed by the Indians. When Mr. and Mrs. Harrison were married, they cooked
and ate their wedding dinner at their own cabin. They had no table, bed,
or chairs; a board, laid on two pins driven in auger holes in one of the logs of
their cabin, was their table, the seats were three-legged stools; the bed was
straw which was covered with a sheet. Several years intervened before
the luxuries of a table and chairs could be indulged in. The party with which
Mrs. Harrison came from North Carolina carried all their goods on pack horses.
The pack saddle was made of wood, and fitted the back of the horse. When
Mr. Harrison was married he had just fifty cents, and his wife had fifteen
dollars, all of which was invested, on joint account, in the purchase of wheat,
oats, and corn for seeding purposes. Mr. Harrison once took two fat cows to
Galena to sell. He sold one for $5, and invested the whole amount in the pur
chase of two five-pound bunches of cotton yarn. Mrs. Harrison wove this into
cloth, which constituted the only fabric worn by the family. Mr. Harrison
sold Mr. Brink wheat at twenty-five cents and took as pay a three year old
colt valued at thirty dollars.
Joe Mush was also an Englishman. He came West with Mark Harrison,
and as partners they made the claim of the Twin Grove and the adjoining
prairie. He had some prairie broken, in 1837, by James D. Bingham. He left
and went East, and has not been heard from for many years.
William Stanley was born in Montgomery, now Grayson county, Vir
ginia, August 7, 1819. When he was ten years old his father emigrated from
Virginia to Ohio, a distance of over five hundred miles. All walked but the
mother, who rode on the pack-horse, carrying the baby. They came to Illinois,
and settled at Union Grove in 1837; came to Genesee Grove in 1850. He
married Delia Ann Bunce, November 30, 1843. Children : Rachael, born No
vember 29. 1845; Abram, born September 24, 1847; Melina, born November
12, 1849; Thomas, born November 3, 1851; Esther, born December 26, 1853;
Andrew, born December 6, 1855; Mary, born September 6, 1858; Isabella, born
February 18, 1861; Rebecca, born December 10, 1863; and William, born July
11, 1866. Thomas Stanley lived in Genesee Grove thirty-five years. All of his
fifteen children were born there. He left the Grove a number of years ago,
and now lives in Iowa.
Pleasant Stanley came to Genesee Grove in 1837, and lived in the fam
ily of William Wick for three years. He worked for Jonathan Haines eight
years. Married Sarah Jane Crum. Children: one son and five daughters.
Mr. Stanley lived in Whiteside county twenty-seven years, but in 1864 went to
Tama county, Iowa, where he now resides.
Isaac Brookfield was born in the State of New York, July 9, 1791. He
came and settled in Genesee Grove in July, 1837, builaing a log cabin. After
six years he moved to Indiana, but returned in 1858 and settled in Sterling,
and worked at his trade as shoemaker until 1874. Since then he was an inva
lid, He died January 23, 1877, at the ripe age of eighty-six.

BIOGRAPHICAL. 227
Ephraim Brookfield was born in Genesee county. New York. He went
to California in 1849; when he returned he attended school at Knox College,
Galesburg. He afterwards taught school several years. He married Harriet
Yager in September, 1859. Children : Louis E., born June 6, 1860; Fannie
M., born December 29, 1863; Ellen T., bom November 17, 1872; and Dora,
born September 12, 1874. Fannie M. died March 22, 1875. Mr. Brookfield
was clerk in the store of J. T. Crum at Genesee Grove. He afterwards became
a partner, and finally bought out Crum, carrying on the business in his own
name at Coleta for fourteen years. During all this time he labored with an
energy and tact that but few men possess. In 1874 he sold the stock and
buildings to H. S. Wickey, and commenced banking in Rock Falls on his own
capital. His health failing, he was compelled to seek a warmer climate. He
went to Florida, but died January 10, 1876, and was buried in the Sterling
cemetery. Martin D. McCrea was born in Kentucky, May 31, 1806. His father
died when he was but ten years old, and Martin was brought up in the family
of an uncle in Indiana. He married Margaret Ann Crum, January 1, 1835.
He had three sons and three daughters. He was a peculiar man. Brought up
on the extreme Western frontier, he was deprived of almost all the advantages
of common schools. His associations were with the dwellers in the log cabins;
he hated intensely what he understood to be a mean act. If he made up his
mind to be a man's friend, he would stand by him until the death. On the
other hand, if he became possessed with the idea that a man was dishonest, he
would say so fearlessly. He often indulged in veins of wit and sarcasm, and
was incapable of revenge. During a cold winter he was making his way on foot
to Harvey's store, at Empire, to purchase a pair of winter boots. His feet
being very large, he had spoken to Mr. Harvey to bring on some extra sizes.
On his way he met a neighbor, who had just come from the store. He hastily
inquired if the Bush family had been at the store since the boots had come,
and, being told that they had, he turned around at once and started for home,
remarking that if the Bush family had been there, there would be none left for
him. James McMullen was born in Ireland. He came to Canada, and in 1837
settled in Genesee. He had a wife and eight children. His wife died soon after
his coming, and he sold out and returned to Canada. He married again, and
after a number of years came back to Illinois, and settled in Carroll county.
He is now living in Fulton, but has been an invalid for several years. He was
an intelligent, enterprising man.
Jacob Huffman and family came from Canada, and settled on the north
side of Genesee Grove in 1837. He was a farmer; had four sons and three
daughters. The oldest son and one daughter died in the Grove. The other
children are still living, two in Whiteside county. The parents have been dead
a number of years.
Mrs. Amanda Wick, a. sister of R. T. Hughes, was first married to John
R. Smith, a son of T. W. Smith, one of the first Judges of the Supreme Court
of the State of Illinois. She had one child, I. S. Smith, who is now living in
Chicago. Mrs. Smith afterwards married Azariah Wick, August 6, 1838. She
had seven children by this marriage. Mr. Wick enlisted in the 75th regiment
of Illinois Infantry in 1862, as a private, and died in Military Hospital No. 14,
at Nashville, Tennessee.
Edward Richardson was an eastern man. He came to Genesee Grove
in 1838; boarded with Mr. Colcord until his family came in 1839, when he lived
in the same cabin with Uncle Watty Doud. Soon afterwards his wife died.

228 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
He had one child — a daughter — who married Charles Weed, and settled in Rpck
Island county. Mr. Richardson was the first Postmaster in Genesee Grove, in
1839. Soon after his wife's death his health failed, and he shortly afterwards
died. Ezra R. Huett came from the State of New York, and settled in Genesee
Grove in 1839. He married Miss Clawson. After remaining a number of years
he settled in Northern Iowa. He was a carpenter by trade. Had thirteen
children. John Yager was born January 3, 1809, in Union county, Pennsylvania.
His father came to Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1812, and in 1820 removed to
Jackson county in the same State. He married Elizabeth Ayres, April 19, 1829,
and came with his family to Illinois in 1836, settling in Chamber's Grove. He
remained there until 1843, when he came to Whiteside county, and settled
near Genesee Grove, where he has lived ever since. He had ten children, viz:
Maria, George, William, Henry, Harriet, Sarah, James, Mavilla, Martha, and
Amanda. They are all dead but two — Mary, now Mrs. Miller, and Harriet, now
Mrs. Ephraim Brookfield, of Sterling. Mr. Yager's ancestors were from Ger
many. He was brought up a farmer, and followed agricultural pursuits. In
addition, he was an ordained minister of the church organized by Alexander
Campbell, now called the Christian church. His wife died October 2. 1852,
and he married Catherine Nance in Jeffersonville, Indiana, December 12, 1853.
His wife died June 17, 1863, leaving no children. He married Mrs. Margaret
A. McCrea, the widow of Martin D. McCrea, November 16, 1863. Mr. Yager,
although an early settler, never had any claim troubles, and never was concerned
in any of the controversies, either as a party or as a witness. Many persons
made it a business to locate timber and prairie claims, so that about all the
lands were taken up or claimed. These large claim brokers reduced the
business to a system. Mr. Yager bought out John Cox, paying three dollars
per acre for his land. One forty acre lot of that claim has recently been sold
for two hundred dollars per acre.
Rensselaer Baker came from New York in 1839. He had a wife and
two children, a son and a daughter. He went to California, leaving his wife on
the farm, and has not been heard from recently. Mrs. Baker died about two
years ago.
Harvey Summers came from Indiana in 1838. He married Charlotte J.
Wick, a daughter of Wm. Wick. He is now living in Jasper county, Missouri.
John Thompson Crum came from Indiana in 1838 in company with Martin
D. McCrea. Mrs. McCrea was his sister. He made a claim, and after remain
ing a number of years he went to Indiana and married Mary Pierce. He had a
stock of goods at Genesee Grove, which he afterwards sold to Ephriam Brook
field, and then went back to Indiana, where he still lives. Mr. Crum built the
first house in the place now called Coleta, for a store and dwelling house com
bined, on the corner of sections 10 and 22.
William Crum came and made a claim in 1838. He followed farming
until about ten years ago, when he sold out and went into the dry goods
business at Gait. He now owns and lives on the farm known in Como as the
Perkins' place. He first married Emeline Wick, in 1843. Had one child, now
the' wife of Joe. Sales, in Iowa. Mrs. Crum died, and he married Rachel M.
Lee. Four children were born, but all are now dead.
Middleton G. Wood was born in Virginia, February 26, 1811. When
one year old he was taken to North Carolina, and stayed there until he was six
teen, when he went to Greencastle, Indiana; thence to Rockville. Came West
and settled in Georgetown, Vermillion county, Illinois. Married Lucy Ann

BIOGRAPHICAL. 229
Law, December 25, 1832. In the spring of 1836, he went to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
but came back to Illinois in the fall of that year, and settled at Eagle Point.
He lived there until 1843 when he went to Hickory Grove. Mrs. Wood died
January 11, 1848, leaving three children. Mr. Wood married Sarah West in
October, 1850, and had seven children by this marriage. He is a blacksmith by
trade. In January, 1837, he made an agreement with Hezekiah Brink and
Elijah Worthington to open a blacksmith shop in the upper part of Sterling —
then called Harrisburg. They agreed to build the shop, furnish the tools, and
be ready for him to commence work on the first day of May, 1838. At the time
agreed upon he reported himself ready, but the shop was not completed, and the
enterprise was abandoned.
Henry H. Holbrook was born May, 24, 1815 at Cornish, New Hampshire.
He married Caroline Ross, April 11, 1833. He came west and settled in
Genesee Grove, December 5, 1838. Mr. Holbrook was a practical farmer, but
worked at shoe making in the winter season, and when not otherwise employed.
Children: Jane, Abigal, John, Silas, Sarah, Alzina, Emeline, Watson, Eliza,
Mary, Isaac, Adeline, and Nancy. Silas, Alzina, Emeline and Nancy, are dead.
Mr. Holbrook first settled at a spring in the Grove, but after four years removed
to where he now lives. As late as 1838, the cabins were all built in the timber.
The belief was universal that no person could live on the prairies on account of
the severe winters. The father and mother of the subject of this sketch came
from Steuben county, New York. They travelled in a buggy drawn by one horse,
while the family and goods were conveyed by two horses. They started in
October, 1838, and came to Erie, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Holbrook shipped
one large box on a sail vessel. After traveling five weeks, making over one
thousand miles, they arrived at Genesee Grove in December, 1838, having suf
fered severely from the cold and exposure. Edward Richardson accompanied
them, and traveled the whole distance on foot. The vessel on which the box
was shipped was wrecked, but a portion of the goods was received about a year
afterwards. The father and mother were both old at the time they came west,
and died a long time ago. A man calling himself Sharp, squatted in a vacant
cabin in the neighborhood in the winter of 1838-39. One of the hogs belong
ing to one of the settlers was missing one day, and the proof was conclusive
that Sharp was the guilty person. The settlers went to his cabin, compelled
him to hitch his horses to his wagon, while they loaded up his goods, and sent
him off. He was never heard of afterwards.
Watson Parish was born in Virginia. His father was in the war of 1812,
and died in the military hospital twelve miles below Richmond. The mother
and the rest of the family emigrated to Mercer county, Kentucky, in the fall
of 1815, and remained there until 1837, when they went to Dyer county,
Tennessee, remaining there until the spring of 1839. Mr. Parish married
L ouisa Demint. In June, 1839, he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Genesee
Grove. Children: William C, Elias, Augustine, Sampson, Watson, Sarah,
Harrison H, Amanda L., Mary E. Mrs. Parish died in 1847, and soon after
Mr. Parish again married. The children by his second wife are: John R., Isam
S., Francis M. Mr. Parish's second wife died, and he married his third wife.
The children by this marriage were: Hattie G., Amy M., Clara M. William
C. died in the army November 29, 1861; Elias lives in Johnson county, Nebras
ka; Augustine lives in Butte county, California; Watson resides in Nebraska;
Sarah married Isaac N. Thorp who enlisted in the army and was drowned
January 3, 1865; Clara M. died in 1865. Mr. Parish has been extensively
known as a successful auctioneer.
Elias Demint came from Tennessee, with his family to Illinois, and lived

230 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
about ten miles south of Dixon, at the Inlet. He kept a public house there.
Settled in Genesee Grove in 1840. Children: Louisa— afterwards Mrs. Parish,
Isaac, Pollv, George, Samuel and Sarah. Mr. Demint after remaining in the
Grove a number of years, went to Iowa with his family, and is now dead.
Samuel Landis was born in Virginia in 1792. He married Elizabeth
Stretch in Indiana. Came to Genesee Grove in the spring of 1836. Children:
Nathaniel, Susan, Sarah, Enoch, Mary, William, Nancy, John, Elizabeth and
Margaret Ann. Elizabeth, Nancy and Margaret are living in Missouri. Enoch,
Sarah and John are in Iowa. The rest are in Illinois. Mr. Landis was troubled
with a tumor which grew so rapidly that a surgical operation became necessary;
chloroform was administered, and it was skillfully removed, but he did not rally,
and soon died. Mr. Landis was a cabinet maker by trade, and occasionally work
ed at it in connection with farming. Mrs. Landis is still living in Missouri.
Coleta.
The village of Coleta is laid out on the corners of sections 9, 10, 15 and
16, in township 22, range 6 east of the 4th principal meridian. The first build
ing erected was the store of John Thompson Crum, on the corner of section 10.
After occupying it for a number of years, Mr. Crum purchased an acre of land
on the opposite corner, on section 9, and moved the building to that corner,
where he used it as a dwelling and store room. He afterwards sold out to
Ephraim Brookfield, who in turn sold to Henry S. Wickey, the present owner.
The forty acre lot on the southeast comer of section 9, and the southwest cor
ner of section 10, were owned at first by David Wyman, who afterwards sold it
to Azariah Wick. Mr. Wick sold it to Alestis S. Smith, who in turn sold to
C. Overholser. Mr. Overholser sold to Samuel H. Kingery, who afterwards
sold back again to Overholser. In the plat of the village this forty acre lot
was laid out into town lots. In 1856 Mr. Crum purchased four acres on the
northeast corner of section 16, and laid them out into lots. A lot of fourteen
acres was also sold by Wick to A. S. Smith, who sold to Mr. Crum. This ground
was also laid out into village lots. The next owner of them was Samuel Halde-
man, who sold lots to David Horning, Dr. E. M. Winter, Barrett M. Burns, and
the balance to Hiram Reynolds. The latter afterwards sold one lot to Andrew
Griffith, one acre to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the balance to John
Yager. Wick sold an acre on the northwest corner of section 15 to Wm. Pierce,
who erected the first house on that corner. Mr. Pierce sold to Mrs. Winslow,
who soon after sold one lot to Hiram Reynolds, and the other to Henry Kenne
dy. On the road leading west, lots were sold by A. T. Crum and William Har
row — one, a two acre lot to Cephas Hurless. Mr. Hurless has since sold one
village lot to Seth Knapp, and one to Catharine Fenton.
The place was first called "Crum's Store," and then Clayton. The people
seemingly not being satisfied with either, called a meeting, at which a majority
voted to call it Coleta. This name was suggested by Miss Nora Porter, now
Mrs. E. R. Ferguson. The first school house in the village was built in the
summer of 1858, Ephraim Brookfield being the first teacher. The number of
pupils on the roll then was sixty, now it is over one hundred. The first church
erected was the Methodist Episcopal, in 1868. The Society then numbered
twenty members; now there are sixty-six. The building is a large frame struc
ture, well finished and furnished, to which is also added a neat parsonage. Rev.
H. F. Clendenin is the present pastor. The Sunday school has fifty scholars,
with J. AV. Tumbleson as Superintendent. The United Brethren built a church
in 1869, the membership of the Society being then about one hundred, but has
been reduced by emigration since to about Seventy-five. Rev. Mr. Gardner is

COLETA. 231
the pastor. The Sunday school has fifty scholars, and David Overholser as Su
perintendent. The Christian Church edifice was erected at an expense of
$2,500. Nearly the whole amount was furnished by John Yager. The church
has no settled minister at present, but services are held every Sabbath by either
John Yager or Thomas Stanley. The Sunday school numbers one hundred and
twenty-five scholars, with Thomas Stanley as Superintendent. Besides the
three church buildings and school house, all finished in modern style, there is a
hall over Wickey's store, called " Brookfield Hall," which is used for all public
meetings. There is also a flourishing Masonic Lodge in the village. Coleta
contains twenty-eight dwelling houses and eighteen business places, including
stores, shops, etc., making in all fifty.

CHAPTER XIII.
History of Hahnaman Township — Deer Grove — Biographies.

History of Hahnaman Township.
The township now known as Hahnaman was originally a part of Portland
Precinct, then of Rapids Precinct, and so remained up to 1852, when its boun
daries were defined and name given by the Commissioners appointed by the
County Commissioners' Court, but owing to the small number of inhabitants
was attached to Hopkins township for judicial purposes until 1859, when the
organization became fully complete. The town is largely made up of what is
known as swamp lands, fully four-fifths of the area being such lands. Efforts
were early made in the history of the township to have these lands drained, as
the soil was found to be exceedingly rich and fertile wherever it could be culti
vated. Finally the county, in 1863-64, resolved to drain the swamp lands in
all the towns where they were situated, by proper ditching. Previous to this
action, however, the county had thrown these lands upon the market, and had
realized from Hahnaman alone about $26,000. The county ditch in this town
commences about two miles from the east line of the town, and runs about four
miles, where it strikes the east line of Tampico. It has not proved a success
as yet, as far as Hahnaman is concerned, although by being deepened, and hav
ing branch ditches running into it, as is now proposed, it is thought that every
acre of the original swamp lands can be reclaimed and brought under a good
state of cultivation. At present over one-half of these lands remain unim
proved. The balance of the town is rolling, and of good soil, with the excep
tion of a few sand ridges. On one of these, a short distance north of the resi-
idence of Mr. Amos Reeves, is what is called the " little blow out," a basin
scooped out of the sand. A description of these "blow outs" is briefly given in
the history of Tampico. The crops raised in this town are those usually found
in all the towns of the county.
The earliest settlers in Hahnaman were William Renner and family, who
came from Pennsylvania in 1841, and settled at Deer Grove. Mr. Renner died
in 1859, at the age of 51 years, and was buried in Bureau county. He left
eight children, five boys and three girls. Two of the former died while soldiers
in the Union army. Lemuel Scott, a pensioner of the war of 1812, came next
in 1845. He came from Vermont, and also settled at Deer Grove, and died at
the house of Mr. Renner in 1849. The widow Renner is still living in Hahna
man, a neighbor of Mr. Reeves. In 1854 the widow Ryder, with several sons,
settled in the township, and in 1855 came W. M. Halsted, James Chandler,
Benj. Ackland and Martin Clark, from Indiana; Wm. Johnson, from New York,
and Wm. Humphrey, from La Salle county, in this State. In the following
year, 1856, came John Van Valkenburgh, from New York, Wm. Brakey, Geo.
Brakey and Wm. McNickle, from Pennsylvania; Peter Ford and Thomas Lan-
gan, from Ireland, and in 1857, Amos Reeves, from New York, and Reuben
Davis, from Ohio. Dr. Davis originally settled in Montmorency township, as
will he seen in the history of that township. During that year what is known

HISTORY OF HAHNAMAN TOWNSHIP. 233
as " Paddy's Island," located in the eastern part of the town, was also pretty
well settled. In 1858 a large number came and settled in the town.
The first house, or rather cabin, was built of logs at Deer Grove, by Wil
liam Renner, in 1841, and the few that were built previous to 1857, were of that
material, or as near to it as could be had. In 1857 the first frame buildings were
erected. The first school house was built in 1857 in what is known as Brakey's set
tlement. It was sixteen feet square and seven feet high. Mr. Amos Reeves,
the present Supervisor of the town, taught school there in the winter of 1857-
'58, and was consequently the first school teacher in the town. He had an at
tendance of twenty-two scholars during that winter, some of them coming a
distance of five miles. Now there are five school districts in the town, each
having a good school house, with an average of forty-five scholars.
The first white child born in the town was a son of De Witt and Catharine
Ryder, in the fall of 1855. His name is Isaiah Ryder, and he is now a resident
of Kansas. The first wedding was that of H. V. Hinman to Miss Jane L. Bra
key, the happy event occurring in 1859. The wedded pair are now living in
Kansas. The first death was that of the widow Ryder, which occurred in 1855.
She was about 53 years of age, and was buried in a private ' burial place now on
the farm of Cornelius Cunningham. No regular religious services were held in
the town until about a year ago, when a preaching place was established by the
Methodists at Deer Grove, services being held in the school house at that place.
There being no meeting houses in the town, members of the different denomi
nations attend church either at Tampico, Sterling, or Rock Falls.
The first election for town officers was held at the school house in District
No. 2, on the 3d of April, 1860. Reuben Davis was chosen Moderator, and
Amos Reeves, Clerk. Twenty-six votes were polled.
At the second town meeting held at the school house in District No. 1, on
the 2d of April, 1861, a tax of $125 was voted to defray town expenses. Thirty
cents on the one hundred dollars was also voted to be raised for road purposes.
Tfiirty-six votes were polled at that election.
The following are the names of the principal town officers from 1860 to
the present: Supervisors:— 1860, Wm. M. Halsted; 1861, 0. H. McNickle; Mr. Mc-
Niekle resigned in September, and Wm. Johnson was appointed to fill the va
cancy; 1862, Wm. Johnson; 1863, M. A. Myers; 1864-65, Reuben Davis; 1866,
Amos Reeves; 1867-68, Reuben Davis; 1869-72, Edward Perkinson; 1873,
John Conlon; 1874-75, John McCabe; 1876-77, Amos Reeves.
Town Clerks: — 1861, Amos Reeves; Mr. Reeves resigned in 1861 to go to
the war, and Wm. M. Halsted was appointed; 1862-65, Wm. M. Halsted; 1866,
0. H. McNickle; 1867, J. C. Brakey; 1868, Wm. M. Halsted; 1869-75, Amos
Reeves; 1876-77, E. L. Halsted.
Assessors:— 1860, Geo. S. Brakey; 1861, Thomas McCormick; 1862-63,
Reuben Davis; 1864-65, Thomas McCormick; 1866, Geo. S. Brakey; 1867, J.
C. Reeves; 1868, Thomas McCormick; 1869, Geo. Dee; 1870, Wm. Caughey;
1871-73, Geo. Dee; 1874, John Cooney; 1875, W. K. Caughey; 1876-77, John
Conlon. Collectors:— 1860, Reuben Davis; 1861, W. E. Walter; 1862, Henry Hum
phrey; 1863, W. J. Humphrey: 1864, Wm. M. Halsted; 1865, John McCabe;
1866, H. V. Hinman; 1867-'69, A. S. Fee; 1870-71, W. K. Caughey; 1872-
73, John H. Conlon; 1874, Patrick Fahey; 1875, John H. Conlon; 1876-77,
John Conlon.
Justices of the Peace: — 1860, Reuben Davis, Geo. S. Brakey; 1861, Geo. S.
[29-A.]-

234 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Brakey; 1862, Thos. McCormick; 1863, M. A. Myers; 1864-'68, John McCabe;
1872, Thos. Higgins; 1873, Amos Reeves, John McCabe; 1876, C. L. Dewey;
1S77, Amos Reeves, C. J. Burgess.
The annual election held in April, 1864, was declared void by reason of
alleged illegal votes being polled. For that reason many of the officers then de
clared elected did not qualify, and those who did soon afterwards resigned, thus
leaving the town without officers. A special election was therefore called, and
held on the 21st of May following, and resulted in the re-election mainly of the
officers chosen at the April election.
On the 6th of February, 1865, a special election was held for the purpose
of voting for or against levying a tax to raise a sum of money sufficient, with
the county and government bounties, to secure men to fill the quota of the
town under the last call of the President of the United States to replenish the
Union armies. Thirty-five votes were cast, thirty-one of which were for the
tax, and four against it. The records do not show what was done in reference
to this tax. The town afterwards stood a draft, three men being conscripted by
its means. A special election was held on the 30th of September, 1869, for the pur
pose of voting for or against the town subscribing for one hundred shares of
$100 each to the capital stock of the Illinois Grand Trunk Railway, now known
as the Prophetstown branch of the G., B. & Q. Railroad. Twenty-one votes
were polled, all of which were in favor of subscribing to the stock and issuing
bonds in payment thereof. The railroad company afterwards did not feel will
ing to agree to the terms of the bonds, but wanted five per cent, of tbe amount
paid down, and the balance when sufficient stock was subscribed to grade,
bridge, and tie that part of the road between Mendota and Prophetstown. To
test the question whether the town would agree to the requirements of the
railroad company in reference to the terms of the bonds or not, another special
election was held on the 25th of June, 1870. Nineteen votes were polled at
that election, eight of which were in favor of the company's proposition, and elev
en against it. No change was, therefore, made in the terms of the bonds, and
they were issued on the 1st of January, 1871. These terms were that one-fifth
of the bonds should become due in five years from date, and one-fifth annually
thereafter until the whole amount should be paid, the interest to be ten per
cent, per annum. The company finally took the bonds, $10,000 in amount, and
issued to the town a certificate of stock to that amount. Two thousand dollars
have been paid on the bonds, and the town has two thousand dollars more
ready to pay.
A special election was also held on the 17th of February, 1877, to elect a
committee of three to investigate the legality of the action of the Board of
Supervisors of the county in turning the unexpended part of the swamp land
fund of the county into the school fund, the committee to employ counsel and
take such other steps as may be necessary to obtain information regarding such
action, and make a report at the next annual town meeting. Amos Reeves,
Manson Robbins, and A. S. Fee were elected the committee, and they reported
at the appointed time that, according to the best legal authority they could
obtain, the county had illegally transferred the swamp land fund to the school
fund before completing the draining of the swamp land under the act contem
plating the drainage of the land.
Probably the earliest traveled road is the one known as the Sterling and
Green River road. Indications show that this road was originally an Indian
trail, and was afterwards used by white men in going from Rock River Valley
to_the Green River country and beyond. Horse thieves used' it early, and

DEER GROVE. 235
even up to a date within the recollection of some of the younger inhabitants of
that section, as a favorite road upon whieh to " switch " off their stolen equines.
Many recollect the time when hardly a day passed without inquiries being
made as to whether strange horses and men had not passed along the route
going southward. . The first legally laid out road was the one commencing at
the north line of the town, between sections 3 and 4, and running in a direct
line to Deer Grove, known as the Sterling and Deer Grove road. This road was
laid out in 1856. The next legally laid out road commences also at the north
line of the town, between sections 5 and 6, and runs south in a direct line to
the southeast corner of section 19; thence west to the town line. This road
was laid out in 1857. Other roads followed as the town became settled and
the demands of the settlers required.
One thing is due to the town of Hahnaman, and should be favorably men
tioned. Soon after the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, the majority
of the young men of the town enlisted as soldiers in the Union service. The
town was young then and sparsely populated, yet the inhabitants felt that they
must bear their share of the burden demanded by the crisis to maintain the
unity of the States. Ten of these young men enlisted with the Yates Sharp
shooters in October, 1861, viz: 0. H. McNickle, H. P. Hinman, Thomas Har
vey, Amos Reeves, William Humphrey, Mahlon Humphrey, Crosby Ryder,
H. D. Ryder, Henry May, and one other. Hinman became afterwards Second
Lieutenant. Henry May was killed at the battle of Atlanta, in 1864. Mahlon
Humphrey died at Cairo, in 1862, of fever. Lieut. Hinman was wounded in
the knee, while on skirmish duty in front of Atlanta, in 1864. John Renner
enlisted in the 57th Illinois regiment, and was taken prisoner near Corinth, in
1863, and confined at Andersonville prison for four months. His sufferings
were so severe that he has not been a well man since. E. L. Halsted enlisted
in one of the Chicago batteries in 1862. Henry Fluck and Henry Pott en
listed in the 75th Illinois Volunteers. Pott lost an eye in the service. Pat
rick Fahey also afterwards enlisted in the same regiment. J. C. Reeves joined
' the 9th New York cavalry regiment in 1861. James Renner, Walter Johnson,
T. B. Davis, John Chambers, Albert McNickle, H. S. Humphrey, and some
others enlisted in different Illinois regiments, the names of which we could not
ascertain. With the exception of Henry May and Mahlon Humphrey, it is be
lieved that all came back at the end of their enlistment, or at the close of the
war, the most of them at the latter period.
The Assessor's books of the town for 1877 show 10,781 acres of improved
land, and 12,040 unimproved. The total assessed value of all lands is $132,-
350. Number of improved lots, 8; unimproved, 24; number of horses, 518;
cattle, 1,434; mules and asses, 6; sheep, 16; hogs, 1,825; carriages and wag
ons, 154; sewing and knitting machines, 43; melodeons and organs, 8; value of
personal property, $23,840; railroad property, $26,814; assessed value of all
property, $183,112.
The population of Hahnaman in 1870 was 624, of which number 423 were
of native, and 201 of foreign birth. The estimated population of the town in
1877 is 800. Popular vote in November, 1876, 99.
Deer Grove.
Deer Grove Postoffice was established in 1873, W. H. Wheeler being com
missioned as Postmaster. The first settlement in Deer Grove, as will be seen
elsewhere, was made by William Renner. Mr. Wheeler came in 1873, and
built a frame house and made other improvements. Soon after this came Cady
J. Burgess, Harvey Durr, Henry Pott, M. Patterson, and others. Mr. Wheeler

236 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
opened a store in 1873, and ran it for two years, when he sold out to Charles
L. Dewey, the present owner. In 1875 an elevator was built by Stilson & For
ward, of Tampico, who ran it for a year and then disposed of all their interest
in it to Charles L. Dewey. On the ' resignation of Mr. Wheeler in 1875, Mr.
Dewey became Postmaster, making him at present a public official, merchant,
and buyer and shipper of grain, stock, and produce. A good market is furnished
by Mr. Dewey, as he pays the same prices for grain and hogs as are paid in
Sterling, thus making it a point of interest to Hahnaman farmers. Lately a
store has also been put up by Joseph Burke, a blacksmith shop by T. H. C.
Dow, and a shoe shop by E. Brigham. There are at present fifteen families in
the place. Biographical.
Amos Reeves is a native of New York State, and came to Whiteside
county with the intention of making it his home in 1857. Upon arriving here
he heard of the cheapness and fertility of the so-called swamp lands, and upon
looking them over purchased a large tract upon which he now resides. In the
winter of 1856-'57 he taught school in what is known as Brakey's settlement.
When the town of Hahnaman was organized he was elected its first Town
Clerk, but, before the expiration of his term, resigned to enlist as a volunteer
in the Union army, joining the celebrated Yates Sharpshooters. He remained
in the service during the entire war, and, although participating in many bat
tles and skirmishes with courage and zeal, came back unwounded. Almost im
mediately upon his return he was elected Supervisor of his town, and from
1869 to 1875 was continuously Town Clerk. In 1876 he was elected Super
visor, and again in 1877, now holding the office. He is one of Hahnaman's
public-spirited men, and is always at the front when her interests are at stake.
Mr. Reeves is a bachelor in the prime of life.
Dr. Reuben Davis is a native of Ohio, and came to Whiteside county in
1854, settling first in Montmorency, purchasing landon section 22 of that town..
He remained in Montmorency until 1857, when he moved to Hahnaman and
purchased the large farm upon which he at present resides. The people of the
town early discovered his fitness for public position, and at the first election
after the town was organized he was elected Collector. He was afterwards re
peatedly elected Supervisor and Assessor of the town. Perhaps no man in
Hahnaman has taken a more leading and active part in forwarding the interests
of the town than Dr. Davis. He is a thorough agriculturist, justly priding him
self upon the success of his crops and the superiority of his stock. During the
first part of August, 1877, he entered into the mercantile business also, with
one of his sons, at the village of Tampico, erecting a fine brick store for the
purpose.

CHAPTER XIV.
History of Hume Township — Biographical.

History of Hume Township.
The territory now comprising the township of Hume at first formed a part
of Portland and Prophetstown Precincts. In 1852 the boundaries of the town
ship were defined, and its name given, by the Commissioners appointed by the
County Commissioners' Court to divide Whiteside county into townships under
the township organization law. Hume includes all that part of Congressional
township 20, north of range 6 east of the Fourth Principal Meridian, South of
Rock river, and contains twenty-five full sections, and eight fractional sections.
The whole surface of the township was originally prairie, with not a tree to
diversify the scenery, but since its settlement groves have been planted, and
almost every farm has its large orchard. Now the township presents a beautiful
contrast of broad fields and wood land. Every acre is susceptible of cultivation.
A small portion needs more draining than it has received, but when that is done
the soil will yield abundantly. One-third of the township is bottom land, the
remainder a rich table land, and about all enclosed either as cultivated fields,
meadow, or pasture lands. A part of the county ditch runs through sections
twenty-five and thirty-six in the southeast part of the township. Rock river
forms most of the boundary of the township on the north, but there are no
streams running through it. This lack, however, is abundantly made up by
numerous wells which furnish an excellent quality of water. Hume did not
become fully organized until 1857, the east half being attached to Hopkins, and
the west to Prophetstown, from 1852 until that time, for judicial purposes.
The first settler in what is now the township of Hume, was Leonard Morse,
who came from Lee county, Illinois, and made a claim on section sixteen, in
1836. Upon this claim he built a log cabin, the first house of any kind put up
in the town, and lived in it with his family until 1843 when he sold out and
went to McHenry county, Illinois. The next settler was Uriah Wood who
came in 1839, and settled on section sixteen,, where be built a house with sods,
and besides occupying it with his family, consisting of a wife and seven children,
kept boarders. Where the boarders came from, and what they did in Hume at
that day, the ancient chronicles do not state. The most probable supposition
is that they came into this new Canaan to spy out the land. If so, they could
not have failed to make a good report upon their return to their brethren.
Hume being comparatively a new township, the number of those denominated
old settlers who have resided, or do now reside within its limits, is quite small.
Those who came previous to July, 1840, were Leonard Morse, and Uriah Wood,
already mentioned, David Ramsey, and Charles Wright. Those coming shortly
afterwards were William Ramsay, Lyman Baker, J. S. Scott, and David Scott,
and still later David Cleaveland, R. F. Stewart, J. G. Peckham, J. D. Bean,
S. D. Perry, Austin Morse, G. W. Curtis, and those elsewhere mentioned.
As yet there is no church edifice in the township, although the Wesleyan
Methodists have a Parsonage near Mr. J. Vandemark's on section thirty-five.
Religious services are held by the Methodists, and some other denominations,

238 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
in school houses. Those who belong to religious organizations, however,
usually attend church at Sterling, Rock Falls, Prophetstown, or Tampico.
A Postoffice was established at South Hume in 1874, and S. D. Perry
appointed Postmaster. It was run for about two years, and then discontinued.
That was the only Postoffice that has been established in the township.
Mr. William Ramsay has the credit of first stepping "down and out" of the
ranks of the bachelors in the township of Hume, and participating in the de
lights and assuming the cares of a Benedict. His choice was Miss Lucy Ann
Church, and a fortunate one it has proved. The marriage took place February
3, 1845. The first birth was a child of Leonard Morse, one of the original settlers of
the township, and occurred in 1838, and the second a daughter of Sidney
Barker, in 1841.
The first person to depart this life was Miss Ann Maria Ramsay, a sister
of William Ramsay, her death taking place in the fall of 1842. After that there
was not a death in the town for a number of years, and the mortality list has
been very small from that time to the present. There is probably not a health
ier town in Whiteside county, than Hume.
The first school in the township was taught by Miss Jane Griffith,- in 1857,
in what is known as the Cleaveland school house. This school house had just
been completed when Miss Griffith commenced her school, and was the first one
erected in the township. Now there are six school buildings, known as the
Hume, East Hume, Hume Center, Morse, Perry, and Cleaveland school houses.
All of these are good edifices, and well furnished with improved seats, and
proper school apparatus. Schools are taught nine months during the year.
The old stage road originally leadingfrom Beloit to Rock Island, afterwards
from Chicago to Rock Island, but better known in this section as the Dixon and
Rock Island road, was the first traveled road in the township. It is now known
as the Sterling and Prophetstown road. The first legally laid out road in the
township is the one running through Hume Center.
The following have been the Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessors, Collect
ors, and Justices of the Peace, of the township of Hume, from its organization
in 1857, until the present time:
Supervisors:— 1857-65, Charles Wright; 1866, S. M. Elliott; 1867, John
C. Paddock; 1868-70, Austin Morse; 1871, John H. Plumley; 1872-74. John
C. Paddock; 1875-76, M. C. McKenzie; 1877, R. C. Crook.
Town Clerks:— 1857-58, Joseph G. Peckham;- 1859, J. D. Bean; 1860-63,
John R. Barr; 1864, Wm. H. Johnson; 1865, Wm. F. Nichols; 1866, J. H.
Johnson; 1867-'68, W. H. Johnson; 1869-72, Joseph G. Peckham; 1873,
George C. Ely; 1874-77, J. H. Vandemark.
Assessors:— 1857, R. S. Stewart; 1858, Joseph G. Peckham; 1859-60,
Austin Morse; 1861, J. J. Morse; 1862-63, James Sheppard; 1864, Joseph A.
Spencer; 1865, James Lang; 1866, John C. Paddock; 1867, Adam Spotts; 1868,
S. M. Elliott; 1869-72, S. D. Perry; 1873, M. C. McKenzie; 1874, S. D. Perry;
1875, H. H. Witherwax; 1876, J. B. Loomis; 1877, H. H. Witherwax.
Collectors:— 1857-58, Harmon Cleveland; 1859, A. H. Scott; 1860, Jerome
G. Morse; 1861, J. J. Morse; 1862-'63, James Sheppard; 1864, J. J. Morse;
1865, Edwin Holcomb; 1866, A. J. Treadwell; 1867, J. R. Barr; 1868, George
Haven; 1869-71, G. W. McNair; 1872-73, John W. Wright; 1874, John Mee;
1875, M. L.' Lee; 1876, E. F. Nichols; 1877; W.A.Ransom.
Justices of the Peace : — 1857, Austin Morse, G. W. Curtis; 1860, Austin
Morse; 1864, Charles Wright, Austin Morse; 1868; W. H. Macomber, E. F.
Nichols; 1871, David Cleveland; 1876, John W. Wright, G. P. Ross.

BIOGRAPHICAL. 239
The township of Hume contains 18,484 acres of improved land, and not an
acre of unimproved, as appears by the Assessor's books. It is the only town
ship in the county that makes such a showing, and the figures speak more em
phatically and pointedly than words can possibly do of the fertility and splen
did situation of its eighteen and a half thousand acres. The township next to
it in regard to unimproved lands is Coloma, that township having only one hun
dred and thirty acres of such lands. The Assessor's books also show that the
number of horses in the township of Hume in 1877 was 573; of cattle, 2,002;
mules and asses, 17; sheep, 55; hogs, 3,439; carriages and wagons, 194;
watches and clocks, 103; sewing and knitting machines, 77; melodeons and
organs, 23; total value of lands, lots, and personal property, $342,053.
The population of Hume in 1870, as shown by the Federal census of that
year, was 634, pf which 565 were of native birth and 69 of foreign birth. The
population in 1860 was 195. The estimated population in 1877 is 850.
Biographical.
Charles Wright was born in the town of Ruport, Bennington county,
Vermont, April 27, 1806, and was brought up in his native Green Mountain State.
At the age of twenty he crossed over into Washington county, New York, where
he remained a year, and at the age of twenty-one settled in Burford, county of
Oxford, Canada West. He resided in Canada from that time until April, 1839,
when he came to Whiteside county and settled first near Prophetstown, and in
1840 in Hume. Mr. Wright married Miss Cynthia Martin at Blenheim, Oxford
county, Canada, on the 31st of January, 1833. Their children were four sons,
and four daughters : Charlotte P., born July 9, 1834; Alexander H., born
June 17, 1836; Charles P., born July 9, 1838; John W., born March 23, 1847;
David E., born October 12, 1853; Emily M., born September 18, 1840: Cynthia
C, born November 4, 1842, and Sarah E., born May 20, 1844. Of these, Alex
ander H. died November 25, 1865, aged twenty-nine years, and Charles P., May
28, 1857, aged twenty, both of consumption ; David E. died at the age of six
years. Charlotte P. married Abel Cleaveland February 3, 1852; Mr. Cleaveland
died August 18, 1855, and Mrs. Cleaveland married CarlosHaven, March 4, 1857;
she is now residing at Port Henry, New York. John Wentworth Wright mar
ried Miss Mary Jane Jones, March 1, 1870; children, Mertie E., born December
7, 1873, and Ralph Collier, bom November 13, 1875; Mr. Wright is now an ex
tensive farmer, residing at the old homestead in Hume. Emily M. married
James Johnson, March 4, 1857; had one child, Larmia, born October, 1859;
Mr. Johnson died in April, 1862; in April 1864, Mrs. Johnson married Geo. M.
Fern, and is now living in Prophetstown; children, Mary E. and Charles W.
Cynthia C. married George Haven, April 12, 1860; Mr. Haven was a native of
Essex county, New York, and came to Whiteside in 1854, and was a farmer and
stock grower; he died October 30, 1875, of typhoid fever, at the age of forty-
two years; there is one child, Nellie, by this marriage. Sarah E. married Wal
lace Johnson; children, Edwin H, Grace E., and Charlotte P. Mr. Wright's
first wife died January 24, 1855. He afterwards married Miss Nancy A. Brydia,
who still resides at the homestead in Hume. During his early days Mr. Wright
was a school teacher, and then he became a farmer which occupation he followed
until his death, which occurred September 25, 1875, having very nearly arrived
at three score years and ten, the allotted age of man. He occupied a number of
public positions during his lifetime, the duties of whieh he discharged with
credit to himself, and with general satisfaction to the public. In 1852 he was
elected Sheriff of the county; for nine successive years was Supervisor for the
township of Hume, and for seven years Deputy Revenue Assessor in this Dis-

240 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
trict. As a man, his actions were guided by the golden rule; as a neighbor and
friend he was kind and generous, and in the discharge of the rare quality of
charity was wont to quote the Scripture passage, "It is more blessed to give than
to receive." He was the center of the social circle into which he was thrown,
having an inexhaustible fund of anecdotes, and a faculty of relating every inci
dent in that peculiarly happy manner that renders the relator so indispensable
to a social gathering.
William Ramsay is a native of Oneida county, New York, and was born
February 16, 1815. On the 3d of February, 1845, he married Miss Lucy Church,
a native of Oxford, Chenango county, New York. The children of this mar
riage have been : William F., born April 27, 1846; Ann Maria, born August 8,
1847; Lucy E., born April 22, 1851; Lehman McNeal, born July 11, 1858, and
one son who died in infancy. William F. married Miss Alida Kleespie, Decem
ber 20, 1876. Mr. Ramsay has long been a resident of Hume township, and is
one of its reliable and solid citizens. He was brought up as a farmer, and has
always followed that occupation, together with stock raising.
David Ramsay was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, in 1787, and mar
ried Miss Lydia Butler, in Vermont, iu 1812. After his marriage he emigrated
to Oneida county, New York, remaining there until 1840 when he came to
AAThiteside county, and settled on what is now the Morse farm, on section ten,
in the present township of Hume. He built a frame house upon this farm,
which was considered a large one in those days, and though not intending it for
a hotel, it was used as the central stopping place between Rock Island and Dixon,
on the main road from Chicago to Rock Island. The old Indian trail from Chi
cago to Rock Island was about a mile south of his house. Mr. Ramsay died in
1852, and Mrs. Ramsay in 1860.
Josiah Scott is a native of Ohio, and was born May 18, 1819. He came
to Whiteside county, with his father's family, in June, 1839. On the 13th of
March, 1846, he married Miss Harriet J. Coryell. The children by this marriage
have been : Walter H., born December 24, 1847; Edwin D., born November
15, 1849; Celestia L., born July 8, 1853; Hiram B., born November 15, 1855;
Eliza J., born May 10, 1857; Franklin C, born February 27, 1858; Alice A.,
born February 17, 1860; Jesse T., born January 12, 1862; Orange M., born July
31, 1863; Bertha L., born May 26, 1867; Hattie A., born October 24, 1869.
Two children died in infancy. Walter H. married Miss Gertrude Wilcox; one
child, George. Celestia L. married William E. Richardson; children, Charles
and Bessie. Eliza J. married George E. Baker; children, Frederick, and Ida.
Edwin D. and Hiram B. are teachers. Mr. Scott owns a farm of two hundred
and eighty acres on section twelve.
Lyman Baker was born in Washington county, New York, January 31,
1818, and was married to Miss Anna J. Treadwell, July 19, 1836. They have
one child, Clarence A., born January 11, 1858. Mr. Baker' is an old resident of
Hume township, and owns a fine farm on section eleven. He is a good neigh
bor, friend, and a respected citizen.
David Cleaveland is a native of the town of Western, Oneida county,
New York, and was born June 16, 1802. He first came to Whiteside county in
1850, and after selecting his farm in Hume returned to the East, and in 1852
brought on his family, then consisting of fourteen persons. Mr. Cleaveland was
married to Miss Amy Hawkins, in Oneida county, New York, in July, 1843.
This lady is spoken of in the highest terms by every one in Hume and vicinity.
The children by this marriage have been : Delight, Abel, Harmon, George,
David, Jr., Mary, Cyrus, Edward, Jay, Nelon, Squire, and three who died in
infancy at the old home in New York State. Harmon married Miss Mary An-

BIOGRAPHICAL. 241
nis, and lives in Montana Territory. Squire is unmarried, and lives in Texas.
Delight married Ezra P. Adams, and lives in Hume. Abel married Miss Char
lotte P. Wright; on the 18th of August, 1855, he died very suddenly of heart
disease at his house, in Hume; the widow sometime afterwards married Carlos
Haven, who is also now dead; Mrs. Haven resides at Port Henry, New York.
George married Miss Gertrude Andrews, and lives in Prophetstown. David, Jr.
married Miss Almara Walker, and lives in Hume. Mary married William Thomp
son, and lives in Floyd county, Iowa. Cyrus married Miss Mary Mulcay, and
lives in Tampico. Edward married Miss Harriet Morehead, and lives in Hume.
Jay married Miss Fanny Denison, and lives in Hume. Nelon married Miss
Fanny Humaston, and lives in Hume. David, Jr. was one of the earliest to en
list as a private in Company B., 34th Illinois Volunteers, and for bravery and
meritorious conduct rose to be Captain. He is universally spoken of by those
who knew him during the war, as one of the bravest of the Army of the Ten
nessee. When he arrived at Morrison, on his way home at the close of the war,
his father was in attendance at the Circuit Court at that city, as a juror, and
was actually one of the twelve in hearing a case, but no sooner did the car
whistle reach his ears than he deliberately stepped out of the jury box, seized
his hat, and turned to go out of the court room. Judge Heaton was presiding,
and as soon as he noticed Mr. Cleaveland's movements, asked him where he was
going. "Going to see Dave," was the sententious reply. "Then hold on a min
ute," said Judge Heaton, "and I will adjourn Court." True enough, the Court
was adjourned, and Mr. Cleaveland met his gallant soldier son. Two other of
his sons were also soldiers in the Union Army — Cyrus in the 34th Illinois Vol
unteers, and Edward in the 75th. Edward was wounded, and afterwards hon
orably discharged. Mr. Cleaveland was Commissioner of Highways of Hume
township for fifteen years, and also served a term as Justice of the Peace. His
farm is on sections nineteen and thirty, and comprises three hundred and twenty
acres, all of which lies in a body.
John H. Plumley is a native of the State of Vermont, and came to
AVhiteside county in 1856, remaining one year in Prophetstown, and then pur
chasing his present farm on section twenty-nine in Hume. In 1850 he married
Miss Caroline Parks, a native of Waterford, Caledonia county, Vermont. The
children are John G., and Charles C, both of whom live in Hume. When Mr.
Plumley purchased his farm there were no fences or houses in sight. He got
his first dwelling from Charles McCarter by trading a silver watch for it, and by
enlarging it and placing it on a ridge it served as a landmark for those coming
through the township. Mr- Plumley has been Supervisor of the township, and
held other offices, within the gift of his fellow townsmen. His farm is situated
on sections twenty-nine and thirty-two, and contains two hundred and forty acres
of land under an excellent state of cultivation.
Marlon C. McKenzie was born in Essex county, New York, in 1823, and
came first to Whiteside county in 1841, and remained three years, when he re
turned East. In 1865 he again came to Whiteside, and purchased his present
farm in Hume township, upon which he has since continued to live. In 1849
he married Miss Marian M. Haven. Their only child is May, now fourteen
years of age. Mr. McKenzie has served for two terms as member of the Board
of Supervisors, and has also been Assessor for the township. He has two hun
dred and forty acres of land on sections 28 and 32. Besides carrying on his
farm, he is largely engaged as a stock raiser and dealer.
John C. Paddock is a native of the town of Lee, Oneida county, New
York, and was born in 1833, and in November, 1851, came to Whiteside county
with his father, the latter settling on sectien 24, in Prophetstown township. In
[30-B.]

242 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
1866 he purchased three hundred and twenty acres on sections 21 and 28 in the
township of Hume, all of which lies in a body. Mr. Paddock married Miss Mary
E. Besse, on the 25th of December, 1855, the children of this marriage being:
Fred, Nellie, and Quincy, all of whom reside at home. He was Deputy Sheriff
of AVhiteside county under Robert G. Clendenin, and has served four years
each as Supervisor and Justice of the Peace, of Hume township. He was also
the candidate of the Democratic and Liberal parties for Sheriff, in 1872, with
out seeking the nomination, and polled a large vote. Mr. Paddock's name was
the only one mentioned in either convention, for the position. He has lately
become a resident of Prophetstown, having rented his farm in Hume.
Rodney C. Crook is a native of Corinth, Orange county, Vermont, and
was born August 24, 1836. In 1838 his father came to Whiteside with the
family, and located in Prophetstown. Mr. Crook married Miss Mary C. Brydie,
in Livingston county, Illinois. His farm in Hume is situated on sections 30
and 31 , and is one of the most finely cultivated ones in the township. He has
been School Director, School Trustee, Commissioner of Highways, and is the
present Supervisor of the township. The frequency with which public positions
have been conferred upon him, show the estimation, in which he is held by his
fellow townsmen.

CHAPTER XV.
History of Hopkins Township — Como — Galt — Empire — Biographical.

History of Hopkins Township.
The present township of Hopkins first formed a part of Harrisburg and
Crow Creek Precincts, and in 1837 became attached to Elkhorn Precinct, by
action of the County Commissioners' Court of Ogle county, where it remained
until June, 1839, when that part lying west of the east line of township 21,
range 6 east, and Elkhorn creek, was placed in Round Grov.e Precinct, the part
lying east of Elkhorn creek remaining in Elkhorn Precinct. When the town
ships were organized in 1852 under the township organization law by the Com
missioners appointed by the County Commissioners' Court, Hopkins was given
all of Congressional township 21 north, range 6 east, with the exception of a
small fraction of section 25 on the east, and four acres of section 34 on the
south. Shortly after, when the township of Como was dropped, Hopkins gained
parts of sections 2, 3 and 4 of township 20 north, range 6 east, north of Rock
river, the balance north of that river going to Lyndon. The township is made
up principally of rolling prairie and timber land, the large tract of timber known
as Round Grove lying wholly within its limits. Besides this grove, consider
able timber skirts the banks of Elkhorn creek and Rock river. The praiiie
land is exceedingly fertile, well cultivated, and produces abundantly. The
township is watered by Elkhorn creek, which comes into it on section 13, and
flows at first westerly until it reaches section 14, and thence in a direction
a little west of south through sections 23, 26, and 35, until it reaches Rock
river. A mill-race commencing on section 26, and running through the village
of Como, connects this creek also with Rock river. Spring creek, rising in
Genesee township, runs through sections 3, 11, 13, and 14, and unites with
the Elkhorn a short distance southwest of Empire. Elkhorn creek has also
a tributary rising on section 9, which flows into it in a southeasterly direction.
The west part of the township is watered by Deer Creek and its tributaries.
The first settlement made in the territory now comprising the township of
Hopkins was made by Jason Hopkins and Isaac H. Brittell, where the village
of Como now stands, in 1835. In the autumn of 1832, as the troops which
had been engaged in the Blackhawk War were returning to their homes, Mr.
Hopkins, with a party, came to Rock river, and in coasting along its banks
came to the site of the present village of Como. Being impressed with the
beauty of the place, he made a claim covering the whole tract, known in pio
neer parlance as a "jack-knife claim," by cutting his name in the bark of trees.
The claim was on the north bank of the river, bounded on the east and south
by the river; on the west by Elkhorn creek, and on the north by a line from the
river running due west to Elkhorn creek, about where the track of the Chicago
& Northwestern Railroad is now situated. It had a southern exposure, and was
interspersed with groves of shell-bark hickories, without undergrowth, and cov
ered with luxuriant prairie grass. Mr. Hopkins often spoke of the location as
being as "beautiful as the Garden of Eden." He was then as rich in land as
Alexander Selkirk, being monarch of all he could see, yet with only the shadow

244 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
of a title. In 1835 he returned with his family and Mr. Brittell, and surveyed
the claim, establishing the boundaries by marking trees in the timber and run
ning furrows through the prairie with an ox-team and prairie plow. He after
wards purchased the claim. It comprised sections 25, 26, 35, and 36, and as
much adjoining as made 3,200 acres, a portion being on the south side of the
river. The first settlement at the timber land now known as Round Grove was
made by AArilliam Pilgrim, Clement C. Nance, and Joseph Jones, in the summer
' of 1836. Their wives were sisters. All were from Indiana, and, to distinguish
them from other settlers, they were called Hoosiers. Pilgrim and Jones, after a
few years, went back to Indiana, and Nance moved to Genesee Grove. Being
of the Campbellite or Christian persuasion, he occasionally preached the Gos
pel, and became a physician when past middle age, practicing his profession
until his death, which occurred suddenly five or six years ago of heart disease.
These families were not possessed of much of this world's goods. Moccasins
were worn instead of boots and shoes, and the children were fortunate if they
obtained any covering for their feet, even in the winter. Still they were tough
and healthy. Many now living can attest the sanitary influence of pioneer life
as being peculiarly adapted to physical development. William Beebe came in
1837, made a claim and remained a few years, and then departed for some other
country. In 1838 the Thompson brothers came, but, like Mr. Beebe, left after
a few years' residence, aud did not return.
From the time the first settlements were made in the townships until the
Government land sales took place, some six or seven years elapsed, thus giving
the settlers sufficient time to make the money from the products of their acres
with which to purchase their lands. As a measure of relief, also, the lands
were not taxable until they had been entered five years. The land sales took
place in June, 1842.
In December, 1838, H. H. Perkins and faniily, from New Hampshire, and
Simeon Sampson and family, from Massachusetts, came to Como, followed in
September, 1839, by H. B. and William Sampson and families, also from Mas
sachusetts. W. S. Wilkinson, a native of New York State, came in October,
1839, from Jacksonville, Illinois. S. P. Breed and family and J. N. Dow came
in the spring of 1839 from Alton, Illinois. J. M. Burr came in the autumn of
1840, from Boston, and purchased Soule's share of the claim; and William
Pollock and family arrived in the spring of 1841 from Beardstown, Illinois.
Mrs. Susan Cushing and sons, of Providence, Rhode Island, belonged to the
colony at Delevan, Tazewell county, Illinois, but, desiring to change, joined the
Como colony early in the spring of 1839, and settled on the south side of the
river. Their house had been framed and fitted in Rhode Island, shipped tp
Delevan, Illinois, and put up, but was taken down and reshipped to Como,
where it was again put up and occupied as a part of their dwelling as long as
the family lived there, and is yet in use. Mrs. Cushing died at South Man
chester, Connecticut. S. B. Cushing died in Providence, Rhode Island, in
1873. William and Henry B. Sampson were brothers. Capt. Simeon Sampson
married William Sampson's daughter. They were natives of Duxbury, near
Plymouth, Massachusetts. Capt. Sampson followed the sea until he came
West. He was every inch a commander; inflexible in discipline, yet, when
called upon or prompted by duty to alleviate the distress and sufferings of oth
ers, was as tender and sympathizing as the Good Samaritan. The sick and
wounded of the 75th Illinois Volunteers, after the battle of PerryviUe, in Ken
tucky, had ample proof of that noble trait in his character. He returned to
his native State a few years ago, and is now living in East Boston. Frank Ad-

HISTORY OF HOPKINS TOWNSHIP. 245
ams came to Como in 1836, and assisted Jason Hopkins in holding his large
claim. He was a genial, fun-loving, kind-hearted gentleman. His death oc
curred many years ago. Gershom H. Kirby settled in Como in 1839, and
worked at his trade as a carpenter. He emigrated to California several years
ago, where he has since resided. Ira Silliman settled in Como at an early day,
and remained there until his death in the winter of 1872-73. The Sells
brothers emigrated from Ohio in 1836. Anthony settled west of the Elkhorn
creek, and afterwards sold his claim to Elijah Wallace for $1,500 cash. He
then went further West and died. Benjamin sold his claim to John Gait, and
then settled in Rock Island county, where he died a number of years ago.
Jacob was offered $2,000 for his claim by the father of Elijah and Hugh Wal
lace, but refused it, and, after building a frame house and making other im
provements, sold the whole to Edward Vernon and Frank Adams for $600. He
afterwards settled on Green river, in Bureau county, where he laid out a village
called Tailholt, and still lives there keeping a country tavern.
Messrs. Brink and Cushman commenced building the saw-mill near Empire,
known as Brink's mill, in 1837, and finished it in 1838. Cushman lived at
Buffalo Grove, in Ogle county, and after the mill was built sold his interest- to
Brink. A saw-mill was built by Elijah Wallace in the summer of 1838, on
Spring creek, just west of the present village of Empire, and near where the
school-house now stands. Messrs. Badger and son, of Lee county, were the
millwrights, and kept bachelor's hall during the time of its erection in the Sells'
cabin. The next saw-mill in the township was put up by Joel Harvey on Deer
creek, in Round Grove, in 1839. Mr. Harvey built a high dam on the stream,
and thereby received a supply of water sufficient to run the mill three or four
months each spring and Summer. The mill was afterwards run by Hiram Har
mon, and still later by Whiting R. Van Orman.
The first school taught in the township was at Round Grove, in 1840, Miss
Higley being the teacher. The first school-house was built at Como in 1842,
the funds for the purpose being raised by subscription among the inhabitants.
Now there are six good school-houses in the township, those at Como, Gait and
Empire being large and commodious structures.
The first child born in the town was William Tell Hopkins, son of Jason
Hopkins, the first settler, the birth occurring February 22, 1837. He died
about 1862. It is claimed that he was the first male child born in the county.
The first parties around whom 'was slipped the matrimonial noose were
Isaac H. Brittell and Jane Scott, the event occurring in 1840. The example so
early and wisely set by Mr. and Mrs. Brittell was not lost upon some of the gay
bachelors and rosy maidens of the township, and on November 10, 1841, Win
field S. Wilkinson and Miss Frances E. Sampson, and Frank Cushing and Miss
Mary D. Breed, called in the Justice and were made happy. This double wed
ding was regarded as the great event of the time. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson
have long been respected residents of Morrison, and Mr. and Mrs. Cushing of
Portland. The earliest traveled road in the township was the Dixon and Rock Island
stage route, running along the river near the line of the present road. A road
was surveyed, laid out, and platted by Charles R. Rood, County Surveyor, in
1839, and viewed and reported by Joel Harvey and Elijah Wallace to the
County Commissioners' Court on the 1st of November of that year. The road
led from Wright Murphy's farm on Rock river, now owned by William H. Pat
terson, to Brink's mill, now Empire mills, on Elkhorn creek; thence west half
a mile to the Wallace mill on Spring creek; thence west through Round Grove
and past Harvey's mill on Deer creek; thence through Union Grove and across

246 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Rock creek, between Morrison and Unionville, to the Cattail slough under the
bluffs, where it intersected the road from Como to Fulton. The first legally
laid out road after the township organization was the one running along Rock
river, formerly the old Dixon and Rock Island stage road.
In the early days Indians were plenty in Hopkins, as in other townships,
and like other Indians were given to stealing horses, food, and trinkets. The
mothers of that day were very careful also of their children, as instances had
been related of Indians stealing the tender lambs of the household. The moth
ers would not stir from their houses, in the absence of the men folks, without
taking all of the little ones with them, even when going down to the river at
Como for water.
Game, such as deer, wild turkey, prairie chickens, etc., was abundant at
the time the first settlements were made. The prairie and the black wolf were
also plenty, and very troublesome. These pests were very fond of young pork,
and when the settler was not present to defend the infant swine, the older and
more muscular members of the fraternity would rally to their rescue. It is
related that when Joel Harvey was, at one time in the early days, in search of
a sow with pigs, he was attracted to a spot by an unusual disturbance, and upon
arriving there found that a gang of wolves had attempted to get at the pigs.
To his surprise a lot of hogs had come to the aid of their kindred, and formed a
complete circle around the pigs, with their faces to the enemy. The wolves
made repeated charges on the circular line, but were each time successfully re
pulsed. The first hogs introduced into Hopkins township was in 1838, by Joel
Harvey and Thomas Matthews, each obtaining a small one from J. W. McLemore,
who then lived two miles east of Sterling.
Of the old settlers of Hopkins township who came in 1835, we can name
Jason Hopkins and Isaac H. Brittell; in 1836, Frank Adams, James Cleveland,
James Brady, William Pilgrim, Clement C. Nance, Joseph Jones, Jacob Sells,
Benjamin Sells, Anthony Sells; in 1837, James D. Bingham, Mrs. Margaret
Adams and family, Thomas Matthews, William Beebe, Joel Harvey, W. F. Hop
kins; in 1838, floratio Wells, H. H. Perkins, Simeon Sampson, Thompson
Brothers, Frederick Simonson, Elijah Wallace; in 1839, Henry Briggs
Sampson, William Sampson, Winfield S. Wilkinson, Jesse Scott, Ger
shom H. Kirby, N. A. Sturtevant, Geo. Sturtevant, E. C. Whitmore, A. C.
Merrill; in 1840, S. P. Breed, J. M. Dow, J. M. Burr, Mrs. Susan Cushing.
The first regular meeting of the voters of Hopkins township was held April
6, 1852. The first officers chosen were Simeon Sampson, Supervisor; Henry B.
Sampson, Town Clerk; Simeon Sampson, Assessor; Nelson R. Douglass, Col-
lecter; Grant Conklin, Overseer of the Poor; Henry B. Sampson and Walter
Harmon, Justices of the Peace; Ira Silliman, Wm. Manahan and Fred. Simon
son, Commissioners of Highways; Nelson R. Douglass and Porter J. Harmon,
Constables; Poor Masters, Chas. Holmes, 0. C. Stolp, Fred Simonson. Whole
number of votes cast, 71. Jesse Scott, Joel Harvey, P. J. Harmon and Josiah
S. Scott were appointed Overseers of Highways. It was voted that all cat
tle, horses, mules, asses, sheep and goats be "free commoners;" a lawful fence
was defined as one " at least four feet high, the bottom space between the fence
and mother earth to be not more than twelve inches, all other spaces not more
than ten inches." To prevent "pound breaking," it was voted that anyone
breaking a lock thereof should be fined not less than five dollars and pay all
damages; also that all animals found within the lawful enclosure of anyone
throughout the year shall be impounded, and all animals proved to be unruly shall
be impounded at all times when found running at large. If it is proved that any
enclosure intruded upon is not enclosed by a substantial fence, all damages and

HISTORY OF HOPKINS TOWNSHIP. 247
costs shall be paid by the owner or tenant. A tax of $200 was voted to defray
township expenses. In 1853 "the cattle laws" were continued; $20 appropria
ted for the improvement of the sloughs between Round Grove and Como; $40
appropriated for a Pound in Como, and $24 each for Pounds in Round Grove
and Empire; $100 was voted for township purposes, and a tax of 20 cents on
each $100 of taxable property voted for road purposes. In 1855 $150 was
voted for township purposes, and $150 for bridge repairs. In 1856 township
expenses voted was $150, and $300 for bridge repairs. In 1857 it was decided
by vote to issue $2,000 in script bearing 10 per cent, interest, payable in one
year, to rebuild the bridges at Como and Empire swept away by the floods. In
1858, by resolution, dogs were taxed. In 1865 it was voted to issue script not
to exceed $5,000, payable out of the tax of 1865-66, for bridge purposes at
Como and Empire. In 1865 the citizens of the town subscribed $6,105 to pay
bounties of volunteers. This was in addition to the large sums paid before by
the township. Owing to the depredation of horse thieves, in 1866 the citizens
of Hopkins authorized their Supervisor to use his best influence to induce the
county to offer a reward of $500 for horse thieves. Hopkins is at more expense
for bridges than any other township In the county, the bridges over the Elkhorn
at Empire and Como being a yearly source of expense. The benefit that the
township of Hopkins derives from these bridges is small in comparison with
neighboring towns, yet under existing circumstances it is obliged to keep the
bridges in repair. The township is out of debt, and is in a prosperous condition
generally. Supervisors: — 1852-54, Simeon Sampson; 1855-'56, Geo. Willson; 1857,
Fred. Simonson; 1858-63, Wash. Loomis; 1864, W. M. Law; 1865-71, Jas.
Dinsmoor; 1872-73, B. R. Watson; 1874-75, Henry Keefer; 1876, John Buy
ers; 1877, S. J. Baird.
Town Clerks:— -1852, Henry B. "Sampson; 1853-56, H. C. Donaldson;
1857, Chas. N. Russell; 1858, Joel Burdick; 1859, John Phinney; 1860, Chas.
Patridge; 1861-62, T. S. Barrett; 1863-65, Jas. Fraser; 1866-69, Daniel June;
1870-72, Geo. T. Reed; 1873-77, D. Mclntyre.
Assessors: — 1852, Simeon Sampson; 1853-'54, W. S. Wilkinson; 1855,
Wm. Pollock; 1856, J. C. Mickle; 1857, Wm. Pollock; 1858, Asa Scott; 1859-
'62, Wm. Piatt; 1863, O. C. Stolp; 1864, Reuben King; 1865, C. D. Sandford;
1866-69, O. E. Fanning; 1870, Wm. Pratt; 1871-73, O. E. Fanning; 1874-
77, R. A. Gait.
Collectors:— 1852, N. R. Douglas; 1853-'56, T. M. Burr; 1857, Geo. C.
Willson^ 1858-'59, T. M. Burr; 1860. R. B. Stoddard; 1861-'63, J. B. Linds-
ley; 1864-'65, O. E. Fanning; 1866, S. C. Harvey; 1867, Ira Silliman; 1868-
71, G. T. Reed; 1872, Ira Silliman; 1873, L. E. Tuttle; 1874, J. W. Lyttle;
1875, L. C. Lincoln; 1876, Chas. Tobey; 1877, G. T. Reed.
Justices of the Peace: — 1852-55, Henry B. Sampson, Walter Harmon;
1856-59, Geo. C. Willson, Walter Harmon; 1860-63, Geo. C. Willson, Walter
Harmon; 1864-'67, Geo. C. Willson, R. C. Wharfield; 1868-71, Wm. Crum,
G. C. Willson; 1872-77, Wm. Crum, R. C. Wharfield.
Hopkins township contains 20,556 acres of improved land, and 817 acres of
unimproved. The Assessor's books show the number of horses in 1877 to be
747; cattle, 2,137; mules and asses, 28; sheep, 1,025; hogs, 3,353; carriages
and wagons, 347; watches and clocks, 245; sewing and knitting machines, 113;
pianofortes, 12; melodeons and organs, 22. Total assessed value of all prop
erty in 1877, $582,582. Value of railroad property, $44,702.
The population of Hopkins township in 1870, as shown by the Federal cen-

248 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
sus, was 1,436, of which 1,130 were native born, and 306 foreign born. In
1860 the population was 1,113. The estimated population in 1877, is 1,600.
Como.
About 1837 the whole claim of Jason Hopkins was sold to Judge Bigelow
and Peter Menard, of Peoria. Dr. Harding, a son-in-law of Judge Bigelow,
came up and settled on it. Soon afterwards a colony was formed at Tremont,
Tazewell county, in this State, and a committee consisting of S. B. Cushing,
AAllliain Sampson, A. D. Jones, H. H. Perkins, and F. J. AVilliams, sent up to
purchase the claim from Bigelow and Menard. This purchase was effected,
about six thousand dollars being paid for the claim, most of which belonged to
Mr. Hopkins. In July, 1838, the whole claim was surveyed by this committee,
most of whom were surveyors, the village of Como platted, aud the balance of
the claim divided into farm and timber lots.
The village of Como was laid out at the southern end of the tract, on the
river, and comprised nine blocks, making one hundred and forty-two lots. The
first street running parallel with the river was called Front, and the two next
Second and Third. At right angles with these, and commencing on the west
side of the town, were Grove, State, Court, and Walnut streets. The ferry
landing was at the foot of State street. Hopkins, Brittel, Dr. Harding and
George C. Willson, who were then living on the claim, were each to have a
share of the village, farm, and timber lots. The lots were put up, and the mem
bers bid for choice, which resulted as follows as to farm lots: Lot 1, Jason
Hopkins; 2, A. D. Jones; 3, M. G. Atwood; 4, Geo. P. Plant; 5, C. Jones and
N._S. Seaver; 6, H. H. Perkins; 7, S. P. Breed; 8, John P. Pool; 9, W. S. Wil
kinson; 10, F. J. Williams;. 11, Richard Soule, Jr.; 12. H. B. Sampson; 13, W.
Sampson; 14, Simeon Sampson. Lot 15 was afterwards bought by Jesse Scott.
The following lots were on the south side of the river: 16, L. Bigelow; 17, Al
fred Dow; 18, Dr. Harding; 19, B. H. Brittell; 20, G. W. C. Jenks; 21, S. B.
Cushing; 22, Wm. Pollock; 23, Geo. C. Willson; 24, H. H. Perkins. The
original agreement was that members were to forfeit the amount they paid in
case they failed to settle, or build a house on their respective lots. About this
time speculation in western lands collapsed, and the ardor of several of the
Company cooling down, they returned East, either selling or forfeiting their
claims. A. D. Jones, F. J. Williams, R. Soule, Jr., J. P. Pool, Geo. P. Plant,
M. G. Atwood, C. Jones, and N. S. Seaver, never made a permanent settlement.
The Government land sales took place in 1842, when W. S. Wilkinson,
Geo. C. Willson, and William Pollock were selected to bid in the lands, the lot
holders furnishing the money to buy the same at $1.25 per acre. After the
sale these gentlemen conveyed to the owners their several farm and timber lots,
as follows: Farm lot 1 and timber lot 1 to Jason Hopkins; farm lot 2 and tim
ber lot 2, to A. D. Jones; farm lot 3 and timber lot 3, to James N. Dow; farm
lot 4 and timber lot 4, to Wm. Pollock; farm lot 5 and timber lot 5, to James
D. Bingham; farm lot 6 and timber lot 6, to H. H. Perkins; farm lot 7 and
timber lot 7, to S. P. Breed; farm lot 8 and timber lot 8, to James N. Dow;
farm lot 9 and timber lot 9, to W. S. Wilkinson; farm lot 10 and timber lot 10,
to Judith Sampson; farm lot 11 and timber lot 11, to James M. Burr; farm lot
12 and timber lot 12, to Capt. H. B. Sampson; farm lot 13 and timber lot 13,
to Wm. Sampson; farm lot 14 and timber lot 14, to Simeon Sampson; farm lot
15 and timber lot 15, to Jesse Scott; timber lot 16 to Dr. L. Harding; part of
timber lot 18 to James M. Burr; timber lot 19 to John Scott; timber lot 4 to
J. H. Brittell; timber lot 22 to Wm. Pollock; part of timber lot 23 to Josiah
Scott; part of timber lot 23 to Geo. C. Willson; timber lot 28 to Josiah B.

HISTORY OF HOPKINS TOWNSHIP. 249 '
Harding; house lot 22 to Judith Sampson; part of house lot 25 to Josiah B.
Harding; part of house lot 25 to Geo. C. Willson; house lot 26 to Jason Hop
kins; house lot 27 to Elizabeth Harding. All the farm lots were very soon im
proved by their owners, and as early as the land sales Como was the leading set
tlement in Eastern Whiteside, stores, factories, and the largest grist mill being
built and successfully run.
The Postoffice at Como was established in 1840, and Dr. L. Harding ap
pointed the first Postmaster. The present Postmaster is A. H. Atherton. The
grist mill was erected in 1845-46, by Messrs. Smiths & Weber, at a cost of
$42,000, and was the first mill of the kind built in the township or county. For
many years it did an extensive business. The Congregational Church building
was erected in 1854, and was the first church edifice built in Hopkins.
Of the early settlers of Como, Mrs. B. S. Sampson was the eldest member
of the colony. Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Sampson, Mrs. Breed, Mr. Wm. Pollock,
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Hopkins, William Tell Hopkins, Dr. and Mrs. Harding, J.
M. Burr, Mrs. Geo. C. Willson, Mrs. J. B. Harding, Mrs. Jesse Scott, Mrs. J.
D. Bingham, and Mrs. Mason, the mother of Mrs. Pollock, all died at that place.
H. H. Perkins was drowned at the falls of St. Croix, in Wisconsin, in the spring
of 1850. Mrs. Perkins died at St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1873. S. P. Breed died
in New Hampshire. William Sampson died in Chicago in 1851, where he had
resided for some years; his wife, Caroline Sampson, died at her home in that
city, September 28, 1877, aged 84 years.
The original proprietors of Como consisted of six civil engineers and sur
veyors, three ship captains, one clergyman, one editor, one printer and editor,
one physician, one miller, one merchant, three shoe and leather dealers, and two
farmers. The colonists were mostly natives of New Hampshire and Massa
chusetts, and were well educated, moral and hospitable people.
A bridge was early built across the Elkhorn creek, near the cemetery m
Como, on a State road which had been laid out from Peoria to Savanna; but as
the road was never opened, except for a short part of its' length, the bridge was
moved to the place where it now is on the Lyndon road. A ferry was also
established in the spring of 1840 across Rock river, which proved a great con
venience, as there was none from Dixon to Prophetstown.
Capt. Henry Sampson opened the first public house in Como, in 1839, and
after the establishment of the mail route from Dixon to Rock Island in 1840, apost-
office was established at the place. Frink & Walker, the enterprising stage men, soon
put a daily line of four horse coaches on this route, and as the horses were changed
at Capt. Sampson's hotel, and meals taken there, it became quite a noted place
on the line. Simeon Sampson went to California in 1850, was fortunate in his
undertakings, and in 1854, came back and opened a store, in which he did an
extensive business for several years when he retired on account of his health,
and is now living in Boston, Massachusetts, owning his large farm in Como, and
a valuable property in Sterling. Stephen P. Breed' in 1841 established one of
the first nurseries in the county, at Como, sowing his own seed, but upon the
death of his wife in January, 1847, returned to New Hampshire, and after an
active life died in that State in 1871. He was noted for his honesty, and
great activity of mind and body. His love of flowers and door yard adornments
contributed not a little to the taste Como displayed in this regard, at that
time. Como was in the zenith of its prosperity in 1845. Charles Holmes and
Lorenzo Hapgood had opened a store in 1844, and a very large business was
done by them, and at the mill store of Smiths & Weber, which extended over
one half of the county, including Sterling itself. There were also one or two
[31-c.]

250 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
other stores. The village maintained its ascendency as a trading point until
about 1856, when the railroad, now known as the Chicago & Northwestern
Railroad, was completed. It then began to decline rapidly, and is now without
a store, and its once splendid mill rotting down. The first store in the place
was opened by Alfred and James Dow, in 1840. In 1841 William Pollock
opened a store, and was followed by William Merritt. The first schools in
Como were taught by Miss Maria Sampson, now Mrs. A. E. Merrill, of Sterling,
and Miss Mary D. Breed, now Mrs. Frank Cushing, of Portland, scholars attend
ing from a long distance around.
In 1845 Aaron AV. Pitts opened a blacksmith shop, and soon commenced the
manufacture of the improved plows. Previous to 1844 all the plows in use
were of home make, and generally had rods of iron for mould boards. These
plows rooted the ground after a fashion, but required constant use of the foot
or a paddle to make them run at all. In 1844 the first plow that would scour
was brought from near Springfield, and was called the diamond plow. It con
sisted of a piece of steel cut in the shape of a diamond, and then bent to form a
mould board, and shear, and was polished by grinding. These were rapidly im
proved so that by 1846 they came into general use, and for all practical
purpos es did as good work as is done to-day by the best plows. They were
manufactured extensively at Grand De Tour, and Moline, and were left for sale
at the country stores, and sold on time at a dollar an inch. Mr. Pitts manufac
tured quite largely in Como until about 1849, when he left and commenced
manufacturing in Peru, Illinois.
In 1S47 a new road was laid out from Como through the Sampson farm,
crossing the river at the Cushing farm, and thence running easterly until it
striK-k the Dixon and Prophetstown road at Coloma. This road shortened the
distance to Dixon and Peoria, and a license for a ferry across the river was ap
plied for, but as the point was only a mile from the Como ferry, it was strongly
opposed, and the license not granted. A boat was then built by stockholders,
and run practically free for a year and a half, when upon the election of two new
County Commissioners, in 1849, a license for the ferry was obtained. An ap
peal was at once taken from the order of the County Commissioners' Court to
the Circuit Court, and Knox & Drury, then prominent lawyers of Rock Island,
employed by the upper ferry interest, but the appeal failed. It created a good
deal of feeling at the time. The ferry ran until the opening of the railroad,
when it was moved to Lyndon.
There is now nothing left to remind one of the olden times in Com'o, except
the extreme beauty of its location, and the cordiality and intelligence of its
inhabitants. The name of Como was derived from the expanse of the river just
above the town, which is said to resemble Lake Como, in Italy.
Galt.
The village of Gait was laid out and platted in January, 1855. by John
Gait and others. It is on the southwest quarter of section 24, and consists of
twenty blocks. There are now twenty-five dwellings, four business houses, a
warehouse, cheese factory, elevator, blacksmith shop, and lumber yard, besides
the depot and other buildings of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company,
and the large school house, in the upper story of which is the Town Hall. The
Gait Cheese Manufacturing Company was organized October 22, 1873, with a
capital stock of $3,100. The main building of the factory is 60 by 30 feet,
with an addition 16 by 24 feet, and a house over the well 6 by 6 feet. The
officers of the Company are, William Pratt, President, and Robert A. Gait,
Treasurer and General Superintendent. About sixty thousand pounds of cheese

BIOGRAPHICAL. 251
are made annually. The population of the village in 1877, is estimated at two
hundred. Empire.
The village of Empire was laid out and platted July 28, 1855, by Elijah
Wallace, G. S. Fraser, 0. C. Stolp and Wm. M. Sutton. It is located on the
southwest quarter of section 13. Joel Harvey soon after erected, in addition
to the saw mill built by Hezekiah Brink, a large grist mill, a factory for card
ing, spinning, and dressing wool, and weaving, woolen cloth, and also a store in
which he kept alarge stock of goods; he also built several dwelling houses. The
village now contains about fifteen dwelling houses, the wollen mill, grist mill,
Lutheran church edifice, and a large two story school building. This school
house was one of the first of the graded school buildings erected in the county,
and for its construction the people of the district-deserve great credit.
Biographical.
Jason Hopkins was a native of Nashville, Tennesse, and was born Decem
ber 26, 1786. He remained at Nashville until he was middle aged, when he
came to Illinois and settled at Belleville, and from thence went to Peoria.
When the Black Hawk war broke out he volunteered in , a cavalry regiment,
was appointed Quarter Master, and served in that capacity during the war. In
1835 he came to Como, as previously mentioned in this chapter, where he re
mained until his death, August 19, 1853, at the age of sixty-six years. His
children were William Tell, born February 22, 1837; Helen, born August 1, 1838;
Francis E., born February 25, 1840, and James P., October 4, 1842. William
Tell died about 1862. Helen married William Carson, of Henry county,
Illinois; children, Charles, Bertie, John J. and Hattie". Francis E. married W.
S. Angell, October 4, 1865; children, William H. H., Carl, and one who died in
infancy. Mr. Hopkins was a cabinet maker, and worked at his trade until he
came to Como. Mr. Deyo, in Sterling, has a table made by him over forty years
ago. He possessed many traits of character peculiar to the citizens of ancient
Rome in its Republican days — firmness, unwvering integrity, and patriotism.
He was an intimate acquaintance and great admirer of General Jackson. He
was altogether a remarkable man, and admirably fitted for a pioneer. The town
ship of Hopkins was named in his honor.
Henry Briggs Sampson was born at Duxbury, Massachusetts, July 15,
1787, and was a descendant of Henry Sampson who came to Plymouth with the
little band of Puritans in the Mayflower, in 1620. On the 20th of September,
1812, he married Miss Nancy Turner, at Marshfield, Massachusetts, a daughter
of Col. Wm. Turner, of Scituate, Massachusetts, who was also of Puritan de
scent. Mr. Sampson emigrated to Tremont, Illinois, in 1836, and from there to
Como in 1839, where he died December 31, 1865. Mrs. Sampson was born at
Scituate, Massachusetts, May 8, 1787, and died at Como, November 8, 1862.
Their children were : Frances E., born January 8, 1814, who married Winfield
S. Wilkinson, November 18, 1841; children, Mary C, Alfred E., Henry B., and
Frank, the latter dying in infancy. Ann B., born March 22, 1817; married
Henry A. Sumwalt, October 31, 1837; Mr. Sumwalt died in Pike county, Illi
nois, about twelve years ago, and Mrs. Sumwalt in Sterling, September 3, 1876.
Henry R., born September 6, 1819; married Miss Emma Dickinson, September
28,1858; one child, Kate P. Julia G., born June 16, 1825; married Charles N.
Russell, December 25, 1851; children, Annie F., Charles T., and John N., who
died in infancy. Georgiana S., bom February 1, 1829; married Charles P. Mal-
lett, January 26, 1847; children, Edward, died in infancy, Ellen M., Arthur F.,
died in infancy, and Charles P., Jr. Florence H., born April 2, 1832; married

252 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Edwin C. Whitman, October 5, 1855; children, Elizabeth M., Marcus, Carrie
B., Henry B., and Edwin D. Albert S., born October 1, 1834; married Miss
Lucetta Cook, December 15, 1858; children, Albert U, Mary E., Frank C, and
Alice T.
William Sampson was born at Duxbury, Massachusetts, May 21, 1792, and
came to Como in 1839. In 1815 he married Miss Caroline Sprague. The chil
dren of this marriage were : Caroline A., born March 6, 1817; William Henry,
born June 18, 1819; Maria Louisa, born April 15, 1825; Virginia, born July 15,
1827; Marietta, born November 5, 1829; Josephine, bom May 24, 1832; Fred
erick A., born December 19, 1835; Elizabeth J., born August 3, 1838. These
children were born in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Two children were also born in
Tremont, Illinois, but died in infancy. Caroline A. married Capt. Simeon Samp
son, and resides in East Boston; children, AATalter S., Lucy S., and George.
William Henry married Miss Caroline E. Hopkins, and resides in- Chicago, Illi
nois; children, J. Clifford, and Charles. Arirginia married William Henry Guern
sey, and resides in Minnesota; children, Flora, Edward, Josephine, and William.
Frederick A. married Miss Eliza Farr, and resides in Chicago, Illinois. Maria
Louisa married Amos C. Merrill, and resides in Sterling; children, Charles R.,
died September 5, 1850; Frederick A., Edward E., William H, Cliffords., Clara
A., and Amos C, Jr. Mr. Sampson died in Chicago, in 1851, and Mrs. Sampson
in the same city, September 28, 1877, at the age of 83 years.
Betsy S. Sampson was born at Duxbury, Massachusetts, February, 1768,
and came to Como with her sons in 1839. She was the oldest person in the col
ony, and died October 5. 1854.
Horatio AA'ells was born April 10, 1796, at Greenfield, Massachusetts,
and made his claim at Round Grove in 1838. He married Miss Sarah Swan,
who was also a native of Greenfield, Massachusetts, February 6, 1821. Their
children were : Samuel, born September 24, 1824; Sarah, December 9, 1826;
Louisa, May 26, 1831; Horatio, February 28, 1834; Charles J., August 3, 1836;
Caroline, May 26, 1840; Joseph AV., August 7, 1843, and two who died in infancy.
Charles J. died September 22, 1872. and Joseph AV. in September, 1848. Martha
married Russell Lockwood, who died in 1863. Samuel married Miss Mary Jen
nings. Louisa married AA'illiam McDearborn, January 23, 1861; children,
Horatio, Louisa, Arthur, and Edith. Horatio married in December, 1872; chil
dren, Clarence. Caroline married Charles Toby, March 10, 1870; children,
Marshall W., and Grace E. Mr. Wells made most of his journey from Massa
chusetts, with his family, to AVhiteside county, "prairie schooner" fashion. He
was one of the few men who engaged, prior to the building of railroads, in the
transportation of goods from Boston to the interior and western part of Massa
chusetts. This was done in wagons drawn by six horses, over the mountains,
and required as much skill, and presence of mind as are necessary to handle a
ship in a storm, or a train of cars over a bad railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Wells cele
brated their golden wedding a few years ago. Since then Mr. Wells has died.
George Higley was born in 1793, and married Miss Phebe Chamberlain
in 1817. Their children have been : Louisa Ann, George AV. — who died at the
age of sixteen, Alfred Alonzo, Angeline L., Helen M., Martha Jane, George W.
Jr., and Henry C. Helen M. married A. E. Jennings, February 21, 1849; chil
dren, George H, Francis C, William L., Edwin M., and Mary H.
Frederick Simonson was a native of New York, and born October 13,
1804. He married Miss Sabrina Harvey, April 25, 1827. The following have
been their children : James H., born May 26, 1829; Sally, born May 2, 1831;
Louisa F., born March 3, 1833; Frederick, Jr., born in 1835; Sabrina, born July
25, 1837; Flavel, born August 30, 1840; Mary, born June 24, 1842. Mary died

BIOGRAPHICAL. 253
October 22, 1843, and Louisa F. November 7, 1 868. Sally married Abram Law,
January 1, 1850; children, Victor E., Granville, Winnie, Ida May, Elmer, and
Marion. Flavel married Miss Frances Thomas; James H. married Miss Lavinia
Sherwin; children, Marcia, Kate, Cora, and two who died in infancy. Freder
ick, Jr., resides at the homestead. Mr. Simonson died June 30, 1869, and was
buried in the timber just west of where his log cabin still stands.
Frank Adams was born in 1812. Married Miss Susan Tencke. Children:
Jane, Margaret, Rachel, James, Ann, and Francis. Jane married Charles Ingalls;
children, Hettie. Margaret married John Richardson; children, Perce, Francis
A. D., Nettie, Burdell, and Lee. Rachael married John Charter; children,
James and John. James married Miss Delia Peoples; has two children, and lives
at Red Oak, Iowa. Francis married William Yeoards; has one child. Ann died
in infancy. Mr. Adams came to Como in company with Jason Hopkins, and lived
in a cabin on the bank of the river, near the ferry landing. Mrs. Adams was
the first white woman who came to Como, and for a time was the only female
in the place. They kept a boarding house, the first and only one at
Como, at which everybody then took meals, and at night all slept on the floor.
Prominent among these were Jason Hopkins, Brittell, Dr. Harding, Bridge, J. B.
Harding, and J. D. Bingham.
James D. Bingham was born in the State of Connecticut, April 9, 1810,
and married Miss Jane Adams, August 11, 1836. The children were : Eliza
Jane, born June 9, 1838; Susan, born May 19, 1840, and Frank, born March 23,
1842. Eliza Jane married Daniel Ross; children, Jennie, Jessie, and Nellie.
Susan married Henry Griffin; no children. Frank married Miss Ella Hopkins;
children, Dimple, and Frauk. Mrs. James D. Bingham died February 26, 1848,
and on the 4th of October, 1852, Mr. Bingham married his second wife, Mrs.
Lura A. Chapman, by whom he had one child, Nellie B., born January 9, 1855.
Mr. Bingham's second wife died in Colorado August 6, 1877. Nellie married
Clarence E. Smith, in April, 1875. Frank Bingham enlisted, at the commence
ment of the late war, in Company H, 75th Illinois Volunteers, and was promoted
several times for meritorious services. He served out his term of enlistment,
- and was in all the battles and marches of his regiment during the war, and was
honorably mustered out of the service. He is now living in Colorado, where he
is keeping a ranch. James D. Bingham is now living in Sterling.
Mrs. Margaret Adams and family came to Como in 1837, in company
with James D. Bingham and family. Of her children, Samuel died in Missouri,
on his return home from Pike's Peak. Eliza died in 1839, and John in 1840.
Robert married Miss Lydia Niles; children, Josephine, Mary and Retta.
William Pollock was born June 4, 1802, in Waterford, Erie county, Penn
sylvania, and was married to Miss Sarah Mason, a native of Philadelphia, May
3, 1832. Their children were Peter V., born October 31, 1835; Mary C, born
May 23, 1837; James, born August 29, 1839; John W., born October 4, 1841;
Eliza J., born March 16, 1843; Jane V.,born December 19, 1844, and Gertrude
P., born September 30, 1846. Of these, James, Jane V. and Eliza J. died in
infancy. Mary C. married L. B. Wadleigh, formerly of New Hampshire, No
vember 13, 1856; children, William M., Mary A., LeRoy P., Pauline N, and
Maud C. John W. married Miss Mary M. Smith, May 23, 1870; children, Mary
C. and Pauline P.; two children died in infancy. Gertrude P. married Samuel
Patterson, November 1, 1872; one child, Clara M. Peter V. remains at the old
homestead, and is one of the solid farmers and stock raisers of Whiteside coun
ty. Mr. Pollock was Surveyor of the county from 1847 to 1853, and at the
March term of the Board of Supervisors in 1855, was appointed Drainage Com-

254 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
missioner, and held the position until December, 1858. He also held various
township offices.
Jesse Scott was born July 24, 1790, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania,
and in 1802 came with his parents as far west as Morgan county, Ohio, where he
lived until March, 1839, when he started for Illinois, by the way of the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers, in a one hundred ton keel boat, propelled by horse power.
On this boat he built a cabin 16 by 16 feet in size, and divided into two rooms,
in whieh the family lived, and the goods were stored during the journey. Upon
reaching Rock river he turned his boat into that stream and followed it upwards
until he" reached Como, where he landed June 1, 1839. At that point he made
a settlement, and has resided there ever since, a space of over thirty-six years.
On New Year's day, 1815, Mr. Scott married Miss Anna Sherman. Their
children have been: Asa, born January 26, 1817; Jane, born March 5,1818;
Josiah; born May 18,1819;David,bornDecember 5, 1820; Hiram B., born January
6, 1822; Adrial.born November 30, 1S23; Joel S., born September 30, 1825;
John, born May 26, 1827; Mary E., born June 4, 1829; Maria, born February 14,
1831; Caroline A., born August 8, 1832; Annis E., born February 22, 1834,
and Emeline, born January 7, 1842. Of these children, Emeline died May 6,
1845; Annis E. September 12, 1845; Hiram, June 21, 1850, and Joel S. Novem
ber 8, 1855. Asa married Miss Elizabeth Taylor. The names of their children
are given in the biographical sketch of Mr. Scott which will be found in the
history of Montmorency township. Jane married Isaac H. Brittell; children,
Almona, Charlotte, Orange, and Claudius. Josiah married Miss Harriet J.Coryell;
the biographical sketch of Mr. Josiah Scott, giving names of children, will be
found in the history of Hume township. David married Miss Louisa Stone;
children, Eoline, Gertrude, Luther, Winfield, Theodore, Otho, Devrose, and Willie.
Adrial married Miss Mary Sloan; children, Orson, Joel — who died in infancy,
Willie, Eddy and Ida. Joel S. married Miss Polly Stillian, by whom he had
one child, Esther; Mrs. Scott died, and Mr. Scott married a second wife, the
children by this marriage being John, Marion, Jane, Shereer, Alice, Annis, Amy,
Oscar, and Addison and Eliza — twins, the latter dying in infancy. Mary E.,
married Edward Scott; children, Clifford, Eunice, Hershel, Frederick, Eva,
Albert, and Jessie; Frederick died at the age of fifteen. Maria married Lewis
A. Davis; children, Edgar, Evamalia, Jane, Lizzie, and Bertha. Lizzie died in
infancy. Caroline married Alphonso Brooks; children, Augusta, Romanzo, and
Elthier. Mr. Scott is now eighty-seven years of age, and in many respects has
lived an eventful life. His fund of anecdotes and reminiscences of pioneer life
is inexhaustible, and their relation in his peculiar manner highly interesting.
Mr. Scott made trading trips with his boat for several years after he came to
Como. The boat, with its motive power, was a curiosity, and caused universal
surprise wherever it made its appearance. He is probably the only man who
ever did, or ever will, succeed in propelling a heavy boat against the strong cur
rent of the Mississippi river, by horse power; Mrs. Scott died in Como in 1876.
Joel Haryey was a native of New York State, and was born February
20, 1812. On the 24th of April, 1834, he married Miss Rachel Cole, also a
native of the Empire State. Their children have been: Samuel C, born Feb
ruary 10, 1836; Elizabeth A., born March 4, 1839; Phoebe A., born January
26, 1842; Mary E., born November 5, 1847; Martha, born January 27, 1850;
Julia A., born January 1, 1853; and Alice R., born January 13, 1857. Eliza
beth A. died April 27, 1844, and Julia A. December 16, 1853. Samuel C. mar
ried Miss Margaret A. Dickey in December, 1865; children, Mary A., Samuel
J., Harvey, and three boys who died in infancy. Samuel C. Harvey enlisted in
Company B, 13th regiment Illinois volunteers, and was appointed Second Ser-

BIOGRAPHICAL. 255
geant in his company. He carried a gun all through the service, and never
failed to fall into line at roll-call or at the tap of the drum, participating in all
the battles and marches in which his regiment took a part. As one of the
brave and faithful soldiers in the Union army from Whiteside county, Samuel
C. Harvey deserves due commendation. Phoebe A. married G. G. Keefer; chil
dren, Clara R., Jennie, and Henry. Mary E. married Abram Waldron; chil
dren, Joel and Albert. Martha married John F. Strock; children, Edith, who
died in infancy, and Willoughby C. Alice R. married Edgar Gait, June 7,
1877. Mr. Harvey learned the wagonmaker's trade in his native State, and
followed it more or less after his arrival in Whiteside county. When he came
to Round Grove he bought the claim of Caleb Plummer, paying $1,500 for it,
and lived in the log cabin built by Plummer. When he first came to Illinois
he settled near Ottawa, but the next spring came to this county, making all of
his way from New York State to Whiteside by wagon and horses. The season
he arrived here was 'very wet, compelling him to go around by the way of Elk
horn Grove in order to cross the Elkhorn creek, there being no bridge south of
that point. The roads were very few, and all the small streams and the sloughs
almost impassable. To be mired two or three times a day was no unusual
occurrence. After Mr. Harvey had settled at Round Grove and built his saw
mill there, John Wentworth, who had received the appointment of Mail Agent
under the administration of Gen. Jackson, called upon him with a view of es
tablishing a mail route from Sterling to Fulton. Both of the gentlemen took
a seat upon a log by the mill, and it was there arranged to establish the route,
Mr. Wentworth agreeing that Mr. Harvey should be appointed Postmaster at
Round Grove, upon condition that he would make a road, and bridge the sloughs
from Sterling to Round Grove. Mr. Harvey agreed to the proposition, and,
completing his part of the agreement, received the appointment as Postmaster.
He not only kept the postoffice, but sufficient accommodation for both man and
beast. The mail was carried from Dixon to Fulton in a two-horse wagon, by
A. L. Porter, afterwards for many years Sheriff of Lee county. Mr. flarvey
gave up the postoffice in 1841, and moved to Sterling. It was then abolished.
Mr. Harvey was one of those energetic, persevering, vigorous, and irrepressible
men whom no opposition or difficulty can dishearten. On the contrary, the
more difficulties and embarrassments they have to encounter, the more they are
determined to surmount them. Mr. Harvey has done more in opening up farms,
laying out roads, building mills, stores, and factories, and lumbering in the
pineries, than any other man in Whiteside county. His last great work was the
digging of the artesian well in Sterling. He died in Sterling, September 3, 1875.
Elijah Wallace came from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in the~
spring of 1838, and bought the claim of Anthony Sells, near Empire. He went
back in the autumn of the same year, and brought on his family, coming from
Cumberland county with carriage and horses to Pittsburgh, and thence by water
by the way of the Ohio, Mississippi, and Illinois rivers, to Beardstown, Illinois,
when cold weather setting in, he came across the country in the carriage one
hundred and fifty miles to Sterling, crossing Rock river on the ice, November
10, 1838. Mr. Moore, and his daughter Rebecca, now Mrs. George H. Wells,
came with them. Mr. Moore died the next summer with intermittent fever, a
disease peculiar to the climate at that time. Mr. Wallace was a farmer, and had
a thorough business education. He improved a large farm, and planted upon it
one of the finest orchards in the county. He died a number of years ago at the
old homestead. Samuel Higley came from New York State, and after a residence of

256 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
twenty years went farther West, and died. He was noted for being six and a
half feet high, and very slender.
Thomas Matthews settled at Round Grove in 1837. He is a Scotchman,
highly esteemed, still lives upon the farm first purchasedby him, and by his industry
and thrift has made himself decidedly comfortable in this world's goods. He
possesses that inflexibility of character so peculiar to the Scotch.
Capt. James M. Burr was bom in Boston, Massachusetts, December 21,
1808, and married Miss Caroline H. Neal, August 22, 1S40. Mrs. Burr was
born in New Hampshire, December 19, 1819. The following have been their
children: James M., Jr., born August 16, 1841, and died in infancy;
Adeline E., born February, 26, 1843; Eunice F., born March 5, 1845; Hettie,
bom September 1, 1847; Charles M., June 15, 1850; Ellery S., born June 18,
1854, and William T., born January 4, 1860. Eunice F. married Charles N.
Munson in May, 1S69; children, William R., John J., and Carrie M. Mrs. Mun
son died in Sterling, July 22, 1877. Hattie married Charles Heitshee, October
15, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Heitshee have one child, Frank R. Charles M. Burr
married Miss Mary C. Boals, December 16, 1876. The other children reside
with their parents in Como.
H. B. Freeman was born in Oneida county, New York, July 10, 1810, and
in December, 1839, married Miss Z. Summers. The children of this marriage
have been: Orpha, born November 17, 1840; Maria, born October 1, 1842; Am
arilla, born February, 1844; Augustus, born October, 1848; Alice, born October
2, 1850, and Willis, born March 28, 1852. Amarilla, Augustus, and Alice,
died in infancy. Orpha married Robert H. Carr; they had one child, Robert;
Mr. Carr enlisted in Henshaw's Battery, in 1862, and was a Lieutenant; he died
at Ottawa, Illinois, January 23, 1863, before the Battery was ordered to the
front; Mrs. Carr married James E. Summers, June 4, 1877. AAlllis married
Miss Ada Allen, December 6, 1873; they have one child, born February 29,
1875. AVilliam E. Boardman came AA7est with Mr. Freeman, and married Miss
Ellen Besse. He died soon after his marriage.

CHAPTER XVI.
History of Jordan Township — Biographical.

History of Jordan Township.
Jordan is the northeastern township of Whiteside county, and marked in
the Government survey as township 22 north, range 7 east of the 4th principal
meridian. The township is square, containing thirty-six sections of land. The
soil is generally of great fertility, and except along the courses of the Buffalo,
Elkhorn, Sugar, and other creeks, is undulating prairie, and under a high state
of cultivation. The streams are usually fringed with growths of forest trees,
and present numbers of valuable mill sites. Inexhaustible stone quarries are
found in Jordan, which are more fully mentioned in the chapter upon geol
ogy. Previous to township organization Jordan was a part of Elkhorn Precinct.
After township organization was adopted, the Board of Commissioners appoint
ed for the purpose defined the boundaries of the township, and denominated it
as Jordan. The first settlement was made on sections 33 and 34, on the 10th day of
April, 1835, by S. Miles Coe. Immediately upon his arrival he built a log cabin,
broke 20 acres of prairie, sowed oats, and planted corn and vegetables. Soon
after the arrival of Mr. Coe, James Talbot came, erected a cabin, broke prairie
and put in a crop of sod corn, potatoes, and garden vegetables. At this time
game, such as deer, wild hogs, wolves, bears, raccoons, otter, muskrats, and wild
fowls, was abundant. Buffalo were seen occasionally. Joseph M. Wilson and
family came next, and settled July 3, 1835. A large number of settlers ar
rived in 1836, among them Albert S. Coe, Vernon Sanford, James Deyo, Gar
rett Deyo, Jacob Deyo, and Howard Deyo. In 1837, the memorable " panic
year," there were more arrivals, — Becker Miller, James Wood, Harry Burlin
game, and Captain Manoah Hubbard, who settled at a grove still known as " Hub
bard's Grove." In 1838 Simeon M. Coe and family arrived and made their
claims at a grove which still bears the name of " Coe's Grove." Mr. Coe built
his cabin at a spring in the grove, and at once erected a saw mill, by which he
sawed up the surrounding timber in sufficient quantities to supply the settlers
for purposes of building and fencing. The same year John Brookie, a Mr.
Bush, Henry Bolton and family, a Mr. Goodchild, John, Thomas and Caleb
Plummer, came into the settlement. The year 1839 witnessed quite an influx
of settlers; Jabez Gilbert and family, Geo. Stull, Benj. Davis, Horace R. Mack,
Theo. R. Mack, Chas. H. Miles, and others, came this year. Chas. S. Lunt settled
on the site of Dr. Pennington's property about this time, but after a short stay
removed to Fulton.
Henry.Bolton broke the first prairie on the west side of the Elkhorn creek
and built a cabin, but it was burnt, either by accident or design, and he made
another claim on the east side of the creek, and built a cabin on a stream then
called Dote river. A Mr. Knight jumped his claim and built also a cabin, but
before Knight had time to occupy it Mrs. Bolton concluded it was a nuisance
and abated it. She arose in the night and alone, harnessed her father's horse,
and taking with her a log chain threw down Knight's cabin by hitching the
[32-D.]

258 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
horse to each log, and not only pulled the cabin down, but at the same time
hauled the logs and dumped them into Dote river, and returned to her home
before the morning came.
The first marriage in Jordan was that of Simon Fellows — then a resident
of what is now Palmyra, Lee county, now a respected citizen of Round Grove,
Mt. Pleasant township, in this county — to Miss Elizabeth Deyo, the marriage
taking place July 10, 1836, in a log cabin without any floor, situated in the
northeastern part of Jordan township.
One of the greatest necessaries of the new country was mills for grinding
the grain, and when Joseph M. AVilson settled in Jordan his first movement
was to erect a mill. His log mill was built and in running order in May, 1836.
It was the only mill then in the county, and the people within a circuit of forty
miles brought their grain to it to be ground. At first the grain was ground in
the open air, and when the rain fell the grain was emptied from the hopper,
which was inverted over the stone, and a large chip placed over the hopper vent.
Under all these disadvantages good flour was made, and even to this day the old
settlers speak enthusiastically of the good flour ground by Uncle Joseph Wil
son at the old log mill. A large frame mill has taken the place of the log
structure, which is now managed by James S. Wilson.
In 1836 a town was laid out in Jordan township by Col. S. M. Bowman,
and known as ." Burwick." Some ten houses were built in the town. "Bur-
wick" was laid out and built upon Government lands, and the plat never record
ed. By the time the land was entered, Burwick, like hundreds of other western
towns and cities, was a thing of the past. Col. S. M. Bowman, who was a part
ner in the mill at the start, bought out Mr. Wilson's interest after a year or two,
and run the mill alone for one or two years. During this time Mr. Wilson had
a store and sold goods in Burwick.
One of the early enterprises in Jordan was the erection, in 1839, of a card
ing machine, which was located on Sugar creek. Mr. Thomas Plummer was
the builder, and Mr. Samuel Emmons managed the machine for several years.
It was the only one in a large territory and the •farmers came from great dis
tances to have their wool carded. Mr. Plummer lived in a 10 by 12 house, and
there being none other upon the prairie, the accommodations for the customers
were necessarily limited, therefore many of them camped out while waiting for
their wool to be carded. Near the carding machine a frame was erected for a
grist mill, but never finished. Mr. Plummer also built a saw mill, which after
being run a short time was abandoned for want of water.
The following is a list of the pioneer settlers of Jordan, as near as we can
ascertain: 1835— S. F. Coe, James Talbot, Joseph M. Wilson; 1836— Albert S. Coe,
James Deyo, Garrett Deyo, Jacob Deyo, Hiram Deyo, Vernon Sanford; 1837 — ¦
Becker Miller, Manoah Hubbard, Harvey Burlingame, James Wood; 1838 —
John Brooks,  Bush, Simeon M. Coe and family, Henry Bolton, Henry
Goodchild, John Town, Caleb Plummer; 1839 — Horace R. Mack, Theo. R. Mack,
Charles H. Miles, Jabez Gilbert, Benjamin Davis, George Stull.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan was organized November 4,
1871. The church edifice was erected at a cost of $2,600. The house and '
cemetery occupy one and a half acres of land. The first Elders were Wm.
Jacobs and Daniel Wolf. The Deacons — Godfrey Mentz and George Sheer.
John Stoll was elected Pastor in 1871 and still continues in that office. There
is a Sunday School in connection with the church conducted by the Pastor as
Superintendent, and six teachers. About fifty pupils are in attendance. The
German and English languages are used in the Sunday School. The church

BIOGRAPHICAL. 259
services are held in the German language. The entire membership is about 150.
The first meeting of the citizens of Jordan as a township was held at the
house of Isaiah C. Worrell. It was then voted that stock should run at large
under liability to impounding. It was voted that board fences should be four
feet and one inch in height, and no space between boards to exceed six inches,
rail fences to be four feet three inches in height. Liberal bounties were voted
to soldiers during the war. The township was divided into school districts in
1852, and a school house built in 1853 in Coe's district. There are now eight
school districts in the township, with a fine school house in each district.
Supervisors:— 1852, James Talbot; 1853-'54, S. M. Coe; 1855-'56 J. F.
Coe; 1857, James Talbot; 1858, J. F. Coe; 1859-'60, S. M. Coe; 1861, D. N.
Foster; 1862, James Talbot; 1863, J. F. Coe; 1864-'65, Becker Miller; 1866,
James Talbot; 1867-76, Lot S. Pennington; 1877, Chalkley John.
Town Clerks:— 1852-'54, James Woods; 1855, 1. C. Worrell; 1856, James
R. Park; 1857, Abram Detweiler; 1858, James Woods; 1859-62, Charles
Diller; 1863, Martin Bare; 1864, Henry G. Brown; 1865, Martin Bare; 1866,
Mark Compton; 1867, A. C. John; 1868-'69, J. Y. Westervelt; 1870-74, Elida
John; 1875-77, George D. John.
Assessors: — 1852-53, Lemuel Sweeney; 1854, L. S. Pennington; 1855,
James Talbot; 1856, I. C. Worrell; 1857, E. D Smith; 1858, Becker Miller;
1859-'63, C. C. Alexander; 1864, Vernon Sanford; 1865, D. N. Foster; 1866-'67,
'C. C. Alexander; 1868-73, Osmer Williams; 1874-76, Charles Diller; 1877,
Thomas Diller.
Collectors:— 1852-53, M. H. Snavely; 1854, J. H. Snavely; 1855, J. A.
Morgan; 1856, J. H. Snavely; 1857-59. Charles C. Rippley; 1860, Eli Eshle-
man; 1861-63, Lorenzo Holly; 1864, Mark Compton; 1865, D. N. Foster; 1866,
J. P. Furry; 1867, Edwin Wolcot; 1868-69, Oliver Talbot; 1870-71, W. S.
Stocking; 1872-73, George D. John; 1874-75, Jos. Pfunstine; 1876-77, E. H.
Haines. •
Justices of the Peace:— -1852, Charles Diller, S. M. Coe; 1856, Charles C.
Rippley, James Woods; 1857, Lot S. Pennington, Becker Miller; 1859, 0.
Williams; 1860, L. S. Pennington, O. Williams; 1864, L. S. Pennington, O.
Williams; 1865, I. D. Smith; 1868, D. N. Foster, 0. Williams; 1872, 0. Wil
liams, D. N. Foster; 1873, D. N. Foster, 0. Williams; 1877, L. S. Pennington,
D. N. Foster.
According to the Assessors' books for 1877, Jordan contains 21,856 acres
of. improved land, and 1,140 unimproved; 828 horses; 2,148 cattle; 7 mules and
asses; 100 sheep; 3,544 hogs; 339 carriages and wagons; 100 sewing and knitting
machines; 28 pianos, organs and melodeons; assessed value of personal property
and lands, $523,998.
The census returns for 1870 places the population of Jordan at 1,196, of
which 904 were of native birth and 292 foreign. In 1877 the estimated popula
tion of the township is 1,400. In November 1876 the township polled 182
votes. Biographical.
Garrett F. Deyo settled in Jordan in March, 1836. He died August 18,
1859 and his wife in 1860. His family consisted of thirteen children: Mary
Ann,' born March 7, 1810; John G., January 16, 1812; Bridget, March 14, 1814;
Elizabeth, March 12, 1816; Cyresia, December 29, 1819; Jacob, February 24,
1821; Sarah Jane, April 18, 1823; Hiram, February 28, 1825; Sanford, February
24, 1827; James R., May 24, 1829; Ellen, March 7, 1831; Benjamin, June 9,
1833' Moses J., March 25, 1835. Mary Ann, Bridget, Cyresia and Sarah Jane

260 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
are dead. Of the seven brothers all except Benjamin reside in Whiteside
county; he is living in Ogle county. John G. was married November 12, 1836,
to Elizabeth A. Mackey; children, Langston, LeFevre, Rebecca Jane, Mary Ann,
John J., Homer, Bridget, Elmira and James M.; three children died in infancy.
Bridget married Harrison Sanford January 12, 1835; children, Madison, John,
Elnora, Juliet, Rosella, Sarah, Adeline, Miranda E., Delila, AVilliam B., Newton
H., Ida M., and Frank; John, Juliet, Newton and Ida are dead. Elizabeth
married Simon Fellows, who resides at Round Grove, July 10, 1836; nine children.
Jacob married Mary Campbell November 3, 1852; no children. Sarah Jane
married Isaiah Rucker; she died leaving the following children: Rebecca,
Jane, Ellen, James, Harriet, William, Nora, Hiram and Clara. Hiram
was married October 3, 1850; children, Arthur, Hiram, Clara, Garrett,
Robert, and Edward and Edwin, twins; four of the children are dead. Sanford
married Barbara E. Warner November 5, 1857; six children. Jas. R. married
Elizabeth Roberts September 4, 1851; two children. Ellen married Samuel Wolf,
and resides in Iowa. Benjamin is married and resides in Ogle county, Illinois.
Moses J. married Susanna Hickler. who died March 27, 1872; he was married to
Mary Mulnax October 23, 1873; six children.
Horace Mack was born October 17, 1809, at Lyme, Conn. When an
infant was removed to Pennsylvania and grew to manhood in Susquehanna county,
in that State. He was married February 26, 1835, to Mary Miles. In 1839,
with his wife and eldest children, he removed to the west and arrived at his
claim near the Big Mound northwest of Sugar Grove in August. After resid
ing there about one year he changed his residence, and lived in a cabin one or
two years near where Dr. L. S. Pennington now resides. After "the lands came
into market," Mr. Mack entered land upon the Elkhorn, at a point called "Mack's
Ford," with the view of erecting a mill. In connection with his brother-in-law,
the building of a dam was commenced, but abandoned as the business of the
county was not great enough to warrant the completion of the enterprise. He
built a house and made other improvements upon his property which he disposed
of in 1847, and with his family removed to Sterling where he pursued his trade as
carpenter until his death, which was caused by a disease locally known as "bil
ious pneumonia" which prevailed at that time in epidemic form. Mr. Mack was
an upright man and enjoyed the esteem and confidence of all who knew him.
Mrs. Mack married Hezekiah Windom, May 15, 1860. Mr. W., died in 1864.
His widow remained in Sterling until 1874, since which time she has resided in
Wisconsin with her children, Charles and Mary. Mr. Mack was the father of
Theo. H, born October 5, 1836; Chas. M., bom January 29, 1839; Arthur L.,
born August 17, 1841, and Mary E., born October 22, 1848. Arthur died Jan
uary 27, 1851. Mary E. married O. A. Bryant, of Wisconsin, where she now
resides. James Talbot was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., August 28, 1801,
and settled in Jordan township early in 1835, where he still resides. While in
Pennsylvania he was engaged as a millwright, carpenter, and joiner. In the
summer of 1833 he started for the west in a flat-boat, passing down the Yough-
eogeny to Pittsburg, thence by steamer down the Ohio and up the Mississippi
and Illinois rivers to Peoria. He arrived at the latter town in 1834, and re
mained there until his removal to his present home, the journey by land being
made in an ox-wagon drawn by three yoke of cattle. After his settlement in
the west Mr. Talbot became a farmer, which occupation he successfully pursued
many years. He was married to Sarah AVoods. of AArestmoreland county, Pa.,
May 29, 1828. Children, John AV., born October 21, 1829; Mary Jane, born
November 15, 1831; Oliver, bora December 18, 1833; Hannah A., born March

BIOGRAPHICAL. 261
26, 1836; Sarah, bom July 8, 1838; Martha, born February 10, 1840; Annetta,
born May 21, 1842; James, born December 25, 1844; Samuel, born May 26,
1848; Amelia H., born July 18, 1851. Of the children Mary Jane and Sarah
died in childhood.
Simeon M. Coe was born October 29, 1784, in the State of Connecticut, at
Litchfield. In early life he removjed with his father to New York. The mode
of conveyance in that early time was with a "spike team" — a yoke of oxen at
the wheel and a horse ahead driven by a whip alone. Mr. Coe settled 'in Jordan
in 1835, and died May 18, 1848.. He married Mary Miles, September 1, 1807,
in Oneida county, New York. ' Mrs. Coe died in October, 1857. Children :
Luoy Mary, born June 22, 1808; S. Miles, born March 12, 1810; George Alonzo,
born August 16, 1811; Frederick W., born January 25, 1813; Henry A., born
October 4, 1814; Joshua, born March 10, 1816; Albert S., born October 1, 1817;
Jonathan F., born June 22, 1819; Decius O.. born November 23, 1820; Adeline
E., born December 6, 1822; Marcus L., born August 14, 1824; flelen Ann, born
July 29, 1826; Mortimer S., born September 21, 1832.
Lucy Mary Coe married Geo. Stull. Children : Maltby C, born Novem
ber 15, 1831; Lavona A., born February 25, 1834; Eugene S., born December
1, 1836; Mary L., born February 24, 1839; Geo. F., born February 27, 1841;
Adeline A., born May 31, 1843; Mary E., born January 7, 1847. Mary L. died
December 10, 1839, Mary E. in 1847, and Lavona A. April 12, 1849. Maltby
C. married Mary J. Smith. Eugene married Mary Thompson; children, Irving,
Lucy and Josephine. Geo. F. married Harriet Bronson; children, Lavona and
Homer; Mrs. Stull died, and in 1874 Mr. Stull was married to Susan Potts;
they have one child. Adeline A. married H. S. Blair; children, Inez, Jessie and
Josephine. S. Miles Coe was born in Paris, Oneida county, N. Y., March 12, 1810.
When a child he was removed to Monroe county, where he remained until 1835
when he emigrated westward »nd settled in Jordan township April 10 of that
year. He has resided upon his original farm until the present time — forty-two
years. Mr. Coe married Harriet Hull, of Buffalo Grove, Ogle county. Mrs.
Coe died in 1842. In 1847 Mr. Coe married May D. Walling. Children :
Henry M., born June 21, 1848; Isaac N, born December 9, 1852; Levi W.,
born September 21, 1855; Jesse F., born January 9, 1857; Aurora B., born
April 8, 1860; Simeon M., born August 7, 1863; Frederick W., born July 19,
1866; Mary R., born March 11, 1869. The third child died in infancy. Mrs!
Mary D. Coe was bom March 27, 1824, in Barrington, N. Y. Mr. Coe is one
of Whiteside's best citizens, and has been prominent and energetic in all efforts
to advance the interests of the county and township in which he resides.
George A. Coe settled in Michigan, and was twice married. He has four
children — Jennie, George, Mary, and W. H. Seward Coe. Mr. Coe was a mem
ber of the Michigan Legislature, and at one session was the only Whig in the
body, all the other members being Democrats. •»
Frederick W. Coe was married June 29, 1836, to Phebe Ann Rog
ers, of Canada. Mr. Coe died of apoplexy, October 23, 1870. His widow
resides in Lee county, Illinois.
Henry A. Coe married Alamina Moore. Children : Blanche A., Aurora
Clinton D., Jerome F., and May. Mr. Coe died July 5, 1858. Mrs. Coe died
previously. Albert S. Coe married Arathusie Barnet. Children : George B. and
Florence. After the death of his wife, Mr. Coe was married to Lucy C. Hollis
ter, of Port Byron, February 27, 1856. After a residence of a number of
years in Whiteside county, Mr. Coe removed to Rock Island county and engaged

262 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
in farming and the nursery business. Upon the organization of the township
in which Mr. Coe settled it was named " Coe." The gentleman occupied a
number of important offices. His death occurred October 17, 1869.
Jonathan F. Coe married Eliza E. Clark, November 10, 1843. Four
children were born, of whom all, with the exception of Franklin A., died in in
fancy. Mrs. Coe's death was caused, in 1860, by hydrophobia. Mr. Coe
was afterwards married to Sarah Murray. Children : Clarence C, Arthur E.,
Willie A., Lysle J. Franklin A. Coe is now dead.
Davis 0. Coe married Eveline N. Stevens, November 8, 1844. Children:
LaFayette, Augustus J., Marcus L., Ellen Mary, and Albert Leslie. All are
dead except Marcus L., who married Julia A. Gait, August 26, 1875.
Adeline E. Coe married Thomas Stevens December 31, 1846. Children:
Maltby, born December 20, 1847, and Helen A., born November 3, 1849. Mrs.
Stevens died October 24, 1850. Thomas Stevens was again married February
23, 1860, to Mrs. Helen A. Snavely. Children : Fred M., born December 23,
1860; Thaddeus D., July 12, 1862; Ernest L., September 20, 1863; Frank L.,
October 10, 1864; Bowman, May 31, 1866. With the exception of Ernest all
the children are living.
Marcus L. Coe married Sarah Ann Kirk, February 28, 1855, in Ches
terfield, Morgan county, Ohio. Children : Decius O., Maria Louise, Cora
Belle, Elizabeth N., and Edward N. Kirk.
Mortimer S. Coe married Rachel C. Penrose, March 28, 1855. Children :
Edwin and Albert.
Becker Miller was born April 6, 1820, in the Dukedom of Oldenburg,
Germany. He came to America with his family in 1837. He resided for a
short time in Lee county, but soon after settled in Jordan on section 25, where
he still lives. Mr. Miller married Elizabeth Maria Thummel, September 19,
1852. Children : Emma, Christina, Adeline Ey Ella May, George W., Fred
erick L., and Juliet L.
Vernon Sanford was born in Middletown, Delaware county, New York,
April 4, 1810. He was married to Catherine Campbell, September 7, 1834.
She was born November 18, 1815, in Dutchess county, New York. Mr. San
ford settled upon section 7, Jordan, November 8, 1836. He, like many other
pioneers, lived first in a log cabin, the floor the earth, the " door " a quilt, and
the chimney mud and sticks. In 1841 he built a frame house, the first one
erected in the township. In 1838 Mr. Sanford built a saw-mill on Buffalo
creek, now owned by Mr. Jacob Deyo, and run as a saw and grist mill alter
nately. Mr. Sanford's children are Mary Jane, bom February 5, 1837; Nancy,
born April 15, 1839; and Rachel A., born October 12, 1852. Mary Jane married
Edwin Wolcot, December 13, 1854, and died March 25, 1861. Rachel A. died
December 4, 1855. Nancy married Gilbert Finkle, October 22, 1857, and is
the mother of eight children. The ancient village of Sanfordville, situated in
the northeast part of the township, derived its name from the Sanford family.
Jabez Gilbert was born at Harrington, Litchfield county, Connecticut.
He was married to Miss M. West, May 30, 1815. She was born April 9, 1796.
Mr. Gilbert settled in Jordan township in 1839, and died January 1, 1844, from
small pox. Children: Eunice M., bom March 10, 1817; Clement W., born
August 21, 1819; Flora E., born August 23, 1821; Julius E., born October 9,
1823; Abner, born December 2, 1825; Hannah, bom July 10, 1828; Jabez Jr.,
born September 26, 1833; Hezekiah W., born October 20, 1835; John B., born
December 25, 1841. Eunice married Benj. Davis. Children: Ellen M., Ben
jamin C., Maria L., Homer B., Emma A., and lola A. Mrs. Davis died in New
York in 1865. Benjamin Davis died in Libby Prison during the war. Ellen,

BIOGRAPHICAL. 263
Maria, and lola are dead. Abner married Clarj Enderton. They have had
three chileren, now all dead but Frank. Mr. Gilbert died in April, 1858. Ja
bez, Jr. died October 5, 1858. Clement married Betsey Daggett, who died in
1869. He was subsequently married to Mary Goodrich, and after her death to
Helen Stevenson. Hezekiah, married Mary Beman, who died in 1873. He was
afterwards married to Harriet Root. Flora married Manoah Hubbard, in 1841.
Children: Lucinda M., Mary J, and William. The two daughters are dead.
William lives in Sterling. Manoah Hubbard died in April, 1859. Mrs. Hub
bard married John B. Rogers in September, 1875. Hannah married John Pet
tigrew. Children: Maurice, Emma, Ella, and Florence. The latter died in
1870. Julius E. was first married about twenty-five years ago. Mrs. Gilbert
dying, Mr. Gilbert was married to Viola Higgins, in 1864. Children: Jabez,
James E., Julius, Cora, May, and Minnie. John married Katie Higgins Janu
ary 30, 1871. Children: Grace and Jerome B. Grace died in infancy.
Lot S. Pennington was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, November
12, 1812. In 1826 he emigrated to the West and settled in Jersey county, Il
linois. After remaining there a short time he settled in Macoupin county. Dr.
Pennington married Ann P. Barnett, who was born in Barnett, Vermont. Mrs.
P. died December 19, 1866, and Dr. Pennington was married to Ruth A.
Morrison in 1868. In 1839 he removed north and settled in Sterling, in May
of that year. He practiced his profession for about one year. In the mean
time he purchased a farm in section 32, Jordan township, and embarked in the
farm, fruit and nursery business, devoting about 150 acres to fruit trees and a
nursery, which he gradually increased. Owing to the distance from which
grafts and trees had to be transported, the danger from the annual prairie fires,
and the depredations of the myriads of rabbits, indefatigable energy and persis
tence were required to make the business a success. In 1856 Dr. Pennington
abandoned the nursery business and devoted his energies to the production of
fruit, and the great Illinois crop — corn. Dr. Pennington's home farm com
prises eight hundred acres, in addition to which he has lands and lots in Ster
ling township and city, and also lands in Hopkins township, making him one of
the largest land owners in the county. All of this land is of excellent quality.
Upon his home farm he has 160 acres in orchard, a large amount of the fruit
raised from it being of the finest varieties. In 1876 he raised about eight
thousand bushels of apples from this orchard. To utilize his immense apple
crops, he erected last year a factory of a large capacity for the purpose of mak
ing cider vinegar. A very large quantity, and of excellent quality, was manu
factured. Upon his farm are also magnificent quarries of building stone, which
have been developed, but not worked extensively owing to their distance from
railroads. Recently the Doctor has been engaged in boring an artesian well up
on his farm, and a depth of 2,200 feet has been reached, but as the water does
not as yet flow to the surface, he contemplates during the coming winter (1877-
78) to continue the work until a satisfactory supply can be had, as he expects
at no distant day to furnish the city of Sterling with a supply of water. Be
sides being an agriculturist, Dr. Pennington is a prominent horticulturist and
pomologist, and has written several valuable papers upon these pursuits, all of
which have been widely copied by agricultural and horticultural papers, and by
the general press, and the suggestions made and ideas advanced by him highly
commended. He has also been a delegate to a large number of meetings and
conventions held for the promotion of agriculture and horticulture, at each of
which he took a leading part. Dr. Pennington was Supervisor of Jordan town
ship from 1867 to 1876, inclusive, and has held various other township offices.
Joseph M. Wilson was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, May 12,

264 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
1803, and died April 2, 1874. Mrs. Frances Wilson, his wife, died May 19,
1877. Mr. Wilson's family of children consisted of Catharine, born January 9,
1831; Mary, born March 31, 1833; Hannah, born February 22, 1835; Nathan^
born December 9, 1836; Elizabeth, bom May 5, 1838; John M., born Febru
ary 16, 1840; James Sykes, born January 31, 1842; Joseph, born January 4,
1844. Catharine, Hannah, Elizabeth, Joseph and John are dead; with the ex
ception of the latter, all died in early childhood. John married Laura Black-
enstone April 30, 1869. James S. married Mary F. Mitchell; three children.
Nathan married Catharine A. King, of Richmond, Indiana; seven children. Jo
seph M. Wilson settled in Jordan township July 3, 1835, and built a log mill,
which was started May 22, 1836. He was engaged in other enterprises, and did
much to develop the resources of the new country.
Joshua Miles was born in Brooklyn, Connecticut, March 21, 1780. His
father moved to Litchfield, New York, in 1801, and in 1808 to Brooklyn, Penn
sylvania. Joshua married Miss Caroline Caswell, April 3, 1808, she being three
years his junior. Their children were : Lucy Caroline, born June 17, 1810,
and married Dr. B. Richardson, of Brooklyn, Pennsylvania! Charles Wesley, born
August 16, 1812, and died in Sterling, Illinois, March 21, 1851; Mary, born
January 24, 1815, and married Horace R. Mack; Sarah L., bom July 7, 1817,
and married Amos Fassett; Harriet N., born September 6, 1819, died May 29,
1840, at Brooklyn, Pennsylvania; Jane E.,born August 19, 1822, married Rev.
II. J. Humphrey, at Sterling, and died July 5, 1850; Alice L., born March 24,
1825, and died at Sterling, November 22, 1858; Frances L., born August 15,
1827, and married Rufus DeGarmo, of Sterling; Eveline W., born April 5, 1830,
and died at Sterling, June 7, 1847; and Helen A., born May 22, 1835, who mar
ried Peter DeGarmo, of Sterling. Mr. Miles moved to Jordan, Whiteside coun
ty, with his family, in 1844, living for several years on the west side of the Coe
mill pond, after which he settled in Sterling where he lived a quiet retired life
until August 10, 1863, when he died. Mr. Miles was the owner of many mills
of various kinds, during his life, and once ran a paper mill in Brooklyn, Penn
sylvania, wherein he experimented in making paper from wood, and probably
produced the first wood paper ever made.
Charles W. Miles was born August 16. 1812, at Brooklyn, Pennsylvania,
and first came to Illinois in 1838. lie remained one year and then returned
east, and with his father and his family again came west in 1844. Mr. Miles
was never married. He built the saw mill known as the Coe mill, now Bres-
sler's, which he ran for several years. He afterwards moved to Sterling, and
worked at the carpenter's trade,. and died in the house on the bank of the river,
known as the Wallace House, March 21. 1851.

CHAPTER XVII.
History of Lyndon Township — Biographical — Village of Lyndon.

History of Lyndon Township.
The territory now comprising the township of Lyndon originally formed a
part of Crow Creek Precinct, then became connected with Little Rock Precinct,
and afterwards, together with a portion of the present township of Fenton, form
ed a Precinct called Lyndon, and so remained until the boundaries of the
township were defined, and name given, by the Commissioners appointed by the
County Commissioners' Court, in 1852. The township is composed of all that
part of Congressional township 20 north, range 5 east, as lies north of Rock
river, and also sections 5 and 6, and fractional parts of sections 4, 7, 8, 9 and
16 of township 20 north, range 6 east, as lies north of Rock river. It contains
16,799 acres, the land being rolling prairie back of the river, and mostly bottom
land, along the river. Out of the 16,799 acres of land in Lyndon, only 409 acres
remain unimproved, showing the fine location, and fertility of the soil, of the
township. The township is watered by Rock river which flows on a part of its
eastern and the whole of its southern border, and by a small stream rising on
section 2, and flowing in a direction a little west of south until it empties into
Rock river on section 15. The wells of the township are abundant, ahd the water
mainly of excellent quality. There are also several good springs. A fine grove,
known as Hamilton's Grove, is situated on sections 19 and 20 on the west side
of the township, and Fitch's Grove on section 30 in the southwest part. There
is a belt of timber also along Rock river. Besides this timber land, a large num
ber of shade trees have been planted throughout the township, most of which are
now of large size.
Lyndon was one of the earliest settled towns in the county, parties begin
ning to come in as early as 1835. Among those who came that year were
Chauncy G. Woodruff and family, Adam R. Hamilton and family, William D.
Dudley and family, Liberty Walker, and Ephraim H. Hubbard. The Woodruff,
Hamilton, and Dudley families came together from New York State, travelling
about a thousand miles with teams, and were thirty days on the road. After
arriving at Lyndon they were compelled to camp out until their cabins were built,
sleeping on the ground, and in addition to other discomforts and annoyances
had the prairie rattlesnakes, called by the Indians Massasaugas, for neighbors.
These reptiles, however, always gave notice of an attack, by rattling, and thus
could be avoided or killed; still their companionship was not at all agreeable.
Previous to their departure from New York, Mr. Dudley had taken the precau
tion to forward a cask of pork, which in addition to the flour and corn meal ob
tained in Chicago, constituted their commissary stores during the summer and
part of the fall at their prairie homes. The party arrived at Lyndon, August 5,
1835. Mr. Woodruff made his claim just west of the Amos Cady place, where
he put up a cabin, covered it with hay, and remained in it until the following
year. The improvised roof afforded but little protection when it rained, the
water running through and wetting every article in the cabin. AVhen the sun
came out the clothing and bedding had to be removed to the open air and dried.
[33-E-]

266 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
He sold out to Amos Cady, in 1836, and settled on the claim where he after
wards resided. Upon this land he built a frame house, siding it with oak lum
ber costing $2,50 per hundred feet. The ground was used for a floor for the
first six months. In 1838 he broke twenty-three acres of ground, using oxen,
and raised a good crop of grain. Mr. Dudley built a log cabin 12 by 12 feet in
size, and covered it with bark, where he kept a boarder besides his family of four
persons. The cabin was also used occasionally as a church, and for the enter
tainment of travelers when they came through that vicinity. His next cabin
was 16 by 24 feet in size, the ground and chamber floors being made of punch
eons hewn out with a broad ax. This cabin was roomy and comfortable. Liberty
AA'alker was a bachelor, and made a large claim on the river below Lyndon, where
he raised a crop of sod grain in 1836. He died April 29, 1837, and was buried
on a mound near the present farm of Mr. P. A. Brooks. Adam R. Hamilton
died August 28, 1865. He was well known throughout the county during his
lifetime, and his death was universallymourncd. Ephraim H. Hubbard remained
only a short time, when he moved away, and died in March, 1842.
Among those who came in 1836 were William Farrington, father of Ad
dison Farrington the present Circuit Clerk of Whiteside county, P. L. Jeffers,
Rev. Elisha Hazard, Erastus Fitch, Augustus Rice, Dr. Augustin Smith, W. W.
Gilbert, Geo. Dennis; in 1837, Draper B. Reynolds, Capt. Harry Smith, D.
F. Millikan, A. I. Maxwell, David Hazard, Benj. Coburn, Sr., and family, Wes
ley Anderson, Wm. 0. Dudley, George Higley, P. Daggett, Brainard Orton,
Amos Cady, John C. Pratt, Robert G. Clendenin, Thomas C. Gould and Pardon
A. Brooks; in 1838, James M. Goodhue, Timothy Dudley, Marcus Sperry, A.
AV. Newhall, Lyman Reynolds, Smith Chambers, and John M. Scott; in 1839,
Charles R. Deming, John Roy, Jared D. Conyne, Ferdinand B. Hubbard, Solo
mon Hubbard, Alexis Hubbard.
David Hazard was originally a New Yorker, but had resided in Pennsyl
vania some years before he came West. Like some of the other Lyndon people
he brought his family and goods all the way, a distance of nine hundred miles,
by team, his journey taking twenty-eight days. On the other hand Draper B.
Reynolds preferred the water route, and came from New York State by the way
of the Alleghany, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers, and landed at Fulton, and from
thence to Lyndon by team. When D. F. Millikan first came he domiciled in a
cabin near where W. 0. Dudley now resides. It was covered with bark, and
when it rained the water came through the roof as freely as it did through Mr.
AA'oodruff's hay roof. One night during a severe rain storm, Mrs. Millikan
sought to protect her husband and children from getting wet in their beds, by
placing an umbrella over the bed of the latter, on the floor, and a tin basin on
Mr. Millikan 's breast, so as to catch the water as it came through the bark roof
to where he lay. He soon sank into a sleep, as did all the family, and when the
basin was well filled unconsciously turned over, throwing the water upon Mrs.
Millikan. The scene that followed can be better imagined than described. In
the winter of 1839-40, Mr. Millikan went to Knox's mill, in Elkhorn Grove,
with a horse and pung, taking a grist to be ground. The mill, like that of the
gods, ground very slow, and he was compelled to stay all night before he could
get his grist. During the night, one of those terrible snow storms, so familiar
to all the old settlers of this country, set in, the wind coming from the northwest
almost like a tornado. In the morning there being no appearance of its abating
he determined to start for home taking the wind as a guide, as the air was so
filled with snow that seeing was out of the question. In the afternoon he
reached Hickory Grove, where he found an unoccupied cabin, and being nearly
frozen, attempted to light a fire, but failed. This necessitated a renewal of the

HISTORY OF LYNDON TOWNSHIP. 26?
journey, and striking out again in the storm he reached home a little after dark,
hungry, and chilled through with the cold. Old settlers can readily compre
hend the situation. He has yet in his possession an old fashioned cord bed
stead, which he brought from Ohio. The side rails were used on the trip West
as levers to pry the wagon out of the mud, when it got sloughed. Lyman
Reynolds was one of the eccentric men of that day, and was known, at his own
suggestion, by the soubriquet of the Duke of Bulgerorum. He had his cabin
where Hiram Austin now lives, and named it Bulgerorum ranch. He died
about twenty-five years ago, near Geneseo, Illinois, was found dead in his bed.
Samuel and George Higley were the tall men of the Lyndon settlement, the
former being six feet and six inches in his stocking feet, and the latter six feet
and four inches. John C. Pratt first visited Whiteside county in 1835, travel
ing most of the way on foot. Returning to New York, he engaged the services
of James Knox, who afterwards settled where Morrison now stands, Lyman
Bennett, at present a resident of Albany, and William Farrington, to open up a
large farm on the bend of the river, opposite Prophetstown, called the Oxbow
Bend, and also one on section 36, in Fenton township, opposite Portland, furnish
ing them with oxen, yokes, chains, etc., agreeing to pay them three dollars per
acre for breaking prairie, and one dollar per hundred for splitting rails and put
ting them into a fence.
In the winter of 1835-36 about two thousand Indians were encamped in
the timber between Prophetstown and Lyndon, and many of them remained
through the whole of the year 1836. In the fall of that year, while Mr: Wood
ruff was engaged in repairing a boat on Rock river, a large party of these Indians
came to the bank near where he was at work. They had killed a fine buck, and
as soon as they had halted, built a fire, cut the deer in two in the middle, and
without removing the skin put the part with the head on into a kettle and
cooked it without salt or other seasoning. After it was cooked to their notion
the part was taken out and placed ready for those who were to partake of the
feast, a chop stick being the ticket to dinner. During the time this was being
done, a party of young Indians in a tent near by, kept up a continual chant,
and a little at one side, a squaw sat on the river bank and wailed incessantly.
Mr. Woodruff afterwards ascertained that this chanting and wailing was caused
by the death of the squaw's child. The young Indians and the squaw were not
invited to the feast. The howling of the choir in the tent, and the wailing of
the bereaved mother, were of the most approved style of Indian funereal ceremo
nies. When the work on the boat was completed an effort was made to secure
the services of the Indians in assisting to turn the boat over, and launching it,
and they could only be induced to do so upon the promise of Asa Crook, who
was then present, to treat them well with whiskey for the service. Being nat-
urallv intemperate they went to work, and the boat was soon in the stream.
On second thought Mr. Crook wisely concluded it would not be safe to let the
savages have the fire-water, as they never failed to get intoxicated, and refused
to redeem his promise. This so maddened the Indians that they went to the
neighboring corn field, loaded their canoes with corn and pumpkins, and with
the booty went down the/ river.
In 1839 a company consisting of Messrs. Ray, Harmon, Spencer, and Dix,
contracted to extend the mill race at Lyndon from a point on the river just
below the town, under the bluffs, and have it enter the river below Portland,
on the north, near Squaw Point or Portland ferry. The intention was to put
up mills and manufacturing establishments at the outlet. The race had been
excavated in 1838, and a saw mill upon a large and substantial plan erected, at
which about two hundred feet of hard wood lumber had been sawed; but the

268 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
race was not deep enough to be of any practical use, and hence the project to
increase its size and length. Under the contract it was made ten feet wide at
the bottom, and so far finished as to let the water through, but the power was
not sufficient to make it a success. Hard times had come; money was scarce,
and there was no market but the home demand. All the money had to be kept
to enter the lands when they came into market. Contracts for commodities
were therefore made to be liquidated in corn, wheat, pork, potatoes, turnips,
cows, horses, in fact anything that could be bartered. The contractors, under
such a state of things, were unable to fully complete their work, and lost
heavily, Mr. Ray alone losing six thousand dollars, a very large sum of money
in those days. This embarassed him for a time, but he eventually recovered
from it. Mr. Harmon never really got over his loss; he went farther West some
twenty years ago, and when last heard from was in the mining regions of the
Rocky Mountains. Spencer and Dix never lived permanently in the West.
Under the act of the General Assembly of the State, passed in 1839,
Messrs. Chauncy G. Woodruff and Adam R. Hamilton were appointed
Commissioners to superintend an election for a place to be the county
seat of Whiteside county. The first election under this act was held in May,
1839, at which votes were cast for Lyndon, Sterling, Prophetstown, Albany,
Fulton, and Union Grove, and resulted in no choice being made. The act pro
vided that an election should be held every four weeks until a majority of votes
was given for one place, and finally at the September election the Commission
ers decided that Lyndon had received a majority of all the votes polled, and it
was duly declared the county seat. A full history of county seat matters is
given in chapter IV, of this volume, pages 71-76. The first meeting of the
County Commissioners' Court was held at the house of Wm. D. Dudley, in
Lyndon, in May, 1839, the Commissioners being John B. Dodge, Nathaniel G.
Reynolds, and Elijah AArorthington. Mr. AVorthington died in the winter of
1839-40; Mr. Dodge was killed by a desperado at Hazel Green, a few miles
northeast of Galena, and Mr. Reynolds died in the winter of 1865-'66. The
first Circuit Court was held in Lyndon in April, 1840, in an unfinished house
then owned by T. C. Gould. Hon. Daniel Stone was Circuit Judge, Robert L.
Wilson, Clerk of the Court, James C. Woodburn, Sheriff, and J. W. McLemore,
Deputy Sheriff. The following incident occurred at the time of holding the
first Circuit Court at Lyndon. Two of the members of the bar having business
before the Court were from Dixon, and immediately upon their arrival in town
called at the store of Smith Chambers, and wanted some whiskey, as that article
was then included and generally kept under the head of groceries, but were
informed by him that whiskey formed no part of his invoice of groceries, and
that none could be found in Lyndon. Seized with disappointment and despair
they ejaculated, "No whiskey? AA7hat a hell of a place this is to hold Court inl"
At that early time an unlimited capacity for stimulants and a small amount of
legal knowledge constituted the necessary qualifications of many attorneys.
The first and only resident lawyer in Lyndon, at the holding of the first
Circuit Court at that place, was James M. Goodhue. He was a fine scholar and
well read attorney, although nervous and excitable as a man. The latter quali
ties sometimes precipitated him into difficulties about unimportant matters, and
made himself trouble which he afterwards avoided. On one occasion while the
Circuit Court was in session, he got into one of these little difficulties on the
street with an old settler greatly his senior, and in the melee received a blow.
This so incensed him that he hurriedly went into open court and demanded that
the assailant be brought in and punished for committing an assault and battery
upon an attorney of record and ex-officio officer of the Court, but was blandly

HISTORY OF LYNDON TOWNSHIP. 269
informed by Judge Stone that as he had ventured beyond the jurisdiction of
the Court, it could give him no redress, and that his remedy was an action for
assault and battery before a Justice of the Peace. Mr. Goodhue afterwards
went north and settled in Minnesota, where he held important public positions.
Goodhue county, in that State, was named after him. He died a number of
years ago.
The first child born in Lyndon was to Dr. Augustin and Mary A. Smith,
whose life was of short duration. This was in 1836. The second child was
Elisha, son of David and Leonora Hazard, born December 8, 1837.
The first parties to enter into wedlock were Theron Crook and Miss Nancy
A. Hamilton, daughter of Adam R. Hamilton, the ceremony being performed
on the 3d of March, 1836. This was one of the first marriages in Whiteside
county. Mr. Crook is a resident of Oregon. Mrs. Crook has been dead for
many years. ,
The first death was that of Liberty Walker, which occurred on the 29th of
April, 1837. The first female who died in the township was Mrs. Mary A.
Smith, wife of Dr. Augustin Smith, her death occurring July 16, 1837. Mrs.
Lydia A., wife of B. Coburn, whose death occurred July 31, 1837, was the first
person buried in the Lyndon cemetery.
The early settlers of Lyndon had been well educated at their eastern
homes, and brought a strong love of knowledge with them when they came
West. The privileges they had received they determined should be extended
to their children, so far as the circumstances of their new situation would ad
mit. Teachers were at hand, but school houses had to be built, and school
books procured, and to do either was no easy task. It was as much as they were
able to do to erect rude cabins to shelter them from the night air and the
storms, and whatever money they made from their crops was needed for the
purchase of their claims when they were placed into market by the Govern
ment, and for actual necessaries for the household. Yet their determination
was strong to conquer. all impediments in the way of furnishing at least a rudi-
mental education for their children. When a school house could not be built,
the cabin of the settler was thrown open to the teaeher and the scholar, and the
few text books made to do double and sometimes quadruple duty. The first
teacher in what is now the township of Lyndon was Miss Loviea B. Hamilton,
now Mrs. J. W. Olds, and the school taught in the back room of Deacon
Hamilton's house, in the summer of 1836. The next year a log school house
was built near Mr. Hamilton's, and Alexis Hubbard employed as the first teach
er. The first male teacher in the town, however, was Mr. Knowlton, who
taught in the winter of 1836-37 in the same room in Mr. Hamilton's house
that Miss Hamilton had used the summer previous. Now there are eight dis
tricts in the township, and each has a good school building.
Coeval with the establishment of schools with such people as the early set
tlers of Lyndon is the establishment of religious services. With them religion
and education go hand in hand. A church edifice is no sooner erected than a
school-house stands by its side. But as it is in most cases impossible to erect
these structures at once in a new settlement, other buildings must be used,
and in Lyndon the cabin door was thrown as freely open to the man of God as
it was to the man of letters. The 3d of March, 1836, saw the first religious
meeting held at Lyndon, the place of gathering being the 12 by 12 cabin of Wm.
D. Dudley. The cabin was covered with bark, but beneath that lowly roof the
orisons of praise were as sincerely made and were as acceptable to Him to whom
they were addressed as though they had been sent up from an edifice equal in
grandeur and magnificence to a Trinity, a St. Paul's, or a St. Peter's. On that

270 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
occasion Deacon A. R. Hamilton officiated lay reading a sermon, and leading in
the other services. The first sermon preached in the town was by Rev. Elisha
Hazard, in the same cabin, in June, 1836. The first church society was organ
ized by the Congregationalists in 1836, and others afterwards followed.
The Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad, now owned by the Chi
cago, Burlington & Quincy Company, enters the township on section 6 of Con
gressional township 20 north, range 6 east, and runs in a southwesterly direc
tion through sections 1, 12, 11, 10, 15, 16, 21, 20, 19 and 30 of Congressional
township 20 north, range 5 east, and passes out at the northwest corner of the
latter section. The Mendota and Prophetstown branch of the Chicago, Bur
lington & Quincy Railroad strikes the township at Rock river, in the southeast
part of section 30, and running northwesterly passes out on the southwest cor
ner of section 19. The two roads intersect each other on the line between sec
tions 19 and 30.
The following is a list of the Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessors, and
Collectors of the township of Lyndon from 1852 to 1877 :
Supervisors: — 1852-55, Robert G. Clendenin; 1856-'62, Justus Rew;
1863, Lucius E.Rice; 1864, John Whallon; 1865-'69, Henry Dudley; 1870-72,
John Whallon; 1873, Justus Rew; 1874-77, John Whallon.
Town Clerks :— 1852-'53, W. Andrews; 1854, C. A. Sperry; 1855, W. An
drews; 1856, A. A. Higley; 1857-'64, Henry Dudley; 1865, Samuel G. Scott;
1866, Homer Gillette; 1867, Charles C. Sweeney; 1868, Edward Ward; 1869,
W. Andrews; 1870-72, Moses Lathe; 1873-76, E. B. Hazard; 1877, Ethan
Allen. Assessors : — 1852, Justus Rew; 1853-55, John Lathe; 1856, H. B. Free
man; 1857, Reuben King; 1858, John Lathe; 1859-60, Alpheus Clark; 1861,
Lucius E. Rice; 1862-77, John Lathe.
Collectors .-—1852, Amos Cady; 1853, O. Woodruff; 1854-'55, Amos
Cady; 1856-'63, John Roberts; 1864-'67, Samuel G. Scott; 1868-'69, O. W.
Richardson; 1870-71, E. C. Sweeney; 1872-75, Harry R. Smith; 1876, Joseph
F. Wilkins; 1877, E. B. Hazard.
Justices of the Peace: — 1852, David P. Moore; 1854, Joseph F. Wilkins,
D. P. Moore; 1858, Wesley Anderson, Orange Woodruff; 1860, Wesley Ander
son, O. Woodruff; 1864, Joseph F. Wilkins, W. Anderson; 1868, J. F. Wilkins,
W. Anderson; 1872, J. F. Wilkins; 1873, Charles C. Sweeney; 1877, J. F.
Wilkins, Moses Lathe.
Lyndon township contains 16,390 acres of improved lands and 409 acres
unimproved; 174 improved lots, and 94 unimproved. According to the Asses
sor's book for 1877 there are in the township 618 horses, 1,926 cattle, 17 mules
and asses, 658 sheep, 2,256 hogs, 2 billiard tables, 170 carriages and wagons,
38 watches and clocks, 106 sewing and knitting machines, 5 piano-fortes, 33
melodeons and organs. Total assessed value of lands, lots and personal proper
ty, $407,012; railroad property, $27,295; total assessed value of all property
in 1877, $434,307.
The population of the township of Lyndon in 1870, as shown by the cen
sus report of that year, was 1,039, of which 963 were of native birth, and 76 of
foreign birth. The estimated population in 1877 is 1,100.
Biographical.
Adam R. Hamilton was bom in Northampton, Massachusetts, October 12,
1791, and came to Lyndon, Whiteside county, in August, 1835. He married
Miss Nancy Miller on the 18th of April, 1813. Mrs. Hamilton was also a
native of Massachusetts, and born on the 9th of February, 1792. The children

BIOGRAPHICAL. 271
of this marriage were : John M., born May 11, 1814; Nancy A., born May 6,
1816; Lovica B., born May 22, 1818; George R, born February 24, 1820;
Mary J., born May 19, 1822; Adam R, Jr., born June 1, 1824; Mary E., born
June 6, 1826; and Harriet A., horn July 13, 1833. Mary J. died October 12,
1823. John M. married Miss Prudence Wright; children, Levi, Carrie E.,
Prudence and Elvira; Mrs. Hamilton died, and Mr. Hamilton married his sec
ond wife, Miss Anna Woodward; the children by this marriage are, George W.,
Charles A. and Frederick E. Nancy A. married Theron Cook, March 3, 1836;
children, Asa, Mary E., George A., Adelia E., Lucy F., Adam R., and Edward
and Edwin, twins. Lovica B. married John C. Swarthout; children, Harriet A.,
Albert M., James E., Adam, Emma J., George E., Mary E. and Lovica A.;
James E., Adam and Lovica A. died in infancy; Mr. Swarthout died in 1848,
and Mrs. Swarthout married J. W: Olds. George R. married Miss H. S. Belt,
May 22, 1867; children, Willis G., Louie and Effie. Mary E. married John
Garlick; children, Henry, Martha, Ida, Frank and Fred. Adam R., Jr., is in
Oregon. John M. lives two miles west of Lyndon, and George R. occupies the
old homestead; both are well-to-do farmers, and good neighbors and citizens.
Mr. Hamilton was a Justice of the Peace of the county when these officers of'
the law received their appointment from the Governor, and was one of the
Justices appointed by the Legislature to superintend the election, under the
act of 1839, for a place to be the county-seat of Whiteside county. He was a
sincere Christian, and gave the subject of religion more attention than all other
matters combined, never failing to attend all church, Bible, Sunday-school and
missionary meetings. All other engagements had to yield to church duties.
He was a deacon in the Congregational Church so long that he was known
everywhere as Deacon Hamilton. He died August 28, 1865, his wife having
preceded him several years.
Chauncy G. Woodruff was born in Livingston county, New York, Octo
ber 1, 1797, and came to Lyndon on the 5th of August, 1835. He had the dis
tinction of being the first child born in his native town. Mr. Woodruff and his
family, consisting of his wife and three children, were, in connection with Adam
R. Hamilton and family, and Wm. D. Dudley and family, the pioneer settlers of
Lyndon. Mr. Woodruff's children were Julia, Orange G., and Mary J. Julia
married Perry L. Jeffers, and died a number of years ago. Orange G. married
Mrs. Helen M. Boardman, April 27, 1859; children, Lena E., Laura B., and L.
Winnifred; Mr. Woodruff is well known throughout the county, and is a highly
esteemed gentleman, and has been for some time United States Storekeeper at
Sterling. Mary J. married David Hicks, and iives in the township of Lyndon,
near the Prophetstown ferry. Mr. Woodruff took a prominent part in the affairs
of Lyndon Precinct and township, and of the county, at an early day, and was
a man of sound judgment, and unswerving integrity. He followed the vocation
of a farmer, though in his early life in Lyndon he also prosecuted the trade of
carpenter, to which he had been trained in New York. Many of the residences
of the older settlers of the central and southern parts of the county bear the
marks of his tools. He was a pronounced christian, a member of the Congre
gational church for many years, and was one of the founders of the church of
that denomination at Lyndon. At the time he settled in Whiteside county it
was a part of JoDavess county, and being elected Justice of the Peace he made
the long trip to Galena to secure his commission of office. He was one of the
two Justices of the Peace appointed by the Legislature to canvass the vote and
declare the result for the location of the first seat of justice of the county, in
1839. He died at his home near Lyndon on Sunday, April 25, 1875, of old age
and general debility. ' The partner of his early trials died many years ago, but

272 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
a second wife, worthy of him, who cheered his life for nearly a score of years,
yet survives. Rev. Elisha Hazard came to Lyndon from New York State, in 1836.
He was a clergyman of the Congregational church, and died about twenty-five
years ago. One of his daughters is the wife of James S. Brown, and lives in
Morrison. Another daughter married D. K. Lincoln, and lives at Fort Dodge,
Iowa. William D. Dudley was born at Richmond, Massachusetts, November 21,
1786, and came to Lyndon August 5, 1835. He married Miss Tryphena Fitch,
February 11, 1817. Their children were : Louisa, born July 9, 1818; Frances
R, born April 20, 1822; Ann C, born August 5, 1824; Mary, born June 24, 1827,
and William C, born July 7, 1830. Of these, Ann C. and Mary died in infancy,
and Frances R. died July 19, 1833. AVilliam C. married MissArmina Summers,
March 15, 1855; children, Mary L., Collin D., and Ruth. Mr. Dudley was one
of the most prominent men iu Whiteside during its early history. His widow
is living with her son-in-law, W. 0. Dudley, and although eighty-one years of
age, possesses remarkable physical and intellectual vigor. Mr. Dudley died at
Lyndon, January 25, 1857.
Timothy Dudley was born in Connecticut in 1772, and came to Lyndon
in 1838. On the 2d of February, 1800, he married Miss Anna Osborn, who was
a native of Connecticut, and born June 17, 1778, the children of the marriage
being : Henry, who died in infancy; James Henry, born April 28, 1802; Wil
liam O., born December 2, 1803; John, born November 3, 1805; Eliza, born July
2,1807; Jane, born August 27, 1810; Ann, born March 16, 1812; Charles, born
December 8, 1813, and Henry, born March 31, 1818. James Henry died May
6,1829; Eliza died November 27, 1851, and Timothy died August 10, 1849.
William O. married Miss Louisa Dudley, October 18, 1837; their children have
been : James Hervey, Frances Ruth, Eliza O., George F., Ann L., Jane and
John; Frances Ruth died January 16, 1850, and James Hervey, August 19,1861;
Eliza O., George F., John and Jane are married; Ann L. resides at home with
her parents. John married Miss Abigail  ; children, John William, and
Abigail. Ann married Marcus Sperry, November 27, 1836; children, James C,
John V., and Restore C; James C, and Restore C, are married; John V. was
killed in the army. Charles married Miss Sarah Leek, and resides in Portage
county, Ohio. Henry married Miss Harriet F. Smith, November 27, 1855;
children, Edwin, and Charles; Mr. Dudley died August 12, 1873. Jane mar
ried Augustine W. Newhall, December 2, 1830; children, Ellen Jane, and Eliza
D.; Ellen Jane married A. A. Higley, who died in the army in 1862; Eliza
D. married Rev. L. D. AVhite in January, 1857; children, Frank N., Alfred L.,
Jennie P., and Alden.
Solomon Hubbard was bom July 19, 1804 in Sangerfield, Oneida county,
New York, and came to Lyndon from Clarendon, Orleans County, New York, in
1839. He married Miss Saropta Stone, August 30, 1826. The children of this
marriage were Chauncy B., born July 4, 1827; Levi, born June 15, 1829;
Elizabeth, bom September 20, 1831; Darwin, born July 15, 1833; Almina, born
December 11, 1836; William, born November 20, 1838; Orson, born May 24,
1843, and George Henry, born February 16, 1845. Of these, Elizabeth died
October 14, 1849; Almina, September 23, 1849, and Darwin, November 7, 1849.
Chauncy M. married Miss Lizzie Morris; children, Orson, Dana, and Nellie V.
Levi married Miss Ruth Delano; no children living. William married Miss
Mary E. Hayes; children, Minnie S., Walter S. and George H. George Henry
married Miss Louisa Pollins; one child, who died in infancy; Mrs. Hubbard
died, and Mr. Hubbard married his second wife, Miss Olive F. Adams. Chauncy

BIOGRAPHICAL. 273
M. enlisted in Company B, 75th Illinois Volunteers, and was elected
Sergeant; he was wounded at the battle of Stone river, and afterwards discharg
ed on account of the wound. William enlisted in Company B, 34th Regiment,
Illinois Volunteers, and was wounded at the battle of Stone river; afterwards
did hospital service until the close of the war. Orson Hubbard also enlisted in
Company B, 34th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and became sick while in the
service, and was discharged; he afterwards enlisted in Company B, 75th Illinois
Volunteers, became Corporal, and was killed at the battle of PerryviUe, Ken
tucky, October 8, 1862, and was buried on the battle field. George Henry also
became a member of Company B, 34th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and was
wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and afterwards discharged on account of his
wound; he re-enlisted in Company C, 8th Illinois Cavalry, and served during
the remainder of the war. Each of these patriotic brothers was wounded in the
head and breast. George H. was shot in the face, the ball coming out at the
back of the head, and is still living. Orson was shot through the heart.
Ferdinand B. Hubbard is a native of Sangerfield, Oneida county, New
York, and was born May 4, 1818. He married Miss Mary 0. Dorchester, April
17, 1850. Their children are: Siley M., born December 14, 1852; Charles,
born March 7, 1855; Ferdinand B., Jr., born May 24, 1857; Lizzie C, born
March 26, 1859; Belle, born March 28, 1861; Hattie A., born January 4, 1863,
and Lena C, born August 20, 1865. Mr. Hubbard came to Lyndon in October,
1839, with his brother Alexis, and at first taught school, and afterwards be
came a farmer. In 1855 he moved to Sterling, and engaged in the agricul
tural implement business, which he has since followed. The firm is now F. B.
Hubbard & Sons, and their business house is on the corner of Mulberry and
Second streets, Sterling. Mr. Hubbard is an active, thorough business man, a
good citizen, and a kind neighbor.
Alexis Hubbard was born June 11, 1811, in Sangerfield, Oneida county,
New York, and came to Lyndon with Solomon Hubbard, in 1839. He married
Miss Olive Dusette on the 11th of September, 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard
have had no children of their own, but have adopted and raised quite a number.
They are still living at their old home in Lyndon, and are very highly esteemed
by all who know them.
D. F. Millikan is a native of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and was
born October 31, 1797. In 1837 he came to Whiteside county, and settled in
Lyndon, where he still resides. He married Miss Aurelia S. Pease, January 6,
1820. Their children have been: Eliza P., born May 15, 1821; Robert D.,
born March 12, 1823; Ellen D., born March 24, 1825; Martha A., born January
25,1832; S. Frank, born September 8, 1834, and Frederick W., born March 15,
1842. Eliza P. died September 26, 1822, and R6bert D. January 6, 1838. Ellen D.
married Geo. W. Fitch, now a leading business citizen of Lyndon, February 4,
1843. Martha A. married John Whallon, September 10, 1861, and resides in
Lyndon; Captain W. is a prominent citizen of Lyndon, and has been Supervisor of
the township for several years; they have one child, Halleck. S. Frank mar
ried Miss Mary Andrews, of Rochester, New York; children: Allen, Robert,
Max, Grace and Marjorie; he is a Congregational minister, and has a charge in
Maquoketa, Iowa. Frederick W. married Miss Emma Stone, March 15, 1862;
children: Willie and Eddie. Mr. Millikan still lives on the old homestead in
Lyndon township. Some of the incidents connected with the early history of
Mr. Millikan's life in Lyndon, are given elsewhere in this chapter. He is now
far down on the sunset side of life, yet well preserved, and is one of the most
esteemed citizens of Lyndon township.
David Hazard was born in Chenango county, New York, March 9, 1804,

274 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
and was married to Miss Altheda C. Wolcott, February 14, 1827. The children
of this marriage were: William B., born January, 1828; Harmon, born Novem
ber, 1829; Olivia AV., born April 5, 1831, and Altheda C. M., born December
15, 1833. Mrs. Hazard died in January, 1834, and in September of that year, Mr.
Hazard married Miss Lenora Reynolds. The following are the children: John
AV., born Blay 31, 1835; Elisha H, born December 8, 1837; Eliza, born Septem
ber 25. 1842; Hannah, born February 27, 1845; Albert S., born April 21, 1846;
Edmund B., born February 20, 1849; David A., bora June 29, 1851, and Anna
A., born June 5, 1853. flannah died in infancy; Elisha H. died March 27, 1847,
and David A., March 6, 1852. William B. married Miss Nancy Conyne; children,
Florence, Emma, Ashur, Jay R., and Elizabeth. Harmon married Miss Sarah
Roberts; one child, Daniel W; Mr. and Mrs. Hazard were divorced, and Mr.
Hazard afterwards married Miss Mary Buchanan; children, Elisha H., Lola and
Emma. Olivia W. married A. J. Grover; one child, Nena A. Altheda C. M.
married Charles C. Upton; children, Caroline C, David E., and John; Mr. and
Mrs. Upton were divorced, and Mrs. Upton afterwards married Louis Barter;
one child, Bird. John W. married Miss Sarah Gould; children, Jessie F., and
John; reside in Lyndon. Eliza married Luther L. Scott; children, Ella C,
Albert C, Sarah L., and Leroy B. Albert S. married Miss Dora Bartholomew;
children. Elsie, Jennie L., and Edmund; lives in Lyndon. Anna married Fred
R. Decker; one child, Anna. Upon leaving his native home in New York
State, Mr. Hazard went first to Pennsylvania where he remained until 1837,
when he came to Lyndon, and lived at first in a house built by Dr. A. Smith.
He afterwards made a claim and put up a cabin about three miles northeast of
Lyndon, and there followed the occupation of a farmer for thirty years. The
cabin in due time time gave way to a fine residence, and the open prairie to
well tilled, fruitful fields. During the time he was upon this farm he was
elected Treasurer of Whiteside county, and discharged the duties of that im
portant office ably and acceptably for eight years. In 1875 he moved to
Lyndon, and embarked in the mercantile business, in connection with his sons.
He is one of the staunch pioneers of AATiiteside county.
Robert G. Clendenin was born January 17, 1812, in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania. In June, 1836, he moved to Ohio, where he remained during
the summer, and in the fall came to Plainfield, Illinois, staying there until the
next spring, and then came to Whiteside county and made a claim in Lyndon
Precinct, now the township of Fenton. Mr. Clendenin married Miss Hannah
Clark on the 3d day of October, 1839. Mrs. Clendenin was born in Cayuga county,
New York, March 26, 1818. The following are the children: Frank, born
November 23, 1840; William, born April 12, 1845, and Cassius C., born June
27, 1850. Frank married Miss Mary A. Smith, March 14, 1866; children, two
who died in infancy, and Alpheus Augustin, born December 20, 1875; resides in
Morrison. AVilliam married Miss Rachel E. Gridley, April 16, 1867; children,
Robert Gridley, Frank Joy, and Mabie H; resides in Moline; his wife died
at that place October 15, 1877, of consumption. Cassius C. married
Miss Nannie Nevitt, June 3, 1874; one child, Ralph Ramsey; resides in
Moline. Mr. Clendenin sold his farm in Fenton in 1844, and settled in Lyndon
township. Being an educated, energetic, strong minded man, it was not long
before his fellow citizens called upon him to fill positions of public honor and
trust. He was elected the first Supervisor of Lyndon, and was re-elected for
several successive terms. In 1856 he was elected Sheriff of the county of
Whiteside, and again in 1860. From the time of his first election as Sheriff in
1856, until shortly before his death, he served continually either as Sheriff,
Deputy Sheriff, or Deputy Provost Marshal. He was admirably fitted to dis-

BIOGRAPHICAL. 275
charge the duties of an executive officer, being prompt, fearless, persevering,
and untiring. "The way of the transgressor was hard" when he got after him.
He would undergo any labor to do his duty, and had not only the moral courage,
but the physical ability to handle, evil doers, and bring them to justice. At an
early day, and even up to 1858, this section of the country had been infested by
counterfeiters. These counterfeiters were shrewd, sharp men, and had for
years successfully eluded every effort on the part of the authorities to arrest
them. But Mr. Clendenin determined that it should be done, and although the
clue at the start was very slight, he followed it up unceasingly until he felt
certain that he could lay his hand upon the head man of the gang, and not un
likely several of his confederates. In October, 1858, he had his plans ready,
and armed with the requisite documents, and attended by a small posse, made the
suspected house, situated about six miles west of Morrison, a midnight visit, and
succeeded in capturing four of the leading men of the gang, a lot of dies, and ma
terial for making coin, besides a considerable quantity of bogus gold and silver
coin already finished and ready for use. The arrest and punishment of these
parties completely broke up the counterfeiting business in this locality, and to
Sheriff Clendenin the credit was universally conceded to be due for accomplish
ing the praiseworthy object. An instance of his daring was shown in the
capture of a deserter, a desperate fellow, during the war. While he was at
tempting to make the arrest he was shot at, the ball passing through his hat,
and just grazing his head, but he made the arrest "all the same," and delivered
the prisoner to the Provost Marshal of the district. Having at one time pur
sued a desperado day and night until he arrested him, he took the precaution,
as soon as he had the fellow on the cars, to place one handcuff on his own wrist
and the other on that of the prisoner, so that it would be impossible for him to
escape. Being overcome with fatigue, he fell into a doze which was soon
noticed by the prisoner, who taking advantage of the situation quietly took the
key from Mr. Clendenin's pocket, and unlocked his handcuff. Just then Mr.
Clendenin awoke, and as the fellow was trying to get out of the car, gave chase;
but the prisoner succeeded in reaching the door, and jumped from the cars while
they were going at a speed of twenty-five miles an hour, and escaped. Instances
like these could be repeated many times — instances in which his qualities as an
officer — vigilance, perseverance, moral courage, and pluck — were shown. Mr.
Clendenin was an earnest advocate of the rights of man, and became a member
of the Anti-Slavery party at its earliest organization. Universal freedom was
not a mere hobby with him, upon which to gain a name and reputation, but a
fundamental principle that should be enforced, and he never let an opportunity
pass to practically enforce it. A fugitive fleeing from the chains of servitude,
in the dark days of slavery, always found him ready to afford protection from
:the pursuer, and to assist him to a land where the Fugitive Slave Law had no
binding force or effect. The underground railroad had no more efficient en
gineer than Mr. Clendenin. Those were the days that required nerve to be a
friend of freedom. In 1859 Mr. Clendenin moved his family to Morrison,
where he continued to reside until his death, March 12, 1867. As a husband,
father, and friend he was governed by the great cardinal principles of the
Christian religion, and was loved and revered by all who knew him.
John C. Pratt was born April 8, 1787, at Northampton, Massachusetts.
His father gave him a liberal education, with the intention of having him enter
the ministry in the Baptist Church (his father's profession); but not inclining
to strict orthodox sentiments, the idea was given up. At twenty-one he left
Massachusetts, and settled in Erie county, New York, then a wilderness. He
purchased a small tract of land on Buffalo creek, in the town of Aurora, in that

276 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
county, on which was a water power, and cleared a part of the land; but before
he had accomplished much the war of 1812 broke out, and he entered the army
and remained until its close. Upon his return home he built a saw-mill, and
soon afterwards a flouring mill, on his water power, and conducted these mills
until he came AVest. In 1816 he married Miss Hannah Olds. The children of
this marriage have been : Diantha D., James M., DeWitt Clinton, Clymena,
Lucretia, Lucius H., Charles, Amanda, Thurston, also three children who died
in infancy. Diantha D. married M. M. Potter, and died November 2, 1846;
James M. lives in Fenton; DeAAritt Clinton died at Dixon, Illinois; Clymena
married J. C. Teats, now of Sterling, and died in Fenton; Lucretia married
 Reynolds, and died in Lyndon; Lucius H. lives in Lyndon; Charles died
at Lyndon; Amanda married Samuel Emery, and after his death married James
Shorett, and lives near Dunlap, Iowa; Thurston also lives near Dunlap, Iowa.
Mr. Pratt first came to AVhiteside county in 1835, and made a claim on what is
known as Oxbow Bend, and another north of the Portland ferry, both on Rock
river, and then in Lyndon Precinct. He then returned and secured the services
of James Knox, Lyman Bennett and William Farrington to .break the prairie
and build fences on his claims, as mentioned in another part of this chapter.
In August, 1837, he brought on his family and goods. Mr. Pratt was a leading
man among the early settlers, and drew the constitution and by-laws which gov
erned the claim system in that part of the county. He was selected to bid in
all the land in Lyndon Precinct at the Government land sale's in January, 1843,
showing the estimation in which he was held as a man of integrity and honor
by his immediate fellow-citizens. He died in Lyndon. His widow is still
living at that place at an advanced age.
Dr. Augustin Smith was born in Clinton county, New York, June 13,
1800. He attended lectures at the University of Vermont in 1823, in connec
tion with his other medical studies, and was licensed to practice medicine by
the Clinton County (N. Y.) Medical Society, July 14, 1824. He practiced med
icine in New York nine years, and in 1833 came to Ottawa, Illinois, and after
wards went to Hennepin, on the Illinois river. In 1836 he came to Lyndon.
and built the first frame house in the town, being the one occupied by John
Roy in 1839 as a store and dwelling. Dr. Smith married Miss Mary A. Beck
with on the 6th day of June, 1824. The children by this marriage were : Lucy
B., born February 23, 1825, and one child who died in infancy. Mrs. Smith
died July 16, 1837. He afterwards married Mrs. Sarah B. Ware. Their chil
dren were : Mary Alice and Sarah Minerva, twins, born January 25, 1842;
John Augustin and Jane Augusta, twins, bom April 14, 1846. Of these John
Augustin died September 12, 1846; Jane Augusta, February 9, 1848; and
Sarah Minerva, January 27. 1866. Lucy B. married AA^illiam W. Howard, Sep
tember 11, 1844, and died at Lyndon, April 17, 1847; Mary Alice married
Frank Clendenin, March 14, 1866, and lives in Morrison. The children of Mrs.
Sarah B. Ware, previous to her marriage with Dr. A. Smith, were Lucy Ann,
born December 10, 1829, and Joseph, born June 16, 1832. Lucy Ann was
married at Lyndon to Rev. Edwin G. Smith — now Superintendent of the Amer
ican Bible Society for Illinois and part of Indiana — of Dover, Illinois, by Rev.
Owen Lovejoy, January 29,1851, and died at Tremont, Illinois, November 5,
1864; one child, Edwin James, who resides at the house of his father in Mor
rison. Joseph married Miss Martha E. Roy, July 22, 1858, and died at Morri
son, November 7, 1862; children, Fred and Joseph E.; Mr. Ware was in the
practice of law at Morrison, and stood at the front rank of the profession; he
was just upon the threshold of life, with a prosperous and brilliant career be
fore him, when Death, the leveler of all, claimed him. Dr. Smith practiced

BIOGRAPHICAL. 277
medicine at Lyndon until 1851, when he embarked in mercantile pursuits, and
continued in that business for several years. He was appointed Postmaster at
Lyndon in October, 1840, Hon. John M. Niles being then the Postmaster Gen
eral. In 1840 he was Deputy Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court. On
the 24th of February, 1843, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and was suc
cessively re-elected until he had served for a.period of eleven years. In 1860 he
moved to Morrison, and engaged in the mercantile business for several years.
Dr. Smith died November 3, 1871 , at Morrison, of heart disease, with which he
had been troubled for many years. He was a highly educated gentleman, and
a deacon of the Congregational Church for years, being specially noted for his
many Christian virtues.
William W. Gilbert was a native of Worcester county, Massachusetts,
and married Miss Mary Melinda Smith, daughter of Capt. Harry Smith. Their
children were : Charles S., Gilbert, Eunice Melinda, and two who died in in
fancy. Charles S. enlisted in Company C, 8th Illinois cavalry, and was killed
in the army. Eunice Melinda married Restore C. Sperry. Mr. Gilbert first
moved from his native State to the State of New York, where he engaged in
the mercantile business, and in 1836 came to Lyndon. Here he commenced
farming, but not being inured to the hardships of prairie life, did not succeed
according to his anticipations. In 1839 he was elected Recorder of Whiteside
county, and continued to hold that office until 1848, when it was abolished by
the adoption of the constitution of 1848, and its duties merged with those of
the Clerk of the Circuit Court. He performed the duties of the office to the
entire satisfaction of all. It was a pleasure to him to impart information to
any one having business with him in his public capacity. In his intercourse he
was genial, whole-souled and manly to a fault, never letting an opportunity of
doing a kind act pass unimproved. In 1855 he was taken as a partner in the
firm of J. D. Odell & Co., at Lyndon, without capital, as his ability as a sales
man was of a high order, and continued with that firm until it dissolved, when
he became a partner in the firm of White, Anderson & Co., at the same place,
and remained in business several years. He died in August, 1860. Mrs. Gil
bert died July 19, 1858.
Charles S. Deming was a native of Pennsylvania, and born February 15,
1796. He came to Whiteside county in 1839, and made his claim two miles
northeast of Lyndon. Upon this farm he resided until the time of his death.
He married Miss Elizabeth Corbett, July 19, 1816. The children of this mar
riage were : Charles W., born May 1, 1817; Asaph C, born July 24, 1819; George
A., born October 22, 1821; Louisa M., born March 26, 1824; Myron A., born
March 22, 1826, and Hiram D., born April 18, 1827. Mrs. Deming
died April 25, 1827, and on the 21st of February, 1828, Mr. Deming mar
ried Miss Hannah A. Smith. Their children were ; Elizabeth M., born Oc
tober 24, 1829- Samuel A., born June 28, 1831; Delia S., bom July 6, 1833; Har
riet E., born April 6, 1835; Lucy Ann, born August 25, 1840; Hannah M., born
April 8, 1842; Martha E.. born March 22, 1845; Seth L., born March 16, 1847.
The following are the children who have died _ Myron A. died March 31, 1826j
Lucy Ann, August 9, 1841; Seth L., July 31, 1847; Louisa M., October 24, 1847;
Samuel A., February 1,1849; Harriet E., December 15, 1863; Martha E., Decem
ber 2 1872. George A. enlisted in Company C, 75th Illinois Volunteers, and
died while in the service at Grand Gulf, Mississippi, May 7, 1863. Asaph C.
enlisted in the same Company and Regiment as George A., and also died in the ser
vice, his death taking place at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, June 20, 1863. Charles
W. married Miss Sabrina Chamberlain; children, Louisa, Gaylord, Anna, Helen
A. Jason, Carrie and Olin. Asaph C. married Miss Harriet Barlow; children,

278 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Henry, Ann, and three dead. Louisa M. married John Smith; children, Henry,
and one dead. Hiram D. married twice, several children. Elizabeth M. married
Henry H. Smith; children, Katie, Nellie, Charlie, Frank, Bessie, and one who
died in infancy. Delia S. married William Burkett; children, Delia and Nellie —
twins, Willie D., John M., and Arthur. Martha E. married Andrew Wilkinson;
children, Charles — now dead, and Sarah; Mrs. Wilkinson died December 2, 1872.
Mr. Deming was an earnest friend of popular education, and served as County
Superintendent of Schools for twelve years to the entire satisfaction of the people.
He died at his home in Lyndon, February 21, 1862, and with his death a good man
passed away.
Brainard Orton was born in Oneida county, New York, July 21, 1803,
and came to Illinois in 1835, and settled in Knox county. In 1837 he came to
Lyndon. Mr. Orton married Miss Hannah Smith, September 15 , 1828. Their
children were: Brainard E., born October 23, 1833; Henry E., born July 16,
1835; Larue P., born May 23, 1839; Albert E., born November 3, 1840; Math
ew C, born xiugust 10, 1843, and Hannah N., bora February 1, 1845. Of these
Henry E. died June 2, 1841; Larue P., February, 1859; Albert E., August,
1846; Hannah N., July, 1845; Brainard E., April 22, 1877. The latter died at
Boulder City, Colorado, with that terrible scourge, consumption. He was one
of the first manufacturers of Sterling for many years, being an active member
of the Williams and Orton Manufacturing Company, and was a thorough em-
chanic and business man. He carried with him as he went on his search for
health in the pure air of the Rocky Mountain country, the kind wishes of his
large circle of acquaintances, all hoping that he would return with health per
fectly restored; but the destroyer had too firm a hold, and he had to yield; his
family went with him, and remained in Colorado until his death; he married
Miss Julia A. Mann; children, Larue, Ralph, Miles, Grace, and Robert. Math
ew C. married Miss Alice Clifford; children, Mary, Alice, and Jennie C. When
Deacon Orton came to Lyndon he secured a large farm, and for that period, en
gaged extensively in the dairy business. He sold his farm a number of years
ago, and moved to Sterling where he still resides. With his two sons, Brainard
E. and Mathew, he has contributed greatly toward developing the manufactur
ing capacities of Sterling.
John Roy is a native of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and was born July
31, 1798. He went to Knox county, Ohio, in 1824, and came to Lyndon in
October 1839. On the 5th day of January 1826, he married Miss Elmira Davis.
The children of this marriage have been : Joseph Edwin, born February 7, 1827;
Ann E., born November 29, 1828; Peter P., born May 20, 1830; Martha E.,
born April 5, 1833; Aaron D., bom March 26, 1836. Mrs. Roy died March 20,
1838, and Mr. Roy married Miss Martha J. Foster, September 26, 1839. Their
children were: John F., born August 18, 1840; Charles A., born February 8,
1842, and Katie, born November 2, 1848. John F. died October 4, 1841. Aaron
D. died August 18, 1857, at Lawrence, Kansas, and Peter P., August 3, 1877,
at Denver, Colorado. Joseph Edwin married Miss Emily Hatch, June 21, 1853;
he is a minister of the Congregational church, though now District Superinten
dent of the Home Missionary Society of the United States, with his field the
Northwest, and resides in Chicago. Ann E. married Thomas Feamside, Janu
ary 2, 1849, and resides at Rockford, Illinois. Peter P. married Miss Sarah
Keim, in September, 1855. Martha E. married Joseph Ware, July 22, 1858;
resides in Morrison. Charles A. married Miss Francis Lathe, November, 1865;
resides at LeRoy, Minnesota. Katie lives with her parents, at Morrison. Mr.
Roy opened the first store in Lyndon, keeping an assorted stock, and had the
trade of all the surrounding country. He also kept the second hotel opened at

BIOGRAPHICAL. 279
Lyndon, and as it was the stage stand, a good business was done. The house
was small, but everything was in the best shape, Mrs. Roy doing her part well
and faithfully. The hotel was kept on strictly temperance principles. From
1841 to 1848 Mr. Roy was Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, and re
ceived the highest commendation for the able and faithful manner in which he
discharged the duties of his office. After he retired from the mercantile busi
ness at Lyndon, he became a farmer, and was very successful. In March, 1869,
he moved his family to Morrison, where he has since resided. He has always
been a devoted christian, and for many years a deacon of the Congregational
church, a position he now holds in that church at Morrison. He is over seven
ty-nine years of age.
John M. Scott was born in Greensboro, Vermont, in 1798, and came to
Lyndon in the summer of 1838. In 1819 he married Miss Chloe Wood, who
was bom in 1796, in Orleans county, Vermont. The following have been their
children: Elizabeth, Edward Payson, Finette, and Mary T. Elizabeth married
Gaius Howard, June 3, 1846, and died at LaSalle, Illinois, in 1856. Her re
mains were interred at Lyndon. Finette graduated at Dr. Thrall's Medical Col
lege, in New York, and practiced medicine at Waterbury, Connecticut, for a
time, and about 1858 married Dr. Thomas T. Seeyle, brother of Prof. Seeyle,
formerly member of Congress from Massachusetts. They have since resided at
Cleveland, Ohio, and conduct a large water cure establishment at that city.
Mary T. has been a successful teacher at Fulton, Sterling, and other points in
this county, and for the past six years has been a teacher in the Morrison pub
lic schools. Edward P. became a thoroughly educated gentleman, graduating
with high honors at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, and at the Hamilton
Theological Seminary, New York. Upon leaving the latter institution he was
ordained as a minister in the Baptist denomination, and sent as a missionary to
Assam, India, where he remained six years. At the end of that time, owing to
the failing health of his wife, he got leave of absence and returned home, stay
ing, however, only a year, and then went back, and died at his post, May 18,
1869, of Asiatic cholera. John M. Scott has resided with his daughter, Mrs.
Seeyle, at Cleveland, Ohio, for a number of years. Mrs. Scott died in Septem
ber, 1850. Augustus Rice was bom in Rockfield, Worcester county, Massachusetts,
August 25, 1800. He early studied navigation, and went to sea, spending four
consecutive years on board a vessel, and visiting nearly all the seaport towns of
Europe and America. In 1825 he married Miss Esther Brooks, a sister of Par
don A. Brooks, of Rockfield, Massachusetts. He emigrated West, with his
family and goods in wagons, making the overland route to Illinois, and arrived
at Lyndon on Christmas day, 1836. He first rented apartments in a log house
now in the township of Fenton, from John Freek, where he remained during
the winter. He made a claim adjoining, which he afterwards sold, and bought
the claim of William Farrington, in Lyndon township, where he continued to
live until his death, which occurred November 24, 1864, in the sixty-fifth year
of his age. He was County Commissioner for several years before the county
was organized into townships. Mr. Rice became a member of the Baptist
Church, at Lyndon, May 19, 1839, and was chosen Deacon February 9, 1850.
His family consisted of four sons and one daughter. John B. is a well known
and eminent lawyer of Ottawa, Illinois. F. A., a farmer, died September 5,
1854, aged twenty-four years. Lucius E. lives on the old homestead, and is a
prominent and esteemed citizen. F. H. practices law in Boston, residing at
Watertown, Massachusetts. Esther D. married H. G. Putnam, of Lyndon, and
resides in that place.

280 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Benjamin Coburn, Sr., with his wife, sons, daughters and grandchildren,
emigrated from New York State to Lyndon in 1837. The family, besides Mr.
and Mrs. Coburn, consisted of Charles R, Cpburn, wife and four children; Ben
jamin Coburn, Jr., wife and several children; James Coburn, wife and two chil
dren; John Coburn, wife and four children; Mrs. Stephen Jeffers, and Mrs.
Elisha Hubbard. Mrs. Benjamin Cobum, Sr., died July 31, 1837, shortly after
the arrival of the family at their AVestern home, and was the first person bur
ied in the Lyndon cemetery. Mr. Coburn died about twenty-eight years ago, at
an advanced age, and rests by the side of the wife of his youth. James Coburn
resided at the homestead surrounded by an interesting family, until July 25,
1862, when he fell dead while making a stack of hay; his son, George L., con
tinued to reside upon the homestead until 1875, when he sold the farm, and is
now a resident of Chicago. Mary J., daughter of James Coburn, married Jehiel
B. Smith — she is now a resident of Lyndon. Mrs. James Coburn died in Lyn
don September 2, 1877. John Coburn had four children, and has been living
in California for the past twenty-five years; he keeps a hotel and ranch in the
mining regions, in a narrow valley of the Sierra Nevada mountains; he has one
son in California, and one is dead; one daughter, Mrs. Addison Farrington, lives
in Morrison, and another, Mrs. J. C. Teats, lives in Sterling. Benjamin Co-
burn, Jr., went to California, and died there in 1877. Charles R. Cobum had
eight children; he lived in Fenton, and died about eight eight years ago.
Pardon A. Brooks was born at Rockfield, Worcester county, Massachu
setts, May 20, 1806, and came to Lyndon in 1837. He married Miss Olive M.
Dean, September 12, 1833. Their children have been: Hiram P., born July 18,
1834; William H., born June 30, 1837; Isabella, born November 10, 1839; Su
san L., born February 26, 1843; Lucien B., born June 27, 1848; Samuel P.,
born June 17, 1850, and Rufus F., born April 5,1852. Isabella and Lucien B.
died in infancy. Mrs. Brooks died August 4, 1857, and on the 5th of Septem
ber, 1859, Mr. Brooks married Miss Julia Reynolds. The children by this mar
riage were: Horace M., born August 16,1860; George E., born December 12,
1862, died in infancy; Esther M., born July 18, 1865. Susan L. married Frank
J. Cole, October 30, 1862; one child, Frank B. Mr. Brooks brought the first
separating threshing machine into this State from Maine, by way of New Or
leans to Alton, where he commenced running it with good success.
Amos Cady came to Lyndon from New York in 1837. His first wife was
Miss Cynthia Smith, whom he married in New York State. The children were:
Henry, John, Sarah, Leonard, Lemuel, Alonzo, and Amos, Jr. Mrs. Cady died,
and Mr. Cady married Miss Charity Crippen. The children by this marriage
were: William, George R., Eliza, Cynthia, Orlando, Elsie, Adelbert, and Ira,
who died in infancy. George R. married Miss Nettie V. Parshall: Children:-
Walter D., Alice E., Zella M., Lelia I. and DeWitt R. Orlando lives with
George R. Amos, Jr., married Miss Lucretia Haskins: Children: Martha and
George. Adelbert A. is a telegraph operator, and lives in Chicago. The re
mainder are in the AArest. Mr. Cady was constable and deputy sheriff for a
number of years: he was a very efficient officer, aud was always detailed by the
Court to do such service as required energy and pluck.
Erastus Fitch came from Portage county, Ohio, to Whiteside county,
and settled in Lyndon in 1836. He married Miss Harriet E. Wells. The chil
dren were : Dudley R., born November 20, 1820; George W., born February
21, 1822; Lois Philena, born November 25, 1823; Chauncey E., born Novem
ber 23, 1825; and one child who died in infancy. Dudley R. married Zelinda
Merrill; children, Harriet 0., Abby, Ida, Mary and Ernestine. George W. mar
ried Miss Ellen Millikan; children, Robert, Charles, Emily, Frank, Flora, and

BIOGRAPHICAL. 281
Nellie, and one other who died in infancy. Chauncey E. married Miss Henri
etta Pike; children, Jophanett, Herbert and George C. Mr. Erastus Fitch and
his wife both died at the home of their son George W., in Lyndon, a few years
since. George W., Chauncey E. and Dudley R. are well-known, enterprising
business men.
Capt. Harry Smith was a native of New York State, and born October
13, 1779. Capt. Smith came to Lyndon in 1837, and made a claim and built a
cabin just east of the creek, one mile east of the present village of Lyndon, on
the Sterling road. He had been for a number of years prior to his coming West
Sheriff of Steuben county, New York, and was a soldier in the War of 1812
and fought under Gen. Scott at the battle of Lundy's Lane. He was a short,
thick-set, dark-complexioned man, generous, impulsive, wide-awake, self-reliant
and manly to a fault. He married Miss Melinda Warner, May 8, 1806. Their
children were : Hannah A., born April 10, 1807; Harriet L., born September
6, 1808; William H., born May 7, 1813; Charlotte M., bora April 7, 1815;
Harry R., born February 20, 1817; Melinda, born August 26, 1821; Jabez S.,
bom March 8, 1824; and Hiram D., born July 17, 1826. One child died in
infancy. Hannah A. married C. 8. Deming. Harriet L. married Draper B.
Reynolds. Charlotte M. married John Aljoe; Mr. Aljoe died in 1864; Mrs.
Aljoe is living in Lyndon. Melinda married W. W. Gilbert, November 14,
1839. Jabez S. married Miss Adeline Tingley, February 27, 1851; children,
Louisa M., Harry E., Eleanor A., and Martha A.; Louisa M., and Harry E., are
dead; Eleanor A. married John A. Slater. Hiram D. married Elizabeth J.
James; children, George O., Melinda A., and Margaret; he died February 10,
1876. Harry R. married Miss Mary A. Hurd; children, Caleb B., Sarah M.,
Olive E., Frank A., and Harry L. Capt. Harry Smith died October 21, 1858,
aged nearly eighty years. Mrs. Smith died January 27, 1854.
Perry L. Jeffers came to Lyndon in 1836, and worked for C. G. Wood
ruff that season. He afterwards made a claim southwest of W. O. Dudley's, and
sold it to John M. Scott, and then settled in Delhi, where he secured a farm of
four hundred acres. Mr. Jeffers was elected Sheriff of Whiteside county in 1850,
and made a capable and thorough going officer. He married Julia, eldest daugh
ter of Chauncy G. Woodruff, in 1838; she dying, he married Miss Ann Bidwell,
and after her death married Miss Philena L. Fitch. He died of cholera at Lyn
don in August, 1854. Children, John and Charles.
Draper B. Reynolds came from New York State in 1837, made his claim,
and went back in the fall. In the spring of 1838 he returned with his family
and goods, taking the water route by the way of the Alleghany, Ohio, and Miss
issippi rivers, landing at Fulton, from which place he came to Lyndon by wagon.
He remained a number of years, and then moved to Iowa, where he now resides.
He married Harriet L. Smith; children, Julia, Anna, Harrison, Warren, Jasper,
Leonora, and Lotta.
Thomas C. Gould was a native of Massachusetts, and first came to White
side county in 1837, and soon afterwards located on the bluff with Deacon
Hamilton, in Lyndon, and worked at his trade, that of blacksmithing. In 1841
his wife and family came, and he then moved into the village of Lyndon, where
he continued to work at his trade until his eyesight failed him. fie then pur
chased a farm two miles north of Lyndon, and resided upon it until his death,
December 26, 1876. Mr. Gould was married to Miss Sarah Rock, in 1832.
Their children have been : Thomas C, Jr., born October 5, 1833; Sarah L.,
born March 19, 1836; Lucy N, born March 3, 1838, and Nahum Harvey, born
January 7, 1847. The latter died January 15, 1849. Thomas C, Jr. married
Martha Pierce. Sarah L. married John W. Hazard, and Lucy N. married Henry
[3S-G.]

282 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
E. Helms. They are all living in Lyndon township, Thomas C. occupying the
old farm. William Farrington came to Lyndon from New York in 1836, being in
duced to emigrate' by John C. Pratt who desired him to break land on a claim in
Lyndon township, and to assist in holding the same until Mr. Pratt arrived from
the East. He first settled where the Rice farm now is, which he sold to Au
gustus Rice in 1837. Mr. Farrington married Miss Emma Brooks, in New York
State. The children of this marriage were: Addison, born January 18, 1823;
Mercy L.. born March 14, 1825; Eunice E., born in 1827; Joseph A., born
January 2, 1829. Mrs. Farrington died, and he afterwards married Miss Sarah
Teats. Their children were: Jesse T., Martin V. B., Francis M. Addison mar
ried Miss Jeanette P. Coburn, March 25, 1849; children Laura R., Mary Stella,
Bertha E. and Eunice T. Mercy L. married 0. W. Gage, and lives in Proph
etstown. Eunice E. married Cyrus W. Spaulding, and lives in New York.
Joseph A. died in California. Francis M. married Miss Griffin, and lives in
Whiteside county. Jesse T. died in boyhood.
Alpheus Clark was born in Seneca county, Ohio, April 30, 1823, and
came to Lyndon, Whiteside county, with his father, in 1837. In December,
1849, he started for California by the ocean route, arriving there in the month
of March following. He remained in the Golden State until the spring of 1853,
when he returned home, and on the 5th of March, 1854, was married to Miss
Augusta P. Gibbs, of Lyndon. The children of this marriage have been:
Carrie E., born April 23, 1856, and Minnie B. born February 6, 1859. Carrie
E. married Frank H. Robinson, December 23, 1873; one child, Frank, born
January 5, 1877. Mr. Clark remained in Lyndon after his marriage until the
breaking out of the Rebellion, when he decided to devote his services to his
country. He was Postmaster at Lyndon at the time of leaving for the . seat of
war. In August, 1861, Mr. Clark, in connection with Capt. D. R. Clendenin,
and others, raised a Company in Whiteside county, for the 8th Illinois Cavalry.
It was mustered in as Company C. of the Regiment, and Mr. Clark elected First
Lieutenant, and soon after when the Regiment was in camp at St. Charles,
Illinois, elected Captain to fill the vacancy occasioned by the promotion of Capt.
Clendenin to the Majorship of the Regiment. This position Capt. Clark re
tained to the day of his death, with great satisfaction to the men of his
Company and Regiment. During his military career Capt. Clark was engaged
in forty battles and skirmishes. He was an efficient and active officer, and
during the brilliant campaign of the 8th Illinois Cavalry, was always at his
post, and only once absent from his Regiment on furlough. A few days prior
to his death the Governor of the State had issued his commission as Major,
but death claimed him before the document could be placed in his hands. His
death occurred at Seminary Hospital, Georgetown, D. C, July 5, 1863, and was
occasioned by a wound received at Beverly Ford, Virginia, on the 9th of June
previous. His remains were brought to Morrison on the 10th of July, 1863,
and were buried on the 12th beside those of his father, in the Lyndon Cemetery,
the funeral service being attended by a large concourse of friends, and citizens
generally of the county, and by a squad of mounted soldiers belonging to his
Company and Regiment. Capt Clark was forty years of age.
Phylarman Daggett is a native of Newport, Vermont, and was born Au
gust 17, 1812. He first came to Illinois in 1836, and remained about a year in
Will county, and in 1837 settled in Lyndon upon the same place where he now
resides. Mr, Daggett married Miss Mary Willey, a native of Derby, Vermont.
Mrs. Daggett died without children. Mr. Daggett then married Mrs. Jane D.
Newhall, at Lyndon; they had one child by this marriage, Mary F. Mrs, Dag-

VILLAGE OF LYNDON. 283
gett died, and Mr. Daggett afterwards married Mrs. Philena L. Jeffers; chil
dren: Heleu A., and Harvey. Mr. Hazard's house was the only one in the
present village of Lyndon when Mr. Daggett settled there. Mr. Daggett has
been a member of the Congregational Church at Lyndon since 1839, is a sincere
and devout Christian, and has devoted his attention largely to Church and Sun
day School matters.
Wesley Anderson came to Lyndon in 1837. He divided his time be
tween teaching school and clerking in a store. At one time he was in business
for himself. He was elected County Judge in 1860, and served in that capaci
ty for one year. He married Miss Martha E. Harris, October 20, 1847; one
child, Charles F. Mr. Anderson died at Lyndon May 26, 1871. Mrs. Ander
son still resides at that place.
Jared D. Conyne came from Lewis county, New York, and settled in
Lyndon township in 1839. He worked on the mill race then being extended by
Ray, Harmon, Spencer and Dix. He formerly lived on a farm owned by him
one and a half miles north of Lyndon, but has of late years resided in the vil
lage, where he owns a fine residence. He married Miss Orrell M. Warner; one
child has been born to them, a daughter, named Orrell, who married Truman G.
Wilder. George Dennis came from Trenton, New Jersey, and . settled in Lyndon
township prior to 1840. It required moral courage and back-bone for a young
man to leave all the social advantages of an old settled country and come to
the far West, where he would be almost entirely deprived of the society of
young people. Mr. Dennis, though fond of fun, was manly, and very much re
spected by all who knew him. He married Miss Dodge, a sister of Job Dodge
— now of Peru, Illinois — and is now living at Princeton, Iowa.
Eli Summers was born June 1, 1783, and died August 8, 1870. He came
to Lyndon township with his two sons and a son-in-law, H. B. Freeman, and
settled in the east end of the great bend. All were farmers except Earle, who
was a blacksmith. Mr. Freeman was a native of Connecticut, and a shoe-maker
by trade. The others came from New Jersey. Christopher Nott, a grandson
of Eli Summers, remained two years, and is now a practicing physician at Kan
kakee, Illinois.
A. I. Maxwell came from New York State with the Coburn family, ar
riving at Lyndon in July, 1837. Soon afterwards he married Miss Hulce, who
had also come West with the Ooburns. Their children have been: Hiram,
Samuel A., Louisa, Mary, and one son who died in the army at the commence
ment of the war. Hiram resides in Minnesota; Samuel A. married Miss Es
ther Austin, daughter of Dennis Austin, and is a resident of Como, having
charge of the Como public school; Louisa and Mary are married, the former
living at Mendota, Illinois, and the latter in Minnesota; both were popular
school teachers in Whiteside county prior to their marriage. Mr. Maxwell is a
mill-wright and house carpenter by trade. In 1837 he worked on Haines' mill
in Union Grove, and run it a short time, sawing hard wood lumber. He after
wards attached a pair of burrs, and ground grain. This mill had been built in
1836, but the dam washed out, and it was rebuilt in 1837. Mr. Maxwell also
worked on the Hamilton school house in 1837. In 1840 he assisted to construct
the first frame school house in what is now Union Grove township, at Unionville.
Many of the buildings of the early settlers were also constructed in whole or
in part by his handicraft. Village of Lyndon.
The original, village of Lyndon was laid out and platted in 1837, the pro-

284 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
prietors originally being Messrs. John C. Pratt, Wlliam D. Dudley, Adam
R. Hamilton, Elisha Hazard, Chauncey G. AVoodruff, Col. Ebenezer Seely, Dr.
Augustin Smith, and P. Daggett, and consisted of eighteen blocks, with one ad
ditional block reserved for a public square. The proprietors could not have
selected a more beautiful location for a town. It is situated on the north bank
of Rock river, upon a plateau of sufficient height to prevent overflow, and af
ford a fine southern exposure. The lots on the south side of First street and
extending to the river were reserved for a levee, as the proprietors, at the time
of laying out the village, anticipated a large river business. Boats had passed
up and down the stream before that time, carrying freight both ways, and it was
but natural that they should look to the river as the great channel upon which
their grain and produce could be taken to market, and goods received in return.
After the organization of the town several steamers were loaded with grain at
the Lyndon levee for St. Louis and other southern ports, so that their antici
pations were in a measure realized; but the navigation of the river did not last
long. Nevertheless Lyndon prospered, and was for a long time one of the first
towns in the county, and its immense water power, if properly utilized, as it un
doubtedly soon will be, cannot fail of again placing it in the front rank.
In 1869 the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad was completed,
and as its track ran close to the town, anticipations of a brighter day were very
generally entertained. It was, however, outside of the limits of the old town,
so that in order to have the track within the village, an addition, called the
Railroad Addition, was laid out and platted March 6, 1869, the proprietors of
which were George Greene, Aaron P. Holt, Thomas AAr. Trumbull, M. M. War
ner, Sarah Forth. Louisa Forth, Charlotte M. Aljoe, Samuel G. Scott, James H.
Maxwell, and Sarah M. Maxwell. The Addition comprises thirty-seven blocks,
and is situated on the southeast part of section 16, township 20, range 5. The
railroad depot is upon this addition, and at present nearly all the business
houses, the old town being nearly deserted, save by dwellings, for which it fur
nishes some beautiful sites. A further addition, known as Fitch's Addition,
George AV. Fitch and Martin Conyne proprietors, was laid out and platted, June
4, 1874. This addition comprises seven blocks, and is situated on part of the
southwest quarter of section 15, township 20, range 5. Still later another ad
dition, called the Mill Addition, has been laid out and platted, which contains
seven blocks, besides the water lots adjoining the river. , The mills, and the
factory of the Farmers' Co-operative Manufacturing Company, are located on
this addition. Sperry's Addition, containing two blocks, and fractional parts of
two blocks, lying on the river north of the old town, was laid out and platted
some time after the latter was platted.
The first frame house in the old part of Lyndon was erected by Dr. Augus
tin Smith, in 1836. The same building was used in 1839 by John Roy as a
store, Mr. Roy being the first person to open a store in the place. The first ho
tel was kept by S. Wilson, in 1841.- Liquor was occasionally sold at this hotel
when under the proprietorship of Mr. Wilson, but when it passed into the
hands of Mr. Roy it was kept so strictly temperate that the place received the
name of " Saint's Rest." The lower or old ferry has been abandoned for sev
eral years, the upper ferry crossing the river just below the mill dam. The
business houses and shops at present are: three grocery stores, one dry goods
store, one drug store, one millinery store, one cabinet and furniture store, one
hardware store, one livery stable, one barber -shop, one restaurant, one meat
market, one wTagon shop, one lumber yard, three blacksmith shops, and two
hotels. The village of Lyndon was incorporated in 1874, under the genera] law of

VILLAGE OF LYNDON. 285
the State for the incorporation of cities and villages, and the first election held,
as provided in the act, on the third Tuesday of April of that year. The elec
tion was held at the Town Hall, and a pretty full vote polled. The following
gentlemen were elected Trustees : John W. Hazard, Dr. A. P. Holt, Charles
C. Sweeney, J. L. Bates, Leander Church, and M. A. McKerg. The first meet
ing of the new Board of Trustees was held at the office of Dr. A. P. Holt, on
the 2d of May, 1874, and a temporary organization effected by appointing J. W.
Hazard, chairman, and Leander Church, clerk. An election for President of
the Board for the ensuing year was then held, which resulted in the choice of
J. W. Hazard. The Board also elected E. B. Hazard Village Clerk,
and William M. Burkitt Treasurer, for the year. The usual commit
tees were also appointed. Mr. C. L. Parkhurst presented a petition
for a license to sell intoxicating liquor, which was laid over until a
subsequent meeting, and finally granted, the license fee being fixed at $125.
The necessary ordinances for the government of the village were also passed
and approved during the year. In 1875, the following Board of Trustees were
elected : John W. Hazard, Charles C. Sweeney, James L. Bates, M. A. McKerg,
W. H. Williams, and John Whallon. John Whallon was elected President, E.
B. Hazard, Clerk, and Wm. M. Burkitt, Treasurer. At the charter election held
this year a majority of votes were cast in favor of granting licenses for the sale
of intoxicating liquor, and several were granted by the Board in pursuance
thereof. The following gentlemen were elected Trustees in 1876 : W. H.
Williams, Orrin M. Crary, P. M. Jewell, Alex. Wilson, G. G. Seger, and E. B.
Hazard. • W. H. Williams was elected President, Wils Greenlee, Clerk, and John
W. Hazard, Treasurer. At this election the people voted not to grant any li
censes for the sale of liquor. The Board of Trustees for 1877 is composed of
the following gentlemen : W. H. Williams, Orrin M. Crary, P. M. Jewell, Alex.
Wilson, G. G. Seger, and E. B. Hazard. President, W. H. Williams; Clerk, Geo.
W. Andrews; Treasurer, John W. Hazard. The vote this year was also against
granting licenses for the sale of liquor.
The Lyndon Hydraulic Manufacturing Company was organized in the spring
of 1872, under the general manufacturing law of the State, with a capital of
$60,000. The officers were : President, Justus Rew; Secretary, John Whallon;
Directors, Justus Rew, George W. Fitch, George L. Coburn, George P. Rich
mond, Pardon A. Brooks, B. E. Orton, and John W. Hazard. The Company
erected a dam during the same year across Rock river at the head of the rapids,
a little north of the village of Lyndon. The dam is seven feet high and eleven
hundred and eighty feet long, giving a head of eight feet, and securing a power
of thirty thousand inches of water, and cost $30,000. The Company^ also erec
ted a Merchant Flouring Mill the same year, with five run of stones. The mill
is 45 by 50 feet in size, three stories in height above the basement, and is known
as the Lyndon Mill. It cost $35,000. The mill was afterwards transferred to
Church & Patterson, with use of sufficient water power, and by the latter gentle
men to L. P. Johnson.
The Paper Manufacturing Mill is situated near the Flouring Mill, and was
built in 1873, by the Orton Bros., at a cost of $12,000. In 1875 it was trans
ferred to Johnson & Hubbard who furnished the water wheels, and all the
machinery at an additional cost of $21,000. The building is one hundred and
sixty feet long, and fifty feet wide, and two stories high above the basement.
In addition to the main building is the boiler house, sixteen feet long and
twenty-four wide, constructed of brick, with stone basement. The mill uses two
thousand inches of water, and manufactures two tons of straw wrapping paper
per day.

286 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
The Victoria Flouring Mill, on the same water power, was built in 1873 by
Hoole & Putnam. It is a two and a half story frame building, fifty feet long
and forty feet wide, with stone basement, and cost $18,000. The mill uses one
thousand inches of water under a head of eight feet, supplied by the Lyndon
Hydraulic Company, and manufactures seventy-five barrels of flour, and six
hundred bushels of feed per day. In 1875 Mr. Putnam sold his interest to
Alexander AVilson, and the mill is owned and conducted by the firm of Hoole &
AATilson. The Farmers' Co-operative Manufacturing Company of Lyndon, was organ
ized under the general law of the State of Illinois in 1873. In 1875 the
Company commenced the erection of their building for manufacturing purposes,
and finished it in 1876. It is a brick structure, the main building being one
hundred and sixty feet long and eighty feet wide, two stories high, with stone
basement, and the addition eighty feet long and eighty feet wide, one story high,
with iron roof. The design of the Company is to manufacture all kinds of farm
ing implements. The first President of the Company was L. C. Belding, of
Carroll county. At the second election, Ambrose Denton was chosen President,
Alexander AATilson, Treasurer, and Charles R. Rood, Secretary. The present
officers are : Samuel J. Baird, President; John Whallon, Secretary, and W. C.
Snyder, Treasurer. The building erected by the Company is admirably adapted
for manufacturing purposes.
The Congregational Church and Society of Lyndon was organized on the
27th of June, 1836, and was the first religious society organized in AVhiteside
county. The initiatory steps looking toward the organization of this society were
taken by Adam R. Hamilton, William D. Dudley, and Chauncey G. Woodruff, and
their families, the earliest settlers of Lyndon, and fresh from the great revivals
which occurred in New York and other Eastern States during the winters of 1830
to 1835. The meeting was held at the house of William D. Dudley, and presi
ded over by Rev. Elisha Hazard, the agent of the American Home Missionary
Society, who had come to the West to organize churches and societies under its
patronage. The meeting adopted the Confession of Faith, and the Covenant,
and enrolled the following names on the church book ; Adam R. Hamilton,
Nancy Hamilton, John M. Hamilton, Adam R. Hamilton, Jr., Nancy A. Ham
ilton, Lovica Hamilton, Mary E. Hamilton, William D. Dudley, Triphena Dud
ley, Louisa Dudley, Liberty Walker, Chauncey G. Woodruff, Sophia Woodruff,
Julia AAroodruff, Ephraim A. Hubbard, 0. L. Turner, Joshua T. Atkinson, and
Emily Atkinson. In 1838 an addition of eighteen members was made to the
church by letter from the East. These embraced the families of William L.
Clark, Anna Dudley, Daniel F. Millikan, George Garlick, Augustin AV. New
hall, J. M. Kneeland, and Alexis Hubbard. In 1839 there came to the church
the families of Charles S. Deming, Artemas Cady, P.Daggett, Solomon Hubbard,
Brainard Orton, and John Roy. Besides these twenty-two others came by pro
fession of faith. The places of worship alternated at first between the bluff
school house, and houses in the village. In the village meetings were held at
Dr. Smith's house, the upper story of Mr. Newhall's house, Gould's building
which was used for school house, Circuit Court and Church, Atkinson's house,
Gilbert's store room, Chamber's store room, and the first school building erected
in Lyndon. The church building was erected in 1850 at a cost of about $2,500.
Its size is thirty-two feet wide by forty-eight long, and directly faces the south,
which position, owing to the peculiar formation of the village, brings it almost
broadside to the street. It was a fine church edifice for the West in its day.
The first pastor of the society was the Rev. Elisha Hazard, who continued from
1836 to 1842. Rev. Nathaniel Smith followed, remaining until 1846, when

VILLAGE OF LYNDON. 287
Rev. Wm. W. Blanchard became pastor, and remained until 1850. He was suc
ceeded by Rev. Mr. Ward, who remained only a short time, when Rev. A.
Chapman was called to the pastorate, and remained five years. Rev. H. Judd
came next, and continued in charge until the fall of 1862. Rev. W. D. Webb
was next called, and continued his labors for five years, and was succeeded by
Rev. Simon Gilbert, who labored for a term of two years. Rev. John Gray fol
lowed with another two years term. Rev. Charles Machin is the present pastor.
Adam R. Hamilton was chosen the first deacon of the church, and so continued
until his death. The only associate Deacon Hamilton had in this office during
his life, was Daniel F. Millikan, who was chosen in July, 1840. After Deacon
Hamilton's death, Martin Conyne was chosen in his place. In February, 1877,
Alexis Hubbard was chosen third deacon, making the present deacons of the
church, Daniel F. Millikan, Martin Conyne, and Alexis Hubbard. John Roy
was appointed the first clerk of the church, and continued in that office for a
quarter of a century. He was succeeded by Alexis Hubbard, the present clerk.
The present trustees of the church are, Draper Richmond, Jerome Sands, and
Edward Lancaster. The present membership of the church is eighty-six.
The Methodist Episcopal Church and Society of Lyndon was organized by
Revs. W. Buck and G. L. S. Stuff in 1841, the first members being Chauncey
G. Woodruff and Leonora Hazard. Soon afterwards the following persons united
with the church : Dr. Augustin Smith, Lucy Smith, Lucy Ann Ware, J. D. Odell,
Samantha Reynolds and Harry R. Smith. Lyndon was at first a remote part
of the Savanna circuit, and then became attached to the Union Grove circuit.
Preaching was first held at the Chambers' store building, and afterwards at the
residence of Mr. Atkinson, until the Town Hall was built, when services were
conducted in that building. One of the most successful revivals experienced
by the church took place in the winter of 1859-60., when about one hundred
persons were converted and united with the church. It then formed a part of
the Union Grove circuit, and was under the pastoral charge of Rev. A. Cross.
In 1874 a church edifice was erected at a cost of $2,500. It is sixty feet in
length and forty feet in width, and is a very neat and commodious structure.
The church has now one hundred and three members in full communion, and
fifty on probation. Rev. J. Wardle is the present pastor. The Sunday-school
connected with the church has a membership of one hundred and seventy. Mr.
P. M. Jewell is the Superintendent, and is assisted by twelve teachers.
The Baptist Church and Society was organized on the 9th of September,
1837, by the. adoption of a constitution and the articles of faith and practice.
The organization was called the Baptist Church of Lyndon. The church con
tinued in successful working order until recently, when the meetings were dis
continued on account of the death and removal of nearly all the members.
The meetings of this church, like those of the Congregational and Methodist
Churches, were held in private houses until the building of the Town Hall, and
afterwards at that place. The society did not erect a church building. The
last regular meeting was held at the Town Hall on the 13th of October, 1875.
The society, however, keeps up its organization, and has an occasional minis
terial supply.
The first school-house erected in the village of Lyndon stood a little west
of the present site, and was a one-story frame building, thirty-six feet long and
twenty-four feet wide, with two windows in each end and four in each side.
The floor was inclined, and the seats of pine made in the old style. The build
ing was put up in 1840. The first teacher was Lewis Jessup, a graduate of
Williams College, Massachusetts. Mr. Jessup taught three years, and had
charge of the entire school, consisting of seventy-five or eighty scholars, gath-

288 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
ered from all parts of the county. This was the first school above the ordinary
grade established in the county, and at which Edward P. Scott, Joseph E.Roy,
Joseph AVare, Col. AV. M. Kilgour, AVilliam Prothrow, Emma Roy, R. B. Col
cord, and many other prominent and influential sons and daughters of the early
settlers received their early education. Mr. Jessup was succeeded by Mr. Stone,
and he in turn by Mr. Bush, Miss Putnam, Mr. Hillis, Edwin Roy, Ellen New
hall, Clinton G. Taylor, H. H. Smith, M. R. Kelly, Edward P. Scott, Col. D. R.
Clendenin, Martha Millikan, Clista Hatch, Miss Wisner, George Manning, Ed
win Chapman and 0. M. Crary, the present incumbent, who is now on his eighth
year. During the continuance of this school the following persons have been
prepared for college : John Rice, Henry H. Smith, Samuel Deming, Frank
Millikan, Lucy Ann AVare, S. D. Belt, Emma AArare, Col. D. R. Clendenin, Ed
win Chapman, Hiram Rice, John Jeffers, Alexis Hubbard and Charles Jeffers.
The cost of the first school-house was $600. The next school building was
erected in 1851, is fifty feet in length and thirty-six feet in width, two stories
in heighth, and cost $2,500. It is now used for the Primary and High School
departments. The new building was erected in 1875, is two stories high, and
contains the Intermediate and Grammar departments. The following is the
present corps of teachers : Prof. O. M. Crary, Principal, and teacher in High
School; Miss Jennie Shannon, teacher in Grammar department; Miss Cora Pat
terson, teacher in Intermediate department; and Miss Gussie Roberts, teacher
in Primary department. The High School comprises one grade, with a course
of four years; the Grammar department, one grade with a course of two years;
and the Intermediate, two grades of one year each. Diplomas, signed by the
Principal and the School Board, are given to the members of the graduating
class who pass a satisfactory examination on completing the High School course.
Scholars not residing in the district are received in the High School, Grammar
and First Intermediate departments, at the tuition prescribed by the School
Board. Those from a distance can obtain rooms and board in private families
at reasonable rates. The number of pupils enrolled in the school is two hun
dred and ten, of whom ten are transient. The school is well seated, and has a
good apparatus, together with Unabridged Dictionaries and Appleton's New
American Encyclopaedia. The Board of Directors consists of L. E. Rice, Pres
ident; John Roberts, Clerk; and Alexis Hubbard.
The Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M., of the State of Illinois, in 1876 granted
a dispensation to H. C. Helms, Draper Richmond. John Whallon, AVilliam M.
Burkitt, George C. Scott, John J. Hurlburt, Jabez S. Smith, Hiram Austin, F.
A. Decker, George AV. Andrews, Henry D. Kniskern, J. H. Helms, C. H. Bird-
sail, Henry Edson, Cyrus Reynolds, E. B. Hazard, Martin Conyne, Orrin M.
Crary, John Roberts, Caleb B. Smith, Edward F. Nash, George C. Morris, Wm.
Burns, Garrett G. Seger and M. V. Sanderson, to organize Lyndon Lodge, No.
750, A. F. & A. M. The first meeting under the dispensation was held August
28, 1876, the officers consisting of J. J. Hurlburt, W. M.; M. V. Sanderson, S. W.;
Jabez S. Smith, J. W.; John Roberts, S. D.,and the Lodge was duly organized.
On the 4th of October the Lodge received its charter from the Grand Lodge of
the State. The present officers of the Lodge are : J. J. Hurlburt, W. M.; M.
V. Sanderson, S. AY.; Jabez S. Smith, J. W.; John Roberts, S. D.; Kelly Smith,
J. D.; L. L. Scott, Secretary; and Henry E. Helms, Treasurer. Quite a num
ber of members have been received into the Lodge since its organization, and it
is in a prosperous condition. The Lodge was dedicated Thursday evening, Oc
tober 18, 1877.
In 1855 the young people of Lyndon organized a literary society called
" Our Society," the capital being a library which, in a short time, numbered over

OUR VALLEY.

289

two hundred volumes, most of which were standard works. Their meetings
were semi-monthly, and literary productions were required of the members, and
it was a law of the society that everything should be original in its character.
In 1859 J. D. Odell was ordered by the society to write and deliver a "poem,"
on January 12, at their anniversary, which was a matter he had never contem
plated; but obedience being the law, he addressed the society with the follow
ing rhythm, which he afterward claimed threw him into poetical bankruptcy ;
Ora Valley — As it Was and as it Is;

In this far extended valley
"Where the rippling waters rally
To the eastward from the mountains,
To the westward from the fountains,
To the southward from the forest,
Where the crystal lakelet borrow'st
Melting- snows, from sylvan bowers,
And the spring-time genial showers
Fills the lakelet to o'erflowing;
While the sun's rays brightly glowing'
O'er its bosoms-soft, and mildly —
Till it breaks its bounds, and wildly
Courses seaward, till it meeteth
Other rippling rills— It greeteth.
Neither lingers, neither loiters",
'Till they form the " Father Waters,"
Where it slowly, southward windeth,
'Till its home in ocean findeth—
Filled its mission through this valley
Like a narrow winding alley.
Nourished alway from the mountain ,
From the water — lake and fountain,
By the deep lagoon that swelleth,
From the spiing-time rain that dwelleth
In the marsh-land— on the hill-side
"Where the rain-brooks— rippling rills— glide.
In their meeting never loiters,
Mingling of its thousand waters;
Always moving, never wavers,
Always courting wat'ry favors.
To the eastward in this valley
"Winds a placid, potent-ally
To this "Father Waters"— mighty J
Where its palaces glide lightly.
With an unseen power propelling —
Floating home and palace dwelling.
Where once moved the dusky daughter
O'er this smoothly flowing water
Her canoe of bark from birchwood,
As majestic in the stern stood
She— with paddle; plying, lifting,
With its current slowly drifting
To its home, the " big sea water,"
Sported in delight this daughter
Her canoe — so frail, yet wielding
To her swift-plied paddle, yielding
Its obeyance to her station,
As she seeks her home and nation
In the tree-land by the water —
Wigwam home of Indian daughter.
In a valelet in this vallev,
Near this river-water ally,
Stood the wigwams of the nation,
Each in its respective station.
Chieftains with their lofty feather,
Prophets, hunters, all together,
Warriors wrth their painted faces —
All in their appropriate places.
Here the wild-grass gently waving-—
Here the river-water laving
The rich shore land on its border,
Where the bread-corn stands in order.
Here the pappoose antics playing
'Round the watch dog, sporting, baying;
Here the hunter — lazy, lying,
While the squaw the hoe is plying
To the breaa-corn as itgroweth;
While the maiden fleetly goeth
For the dry and brittle firewood,
Mid the tree-land, where the lodge stood.

[36-H.]

On tlie spit — venison broiling — ¦
In the kettle bison boiling;
For their garb in winter weather.
Maidens tan the deer-hide leather.
Here the trail track winding, varies
O'er the green and flow'ry prairies —
From the campfires of the nation
To the hunting grounds and station
Where the wily '' pale-face'1 loiters
To exchange his fiery waters,
And some useless, tawdry trinkets,
And perchance some needed blankets,
For rich furs of beaver, martin —
With the simple natives barfring,
Made more simple by " fire-water"— *
Chieftain, hunter, warrior, daughter.
When the ." swap" and traffic ending,
And the natives, lodge- ward wending
Their lone way across the prairies,
As the trail-track, winding, varies,
To their village by the brooklet,
Lodge of Wabokieshiek — prophet;
While in pow-wow, merry-making —
Braves, with White Cloud, all partaking.
Twenty summers have passed o'er us,
Twenty winters gone before us;
And no more the dusky daughter
Laves her paddle in this water.
Her canoe — of bark, from birch- wood,
Moors no longer where the lodge stood.
Warriors with their painted ' faces,
Homes have left for other races.
Land of once proud Sacs and Foxes,
Now of bales and dry-goods boxes.
Camp-fires of the dusky daughter
Smoulder 'neath our brick and mortar;
Indian homes and Indian traces
Are destroyed by modern races,
And their grave-land, to them sacred,
Oft by brothers desecrated
Here spreads yet that far-famed valley,
Yet the rippling waters rally;
Westward spreads it to the mountains,
Eastward spreads it 'mong the fountains,
Northward heads it 'mid the pine-land,
Southward in savannas — vine-land.
Full throughout our land extended,
With zone-climates mingling, blended.
To the southward waters , drawing,
From the northern glaciers thawing,
Where the flowing water welleth —
Where the summer suntime dwelleth.
Sweet the fragrance from the vine-land,
Dry the cone on sterile pine-land,
And the mid -land in this valley
Where this river, water-ally
Courses through the lovely places
Where once dwelt those ancient races,
And where waved the Chieftains's feather.
Towns and villas join together.
Here the cot and palace dwelling
O'er the prairies wild are welling,
And the people nobly prizing
Schools and churches round them rising.
Cities have around usrisen,
And the " pale-face" courts a prison;
Much to our disgrace 'tis needed,
But by savage never heeded.

290

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.

In our pleasant local stations,
Where are subjects from most nations
Mingling in this lovely valley,
'Long this river — water ally.
Wolverines with the com-cracker;
English and Canadian racker;
Hoosiers, Pukes, with Buckeye lasses,
Dutch and Irish matching glasses
Filled with Lager to o'erflowing,
And the fumes irom smoke-pipe blowing;
Pert Italians, Spaniards haughty,
Yankee maidens, witching, naughty,
Jews and Northmen, with the Pennite,
'' Young Americas," like men — tight%
Born and full-grown in this valley,
'Long this river — water ally.
Keen men have we in profession —
Men who for this vale s progression.
Coax our names upon tlie dockets —
Plead our causes, rob our pockets;
Build our railroads by their graces,
Lay out towns in sundry places,
And the work of Nature thwarting,
Urge the engine onward snorting,
Check'ring all the ancient traces,
Trail-tracks of the savage races.
Trav'ling doctors, with their physic;
Ape to 'leviate the phthisic-
Magnifying chronic ailings
And their brother doctors' failings;
And to splinter old bones broken —
Yet, when leaving, leave a token
In a bill shape — " service rendered,"
Politely to patient tendered.
Ladies of these prairie places,
Decked with virtue's comely graces,
Fair as ever were the houris —
Maidens, daughters of these prairies.
Versed and well-read, always learning,
And with full souls deeply yearning,
That their graces may inherit
Some congenial, loving spirit —
Fair in form, with pure hearts loving,
Queen-like in their action, moving,
Sovereigns are these "pale-face" daughters
Over fathers, 'long these waters.
And our young men who abide it,
There are few who have not tried it —
Village lad and country peasant
Seek their sovereignty so pleasant.
Could I vouch all stories truthful

From some maidens, past the youthful,
" How young ladies with emotion,
Visit church, assume devotion,
Scrutinizing dress and bonnet,
Dashing ribbons flowing on it,
While ceremonies most admired
Are " Hinis" in broadcloth neat attired. '*
Some in just retaliation
Say 'twas with this maiden nation,
As they judge the youthful daughters.
In this valley, 'long these waters.
They have talent, and they know it,
How to criticise your poet ;
Yet, with their cutting criticism,
Lurks sweetly flowing witticism.
But kind ladies, when you view it,
How the poet has to do it —
Seek his theme, his story rhyming,
And the measure strictly timing,
And his brain in garret urging.
Ink with pen on paper splurging —
While the lines so sweetly vary,
And the pay in " reds is nary."
Should our lady poets— misses —
For their pay be tendered kisses,
Some would answer — some might vary —
" Pay in kisses take we nary.'
But our ladies have a passion,
Aping after foreign fashion;
And one fashion very home-like,
In its structure very dome like,
Were the wigwams of those people,
Formed like dome of modern steeple;
With strong hoop-poles roundwise begirt
Like a modern skeleton skirt.
Open at the top ior smoke-flue,
Open at the top for waist through —
When the head with shell-shape bonnet,
Like a wind-vane sitting on it,
With top feathers, graceful flowing,
And the carmine, crimson glowing
Beneath their eyes, sparkling, naughty,
Like the paint on warriors haughty,
Could again that ancient people
Visit us, with church and steeple,
And again this land inherit
In the body or the spirit,
And could see the modern daughter
Promenading by this water
With a hooped-skirt, full size, booming,
They would "Ugh! young wigwam coming.'

CHAPTER XVIII.
History of Mt. Pleasant Township — Biographical — History op the
City of Morrison — Newspapers — Churches and Other Organiza
tions — Biographical.

History of Mount Pleasant Township.
Mount Pleasant is the name of township 21 , range 5 east of the 4th prin
cipal meridian. It was organized in 1852 from Union Precinct and denominated
"Mount Pleasant" hy A. C. Jackson, the name having been previously applied
to a small school house, situated upon a little knoll near Morrison, hy one of
the early teachers of the township. It contains 36 sections of land — 23,040
acres. The land is principally undulating prairie and of exceeding fertility.
Bock creek, which flows in a general southerly direction throughout the west
ern part of the township, presents, along its course, a series of small bluffs cov
ered with timber. The stream furnishes a number of valuable mill sites, and
excellent quarries of sand and lime stone are found along its banks. The
principal groves of forest trees are in the immediate vicinity of Morrison. The
productions of the township are mainly corn, cattle, hogs and horses. The
quantity of pork produced is very large. The yield of corn is excellent, and of
a superior quality. Latterly wheat has not been produced to any extent; but
formerly the yield was large, as the following extract from the Whiteside
Sentinel of September 1, 1857, will show:
" In the spring of 1856, Mr. George D. Brown purchased eighty acres of prairie
land in Mt. Pleasant township. This land was immediately broken up, and this spring
was sowed to wheat. The crop ( just harvested) has paid for the land, expenses of break
ing, fencing, harvesting, etc., and ten per cent, on cost of purchase. This land has since
been sold for $30.00 per acre — clearing to Mr. Brown, in the space of about one year,
the neat little sum of $2,400."
The first settlement made on the territory now embraced by Mount Pleasant
township was in the latter part of 1835 by Wm. H. Pashcal, John D. Paschal,
James J. Thomas, and Felix French. These gentlemen selected claims in and
near the timber just east of the present City of Morrison. Jonathan Haines, of
Tazewell county, visited the section now known as Jacobstown, in 1835, and
the next year settled there and erected a small saw mill on the east side of the
creek. After sawing one log a freshet carried off the mill. Suhsequently Mr.
Haines erected a grist and saw mill which rendered service for a number of
years, and proved of much value and convenience to the settlers. About the
year 1837 Mr. Haines laid out "Illinois City" just west of Jacobstown. Ten
acres were included in the "city," and lots offered without money and without
price to all who would improve them. The lots were not improved, and
"Illinois City" never was graced by blocks of buildings and a great population,
with a directory and City Council. On the older maps the "city" is marked in
larger letters than the State Capital, and emigrants travelling westward prior to
1840 often heard of "Illinois City."
The earliest settlers were not favorably disposed to locating upon the
prairie, and usually made their claims in the timber or its immediate vicinity.

292 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
The timber growth found by the pioneers was large and of good quality. Trees
that would produce three rail cuts were abundant.
In November, 1835, William H. Paschal completed a log cabin which was
occupied during the winter by W. H. and J. D. Paschal, Felix French and
James J. Thomas. The next spring prairie land was broken and planted with
corn, the crop being known as "sod corn." This was doubtless the first farming
in Mt. Pleasant township. At this time the Winnebago Indians were numer
ous, peaceable, but natural thieves and very filthy. This tribe disappeared in
1838 after having nearly exterminated the game. Wolves abounded and were
very bold, causing the settlers much trouble. At one time a pack of them
made an attack on Mr. Paschal's dog when tied within ten feet of the cabin,
and but for prompt interference the canine would have furnished a supper for
the hungry brutes. Wolves infested the country in packs for some ten or
fifteen years afterwards, and were destructive to pigs and poultry until the
county became more generally settled, and liberal bounties were paid for their
destruction. The scalps became a circulating medium and stood at par, while
the "wild cat" and "red dog" money of those days was at fifty per cent.
discount. In 1836, G-eorge 0. James settled in the north part of the township, and
the same year, J. B. and Pardon M. Dodge located near where Morrison now is.
Jonathan Haines, Horace Heaton, Henry Boyer, and Samuel Love also made
settlements this year.
William Heaton and family settled in 1837. He with those of his sons
who were grown up made claims in the north part of the township. A. C.
Jackson in 1837 purchased a claim from Pardon Dodge and became a resident.
Soon after John W. Stakes and James Knox with his family of boys moved
into the settlement from the Rock river country in the south part of the
county. Anthony 31. Thomas, and his sons John R., G. W., and Wm.
C., and John M. Bowman, Pleasant Stanley, and John James, came into the
township this year. In those early days but few of the pioneers were "visionary"
enough to think the surrounding prairies would, in a score of years, be con
verted into cultivated farms and dotted over with fine residences. In common
with others of the county the pioneers of Mt. Pleasant experienced great priva
tions. Before they produced grain they were compelled to pay as high as
$1.00 per bushel for poor corn to subsist upon. After they commenced raising
grain and pork they were obliged to transport it many miles, sell it for a very
small price, and "take pay in trade." As the community increased in popula
tion and resources, roads were viewed and established, and all the elements of
civilization brought into use.
One of the first cares of the settler was the establishing of schools. In
1838 Oliver Hall was employed by the handful of pioneers, by subscription, to
conduct a school in a little log structure in Mr. Paschal's timber. The "win
dows" of this primitive "temple of learning" were made by stretching greased
paper over openings in the logs. For his services Mr. Hall was paid $10 a
month and "boarded 'round" He was succeeded as teacher by Mr. Benjamin
Burns, now a resident of Union Grove township. Mr. Oliver Hall, the first
school teacher in Mt. Pleasant, was born in Charlton, Wooster county, Massa
chusetts. He resided in that State until 1838, when he emigrated to White
side county, Illinois. After a residence of three or four years he returned to
New England where he remained fifteen years, then came back to Whiteside
county, and is now a resident of Morrison.
The settlers were not deprived of gospel services. The Methodist Episco
pal Church had pushed far out into the wilderness and upon the prairie, and the

HISTORY OF MT. PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. 293
pioneers had the benefit of the mission services. Rev. James McKean, a mis
sionary, held religious services at Elkhorn, and in the grove in Mt. Pleasant,
preaching at the house of James J. Thomas. In 1836 he formed a "class" com
posed of James J. Thomas and wife and George 0. James and his wife, the first
religious organization in Mt. Pleasant. A Rev. Mr. James and Rev. Barton H.
Cartwright frequently conducted services after Mr. McKean. Mr. Cartwright
was then upon the circuit and reached Union Grove, as the timber about Mor
rison was called, once in four weeks. Through other works the readers of the
History have all become familiar with the description of the itinerant preacher
upon his circuit. Gospel services were conducted afterwards by D. B. Young,
Samuel Slocumb of Albany, and Thomas Freek, who resided not far from Erie;
also a young gentleman from Fulton. These religious laborers were known as
"local preachers." The gospel was preached in this way from 1836 to 1842 or
'43, when stated services were held at the school houses, then springing up, and
also at Unionville. Previous to the school house preaching, the cabins of the
settlers had been required to do duty as churches, and the "neighbors" from
Winchell's Grove, now Kingsbury Grove, in Newton, counted it no hardship to
drive to Mount Pleasant to listen to the gospel.
In January, 1843, the "land came into market," anditwas necessary to pay
for the claims, the Government price being $1.25 per acre, payment to be made
in gold or silver. The settlers had come to the country poor in purse, the
finances were in a distracted condition, and the products of the land command
ed but a small price, therefore the men who had made claims met with great
difficulty in securing the money necessary. Mr. J. D. Paschal relates that he
sold his hogs for $1.50 a hundred, and other products at similar figures, and
with much labor and tribulation paid for the land. His experience was that of
nearly all the settlers. Previous to the purchase of the land the settlers were
annoyed by "claim jumping" — that is, locating on lands previously claimed,
and for mutual protection the farmers of this vicinity formed themselves into
a society to prevent claim jumping. A. C. Jackson was at one time President.
In this township little trouble was experienced, but in other portions of the
county there was considerable difficulty. The man who had the temerity to
jump a settler's claim was frequently assisted to "jump off" in a manner more
vigorous than pleasant. The whip, rope and gun being readily brought into
requisition when necessary.
As nearly as can be ascertained, the first funeral in Mt. Pleasant township
occurred in 1836, being that of James Heaton, who was buried in a grave yard
near Jacobstown. The first child born in the township was in June, 1836, and
named John French — a son of Felix French.
The first wedding celebrated in Mt. Pleasant township was in 1836, at the
house of Henry Boyer, who then resided near where Jacobstown now is, at the
spring on the Morrison and Jacobstown road. The contracting parties were
John Powell and Miss Campbell, afterwards Mrs. Russell, who died about two
years ago in Morrison. J. T. Atkinson, a Justice of the Peace, performed the
ceremony. Mr. J. D. Paschal, who was then a singing master, was to have a
singing school at Mr. Bbyer's house, and this was chosen as an auspicious time
for the ceremony. A large party of the settlers assembled, and were thoroughly
surprised and delighted by the novelty of a wedding. The ceremony was fol
lowed by good old-fashioned singing and an excellent meal. The representatives
of the fair sex was not so numerous in 1836 in Mt. Pleasant as at the present
day, and weddings were of rare occurrence until several years later.
The pioneers of Mt. Pleasant suffered for the bare necesssities of life dur
ing the first year of their settlement. Mr. J. J. Thomas relates that food was

294 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
so scarce that it was divided so closely that a spoon was necessary to make an
equal division. During the winter, owing to lack of hay and absence of other
feed, many cattle starved to death. In the spring Mr. Thomas only had four
head left out of twenty-two he had driven from the south part of the State.
In the spring, in company with Mr. James Heaton, he visited Milledgeville,
where' there was a " corn cracker," to secure food. They purchased a few bush
els of frosted corn from a Mr. Ankeny, at $1.00 a bushel. This they shelled
and carried upon their backs three miles to the " corn cracker," where they gave
a third to have it ground. Mr. Heaton had a pair of weak, starved oxen, at An
keny 's, with which they started for Union Grove with their precious food, but
so feeble were the cattle that it was two days before the journey was accom
plished. The settlers suffered to a considerable extent from ague and other diseases
peculiar to new countries. Physicians were few and at great distances, so that
the medicines were principally furnished by Nature, reinforced by "Ague and
bilious specifics," brought from the former homes of the emigrants.
The following is the first record of school meetings obtainable: " Pursuant
to public notice, the citizens of township 21 north, range 5 east, county of
Whiteside, Illinois, met at the house of A. M. Thomas, on January 1, 1846, and
elected Wm. Knox, A. C. Jackson and Jonathan Haines, Trustees of said town.
The trustees met at the house of A. C. Jackson, and appointed Jonathan Haines
Treasurer of said Board." April 13, 1846, " The Trustees, with the County
Surveyor, proeeeded to survey section 16. The section was divided into eight
lots, and prices fixed at $1.25, $1.50, $1.75 and $2.50 per acre." October 2,
1847, the school fund of the township was reported to be $412.74; the number
of all-white children under the age of twenty years 118, of which number 17
were in district No. 1 ; it was also ordered that wood for schools be purchased
at $1.00 a cord. April, 1S48, the school fund was $1,171; money in the Treas- '
urer's hands subject to distribution, $35.25; it was "ordered that the Treasurer
pay himself from the above sum $3.22, and $19.75 to the School Commissioner
for selling school lands, and the balance to A. P. Young, school teacher, except
so much as will be necessary to purchase " a pail and cup for the school." April
19, 1856, the township was divided into school districts: District No. 1 to con
sist of sections 17, 18, 19 and 20; District No. 2, sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11
and 12, and the north one-half of sections 13 and 14; District No. 3, sections 5,
6, 7 and 8; District No. 4, sections 29, 30, 31 and 32; District No. 5, sections
23, 24, 25, 26, 35, 36, and south half of 13 and 14; District No. 6, sections 27,
28, 33 and 34; District No. 7, sections 15, 16, 21 and 22. In 1857 District No.
2 was divided, sections 3, 4, 9 and 10 remaining as No. 2, while sections 1, 2,
11, 12, and the north half of sections 13 and 14, were erected into District
No. 8. Round Grove, a railway station in the eastern part of Mt. Pleasant, was
surveyed and laid out in January, 1856, by W. S. Wilkinson, at the direction of
and for John A. Holland, Chas. D. Sanford, Jedediah I. Wonser, and James
McCoy. Considerable shipping is done at this point by the farmers. There is
a postoffice, store, etc., at the station. An excellent school house is located
here, and also a Methodist church in which services are maintained by the
Methodist Society, and occasionally by other denominations.
In the early history of the country small collections of settlers were usu
ally made in the vicinity of the mills where people came from great distances to
have their grain ground, and thus the little hamlet of Jacobstown came into ex
istence. The place was named for Royal Jacobs, who managed the mill. At
one time there was a store in the place that had a large trade, a blacksmith and

HISTORY OF MT. PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. 295
cooper shop, etc. A heavy business was done at the mill, but now the shops
and stores are gone, and Jacobstown exists as a town and trading point only in
name. The records of the first township meeting in Mt. Pleasant read as the
annexed : " Annual town meeting of legal voters of Mt. Pleasant convened at
the Mt. Pleasant school-house, April 6, 1852, and Ward P. Lewis was chosen
Moderator, and John W. Stakes elected Clerk, pro tem. Officers duly sworn in
by an acting Justice of the Peace, after which the meeting proceeded to the
election of township officers for the ensuing year by ballot. On the canvass of
the votes the following officers were declared duly elected : Supervisor, Aaron
C. Jackson; Assessor, Alfred Haines; Collector, Cyrus P. Emery; Overseer of
the Poor, John James; Commissioners of Highways, William H. Paschal, R.
K. Hiddleson and Horace Heaton; Justices of the Peace, G. H. Dimick and
R. K. Hiddleson; Constables, Cyrus P. Emery and A. C. Pratt. Six Overseers
of Highways were elected — J. M. Lenhart, Henry Wyman, Alson Knox, H. H.
Jacobs, George O. James and J. Kennedy." ,
April 5, 1853, it was "Resolved, That a lawful fence for this town for the
ensuing year shall be of rails, posts and rails, or posts and boards, and shall be
four and a half feet from the top to the ground, and sufficiently tight to turn
cattle, sheep and hogs running at large." An effort was made to prevent hogs
running at large, but failed. It was decided to prevent calves under one year
of age from running at large; also "that every man be his own pound-master
for 1853." April 4, 1854, it was ordered that all hogs be shut up. April,
1856, it was ordered that all owners of bulls, over six months old, found run
ning at large, be fined $5, the fines to be applied to roads and bridges; also de
cided by vote " that pigs and hogs be confined, and all legal voters authorized
to take them up, when found running at large, and to be entitled to 25 cents
for hogs and 12^- cents for pigs, animals to be advertised and if not claimed to
be sold, the seller to be responsible to the owner for the money received, above
expenses of taking up, advertising, etc." April, 1857, at a town meeting
held in Johnson's Hall, A. C. Jackson, H. A. Johnson and John E. Bennett
were appointed a committee to frame a hog law; swine and sheep were prohib
ited from running at large, under a penalty of $5; 40 cents road tax was levied
upon each $100 worth of property. April, 1859, a road tax of 40 cents on each
$100 was levied; dogs were taxed, the proceeds to be devoted to road and
bridge purposes; J. A. Fisher was appointed Poundmaster. April, 1860, a res
olution was adopted by which a fine of $1 shall be assessed for scouring plows
upon public highways; the road tax levied was 20 cents upon each $100; one-
half of funds arising from fines for violation of stock law to be turned into
poor fund for the benefit of widows and orphans. In 1865 it was resolved to
give each volunteer who is credited, or may be under the last call, to the town,
$110.00. Since the township organization in 1852 the following have been officers
of Mt. Pleasant :
Supervisors: — 1852-56, Aaron C. Jackson; 1857-58, Ward P. Lewis;
1859-'63, S. H. McCrea; 1864-70, Henry R. Sampson; 1871-73, Addison
Farrington; April 7, 1874, Winfield S. Wilkinson was elected, and resigned
September 3, 1874; DeWitt C. McAllister was appointed to fill the vacancy;
1875-77, Dwight S. Spafford.
Town Clerks :— 1852-56, Ward P. Lewis; 1857, William W. Houseman;
1858-'60, H. P. Roberts; 1861-'63, Henry R. Sampson; 1864-'65, E. L. Worth
ington; 1866-71, Frank Clendenin; 1872-77, J. M. Burtch.
Assessors;— 1852, Alfred Haines; 1853, John W, Stakes; 1854, Gilbert.

296 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
H. Dimick; 1855, V. V. Vedder; 1856, Cyrus P. Emery; 1S57, Wm. Knox;
1858, A. C. Jackson; 1859, William Knox; 1860, Ezra Finch; 1861, D. K.
Lincoln; 1862-64, Thomas Steere; 1865, George D. Brown; 1866-68, DuWitt
C. McAllister; 1869-72, Ward P. Lewis; 1873, Meril Mead: 1S74-76, Ward
P. Lewis; 1877, DeWitt C- McAllister.
Collectors : — 1852-'55, Cyrus P. Emery; 1856-'57, Alfred Haines;
1858-'60, Bela C. Bailey; 1861-'62, John E. Duffin; 1863, John S. Gillett;
1864-'65, Erastus B. Humphrey; 1866, William H. Judd; 1867-68, Thomas
Allen; 1869, M. Y. Lewis; 1870-71, William H. Mclnroy; 1872, Edwin J.
Congar; 1873-74, A. P. Young; 1875-77, John N. Baird.
Justices of the Peace :— 1852, Gilbert H. Dimick, B. K. Hiddleson; 1856,
Simon Fellows, Henry S. Vrooni; 1857, Hiram Olmstead, II. S. Vrooni; 1860,
James Cobleigh (County Seat Justice), Hiram Olmstead, Simon Fellows; 1864,
William Lane, Simon Fellows, Sewel Smith; 1868, Addison Farrington, Geo.
H. Fay, James Cobleigh; 1872-77, George H. Fay, John N. Baird.
The following is the assessed value of the different kinds of property in
Mt. Pleasant township, including Morrison, as shown by the Assessor's book for
1877. The assessed value is about two-fifths of the actual value : No. acres
improved land, 21,723; acres unimproved land, 588; valuation of improved land,
$417,773; value of unimproved land, $6,903; improved lots, 431; unimproved
lots, 68; value of improved lots, $197,045; value of unimproved lots, $2,112;
number of horses, 581; cattle, 1,474; mules and asses, 19; sheep, 390; hogs,
1,999; fire and burglar proof safes, 28; billiard and similar tables, 11; carriages
aud wagons, 278; watches and clocks, 485; sewing and knitting machines, 291;
piano fortes, 28; melodeons and organs, 73; value of merchandise, $36,865;
valueof material and manufactured articles, $1,975; value of manufacturing tools,
$550,00; valueof agricultural tools, $1,575; value of jewelry, $128,00; valueof
credits other than banks, $47,250; value of household and office furniture, $11,-
023; value of shares of national bank stock, $40,000; valueof all personal prop
erty, $203,368; value of railroad property, $28,000; assessed value of all prop
erty, $855,698.
The population of Mt. Pleasant township, including Morrison, according
to the census report was, in 1870, 2,553 persons. In November, 1876, the town
ship polled 624 votes, which at the usual estimate would show the population
of the township to be 3,120. The census of School district No. 1, which em
braces Morrison, showed a population of 2,031. The inhabitants of the town
ship and city of Morrison are principally Americans, the census of 1870
enumerating only 378 persons of foreign birth and ten negroes. The popula
tion of the township in 1877 is about 3,200.
Biographical.
William H. Paschal was born in North Carolina, May 8, 1804, and spent
his boyhood near Lebanon, Wilson county. He emigrated to Morgan county,
Illinois, in 1826, where he resided until 1835, when he removed to Union Grove,
then in Jo Daviess county, and built the first cabin in the present township of
Mt. Pleasant. With him in the cabin resided during the winter of 1835-36,
J. D. Paschal, James J. Thomas, Felix French, and their families, in all nine
teen persons. The cabin was not provided with a chimney, and cook stoves not
being introduced, a log fire on the outside served for cooking and heating pur
poses. Mr. Paschal secured a considerable amount of land and property by
industry, and was engaged in farming for many years in the immediate vicinity
of Morrison. He was a good citizen, and before his death, which occurred in
Morrison, March 12, 1875, he saw the wild prairie and forests, he assisted to

BIOGRAPHICAL. 297
subdue from nature's wilderness, the home of a teeming population. He was
married to Grizzy Thomas, daughter of Anthony M. Thomas, October 17, 1833;
she died June 26, 1875. Their children are: Agnes J., born May 4, 1835—
died July 12, 1874; Parlee S., born February 11, 1838; Thomas J., born Novem
ber 26, 1850— died October 3, 1850; Robert M., born June 27, 1843.
John D. Paschal was born in 1805 in North Carolina. When a child
was taken to Tennessee; thence moved to Morgan county, Illinois. In 1835 he
emigrated to the township now Mt. Pleasant, and made his first claim on
Section 16, it being a school section. A law of Congress provided that all
persons who should settle upon school sections in the townships of Illinois
should be entitled to "floating pre-emption," therefore Mr. Paschal "floated"
over on to section 15. On the farm thus secured he resided until about nine
years ago, when, having disposed of his property, he removed to Morrison where
he still resides. December 20, 1827, he married Miss Nancy Short, who is yet
alive. Children: William B., born October 26, 1828; Daniel B., born March 20,
1831; Elizabeth Jane, born May 15, 1833; James A., born May 28, 1835; Isaiah
F.,born March 1, 1838; Sarah A, born April 19, 1840; Maria A., born Novem
ber 18, 1843; John G., born July 26, 1846. The first four were born in Morgan
county. All are now living.
Anthony M. Thomas was born in South Carolina, near Charleston, in
1782. He emigrated to Illinois in 1804. During the War of 1812 he served
as a private soldier in the United Rangers. In 1837 Mr. Thomas settled in the
territory now Mt. Pleasant. He married Miss Jane Jordan, of North Carolina,
in 1805. His children are : Mary, born in 1805; Margaret, born in 1807;
Grizzy, born in 1809; James J., born in 1811; Julia, born in 18 — ; Elizabeth,
born in 1815; George W., born in 1820; John R., born in 1822; William "C,
born in 1828. Five children died in infancy. Mary married F. French; Mar
garet married George O. James; Grizzy married W. H. Paschal; Julia married
Samuel Currie; Elizabeth married William French. Mr. Thomas died Septem
ber 8, 1850, and his wife September 12, 1858.
James J. Thomas was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, April 2, 1811.
He was married November 14, 1833, to Miss Lucy Paschal. Mrs. P. died Au
gust 13, 1840, and he was married July 25, 1841, to Miss Louisa A. Higley.
Being separated by a bill of divorce, Mr. Thomas married Miss Sarah M. Piatt,
November 20, 1860. Mr. Thomas settled in the grove near Morrison, Novem
ber 5, 1835, and passed through the vicissitudes of pioneer life. He has been
engaged as a farmer during his life, except an interval of about fifteen months
spent in California in 1852- '53. At present he is a resident of Morrison. In
1831 and 1832 he served as a volunteer against the Sacs and Foxes, who were
under Blackhawk. His neighbors, J. D. and W. H. Paschal, served in the same
war in 1831, and Felix French during the Winnebago troubles in 1828.
George W. Thomas was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, January 10,
1820, and October 2, 1842, was married in Cass county to Miss Mary Paschal.
He resided in Morgan county until 1837, when he came north and made a claim
on sections 8 and 9, in the present town of Mt. Pleasant. He still resides upon
the same farm. Children : Francis Marion, born December 27, 1843; Addi
son Paschal, born June 1, 1845; Samuel Taylor, born April 2, 1847; John Rob
erts, born June 12, 1849; Nathan James, born May 28, 1851; Elizabeth
Jane, born May 17, 1853; William Henry, born March 23, 1856; Robert Mil
ton, born April 12, 1862; George Eddy, born October 17, 1866; Minnie Eve
line, born April 20, 1869. John Roberts died December 18, 1854, and William
H., June 12, 1865. Francis Marion served during the war in the 93d Illinois
regiment, [37-L]

298 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
William C. Thomas was born in Morgan county, Illinois, April 28, 1S2S;
settled in 3It. Pleasant in the autumn of 1837. He now resides upon his fath
er's homestead. In 1852 he went to California, where he remained seventeen
years. August 3, 1870, he married Miss Mary E. Hodge.
George 0. James was born in Ash county, North Carolina, April 14,
1806. When a child, he, with his father's family, removed to Kentucky, and
from that State to Morgan county, Illinois. Mr. James traveled from the lat
ter county to Whiteside in 1835, on horseback, first stopping at Elkhorn, where
he remained about six months. At the expiration of that time he made a claim
on section 9 in the north part of Mt. Pleasant, where he still lives. For the
first two years of his residence in the township, he lived in a cabin in the timber
on section 5. Mr. James has been a hard-working farmer all his life, and
assisted much in the development of the country. He was married to Miss
Elizabeth Fatherkill. November 1, 1830, who died in 1831, about one year after
marriage. On February 9, 1836, Mr. James married Miss Margaret Thomas,
who died January 6, 1866. On January 6, 1870, he was united in marriage to
Mrs. Jane S. Mecem, of Pennsylvania. Mr. James is the father of William S.,
born September 14, 1831; Anthony A., born August 26, 1837; Elizabeth J.,
born April 15, 1840; Adam C, born March 27, 1842; Anna L., born December
11, 1845. William S. married Miss Rosanna Shepler, and lives in Fenton;
Anthony A. married Miss Anna Norrish, and lives in Clyde; Elizabeth J. mar
ried Hiram Smith, and lives in Story county, Iowa; Adam C. married Miss Ma
bel Robertson, and lives in New York; Anna L. married John Little, and lives
in Iowa. Aaron C. Jackson was born in Morristown, Morris county, New Jersey,
October 29,1800. When five years of age, he, with his father's faniily, removed
to Fort Pitt, Pa., and some years after to Knox county, Ohio, locating near
where the City of Mt. Vernon now is, then a place consisting of two houses.
From boyhood to manhood Mr. Jackson was engaged in the usual avocations of
pioneers in wooded country — felling trees, grubbing, and opening farms from the
primeval forests. His educational advantages were acquired in the log school
houses from imperfect text books, and still more imperfect teachers, whose chief
requisites were ability to wield the birch and control the hardy pioneer boys.
January 16, 1823, Mr. Jackson married Charity Ann Young, daughter of Judge
Young, of Ohio, she being a sister of D. B. Young, now of Morrison. In 1837
he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in what is now Mt. Pleasant township, his
claim being about one half mile east of the present City of Morrison. The claim
of 160 acres, 40 of which was timber, he purchased for $900,00 from Pardon
Dodge. Some of the land had been broken, and a rude log cabin erected. Mr.
Jackson experienced all the vicissitudes and pleasures of pioneer life, such as
hauling dressed hogs to Savannah and Galena, where they were sold for one cent
a pound "in trade," the "trade" being calico remnants, no single piece of which
was sufficient to make his wife a dress. Mr. Jackson was President of a Society
of Settlers to prevent Claim Jumping; in 1839 was commissioned a Justice of
the Peace. In 1842 he was elected a representative on the Whig ticket to the
State Legislature from Whiteside and Lee counties, serving two years. He was
facetiously dubbed "The Log Cabin Candidate," from the style of architecture
of his residence. His opponent was known as the leader of the "Dixon Stage
Party." Mr. Jackson triumphed by a majority of sixteen votes. Whiteside
county was largely Whig, while Lee county was Democratic. In 1847 he was
elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, receiving 322 votes. His
opponent, Jonathan Haines, received 304 votes, and D. B. Young, 53. From
1852 to '57 he was Supervisor of Mt. Pleasant township, and during President

BIOGRAPHICAL. 299
Lincoln's administration Postmaster of Morrison. Mr. Jackson is still a resi
dent of Morrison, quietly spending his days near the scenes of his pioneer life.
Mrs. Jackson died September 5, 1855, and on November 26, 1856, Mr. Jackson
married Sophronia Gibbs, widow of Alonzo Gibbs. Mrs. Gibbs was mother of
Edward Gibbs, of Lyndon, and Mrs. S. W. Robinson and Mrs. Alpheus Clark, of
Morrison. The children of A. C. Jackson were : Daniel B., born October 31,
1823— drowned July 8,1837; Flavius J., born August 22, 1826; Susan L., born
February 13, 1828; John Y., born September 14, 1829; Tryphene, born June
15, 1831; Elizabeth, May 27, 1833; Phebe L., born September 2, 1835; Silas
M., October 22, 1837; Amanda, born December 8, 1840; Lafayette J., born
February 23, 1843— died at Grand Rapids, Mich., July 22, 1875.
James Knox, Sr., was born January 8, 1791, in Dutchess county, New
York. He remained in New York until 1816, when he removed to Canada,
where he lived a number of years. In 1825 he moved to Erie county, New
York, where he lived until October, 1835, when with his family he emigrated to
the West and settled in the " Ox Bow Bend," across the river north of Proph
etstown, where he engaged in farming and running a ferry across Rock river, first
using the common oared boat and poles, then the rope and pulleys. He resided
at this place about two years, and in 1837 located on land where Morrison now
is, near the present corner of Wall and Orange streets. Not being successful
in securing water, he changed his location to near where the present Library
Hall stands; there he found water by digging the well now on the property of
F. C. Woodruff. The site of Morrison was then- covered with hazel brush and
trees. Mr. Knox was a successful farmer, good citizen, and reared a substantial
and highly respected family. He married Miss Ann Martin, of Vermont, Jan
uary 9, 1816. Children: William, born June 2, 1817; Martin, born February
9, 1819; Alson, born March 3, 1821; Peter, born April 4, 1823— died May 2,
1875; James, born July 30, 1825— died September 11, 1873; Archibald, born
September 11, 1827; Henry, born December 27, 1828; Lydia, born September
25, 1831; John J., born September 23, 1833; Mary, born March 6, 1837; Allen,
born May 3, 1840; Louis, November 8, 1842. Of the twelve children, all are
living with the exception of Peter and James. Martin is a resident of Califor
nia; Mary (Mrs. Mclntyre) resides in Yankton, Dakota, and Lydia (Mrs. Lathe),
in Lyndon; the remainder of the family live in Mt. Pleasant township. James
Knox, Sr., died September 24, 1860, and his wife February 9, 1866.
William Knox was born in Paris, Canada, June 2, 1817; was married Au
gust 21, 1842, to Miss Jane Emery, at Prophetstown, Illinois. Mr. Knox came
to Whiteside county with his father, and settled near Prophetstown, in 1835,
having previously lived in New York. In 1837, upon his father moving to what
is now Mt. Pleasant township, he purchased the ferry at Prophetstown, and did
a large business for several years. He closed out his business in that part of
the county and came to the vicinity of Morrison in 1842, settling on section 16.
Subsequently he located on section 14, where he has since resided. Mr. Knox
is largely engaged in farming, owning a number of valuable tracts of land. His
children are Sarah Jane, born April 17, 1845; Harriet Ellen, born March, 1847;
Walter E., born May 25, 1851; Martin W., born March 19, 1854; Wiiliam H.,
born October 8, 1856; Andrew J., born September 27, 1858; Clarence and Clar-
etta, born June 5, 1866. The first-mentioned died at the age of five years.
Alson Knox was born in Dumfries, Upper Canada, March 3, 1821. In
1825 he moved with his father's family to Erie county, New York, and in Oc
tober, 1835, came with them to Whiteside county. The family first settled in
Prophetstown, and about three months afterwards at the ox bow bend in Lyn
don township. In 1837 they came to Mt. Pleasant, and settled on section- 18,

300 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Mr. Knox, in company with his brother Martin, made a claim of three hundred
and twenty acres on sections 15 and 22, in Mt. Pleasant township, and now
owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on the same sections. On the
22d of February, 1848, he married Miss Julia Ann Weaver, a native of Lan
caster county, Pennsylvania, at Empire. They have several children.
James Knox, Jr., was born July 30, 1825, in the township of Dumfries,
District of Gore, Canada. He moved with his father to Whiteside county in
1835, first settling near Prophetstown. Soon after the family located on land
where Morrison now stands. Mr. Knox subsequently acquired a farm a few
miles east of Morrison, where he resided until his death, September 11, 1873.
He was the first of a family of twelve to die. He left a widow and several
children. Peter Knox was born in Dumfries, Canada, April 4, 1823. Came with
his father to this county in 1835. After arriving at man's estate Mr. Knox se
cured a fine farm near Morrison. He was an industrious and competent busi
ness man, and amassed prior to his death a large property. For a number of
years previous to his death he suffered from pulmonary disease, and in the hope
that change of climate would be beneficial, made several trips to the Pacific
coast. He died at Brownsville, California, May 2, 1875, leaving a wife, but no
children. Cyrus P. Emory was born at Moriah, Essex county, New York, March 31,
1820, and came West in 1839, stopping at Lyons, Iowa, a short time, and then
settling on his present farm oh section 21, Mt. Pleasant township. Mr. Emory
married Miss Frances Dimick, and has several children. He has served several
terms both as Assessor, and as Collector, of Mt. Pleasant township, and has
also been Constable for the township, and School Director in his district. His
farm comprises over two hundred acres of choice land, which he has brought
under a good state of cultivation, and is what can be truthfully termed a fore
handed farmer. As a man, citizen, and neighbor, Mr. Emory stands high in the
community. Wm. Heaton, Sr., was born in Massachusetts in 1782, and died -in 1843.
He married Miss Martha Bailey in 1804. Mrs. Heaton died June 21, 1872.
Mr. Heaton settled with his family in Mt. Pleasant township, in 1837. Chil
dren: Freedom, born in 1805; Maria V., born in 1808; James, born in 1812;
Horace, born in 1814; Susan, born in 1816; George, born in 1818; Alfred, born
in 1820; Lydia, born in 1822; Orson, born in 1824; Roana, born in 1826; Wil
liam, Jr., born in 1829. Freedom married Thomas L. Jackson (see biography).
Blaria Y. married Van Vleck Vedder, and removed from the county. James
came to Mt. Pleasant in 1835, being the pioneer of the family; he died in 1837,
unmarried; his funeral was the first in the present township. Horace (see bi
ography). Susan married Ward P. Lewis, and is now living; her husband died
in 1876. George now lives in Kansas. Alfred (see biography). Lydia mar
ried Harley Derby. Orson is now a resident of Iowa. Roana married Jas. K.
Robertson. William, Jr., married Miss Elizabeth Hiddleson; they have four
children; he served during the war in the Sth Wisconsin Artillery.
Horace Heaton was born in Washington county, Vermont, May 23, 1814.
Went to Jefferson county, New York, when five years of age, and resided there
until the fall of 1836, when he settled in Mt. Pleasant, and made a claim on
section 4, he and George O. James being the first settlers in the northeast part
of the township. He resided upon his farm until 18G4, when he removed to
Morrison, and now has charge of the stage route from Morrison to Spring Hill.
He was married March 21, 1839, to Sarah Chamberlain, who was born February
28,' 1814. Mrs. Heaton died September 18, 1867. Children: Gideon C, Mar-

BIOGRAPHICAL. 301
tha Jane, Ward P., Miranda, Nancy, Malissa and Clarissa — twins, and Judson.
All the children are dead but Gideon and Nancy. Mr. Heaton was married De
cember 13, 1868, to Mrs. Lucy A. Thomas.
Alfred Heaton was born April 28, 1820, in Jefferson county, New
York. In 1837 he came to Mt. Pleasant with his father and the family. He
made his claim on Section 3, where he still resides. May 11, 1845, he married
Miss Eliza Jane Robertson. Children: James W., died in the army; Ellen R.,
wife of W. P. Hiddleson; Olive A., wife of Oliver King; Alfarata,
wife of Frank Babcock; Emily E., wife of N. J. Thomas; Ada J.; Susan
Kate, who died in 1862. Mr. Heaton has made a successful growth with the
country and has been well rewarded for the trials of pioneer life. He served
during the war in the 8th Illinois Cavalry, the same regiment to which his son
James W. belonged.
Thomas L. Jackson was born in New Lisbon, New London county,
Connecticut, October 23, 1787. At thirteen years of age he removed to New
York State where he resided until 1835, being engaged in farming during the
whole time. During his residence in Jefferson county, New York, he was mar
ried in December, 1824, to Miss Freedom Heaton, daughter of William Heaton,
who then resided in St. Lawrence county, New York. About the year 1835 he
moved with his family to Portage county, Ohio, where he lived for several
years. In April, 1841, he left Ohio for Illinois, arriving in Whiteside county
in May of that year,' and settling on section 4 in the present township of
Mt. Pleasant. He has resided on the same farm continously since that date.
Children: Floyd H., born October 20, 1825 — married Miss Ellen J. Carlton, and
lives in Story county, Iowa; Mary, now Mrs. J. W. Wells, of Chicago, born
July 25, 1827; Sullivan, born December 3, 1830 — married Miss E. C. Baxter,
and lives with his parents. Mr. Jackson was 90 years of age October 23,1877,
and is the oldest person in the township.
John B. Dodge, a prominent character among the early settlers of this
county, was born in Tioga county, New York, April 6, 1808. Removed to Lick
ing county, Ohio, where, November 6, 1828, he was united in the bonds of mat
rimony to Miss Lydia B. Smith. He removed to Stark county, Illinois, August,
1829, where he remained about seven years, when he removed once more to
what is now Mt. Pleasant township, Whiteside county, arriving in August, 1836,
and settling on section 20. He was the Captain of a Militia Company in
1830, and volunteered during the Blackhawk War, and was present at the
battle of Bloody Run. He was a man of much energy, and was frequently
called upon by his fellow citizens to bear the burdens of office, not less onerous
then than now, and less remunerative. In those days of Auld Lang Syne
honor and a desire for the public good were the only inducements to office
seeking. Fat salaries and well-furnished, comfortable offices existed only in ex
tremely vigorous and daringirnaginations. InMay, 1839, Mr. Dodge was one of the
three County Commissioners who held the first Commissioners' Court of White
side county. He is reported to have announced the opening of the session in
the following characteristic words: "Fellow Citizens, the County Commission
ers' Court of Whiteside is about to set, and will be ready to hatch in two or
three days." He was at different times Constable, and Justice of the Peace.
He died January 24, 1843, at the early age of 35. His widow re-married, her
second husband being James Magby, who died several years since leaving her
a second time a widow. She at present resides with her son-in-law, George P.
Garlick, of Fenton township. Mr. Dodge was buried on his farm. In 1860
his remains were removed to the Morrison Cemetery, where they now repose.
The children were Eber B., born November 27, 1829, who is married and now

302 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
resides in this county; Matilda S., born September 1, 1832, married R. M.
Thompson, of Fenton, December 25, 1849; Abiel Mc, born October 1, 1834, died
December 28, 1835; Eli M., born January 20, 1837, is now a resident of Mar
shall county, Iowa; Henrietta, born November 4, 1839, married to James Garlick,
and resides in Marshall county, Iowa. There were children .of the second mar
riage, one of whom married George P. Garlick, of Fenton.
Jonathan Haines was a native of Butler county, Ohio, and came to Illi
nois in 1826, first settling in Tazewell county. In 1835 he came to Whiteside
county on his way to Galena, and being so well pleased with the location of what
is now known as Jacobstown, and the water privileges there, made a claim and
erected a cabin. His purpose in going to Galena was to use his steam ice boat,
which he had recently patented, in navigating the Upper Mississippi during the
winter, feeling sanguine of carrying the United States mail, and keeping up trade
with St. Paul, and the upper forts. He made a few trips to Dubuque. In tho
winter of 1835, Felix French lived in the cabin, and took care of the mill claim,
Mr. J. T. Atkinson boarding with him during the time while he was making
rails and cutting logs on his claim near by. Mr. Haines returned in 1836, and
built a saw mill on his claim, on the opposite side of the creek from the present
mill. This mill, however, was washed away, by a freshet after one log had
been sawed, and in 1837heerectedanotheroneonthesamesite, to which he after
wards added a pair of burrs for grinding grain. In 1847 he invented the "Illinois
Harvester," and put up machine shops at Unionville, where he manufactured
them until his removal to Tazewell county, in 1849. These Harvesters have
since been somewhat improved, and are now extensively used in all the West
ern States. Union Grove Precinct was named by Mr. Haines, J. T. Atkinson,
and Henry Boyer, in the spring of 1836. Mr. Haines was quite a prominent
man in Whiteside county at an early day, and held several positions of public
trust. He was a useful citizen, a kind and generous neighbor, and endeared
himself to all who became acquainted with his many excellent traits of char
acter. He died in Pekin, Tazewell county, February 22, 1868, of apoplexy.
Winfield S. Wilkinson was born in Skaneateles, Onondaga county, New
York, September 11, 1812. In 1834 he went to Georgetown, Kentucky, and
remained there until 1837, when he came to Jacksonville, Illinois, and was em
ployed at that place, and at Springfield, as civil engineer in the service of the
State, until October, 1839, when he came to Como, Whiteside county. Mr.
Wilkinson was married November 10, 1841, at Como, to Miss Francis Elizabeth
Sampson, daughter of Capt. Henry B. Sampson. Their children have been:
Mary C., born at Como, April 14, 1843; Alfred E., born at Skaneateles, On
ondaga county, New York, December 6, '1846; Henry B., born at Como, April
8, 1849, and Frank, born at Sterling, March 11, 1857. Mary C. married Charles
H. Cogswell, May 20, 1869, and resides at Clinton, Iowa; children, Francis E.
and Charles H. Alfred E. married Miss Annie Oldham, of Gainesville, Texas,
November 4, 1875, and resides at Sherman, Texas, where he is engaged in the
practice of law, and now wears the judicial ermine; one child, Henry. Henry
B. resides in Chicago. Frank died at Morrison, November 21, 1860. Mr. Wil
kinson resided in Como until September, 1856, when he moved to Sterling, and
in 1858, at the removal of the Connty Seat, came to Morrison. Probably no
man in Whiteside county has taken a more active and prominent part in its af
fairs than Mr. Wilkinson. His peculiar qualifications for an able and honest
discharge of the duties of a public trust, were early recognized, and for more
than a quarter of a century his fellow citizens freely conferred these trusts
upon him. When the lands upon which Como is situated were placed into
market by the government, he was one of three gentlemen selected by the

BIOGRAPHICAL. 303
claimants to bid them in, and for the lands in Hopkins township he was the
only one selected to make the purchases. In 1842 he was elected County Sur
veyor of Whiteside county, and held the position five years. In 1844, and
while still County Surveyor, the people of Whiteside called upon him to repre
sent them in the General Assembly of the State, which he did, greatly to their
satisfaction, and to the interests of the State, for a term of two years. When
the County Court which superseded the County Commissioners' Court in all
county affairs, was first organized, he was elected one of the associate justices,
and in 1853 was again elected County Surveyor, holding the position until 1857 ,
when he became County Clerk, the duties of which office he conducted with
signal ability until 1869, a period of twelve years. At the conclusion of his
term, the Board of Supervisors, for whom the County Clerk is ex-officio clerk,
passed a resolution highly complimenting him for the able and faithful manner
in which he had discharged the multifarious duties of his office, and sincerely
regretting that he had concluded to retire from it at the close of his term. He
has also represented the township of Mt. Pleasant in the Board of Supervisors.
In 1870, upon the adoption of the new Constitution, he was elected a Senator
to the General Assembly from the district then comprising the counties of
Whiteside and Lee, and served a term of two years, during which time he aided
materially by his sound judgment, discriminating mind, and close attention to
legislative duties, in properly completing the laws of the State so as to make
them conform to the newly adopted Constitution. The labors of the General
Assembly when he was Senator were made unusually arduous and exacting on
account of the conflict of the then existing laws with the new Constitution,
and it required the utmost care and ability on the part of the members of both
Houses, to remodel the former so as to make them conform to the latter with
out rendering them nugatory by reason of unconstitutionality. Mr. Wilkinson
gave the new fundamental document the closest study, and by that means,
aided by a comprehensive and systematic mind, was enabled to readily discover
the objectionable features in a bill proposing the remodeling of an old law, or the
creation of a new one. At the close of his Senatorial term, Mr. Wilkinson re
tired from public and political life, as well as from active business cares. He
is the owner of a large farm near Como, a fine residence in Morrison, besides
other property, and surrounded by friends, is passing the days of the sere and
yellow leaf with that ease and contentment which a well spent life always
brings to the happy possessor.
Simon Fellows is a native of Sandwich, Carroll county, ( formerly Straf
ford county, ) New Hampshire, and was born November 20, 1815, and lived there
until he came to Illinois in September, 1834. He first located in what is now
the township of Palmyra, Lee county, where he remained until 1850 when he
moved to Round Grove, Mt. Pleasant township, Whiteside county. Mr. Fellows
was married to Miss Elizabeth Deyo, July 10, 1836, the marriage taking place
in a little log cabin without any floor, situated in the northeast part of the pres
ent township of Jordan. Miss. Deyo was born March 12, 1816. The children
of this marriage were : Oliver E., born June 12,1837; Albert, born April 16, 1839; .
Charles, born May 25, 1841; Margaret, born January 27, 1843; Electa, born June 6,
1845; EdwardS.,born September 22, 1848; ElizabethD.,bornMarch31, 1851; Em
eline S.,bom February 3, 1854; Ernest, born June 14, 1856, and Omar D., born
October 10, 1860. The children have -all been married except Edward and Omar.
Oliver E. resides in Palmyra, Lee county, Illinois. Albert served three years in
the 4th Illinois Cavalry, and died Februaryl, 1866. Charles wasalso in the army,
and served three years in the 75th Illinois Infantry; he now lives in Mt. Pleas
ant township. Margaret resides in Calhoun county, Michigan; Electa resides

304 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
at Round Grove, Whiteside county; Edward S. resides in Mt. Pleasant township;
Elizabeth D. is a resident of Morrison; Emeline S. lives in Branch county,
Michigan ; Ernest, and Omar, both live in Mt. Pleasant township. During the
winter of 1834-'35 Mr. Fellows taught the first school in Buffalo Grove, near
Polo, Ogle county. The school was kept iu the house of Oliver W. Kellogg,
and among the patrons of Mr. Fellows were Mr. Kellogg, John Dixon, better
known as Father Dixon, and Joseph Smith. In the same winter, his brother
Samuel Fellows taught the first school in Elkhorn Grove, at the house of John
Ankeny. In November, 1836, Mr. Fellows served as Clerk of Election in Cherry
Grove Precinct, Jo Daviess county, and made return of the poll book to Galena,
a distance of forty miles. Mr. Fellows held the office of Justice of the Peace
of Jit. Pleasant township for twelve consecutive years, dating at 1856, his first
commission being signed by Hon. Joel Matteson, the then Governor of the State.
He has been Postmaster twice, the first time when he received his commission
from Hon. Amos Kendall, then Postmaster General, and the second time receiv
ing his commission from Hon. Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General.
J. Danforth Odell was born in Petersburgh, Rensselaer county, New
York, June 9, 1815, and came to AVhiteside county in 1839, arriving the day
before the last, or September election for the location of the county-seat. He
was married to Miss Elsie Ann Peters in North Adams, Massachusetts, June
10, 1839. They have had two children, both of whom died in childhood.
When Mr. Odell first came to Whiteside he purchased a claim, with a cabin
and some small improvements, of Dr. William Price, situated in the southeast
corner of what is now Fenton township, known as the Lyman Bennett claim,
and took possession iu the December following. The Winnebago Indians still
lingered around their old hunting grounds, and it was both natural and desira
ble on the part of new-comers to obtain all the information possible of their
habits and characteristics, and the advice was not to feed them. After a few
days domicil Mr. Odell was obliged to seek some supplies, which would require
the absence of the entire day, leaving Mrs. Odell at home alone; and soon after
his departure an Indian stealthily opened the door, glided to the fire, and
silently surveyed the premises. Seeing a strange squaw he inquired, " Where
Moconder? " (medicine man). " Puckagee to O-hi-o," replied Mrs. Odell. He
then asked for food, which she would not understand until he had made the de
mand a third time, accompanied by a dramatic flourish of his tomahawk, which
brought to her recollection enough of the Indian dialect as to hurriedly furnish
him food to his satisfaction. Having used Winnebago dialect in her first an
swer, he knew her to be no uneducated squaio. These Indians often visited their
old homes in after years, and, being treated with kindness, property was more
safe while surrounded by them than it is now with our doted civilization. Mr.
Odell continued to cultivate the rich soil of the Rock river bottom for thirteen
years, when he moved to Lyndon, where he clerked in the general merchandise
store of Marcus Sperry for about two years, ahd until Mr. Sperry's death, when
he entered into partnership with F. K. Powell and W. W. Gilbert, under the
firm name of J. D. Odell & Co., which continued for nearly two years. Lyndon
at that time sold more goods than any other town in the county, and one of the
partners of the firm, who furnished no part of the capital, drew at the rate of
$150 per month as his share of the profits. The firm was mutually dissolved
while in the height of prosperity, and at a great sacrifice, as was then supposed.
But Mr. Odell has often said afterwards it was the most fortunate move of his
life, financially, as the firm was then indebted to New York and Chicago par
ties to the amount of nearly $12,000, and the firm were enabled to close up
their liabilities about the time of the great financial crisis of 1857-'58. Mr.

CITY OF MORRISON. 305
Odell afterwards engaged in the grocery trade in Lyndon for about two years,
and in March, 1863, came to Morrison, where he has resided fourteen years,
retired from active business life, having seen enough, as he alleges, of the
hardships of the frontier to pass the balance of his days in quiet retirement.
Mr. Odell was the first Town Clerk of Fenton township, and has been for sev
eral years, and is at present, Treasurer of Mt. Pleasant township. He has con
siderable literary taste and ability, which he has used to good advantage as
newspaper correspondent. He was for some time correspondent of the White
side Sentinel, writing under the nom deplume of "Tim Downes," and has con
tributed various articles at other times.
City of Morrison.
The City of Morrison is situated in the western part of Mt. Pleasant town
ship, on Sections 17, 18 and 19 and near the geographical center of the county.
The town was surveyed and laid out in 1855 by W. S. Wilkinson, Surveyor, un
der the management of Lyman Johnson, who had come to the place as a railroad
contractor and builder with Mr. H. S. Vroom, the year previous. In 1851 the
line of the present C. & N. W. R. R. had been surveyed through northern Illi
nois, the original line passing some distance north of the present location of
Morrison, to the then flourishing village of Unionville. The citizens of that town,
not familiar with railroads or their management, were assured in their own
minds that the road must pass through that village, and no where else, there
fore they demanded extravagant prices for their lands, and were not disposed to
make any concessions to the railway company. As a sequence the line of the
road was changed and Unionville left at one side.
The original proprietors of the town of Morrison were men of enterprise
and business sagacity, and Mr. Johnson by liberal dealing and good management
secured the location of the railway station where it now is, and the future of
Morrison was then assured.
The proprietors and incorporators of the town of Morrison were Lyman
Johnson, H. S. Vroom, Homer Caswell, John W. Stakes, James Snyder, L. H.
Robinson, N. M. Jackson, John J. West and W. H. VanEpps. The land upon
which Morrison now stands was originally claimed by John W. Stakes, and en
tered by him and Wm. Knox, but purchased by Johnson, Vroom and the other
proprietors from J. W. Stakes, Jeremiah Lenhart, J. T. Atkinson, Porter Rob
ertson, and the Knoxes.
After the surveyor's chain had been run through the hazel brush and scrub
oaks, the town, to spring up within the survey, was named "Morrison" by Mr.
Johnson, in honor of Mr. Charles Morrison, awealthy merchant of New York, and
friend of Mr. W. H. VanEpps. Doubtless Mr. Morrison would have given sub
stantial aid to the town but for the fact that business reverses swept his property
away and left him a poor man. The originators of the town were sanguine of
the future from its first inception, and invited merchants, mechanics and profes
sional men to come and make their homes in the "new City."
The first house erected was by Lyman Johnson on the site now occupied by
Library Hall. It was commenced in 1854, before the town was laid out; subse
quently it was enlarged and used for a "hotel" known as the "Morrison House."
Portions of the structure are now doing duty iii different parts of the town as
dwelling houses.
The following extract from a letter signed "Gotham," and printed in the
New York Day Book, March 12, 1855, presents a fair picture of Morrison as it
then appeared, and contains a prophecy which has been literally fulfilled :
"The first important station on this road east of Fulton is Morrison, anew and com-
[39-J-]

306 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
nianding place just springing into existence, possessing innate vitality aside from its
beautiful central position to warrant the assertion that it will never lag for energy, or in
other words want for go-aheadativeness so long as it has a name, and its present propri
etors, Johnson and Vroom (two enterprising citizens from Chicago), with their eastern
associates, manage the helm and push forward the contemplated improvements so liber
ally provided for. Within a circle of one mile three fine mill privileges exist ; one known
as Jacob's Mill, a fine four story flouring mill ; about three-fourths of a mile below is an
equally good privilege owned by Mr. Robertson, with only a saw mill at present; and'a
short distance still below on the same little Rock river is the third water power to be im
proved. Stone abounds in fine quarries, a fine and quite extensive grove of timber,
called Union Grove, immediately north, and adjoining the town of Morrison, with
good material at hand for making brick, combining so many essential elements at hand
as to require no great foresight in pointing to this place as being, not only the most
central in the county, but at no distant day transacting a vast amount of business by
capitalists building up a large commercial and inland trade in the very heart of this
wealthy new country. No point in my travel thus far has so infatuated me and beguiled
my time, as this promising, charming spot. What an opening for a half a dozen of our
enterprising young men in your great city to open trade and become great and good in
the destined growth of this western town. But two small stores are existing up to this
time at Morrison. The Directors ot the Air Line Railway have wisely selected this as
a fit place to erect an extensive depot and station building, and if my observations are of
any worth, a morejudicious expenditure could not well be contemplated."
October 19, 1855, the first train was run into Morrison under charge of
Mr. John Furlong, now a resident of the City. The next day his "residence"
came in upon a flat car all ready to locate. For several weeks Mr. Furlong's
family had been keeping house in the shanty upon a flat car, at Round Grove,
awaiting the forward move to Morrison. Mrs. Furlong relates that the growth
of population in the new town was noticed by the "new lights" that appeared
each night in tho new shanties springing up amid the brush. At this time one
sled was sufficient to convey all the young people of Morrison to the "enter
tainments" then given at Unionville. During this year several residences and
small stores were erected, among the first being the residence of H. S. Vroom,
on the corner of Main and Base Streets, where F. C. Woodruff now resides.
L. H. Robinson, Bev. L. L. Lansing, and others, also erected dwelling houses,
and Mr. Henry Ustick came to the town and opened a small general store.
The same year Mr. Ira Towne, a carpenter, removed from Fulton to Mor
rison; Mr. Thomas McClelland and S. Eshleman started a blacksmith shop, and
Mr. Wilcox, of Como, also built a small shop and engaged in blacksmithing.
Mr. A. S. Tryon burnt a kiln of brick in the south part of the town. The
brick from his yard was used in the walls of the Baptist church which was
erected in 1856-57. This was the first church edifice in the place. In
1855-56 the inhabitants worshipped at Unionville, where there were three or
four churches, and in Johnson's Hall, a room fitted up over a store erected by
Mr. Lyman Johnson in 1855. During this year a Dr. Norris, the first man
who located in Morrison to practice medicine, built a shanty on the site of the
present Universalist church, which he used as an office and residence. Among
the physicians who came to Morrison at an early day were Dr. H. P. Roberts,
now living in Iowa; Dr. William S. Coe, since deceased; Dr. A. Nowlen, from
Unionville; Dr. W. W. Winter, from Milledge ville, Carroll county, in the win
ter of 1857-58, who moved to Chicago in 1862, where he has a lucrative prac
tice; Dr. S. Taylor, formerly of Erie, in this county; and Dr. H. C. Donaldson,
from Como, where he had been in successful practice since 1847. Drs. Now
len, Donaldson aud Taylor are still in practice in Morrison.
The first funeral in the town was that of Mrs. B. 0. Russell, her grave
being the first in Grove Hill cemetery.
On November 30, 1855, the first child was born in Morrison — Miss Minnie
Vroom, a young lady still a resident of the town. Charles Morrison Johnson,

CITY OF MORRISON. 30?
son of Lyman Johnson, was the first boy born in Morrison; he is now a law
student. The railroad depot in 1855 was only a board shanty, yet a large business
in shipping to and from this point was done by the company. H. H. Cortright,
now General Freight Agent of the Hannibal & St. Jo. Railroad, was the first
station agent.
In 1855 John E. Bennett came to the town and engaged in the mercan
tile business, and in 1856, when the postoffice was removed from Unionville to
Morrison, was made Postmaster. The feeling between the two towns was in
tensely bitter, and the citizens of Unionville refused to visit Morrison for their
mail, but had letter boxes fitted up in a store in the former town, and one of
their citizens was deputized to bring the Unionville mail from Morrison to be
redistributed. The Morrison Postoffice was denounced as a location unfit for
ladies to enter, a place where every bean barrel concealed a whisky jug.
In 1857 the permanency and future of Morrison was assured. Merchants,
mechanics and professional men had begun to pour into the town, realizing its
great advantages. The rich farming lands on all sides were soon improved
by an enterprising class of farmers, and trade increased rapidly in the new town.
This year the following firms were engaged in business: John M. Cobleigh,
merchant tailor and clothier; R. M. & J. H. Johnson, dry goods; Neely & John
son, dry goods and groceries; Spears & Bro., dry goods .and groceries; 0. B.
Crosby, groceries and provisions; I. Burton, groceries and provisions; S. W. &
F. H. Robinson, hardware dealers; W. L. Coe & A. Nowlen, drugs, medicines,
paints, oils and glass; S. H. McCrea & Co., dealers in grain and lumber; J. V.
Giles & Co., grain and lumber dealers; John H. Brown, produce dealer; Chas.
Foster, grain buyer; Edwin L. Johnson, grain and coal dealer; Henry Levett
and B. 0. Russell, in the hotel business; Vroom & Brokaw, livery stable; Wm.
Trauger, groceries; Alphonso Bent, and Laune & Thompson, painters; H. A. &
C. J. Johnson, attorneys at law; R. Thompson, auctioneer; L. H. Robinson, Ly
man Johnson, Olmstead & Gridley, and Knox & McCrea, engaged in sell
ing town lots; Wm. Finch, groceries and boots and shoes; Thos. McClelland and
Sol. Eshleman, blacksmiths; F. W. Chapman, jeweler. John M. Cobleigh is the
only one mentioned who is still engaged in the same business in Morrison.
A large business was transacted by the merchants, and considerable quan
tities of grain and other produce were shipped. From July 1, 1856, to July 1,
1857, 175,000 bushels of wheat were 'shipped from Morrison, the price ranging
from 75 cents to $i.00 per bushel. In 1857 the brick stores now occupied by
Spears & Son, Spears & Shafer, J. S. Green and Robt. Wallace, were erected by
Charles and William Spears, W. L. Coe, John McDonald, John Devine, John D.
Bartholf, and John Weaver. This was the first brick block erected in Morrison.
The same year the railroad company erected a depot building, and a number of
residences sprang up in different parts of the town. Good business lots sold at
from $150 to $350, and residence locations at from $75 to $100. The strip of
table land now occupied by numerous fine residences was laid off and placed in
market about this time by Mr. Peter Knox.
On November 3, 1857, the citizens of the county voted upon the question
of the removal of the county seat from Sterling to Morrison, the result of the
ballot being in favor of the latter town, and the records were removed to Mor
rison May 3, 1858. The county offices were for several years on the second
floor of the brick building on Main street now owned by J. S. Green and S. W.
Robinson. Court was held on the floor above, in what was afterwards known as
Concert Hall. The removal of the county seat to Morrison gave the town a
great impetus, and the population increased with wonderful rapidity. An ex-

308 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
cellent class of stores was established, and trade was received from many miles
in all directions. Several churches were soon afterwards organized, and a lively
interest manifested in schools in the young village.
The first agricultural fair in the county was held at Morrison in the fall
of 1856, and was quite successful. This exhibition attracted considerable at
tention to the new town. The Whiteside County Agricultural Society was formed
at Unionville, February 26, 1856. The annual exhibitions of the Society were
given in Morrison until 1863, when the fair was held at Sterling, in which city
it has been annually held since. The Whiteside County Central Agricultural
Society was organized at Morrison in 1872. and the first exhibition given on the
fine grounds in the south part of the city, October 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th, 1872.
The Society has been very successful since its organization.
The following extract from an article published in the Sentinel, January 5,
1860, will give an idea of the growth of Morrison:
"Four years ago Morrison came into existence. At that time there was but one
house within a mile, and each settler was obliged to haul his building material from the
Mississippi, or Sterling, or Dixon. The year 1859 has been considered a serious year lor
the West, notwithstanding which our citizens have paid liberallv out of their pockets for
the good of the county. They have this year expended $40,000 in public improvements,
which does not include sums under $200. The annexed figures show a statement of the
business for 1S59 m Morrison. It does not include matters belonging to the railroad com
pany, or any other business not legitimate to the station: Bushels of wheat shipped,
131,414; bushels of corn, 49,996; bushels of oats, 3,720; pounds of poultry and game,
612,881; pounds of rags, 11,855; pounds of pork, 192,112; number of hve hogs, 990;
dozens of eggs, 62,834; pounds of butter, 39,680; pounds of hides, 57,756; No. cattle, 76;
No. horses, 22. The amount of freight received at Morrison is as follows: No. feet of
lumber, 1,305,041; poundsof merchandise, 3,216,436: cars of coal, 40; cars of wood, 25.
Four years under mountains of trials have brought us to these figures. In a few years,
when the rich prairies that surround our beautiful town shall be improved, who can prop
erly estimate the figures?"
Morrison was incorporated in the spring of 1857. The records pertaining
to the incorporation are copied in full, as follows: " Notice: The residents of
lawful age of the town of Morrison, Illinois, will meet at Johnson's Hall on
Saturday, April 18th, at 4 o'clock p. m., to consider whether the said town shall
be incorporated under the statutes in such cases made and provided. A full at
tendance is requested." Signed by Wm. L. Coe, April 8, 1857, with a certifi
cate appended that five copies of the " notice" had been posted in five conspic
uous places.
A meeting was held in pursuance of the call, and Lester H. Robinson was
chosen President, and Wm. L. Coe, Clerk. The two gentlemen were sworn' by
C. J. Johnson, a Notary Public. The meeting proceeded to ballot upon the ques
tion of "Incorporation," and upon canvassing the votes it appeared that "For
Incorporation" received seventeen votes, and "Against Incorporation" received
two votes. One vote cast was a blank. An election was held April 25, 1857,
to elect five Trustees and one Police Magistrate. The whole number of votes
cast was forty-four. Samuel H. Vroom, S. H. McCrea, Lyman Johnson, James
G. Gridley, and Wm. L. Coe, were elected Trustees, and Hiram Olmstead, Police
Magistrate. Alphonso Bent was President, and Wm. L. Coe, Clerk of the elec
tion. The annexed is the first poll list of the town at that election : John H.
Brown, Chas. Foster, John W. Weaver, N. Davidson, S. Eshleinan, L. D. Laune,
J. E. Bennett. Samuel Finch, Albert Plum, James Chapman, Rockwell Thomp
son, S. H. McCrea, Thomas McClelland, S. W. Robinson, S. I. Davidson, W. L.
Coe, A. Bent, R. M. Thompson, Hiram Olmstead, W. F. Johnson, C. E. Wil
liams, John Davidson, H. S. Vroom, I. B. Neely, Silas Wilcox, Wm. Rusler, D.
Quackenbush, G. L. Vroom, L. L. Lansing, H. J. Olmstead, C. J. Johnson, E.

CITY OF MORRISON. 309
L. Johnson, Chas. Potter, H. V. Brokow, Abe. Anthony, John King, Henry
Spitler, John Furlong, Jacob Coon, J. G. Gridley, Henry Levitt, Wm. Paxton,
John H. Lane, L. H. Robinson.
At the first meeting of the Board of Trustees Bela C. Bailey was appoint
ed Street Commissioner and Police Constable. Ordinance No. 1, fixing the
boundaries of the town, was adopted June 3, 1857. The description is : "Com
mencing at the northeast corner of lot 1, block 5; thence west along the street
next north of said block 5 to the west line of the northeast quarter of the north
west quarter of Section 18; thence south along said quarter section line to the
southwest corner of lot 15, block 20; thence along the south line of said block
20, east to the southeast corner of lot 1, block 20; thence south along the west
line of Grape street to its intersection with the south line of South street;
thence east along the south line of said South street to its intersection with the
east line of Clinton street; thence north along the east line of Clinton street to
its intersection with the north line of Grove street; thence west along the north
line of Grove street 225 feet to the southeast corner of lot 4, block 24; thence
north along the east line of lots 4, 3, 2, and 1, to the northeast corner of lot 1,
block 24; thence in a northwesterly direction to the south corner of Bingham's
two acre lot; thence north along the east line of said lot, and the east line of
Knox's addition, to the northeast corner of lot 1, block 8, in said addition; thence
west along the north line of said Knox's addition to the northwest corner of said
addition; thence south to the place of beginning." In addition to this ordin
ance, seven others were adopted during 1857 : No. 2, prohibiting swine from
running at large in the town under a penalty of $1,00 for each offense. No. 3,
providing that each inhabitant over twenty-one, and under fifty years of age,
shall pay a poll tax of four days labor upon the streets within a mile of the cen
ter of the town (this ordinance was repealed by No. 5, which fixed the labor at
three days upon the streets, or, in lieu thereof, $3.); No. 4, ordering a tax levy
of fifty cents upon each $100 of taxable property; No. 6, providing for a fine
of $5 upon any person who should sell spiritious liquors in less quantities than
one gallon without a license — the license fee being fixed at $30 per annum;
No. 7, fixing licenses for shows and exhibitions at not less than $2, nor more than
$25; No. 9, to suppress billiard tables, and similar games — providing for a fine
of $5 for each day the games, which were denominated as "nusiances," should be
maintained. The following is a list of the Trustees and Clerks of Morrison from its in
corporation to its organization as a city in 1869. The name of the President
of each Board is in italic : 1857 — Wm. L. Coe, H. S. Vroom, S. H. McCrea,
Lyman Johnson, J. G. Gridley; Clerk, Hiram Olmstead. 1858 — Wm. L. Coe,
S. H. McCrea, Lyman Johnson, H. S. Vroom, J. G. Gridley; John E. Bennett
was elected Clerk, but resigned, and H. P. Roberts was appointed. 1859 —
Joseph M. Gilman, H. P. Roberts, John Devine, John E. Duffin, Thomas McClel
land- Clerk, James A. Fisher. 1860— S. H. McCrea, R. D. Stiles, L. H.
Robinson, O. B. Crosby, J. E. Duffin; Clerk, John Devine. 1861— C. M. Ger
ould, S. W. Robinson, Ira Robinson, A. McFadden, D. Quackenbush; Clerk, A.
McFadden. 1862 — C. M. Gerould, James Cobleigh, W. F. Johnson, Lyman
Johnson, Ezra Finch; Clerk, James Cobleigh. 1863 — J. P. Martin, A. Farring
ton, D. Quackenbush, Sewel Smith, J. R. Bailey; Clerk, Sewel Smith. 1864 —
Samuel Taylor, D. S. Spafford, Wm. L. Coe, D. L. Columbia, W. F. Johnson;
Clerk, D. S. Spafford. 1865— C. J. Johnson, Wm. Spears, F. W. Chapman, W.
J. Savage, John J. Beattie; Clerk, F. W. Chapman. 1866 — James Cobleigh, J.
E. Duffin, F. W. Chapman, A. B. Lukens, John Furlong; Clerk, F. W. Chap
man. 1867— .7". R. Ashley, E. L. Worthington, R. V. Stocking, J. S. Green,

310 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Marx Kahn; Clerk, E. L. Worthington. 186S— R. V. Stocking, J. S. Green, A.
J. Jackson, S. Taylor, C. W. Sholes; Clerk, A. J. Jackson.
The Legislature of the State, in session in 1867, passed a bill incorporat
ing the "City of Morrison." In the description of the location, range four was
by some means substituted for range five, thus locating the "City of Morrison"
in Union Grove instead of Mount Pleasant township. An election was how
ever held under the "Charter," and two tickets put in the field, the issue being
"Charter" and "Anti-Charter.'' The "Anti-Charter" ticket was elected by a
large majority, and the anomaly of a Board of City Officers was presented
working under a charter in opposition to which they had been elected; but the
difficulty was finally settled as to "whether Morrison had, or had not, a City
Government," by bringing the case before the Circuit Court under a writ of
quo warranto against the acting officers of the City. The Court decided that
there was no city government, inasmuch as no vote of the people upon the
question of the adoption of the charter had been taken.
In 1869 the Legislature passed an act to incorporate the "City of Morri
son." The act was approved February 23, 1869, and an election to decide upon
the adoption or rejection of the charter was held March 29, 1869; 217 votes
were cast, of which number 168 were for adoption, and 49 against. The first
charter election was held on the first Monday of April. The licensing of
saloons was a prominent issue, and an anti-license Board was elected. The
officers chosen were George A. Whitcomb, Mayor, and W. J. Savage, Jas. Cob
leigh, W. L. Coe, S. W. Robinson, J. S. Green, and J. A. McKay, Aldermen.
J. S. Green was chosen Treasurer, L. G. Johnson, City Attorney, and W. E.
Savage, Clerk. In 1870, N. M. Jackson was elected Mayor by 23 majority.
Three Aldermen, Jas. Cobleigh, Charles Bent, and J. N. Baird, were elected.
The issue was upon the question of licensing saloons, the anti-license party
upon the general issue being successful. George H. Fay was elected Police
Magistrate, J. S. Green Treasurer; L. G. Johnson was elected City Attorney,
but resigned soon after, and F. D. Ramsay was appointed. W. E. Savage was
appointed Clerk, but resigned the office, which was filled by J. H. Calderwood.
In 1871, Charles Spears was elected Mayor by 50 majority, license again being
the issue, the result being in favor of the license party. A. Nowlen, Wm.
Lane, and R. V. Stocking, were elected Aldermen. Warren Wilder was chosen
Clerk, by the Board, and J. S. Green, Treasurer. The saloon license fee was
fixed for the municipal year at $300.00. The indebtedness of the city was re
ported at $6,296.37. In 1872, George H. Fay, J. W..Riner, and E. W. Payne,
were elected Aldermen, and Charles Sjiears was re-elected Mayor. A. Farring
ton was appointed Clerk. License to saloons was voted by one majority. The
proposition to vote a two per cent, tax was adopted by a majority of five.
November 12, 1S72, the citizens voted upon the question of re-organiza
tion of the city under the general laws of the State; also for or against
minority representation in the City Council. "For re-organization" received
172 votes, and "against re-organization," 45 votes. "For minority representa
tion in the Council" received 30 votes, "against," 156 votes.
The first election for city officers under re-organization was held April 15,
1873. E. B. Warner was elected Mayor; J. M. Burtch, Clerk; John S. Green,
Treasurer; Geo. H. Fay, City Attorney; W. F. Johnson, J. W. Rincr, Warren
Wilder, Wm. Lane, D. S. Spafford, and E. W. Payne, Aldermen. For licensing
of saloons received 73 votes, and against license received 134 votes. April 22,
1873, the city debt was $4,194,47. In 1874, A. Nowlen, M. Mead, and R. V.
Stocking, were chosen Aldermen. 186 votes were cast for license, aud 85
against. Saloon licenses were fixed at $400. In 1875, A. J. Jackson was elect-

CITY OF MORRISON. 311
ed Mayor; W. H. Boals, Clerk; Geo. H. Fay, Attorney; and John S. Green,
Treasurer; Ed. A. Worrell, M. V. B. Smith, and Chas. Bent, Aldermen. For
license received 136 votes; against license, 72. The saloon license fee was
fixed at $600. In 1876, Oliver Baker, Geo. W. MacKenzie, and H. R. Sampson
were elected Aldermen, the majority for license being 131. In 1877, Geo. A.
Whitcomb was elected Mayor; J. S. Green, Treasurer; J. M. Burtch, Clerk; F.
D. Ramsay, Attorney; W. S. Wilkinson, J. B. Mason, Leander Smith and John.
Clark, Aldermen. The vote upon the license question stood 206 votes for, and
205 against. The license fee was continued at $600 per year.
The only contests the citizens of Morrison have had at the polls have been
upon the question as to the liquor traffic, and methods of regulation; the ques
tion of the levy of a two per cent, tax; the adoption or rejection of the city
charter; and the question of re-organization under the general laws of the State
in 1872. April 22, 1873, the debt of the city was $4,194,47. The first loan
was made by the City Council under Ordinance No. 22, passed April 28, 1873.
It was for $7,000, payable in seven annual installments of $1,000 each. Pay
ments have been regularly made according to the provisions. On September
30th of the same year, a further loan of $3,600 was made, payable in three an
nual installments. December 22, 1874, a loan of $500 was made, and a tem
porary loan of $1,500 on treasury orders. These loans were, promptly paid at
maturity. Of the annual appropriation bill of 1875 the sum of $4,260 was in
cluded therein to pay matured indebtedness, and the Council deemed it best to
fund a portion of the amount, and negotiated a re-loan of $3,500, payable in
seven annual installments, beginning July 1, 1877. Provision has thus far
been made to meet paymentsi At the beginning of the municipal year in 1877,
the funded indebtedness of the city was $9,600, drawing interest at ten per
cent, per annum.
The indebtedness of the city as it matures can, and doubtless will, be
promptly met, and with ordinary fortune and careful management the city can
soon be out of debt. Since 1873 great improvements have been made, requir
ing a large outlay of money; all this had to be provided for, as well as the
large debt that accumulated in the early history of the town and city. Among
the improvements mentioned, has been the erection in 1877, at a cost of over
$2,000, of a city building 24x40 feet in size, and two stories in heighth. On
the first floor, and to the rear, is the city jail, divided into three iron-lined cells;
the balance of the room on this floor is fitted up for use of the hose cart and
other property of the fire department. The second floor is divided into two
apartments — a large one for the use of the City Council, and a small one to be
used as headquarters for the fire company.
The water problem is one that is important in most cities, and is a ques
tion of vital importance for many reasons. Not only for every-day domestic
use, but for manufacturing purposes and the extinguishment of fire. The water
question has, from the origin of the town, been of peculiar interest to Morrison,
as the supply had to come from wells sunk to great depths, and cisterns. It
was the importance of the question that caused a public meeting to be held
March 7, 1868, when the citizens authorized the Board of Trustees to bore an
artesian well, and for that purpose asked that $3,000 in bonds be issued, the
contract not to be let until the bonds were taken. The contract was finally let
to Mr. Joseph Shirk, who, under many difficulties, bored to the depth of 1,200
feet. The water arose within about 20 feet of the mouth of the well, where it
still stands, and furnishes water in ample quantity to supply the town. Mr.
Shirk's bill for boring the well was $3 per foot for the first 600 feet, $4 per
foot for the next 400 feet, and $7 per foot for the last 200 feet. Pipes were

312 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
laid from the well, and a tank capable of holding 50,000 gallons was erected
where a supply of water was to be kept in case of fire. One of the largest
sized wind-mills was provided for pumping purposes, but was not entirely suc
cessful. In November, 1S74, the tank burst when containing about 75,000 gal
lons of water. The flood of water caused considerable damage to surrounding
property, and the wind-mill was wrecked. After this a new plan was adopted,
a powerful steam engine procured, and two pumps, one a Blake and the other a
Dean, are used for pumping. The entire arrangement is upon the Holly plan. The
tank is still used for a water reserve in case of fire. The capacity of the pumps
is about 1,200 gallons a minute. Water mains with fire plugs are distributed
through the principal business parts of the town, furnishing an unlimited sup
ply of water for daily use and the extinguishment of fire. Morrison has a well
drilled and equipped fire company provided with about 1,500 feet of hose, hose
cart, and other necessary fixtures. Mr. H. S. Ferguson is foreman. The com
pany was organized in 1876, since which time it has several times responded to
the alarm of fire with good effect; at the time of the burning of the lock-up, in
1876, when a prisoner named Thomas Gaffey was burned to death, the company,
by their promptness and the help of the excellent water works, saved much val
uable property. The present system of water works have cost the city about
$10,000. The Morrison carriage works were established in 1871, by A. J. Webster,
in what is known as the Library Hall Building, on the corner of Main and Base
streets, in a small way at the outset. Mr. Webster continued the business about
a year and a half, when the Works were purchased by Wilder, Ely & Co., who
introduced various improvements, and considerably increased their capacity.
This firm carried on the business for a year, when Mr. R. S. W. Ely purchased
the entire interest, and managed the Works alone for about a year, adding con
tinually to their efficiency. In August, 1875, Mr. Geo. A. Whitcomb bought a
half interest, and the firm name became Ely & Whitcomb. Both of these gen
tlemen are able, active, thorough-going business men, and under their manage
ment the Morrison Carriage Works have attained a position second to none of
the kind in the Western States. Their aim from the start has been to give
every purchaser a vehicle that would please him as long as he used it, and
judging from the rapid increase of their sales, this aim has been scrupulously
adhered to. The size of the main factory, which faces on Main street, is 40 by
80 feet. This includes the whole of the lower floor of Library Hall Building,
with the exception of the entrance to the Hall. Besides this, there is an addi
tional building on the east of, and adjoining the Hall building, 26 by 80 feet in
size, and two stories high, the lower floor of which is at present used for storing
manufactured work, and the upper story for storing materials. In the rear of
the main factory is the blacksmith shop, 24 by 60 feet. A part of the wood
work for the carriages is also done in a building on Main street, a little west of
the principal factory. So rapidly, however, has the business increased, that it
was found necessary to erect another building into which the painting, varnish
ing and trimming departments could be located. This building has been put up
the present season, and is situated on Grove street, to the north of and almost
opposite the main factory on Main street. It is two stories high, 40 by 80 feet
in size, and is heated by a furnace. It is also provided with an elevator, so that
carriages can be hoisted complete from the lower to the upper story, and thus
save the trouble of taking them apart and carrying them up a flight of stairs by
hand. The firm now occupy 16,000 feet of surface for manufacturing purposes.
The establishment is divided into four departments, termed the wood work, the
ironing, the painting, and the trimming; and in each of these the firm employ

CITY OF MORRISON. 313
the most skillful and experienced hands. The work turned out consists of car
riages, phaetons, jump seats, open top buggies, three spring democrats, platform
wagons, and the celebrated side spring with equalizing rods. All the work done
at the factory is taken from the rough, and followed up in the different depart
ments until the splendid vehicle stands ready on the platform for use. The
wood used for the main or substantial parts of the carriage, is of second growth
hickory, brought from the State of Ohio, and the iron selected from the very
best that can be obtained. Neither common wood nor common iron is used in
the construction of any part of the work turned out at this factory. It has
been the purpose of the firm to avoid cheap work, their object being to use the
best materials, employ the best artisans, and adopt every improvement worth
consideration, and by maintaining this standard their business has increased,
while that of most of the carriage manufacturers throughout the country has
been dull. The firm buy all the material necessary to be used, outside of their
own manufacture, directly from the manufacturers, and in large quantities, thus
saving the profits of the middle men. The extent of territory in which their
carriages are now sold reaches from Chicago to California, and from St. Paul to
St. Louis. It is noticeable, also, that at every Fair where their carriages have
been exhibited, they have taken the first premiums. Their sales for the year
1877 have increased over eighty per cent, above those of any former year.
The Morrison Agricultural Works were established in June, 1873, by a
stock company, with a capital of $20,000. The stock was all taken in that
month, and the Company organized by the election of the following officers:
President, R. V. Stocking; Secretary, S. W. Robinson; Treasurer, A. J. Jack
son; Directors, S. W. Robinson, D. S. Spafford, J. S. Green, R. K. Hiddleson,
M. V. B. Smith, Wm. Forsting, and R. V. Stocking. The Works were placed
in R. V. Stocking's foundry and machine shops on the corner of Market and
Madison streets, which were afterwards enlarged. The buildings of the Com
pany now consist of the main building of brick, two stories high, 32 by 60 feet
in size, in which the wood work is done; a foundry on the south side of
the main building, 20 by 52 feet in size; a blacksmith shop on the west side,
24 by 60 feet in size, and a paint shop opposite the main Works, 'On the south
west corner of Market and Madison streets, 24 by 36 feet in size. The Com
pany manufacture the Morrison wagon, Morrison (field) stalk cutter, and the
Morrison bob sled, a large number of each being manufactured annually, and of
excellent make and finish. The present officers are: President, M. V. B.
Smith; Secretary and Treasurer, W. S. Wilkinson; Superintendent, R. V. Stock
ing; Directors, S. W. Robinson, D. S. Spafford, W. S. Wilkinson, M.V.B. Smith,
R. V. Stocking, and Wm. Forsting.
In addition to the manufactories mentioned, there are those of R. P.
Goodenough, and P. F. Hellerstedt, at both of which carriages, buggies, and
platform wagons are manufactured. These gentlemen are skillful mechanics,
and turn out superior work, for which they have a large sale. Morrison is a
commercial town. On all sides there is a magnificent farming country tribut
ary, and the town is supplied with an excellent class of business houses which
provide for the wants of the farmers. In 1877 there is in -the town, five dry
good stores, six grocery stores, six hardware and implement houses, three cloth
ing establishments, five tailoring establishments, eight dealers in and manufac
tures of boots and shoes, two grain dealers provided with elevators and modern
contrivances for weighing, five blacksmith shops, th'ree wagon shops, five har
ness shops, one cooper shop, several dealers in flour and feed, three livery
stables, six hotels, four restaurants, four saloons and billiard halls, three meat
markets, two butter dealers, two cigar manufacturers, four drug stores, three
[+0-K.]

314 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
book stores, one printing office, two photographers, six real estate and insurance
agents, one abstract firm, one bank, two furniture dealers, one upholsterer, two
jewelers, five millinery establishments, six dress making establishments, one
exclusive hat and cap store, two dealers in musical instruments, three sewing
machine dealers, eight physicians, five lawyers, two dentists, four barber shops,
four paint shops, two lumber yards. There are also three stock dealers who
disburse an immense amount of money annually for cattle and hogs, which are
the leading products of the farmers in the neighborhood of Morrison. The
city has an excellent graded school, seven churches, and a fine public hall.
Newspapers.
In 1857 the new town of Morrison was well on the road to prosperity, and
its citizens felt that a newspaper medium should be established by which its
advantages as a commercial point, and its fine location in the midst of one of
the most fertile agricultural districts in the State, could be made more gener
ally known. With this view they invited Mr. Alfred McFadden, who had
formerly published the Fulton Investigator, to take charge of an office in Mor
rison, which invitation he accepted. They advanced a considerable sum of
money to him, which he was to repay in advertising, and copies of the paper. A
hand press, and a sufficient amount of type to print the paper, and do ordinary
job work, were purchased, and on the 23d of July, 1857, the first number of the
Whiteside Sentinel was sent forth to do its work in assisting to build up Mor
rison. The Sentinel was conducted by Mr. McFadden until 1862, when, owing
to broken health, he leased it to Elmer Searle for one year. At the expiration
of the lease, Mr. McFadden resumed its publication, and in 1866 enlarged it to
eight columns. In July, 1867, the Sentinel was purchased by Messrs. Charles
Bent and Morris Savage, who published it until May, 1870, when Mr. Bent be
came the sole proprietor. He instituted many improvements, supplying the
office with a cylinder power news press, and power presses for job work, and an
abundant supply of new tpye for all classes of work. He also enlarged the
paper in 1874 to nine columns. In 1877 Mr. Bent sold the office to Robert W.
Welch, of New York city, who is now the editor and proprietor. The Sentinel
has always been a staunch advocate of the principles of the Republican party,
and almost from the outset has had a wide circulation in Whiteside, and ad
joining counties.
The Reform Investigator was started by Mr. Elmer Searle, in 1868, as a
weekly paper devoted to financial and other reforms. It was published for a
short time at the Sentinel office, when a stock company was formed, with Mr.
Searle as editor and manager of the paper, an office purchased, and the paper
devoted in part to local news. /The business did not prove remunerative, and
in 1870 the office and paper were removed to Chicago, and the paper mainly
devoted to financial matters. In the great fire at Chicago in October, 1871,
the office was completely destroyed, and was not resurrected "Phoenix like from
the ashes." During the Greeley campaign in 1872, a printing office was established by
a stock company; and the Morrison Independent issued, with L. S. Ward as
business manager, and J. W. Huett as editor. The paper was devoted to local
news, and the advocacy of Horace Greeley to the Presidency. Mr. Huett re
mained as editor for some time, after which Mr. Elmer Searle assumed editorial
charge. For lack of support the paper was discontinued in 1874. In July of
the same year the office was purchased by G. J. Booth & Son, formerly of the
Fulton Journal, who commenced the publication of a paper called the Morrison
Times. It was devoted to local news, and politics, the latter being in opposi-

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 315
tion to the Republican party. It was published about two years in Morrison,
when for the lack of support the Messrs. Booth moved their office to Rock Falls,
where they now publish a paper called the Whiteside Times.
In July, 1876, Messrs. Guernsey Connelly and Frank A. Gove moved their
printing office from Lyndon to Morrison, and commenced the publication of a
paper called the Morrison Democrat. The paper was Democratic in politics,
and advocated the election of Samuel J. Tilden to the Presidency. It was
continued until the spring of 1877, wben-it was discontinued for want of sup
port, and the office sold at mortgage sale, Mr. Charles Bent purchasing the
material. Churches and other Organizations.
Congregational Church : — This Society is an outgrowth of the church at
Unionville. The church in the latter place was organized March 2, 1844, Rev.
Nathaniel Smith, Pastor, and E. Vennum, Clerk. The society was originally
composed of twelve members. During Mr. Smith's pastorate of two years eleven
members were received into the church. In 1847, Rev. Wm. W. Blanchard be
came Pastor. During the the term of his pastorate the society was augmented
by twenty-two persons becoming members. In 1850, Rev. Wm. T. Wheeler had
charge of the church, together with the churches at Como and Garden Plain.
His connection was severed by death in the latter part of 1850. At the meet
ing of the Rock River Congregational Association at Lyndon, in 1852, the Union
ville Society united with it. Soon after the death of Mr. Wheeler, Rev. G.
Walker assumed charge of the church. He was the last settled Pastor. The
edifice used by the Society at Unionville was erected in 1853-'54, and was for
mally dedicated, the sermon being, delivered by Rev. Mr. Hitchcock, of Moline.
Morrison afterwards coming into prominence, and becoming the trade center, it
was deemed best to organize a church at that town. June 26, 1858, a meeting
was called at Unionville to decide the matter, Rev. Daniel Chapman, of Lyndon,
Moderator, and Dr. W. L. Coe, of Morrison, Clerk. It was then decided to dis
band the Unionville church and organize it at Morrison. Articles of faith and
covenant were adopted, and the following named persons denominated as the
"First Congregational Church of Morrison:" E. G. -Topping, I. P. Allen, W.L.
Coe, Mrs. Dorcus Abbott, Mrs. Erastus Allen, Mrs. I. P. Allen, and Miss Caro
line Little. The first church service was held in Concert Hall, Rev. Daniel
Chapman preaching the sermon June 27, 1858. On the 8th of August, 1858,
Rev. Jno. W. White was engaged to preach for the society. He was the pastor
until December 1, 1866. During his pastorate the membership increased from
7 to 74. During his term of service the little brown church was removed from
Unionville, outgrown, and sold to the Protestant Methodists. The society wor
shiped in halls and the Methodist Episcopal church until May 14, 1865 when
the comfortable and pleasant brick edifice on Grove street was dedicated. After
the resignation of Rev. J. W. White, Rev. Clay McCauley supplied the church
for six months. Rev. S. F. Millikan was then elected pastor, and began his
work March 1, 1868. He remained with the church until January 1, 1873,
when Rev. E. H. Smith, the present pastor began his labors.
Methodist Episcopal Church: — This Society, like most of the other churches
of Morrison, is an outgrowth of the Unionville Church. The Society at Union
ville was organized October 8, 1842, but previous to that time services had been
conducted. At the organization Rev. B. Weed was presiding elder, and Rev.
Chester Campbell, preacher in charge. The church belonged to the Union
Grove Circuit, Rock River Conference. The Circuit included Union Grove,
Erie, Winchell's Grove (afterwards Kingsbury), Lyndon, Otter Bluffs, Albany,

316 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Genesee Grove, Fulton, and Rock River Bend. The list of officials at the first
quarterly Conference were: Jacob Baker and Hiram Harmon, Exhorters; John
Mitchell, Ezra Talcott, A. C. Jackson, Silas Mitchell, Edward Rolph and John
Freek, Class Leaders; D. B. Young and Thomas Freek, Local Preachers; A. M.
Thomas, A. Smith, D. B. Young, Adam Huffman, Samuel Slocumb, Luke Abbey,
A. C. Jackson and Tilton Hughes, Stewards. The services of the Unionville
Church were conducted in school houses until 1855, when a church edifice was
erected, Rev. S. B. Baker then being the preacher in charge. In 1S58 the
Morrison Church came into existence, the first sermon being preached in July,
1858, at Concert Hall, by Rev. J. W. Waterbury. Services were conducted by
the Society in this Hall until after the removal of the Church from Unionville
to Morrison, in 1862. January 30, 1860, there was a church meeting of the
Society, at the Baptist Church, Morrison, Rev. A. Cross presiding. At this
meeting Ahira Johnson, A. C. Jackson, J. J. Beattie, F. C. Woodruff, and A.
Nowlen were elected Trustees, and arrangements were made for a church in
Morrison. Lots were purchased from S. H. McCrea, at a cost of $300, and the
Unionville church subsequently purchased at a cost of $900; $100 additional
was to be paid when the bell was produced, which had been mysteriously
" spirited away." The church building was removed, repaired and dedicated
May 23, 1862. The bell was produced and delivered in April, 1863. The total
cost of the church, removing, etc., was $2,000, which was paid, and the Society
declared free from debt, in 1863. In 1858 Morrison Circuit was established.
It comprised Morrison, Unionville, Otter Creek, Lyndon, Rock River Bend and
the Hiddleson District. In December, 1863, Morrison was set off as a station.
In 1S77 a new church edifice was erected, at a cost of $4,808, the old building
being remodeled and used in connection. The whole structure is 98x45 feet;
the main audience room is 40x60 feet, and can give seats to 500 persons. Fold
ing doors in the rear of the pulpit open from the main room into the vestry,
which is 30x30 feet in size; there is also on this floor a library room and
preacher's study. The total seating capacity of all the rooms on the first floor
is about 800. Above the vestry and small rooms there is a cloak room, kitchen
and parlor. The rooms are all well ventilated, and the walls and ceilings are
finely frescoed. The church is finished with a symmetrical corner tower and spire
113 feet in height. The dedicatory exercises occurred Sunday, September 2,
1877, Rev. H. W. Thomas, D. D., of Aurora, conducting the services. The So
ciety was on that occasion declared free from debt. During the past year the
Church received 108 accessions, making the total membership about 270. The
pastors of the church at Unionville and Morrison, since the organization in Oc
tober, 1842, have been: 1842-43, Chester Campbell; 1843-44, A. M. Early;
1844-45, Isaac Searles; 1845-47, James McKean; 1847-48, Chas. Babcock;
1848-49, Wm. Haney; 1849-51, Matthew Hanna; 1851-53, Benj. Appleby;
1853-54, D. A. Falkenburg; 1854-'55, S. B. Baker; 1855-'57, D. W. Linn;
1857-'58, J. W. Waterbury; 1858-'60, A. Cross; 1860-62, Z. S. Kellogg;
1862-63, Benj. Close; 1863-66, J. W. Davison; 1866-67, John Frost— Mr.
Frost's health failing, his place was supplied by J. M. Snyder and R. Donkers-
ley; 1867-68, G. S. Young; 1868-70, L. A. Sanford; 1870-71, D. W. Linn;
1871-'72, Jacob Hartman; 1872-74, Isaac Liuebarger; 1874-'76, J. Borbidge;
1876-78, G. W. Carr. The Presiding Elders have been: 1842-44, B. Weed;
1844-47, Hooper Crews; 1847-51, John Sinclair; 1851-'54, A. E. Phelps;
1854-'55. JohnLucock; 1855-'56, R.N. Morse; 1850-'58, L.Hitchcock; 1858-'60,
S. P. Keyes; 1860-'64, J. Gibson; 1864-'65, R. A. Blanchard; 1865-'67, W. T.
Harlow; 1867-'68, E. Q. Fuller; 1868-72, J. H. Moore; 1872-76, W. S. Har
rington; 1876-77, Isaac Linebarger.

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 317
Protestant Methodist Church : — This church was organized in 1839. Rev-
Daniel Young, now of Kansas, crossed Rock river from the south and visited the
timber settlement, then "Union Grove," and instituted Missionary preaching.
Mr. Young preached his first sermon in the cabin of the late W. H. Paschal, and
formed a class composed of W. H. and J. D. Paschal, with their families, and a
few others. Since that time there has always been an organization of that body
of christians in or about Morrison. The first church services were held in the
cabins of the pioneers, and later in school houses. In 1845, Ward P. Lewis,
and Luke Abbey, became identified with the church, and a year later Mr. B. Bone-
brake, of Unionville. The church steadily grew, and in 1860, M. Mead, Esq., and
Rev. S. P. Huntington, under authority of the church, purchased a small edifice
from the Congregational body which was used as a place of worship, until 1868,
when the organization erected their present house on Wall street. This church
was built during the two years pastorate of Rev. Jacob Fowler, and by his in
defatigable energy, and the earnest co-operation of M. Mead, Ward P. Lewis,
Thomas McClelland, W. H. and J. D. Paschal, and a generous church and public.
The church and parsonage lots were purchased, the church edifice erected,
and the society free from debt in two years. The entire property cost about
$9,000. The church is provided with a bell weighing 1,000 pounds, which cost
$555 at the foundry. The church has experienced its successes and reverses,
the membership at one time numbering 115, and again fell to 50. In 1866 the
denomination in the Northern States separated from the South, and in 1867
adopted a new constitution, dropping the word "Protestant," being known sim
ply as the "Methodist Church." This change was made in a general conference
in May, 1867, at Cleveland, Ohio. Meril Mead, of Morrison, was one of the
two lay delegates representing the North Illinois Conference. He voted against
the change of name. In 1867, at Baltimore, the church, north and south, re
united, and assumed the old name — "Protestant Methodists." In 1876 a differ
ence occurred between the Pastor, H. A. Heath, and the conference, and not
being satisfactorily adjusted, the church in September, 1876, by resolution, sus
pended financial relations with the annual conference until such time as the
matter can be satisfactorily arranged. Since the suspension the church has oc
cupied an independent position. Doubtless the church and conference will soon
resume friendly relations, the church becoming responsible and the Conference
assuming its authority as in former times.
Church of the Good Shepherd : — The Universalists of Morrison a number
of years ago had an organization and occasional, service in the halls of the town,
but no distinct and formal organization was effected until December 18, 1866,
when the following officers were chosen : Trustees, J. R. Bailey, Jesse McKee,
William Twining, George S. Fullmer, and William Topping; J. M. Burtch, Sec
retary, and J. Mayo, Treasurer. At this time a constitution was adopted and
signed by 48 persons. Services were held in Concert Hall until 1870, when the
church edifice, corner of Grove and Cherry streets, was erected. It cost$ll,000;
is a handsome brick structure in the Gothic style, and elaborately finished. The
dedication sermon was preached February 16, 1870, by Dr. Ryder, of Chicago.
Rev.'s J. J. Austin and L. J. Dinsmore have been the regular pastors, and the
pulpit has been supplied incidentally by prominent divines from Chicago, Rock
ford, and other cities. The church is at present without a pastor, but otherwise
in good working condition, having a well conducted Sunday School, ladies' society,
etc., in connection.
Presbyterian Church : — The Presbyterian church of Morrison was organized
in Unionville, March 28, 1855, and known as the "Presbyterian Church of Union
Grove." The organization was effected by Rev.'s W. W. Harsha and W. C,

318 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Mason, a committee appointed for that purpose by the Rock River Presbytery.
The following named persons constituted the original organization : John Ven-
num, Phebe Vennum, W. H. Lane, Catherine Lane, William Kier, Maria Kier,
Henry Ustick, Sr., Abigail Ustick/Austin Martin, Fanny Martin, N. M. Jackson,
Harriet Jackson, David Cowan, Jane Johnson, Wm. Lane, Ellen Bailey, Mary
Annan, Agnes Watson, Samuel Miller, Francis Miller, John Southworth, and
Harriet Southworth. Messrs. William Kier and N. M. Jackson were elected
and installed ruling elders, having been ordained to this office. The first mem
bers received by the new cburch were A. J. Jackson and John Kier. Rev. Jacob
Coon preached to the new organization three years and six months. During
Mr. Coon's pastorate, another member was added to the session — Elder James
Snyder. Nineteen members were added to the roll, and the place of worship
changed from Unionville to Morrison. Services in the latter town were held in
Johnson's Hall, and the school house, until 1859, when the church building cor
ner Grove and Genesee streets was completed. During the year 1859 Rev. A.
H. Lackey was pastor of the church. This year twenty-one new members were
received. After Mr. Lackey discontinued his labors the church was only oc
casionally supplied until the fall of 1860, when Rev. Daniel Kelly assumed charge.
He was pastor two years and six months. After his resignation the Rev. Geo.
Pauli, then upon the eve of going to Africa as a Missionary, spent six months
with the church. His labors were signally successful, and he departed carrying
with him rich treasures of affection from his people. Upon the recommenda
tion of Mr. Pauli, Rev. George T. Crissman became his successor in July, 1863,
and is the present pastor. Mr. Crissman has been a faithful worker and is high
ly regarded by his church and the community. During his pastorate, to the end
of his fourteenth year, the church has received 212 accessions through steady
yearly growths. Financially and otherwise the church is upon a solid founda
tion. Present corps of Elders : N. M. Jackson, James Snyder, and William
Fraser. Trustees : A. J. Jackson, Charles Shirk, R, S. W. Ely, 0. H. Brown,
William Fraser, David Cowan, and E. Y. Lane. There is a flourishing Sunday
School in connection with the church, under the supervision of 0. H. Brown.
Baptist Church: — The First Baptist Church of Morrison was originally the
"Baptist Church of Union Grove." The first services, proper, of the church in
the latter place, were conducted by Rev. E. Ingham, a "home missionary."
After he had preached about four months, a meeting was called at Unionville,
August 5, 1854, for the purpose of organizing a Baptist Church. Rev. E.
Ingham was chosen Moderator, and E. A. Pollard, Clerk. The society was
started with thirteen members: Timothy Dimick and wife, Sanford Williams
and wife, W. H. Pollard and wife, E. A. Pollard and wife, Nancy J. Lewis,
Clarinda Dimick, A. I. Maxwell, and N. S. Barlow and wife. E. A. Pollard
was the first Church Clerk, and W. H. Pollard, Deacon — for a time the only
one. Rev. L. L. Lansing became the first Pastor, giving one-half of his time
to the church. It has been stated, and is probably correct, that he preached
the first sermon delivered in Morrison. First Church Trustees: W. H. Pollard,
N. S. Barlow, and Sanford Williams. About one year after his connection with
the church, Mr. Lansing devoted his entire time to its service. The first servi
ces held by the church in Morrison were at Johnson's Hall. The church edifice
on the south-west corner of Genesee and Park streets — the first church build
ing in Morrison — was commenced in 1856, but not completed until the
succeeding year. January 8, 1859, a call was extended to Rev. J. V. Allison,
Mr. Lansing having resigned his charge in May, 1858. Mr. Allison accepted
the call and became pastor of the church. May 14, 1865, a call was extended
to Rev. K. W. Benton, which was accepted, Mr. Allison having resigned.

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 319
Upon Mr. Benton's resignation, Rev. A. A. Russell became pastor December 1,
1866. Mr. Russell resigned in 1873, and Rev. A. J. Delano became pastor for
six months, and was succeeded by Rev. A. C. Keene, who served two years and
resigned. February 26, 1877, Rev. N. G. Collins, the present pastor, took
charge of the work. July 2, 1859, E. A. Pollard resigned the office of Clerk,
and was succeededbyG. H.Dimick. He was succeeded by Mr. Douglass, he by J.
R. Finch, and he by H. C. French. Mr. French having removed, D. G. Harri
son, the present Clerk, assumed the office. May 26, 1872, the vestry of the
elegant new church, on the south-east corner of Grove and Cherry streets, was
dedicated, but the main audience room is yet unfinished. The present name of
the church was. adopted in 1867. Present membership 280, a large number of
whom are non-residents. Officers for 1877: Rev. N. G. Collins, Pastor; D. G.
Harrison, Clerk; S. Durkee, C. S. Cleveland, W. Goodenough, W. Woods, and
W. H. Judd, Deacons; C. W. Sholes, W. Goodenough, and 0. P.Baker, Trustees.
St. Patrick's (Roman Catholic) Church: — Before the church organization,
and commencing about 1857, services were held by various pastors of the
Roman Catholic Church, at different houses in Morrison, although the people of
that denomination generally attended the Sterling and Fulton churches. A
church building was commenced in 1862, and finished shortly thereafter. It
was dedicated as the St. Patrick's church, and the names of the pastors who
have officiated from that time are as follows: Revs. T. Kennedy, Michael Ford,
Wm. Herbert, John Daly, James Govern, D. D., P. J. Gormley, and John Kil
kenny, the latter being the present pastor. The property is held by the Bishop
of the Diocese. About seventy families attend worship at St. Patrick's Church,
comprising three hundred and fifty members.
Dunlap Lodge No. 321 A. F. & A. M: — The Lodge was organized May 30,
1859, and charter issued October 5, 1859, when Ira A. W. Buck was Grand
Master of Masons of the State. Charter members: Wm. Lane, John E. Bennett,
W. L. Coe, S. H. McCrea, John McDonald, Jos. Ware, John Furlong, S. W.
Johnston, H. M. Teller, and J. H. Young. First officers: Wm. Lane, W. M.;
J. E. Bennett, S. W.; W. L. Coe, J. W.; Jno. McDonald, Secretary; S. H. Mc
Crea, Treasurer. Regular communications are held the Monday on or before
the full moon in each month, and the second Monday following. The society
has a finely furnished hall in the third story of D. S. Spafford's block, Main
street. The walls of the Lodge room are decorated by two elegantly executed
pictures of Solomon's Temple, presented by a friend of the order, and photo
graphs of the members. The Lodge is in a prosperous condition, and numbered
August 1, 1877, 85 members. The present officers are: M. V. B. Smith, W.
M.; Ed. J. Congar, S. W.; I. V. Walker, J. W.; D. S. Spafford, Treasurer;
Frank Clendenin, Secretary; John Grierson, S. D.; Ed. A. Worrell, J. D.; W. A.
Payne, S. S.; John Furlong, J. S.; Benton Bullock, Tyler. The Past Masters
of the Lodge are: Wm. Lane, Wm. L. Coe, J. P. Martin, Geo. H. Fay, John
Grierson, A. J. Jackson.
Grove Lodge, No. 257, J. 0. 0. F.: — Grove Lodge wag organized May 12,
1858. The charter was issued by the Grand Lodge October 15, 1858. Charter
members: W. W. Winter, Daniel P. Spears, F. W. Chapman, James McCreedy,
Milton M. McKeen, and F. C. Woodruff. The first officers were W. W. Winter,
Noble Grand; D. P. Spears, Vice Grand; M. M. McKeen, Recording Secretary;
F. W. Chapman, Permanent Secretary; F. C. Woodruff, Treasurer; James
McCreedy, Conductor; 0. B. Crosby, Warden; J. M. Gilmore, Inside Guardian;
Charles Foster, Outside Guardian; S. W. Robinson, Right Supporter Noble
Grand; John McDonald, Right Supporter Vice Grand; C. P. Emery, Left Sup
porter Vice Grand. The Lodge has steadily increased in membership and

320 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
resources since its organization, having admitted by initiation and card over
250 members. Many of the members have removed from the jurisdiction of
the Lodge. July 1, 1877, the membership was 105. The resources in cash arc
about $1,000. The Society owns the third story of a .fine brick building on
Main street. The Lodge room is elegantly carpeted and furnished throughout.
The society also owns a well selected Library of 132 volumes. Regular meet
ings are held Tuesday evening of each week. The present officers are: John
Clark, N. G.; J. W. McKee, V. G.; M. Mead, R. S.; Jesse McKee, P. S.; Thos.
McClelland, T.; J. B. Kirrnan, W.; Samuel Switzer, C; E. B. Humphrey, I. G.;
Wm. M. Lane, O. G.; J. N. Jackson, R. S. N. G.; Eli Bartholomew, L. S. N.G.;
Elijah Bacon, R. S. V. G.; C. Grosinski, L. S. V. G.
Bethel Encampment No. 50 I. O. O. F.: — The Encampment was instituted
July 4, 1860, the charter being same date. Charter members: O. B. Crosby,
J. H. Snow, W. W. Winter, Aaron P. Holt,'F. W. Chapman, W. Van Winkle,
and George H. Stakes. This society meets semi-monthly on Thursday evenings,
in Odd Fellow's Hall. Membership 40. Present officers: John 'Kirrnan, C. P.;
Wm. Hogan, H. P.; H. G. Rosine, S. W.; Jesse McKee, S.; Thomas McClelland,
T.; John Clark, J. W.; S. Switzer, I. S.; A. J. Quackenbush. G.; John Hise. 1st
W.; C. E. Tanderup, 2d W.; T. M. Hawley, 3d W.; A. C. Smith, 4th W.; Mark
Kahn and Isaac Kahn, G. of T.
Eveline Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 8, I. O. O. F.: — This Lodge was or
ganized March 17, 1870. Charter issued October 11, 1870. Membership — 47
gentlemen, and 31 ladies. Meetings semi-monthly on Thursday evenings.
A. J. Quackenbush, N. G.; Mrs. John Clark, V. G.; Mrs. Jesse McKee, R. S.;
Mrs. A. Farrington, F. S.; Mrs. C. E. Tanderup, T.; C. E. Tanderup, W.; Mrs.
S. Switzer, C; Wm. M. Lane, I. G.; Jesse McKee, O. G.; Mrs. Henry Tucker,
R S. N. G.; Mrs. I. Kahn, L. S. N. G.; John Clark, R. S. V. G.; I. Kahn, L. S.
V. G.
Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 52, A. O. U. W.: — A charter was granted this
Lodge, and it was instituted April 6, 1877, by Lyman Gregory, of Moline,
Illinois. The lodge was organized with 39 charter members, and has steadily
increased in numbers since its organization. The society have a comfortably
furnished hall on Blain street. The Order is designed to furnish benefits in
case of sickness, and provides for an insurance of $2,000 upon the life of each
member. Its officers are: T. D. Ranisav, P. M. W.; L. G. Johnson, M. W.;
S. S. Hall, G. F.; E. J. Congar, O.; J. N. Baird, Recorder; A. W. Warren, F.;
J. S. Green, Receiver; John Grierson, G.; George Stafford, I. W. ; J. W. McKee,
O. W.
The Morrison Public School: — This school was inaugurated in a log house,
in 1838, in the grove near where Morrison now stands. The house was pro
vided with slab seats and desks, and lighted through windows made of greased
paper. In the winter of 1838'-'39 Oliver Hall, now a citizen of Morrison,
taught school in this building, it being the first school, taught in Mt. Pleasant
township. His wages were $10 per month, paid by subscription. Fifteen
pupils were enrolled. This first school building and a log house belonging to
Wm. H. Paschal served for school purposes until the winter of 1848. The
teachers who taught up to this time, so far as known, are Oliver Hall, John
Dodge, Benj. Burns, A. M. Cox, L. L. Hoag, and Abraham Law. In 1846
the school section was divided into lots, and school districts formed. The cit
izens of district No. 1 raised by subscription a sufficient amount of money to
erect a frame building 18x24, which was completed in the fall of 1847. The first
school in the new building was conducted by A. P. Young. This was the first
school under district organization. The Board of Directors were A. C. Jack-

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 321
son, Ward P. Lewis, and G. W. Thomas. The building was not ceiled, slabs
performed duty as seats, and the "desks" were rough boards. The room was
heated with wood purchased at $1. per cord. Teachers from 1848 to 1857 so
far as known have been: A. P. Young, L. L. Hoag, Wilson Nichols, Sarah
Simonson, B. K. Jackson, Miss Freedom Herrick, Miss R. D. Blanchard, Miss
S. A. Buffum, Miss S. M. Sherwin, John Lane, Mary Ann Shively, Samantha
Belt, M. E. DeGroff, Morris Savage, John Phinney, Lucy A. R. Temple, J.
G. White, and Lydia Ann Gibbs. In 1847, 118 children were attending the
schools in the township; of this number 17 belonged to district No. 1. The
school fund of the township arising from the sale of school land, was $412,74.
District No. 1 received its share, and also $15.36 in 1845, and $9.13 in 1846,
from the State College and Seminary fund. In 1858 the house was removed
to the grounds occupied by the present school building, and enlarged. During
the winter of 1856-57, and 1857-58, the upper story of Johnson's Hall, now
the Postoffice building, was used for a school room, with J. G. White, teacher,
and Miss Sophia Towne, assistant, in 1856-57; and T. R. Walker, teacher, and
Miss Huntley, assistant, in 1857-58. During the summer months Mrs. Rugg
was assistant, and the next winter Miss Amanda Jackson. Mr. T. H. Baker
became Principal in the summer of 1859, assisted by Miss Lydia Drake. The
following summer the school was in charge of Miss Drake and Miss Martha
Hinckley; number of pupils enrolled in 1859, 119. In 1860, a brick building,
40x60 feet in size, and two stories high, was erected, and divided into three
study and one recitation room. The school grounds comprise six lots in block
38, corner Morris and Madison streets. The capacity of the building has been
more than trebled, and more room will soon be demanded. During the last
three years one teacher has been added annually, and it has been found necessary
to convert the Chapel into a school room. The High School Department has
been in existence nine years, and is designed to furnish a thorough education
to those who can not, or choose not to, attend the Colleges. The school is
divided into four general departments: High School, Grammar, Intermediate
and Primary. The High School comprises one grade, course four years; Gram
mar, one grade, course two years; Intermediate, two grades, course one year
each; Primary, five departments and four grades of one year each. Pupils are
promoted at the end of each term upon passing a proper examination. Certifi
cates of Honor are granted at the close of the year to worthy pupils, and a
diploma awarded to the students who successfully pass the'course. In addition
to the common school branches, a higher English and Classical course of study
is provided. Pupils are received from abroad upon payment of the tuition fees.
The main part of the present school edifice is 71£x40 feet, three stories high,
with two wings, two stories high, 32£x38£ feet in size. The building is pro
vided with a cupola and fine bell. Cost of building, $20,879.13; furniture,
$2,000.00; steam heating apparatus, $2,500; philosophical and chemical ap
paratus, maps, etc., $450.00; organ, $200.00; geological specimens, $40. The
school also owns a library of 147 volumes, valued at $400.00. Estimated ex
penses of school from October, 1876, to October 1877, is $6,287.00; amount
received from public funds, $900.00; tax levy, $5,500. Number of persons in
the district in September, 1877, under twenty-one years of age, 964; between
the age of six and twenty-one, 669. Pupils enrolled in school, October, 1877,
425. April 7, 1877, a Board of Education was elected, composed of A. J.
Jackson, M. Mead, M. V. B. Smith, Frank Clendenin, Charles Bent, and Geo. H.
Fay. Graduates of the High School: — 1871, Lizzie Quackenbush, Ida Pratt,
Josephine Tyson; 1872, Luella R. Warner, Anna Corcoran, Wm. Allen; 1873,
Julia Mattern, Frank C. Hitchcock, Arthur D. Warner; 1874, Mattie Bruce,
[4—L.] •

322 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Clara Durkee; 1875, Minnie Vroom, Lizzie Quackenbush, Clara Brewer, Libbie
McKay, Eddie Woods, LaFayette Stocking; 1877, Daniel Berry, Ella I. Fraser,
Leila A. Wellington, Bertha E. Farrington, Kate P. Sampson, Minnie L.
Heathcote, Hattie A. Strawder, Eva M. Taylor.
Biographical.
The history of Morrison would not be complete witliout presenting the bio
graphies of those of its first citizens to whose energetic efforts in its behalf, at
the outset, the prosperous growth and development of the city is mainly due.
The following are therefore appended :
Lyman Johnson, the principal founder of Morrison, was born in Benning
ton county, Vermont, July 20, 1809. When a mere boy he moved to the
State of New York. In 1832 he was married to Miss Emeline VanCourt, in
Yates county, New York. During his residence in that State Mr. Johnson was
engaged in farming and the lumber business. In 1844 he sought the west, and
with his family settled in Cook county, Illinois, and commenced farming opera
tions about 20 miles from Chicago. This occupation he pursued about four
years when he abandoned it and settled at Huntley Station, engaging in the hotel
business, which enterprise he relinquished about one year afterwards,having secur
ed a contract to build that portion of the present Northwestern railroad between
Round Grove and Fulton. He removed his family to Fulton, where he resided
about nine months, and from thence came to where Morrison now stands,
having purchased a considerable tract of land, upon which part of the city is now
located. He devoted his best energies to the creation and growth of Morrison, and
with marked success. The first house erected in the new town was his. He
also opened a general store, his trade being derived principally from the employes
of the railroad company. Upon the road being built to Fulton his store was
discontinued, and he then bent his entire energies to making a success of the
new town. Soon after, he again embarked in the mercantile business which
after a few years was disposed of and his time devoted to the sale of town prop
erty, the management of a flouring mill, and other enterprises. He died March
17, 1867, after an illness of only three weeks, of inflammation of the bowels. He
was buried by the Odd Fellow's Society, of which he was a prominent and hon
ored member. Mr. Johnson was a man of great enterprise, good business ability,
unflinching firmness, and exceeding generosity. Hewing true to the line himself,
he was slow to suspect wrong in others and disposed to place too much confi
dence in their protestations for his own financial welfare. He died universally
respected and regretted. He left a widow who is still a resident of the town
she has seen grow from a log cabin in the hazel brush to its present dimensions.
Six sons survived him — J. Harvey, who resides in San Francisco, California;
Edwin L., and Rollin M. who live in Oregon; Larman G., a practicing Attor
ney in Morrison; Charles M., and Frank V., who also reside in Morrison.
H. S. Vroom was born August 26, 1827, in Poultney, Steuben county,
New York. He resided in that State until 1852, and was engaged in the flour
business in Syracuse and Schenectady. In 1852, he came west and was a pay
master on the Galena and Chicago Union railroad built from Chicago to Fulton.
He was one of the original settlers and proprietors of Morrison, in connection
with Mr. Lyman Johnson. In 1855, he was engaged in a general mercantile
business in Morrison in company with Mr. Johnson. He soon afterwards opened
a livery stable in company with H. V. Brokaw. After his retirement from the
livery business Mr. Vroom was engaged in farming about four years. In 1867,
he purchased, and assumed the control of, the Revere House, Morrison, and con
tinued its management until he leased it about one year previous to his death,

BIOGRAPHICAL. 323
which occurred without warning, March 11, 1875. On March 11, 1855, he was
married to Miss Emma R. Huntley, at Milford, Michigan. Mrs. Vroom and
their two children — Minnie and Clarence — still reside in Morrison.
Samuel H. McCrea is a native of Goshen, Orange county, New York, and
was born August 16, 1820. In 1839, he moved with his father's family to
Monroe county, New York, and learned the tinsmith's trade in Rochester, in that
county, after which he went to Hamilton, Canada, and followed the business of
a commercial traveler for several years, making that place his home. He went
to California in 1849, at the commencement of the gold discoveries, and com
manded a boat in the lumber business on San Francisco Bay in the winter of
1849-'50. In the spring of the latter year he went to Calaveras county, Cali
fornia, and engaged in the mining business in connection with his brothers John
and Abram, remaining two years with reasonable success. In 1852, he returned
to New York, and in the fall of that year went to New Orleans, and took charge
of the construction of the Morgan Railroad from that city to Bayou La Fourche.
The road was built through swamps, and for most of the way had to be piled
and cribbed, and the dirt to fill in with drawn a distance of twenty to thirty
miles. In the fall of 1854, he came to Rockford, Illinois, and then returned to
Rochester, New York, where he spent the following winter. The next spring
he came back to Rockford, where he became acquainted with Mr. Holland who
had charge of locating stations on the Dixon Air-Line Railroad. Under his
advice Mr. McCrea went to Sterling, and at that place formed a business con
nection with D. L. Quirk in buying grain, Mr. Quirk to remain in Sterling, and
Mr. McCrea to locate at Morrison. Mr. McCrea came to Morrison in August,
1855. His first work was to erect a warehouse, the lumber for which was brought
from Dixon to Round Grove on a construction train, and from the latter place
to Morrison hauled by team. The building was completed in September, 1855,
and now stands on the corner east of McAllister & Co.'s elevator. The first load
of wheat sold in Morrison was bought by him of William Harrison, of Delhi.
The first car load of grain filled at Morrison was by Mr. McCrea, and finished on
the 29th of September, 1855, and shipped on the 1st of October, two days after
wards. In November, 1862, he went to Chicago, and engaged in the commis
sion business. During his residence in Morrison he was member of the Board.
of Trustees of the village, a School Director until his resignation, and also Su
pervisor of Mt. Pleasant township for several years, and until he removed from
the place. Since his residence in Chicago he has been Director, Vice President,
and in 1870 President of the Board of Trade of that city. In 1876,he was elected
Alderman of the 12th Ward of the city of Chicago^ and was made chairman of
the Finance Committee of that body, taking the position when the finances of
the city were at a low ebb, but by his financial skill and ability bringing the
credit of the city to a first class condition. In 1869, he was the candidate of the
Republican party in his district for member of the Constitutional Convention,
but was beaten by the so-called People's party. He received at that election
every vote but one in the three townships contiguous to his home. In October,
1877, he was appointed by Governor Cullom, a Commissioner of the West Side
Parks, in Chicago. Mr. McCrea was married on the 28th of June, 1856, to Miss
Coralin I. Johnson, of Shaumburg, Cook county, Illinois. The children of Mr.
and Mrs. McCrea have been : Willie S., born in Morrison, April 12, 1858;
Charlie M., born in Morrison, June 14, 1862; Samuel H., Jr., born in Palatine,
Cook county, March 15, 1867; and one child who died, and is buried in the Mor
rison Cemetery.
Lester H. Robinson was born in Cherry Valley, Otsego county, N. Y.,
December 20, 1820, and resided there until his removal to Morrison in the fall

324 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
of 1855. He was married in 1849 to Miss Mary E. Snyder of Schoharie county,
N. Y. During his residence in Otsego county he held the position of United
States' Loan Commissioner for six years, and at the age of 21 years was Super
intendent of Schools of Cherry Valley, having charge of the School fund. Upon
his removal to Morrison he at once became actively interested in the welfare of
the place and devoted himself assiduously to its development until his removal
to Chicago. Mr. Robinson was the first U. S. Revenue Assessor appointed in
the third Congressional district of Illinois, receiving his commission in 1862; he
held the office until his resignation in 1865. He also held the position of Treas
urer of Mt. Pleasant township for several years. In 1865, Mr. Robinson re
moved to Chicago, where he now resides. He is engaged in farming in Cook
county, and in the real estate business in Chicago.
John E. Bennett was born in East Bethany, Genesee county, New York,
March 1.8, 1833. At the age of twenty-one he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and
after a residence there of a year, came to Morrison, arriving in September, 1855.
He married Miss Marian Kendall of East Bethany, New York, in 1854. They
have had one child, Eugene M., born in September, 1855. When the Postoffice
at Morrison was established in 1856, Mr. Bennett was appointed the first Post
master. When the war of the Rebellion broke out, and troops were demanded
to prevent a dismemberment of the Union, he. early took part toward raising
them, and was instrumental in raising Company C, 75th Illinois Volunteers.
When the Regiment was organized he was elected Lieutenant Colonel, and after
wards Colonel, and during the war was promoted Brevet Brigadier General, for
bravery and meritorious conduct. At the close of the war he was given a com
mission in the Begular Army, and stationed at Fort Smith, Arkansas. While
there he resigned, and settled at Helena, Arkansas, and has made his home there
since. Shortly after making that place his residence he was elected Circuit
Judge. The following among other resolutions passed by the Helena Bar, at a
meeting convened February 12, 1869, while he was holding the position as such
Judge, shows the high appreciation in which he was held as a jurist, and citizen :
Resolved, That we, members of the Helena Bar, tender to him our cordial appro-
_ bation and kindly appreciation of his course as a Judge, and as a citizen, accompanied by
' a sincere hope that our relations in the future may be as pleasant and agreeable as in the
past. Resolved, That we regard Judge Bennett as a sincere and upright man, having at
heart the prosperity and welfare of the State of Arkansas, and that we will cordially co
operate with him in all efforts to secure that end.
He continued to hold the office of Circuit Judge about two years, when he
was made Judge of the Supreme Court of the State, and continued in that posi
tion for some time. At the expiration of his term of office he went into business
at Helena, Arkansas, and now owns and is running a large mill for the manu
facture of oil from cotton seed, at that place.
James G. Gridley was born at Middleburgh, Schoharie county, New York,
October 1, 1811. He first moved from his native place to Columbia county,
New York, in 1838, where he lived twelve years. He then settled in Otsego
county in the same State, and remained there until he came to Morrison in Sep
tember, 1855. Mr. Gridley built the second warehouse in Morrison, now oc
cupied by M. G. Preston as a livery stable, first forming a partnership with L.
H. Robinson, and afterwards with J. V. Giles, the business being the purchase
and shipping of grain, stock, and hogs, and also the sale of lumber. He contin
ued in this business until 1862. During this time he contracted for and erected
the Presbyterian church, and the first brick school house in Morrison. Upon
discontinuing business in Morrison, he purchased' a farm in the township of

BIOGRAPHICAL. 325
Ustick where he now resides. In that time he has also owned farms in Fenton
and Union Grove townships which he has cultivated. The farm in the latter
township he has since sold, but retains the one in the former township. Mr.
Gridley married Miss Jane E. Miller, in Columbia county, New York, June 11,
1836. The children of this marriage were, Margaret, Stephen, and Rachel.
Margaret married J. G. Sholes, and lives in Cass county, Iowa; Stephen married
Miss Frankie Hayes, and lives, in Union Grove; Rachel married William Clen
denin, and died at Moline, Illinois, October 15, 1877. Mr. Gridley's wife died
in January, 1849, and in September, 1850, he married Miss Sarah Jane Duffin, who
died in September, 1854. In June, 1857, he married Miss Sarah M. Hornfager,
the children by this marriage being, John, Charles E., and Mary.

CHAPTER XIX.
History op Montmorency Township — Biographical.

History of Montmorency Township.
The township of Montmorency, like all those on the south side of Rock
river, was originally a part of Portland Precinct, and afterwards of Rapids
Precinct, of which it remained a part until 1852, when it received its name and
boundaries from the Commissioners appointed by the County Commissioners'
Court for that purpose. It did not receive its complete organization, however,
until 1859, remaining from 1852 up to that time attached to Coloma township
for judicial purposes. It comprises township 20 north, range 7 east of 4th
Principal Meridian. This township is admirably adapted for agricultural pur
poses, and the lands are now nearly all improved. The soil, with few exceptions,
is of the deep black loam of the prairie, and the surface sufficiently undulating
in most parts to render it tillable every season. The low lands are drained by
the county ditch, a part of which commences in the town. The northwest
corner is crossed by a spring creek running into Rock river, but the whole town
is well watered by abundant wells, the water being of excellent quality. A
piece of low land, known as Swan Lake, and formerly covered for most of the
year with water, remains unbroken. It is now drained by one part of the county
ditch, but the depth of the ditch is not sufficient at present to allow a full re
clamation of the land. The farmers of the town have been turning their at
tention of late years to the raising of stock and hogs of the best breeds,
several of them having full bloods of these breeds, notably among them being
A. A. Church, Hon. Tyler McWhorter, and others. There is probably no town
in the county where finer stock and hogs can be seen than in Montmorency. For
a comparatively new town the dwellings and barns in Montmorency are of a
superior kind. The hay barn and cattle stables of Alonzo Golder are particul-
ary noticeable for size and convenience of arrangement. The dairy interest
is also well represented in the town, Mr. C. C. Buell, the present Supervisor
being the pioneer. Mr. Buell has devoted a great deal of time and attention
to this branch of industry. A branch of the C. B. & Q. Railroad, running from
Amboy to Rock Falls, formerly known as the Chicago & Rock River Railroad,
passes through the northeast corner of the town.
The first settler in what is now Montmorency was Asa Scott, who came
with his father, Jesse Scott, from Morgan county, Ohio, and landed at Como,
June 1, 1839. He remained at Como until 1847, when he selected a farm in
section 7, township 20, range 7 east of the 4th Principal Meridian, now the
township of Montmorency. For nearly five years he was the only settler be
tween Rock and Green rivers in that part of Whiteside county. In 1852, S.
Russell settled on the south half of section 7, in the same township. Edwin
Scott followed in 1853, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 12.
Both came from Ohio. Tyler McWhorter, J. G. Banes and George Murray,
from Indiana, Herman Sturtz, from Pennsylvania, and two Englishmen, named
Robert Adams and Robert Clay, came in 1854. Joel Wood, from Ohio, two
brothers named Van Buren, from New York, and Dr. R. Davis, from Ohio,

HISTORY OF MONTMORENCY TOWNSHIP. 327
came in 1855, and Alonzo Golder, and Joseph Golder, from New York. Wm.
Hall, an Englishman, and several others, came in 1856. After that year settlers
came in more rapidly.
Asa Scott built the first house in the town. It still stands on his present
farm. The first child born in the town was Addie B., daughter of Asa and Eliza
beth Scott. She was born on the 6th of August, 1848. She is now the wife of
Nathaniel Wood, and lives in Crawford county, Iowa.
George C. Calkins and Mary T. Scott were the first parties to enter into
the bonds of matrimony in the town. The marriage took place at the house of
Asa Scott, the father of the bride. Mr. and Mrs. Calkins are now residents of
Adams county, Iowa.
The first death was that of John Scott, a son of Asa Scott, and occurred
on the 26th of February, 1856. He was not quite a year old when he died,
and was buried at Como.
The first town election after the complete organization of the township,
was held at the school house in Distrct No. 2, on the 5th of April, 1859. Joel
G. Wood was chosen Moderator, and A. L. Burdett, Clerk. Twenty votes were
cast. At that meeting it was voted, among other things, that every householder
be empowered to act as Pound Master. It was also voted that the name of the
township be changed from Montmorency to Arcade. This change did not,
however, seem popular with the people, many refusing to accept it at all, and at
the next town meeting the vote was rescinded, and Montmorency retained its
name. The following have been the principal officers of the town since its or
ganization: Supervisors: — 1859-64, Joseph Golder; 1865-'67, George M. Sawyer;
1868-74, Tyler McWhorter; 1875-77, C. C. Buell.
Town -Clerks:— 1859, A. L. Burdett; 1860-64, George M. Sawyer; 1865,
W. A. Golder; 1866-'67, P. C. Woods; 1868-72, George M. Sawyer; 1873-77,
A. A. Church.
Assessors:— 1859-60. Asa Scott; 1861-65, Nathan Williams; 1866, Tyler
McWhorter; 1867, Nathan Williams; 1868-70, George C. Calkins; 1871-74,
Herman Sterling; 1875, Rudolph Kauffman; 1876-77, H. M. Barnum.
Collectors:— 1859, Wm. C. Payson; 1860, James Currier; 1861-67, J. W.
Scott; 1868-71, John W. Niles; 1872-73, James Frank; 1874-75, Henry M.
Barnum; 1876-77, Freeman Clemons.
Justices of the Peace: — 1859, Alonzo Golder, Benjamin Cushing; 1860,
Alonzo Golder, W. E. Lawrence; 1861, J. G. Banes; 1862, Levi Macomber;
1864, Alonzo Golder, George C. Calkins; 1865, Peter C. Woods; 1869, Artemus
Church; 1870, Nathan Williams; 1871, Herman Sturtz; 1872, Alonzo Golder,
P. C. Woods; 1876, P. C. Woods, C. C. Buell; 1877, Nathan Williams, P. C.
Woods. A special town meeting was held at the school house in District No. 2, on
the 28th of August, 1869, for the purpose of voting for or against the town
subscribing the sum of $50,000 to the capital stock of the first division of the
Chicago & Rock River Railroad Company, the form of the tickets being "For
Subscription," and "Against Subscription." Forty-three votes were cast for
subscription, and thirty-four against it. Bonds were to be issued for the pay
ment of the stock in such form as would entitle them to be registered under the
act of the General Assembly, in force April 16, 1869. Notwithstanding the
election in favor of subscribing to the stock of the company, the town did not
do so, Soon after the election the Company applied to Hon. Tyler McWhorter,

328 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
who wag then Supervisor, to subscribe in behalf of the town, but he declined,
and in this action was sustained by the people of the town. Application was
then made to Judge Heaton, of the Circuit Court, for a writ of mandamus to
compel him to do so, but the Judge refused to grant the writ. This ended pro
ceedings until the road was completed, when application was again made to Su
pervisor McWhorter to subscribe to the stock and issue bonds, and he again re
fused. Application for a writ of mandamus was then made to Judge Pleasants,
of the Rock Island Circuit Court, and granted. From this the town appealed
to the Supreme Court, upon the ground, among others, that the election on the
28th of August, 1869, was not legal, inasmuch as the majority at that election
in favor of subscribing to the stock, was not a majority of all the legal voters
residing in the town, as required by the statute. The Supreme Court held with
the appellant, and the writ was dismissed. The town therefore never sub
scribed to the stock nor issued any bonds. The contest over this matter was
long and spirited, but the town won.
The earliest traveled road in the town was the old trail leading from Dixon
to Green River bridge. This road enters the town near the northeast cor
ner, running in a southwesterly direction, and passes out a little west of the
center of the south line. The other early traveled road was the old stage route
from Dixon to Rock Island. It was over this route that the murderers of Col.
Davenport were taken in 1846. A prominent object on the line of this road in
this town was the lone tree, which was known far and wide throughout this sec
tion of the country. It was of the species known as the honey locust. It was
also known as the "grocery tree," because of the bottle of liquor the stage
drivers used to keep hid under it, and from which they drew inspiration as they
passed, going to and returning from Rock Island. The earliest road laid out
was in 1854, and runs east and west through the town. The second was laid
out in 1864, and runs north and south throngh the center of the town.
The first school house was built on section 9, on the corner almost opposite
Alonzo Golder's residence, in the fall of 1856. It was a small frame building,
and was used for school purposes until it was blown into fragments by the great
tornado of June 3, 1860. The first school in the town was taught in this di
minutive building, by Mr. Alfred Snell, in the winter of 1856-57. Its site is
now covered by a large and well-arranged school building. The second school
house was built in what is known as the Banes district, and the third in the
McWhorter district. In the latter school house Capt. W. C. Robinson, at pres
ent one of the Aldermen and Supervisors of Sterling, taught school in the win
ter of 1859-60. There are now six good, commodious school houses in the
town, and the number of children attending school during the past year (1876),
was 364. Four of the districts in the town are union districts. The school
fund of the town amounts to $16,000.
No churches as yet have been erected in the town, and the people attend
stated services either at Rock Falls, Sterling, or Tampico, as their religious be
lief inclines them. The first sermon preached in the town, of which we have
any account, was by Elder Zadoc Paddock, of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
in the McWhorter school house, in the spring of 1860. The first Sunday School
was taught by Miss Sarah Robinson, in the same school house, in the summer
of 1860. Miss Robinson was teaching the public school there at that time.
Owing to the large number of men who enlisted in the Union armies dur
ing the war of the Rebellion, from the town, taking the population at that per
iod into consideration, and the tax raised to supply any deficiency in the quotas
under the different calls of the President for troops, Montmorency was not sub
ject to a draft. Of the men who went from the town, Wm. Macomber became

BIOGRAPHICAL. 329
one of Gen. McClellan's staff, Alonzo Golder, a son of Joseph Golder, died in
the service, and a son of Asa Scott died after his arrival home, of disease con
tracted while in the service.
The township of Montmorency contains 21,921 acres of improved land, and
1,160 acres of unimproved, as is shown by the Assessor's books for 1877. From
the same source we find that the number of horses in the township at the time
of the assessment, was 488; number of cattle, 1,657; mules and asses, 32;
sheep, 62; hogs, 2,323; carriages and wagons, 217; sewing and knitting ma
chines, 68; melodeons and organs, 21. The total value of lands, lots and per
sonal property in 1877, amounts to $379,730; value of railroad property, $5,002;
total assessed value of all property in 1877, $384,732.
The population of the township in 1870, according to the Federal census
of that year, was 668, of which 543 were of native birth, and 125 of foreign
birth. In 1860 the population of the township was 278. It is now estimated
that its population is over 1,000. Biographical.
Asa Scott was born in Center township, Morgan county, Ohio, on the 26th
of January, 1817, and came to Como, Whiteside county, on the 1st of June,
1839, making most of the way on the Ohio, Mississippi, and Rock rivers in a
keel boat propelled by horse power. He remained in Como until 1847, when
he purchased a farm in the present township of Montmorency, where he now
lives. Mr. Scott was married to Miss Elizabeth Taylor on the 22d of February,
1838. Mrs. Scott is a native of Washington county, Ohio, and was born on the
3d of August, 1820. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have been blessed with sixteen chil
dren, eight sons and eight daughters, thirteen of whom are living, and, as the
happy father expresses it, "all healthy, and not a cripple in the number." The
following are the names of the children, with the date of their birth, etc.:
Jesse W., born November 16, 1838, now a resident of Montmorency; Mary T.,
born October 4, 1842, now the wife of Geo. C. Calkins, and lives in Adams
county, Iowa; Elknah B., born December 7, 1843, and died November 17, 1863
¦ — he was a member of the 75th Illinois Volunteers, and was severely injured at
the battle of PerryviUe, Kentucky; Eleanor, born July 3, 1845, now Mrs.
Narrey, and living at Vinton, Iowa; James M., born January 22, 1847, teaching
at Grand Junction, Iowa; Addie, born August 6, 1848, now Mrs. Wood, and
living in Crawford county, Iowa; Frances L., born May 11, 1850, now Mrs. Mas-
kell, and living in Hume township; Anna, born November 21, 1851, now Mrs.
Cain, and living in Ida county, Iowa; Desdemona, born December 28, 1853,
now Mrs. Mitchell, and living in Yorktown, Bureau county, Illinois; John, born
April 9, 1855, died February 26, 1856; Asa, born September 20, 1856, and liv
ing in Montmorency; Delia, born May 4, 1859, living at home; Carrie, bom
May 12, 1861, living at home; Eugene, born December 20, 1862, died April 7,
1863; Philip S. and Sherman, twins, born April 12, 1865, living at home. This
long list shows Mr. Scott to be the patriarch of the township of Montmorency
beyond the possibility of a doubt. Mr. Scott relates many incidents and exper
iences of his pioneer life, such as hauling grain to Chicago with ox teams, and
the expedients to which early settlers resorted to obtain the necessaries of life.
It was his custom to go each year at the proper season to Deer Grove to shoot
deer, which were more plentiful there then than cattle are now. At these ex
cursions he would kill all the deer the family wanted for a meat supply, and all
the skins needed to make breeches and coats. In October of each year he
would gather wild honey, and kill raccoon enough for oil, and furs for caps.
He represents the happiest days of his life to have been when he followed five
[42-M.]

330 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
or six yoke of big oxen, hitched to a plow with- a beam ten feet long and six by
eight inches square — having trucks at the front end to govern it, breaking up
prairie. Tyler McWhorter is a native of Metamora, Franklin county, Indiana,
and came to Montmorency in April, 1854, purchasing and settling upon lands
which he now owns. His farm is one of the finest and best cultivated in the
town, and is situated near the southeast corner. Mr. McWhorter early became
one of the most energetic and public-spirited men in Montmorency, and has fre
quently been honored with public positions. From 1868 to 1874 he was Super
visor of the town, and before and since has held rjther town offices. So well
and favorably had he become known throughout the county, and this Senatorial
District, that he received the unanimous nomination at the hands of the Repub
lican party in the fall of 1874, for Representative to the 39th General Assem
bly of the State, and was elected by a large majority. His course during his
Legislative term was one which reflected great credit upon himself and his con
stituents, being marked with an earnest and intelligent devotion to the public
interests of the District and State. He was upon several of the more impor
tant committees of the House, and gave to the matters which came before them
the careful consideration necessary to arrive at a proper conclusion as to their
merits. As a farmer he has taken the deepest interest in all that pertains to
the advancement of agriculture and stock raising, of which he is now reaping
his reward. Stimulated by his example, many other farmers have turned their
attention to the improvement of their lands and stock. Such men are a bene
fit, not only, to their immediate community, but to the country.
Alonzo Golder is a native of the sturdy old county of Dutchess, New York
State. In 1844 he emigrated to Hartland, McHenry county, in this State, and
remained there untjl the spring of 1856, when he came to Whiteside county
and settled upon his present farm in the town of Montmorency. During his
residence in McHenry county he was for several years Postmaster at the village
of Hartland. Mr. Golder early became convinced that to become a successful
agriculturist, the science of agriculture should be understood. He believed
there was theory as well as practice about farming, and he profited by his re
searches. He soon became known as a . skilled agriculturist, and when the
State Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry was organized in Illinois, in 1872,
the different subordinate Granges unanimously agreed upon him as the proper
person to be the Master, and hewas elected accordingly. Previous to his elec
tion as Master pf the State Grange, he had been Master of Rock River Grange,
No. 7. He held the position as Master of the State Grange for two terms, and
was afterwards Representative to the National Grange of the Patrons of
Husbandry for four successive terms. He is now a member of the Executive
Committeeof the National Grange, his associates being Henley James, of Indiana;
D. Wyatt Aiken, of South Carolina; Dudley T. Chase, of New Hampshire, and
W. H. Chambers, of Alabama. Mr. Golder has retired in a great degree from
the active pursuits of farming, but his interest in all that concerns its improve
ment is in no way abated.
Nathan Williams' was born in Pomfret, Windham county, Connecticut,
in June, 1821. He commenced teaching district school at the age of seventeen,
and continued teaching during the winter terms for six consecutive years, attend
ing Brooklyn Academy at the fall terms. At the expiration of his last term as
teacher, he engaged as clerk in the Masonville Manufacturing Company, where
he remained two years, and then became a partner in the mercantile firm of
Williams, Ely & Co. This firm continued business for five years when Mr. Wil
liams purchased the entire interest of the concern, and carried on business in

fi'iO'GRAPHICAL. SSI
his bw'ri name until he came to Sterling, Whiteside county, in 1856. On his
arrival in Sterling he again became a merchant, building a store for himself, and
continuing in trade three years, when he retired and purchased a farm in Mont-
moreney township, upon which- he has since resided. The farm of Mr. Williams
is situated upon sections 17, 18, 19 and 20, in the township- of Montmorency,
and comprises six hundred and forty acres. He has taken a great deal of .pains
to bring his farm under a good stato of cultivation, and it is now one of the finest
farms in the township. During his residence in Connnecticut Mr. Williams was
a school officer nearly all the time after he became of majority, either as a mem
ber of the Town Examining Board, or as Director, and for part of the time as both,
and was also a Justice of the Peace for nine years. Since coming West he was
School Trustee in Sterling for five years, and in Montmorency a School Director
for twelve years. He has also been Assessor of Montmorency township for
three years. At the fall election in 1871 he was elected a Representative to
the General Assembly of the State, from the 11th District, composed of White
side and Carroll counties, and served the full term of two years. Mr. Williams
was a Whig in politics until the organization of the Republican party, and has
acted with the latter ever since.
C. C. Buell was born in Madison county, New York, in 1828, and was
educated at the Madison University, New York. He was valedictorian at the
Junior exhibition of his class, and also at the graduation, and was teacher for
eight years in Hamilton — four years as Principal of Hamilton Academy, and
four years as Principal of Hamilton Female Seminary. Upon coming West
Mr. Buell settled in Anamosa, Jones county, Iowa, from which place he entered
the Union army in 1861, as First Lieutenant and Regimental Quartermaster ,of
the 14th Iowa volunteers, raising by his own instrumentality nearly a whole
company for the service. He was afterwards promoted to be Assistant Adju
tant Quartermaster, and held the position during most of the civil war, being
with Gen. Lanman at the battle of Fort Donelson, and with other command
ing officers at Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and Meridian. He was also with
Gen. Banks in the Red River expedition, and was especially named in the re
port of the commanding officer at the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, for
gallantry while in charge of an ammunition wagon, in hauling it from the field
in face of the advancing line of the enemy, and saving from capture a piece of
artillery belonging to a New York battery, which had been abandoned by all
save a single officer. Following this expedition, he was afterwards at the battle
of Tupelo, and other less important engagements, finishing his term of service
on the staff of Gen. A. J. Smith, in the pursuit of Price in Missouri. Since
the war he has been a resident of Montmorency township, engaged for most of
the time in the occupation of a farmer, making the dairy business a specialty.
He returned, however, to his former occupation as a teacher for a short time,
teaching three years in Sterling, during which time he organized the Second
Ward school in the new school building. As a citizen Mr. Buell has taken an
active part in the public enterprises of the day. He has been an influential
member of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, and delivered the first annual
address before the State Grange of Illinois. He has also read leadingpapers before
the State Farmers' Association, Dairymen's Conventions, etc., and contributed
many articles to newspapers on subjects pertaining to these pursuits, among
which was the article on the Patrons of Husbandry, published in the Transac
tions of the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois in 1872. Mr.
Buell succeeded the Hon. Tyler McWhorter as Supervisor from the township
of Montmorency, and has been twice re-elected.
A. A. Church is one of the large farmers in Montmorency township, and

332 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
pays particular attention to raising fine stock. Probably no farmer in Southern
Whiteside produces finer cattle and hogs. His father, Artemus Church, was
among the earlier settlers. Henry M. Barnum, Levi Macomber, Freeman
Clemons, P. C. Woods, George M. Sawyer, J. Alpress, S. Hubbard, Her
man Sterling, D. B. Wood, J. Sawyer, and J. P. Elmendorf are among the
thrifty farmers and valued citizens of the township.

CHAPTER XX.
History of Newton Township — Biographical.

History of Newton Township.
The township of Newton was originally a part of a Precinct known as Crow
Creek, and later belonging to Albany Precinct, and when Lyndon and Albany
Precincts were divided in 1844, to create Erie Precinct, a part of Newton was
included in the latter. At an election in 1849 the people of the county decided
they would adopt the township organization system, and the Commissioners ap
pointed for the purpose of dividing the county into townships, gave Newton its
present boundary, and denominated it "Greenfield" — the name being suggested
by its broad fields of living green. This election proving void, in 1851 the peo
ple again voted favorably upon the question of township organization, and Com
missioners then appointed applied the name of "Newton" to the present township,
in honor of a township in Cumberland county, Pa., where many of the settlers
were from.
Newton contains 22,167 acres of land, lacking about 300 acres of being a
full township, the western tier of sections being fractional. The southern one-
third of the township is low, but has been largely reclaimed by drainage, and is
now excellent farming and grazing land; the northern and central portions except
in the immediate vicinity of the groves, is undulating prairie, the soil of great
fertility. Two considerable groves of timber, "Miller's" and "Kingsbury," diver
sify the general features of the township. The land is sparingly watered by
streams, but wells of good water are obtained without much labor.
The first settlement in the territory, now Newton, was made by Jeremiah
Pearson, of Georgia, in 1835, in Section 21, on a little stream in the timber west
of Joseph Millerds present residence. Pearson sold his claim in 1836 to John
and William Piercy, of Virginia, and crossed the Marias De Ogee and died a few
years afterwards. The Piercys transferred the claim to Joseph and John Mil
ler, and returned to Virginia. The cabin built on the first claim still stands, a
land mark in Newton's history. The second settlement in the township was
made on Sectiou 16, in 1836, by Adam Stallnaker, a Virginian. He sold his
claim to Alex. Thompson and Samuel Miller, in 1838. Mr. Stallnaker after
wards made a claim in Albany township, where he died. John S. Thompson, and
Mrs. Hugh Thompson, still reside on the Stallnaker claim. In 1837, Adam
Huffman, of Virginia, made a claim on Section 24, in the east part of the town.
Mr. Huffman resided in Newton until a few years ago, when he removed to Clin
ton, Iowa.. Luke Abbey, of New Jersey, also made a settlement on the same
section in the fall of 1837. During the same year Stephen B. Slocumb and W.
G. Nevitt made claims in the northeast part of the township, about three miles
from Albany, and settled upon them very soon afterwards. Mr. Slocumb dragged
a log with an ox team from Albany to the Miller Grove, and the trail thus
marked out became a road which is now known as "Slocumb street;" the road
Was afterwards continued through to the Erie Settlement. During the year 1838
Henry Rexroad located on section 23 and built a claim cabin. The same year
John Winchell, of Indiana, settled near the Mineral Springs, the grove there-

334 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
abouts taking his name, and by which it was known to the older settlers. Mr.
Winchell returned to Indiana in 1S44. Jerome Yager, of Virginia, made a set
tlement also in 1838. In 1839, quite a reinforcement was received by the ar
rival of Alexander Thompson and his sons, who purchased claims; Samuel
Miller came the same year, and Joseph and John Miller soon followed. The
same year Wm. Booth, with his family, came into the township and settled on
section 9, being the first family to locate in that part of the town. Lyman
Bennett also resided in the township at this time, near the Mineral Springs. In
addition to Stephen B. Slocumb, his brothers William, Samuel and Charles, were
early settlers in the north-west part of the township. Settlers continued to
come into the town rapidly after the way was well opened, but it was not until
1850 that the rich prairie land began to be settled, the pioneers as a rule seeking
the timber and water courses. The land "came into market" in 1845, but had
been surveyed in 1840.
The early settlers found the timber populated by Indians, peaceable, but
beggars and thieves. The trail between Miller's grove and the Mineral Springs
grove was, until the prairie was broken up, well defined. The pioneers experi
enced no difficulty in raising magnificent winter wheat, which they threshed out
by "tramping it" with oxen and with flails. The chaff was cleaned from the
grain at first with sieves and pouring it from a height while the prairie winds
were blowing, When fanning mills came into use the neighbors, by clubbing
together, procured one. The first threshing machines were rude affairs in com
parison with the elaborate concerns of the present. A machine used in Newton
many years ago was invented by the "Knox boys," now substantial farmers in
the vicinity of Morrison. Upon the machine bundles enough were carried to
produce a few bushels of wheat, and the team was driven around in a circle un
til the sheaves were threshed. This invention was known as a "Traveller." It
was slow work, but an improvement upon the treading out process and the flail.
Owing to the lack of water power no mills were built in Newton, and the set
tlers were obliged to visit distant points to have their grain ground. Until
Albany became a market the farmers by tedious stages hauled their produce to
Galena, Savanna, and in some instances to Chicago.
Among the pioneers of Newton who settled in the township previous to
1840, are the following: Jeremiah Pearson, John and William Piercey, Adam
Stallnaker, Luke Abbey, Adam Huffman, Jerome Yager, Wm. G. Nevitt, S. B.
Slocumb, Wm. Slocumb, Samuel Slocumb, Charles Slocumb, Henry Rexroad,
John Winchell, Wm. Booth, Sr., Stephen C. Booth, William S. Booth, Edward
D. Booth, James H. Booth, Joseph Miller, John Miller, Samuel Miller, Alex
ander Thompson, J. S. Thompson, Hugh Thompson, Lyman Bennett, John
Beardsworth, Horace Chamberlain, Horace Root, 0. A. Root, Reuben Root>
John Root, William Prothrow.
The first white child born in Newton township was Wm. Abbey, son of
Luke Abbey. He was a member of the 34th Illinois Regiment, and died of
disease soon after the regiment went into service.
The first marriage celebrated in the township, was that of Henry Rexroad
and Eliza Abbey.
It is usually asserted that the first person in the township to die was a
young man in the employ of James Early, by the name of Swett, and next a
gentleman by the name of Gile. Both these men, however, lived in what is now
Fenton, just over the Newton line. They were buried on the bank of the
Marais d' Ogee, near where Mr. J. Y. McCall now resides. The first death in
what is now Newton township, was probably that of John Winchell's child, at
Mineral Springs.

HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP. 335
The first school was taught in Henry Rexroad's claim cabin, on section 23,
in 1839, by Eliza Abbey, afterwards Mrs. Rexroad. It was conducted upon the
subscription plan, and numbered about ten pupils. A Sunday School was in
augurated the same year, John Freek, of the Erie settlement, SuPermtendent.
This earnest gentleman walked from Erie each Sunday. He also had charge of
the prayer meeting and class service of the members of the Methodist church.
The first religious organization was a Methodist class, in 1839, led also by
Mr. John Freek. The names of the members of the first class, now obtainable,
are, Adam Huffman and wife, Luke Abbey and wife, Mrs. Jerome Yager, Mrs.
James Early, and Henry Rexroad. The same year Rev. McMurtay preached to
the little society. Re,v. James McKean also served them. Samuel Slocumb, a
local preacher, ministered occasionally to their spiritual wants. The services
were held in the cabins of Adam Huffman, Henry Rexroad, S. B. Slocumb, John
Winchell, and others, until the school houses began to multiply, when they were
made to do duty as churches. The first " regular" school house was built in
Newton in 1842, near Mineral Springs. It was Of hewn logs, and at that time
considered quite a pretentious institution of learning. About this time S. B.
Slocumb donated a tract of land for church purposes, and principally by his ef
forts and those of W. G. Nevitt, a building was erected to be used as a church.
It is now known as "Slocumb's School House," but religious services are still
continued in the building. Since this first early organization the Methodist de
nomination has had a strong footing in Newton, and at this time has a pleasant
and substantial church edifice — " Zion Church" — in the northeast part of the
township. The Presbyterians, of whom a respectable number were among the early
settlers, were soon provided with religious instruction at Miller's Grove. They
were also worshipers at Albany. The members of this society kept up their
interest, and for years had preaching in the Center School House. They now
have a large, comfortable church edifice near the center of the township, and
maintain regular services.
The Roman Catholic Church is well represented, and have a new church
edifice. Rev. John Kilkenny, of Fulton, has charge of the Parish.
There is also a large number of persons in the township denominated
"River Brethren," or "Dunkards." Their religious services are conducted in
barns, and the people are noted for their simplicity, honesty and frugality.
In 1857 the Camanche, Albany & Mendota Railroad excited the farmers
to a high pitch, and visions of convenient markets, greatly enhanced values of
land, and other advantages, passed before them. Assistance was asked from
the tillers of the soil to put the road through, and readily they responded by
mortgaging their farms. The road was a failure, but the farmers were required
to pay. Many of them suffered severely for a " barren failure," as only the
grade of the road was the result of their contributions. The bridge franchise
of the concern was sold to the company that now own the bridge over the Mis
sissippi at Clinton, Iowa.
Despite all drawbacks Newton prospered and increased in material wealth,
Settlers began to pour in and rapidly settled up the rich prairies and "bottom
lands," and the building of.railroads through Albany on one side, and Erie on
the other, created convenient and excellent markets for the bounteous crops of
cereals and live stock, and at this time Newton, in point of agricultural wealth
and importance, ranks equally with any township in the county.
During the war of the rebellion Newton made a magnificent record, send
ing 140 men into the field, a larger number than the voting population of the
township was at any time prior to the war. Of this number 26 were killed and

336 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
died of disease while in the service. The citizens who remained at home were
lavish with their contributions, and no call for aid of the soldiers in field and
hospital was unheeded. Immense sums of money were also raised to pay
bounties to volunteers, and otherwise prosecute the war.
The first election under township organization was held in Newton, April
6, 1852. Officers elected : Supervisor, Joseph Miller; Town Clerk, S. B. Slo
cumb; Assessor, John S. Thompson; Collector, John Mitchell; Overseer of the
Poor, Luke Abbey; Commissioners of Highways, George Rouse, W. G. Nevitt
and 0. A. Root; Constables, Arthur Huffman and W. W. Slocumb; Justices of
the Peace, William Payne, S. B. Bliss; Pathmasters, Mathew Abbey, S. W.
Slocumb, William Prothrow, and Robert Roxby ; Poundniaater, John Beardsworth.
The township was divided into four road districts, and a lawful fence was de
fined as one four and a half feet high. The Road Commissioner assessed two
days' labor upon each person liable to road labor; also an assessment of " taxes
on property sufficient to raise ^he deficiency to 144 days' labor;" also one day's
assessment against non-resident lands for each $300 in value. The next year,
at the annual township meeting, $60.00 was voted for current ex
penses; in 1854 $100 was appropriated, and a resolution adopted providing
for a fine of 25 cents per head on hogs running at large, for each day's viola
tion. In 1856 a rail fence five feet high, staked and ridered, upon blocks four
teen inches high, was decided to be a lawful fence. In 1862 it was by vote re
solved to collect by taxes $50 to pay for wolf scalps — $1 for old wolves and 50
cents for pups. In 1862 Mr. S. B. Slocumb resigned the office of Clerk, owing
to removal from the township, and addressed his fellow-citizens a letter, retro
spective and prophetic, which contained much valuable advice. The letter was
ordered recorded, and a committee appointed to indite a suitable reply. Octo
ber 25, 1864, a special meeting was called and a tax of one per cent, voted on
each $100 to pay bounties to volunteers. In 1867 the citizens memorialized
the Board of Supervisors in regard to swamp lands in the township. The lands
in question have been largely recovered by drainage, and bid fair to become the
most valuable property for general agricultural purposes in the township.
Supervisors: — 1852, Joseph Miller; 1853, William Prothrow; 1854, James
Blean; 1855, S. B. Bliss; 1856-58, William Prothrow; Prothrow resigned,
vacancy filled by I. B. Emmons; 1859, S. B. Bliss; 1860-'61.E. L. Cone; 1862,
William Prothrow; 1863-65, Jos. H. Marshall; 1866-67, William Prothrow;
1868-71, J. H. Marshall; 1872-77, Jesse K. Blean.
Town Clerks :— 1852-61, S. B. Slocumb; 1862-65, Jesse K. Blean;
1866-'67, E. C. Simpson; 1868-71, J. K. Blean; 1872, E. C. Simpson; 1873,
A. F. Rexroad; 1874-75, E. B. Myers; 1876-77, Herbert Beardsworth.
Assessors ;— 1852-53, John Mitchell; 1854, W. G. Nevitt; 1855, John
Blean; 1856, William Fletcher; 1857-'58, S. B. Bliss; 1859-'62, Joseph H.
Marshall; 1863, W. Y. Wetzell; 1864, Henry Rexroad; 1865, W. L. Mitchell;
1866, Edwin Thomas; 1867, S. B. Bliss; 1868-72, William Payne; 1873-75,
Henry Myers; 1876-77, W. L. Mitchell.
Collectors:— 1852, John Mitchell; 1853, Wm. Mitchell; 1854-56, O. A.
Root; 1857, Arthur McLane; 1858, I. B. Emmons; 1859, John Baker; 1860,
Peter Myers; 1861, John Baker, 1862, S. B. Snyder; 1863, Charles W. Abbey;
1864-'66, Henry Myers; 1867, C. W. Abbey; 1868, W. L. Mitchell; 1869, Chas.
E. Wood; 1870, George M. Miller: 1871, S. W. Smith; 1872. Jas. Van Fleet;
1873, Wm. M. Miller; 1874, J. L. Van Fleet; 1875-77, Charles Wood.
Justices of the Peace: — 1852, Wm. Payne, S. B. Bliss; 1856, O. A. Root,
S. B. Bliss; 1860, W. G. Nevitt, I. B. Emmons; 1864, 1. B. Emmons, L. Slay-

BIOGRAPHICAL. 337
maker; 1865, H. E. Collins; 1867, 0. A. Root; 1868, 0. A. Root, W.G. Nevitt;
1872, A. 0. Myers, W. G. Nevitt; 1877, W. G. Nevitt, George Hill.
The first recorded school meeting was held in Newton, December 25, 1849.
Trustees, John S. Thompson and Wm. Payne. A laudable interest has always
been taken in educational matters, and the district schools of Newton compare
favorably with those of any township in the county. The districts are all able
to pay, and as a rule employ competenlt teachers to whom liberal salaries are
allowed. There is in the township, eight schools. Present Board of Trustees,
Henry Rexroad and W. G. Nevitt. Jesse K. Blean is Secretary and Treasurer.
The Assessor's books for 1877 enumerates 15,622 acres of improved land,
and 6,545 acres unimproved; 552 horses; 1,388 cattle; 574 sheep; 2,380 hogs;
98 sewing and knitting machines; 24 pianos, organs, and melodeons;
assessed value of agricultural tools $3,208. Total assessed value of all prop
erty, $455,022. Population of Newton in 1870, 880. Estimated population
in 1877, 1,100. Biographical.
Stephen B. Slocumb was born in White county, Illinois, at "Slocumb's
Fort," on the Wabash river, in 1813. His father was an officer in the Ameri
can Army during the war of 1812-15, and was garrisoning the fort in the
territory of Illinois when the subject of this sketch was born. In 1834 Mr.
Slocumb removed to Knox county, Illinois, and in 1836 settled in Albany, and
assisted in laying off the town. He made a claim in Newton in 1837, but did
not settle upon his land until 1841. In 1845 he, for other persons, bid off
large tracts of land in Newton at the Government land sales. He has always
been actively engaged in furthering the interests of his township, and was for
years honored with offices of trust by his fellow citizens. Mr. . Slocumb has
been engaged in farming for many years; also in the lumber business, and other
mercantile enterprises. He is now extensively engaged in selling lumber along
the Mississippi river, and is in the full enjoyment of health and energy. He
was married at Albany, February 14, 1839, to Letitia Maria McCall. She
died April 3, 1845, and on October 15, 1850, Mr. Slocumb was married to Car
oline Matilda Rouse. Her death occurred March 4, 1859, and December 9,
1859, Mr. Slocumb was married to Mrs. M. E. Hawks, who died March 23,
1861. Mr. S. was married to his present wife, Malinda, daughter of Ivy Buck,
May 11, 1864, children: William R., now pilot on Mississippi steamboats, was
born December 23, 1840; Chas. H., a merchant in Nebraska, born March 1,
1843; Luella C.. born August 15, 1851; Jane Sarah, now Mrs. J. Thomas, born
May 16, 1854; George R., born August 27, 1856; Stephen E., born February 9
1870. Margaret Emily, born March 19, 1845, died in infancy.
Wm. G. Nevitt was born in Breckenridge county, Kentucky, in 1814, and
was one of eleven children who all grew up and were married. In 1819, with
his father, he removed to White county, Illinois. In 1832, when volunteers were
called for to operate against the Sac and Fox Indians in the north part of the
State, Mr. Nevitt, then a lad of sixteen, enlisted. His father equipped him
with a horse, gun, and accoutrements, and he joined the Spy Battalion of the
Second Brigade, and served honorably throughout the campaign. After the
many trials of a lonely journey on horseback, Mr. Nevitt reached Knoxville,
after the close of the Indian troubles. His father removed to that town in 1835.
While at Knoxville, the subject of this sketch was employed to make the asses-
ment of Henry county, then attached to Knox for judicial purposes, and he,
while thus engaged, visited Prophetstown and Portland, and assessed the set
tlers there, these two townships being then a part of Henry county. In 1836
[43-N.]

338 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
his father, Wm. Nevitt, in company with others, bought the claim where Albany
now is, and the next year, 1837, W. G. Nevitt was married and made a claim
three miles southeast of Albany, where he now resides, and has for forty years.
He has reared seven children, and lost two. Mr. Nevitt, in the early days of
settlement, served as constable, and has also been a Justice of the Peace about
twenty years. He is a type of the honest, hard-working, God-fearing farmer,
his rules of life being the Ten Commandments.
Henry Rexroad was born in Pendleton county, Virginia, in 1815. He
resided there until 17 years of age, farming and teaching school, when he
removed to Wood county, Virginia. In 1836, when 21 years of age, he came to
Rock Island county, Illinois. The same year he prospected in Newton town
ship, and in the winter of 1837-38 he located in the township, where he has
since resided. In 1839 he married Eliza, daughter of Luke Abbey. After her
death he was married to Miss Huffman, sister of Adam Huffman, by whom he
has had two children — A. F. Rexroad, now a telegraph operator in Wyoming
Territory, and Augusta, now Mrs. Rouse, of Grand Island, Nebraska. Upon
the death of his second wife, Mr. Rexroad married Miss Mary Thompson, who
is now living.
Joseph Miller was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1802,
where he resided until he came to Newton township. In 1838 he came to
Whiteside county on horseback, with his brothers John and Samuel. When
they arrived at Chatham and Harrisburg, where Sterling now is, they traded
their horses for lots, and as a consequence, upon their return, were obliged to
walk nearly the whole distance to Cincinnati, swimming rivers and carrying
their baggage. Mr. Miller returned to Whiteside in 1840, purchasing the claim
of the Piercys' on section 21, where he now resides. He was married in 1832
to Sarah Grier, who died September 18, 1836. March 14, 1839, he was mar
ried to Elizabeth Thompson. She died October 14, 1867. In 1869 he married
Mrs. Ege, who is now living. Children: Rachel A., now Mrs. Sailhammer;
Louis G., Joseph Alexander, Sarah S., John N., Mary J., Samuel T., William
M., Moses F. and Joseph Arthur. Louis G. died of disease contracted while at
Vicksburg nursing his brother, who was wounded; Joseph Alexander died of
wounds received at Champion Hills; John N. died in infancy. All the other
children remain in Newton township.
John Miller, brother of Joseph Miller, was born in Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, in 1800. He settled on section 21, in Newton, in 1840, and died
the same year. He was unmarried.
Samuel Miller was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1792,
and died in Newton, October 6, 1846. He was married to Rachel Thompson.
Mrs. Miller died : December 25, 1848, aged 46 years. Mr. Miller settled in
Newton in 1839, and purchased a portion of the Stallnaker claim in section 15.
Children: Sarah Ann, now Mrs. J. B. Work, of Winona, Illinois; Louis F., now
in Kansas; Mary, now Mrs. J. H. Marshall; Rachel E., now Mrs. Wm. Marshall,
of Kansas; Samuel N. and John H. The two last reside upon the original farm
in Newton. Wm. Booth, Sr., a native of Virginia, settled with his family in Newton
township in March, 1839. He drove through from Indiana the preceding win
ter. After leaving Virginia he remained a year in Ohio, and four years in
Indiana; but the ague troubled his family so much he fled from it, thus leaving
the Hoosier State and locating in the Rock River Valley. Mr. Booth settled
on section 9, he being the first settler in that part of the present town of New
ton. Mr. Booth was born in Randolph county, Va., May 4, 1783, and died upon
his homestead in Newton, December 7, 1854. He was married in April

BIOGRAPHICAL. 339
1802. His wife was born October 11, 1786, and died October 1875.
A very large number of children, grand-children, and great grand-children
are left to revere the memory of Mr. and Mrs. Booth. Children : John, now
a resident of Ohio; Malinda, wife of Samuel Emmons of Tampico township;
Heuston, a resident of Virginia; Hart, a resident of Indiana; Elijah, killed at
Memphis; Jane M., wife of S. J. Thompson of Missouri; Nancy A., wife of Asa
F. R. Emmons of Rock Falls; Stephen C, now in California; Isaac, a resident
of Indiana; Edward D., a farmer in Newton; Wm. S., a farmer in Albany town
ship; James H., a farmer in Newton; Lucinda, Daniel and Deborah, deceased.
Stephen C, made a claim soon after his arrival in Newton, on section 15,
east of the place occupied by J. H. Marshall. Edward D. made a claim
on section 9, where he now has afine farm. James H.is an extensive and success
ful farmer in Newton township, his residence being on section 9.
Alexander Thompson, with his family, came to Newton in October, 1839,
and settled on section 15. fie was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania,
in 1758, and was engaged in farming until he emigrated. He died the next
year after his arrival in Newton., His wife survived him several years, and died
in Garden Plain township. Children : Rachel, wife of Samuel Miller; Susan
nah, died in Pennsylvania; John S., now living in Newton; Alexander, Jr., died
near Portland; William, died at Xenia, Ohio, on his way West; Hugh, died in
1864; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Miller, died in 1867; Sarah, wife of Dean S.
Efner, is deceased; Margaret, wife of Robert Blean; Moses, died in Garden
Plain in 1862. John S. was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1806,
emigrated to Newton with his father in 1839, and made a claim where he now
resfdes. He was married in 1835 to Sarah Ann Peebles, who died June 16,
1874. Children now living : Alexander, now in Iowa; Jane S., wife of Rob
ert Kennedy, of Kansas; Thomas L., at home. Several children died in infancy.
Hugh was born in 1812, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania; came to Newton
in 1839, and died April 4, 1864. He was married to Jane P. Kennedy in April,
1841, who is still living on the homestead in section 15. Children : Robert
K., killed at PerryviUe, Ky.; Sarah S., now Mrs. James Van Fleet, of Newton;
Agnes J., Maggie E. (late wife of George Slaymaker), now dead; William A.,
and Mary B. Moses settled in Garden Plain, where he died in 1862, leaving a
family. Alexander, Jr., made a claim in Portland township, and remained there
until his death.
Luke Abbey was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1787, and died on his
homestead in Newton in 1869. He emigrated to America in 1818, and set
tled at Mt. Holly, N. J.; removed to Ohio in 1832, and in September, 1837,
locatedin Newton on section 24. Children : Matthew, now in Albany; Mark,
now dead; Eliza (Mrs. Henry Rexroad), now dead; Sarah (Mrs. 0. A. Root),
now of Kansas; Luke, now dead; Charles W., of Abilene, Kansas; Hannah,
wife of John Marshall; John, a resident of Newton; Maria, wife of Henry
Eye, of Kansas; and William, who died in the army.
John Beardsworth is a native of England, and was one of the earliest
settlers of Newton township. He is a man of great industry and force of char
acter, and has accumulated a large landed property in the township. Jesse K.
Blean is one of the prominent citizens of the township, and is a man of ex
cellent mind and unblemished character. He has represented the township in
the Board of Supervisors for several years, much to the benefit of his immedi
ate constituents and of the county at large. E. Thomas is one of Newton's
leading men, and has been frequently called upon by his fellow-citizens to accept
township positions. Wm. Rowland, B. M. Riordan, L. A. and R. M. Slay
maker, R. Drury, A. 0. Myers, H. S. Hawk, S. B. Bliss, A. Byers, L. M.

340 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Hunt, R. C. Blean, P. Noftger, Joseph H. Marshall, C. E. Wood, J. Y.
McCall, J. B. McCall, and D. Finioum are among the worthy citizens and
successful farmers of Newton township.
The Kingsbury Postoffice has been established for several years, and is the
only postoffice in the township. The mail is brought from Fenton Center and
Erie by horse. Dr. Cyrus Miller is Postmaster.
The Mineral Springs, noted for their superior medicinal qualities, are sit
uated on section 24, near the eastern boundary of the township. There are two
of these springs, the water being about alike in both. They are resorted to by
many in quest of health, during the summer season; but the hotel arrange
ments, as yet, are insufficient for the accommodation of a large number at a
time. With a proper outlay of money these Springs could be made a favorite
resort, not only for the invalid, but the pleasure-seeker, and would soon become
widely renowned. The place has already become known as the " Saratoga of
Whiteside." The Springs are owned by Mr. William A. Passmore. The sit
uation is romantic, being in a beautiful ravine, and surrounded by hills. At
tached to the Springs are good bathing-houses.

CHAPTER XXI.
History of Portland Township — Biographical.

History of Portland Township.
Portland originally formed a part of Crow Creek Precinct, and in March,
1837, was placed into a precinct called Prophetstown, by the Commissioners'
Court of Ogle county, to which Whiteside was then attached. At that time
Prophetstown Precinct included all of Whiteside county lying south of Rock
river. Upon petition being made the Commissioners in March, 1838, changed
the name of the Precinct to that of Portland, to include the same territory. In
1840 this precinct was subdivided, a part being named Rapids Precinct, and a
part Prophetstown Precinct, the balance retaining its original name. The pres
ent township of Portland comprises all that part of Congressional township 19
north, range 3 east, as lies south of Rock river, and also fractional parts of
sections 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36, in Congressional township 19
north, range 3 east, as lies south of Rock river, and contains 22,243 acres of
land. The soil is for the most part a sandy loam, and the surface generally
level. There are some sloughs in the township, one of which, called the Big
Slough, runs along its eastern border, continuing its course through Henry
county to Green river, its whole length being about twenty miles. A good
quality of building stone is found on sections 17 and 25. The township also
contains a considerable quantity of timber land. Before the settlement of the
white man the township was a favorite hunting ground of the Indians, as the
prairie, extending to Eight Mile Grove in Henry county, abounded in deer, and
Rock river, which bounds it on the north, afforded an abundance of fish. Near
the village of Portland, on a rise of ground called Thunderbolt Hill, in honor of
an Indian chief of that name, was their burying ground, and skulls are yet fre
quently dug up there.
The first settlement in the township was made by Alexander J. and Nor
man B. Seely, in June, 1834. These gentlemen made claims where the village
of Portland now stands. Mitchell Ruxton also came that year, and these three
comprised the whole population of the township in 1834. The improvements
made that year, consisted of a shanty put up by Norman B. Seely, in the grove,
in which he remained all winter. The high water in the spring drove him out
of it, and he then dug a hole in the ground for a habitation, where he remained
until the 4th of July, 1835, when he erected his log house. He had also a few
acres of breaking.
The year 1835 was a memorable one in the history of Portland. The let
ters written back to the East by the few who came in 1834, and the glowing
accounts the messengers gave of the wonderful beauties of the Rock River
Valley, caused the tide of immigration to flow in, the arrivals commencing as
early as June. Among the first to reach the new land of promise, were Horace
Burke, Simeon Fuller, and P. Bacchus Besse. Mr. Burke made his claim a lit
tle to the northwest of where Spring Hill now stands; Simeon Fuller a few
miles east of Burke; and P. Bacchus Besse still farther east, near the village,
where he now lives. During the summer Alphonzo Brooks, W. H. Cushman,

342 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Joy Avery, John Smith Rowe, Robert Getty, Simeon Chaffee, and George Strat
ton came, and the settlement extended along the margin of the timber through
the town. Joy Avery made the first settlement on the Dutch Bottom, at what
is now the Reis farm. Late in the fall John Baxter, Christian Benson, and
Ransom Burgess came and settled on the Bottom at first, but afterwards
moved to the higher ground. Nothing was raised the first year, and the sup
plies were obtained from Knox county. The nearest mill was on Spoon river, at
Ellisville, Fulton county. Mr. Burke procured his first spring wheat that fall at
Canton, Fulton county, and his first potatoes at Rocklsland, bringing thelatter up
in a canoe. But little breaking was done, as the settlers had all they could do
to provide shelter for the winter, and put up hay for their stock.
The year 1836 made an addition of about thirty families to Portland,
and it probably then contained more white persons than all the rest of the
county. Among those who assisted materially in the development of the town,
were Daniel Blaisdell — who was one of the early County Commissioners, Levi
Fuller, Sr., Robert Thompson, John S. Logan, James Rowe, Alden Tuller,
Guy Ray, Hiram Harmon, Rodney Besse, Dr. Wm. Price, and Dr. Wm. Max
well, the latter settling on the county line of Henry county, and were the first
physicians in the neighborhood. They were of the old school, and believed in
the potency of calomel. The perusal of one of their bills, which will be found
on page 86 of this volume, cannot fail of convincing even one of the regulars
that the first settlers were men of iron constitutions. They were educated
men, and had an extensive practice for several years. Dr. Maxwell is dead,
and Dr. Price when last heard from was in Ohio. Guy Ray brought in a few
goods, and opened the first store in the town, but did not replenish after selling
out his stock. The settlements of that year extended principally around Spring
Hill. Jacob Arnett and Lewis Rink made claims in the timber on section 35,
near the county line, but did not actually settle until the next year. Some
crops of grain, sod corn, and potatoes were raised that year, but not enough for
home consumption. The prairie, however, was broken, and fields fenced along
the river road to Rock Island, so that the place began to assume some of the
appearances of civilization. The season was not very propitious for crop rais
ing, being wet and cold, and the following winter was noted as being very
severe. A manby the name of Bowen was frozen to death between Prophets
town and Dyson's farm in Hume. The Presidential election in 1836 was as warmly
participated in by the voters of Portland as by those of the older and more re
fined portions of the nation. The polls were held at the house of Horace
Burke, the election being the first held in Whiteside county. The vote was
not large, yet it was that of a respectable people asserting their rights as
American freemen. The names of the voters, as near as can be ascertained,
are as follows: Asa Crook, Theron Crook, John W. Stakes, N. G. Reynolds,
P. Bacchus Besse, Norman B. Seely, Alexander J. Seely, Wm. Hill, Sr.,Wm. D.
Dudley, Adam R. Hamilton, Chauncey B. Woodruff, John Baxter, C. Benson,
Jason Hopkins, Hezekiah Brink, John Freek, John Fenton, Wm. Cushman,
Simeon Fuller, and Levi Fuller, Sr. At that time Whiteside formed a part of
Jo Daviess county. The returns were given to Solomon M. Seely, a boy then
ten years of age, and son of Col. E. Seely, and being mounted on an Indian
pony, he was told to deliver them to John Dixon, at Dixon's ferry, who
would put them in charge of the stage driver for Galena. The distance to be
travelled was twenty-eight miles, with nothing to follow but an Indian trail,
and not a house on the route between Prophetstown and Dixon. On reaching
what was then known as the nine mile run (nine miles west of Dixon), he found
it full and running over; but having been told to place the returns into the

HISTORY OF PORTLAND TOWNSHIP. 343
hands of Uncle John Dixon, he knew it must be done. The weather was cold
and freezing, yet he boldly plunged his pony into the stream, and had him swim
across. On reaching Dixon's house his clothes were frozen to his person, but
by the motherly care of Mother Dixon he was put in a proper condition to re
turn home the next morning.
In 1837, Portland received an addition of about twenty-five men, a large
portion bringing families. Among them were John Kempster, who settled on
the Dutch Bottom, where he now resides. Lewis Arnett, with his sons- Jacob,
William, Joseph, George, Anthony and John — all of whom settled near the
county line, Reuben Hurd, Horace Hurd, Daniel F. Cole, A. T. Bracken, Rob
ert Woodside, James Graham, John P. Welding, James Crozier, D. Porter Brew
er, Jeremiah H. Johnson, and Hiram McKenzie, the latter now living in York-
town, Bureau county. All of these parties have descendants now living in
Portland. They were men of good standing, and contributed much to the de
velopment of the town. Nathaniel Norton, now a capitalist in Chicago, came
also in 1837, and bought the claim of W. H. Cushman, ppening a store at his
house where he sold goods for several years. He afterwards sold the farm to
Mr. Guild, who in turn sold to L. C. Underwood. Dr. Richard Brown was an
other arrival, and practiced his profession for some time. The settlements were
mostly around Spring Hill, and along the county line. Two school houses were
built this year, one near the village of Portland, and the other near the Sharon
church, both being of logs. George Hamilton put up the first frame house in
the township this year, covering it with split shakes. He afterwards sold it to
D. Porter Brewer. The house is still standing. The election in 1837 was held
at the residence of Mr. Burke, and with the exception of the election of 1840,
it was held there until 1856, when it was changed to Spring Hill.
In 1838, Portland received a further accession to its population of about
twenty families who settled mostly in and around the village. John Laird
opened a farm near Burke's, and Fred Knapper one on the Bottom. All the
lands along the timber, and about Spring Hill, were covered by claims, the prairie
south of the latter place not being considered valuable at that time, as it was
hemmed in by sloughs, and remote from timber. During this year Job Dodge,
not then of age, came into the town with apeddler's wagon, and sold notions to the
inhabitants during the summer, and in the winter following opened a store in
Portland village. The next summer he again commenced peddling, and so con
tinued alternately peddling and keeping store until 1848. The currency at that
time consisted mostly of coon skins, and with some, about all the necessaries of
life were considered to be tobacco and whiskey; still Mr. Dodge kept a few lux
uries like calico and coffee, and managed to get along until the stock of hogs
increased so that a few could be spared, when he commenced packing pork and
shipping it to St. Louis, by the way of Albany. He bought pork for $1.50 per
hundred. In 1841, he moved his store and goods to Prophetstown.
In 1839, the settlements began to extend considerably. Hiram Underhill,
David Underhill, and Benj amin Dow, settled at Jefferson Corners. Alonzo Davis,
who had been living at Prophetstown, made a claim at the same place. James
Graham opened a farm on the road running south from the village of Portland.
Philip Rapp, Christopher Rapp, and Anderson Crozier settled on the county line.
Walter Young and Amos Young settled near Spring Hill, and altogether the
town received an accession of fifteen families. The summer of 1839 was hot
and dry, and bilious fever, and fever and ague prevailed to a great extent.
During that season a trading boat owned by Mr. Cobb run up and down Rock
river, and supplied the settlers with such necessaries as they required, especial
ly ague cures which were in great demand. A Dr. Sappington, of St. Louis,

344 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
also sent an agent into the township with his then celebrated pills. He travel
led on a large mule, selling pills and establishing agencies, and the Doctor got
rich fast. Corn, wheat, oats, and potatoes were produced in sufficient quantities
for home use, and hogs and cattle became plenty so that settlers could sell at
the nearest market, which made Portland quite a prosperous place. The grists
were yet mostly taken to the mill on Edward's river, at Andover, Henry
connty. The immigration was not very large in 1840. During that year work was
being prosecuted on the various lines of railroads, and as Portland was not on
any of the routes, it gained but little in the way of population. Considerable
improvement, however, was otherwise made. Large crops of wheat and corn
were raised, and hogs became plenty, so that the settlers had considerable to
sell. The Presidential election of this year created great excitement in Port
land, as well as elsewhere. The temperance movement had not at that time
reached the West, and the campaign was conducted on the corn-juice basis.
Hardly a gathering of any kind was held without whisky being furnished in
abundance. Not even a house or barn raising, or bee of any kind, could be
held without it. It even assisted in the cause of education, as it is related that
the first male teacher in the town took a portion of his salary in a half barrel
of whisky. In 1841, Marvin Frary and Richard Potter built a distillery at the foot of
Thunderbolt hill, but having no means for grinding the grain, sent it to Haines'
mill in Union Grove Precinct, twelve miles distant. When the distillery was
finished and the " tangle-foot " ready, the question arose who should have the
honor of tasting the first drop of the home production. The lot fell to one
David Ferguson, who laid upon his back, with his mouth open under the end of
the worm. As it took some time to get the machine started, Ferguson became
impatient, and called loudly to Frary to fire up, as he was getting awful dry.
The enterprise did not prove a profitable one, as Ohio whisky was worth only
from 12 to 15 cents a gallon in St. Louis, and it did not last long. As an offset
to this the good people of the lower part of the town built a meeting-house,
known as the Sharon church, which cost about $800. Nathaniel Norton con
tributed more than half of the amount. The building was a good one, and is
standing to this day, being the only church edifice in town. Robert Getty, J.
S. Logan, and others, also aided in its construction. The erection of so good a
building at that early day was creditable to the people of the town. Rev. Dan
iel 'Rockwell was the first pastor. The building is owned by the Presbyterians.
The harvest of 1841 was a good one, a large surplus of winter wheat being
raised, and, as the price in Chicago was over a dollar a bushel, it was taken there
and the farmers realized handsomely. The trip took about eight days with
horses, and nearly two weeks with oxen. During the months of September and
October, the roads were filled with teams going and returning. Salt, lumber,
and supplies for the families were brought back on the return trip.
' The following are the names of the early settlers of Portland township,
with the year of their arrival : 1834, Norman B. Seely, Alexander J. Seely
and Mitchell Ruxton; 1835, Horace Burke, Alphonzo Brooks, Christian Ben
son, John Baxter, William H. Cushman, Simeon Fuller, Joy Avery, John Smith
Rowe, Robert Getty, P. Bacchus Besse, Simeon Chaffee, Bansom Burgess and
George Stratton; 1836, Daniel Blaisdell, Mason Blaisdell, Levi Fuller, Robert
Thompson, John S. Logan, James Rowe, George Warren, Jacob Arnett, Jesse
Slawson, Amos Young, John Reed, Alden Tuller, Guy Ray, Hiram Harmon,
Roderick M. Besse, Israel Spencer, George Hamilton, Charles Godfrey, Col. E.
Seely, Horace E. Seely, Horatio S. Dix, Jeduthan Seely, Sen., Joseph Fitch, Dr.

HISTORY OF PORTLAND TOWNSHIP. 345
William Price, Dr. William Maxwell, Samuel Hall, Samuel Stark, Ephraim
Brooks, Ephraim Summers and Chauncey Rowe; 1837, .Lewis Arnett, Horace
Hurd, Reuben Hurd, Daniel F. Cole, Andrew F. Bracken, Robert Woodside, James
Graham, Nathaniel Norton, John P. Welding, James Crozier, Charles Tillotson,
Robert Mead, Sheldon Marsh, Sanford D. Marsh, William Eastman, John Kemp
ster, Benjamin Smith, Thaddeus Smith, Mr. Barton, Chauncey Reynolds, D.
Porter Brewer, John Bothwell, Hiram McKenzie, Jeremiah H. Johnson, Wm.
Sweet, Silas Brooks, Thomas Northup, Chauncey Van Duzen and W. T. Crozier;
1838, John Laird, Russell Warren, Richard Potter, John White, Fred Knapper,
Hiram Underhill, Horace Underhill, Joseph Reynolds, Ledoic Underhill, George
McCormick, Asa Maynard and Job Dodge; 1839, Jacob Schuck, Rudolph Urick,
Dr. A. Plympton, Walter Young, Philip Rapp, Christopher Rapp, Martin Reis,
Anderson Crozier, Richard Brown, William S. Crane, Theodore Wiggins, David
Ferguson, Alanson Barr, Benjamin Dow and William Maynard; 1840, Arbela
Adams, fiorace B. Cole, Arnold Pearson and T. J. Dow; 1841, Smith Hurd,
Caleb P. Lanphere and William Graham. L. C. Underwood come to Illinois
from Pennsylvania in 1832, and settled in Portland in 1846. W. P. Taber
came to Illinois from New York in 1828, and settled in Portland in 1853.
The first death in Portland was that of Myron Frary, a son of Marvin
Frary, and occurred in April, 1836. The wife of Guy Ray died September 10th,
of the same year.
The first child born was Mary Seely, daughter of Norman B. and Lydia
Seely, her birth-occurring in September, 1834. Jeannette, a daughter of Alex
ander and Philena Seely, was the second one, being born in the fall of 1835.
As near as can be ascertained, Alden Tuller and Miss Harriet M. Fuller,
daughter of Simeon Fuller, were the first couple married in what is now Port
land township, the event occurring in the year 1837.
The first traveled road in the township was the one used for a time as a
stage route from Dixon to Rock Island, and known more familiarly as the river
road! Its line was about where the present river road now runs. The road
was laid out in 1837, Horace Burke being one of the viewers.
At the June term, 1837, of the County Commissioners' Court of Ogle
county, Whiteside county being then attached to Ogle for judicial purposes, a
petition was presented by Col. E. Seely and others, of Portland, asking that
viewers be appointed to locate a road from the Galena road on Rock river, near
Lyman Bennett's, in township 20 north, range 4 east, the road to commence at
or near a slough in township 20 north, range 4 east; also to re-view a road com
mencing at or near a slough in townships 19 and 20 north, range 5 east, and
crossing Rock river at the town of Portland, and continuing to the south line
of the county of Whiteside, the road to be laid out free of expense to the
county. Upon the reception of the petition, the Commissioners appointed A.
R. Hamilton, Ebenezer Seely, and Hiram Harmon, viewers. The viewers made
return of their survey at the September term of Court, when it was ordered
that the roads be established. At the September term of the same Court, held
in 1838, it was ordered that viewers be appointed to view a road commencing
at Fulton city, thence to barker's Grove, touching at Winchell's Grove, and
crossing Rock river at the ferry of L. D. Crandall, and intersecting the Dixon
and Stephenson road in Portland precinct, near the residence of James Rowe.
Ebenezer Seely was granted a license to run a ferry across Rock river, at the
town of Portland, by the same Commissioners' Court, at its June term, in 1837,
the license fee being fixed at five dollars.
Nathaniel Norton laid the foundation for the first nursery in Whiteside
county, by planting seeds on his claim in Portland in 1837. The project suc-
[44-0.]

346 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
ceeded, and his trees were purchased by many of the pioneers, thus giving them
an early opportunity of setting out orchards. Col. E. Seely had a crop of apples
in 1843 from trees obtained at Mr. Norton's nursery, being probably the first
apples raised in the county.
The first school in the township was taught in the summer of 1836, by
Miss Eliza Hall, in the back room of the log house put up by Norman B. Seely.
About twelve children were in attendance. Miss Hall became sick with bilious
fever after teaching two months, and was obliged to retire from her duties.
The next spring Miss Lovica Hamilton was engaged, and kept a good school
that season in the same room. The first school-house in the township was put
up in the fall of 1837. It was built of logs, and stood a little east of the old
double log house of Col. Seely. A school was taught there the following win
ter. It was in this school-house that many of the pioneer boys and girls of
Portland received all the education they ever obtained. Portland now boasts,
in common with other towns in Whiteside county, of its commodious school-
houses, where every convenience is furnished for securing an excellent common
school education.
One of the notable events in the history of Portland was the tornado of
June 5, 1844. It struck the town about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and came
from the west, crossing Rock river at Crandall's ferry. It must have taken the
water out of the river in crossing, as large fish were afterwards found on the
prairie several miles from it. Its course was through the timber, clearing a
track half a mile wide and three fourths of a mile long, and entirely destroying the
trees. It struck the house of J. Smith Rowe, when the family fearing the fall
of the chimney, ran out of doors, and two of his sons were killed, one of them
having a fence stake driven through him. His daughter was also so seriously
injured that she never entirely recovered. Mr. Rowe's cattle were also killed.
The next premises visited were those of Horace Burke, where it took a large
frame barn that had just been completed bodily from its foundation, and car
ried it over the house which had just been unroofed. As it passed over, the wheat,
oats, etc., which' had been stored in it were emptied into the house. The grain
was in separate piles, which proves that the barn must have been entire when
it passed over the house. The barn was demolished, only the sills and a few of
the large timbers being left. There were twelve persons in Mr. Burke's house
at the time, but none were killed. The house was of logs, and being unroofed
the contents were nearly all destroyed. One of Smith Bowe's cows was carried
nearly half a mile, and landed on Mr. Burke's cook stove, still alive, a son of
Mr. Burke being seriously injured by a kick from her. Mr. Burke lost fourteen
head of cattle, seven horses, and all his hogs, and was personally injured quite
seriously. The gale then struck Daniel Blaisdell's premises, destroying every
thing there except a wagon filled with grass, which was uninjured. It then
visited Robert Mead's and A. T. Bracken's premises, its appetite still good for
houses. At Mr. Bracken's it drove three horses through a sod fence, without
seriously injuring them. Passing on it struck W. T. Minchin's log house at the
Prophetstown line, unroofing it, and also killing his stock. A wagon was taken
up and carried forty rods east of the house, and entirely wrecked, the. tire being
twisted almost into knots. The pole of the wagon was found fourteen years
afterwards in the big slough sixty rods west of the house, where it was driven
into the mire its whole length. A set of nice knives and forks which Mrs.
Blaisdell had wrapped in flannel, was found years afterwards four miles south
east of the house, near Jacob Arnctt's. This is the first tornado in the county
of which we have any record, and its power was felt almost entirely in the town
of Portland, as it did no damage further east.

HISTORY OF PORTLAND TOWNSHIP. 347
Joseph Bruce and Anthony Arnett opened a store in the village of Port
land about 1843 or '44. Solomon M. Seely and Bradford Nichols kept store at
the same place, opening in the new brick building which was erected in 1850.
They continued in business for several years. Smith & Chapman also had a
store there in 1854. Soon after that the trade left Portland for Prophetstown
and as Levi Fuller, Jr., had opened a store at Spring Hill in 1853, trade at Port
land was abandoned.
In 1851, a company consisting of P. B. Besse, R. M. Besse, Col. E. Seely,
Arbela Adams, George Paddock, and David D. Dickerson, was formed under the
name of the Portland Steam Mill Company, for the purpose of sawing the fine
lumber of Portland grove. The Company built a mill and run it eleven years as
a saw mill, and part of the time also as a grist mill. Frederick Dwight furnish
ed the engine from Springfield, Massachusetts, sending it to Peru by Lakes and
Canal, and from thence it was hauled across the country to Portland by team.
The enterprise did not prove remunerative.
In 1855, Dustin Crook and David Brown opened a store at Jefferson
Corners, and after them Wm. Fitch, but they kept for only a few years, and now
the only trading point in the town is at Spring Hill. The Postoffice at Jeffer
son Corners was established in 1852, about the time of establishing the mail
route from Rock Island to ^Princeton, and Benjamin Dow was appointed the
first Postmaster; John L. Marvel is the present Postmaster.
Spring Hill was laid out and platted about 1853, and Levi Fuller and
Horace Fuller opened a store there, the former afterwards purchasing the
whole interest, and doing an extensive business until 1872, when he discon
tinued trade at that point. It now contains three general merchandize stores
one hardware store, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, -besides other
mechanic shops, and a Masonic Hall. In 1869 a steam saw and grist mill was
erected but it did not prove a success, and ran only a few years. A mail route
was established from Princeton to Rock Island, running through Spring Hill, as
early as 1852, Lewis D. Crandall being the mail agent. The first Postoffice
was established at Spring Hill, in 1853, and Levi Fuller appointed Postmaster.
Dr. E. Talcott is the present Postmaster. A daily stage route from Morrison
to Geneseo, Henry county, runs through the place. A semi-weekly mail is also
carried from Spring Hill to Yorktown, which supplies Jefferson Corners. Spring
Hill has a fine school house erected in 1859. Bollen Lodge, No. 412 A. F & A
M., meets at the- Masonic Hall in Spring Hill. The Lodge was chartered October
5, 1864, the following being the charter members: Thomas Bollen, Reuben
Langdon, Amos Baxter, John Riley, S. W. Morton, Alexander J. Mead, Joseph
Arnett, Levi Fuller, A. S. Scott, John L. Marvel, James M. Lanph'ere and
John S. Hale. The present officers of the Lodge are : John L. Marvel W
M.; Benoni C. Benson, S. W.; Wm. McNeil, Jr., J. W.; J. J. McNeil S.' D ¦
C. C. Fuller, J. D.; Thomas Bollen, Treasurer; B. F. Brooks; Secretary; Wm!
P. Taber, S. S.; J. Timmerman, T. The Lodge has now forty members.
The first saw mill in Portland was run by man power. N. G. Reynolds
and Col. E. Seely had each brought a pit saw, and taking advantage of the
hole in the ground in which Norman B. Seely had wintered in 1834 turned it
into a mill by clearing it out and laying hewn timbers over it. By this means
they arranged the top and bottom sawyer, and cut lumber for the first floors
laid in the cabins of the pioneers. One hundred and fifty to two hundred feet
was considered a good day's work for each saw.
Kempster's saw mill is situated at the lower end of the Dutch bottom
adjoining a fine body of timber, and was erected in the winter of 1855-'56 bv
William and Ephraim Kempster, and Jacob Butzer. The latter afterwards sold

348 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
out to J. Henry Kempster, and the three brothers have continued the business
until the present time. The mill at first had a double rotary saw, the power
being furnished by a Gates engine purchased in 1855, in Chicago, which is still
good. In 1872 a new mill was added, and other saws, together with a
turning lathe put in, since which turned material has been manufactured to the
amount of $10,000 a year for firms in Davenport, Iowa, and other cities.
Lumber to the amount of six hundred thousand feet per year has been sawed at
this mill. Martin Reis also built a saw mill near the Kempster mill about
1853, but ran it only a few years.
In 1846, David B. Seely found imbedded in the bank of Rock river, at the
village of Portland, twenty-seven feet below the surface of the ground in a
gravel and sandy formation, a tusk which was declared by the savants at New
York to be that of an elephant. It was four feet and four inches long, five
inches in diameter, and weighed in a partly decomposed state, thirty-two pounds.
It was taken to New York, and became a part of Barnum's collection, and was
probably burned with his museum. There was also found at the same place, a
portion of the hip bone of an animal, with a socket hole as large as a wash
basin. The agricultural resources of Portland were at first winter wheat and cat
tle. The former was raised about eight years, mnd then spring wheat for
about the same length of time. Corn is now the principal product, nearly all of
which is fed to hogs and cattle.
The Presbyterian Church and society in Portland, was organized at Sharon,
in 1839, by Rev Mr. Wilcox, of Geneseo, Henry county. The first members
were: Deacon Kemmis, Mrs. Kemmis, his mother, Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah H.
Johnson, Mrs. Nathaniel Norton, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Getty, Mrs. Durfee,
Reuben Hurd and Horace Hurd. The society was organized in the school
house near James Rowe's place, and in which the little church held their first
meetings. It was not long before they were blessed by the addition of twenty
members, mostly by confession of faith. The old log school house became too
small for the requirements of the church, and steps were_ taken to build a
meeting house. Such was the energy with which the work was prosecuted
that on Christmas Day, 1841, it was finished and dedicated. Nathaniel Norton
was the largest contributor towards the erection of the church, but all con
tributed according to their limited means. Mr. Norton soon afterwards donated
ten acres of land to the church, and assisted largely in erecting a comfortable
parsonage at a cost of $400. Rev. Daniel Rockwell was the first settled pastor,
and he ministered to their spiritual wants for two years, some twelve members
being added to the church during the time. Rev. Mr. Bliss, a returned
missionary, then took charge and remained one year. Following him was Rev.
Amasa C. Lord, who remained a year and a half. Rev. E. R. Martin then be
came pastor, and continued his labors for seven years. Under his pastorate
the church obtained its greatest prosperity, having fifty-one members. Un
fortunately the parsonage, with all the church records, was burned at this time.
A new ohe was, however, soon erected. At the close of Mr. Martin's term,
Rev. Joseph Baldwin became pastor, remaining only six months, and was suc-
ceeeded by Rev. Wm. Kenricks, who continued in charge for three years. The
next settled clergyman was Rev. J. P. Chambers who continued his labors for
three years, after which the church was without stated pastoral supply for six
years. Rev. Mr. Corbett is the present pastor, and during his ministry twenty-
five have been added to the church. It now has a membership of forty. There
is a fine cemetery adjoining the church, and in it sleep a large number of the
oldest settlers. There is also a cemetery adjoining the school house on section

HISTORY OF PORTLAND TOWNSHIP. 349
14, in which there is a handsome monument erected by the citizens of the town
in honor of her brave and noble sons who fell in the war for the preservation of
the Union. The first town meeting in Portland township, under the township organiza
tion law, was held April 6, 1852, at which town officers were elected for that
year. The town records show that a vote was passed at the town meeting in
1854 to pay a bounty of one dollar for every wolf killed, and in 1859 it was in
creased to two dollars. The consequence was that many wolves where killed.
In 1855, and again in 1864, every person owning more than one dog was taxed
one dollar for each additional canine, the amount collected to go to. the school
fund. In 1857 it was voted "that all estrays, after being ten days in the pos
session of any person taking up said estray, shall cause an entry to be made in
the town records, or pay a penalty double the value of said estray, to defray the
expenses of the town the ensuing year." At the town meeting in 1870, and
again in 1871, it was voted to fine all hogs and sheep found running at large
ten dollars a head, the owners, of course, having to pay the fine. The proposi
tion to build a Town Hall was defeated in 1873, by a vote of 15 to 86. The
town of Portland did not pay any extra bounties during the war, but filled her
quota with the county bounty, and had surplus enough left to defray the town
expenses for 1867.
The following have been the Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessors, Col
lectors, and Justices of the Peace, elected in the township of Portland, from
the organization of the township, in 1852, until the present time:
Supervisors: — 1852, George Paddock — Mr. Paddock resigned during the
year, and P. Bacchus Besse was appointed to fill the vacancy; 1853-58, P.
Bacchus Besse; 1859-60, Alphonso Brooks; 1861, Daniel F. Cole; 1862, A.
T. Bracken; 1863-64, Horace B. Cole; 1865, P. Bacchus Besse; 1866, Levi
Fuller; 1867, Henry Kempster; 1868-69, P. Bacchus Besse; 1870-71, Daniel
F. Cole; 1872-74, John L. Marvel; 1875-76, P. Bacchus Besse; 1877, Daniel
F. Cole. Town Clerks: — 1852, Alphonso Brooks; 1853-54, Solomon M. Seely;
1855-57, Alphonso Brooks; 1858-65, Caleb P. Lanphere; 1866, H. J. Ander
son; 1867-68, Caleb P. Lanphere; 1869, D. F. Cole; 1870, E. J. Talcott;
1871-73, J. Fradenburgh; 1874-75, Caleb P. Lanphere— Mr. Lanphere died
in 1875, and J. S. Logan was appointed to fill the vacancy; 1876, J. S. Logan;
1877, Alfred D. Booth.
Assessors: — 1852, John S. Logan; 1853, John M. Brooks; 1854, Horace
B. Cole; 1855, D. Porter Brewer; 1856-58, John S. Logan; 1859-60, George
Paddock; 1861-63, John S. Logan; 1864, Arbela Adams; 1865-69, Rodney
M. Besse; 1870-74, John S. Logan; 1875-77, Andrew J. Seely.
¦Collectors:— 1852, Levi Fuller; 1853, Edward S. Dickinson; 1854-56,
Levi Fuller; 1857, Richard Brown; 1858-65, Levi Fuller; 1866, George Ful
ler; 1867-68, Samuel J. Arnett; 1869, Levi Fuller; 1870, George Fuller;
1871-72, B. F. Brooks; 1873, Erastus Fuller; 1874, B. F. Brooks; 1875, Eras
tus Fuller; 1876, William McNeil, Jr.; 1877, W. C. Graham.
Justices of the Peace: — 1852, John P. Welding; 1854, John Ruffcom,
David B. Seely; 1858, Daniel F. Cole, John S. Logan; 1860, Daniel F. Cole,
Alphonso Brooks; 1864, Daniel F. Cole, John S. Logan; 1868, Daniel F. Cole,
John S. Logan; 1872, Daniel F. Cole, George T. Martin; 1873, Daniel F. Cole,
John Riley; 1875, Gilbert Rogers; 1877, Daniel F. Cole, Gilbert Rogers.
The township of Portland contains 15,049 acres of improved land, and
7,194 acres of unimproved land. The Assessor's books show that the number
of horses in the township in 1877, was 773; number of cattle, 1,969; mules

350 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
and asses, 29; sheep, 239; hogs, 3,174; carriages and wagons, 245; watches
and clocks, 192;' sewing and knitting machines, 101; pianofortes, 1; melodeons
and organs, 29. Total assessed value of lands, lots, and personal property in
1877, $423,010.
The population of the township in 1870, according to the Federal census
of that year, was 986, of which 882 were of native birth, and 104 of foreign
birth. In 1860 Portland had a population of 906. The estimated population
in 1877, is 1,050. Biographical.
Norman B. Seely was born in Genesee county, New York, in 1809. He
married Miss Lydia Crook, and came to the Rock River country in June, 1834,
with Asa Crook, locating where the village of Portland now is. He remained
until 1839, when he went to Jones county, Iowa, where he laid out the town of
Rome, built a saw mill, and engaged in farming for many years. He went twice
to California, where he built another mill, and losing his health, returned to Port
land. He died in October, 1874, aged 65 years. He was a good type of the
pioneer, and made many friends wherever his enterprising spirit took him. He
built the first house in Portland, merely a hole in the ground, in which he win
tered in 1834, working meanwhile in Rock Island, on the Government works.
He walked home from that place, a distance of 40 miles, every Saturday night,
bringing supplies for his family, and returned each Monday morning. His chil
dren are as follows: Mary, George, Sarah, Norman, Ellen, Mack, and Josephine.
Mary and Norman are dead; George and Mack are in California; Sarah married
J. B. Hagan, and resides in Henry county, Illinois; Ellen married James Stew
art, and Josephine married H. Jones; they reside in California. Mrs. Norman
B. Seely is still living, and is also a resident of California.
Alexander J. Seely came to Portland with his brother Norman. He
worked at his trade, that of blacksmithing, until November, 1838, when he got
into a difficulty with an Indian, and the latter was killed, fie secreted himself
in cornfields for a time, and finally succeeded in leaving the country. He went
to Texas, was in the war with Mexico, and was taken a prisoner and probably
killed. He married Philene Blackmore. Their children were Jennette and
Robette, who are now married and living in Michigan. Mrs. Seely afterwards
married Chauncey Van Duzen.
Mitchell Ruxton lived in Portland a few years. His subsequent history
is not known.
Horace Burke was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts. He lived
in Bennington county, Vermont, 20 years. In 1830 he moved to Erie county,
New York, and in 1834 came to Cook county, Illinois, and opened a farm on the
Joliet road. He was by trade a carpenter, and worked in Chicago helping to
raise and frame the first two-story house in that city. He came to Portland in
June, 1834, where he still lives. He lost his entire improvements in the tornado
of 1844, and nearly all his stock. He rebuilt, and the weary traveler and emi
grant have always found a cordial welcome in his house. . It was the place for
holding elections from 1836 to 1853. He married Miss Lydia Sprague in 1832,
and after her death, married Mrs. Hannah Witt, in 1850. Children: James,
Dwight E., Sarah, Georgia, Alice, Julia, and Lydia. Dwight E. is dead; Geor
gia married Frank Haddaway, and is also dead; Alice married Theodore Wyman
and lives in Iowa; James married Miss Mary Briggs, Sarah married Wm. Har
ris, Julia married Geo. Curry, and Lydia married Monroe Occobock — the last
four mentioned reside in Kansas.
Simeon Fuller was bornin Oneida county, New York, in 1789. He mar
ried Lucina Wade in 1816. He lived in Erie county, New York, 20 years, and

BIOGRAPHICAL. 351
came with his family to Portland in November, 1835. He is still living with
his wife near Geneseo, Henry county. He was the first. Justice of the Peace in
Portland, receiving his commission in 1837, and was a highly respected citizen.
Children: Lucy, Melissa, Merilla, and Charles. Lucy married John P.
Welding, and is now dead; Melissa married Levi Fuller, and resides in Port
land; Merilla married Alden Tuller, and lives in Prophetstown; Charles mar
ried Miss Catharine Brady, and is a resident of Henry county, Illinois.
P. Bacchus Besse was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1812. He
moved to Erie county in 1819, and from there came to Portland in July, 1835,
and made a claim where he now lives. In 1843 he married Sarah, daughter of
Asa Crook. He has always been one of the leading men of the town, having
been County Commissioner several years, Supervisor and Township Trustee 12
years each, and Justice of the Peace three years. Children: Eugene L., now
dead; Josephine, who married E. Paddock, and lives in Prophetstown; Louisa,
who married Erastus Fuller, and resides in Portland; George, who married Miss
Emma Allen, and lives in Kansas; Sarah, who married Jos. Fones, and also
lives in Kansas; Henry Clay, who married Miss Alice Crossley. and is a resident
of Hume township; Robert, Kate, Albert, Merriam", James E., and Lucy, who
live at their home in Portland.
Simeon Chaffee was born in Madison county, New York, in 1804. He
married Polly, daughter of W. H. Cushman. He came to Portland in 1835,
settling west of Spring Hill, on the Getty farm.
John Smith Rowe was born in 1800. He came from Steuben county,
New York, in 1835, and made a claim in Portland adjoining Horace Burke. He
lost nearly everything he possessed in the tornado of 1844, and two of his sons
— Delanson and William — were killed at that time. He married Miss Rachel
Shirror, who died in 1852. Children: Delanson, and William, deceased; George
W., who married Miss Julia Kempster, and lives in Henry county; Louisa, who
married Lafayette Crandall,. and resides in Erie; Elvira, who married A. J.
Warner, and is now dead; Eliza, who married John W. Kempster, and lives in
Portland; Mary, who married James Cocking, and lives in Erie; Robert Emmet,
who enlisted in the army of the rebellion, and was killed at the battle of Chick-
amauga, Tennessee.
Robert Getty was born in Washington county, New York, in 1810. He
came to Portland in 1835, and settled near Sharon, in the vicinity of the county
line. His death occurred in 1864. He married Miss Eliza Elliott, and after
her death was married to Miss Agnes Mead. Children : Frances Maria, who
married H. Fletcher, and lives at Brooklyn, N. Y.; Ann Eliza, who married
Henry Slade, and, after his decease, P. C. Langdon, and also lives in Brooklyn,
N. Y.; Agnes, who married Orlando Wells, and resides in Geneseo, Illinois;
Luella Jane, who is a deaf mute teacher in the State Asylum at' Jacksonville,
Illinois; Kate, who resides in Geneseo.
John Baxter was born in Barnstable, Massachusetts, in 1800, and was
Captain of a schooner on the Providence and Philadelphia line until 1835, when
he came to Portland and purchased a claim of Alexander Seely. Upon con
cluding his purchase he returned for his family, and brought them on in No
vember, 1835, remaining at the cabin of J. W. Stakes, near Prophetstown, until
the next spring, when he moved to his farm on the Dutch bottoms, also keeping
a store near Sharon, in 1847 or 1848. In 1855 he went to Geneseo, Henry
county, where he now resides. Mr. Baxter married Miss Esther Howe, in 1825.
Mr. and Mrs. Baxter had thirteen children, nine of whom are living : John,
who married Miss Melvina Andrews, and lives in New York; Amos, who mar
ried Miss Minerva Emery, and lives in Portland; Esther, who married Samuel

352 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Dennison, and lives in Moline; Louisa, who married Andrew Crawford, and lives
in Chicago; Azula, who married Hiram Fogg, and lives in Moline; Augusta,
who married Chas. W. Perrin, and lives in Geneseo. Hiram lives in Iowa; Sa
mantha in Chicago, and George W. in New York, and are unmarried.
Alpiionzo Brooks was born in Onondaga county, New York, in 1812, and
came to Du Page county, Illinois, in 1833, and to Portland, Whiteside county,
in 1835. His family came in the spring of 1836. He lived for six years on
what is now known as the Wallingford farm, and and after that near Spring
Hill where he kept a public house for twenty-two years. He has been Super
visor, Town Clerk, and Justice of the Peace, of the township, and also Post
master. He is still living. Mr. Brooks has been twice married. His first wife
was Miss Eliza Teats, and his second, Mrs. Mary Whitcomb, whom he married
in 1872. The children are : Benjamin F., who married Miss Mary Lanphere,
and lives in Portland; Alice, who married Jacob Shetters, and lives in Iowa;
Marion, who married Miss Eliza Woodside, and lives in Iowa; and Rose E. who
married James Parks, and lives in Iowa.
William H. Cushman settled in Portland in 1835. It is not certain
where he was born, some claiming that he came from Virginia, while Mr. Burke
says that he came from Vermont, and that he served as a soldier in the war of
1812. He sold his farm in Portland in 1837 to Nathanial Norton, tak
ing a new claim near by, where he lived several years, and then went to Oregon.
He married Miss Betsey Barnett, the children of the marriage being : Daniel;
Polly, who married Simeon Chaffee, and after his death, Mr. Morehouse; Wal
lace; Flavie, whomarried Chauncey Rowe; Halloway; John; Bladore, who married
Miss Hattie Coburn, and David C., all of whom live in Oregon, and Narcissa,
who married John Kane, and lives in Iowa.
Joy H. Avery came to Portland in 1835, and made the first claim on the
Dutch bottom. He died in 1838, and in 1839 his claim was sold to Martin Reis,
Jacob Schuck, and Rudolph Urick.
Christian Benson was born in Gottenburg, Sweden, in 1805, and came to
this country in 1820 with Capt. Benoni Cook, of Providence, Bhode Island, as
a sailor, fie was employed in 1822 on the Robert Fulton, one of the first suc
cessful steamboats then running between New York and Providence. He soon
becameapilot,andforyearsfollowed the business on that route. Hell Gate was as
familiar to himasastraightpath,andthestorms of Point Judith hadno more terror
for him than an April shower. Becoming tired of the water, he came West with
his old comrade Capt. Baxter, and arrived at Dixon late in November, 1835. In
company with Smith Rowe, they started out on the prairie for Portland, and
when on the road to Prophetstown Mr. Benson got into a slough, and in trying
to extricate himself became thoroughly wet, and it being cold both of his feet
were frozen, so that he was obliged to remain at Mr. Stakes' cabin five weeks.
He settled first on the bottom, but afterwards built on the high land. In 1849,
he went to California, where he remained two years, and then returned, and is
still living with his only son, Benoni C., near Spring Hill. His children are :
Emily, who married James Bryant, and lives in Portland, and Benoni C, who
first married Miss Ammisetta Martin, and after her death-, Miss Susan Bulger,
and lives in Portland.
Daniel Blaisdell was born in Vermont, in 1778, and came to Portland
in 1836, settling on the place now owned by his son Mason. He was one of the
first County Commissioners elected in 1839, and was a man of excellent judg
ment, and very highly respected. He died in 1855. He had two children,
Mason, who married Miss Alzina Rowe, and lives in Portland, and Caroline, wife
of Daniel F. Cole, who also lives in Portland.

BIOGRAPHICAL. 353
Levi Fuller, Sr., was born in Connecticut, in 1793. He married Miss
Betsey Martin, and came to Portland, in 1836. His large family of seven sons
and three daughters have all been identified with the history of the town. He
died in 1849, but his widow is still living near Spring Hill at the ripe age of 85.
The children have been : Rachel, wife of John Timmerman, living in Portland;
Edmund, who married Miss Maria Turner, and is now dead; Levi", Jr., who
married Miss Melissa Fuller, and lives in Erie; John, who married Bliss Almira
Lanphere, and lives in Portland; George, who married Miss Chloe Marvel, and
lives in Nebraska; Horace, who married Bliss Purleyetta Taylor, and lives in
Iowa; Eliza, who married George Richardson, and is now dead; Lucinda, wife of
Clark Lanphere, living in Portland; and James M. and Benjamin, both of whom
are dead. Robert Thompson was born in the county of Monahan, Ireland, in 1801.
He was married to Miss Lydia Graham, in 1824, and came to the United States
in 1830. He made a settlement in Portland in June, 1836, locating where he
now lives. He was a carpenter by trade, and in 1837 built the Atkins house
(now Richard Arey's) in Coloma. He is a thorough and practical farmer, and
has, with his sons, introduced some fine blooded stock into the township. His
children are all settled near him, and are as follows : Mary, who married Wm.
Besse, and lives in Portland; Richard, who married Miss Lavina Williams, and
resides in Portland; William, who married Miss Laura Fay, and lives in Bureau
county; Elizabeth, who married J. R. Berry; Robert, who married Miss Lydia
Fairhurst, John, who married Miss Celestia Herman, and all reside in Portland;
Hiram, who is unmarried, and also resides in Portland.
John Smith Logan was born in Yates county, New York, in 1815. He
came to Portland in 1836, and settled about a mile west of Spring Hill. It
would be hard to find a single enterprise in his neighborhood, that has not re
ceived his aid and encouragement. The year after his arrival he greatly assisted
in building the first school house in the township, and, in 1841, to his efforts in
a great measure was due the erection of the first and only church in the town.
As Justice of the Peace, Town Clerk, Assessor, and in other town offices, he has
served the people, and always with satisfaction. In 1876, he sold his farm and
purchased a home in Prophetstown, where he now resides. In the year 1844 he
married Miss Elizabeth Warren, who died in 1863. In 1865 he was united in
marriage to Mrs. Mary Ashton. The children of Mr. Logan are : Herman, who
served as a volunteer in the 34th Illinois regiment, and now resides in Nebraska;
George E., who was a volunteer in the 140th Illinois regiment, and also resides
in Nebraska; Addis G., and Robert E., who reside in Portland.
James Rowe was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1803, and settled
in Portland in 1836, making a claim one and one half miles west of Spring Hill,
where he opened a fine farm upon which he resided until his death in 1871. He
was a good citizen, a man of clear judgment, and his death was universally re
gretted. He was twice married, his first wife being Mary Ann Huff, and his
second wife Hannah Avery. Children : Algina, who married Mason Blaisdell,
and lives in Portland; John S., who married Bliss Nancy Briggs, and resides in
Kansas; Elizabeth, who married Clover Laird, and also resides in Kansas; Van
Rensselaer, who married Miss Jane Brooks, and lives in Portland; William Al
mont, and Lewis Edward, are unmarried, and also live in Portland.
Guy Ray was born in Berkshire county, Mass., in 1806. In the year 1835
he eame West by canal and the lakes to Chicago, where he purchased a horse,
and proceeded to explore the country. On his route he stopped at Dixon, and
from thence went to Rock Island where there were but three log cabins at the
time. As he returned he stopped at Prophetstown, and at that place found the
[45-P.]

354 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.

only white settlers between Rock Island and Dixon. Being pleased with the
vicinity he made a claim one mile south of Portland Village, and contracted for
the building of a log house. He then went back for his family, and in the fol
lowing June brought them to Portland. Onhis arrival he found himself without
a shelter, as the party with whom he had contracted to build a house had failed
to perform his agreement. Not dismayed he went to work in the heat of the
summer, and cut logs on Indian island, floating them down the river, and built
himself a double log house. On the 10th of September, 1836, his wife died,
being the first adult death in the township. He brought a few goods with him
when he came in June, which he sold in his house, thus becoming the first store
keeper in the town. BIr. Ray was interested in the construction of the race from
Lyndon across the bend, upon which a mill was erected, but the enterprise proved
a failure. His farm was one of the best managed in the town, and his stock
equal to the best iu'the county. He was the first County Clerk of Whiteside
county, being elected in 1839. He also filled the office of School Treasurer of
the township for a number of years. In 1876 he moved to Vinton, Benton
county, Iowa, where he now resides. BIr. Ray was married three times, first to
Elizabeth Harmon, second, to Samantha Harmon, and third, to Louisa Pomeroy.
The children are, Emma, wife of Homer Slate, living in Henry county, Illinois;
Camilla, wife of Rev. BIr. Dalzell, living in Baltimore, and Frank, and Elizabeth,
living in Vinton, Iowa.
Hiram Harmon was a native of Berkshire county. Blassachusetts, and
came to Portland with Guy Ray. He was a wagon maker by trade, and was
probably the first in the county. He was interested in the Lyndon mill race,
and lost all he had at that time. On leaving Portland he went to Round
Grove, in Hopkins township, where he lived for several years, and then went to
Fenton, and built a saw mill on Rock creek. Mr. Harmon was County Com
missioner for some time, and in 1860 was Supervisor of Fe nton township. In
1S58 he was struck by lightning, from which he did not recover for a number
of years. He is now residing in Colorado.
Roderick M. Besse was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1816, and
came to Portland in 1836, locating his farm adjoining that of his brother, P. B.
Besse. He was Justice of the Peace, and Assessor of Portland township for
several terms. He married Bliss Marietta Green, in 1855, and is now living in
the village of Prophetstown.
Jeduthan Seely, Sr., was born in Washington county, New York, in 1778
and moved to Cayuga county, New York, in 1802, thence to Genesee county, in
1807, and thence to Cattaraugus county, in the same State, in 1823. In 1836
he came West with his son, Ebenezer, and settled in Portland. In the fall he
was attacked with the prevailing disease, bilious fever, and sent for Dr. Blax-
well, a newly arrived physician, who, thinking bleeding was necessary, tried the
experiment, and his patient died in less than an hour, at the age of fifty-eight
years. BIr. Seely married Bliss Sally Gibbs, and their children have been,
Ebenezer, Horace, Jeduthan, Jr., Norman B., Alexander J., and Blary E., all of
whom came West, and are further mentioned in this History. Mrs. Seely
moved soon after her husband's death to Jones county, Iowa, where she lived
with her son, Norman B., until 1841, when she died.
Col. Ebenezer Seely was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1802,
and married Bliss Dolly Maynard, in 1824. He moved with his father to Cat
taraugus county, New York, in 1823, where he successfully engaged in farming
and lumbering. In the summer of 1834 he concluded to explore the new West,
and first went to Bliehigan where he expected to find his brothers Norman B.
and Alexander J., but upon ascertaining that they had pushed on farther west;

BIOGRAPHICAL. 355
followed them to Dixon's ferry, and thence to Prophetstown, arriving at the
latter place, September 24, 1834. The next day he made a claim where he now
lives. His health not being good he soon after started for his New York home,
but upon arriving at John Dixon's he was so much worse that he was compelled
to remain there for three months. He pursued his journey immediately upon
his recovery, and arriving at home sold his farm, and mill property, and with a
raft of lumber started down the Alleghany river. His father and mother, John
Reed, wife and child, and Henry Brewer, wife and three children, accompanied
him and his family on the raft, with all their household goods. He sold his
lumber at Louisville, and took a steamer for St. Louis, and thence to Rock
Island, where he arrived on the 4th of June, 1835. By dint of great persever
ance he procured a team to take his family to his new home, and then
returning to Rock Island chartered- a small ferry boat, loaded it with his effects,
and started up the river. When he had got within sixteen miles of his desti
nation, he fortunately found some teams to take his goods to Portland. He
had brought provisions for a year's supply for his family, but he was not the
man to refuse to feed the stranger, or share with his neighbor, and as there
was considerable immigration that fall his supply soon became exhausted. St.
Louis was the best market for provisions, and Col. Seely, in conjunction with
his neighbors, William Hill, Marvin Frary, N. G. Reynolds, and Asa Crook,
sent Capt. Dix to that place with $1,300 to purchase the needed supplies.
Capt. Dix was robbed of the money on his journey, and then there was nothing
to do but go to Knox county, to which place Col. Seely and Mr. Frary started
with teams to purchase wheat, pork, etc. By the time they had bought the
wheat, fanned it in the primitive style to which they were compelled to resort,
taken it to the mill and had it ground, and had procured their pork, and other
articles, winter was upon them. The creeks and small rivers were freezing up,
the sloughs would not bear a team, thereby entailing great hardship in getting home.
Col. Seely's house always furnished a shelter for the newly arrived settler until
he could build a cabin for himself, and the hospitality shown by him and his
amiable wife will be long remembered. He has always been held in high esti
mation by his fellow townsmen, and when the land came into market in 1843,
was selected to enter all the lands around Portland village, and re-deed to the
owners of the different claims and lots, a duty which he performed to the ut
most satisfaction of all. This delicate and important duty was only entrusted
in the different townships to men upon whose integrity a full reliance could be
placed. Col. Seely is now in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and still in the
possession of all his faculties. At the annual gathering of the old settlers, at
Hamilton's Grove, he is the one most eagerly sought for to relate the incidents
and reminiscences of pioneer life, and much of the success of these meetings
are due to his genial presence. John Reed, who came with him, remained in
Portland for a time, and then went to Missouri, where he is still living. Henry
Brewer stayed only a year or two, and then settled in Sterling. He was the
father of Aid. George W. Brewer, of that city. Mrs. Seely died January 6,
1874, aged 72 years. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Seely have been: Solomon
M., who married Miss Rachael E. Leland, was in trade at Portland for several
years, afterwards went to California, and upon his return engaged in business
in Sterling, and was for a time proprietor of the Wallace House, in that city,
and is now residing in Jones county, Iowa; David B., who first married Miss
Jane Maynard, and after her death, Bliss Frances Adams, and died in 1874;
Sarah G., wife of Alexander M. Hetfield, living in Portland; Andrew J., who
married Miss Armina Williams, and is a farmer in Portland, and has been
Assessor of the township for the past three years; Martin V., who first married

356 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Miss Almina Maynard, and after her death, Bliss Kate Keeler — has been engaged
infarming, and stock raising in Portland, was President of the Whiteside county
Agricultural Society for several years, and now resides in Prophetstown where
he owns a fine hotel, known as the Seely House; Caroline, wife of S. H. Beards-
lee, living at Clam Lake, Michigan; and Jane A., wife of A. B. Crosby, living
at New York city.
Horace G. Seely was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1804, and
started for Illinois in company with his brother Jeduthan and family, and his
sister, Mrs. Blarvin Frary, late in the fall of 1835, but could get no further than
Quincy, Illinois, on account of the cold weather and ice. They remained all
winter at a camp meeting ground, three miles from Quincy, and arrived at Port
land in Blarch. He resided at Portland for a few years, and then went to
Jones county, Iowa, where he is still living, hale and hearty, at seventy-three
years of age. He married Bliss Bethsheba Blilk.
Lewis Arnett was a native of Alsace, France, and born in 1791. He
came to the United States in 1827, settling first at Rochester, New York, and
then in Warren county, Pennsylvania, and came to Portland in 1837, making a
claim on the county line in section 35. He died in 1868. BIr. Arnett married
Bliss Clara Sheddick. Their children have been: Lewis, now dead; Jacob, who
married Miss Charlotte Summers, and lives in Geneseo, Henry county; Blary,
wife of Samuel Cogswell, living in Pennsylvania; Anthony, who married Miss
Mary Ann Graham, and lives in Colorado; Catharine, wife of David Heller,
living in Henry county; Joseph, whose first wife was Bliss Martha Warren, and
second Bliss Blarietta Butzen; Philip, now dead; Susan, who married Simeon
Heller, and is now dead; William, who married Bliss Maria Britton, and lives in
Henry county; George, who married Bliss Blargaret Severance, and lives in
Henry county; Samuel, who married Miss Catherine Urick, aud lives in Henry
county; and John, unmarried, who also lives in Henry county.
Job Dodge was born in Blontpelier, Vermont, in 1819, and came to Port
land in 1838. He first engaged in mercantile business and pork packing, in
Portland and Prophetstown, and continued in that line until 1848, when he be
came a plow manufacturer at Peru, Illinois, which business he has followed to
the present time. His residence is at Philadelphia. He had only one child,
Virginia, who died in childhood. He was married in 1841 to Miss Mary E.
Warner. Jacob Arnett was born in Elstein, France, in 1815, and came with his
father to the United States in 1827. When coming West he stopped for a
short time in Joliet, Will county, Illinois, and came to Portland in 1836, making
his claim on section 35. He became early noted for his untiring industry, and
trading habits. He would dig ditches, put up fences, or work at haying and
harvesting as far as Como, and take his pay in stock, or in anything he could after
wards barter, and in a few years accumulated a good property. When the Cal
ifornia excitement broke out, it was an easy matter for him to fit out fine teams,
and go with the adventurers to the land of gold. He used his teams to paying
advantage while there, and when he was pretty well supplied with the precious
metal returned to his home in Portland. He retired from farming some years
ago, and moved to Geneseo, Henry county, where he is extensively engaged in
dealing in agricultural implements. He married Miss Charlotte Summers in
1842, their children being; Lewis C, who married Bliss Sarah Rose, and lives in
Portland; Samuel J., who married Miss Eliza Grozenburg, and lived in Geneseo;
Phillip S., who married Miss Eliza Wagner, and lives in Portland; Mary, wife of
Andrew Smith, living in Henry county; Albert, who married Miss Celia Parker,

BIOGRAPHICAL. 357
and lives in Portland; Clara, wife of Abram Rapp, living in Henry county; and
Oletta, who lives in Geneseo, Henry county.
Jesse Slawson was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1809, and came to
Portland in 1836. He was a carpenter by trade, and also followed farming near
Spring Hill, while he was a resident of Portland. He now lives in Nebraska.
Mr. Slawson married Miss Rachael M. Fuller, in 1833. Their children are:
Andrew, who married Miss Catharine Joice, and lives in Missouri; Jesse D.,
who married Miss Lucy Kinney, and lives in Nebraska; Charles H., who mar
ried Miss Lydia Briggs, and lives in Kansas; Earl B., who married Miss Cor
delia Brown, and lives in Nebraska; Howard F., who married Miss Mary Hep-
worth, and lives in New York; Seth H., who married Miss Jennie Patch, and
lives in Portland; and Mary L., wife of Merritt Clifton," living in Portland.
Amos Young was born in Madison county, New York, in 1815, and settled
in Portland in 1836. In 1864 he moved to Iowa. He married Miss Sophia
East, and their two children, Gertrude, and Joseph, reside in Iowa. .-
Walter Young was born in Madison county, New York, in 1816, and came
to Portland in 1838. He afterwards went to California, and was successful in
his operations, and since his return farmed near Spring Hill, for some time,
and then moved to Geneseo, Henry county. He married Miss Laura Morrill,
who died in Geneseo, in March, 1877. The children, Luella, Mary L., and Chas.
W., are residing with Mr. Young in Geneseo.
Alden Tuller was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1812. He came to
Illinois first in 1833, and settled in Joliet, Will county, where he remained
until May, 1835, when he came to Portland, and made a claim adjoining Spring
Hill. He lived in Portland until about 1854, when he moved to Prophetstown
and purchased a farm on Jackson street, upon which he now resides. He mar
ried Miss Harriet M. Fuller in 1837. Their children have been : Albert, who
married Miss Nellie Whiteraft, and lives in Kansas; Helen, who married Charles
Hummeston, and is now dead; Ernest and Wilbur, who live in Prophetstown;
and Agnes, now dead.
Samuel Hall came with Col. Seely in 1836, and settled near Simeon
Fuller's place. He died in 1844 or 1845. He had three children — Andrew,
Eliza, and Marietta.
Ephraim Summers came in 1836, and lived for a few years in Portland.
He was a blacksmith, and is now living in Fulton.
Smith Hurd was born in Bennington, Vermont, in 1786, and came to Port
land in 1839. He married Miss Fanny Booth in 1806. Their children have
been : Horace H., who married Miss Lydia Winters; he was a good mechanic,
and invented the grater cider-mill; he came to Portland in 1837, and settled
near Spring Hill; his children were, Adliza, wife of William Booth, now living
in Prophetstown, and Henry, who married Miss Metta Smith, and is now a resi
dent of Nebraska. Reuben, who first married Miss Clarissa Carr, and, after her
death, Miss Polly Ann Sprague; he is the inventor of Hurd's hog-tamer, and
wagon and car brake, etc. Harriet B., who married Henry R. Stone, and is now
dead; Moses, who married Miss Mary A. McClaughry, and lives in Oregon;
Mary A., who married Sydney Martin, and is now dead; Jane E. wife of Rev.
Mr. Buck, living in Oregon; and Hester C, wife of William P. Tabor, living in
Portland. Daniel F. Cole was born in Montgomery county,New York, in 1816, and at
an early age moved to Erie county, New York. In 1837 he came to Portland,
and made a claim where he now lives. He married Miss Caroline Blaisdell in
1839. Their children have been : Almon, a practicing lawyer in Macomb,
Illinois, and Nettie, now dead. Mr. Cole was elected County Commissioner in

358 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
1849, and has held the office of Supervisor of the township for several terms,
and Justice of the Peace for twenty years.
Horace B. Cole was born in Erie county, New York, in 1821, and
came to Portland in 1S40. His first occupation at his new home was teaching
school. He has filled various township offices to the satisfaction of the people,
and is now living on his farm. BIr. Cole married Miss Belinda Brewer in 1850.
Their children are : Hugh Wallace, Tibbie, and Frederick.
Andrew T. Bracken was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1802, and
settled in Portland in 1837. He married Blrs. Mary Crook Pennell, daughter
of Asa Crook. The children by this marriage are : James M., living in Iowa;
William, who married Miss Eva Poor, and lives in Iowa; and Jackson, who
married Miss Sarah Besse, and lives in Portland. Blrs. Bracken had one child
by her first marriage, Nelson, who married Bliss Tinnie Fones, and resides in
Henry county, Illinois. BIr. Bracken died in 1870; the widow still resides in
Portland. Robert Woodside was a native of Erie county, Pennsylvania, and born in
1812. He came to Portland in 1837, and married Miss Lucy Crook in 1842.
There were no children. BIr. Woodside died in 1873.
James Graham was born in Ireland in 1796, and came to the United
States in 1836. He settled in Portland in 1837. He married Miss Eliza Mar
tin, and their children have been : Mary A., wife of John T. Reynolds, living
in Portland; Eliza Jane, who married Burton T. Bosworth, and is now dead;
Thomas W., who married Miss Sarah Dunbar, and lives in Portland; Emily,
wife of Henry Marquet, living in California; Wesley, who married Miss Lucina
Fuller, and lives in Portland; Eva, living in Portland; Margaret, wife of Willis
Fuller, living in Portland; and Isabella, wife of Alfred Booth, living in Port
land. John P. "Welding came to Portland in 1837, and was a carpenter by
trade. He married Miss Lucy C. Fuller. Their children were : Lucina, now
dead; Ovid P., who married Miss Harriet Lanphere, and lives in Portland;
Simeon, living in New Blexico; Arthur, who married Miss Mary Witt, and lives
in Portland; and William, living in Davenport, Iowa.
James, William T., and Anderson S. Crozier came to Portland from
Washington county, New York. James died in 1846, without family; William
T. is now living in Henry county, Illinois. Anderson S. married Miss Steele,
and lived near the county line; he died in 1871, leaving a family of six chil
dren. Charles Tillotson came to Portland from Massachusetts in 1837, and
worked a number of years for Guy Ray. He is now a resident of Missouri.
Robert BIead was a native of Meadville, Pennsylvania, and came to Port
land in 1837. He was unmarried, and died in 1848 at the age of forty-eight
years. John Kempster was born in Berkshire, county, England, in 1794, and
came to the United States in 1819, first settling in Oneida county, New York.
He married Bliss Lydia Hall, and came to Portland in 1837. The following are
the children of this marriage : Julia Ann, wife of Washington Rowe, living in
Henry county, Illinois; J. Henry, who married Miss Eliza Ann Rowe, and lives
in Portland; William W., who married Miss Margaret Hahn, and lives in Port
land; and Ephraim H., who married Miss Rachel Spicer, and also lives in Port
land. BIr. Kempster died in 1869.
Chauncey Reynolds was born in Connecticut, in 1812, and moved early
to Erie county, New York, where he remained until the fall of 1837, when he

BIOGRAPHICAL. 359
came to Portland. His death occurred in 1851. Mr. Reynolds married Miss
Amanda Aylesworth in 1835. Their children were : Smith, killed in battle
during the War of the Rebellion; Gardner, who married Miss Elizabeth Stakes;
Augustus, who married Miss Ella McKenzie; and Edwin, who married Miss
Mary Lanphere — all of whom live in Prophetstown.
D. Porter Brewer, a native of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, was
born in 1809, and came to Portland in 1837. He is still residing on his old
farm. In 1834 Mr. Brewer married Miss Emeline Hollister. Their children
have been : Fernando N., who married Miss Delia Frary, and lives in Lyndon;
Elizabeth, wife of H. L. Osborn, living in Lyndon; Lucelia, wife of S. A. Lang-
don, living in Lyndon; James 0., who married Miss Rebecca Wenner, and lives
in Portland; and Esther M., wife of Harrison Upton, living in Lyndon.
Hiram BIcKenzie was born in Essex county, New York, in 1817, and
came to Portland in 1837. He is a cooper by trade, and worked some time for
Job Dodge, making pork barrels. He is now a resident of Yorktown, Bureau
county. Mr. McKenzie married Miss Cordelia Chubbuck, in 1837. The chil
dren of this marriage are : Virgil A., who married Miss Nettie Brown; Lovina
M., who married Ansel Burdick; Albert E., who married Francis Hodgeborn;
and Lucinda A., who married Austin Foy. Mrs. McKenzie died, and in 1875
BIr. McKenzie married Elsie Pelton.
Jeremiah H. Johnson was born in Whitehall, Washington county, New
York, in 1797, and married Miss Harriet Getty in 1828. Their children have
been : George, now dead; Caroline, now dead; Helen S., who first married W.
C. Whitmore, and, after his death, Thomas Young, and now lives in Henry
county, Illinois; Harriet E., wife of Dr. E. J. Talcott, living in Portland; and
Adams, "living in California. Mr. Johnson died in 1871.
John Laird came from Canada, and was born about 1815. He married
Miss Fanny Warren, and had one daughter, who is in California. Mr. Laird
went there in 1850, and died four years ago.
Hiram Underbill was born in Dorsett, Vermont, in 1794, and came to
Portland in 1838, remaining in the village of Portland until 1839, when he
made a claim near Jefferson Corners. He married Miss Blartha Washburn in
1813. Their children have been: Horace, who married Miss Irene Wellington,
and is now dead; Julia Ann, who first married Benjamin Dow, and after his
death, Jared Hurlburt, and now lives in Oregon; Abram, who married Miss
Olive Marvel, and lives in Oregon; Jane, wife of Ezra W.Hill, living in Proph
etstown; and Mary, wife of George Coon, living in Iowa.
Lodoic Underhill was born in Jefferson county, New York, in 1819, and
married Miss Goodell in 1842. They have had one son, Emmet, who married
Miss Frances Gage, and is living in Prophetstown. Mr. Underhill is now a resi
dent of McDonough county, Illinois.
George McCormick was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1811, and
came to Portland in 1838. He married Miss Lucinda Brooks, their children
being: Frank, Nettie, Blary, Charles, Belle, Lucy, Frederick, Richard, Gertrude,
and Eunice, all living in Prophetstown.
Asa Maynard was a native of Litchfield county, Connecticut, and born in
1780. In 1812 he moved to Genesee county, New York, and in 1838 settled in
Portland. He was a carpenter by trade. Mr. Maynard married Miss Asenath
Mack in 1799. Their children were: Dolly, who married Col. E. Seely, and is
now dead; Ezra, now dead; Lydia, wife of Alzera Williams, living in Cattarau
gus county, New York; Deborah, who married Merritt Hotchkiss, and is now
dead; Henry, who married Miss Purmela Hubbard, and is now dead; Asenath,
wife of Darius Mendall, living in Portland; Mary Ann, wife of Ira Camp, living

360 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
in Portland; Abby Ann, wife of E. B. Latham, living in Portland; William,
who married Miss Lucy Crossman, and is now dead; Nancy, wife of Amos Fos
ter, living in Jo Daviess county, Illinois; and Allen, who married Miss Eliza A.
Wood, and is now dead.
William BIayxard was born in Berkshire county, Blassachusetts, in 1805,
and in 1839 came to Portland, and settled on what is now the Wm. Booth farm.
He married Bliss Emily P. Barrs, in 1827. Their children were: Hannah, Jane,
and Almina, all of whom are dead. Jane married David B. Seely, and Almina
married Blartin V. Seely. Blrs. Blaynard died in 1855, and Mr. Blaynard after
wards married Lucy Pomeroy. He is now living in Geneseo, Henry county,
Illinois, but every year his genial face is seen at the Old Settlers' meeting,
which he usually entertains with reminiscences of the olden time put into flow
ing verse. Dr. A. Plympton came from Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1839, and prac
ticed his profession for about a year in Portland, and then went to Prophets
town. He was a sincere Christian, and frequently preached to the good people
of the township. He practiced medicine in the county for about fifteen years,
and then returned to Ohio, where he died soon afterwards.
BIartin Reis was born in Ahrang, Prussia, in 1804, and came to Portland
in 1839. He married Bliss Blary Ahart, the children of this marriage being:
Elizabeth, wife of George Shelhammer, living in Geneseo, Henry county; Adam,
who married Bliss Lora Brooks, and lives in Henry county; Herman, who mar
ried Bliss Ellen H. Bessor, and lives in Portland; Hattie, wife of H. P. Blais
dell, living in Portland; Ella BL, wife of Alonzo F. Ocobock, living in Henry
county; and Blartin, and Franklin, both of whom live in Portland. Mr. Reis
died in 1874.
Philip Rapp was born in France in 1811. He married Bliss Christene
Saun. Their children have been: Aaron, who married Miss Christene Harms,
and lives in Henry county; Abraham, who married Miss Clara Arnett, and lives
in Henry county; Christene, wife of John Whiteline, living in Henry county;
Harriet, wife of Jacob Westerling, living in Chicago; Emeline, wife of Mr.
Goemble, living in Henry county; and John, Samuel, Frederick and Louisa, who
live in Portland.
William S. Crane was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, in 1815, and
located in Portland in 1838, where he engaged with Dodge & Wiggins in the
mercantile business. He died in 1842.
A. T. Wiggins was a native of Montpelier, Vermont, and was born in 1816.
He came to Portland in 1838, and in 1839 formed a partnership with Job Dodge,
in the mercantile business, remaining until 1841, when the partnership was dis
solved. He then became connected with William Pollock, in the same business,
at Como, and died in 1845.
Benjamin Dow was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, in 1811. Upon
leaving his native State he located in Jefferson county, New York, and from
there came to Portland in 1839, and settled at Jefferson Corners, where he died
in 1865. He married Bliss Julia Ann Underhill, their children being: Erwin,
who married Miss Susan Bunnell, and resides in Oregon; Clayton, who married
Miss Hurlburt, and lives in Oregon; Irene, wife of John Turner, living in Ore
gon; and Hiram, who also lives in that State.
Thomas Jefferson Dow was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, in 1800,
and came to Portland in 1840, settling at Jefferson Corners. It was from him
that Jefferson Corners derived its name. He was familiarly known as Uncle
Jeff. He married Miss Susan Gray. The children of this marriage have
been: Thomas, who married Miss Belinda Burgess, and lives in Tampico;

BIOGRAPHICAL. 361
Abigail, now dead; George, living in Iowa; Daniel W., who married Miss Martha
Carter, and lives in Iowa; Chauncey, who married Miss Mary Jane Atkins, and
lives in Colorado; Roxana, wife of Mr. Kemp, living in Tampico; William H.
H., living in Tampico; Mary, wife of B. W. Edmonds, living in Colorado; Schuy
ler, living in Tampico; and Noble, living in Iowa. Mr. Dow died in 1871.
Arbela Adams is a native of Rutland county, Vermont, and first came to
Ottawa, Illinois, in 1835, and in 1840 to Portland, settling upon the same place
where he now resides, fie married Miss Olive Hawes in 1826. Their children
are: Helen E., wife of W. H. Wellington, living in Sterling; Charles F., who
married Miss Sarah Brown, and lives in Portland; Sarah F., wife of David B.
Seely, living in Sterling; Egbert, who married Miss Sally Paget, and lives in
Portland; and Mary, living in Portland. BIr. Adams was born in 1804.
William P. Tabor was born in Erie county, New York, in 1821. He
came to Illinois with his father in 1828, and settled in Knox county, where he
remained a few years, and then moved to Henry county, near Whiteside, at
which place he resided until 1853, when he came to Portland, and opened a fine
farm on section 26. Since that time he has been engaged in farming and rais
ing cattle and hogs. Mr. Tabor married Miss Hester Hurd, their children be
ing: Rothilda M., wife of Reuben Kelly, living in Nebraska; Ocelia E., wife of
Barney McGrady, living in Tampico; Jennie F., wife of John Hill, living in
Prophetstown; and Herman L., who married Miss Ella Lanphere, and lives in
Portland. Caleb P. Lanphere was born in Greene county, New York, in 1799, and
came to Portland in 1841. In 1841, he married Miss Lucinda Martin. Their
children have been : Almira, wife of John Fuller, living in Portland; James
M., living in Portland; Clark C., who married Miss Lucinda Fuller, and
lives in Portland; George, living in Warren county, Illinois; Albert, living in
McDonough county, Hlinois; Mary, wife of B. F. Brooks, living in Portland;
Harriet, wife of 0. P. Welding, living in Portland; and Jay C, living in Port
land. Mr. Lanphere died in 1875. He was a devoted christian, and one of the
pillars of the Methodist church. He was a Justice of the Peace, and Town Clerk
of the township for a number of years.
Lewis C. Underwood was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, and came to
Hlinois in 1832, settling at first in Rock Island county, and in 1846 located in .
Portland. He married Miss Eliza Gillett. Their children were : Elias, who
married Miss Delilah Teats, and lives in Portland; Lewis C, living in Indiana;
A. Bruce, living in Portland; Eliza Rose, who married William P. Teats, and is
now dead; Elizabeth, who married Moses Harmon, and is also now dead; Mila
B., wife of Millard Paddock, living in California, and Electa, wife of L. A. Sim
mons, living in Portland.
William Graham was born in Ireland, in 1792. He married Miss Rosa
Murphy, the following being the children of this marriage : Mary Ann, wife of
Anthony Arnett, living in Colorado; Hercules, now dead, and Jane, wife of Fer
nando Jones, living in Chicago. Mrs. Jones is an active worker in behalf of all
public charities, and a prominent leader in the Woman's Rights movement.
LeviFuller, jR.,anativeof Oneidacounty,NewYork,wasborn in 1820, and
came to Portland in 1836. For twenty years he was in the mercantile business
at Spring Hill, but now resides in Erie. He was married to Miss Melissa Ful
ler. Their children have been : Lucius, who married Miss Eliza Briggs, and
lives in Kansas; Lucina, wife of Wesley Graham, living in Portland; Erastus,
who married Miss Louisa Besse, and lives in Portland; Wilmot P., who married
Miss Maria Ocobock, and lives in Portland; Cecil, who married Miss Mary Dor-
athy, and lives in Portland; and Douglass, now dead.
[46-CU

362 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Nathaniel Norton was born in the State of Maine, in 1805, and came to
Portland in 1837. He purchased the claim of William H. Cushman, and hav
ing considerable means infused a great deal of life into the new settlement.
He opened a store shortly after his arrival, and sold goods for a number of years.
During this time his store was broken into, the thieves cutting through the outer
wall, and robbed of quite an amount of stock, thus making him the victim of
the first burglary committed in Portland. In 1837 he started the first nursery
in Whiteside county, and some of the finest orchards in the county to-day are
from trees procured of him. Two of the trees from his nursery, on the farm of
Frank Cushing, in Portland, bore fifty bushels of apples each the present season,
1877. Mr. Norton added largely in the erection of Sharon church, and as long
as the edifice stands his memory will be held dear by those who worship within
its walls. Struggling as were the pioneers even at the time when the building
was erected, it is doubtful if such a structure could have been built without Mr.
Norton's aid. He went to Chicago in 1843, and engaged in business, and is ac
counted one of the largest capitalists in that city. He was married in 1 838 to
Miss Sally Ann Getty. Their children were : Augusta, who married Lemuel
R. Hall, and is now a resident of Chicago, and a child which died in infancy.
Russell Warren was born in New England, in 1778. He early moved to
Livingston county, New York, where his children were all born, and subse
quently settled in Steuben county, in the same State, and in 1838 came to
Portland, his sons having preceded him. His children were : Lyman, who
married Miss Sarah Palmer, and is now dead; he came to Portland in 1838, and
had six children, all of whom are in Iowa, if living; George, who married Miss
Julia Eaton; he came to Portland in 1836, and settled near Spring Hill, and in
1846 returned to Steuben county; Elizabeth, who married John S. Logan, and
is now dead; Daniel, who married Miss Mary Baker, and is now dead; Fan
ny, who married John Laird, and is now dead, and Martha, who married Joseph
Arnett, and is also dead. ,
Chauncey Rowe came to Portland in 1836, and soon afterwards moved to
Oregon where he now resides. He married Miss Flavie Cushman.
Benjamin and Thaddeus Smith came to Portland from Bennington, Ver
mont, in 1837. Benjamin lived in Portland for five years, and then moved to
Iowa.

CHAPTER XXII.
History of Prophetstown Township — History of the Town of Prophets
town — Newspapers- — Churches and Societies — Biographical.

History of Prophetstown Township.
Prophetstown township originally formed a part of Crow Creek Precinct,
and in March, 1837, when Whiteside county was attached to Ogle county, was
by the County Commissioners of that county included, together with all the
territory in the county south of Rock river, in a precinct called Prophetstown.
Upon a petition being presented, the Commissioners in March, 1838, changed
the name of the precinct to that of Portland, to embrace the same territory.
This remained the name until 1840, when the precinct was divided into three
precincts, called Rapids, Prophetstown, and Portland. Prophetstown precinct
then embraced the present township and the western half of Hume and Tampi
co, and so continued until 1850, when the county having adopted the township
organization law, Commissioners were appointed to give names and boundaries
to townships. The Commissioners at this time gave the name of Prophetstown
to so much of the present township as lies in town 20, range 5, and the name of
Washington to so much of the township as now lies in town 19, range 5. This
election proving void, the county held another election in 1851, and a second
time voted favorably upon the question of township organization, and Commis
sioners appointed for the purpose of again giving names and boundaries to town
ships, gave the name of Prophetstown to so much of the present township as
lies in town 20, range 5, and the name of Volney to that part in town 19, range 5.
In a short time, however, the name of Volney was dropped, and the name of Proph
etstown applied to the township as it now exists. The present township com
prises all of Congressional township 19 north, range 5 east, and all that part of
Congressional township 20 north, range 5 east, as lies south of Rock river. The
township contains 30,191 acres of land, being considerably in excess of any other
township in the county. The general surface of the land is level, and the soil
exceedingly rich and fertile. It has less timber land than Portland, its groves
being one on the river bottom opposite Lyndon, one above Prophetstown, one at
Woodward's bluff on section 29, Hill's grove, on Washington street, and some
small ones on the school section. There is a deposit of mineral paint on section
17, but it has not yet been worked.
The township was early known as being the home of the Prophet, a noted
Indian chief of the Winnebago tribe, his habitation being near where the vil
lage of Prophetstown now stands. His village was called Prophet's Town. A
portrait of this celebrated Indian, from the original painting by Geo. Catlin, was
presented to the people of Whiteside county, at the city of Morrison, Wednes
day, October 24, 1877, by Hon. Elihu B. Wasburne, late United States Minister
to France. The Indians had several villages along the banks of Rock river in
the vicinity of the Prophet's Town, as the stream afforded an abundance of fish,
their favorite food. One of these villages was situated at the mouth of Walk
er's slough, one at the mouth of Coon creek, and another on the bottom near
the present railroad bridge. Their corn was raised on the river bottoms, and

364 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
cultivated with rude hoes. At each successive year they pulled up the old
stalks, and dropped in the seed, so that by continued hilling their corn fields be
came very rough, and can be easily seen to this day thickly set with blue grass,
where they have been undisturbed. The location was a beautiful one, and it is
no wonder the Indians were averse to leaving it. Rock river, with its clear,
sparkling water, stretching away to the north and northwest, nearly encircling
the ox-bow, the beautiful groves along Coon creek, the rolling prairie to the
south, which afforded admirable hunting ground for deer, and the rich, warm
soil that yielded plentifully to their rude culture, all combined to make it in
deed an Indian paradise. The Prophet's Town became particularly noted dur
ing the Black Hawk war, and at its close it was-one of the first places settled
by the white man.
On the 4th of June, 1834, Asa Crook and his family, consisting of his wife,
four sons and five daughters, and Norman and Alexander Seely, arrived at the
mouth of Coon creek, and made a claim where Wm. A. Taylor's farm now is.
About the same time Samuel A. McClure located at the mouth of Walker's
slough. McClure sold out that fall to John W. Stakes, and moved to Dixon
where he kept tavern for a time, but at present nothing can be ascertained con
cerning him. Mr. Crook lived in his wagon for three weeks, and then made a
lodge, covering it with hickory bark, in which he lived all summer. In the fall
he erected a log house, calling in his neighbors, the Indians, to assist at the rais
ing. Mr. Crook had come early in May on an exploring tour, and then went
back. On his return he passed through Knox county where he hired one Ben
jamin Brown to come up and do some breaking. This was done and a piece
planted to sod corn. The Indians were quite numerous, but friendly. Their chief
was called "The Crane." John W. Stakes and wife arrived on the 14th of
September. It is claimed that McClure, whose claim he had bought, had built
a small ferry boat which could take a wagon or a span of horses across the river.
It is certain that Stakes did some ferrying the next year at his place, and that a
sort of ferry was kept there for sometime. John Bowman, a brother of Mrs.
Stakes, came with them. Alfred Wood, and John Champine, a half breed Can
adian, were also here that fall. Reuben Ammidon and Edwin Wright also came,
and made claims, but did not stay.
Early in 1835 a man by the name of Amos Gordon made a claim near Joseph
W. Hill's present farm on Washington street, and put up a cabin of cherry logs,
but upon the arrival of William Hill in the fall, with his large family, sold out
for $100, went to Green river, and after living therefor a time, moved to Moline,
Illinois, where he yet resides. N. G. Reynolds came in November of this year,
with his family, having made his claim in June previous. J. Sperry Johnson,
Alonzo Davis, Marvin Frary, Charles Atkinson, and Harry Smith, also came this
year. These were all the parties who settled in the present limits of Prophets
town, in 1835, but the histories of Prophetstown and Portland are so interwoven,
that it is difficult to always give proper credit. The Hills, N. G. Reynolds,
Alonzo Davis, Blarvin Frary, and J. Sperry Johnson, have, however, always been
identified with Prophetstown. Charles Atkinson only wintered here, and then
went to what is now Cleveland, Henry county, where he opened a store, and lived
for several years, and then settled in Moline, Rock Island county, fie is now
one of the principal men of that city, being President of the Water Power Com
pany, and otherwise identified with its interests. N. G. Reynolds settled west
of the village on Geo. B. Quigley's present farm; the Hills on Washington
street, and Marvin Frary on the present Ellithorpe place near the Portland line.
An election was held in August, 1835, the first at which the settlers participa
ted. The polls were held at the house Asa Crook, with Norman B. Seely, Asa

HISTORY OF PROPHETSTOWN TOWNSHIP. 365
Crook, and a Dr. Baker, Who lived in Henry county, on the Rock Island road,
Judges of Election, and P. B. Besse and Alfred Wood, Clerks. Fifteen votes
were cast, and Asa Crook and Dr. Baker elected Justices of the Peace, Alfred
Wood, Constable, and Geo. Charles, who lived near Knoxville, in Knox county,
Surveyor. The returns were sent to Knox county, as Prophetstown and Port
land were then a part of Henry county which was attached to Knox for judicial
purposes. Reuben Ammidon and Edwin Wright came back during the summer
of 1835, and settled on their claim adjoining the present village of Prophets
town, but afterwards sold to the Warners. Harry Smith made the first settle
ment on Benton Street, on what is now known as the Edwin Cox farm.
In January, 1836, Isaac Colin Southard came and made his home with Mr.
William Hill, whom he rewarded soon after by marrying his only daughter.
Lewis Brown, Edwin Sage and Johnson E. Walker also came the same year, the
former making a claim on Washington street, and the two latter on Jackson
street. The people of Prophetstown at a very early day called their roads
"streets." The road to Sterling was called Jackson street; the Geneseo road
Washington street; and the one which was afterwards opened directly south of
the village, Benton street — names which they still retain. In the spring of
1836 James Knox, Sr., started the Prophetstown ferry, at about its present
location, making it the oldest ferry in the county. The boat was pulled across
the river for some time. Daniel Crocker came from Galena, during the year,
with a small stock of goods, and opened a store in a log cabin on the bank of
the river, to which he afterwards added a sort of frame building, made of hewn
timber, and covered it with split clapboards. This was probably the first store
in the county. The 4th of July was duly celebrated in 1836, at Asa Crook's,
about fifty persons being present, and was the first celebration of the kind in
the county. In 1837 considerable additions were made to the town. John Farnum,
William T. Minchin, the Olmsteads, and Harry Brown, settled on Washington
street, and Erastus Nichols, Ethan Nichols, Freeman J. Walker, and William
R. McKenzie, on Jackson street. On the first of June, Jabez Warner, with his
two sons, came up Rock river on a flat boat, bringing a stock of goods, and
stopped at Prophetstown. Mr. Crocker having then just left the place, taking
his goods with him, Mr. Warner moved his goods into the same building, and
formed a copartnership with Simon Page, after which the stock of goods was
increased. The Indians were quite plenty that year, and, between them and
the whites, Warner & Page did considerable business. Blackhawk's youngest
daughter purchased her wedding outfit of Mr. Warner, unless she lied about it,
which is not at all probable of an Indian. Page sold out to Warner the next
year, and when last heard from was living in California. Mr. Warner did not
replenish his stock, and soon commenced farming. Jabez Warner and family
were a great acquisition to the town, and there has not been an event of any
importance in the history of Prophetstown in which their influence has not been
felt. Mr. Warner brought the rest of his family early in 1838. He boarded in
1837 with his brother, John S. Warner, who came in June of that year, and
was the first white man with a family that settled on the present village plot.
John S. Warner afterwards attempted to take out a pre-emption, but, as a town
had been laid out on the land, it was not granted.
In 1838 David Woodward made the first settlement at Woodward's Bluff.
Stephen Crook, who had made his -claim the previous year, settled across Coon
creek on the Sterling road. Robert Smith settled near Jefferson Corners, on a
claim made the year before. Frederick Dwight, who had the year before pur
chased a claim of Asa Crook for $2,000, arrived and commenced improving it.

366 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
He bought the claim of Marvin Frary, and opened one of the finest farms in
the county, upon which he planted large orchards. Mr. Dwight was a single
man of considerable means, which he employed freely in improvements. In
1840 he built a large house, which was burned in 1847. Mr. Dwight accom
panied Fremont on his first Rocky Mountain trip, and is now living in Spring
field, Massachusetts. His farm in Prophetstown is owned by Earl S. Ellithorpe.
Anthony J. Mattson came in June, 1838, and worked for the first ten years
after his settlement at his trade, that of carpenter and joiner. Since then he
has been the moving spirit of every public enterprise of the place, and it is to
his untiring exertions, perhaps, more than to those of any other man, that Proph
etstown is to-day indebted for its prosperity. For the past twenty years he has
been the projector and chief actor in every railroad enterprise which had Proph
etstown for an objective point. The winter set in early in 1838. On the 30th
of November, Robert Smith and Stephen Crook killed a cow and took it to
Dixon ferry for sale. When they started for home night was coming on, and
a light fall of snow had obscured the track, so that they missed their way and
took the Peoria trail. After they had got well out on the prairie, they discov
ered their mistake, and struck across towards Hawley's Point. When they
came to the creek it was found partly frozen, and, in endeavoring to get across,
lost one of their horses, and became thoroughly drenched themselves. It seems
that the people at Dixon had become alarmed about them, as the weather had
turned extremely cold, and the next morning started on their track. When
they reached the wagon both Mr. Smith and Mr. Crook were found frozen, and
it was with considerable difficulty that they could be taken back. They finally
managed to catch the remaining horse, and with its aid drew the wagon to a
house. Crook was dead when found, while Smith lived to be taken home, but
died in a day or two afterwards. Mr. Crook left a large family, and Mr. Smith
a wife and two children.
In the early days of the settlement there were no mills near by to grind
wheat and corn, necessitating the settlers to resort to hand mills when they
wanted flour or corn meal. Neither were these mills very plenty. An incident
in connection with the trouble in getting corn ground at that time is related by
Mrs. Stowell, formerly Annette Nichols. She at one time carried a half bushel
of corn on her back to Sampson Ellithorpe's, to be ground, Mr. Ellithorpe being
the happy possessor of a hand mill. After she had transformed the corn into
meal, she took Earl Ellithorpe, then about two years old, on one shoulder, the
the meal on the other, a small babe in her arms, and with the other child, a
little girl, now Mrs. Dr. Donaldson, of Morrison, hanging to her dress, crossed
the creek on a fallen log. It needed a strong nerve and a steady one to per
form that feat, and our pioneer mothers had both. Buckwheat ground in a
common coffee-mill, and baked into a cake, was also a staple diet.. Grain, how
ever, was plenty, and potatoes excellent, the old Nerchannocks being the favor
ite variety, so that with appetites such as ague only can create, the settlers did
not mind the quality as much as they did the quantity.
There were not a great many arrivals in 1839. W. F. Van Norman, Alex.
Thompson, and William Thompson made claims on Jackson street, and Stephen
B. Smith settled on Washington street. Considerable sickness prevailed that
season, and in August Ethan Nichols died. A very extensive prairie fire swept
over the country that fall, which, at one time, threatened the destruction of
the settlements, but by great exertions they were saved. The prairie fires in
those days were very alarming, endangering life in many instances. In 1836
Charles Atkinson and his wife, while crossing the prairie south of Prophets
town, were overtaken by a fire, and, to save their lives, Mr. Atkinson tried to

HISTORY OF PROPHETSTOWN TOWNSHIP. 367
start a back fire by means of powder. In the attempt his powder-flask exploded,
destroying two of his fingers. He, however, succeeded in saving the lives of
himself and wife, and also those of his horses.
In 1840, Erastus G. Nichols finished a saw-mill on Coon creek. The mill
was first commenced in 1837 by Asa Crook, but Nichols and Alanson Stowell
were soon engaged with him. A race was dug about a mile and a half long,
but as no level was taken it was found that the water would not run through
it. A dam was then built by Nichols. The mill did some sawing during the
spring freshets, but was a disastrous speculation to all concerned, about $8,000
being sunk in the operation.
In 1841, Job Dodge and A. T. Wiggins, who had been selling goods at
Portland, moved their store-building and goods to Prophetstown, locating the
building about where the rear end of Baldwin's brick store now is. It was a
small, one story structure, and was used for a store most of the time after its
removal to Prophetstown until 1871, when it gave way to the present fine
block. Wiggins died a year or two afterwards, but Dodge continued trading
there until 1848. In connection with the store he also engaged quite exten
sively for most of the time in packing pork, using some years $25,000 in the
business. Prices varied from 75 cents to $2.50 per hundred for dressed hogs,
and at one time rose to $4 and $5 per hundred, but these were decidedly extra
prices. He marketed first at St.- Louis, shipping his pork by the way of Albany.
After the completion of the Illinois and Michigan canal he hauled mostly to
Peoria, and shipped to Chicago. Quite a large amount of pork was also taken
to the lead mines at Galena. N. G. Reynolds used to relate an incident which
occurred in his experience in hauling pork to that place, in 1843. He had fat
tened one hundred hogs, and taken them to Galena to sell. The town was full
of Irishmen who seeing he had a large lot of pork, commenced to Bear the
market. The leader approached with the inquiry, "Sthranger, and what de yez
ax for yer pork?" "One dollar and seventy-five cents a hundred," answered
Reynolds. "Och, mo'n," replied Pat, "I saw as foine a lot as ye iver put your
eyes on, sold last Saturday for six bits, but as these look foine, I'll give yez a
dollar a hundred, and take the lot; what say ye, mon?" Reynolds shook his
head. "I'll give yez a dollar, and not a ha-pence more," sung out the Irishman.
Just at that moment a dog jumped up on one of the loads, and commenced
eating one of the hams. "I say, stranger," cried out the would be buyer, "the
dog is aiting yer pork." "Let him eat;" said Reynolds, "a man can't be a chris
tian who will drive a dog away from pork that is worth only a dollar a hundred!"
Mr. Reynolds effected a sale in a short time at $1.50 a hundred for light, and
$1.75 for heavy hogs. The first hogs introduced were of the variety called "land
pikes." They would live the year round in the woods, if permitted. It was
rare sport in the fall to hunt and catch them with dogs, when after a few weeks
feeding with corn they would be in condition to drive to Galena. N. G. Rey
nolds, however, brought in some China pigs, and as early as 1839 Prophetstown
and Portland had some very fine hogs, and laid the foundation of what is now
the principal staple.
The following is nearly a correct list of the old settlers of Prophetstown,
with the year of their arrival: 1834, Asa Crook, John W. Stakes, John Bow
man, Reuben Ammidon, Edward Wright, Alfred Wood, John Champine; 1835,
William Hill, Marvin Frary, J. Sperry Johnson, Nathaniel G. Reynolds, Alonzo
Davis, Harry Smith, Charles Atkinson; 1836, Jeduthan Seely, Jr., Lewis Brown,
Isaac Colin Southard, Stephen Crook, Thompson F. Clark, Edward S. Gage,
Johnson G. Walker; 1837, Oliver Olmstead, Harmon Smith, Wm. R. McKenzie,
Freeman J, Walker, Josiah Collins, Erastus G, Nichols, Jabez Warner, Ashley

368 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Booth, Calvin Williams, Alanson Stowell, David Underhill, Wm. T. Minchin,
David Woodward, Robert Smith; 1838, Henry Olmstead, David Olmstead,
Ethan Nichols, John Farnum, Nathaniel Browning, Frederick Dwight, Henry
Walker, A. J. Mattson, Samuel Johnson, 0. W. Gage, Nathaniel Pomeroy; 1839,
Elias C. Hutchinson, John S. Warner, Samuel Wilson, W. F. Van Norman,
Alexander Thompson, William Thompson, Silas Martin, Johnson W. Gage,
John F. Townlee, Luther B. Ramsay, Horace Annis, Stephen D. Smith, Samp
son Ellithorpe. Among those who came after 1839, were Lawrence Wall in
1840, Henry S. Tuller, in 1842, and Nathan Thompson in 1843.
The first child born in what is now Prophetstown township, was Mary Ann
Stakes, daughter of John W. Stakes, the birth occurring October 15, 1835.
The first wedding was that of Isaac Colin Southard and Miss Almira Hill,
daughter of William Hill, in 1836, the ceremony being performed by a Metho
dist minister who was on his way to Galena.
The first deaths as near as can be ascertained, were those of Robert Smith
and Stephen Crook, and occurred November 30, 1838. They were frozen while
returning home from Dixon, an account of which will he found in this chapter.
A Postoffice was established at Asa Crook's as early as 1836, and Asa Crook
appointed Postmaster. This was the first Postoffice in Prophetstown, and was
continued at Mr. Crook's until 1839, when it was moved to Col. Seely's. The
mail was first carried by horse to and from Dixon ferry. N. G. Reynolds drew
up the petition for the office, and upon its establishment gave it the name of
Prophetstown. The first school in the township was taught in the fall of 1835 by Miss
Lovica Hamilton, daughter of Deacon Adam R. Hamilton, of Lyndon. The
school was held in a room in Asa Crook's house.
The first school house was built by the Hills, and others, on Washington
street, in 1836, but as it was a poor affair they determined in 1840 to erect
another. This one was frame, and was the first one of the kind in the township.
It was completed in December, 1840, and on the 11th of January, 1841, opened
for school, Rufus Miner being the teacher. The school houses in the township
are now equal to those of any township in the county, outside of the cities of
Sterling, Morrison, and Fulton.
The first religious services in what is now the township of Prophetstown
were held at the house of Asa Crook on Christmas Day, 1835, and were con
ducted by a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, who was on his way to
establish some mission society, but losing the trail on the prairie came to
Prophetstown for shelter. N. G. Reynolds, Norman B. Seely, and Alexander
Seely, and their families, had assembled at Mr. Crook's for a holiday visit, and
while they were there the minister came in, and true to his calling desired to
hold a religious meeting, stating that if Methodist preaching would suit those
assembled, he would commence the services. Mr. Reynold's replied that they
had been used to hearing the gospel preached by Methodist ministers at the
East, and he had no doubt all would be happy to hear a minister of that denom
ination preach again. The agreement being made, Mr. P. B. Reynolds, then a
boy, was sent out with a sleigh to gather in the families of William Hill, Uncle
Harry Smith, and others, and when all had arrived, the minister proceeded
with the services. It is doubtful if a more attentive congregation has ever as
sembled in the township of Prophetstown. The first minister who had regular
preaching days came from Elkhorn Grove, and held his meetings on a week
day. The first M. E. Society in Prophetstown was formed in the summer of
1836, at the house of Mr. N. G. Reynolds, and consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Wil
liam Hill, Mrs. Harry Smith, and Mrs. N. G. Reynolds. It was formed at first

HISTORY OF PROPHETSTOWN TOWNSHIP. 369
as a mission society, and afterwards grew into the present M. E. Church and
Society of Prophetstown.
The first traveled road was the old Dixon and Rock Island stage route,
which is still the principal traveled road in the township.
In 1845, Col. E. Seely, Jabez Warner, and Luther B. Ramsay, purchased
reapers of Cyrus H. McCormick, which were made at Cincinnati, Ohio, and had
them shipped to Albany, where they arrived at the commencement of the wheat
harvest. It was supposed they were the first reapers brought into Whiteside
county, but J. T. Atkinson had purchased one of the same make, and had it
shipped to him at Union Grove, in 1838, and used it that season. When Messrs.
Seely, Warner and Ramsay got their reapers in Portland and Prophetstown, a
strife arose between them as to who would cut the first round. Mr. Ramsay
succeeded in getting in considerably ahead upon a piece of winter wheat belong
ing to P. Bates Reynolds, on Washington street, Prophetstown. The reaper
was a very different affair from the one now in use, the sickle being perfectly
straight, without sections. The driver rode the near horse, and the grain was
raked off the machine by a man who walked at its side.
The winter of 1842-43 is known as the cold winter. Severe weather set
in as early as November 16th, with a rain storm, and on the 17th it began to
snow, the cold increasing very rapidly. On the morning of the 18th, Rock
river was frozen over. The winter was cold all through, with the exception of
a short thaw in January, the cold continuing through March. On the 23d of
that month the thermometer indicated 23 degrees below zero. Rock river did
not break up until the afternoon of the 9th of April. A brilliant comet was
visible nearly all winter.
The season of 1844 was very wet, as were also those of 1851 and 1858.
In 1865 a great deal of rain fell in August and September. The season of
1869 was also very wet from May 9th until July 25th, making the corn crop a
failure. The year 1859 was remarkable as being extremely dry, and for there
being a frost in every month. On the 4th of July there was a frost sufficient
to kill the corn. The corn crop that year was a failure, and the other crops
light. The year 1860 was the most fruitful one ever known in this section, all
kinds of crops yielding largely, wheat averaging thirty bushels to the acre.
The settlement of Prophetstown, until 1847, had been almost entirely con
fined to Jackson and Washington streets, but that year Daniel Foy made a set
tlement at Leon Postoffice, east of Woodward's bluff. Charles Fuller next
settled about a mile further east, and in 1849 George Foy opened his farm.
Joseph Drain came in 1852, and settled where he now lives, setting out his ex
tensive orchard soon afterwards. In 1852 there was a large portion of the land
in Tampico, Hahnaman, and that part of Prophetstown still unentered, but the
Illinois Central Railroad was chartered about that time, and the next year the
swamp lands were being selected, so that it was soon afterwards all taken up.
The Chicago & Rock Island railroad was just finished, and railroad projects were
being projected quite extensively. Among the charters was one ' for a road from
Sheffield to Savanna, a subscription of $41,600 in its aid being obtained in
Prophetstown alone, and as the project was encouraged by the Chicago & Rock
Island Company, W. G. Wheaton, their engineer and surveyor, made a survey
that year. This Company, however, decided soon after not to build any branch
roads, and nothing further was done, excepting to collect the expense of sur
veying. On the 11th of September, 1856, articles of incorporation under the general
railroad law of 1849, were filed, for the building of the Camanche, Albany &
Mendota Railroad, and on the 30th of January following they were approved and
[+7-B..]

370 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
legalized by act of the General Assembly of the State. A large cash subscripr
tion to the stock of the Company was obtained along the line of the road, nearly
all the farmers and other property owners subscribing. It was supposed at the
time that the stock would be a paying one, and that it would be above par in a
short time. It is, therefore, no wonder that the people subscribed liberally, glib
talkers being employed to circulate the subscription papers, to show how hand
somely the investment would pay. About the same time a road was chartered
called the Terre Haute, Joliet & Mendota Railroad. These projected roads were
soon after consolidated under the title of the Illinois Grand Trunk Railway.
As the amount subscribed along the line of the road, although liberal, was found
insufficient to construct it, the committee started out again, and as an induce
ment for the increase of the subscription proposed that the stock could be paid
in five years time by securing with mortgages on the real estate of the subscrib
ers. Nearly all accepted the proposition, and doubled their subscriptions, feeling
assured that with the completion of the road their lands would be double in value,
and that the stock could not fail of being at par. About $270,000 was sub
scribed in all, the route located and contract let, the contractors taking their
pay in mortgage bonds. The grading was commenced in 1858 and continued
through 1859, and finished a good portion of the way. In the fall of 1859 the
coupons became due, and as they were not generally paid, suits were commenced
before a Justice of the Peace to enforce payment. These suits were appealed
to the Circuit Court, and judgment obtained. A test case was taken to the
Supreme Court of the State, where the judgment below was affirmed. As all
the work on the road had been suspended, the people were indignant, realizing
that they had mortgaged their homes, and received nothing in return. They
even resorted to violent means to right themselves, and an attempt was made by
some of the best men among them to forcibly get possession of their notes and
mortgages. The attempt failed, fortunately for all parties, and a compromise
was effected by which the matter was settled for about seventy cents on the dol
lar. The war of the Rebellion broke out, and no attempt was made to revive
the road until after the passage of the act of 1869 authorizing towns and coun
ties to issue bonds in aid of railroads. The towns along the line of the road
were canvassed, and in 1870 A. J. Mattson made preliminary agreement with
James F. Joy, President of the Michigan Central, and Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy Railroads, that if the towns along the line would grade and tie the road,
and give right of way for the road, and depot grounds, the Chicago, Burlington
& Quincy Company would complete and operate it. This agreement was subse
quently modified by the Company taking the bonds of the towns for $200,000,
and doing all the work. It required, however, a cash subscription of $40,000 to
purchase the old franchise, and for incidental expenses, which was obtained, and
the building of the road immediately commenced, and on the 8th day of March,
1871, the first train of cars entered the village of Prophetstown. The next year it
was continued to the Mississippi river near Fulton, where it was expected it would
cross on the bridge used by the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, but the latter
obtained a permanent injunction forbidding them, and the end of that branch of
the line remains on the east side of the river. Thus after nearly twenty years
struggle, the people along the route having twice taxed themselves to their ut
most ability, a railroad has been constructed through the town, and notwithstand
ing it has been from the first the cause of a great deal of personal feeling, and
the further fact that the resources of the people will be severely taxed for a few
years to fully pay for it, yet all feel now that the town could not dispense with
it. 'Since its completion the village of Prophetstown has more than doubled in
population.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PROPHETSTOWN. 371
The following have been the Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessor^ Collec
tors, and Justices of the Peace, of the township of Prophetstown, from its
organization in 1852, up to and including 1877.
Supervisors:— 1852-58, Obadiah W. Gage; 1859, Mark R. Averill; I860-,
'61, H. S. Cabot; 1862, Mark R. Averill; 1863-68, Andrew J. Tuller; 1869-
75, Leander W. Lewis; 1876-^77, Phineas Bates Reynolds.
Town Clerks:— 1852-'56, Wm. R. Cox; 1857-'59, Andrew J. Tuller; 1860-
'61, George R. Shaw; 1862, William T. Minchin; 1863, Ed. R Conner; 1864-
77, Silas Sears.
Assessors:— 1852-61, Johnson W. Gage; 1862, Thomas Green; 1863-64,
A. J. Warner; 1865, George P. Richmond; 1866-71, Johnson W. Gage; 1872-
73, Chauncey Paddock; 1874-77, Johnson W. Gage.
Collectors:— 1852, Ryland H. Smith; 1853, Ethan Nichols; 1854, David H.
Nichols; 1855, Paul Newton; 1856-59, Ethan Nichols; 1860, Stephen L. Con
ner; 1861, Andrew J. Tuller; 1862-'63, John C. Paddock; 1864, Linus C. Rey
nolds; 1865, A. H. Brace; 1866, William Hamilton; 1867, A. H. Brace; 1868,
Stephen L. Conner; 1869, Joseph E. Case; 1870, Stephen L. Conner; 1871-72,
Henry Hurd; 1873-74, Edward S. Bentley; 1875-77, Theodore Clark.
Justices of the Peace: — 1854, Paul Newton, George W. Ford; 1855, Ira C.
Bardwell; 1857, Edward B. Warner; 1858, Paul Newton, Joseph Drain; 1860,
A. J. Warner, 0. D. Richards; 1864, R. J. Dickinson, O. D. Richards; 1865,
Samuel J. Ackley; 1868, Paul Newton, Alex. Stuart; 1869, J. B. Gates; 1870,
R. I. Dickinson; 1872, P. K. Marfleet, S. J. Ackley; 1873, P. K. Marfleet, R.
I. Dickinson; 1877, P. K. Marfleet, John W. Olmstead.
At a special town meeting held August 21, 1869, it was voted to issue
township bonds to the amount of $40,000, in aid of the Mendota and Prophets
town branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. The vote stood
173 for, to 109 against, the issue.-
Considerable cheese has been manufactured in the township for the past
fifteen years, by Luther B. Ramsay, Porter W. Spencer, and William McBeth,
and a market has generally been found in the neighboring cities, and but little
has been shipped, so far, to distant points by railroad. The cheese is of excel
lent quality, and the manufacturers could find a market for it anywhere. The
principal articles of export of the township are grain, hogs, cattle, and butter.
Prophetstown township contains 28,486 acres of improved land, and 1,705
acres of unimproved land. The Assessor's books for 1877 show that the num
ber of horses in the township in that year, was 924; number of cattle, 2,423;
mules and asses, 11; sheep, 2,019; hogs, 3,094; carriages and wagons, 337;
watches and clocks, 265; sewing and knitting machines, 160; pianofortes, 23;
melodeons and organs, 33. Total assessed value of lands, lots, and personal
property $654,574. Value of railroad property, $25,022. Total assessed value
of all property in 1877, $679,596.
The population of the township of Prophetstown in 1870, outside of the
village, as shown by the Federal census of that year, was 998, of which 890 were
of native birth, and 108 of foreign birth. The population of the township in
1860, including the village, was 1,144. The estimated population of the town
ship in 1877, excluding the village, is 1,100.
History of the Town of Prophetstown.
The town of Prophetstown was laid out and platted in 1838, the propri
etors being George W. Campbell, Dixon B. Morehouse, James Craig, Daniel
Webster, Asa Crook, Erastus Nichols, and Jabez Warner. The original plat

372 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
only included that part of the present village lying north of Main street.
Campbell, Morehouse, and Craig lived at Galena. The interest of Daniel Web
ster was probably given to him for the influence of his great name; but, be that
as it may, Prophetstown can exultingly exclaim that the godlike Daniel was
one of its first proprietors. Mr. Webster's interest was sold in Philadelphia
some time afterwards. In 1855 the town was re-surveyed, as the first survey
was found to be incorrect. The village is beautifully located on the south bank
of Rock river, and is the market town of a rich agricultural country. . The first
frame building in the village was erected in 1838, by Alanson Stowell, the lum
ber being brought from Spring Creek, in Henry county. It stood upon the
river bank until 1875, when it was torn down. The streets are broad, and most
of them, outside the business part, finely shaded. Many handsome residences
grace the village, showing the opulence of its citizens. The business portion
of the town is mainly on Washington and Second streets, and these present a
lively appearance during business hours. During the past few years several
fine stores and other buildings have been erected, notably among them being
the mercantile building of Baldwin Bro's, the First National Bank building, and
the Seely House.
Prophetstown was incorporated as a village in 1859, and held its first
election for charter officers on the 4th day of April in that year. The follow
ing have been the Trustees and Clerks of the Village Council from the organi
zation of the village up to and including 1877 — the name of the President of
each Board of Trustees being in italic : 1859, Andrew J. Tuller, Elias C.
Hutchinson, John H. Warner, Albert G. Porter, Edward S. Dickinson; Clerk,
William T. Minchin. 1860, Andrew J. Tuller, John H. Warner, Elias C. Hutch
inson, Russell I. Dickinson, Albert G. Porter; Clerk, Martin P. Warner. 1861,
Andrew J. Tuller,. Elias C. Hutchinson, John H. Warner, Paul Newton, Albert
G. Porter; Clerk, Martin P. Warner. 1862, George A. Bardwell, John H.
Warner, Elias C. Hutchinson, Albert G. Porter, James Scarrett; Clerk, Mar
tin P. Warner. 1863, Andrew J. Tuller, John H. Warner, James Scarrett,
Elias C. Hutchinson, Albert G. Porter; Clerk, Silas Sears. 1864, Andrew J.
Warner, James Scarrett, Elias C. Hutchinson, John H. Warner, Alonzo Davis;
Clerk, E. F. Nichols. 1865, Andrew J. Warner, James Scarrett, Elias C. Hutch
inson, John H. Warner, Alonzo Davis ;Clerk, E. F. Nichols. 1866, Andrew J.
Warner, Elias C. Hutchinson, James Scarrett, John H. Warner, Cyrus Emery;
Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1867, Andrew J. Warner, George N. .Fenn, John H.
Warner, Harvey C. Hull, James Scarrett; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1868, Elias.
C. Hutchinson, Paul .Newton, John J. Green, Silas Sears; Clerk, A. J. Matt
son. 1869, Nathan Thompson, A. D. Adams, Johnson W. Gage, James Scar
rett, George Kellogg; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1870, Nathan Thompson,
James Scarrett, Johnson W. Gage, A. D. Adams, George Kellogg;
Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1871, Henry R. Kent, Henry F. Kellum, James H. Mo
sher, Sherman G. Baldwin, Jabez F. Warner; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1872,
Henry F. Kellum, Nathan Thompson, Andrew J. Warner, Daniel K. Smith,
Elias C. Hutchinson; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1873, Luther B. Ramsay, Henry
R. Kent, Johnson W. Gage, Everett L. Ballou, John H. Meyers; Clerk, A. J.
Mattson. 1874, Martin V. Seely, John J. Green, Hamden A. Sturtevant,
Aaron D. Hill, Orson G. Baldwin; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1875, Orson G.
Baldwin, Hamden A. Sturtevant, Johnson W. Gage, Elias B. Warner, John
H. Meyers; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1876, John J. Green, Elias B. Warner,
George N. Fenn, William Sanderson, James H. Mosher; Clerk, Silas Sears.
1877, George N. Fenn, Orson G. Baldwin, Johnson G. Gage, Martin V. Seely,
Harvey C. Hull; Clerk, Martin V. Seely.

NEWSPAPERS. 373
The first Police Magistrate elected was A. J. Mattson, Esq., and he has
continued to hold that office ever since, no other name being suggested at any
election. His present term will expire in April, 1879, at the conclusion of
which time he will 'have held the office for an entire decade. The village of
Prophetstown has always paid its orders promptly, never borrowed any money, »
and never issued a bond or other evidence of indebtedness, outside, of its mere
municipal orders. It is doubtful if any other village or city within this broad
land can show the Same record.
A large brick building was erected in the village in 1854 by Horace Annis,
Thomas Bryant, and the Warner brothers, as a plow and wagon factory, and
for four years quite an extensive business was done. The firm then dissolved,
and the manufacture was successfully continued by the Messrs. Warners, who
also added a steam saw-mill to the factory, with which they sawed considerable
lumber. The whole business was discontinued in 1868.
The First National Bank of Prophetstown was organized in 1872, with a
capital of $50,000. The officers of the bank are : Nathan Thompson, Presi
dent, and A. J. Mattson, Cashier. In the same year Mr. Mattson erected a fine
bank building, in which the bank has since been located.
The old Rock River House, at Prophetstown, was for many years a well
known and largely patronized hotel. Probably no public house in this section
of the country had a wider fame. A part of the building was moved to Proph
etstown from Portland, in 1841, but additions and extensions were made to it
from time to time afterwards, as needs demanded, until it became a commo
dious structure. The traveler was sure to find at the Rock River House a
bountifully supplied table and acceptable accommodations. Its destruction by
fire in March, 1872, removed one of the few remaining landmarks of the county.
The loss, however, is well made up by the present Seely House. The main
part of this structure, like the Rock River House, was moved to Prophetstown
from Portland. It was built in 1856, by Mr. S. M. Seely, and kept by him as a
hotel two years. Col. E. Seely then moved into it, and continued the business
for about two years, when it was purchased by Mr. M. V. Seely, who occupied
it as a farm-house and hotel for twelve years. In 1872 Mr. Seely had it moved
to Prophetstown, at a cost of four hundred dollars. He then had it remodeled,
plastered and painted, and formally opened it to the public on the 25th day of
December, 1872.
The business houses in Prophetstown, in 1877, are : Three general mer
chandise stores, seven grocery stores, two drug stores, two hardware stores, two
boot and shoe stores, one furniture store, three millinery establishments, two
lumber and coal yards, one grain elevator, one bank, one printing office, three
blacksmith shops, three wagon shops, two harness shops, one bakery, one hotel,
two barber shops, three physicians, five saloons, one livery stable, one meat
market. Since the completion of the railroad, business has vastly improved in
the village, and its population is estimated now at 1,000.
Newspapers.
Immediately after the completion of the railroad to Prophetstown, and it
had begun to feel the impetus of a new growth, the people decided to have a
newspaper organ to inform the great public of the many decided advantages it
possessed as a business point. Acting upon this decision, they invited Messrs.
A. D. Hill and Charles Bent to establish a newspaper there, and in compliance
therewith these gentlemen, receiving some aid from the citizens of Prophets
town, purchased type, presses, and other material for a publication and job office,
and on the 2d of September, 1871, issued the first number of the Prophets-

374 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
town Spike, Mr. Hill having entire charge as business manager and editor.' The
name of the paper originated from the fact that shortly before its publication the
last spike had been driven that completed the railroad to Prophetstown, making
the name a very suggestive one. At the end of the year Mr. Hill became the
¦ sole proprietor, and still' continues as such. His experience as local editor of
the Whiteside Sentinel had given him a good insight into journalism, which,
combined with excellent business qualities, an untiring energy as a news-gath
erer, and fine ability as a writer, made the Spike a success from the start. The.
paper is now in its seventh year, and has always ably and sturdily advocated
the interests of Prophetstown and the south side of Rock river. It is Repub-'
lican in politics, and has an excellent circulation and business patronage.
Churches and Societies.
The Methodist Episcopal Society erected a church edifice in the village in
1864, which is the only one of any denomination iu the township. The Society
worshiping at this church is the one which grew out of the formation of the mis
sion society, at the house of N. G. Reynolds, in the summer of 1836, as men
tioned elsewhere in this chapter. Mr. P. B. Reynolds donated the lots on
which the Church structure stands, and other citizens contributed towards its
erection. Rev. Mr. Lewis was the pastor in charge at the time the building was
erected, and not only superintended the whole work, but labored with his own hands
wherever he could, taking his team to help haul the lumber, and bringing the
mortar into his residence to be prepared in order to prevent it from freezing.
The members of the church have a grateful remembrance of the labor bestowed
and the zeal manifested by him at the erection of the building. The church is
now in a prosperous condition, and has a well attended and well conducted Sun
day School. Rev. S. Stover is the present pastor.
Masonic Lodge: — Prophetstown Lodge No. 293, A. F. and A. M., was insti
tuted in October, 1858. Charter members: William T. Minchin, Andrew J.
Grover, Simeon Fuller, William Pratt, David H. Nichols, William A. Spencer,
Franklin Haddaway, James C. Monroe, H. A. Parkhurst. The present officers
are: H. B. Leonard, W. M.; Fred W. Hutchinson, S. W.; Elbridge Paddock, J.
W., Silas Sears, Secretary; 0. J. Sholes, Treasurer. The Lodge numbers 95
members, and has a fine hall, built in 1868, at a cost of $2,500. There is also
connected with this Lodge an Eastern Star Lodge, which was instituted in 1870,
and has a membership of 65.
Prophetstown Chapter Royal Arch Masons: — This Chapter of Royal Arch
Masons was organized in December, 1875, and chartered October 26, 1876.
Charter members: Silas Sears, Albert J. Jackson, James Scarrett, P. W. Spen
cer, James H. Mosher, Ambrose L. Hotchkiss, William McNeil, Jr., John J.
McNeil, Orrin J. Sholes, Hamden A. Sturtevant, Sherman G. Baldwin, Henry
R. Kent, Robert L. Burchell, Marlon C. McKenzie, Orson G. Baldwin, F. J.
Barber, N. 0. Freeman, Arthur H. Baldwin, Eldridge Paddock. The officers
for 1877 are: Silas Sears, H. P.; Ambrose L. Hotchkiss, K.; James Scarrett,
Scribe; Orson G. Baldwin, Secretary; Sherman G. Baldwin, Treasurer.
Odd Fellows Lodge: — Sinnissippi Lodge No. 508, I. 0. 0. F., was char
tered March 3, 1873. Charter members: Silas Sears, David Cleaveland, George
Cleaveland, P. Bacchus Besse, L. Paddock, Ebenezer Seely. The present offi
cers are: Charles N. Stevens, N. G.; E. Simpson, V. G.; F. J. Nichols, Secre
tary; Cyrus Emery, Treasurer; P. B. Reynolds, Chaplain. The Lodge now
numbers seventy-one members, and meets in Sinnissippi Hall, a handsome build
ing erected in 1874, the upper rooms of which are owned by the Lodge.
Driving Park: — The Prophetstown Driving Park Association was incor-

BIOGRAPHICAL. 375
porated in 1875. The grounds comprise twenty acres, and are finely located in
the southwest part of the village. The amphitheater is a large one; and the
track one of the best in the State. Three Fairs have been held, each of which
has been successful. The officers of , the Association are: George P. Richmond,
President; H. F. Kellum, Secretary; A. J. Mattson, Treasurer.
Biographical.
Asa Crook waa born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1790. When nine
teen years of age he moved to Erie county, New York, where he remained until
1831, when he came to Indiana^ staying there only a year, and then moving to
Michigan. His residence in the Wolverine State was of three years duration,
and in May, 1834, he came to Prophetstown, and made a claim adjoining the
present village. He then returned for his family, and going by the way of
Knox county, engaged a Mr. Benjamin Brown there to go up to Prophetstown
to do some breaking for him. He arrived with his family on the 4th' of June,
and as the breaking had been completed, planted it to sod corn, which produced
a good crop. Mr. Crook erected a Jog house that season, and lived in it until
1839, when he built the large two-story frame house now owned by W. A. Tay
lor. In this house he entertained many travelers. He was probably the first
Justice of the Peace in the county, having been elected to that office in August,
1835. He was also Postmaster early in 1836. He was always. a farmer, but
like many other of the early settlers, made some money in selling claims. Mr.
Crook's family was a large one, and endowed with strong constitutions. The
children are all still living, and enjoying excellent health. Mrs. Crook is with
her son Timothy D., in Nebraska, and is now eighty-four years of age. Mr.
Crook died in Sharon. Henry county, in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Crook, the latter
being a Miss Mary Dustin, were married in 1811. Their children have been:
Theron, who married Miss Nancy Hamilton, and lives in Oregon; Timothy D.,
who married Miss Elizabeth Barker, and lives in Nebraska; Charles, living in
Iowa; Asa, Jr., who married Miss Lucy Cole, and lives in Henry county, Illi
nois; Lydia, who married Norman B. Seely, and lives in California; Mary, who
married Mr. Penwell, and after his death, Andrew T. Bracken, and lives in
Portland; Cynthia, who married David Brown, and lives in Iowa; Lucy, who
married Robert Woodside, and lives in Portland; Sarah, who married P. Bacchus
Besse, and lives in Portland; Laura, who married Benjamin Mattson, and lives
in Henry county, Illinois; and Caroline, who married David Vader, and lives in
Iowa. John W. Stakes was a native of Butler county, Ohio, and born in 1809.
His first settlement in Illinois was in Hancock county, and in 1834 he came to
Prophetstown. At that time a Mr. McClure was running a small ferry boat
across Rock river, from the mouth of Walker's slough, on the bottom above the
present village of Prophetstown, the point being where the old Lewiston and
Galena trail crossed the river, and Mr. Stakes bought him out. He remained at
that place about two years, and then went with John Bowman and Josiah T.
Atkinson to Union Grove Precinct, the three making claims there. The claim
of Mr. Stakes was where the city of Morrison now stands. He put up, a log
house. on the land where Ed. B. Warner's residence is now situated in that city,
and lived there about a year, and then purchased the ferry at Prophetstown of
James Knox. He ran the ferry about a year, and then sold to John C. Pratt,
and went back and died at his home in Morrison in 1861. Mr. Stakes married
Miss Sarah Bowman in 1833. Their children have been: Mary Ann, who first
married William Wright, and after his death, George McKnight, and lives in
Iowa; Rebecca, wife of Fletcher Bollen, living in Geneseo, Henry county; Filiza:-

376 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
beth, wife of Gardner Reynolds, living in Prophetstown; Walter W., now dead;
Susan M., living in Prophetstown; Emeline A., wife of Ebenezer Beardsley, liv
ing in Iowa; Sarah Helen, living in Prophetstown; Lusina, wife of Orpheus
Parker, living in Iowa; and John B., living in Prophetstown. Mrs. Stakes is
still living on a farm adjoining her first home in Prophetstown.
John Bowman was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1815, and
came to Prophetstown with BIr. Stakes. He was a blacksmith by trade, and
worked with Alexander Seely. He went to Union Grove with Mr. Stakes.
In 1850 he went to California, and died in that State in 1852.
William Hill was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1783, and came
to Prophetstown in 1835. He came all the way from Vermont with teams, and
was two months on the road, arriving at Prophetstown in the fall. He was a
carpenter and wheelwright by trade, but became a successful farmer. His large
family of sons were nearly grown up when he came, and they immediately made
claims along what is now Washington street. Coming from New England, he
appreciated the importance of schools, and the next year after his arrival suc
ceeded in having a log school house built, which was used until 1841. This was
the first school house in Prophetstown. Mr. Hill married Miss Susan Baker.
Their children have been: J. Sullivan, who married Miss Rachel Belden, and
lives in Prophetstown ; Almira, who married J. Colin Southard, and is now dead;
John, now dead; William, who married Miss Ann Smith, and lives in Prophets
town; Ezra, who married Miss Jane Underhill, and lives in Prophetstown; For-
dyce, who married Miss Polly Wall, and lives in Prophetstown; and Joseph,
who married Miss Martha Reynolds, and also lives in Prophetstown. Mr. Hill
died in 1846, and Mrs. Hill in 1876. The -Hill family have lived in Prophets
town since their arrival from the East. William lives on his valuable farm,
and has done much to improve the breed of sheep, cattle, and hogs in the county.
He has lately introduced the Holstein cattle, so celebrated for their dairying
qualities. Among the public positions held by him have been those of Super
visor and Justice of the Peace of the township. Joseph has also acquired a
large competency by farming, and owns perhaps the finest farm in the town.
During the present year, 1877, he has tried the experiment of tile draining,
having laid about a mile of tiles. Ezra lives on Washington street, and has a
fine farm, devoting his attention principally to raising hogs, in which he has
been very successful.
Marvin Frary was born in Massachusetts, in 1799. In 1802, he went
with his father's family to Ontario county, New York, where he grew to man
hood, and then located in Cattaraugus county, New York. In the early part of
1835, he came to Prophetstown, and made a claim between the present villages
of Prophetstown and Portland, which he afterwards sold to Fred Dwight, and
bought the claim of Norman B. Seely. In addition to farming he was engaged
for a time in the distilling business in Portland. Mr. Frary first married Miss
Mary E. Seely, but they were divorced, and he afterwards married Mrs. E. S.
Ellithrope, widow of Sampson Ellithrope. The children by the first marriage
were : Myron, who died in 1836, and Caroline who married Joshua Bennidum,
and is now dead. By the second marriage there was only one child, Delia, who
married Fernando Brewer, and lives in Lyndon. Mr. Frary died in Prophets
town. J. Sperry Johnson was a native of Castleton, Vermont, and born in 1809.
He came to Prophetstown in 1835, and his first claim where William Hill now
lives. This claim he afterwards sold, and went to Fox river where he remained
several years, and then returned to Prophetstown, settling in the southwest cor
ner of the township where he opened a large farm, and engaged in sheep and

BIOGRAPHICAL. 377
cattle raising. He died in 1876, after a long and severe illness. Mr. Johnson
married Miss Betsey C. Gault in 1838. Their children were : Harrison L., liv
ing in Prophetstown; Thomas F., living in Kansas; Carlos E. who enlisted in
the 34th Illinois Volunteers, and died from disease contracted in the service;
Frank V., living in Prophetstown; Ellen M., wife of Wallace Burroughs, living
in Nebraska; and Clement D., who married Miss Fanny Booth, and lives in
Prophetstown. Alonzo Davis was born in Worcester county, Massachusetts, in 1815, and
moved to Oneida county, New York, when quite young. In 1834, he came to
Chicago where he worked at his trade, that of wagon maker, for about a year,
and then came to Prophetstown. He has made, and purchased, several claims
since his residence in the town, and has also worked at his trade. He is still
living in Prophetstown. He married Miss Mary Warner in 1839; no children.
Nathaniel G. Reynolds was born in Hancock, Berkshire county, Massa
chusetts, in 1794, and came to Prophetstown in 1835. From a biography of his
life, written several years before his death, we gather the following facts : In
1796, his parents moved to St. Armands, Lower Canada, where they remained
until 1809, when they returned to Massachusetts. Soon afterwards Mr. Rey
nolds was indentured to Deacon Levi Clarke, of Lanesborough, Massachusetts,
to learn the business of tanning, and making shoes. In 1812 he was drafted in
the State Militia, but as Gov. Strong refused to place the Militia under United
States officers, he enlisted in 1813 as Sergeant in the 40th Regiment, and served
during the war, being honorably discharged at Boston, in 1815. In 1816, he
went to Genesee county, New York, and tooka sawmill on shares, where he sawed
lumber for a shop and tan vats, and commenced work at his trade. He also su
perintended the opening of the road from Warsaw to Buffalo, through a dense
wilderness. In 1820 he moved to Black Rock, near Buffalo, and built the second
tannery in the latter place, conducting it for five years, and then disposed of it
to gOod advantage and went .to Aurora, Erie county, New York. He remained '
at Aurora, working at his trade, erecting buildings, and selling goods, until Oc
tober, 1835, when he started for the then far West. The balance of the biog
raphy we give in his own language, as it relates more particularly to his life
while a resident of Whiteside county, and to incidents similar to those exper
ienced by many of- the old settlers. He says, "I came with my family, consist
ing of my wife and five children, from Buffalo to Detroit by water, and from
thence to Chicago by team over roads as bad as one could possibly want to see.
From Chicago to Rock river my road was an Indian trail, and for the last forty-
four miles before reaching Prophetstown, I crossed the prairie without a road,
and not a house in sight, my only guide being the lone tree." The weather was
inclement, and crossing the sloughs very difficult. In most cases we had to
swim the streams, but we finally reached a cabin near my destination, where we
were made happy with refreshments, and a fire, and had a good night's rest on
the soft side of a hewn plank. Three days afterwards I returned for the wag
ons which I was compelled to leave at a slough; camped out during the night,
and returned the next day all right. This was in November, and tbe cold had
increased, with a fair prospect of winter setting in. Here I was with five horses,
one yoke of oxen, and seven dollars in cash, but no hay, grain, or provisions,
except what we had in the wagons, nearer than seventy miles, and no roads or
bridges on the way. Knoxville was the Egypt for us, it being the nearest point
where provisions could be obtained, and for that land of corn I started with my
teams, one of my neighbors acting as pilot. We swam Green river, Edwards
river, Big and Little Page creeks, and arrived safe, but on account of high water
could not return with any load until the water fell. We were weather bound for

378 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
thirteen days. In that time I exchanged one span of horses for such things as
I wanted. In the mean time ten men with teams, on the same errand as our
selves, joined us, their company being very acceptable. We loaded up and started,
making quite a respectable caravan. It was eighteen miles to the first house or
cabin. We crossed the two creeks without difficulty, although the weather was
excessively cold. Edwards river had so fallen in consequence of the freeze that
we thought we could ford it, but the banks were so steep and frozen that one
pair of horses or oxen could not hold our loads down nor draw them up on the
other side, so we coupled six yoke of oxen together and made fast to the hind
axle with sufficient length of chain, and thus eased the load down into the stream.
Then we took the cattle across, and drew the loads up the other bank. In that
waywesucceededingettingall ourloads across safely, except mine. In raising the
bank with it,andwhen about half way up, the cattle broke the chain, and my wagon
run back and upset the load into the river. We soon righted the wagon, and I
jumped into the river and collected my load, which was principally in barrels.
I offered a good price for help, but the parties refused, and advised me to let the
load go down stream, as I would get my death by such exposure, but I could not
spare the articles. I floated them to the shore, put a chain around them, and
run a pole through, when those on the bank, with my help in the rear, pulled
them up, and loaded them again, when we went on. It was three and a half
hours from the time I went into the water before I reached a fire, and what is
somewhat remarkable, I did not freeze in any part, while every one on the bank
were frozen, some of them badly. We succeeded, however, in getting along after
that, but had often to put all the teams forward of one wagon. When we came
to Green river we had to unload, and take our stuff over in a trough, or canoe;
swim our teams, and fasten a rope to our wagons, and pull them over as a
seine is hauled. Then we had good going on the prairie, as the sloughs were
all frozen solid. We arrived home well and hearty, having been absent twenty-
one days in going seventy-five miles and back. I found thirteen out of nine
teen in our cabin down with the measles, with no doctor within thirty miles, but
all lived and got smart soon. Troubles did not come singly, for in a day or two I
brokemy wagon tire, and had to load it in anotherwagonand take it to Naperville,
a distance of one hundred miles, to be mended, and get my horses shod, it being
the nearest shop I could get to without swimming. It happened well enough,
as I got a good price for bringing a load back from Chicago. There was a heavy
emigration that winter, and in the spring of 1836 provision were scarce, and
commanded a high price, flour from $16.50 to $20, per barrel; pork 18 f cents
per lb. or $32 per barrel. In 1837, I was chosen President of the Rock River
Land Claim Association, and the Society no doubt prevented a number of law
suits, and claim fights. In the fall I was elected Justice of the Peace. At the
organization of the County of Whiteside, in 1839, I was elected one of the
County Commissioners, and in 1840 was appointed Deputy Marshal, and took
the census of the county, the Blarshal stating that my returns were the most
correct of any Deputy in the district. Iu 1842 I was elected Justice of the
Peace, and in 1847 appointed Colonel of the 103d Regiment Illinois Militia, and
commissioned by Gov. French. In 1849, was elected Judge of the County Court
of Whiteside, and Justice of the Peace in Prophetstown for four years, and in
1853 I was again elected Judge of the County Court for the term of four years.
So much for the offices. I am now, and have been for several years, a thorough
going Temperance man. I have said in the fore part of this brief sketch, that
I moved to Rock river in November, 1835. I omitted to mention that I came out
here in June, and made a claim. There were only three cabins then within a
distance of a hundred miles. I drew up a petition for a postoffice, to be called

BIOGRAPHICAL. B79
Prophetstown Postoffice, and got four residents and three travelers to sign it.
I then went back for my family with as much speed as possible, fearing some
one would come and "jump" my claim, as it was called. I have also said that
provisions were high, but as soon as I began to have a surplus everything was
on the decline. Still I kept on breaking and improving for five years, until I
had one hundred and thirty acres under cultivation, and considerable stock.
Since I have been in Illinois I have been engaged in agriculture and in the im
provement of horses, cattle, and hogs, which will long be remembered by the
inhabitants of Whiteside county, some of whom know that I came here poor. I
have had rather an up hill road to travel, yet I have plenty of this world's goods
to make me and mine comfortable to the end of life." Mr. Reynolds moved to
Sterling about the year 1860, and died there January 21, 1865. He was mar
ried July 13, 1819, to Bliss Phebe B. Brace. The children all live in Prophets
town, and are : P. Bates, who married Miss Polly Smith, and after her death
married Miss Elizabeth May; Orpha, wife of Edward S. Gage; Amanda, wife of
Edson Smith; Linus, who married Miss Sarah Conner; Clark, who married Miss
Amanda Conner. The three brothers are engaged in the occupation of farming,
are enterprising, thorough men, and stand high in the community. P. Bates has
filled various town offices — has been township Treasurer for a number of years,
for the last two years Supervisor of Prophetstown, and is Chairman of the pres
ent Board of Supervisors of Whiteside county, a position which he ably fills.
Anthony J. Mattson was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, Decem
ber 23, 1818, about one mile from the Erie county line. His father was a na
tive of Scotland, and his mother of Ireland. When about three years of age, his
parents moved to Erie county, Pennsylvania. Before he had attained the age
of six years his mother died, and before he was twelve years of age he left home,
going out into the wide world for himself, for thenceforth he was to be his own
master, and dependent upon his own labor for the supply of his wants. He
came to Prophetstown in 1838, and although- but nineteen had traveled quite
extensively— to the east as far as New York and Philadelphia; south as far as
Vicksburg, and west to St. Louis. He came to Prophetstown byway of St.Louis,
Peoria, and Knoxville, arriving on the 23d of June, and soon after engaged in
mechanical pursuits to which his tastes led, and for which nature had happily
endowed him, having given a mind to plan, and a hand to execute its behests.
On the 9th of April, 1840, he was married to Miss Lucy B. Minchin, a native
of Vermont, and a lady possessing all the gifts and graces for which the fair
daughters of that renowned State are celebrated. But one child was born to
this union — Alice, born August 17, 1843. She died July 20, 1844, and gloom
for a time darkened the otherwise happy home of the parents. Time brought
changes. The country improved; business revived after the depression conse
quent upon the visionary schemes and lunatic finaneeering of 1839-40, and a
brighter future opened. In 1848, Mr. Mattson was appointed Postmaster at
Prophetstown, and in 1852 opened a small store and continued in this business
until the beginning of 1855. In April of that year he entered into the banking
business, in which he was actively engaged until he was burned out. Be
tween 1853 and 1860 he devoted much time and effort toward securing the con
struction of a railway to Prophetstown, so as to give it an outlet to Chicago
and St. Louis. From almost the time when Mr. Mattson first became a resident
of Prophetstown, he conceived the idea of having it connected with the great
markets by railway, but did not actively engage in the work to secure this end
until 1853, when he concluded that in order to accomplish the object, a strong
effort must he made, and hard work done. For nearly twenty years, commenc
ing with the Sheffield & Savanna Railway enterprise, and shortly after that

380 History of Whiteside county.
taking up the Camanche, Albany & Mendota, he labored persistently and un
swervingly for the construction of a railroad which would reach Prophetstown.
Finally he had his reward when, in Blarch, 1871, the Grand Trunk Railway,
owned and operated by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R. Company, was
completed to Prophetstown. To no man are the citizens of Prophetstown, or
those of other towns along the line of this road from Mendota to the Mississippi
river, more indebted for the building of the road, than to A. J. Mattson. His
constant aim was to benefit the south side of Rock river, then without railroad
facilities. To the interests of the people benefitted by this road he always
acted with consistency and strict fidelity, and it is but due to him in this bi
ographical sketch to award him that meed of praise, for securing the accomplish
ment of this object so munificent in its results to the people, which so eminently
belongs to him. On the breaking out of the war Mr. Mattson was appointed
enrolling officer for Whiteside county, by Governor Yates, and was afterwards
appointed Deputy Provost Marshal under Capt. John V. Eustace, which posi
tions he filled to the satisfaction of all. He then received the appointment of
Chief Clerk in the U. S. Revenue Assessor's office, for the Third District of
Illinois, A. J. Warner, Assessor. In 1856, he was appointed Notary Public,
and in the spring of 1859 elected Justice of the Peace, to which latter place
he has been re-elected ever since, the best possible evidence that his course has
been acceptable to his fellow citizens. The First National Bank of Prophets
town was organized in 1872, with a capital of $50,000 — Nathan Thompson,
President, and A. J. Mattson, Cashier. This position Mr. Mattson has since
filled, and its duties, in connection with his official business, occupies his time,
and leaves little opportunity for other pursuits. For four successive years he
was an active official member of the State Board of xlgriculture, serving with
credit to himself, and benefit to the State. Mr. Mattson has built up an
enviable reputation as a citizen and a man of business, and occupies a promin
ent position in the community in which he resides.
Isaac Colin Southard was born in Butland county, Vermont, in 1809,
and came to Prophetstown in 1836, locating on Washington street, where he
opened one of the best farms in the town. In 1870 he sold the farm to Chauncy
Paddock and moved to Minnesota, where his wife died. He is now living in
Kansas. Mr. Southard married Miss Almira Hill, their children being: Emery
D., who married Miss Lucy Roberts, and lives in Minnesota; Isaac Colin, Jr.,
who married Miss Christine Farnum, and lives in Iowa; William E., who mar
ried Miss Annie Bremer, and lives in Prophetstown ;'and Susan L., wife of George
Strong, living in Minnesota.
Thompson F. Clark was born in Lower Canada, in 1798, and came to
Prophetstown in 1836, settling on the bottom west of the present village. He
died in 1846. Mr. Clark married Miss Philena Miller in 1821. Their children
have been: Charlotte, now dead; Statira, wife of E. Burchard Warner, living
in Prophetstown; Oscar, living in Iowa; Edgar, who married Miss Electa Spencer,
and lives in Chicago; Adeline, now dead; Rothchild, who enlisted in the 40th
Illinois Volunteers, and died in the service; and Theodore F., living in Proph
etstown. Edward S. Gage was a native of Addison county, Vermont, and born in
1815. His mother was the first white child born in the town of Ferrisburg,
Vermont. In the fall of 1834 he came as far west as Ohio, and remained in
that State until the fall of 1836, when he came to Prophetstown. In 1844 he
purchased the farm upon which he now lives. He is one of the thorough farm
ers of the township. Mr. Gage married Miss Orpha Reynolds in 1840. The
children of this marriage have been: Savilla, wife of George P. Richmond, living

BIOGRAPHICAL. 381
in Prophetstown — Mr. Richmond is one of the most successful farmers in the
county, and is largely engaged in stock raising and feeding; Sophia, living in
Prophetstown; Frances, wife of Emmet Underhill, living in Prophetstown;
Phoebe, now dead; and two sons who died in childhood.
Joshua F. Walker was born in Stanton, Vermont, and came to Prophets
town in 1836. He remained a few years, and then returned to his native State
where he died in 1870. He was unmarried.
Freeman J. Walker was born in Stanton, Vermont, in 1812, and came to
Prophetstown in 1837, settling on Jackson street where he followed farming
until 1870, when his health failed, and with the hope of restoring it, sought his
native hills, but without avail, fie died in 1876. Mr. Walker married Miss
Emily Gage in 1838. Their children are: George, and Freeman, living in Proph
etstown; Almara, wife of David Cleveland, Jr., living in Hume; Loraine, wife
of William H. Adams, living in Hume; and Catherine, living in Prophetstown.
William Richmond McKenzie is a native of Essex county, New York,
and was born in 1815. He came to Prophetstown in 1837, and settled first on
the bottom, but afterwards opened a fine farm on Jackson street, where he still
resides. Mr. McKenzie married Miss Harriet Martin in 1842, their children
being: Luther B., who married Miss Annie Manning, and lives in Prophets
town; William, living in Colorado; Lovisa, wife of Frank D. Ramsay, living in
Morrison; Ella, wife of Augustus Reynolds, living in Prophetstown; Mabel, wife
of George H. fiyde, living in Little Rock, Arkansas; and Arthur, living in
Prophetstown. Harry Smith was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1801, and came to
Prophetstown with William Hill in the fall of 1835, making a claim on Benton
street, near the present village. He married Miss Ursula Spratt, in 1825.
Their children are: Ann, wife of William Hill, Jr., living in Prophetstown;
Helen, wife of E. A. Fassett, living in Prophetstown; Duane, living in Prophets
town; and Jane, wife of George Kellogg, also living in Prophetstown.
Erastus G. Nichols was born in Essex county, Vermont, in 1801, in
which place he passed his early life. In 1832 he moved to Niles, Michigan,
where he remained three years, and then in company with Mr. L. P. Sanger took
a contract on the Illinois and Michigan canal, and made the cutting through
Camp Rock. He came to Prophetstown in October, 1837, and settled on the
bank of Coon creek, near its confluence with Rock river. In 1840, Messrs.
Nichols, Sanger, and Galbraith, contracted to dig the canal around the Rock
river rapids, commencing the work at the present village of Rock Falls. These
gentlemen put a large force on the work, and also opened an extensive store for
that time, on the Rock Falls side. Mr. Nichols had been educated as a lawyer,
and practiced some during his earlier life. In 1839, he was appointed Circuit
Clerk for Whiteside county, but resigned before he had performed any duties,
and in 1840 Col. R. S. Wilson was appointed to fill the vacancy. He was the
first Postmaster when a separate Postoffice was established at Prophetstown, in
1844, but was attacked with small pox the next winter, and died in February.
In 1838-39, he built a saw mill on Coon creek, which nearly ruined him fin
ancially. Mr. Nichols was a man of good ability, and very highly respected.
He married Miss Elizabeth Graves. Their children were: Annette, wife of
Alanson Stowell, living in Prophetstown; Edliza, wife of Phillip B. Brown,
living in Prophetstown; Alpheus B., who married Miss Maria Paddock, and is
now dead; Jones B., who married Miss Tamson Seely, and lives in Prophetstown;
Sarah J., wife of Augustus Treadwell, living in Prophetstown; Ethan, now dead,
and Wilbur, who married Miss Lucy Thorp, and lives in Prophetstown.
Ethan Nichols was a native of Essex county, Vermont, and came to

382 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Prophetstown in 1838. He died of fever in August, 1839. Mr. Nichols mar
ried Bliss Portia Hopkinson, in 1825. The children of this marriage were:
David H., living in Colorado; Alpheus, in Blontana; Guy, in Wyoming; Ezra,
who was killed in the Mexican war; and Rufus BL, now dead.
Jabez Warner was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1787. In 1806
he moved to Missouri, it being then French territory, and settled near St. Louis.
During his residence there he served as Sheriff, and also as Probate Judge,
of St. Louis county. He was a cooper by trade, and carried on a large cooper
shop in St. Louis, in which he made flour barrels for tbe mills of that city.
When the news of the victory of the Americans over the British, at New Or
leans, on the 8th of January, 1815, reached St. Louis, BIr. Warner lost his right
arm while assisting in firing a salute over the triumph. He was a Lieutenant
in the war of 1812, and with his company made a trip up the Blississippi river
to keep the Indians in check. During this expedition the captain of the com
pany was wounded, and died soon after, leaving the command to Lieut. Warner.
He was universally esteemed as a man of clear judgment, unswerving integrity,
and great kindness of heart. He died in 1847. Mr. Warner was married to
Miss Elizabeth Conner in 1811. Mrs. Warner was born in Charleston, South
Carolina, in 1794, and is still living with her sons in this county. Their chil
dren have been: John H.; Mary E., who married Job Dodge, and lives in Phil
adelphia; Elias Burchard; Andrew J.; Sarah C, who married Silas Sears, and
lives in Prophetstown; Edward B.; Eliza A., who married Andrew J. Tuller,
and lives in Sterling; Martin P.; and Ellen M., who married B. H. Bacon, and
lives in Philadelphia. John H. married Miss Clarissa E. Bryant, and resides in
the village of Prophetstown. He owns a large and well cultivated farm in the
township, and has been a very successful agriculturist. Elias Burchard mar
ried Miss Statira Clark, and iipon coming to Prophetstown commenced farming,
which occupation he continued until 1851, when he engaged in mercantile busi
ness in the village with his brothers Edward B. and Martin P., and maintained
his connection with them until 1856, when he retired. Andrew J. first married
Miss Elvira Rowe, and after her death Mrs. Eliza M. Woodard. He was en
gaged in mercantile business with Andrew J. Tuller from 1849 to 1851, and for
several years was part owner of the plow factory and saw mill in the village.
In 1862 he was appointed an Assistant United States Revenue Assessor, and in
1865 was promoted to the office of Revenue Assessor for the Third Congres
sional District, holding the latter position until 1873. He has also held various
offices in the township, and has been a member, and for several terms President,
of the Board of Trustees of the village of Prophetstown, and in all of these
offices he gave unqualified satisfaction. Edward B. married Miss Elizabeth C.
Bryant, and for several years was engaged in business in the village of Proph
etstown. In 1858 he was elected County Treasurer of Whiteside county, when
he retired from business, and devoted all his energies to the duties of his office,
the county finances being then in not a very prosperous condition, and county
orders below par. The county seat had been but recently moved to Morrison,
and county buildings had to be erected. Added to this was the breaking out of
the war, and as it continued, drafts were ordered which could only be averted by
paying large bounties, and to do this bonds had to be issued and put upon the
market. Resting under a cloud as to her financial matters, the way looked
rather difficult for Whiteside to realize upon her bonds, but under the able man
agement of its financial officer they suffered but very little depreciation, and
that only for a short time. Through Mr. Warner's influence taxes were levied
to pay them, and long before the times had reached hard pan, the war debt was
extinguished. In the meantime the county buildings had been erected, and paid

BIOGRAPHICAL. 383
for, and the credit of Whiteside county in all respects fully re-established. The
twelve years during which Mr. Warner held the position of Treasurer were try
ing ones for the county, and had there been a less able, faithful and judicious
officer at the head of the financial department, it is difficult at this day to de
termine what its condition would have been. In 1872 Mr. Warner was elected
a member of the State Board of Equalization, and re-elected in 1876, his recog
nized financial abilities placing him at once among the leading, members of that
body. In 1859 he moved to Morrison, where he has since resided. He has
been Mayor of the city of Morrison, and one of the school directors nearly all
the time during his residence in that city, and had also very acceptably filled a
similar position in Prophetstown while a resident of that place. Martin P. was
engaged in business for some time in Prophetstown, but for the past fifteen
years has been connected with the County Treasurer's office, residing in Morri
son. Jabez F. married Miss Statira R. Cutler. . He owns a fine farm in the
township, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. His residence
is in the village.
John S. Warner was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1784, and
came to Prophetstown in 1837. He was a surveyor by profession, and was one
of the leading minds of the place from the time he became a resident until his
death, which occurred in 1864. He married Miss Sybil Perry in 1806. Blrs.
Warner died in 1865. Their children were: Irene, who married Rev. William
Palmer, and is now dead; Ruby, wife of David Underhill, living in Prophets
town; and Mary, wife of Alonzo Davis, also living in Prophetstown.
Ashley Booth is a native of Freetown, Massachusetts, and was born in
1806. In 1809 his parents moved to Chenango county, New York, and in 1830
to Cattaraugus county, in the same State. In 1835 Mr. Booth came to White
side county, and first made a claim near the present village of Portland, and in
1837 brought his family to his new home, living for a time in a- rail cabin cov
ered with boughs of trees. He lived at various , places until 1844, when he
opened a farm at Woodward's bluff, and has resided there since, except a couple
of years spent at the Pike's Peak gold diggings. Mr. Booth married Miss
Mary Foy in 1830, and after her death, which occurred in 1872, married Mrs.
Fanny Winters. He has only one child, William, who married Miss Adliza
Hurd, and is- a farmer near Woodward's bluff.
Calvin Williams is a native of Monson, Massachusetts, and was born in
1799. When five years of age, his parents moved to Cortland county, New
York, and in 1823 to Erie county, in the same State. Mr. Williams moved to
Michigan in 1833, and in 1837 came to Prophetstown, where he still lives,
working at his trade of carpenter, although seventy-eight years of age. He
married Miss Sally Hill in 1823, their children being : Enos, living in Port
land; Emily, who married Johnson W. Gage, and lives in Prophetstown; Har
riet, who first married Ryland Smith, and, after his death, Henry Myers, and
lives in Prophetstown; Eliza, wife of David Barber, living in Prophetstown;
Armina, wife of Andrew J. Seely, living in Portland; Lovina, wife of Richard
Thompson, living in Portland; and Nathan, who married Miss Lillian Parish,
and lives inSterling.
John Farnum was born in Orange county, Vermont, in 1814, and came to
Prophetstown in 1837, settling on Washington street, where he still resides.
His farm is one of the best conducted in the county, the neat appearance of his
buildings and yards not being counterbalanced by weedy fields and broken-down
fences. Mr. Farnum was married to Mrs. Irene Underhill, in 1846. There
have been no children by this marriage, but that has not prevented Mr. and
Mrs, Farnum from taking care of those whom death had deprived of their nat-

384 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
ural protectors, as the following list will show : Henry Leonard, living in
Prophetstown; Blaria Pease, living in New York; Julius Kane, living in Proph
etstown; and Christine Farnum, who married Isaac Colin Southard, Jr., and
lives in Iowa.
Alanson Stowell was born in Broome county, New York, in 1812, and
lived there until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to Greene county,
and afterwards to Steuben county, in the same State. In 1836 he came to
Illinois and worked for a year at his trade of millwright, in Quincy, and in Au
gust, 1837, settled in Prophetstown and commenced building the saw-mill on
Coon creek, in which enterprise he lost heavily. He is now residing on his
large farm adjoining the village. Mr. Stowell married Miss Annette T. Nich
ols, in 1842. Their children have been : Elizabeth, wife of Henry Davidson;
Erastus, who married Miss Lucy Blackman; Mary A., wife of Jacob Pence;
Marian, who married Frank McGrady; Bradford, Adliza, and Blark A. — all of
whom live in Prophetstown.
Elias C. Hutchinson was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1816,
and came first to Illinois in 1837, settling at Alton, where he remained until
1839, when he came to Prophetstown. During the earlier years of his resi
dence in Prophetstown he worked at his trade of carpenter and cabinetmaker,
to which he had been brought up in his native State, and afterwards became a
farmer. He is now engaged in the furniture trade in the village. Mr. Hutch
inson married Miss Mary Crary, in 1839. Their children have been : Augusta
and Frederick, living in Prophetstown, and three who died in infancy.
David Underhill is a native of Jefferson county, New York, and was
born in 1814. He came to Illinois in 1837, remaining for a while at a place
above Rockford, on Rock river, and in September of that year rowed down
Rock river in a canoe to Prophetstown. He made his first claim on Benton
street, adjoining the, village, and in 1839 opened a farm at Jefferson Corners,
where he resided several years. He now resides on his farm near the school
section. Mr. Underhill married Miss Ruby Warner, in 1841, the children of
the marriage being : John, who" married Mrs. Ruth Mitchell, and lives in
Prophetstown; Mary, wife of Alonzo Wilkinson, living in Hume; D. Storrs,
who married Miss Hannah Tubbs, and lives in Hume; Alonzo, who married
Miss Dolly Renslow, and lives in Iowa; Sylvester, also living in Iowa; and
Perry, who lives in Prophetstown.
William T. Minchin was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1794, and
came to Prophetstown in October, 1837, having stopped a year at Inlet Grove,
Lee county. He made a claim on Washington street, near Jefferson Corners.
In 1844 his improvements were destroyed by a tornado. He married Miss Abi
gail Sibley, in 1819, who, after his death, married Henry Smith. She is now
living in Prophetstown, with mental faculties unimpaired. The children of Mr.
and Mrs. Minchin are : Lucy B., wife of Anthony J. Mattson, living in Proph
etstown; Mary Louise, who first married Luke Spencer, and, after his death,
H. F. Kellum, and lives in Prophetstown; Julia Ann, who first married John
Lunner, and, after his death, Harry Brown, and lives in Prophetstown; William
T., who married Miss Milly Bear, and lives in Carroll county, Iowa; and Clin
ton B., who married Miss Aggie Buel, and lives in Iowa.
Henry Olmstead, Sr., was a native of Canada, and came to Prophets
town in 1838, opening a farm on Washington street, upon which he lived until
his death, in 1860. He married Miss Sarah Merritt, who is now living in Ne
braska. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Olmstead are : Oliver, who married
Miss Electa Hunt, and lives in Prophetstown; Daniel, who married Miss Oc-
tavia Kendall, and lives in Nebraska; Jane, who first married Harmon Smith,

BIOGRAPHICAL. 385
•and, after his death, Franklin Britton, and lives in Rock Island county; and
Henry, who married Miss Sarah Oatman, and lives in Nebraska.
Oliver Olmstead is a native of Canada, and was born in 1816. He came
to the State of Illinois in 1836, and first located in Plainfield, Dupage county,but
remained only a year, and in 1837 came to Prophetstown. During that year
he married Miss Electa Hunt, and the young couple passed their honeymoon in
a small cabin in Eight Mile Grove, rudely constructed of logs, with puncheon floor,
mud fire-place and chimney, and minus a window. Their provisions were corn
bread and frozen pork and potatoes, and at night the cabin was filled with a
pretty rough-looking set of wood-choppers. The place was then in reality a
howling wilderness, the fierce, cold winds finding their way into the cabin
through the numerous cracks, and the wolves keeping a continual chorus during
the night in the surrounding timber. In Blarch, 1838, Mr. Underhill moved to
his claim on Washington street, where he had erected a cabin twelve feet
square. On this claim he commenced work in good earnest, and at odd times
worked at any job he could find, so as to get something to live on. At one
time some necessary article was wanted by his wife for the household, and Mr.
Olmstead started for Albany, a distance of twenty miles, to get it, walking the
whole way. Not finding the article there, he went up to Fulton, eight miles
further, where he obtained it, and then returned home by the way of Union
Grove, making the whole distance traveled fifty miles — a feat of devotion and
endurance worthy of record. He has carried on farming at his old place from
1838 until the present time, and is still able to do a good day's work. He mar
ried Miss Electa Hunt in 1837. Their children have been : George, who
married Miss Fanny Green, and lives in Prophetstown; Oscar, who married
Miss Elizabeth Clifton, and lives in Prophetstown; Alonzo, who enlisted in the
9th Illinois cavalry, and died in the service; John W., Rosantha, David, and
Willie, living with their parents; and Edna C., who is dead.
Daniel Olmstead is a native of Canada, and came to Portland in 1838,
locating a farm on Washington street, upon which he erected a fine brick house.
He lived on this farm until 1865, and is now a resident of Nebraska. Mr.
Olmstead married Miss Octavia Kendall. Their children were : Sarah, wife
of Eugene Butler, living in Sterling; Augusta, now dead; and Frederick, who
married Miss Ella Graham, and lives in Rock Island county.
Harmon Smith was born in Vermont, in 1812, and came to Portland
in 1837. He settled on Washington street, and remained on the same farm
until his death. He married Miss Jane Olmstead, in 1839, their children being :
Webster, who married Miss Hannah Underhill; Clarion, who married John
Lambert; and Charles, who married Miss Edna Smith.
Lewis Brown was born in Dutchess county, New York, in 1779, and came
to Portland in 1836, locating a farm on Washington street, on which his son
Harry now lives. He died in 1876 at the ripe old age of ninety-five years. Mr.
Brown married Miss Orilla Clark. Their children were : Sarah B., now dead;
and Harry, who married Miss Julia Minchin, and after her death, Miss Anna
Kurfis, and lives in Prophetstown.
Stephen Crook was a native of Rutland county, Vermont, and came to
Prophetstown in 1836. He made a claim above Coon creek that season, and re
turned to Vermont. In the summer of 1838 he came back with his family, and
in the November following was frozen to death while coming home from Dixon's
ferry, an account of which will be found in this chapter. Mr. Crook married
Miss Mary Gibbs. Their children have been : Mary, who married Harry C.
Cook, and is now dead; Albert G., who married Miss Sarah Besse, and lives in
Sterling; Lucy Ann, wife of Lewis D. Crandall, living in Colorado; Irene, wife
[49-T.]

386 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
of Joel Kirshbaum, living in I&wa; Charles; and Rodney C, who married Miss
Blary C. Brydia, and lives in Hume.
Robert Smith was a native of Vermont, and came to Prophetstown in 1837,
locating a claim near Jefferson Corners, upon which he settled in 1838. He
met with the same fate as Stephen Crook, while returning from Dixon's ferry
in November, 1838. BIr. Smith married Miss Christina Lee. They had two
children : Richard, living Tampico, and Lucy, living in Vermont.
Samuel Johnson was born in Castleton, Vermont, in 1805, and came to
Prophetstown in 1838. In 1839, he married Mrs. Christina Smith, widow of
Robert Smith, and settled near Jefferson Corners, where he lived about twenty
years, when he moved to Sterling. He is now living on a farm in Coloma. The
children of Mr. and Blrs. Johnson are : L. L., who married Miss Block, and
lives in Coloma; he was a Lieutenant in the 34th Illinois Volunteers; and Chris
tina, wife of Charles Tenny, living in Vermont.
David Woodward is a native of Warren county, New York, and was born
in 1811. He came to Whiteside county in the fall of 1837, and remained dur
ing the winter in Portland. In the spring of 1838 he made a claim at the bluff,
which is now known as Woodward's Bluff, and has resided there ever since.
He has been for over forty years a worthy member of the Methodist church, and
is highly respected. BIr. Woodward married Miss Mary Leach in 1835. Their
children have been : Elizabeth, wife of James Keefer, living in Henry county,
Illinois; Martin, and Henry M., now dead; Emma, living in Prophetstown; El
len, wife of J. Willis Keefer, living in Prophetstown; Mary Elsie, wife of
Edgar Hammond, living in Prophetstown; and Milton, also living in Prophets
town. Stephen D. Smith was born in Poultney, Vermont, in 1798, and came to
Prophetstown in 1839. He settled on Washington street where Ezra Hill now
lives, and remained there until 1855 when he purchased a farm adjoining the
village. In 1871, he sold this farm to his son D. Kenerett, and Luther B. Ram
say, who laid it out into village lots, and most of the building since the comple
tion of the railroad has been done on this land. Mr. Smith still resides upon a
portion of it. In 1821 he married Miss Tilly Manley. Their children have been:
Polly, who married P. Bates Reynolds, and is now dead; Caroline BL, wife of
Luther B. Ramsay, living in Prophetstown; Ryland, who married Miss Harriet
Williams, and is now dead; William Edson, who married Miss Amanda Rey
nolds, and is now dead; E. Wallace, who married Miss Philura James, and lives
in Kansas; and D. Kenerett, who married Miss Alma Green, and lives in Proph
etstown. Obadiah W. Gage is a native of Addison county, Vermont, and was born
in 1813. He came to the State of Illinois in the fall of 1838, and in the spring
of 1 839 to Prophetstown, first working at his trade as a shoemaker, and after
wards opening a farm on Jackson street, where he still resides. He was County
Commissioner in 1848, and for six terms Supervisor of Prophetstown town
ship. He married Bliss Mercy L. Farrington in 1851. There have been two
children by this marriage : Augusta, and Euretta, both of whom are living at
home. Johnson W. Gage was born in Addison county, Vermont, in 1818, and
came to Prophetstown in 1839, where he has resided ever since. He has held
the office of Township Assessor for fifteen years, and School Director for ten
years. Mr. Gage married Bliss Emily Williams in 1842. Their children are :
Oakman C, living in Prophetstown; George, who married Miss Josephine Cox,
and lives in Iowa; and Nathan, Charles, Elizabeth, Dell, Joseph R., Rector'
Lucy, and Sarah, all of whom are living at home,

BIOGRAPHICAL. 387
Silas Martin was born in Massachusetts, and first moved to Schoharie
county, New York, and from there to Canada. In 1839, he came to Prophets
town,. and remained two years, when he went to Coloma, and died there about
1859. His wife was killed in 1841 by the accidental discharge of a gun, while
she was out riding. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Blartin have been : Sarah,
wife of Thomas Yeoward, living in Coloma; Nancy, wife of Morris L. Green,
living in Blontmorency; Emily, wife of William W. Durant, living in Albany;
Sophia, wife of Sydney Barber, living in Coloma; Harriet, wife of William R.
McKenzie, living in Prophetstown; Henrietta, wife of J. E. Whitcher, living in
California; Silas, living in California; David, now dead; and Hamilton, who mar
ried Miss Harriet Chapman, and lives in Round Grove.
Luther B. Ramsay is a native of Deerfield, Oneida county, New York, and
was born in 1818. He came to Whiteside in 1839 in company with Leonard
Woodworth, as one of the engineers in the construction of the canal around the
rapids above Rock Falls, and continued at that work for six months, and then
returned to New York State, having previously, however, made a claim in what
is now the township of Hume. In the fall of 1840 he came back to Whiteside,
and lived for three years in Hume, and then moved to Prophetstown ,where he
has since resided. Since his last return to Whiteside he has been constantly
engaged in farming, and in 1853 and 1854 was also engaged in mercantile busi
ness in the village of Prophetstown. For quite a number of years past he has
manufactured cheese to a considerable extent, and has a splendid dairy farm near
the center of the township. He is one of the leading citizens of Prophetstown,
and resides in the village. Mr. Ramsay was married to Miss Caroline M. Smith
in 1845. Their children have been : Frank D., an able and successful lawyer,
who married Miss Lavisa McKenzie, and lives in Morrison; and Lucy E., and
Christina, living in Prophetstown.
Sampson Ellithorpe was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 1806.
He first settled in what is now Hume township, but soon sold his claim to Wil
liam Ramsay, and moved to Prophetstown, where he died in 1840. Mr. Elli
thorpe married Miss Eliza Wight, their children being : Earl S., who married
Miss Mary J. Averill, and lives in Prophetstown; and Bethiah, wife of Dr. H.
C. Donaldson, one of the early practising physicians of the county, and for a
number of years, and at present, a successful practitioner in Morrison.
Horace Annis was born in Orange county, New York, in 1816. He came
to Illinois in 1837, and located in Chicago, where he remained until 1839, when
he came to Prophetstown. He was a blacksmith by trade, and worked at the
business while a 'resident there. From 1854 until 1859 he was connected with
the Plow, Factory at the village, and afterwards moved to Colorado, and then to
Montana, having been Probate Judge in both Territories. He married Mrs.
Portia Nichols in 1840. The children of this marriage have been : Mary, wife
of Harmon Cleveland, living in California; Keene, wife of Lewis J. P. Movrill,
living in Lyons, Iowa; Julia, wife of Hamden Sturtevant, living in Prophets
town; and Paul, living in Montana.
Lawrence Walls is a native of Londonderry, Ireland, and was born in
1803. He came to Illinois in 1838, and was foreman for Sanger and Nichols in
their contract on the Illinois & Michigan Canal. In 1840, he came to Proph
etstown, and purchased a farm east of Coon Creek, where he now resides. Mr.
Walls married Philena Clark, and after her death, Clarissa White. He has
one child, a daughter.
Edward Wright was born in Rome, Oneida county, New York, in 1811,
and came to Illinois in 1833, remaining awhile at Plainfield, Kendall county.
In January, 1835, he came to Prophetstown in company with William Perkins.

388 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
At that time there were no houses on the south side of Rock river from Dixon
down, until the grove just above Prophetstown was reached, where there were
two cabins, one occupied by Mr. McClure and the other by Mr. Bestwick, an
Englishman. Messrs. Wright and Perkins made a claim adjoining Asa Crook's,
and which took in the land on which the village of Prophetstown now stands,
and also enough of the bend of the river below to make what they considered
two good-sized farms. Perkins soon after returned to Kendall county, while
Mr. Wright remained to hold possession, and make improvements, and eventu
ally purchased the interest of Perkins. Mr. Wright then took R. Ammidon as
a partner, and the claim was divided. In 1836 he sold his share, with the ex
ception of twenty acres which had been previously conveyed, to Jabez Warner,
who had then just come up the river with a flat boat loaded with flour and pro
visions. He then went a few miles further up the river, made another claim,
and commenced improvements, but having had the chills and fever for most of
the time for two years, reluctantly left Whiteside county in the fall of 1839,
and settled near Lisbon, Kendall county. BIr. Wright married Miss Sophrona
Clark, daughter of W. L. Clark, of Lyndon Precinct, in October, 1840. Their
children have been: Julia, Emily, Clara, and Lottie, all of whom are now living,
and married; they have also had three others, who are now dead.
Henry L. Tuller is a native of Hartford, Connecticut, and was born in
1816. He came to Illinois in 1834, and settled in Chicago, and in 1841 came
to Whiteside county, and engaged in the mercantile business with Capt. W. S.
Barnes, at Albany. In 1842 he purchased the store of Frederick Dwight, in
Prophetstown, and did business in the county until 1848, when he went to Peru,
Illinois, and became connected with Dodge & Pitts in the manufacture of plows.
He is now in the same business with T. D. Brewster,in Peru. Mr. Tuller married
Miss Frances E. Snead, the only issue of the marriage being one daughter,
Frances E., living at Peru.
Jeduthan Seely, Jr., was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1807,
and came to Prophetstown in June, 1836, and settled adjoining the village of
Portland, but within the present limits of Prophetstown. BIr. Seely married
Bliss Mariba Foy. Their children have been: Marvin, who died in 1851; Tam-
Bon, wife of Jones B. Nichols, living in Prophetstown; William F., who died in
1876; Emily Blartin; and Celestia, wife of E. Laban Ballou, living in Prophets
town. ¦*
Nathan Thompson is a native of Saratoga county, New York, and was
born in 1822. He came to Prophetstown in 1843, and has been identified with
its business interests ever since. In 1852 he became connected with Andrew
J. Tuller, as dealer in general merchandise, building the store now occupied by
D. K. Smith, and continued in that line for fifteen years. He was also engaged
with William Pratt and others, in digging county ditches, and has been very in
fluential in all the railroad enterprises in which Prophetstown has had an in
terest, from the starting of the first project until the completion of the present
road through the village. He is now President of the First National Bank of
Prophetstown, and resides in the village. BIr. Thompson married Mrs. Sarah
Parrottin 1867. They have no children.
Alexander G. Thompson was born in St. Charles, Missouri, in 1818.
From there he went to Erie county, Pennsylvania, and came to Prophetstown
in 1838, and settled on section 36, on Jackson street, where he resided until
1865, when he moved to Round Grove. He is still residing at the latter place.
BIr. Thompson married Miss Almeda Gault. Their children have been: Addie,
wife of Albert Seaman, living in Sterling; George W., who died while in service
at New Orleans during the late war; Sarah Jane, now dead; Sarah, wife of

BIOGRAPHICAL. 389
Charles W. Roberts, living in Nebraska; Carrie E., wife of E. E. Pinney, living
in Lyndon; and Lizzie Jane, now dead.
William Thompson was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1811, and
came to Prophetstown in 1838 with his brother, Alexander G. fie remained in
Prophetstown until 1866, when he went to Floyd county, Iowa, where he is still
living. Mr. Thompson married Miss Mary Cleaveland. Their children have
been: Amy, now dead; Harmon, Cora, and three others, living in Iowa.

CHAPTER XXIII.
History of Sterling Township — Biographical — History of the City of
Sterlings — Newspapers—Manufacturing Establishments— Churches
and Other Organizations — Biographical.

History of Sterling Township.
The present township of Sterling originally formed a part of Harrisburgh
Precinct, and then of Elkhorn Precinct, where it remained until it was created
a township by the Commissioners appointed by the County Commissioners'
Court in 1852 to divide the county into townships, give them names, and pre
scribe their boundaries. Sterling township comprises all that part of Congres
sional township 21 north, range 7 east of the 4th principal meridian, as lies
north of Rock river, and contains all of sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 24, and fractional parts of sections
22, 23, 25, 28, 29, and 30, in that Congressional township. The land back of
Rock river is rolling prairie, excepting along the banks of the Elkhorn
creek, where it is broken in places, and more or less covered with timber. Along
the river in the middle and upper portions of the city of Sterling, and for a
short distance eastward, the land is somewhat bluffy, all of which was originally
covered with timber. The balance along the river is divided between bottom
and rolling land. The township is watered by Rock river on the south, and by
Elkhorn creek, which enters it near the northwest corner of section 2, thence
flowing nearly westward through sections 3 and 4, and thence in a southwest
erly course through sections 5, 8, 17, and 18, when it passes into Hopkins
township. Besides the timber land along the banks of Rock river and Elkhorn
creek, there is quite a tract on section 6, in the northwest part of the township,
which is divided into lots. The farming land of the township is exceedingly
fertile, and under the excellent management of its owners, produces abundant
crops. A good quality of stone for building purposes is quarried at the foot of
the bluffs in the upper part of Sterling, and in the rapids of the river.
Early in 1834, the populous township of Sterling could boast of only one
inhabitant, BIr. Hezekiah Brink, who, though bearing the weight of many years,
is still living at his old homestead. During that year Mr. Brink made an ex
ploring expedition through a portion of Rock River Valley. At Dixon he met
Messrs. Andrews and. Holland, and with them journeyed down the north side of
Rock river through Gap Grove, passed the site of the present city of Sterling,
and paused at the point where Como is now located. From thence the explor
ers followed the Elkhorn to the mouth of Spring creek, a little west of the
present village of Empire, crossing the former stream by swimming their horses,
and transporting themselves and baggage in an Indian canoe. Striking down to
the river again, they followed an Indian trail to a point opposite the Prophet's
village, and leaving their horses to graze at the ox-bow bend, crossed over to
where they found a cabin, occupied by a Mr. McClure, with whom they remained
over night. The next morning they started back to Dixon, following the river
trail, and after a few day's rest at Father Dixon's cabin, during which they dis
cussed the relative merits of the different points they had visited, decided where

HISTORY OF STERLING TOWNSHIP. 391
to locate their respective claims. Andrews and Holland, having the first choice,
selected the land on the river bend, afterwards known as the Como Purchase.
Mr. Brink made his claim on the north bank of Rock river, east of the street
now known as Broadway, in Sterling. As soon as this matter was concluded,
Mr. Brink proceeded to Oswego, on the Fox river, and exchanged his horse for
a yoke of oxen. Upon his return to Indiana, he brought his family back with
him to his new home, and occupied his cabin about May 1, 1835. His improve
ments were made within the limits of the present city of Sterling. At that
time Mr. Brink's nearest neighbor resided at what is now called Old Prophets
town. M
In 1835, John J. Albertson and Isaac H. Albertson, came from Dutchess
county, New York, and made a claim east of Mr. Brink's,' upon which they set
tled. William Kirkpatrick came in the spring of this year, made a claim and
built a cabin where the section line between section 22 and 27 intersects Rock
river rapids. He came from Sangamon county, Illinois, and had crossed the
river at this point in going from home to Yellow creek, near Freeport, where
he had a saw mill. John W. Chapman also came in 1835, and settled west of
the present city of Sterling, claiming the constitutional number of acres — :six
- hundred and forty of prairie, and one hundred and twenty of timber. Samuel
S. Geer, John Simonson, John Wilcox, and Jacob Brown, also came this year.
In 1836, the population was increased by the arrival of Elijah Worthington,
and Julius D. Pratt, from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania; Luther Bush, from
New York; Van J. Adams, from Ohio; Wyatt Cantrell, from Kentucky; John
W. McLemore, David Steele, John Ogle, Enoch and Noah Thomas, Nelson Ma
son, John D. Barnett, and others. Messrs. Mason and Barnett were, met on the
prairie where they were searching for homes for themselves and families on Gov
ernment lands, by William Kirkpatrick, while on one of his trips from his home
in Sangamon county to his mill on Yellow creek, and persuaded by him to visit
Chatham. The place pleased them so well that they determined to locate there.
Van J. Adams made a claim about two miles east of Sterling, upon which he
resided until his death.
During the year 1837 the number of settlers was further increased, among
them being Hugh Wallace, Eliphalet B. Worthington, James C. Woodburn,
George W. Woodburn, Ezekiel Kilgour, Wm. A. Merritt, John Pettigrew, D. C.
Combs, William H. H. Whipple, and Benjamin Fancier. The Woodburns pur
chased part of the claim of John W. Chapman, west of Sterling. Mr. Whipple
also purchased a part of this claim. William A. Merritt died twenty years ago
of consumption. D. C. Combs was a blacksmith, and had a shop in Harrisburg,
but did not remain long. A man by the name of Johnson made a claim during
the year, in the grove now the property of the heirs of Joel Harvey, three miles
west of the present city of Sterling. He was unmarried, and lived with his
brother-in-law, a Mr. Halloway. Johnson died in 1838, and was the second per
son buried in the cemetery near the Lutheran church, Mr. Steele being the first.
After the death of Johnson, Mr. Halloway, who was an Englishman, and did
not understand the science of farming, returned East. The land was afterwards
entered by other parties.
A large number of settlers came in 1838, among them Luther B. Wether-
bee, Col. Jacob Whipple, James M. Whipple, Dr. John A. Bates, Dr. A. W.
Benton, Daniel M. Vrooman, Jesse Penrose, Theodore and Elijah Winn, Jona
than Stevens, Wesley Robinson, John Piatt, and Brewster Piatt. Daniel M.
Vrooman went to California in 1850, and when last heard from he was return
ing from Sacramento to San Francisco on a boat. Dr. John B. Bates, a highly
educated gentleman and successful physician, died in the winter of 1842-43,

392 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
His remains were taken to Massachusetts by his friends, for burial, about ten
years after his death. The Winn brothers have been dead a number of years.
Dr. A. W. Benton practiced medicine a number of years in Sterling, and then
moved to Fulton. He died some years ago. Jonathan Stevens made a claim
north of the present city of Sterling. Marshall L. Pratt came this year, and
purchased an undivided sixteenth part of Harrisburgh, and remained two years,
and then went West, forfeiting his claim, which became the property of Theo
dore Winn. Among the arrivals in 1839 and 1840, were John Enderton, C. C.
Judd, William E. Boardman, William H. and George K. Adams, R. L. Wilson,
and John Dippell. After that time settlers came in more rapidly, as the beauty
and fertility of Rock River Valley had become pretty widely known.
The following are the names of the early settlers of Sterling, as near as
can be ascertained, with the year of their arrival: 1834, Hezekiah Brink, James
Holland, John Andrews, William Andrews, Peter Burke, Samuel Geer; 1835,
Samuel S. Geer, John J. Albertson, Isaac H. Albertson, John Simonson, John
W. Chapman, Wright Murphy, William Kirkpatrick, John Wilcox, Jacob Brown,
Samuel Brady; 1836, Elijah W°rthington, Julius D. Pratt, John Ogle, Wyatt
Cantrell, John W. BlcLernore, Van J. Adams, Col. S. W. Johnston, Luther Bush,
Nelson Mason, John D. Barnett, John Mason, Andrew McBIoore, David Steele,
William Oliver, Isaac Ricco, William Reed, Enoch Thomas, Noah Thomas, An
drew Swan, Bowman Bacon, Andrew Oliver, D. B. Combs, A. F. R. Emmons;
1837, Eliphalet B. Worthington, James C. Woodburn, George W. Woodburn,
Ezekiel Kilgour, Zera M. Chapman, Levi Chapman, Porter S. Chapman, Wil
liam H. H. Whipple, Henry Brewer, Horatio Wells, John Pettigrew, Benjamin
Fancier, A. B. Steele, Henry Tuttle, Marshall Pratt, John Petty, Hiram Had-
lock, William A. Merritt, Moses Warner, Hugh Wallace, Hiram Piatt, D. D.
Guile, D. C. Combs; 1838, James Carley, Sutherland Ingurel, William Rogers,
Charles Wickwire, William Stephens, Dr. John A. Bates, John Brendago, Mar
tin Montgomery, Zachariah Dent, Col. Jacob Whipple, James M. Whipple, Lu
ther B. Wetherbee, George H. Wells, George D. Reed, Robert C. Andrews,
Charles King, Chester Millard, Theodore Winn, Elijah Winn, Jesse Penrose,
Wesley Robinson, Daniel M. Vrooman, John Piatt, Brewster Piatt, George Blan
chard, Jonathan Stevens, Charles Miles, George Chandler, Ephraim Batcheller,
Dr. A. W. Benton; 1839, John Enderton, C. C. Judd, Oscar Rhodes, William
E. Boardman, William H. Adams, George K. Adams. R. L. Wilson, D. F.
Batcheller, John Dippell, and others, came in 1840, and the settlement from
that time was largely increased by arrivals.
The first white child born in the present township of Sterling, was Margara,
daughter of Hezekiah and Martha Brink, the date being February 25, 1836.
She married Mr. A. B. Crandall, in 1855. The first male child born in Sterling
is claimed to be Chas. M. Worthington, a son of Elijah Worthington, and well
known as a former editor of the Sterling Gazette.
The first death is stated to be that of a young man who had been one of a
party to oust a claim jumper. At such times parties went armed, fearing a
warm reception from the jumper and his friends, and such was the case with
the party which this young man joined. While on their way to the claim a
musket was accidentally discharged, the contents of which entered his leg, caus
ing a wound of so serious a nature that amputation was found to be necessary,
and a short time afterwards he died.
There seems to be a lack of recollection as to the earliest marriage which
took place within the territory now comprising the present township of Sterling.
The first marriage of which we have been able to obtain any record, was that of
Robert C. Andrews and Rhoda C. Kingsbury, which occurred April 24, 1842,

HISTORY OF STERLING TOWNSHIP. 393
Van J. Adams, Justice of the Peace, officiating, although other marriages un
doubtedly took place at a much earlier date. The marriage of John Dippell and
Esther fi. Bush occurred June 18, 1843. That of James Bradley and Lucinda
Brewer February 13, 1844.
The early settlers of Sterling had been well educated at their old homes,
and soon turned their attention to providing means for the education of their
children. There were no school houses, and as in similar cases throughout the
countyuthe cabin was turned into a school room. Mrs. E. B. Worthington has
the honor of being the first teacher, the school being held in her own house.
Among her scholars were many who to-day are leading citizens of Sterling and
other places. The next school was taught by Mr. L. Whipple, in a building
erected for a shop on Fulton street, in the fall of 1838. Mr. William H. An
drews succeeded Mr. Whipple as teacher in the same building. Now the finest
school houses in the county, or in this section of the State, can be found in
Sterling. Religious services, like the schools, were held at first in the cabins of the
settlers. Hezekiah Brink, Luther Bush, and others, early opened their resi
dences to the minister, and invited their neighbors to attend divine services.
The first religious society in the township was organized in the cabin of Mr.
Brink, in 1836, by Rev. Barton H. Cartwright, a minister of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. The members were then few in number, but strong in the
faith. Out of this organization has grown the present Broadway M. E. Church,
in the city of Sterling.
The first traveled road was from the present city of Sterling to Gap Grove,
and was laid out by Hezekiah Brink in the primitive manner of the time, by
cutting down a small tree and hitching his oxen to it, and then having it
dragged over the prairie, the distance between the places being seven miles.
The road was soon afterwards legally laid out by viewers appointed by the Jo
Daviess County Commissioners' Court, Mr. Brink being one of the viewers.
The first town meeting in Sterling under the township organization law,
was held at the Court House, April 6, 1852, with Luther Bush as Moderator,
and David M. Ward, Clerk pro tem. Fifty-four votes were polled. It was or
dered, among other things, at that meeting, that there should be one Pound
Master in the town who should build at the expense of the town, a good and
sufficient pound or yard to keep any animals which might be put into it, the
yard to cover an area of thirty-six feet square, and to be located at the discre
tion of the Pound Master. The owners of hogs were forbidden to allow them
to run at large at any season of the year; but other stock owned by them might
be permitted to do so under certain restrictions. It was also voted to levy a
tax to build the Pound. The Commissioners of Highways, elected at this town
meeting, reported during the year that the road labor assessed was two days for
each man, not exempt by law, and that all the fines and commutations had
been received by the Overseers, and expended for the benefit of the highways.
At the town meeting in 1853, it was ordered that the grave yard above
the upper town be purchased for the use of the inhabitants of the township,
and that a deed be made to the Board of Supervisors in trust for the township.
A committee, consisting of L. D. Crandall, R. L. Wilson, and Hezekiah Brink,
was appointed to obtain, if possible, a further quantity of land, either by do
nation or purchase, adjoining the above grave yard, which should be added to it,
for burial purposes, the committee to report at the next town meeting. A
motion was made at this meeting to repeal the hog law passed the year before,
but it was vociferously voted down, and to show that hogs must mind their
business, and keep in their little pens, it was ordered that a fine of twenty-five
[So-V-1

394 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
cents in addition to the lawful fee be levied on each hog put into the Pound,
the owner to disburse the quarter. It was further ordered that a fine of ten
dollars be levied on any person who should forcibly take away any hog put into
the Pound, or for injuring or destroying any part of the fence enclosing the
yard, all of the money arising from swine fines to become a part of the town
fund. The number of votes cast at this, election was thirty-four, twenty less
than at the first town meeting.
At the town meeting in 1854, the committee appointed at the previous
meeting made a report, and it was then ordered that the township purchase of
Jesse Penrose, a tract of land consisting of eight or ten acres, owned by him,
lying east of the grave yard, near the bank of the river, above the upper part
of the village of Sterling, and that twenty-five dollars per acre be paid there
for, the tract to be used as a burying ground for the township. It was also
voted to raise two hundred dollars to purchase the land. The hog law was
further added to, by imposing an additional fine upon the owner of every hog,
large or small, taken up, and put into the Pound. A tax was not deemed nec
essary by the voters at this meeting, to meet the expenses of the township for
the coming year, as a fund sufficient for that purpose remained in the hands of
the Supervisor. The number of votes polled at this election was only thirty-
two. The following shows the vote cast at each town meeting from 1855 to
1860: 1855,91; 1856; 242; 1857,226; 1858,321; 1859,407; 1860,430.
The following have been the Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessors, Collec
tors, and Justices of the Peace, of the township of Sterling from 1852 to 1877,
inclusive: Supervisors:— 1852-'55,"Jesse Penrose; 1856, Edward N. Kirk; 1857-'58,
Decius 0. Coe; 1859, Frederick Sackett; 1860, Samuel S. Patterson; 1861-62,
Daniel Richards; 1863, Marcus L. Coe; 1864, Nelson Mason; 1865-66, A. A.
Terrell; 1867, Decius O. Coe; 1868, Joseph M. Patterson; 1869-73, Joseph M.
Patterson, Wm. M. Kilgour; 1874, John G. Manahan, Samuel C. Harvey;
1875-76, Joseph BI. Patterson, James M. Wallace; 1877, W. A. Sanborn, W.
C. Robinson. Town Clerks:— 1852-'53, Norton J. Nichols; 1854-'55, R. DeGarmo; 1856,
Edward Jamieson; 1857, A. H. Buckwalter; 1858, Rudolph Kauffman; 1859-61,
Jesse Penrose; 1862-77, J. B. Myers.
Assessors:— 1852, Henry Tuttle; 1853-54, Marcus L. Coe; 1855, Benja
min Stauffer; 1856, Cyrus Manahan; 1857, James Gait; 1858, Charles Rost;
1859-'67, D. M. Ward; 1868, J. C. Teats; 1869-71, W. H. Smith; 1872, Adam
R. Smith; 1873, J. C. Teats; 1874, Israel Slater; 1875-77, Charles N. Bfunson.
Collectors:— 1852, Henry Aument; 1853-54, George W. Brewer; 1855,
Benjamin Stauffer; 1856-57, John Dippell; 1858, Rudolph Kauffman; 1859,
Joseph E. Cobbey; 1860, Jerome D. Herrick; -1861, Charles Bl. Worthington;
1862, C. L. Ginkinger; 1863, Edward H. Barber; 1864, C. L. Ginkinger;
1S65, R. L. Blangan; 1866-'67, Richard B. Getz; 1868, F. O. Headley; 1869-71,
Andrew K. Haberer; 1872, Charles N. Munson; 1873-74, Israel Slater; 1875,
D. Bard Rock; 1876, Noah Merrill; 1877, John H. Sides.
Justices of the Peace: — 1855, Joseph Golder, D. M. Ward; 1856, Wm. M.
Kilgour; 1858, D. M. Ward; 1860, Wm. M. Kilgour, John S. Stager, Joseph E.
Cobbey; 1864, John S. Stager, Allen W. Beatty; 1866, R. L. Mangan; 1868,
John S. Stager, R. L. Mangan, E. G. Allen; 1869, R. Champion, F. Vander-
voort; 1872, R. L. Mangan, J. W. Alexander, R. Champion, E. G. Allen; 1873,
J. W. Alexander, R. Champion, R. L. Mangan, E. G. Allen; 1877, E. G. Alien,
R. Champion, Adam R. Smith, J. W. Alexander, R. L. Mangan.
On the bank of Rock river above Sterling are several groups of mounds

HISTORY OF STERLING TOWNSHIP. 395
and earthworks, and below the Fair Grounds there are twenty-two mounds, one
of which is the largest in the county. These ancient mounds contain in many
instances human tones, showing that the builders used them in part at least, as
burial places for their dead. The question whether these mounds were built
by a pre-historic race, is still a mooted one. Besides these bones, a great var
iety of articles have been found, consisting of ancient crockery, arrow and spear
heads, stone axes, curiously shaped fragments of stone, intended undoubtedly
for ornaments, and in some cases copper tools and implements. These have
been eagerly sought after by those interested in ancient relics, and are care
fully treasured by their possessors.
About two miles east of the city of Sterling, on the farm of Mr. Albert-
son, is a mineral spring, the water of which is said to contain soda, magnesia,
potassa, lithia and silica, and some chlorides and phosphates. This spring has
lately become quite noted, and many resort to it for the beneficial properties of
its water. Bathing houses, and other buildings for the convenience of guests,
have been erected, and the place has assumed the appearance, to quite an ex
tent, of a fashionable watering resort. The spring is situated in a beautiful
grove, and the drive to it from Sterling, over a fine road, affords pleasure as well
as benefit. The following is related as the way- an early pioneer of Sterling township
secured a second wife, and maybe useful to some at this day who are anxious
to find spouses to take the place of those who have gone to the realms above.
This early settler being left alone in a strange country by the death of the wife
of his youth, and being desolate beyond degree, determined to seek for another
help meet. Butvhow to do this was the difficulty, and after revolving the mat
ter in his mind for several days determined to call upon the Probate Justice in
Sterling, and one day made that official a visit. The Justice kindly gave him a
list of all the widows in Whiteside county, taken from the Probate records, to
gether with a letter addressed to whom it might concern, that the bearer was an
intelligent and industrious farmer,, had a good home, and was in possession of
all' the qualities both personally and materially to make the coming wife happy
and contented. Thus prepared he started out on foot on a cool, bracing Decem
ber morning, with his wedding garments, tied up in a bandana handkerchief,
swung across his shoulder. The first day's search proved unsuccessful, but on
the second, he found a widow willing to listen to his suit, and a bargain was
soon concluded. Two weeks were to intervene before the happy event, and at
the end of the probation he led his blushing bride of fifty summers to the altar.
In this connection it might be well to add that the festive groom had grappled
with the cold and snows of seventy winters. The Probate Justice, as a reward
for the part he had taken in securing the union of two loving hearts was invited,
together with his wife and friends, to partake of the banquet provided by the
newly wedded pair at the home where they were to fight the battle of life
together. The township contains 12,040 acres of improved lands, and 2,292 of unim
proved. Number of improved lots, 1,082; unimproved lots, 385. The number
of horses in the town, as shown by the Assessor's book for 1877, is 765; cattle,
3,185; mules and asses; 21; sheep, 65, hogs, 1,328; steam engines, including
boilers, 7; carriages and wagons, 512; watches and clocks, 436; sewing and knit
ting machines, 319; piano fortes, 75; melodeons and organs, 99. Total assess
ed value of lands, lots and personal property, $2,340,470; value of railroad
property, $45,829.' Total assessed value of all property in 1877, $2,349,709.
The population of Sterling township and city in 1860, according to the
Federal census was 2,428. The population of the township, outside of the

396 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
city, in 1870, was 712, of which 600 were of native birth, and 112 of foreign
birth. The present population outside of the city is estimated at 1,000.
Biographical.
Hezekiah Brink was born May 21, 1809, in the State of Vermont. While
he was an infant the family moved to Erie county, New York; thence to Penn
sylvania, and soon afterwards to New Richmond, near Cincinnati, Ohio. BIr.
Brink's father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was killed at a battle near
Buffalo, New York. His widow married Samuel S. Geer, and moved from Ohio
to Carroll county, Kentucky. After a stay of two years the family changed
their residence to Bladison, Indiana, where the subject of our sketch served an
apprenticeship of five years at the hatter's trade. In 1834, BIr. Brink came to
Whiteside county, and made a claim on section 22, in the present township of
Sterling. A reference to his exploring expedition through a portion of Rock '
River Valley prior to making his claim will be found in the history of the town
ship. BIr. Brink, and Blessrs. Andrews and Holland, who made the exploring
expedition with him, together with a BIr. Bisbie who accompanied BIr. Brink
back from Fox river, and Wm. Andrews, first commenced work on the Holland
claim where Como now is. The horses and oxen owned by the party being found
insufficient to break prairie, BIr. Brink was despatched to Bureau county to se
cure an additional yoke of oxen, and a plow. A cabin was erected for Bisbie
near the location of the old Como dam, and another one afterwards built near
the drive to the ferry landing. Three or four days were spent in breaking prai
rie, when the whole party was prostrated with fever. The settlement was then
abandoned, and the party went to Sugar Grove, Mr. Brink putting up with Benj.
Stewart, and the others at John Blorgan's. BIr. Holland soon afterwards died;
Bisbie returned to Fox river, and Andrews to Dixon. Andrews afterwards sold
his claim at Como to Jason Hopkins, and those of Holland and Bisbie were aban
doned. In 1834, BIr. Brink broke five acres' on section 22, where John Stauffer
now lives. Wolves were then numerous and bold, at times being so audacious
as to steal BIr. Brink's dinner from his wagon. In November of that year he
built a log cabin of round logs on the lot where Mr. Cross now lives, on block
34, east of Broadway, Sterling. In 1836, Mr. Brink broke prairie for William
Kirkpatrick, where the Fair Grounds are now located. He also broke five acres
during the same year for Anthony Sells, where Mr. Reed now resides, and several
acres in 1835 near the Big Spring in Coe's Grove, for S. Miles Coe. In 1837,
he built a saw and grist mill, and a carding machine, the latter of which he sold
to Adam Knox. The mill property was sold to Joel Harvey, in 1847. Mr.
Brink built another saw mill on the Elkhorn in 1850, which he sold to Smiths
and Weber. He married Bliss Martha Buckhannan, September 25, 1829, in
Ripley county, Indiana. Their children have been : Thomas and Mary, who
died in infancy; Samuel, born July 21,1834; Blargara, born February 25, 1836;
David, born April 7, 1838. Mrs. Brink died October 16, 1839, and Mr. Brink
married Bliss Sophronia L. Guffin, October 11, 1840. The children by thismar-
riage have been : Harvey, born November 30, 1841; Caroline, born February
7, 1845; Albert, born Blarch 2, 1847; Julia L., born March 26, 1849; Newton
L., born August 11, 1851; Alma, born November 9, 1853; Ada M., born Sep
tembers, 1855; Ella, born April 13, 1858; Martha Belle, born September 9,1860,
and Allen H., born May 21, 1865. Sixteen children were born of the two mar
riages, of whom nine are now living. Margara married A. B. Crandall, in 1855.
Charles died in 1844, and Alma in September, 1854. Harvey died of typhoid
fever at Nashville, Tennessee, while a member of Company D, 75th Illinois Vol
unteers. Samuel died at Burmuda Hundred, being then a Sergeant in Com-

BIOGRAPHICAL. 397
pany G, 39th Illinois Volunteers. David is now a resident of Page county, Iowa;
he served during the war in Company B, 13th Illinois Volunteers. Albert resides
in Sterling; he was also in the war, and served in Company G, 39th Illinois Vol
unteers. Newton resides in Pottawottamie county, Iowa. Caroline married H.
N. Bartholomew, and lives in Powesheik county, Iowa. Julia L. married Daniel
Cole,; Mr. Cole died and she afterwards married J. M. Armstrong, and now
lives in Rock Falls. The remaining children are living in Sterling.
Luther Bush was 'born August 12, 1794, in the State of Connecticut, and
emigrated with his family to Lewis county, New York, where he remained until
he came to Whiteside county in 1836. fie was a brick mason and plasterer by
trade, and followed it all his life. His work always had the merit of being well
done. He was a man with few faults; a model of intelligence, and moral hon
esty, and a sincere christian. Ho was a member of the first church society
organized in the present township of Sterling, in 1836, the meeting being held
at Brink's cabin. This society grew into the present Broadway M. E. Church.
Mr. Bush was chosen the first class leader, and continued to fill the position
until his death in October, 1870. He died of dropsy at the age of 76 years.
On the 22d of January, 1820, he married Miss Eunice Cornish, who was born
July 28, 1800. Their children were : Henry, born October 17, 1822; Edward,
born Blarch 18, 1824; Esther H.,born January 22, 1826; Andrew, born July 18,
1829; Alfred, born August 31, 1832; Julia V., born February 3, 1836; and
Martin L., born November 22, 1838. Henry married Miss Sarah Judd, Decem
ber 4, 1850; children, Lewis C, Jeannette L., and Norton G.; Mrs. Bush died
March 9, 1857; Jeannette L. died September 22, 1858; Mr. Bush married Mrs.
Elizabeth J. Nichols, January 3, 1858; children, Emma E., Phoebe C, Isaac J.
and Henry L. — twins, and Natban J.; Mr. Bush is an intelligent, industrious
farmer, and has a well arranged, comfortable home, with fine surroundings.
Edward married Bliss Electa Bartlett, October 22, 1846; children, Mary Jane,
Charles H., Sarah, Edward N., Arthur, Ellen, Rosalia, Catharine, and George
L.; he learned the trade of plasterer with his father, and followed it as long as
he lived, his death occurring July 14, 1871; he spent a few years in California,
and after his return acted as Deputy Sheriff for sometime. Esther H. married
John Dippell, June 18, 1843; children, John L., Sophia E.,Etta M., George W.,
Frederick W., Anna A., Emma R.; Frederick died in infancy; when Mrs. Dip
pell came to Harrisburg in October, 1837, she remembers that there then but
eight houses. Andrew J. is a plasterer by trade, and unmarried; he went to
Iowa a number of years ago, where he is engaged in farming. Alfred married
Miss Caroline Verbeck; children, Franklin, and Marietta. Julia V. married
Joseph M. Martin, December 18, 1860, and lives in Kossuth county, Iowa; they
have no children; Mr. Martin is a school teacher, and also carries on a farm.
Martin L. married Miss Catharine Vexler, and is a farmer in Kossuth county,
Iowa; children, Laura C, Bertha L., and Eva E.
Jesse Penrose was a native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and
born November 18, 1802. He settled in Whiteside in 1838. He was a Quaker,
and an exemplary member of that denomination. He owned and occupied a farm
north of Sterling for some twenty years, and upon leaving it became a member
of the firm of J. & W. Penrose, in the crockery business, at Sterling.
Mr. Penrose married Miss Sarah Kirk, about twenty years age. They
had one child. Both Mrs. Penrose and the child have been dead a num
ber of years. BIr. Penrose was County Treasurer from 1855 to 1857,
and made a capable and efficient officer. He was a man of sterling integ
rity  one against whose public and private character not a shadow of suspicion
could be raised. He was also for fifteen years township treasurer of Sterling.

398 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
His death was caused by paralysis,, and occurred at Sterling, on the 26th of July,
1S76. Henry Brewer was born in New York State, December 2, 1788, and
married Bliss Lucinda Johnson, December 2, 1812. He came to the West in
1836, and settled at first on the farm now owned by P. Bacchus Besse, in Port
land township. In February, 1837, he came to Harrisburg. Bh\ Brewer took
the water route when coming West, first floating down the Alleghany and Ohio
rivers on a raft as far as Louisville, Kentucky, and shipping his family and goods
on a steamer to St. Louis. While the vessel was lying at the wharf at St. Louis
one evening, BIr. Brewer being on shore, and Blrs. Brewer engaged with the
children on deck, the cry was raised "a man overboard." Blrs. B. thinking it
might be her husband, ran with a candle in her hand to the river side of the
boat to ascertain, and accidentally fell into the water near the wheel which was
being turned by the current. One of the hands on the steamer noticing the ac
cident, ran behind the wheel judging she would catch hold of it in her fall,_,so
as to be ready to rescue her as she rose with it. This opinion proved to be cor
rect, and as the wheel made its revolution she was found clinging to one of the
buckets with one hand, and still keeping hold of the candle with the other. In
this condition she was taken on board, not only thoroughly drenched, but thor
oughly frightened. The children of BIr. and Blrs. Brewer were : William, born
September 10, 1813; Harry, born November 19. 1815; Blary, born January 18,
1818; Lucena, born February 27, 1821; Lucinda, February 4, 1823; Harriet,
born July 28, 1825; George W., Blay 6, 1827; and John, born January 19,1834.
Three died in infancy. Harriet died in Harrisburgh, February 11, 1841; John
died Blarch 14, 1841, and William,June 27, 1844. Lucena married PorterGreene,
and died in Wisconsin in 1864, leaving five children. Harry married Miss Helen
Adams, of Van Buren county, Iowa. Mary married Daniel Drake, October 22,
1836; children, Harry L., who died in the army, Lucinda M., Lucetta, Henry,
Frank, and David; BIr. Drake died in California, and Blrs. Drake afterwards
married Dr. Walker who became a surgeon during the late war, and died in the
service. Lucinda married James Bradley, February 13, 1844; children, Otho
J., Rosetta, and Deborah; the two latter are dead; Otho J. lives in California;
Mr. Bradley was killed by Indians in California, and Mrs. Bradley married John
S. Bass; children, Herbert, Mary, Darrow, and Seymour. George W. married
Bliss Elizabeth S. Green; children, Deborah E., Orra L., Emma, George N.,
Hattie L., Charles D., William H., Addie C, and Carrie BI.; Emma, George N.,
Hattie L., Charles D., William H., and Addie C, are dead; BIr. Brewer learned
the wheelwright business in the shop of his father, then followed farming for a
time, and afterwards engaged in the grocery business in Sterling. Henry Brewer
the father, died February 27, 1848, at the age of 59; Mrs. Brewer died January
6, 1867, aged 78.
D. C. Cushman was born in Vermont, Blay 24, 1809, and came to what
was then Chatham, in 1838, where he opened the first blacksmith shop in the
place. He was married, and had two children, Helen, and Horace. Helen
married David Carnes; tbeir whereabouts are not known. Horace enlisted in
the army, and has not been heard from since. Blrs. Cushman died, and Mr.
Cushman married Mrs. Eliza Claypole in 1841. Their children were: Salmon,
James, Emma, and Wesley; Salmon and Wesley are married and live in Ster
ling; Emma married George Hazen, and lives in Page county, Iowa; James died
in infancy. Hugh Wallace was a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and
was born August 10, 1812, and came to Sterling in 1837. Mr. Wallace was
married March 16, 1830, to Miss Mary Gait, a member of a large family of that

BIOGRAPHICAL. 399
name, several of whom came West, and are now the leading business men of
Sterling and vicinity. Their children have been: James G., born May 10, 1831;
Agnes, born July 10, 1832; Blary Isabella, born June 17, 1834; Elizabeth C
born June 10, 1837; Kate, born October 28, 1839; James M., born October 25,
1841; Jesse, born June 10, 1844; Hamilton, born July 29, 1847; Ann Eliza,
born September, 1852: They also had four children who died in infancy.
James G., died in childhood. Blary Isabella married Wm. L. Patterson, March
20, 1860; they immediately left Sterling, and settled in Maunchchunk, Penn
sylvania, where they remained eight years; Mr. Patterson afterwards engaged
in building a portion of the Union Pacific Railroad; then returned to Sterling
where he has since resided, and is now one of the firm of Patterson & Co.,
bankers, and is also extensively engaged in manufacturing and other enter
prises; children, Nathan, Blary, Susan L., Hugh W., Stella, Lillian, and Isabella.
Agnes married Roswell Champion. Hamilton married Miss Anna R. Spencer,
September 17, 1870; children, Hugh S., and Jessie E. Ann Eliza married W.
B. Leffingwell, December 17, 1874; children, Robert Bruce, and William Wal
lace. James BI. enlisted in Hawthorn's Battery, in 1862, and was afterwards
transferred .to Henshaw's Battery; was in the service about three years, and
during the entire time was Sergeant Blajor; he is now a practicing lawyer in
Sterling, and has been Alderman of the city, and Supervisor of the township.
Hugh Wallace graduated at Washington College, Pennsylvania, and read law
with Gen. Porter, in Lancaster city, and upon being admitted to the bar, opened
an office in that place, practising for several years, when he returned to his
native county. Upon his emigration to Sterling he pursued the mixed em
ployment of law and farming until business improved, when he devoted himself
to the practice of his profession. BIr. Wallace was elected a member of the
House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State in 1846, and in
1852 he became Senator. He also served four years as Register of the Land
Office, at Dixon, receiving his appointment from President Pierce. He was
earnest and persevering whenever enlisted in any pursuit or undertaking, enter
taining and holding opinions upon all subjects with inflexible tenacity. He
never adopted any new theory, or engaged in any new enterprise, without full
examination as to its merits, and when once fully embarked never doubted his
ultimate success. His social qualities were of a very high order, and his table
and fireside free to all. His great leading trait of character was hospitality of
the old fashioned pioneer style. His death occurred on the 18th of August,
1864. The city of Sterling was named at the suggestion of Mr. Wallace as a
compliment to his friend, Col. Sterling, of Pennsylvania. His widow still re
sides at the homestead in Sterling.
Samuel Geer came with his family from Fountain county, Indiana, in
1835, and settled on the farm in the present township of Sterling, known as
the Lumm farm, now owned by John Blartin. He afterwards sold the place,
and located the farm where Peter Bressler now resides. His wife was the
mother of Hezekiah Brink, by her first husband. He had one son, Samuel
Geer, Jr., who married Miss Nancy Hill, daughter of Jesse Hill, Sr., of Genesee
Grove, and has lived in Oregon for the past fifteen years.
John Ogle came from Fountain county, Indiana, with his family, in the
spring of 1836. He was a carpenter by trade. He married Miss Sarah Brink,
in Indiana. Their children were, Benjamin, -John, and Daniel. Mrs. Ogle,
after the death of her husband, married Ezra Huett, and moved to Iowa, where
she died in January, 1877.
Isaac H. Albertson and John J. Albertson were twins, and were born
April 15, 1800, in Dutchess county, New York, and came to Whiteside county

400 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
in 1835, making their journey from Rochester, New York, in a wagon,
which contained their worldly goods, drawn by two horses. S. Miles
Coe came with them in the same wagon. Upon reaching Naperville,
Illinois, it was found that their horses stood very much in need of
rest, and it was concluded to have John J. Albertson remain with
them, while Isaac H. Albertson and S. Miles Coe pursued the balance of the
journey on foot. The team came on soon afterwards. The Albertson broth
ers made their claim just east of the present city of Sterling, and covered the
premises now owned by BIr. Landis, Clark Powell, and Samuel H. Albertson.
Their first cabin was in the timber near the river, and shortly after they built
another one where the house of Mr. Landis now stands. John J. Albertson
married Bliss Ann DeGarmo, in April, 1839. Their children were: Theodore,
born in December, 1839, and Emily, born in 1842, the latter dying in infancy.
Mr. Albertson died in October, 1872. Mrs. Albertson lives in New York State.
Isaac H. Albertson died July 30, 1845.
Jonathan Stevens was born in Stonington, Connecticut, December 31,
1798, and came to Whiteside county in 1838. He settled on the farm just
north of Upper Sterling, formerly called Harrisburgh, where he resided for
thirty-three years. On the 13th of January, 1824, he mar ried Miss Ellen Bow
man, who was born February 2, 1807. Their children have been: Thomas W.,
born April 12, 1825; Eveline N, born May 8, 1827; Marshall S., born Novem
ber 14, 1829; and John N, born February 4, 1837. John N. married Miss
Anna Patterson, Blay 31, 1867; children, Mary, and Ella. Blarshall 8. was a
member of Company A, 140th Illinois Volunteers, in the late war, and died
September 21, 1872. BIr. Stevens was an enterprising and industrious man,
and accumulated a handsome patrimony for his family. His health was feeble
for a number of years, and his death occurred September 14, 1870. Mrs.
Stevens died January 22, 1876. For biography of Thomas Stevens see history
of Jordan township, page 262.
Van J. Adams was born in Ross county, Ohio, in December, 1803, and
was brought up a miller. At the age of nineteen he quit the milling business,
and taught school for about ten years. Upon coming to Illinois he settled first
in Sangamon county, where he remained for several years, and in 1836 came
to Whiteside county and made a claim two miles east of Sterling, on which he
resided until his death. After Mr. Adams moved to Rock river he devoted
his entire time to the cultivation of the soil, and stock raising. He acquired a
large property, and was one of the solid farmers of Whiteside county. From
1850 to 1852, he represented Whiteside and Lee counties in the General Assem
bly of the State with an ability that was duly recognized and acknowledged. ,
Being domestic in his tendencies, he afterwards resisted the often repeated
solicitations of his fellow citizens to accept public positions. On the 29th of
October, 1828, he married Miss Blarian Ritchie, the children of the marriage
being: Matthew R., born August 26, 1829; Josiah, born December 31, 1831;
James, born September, 1832; Maria P., born October 19, 1836; Josiah Quincy,
born April 22, 1842; Francis J. W., born January 19, 1845; Harden J., born
November 16, 1847, and Robert, born August 16, 1850. Josiah and James
died in infancy. Josiah Quincy died in November, 1860. Matthew R., mar
ried Miss Blary Ann LeFevre, May 13, 1852; children, Van J., Emma Maria,
and Edmund L.;Van J., died November 5, 1854; Mrs. Adams died January
16, 1860, and on the 29th of September, 1864, Mr. Adams married Miss Phoebe
J. Whitney; children, Ada May, and Maud who died August 4, 1870; Mr.
Adams enlisted as a Sergeant in Company B, 13th Illinois Volunteers, and
served three years, the entire time of his enlistment; during the whole time he

BIOGRAPHICAL. 401
was never on the sick list, and was on duty every day; he participated with
his regiment in all its battles and marches; and was especially noted for his
bravery and soldier like conduct; he was honorably mustered out and paid in
Springfield, Illinois, in June, 1864; he has been Supervisor of the township of
Coloma for several terms, and is one of its worthy citizens. Maria P. married
Edward Bowman, May 13, 1856; children: Frank J., Grant J., and Edmund.
Harden J. married Miss Louisa Williamson, December, 25, 1870; children: Van J,
and Mary F., the former dying in infancy; Mr. Adams is an Attorney and Coun
sellor at Law, and resides at La Fayette, Indiana; he is an industrious and close
student, and has an extensive practice. Frances J. W. married W. F. East
man, now one of the editors and proprietors of the Sterling Gazette, July 24,
1872, and died February 25, 1877, without children. Van J. Adams died April
29, 1871, the immediate cause of his death being the kick of a vicious horse.
Mrs. Adams died September 9, 1871.
George H. Wells was a native of Massachusetts, and came to Sterling in
1838. With the exception of a short stay in Fulton, he resided in Sterling
until his death, which took place about four years ago, at the age of seventy
years. His first wife died twenty-five years ago, without children. He after
wards married Miss Rebecca McMoore, sister of Andrew McMoore, who still re
sides at the homestead near the old court house. Mr. Wells was a tailor by
occupation, but gave up that trade, and kept the Sterling Hotel. He had no
children, but adopted a child, known as Samuel Wells.
Jacob Whipple was born in Sutton, Massachusetts, April 3, 1782, and
was for a number of years Colonel of the Third Regiment, Second Brigade,
Seventh Division, Massachusetts Militia. He came to Whiteside county, and
settled a little west of Sterling, in 1838. He was appointed by the County
Commissioners, Superintendent for the building of the Court House in Sterling
in 1842, and performed his duties faithfully. Although eminently qualified to
fill places of public trust, and personally very popular, he declined to accept
the positions frequently offered him, preferring to give his undivided attention
to his favorite employment, the cultivation of the soil. He died February 10,
1872, at the advanced age of nearly ninety years. Col. Whipple's children were:
Almanza, born August 11, 1811; Lithuana, born February 13, 1813; Alonzo J.,
born March 26, 1815; William H., born December 5, 1816; Leander J., born
August 22, 1818; Mary S., born August 17, 1820; James M., born November 8,
1822; Lauriston W., born April 19, 1825; Susan J., born January 13, 1828; and
Massena B., born October 12, 1829. Alonzo J. died May 11, 1842; Massena
B., October 12, 1832; and Susan J., October 17, 1855. Almanza married
Charles King, May 7, 1835; children, Mary, Frank, and Ada; Mr. King was ac
cidentally drowned about twenty years ago; Mrs. King died May 21, 1857.
Leander married Miss Julia Stacy; children: Ellen, Mary, Clarissa, Fred, and
Hattie; Mr. Whipple died August 1, 1869. Lithuana married William Carruth,
May 2, 1843; children: Florence, Louisa, and Will. William H. married Miss
Mary J. Johnson, and lives on the old homestead; he is one of the few remain
ing sturdy old settlers, and is well known and universally esteemed as a man of
integrity and intelligence. James M. married Miss Anna McKim, in Decem
ber, 1872; one child, Madora. Lauriston W. married Miss Elmira Woodley,
March 9, 1848; children, Albert F., Mary F., Belle, Blanche, and Bertie; he
lives in Sedalia, Missouri, is a carpenter by trade, and is also licensed as a
Baptist minister.
Luther B. Wetherbee was born in the town of Hardwick, Massachusetts,
June 23, 1809. and came to Whiteside county in 1837, and made a claim on
section 12, in the present township of Sterling, where he built a small frame
[si-v.j

402 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
liouse, and brought his family the next year, the families of Col. Jacob Whipple
and BLises Warner accompanying them. After remaining on his farm six
teen years, he concluded the avocation of an agriculturist was not remunerative
enough, as prices at that time were low, roads almost impassable except in dry
weather, and no market nearer than Chicago. He therefore returned to Barre,
Blassaehusetts, and became foreman again in the same machine shop he had
left when he came West. He remained there until 1S48, when he came back
to his farm, and with the exception of an occasional visit to his old home, and
a tour in Europe in 1847, did not leave it. Upon his return to his farm he
found the farming business better, owing in part to nearer markets, and was
very successful, accumulating a handsome fortune. Intelligent, enterprising,
and moral, he was a good specimen of the old-fashioned May Flower stock. His
death occurred November 6, 1873. BIr. Wetherbee married Bliss Charlotte W.
Adams, November 9, 1831. Their children were: Martha A., born November
13, 1833; Jane L., born Blay 26, 1835; Charles Augustine, born September 13,
1836; Charles Adams, born December 17, 1839; Mary Adelaide, born in 1841;
and Edwin C., born April 29, 1843. Martha A. died January 1; 1837; Jane L.,
February 20. 1840; and Charles Augustine, February 25, 1838. Charles Adams
married Bliss Blargaret Penrose, October 5, 1865; children: May P., Ella D.,
Harriet A., and Charles E. Blary Adelaide married Henry Gaston, January 6,
1869, and resides in Piatt county, Illinois; children: Charlotte W., Josephine,
and Laura. Edwin C. married Miss Hannah Eckles, Blarch 4, 1868, and re
sides in Blarshall county, Iowa; one child, Harry L.
Robert C. Andrews was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, Febru
ary 18, 1817, and came to Sterling in March, 1838. He married Miss Rhoda
C. Kingsbury, April 24, 1842, their children being: Robert P., born April' 3,
1843; Henry C, born August 14, 1844; Hugh W., born March 7, 1845; Frank
E., born January 13, 1849; John W., born November 13, 1851; Mary L., born
June 6, 1853; and James D., born February 22, 1856. Henry C. died in in
fancy. Robert P. died February 26, 1849. Hugh W. enlisted in Company D,
27th Illinois Volunteers; was taken prisoner at the battle of Pleasant Hill, in
Louisiana, under Gen. Banks, and died in a Rebel prison, August 16, 1865.
Frank E. married Bliss Kate Sides, March 16, 1876; one child, died in infancy.
John W. married Bliss Ada Austin, March 10, 1874; children: Herbert and
Hugh. Blary L. is a teacher in the Second Ward School in Sterling. James is
a teacher in Montmorency township. Frank E. is City Engineer for the city
of Sterling. George W. Woodburn came to Sterling from Cumberland county, Penn
sylvania, in 1837, and in the spring of the next year was joined by his family.
With the exception of seven years' search for gold in California, he resided on
his farm just west of the city of Sterling, where he died full of years and
honors, June 18, 1872. James H, his only child, was born October 12, 1836,
and married Bliss Susan A. Farrar, November 15, 1858; children: George W.
and Charles H. He enlisted in Company I, 75th Illinois Volunteers, and served
three years during the war; was always in the front, and participated in all the
battles of his regiment, except the battle of PerryviUe, when he was on de
tached service; was never sick in the hospital, never had a leave of absence, and
was not off duty a single day; he now owns and lives upon the old homestead.
George W. Y\'oodburn, was twice married, his first wife dying April 5, 1846.
His second wife now resides in California.
James C. Woodburn came with his brother, Capt. Geo. W. Woodburn,
from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, to Sterling, in 1837. In 1839 he was
elected the first Sheriff of Whiteside county, and served the regular term. He

BIOGRAPHICAL. 403
conducted the first Circuit Court held in the county, at Lyndon, in 1840. He
died of consumption in 1848.
Hiram Platt came to Sterling from New York State, in 1837, and made a
claim at the spring two miles north of the city of Sterling. Mr. Platt married
late in life. His wife died a few years after the marriage, and he died in 1869.
John Platt came to Sterling from New York State in the spring of 1838,
bringing his father and mother, the family of Daniel D. Guiles, Blrs. Jones, his
sister-in-law, a widowed lady, and her son, David P. Jones, now an attorney and
counsellor at law in good practice, residing at Ottawa, Illinois. Mr. Platt set
tled in the township of Sterling, where he now lives. His father died in 1866,
at the great age of nearly ninety years, and his mother died in 1863. Mrs.
Jones has been dead a number of years. Mr. Platt is now 81 years of age.
David D. Guiles was born November 3, 1819, near Saratoga Springs, New
* York, and came to Sterling in 1837. He married Miss Eliza Ann Platt, March
7, 1833. Their children were: Edgar P., born September 14, 1835; Sarah, born
January 14, 1838; Phoebe Adelia, born November 22, 1840; Ellen M., born
June 13, 1843; Charles G., born July 22, 1846; George, born March 3, 1849;
and Mary E., born December 20, 1852. Edgar P. died in 1841, at Sterling.
Sarah married M. S. Andrews, June 16, 1856. Phoebe Adelia married W. B.
Chambers, December 25, 1855. Ellen M. married Crila C. Ellis, November 20,
1862. Mrs. Guiles died October 22, 1854, and Mr. Guiles married Mrs. Aman
da Augustine, August 19, 1857. He succeeded John D. Barnett as Postmaster
at Sterling. Henry Tuttle was born in Greene county, New York, January 29, 1818,
and_in 1837 came west in company with A. B. Steele, John B. Steele, and Tim
othy A. Butler. David Steele had gone west the year previous, and made a
claim of 400 acres. Of this tract Mr. Brink claimed and secured 160 acres.
A. B. Steele purchased 80 acres of Mr. Brink's claim, and with Mr. Tuttle se
cured an undivided half of David Steele's claim. When David Steele died, his
father came west, and the property was divided. He selected 80 acres north of
Science Ridge school house and 80 acres on the Elkhorn, as his son's share. A.
B. Steele settled where Abram Landis now lives, sold out in 1847, and returned
to New York. Mr. Tuttle opened a farm just north of Sterling, which is now
owned by George Hoover, fie afterwards owned the Porter S. Chapman farm,
which he sold in 1867 to Samuel Stroch, and purchased a farm just west of
Round Grove, from C. D. Sanford, where he now resides. Henry Tuttle was
one of eleven children, and came west as the pioneer of the family to secure
claims. His father came west in the fall of 1841, and was soon after stricken
with typhoid fever, which soon caused his death. Mr. Aaron Steele made the
journey with Mr. Tuttle, Sr., his brother-in-law, from New York to Sterling, a
distance of 1,000 miles, in a buggy. He was smitten by the same disease, and
died in October, 1841.. The death of these two gentlemen deterred other mem
bers of their families from emigrating to the west, and |Mr. Henry Tuttle was
left alone, so far as his relatives were concerned.
Bowman W. Bacon removed to the west in 1838, with the Stevens family,
to which he was related. Mr. Bacon married Mrs. Fuller. He served in the
army as Captain of Company G, 74th Illinois Regiment. He was wounded at
Kenesaw Mountain, from the effects of which he died, July 21, 1864.
Elijah Worthington was among the first settlers, at Sterling, and one of
the original proprietors of the town. He was born at Colchester Conn., in Octo
ber, 1802. His family afterward removed to Pennsylvania, settling at Wilkes-
barre, in the Wyoming Valley. In 1825, Mr. Worthington married Miss Caroline

404 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Pratt, by whom he had three children, one dying in infancy. A printer by pro
fession, after a few years of mercantile life at Pittston, Pa., he engaged in the
publication of the Record of the Times, at Wilkesbarre, a paper still in existence.
During the Masonic excitement of those days, he took grounds in opposition to
the Order, and assumed the publication of the Anti-Masonic Advocate, vigorously
assailing the principles of Free Masonry. In 1830, his wife died, and in 1833
he married Miss Ann Eliza Merritt, of Wilkesbarre, by whom he had two chil
dren, one dying in infancy. In 1835, he came to Sterling, made his claims,
built a log cabin on the spot where his son's residence now stands, and brought
his family hither the year following. In 1837, in company with Hezekiah Brink,
now living in Sterling, he started a store in a log cabin just east of his house,
and now the property of Mr. W. F. Eastman. At that time this store was the
most pretentious mercantile establishment in the country, west of Dixon's Ferry.
BIr. Worthington was actively identified with all the public enterprises of that
day, and would have contributed largely, by his energy and enterprise, to the
development of his adopted home, had not death terminated his usefulness. He
died in December, 1839, of acute pneumonia, after an illness of but a few days,
aged 37 years. His two children, Helen and Elijah, by his first wife, died the
following year. His widow married Leonard Goss, Esq., removing to Savanna,
and afterwards to Mt. Carroll, where she died in July, 1846. The only member
of Mr. Worthingtou's family now living is his son, C. M. Worthington, for many
years editor of the Sterling Gazette, and whose home is upon the same spot
where his father erected his log cabin forty-two years ago.
Eliphalet B. Worthington was born in Coldchester, Conn., September
7, 1797. When a mere lad removed to Wilkesbarre, Pa., where he attended
school and learned the printing business. In 1824, he formed a partnership with
his uncle and commenced the publication of the Neiosboy in Chester, Pa. After
a few years he returned to Wilkesbarre and became the editor of the Journal
and Anti-Masonic Advocate of that town. April 24, 1834, he married Sarah
McShane, of Philadelphia, and removed to where Sterling now stands, in the
spring of 1837, to the town of Harrisburgh, which consisted of four cabins oc
cupied by H. Brink, John Ogle, Samuel S. Geer, and Elijah Worthington, the
latter gentleman the brother of the subject of our sketch. BIr. Worthington
was one month making the trip from Wilkesbarre to Sterling. In the spring of
1838 Mrs. Worthington commenced a school which was designed for the nucleus
of an academy, to which the proprietors of Harrisburgh donated a lot. The school
was taught in the first frame house built in the settlement. The boards were
sawed from hard wood at Wilson's mill, at a cost of $40 a thousand. The fol
lowing are the first names that appear upon the school roll : Wm. M. Kilgour,
Nancy Jane Kilgour, Andrew, Alfred, Esther, and Julia Bush, Geo. W. and
Lucinda Brewer, Helen M. and Elijah Worthington, Jr. The next year a class
was formed in painting, composed of Messrs. Benton, Johnson, Woodly, Stephens,
and Brown; Dr. John Bates, critic. In November 1841, Mr. Worthington
was appointed postmaster at Sterling, by President Tyler, and managed the of
fice during his administration and those of Polk and Taylor. BIr. Worthington
was deputy clerk of the Circuit Court of the county for about fifteen years.
His real estate claim was made upon the south side of the river, which he sold
to A. F. R. and Samuel Emmons. He subsequently made a claim which he sold
to Henry Landis. Sterling was his permanent home until the time of his death,
November 14, 1871. Children : Anna M., born February 15, 1835; Edward
L., born October 5, 1836; Emily F., born February 3, 1840; Mary L., born Feb
ruary 2, 1843; Josephine, born May 28, 1845; Louise, born July 16, 1847. E.
L. Worthington married Caroline Haven, of Ohio; three children. Anna M,

BIOGRAPHICAL. 405
married Lorenzo Hapgood. Emily F. married A. A. Norwood. Mary L. mar
ried S. S. Lukens. Josephine is now the wife of C. C. Johnson.
Martin Montgomery came from New York, and settled in Sterling in
1838. His family consisted of his wife, two or three sons, and three daughters.
The sons, except Charles, went west soon after they came to Illinois. Charles
enlisted in the army, and served three years; he now lives in Iowa. One daugh-
termarried Zachariah Dent, of Clyde township. She died six or seven years ago.
Another daughter married Mr. Martin of Sugar Grove, and is still living. The
other one married Wesley Robinson, an early settler of Sterling, and lives in
Clyde township. Mrs. Montgomery, the mother, died soon after she came west.
Mr. Montgomery afterwards married a Mrs. Town, of Fulton, and died about 15
years ago.
Moses Warner and family came west in 1838 in company with the Whip
ple and Wetherbee families; they stopped about a year in Sterling, and in 1839
settled in Lee county. Mr. Warner died in the winter of 1876-7, at an ad
vanced age. Two sons, Henry and Moses M., reside in Sterling.
Miles S. Henry is a native of Geneva, Ontario county, New York, and
was born March 1, 1815. He was a schoolmate of Stephen A. Douglas, at the
Canandaigua Academy, and upon leaving that institution studied law in the
office of John C. Spencer, in Canandaigua, for three years. He came west in
1834, and stopped for a while in Chicago, and then went to La Porte, Indiana,
where he purchased an interest in Michigan City, which was then coming into
notice, fie read law at La Porte with Hon. Gustavus A. Evarts, who had been
Circuit Judge of the Northern District of Indiana, and then commenced to
practice. In 1843 he married Miss Philena N. Mann, an adopted daughter of
Judge Evarts, and in the same year formed a law partnership with him, and
emigrated with him and his family to Platte county, Missouri. Not being
pleased with the place, he returned to Illinois in the spring of 1844, and at the
instigation of Judge Stephen A. Douglas, settled at Macomb, McDonough
county. At this place he commenced the practice of the law with Hon. Jesse
P. Thomas, Circuit Judge. After the August term of the Circuit Court, in
1844, he came to the Rock river country on an exploring tour, attended the
session of the Circuit Court held by Judge Browne, at Lyndon, and was so well
pleased with the valley that he concluded to settle at Sterling, to which place
the county seat had just been removed. In October, 1844,he brought his fami
ly to Sterling, and entered into the practice of the law, soon attaining a promi
nent position at the bar. He resided for a year in the upper town, known as
Harrisburgh, and then purchased and built a residence on the same lots, on Third
street, where he now resides. In 1852 he opened a banking house in Sterling,
and in 1854 formed a partnership with Lorertzo Hapgood, in the banking busi
ness, the firm name being M. S. Henry & Co., the firm continuing until 1861.
During all that time he was also engaged in practicing law. In the fall of
1854 he was elected a Representative to the General Assembly of the State, on
what was then called the People's ticket, the party being afterwards called Re
publican. During the session of the General Assembly when he was a member,
a United' States Senator was elected, Abraham Lincoln and Lyman Trumbull
being the candidates of the People's party. Mr. Henry voted for Mr. Lincoln
until he not requested, but demanded, that he should not vote for him any
ldnger, but cast his vote for Mr. Trumbull. Mr. Henry was also a strong advo
cate of the Free School system, and during his term as Representative did more,
probably, than any other member, to secure the passage -qJE the first Free School
Law in Illinois. He was a delegate from Illinois to the Republican National
Convention, at Philadelphia, in 1856. which nominated John C. Fremont for

406 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
the Presidency, he, however, advocating the nomination of Judge McLean for
President, and Abraham Lincoln for Vice President. In 1857 he was appoint
ed Bank Commissioner of the State, by Gov. Bissell, and held the office until
the war broke out, when he tendered a regiment of cavalry to the service; but
it was refused by Gen. BIcClellan, because there was a greater proportion of
that arm of the military in the service than it required. BIr. Henry was also,
in 1857, elected President of the Sterling & Rock Island Railroad Company,
and endeavored to build a road from Sterling to Rock Island, and from thence
to Oquawka, and remained President until 1861, when the project was aban
doned in consequence of the breaking out of the war, the financial embarass-
ment of the times, and the violent opposition of the Chicago & Rock Island
Railroad, with which it would compete. In 1862 Mr. Henry was appointed
Paymaster in the Army, which position he held during the war. After the war
he was engaged in the oil business in West Virginia, and also in the manufac
ture of salt at Bay City, Michigan, and for three years was the President and
General Blanager of the Salt Company at that place. In consequence of the
ill health of his wife, he sold his interest at Bay City, and returned home. His
wife died soon after, and in October, 1871, he married Blrs Emily J. C. Bush
nell, widow of Major Dr. R. Bushnell. On his return to Sterling, in 1868, he
re-commenced the practice of the law, in company with his present partner, C.
C. Johnson, Esq., and has so continued since. Mr. Henry is one of Whiteside's
able and energetic citizens, and has many warm friends and admirers.
John Pettigrew was a native of Virginia, and born in 1815. He settled
in Sterling in 1837, and on the 19th of January, 1847, married Miss Hannah
Gilbert. Their children were: Blonroe, born January 27, 1848; Emma J., born
October 9, 1849; Ella BI., born December 26,1851; and Florence, born January
2, 1855. Monroe is married, and lives in Osage county, Kansas. Emma J.
married David B. Brink, and resides in Page county, Iowa; they have two chil
dren. Ella M. married James E. Woodford, September 5, 1872; two children.
John Enderton was a native of the State of New Jersey, and born Octo
ber 9, 1800. He came to Sterling in 1839, and was a cabinet maker by trade.
Mr. C. C. Judd came with him, and the two opened the first cabinet shop in
Sterling. BIr. Enderton was married three times, his first wife being Clarissa
C. Goodwin; second, Nancy Warren; and third, Maria Atkins. The children
by the first marriage were: Jane, and Clara. Jane married Andrew McMoore,
and lives in Louisiana, Missouri. Clara married Albert Gilbert; children, Frank,
and two who died in infancy; after the death of Mr. Gilbert, Mrs. Gilbert mar
ried George Gainu, who died in Sterling, in 1876. By the second marriage the
children were: Blary L., James H, George, Maria A., Abram B. and Sherman
B., — twins, and William H., and Robert, the latter dying in infancy. William
H. died in California about six years ago; Mary L. married Henry Aliment, whq
was afterwards drowned in a boat as it passed over the dam at Sterling; chil
dren: Harry A., and two who died in infancy. James H. married Lucinda Root;
he is a farmer, and lives in Iowa; children: Sophia, Jennie, and one |who died
in infancy. George is married, and has three children, Ina,, Clara, and Caggjus;
he is a mechanic, and lives in Wisconsin. Maria married WiHiam Barker; chil
dren: Marion, Cortland, Bert, and an infant; the family live in California.
Sherman B. is married, has three children, and lives at Lyndon, Kansas. Abram
B. lives at Rock Falls, is unmarried, and follows the occupation of a commer
cial traveler. There was one child by the third marriage, Emma, who lives with
her mother in Fulton county, Illinois. Mr. Enderton went to California in
1872, and died in 1873.
Wyatt Cantrell was born in Bath county, Kentucky, December 20,

BIOGRAPHICAL. 407
1790,-and came to Illinois in 1812, settling then in Sangamon county, where he
remained until he came to Whiteside, mi 1836, and located near Sterling. He
made claim of the prairie in the bend of the river, and also of the large island
in Rock river, long since known as Cantrell's island, upon which there was a
heavy growth of timber. In 1838 he built a mill on the rapids of Rock river,
getting his power by making a dam of loose stones, commencing at the mill
house, which was situated at the foot of what is now known as Walnut street,
in the city of Sterling, and running at an angle of forty-five degrees from the
bank of the river. It was at this mill that the people on the east and south
sides of Whiteside, and the north side of Henry and Bureau counties, had their
grists ground for ten years. Mr. Cantrell took a prominent part in the affairs
of the county at an early day, and was always regarded as a straightfor
ward, honest, public-spirited man. He died recently at his son's residence in
Kansas, and his remains were brought to Sterling, and buried October 31, 1877.
He married Miss Sally England in 1815. Their children have been: Eliza,
[Samuel D., David P., Zebulon, Wyatt, Stephen, William F., Polly Ann, and
John H.
John W. McLemore was a native of Tennessee, and born in 1808. He
came with his father's family to the State of Illinois when quite a child. In
1836 he came to Whiteside, and made a claim in the present township of Ster
ling, within a few miles of the present city. Part of this claim, and the one
upon which he put improvements, now forms a portion of BIr. Weaver's farm.
In 1839 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff by James C. Woodburn, the first
Sheriff of the county, and performed many of the duties of the office. He was
elected Sheriff in 1840, and held the position for two terms, and in 1846 was
again elected, holding the office then for one term. He gave general satisfac
tion by the faithful and energetic discharge of his duties. In 1854 he went to
California, where he remained fifteen years, and upon his return lived part of
the time at Rock Falls, and part at Sterling, until his death, which occurred at
the latter place in August, 1871. Mr. McLemore married Miss Eliza Cantrell
in 1835. Mrs. McLemore died in Nevada in 1876. Their children are: Lucin
da, wife of Almanza Merrill, who lives in Nevada; and Clarence, who resides
with his family in California.
John W. Chapman is a native of New York State, and came to Sterling
in 1835. He made a claim a little west of the present city of Sterling, where
the farms of James H. Woodburn, Harrison Whipple, William and James L.
Crawford, and William L. Patterson, are now located. BIr. Chapman claimed
the constitutional number of acres — six hundred and forty of prairie, and one
hundred and twenty of timber. He broke and fenced about thirty acres where
Capt. Woodburn used to live, and in 1837 sold part of his claim to the Wood-
burns, for $4,000, and a part to Harrison Whipple for $600, reserving a portion
for himself. He is now living at Oswego, on Fox river. Wright Blurphy came
with Mr. Chapman, and lived with him. He was one of the first school teach
ers in the county. He went with Mr. Chapman to Fox river, and when the war
of the Rebellion began, enlisted in one of the Illinois regiments, and served for
three years. He contracted disease incident to the hardships and exposure of
the service, and died shortly after his return home.
Zera M. Chapman, with his wife, and a brother named Levi, came to
Whiteside county from New York State, in 1837, and settled on section 29, in
the present township of Coloma, where he resided, with the exception of a few
years absence in California, until 1865, when he moved to Sterling, which place
has been his residence since that time, Levi went away a number of years ago,

408 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Another brother, Porter L., came in 1838, remained about ten years, and then
returned to New York.
John Simonson came from New York State, with S. Miles Coe, in the sum
mer of 1835, and made a claim in the northern part of* the present township of
Sterling. He was about six feet three inches in height, and had many pecu
liarities, one of which was an abhorrence of the razor, fie never shaved, and
his luxuriant beard covered his entire face, save a small portion of the upper
part of his cheeks. At that time clean shaved faces were the rule, and a full-
whiskered human physiognomy attracted as much attention as the queue of a
Chinaman does now in a country village. He was usually known by the name
of General Burgoyne. Being afflicted with a pulmonary complaint, he went to
Arkansas, with his family, consisting of his wife and two children, some twenty
years ago. Since then all have died.
James D. Brady was born in Hamilton county,' Ohio, January 26, 1809.
When he was four years of age his father's family moved to Indiana, and set
tled on the land where the city of Attica now stands. In 1827 BIr. Brady went
to the Galena mines, where he worked until the Black Hawk war broke out,
when he volunteered, and remained in service during the whole of its continu
ance. He then came to Whiteside county, and made a claim near where Gait
station now is. Upon this claim he lived alone for a year, and then sold out,
and went to Bureau county, where he made a claim about four miles from Green
river bridge, employing himself in farming, hunting, and fishing, until 1870.
From Bureau county he emigrated first to Missouri, and then to Kansas, and in
1875 left his family in the latter State, while he crossed over into the Indian
Territory, and became a herder of cattle. When last heard from he was still in
that Territory. BIr. Brady married Blrs. Sallie N. Williams, October 19, 1857.
Their children are: Wilber F., born July 24, 1861; and Edwin E.,born July 20,
1866. Blrs. Brady and the two children are now living in Sterling.
Ezekiel Kilgour was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1791,
and came to Sterling in 1837. During his residence in Pennsylvania, he was
Colonel of the First Regiment of Cavalry, raised in Cumberland county. He
was a farmer, and in addition kept teams of horses and oxen, and broke prairie
for other parties at $1.50 per acre; also transported wheat to Chicago. He also
had the contract for carrying the mail from Sterling to Fulton and Albany at
the low rates allowed by the Government. He was an earnest, industrious,
enterprising, conscientious man. An interesting incident is related of him.
When he had the logs ready to put up his cabin, he invited the settlers to assist
at the raising, and they came readily at the call, and went vigorously at work.
After laboring for sometime they became dry and called for whisky and water,
but the Colonel being a temperance man had made no provisions for the former.
This being ascertained they refused to go on unless the ardent was furnished.
The Colonel positively refused to comply with the demand, when the pioneers
struck, and marched to Worthington & Brink's store and reported. BIr. Brink
promptly came to the rescue, filled a demijohn and sent the men back to the
raising. The work was immediately resumed, and the cabin was soon up. The
Colonel, however, true to his convictions, beat a retreat, and sat on a log, while
his joyous neighbors rolled up and fitted the logs of his habitation. He died
January 14, 1848, of erysipelas in the head and face. He married Bliss Eliza
beth Graham, November 9, 1825. Mrs. Kilgour was born in Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, in 1801. Their children were : Nancy Jane, William M., Isaiah
G., Ezekiel J., Blartha B., and Eliza G. Isaiah G., and Eliza G., are dead.
Ezekiel J. enlisted in Company I, 75th Illinois Volunteers, and was elected First
Lieutenant; he participated with the Regiment in the battle of PerryviUe, and

BIOGRAPHICAL. 409
died of pneumonia in the military hospital, at Nashville, Tennessee, December
25, 1862; his remains were brought to Sterling; he was unmarried, and was a
brave, intelligent, and conscientious man and officer. Martha B. died of pneu
monia, December 14, 1867, while visiting the family of H. B. Barnes. Nancy
Jane married John B. Crawford, December 20, 1849; children, Letitia Jane,
Samuel G., James B., and Elizabeth; James B. died September 22, 1858, and
Letitia Jane, March 17, 1864.
William M. Kilgour is a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and
came to Sterling with his father's family in 1837. He was married to Miss
Mary Isabella Junkin, near Iowa City, Iowa, on the 30th of November, 1865.
Their children have been : Eliza Graham, Susan Junkin, James Albee, Cassius
Mathers, and Freddy who died in infancy. Col. Kilgour was a school teacher
in his early days, and also taught school while reading law. He was admitted to
practice law in all the courts of the State at the term of the Supreme Court held
in Ottawa, in 1856, and immediately entered upon the duties of his profession.
Since that time he has been admitted to practice in the United States District and
Circuit Courts, and in the Supreme Court of the United States, at Washington.
He took a high rank in his profession almost from the start, his clients being
mainly from the best citizens of Sterling, and the surrounding country. This
standing he has maintained, and as a consequence his business has been con
stantly increasing. When first admitted to the bar he was elected Justice of
the Peace for the township of Sterling, and held the position four years. He
has also served several terms as Supervisor of the township, greatly to the satis
faction of the people, and to the benefit of the county. He is a large property
owner in Sterling city and township, and is otherwise identified with the business
interests of the city. In all measures looking to the welfare and advancement
of Sterling he has taken an active and prominent part, and has been long recog
nized as a leading man, not only in the township and county where he resides,
but throughout this section of the country. At the breaking out of the war of
the Rebellion he enlisted in Company B, 13th Illinois Volunteers, and was
elected Second Lieutenant of his company. He remained in active field duty
with his Regiment for one year, participating in the battles of Wet Glaze, Lynn
Creek, and Springfield, Missouri, and was then compelled to resign on account of
sickness brought on while in the line of duty. As soon as he recovered his
health, however, he re-enlisted on the call of thePresident in 1862 for six hundred
thousand more volunteers. At this time he assisted in raising the 75th Illinois
Volunteers, and at the organization of Company I, was elected Captain. When
the Regiment was organized he was elected Major, and as such went with the
Regiment to the field. At the battle of PerryviUe, Kentucky, October 8, 1862,
he received a gun shot wound, the ball passing through the stomach and liver.
The wound was so serious that he was carried from the battle ground to a farm
house near by, where he remained under the charge of an army surgeon until
January, 1863, when he was taken to Louisville, Kentucky, and eventual
ly returned home on sick leave. So strong was his desire to serve his country
in its sorest time of need, that as soon as he was able to travel, he joined his
Regiment, it being then at Stephenson, Alabama. He was at the battle of
Chickamauga on the 19thand 20th of September, 1863, and was taken prisoner,
but cut his way, with Company D, commanded by Capt. Moore, through the ene
my's lines, and joined his Regiment. This was done while the fighting was
going on. He also participated in the battles of the defence of Chattanooga,
and at one time was completely surrounded by the enemy, all communication
being cut off. The -next battle in which he engaged was at Lookout Mountain,
on the 24th of November, 1863, where he was in the advance under Gen. Hooker.
[5z-W.]

410 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
After the battle " among the clouds, " he participated the next day in that at
Missionary Ridge, and on the following day fought in the battle of Ringgold
Gap, Taylor's Ridge, Georgia. He was afterwards sent with the detail to re
cover the Chickamauga battle ground, and bury the dead, arriving there the 5th
of December, 1863. The bodies of those who had fallen in the battle remained
unburied, and had been partially destroyed by dogs, hogs, buzzards, and vultures.
Two days were consumed in this service, when the detail returned to Whiteside
station, Georgia. In February, 1864, he took part in the battle of Buzzard's
Roost, near Dalton, Georgia, commanding at that time the 80th Illinois Infan- .
try, by order of Gen. Wm. Gross, who was in command of the Brigade. In May,
1864, he fought in the battles of Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face Ridge, and Dalton.
Following these he was at the two days battle at Resaca, then at Kingston,
Cassville, Cartersville, and Pumpkin Vine creek, Pine Mountain, and Kenesaw
Mountain, all in June, 1864. On the first of July, 1864, he commanded the
skirmish line at Atlanta, Georgia, and again on the 24th of August, when Gen.
Sherman was marching to the right and rear of that place. About the same time
had command of a detachment of pioneers, and was ordered in the night to make
an advance movement, and destroy the track of the Macon Railroad, near Al-
toona, his command reaching the ground first. On the 30th of August, 1864,
he was at the battle of Jonesboro, Tennessee, and also at the battle at Lovejoy's
Station, September 2, 1864. His next engagement was at Lost Mountain,
Georgia, from which he pursued the rebel General Hood to Gaylesville, Alabama,
and from the latter place was sent in command of a detail of the 75th Illinois,
and 23d Ohio, to guard seven hundred government teams with army supplies,
through the enemy's country.. He then participated in the battles of Athens,
and Dalton, Georgia, Pulaski, and Spring Hill, Tennessee, and also in the great
battle at Franklin, Tennessee, November 30, 1864, in which the rebels lost seven
thousand killed and wounded. Following these battles he had command of the
skirmish line at the battle at Nashville, Tennessee, on the first day, and on the
second day charged the first and second lines of the enemy's works, with the 75th
Illinois, and captured them. He was brevetted from Lieutenant Colonel of the
75th Illinois Volunteers, to Colonel, for gallant and meritorious services at
Blissionary Ridge, and to Brigadier General for similar services at Atlanta. On
the 28th of July, 1866, he was appointed Captain in the Regular Army, and was
breveted Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel in the Regular Army, for mer
itorious services while in the Volunteers. Col. Kilgour was one of the bravest
and truest men, and one of the most capable officers in the Union Army, during
the four years fight for the life of the Union.
Nelson Mason was born in Paisley, Scotland, and when quite young emi
grated to the United States, and settled in Vermont. In 1835, he determined
to seek the then new West for a home for himself and family, and while search
ing for a suitable location on the prairie above Sterling, in company with John
D. Barnett, met William Kirkpatrick, who had made a claim where Sterling now
stands, and the two were induced by him to go to that point and locate. Mr.
Mason became one of the original proprietors of Chatham, and in connection with
BIr. Barnett opened the first store at that place. He was also agent for Godfrey
and Gilman, of Alton, Illinois, who owned a large interest in Chatham. Mr.
Mason took an active part in effecting the union of Harrisburgh and Chatham,
and giving to the united towns the name of Sterling, so that the county seat
could be secured. In 1860, 1862 and 1865, he was Mayor of the city of Ster
ling, and is universally spoken of as one of the ablest Chief Magistrates the city
has had. One of his daughters married Col. Bross, and another Mr. Zadoc T.
Gait, of Sterling. Mrs. Gait is now dead, Mr. Mason has a large property in

BIOGRAPHICAL.- 411'.
Chicago, and for a number of years past has resided in that city: John Mason,
an older brother, still lives on his farm adjoining Rock Falls, and although at
somewhat an advanced age, still possesses the genial, sunny nature, together with
the inflexible firmness, for which the Scotch are so famed.
John D. Barnett came to Chatham with Nelson Mason, and was a part
ner with him, in the first store opened in that place. At the establishment of
Rock River Rapids Postoffice, he was appointed the first Postmaster. He had
a wife and one child, and returned to the East in 1841.
Jonas Reed is a pioneer of Rock River Valley, and has been a resident of
the city of Sterling for the past ten years. He was born in Delaware county,
New York, 1819. He first came West as far as Ohio, and in 1830, came to
Fort Clark, now Peoria, in this State, where he remained until May, 1831, when
he settled in Buffalo Grove, Ogle county. This was during the trouble with
the Indians under Black Hawk, and on the following June the family was com
pelled to fly to Apple river for protection. In the meantime Gen. Atkinson
negotiated a treaty with the Indians at Prophet's Town, agreeing to furnish them
provisions for two years upon the condition that they would be peaceable, and
leave the country. This they did, and went west to the Mississippi river. The
Reed family them returned to their home, after a month's absence. But the
Indians, with their characteristic disregard for promises, returned at the close of
one year, and renewed hostilities. The State then refused to furnish them
further supplies, and ordered out the militia under Gen. Stillman. This force
overtook them on a branch of Rock river called Stillman's Run, between Dixon
and Rockford, but the Indians by a stragetie movement, in the dusk of the
evening, surrounded the men, and killed, wounded and made prisoners of a large
portion of the command. Those escaping reached Dixon the next morning.
During the same day of Stillman's defeat, . Black Hawk's son, and two Indian
chiefs, took dinner at Mr. Reed's cabin, and kindly advised the family to seek
some place of safety. Acting upon this advice the family fled to Dixon, where
they remained ten days. While there, Mr. Reed, and a companion, drove two
teams to the foot of the rapids, where Rock Falls now stands, for army sup
plies, as Gen. Atkinson had sent a boat up the river with provisions and am
munition as far as the rapids, the river not being navigable above that point.
The wagons were loaded, and after a good deal of effort reached Dixon. Of the
families at Dixon, three, including the Reed family, were sent under the pro
tection of a guard of soldiers to the La Salle prairie settlement. The settlers
of the prairie united and built a fort, in which they remained until September,
1832, when Mr. Reed, his father and one brother, returned to Buffalo Grove,
the family following soon afterwards. During their stay at La Salle, a treaty
of peace had been concluded with the Indians. One of the Indians told Mr.
Reed that three of them were lying in ambush one morning when he was driv
ing up the cattle, with the intention of shooting him, but a dispute arose as to
who should fire first, and before it was settled he was beyond the reach of their
guns. In the spring of 1833 the Indians were again in the country with hostile
designs, and once more the family were compelled to take refuge in the La
Salle fort, but in May, Gen. Dodge came up Rock river, which so alarmed them
that they fled, and|did not disturb the settlers again. Mr. Reed has been a
resident of Rock River Valley for forty-six years. _.
Robert L. Wilson was born September 11, 1805, in Washington county
Pennsylvania. He is of Scotch-Irish extraction; his ancestors having emigrated
from Scotland and settled near the city of Belfast soon after the conquest of
Ireland by Cromwell, in the Sixteenth Century. In 1778 they settled in York
county, Pennsylvania, and in 1782; the father and mother of the family, with

412 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
ten children, emigrated to the then far west and settled in Washington county,
Pennsylvania. The journey was made, and goods transported, upon pack horses
over the mountains, there being no roads. This mode of travel was slow and
painful. The Wilson family again emigrated in 1810 to near Zanesville, Ohio.
This journey was made by pack horses. The subject of this sketch, then five
years of age rode a pony. Col. Wilson's father died when he was seventeen
years of age and left him without patrimony, and only his own resources. The
young man determined to secure an education. He attended the imperfect
winter schools of the neighborhood and advanced far enough to read the tes
tament and write imperfectly. Continuing in school until he was nineteen he
became qualified to teach, and taught during the winter, and attended school
three years, when having an outfit of books and clothing and twenty-seven
dollars in money, he started afoot to New Athens, Ohio, and by dint of hard
study during the terms of school, and teaching through vacations, he finished
the curriculum of Franklin College, Ohio. At the close of his school days he
went ,to Kentucky and taught an academy at Sharpsburg. While teaching here
he read law and rode six miles each Saturday to recite to Judge Robbins. He
passed a successful examination and was licensed to practice under the laws of
Kentucky in the fall of 1833. March 28, 1833, he was married to Eliza Jane
Kincaid. He emigrated to Illinois and landed at Beardstown November, 4,
1833, settling near Springfield, where he taught his last schools. In August,
1836, he was elected one of the seven Representatives from Sangamon county.
Two Senators were also elected, who, with the Representatives, were known as
the "Long Nine." This delegation were all whigs, and their united hight was
fifty-four feet — an average of six feet each. The Senators were Archer G.
Herndon and Job Fletcher. The Representatives were Abraham Lincoln,
Ninian W. Edwards, John Dawson, Andrew J. McCormick, Dan Stone, (after
wards Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in which this county was included),
Wm. F. Elkin, and R L. Wilson. Col. E. D. Baker (afterwards United States
Senator from Oregon, and killed at Ball's Bluff) was elected to fill the vacancy
of Dan Stone. The specialty of the "Long Nine" was the question of removal
of the State seat of Government from Vandalia to Springfield, and in this they
succeeded. In March, 1840, Col. Wilson removed to Sterling, and his family
followed the succeeding year. Soon after his removal to Whiteside he was ap
pointed Clerk of the Circuit Court, which position he held from April, 1840,
to December 1, 1860. During fourteen years of this time he was Recorder of
Deeds, and for eight years was Probate Justice. In the spring of 1861 he was
in Washington City when Fort Sumter was fired upon, and enlisted as a pri
vate in a batallion of volunteers commanded by Cassius M. Clay, and known as
the "Clay Guards." This organization numbered about 400 men, principally
non-residents, and were armed with breech -loading carbines from the Arsenal
by the War Department. This body of men acted as night police, and were
instrumental in preventing the city from falling into the hands of the rebels.
Upon the arrival of the Seventh New York, 1,500 men strong, with a six gun
battery, the "Clay Guards" were disbanded, and the discharges signed by Pres
ident Lincoln and Secretary Cameron. Col. Wilson then returned to Sterling
and assisted in raising Company A, 34th Illinois Regiment, and was elected
Captain, but declined in favor of Lieutenant Edward N. Kirk, afterwards Brig
adier General. In July, 1861, he called on President Lincoln and tendered his
services in any capacity where he could be useful. Mr. Lincoln informed him
that he had made a list of his old friends whom he desired to appoint to office,
and said, "now, Colonel, what do you want?" He answered — "Quartermaster
will do." Mr. Lincoln replied, "I will appoint you a Paymaster." The appoint-

BIOGRAPHICAL. 413
ment was made August 6th, and confirmed by the Senate the next day. He
was placed on duty at Washington, made payments on the Potomac, and at his
own request was transferred to the West, with headquarters at St. Louis. He
continued in the service four years and four months, when he was honorably
mustered out with the certificates of non-indebtedness signed by the Second
Auditor and Second Comptroller of the Treasury. During his term of service
Col. Wilson disbursed $7,000,000, and paid over 100,000 men. On the 10th
day of May, 1875, he started upon the tour of Europe, visiting the points of
interest in her Majesty's kingdom, and then inspected the cities and scenes of
the Continent, fie was absent 112 days, the expenses of the trip being
$750.00. Theo. H. Mack has grown up with the county, having when a mere boy
come to this county with his father, in 1839. He was married to Harriet M.
Emmons, December 8, 1859. Their children have been : Myra, Charles T.,
Harriet and Elizabeth. Elizabeth died February 3, 1869. Mr. Mack spent several
years in school at Brooklyn, Pa., and later acquired the trade of a cabinet maker
at Montrose in that State. In 1855 he returned to Sterling and was engaged in
the furniture business and working at his trade. In August, 1862, he threw
down his tools and enlisted as a private soldier in Company D, 75th Illinois
Regiment. He remained with his regiment about one year when he was dis
charged for physical disability. In the spring of 1868, he, in connection with
his brother, C. M.JMack, started a newspaper in Sterling and named it The White
side Chronicle. He afterwards purchased his brother's interest, and in 1870
changed the name of the paper to the Standard. The leading feature of the
Standard is its advocacy of temperance and no licensing of saloons. Chas. M.
Mack, brother of Theo. H. Mack, also came to Whiteside with his father's fam
ily, in 1839, and was married to Etta Coleman of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, in
1867. Their children are : Persis Mary, Ada Stella, Mabel and Maud — twins,
and Annie Etta. Mr. Mack was a soldier during the war in Company B, 13th
Illinois Regiment, and was severely wounded at Chickasaw Bayou. He learned
the printer's trade with Wm. Caffrey of the Sterling Republican, and has been
engaged in the business constantly except during his term of service in the army:
He is now a resident of Wisconsin.
John C. Teats was born in Aurora, Erie county, -New York, September
8, 1822, and came to Whiteside county in 1836, settling first in Portland, where
he remained six years, and then moved to Erie, and afterwards to Lyndon. In
1855 he came to Sterling, and has resided there since that time. Mr. Teats
married Miss Clymena A. Pratt, daughter of John C. Pratt, in June, 1845.
There was one child by this marriage, Alice, born April 4, 1846, who married
William Emmitt, and lives in Harmon, Lee county. Mrs. Teats died in Jan
uary, 1847, and in February, 1853, Mr. Teats married Miss Ellen Coburn. The
children by this marriage are: Dora, born August 4, 1857; Mabel, born Septem
ber 6, 1860; and Clymena, born February 16, 1867. They are all living at
home. Mr. Teats followed farming until 1850, when he became • a dentist, and
afterwards a photographer. In 1866 he discontinued the latter business, and
entered into Fire Insurance business, which he has followed since. He has
been Assessor of the township of Sterling, and for four years past City Clerk
of the citv of Sterling. For the past eight yeaTS he has also been policeman in
Sterling, part of the time as regular policeman of the city, and part as mer
chant police. His brother William, and three sisters, came to Whiteside with
him. William, and two of the sisters, are dead. The remaining sister is now
Blrs. Harvey Sage, and lives in Pekin, Illinois; her first husband was William
Farrington, of Lyndon.

414 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
History of the City of Sterling.
Sterling is beautifully situated on the south bank of Rock river, on sec
tions 20, 21 and 22, of Congressional township 21 north, range 4 east of the
4th Principal Meridian. The portion of it lying along the line of the river from
Mulberry street to the eastern limits is somewhat high and broken, and affords
fine building sites, many of which have been occupied. The rise of ground,
however, in the lower or western part of the city, which commands a fine view
of the river, is at present the favorite building locality, and upon it, and facing
Third street, are situated some of the most splendid private residences in the
city. Many of these residences are palatial in their construction, adornment,
and interior appointments, exhibiting in a marked degree not only the opulence,
but taste of their owners. Other dwellings of almost equal magnificence are
scattered throughout the city, the surface being sufficiently undulating to fur
nish excellent building locations in every part. Added to these natural
advantages, has been the work of the citizens in filling up the low places, level
ing the elevations where necessary, properly grading the streets, and more than
all, in planting an abundance of shade trees. Blany of the streets are rendered
truly magnificent by the beauty and luxuriance of these trees. In a sanitary
point of view the location of Sterling is unexcelled. The land is sufficiently
elevated above the river to prevent overflow even at the highest stage of water.
The height also renders drainage facilities easy of accomplishment. Diseases
prevalent in many other towns, are unknown in Sterling, and the general
healthfulness of the place equal to that of the most favored in this regard, in
Northwestern Illinois.
Nature not only gave beauty and healthfulness to the location of Sterling,
but added to them a water power of a magnitude rarely excelled. She appar
ently not only designed making the place one of great attraction to the seekers
for beautiful homes, but also gave them the facilities for the creation of immense
wealth. The advantages afforded by the rapids for manufacturing and milling
purposes was early discovered, but the limited means of the settlers at the
time prevented them from being utilized to any extent. It did not require a
very keen insight into the future, however, to predict that at no distant day the
enterprise of man would turn them to valuable account. Such open and undis
guised offers of nature for the production of wealth are not often rejected.
When their discovery once becomes known, some pioneer opens the way for
their utilization by the construction of a rude dam or race, and builds his mill,
relying upon the sparsely settled country around for support. In a few years
this rude structure, and even ruder machinery, gives way to a building of larger
dimensions, and machinery of later and more improved make. These in turn
are succeeded by still more ample structures, and extensive and powerful
machinery, until they too give way to the mammoth factory, and the almost
human agencies which do their work in the manufacture of the thousand and
one articles of merchandise and industry, which contribute so much to the
wealth, comfort, and advancement of the human race.
The first wbite man to take advantage of the power furnished by the Rock
river rapids, of which there is any account, was Wyatt Cantrell, who constructed
a rude dam, and built a diminutive mill on the north bank of the river at the
foot of the present Walnut street, in the city of Sterling. Limited as were his
facilities, he did the custom work for the settlers in the eastern and southern
parts of Whiteside county, and a portion of northern parts of Bureau and
Henry counties, for ten years. Since that pioneer effort, this great water
power has been developed to such an extent as to make it available for turning
any amount of machinery. Within the limits of the manufacturing district of

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF STERLING. 415
Sterling are three large flouring mills, and nearly a dozen manufactories which
derive the motive power for their machinery from this source, and these take
only a portion of the power, the Rock Falls mills and manufactories dividing it
with them. Most of these manufactories have been built within the past few
years, and the number is still steadily on the increase. How many there will be
in a score of years from now, human ken cannot foretell. The stately and
capacious structures which have already been erected, and the almost ceaseless
whirl and hum of their machinery, indicate a constant and growing business in
the manufacture of the different kinds of implements and goods carried on within
their walls. This must beget competition, as well as induce manufacturers of
other staples, and not unlikely luxuries, to seek this favored locality, and erect
other and even more pretentious buildings, containing the most powerful and
improved machinery, side by side with those which now send forth to all of the
States and Territories, and even to many of the foreign lands, articles whieh
equal any of their kind in excellence of make, and beauty of finish. It is not
in the nature of things for a power like that at Sterling to keep in motion only
the running gear of a limited number of works. It will keep grasping contin
ually for additional wheels, and pulleys, and spindles, and engines, until it is
enabled to use all its vast propelling force. Sterling, therefore, possessing this
power, cannot fail of becoming one of the largest and most important inland
manufacturing points in the great West. The next decade may see the smoke
arising from the tall chimnies of an hundred factories, and the citizens of the
city daily hear the clang and clamor, the hum and the whirl, that issue from,
and witness if they choose the hurry and the bustle that abound in, these hun
dred temples of manufacturing thrift and enterprise. The rich and prolific
agricultural country which surrounds Sterling can easily furnish subsistence for
the hundreds, or thousands, of mechanics and operatives whose services these
factories will require, and the railroad facilities will always be made sufficient to
meet the demand for the import of the raw material, not furnished by home
supply, and the export of the manufactured article.
The present city of Sterling took its rise from the combination of two
towns or villages, known as Harrisburgh and Chatham. Harrisburgh was settled
first, the pioneer being Hezekiah Brink, who in early June, 1834, put up a house
of logs and rifted lumber in what is now the First Ward of Sterling. This
primitive building was the first one erected in the now populous city. Mr.
Brink's nearest neighbor at that time was Mr. McClure, who had made a claim
on Rock river, near the present village of Prophetstown. Close to his habita
tion rolled the beautiful Rock river, the Sinnissippi of the Indians, and all
around him was the boundless prairie, the only variation in the landscape being
here and there along the river bank a narrow belt of timber. The place was
desolate enough, and illy portended the growth in a comparatively few years-of
a large and wealthy city. Mr. Brink was soon afterwards joined by others, as
mentioned in the history of the township, and the settlement began its career.
In the summer of 1836, Capt. D. S. Harris, of the steamer Pioneer, came up
the river with a load of provisions, and landed above the rapids, the settlers as
sisting with their ox teams in towing the boat over them to the landing point.
A quantity of these provisions were sold to the settlers, and for payment - the
Captain took a one half interest in the town, which was then, in his honor,
named Harrisburgh. Immediately afterwards Capt. Harris, Elijah Worthington,
Hezekiah Brink, and others, had the town surveyed, laid out, and platted, the
survey being made by Israel Mitchell, of Jo Daviess county, and the plat re
corded in Ogle county. The town was bounded on the east and north by the
city limits; on the west by what is now Vine street, in the city of Sterling, and

416 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
on the south by Rock river. A meeting was held by Capt. Harris and the lead
ing settlers on board the steamer while it was being taken over the rapids, and
among other matters discussed was that of establishing a Postoffice in the new
town, and it was finally decided that a petition asking for one should be for
warded to Washington, as soon as some other preliminary matters had been set
tled. This petition was sent on in due time to the Postoffice Department, with
a request that the name of the Postoffice be Rock River Rapids, and the Post
master Hezekiah Brink. The Department immediately acted upon it, and
granted both requests, but Mr. Brink declined to accept the position, and the
Postoffice was abandoned. Some error having been discovered in the first sur
vey, the town of Harrisburgh was re-surveyed and re-platted in 1837, by Jo
seph Crawford, now President of the First National Bank at Dixon. Mr. Swan,
an agent of Capt. Harris, built a store that season on the bank of the river,
known afterwards as the Richardson House, which was occupied by Worthing
ton & Brink, with a stock of goods. Several dwelling houses were also erected
in 1836 and 1837.
In the spring of 1835, William Kirkpatrick, a resident of Sangamon county,
Illinois, made a claim and built a cabin in what was afterwards known as Chat
ham. He was then the owner of a mill and a large claim on Yellow creek, near
Freeport, Stephenson county, and the few inhabitants who had made permanent
settlements in and around the territory now comprising the city of Sterling,
were suspicious that Kirkpatrick was a land shark, basing their opinion upon
the fact that the owner of so large a mill claim needed all his means to take
care of and improve it, and whatever else he obtained would be merely for specu
lative purposes. The views entertained by the settlers were soon made known
to him, and he invited a conference. Several meetings were held, which finally
resulted in a compromise, Kirkpatrick agreeing to enter into a bond in the penal
sum of $1,000, conditioned that he should lay out a town at the rapids of Rock
river, the next year. The bond was made and executed on the 16th of Novem
ber, 1835, to Isaac H. Albertson, Simeon M. Coe, Wyatt Cantrell, Solomon
Whitman, Ward Storer, Nathaniel Morehouse, John J. Albertson, Harvey Mor
gan, and John Simonson. In the spring of 1836, Kirkpatrick carried out his
agreement, had the town laid out and platted, and gave to it the name of Chat
ham. During the summer he built a frame bouse in the town, hauling his lum
ber from his mill at Yellow creek, a distance of forty miles. This was the first
frame house erected in what is now the city of Sterling, and stood on the bank
of the river, occupying the site of Col. Boyden's present residence. The orig
inal settlers of Chatham were: Nelson Mason, John D. Barnett, D. C. Cushman,
D. F. Batcheller, John Enderton, A. McMoore, Robert C. Andrews, John Ma
son, and Hugh Wallace. Messrs. Mason and Barnett purchased the interest of
Kirkpatrick in the town, put some improvements to the frame house, and filled
it with an assortment of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hats, caps, cloth
ing, etc., making the stock the first assorted one opened in Whiteside county.
The settlers in Buffalo, Elkhorn, and Genesee Groves, and also from Lyndon,
Prophetstown and Portland, as well as many Indians then remaining in the Win
nebago swamps, did their trading at this store. The original survey and plat of
Chatham was made by Joseph Crawford, but in the spring of 1837 it was found that
they were incorrect, and that re-surveying and re-platting was necessary, which was
done by Charles R. Rood, now of Garden Plain. About five hundred lots were then
platted. The plats of both Chatham and Harrisburgh were made and recorded
before any of the townships were surveyed and divided into sections by the Gov
ernment surveyors, and several years before the land was placed into market by
the Government. Chatham was bounded on the east by the street now known

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF STERLING. 417
as Cherry street, in the city of Sterling; on the north by the city limits; on the
west originally by what is now A street, and on the south by the river. The
tier of blocks between Locust and A, and part of B streets, were afterwards va
cated by act of the General Assembly, upon petition of Hugh Wallace, and made
a part of his farm. Mason & Barnett were succeeded in 1841 in the general
mercantile line, by William and George Adams, who erected a store building for
their trade on Third street, the site being now occupied by the residence of
Mr. Summy. Some other buildings were put up, but the growth of both Chat
ham and Harrisburgh at that time was very slow.
Lying between Vine street, or the west line of Harrisburgh, and Cherry
street, or the east line of Chatham, was a space of ground which remained for
some time as neutral territory. This space now covers over six blocks of the
present city of Sterling. A survey and plat of this ground was made by Charles
R. Rood, his assistants in making the survey, being Col. Ezekiel Kilgour, Nelson
Mason, John Mason, Samuel Barnett, Andrew Oliver, and Col. W. M. Kilgour,
then a boy. The survey was made some time after that of Harrisburgh and
Chatham, but before the township was surveyed and divided into sections by the
Government surveyors. Mr. Rood had, therefore, to make . his starting points
at the northwest and southeast corners of the Congressional township, and make
his calculations in running his lines therefrom as to what section, or part of
sections, this particular piece of ground would be on when the Government sur
veyors located the sections in the township. The survey was accurately made,
and the land afterwards found to be on section 22. The plat was recorded in
Whiteside county.
The towns of Harrisburgh and Chatham, being in such proximity, were
rivals, until a common interest demanded the tbrowing aside of all. personal feel
ing, and uniting to promote the general good. In one thing, however, the peo
ple of both towns agreed perfectly from the start, and that was that Rock river
would continue to be a navigable stream, and become the great thoroughfare for
the exportation of their products, and the importation of such goods as would be
demanded in the market. They looked to St. Louis, and other southern ports,
as the points at which they must buy and sell. There was no thought then that
the water in Rock river would ever be reduced to such an extent as to preclude
navigation, or that the iron horse would monopolize the carrying trade, and di
vert the channel of transportation from the southern cities to the great city on
the Lake. Aside from the river, the only method of transportation was the
slow and toilsome one, by team. It is no wonder, then, they looked with pride
upon the noble river, and hailed the arrival of a steamer with every demonstra
tion of delight. To meet this steamboat traffic the streets running from the
river were laid out one hundred feet wide, while those running parallel with it
were made much narrower, an order which the people would now prefer to have
reversed. The first dwellings, as well as business houses, were jalso erected on
the bank of the river, so as to be near the center of trade. Rock river was
navigable at that time, and Congress had so declared, which latter fact, of itself,
was undoubtedly sufficient to remove all doubts, if any had been permitted to
exist. The steamer Pioneer, commanded by Capt. Harris, came puffing up the
river as early as 1836, and the people of the upper town, in the exuberance of
their joy, named the place Harrisburgh, in his honor. Other steamers followed,
and the prospect was that an era of uninterrupted river navigation had com
menced, the vessels to ply at least as far north as Harrisburgh and Chatham.
The rapids opposed a farther ascent of the river, but these could be easily
avoided by digging a canal, and in 1839 a contract was let to construct one
which would shun them entirely. But " the best laid plans of mice and men gang
[53-X.]

418 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
aft aglee." The canal was never finished; Rock river threw up the sponge as a
navigable stream, and the locomotive came in as the propelling power for trans
portation. In June, 1837, a Postoffice was established in Chatham, called Rock River
Rapids, and John D. Barnett appointed Postmaster. The mail was brought from
Dixon by Nelson Mason, who had secured the contract, by horse during the sum
mer, and in the winter in what was called a " jumper. " The mail then was
taken no farther west than the Rapids Postoffice, Mr. Mason carrying it for a
consideration of eight cents per mile. It came tri-monthly, and was received at
Dixon from the general mail carried by coach from Peoria to Galena, the route
being by way of Dixon's ferry. This mail was carried for a long time by James
Dixon, a son of the late well known Father Dixon. The Postoffice was kept in
Mason & Barnett's store, a small frame building standing on the river bank, a
little south of where Dr. Royer now resides. Previous to the establishment of
this Postoffice, the settlers in and around Harrisburgh and Chatham were com
pelled to go to Dixon for their mail. The letters and papers would be directed
to Bock River Rapids, but as there was no office at that point, they would be
detained at Dixon until called for, and the silver quarter paid for each letter.
BIr. Barnett was Postmaster for about a year, when Daniel D. Guiles received
the appointment, and moved the office to Harrisburgh, keeping it in a frame
building which is still standing south of Lincoln Park, and not far from where
John Dunmore now lives. This was a victory for Harrisburgh, and she wore
the escutcheon for some time. In 1841, Eliphalet B. Worthington was appoint
ed Postmaster, and kept the office for quite a time in his house, on Main street,
in Harrisburgh, the site of which is now occupied by the residence of R. L.
Blangan. Mr. Worthington afterwards bought some lots on the intermediate
space between Harrisburgh and Chatham, and situated on the street now known
as Broadway, upon which he built a house, and upon its completion moved the
Postoffice into it. This was considered a good stroke of policy on the part of
Mr. Worthington, as it allayed all feeling between the rival towns as to which
should have the honor of possessing Uncle Sam's depository for the mail, besides
strengthening his tenure of office. Being on neutral ground, and about midway
between the points contending for the supremacy, the combatants laid down
their armor, and shook hands over the verdant chasm. At this time Harrisburgh
was familiarly known as Tinkertown; the neutral territory where the Postoffice
was located, Tylertown; and Chatham, Muncey. Simeon M. Coe is said to have
been the author of these names. But whether that be so, or not, each had its
significance, as every old settler is well aware. These names clung to the lo
calities for some time after the consolidation of the towns.
In the early part of 1840 Sterling was without a store, Mason & Barnett
having gone out of business. Happer & Mcllvaine soon afterwards started one,
but remained only about six months when they moved their stock of goods to
Albany, on the Mississippi river, where they continued in trade for a long time,
Mr. Happer being still in business there. Theodore and Elijah Winn then
opened a small stock in the upper town, and continued in business until 1843
when they sold to Blanchard & Fuller, but as they did not increase the stock
the people of Sterling procured their supplies from Dixon and Albany, the for
mer place being ten miles to the east, and the latter thirty miles to the west.
Happer & Mcllvaine, at Albany, secured a large share of the trade. Albany
and Fulton were the principal shipping points for the products of the county.
Wheat was mainly the article of production, and the demand was then at the
South. Sometimes there was a surplus of stock over the home consumption, a
market for which was found a,t the Galena lead mines.

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF STERLING. 419
When Whiteside county became fully organized, and the question of the
location of the County Seat arose, the people of Harrisburgh and Chatham be
gan discussing the propriety of securing the boon. Neither of them could
expect to get it in the face of the opposition of the other, and yet neither would
yield. It was well known that the one which secured the prize would be the
town, and the other would lose its name and identity. Local, pride rebelled
against such an emergency as the latter, and hence strenuous efforts were made
to avert it. The towns had been rivals for several years, and each had put forth
its best effortsfor the supremacy. The locationof the Postoffice had given them
the first opportunity for a trial of influence and strength, but owing to the office
being moved to neutral territory, neither gained any advantage. That was but
a slight matter, however, compared to the county seat of such a county as White
side even then promised to become. The people of Harrisburgh reasoned that
if the court house, jail, and other county buildings could be located within its
bailiwick, the town would speedily become the most important in the county,
and but a few years elapse before it would grow to be a large and populous city,
and those of Chatham followed the same ratiocination. The inhabitants outside
the limits of these towns were equally anxious as those within them, to get the
county seat in that locality, believing it would add an impetus to the growth of
the town securing it, and thus afford an improved market for their products.
Contentions among themselves, and a heavy .pressure from without, rendered the
state of things anything but pleasant to the citizens of both towns. " What
shall we do?" was the question the Harrisburghers and Chathamites asked
among themselves. "What will you do ?" was the one propounded without; but
what to do remained a mooted point. Finally the proprietors of the two towns
seeing that discretion was the better part of valor, agreed to have a meeting and
hold a friendly discussion over the important matter. The first convocation did
not result in an agreement; neither did several other ones subsequently held.
Eventually, early in 1839, it was decided to unite the towns, and then came the
question of the name for the consolidated town. On this point Worthington
and Brink represented Harrisburgh, and Wallace and Mason, Chatham. Mr.
Brink strongly urged the name of Pipsissiway, but the others considered that
cognomen way out of the way, and wanted one more civilized in its character,
even if it should not be so euphonious. To end the debate a proposition was
offered to make Broadway the dividing line, and have coppers tossed as to which
side of that street the county buildings should be situated in the event of the
county seat being located in the consolidated town, the winners also to have the
right of naming the future city. The gentlemen mentioned above were selected
as the tossing parties, and upon examination of the coin of the realm as it fell
to the floor after exhausting the evolutions given to it by their dextrous hands,
it was found that Wallace and Mason had won. These gentlemen then agreed
upon the name of Sterling, and the new town was ready to enter the field as
a competitor for the seat of justice of Whiteside county. The elections held in
1839, under an act of the General Assembly, to locate the county seat, and other
matters pertaining to the subject, will be found under the head of "County Seat
Affairs, " Chapter IV, pages 71-76, of this volume. The court house in Sterling
was ordered by the County Commissioners' Court to be located on Block 57,
west of Broadway, and the work upon it commenced in 1842, Luther Bush re
ceiving the contract for the brick and stone work, and plastering; and D. F.
Batcheller, A. McMoore, and William Oliver, for the wood work. Court was
first held in the building in 1844. At the time of the removal of the county
seat to Sterling, Hugh Wallace was the only lawyer residing in the place. Mr.
Smith, from Vermont, settled soon afterwards, but was drowned on the 4th day

420 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
of July, 1843, while attempting to cross Rock river during a fierce gust of wind.
Maj. BI. S. Henry came in 1844. Now there are fifteen disciples of Coke and
Blackstone in the city. The old court house is still standing, although its uses
as a seat of justice ceased at the removal of the county seat to Morrison in
1858. We have mentioned the fact that as early as 1839 an appropriation was
made under the the internal improvement act of the General Assembly, to con
struct a canal around the rapids on the Rock Falls side of the river, which would
enable steamboats and other river craft to go farther up the stream, and the
untimely fate of the scheme by reason of the crash which followed the reckless
and extravagant system of finance of the State at that time. This failure, how
ever, did not deter those who considered Rock river a navigable stream from
soliciting other appropriations, and entering into other undertakings, to remove
or avoid obstructions to navigation. They therefore petitioned the General
Assembly of the State to pass an act for the improvement of Rock river, under
which a tax could be levied for the purpose. In compliance with this request
the General Assembly passed an act on the 25th of February, 1845, entitled
" An act for the improvement of the navigation of Rock river. " By the pro
visions of this act the County Commissioners of the counties lying on the river,
were authorized to levy a tax in their respective counties to secure the removal
of all obstructions from the rapids at Sterling to the mouth of the river, the
work to be done under the superintendence of a Board of Commissioners. The
report of these Commissioners, made December 6, 1847, and signed by John
Dixon, President, states as follows in regard to the improvement of the rapids :
"The contract made with Thomas McCabe to excavate a channel through the
rapids at Sterling, having been given up by him, the Board employed William
Pollock, one of our members, to superintend the work on said rapids, with avraior-
ity to employ the necessary workmen, and procure the necessary tools and im
plements. Mr. Pollock reports that he found it very difficult to get suitable
workmen, but with the small number he succeeded in raising, he has made con
siderable improvement in that part of the channel that remained to be excavated,
by removing the more prominent obstructions in the channel, by which means
the passage of flat and keel boats will be much facilitated. The Board expended
for the work upon said rapids under Mr. Pollock's superintendence, and for the
services of BIr. Pollock, connected with it, the sum of four hundred and fifty-two
dollars, and fifty-three cents. There had been previously paid to Mr. McCabe
for excavation on said rapids under his contract, in the years 1845 and 1846, the
sum of five hundred and sixty-five dollars and seventy-eight cents, making with
the amount paid during the last season, the sum of ten hundred and eighteen
dollars and thirty-one cents, which has been expended by authority of this Board
for the excavation on the rapids at Sterling. And although the channel has not
been completed through the rapids, such as was contracted for with Mr. McCabe,
yet the Board is of the opinion that by the work already done, the passing up
and down said channel for boats, rafts and other craft, will be found to be ma
terially improved and expedited, and that persons who have occasion to pass up
or down said rapids will be satisfied that the money expended thereon by this
Board, as above stated, has not been misapplied." The Board made a further
report, December 23, 1848, in which they state that "since their last report made
in December, 1847, the Board has held but one meeting, which was in August
last, at which they appropriated of the tax assessed for the improvement of the
navigation of Bock river, a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars to be expend
ed under the superintendence of William Pollock, in removing obstructions to
the navigation of Rock river from the rapids at Sterling to the mouth of the

HIST ORY OF THE CITY OF STERLING. 421
river; of which sum Mr. Pollock has expended eighty dollars and fifty cents in
procuring the removal of the most prominent obstructions." It will be seen by
these reports that the commissioners appointed under the aet of the General
Assembly, for the improvement of the navigation of Rock river, entertained the
most positive assurance that by the removal of the obstructions then known to
exist, the stream would be rendered navigable for the future for "boats, rafts
and other craft." This idea prevailed for some years later, but was finally
abandoned as we have mentioned elsewhere, and the water of the river put to a
use at Sterling, Rock Falls, Lyndon, and other places, which has proved of much
greater financial advantage.
John Gait opened a store in Sterling in 1844, and the next year James L.
Crawford became a partner, the firm name being Gait & Crawford. Afterwards
John B. Crawford entered as a partner, and the firm name was changed to Gait,
Crawford & Co. In 1847, J. fi. Boynton and James C. Woodburn formed a
partnership under the name of Boynton & Woodburn, and opened an assorted
stock of goods. BIr. Woodburn died in 1848, and Mr. Boynton continued the
business. The latter was in the peddling trade previous to 1847. His wagon
was labelled "Western Trader," and was known by all the settlers in Northern
Illinois, and Southern Wisconsin. It has been rightfully said of him that he
was a Napoleon in that branch of trade. M. S. Henry commenced a private bank
in 1852, and in 1854 formed a partnership with Lorenzo Hapgood, the firm name
being M. S. Henry & Co. This bank was continued until 1861. H. A Munson
also opened a bank during that time, in connection with an insurance company,
and ran it for a short time. A. H. Buckwalter started a store about the same
time as Boynton & Woodburn, and after conducting it awhile, received Edward
Jameison as a partner. The bouse closed about 1858. Feather & Hoover fol
lowed, and when the latter retired, E. G. Allen became a member of the firm,
and remained so until the firm was dissolved in 1859. The firm of Patterson &
Witmer commenced business in 1855, and had a heavy trade for about ten
years, when the Pattersons retired. The firm of David M. Crawford & Co., came
into existence after the dissolution of that of Gait, Crawford & Co. Mr. Craw
ford has continued in business ever since, his partners, . however, having been
changed several times. These were among the oldest and largest of the early
business houses of Sterling, after the removal of Happer & Mcllvaine to Albany.
The stores of Mason & Barnett, and others, were in existence before the con
solidation of Harrisburgh and Chatham.
The excitement in regard to the Postoffice ran high again in 1856. When
E. B. Worthington retired, Lewis D. Crandall received the appointment as Post
master, and located the office soon afterwards in. a building on the north side of
Third street not far from where Maj. M. S. Henry now lives. There was not
much objection made to the removal to that place, and had the office remained
there until the demands of the people as the town increased required a differ
ent location, everything relating to the mail and its delivery would have been
serene. But by some means not generally understood, BIr. Crandall was removed
and Joseph Hutchinson appointed. This change was enough of itself, as it ap
peared, to arouse the indignation of the people. They wanted to be consulted
in so important a matter. It was probably not so much because they desired
Mr. Crandall retained, as it was to have a voice in the appointment of his suc
cessor in case of his removal, the great object being to have an incumbent in
the position who would keep the office at a point convenient to the business
district. The announcement, therefore, of the removal of Crandall, and the
appointment of Hutchinson, created the greatest excitement among the citizens
and business men generally, as they knew it portended a change of base as to

422 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
the Postoffice location, and sure enough the change was made. Hutchinson
kept a store in what was then known as Wallacetown, some distance west of
the business part of Sterling, and there he established the Postoffice. To get
to it the merchant, lawyer, doctor, mechanic, and the "rest of mankind and
womankind" in Sterling proper, would be compelled to travel greatly out of
their way, and in rainy weather to wade through thick mud. To show how
deeply they resented this movement on the part of the government and its new
appointee, they refused to mail their letters at Sterling, and directed all their
correspondents to send their mail to Gait or Nelson. Some even went so far as
to refuse to take their mail out of the Sterling Postoffice, preferring to suffer
the inconvenience occasioned by the delay rather than in any manner patronize
the Hutchinson institution. This inconvenience caused considerable trouble in
business matters, but it was cheerfully submitted to. Meetings were held by the
indignant citizens to devise means to secure the removal of Hutchinson, or if he
must be kept in office to get an order from the Postoffice Department causing a
return of the office to a locality within the business part of the town. On one
occasion a large number gathered at one of the stores just after a very heavy
rain, and as usual the Postoffice was the theme of discussion. It did not take
long to excite the already intense feeling of the crowd, and to make them ripe
for any movement which could be used as a means of retaliation for the great
wrong perpetrated upon them. The suggestion soon came that they all march
down to Hutchinsons's store through the deep mud, and carry with them on their
boots as much of the article as could be made to adhere, and when they had
entered the place todeposititby thorough stamping upon the floor or any othercon-
venient place. The chronicles of the times do not state the result. Relief,
however, came afterwards in the removal of Hutchinson, and the appointment
of L. King Hawthorne, who moved the office to Third street, between Mulberry
and Spruce. This brought it again within gunshot of the stores and other
business places, and the people once more calmly returned to their various pur
suits. The stirring times during Hutchinson's incumbency are still fresh in the
remembrance of many of the citizens of Sterling.
The growth of Sterling was slow until the railroad era. Up to that time
it was considerably behind Fulton, Albany and Dixon. Its prospects for the
future were often so dark and gloomy that neighboring towns looked upon it as
a doubtful enterprise. The citizens, however, were not dismayed. They felt
assured that the vast water power would be utilized at no distant day, and that
the fertile agricultural country surrounding it would soon be populated by en
terprising and thrifty farmers. It needed only some avenue more speedy than
the common highway to take the products of the machinery at the water power,
and the surplus products of the soil, to a general distributing market, to make
available the advantages which nature had so lavishly bestowed upon it. Rail
roads were being constructed through different parts of the State, and the peo
ple felt assured that the beautiful valley of Rock river would not remain long
as a region unknown to the iron horse. Chicago was sending out tracks in dif
ferent directions; and it would be strange if one did not find its way through the
Rock river country. The more sagacious predicted that the time would soon
come when an air line railroad would run from the Lakes to the Mississippi.
They saw the great markets at the East reaching out even then for the pro
ducts of the Upper Blississippi Valley, and the way to grasp them could only be
afforded by the locomotive and the ear. In these predictions they were correct,
and the air line railroad came.
The project of constructing a railroad from Chicago directly west to the
Mississippi river was brought forward as early as 1851. Previous to that time,

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF STERLING. 42S
the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad had been completed to Rockford, and
shortly afterwards to Freeport. But that road did not answer the purpose for
Rock river valley, neither did it look toward a consummation of the project of
a direct line from the Lakes to the Mississippi river, and as a consequence the
St. Charles Air line, the Dixon Air Line, and the Mississippi & Rock River
Junction Railroads were projected, and work upon them commenced. In 1853
the Michigan Central, and the Galena & Chicago Union Companies came for
ward and assisted these newly organized companies, and eventually they all
passed into the hands of the latter, and the name of the Chicago & Galena
Union Railway was assumed. This company immediately pushed forward the
work of completing the present road from Chicago to Fulton, and in 1856 the
first train entered Sterling. The people had been watching and waiting for
this event so long, that when it did occur their joy was unbounded, and to give
vent to it, in part at least, an old fashioned barbacue was decided upon. This
long to be remembered occasion was held in the summer. Over three thousand
jubilant people assembled under an awning composed of branches of trees in
full leaf, erected just south of the present artesian well. A large, fat ox had
been donated by S. Miles Coe, and roasted whole, and after partaking of it, and
the numerous other viands and luxuries furnished by the grateful citizens, the
vast concourse listened to an eloquent oration delivered by Benjamin F. Taylor;
the then literary editor of the Chicago Evening Journal. At its conclusion
the "little giant of the West," Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, came forward and
made one of those happy addresses for which he was so famous. Those who
heard it, say it was superior in matter and delivery to anything of the kind they
ever heard. The ceremonies and festivities of the occasion concludedi with a
ball in the evening, which was largely attended, Mr. Douglas being among the
gayest of the gay throng which, inspired by the best of music, threaded the
mazy intricacies of the dance. From that day Sterling has been rapidly march
ing on to wealth and greatness.
Unlike most other towns, Sterling did not organize as a village previous to
its incorporation as a city. There were probably valid reasons why this was
not done, yet in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred the people of so large a town
as it had grown to be, would not have been content to have remained under
township organization simply for so many years. Local pride alone would have
induced many to organize as a municipality. The citizens of Sterling, however,
were undoubtedly looking forward to the day when they could jump into the
harness as a full fledged city, without the preparatory schooling as a village.
Such at any rate was the case.
Sterling was organized as a city under a special charter granted by the
General Assembly of the State, and approved February 16, 1857. The first elec
tion under the charter was held in April of that year, and resulted in the
choice of Lorenzo Hapgood for Mayor; John Pettigrew and David H. Myers,
as Aldermen for the First Ward; Henry Bush and D. R. Beck, for the Second
Ward; and James Gait and B. G. Wheeler, for the Third Ward. The City
Council met for organization at Boynton's Hall, on the evening of April 23,
1857. William Caffrey was appointed Clerk pro tem, after which Mayor Hap*
good delivered his inaugural address. Some preliminary business was transacted,
and the Council adjourned to meet at the same place on the evening of April
25th. At that meeting L. King Hawthorne was elected City Clerk; Edward N:
Kirk, City Attorney; and Winfield S. Wilkinson, City Surveyor. Mayor Hap?
good appointed the following committees: On Finance, Aid. Gait, Beck, and
Pettigrew; On Claims, Aid. Beck, Wheeler, and Myers; On Judiciary, Aid
Wheeler, Bush, and Pettigrew; On Printing, Aid. Myers, Gait, and Beck;

424 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
On Streets and Alleys, Aid. Pettigrew, Bush, and Gait; On Ordinances, Aid.
Bush, Gait, and Pettigrew. The first ordinance was passed by the Council,
and approved by the Mayor, May 2, 1857, and related to the duties and salary
of the City Surveyor. The second, relating to shows and exhibitions, was also
passed and approved at the same meeting. Something of a contest arose over
the selection of an official newspaper organ, there being two newspapers pub
lished in the city at the time, known as the Sterling Times, and the Sterling
Republican. To ascertain which one was entitled to the honor, the Committee
on Printing required both to furnish sworn lists of their subscribers, and when
these verified lists were handed in, it was found that the Times had 187 sub
scribers, and the Republican 186, the former therefore winning the prize by a
single name. This did not satisfy BIr. Caffrey, publisher of the Republican,
and at the next meeting of the Council he sent in a petition asking for a recon
sideration of the vote which gave his rival the coveted honor of calling his paper the
official organ. A special committee consisting of Aid. Bush, Pettigrew, and Gait
was appointed to consider the matter, but before they reported a compromise was
effected by which each paper agreed to publish the proceedings of the Council
gratis, and charge the same rates for publishing ordinances and notices as had
been before charged by the Republican. Aid. Myers resigned his seat in June,
1857, and on the 30th of that month a special election was held, at which Asa
F. R. Emmons was chosen to fill the vacancy. Sterling Aldermen were fined at
that day, one dollar and costs, for every time they were absent from a meeting
of the Board. At the meeting of the Council held on the 6th of August, 1857,
Hezekiah Windom, and two hundred and forty-five other residents of the Second
Ward, presented a petition praying the Council not to grant any license for the
sale of spirituous liquors in that Ward. The petition was referred to a special
committee who reported on the 13th of the same month, adversely to the
prayer it contained. The report stated that some eleven weeks previous to the
presentation of the petition, the City Council had adopted the policy of refusing
to grant license for the sale of liquor in any part of the city, and passed an or
dinance strictly forbidding its sale within the city limits, but that no effort had
been made to enforce the ordinance, and in consequence parties sold openly in
each Ward. Under such a state of affairs the Council had thought it best to
repeal the prohibitory ordinance, and license a limited number of houses to sell
spirituous, vinous, and malt liquors, in the respective Wards. The Committee
did not, therefore, deem it policy to discriminate as to license in favor of any
Ward. The report was adopted by the Council. This was the first attempt on
the part of any of the citizens of Sterling, as such simply, to secure the inter
diction of the sale of intoxicating liquors in any part of the city limits. The
principle, however, had taken root, and finally triumphed.
The charter was amended by an act of the General Assembly in 1869, and
the city has been working under the amended charter since that time. Under
this charter the corporate limits of the city are described to be " all that dis
trict embraced in the platted town of Sterling, including the several additions
thereto, as now platted and recorded in the office of the Recorder of Whiteside
county; also all that part of the Southwest quarter of section twenty-two, in
said town, which lies north of Rock river, and all that part of the said town of
Sterling lying between the said platted town and the central line of Rock river,
and bounded on the east by the section line running between sections twenty-
two and twenty-three, in said town, and on the west by the line of G street, in
Wallace's addition to the said city of Sterling, extended southerly to the middle
of Rock river." Section three provides that whenever any tract of land adjoin
ing the city shall be laid off into town lots, and duly recorded, the same shall be

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF STERLING. 425
annexed and form a part of the city. Section four divides the city into Wards
as follows: " All that part of the city lying east of the center line of Broadway,
extending to the north and south boundaries of the city, to constitute the First
Ward; all that part lying west of First Ward and east of the center line of Lo
cust street, extending to the north and south boundaries of the city, to constitute
the Second Ward; and all that part of the city lying west Of the center line of
Locust street, to constitute the Third Ward." The Mayor or any two Aldermen
may call special meetings of the city Council. City elections are held on the first
Monday in March, in each year.
The following are the names of the different Mayors, Aldermen, and City
Clerks of the city of Sterling from the organization of the city in 1857, up to
and including the year 1877, with the date of their election :
1857 : — Mayor, Lorenzo Hapgood; Aldermen, John Pettigrew, Daniel H.
Myers, Henry Bush, D. R. Beck, B. G. Wheeler, James Gait; City Clerk, L.
King Hawthorne. 1858 : — Mayor, Lorenzo Hapgood; Aldermen, John Petti
grew, Charles L. Ginkinger, S. Hazen; City Clerk, L. King Hawthorne. 1859 :
Mayor, Lorenzo Hapgood; Aldermen, Henry LeFevre, Smith Barrett, David
Leavitt; City Clerk, L. King Hawthorne. 1860, Mayor, Nelson Mason; Alder
men, John Pettigrew, Ansel A. Terrell, Morgan Baker; City Clerk, L. King
Hawthorne. 1861 : — Mayor, John L. Price; Aldermen, William L. Youmans,
Benjamin Gurtisen, Thomas K. Facey; City Clerk, L. King Hawthorne. 1862:
— Mayor, Nelson Mason; Aldermen, John Pettigrew, Ansel A. Tersell, Morgan
Baker; City Clerk, J. Haskell — Mr. Haskell resigned and J. B. Myers was ap
pointed. 1863 : — Mayor, Fred. Sackett; Aldermen, William L. Yeomans, S. L.
Warren, Thomas K. Facey, Charles M. Worthington; City Clerk, J. B. Myers.
1864 : — Mayor, Samuel S. Patterson; Aldermen, George W. Brewer, Henry S.
Street, Edward O. Cook; City Clerk, W. H. Thatcher. 1865 :— Mayor, Nelson
Maxson; Aldermen, Richard L. Mangan, R. B. Stoddard, James M. Wallace;
City Clerk, W. H. Thatcher. 1866 :— Mayor, Thomas A. Gait; Aldermen, W.
W. Pratt, L. Morse, Benjamin C. Coblentz; City Clerk, W. H. Thatcher. 1867 :
— Mayor, Benjamin C. Coblentz; Aldermen, Henry Thomas, Joseph H. Boynton,
George B. Kitel; City Clerk, W. H. Thatcher. 1868 :— Mayor, Benjamin C.
Coblentz; Alderman, John Pettigrew, Joseph M. Patterson, Andrew J. Hull;
City Clerk, W. H. Thatcher. 1869 :— Mayor, C. D. Sanford; Aldermen, William
L. Yeomans, A. A. Terrell, A. N. Young, L. P. Johnson, Miles S. Henry, H. A.
Bunn; City Clerk, C. L. Sheldon. 1870 :— Mayor, John G. Manahan; Aldermen,
John Dippell, Benjamin Gurtisen, Clarence Jewett, H. S. Street; City Clerk, C.
L. Sheldon. 1871 : — Mayor, John G. Manahan; Aldermen, Maltby C. Stull,
John Martin, L. P. Johnson, R. B. Colcord, William L. Patterson, James M.
Wallace; City Clerk, C. L. Sheldon. 1872 :— Mayor, John G. Manahan; Alder
men, Henry H. Hoover, Benjamin Gurtisen, Decius 0. Coe; City Clerk, C. L.
Sheldon. 1873 :— Mayor, William H. 'Bennett; Aldermen, Maltby C. Stull,
Jacob R. Sides, William C. Robinson, S. H. Kingery, James M. Wallace, R. Shove;
City Clerk, Lucius R. Root — Mr. Root resigned, and J. C. Teats was appointed
to fill the vacancy. 1874: — Blayor, Joshua V. McKinney; Aldermen, Cyrenus
Beecher, M. H. Kreider, C. L. Sheldon; City Clerk, J. C. Teats. 1875 :— Mayor,
B. C. Church; Aldermen, Maltby C. Stull, William C. Robinson, S. H. Kingery,
D. J. Jenne, James M. Wallace, Nicholas Gaulrapp; City Clerk, J. C. Teats.
1876 : — Mayor, B. C. Church; Aldermen, Cyrenus Beecher, Meno S. Bowman,
A. J. Hull; City Clerk, J. C. Teats. 1877 :— Mayor, Joseph M. Patterson; Al
dermen, William Lightcap, Norman A. Thomas, W. C. Robinson, Horace G.
Clark, Henry S. Warner, John Werntz, M. B. Fitzgerald, M. A. Bunn, E. W.
Edson; City Clerk, J, C, Teats, [54-Y.]

426 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
The city of Sterling is one hundred and ten miles west of Chicago, and
twenty-six miles east of the Mississippi river. Its location is sixty-three and
six one hundredths feet above low water in Lake Michigan, and six hundred
and forty-six feet above the level of the sea, taking the Chicago & Northwestern
Railroad track as the point of elevation. It is in latitude 40 degrees, 50 min
utes north, and longitude 90 degrees, 5 minutes west, from Greenwich. The
railway facilities are excellent to all points, as it is situated on the air line of
the Galena Division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, which affords
speedy transportation accommodations east and west, and is the northern ter
minus of the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad, opening communica
tion with the south. On the Rock Falls side is the terminus of the Rock
River branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.
In 1852 the property holders of Sterling by common consent deeded to
John Gait one-half of their unimproved lots, in trust, to be conveyed by him
as such trustee to a company that would duly organize under the laws of the
State, and construct a dam across Rock river, opposite the town, together with
a suitable head race. A company known as the Sterling Hydraulic Company,
with John A. Holland then at its head, was accordingly organized in 1854, and
the work on the dam and race commenced. The dam was finished in September,
1855, at a cost of about seven thousand dollars, and is one thousand feet in
length, and fourteen feet wide, the power being under a six foot head of water.
The present officers of the Hydraulic Company are: Lorenzo Hapgood, Pres
ident, and James M. Wallace, Secretary and Treasurer.
The first bridge connecting Sterling and Rock Falls was erected in 1856-'57,
but was washed away by a freshet soon after its completion. The present
bridge was built in 1863 by the Sterling Bridge Company, at a cost of thirty
thousand dollars. It is a toll bridge, and has been extensively used since its
construction. In 1868 a part of the bridge was carried away, but the loss
was soon replaced. The officers of this Company are: William L. Patterson,
President, and William A. Sanborn, Secretary and Treasurer. During the ses
sion of the last General Assembly an act was passed to allow the construction
of bridges over the waters within the State, according to the provisions therein
contained, and under it the electors of Sterling held an election in August last
to decide whether or not a free bridge should be built across the river connecting
Sterling and Rock Falls. The project had been discussed for some time pre
viously, and the contestants for quite a period were supposed to be pretty evenly
divided, but as the election approached the friends of the bridge increased in
numerical force, and finally carried the day by a large majority. The bridge
will extend from the foot of Mulberry street in Sterling, to Bridge street, a little
east of the Industrial Building, in Rock Falls. Work has already commenced
on the structure on the south side. The entire cost will be borne by the city of
Sterling, which has voted $40,000 for its construction. It will be built of iron,
and made throughout a substantial structure. After the destruction of the
first bridge in 1857, B. G. Wheeler, a banker in Sterling, and one of its first
Aldermen, started a ferry above the rapids, but it got so frequently out of re
pair that it was comparatively useless. When that was abandoned James A.
Patterson ran one for a time below the rapids, but stern fate decreed that it
should not be a success, and it was also abandoned. In 1874, George W. Barr
purchased a steam tug of some parties in Lyons, Iowa, fitted it for a ferry boat,
and conveyed it to Sterling where he launched it upon the river above the dam,
and commenced the ferry business. The little steamer was christened the
White Swan, and from the start has done a good business, making one hundred
and fifty trips daily during the season. It has passed through several hands

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF STERLING. 427
since it was launched by Capt. Barr, but in 1876 came into the possession of
James A. DeGroff, who is the present owner. Mr. DeGroff is one of the solid
men of Sterling, and although "not taking charge of the boat himself, sees that
every comfort and convenience are afforded to those who patronize it.
Sterling is lighted with gas furnished by the Sterling Gas Light Company,
which was incorporated in 1874. The works, which are quite extensive, were
erected during the same year, at a cost of forty thousand dollars. Between three
and four miles of mains have been laid, and a large number of lamp posts erected
throughout the city. The business streets, and many of those on which private
residences are exclusively situated, are finely lighted. The hotels, public halls,
and many of the stores and dwellings are also lighted by gas furnished by these
works. The officers of the Company are: Joseph M. Patterson, President;
William L. Patterson, Secretary; and John Charter, Treasurer.
The Fire Department of Sterling is composed of one engine company, three
hose companies, and one hook and ladder company. It is in excellent condition,
and the members number about one hundred and fifty in all, active, energet
ic, experienced men, ready at any time when duty calls them. The companies
are as follows: Columbia Engine and Hose Company, No. 1, located on Market
street, north of Third street; Niagara Hose Company, No. 2, located at the foot
of Locust street, on the water power; Hose Company, No. 3, located on the
corner of B and Third streets; and Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, located
on Market street, north of Third. The latter company carries six ladders, four
Babcock Fire Extinguishers, as well as all other necessary appliances. The
city has the Holly system of pumps for fire purposes. These are located on
the water power at the foot of Locust street, the wheel and power furnished by
the Hydraulic Company. Pipes extend from this point to different parts of the
city, and at all necessary corners of streets fire plugs are situated so that in
case of conflagration a good supply of water can be obtained. An abundant
supply can also be furnished by the artesian well belonging to the estate of the
late Joel Harvey, and in time it will undoubtedly be utilized for fire, and largely
for domestic and other purposes. This well is situated in the northeastern
part of the city, and is 1,665 feet deep, having a flow of fourteen feet. The
power furnished by it is sufficient to reach the upper story of any building in
the city. The Postoffice is located at No. 90 Mulberry street, a few doors south of
Third street, to which place it was removed by Mrs. Emily J. C. Bushnell, now
Mrs. M. S. Henry, shortly after she received her appointment as Postmistress.
Upon her resignation in 1871, Mrs. Electa E. Smith, the present Postmistress,
was appointed. The business of the office has increased rapidly in the past few
years, and as a consequence it has been enlarged from time to time as the pub
lic needs demanded. It now contains eight hundred and eighty-two boxes, and
one hundred and twenty-five drawers. During the fiscal year of 1876, the office
paid to the Government six thousand dollars, besides defraying all expenses.
The money order department during the same year transacted a business of two
hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.
We have been enabled from the records to obtain the following amounts
of city indebtedness for the years named: On the first of April, 1867, the in
debtedness was $16,056,39; on February 15, 1870, $17,030,87; February 15,
1871, $12,747,86; February 15, 1872, $10,237,01; February 15, 1873, $5,129,54;
February 15, 1874, $6,223,10; February 15, 1875, $9,733,91; February 15, 1876,
$4 588 64; February 15, 1877, $4,225,14. The present indebtedness is small
when we take into consideration the size of the city, the expenses necessarily

428 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
incurred in sustaining its government, and the amount expended for needed
improvements. The charter election in Sterling for several years has turned almost wholly
upon the question of licensing the sale of spirituous, vinous, and malt liquors.
Since 1873 the no-license party has been largely in the majority, and not only
carried the entire city ticket at each election, but nearly every Alderman. At
the in-coming of the anti-license party in 1874, a stringent ordinance was passed
prohibiting the sale of spirituous liquors, ale, wine and beer, in less quantities
than five gallons. The ordinance provides that "every person or corporation
who shall, by himself or herself, or by agent, employe, servant, or otherwise,
within the limits of said city of Sterling, or within one mile of said limits north
of Rock river, sell or barter, in any manner, any wine, rum, gin, brandy, whisky,
malt liquors, strong beer, ale, porter, mixed liquors, or any intoxicating liquors
whatever, in less quantities than five gallons, shall, upon conviction thereof,
be fined not less than ten dollars, nor more than one hundred dollars." For
the sale or barter on Sunday, within the limits mentioned, the penalty is not
less than twenty dollars, nor more than one hundred dollars. The ordinance
further provides that the giving away of liquors, or other shift or device to
evade its provisions, shall be deemed and held to be unlawful selling within its
intent and meaning. The city authorities have been very active in discovering
every violation of the ordinance, and when once ascertained the violators are
prosecuted to its full extent. The result is that liquor is not sold openly, and
probably but comparatively little in secret dives or dark corners. The example
set by Sterling has been followed by several other towns and villages in the
county. A large number of business houses and private residences have been erect
ed in the city within the past few years, and notably so during the years 1876
and 1877. During the latter year several large blocks of stores, mainly on Third
and Locust streets, besides over one hundred private residences in different
parts of the town, have been built. Additions and improvements have also
been made to the various manufacturing establishments. The Gait house, one
of the finest hotels west of Chicago, was erected in 1876-77, and formally
opened to the public on the 21st of August, of the latter year. Over five hun
dred guests participated in the complimentary banquet given in its honor, under
the management of Messrs. A. A. Terrell, Joseph M. Patterson, and E. W. Ed
son, an executive committee on the part of the citizens. The hotel is situated
on the southwest corner of Locust and Fourth streets, with a front of one hun
dred and twenty feet on the former street, and one hundred on the latter. It
is four stories high, with a basement, and has all the room, convenience, and
elegance of the modern first class hotel. It is owned by Thomas A. Gait. The
Wallace House, long known as a capital hotel, has been greatly enlarged and
improved during the past year, by its enterprising owners, and ranks with the
best in the country. The Boynton House is also a fine hotel, and has been kept
for many years by its owner, J. H. Boynton.
The city of Sterling in 1877 contains ten dry goods houses, fourteen gro
ceries, six hardware, stove, and tin stores, seven drug stores, seven clothing
stores, eight boot and shoe stores, four jewelry establishments, three musical in
strument establishments, four agricultural implement establishments, two hat
and cap dealers, three furniture dealers, one wholesale and retail harness and
saddle manufacturer and dealer, three harness shops, four milliners, five dress
makers, two stationers, two marble and granite works, three cigar manufactories,
five tobacconists, three bakeries, one feed store, one auction store, one paint
store, three photographers, seven coal dealers, four barber shops, three plumb-

NEWSPAPERS. 429
ing establishments, four meat markets, two wholesale liquor dealers, two live
stock dealers, three butter dealers, three lumber dealers, two ice dealers, two
brick makers, two tanneries, three confectionery stores, three eating houses, one
laundry, one packing house, two grain dealers, one brewery, three livery stables,
four cooper establishments, seven blacksmith shops, seventeen lawyers, twelve
physicians, three dentists, three newspapers, six hotels. The manufactories,
mills and distillery are mentioned under the appropriate head.
In 1855, the city of Sterling had a population of 1,741; in 1860, 2,427;
and in 1870, 3,998. The population in 1877 is estimated at 7,500.
The following extract from an article published in the Western Manufac
turer, of Chicago, shows the light in which Sterling is regarded by non-residents,
and is a fair expression of the estimation entertained by all. who have visited it:
" It is a city presenting advantages to the business man and manufacturer second to
none in the country. Possessed of an almost unlimited water power, with the rapid
growth of the industrial interests of the West, its future grand possibilities cannot be
over estimated. It abounds in an educated and industrious population, unexcelled public
schools, numerous well appointed and well united churches, live newspapers, and every
essential element which characterizes a city. Sterling offers to capitalists opportunities
for the most profitable investment of their money in manufacturing and business enter
prises, as well as the refinements and comforts of a pleasant home."
Newspapers.
When the Dixon branch of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad was fin
ished as far west as the former place, the people of Sterling saw that its ter
minus would not remain there if proper efforts were made by the towns between
that point and the Mississippi river. Iowa had been admitted into the Union;
the country between Sterling and the great river was steadily settling up, while
that on the other side also showed signs of rapid growth. It was a matter of
interest, therefore, for the people west of Dixon to hasten the construction of a
road which would pass through this country, and eventually reach far toward the
Pacific coast. One of the great aids in securing the consummation of all great
projects is the newspaper, and it Was not long before the citizens of Sterling
determined to call to their assistance this aid in procuring the construction of a
railway line so deeply vital to their interests. Several meetings were held at
the Court House to devise means for the establishment of a newspaper organ,
the matter finally terminating by the employment of Charles Boynton, who had
recently published a paper at Albany, to edit and publish it. Every business
citizen in Sterling agreed to furnish assistance and patronage. Mr. Boynton
brought his press and what material he had, from Albany, and upon adding
additional type, etc., commenced the publication of the Sterling Times, the
first number being issued on the 7th of December, 1854. There was considera
ble diversity of opinion as to the name of the paper, previous to its publication,
but at the suggestion of Col. W. M. Kilgour, the name of the Times was finally
adopted. Mr. Boynton, in his introductory, said: " Our paper is small, but it is
young; and if it is so fortunate as to meet with its proper nourishment, we see
no reason why it will not very shortly be able to stand in the same crowd with
its more portly neighbors. The location is one of the best of the best counties in the
best State, with immense undeveloped agricultural resources. Within the range of
our vision lies the dormant water power which would put in motion as many
factories as now stud the Merrimac, and a virgin soil that will yield twice as
much as would feed the operatives. We have waited long for the slow and
gradual development of the resources of this country; have grated corn on a
lantern for our daily bread, and more than once followed the trail to the Garden
City, sounding the depths of every slough, and wading through miles of water."

430 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
This was a true picture of the country at that time. The land between Sterling
and Chicago, where some of the best farms are now located, was in many places
covered with water in wet seasons, and the settlements along the way were long
distances apart. Among the first advertisements published in the Times, were
the following: Mrs. D. R. Beck, millinery goods; Hall & Blakesley, hardware;
Gait & Crawford, dry goods, groceries, etc.; Happer k Blcllvaine, dealers in gen
eral merchandise and produce, Albany, Illinois; R. L. Wilson, insurance agent,
and lands, lots, cattle, and horses for sale; Alfred Bush, oysters, and bottled
porter; A. McMoore, confectioneries, and paper hangings; Bixby & Shannon,
booksellers and stationers; Samuel Emmons and A. McMoore, administrators of
the estate of Daniel L. Smith, deceased, notice to creditors to file claims against
the estate in the Probate Court, at the February term, 1855; R. L. Wilson,
Clerk of Circuit Court, and recorder of deeds, office in the Court House; Ed
ward N. Kirk, attorney at law, office in the Court House; M. S. Henry, attorney
at law, exchange broker, notary public, and Commissioner of deeds for Massa
chusetts and Pennsylvania; Stillman & Sackett, attorneys atNlaw; Dr. M. C.
Auld, physician and surgeon; Dr. A. S. Hudson, physician and surgeon, office in
the Court House; Dr. A. P. Holt, homeopathic physician, Lyndon, Illinois;
Eagle Hotel, Albany, W. S. Barnes, proprietor. The Times was neutral in poli
tics under BIr. Boynton's administration, but upon its purchase by Messrs. Grat
tan & Norwood, in 1855, became a Republican paper. In the spring of 1856
Grattan & Norwood sold to L. D. Crandall, and the Times hoisted the Democratic
banner, and supported James Buchanan jfor the Presidency, the editor being
Wm. Hyde, afterwards managing editor of the St. Louis Republican. In the
winter of 1856-57 the paper was purchased by Worthington & Biggart, and
conducted by them until the publication was discontinued.
In July, 1856, William Caffrey commenced the publication of the Sterling
Republican, and strongly advocated the election of John C. Fremont as Presi
dent. In the winter of 1857-58 H. G. Grattan, who had previously purchased the
press and material of the defunct Times, started the Sterling Gazette. The
proprietors of these two papers afterwards united them under the name of the
Republican and Gazette, and continued joint publishers and editors until Mr.
Grattan sold his interest to Walter Nimocks. The partnership of Caffrey &
Nimocks continued only a short time, when it was dissolved, and the material
divided, Mr. Caffrey continuing the publication of the paper, and Mr. Nimocks
taking his share to Kansas, where he established an office. Soon after this the
name of Republican was dropped, and the paper was called the Sterling Gazette.
In 1861 the paper came into the hands of C. M. Worthington & Co., and short
ly afterwards Mr. Worthington purchased the entire interest, and remained editor
and proprietor until he sold the paper, and the entire office, to George Terwilli
ger. During Mr. Worthington's administration the paper increased rapidly in
circulation and influence, and took a leading position among the newspapers of
Northwestern Illinois. Mr. Terwilliger took possession of the office on the 3d
day of September, 1870. He brought to his position a good deal of experience
as a newspaper man, having been for several years editor of the Syracuse (N. Y.)
Daily Journal, and also connected with the editorial staff of other papers. The
Gazette continued to thrive under his charge, but being desirous of locating on
the Mississippi river, at which point he had intended to settle when coming
West, sold the office back to Mr. Worthington, and purchased the Fulton Journnl.
In January, 1873, Mr. W'orthington sold a half interest in the establishment to
W. F. Eastman, and the firm became C. M. Worthington & Co. In March, 1876,
Mr. Eastman became the sole editor and proprietor, and so remained until July
of that year, when D. J. Jenne purchased a half interest, and the present firm

MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS. 431
of Eastman & Jenne was established. Under the able management of these
gentlemen the Gazette has continued to thrive, and it is now the largest paper
in the county, having a circulation second to none in this section of the coun
try. Its politics have always been Republican.
The Whiteside Chronicle was established by Theodore H. and Charles M.
Mack, in the spring of 1868, and was edited and published by them jointly for
sometime, when the former purchased the interest of the latter. Theodore H.
continued the publication of the paper under the name of the Chronicle until
1870, when he changed it to that of the Sterling Standard, which title has
since been retained. The Standard is an outspoken Independent Republican
paper, a strong and fearless advocate of the temperance cause, and enjoys a
steadily increasing patronage.
The Sterling Clear Grit issued its first number on the 13th of October,
1877, its editor and publisher being Ralph W.Norwood, a son of A. A. Norwood
long connected with the newspaper press of Sterling. The Clear Grit has so far
confined itself almost purely to local matters, but the ability it has already dis
played, shows that it is capable of entering a wider field. It deserves the grati
fying encouragement it is receiving.
Manufacturing Establishments.
The present Sterling School Furniture Company was organized as a stock
company, April 3, 1869, by virtue of an act of the General Assembly of the State,
granted the March previous. The Company was then known as the Novelty
Iron Works Manufacturing Company. The first buildings were erected, and the
land, and water power purchased by A. J. Hull and F. T. June, in the summer
of 1868, their object being to make sewing machines, and other castings. Their
attention was drawn to the feasibility of manufacturing school furniture, by
making some castings for that kind of furniture for a Chicago firm, and the re
sult was the placing of the "Sterling Seat" upon the market. The seat at once
became popular, and very soon the factory was over-run with work, necessitating
more land, buildings, and capital. These were secured, and A. J. Hull elected
President of the Company; F. T. June, Secretary, and A. J. Hull, F. T. June,
Charles H. Presbrey, W. A. Sanborn, and Edward Thomas, Directors. The cap
ital stock was then $16,000. In 1871 this was increased to $50,000, and upon
the resignation of Mr. Hull as President, F. T. June was elected in his place,
and A. A. Terrell, Secretary and Treasurer. In 1873, the name of the Com
pany was changed to the Sterling School Furniture Company, so as to better
represent the business. The capital stock was also increased to $100,000, at
which amount it still continues, with a large amount of surplus fund. In the
spring of 1873, Mr. June severed his connection with the Company, and W. L.
Patterson, who had become a large stockholder, was elected President. In 1874
the Company made the Secretary the General Manager of the works, and busi
ness, and since that time A. A. Terrell has had full charge of both. The present
officers are : H. G. Harper, President; and A. A. Terrell, Secretary and Gen
eral Manager. The buildings and land of the Company are located on the north
bank of the river, are convenient to the depots of the Northwestern Railroad,
and cover over thirty-five thousand square feet of ground. The goods manu
factured consist of school, church, office, and lodge furniture, porcelain work
of all kinds, stove pipe registers, pump cylinders, stove reservoirs, gray enameled
ware, and small castings of every description. The material purchased by this
Company is the best that can be obtained, and is thoroughly prepared before
being used. The work in every department is done by skillful and experienced
hands, and when once turned out is unequalled for strength, durability, and

432 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
beauty of finish. The reputation of the Sterling School Furniture Company is
already National, and the amount of manufactured articles turned out by them
simply immense. They have a branch honse at Albany, New York, and one at
San Francisco, California, where their goods are kept.
The Williams & Orton Manufacturing Company was organized in June,
1871, with a capital stock of $100,000. The basis of the organization were the
foundry and machine shops of Williams & Orton, which were situated where the
present manufactory stands. At the organization of the Company BIr. Williams
was elected President, and Mr. Orton, Secretary. Present officers : John
Charter, President and Treasurer, and G. M.Robinson, Sec'y. The buildings of the
Company are situated on the water power, and are four in number. The main
building, which is the largest used for manufacturing purposes on the "Sterling
side of the river, is 60 by 150 feet in size, and three stories high; the second
building is 30 by 50 feet, and one story high; the third is 40 by 150 feet in size,
and also one story high, and the fourth, 40 by 50 feet in size, and two stories
high. The articles manufactured are, mill machinery, and general machinists
goods. The manufacture of these is very heavy, and the goods are sold all over
the country, giving the utmost satisfaction. The Company is also preparing to
make the celebrated Williams' Reaper and Mower, and will have them in the
market next season (1878). These machines are the invention of Dyer Wil
liams, and for the past ten years have been manufactured at Syracuse, New
York. They are extensively used in that State, and cannot fail of becoming so
here now that the manufactory will be in the West. The Company have a large
frontage on the river, and sufficient water power to more than double their
capacity for manufacturing purposes.
The Empire Feed Mill Company was organized in 1870. The buildings of
this Company are situated on the river bank on the opposite side of the race
from the Sterling School Furniture Works and are large and conveniently arranged
for all classes of work manufactured. They are built of limestone and are three
stories high. The machine shop connected with the works is a wooden struc
ture next west of the main building, and is two stories high, with basement.
The principal work of the Company is the manufacture of feed mills, and shel
lers, and the power attached. The feed mill, which was originally designed for
shelling and grinding corn, was afterwards so constructed that it will grind
other grain equally as well, and as now made is the most economical mill ever
invented. The capacity of the double mill is from thirty to forty bushels per
hour. The others are of various capacities according to their size. Three kinds
of shellers are made, a one, and a two hole, besides one attached to the feed mill.
These mills and shellers are sold all over the United States. Every class of job
work, and repairs, both in wood and iron, is also largely carried on by the Com
pany. Lorenzo fiapgood is President, and Samuel C. Harvey, Secretary .
The Sterling Pump Works are situated on the water power, and originated
from a private enterprise of Mr. M. C. Bowers, who commenced making pumps
for the retail trade in Sterling, in 1863. In 1871 a stock company was organ
ized, with a capital of $50,000, the following gentlemen being the first officers:
Aaron J. Hull, founder of the Sterling School Furniture Company, President
and Treasurer; and M. C. Bowers, Secretary. Immediately after the organiza
tion of this company, the manufacture of pumps for the wholesale trade was
commenced, the retail trade being also kept up. During the first year of the
company's existence sixteen hundred pumps were sold, but so rapidly did the
trade increase that over seven thousand were sold in 1877. The company has
improved their pumps from time to time until they are recognized as the best.
The sales extend principally through the Northwestern and Western States.

MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS. 433
The company also manufacture Hull's Patent Double Surface Wash-board to a
large extent, over five hundred being made a day, and yet this number no more
than fills their orders. The manufacture of these wash-boards commenced two
years ago. They are shipped to all the Western States and Territories, and
through Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Indiana. The present officers of
the company are: Aaron J. Hull, President; William A. McCune, Secretary and
Treasurer; and William McCune, Superintendent.
The Sterling Mineral Paint Company was established in 1871. Sidney. T.
Osmer, Charles M. Worthington, and John A. Ladd, being the principal incor
porators. The works of the company are located on the river at the foot of
Mulberry street. The main building is four stories high, each story being over
eighty feet deep. The mineral is obtained from a bed on the farm of Grove
Wright, in Coloma township, although a stratum underlies the country in and
around Sterling and Rock Falls. Joel Harvey found one several feet thick
while digging his artesian well in Sterling. The mineral is dug out in the sum
mer, and thrown upon the ground, where it is partially dried. In the winter it
is brought over the river to the works, and placed in large heaps, where the ac
tion of the frost breaks up the large lumps. It is then taken to the dry house,
and from thence passes through the several processes, until the paint is ready
for the market. The color of the paint as it comes from the mill is a dark
brown, and for some time this was the only color made. The company manu
facture a red paint in addition, which retains all the painting qualities of the
brown. The advantage of this paint over the other so-called mineral paints, is
that the latter are merely dirt or clay paints, while this is mineral. The analy
sis of Prof. Mariner, of Chicago, shows that it contains a large per centage of
peroxide of iron, which gives it color, body, and durability. Nearly all the rail
road companies now use it to paint their freight cars, shops, and depots, and it
is also extensively used for general painting throughout the country, being sold
as far east as New York, and to the west as far as the Pacific States. It bears
heat better than any other known paint. The present officers of the company
are: Sidney T. Osmer, President and Superintendent; and J. D. Penrose, Secre
tary and Treasurer.
The Sterling Manufacturing Company use steam for their motive power.
The business now carried on by them, was in part commenced as early as 1855,
but the company was not incorporated until 1870. The capital stock is $30,000,.
and it is the oldest manufacturing establishment in the city. The company
manufacture sash, doors, blinds, church seats, butter tubs and boxes, stair rails,
newel posts, harrows, clothes line rods, and sell hard and soft wood lumber by
the car load, or in smaller quantities. They turn out about twenty-five hun
dred butter tubs in a week, and seven hundred harrows in a year. They also do
scroll sawing, and planing, having improved machinery of the best designs, and
engage extensively as builders and contractors. The present officers are: John
D. Tracy, President and Treasurer; and James F. Platt, Vice President and
Superintendent. Besides these gentlemen there are experienced and well-edu
cated mechanics in every department.
The Anchor Works are the outgrowth of a small shop run by Mr. A. B.
Spies, situated first just back of the present National Bank building. He com
menced business there in 1863, and did wagon work and repairing exclusively.
In 1868 he commenced the manufacture of a walking corn plow, an invention
of his own. The plow proved a success, and the business increased so rapidly
that in 1871 he was obliged to leave that location, and erect a large building
near the river. This building is thirty-two feet front, and three stories high,
with everything so arranged as to do the greatest possible amount of work with
[55-Z.]

434 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
the least expenditure of force. In 1872, Mr. Spies also invented and com
menced the manufacture of a harrow, of which he sold one hundred in 1873;
one hundred and sixty the next year, and the gain since then has been in an in
creased ratio. Besides these corn plows, and harrows, carriages, buggies, wag
ons, sleighs, etc., are made by the company in great numbers. The firm name
is Spies, Zendt <fc Co., and is composed of A. B. Spies, Henry Zendt, and Justus
Becker. The Sterling Burial Case Company was organized in 1873, with a capital of
$40,000, the works occupying an area of thirty-eight thousand two hundred and
forty feet, at Nos. 413 to 423 inclusive, on Third street. The company manu
facture coffins, caskets, and burial cases, the business amounting to one hun
dred thousand dollars annually.
Gait & Emmitt's Carriage and Wagon Factory occupies five fronts on the
east and west sides of Mulberry street, the firm turning out annually a large
number of fine, well made, and durable vehicles. George Newton has large
shops, and manufactures carriages, wagons, cutters, harrows, etc, very exten
sively. William Hess, in the eastern part of the city; the Novelty Works, on
Second street; Amos Daveler, 511 Second street; and Amos Vandemark, corner
of Third and B streets, also manufacture carriages, wagons, sleighs, etc., to quite
an extent. J. R. Deyo makes the manufacture of an animal power churn, a specialty.
These churns have attracted universal attention, and the demand for them is
very large.
Todd's Factory manufactures pruning shears, and hedge trimmers. It was
started a number of years ago in the frame building erected in 1856 for a
planing mill by some parties from Cincinnati. This business did not prove a
success, and the building was afterwards used for different purposes until it fell
into the hands of Mr. Todd. The pruning shears, and hedge trimmers, are of
excellent design and make, and their manufacture now one of the well estab
lished industries of Sterling.
William W. Perkins & Co., manufacture the Perkins' improved fire proof
iron door and shutter, refrigerators, etc., and A. F. Spooner makes an improved
baby jumper.
Immediately upon the finishing of the dam and race in 1853, Messrs.
Joshua V. and William McKinney built the stone mill, it being the first erected
on the water power for the manufacture of flour. It is now owned by Church
& Patterson, and makes two hundred barrels of flour per day. A little later
Lukens & Bye built the one now run by G. T. Elliott, and known as the Com
mercial Mills, which also manufactures two hundred barrels of flour per day.
The Pacific Mills were afterwards erected, and make one hundred and fifty
barrels of flour per day; Dillon & Bowers, the proprietors, also do custom
work, and grind feed, the mills being the only ones at which custom work is done
in Sterling. The Sterling Distillery was started in 1864 by the late John S. Miller, and
is the second largest distillery in the United States. The buildings consist of
the distillery proper, malt house, bonded warehouse, cooper shops, corn bins,
and cattle sheds, and an office in a central position, and are all situated on the
bank of the river just east of the Fair Grounds. The cattle sheds are of suffi
cient size to feed two thousand head, and that number is fattened by the pro
prietors each year. The buildings cover over five acres of ground. The capital
employed in the business is three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Two
thousand bushels of grain are used each day, making an aggregate of six hundred
and forty thousand bushels annually. All of this grain is ground previous to

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 435
being used. Eight thousand five hundred gallons of alcohol are made daily,
aggregating about three million gallons yearly, upon which a government tax of
over five thousand dollars is paid per day, making the sum annually
paid to the United States Revenue Department nearly two million dollars.--
One hundred and seventeen men are employed in and around the distillery, to whom
an aggregate sum of six thousand dollars are paid weekly, making an annual
outlay to the operatives of three hundred and twelve thousand dollars, nearly all
of which is placed in circulation in Sterling. The alcohol made is shipped prin
cipally to Europe, and South America. Shipments are made directly to Genoa,
in Italy, Geneva, Switzerland, and Constantinople, Turkey, in Europe, and to
Buenos Ayres, Brazil, and other ports in South America. The price paid for
the grain used at this distillery is nearly always somewhat in advance of that
paid by other parties, and hence furnishes not only a sure, but good market for
the farmer. The requisite number of United States officials are engaged here.
Messrs John S. and William A. Miller, are the present proprietors.
Churches and other Organizations.
Broadway M. E. Church: — This is the oldest church organization in Ster
ling, having been formed as early as 1838, by Rev. Barton H. Cartwright, in the
cabin of Hezekiah Brink. The membership then consisted of only Mr. and Mrs.
Luther Bush, Mr. and Blrs. Hezekiah Brink, Mrs. Geer, and Mrs. Pratt. With
this nucleus it advanced with the growth of- the population, until it became an
extensive and influential church. Mr. Cartwright was one of those brave, untiring,
zealous Methodist missionary preachers of the West to whose presence and exer
tions many a pioneer settlement was indebted for the privileges of the gospel,
and the formation of church societies which not only tended to unite the few
faithful christians into religious organizations in accordance with their early
teachings, but brought them together as friends and neighbors. To such men
all honor is due, and their services should be gratefully remembered. Mr. Cart
wright is yet a circuit preacher and is located at Hampshire, in the Dixon District
of the Rock River Conference, having been a faithful minister for nearly half a
century. Men like Barton H. Cartwright die with their harness on. The first
quarterly meeting of the new Society was held by Rev. Thomas Hitt, in 1839.
The church edifice was built in 1855, when Rev. S. F. Denning was pastor.
Previous to that time services were held in the old stone school house, and the
old Court House. Luther Bush, Samuel Hoover, Hezekiah Brink, J. E. Cob
by, and Smith Conklin were the trustees. Rev. S. F. Denning was the first
pastor sent to Sterling. Previous to 1855 the church belonged to Buffalo Grove
Circuit, and we have been unable to ascertain the names of ministers who sup
plied it while it was attached to that circuit. The successors of Mr. Den
ning have been Revs. Z. D. Paddock, S. G. Havermale, C. C. Best, Benja
min Close, J. Hartwell, A. H. Schoonmaker, S. F. Denning, a second time, M.
H. Plumb, J. Borbidge, Jas. Bush, Thos. Chipperfield, and J. B. McGuffin, the
present pastor. The following are the present Trustees : Elias Burkholder,
Geo. Newton, J. R. Deyo, Wm. Hess, R. L. Mangan, Charles Roberts, Henry
Bush, J. D. Lamb, and M. M. Royer. The Sunday School belonging to the
church numbers one hundred scholars, with J. D. Lamb as Superintendent.
The Fourth Street M. E. Church was formed from it in 1867. The present
membership is now one hundred and thirty-one.
Congregational Church : — In 1856 the Congregational element in Sterling
began to consider the propriety of organizing a church of that denomination, and
the first formal meeting for that purpose was held at the school house in the
Second Ward, on the 15th of April, 1857. Mr. L. B. Wetherbee acted as chair-

436 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
man. After a full expression of views, encouraging in their nature, a commit
tee was appointed to invite all those interested in such a movement to attend
an adjourned meeting at the Boynton House, April 17, 1857. At this meeting
it was unanimously voted by those present to organize themselves into a Congre
gational church. The following paper was then drawn up and signed: "We,
the subscribers, moved and guided as we hope by the Providence and Spirit of
God, do hereby express our desire to form ourselves into a Christian Church, to be
known and called by the name of the First Congregational Church of Sterling,
Illinois. Signed, L. B. Wetherbee, A. BlcBIoore, BI. H. Hinsdale, William Mc
Kinney, Francis Macey, Joel S. Wilcox, David Holbrook, Abel Holbrook, Josbua
V. McKinney, Nathan Williams, Jr." On the 21st of June following the church
was publicly organized with thirty members. The organization ceremonies took
place in the Presbyterian church, Rev. H. BI. Goodwin, of Rockford, Illinois,
preaching the sermon. In the autumn of this year Commercial Hall was ob
tained for the services of the church, and used until Blay, 1859, when a room-on
the second floor of Central Block was engaged. During this time preaching was
had with much irregularity, Mr. Blacke, of the Chicago Theological Seminary,
supplying the pulpit a few weeks; Rev. BIr. Foster officiating during the summer
of 1858; and Rev. H. C. Parker for two or three months during the succeeding
fall and winter. On the Sth of May, 1859, the church voted to give Rev. U.
W. Small a call to become pastor at a salary of $800 per annum. The call was
accepted, and Mr. Small duly ordained and installed September 22, 1859. The
church continued to increase so rapidly in numbers that in about two years a
more commodious room had to be sought, and the large hall on the third floor
of Central Block was engaged and occupied until it had a building of its own.
The lot now occupied by the church was purchased July 1, 1863, and the work
of erecting a building pushed vigorously forward, so that by early spring in
1864 it was completed, with an indebtedness of only three hundred and sixty-three
dollars. This amount was soon paid, and when the edifice was dedicated the
society was free from debt. During 1864 an Ecclesiastical Society was organ
ized in connection with the church. In the summer of 1870 the house of wor
ship was raised and enlarged by adding twenty-four feet to its length, by which
its seating capacity was increased to five hundred and fifty. The basement was
also fitted up for Sabbath School purposes. These improvements cost about
three thousand dollars. In 1872 the two lots north of and adjoining the one
owned by the church, were purchased for two thousand five hundred dollars,
and are now entirely paid for. In December, 1875, about twenty mem
bers were dismissed from the church for the purpose of organizing a
Congregational Church at Rock Falls. The succession of ministers of the
church has been as follows: Rev. U. W. Small, from May 29, 1859 to June 1,
1864; Rev. Dr. Plumb, from November, 1864, to April 1,1866; Rev. Martin
Post, from April, 1866, to April, 1872; Rev. E. W. Clark, from Sep
tember 1, 1872, to December, 1873; Rev. S. D. Belt from January 20,
1874, to October 1, 1875. Rev. Albert Bushnell, the present pastor, commenced
his labors February 1, 1876. The deacons of the church since its organization
have been as follows: Joshua V. McKinney, Nelson Mason, Joseph Golder,
Brainard Orton, Richard Arey, R. B. Witmer, J. K. Chester, J. L. Davis. The
church now numbers about two hundred members. A flourishing Sunday School
is attached to the church, numbering two hundred scholars, with R. B. Witmer
as Superintendent, assisted by twenty teachers.
Grace Church : — The Parish of Grace church, Episcopal, was organized in
Blay, 1864, the Rev. John Foster being the officiating minister at the time.
The Parish or Society is a district organization from the church.' The follow-

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 437
ing persons were present and voted at the organization of the Parish: D. F.
Batcheller, B. C. Coblentz, Henry Moore, Charles Smith, Nelson Maxson, Sid
ney T. Osmer, Lorenzo Hapgood, W. C. Henderson, John G. Price, B. Fluelling,
G. L. Taintor, G. B. Fitch. The first Rector was Rev. 0. B. Thayer. The first
Wardens were William Muir and D. F. Batcheller, and the Vestrymen, B. C.
Coblentz, Henry Moore, Charles Smith, Nelson Maxson, Sidney T. Osmer, Lorenzo
Hapgood, W. C. Henderson, and John G. Price. Lorenzo Hapgood was chosen
Secretary, and Henry Moore, Treasurer. Messrs. Muir and Batcheller were suc
ceeded as Wardens by Gabriel Davis and Lorenzo Hapgood. The present officers
of the Parish are: Senior Warden, Lorenzo Hapgood; Junior Warden, Charles
Smith; Vestrymen, W. A. Sanborn, W. H. Merrill, M. S. Henry, J. A. Ingersoll,
D. F. Batcheller. The first Rector, Rev. 0. B. Thayer, was succeeded by Rev.
J. Grierlow, and since the resignation of the latter the following have been suc
cessively Rectors: Rev. J. E. Goodhue, Rev. W. F. Lloyd, Rev. H. Root. The
present Rector, Rev. J. E. Goodhue, is now on his second term of service. The
church edifice was erected in 1864—'65 at an original cost of fourteen thousand
dollars, but has never been fully completed, and at this date, November, 1877,
has not been consecrated. At the organization of the Parish there were only
seven communicants; now the number is seventy-five, representing about fifty
families. The Sunday School has seventy-six scholars, with Sidney T. Osmer as
Superintendent, assisted by six teachers. The church building is situated on
the southeast corner of Mulberry and Fourth Streets.
Fourth Street M. E. Church : — The Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal
Church was organized in October, 1867, with the following members: John
Barnes, Betsey N. Barnes, M. C. Bowers, Elizabeth Bowers, J. R. Bell, Salome
Bell, M. S. Bowman, Amelia Bowman, Elizabeth Brewer, Delia Benner, Edwin
S. Clow, Margaret Clow, Hannah E. Cubit, Henry Farwell, Nancy Farwell,
Rachel Harvey, Rachel S. Hyde, Robert H. Jenkins, Betsey Jenkins, Mary
Lukens, John B. Myers, Lydia Blyers, J. T. McKibbon, Miranda BIcKibbon,
Mary A. Payson, James G. Search, Mary Search, Patience Shepherd, and Jane
Smith. The congregation first worshipped in Union Hall, but afterwards rented
Wallace Hall which they occupied until January, 1869, when the basement of
the present church edifice was dedicated, and afterwards used until January 8,
1871, when the building was fully completed, and formally opened and ded
icated. The cost of the edifice was twelve thousand dollars. Before the formal
organization of the Society by a pastor sent from the Annual Conference, the
Rev. Mr. Best, from Freeport, preached and ministered to them for several
months. The pastors have been as follows: Revs. J. H. Ailing, William H.
Smith, the army chaplain of the 75th Illinois Volunteers, and to whom the So
ciety is greatly indebted for the completion of their church building, J. H. More,
and Lewis Meredith. The latter is the present pastor, and has been the incum
bent since October, 1875. The present trustees are: J. B. Myers, BI. C. Bowers,
Jacob Zollinger, J. C. Oliver, James A. De Groff, E. W. Edson, J. H. Wood-
burn, M. S. Bowman, and L. A. Sanford. The present membership of the church
is one hundred and eighty-three; probationers, nine. The Sunday School num
bers over one hundred scholars, with M. S. Bowman, Superintendent, assisted by
ten teachers. The church edifice is located on the southwest corner of Fourth
and A Street.
First Presbyterian Church: — The Fir3t Presbyterian Church of Sterling was
organized November 4, 1844, by a committee of the Presbytery of Schuyler,
consisting of Rev. Samuel Cleland, Rev. George Stebbins, and Elder Charles A.
Spring. The following persons were enrolled as members: Mr. John Gait, Mrs.
Maria Gait, Mrs. Mary Wallace, Mrs. Eliza J. Wilson, Mf. James C. Woodburn,

438 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Blrs. Blary Woodburn, Blrs. Jane Woodburn, Mr. William H. Cole, Mr. Carlisle
Mason and Mrs. Jane Blason. Of these, Mr. John Gait was chosen Ruling
Elder, the duties of which office he performed with fidelity until his death, Au
gust 25, 1866. The church edifice was erected in 1848, but not fully completed
until 1852. Since that time it has been greatly enlarged and improved, and is
now one of the finest church edifices in this section of the country. The first
pastor of the church was Rev. George Stebbins, who remained from 1844 until
1856. BIr. Stebbins was succeeded by Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, who held the
pastorate until 1865, when Rev. Blead C. Williams was called. BIr. Williams
continued as pastor until 1873, when Rev. N. H. G. Fife was chosen pastor, who
is still in charge. The church has now a membership of two hundred and forty-
five. The present Board of Ruling Elders is as follows: Decius 0. Coe, elect
ed October 8, 1854; Thomas A. Gait, and John Buyers, elected March 25, 1860;
Abram Hempstead, and J. Morris Golder, elected December 30, 1866; and Mar
tin H. Kreider, and John G. Manahan, elected September 1, 1872. The follow
ing compose the Board of Trustees: Smith Barrett, President; D. M. Craw
ford, Secretary; B. C. Church, William L. Patterson, Bloses Dillon, Robert
Laurie. The Sunday School has a scholarship of one hundred and fifty, with
Thomas A. Slaymaker, Superintendent, assisted by eighteen teachers.
First Baptist Church: — The First Baptist Church of Sterling was organ
ized June 1, 1856, with eleven members. Services were first held in the school
room in the First Presbyterian church, for two months, Rev. H. H. Hoff, a mis
sionary, being the supply during that time. Rev. J. T. Mason became the first
regular pastor, taking charge November 1, 1856, and continuing since that time.
The Society held services after November 1, 1856, in Crandall's Hall, and after
that in Boynton's Hall, until a church edifice was built. The membership
grew rapidly, and in 1865 the building was enlarged. It was soon, however,
apparent that it was too small even with the enlargement, and in 1873 the pres
ent edifice was erected at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. This building is
now the largest church building in Sterling, being eighty-two feet long, and forty-
five feet wide. The Sunday School attached to the church numbers over two
hundred scholars, with A. S. Todd, Superintendent, assisted by twenty teachers.
The church roll shows two hundred and eighty-two members. Mr. Mason has
been pastor of the church for twenty-one years, and is not only highly regarded
as a faithful and successful minister, but as one of Sterling's oldest and most
valued citizens.
Reformed Mennonite Church: — The Reformed Mennonite Society was organ
ized in 1868, with a membership of sixty-five, and their church edifice built the
same year. The members are settled as near to their meeting house as suitable
locations can be procured, and are governed by purely democratic principles. All
are on an equality socially, the differences of wealth and intellectual culture be
ing entirely ignored. Their religious services are held in the forenoon, the after
noon being spent in social intercourse of a semi-religious character. If any
brother or sister is found to be sick, or in want, or has been unfortunate, the
situation is fully reviewed, and assistance promptly rendered. The present
preachers of this church are: John Weaver and John Weckessee, although
others are frequently selected from the male members. All preach without
fee or reward, or the hope or promise of the same. One of their peculiar tenets
consists in baptizing none but adults, and that by sprinkling. They do not have
any Sunday Schools, or prayer or camp meetings, nor protracted or revival meet
ings, and no instruments are used with their church music. Neither do they
vote at elections, or take any part in politics, but submit quietly to the laws and
rules imposed upon them. They do no military duty, are opposed to war, and

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 439
never go to law. Differences between the members are settled by the church,
and business matters with outsiders are arranged amicably, or abandoned. At
sacramental seasons they wash each other's feet. The theater, circus, menagerie,
or exposition, is never patronized. The present deacons of this church are:
John Hoover, Abram Shultz, and Ephraim Hendricks.
St. Patrick's {Roman Catholic) Church: — St. Patrick's Church was or
ganized in 1854, with one hundred and fifty members. Since then the member
ship has increased to over five hundred, representing a large number of families.
The church edifice and parsonage cost seven thousand dollars. In addition to
these, there is a school building situated close to the church, at which a finish
ed, education can be obtained. The present pastor is Rev. Father Byrne.
Attached to the church is a Sunday School numbering over two hundred
scholars, with Father Byrne as Superintendent, assisted by a number of sisters
as teachers. Church of the Sacred Heart (German Catholic): — This church was organ
ized in 1870, and is situated in the northern part of the city. The buildings
belonging to the church consist of the church edifice, parsonage, and school
house. The membership of the church now numbers something over fifty.
The Sunday School has about fifty scholars, and is under the charge of the
pastor, Rev. Father Allgayer, assisted by the sisters. The day school is also
under the charge of the pastor, with a number of the sisters as teachers.
Father Allgayer has had charge of the church and parish about a year.
Lutheran Church: — This church is English, and was organized in 1854,
with twenty members, but has increased to a membership at present of over
one hundred and fifty. The church edifice is a neatly constructed and arranged
building, as is also the parsonage belonging to the Society. Rev. E. Brown is
the present pastor. The Sunday School attached to the church numbers two
hundred and fifty scholars, under the charge of R. J. Lipe as Superintendent,
assisted by eighteen teachers.
German Lutheran Church: — This church forms the German branch of the
Lutheran church in Sterling, and was organized in 1874 with only six members.
The roll has been steadily increasing until it now reaches over forty. Services
are held every Sabbath at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Rev. F. Luskey
has charge of the church, in connection with one at Round Grove.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church: — This church and society was organized in
1870 by the Lutherans of Swedish birth or extraction, with a membership or
iginally of only eleven. Now there are fifty. Rev. Mr. Boomer is the pastor,
and has two charges in addition to the one in Sterling. The church edifice is
yet small, but very neatly fitted up. The Sunday School has an attendance of
twenty-five scholars, with John Lawson as Superintendent, assisted by four
teachers. Evangelical Association: — The church and society is made up of German
families, and was organized in 1865, the members of the church being five in
number. At present there are forty-five. The church edifice was erected in
1871 at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars. Rev. Mr. Burckhardt is the
pastor. The Sunday School has fifty scholars, with John Meister as Super
intendent, assisted by six teachers.
Christian Church: — The Christian Church was organized in 1875, with
twenty members, and hold services at Farwell Hall. Elder J. H. Wright is the
pastor. The membership is now about one hundred. A flourishing Sunday
School of over fifty scholars is attached to the church, under the superintend
ence of W. F. Eastman,' one of the editors and proprietors of the Sterling

440 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Gazette, who is assisted by six teachers. The society contemplate erecting a
church edifice very soon.
Educational Institutions: — The First Ward School, and now District No. 7,
in Sterling township, was organized in 1856. The district at that time was
unable to build a school house, but Mr. Hezekiah Brink, always ready for any
emergency of the kind, came promptly to the rescue, and put up a stone house
which was rented for school purposes until 1860, when the present building on
Spring street, between Fourth and Fifth was erected, costing three thousand
dollars. The district employs three teachers. The grounds have a large num
ber of native shade trees, making them very attractive. The average attendance
of pupils in 1877 is two hundred and twenty. The School Directors are, E.
Bowman, A. Landis, L. H. Woodworth.
The Second Ward School forms District No. 3, and the school for quite
a time was held in a wooden building erected in 1859, on the ground where the
present building now stands. The building originally cost two thousand dol
lars, and with some addition served until 1867, when the noble structure which
is now the pride of Sterling was erected. This building is four stories high
including basement, and contains eleven well furnished school roomswhich will
seat six hundred pupils. Its original cost was sixty-five thousand dollars.
School was first opened in it on the first of April, 1867, under the principal-
ship of Prof. C. C. Buell, with five assistants. The school has grown steadily
since that time, until thirteen teachers have to be employed. The Principals
of the school have been successively: Clinton C. Buell, Mrs. S. S. Robertson,
Harlan P. French, 0. J. Stowell, M. W. Smith, and Alfred Bayliss. The
school is organized into four departments — Primary, Intermediate, Grammar,
and High School, the three lower departments being divided into grades. The
time spent in a grade is not fixed, but pupils are advanced as fast as their
abilities demand. The High School course covers a period of three years. The
first class graduated in 1873, and among them are some of the most successful
teachers in that school, as well as in others in the county. The number of scholars
now attending the school is over six hundred, filling every room to its utmost
capacity. The number of graduates so far have been: 1873, nine; 1874, eleven;
1875, eleven; 1876, sixteen; 1877, nine. The Second Ward has had for some
time a Board of Education, tbe present one being composed as follows:
John G. Manahan, Elias LeFevre, W. F. Eastman, Ralph B. Colcord, M. S.
Henry, and Sidney T. Osmer.
The Third Ward School comprises District No. 8, of the township, and was
organized in 1866. Until 1874 the departments of the school were kept in three
wooden buildings originally erected at a cost of about five thousand dollars
These buildings were separated from each other, and caused a great deal of in
convenience. As the Ward grew in population, it was found that new buildings
had to be erected for the convenience of teachers and scholars, and in 1874 the
present imposing structure was erected at a cost of twenty-eight thousand dol
lars, including heating apparatus, wells, fencing, etc. The building is construct
ed of Blilwaukee pressed brick, and situated on Fourth street, between E and
F streets, and has a seating capacity for five hundred pupils, every department
being now occupied, requiring nine teachers. The rapid growth of the Ward
will soon call for more school room. The Board of Directors consist of William
A. Sanborn, B. C. Church, and James M. Wallace.
To show the generous manner in which the citizens of Sterling support
their schools, we append the following tables of taxes for school purposes from
1865 to 1876.
First Ward.— 1865, $1,097.38; 1866, $1,555.63; 1867, $1,343,98; 1868,

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 441
$1,783.95; 1869, $2,236.07; 1870, $1,943.24; 1871, $1,824.55; 1872, $1,054.08;
1873, $1,299.30; 1874, $1,749,10; 1875, $1,667.82; 1876, $1,005.87.
Second Ward:— 1865, $8,901,63; 1866, $7,866,38; 1867, $9,574,08; 1868,
$12,241,69; 1869, $13,693,69; 1870, $13,751,85; 1871, $1*3,656,93; 1872, $15,-
084,79; 1873, $18,536,54; 1874, $15,873,84; 1875, $18,455,79; 1876, $10,221,-
19. Third Ward:— 1865, $3,436,16; 1866, $2,760,10; 1867, $4,093,39; 1868,
$4,945.26; 1869, $4,759,58; 1870, $3,595,42; 1871, $3,595,42; 1872, $5,121,-
56; 1873, $6,126,29; 1874, $9,861,99; 1875, $15,375,28; 1876, $10,258,77.
Recapitulation :— First Ward, $18,560,97; Second Ward, $157,858,38; Third
Ward, $79,343,79. Grand Total, $255,763,24.
The Edwards Seminary was instituted in 1875, the school year of 1876
showing an attendance of one hundred students, requiring the labor of three
teachers. We omitted to mention particularly the school districts outside of the city
while writing up the township. District No. 1, is known as the Science Ridge
District, the school house being located nearly in the center of Section 10. The
number of children under twenty-one years of age in the district is about one
hundred and twenty-five. B. F. Hendricks is the Principal; the amount of tax
raised for school purposes in 1876, was $492,03. Mount Parnassus, or District
No 2, has the school house located on the northeast corner of Section 23, and is
liberally patronized; the tax in this district in 1876 for school purposes was
$512,84. District No. 9 is a union district embracing territory in the townships
of J6rdan and Hopkins, as well as Sterling, the school house being located on
the northwest corner of Section 5.
Rock River Lodge No. 612, A. F. & A. M. : — -This Lodge was instituted in
1868, the charter members being M. S. Bowman, George L. Kline, N. W. Brown,
Andrew J. Tuller, R. Laurie, W. S. Peebles, Henry S. Street, J. W. Wallace, A.
A. Terrell, Chas. M. Worthington, L. C. Johnson. The first officers were: M.
S. Bowman, W. M.; George L. Kline, S. W.; N. W. Brown, J. W.; Andrew J.
Tuller,' Treasurer; R. Laurie, Secretary; W. S. Peebles, S. D. The Lodge held
its communications for several years in the Boynton Block, where they had a
nicely fitted Lodge room, but in time it became too small for the number of
members, and when Hull & Ingersoll put up their fine block on the northwest
corner of Third and A streets, a more commodious room, together with others
needed for the proper performance of the work, and regular Lodge business,
were secured. The Lodge room is beautifully furnished with Brussels carpet,
and elegant and appropriate furniture. It is also lighted with gas, the chandel
iers being rich and hea>vy. In size and appointments it is equal to any in this
section of the State. Regular communications are held on the first and third
Fridays of each month. The following are the present officers of the Lodge:
M. S. Bowman, W. M.; T. Y. Davis, S. W.; William A. McCune, J. W.; G. B.
Kitel, Treasurer; W. S. Peebles, Secretary; C. F.Ward, S. D.; D. Gould, J. D.;
J. W. Niles, S. S.; H. W. Earle, J. S.; W. Murray, Tyler.
Sterling Chapter No. 57, R. A. M. : — Sterling Chapter meets at Masonic
Hall in the same building with Rock River Lodge, and holds regular convoca
tions on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. The first officers
from among the charter members were: D. W. Thompson, H. P.; William Mc
Cune, King; N. G. Reynolds, Scribe. The balance of the officers were filled at
the time by companions from sister chapters. The present officers are: M. S.
Bowman, H. P.; Henry S. Street, King; T. Y. Davis, Scribe; William A. Mc
Cune, Capt. of H.; L. Church, P. S.; R. Laurie, R. A. C; J. R. Deyo, M. 3d
[56-A.]

442 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
V.; William Blurray, BI. 2d V.; James M. Martin, M. 1st V.; George B. Kitel
Treasurer; W. S. Peebles, Secretary; T. Fulton, Sentinel.
Rock River Council No. 33, R. & S. M. : — This Council meets at Blasonic
Hall, on the first Tuesdays of each month. The present officers are: M. S. Bow
man, T. J. G. M.; Lorenzo Hapgood, D. G. M.; Sidney T. Osmer, P. C. of W.;
Henry S. Street, Capt. of G.; T. Y. Davis, Conductor; G. B. Kitel, Treasurer;
W. S. Peebles, Racorder; J. M. Martin, Steward; T. Fulton, Sentinel.
Sterling Lodge No. 174, I. 0. 0. F. : — Sterling Lodge was instituted Oc
tober 12, 1855, when the present city was even yet in its infancy, the charter
members being, Miles S. Henry, Edward N. Kirk, Lorenzo Hapgood, George H.
Wells, Amos Tapscott, and Andrew McMoore. It has been a flourishing one
from the start, the best of feeling always existing between its members. The
Lodge room is over Stambaugh's paint store, opposite the Postoffice, on Mulber
ry street, and is elegantly fitted up and arranged. It is one of the wealthiest
Lodges in Northwestern Illinois, having several thousand dollars in its treasury,
besides owning one of the finest cemeteries in Rock River Valley. This ceme
tery comprises two acres of ground, on an elevated piece of land overlooking
Rock river, and is beautifully laid out with gravelled walks and drives. Prom
inent among its monuments is that of Van J. Adams, one of Sterling's most
valued citizens. The cemetery was first designed for members of the Order only,
but its beauty attracted the attention of those not belonging to it, and it was
finally decided to sell lots to all. The present officers are: E. V. H. Alexander,
N. G.; C. E. Goshert, V. G.; A. Bayliss, R. S.; J. M. Roper, P. S.; W. A.
Golder, Treasurer; Sidney T. Osmer, A. A. Terrell, Henry S. Street, Satauel
Sigler, C. W. Harden, Trustees. In connection with the Lodge is Abraham En-'
campment, No. 49, instituted March 21, 1860, and Rebecca Degree Lodge No.
26, instituted July 28, 1870, both of which are in a prosperous condition.
Knights of Pythias : — Corinthian Lodge No. 63, Knights of Pythias, was
organized November 23, 1875, with twenty-one members. Now there are over
forty. Officers: Julius E. Pappe, Past Chancellor; E. G. Allen, Chancellor
Commander; Aaron J. Hull, Vice Chancellor; Caleb C. Johnson, Prelate; H. R.
Edwards, Keeper of Records and Seals; John S. Miller, Master of the Exche
quer; 0. J. Stowell, Master of Finance; William A. McCune, Master at Arms;
J. W. R. Stambaugh, Inner Guard; A. M. Burkey, Orator. The object of the
organization is friendship and benevolence.
Ancient Order United. Workmen: — Union Lodge No. 3, Sterling, was or
ganized February 13, 1875, with fourteen charter members, by 0. J. Noble, D.
D. S. M. W., of Davenport, Iowa, in the old Masonic Hall, Boynton Block. The
first officers were: S. S. Lukens, P. M. W.; W. H. Cadwell, BI. W.; W. S. Wil
cox, G. F.; W. A. Hall, 0.; John St. John, Recorder; W. H. Tuttle, Financier;
E. L. Wilson, Receiver; James Summers, Watchman; E. G. Feigley, Guide; S.
S. Lukens, E. D. Jackson, C. U. Crandall, Trustees; and S. S. Lukens, W. H.
Cadwell, and W. S. Wilcox, Representatives to the Grand Lodge. The officers
for the present term are: W. A. Hall, P. M. W.; H. S. Tuttle, M. W.; W. N.
Harrison. G. F., J. K. Aument, 0.; H. S. Hooke, Recorder; F. S. Aument, Fi
nancier; E. L. Wilson, Receiver; G. W. Capp, J. W.; Rae Frazier, 0. W.; G.
BI. Brown, Guide; W. A. Hall, G. M. Brown, C. U. Crandall, Dr. F. W. Gordon,
Trustees; S. S. Lukens, W. S. Wilcox, and E. S. Wilson, Representatives to the
Grand Lodge. The Past Masters are: S. S. Lukens, W. H. Cadwell, W. S. Wil
cox, W. H. Tuttle, M. H. Culver, and W. A. Hall. The present membership is
over fifty. United American Mechanics .--^-This order was organized on the 29th of

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 443
May, 1873, with twenty charter members. The object of the Order is to ren
der such needed assistance as may be required by the families of the unemployed
members, more particularly in case of sickness and death.
Germania Maennerchor: — This Society, which is now one of the largest in
Sterling, was organized in June, 1869, and incorporated in 1874. The organi
zation was effected under the leadership of Prof. Fred. Buck, and other well-
known musicians and singers. The first officers were: L. Stoeckle, President;
G. A. Schober, Secretary; and E. Ellinger, Treasurer. The first meetings of
the Society were held in the hall, now the present Council Room, over the Post-
office, on Mulberry street. The membership grew so rapidly, however, that the
Society erected a building of its own, a few doors south of the Postoffice, the
second story of which they now use. The building is of brick, and thirty-six
by seventy feet in size. The hall is beautifully fitted up, and every convenience
made for the comfort and pleasure of the organization. The stage of itself is
fifteen by thirty-five feet, and is supplied with a large variety of rich and splen
did scenery. , The music of this Society is of a high order, both vocal and in
strumental. The membership now numbers over one hundred, and is composed
of many of the best German citizens of Sterling. The regular meetings of the
Society are held on the first Tuesday of each month, but there are singing meet
ings on every Monday and Thursday evenings of each week, from 8 to 9 o'clock.
The present officers are: B. Struckmann, President; G. Naef, Vice President;
August Frank, Recording Secretary; Adam Hutten, Finance Secretary; David
Wolf, Cashier; G. Naef, Janitor; Prof. Fred. Buck, Leader; F. Haberle, Nicho
las Gaulrapp, and David Wolf, Trustees.
Sterling Turnverein Society: — This Society was organized in June, 1873,
and has grown to be a leading one of its kind in this section of the country.
Their hall is on Locust street, between Fourth and Fifth. It is forty by sixty
feet in size, with fifteen feet in the clear, and contains all the gymnastic and
other appliances peculiar to such institutions. The membership is now over
eighty. The business meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month,
and those for the practice of gymnastics on Tuesday and Friday evenings of
each week.
Sterling Reading Room Association: — This Association is a private incor
poration, and was organized several years ago, its object being to furnish suita
ble accommodation for reading and library rooms, and also for recreation and
amusement. The rooms are located in the second story of Hull and Ingersoll's
block, corner of Third and A streets, and are finely and comfortably fitted up
for the convenience of the members, and such friends as they choose to invite.
Their reading tables are supplied with a large number of newspapers and maga
zines, and their book shelves with a choice variety of books. The officers are:
Henry S. Street, President; F. L. Ingersoll, Secretary; George B. Kitel, Treas
urer; H. S. Street, Samuel C. Harvey, and William McCune, Trustees.
Sterling Christian Association: — This Association was organized in the
springof 1873, its object being the promotion of Christian fraternity, union in
evangelical labors, and the circulation of unexceptionable literature. The rooms
of the Association are on Mulberry street, between Third and Fourth. Union
prayer meetings have been.held for most of the time since its organization. In
the fall of 1873 the Association founded a free Reading Room, for the mainte
nance of which one thousand dollars were freely subscribed by the citizens at
the start. The Reading Room was opened to the public on the first of January,
1874. The Sterling Library Association placed six hundred volumes of their
books in the room, besides which several hundred volumes have been added by
purchase and donation. The tables are also supplied with a large number of'

444 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
the best newspapers and magazines. The rooms are open from 8 A. M. to 9 p. m.
The officers of the Christian Association and the Reading Room are the
same, and are as follows: Rev. J. T. Mason, President; BI. H. Kreider, Vice
President; W. F. Eastman, Secretary; R. B. Witmer, Treasurer; B. C. Church,
Librarian; Mrs. C. Bowman, Acting Librarian.
Sterling Temperance Reform Club: — This club was organized February 21,
1875, after a series of meetings held by the celebrated temperance lecturer,
Francis Blurphy. Five hundred and fifty names were enrolled at the time of
the organization, and the number has been considerably increased since. The
club holds its meetings in Bobbin's Hall, in the rear of the First National Bank,
every Saturday evening. The officers are: E. L. Champlin, President; Wm.
Little, T. H. Black, E. E. Hecker, Vice Presidents; S. B. Dill, Secretary; M.M.
Warner, Treasurer; T. H. Mack, Corresponding Secretary.
Good Templars: — Sterling Lodge, i. 0. G. T., was organized in November,
1873, with eighteen charter members. Since that it has increased rapidly, and
now has over two hundred members in good standing, largely composed of young
ladies and gentlemen. The Lodge meets in the same rooms as the Christian
Association, on Mulberry street, every Tuesday evening. The present officers
are: John G. Manahan, P. W. C; R B. Witmer, W. C; Louie King, R. H. S.;
Ada Ward, L. H. S.; Sadie Murphy, W. V.; W. S. Ward, S.; James Rae, F. S.;
Theodore H. Mack, T.; George Newton, C; C. E. Windom, M.; J. W. Mana
han, A. M.; Hattie Ward, I. G.; Charles Mason, 0. G.
Temple of Honor: — The Sterling Temple of Honor, a temperance organiza
tion, was instituted in October, 1877. The present officers are: John Harp-
ham, W. C. T.; Theodore H. Mack, W. V. T.; E. L. Champlin, W. R.; W. J.
Burns, W. A. R.; Moses Warner, W. F. R.; E. E. Hecker, W. Treasurer; Al
bert Bushnell, W. Chaplain; M. Davis, W. U; J. A. Rivers, W. D. U; S. F
Champlin, W. G.; James Fitzgerald, W. S.; Trustees, C. E. Goshart, M. M.
Warner, and M. Fitzgerald.
Sterling Reform Protection Club: — This club was organized in 1876, and
is composed wholly of reformed men. Meetings are held every Tuesday evening
at the Union Temperance Rooms, 441 Third street. M. B. Fitzgerald is Presi
dent, and E. L. Champlin, Secretary.
Ladies' Relief Association: — The Ladies' Belief Association, of Sterling,
was organized in June, 1874, the object being the noble one of bestowing relief
upon the worthy destitute of the city, and at the same time advance the cause
of temperance. Since the organization of the society a large number of indi
gent persons have been seen, and their wants provided for. The society is grow
ing in strength and influence, and is one of the best institutions in the city. It
is composed of about one hundred of the first ladies of the town — ladies who
mean to relieve the distressed. The meetings are set for every Friday after
noon at the Christian Association Rooms. The present officers are: Mrs. J. T.
Mason, President; Mrs. Nelson Maxson, Vice President; Mrs. M. H. Kreider,
Treasurer; Mrs. E. M. Smith, Secretary; Mrs. R. C. Andrews, Corresponding
Secretary. Sterling Lecture Association: — This Association was organized in 1874, and
had its first course of lectures and entertainments during the following winter.
Each course has been largely attended, and proved of incalculable benefit. The
best lecturers are secured, and although the expense is large, the citizens have
promptly responded, thereby making the effort a financial success. Such an
Association is worthy of any city or town. A. A. Terrell is the President; Jo
seph BI. Patterson, Treasurer; and H. B. Utley, Secretary.
Grand Army of the Republic: — Lincoln Post No. 16, Grand Army of the

BIOGRAPHICAL. 445
Republic, was organized June 15, 1874, with twenty-three charier members.
The officers elected at that time were: Frank W. Gordon, Post Commander; J.
W. R. Stambaugh, Senior P. C; S. S. Bradshaw, Junior P. C; E. H. Kingery,
Quartermaster; Theo. H. Mack, Adjutant; W. N. Harrison, Officer of the Day;
Rev. J. H. More, Chaplain; Dr. Thomas Eckles, Surgeon; Andrew K. Haberer,
Officer of the Guard; H. H. Higby, Sergeant Major; William Little, Quarter
master Sergeant. These officers are in the main the present ones. The meet
ings of the Post were first held in the armory of the City Guards, Farwell Hall, and
afterwards in the Hall of the 0. U. A. M., Boynton Block. A new Hall was
then nicely fitted up in Stoeckle's building, on Third street, which is now jointly
occupied by the G. A. R; 0. U. A. W.; and A. 0. U. W. The meetings of the
Post are set down for every Wednesday evening.
Sterling City Guards: — The Sterling City Guards were organized in 1870,
and were then composed mostly of veterans of the War of the Rebellion. The
Guards have always maintained a high order of efficiency in tactics and drill,
and undoubtedly stand among the first military companies in the State. They
have been highly complimented wherever they have taken part in reunions, cel
ebrations, etc.
Sterling Cemetery Association: — This Association was organized February
16, 1865, and soon secured a beautiful location in the upper part of the town,
at the east end of Third street. The Cemetery comprises about fifty acres of
beautifully rolling ground, interspersed with a natural growth of trees and
shrubs, making the landscape scenery unsurpassed. In it are interred many of
Sterling's departed, and the burial places of many of them have monuments of
elegant design and finish erected to their memory. The officers are: S. S. Pat
terson, President; Wm. A. Sanborn, Treasurer; Hon. James Dinsmoor, Secretary;
and J. M. Gait, Superintendent. The old cemetery of Sterling was located over
thirty years ago, and contains about two acres. The entrance is at the north
end of Locust street. The Odd Fellows Cemetery is mentioned in the notice
of the Lodge. The Mennonites have a cemetery of about two acres, which was
laid out in 1869. The entrance is near the north end of Locust street. No
other persons besides those belonging to the Mennonite church are buried in
this cemetery. The old cemetery used by the citizens of Sterling was abandon
ed some years ago, and the remains have mostly been taken to other cemeteries.
Whiteside County Agricultural Society: — This Society was organized at
Morrison in 1855, but for the past ten years the Fairs have been held on their
grounds located on the river, just west of the distillery, in Sterling. It is in a
very flourishing condition, and largely attended at all of the annual meetings.
More full notice of this Society will be found on page 99 of this history.
Biographical.
We add to the biographies already given in the history of Sterling town
ship, the following of some of the leading representative business citizens of
the city of Sterling, and to whom it is indebted for much of its present wealth
and prosperity. Space precludes giving a greater number:
Thomas A. Galt was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January
13, 1828. His education was obtained at the common school, and even this was
interrupted at intervals by work on the farm upon which he was brought up.
The death of his father when he was only fourteen years of age, compelled him
to rely entirely upon his own exertions for a livelihood. He first engaged as a
clerk in Concord, Pennsylvania, and afterwards at Strasburg, and Philadelphia,
in the same State, and continued as such until 1849 when he entered into
business for himself at Strasburg, in which he was quite successful. Finding

446 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
the place unsuited to his enterprising nature he sold his property there in 1855,
and upon leaving the town came to Sterling with the intention at first of visiting
some relatives. Upon arriving there he found a good point for business, and
determined to remain. His first enterprise was in the hardware trade in com
pany with D. BI. Crawford, the firm name being Gait & Crawford. This firm
continued until 1858, when Mr. Crawford retired, and BIr. Gait admitted his
brother, John M., into partnership, the firm name being then changed to Gait
& Brother. The business was continued under this name until 1863, when
two additional partners were brought into the firm. During the same year BIr.
Gait, in addition to his hardware store, commenced the manufacture of farm
implements, and shortly after doing so became associated with George S. Tracy,
who was then carrying on a planing mill in Sterling. Under this consolidation
the mill and the manufactory were merged into one establishment, under the
firm name of Gait & Tracy. The title of "Keystone Works" was shortly after
wards adopted. In 1864 the manufacturing undertaking had grown to such an
extent as to demand BIr. Gait's whole attention, and he therefore sold his in
terest in the hardware business to his other partners, and retired finally from
the retail trade. The wholesale manufacturing business as he continued in it
became highly successful. In July, 1867, the whole premises and stock of the
factory were destroyed by fire, causing a loss to the firm of some thirty thous
and dollars, the property being uninsured. The activity and vim which were
characteristic of BIr. Gait's nature, were not crushed by this blow, and meas
ures were soon taken for the restoration of the firm's business. The factory in
Sterling was rebuilt, and so vigorously was the work pushed forward that in
three weeks from the fire the new structure was not only finished, but furnish
ed with machinery, including engine and boiler. This factory was appropriated
to sash and door manufacturing, and planing mill. In the meantime, the firm
purchased a water privilege and some land at Rock Falls, opposite Sterling, and
commenced a new factory, including foundry, machine shops, and implement
works, which were pushed on so vigorously that within three months from the
burning of the old works, the new were all in working order. This manufactory
was the first one of any kind erected in Rock Falls. Within fifteen months after
commencing business the firm turned out about fifteen hundred agricultural
machines of all kinds, besides a large amount of wood work from the planing
mill. In 1870 the trade had increased so much that a joint stock company was
incorporated under the name of the Keystone Manufacturing Company, with a
capital of $150,000, which has since been increased to $350,000. The officers
were: Thomas A. Gait, President, and George S. Tracy, Vice President and
Superintendent. This Company is now among the largest manufacturers of
farm implements in the West, and their trade extends throughout the United
States, and Central and South America. Mr. Gait is also interested in several
other manufacturing firms in Rock Falls, and Sterling. In addition to his other
enterprises, Mr. Gait commenced the erection of the Gait House, in 1876, and
completedit in 1877, at a cost of $65,000. A description of this structure will
be found in the history of Sterling. In connection with George S. Tracy, he is
engaged the present year (1877) in erecting a large block on the southeast
corner of Locust and Fourth streets, at a cost of $45,000. The building is
three stories in height, with a basement, and has a front of one hundred and
forty-two feet on Locust street, and ninety feet on Fourth street. The first
floor is divided into three large double stores. The south part of the second
floor will be used for the Free Reading Room and Library, and the fronts on
Locust and Fourth streets, on the same floor for offices. The Fourth street
front will be occupied as a Conservatory of Music, and the main part of the

BIOGRAPHICAL. 447
second and third floors is designed for an Academy of Music, to be used for
public purposes. Mr. Gait may fairly be regarded as the manufacturing pioneer
of this section of the country, and his successful progress from the condition of
a poor and fatherless boy to his present position of wealth and influence, is an
evidence of the natural result of determined and persistent, effort. Hewas
elected Mayor of Sterling in 1867, and served one term, besides which he has
held no public official position.
Ansel A. Terrell is a native of Exeter, Otsego county, New York, and
was born October 19, 1831. He received only a common school education, and
when quite young turned his attention to the manufacture of cotton goods, and
continued in that business until 1854 when he went to Northampton, Massachu
setts, and engaged with 'the Bay State Tool Company in the manufacture of
hoes, forks, and edge tools. In 1856, he came to Illinois and became a clerk in
the then extensive dry goods establishment of Cumins & House at Grand De-
Tour, Ogle county, and remained in that capacity until 1859 when he settled in
Sterling, and entered the grocery and crockery trade with Henry G. Harper,
under the firm name of Terrell & Harper. In 1859, he sold his interest in the
business to Mr. Harper, and in 1862 was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal
Revenue, and in 1869 a United States Internal Revenue Storekeeper, both of
which positions he held until 1871, when he resigned, and became actively en
gaged with the Sterling School Furniture Company as Secretary, and finally as
General Manager. He was elected School Director for the Second Ward, Ster
ling, in 1866, and succeeded in having the large and elegant school building in
that Ward erected during his term of office. .In 1862, he was elected Alderman
for the Second Ward, Sterling, but resigned after serving one year. In 1869,
he was again elected and served two years. In 1864, he was elected Supervisor
of the township of Sterling, and re-elected in 1865. In all these positions he
discharged the duties ably, faithfully, and to the entire acceptance of the Gov
ernment, and the people. Mr. Terrell is one of those active, thorough, go-ahead
business men to whom the town in which they reside is indebted for much of
its spirit and enterprise. Sterling is certainly much indebted to him for a great
deal of its development.
Joseph M. Patterson was born in Mt. Joy, Lancaster county, Pennsyl
vania, August 12, 1837, and received a thorough academic course of education.
He came to Sterling in the spring of 1857, and entered as a partner in the firm
of Patterson, Witmer & Co., and continued as such until January, 1866. When
the late war broke out, he entered heartily in the work of assisting to raise
troops, and in 1861 joined Company B, 15th Illinois Volunteers, as an enlisted
man, and was soon afterwards made Orderly Sergeant. In February, 1862, he
was promoted to Second Lieutenant of the same Company, and in 1863
to First Lieutenant. In 1864, he was honorably mustered out, having
served in the army three years. He retained his interest in the firm of
Patterson, Witmer & Co., while in the service, and upon being mustered out,
entered actively again into the business. In 1867, he became a member of the
banking firm of Rogers, Patterson & Co., and remained with it until its dissolu
tion, and then became a member of the present banking firm of Patterson & Co.
Mr. Patterson was elected Alderman for the Second Ward, Sterling, in 1868,
and served two years. During the time he was Alderman he was elected Super
visor of the township, and served four years, when he resigned, having been elec
ted in the fall of 1872 as a Senator for the Eleventh Senatorial District, to the
General Assembly. While a member of the Board of Supervisors he served two
years as chairman. In 1876, he was again elected Supervisor, and served one
year, and at the charter election in the spring of 1877 was elected Mayor of the

448 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
city of Sterling, which position he now holds. To the duties of each of these
positions he brought a clear, active, comprehensive mind, and sound judgment,
and that he discharged the duties of the trusts ably and well is universally ac
knowledged. Mr. Patterson is one of the leading business men of Sterling.
R. B. Witmer was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, August 8,
1827, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits while a resident of that county.
He came to Sterling in the summer of 1855, and during the same year engaged
in mercantile business as one of the members of the firm of Patterson & Wit
mer. Business was done under that name for several years, when James Gait
became a member, and the firm name was changed to that of Patterson, Witmer
& Gait. Mr. Gait soon withdrew, and his place was taken by Joseph M. Pat
terson, and the firm became Patterson, Witmer & Co.' In 1866, Mr. Witmer
purchased the interest of the Messrs Patterson, and assumed sole charge of the
business. He soon afterwards took in a partner, and the firm became Witmer
& Co., and so remained until 1872 when the Sterling Mercantile Company was
formed, of which he was the principal stock holder, and so continues. Mr. Wit
mer has steadily refused to accept any public position, as his extensive private
business has demanded all of his time. He has been for a long time one of the
leading men in the temperance movement in Sterling, and to his efforts in a
great measure is due the fact that Sterling is a no license town. Mr. Witmer is
an active, energetic man, and to him Sterling is much indebted for its rapid
growth. William A. Sanborn is a native of Perrysburgh, Cattaraugus county,
New York, and was born January 13, 1832. He resided in his native State un
til the spring of 1852, when he came to Chicago, but remained there only a short
time, and then returned to New York. In tbe fall of 1853 he again came to
Illinois, and located at LaSalle. During the following spring he went to Chi
cago, and in November, 1854, came to Sterling in the employ of the contractors
who had the completion of the railroad in charge. Soon after settling in Ster
ling he engaged in the coal, and agricultural implement trade, and was also
express agent, holding the latter position until 1858. In 1860 he established a
private banking house, which he conducted until 1870, when, through his influ
ence, the First National Bank of Sterling was chartered and commenced business.
He was chosen its first cashier, and has held the position ever since. When
Sterling became a city Mr. Sanborn was elected its first Treasurer, and held the
office for a number of years. In 1877, he was elected Supervisor of Sterling
township, and is a leading member of the Board. He is an able financier, and
has done much in other business capacities to add to the development of Ster
ling. David M. Crawford was born in Buyerstown, Lancaster county, Pennsyl
vania, April 5, 1830. Previous to his coming West he was for three years a
clerk in a large mercantile establishment in Philadelphia. He came to Sterling
in the spring of 1850, and in 1852 became a partner in the firm of Gait & Craw
ford, remaining with it for three years, and then with Thomas A. Gait engaged
in tbe hardware business. He remained in the hardware trade until 1858 when
he established a dry goods store, in connection with his bi other, J. L. Crawford.
The firm continued until the death of his brother, when he assumed entire
charge, and so continued until 1871, when James A. Gait, and E. Diller Davis,
became partners with him, the firm name becoming D. M. Crawford & Co.,
and has so remained. Mr. Crawford has devoted his whole attention to business,
resisting all efforts to induce him to accept public positions. As a business man
and a citizen, he stands deservedly high.
George S. Tracy was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, June

BIOGRAPHICAL. 449
28, 1829, and was brought up on a mountain farm until he was sixteen years of
age. He then went to Newark, New Jersey, and commenced the nursery busi
ness which he continued until 1849. During that year he went around the cape
to California, and engaged in mining about a year, and then went to Chili, and
Peru, in South America, and was engaged for five years constructing railroads
in those countries. At the end of that time he returned to California, and en
gaged in mining and building, continuing in these occupations for about a year
and a half, when he went back to Massachusetts. In 1857, he came to Sterling
and started a planing mill, and sash and door factory, which he carried on part
of the time individually, and part of the time with partners, until 1863, when
he entered into partnership with Thomas A.Galt, in the manufacturing business,
under the firm name of Gait & Tracy, the firm being still in existence. The
business conducted by this firm is particularly referred to in the biography of
Thomas A. Gait, which precedes this. BIr. Tracy has served as Alderman of the
city of Sterling, but has refused to take other positions, as he desired to confine
his attention strictly to business. He is one of the most respected citizens of
Sterling. James M. Wallace is a native of Whiteside county, and was born Octo
ber 25, 1841. He was educated at the Mt. Carroll and Galesburg Academies and
upon coming home commenced the study of law which he had continued after
returning from the army, and was admitted to practice January 1, 1867. In
the fall of 1862 he went into the army as a member of Hawthorne's Battery,
afterwards Henshaw's Battery, serving as Sergeant Major. This Battery was
incorporated in the 23d Army Corps, and their first duty was to assist in driving
Morgan, the rebel raider, out of Ohio. The Corps followed him for seven hundred
and fifty miles, and finally drove him back into the rebel States, capturing before
doing so a large part of his force. Mr. Wallace was in all the principal cam
paigns in East Tennessee and Kentucky, and was honorably mustered out of the
service, July 19, 1865. He is in the insurance business, in partnership with
his brother, Hamilton, besides conducting his legal business, and is also connec
ted with several of the enterprises of Sterling. During the present year Mr.
Wallace has re-purchased the Wallace House property, and has added largely to
the size of the building, besides refitting it in a splendid manner, which will
make it in every respect a first class hotel. He has also erected during
the year the fine three story brick block on the corner of Third and B streets,
now occupied by the Sterling Blercantile Company, and is engaged in other build
ing projects in that part of the city. While occupying the position of School
Director he superintended the erection of the present elegant school building
in District No. 8, Third Ward. He has also been Alderman of the city, and
assistant Supervisor of the township, holding each position for several terms.
He is a gentleman of enterprise and ability.
Bradford C. Church is a native of Portageville, Wyoming county, New
York, and was born April 28, 1835. At the age of nineteen he came to Chicago,
and was a clerk in a store in that city for five years, when he went to Kankakee,
Illinois, and carried on the hardware business for three years. From Kankakee
he went to Morris, Grundy county, Illinois, where he also engaged in the hard
ware trade, remaining five years. In the spring of 1868 he came to Sterling,
and soon afterwards became interested in the milling business. In 1871 he en
tered into partnership with Samuel Patterson, the firm name being Church &
Patterson. This firm have two mills in operation, and do the largest milling
business in the county. BIr. Church was elected Mayor of the city of Sterling
in 1875, and filled the position so acceptably to the people that he was re-elect
ed in 1876. He is one of Sterling's active, and most valued citizens.
[57-b.]

450 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
E. W. Edson was born in Hazelton, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in
1834, and came with his parents to Dixon, Illinois, in 1837. His education was
received at Bock Biver University, Mt. Morris, Ogle county. Among his class
mates were Governor Shelby M. Cullom, Gen. John A. Rawlins, and Judge
Moses Hallett, United States Judge in Colorado. The four roomed together
for some time. When Mr. Edson left the University, he was employed for
eight years in school teaching. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he joined
the Sturgis Rifles, at Chicago. The company was an independent one, and per
formed guard duty at Gen. McClellan's headquarters until that officer was
relieved of his command, when it was mustered out of service. In March, 1863,
Mr. Edson went to California, and engaged in business in San Francisco for four
years. In 1867 he returned to Illinois, and settled in Sterling, where he has
since remained, carrying on the dry goods trade during the whole time. He has
been School Director, and Alderman for the Third Ward, Sterling, and is now a
member of the Board of Aldermen, from that Ward. BIr. Edson is a public
spirited man, and takes a deep interest in all that pertains to the prosperity and
growth of the city of his adoption.
Aaron J. Hull is a native of the town of Lewisboro, Westchester county,
New York, and was born November 13, 1833. He first came west in 1857. and
remained about six months on a prospecting tour, and then returned to New
York. In 1858 he came back, and located in Sterling, where he opened a whole
sale rectifying establishment, and conducted the business for seven years, when
he closed out, and entered into the hardware business, on Locust street. He
continued in that trade about a year, and commenced the iron foundry business,
in connection with Frank T. June, the firm name being Hull & June. The
business was afterwards changed, and resulted in the organization of the pres
ent School Furniture Company, of which he was President for three years. Mr.
Hull patented the first school seats manufactured by the company. On the 1st
of January, 1871, he resigned his position as President of the School Furniture
Company, and in the following June commenced the manufacture of pumps.
One of his patents is a valve to use in any kind of pump for sandy wells. On
the 8th of December, 1875, he patented " Hull's Double Surface Washboard,"
about five hundred of which are manufactured daily by the Sterling Pump
Works Company, of which company he has been President from its organization.
Mr. Hull has been frequently elected Alderman of the city of Sterling, and is
now one of the members of the Board from the Third Ward. Mr. Hull was edu
cated in the common schools of his native State.
John S. Miller is a native of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and was born April
13, 1849. He lived there until 1857, when he came with his father's family to
Freeport, Illinois, and continued to reside there until 1864, when he moved to
Chicago. In 1865 he came to Sterling, and took charge of the business of the
distillery erected and run by his father, John S. Miller, Sr. Upon the death of
his father, in February, 1874, he assumed sole control of the business. In June,
1877, the entire interest in the distillery came into his hands and that of his
brother, William H. Miller, the firm name becoming J. S. Miller & Co. The
distillery is the second largest one in the United States, the business amount
ing yearly to about one and a half million dollars, exclusive of the Government
tax; which is yearly about one million seven hundred thousand dollars. Mr.
Miller is a large stockholder in the First National Bank of Sterling, and has
been President of the institution since 1874. He is yet a young man, and pos
sesses business abilities of a very high order,

CHAPTER XXIV.
History op Tampico Township — Biographical — History op the Village
op Tampico — Newspapers — Churches and Other Organizations.

History op Tampico Township.
This township was originally a part of Portland Precinct, then of Rapids
Precinct, remaining a part of the latter until 1852, when the Commissioners
appointed by the County Commissioners' Court, defined its boundaries and gave
it its name; but until its complete organization in 1860, the east half was at
tached to fiopkins township, and the west half to Prophetstown, for judicial
purposes. It includes all of township 19 north, range 6 east of the fourth prin
cipal meridian. A portion of the town is level prairie, interspersed with sloughs,
and the balance rolling prairie, with here and there a sand ridge. The " big
slough," about a mile and a half north of the present village of Tampico, is
probably the best known of any in the south part of the county. Previous to
its being ditched by the county, and by side ditches, it was frequently during
the winter and spring, and sometimes extending even into the summer, covered
with water from a mile to two miles in width, and was a favorite resorting place
for all kinds of water fowl found in this section of the country. The water
would be from one to three feet deep, and often partially frozen, so that those
compelled to pass over the slough had not only to contend with mire and water,
but with ice. In early times those unacquainted with it would often get lost,
and wander about until they became mired, and then have to rest as best they
could until help came. Mr. Glassburn gives an instance, and such were not of
unfrequent occurrence at the time, where a man taking a load of goods from
Sterling to some point in Bureau county, got mired in about the middle of the
slough, and when found was holding his horses' heads above the mud and water
to prevent their sinking. The wagon was sunk so low that the boxes of goods
were half submerged. It was with great difficulty that team and wagon could
be extricated in such cases. In 1862 the slough was piked, and with the work
put on it since, is now quite passable. The county ditch draining this slough
was dug in 1863-64 from Swan lake to Coon creek.
The great "blow out," as it is known, is situated on section 22, a little west
of the center of this town. This excavation is the work of whirlwinds, un
doubtedly an indefinite series of them, and covers an area of over seven acres.
Its depth is about sixty feet, the sand being blown away to the water line. No
authentic data can be fixed when the sand was blown from this vast basin, every
thing relating to it being merely conjecture. When first discovered by the early
settlers in this part of the State, a large red cedar tree was growing near the
center of the basin, but was cut down by some vandal in 1850. The stump was
standing until recently, and many of the inhabitants of the town have piecee
taken from it. The species of cedar to which this tree belonged is not indig
enous to this section, and it is supposed that it was brought by the Indians from
some other part and planted there. Near where it stood is a fine spring of water,
This "blow out" is one of the curiosities of the town.

452 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
The first settlers of the town were: Nicholas Lutyens, John Lutyens, and
Hiram Tompkins, from the State of New York; and Jacob Barnley, from Cana
da, in 1S52. In 1853 came Aaron S. Miller, from Groton, Tompkins county,
New York, and Geo. W. Curtis, from Fox River Valley, although originally from
New York State. Wm. Aldrich, and Rev. William Gray, came in 1854, the
former from Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and the latter from New York.
Rufus Aldrich, from Bradford county, Pennsylvania, Daniel Foy, from Catta
raugus county, New York, and James Conroy, from New York City, came in
1855; and J. C. Aldrich, from Bradford county, Pennsylvania; John W. Glass-
burn, and T. A. Glassburn, from Gallia county, Ohio, in 1856. A. M. Smith
came from Alleghany county, New York, in 1857; J. P. Badgley also came in
1857, and following them that year came a large number of others.
The first house of which we have any information was put up by Nicholas
Lutyens in the southeast part of the town, in 1852. The first school house was
built in July, 1856, in what is known as the Aldrich district, and Orlando Mc
Nickle taught the first school, commencing in the fall of that year. The first
minister who held services in the town was Rev. Mr. Pinkney, a Wesleyan
Methodist. He preached in the Aldrich school liouse, Glassburn school house,
and also in private dwellings. Rev. Wm. H. Gray, a Protestant Methodist, was
the next minister.
The first child born in the town was Emma Aldrich, a daughter of Rufus
and Mary A. Aldrich, her birth occurring October 23, 1855. The first death
was that of Mrs. Baker, a daughter of Jacob Barney, who died in the summer
of 1856. The first marriage dates in' 1857, the parties being Mr. Ellery C.
Brown and Miss Susan Gray, daughter of Rev. Wm. H. Gray, the ceremony be
ing performed by the father of the bride.
The first travelled road in the town was the one leading from Sterling to
Yorktown and Green River. This road branched at J. W. Glassbum's farm,
the branches running respectively to Yorktown and Green River. In 1856 a
road was legally laid out, running from the burying ground, south of the pres
ent village, to the south line of the township, and in 1858 it was extended north
ward all the way through the town. The second road was laid out in 1859, and
commences at the south line of the town, between sections 31 and 32, running
north two miles to the north line of sections 29 and 30, and then east three
miles to Tampico village.
When the call was made to subscribe to the capital stock of the Grand
Trunk Railway, now the Mendota branch of the C. B. & Q. Railway, the town
voted to subscribe $20,000. Bonds were issued for the payment of this stock,
dated Blarch 10, 1871, to run ten years, payments to be made as follows: the
first installment of $4,000 in five years from the date of the bonds, and the bal
ance in yearly installments. The installments, as far as they have become due,
have been regularly met.
The town furnished its full complement of soldiers to the Union army dur
ing the late war of the Rebellion. Its quota in the several calls for troops were
promptly filled, the quota under the last call being seventeen. Of those who
went out, Ansel Brown was killed, Wm. Glasby died of fever in camp, and Jul
ius Brown was wounded in the arm.
The first town meeting after the complete organization of the town was
held on Tuesday, April 2d, 1861. The principal officers of the town have
been: Supervisors:— 1861-63, Daniel Foy; 1864, J. C. Aldrich; 1865, Daniel
Foy; 1866-'69, G. A. Stilson; 1870-'73, J. C. Aldrich; 1874-75, M.H. Brewer;
1876-'77, T. BI. Wylie.

BIOGRAPHICAL. 453
Town Clerks:— 1861-'63, Eleary C. Brown; 1864, J. M. Vandermark;
1865, G. A. Stilson; 1866-'69, Eleary C. Brown; 1870-73, M. H. Brewer; 1874-
75, T. M. Wylie; 1876-77, T. S. Beach.
Assessors:— 1861, Rufus Aldrich; 1862-'64, A. M. Smith; 1865, Charles
C. Ring; 1866-'67, A. M. Smith; 1868-70, A. S. Pratt; 1871-72, Rufus Aid-
rich; 1873, Geo. W. Apley; 1874, Isaac West; 1875-77, Rufus Aldrich.
Collectors:— 1861, John P. Badgley; 1862, Isaac West; 1863, William
Pinkney; 1864, G. T. Marfleet; 1865, John P. Badgley; 1866, J. T. Gray; 1867,
Charles A. Lane; 1868-70, H. L. Denton; 1871, Maurice Fitzgerald; 1872-77,
W. L. Gowen.
Justices of the Peace: — 1861, Joseph Rainer, Aaron j3. Miller; 1864, Daniel
Foy, Eleary C. Brown; 1868, John C. Hunt, George T. Marfleet; 1871, T. H. C.
Dow; 1873, J. H. Kane; 1876, Maurice Fitzgerald; 1877, J. F. Leonard, James
H. King. The Assessor's book of Tampico township for 1877 shows 11,068 acres of
improved land, and 11,661 of unimproved. The number of improved lots is
109, and of unimproved 91. The total assessed value of all lands is $205,208.
Number of horses, 616; cattle, 1,228; mules and asses, 22; sheep, 30; hogs,
1,535; wagons and carriages, 205; sewing and knitting machines, 109; melodeons,
and organs, 33. Value of personal property, $60,414; railroad property,
$26,814. Total assessed value of all property, $307,071.
The population of Tampico township in 1870 was 634, of which number
565 were of native birth, and 69 of foreign. The estimated population of the
township in 1877, is 800, and of the village 450, making a total of 1,250.
Biographical.
John W. Glassburn is a native of Gallia county, Ohio, and came to
Whiteside county in 1856, settling at first on a place near Yorktown where he
remained until 1861, when he moved to his present location. His farm then
consisted of 160 acres, and included the whole of the present village of Tam
pico. Mr. Glassburn was a successful farmer for years, until the railroad passed
through the town, when he bought the interest of Fisher and Thompson, of the
firm of Fisher, Thompson & Bryant, grain dealers, and the firm then became
Glassburn & Bryant. Soon afterwards this firm erected a large elevator, and
entered largely into the purchase, storage and shipping of grain, pork and pro
duce, making Tampico a good and convenient market for the farmers and
producers of the surrounding country. The tornado of July 6, 1874, complete
ly demolished this elevator, but Mr. Glassburn with characteristic energy went
to work and erected a still larger and more capacious one, which is still stand
ing. Since the death of Mr. Bryant, which occurred some two years ago, Mr.
Glassburn has conducted the business individually. He is also a manufacturer
of and dealer in harness. He has been frequently called to fill public positions
in the town and village. Indeed, the village in a great measure owes its exist
ence to him. Mr. Glassburn is yet in the prime of life, and is justly regarded as
one of the foremost men of Tampico.
John C. Aldrich came from Bradford county, Pennsylvania, to Tampico,
in 1856, and at first purchased a farm in the southeast part of the town. When
the village of Tampico sprang into existence he opened a dry goods, clothing,
and provision store in the south part, combining with it the sale of farming im
plements, and wagons and carriages. He also entered largely into the real
estate business, and now owns lands in different parts of South Tampico, as well
as lots in the viliage. He continued in the mercantile business for some time,
and at present is a manufacturer of brick, besides being a dealer in wagons and

454 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
carriages, and a farmer. He has frequently been Supervisor of the town, and
held other town offices, thus showing the regard in which he is held by the
people. Daniel Foy was born in 1812, in Napoli, Cattaraugus county, New York,
and in 1839 moved to McDonough county, Illinois, remaining there for seven
years. In 1846 he moved to Whiteside county and settled in Prophetstown,
where he lived, engaged in farming, until 1855, when he purchased a farm on
section 29 in the town of Tampico, upon which he has since resided. Mr. Foy
is one of the public spirited men of the town, and was elected Supervisor at the
first election after the town became fully organized, and held the office during
the years 1861, '62 and '63, and again in 1865. He has also been Justice of
the Peace, and School Trustee of the town.
Rufus Aldrich is one of the early settlers of Tampico, arriving there
from Bradford county, Pennsylvania, on the 1st of July, 1855. He purchased
a farm in sections 26 and 27 in the southeast part of the town, which he still
owns. At present he is conducting the livery business in the village of
Tampico, in connection with his son, the firm being, C. R. & R. Aldrich. Mr.
Aldrich was first elected Assessor of the town in 1870, and then again in 1872
and 1875, and has held the office from the latter year up to the present.
Aaron S. Miller came from Groton, Tompkins county, N. Y., to Tam
pico in the spring of 1853, and settled in the south part of the township where
he still owns a farm, although he is now a dealer in feathers, feather beds, etc.,
in the village. Mr. Miller has held several public positions in the town.
Among the enterprising farmers of this comparatively new township, and
to whom it is greatly indebted for the position it now holds among its sister town
ships in the county, are M. H. Brewer, on section 23; G. T. Marfleet, on
section 6; M. Lutzens, M. Pierce, on sections 28 and 33; R.R. Denison, on sec
tion 11; L. H. Denison, on section 10; E. E. Denison, on section 11; J.
Van Valkenburg, on section 13; J. W. Miller, on section 17; R. M.
Bullock, on section 32; E. Hendrick, on sections 25 and 26; J. E. Hub
bard, on section 1; G. K. Allen, on section 22; S. Emmons, on section 30;
W. Gibson, on section 29; J. S. Kimball, on section 22; B. Ferris, on sections
11 and 12; J. B. Hughes, on sections 23, 25 and 26.
History op the Village op Tampico.
The village of Tampico is situatedalittlenorth-eastofthe center of the town,
and is built upon a part of the original farm of Mr. John W. Glassburn. The
first building put up in the village, besides the residence of Mr. Glassburn, was
a frame one by S. B. Winter, in the fall of 1871, and used by him as a residence,
store and postoffice. The next was also a frame structure, and was used as a
saloon by Levi Renner. During the same fall, Fisher, Thompson & Bryant put
up scales, and built a small office. Their principal business was to purchase
and crib corn so as to be ready to send it to Chicago as soon as the railroad,
then nearly completed, and running through the town, should put on its rolling
stock. They cribbed about 35,000 bushels during the fall and winter. On the
10th of March, 1872, the first train reached the village, and from that time its
growth has been rapid, until now it boasts of its fine stores, large elevato'rs,
elegant dwellings, and handsome churches and public school. The corporate
limits include, besides the land formerly belonging to J. W. Glassburn, as men
tioned above, other lands of J. W. Glassburn, and lands owned by J. P. Badg
ley, J. S. Kimball, J. Jacobs, G. Allen, and P. Hagan. Should the village grow
as rapidly in the future as it has done within the past few years, the premises
of these gentlemen will soon be covered with business houses and residences.
It is rarely, even in the West, where a village has sprang into such prominence

HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO. 455
in so short a period, as Tampico, and more especially if we take into account
the vicissitudes through which it has passed. Thrice the fire fiend, and once
the strong winds, have laid it low, but it quickly rose again like a Phoenix from
the ashes. The village was organized under the Act of the General Assembly to pro
vide for the incorporation of cities and villages, in force July 1, 1872. The
first election took place in February, 1875, and the following gentlemen were
elected Trustees: D. McMillan, E. W. High, Alfred Smith, J. W. Glassburn,
J. H. Cain, and H. L. Denison.
The Board of Trustees met at the office of D. McMillan, on the 26th of
February, 1875, and organized by electing J. W. Glassburn, President, and J. C.
Mosshart, Clerk. Trustees, E. W. High, D. McMillan, and J. H. Cain were ap
pointed a committee on ordinances, and at the meeting held on March 12th, re
ported seven ordinances, all of which were passed. The ordinances were in
effect those usually passed for the government of cities and villages, with the
exception of the dog ordinance which provides that every owner of a male dog
shall pay an annual tax of one dollar for keeping the canine, and every owner
of a female dog, two dollars. At this meeting C. H. Glassburn was appointed,
Police Constable, and at a subsequent meeting Eli C. Cain was appointed Street
Commissioner. The first Board of Trustees were only elected for the term between the
organization of the village and the time provided by the statute for holding the
annual election. This election took place on the third Tuesday of April, 1875,
and resulted in the re-election of the first Board of Trustees. J. W. Glassburn
was elected President, and B. F. Chase, Clerk. E. C. Cain was appointed Street
Commissioner, and C. H. Gla'ssburn, Police Constable. Trustees J. H. Cain, D.
McMillan and A. Smith were appointed a Committee on Salaries. The first two
Boards were in favor of licensing the sale of ardent spirits, and about $700 were
realized from that source. The licenses were $240 each, per annum.
The second annual election was held on the 20th of April, 1876, and re
sulted in favor of the anti-license ticket, the following gentlemen being elected
trustees: D. McMillan, John C. Aldrich, J. W. Hixon, J. F. Leonard, M. A.
Myers, Jr., and J. H. Cain. At the first meeting of tbe Board, D. McMillan
was elected President, and A. W. Bastian, Clerk. James Varian was appointed
Street Commissioner; B. F. Chase, Police Magistrate; T. S. Beach, Treasurer,
and Fred Smith, Police Constable. The first act of the Board was to repeal
the license ordinance, and pass one that $300 be raised by general taxation. On
the 2d of May the Board of Trustees declared the office of Police Magistrate
vacant, and on the 15th of June ordered a special election to fill the vacancy
and also to elect a Trustee in place of J. H. Cain resigned. The election was
held on July 18th, 1876, and resulted in electing T. H. C. Dow, Police Magis
trate, and fi. L. Denison, Trustee.
At the third annual election D. McMillan, J. F. Leonard, J. W. Hixon, J.
C. Aldrich, H. L. Denison and J. W. Glassburn were elected trustees, and S.
W. Sheldon, Police Magistr-ate. This was also an anti-license Board. At the
meeting on April 24th, 1877, D. McMillan was elected President, and A. W.
Bastian, Clerk. Robert Collins was appointed Police Constable; T. S. Beach,
Treasurer; Owen Lloyd, Street Commissioner; T. O. Steadman, Pound Master.
At the meeting on August 7th, 1877, an Ordinance was passed that $200 be
raised for village expenses during the year, a decrease of $100 from the tax of
the previous year.
The Postoffice in Tampico was established September 1, 1871, Mr. J. S.
Kimball being commissioned as the first Postmaster. Previous to the establish-

456 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
ment of the Postoffice John W. Glassburn ran a private mail between Sterling
and Yorktown for the convenience of those on the route, having secured a priv
ilege therefor from the United States Government. In 1869, the Government
established a post route between Sterling and Yorktown, and Chauncy Dow ob
tained the contract to carry the mail. He retained the contract for one year,
and then gave it up, and Oliver BIcKenzie secured it. Mr. McKenzie carried
the mail until the Postoffice was established at Tampico. BIr. Kimball was
Postmaster only a short time, and then resigned, and was succeeded by S. B.
Winters. The Postmasters since Mr. Winter's time have been J. W. Blosshart,
and Albert, Berry, the latter now acting for Uncle Sam. A Postoffice furnishes
probably a better criterion of the growth and advancement of a place than any
other agency, and judging from the increase of business at the Tampico Post-
office, one is forcibly reminded of the rapid growth of the town. At the close
of the year 1871, the business of the Tampico office did not show an amount
exceeding $60 per annum. Now it amounts to over $600.
The business places of the village of Tampico at present are: two elevators,
the proprietors of which deal in stock, flour, lime, coal, salt, etc.; five dry goods,
grocery, and general mercantile stores; two hardware and agricultural imple
ment stores; two drug and medicine stores, one of which deals in school books
etc.; two dealers in wagons and buggies; one manufacturer and dealer in har
ness; one dealer in flour, feed, etc.; one dealer in furniture; one dealer in watches
and jewelry; two restaurants; one barber; one livery stable; one butcher; two
milliners and dressmakers; two milliners and dealers in fancy goods; two black
smiths; one wagon maker; one dealer in feathers, etc.; three hotels; two attor
neys at law; two physicians and surgeons; two lumber dealers; and last, though
not least, one newspaper.
Probably no village of its age, since the foundation of the world, ever suf
fered so much from the elements, as Tampico, and it is certain that no village
ever displayed such energy and promptness in rehabilitating itself and starting
again in business. The ashes from her fires had hardly got cold, and the winds
of her tornado hardly died away, before the plane, the hammer, and the trowel
were at work. Yesterday as it were she was in ruins; to-day beautiful stores
and residences cover the space, and obliterate every mark of the destroyer. Too
much credit cannot be given to the people of Tampico for the courage and en
terprise exhibited under the most trying circumstances. The blow that would
have struck many others to the earth in a helpless condition, only staggered
them for an instant. The next moment they recovered, and went on with their
business avocations as though fire and tempest never had raged within their bor
ders. The first visitation by fire was in the spring of 1872 when the village had
hardly cast off its swaddling clothes. At that time the frame hotel of Maurice
Fitzgerald, and a portion of the store belonging to Mr. Cain, were burned, the
former's loss alone being $4,250, and the whole loss over $5,000. Mr. Fitzger
ald immediately afterwards commenced building the present Tampico House,
and before the summer wa's half over had it ready for the reception of guests.
The second fire occurred on the 5th of January, 1874, and destroyed E. W.
High's dry goods and grocery store; P. Burke's grocery store and residence; A.
W. Bastian's store building in which were Case & Davis, clothiers; and James
Conroy's dry goods and grocery store. The total loss was about $35,000. In
thirty days afterwards Mr. Burke had a new building erected, and goods in his
store, and by the middle of the following June the entire site of the fire was
covered with buildings again.
The village had hardly recovered from this fire before another and a more

HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO. 457
destructive agency came whirling through the town, leaving ruin in its path.
This was the dreadful tornado of June 6, 1874, which struck the place about
eleven o'clock in the evening of that day (Saturday). It raged but a short time,
but within that space thousands of dollars worth of property was destroyed, and
many persons injured. Such a. tornado had not visited this section of the coun
try since the terrible one of June 3, 1860. The following were the losses of
property as given at the time, and published in the Whiteside Sentinel: " The
large grain warehouse and elevator of Glassburn & Bryant, containing 20,000
bushels of grain, completely wrecked, loss $10,000; T. S. Beach's elevator, then
recently erected at a cost' of $3,000, and having two thousand bushels of grain
in store, entirely demolished; G. T. Piersol, damage to dwelling, loss $500; J.
G. Banes, dwelling house wrecked, loss $1,000; Ira Humphrey, damage to dwel
ling house, loss $1,000; T. H. C. Dow, damage to dwelling house and furniture,
loss $200; Timothy Guegnian, dwelling house demolished, loss $1,000; Milton
Hixon, shoe shop wrecked, loss $200; Payson Williams, saloon damaged, loss
$100; Geo. Dee, store and Tampico Hall damaged, loss $1,500; Crampton &
Kemp, carpenter shop demolished, loss $300; Col. Crampton, dwelling house
destroyed, loss $500; D. McMillan, two dwelling houses destroyed, loss $1,500;
Frank Williams, damage to dwelling house, $1,000; John Van Valkenburg, dam
age to dwelling, $1,500; Eli Cain, damage to dwelling, $1,500; Peter Burke,
damage to dwelling, $1,000; James Cain, damage to paint and wagon shop, $700;
Chas. Luther, damage to dwelling, $100; S. B. Winters, damage to store, $50;
Messrs. Robert Collins, M. R. Jones, James Varian, H. H. Seymour, and sev
eral others, sustained damages ranging from $25 to $200. The M. E. Church,
built about two years before, at a cost of $1,300, was blown to fragments, the
organ being carried a distance of one hundred and fifty feet. The railroad build
ings were also damaged to the extent of $500." Although the storm came as a
breath of destruction, and in a few moments was gone, yet scores of hair breadth
escapes were made, and many are the thrilling narratives yet related by the citi
zens. Chas. Glassburn had a sleeping room in the office'of Glassburn & Bryant's
elevator, and when he heard the storm approaching, closed the window, just as
several pieces of scantling came crashing through the windows opposite. In
another moment the office was filled with flying debris from the elevator adjoin
ing. Young Glassburn clung to the safe, and was saved as by a miracle. Wil
bur Piersol sprang into a cellar when the gale came, and cut his leg badly. The
building was carried a distance of over fifty feet, but Mr. Piersol happily did
not sustain any other damage. Mrs. D. Olmstead, who was confined to her bed
by sickness, leaped to the floor when she heard the roaring of the approaching
storm; her husband forced her into the bed again, and by enveloping her with
the bed coverings, protected her from the timbers that crashed through the
building. The most remarkable incident of the scene was narrated at the time
by Mr. Dow and Mr. Olmstead. Eleven persons, composing two families, were
residing in the same building, and all the members, soon after the blow, were
found, with the exception of an infant child of Mr. Dow. The neighbors finally
tore away the ruins of the edifice, and amid the rubbish, protected from the
timbers by a large box and a sewing machine, the little one was found, unin
jured. Altogether, eight persons were injured seriously, and a much larger
number slightly bruised. The following are the names of the persons most
dangerously injured, with the nature of their injuries: Mrs. Maria Banes, head
dangerously wounded; T. H. C. Dow, injured in the breast; Wilber Piersol, leg
and face badly hurt; Mrs. J. B. Gates, collar bone broken; J. G. Banes, serious
wounds of the side and foot; Mrs. J. G. Banes, leg- broken; Mrs. W. Piersol,
face and breast badly bruised; Granville Connor, head and breast badly hurt.
[5S-C]

458 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Geo. Banes was struck with a piece of flying timber, but escaped serious injury;
Luther Piersol was considerably bruised. That no lives were lost seems almost
miraculous, considering the widespread destruction and the great number of
buildings blown down, all occupied. During the prevalence of the tornado the
groans of the wounded, and the cries of those almost bereft of reason by fright,
gave a touch of horror to the picture, revealed as it was by the flashes of light
ning which followed each other in rapid succession. The storm came from a
southwesterly direction, following the railroad, and veered in its course slightly
to the northeast. The damage outside of the village was slight. The scene on
Sunday morning, June 7, 1874, was one which the people of the village of Tam
pico do not desire to look upon again. As soon as possible after the storm, a
committee, consisting of E. W. High, T. M. Wiley, A. Smith, Wm. Camper, and
J. S. Kimball, was appointed to receive all moneys and supplies for the suffer
ers, and it is but due to the people of the county to say that the appeal made to
them for this purpose was promptly and generously responded to. It was not
long before stores and residences again sprang up, and all evidence of the awful
tempest was blotted from sight.
Scarce two years, however, had passed away, before fire again desolated
Tampico. This time it came early on Wednesday morning of May 17, 1876.
The flames were first discovered between the stores of Peter Burke and E. W.
High, and the Tampico Tornado at that time describes them as leaping up the
sides of the buildings, as if kerosene or other inflammable substance had been
used to facilitate their spread. Six buildings fell a prey to the devouring ele
ment before it could be subdued. The first building on the south side limits of
the fire was owned by James Conroy, and used as a residence and grocery store;
loss $2,000. Nelson Blaxson's store came next; loss on goods and building es
timated at $6,600. Next in line northward was Peter Burke's grocery store;
loss on building and goods, $3,600. Adjoining was the building owned by Geo.
Dee, the lower part of which was occupied by E. W. High as a store, and the
upper part by the Tornado office, and J. H. Melvin, as a law office; the building
was valued at $2,500. BIr. High had about $8,000 worth of goods on band, a
portion of which were saved, but in a badly damaged condition; Mr. Melvin lost
his entire law library and office furniture, valued at $600, a large number of
book accounts, notes and mortgages being also destroyed; the press and type of
the Tornado were not in the office at that time, so the loss was confined to books,
papers, etc. John Paice's building, used as a residence and butcher shop, stood
next; loss on the whole, $2,300. Case & Adams' billiard hall was the last build
ing on the block destroyed; loss $1,500. Piersol's blacksmith shop, standing
in the alley between Case & Adams' and Taggart & Fitzgerald's, was torn down,
and the store of the latter was severely scorched. The fire spread so rapidly
that the store keepers on the opposite side of the street from where it was rag
ing, removed their goods. It was a severe blow to the business men who suf
fered by it, as most of them had been sufferers by the other fires, as well as by
the tornado. Their courage, however, did not desert them, some immediately
renting other buildings in which to open their business, and others commencing
the erection of new buildings. Peter Burke at once laid the foundation for a
brick building, which he hastened rapidly to completion, and soon had the pres
ent fine store of Burke & Forward stocked with goods, ready for his customers;
among the active business men of Tampico, Mr. Burke stands prominent. Since
this fire Tampico has not been disturbed by the elements, and she is rapidly pro
gressing in all that adds to the growth, wealth, and prosperity of a town.
Newspapers.
The Tampico Tornado was established May 4, 1876, by A, D. Hill and

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS 459
Charles F. Gifford, the firm being known as Hill & Gifford. During the first
year the paper was printed at Prophetstown, and at its close the partnership
was dissolved, Mr. Gifford becoming the entire owner. He at once purchased a
new press, new type, etc., and since that time has both published and printed
the paper at Tampico. At the time the paper was started it was thought to be
considerable of an undertaking, but Mr. Gifford being a practical printer of long
experience, and a gentleman of tact and energy, the enterprise was pushed for
ward until it has now reached a firm footing. Its circulation is 350, and it is
receiving a good support, both in its advertising and jobbing departments, from
the people of Tampico and vicinity. Mr. Gifford is adding new material to his
office as his demands require.
Churches and Other Organizations.
Methodist Episcopal Church: — At the time the Grand Trunk Railroad, now
the Mendota branch of the C. B. & Q. Railroad, was built, and Tampico be
came a village, the society now known as the Tampico BI. E. Church and Soc
iety, belonged to the Spring Hill and Yorktown Circuit, Rev. G. W. Carr being
pastor. In the fall of that year, 1871, the members residing in Tampico con
cluded to establish a church of their own. Previous to that time meetings had
been held only once a fortnight in the old town house, a mile south of the
present village. After removing to the village the first meetings were held in
Sheldon's Hall, on Main street, the Society employing their own pastor, the
Rev. L. A. Sanford, of Sterling. The membership then numbered about
thirty. Mr. Sanford remained with them until the meeting of the next Annual-
Conference in the fall of 1872. The Conference sent Rev. II. T. Scoville to
take charge, who remained for one year. During the fall of 1872 the Society
built a church edifice at a cost of $1,300. The building was 30 by 44 feet, and
18 feet high. The next pastor was Rev. J. P. Morris, who remained until the
fall of 1874. On the 6th of June in this year the meeting house was complete
ly destroyed by the tornado which then swept over the place. There were no
regular services held during the balance of that year, as the pastor was en
gaged for most of the time in soliciting subscriptions for the erection of a new
edifice. When there were services they were held in the school house. The
' present building was commenced in the fall of 1874, and the main part com
pleted that year, the balance, with the steeple, being finished in 1875. Its size
is 32 by 62 feet, and 20 feet in height. The height of steeple from the ground
is 100 feet. The whole cost of the building was $2,500. In the fall of 1874,
Rev. C. H. Huffman was sent as pastor, and remained until the fall of 1876.
The next pastor was Rev. A. B. Mettler, who was succeeded the present fall
(1877) by Rev. F. Pomeroy, who has charge of the Tampico and Spring Hill
churches. The first Board of Trustees, consisting of J. P. Badgley, A. M. Smith,
John W. Glassburn, Joseph Jacobs, John Miller, Thomas Passmore, and T. M.
Wylie, was elected April 17th, 1871. T. M. Wylie was chosen Clerk. The pres
ent Trustees are, J. P. Badgley, A. M. Smith, George W. Apley, G. A. Stilson,
and T. M. Wylie, the latter still retaining his position as Clerk. A Sabbath
School has been connected with the church ever since its organization, Mr. T.
M. Wylie filling the position as Superintendent from the commencement until the
fall of 1876, when Rev. A. B. Mettler succeeded him. The present member
ship of the church is about sixty.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church: — St. Mary's Church, of Tampico, was
first organized in April, 1875, by a Committee of four, consisting of Maurice
Fitzgerald, George Dee, Thomas Burden, and Peter Burke. The officers of the
Committee were: Maurice Fitzgerald, President; George Dee, Vice President;

460 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Peter Burke, 'Secretary, and Thomas Burden, Treasurer. On the 20th of May,
1875, Right Rev. Bishop Foley, of Chicago, granted a charter to the Com
mittee authorizing them to raise subscriptions to build a church edifice. The
Committee went immediately at work, and in a comparatively short time raised
an amount sufficient to erect and complete it in its present form. A part of
the amount was raised by notes from parties in that section of the county, and the
other part, amounting to $2,520, by a Fair held at Tampico. At the Fair a tea-
set was put up, two young ladies, one the daughter of BIr. Thomas Burden, and
the other a daughter of BIr. John Gaffey, to be the contestants therefor. The
tickets were one dollar each, and parties could buy one or more as they chose,
each ticket being a ballot for one or the other of the young ladies. At the close
of the Fair it was found that Miss Burden received 1,518 votes, and Miss
Gaffey, 1,002. The prize was therefore awarded to Miss Burden. The church
building was commenced on the 26th of June, 1875, and completed on the 18th
of September following, an incredibly short space of time, when we consider the
size and finish of the building. The edifice is 40 by 99 feet, and 30 feet high,
giving ample space for all interior arrangements required, besides sufficient
room to seat the large congregation. The height of the spire from the ground is ,
112 feet,makingitthehighestinthetown. Great creditis due to the Committee
for their indefatigable effortsin raisingthe funds necessary to erect and properly
furnish the edifice. Father O'Gara McShean was the first pastor of the parish,
and was succeeded by Father P. J. Gormley, who still continues in the position.
The church has retained the same Committee through whose efforts it was es
tablished. The parish is made up of a part of the northern portion of Bureau
county contiguous to Whiteside, and the towns of Tampico, Hume, Prophets
town, Hahnaman, and Blontmorency. There are now 963 members of the
church, old and young, throughout the parish. The land upon which the church
edifice stands was very generously donated by John W. Glassburn, Esq., and is
100 feet front by 150 feet deep.
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church : — The church society known as the
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tampico, was organized in May, 1874,
with a membership of forty-five persons, heads of families. The first pastor was
Rev. H. T. Sanstrum, and the first trustees Oliver D. Olson, Thomas Pearson,
and Lewis Wilson. In 1875, the same pastor and the same trustees were con
tinued. During that year the church edifice was built at a cost of $2,500. The
building is 40 by 60 feet, and 20 feet high. The steeple reaches a heighth of
110 feet from the ground, and is a landmark which can be seen for miles and
miles around. The church is of a capacity capable of holding a congregation of
over five hundred people. In 1876 the church had no stated clerical supply,
the pulpit being temporarily filled by John Elander, a student of the Augustana
College and Theological Seminary, at Rock Island. This College is under the
supervision of the Swedish Lutheran Augustana Synod of the United States,
the special object of its founders being to provide means for the education of
young men to become pastors and teachers among the Scandinavian population
of the Northwest. BIr. Elander is still officiating as pastor. The Trustees of
the church for 1877 are: Oliver D. 01soni Thomas Pearson, and O. B. Kelsen.
The membership now consists of fifty-five heads of families, besides the younger
members. At present services are held every month, although it is expected
that regular services will be held every Sabbath within a short period.
Public Schools: — The township of Tampico from the commencement has
been beneficent in the care, encouragement, and sustenance of its public schools.
From the time Orlando BIcNickle taught the first school in the Aldrich district
in the winter of 1856-57, until the present, its inhabitants have kept fully

CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 461
abreast the times in all matters pertaining to the education of their children.
Each of the school districts is provided with a good, commodious school house,
and great care is taken in the selection of teachers. The public school building
in the village of Tampico is an admirable one. The first school house in that
district was built in 1869, and stood one mile south of the present village, but
when the railroad was laid through the town, it was moved to the village. So
rapid was the increase of scholars that during the next summer ninety-three
crowded its walls seeking instruction. In the following winter the second floor
of George Guffey's brick store was fitted up for the primary scholars, and Miss
Rosa Laughlin engaged to assist Mr. A. W. Bastian in teaching. The wants of
the district soon called for more room, and in 1874 the Board of Directors, com
posed of J. W. Glassburn, Alfred Smith, and H. L. Denison, contracted for the
erection of the present building. Its size is 32 by 56 feet, two stories in heighth
with a wing for halls and stairways. It has four comfortable, well lighted rooms,
twelve feet in heighth, and furnished with seats of the Sterling School Furni
ture Company's manufacture. Each room is capable of accommodating desks
for forty-eight scholars. The cost of the building was $4,000, The teachers
who have been engaged in the various departments since the erection of the
building are as follows: Mr. A. W. Bastian, and Misses Rosa Laughlin, Katie
Fuller, Jennie Maxfield, Mary Glassburn, Maria Banes, and Sadie Glassburn.
The present teachers are: A. W. Bastian, Principal; Miss Maria Banes, Inter
mediate Department, and Miss Sadie Glassburn, Primary Department. The
number of pupils enrolled for 1877 was 148. The school has been successfully
managed by Mr. Bastian, who has been Principal for three years. So well has
it been conducted that there now more applications from pupils outside of the
district than can be accommodated. No less than fifteen of the scholars have
been engaged in teaching during the present year (1877). The Board of Direc
tors now consists of H. L. Denison, Alfred Smith and A. M. Smith.
Hook and Ladder Company : — The village of Tampico has a fine Hook and
Ladder Company of thirty members, and officered as follows : Robert Collins,
Foreman; Ed. Forward, First Assistant; H. H. Seymour, Second Assistant; A.
W. Bastian, Secretary; and J. F. Leonard, Treasurer. The Company have a
good truck, with complete equipments, and have their house in the rear of Burke
& Forward's store. Their organization dates the 24th of May, 1877. It was
first formed for an Engine Company, with Maurice Fitzgerald as Captain, but
was afterwards turned into a Hook and Ladder Company.
Masonic Lodge : — A dispensation was obtained from the Grand Master to
organize Yorktown Lodge No. 655, A. F. and A. M., at Yorktown, Bureau coun
ty, Illinois, June 4, 1870. The charter bears date October 4, 1870. The fol
lowing are the first officers of the Lodge and its charter members: John L.
Marvel, W. M.; William W. Craddock, S. W.; Merritt Hopkins, J. W.; Jacob
J. Winchell, Treasurer; Philo D. Morse, Secretary; James E. Bunker, S. D.;
Edward Forward, J. D.; E. A. Ladue, Tyler; V. S. Bastian, S. M. Green, Stew
ards. July 24, 1875, the Lodge was moved to Tampico, and now has a member
ship of fifty-five. Its present officers are: William W. Craddock, W. M.; Job
E. Greenman, S. W.; T. M. Wylie, J. W.; J. F. Leonard, Treasurer; A. W. Bas
tian, Secretary; D. McMillen, S. D.; Samuel Johnson, J. D.; Eli Cain, Tyler.
ThePast Masters of the Lodge are: John L. Marvel, William W. Craddock,
James H. Cain, George W. Guffey.

CHAPTER XXV.
History op Ustick Township — Biographical.

History op Ustick Township.
The part of the present township of Ustick within one mile of the east line
of range 4 east, originally formed a portion of Union Precinct, and the part ly
ing west of that line belonged first to Albany Precinct, and afterwards the whole
of the township was included in Fulton Precinct. In this condition it remained
until it was organized as a township by itself, by the Commissioners appointed
for the purpose of creating townships, in 1852. It includes township 22 north
of base line, range 4 east of the 4th principal meridian. The topography of the
township is considerably diversified, the extreme western part, lying under the
bluffs, being level, then coming the bluffs, which rise in many places almost
abruptly to a considerable heighth, and the balance eastward consisting of rol
ling prairie. Aside from the bluffs themselves the township is particularly rich
as an agricultural district, all the crops grown in this section of the west pro
ducing abundantly. The small portion of the town not adapted to grain raising
is advantageously used as pasturage and meadow land. Since the prairie fires
have ceased, timber has grown up thriftily in various parts of the town, adding
greatly to tbe beauty of the scenery. The town is watered by Otter creek and
its tributaries in the northern part, and by Spring creek in a portion of the
southern part. Both of these streams, with most of the tributaries of the for
mer, take their rise in the town. Besides these, abundance of the finest water
is supplied by the wells.
The earliest settlers for the most part located under the bluffs, a few mak
ing claims in the southern part. It was quite a number of years before the
other parts of the township became settled, many thinking that the great ex
panse of prairie, now forming some of the best farming lands in the county, were
not adapted for the homes of white men. The first actual settler was Wooster
Y. Ives, who came from Connecticut in 1837. About the same time Edward
Corbin came up from Albany, and the two made a claim under the bluff, Mr.
Corbin, however, soon disposing of his interest to Mr. Ives. This claim covered
the farm for a long time owned and occupied by Mr. Ives, and now owned by
Alonzo E. Smith. Amos Short, from Indiana, and Edward Rolph, also came
and settled in 1837. A Mr. French, and a Mr. Townsend, came the same year,
but did not remain long. Lewis Graves, Allen Graves, Jesse Johnson, and
Henry Bond, from New York, and Henry Cone, now living in Thompson, came
in 1838. In 1839, William fi. Knight, from Maine, David Ingham, fiiram Ing
ham, and Mr. Church, from New York, Oliver Hall, from New England, and Reu
ben Patrick, and Asa Patrick, from Canada, came; and in 1840, Elias Sage, Wil
son S. Wright, John Maheny, Thomas Maheny, and John Hollinshead and his
sons. Among those who came from 1840 to 1843, were William Watt, James
Logan, Jacob Baker, Oliver Baker, John McKenzie, Levi Houghton, William Sav
age, Warren Bond, and Roys Oatman. The latter lived in the town until 1850, when
he started with his family to seek a home in southern California. Upon arriving
in the present Territory of Arizona, the family were attacked by Indians, the
fearful result of which will be found further on in the history of this township.

HISTORY OF USTICK TOWNSHIP. 463
William Watt met an untimely death by falling into a cauldron of hot water
used for scalding hogs. Amos Short went to the Pacific coast in 1846, and lost
his life by being shipwrecked at the mouth of the Columbia river.
The first house put up in the town was of logs, and built by Wooster Y.
Ives, in 1837. Its site was near the present stone dwelling house, also erected
by Mr. Ives, on the farm now owned by Alonzo E. Smith. The first frame
house was erected by Oliver Hall, about 1840, on the farm now owned by S. W.
Goff. The timber for this house was taken from the grove in Union Grove
township, and was the first taken from timber growing there.
The first white child born in what is now Ustick township, was Rosetta
Patrick, a daughter of Thomas and Louise Patrick, her birth occurring in 1840.
The first parties to enter into the holy bonds of wedlock, were Thomas
Patrick and Miss Louise Ingham, the notable event taking place in 1839. The
second marriage was that of William H. Knight and Miss Sarah R. Johnson,
which took place November 24, 1840.
The first death was a child of Amos Short, who was drowned in a spring on
Mr. Short's claim, in 1840. The first adult death was Mrs. Julia Ann Rush, and
occurred in 1842. The husband of Mrs. Rush was a brother of Richard Rush,
one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Mrs. Rush was herself
a stout patriot in her early days, and frequently donned the male attire and per
formed picket duty whenever she got an opportunity, at her home in Philadel
phia. She was buried on the bluffs above the present residence of Joshua Hol
linshead. the ground being yet used as a burial place. The death of Mr. John
Hollinshead, the father of the Messrs. Hollinshead now residing in Ustick, oc
curred soon after, and his remains were inferred in the same ground.
The first school was taught by Miss Armenia Ingham, in the chamber of
Amos Short's log cabin, in the summer of 1841. The entrance to the school
room was by a stairs leading from the outside of the building. The cabin was
situated" under the bluffs, by the spring near Levi Houghton's present house.
The scholars were Charles C. Knight and Miss Nancy Ingham, besides Mr. Short's
children. The first school house was built on a corner of Jessie Johnson's farm.
on section 8, in 1844. It was a small stone building, but. amply sufficient to
accommodate all the scholars in the town at that day, and is still standing. Bliss
Sarah Jenks was the first teacher. The district has been known as District No.
1 from that time. The second school house was built in 1846, on section 32,
arid is known as the Franklin, or by many as the Cottonwood school house.
There are now eight school districts in the town, each having a good school
house, several of them new, and all well provided with the necessary appenda
ges of a modern school. The township has a school fund of nearly ten thou
sand dollars.
The younger portion of the early settlers of Ustick were not indifferent to a
proper cultivation of their musical talents, and hence obtained the services of
the singing teacher. This pedagogue in tbe art of teaching the young music
ideas how to shoot, was Seymour Tomlinson, and the singing school kept in Ed.
Rolph's house under the bluffs, the time being the winter of 1843-'44. A large
number of scholars attended, coming from miles around, and the meeting nights
were boked forward to with a great deal of interest. The singing part was of
itself very attractive, but the occasion the meeting furnished for social inter
course was undoubtedly equally as drawing. How many matches were made
there which were afterwards consummated by life partnerships, there are now
no means of ascertaining. We have it from a good source, however, that many
date their happiness as husbands and wives to the singing school in the little
cabin of Ed. Rolph, in that long ago winter.

464 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
The circumstances of the massacre of most of the Oatman faniily by the
Indians, while on their way to seek a home in Southern California, a brief
reference to which has been already made in the history of the township, will
be remembered by many of the residents of Ustick, and adjoining towns. Roys
Oatman came from Ohio to Illinois in 1834, and located in LaHarp, Hancock
county, and in 1842 moved to Ustick, and settled on section 32, where he re
mained until 1849 when he sold his farm to Henry Bond, and during the next
year started with his family, consisting of his wife and seven children, for
Southern California, taking the overland route by the way of Independence,
Blissouri, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. The journey had been pleasantly made
until the family had reached the junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers, in
the present Territory of Arizona, about one hundred and sixty miles from Fort
Yuma, where they were suddenly attacked by a band of Indians, and Mr. and
Mrs. Oatman, and four of the children, barbarously murdered. Lorenzo, one of
the boys, was left as dead by the Indians, but recovered, and finally reached the
settlements in safety. Two girls, Olive, and Blary Ann, aged respectively nine
and seven years, were carried into captivity. Mary Ann died two years after
wards of starvation, and Olive was finally rescued after five years search, and
restored to her friends, during which time she suffered untold hardships, having
been several times bought and sold as a slave, and branded on the face with the
slave mark. Blrs. Oatman was a sister of Mrs. A. M. Abbott, of Ustick, and
was a woman of fine social and intellectual accomplishments, having enjoyed
excellent advantages in her early days.
For a considerable time after the settlement of the township, section 16,
set apart for raising a school fund, was considered to be worthless for agricul
tural purposes, and the inhabitants petitioned the General Land Office at Wash
ington to have the school section changed to a location which could be readily
brought into market, but the petition was not granted. Mr. Wooster Y. Ives,
the Nimrod of Whiteside county then and since, soon after this refusal offered
$800 for the section, his intention being if he could secure it, to erect a high
fence around it, and make it a deer park. Against this proposition many of the
settlers set their faces with a determination irrevocable in its nature. They
had no objection to BIr. Ives, whom they considered one of the most worthy
residents of the town, hunting deer, wherever he could find them running wild,
but to make a deer pen of a whole section of land was entirely foreign to their
ideas of what was just and right in the premises. Others favored the plan' of
Mr. Ives, and endeavored to induce the then School Trustees, Messrs. A. M.
Abbott, Oliver Baker, and Aaron W. Ives, to sell him the section, arguing that
it would be better to turn it into a deer park, than to allow it to remain a worth-
lese waste to the town. The Trustees, however, decided with the opponents of
the proposition, and finally, after having it properly surveyed, succeeded iu
selling it for $2,600 to parties desiring it for farming purposes. This sale des
troyed the last hope of establishing a magnificent park in the township in which
animals ferea natura could be cabined, cribbed and confined.
Ustick has had her contests as to the name she should be known and des
ignated by, as well as some other townships in the county. For about two
years prior to the time the Commissioners appointed by the County Com
missioners' Court defined the boundaries, and gave names to the several town
ships, the present township of Ustick was called by and known as Salem town
ship, and had the inhabitants been privileged at that time to have had a voice in
the selection of a name, the old one of Salem would have been retained by a
majority. But unhappily for the Salem advocates, the Commissioners
were induced to believe that the name of Ustick would be much

HISTORY OF USTICK TOWNSHIP. 465
more appropriate for such a beautiful township of land, than Salem, the
latter smacking too strongly of witches, and the summary manner of
putting a quietus upon their incantations. Had the first township
organization proved legal, all this would have been avoided. Under that or
ganization a town meeting for Salem township was held in April, 1850, and
Alpheus Matthews elected Supervisor; A. M. Abbott, Town Clerk; Oliver
Baker, Justice of the Peace, with the other usual town officers, none of whom,
however, served. So wedded had the inhabitants become to the nafte of Salem
that when it was changed to Ustick they sent a petition to the State Legisla
ture at Springfield to have the former name restored, but information was re
turned that there was already a township by that name in the State which was a
county seat, and that therefore the petition could not be granted. Not content
with this another petition was gotten up and sent on to Springfield, to have
the name changed to Wooster, but to this no response was made, and the mat
ter of changing the name of the township as fixed by the Commissioners, ended
then and there.
The township has also had its full measure of trouble in laying out new
roads, and the changing of the location of old ones, keeping the Commissioners
of Highways, especially of late years, busily engaged in this regard. Messrs.
Joel W. Farley, and Harrison Houghton, of the Board of Commissioners, have
kindly exhibited to us the proceedings of the Board for a number of years as to
road contests, but interesting as they are, we find them too voluminous for pub
lication in a work of this kind. Suffice it to say, that it will take some time be
fore road matters in the township are amicably settled.
The first Postoffice in the town was established in 1850, and was called
Hemlo. Mr. A. M. Abbott was commissioned as Postmaster, and the office
located at his residence on the Fulton and Morrison road. The office was con
tinued for nearly eight years, the mail being brought by a stage coach running
from Fulton to Sterling, until the present Chicago & Northwestern Railroad
was finished, when the stage was hauled off, and the mail brought by a special
carrier from Fulton. The name of the office was selected in rather a peculiar
way. Twenty-six small blocks were prepared, upon each of whieh a letter of
the alphabet from A to Y inclusive was cut, and put into a hat and shaken up,
those present agreeing that the first letter drawn should stand as the initial
one of the name which the Postoffice should bear. It happened that the letter
H was the first one drawn; then the letter E, and so on until six were taken
out, spelling the word Hemlo. Then a halt was demanded in the proceedings,
for fear that if a continuance should be had the next two letters drawn would be
C and K, thus making the name Hemlock, one that would be sure to defeat the
end sought to be attained. Hence Hemlo became the name of the Postoffice.
Mr. Abbott continued to hold the office until Clifton station, at the edge of the
bluffs, was established by the Railroad Company, when it was taken to that
place, and the name changed to Clifton. William Pearson was first appointed
Postmaster for that point, and afterwards Henry Hoover, who held this posi
tion until the station was abandoned, and. the Postoffice ceased to exist. The
second Postoffice in the township was established about 1853, and named
Ustick, Oliver Baker receiving the appointment as Postmaster. When the
project of establishing a mail route from Fulton to Galena was being urged, it
was considered politic to request as many Postoffices on the route as possible,
so as to make it appear to the Government that a large amount of postal
business demanded the facilities which it would afford. The route was estab
lished, and nearly all the requests for Postoffices granted. Mr. Baker kept the
Ustick Postoffice at his residence, under the bluffs. The mail coach was run
[59-D-l

466 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
by Frink & Walker, and was made by them a passenger as well as a mail line.
Besides receiving mail from Fulton and Galena, a branch line connected with
the route from the north, by the way of Argo, Carroll county. The Ustick
Postoffice was kept in existence until Mr. Baker after repeated efforts to have
it discontinued, forwarded the key to the Department at Washington, which
put an end to it. The third Postoffice was established in 1857, and named
Summit Hill from the high ground upon which it was located. BIr. Bleril Blead,
then a resident of Ustick, but for several years living in Morrison, was ap
pointed Postmaster, and kept the office at his house situated on the northeast
quarter of the northwest quarter of section 24, not far from the township line
between. Ustick aud Clyde. The mail was brought from Morrison to Summit
Hill, once a week. The office was continued four years, when it was abolished
at the earnest solicitations of Mr. Mead, as the receipts were of a somewhat
indefinite quantity. Ustick was left without a Postoffice when these three
went out of existence.
The first ground broken on the railroad, then known as the Rock River &
Blississippi Railroad, was on the sand hill in the bluffs, on section 30, in the
town of Ustick. This was in February, 1853. In fact this was. the first ground
broken for a railroad between Fulton and the Junction, near Chicago. The event
created a great sensation, and was really a "windfall" to the farmers of the sur
rounding country, as it opened up a ready market for all the grain, pork, beef
and hay they had to sell. Bloney at once become plenty.
The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad enters the township near the south
east corner of section 33, and passing through the section in a northwesterly direc
tion, crosses the northwestcorner of section 32, and thesouthwestcorner of section
29, and then bearing to the southwest passes through section 30,leaviug the town near
the southwest corner of the section. When the road was first built, a station was
located on section 30, called Clifton, and afterwards Bluff Station, at which con
siderable business was done for a time. It was finally abandoned, and nothing
remains of ;t now excepting some ruins.
The Presbyterian church, at Spring Valley, was organized October 6, 1860,
by Rev. A. H. Lackey, a member of Rock River Presbytery. Twenty-two per
sons united together at the organization, as follows: Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Miller,
BIr. and Blrs. S. F. Miller, James Miller, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Ritchie, Mr. and
Blrs. A. S. Ritchie, BIr. and Mrs. Peter Durward, BIr. and Mrs. William McKie,
Blrs. Mary Watt, Miss Margaret Watt, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Plank, Blrs. Eleanor
Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McKie. The other names are illegible. The
first elders were A. W. Ritchie, A. M. Miller, and H. J. Plank, and the trustees
John Hutchinson, A. S. Ritchie, E. G. Martindale, Peter Durward, and A. M.
Miller. The church edifice was erected in 1865, and fully completed in 1866,
the whole cost amounting to something over twenty-two hundred dollars. The
building is situated on an elevated piece of ground, and can be seen for a long
distance. The pastors have been Rev. J. B. McClure, from 1862 to 1865; Rev.
A. Keigwin for a portion of the time during 1865; Rev. A. H. Lackey from
1865 to 1868; Rev. A. W. Colver from 1868 to 1870; Rev. A. W. Hanna from
1870 to 1872; Rev. W. D. F. Lummis from 1872to.l874, and Rev. F. J.
Reichert, the present pastor, who commenced his labors in 1876. The present
elders are, A. W. Ritchie, A. M. Miller, H. Halbert, and David Parkhill.
The Methodist Episcopal Society, at Spring Valley, was organized in 1855
by Rev. BIr. Falkenburgh, pastor of the Bl. E. Church, at Unionville. We have
not been able to ascertain the names of the first members. Religious services
were first held at the residences of the members. On the 30th of March, 1869,
the Society met to elect, Trustees, and appoint a building committee, prepara-

HISTORY OF USTICK TOWNSHIP 467
tory to the erection of a church edifice. H. W. Gould, Hiram Skinner, and G.
F. Stubbs, were elected "Trustees. The construction of the church building was
very soon afterwards commenced, and completed during the year at a cost of
fifteen hundred dollars. The church is connected with the Thomson circuit of
the Rock River Conference, and services are held once in two weeks. The fol
lowing are the present members: H. Hanson, Mrs. K. Hanson, Charles Cossel-
man, Mrs. L. Cosselman, H. F. Stubbs, Blrs. M. B. Stubbs, John McLellen, Mrs.
McLellen, E. Northrup, Mrs. 0. Northrup, Mrs. M. Aikman, Miss Gussie Aik
man, Miss Rena Aikman, John Imlay, local preacher. The present trustees are,
H. F. Stubbs, H. Hanson, and Charles Cosselman.
The church edifice at Cottonwood was erected in 1872, at a cost of about
one thousand eight hundred dollars. It was built by contributions from all clas
ses of people, and was designed as a place of worship for all denominations.
The M. E. Society, however, have had charge of it for some time past. This
Society is connected with the Fulton circuit, and services are held on Sunday
afternoons by the pastor of that charge. The first Trustees were, A. M. Abbott,
Warren Bond, Cornelius Springer, Timothy Martin, and Henry Canfield. The
three first named gentlemen are still trustees. Mr. Martin is dead, and Mr.
Canfield has moved away.
There are quite a number of Mennonites residing in the town, and about
six years ago they erected a church building on section 25. Services
are held every Sunday in this building, and are faithfully attended by the mem
bers. At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, the people of Ustick en
tered heartily into the work of raising volunteers for the preservation of the
Union, and many of her sons went promptly forth to the battle field. The 8th
Illinois Cavalry, and the 42d, and 75th Infantry, received the greatest number
of these gallant boys, probably because they could go together, but other regi
ments came in for a share. Many of them came back home veterans in the
service, while* others laid down their lives either in the hot contest of fiercely
fought battles, or of disease incurred by exposure and hardship. Among those
who died in the battle, or by disease, we have been able to gather the follow
ing: James Martin, 42d Infantry, diedof disease at Pittsburg Landing; Austin
Martin, Company C, 8th Cavalry, died of disease at Frederick City, Maryland;
Jay Canfield, Company C, 8th Cavalry, died of disease at Alexandria, Virginia;
James Canfield, 75th Infantry, also died of disease contracted in the service;
Ephraim Weldon, 75th Infantry, killed in battle; John Williams, Company C,
8th Cavalry, killed in battle; Delos Goff, died of sun stroke in battle; Hiram
Mead and Byron Weldon died after they came home, of disease contracted in the
service; Robert Imlay, killed July 7, 1864, while in service; Robert Hale, Cap
tain of Company I, 75th Infantry, was killed in skirmish on picket line, July 4,
1864. The first town meeting under the township organization in the town of
Ustick, was held at the Franklin school house on the 6th of April, 1852. Hen
ry Ustick was chosen Moderator, and A. M. Abbott, Clerk. A committee of
five, consisting of Benj. Abbott, S. W. Goff, Oliver Baker, Reuben Baker, and
Joshua Hollinshead, was appointed to draft town laws. The committee re
ported the following: Article 1st, The town shall be known and designated by
the name of Hemlo. Article 2d, A lawful fence shall be four and one-half
feet high, and the rails not more than six inches apart. Article 3d, Hogs shall
not be permitted or allowed to run at large. The articles were adopted. It is
proper, however, to say that the first article was never carried into effect, and
the town retained the name originally given to it yby the Commissioners.

468 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
The following have been the principal officers of the town since its organi
zation: Supervisors: — 1852-53, John Mackenzie; 1854, A. W. Ives; 1855, A. M.
Abbott; 1856, John A. Crouch; 1857-59, Oliver Baker; 1860-'61, Warren
Bond; 1862, Meril Mead; 1863-66, Oliver Baker; 1867-08, Warren Bond;
1869, G. W. Mackenzie; 1870, James G. Gridley; 1871-73, Warren Bond;
1874-75, Alonzo E. Smith; 1876, Birney G. Baker; 1877, Warren Bond.
Town Clerks:— 1852-'54, A. M. Abbott; 1855-'56, A. C. Crouch; 1857-58,
Dennis J. Farwell; 1859-60, Solomon Farwell; 1861-63, Samuel F. Miller;
1864, George Elsey; 1865, Alex. S. Ritchie; 1866-67, Geo. W. Mackenzie;
1868, John C. Martindale; 1869-71, A. M. Miller; 1872-77, Henry Hoover.
Assessors:— 1852-55, Henry Ustick; 1856-58, Solomon Farwell; 1859,
Isaac Goltrop; I860; A. C, Crouch; 1861-'62, Wm. Watt; 1863-'66, Rufus K.
Blodgett; 1867-68, Wm. Probert; 1869, J. W. Fisk; 1870, R. K. Blodgett;
1871-72, Joshua Hollinshead; 1873-75, R. K. Blodgett; 1876-77, Joshua
Hollinshead. Collectors: — 1852, Ira E. Baker; 1853, Hiram Ingham; 1854-55, Reuben
Patrick; 1856, Jacob Hollinshead; 1857-59, Reuben Baker; 1860, James Mar
tin; 1861, J. K. Robertson; 1862-'63, Harvey Welden; 1864, 0. J. Buffington;
1865, Timothy Martin; 1866, Delos P. Martin; 1867, Augustin Johnson; 1868,
J. W. Hollinshead; 1869, Daniel Hollinshead; 1870, Hairison Houghton; 1871,
John Pape; 1872, James Melville; 1873, Peter Durward; 1874, James Imlay;
1875, E. H. Pierce; 1876, Timothy Martin; 1877, Moses A. Green.
Justices of the Peace: — 1852, Henry Ustick, Oliver Baker; 1857, A. M,
Abbott, Meril Mead; 1860, Oliver Baker, Meril Blead; 1864, Oliver Baker,
Clark Young; 1867, B. K. Blodgett; 1868, R. K. Blodgett, J. D. Farwell; 1869,
A. S. Ritchie; 1872, A. S. Ritchie, R K. Blodgett; 1876, A. M. Abbott; 1877,
A. M. Abbott, A. S. Ritchie.
Ustick township contains 22,115 acres of improved land, and 320 acres of
unimproved, ranking the third in the county for its proportion df improved to
unimproved land. The towns ahead of it are Hume, which has no unimproved
land, and Coloma, having only 130 acres. This proportion speaks well for its
location, and the fertility of its soil. The number of horses in the township in
1877, as shown by the Assessor's books, is 480; number of cattle, 1,357; of
mules and asses, 9; of sheep, 117; of hogs, 2,712; carriages and wagons, 185;
watches and clocks, 145; sewing and knitting machines, 80; piano fortes, 2;
melodeons and organs, l9. Total assessed value of lands, lots, and personal
property, $321,268; value of railroad property, $12,100. Total assessed value
of all property in 1877, $333,368.
The population of the township in 1870, as shown by the Federal census
reports of that year, was 1,026, of which 776 were of native birth, and 250 of
foreign birth. The population in 1860, was 647. The estimated population in
1877, is 1,150. Popular vote in November, 1876, 183.
Biographical.
Wooster Y. Ives is a native of Wallingford, Connecticut, and was born
July 8, 1810. He came to Whiteside county May 1, 1837, and together with
Edward Corbin, made a claim under the bluffs on section 19, of Congressional
township 22, now the town of Ustick. Mr. Corbin soon sold his share to Mr.
Ives, and went to other parts. He was one of those peripatetic individuals, of
whom there were quite a number throughout this section at quite an early day.
Their principal business was to locate claims, make some improvements, and
then sell at as high a price as\^hey could get to actual settlers, and pass on to

BIOGRAPHICAL. 469
another locality. Mr. Ives built a small house, the first erected in the present
township of Ustick, did some breaking, and then went back to Connecticut and
brought on his wife. He was married to Miss Elizabeth C. Blake, January 1,
1837, There were no children by this marriage. Mrs. Ives died on the 1st of
August, 1850, and on the 25th of August, 1853, Mr. Ives married Bliss Eliza
beth Parrish, his present wife. Mr. Ives disposed of his farm in Ustick some
years ago, and moved to the city of Fulton, where he has since continued to re
side. He was always a great hunter, and in the early days when game abound
ed, was accustomed to spend days at a time in the chase, and never failed to
return during the proper season with a large supply of venison, and wild fowl.
Now that game has become scarce in this section, he journeys every fall to the
woods of Wisconsin and Minnesota to indulge in his favorite pursuit. He has
twice crossed the plains to California, and returned, and at each time met with
thrilling adventures. Mr. Ives is of a quiet, retiring disposition, and has never
sought public position. As a man and a citizen he is universally respected.
William H. Knight was born on the banks of Penobscot Bay, at the vil
lage of Northport, Waldo county, Maine, November 3, 1816. He came to
Whiteside county and settled in Fulton in June, 1838, remaining there only a
year, and then made a claim under the bluffs in the present township of Ustick,
where he followed the occupation of farming until 1849. He then returned to
Fulton, and has resided either in the city or township since that time. Mr.
Knight married Miss Sarah R. Johnson, a daughter of Jesse Johnson, in the
town of Ustick, November 24, 1840. The children by this marriage were:
George H., born October 28, 1841; Franklin, born October 28, 1842; Lydia A,
born April 16, 1844; Bernice B., and Bernard, twins, born July 16, 1846;
Sarah F., born October 14, 1849; William F., born September 19, 1855; Charles
D., born December 1, 1858; and Charles D., 2d, born November 4, 1862. Of
these, Franklin died February 16, 1844; Bernard, June 11, 1847; Sarah F., July
29, 1850; Charles D., 1st, October 20, 1859; and Lydia A.,November 15, 1876.
George II. married Miss Kate Connolly, and lives at Maquoketa, Iowa; Lydia
A. married George Beuzeville, and died as above stated; and Bernice B. mar
ried George W. Duncan, and lives at La Crosse, Wisconsin.- Mrs. Knight died
January 12, 1864, and on the 2d of November, 1865, Mr. Knight married Mrs.
Susan M. Thomas, his present wife. There has been one child by this marriage,
Edward Everett, who was born April 29, 1871. Mr. Knight has been engaged
since coming west, as a farmer, hotel keeper, lumber dealer, ferry owner, and
grocer. He is at present the owner of a fine farm a short distance northeast
of the city of Fulton. He has held several town offices, and was for four years
School Director in Fulton.
John Hollinshead was born in Jersey City* New Jersey, January 6,
1798. He went first to Canada from his native city, and came to Clyde, White
side county, in June, 1839. Soon afterwards he purchased land under the
bluffs in Ustick township, and settled there, living upon his farm until he died,
and on which he lies buried. During his residence in Canada he participated
in the Patriot War, and true to the land of his birth, was an ardent patriot.
At one time during that war he had charge of a large number of guns, and quite
an amount of ammunition, which the Loyalists determined to capture, but
owing to his shrewd management both were saved to the Patriot force. His
wife was of the Rush family of Pennsylvania, her uncle being the celebrated
Richard Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The
children of this marriage were, Joshua, born September 7, 1827; Julia Ann,
May 19. 1829; Jacob W., August 22, 1831; Daniel, February 7, 1834; Lydia,
January 21, 1837; Mary, July 21, 1839; Charles, January 27, 1842, and Emily,

470 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
September 19, 1843. Charles died in infancy and Lydia in 1867, leaving a
husband and three children. The remaining children are living, and reside
in Whiteside county.
John BIahexy is a native of Queens county, Ireland, and was born Feb
ruary 15, 1803. At the age of twenty-eight he came to the United States,
and soon after went to Canada where he remained three years, and then return
ed to the States, working in New Hampshire and Vermont until the fall of
1840, when he came to Whiteside county, and settled upon his present farm in
Ustick. BIr. Blaheny was married to Martha Lothers in Londonderry, Ireland,
on the 15th of October 1836. Their children were Blargaret, Mary, James,
John, Thomas, Sarah, Joseph, Anna, William and Martha, all of whom are
living except Joseph, who died in infancy. Two are residing in Iowa, two in
Colorado, and the rest in Whiteside county. Mr. Blaheny's first wife died in
February, 1S64, and in January, 1867, he married his present wife, then Mrs.
Ann Gardner. He has been a farmer ajl his life.
Warren Bond is a native of Lewis county, New York, and came to
Whiteside county on the 16th of April 1842, first settling in Fulton, and after
wards in Ustick, where he purchased a fine farm of two hundred and forty
acres, located on the Blorrison and Fulton road, which he has since continued
to own and cultivate. Of late years he has turned his attention principally to
stock raising, endeavoring always to have the best. His gross receipts from
farm and stock average two thousand dollars per annum. In relating his early
experience he states that in his native state he threshed wheat for five cents a
bushel, and helped clean the grain, working from sunrise until sunset. When
he first came to Whiteside county he worked for John Hollinshead, in Ustick,
for twelve dollars a month. BIr. Bond married Miss Harriet N. Canfield, July
13, 1844. The children have been: Edna E., born November 5, 1847; Loretta
H., born February 15, 1850; Viola E., born December 21, 1851; George E.,
born June 5, 1854; Vesta M., born July 10, 1856; Olive J., born August 28,
1858; Ada A. and Ida A., twins, born March 2, 1861; Isabel, born August 29,
1863; and Alva W., born September 26, 1865. Of these, Ada A. died Septem
ber 14, 1861; Ida A. September, 21, 1861; and Viola E. December 3, 1872.
Edna E. married Delos P. Blartin, October 18, 1865, and lives in Nebraska; Lor
etta H. married William J. Reed, December 31, 1868, and lives in Ustick;
Viola E. married Austin Goff, Blarch 18, 1872, and died as above stated — she
lived in Ustick; Vesta married Wilson Springer, January 1, 1874, and lives in
Ustick; Olive J. married Alonzo Springer, August 15, 1876, and lives in Union
Grove; and George E. married Miss Sarah Bulkley, December 20, 1876, and
lives in Ustick. Isabel, and Alva W., reside at home. While yet a resident
of Fulton, BIr. Bond held several town offices, and since his residence in Ustick
he has been elected Supervisor for nine different terms, and is the present Su
pervisor of the township. He is a good sample of the energetic, intelligent,
and successful Whiteside county farmer.
Henry Bond was born in Denmark, Lewis county, New York, December
7, 1818. He came to Whiteside , county in the spring of 1838, with Lewis
Graves, and settled at first with him on the farm now owned by Oliver Baker,
in the present township of Ustick. He afterwards made a claim about one
mile west, on section 7, and after remaining there some time sold it, and pur
chased his present farm on sections 10 and 11, in Spring valley, Ustick town
ship. BIr. Bond married Miss Lucy A. Ingham, in August, 1841. Their
children have been: Jennie E., born December 24, 1842; Martha A., born Au
gust 28, 1847; and Emma E., born March 21, 1854. Martha A. died February
2, 1852. Jennie E. married Richard Keeny, September 28, 1870, and lives in

BIOGRAPHICAL. 471
Spring Valley, Ustick township; and Emma A. married A. Hutchinson, Febru
ary 14, 1877, and also lives in Spring Valley.
Henry Ustick, Sr., for whom the town of Ustick was named, was born in
Washington county, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1789. Upon leaving his native
State he lived for a time in Ohio, and from that State moved with his family to
Whiteside county, and settled in Union Grove township, his claim embracing
the" farm now owned by Edward Vennum. In 1845 he went to Ustick, and set
tled on section 34, where he resided until his death, which occurred on the 16th
of June, 1855. fie was married April 14, 1812, to Miss Nancy Smiley, who
died Blay 27, 1820. Mr. Ustick afterwards married Mrr . Abigail Bryant, whose
death occurred November 19, 1862. Children: John, now residing at Eariville,
Illinois; William, who died December 1, 1834; Jacob Y., who died in the army,
August 30, 1863; N. M. Y., residing at Dallas Center, Iowa; Henry, a resident
of Morrison, Whiteside county, Illinois; Elizabeth Y., wife of Fosket H. Loomis;
Abner, who lives in Gowrie, Webster county, Iowa; Edward P., who died March
3, 1843; and Daniel B. Y., who died October 8, 1862.
Stephen W. Goff was born in . Granville, Hampshire county, Massachu
setts, in 1805, and first moved from his native State to Jefferson county, New
York. In 1844 he came to Whiteside county, and settled upon his present
farm on section 33, in Ustick township. Mr. Goff was married to Miss Almira
Buell, in Watertown, Jefferson county, New York, in 1827. Their children
have been: Franklin, Martin, Johnson B., Lorenzo, Sarah, Delos, Olive, James,
and Austin. They are all married. Mr. Goff has now twenty-seven grand
children, and two great grand children. He has been Road Commissioner,
School Director, etc., in Ustick, since his residence in the township.
Oliver Baker is a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, and was born Feb
ruary 23, 1822. He came to Whiteside county with his father, Mr. Jacob
Baker, on the 12th of October, 1839, and settled at first in Fulton. During tbe
time he was a resident of Fulton he worked occasionally for John Baker, the
original settler, and had the honor of planting the first fruit trees in North
western Whiteside on Mr. Baker's place near the Cattail creek. In 1842 he
went to Ustick, and lived for a year with his father's family on the farm now
owned by Stephen W. Goff, and in 1843 purchased the large farm now owned
by him in that township. This farm contains four hundred and eighty acres,
and is situated under the bluffs, on section 18. Immediately upon its purchase
he commenced active work in bringing it under a proper state of cultivation,
and in a few years had one of the finest and most productive farms in the
county. He continued to live upon it until 1867, when he moved to Morrison
and engaged in buying and shipping stock, leaving his two sons to till its fertile
acres. His eldest Son, Birney G., in a few years joined him in the stock busi
ness at Morrison, and the youngest son, Anson L., took charge of the farm, and
still continues its management. Mr. Baker was married to Miss Elizabeth
Graves, daughter of Lewis Graves, of Ustick, on the 22d day of June, 1843.
The children by this marriage are: Birney G., born June 26, 1844; and Anson
L. born May 13, 1850. Birney G. married Miss Deborah Sylvester, and lives
in Morrison; Anson L. married Miss Anna Pierce, and lives in Ustick. Mrs.
Baker died July 5, 1874, and in August, 1875, Mr. Baker married Miss Deborah
Bedell. There have been no children by this marriage. During all the period
Mr. Baker resided in Ustick, he took an active and prominent part in the affairs
of the township and county. In 1857 he was elected Supervisor of the town
ship, and held the office for three successive terms. During his first term the
Board of Supervisors met at Sterling. He also held the office of Justice of the
Peace for quite a number of years. When the mail route from Fulton by the

472 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
way of Thompson, Savanna, and other towns, to Galena, was established, it
passed by his residence in Ustick, and a Postoffice was located there, for which
he was appointed Postmaster, and retained the position until the office was
abolished. He is at present Alderman from the Second Ward of the city of
Blorrison. A. BI. Abbott is a native of the Green Mountain State, and came to Ustick
in 1S47, where he purchased a farm on section 32, on which he has since con
tinued to reside. Mr. Abbott learned the gunsmith trade in his native State,
and when he settled in Ustick nailed up his sign by the road side, and being a
skillful workman soon had all the work he could do, many of his customers com
ing a distance of over twenty miles, and some of them over thirty miles. He
has always been an active and influential man in the township, and has been fre
quently elected to town positions. He was the first Town Clerk, holding the
office some years; was Supervisor in 1855-56, and has been several terms Jus
tice of the Peace, occupying the latter position at present. Mrs. Dorcas Noyes
Abbott, widow of the late Deacon Benjamin Abbott, and mother of Mr. Abbott,
died at his residence February 27, 1877, at the advanced age of ninety-two years.
Blrs. Abbott was one of the old settlers of Ustick, having settled there with her
husband in 1848. Deacon and Mrs. Abbott were among the original members
of the Congregational church at Unionville, now the First Congregational church
of Morrison, Deacon Abbott also being one of the first trustees. At Mrs. Ab
bott's death the last of those original members had passed away. Mrs. Phoebe
Drake, sister of Blrs. A. M. Abbott, who died in Ustick in 1843, was the second
person interred in the burial ground in Union Grove, west of Unionville.
John C. Martindale is one of the active, progressive farmers and busi
ness men of Ustick, whose farm is on section 9, in Spring Valley. He has fre
quently been elected by his fellow citizens to town positions.
Hiram Ingham is an old resident of the town, and has grown up with it.
He has a fine farm on section 18, under the bluffs, and is highly respected as a
citizen. Joshua Hollinshead, Daniel Hollinshead, and J. W. Hollinshead,
are sons of John Hollinshead, one of the pioneers of the township, whose biog
raphy appears in this chapter. They are thorough-going farmers, and own lands
in sections 6, 7 and 8. J. W.. Hollinshead is now a resident of Fulton, and car
ries on the grain trade in connection with his farm.
Among the other farmers and business men in Ustick to whom the town
ship is much indebted for its rapid growth and development, and who take a
leading part in its affairs, are: H. L. and S. N. Houghton, on sections 7 and
8; Joel W. Farley, on section 21; Peter Durward, on section 14; A. S.
Ritchie, on sections 15 and 22; A. W. Ritchie, on sections 15 and 22; J. K.
Robertson, on sections 13, 14 and 23; J. N. Canfield, on section 16; Seth
Strickland, on section 19; A. C. Crouch, on section 20; Henry Hoover, on
section 22; Daniel Sherman, on section 30; Hervey Smith, on section 30;
R. K. Blodgett, on section 30; J. J. Gallentine, on section 25; J. M. Wil
liamson, on section 9; David, and J. B. Galt, on sections 13 and 24; James
BIelville, on section 2; Moses A.Green, on sections 1 and 12.

CHAPTER XXVI.
History of Union Grove Township — Biographical.

History of Union Grove Township.
Union Grove township was originally a portion of Union Precinct and
derives its name from the grove of timber in that township and Mt. Pleasant,
which the original settlers named "Union Grove." The township was organized
by the Board of County Commissioners in 1852, after the county adopted the
"Township Organization laws." The topography of the township is varied.
The eastern part is marked by a chain of gentle bluffs and small groves of tim
ber; the northern, central and south-eastern portions is undulating and level
prairie; extending through the western part is a narrow body of low land, known
as swamp land, in which are the famous Union Grove Peat Beds. The "cattails,"
as the body of land is called, is bordered by bluffs on either side, sparsely covered
with timber, and by drainage have been mostly reclaimed, and now present the
fairest meadows in the county. The peat beds furnish an inexhaustible and excel
lent quality of peat. The peat deposits are fully described in the geological arti
cle. Valuable stone quarries are worked in the eastern part of the township at
and near Unionville, and in the Cattail bluffs. The township is watered by
Rock Creek, Cattail Creek, and small brooks. Good wells are easily secured.
The soil is fertile, producing large crops, principally corn, the farmers being gen
erally engaged in the production of that crop, hay and stock raising. Formerly
large crops of wheat were produced, but now the yield is uncertain, and the bus
iness not so lucrative. The first settlers secured excellent crops of winter
wheat, but now none is produced.
Among the pioneers of Union Grove previous to 1840, were: J. T. Atkin
son and family, Daniel B. Young and family, Henry Ustick, Sr., and family, Ira
Burch and family, Elisha Hubbart and family, John Richards and family,
-Stephen Jeffers and family, George Garlick and family, J. L. Powell, Benedict
Brown, Joseph Town, Elijah Town, Benjamin Burns, J. A. Robertson, John
Kent, Porteus Robertson, Silas Mitchell, James Terrell, John A King1, J. J.
Kellogg, M. L. Atkinson.
The first cabin was built in Union Grove in the spring of 1836, by Joshua
T. Atkinson, and his daughter, Anna E., was the first white child born in the
present township. She was born in November, 1836. The first death is not
now certainly known, but is thought to be that of Payson Ustick. The first
person interred in the burying ground near Edward Vennum's was Joseph Town.
The first marriage celebrated in the township, was that of Frank Peck and Eliza
beth Brown, J. T. Atkinson, J. P., officiating.
Union Grove Precinct was named by Jonathan Haines, Henry Boyer, and
J. T. Atkinson. The claim where Unionville now stands was made by J. T. At
kinson, J. W. Stakes selecting the Morrison side of the creek, the two gentlemen
then being in a kind of partnership in the "settlement business." This division
of claims was made by Messrs. Atkinson and Stakes in June, 1836, their claims
having been the year previous. [6o-E.]

474 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Bliss Blary Jeffers taught the first school. It was in a double log cabin
occupied by Henry Boyer, in what is now Mt. Pleasant, but being the school
the people of Unionville sent their children to. This was in the summer of
1840. The same year a small frame school house was erected at Unionville,
and Miss Augusta Foster, now Mrs. Hubbard, of Moline, employed as teacher.
The building is now occupied by Chas. Chesley as a dwelling house. The
shingles were rived out and put in place by John Kent and John L. Powell.
J. A. Robertson, B. Burns, and I. A. Maxwell, put up the frame. This was
a pretentious school house in those days, and the first public school in the town
ship. Union Grove was very early in her history supplied with gospel privileges.
The settlers were first provided with the itinerent and mission services, and the
labor of the local preachers. Soon after Unionville came into existence several
churches were organized ; with the exception of the Wesleyan Society the his
tory of the Unionville churches will be found under the head of church history
in the article on Morrison. The Wesleyans had a church edifice, and until a
few vears ago it was one of the old Unionville landmarks. There is no church
building at present in Union Grove township, the people generally attending
church services at Morrison.
In 1839 John A. Robertson and Benjamin Burns built a saw-mill at Un
ionville, and converted a great amount of tbe timber of the country into lumber.
Messrs. Robertson and Burns, and Mr. Kent when afterwards in their employ,
"batched" it in a log cabin built on the hillside. This was probably the first
residence in Unionville. The milling interests started in this small way was the
nucleus of the village.
Unionville was laid out in 1841 by Henry Boyer, Henry Ustick, Sr., John
A. Robertson, and M. L. Atkinson. Benjamin Burns was one of the proprie
tors of the town, which became a place of considerable importance, having several
stores, shops, churches, schools, postoffice, etc., and was doing a large business,
with promise of having a town of considerable size, when the railroad passed
to one side, and Morrison sprang up. The stores, churches and many of the
dwelling houses, with the principal portion of the citizens, moved over the creek.
Unionville occupies a beautiful location and was finely laid out, and but for the
circumstances mentioned might have become one of the most beautiful as well
as substantial towns in the county.
In 1847 there was a Library Association in Unionville with a membership
of over fifty and a considerable amount of property. On the books of the com
missioners' Court of the county the names of the Trustees were recorded
September 18,1847, as Henry Ustick, L. L.Hoag, EdwardVennum, W. C.Snyder,
and J. A. Robertson.
The only grist mill now in the township of Union Grove is that known as
Annan's Mill, situated on Rock Creek, at Unionville. The mill was built in
1858-59 by William Annan and John A.Robertson, tbe work being commenced
in the former year, and completed in all of its appointments just before Christ
mas in the latter, so that some grists were ground before New Year's. The
building is of stone, two and a half stories high, besides the basement, and in
size thirty-two by forty-two feet. It is one of the most substantial structures
in the county, and has three run of large stone, and one of small size, called a
pony stone, the former being four feet in diameter, and the latter thirty-four
inches, and is used principally for grinding shorts, buckwheat, etc., saving a
great deal of power. The mill has a capacity of grinding from ten to sixteen
bushels of wheat in an hour, equal to two barrels of flour per hour, but as it is
used now exclusively as a custom or grist mill, its full capacity is not exerted.

HISTORY OF UNION GROVE TOWNSHIP. 475
The present dam is a frame one, and was built in 1862, by Mr. Annan, the one
used before that time being made mainly of brush. Mr. Annan came to Union
ville in 1849, and purchased an interest in the saw mill, which then stood on
the site of the present grist mill, and carried on the business in connection with
John A. Robertson as partner, until timber became so scarce that it would not
pay to run it longer, and it was torn down, and the grist mill erected. Shortly
after the grist mill was built, Mr. Annan bought Mr. Robertson's interest, and
since that time has been the sole owner.
The township has seven school districts, in each of which there is a good
school building, well furnished with seats and apparatus. The township school
fund is also large. The school building located at Unionville, in District No. 1,
is a fine wooden structure, two stories high, standing on an eminence overlook
ing a wide extent of territory, and was erected in 1854-'55, conjointly by the
town and school district. At the town meeting in the spring of the former
year, it was voted to raise six hundred dollars by tax to erect the structure, pro
vided the district would raise nine hundred dollars. To this the district agreed,
and the building was erected, the lower story being used for school purposes,
and the upper one for those of the town. In 1856 the town sold its interest in
the building to the school district, and from thenceforward it has been devoted
to the uses of the school. Within its walls many of the citizens of Unionville,
and the surrounding country, received their early education. It has always had
a full attendance of scholars, and been presided over by able, experienced
teachers. The Directors have spared no pains to make the school complete in
all of its appointments. Columbus Vennum is the present Principal.
The first township meeting in Union Grove was held at the house of John
A. Robertson, April 6. 1852, in Unionville. Stephen Jeffers was Moderator,
and J. N. Vennum, Clerk. D. B. Young, W. C. Snyder, B. Burns, ' Stephen
Jeffers, and Luther Gibbs, were appointed a committee on by-laws. A tax of one
cent on each hundred dollars of taxable property was voted for the purpose of
purchasing a book for the town. John A. Robertson, John Kent, and Luther
Gibbs, were elected Overseers of Highways. The meeting adopted a resolution
prohibiting hogs from running at large, and elected the following officers: Su
pervisor, Wm. C. Snyder; Town Clerk, A. P. Young; Assessor, Benj. Burns;
Collector, Allen Graves; Overseer of the Poor, Jacob Baker; Commissioners of
Highways, John A. Robertson, Edward Vennum, Stephen Jeffers; Constables:
A. A. Richmond, J. N. Vennum; Justices of the Peace, D. B. Young, Reed
Wilbur. At the regular meeting, April 11, 1853, the committee chosen at the
previous annual meeting to draft by-laws, presented the following preamble and
resolution: ".Whereas, The by-laws passed by your town meeting (though said
not to be valid in law) have proved all sufficient for the promotion of peace and
good will between neighbors, therefore, Resolved, That we pass no other by
laws or restrictions whatever, but abide by the ancient land marks." At the
same meeting $35 was voted to pay officers and other incidental expenses of the
town for the current year. April 5, 1854, by a vote of twenty-one to two, the
town decided to raise by taxation $600 to build a house for the use of the town,
at or near Unionville, provided School District No. 1 raise by taxation or other
wise $900, to be used conjointly with the town funds, the upper story to' be
used by the town for town purposes, and the lower story by the School District
for school purposes. In 1855 a tax of $275 was levied to build a bridge across
the creek at Unionville. In 1856 the citizens of the town voted in favor of sel
ling the township's interest in the town house to the School District. In 1864,
by a vote of 40 to 2, the town voted a tax for the purpose of paying bounties
to soldiers, and in 1865 a further tax for bounties was voted by 32 to 1. In

476 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
1865 the township paid soldiers a bounty of $100, and levied a tax of three-
eighths of one per cent, to pay war indebtedness. In 1869 Messrs. J. T. Atkin
son, John Kent, and Edward Vennum, were appointed to take charge of the
burial ground of the township, donated by Mr. Brown, and to keep the same in
repair. In 1870 the citizens of the township adopted resolutions instructing
their Supervisor to oppose any appropriations for the new poor house, and also
instructing him to advocate the plan of each town caring for its own poor.
The following have been the town officers of Union Grove from its or
ganization in 1852, to the present:
Supervisors: — 1852-53, William C. Snyder; 1854, Henry Boyer; 1855,
John Kent; 1856-57, Charles J. Goodwin; 1858, Daniel B. Young; 1859-65,
Joshua T. Atkinson; 1866-67, Edward V. Lapham; 1868, Henry C. Fellows;
1869-71, G. L. Hough; 1872-74, James 0. A. Bennett; 1875-77, Robert E.
Logan. Town Clerks:— 1852-'54, Aaron P. Young; 1855, A. A. Hulett; 1856, R.
E. Benton; 1857-'59, Wm. R. Baker; 1860'-62, E. G. Topping; 1863, B. K.
Jackson; 1864, A. P. Young; 1865, W. F. Twining; 1866-'67, E. G.
Topping; 1868-72, S. R. Hall; 1873, E. G. Topping; 1874, S. R. Hall; 1876, M.
D. Strunk; 1876-77, S. R. Hall.
Assessors: — 1852, Benj. Burns; 1853, Jacob Baker; 1854-'55, Allen Graves;
1856-'57, E. A. Pollard; 1858-'60, Wm. Topping; 1861, EdwardVennum: 1862,
J. 0. A. Bennett; 1863-67, A. A. Hulett; 1868-70, A. B. Gibbs; 1871, Ed
ward Vennum; 1872, A. B. Gibbs; 1873, A. M. Teller; 1874-77, A. B. Gibbs.
Collectors:— 1852, Allen Graves; 1853-55, A. A. Richmond; 1856, A. A.
Hulett; 1857-'58, J. A. Fisher; 1858-'60. E. A. Pollard; 1861-'62, W. H. Pol
lard; 1863, E. G. Topping; 1864-'67, Wm. Lane; 1868, A. B. Tripp; 1869, E.
G. Topping; 1870-72, M. J. Phinney; 1873, J. H. Hulett; 1874, B. L. Able;
1874-77, B. Bonebrake.
Justices of the Peace:— 1852, D. B. Young, Reed Wilbur; 1856, E. V.
Lapham, D. B. Young; 1857, Wm. Lane; 1860, Wm. Lane, E. V. Lapham;
1862, E. A. Pollard; 1864, N. S. Green, E. V. Lapham; 1867, E. A. Pollard;
1868, J. Y. Jackson, E. A. Pollard; 1872, J. Y. Jackson, Wm. Topping; 1877,
A. A. Hulett, Frank Goodell.
The Assessor's book of Union Grove township for 1877, shows 14,525 acres
of improved land, and 7,988 acres of unimproved; improved lots, 20; unimprov
ed, 22. The total assessed value of all lands is $334,715. No. of horses, 397;
cattle, 1,385; mules and asses, 18; sheep, 178; hogs, 1,926; carriages and wagons,
121 ; sewing and knitting machines, 90; melodeons and organs, 2.9. Valueof
personal property, $53,983; railroad property, $26,141; assessed value of all
property, $422,844.
The population of Union Grove in 1870 was 1,070, of which number 903
were of native birth, and 167 of foreign birth. The estimated population of
the township in 1870 is 1,200. Popular vote in November 1876, 247.
Union Grove is ninety-six feet above low water mark in Lake Michigan,
and six hundred and forty-five feet above the level of the sea, taking the
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad track as the point of elevation.
Biographical.
Joshua T. Atkinson was born in Newburyport, Essex county, Massa
chusetts in 1810, and has resided only in that State and Illinois. He came to
Whiteside county in November, 1834, and passed the following winter above the
mouth of Coon creek, in old Prophetstown, occupying a part of a log

/ BIOGRAPHICAL. 477
cabin with J. W. Stakes and family. This was known as the McClure cabin,
and was built by Bigelow & McClure, of Peoria, who had established a ferry on
Rock river near the old Lewiston trail ford on that stream, it being the first
ferry between the one at Dixon, and Van Ruff's at the mouth of the river.
During a part of the same winter, in addition to the family of Mr. Stakes, and
Mr. Atkinson, Messrs. Baxter, Benson, Bennett, and Charles Atkinson, with
their families, made a home in the cabin. They had plenty of Indians for
neighbors, but they were peaceable and friendly, and fond of fun and trade.
Notwithstanding their limited quarters, Mr. Atkinson represents that all passed
a pleasant winter, the only drawback being now and then a short allowance of
provisions which would necessitate a journey to Fox river, or to Knox county.
In the spring of 1835 he went to Round Grove, which by-the-way received its
name from him and Mr. Stakes, with the intention of settling there, and in ac
cordance with one of the rules in vogue at that day, "jack-knifed," a claim.
As soon as this was done, he started to Henry or Rock Island county to get a
team for breaking purposes, and on his return found that he had been ousted by
Messrs. Pilgrim, Nance, Jones, and others, who had broken patches all around the
grove duringhis absence. There was nothing to do but submit, and he left there, and
in company with J. W. Stakes, made claims to a large amount of land on both sides
of Rock creek, in what is now Union Grove and Mt. Pleasant townships. After
leaving Round Grove he that summer broke the first seven or eight acres where
Morrison now stands. As the claim, or rather claims, made by Blessrs. Atkinson
and Stakes covered considerable territory, a division was made in June, 1836,
Mr. Atkinson taking the part on the west side of Rock creek, and Mr. Stakes
the part on the east side. Mr. Atkinson commenced making improvements on
his claim, located in what is now Union Grove township, in the summer and
winter of 1835, and built the first cabin in the township, and from the fifth to
the eighth in the county. In July, 1836, he moved his family to the claim, and
continued to reside there until his removal to Geneseo, Henry county, in 1875.
He has the honor of making the first prairie or breaking plow in the township,
and perhaps in the county. He was assisted in the iron work by Mr. Hubbard,
brother of Alexis Hubbard, of Lyndon, and in the wood work by C. G. Wood
ruff, of the same place. The timber for the plow was cut in Union Grove, and
considerable trouble occasioned in finding a tree of the right twist for the mould
board. The land side bar of the plow was between four and five feet long, and
the share between three and four feet, the plow turning a furrow from thirty-
two to thirty-six inches. This unique implement of husbandry was constructed in
1836. Mr. Atkinson also brought the first reaper into the county. It was one
of McCormick's first manufacture, and was bought in 1837 or 1838. At the
election held in the fall of 1836, the first one held in the county after its pre
liminary organization by the General Assembly, Mr. Atkinson was elected Jus
tice of the Peace, and James Heaton, Constable. Mr. Atkinson was ordered to
take the returns of the election to Galena, Jo Daviess county, a trip which con
sumed about four days time, at a cost of eight to ten dollars, for the customary
fee of one dollar and fifty cents. He had to qualify as Justice of the Peace
also at that place, Whiteside county being then yet attached to Jo Daviess for
judicial purposes. Mr. Atkinson was always one of the first to assist in push
ing forward any enterprise which looked to the development of the township
and county of his adoption, and when the project of building^a railroad through
the county from Dixon to Fulton, was started, he entered aT once heartily into
the work, and used all of his influence to obtain aid to construct it. He was
elected one of the first Directors of the Company, which was then known as
the Mississippi & Rock Biver Junction Bailroad Company. The efforts of this

478 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
company, strange to say, met with strong opposition from many along the pro
posed line, some urging one objection, and some another, while still others con
tented themselves with throwing ridicule upon it. One settler of influence
said the road would not help to raise any more corn, pork or beef, and another,
that it would be time enough fifty years afterwards to talk about building rail
roads. These objectors are now beneficiaries of the road to a large extent, and
would gladly give their thousands rather than have it destroyed, or have the
track moved to a different location. Mr. Atkinson took a very prominent part
in township and county affairs from the time he first became a resident of
Whiteside, and being a man of more than -ordinary ability and activity wielded
a wide influence in shaping them for the best interests of the people. After
the organization of the township under the township organization law, he rep
resented Union Grove in the Board of Supervisors for seven successive terms,
and has also held other township offices. He was married in 1831 to Miss
Emeline Little, of Plymouth, New Hampshire. Their children have been Anna
E.; James W.; Sarah L.; Josiah L.; and George L. Of these, Josiah L. died
in Union Grove in 1849, and George L. died in Colorado, in 1876. Anna E.
married E. P. Keyes, and lives in Boston, Massachusetts. James W. married
Miss Sarah BI. Savage, daughter of the late W. J. Savage, of Morrison, and
lives in Moline, Illinois. Sarah L. resides with her parents in Geneseo, Henry
county. In a letter to the publishers of this work, Mr. Atkinson says: "The
intercourse of over forty years with the citizens of Whiteside county has been
friendly; their interests, and those of the county, have been my interests.
May the future of Whiteside be as prosperous and happy as its past has been
energetic and patriotic."
Henry Boyer was born in Monroe county, Va., September 11, 1805, and
died at Unionville, July 22, 1873. He was married in Sangamon county, Illi
nois, July 22, 1830, to Miss Mary Powell, who was born in Pickaway county,
Ohio, August 5, 1811. Mrs. Boyer died May 19, 1871. In 1836 Mr. Boyer
came to Whiteside county from Sangamon county Illinois, and settled in what is
now Mt. Pleasant township near the line between that town and Union Grove, on
the west side of Rock creek. A few years later he moved into Union Grove town
ship where he resided until the time of his death. He was a man of strong in
dividuality, and was a prominent and working abolitionist when it cost courage
to be one. He had the confidence of his friends and neighbors in an eminent
degree in all things, and was prominent in the development of the county. Mr.
Boyer was one of tbe founders of Unionville, and engaged in other enterprises
for the advancement of the county. Children : Caroline, born April 29, 1831;
Washington F., born July 16, 1832; Lydia A., born January 28, 1834; Eliza
beth Jane, born January 5, 1836; Jacob W., born January 1, 1838; Samuel V.,
born December 22, 1839; Mary J., born November 7, 1841; Edward P., born
August 25, 1843; Abigail, born June 9, 1845; John W., born December 17, 1847;
Henry, Jr., born January 18, 1849; Emily, born August 1, 1851; Harriet B., born
February 16, 1854. Caroline, and Henry, Jr., died in infancy. Washington F.
is married, and lives in Union Grove. Lydia A. married Aaron P. Young, and
resides in Mt. Pleasant. Elizabeth Jane married A. B. Lukens, and lives in
Jasper county, Blissouri. Jacob W. resides in Washington Territory. Samuel
V. is married, and lives in Fulton. Mary J. married E. W. Shirk, and
lives in St. PauL^ Minnesota. Edward P. died in the army at Chat
tanooga, Tenness«&, April 15, 1865. Abigail married M. M. Confrey, and
resides in Jasper county, Missouri. John W. is married, and lives in Detroit,
Michigan. Emily married A. C. Johnson, and resides in Chicago. Harriet B.
is unmarried.

BIOGRAPHICAL. 479
Daniel Beers Young was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, September
16, 1800. When he was quite a child his parents moved to Knox county, Ohio,
and in 1831 he settled in Marion, now Morrow county, in the State. In 1837,
he came to Whiteside county, and purchased a claim of six hundred and forty
acres in what is now Union Grove township, of J. T. Atkinson, paying for the
land and improvements, together with some farming implements, the sum of
three thousand six hundred dollars. Mr. Young early took a part in the public
affairs of Whiteside, and was elected the first Probate Justice of the county,
serving from 1839 until 1842. He was also the first School Commissioner of
the county, holding the office from 1840 until 1842. He was at one time elec
ted County Treasurer, but declined to serve. In 1852, he was elected Justice
of the Peace of Union Grove, and held the office until 1857, and in 1858 rep
resented the township in the Board of Supervisors. He filled each of these
positions with excellent satisfaction, bringing to them the Jeffersonian test, hon
esty, capability, and faithfulness to the constitution. As a man and a citizen,
he stands high in the estimation of all. About twelve years ago he settled in
Morrison where he now resides. Mr. Young married Miss Betsey Jackson,
November 4, 1824. Miss Jackson was born October 28, 1805. The children
by this marriage have been: Emily, born October 22, 1825; Abigail, born April
14, 1827; Charity Ann, born February 25, 1829; Harriet, born December 30,
1830; Jacob Clark, born August 27, 1832; Lucy, born May 18, 1834; Tryphena,
born April 27, 1836; Aaron Nelson, born April 3, 1838; Jackson, born Novem
ber 17,- 1839; John Mitchell, born February 22, 1843; Sylvia Ann, born Decem
ber 12, 1845; and Emeline Amelia, born December 3, 1847. Emeline Amelia
died February 1, 1848. Emily married John A. Robertson, August 7, 1842, and
died May 13, 1858 ( see biography of John A. Robertson ). Abigail married
Matthew B. Potter, October 20, 1847, and died August 26, 1863; children, War-
fen. Carrie, and Matthew. Charity Ann married John P. Potter, March 27,
1849, and resides in Henry county, Illinois; children, Alvina Rose, Bessie, and
Noble. Harriet married Elbert Pinney, March 29, 1849, and resides in Preston,
Missouri; children, Beers John, May, Lula, Charity, Nettie, and two others.
Jacob Clark married Miss AmeliaD. Harris, November 3, 1858, and lives at Preston,
Missouri; children, Emma, Cora, Leroy, Stella, aud one other. Lucy married John
W. Jacobs, August 20, 1857, and lives in Carthage, Missouri; children, Ernest, Jay
W., Bessie, and Bertha. Tryphena married Willis F. Johnson, January 13, 1859,
and lives in Chicago; children, Wealthy May, and Anna Blanche. Aaron Nel
son married Miss Anna M. Corell, March 26, 1867, and lives at Evanston, Cook
county, Illinois; children, Albert, Ruth, William, and Paul. Jackson married
Miss LydiaL. Lyman, October 2, 1865, and livesat Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory;
children, Nelson, Homer and one other. John M. married Miss Mattie Mitch
ell, March 25, 1866, and lives in Miller county, Missouri; children, Willis, John
Brady, and one other. Sylvia A. married George L. Hutchinson, January 7,
1867 and lives in Colorado; one child, Milford. Mrs. Young died January 13,
1872 and Mr. Young married Mra. Harriet Allen, October 28, 1873. Mr. Young
has forty-eight grand children, and seven great grand children.
John A. Robertson was born in Washington county, New York, August
5 1812. He remained in his'native State until 1836, when he started for the
west on an investigating expedition, coming by way of the Lakes to Detroit,
and from there to Chicago on foot. Starting from the latter place he visited
Peoria and some other points in Illinois, and then returned to the east. Being
pleased with the country, he came back in 1838, accompanied by Henry Ustick,
Sr. and settled where Unionville now stands. He soon afterwards, in connec
tion with Mr. Benjamin Burns, erected a saw mill on the site of the flouring

480 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
mill now owned by Mr. William Annan, which latter miil he was also largely
interested in building. BIr. Robertson was one of the proprietors of the village
of Unionville, and assisted in laying out the town in 1839. As showing th*
contrast between the past and the present, he used to relate that while attend
ing to his saw mill he had shot deer as they came down to the creek to cross.
He also kept a hotel at Unionville, in the palmy days of the town, which was
widely celebrated for the excellence of its table, and the superiority of its ac
commodations. Early in 1870 he retired from business, and resided with his
daughter, Blrs. D. S. Spafford, in Blorrison, until his death, December 5, 1875. He
was a man of quiet disposition, of fine business abilities, and was highly esteemed
by the entire community. Mr. Robertson married Miss Emily Young, daughter of
D. B. Young, of Union Grove, August 7, 1842. Mrs. Robertson died Blay 13,
1858. Their children have been: Ann Eliza, born January 15, 1844; Andrew
J., born November 26, 1845; Lewis, born March 16, 1848; Beers Y., born Feb
ruary 24, 1850; LeRoy, born August 7, 1852; Ida May, born April 9, 1855; and
Fred Y., born Blay 3, 1858. Beers Y. died July 31, 1855. Ann Eliza mar
ried Dwight S. Spafford, November 16, 1865, and resides in Morrison; children:
Frank S., Earl J., and Rob Roy. Lewis married Miss Hannah S. Williams in
February, 1873, and resides in Kewanee, Henry county, Illinois; no children.
Andrew J. and LeRoy are engaged in stock raising in Wyoming Torritory; and
Ida Blay and Fred Y. reside in Morrison.
Benjamin Burns was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, November 13,
1813, and came to Whiteside county in October, 1837. He settled in what is
now Union Grove township, his first effort being the erection of a saw mill on
Rock creek, on the site of the present grist mill of William Annan, in connec
tion with John A. Robertson. He remained in partnership with Mr. Robertson,
in running tbe saw mill, about three years, when he traded his interest with
Silas Matthews fotf section 2 in Union Grove township, upon which he imme
diately removed. He retained the ownership of the entire section for some
time, but as the settlers began to come in more rapidly, sold portions of it, re
serving at last the old homestead with one hundred and fourteen acres. This
farm is one of the finest situated and best cultivated in Union Grove township.
BIr. Burns is one of the oldest settlers now living in Whiteside county, and is a
genial, hale, hearty gentleman, commanding and receiving the respect of all.
He took a prominent part in the affairs of the township and county at an early
day, but of late years has devoted himself almost wholly to the cultivation of
his farm. He was married on the 8th day of October 8, 1841, to Miss Agnes
Mosher, of Clyde. Their children have been: George, born September 3, 1842;
Anna, born November 5, 1843; Emma, born April 17, 1845; Hattie, born June
24, 1847; Alvira, born June 6, 1849; Ross, born January 31, 1851; Zilpha,
born June 6, 1852; Willie, born April 25, 1857; Clark, born January 6, 1859;
Howard, born October 31,1860: and Clara, born April, 28, 1867. Of these
children, Ross died April 2, 1851, and Alvira September 20, 1854. Anna mar
ried Robert Trye, and lives in Clyde; Emma married Elliott Pollard, and lives
in Sedgwick, Kansas; Hattie married Robert Fellows, and lives in Union Grove;
Zilpha married James B. King, and lives in Clyde; and George married Miss
Rena Medberry, and lives in Chebanse, Illinois. Willie, Clark. Howard, and
Clara, reside at home.
John Kent was born in Morriston, Morris county, New Jersey, in 1816.
When ten years of age he removed with his father to Ohio where be resided
until April, 1839, when he came to Union Grove. He worked the first summer
for Henry Ustick, and the next winter in the saw mill for J. A. Robertson and
Benj. Burns. He made his first claim where he now resides near Union Grove

BIOGRAPHICAL. 481
Station. In 1841 he married Miss Mary Jeffers, who taught the first school in
the locality. When Mr. Kent commenced housekeeping he left his wife in their
cabin alone and made a toilsome journey of twelve days to Chicago, where he
traded a load of winter wheat for a stove with which to commence housekeeping.
Mrs. Kent died July 13, 1876. Children: Sarah Elizabeth, now dead; Mary M.,
married to Volney Twitchell; Ellen A., married to John A. Blue; Omar L., mar
ried and resides on home farm; Lewis H, a lawyer; and John W. Mr. Kent's
farms are among the finest and most advantageously located of- any in the coun
ty, but when he made his claim, the "neighbors" about the grove considered
he was going " clear out of the country."
John Richards was born in Radnorshire, Wales, in 1791. During his
residence there he was married in 1824, to Miss Ann Mitten, a native of the
same place. At the age of 39 he concluded to change his place of residence,
and with his wife came to the United States, and located in Ohio, where he re
mained four years. In 1836, he came with his family to what is now Union
Grove township, making the journey by way of the lakes. While on lake Erie
the vessel in which they were making the trip was wrecked, and the family bare
ly escaped with their lives, losing all their money and goods, except one trunk,
and the garments they were clothed in. Mr. Richards made a claim on section
34, and until his death, which occurred a number of years ago, devoted himself
entirely to farming, fie was highly respected, and enjoyed the esteem of all
who knew him. Mrs. Richards 'still survives, and resides with her daughter on
the old homestead. Their children have been: Margaret, bornin 1825, and died in
Wales; John, bornin 1828; William, born in 1831; Richard, born in 1835; Eliza,
born in 1838. John was married in 1848, to Mrs. Mary Swarthout; children;
William E., George, Mary, Linda, .and Lewis. William was married in 1859, to
Miss Margaret Savage; children: Anna, Raphael, Delbert, and Mettie. Richard
was married in 1862 to Miss Luceba fiopkins; children: Alice Jane, and Rosa
Rebecca. Eliza was married in 1854, to Lester Wells, who is now dead; chil
dren: Royal, Almena, Eveline, and Ralph.
Elisha Hubbart was born in Warwick county, Pennsylvania, February
7, 1797. When seven years of age he moved with his father's family to Otsego
county, New York, where he remained until he was twenty, when he went to
Broome county, in the same State, in which county he was married to Miss
Irany Coburn, in March. 1820. He resided in Broome county, engaged in farm
ing, and attending to his profession as horse farrier, until the spring of 1837,
when he moved to Michigan, remaining there only about a year, and then con
tinuing his journey westward arrived at Lyndon, February 27, 1838, his wife's
father and family having preceded him. He stayed a short time in Lyndon, and
then made a claim on sections 34 and 35, in what is now Union Grove town
ship, and in section 2 in the present township of Fenton, the claim containing
two hundred and eighty acres. While preparing this claim for cultivation, he
resided for the season on what is now known as the Dimick farm, in Mt. Pleas
ant township, and moved to his own farm in the fall of 1838. Mrs. Hubbart
was born March 13, 1802, in New York State, and died May 12, 1839. Mr.
Hubbart died February 10, 1842, at Snake Hollow, near Galena, while on a trip
to sell hogs. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hubbart have been: William W.,
born August 29, 1821; James O, born October 12, 1823; Simpson S., born
March 3, 1825; Cynthia E., born April 21, 1827; Mary A., born March 14,1829;
Benjamin F., born January 9, 1832; Czarina I., born September 9, 1836; Elisha
H., born May 12, 1839. Mary A. died in Union Grove, in August, 1856. Wil
liam W. married Miss Julia Penny, and lives in Erie; James C. married Miss
Mariah L. Putney, and lives in Erie; Simpson S. married Miss Adeline Remer,
[6— F.]

482 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
and lives in Union Grove; Cynthia E. married Reuben Baker, and lives in Kan
sas; Benjamin F. married Miss Virginia R. Thompson, and lives in Erie; Czar
ina I. married Ariah Broadwell, and died in the fall of 1859 at her home in
Blinnesota; and Elisha H. married Miss Harriet Remer, and lives near Puget
Sound, in Washington Territory.
Simpson S. Aubbart was born in the town of Sanford, Broome county,
New York, March 3, 1825. In May, 1837, he came West with his father's fam
ily, and arrived in Whiteside county February 27, 1838. Shortly after their
arrival the family settled on sections 34 and 35 in Union Grove, and section 2
in Fenton, the farm containing two hundred and eighty acres. After the death
of his father, in 1842, BIr. Hubbart and his brother, James C, became the own
ers of the farm, until he purchased the latter's interest in 1855, since which
time he has been sole owner, and has continued to reside upon it, his home being
in Union Grove township. On the second of February, 1853, Mr. Hubbart
married Bliss Adeline E. Remer, of Union Grove. Their children have been:
Fitz James, born January 3, 1854; Blary Lillian, born September 2, 1855; Jene
Douglas, born August 8, 1860; Franklin Lee, born November 4, 1862; Samuel
Grant, born Blay 8, 1864; Susie I., born August 30, 1865; Charles Henry, born
August 31, 1868; Stella Blay, born Blay 8, 1870; Franz Sigel, born November
13, 1871. Mary Lillian, Jene Douglas, Susie I., and Charles Henry are dead.
Stephen Jeffers was born in the town of Enfield, New Hamphire, March
21, 1790. He first mbved to New York State, and came from there to White
side county in 1838, and located on Delhi prairie, in tbe present township of
Union Grove, his farm being the same now owned and occupied by E. V. Lap
ham. He was married in 1813, at Windsor, New York, to Miss Cynthia Coburn.
The children by this marriage bave been: Perry L., born August 12, 1816; Mary,
born July 20, 1818; Stephen, born September 20, 1820; John, born January 20,
1823; Charles, born September 14, 1825; Clarissa, born September 20, 1829;
Ellen, born October 28, 1831; Sarah, born December 25, 1833; and Alvah, born
May 20, 1836. Of these Perry L. married Bliss Julia Woodruff, October 15,
1836, and died in Lyndon September 2, 1854; Blary married John Kent in 1841,
and died in Union Grove, July 13, 1876; Stephen married Miss Julia Maxwell,
February 14, 1844, and lives in Hanover, Jo Daviess county; Charles married
Miss Elizabeth Williamson, April 4, 1851, and also lives in Hanover; Clarissa
married Henry Chapin. September 30, 1851, and lives in Galena, Jo Daviess
county; Ellen married B. D. Brown, July 5, 1852, and lives in Fenton; Sarah
married Lineas J. Robinson, May 17, 1852, and lives in Fenton; Alvah married
Miss Louisa Boyer, December 2, 1855, and lives in Iowa. Mr. Jeffers sold his
farm in Union Grove in 1854, and purchased one in Fenton. He died in Fen
ton February 21, 1858, and is buried in the Lyndon cemetery. Mrs. Jeffers is
still living at the advanced age of eighty years, and resides with her son-in-law,
Mr. Lineas J. Robinson, in Fenton.
Ira Burch was a native of New York State, and born Blay 24, 1800. He
remained on the farm with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, when
he commenced sailing on the lakes until 1832, being a captain for several years.
On the 5th of April, 1832, he married Bliss Joanna M. Bacon, of Ripley, Chau
tauqua county, New York. Mrs. Burch was born in Sunderland, Bennington
county, Vermont, August 1, 1817. The children by this marriage have been:
Harrison D., born July 22, 1833; Thomas J., born November 9, 1835; Eliza S.,
born December 14, 1837; William H., born August 14, 1840; Merritt, born
December 20, 1841; Judson, born February 4, 1843; Ira S.,born June 25, 1844.
Of these children, William H. died October 14, 1840; Merritt died March 1, 1842;
and Judson died August 28, 1843. Harrison D. married Miss Elizabeth W.

BIOGRAPHICAL 483
Wookey, January 1, 1856, and lives in Union Grove; Thomas J. married Miss
Mary A. Cooley, July 4, 1858, and lives in Garden Plain; Eliza S. married
George Guff, October 8, 1855, and lives in Garden Plain; and Ira S. married Miss
Margaret A. Thompson, March 12, 1866, and also lives in Garden Plain. Ira
Burch, the subject of this sketch, came to Whiteside county in 1837, and set
tled on the west side of the cattail, a part of his land being in Union Grove,
and part in Garden Plain, his house being in the former township. He died of
lung fever, on the 10th of March, 1846, after an illness of five days.
Nathaniel L. Bond was born in Lewis county, New York, January 26,
1815, and came to Whiteside county in 1843, first settling on the bottoms in
what is now Ustick township, where he remained five years, and then moved to
Lyndon township, about a mile north of the village, living there twenty years.
From there he went to DeKalb county and stayed a year, and then came to
Union Grove, purchasing a farm on section 34 in that township. Mr. Bond was
married on the 4th of March, 1841, to Miss Sallie M. Canfield, and their children
have been: Lucinda S., born June 4, 1843; George E., born October 4, 1844;
Norton H., born September 20, 1845; Laura A., born August 23, 1847; Mary J.,
born January 15, 1849; Alzina L., born December 9, 1850; Ellen L., born May
29, 1852; Charles M., born July 4. 1853; Rosetta C, born January 27, 1856;
Sewell L., born April 24, 1860. George E. died October 18, 1844; Norton H.
died October 6, 1846; Ellen L. died March 12, 1863; and Sewell L. died Novem
ber 7, 1860. Lucinda S. married William P. Crump, and lives in Mt. Pleasant
township; Laura A. married George B. Drum, and lives in Unadilla, Otoe coun
ty, Nebraska; Mary J. married Horace Scribner, and lives in Lewis, Cass county,
Iowa; Alzina L. married William E. Richards, and lives in Union Grove; Charles
M. is unmarried., and lives in Larned, Prince county, Kansas; Rosetta C. lives
with her parents in Union Grove.
Capt. John A. King was a native of New York State, and came to Whiteside
county in 1837, and made a claim on the west side of the grove, in what is now
Union Grove township. After making some improvements, he ascertained that
his claim was on the school section, and then abandoned it for a small improve
ment two miles south near John Richard's present place. Capt. King had been
part owner and Captain of a boat on the Hudson river, plying between New
York and Albany, for several years before coming to Whiteside. In the fall of
1838, his wife, whose maiden name was Emily Odell, a sister of J. Danforth
Odell, now of Morrison, came from New York to meet him with their first child,
Emily C, then about eighteen months old. The family lived for the first year
in a cabin 9 by 12 feet in size. The second child, Ann A., was born August 2,
1839, and the third, Albert C, July 4, 1842. Capt. King lived several years in
Union Grove township, and then moved to Kingsbury, Newton township, where
Mrs. King died shortly after. He then moved to Eastern Oregon, and died
about 1873.- Emily C. is the wife of C. W. Abbey, and resides in* Abilene, Kan
sas- Ann A. married Mr. Arnold, is now a widow, and resides at Albany, Oregon;
and Albert C. is a resident, and herdsman of the Wallowa Valley, Eastern Ore-
g°n- Jacob Baker was born in Wilkesbarre, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania,
October 6, 1796, and at the age of one year went to New York State with his
parents, where he remained until after he was twenty-one years of age. On the
12th of October, 1817, he married Elizabeth Wilbur, and in the same month
moved to Farmington, Trumbull county, Ohio, where he lived, with the excep
tion of a few years in Portage county, Ohio, until 1839. In 1818 he joined
the Methodist church in Portage county, Ohio, and in 1823 was given a license
as an exhorter. In 1830 he was elected to the position of Circuit Steward, and

484 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
held it until he moved to Illinois. In 1828 he was elected Justice of the
Peace. Mr. Baker has been a strong advocate of the temperance cause since
1830, when he became a member of the old Washingtonian Society. In 1834
he joined an Abolitionist Society, when to be an Abolitionist meant persecution.
His last political act in Ohio was to serve as a delegate to an Anti-Slavery
Convention at Youngstown, in Trumbull county, to nominate a candidate for the
Legislature. He left Ohio on the 16th of September, 1839, with teams, and
his family consisting of thirteen persons, and arrived at Fulton, Whiteside county,
October 12, 1839. There he bought a lot, and an unfinished frame house,
finished the house and resided in it until 1842, when he purchased a claim in
Ustick, from which he soon removed to Union Grove He formed the first
Sabbath School in the county at his residence in Fulton in the fall of 1840.
He was also a local preacher in the early times in Whiteside, preaching at dif
ferent places in the county, and at Lyons, Iowa. He brought his radical aboli
tion sentiments with him when he came to Whiteside, and took an earnest and
active part in the Anti-Slavery movement which first began to be agitated in
the West in the fall of 1840, when James G. Birney was the candidate of that
party for President, and cast his vote for that gentleman, who received in this
State only 159 votes. The great Anti-Slavery champion, Elijah P. Lovejoy,
used to run slaves to Mr. Baker, on the "underground railroad," on their way
to freedom. In the latter part of 1844 he withdrew from the M. E. Church be
cause his views on the Slavery question were objected to, and on the 19th of
January, 1845, called a meeting at the school house, in Union Grove, to or
ganize a churcb that would sustain the Anti-Slavery movement. At that meet
ing Jacob Baker, Elizabeth Baker, Daniel B. Young, Betsey Young, Abigail
Young, Henry Boyer, Sylvia Graves, and Olive Upson, were present and formed
a Wesleyan church, the first in the county. Soon after others joined, and the
number increased weekly. Rev. Chas. Drake was secured as pastqr the next
spring. For the lack of accommodations it was decided to build a church,
which was done through the efforts of Mr. Baker and Daniel B. Young. The
building was frame, 32 by 36 feet and stood on Mr. Baker's farm near Union
ville, on the Morrison and Fulton road. It was taken down a few years since.
In the fall of 1848 Mr. Baker was one of the delegates from Illinois to the
General Conference of the Wesleyan church, held in the city of New York, and
in the fall of 1868 a delegate to the General Conference of the same Church,
held at Cleveland, Ohio. In 1852 he was a candidate of the Anti-Slavery
party for Representative to the Legislature from the district of which White
side then formed a part, and received 47 votes, polling more than the party
vote. On the 8th of April, 1863, he sold his farm in Union Grove, and moved
to Morrison, and in the spring and summer of 1865, in connection with E. L.
Worthington and Robert Paley, built the Revere House in that city. Since
then he has lived a retired life at his residence in Blorrison. Mr. Baker's first
wife died on the 14th of May, 1874, at the age of 78 years. Mr. and Mrs.
Baker had lived together as husband and wife for fifty-eight years, and raised a
family of eleven children all of whom grew up to man and womanhood. On
the 6th of of May, 1875, Mr. Baker married Mrs. Phoebe Wilbur, his present
wife, at Hammond Station, Michigan. The names of his children are in order
as follows: William R., died May 14, 1859; Sylvia BI., wife of J. W. JBattis,
and living in Morrison; Oliver, living in Morrison; Benoni, died
February 15, 1844; Lydia, wife of Henry C. Fellows, and living in
Fulton; Reuben, living in Kansas, and Presiding Bishop of the Protes
tant Methodist Church in that State; Billings P., living in Ustick;
Isaac W., died September 28, 1853; Dillon P., living in Sycamore, Illinois, and

BIOGRAPHICAL. 485
is publisher of a newspaper called the Free Methodist, and minister also of the
Free Methodist Church; Hester Ann, died December 13, 1865, and Martha J.,
died November 22, 1872.
Salem Town was born in the town of Gerry, Worcester county, Massa
chusetts, May 9, 1806, and moved to Jacksonville, Morgan county, Illinois, in
1830. In the fall of 1836 he came to Whiteside county, remaining, however,
only a short time, when he went back, returning in the spring of 1837, and set
tling in Union Grove. He removed to Clyde township about twenty years ago,
and is now living there. He worked at the carpenter trade until 1863, when
he lost his eyesight, and was blind for several years. In 1870 he submitted to
an operation upon his eye by Dr. Edward E. Holmes, President of the Blind
Asylum at Jacksonville, which entirely restored the sight in the eye affected.
He has been blind in the other eye from infancy. Mr. Town married Miss
Mary Ann Garlick, in Morgan county, Illinois, on the 16th of August, 1836.
The following children have been born to them: Martha, August 18, 1837,
—wife of Wm. McKinnel; Salem H., May 11, 1840; Sarah Ann, July 14, 1842
— wife of Geo. A. Whitcomb; George, September 11, 1846; Ezra 0., October
25, 1849; and Lucy E., February 5, 1854, — wife of Isaiah Hendricks. Ezra O.
died in infancy. All the rest are married, except George, who is now a resident
and farmer in Montana Territory. Salem H. and family live in Crawford
county, Iowa. The others, with their families, reside in Whiteside county.
John U. Root is a native of Farmington, Trumbull county, Ohio, and was
born July 27, 1823. In 1838 his father's family emigrated to Iowa, where they
remained a year, and then came to Illinois and located in Hancock county. In
1841" they came to Whiteside county and settled at first in the present township
of Mt. Pleasant, and lived there until 1843, when the farm upon which the sub
ject of this sketch now lives, together with other land in Union Grove town
ship, was purchased. Mr. Root was married to Miss Elizabeth J. Hartsuck, in
Union Grove, on the 24th of February, 1848. Their children have been: Clark
C, born December 6, 1848; Mark A., born February 16, 1852; Sylvia A., born
March 14, 1854; Phoebe A., born July 7, 1855; and Miles H, born October 23,
1865. Mr. and Mrs. Root also adopted a child, Lucy M., who was born July
31, 1857. Of these, Clark C. died February 21, 1857; Sylvia A., March 25,
1857; Lucy M., September 15, 1861; and Miles H., February 3, 1866. Mr.
Root owns one of the finest .farms in the fertile township of Union Grove. It
is located on the Fulton and Morrison road, near the Union Grove station on
the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and contains two hundred and ninety-nine
and a half acres, all of which is under excellent cultivation. He has in addi
tion twelve acres of timber land. Mr. Root has given to his farm that thorough
attention which always brings success. Although averse to holding public po
sitions, he has been School Director, and held various town offices. His father,
Mr. John Root, also settled in Union Grove in 1843, but afterwards moved to
Morrison, where he died September 2, 1871, at an advanced age.
George Garlick was born in Cheshire, England, January 1, 1793. He
was married to Blary Platt, February 7, 1819, in England. She was born Feb
ruary 15, 1792. He emigrated with his parents to America, in 1835. In Sep
tember, 1837,Mr. Garlick settled in Union Grove. Children: — Mary Ann, John,
James, William, Alice, Thomas, George B. Mr. Garlick died in 1846, and Mrs.
Garlick in 1857. George B., the youngest son, resides in Whiteside county.
M. L. Atkinson settled in Union Grove in 1838, and resided there
until 1849, when he went to California. He afterwards returned for a short
time. He is now in Portland, Oregon.
Among those who have been active and leading citizens in the development

486 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
and growth of Union Grove township, and who rank as successful farmers and
business men, we may mention: Robert E. Logan, for several years, and at
present Supervisor of the township, whose farm is on sections 10 and 15; E. V.
Lapham, on section 35; George 0. Odlin, on section 4; A. M. Teller, on
sections 1 and 12; Edward Vennum, on sections 2 and 11; David Summers,
on section 4; John Y. Jackson, on section 25; Harmon E. Burr, on section
13; J. 0. A. Bennett, on section 25; A. A. Hulett, on section 26; BIilesB.
Shirk, on section 16; Capt. James Wilson, on section 16; Elijah Stinton,
on sections 17 and 18; L. S. Elmendorf, on section 11; Daniel Fowler, on
sections 14 and 15; W. A. Goodenough, on section 10; Linas Williams, on
sections 7 and 8; Asahel Hurd, on sections 7 and 8; William Topping, on
section 16; L. M. Bent, on section 12; BI. J. Phinney, on section 22; Wil
liam Fletcher, on section 17; John Hays, on section 4; Nathaniel Weaver,
on section 15; fi. Weaver, on section 22; E. 0 Sherwin, on section 3; W. F.
Twining, on section 12; L. C. Twichell, on section 1; Richard Carnine, on
section 22; Samuel R. Hall, on section 12; Orrin BI. Bent, on section 12.

CHAPTER XXVII.
History of the State op Illinois.

The name of the great State of Illinois, the Empire State of the West, is
derived from the aboriginal word Ulini, signifying superior men. The termina
tion as it is now applied to the State, and its principal river, is of French origin.
According to tradition the Illinois, with the Miami and Delaware tribes,
emigrated from the far West, the first stopping on their eastward course in the
vicinity of Lake Michigan, the second in the territory now comprising the States
of Indiana and Ohio, and the third in that now covered by the State of Pennsyl
vania, and a portion of Southern New York. The Illinois soon became a pow
erful confederacy, 'and in time occupied the most beautiful and fertile region in
the great Mississippi Valley. This territory was afterwards coveted by the
fierce and persevering Iroquois on the one side, and the savage and relentless
Sacs and Foxes on the other. Years of incessant struggle followed, the Illi
nois endeavoring to hold their hunting grounds, maintain their existence as a
nation, and their foes to drive them from it, and annihilate them. These long
and severe contests so decimated the numbers of the Illinois that they could
finally no longer withstand the attacks of their enemies. The remaining few,
however, tradition says, true to their charactistic spirit and bravery, were deter
mined not to surrender, and gathering at a rock on the Illinois river, known as
"Starved Rock," kept out of the hands of their foes until every one met his or
her death by starvation.
The first white man who visited the territory now comprising the State of
Illinois, of whom there is any record, was Nicholas Perrot, an agent of the Can
adian government to call a peace convention of Western Indians at Green Bay,
with a view of opening negotiations for the discovery of the Mississippi river.
The policy of the Canadian Government was to secure, if possible, the friend
ship and co-operation of the Indian tribes before venturing upon the expedition,
as their opposition might prove troublesome, and very probably disastrous.
Perrot was authorized to promise them the commerce and protection of the
French Government, and in pursuance of his mission arrived at a point where
Chicago now stands, in 1671, to meet the Miamas. The next white visitors were
Fathers Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, two Jesuit Missionaries, who came
down from their mission at Green Bay, in 1672, and traversed a portion of
Western Wisconsin, and Northern Illinois, visiting the various tribes of Indians
on their route, and setting up the standard of the Cross wherever they found
an opportunity. Following these Missionaries came the celebrated explorers,
Joliet and Marquette, who had been recommended by M. Talon, the French Gov
ernor of Canada, to the home government, as suitable persons to execute the
projected discovery of the Blississippi river. Both of these men had been edu
cated as Jesuit priests, although the former early abandoned his profession to
engage in secular occupations. The latter possessed a mind of great religious
susceptibility, and when quite young evinced a desire to enter the missionary
field. He was consequently sent to America in 1666, by the Jesuit Order, as a
missionary among the Indians, and in his zeal for the cause in which he was
engaged, penetrated a thousand miles in advance of 'civilization. Both Joliet

488 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
and Marquette possessed enterprise, boldness, and determination — characteristics
eminently demanded by reason of the difficulties which surrounded their great
undertaking. On the 17th of Blay, 1673, the daring explorers, accompanied by five French
men, and with a simple outfit, commenced their perilous voyage. Starting from
the Jesuit mission, on the straits of Mackinaw, they coasted along the northern
shore of Lake Michigan, entered Green Bay, and thence passed up Fox river and
Lake Winnebago. Arriving at the portage shown them by the friendly Indians,
their light canoes and scanty baggage were soon carried to the Wisconsin river,
down which they floated until the 17th of June, when its mouth was reached,
and with great joy their frail barks were pushed out on the floods of the lordly
Mississippi. Their course down the mighty stream was full of adventure, but of
a character totally unlike that which was anticipated. It was yet early summer;
nature was arrayed in its brightest robes of green; the weather was propitious,
and the Indians met with on the banks of the river, friendly and hospitable. In
this pleasant manner they journeyed until the middle of July, when the mouth
of the Arkansas was reached. They had been on the river four weeks, and con
cluded they had descended sufficiently far to decide that its outlet was on the
Atlantic side of the continent. It was also feared that if they went farther,
dangers might be encountered by which the benefit of their discovery would be
lost. They therefore retraced their course, and after several weeks of hard labor
arrived at the mouth of the Illinois. Passing up this river they reached a large
town of the Illinois confederacy called Kaskaskia, a name which afterwards be
came celebrated in the history of the State. Here they tarried a sufficient time
to hold friendly meetings with the Indians, and also to secure the services of a
chief and a posse of his men to conduct them to Lake Michigan. Resuming
their journey they proceeded to the lake by the way of the rivers Illinois, Des-
plaines, and Chicago, and thence following the western shore of the lake entered
Green Bay in the latter part of September, 1673, after an absence of four months,
and having made a journey of two thousand five hundred miles. When the news
of the successful issue of the voyage reached France it created the greatest en
thusiasm at the Court, and among the people. It was believed that a vast
dependency had been opened up to the French Government which in future years
would bring to it a lucrative commerce, and untold accumulations of wealth.
The following year Marquette returned to Kaskaskia, and founded the mission
of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, it being the first Jesuit mission established in
Illinois and in the Mississippi Valley.
The French Government, however, did not occupy the territory now em
braced in Illinois until 1780, seven years after the exploration of Marquette and
Joliet. This was effected by Robert Cavalier, better known as La Salle. He
was born at Rouen, France, and early exhibited the traits of character which
distinguished him in his western career. Being a Jesuit, he was deprived, under
the laws of France, of inheriting the property of his father, and being thus cir
cumstanced, determined to emigrate to Canada, where he had a brother, a priest
of the order of St. Sulpice, living. Upon his arrival he was given a tract of
land on the St. Lawrence river by the Superior of the Seminary of St. Sulpice,
at Montreal, and while employed in improving it, commenced the study of the
Indian languages, and in three years is said to have made rapid progress in the
Iroquois, and eight other tongues and dialects. During the time he was en
gaged in his studies he was visited by a band of Senecas, and learned from them
that a river called the Ohio, rising in their country, flowed to the sea, but at
such a distance that it required eight months to reach its mouth. In this state
ment the Mississippi and' Ohio were considered as one stream, and with the geo-

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 489
graphical views then prevalent, it was supposed to fall into the Pacific ocean,
somewhere near the Gulf of California. Placing great confidence in this hy
pothesis, La Salle determined to make an exploration, but as no pecuniary aid
could be procured at that time from the Government, he was compelled to rely
on his own resources, and with these limited means purchased four canoes and
the necessary supplies for the expedition. After he had everything completed,
however, the government added some canoes and supplies, and the journey was
undertaken. This was La Salle's first expedition, and although its results were
beneficial, yet they were far from proving satisfactory.
When Frontenac became Governor of Canada, another expedition was fit
ted out, with La Salle as its commander, and starting above the Falls of Nia
gara, sailed to Green Bay. From thence they passed down to the mouth of the
St. Joseph river, and ascending it, reached the present site of South Bend, Indi
ana, where they landed, and transported their canoes to the Kankakee river.
Following this sluggish stream the expedition reached the Illinois river in Jan
uary, 1680, and floating down upon its placid waters soon reached an expansion
of tbe river, now called Peoria Lake, where they disembarked. La Salle, wearied
with difficulties, determined to erect a fort at this place, in which he and his
men might pass the winter without molestation, and accordingly selected a site
at the lower end of the lake, where the city of Peoria is now situated. Upon
the completion of the fort, the name of Crevecceur, meaning broken-hearted, was
given to it, an appellation fully in accord with its subsequent misfortunes.
From this point La Salle, in accordance with his previous intentions, determined
to further explore the Mississippi, but did not accomplish this purpose until
1682, two years later. Upon his return from Fort Frontenac, where he had gone
for supplies, he found the Fort had been destroyed by the Iroquois, the enemies
of the Illinois, and Tonti, his lieutenant, with the men he had left in charge,
driven away. A fruitless search was made for them, and La Salle then passed
down the Illinois to the Mississippi. Tonti was afterwards found among the
Pottawatamies, near Green Bay.
In 1682 a temporary settlement was made by the French at the old Kas
kaskia village, in what is now La Salle county. This settlement was removed
in 1690, with the mission connected with it, to Kaskaskia on the river of that
name, emptying into the Mississippi, in St. Clair county. Undoubtedly the rea
son of the removal of the old Kaskaskia settlement and mission to the new
locality was, because the dangerous and difficult route by Lake Michagan and
the Chicago portage had been nearly abandoned, and the easier and safer route
by the Mississippi, Fox, and Wisconsin rivers, taken by travellers and traders.
The removal to the vicinity of the Mississippi brought the town within the line
of travel. Cahokia was settled about the same time as Kaskaskia, although it
is maintained that it is somewhat the older place. It never, however, attained
such prominence as Kaskaskia.
From 1682 until 1765, the territory now comprising the State of Illinois
was under French rule, and formed a part of Louisiana. During that time the
population probably never at any one time exceeded ten thousand, including
whites and blacks. Many settlements of considerable importance, however,
sprung up throughout the vast dpmain, the principal ones in Illinois being:
Kaskaskia, on the Kaskaskia river, five miles above its confluence with the Mis
sissippi; Cahokia, near the mouth of Cahokia creek, and about five miles below
the present city of St. Louis; Fort Chartres, twelve miles above Kaskaskia; and
St. Philip, about forty miles below Cahokia, and four miles above Fort Chartres.
These, with tbe exception of St. Louis, are the oldest French towns in the Mis
sissippi Valley. The village of Kaskaskia at one time numbered about three
[62-G.]

490 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
thousand inhabitants, and until 1818 was capital of the Territory. Fort Char
tres was built in 1718.
On the 10th of October, 1765, the ensign of France, on the ramparts of
Fort Chartres, gave way to the flag of Great Britian. In alluding to this event,
Bancroft says: "At the time the colonies of the Atlantic seaboard were assem
bled in preliminary Congress at New York, dreaming of liberty and independence
for the continent, the great valley east of the Mississippi, with its broad rivers
rushing from the mountains and gathering in the plain, its vast prairies unsur
passed for their wealth of soil, its boundless primeval forests with their deep
solitudes, into which were presently to be summoned the eager millions of many
tongues to build their happy homes, passed finally from the dominion of France
under the yoke of Great Britian." The Anglo-Saxon, by this transfer, gained a
permanent foothold on the banks of the great river; and new life, instinct with
energy and progress, was infused into the country. Just prior to the English
occupation there was a large exodus of the old Canadian French. Feeling assured
that their ancient enemies would soon obtain control of the upper part of the
French dependency, they moved their slaves and other personal effects from it,
most of them going to St. Genevieve, across the Mississippi. Fair and liberal
concessions were offered to those who remained, which had the effect of inducing
many to stay. A proclamation for a civil administration of the laws of the
country was issued on the 21st of November, 1768, and for this purpose a civil
tribunal to consist of seven magistrates or judges, from among the people, was
appointed, who were to hold monthly terms of court. A term of this court was
held, commencing December 6, 1768, at Fort Chartres, which was the first com
mon law jurisdiction ever exercised within tbe present limits of Illinois. This
court proved to be anything but popular. The people were under the laws of
England, and in obedience to them the administration of civil jurisprudence was
sought to be brought nearer to the people, than it had been under the French
laws. But the French mind, trained to abide by the dicta and decisions of the
ocratic and military tribunals, absolute in both civil and criminal eases, was
unable to appreciate the trial by jury. Believing that their rulers were ever
right, they gave themselves no trouble or pains to review their acts, and they
thought it very inconsistent in the English to refer nice questions relating to
property to a tribunal consisting of farmers, mechanics, and tradesmen, rather
than to judges learned in the law. This perplexity in comprehending the com
mon law system prevailed even many years later, when Illinois had passed under
the jurisdiction of the United States.
Seeing that it was impolitic to enforce the execution of the English system
of law upon the newly acquired territory, the English Parliament, in 1774, re
stored to the people their ancient laws in civil cases, without the trial by jury,
and guaranteed the free exercise of their religion, which rehabilitated the Roman
Catholic clergy with the privileges stipulated in the articles of capitulation of
Blontreal in 1760. The act was known as the "Quebec Bill," which extended
the boundaries of the province of Quebec to the Mississippi river, including all
the French inhabitants at Detroit, Mackinaw, on the Wabash, and in the Illinois
country. The object was to firmly attach these remote colonies, as well as all
Canada, to the English Government, and to thwart the rising opposition of the
colonies on the Atlantic seaboard to its policy. Other acts were passed of a con
ciliatory nature in reference to these people by the British Parliament, but their
effect was not wholly what was desired. The eastern colonies became more and
more irritated by these acts, in conjunction with those passed for their govern
ance, and finally the war of the Revolution commenced, which in the end was to

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 491
do away with British rule in the Valley of the Mississippi, as well as along the
Atlantic seaboard.
The honor of wresting Illinois from the British yoke is due to Col. George
Rogers Clark. Col. Clark wasanativeof Albemarle county, Virginia, and was edu
cated as a Surveyor. Shortly after attaining his majority he enlisted as one of
Governor Dunmore's staff, and was present in the campaign on the river Scioto,
in 1 774. For meritorious conduct he was offered a commission in the royal service,
but as the feeling between the colonies and the mother country had already
begun to be unfriendly, he declined. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary
war he was one of the most active in behalf of the colonies, and was soon ap
pointed to important positions. For valuable services rendered, added to a full
knowledge gained of the western frontier, he was made Lieutenant Colonel, and
soon afterwar.ds authorized to raise seven companies of fifty men each, with
which to attack the British force at Kaskaskia. These troops were to receive the
pay and allowance of militia, and to act under the laws and regulations of the
State of Virginia then in force as to militia. Although strenuous efforts were
made, only a portion of this force could be raised, and when those who had join
ed the expedition were ready to march to the destined point, there were but
one hundred and fifty-three men in the ranks. This little army started from
Coon Island, opposite Louisville, during a total eclipse of the sun, on the 24th
of June, 1778, and on the 4th of July following reached Kaskaskia. The gar
rison entrenched in the fort at the town was then under the command of a French
Canadian named Rocheblave, who kept his troops well drilled, had sentinels
stationed on the Blississippi, and had ordered the hunters and Indians in their
excursions through the country to watch for the rebels, or "Long Knives," as
they designated the Virginians. Th'e American force concealed themselves at
first among the hills east of the Kaskaskia river, while parties were sent out by
Col. Clark to reconnoiter. Everything being in readiness, the troops were di
vided into three parties, two of which crossing to the west side of the river,
were to proceed to different parts of the town, while the other, under Col.
Clark, was to capture the fort on the east side. The plan of attack was suc
cessfully executed, and Kaskaskia captured. So quickly and thoroughly was
this done, that the British commandant was not aware that he was a prisoner
until an officer of the detachment which had entered the fort, entered his bed
room and tapped him on the shoulder. Kaskaskia being safely in the hands of
the Americans, an expedition was planned for the capture of Cahokia. Major
Bowman and his company were selected as one party for the new contest, the
other being made up of the French militia who had renounced Great Britian
after the capture of Kaskaskia, the entire detachment being but little inferior
in numbers to that which invaded the country. ' The expedition reached Ca
hokia before the news of the surrender of Kaskaskia was known to the inhabitants,
and being guided by the same skill which proved so successful at the latter
place the former also soon fell into American hands. Following this achieve
ment came the capture of Vincennes, and British domination in the West was
at an end.
In 1778 Illinois, by reason of its capture by Col. Clark, became a part of
Virginia, and in October, 1778, the Legislature of that State passed an act or
ganizing the county of Illinois, which included all the territory of the common
wealth west of the Ohio river. As it then existed, Illinois was the largest
county in the world, exceeding in superficial extent the whole of Great Britain
and Ireland. On the 1st of March, 1784, Virginia executed a deed of cession
of all this territory to the United States, the deed being signed by her delegates
in Congress, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee, and James Monroe.

492 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
It stipulated that the territory should be cut into States not less than one hun
dred and not more than one hundred and fifty miles square; to be republican in
form, and to be admitted into the Union with the same rights of sovereignty,
freedom, and independence as the other States; that indemnity for the expenses
her expeditions incurred in subduing the British posts in the west, be allowed
her; that land not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand acres should be
allowed George Rogers Clark, his officers and soldiers; and that the proceeds of
the sales of the lands ceded should be considered a common fund for all the
States, present and future. The cession was accepted by the United States,
and Congress passed an ordinance to establish a form of government for all the
territory in the west. The title of the United States to the lands northwest of
the Ohio river, however, did not become complete until September 13, 1786.
The name of tbe North-Western Territory was then applied to it.
The celebrated ordinance of 1787, the fruit of the wisest and ablest legis
lation ever undertaken by man, was passed by the Congress of the United States
on the 13th of July, 1787. The contest for its adoption was long and severe,
but in the end justice and right triumphed. The following are the six unaltera
ble articles of compact between the people of the original States and the people
of the Territory: I. No person, in peaceable demeanor, shall be molested on
account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments. II. The inhabitants to
be guaranteed the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus and trial by jury; a pro
portionate representation in the legislature, and judicial proceedings according
to the course of the common law; all persons shall be bailable, unless for capi
tal offences, where the proof shall be evident, or the presumption great; all
fines shall be moderate, and no cruel or unusual punishments shall be inflicted;
no man shall be deprived of his liberty, or his property, but by the judgment of
his -peers, or the law of the land; should the public exigencies make it neces
sary, for the common preservation, to take any person's property, or to demand
his particular services, full compensation shall be made for the same; no law
ought ever to be made or have force in said Territory, that shall in any manner
interfere with, or affect private contracts or engagements made in good faith
and without fraud. III. Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to
good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of edu
cation shall forever be encouraged; good faith, justice and humanity towards the
Indians is to be observed, their lands not to be taken without consent, and peace
and friendship to be cultivated. IV. The territory, and States to he formed
therein, are to remain forever a part of the United States, subject to her laws;
the inhabitants to pay a just proportion of the public debt, contracted or to be
contracted; the lands of the United States, and those of non-residents, not to
be taxed higher than those of residents; and the navigable waters of the lakes
to remain forever free to all citizens of the United States. V. The territory
not to be divided into less than three States, but Congress, at its option, may
form one or two more States in that part which lies north of an east and west
line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan; with sixty
thousand inhabitants such States to be admitted into the Union on- an equal
footing with the original States; and VI. " There shall be neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of
crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." Such was the fun
damental law which shaped the destiny of the great and flourishing States which
originally formed a part of the North Western Territory. By means of that
law States were saved from the blighting curse of slavery. Maj. Gen, Arthur
St. Clair was elected by Congress the first Governor of this Territory.
The act of Congress approved Blay 7, 1800, divided the great North West-

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 493
ern Territory, and provided that all that part lying westward of a line beginning
on the Ohio river opposite the mouth of the Kentucky, running thence north
via Fort Recovery to the British Possessions, should constitute a separate Ter
ritory, and _ be called Indiana. This Territory included the present States of
Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, except a small piece on the eastern
side between the mouth of the Kentucky and Great Miama rivers. This Territory
continued until by act of Congress approved February 3, 1809, all that part of it ly
ing west of the Wabash river, and a direct line drawn from that river and Post Vin
cennes, due north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada, was
formed into a separate Territory, and called Illinois. This boundary included
the present State of Wisconsin within the limits of Illinois Territory. The seat
of Government was located at Kaskaskia, and Ninian Edwards was appointed
the first Governor.
By 1818 the population of Illinois had increased to such an extent that her
people desired a position among the sisterhood of States. Accordingly a peti
tion was sent in January of that year from the Territorial Legislature, then in
session at Kaskaskia, to Nathaniel Pope, the delegate in Congress, praying for
the admission of the Territory into the Union as an independent State. Mr.
Pope immediately brought the subject before Congress, and at an early day
thereafter was instructed by the committee to which the matter was referred,
to report a bill in pursuance of the petition. This was done, and the bill duly
reported, but owing to a pressure of other business, it did not become a law un
til April. The bill, as it became a law, contained several amendments to the
original one submitted, and which were in the main those proposed by Mr. Pope.
The amendments were: 1st, to extend the northern boundary of the new State
to the parallel of 42 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, and 2d, to apply the
three per cent, fund arising from the sales of the public lands, to the encour
agement of learning, instead of making roads, as had been the case at the ad
mission of Ohio and Indiana. Gov. Ford, in his valuable work, says: "these
important changes were proposed and carried through both Houses of Congress
by Judge Pope, upon his own responsibility. The Territorial Legislature had
not petitioned for them; no one at that time having suggested or requested the
making of them; but they met the unqualified approbation of the people of Il
linois." We might add that the feeling of approbation has steadily increased
from that day to the present, and will keep on increasing as long as the people
feel the need of education.
Illinois was the eighth State admitted into the Union, and is situated be
tween Latitude 36 degrees and 56 minutes, and 42 degrees and 30 minutes
north, and longitude 87 degrees and 30 minutes, and 91 degrees and 40 min
utes west from Greenwich. The extreme length of the State from north to
south is three hundred and eighty-eight miles, and its extreme breadth from east
to west is two hundred and twelve miles. Its area is fifty-five thousand four
hundred and five miles, or thirty-five million, four hundred and fifty-nine thous
and, two hundred acres. It is bounded on tbe north by the State of Wisconsin;
on the northeast by Lake Michigan; on the east by the State of Indiana, from
which it is separated in part by the Wabash river; on the south by the Ohio
river; and on the west by the Mississippi river. The number of counties at
present is one hundred and two.
In pursuance of the act of Congress, a convention was called in Illinois, in
the summer of 1818, to form a Constitution for the new State. In the election
of delegates to the convention the only questions before the people were, the
right of the constituent to instruct his representative, and the introduction of
slavery, both of which were debated with great earnestness during the canvass.

494 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
A majority of delegates elected were found to be in favor of the. former, and
opposed to the latter. Jesse B. Thomas, of St. Clair, was chosen President of
the Convention, and William C. Greenup, Secretary. At that time there were
only fifteen counties in the State, as follows: St Clair, Randolph, Madison, Gal
latin, Johnson, Edwards, White, Monroe, Pope, Jackson, Crawford, Bond, Union,
Washington, and Franklin. This Constitution was not submitted to a vote of
the people for their approval or rejection, nor did they have much to do with the
choice or election of officers generally under it, except as to the Governor, General
Assembly, Sheriff and Coroner.
The first election under the Constitution for Governor, Lieutenant Govern
or, and members of the General Assembly, was held on the third Thursday, and
two succeeding days, in September, 1818. All white male inhabitants twenty-
one years old, who were residents of the State et the passage of the Constitu
tion, were allowed to vote. Shadrach Bond was elected Governor, and Pierre
Menard, Lieutenant Governor, without opposition. Their terms of service were
until 1822, or four years. The General Assembly met at Kaskaskia on the 5th
of October following, and organized the government by appointing Joseph Phil
lips, Chief Justice, and Thomas C. Browne, John Reynolds, and William P.
Foster, Associate Justices of the Supreme Court. Ninian Edwards and Jesse
B. Thomas, were elected Senators in Congress. Elias P. Kane was appointed
Secretary of State; Daniel P. Cook, Attorney General; Elijah C. Berry, Audi
tor of Public Accounts; and John Thomas, State Treasurer. Under the auspices
and guidance of these gentlemen, Illinois was launched on her career of admin
istration as an independent State of the Union. The assembly having organized
the State government and put it in motion, adjourned to meet in the winter of
1818-19. At this adjourned session a code of statute law was passed, borrowed most
ly from the statutes of Kentucky and Virginia. One of the most remarkable
laws of this code was the one concerning negroes and mulattoes. It really re-
enacted in Illinois all the severe and stringent laws to be found in a slave State.
Among its provisions were the following: No negro or mulatto should be allowed
to reside in the State until he had produced a certificate of freedom, and given
bond, with security, for good behavior, and not to become a county charge. No
person was to harbor or hire a negro or mulatto who had not complied with the
law, under the penalty of five hundred dollars fine. All such free negroes were
to cause their families to be registered. Every negro or mulatto not having a
certificate of freedom, was to be deemed a runaway slave; was liable to be taken
up by any inhabitant; committed by a justice of the peace; imprisoned by the
sheriff; advertised; sold for one year, and if not claimed within that time, was
to be considered a free man, unless his master should afterwards reclaim him.
Any person bringing a negro into the State, to set him free, was liable to a fine
of two hundred dollars. Riots, routs, unlawful assemblies, and seditious speeches
of slaves, were to be punished with stripes, not exceeding thirty-nine, at the
discretion of any justice of the peace. Slaves were to be punished with thirty-
five lashes for being found ten- miles from home without a pass from their mas
ter, and it was made lawful for the owner of any dwelling or plantation to give,
or order to be given, to any slave or servant coming upon his plantation, ten
lashes upon his bare back. Persons who should permit slaves and servants to
assemble for dancing or revelling, by night or day, were to be fined twenty dol
lars. It was made the duty of all sheriffs, coroners, judges, and justices of the
peace, on view of such an assemblage, to commit the slaves to jail, and order
each one of them to be whipped, not exceeding thirty-nine stripes on the bare
back to be inflicted the next day, unless the same should be Sunday, and then

HISTORY OF 1 HE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 495
on the next day after. In all cases where free persons'were punishable by fine
under the criminal laws of the State, servants were to be punished by whipping,
at the rate of twenty lashes for every eight dollars fine. No person was to buy
of, sell to, or trade with a slave or servant, without the consent of his master;
and for so doing, was to forfeit four times the value of the article bought, sold,
or traded. Lazy and disorderly servants were to be corrected by stripes, on the
order of a justice of tbe peace. These unjust and unholy provisions were con
tinued in all the revisions of the law subsequently made, until 1865, when by
an act of the General Assembly, approved February 7th, they were entirely re
pealed. For nearly half a century the people of Illinois had permitted them to
remain as a foul blot on the escutcheon of the State. To be sure they were to
all intents and purposes a dead letter for years, but the fact that they remained
on the statute book ready for enforcement at any time, shows shameful negli
gence on the part of the people, as well as of their representatives to the
Legislature. The Legislature of 1818-19 also provided for the removal of the seat of
government from the ancient town of Kaskaskia which had claimed it as its in
dividual property for more than one hundred and fifty years, under all the ruling
powers. Commissioners were appointed to select a new site, and as there was
no town in existence which appeared to be eligible, they made choice of a place
then in the wilderness, on the Kaskaskia river, northeast of the settlements.
Having made the selection, the question of name arose, and for some time re
mained a debatable one. It was agreed that the future capital should bear a
high sounding cognomen, and at the same time have the classic merit of per
petuating the memory of the ancient race of Indians by whom the country had
first been inhabited. The name of Vandalia was finally selected, and although
high sounding enough, it has ever since remained a puzzle as to what par
ticular race of Indians it alludes, and whose memory it intends to perpetuate.
The population of the State in 1820 was 55,211, showing a ratio of in
crease exceeding three hundred per cent, within the preceeding decade. Of this
population scarcely a twentieth part were the descendents of the old French or
Canadian settlers. The entire balance were Americans, and with the excep
tion of some from Pennsylvania, were almost wholly from the Southern States.
Agriculture was the principal pursuit of the people. A very few merchants
supplied them with the necessaries which could not be produced or manufactur
ed at home. Nothing was exported, or if there had been any property fit for
exportation, there was no market for it abroad. Money was scarce, and peo
ple began to sue one another for their debts.
To remedy the existing evils, the Legislature of 1821 created a State
Bank. It was founded without money, and wholly upon the credit of the
State. It was authorized to issue one, two, three, five, ten and twenty dollar
notes bearing two per cent, annual interest, and payable by the State in ten
years.' A principal bank was established at Vandalia, with four or five branches
in other places. The Legislature elected all the officers and directors, a large
number of whom were members of the two houses, and all of them professional
politicians. The bank was directed by law to lend its bills to the people, to the
amount of one hundred dollars, on personal security, and for a greater sum upon
the security of mortgages upon lands. The bills were to be received in pay
ment of all State and county taxes, and for all costs and fees, and salaries of
public officers, and if a creditor refused to endorse on his execution his willing
ness to receive them in payment of debt, the debtor could replevy, or stay its
collection for three years by giving personal security. The bank went into
operation in the summer of 1821, and every man who could get an endorser

496 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
borrowed his hundred dollars. Three hundred thousand dollars of the new
money was soon lent without much attention to security or care for eventual
payment. As a consequence the notes first fell twenty-five cents, then fifty,
and then seventy cents below par. For about four years there was no other
kind of money in circulation but this uncurrent State bank paper, and more
than half of those who had borrowed considered what they had gotten from it
as so much clear gain, and never intended to pay their loans from the first.
This state of things existed to a greater or lesser extent until Gov. Ford's ad
ministration, when a sound and healthy system of finance was adopted.
The general election in August, 1822, resulted in the election of Edward
Coles as Governor, and Adolphus F. fiubbard, Lieutenant Governor. The ques
tion of slavery entered into this election to a very considerable extent, Coles
being the anti-slavery candidate, and Judge Phillips, his principal opponent, the
pro-slavery. The country had but just emerged from the angry contest over the
subject of slavery as connected with the admission of Missouri into the Union,
in which the then Senators in Congress, Messrs. Edwards and Thomas had taken
a leading part, being the originators of the compromise line of 30 degrees and
30 minutes, while the member of the House, Daniel P. Cook, had opposed the
admission of Missouri as a slave State. The Legislature chosen at this election,
however, was pro-slavery, showing that while a majority of the people of the
whole State was opposed to slavery, the small counties were sufficiently favor
able to it to send a majority of members to the General Assembly who held views
in consonance with its advocates. A strong effort was therefore put forth by
this majority to make Illinois a slave State. This could only be done by amend
ing the constitution, which required a two-thirds vote in each House to pass the
proposition submitting the question to a vote of the people. It was soon ascer
tained that the requisite two-thirds vote could be obtained in the Senate, but in
the House one vote was lacking. There had been a contested election case from
Pike county, but the then sitting member, Nicholas Hanson, had been awarded
the seat. Hanson was opposed to making Illinois a slave State, while his con
testant, John Shaw, favored it, and the question came up of reversing the decision
already made. It was easily carried, and Shaw admitted, and by his vote the
proposition for a convention was carried. The campaign which followed was one
of the most fierce and bitter ever known in the State, but resulted in defeating
the convention scheme by a vote of 6,640 against, to 4,972 for it. That vote
saved Illinois from the disgrace of slavery, and the attempt to enroll it as one
of the slave States was never afterwards repeated.
At the election in August, 1826, Ninian Edwards was elected Governor,
and Rev. William Kinney, a Baptist minister, Lieutenant Governor. In 1830,
John Reynolds was elected Governor, and Zadoc Casey, Lieutenant Governor.
During this administration both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor were
elected to Congress, and consequently resigned their positions. Lieutenant
Governor Casey was elected in 1822, and upon his resignation Gen. W. L. D.
Ewing, a senator, was chosen to preside over the Senate. At the August elec
tion in 1834, Gov. Reynolds was also elected to Congress, more than a year
ahead, as was then the law. to succeed Mr. Slade, but shortly afterwards the in
cumbent died, when Reynolds was also chosen to serve out his unexpired term.
Accordingly be set out for Washington in November of that year to take his
seat in Congress, and Gen. Ewing, by virtue of his office as President of the
Senate, became Governor for just fifteen days, when, upon the meeting of the
Legislature, to which he sent his message as acting Governor, he was relieved of
his exalted position by the Governor elect. This is the only time that such a
conjuncture has happened in the history of the State. It was during the ad-

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 497
ministration of Gov. Reynolds that the Black Hawk war broke out, and termin
ated. This war was commenced under the pretence that the treaties made by
the Indians with Gen. Harrison in 1804, and the subsequent ones with Gov.
Edwards and August Chouteau, in 1815, and 1816, by which the former ceded
all their land on Rock river, and much more elsewhere, were void. Black Hawk's
account of the treaty of 1804, which'was the main one, the others being confir
mations of it, is as follows: Several of the members of the tribe had been
arrested and imprisoned in St. Louis for murder, and that some of the chiefs
had been sent down to provide for their defence; that while there, and without
the consent of the nation, they were induced to sell the Indian country; that
when they came home it appeared they had been drunk most of the time they
were absent, and could give no account of what they had done, except that they
had sold some of the land to the white people, and had come home loaded with
jewelry and Indian finery. This was all the nation ever heard of or knew about
the treaty. Looking upon it in this light, he resisted the order of the Govern
ment for the removal of his tribe west of the Mississippi, and in the spring of
1831, re-crossed the river with his women and children, and three hundred war
riors of the British band, together with some allies from the Potawottamie and
Kickapoo nations, to establish himself upon his ancient hunting grounds and in
the principal village of his nation. This village was situated near the mouth of
Rock river, and the lands covering the site and for some distance around had
been surveyed and sold under the treaty by the United States Government. The
purchasers had moved there, built their houses and fences, and improved the
land, and when Black Hawk came across the Mississippi he found them in full
occupation. His first act was to order them away, and when they refused, threw
down their fences, unroofed their houses, cut up their grain, drove off and killed
their cattle, and tbreatened the people with death if they remained. These acts
of the Indians were considered by the Government to be an invasion of the
State, and Gov. Reynolds addressed letters to Gen. Gaines of the United States
army, and to Gen. Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, calling upon them to
use the influence of the general Government to procure the peaceful removal of
the Indians, if possible, and at all events to defend and protect the American
citizens who had purcbased the lands from the United States, and were now
about to be ejected by the Indians. Gen. Gaines repaired to Rock Island with a
few companies of regular soldiers, and soon ascertained that the Indians were
bent on war. He immediately called upon Gov. Reynolds for seven hundred
mounted volunteers, and the Governor obeyed the requisition. A call was made
upon some of the northern and central counties, in obedience to which fifteen
hundred volunteers rushed to his standard at Beardstown, and about the 10th
of June were organized and ready to be marched to the seat of war. The whole
force was divided into two regiments, an odd battalion, and a spy battalion. The
1st Regiment was commanded by Col. James D. Henry; the 2d by Col. Daniel
Lieb; the odd battalion by Major Nathaniel Buckmaster; and the spy battalion by
Major Samuel Whiteside. The whole brigade was put under the command of
Major General Joseph Duncan, of the State Militia. The subsequent events of
the war will be found on pages 35 to 39 inclusive, of this history, and in the
elaborate and eloquent address of Hon. Elihu B. Washburne, upon the presen
tation of the portrait of the Prophet to the people of Whiteside, published at
the close of this volume.
At the election in August, 1834, Joseph Duncan was elected Governor, and
Alexander M. Jenkins, Lieutenant Governor. During this administration the
gigantic system of Internal Improvements was adopted, an account of which
will be found in the general history of Whiteside in this work. In 1838,
tts-H.]

498 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Thomas Carlih was elected Governor, and S. H. Anderson, Lieutenant Governor.
During this administration, in 1839, the State Capital was moved to Springfield.
In 1842 Thomas Ford became Governor, and John Moore, Lieutenant Governor.
Gov. Ford entered at once upon the work of devising means to relieve the
¦ State from its financial embarrassment, and to restore its credit, both of which
objects were fully completed during his term. He was one of the ablest Gov
ernors Illinois ever had. In 1846, Augustus C. French was elected Governor,
and Joseph B. Wells, Lieutenant Governor. The Convention to revise the Con
stitution of the State was held in 1847, and the organic law enacted by that body,
and afterwards endorsed by the people, remained in force until the Convention
of 1870. The Mexican war also broke out during Gov. French's administration,
and Illinois sent her full quota of troops to the field. By the constitution of
1847 a new election for State officers was ordered in November, 1848, before
Gov. French's term was half out, the result of which was, that he was re-elected
for the term of four years, and was thus the only Governor of the State who
has ever held the office for six consecutive years. William McMurtry was elec
ted Lieutenant Governor. In 1852, Joel A. Matteson became Governor, and
Gustavus Koerner, Lieutenant Governor.
In 1856, the new Republican party had gained such strength that it elected
William H. Bissell, Governor. The contest was exceedingly acrimonious. The
Legislature, however, was pretty evenly divided, and stood as follows: Senate,
13 Democrats, 31 Republicans, and 1 American or Know Nothing; House, 37
Democrats, 31 Republicans, and 6 Americans. Gov. Bissell was Colonel of the
2d Illinois Begiment in the Mexican War, and on the bloody field of Buena
Vista acquitted himself with intrepid and distinguished ability, contributing
with his regiment in no small degree toward saving the wavering fortunes of the
United States arms during that long and fiercely contested battle. On his re
turn home he was elected to Congress, and served two terms.
In 1860 Richard Yates was elected Govornor, and Francis A. Hoffman,
Lieutenant Governor. Gov. Yates received the appellation of the "Great War
Governor of Illinois," for his devotedness to the interests of the Union during
the war of the Rebellion, and for the zeal and energy fie displayed in having
every call of the government for troops fully answered in his own State. Al
most simultaneously with the call for troops enlistments commenced in the State,
favored by the Governor in every way possible within his power, and within ten
days 10,000 volunteers offered their services, and the sum of nearly $1,000,000
was tendered by patriotic citizens to procure supplies, for which the State, in
the sudden emergency, had no time to make provision. Of the volunteers who
offered their services under the call of Gov. Yates, only six regiments could be
accepted under the quota of the State. These, in accordance with an act of the
Legislature, which met on the 23d of April, 1861, were designated by the num
bers commencing with 7, as a mark of respect for the six regiments which had
served in the Mexican war, and the entire force styled the 1st Brigade of Illi
nois Volunteers. Following this came Regiments and Brigades faster even than
the respective quotas of the State demanded, until the whole number of enlist
ments during the war aggregated 256,000. Of these 5,888 were killed in action;
3,032 died of wounds; 19,496 died of disease contracted while in the service;
967 died in rebel prison pens; and 205 were lost at sea. The two principal
camps in the State were Camp Butler, at Springfield, and Camp Douglas, at
Chicago. The immediate location of the former was near where the Toledo,
Wabash & Western Railroad crosses the Sangamon river, and that of the latter
near the last resting place of the great Statesman after whom it was named.
Each of these camps was provided with commissary and ordnance warehouses,

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS 499
general prison and small pox hospitals, company and prison barracks, officers'
quarters, and other structures necessary, for the outfit of an extensive encamp
ment. Both places became principal points of rendezvous and instruction of
volunteers, and mustering them out of service after the war. As the result of
the battle of Fort Donelson about 10,000 prisoners were sent to these camps,
and thereafter they became places of custody for other prisoners captured in the
war. The site of Camp Butler is still preserved as a national cemetery, in which
many of the gallant sons of Illinois sleep in honored graves. Other camps were
formed in different parts of the State, but they served only temporary purposes.
Illinois can feel proud of her war record, and to the honorable making of it much
credit is due to her great war Governor.
The 23d General Assembly, which met on the 5th of January, 1863, con
tained a majority who were opposed to the prosecution of the war. They first
refused to order printed the usual number of copies of Gov. Yates' long and
able message. Their next movement was to introduce and pass resolutions
declaring the war a failure, and that hostilities ought to be immediately sus
pended, and a national convention held to settle the unpleasantness. The most
notorious of these resolutions were introduced by Mr. Wike, of Pike county,
afterward Democratic member of Congress. The resolutions called forth long
and acrimonious debate, delaying all other business. Another object of this
majority was to defeat the appropriation bills, and every parlimentary expedient
was resorted to to effect it. But while these dishonorable members of the Leg
islature were endeavoring to cripple the Union army, as far as possibly could
be done by the State, the people were active in furnishing men and supplies.
In 1864 Richard J. Oglesby was elected Governor, and William Bross,
Lieutenant Governor, and in 1868 John M. Palmer, Governor, and John Dough
erty Lieutenant Governor. In 1872 Richard J. Oglesby was again elected
Governor, and John L. Beveridge, Lieutenant Governor. ' Gov. Oglesby was
soon afterwards chosen United States Senator, and Lieutenant Gov. Beveridge
became Governor. In 1876, Shelby M. Cullom was elected Governor, and
Andrew Shuman, Lieutenant Governor.
It became evident not long after the adoption of the Constitution of 1847
that many of its provisions were objectionable in their features, and would be
entirely ignored. An attempt was made to compel an observance of these pro
visions, but it was found impossible, and for years they were openly and syste
matically violated. The matter was brought to the attention of the Legislature
and the people at various times, and in 1861 an election ordered for delegates to
a constitutional convention to revise and amend it. The election was held in
November, 1861, and the Convention assembled at Springfield, January 7, 1862.
The constitution framed by this body, however, was so distasteful to the people
that they rejected it by an emphatic vote, when it came to be submitted to
them, thus leaving the old constitution of 1847 still in force. In 1868 Got.
Palmer stated positively in his message, that "the history of American States
presented no example of a government more defective than that of Illinois."
The question of a revision of the constitution was soon afterwards again sub
mitted to the people, and carried by a large majority. The succeeding Legisla
ture authorized the election of delegates, the number corresponding with that
of the Representatives in the Lower House of ihe General Assembly, who were
to meet at Springfield, December 13, 1869. Of the 85 members returned, 44
were set down as Republicans, and 41 as Democrats. But, 15 were elected on
independent tickets, all in Republican districts, of whom 8 were Republicans,
and 7 Democrats. The members were composed of learned jurists, experienced
statesmen, and thorough business men. Their work was prepared with much

500 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
care, and the constitution as finally framed by them pronounced the best and
wisest in its limitations and restrictions that the Union affords.
The population of Illinois in 1870, was 2,539,638. Extending through
more than five degrees of latitude, it has quite a variety of climate. The sur
face of the land is level, and the soil fertile, the agricultural capabilities being
unsurpassed by any State in the Union, if indeed by any portion of earth's sur
face, of equal extent. The staple products are corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, hay,
and products of the dairy, besides large quantities of fruit. A large portion of
the lead producing region of the country is in the State, and bituminous coal is
found in almost every county. Copper is found in the north part, and iron in
both north and south parts. Lime, zinc, marble of excellent quality, free
stone, gypsum, and other minerals are found in various localities.
The following have been the United Statep Senators from Illinois, since
the organization of the State: 1818-29, J. B. Thomas; 1818-24, Ninian Ed
wards; 1824-'30, John McLean; 1830, one month, D. J. Baker; 1825-36, E.
K. Kane; 1830-'41, J. M. Robinson; 1835-'37, W. L. D. Ewing; 1837-42, R.
M. Young; 1841-'43, S. McRoberts; 1843-'47, J. Semple; 1843-'49, Sidney
Breese; 1847-61, Stephen A. Douglas; 1849-55, James Shields; 1855-73,
Lyman Trumbull; 1861-63, 0. H. Browning; 1863-65, W. A. Richardson;
1865-71, Richard Yates; 1871-77, John A. Logan; 1873-79, Richard J.
Oglesby; 1877-'83, David Davis.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Bill op Rights — Descent op Property — Exemption Law — Limitation
Law — Organization op Corporations — Fence Law — Estray Law —
Weights and Measures — Marketing Products — Game Law — Fish
Law.

In this chapter will be found the "Bill of Rights" contained in article one
of the Constitution of the State, together with as many laws of special import
ance to the people as can be given in this work. They have been carefully
abstracted by L. G. Johnson, Esq., a member of the Bar of Whiteside county,
and can be relied upon for their accuracy at the present time :
Bill op Rights.
Sec. 1. All men are by nature free and independent, and have certain in
herent and inalienable rights— among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness. To secure these rights and the protection of property, governments
are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the
governed. 2 2. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due
process of law.
2 3. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship,
without discrimination, shall forever be guaranteed; and no person shall be
denied any civil or political right, privilege or capacity, on account of his re
ligious opinions; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be con
strued to dispense with oaths or affirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness, or
justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the State. No person
shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship against
his consent, nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomina
tion or mode of worship.
I 4. Every person may freely speak, write and publish on all subjects, be
ing responsible for the abuse of that liberty; and in all trials for libel, both civil
and criminal, the truth, when published with good motives and for justifiable
ends, shall be a sufficient defense.
g 5. The right of trial by jury as heretofore enjoyed, shall remain invio
late- but the trial of civil cases before justices of the peace by a jury of less
than twelve men may be authorized by law.
I 6. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated;
and no warrant shall issue without probable cause, supported by affidavit, par
ticularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be
seized. I 7. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital
offenses where the proof is evident or the presumption great; and the privilege
of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of re
bellion or invasion the public safety may require it.
<j 8. No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offence, unless on
indictment of a grand jury, except in cases in which the punishment is by fine,-

502 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
or imprisonment otherwise than in the penitentiary, in cases of impeachment,
and in cases arising in the army and navy, or in the militia, when in actual ser
vice in time of war or public danger; Provided, that the grand jury may be
abolished by law in all cases.
2 9. In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right to ap
pear and defend in person and by counsel, to demand the nature and cause of
the accusation and to have a copy thereof, to meet the witnesses face to face,
and to have process to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf, and a
speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the county or district in which the
offense is alleged to have been committed.
2 10. No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to give evidence
against himself, or be twice put in jeopardy for the same offence.
2 11. All penalties shall be proportioned to the nature of the offence, and
no conviction shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate, nor shall
any person be transported out of the State for any offence committed within the
same. 2 12. No person shall be imprisoned for debt, unless upon refusal to de
liver up his estate for the benefit of his creditors, in such manner as shall be
prescribed by law, or in cases where there is strong presumption of fraud.
2 13. Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public use with
out just compensation. Such compensation, when not made by the State, shall
be ascertained by a jury, as shall be prescribed by law. The fee of land taken
for railroad tracks, without consent of the owners thereof, shall remain in such
owners, subject to the use for which it is taken.
2 14. No ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts,
or making any irrevocable grant of special privileges or immunities, shall be
passed. 2 15. The military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.
2 16. The soldier shall not, in time of peace, be quartered in any house
without the consent of the owner; nor in time of war, except in the manner
prescribed by law.
2 17. The people have a right to assemble in a peaceable manner to con
sult for the common good, to make known their opinions to their representa
tives, and to apply for redress of grievances.
2 18. All elections shall be free and equal.
2 19. Every percon ought to find a certain remedy in the laws for all in
juries and wrongs which he may receive in his person, property or reputation;
he ought to obtain, by law, right and justice freely, and without being obliged
to purchase it, completely and without denial, promptly and without delay.
2 20. A frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of civil gov
ernment is absolutely necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty.
Descent of Property.
By the revised Statutes of 1874, estates, both real and personal, of resi
dent and non-resident proprietors in this State dying intestate, after payment
of debts descend as follows:
To his or her children and their descendants in equal parts; the descendants
of the deceased child or grand-child taking the share of their deceased parents
in equal parts among them.
When there is no child or descendant of such child, no widow or husband,
then to the parents, brothers and sisters of such intestate, and their descendants
in equal parts, allowing to each of the parents, if living, a child's part, or to the

ABSTRACT OF LAWS. 503
survivor of them, if one be dead} a double portion; and if no parent be living,
then to the brother and sister of the intestate.
When there is a widow or surviving husband, and no child or children, or
descendants of a child or children, then one half of the real estate and the whole
of the personal estate shall descend to such widow or surviving husband, as an
absolute estate forever.
When there is a widow or husband surviving, and also a child or children
or descendants, then such widow or husband takes one-third of all the personal
estate absolutely.
If there be no widow, husband, child or children, parent, brother or sister,
or descendant of either, tben the estate descends to the next of kin to the intes
tate, in equal degree (computing by the rules of the civil law). There is no
representation among collaterals except with descendants of brothers and sisters,
and there is no distinction between the kindred of the whole and half blood.
If there be a widow or husband, and no kindred, such survivor takes the
whole estate. If there be no kindred, and no widow or husband, the estate shall
escheat to the State.
Illegitimate children inherit from the mother and any maternal ancestor, and
any person of whom the mother might have inherited if living. The lawful
issue of an illegitimate person shall represent such person, and take by descent
any estate which the parent would have taken if living.
A posthumous child of an intestate shall receive its just proportion of its
ancestor's estate, in all respects the same as if born in the life-time of its father
Exemption Law.
Homestead: — Every householder having a family in this State is entitled
to a homestead to the extent of one thousand dollars in the farm, or lot of land,
and buildings thereon, owned or possessed and occupied as a residence, which is
exempt from attachment, judgment, levy or execution, sale for the payment of
debts or other purposes, and from the laws of conveyance, descent and devise.
Such exemption continues after the death of such householder for the benefit
of the surviving husband or wife, so long as the same continues to be occupied
as a homestead, and for the benefit of the children, until the youngest child
.becomes twenty-one years of age. In case of the desertion of either husband
or wife the exemption continues for the benefit of the one oecupying the prem
ises. The homestead is not exempt from taxation or from debts for the pur
chase or improvement thereof. The proceeds arising from a sale of the home
stead to the amount of one thousand dollars is exempt, for one year from the
receipt thereof, and when re-invested in a homestead is exempt, as in the or
iginal homestead.
Personal Property: — The following personal property is exempt from
attachment, execution or distress for rent:
The necessary wearing apparel, bibles, school books and family pictures of
every person, and one hundred dollars worth of other property, to be selected
by the debtor. When the debtor is the head of a family, and resides with the
same three hundred dollars worth of other property, to be selected by the
debtor. Such selection cannot be made from any money due the debtor from
any person, persons or corporation.
In order to avail himself of the benefit of the exemption law'the debtor is
required to schedule all his personal property of any kind and description, in
cluding all debts due him, and money on hand, and deliver such schedule to the
officer having the execution, writ of attachment, or distress warrant. In case
the head of the family die, desert, or fail to reside with the same, the family is

504 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY. '
entitled to all the benefits and privileges conferred by law upon the head of the
family. Nothing, however, is exempt from attachment or execution where the founda
tion of the writ is the wages of a laborer or servant. If any officer shall seize ex
empt property, on execution or other process, such officer is liable to the party in
jured for double the value of the property so illegally taken, to be recovered in
an action of trespass, with costs. Limitation Law.
The following actions can only be commenced within the periods hereafter
specified, except in cases where a different limitation is prescribed by Statute:
Actions for slander or libel, within one year next after the cause of action
occurred. Actions for damages for injury to the person for false imprisonment or ma
licious prosecution, or for a statutory penalty, for abduction, for seduction, or
for criminal conversation, within two years.
Actions on unwritten contracts, expressed or implied, or on awards or ar
bitrations, or to recover damages for an injury done to property — real or personal,
or to recover the possession of personal property or damages for the detention
or conversion thereof, and all civil actions not otherwise provided for, within five
years. Actions on bonds, promissory notes, bills of exchange, written leases, writ
ten contracts, or other evidences of indebtedness in writing, within ten years.
Any new promise or payment takes the case out of the statute, and it begins
to run again from the date of such payment or promise. The statute does not
run during absence from the State of the promisor or obligor.
When a cause of action has arisen in a State or territory out of this State,
or in a foreign country, and by the laws thereof an action can not be maintained
by reason of the lapse of time, an action thereon can not be maintained in this
State. Persons under age or disability are allowed two years within which to bring
their actions after arriving at full age, or after the disability is removed.
If a person liable to an action fraudulently conceals the cause of such ac
tion from the knowledge of the person entitled thereto, the action may be com
menced at any time within five years after the person entitled to bring the same
discovers that he has such cause of action.
If an action is stayed by injunction, order of court, or statutory prohibition,
the statute does not run during such time.
Organization of Corporations.
Corporations not for Pecuniary Profit: — Societies, Corporatious and associ
ations not for pecuniary profit, may be formed as follows:
Any three or more persons, citizens of the United States, may make, sign
and acknowledge before any person authorized by law to take acknowledgments
of deeds in this State, and file in the office of the Secretary of State, a certificate
in writing, stating the name or title by which such corporation, society or asso
ciation shall be known in law, the particular business and object for which it is
formed, and the number of its trustees, directors or managers selected for the
first year of its existence. When such certificate is filed, the Secretary of State
will issue a certificate of organization, which is then to be filed with the Recorder
of Deeds of the county where such corporation, society or association is located,
When thus organized, such corporation, society or association, can sue and be
sued, take and hold real and personal property, may make and enforce contracts
in relation to the legitimate business of the corporation, may have and use a

ABSTRACT OF LAWS. ' 505
common seal, and make all by-laws for the government of such corporation not
inconsistent with the constitution or any law of the State, or United States.
Religious Corporations: — Any church, congregation or society formed
for the purpose of religious worship, may become incorporated in the manner
following: By electing or appointing, at any meeting held for that purpose, two or more
of its members as trustees^ wardens, or vestrymen, and adopting a corporate name,
and upon filing an affidavit by the chairman or secretary of such meeting with
the Recorder of. Deeds of the county in which such congregation or society is
organized, in the following form:
state OF ILLINOIS, i
Whiteside County, ( ss* I  do solemnly swear (or affirm) that at a meeting of the
members of the  held at  ,in the county of Whiteside and State of Illinois,
on the  day of  A. D. iS  , for that purpose, the following persons were elected (or appoint
ed)  trustees, etc., according to the rules and usages of such  ; And such
church adopted as its coiporate name  ; and at such meeting this affiant acted as 
Name 
Subscribed and sworn to before me this  day pf  A. D. 18 

Such church, society or congregation shall then be deemed organized. The
by-laws or rules of such society may determine the term of service of the trus
tees, and failure to elect does not work a dissolution of the organization. Such
society, church or congregation, may acquire by gift, or purchase, real estate not
to exceed ten acres, may lay out and maintain thereon a burying ground, and
may erect such buildings as are deemed necessary for the comfort and conven
ience of such society. Societies so organized may take and hold real estate not
to exceed forty acres for camp-meeting purposes.
Fence Law.
In counties under township organization in this State, the Assessor and
Commissioners of Highways are fence viewers ex officio of their respective towns.
A lawful fence is four and one half feet high, in good repair, made either
of rails, timber, boards, stone, or hedges, or anything that the fence viewers
shall deem equivalent thereto.
Where two persons own lands adjoining, each is required to make and
maintain a just proportion of the division fence, unless the owner of either ad
joining lands shall choose to let such land lie open. If, however, such owner
shall afterwards desire to enclose his tract, he is liable to contribute a just pro
portion of the value of any division fence then existing. The value of such
fence is ascertained by two fence viewers of the town, who also are by law con
stituted a tribunal to settle disputes between adjoining owners as to the propor
tion of fence to be made and maintained by each. The viewers are selected by
each party choosing one; in case they cannot agree, the two chosen select a third,
the decision of any two being final. The decision of the fence viewers must be
reduced to writing and filed in the office of the Town Clerk. In case the party
liable shall neglect to repair or make his proportion of the division fence, the
party aggrieved may construct or repair the same at the expense of the party
liable first giving, in case of erecting a new fence, 60 days' notice, and in case
of repairing, 10 days' notice. When a division fence is injured or destroyed, the
party liable to its maintenance is required to repair the same within 10 days;
any nerson interested may make such requisition. In case of refusal or neglect,
any injured party may make or repair the same at the expense of the party lia
ble. Division fences can be removed in case an adjoining owner shall desire to
let his land lie open; but one year's notice must be given of such intention; if
[64-L]

506 ' HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
removed without notice, the party removing is liable for all damages occasioned
thereby. Fence viewers are authorized to examine witnesses, and may administer
oaths and subpoena witnesses upon any question submitted to them. They are
entitled to one dollar and fifty cents a day each for the time necessarily spent
on any matter submitted to them.
Estray Law.
Horses, mules, asses, cattle, swine, sheep, or goats, found straying at any
time during the year in counties where such animals are not allowed to run at
large, or between the last day of October and the fifteenth day of April in other
counties, the owner thereof being unknown, may be taken up. Estrays may be
taken up only by a householder in the county where the estray is found, and not
unless such astray is upon or about his farm, or place of residence. The estray
must not be used until after advertising. Within five days after the taking up
of an estray, notices must be posted in three public places in the town; the no
tice must give the residence of the taker up, and a particular description of the
estray — its age, color, and marks natural and artificial, as near as may be, and
stating before what Justice of the Peace of the town, in not less than ten nor
more than fifteen days, he will apply to have such estray appraised. The no
tice must be recorded with the Town Clerk, in the "Town Estray Book." On
the day fixed in the notice the estray is appraised before the Justice by apprais
ers appointed for that purpose. The appraisement is by the Justice noted in his
docket, and if the value of the estray exceeds twenty dollars, the Justice must
within ten days forward to the Clerk of the county a certificate stating the de
scription of the estray, the name and residence of the taker up, and the value
of said estray; this is entered in the "Estray Book." The County Clerk then
publishes an estray notice for three successive weeks in a newspaper published
in the county, and also causes three copies to be posted in three public places
in the county. If the estray is not claimed within one year, if it be a horse,
mule, ass, or head of cattle, or within three months if it be a sheep, goat, or
swine, the same is sold at public sale after giving twenty days' notice. From
the proceeds is deducted the costs, and reasonable compensation for keeping such
estray; the balance is deposited with the County Treasurer, and may be reclaimed
by the owner of the estray at any time within three years.
The penalty for unlawfully taking up an estray is ten dollars. If the es
tray dies or gets away the taker up is not liable for the same.
Lost Goods, Money, Etc.
If any person or persons shall hereafter find any lost goods, moneys, bank
notes or other choses in action, of any description whatever, of the value of $5
and upwards, it shall be the duty of such person or persons to inform the owner
thereof, if known, and to make restitution of the same without any compensation
whatever, except the same shall be voluntarily given on the part of the owner;
but if the owner be unknown, such person or persons shall, within five days after
such finding as aforesaid, take such goods, money, bank notes or other choses in
action, before some Justice of the Peace of the proper county and make affidavit
of the description thereof, the time and place, when and where the same was
found, that no alteration has been made in the appearance thereof since the find
ing of the same, whereupon the Justice shall enter a description of the property
thus found and the value thereof as near as he can ascertain, in his estray book,
together with the affidavit of the finder, to be taken as aforesaid, and shall also
within ten days after the said proceedings shall have been entered in his estray

ABSTRACT OF LAWS. 507
book as aforesaid, transmit to the County Clerk a certified copy thereof, to be by
him recorded in his estray book and to file the same in his office.
In all cases where such lost goods, money, bank notes, or other choses in
action shall not exceed the sum of $15 in value, it shall be the duty of the find
er to advertise the same on the door of the court house and in three other of
the most public places in the county, and if no person shall appear to claim and
prove such money, goods, bank notes or other choses in action within twelve
months from the time of advertisement, the right to such property where the
same shall consist in goods, money or bank notes shall be vested in the finder;
but if the value thereof shall exceed the sum of $15 it shall be the duty of the
County Clerk within twenty days from the time of the reception of the Justice'
said certificate at his office, to cause an advertisement to be posted upon the
court house door and in three other of the most public places in the county, and
also a notice thereor to be published for three weeks successively in some pub
lic newspaper printed in this State; and if the said goods, money, bank notes or
other choses in action be not reclaimed within six months after the advertise
ment thereof as aforesaid, it shall be the duty of the finder, if the property shall
consist in money or bank notes, to deliver the same to the County Treasurer af
ter deducting the necessary expenses hereinafter provided for; and if in bonds,
bills, notes of hand, patents, deeds of conveyance, articles of apprenticeship,
mortgages, or other instruments of value, the same shall be delivered to the
County Clerk to be preserved in his office for the benefit of the owner, when
ever legal application shall be made therefor. If in goods, wares or merchandise,
the same shall be delivered to the Sheriff of the county, who shall thereupon
proceed to sell the same at public auction to the highest bidder, for ready money,
having first given ten days' notice of the time and place of sale; and the pro
ceeds of all such sales, after deducting the cost and other expenses, shall be
paid into the county treasury.
Weights and Measures.
In this State, when any of the following articles are contracted for, sold,
or delivered, and no special contract or agreement shall be made to the contrary,
the weight is as follows:

Pounds.
StoneC'oal  So
Unslacked Lime  80
Corn in the ear  7°
Wheat  60
Irish Potatoes  60
White Beans  60
CloverSeed  60
Onions  57
Shelled Corn  56
Rye  5£
Flax S eed  5°
Sweet Potatoes  55
Turnips.  55
FineSalt  55

Pounds'
Buckwheat  53
Coarse Salt  50
Barley  4S
Corn Meal  48
Castor Beans  46
Timothy Seed  45
Hemp Seed  44
Malt  38
Dried Peaches  33
Oats  32
Dried Apples   34
Bran  30
Blue grass seed  14
Hair, Plastering  8

The Secretary of State is ex officio State sealer of weights and measures,
and the County Clerk is ex officio sealer of weights and measures in his county.
Contracts, hereafter to be executed, made within this State for any work to
be done, or for any thing to be sold, delivered, done or agreed for by weight or
measure, shall be taken and construed to be made according to the standard
weight or measure ascertained as above.
Marketing Products.
Every farmer, fruit .and vine grower, and gardener, shall have an undisputed
right to sell the produce of his farm, orchard, vineyard and garden, in any place

508 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
or market where such articles are usually sold, and in any quantity he may think
proper, without paying any state, county or city tax or license for doing so, any
law, city or town ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding. Corporate authori
ties may prohibit the obstruction of streets or alleys for any such purpose, and
this law does not authorize the sale of spirituous, vinous or malt liquors con
trary to law prohibiting the sale thereof.
Game Law.
Between the fifteenth day of January and the first day of September, in
every year, it is unlawful for any person to kill, trap, net, ensnare, or destroy
any prairie hen or wood-cock. Any deer, fawn, wild turkey, partridge or
pheasant, between the first day of February and the first day of October; or any
quail between the first day of February and the first day of November; or any
wild goose, duck, snipe, brant or other water fowl between the first day of May
and the fifteenth day of August. No person, not a resident of the State, shall
at any time kill, net, trap or ensnare any of the above enumerated species of
game for the purpose of selling, marketing or removing the same outside of this
State. Any violation of the game law is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine
of not less than five dollars nor more than twenty-five dollars for each and every
separate bird or animal unlawfully killed or destroyed. The offender shall
stand committed to the county jail, until the fine imposed on conviction is paid,
provided that the imprisonment shall not exceed ten days. It is also unlawful
to sell or expose for sale any of the above enumerated animals or fowls after
the expiration of five days next succeeding the first day of the period in which
it shall be unlawful to kill or destroy such animals, wild fowls or birds. The
penalty for violation i3 the same as above. Taxidermists are exempted from
the operation of this law when the animal, wild fowl or bird is killed for pres
ervation in either a public or private collection.
Fish Law.
No person shall hereafter place or erect any dam, seine, net, weir, fish dam
or other obstruction, in or across any of its rivers, creeks, streams, ponds, lakes,
sloughs or bayoasor other water courses in this State in such manner as shall hin
der or obstruct the free passage of fish up or down or through such water course.
It is also unlawful to use a seine or net for catching fish (except minnows,) the
meshes of which are less than one and one half inches- Violators of this law
are arrested on complaint and warrant; and dealt with in a summary manner.
The penalty for violation is for the first offense a fine of not less than ten or
more than fifty dollars; for tho second or any subsequent offense, the fine may be
-increased to $100. Execution issues on such judgment for fine; if returned
"not satisfied," a warrant for the commitment of the defendant issues, and he is
' liable to incarceration for a period of not less than ten or more than sixty days
in the county jail.
Dams erected according to law for the purpose of navigation, or running
mills or other machinery, are allowed. Upon dams hereafter erected, fish-ways
must be provided in such a manner as to allow the free passage of fish up or
down the stream.

SUPPLEMENT

HIST011Y OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.

PEECINOT OKGANIZATIOK
When the article on Precincts which appears on pages 55, 56 and 57 of this
volume, was written, we had procured copies of all the records in relation to
them then known to exist, but since that time we have been fortunate enough
to find in the County Clerk's office of this county, while searching for other old
documents, the proceedings of the March, June and September terms of 1837
and 1838, of the Ogle County Commissioners' Court, in which the names and
boundaries of the Precincts in Whiteside county are given — Whiteside being
then attached to Ogle for judicial purposes. It was supposed that all the proceed
ings in relation to Whiteside had been destroyed with the other records at the
time the Ogle County Clerk's office was burned, but these had fortunately been
secured by the Commissioners of Whiteside county, but not filed, and by that
means escaped the attention of the Publisher of this work. Below we give the
names and boundaries of the Precincts as originally laid down by the Ogle Coun
ty Commissioners, as they should have appeared after the word "follows" in the
eleventh paragraph, page 56 of this volume:
Albany Precinct, bounded as follows: Beginning at the mouth of the
Meredocia, and thence running east through the center of the Meredocia and to
continue in an easterly line until within one mile of the east line of range 4, east
of the 4th Principal Meridian; thence north on the north line of township 22
north; thence west to the Mississippi river, and thence down the river to the
place of beginning.
Elkhorn Precinct, beginning one mile west of the northwest corner of
Township 20 north; thence east along the north line of said township to the
northeast corner of township 22; thence west along the north line of township
22 one mile west of range 5, and thence south to the place of beginning.
Little Rock Precinct, beginning at the southeast corner of Albany Precinct;
thence running up Rock river to the south line of township 20; thence east to the
east line of the county; thence along said county line to the north line of town
ship 20; thence west along said line to the northeast corner of Albany Precinct,
and thence south to the place of beginning.
Prophetstown Precinct embraced all territory south of Rock river in White
side county, not embraced in any other Precinct.
At the March term, 1838, of the Ogle County Commissioners' Court a
petition was received from citizens of Albany Precinct asking that it he divided,
and an order was accordingly made establishing a Precinct to be called Fulton
Precinct, which embraced all of township 22 north, ranges 3 and 4 east of the

510 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
4th Principal Meridian. The elections were ordered to be held at the house of
Robert Booth, in Fulton city.
At the same term of the County Commissioners' Court an order was en
tered that Little Rock Precinct be more definitely bounded as follows: All the
territory north of Rock river, and south of Albany and Elkhorn Precincts.
It was also ordered that the name of Portland Precinct be changed to that
of Prophetstown, and be more definitely bounded as follows: embracing all
the territory in Whiteside county south of Rock river.
At the same term of Court a petition was received signed by sixty citizens
of Elkhorn Precinct, in Whiteside county, asking for the formation of a new
Precinct to be called Genesee. The action upon the petition was favorable, and
an order entered establishing Genesee Precinct, with the following boundaries:
Commencing at the northeast corner of township 22 north, range 6 east of the
4th Principal Meridian; running thence south on the township line six miles;
thence west nine miles to the southwest corner of section 34, township 23
north, range 5 east of the 4th Principal Meridian; thence north to the north
line of said township, and thence east on the township line to the place of be
ginning. Elections to be held at the house of Wing & Fowler.
A petition was also presented at the same time from sixty-seven citizens
of Elkhorn Precinct asking for the formation of another new Precinct from it,
to be called Union Precinct, which was likewise favorably acted upon, and an
order made establishing it, with the following boundaries: Beginning one mile
west of the southwest corner of township 21 north, range 5 east of the 4th
Principal Meridian; thence north along said section line to the north line of
township 21 north; thence east one mile; thence north six miles; thence east to
the middle of range 5 east; thence soutb along said section line to the south
line of township 21 north, and thence west along said line to the place of be
ginning. Elections to be held at the house of Jonathan Haines.

OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.
In our article on the Old Settlers' Association which appears on page 100
and 101 of this volume, the facts as to its organization, etc., were obtained from
several of those present, but as they had to rely entirely on memory, the data
were not as full and accurate as we could have desired. We had searched
through the files of the newspapers published at that time, but owing to miss
ing numbers, were unable to find the account of the prodeedings. Since then,
however, we have obtained them through the kindness of Dr. L. S. Pennington,
who had preserved them in slips cut from the Sterling Gazette at the time of
publication. The meeting was held on Washington's birthday, February 22,
1858. We give below the account as it then appeared:
"At an early hour in the day, the 'Old S. ettlers' began to gather at the Wal
lace House in Sterling. The morning train brought delegations from the western
part of the county, and before the hour appointed for meeting, several hundred
had assembled. Large numbers came by teams from the surrounding country.
Conspicuous among the delegations was that from Jordan, made up of the Coe
family — the most numerous family in the county, as well as among its 'oldest'
and most respected citizens. Their outfit consisted of a large sleigh, with can
vas cover, camp kettles, and all the paraphernalia of the 'Western emigrant,'
drawn by six large horses, geared with the old-fashioned Pennsylvania harness,
with saddle and driver on the nigh wheel horse. At about four o'clock p. M., a

SUPPLEMENT. 511
preliminary organization was affected at the Wallace House, at which John
Stakes, of Prophetstown, was chosen president of the meeting, and Simeon M.
Coe, of Jordan, was chosen secretary. After this the assembly repaired to Wal
lace Hall, under the direction of Col. E. Seely, of Portland, marshal of the day.
Nelson Mason, as Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, presided, and
Col. R. L. Wilson acted as Secretary.
The following Old Settlers reported themselves, many of them with their
wives and families, together with the date of their location in the county:
Sterling:— 1834, Hezekiah Brink; 1835, Nathan Hicks, L. D. Crandall; 1836,
Edward Bush, Van J. Adams1, Luther Bush, Nelson Mason, M. R. Adams, H.
Bush; 1837, Hugh Wallace, W. M. Kilgour, Noah Merrill, Geo. W. Woodburn,
C. H. Crook, E. L. Worthington, H. Tuttle, Thos. Mathews, E. J. Kilgour, W.
H. Whipple; 1838, C. C. Judd, Hiram Platt, R. C. Andrews, J. Pettigrew, J. W.
Shannon, J. M. Whipple, Andrew Bush, C. M. Worthington, Geo. H. Wells, L.
J. Whipple, D. 0. Coe, Wyatt Cantrell, M. M. Warner, L. B. Wetherbee, C. A.
Wetherbee, E. C. Wetherbee; 1839, A. McMoore, Edwin Judd, M. C. Stull, Jesse
Penrose, F. Sampson, J. A. Gilbert; 1840, R. L. Wilson, John Dippell, C. P.
Emmons. Jordan:— 1835, James Talbott, 0. Talbott, J. W. Talbott, S. M. Coe;
1836, M. M. Hubbard, F. W. Coe; 1837, J. W. Thompson, L. G. Schenck, D. F.
Coe, H. A. Coe; 1838, M. L. Coe, J. F. Coe; 1839, L. S. Pennington, Jabez Gil-
'bert. Hopkins:— 1837, W. F. Hopkins; 1838, Joel Harvey, S. C. Harvey, 0. A.
Fanning; 1839, N. A. Sturtevant, E. C. Whitmore, Geo. Sturtevant, A. C. Mer
rill, W. S. Wilkinson, A. S. Sampson. Coloma: — 1839, Frank Cushing, John
Enderton, L. H. Woodworth. Sugar Grove: — 1838, M. S. Coe. Union Grove:
—1836, Henry Boyer, W. F. Boyer; 1837, J. C. Young, Daniel B. Young, J. P.
Garlick; 1838, A. N. Young. Mt. Pleasant:— 1835, William Knox; 1836, Hor
ace Heaton; 1837, Geo. Heaton; 1838, A. C. Jackson; 1839, C. P. Emery.
Lyndon:— 1835, 0. Woodruff; 1837, Alexis Hubbard, R. G. Clendenin; 1838, S.
Hubbard; 1839, Joe Ware, J. D. Conyne. Prophetstown: — 1834, J. W. Stakes;
1835, N. G. Reynolds, J. C. Southern; 1836, E. S. Gage; 1837, T. J. Walker,
A. J. Warner, E. B. Clark, Lawrence Walls; 1838, W. S. Reynolds, R. Crook,
Wm. T. Minchen, A. S. Dickinson, E. Hj Nichols, E. B. Warner. J. W. Beeman,
H. C. Smith, G. C. Eeynolds, S. Johnson; 1839, A. J. Tuller, O.W. Gage, J. W.
Gage, W. E. Smith. Hume: — 1839. Charles Wright, H. Cleveland. Portland:
—1835, S. Fuller, P. B. Besse; 1836, Col. E. Seely, L. M. Seely, A. J. Seely,
M V. Seely, R. M. Besse; 1837, R. Woodside. Albany:— 1838, B. S. Quick;
1839, W. S. Barnes, W. A. Gilbert. Clyde:— 1838, S. Currie. Erie:— 1835,
S. D. Carr. Garden Plain: — 1839, James A. Sweet.
The audience was then called to order by Col. Seely, who made a brief
statement of the objects of the meeting — that it was for the purpose of having
a re-union of the "Old Settlers' of Whiteside County," renewing their early ac
quaintance, and holding a general social visit, and to accomplish this in the most
effectual manner, he recommended that the audience mingle together as their
tastes and inclinations might dictate, until the hour appointed for the supper.
Upon this suggestion, every individual present seemed to act with the greatest
good feeling and cordiality. There was a general greeting and shaking of hands
 renewing old acquaintance, reciting reminiscences — laughing, talking and
chatting. Years of pioneer life were lived over again. • Recollections of hard
ships, privations, hair-breadth escapes, were awakened; the almost magic develop
ment of the country — from the rude and isolated cabin and wide expanse of
unsettled and unclaimed prairie, to the city and villgge, with their evidences of
civilization, the church and school houses; the thousands of farm houses and well
improved farms dotting the whole surface, where no hand of industry had ever

512 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
stirred the soil; the railroad, the manufactory; the commerce of our lakes and
rivers were talked about by middle-aged men and women, who had witnessed
these great changes, and had labored to bring them about.
At about 5^- o'clock a procession was formed, directed by the Marshal,
which marched to the dining-room of the Wallace House. About four hundred
were seated at the tables. A benediction was pronounced by Rev. E. Erskine,
after which the bounties provided by McCune was discussed in a most hearty
manner. Ample provision had been made for the large number present, and
they were served in a style that elicited unqualified commendation.
In the meantime the hall had been lighted and fitted for the reception of
the large audience that assembled to listen to the sentiments and responses.
One hundred and sixteen lights, including the gas burners, had been arranged in
a most effective manner, giving to this large and splendid hall a truly brilliant
appearance. After the audience had become seated, Col. Seely, introduced, as the first
settlers of Whiteside county now living, Mr. John W. Stakes and family of Proph
etstown. Also, as the first born male child, Mr. Wm. Tell Hopkins of Como, now
about twenty-two years of age, and first female child, Mrs. Wm. Wright of Mor
rison, daughter of John W. Stakes. Their appearance on the speaker's stand was
greeted with much enthusiasm. Sentiments and Responses.
County of Whiteside, — Responded to by Col. E. Seely, of Portland.— The
Col. stated that he located in Whiteside County in the year 1836. That the
first county election was held in August of the same year and that about thirty
votes were cast. The only roads then in existence were the trails of the Indians,
and the only evidences of civilization, was here and there a log cabin. Al
though there were many hardships and privations, there was much hospitality
and good feeling among tbe settlers. He spoke of the present position of the
county and its future destiny, and concluded with an amusing anecdote.
The Town of Union Grove. — Responded to by Henry Boyer. Mr. B. stated
that he located and made the claim on which he now lives, in what is now the
township of Union Grove, in the year 1836. The population then comprised two
families; it now numbers about 10 or 1200 inhabitants. There are in the town
three churches, four school houses and schools, attended by about one hundred
and fifty scholars. He spoke of numerous improvements — the hydraulic power,
supply of timber, which is adequate to all reasonable wants, the excellent qual
ity of the soil, and the abundant resources of the township to sustain a large and
prosperous population.
The Town of Lyndon. — Responded to by R. G. Clendenin. Mr. C. said
that this town was first settled in 1835, by A R. Hamilton, Wm. D. Dudley and
Chauncy G. Woodruff. They endured the hardships incident to the settlement
of a new country. The town was noted for the steady habits of its people, and
for their devotion to the cause of education and good morals.
The Town of Albany. — Captain Barnes was called upon, but was absent in
consequence of illness.
Garden Plain. — Responded to by James A. Sweet. Mr. S. stated that he
was the only representative of his town present; that the town of Garden Plain
was first settled in the year 1836 by Abel Parker; its present population is five
hundred; it has four schools, with an average attendance at each of about forty
scholars. The township is second to none in point of its advantages.
The Town of Jordan. — Responded to by Dr. L. S. Pennington. The Dr.
spoke of the appropriateness of the time — the birth day of the Father of our

SUPPLEMENT. 513
Country-J-for the early settlers to gather together and recount the incidents of
the first settlement of Whiteside county. He said that the town of Jordan was
first settled in the year 1835, by Simeon M. Coe, who built the first house."^It
was constructed of logs — rough in its exterior, but there was abundant hospital
ity within. James Talbot was the next settler, who broke the first prairie in the
township. Joseph M. Wilson commenced the construction of a flouring mill in
1835, which was completed the next year. This was built of logs and has long
since given place to the mill now well known as "Wilson's Mills." The next
building was erected by S. M. Coe and the first store was opened by John Brookie
in the year 1837. This town has increased in population and wealth, slowly but
surely. Its soil is good, it is well watered and supplied with an abundance of
stone. The present population number about one thousand. But twelve deaths
have occurred in the township since its first settlement, indicating remarkable
heathf ulness. There are six schools and school houses. No grog shop or saloon
desecrates its soil. In conclusion he said "that our Jordan is not the Jordan of
the Canaan of old, yet we trust at no distant day, when science and industry
shall have developed her resources, it will be equally celebrated, for her vines
and her fruits — for her milk and her honey."
The Town of Portland: — Responded to by P. B. Besse. Mr. B. stated that
the first settlement of the town of Portland was made in June of 1834, and that
the first prairie was broken in the August following. The first election was
held at the house of Asa Crook, at which he acted as Clerk. Twelve votes were
cast. The town contains the largest amount of timber land of any town in the
county. There are nine schools and school houses in the township.
The Town of Prophetstown: — Responded to by Mr. Nichols. Mr. N. claimed
that Prophetstown is second to none in the county for its agricultural resources.
Its educational and religious advantages will compare favorably. It was the
site of an old Indian village, where the chief, Prophet, had lived. The town is
justly celebrated for the enterprise of its males and the beauty of its females.
The Town of Sterling: — Responded to by Nelson Mason as follows: "I
came to the town of Sterling in the fall of 1836, in company with John D. Bar
nett. I found John Chapman and Wright Murphy living in the cabin now on
the farm of Capt. Woodburn. Here I spent my first night on Rock river. The
first thing that attracted my attention as I left the cabin door in the morning,
was a prairie wolf. We stood looking at each other a short time and parted,
each taking his own path. The next attraction was on the bank of the river, at
the rapids; there were the remains of the wigwams of the Indian, and great
quantities of fish bones, indicating that the aborigines had but recently given
place to the white man, and that Rock river afforded an abundance of fish. At
the head of the rapids I found three families, H. Brink, E. Worthington, and
S. Gear. I spent two or three days with my new friends very agreeably. The
county was very sparsely settled, but I found the people very hospitable and
kind. Mr. H. Brink was the man who built the first cabin; broke the first prai
rie, and raised the first corn in the town of Sterling. I left for a few days — .
going to Savanna, — and on my return came in by Gap Grove. When I reached
the height of land above where Mr. Wetherbee now resides, and took a vjew of
the beautiful landscape before me, with Rock river on my left, the Elkhorn on
my right, skirted with timber, with nothing but nature's adorning, I gazed upon
it with wonder and astonishment. And that fair land is now the township of
Sterling. Since that time I have traveled north and south, east and west, and
have yet to see a more beautiful spot. Late that fall J. D. Barnett and myself
opened the first store in the town of Sterling; the nearest Postoffice to us at
that time was Dixon. We applied for one in Sterling in the spring of 1837; it
[os-tJ.]

514 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
was granted; J. D. Barnett was appointed P. M., and I had the contract for car
rying the mail. In the spring of that year there was considerable emigration,
and in May we formed ourselves into an association, which had for its object the
protection of individual claims on government lands. This Association contin
ued until August, 1841, when our lands came into market. Let us contrast
what it was then with what it is now: Then, a man with a family of five or six
had to grind all his grain in a coffee mill, or boil it whole. Now, our mills send
1400 barrels of flour to market every week, and supply all home demands. Then
we had to import most of our breadstuffs; now we will ship from our depot
over two millions of bushels of wheat, or its equivalent in flour, during the
present season. Then we were glad to see or hear of a log cabin being erected;
during the last year over two hundred thousand dollars have been expended in
improvements in our city. Then we had neither churches, schools, or clergymen;
now we have four churches, as many clergymen, and six schools. Then we had
no newspaper printed nearer than Chicago or Peoria; now we have two weekly
newspapers, ably conducted and well sustained. What will it be when all her
natural resources are developed, her vast water power improved, and her beau
tiful prairie all in the highest state of cultivation? What will the hardy pio
neers and their intelligent and industrious sons and daughters do for Sterling
during the next twenty years? They stood shoulder to shoulder and braved the
hardships of a new country without a murmur, and your wives, few in number,
who would leave their good, comfortable homes, and endure all the privations
and inconveniences incident to a pioneer life, with cheerful countenances and
encouraging words, I am glad to meet them here on this occasion. What, I say,
will such a people do for Sterling the next twenty years, requires not the tongue
of a prophet to tell."
The Town of Coloma: — Responded to by Frank Cushing. Mr. C. com
menced by referring to the location of Coloma on the 'other side of Jordan,'
opposite Sterling, on Rock river. It is a small town, settled by honest men.
The first settlement was made in the year 1836, by Isaac Merrill, A. R. Whit
ney, now of Franklin Grove, and Mr. Atkins. He claimed for Coloma unrivalled
agricultural facilities. Her sand banks furnished Sterling her sand with which
to cement together her brick blocks; her stone quarries furnished Prophetstown
with stone for the foundation of their houses, and her prairies supplied the'
whole surrounding country with hay. He suggested that one day in each year
be set apart for a re-union of the 'old settlers' of Whiteside county.
The Town of Ustick. — Wyatt Cantrell was called upon, but did not
respond. The Town of Hume. — Responded to by Chas. Wright, Esq. Mr. Wright
spoke for several minutes in a most happy and pleasant manner. We should
be pleased to give a more extended sketch of his remarks, but have not the
notes from which to write it. He closed by offering the following sentiment: —
"As Jacob of old loved Benjamin above all his sons, because he was youngest,
so may the Town of Hume, being the youngest of nineteen sisters, stand high
est in the estimation of old Father Whiteside."
The Town of Erie.— Responded to by S. D. Carr. Mr. Carr said that he
located at Erie in 1836. There was then but one. house, built and occupied by
Orville Brooks. Peter Guile, David Hunt and L. D. Crandall were among the
first settlers. The town now contains from three to five hundred inhabitants.
It is well timbered — has coal beds near at hand, and what is not usual in the
northwest — the wells and springs afford abundant supplies of pure fresh water.
He spoke of the flourishing condition of the schools, the industry and good
morals of the inhabitants.

SUPPLEMENT 515
_ The Town of Hopkins.— Responded to by W. S. Wilkinson, but the report
gives no account of his remarks.
The Town of Clyde, — Responded to by Samuel Currie. Mr. Currie re
marked that he was not the oldest settler of Clyde and was not prepared to
make a statement of its early settlement. He thought the first settlement was
made by Messrs. Wing and Baker. The township contains four schools, which
are well attended. He spoke of the good morals of its inhabitants and of the
wealth and fertility of its soil.
The Town of Mt. Pleasant— Responded to by H. A. Johnson, Esq. Mr.
Johnson did not claim to be an old resident of the County, and was included in
the invitation for the reason that his wife, a daughter of Royal Jacobs,
was among its first settlers. He was not familiar with the early history of the
town of Mt. Pleasant, but could say much in praise of her many advantages.
Her soil is unsurpassed for its fertility, there is an abundance of timber, and
excellent manufacturing facilities. He also spoke eloquently of the character
of the inhabitants, their educational and religious advantages, and the future
prospects of the town.
The First Settler of Whiteside County. — Responded to by John W. Stakes.
Mr. Stakes stated that he wished to correct a wrong impression. There is a
lady present — the wife of P. B. Besse— who had resided- in the county longer
than he had, and consequently is the oldest settler now living in Whiteside
county. Her father settled here in May, 1834. At the time he came here, the
county was a wild waste, inhabited only by roving Indians. He procured the
first provisions for his family — flour and groceries — at Peoria, and packed them
eighty miles on a horse, following an Indian trail. There was no store nearer
than Galena, and Rock Island was an Indian trading post. He rejoiced to rec
ognize here so many faces that he had seen in earlier days.
The . Hardships of the Early Settlers, and the Secret of their Success. —
Responded to by Col. R. L. Wilson, as follows: "In the land of our nativity,
surrounded by kind friends, schools, churches, and the scenes of our childhood,
why are we not content? Many causes contribute to alienate our affections,
and offer a compensation for the privations incident to the life of the pioneer.
Some are prompted by curiosity, and a love for the romantic grandeur of nature;
but the largest portion seek retirement on the frontier for the purpose of bet
tering themselves and families. They can there obtain a home that they can
call their own; although it may be a log cabin, it is still 'sweet home.' When
we have fully made up our minds to emigrate, the work is almost done. All
that remains is to 'wait for the wagon,' and we 'take a ride' to our future home
in the West. The wagon box serves for a house — being at once the parlor, the
kitchen, and the pantry — a place for everything. We finally arrive at our claim,
and then comes the raising of log cabins, on which occasion every pioneer with
in twenty miles is on hand. By and by a school house and church are wanted;
and if, in the West the husband is not able to assist in building the school
house and church, and he may not yet have paid his last payment so as to re
lieve his home from the Shylock's Trust Deed, his wife calls a meeting of the
ladies, when the work is done; for who ever heard of an enterprise failing when
pioneer ladies undertook it. The secret of the success of the pioneer is ex
plained by his determination to leave his loved home, to endure the privations
of the journey, the discomforts of the log cabin, the want of suitable food and
clothing, the absence of schools and churches, and the recollection of dear ones
who 'miss them at home.' The man or woman who encounters all these priva
tions, with the fever and ague of the early days, will succeed anywhere and

516 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
under any circumstances, and their descendants may be depended upon as the
guardians of civil and religious liberty."
The Hospitality of the Early Settlers. — Responded to by Marcus L. Coe. Mr.
Coe said that "nowhere does the stranger meet with a more hearty welcome than
with the 'old Pioneer.' To his 'corn dodger,' or 'roast turkey,' you are alike
welcome and will ever be greeted, with a hearty 'I reckon.' His 'latch string is
always out.' 'Old Settlers,' may their corn and bacon always equal their hospi
tality." Teachings incident to the Early Settlement of a New Country — the Pioneer
Baby of Sterling. — Responded to by Col. Hugh Wallace. Mr. Wallace gave an
amusing sketch of some of his experiences in the early settlement of Sterling;
the practical lessons he received by being placed in a position where he had to
depend entirely upon his own resources and efforts. He came here fitted for
the practice of law — equipped with ruffled shirts and his law books. He found
that the only tools of real utility consisted of the plow, the hoe and such imple
ments as belong to the farm and workshop, and with these his old friend Gear
was well supplied and ready to accommodate his neighbors. His Chitty and
Blackstone were not adapted to his immediate uses. They would not cultivate
the soil or build the cabin. It was labor with the hands that was required, and
this must be performed by each individual with his own hands; it could not be
hired of others. After the conclusion of his remarks, Col. Wallace presented
to the audience the "Pioneer Baby" of Chatham, now part of the City of Ster
ling, Mrs. John A. Bross, of Chicago — the eldest daughter of Nelson Mason,
Esq. The appearance of Mrs. Bross upon the stand was greeted with much ap
plause and in response to calls from the audience Mr. Bross responded in a neat
and appropriate speech. The speaker closed with the suggestion that the whole
audience rise and sing, "Should auld acquaintance be forgot."
Which was responded to by several hundred good, strong voices, led by Nelson
Mason, Esq.
The Pioneer Farmers of Whiteside County. — Responded to byL. B. Wether
bee. Mr. W. said: "The pioneers of Whiteside County left happy homes and pleas
ant firesides in other lands to make new farms and homes, and, we may hope, to
build up the cause of education, of virtue, of temperance, of morality and piety,
until Whiteside county shall stand as a proud monument in the history of our
country. The calling of the farmer is one which all will readily agree is the
basis of society. It is an occupation upon which all others depend. Annihilate
the farming interest, and where would be the cities, the towns and the villages?
Annihilate the farming interest, and what branch of mechanical industry, what
profession in life could be sustained? Who, then, is the farmer? Not simply
he who turns the furrow or sows the seed, but he whose mind directs and con
trols the operation. And here it may not be amiss to take a retrospective glance
over the county, and see what the farmers of Whiteside have been doing for the
last eighteen years. We shall see that within that time all the land of the coun
ty has been bought, and if we estimate the cost to the present owners at five
dollars per acre, it will amount to about $2,910,000; if we estimate the same
amount for improvement, it will amount to the sum of $5,820,000, which the
farmers of Whiteside County have paid out within the last eighteen years. If,
then, the farmer is the foundation of society, it becomes of paramount impor
tance that his energies be directed in the most skilful and enlightened manner.
He needs all the assistance which education, science and inventive genius can
give; he will no longer carry the stone in one end of the bag to balance the grist

SUPPLEMENT. 517
in the other because his father did, but will be guided by reason, discretion and
judgment. With such a soil as Whiteside county possesses, farming may be
made profitable, and we may soon expect to see farmers wending their way to
wealth and fame in that department."
Pioneer Mechanics of Whiteside County. — Responded to by A. McMoore,
as follows: "I, your humble fellow citizen, have the honor to respond in behalf
of an important class of the early settlers of Whiteside county. They were
few in number but diligent in business. Some of them have gone to their rest
— others are here present on this occasion. Mr. Chairman, you have heard this
evening of the changes and improvements in the county. Permit me to speak
of some of the improvements that the mechanics have set in motion. The first
improvement of any importance in the way of plows, was the Dimon or Slinker,
by Wyatt Cantrell, an old settler. Jonathan Haines, a pioneer mechanic of
Union Grove, invented a harvester that is not surpassed by any in this section.
Builders: John Ogle was among the first and did much to make the first cabins
comfortable; and in this department, allow me to name H. Wallace, Esq., and
myself. The first named, we called a wood butcher, but he could make a bat
ten door. Pioneer Cabinet Makers, Mr. Allen of Albany, and C. C. Judd and
John Enderton of Sterling, all good workmen."
The Youth of The Pioneer Fathers of Whiteside County. — Responded to by
Wm. M. Kilgour, Esq., a first-rate specimen of Western production. Mr. K. spoke
as follows: "I don't know, Mr. Chairman, that any occasion could arise, or any
time or circumstances occur, under whieb I would more willingly attempt to
make a speech were I possessed of the ability to make such an one as the audi
ence is deserving of and as they are capable of appreciating. I am called upon
to respond, on the part of the children of the 'old settlers,' one of which I am;
and, when I attempt to look back to March, in the year 1837, a period barely
within my recollection, and the time when I first saw the beautiful prairie on
which Sterling now stands, I am confused, and such a multitude of incidents and
changes crowd upon the imagination that I scarcely know where to begin or what
to say. But this is not a place for long, dry speeches, and I don't know that I
can do better than, so far as growth of men physically is concerned, to exhibit
myself as a specimen, as one who has grown to the height of six feet two and
one-half inches, upon the soil of Whiteside, and in this very town. But to the
text 'the children of the 'old settlers'.' It is true, we have not had what, in
the East, they call 'advantages,' that is, the advantage of learning to twirl a cane
gracefully, to carry a heavy watch chain and seal^ of learning the names of the
streets in some city; of learning the different qualities, and quantities of liquors
a man can carry; and all under the pretence of attending college for the space
of three or four years. We get our education in the old log cabin school house,
where the pupils are free at least from the vices of a higher (as some would call
it) state of civilization. Where we get up in the morning and do our chores,
and off to school, learning at once the lessons of industry and economy, as well
as the lessons in the books — perfecting the physical as well as the mental facul
ties. And I think the biographies of men in this country bear out the truth of
the assertion that more men of sterling worth have sprung from such origin,
and such training, than from colleges and schools. Then Hurrah for the heirs
apparent — the children of the 'Old Settlers!' May we follow the example of our
fathers in good works, and imitate their virtues. More we need not ask."
The Pioneer Pomologist of Whiteside County. — Responded to by Dr. L. S. Pen
nington, in a few neat and appropriate remarks, as follows: "This, sir, with me
has been a passion. There is something in the growth and development of trees
and plants, so enchanting — so full of inte»est, that wherever Divinity has left

518 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
its impress, can it but be admired? The development of the bud is, of itself, a
wonder of wonders, and exhibits the secret springs of a vital energy, which man,
as yet, has never been able to penetrate. What would a country be without the
great family of fruits? What the physical and moral condition of that people,
whose existence has never been regaled by the apple, the peach, and the pear?
and what the condition of that community, whose homes have never been blessed
by their cooling and agreeable shade? Every plant, not indigenous, is untried,
in a new soil and climate, consequently many plants and trees that may grow and
give promise for years, owing to our great climate changes, may be cut off in a
day — thus blasting in a moment the hopes and prospects of years. Such rever
ses of fortune belong to the pioneers of every enterprise, especially those of
pomology. On emigrating to this State, in 1836, I was at once struck by the
luxuriance and healthy aspect of the trees, and by the great abundance and lux
uriance of the fruit. It was such as I had never seen before. It excited my
youthful imagination, and I at once resolved, as soon as circumstances would
admit, to engage in it (fruit raising). I counted largely on the pleasure and
profit I should surely reap when my plans were fully consummated. I h'ad not
then counted the cost of the winters of 1842-3, of 1855-6. The first fruit trees
I was able to plant, were on my present farm, in the fall of 1839. N. Mason
and John D. Barrett planted some in Sterling at the same time, which were, per
haps, the first cultivated trees planted in this city. They are now owned by J.
Rice. Among those who took an early and lively interest in the cultivation of
fruit and trees, I cannot refrain from naming that old pioneer, known to many
of you, Harry Burlingame. He commenced the business, in conjunction with
myself, in the town of Jordan, in the spring of 1842, prosecuted the same, al
though a man of many years, with all his might, and had it not been for the cold
winters of 1842-3, 1 doubt not but many years of prosperity would have attended
his eflorts. In fact, I owe to him the first words of advice, in the fall of 1841,
for prosecuting the nursery business on a large scale (large for the time), and,
so far as I know, this was the first effort at raising cultivated fruit in Whiteside
county. This business we commenced, without any previous knowledge but the
dim light at that time gained from books. Although Mr. Burlingame has, with
many of our early. settlers, long since passed away, the trees which he planted
will long remain, his most enduring monument. The man who planted the first
fruit-bearing tree in the county of Whiteside, perhaps, never will be known.
Many blessings rest upon his head. May he eat of its fruits, and rest under its
shade for a thousand years."
Whiteside county now and as she was when her sons wore Buckskin trowsers
and Wolfskin caps. — Responded to by Joseph Ware, Esq., in the following neat
and appropriate manner: "It is useless for me to speak to this audience of
Whiteside county as it was. You have all seen it in its original beauty. You
have looked upon these prairies before they were marred by the plow, or dotted
with buildings, as they lay in green luxuriance — ¦
" Gardens of the desert unshorn,
Fields boundless and beautiful."
Their fertility and beauty were sufficient to cause you to give up your comfort
able homes, and induce you to brave the toils and dangers of a pioneer life; but
to one whose boyhood has been spent in their midst, who has no other recollec
tions to fall back upon, who has recognized no other spot as home, their beauty
is doubly attractive. Of the earliest settlers, of the men who wore the coonskin
cap and buckskin hunting shirt, I doubt not your recollections are as broad as
mine. That they were good men and true, hardy, enterprising and honest, you
all know. I have one in mind who would serve as an excellent example of the

SUPPLEMENT. 519
class. Doubtless many will recollect him, John B. Dodge, of Mt. Pleasant.
How I wish he could stand before your this evening in his pioneer dress, with
buckskin moccasins and hunting shirt, surmounted by that veritable coonskin
cap. He was a man of matchless proportions, had seen some active service in
the Black Hawk war, and had the reputation of being the strongest man in
Northern Illinois. He had been known to kill a wolf with his naked hands, and
to conquer a savage and frightened horse by mere force of strength and will.
John B. Dodge was one of the members of the first Board of County Commis
sioners that was elected in our county, and in that capacity officiated at the first
court. The court house on that occasion was one room of a double log house,
near Lyndon. Mr. Dodge, as one of the commissioners, opened the court; and,
standing in the door of the cabin, arrayed in all the glories of buckskin and
coonskin, he announced in a loud voice — '0 yes! 0 yes! 0 yes! the first Hon.
County Court of Whiteside is now setting, and will soon hatch!' Of the future
of our county it is useless to speak. Her present prosperity and past success
are sufficient guarantees that she will continue to advance. All the elements
of wealth, prosperity and greatness lie thick around us, and literature, science
and art will assuredly follow in their train. Then honor to old Whiteside —
"We'll plow, the prairies, as of old
Our fathers plowed the sea;
We'll make the West,
As they the East,
The homestead of the free."
Other sentiments were offered, which elicited spirited and appropriate re
marks. After the sentiments and responses were concluded, a vote of thanks were
offered to Col. Hugh Wallace for the use of his hall, which had been granted to
the meeting free of expense. Also, to Mr. McCune, of the Wallace House, for
the excellence of his entertainment.
In response Col. Wallace tendered the free use of the Hall for the annual
meeting of the 'Old Settlers' of Whiteside county, for all coming time. It was
resolved that the next meeting should be held at the same place on the 22d day
of February, 1859.

PRESENTATION BY HON. E. B. WASHBURNE OF THE
PORTRAIT OF THE INDIAN CHIEF " PROPHET »
TO WHITESIDE COUNTY.
On Wednesday, October 24, 1877, Hon. Elihu B. Washburne, formerly for
many years Representative in Congress from the District of which Whiteside
county formed a part, and for the past nine years Minister Plenipotentiary from
the United States to the Court of France, presented to the people of Whiteside
county a portrait painting of the Indian Chief, Wa-bo-kies-sheik, or White
Cloud more commonly known as the Prophet, which had been painted at his
special order by Healy, from the original by Catlin. The portrait is one of great
historic value to the people of this county, as the Prophet had his home within
its borders, near the present village of Prophetstown. Mr. Washburne arrived
at Morrison on the day prior to the presentation, and was received by the Board
of Supervisors, and escorted by that body to the Revere House, where the
formal welcome to the city of Morrison and the county of Whiteside was ten
dered him by Mr. P. B. Reynolds, Chairman of the Board, who made the follow
ing address:

520 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
"Hou.E. B. Washburne, Sir: In behalf of the Board of Supervisors of White
side county present, I, as Chairman of the same, welcome you to this city and
county and tender you their hospitalities. In looking over the history of your
life among us, I find that you were among the first settlers of this great West;
and I presume it had much to do in forming the high career that has followed
you to this date. You, in those earlydaysof log cabins, had your privations; but,
like a soldier's life, I have no doubt they are among the happiest of your mem
ory. What an age of improvements you have lived to see ! No railroads then;
stage coaches and two-horse wagons were the traveling conveyances. This is
truly an age of improvement in everything but morals. Many great men have
fallen. We have seen some that at one time were within but a step of
the highest honors that this nation could confer; but with their mistakes they
fell, and now are not taking any part in government affairs. Although you
have traveled upon that great highway, your honor, your wisdom, carried you
safely through. You saw the end from the beginning, while many were
blinded by the great offers of wealth. You stand to-day without a charge
against you. You have met us under different circumstances than you do to-day.
We have no political issues to discuss. You meet us as an honored citizen, honor
ed by all parties, and we all meet on the same level, all claiming the right to
honor whom the people delighteth to honor. I presume that there is not a
man in the United States that all parties can find so little to complain of, in
his political life, as yourself. How well you have done your work! No man
has done it better. I know of no mistake. You were always among the first
to take your stand upon questions of great importance, and, in the heated mo
ments, it seems your mind, like Andrew Jackson's, always came to right
conclusions. You saw that the railroads were getting too strong a hold in leg
islation, and in courts, and with that prophetic vision of yours foretold what
has come to pass. They are common carriers now. They were not then.
You stood by Gen. Grant when, in his dark days, he needed just such a
friend. You stood by him until he accomplished all you could have wished,
until the war closed. You were brave during the siege at Paris. You did not
leave your post because they were burning powder, but stood your ground like
a soldier. There are citizens in the United States that remember you in those
trying times, shut out from the world by one of the bloodiest sieges of our day.
All Germany could not speak too highly of you. You were not only brave, but
generous; you looked after the wants and rights of all without expectation of
any other pay than that you had discharged your whole duty. When I read of
the reception of your successor as minister in Paris, I was never more delighted
with our countrymen than I was then. It was not the language but the senti
ment put forth; it was not any acts of your successor; but it was that he might
do as well as our honored friend, E. B. Washburne, had done. I hope you will
excuse me for occupying so much of your time, and allow me the pleasure of in
troducing you to our Honorable Board of Supervisors of Whiteside county, in
dividually." At the conclusion of his remarks Mr. Reynolds introduced each member of
the Board to Mr. Washburne, and a few moments were spent in social conver
sation. During the afternoon of Tuesday and the morning of the next day Mr.
Washburne spent the most of his time in receiving visits from varous gentle
men of the county.
The proceedings attending the presentation commenced about noon on
Wednesday, when Mr. Washburne was escorted from the Revere House to the
Fair Grounds by the Board of Supervisors, County officers, Board of Education
of the city of Morrison, members of the Pre3S, and by citizens in carriages and

SUPPLEMENT. 521
on foot, the procession being under the marshalship of Mr. Ed. A. Worrell, and
preceded by the Fulton Cornet, Band. Arriving at the stand erected at the
Fair Grounds, the large assembly was called to order by Mr. P. B. Reynolds,
Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Capt. John Whallon, Supervisor from
Lyndon township, then introduced Mr. Washburne to the citizens of Whiteside
county, with the following address:
" Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen of Whiteside County: — I have this
day the honor of presenting to you a gentlemen whose eminent services in sus
taining constitutional government, and establishing personal liberty, have ren
dered his name a household word in his native land, and given him a reputation
as extended as civilization, and who in token of those generous and kindly feel
ings which should ever exist between the worthy public servant and his fellow
citizens, will do himself the pleasure, and you the honor, of presenting to you
the portrait of the Indian chief, " The Prophet," — a magnificent work of art,
stamped with the genius of both a Catlin and a Healy — whom I will now intro
duce to yon in the person of the distinguished Minister, the able Statesman,
your illustrious countryman and honored citizen, Hon. Elihu B. Washburne."
Mr. Washburne then came forward in response to the introduction, and
was greeted with hearty applause. When quiet was restored he proceeded to
deliver the following Presentation Address:
" The occasion of this gathering of so many of the officials of your county
and so many of your citizens is well known to you all. On the threshold of the
proceedings, however, you must permit me to tell you how great is my pleasure
after an absence of nearly nine years from the country to find myself again at
home and among my old friends and. constituents of Whiteside county which so
long honored me by their generous and abiding confidence. After a public ser
vice of more than a quarter of a century I have laid down the honors and re
sponsibilities of official position and am once more a private citizen. I do not,
therefore, come to the county to-day to seek your suffrages, though I would fain
have your good will, but on the other hand to testify to you my sense of the
obligation for all your kindness and all the support you gave me as your Repre
sentative in Congress.
The general object of this occasion is also well known to you all, but you
may expect from me some explanation in connection therewith. It was during
my absence in Europe that I found at Brussels, Geo. Catlin, now deceased, the
well-known American artist and one of the most distinguished painters of In
dian portraits of the time. Residing among the Indians for years, he had lent
his gifted pencil to the work of putting on canvass the most celebrated Indians
of the period. He was a great deal with the tribes of the "Northwest," and he
painted one of the most remarkable scenes which preceded the Black Hawk
war of which this whole county became the theatre. This was a scene between
Black Hawk and Keokuk, the two great chiefs of the united Sae and Fox na
tions of Indians, which was then divided into two parties. Black Hawk com
manded the war-like band; while Keokuk headed the band which was in favor
of peace. His name being so intimately associated with the early history of the
Rock river country, and which carried terror into all the humble cabins of our
early settlers, the life, character and career of Black Hawk will always be ob
jects of interest to our people. No Indian of his time made so great an im
press upon the public, and his name will live when those of so many other dis
tinguished chiefs and warriors will liave been forgotten. The originator and
leader of the Indian hostilities in 1832, the war has always been known as the
[06— H.] «

522 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
"Black Hawk War." More than sixty years of age at the time, he had all the
fire and energy of his earlier days. He was bold, able, cunning, cold, morose
and vindictive, and hatred of the whites was with him a supreme passion. In
the war with England in 1812, he was the head and front of all the Indian
forces in the then " Northwest" who joined the British, and who disfigured the
contest by all the atrocities of savage warfare. He was at the battles of River
Raisin, Lower Sandusky, and other engagements. It was from his connection
with the English that his band was always afterwards known as the " British
Band." After the war was over he returned to his village near the mouth of
Rock river, always known as the " Sac village," but only to stimulate still fur
ther the hatred of his tribe towards the white men, and to inspire terror at the
mention of his name. He had on his side most of the young men, and the tur
bulent and ambitious spirits, all participating in his hostile sentiments, and all
guided by his own strong will. Keokuk had more sagacity and prudence than
his rival chief, Black Hawk. He was gifted with a persuasive eloquence rarely
found among Indians, and by which he was enabled to retain a hold on the
larger part of his people, and keep them in amity with the whites. It is impos
sible for me here to go into a history of the Black Hawk war, or the causes
which led to it. In 1804 Gen. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana Territory
and when Illinois was a part of it and embraced in St. Clair county, made a
treaty with the Sac and Fox Indians by which all this section was purchased
from them, and which included the old Sac village which I have spoken of, the
stamping ground of Black Hawk and his band. This prominent chief was not
present at the treaty, though it is alleged that he agreed to it in the year 1816,
for he once admitted that he "touched the goose quill" confirming it. Yet the
idea of giving up his land and country to his hated enemy rankled in his heart,
and he never ceased to assail the treaty as fraudulent, invalid, and insulting to
his race. Though the greater portion of the Sac and Fox Indians had, in con
formity to treaty stipulations, removed from this section to the west of the Mis
sissippi, Black Hawk had determined to retain at all hazards the possession of
the Rock river country. The land all about him having been surveyed and sold
by the United States, the white settlers came in close proximity with his imme
diate possession at tbe Sac village. It was then that he vowed vengeance, put
on the war paint, and sharpened the scalping knife and tomahawk. Having ta
ken the deliberate resolution to make war on the whites, he saw the importance
of detaching his old rival, Keokuk, from them, and making him and the portion
of his tribe who went with him his allies. Hence with all the form and cere
mony, which under important circumstances characterized what might be called
official intercourse between great chiefs, a solemn interview was1 arranged be
tween Black Hawk and Keokuk, these noted chiefs. Keokuk had two warriors
with him, and Black Hawk was accompanied by the " Prophet." Catlin was
present and made a sketch from life. The recollection of the event was never
effaced from his memory. It was no quiet talk between these savages before
the fire in the wigwam, but it is in the open air, and under the vaulted arches of
the clear blue heavens. Keokuk gravely seats himself, and the two warriors
stand pensively behind him. Black Hawk commences his speech, and for an
hour and a half appeals in persuasive accents to his brother chief for help. In
a wild and rude eloquence he portrays the fated destiny which impends over
their race, threatened with being driven from the magnificent domains held from
their Fathers. He paints their villages burned, their wigwams scattered, their
wives and children torn from their country and homes, and the bones of their
warriors killed in battle left to bleach on their hunting grounds. Warming up
as he proceeds, great drops of perspiration roll out from his swarthy skin and

' SUPPLEMENT. 523
fall like rain heavily upon the earth. The Prophet, mastering his feelings,
listens with silent emotion. But the words of Black Hawk die away amid the
breezes, and they awaken no echo of sympathy in the stoic heart of Keokuk.
Cold, impassable, immovable, with far-reaching sagacity, he foresaw the conse
quences of a war with the whites, and refused to lend himself to any scheme
hostile to them. But Black Hawk, less prudent and more impetuous, launched
himself and his people into that bloody contest which resulted in freeing for
ever this whole country, then known as the "Northwest," from the presence of
the hostile savages.
We whose lots have fallen in these pleasant places can perhaps imagine
the agony which pierced the hearts of these original lords of the soil, when
driven from the land of their fathers they cast a lingering glance behind
to see their council fires extinguished and their monuments torn down.
" Ill-fated race, thy tribes have one by one,
" Sunk to their rest beneath the setting sun,
" Just like the bubbles which the ocean bore,
" The wave swept o'er them, they are seen no more."
"Interested in all that pertains to the Black Hawk war and in all that which
concerned the earlier history of our section, I became somewhat enamoured of
this historic painting. I had heard much of the Prophet. I was familiar with
the country of the Winnebagoes and had been captivated with the romantic
valley of Rock river which had been the paradise of the Indians. Thirty-five
years ago, in the leafy month of June, I had followed up the bank of the river
from Dixon's Ferry to Rockford, and the impressions of the unrivalled beauty of
the country will. never be effaced from my memory, and they will be to me a
"joy forever." I bethought myself of the pleasant relations I had so long held
to the people of Whiteside county, of the kindness and indulgence they had ex
tended to me, and the confidence they had reposed in me as their Representative
to Congress. I did not forget that I had made a speech in the town that bears
the Prophet's name, in the canvass of 1868, nor the cordiality with which I was
welcomed. I therefore applied to Mr. Healy, the distinguished American artist,
now residing in Paris, and who is without a superior as a portrait painter, to see
if he would not undertake, from the original study of Catlin, to paint for me
the portrait of the Prophet. Devoting himself to the peculiarities of the Indian
character and providing himself with a large number of Indian portraits and
photographs to aid him in his difficult task, he has produced the portrait I bring
to you here. Large numbers have seen it and admired it as a splendid work of
art in the artist's studio at Paris; but it will be for you to judge how much his
marvelous pencil has done to rescue the memory of the Prophet from oblivion
through the speaking canvass which may illustrate the history of your county
in the far away ages. The portrait finished, I made the proposition to your Hon
orable Board of Supervisors to present it to the county as a* historic souvenir.
By a formal vote of the Board a resolution was proposed, couched in the most
graceful terms, accepting it. I am now here for the purpose of performing what
is a most agreeable mission, that of presenting the portrait of the Prophet to the
county of Whiteside, through its official organ, the Board of Supervisors.
"On this occasion it is natural that there should be a desire to know some
thing of the character and history of him whose name is the center of so much
interest here to-day. The Great Spirit sung long ago the death note of the
Prophet. The incidents of his life and his career have mostly passed into for-
getfulness, and I have been able to glean but little of his history. But you all
know the beautiful town in your county which was his home, bearing his name
and which will be perpetuated so long as its- shores shall be laved by the clear

524 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
blue waters of Rock river. The Indian name of the Prophet was Wa-bo-kies-sheik.
He was a son of a chief of the Sac and Fox tribes, but two of his wives were
Winnebagoes. He became one of the most distinguished chiefs of that tribe
and second in power and influence only to Black Hawk. He was a splendid
specimen of his race, tall, well-proportioned, and graceful in all his movements. He
had a keen, intelligent mind and an even and well-balanced temper. Dignified and
self-possessed he always imposed by his presence. Cool, intelligent, clear-headed
and of a serious character, he always exercised a great influence with his people.
The lieutenant and right arm of Black Hawk, the courage, activity, and sagacity
of the Prophet made him an invaluable aid though he did not indulge in the
same hatred of the whites. His marriage with women who belonged to the
friendly Winnebagoes had softened his prejudices towards the white man with
whom he held intercourse. He was accessible to influences which co.uld never
reach Black Hawk. In his hunting expeditions, for some years before the break
ing out of hostilities, he was in the habit of visiting that section of country now
known as Gratiot's Grove, Wisconsin, where Col. Henry Gratiot, agent of the
Winnebagoes, one of the earlier and most distinguished of the early settlers of
the Lead Mines then resided, and by whom he was always warmly welcomed, and
for whom he entertained a strong friendship.
" It was the circumstance of the good relations and the high respect in which
Col. Gratiot Was held by all the Indian tribes of the Northwest, that after the
breaking out of the war he was deputed by the military authorities to visit the
Prophet at his village, Prophetstown, in the interests of peace, and with a view
to some accommodation that might spare the inhabitants the horrors of a war
fare with savages. He bore a letter from Gen. Atkinson, who, was in command
at Fort Armstrong. This was an important though a dangerous mission. Col.
Gratiot took with him his secretary and several Winnebago chiefs, all his fast
friends, and all on good terms with the whites of the country in that time of so
much peril. It is interesting to know who they were. There was Brokenshoul-
der, an Indian of stalwart frame, great intelligence, courage and sobriety. He
had previously been an enemy of the whites and was shot in the shoulder while
scalping a white man near Fort Edwards, at Warsaw, in this State. Hence his
name, Brokenshoulder. Whirling Thunder was a man of great repute for his
sagacity and wisdom in council. White Crow was an Indian of bad character,
tall, slim, with a hawk nose and with as much of a sinister look as a man could
have who had only one eye; for one of his eyes had been put out in a brawl.
He was addicted to gambling, fighting, drinking, and other disreputable practices.
Little Medicine Man was a fine looking man, rather under ordinary size, quiet,
subdued, gentlemanly. Little Priest was one of the most reputable of all the
chiefs, able, discreet, wise, and moderate, and always sincerely friendly to the
whites. The party took their canoes at Dixon Ferry and descended Rock river
to the Prophet's village. No sooner had the canoes landed than the Indians
surrounded the party with every demonstration of violence and made all of them
prisoners. At the moment of the seizing of Col. Gratiot, the Prophet appeared
on the scene. Seeing his old friend in danger he rushed upon his people and in
terfered in his defense, crying out "good man, good man, my friend, I take him
to my wigwam, I feed him, he be good friend of my Indians." Col. Gratiot being
connected with the Chouteaus of St. Louis, the founders of the " American Fur
Co." which vast concern wielded an immense influence among all the Indian
tribes both east and west of the Mississippi, was called by the Indians " Chouteau."
Arriving as a prisoner at the wigwam the Prophet said to him that if he came
as "Chouteau" he should welcome him to his village, but if he came as a white
man he must consider him, like all the whites, an enemy, and detain all the party

SUPPLEMENT. 525
as prisoners. Col. Gratiot explained to the Prophet the peaceful object of his
mission, which was in the interest of all the Indians, and how great would be the
perfidy if he and his party should be detained or harmed. The situation of the
Prophet was very embarrassing. He wanted to serve his friend, but the young
men and warriors who were behind him were clamoring for the scalps of the
prisoners, and would never consent to their departure. After keeping the pris
oners two or three days, the Prophet, uneasy, restless and disturbed by conflict
ing emotions, finally said to Col. Gratiot: "Chouteau, you have always been my
friend, and the friend of my people, and you and your party must not be harmed,
but there is great trouble, my young men will never consent to give you up and
so you must leave without their knowledge; your canoes are on shore, go to
them at a moment when I shall indicate, and leave instantly, and go with all
speed, the news will spread like wild fire and the young men will give you chase.
All will depend on the strength of your good right arms." The Prophet was
right. Hardly had they reached their' canoes when the alarm was given, and all
the young men of the village raised the war cry, rushed to their canoes to follow
the prey they saw about to escape them. And never before, nor since, have the
placid waters of Rock River been the theatre of such an excited contest. It
was literally a race for life. A score of young and maddened warriors were in
pursuit, amid shouts and cries and imprecations. But a sense of the overwhelm
ing danger nerved the arms of the pursued, for to be taken was certain death to
all. And the pursuit continued with cheers and savage yells through long and
dreary hours. Silence fell at last upon the pursuers. In the stillness of the
night no sound was heard except the quick and regular stroke of the paddle
wielded with gigantic strength. Sullen, resolute, determined, nothing could di
vert the attention of these red men of our prairies, who gave no heed to anything
but the vital matter in hand. The race was at last to the swift, and the victory
to the strong. As daylight appeared, the shores of the river revealed to the
exhausted party that they had passed the point of danger and were within the
limits of the white settlements. Doggedly, silently, the warriors gave up the
chase, and the pursued were in a short time safely landed at Rock Island.
" I have these relations from the sons of Col. Gratiot; Col. Charles H.
Gratiot, of Gratiot, Wisconsin, and Lt.-Col. Edward H. Gratiot, of Platteville,
Wisconsin; who had often heard their father recount- the story of his dangerous
mission. It was the Prophet who on this occasion protected from violence, and
probably saved the life of Col. Gratiot, who was the honored father of Mrs.
Washburne. In this fact, so interesting to me, I am sure all the people of
Whiteside county will readily see another reason for my interest in the Prophet.
"I have spoken of the relations which Black Hawk during the war bore to
his trusted friend and adviser, the Prophet. All here may not know that the
present village of Prophetstown was in the theatre of hostile operations in the
spring of 1832. Black Hawk, organizing his forces at the old Sac village,
marched up Rock River and formed a camp at the Prophet's village. Col. John
A. Wakeful, who was an officer in the Blaek Hawk war, and who wrote a history
thereof, speaking of the Illinois troops' in pursuit of Black Hawk, says: "We
encamped in sight of the old Prophet's village; next morning we went through
the town, and saw where Black Hawkhad encamped with his whole army. His
encampment was laid off in a manner showing great skill in warfare. No Amer
ican General could have laid it out in a more military style; from the appear
ance of the encampment, we were induced to believe that they remained there
a week." "The Prophet accompanied Black Hawk during the whole war, to whom he
was a sort of "Chief of Staff." After the battle of Bad Axe, whieh ended in a

526 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
complete rout of the Indian forces, Black Hawk and the Prophet escaped up
the Wisconsin river. They afterwards gave themselves up to two Winnebago
chiefs, "One Eyed Decorri" and "Chaetar" — who took them to Fort Crawford at
Prairie Du Chien. It was a moment of much interest, and many of the officers
of the Fort were present. The account published at the time says that the
prisoners appeared "in a full dress of white tanned deer skins." From Prairie
Du Chien, Black Hawk and the Prophet and some subordinate chiefs were sent
to Rock Island under charge of Lieutenant Anderson of the regular army — after
wards General Anderson of Fort Sumter memory — and delivered to the military
authorities at Fort Armstrong. They were afterwards sent to Jefferson Bar
racks and confined till the Spring of 1833. Here Black Hawk and the Prophet
attracted much attention. In his misfortune, Keokuk visited his old rival Black
Hawk, and made great exertions for his release, and the release of the Prophet
and other warriors; but the Government refused this and ordered them sent to
Washington in April, 1833. In an interview with the President, Black Hawk
closed his speech delivered on this occasion in the following words: "We did not
expect to conquer the whites — they have too many houses, too many men. I
took np the hatchet for my part, to avenge injuries which my people could no
longer endure. Had I borne them longer without striking, my people would
have said, 'Black Hawk is a woman! he is too old to be a chief ! he is no Sac! '
these reflections caused me to raise the warwhoop." From Washington the
warriors were sent to Fortress Monroe, where they were detained till the Fourth
of July following, when President Jackson directed they should be sent home.
They were taken to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other cities, to show them the
numbers and power of the white people. They everywhere attracted great at
tention. Among others, the ladies universally sought their acquaintance, and
one young lady in her admiration of Black Hawk's son, actually kissed him be
fore crowds of people. In return for their politeness and sympathy, Black
Hawk told them that they"we?-e very pretty squaws." All this is recounted byGov-
ernor Ford in his History of Illinois.
"There were no further Indian troubles in our country after this. In the
Spring of 1838, Black Hawk moved to Des Moines river, Iowa, about twenty
miles from its mouth, where he lived until the 3d of October, 1840, when he
was gathered to his fathers at the age of eighty years.
"While there is not much in the life and history of the Prophet generally
known, I have found nothing to his discredit. In his relations towards the
whites it might be said of him, "An enemy in war, in peace a friend."
"An old Indian trader, Thomas Forsythe, and for many years prior to 1830,
Agent of the Sac and Fox Indians, says, "many a good meal has the Prophet
given to people traveling past his village, and very many stray horses has he re
covered from the Indians, and restored to their rightful owners, without asking
compensation therefor."
"I have spoken of this country at the time when it was in possession of the
Indians and when they were compelled to retire before the advancing wave of
civilization and progress. It might be interesting to go back farther, and to the
by-gone ages when the Aborigines were the only possessors of the soil, unknown
to and undisturbed by the white man, and to briefly trace how the very soil on
which we stand to-day has passed under the jurisdiction of different nations,
governments, states, territories and counties. The French and English who first
laid claim to the lands of North America, founded their rights on two theories,
quite different: The English relied on discovery, and the French on exploration
and occupation. Relying on their right of discovery, the last charter granted by
England to Virginia in 1609, extended her boundaries from sea to sea and com-

SUPPLEMENT. 527
prised within her limits Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and many other States of the
present time — so according to the English claim Whiteside County was first
under this Virginia charter. The French, however denied the validity of this
title, claiming that the eastern slopes of the Alleghanies were the natural limits
of British possessions, and that the vast area of country which extended on the
other side of that chain of mountains belonged to them by the right of explora
tion and occupation.
"In the beginning of the Sixteenth Century the English had not yet gone
beyond the Alleghanies, while the French by their missionaries and adventurers,
had traveled through the whole of the western region and taken possession of
the country. In 1673 Fathers Marquette and Joliet, coming by the Great Lakes,
and by way of the Mississippi river, which washes the western boundary of your
county, founded important settlements at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, now in this
State. Shortly after, the great explorer of the Mississippi, LaSalle, coming from
Lake Michigan, then called Lake "Illinois," descended the Illinois river, on the
banks of which he founded Creve- Coeur, afterwards Fort Clark, now Peoria, en
tered the Mississippi, and on the 9th day of April, 1682, took formal possession
of the country in the name of Louis IV, and gave it the name of Louisiana.
This was undoubtedly the better title, and Whiteside county may have been con
sidered to have been in French territory in 1682. Fort Chartres, which was
an astonishing work of art and of military skill at that day was the seat of the
government of Louisiana in 1720, and the first county seat of Whiteside County.
It was situated on the east side of the Mississippi river, on what was the first
road from St. Louis to Kaskaskia, and six miles above the old French village of
Prairie du Rocher.
" After great disputes, contests and wars France in 1763 ceded to Great
Britain, Canada and all that part of Louisiana east of the Mississippi, so White
side county in 1763 became again, and now without dispute, English territory.
When the American colonies made peace with England in 1783, England ceded
all this section of country to the United States, Whiteside county then for the
first time could be called American territory, and attached to Virginia under the
name of the "County of Illinois." In 1787 the whole of this country north
west of the river Ohio constituted one district — and now Whiteside county be
came a part of the territory of Ohio.
"In 1800 Congress established a new territory which included the present
States of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, which was called the "Ter
ritory of Indiana" and hence in 1800 Whiteside county was in Indiana Territory,
and in the county of St. Clair. In 1809 Congress established the Territory of
Illinois, taken from the territory of Indiana — and so in that year Whiteside
county was in the territory of Illinois and included in the county of St. Clair.
On the. 18th day of April, 1818, Illinois was admitted into the Union as a State
and Whiteside county was then included in Madison county in the State of Il
linois. In 1821 Pike county was created out of Madison and other counties,
and it embraced the whole central and northern part of the State. "Colesgrove"
was the county seat, and all the knowledge that I now have of the then county seat
of Whiteside county, is that it was situated in "Township Number Eleven South,
and Range Two West of the Fourth Principal Meridian." In 1825 Peoria coun
ty was incorporated out of the northern portion of territory embraced in Pike
county, and Creve-Coeur, afterwards called "Fort Clark," and later Peoria, was
your county seat until 1827, when Jo Daviess county was incorporated (embrac
ing Whiteside) and Galena your county seat. In speaking of Whiteside county
at a time when it was not in existence, I of course have meant the territory which
is now embraced within its present limits. If you will pardon me, I will now say

528 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
a word touching the organization of your county, and for whom it was named.
In 1835 Benjamin Mills, who was then a lawyer at Galena, and one of the most
brilliant and gifted men who has ever lived in the State, was a member of the
Legislature from the Representative district composed of the counties of Jo
Daviess, Cook, La Salle, Putnam, and Peoria. On the 2d of December in that
year he introduced a bill to establish certain counties — this bill became a law on
the 18th day of January, 1836 — it established the counties of Whiteside, Mc
Henry, Winnebago, Kane and Ogle. It appears in the original bill one of the
counties was named "Michigan," but that name was stricken out and "McHenry"
inserted, but for what reason, I am unable to say. As to the name of your
county, Whiteside, I cannot presume to give you, who live here, much informa
tion, further than you already .have, why it was so named. The name of White
side is most honorably connected with the early history of this State. It is an
Irish name of note — the late Chief Justice of Ireland was a Whiteside. The
branch to which the Illinois family belonged emigrated to North Carolina and
removed to Kentucky in 1790, and to what is now Illinois in 1793.
"The settlement of "New Design;" which cut quite a figure at the end of
the last century, and was near where the present town of Waterloo, Monroe
county, now is, was made up of numerous emigrants from Kentucky.
This colony was composed mostly of the Whitesides and their numerous connec
tions. The leading man of this colony was William Whiteside, a soldier of the
Revolutionary war, and who had fought at the battle of "King's Mountain."
The family soon became numerous and influential in Southern Illinois, and no
name was better known than that of William Whiteside, sometimes called
"Captain," and at other times called "Colonel."
"In Peck's "Western Annals," speaking of the state of things — in what is
now our State — in 1793, the author says: "This was a period of contention
and alarm — the little settlements were strengthened this year by the addition
of a band of emigrants from Kentucky, amongst whom was the family of
Whiteside." William Whiteside built a Fort called "Whiteside Station," on the
line of travel between Kaskaskia and Cahokia, and in what is now Monroe
county. At this period the Indians were very troublesome; a party of Kicka-
poos headed by the celebrated war chief "Old Pecan," made a predatory excur
sion into the "American Bottom," and a number of citizens immediately rallied
to repulse and pursue them. William Whiteside, who is described as "a man of
great prudence, and unquestioned bravery in Indian warfare," was chosen the
commander. Such were his feats of daring and courage, and so well known
did he become to the Indians, that it was said from that time, "the very name
of Whiteside struck terror among the Kickapoos." Governor Reynolds says
of him that he "was as cool, firm and decided a man as ever lived — scarcely any
of the family knew what fear was." A brother of William Whiteside was
John Whiteside, who settled and died at Bellefontaine, Illinois. He was a
brave and true man, but not as much distinguished as his brother William. He
was a Colonel of St. Clair county Militia in the war of 1812 — a Justice of the
Peace and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county. He died at his
residence at "The Station" in the year 1815, universally respected.
"John Whiteside was the father of Samuel Whiteside who was a prominent
man of his day, well-known as a Ranger and an Indian fighter, and was ap
pointed by Governor Reynolds commander of all the Illinois troops in 1832, in
the expedition against Black Hawk. The question has been discussed whether
Whiteside county was named after him, or after Col. Wm. Whiteside, the
pioneer Whiteside of the State, or generally, in honor of the family of White
side. The Hon. John T. Stuart, of Springfield, in a letter addressed to me on

SUPPLEMENT. 529
the subject, says: 'There is no evidence so far as I have been able to ascer
tain that it was called for either of them ; there is more reason to believe it
was called after Col. Wm. Whiteside. My own conclusion is that it was called
for neither of them in particular, but in honor of, and as a compliment to the
Whiteside family. I have conversed with several persons conversant with the
history of the times when the bill was passed, who concur in the opinion that
it was called and named for the Whiteside family . This belief is strengthened
by the additional fact that in the same bill another county is named "Ogle,"
and there is no evidence that it was named for any particular person, but is be
lieved to have been named in honor of the "Ogle" family, which like the White
side was numerous, settled early in Southern Illinois, and were of great respect
ability. I believe that "Whiteside" and "Ogle" counties were named in honor
of the families, and not from any individual member of the families.' I am
inclined, however, to differ with Mr. Stuart on this subject and I think it is
quite certain the county was named either after the old pioneer Col. William
Whiteside, or Gen. Samuel Whiteside. The venerable Judge William Thomas,
of Jacksonville, in a letter to Mr. Stuart, dated on the 27th ult., says: 'I have
a distinct recollection of being informed when the bill wis pending in the Sen
ate, that it was called for the father of John D. Whiteside, afterwards State
Treasurer.' "The John D. Whiteside alluded to by Judge Thomas, was a very promi
nent man in the history of our State in his time, and was the son of the old
pioneer, Col. Wm. Whiteside. He was a member of the State Senate, from
Monroe county, at the time the bill was passed creating Whiteside county in
1836, which might have given color to the idea that the county was named after
his father. But my judgment is that it was named after Gen. Samuel White
side. He had resided at an - early day in what was then called the "Galena
country," was known to the people, identified with their interests, and had been
a leading figure in the Black Hawk War. I am strengthened in this belief
from the fact that the bill creating Whiteside and other counties, was introduced
in the Senate by the then Senator from this District, Col. James M. Strode,
who himself commanded a regiment in the Black Hawk War, and who was at
tached to the command of Gen. Whiteside, and knew him well. It was, there
fore, much more natural for him to give to tbe county the name of Gen.
Samuel Whiteside, who was so familiar with this section of the country, and
who had been identified with its struggle, rather than to Col. Wm. Whiteside.
This is the opinion of Hon. Joseph Gillespie, who was an early pioneer of the
Galena mining region, and mined for lead at "Snake Diggings," now Potosi,
Wisconsin, before the Black Hawk War. Distinguished as a lawyer and Judge,
Mr. Gillespie is probably as well posted in the earlier history of our State, as
any man in it. My acknowledgments are due to him for the following sketch
of Gen. Samuel Whiteside. After enumerating the services he rendered in a
military capacity, and which I have already stated, he says of him: 'He never
put any value on promotion in civil life, but seemed, indeed, to despise it. He
could undoubtedly have succeeded to any civil place in bis county if he had
striven for it. He did, however, act as one of the Commissioners who selected
Vandalia for the seat of Government of Illinois, and I think aided in selecting
the Canal lands. In matters of religion he sided with the Baptists, and in
political affairs he co-operated with the Democrats. He was an honest man,
and the only thing that he seemed to be afraid of was being in debt. He be
lieved with all his powers that what he believed was right, and it was rather a
hard task to convince him that the opposite side might seem to be right. He
thought there was but one right side to a question, and that all honest men
[07-I.]

530 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
would be apt to see it in the same light. He was a famous hunter and follow
ed the chase as long as his strength permitted. He was thoroughly versed in
wood craft, and knew all the haunts and habits of wild animals to perfection.
He loved to take long hunts and live in camp for weeks together, and eat noth
ing but game. His hunting dress in early life was buckskin, and he wore moc
casins while in the woods. It would have delighted him to attack a lion, or
tiger, or grizzly bear. I believe he would have gone into the fight with as
little dread on his mind as if he had a rabbit to contend with, and I have no
doubt he would have employed the skill and means in every instance, to enable
him to come out without any risk or scratch. The writer knew of his killing
three panthers on one occasion, and he did not seem to think he had per
formed a feat worthy of mention. He died on the 3d day of January, 1866,
one mile and a half east of Mount Auburn, Christian county, Illinois, at the
house of bis son-in-law, John A. Henderson, with whom he had been living
since 1855. Whiteside county, I have no doubt, was named in his honor. The
county was formed in 1836, and he was the only Whiteside of note at that time.'
" So much in regard to the particular individual for whom your county is
named. It has in reality but little importance, for it bears an honorable name,
and with which you all are satisfied.
" Distinguished in a remarkable degree by the high character, intelligence,
and enterprise of its population, its fertile soil, its heavy timber, its prairies, its
manufacturing industries, Whiteside county has a just claim to the highest con
sideration, not only of its own people, but of those of the whole State.
"I have spoken of the nations, governments and jurisdictions in which ter
ritory the present Whiteside county has been included; I might go farther back
and allude to the Congressional districts in which it has been embraced, and
persons by whom if has been represented. Nathaniel Pope, of Kaskaskia, was
the first delegate in Congress, and Daniel P. Cook was the first Representative,
and his district included the State of Illinois. The State has never had an
abler or more influential member. His name was honored by the Legislature
which named Cook county after him. Your next Representative was John
McLean, from whom McLean county was named, and who was succeeded by Jo
seph Duncan. The districts of both of these men embraced the entire State.
After the second apportionment, which gave the State three members, Joseph
Duncan, representing the northern part of the State, was again your Congress
man. He was succeeded by William L. May, who was succeeded by John T.
Stuart, of Springfield, who, as the Whig candidate, beat Stephen A. Douglas for
Congress in 1839. Mr. Stuart was re-elected as a Whig in August, 1841. His
district embraced the northern and central part of the State — Springfield, Peoria,
Quincy, Galena, Sterling, Peru, and Chicago, were all in his district at that time.
He was the first Congressman for whom I ever voted — an honest, able man, and
a faithful public servant It was my pleasure, twenty-five years afterwards, to
serve with him in Congress, and we both represented but a small portion of that
vast country of which he was the sole representative in 1841. He has had the
kindness to furnish me many items in the history of your county, and for whieh
I desire to tender him my sincere thanks. In the third apportionment of the
State, Whiteside county was embraced in a district consisting of the counties of
Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Carroll, Lee, Ogle, Whiteside, Rock Island,
Mercer, Henderson, Warren, Stark, Knox, Hancock, McDonough, and Henry,
and your Representative in that district was Joseph P. Hoge, of Galena, who
represented you four years, Thomas J. Turner, of Freeport, represented you
for two years. Edward D. Baker, of Galena (having just removed from Spring
field), and Thomas Campbell, of Galena, each two years. Under the fourth ap-

SUPPLEMENT 531
portionment of the State you were represented by John Wentworth, James H.
Woodworth, John F. Farnsworth, and Isaac N. Arnold. In the fifth apportion
ment Whiteside and Jo Daviess counties were again thrown into the same Con
gressional district, and your vote assisted to elect me four times, 1862, 1864,
1866 and 1868. Mr. Burchard has since been the Representative of Whiteside
county in Congress.
" But I have no time to dwell on the later history of your county. Even if
I had, it would be useless, for I learn that one of yourfellow citizens, Mr. Bent,
is rendering not only you, but all interested in the history of the State a valua
ble service, in writing a history of the county.
" My purpose is accomplished. I have no words to adequately thank you
for all the cordiality, the warmth, and the kindness of your generous welcome.
"So long as ' unimpaired remembrance reigns,' I shall guard in my heart,
and with feelings of the profoundest gratitude, the recollection of your greet
ing here to-day. I shall watch with deepest solicitude all that concerns White
side county. Keeping its course in the pathway of progress, the great future
is assured to you.
" Wishing you all prosperity and happiness, it only remains to me to con
summate my agreeable mission.
" Gentlemen of the Board of Supervisors, citizens of Whiteside county, and,
ladies and gentlemen, I now have the pleasure of introducing to you the
Prophet."
During the delivering of his address the painting (of Prophet) had leaned
upon an easel at the left of the stage, veiled from sight by an American flag.
As he pronounced the closing words of his address, Mr. Washburne slipped the
fastenings of the flag and disclosed the picture. The sight of it was the signal
for hearty cheers and applause.
Mr. C. C. Buell, of Montmorency, made the response to Mr. Washburne's
presentation speech, in which he signified the pleasure with which Whiteside
county accepted the valuahle gift. He spoke as follows:
" Honored Sir:— It is made my pleasing duty, on behalf of the County
Board, and of the people of Whiteside county, to accept this gift. Be assured,
sir, of the thorough appreciation on our part of the distinguished favor shown
by you in the presentation of so fitting and expressive a memorial of the rela
tions so long existing between yourself as representative in Congress of this
district and your constituents of Whiteside county; We have taken natural
pride in the uniform efficiency and success of your public life. Of your ability
as a statesman and legislator, nine successive elections to Congress by the same
constituency, should be sufficient proof. We have been not inattentive observ
ers, among a nation of observers, of the distinguished services rendered by you
both at home and abroad in the interest of free government and of humanity.
In the great Franco-German war we have seen you as the representative of the
United States' government accepting the care of German citizens within the be
leaguered territory of France, and so discharging these delicate duties as to com
mand the unqualified approval of both- contending parties, as well as that of
your own government.
"The Royal Head of the German nation does honor to itself by pressing
upon you its hospitalities and by expressing to you the gratitude of the people
for your humane and disinterested labor in their behalf. Nay, what is more
touching and expressive, your name is borne in many a French and German
home by the child born into the arms of parents who have been the recipients
of your benefactions. These things and many other such as these make signifi
cant the cordial greeting the people of Whiteside this day offer you.

532 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
"I believe, sir, as a people we are not altogether unworthy the distinction
your name and services, as a citizen of this district, have brougbt to us, orof the
flattering designations you have in your correspondence and present remarks
seen fit to apply to us. If, as a distinguished writer has in effect said, civiliza
tion must always be in advance of the govermental forms or political institutions
which give to this civilization expression, or if, in other words, the government
and representatives of a people can be no better than the people themselves,
then indeed we may claim great honor in connection with the events in which
you have borne so conspicuous a part.
"Accept, sir, the thanks of this people for this significant and valuable
gift. As a work of art, as a memento of Geo. Catlin, the celebrated painter
and traveler, and of the no less distinguished artist, Mr. Healy, as the portrait
of the great Winnebago chief, whose tribe once occupied this region, and whose
principal village was but a few miles from this spot on which we now stand, it
will deserve to be carefully guarded and preserved by the people of this county.
It. will ever be a lesson of that intermediate time between the half civilized
period of the Mound Builders and the greater civilization of the present, but
it will also be associated with the political institutions of to-day which have"
made possible this occasion and this event. As long as the records of this
county shall be preserved, so long shall the story this picture tells, of representative
and people, of distinguished public services, and an appreciative constituency,
be read by the generations to come.
"Wherever, sir, may be your future home, whatever responsibilities, either
public Or private, you may be called to bear, we tender to you assurances of the
continued sympathy, confidence, and support of the people of Whiteside
county." At the conclusion of Mr. Buell's address, adjournment was taken for dinner
which was served in Floral Hall. Full justice having been done to the sumpt
uous repast, the large company again assembled at the rostrum to listen to the
toasts and responses. The first toast, "Paris in 1870," was responded to by
Hon. E. B. Washburne; the second, "Our Country," by Wm. H. Allen, of
Erie; the third, "Prophetstown, the Home of the Prophet," by P. B. Reynolds,
of Prophetstown; the fourth, "Our Sister State of Iowa," by Hon. Waldo M.
Potter, of the Clinton Herald, Clinton, Iowa; and the fifth, "Common Schools,"
by Prof. M. R. Kelly, of Morrison. In the evening a private banquet was
given to Mr. Washburne, at the Revere House, at which about one hundred
ladies and gentlemen were present, including the members of the Board of
Supervisors of Whiteside county, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the
city of Morrison, prominent gentlemen from nearly every town in the county,
and representatives from neighboring counties.

ERRATA AND ADDENDA.

Page 14, .line 21, for "these" read those; line 27, for "two" read four; line 32, for
"occurs" read occur ; line 35, for "Stromatopara" read Strdmatopora ; line 36, add Haly
sites gracilis and another species; line 38, for "Aulapora" read Aulapora; line 49, place
Subcarboniferous strata at beginning of paragraph.
Page 16, line 27, place Drift at beginning of paragraph.
, Page 18, Article "Limestones" line 2, for "7" read 55.
Page 23, line 14, for "81" rtad 8; Article "Mineralogy'' line 6, for "numbers1' read
number. Page 25, Article "Economical Geology" line 6, for "Prophetstown" read Portland.
Page 29, line 8, for% "rubus" read rubrus ; line 24, for "appear'' read appears ; line 30,
for "rhomboidia" read rhomboidea.
Page 32, line 4 from bottom for "syinite" read syenyte.
Page 44, line 14, for "campaigns" read companies.
Page 47, line 18, for "Brown" read Bowers; line 23, for "Abaruther" read Abiathar;
line 8 from bottom, for "Edwin C" read Edwin W.
Page 55, article on "Early Organization," line 12, for "1836" read 1831.
Page 67, line preceding the title "Board of Supervisors," after the word "Hopkins"
add and Lyndon.
Page 96, line 9 from bottom, for "about $177,000" read over $200,000.
Page 98, in heading of table at foot of page, for "April" read March.
Page 106, value of church property in 1870, for "$11,250" read $180,800.
Page 107, in total paid for school houses, etc., for "$12,640,67'' read $22,947,67.
Page 109, for correction as to precinct history of Albany township, see article head
ed "Precinct Organization" in Supplement, page 509.
Page 118, preceding "Societies" the following should be inserted : The village of
Albany was incorporated on the 25th day of January, 1869, under the General Incorpo
ration Act of 1845, and the amendments thereto. The vote at the election held to decide
upon the question of incorporation, stood, sixty-two for, and twenty against. The follow
ing were elected the first Trustees : D. S. Efner, Aaron Winans, Randolph C. Niblack,
W. D. Haslet, and Dr. H. M. Booth. The Board held its first meeting on the 15th of
February, 1869, and organized by electing D. S. Efner, President, and E. ft. Nevitt, Clerk.
H. M. Booth was appointed Village Treasurer, and S. B. Snyder, Police Constable, and
Street Commissioner. At the session of the General Assembly in 1869, an act was
passed recognizing the incorporation of the Village of Albany, and extending its charter
ed privileges. License for the sale of intoxicating liquor had been granted up to Febru
ary, 1877, when a no-license Board was elected by a majority of about twenty-five votes.
1 he Board consists of William McBride, D. W. Lundy, C. F. Lusk. David Lewis, and
S. W. Smith. The Village officers are: William McBride, President, and D. S. Efner,
Clerk, of the Board of Trustees ; George W. Pai ker, Treasurer ; David Byers, Police Con
stable, and Street Commissioner.
Page 121, preceding "Biographical" the following should be inserted: The first
school taught in Albany, was in the winter 'of i837-'38, Miss Belle Kilgore, late Mrs.
Belle Thompson, of Garden Plain, being the teacher. The school was kept in a private
house in Lower Albany. From that time until i860 a school register does not seem to
have been kept. In the meantime, however, a school house had been built, and teachers
regularly employed. The building was destroyed by the great tornado of June 3, i860,
at which time the teacher, Mr. Leonard Swett, was killed, and his wife maimed for life.
Their residence was completely wrecked. The present fine school building was erected
in 1861. It is a large two story brick structure, with complete appointments, and every
way admirably adapted for school purposes. It comprises three divisions, the primary,
intermediate, and high school. The first Principal was Robert McClelland, and follow
ing him have been, Miss Mary Hathaway, Miss Bigger, Frank Ogsbury, 0. M. Crary,
Joseph Kerns, Charles Riley, Neal Downey, Frank Ogsbury the second time, and W,

534 HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
W. Noyes, the present incumbent. The Albany school has always maintained a high
rank among the schools of the county.
Page 121, line 12 from bottom, tor "Thirteenth" read Thirtieth.
Page 141, line 29, for "Samuel Carrie" read Samuel Currie.
Page 167, commencing in line 10 and ending in line 15 of the paragraph relating to
the ferry between Fulton and Lyons, the following should be substituted: In 1850 Jesse
Johnson bought Mr. Phelps' interest and substituted steam power for horse muscle. The
steamer was called "The Sarah," and although a small craft answered the purpose very
well. It was purchased at New Albany, Indiana, and brought to Fulton by way of the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Mr. Johnson ran the ferry for a time, and then sold to Wm.
H. Knighl, who continued it for several years. John P. Knight then became the owner,
and after running it a few months sold to Allen & White, of Davenport, Iowa.
Page 178, line 21, " for Hattie E. James'' read Hattie E. Janes.
Page 183, lines 5 and 9 from bottom, for "Mrs. J. C. Snyder" read Mrs. /. C. Sny
der. Page 186, lines 22 and 24, for "Melinda" read Malvina; line 27, for "Georgiana Rus
sell" read Georgiana Freeman.
Page 187, line 5, for "Jessie Johnson" read Jesse Johnson .
Page 192, in biography of John Dyer, read that during his connection with the 93d
Illinois Volunteers he was First instead of Second Lieutenant.
Page 200, .biography of James M. Pratt, line 6, for "1854'' reac* J845-
Page 203, line 3, for "1850" read 1849; biography of R. M. /Thompson, line 6, for
"1844" read 1849; line 9, for "Francis" read Frankie; line io, for "Martin" read Matt;
line 12, for "Francis" read Frankie.
Page 225_ biography of Mark Harrison, add: His death occurred November 15,
1877- Page 266, line 1, for "1836" read 1837.
Page 270, lines 20 and 21, for "W. Andrews" read Wesley Anderson.
Page 300, in biography of "Cyrus P. Emory" — for "Emory" read Emery; in biog
raphy of Horace Heaton, add : He died November 11, I877.
Page 320, line 21, for "Eveline" read Emeline; line 35, for "T. D. Ramsay" read F.
D. Ramsay. Page 337! in biography of Stephen B. Slocumb, add: He died November 8,
1877- Page 394, in list of Supervisors, read 186o-'72, Joseph M. Patterson ; I873, William
L. Patterson.

INDEX.

CHAPTER I.
Geology,  0
Limestones,  !§
Peat  * .... ',.,][ i9
Mineral Springs,  .,  2i'
Artesian Wells,  22
Mineralogy,.  23
M atural History,  27
Botany,   2S
CHAPTER II.
Antiquities and Pre-historic Man ,   31
Indian History,  „. . 35
CHAPTER III.
Civil War ot'i86i-'6i_;,.. .-;:;;J. .'.: .....  40
History of Regiments,  ..... 44
CHAPTER IV.
Name of County,, j  .v  >.,.. S3
Geographical Description,  53
Early Organization,,  ...... 55
Precincts,  -  :.. 55
Early Records,  57
First State Roads,  -i  58
First Officers,  58
County Commissioners' Court,. . j . .  58
First Regular Election for County Officers, . . 61
First Township Names and Boundaries,
1850  65
Township Organization, 1852,..  66
Board'of Supervisors,  67
Names, age, etc., of first. Board of Super vis-, ,
ors,  67
County Seat Affairs,  71
Vote for County Seat, 1S49,  75
Vote for County Seat, 1857,  76
County Building's,  76
Circuit Court,  79
Circuit Court Judges, and State's Attorneys,. 81
Probate and County Courts, . . .  81
Early life of Pioneers, and Incidents,  82
Annexation to Wisconsin,  87
Marriage Licenses,  88
First Instruments Recorded,  — 88
Early votes,  89
Railroads  9°
Claim Societies and their objects,  90
The Ternado of i860,  ,  92
Swamp Land Matters, .... -  95
Agricultural Societies,  .  99
Whiteside County Grange,   100
Old Settler's Association,  ..100
Whiteside County Caledonian Club,  101
Whiteside County Bible Society,  102
Whiteside County Sunday School Associa
tion,  I02
Congressional Districts, with names of Rep
resentatives..   - - 103
Names of Members of State Board of Equal
ization,  „."".•  . ", 103
Senatorial ajid Representative Districts, with
names of Senators and Representatives, . . 104
Names of Members of Constitutional Con
vention,  io4
List'ofCountyfeOfficers,  105

Statistics, Population, Etc  105
Public School Affairs,.  ¦  106
Official vote of Whiteside Cpunty, 1876,  108
ALBANY. History of Albany Township,  109
' " " " Village,  .111
Churches and Societies,  r  118
Biographical,  .'  121
COLOMA. History ot Coloma Tbwnship,  126
Biographical,  :  130
History of Rock Falls,  -. . 133
Nurseries,. ,  ..'.;,  135
Manufacturing Establishments,  135
Newspapers,....,  „ 136
Churches'and Societies,,  137
'Biographical,  139
CLYDE. History of Clyde Township,...  .140
Biographical,  144
ERIE. History of Erie Township,  147
Biographical  151
History of Erie Village,  ..... 153
Churches and Societies,  .' ..".!., 154
PULTON. - History of Fulton Township,  156
History of the City of Fulton,  16a
Lumber Mills,  168
Manufactories  169
Newspapers,  171
Churches and Societies,  172
School,  ,,I77
Northern Illinois College  17S
Biographical,  185
FENTON. History of Fenton Township,  193
" *' Pratt,   198
" " Fenton Center,  199
Biographical  199
GARDEN PLAIN.
History of Garden Plain Township  ...205
Churches and Societies,   ,. .. 20S
Biographical,   212

GENESEE. History of Genesee Township,  217
Biographical,  221
History of Coleta,  230
HAHNAMAN. History of Hahnaman Township,  332
" " Deer Grove,  235
Biographical,  '  -  236

536

INDEX.

HUME. History of Hume Township,  237
Biographical,  „  239
HOPKINS. History of Hopkins Township,  243
" " Como,   248
" " Gait,  250
" " Empire,  251
Biographical,  251
JORDAN. History of Jordan Township,  257
Biographical,  250
LYNDON. History ot Lyndon Township,  265
Biographical,  :  270
History of Lyndon Village  283
MT. PLEASANT.
History of Mt. Pleasant Township,  291
Biographical,  296
History of the City of Morrison,  305
Manufactories  312
Newspapers  314
Churches and Societies  315
Public Schools  320
Biographical  322
MONTMORENCY. History of Montmorency Township  326
Biographical  329
NEWTON. History of N ewton^Township  333
Biographical  337
t
PORTLAND. History of Portland Township  341
" " Spring Hill   347
Biographical  350
PROPHETSTOWN. History of Prophetstown Township  363
*' " " Village  371
Newspapers  373
Churches and Societies  374
Biographical   375
STERLING. History of Sterling Township  390
Biographical  30
History of the City of Sterling  414
Newspapers  429
Manufacturing Establishments  431
Churches and Societies  4-15
Schools  ¦  440
Biographical  445

TAMPICO. History ot Tampico Township  451
Biographical   453
History of Tampico Village  454
Newspapers  45a
Churches and Societies  459
Public School  460
USTICK. History of Ustick Township  462
Churches  ... 466
Biographical  468
UNION GROVE.
History of Union Grove Township  473
Public Schools  475
Biographical  476
CHAPTER XXVII.
History of the State ot Illinois  4S7
Origin of name of State .  ¦  487
First white person visiting Territory  487
Joliet and Marquette  487
Occupation of Territory by the French  4SS
La Salle's Expeditions..  4S8
Illinois a part of Louisiana  489
Illinois under British rule  490
Illinois wrested from the British by George
Rogers Clark  491
Illinois a part of Virginia  • * * " . 49 1
Ordinance of 17S7  .492
Illinois a part of Indiana Territory  . . , 493
Illinois Territory   493
Illinois admitted as a State  493
First Constitutional Convention  493
Organization of State Government. . :  494
Removal of State Capital to Vandalia  495
State Bank  495
Effort to make Illinois a Slave Stale  496
Black Hawk War  497
Internal Improvement System  497
Convention of 1847  49S
War of the Rebellion  498
Constitution of 1S61  , . .499
" " 1S70  499
Names of U. S. Senators  500
CHAPTER XXVIII.
BillofRights  501
Descent of Property  502
Exemption Law  503
Limitation Law  504
Organization of Corporations  504
Fence Law  505
Estray Law  506
Lost Goods, Money, Etc  506
Weights and Measures  507
Marketing Products  :  507
Game Law  50S
Fish Law  508
SUPPLEMENT TO HISTORY.
Precinct Organization  509
Old Settlers Association  .510
Presentation by Hon. E. B. Washburne 01
the Indian Chief, Prophet, to Whiteside
County  .-519